Community bankers are suing the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) over approvals of national trust bank charters for cryptocurrency companies.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) filed the lawsuit on October 2nd, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The suit challenges a March 2nd, 2026, final rule and related guidance that the group says improperly expands the OCC’s power to charter national trust banks for non-fiduciary activities, including substantial crypto operations.

The complaint seeks to overturn the rule and vacate the conditional approval granted to at least one crypto firm, Protego Holdings Corp.

The OCC has approved or conditionally approved 21 such charters, with at least 13 going to crypto companies.

“These approvals violate the law because they exceed the OCC’s statutory authority. They are also arbitrary and capricious because the OCC ignored warnings from commenters, including ICBA, that Protego and other crypto companies had severely flawed risk and control functions and governance structures that lack independent oversight. They are thus at serious risk of failure if the volatile cryptocurrency market crashes.”

According to the ICBA, the OCC’s decision to allow companies to obtain national trust bank charters to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authority Congress granted the agency.

Says ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey,

“Congress did not create the national trust charter as a side door into the banking system for crypto firms seeking the credibility of a federal bank charter without the Community Reinvestment Act obligations, consolidated supervision, capital and liquidity standards, and FDIC insurance that apply to insured depository institutions.”

The OCC’s final rule and Interpretive Letter No. 1176 “perversely regulate trust banks far more lightly than traditional banks, allowing entities engaged in highly risky cryptocurrency and digital assets activities to enter the banking system under the national trust charter rather than the more rigorously regulated traditional bank charter,” the lawsuit states.

Prior to the recent approvals, the OCC had never chartered a national bank that neither took deposits nor engaged in fiduciary activities.

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Cryptocurrency thefts are surging dramatically with two massive incidents pushing total losses to record levels for the month.

Security firm PeckShieldAlert says the industry experienced 55 major hacks resulting in $766.49 million in losses.

That figure represents a roughly 462% month-over-month increase from August’s $136.3 million.

The Bitget incident at about $387 million and the Liquid Network theft of about $320 million, with $285 million returned, have jumped to the top spots among the largest crypto thefts of the year to date.

Other notable incidents included an MEV bot yoink front-run at $7.81 million that was returned, along with Duelbits at $7 million and several smaller exploits with partial recoveries.

The top 10 list also featured Payment Processor V2 at $6.6 million with $3.4 million returned, DCENT Wallet at $6.57 million Astroport at $4.9 million Drop at $4.4 million NostraFinance at $3.5 million and Nomic nBTC Bridge at $3.15 million.

Earlier this month, PeckShield cited on-chain sleuth ZachXBT, saying Near (NEAR) Intents was hacked to the tune of $3.865M after its Binance Smart Chain (BSC) hot wallet witnessed multiple irregular outflows.

The exploiter has transferred the stolen funds to KuCoin and bridged them to BTC. The exploiter’s address has interacted with an address labeled NorthKorea LazarusGroup (0x098B7…E2f96)

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Banks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were used to deposit stolen checks, or to try to, and two more men have pleaded guilty.

Raymond Wade, 43, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and Dwayne Reddon, 40, of Trenton, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, reports News12 New Jersey.

The operation ran from March 2023 through June 2025.

Participants held themselves out as the people or businesses the checks named, often after obtaining business documents in those names or opening accounts that were not the real payees’, then split the proceeds.

The crew deposited or attempted to deposit more than 100 Treasury and commercial checks worth over $11 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey said on August 11th when it announced the first eight guilty pleas.

Many of the Treasury checks, not the full set, were Employee Retention Credit refunds, a pandemic-era IRS credit meant to help businesses keep workers.

Eight other defendants had already pleaded guilty.

Wayne Bessant, 45, of Hamilton, and Ryan Small, 33, of Ewing, are still charged, and those counts remain pending.

Wade is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17th, and Reddon on February 9th, 2027.

The conspiracy charge carries up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, which can be higher depending on the financial gain or loss.

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A New Jersey woman and her Colombian husband have been convicted of running a fake transit company that sought more than $13 million in federal funds meant for elderly, disabled and homeless Americans.

A federal jury in Utica, New York, found Jael Watts, 45, of Alloway, and Luis Pino-Copete, 42, of Bogota, Colombia, guilty in the scheme, says the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say the pair operated Pearl Transit Corporation, a New Jersey shell company that claimed to employ drivers nationwide for medical rides and homeless outreach while delivering no real services.

Between July 2019 and October 2025, they sought more than $13 million through false claims and took in more than $1.6 million from agencies in Georgia, California and North Carolina, according to the DOJ.

Trial evidence showed they built fake payrolls and client lists with stolen identities, including people who were already dead, and listed “drivers” who lacked licenses or had never driven a car.

Says Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division,

“The defendants fabricated payrolls and client lists, even using the identities of deceased individuals, to siphon millions meant for the most vulnerable Americans.”

Bank records showed more than $100,000 on Porsche rentals, more than $100,000 at luxury retailer Loro Piana in Manhattan and months of travel across Colombia, Aruba and Europe, the DOJ says.

Watts was convicted of false statement, aggravated identity theft and five counts of wire fraud, while both were also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy, false document and aggravated identity theft. At a January 21st, 2027 sentencing, each faces up to 20 years in prison, fines of up to $250,000 and at least $1.9 million in restitution, and Pino-Copete faces deportation after any prison term.

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A West Virginia woman has been charged with multiple felony fraud counts after she allegedly spent more than $50,000 using someone else’s debit card and transferring funds to Cash App.

The case involves $52,928.33 in 204 approved charges plus 219 attempted charges on a Mountain Valley Bank card, reports The Inter-Mountain.

According to a criminal complaint filed by West Virginia State Police, Jessica Fay Michaletz, 36, of Elkins faces 10 counts of fraudulent use of an access device.

Investigators say a replacement debit card mailed to an outdated address was used for a wave of Cash App transfers, and the bank had flagged about $40,000 when it called troopers.

Search warrant records allegedly linked one Cash App account to Michaletz through her West Virginia operator’s license, home address, Social Security number and IP address, while a second account used another person’s details on the same device.

Says Michaletz,

“What did I do? I used it. I did. I used it.”

Michaletz allegedly told troopers she found the card on the ground next to a mailbox and told friends the money came from gambling winnings.

She is being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a cash-only bond matching the alleged loss, with a preliminary hearing set for October 5th.

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Lyft has agreed to hand hundreds of millions of dollars to California drivers who say the company treated them as contractors instead of employees.

The settlement totals $272.5 million, including fees and costs, and resolves claims from the state attorney general, city attorneys, the labor commissioner and private plaintiffs covering April 5th, 2016, through December 15th, 2020.

At least $237,075,000 is reserved for drivers based on hours and miles driven, with payments allowed over four years plus up to $12.4 million in interest. Lyft booked a $210 million accrual in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“The lawsuit followed the introduction of the ‘ABC test:’ the groundbreaking legal test used to analyze the misclassification of workers, which was first adopted by the California Supreme Court in 2018 in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court and then codified into law under AB5. In the midst of litigation, Proposition 22 altered how the ABC test is applied to certain app-based drivers. Despite several appeals and changes in the law, the Attorney General and his partners remained resilient, winning every legal challenge in court and remaining steadfast in their demands for drivers’ deserved wages and protections.”

Says California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower,

“This settlement is about the workers who came forward and spoke up. Their voices made this outcome possible.”

In an SEC filing dated September 30th, Lyft says the deal is not an admission of liability and that resolving the matter now lets it avoid the costs and distraction of drawn-out litigation and keep management focused on its business goals. The attorney general announced the agreement today. The deal is still subject to court approval.

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Hundreds of thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries in the District of Columbia now face fraud risk after its Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) potentially exposed sensitive member data.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights says the District of Columbia’s DHCF experienced unauthorized access/disclosure that could affect 399,086 individuals.

According to DHCF, members of its Medicaid and DC Health Care Alliance (Alliance) enrolled between 2023 and July 2026 could have been impacted, as unauthorized entities may have accessed sensitive data hidden on its website.

“On July 21, 2026, DHCF learned that two reports on DHCF’s website contained hidden personal information that could be accessed by people who did not have permission to view it. These reports were intended to display only summary information about groups of people, such as enrollment counts and other statistics, and did not show anyone’s personal details on the screen. However, underlying personal information that supported these reports may have been reachable
by unauthorized users between 2023 and July 2026.

The information that could be seen may have included personal information, such as your, your child’s, or your family member’s Medicaid ID, date of birth, provider name, race gender, ward, or ethnicity. The information did not include Social Security numbers or financial account information.”

The DHCF says it abruptly removed the reports from the website while checking that its systems are safe and member information is protected. The agency also tells its members to ask a credit company to place a free alert on their credit report.

“DHCF has not learned that anyone looked at or used any of this information in the wrong way, but we are contacting you so you can understand what happened.”

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Cardano’s (ADA) recent price surge is running into fresh headwinds from fading trader interest and large-holder exits.

Futures open interest for ADA has dropped 9% over the past week, sliding from $1.99 billion to $1.81 billion as traders cut back on leveraged bets, says Ali Charts on X.

Whales also appear to be taking profits.

“Since September 20, large holders have offloaded roughly 90 million ADA, worth approximately $22.5 million, adding to the recent selling pressure.”

This decline in demand aligns with a Tom DeMark Sequential sell signal that appeared on Cardano’s daily chart.

“Since then, ADA has fallen 10%, and the correction may not be over yet.”

According to the analyst, a parallel channel on the daily chart points to $0.24 as the key mid-range support.

“If ADA loses that level, a move toward the channel’s lower boundary near $0.21 becomes likely.”

If $0.21 holds, it could present the next buying opportunity, targeting the channel top near $0.28.

Looking at Bitcoin, Ali says whales have cut their BTC holdings significantly over the last seven days.

“Most of the market has moved sideways over the past week. So what have whales been doing during the lull?

Bitcoin whale holdings have fallen by roughly 30,000 BTC, worth about $2.52 billion.

Large holders appear to be reducing their exposure.”

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Federal prosecutors have secured a guilty plea from a Boston man accused of using fake identification to drain hundreds of thousands of dollars from customer accounts.

William Shaw, 68, admitted to four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft in federal court, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

The defendant posed as at least 13 account holders from late 2022 into early 2025 by presenting forged driver’s licenses that carried the victims’ details alongside his own photograph.

He also submitted withdrawal forms listing the customers’ names and account numbers to obtain cashier’s checks and cash totaling more than $900,000.

Judge Julia E. Kobick set sentencing for January 6th, 2027, after Shaw was charged in January 2026.

Separately, authorities charged six additional men in July 2025 as part of a larger multi-state bank fraud investigation covering Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Three of those defendants have already entered guilty pleas and await sentencing, while another received a sentence in a connected case.

A bank fraud conviction carries up to 30 years in prison along with fines reaching $1 million or twice the amount gained or lost.

Each aggravated identity theft count requires at least two years in prison served consecutively to any other term.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney is handling the prosecution.

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A Wyoming orthopedic practice has disclosed a cyberattack that put the personal, financial and medical records of tens of thousands of people at risk.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Casper Orthopedic Associates PC suffered a hacking/IT incident on July 23rd, impacting 56,197 people.

In a notice to impacted individuals, the healthcare firm says an unauthorized entity accessed its systems and stole files that may include patients’ first names, last names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account records, and medical information.

“On or about May 23, 2026, Casper discovered it was the victim of a cyberattack by an unauthorized third party. Immediately upon identifying the incident, Casper engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to assess, contain, and remediate the incident. Law enforcement was also notified.

Casper’s investigation, which concluded on June 11, 2026, determined that the unauthorized party may have acquired sensitive information from Casper’s systems. Casper then undertook an in-depth review process of the impacted information to determine the impacted individuals and their address information, which was completed on September 2, 2026. As such, Casper notified those who are believed to be impacted on September 8, 2026.”

Casper says it has found no evidence that anyone’s information was specifically misused.

The practice has added safeguards and tightened physical security while urging affected patients to reach out to credit reporting agencies such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Casper Orthopedic Associates PC is an orthopedic practice based in Casper, Wyoming.

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An armored truck driver hired to load cash into ATMs has been accused of stealing $259,574 from the machines and spending the money on cars, a cruise and other purchases.

Federal prosecutors say Christopher Skinner, 41, formerly of Milford, New Hampshire, worked alone at ATM locations across the state and removed cash bundles before servicing the machines between February 2nd and February 26th of 2024.

A federal indictment charges Skinner with 18 counts of bank theft plus money laundering and conspiracy counts tied to two FDIC-insured banks. His partner, Amee Skinner, 37, formerly of Conway, faces related laundering counts. Both pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and are presumed innocent.

Prosecutors say cash deposits into the couple’s accounts rose sharply afterward, and funded the purchase of cars, a luxury cruise and other purchases.

“The defendants allegedly used the stolen funds to make substantial personal purchases, including $40,000 in cash for a 2019 GMC Sierra and $28,814 in cash for a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. According to the indictment, the defendants also used stolen funds to pay for additional travel, retail, and online purchases.”

If convicted, the Skinners face years in prison.

“The bank theft counts each carry a maximum prison term of 10 years. The money laundering counts carry a maximum prison term of 10 years, and the money laundering conspiracy count carries a maximum term of 20 years.”

The indictment was filed August 5th of 2026.

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U.S. prosecutors have seized nearly $84 million from bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets tied to a Montana payments firm linked to Tether.

The civil forfeiture targets Capstone, a money services business that allegedly posed as an information technology company to open accounts at major banks while moving money for crypto firms, reports Reuters.

Court filings say Capstone, registered in Montana, processed payments for two crypto companies through a bank in Dominica. Prosecutors say the firm also ran a scheme that converted fraud proceeds into crypto by posing as FBI agents.

Nearly $81 million was seized from Capstone accounts at Wells Fargo and about $2 million from an account at JPMorgan Chase. Roughly $1.2 million worth of Tether’s dollar-pegged token was taken as well, according to the July filing first reported by The Information.

Tether said it was a customer of the Dominica bank and that its assets there were limited. A spokesperson addressed Capstone’s alleged conduct.

“Tether had no knowledge of the conduct by Capstone alleged by the Department of Justice.”

The Justice Department did not allege wrongdoing by Tether or the other firms involved. Spokespeople for Wells Fargo and JPMorgan declined to comment.

A lawyer for Capstone told Reuters the firm denies wrongdoing and plans to challenge the complaint.

Tether issues USDT, a dollar-pegged cryptocurrency used to move value on crypto networks.

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October 2nd, 2026 – Singapore, Singapore

class=”ql-align-center”>With around 16% of AVA’s circulating supply already locked, the AVA Smart Program introduces new lock levels as part of a wider overhaul of AVA’s tokenomics.

The AVA Foundation and Travala today announced new standard lock levels for the AVA Smart Program, alongside a long-term goal of 30% of AVA’s circulating supply locked.

The AVA Smart Program, Travala’s crypto loyalty program, has more than 170,000 members, up 110% year on year as of August. Approximately 12.1 million AVA is now locked across the program and AVA+ Rewards, representing around 16% of the token’s circulating supply.

Travala, a crypto-native travel platform, has more than 1.87 million monthly active users and generated over $113 million in gross revenue in 2025. It sees more than 17,000 room nights, flights, car rentals, and activities booked every month.

From no earlier than 1 November 2026, new Smart memberships will require double the current AVA lock for every tier. Existing members keep their current requirements while their membership remains active, and can choose to move to the new levels after implementation to increase the AVA eligible for the AVA Smart Bonus. AVA Smart Bonus amounts remain 15% per year for Steel to Platinum and 20% for Diamond, subject to the program rules.

If all existing members moved to the new levels, locked AVA could reach approximately 20 million, around 27% of circulating supply, depending on the choices individual members make. The AVA Foundation’s long-term goal is 30%.

Steve Hipwell, AVA Foundation Lead Contributor, said: “Having 16% of AVA’s circulating supply locked within a travel loyalty program demonstrates genuine real-world utility. The new lock levels reward our existing members for being early, and give the whole community a clear long-term goal of 30% of circulating supply locked.”Juan Otero, Travala CEO, said: “More than 170,000 travellers are now part of the AVA Smart Program, and those who lock AVA get more from every trip they book with us. This update rewards everyone who has already made that commitment and gives our most loyal members the option to go further.”

The update follows last week’s launch of the AVA Permanent Strategic Reserve, under which Travala matches the AVA Foundation’s monthly open-market buybacks, doubling buyback volume. Travala’s matched tokens are held in a multisig reserve it has committed never to sell or transfer. In September, the two buybacks together repurchased 739,762 AVA, and more than 4.8 million AVA has been repurchased through the Foundation’s program to date.

See this article for full details, including tier requirements, grandfathering rules, and FAQs.

About AVA Foundation

The AVA Foundation oversees the AVA token ecosystem, including the AVA Smart Program, AVA token and Travel Tiger NFTs. The AVA token functions as the key to accessing the AVA Smart Program, which provides travel perks and other benefits to Travala customers, such as AVA payment discounts, AVA loyalty rewards and other benefits. AVA tokenises the concept of loyalty reward programs using blockchain technology, bringing web3 to traditional loyalty models. For more information, users can visit www.avafoundation.org.

About Travala

Founded in 2017 and now backed by industry giant Binance, Travala is the leading crypto-native travel booking service, offering 2,200,000+ properties across 230 countries, 600+ airlines, 50,000+ car rental locations and 400,000+ activities globally. Travala is a champion of cryptocurrency adoption, accepting over 100 leading cryptocurrencies alongside traditional payment methods. For more information, users can visit www.travala.com.

Important Information

This announcement describes planned changes to the AVA Smart Program, which may be adjusted. It is not financial or investment advice, and not an offer, solicitation or inducement to acquire, hold or lock AVA. AVA Smart Bonus amounts are subject to the program rules and may change; nothing here guarantees any token price or return. Locked AVA remains the member’s property and is not a deposit, investment product or interest-bearing account. Not directed at persons in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates or any jurisdiction where distribution would be unlawful.

Contact

Chief Marketing Officer
Sam Woollard
Travala
sam@travala.com

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Banks risk losing $230 billion in payments revenue as stablecoins, tokenized deposits and central bank digital currencies move into wider use, according to a survey conducted by IT services and consulting firm Capgemini.

Capgemini’s World Payments Report 2027 projects those instruments will make up about 4% of global payments volume by 2030, pressuring foreign exchange spreads, correspondent banking, float income and transaction fees that banks thrive on, says Capgemini.

The study says about $4 trillion sits trapped in accounts used to fund cross-border settlement. Nearly 60% of large corporates would take stablecoin services from non-banks if their banks fall behind, even though 71% still prefer banks for tokenized payments when cost and quality are equal.

Only 21% of banks are actively scaling at least one of these tools. Tokenized deposits ranked as banks’ top near-term priority because they stay on balance sheets and fit existing rules. Leaders that are already scaling are three times more likely to find new revenue streams and expect to offset losses in 15 months versus 25 months for other banks.

Capgemini’s global head of payment services Jeroen Hölscher framed the stakes for lenders.

“With $230 billion at stake, banks must decide what role they want to play in this emerging ecosystem.”

The report surveyed 1,110 corporates with more than $1 billion in revenue and 300 banking executives across nine markets. Capgemini is a global consulting and technology firm headquartered in Paris, France.

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The City of Sacramento is launching an $8 million guaranteed income program that will pay eligible foster youth $900 a month with no strings attached.

The city and United Way California Capital Region say the Foster Youth Guaranteed Income Program will send the money for up to two years, or until a recipient turns 25, whichever comes first.

Applications open October 1st of 2026 and close at 11:59 p.m. on October 31st of 2026. One hundred eligible applicants will be chosen by lottery, with notices starting the first week of November. Payments are set to begin January 15th of 2027.

Applicants must be ages 16 to 23 when payments start, live in the city or county of Sacramento, or be receiving homeless services there. They must be former foster youth who left care after age 16, or current foster youth within 90 days of leaving when payments start. Household income has to sit at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.

Recipients do not have to join any other services to keep the checks. They can spend the money as they choose.

The city is paying for the program with Measure L, the 2022 Sacramento Children’s Fund that requires the equivalent of 40% of local cannabis tax revenue to go to child and youth services.

United Way California Capital Region will run the program. The nonprofit has administered guaranteed-income pilots in the region since 2021.

Mayor Kevin McCarty addressed the funding.

“Supporting former foster youth as they transition into adulthood is an investment in their future and our community’s future. We’re putting our Measure L funding where it can have the greatest impact.”

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The Justice Department says UCLA’s law school discriminated against white and Asian applicants in its 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes.

The findings say the school violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Supreme Court’s 2023 ban on race in admissions.

The department says the school rejected white and Asian applicants who had the same LSAT scores as admitted black and Hispanic applicants.

In 2024 and 2025 combined, half of the admitted black applicants had LSAT scores at or below 90 percent of the admitted white applicants.

Investigators say the application still uses essays that draw out race, and staff told applicants how to reveal it at a “Diversity Admissions Open House.”

Says Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon,

“Like many of its peer institutions, UCLA Law School runs a two-tiered admissions system whose academic bar for acceptance shifts up or down depending on the color of your skin.

The use of race as a thumb on the scale that helps or disadvantages any student is illegal. The Department will continue to enforce equal treatment under the law everywhere — including in our nation’s law schools.”

UCLA Law is the law school at the University of California, Los Angeles. It takes federal money, which puts it under the civil rights rule.

The department says it will try to settle. If that fails, it will sue.

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People on Supplemental Security Income are getting two payments in October because the November check is arriving early.

The schedule from the Social Security Administration moves a payment to the prior business day when the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday.

November 1st is a Sunday, so the November payment is set for October 30th.

The regular October payment still goes out on October 1st. That is not an extra check.

Recipients get nothing on November 1st, then the next SSI payment is December 1st.

People on regular Social Security keep the usual birthday schedule. The early deposit is only for SSI.

People who get both can see three deposits in October, because the Social Security check still comes on its own date.

The maximum SSI payment in 2026 is $994 for an individual and $1,491 for a couple, with an average payment around $736.

SSI supports low-income Americans who are 65 or older, blind or disabled.

The same shift hits in December. January 1st, 2027 is a federal holiday, so that payment moves to December 31st.

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A dental patient has spent years mailing $1 payments after a bill came in at triple the out-of-pocket limit they say was set before treatment.

The Redditor told the dentist insurance was maxed out and they could only cover $400 with no extra work beyond that, then confirmed the cap again in the chair.

Staff later said the total was $1,200 and that the work had already been done, so that was the bill.

The patient paid the agreed $400 and was billed for the rest.

Dentist didn’t obey my limit and sent me big bill…
by u/DavidinCT in pettyrevenge

For about four and a half years they mailed $1 each month — enough to stay current and dodge late fees without clearing the disputed balance.

After the dentist died, the office called, heard the original dispute, wrote off what was left with no credit hit and apologized.

One commenter summed up the reaction.

“Health care billing in general is a scam.”

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A Hinge first date has ended with one person covering both meals after the other showed up more than an hour late, flirted with the server and walked out.

TikTok creator @christiancooks99 says the plan was for 6:30 near his apartment. He waited about 40 minutes with no reply, went home, then came back after she messaged around 8 p.m. that she had just arrived.

When he said he was 10 minutes away, she warned she would leave if he was not there by 8:30.

He said that after they sat down she complimented the server’s hair and jewelry in a way that felt openly flirtatious.

@christiancooks99#dating #relationships #storytime? original sound – christiancooks

He stepped away briefly. When he came back she had taken her food and gone. A napkin note said she headed to O’Tools to watch the game. Both checks were unpaid.

Viewers urged firmer boundaries next time.

“Have strict boundaries Christian, you seem kind and empathetic and many people can take advantage of that.”

Others said he should have left after the first long silence and never gone back.

He says she told him it was not nice to keep a lady waiting and she did not sound like she was joking.

When he asked why she was late, she said she had told him she would be. He said she never texted that.

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October 1st, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV

Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs announced the launch of more than 400 cryptocurrency ATMs across the United States.

The machines allow customers to purchase Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and USDC with cash at a stated flat 5% fee. Customers can also pre-register online before visiting an ATM.

Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs, a new nationwide low-fee Bitcoin ATM operator, launched today with an initial rollout of more than 400 Bitcoin ATMs across the United States, a footprint that places it amongst the largest Bitcoin ATM operators in the country on its first day. It also launched with a name that does most of the marketing department’s job for it. The brand charges a flat 5% Bitcoin ATM fee to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT or USDC with cash, displays the fee and exchange rate on screen before the customer confirms, and, as of today, lets first-time customers register online in about two minutes so they can skip onboarding at the machine entirely.

400+ Bitcoin ATM locations on day one

Most Bitcoin ATM operators in the U.S. run a few dozen machines. Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs opens with more than 400 Bitcoin ATM locations in the convenience stores, gas stations and shopping centers people already visit, with machines in Florida, California, Arizona and Texas among other states, as the first phase of a larger rollout.

“Four hundred machines is not a pilot. It’s a network,” said Quincy Mathis, Operations Manager at Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs. “We wanted to be one of the biggest Bitcoin ATM operators in the country on the day we opened, because a low fee only matters if there’s a machine near you. This is phase one.”

Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and USDC with cash: coins, limits and one fee

Every Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATM sells Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) for cash, all at the same 5% fee, all sent directly to the customer’s own wallet. No bank account or credit card is needed. The machines are non-custodial: the company never holds customer funds.

Bitcoin ATM daily limits are set by verification tier:

• Tier 1, phone number only: up to $2,000 per day
• Tier 2, government ID and Tax ID: up to $50,000 per day

Bitcoin ATM fees compared: what $1,000 buys

The typical Bitcoin ATM in the United States charges roughly 12% to 15% to buy, and some of the largest national brands charge 20% or more. Here is what that looks like when a customer walks up with $1,000 in cash:

Illustrative, based on posted percentage fees only and before exchange rate. Many operators add an exchange-rate markup on top of the posted fee; Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs shows both the fee and the rate on screen before a transaction is confirmed. Industry figures reflect publicly reported U.S. Bitcoin ATM fee ranges. See how the Bitcoin ATM fees compare.

At a 20% machine, one dollar in every five never becomes crypto. At Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs, it’s one in twenty. The name is not subtle; neither is a 20% fee.

“We wanted a rate people can look at on the receipt and feel good about, not one they have to make peace with,” said Quincy Mathis. “Five percent, shown up front, with the exchange rate right next to it. That’s the whole pitch.”

Stablecoin ATMs are becoming the way people send money overseas

A growing share of customers are using the machines as USDT and USDC ATMs, buying dollar pegged stable coins to send money to family and friends overseas and to pay suppliers and contractors abroad. A customer inserts cash, the stable coins arrive in the recipient’s wallet within minutes, and the recipient holds dollars they can keep or cash out locally. No wire counter, no multi-day wait, and no bank account needed to send.

That makes the fee gap matter more, not less. Someone sending $1,000 home once a month pays about $600 a year in fees at a 5% machine, $1,440 to $1,800 at a typical machine, and $2,400 at a 20% machine. The difference is real money to the people who can least afford to lose it, which is why low fees matter most to remittance customers.

“The people using stable coins to support family abroad are exactly the people who shouldn’t be paying 20% for the privilege,” said Quincy Mathis.

How to use a Bitcoin ATM: four steps, under two minutes, now with online pre-registration

New with today’s launch is online Bitcoin ATM pre-registration. First-time customers can pre-register online before they ever visit a machine, so the first visit is as fast as the tenth. At any of the 400+ machines, they simply enter their phone number.

1. Register online, once. About two minutes on a phone.
2. Walk up and enter your phone number. The machine recognizes you. No paperwork at the kiosk.
3. Pick a coin, scan your wallet, insert cash. Scan your wallet’s QR code and feed in the bills.
4. Check the screen and confirm. The fee and exchange rate are displayed before you press anything. Crypto lands in your wallet within minutes.

Customers who would rather register at the machine still can. It just takes a little longer, and the company would like to gently point out that it no longer has to. A full walkthrough of how a Bitcoin ATM works is on the company’s website.

Compliance, briefly

Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs is a FinCEN-registered money services business, and every machine operates in compliance with federal and state regulations. Customer data is encrypted, and transactions are non-custodial and irreversible. No government agency, bank, utility or tech-support line will ever ask anyone to pay them at a Bitcoin ATM; if someone does, it is a scam. Common questions are answered in the company’s Bitcoin ATM FAQ.

Find a low-fee Bitcoin ATM near you

Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs are live now at 400+ locations across the United States, with further phases of the rollout to follow. Customers can find a Bitcoin ATM near them and pre-register at lowestfeebitcoinatms.com. New customers can use code LOWEST at the machine for 20% off the transaction fee, which brings the fee on that $1,000 transaction down to $40.

About Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs

Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs is a nationwide low-fee Bitcoin ATM operator whose initial network of more than 400 machines ranks among the largest in the United States. Customers can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and USDC with cash for a flat 5% fee, with the fee and exchange rate displayed on screen before every transaction. The company is a FinCEN-registered money services business. Users can learn more at lowestfeebitcoinatms.com.

Contact

Marketing Director
Brian S. Smith
Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs
support@lowestfeebitcoinatms.com

The post Lowest Fee Bitcoin ATMs Announces Launch of More Than 400 ATMs Nationwide appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Federal prosecutors say they’ve obtained a guilty plea from an Ohio resident who ran a fraudulent investment scheme that stole more than $3 million from victims across two states.

John E. Brown II, 45, of Brecksville, Ohio, pleaded guilty on September 29th, to 17 counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminal proceeds, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

The scheme centered on nonexistent bundled tickets to sporting events and theme parks that Brown falsely portrayed as fluctuating in value like stocks and doubling through splits.

Victims wired funds after seeing fake documents and actors posing as successful investors, yet Brown moved roughly $1.375 million to casinos for personal gambling.

Three victims lived in Berea, Mayfield Heights and North Royalton, Ohio, while two others resided in Cape Coral and Orlando, Florida.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison term, while each money laundering count allows up to 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for January 7th, 2027.

The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigation.

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The post Ohio Resident Admits to Orchestrating $3,000,000 Fake Ticket Investment Fraud Scheme appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A Connecticut hotel management company has disclosed a data security incident that may have exposed Social Security numbers, financial details and medical information.

Waterford Hotel Group, LLC and LMD Holding Company, LLC say they identified suspicious activity on certain computer systems on May 5th of 2026, then confirmed that an unknown actor gained access and was able to view or download data.

The types of information on the impacted systems vary by person and may include names, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, taxpayer IDs, financial account information, payment card details, usernames and passwords, medical information and health insurance information.

Waterford says there is no indication of any actual or attempted identity theft or fraud tied to the event.

The company posted an official notice and said it notified potentially affected people after finishing its review of what was impacted.

Waterford encouraged people to review account statements and credit reports for suspicious activity and to promptly report anything unusual to their bank or card issuer.

People seeking more information can call 1-888-940-9724.

Waterford Hotel Group is a hospitality management firm based in Waterford, Connecticut.

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The post Connecticut Hotel Operator Data Breach Puts SSNs, Financial and Medical Records at Risk appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A Connecticut bank customer has lost $89,000 after someone allegedly completed an unauthorized in-person wire transfer from his account.

Westport police charged a 38-year-old Brooklyn, New York man in the case, reports Patch.

John Hammonds, 38, was arrested Monday on first-degree larceny and third-degree identity theft charges and remains in custody in lieu of $70,000 bail.

Police say the victim’s bank alerted him that someone made an unauthorized in-person wire transfer of $89,000 from one of his accounts to an unaffiliated account in January of 2025.

Investigators identified Hammonds as a suspect after Westport police said he conducted the transaction at an M&T Bank branch in New York while representing himself as the victim.

Westport police obtained an arrest warrant, and on August 20th the department was notified that New Jersey authorities held Hammonds and planned to extradite him to Connecticut on unrelated charges.

After extradition, Westport detectives charged him and he was arraigned in Stamford Superior Court, with his next court date set for November 9th.

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The post New York Man Accused of Draining $89,000 From Connecticut Account With In-Person Wire Transfer appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Americans who overpaid for certain generic drugs can now file for a share of about $96.5 million.

A multistate coalition led by Michigan says a federal court in Connecticut this month gave preliminary approval to a plan that splits funds from Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage and Heritage’s parent Emcure.

Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan is telling shoppers who bought listed generics from May of 2009 to December of 2019 to check the site and file.

Attorney General Nessel says consumers who paid high generic prices because companies put profits over fairness are now entitled to compensation.

“Consumers who paid the high price of generic drugs because companies placed profits over fairness are now entitled to compensation.

This settlement holds companies accountable for conspiring to inflate drug prices. If you purchased certain generic medications during the covered period, I encourage you to check your eligibility and file a claim. My office is committed to putting money back into the hands of those it belongs to: the consumers.”

Eligible buyers can file at AGGenericDrugs.com, call 1-866-290-0182 or email info@AGGenericDrugs.com.

The states have been pursuing the price-fixing cases since 2016.

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The post Americans Can File for a Share of $96,500,000 in Generic Drug Price-Fixing Settlements appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Customers at a lender in Wyoming are still seeing surprise pending charges and balances that do not match a week after accounts came back from a cyberattack.

Hilltop Bank restored personal systems after an outage tied to the incident, but delayed transactions from that stretch are still posting, reports Cowboy State Daily.

Alyssa Schwindt of Casper said $519 in pending charges to her cellphone provider, AutoZone and Walmart showed up even though she had already paid those bills.

She tried to withdraw $1,500 for rent and was told only about $1,100 was available because of those floating transactions.

Annastacia Potter of Glenrock said a backlog of charges hit after the systems returned, leaving her husband unable to pay for a meal on the road, and that the bank canceled payments to wedding vendors.

Hilltop spokesman Bill Salvin said the charges were delayed in posting but should not have been a surprise.

“The charges were delayed in posting to accounts. However, they should not have been unanticipated.”

Salvin said customers who kept accurate records have not been affected, and the bank has no evidence customer data was compromised after the systems were restored.

The outage began on September 8th of 2026. Personal mobile banking returned on September 21st. Full personal systems came back on September 22nd.

The bank says it will work with overdrawn customers and reimburse late fees.

Its last update, on September 24th, said no further updates were expected now that systems are up.

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The post Wyoming Bank Customers Still Seeing Surprise Charges a Week After Cyber Outage appeared first on The Daily Hodl.