Air Arabia Accepts Crypto, Florida Eyes Tax Breaks, and Pakistan Bets Big on Bitcoin

Welcome to your weekly news recap, your go-to source for the biggest stories and developments that shaped the past 7 days. Whether you’ve been too busy to keep up or just want a quick, reliable summary, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Air Arabia Becomes First Regional Airline to accept crypto payments: The UAE-based budget airline is now letting passengers pay with digital currencies, marking a milestone for crypto adoption in the Middle East’s travel sector.
• Is Florida the first US state to eliminate capital gains tax on crypto?: A new proposal could make Florida a crypto tax haven, potentially removing capital gains taxes on digital asset transactions at the state level.
• Pakistan’s 2,000 MW Crypto Bet: Can Saqib Deliver the Future?: The government plans to allocate 2,000 megawatts of energy to power crypto mining and blockchain innovation. A bold national strategy led by Bilal Bin Saqib.
• Like a Thriller Movie: Crypto Investor Tortured for Bitcoin Password: In a disturbing incident, a crypto holder was kidnapped and physically tortured by attackers trying to steal his digital assets.
• Cetus to fully compensate users post $223 Million hack: The DeFi protocol is stepping up after a massive exploit, announcing it will repay all affected users in full following one of the year’s largest crypto breaches.
• $2.6M USDT Stolen in 3 Hours: Ethereum Address Poisoning Scam Exposed: Hackers used a sneaky scam that tricks users into copying fake wallet addresses, draining millions in USDT in just a few hours.
• From Ethereum to Solana: MetaMask Leads the Multi-Chain Shift: MetaMask now supports Solana, allowing users to manage assets across multiple blockchains in one place. A major move toward unified Web3 access.
• Kazakhstan legalizes cryptocurrency through licensed exchanges: The Central Asian nation embraces digital finance by approving regulated crypto trading platforms under government oversight.
• Thanks to America: Pakistan is moving toward a strategic Bitcoin reserve: Inspired by U.S. policy shifts, Pakistan plans to hold Bitcoin in a national wallet, not for trading, but as a long-term strategic asset.
• Migo’s Instagram hacked in 40 BTC ransom demand: Hackers took over the influencer’s Instagram account, demanding a 40 BTC ransom. A high-profile example of how crypto crimes are hitting public figures.

This week’s crypto news reflects a growing clash between innovation and vulnerability. As governments embrace Bitcoin reserves and airlines accept digital payments, the space is also battling hacks, scams, and ransom threats. Crypto is clearly entering the mainstream, but the question remains; can the industry scale securely while keeping its decentralized roots intact?