Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

Reddit’s non-fungible token (NFT) avatars have produced significant market action in the NFT industry, as the collectible’s secondary market sales reached more than $5 million on October 24 across more than 20,000 sales. The demand for Reddit’s collectible NFT avatars minted on Polygon has also spurred over three million Redditors to leverage Reddit’s Vault blockchain wallet. Demand for Reddit’s Collectible NFT Avatars Skyrockets — $5 Million in Secondary Sales Sold Across 20,000 Sales During the first week of July, Reddit revealed the company had plans to release blockchain-backed avatars that leverage the proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain Polygon (MATIC). At the time, Reddit said that Polygon was chosen for its “low-cost transactions and sustainability commitments.” On October 18, 2022, Reddit’s chief product officer Pali Bhat explained, while speaking on a Techcrunch Disrupt panel, that three million Vault blockchain wallets crafted by Reddit were created to date. Bhat further ...

JPMorgan Chase’s president that crypto “is kind of irrelevant in the scheme of things.” Commenting on the U.S. economy, he defended the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance, emphasizing that if the Fed’s action “causes a slightly deeper recession for a period of time” then “that is the price we have to pay.” JPMorgan Chase President on U.S. Economy and Recession JPMorgan Chase President Daniel Pinto commented on the U.S. economy and cryptocurrency in an interview with CNBC, published Monday. Pinto is also the global investment bank’s chief operating officer and CEO of its Corporate & Investment Bank. The 59-year-old executive grew up in Argentina as a child where inflation was often very high, he shared, noting that living with pervasive inflation was “very, very stressful.” Price increases in Argentina averaged more than 300% a year from 1975 to 1991. Pinto opined: That’s why when people say, ‘the Fed is too hawkish,’ I disagree. I think putting inflation back in a box is very ...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has updated the crypto section in the 2022 draft instructions for tax form 1040. “For example, digital assets include non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and virtual currencies, such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins,” the tax agency detailed. New IRS Instructions for Tax Form 1040 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its 2022 draft instructions for tax form 1040 last week. Form 1040 is the tax form used for filing individual income tax returns in the U.S. The new instructions contain several changes relating to cryptocurrency. The section titled “Virtual Currency” has been replaced with one titled “Digital Assets.” The IRS detailed: Digital assets are any digital representations of value that are recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger or any similar technology. For example, digital assets include non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and virtual currencies, such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. In contrast, NFTs and stablecoins ...

Nokia, one of the first companies to manufacture a consumer-grade mobile phone system, now believes the metaverse will cause phones to become deprecated. These metaverse experiences will be powered by the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality glasses, and will allow users to interact in several activities. Industrial usage will also be significant. Nokia Predicts the Fall of the Mobile Phone in Favor of the Metaverse Nokia, one of the first manufacturers to create a mobile phone system, is predicting the fall of the mobile phone trend known today at the hands of the metaverse. While phones will still be around, metaverse experiences will be the primary form of communication in the second half of the decade. While augmented reality devices have still ways to go, Nokia believes that there will be a rise in the interest of the audience in such devices, that will power this metaverse push. Nokia’s chief strategy and technology officer Nishant Batra is confident ab...

The lower house of Russian parliament, the State Duma, has voted against a piece of legislation designed to regulate cryptocurrency mining. While lawmakers turned down that proposal, which also aimed to legalize crypto payments in the country, another draft law on mining, which permits cross-border transactions with digital assets, is expected in the legislature in the near future. Alternative Proposals to Regulate Crypto Mining Clash in Russian Parliament This week, the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly voted to reject a draft law on cryptocurrency mining. The bill “On Mining in the Russian Federation,” was submitted earlier by members of the liberal New People faction. Lawmakers criticized the sponsors for failing to properly formulate regulatory principles for the activity as well as requirements for data centers and mining operators and suggest a procedure for the taxation of mining companies. Representatives of the parliamentary committees that reviewed the legislati...

As Ghana waits for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country’s currency continued its slide versus the dollar after the respective currencies’ exchange rate slipped to just under C15:$1. Following this latest plunge, the cedi has now depreciated by more than 55% in 2022 and this makes it the world’s worst-performing currency. World’s Worst Performing Currency The depreciating Ghanaian currency — the cedi — recently touched a new low versus the U.S. dollar on the forex parallel market after it reportedly slipped by 12% in just four days. Reports of the Ghanaian currency slumping to a new low versus the greenback came shortly after the cedi’s 3.3% slip on October 17 confirmed its new status as the world’s worst-performing currency. According to the Myjoyonline report , the acute shortage of U.S. dollars among banks and bureaux de change is the primary reason why the cedi has now fallen by more than 50% since the start of 2022. To support this asser...

Financial authorities in Hong Kong have unveiled a prototype of the Chinese autonomous territory’s own central bank digital currency called Project Aurum. The two-tier platform features a wholesale interbank and a retail e-wallet system, participants revealed. Hong Kong to Issue Retail Tokens and Stablecoins as Part of Project Aurum A collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority ( HKMA ), and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute has produced a prototype of Hong Kong’s upcoming digital currency, the Bank for International Settlements ( BIS ) announced. Project Aurum is a full-stack, front-end and back-end, central bank digital currency ( CBDC ) system comprising a wholesale interbank system and a retail e-wallet system, the international financial institution explained in a press release this week. Participants in Aurum want to launch two different types of digital tokens. The first kind will be an interm...

PRESS RELEASE. INTERNET CITY, DUBAI, Oct. 24, 2022 – LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list VNX Gold (VNXAU) on October 25, 2022. For all users of LBank Exchange, the VNXAU/ USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading at 10:00 UTC on October 25, 2022. Utilizing the blockchain technology to tokenize the physical gold, VNX Gold (VNXAU) provides the reliability of gold with the flexibility of a crypto asset and enables users to buy and sell the purest gold from anywhere in the world. Its token VNXAU will be listed on LBank Exchange at 10:00 UTC on October 25, 2022, to further expand its global reach and help it achieve its vision. Introducing VNX Gold VNX Gold is a project under VNX that enables users to easily manage all of their gold transactions with digital tokens. Its tokenization of gold allows users to skip the hassle of visiting a vault or bank, and confidently invest from anywhere in the world. As the first registered EEA investm...

Bitcoin recorded another mining difficulty rise on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at block height 760,032 rising 3.44% higher. This means that not only is it 3.44% harder to find a bitcoin block subsidy, the network’s mining difficulty has also reached another all-time high (ATH) by tapping 36.84 trillion. Bitcoin’s Mining Difficulty Adjusts Upwards by 3.44%, Now at 36.84 Trillion This weekend, Bitcoin’s ( BTC ) mining difficulty jumped 3.44% higher than the height miners dealt with during the past two weeks or the last 2,016 blocks. The network’s difficulty has reached a lifetime high at 36.84 trillion, following the 3.44% shift on Sunday evening (ET). The rise on Sunday follows the 13.55% increase Bitcoin’s difficulty recorded on October 10, 2022, at block height 758,016. The 13.55% increase was 2022’s largest Bitcoin difficulty rise, and it took place as BTC ’s total hashrate reached an ATH on October 11, 2022, at block height 758,138. On October 11, the network’s hashrate reached...

When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin, the full node client came with a wallet often referred to as Bitcoin-Qt. Nakamoto’s simplified payment verification (SPV) concept was not available until two years later, after the former Bitcoin Core developer Mike Hearn published BitcoinJ in 2011. However, prior to the first SPV client or optimized lightweight bitcoin wallet, the first phone-to-phone bitcoin transaction occurred more than 11 years ago on December 7, 2010. Sending 0.42 Bitcoin From a Nokia N900 to Another Nokia N900 in 2010 Satoshi’s Bitcoin is nearing its 14-year anniversary, which will occur on January 3, 2023, and to date, the Bitcoin network has been functional 99.98777985271% of the time since its inception on January 3, 2009. During the first few years of Bitcoin’s life, the ecosystem had very little infrastructure compared to today’s plethora of crypto exchanges and bitcoin wallets . The protocol’s second Bitcoin client in the network’s history, Bitcoind was published...

Bitcoin.com yesterday announced that buyers in the VERSE token sale, which starts on November 1, will receive exclusive NFTs. Register now at getverse.com to increase your Schance of getting the allocation you want. We also announced that Evan Luza, the co-founder of Cool Cats, had joined Bitcoin.com to advise on the Verse NFT project. Cool Cats is a blue-chip NFT project with a host of charming characters and rich narrative, which lends to the IP’s broad appeal and positions the company as a global transmedia brand to watch. Today we bring you an interview with Evan, where we get his thoughts on Bitcoin.com , NFTs, Verse, and more. Bitcoin.com Director of Product Experience Alex Knight: Super excited to have you aboard Evan. Could you tell us in your own words about Cool Cats? Cool Cats co-founder Evan Luza: Excited to contribute! It’s been a full circle for me from helping with the Bitccoin.com rebrand and now coming back to advise with Verse. Cool Cats is a collection ...

According to the National Consumer Commission, about 4,000 South Africans who invested in a bitcoin mining equipment supplier, Obelisk, may have participated in a pyramid scheme. The commission said participants in the pyramid scheme may have lost as much as over $6 million. Obelisk Used Social Media Platforms to Lure Victims A South African consumer watchdog, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) recently announced that Obelisk — a purported bitcoin mining equipment supplier — is in fact a pyramid scheme which has swindled millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors. The watchdog reportedly made the announcement after it received complaints from investors who accuse Obelisk of defrauding them. According to a Businesstech report , the 4,000 individuals who participated in the investment scheme were convinced they were purchasing bitcoin mining equipment which could generate constant income for them. The machines cost between $18.75 and $24,850, the report added. In a statemen...

The party of the Nigerian presidential hopeful Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has promised to set up an advisory committee to review regulations that govern blockchain and virtual asset services if it wins in the upcoming elections. The All Progressives Congress also said it “will work with the Central Bank and the financial sector to carefully review and better optimise the exchange rate regime.” A ‘Business-Friendly Regulatory Framework’ In its recently unveiled manifesto , Nigerian presidential aspirant Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s party — the All Progressives Congress (APC) — said it plans to “establish an advisory committee to review the existing regulatory environment governing blockchain technology and virtual asset services.” The APC, which is also the party of current Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, added that where necessary the committee will propose changes that bring about “a more efficient and business-friendly regulatory framework.” According to the APC’s 80-page manifesto, the T...

Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior commodity strategist says bitcoin “may be entering an inexorable phase of its migration into the mainstream.” In addition, the cryptocurrency may also “be entering unstoppable maturation stage,” the strategist added, expecting the price of bitcoin to continue to rise over time. Bitcoin’s ‘Unstoppable Maturation Stage’ Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone provided his outlook for bitcoin this week. Citing rising demand, increased adoption, and regulation, he tweeted Wednesday: Bitcoin may be entering an inexorable phase of its migration into the mainstream, and at a relatively discounted price. In another tweet, he noted the declining supply of bitcoin, adding: “Bitcoin’s definable diminishing supply is unprecedented on a global scale, and so prices should continue to rise over time unless something unlikely reverses demand and adoption trends, given the laws of supply and demand.” He also tweeted: Bitcoin may be ent...

The Rugby League World Cup 2021 is held in the UK between 15 October and 19 November 2022. It is an honor for CoinEx to be a sponsor of the prestigious RLWC event and to have the opportunity to inspire rugby fans to begin their cryptocurrency trading journeys. CoinEx & RLWC Exclusive Collaboration By sponsoring the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC 2021), CoinEx has become the exclusive cryptocurrency trading platform partner of the RLWC , demonstrating its willingness to engage and establish relationships with industries other than crypto. As the exchange strives to accomplish its vision, it also respects and supports the dedication, work and passion of players from non-crypto communities. Why CoinEx chose to sponsor RLWC? The brand concept of CoinEx is to break down the financial shackles that hold back the common man and to provide a platform that everyone can use. Additionally, CoinEx’s brand philosophy adheres to the principles of sportsmanship advocated by the RLWC. In ...

India has emerged as a leading global player in the Web3 market, a new report by Nasscom states. Web3 investments in the country grew 37 times from the start of 2020 to Q1 2022 and $1.1 trillion in Web3 economic value is projected to be added to India’s GDP by 2032. India Emerges a Leading Global Player in Web3 Market Nasscom published a report titled “The India Web3 Startup Landscape: An Emerging Technology Leadership Frontier” Wednesday. Established in 1988, Nasscom is a non-profit industry association for the technology sector in India. The organization has more than 3,000 members, representing 90% of the industry’s revenue, its website details. The report states: India has emerged as a leading global player in the Web3 market, with a competitive talent pool, high rates of adoption and products built for the world. The total number of Web3 startups in India as of the first half of this year was more than 450; they have raised more than $1.3 billion since 2020. The average ...

Bitcoin’s volatility has fallen below that of the Nasdaq and the S&P 500, according to crypto data provider Kaiko. Compared to equity markets, cryptocurrency markets have become less reactive to volatile macro events, including high inflation, an appreciating dollar, rising interest rates, ongoing war, and the energy crisis, the firm explained. ‘Bitcoin Volatility Is at Multi-Year Lows’ Bitcoin has become less volatile than both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500, according to cryptocurrency data provider Kaiko, CNBC reported. The crypto data firm explained Friday that BTC ’s 20-day rolling volatility has dropped below that of the two stock indexes for the first time since 2020. Clara Medalie, Kaiko’s head of research, told the news outlet: Bitcoin volatility is at multi-year lows while equity volatility is only at its lowest level since July. “Equity markets have certainly been volatile over the past few months due to high inflation, an appreciating dollar, rising interest rat...

Tesla and Spacex CEO Elon Musk expects a global recession to last until the spring of 2024. Musk added that his two companies are in good positions but many others are not. “Recessions do have a silver lining in that companies that shouldn’t exist stop existing,” the Tesla boss said. Elon Musk on Global Recession Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared his thoughts about a global recession in a Twitter thread Friday. The thread was started by Dogecoin co-creator Billy Markus who tweeted: “Coronavirus numbers are actually pretty low. I guess all we have to worry about now is the impending global recession and nuclear apocalypse.” Musk commented: “It sure would be nice to have one year without a horrible global event.” Another Twitter user chimed in, asking Musk: “How long do you think the recession will last?” The Tesla boss replied: “Just guessing, but probably until spring of ’24.” The same Twitter user followed up with the question: “How much worse do you think it will get? Like a little wo...

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has set out to teach law enforcement officers in Uzbekistan how to conduct crypto and dark web investigations. The regional body recently organized a training course for employees of the country’s security agencies in Tashkent. Uzbekistan Police and Security Agents Attend OSCE Course on Cryptocurrencies Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Security Service have taken a training course on cryptocurrency and dark web investigations held by the OSCE between Oct. 17 and 21 in the capital Tashkent. The course was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department in co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Academy of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the intergovernmental security body said on its website. “Participants learned about the main concepts and key trends in the areas of internetworking, anonymity and encryp...