Zack Abrams
Zack Abrams is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. Before coming to The Block, he was the Head Writer at Coinage, a Web3 media outlet covering the biggest stories in Web3. The story he co-reported on Do Kwon won a 2022 Best in Business Journalism award from SABEW. Other projects included a deep dive into SBF's defense based on exclusive documents and unveiling the identity of the hacker behind one of 2023's biggest crypto hacks — so far. He can be reached via X @zackdabrams or email, [email protected].
25 articles
Liquid Launches Co-Invest App for AI-Powered Trade Execution
Liquid introduces its Co-Invest application, enabling live trade execution using AI for various asset classes, as reported by The Block. The app supports over 500 markets, including crypto and pre-IPO assets.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
CFTC Under Scrutiny for Staff Purge Linked to Trump-Tied Crypto Firms
An investigation by The New York Times claims that officials at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) dismissed staff who raised concerns about three crypto firms linked to Donald Trump. The officials involved have since moved on to positions at MoonPay and Gemini Titan.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Vitalik Buterin Discusses Ethereum Foundation's Future Direction
Vitalik Buterin indicates that the Ethereum Foundation will become more focused and sell less ETH, prioritizing longevity over broader outreach. This statement reflects concerns arising from a noted exodus of researchers, as reported by The Block.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
StablR’s EURR and USDR Depeg After $13.5 Million Minting Exploit
An attacker exploited a multisignature vulnerability in StablR, leading to the minting of $13.5 million in unbacked tokens, causing EURR and USDR to depeg, according to The Block. EURR dropped to $0.85 and USDR fell to $0.40 as a result of an estimated $10.4 million dumped on decentralized exchanges.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
ECB Warns EU Finance Ministers on Euro Stablecoin Regulation
The Block reports that ECB President Christine Lagarde cautioned EU finance ministers against easing euro stablecoin regulations. She emphasized that such changes could destabilize bank funding and weaken the effectiveness of interest rate transmission.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
FTX's Former Law Firm and Auditor Settle for $66 Million Over Fraud Claims
Fenwick & West, the law firm representing FTX, has agreed to pay $66 million to settle customer claims of fraud. The firm denies any wrongdoing and continues to face a separate $525 million lawsuit in Washington, as reported by The Block.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams·3
BlackRock's IBIT Fund Holds $61.1 Billion Amidst ETF Outflows
According to The Block, BlackRock's IBIT fund manages $61.1 billion in net assets, amid significant outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). During a challenging week, these ETFs recorded a loss of $1.26 billion, marking their worst performance since late January, as Ether funds continue a streak of outflows for ten consecutive days.
last month·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Alleged Forsage Co-Founder Extradited, Pleads Not Guilty in Ponzi Case
Vladimir Okhotnikov, linked to the Forsage Ponzi scheme, has been extradited from Thailand and pleaded not guilty to charges involving over $340 million in fraudulent activity, according to The Block.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
House Agriculture Leaders Call for CFTC Appointments as CLARITY Act Advances
House Agriculture leaders are urging President Trump to appoint new commissioners to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as the CLARITY Act progresses in the Senate, according to The Block. Currently, CFTC Chair Michael Selig serves as the sole commissioner due to four vacant seats since December, pending new nominations.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
VanEck and Grayscale Amend BNB ETF Applications in Spot ETF Race
VanEck and Grayscale have submitted amendments to their applications for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on Binance Coin (BNB), according to The Block. This move marks a noticeable escalation in the competition to launch the next altcoin spot ETF, with Canary Capital also progressing on a staked TRX ETF.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Morgan Stanley Bitcoin ETF Secures $194 Million in First Month
Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF attracted $194 million within its first month, according to The Block. The bulk of the investment came from self-directed clients, as the bank's financial advisors are not yet authorized to recommend the fund.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Digital Asset Plans $300 Million Fundraise to Expand Canton Network
Digital Asset seeks to raise $300 million, aiming for a $2 billion valuation, according to The Block. This fundraising round marks the company's largest to date and reflects the growing interest in the Canton Network, which has gained partnerships with major players like Visa and Goldman Sachs.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Aave Transfer of $71 Million ETH Approved Despite North Korea Legal Claims
The Block reports that a recent order permits the transfer of $71 million in Ethereum for Aave, despite ongoing legal claims from North Korean creditors related to terrorism. The court order protects those who support the transfer from potential violations of any freeze on the funds, although the overall status of the assets remains uncertain.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
BoE’s Bailey Warns of UK Risks from US Stablecoin Regulations
Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, cautions about the potential influx of hard-to-redeem U.S. stablecoins into the UK during financial crises, according to The Block. He notes that this situation may lead to regulatory conflicts between the U.S. and the UK regarding stablecoin oversight.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
LayerZero Apologizes for Kelp DAO Incident, Admits Verifier Flaw
LayerZero has issued a public apology regarding its response to an exploit involving Kelp DAO, acknowledging errors linked to its single-verifier setup. The company also revealed a separate incident involving a multisig signer executing a personal trade using a production hardware wallet, as reported by The Block.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
New York AG Settles with Uphold for $5 Million Over Yield Product Promotion
On October 6, 2023, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $5 million settlement with Uphold, marking the state's first enforcement action against a platform promoting a crypto yield product not directly issued by it, according to The Block.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
Creditors Seek to Seize Kelp DAO ETH Frozen on Arbitrum
Families holding terrorism judgments against North Korea are pursuing a claim to seize Ethereum assets associated with Kelp DAO, which is currently frozen on Arbitrum. The Block reports that these plaintiffs are not victims of the Kelp DAO hack, but are instead attempting to collect on unresolved debts owed by North Korea.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
BlackRock Opposes Proposed Tokenized Reserve Cap in OCC Comments
BlackRock recently voiced its opposition to a proposed 20% cap on tokenized reserve assets through a comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The asset manager argues that such a limitation would hinder investment products like its BUIDL fund, potentially stalling innovation in the asset management space, according to The Block.
2 months ago·The Block·Reported by Zack Abrams
