ChainCatcher news, the Office of the Financial Committee of the Hunan Provincial Committee, the Financial Work Committee of the Hunan Provincial Committee, and the Hunan Provincial Local Financial Supervision Administration's official WeChat account disclosed a GBC platform fundraising fraud case. Zhou, Tong, Wu, and others commissioned Chengdu Xingyi Network Technology Co., Ltd. to design the GBC platform software for computer clients and mobile apps. Wu falsely claimed that GBC coins and wealth coins were blockchain virtual currencies, developing downlines in areas such as Jinshui District, Zhengzhou City. By the time the case was reported, the "GBC" platform had developed 47 levels of members, involving 59,548 member accounts, with a total fund flow of 3.408 billion yuan, of which 40,480 member accounts suffered losses totaling 629 million yuan. The main criminal gained over 226 million yuan through fundraising fraud on the GBC platform.Upon investigation, the GBC platform system generated digital symbols out of thin air, which had no economic value. The Zhengzhou Intermediate People's Court, after hearing the case, determined that based on the facts of the crime, its nature, circumstances, and the degree of harm to society, the involved individuals were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment ranging from fifteen to thirteen years.

ChainCatcher news, the Berachain Foundation officially appoints Paul O'Leary as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). O'Leary previously served as CTO of Polygon Labs and has 20 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience in the blockchain and big data fields. O'Leary joined Berachain earlier this year and has led the team in advancing the mainnet launch. He will leverage his extensive experience in engineering management to drive the development of Berachain.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, U.S. CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) Commissioner Goldsmith Romero stated that she will resign from the commission after the new appointee selected by President Trump takes office.The report noted that after Romero's resignation, Christine Johnson will become the only Democrat on the five-member CFTC commission. Goldsmith Romero helped to rebuild the Technology Advisory Committee at the CFTC, which is aimed at guiding the agency on how to best respond to the cryptocurrency industry.Previously, it was reported that Trump chose a16z's head of crypto policy, Brian Quintenz, to serve as the CFTC chairman.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, a poll released by Reuters/Ipsos on Tuesday shows that President Trump's approval rating has remained stable over the past week, with 44% of respondents approving of his performance in his first month in office. The survey found that even though Trump has fired tens of thousands of federal workers and the U.S. has reversed its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Americans' views on him have largely remained unchanged.The survey shows that 50% of people are dissatisfied with his work, slightly down from 51% the previous week, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. So far, public support for Trump's job performance remains higher than for most of his first term from 2017 to 2021. An online poll conducted from last Friday to Sunday among 1,029 American adults also showed that 50% of respondents support Trump's approach to immigration, up from 47% the previous week. Additionally, 42% of people expressed disapproval of his immigration policies.

ChainCatcher message, the probability of "Trump establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve within 100 days of taking office" on Polymarket has dropped to 10%, with a betting amount of approximately $7.05 million.On January 20, the day Trump was sworn in as president, the probability of this bet once rose to 48%.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, a month after Trump's second term, the excitement from stocks to dollars to Bitcoin is fading. Previously, crypto assets surged as the industry supported Trump, who promised to create a more friendly regulatory environment. However, with not much new development to sustain the bullish sentiment, these gains have weakened.For example, the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve promised during Trump's campaign has not materialized, and White House crypto and AI director David Sacks stated this month that an internal working group needs to study the feasibility of the plan. Two months after the election, Bitcoin rose by about 50%. However, after reaching a peak of over $100,000 in January, it has fallen to around $97,000 as of Thursday. Scandals involving meme coins like Libra have also weakened investor interest in cryptocurrencies.Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matthew Hougan said, "The atmosphere in the cryptocurrency market is very negative right now."

ChainCatcher news, HashKey Group's Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Ru Haiyang, pointed out in an exclusive interview with Phoenix TV's "Asia Finance Perspective" that the Consensus conference and the recent series of Web3 events landing in Hong Kong are just the beginning. The choice of Hong Kong is based on common considerations—Hong Kong not only has a compliant and transparent regulatory environment but also possesses a rich market customer base and a partner ecosystem.In response to the virtual asset development roadmap released by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission that day, Ru Haiyang analyzed that the 5 pillars and 12 initiatives of "A-S-P-I-Re" plan to anchor the direction for the development of the virtual asset industry in Hong Kong over the next three years. This includes opening staking services, attracting global liquidity, exploring derivatives trading and financing lending, adjusting the ratio of hot and cold wallets and insurance, and cross-departmental and cross-regulatory collaboration in innovative fields. Ru Haiyang stated that many contents in this roadmap stem from industry voices and feedback, and it is expected that at least three major initiatives will make substantial progress this year.

ChainCatcher news, AISTO Chief Operating Officer Jack Wang was invited to attend the Consensus HongKong 2025 peripheral event, the summit "Future Investment Opportunities of AI + Web3" hosted by Web3Labs. During the roundtable forum, Wang mentioned that AISTO is promoting the development of the AI and Web3 ecosystem in collaboration with global partners through a compliant STO model and a transparent operational mechanism.It is reported that AISTO is an investment platform that combines artificial intelligence, blockchain, and high-performance computing, dedicated to providing investors with compliant, transparent, and high-yield opportunities through an innovative STO model.

According to ChainCatcher news, at the press conference for the "Top Ten Events in the Construction of Shanghai International Financial Center in 2024" on February 14, Zhou Xiaoqian, Executive Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Financial Office, stated that they will promote the innovative application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence large models and blockchain in the financial sector. At the same time, they will deepen the pilot program for digital renminbi and advance innovative projects such as the "Multilateral Central Bank Digital Currency Bridge" and bilateral business channels.

ChainCatcher message, the U.S. Department of Efficiency (DOGE) posted on X: "We are seeking public assistance. Please send insights on reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as any useful insights or brilliant ideas to the relevant DOGE affiliates (which can be found in the affiliates tab). For example, @DOGE_USDA, @DOGE_SSA, etc. We will add more affiliates over time."

ChainCatcher news, according to the Washington Post, two insiders revealed that the government efficiency department (DOGE) led by Musk is seeking to access the IRS system, which includes detailed financial information of every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit organization in the United States, raising deep concerns within the IRS.Under pressure from the White House, the IRS is considering signing a memorandum of understanding that would allow officials from the government efficiency department broad access to the tax agency's systems, properties, and datasets. This includes the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts (including personal identification numbers) and banking information.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Tyr Capital's Chief Investment Officer Ed Hindi stated that ETH is at a "peak bearishness," and the price trend may soon reverse and rise to $4,000.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Argentine presidential office: "On October 19, 2024, President Javier Milei met with representatives of KIP Protocol in Argentina. During this meeting, the company representatives presented the president with their intention to develop a project called 'Viva la Libertad' ('Long Live Freedom'), which aims to utilize blockchain technology to provide financing for private enterprises in Argentina.This meeting has been officially recorded in the public hearing registry, with participants including the national president, KIP Protocol representatives Mauricio Novelli and Julian Peh, as well as presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni.In this context, on January 30, 2025, the president met with Hayden Mark Davis at the Casa Rosada (Rose Palace). According to the introduction by KIP Protocol representatives, Mr. Davis will provide the technical infrastructure for the project. Mr. Davis has had no prior association with the Argentine government, nor has he established any relationship with it; he was referred as a project partner by representatives of KIP Protocol.Finally, yesterday, the president posted a message on his personal social media account announcing the launch of the KIP Protocol project, similar to his usual support for many entrepreneurs looking to start projects in Argentina to create jobs and attract investment. Due to the widespread attention the project launch received, and to avoid any speculation and reduce further dissemination, the president decided to delete this post.In light of the above, President Javier Milei has decided to immediately refer this matter to the Anti-Corruption Office (OA) to determine whether there has been any misconduct by any members of the national government, including the president himself, in this incident.Additionally, the national president has decided to establish an investigative task force (UTI) under the presidential office, which will consist of representatives from institutions and departments related to cryptocurrency, financial activities, money laundering, and other relevant fields, to consolidate information for an urgent investigation into the release of the cryptocurrency LIBRA and all related businesses or individuals.All information collected during the investigation will be handed over to the judicial authorities to determine whether any businesses or individuals associated with the KIP Protocol project are suspected of criminal activity.President Milei has demonstrated his commitment to the pursuit of truth through concrete actions and has pledged to thoroughly investigate this incident until the truth is revealed."

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, on the 15th local time, the U.S. Department of Efficiency led by Musk has sent termination notices to more than ten staff members of the United States Digital Service. This office is an information technology (IT) department of the U.S. President's Executive Office and is now being taken over by the Department of Efficiency.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin Magazine, a bill has been proposed in the state of Georgia, USA, to allow state financial officials to invest in BTC.It is reported that the bill involves state deposit institutions to stipulate that the state deposit commission allows the state financial officer to invest in Bitcoin; sets limits on such investments; establishes requirements for the safe handling of such assets; regulates the lending of such assets; and repeals conflicting laws, among other provisions.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin Magazine, the Hong Kong-based family office Avenir Group reports that it holds a BlackRock Bitcoin ETF valued at $599 million.

ChainCatcher news, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the department has canceled 167 contracts today, saving approximately $115 million in expenditures. This includes a $2.23 million contract for the "Existing Program Policy Equity Assessment" from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).