Hackers tried to break into Binance and Kraken using the same tactics that led to a breach at Coinbase, but both exchanges reportedly fended off the attempts without losing customer data.

Starting January 1, 2026, cryptocurrency platforms operating in the United Kingdom will be legally required to report data on every customer transaction under new rules aimed at boosting tax reporting.

El Salvador’s bitcoin holdings have surged to more than $357 million in unrealized gains as the cryptocurrency approaches its all-time high, President Nayib Bukele said on social media.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Binance and Kraken Thwart Hack Attempt Mirroring $20M Coinbase Breach
• UK to Mandate Crypto Firms Report Every Customer Transaction Starting 2026
• El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Show $357M Paper Gain 

Binance and Kraken Thwart Hack Attempt Mirroring $20M Coinbase Breach

Hackers tried to break into Binance and Kraken using the same tactics that led to a breach at Coinbase, but both exchanges reportedly fended off the attempts without losing customer data.

The attackers reportedly used social engineering to try to gain access to internal systems. At Coinbase, the strategy worked: hackers used bribes to convince employees to leak customer data, demanding a $20 million ransom to delete it. Stolen information included names, birthdates, ID numbers and account balances.

Binance reportedly uses AI bots to detect and shut down suspicious messages in multiple languages and limits access to sensitive data unless a customer initiates a request. 

Rival cryptocurrency exchanges informed Coinbase that hackers were targeting large cryptocurrency holders on its platform. Coinbase has detailed it found unusual activity from its customer service representatives as far back as January.

UK to Mandate Crypto Firms Report Every Customer Transaction Starting 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, cryptocurrency platforms operating in the United Kingdom will be legally required to report data on every customer transaction under new rules aimed at boosting tax reporting.

The UK’s tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, said crypto firms must gather detailed information on users, including full names, home addresses, tax identification numbers and specifics about the digital assets traded. This applies to every transfer or trade made on the platform. Entities like trusts and charities will also fall under the rule's scope.

Noncompliance could trigger penalties of up to £300 ($398) per user. To avoid this, authorities are urging companies to begin collecting data now, even though technical guidance will be provided at a later date.

The mandate is part of the UK’s adoption of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Cryptoasset Reporting Framework, a global initiative to plug tax gaps in crypto transactions by enhancing cross-border transparency.

About 12% of UK adults owned crypto in 2024, up from 4% in 2021, according to the country’s Financial Conduct Authority. 

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Show $357M Paper Gain

El Salvador’s bitcoin holdings have surged to more than $357 million in unrealized gains as the cryptocurrency approaches its all-time high, President Nayib Bukele said on social media.

According to Bukele, El Salvador's bitcoin portfolio now stands at $644.4 million, up from an initial investment of $287.1 million, representing a 124% gain. Of that, nearly $70 million in gains have come in 2025 alone. 

The Central American nation currently holds 6,181 BTC, the country’s bitcoin office confirmed.

Despite a recent financing agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that pushed El Salvador to scale back some of its bitcoin initiatives, Bukele remains committed to buying more. 

In January, lawmakers passed a bill that made bitcoin acceptance optional for businesses, part of a broader compromise to secure international funding.

El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, with Bukele arguing that crypto could drive financial inclusion. The country has continued to add to its stash through market buys and automated dollar-cost averaging.

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