In partnership with

Good Morning Crypto Enthusiasts!

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

1. Crypto Execs in Danger: France’s interior minister is set to meet industry leaders to address growing "$5 wrench attacks" targeting crypto holders.

2. Gensler’s Crypto Contradictions Revealed: Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler allegedly praised crypto in private while publicly cracking down on it, according to ex-Rep. Patrick McHenry.

3. 💡Feature of the Day - Mastercard Taps Kima for Stablecoin Payments: Kima joins Mastercard’s sandbox to enable stablecoin top-ups for prepaid cards using self-custody wallets

   
   All this and more in today’s headlines!

   Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

   

   This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

   1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

   2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

   3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

   Sign up to start learning.

📰 News Highlights:

Crypto Exec Targeted [Source][Source][Source][Source]

France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau will meet with crypto professionals following a kidnapping attempt targeting the family of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat.

The attack occurred in Paris when three masked men attempted to abduct Noizat’s daughter and grandson.

Quick-thinking bystanders, including one wielding a fire extinguisher, thwarted the attackers.

Offline attacks like this are part of a growing pattern known as "$5 wrench attacks," where victims are physically coerced into giving up crypto access. A GitHub list by Jameson Lopp records over 20 such incidents in 2025 alone.

🎁Freebie:

Download your free ebook now and take the first step toward mastering CRYPTO IN UNDER 60 MINS!

Gensler’s Crypto Doublespeak [Source][Source][Source]

Former U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry claims that ex-SEC Chair Gary Gensler privately expressed support for crypto, despite his harsh public stance.

In a podcast interview, McHenry shared that Gensler acknowledged the value of blockchain and even contributed to the concept of airdrops while at MIT.

However, once appointed SEC Chair, Gensler’s regulatory tone became hostile, surprising many who expected a more balanced approach.

💡 Feature of the Day: 

Mastercard, Kima Integrate [Source][Source][Source][Source]

Kima has joined Mastercard’s sandbox program to enable stablecoin top-ups for prepaid cards using self-custody wallets.

This integration allows Mastercard partners to let users fund cards with USDC, USDt, and other stablecoins across more than 10 blockchains.

Kima CEO Eitan Katz emphasized the goal of seamless interaction between crypto and fiat systems, removing intermediaries and simplifying payments.

😂 Crypto Meme of the Day: 

Meme of the day provided by @cryptojobslist

And that’s it for this today.

See you all tomorrow’s edition!

Jonathan Gibson
UseTheBitcoin.com