Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

United24, a new fundraising platform announced recently by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accepts a number of cryptocurrencies, alongside traditional payment methods. The initiative also permits donors to choose how their money will be spent. Kyiv Launches New Platform for Donations Amid Ongoing War With Russia Ukraine, which has been increasingly relying on foreign donations to support its defense efforts and overcome humanitarian challenges following Russia’s invasion, now offers those who want to help an integrated platform that streamlines the process and allocates financial support in accordance with the donor’s will. According to its website, United24 was launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations to support Ukraine. The Ukrainian head of state announced the global initiative last week, with his administration pointing out that the goal is to unite people from all over the world in their desire to help the countr

De Beers, one of the leading diamond-producing companies globally, recently announced the deployment of its blockchain-based diamond source platform at scale. The platform will “enable the provision of provenance information from source to Sightholder to store on a secure blockchain.” Immutable Record of a Diamond’s Provenance One of the world’s top diamond miners, De Beers, recently said it had deployed a blockchain-based diamond source platform at scale. The platform, which is known as Tracr, gives the so-called sightholders the ability “to provide an immutable record of a diamond’s provenance, and [empowers] jewellery retailers to have confidence in the origin of the diamonds they purchase.” The launch of the platform at scale comes nearly four years after De Beers launched the R&D phase, a statement released by the company said. The launch also comes in a year when the company has already “registered one-quarter of its production by value on TracrTM in the first three sight

Delivering the Queen’s Speech, Prince Charles outlines the British government’s plans to support the safe adoption of cryptocurrencies and create “powers to more quickly and easily seize and recover crypto assets.” UK Government Plans to Support Crypto Adoption The U.K. government outlined its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year in the Queen’s Speech delivered Tuesday by Prince Charles, the monarch’s son and first in line to the throne. The Queen’s Speech is written by the government and read out by the monarch as part of the official state opening of parliament. Speaking to both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, Prince Charles detailed numerous commitments that Her Majesty’s government will carry out. He mentioned that 22 bills will be introduced, telling parliament that the government’s “priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.” One of the bills is the “Financial Services and Markets Bill,” according

As U.S. lawmakers push for the urgent regulation of stablecoins, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Federal Reserve Board warn about the risks of stablecoin runs that threaten the country’s financial stability. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen brought up the terrausd (UST) fiasco as an example of why a comprehensive regulatory framework is urgently needed. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Testifies Before Senate Committee Stablecoins have become a hot topic in Washington. Following Monday’s terrausd (UST) fiasco, U.S. lawmakers are calling for the urgent regulation of stablecoins. On Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen brought up UST as an example of a “stablecoin run” during her testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) Annual Report . Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) asked Yellen to confirm her view on the need to regulate stablecoins. “I would like to ask if you can co

The Nigerian central bank digital currency (CBDC) wallet app is set for an update that will see users given the ability to pay for utilities like pay television and for topping up airtime. The addition of the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) functionality to the wallet app means people without bank accounts will be able to make payments using the CBDC. The Update Process The wallet app for Nigeria’s central bank digital currency, the e-naira, is set to undergo an update that will see users being able to pay for regular utilities like pay television and airtime top-up, an official with the bank has reportedly said. According to a Nairametrics report that quotes the official — Yusuf Abdul Jelil — the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will initiate the upgrade process by sending a message to users asking them to update the wallet app. Designated the CBN’s e-naira presentative, Jelil made the remarks while attending an event at Kairo Market in Oshodi, Lagos. “Any moment fro

A new report has concluded that restrictions on cryptocurrency trading, as well as the banning of Twitter by Nigerian authorities, may have “crippled foreign direct investment in the fintech industry.” Foreign Direct Investment ‘Crippled’ A new report has found that restrictions imposed by Nigerian authorities on crypto trading may have contributed to the reduced foreign direct investment that goes to the fintech industry. The same restrictions, as well as the banning of Twitter, have also adversely affected young Nigerians who were earning money via crypto trading. The report , which is titled Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2022: The Economic Power of Africa’s Cities, was jointly published by the secretaries-general of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). “The restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions and the outright ban of Twitter in Nigeria have crippled foreign direct investment in the fin‑tech industry and negative

Qualcomm, one of the largest fabless mobile chip makers, is very optimistic about the future of the metaverse and what it might bring for companies and consumers in the area. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon believes that, while there is much to do in the development space, this development is real and will bring a very big opportunity for the people involved. Qualcomm CEO Talks Future of Metaverse Hardware companies are starting to view the recent metaverse push in the software industry as an interesting market for them to tackle. Qualcomm, which is one of the biggest fabless chip makers in the mobile world, is focused on the importance that this new technology might bring to the chip and electronic consumer market in the not-so-distant future. Cristiano Amon, CEO of the company, explained the importance that the company gives to the metaverse in an interview with Yahoo Finance. On the future of the metaverse, he explained : It’s real, it’s going to be a very big opportunity. We star

The Indian government is reportedly considering imposing a 28% goods and services tax (GST) on all crypto transactions. “Currently tax is levied only on the part of the services provided by crypto exchanges. Subjecting the whole transaction to tax at a higher slab of 28% could give the markets a free fall,” one tax expert warned. Council Mulls Over 28% GST on Crypto Transactions India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will soon make a decision on whether to expand the scope of applicable transactions and levy a 28% GST on all services and activities related to cryptocurrencies, CNBC TV18 reported Monday. The GST Council is the apex decision-making body chaired by the country’s finance minister. The council has nominated its law committee to form a view on the GST issue relating to cryptocurrency. Sources told the publication: There are various aspects of cryptocurrencies — the transactions involving cryptos, cryptos being used to make purchases, cryptos being received as pay

PRESS RELEASE. Aloha Browser is paving the way towards a decentralized web with the recent Handshake (HNS) integration. Now websites with HNS names automatically resolve within the Aloha Browser without additional configuration. Aloha has always focused on privacy and security for its users and is now at the forefront by having a revolutionary browser for Web3. There are currently more than 28 million monthly active users on Aloha’s mobile apps for Android and iOS. With this release, an Aloha desktop browser is now available too. Download Aloha Browser here . Aloha Browser has several first of its kind Web3 features, making this a must-have for Web3 enthusiasts. While Web3 is multifaceted from DeFi to NFTs, having a Web3 enabled browser at the center is just as important as the browser was for the Web2 user experience. Handshake aims to be the base of the web by decentralizing the DNS root zone and replacing the need for centralized Certificate Authorities (CAs) through DNS-base

BTC fell to its lowest level since last July, as prices dropped below $33,000 to start the week. The selloff in cryptocurrency started last week, following the Fed’s decision to hike interest rates by 0.5%. In addition to bitcoin, ETH hit a two-month low as a result of the red wave. Bitcoin Bitcoin slipped to a ten-month low to start the trading week, as a red wave continued to sweep the cryptocurrency market. Following five consecutive days of declines, BTC /USD dropped to an intraday low of $32,813.31 on Monday. Today’s bottom is the lowest level prices have traded since July 23 last year, when prices went on to drop below $30,000. Weakness in cryptocurrency markets has been present since the beginning of April, however following last Wednesday’s rate decision, a new chapter of the downturn seems to have commenced. As a result of the last fall in price, the 14-day RSI is now tracking at a low of 29.50, which is its weakest point since January 26. Should we see this level be

The government of Venezuela is now focusing its action on trying to establish the bolivar as the go-to currency for purchases in the country. According to several economists, this might be a risky bet in a country that has just exited hyperinflation and still suffers high levels of inflation. However, the establishment of a 3% tax targeting expenses in foreign currency and crypto is having some effects in this regard. Venezuela Seeks to Strengthen Its Fiat Currency After having defacto dollarization, which the president of the country called an “escape valve” from the economic crisis that Venezuela had faced five years ago, now the country is seeking to establish its fiat currency, the bolivar, as an interesting choice for payments. A new tax called the IGTF, which seeks to tax transactions and payments made in dollars, foreign currency, and crypto at 3% in some instances, seems directed to aid in achieving this purpose. However, this might not yet be the time for such adjustments

PRESS RELEASE. GensoKishi Online -Meta World- is developed under the license of the well-known Japanese 3D MMO title “Elemental Knights Online.” The iconic game has a 14-year history and has accumulated 8 million downloads worldwide. It already has a 3D MMORPG game with active users, with a fully-functioning 3D metaverse that simultaneously connects users worldwide, be it smartphones, PCs, or video game consoles. The game recently announced its collaboration with gaming legend Yoshitaka Amano to design its NFT collection. Since the release of the GensoKishi website and various social media channels on December 2, 2021, GensoKishi has achieved several records to date. The governance token of the GensoKishi is currently more than 50 times higher than the initial listing price of Bybit, the first exchange to list MV token. GensoKishi Online has opened up applications to enter the Closed Alpha Bronze Tickets lottery. Winners of the lottery will be provided exclusive access to Ge

The African fintech industry has grown rapidly over the past few years and this has caught the attention of some well-resourced venture capital (VC) firms. As one would expect, Nigerian fintech startups have dominated the continent in terms of funds raised or the number of transactions performed. Nigeria’s Burgeoning Fintech Scene This dominance has convinced VCs to pour tens of millions of dollars into different Nigerian fintech projects. In fact, a few fintech startups that originated in Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, have managed to secure funding in excess of $100 million. Using the funds raised, the fintech startups have not only expanded their footprint across the African continent but have increased the number of services they offer. Overall, the rapid growth of the fintech industry is said to have benefitted many financially excluded people from Africa. However, critics of Nigeria’s fintechs have argued that some of the VC-backed startups appear intereste

Leading U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase has reportedly notified certain Russian customers that their accounts may be blocked at the end of this month. According to Russian media, the trading platform has offered them to withdraw their funds unless they prove they are not under sanctions. Coinbase Reportedly Asks Russian Clients to Withdraw Funds Some Coinbase users from Russia have received letters informing them that their accounts will be blocked on May 31, the crypto page of the Russian business news portal RBC reported. The company suggested that these customers withdraw their funds unless they provide documents indicating they are not subject to EU sanctions, the publication explained quoting the correspondence, which stated: Until May 31, 2022, you must withdraw all funds from your account or provide us with special documents that confirm that you do not fall under these sanctions. After that date, the funds may be frozen and all assets transferred to the accounts in the fut

According to a Gallop poll published on May 2, the public’s confidence in America’s current economic leaders has been deteriorating. Confidence in U.S. president Joe Biden managing the U.S. economy has dropped from 57% to 40%, and faith in Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has faltered from 55% to 43%. The April 2022 Gallop poll, published amid the highest inflationary pressure the country has seen in decades, indicates trust in economic leaders is at its lowest point since 2008. Americans Are Not Confident in Current Leaders Managing the Economy After the largest monetary expansion the country has seen in its entire lifetime, faith in America’s economic leaders is “flagging,” according to a recently published Gallop poll . The poll was conducted via telephone interviews on April 1-19, 2022, with 1,018 adult U.S. residents. The Gallop poll particpants resided in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Furthermore, the survey was done before U.S. gross domestic product report

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has halted a $62 million global cryptocurrency trading and mining scheme and the Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted its CEO and founder. If convicted of all counts, he faces a maximum total penalty of 45 years in prison, the Justice Department. SEC Halts $62M Global Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Friday that it has halted a fraudulent crypto mining and trading scheme. The SEC charged MCC International (aka Mining Capital Coin), its founders (Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. and Emerson Souza Pires), and two entities controlled by them. The charges are “in connection with the unregistered offerings and fraudulent sales of investment plans called mining packages to thousands of investors,” the agency noted. The securities watchdog detailed that since at least January 2018: MCC, Capuci, and Pires sold mining packages to 65,535 investors worldwide and promised daily returns of 1 perc

Another whirlwind week in crypto draws to a close, and of course there’s no shortage of spicy stories and new, compelling narratives in the world of innovative digital money. This week, Elon Musk gives investment advice, United States Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler catches flack from SEC commissioner Hester Peirce, and Joe Rogan calls bitcoin a viable currency, noting that it’s got the government “freaking out.” Buckle up and look lively, this is the Bitcoin.com News Week in Review. Joe Rogan: Bitcoin Is Now a Viable Currency and the Government Is Freaking Out Famous podcaster Joe Rogan, the host of The Joe Rogan Experience, talked about bitcoin on his show, posted Tuesday. The show features an interview with UFC light heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree Jr. Noting that now bitcoin is “a viable form of currency” that “You can actually buy things with,” he said, “the government is freaking out.” Read More Lawmakers, SEC Commissioner Slam Chair Gensler for

PRESS RELEASE. The blockchain ecosystem is growing exponentially. It has brought prosperity to most African countries by creating wealth for individuals and fast economic growth for their people. However, many believe that the region is yet to tap into its full potential, that is, leveraging blockchain technology to build a solid ecosystem. As a result, there has been an increasing global interest in Africa recently, with many prominent investors and companies looking to invest in this promising continent. LBank has set up shop in various locations across Africa as pioneers of the next generation of crypto and blockchain users, collaborating with other African ventures such as Adanian Labs who share a similar desire to help these countries realise their full potential. Specifically, Adanian Labs is a Pan African venture building studio with a mission to build, incubate and launch impact-driven technology companies and entrepreneurs working to solve some of Africa’s most pertinent

Many of the financial pyramids identified in Russia during the first quarter of the year have been associated with cryptocurrencies, a top central bank official has revealed. Fraudsters are actively exploiting the hot topics of the day, including the sanctions theme. Pyramids Offer Russian Investors Ways to Circumvent Western Sanctions Amid growing financial uncertainty, Ponzi schemes advertising opportunities to invest in digital assets are mushrooming in Russia. Of all financial pyramids detected by regulators in the first three months of 2022, well over half have used cryptocurrency as a lure. “Schemes based on transfers using cryptocurrencies or investments in ‘digital instruments’ have received another impetus,” Valery Lyakh, director of Bank of Russia’s Department for Combating Unfair Practices told Tass news agency. More than 58% of the pyramids identified by Russian financial authorities in the first quarter of this year were linked to cryptocurrencies, Lyakh detailed. As

An apartment in Portugal has changed hands, with the buyer paying directly in cryptocurrency in a reported first for the country. The home was purchased for 3 bitcoins without conversion to euros, under a new regulation permitting real estate deals with digital currencies. Buyer Pays With Bitcoin for Apartment in Braga, Portugal A three-room (two-bedroom) apartment in the Portuguese city of Braga has been bought with cryptocurrency without any conversion to fiat money. Local media reports have described the deal as a first in the history of the country’s real estate market. The new owner paid 3 bitcoins ( BTC ) for the home, worth around 110,000 euros at the time the purchase took place. The title deed was transferred in Porto’s Póvoa de Varzim district this past Thursday, May 5, the business news portal Idealista unveiled. The purchase was made with the help of real estate agency Zome, the law firm Antas da Cunha Ecija, and partners from Switzerland’s Crypto Valley. The Chairman

On May 6, the financial services company Robinhood announced the firm has listed Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Ethereum Trust (ETHE). Robinhood customers can now gain access the crypto investment products in order to get exposure to bitcoin or ethereum without actually owning the digital currencies. In Addition to Cryptos, Robinhood Adds Grayscale’s GBTC and ETHE This week Robinhood added GBTC and ETHE to the company’s platform and the firm’s brokerage account customers can now buy or sell GBTC and ETHE stock and options commission-free. There's two new ways to access crypto on @RobinhoodApp . You can start trading $GBTC and $ETHE today. https://t.co/n09aiEVhqE https://t.co/6tFrYCsmzx pic.twitter.com/AxKH7xZ0nS — Grayscale (@Grayscale) May 6, 2022 Robinhood adding GBTC and ETHE investment products follows the firm rolling out its crypto wallet during the first week of April. On April 12, 2022, Robinhood listed shiba inu (SHIB), compound (COMP), polygon (MATI

On May 5, Tron’s algorithmic stablecoin USDD went live and so far, the fiat-pegged token has been listed on a number of decentralized finance (defi) protocols. Two days later, the Tron DAO Reserve announced it purchased 504.6 million tron ( TRX ) to back the algorithmic stablecoin, as the project aims to leverage a decentralized forex reserve similar to Terra’s UST reserves. Tron DAO Reserve and Justin Sun Reveal a $38 Million TRX Purchase Terra’s UST reserve system is becoming a popular scheme, and Tron’s USDD stablecoin project is following the pattern. Bitcoin.com News reported on Tron’s algorithmic stablecoin project on April 21, and since then the fiat-pegged crypto asset has officially launched. The project has a number of partners now and USDD is listed on Pancakeswap, Kyberswap, Sunswap, Sun.io, Curve Finance, Uniswap, and Ellipsis. According to tronscan.org , there’s approximately 211,245,005.49 USDD at the time of writing. Statistics show on Saturday, May 7, 2022, Unis