Crypto lender BlockFills temporarily suspended withdrawals for clients, while the Department of Homeland Security faced a potential shutdown due to stalled immigration talks, and two major ICE contractors reported record revenue in 2025, according to multiple news sources. These developments highlight ongoing challenges in the cryptocurrency market, immigration policy, and the financial performance of private prison companies.
BlockFills, a Chicago-based crypto trading platform, announced the suspension of deposits and withdrawals on Wednesday, citing the need to protect clients and the firm, according to Fortune. The company's decision was largely attributed to the current downturn in the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin's price has fallen approximately 48% from its all-time high in October, currently trading around $66,000, and is down roughly 29% in the past month, according to Binance. A spokesperson for BlockFills declined to provide further comment.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was on track to shut down Saturday as lawmakers left town without a funding agreement, according to NPR News. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that Democrats and Republicans were "not close" to a deal on DHS funding, though he believed a "deal space is there." The potential shutdown comes as Democrats sought to address concerns about the conduct of federal immigration officers.
In related news, two of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) largest contractors for building and managing detention centers reported record revenue in 2025, according to Time. GEO Group reported $2.6 billion in total revenue, up from $2.43 billion in 2024, while CoreCivic reported $2.2 billion, up from $1.96 billion. Both companies highlighted the rapid expansion of their facilities, marking it a significant factor in their financial success.
In other news, Instagram head Adam Mosseri's compensation came under scrutiny during a social media addiction trial against Meta and YouTube, according to Fortune. Mosseri revealed he is paid roughly $900,000 a year, with annual performance-based bonuses potentially reaching half his salary. He also receives stock-based pay, which has varied yearly but has been in the tens of millions of dollars.
Finally, Iranian exiles in Turkey are struggling to find news from home, according to NPR Politics. They are hearing chilling stories from relatives and receiving death threats themselves.
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