Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

Layer one (L1) and layer two (L2) blockchains offer different approaches to scaling distributed ledger networks. While developers of L1 blockchains focus on improving the base protocol, L2 programmers have moved transactions off-chain to enable faster and cheaper transactions. What Are Layer One Blockchains? Layer one or L1 refers to a base blockchain protocol like Bitcoin or Ethereum. These networks operate on a decentralized ledger secured by proof-of-work (PoW) mining or proof-of-stake (PoS) staking . L1 chains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum offer unparalleled security. However, during peak times, both of these chains grapple with sluggish transaction speeds and steep fees. Developers from several L1 networks are working to improve layer one scaling through methods like increasing block size, sharding , and introducing proof-of-stake consensus. However, substantial layer one upgrades require coordination among node operators and can take years to implement. Some blockchains inte...

U.S. authorities are seeking to recover cryptocurrencies linked to the popular pig-butchering crypto scam. “Law enforcement was able to trace cryptocurrency involved in the fraud and money laundering to two Binance accounts, where it was seized,” the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has revealed. US Continues to Crack Down on Pig-Butchering Crypto Scam The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced Tuesday that it has filed “a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be the proceeds of a ‘pig-butchering’ fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident and involved in money laundering.” The announcement details: Specifically, the government seeks to forfeit 412,543.555 tether ( USDT ) and 100.896 Binance coin ( BNB ) seized from two accounts located at Binance.com, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. The U.S. Attorney’s Office added: “Collectively, this cryptocurrency has a current estimate...

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has expressed concerns about the Federal Reserve potentially raising interest rates to 7% and that the U.S. economy could experience stagflation. “I am not sure if the world is prepared for 7%,” he stressed, adding that there is “a range of outcomes.” Jamie Dimon’s Economic Warnings The CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, discussed various aspects of the U.S. economy, including the impact of further interest rate hikes, in an interview with the Times of India, published Tuesday. When asked about the possibility of a hard landing in the U.S., the JPMorgan boss replied: “No one knows. There is a range of outcomes. It will be affected by everything else — Ukraine, oil, gas, war, Europe.” The executive added: “I would be cautious … We have to deal with all these serious issues over time, and the deficits can’t continue forever. So rates may go up more. But I hope and pray there is a soft landing.” Dimon explained: “When rates go up sharply, there is stre...

Four U.S. lawmakers have called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to immediately approve spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “Following the Court of Appeals’ decision, there is no reason to continue to deny such applications under inconsistent and discriminatory standards … We urge you to approve the listing of spot bitcoin ETPs immediately,” the lawmakers told SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Lawmakers Want Spot Bitcoin ETFs Approved U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) sent a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler on Tuesday urging the regulator to immediately approve applications for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The lawmakers wrote: We write to ensure the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not continue to discriminate against spot bitcoin exchange traded products (ETPs). The letter cites a recent decision by the Court of Appeals ...

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced new achievements in implementing its strategy to pursue expansion on the European market. The U.S. trading platform for digital assets said it has received regulatory nods from the monetary authorities of Ireland and Spain, two of the EU nations with relatively clear rules for the industry. Another Major U.S. Crypto Exchange, Kraken, Strides On With European Expansion Digital asset exchange Kraken has obtained authorization from the Central Bank of Ireland as an e-money institution (EMI) and has registered with the Bank of Spain as a virtual asset service provider (VASP). In a press release on Tuesday, the San Francisco-based company emphasized that the regulatory approvals highlight its commitment to growing its business in Europe. With the EMI license, which has been granted to Kraken’s subsidiary in Ireland, the exchange will be able to partner with European banks in order to expand its euro fiat services for clients in the EU’s 27 member...

Amazon, the worldwide tech behemoth, has announced that it will invest up to $4 billion in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence (AI) firm that has developed Claude, a generative AI assistant. As part of this strategic partnership, Anthropic will train its models on top of Amazon silicon, and Anthropic will make its models available through Amazon Bedrock. Amazon to Pour up to $4 Billion Into AI Model Company Anthropic Amazon, one of the leading tech companies in the world, has announced a strategic partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic that includes an investment of up to $4 billion in exchange for a minority stake in the company. According to a press release issued by Amazon, Anthropic will now use Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud services provider. Anthropic will also use Amazon-produced silicon, including its Trainium and Inferentia chips, to “build, train, and deploy its future foundation models, benefitting from the price, performance, sc...

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is now accepting new registrations of Belgian users following an interruption caused by regulatory actions against it. In June, the trading platform was ordered to cease providing crypto exchange and custody services in the EU country. Binance Returns to Belgium 3 Months After Pausing Services Under Regulatory Pressure The world’s largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume, Binance, has resumed operations in Belgium, one of the European countries where it faced a regulatory crackdown in the past few months. This year the exchange found itself under increased scrutiny from authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. “Great news for our Belgian community,” Binance tweeted on Monday, announcing it has reopened registrations. In another post through its Belgian account on X, formerly Twitter, Binance said it has restored access to products and services for Belgian customers who have accepted its new Terms of Use. Dear Binancians We are delighted ...