Good Morning Crypto Enthusiasts!

Glad to have you back for another edition of the UseTheBitcoin.com newsletter.

1. Chicago Crypto Kidnapping: Six men kidnapped a Chicago family and demanded a $15 million crypto ransom. Held for five days, one victim alerted his father via WeChat, leading to their release.

2. Ethereum Moves $120M Into DeFi: The Ethereum Foundation deployed 45,000 ETH ($120M) into Aave, Spark, and Compound to support DeFi and reduce reliance on ETH sales.

3. 💡Feature of the Day - Trump New Trade Tariffs: Donald Trump is set to announce new reciprocal tariffs on trade partners, potentially affecting global markets.

   
   All this and more in today’s headlines!

📰 News Highlights:

Chicago Crypto Kidnapping [Source][Source]

Six men have been charged in Chicago for kidnapping a family and their nanny at gunpoint, demanding a $15 million crypto ransom.

The attackers lured the victims by pretending to damage their garage, then forced them into a van and moved them between locations.

Held for five days, one victim managed to contact his father via WeChat, leading to their eventual release. U.S. officials have only accounted for $6 million of the transferred crypto so far.

One suspect, Zehuan Wei, was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border, while the remaining five are believed to have fled to China.

Ethereum $120M DeFi Funding [Source][Source]

The Ethereum Foundation has deployed 45,000 ETH (valued at $120 million) into DeFi protocols Aave, Spark, and Compound, addressing concerns over its reliance on ETH sales for funding.

Community reactions were largely positive, with many seeing the move as a smarter alternative to direct ETH sales.

Some DeFi leaders criticized the foundation for waiting this long to engage with DeFi, but Ethereum developers have hinted at more upcoming fund deployments.

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💡 Feature of the Day: 

Trump's Tariff Plan [Source][Source][Source]

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new reciprocal tariff policy targeting trade partners.

While details remain unclear, past tariff announcements have triggered market volatility, affecting both stocks and crypto markets.

Analysts warn that higher tariffs could lead to inflation and increased costs for businesses and consumers.

Experts believe a trade war could weaken the U.S. dollar, potentially benefiting Bitcoin as an alternative store of value.

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And that’s it for this today.

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See you all tomorrow’s edition!

Jonathan Gibson
UseTheBitcoin.com