Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

The BRICS nations are set to discuss the feasibility of a common currency at the upcoming leaders’ summit. “It’s a matter we must discuss and discuss properly,” a South African minister stressed, noting that a growing number of countries are saying: “Why can’t we trade in our own currencies? Why are we committed to trading through the dollar?” BRICS Currency to Be Discussed at Upcoming Leaders’ Summit The BRICS countries are planning to discuss the feasibility of introducing a common currency at their upcoming leaders’ summit, which will be hosted by South Africa on Aug. 22 in Johannesburg. While noting that she does not like “preempting BRICS leaders’ discussions,” South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor commented on BRICS currency discussions in an interview with Bloomberg Tuesday. She stressed: It’s a matter we must discuss and discuss properly. “I don’t think we should always assume the idea will work because economics is very difficu...

Economist Peter Schiff expects a lot more banks to fail, warning that “nobody’s money is safe in any bank.” He stressed: “When the Fed sets interest rates too low and prints a lot of money … it unleashes massive inflation, creates tremendous economic imbalances that result in financial crises and depressions when the bubbles burst.” Peter Schiff on Inflation Tsunami, Financial Crises, Depressions, and Bank Failures Economist and gold bug Peter Schiff discussed the U.S. banking crisis and where the U.S. economy is headed in an interview last week on One America News Network. Citing “the mess that the Fed made by keeping interest rates so low for so long,” Schiff explained that it enabled banks to load up on “low yielding, overpriced long-term debt, treasuries, [and] mortgages.” Moreover, he stressed that the government and regulators push banks “into these securities with favorable accounting treatment for government securities or anything guaranteed by the U.S. government.” He warn...

Authorities in Iran have closed down more than 8,000 underground facilities for cryptocurrency mining in the past three years, local media reported. Despite the government’s crackdown, illegal crypto mining continues to account for a serious amount of energy consumption, official figures suggest. Illegal Crypto Miners in Iran Steal 1.8 Billion kWh of Electricity, Official Says Enterprises minting digital currencies outside the law in Iran have stolen 1.8 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) of electricity, according to a spokesperson for the electric power industry, quoted by the English-language Iranian daily Financial Tribune and the Bargh News portal. “About 8,200 unauthorized centers for cryptocurrency mining have been identified and closed in the past three years, in which more than 246,000 active miners were using 680 megawatts (MW) of energy,” said Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi. It’s estimated that another 1,200 MW of power capacity is still being occupied by illegal miners in the country...

On May 9, digital currency fund manager Grayscale Investments announced the establishment of the Grayscale Funds Trust and submitted registration filings for three exchange-traded funds with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Grayscale Introduces Grayscale Funds Trust and Files for 3 ETFs As the leading digital currency fund manager, in terms of assets under management (AUM), Grayscale Investments unveiled the Grayscale Funds Trust launch. The trust is a Delaware statutory trust structure designed to strengthen the company’s worldwide asset management capabilities. “A registration statement relating to Grayscale Funds Trust has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective,” Grayscale stated on Tuesday. Grayscale highlighted that they had previously established Grayscale Advisors, an SEC-registered investment advisor, which will serve as the new trust’s advisor. Besides the trust, Grayscale has also filed a registration statement for three additional funds. Th...

Bitcoin was hovering close to a key price floor near $27,300 on Wednesday, as markets anticipated the upcoming U.S. inflation report. Consumer prices for last month are expected to remain at 5%, which could be seen as justifying the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike rates last week. Ethereum remained above $1,800. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) continued to consolidate on Wednesday, as markets awaited the latest inflation report from the United States. Following a high of $27,824.39 on Tuesday, BTC /USD dropped to an intraday low of $27,375.60 earlier in today’s session. Today’s move pushed bitcoin close to a key support point at $27,300, however prices have since rebounded. Bitcoin chart by TradingView Overall, it appears that the previous drop took place following a breakout on the relative strength index (RSI). Price strength moved below a floor at 43.00, with the index tracking at 42.63 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is now trading at $27,607.96. Ethereum Ethereum also...

Over 1,000 human trafficking victims were recently rescued from a “fraud factory” in Mabalacat, a town located nearly 90 kilometers northwest of Manila, Philippines law enforcement has said. Michelle Sabino from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group said trafficking victims use social media platforms such as Facebook to lure unsuspecting individuals. Cryptocurrency Scams According to Philippines law enforcement, over 1,000 human trafficking victims were rescued following a recent raid on a compound in Mabalacat, approximately 90 kilometers northwest of the capital, Manila. According to officials, many of the trafficking victims came from Vietnam, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Taiwan. As per a VOA report , the trafficking victims were forced to perpetrate cryptocurrency scams during shifts that lasted up to 18 hours per day. Michelle Sabino, a member of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, is quoted in the r...

PRESS RELEASE. Massa’s testnet has become a magnet for more than 16 projects since its launch back in July 2021. Interest towards this innovative blockchain ecosystem has exploded since the beginning of this year. But what is it that makes Massa special? Massa is an innovative blockchain network that aims to combine high performance with true decentralization from the ground up. The Massa testnet allows anyone to experiment with the protocol and witness its continuous improvements first-hand. One of the main reasons why Massa attracted so many web3 pioneers in Q1 of this year is that it solves the common challenges that most Layer 1 blockchains face, such as high fees, low throughput, and centralization risks. Furthermore, Massa enables both developers and users to participate in the network governance and support the vision of a fully decentralized future. The web3 community has clearly recognized the ultimate potential in Massa. The positive feedback from crypto developers refl...

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee has warned that China and Russia would seek to exploit the chaos resulting from a U.S. default. He further cautioned that the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status could be eroded if the U.S. defaults on its debt obligations. U.S. Lawmaker’s Debt Default Warning Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned Sunday during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” about the risks of the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations. The lawmaker was asked whether the current U.S. “debt crisis” is “a national security threat” and whether any world leaders have expressed concern to him about it. Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, informed the Senate last week that Russia and China would try to exploit the chaos resulting from a U.S. default to show that “We’re not capable of functioning as a democracy.” Himes replied, “It has not come up in the meetings that we had in Jordan...

Personal finance expert and best-selling author Dave Ramsey has dismissed de-dollarization concerns and the prospects of a BRICS currency, the Chinese yuan, or the Russian ruble displacing the U.S. dollar in international trade. “They don’t have the muscle to take down the dollar,” he stressed. Dave Ramsey on De-Dollarization and Challenges From Alternative Currencies Personal finance guru and Ramsey Solutions CEO Dave Ramsey answered a question about de-dollarization in an episode of “The Dave Ramsey Show,” aired last week. Ramsey is an eight-time national best-selling author who sold more than 11 million copies. A self-proclaimed personal money management expert, he calls himself “America’s trusted voice on money.” Zack from Alabama asked him: I’m reading more and more about de-dollarization and countries moving away from the U.S. dollar as their basis of international trade. Will this affect the strength of the dollar, and should I be concerned about how I’m saving and investi...

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has called on the Central Bank of Iran to lay the groundwork necessary to ditch the U.S. dollar for bilateral trade settlements and to make the switch to use the Iranian real whenever possible. The Central Bank of Iran has already started implementing this policy, proposing to pay bilateral trades using Iranian reals in a recent high-level reunion with Oman’s minister of commerce. Raisi Calls on Central Bank of Iran to Ditch Dollar Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called for a policy shift when it comes to the use of the U.S. dollar in bilateral trades. On May 7, during a cabinet meeting after his visit to Syria, Raisi discussed the advancement of other countries such as China and Russia in reducing their trade dependence on the U.S. dollar and called for the Central Bank of Iran to lay the groundwork for shifting to the use of local currencies, such as the Iranian real. Raisi also referred to the strength of the Syrian market, and how the two cou...

The recent approval of a blockchain adoption strategy by the Nigerian government has been described as a milestone that will “add clarity, trust and confidence in the [blockchain] ecosystem.” The unveiling of the adoption strategy document has also been hailed as a step that will lend “some form of legitimacy” to a technology that many Nigerians still only associate with cryptocurrency. Central Bank Expected to Eventually Change Its Position on Crypto The Nigerian government’s recent approval of a blockchain adoption strategy has been hailed by advocates of the technology as “a significant milestone for the blockchain industry in Nigeria.” The advocates have also argued that the unveiling of the strategy document by the government helps to lend “some form of legitimacy” to a technology that many still confuse with cryptocurrency. As recently reported by Bitcoin.com News, the approval of the blockchain strategy followed what Isa Pantami, the country’s minister of communications and...

PRESS RELEASE. Tokyo, Japan, May 9th 2023, Chainwire. The STAR project is a new initiative to help Japanese SMEs gain international recognition and prestige. The project seeks to uncover the valuable products, technologies, and know-how of small-to-medium-sized businesses. With an advanced ecosystem, the project opens new opportunities for mutual benefit between Japan and its partners abroad. A Project with a Clear Goal The STAR Project has a clear goal: to help Japanese SMEs effectively communicate their products and technologies. Through this project, SMEs can gain access to funds that they can use to reinvest in their business. Foreign companies can also take advantage of the program. Specifically, foreign companies may purchase products, technology, and know-how from Japanese SMEs and partner up with them. Ultimately, the project aims to revive the economy of Japan and the world, creating a sustainable future. This initiative helps Japanese SMEs market their valued produc...

Liechtenstein’s prime minister has reportedly revealed that bitcoin payments will be accepted for some government services. “A payment option with bitcoin is coming,” he said, adding that he is open to investing state reserves in the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin Adoption in Liechtenstein Daniel Risch, Liechtenstein’s prime minister who also serves as the country’s finance minister, has reportedly revealed that Liechtenstein plans to accept bitcoin payments for certain government services. He said in an interview with German business daily Handelsblatt Sunday without giving a specific timeframe: A payment option with bitcoin is coming. Risch explained that Liechtenstein plans to accept bitcoin and immediately exchange BTC for Swiss francs, the national currency, in order to avoid exchange-rate risks. He also clarified that the cryptocurrency would not be granted equal status as the Swiss franc. The prime minister additionally told the news outlet that he was open to investing state...

  Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has revealed that his company is spending $200 million defending itself against the SEC in its lawsuit over xrp. The executive expects a decision on the lawsuit in three to six months. “If we win the lawsuit, it’ll be clear what xrp is, but the rest of the industry is still going to be unclear. And the whole crypto industry needs regulatory clarity in the U.S. to really thrive,” said the Ripple boss. Ripple’s CEO Shares New Info on SEC Lawsuit Over XRP The CEO of Ripple Labs, Brad Garlinghouse, has provided some new information regarding his company’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). During a fireside chat with CNBC at the Dubai Fintech Summit on Monday, Garlinghouse revealed that when the lawsuit is concluded, Ripple would have spent $200 million in total to defend itself against the securities regulator. The executive shared: With the SEC, we will spend — this is the first time I’ve shared this publicl...

  Bittrex Inc., the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware after being sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to register with the regulator. The exchange reportedly has over 100,000 creditors and liabilities ranging from $500 million to $1 billion. Bittrex Bankruptcy Filing Reveals Over 100,000 Creditors and $1 Billion in Liabilities Bittrex Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on Monday, while its parent company Bittrex Global will continue to operate outside the United States. This development comes after the exchange announced its decision to sunset U.S. operations in early April. By mid-month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent the company a Wells notice. On April 17, 2023, the SEC took action against the exchange by charging it for operating an unregistered exchange, clearing agency, and broker. The lawsuit also classified OMG, ALGO, and DASH as “unregister...

  Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk has shared a “massive incentive” to move money out of bank accounts, citing a significant interest rate gap created by the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve. “As more people & companies realize this, bank depositor flight will accelerate to extreme levels, even for banks that are ‘too big to fail,’” Musk warned. Massive Incentive to Move Money Out of Bank Accounts Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk shared Monday a “massive incentive” for people to move money out of bank accounts in the U.S. His statement was in response to Twitter user “unusual_whales” who quoted Hugh Hendry, founder of Eclectica Asset Management who ran the hedge fund for 15 years, predicting that the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve may have to step in and “restrict your right as a U.S. citizen to pull money out of the U.S. banking sector, due to capital flight from the U.S. banking system.” Musk explained that the U.S. Treasury and the Fed have created a massive gap...

  Bank of America has warned that the key threats to the U.S. dollar’s dominance are largely domestic, as opposed to competition from other currencies, including a BRICS currency. “U.S. fiscal brinkmanship, with risks for government shutdown, or even worse a default, keeps coming up during debt ceiling discussions,” the bank’s analysts stressed. Bank of America on Threats to U.S. Dollar’s Dominance Bank of America reportedly said in a note Thursday that despite recent de-dollarization headlines, the U.S. dollar is not in danger of losing its dominance anytime soon. However, the bank warned that the USD is at risk from domestic fiscal issues, such as the possibility of the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations. “Because much of the USD’s dominant role comes from standing in front of the TSY [U.S. Treasury] market, surprise defaults from a debt ceiling showdown would compromise the dollar’s attractiveness as a store of value,” Bank of America’s analysts detailed, elaborating: ...

  Former House Representative Ron Paul has presented his stance when it comes to the financial crisis that the U.S. is currently facing. Paul stated that the continued application of quantitative easing (QE), a policy used to increase the money supply, and the decades of almost null interest rates, are what nurtured the current financial crisis the U.S. is facing. Ron Paul Believes Federal Reserve’s Policies Created Today’s US Financial Crisis Ron Paul, former representative and presidential candidate, has recently talked about the financial crisis the U.S. is facing. According to him, the policies that the Federal Reserve applied to maintain a welfare state at the cost of creating deficits have created today’s financial hardships for the country. Paul stated : Today’s financial hardships stem from the Fed’s decade of near 0% rates and quantitative easing (QE). These created a decade’s worth of uneconomic investments. Every bad idea imaginable received funding. Paul criticiz...

Xrp plunged to a six-week low on Monday, as cryptocurrency markets moved further into the red. The global crypto market cap fell by over 3% to start the week, which comes days ahead of the upcoming U.S. inflation report. Solana also declined, hitting a multi-week low. XRP Xrp, formerly known as ripple, fell by as much as 5% on Monday, with the global market cap slipping by over 3% in the day. XRP /USD dropped to an intraday low of $0.4333 to start the week, less than 24 hours after hitting a high of $0.4606. As a result of this decline, XRP moved to its lowest point since March 25, breaking out of a floor at $0.4360 in the process. Looking at the chart, the slippage came as the relative strength index (RSI), broke out of a floor at 39.00. At the time of writing, the index is tracking at 36.04, with XRP at a level of $0.4365. Overall, the token is down 5.11% as of writing. Solana (SOL) Solana (SOL) remained in the red, as the token extended its own recent declines to a third...

Bitcoin transaction fees have surged significantly in the past 24 hours, with the average fee reaching $19.20 per transfer. The increase in fees can be linked to a backlog of transactions trapped in the mempool, as over 440,000 unconfirmed transactions are currently awaiting confirmation. Block Reward Dethroned: Bitcoin Transaction Fees Surpass Mining Subsidy for the First Time Since 2017 On Sunday, May 7, 2023, bitcoin transaction fees exceeded the block reward for the first time since December 2017 at block height 788,695. Subsequent block heights 788,700 and 788,702 also witnessed fees surpassing the subsidy. At present, over 440,000 bitcoin transactions are pending confirmation with 193 blocks left to mine for clearing them all. Fees soared past the $25 mark per transaction on Sunday, and current data displays an average fee of 0.00069 BTC or $19.20 per transaction . According to bitinfocharts.com data, the median-sized fee is 0.0004 BTC or $11.05 per transfer . High-priori...

Bitcoin fell below $28,000 to start the week, as markets continued to react to last Friday’s United States nonfarm payrolls (NFP) report. The payrolls report came in at 250,000 versus expectations of 180,000 jobs. Ethereum was also lower, as prices fell back below $1,900. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) moved lower to start the week, as cryptocurrency markets continued to react to the latest nonfarm payrolls report. The number of jobs added to the U.S. economy came in higher than expected, in many’s eyes justifying the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike interest rates by 0.25%. As a result, BTC /USD fell to an intraday low of $27,691.26 earlier in today’s session, following a peak of $29,119.38 the day prior. Bitcoin chart by TradingView Overall, BTC has now fallen for a third straight session, with this latest drop sending prices to a one-week low. One of the catalysts for the decline was a breakout which took place on the relative strength index (RSI), which fell below a floo...