Tribe.Run, a Solana-based Social-Fi platform, has seen rapid growth, with user numbers rising from 1,400 in December 2024 to over 3,000 by January 2025. The platform offers unique creator-focused features, including the ability for creators to buy their own tokens before launch, and has benefited from a year of research, including feedback from former FriendTech users.

KuCoin has pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed money-transmitting business in the U.S. and will pay nearly $300 million in fines and forfeitures. As part of the settlement, co-founders Chun Gan and Ke Tang have stepped down, while the exchange works to rebuild under stricter global regulatory oversight.

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab founded in 2023, gained attention with its cost-effective DeepSeek-V2, sparking a price war among China’s tech giants. It is the first company to receive praise from the US tech industry for achieving performance levels comparable to top US models.

David Sacks described NFTs and memecoins as collectibles, comparing them to items like baseball cards, and argued they should not be regulated as securities or commodities. He defended Trump's TRUMP memecoin amidst criticism, stating its value lies in commemoration, not financial investment.

Indian authorities froze ₹500 crore ($60 million) in payment gateways linked to a major cryptocurrency scam involving 10 Chinese nationals, who defrauded investors of over ₹2,200 crore ($264 million) through a fake mining app. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the case, with several fugitives identified and funds intercepted before being sent overseas.

Nasdaq’s X account was hacked to promote a fake memecoin, STONKS, which quickly soared in value before crashing to zero, leaving investors with losses.

Standard Chartered encouraged investors to buy Bitcoin during price dips, projecting it could reach $200,000 by 2025. The bank attributed recent market corrections to regulatory uncertainty but expects institutional investments to drive future growth.

Bitwise registered a trust for a potential Dogecoin ETF in Delaware. Dogecoin's price surged following the news.

Sanrio partnered with NTT Digital and other companies to launch a wellness-focused campaign using non-transferable NFTs to reward participants for completing wellness tasks. The initiative, part of NTT's Web3 Jam project, combines blockchain technology with real-world activities to enhance engagement and promote health.

Qatar Airways launched Sama, an AI-powered virtual cabin crew member, on Instagram. The airline partnered with UneeQ to create Sama's digital presence.