Category: Cryptocurrency

This post was originally published on this site

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has delivered a scathing critique of Gurbir Grewal, the Director of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), regarding comments made about the compliance efforts within the crypto industry.

During a recent SEC event, Grewal suggested that the burgeoning crypto sector was employing various tactics to circumvent regulatory oversight, such as relocating or registering in different jurisdictions. He also addressed concerns regarding the SEC’s regulatory approach, refuting allegations of overreach and exceeding its regulatory mandate.

Alderoty, however, highlighted the inconsistencies in Grewal’s remarks, pointing out instances where the SEC had potentially overstepped its bounds and abused its authority. He specifically mentioned the DebtBox sanctions for “gross abuse of power,” a Ripple judge’s criticism for lacking “faithful allegiance to the law,” and the “arbitrary and capricious” ruling in the Grayscale case.

Moreover, Alderoty criticized the SEC’s erratic application of the Howey test, a standard used to determine whether certain transactions qualify as investment contracts. He noted that the SEC’s guidance on the Howey test, still present on its website, fluctuates arbitrarily, leading to confusion and inconsistency within the industry.

According to Alderoty, the SEC must address these concerns to restore credibility and trust. He urged the regulator to acknowledge and rectify the institutional damage inflicted by its approach to crypto regulation, emphasizing the necessity for enhanced transparency and accountability.

In conclusion, Alderoty emphasized that if the SEC genuinely aims to mend the institutional harm caused during what he termed as a “misguided war on crypto,” it must confront these truths and adopt a more responsible and balanced regulatory stance.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Oppenheimer, a New York-based financial firm, has revised Coinbase’s share price target to $276, marking a notable increase from the previous target of $200, while maintaining its buy rating.

The new price target of $276 represents a roughly 10% surge from Wednesday’s closing share price of Coinbase, which stood at $251.58.

Owen Lau, Executive Director at Oppenheimer, highlighted the ongoing adoption of digital assets, particularly following the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in January. Lau projected a significant increase in Coinbase’s 1Q24 trading volume, estimating a 95% quarter-on-quarter and 107% year-on-year rise to $300 billion.

Additionally, Lau pointed out the growing liquidity in the space, with USDC’s market capitalization witnessing a 12% uptick between the first quarter of 2024 and the last quarter of 2023.

According to Oppenheimer, the sustained adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology positions Coinbase as a key beneficiary in the cryptocurrency sector over the long term.

Lau emphasized that the upward revision of the price target for Coinbase shares reflects the company’s improved fundamentals and higher trading revenue. Factors such as strong inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs, the halving, and increased retail participation contribute to this growth. However, Lau noted that Coinbase’s Base Layer 2 wasn’t a significant revenue driver factored into the increased target price for the stock.

In pre-market trading on Thursday, Coinbase shares surged by 3.29% to $259.85 as of 8:56 a.m. ET. Since the beginning of the year, the cryptocurrency exchange’s share price has climbed more than 44%.

Featured Image: Unsplash

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

PayPal has unveiled a new service allowing its U.S. clients to conduct cross-border money transfers utilizing the company’s PYUSD stablecoin.

Commencing Thursday, users of the company’s international payments service, Xoom, based in the U.S., can convert PYUSD to USD and subsequently send funds to “recipients in approximately 160 countries” without incurring transaction fees, PayPal stated.

Silicon Valley-based payments behemoth PayPal is once again expanding the utility of its PYUSD stablecoin, aiming to facilitate more efficient international transactions.

The move signifies PayPal’s confidence in the market’s appetite for more cost-effective methods of sending international money transfers. Referencing a World Bank report, PayPal noted that the “global average cost of sending $200 is just over 6%.”

In addition to promoting the use of its stablecoin, launched last year, PayPal aims to establish itself as a reputable entity in the realm of digital assets, aligning with the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency adoption worldwide.

Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s Senior Vice President of the blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital currency group, emphasized the significance of enabling U.S. Xoom users to fund cross-border money transfers using PYUSD, furthering the company’s objective of mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.

Amid PayPal’s announcement, the stablecoin market appears to be gaining momentum. Ripple recently disclosed its plans to introduce a stablecoin primarily targeting enterprise clients, foreseeing the stablecoin market potentially reaching $2.8 trillion by 2028.

Presently, Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC stablecoins dominate the market in terms of supply, according to data from The Block Data Dashboard.

Featured Image: Megapixl

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Ethena Labs has announced the addition of bitcoin as a backing asset for its USDe synthetic dollar, tapping into the growing enthusiasm for the world’s oldest digital asset among traders.

The decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol stated in a series of updates that anchoring USDe with Bitcoin will facilitate significant scalability, multiplying its capacity by more than 2.5 times and enhancing safety measures for traders. This strategic move arrives as bitcoin derivative markets outshine their ether-based counterparts.

“With Ethena’s scaling trajectory nearing $10 billion, this enhanced backing provides a more resilient foundation, ensuring a safer environment for users,” the protocol remarked, noting that the current supply of USDe is valued at around $2 billion.

Ethena also highlighted Bitcoin’s superior liquidity and duration profile for delta hedging compared to liquid staking tokens as a key factor in the decision to incorporate it as a backing asset.

Previously, USDe was solely supported by staked ether (ETH), as indicated on Ethena Labs’ website. However, heightened trader interest in Bitcoin prompted the protocol’s adjustment.

Ethena noted a substantial surge in bitcoin open interest, which soared by 150% to reach $25 billion over the past year, leading to more than doubling USDe’s scalability potential. In contrast, ether’s open interest grew by 100% to $10 billion during the same period, according to data provided by the protocol.

Bitcoin’s robust demand coincides with its remarkable surge in speculative value, currently trading at $68,384 according to The Block’s price data, marking a 4% increase over the past 24 hours.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Coinbase has announced securing a restricted dealer license in Canada, marking a significant milestone for the U.S.-based exchange. This makes Coinbase the first and largest international cryptocurrency exchange to be registered in the country.

Having officially launched in Canada nearly eight months ago, Coinbase’s latest announcement of securing registration as a restricted dealer underscores its commitment to expanding its presence in global markets outside the United States. This move aligns with Coinbase’s strategy amidst challenges it has faced in its home market, including regulatory scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Expressing enthusiasm about obtaining the restricted dealer license, Coinbase highlighted its collaboration with Canadian banks, investment advisors, and pension funds. The company emphasized its dedication to facilitating the successful navigation of the evolving digital asset landscape for these entities.

Coinbase’s efforts in Canada have been bolstered by the appointment of a country director approximately a year ago. Additionally, the exchange cited a study it contributed to, revealing that nearly one-third of Canadians would be more inclined to purchase cryptocurrency if there were more regulatory measures in place.

As of late last year, WonderFi held control over almost half of all regulated exchanges operating in Canada, reflecting the growing interest and participation in the cryptocurrency market within the country.

Featured Image: Megapixl

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Bitcoin Cash witnessed a significant surge, jumping over 10% in value after the completion of its blockchain’s halving process. The digital currency has been steadily climbing since the beginning of the year, with a notable 23% increase over the past week and an impressive 43% surge in the last month, as reported by CryptoSlate.

At the time of reporting, BCH was trading at $673, marking its highest level since May 2021. Market analysts attribute this surge to various factors, including the recent halving event and the prevailing bullish market sentiment.

Bitcoin Cash Halving

Bitcoin Cash, a proof-of-work blockchain network that forked from Bitcoin in 2017, aims to facilitate faster and cheaper transactions but has seen limited adoption in the crypto community. The recent halving, occurring at block height 840,000, reduced miner rewards from 6.25 BCH to 3.125 BCH per block.

Following the halving, Bitcoin Unlimited data indicates that the network has confirmed 840,017 blocks, with approximately 17 blocks validated since the event. Moreover, OKLink data shows a spike in BCH’s network mining difficulty to its highest level since 2019 at 761,589.2, while miner rewards have decreased from an average of 0.0003 to 0.00017 at the time of reporting.

Potential Implications for Bitcoin

Market experts view Bitcoin Cash’s halving as a potential precursor to Bitcoin’s upcoming halving, scheduled for April 20. During this event, Bitcoin’s miner block rewards will be halved from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.

Notably, industry players such as asset management firm Grayscale and Hut 8 Mining CEO Asher Genoot have highlighted the significant impact this upcoming halving event may have on the broader cryptocurrency landscape.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Binance, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has announced its decision to discontinue support for Bitcoin non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its marketplace by April 18, as stated in an April 4 announcement.

Effective April 18, users will no longer have the option to buy, deposit, bid on, or list NFTs on the Binance NFT Marketplace via the Bitcoin network, according to the exchange. Additionally, all impacted listing orders will be automatically canceled at 06:00 (UTC) on April 18. Furthermore, support for airdrops, benefits, or other utilities associated with the Bitcoin NFTs will cease by April 10.

The move comes less than a year after Binance initially enabled support for these digital assets and is attributed to the exchange’s ongoing efforts to streamline its product offerings within the NFT marketplace. However, Binance did not provide details regarding whether trading volumes or user demand influenced the decision.

Although the NFT marketplace enjoyed early success, particularly due to its association with the exchange and public figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, it has faced challenges in garnering significant adoption compared to competitors like Blur.

Binance is also contending with regulatory hurdles in various jurisdictions, including a record fine of over $4 billion in the United States and a cessation of operations within the country. Consequently, the exchange has been reassessing its operational approach, including the appointment of a seven-member board of directors led by Gabriel Abed, the former ambassador of Barbados to the UAE.

Despite Binance’s decision to end support for Bitcoin NFTs, the broader market for Bitcoin-based NFTs continues to thrive. Innovations within Bitcoin’s ecosystem, including Ordinals (Bitcoin NFTs), new fungible tokens standards like BRC-20 and Runes, Bitcoin Layer 2s, and other Bitcoin DeFi primitives, have contributed to this growth. Data from CryptoSlam indicates that Bitcoin NFT sales amounted to $6.37 million within the past 24 hours, marking the second-highest figure in the industry.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Google has initiated legal proceedings against a group of individuals accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud over 100,000 people worldwide through counterfeit cryptocurrency apps distributed on its Google Play store. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York on April 4, reflects Google’s commitment to combatting crypto scams and establishing legal safeguards for user protection.

The defendants, identified as Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung, allegedly operated a fraudulent operation by uploading at least 87 fake investment and crypto exchange apps on Google Play. These individuals purportedly provided false information about their identities, locations, and the nature of their apps.

Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google’s general counsel, underscored the significance of the lawsuit in addressing crypto fraud, which has inflicted significant losses in the US. Google aims to leverage its resources to safeguard users and deter fraudulent activities.

The legal action utilizes civil claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, alongside breach of contract claims. The lawsuit outlines the defendants’ methods to attract users, including text messaging campaigns, online videos, and affiliate marketing.

Despite the counterfeit apps’ appearance of legitimacy, users allegedly encountered difficulties withdrawing their funds, with some being misled into paying additional fees to access earnings. The accused scammers attempted to legitimize their apps by facilitating small initial withdrawals and publishing news releases, but users encountered obstacles when attempting to retrieve larger investments.

Google has responded to these deceptive practices by bolstering its cybersecurity measures, forming partnerships with law enforcement, and establishing a dedicated team to identify fraud. The company claims damages exceeding $75,000 due to investigative and safety enhancement costs.

Through the lawsuit, Google seeks damages and a permanent injunction barring the defendants and their affiliates from accessing Google services or creating accounts. This legal action forms part of Google’s broader strategy to protect users and uphold platform integrity amidst rising online scams and cybersecurity threats.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), known as the central bank for central banks, has unveiled Project Agorá, an initiative aimed at delving deeper into blockchain technology to enhance the monetary system.

Hyun Song Shin, BIS Economic Adviser and Head of Research highlighted the potential of tokenization, stating, “Tokenization combines the record-keeping function of a traditional database with the rules and logic that govern transfers.” Project Agorá aims to leverage tokenization to improve existing capabilities and introduce new functionalities to the monetary system while upholding its core principles.

The project boasts collaboration from leading central banks including the Bank of France, Bank of Japan, Bank of Korea, Bank of Mexico, Swiss National Bank, Bank of England, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Together with a consortium of private financial firms convened by the Institute of International Finance (IIF), they will explore the seamless integration of tokenized commercial bank deposits with tokenized wholesale central bank money within a “public-private programmable core financial platform.”

The envisioned infrastructure holds promise for enhancing the monetary system and unlocking new possibilities through smart contracts and programmability. By overcoming structural inefficiencies, especially in cross-border payments, the initiative seeks to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Cecilia Skingsley, Head of the BIS Innovation Hub, emphasized the project’s goal of creating a common payment infrastructure that brings together various elements of the financial system for improved efficiency.

The collaborative effort will involve testing the technology within the operational, regulatory, and legal frameworks of participating currencies, along with financial companies operating in those jurisdictions. Additionally, the project aims to address challenges related to financial integrity controls, such as anti-money laundering measures and customer verification.

Project Agorá represents the BIS Innovation Hub’s experimental approach to exploring and delivering public goods to the global central banking community. Moving forward, the BIS plans to invite regulated financial institutions to join the project, aiming to include several institutions representing each of the seven participating currencies. Specific instructions and requirements for interested parties will be provided in due course.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Amid the ongoing crypto bull market, the top crypto exchange insurance funds have seen a remarkable surge in value, exceeding $1 billion.

As of April 3, Binance’s Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), comprising Bitcoin, BNB, Tether, and TrueUSD (TUSD) balances, has surpassed $2.03 billion, soaring from its initial balance of $1 billion in January 2022. Similarly, Bitget’s protection fund, initially set at $300 million when launched in November 2022, has now grown to $612 million due to the appreciation of its Bitcoin holdings. Over the past year, Bitcoin has witnessed a 136% surge, while BNB has seen a 79.36% increase, contributing to the growth of these insurance funds amidst the crypto bull run.

While most exchanges offer some form of insurance protection for users, only Binance and Bitget have disclosed their on-chain addresses. Huobi (now HTX) previously announced a reserve of 20,000 BTC ($1.32 billion) in an independent address in 2019, aimed at addressing extreme security incidents. However, it remains unclear if the exchange still holds this balance, especially after suffering several exploits last year resulting in significant losses.

Crypto exchange OKX operates a $700 million “Risk Shield” program for user protection, although the composition of this amount in terms of tokens, stablecoins, or fiat funds is unclear. Conversely, exchanges like Coinbase provide insurance based on customers’ geographical location and the nature of their funds, whether in fiat or crypto.

Some exchanges may choose not to disclose on-chain addresses for various reasons, including concerns about cybersecurity attacks or potential deception, as seen in the case of the defunct exchange FTX. Former FTX chief technology officer Gary Wang revealed that FTX’s claimed $100 million insurance fund in 2021 was fabricated and did not contain any FTX Token (FTT). This underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the crypto exchange ecosystem.

While on-chain addresses provide insight into the assets held by exchanges, they do not account for off-chain liabilities. In response to such concerns, jurisdictions like Hong Kong have mandated crypto exchanges to offer insurance covering up to 50% of users’ fiat and crypto assets, ensuring greater protection for investors.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer