Cybercriminals stole over $1 billion in 2023 with the help of ransomware, writes Boomberg, referring to a report by the analytical platform Chainalysis.Cybercriminals infect the victim's computer or network with malicious software that blocks access to files or the system, and then demand a ransom in cryptocurrency from the user for restoring access to data.Among the victims of cybercriminals were such large companies as the oil and gas giant Shell, US government agencies, British Airways, Caesars Entertainment casino, Bloomberg reports. The Cl0p group received more than $100 million in ransom money by attacking the popular file transfer application MOVE It.

In total, as a result of hacking and fraud, the crypto industry suffered losses of $1.8 billion in 2023, according to a report by the Immunefi analytical platform.

Tether, the operator of the largest USDT stablecoin, has announced investments in the Oobit mobile payment application. The Series A financing round with a total value of $25 million, led by the Tether investment division, was attended by leaders of the crypto industry and strategic investors. Among the well—known participants are the Titan Fund of CMCC Global, 468 Capital and Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana.The Oobit mobile application allows cryptocurrency owners to make contactless payments for goods and services in more than 100 million stores worldwide that accept Visa and Mastercard. In the future, Oobit will ensure that sellers receive fiat currency, similar to paying with a credit card by customers.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said that the investment in Oobit confirms the company's "commitment to attracting new users to the cryptocurrency ecosystem."

Matrixport has published an analytical report in which it called February a favorable month for investing in bitcoin.

Analysts refer to the seasonal pattern of the last ten years, from which it follows that February is a favorable month for investing in bitcoin. In seven out of ten cases, the yield of the first cryptocurrency in February averaged 8%. "Despite the positive profitability, the dynamics in certain months usually remains moderate," Matrixport clarifies.According to Matrixport analysts, the fourth quarter of the year has historically been the best for bitcoin, whose profitability during this period averaged 20%. The second quarter is also considered a good time to invest in bitcoin, with an average return of 15%. Bitcoin has shown mixed results in the first and third quarters. January is usually considered one of the weakest months for bitcoin, with an average yield of 1%. But in February, the average yield is 8%.

Earlier, Matrixport announced the beginning of the fifth bullish cycle in the crypto market. According to Matrixport, the cryptocurrency market is on the threshold of the fifth bull cycle, and the bitcoin exchange rate may rise to $125 thousand by the end of 2024.

Marcus Thielen of 10x Research allowed bitcoin to grow above $52 thousand. by the end of the first quarter of 2024, CoinDesk writes. The analyst, who in mid-January predicted the recent decline of bitcoin to $38 thousand, believes that the slowdown in the outflow of funds from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and the advertising of bitcoin ETFs on Google may contribute to further growth of the first cryptocurrency.

In his forecasts, Thielen uses Elliott theory, which assumes that asset prices move in waves. According to this theory, the trend develops in five waves, of which the first, third and fifth are the "impulse waves" of the main trend. The rest are "pullback waves", which mean a temporary stop of the main trend.