Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here is not investment advice – it is provided for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BitMaden. Every investment and all trading involves risk, so you should always perform your own research prior to making decisions. We do not recommend investing money you cannot afford to lose.

Cambodia Extradites Billionaire Chen Zhi to China in Billion-Dollar Crypto Scam

Cambodian authorities extradited billionaire Chen Zhi, head of Prince Group, to China on Jan. 7 after his arrest with two associates. He is accused of orchestrating one of the world’s largest crypto scams, involving forced labor “scam factories” in Cambodia. Major Breakthrough in Transnational Crypto Fraud Investigation Cambodian authorities announced Jan. 7 that they have The News Crypto

---

BlackRock’s 3-Day Bitcoin and Ether Buying Spree Sparks Rally, Then Cooldown

BlackRock’s steady accumulation of Bitcoin and Ether over three consecutive days coincided with a clear price push across both markets. However, after reaching short term highs, BTC and ETH both pulled back as the rally cooled and traders locked in gains. BlackRock Adds BTC and ETH for Three Straight Days BlackRock has accumulated Bitcoin and Ether for three consecutive days, according to onchain tracker Lookonchain. The account said the firm added a combined 9,619 BTC worth about $878 million and 46,851 ETH worth about $149 million over that period. BlackRock ETF Onchain Accumulation. Source: Arkham Intelligence Onchain labels and transfer logs also show fresh movements from Coinbase Prime linked wallets into BlackRock ETF related addresses. The records include multiple Bitcoin transfers into BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF tagged destination, alongside several Ether transfers into BlackRock’s ETHA Ethereum ETF tagged destination. The transfers appeared in batches within hours of each other, with repeated deposits of roughly 300 BTC at a time and several ETH moves that include 10,000 ETH sized transfers. While onchain data does not prove who initiated each transaction, the labels point to Coinbase Prime as the source and BlackRock ETF custody addresses as the destination in the latest series of movements. BTC and ETH Prices Move Higher, Then Pull Back During BlackRock Buying Bitcoin and Ether both posted gains during the three day period when onchain data showed BlackRock accumulating BTC and ETH through ETF linked wallets. At the start of the window, Bitcoin traded near the high $87,000 to $88,000 range, before pushing steadily higher over the following sessions. Price climbed above $90,000 and later tested the $93,000 to $94,000 area, marking the strongest levels of the week. As the buying period progressed, Bitcoin momentum slowed. After setting a short term high near $94,000, price began to roll over and moved lower into Jan. 7. By the end of the period, Bitcoin traded near $90,300, giving back part of the earlier advance but still holding above the levels seen before the accumulation phase began. The structure shows a higher high followed by a controlled pullback rather than a sharp reversal. Bitcoin Price Action, Three Day View. Source: CoinCodex Ether followed a similar path over the same days. ETH started near the $2,950 to $3,000 zone and advanced steadily as the sessions unfolded. Price broke above $3,100, then extended toward the $3,250 to $3,300 area, where it briefly stalled. This marked the strongest ETH levels during the three day stretch tied to BlackRock inflows. Ethereum Price Action, Three Day View. Source: CoinCodex Toward the end of the window, Ether also pulled back alongside Bitcoin. ETH slipped from the local highs and settled near $3,120, trimming gains but remaining above its early period base. The price action reflects a rise during sustained ETF related inflows, followed by profit taking as the broader market cooled, while both assets kept higher levels compared with where the move began. The News Crypto