Need to know what happened in crypto today? Here is the latest news on daily trends and events impacting Bitcoin price, blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, Web3 and crypto regulation.

United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler posted a thread on X reminding investors about the dangers of investing in crypto. Over the weekend, the securities regulator securities regulator has reissued a warning to investors about crypto "FOMO" — days ahead of the anticipated approval of spot Bitcoin ETF. Hackers from North Korea stole $600 million worth of cryptocurrency in 2023, and crypto traders have gambled $1.5 million on what the eagerly awaited results of potential Bitcoin BTC $46,826 exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval results may be.

Gensler issues warning on crypto safety

SEC Chair Gary Gensler has issued a series of warnings about the safety of investing in cryptocurrencies — presumably as the regulator gets set to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, as has been widely reported. 

In a Jan. 8 X post, Gensler reminded the investing public that crypto "can be exceptionally risky" and "often volatile." He did not specifically mention a Bitcoin ETF. 

A thread

Some things to keep in mind if you're considering investing in crypto assets:

— Gary Gensler (@GaryGensler) January 8, 2024

“Fraudsters continue to exploit the rising popularity of crypto assets to lure retail investors into scams,” Gensler said. “These investments continue to be replete w/ fraud- bogus coin offerings, Ponzi & pyramid schemes, & outright theft where a project promoter disappears w/ investors’ money.”

The SEC has yet to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, though several filers have amended their applications with the commission.

SEC reissues crypto ‘FOMO’ warning amid hope for spot Bitcoin ETFs

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reissued a warning about FOMO crypto investing — only days ahead of the anticipated approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

In a Jan. 6 post to X (formerly Twitter), the SEC’s Office of Investor Education again warned retail investors of the risks associated with digital assets, including meme stocks, cryptocurrencies, and nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

One of the first appearances of the “Say no go to FOMO” blog post came on Jan. 23, 2021, amid a roaring crypto and equities bull market that saw Bitcoin, Ether ETH $2,304, and many other altcoins reach new all-time highs by November 2021. The warning was issued again around March 2022 when the markets were cooling.

The fact that the SEC tweeted about don’t fall for have FOMO means the Spot #Bitcoin ETF is coming! pic.twitter.com/Sp1LdQamY8

— Crypto Rover (@rovercrc) January 7, 2024

Several users across social media theorized the report could suggest the SEC is soon to approve one or more spot Bitcoin ETFs, which is currently awaiting a decision sometime before a Jan. 10 deadline.

North Korean hackers stole $600 million worth of crypto last year

Hacker groups associated with North Korea siphoned $600 million worth of digital assets in 2023, according to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.

The Jan. 5 report suggested that North Korean hackers may have stolen up to $700 million worth of crypto, though only $600 million was confirmed. Since 2017, North Korean hackers have stolen roughly $3 billion worth of crypto.

According to TRM Labs, North Korea’s money laundering methods are constantly evolving to “evade international law enforcement pressure.” These hackers usually target users’ private keys or seed phrases before transferring the stolen funds into North Korea-controlled wallets. The funds would eventually be swapped for Tether USDT $1.00 or Tron TRX $0.1043.

North Korean hackers stole USD 600 million in crypto in 2023, TRM Labs research shows. Read the story now: https://t.co/dyNmTcVzcP

— TRM Labs (@trmlabs) January 5, 2024

“North Korea’s hacking prowess demands continuous vigilance and innovation from business and governments,” TRM Labs said.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Source: Cointelegraph.