Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

While the number of ransomware hits may not have decreased significantly, the revenue from such attacks has fallen sharply last year, according to Chainalysis. The blockchain forensics firm believes that to a large extent the trend can be attributed to more of the targeted organizations refusing to pay the perpetrators. Chainalysis Registers Significant Decline in Revenue From Ransomware Attacks Over the course of 2022, ransomware actors have managed to extort at least $456.8 million from victims, Chainalysis revealed in a report published Thursday. The estimated amount is down from $765.6 million the year before, the analytics company pointed out, noting that the true total is likely much higher, as many crypto addresses controlled by attackers have yet to be identified. “The trend is clear: Ransomware payments are significantly down,” the authors of the study said while emphasizing that this finding doesn’t mean fewer attacks have been carried out. They believe instead that much...

An Indian government official says that there is currently nothing that outlaws crypto in India “as long as you follow the legal process.” Meanwhile, the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has stressed that “cryptocurrency does not have any underlying value.” Indian Government Official on Crypto Indian government official Rajeev Chandrasekhar talked about cryptocurrency Thursday at an event in Bengaluru. Chandrasekhar currently serves as both India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He is also a member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament. He explained that India has no issue with cryptocurrencies if all laws are followed, Reuters reported, quoting him as saying: There is nothing today that outlaws crypto as long as you follow the legal process. The Indian government has not yet established a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. In December last year...

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon calls bitcoin “a hyped-up fraud.” The executive questioned the cryptocurrency’s supply cap, expecting a picture of bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto to pop up and laugh at us all when bitcoin’s supply hits 21 million coins. JPMorgan’s CEO on Bitcoin and Its Supply Cap The CEO of global investment bank JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, reiterated his skepticism about bitcoin in an interview with CNBC Thursday. The JPMorgan executive claimed: Bitcoin itself is a hyped-up fraud. It’s a pet rock. Regarding the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Dimon commented: “I’m not surprised at all. I call them a decentralized Ponzi scheme. The hype around this thing has been extraordinary.” Dimon also reiterated his doubt about BTC ’s 21 million supply cap, suggesting that bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto could remove the cryptocurrency’s supply limit. He said: How do you know it’s going to stop at 21 million? Maybe it’s going to ...

Statistics show over the course of 54 days, the number of wrapped bitcoin (WBTC) hosted on the Ethereum network has decreased by 40,156. This equates to a more than 18% redemption of the circulating supply of WBTC since Nov. 27, 2022. WBTC Remains Largest Operation in Terms of Bitcoin Custody Despite Recent Redemptions The Bitgo-backed Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) project has been officially in operation since the end of January 2019 and has grown significantly since its launch. At the time of writing, it is the largest operation in terms of the number of bitcoin ( BTC ) custodied to back the WBTC token value. On January 20, 2023, WBTC is the 19th largest crypto asset by market capitalization, valued at $21,278 per unit. WBTC’s market valuation on Friday afternoon Eastern Time was around $3.8 billion. According to the project’s website and transparency dashboard , at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 20, 2023, there were approximately 180,197 WBTC in circulation on the Ethereum chain. ...

Silvergate Capital Corporation, the parent firm of the crypto-focused bank Silvergate Bank, has attributed the $1 billion loss it incurred in the fourth quarter of 2022 to the confidence crisis that permeates the entire crypto ecosystem. While Silvergate has taken steps to help it navigate the current environment, according to the CEO Alan Lane, the firm remains “focused on providing value-added services for [its] core institutional customers.” Confidence Crisis Less than a month after Silvergate Bank reported a massive drop in customer deposits, the crypto-focused financial institution’s parent firm, Silvergate Capital Corporation, said on Jan. 17 that a “transformational shift” seen in the fourth quarter (Q4) had helped to “create a crisis of confidence across the ecosystem.” This, in turn, sparked the shift to a “risk off position across digital asset trading platforms,” the parent firm said. As a consequence of this changed environment, Silvergate said the group incurred a Q4 ...

Binance has unveiled intentions to broaden its activities in Poland, another EU member state where the global cryptocurrency exchange is registered. The coin trading platform plans to develop its Polish entity, recruit local talent and launch educational initiatives. Crypto Exchange Binance Moves Forward With Plans to Expand Operations in Poland Binance, the world’s largest digital asset trading platform, is enhancing its presence in Poland, noting in an announcement that it maintains its commitment to comply with the country’s rules for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The expansion in 2023 will be facilitated by the development of the company’s local entity which adheres to the regulatory requirements. Polish customers will have to sign new Terms and Conditions with Binance Poland in order to continue using the platform’s services. The subsidiary aims at full compliance with the Polish standards for VASPs and will adopt risk and anti-money laundering policies to match ...

The cryptocurrency lender, Nexo, has agreed to pay $45 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and several state regulators after charges were levied against the firm for failing to register the company’s Earn Interest Product (EIP). Nexo detailed that the settlements are on a “no admit, no deny” basis and that the arrangement “closes all multi-year-long inquiries into Nexo.” Nexo Pays $22.5 Million to SEC, $22.5 Million to Several State Regulators for EIP Offering On Jan. 19, 2023, Nexo announced that it has agreed to settle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and several state regulators, including the Office of the New York Attorney General, over an unregistered offering. According to the SEC, around June 2020, Nexo started to offer the company’s Earn Interest Product (EIP), an interest-earning product that allows investors to earn interest on deposited crypto assets. The U....

NYU Professor Nouriel Roubini, aka Dr. Doom, has warned that “99.99% of crypto is a scam, a criminal activity, a total real-bubble Ponzi scheme that is going bust.” He advised investors to “absolutely stay away” from crypto, claiming that most people in the crypto space are “all crooks.” Dr. Doom Warns Nearly 100% of Crypto Is a Scam Economic professor Nouriel Roubini, aka Dr. Doom, warned about cryptocurrency in an interview with Yahoo Finance Live Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Roubini is a professor of economics and international business at New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business. He also serves as chairman of Roubini Global Economics, a global macroeconomic and market strategy research firm that he co-founded. He told the news outlet: Literally, 99.99% of crypto is a scam, a criminal activity, a total real-bubble Ponzi scheme that is going bust. Dr. Doom also shared his opinion on the collapsed crypto exchange FTX and its disgraced ...

PRESS RELEASE. INTERNET CITY, DUBAI, Jan 19, 2023 – LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, has listed CPCoin (CPC) on January 19, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the CPC/ USDT trading pair is now officially available for trading. CryptoPerformance is disrupting the crypto industry through its internal and highly developed blockchain, the CPCx0 Chain, its native coin CPCoin, and a buy and hold platform – which together ensure a one-stop-shop for all crypto users and high-quality products and services. Its native coin CPCoin (CPC) has been listed on LBank Exchange at 9:00 UTC on January 19, 2023, to further expand its global reach and help it achieve its vision. Introducing CryptoPerformance Group CryptoPerformance Group is a one-stop solution for all crypto-related needs, setting it apart from competitors by offering multiple digital solutions and products to individuals and corporations. It has built and financed its own in-house developed blockchain the ...

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the rollout of the Global Collaboration Village, its own metaverse platform, for this year. Klaus Schwab, chairman of the WEF, plans to leverage this representation of Davos to allow people and leaders to meet in virtual worlds and coordinate global collaboration efforts efficiently. WEF to Promote Metaverse-Based Collaboration The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the rollout of its own metaverse platform, dubbed the Global Collaboration Village. The digital world, designed to look like the actual town of Davos in which the organization meets once every year, will supposedly allow for more efficient collaboration between world leaders. According to Klaus Schwab, chairman of the organization, the WEF plans to leverage this new world as a way of turning Davos meetings, which usually last just a week, into a project that will allow for interviews and conversations between world leaders all year round. Schwab is optimistic about thi...

The ministers of finance of the countries in the eurozone reaffirmed their support for efforts to prepare for the potential launch of a digital euro. Meanwhile, the single currency area’s monetary authority sought to reassure future users that the new currency will be “preserving privacy by default and by design.” Eurogroup to Remain Involved in Digital Euro Development, Says Many Decisions Are Political Finance ministers of the EU member states that have adopted the common European currency, the Eurogroup , met on Monday in Brussels to mark Croatia’s accession to the eurozone and discuss current matters — from the economic situation to the fiscal policy coordination in the euro area. One of the topics discussed was the advancement of the initiative to issue a digital version of the euro. In a statement adopted by the forum, the government officials vowed to continue their involvement, with Paschal Donohoe, the president of the informal format, quoted as saying: What we plan to d...

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand has issued new regulations on custodied cryptocurrencies. Companies offering crypto custody services are now required to “establish a digital wallet management system to accommodate efficient custody of digital assets and keys and ensure safety of clients’ assets,” the regulator described. Thai SEC’s New Crypto Rules Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Tuesday that it has issued new rules on the “management of digital wallets for custody of digital assets and keys.” The new regulations went into effect on Jan. 16. The Thai SEC explained that businesses that provide custody services for clients’ digital assets must: Establish a digital wallet management system to accommodate efficient custody of digital assets and keys and ensure safety of clients’ assets. They must also have a “policy and guidelines” in place for the management of “digital wallets and keys as well as communication to clarify such...

South Korea’s financial regulator is developing new tools to regularly monitor crypto risks. The regulator warned that while the impact of the crypto market on the traditional financial system is still low, the risks posed by crypto to the country’s financial stability could increase sharply in the future. Korean Regulator Developing Crypto Monitoring Tools South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is planning to develop crypto monitoring tools and regularly inspect the risks associated with crypto assets, FSS Governor Lee Bok-hyun reportedly revealed Monday at a conference on the interconnectedness between the crypto market and the traditional financial market. He was quoted by local media as saying: The Financial Supervisory Service is planning various initiatives for the risk management of the virtual asset market this year. Regarding the crypto monitoring tools, Lee explained that the supervisory authority currently lacks data to identify potential risks from crypto ...

Japan has reportedly urged other countries, including the U.S., to regulate crypto exchanges like they do banks. A top official at the Financial Services Agency explained that the recent FTX implosion wasn’t brought on by crypto technology but by “loose governance, lax internal controls, and the absence of regulation and supervision.” Bank-Level Cryptocurrency Regulations Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA), the country’s top financial regulator, has urged regulators globally to subject cryptocurrency exchanges to bank-level regulations, Bloomberg reported Monday. Mamoru Yanase, deputy director-general of the FSA’s Strategy Development and Management Bureau, was quoted as saying: If you like to implement effective regulation, you have to do the same as you regulate and supervise traditional institutions. The FSA has called for stronger crypto regulation following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and subsequent fraud charges filed against its former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (...

While the second-largest crypto asset by market capitalization, ethereum, has risen 27% against the U.S. dollar in the last two weeks, the network’s average and median-sized gas fees have increased by more than 50%. On the first day of 2023, the average fee to spend ether was around $2.93 per transfer, but today the average cost is 54% higher at $4.52 per transfer. Rise in Ethereum Value Leads to Increased Onchain Transaction Costs Sending ethereum (ETH) is becoming more costly as the crypto asset’s value has risen greatly over the last 14 days. At the time of writing, ether is trading at $1,542 per unit, after reaching a high of $1,606 per unit during the same 24-hour period on Jan. 18, 2023. As ethereum’s value in U.S. dollars has increased, the cost to move ether and the myriad of ERC20 tokens has also risen. Data from bitinfocharts.com indicates that on Jan. 1, 2023, the average ether gas fee was $2.93 per transfer. 18 days later, the average fee to send ethereum is 54% highe...

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato, better known to the Russian-speaking segment of the market, has been taken down as part of an “international cryptocurrency enforcement action,” the U.S. Justice Department announced. The Russian owner of the platform has been arrested for his role in the alleged transmission of illicit money. Bitzlato claimed it was hacked. US, France Hit Cryptocurrency Exchange Bitzlato, Russian Co-founder Detained in Miami U.S. authorities have apprehended Anatoly Legkodymov, a resident of China, on charges that his Hong Kong-registered crypto trading platform, Bitzlato, processed illicit funds worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The Russian, a co-founder and majority owner of the exchange, was arrested by three e FBI in Miami on Tuesday, a high-ranking official from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed. Speaking during a press conference, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said that Justice Department agents and prosecutors, working with t...

PRESS RELEASE. LONDON, ENGLAND – January 18th, 2023 – Neon Link , a new blockchain and ecosystem, is about to launch on mainnet in Q1 2023. Coming out of stealth after over a year of development, many important features are launching throughout this year: the NEON multi-chain Wallet, Decentralised Exchange, Marketplace, Bridge, Block Explorer, NEON Gaming ID (Naming Service), and the $NEON token that powers the entire ecosystem. Alongside the ecosystem, Neon Link has numerous projects in the late stages of development. One of these is a triple-A game, Ascend The End. This game is a 3rd person shooter that delivers a unique experience from its integration with Neon Link’s fast and fee-free network. This includes a variety of game modes and an in-game economy where you can gather resources to craft weapons, ammo, and armour! Ascend the End will offer the opportunity to earn exclusive in-game assets and crypto asset rewards for consistently ranking well in competitive gameplay. Neon...

The city of Shanghai is bringing metaverse activities to 20 urban locations, that will allow citizens to use digital tools in different ways according to the area. The initiative is part of a pilot program of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization to push more metaverse applications to the population. Shanghai Takes the Metaverse to 20 Urban Spots Shanghai, China is quickly moving to integrate the metaverse as part of the lives of its citizens. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization recently announced a pilot program to turn 20 different urban locations into “major metaverse application scenarios,” that will feature digital tech in several ways. The implementation of this tech will cover various social fields, including business operations, education, branding, and entertainment. The city hopes this will allow citizens to receive smarter services from city facilities in these areas. For example, in the area of healthcare, Ruijin H...

Tehran and Moscow are discussing the possible launch of a stablecoin for international settlements, the Russian press revealed. In order to mint the gold-backed currency, however, authorities would need to first regulate crypto assets, a lawmaker noted. Russian, Iranian Representatives Talk Using Gold-Backed Stablecoin in Foreign Trade Iran’s central bank is considering the possibility of creating, with Russia’s participation, a digital token to facilitate trade in the Persian region, according to a report quoting the head of the crypto industry organization in the Russian Federation. The coin could be accepted as a means of payment in international settlements, the Executive Director of the Russian Association of Cryptoeconomics, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain (Racib), Alexander Brazhnikov, told the business daily Vedomosti and detailed: It is assumed that the token will be backed by gold, it would be a stablecoin. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies, the value of which i...

On Tuesday, global asset manager Hashkey, which focuses on crypto and blockchain investments, announced that it has closed its third fund at $500 million. The company’s “HashKey Fintech Investment III” is dedicated to developing crypto solutions, blockchain technology, and Web3 concepts. Hashkey Capital’s Fund III to Focus on Web3, Emerging Markets and Crypto Solutions Amid the crypto market downturn, global asset manager Hashkey Capital announced the closing of a new fund, “Hashkey Fintech Investment III,” after raising $500 million. According to Hashkey, the fund “received strong support from institutional investors namely sovereign wealth funds, renowned family offices, and corporations.” Hashkey Capital is one of the largest crypto funds in Asia as it manages more than $1 billion in customer assets. “Hashkey Capital weathered at least three cycles in the industry,” Deng Chao, the head of Hashkey Group Singapore and CEO of Hashkey Capital said in a statement on Tuesday. “From ...

Economists at the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) have recommended three policies regulators worldwide could adopt in order to deal with the risks posed by cryptocurrencies. “Authorities can now consider a variety of policy approaches and at the same time work to improve the existing monetary system in the public interest,” they advised. BIS Economists Discuss Crypto Policies The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) published a bulletin last week titled “Addressing the risks in crypto: laying out the options.” Authored by BIS economists Matteo Aquilina, Jon Frost, and Andreas Schrimpf, the report discusses the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and the various options available to regulators and central banks for addressing these risks. The authors outlined “three potential lines of action.” The first is to “ban specific crypto activities.” Another option is to “isolate crypto from tradfi [traditional finance] and the real economy.” The third is to “regulate the sec...