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From MetaMask to Coinbase, from the United States to Pakistan, here are the crypto stories you may have missed this week.
MetaMask has added native support for Bitcoin, allowing users to manage BTC directly within the wallet alongside existing support for Ethereum, Solana, and other networks.
- With the update, users can create a native Bitcoin address, send and receive BTC, and view their Bitcoin balance without relying on wrapped assets or third-party wallets.
- The integration currently supports SegWit transactions, with Taproot support planned in a future release.
The move expands MetaMask’s functionality beyond smart-contract platforms and enables direct interaction with the Bitcoin network from the same interface used by its existing user base.
U.S SEC Publishes Crypto Custody Guide
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission published a new investor guide on cryptocurrency wallets and custody that explains different methods of storing digital assets and common risks associated with them, such as hot versus cold storage and self-custody versus third-party custody, to help retail investors better understand how to safeguard crypto holdings.
The guidance is presented as an investor bulletin. It clarifies how existing securities rules apply to digital asset custody, including for broker-dealers holding tokenized crypto securities under Rule 15c3-3.
The SEC’s guidance does not create new law but outlines risk factors and best practices for custody, covering operational and recordkeeping aspects, as part of broader compliance and investor protection efforts.
Pakistan Clears Binance and HTX to Seek Local Crypto Licenses
Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to global cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and HTX, allowing them to register with local regulators, establish subsidiaries, and begin the formal process of applying for full operating licenses under Pakistan’s emerging crypto regulatory framework.
The NOCs enable both companies to connect to the country’s anti-money-laundering system and prepare compliance documentation, but do not yet constitute full operational licenses.
Pakistani officials have described the approvals as the first phase of a phased, compliance-oriented licensing regime designed to align digital asset providers with global regulatory standards and strengthen oversight of the virtual assets market.
Coinbase Launches Custom Stablecoins, Prediction Markets, and Stock Trading
Coinbase announced several major product expansions during its “System Update” event, including:
- The launch of Custom Stablecoins that allow businesses to issue branded stablecoins backed by assets like USDC;
- The introduction of regulated prediction markets through a partnership with Kalshi that lets users trade contracts on real-world event outcomes;
- And the rollout of commission-free traditional stock and ETF trading for U.S. customers within the Coinbase platform.
These services are part of a broader effort by Coinbase to expand beyond cryptocurrency trading into a multi-asset financial platform where users can trade digital assets, stocks, and participate in prediction markets from a single account.
Crypto Hacks Total $3.4 Billion in 2025, Personal Wallet Attacks Rise
Chainalysis reported that more than $3.4 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen globally in 2025, with a small number of large hacks, including a major breach at Bybit, accounting for most of the losses.
State-linked groups, notably those associated with North Korea, were responsible for a significant portion of theft from centralized services, while private key and personal wallet compromises increased in number compared with previous years, affecting tens of thousands of individual users.
Although the total value stolen from individual wallets was lower than in 2024, the frequency of incidents showed growth, and decentralized finance hacks remained relatively less severe, according to the firm’s annual crypto crime report.
FBI Seizes E-Note Crypto Exchange Linked to $70M Ransomware Laundering
U.S. authorities, including the FBI and Michigan State Police, seized the E-Note cryptocurrency exchange after determining it had been used to move and launder more than $70 million in illicit proceeds tied to ransomware attacks, account takeovers, and other cybercrime since at least 2017.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Michigan unsealed an indictment charging Russian national Mykhalio Petrovich Chudnovets with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; court documents allege he operated E-Note as a payment processing service that helped transfer cybercrime funds across borders and convert cryptocurrency into traditional currency.
Law enforcement also seized servers, mobile applications, and domain names associated with the platform as part of a coordinated international effort to disrupt the infrastructure behind cybercrime cash-out operations.
Charles Hoskinson Says Trump’s Crypto Ventures Have Complicated Industry Progress
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano and IOHK, said that aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency have been frustrating for the industry and that many others in the sector avoid discussing the topic.
Hoskinson specifically criticized the launch of Trump’s own meme coin, saying it shifted the perception of crypto from a bipartisan policy issue to a partisan one, which he believes disrupted regulatory progress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
He argued that the president’s personal ventures in the space blurred lines between policy and personal interest and made constructive legislative dialogue more difficult, and he suggested that industry participants were reluctant to voice similar concerns for fear of consequences.
This article is published on BitPinas: Crypto News Catch Up | Dec. 14 – 20, 2025
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