Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

Many crypto proponents have warned that despite a small connection between Blackrock and XRP , the news of the world’s largest asset manager shifting focus from bitcoin to XRP is fake. Blackrock is currently waiting for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to greenlight its spot bitcoin ETF application. Crypto Proponents Doubt Veracity of Blackrock- XRP Rumors Over the past few days, rumors have circulated on social media that Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, is shifting its crypto strategy from bitcoin to XRP . One of the widely shared articles was published by Investing.com, titled “Blackrock rumored to shift crypto focus from Bitcoin to XRP .” The article explicitly disclosed that it was “generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor.” Many people within the crypto community doubt the veracity of the news, pointing out that the claim is unsubstantiated and lacks credible sources. Some flat-out called it fake news, including crypto influe

Nine U.S. lawmakers have thrown their support behind the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act, recently reintroduced in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Roger Marshall, Joe Manchin, and Lindsey Graham. Experts have warned that this crypto bill is the most direct attack on the privacy and personal freedom of cryptocurrency users. Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act Gains Support Nine U.S. lawmakers have joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in support of the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act . The bill aims to “close loopholes in current law and bring cryptocurrency companies into greater compliance with the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AMF/CFT) frameworks that govern much of the financial system,” the lawmakers described. Senator Warren first unveiled the bill in December last year. In July, Senators Warren, Marshall, Manchin, and Graham reintroduced the b

The best-selling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, says “crypto is the future.” In contrast, he said fiat currencies, including the U.S. dollar, are “toast.” He referred to fiat money as fake money, while gold and silver are “God’s money” and bitcoin is “people’s money.” Robert Kiyosaki Sees Crypto as the Future The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, believes that cryptocurrency is the future. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. In a post on social media platform X Saturday, Kiyosaki noted that there is a “massive crypto conference” going on in Singapore, emphasizing that it’s “very exciting.” The famous author added: Crypto is the future. Fiat…a.k.a. FAKE money is toast. Kiyosaki has long cautioned that fiat currency’s days are numbered.

As nations become more authoritarian, the crypto economy and its related technologies stand out as powerful counterpoints to overreaching governance. The following Learning and Insights editorial explores why libertarians, especially agorists, embrace digital currencies such as bitcoin and tools of the crypto economy in pursuit of greater individual freedom for all. Crypto’s Liberation: Empowering Individual Freedom Amidst Growing Authoritarianism Last week, Bitcoin.com discussed how bitcoin ( BTC ) applies to Carl Menger’s theory of money and how prominent libertarian economists perceive the evolution of money. The following is an examination of why libertarians and individuals described as agorists believe the crypto economy helps fuel the counter-economy. Agorism advocates, also known as agorists, bolster counter-economic activity, which involves voluntary exchanges and arrangements that circumvent the state’s regulations, restrictions, taxation, and interventions. Counter-e

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has commented on the latest executive departures from his company’s American branch. The changes in the U.S. crypto trading firm’s management, including the release of its chief executive, followed similar developments at the global exchange. CZ Urges Followers to Ignore Binance US FUD, Says Regulatory Environment Requires New Head Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) took to X, formerly Twitter, to address “some speculation regarding recent management changes” at Binance’s branch in the United States. His tweet follows news that the Miami-based entity’s chief executive is leaving . “Brian Shroder is taking a deserved break after accomplishing what he set out to do when he joined two years ago. Under his leadership, Binance US raised capital, improved its product and service offerings, solidified internal processes, and gained significant market share, all of which helped to build a more resilient company for the benefit of customers,” CZ said

As cryptocurrencies continue to evolve, two key consensus mechanisms have emerged for validating transactions on the blockchain: proof-of-work (PoW) and proof-of-stake (PoS). This explainer will examine how these protocols differ and the unique benefits and drawbacks of each. Consensus Mechanisms in Cryptocurrency Proof-of-work (PoW), first introduced by Bitcoin in 2009, requires miners to compete to add new blocks to the blockchain. By expending significant computational power, miners prove that the work was done to validate transactions. The first miner to win the race and discover a block is rewarded with newly minted cryptocurrency. PoW relies on decentralized consensus – no single entity controls the network. However, its critics consider it incredibly energy-intensive. Proof of stake, first conceptualized in a bitcointalk.org thread in 2011, works differently than PoW. Rather than miners, PoS networks have “validators” who stake or lock up their coins to participate in tr

Hacking groups linked to North Korea are increasingly using exchanges in Russia to launder crypto, Chainalysis revealed. The shift in their strategy, registered by the blockchain forensics firm, coincides with a drop in the value of the stolen cryptocurrency this year in comparison with the record-breaking 2022. Chainalysis Report Alleges New Alliance Between North Korean and Russian Cybercriminals Onchain data examined by crypto analytics company Chainalysis suggests that hackers associated with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are more and more often using cryptocurrency exchanges based in the Russian Federation to launder illicit digital assets. The release of the report coincides with a summit of the leaders of the two sanctioned nations, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, who met for suspected arms talks. It also comes as U.N. sanctions monitors are drawing attention to Pyongyang’s changing tactics in cyberattacks against crypto and financial exchanges seeking t

Despite Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki’s recent attempt to revive the old crypto terrorism funding narrative, evidence suggests that criminal elements primarily use conventional financial systems when transferring funds. Contrary to Kindiki’s claims, crypto transactions can be traced and this is evidenced by the arrests of hackers and seizure of stolen crypto assets. Debunked Evidence When the Kenyan interior minister Kithure Kindiki appeared before a parliamentary committee investigating Worldcoin’s activities, he used the opportunity to reiterate the government’s opposition to cryptocurrencies. Throughout his presentation, Kindiki repeatedly tried to link cryptocurrencies with money laundering and terrorism funding. Although some of the “evidence” presented by Kindiki has been disproved, the Kenyan minister’s remarks may nonetheless be included in the parliamentary committee’s final report. There is a possibility that such a report as well as Kindiki’s presentation may

While the gold bug and economist Peter Schiff insists the U.S. economy will experience a financial crisis of epic proportions, his son Spencer continues to espouse a diametrically opposed view of the future. Spencer Schiff is an ardent supporter of artificial intelligence (AI), and in recent times, he has been forecasting that the latter half of the 2020s will witness an “enormous hyper-deflationary economic boom.” Schiff Saga: Father and Son Differ on U.S. Economic Fate Following our report on Spencer Schiff ‘s change in perspective on bitcoin (BTC) , the younger Schiff has persisted in sharing his future predictions. Spencer’s forecast sharply contrasts with that of his father, Peter Schiff , the renowned advocate for gold and economist. Recently, his father cautioned of a “massive crisis” and predicted a rush of people exiting the U.S. dollar. Peter Schiff elaborated on the looming prospect of a significant flight from the U.S. dollar, driven by the persistent specter of colos

Argentina faces hyperinflation, with the annual inflation rate at its highest since the early ’90s. The country’s general election is set for next month, and economist Javier Milei is projected to win by a wide margin. In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Milei attributed Argentina’s hyperinflation to the failures of socialism. ‘Frogs in a Pot of Water’ Is a Good Analogy for Argentina’s Slow Economic Decline, Says Milei On September 14, 2023, Carlson posted an interview on the social media platform X with Argentine economist, businessman, and politician Javier Milei . The La Libertad Avanza political coalition leader discussed inflation and other topics, including abortion and climate change, with the former Fox News anchor. Milei pointed to socialism and the state for the country’s economic woes. His advice to the world: Never embrace socialism … or the siren song of social justice. In the video, Carlson remarks on Argentina’s beauty but notes that diners at restaurants

Sony Network Communications, part of the Sony Group, entered into a joint initiative to create a blockchain project that aims to serve as the “backbone of global Web3 infrastructure.” The new company, created with Startale Labs, a Web3 development startup, aims to provide “value-added services” in different areas. Sony Network Announces Joint Blockchain Initiative Sony Network Communications, part of the Sony Group that focuses on providing communications infrastructure services, has announced that it entered a joint venture to develop a blockchain to become “the backbone of global web3 infrastructure.” This new blockchain technology will be leveraged to create “killer Web3 use cases to drive the adoption of Web3,” according to a joint press release. The joint venture, which will be created in collaboration with Startale Labs, a Web3 development company, will provide value-added services for companies of the Sony Group in several key areas, including game and network services, mus

At the Token2049 conference in Singapore, Astar Network revealed it is joining forces with Polygon Labs to launch Astar zkEVM, a new Ethereum layer two scaling solution utilizing zero-knowledge proof technology. The collaboration aims to drive greater adoption of Web3 applications in the Japanese market and beyond. Astar and Polygon Launch zkEVM for Japan’s Web3 Rise The announcement details that the partnership combines Astar ‘s experience working with major Japanese companies like Sony and Toyota with Polygon ‘s highly scalable zk-powered infrastructure. Together, the teams plan to create an optimal platform for launching blockchain initiatives in Japan, where government leaders have voiced support for Web3 innovation. “As it stands today, Asia is one of the most forward-thinking regions in the world when it comes to Web3 adoption, and we are delighted to help Japan’s blockchain sector grow even faster via our collaboration with Astar,” said Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal

Nearly $4.8 million has been used to fund cryptocurrency and blockchain education efforts in Kenya, the CEO of Tools for Humanity, Alex Blania, recently revealed. Blania also denied allegations that Worldcoin plans to sell users’ biometric data obtained via its eyeball-scanning orbs. More Funding on the Way Tools for Humanity (TFH), the organization supporting the development and growth of Worldcoin’s ecosystem, has so far invested nearly $4.8 million in Kenya, the software company’s CEO Alex Blania recently revealed. Speaking before the East African country’s parliament, Blania claimed that the money was used to fund cryptocurrency and blockchain education efforts. However, according to a report in The Star, TFH did not directly engage in such education-related activities. Instead, it relied on third parties and partners such as Strathmore University, the Blockchain Association of Kenya, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the Africa Blockchain Centre. According to Blania, TFH

Deutsche Bank, the largest bank in Germany by total assets, is collaborating with Swiss digital asset firm Taurus to provide clients with crypto custody and tokenization services. “As the digital asset space is expected to encompass trillions of dollars of assets, it’s bound to be seen as one of the priorities for investors and corporations alike,” said Deutsche Bank’s global head of Security Services. Deutsche Bank Entering Crypto Custody and Tokenization Space Financial giant Deutsche Bank is collaborating with digital asset technology provider Taurus to offer crypto custody and tokenization services, Taurus announced on Thursday. The digital asset firm stated in a press release: Deutsche Bank has entered a global agreement with Taurus … Deutsche Bank will leverage Taurus custody and tokenization technology to manage cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and digital currencies. A Deutsche Bank representative explained that the partnership means Germany’s largest banking institut

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has been criticized for pledging to help victims of Morocco’s devastating earthquake by airdropping its native crypto token. According to Action on Armed Violence’s Iain Overton, people affected by the earthquake are only interested in getting immediate assistance and not crypto. Binance Accused of Using Devastation to Prop Up Its Image , one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges globally, has been criticized over its decision to donate its crypto token known as BNB to Moroccans in places most affected by the recent earthquake. Some critics accuse Binance of using the devastation caused by the earthquake to boost its image. According to the Red Cross , Morocco’s 6.8 magnitude earthquake has killed more than 2,800 people and affected more than 300,000. In some places, like the isolated Atlas Mountains, entire villages were left almost completely destroyed. In response, well-wishers including Binance have pledged financial assistance. In a statement ,

According to more than 250 documents sent to the media, the disgraced co-founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, said he feels like “one of the most hated people in the world.” The former CEO of the now-defunct crypto exchange further noted in his statements that “there will probably never be anything I can do to make my lifetime impact net positive.” Behind the Fall of FTX: Bankman-Fried’s Private Documents Point Fingers While under house arrest, Sam Bankman-Fried shared 250 pages of documents with journalist Tiffany Fong, who then provided some of the materials to The New York Times. In one specific X thread that Bankman-Fried never published, he said, “The truth is that I did what I thought was right,” but he didn’t believe there was any way he could change the public’s perception of him. Fong explained that Bankman-Fried shared the documents with her because she is an independent reporter and doesn’t “work for anyone.” According to The Times’ report, Bankman-Fried places a great d

Since his arrest in April 2021, Roman Sterlingov, the alleged operator of the crypto mixing service Bitcoin Fog, has been defending his claimed innocence for more than two years. Recent court filings indicate Sterlingov’s legal team is challenging the Reactor software from Chainalysis, which was presented as evidence in the case. Sterlingov’s attorney contends that the Reactor’s heuristics have “no known error rates for, no rates of false positives, no rates of false negatives, nor any peer-reviewed paper attesting to their accuracy. Attorney Labels Chainalysis Methods as ‘Junk Science’ in Bitcoin Fog Trial A recent court filing from the lawsuit against Roman Sterlingov, who is accused of operating the crypto mixing application Bitcoin Fog, reveals that his attorneys are challenging the Reactor software from Chainalysis. Attorney Tor Ekeland labeled the Reactor software’s heuristics as “junk science” in court, as reported by Bloomberg. In the court document, Sterlingov’s legal team

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a global provider of financial payment services, has announced that its central bank digital currency (CBDC) connector has entered beta testing stages. SWIFT reported that three central banks are already testing this interlinking solution, while more than 30 financial institutions are testing its various applications in a sandbox environment. SWIFT CBDC Connector Being Tested by 3 Central Banks The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), provider of the de-facto standard for cross-border financial settlements, has announced that three central banks are already testing its central bank digital currency (CBDC) interlinking solution. The connector, developed after the experiences that SWIFT accumulated during the first CBDC sandbox, completed earlier this year, aims to provide an effective solution for interoperability between already-existent fiat currencies and these new tokens. D

Chief Executive Officer of Binance US, Brian Shroder, has left the company amid an ongoing regulatory crackdown and more job cuts. Shroder’s departure comes two years after he joined the American subsidiary of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume. Shroder Departs Binance US as Unit Eliminates Over 100 Positions The CEO of Binance US, Brian Shroder, has quit his job and has been replaced on the post by an interim appointment, the exchange’s Chief Legal Officer, Norman Reed, Bloomberg revealed in a report quoting a company spokesperson. Shroder is leaving while the Miami-based entity is reducing its workforce by a third, or more than 100 employees, amid persisting pressure from regulators that has hurt its business. Its monthly trading volume has fallen below early 2020 levels. Binance US’s market share dropped to 1.5% in June, according to digital assets market data provider Kaiko, and currently stands at around 0.6%, down from 2.39% in April of this