Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

F2Pool, a Bitcoin mining pool, has admitted to filtering transactions coming from Bitcoin addresses flagged by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). After the situation was discovered by 0xB10C, a Bitcoin developer, F2pool co-founder Chun Wang acknowledged that his pool was indeed applying this filter, announcing it would drop the censorship until there was consensus in the community on the issue. F2pool Acknowledges Compliance With OFAC Sanctions F2pool, one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools in the world, acknowledged having been filtering transactions coming from addresses flagged by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Chun Wang, a co-founder of the pool, admitted applying a compliance filter for these transactions after 0xB10C, a Bitcoin developer, published an article that examined different transactions to determine if they were intentionally filtered or if there were other explanations for this behavior. The investigation , which examined six different tran...

As Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal representatives gear up to appeal the ex-FTX chief’s recent verdict, they have requested the court for his provisional release from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Upon examination of Bankman-Fried’s claims, a clerk from the court of appeals deemed them “unpersuasive.” Bankman-Fried’s Attempt at Release Has Been Denied by the Court of Appeals Sam Bankman-Fried is eager to leave incarceration at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been since August. In a recent effort, his attorneys sought to secure his release while preparing for his appeal, filing a motion with the Court of Appeals. However, the court’s clerk, Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, firmly rejected this plea , maintaining the necessity for continued imprisonment. The decision by the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, is rooted in the initial grounds for revoking his bail . The court identified credible evidence suggesting Bankman-Fried attempt...

In the wake of the settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, federal authorities are insisting that the exchange’s former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), remain stateside until his sentencing in February 2024. Justice Department Seeks to Restrict Ex-Binance CEO’s Travel Before Sentencing A recent court filing reveals that U.S. prosecutors have petitioned Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida to ensure Changpeng Zhao’s (CZ) continued presence in the U.S. This request, lodged on Wednesday, aims to reassess the bond conditions set on November 21, 2023. The U.S. government articulates concerns about CZ being a “substantial risk of flight.” The filed document explicitly states: [The Government] requests that the court order that Zhao should not be permitted to return to the UAE before sentencing. Currently residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), CZ lives with his three children and partner. The prosecutors argue that the prospect...

The approval of a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. could inject substantial new capital into the cryptocurrency market. Glassnode’s latest analysis on the subject provides a deep dive into how spot bitcoin ETFs could reshape market demand and supply, signaling a new era for bitcoin’s integration into mainstream financial markets. Glassnode: Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Be a Catalyst for Major Demand and Increase Volatility An influx of demand would confront relatively limited liquid bitcoin (BTC) supply, potentially amplifying volatility, Glassnode researchers detail in a report published on November 20. The study by the blockchain data firm Glassnode indicates there’s significant pent-up demand for a spot bitcoin ETF product . The analysts estimate up to $70.5 billion could flow into the market from stock, bond, and gold investors allocating just a fraction of assets. Even more conservative projections see tens of billions entering in the first years. Unlike exis...

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has seized $9 million in tether ( USDT ) allegedly linked to “pig butchering” crypto scams. The Justice Department explained that U.S. Secret Service agents and analysts tracked the laundering of victims’ crypto deposits through numerous cryptocurrency addresses, where they were exchanged for various cryptocurrencies. DOJ Seizes $9M in USDT The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday “the seizure of nearly $9 million worth of tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar.” The Justice Department detailed: These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with an organization that exploited over 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence scams, which are widely known as ‘pig butchering.’ Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division explained that these scammers target regular investors through deceptive websites, falsely cl...

A U.S. lawmaker has urged Congress to pass his bill that would fire U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler. This call followed the securities regulator filing a second lawsuit against crypto exchange Kraken this year after the exchange paid $30 million to settle the initial lawsuit. Lawmaker Seeks to Fire Gary Gensler Congressman Warren Davidson (R-OH) has called on Congress to pass his bill that would fire Gary Gensler as the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the securities regulator sued crypto exchange Kraken twice in 10 months. Rep. Davidson wrote on social media platform X on Tuesday: Now would be a great time to pass my SEC Stabilization Act and fire Gary Gensler. On Monday, the SEC filed its second lawsuit this year against Kraken for operating a crypto trading platform “as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, dealer, and clearing agency.” The initial charge in February pertained to the crypto exchang...

A U.S. lawmaker has called on Congress to focus its efforts on bringing more crypto activity and opportunities to the United States in order to “bolster U.S. national security.” Citing the Department of Justice’s action against crypto exchange Binance, the lawmaker stressed that Congress does not need to rewrite laws that work in the crypto space. Rep. Emmer Calls for Focus on Domestic Crypto Growth House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) shared his perspective on Congress’ role in shaping cryptocurrency laws following the Department of Justice’s settlement with Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). “Congress does not need to rewrite laws that work in the crypto space. Yesterday’s successful prosecution shows that when enforced, current laws are suitable to help weed out bad actors,” the lawmaker explained on social media platform X on Wednesday. He emphasized: Congressional resources should instead be spent working to bring more cry...

KPMG in Canada and Chainalysis have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening efforts against crypto asset fraud. This alliance, marking KPMG’s entry into the Chainalysis Solution Provider program, is focused on providing enhanced monitoring and risk management tools for cryptocurrency exchanges, financial institutions, and government agencies. The announcement on Wednesday details that the initiative is a response to the increasing sophistication of crypto-related criminal activities. Strategic Alliance Formed Between ‘Big Four’ Member KPMG and Chainalysis KPMG, a multinational professional services network and one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting organizations revealed on Wednesday that it has partnered with the blockchain surveillance firm Chainalysis. KPMG details that the collaboration enables the certification of KPMG professionals as Chainalysis Certified Investigators, aiming to improve their ability to detect and prevent illicit activities in the crypto sector...

Mastercard is collaborating with Feedzai to “increase crypto fraud protection for hundreds of millions of consumers.” In pairing the technologies offered by the two companies, “Feedzai’s customers, who collectively protect over 900 million consumers globally, will now be able to identify and prevent transactions involving fraudulent crypto exchanges before they occur,” Mastercard explained. Mastercard Expanding Crypto Fraud Protection Mastercard announced Monday that the company is collaborating with Feedzai, a leading provider of financial crime and risk management solutions, to “increase crypto fraud protection for hundreds of millions of consumers.” The payment giant detailed that Feedzai will “leverage Mastercard’s Ciphertrace crypto intelligence solutions to reduce the risk of account-to-account fraud flowing into crypto exchanges.” This integration will involve integrating Mastercard’s Ciphertrace Armada into Feedzai’s Riskops platform, which analyzes transaction data total...

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has identified 16 crypto tokens as securities in its lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. Some of the alleged crypto securities were the same as those highlighted in the SEC’s lawsuits against Coinbase and Binance. Kraken’s CEO stressed: “We strongly disagree with the SEC claims, stand firm in our view that we do not list securities, and plan to vigorously defend our position.” SEC Labels 16 Crypto Tokens as Securities In its lawsuit against crypto exchange Kraken filed on Monday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) named 16 crypto tokens as securities. The regulator’s complaint states: Kraken currently makes available for trading crypto assets that have been the subject of prior SEC enforcement actions based upon their status as crypto asset securities, including crypto assets trading under the symbols ADA , AXS, ALGO, ATOM , CHZ, COTI, DASH , FIL, FLOW, ICP, MANA, MATIC, NEAR, OMG, SAND, and SOL. The r...

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has urged investors to prepare for hyperinflation, emphasizing that bitcoin is “your best protection.” He perceives the cryptocurrency as “people’s money,” the value of which cannot be controlled by governments. Robert Kiyosaki: Bitcoin Is Your Best Protection The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, is advising investors to prepare for hyperinflation, emphasizing that he views bitcoin as the best protection. 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 on Sunday, Kiyosaki shared that he was “just in Germany to celebrate 100 years since 1923, the hyperinflation that brought Adolf Hitler to power.” He added: “Are we about to celebrate hyperinflation too? I hope not. Yet our government leade...

A recent analysis by 0xB10C, a developer and onchain analyst, has uncovered intriguing findings in the Bitcoin network. The study, which focuses on the mining pools’ transaction selection processes, revealed that certain transactions from U.S. Treasury-sanctioned addresses were missing from blocks. This insight raises questions about the practices of mining pools and their influence on the network’s censorship-resistant qualities. Study Highlights Potential Censorship in Bitcoin Network The investigation by 0xB10C , detailed in a comprehensive report , scrutinized the activity of today’s most prominent bitcoin mining pools. It focused on six specific transactions linked to addresses sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This analysis is part of a broader project, the developer’s miningpool-observer , aimed at detecting instances where bitcoin mining pools may not include transactions that they could be mining. The findings sugg...

The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s managing director has outlined the central bank’s plan to ensure seamless financial transactions across digital asset networks. “Currently, there is a proliferation of digital asset networks,” the head of Singapore’s central bank said. “We cannot wish these dynamics away and force consolidation of all financial transactions onto a single network. It is more feasible to work towards making these diverse networks interoperable.” Singapore’s Central Bank Discusses Digital Asset Plans Ravi Menon, the managing director of Singapore’s central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), discussed digital assets at Singapore Fintech Festival last week. “Digital assets have two critical features that can fundamentally transform the nature of financial transactions,” he began. The first is tokenization allows financial assets to be exchanged without intermediaries, which “eliminates settlement risk, duplicative reconciliation, and the need for larg...

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is reportedly facing a $4 billion demand from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in order to settle a criminal case. The Justice Department has been investigating Binance on allegations related to money laundering, bank fraud, and sanctions violations. US DOJ Wants $4 Billion From Binance The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly seeking more than $4 billion from Binance Holdings Ltd. as part of a proposed settlement to conclude its multiyear investigation into the crypto exchange and its CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has been investigating Binance on allegations related to money laundering, bank fraud, and sanctions violations, the news outlet conveyed, adding that negotiations between Binance and the DOJ include CZ potentially facing criminal charges in the U.S. According to the publication, an announcement could come as soon as the end of this month an...

Tether has announced the “largest-ever freeze of USDT in history.” In collaboration with crypto exchange Okx, Tether froze $225 million in USDT following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The tokens were allegedly linked to an international human trafficking syndicate in Southeast Asia responsible for a global “pig butchering” crypto scam. $225M in USDT Frozen by Tether Leading stablecoin issuer Tether and crypto exchange Okx announced Monday that they have collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) “in an investigation that led to Tether proactively and voluntarily freezing approximately 225 million in USDT tokens in external self-custodied wallets.” The wallets are “linked to an international human trafficking syndicate in Southeast Asia responsible for a global ‘pig butchering’ romance scam,” the crypto companies detailed, adding: The joint investigation was conducted using tools from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, and the action b...

On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Bitcoin achieved a historic milestone, registering the highest number of daily transactions ever confirmed within a 24-hour span. A significant 710,579 transfers were confirmed by miners that day, including a significant portion of 475,249 Ordinal inscriptions. Bitcoin Hits Lifetime Peak: 710K+ Transactions in 24 Hours This recent weekend marked a record-breaking moment for the Bitcoin network. Operating at a robust hashrate of 480 exahash per second (EH/s), the network verified an unprecedented total of 710,579 transactions – a new peak in Bitcoin’s storied history. This surpassed the previous high set on September 15, 2023, when bitcoin ( BTC ) miners verified 703,692 transactions . Furthermore, on November 12, 2023, the daily transaction volume ( 703,327 ) nearly eclipsed the former record, now ranking as the third highest in history. All of these days featured unparalleled levels of inscription-based transactions, with the most recent record estab...

According to Kronos Research, the crypto trading firm lost assets worth $26 million on Nov. 18 after an unknown party illegally accessed its application programming interface (API). Kronos Research claimed the losses associated with the unauthorized API access do not constitute “a significant portion” of its equity. Breach Does Not Affect Kronos’ Financial Standing On Nov. 18, Kronos Research, a crypto trading firm, revealed that an unknown party had illegally accessed some of its application programming interface (API) prompting it to pause all trading. Kronos Research claimed in a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter) that the value of the stolen funds does not constitute “a significant portion of our equity.” While the crypto firm did not initially disclose the value of the stolen assets, Zachxbt — an online crypto theft investigator — suggested that the cybercriminals had siphoned more than 12,800 ether ( ETH ) worth more than $20.3 million. However, in a later update a...

Argentina has welcomed Javier Milei as its newly elected president, with the libertarian candidate achieving a majority in the popular vote, surpassing his opponent Sergio Massa. Milei, who identifies as an anarcho-capitalist, has expressed his intention to dismantle the political “caste” which he accuses of failing the nation, boldly asserting earlier this year that the state “destroys wealth.” Milei Triumphs in Argentina’s Presidential Race At 53, the libertarian economist Javier Milei has claimed victory over the left-leaning finance minister Sergio Massa to become Argentina’s president. In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Milei, an advocate of free-market capitalism, attributed Argentina’s economic challenges to its century of socialist policies. The election on Sunday evening was a decisive run-off, following a tightly contested initial vote where Massa had a narrow lead. Massa conceded defeat to Milei on Sunday before the final vote tally was announced. “The result...

Since October 18, 2023, the aggregate value locked in decentralized finance (defi) has witnessed a substantial augmentation of $9.3 billion within a one-month span. Among the leading ten defi protocols, Rocket Pool, known for its liquid staking services, achieved the most notable growth, soaring by 26.94% during the preceding 30 days. Defi TVL Swells by More Than 25% Since October 18 Approximately 32 days ago, the total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (defi) stood at about $36.38 billion, escalating by $9.3 billion to the present figure of $45.68 billion . This reflects a notable growth of approximately 25.56% in the past month. Data reveals that each of the top ten defi protocols by TVL experienced growth in the last month, with Rocket Pool leading the pack by surging 26.94%. As of November 19, 2023, Rocket Pool’s TVL surpasses $2 billion, with over 1.02 million ether committed to its liquid staking platform. At the forefront of the defi domain this weekend is Lido, w...

On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Bitcoin’s hashrate maintained a steady pace at 468 exahash per second (EH/s), surpassing the intended ten-minute block interval average. The most recent block was processed in just 7 minutes and 37 seconds. Present observations suggest that if this trend in block intervals persists, the network could anticipate a 3% increase in difficulty, marking the seventh consecutive rise since September 19. Efficient Mining Tech and Higher Prices Fuel Bitcoin’s Rapid Hashrate Growth in 2023 As of block height 817,532, a significant 93.08% of all bitcoins destined to be in circulation have already been mined, amounting to roughly 19,546,861.78 BTC at the time of writing. Block times have been consistently shorter than the target average of ten minutes, ranging between 9 minutes and 43 seconds to 7 minutes and 37 seconds , with a median average of 9 minutes and 40 seconds over the last day. Despite the previous difficulty adjustment, Bitcoin’s hashrate continues t...

U.S. presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says the government is “threatened by the existence of Bitcoin,” emphasizing that if the cryptocurrency becomes more popular, it would create “a threat to the incumbent status of the U.S. Federal Reserve itself.” He promised to ensure the government is “staying the heck out of the business of those who are innovating” if he’s elected president. Vivek Ramaswamy: Government Threatened by the Existence of Bitcoin U.S. presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discussed a number of topics, including Bitcoin, in an interview with Natalie Brunell, published this week. He also recently revealed his crypto policy framework. “My view on the promise of Bitcoin … is an opt-out from the broken financial architecture created by the U.S. Federal Reserve System,” he began. While emphasizing that he wants to “fight for the dollar to remain the reserve currency of the world,” Ramaswamy stressed that there are two ways of doing it. “One is if you are really...

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler was slammed by the crypto community for stating: “We are not prosecutors of honest business, nor defenders of crookedness.” Many crypto advocates pushed back against Gensler, arguing that the SEC under his leadership has taken legal action against honest businesses, like Ripple and LBRY, while protecting crooks like former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Crypto Community Outraged at Gensler’s Remarks The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, drew heavy criticism from the crypto community on Thursday when he stated on social media platform X that the securities regulator does not prosecute honest businesses and does not defend individuals engaged in fraudulent activities. Gensler wrote: As Joseph P. Kennedy, the first SEC Chair, once said: ‘We are not prosecutors of honest business, nor defenders of crookedness. We are partners of honest business & prosecutors of dishones...