<h2>FINRA Fines Robinhood for Failing to Address Compliance Red Flags</h2>Robinhood has reached a $29.75 million settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after regulators uncovered widespread supervisory and compliance failures. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finra.org/media-center/newsreleases/2025/finra-orders-robinhood-financial-pay-375-million-restitution">settlement</a> consists of a $26 million civil fine and $3.75 million in restitution to affected customers.&nbsp;According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/robinhood-AWC-030725.pdf">FINRA</a>, Robinhood repeatedly failed to act on multiple red flags related to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) deficiencies, weak supervision, and inadequate disclosures. These lapses contributed to the company’s inability to prevent misconduct, including unauthorized trading and manipulative market activities.Regulators found that Robinhood’s compliance failures extended to its clearing system, which was not effectively monitored during high-volume trading periods between March 2020 and January 2021. The firm’s inability to properly oversee its operations coincided with the controversial trading restrictions imposed on stocks such as GameStop and AMC Entertainment.&nbsp;FINRA’s investigation further revealed that Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities neglected to detect and report suspicious trading patterns, allowing potentially fraudulent activity to go unchecked. In addition, thousands of accounts were opened without proper identity verification, raising concerns about the integrity of the company’s AML program.The regulatory probe also pointed to deficiencies in Robinhood’s oversight of social media communications, particularly in promoting posts from paid influencers. Despite these findings, the company neither admitted nor denied the charges as part of the settlement agreement.&nbsp;The compliance issues come at a time when Robinhood is posting strong financial performance, reporting a record net income of $916 million and more than $1 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a substantial portion driven by crypto trading.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Faceless robot decrypting suspicious crypto transactions in cyber network_11zon.webp

Robinhood Agrees to $29.75 Million Settlement Over Compliance Violations

<h2>Forced Transparency Limits Profit-Taking as Meme Tokens Struggle</h2><a href="https://intel.arkm.com/explorer/entity/muststopmurad">Murad Mahmudov</a>’s public&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> holdings have become a rare case study in meme token resilience, standing at a 39% ($3.3 million) drawdown despite the sector’s notorious volatility. Unlike most meme coins that fade into obscurity with losses exceeding 99%, Mahmudov’s selection of cult tokens has maintained a loyal investor base, preventing total collapse. The portfolio's stability is largely attributed to its dedicated community, which has propelled periodic rallies even as individual assets faced drawdowns of up to 70%.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_8_943e43fea5.png" alt="Screenshot_8.png"></figure>The forced doxxing of Mahmudov’s wallet last year placed him in a unique position, preventing any significant sell-offs without drawing backlash from the very communities that upheld these tokens. His unwavering public stance on holding for the long term left him little choice but to endure market swings. His largest investment,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/spx6900-spx">SPX6900</a> (<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/spx6900-spx">SPX</a>), a token widely regarded as a counter to manipulated "cabal coins," mirrored the broader meme market’s trajectory—initial spikes followed by gradual declines.&nbsp;Despite SPX’s volatility, it remains one of the few meme tokens with expanding user adoption, drawing in both retail investors and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/whale">whales</a> committing over $10,000. In contrast, other cult and mass adoption tokens have seen their user bases dwindle as past trends lose appeal.<figure class="image"><img alt="chart (1)_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_1_11zon_0fb335a77a.jpg"></figure>Mahmudov's SPX holdings exceed 29 million tokens, valued at over $9 million at its current price of $0.3. At its peak in January, the token reached $1.52, placing Mahmudov’s unrealized gains at an astonishing $42 million. However, his inability to take profits due to public scrutiny meant he watched the value of his holdings decline without intervention.&nbsp;Still, his early accumulation at prices near $0.01 ensures that, despite the recent downturn, he remains profitable. His overall SPX exposure has slightly reduced from a peak of 36 million tokens, signaling some strategic profit-taking while maintaining a substantial position.The broader meme coin market continues to contract, with major tokens like&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/gigachad-giga">Gigachad (GIGA)</a> experiencing sharp losses. Once trading above $0.08, GIGA now struggles at $0.013 despite a nearly 50% increase in the past 24 hours, at risk of falling below a penny. As the first Pump.fun token to achieve significant adoption and listings, GIGA enjoyed a brief surge fueled by Mahmudov’s endorsement.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="chart (2)_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_2_11zon_1834aae5b5.jpg"></figure>However, its cult status offered little defense against the harsh realities of meme coin cycles. Unlike traditional assets, meme tokens often rely entirely on community enthusiasm rather than fundamentals, making them particularly susceptible to extreme volatility.Meme tokens as a whole have seen a dramatic decline in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a>, now sitting under $50 billion, including mainstays like&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">Dogecoin</a> (<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">DOGE</a>). The downturn has been exacerbated by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>’s recent dip to the $77,000 range, as meme coins typically mirror broader crypto market sentiment. While most small-scale&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/altcoin">altcoins</a> are shedding value faster than&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a>, Mahmudov remains firm in his belief that select meme assets could recover, particularly those that retain strong community backing.Despite the decline, meme tokens are proving difficult to erase entirely. Search interest in meme-related assets has started to climb again following the market-wide slump triggered by the launch of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/libra-libra">LIBRA</a>. The persistence of new and trending meme tokens underscores the resilience of the sector, though only a handful may achieve long-term viability. Mahmudov’s continued commitment to curating a portfolio of sustainable meme assets positions him as a central figure in the evolving landscape, whether by choice or by circumstance.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Dystopian robot holds glowing SPX coin in a flooded wasteland

Dystopian robot holds glowing SPX coin in a flooded wasteland_11zon.webp

Murad Mahmudov’s Meme Token Portfolio: A Cult Phenomenon Amid Market Turmoil

<h2>Speculation Over Ethereum Foundation's Involvement in $56 Million Deposit Unraveled</h2>A significant&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> transaction sent shockwaves through the crypto market after a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> transferred 30,098&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a>—valued at approximately $56 million—to Sky, formerly known as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/maker-mkr">MakerDAO</a>, on March 10, 2024. Initial findings from on-chain reporters like Lookonchain,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arkham-arkm">Arkham</a> Intelligence and Wu Blockchain&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lookonchain/status/1899274364555858384">suggested</a> the Ethereum Foundation was behind the deposit, fueling widespread speculation.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.07%;"><img alt="eth whale transactions" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Glu_T0_Mu_Xc_AA_Sug_Q_imageonline_co_merged_11zon_50ee6d7d52.webp"></figure>However, prominent Ethereum figures Eric Conner and Anthony Sassano swiftly dismissed the claim as baseless. Wu Blockchain later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WuBlockchain/status/1899341367769284757">corrected</a> its reporting, revealing that the wallet actually belonged to an early Ethereum investor, “jonny.eth,” rather than the Ethereum Foundation.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.41%;"><img alt="Screenshot_6.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_6_d1c7e00c2a.png"></figure>The deposit was a strategic move to lower the wallet holder’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a> risk amid Ethereum’s sharp decline. ETH had plummeted 15% within a single day, dropping from $2,138 to $1,813. By securing the funds on Sky, the investor effectively reduced their loan’s liquidation price to $1,127.14, significantly lower than ETH’s then-current price of $1,896.&nbsp;Despite the Ethereum Foundation’s non-involvement in this particular transaction, concerns persist over its historical practice of offloading ETH for&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> to fund operational costs. Just weeks earlier, on February 13, 2024, the Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/ethereum-foundation-45000-eth-defi">deposited 45,000 ETH</a>—worth approximately $120 million—into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/aave-aave">Aave</a>, Spark, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/compound-comp">Compound</a>, signaling an increased reliance on decentralized finance protocols. Aave CEO Stani Kulechov responded positively, declaring, “<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> will win.”The market turmoil surrounding Ethereum deepened in March 2025, with the cryptocurrency plunging below $1,800 for the first time in months. The broader crypto market lost $240 billion in a single day, pushing total capitalization down to $2.6 trillion—its lowest level since November.&nbsp;Ethereum bore the brunt of the sell-off, shedding 16% in just 12 hours. With ETH now 62% below its 2021 all-time high, analysts warn that losing the $1,800 support level could pave the way for a collapse to $1,200. The ETH/<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> ratio, a key metric measuring Ethereum’s value against&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>, sank to 0.023—its lowest point since December 2020.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="chart_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_11zon_6ab4cbee37.jpg"></figure>The wave of selling pressure from large ETH holders, or&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/whale">whales</a>, has exacerbated Ethereum’s struggles.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/liquidation">Liquidation</a> fears have driven many to offload their holdings, further accelerating the downward momentum. Crypto Twitter has been flooded with panic, fear, uncertainty, and doubt (<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/fear-uncertainty-doubt">FUD</a>), with critics raising fresh concerns over Ethereum’s long-term viability.&nbsp;Adding to the woes, Ethereum’s Pectra testnet&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/ethereum-pectra-upgrade-sepolia-attack">suffered an attack</a> on March 9, disrupting network functionality. A malicious actor exploited a vulnerability by sending zero-token transfers, clogging the network with empty blocks and slowing transaction finality.&nbsp;Ethereum developer Marius van der Wijden later confirmed that the issue was quietly resolved to prevent the attacker from adapting. “We suspected that the attacker was reading some of our chats, so we decided not to publicize the fix, but only update a few nodes that we controlled in order to get more full blocks on the network,” he explained.Ethereum’s dominance is now under increased threat from both Bitcoin and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>, with industry figures questioning its long-term position in the market. Casey Rodamor, co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ordinals-ordi">Ordinals</a>, claimed Ethereum has “<a href="https://x.com/rodarmor/status/1898774171121049804">nowhere to go</a>,” arguing that Bitcoin’s superior monetary properties will cement its dominance as the preferred store of value.&nbsp;Others, like Juan David Ramos, suggest that Ethereum’s shift away from full decentralization could render it obsolete. Solana, often dubbed the “Ethereum killer,” continues to attract users with its lower fees and faster transactions, though its history of network outages remains a persistent drawback.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.13%;"><img alt="Screenshot_7.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_7_c840944b56.png"></figure>Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s institutional adoption is surging, with spot Bitcoin ETFs pulling in nearly $40 billion in 2024—dwarfing Ethereum’s investment products. With Bitcoin hitting a record high above $100,000 in Q4 2024, speculation of a $150,000 target in the ongoing bull cycle is gaining traction, leaving Ethereum struggling to keep pace.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot playing Ethereum arcade game as price plummets onscreen

Robot playing Ethereum arcade game as price plummets onscreen_11zon.webp

Ethereum Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Market Shakeups and Investor Moves

<h2>Sepolia Testnet Hit by Empty Blocks Following Exploit</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>’s latest testnet upgrade, Pectra, ran into unexpected issues on the Sepolia fork after an unidentified attacker exploited an overlooked edge case, leading to the mining of empty blocks. The upgrade, which went live on March 5 at 7:29 a.m., was supposed to be a critical step before the final rollout but quickly encountered errors.&nbsp;Ethereum developer Marius van der Wijden&nbsp;<a href="https://mariusvanderwijden.github.io/blog/2025/03/08/Sepolia/">revealed</a> on March 8 that the problems originated from the deposit contract, which mistakenly triggered a transfer event instead of a deposit. While the development team deployed an initial fix, they missed one critical loophole—one that an unknown user swiftly exploited.The attacker leveraged Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard, which does not prohibit zero-token transfers, allowing them to interact with the deposit&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> without holding any tokens. Shortly after, empty blocks started surfacing again, prompting developers to reassess the situation.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.47%;"><img alt="Screenshot_2.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2_ff60ae578f.png"><figcaption>Source: <a href="https://x.com/Ang_marley_s3/status/1898691522524070141" rel="null" target="null">Marius van der Wijden</a><a rel="null" target="null">/ X</a></figcaption></figure>Initially suspecting an error from a trusted validator, they later traced the problematic transactions to a newly created account funded through a faucet. The persistent interference forced the team to deploy a discreet fix to select DevOps nodes, fearing the attacker might be monitoring their internal discussions. By 2 p.m., all nodes had been updated, and the problematic transaction was successfully mined, restoring stability to Sepolia.Despite the disruption, finalization was never lost, and the issue remained isolated to the Sepolia testnet due to its token-gated deposit contract, which differs from Ethereum’s mainnet setup. The setback comes just weeks after Pectra’s earlier test on the Holesky testnet on Feb. 26 also encountered difficulties, leading developers to postpone the upgrade until further testing is completed.&nbsp;Pectra follows the recently implemented Dencun hard fork, which reduced transaction fees for layer-2 networks and improved Ethereum rollup economics upon its rollout on March 13.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Ethereum’s leadership has undergone a structural shift, with Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz Stanczak stepping in as co-directors of the Ethereum Foundation, signaling a new era for the organization amid these ongoing technical refinements.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Faceless robot analyzing Ethereum testnet errors in sci-fi control room

Faceless robot analyzing Ethereum testnet errors in sci-fi control room_11zon.webp

Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Faces Hurdles as Unknown Attacker Exploits Edge Case

<h2>Exchange Takes Action Against Suspicious Trading Activity</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> has taken decisive action&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-freezes-gps-market-maker">against a market maker</a> involved in the trading of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/gps-token-gps">GoPlus Security</a> (<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/gps-token-gps">GPS</a>) and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/myshell-shell">MyShell</a> (<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/myshell-shell">SHELL</a>) tokens,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.binance.com/en/support/announcement/detail/4a5fa79a6c174db29c43122db732af1e">blocking the entity</a> on March 9 after detecting irregular trading behavior. The exchange cited manipulation of orders and liquidity as the primary reasons behind the ban, stating that the move was necessary to protect users.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="chart_11zon.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_11zon_1f67e51783.webp"></figure>As part of the enforcement, Binance confiscated the market maker’s funds, which will be allocated to compensate affected GPS and SHELL traders. Project representatives are expected to provide further details on the compensation process in due course.Although Binance did not explicitly name the entity, evidence suggests that the blocked market maker is Whisper, a Chinese firm allegedly linked to a broader scheme involving Spark Digital Capital. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao amplified a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/_FORAB/status/1898715004649828828">post</a> by crypto analyst Quai Dong, highlighting Whisper’s suspected role in the manipulation.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.25%;"><img alt="Screenshot_14-imageonline.co-merged.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_14_imageonline_co_merged_79bd962ebd.png"></figure>According to the findings, Spark Digital Capital originally supported blockchain projects through financial backing and market-making services, receiving free tokens in exchange. However, as competition within the sector intensified between 2021 and 2022, this approach lost its effectiveness, prompting Spark to pivot towards a new business model.In response to changing market conditions, Spark Digital Capital launched Web3Port, a service aimed at facilitating investment deals and attracting venture capital firms in exchange for 1-3% of a project’s free tokens. The shift, however, failed to yield the desired profits, leading to the creation of Whisper, a structure that allegedly posed as a legitimate liquidity provider while offloading tokens retained by project teams.&nbsp;Retail investors on Binance ultimately became the end buyers of these assets, according to Dong’s analysis. Binance’s crackdown on Whisper signals a firm stance against manipulative market practices, reinforcing its commitment to fair and transparent trading.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Pointillist robot floats over pixelated liquidity ocean in crypto scene

Robinhood Agrees to $29.75 Million Settlement Over Compliance Violations

FINRA Fines Robinhood for Failing to Address Compliance Red Flags

Latest News @Coin360