Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

In line with its hardline stance on cryptocurrencies, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has issued a recommendation against the listing of securities tied to crypto assets on the country’s stock exchanges. The “preventive measure” will not affect state-issued digital currencies. Bank of Russia Worried About Common Investors’ Exposure to Crypto Derivatives Russia’s central banking institution, known as Bank of Russia, has again expressed its misgivings regarding decentralized money. Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are characterized by high volatility, lack of pricing transparency, low liquidity, technological, regulatory and other specific risks, the financial authority said this week, emphasizing: The purchase of financial instruments linked to them entails increased risks of losses for people who do not have sufficient experience and knowledge. The new warning came as part of a recently issued recommendation for Russian exchanges not to allow the trading of domestic or for

On Friday, the game token utilized within the Axie Infinity gaming realm has once again captured another all-time price high at $32.17 per unit. The game token has outperformed a great majority of crypto assets by commanding more than 844% in gains during the last month. Axie Infinity Outperforms Crypto Competitors The cryptocurrency community is chatting about the token axie infinity (AXS) again this week as the crypto asset has captured new price highs. On July 23, 2021, during the early morning trading sessions (EDT), AXS tapped an all-time high (ATH) at $32.17 per unit. The price of AXS has slid more than 3% from the ATH since, and is currently trading for $31.55 per unit at the time of writing. Over the last 24 hours, AXS has jumped a whopping 28.6% and 150.0% in two weeks. AXS/USD on July 23, 2021, at 9:30 am EDT. Out of the more than 10,000 crypto assets in existence, the AXS market valuation is currently ranked in the 53rd position. The AXS market cap is around $1.9 bil

The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revealed that the central bank is planning to launch a state-backed digital currency in phases so that it would have “little or no disruption to India’s banking or monetary systems.” RBI Plans ‘Phased Implementation’ for Digital Rupee RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar talked about India’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy on Thursday, local media reported. He explained that the “RBI has been exploring the pros and cons of introduction of CBDCs since quite some time,” elaborating: RBI is currently working towards a phased implementation strategy and examining use cases which could be implemented with little or no disruption to India’s banking or monetary systems. According to the central bank, a CBDC “is the same as a fiat currency and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency,” Sankar described, adding that “Only its form is different.” He noted that “Generally, count

Government and business representatives have produced a roadmap to transform Ukraine into a leader in cryptocurrency integration. The authors of the new strategy want to see half of Ukrainians using digital currencies by 2024. The East European nation is expected to regulate its crypto space by the end of this year. Strategy for Crypto Market Development Adopted in Ukraine As a country where cryptocurrencies have enjoyed a growing popularity, Ukraine now also has a strategy to develop its virtual asset market within the next three years. The plan has been presented by officials from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, other government institutions and representatives of the private sector, Forklog reported . The roadmap envisages various regulatory, educational and infrastructural activities. Participants in the initiative have already established almost a dozen working groups to achieve a set of goals. One of the key areas they intend to focus efforts on is the introduction o

Paxos, a regulated blockchain company, recently presented the basket of resources that back its stablecoins. Paxos Standard (PAX) and Binance USD (BUSD) are reportedly backed almost 100% by cash and cash equivalents. Dan Burstein, CCO of Paxos, harshly criticized Tether and Circle, issuers of other stablecoins, stating their products we’re not really stablecoins. Paxos Reveals Stablecoin Backing Basket Paxos, a blockchain-regulated company, revealed the basket of assets backing their issued stablecoin on Wednesday. The company, which issues Paxos Standard and Binance USD, two important stablecoins, presented a report that states 96% of the backing is comprised of cash and cash equivalents. While the cash is held in U.S. dollars at insured institutions, the cash equivalents are held in the form of U.S. Treasury bills with maturities of three months or less. The remaining 4% is comprised of U.S. Treasury bills that will mature in October 2021. Paxos explains these are separated from

On Friday, coinciding with the Summer Olympics opening ceremony, Muhammad Ali Enterprises and the fine auction house Sotheby’s will be auctioning a non-fungible token (NFT) that features a never-before-seen piece of original artwork created by Muhammad Ali. According to the announcement the digitized NFT artwork depicts Ali’s interpretation of the infamous 1971 ‘Fight of the Century.’ Luxury Auction House Unveils the Olympic Collection Featuring a Rare Muhammad Ali Piece of Digital Art This week Sotheby’s and Muhammad Ali Enterprises, the owner of all intellectual property and publicity rights attached to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, revealed a new NFT auction that will be displayed and auctioned on July 23. According to the announcement, the 1-of-1 NFT is a never-before-seen piece of artwork the boxer created himself. The art is to be revealed for the first time ever using NFT technology. The never-before-seen NFT art is estimated to achieve $10/20,000, according to the press anno

The Argentinian province of Misiones plans to issue its own stablecoin in the future. This is one of the objectives that a recently approved law, the Missionary Financial Innovation Program with Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technology, proposes. Misiones will also use a blockchain to issue documents and certificates to digitalize much of its work. Misiones to Issue Stablecoin The Argentinian province of Misiones informed last week it plans to issue its own stablecoin. This is part of an economic plan that seeks to modernize the structure of the province through the implementation of blockchain and cryptocurrency technology. This plan, which is laid out in the Missionary Financial Innovation Program with Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technology, a new law that was approved by deputies last week, also features the proposed digitalization of much of the work Misiones does today. This law would make Misiones the first province to implement the creation of its own stablecoin in Argent

Fresh off the heels of Blockfi’s issues with the ​​New Jersey Bureau of Securities, the company is now having problems in the state of Alabama. The director of the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC), Joseph Borg, explained on July 21 that he issued a show cause to the firm. Borg wants Blockfi to explain why the ASC should not copy New Jersey’s cease and desist as Alabama regulators also seem to believe they might be selling unregistered securities. Blockfi has received another order from the Texas State Securities (TSS) Board for the same reason. Alabama Securities Commission’s Show Cause Order Calls Blockfi Accounts Unregistered Securities, Texas Joins the Crackdown The director of the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC) Joseph Borg told the press on July 21 that Blockfi was sent an official show cause order. A show cause order is different from the cease and desist issued against Blockfi in New Jersey, as it gives the firm a chance to explain whether or not the order is justif

Coinbase now accepts commerce payments in dogecoin. With the addition of the meme crypto, Coinbase Commerce now allows customers to check out and pay with seven cryptocurrencies. Coinbase Commerce Now Supports Dogecoin Coinbase Commerce is a platform by the Nasdaq-listed Coinbase that “enables merchants anywhere in the world to accept cryptocurrency payments in a fully decentralized way,” its website describes. The company announced via Twitter Wednesday: We’re now accepting commerce payments in dogecoin (DOGE). According to its website, seven cryptocurrencies are now supported. Customers can “check out and pay with bitcoin, bitcoin cash, dai, ethereum, litecoin, dogecoin, or USD Coin.” The website further explains: “All payments facilitated by Coinbase Commerce are fully decentralized and peer-to-peer. This means that the cryptocurrency goes directly from your wallet to a wallet that is only accessible by the merchant. At no point in this flow does anyone except t

UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, says that clients are looking at different investment alternatives and there is a bit of a fear of missing out (FOMO) when it comes to cryptocurrency investments. UBS Says There Is a Bit of Fear of Missing Out The CEO of UBS Group AG, Ralph Hamers, talked about cryptocurrency in an interview with Bloomberg’s Manus Cranny, published Tuesday. Given that a growing number of investment banks are offering crypto services or investments with exposure to cryptocurrencies to their clients, he was asked what UBS is doing for its wealth management clients in terms of providing access to cryptocurrency investments. “Clients are looking at different alternatives,” he replied. “They hear about crypto and there is a bit of a fear of missing out [FOMO] as well.” The CEO elaborated: They read it in the papers but they also see the volatility so honestly we advise with caution and we don’t offer it actively … We feel the crypto itself is still an untested asset

Global investment bank JPMorgan has reportedly green-lighted its advisors to provide clients with access to five cryptocurrency funds. The funds are available to all JPMorgan’s wealth management clients seeking investment advice. The move makes JPMorgan the first large bank to expand crypto trading access beyond just ultra-wealthy clients. JPMorgan Now Offers Access to Crypto Funds JPMorgan has given its financial advisors the green light to give all its clients access to cryptocurrency funds, the Insider reported Thursday, citing people directly familiar with the matter. This move makes JPMorgan the first large bank to expand crypto trading access beyond just ultra-wealthy clients, the publication conveyed. In a memo distributed earlier this week, JPMorgan told its advisors that effective July 19, they can take orders to buy and sell five cryptocurrency products. Four of them are from Grayscale Investments: the Bitcoin Trust, Bitcoin Cash Trust, Ethereum Trust, and Ethereum Clas

The founder and chairman of Interactive Brokers, Thomas Peterffy, has revealed that he put money in crypto because he believes “there’s a small chance that this will be a dominant currency, so you have to play the odds.” Interactive Brokers Chairman Invests in Crypto Thomas Peterffy, founder and chairman of a major online trading platform, Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), revealed in an interview with CNBC Wednesday that he has invested in cryptocurrency. Interactive Brokers has about 1.33 million customer accounts and $330.6 billion in customer equity as of the first quarter. Clients from over 200 countries and territories invest globally in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds from a single integrated Interactive Brokers account. According to Forbes, Peterffy’s net worth is currently $21.4 billion. The chairman explained that he has invested in cryptocurrency even though he is unsure of its future, stating: Even I myself have put a little bit of money into

PRESS RELEASE. BitYard , the world’s leading cryptocurrency derivative exchange based in Singapore, announced a refreshed corporate visual identity: a new logo highlighting ‘B’ & ‘Y’, a fresh slogan, and a vivid color palette. While ‘B’ conveys the strong belief on an inevitable trend of Bitcoin and other crypto evolving into currencies in global usage, the letter ‘Y’ derived from the word ‘Yard’ signifies BitYard’s ambition to become global traders’ backyard oasis, offering the most diverse digital investment services. Along with the brand refresh, BitYard introduces an optimal UI/IX on its mobile App, aiming to ensure the services run smoothly. Not only does the upgrade inject new vitality into BitYard, but it also provides its users with a more accessible, personable, and pleasant experience in their digital trading journey. The new slogan of BitYard ‘Grow your future in the yard’ is at the heart of the company’s vision of becoming the perfect beginner-friendly backyard for gl

High net-worth families are turning to cryptocurrency investments, according to a recent Goldman Sachs survey that found close to half of the company’s family office clients are inquisitive about crypto-asset investments. A Goldman Sachs executive further said that a large portion of the company’s family office clients are asking about blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. Following the SPAC Boom, Family Offices Target Crypto Investments A recent report from Bloomberg suggests that the ultra-rich families of the world are interested in blockchain and crypto-asset investing. The report stems from the New York-based multinational investment bank and financial services company Goldman Sachs, which conducted a study that polled over 150 family offices. The findings suggest high net-worth families are turning to crypto because of “higher inflation, prolonged low rates, and other macroeconomic developments following a year of unprecedented global monetary and fiscal stimulus.” A

Following a report from John McAfee’s biographer, the former antivirus tycoon’s widow Janice McAfee has taken to social media to disclose a number of findings. During the first week of July, McAfee published a note that said there was “no sense of urgency” toward the investigation into John’s death by Spanish authorities. A week later, Janice McAfee shared the alleged suicide note “found in John’s pocket” and she believes it “does not sound anything like someone who has no hope and is contemplating ending their life.” Janice McAfee Questions Suicide Narrative Janice McAfee, the widow of the famous software mogul John McAfee, is very skeptical of her husband’s ostensible suicide. She has published a series of tweets that suggest she doesn’t believe the suicide story and the last time she spoke with John was on “June 23rd … at 11:30 am.” “He was found sometime after 6pm,” John’s widow said . “That means he had more than five hours to write the alleged suicide note [and] they want us

Overseas crypto exchanges marketing to Koreans will be blocked if they fail to comply with new South Korean regulations. The country’s anti-money laundering body has sent a notice to a number of foreign trading platforms warning them a registration is mandatory in order to provide services to Korean residents. Korean Financial Intelligence Unit Notifies Foreign Crypto Exchanges of Registration Obligations Access to foreign-based cryptocurrency exchanges can be denied and the platforms may face criminal investigations in South Korea if they don’t comply with the country’s new regulations for the sector. One of the key requirements is to register with the Korean anti-money laundering agency, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), by Sept. 24. To remind them of their obligations, FIU has sent out a notice to 27 entities with crypto trading operations targeting Korean nationals, the Financial Services Commission ( FSC ) announced Thursday, quoted by the Korea Herald. The regulations ad

The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, has clarified how cryptocurrencies falling under security-based swaps are regulated. He affirmed that platforms operating in the centralized or decentralized finance space are implicated by the securities laws. SEC’s Regulatory Approach to Cryptocurrency SEC Chairman Gary Gensler talked about cryptocurrency regulation Wednesday before the American Bar Association Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Virtual Mid-Year Program. After discussing various topics, including security-based swaps, credit default swaps, and registration of their dealers and participants, he proceeded to talk about cryptocurrency. “I’d briefly like to discuss the intersection of security-based swaps and financial technology, including with respect to crypto assets,” he said. “There are initiatives by a number of platforms to offer crypto tokens or other products that are priced off of the value of securities and operate like de