Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, a Bitcoin whale holding 80,000 BTC moved coins for the first time in 14 years, a Belgian court sentenced three people for their roles in a cryptocurrency-related kidnapping, and US Republican House leaders designated July 14-18 as “Crypto Week,” focusing on considering three key crypto bills.

Movement of 14-year-old Bitcoin sparks renewed Satoshi rumors

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price slipped on US Independence Day, coinciding with a massive whale moving coins for the first time in over a decade.

The BTC/USD exchange rate declined nearly 2%, falling below the key $108,000 level, according to Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView data

Onchain data showed that a Bitcoin OG, dormant for 14 years, transferred half of their 80,000 BTC, likely with the intention to sell. If they do, the holder would turn an initial $62,000 investment into roughly $4 billion.

Naturally, the reawakening of the address has sparked rumors that the transaction could be linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, who disappeared more than a decade ago.

Source: Lookonchain
The coins are moving at a time when corporate adoption of Bitcoin is rising. Industry data shows that 255 companies now hold a combined 3.47 million Bitcoin, accounting for about 3.97% of the total supply.

Belgian court sentences three in kidnapping of crypto investor’s wife

A Belgian court has sentenced three people for their roles in a cryptocurrency-related kidnapping targeting the wife of local crypto entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel.

The Brussels Criminal Court handed down 12-year prison sentences to three kidnappers who attacked Winkel’s wife in December 2024, local news agency La Dernière Heure reported on Thursday.

The criminals were convicted of hostage-taking after abducting the victim outside her home, forcing her into a van and demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency.

Source: Stéphane WinkelAlerted by Winkel, law enforcement pursued the van and subsequently arrested the kidnappers and freed the victim after taking the vehicle off the road with a risky maneuver.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the three convicted kidnappers to pay at least 1 million euros ($1.2 million) in civil damages to the victim.

While holding the trio accountable, the court acknowledged that the masterminds behind the kidnapping remain unidentified. It also rejected the defendants’ claims that they were coerced into the crime under threat of death.

According to the report, the case also involves a minor, who is being handled separately by a juvenile court.

US Republicans declare “Crypto Week” to mull three crypto bills

US Republican House leaders have pledged to consider three key crypto bills starting in mid-July as part of a regulatory “Crypto Week.”

House Finance Committee Chair French Hill, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson and Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday that they’d use the week of July 14 to 18 to look over a crypto market structure bill, a stablecoin bill and a bill on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

“House Republicans are taking decisive steps to deliver the full scope of President Trump’s digital assets and cryptocurrency agenda,” Johnson said

“During ‘Crypto Week,’ the House looks forward to the timely consideration of three landmark pieces of legislation: the CLARITY Act, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, and the Senate’s GENIUS Act,” he added.

The party’s push comes as President Donald Trump said last month that he wants the stablecoin-regulating GENIUS Act passed as soon as possible, before Congress goes on a month-long break in August.

The bills would begin to deliver on Trump’s crypto-focused promises during his campaign, which the crypto industry heavily backed and bankrolled.

• #Bitcoin
• #Cryptocurrencies
• #Satoshi Nakamoto
• #Business
• #Congress
• #Security
• #Belgium
• #Senate
• #SEC
• #Bills
• #Cybersecurity
• #Stablecoin
• #Regulation
• #ETF
• #Companies
• #Policy Add reaction