Watch out for “holiday-themed” coins like Xmas Coin (XMAS). Early buyers often hold large stakes, creating classic pump-and-dump setups. Recycled project names and concentrated ownership are red flags. Avoid tokens lacking transparency in ownership, liquidity, or team credentials.

Top safety tips:

Don’t click unsolicited links or offers

Use verified apps only

Never share recovery phrases or private keys

Enable 2FA and strong passwords

Verify charities and giveaways

Pause before acting on emotional prompts

Stay alert, and enjoy the holidays safely.

Fraudsters exploit emotions and trust:

Fake wallet apps and phishing emails

Bogus token sales and holiday presales

Romance/pig-butcher scams

Impersonation of regulators, exchanges, or tech support

Always verify sources, avoid sharing private keys, and stick to official apps.

The festive season isn’t just about gifts—it’s also prime time for scammers. Increased online shopping, emotional spending, and distractions make crypto users more vulnerable. Phishing emails, fake wallets, token presales, and romance scams all surge during Christmas and New Year.

The senator highlighted reports that PancakeSwap promoted coins linked to the Trump family’s crypto company, World Liberty Financial. Warren’s letter underscores ongoing worries over potential conflicts of interest and selective enforcement in the decentralized finance space.

Warren’s concerns come as Congress considers legislation on crypto market structure. She emphasizes that the public deserves transparency on whether federal agencies are addressing threats identified by national security experts and the crypto industry. The Responsible Financial Innovation Act markup has been pushed to 2026.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on the DOJ and Treasury to clarify whether they’re investigating national security risks tied to decentralized exchanges like PancakeSwap and Uniswap. Her letter cites concerns about money laundering, North Korea-linked activity, and political influence. Response requested by Jan. 12, 2026.

DoorDash has permanently banned a driver accused of contaminating a customer’s food during a delivery in Indiana. Authorities say the woman claimed she used pepper spray to kill a spider, but investigators dismissed the explanation, citing winter temperatures that make outdoor spider activity unlikely. The suspect is now awaiting extradition while DoorDash says it is cooperating fully with law enforcement.

A woman in Evansville, Indiana, is facing felony charges after a DoorDash delivery allegedly left two customers vomiting and experiencing burning sensations. Investigators say doorbell camera footage shows the driver spraying a substance toward the food with a small aerosol can after completing the delivery. Police later identified the suspect through DoorDash records and obtained an arrest warrant on charges including consumer product tampering.

The AFT says the RFIA could allow companies to issue blockchain-based stocks without following traditional securities rules, undermining disclosures, registration requirements, and oversight. The union warns that blurring the line between regulated securities and crypto assets could leave long-term retirement portfolios more vulnerable, echoing similar concerns raised by the AFL-CIO.

The American Federation of Teachers has urged Senate Banking leaders to oppose changes to the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, warning the bill could legitimize crypto markets while weakening investor protections. The union argues the framework may expose teachers’ pension funds to volatile and poorly regulated digital assets, increasing risks of fraud and financial instability.

In a podcast interview, Elon Musk said he would not return to the Department of Government Efficiency, signaling a pivot back to running his companies. Reflecting on his time in government, Musk called the effort only “somewhat successful,” following a turbulent political chapter marked by controversy and public backlash.

As SpaceX remains private, demand for exposure continues to grow among retail investors. Platforms have already tested tokenized access, with Robinhood previously offering SpaceX-linked tokens to EU users, highlighting rising interest in alternative ways to invest ahead of a public listing.

SpaceX is reportedly aiming for a valuation of up to $1.5 trillion in what could become the largest IPO in history. Bloomberg reports the company may seek to raise more than $30 billion, fueled by rapid growth at Starlink and rising revenue projections through 2026.

Elon Musk effectively confirmed that SpaceX is preparing to go public after endorsing a journalist’s analysis predicting an imminent IPO. Responding on X, Musk said the report was “accurate,” signaling a major shift for the company that has long avoided public markets to focus on long-term space projects.

The introduction of wrapped XRP opens the door for XRP to be used across multiple blockchains and alongside Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. While industry leaders say demand for cross-chain XRP exposure is growing, the market reaction has been modest, with XRP gaining just over 1% in 24 hours as broader market conditions continue to dominate price action.