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Showing posts from June 22, 2021

Asian Algorithmic Trading Company Amber Group Reaches Unicorn Status

Amber Group, a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency trading company, has attained “unicorn” status. The company managed to raise $100 million in its Series B funding round. With the new influx, the company is now valued at one billion dollars, making it a unicorn. Amber Group’s strategy is said to make them market neutral, allowing customers to garner gains in bullish or bearish markets. Amber Group Reaches Unicorn Status Amber Group, an algorithmic trading company, reached unicorn status in its latest funding round. The company, formed by former Morgan Stanley traders almost entirely, raised $100 million in its Series B funding round. The round was led by DCM Ventures and Tiger Global Management, with participation from China Renaissance Group, Tiger Brokers, Gobi Partners, and Coinbase Global. This influx of funds pushed the valuation of the company to one billion dollars. The funds obtained will serve to expand Amber Group’s operations through hiring in development and compliance area...

Judge blocks sale of Jay-Z's first album and its copyright as an NFT

Damon Dash has slammed the complaint against him from Roc-A-Fella Records, stating that he never minted an NFT and was only attempting to sell his stake in the company. A New York judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block an alleged attempt from Roc-A-Fella Records Inc (RAF) co-founder Damon Dash to sell a tokenized version of Jay-Z's first album “Reasonable Doubt” along with its copyright. Dash however has claimed he was only trying to sell his stake in RAF. Rapper Jay-Z co-founded RAF with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke back in 1996. The record label has split ownership between the three, with the company owning the full copyright to the album in question. RAF asserted that Dash was attempting to auction off a tokenized version of the album and its copyright on SuperFarm on June 23, an NFT marketplace co-created by crypto YouTuber ElioTrades. While that auction was cancelled the complaint alleges Dash is "frantically" trying to arrange another. New Y...

Student Coin Terminal Will Let You Easily Create Your Own Token for Free

The STC Terminal will be launched by the end of July 2021 and will be a major milestone in the wide-scale tokenization of the economy. It will make issuing a token accessible to everyone, including individuals, organizations, corporations, startups and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. What Is the Student Coin Terminal? Student Coin is a platform that allows users to easily design, create, and manage personal, corporate, NFT, and DeFi tokens. The ecosystem is powered by its STC native cryptocurrency and consists of several services including the STC Wallet, the STC Exchange, the STC App and the STC Terminal. The the wallet is a powerful online tool, with more than 270,000 users, which offers STC Staking – so token holders can earn up to 13% APY. The app allows mobile users to store tokens, vote and interact with the ecosystem, and it has been downloaded more than 140,000 from Apple’s App Store and Google Play . A demo for the exchange is already available ( here ) and the o...

UK regulator warns against 111 unregistered crypto companies... and FOMO

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned U.K. consumers of dealing with 111 unregistered crypto firms, calling it “a very real risk.” The United Kingdom’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned consumers against 111 crypto companies that are yet to register with the FCA. Since Jan. 10, all U.K.-based crypto firms have had to comply with Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing laws, as well as to register with the FCA in order to operate legally. Many are yet to do so. Mark Steward, FCA’s head of enforcement asserted at the “City & Financial’s City Week” event on June 22, that the unregulated crypto entities pose a threat to consumers, banks, and payments firms who do business with them, noting that: “We have a number of firms that are clearly doing business in the UK without being registered with us and they are dealing with someone: banks, payment services firm, consumers. This is a very real risk so we are worried about that.” ...

Fireblocks faces lawsuit over deleted keys to $72M Ether wallet

The crypto-custody firm claims that it was the client’s responsibility to back up the private keys. Crypto-custody firm Fireblocks is facing legal action by a firm that claims it was locked out of its wallet containing a substantial amount in crypto assets. Crypto staking platform StakeHound claims that negligence by a Fireblocks employee resulted in tens of millions of dollars worth of crypto assets being lost without any backup available. Fireblocks is an Israeli-based company that provides custody services for businesses and which is working on speeding up digital transactions . StakeHound filed the lawsuit at the Tel Aviv District Court on June 22 claiming damages for the lost assets. The wallet in question contained 38,178 ETH, equating to more than $72 million at the time. The court was told that a Fireblocks employee allegedly failed to protect or backup the private keys to the wallet, which were subsequently deleted preventing StakeHound from accessing its assets. In a st...

Waste Coal-Converting Bitcoin Miner Stronghold Digital Mining Raises $100 Million

On Tuesday, Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., an ESG-friendly cryptocurrency miner announced it has raised $105 million in two private equity securities funding rounds. Stronghold’s operations convert waste coal into alternative energy in order to mine bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. ESG-Friendly Crypto Miner Turns Coal Waste to Bitcoin, Operation Raises $100M While many have been focused on the environmental concerns stemming from outdated reports and maps, a number of ESG-friendly cryptocurrency mining firms have been making moves in the industry. Stronghold Digital Mining is a Pennsylvania-based operation that leverages waste coal to power digital currency miners. Scrubgrass Generating Plant in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania and many other regions around the world waste coal and acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the largest sources of pollution. Because precipitation combines with coal waste, the AMD can pollute nearby waterways and threaten aquatic life. Stronghold’s mai...

Rwanda Central Bank Joins CBDC Bandwagon After Announcing Digital Currency Research

The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has become the latest African central bank to join the digital currency movement after an employee confirmed the institution is studying the possibilities of issuing its own digital currency. CBDC Implications on Financial Stability According to the employee, John Karamuka, this study will be looking at economic, financial, and technical aspects related to central bank digital currencies (CBDC), as well as “the operationalization model.” The study will also analyze the “implication of the CBDC on monetary policy and financial stability.” However, in his remarks to The New Times, Karamuka revealed that the study had exposed the limits or lack of global standards and reliable benchmarks on the subject. On the African continent, a few countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania recently either signalled plans to explore or have made progress on developing CBDCs. Still, only a few countries globally, including small nations like the Bahamas and The...

Brave takes aim at Google with privacy-protecting search engine beta

Brave hopes users will want to search the web without being tracked. Crypto-powered web browser Brave has branched out into the world of search with a new privacy-protecting beta search engine. The platform aims to take on the likes of Google, which harvests personal data and browsing habits while serving up targeted ads and tailored search results. But it faces an uphill battle against the tech giant which accounts for more than 90% of the market. In an announcement on June 22, Brave stated that it had launched Brave Search beta built into its browser, offering users “the first independent privacy search/browser alternative to big tech.” Users wanting to test drive Brave’s non-tracking privacy-focused search engine will find it at search.brave.com. It has been built on top of an independent index that does not track users or their searches and clicks and will appeal to those wanting to avoid surveillance-based tech products such as Google search or Microsoft Bing. The search en...

Bitcoin heading for worst quarter since start of 2018 bear market

Bitcoin appears poised to post its second-weakest quarter since the start of 2014. Bitcoin is poised to post its worst-performing quarter since the start of the 2018 bear trend. The current quarter is also on track to be the second-worst on record for BTC ine almost eight years since the start of 2014. According to crypto data aggregator, Skew, Bitcoin is currently down nearly 46% for the quarter, the weakest quarter since Q1 2018 — when it shed approximately 50% of its value over just three months amid the fall-out from 2017’s all-time highs. #bitcoin up 10% year-to-date but on track for worst quarter since Q1 2018 pic.twitter.com/z3PpsAlIJK — skew (@skewdotcom) June 22, 2021 Since the start of 2019, Q2 2021 is just the fourth quarter that has seen a drawdown for Bitcoin’s value, with BTC’s price falling roughly 10.6% during Q1 of 2020, 13.6% in Q4 2019, and 21.5% in Q3 2019. Big guys offloading BTC According to CoinShares’ June 21 Digital Asset Fund Flows weekly report, ...

Hedge fund that shorted GameStop closes as $1.13B GME stock offer completes

GameStop has completed a stock offer worth nearly $1.13 billion to fund growth, while a hedge fund that incurred losses from shorting GME is closing down. One of the hedge funds badly burned in the infamous GME social media driven short squeeze is closing down, while GameStop itself has just completed its $1.13 billion equity offering. According the Financial Times, London-based White Square Capital operated by Florian Kronawitter has closed its main fund and will return capital to investors. White Square Capital reportedly had $440 million in assets under management (AUM) at its peak. The hedge fund was one of many that suffered double digit percentage losses from short positions in January, when the Wall Street Bets subreddit helped pump GME’s price from $21 on Jan. 12 to around $345 on Jan. 27. However the FT reported a source as saying the fund’s closure was unrelated to its GameStop misadventure. In a letter to investors, co-founder Kronawitter cited the traditional equity l...

Bank of France, Swiss Crypto Bank Test Securities Settlement Using CBDC

The Bank of France has successfully completed an experiment involving the use of CBDC to settle listed securities. The test has been carried out with the help of an alliance of partners led by SEBA Bank, a digital asset banking provider based in the Swiss crypto valley. Central Bank and Crypto Company Conduct Successful CBDC Test As part of a program launched in March 2020, central bank digital currency ( CBDC ) has been used to simulate the settlement of listed securities, Bank of France announced in a press release published Monday. On June 18, the regulator simulated the issuance of CBDC tokens on a public blockchain while preserving control over the transactions. A dedicated smart contract was developed and deployed, the bank explained, and the Eurosystem’s Target2-Securities (T2S) was used as a delivery platform. All operations were carried out in collaboration with the Swiss-licensed digital asset banking provider SEBA Bank AG , Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, the oldest...

US miner raises $105M to recycle waste coal into crypto

Stronghold Digital Mining has raised more than $100 million in two private placements supporting its model for sustainable Bitcoin mining. The Pennsylvania-based Stronghold Digital Mining has announced the completion of two private equity securities raises worth $105 million. According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the firm’s first power generation facility, the Scrubgrass Generation Plant in Venango County, converts waste coal into energy on a scale equivalent to “a large-scale hydropower plant” that is then used to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The waste coal recycled by Stronghold was produced by coal mining operations in the 19th and 20th century. Stronghold's power generation processes allow it to rehabilitate large areas of land that were devastated as a result by waste coal acid drainage (AMD). AMD describes a process in which rain or snow mixes with the sulfur in coal waste, allowing it to run into water systems and threaten aquatic life. Aft...

New Bank of America Report Says Digital Currencies ‘Could Boost Economic Growth’ in Developing Countries

A new Bank of America (BOA) research study has found that both central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and private digital currencies hold “a lot of potential” for increasing financial inclusion in developing countries. In the report, the bank also argues that such “digital currencies could reduce transaction costs and allow more economic activities in emerging market economies.” Digital Currencies and Financial Inclusion Still, the study findings show that while digital currencies are likely to “boost economic growth” in developing countries, their adoption will carry some risk. In addition, the study also finds that the rise of digital currencies “could lead to inflation and dollarization.” Meanwhile, a separate report quotes David Hauner, the BOA’s head of emerging market cross-asset strategy and economics for EMEA, explaining why digital currencies could be pivotal in emerging market countries where more than 50% of adults lack a bank account. “Digital currencies have the pot...

Bitcoin price bounces to $33K but analysts say ‘it’s too early’ to call a bottom

Dip buyers stepped in as Bitcoin price fell to $29,000 but analysts caution that China’s crackdown on BTC mining and a lack of buy volume mean the crypto market has not found a bottom yet. Cryptocurrency investors found little reprieve on June 22 as the price of Bitcoin ( BTC ) fell below $30,000 for the first time since January , sparking panic among less experienced market participants who have yet to experience a full market cycle. While Bitcoin has been under increasing pressure from multiple sources since early May, the most recent bout of selling has been largely attributed to capitulation by China-based miners who have been forced to abruptly shut down their operations. Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows that after dropping to $28,800, Bitcoin price bounced back above the $30,000 level and currently trades for $32,600. BTC/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: TradingView The strong bounce came after comments from Brian Nelson, the current nominee fo...

Vaneck Files Prospectus With US Regulator to Launch a Bitcoin Mutual Fund

On June 21, the wealth manager Vaneck filed a prospectus to launch what it calls a Bitcoin Strategy Fund. The prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) explains the fund will procure bitcoin exchange-traded products and futures. Vaneck’s Fund Will Invest in Bitcoin Futures and Pooled Investments Tied to the Leading Crypto Asset While the fund manager Vaneck waits to hear a decision about its exchange-traded fund (ETF) registration, the company applied with the SEC to release a mutual fund for investors who want exposure to bitcoin. The registration filed on June 21, also notes that in addition to the Fund’s bitcoin-related investments, “the fund expects to have significant holdings of cash and fixed-income investments.” Vaneck will invest in bitcoin futures contracts, leverage the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR), and also “invest in pooled investment vehicles that invest directly or indirectly in bitcoin.” The crypto mutual fund will be dubbed th...

Salvadoran Representative Introduces Lawsuit Against the Bitcoin Tender Law for Being Unconstitutional

Jaime Guevara, a Salvadoran representative, presented a lawsuit against the recently approved bitcoin tender law today. Guevara alleges the law is unconstitutional and brings a series of changes that will cause problems for Salvadorans. Some people suspect Bukele’s regime is behind the representative’s demand due to its inability to applying this novel law. Salvadoran Representative Jaime Guevara Introduces Demand Against Bitcoin Law Jaime Guevara, a Salvadoran opposition representant, introduced a demand to deem the recently approved bitcoin tender law as unconstitutional. Óscar Artero, a co-signer of the lawsuit, agrees with this interpretation and expects the court to repeal the law. According to him, the bitcoin law doesn’t have a legal base to stand on. Artero declared to local media that: The bitcoin law is to loot people’s pockets, it is tax-exempt, they want to force us to trade. The representative introduced this lawsuit before the presentation of the regulation that ...

Institutional exchange launches crypto debit card

Touted for its ability to allow users to "leverage the digital assets in their day-to-day lives,” the Bakkt Visa debit card is now available for online and in-store purchases. Intercontinental Exchange subsidiary Bakkt has introduced a debit card allowing customers to use crypto for retail purchases. In a Tuesday announcement, Bakkt said it had launched a fully virtual Visa debit card for both online and in-store spending. Card holders can spend Bitcoin ( BTC ) from their Bakkt accounts without waiting to convert the cryptocurrency to fiat. “Imagine a Bitcoin user who sees a significant gain,” said Bakkt CEO Gavin Michael. “Now, instead of selling and waiting to transfer to a bank, they can simply walk into their favorite store, tap their Bakkt Card and buy that new item they’ve been eyeing [...] the Bakkt Card untethers Bitcoin owners from their online-only past into a world with countless options to leverage the digital assets in their day-to-day lives.” Sutton Bank, a mem...

Privacy Is Key for Successful Digital Euro, Data Protection Body Says

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has issued a call for EU institutions to uphold privacy when designing a digital version of the euro. The agency is ready to provide advice on data protection matters surrounding the project. Meanwhile, an ECB executive has vowed that the digital euro will protect users’ privacy. EDPB Insists Data Protection Should Be a Priority in Eurozone’s CBDC Project The EDPB has shared its views on the privacy and data protection aspects of a possible digital euro in a letter addressed to European Union institutions. The independent body insists that ensuring privacy and data protection will be decisive for the success of a project to digitalize Europe’s common fiat currency. In an announcement published on its website , the board emphasized: A very high standard of privacy and data protection is crucial to reinforce the trust of end users and should be considered a distinctive element in the offering of a digital euro, representing a key factor of s...

Bad call? Bitfinex bears closed a block of Bitcoin shorts before the drop below $32K

Bitcoin short positions at Bitfinex soared as BTC price dropped below $40,000, so why did the majority of them close before the largest part of the correction? Bitcoin price is still in a rut, trading near $33,000 and trapped in a downtrend that just seems to get worse with the passing of each day. As the price slumps, analysts have consulted with several technical and on-chain metrics to explain the price collapse, but none of these have picked up on the exact reason. One area of interest has been the sharp rise in short positions at Bitfinex in the past week. Traders are placing exaggerated importance on these Bitcoin ( BTC ) margin shorts as if they are predictors of the current market crash. Still, as Cointelegraph previously reported, analysts forget that Bitcoin margin longs are usually much larger. As #Bitcoin is Bleeding slowly towards the range low (30-32K) we can see that Bitfinex Mega shorts are getting closed gradually Still big shorts are open, but half of them...