Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

This year, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) increasing enforcement on businesses accused of offering unregistered crypto securities to American investors, regulators, attorneys, and judges have been utilizing the Howey Test to ascertain whether specific crypto assets constitute an “investment contract” and thereby fall under U.S. securities laws. Below is an in-depth exploration […]

Hodl Hodl, a non-custodial Bitcoin exchange, has announced changes to its “Terms of Service” agreement affecting the availability of its lending services. The platform is now excluding residents of the U.S. as well as U.N. embargoed countries from its lending platform, citing “regulatory uncertainty” as the reason behind these changes. Hodl Hodl to Exclude US […]

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has issued a stark warning about the future of crypto staking, calling it “the biggest disasters yet to come in crypto.” He predicts significant disasters, bankruptcies, and personal financial losses within the sector. His warning followed the approval of spot ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission […]

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s top financial regulator, has approved physically backed bitcoin and ethereum exchange-traded products (ETPs) for listing on the London Stock Exchange for the first time. “FCA approval in this respect could result in greater institutional adoption of the asset class,” Wisdomtree stated. First Bitcoin and Ethereum ETP Listings on […]

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s May 2024 bulletin warns retail investors that “the crypto ecosystem lacks accountability and stability and is marked by regulatory ambiguity.” The Indian central bank also cautioned that some cryptocurrency systems may be “prone to crisis without safeguards.” RBI Bulletin’s Crypto and Defi Warnings India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank […]

ESET Research has disclosed that the Ebury botnet, a formidable malware campaign targeting servers, is still active and expanding. Initially recognized for its capability as a server-side backdoor, Ebury has compromised roughly 400,000 Linux, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD servers, with over 100,000 still affected as of late 2023. The operators of Ebury have diversified their illegal […]

Crypto is gaining momentum among U.S. lawmakers. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated: “We are building a pro-crypto army in Congress.” This declaration came shortly after the House of Representatives passed the landmark Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) crypto bill, despite opposition from the White House and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. ‘We […]

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the first eight proposals for spot ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to a document issued on May 23 that orders grating an accelerated approval for these products, NYSE Arca obtained permission to list the Grayscale Ethereum Trust and the Bitwise Ethereum ETF, Nasdaq can now list the […]

Standard Chartered’s head of digital asset research, Geoff Kendrick, has predicted a significant rise in bitcoin’s price, potentially surpassing its previous all-time high of $73,798 by this weekend. His optimistic outlook is fueled by the anticipated approval of spot ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which he believes will […]

Leading crypto and tech companies, including Coinbase, Ripple, Meta, Kraken, and Gemini, have formed a coalition to combat online fraud, including crypto scams like the pig butchering scheme. “We are dedicated to disrupting emerging online scams through collaboration, information sharing, and enhanced consumer education,” said Coinbase’s chief security officer. ‘Tech Against Scams’ Coalition Established Several […]

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act for the regulation of crypto assets despite opposition from President Joe Biden and SEC Chair Gary Gensler. This landmark legislation secured a bipartisan approval with a vote of 279 to 136. “FIT21 is the first legislation of […]

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, expressed doubts about the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates this year due to the resilient economy, bolstered by government spending and investments in AI infrastructure. Despite these factors, Solomon highlighted the impact of rising prices on consumer behavior, referencing recent reports from McDonald’s and Autozone indicating reduced spending. He […]

The Bitcoin Policy Institute, a non-profit organization supporting bitcoin initiatives, has launched the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund, a project seeking to protect bitcoin’s decentralized nature from regulatory overreach. The fund’s first objective is to aid in the defense of the founders of Samourai Wallet given the relevance of the case for the industry. Peer-to-Peer Rights Funds […]

PRESS RELEASE. Stake Vault Network proudly introduces Mr. Xavier, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), whose strategic vision and expertise are pivotal in revolutionizing staking and node authentication within the blockchain industry. Mr. Xavier’s leadership is essential to the platform’s mission of enhancing security, efficiency, and scalability. Stake Vault Network at a Glance Stake Vault Network […]

Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas and Blockchain Association filed a motion on May 17 to vacate the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s new Dealer Rule. The plaintiffs’ counsel argues that the SEC’s expanded definition of “dealer” exceeds its statutory authority under the Securities Exchange Act, particularly affecting the digital asset industry. The brief asserts […]

Hong Kong police have arrested three men at a currency exchange shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, a major tourist area, for allegedly presenting “hell money” to a customer, leading the customer to transfer approximately HK$1 million ($128,206) worth of cryptocurrency in exchange for cash. The suspects, aged between 31 and 34, were detained on suspicion […]

Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Engines, forecasts bitcoin will reach $420,000 by the decade’s end. He explained that if 1% of the world’s $738 trillion in financial assets were allocated to bitcoin, it would result in $7.4 trillion in inflows, raising bitcoin’s price to $420,000. Ric Edelman’s $420K Bitcoin Prediction Ric Edelman, a financial […]

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocates for global consensus on cryptocurrency regulation, highlighting the need for international cooperation, particularly within the G20. She noted that while Indian regulators have differing opinions regarding how to treat crypto, there is currently no significant confusion. Indian Finance Minister on Crypto Regulation Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the […]

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has announced the successful completion of its Smart NAV pilot, leveraging Chainlink’s technology to enhance its Mutual Fund Profile Service I (MFPS I). The initiative aims to bring trusted data to blockchain ecosystems, facilitating more efficient data dissemination and consumption. Chainlink Boosts DTCC’s Smart NAV Pilot DTCC’s Smart […]

Bitcoin is expected to trade within a narrow range this quarter, according to Michael Novogratz, founder of Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. “Bitcoin, ethereum and everything else, solana will consolidate,” he said last week, adding that it means BTC will probably trade “somewhere between $55,000 and $75,000 until the next set of circumstances, the next set […]

Anthony Scaramucci, founder of Skybridge Capital, believes that the institutional adoption of bitcoin is happening now. Highlighting recent developments like the State of Wisconsin Investment Board investing in Blackrock’s spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), he predicts that other pension funds will make similar announcements. “Bitcoin now has the regulatory approval and I think that was […]

Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Chris Giancarlo has emphasized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s critical role in the cryptocurrency industry, dubbing him “America’s first crypto president” due to the approval of bitcoin futures during his administration. Trump’s crypto stance has evolved significantly since he was in office. ‘Trump May Justifiably Claim to Be […]

An indictment unsealed in the Central District of California charges two Chinese nationals, Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang, with leading a scheme to launder at least $73 million tied to an international crypto investment scam, often known as “pig butchering.” Li and Zhang allegedly managed a global network that laundered proceeds from fraudulent crypto investments, […]

Russia and Iran are collaborating on creating a single BRICS currency, the Iranian ambassador to Russia has claimed. He noted that over 60% of the two nations’ bilateral trade is conducted in Russian rubles and rials, reflecting a shift away from the U.S. dollar. Russia-Iran Trade Flourishes With National Currencies Iran and Russia are reportedly […]

Economist Jim Rickards forecasts that gold prices could surpass $27,000, emphasizing that this projection is not made for attention or shock value. “It’s the result of rigorous analysis,” he clarified. This represents a significant increase from his previous estimate of $15,000 by 2026. Jim Rickards’ $27K Gold Prediction Explained Economist Jim Rickards shared his prediction […]

Blackrock’s spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), has amassed 414 insitutional holders in less than three months, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A senior Bloomberg analyst described this achievement as “mind-boggling” and “highly rare” for new ETFs. Other recently launched ETFs have significantly fewer institutional […]

Michael Burry, an investor famous for making a fortune by anticipating the 2007 subprime mortgage crisis, made a sizable bet on physical gold. According to regulatory filings, Burry’s Scion Asset Management purchased over 440,000 Sprott Physical Gold Trust units, a closed-end fund that invests and holds its assets in physical gold bullion. Big Short’s Investor […]

The Nigerian fintech firm Flutterwave claimed on May 16 that it had foiled an attempt to breach its payments platform. Flutterwave asserted that the “unauthorized activities inconsistent with usual customer behavior” did not compromise users’ funds or data confidentiality. According to one report, over $7 million was siphoned from Flutterwave following a cyberattack in April. […]

The French securities regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has issued a renewed warning against using the digital asset platform Bybit. The AMF reminded French investors that Bybit is an unregistered crypto platform operating illegally in the country. The regulator has advised French investors who use Bybit to take all the necessary precautions to […]

Juno Finance acknowledges the disruption in banking services and is collaborating with its brokerage and banking service providers, Synapse and Evolve Bank & Trust, to restore full service as soon as possible. Juno is a financial platform that integrates checking and savings accounts with cryptocurrency trading. “Currently, Evolve Bank & Trust has frozen all card […]