April 4, 2025. The U.S. Treasury just sanctioned crypto wallets tied to both a Russian exchange and the Houthi movement, signaling that crypto is officially part of the geopolitical battlefield. Meanwhile, crypto theft just hit $1.67 billion in Q1 alone, making it the worst quarter on record. We break down how it happened, what it means, and why it's not just bad code; it's a wake-up call. Plus, college athletes are cashing in with crypto under new NIL rules, and Fidelity rolls out crypto IRAs.

This is your essential update on the forces shaping the future of money.

Stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

US sanctions 8 crypto wallets tied to Garantex exchange and Yemeni Houthis, by Adrian Zmudzinski, Cointelegraph.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-sanctions-crypto-wallets-garantex-houthis

Bybit Heist Fuels Record Crypto-Theft Surge, Says CertiK, by Kevin Poireault, Infosecurity Magazine.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/record-crypto-theft-certik-bybit/

How NCAA Rules Impact the Use of Cryptocurrency in NIL Deals, Business of College Sports.

https://businessofcollegesports.com/name-image-likeness/how-ncaa-rules-impact-the-use-of-cryptocurrency-in-nil-deals/

Fidelity Revolutionizes Retirement Savings with Direct Crypto Investments, Blockhead.

https://www.blockhead.co/2025/04/03/fidelity-revolutionizes-retirement-savings-with-direct-crypto-investments/

Fidelity Crypto® for IRAs product page: https://www.fidelity.com/crypto/retirement-ira

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti