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 AMB Crypto

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XRP Outlook 2026: XRPL Upgrades Expand Utility and Demand

The XRP Ledger enters 2026 with a clear development roadmap centered on expanding functionality beyond payments. A series of planned protocol upgrades aims to strengthen XRPL’s position in privacy, decentralized finance, and cross-chain interoperability, potentially increasing long-term demand for XRP as a settlement asset. Powered by Outset PR , this analysis reflects the agency’s commitment to strategic, data-backed communication for the crypto industry. Five Major XRPL Upgrades Planned for 2026 XRPL is slated to roll out five significant upgrades in 2026. These updates focus on three core areas: enhanced privacy features, native DeFi lending capabilities, and interoperability through zero-knowledge proof integrations. Privacy enhancements are designed to support confidential transactions while maintaining compliance-friendly transparency. This approach targets institutional and enterprise use cases that require discretion without sacrificing auditability. At the same time, the introduction of DeFi lending protocols would expand XRPL’s on-chain utility, allowing users to lend, borrow, and manage liquidity directly on the network rather than relying on external platforms. Zero-knowledge proof interoperability further broadens XRPL’s scope by enabling more efficient cross-chain communication and private data verification, improving the network’s appeal to developers building complex financial applications. Implications for XRP Demand As XRPL’s functionality expands, XRP’s role as a settlement and liquidity asset becomes more central. Increased activity across privacy-focused transactions, DeFi lending, and cross-chain operations would require XRP for fees, liquidity provisioning, and settlement. If developer adoption accelerates, demand for XRP would be driven less by speculative trading and more by usage-based activity. This shift could support a more stable demand profile over time, particularly if institutional participation grows. Presenting Yourself Without Overspending: How Outset PR Optimizes PR Budgets and Delivers Tangible Results The purpose of any PR campaign is to boost brand visibility. Traditionally, this has meant securing as many publications as possible, often with unpredictable outcomes. It was difficult to know how many readers would actually see a story, leaving much of PR to guesswork. Actually, it had been guesswork until analysts of Outset PR developed Syndication Map —a proprietary tool that identifies which outlets attract the most traffic and where a story is likely to achieve the strongest syndication lift. Senior Media Analyst Maximilian Fondé explains: If a company needs a top list article, we filter the table for media that publish this format, cross-check costs and placement conditions, and know within minutes which outlets to pitch. Over time, that builds into a comprehensive database of crypto-friendly publishers – something other players in the industry don`t have right now. Smarter Campaigns, Lower Costs Campaigns built with Syndication Map are not about mass reach for its own sake. They are carefully crafted to serve specific goals. By narrowing the focus to the most effective outlets, Outset PR reduces unnecessary spending on low-impact publications. Another key factor is communication. Outset PR’s dedicated Media Relations team, led by Anastasia Anisimova , has earned the trust of leading outlets through professionalism and genuine relationships. Sincerity and friendliness are our core principles, earning us the trust of numerous media outlets. Unfortunately, not all agencies in our industry prioritize friendliness in their communications. Extended Reach Through Syndication Outset PR campaigns also achieve more visibility than clients initially pay for. Articles are frequently republished across aggregators and platforms such as CoinMarketCap and Binance Square, extending exposure far beyond the original placement. Well-placed articles can achieve up to ten times the outreach of the original post. The case of StealthEX demonstrates this effect clearly: targeted tier-1 pitching led to 92 republications across outlets including CoinMarketCap, Binance Square, and Yahoo Finance, generating a total outreach of over 3 billion. Outset PR Sets a New Standard Pitching to a major outlet still has value, but syndication often delivers far greater reach at a lower cost. Outset PR has mastered this strategy, combining proprietary tools, strong media relations, and syndication opportunities to deliver results backed by numbers. Outlook XRPL’s planned 2026 upgrades mark a strategic expansion of the network’s capabilities. Enhanced privacy, DeFi lending tools, and zero-knowledge interoperability could attract a wider range of developers and institutional users, reinforcing XRP’s role as a settlement asset. However, long-term price performance will depend on execution, real-world adoption, and regulatory outcomes. XRPL’s roadmap provides a solid technical foundation, but sustained demand for XRP will ultimately hinge on usage rather than potential alone. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, financial, or professional advice. AMB Crypto