Crypto Recap: Nvidia Eyes $10B Anthropic Bet, Blockstream Refuses Liquid Hacker Ransom

Three stories shaped the crypto conversation this week, spanning AI investment, banking restructuring, and a high-stakes ransomware standoff. Nvidia is reportedly in talks to invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic ahead of what could become the largest IPO in history. According to Reuters, citing anonymous sources familiar with the negotiations, Anthropic is targeting a valuation near $2 trillion through an offering that could raise as much as $100 billion. The chipmaker's involvement would secure an early strategic backer for the AI firm, which is already a major Nvidia customer. Anthropic declined to comment, while Nvidia had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

In Switzerland, crypto financial services firm Bitcoin Suisse announced plans to relocate up to half of its domestic workforce overseas as part of an international expansion strategy. The Zug-based company, founded in 2013, could shift up to 60 of its 120 Swiss positions to lower-cost hubs in Bratislava and Vietnam. CEO Andrej Majcen told Finews that the move is driven primarily by cost considerations rather than weakness in the crypto market, with affected roles concentrated in back-office and administrative functions. The restructuring supports Bitcoin Suisse's broader push into wealth and asset management services beyond its core trading, custody, staking, and lending offerings.

Blockstream, meanwhile, is refusing to negotiate with hackers who still hold funds stolen during the 2021 Liquid Network breach. The Bitcoin infrastructure firm issued a statement Friday declaring that "taking assets without authorization and withholding their return is a crime, not responsible disclosure." The hackers, who extracted roughly 600 BTC from the sidechain settlement network four years ago, are reportedly demanding payment for the return of remaining assets. Blockstream's hardline stance signals a growing reluctance among crypto firms to engage with threat actors, even as stolen holdings continue to appreciate in value amid Bitcoin's recent rally past $77,000.