Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

American television presenter and author, John Stossel, released a video on June 20, 2023, where he delved into the findings of a recent study on global economic freedom. Conducted by the Heritage Foundation and unveiled in late February, the research unveils a stark reality: the United States has experienced a substantial decline in economic freedom. From being ranked as the 20th freest nation in 2022, the United States has now slipped to the 25th position in 2023. John Stossel’s Video and Heritage Foundation Study Expose Decline in U.S. Economic Freedom John Stossel, the television show host and author known for his libertarian leanings, recently released a video discussing global economic freedom and the United States’ position among other nations. “Is America really the land of the free?” Stossel asked in a tweet. “Not anymore, according to a new ranking. The U.S. fell to 25th freest country on Earth,” the broadcaster explained. In the video, Stossel refers to the 2023 Index o

Bitcoin fell below $31,000 to start the week, as traders seemingly moved to secure gains, as the cryptocurrency became overbought. The relative strength index (RSI) rose to its highest point since January, prompting bears to reenter the market. Ethereum also declined, falling below $1,900. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) moved marginally lower to start the week, as price fell below the $31,000 mark on Monday. BTC /USD dropped to an intraday low of $30,042.38 earlier in the day, which comes after price peaked above $31,000 on Sunday. Today’s slippage sees bitcoin decline for a third straight day, and comes as the relative strength index (RSI) moved into overbought territory. Bitcoin chart by TradingView Over the weekend, the index hit a peak of 72.92, which was not only near a ceiling of 73.00, but also its highest point since late January. This reading prompted bears to once again enter the market, pushing the RSI down to a current reading of 68.81. The next visible floor appears t

Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, the company behind the issuance of usd coin (USDC), has expressed his worries about the state of stablecoin regulation in the U.S. In a congressional hearing, Allaire stated that other governments were already regulating the issuance of digital dollars (dollar-backed stablecoins) and called on the U.S. government to act by issuing stablecoin rules. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire Calls for Stablecoin Regulation: ‘It’s Time to Act.’ Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, a U.S.-based stablecoin company, has called for stablecoin regulation to preserve the country’s sovereignty over the issuance of digital dollars. In a congressional hearing, Allaire explained that other countries have already drafted and established frameworks for issuing dollar-backed stablecoins, leaving the U.S. behind. Allaire explained : We are seeing governments around the world — the EU, the U.K., Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and others — actually defining the rules for how dollars, digital

PRESS RELEASE. 10SecLabs, a leading force in the blockchain incubation landscape, has taken a significant investment leap into the innovative Metagalaxy Land project. This development comes ahead of Metagalaxy Land’s much-anticipated Metaverse Platform Launch. Set to be a trailblazer in the GameFi and metaverse arenas, Metagalaxy Land states that this investment has catalyzed considerable progress in their project, enabling it to leap forward towards future releases. Metagalaxy Land’s pre-alpha version, due to launch in early July, promises an exhilarating experience for its users. Assuming the roles of Space Pirates, they’ll explore the ‘Decentralized Planet.’ The adventure involves hunting for Metagalaxy Land points, which are strategically scattered across the map daily. Accumulating these points allows users to scale the leaderboard and reap enticing rewards. Furthermore, while navigating the NFT Exhibition on the Decentralized Planet, users have the ease of accessing the trade

Jim Rickards, an economist and investment banker, has warned about the establishment of a social credit system powered by the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to Rickards, this combination could be used to restrict the civil liberties of Americans by limiting their capabilities to travel and their reach on social media platforms. Jim Rickards on a Hypothetical CBDC-Fueled Social Credit System: ‘Yes, It Can Happen Here’ Jim Rickards, an economist with more than 40 years of experience in investment banking, has warned about a hypothetical social credit system in the U.S. powered by a central bank digital currency (CBDC). In his latest article , Rickards explains that issuing a CBDC would allow the government to get the data needed to construct such a system. Rickards stated that the information collected by monitoring transactions on a CBDC would facilitate “the creation of a social credit system that allows governments to punish those who engage in unapp

A U.K. citizen has been sentenced by а New York court to five years in prison for his role in a Twitter hack including the hijacking of accounts of U.S. political and business figures. The man is also responsible for the theft of large amounts of cryptocurrency in a SIM swap attack. Hacker Goes to Jail for Breaching Twitter Accounts of U.S. Officials and Business Leaders A British national got a five-year prison sentence for his involvement in a Twitter hack that targeted the accounts of leading U.S. politicians and businessmen. The hijacking is one of several crimes that he was charged with, including stealing cryptocurrency and cyberstalking victims. The sentencing comes after Joseph James O’Connor pleaded guilty in New York in May to participating in a number of online schemes including a Twitter hack that led to the impersonation of former U.S. President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and billionaire investor Warren Buffett, among others, to adver

Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news during the last week. In this issue, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDC) in Latam and the Caribbean is picking up, Lula criticizes the current international economic system, and Venezuela integrates the Russian Mir payments system. IMF Finds Interest in CBDC Picks up Steam in Latam and the Caribbean A report published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDC) remains high in Latam and the Caribbean. According to a recent survey with governments of the region, “half of the respondents were considering both retail and wholesale CBDC options.” Brazil is one of the countries experimenting with a two-tiered CBDC model, which is in its proof of concept stage. If issued, it would be connected to the “Open Finance” concept of the Central Bank of Brazil. The reasons for

Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, expressed her views this week, stating that she believes two additional rate hikes this year would be appropriate. However, she maintains a neutral stance regarding the forthcoming July Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, emphasizing her desire to preserve flexibility by “maintaining optionality.” Fed’s Daly Doesn’t Want to ‘Trip the Economy up Into an Unforced Error’ During the June FOMC gathering, the U.S. Federal Reserve members decided to refrain from raising the federal funds rate for that specific meeting. Jerome Powell, the current chairman of the Federal Reserve, informed the media that the upcoming July FOMC meeting would be a “live” one, as it would determine whether or not the central bank would increase the interest rate during that period. Powell then testified before the House Financial Services Committee last Wednesday and indicated that the benchmark bank rate is likely to rise again thi

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently asserted that former SEC Division of Corporation Finance Director William Hinman “received millions of dollars of payments from his law firm” which had a vested interest in a well-known 2018 speech given by the then SEC official. In other news, crypto exchange EDX has launched backed by Charles Schwab, Citadel Securities, Fidelity Digital Assets, Paradigm, Sequoia Capital, and Virtu Financial, featuring four cryptocurrencies. This and more in the latest Bitcoin.com News Week in Review. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse: Former SEC Official William Hinman Received ‘Millions of Dollars’ From Law Firms With a ‘Vested Interest’ in His Speech Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has blasted the enforcement approach of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the release of the Hinman docs, which contain internal discussions that the institution had before the now famous 2018 speech offered by former SEC Division of Corporation Finance Director Wil

The Bank of England made an impactful move last Thursday, June 22, 2023, as it raised the benchmark bank rate to 5%, marking a significant 0.5 percentage point increase. This decision catapults the central bank’s rate to its highest level since 2008 and represents the most substantial surge in three months. Coinciding with this development, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) published a study on the same day, asserting that the escalated interest rates would translate into elevated mortgage payments, potentially pushing 1.2 million households in the U.K. towards insolvency in 2023. Bank of England’s Interest Rate Hikes Endanger 1.2 Million UK Households’ Financial Stability, NIESR Researchers Say In a noteworthy announcement on Thursday, the Bank of England (BOE) unveiled its decision to increase the key bank rate by 0.5%, propelling it to a solid 5%. Shedding light on the rationale behind this move, the BOE articulated in a blog post that inflation in t

Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently branded BTC as a legacy coin that will ultimately outlast and outperform all “make-believe cryptos wannabees.” Some non-bitcoin maximalists have said the veteran trader’s remarks about bitcoin are misguided and called on him to remain flexible. Maximalist Ideology Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently riled altcoiners after he suggested that bitcoin will outperform and outlast what he described as “make-believe cryptos wannabees.” Brandt made the remarks after Mike Cautillo — a private investor at e-Holdings — concurred with his earlier tweet about BTC ’s impending “decisive breakout.” $Bitcoin $BTC is the legacy coin and will outlast and out-value all of the make-believe cryptos wannabees https://t.co/uzeuKua1qk — Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) June 19, 2023 Matthew Casterns, one of the Twitter users that responded to Brandt’s remarks, said he did not understand the reasoning behind the veteran trader’s assertions. Casterns argued that procl

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has shared a very simple way of telling whether an economy is in a recession. “There is a lot of hot air about ‘Are we in a recession or not.’ The answer is simple,” the famous author claimed. Robert Kiyosaki on How to Tell if We’re in a Recession The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, has explained how to tell if the economy is in a recession. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. Kiyosaki tweeted Thursday: There is a lot of hot air about ‘Are we in a recession or not.’ The answer is simple. My rich dad said ‘If your neighbor loses his job, the economy is in a recession. You lose job, economy in depression. KISS. Keep It Super Simple. Be an entrepreneur. Never need a job. The famous author has cautioned about a

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s former head of internet enforcement has warned that Binance’s recent motion accusing the regulator of ethical violations could expedite criminal charges against the crypto exchange. “Binance’s motion is provocative and Binance’s antagonistic, arrogant, accusatory, and unorthodox ethics battle-cry could fan the flames of whatever Binance-related criminal prosecution is cooking,” the former SEC official cautioned. ‘Binance Will Regret Having Ever Filed This Motion’ Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official John Reed Stark has provided insight into the potential consequences of Binance’s recent motion against the regulator, stating that it could expedite the process of bringing criminal charges against the cryptocurrency exchange. Stark is currently president of cybersecurity firm John Reed Stark Consulting. He founded and served as chief of the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement for 11 years. He was also an SEC en

The government of Venezuela has announced that it is currently working to integrate Mir, a Russian electronic card and transfer payments system. President Nicolas Maduro backed this integration, stating that this move is part of a de-dollarization push. More than 40,000 payment terminals are being adapted to accept Mir-compliant cards. Venezuela Integrates Russia’s Mir Payments System The government of Venezuela recently announced that it is integrating Mir, a Russian payments system, into its point-of-sale network, as part of a national de-dollarization push previously announced by President Nicolas Maduro. Calixto Ortega, president of the Central Bank of Venezuela, stated that the bank had finalized the necessary steps to “be connected to the interbank messaging of the Central Bank of Russia in order to be able to communicate with Venezuelan banks and Russian banks through this system.” In this first phase, more than 40,000 point-of-sale terminals will be able to interact with

Authorities in Australia have charged two individuals accused of operating a cryptocurrency scam that defrauded two companies of $5.5 million. Luxury vehicles worth $2.7 million including a $600,000 Ferrari have been seized by law enforcement. Ferrari Seized From Car Dealer Australian authorities have charged two alleged masterminds of a cryptocurrency scam that defrauded $5.5 million from two unnamed companies, a report has said. One of the men, Fabio Sa Alves, was arrested on June 16 in Sydney, and a day later, 6 luxury and classic vehicles, 11 motorcycles, cryptocurrency wallets, and designer watches were confiscated. According to a local report, law enforcement agencies have seized luxury vehicles valued at $2.7 million, including a Ferrari worth $600,000 taken from a car dealer in Marrickville. Australian law enforcement said Alves used the crypto scam to steal from the two companies in 2021. His accomplice, an unnamed 67-year-old, is accused of authorizing the funds and hidin

PRESS RELEASE. VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 24, 2023 — Bitget , top crypto derivatives and copy trading platform , is honoring its official partner and soccer legend Lionel Messi’s birthday on June 24 in a unique and artistic manner. As a gesture of appreciation, Bitget has commissioned a graffiti wall featuring portraits of Messi in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This special gift is a testament to the platform’s exclusive partnership with Messi, aimed at promoting the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Bitget and Messi embody shared attributes of perseverance, continuous improvement, and resilience when confronted with challenges. Bitget’s unwavering commitment to progress is demonstrated through its consistent efforts in product development and service refinement. Similarly, Messi’s exceptional talent is honed through diligent work and practice, showcasing his relentless pursuit of excellence. Both exhibit unwavering determination and positivity despite setbacks and skepticism. Th

According to a lawsuit filed this week with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, FTX lawyers are seeking to claw back $700 million from K5 Global Technology, its subsidiaries, and the firm’s founders. The attorneys allege that the defendants received funds without undergoing any due diligence, and FTX did not obtain “equivalent value.” FTX Pursues Legal Action to Recoup $700 Million in Suspected Fund Misuse FTX lawyers seek to claw back $700 million in funds allegedly provided to K5 Global Technology, SGN Albany Capital, Mount Olympus Capital, and the founders of K5 Global, Michael Kives, and Bryan Baum. The attorneys aim to recover the funds from the defendants following reports of millions being channeled to these companies and founders in an alleged effort to amass influence. The attorneys maintain that FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) sought to utilize Kives and Baum for networking purposes. According to FTX lawyers, two days following the Super Bowl,

Economist Peter Schiff has slammed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over several key issues concerning the U.S. economy, the banking system, and the U.S. dollar. “Powell is a coward. He is not doing his job,” Schiff claimed, highlighting multiple factors affecting the economy that the Fed chairman overlooked in his statements before Congress this week. Peter Schiff Disagrees With Fed Chair Powell on Several Key Issues Economist and gold bug Peter Schiff has criticized multiple statements made by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during his appearances before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. Powell appeared before Congress this week to present the Federal Reserve’s semiannual Monetary Policy Report. Schiff expressed his disagreement with Powell’s remarks through a series of tweets over the past couple of days. In one tweet, he wrote: Powell acknowledged that the Fed’s growing balance sheet is a concern, bu

Crypto exchange Binance has been ordered by Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) to cease providing any crypto exchange and custody wallet services in the country. The Belgian financial regulator stressed that it “takes the view that by offering such services in Belgium from countries that are not members of the European Economic Area, Binance is in violation of that prohibition.” Belgian Regulator Orders Binance to Cease Crypto Services in the Country Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) announced Friday that it has ordered cryptocurrency exchange to “cease immediately all offers of virtual currency services in Belgium.” The FSMA noted that “Binance is offering and providing exchange services in Belgium between virtual currencies and legal currencies, as well as custody wallet services, from countries that are not members of the European Economic Area.” The financial regulator emphasized: “The FSMA takes the view that by offering such serv

The Bank of Tanzania (BOT) has reiterated that shillings remain the East African country’s sole legal tender. The apex bank said residents quoting prices in foreign currency or those refusing payment in Tanzanian shillings are in violation of the Bank of Tanzania Act 2006. The central bank said only commercial banks and Bureaux de Change are allowed to determine exchange rates. Rejecting Payment in Shillings a Violation of the Law The Tanzanian central bank has said the practice of demanding or quoting prices in foreign currency is illegal and that those refusing to accept payment in Tanzanian shillings are in violation of the Bank of Tanzania Act 2006. In a June 20 press release , the bank also reiterated that only commercial banks and Bureaux de Change are allowed to determine exchange rates. The latest warning by the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) came barely a month after the apex bank told the country’s authorized forex dealers to only trade with licensed international foreign currenc

A lawyer representing Onecoin victims has urged Bulgarian authorities to reopen an investigation into the crypto pyramid scheme and seize assets to compensate his clients. The attorney is asking officials in Sofia to take into account developments he considers related to the case, including the recent murder of a Bulgarian crime figure in South Africa. Attorney Hopes New Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor Takes on Onecoin Investigation Dr. Jonathan Levy, a legal representative for people affected by Onecoin from several countries, has filed a new request that Bulgaria’s acting top prosecutor reopens an investigation into the multi-billion dollar crypto Ponzi scheme and seize associated assets for restitution of the victims. In a letter to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice, Levy is turning attention to recent events that he believes are connected to the case. These include the murder of Bulgarian organized crime figure Krasimir Kamenov in South Africa, linked to the recently fired chief pub

In the rapidly evolving world of Web3, where data security and privacy are paramount, innovative solutions are needed to protect sensitive information and establish trust within the decentralized ecosystem. This sponsored article delves into the concept of Zero Trust and explores how it serves as the foundation for a revolutionary platform called Mind Network . By combining the principles of Zero Trust with cutting-edge encryption techniques, Mind Network aims to empower users, developers, and businesses to secure their data, smart contracts, and AI models on the blockchain. Mind Network recently closed its seed round fundraising, led by Binance Labs and co-invested by SevenX Ventures, HashKey Capital, Arweave SCP Ventures, etc. Mind Network was incubated by Binance Incubation Camp Season 5 and selected into Chainlink BUILD Program . The Rise of Zero Trust Security Traditional security paradigms in Web2 environments relied on the assumption of trust within a centralized infrastr