Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

On Monday, U.S. president Joe Biden published the administration’s economic report and addressed the subject of cryptocurrencies. The section titled “The Perceived Appeal of Crypto Assets” describes the currencies as “mostly speculative investment vehicles” that are “unbacked” and “traded without fundamental anchors.” The White House insists that crypto assets do not deliver on their promises and do not “perform all the functions of money as effectively as sovereign money, such as the U.S. dollar.” Crypto Assets and Defi Highlighted in Biden Administration’s Economic Report The recently published “ Economic Report of the President ” covers various topics, including the war in Ukraine, Covid-19, infrastructure, and U.S. employment statistics. On page 239, the report delves into bitcoin and other crypto assets, examining claims made by proponents and attempting to refute them. The Biden administration views crypto assets as too volatile when compared to traditional assets. According t...

With the Federal Open Market Committee convening on Wednesday and the recent financial troubles facing the U.S. banking system, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has “confidence” in Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, according to the CME Group’s Fedwatch tool, the target rate probability suggests the Fed will raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) this week. There’s also a 26.9% chance the U.S. central bank won’t raise the rate this month. Market Laser-Focused on Upcoming Fed Meeting; Biden Administration Confident in Powell’s Leadership It has been a tumultuous week in the U.S. banking industry as three major banks collapsed, and the Federal Reserve announced that it would fully bail out two of them. Additionally, the U.S. central bank created the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) to assist failed banks and their depositors. Moreover, the Fed loaned the banks $164.8 billion to strengthen liquidity and collaborated ...

Bitcoin consolidated recent gains on March 21, as markets await the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Many expect that the Federal Reserve will maintain rate hikes, however at a slower pace of 25 basis points. This comes after the U.S. announced it will explore measures to guarantee client deposits at embattled banks following a recent crisis. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) was once again trading below $28,000, as traders consolidated recent gains ahead of the upcoming FOMC meeting. Following a high of $28,352.76 to start the week, BTC /USD fell to an intraday low of $27,439.65 earlier today. The move sees bitcoin move away from its recent nine-month high, ahead of tomorrow’s rate decision, which will likely lead to increased market volatility. One sign of this uncertainty comes as the 14-day relative strength index (RSI), which failed to move beyond a ceiling of its own. As of writing, the index is tracking at 71.47, which is marginally below a resistance level at...

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is set to be announced as the body that will oversee and regulate the virtual asset industry. According to a report, the collapse of crypto exchanges like FTX prompted Taiwanese officials to seek ways of protecting users against similar events should they recur. Virtual Asset Industry’s Self-Regulation According to Taiwanese government officials, the country’s financial sector regulator — the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) — is set to become the body overseeing and regulating the country’s virtual currency industry. As per a CNA report , an announcement to this effect is set to be made in late March or early April. Explaining the rationale behind the government’s decision to appoint FSC as the body that oversees virtual assets in Taiwan, the report suggested that FTX’s collapse played a part in convincing officials to look for ways of protecting users in the event of another major collapse. The officials also reportedly made referen...

Main Takeaways Binance Oracle VRF is a Verifiable Random Function (VRF) solution that enables blockchain developers to generate random numbers. Binance Oracle VRF can be used for an extensive selection of use cases, including GameFi projects and other blockchain products built with smart contracts. Keep reading to learn more about how VRFs work, why blockchain applications need randomness, and how Binance Oracle VRF could benefit your project or business. Powered by Binance Cloud and based on the latest Verifiable Random Function (VRF) standard, here’s everything you need to know about Binance Oracle VRF. What Is a Verifiable Random Function (VRF)? Verifiable Random Functions (VRF) are random number generators (RNG) whose outputs can be cryptographically proven as random. Here’s a quick summary of how it works. A series of inputs are passed into a VRF. The VRF computes the inputs and generates pseudorandom outputs. Anyone, at any time, can cryptographically verify that the...

Joselit Ramirez, head of the Venezuelan cryptocurrency authority Sunacrip, was arrested on March 18, according to reports from local media. Ramirez, who led the institution from its creation in 2018, was arrested for being allegedly involved in corruption schemes, including the embezzlement of $3 billion related to unregistered oil sales. Sunacrip Boss Joselit Ramirez Arrested Joselit Ramirez, head of the Venezuelan cryptocurrency authority Sunacrip, was arrested on March 18 on alleged corruption charges. According to reports from the local newspaper Ultimas Noticias, the arrest of Ramirez is part of a national special operation against corruption, that also encompassed the capture of more high-profile individuals, including Cristobal Cornielles, president of the judicial circuit of Caracas, and Pedro Hernandez, a city mayor. While details of the investigation have not been disclosed, local outlets suggest that the arrest is linked to the disappearance of $3 billion obtained from ...

The Argentine tax authority (AFIP) is increasing its scrutiny when it comes to digital wallets. The institution recently revealed it found irregularities in at least 184 tax statements that include digital wallets and cryptocurrencies. These taxpayers did not include their wallet holdings as part of their 2021 tax statements, leaving close to $7.6 million in such assets undeclared. Argentine Tax Authority AFIP Finds Irregularities The Argentine tax authority has ramped up its vigilance for digital and cryptocurrency taxes. Recently, the institution announced that it had discovered a series of irregularities that involved at least 184 taxpayers, who failed to refer to their digital and cryptocurrency holdings in their tax statements. The scrutinized tax statements, corresponding to fiscal year 2021, involve a difference of close to $7.6 million in assets undeclared, which will have to be paid according to rules for existing estate taxes. The AFIP explained this was the result of c...

On Sunday evening, March 19, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. Federal Reserve, along with several central banks including the Bank of England, Bank of Canada, Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and the Swiss National Bank, announced a coordinated action to enhance the provision of liquidity via the standing U.S. dollar liquidity swap line arrangements. The announcement followed a banking crisis that began with the collapse of three U.S. banks and spread internationally. Turmoil in Banking Industry Leads to Coordinated Action to Enhance Liquidity Before Wall Street opened on Monday and ahead of the next Federal Reserve meeting, the U.S. central bank, along with five other major central banks, announced decisive action to add liquidity to the financial system. The participating banks included the Bank of England, Bank of Canada, Bank of Japan, Swiss National Bank, and the European Central Bank (ECB). In fact, all participating central banks published similar press rel...

Bitcoin was trading above $28,000 on Monday, as cryptocurrencies extended a bull run to start the week. This upwards sentiment comes as the Federal Reserve and other major central banks made coordinated moves to enhance market liquidity. Ethereum continues to trade close to $1,800. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) started the week trading above $28,000, as markets responded to the deepening global banking crisis. The coordinated action by several major G7 central banks comes as Credit Suisse was bought out by rival UBS, a move engineered by Swiss authorities. BTC /USD jumped to an intraday peak of $28,527.72 earlier today, which comes a day after trading at a low of $27,196.76. Bitcoin chart by TradingView As a result of the rally, bitcoin climbed to its strongest point since last June, with many now anticipating a move above $30,000. Overall, this surge has sent prices into overbought territory, with the 14-day relative strength index (RSI) now tracking at 72.73. The next visib...

Blockchain technology can help solve current issues with settlements, according to the deputy chief executive of Sberbank. Russia’s largest bank is working with other financial institutions to develop blockchain-based payment applications, the banker revealed. Sberbank Sees Solution to Russia’s Troubles With Settlements in Blockchain With major Russian banks disconnected from the main global interbank payment system, SWIFT , due to Moscow’s war on Ukraine, blockchain will help to solve the problem with payments, Sberbank’s First Deputy CEO Alexander Vedyakhin is convinced. “It is blockchain technology that will make it possible to solve this issue because this is a distributed ledger, there is no one point of decision making, no center, no knife switch that can be shut off,” Vedyakhin explained, quoted by the Interfax news agency. “Everyone has everything recorded, there are special protocols that make it possible to do this confidentially,” the executive added during a meeting of...

PRESS RELEASE. WATERPORT PLACE, GIB., March 20th, 2023 – Digital Asset Management Limited and the Damex group (“Damex” or “Damex.io”)), a Distributed Ledger Technology provider based in Gibraltar, recently announced its utility token IEO, the Damex Token ($DAMEX), which can be used within the Damex App along with other non-fungible tokens (NFTs), to earn rewards for adopting a healthier and more active lifestyle. Damex announced its token IEO for 19th April. Its utility went live and was tested during the Q1 of 2023, with future developments for both the Damex Token and the Damex App slated throughout the year. The total supply is 370 million Damex Tokens. The goal of these new offerings by Damex is to encourage users to become healthier individuals while, at the same time, educating them about cryptocurrency and promoting environmental sustainability. What can users gain in exchange for staking Damex Tokens? For instance, when a user stakes 5,000 Damex Tokens, they can get acce...

A report issued by Globaldata, a global consulting and data analysis company, predicts that China will become a leading country in metaverse tech during 2023. The firm believes that the development of other technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 6G will allow China to configure itself as a metaverse hub. China to Lead Metaverse Industry in 2023 While the interest in the metaverse seems to be waning at a worldwide level, China is still pushing to become a leader in the industry. According to a recent report prepared by Globaldata, a consulting firm, China is positioning itself to surpass the West when it comes to metaverse tech, as the country will keep investing in technologies related to this field. The report states the importance that China gives to these accessory technologies will allow it to become a center for the metaverse. It states: The growing emphasis on VR, AR, AI, and 6G aims to outpace advances in the West...

Microsoft, the software conglomerate, has introduced an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency wallet in the testing version of its Edge web browser. The new feature, which software sleuth Albacore discovered, is named “Crypto Wallet” and would allow users to store and transact Ethereum and Ethereum-based tokens in a non-custodial way, acting like a Metamask clone. Microsoft Introduces Ethereum Wallet in Its Edge Browser Cryptocurrency and Web3 projects are making inroads into mainstream software products. According to reports coming from Albacore, a software researcher, Microsoft is currently developing a native wallet that would as part of its own web browser, Edge. The new feature, called “crypto wallet,” would allow the users to transact and store Ethereum and Ethereum-based tokens in a non-custodial way. In the screenshots available, Microsoft confirms the status of the project, warning the testers about the dangers of using their funds in this wallet. It stated: As a tester, you wi...

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for a “thorough, independent investigation of the causes” that led to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank. She alleges that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell “bears direct responsibility” for regulatory and supervisory issues involving the two banks. Senator Elizabeth Warren Calls for Independent Investigation Into Bank Failures U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called for an investigation into the recent collapse of major banks in a March 18 letter to the Treasury Department’s deputy inspector general, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)’s acting inspector general, and the Federal Reserve Board’s inspector general. “I am writing to ask that you immediately open a thorough, independent investigation of the causes of the bank management and regulatory and supervisory problems that resulted in this month’s failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank and deliver preliminary results within...

Speculation and debate continue to rage surrounding the current global banking debacle. Hedge fund manager Michael Burry — known for predicting 2008’s economic crisis — is drawing comparisons to the Panic of 1907, while Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki warned this week of more ‘fake money’ being injected into the U.S. economy. In related news, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Signature Bank board member, Barney Frank, said he suspects regulators meant to send an “anti-crypto message” in regards to the bank’s recent failure. All this and more just below, in the latest Bitcoin.com News Week in Review. Michael Burry Compares Current Banking Turmoil to Panic of 1907 — Highlights Markets Bottoming Michael Burry, a hedge fund manager renowned for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, has drawn parallels between the current banking turmoil and the Panic of 1907. He noted that three weeks after J.P. Morgan made a stand, the panic was resolved and the markets b...

The financial regulatory body of the Netherlands intends to maintain tough attitude towards the Dutch digital assets sector despite looser European rules. The head of the agency overseeing the industry doesn’t think crypto is good news and highlights its flaws in an article. Head of Dutch Financial Authority Says Cryptos Are Difficult to Fathom, Vulnerable to Fraud Most countries in the West are “tightening the reins” on crypto but a total ban is “difficult to imagine”, the Chair of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets ( AFM ), Laura van Geest, noted in a column devoted to cryptocurrencies in the business daily Het Financieele Dagblad. However, despite the tightening in the final phase of the negotiations over EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, the upcoming regulations remain less strict for cryptocurrencies than those for existing financial products, the executive remarked and stated: We do not think cryptos are good news. They are difficult to fathom, vu...

Authorities and power utilities in various Russian regions have shut down illegal crypto mining farms, seizing hardware and taking operators to court. The action against the coin minting facilities comes amid discussions on a proposal to introduce criminal liability for miners breaking the upcoming legislation for the industry. ‘Underground’ Crypto Mining Farms Shut Down Across Russia Police and power suppliers have uncovered and dismantled illegal crypto mining installations in Siberia and Southern Russia, local crypto news outlets reported this week, quoting authorities. In one of the cases, the organizers of a mining enterprise have been charged with stealing large amounts of electricity. Employees of Rosseti North Caucasus found a fairly large improvised mining farm in Shpakovsky district of the Stavropol Krai. Together with law enforcement, they confiscated 66 ASIC miners, the region’s power electric company announced on Friday. A resident of the village of Nadezhda, who pl...

A European lawmaker has urged authorities to impose a ban on cryptocurrencies citing the current crisis in the banking sector as a reason. Johan Van Overtveldt, former finance minister of Belgium, believes these assets bring no economic or social value. Belgium’s Ex-Finance Minister Suggests Ban on Decentralized Digital Currencies Member of the European Parliament, Johan Van Overtveldt, has insisted that governments should prohibit cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. His call comes amid a crisis sparked by the failure of several banking institutions, including two crypto-friendly banks in the U.S. “Another lesson to be learned from the current banking commotion. Enforce a strict ban on cryptocurrencies,” the lawmaker, who has previously praised blockchain technology, tweeted on Friday. “Speculative poison and no economic or social added value. If a government bans drugs, it should also ban cryptos,” he argued. Nog een les te trekken uit de huidige bankcommotie. Leg een strikt verbod o...

General Bytes experienced a security incident on March 17 and 18 that enabled a hacker to remotely access the master service interface and send funds from hot wallets, according to the company and sources. The breach forced a majority of U.S.-based crypto automated teller machine (ATM) operators to temporarily shut down. The hacker was able to liquidate 56.28 bitcoins, worth approximately $1.5 million, from about 15 to 20 crypto ATM operators nationwide. Crypto ATM Operators Temporarily Shut Down After General Bytes Security Breach Enables Hacker to Liquidate $1.5M in Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies The largest cryptocurrency automated teller machine (ATM) manufacturer, General Bytes , has produced 9,505 such machines globally, with thousands located in the United States. On Saturday, March 18, the company informed the public of a serious security incident that occurred on March 17 as well. “We released a statement urging customers to take immediate action to protect their per...