Vitalik Buterin Adopts Moo Deng with 88 ETH Donation

In a heartwarming gesture, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus that gained viral fame on the internet. The zoo announced this adoption in a December 26 X post:

"Thank you Vitalik Buterin for joining the Wildlife Sponsorship Program and adopting Moo Deng with a generous gift of 10,000,000 THB for her family!"

Moo Deng’s expressive personality and charming social media videos shared by the Thailand-based Khao Kheow Open Zoo in September contributed to her viral popularity. In response to the adoption announcement, Buterin expressed his willingness to donate more than the current 88 Ether (ETH) or $292,000 to the zoo.

James Howells Seeks Recovery of Stolen $773M BTC

IT engineer James Howells is embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle to recover a hard drive containing private keys to 8,000 Bitcoin worth approximately $773 million. The drive was mistakenly disposed of in a landfill back in 2013 and represents a fortune tied to the earliest days of the cryptocurrency market.

According to an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Howells is optimistic about recovering the lost BTC despite being barred access by the Newport City Council due to environmental permit issues. A world-class legal team and advanced artificial intelligence technology trained in United Kingdom law are backing his efforts.

If successful, Howells plans to compensate stakeholders, contribute to the crypto community, and potentially reinvest in blockchain projects.

South Korea Sanctions 15 North Koreans for Crypto Heists

North Korean hackers have been pursued by governments worldwide due to their alleged involvement in more than half of the value of cryptocurrency stolen during 2024. The infamous Lazarus Group is a prime suspect in some of the most notorious cyber thefts in Web3, including the $600 million Ronin network hack.

South Korea has imposed sanctions against 15 North Korean IT organization members and one related group for allegedly procuring funds for North Korea’s nuclear missile development program and the DPRK’s Munitions Industry Department through "overseas foreign currency-earning activities."

Crypto Hacks Wipe Out $2.3B in 2024, Marking 40% YoY Surge

Cryptocurrency hackers have surpassed previous year achievements, stealing more than $2.3 billion worth of crypto from the Web3 ecosystem. This represents a concerning sign for the industry’s mainstream acceptance.

According to a report shared by onchain security firm Cyvers, crypto hacks saw a sharp uptick driven by increasing cryptocurrency valuations as Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed the $100,000 mark for the first time on December 6.

Solana’s Jito Staking Pool Exceeds $100M in Monthly Tips

Solana staking pool Jito has clocked monthly revenues from priority fees and tips of more than $100 million in November and December. According to a December 26 note from Kairos Research, a cryptocurrency researcher, Jito’s validators scaled tip revenues by an average of 32% each month.

Monthly income peaked at about $210 million in November. This reflects the Solana network’s surging popularity and flags validators’ increasing earnings from prioritizing certain transactions over others, a practice known as Maximum Extractable Value (MEV).

DeFi Market Overview

According to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, most of the 100 largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization ended the week in the green. The Bitget Token (BGB) rose over 81% as the week’s biggest winner, bolstered by the recent token merger between the previous Bitget Token (BGB) and Bitget Wallet Token (BWB).

The Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) coin was the week’s second-biggest gainer, up over 51% during the past week.

Total value locked in DeFi. Source: DefiLlama

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