StarkWare Debuts "SN Stack" Appchains on Starknet

StarkWare has announced the launch of appchains on the Starknet layer 2 network using the new "SN Stack" developer toolkit. It will allow for the creation of validity rollup chains with custom parameters (e.g., block times and sizes), using the Starknet OS, CairoVM, or Blockifier execution engine.

The SN Stack offers multiple tools for developers, including Madara for modular frameworks, Dojo for gaming and on-chain applications, and the StarkWare Sequencer for high-performance public infrastructure, giving ZK-rollups a competitive advantage against optimistic rollups.

StarkWare co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson highlighted the ease and cost efficiency of building appchains with ZK-STARK cryptography, previously limited to optimistic rollups. Additionally, a proof-based interoperability method is in the works that will use Starknet's upcoming prover Stwo (Stark Two).

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Movement Labs Nears $100 Million Series B Funding

Movement Labs, a blockchain development firm, is reportedly finalizing a $100 million Series B funding round, led by CoinFund and Nova Fund. The funding would value the company at $3 billion and provide investors with both equity and Movement's native Move tokens. Movement Labs previously raised $38 million in a Series A round in 2025 and $3.4 million in pre-seed funding in 2023.

The company focuses on integrating the Move Virtual Machine with Ethereum to optimize smart contract security and transaction throughput. Its mainnet beta and Move token generation event launched in December 2024, enabling providers to deploy network infrastructure. Movement Labs also develops the Move Stack, compatible with rollups like Optimism and Polygon.

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Bitcoin Investor Ordered to Surrender $124 Million

A Texas court has ordered early Bitcoin investor Richard Ahlgren III to surrender private keys unlocking $124 million in crypto due to tax fraud. Ahlgren must also disclose all storage devices and cease transferring assets without court approval. Convicted in December 2024, Ahlgren’s tax evasion involved obscuring $3.7 million in Bitcoin gains using blockchain obfuscation techniques.

He received a two-year prison sentence for filing false tax returns and illegal cash structuring. The case highlights the U.S. government’s evolving approach to enforcing tax compliance in cryptocurrency. Experts view this precedent as a roadmap for future crypto-related tax enforcement actions.

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Coinbase Granted Special Appeal in SEC Case

A U.S. judge approved Coinbase’s request for an interlocutory appeal in its dispute with the SEC over whether certain tokens traded on the platform qualify as securities. The case, centered on the application of the Howey test, will now be considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Coinbase argues that tokens traded on its secondary market do not meet the criteria for securities.

The judge’s decision paused other proceedings in the case, potentially expediting a resolution. Coinbase’s appeal could influence future crypto regulations, as the SEC leadership shifts under the incoming Trump administration, which is expected to favor a more crypto-friendly approach.

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Data of the Day

Global cryptocurrency adoption is expected to reach new highs in 2025, thanks to by institutional and retail investors, as well as increased adoption in low-income countries. Industry optimism follows Bitcoin’s all-time high of $108,300 in December 2024, buoyed by regulatory clarity under Trump's US.

Regulatory frameworks like Europe’s MiCA and Singapore’s “risk-adjusted” approach have boosted industry trust and consumer protection. According to Chainalysis, new regulations will likely spur record growth in daily crypto users and institutional products like Bitcoin ETFs.

As of mid-2024, an estimated 560 million people, or 6.8% of the global population, held cryptocurrency, with the UAE, Singapore, Türkiye, Argentina, and Thailand showing the highest percentage of holders within their populations.

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More Breaking News

• Virtuals Protocol’s Discord server was hacked, and phishing links were posted on Google Search, but the breach has been resolved.
• HyperLiquid addressed decentralization concerns after criticism over closed-source code and validator control, with HYPE token dropping 15%.
• South Korea’s financial regulator plans to allow institutional crypto trading gradually, starting with non-profits, as part of its crypto sector push.
• Pyth Network partnered with Revolut to provide decentralized finance price feeds, but the PYTH token fell 9% despite the deal.
• Agora and Galaxy completed the first OTC transaction with AUSD stablecoin, marking its transition to real-world application amid stablecoin market growth.
• SoSoValue raised $15 million in a Series A round, reaching a $200 million valuation as it prepares to launch its own token.
• Bitfinex Derivatives is relocating to El Salvador after securing a local DASP license, supporting the nation’s ambition to become a crypto hub.

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