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Showing posts from January, 2024

China’s AML Legal Framework Set to Target Cryptocurrency Transactions in Major Update

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As part of its ongoing efforts to modernize financial regulations, China is revising its Anti-Money Laundering laws to include stringent measures against cryptocurrency-related transactions. This revision, the first since 2007, aims to plug the legal gaps exploited in the burgeoning world of digital currencies. China to Tighten Grip on Digital Assets With Revised Anti-Money Laundering Law China is set to overhaul its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, incorporating cryptocurrency-related transactions into its regulatory framework. This major revision, according to an article in Jiemian.com , is the first since 2007 and comes amid increasing concerns over the use of digital assets in money laundering activities. Prime Minister Li Qiang chaired a key executive meeting of the State Council on Jan. 22, to address the revised AML law. The initial draft for this revision was first proposed in June 2021 and later included in the 2023 legislative work plan of the State Council. The final la

SEC Moves to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Crypto Company Debt Box, Citing Inaccuracies in Court

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The SEC has decided to abandon its lawsuit against Debt Box, a crypto company previously accused of defrauding investors of millions. This decision follows the SEC’s acknowledgment of presenting misleading information in court, a revelation that undermines the agency’s case and credibility. Inaccuracies in Court Lead SEC to Drop Fraud Case Against Crypto Firm Debt Box The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has requested to dismiss its lawsuit against crypto startup Debt Box. The decision comes after the SEC admitted to making inaccurate statements in court. The lawsuit, initially filed against Digital Licensing Inc., which does business as Debt Box, accused the company of defrauding investors of at least $49 million. The SEC claimed that Debt Box offered “node licenses” for mining cryptocurrencies that were never actually mined. This action was part of a broader crackdown by the SEC on cryptocurrency firms, under the leadership of Chair Gary Gensler who has repeatedly s

Fed Maintains Interest Rates, Seeks ‘Greater Confidence’ on Inflation Goal; Bitcoin and Gold Hold Steady

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On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2023, the U.S. Federal Reserve opted to maintain the federal funds rate unchanged. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) additionally stated that the committee “does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation” is steadily approaching the 2% mark. As benchmark equity indices experienced declines, the price of bitcoin remained unaffected. Fed Holds Rate Steady, Aiming for ‘Greater Confidence’ in Inflation Control The U.S. central bank has resolved to maintain the federal funds rate between 5.25% and 5.5% until the forthcoming FOMC meeting. The Fed observed that recent signs indicate a robust expansion of economic activity. It acknowledged that while job growth has slowed compared to the early part of last year, it continues to be strong, and the unemployment rate has stayed low. Although inflation has moderated over the previous year, it continues to be higher than desired. “In support o

New York Community Bancorp Grapples With 40% Share Drop Following Disappointing Earnings Report

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New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) faced significant challenges on Wednesday, with its shares plummeting by over 40%, prompting a halt in trading. Currently, NYCB shares have experienced a decline of just above 36%, trading at $6.61 per share. Last Year’s Banking Fears Resurface as NYCB Faces Harsh Earnings Reality Financial challenges have resurfaced with New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYCB ), the entity that acquired Signature Bank , witnessing a steep decline in its stock value during Wednesday’s trading. The shares of NYCB nosedived over 40% against the U.S. dollar following the bank’s recent earnings announcement . The financial organization has declared firm measures to bolster capital, fortify its balance sheet, and enhance its risk management practices as the company enters the realm of $100 billion large banks. *NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP PLUNGES BY RECORD 44% AT THE OPEN https://t.co/SW7aEJTjRM — zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 31, 2024 For the quarter ending Dec.

Invesco and Galaxy Slash Fees in Competitive Spot Bitcoin ETF Market

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Responding to the fierce competition in the spot bitcoin ETF market, Invesco and Galaxy Asset Management have lowered the long term fee of their joint BTCO fund, positioning it more competitively against sector heavyweights. Invesco and Galaxy ETF Fee Slashed in Response to Intense Market Competition In a strategic move to gain traction in the highly competitive spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, Invesco and Galaxy Asset Management have reduced the fee for their joint spot bitcoin ETF, the Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO). This decision, announced on Monday , marks the latest move in the ongoing fee war amongst issuers of this new financial product. The fee reduction brings BTCO’s expense ratio down from 0.39% to 0.25%. Additionally, Invesco has announced a waiver of these fees for the first six months or until the ETF reaches $5 billion in assets under management (AUM). This aggressive pricing strategy aims to bolster the fund’s appeal among investors and compete mor

What is IPFS? Interplanetary File System: Complete Beginner’s Guide

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IPFS stands for Interplanetary File System and it is an open-source, peer-to-peer distributed hypermedia protocol that aims to function as a ubiquitous file system for all computing devices. It is a complex and highly ambitious project with some serious and profound implications on the future development and structure of the Internet as we know it. Quick Summary IPFS aims is a distributed file system and hypermedia protocol to address issues with the current HTTP-based web, such as inefficient content delivery, high costs, centralization leading to censorship, and lack of permanence. IPFS allows asking peers on the network for content instead of downloading from a central server. This enables efficient distribution, versioning history, persistent availability, and content integrity. IPFS combines concepts from BitTorrent, Git, and systems like Kademlia. Content is uniquely identified by cryptographic hashes, allowing tamper-proof decentralization. The use of Merkle DAGs allows

Super Bowl 58 Wagers Heat up — 49ers Lead as Crypto Betting Markets Favor Their Victory

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In just under two weeks, the National Football League (NFL) champions of the American Football Conference (AFC), the Kansas City Chiefs, and their counterparts from the National Football Conference (NFC), the San Francisco 49ers, will clash in the much-anticipated Super Bowl 58. As of right now, various cryptocurrency betting platforms indicate a preference for the 49ers to emerge victorious in the championship showdown. 49ers Edge Out Chiefs in Crypto Betting Markets On February 11, 2024, a showdown is set between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, sparking a surge in betting activity. Crypto enthusiasts have also been actively wagering on the NFL’s forthcoming title match, with the 49ers emerging as the nominal frontrunner for victory. Polymarket , the decentralized prediction market operating on Polygon, suggests that the 49ers hold a 52% likelihood of victory, while the Chiefs are close behind with a 48% chance. As of Jan. 30, 2024, wagers

Areon Gears up for Mainnet Integration on Exchanges by Jan 31

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PRESS RELEASE. Crypto enthusiasts hold their breath as excitement builds around the upcoming integration of Areon Network ‘s new layer 1 chain with major exchanges. Scheduled for January 31 at 14:00 UTC , the integration marks a significant milestone for the project, the resumption of trading for its native token: $AREA. Prior to mainnet launch on January 12 , AREA was a token on the Binance Smart Chain ( BSC ) and was readily available for trading on several exchanges. Now this EVM-compatible chain with a unique consensus mechanism awaits the integration to popular exchanges. Waiting for the Integration The integration process led to a temporary halt in buying and selling $AREA. The pause has undoubtedly piqued the interest of investors , creating a sense of anticipation. The market has been boiling with intense pressure and the date January 31 will be the huge release of tension that the investors are eagerly expecting. What to Expect on January 31 Once the integrat

9 Newly Launched Spot Bitcoin ETFs Accumulate BTC Holdings Worth Nearly $6 Billion

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Current data reveals that Blackrock’s IBIT spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) currently possesses 52,025.76 bitcoin, with a total value of $2.18 billion. Furthermore, Fidelity’s FBTC has increased its bitcoin holdings, now standing at 46,238.09 bitcoin as of Jan. 29, 2024. Blackrock Snags 52,025 Bitcoin, While Fidelity Now Holds 46,238 Several of the nine new spot bitcoin ETFs have amassed even more bitcoin, as indicated by their recent company statements. Excluding Grayscale’s GBTC, Blackrock’s IBIT takes the lead as the largest spot BTC ETF in terms of bitcoin holdings. On Jan. 29, the web portal displayed that the fund holds 52,025.76 BTC . Fidelity has also bolstered its FBTC holdings, rising from 43,855.14 BTC on January 26 to the current 46,238.09 BTC . The third-largest spot bitcoin ETF, Ark Invest’s 21shares fund, known as ARKB, holds a substantial 14,390 BTC . Following closely is Bitwise ETF BITB, which now possesses 13, 576.10 bitcoin, as reported by onchain data

Hong Kong to Strenghten OTC Crypto Market Regulation

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Hong Kong will now focus on regulating over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency trading, according to local sources. Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan Ho-lim stated that the government will aim to mitigate the risks of virtual assets amidst the rising interest of mainland investors using the city as a bridge to invest in crypto assets. Hong Kong to Push Stronger Regulation for Crypto OTC Desks Hong Kong is preparing to strengthen its regulatory framework for over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency operations. According to local reports , the decision has been influenced by the influx of Chinese mainland investors to the Hong Kong market who use the city as a bridge for these investments. Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan Ho-lim stated that with these actions, Hong Kong authorities will aim to mitigate the potential risks of virtual assets while providing transparency for the users investing in these assets. Earlier rep

Market Strategist Gareth Soloway Eyes $15K Bitcoin in Event of Stock Market Slide

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In a recent interview with Gareth Soloway, the chief market strategist at verifiedinvesting.com, Soloway suggested that bitcoin might revisit the $15K level should a significant stock market sell-off occur. Soloway Predicts Potential Bitcoin Dip to $15K Two days ago, in a freshly released Youtube video, Gareth Soloway of verifiedinvesting.com engaged in a new interview with Michelle Makori, Kitco News’ lead anchor and editor-in-chief, delving into bitcoin’s latest trends and its potential future trajectory. Soloway shared insights on his approach to analyzing various data sets for forecasting future trends and drawing conclusions. He highlighted the alignment of the 2017 and 2021 bitcoin bull markets with significant events: the introduction of regulated bitcoin futures in 2017 and the Coinbase initial public offering (IPO) in 2021. Soloway said: These big news stories create so much hype and the top in bitcoin. For Soloway, the current bitcoin price level and its recent do

Coinbase Nears Historic 1 Million Bitcoin Milestone Amid Rise in Reserves and ETF Activity

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Recent data reveals Coinbase Global is on the brink of holding 1 million bitcoins, requiring just an additional 5,019 bitcoins to cross this significant milestone. In the preceding fortnight, Coinbase has witnessed its bitcoin reserves grow by 16,404 bitcoins, inching closer to this noteworthy threshold. Coinbase on Cusp of 1 Million Bitcoin Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN ) is edging nearer to the 1 million bitcoin mark, currently possessing 994,981 BTC valued at $42.17 billion. Trailing only behind Satoshi Nakamoto , Coinbase stands as the most substantial bitcoin holder in the industry. Over the recent two weeks , the exchange observed a deposit of 16,404 bitcoins, amounting to $694 million. Meanwhile, Coinbase Pro, the firm’s trading platform, recorded a withdrawal of 4,624.56 BTC , as indicated by its 30-day outflow data. There’s a significant flurry of activity among the ten new U.S.-based spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since Jan. 12, 2024, Grayscale’s GBTC reserves dim

2024 Sees Steepest Weekly Plunge in NFT Sales, 5 Major Blockchains Register Double-Digit Losses

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In the span between Jan. 20 to Jan. 27, 2024, there was a notable decline in the sales volume stemming from non-fungible tokens (NFTs), plunging 21.25% from the week before. The leading blockchains in seven-day sales, Ethereum and Bitcoin, experienced substantial decreases, ranging from 28.78% to 12.62%, respectively. NFT Market Faces Sharp Decline At the onset of 2024, NFT sales dipped by 1.31%, falling below the last week’s figures of 2023. The subsequent week witnessed a marginal rise in NFT sales, approximately 0.05%, but last week experienced a 5.05% drop in digital collectible sales. This week marked the steepest decline in 2024, with sales plunging over 21% compared to the previous seven days. According to metrics from cryptoslam.io , the total amounted to $228,327,660. This downturn contrasts with the year-end surge in NFT sales during 2023, largely driven by Bitcoin blockchain-based NFT transactions. In November and December of 2023, Bitcoin’s NFT sales dominated, conti

Animoca Brands’ Darewise Entertainment, Creator of Life Beyond, Announces Strategic Partnership With DFZ Labs, Creator of Deadfellaz

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PRESS RELEASE. Darewise Entertainment (“Darewise”), a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and the visionary force behind the Life Beyond gaming destination, announced today a strategic partnership with DFZ Labs, creator of the world-renowned Web3 brand Deadfellaz . Darewise and DFZ Labs have entered into partnership to support each other’s growth by sharing their expertise in Web3 with each other through an advisory framework as well as expanding their respective communities of Web3 players. The Deadfellaz community, affectionately known as the Horde, is highly active in the streaming and content creation ecosystem, utilizing their Streamingfellaz (animated rigged avatars created by Hologram Labs ) to showcase streamers’ gameplay from Web2 and Web3 on platforms including Twitch and YouTube. Under the partnership, the streamers’ avatars and content will be utilized to showcase their offerings from Life Beyond , such as the upcoming BOTS game , and the Alpha and Beta versions

JPMorgan Sees Downward Pressure Easing for Bitcoin as Grayscale Profit-Taking Fades

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Global investment bank JPMorgan says that profit-taking from Grayscale’s bitcoin trust (GBTC) has largely happened already. “This would imply that most of the downward pressure on bitcoin from that channel should be largely behind us,” the bank’s analyst explained. JPMorgan’s Bitcoin Price Outlook Global investment bank JPMorgan weighed in on the crypto market again this week following a bitcoin selloff that saw the price of BTC dropping from above $47K before the spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approvals to below $39K this week. The bitcoin selloff is accompanied by massive outflows from Grayscale’s bitcoin trust (GBTC), which converted into a spot bitcoin ETF following the approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Jan. 10. Since Jan. 12, GBTC’s bitcoin holdings have decreased by 114,367.39 BTC , equivalent to $4.77 billion, based on the BTC exchange rates as of Jan. 27. On Thursday, JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said: “Given $4.3b

Bitcoin’s Fourth Halving May Unleash the ‘Mother of All Reorgs,’ Ordiscan Founder Predicts

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The crypto community is abuzz with anticipation for the upcoming Bitcoin network halving event, projected to occur on or around April 20, 2024. This event is sparking widespread speculation about its distinct importance. As the fourth Bitcoin halving nears, a theory of a potential major blockchain reorganization, fueled by the extraordinary worth of the halving block, is seizing the attention of crypto enthusiasts. Ordiscan Founder Says Bitcoin’s Next Halving May Trigger Unprecedented Reorg The upcoming Bitcoin network’s reward halving is not just a routine milestone. With less than 13,000 blocks left until the halving, occurring at block height 840,000, this event might mark a historic turning point for the protocol. Tristan , the founder of Ordiscan.com , emphasizes the unusual nature of this halving in a blog post called “The Next Bitcoin Halving Will be Reorged.” In the blog post, the author claims that Bitcoin block 840,000 is predicted to have the most valuable block reward