Bitwise’s chief investment officer says bitcoin price could surge above $ 200K this year due to a “massive supply-demand dynamic,” emphasizing that “there’s too much demand and not enough supply” for the cryptocurrency. Predicting “an even bigger wave” of demand for bitcoin due to spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), he described: “It’s in a …
Gauntlet Withdraws From Aave Partnership, Citing Governance Challenges
Gauntlet has decided to withdraw from its role as Risk Steward for Aave, pointing to governance and operational challenges as the main reasons. This announcement marks the end of a four-year collaboration that has helped in growing Aave. Gauntlet Ends Partnership With Aave Due to DAO Disputes Gauntlet, a blockchain risk management firm, has officially […]
Janet Yellen Calls for Crypto Regulation in Congressional Testimony, Citing Financial System Risks
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in her forthcoming appearance before the House Financial Services Committee, is set to emphasize the potential dangers the cryptocurrency industry presents to financial stability, advocating for legislative action to regulate digital assets effectively. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Urges Congress to Act on Crypto Regulation Amid Financial System Concerns U.S. Treasury Secretary […]
SEC Moves to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Crypto Company Debt Box, Citing Inaccuracies in Court
The SEC has decided to abandon its lawsuit against Debt Box, a crypto company previously accused of defrauding investors of millions. This decision follows the SEC’s acknowledgment of presenting misleading information in court, a revelation that undermines the agency’s case and credibility. Inaccuracies in Court Lead SEC to Drop Fraud Case Against Crypto Firm Debt […]
Terra’s Do Kwon Seeks Trial Delay, Citing Extradition Holdup
Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon has requested that the judge in his fraud case delay the trial date, currently set for Jan. 29, 2024, because Kwon is still tied up in extradition proceedings in Montenegro. Terra’s Do Kwon Requests Trial Postponement Due to Extradition Issues In a letter to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff dated […]
DOJ Halts Second Trial Against FTX’s Bankman Fried, Citing Sufficiency of Initial Evidence and ‘Public Interest’
On Dec. 29, 2023, past 6 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), the Department of Justice (DOJ) conveyed in a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan its decision to not move forward with a subsequent trial against Sam Bankman-Fried, the ex-CEO of FTX. FTX’s Bankman Fried Avoids Second Trial According to several reports on Friday evening, prosecutors have […]
Finance Professor Blasts SEC’s Potential Cash-Only Rule for Spot Bitcoin ETFs Citing Benefits of In-Kind Model
A finance professor at Georgetown University has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to avoid micromanaging the creation/redemption process for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). While the SEC proposed the cash creation method, applicants like Blackrock and Fidelity have advocated for the in-kind creation method. “Now that the Commission has seemingly become comfortable […]
Environmentalists Rally Against Crypto Mining Facility Renewal in New York, Citing Climate Concerns
Environmental advocates are redoubling their efforts to persuade New York officials to decline an air permit renewal for a cryptocurrency mining facility in North Tonawanda. They assert that the operation imperils residents’ quality of life and undermines the state’s climate objectives, as per a report by Mark Scheer for the Niagara Gazette. Battle Brews Over […]
Opensea Phases Out BNB Smart Chain Support, Citing Resource Alignment With Promising Efforts
One of the largest non-fungible token (NFT) platforms, Opensea, has declared its decision to withdraw BNB Smart Chain (BSC) support. Opensea revealed that the “cost to continue supporting BSC outweighs the impact.” Opensea Pivots Away From BNB Smart Chain in Strategy Re-evaluation On August 18, 2023, Opensea proclaimed that they would cease BSC support after […]
Fundstrat’s $180K Bitcoin Price Prediction, Analyst Says World War III Already Started Citing BRICS, SEC Looks to Appeal Ripple Ruling — Week in Review
A Fundstrat investor note has said BTC could hit $ 180,000 before the upcoming block reward halving in April 2024, and an Indian analyst thinks World War III has already begun, expecting the BRICS economic bloc to merge with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In other news, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission …
US Senators Urge Fidelity to Stop Offering Bitcoin in 401(k) Plans Citing FTX Collapse, ‘Serious Problems’ in Crypto Industry
Several U.S. senators have called on Fidelity Investments to reconsider allowing bitcoin in 401(k) retirement plans. “The recent implosion of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, has made it abundantly clear the digital asset industry has serious problems,†the lawmakers told Fidelity CEO Abigail Johnson. US Senators Want Fidelity to Stop Offering Bitcoin in Retirement Plans …
Dutch Central Bank Fines Crypto Exchange Binance $3.4 Million Citing ‘Very Serious’ Violations
The Dutch central bank has fined cryptocurrency exchange Binance 3.325 million euros for offering crypto services in the Netherlands without the legally required registration. Binance has appealed against the fine and has now submitted an application to register with the central bank. Binance Fined by Dutch Regulator The Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank …
Wikipedia Stops Accepting Cryptocurrency Donations Citing Community’s Environmental Concerns
Wikipedia has decided to stop accepting cryptocurrency donations after eight years of doing so. The decision is based on the request by the Wikimedia community citing “issues of environmental sustainability†as a key reason. Wikipedia Discontinues Accepting Bitcoin, Crypto Donations Wikimedia Foundation has announced its decision to “discontinue direct acceptance of cryptocurrency as a …
Pakistan’s Central Bank Sees Few Good Use Cases for Crypto Citing ‘a Lot of Misuses’ Worldwide
The central bank of Pakistan does not see many good use cases for crypto. However, the regulator cites “a lot of misuses†of cryptocurrency around the world, “including human rights violations, trafficking of people, money laundering, and many other things.†Pakistani Central Bank Governor’s Stance on Crypto The governor of the State Bank of …
FDIC Makes Crypto Evaluation a Priority This Year Citing ‘Significant Safety and Financial System Risks’
The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has named the evaluation of crypto assets a priority this year. “The rapid introduction of a variety of crypto-asset or digital asset products into the financial system could pose significant safety and soundness and financial system risks,†the FDIC said. Crypto Evaluation Named a Priority for FDIC …