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Blockchain News

MonkeyPoxInu Creators Steal $400 Million

MonkeyPoxInu (MPOX) coin was introduced on May 21 and lost 99 percent of its value three days later on May 23. It was named after the recent return of the MonkeyPox virus.

According to a tweet by CryptoWhale, MPOX’s value plummeted when its developers reportedly conducted an exit fraud, disappearing with more than $400 million.

MPOX was not featured on popular crypto data websites like CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko since it is a new coin. It’s a BEP-20 token with the address 0xE0934870Bcb3EF47c9Ff61BDa47CBdA74F1D0DC3 that was exclusively featured on PancakeSwap.

Some residents questioned how much money the developers allegedly took. They reasoned that $400 million was an excessive amount of money to invest in a three-day-old currency.

The matter was also highlighted by the Financial Times. According to an article published yesterday, MonkeyPoxInu’s Telegram channel has 13 followers and 90 subscribers. According to the story, it would be ludicrous to suppose that the developers got away with $400 million or more without first washing it up to that level.

There have been no updates on the sum reportedly taken by the programming team as of this writing.

The community was expecting the departure fraud, based on the comments on Twitter. Many people compared MonkeyPoxInu to the Squid Game Token fraud, in which producers took advantage of a popular subject’s popularity before disappearing with the funds generated. Many mocked the story, implying that it was the result of a rug-pulling hoax.

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Altcoins Blockchain News

Do Kwon Speaks on Terra 2.0

In the midst of the outrage produced by TerraUSD (UST) de-pegging, the project’s co-founder Do Kwon looks to have steel nerves, remaining undisturbed by the upheaval. He maintains that the in-house legal staff quit only because of the challenging circumstances, not because of any “shady” activity.

Last week, news surfaced that Terra’s founder, Do Kwon, was about to face tax fraud charges in South Korea, and speculations circulated that the business had relocated its offices to Singapore only days before the accident.

When asked about it, Do Kwon said the “time was completely coincidental” and that he had been planning to go to Singapore since 2021, as indicated in several interviews and podcasts. Regarding tax avoidance, he stated that “we have no ongoing tax liabilities in Korea” and dismissed the charges as mere rumor.

According to a community member, it appears that the project will not provide any income to supplement the compensation plan. Kwon added that this is due to the business being “lost $30 billion this year” and having liquidated all Bitcoin assets save 313 BTC in a heroic effort to salvage UST.

A significant majority of users have been calling for a LUNA burn, and a community member used the Q&A session to question Kwon about his lack of enthusiasm in the burn plan.

Kwon suggested last week forking a new blockchain from Terra sans the algorithmic stablecoin, UST. Developers and holders will get airdropped Terra (LUNA) 2.0 tokens, with both IBC DEX and CEX indexed in the snapshot.

The Terra community has finally endorsed Do Kwon’s plan to construct a new Terra blockchain without an algorithmic stablecoin.

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Altcoins Blockchain News

Lido Finance Is Not Supporting Terra 2.0

Lido Finance, the world’s largest liquidity staking pool platform, said on Wednesday that the Lido staking pool will not be available on Terra 2.0. The Lido DAO community rejected the idea to support Terra’s reboot with 94.57 percent voting no. Terra was, in reality, the second-largest platform for liquidity staking behind Ethereum, with around $10 billion in total value locked (TVL) before the meltdown, according to Lido Finance.

On May 22, the Lido DAO proposed a vote on whether Lido should be launched on the new Terra platform. However, owing to perceived hazards, the community has decided to oppose the re-launch of the Lido staking pool on Terra 2.0.

“No relaunch” earned 94.57 percent of the votes, with 54 million LDO tokens, while “Relaunch” received just 5.43 percent of the votes, with 3.1 million LDO tokens. The governance procedure affirmed Terra’s rejection once the Lido community voted.

Despite the $19,250 monthly revenue proposed by Terra, the community has overwhelmingly decided against adopting Terra 2.0. If the Lido DAO rejects the proposal, bLUNA and stLUNA holders can still claim LUNA, according to the proposal.

Terra’s new coin will be distributed to bLuna and stLuna holders regardless of the DAO’s decision. In other words, even if the DAO decides not to support the reboot, bLuna and stLuna users who were present at the time of the snapshots will be able to collect their allocations.

Furthermore, Lido Finance will soon disclose information about Lido on Terra Classic for the benefit of bLuna and stLuna holders. Meanwhile, Terra 2.0 proposal 1623 for the new blockchain has been approved. The proposition gained 65.5 percent support, 20.98 percent abstention, and 0.33 percent opposition.

Do Kwon, the creator of Terraform Labs, obtained support from validators and the Terra Builders Alliance, but community support is still unknown at this time. In reality, due to current investigations, South Korean exchanges including as Upbit, Coinone, Cobit, Bithumb, and Gopax appear to be rejecting the listing of the new LUNA cryptocurrency.

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Blockchain News

Central African Republic will open its first crypto investment hub

The Central African Republic (CAR) has announced intentions to open its first cryptocurrency investment hub, only a month after recognizing bitcoin as legal cash. The president of the Central African Republic, Archange Touadera, announced the start on Tuesday.

According to SANGO’s official website, the National Assembly of CAR proposed the creation of a crypto infrastructure with President Touadera’s approval.

CAR has released very little information on SANGO and how it will work. The specific date of its release has yet to be revealed. Interested investors can join the waiting list by visiting SANGO’s official website.

The Central African Republic legalized bitcoin last month, enabling residents to pay for products and services using the cryptocurrency as well as the native currency.

CAR became the first African country and the second country in the world to accept bitcoin as legal money, following El Salvador.

CAR’s decision to accept bitcoin, like El Salvador’s, did not meet with universal approval. Concerns were raised, among other things, about the move’s effectiveness, given the African country’s low internet usage and inconsistent electrical supply.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not forgotten either. The government has been warned by the institution about its decision to make cryptocurrencies official tender.

President Touadera, on the other hand, appears unconcerned with these issues, since he recently declared intentions to establish a crypto investment infrastructure in the country.

The traditional economy is no longer a viable alternative. Touadera allegedly stated in a Monday statement that an opaque bureaucracy is keeping them locked in systems that do not allow them to compete.

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Bitcoin Blockchain News

Billionaire Ray Dalio Still Going Strong on Bitcoin

Ray Dalio, the billionaire CEO of a $150 billion hedge fund, has stated that he is still positive on Bitcoin. Dalio recently stated in an interview with CNBC that fiat currency is still inferior.

Ray Dalio reaffirmed his stance on Bitcoin, saying that cryptocurrencies in particular are “digital gold.” In comparison to gold, a digital gold [such as Bitcoin] has a little place.

He went on to say that the economic situation is shifting to the point where the question of what fresh money is going to appear. He went on to explain why fiat currency will not rise with the tide, claiming that its use for goods and services will dwindle over time.

His words imply, as many other cryptocurrency supporters have already stated, that the features of fiat currencies are not long-term sustainable in the same way as cryptocurrencies are.

“When I say cash is garbage,” he means that all currencies, in respect to the Euro and the Yen, will be currencies that will fall down in proportion to goods and services, just as they did in the 1930s.

He believes that easy money movement between countries, as well as currencies serving as a large store of value, will be necessary for any currency that survives.

The billionaire’s Bitcoin convictions go all the way back to May of 2021. The billionaire claimed to holding Bitcoin but then admitted that the cryptocurrency was too volatile despite his ownership.

Coindesk revealed in March 2022 that the billionaire has purportedly been putting a small sum in a cryptocurrency fund. Ray Dalio’s story is similar to that of many others who were first skeptical of Bitcoin before becoming early adopters.

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Bitcoin News

Scott Minerd Thoughts on Bitcoin

If present negative tendencies persist, Scott Minerd, the firm’s founding managing partner and chief investment officer (CIO), believes bitcoin (BTC) may trade as low as $8,000.

Minerd recently warned in an interview with CNBC Squawk Box that the top cryptocurrency might fall to $8,000 in the near future. He cautioned, though, that this could only happen if bitcoin’s price remains below $30,000.

When you continually break below $30,000, the ultimate bottom is $8,000, so I believe we have a lot more downside room, he added.

Bitcoin is now selling slightly around $29,000 at the time of writing. However, according to a new research, the cryptocurrency might conclude the week on an uptick.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time Minerd has predicted bitcoin’s price. In the previous two years, the Guggenheim’s founding partner has made many bullish and negative predictions.

He projected that BTC will exceed $600,000 in February of last year, when it was trading at $60,000. He has previously predicted that bitcoin will trade at $400,000.

Apart from his forecasts on bitcoin price swings, Minerd believes that the king coin would be one of the few cryptocurrencies to survive in a market flooded with others.

He did add, though, that the top digital asset has yet to come, and that neither Bitcoin nor Ethereum are the crypto market’s dominating players.

According to Minerd, crypto should be a store of wealth, a means of trade, and a unit of account. However, none of the existing cryptocurrencies, he claims, satisfy this need.

He believes that the dominating actors in crypto have yet to emerge. According to Minerd, none of these things (cryptocurrencies) pass, and they don’t even pass on a single basis.

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Blockchain News

Binance Struggle With The Indian Market

The Indian government has taken a hard line on cryptocurrency use and trade. The administration, on the other hand, has yet to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets. Meanwhile, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is looking for a crypto future in India.

According to sources, Leon Foong, Binance’s Head of APAC, sees several opportunities in India’s growing cryptocurrency market. He stated that Binance and other IT gurus have recognized the country’s growing Blockchain firms. Foong emphasized that India has several fundamental advantages over other countries. The country boasts a significant crypto market and a large number of well-trained engineers.

India’s digital venture capital investment climbed to $44 billion in 2021, according to Binance’s APAC CEO. If the right blockchain entrepreneurs are linked with the requisite funding and skill, a tremendous quantity of crypto and Web 3 related enterprises might leave the nation.

A comprehensive regulatory framework to control digital assets is still missing in India. Meanwhile, the government has placed a 30 percent tax on cryptocurrency earnings and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on all trades. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of investors entering the digital asset markets. The dealers are pessimistic about its prospects in the nation.

Restrictive rules, according to Leon Foong, prohibit the ecology from reaching its full potential. The digital assets market is immense, and as the Web 3 business grows, it will undoubtedly provide a great number of employment for the country. Eventually, this will undoubtedly aid the Indian economy’s future growth.

Binance conducted a poll to determine demographic trends in India, according to the article. According to the poll, more than half of the Indian population is under the age of 25 years. While around 34% of the population recognizes them as Millennials. Because youthful generations are skilled at embracing new technology, these are ideal circumstances for digital assets to thrive in a country.

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Blockchain News

ECB President Says Crypto Is Worth Nothing and Should Be Regulated

According to Bloomberg, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde recently expressed her views on crypto, stating that digital assets are not only hazardous but also useless.

She stated that her modest opinion is that it is worthless, that it is founded on nothing, and that there is no underlying asset to operate as a safety net.

Crypto assets, according to Lagarde, should be strictly controlled to deter investors from investing in them. The ECB president expressed concern about those who are unaware of the dangers of investing in digital assets, which can result in their losing all of their money.

Lagarde also stated that she does not own any cryptocurrency in order to practice what she teaches. She did, however, admit that one of her sons had made his own decision to invest in crypto.

She went on to compare crypto assets to the European Central Bank’s digital euro, claiming that unlike the CBDC, which will be issued by the European Central Bank, crypto has no issuing or regulatory body, making it risky.

She stated, “The day we get the central bank digital currency out, any digital euro, I guarantee, the central bank will back it, and I believe it will be radically different than many of those things.”

Meanwhile, Christine Lagarde and other ECB officials have already slammed cryptocurrencies.

Last year, bank executive board member Isabel Schnabel stated that Bitcoin cannot be regarded money since it lacks the core characteristics of money.

Lagarde called for worldwide regulation of Bitcoin earlier this year, claiming that crypto assets are being used for money laundering.

Following the Terra LUNA fiasco, Lagarde’s latest remarks come at a time when the crypto market is in chaos.

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Blockchain News

PayPal could soon start accepting cryptocurrencies

PayPal, one of the world’s most popular online payment systems, will soon accept all types of crypto and blockchain services. Richard Nash, the company’s vice president, informed me of this.

Nash shared the latest PayPal development in an exclusive statement to Cointelegraph today at the World Economic Forum. According to him, the firm is working to make all digital services available on the PayPal platform.

The news comes two years after the business launched similar crypto services in the United States for the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Digital currencies, as well as central bank digital currencies (CDBC), would be included in the concept.

Nash gave critics and doubters an early red card by implying his personal attitude and expertise with cryptocurrencies. When asked if he had any cryptocurrency, he gave a statement that obviously implies he has, albeit not being specific.

However, Nash is not the only senior executive with bitcoin experience. PayPal CEO Dan Schulman was discovered to be a Bitcoin holder in a prior article by Cointelegraph three years ago. PayPal might potentially introduce PayPal Coin, their own stablecoin.

PayPal’s embrace of cryptocurrency represents a watershed moment for both the firm and its consumers. While PayPal is already widely used for daily money transactions, particularly by online gamblers, the idea of a better deal is tantalizing.

The platform’s security is a safeguard against cryptocurrency frauds. PayPal has previously served as a wallet for goods and service deposits and payments. The ability to acquire leading cryptocurrencies is a significant added benefit.

The addition of bitcoin to the site implies that it may now be used as a payment method. Increased cryptocurrency adoption has been considered as a way to bridge the economic divide in the United States.

PayPal’s senior vice president of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies, Jose Fernandez da Ponte, announced the move in a blog post on Coindesk.com, citing the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies.

He presents a strategy centered on user experience familiarity. Ponte thinks that any future success is contingent on providing solutions to current challenges and allowing for creativity.

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Altcoins Bitcoin Price Analysis

Bitcoin Recovers $30K and LUNA Restores 12%

Following a relatively tranquil weekend, bitcoin began a spectacular run up and surpassed $30,000 for the first time. The majority of cryptocurrencies are also up, with ETH trading near $2,000 and BNB hitting a fresh two-week high.

The last seven days were far less volatile than the prior week, when BTC dropped $15,000 at one point. The asset has hovered mostly around the $30,000 mark for the past week or two, with multiple tries to firmly break through that level but with little-to-no success.

BTC soared beyond $31,000 on May 16 but was swiftly halted in its tracks and retraced by almost $2,000 in hours.

This scenario played out a couple more times, the most recent being on Friday, when bitcoin fell below $29,000 as a result of the rejection. The cryptocurrency traded basically sideways throughout the weekend, failing to break beyond the $30,000 barrier.

BTC, on the other hand, went on the offensive late yesterday night and surged to an intraday high of almost $30,500. As a result, the company’s market valuation has risen to almost $580 billion.

The altcoins were likewise very quiet over the weekend, although the majority have now gone green. After a 5% daily rise, Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, has recaptured $2,000 and is approaching $2,100.

BNB has reached $330 thanks to a similar pump, which is the asset’s highest price since May 10. Solana, Avalanche, and Shiba Inu have made even more amazing advances. Ripple, Cardano, Polkadot, Dogecoin, and Tron are all in the green, but in smaller amounts.

Terra’s two contentious cryptocurrencies, UST and LUNA, have also risen in the last 24 hours, but are still far from their two-week-old highs. In the end, the crypto market cap increased by more over $50 billion in a single day, reaching $1.3 trillion.

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Blockchain News

Balenciaga To Start Accepting Crypto Payments

Balenciaga, a high-end fashion house, has announced that bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies would be accepted as payment methods both online and in select shops.

Although the timing may not have been ideal, the company will accept cryptocurrencies at its prominent boutiques, including Madison Avenue in New York and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, as well as on balenciaga.com, beginning in the United States. Other locations and e-commerce, according to the corporation, will follow.

According to the article, Balenciaga has yet to choose a bitcoin payment gateway supplier. The firm announced that it will accept bitcoin and Ethereum first, with the intention of adding other cryptocurrencies afterwards.

The French luxury fashion business recently announced the debut of the “Cristóbal Balenciaga: To the Moon” NFT line on the Crypto.com NFT marketplace. The NFT line was named after the firm’s founder, Cristobal Balenciaga, who started the company in 1919 and later sold it to the French luxury giant Kering.

In December of last year, Balenciaga revealed a metaverse business unit. Several other luxury brands have said that they will accept bitcoin payments in addition to the Paris-based fashion house.

At March, Off-White opened comparable payment arrangements in its flagship stores in Paris, London, and Milan. Other companies, like Tag Huer and the LVMH Hot, revealed earlier this month that customers will be able to pay using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum at checkout.

According to experts, widespread cryptocurrency acceptance by luxury enterprises will have a significant influence, culminating in crypto adoption throughout other industries.

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Blockchain News

Do Kwon Being Sued By Investors for Fraud and $78 Million Tax Evasion

Terra’s Do Kwon has been sued by the impacted investors in both criminal and civil cases. The outraged investors are presently seeking fraud charges and an order to confiscate Kwon’s assets, represented by the law firm RKB & Partners.

As the Terra tale unfolds, the project’s creators have come under fire from the crypto community. South Korean investors are actively pursuing legal action against Terra’s co-founders in the wake of the company’s disastrous collapse.

Another group of South Korean investors, dubbed “Victims of Luna, UST coins,” has swelled to almost 1,500 members. This vast group of investors is also reportedly preparing to sue Kwon and Terra’s other co-founder, Shin Hyun-Seong, for unlawful fundraising.

Because Terra’s legal staff unexpectedly terminated relations with the firm throughout the disaster, these new developments may prove inconvenient for the co-founders. While the majority of the crypto community criticized the legal team for quitting, some praised them.

Bitcoin supporter Stacy Herbert stated Terraform Labs’ legal staff resigned in response to the lawsuit. There’s nothing they can do when the CEO refuses to stop emailing whales with ridiculous’rescue’ schemes and then tweeting about them as if they’re done—which they aren’t. If you adore disasters, stay away from shitcoins.

While dealing with other legal issues, Terra’s CEO is presently facing tax evasion allegations from South Korea’s tax commission, for which the business has been ordered to pay a fine of up to $78 million.

While Terraform Labs subsidiaries were incorporated in Singapore and the Virgin Islands, investigations by South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) discovered that they were administered in the nation, namely in Seoul and Busan, resulting in tax fraud charges.

Before catastrophe struck, Kwon resolved to disband the company’s headquarters in South Korea and relocate its activities overseas to avoid paying taxes. He has, however, refuted the allegations, claiming that Terra owes no taxes to the government.

Kwon disbanded the Terraform Labs Korea firm just days before the ecosystem’s catastrophic collapse, according to new court filings. The project’s management unanimously resolved to disband its Seoul and Busan headquarters on May 4 and 6, respectively, during a general shareholder meeting on April 30.

Around the same time, UST launched its depeg, triggering a chain reaction that wiped out almost $26 billion from the stablecoin market, declared LUNA useless, and left investors with enormous unrealized losses. The link between these two occurrences sparked discussion regarding the Terra collapse.

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Altcoins Price Analysis

Terra (LUNA) Price Analysis 05/22

Terra’s LUNA has had a terrible few weeks as its price plummeted after a solid start to the year. Last week, the price of $Luna plummeted to the level of a penny stock, with its companion, TerraUSD, also linked to the blockchain, falling. LUNA reached an all-time high of $119 in April before plummeting 99 percent of its value in the following weeks.

Over $30 billion in crypto value was lost as a result of LUNA’s fall, shocking the crypto sector and catching the attention of outsiders. The decline of Terra’s UST has also put into doubt stablecoins, as it was the cornerstone of the Terra ecosystem in April, with a market valuation of more than $18 billion.

Although the price of Luna is still a small shadow of what it was only a month ago, any upward trend in its price is critical since many believers foresee redemption. However, reactions to LUNA’s recent price action have been mixed.

Some market analysts and participants say that LUNA’s fall was unlike anything else seen in the market and that any further action should be based on a comprehensive examination supported by facts and numbers.

Despite the fact that the cryptocurrency industry is very volatile, several analysts thought the coin had strong support as well as a huge market valuation to make it a top performer for the year. Its abrupt demise has now called into doubt even the most minor development around it.

Despite the fact that the current surge in LUNA’s price has not been attributable to any significant developments in its camp, investors hurting from the unexpected demise of their assets are hopeful that it is the start of something wonderful. Some in the crypto industry are rooting for the currency to return from its slide, since a coin large enough to hold the fourth slot on the crypto ladder is unlikely to stay down for long.

Terra’s team recently came under fire for changing the plan mid-vote. Although Terra’s chairman, Do Kwon, has been creating up plans for investors to recoup part of their capital, he also changed one, and more significantly, he did so when proposal 1623 was being voted on.

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Blockchain News

Binance’s Changpeng Zhao on Terra

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao recently offered his opinions on the Terra ecosystem’s demise. While CZ feels there are several lessons to be drawn from the catastrophic occurrence, he did identify some of the shortcomings that contributed to the accident.

Earlier this month, the Terra blockchain collapsed because its algorithm stablecoin UST lost its peg to the dollar, causing LUNA, its governance tokens, to drop from almost $100 to $0.0001 in a matter of days.

The fall sent tremors across the entire cryptocurrency market, leaving investors to calculate their losses. According to reports, the event harmed both individual investors who invested in LUNA/UST and crypto companies who worked with the Terra blockchain, as over $40 billion vanished into thin air.

As industry experts continue to comment on the dramatic catastrophe, Binance CEO claimed the Terra network’s architectural architecture led to its downfall.

Changpeng Zhao remarked that pegging UST to the dollar and using a different asset as collateral was a terrible idea since there was always the risk of inadequate collateralization or depegging.

The greatest irrational design fault is believing that minting more of an asset would raise its overall worth (market cap). Printing money creates no value; it only dilutes current holders. Exponentially minting LUNA exacerbated the situation. He suggested whoever planned this should get their brain tested.

CZ also mentioned incentives and high APY as weaknesses with Terra. While the blockchain had a solid use case, he believed that the incentives utilized to drive its expansion were superfluous.

The Binance CEO stated that employing incentives to recruit clients necessitates earning more money in order to sustain the ecosystem, which implies creating more profits than spending. He then labeled the Terra ecosystem’s growth rate as hollow, observing that the speed of its expansion outpaced the incentives supplied.

Aside from the design problems, Zhao stated that the entire disaster might have been prevented if the team had begun their recovery trip at the earliest stage of the depegging when the UST value was at 5% rather than 99.5%.

When the stablecoin began depegging, LUNA foundation Guard (LFG) spent $1.5 billion and depleted its $2.2 billion Bitcoin Reserve to restore the peg. Terra CEO Do Kwon has promised collateral support to repair the Terra environment. Unfortunately, none of the attempts were successful, as UST and LUNA both collapsed to zero.

CZ went on to say that, in addition to acting quickly to restore the network, the team behind the ecosystem’s design is also guilty of a lack of effective communication.

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Bitcoin News

Highlight: Bitcoin Pizza Day 2022

Cheers to Bitcoin Pizza Day! Before you order a Margherita to honor the world’s first real-world Bitcoin transaction, consider this fact:

A family vacation to Japan, a 50 Cent record, a steak supper, and a framed cat portrait all have something in common.

Members of the Cointelegraph Bitcoin community paid for them all with Bitcoin (BTC)! And, like the 10,000 BTC Bitcoin pizzas, which are now valued more than $300 million, the community’s Bitcoin purchases have surged.

“I spent 7 BTC on a family trip to Japan a few years ago,” Benjamin de Waal, VP of Engineering at Bitcoin exchange Swan Bitcoin, told Cointelegraph. 7 BTC is now worth much over $200,000 in today’s currency.

Previously, cryptos were not accepted as a method of payment, but after a man from Florida paid for his breakfast with bitcoins, everyone was talking about it. Previously, cryptos were not accepted as a method of payment, but after a man from Florida paid for his breakfast with bitcoins, everyone was talking about it.

Hanyecz spent 10,000 BTC on his infamous pizza buy. This sum was worth around $41 at the time. The cryptocurrency’s value has risen quickly over time. Currently, 10,000 BTC are worth almost $300 million.

Obviously, the value of these identical bitcoins climbed dramatically over the next decade.

In fact, if Hanyecz had sold his whole stash at bitcoin’s all-time high of $68,990, he would have made almost $690 million – enough to buy 46 million large Papa John’s pizzas for $15 apiece.

In a 2019 interview with CBS, Hanyecz stated that the purchase made bitcoin a reality for certain individuals. It certainly did for me.

Because of the price of bitcoin, Hanyecz’s tale became viral in the US, with The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Slate, and TechCrunch joining TechCrunch and Slate in popularizing the transaction.

On the same day as the first Bitcoin pizza order, the celebrations for what has become a crypto culture staple continues. Happy Bitcoin Pizza day to you!

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Altcoins News Regulation

United Kingdom Treasury Legalizing Stablecoins

The United Kingdom announced aspirations in April to become a crypto center and legalize stablecoin transfers. Following last week’s events, many expected Her Majesty’s Treasury to put these intentions on hold, but it appears that the regulators are proceeding with their preparations. Surprisingly, despite the fact that crypto markets, including stablecoins, witnessed significant volatility last week, the department remained unfazed.

Notably, Her Majesty’s Treasury disclosed plans in April to make the United Kingdom a hub for crypto-assets and blockchain technology. In keeping with the stated aim, the Treasury Department said that the government will draft legislation to allow stablecoins to be accepted as payment for products and services in the United Kingdom.

However, given the widespread market volatility seen in the cryptocurrency market last week, many speculated that the regulator could have to reconsider its strategy. TerraUSD, a famous algorithmic stablecoin, not only lost its peg but also fell below $0.2 in a matter of days. While many believed this was a sad but predictable end for the algorithmic stablecoin, leading collateralized stablecoin Tether also lost its dollar peg, albeit by a few decimals, raising questions about the asset class’s durability.

Despite this, the UK Treasury says it would proceed with its stablecoin adoption strategy. According to the Telegraph, a Treasury spokeswoman stated that the Financial Services and Markets Bill, which was introduced in the Queen’s Speech, would include legislation to regulate stablecoins, which were used as a form of payment.

The spokesman explained that the law will support the expansion of crypto service providers in the UK while also establishing safeguards to allow individuals to use these stablecoins securely and reliably.

Furthermore, the representative stated that the government has made it apparent that certain stablecoins are not acceptable for payment purposes due to similarities with unbacked crypto assets. We will continue to watch the broader crypto asset market and are prepared to take additional regulatory action if necessary.

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News Regulation

G7 Want Crypto Regulation to Be Swift and Rapid

Last week, G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors convened to discuss global economic circumstances, including cryptocurrencies.

The committee was joined by the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Financial Stability Board, some of whom had previously been anti-crypto.

According to the paper, the G7 is collaborating with the FSB to “monitor and handle financial stability issues emanating from all types of crypto-assets.” It cites the recent crypto market downturn as justification for accelerating the development and implementation of consistent and comprehensive regulation of crypto-asset issuers and service providers, with the goal of holding crypto-assets, including stablecoins, to the same standards as the rest of the financial system.

There is no mention of the Dow Jones’ 20% drop in relation to the crypto market’s downturn. Surprisingly, a drop in crypto suggests that further regulation is needed quickly.

Traditional markets, on the other hand, are said to be efficient and well-regulated. While effective regulation is almost certainly required in the new crypto business, it is equally critical to recognize and appreciate the complexities of blockchain protocols.

Traditional norms and regulations were created for the real world and may not be applicable to the complicated nature of DeFi, GameFi, and other digital financial assets. To claim that the establishment of crypto law must be finished quickly begs the question of whether this regulation will be comprehensive and supportive of innovation.

The research does highlight, however, that stablecoin regulation must appropriately satisfy key legal, regulatory, and supervision needs through suitable design and adherence to applicable standards.

It goes on to say that digital payments innovation is a crucial engine of economic advancement and development, particularly through quicker, cheaper, more transparent, and inclusive cross-border payment services.

However, the next portion of the paper does not cover the cryptocurrency markets in general. Instead, it assesses the viability and execution of Central Bank Digital Currencies, which it thinks must be transparent. It emphasizes that CBDCs, rather than current cryptocurrencies, might be the answer to cross-border payments and innovation.

CBDCs with cross-border capability have the potential to stimulate innovation and offer up new avenues for meeting customers’ need for more efficient international payments.

There are several possible solutions, such as Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, Ethereum Layer 2 solutions, and numerous additional layer-1 blockchains that can handle, process, and settle international payments in seconds with minimum fees. These initiatives, on the other hand, are public, open-source, and decentralized.

They are not governed by the same laws and authorities as CBDCs. The G7 thinks that financial system governance must stay within their purview. With global inflation over 6% and GDP falling month after month, some may wonder if it is time for a change and a shift toward decentralization.

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Blockchain News

The CFTC has accused two people of $44 million in crypto fraud

The United States Community Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has accused two US individuals, Sam Ikkurty and Ravishankar Avadhanam, of participating in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of nearly $40 million. The defendants were also charged with conducting an unlicensed commodities pool, according to the Commission.

According to the formal complaint, the duo duped the victims into investing in three bogus digital asset income vehicles.

Ikkurty and Avadhanam began operations in January 2021 and sought funding from investors via their official website and YouTube channel. According to the CFTC, they offered to assist clients in investing their monies in digital assets to earn profits.

The partners raised $44 million from 170 investors but did not invest it in digital assets as promised. Instead, the defendants used a Ponzi scheme to disperse part of the monies to other investors. According to the accusation, they also pocketed part of the money for themselves and moved several million dollars to their own accounts.

The CFTC is requesting, among other things, that the deceived investors be paid, that the ill-gotten earnings from the scam be recovered from the defendants, and that they be forcefully admonished not to violate any CFTC laws in the future. The suspected fraudsters have been served with a restraining order, and all of their assets have been frozen.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) arrested and prosecuted two men in March for their alleged involvement in a $1.1 million wire fraud and money laundering scheme involving a non-fungible token (NFT) project.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States accused a Latvian citizen in December of allegedly scamming at least $7 million from hundreds of retail investors in the United States and other countries.

Categories
Bitcoin Price Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC) Forecast 05/21

After a short surge on Friday, Bitcoin has struggled to maintain its position over the $30,000 mark. It has already corrected 3% since then and is now trading at $29,330 with a market worth of $557 billion.

As this occurs, Bitcoin might be in for another huge price correction, and if history repeats itself, it could go all the way to $15,000 or less. The author of Rekt Capital Newsletter has given a thorough case study of previous bitcoin death cross cycles and the subsequent Bitcoin corrections.

So, what exactly is a death cross? On a technical chart, a Death Cross happens when the 50 EMA crosses UNDER the 200 EMA. Bitcoin has gone through many death cross cycles over the last decade.

The author offers historical examples, such as how the largest crypto underwent an even steeper correction following the demise of the cross. For example, in 2013, Bitcoin corrected 70% after the death cross; in 2017, it corrected 65% after the death cross; and in 2019, it corrected 55% after the death cross.

However, following the death cross, Bitcoin really rose significantly in 2020 and 2021. In both cases, the death cross appeared at the bottom.

According to Rekt Capital analysts, BTC is more likely to follow the trajectory of 2013, 2017, and 2019. This is due to the fact that Bitcoin has already corrected more than 36% since January 2022, rather than reversing the trend.

In addition, Bitcoin has fallen 43 percent from its top in November 2021 before striking the death cross. A comparable 43 percent retracement following the death cross would imply that the BTC price may hit $22,700.

The king crypto might reach $18,000 if it corrects by 5% from the January 2022 death cross. A 65 percent correction would imply a low of $13,800. Bitcoin would reach a low of $11,500 if it fell 71%. The BTC price would have fallen by more than 80% since its high in November 2021.

According to Rekt Capital, “what’s noteworthy about the scenario of a -43 percent post-Death Cross catastrophe is that it would result in a $22,000 loss.” According to the expert, it would provide wonderful purchasing chances for BTC investors with significant ROI.

Categories
Blockchain News Regulation

Panama President Will Not Be Signing a Crypto Bill Right Now

Panama President, Laurentino Cortizo, has stated that he will not sign off on a cryptocurrency bill just adopted by the country’s National Assembly until further anti-money laundering rules are enacted.

Cortizo said on Wednesday at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Latin America conference that the measure just approved by Panama’s legislature must go through legal procedures before reaching his desk, but that he wanted more information before potentially signing it into law.

The president described the legislation as innovative and outstanding and said he approved of certain portions of it but hinted at potential illegal uses of cryptocurrency that needed to be handled.

Panama’s “Crypto Law” was approved by the National Assembly on April 28 after a third discussion. The law was intended to regulate the trade and use of crypto assets, the issue of digital value, the tokenization of precious metals and other assets, payment systems, and other regulations, according to the parliamentary body.

Unlike El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law, which obliged local companies to accept Bitcoin, the Panama Crypto Law, if approved, would most likely allow people and businesses to use and accept cryptocurrency. Many firms would not require a special license to take cryptocurrency, according to an early draft of the law.

Gabriel Silva, a pro-crypto politician, has claimed that passing the Crypto Law will help develop financial inclusion in Panama and offer more job prospects.

Nevertheless, expert Ernesto Bazán has called on President Cortizo to veto the law, stating that the country’s lack of clear rules is unlikely to inspire faith in cryptocurrencies, putting banks’ and the local economy’s financial stability in danger.

According to Bazán, it is critical to have skilled specialists, supervision competence, and sufficient, especially in such a fresh and specialized field. Weak regulation would allow for more fraud, hacking, and criminal activity, implying a loss of trust in the country and its International Banking Center.

He also stated that they are awaiting the law’s veto and that a thorough investigation of the hazards that this rule entails be conducted. For the benefit of the country.

Categories
Blockchain News Regulation

Officials in India Fear Dollarization of Economy If Crypto Is Accepted

Top Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials have informed a parliamentary committee that the acceptance of cryptocurrencies may lead to a degree of dollarization of the economy. It will limit the central bank’s ability and independence to conduct monetary inputs and actions effectively. “It will severely damage the RBI’s ability to formulate monetary policy and control the country’s monetary system,” an RBI official warned.

They went on to say that doing so would jeopardize the country’s sovereignty. According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report, top RBI officials warned a parliamentary committee that the acceptance of cryptocurrencies might result in partial dollarization of the economy, posing a threat to the financial system’s stability.

Because almost all virtual currencies are dollar-denominated and issued by foreign private organizations, a media source quoted an RBI official as stating at the current proceedings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.

Former Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. The RBI is a statutory authority that reports to parliament. As part of its parliamentary responsibilities, the panel is deliberating extensively on economic and financial matters.

One point raised by RBI officials was that it may harm the financial sector. Cryptocurrencies may appear to be a more appealing alternative, and individuals may move cash away from banks and onto crypto assets, leaving banks with less resources to lend.

In recent weeks, Indian authorities have responded more regularly to cryptocurrency-related matters. During her visit to the IMF Springs Meeting 2022 last month, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed cryptocurrency in an IMF-hosted panel discussion and another event at a university. She stated that blockchain has enormous promise, but India would not hurry to make a judgment on crypto adoption or regulation. She recently takes issue with blockchain technology’s anonymity aspect.

Categories
Altcoins Blockchain News

The Stablecoin Market Is Still in a Fix

When Terra LUNA and its UST stablecoin crashed, Stablegains allegedly placed investor assets in Anchor Protocol without alerting them, losing around $42 million.

Yield calculator After losing more than $42 million in UST via Anchor protocol without alerting clients, Stablegains faces claims of abusing clients’ money – and even a lawsuit.

According to social media reports, the company guaranteed clients a 15% profit on both USDC and fiat USD investments. However, it took the money and invested it in UST in Anchor at a 20% yield, skimming the gains above 15%. Clients were unaware of this until UST depegged from the dollar and fell to less than 1 cent, causing the firm to lose millions of dollars.

The story initially broke online when an investor shared a letter from law firm Erickson Kramer Osborne to Stablegains. The letter stated that all communications and records should be preserved and kept in case of any lawsuit.

Stablegains has officially refuted the charges, claiming that it has always been open about its UST and Anchor yield.

Stablegains further stated that all funds deposited are placed in Anchor Protocol utilizing UST and that this is the only DeFi protocol they interface with, as stated in pertinent learning center articles and their Terms of Use.

However, additional social media charges indicate that the corporation has begun changing and updating its terms of service in order to avoid culpability. It has also altered the currency on its page from USD to UST.

Since the UST fall, investors believe the corporation has become less honest and has begun to modify information on numerous pages of its website.

Investors who want to withdraw their funds must additionally sign a waiver agreeing that Stablegains is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of exchanging UST for USDC and fiat.

Investors are being compelled to withdraw because if they keep their UST in Stablegains, they will not be eligible for an airdrop of the forked Terra LUNA coin.

The Stablegains debacle is a continuation of the UST debacle’s consequences. The crash cost several retail investors billions of dollars. Binance also suffered a setback as the $1.6 billion LUNA tokens fell below $3,000.

Hashed Ventures is one of the largest losers. After LUNA plummeted owing to staking around 50 million LUNA tokens, the venture capital firm based in Seoul appeared to have lost $3.5 billion.

Delphi Digital has also stated that the Terra disaster cost them money. The research firm and investor expressed reservations about LUNA and UST, but believed that Bitcoin reserves would keep the currency from collapsing.

Categories
Altcoins Bitcoin Blockchain News

Despite Everything, Crypto Has Been Gaining Massive Adoption Lately

TAG Heuer, a Swiss watchmaker owned by LVMH, and online marketplace Shopify now accept crypto payments, which is a huge step forward for crypto adoption.

The announcement comes only days after Gucci, the luxury brand, began accepting cryptocurrency payments in the United States.

In the United States, there is a growing interest among brands and shops in embracing bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Several additional businesses, including AMC Theatres and Starbucks, accept cryptocurrency in some manner.

TAG Heuer, a Swiss luxury watchmaker, has joined with BitPay to accept cryptocurrency payments for online sales in the United States, according to a news statement. TAG Heuer will accept cryptocurrency payments up to $10,000 per transaction, with no minimum amount.

Customers can use 12 cryptocurrencies to purchase timepieces and accessories. Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Shiba Inu are some of them (SHIB). BUSD, USDC, DAI, GUSD, and USDP are among the five stablecoins accepted.

TAG Heuer CEO Frederic Arnault stated that the company has been closely watching cryptocurrency developments since Bitcoin first began trading. TAG Heuer, as an avant-garde watchmaker with a pioneering attitude, realized that despite the swings, they would adopt what promised to be a globally integrated technology in the near future, one that would profoundly impact their business and beyond.

Surprisingly, Shopify’s move into crypto for payments has the potential to accelerate cryptocurrency acceptance. Shopify has joined with Crypto.com Pay to allow businesses to accept payments in over 20 cryptocurrencies. Strike, Coinbase Commerce, and BitPay are all options for accepting cryptocurrency through Shopify.

As a result, with an increasing number of customers regularly using or earning digital currencies, brands and retailers want to lead the e-commerce and retail spaces through the coming transformation.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have plummeted from their all-time highs. As a result, “Buy-the-Dip” chances are now available to investors. Acceptance of cryptocurrencies marks the beginning of the Web3 ecosystem’s shift. Many brands have even made their way into the metaverse.

Categories
Altcoins Blockchain News

Tether (USDT) Discloses That Its Reserves Are Fully Backed

After the stablecoin lost its peg to the US dollar last week amid the $UST drop, Tether Holdings Limited has stepped out to allay fears of a probable USD/USDT decline. The world’s largest stablecoin, Tether (USDT), lost its peg to the US dollar earlier this month, causing panic among investors and traders.

Tether (USDT) has tried to ease investor and trader concerns by publishing its quarterly assurance opinion on its website, reiterating that the stablecoin is fully backed.

Tether Holdings Limited released its most recent quarterly assurance opinion, proving the health of its reserves by indicating large decreases in commercial paper assets and an overall gain in US Treasury bills. It also shows that the company’s consolidated assets outnumber its consolidated liabilities.

Tether shows a further approximately 17 percent fall in its asset – backed commercial holdings over the previous quarter from $24.2B to $20.1B; a move Tether has pursued with a further 20 percent reduction since April 1 2022 and which will be shown in the Q2 2022 report, according to the statement.

Tether’s Paolo Ardoino took to Twitter to comment on Tether’s strength in the wake of UST’s large and possibly irreversible depeg. The world of stablecoins has taken a major hit in recent weeks, as one of the largest stablecoins, UST, has vanished. This appears to have impacted USDT as well, since the coin lost its peg and fell as low as $0.95.

Tether is designed to be backed by cash and short-term debt commitments equal to the amount of dollars deposited by its users. Those assets are kept in a reserve controlled by the same company. Since then, the stablecoin has restored its peg.

Categories
Bitcoin Guides & Tutorials

Latest Guide on BTC Betting Sites

This article provides the latest update and a quick summary of all you need to know about the new and improved online platforms – the BTC betting sites. People hoping to start their journey on the BTC betting sites can use this guide to make the best selection decisions and discover why these platforms are vital for betting in 2022. Firstly, let’s discuss what you will get when you play on BTC betting sites.

What do BTC Betting Sites Offer you?

If you are new to the BTC betting platform but are conversant with gambling operations, you might wonder why these sites are the best options. After all, some bettors have made a lot of cash using the fiat currency betting platforms. However, this article will now explain why the BTC betting sites are way superior to the conventional ones.

  • Positive Prospects 

We cannot deny that the fiat currency time has passed, and it is now an era of cryptocurrency. However, the fiat’s old-fashioned systems and outdated features make it unsuitable for online operations. 

Moreover, the constant printing of these currencies for an extended period has reduced their purchasing power drastically. However, the situation means that what you can afford now with a certain amount of money may not be available for you in two years to come as the value of your fund will be way less.

Fortunately, BTC is here with a lot of positive prospects. Using BTC betting sites means that the amount of money in your account will always increase as Bitcoin itself always increases. Experts predict the complete takeover of fiat currencies by digital currencies. Therefore, they are the best for betting operations.

  • Privacy Protection 

Bettors who play games with the fiat currency face a lot of stigma from their immediate community and financial institutions. These platforms discredit betting operations and view punters as irresponsible individuals. 

In order to simplify operations, BTC betting sites keep you anonymous from that set of individuals. Therefore, the customers of BTC betting sites do not have to face the trauma of inferiority as their operations are not visible to the public. 

Furthermore, most financial organizations completely restrict detected gamblers from loan applications. Therefore with the use of BTC, people can benefit from loans and still enjoy betting operations.

  • More Enjoyable UX

Outdated features of the fiat currency betting platforms often put people out of the mood. However, the Latest parts of BTC betting sites do otherwise; it sets them right in the air. In addition, the platform has many entertaining features that make winning look easier on their media. Here are some of the features that make the BTC betting site UX more enjoyable than the conventional betting platforms.

  • Quick processes, which means you can send and receive the money within a concise period
  • Low deposit/withdrawal fees
  • Special bitcoin use bonuses
  • Easy to navigate platforms 
  • Excellent deposit/withdrawal limits for high stakers
  • Few restrictions and free operations
  • Better Safety

Hackers and internet fraudsters have continuously operated on traditional betting platforms. They feel these sites are their most accessible opportunity at scamming people as their operations are fluid and outdated. However, BTC betting sites have the latest security systems like end-to-end encryption to prevent scammers. This system offers solid protection against all dubious individuals.

Furthermore, reviews reveal the hacking and theft-related problems encountered on BTC betting sites are not the fault of the platforms. These issues are traced to the loopholes of the exchange websites and not the betting system. Additionally, BTC betting sites offer a private key with complex characters to prevent any form of hacking or theft.

What to Consider Before Selecting A Bitcoin Betting Sites In 2022

It is delightful to hear that there are now several betting platforms that accept BTC transactions. Nonetheless, some shady individuals are still persistent in extortion of funds through these digital platforms. Consequently, we will outline the top ways to differentiate an infamous BTC betting website from a reliable one.

  • Reputation 

A good reputation should be your foremost factor when looking for a place to bet without hassles. Betting sites with good reputations offer people the best gambling experience. Moreover, these platforms payout your winnings whenever you need them and do not give excuses.

Crypto transactions are non-reversible; therefore, the probability of getting your funds back when you lose to a shady platform is low. However, verify from notable blogs or ask experienced gamblers about the operations of your desired casino before picking them. 

  • Quality and Quantity of Options

If the BTC betting site does not offer several options, it’s not a suitable platform for gambling. Bettors who have a variety of games and markets at their disposal also have better winning chances than the ones with limited options. 

Not only does a Bitcoin betting site provide a variety of options, but they also offer the best games on the internet. For example, supporters of a particular sport can get the best markets and long odds when they use these platforms. Additionally, Slot lovers can find the top slot games with a progressive jackpot on the BTC betting site.

  • Bonuses & Rewards

What kept many punters playing at a particular site was bonuses and rewards. Fortunately, these whooping bonuses are all some bettors need to make huge profits on the BTC sportsbook. Below are the top prizes of BTC betting sites: 

  • Welcome bonus
  • Unique Bitcoin Bonuses
  • VIP special arrangement 
  • No deposit bonuses
  • Reload bonuses

Some of these bonuses have a few specifications that help you qualify for them. All these specs are carefully written in the terms and conditions of the bookie. For example, some sportsbooks require customers to play a certain number of games before qualifying for VIP promotions.

  • Customer Helpline

There is no good BTC betting site without a dedicated customer helpline. This section is essential in every management as it helps cater to customers’ issues. Inquiries and gambling problems are quickly attended to by the qualified professionals of Bitcoin betting sites. Therefore, BTC betting sites guarantee you the best betting experience. 

NOTE: Coinposters offers articles for purpose information, and does not have any intention of promoting casinos or suggesting users to bet. Bet at your own responsibility and this is purely for informational purposes.

Categories
Bitcoin Blockchain News

Jack Dorsey Thinks Bitcoin Is the Currency of the Internet

According to CNBC, Jack Dorsey, CEO and co-founder of Block (previously known as Square), has reaffirmed Bitcoin’s potential as a native digital money.

Dorsey said today at the Block’s investor conference that the internet deserves a native digital currency, and that only Bitcoin is fit for the job.

According to him, the internet requires a local currency, and when looking at the full ecosystem of technology to serve this function, bitcoin is presently the only possibility.

Bitcoin, according to Dorsey, is an open standard for global money transfer, and it will allow Block’s entire operation to move faster around the world.

The former Twitter CEO has previously stated that Bitcoin has the potential to become the internet’s global currency. In truth, the Bitcoin maximalist has never changed his mind on the subject.

Dorsey stated in September 2019 that Twitter had no intentions to establish a cryptocurrency since he believes Bitcoin is the future of the Internet. He also declined to participate in Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency project, which subsequently collapsed owing to legal issues.

Apart from publicly stating that Bitcoin is the only digital currency suitable for use as native internet money, Dorsey has made deliberate efforts through his enterprises to promote Bitcoin’s growth and adoption.

Dorsey proposed the “Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund” in January as a way to help the growth and development of the Bitcoin system. The fund will be used to defend Bitcoin developers against lawsuits that would prevent them from encouraging the development of Bitcoin, according to the Twitter co-founder.

Block said last year that it would construct a Bitcoin hardware wallet to make BTC custody more popular, and it is already working on a Bitcoin mining infrastructure.

Categories
Blockchain News

FTX Launches Stock Trading In The U.S.

In the United States, cryptocurrency exchange FTX has purportedly begun commission-free stock and ETF trading. However, the service will initially be limited to a small number of customers, with a complete launch of services including stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, futures, and other assets to follow in a few months.

FTX will also let users to deposit monies into their accounts using USDC. The transaction follows the recent acquisition of a 7.6% share in Robinhood by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. The organization wants to be a one-stop shop for financial services.

According to the Wall Street Journal on May 19, one of the top crypto exchanges, FTX, has moved into a broader financial services sector by starting to provide stocks and ETFs trading for US users.

The FTX.US mobile app will allow users to trade stocks. Furthermore, the firm plans to provide trading in hundreds of US-listed firms as well as exchange-traded funds.

They eventually hope to provide an all-in-one financial services app. However, we will not route client orders to high-speed traders in return for cash, which is known as payment for order flow.

Following the trade in GameStop and other meme stocks last year, politicians and regulators have strengthened their scrutiny of the paying for order flow practice. Since then, the stock market has dropped over 50%.

As a result, FTX prioritizes establishing itself in the regulated financial services business in the United States, as shifting away from the payment for order flow approach would cost it money.

According to Harrison, the corporation has been working on it since January, and a wait list for the new service was established in February. Other firms, such as Robinhood, Block’s Cash App, and Public.com, have integrated stock and cryptocurrency trading. FTX, on the other hand, is the first cryptocurrency exchange to access regular financial markets.

Under the direction of Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX is exploding this year. In January, the crypto exchange located in the Bahamas upped its worth to $32 billion. Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe were also added. Sam Bankman-Fried purchased a 7.6% interest in Robinhood for investment purposes last week.

Categories
Altcoins Blockchain News

80% of Voters Want Terra Network To Be Rebirth

The TerraBuilderAlliance, Do Kwon, and other members of the community have agreed to fork Terra Luna in order to save the Terra environment. The voting is now open on Terra Station, and LUNA token holders can vote using their governance tokens.

There are 116,045,229 “yes” votes and 30,227,625 “no with veto” votes as of this writing. A quorum of 2 million votes is required to pass the proposition.

Yes votes presently account for 78 percent of the overall vote. The regulations, however, provide that if 33 percent of the voters veto the plan, it would be defeated. The current percentage of ‘no with veto’ votes is 20%, which means that if the next 48 million votes are ‘no with veto,’ the plan would fail.

In addition, if the ‘no with veto’ vote exceeds 33%, the deposit necessary to propose the motion is forfeited. The minimum deposit is now 50 LUNA, which is only a fraction of a penny at today’s exchange rate.

The revised and final plan, which contains revisions to the prior proposal, is accessible on the LUNA forum. The following distribution for token holders is included in the proposal up for vote:

Terra infrastructure provider Orbital Command, which has 1.39 percent of the voting power, is the biggest validator to come out in favour of the proposal at the time of writing. Major validators with more than 2% voting power, such as cross-chain stablecoin bank Orion, have yet to make a judgment. Money with a yield of 8.63 percent.

Users’ current Luna tokens will become “Luna Classic” tokens, allowing holders to receive an airdrop of fresh Luna tokens, according to the new plan. Holders of UST will be able to exchange their stablecoins for the new tokens.

The most noticeable difference in the new environment will be the lack of the algorithmic stablecoin, which was the network’s and business model’s backbone.

Categories
Blockchain Regulation

Binance Still Pushing For Regulatory Go Ahead in Germany

Despite the recent crypto market massacre, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is not abandoning its attempts to stretch its tentacles to new jurisdictions and grow its worldwide reach.

Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of the top exchange, announced on Wednesday that the company is asking for formal licenses to operate its regulated trading platform in Germany.

Zhao disclosed that Binance is now negotiating with German regulators while speaking at the Online Marketing Rockstars Festival in Hamburg. In addition, the exchange is growing its compliance staff and seeking for German licenses.

Binance’s aspirations to operate in Germany coincide with the country being recognized as the world’s most crypto-friendly. Crypto investments are now accepted as part of the European nation’s domestic savings business. Furthermore, Germany’s federal finance ministry just published the country’s first-ever cryptocurrency tax handbook.

If authorized, Germany will become the second major European country and G-7 member to permit Binance to operate within its borders specifically. The company received regulatory permission in France earlier this month. Binance had just received provisional authorization in Abu Dhabi to operate as a virtual asset broker-dealer.

Binance was under regulatory scrutiny at this time last year. Financial regulators in the United States, Europe, China, the United Kingdom, and other countries have issued warnings to investors about the crypto exchange.

CZ subsequently claimed Binance would be more aggressive in complying with local rules in order to gain the approval of authorities.

Despite formerly operating on a decentralized model with no official business headquarters, the firm is presently in the process of creating corporate offices in several locations across the world. According to Zhao, Binance plans to establish a European headquarters in Paris and utilize it as a launching pad as it grows to other territories.

Categories
Altcoins Blockchain News

Cardano New Research on the Blockchain

Cardano, a notable blockchain project, has published a new study paper on decentralized blockchain governance aspects.

Aggelos Kiayias and Philip Lazos, blockchain experts at IOHK, blockchain research and engineering firm best known for the Cardano project, did the research.

The document, which Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson initially posted, identified numerous basic qualities that decentralized protocols like Bitcoin and Ethereum may use to make decisions in order to improve their system evolution.

Although each blockchain is unique in functionality and performance, the research identified four key traits that blockchains might use to strengthen their governance.

The first class is concerned with decision-making voting systems. Users’ eligibility to vote on improvements and ideas, cryptographic cyber security, and incentives are all covered.

According to the report, in the decision-making process, blockchain platforms should constantly examine who is allowed suffrage. According to academics, blockchain engineers should always utilize a one-person voting method, allowing just one user to vote.

The paper also mentioned Pareto efficiency as a way that blockchain platforms might utilize to improve their voting mechanism. Pareto aids blockchain decision-making by breaking down each data into particular actions.

According to the paper, modifications in blockchain governance depend on two key industry participants: developers who create apps and propose changes and the community that determines whether or not to implement the changes. According to the experts, these prominent actors’ efforts help the platform flourish and deserve recognition.

The paper’s last category of blockchain governance systems was timeliness, which included the concept of liveness. In the event of assaults or other emergency situations requiring rapid decision-making, blockchain protocols should be able to conclude in the quickest time feasible, according to the research.

Categories
Altcoins Price Analysis

Terra USD (UST) Forecast 05/18

Terra has made many ideas in an attempt to resurrect the LUNA and TerraUSD following the recent historic crash. Terra’s UST prices spiked slightly during the continuing vote on the freshly modified plan. The token increased by 160 percent to $0.3 before rapidly solidifying its gains.

Do Kwon, Terra’s founder, proposed a new resurrection plan and allowed voting among the community to determine Terra’s fate. According to CoinMarketCap, the UST price spiked by more than 160 percent. The price of TerraUSD unexpectedly increased to $0.31. However, no such transaction was documented to support the spike.

According to the crypto data tracker, the price surged from $0.10 to $0.31 at about 4:10 PM (IST). The price remained at its peak until 5:40 PM (IST). On the other hand, UST prices fell to a new low of $0.098. At the time of writing, the TerraUSD was trading at an average price of $0.0908.

Meanwhile, Terra’s LUNA prices have risen by 7% in the previous 24 hours. At the time of writing, LUNA was trading at an average price of $0.00019.

The vote to revive the Terra and its token is now open and will be available for 7 days. Do Kwon advocated launching a new Terra chain sans the algorithmic stablecoin.

He proposes naming the old chain Terra Classic (LUNC), while the new chain Terra (LUNA). The new LUNA will be distributed through airdrop to existing LUNA stakeholders, holders, TerraUSD holders, and app developers.

Kwon’s latest idea aims to make Terra a completely community-owned chain. Over 64.7 million people (roughly 90 percent) have voted “Yes” on the proposition so far. While 7.2 million people (about 10%) voted “No with veto,” However, this is only an early result of the election because over 303 million citizens have still to vote.

Categories
News NFT

Axie Infinity Under Attack Yet Again

Axie Infinity revealed on Twitter that the MEE6 bot on its Discord channel had been compromised. The MEE6 team has denied that its bot was attacked.

The MEE6 bot is quite popular on Discord, and many servers use it to automate messages and other activities.

According to Axie Infinity, the attackers hacked the bot and used it to grant rights for a false Jiho account, which they then used to make a fraudulent mint announcement on May 18.

Fortunately, the coders caught on immediately. They erased the messages and uninstalled the hacked bot. According to the gaming platform, there will never be a surprising mint, and all such events will be announced on Twitter, Facebook, Discord, and Substack.

However, it was also stated that some users may still be able to access erased messages until they restart Discord. At least one user says that the attack resulted in losing an NFT and a domain.

Axie Infinity indicated that the hack is not unique to their server and that numerous servers using MEE6 Bot have experienced similar difficulties in the past. Cool Cats, RTFKT, PXN, PROOF/Moonbirds, and Memeland, have all stated that their admin accounts have been compromised due to the bot.

Those familiar with Discord security believe the hackers targeted admin accounts first. Then, using the MEE6 bot’s response role capability, they assigned the admin position to another account.

They may send webbook messages this way without exposing the hacked administrator account.

On its Discord channel, MEE6 has disputed the accusation of a breach. It claimed that its bot had caused no harm to any NFT community.

Any genuine community owners have not contacted them at the time of this communication, nor have they been contacted through Discord or any other Support Communication Channels. According to the statement, we reviewed the problem with their engineers and found no evidence of suspicious activity.

Categories
Altcoins Blockchain News Press Release Regulation

5 Brilliant Ways To Use Polkadot

Blockchain technology is allowing for new and exciting innovations in the world of modern business. One example of this is the emerging concept of Polkadot, which is a platform that can truly bring about significant changes to how we transact online.

Before we look at the uses of Polkadot, let’s have a look at what it is in detail, how it works, and how you can buy it. Let’s get started!

What is Polkadot and How Does It Work?

Polkadot is a cryptocurrency that enables users to transact and communicate with each other without the need for a central authority. It is similar to Bitcoin in that it uses a public ledger to record transactions, but it differs in that it allows for more flexibility in how transactions are processed. It is designed to be scalable and efficient, and its developers hope that it will eventually be able to support thousands of different cryptocurrencies.

One of the main features of Polkadot is its unique governance model. Unlike traditional blockchain platforms, which rely on miners to confirm transactions and secure the network, Polkadot uses validators who are responsible for confirming transactions and maintaining the network’s security. Validators stake their DOTs (the native token of the Polkadot platform) as collateral in order to be selected as a validator, ensuring that there is no single point of failure or central authority within the network.

Polkadot also features a unique “Parachain” architecture, which allows multiple blockchains (called “Parachains”) to connect to and interact with each other on the Polkadot network. This enables a wide range of applications and uses cases that were not possible on previous blockchain platforms.

How Can One Buy Polkadot?

If you are thinking about buying Polkadot, there are a few things that you should be aware of. In this section, we will go over the steps needed to purchase your DOTs, as well as some of the risks and considerations that you should take into account before making your purchase.

Step 1: Choose a Polkadot Wallet: The first step is to choose a suitable wallet. You will need a place to store your DOTs after you purchase them, and a wallet is the best way to do this. There are many different wallets available for storing DOTs, and the best one for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

If you want the simplest and most user-friendly option, we recommend using the official Polkadot Wallet. This wallet is developed by the team behind Polkadot and is the easiest way to manage your DOTs. It is available for both desktop and mobile devices, so you can access your tokens from anywhere at any time.

Alternatively, you may want to consider a hardware wallet such as Ledger Nano S or Trezor One. These wallets offer greater security and reliability than software wallets, but they can be slightly more complex to use and may not be as convenient.

Step 2: Find an Exchange or Brokerage: Once you have chosen a Polkadot wallet, the next step is to find an exchange or brokerage where you can buy DOTs. There are many different exchanges and brokerages available, but it is important to choose an exchange or brokerage that is reputable and reliable. You can buy Polkadot on Moonpay as it is easier and safer. Other good options that you can buy are Poloniex, Bittrex, and Kraken.

Step 3: Complete the Purchase of DOTs:  Once you have chosen a suitable wallet and found an exchange, you will be ready to purchase your DOTs. The exact process for doing this will vary depending on the exchange or brokerage that you use, but the general process is as follows:

1) Register for an account on the exchange or brokerage.

2) Deposit funds into your account using a supported payment method (usually bank transfer or credit/debit card).

3) Place an order to buy DOTs using the deposited funds.

4) Once your order is filled, you will have purchased your DOTs and they will be stored in your selected wallet.

Keep in mind that there are certain risks and considerations when buying cryptocurrencies, such as price volatility and security threats. Make sure to do thorough research before making any purchase

Polkadot is still in its early stages of development, but its potential has already led to it being listed on a number of major exchanges and there are many ways you can use it. Below are 5 ways to use Polkadot.

5 Brilliant Ways To Use Polkadot

1) Streamlining Online Payments

Polkadot is an innovative blockchain platform that has been designed to facilitate a variety of transactions and applications. One major use for Polkadot is streamlining online payments, making it easier and faster for customers to make purchases on e-commerce websites. Additionally, Polkadot can help to enhance data security by using encryption and decentralized technology, reducing the risk of customer information being compromised.

Another key feature of Polkadot is its ability to facilitate trustless transactions. By using smart contracts, this platform allows businesses to automate their transactions and ensure that both parties uphold their end of the deal. Furthermore, all items are tracked on the blockchain and provide greater transparency throughout the process.

2) Enhancing Data Security

Source

With its decentralized nature and built-in encryption, Polkadot is an ideal platform for enhancing data security in businesses. By providing increased protection for customer data and other sensitive information, this platform helps to reduce the risk of a security breach that could lead to financial or reputational damage for companies.

Additionally, Polkadot uses smart contracts to facilitate trustless transactions, which further enhances the security of online payments and other business dealings.

Transactions made on the Polkadot platform also are facilitated in a trustless manner, which means that both parties involved can feel confident in the security and legitimacy of the transaction. This is thanks to the use of smart contracts, which help to automate the process and ensure that all parties uphold their end of the deal.

Overall, Polkadot represents a major step forward in the field of data security, making it a highly useful tool for businesses looking to safeguard their digital assets.

3) Improving Supply Chain Management

Polkadot is also used to improve supply chain management by tracking items on the blockchain and providing greater transparency throughout the process. This would allow businesses to more easily identify any issues that may arise and take action to resolve them in a timely manner.

Additionally, the increased transparency provided by Polkadot could help to build trust between businesses and their customers, as they would be able to see exactly where their products are at all times. Overall, this would lead to a more efficient and effective supply chain that is better able to meet the needs of businesses and consumers alike.

4) Building New Decentralized Applications

Polkadot is ideal for building new decentralized applications (dApps) that aim to transform the way we live and work. Some possible examples of dApps that could be developed using this platform include innovative financial services, social networking platforms, or data storage solutions.

Additionally, Polkadot allows different blockchains to work together. It is a consensus application where each blockchain is represented by an independent validator, while the guardians are in charge of maintaining and improving the entire network. This provides new layers of governance for web 3.0.

This provides new layers of governance for Web 3.0 which enable users to create and manage rules and incentives for different blockchains in order to maintain the integrity and security of each one. It also offers tools that allow developers to access information from several chains at once, as well as more advanced applications such as file sharing between multiple chains or decentralized exchanges.

Another main advantage of Polkadot in building decentralized applications is its ability to connect different blockchains so they can communicate with each other easily. This means that applications running on different blockchains can interact without having to worry about transferring funds or data between them; all parties involved in accessing information from several blockchains would only interact with a single Polkadot application.

5) Useful in Securely Storing and Tracking Information

Polkadot is a popular blockchain technology that enables secure and transparent storage and tracking of information such as financial transactions and medical records. It uses high-level encryption to protect user data while providing a decentralized, tamper-proof record of all transactions on the network.

Users can easily track information across multiple nodes in real-time. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses that rely on accurate and up-to-date information for things like supply chain management or inventory control.

Polkadot also works by creating a new kind of database. This database is distributed across the nodes in the Polkadot network and it allows fast access to stored data.

Having looked at the brilliant uses of Polkadot, it’s good to have a look at the challenges too so that you can be informed.

Conclusion

As Polkadot evolves and continues to gain traction in the world of blockchain technology, we are sure to see even more exciting uses over time. Whether it’s improving online payments, enhancing data security, or streamlining supply chain management, Polkadot offers a wealth of potential for businesses looking to take advantage of cutting-edge blockchain technology. So, keep an eye out for Polkadot and be prepared to embrace the change it could bring about.

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Bitcoin Price Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC) Forecast 05/17

Investors feel the worst of the Terra (LUNA) crash is past, and there are early indications of the dust settling in the crypto market. While the repercussions was extensive and rather damaging for altcoins, Bitcoin’s chart shows that BTC has held up pretty well.

Despite the fact that the May 12 price drop to $26,697 was the lowest since 2020, numerous measures imply that the current levels might be a suitable entry point for BTC.

The retest of Bitcoin’s 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) at $26,990 was important in the decline to this level. This indicator has traditionally acted as a crucial region for past price bottoms, according to cryptocurrency analysis firm Delphi Digital.

On May 12, it wasn’t only Bitcoin that had a bad day. The stablecoin market also experienced its highest degree of volatility and divergence from the dollar peg since the beginning of the Terra saga, with Tether (USDT) showing the most variance among the major stablecoin projects, as demonstrated in the graphic below from blockchain data source Glassnode.

The top four stablecoins by market cap have all managed to return to within $0.001 of their dollar peg, but the events of the previous two weeks have shattered crypto investors’ faith in their capacity to hold. The price of Bitcoin is presently trading the closest it has ever been near its realized price as a result of the market retreat.

The realized price, according to Glassnode, has traditionally offered solid support during bad markets and warnings of market bottom formation when the market price trades below it.

During previous bear markets, the price of BTC traded below its realized price for lengthy periods of time, but the length of time has reduced with each cycle, with Bitcoin only trading below its realized price for 7 days during the 2019-2020 bear market.

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Blockchain News

Terraform Legal Team Just Quitted

The legal team at Terraform Labs has resigned. Marc Goldich, Lawrence Florio, and Noah Axler, all members of the Counsel team, left the firm in May, according to their LinkedIn accounts. The Block announced their departure on Tuesday.

After the collapse of the stablecoin TerraUSD, the LUNA token, and the whole Terra ecosystem last week, employees have deserted Terraform Labs, the firm behind the Terra network.

Terraform Labs has had a difficult week, according to a spokesman, and a small number of team members have departed in recent days. The great majority of team members are still fully dedicated to completing the project’s objectives. Terra is more than $UST; it has a highly dedicated community and a clear plan for rebuilding.

The resignations come after a difficult week for Terraform Labs, located in Singapore, and the blockchain it manages.

The Terra blockchain is powered by Terraform Labs, which was created by Do Kwon and Daniel Shin in 2018. Early last week, Terra’s UST, the third largest stablecoin by issue, de-pegged substantially from its target price of $1. In a desperate attempt to reestablish the peg, billions of dollars in bitcoin were sold and enormous numbers of Terra’s native currency LUNA were created, but to no effect.

Both LUNA and UST saw their prices plummet. Terra’s blockchain has been shut down twice, resulting in significant losses for investors.

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Altcoins Price Analysis

Litecoin (LTC) Forecast 05/17

The whales appear to be progressively eyeing Litecoin ahead of the all-important MimbleWimble (MWEB) release. Transactions with the new MWEB privacy features will be possible after the upgrade.

On the Litecoin blockchain, the MWEB protocol allows for the addition of confidential transactions. Furthermore, the protocol removes unneeded data from transaction blocks.

MWEB will be launched on Thursday, according to Charlie Lee, the founder of Litecoin.

The MWEB is expected to go live on May 19. To commemorate the activation, they are considering hosting a webcast event. More information will be available soon.

Before MWEB activates, everyone interested in utilizing it, especially those who installed one of the previous release candidates, should update to the official v0.21.2. If you wait until after MWEB activation to update, you will have to resync the blockchain from the beginning.

Significant purchasing activity has recently occurred, which might be a strong evidence of positive mood among investors for Litecoin. Litecoin is one of the top ten tokens acquired by the top 100 whales in the previous 24 hours. WhaleStats, a site that analyzes the top 10 Ethereum wallets, gave the information.

Clearly, the new upgrade is something that the major investors are anticipating. This might indicate a bright future for the 18th most valuable cryptocurrency.

The altcoin hit a recent low of $55 following a global cryptocurrency price decrease last week. According to CoinGecko, the cryptocurrency was trading at $73 as of writing, up over 10% in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency touched an all-time high of $410 thanks to a bull run last year. It now has a market capitalization of $5.15 billion.

The activation of the MWEB update comes after a two-year wait since it was first announced in 2020. Traders expect Litecoin’s chances to improve as a result of MWEB, with the possibility of breaking beyond the $100 barrier.

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Blockchain News

CFTC Chair Considers BTC and ETH a Commodity

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair, Rostin Behnam, declared that Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are commodities. On Monday, he mentioned this in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box.

Behnam said this is an age-old conflict between the two agencies, referring to a Senate measure that wants to give the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) power over a big portion of the crypto market, leaving the CFTC with considerably less influence.

The CFTC and the SEC, according to Behnam, have had a fantastic relationship throughout the years and continue to interact and collaborate. He further mentioned that both companies have a large number of registrants. However, Behnam feels that the CFTC should govern commodities while the SEC should regulate securities.

He also mentioned that the world of digital assets, which includes hundreds of tokens, includes commodities and securities. To that end, the CFTC Chair stated that parsing through both asset categories to establish whether tokens qualify as securities or commodities makes sense.

Behnam recognized that separating securities from commodities in the crypto market will be difficult. According to him, the novelty of certain coins and the technology they employ necessitates a review of what qualifies as a security or commodity under standard securities and commodities rules.

Although Behnam acknowledged that security coins number in the hundreds if not thousands, he maintained that commodity coins make up a significant portion of the crypto market. Both authorities, he noted, are merely attempting to do the best they can.

Behnam agreed with SEC Chair Gary Gensler that the cryptocurrency sector lacks consumer protections. He noted that the incident last week demonstrated the necessity for such safeguards.

This comes after the Securities and Exchange Commission announced intentions to expand its crypto division in order to improve consumer safeguards. The authorities stated that they wanted to boost the number of employees in their Crypto Assets and Cyber team of the Enforcement Division from 30 to 50.

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Altcoins Blockchain News

Whales Filling Up On Cardano (ADA) Sees Possible Huge Rally

Major cryptocurrencies failed to recover over the weekend after a brutal sell-off for the most of this week, adding around 8% to the entire market value. Cardano is moving different.

A multitude of reasons contributed to the relief rise, including strong emotions that the market was oversold, pushing traders to put purchase orders for the deeply reduced prices. Analysts have linked the surge to a situation known as a “short squeeze.”

When traders short an asset, it rises in value, causing a short squeeze. To cover the short positions, they must now purchase assets. Short sellers are being squeezed by the asset’s significant price increase.

Santiment, a crypto analytics business, observed more transactions on the Cardano Network on Friday, with ADA falling to a low of $0.4 on May 12.

“Cardano whales exhibited a rush of trades yesterday, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. UTC, while prices were bottoming out at $0.40.” The company sent out a tweet. “These increases have frequently signaled ADA price direction shifts.”

ADA witnessed 1085 trades valued more over $100,000 on Thursday alone, the most since January.

After selling 1.7 million tokens in the previous seven months, it was revealed this week that ADA whales with a balance of 1 million to ten million coins had been buying more amid the sell-off, spending over $200 million in the last two weeks.

With the price hitting a multi-year low of $0.4, which also serves as solid support, and the forthcoming Vasil hard fork in June, which aims to significantly improve the Cardano network, it’s easy to see why whales have been so active recently.

At the time of writing, ADA is trading at $0.56, up 2.54% on the day. Cardano is the sixth most valuable cryptocurrency, having a market cap of $18.9 billion.

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News Regulation

Australia to Prioritize Crypto Investors This Year

The Australia Taxation Office (ATO) said today that crypto capital gains will be prioritized this year, along with three other critical areas of attention, to guarantee proper tax reporting in Australia.

Because crypto assets, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), are treated as digital properties in the United States, they are susceptible to gains, according to the ATO.

Because many Australians are investing in cryptocurrencies, the tax authorities expects investors to calculate and declare capital gains or losses from the sales of crypto tokens and NFTs on their tax returns this year.

We know that many Australians are purchasing, selling, or trading digital currency and assets because of our data collecting methods, so it’s critical that individuals understand what this implies for their tax duties.” Tim Loh, Assistant Commissioner, stated.

The ATO also cautioned investors to retain records of their transactions for future reference and that losses from crypto investments cannot be offset with salary or pay.

Crypto investors, according to the regulator, are having difficulty completing their tax returns, which is why the tax office has opted to prioritize it this year.

“The ATO is focusing on issue areas where we observe people making errors,” says the spokesperson.

As the popularity of cryptocurrencies grows, governments around the world are considering levying taxes on digital asset earnings.

Germany just joined the increasing list of countries that tax crypto assets. Crypto investors do not have to pay taxes on bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) kept for at least a year, according to the country’s Federal Ministry of Finance. Trading, staking, lending, hardforks, airdrops, and mining are all covered under the new tax standards.

Uzbekistan approved a bill earlier this month exempting all bitcoin mining enterprises from paying taxes. The legislation also declared that mining companies can use the country’s power to mine cryptocurrency legally, however they would have to pay higher rates.

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Ethereum Price Analysis

Ethereum (ETH) Price Analysis 05/17

On Monday, Ethereum saw a significant pullback from its session highs. The second-largest cryptocurrency has just dropped below the desired $2,000 level, thanks to recent market activity. It temporarily dropped below the specified level before quickly recovering. However, ETH purchasers continue to struggle to maintain gains as they face upward pressure.

ETH/USD is now trading at $2,000, down 6.45 percent on the day. With advances of more than 48 percent, the 24-hour trading volume is approaching $20,771,000,352.

A surge in volume while the price falls is a negative indicator. As a result, we recommend that investors use suitable trading levels to take advantage of any sell-side opportunity.

The price of Ethereum struggled to recover from the previous week’s lows of $1,701.04. In just four sessions, ETH increased by 26%. However, investors should not be alarmed by the upward trend since, given the extreme oversold market position, a price rebound is expected.

The Ethereum gloomy clouds are predicted to last longer. If the price falls below the day’s low, the current trend will resume. On the downside, the psychological $1,700 level might be the first target.

A shift in positive attitude, on the other hand, might result in a price reversal. More increases would be seen if the price closed decisively over $2,100, followed by the horizontal resistance zone at $2,500.

In terms of technical indicators, the RSI (relative strength index) remains below the average line, giving a cautionary signal for buyers. With no evident directional bias, the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) stays down.

Categories
Blockchain News

The Crypto Thief Who Stole $42,000

According to Bleeping Computers, a 24-year-old guy was sentenced to five years in jail for stealing crypto worth $41,900 after threatening to cut off the victim’s fingers if they failed to comply with his request.

The verdict was handed out on May 11 at London’s Crown Court in Southwark. Authorities said the defendant, Karim Hassan, used the instant messaging app Snapchat to target people who wanted to convert their cryptocurrency to cash through peer-to-peer exchanges rather than utilizing an authorized crypto exchange.

Hassan persuaded his victims to meet him in his black Audi A6 automobile, where he forced them to hand up their phones. According to officials, the 24-year-old felon used excessive force against anyone who refused to cooperate.

The criminal threatened to knife the victims in the neck if they didn’t comply, referring to himself as a killer. He also attacked victims and threatened to slice off their fingers “one by one” at other instances.

After being held at gunpoint in the automobile, one of the victims, Zain Hankin, stated he lost a total of £20,000 ($24,600) in cryptocurrency. After being threatened with a pocket knife, another victim, Abbas Mamuod, gave the inmate over £10,000 ($12,300).

Another victim, Abdullahi Goloid, said he was driven to an underground parking lot and manhandled by Hassen and his group, who threatened to rape, strip, and tie him up if he didn’t surrender his monies.

Goloid had previously remembered Hassen’s car number, which he reported to the police, and the crooks took nearly £2,500 ($3,000) from him. Police captured him driving the identical automobile Goloid described shortly after the crime.

In the United Kingdom, there has been a fresh wave of cryptocurrency mugging. Last week, UK police issued a public alert about the rising number of crypto thefts on London’s streets, claiming that numerous victims had already lost hundreds of pounds in cryptocurrency.

Crypto muggers take crypto investors’ phones from strategic locations across the city and transfer monies held in their digital wallets.

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Blockchain News

Elon Musk’s Strong Thoughts For Dogecoin (DOGE)

Despite crypto values plummeting in yet another bloodbath this year, Elon Musk has praised Dogecoin, energizing supporters of the canine-themed coin.

The reason he likes dogecoin is because it recognizes it is ridiculous, Dogecoin co-founder Billy Markus tweeted on May 13th. Elon Musk replied almost instantly, suggesting that it had currency potential, driving the doge community into a flurry of optimism.

Billy Markus, also known on Twitter as “shibetoshi nakamoto,” co-founded DOGE with Jackson Palmer, a former Adobe software developer. Markus abandoned DOGE years ago, while pushing it on the sidelines, claiming terrible experiences such as frauds and a “sociopath” taking over the community.

Musk’s response, which has garnered over 50k likes as of writing, drew a lot of attention from Dogecoin supporters hoping for a price increase.

While it’s amusing that DOGE is down nearly 87 percent after Musk shilled the coin on Saturday Night Live last year, the Tesla co-founder has become a top influencer for the cryptocurrency owing to his pro-growth ideals.

Musk lauded DOGE as a superior form of digital payment compared to Bitcoin in an interview with TIME Magazine, in which he was named the 2021 person of the year. Later that year, he stated that Tesla will begin taking bitcoin payments for items, with intentions to do the same for Starlink.

The billionaire bought a large interest in Twitter last month. He revealed plans to acquire the firm for $44 billion and take it private on April 25th, pushing DOGE up 34% on speculation that he will include the token as a payment option on Twitter.

While these are merely rumors, Musk has previously expressed interest in developing a Dogecoin-centered digital wallet or a full-fledged DOGE-based payment network that would be free to Twitter users.

While it is difficult to anticipate the direction of price, it is safe to assume that Musk will contribute to a price recovery by continuing to promote the currency.

Categories
Blockchain News

Do Kwon Apologizes to the Terra Community

Do Kwon, the Terra blockchain project’s brains, has apologized to Terra ecosystem and crypto community members for the recent depegging tragedy.

Terra’s algorithmic stablecoin, UST, depegged from the US dollar last week, causing the price of LUNA, the project’s governance token, to plummet.

All attempts to preserve UST were fruitless, and LUNA plummeted from over $60 to $0.00002 in a matter of days, a 99.9% decline from its high. As they saw their money evaporate into thin air, investors were left scratching their heads.

Following the event, Kwon issued an apology to the Terra community on Friday, expressing his regret that his “creation” had caused users and investors anguish.

Because he did not sell his LUNA or UST stakes, the Terra chairman claimed that neither he nor the project’s linked institutions benefited from the crisis.

Kwon said he and his staff are presently documenting how the Luna Foundation Guard (LFG) spent the Bitcoin reserve during the UST depegging situation as part of his apologies.

LFG reportedly drained $2.2 billion in bitcoin from its BTC reserve to rescue the stablecoin at the time.

While Kwon thinks that decentralized economies need decentralized money, he also feels that UST cannot be that money since community members and investors have lost faith in the stablecoin.

We won’t be able to rebuild Luna’s environment because it has been drastically liquidated and diluted. While a decentralized economy requires decentralized money, he believes UST has lost too much confidence among its users to fulfill that function. The aim now, according to Kwon, should be to protect the Terra community and its developers.

Categories
Blockchain News Regulation

Nigeria has issued new crypto rules to increase adoption

The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has issued new laws for the issuing and usage of digital assets in the nation, including cryptocurrencies.

In April 2021, Coinfomania reported that the Commission was collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to have a better understanding of cryptocurrencies in order to provide a complete guideline for the asset class.

The necessity of the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) permission or license, the measures to take when creating a digital token, and the registration requirements for digital asset platforms, exchanges, and custodians are all covered in the new SEC paper.

According to the requirements, every firm that plans to provide crypto goods or services in Nigeria or to Nigerians must get a VASP license or permission, as well as other associated documentation.

Digital asset businesses who wish to offer token sales to Nigerians must submit an evaluation form as well as a full draft whitepaper of the project, according to the SEC document. The whitepaper must include details on the project, the target market, expected earnings and bonuses, and risk estimates.

The token issuer can then register the token as securities when the SEC Nigeria completes the required evaluation and certification. In addition, anybody interested in running a digital asset launchpad or an ICO/IEO platform must meet the VASPs’ standards and pay the costs.

The application must also include specific project details, a commitment to keep investors informed about the initiative, and a commitment to appropriately oversee the use of money.

Digital asset custodians are required to defend investors’ interests, establish a friendly connection with investors, safeguard their customers’ funds, and follow all applicable rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear if Nigeria’s new cryptocurrency legislation would overturn the central bank’s prohibition on digital assets. The Central Bank of Nigeria reportedly barred all banks and financial institutions in the country from serving crypto investors and businesses in February 2021.

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Bitcoin Price Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 05/15

Bitcoin (BTC) prices are continuing to rebound following a bullish breakout from a symmetrical triangle formation. With an estimated objective of 6.50 percent high at $32000, the predicted retest should provide a solid entry opportunity for interested traders. Can buyers, on the other hand, overcome the 200 EMA’s probable resistance?

The $45000 mark’s fallout on April 6th ensnared ambitious purchasers who had entered the breakout surge. As a result of the forced liquidation of these purchases, the market saw an influx of sell orders and Bitcoin saw a severe correction (BTC).

Furthermore, last week’s severe selling pressure accelerated the current decline, resulting in a new low of $26350 for 2022. In addition, the hourly chart’s slight rebound represented the construction of the symmetrical triangular pattern.

The buyers produce a bullish break from the pattern resistance trendline and the $30000 mark, implying a greater chance of price regaining the psychological level.

The coin’s price would rise 6.50 percent to $32000 if the buying continued. Traders can also expect the rebound rally to continue until the support trendline is reached.

As a result, the fallout from this dynamic trendline would suggest that the current trend in BTC will continue.

The current rebound rally has broken through the 20, 50, and 100 EMAs, signaling a continuous northward march. However, the $30,757 overhead resistance might put significant supply pressure on the market.

The daily RSI slope remains above the midline (50), suggesting that buyers have taken control from sellers. Furthermore, a rising suggesting line suggests an increase in bullish momentum.

Categories
Altcoins Price Analysis

Tron (TRX) and USD Coin (USDC) Forecast 05/14

Circle Inc.’s USD Coin (USDC), the second-largest stablecoin by market value and a main rival to USD Tether (USDT), has increased its supply on the Tron (TRX) network.

According to H.E. Justin Sun’s statement, the net supply of USD Coin (USDC) on the Tron (TRX) blockchain increased by more than 24 percent. The USDC supply on this network now stands at $1.24 billion in equivalent. Tether (USDT), USDC’s main competitor, released $38.7 billion in Tron (TRX) in exchange.

USD Coin (USDC) also surpasses $50 billion in market value across all platforms, becoming the second stablecoin to do so. It’s also available on Algorand (ALGO), Solana (SOL), Stellar (XLM), Avalance (AVAX), Flow (FLOW), and Hedera (HDERA) in addition to Ethereum (ETH) and Tron (TRX) (HBAR).

According to its operator, Circle Inc., USD Coin (USDC) is backed by cash USD (22.9%) and short-term US Treasury bonds (77.1%).

Tron (TRX) is the most resource-efficient platform for USDT transfers, charging $1 regardless of transaction size.

USDC is the only stablecoin that has not seen a severe de-pegging during the current market crash. On May 12, 2022, the USDC/USDT ratio on several markets reached 1:1.

Simultaneously, as the dust settles following the TerraUSD (UST) crash, H.E. Justin Sun announces that Tron’s (TRX) stablecoin, USDD, may be staked with twice as much APY as UST in Anchor Protocol (ANC).

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Blockchain News

Do Kwon Bets $11 Million on LUNA Hitting and Staying Above $88

Terra creator Do Kwon gambled about $11 million with two crypto traders on the price of LUNA in March, in a move that has likely aged like milk.

Kwon bet that LUNA would trade over $88 in March 2023, exactly one year after the bet was placed.

Terra’s creator put $10 million on @GiganticRebirth, a crypto trader, and $1 million on @AlgodTrading. GiganticRebirth has increased his stake by establishing a short position in LUNA.

The $22 million was parked in USDT with an escrow account controlled by prominent crypto trader @cobie, who also hosts a crypto podcast.

With Terra’s latest fall, it’s clear who took home the $22 million wager. As of press time, LUNA is selling at roughly $0.0006918.

Terra had enraged Kwon and other LUNA holders, and both GiganticRebirth and Algod were vociferous detractors. Their wager with Kwon was based on a similar premise.

While Terra’s demise has been terrible for the cryptocurrency market, it has also served as vindication for traders who forecast UST’s insufficiency.

In response to the catastrophe and the wager, Algod demanded that Kwon pay up the money early. GiganticRebirth also remarked on the crash, stating that they purchased 120,000 LUNA to offset “risk” associated with their short position.

Despite the fact that the token has lost nearly all of its value, it still looks to be witnessing massive trade volumes.

The token’s price has increased by over 1000 percent in the last 24 hours, despite considerable volatility. Terra looks to be continuing to promote blockchain technology.

Kwon said on Saturday that Terra will use the Luna Foundation Guard’s Bitcoin reserves to defend blockchain engineers. Any attempts to save the UST peg have mainly failed so far.

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Altcoins Price Analysis

Terra LUNA Rallies Up 1,500%

In a historic dump, the Terra (LUNA) token and its stablecoin UST both tumbled to the ground. Almost every major cryptocurrency trading exchange in the world has delisted both tokens. In just seven days, LUNA lost all of its value. However, the token’s most recent price update has some investors concerned.

In the previous 24 hours, the price of the LUNA token has increased by 1500%. It is now selling at $0.00049 on average. Terra has previously said that its blockchain had resumed production following the huge meltdown. The validators decided to make on-chain exchanges impossible.

Luna’s 24-hour trade volume has increased by 2000% to $6.8 billion. Meanwhile, UST, Terra’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, has increased by 23% in the previous 24 hours. UST is currently trading at $0.215 after a significant drop. It still has a market capitalization of approximately $2.4 billion.

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has launched spot trading for LUNA/BUSD and UST/BUSD on its platform. It also permitted simultaneous deposits and withdrawals for both tokens. However, it cautioned investors to conduct their own study into the coins’ fundamentals.

In the last 24 hours, the LUNA has been quite volatile. This unexpected increase in the value of a dead coin presents some serious concerns. Is this just another rug pull or a ruse set up by experts to get more money?

Do Kwon, Terra’s founder, expressed his sympathy for the community and holders who lost money in the historic UST depegging. He stated that the organization is working on recording how its Luna Foundation Guard Bitcoin reserves were used during the depegging incident. According to sources, the LFG BTC reserve has 70,736 Bitcoin.