Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October 19, 2021

MLB Team Washington Nationals Partners With Terra Blockchain Community, Ballpark Plans to Accept UST

On February 9, the American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C., the Washington Nationals, announced the team has partnered with Terra, the open-source blockchain platform and decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The Washington Nationals detail that the team is a “leading innovator” and is “consistently introducing new technologies to enhance the fan experience.” Washington Nationals Ink Long-Term Deal With Terra Major League Baseball (MLB) team the Washington Nationals has partnered with the blockchain platform and DAO Terra, according to an announcement published by the team on Wednesday. The deal with Terra follows a slew of sports-related deals with crypto firms, but the MLB team will be the first to partner with an open-source blockchain project. In addition to the partnership, the algorithmic stablecoin UST that’s issued on the Terra blockchain will be “accepted as a payment method at Nationals Park as early as next season.” “The Nationals continue t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stablecoin USDC Launches on Hedera Network

Circle announced today the launch of its trademark stablecoin USDC on top of the Hedera network. This action is part of the multichain commitment that Circle announced earlier this year, with the objective of further expanding the reach of the currency in the cryptocurrency market. With the addition of USDC as the first stablecoin in its ecosystem, Hedera aims to start developing its own decentralized finance (defi) environment, and it is now offering more than $2.5 billion in ecosystem grants. Circle to Support Hedera-Based USDC Circle, one of the leading crypto payment companies, has announced the launch of usd coin (USDC) on top of Hedera, a high-throughput blockchain network. With this move, Circle customers with a Circle Account will have the opportunity of leveraging the stablecoin on top of Hedera network to make payments and settlements like with any other supported network. The launch of the stablecoin on top of Hedera is part of an expansion strategy established by Circ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aussie cyber spies to control critical infrastructure during ransomware attacks

The new bill, if passed, will allow cyber warfare operatives to take over control of critical infrastructure under attack. Australia’s top cyber spies are set to gain greater powers in the event of ransomware or other cyber attacks on critical infrastructure. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), a government agency in charge of cyber warfare and information security, would be able to take over control of critical infrastructure — including energy, communications and banking systems — under new legislation introduced into Parliament. The legislation even considers health care and grocery businesses to fall under the definition of critical infrastructure and imposes new positive security obligations. For ASD operatives to provide assistance, operators from the affected infrastructure have to report a serious cyber incident. According to The Australian newspaper, the Critical Infrastructure Bill will be introduced to parliament, on Oct. 20, with bipartisan support from the com...
Post a Comment
Read more

Play-to-Earn on Playdapp’s Flagship RPG “Along With the Gods: Knights of the Dawn” in 7 Days

PRESS RELEASE. Fast-rising Blockchain gaming platform PlayDapp has revealed the addition of a Play-to-Earn feature on its flagship game ‘’Along with the Gods: Knights of the Dawn’’. This development is expected to build on the existing features offered by PlayDapp. Play-to-Earn gaming is a rising phenomenon that has gathered steam in recent months. This is due to the positive benefits, as gamers have more freedom to build the gaming economy and receive rewards for transacting in-game assets. PlayDapp’s flagship game, Along with the Gods’’ Knights of the Dawn already has massive traction with thousands of gamers competing for rewards in NFTs. Players can earn on the flagship game by collecting Hero and Rune NFTs and selling them to other players for PLA tokens and other cryptocurrencies. Adding the Play-to-Earn feature will expand the potential for earning, and gamers can now stake PlayDapp Town NFTs for daily and weekly rewards in PLA tokens. To be eligible for daily rewards (5 PLA...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mashinsky says USDT is minted for crypto as $1M bounty offered to unpick reserves

Hindenburg Research is offering a $1 million bounty for information on Tether’s reserves, with the firm stating that Tether is yet to disclose virtually anything “about its counterparties.” A bounty of up to $1 million has been offered up to anyone who can cast light on the precise backing of Tether’s reserves. That backing just got a little bit murker, after Celsius Network CEO Alex Mashinsky reportedly said that Tether mints new USDT in exchange for crypto assets — which appears to conflict with Tether’s own terms and conditions. "Forensic financial research" firm Hindenburg Research tweeted on Oct. 20 to its 171K followers that it holds "doubts about the legitimacy of Tether," and offered a reward of up to $1 million for important details on Tether’s reserves which it claims could pose a threat to investors on a “systemic” scale. “Tether is a key underpinning of the multi-trillion-dollar crypto market. Yet despite its repeated claims of transparency, its dis...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chainalysis Adds Bitcoin to Balance Sheet — Its First Cryptocurrency Acquisition

Blockchain data platform Chainalysis has announced that it is adding bitcoin to its corporate investment portfolio. This is the company’s first acquisition of cryptocurrency, the CEO revealed. Chainalysis is valued at $4.2 billion. Chainalysis’ First Acquisition of Cryptocurrency Blockchain data analytics firm Chainalysis announced Tuesday the addition of bitcoin to its balance sheet. Chainalysis will acquire bitcoin using the brokerage services of the New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG), the bitcoin investment arm of Stone Ridge Asset Management. NYDIG will also provide custody of the coins purchased. Chainalysis has been NYDIG’s compliance technology partner since 2018. “Digital assets have emerged as an alternative asset class for consumers, enterprises, governments, banks, and financial institutions,” Chainalysis noted, adding that it “is laser-focused on its commitment to building trust in cryptocurrency as a digital asset.” Michael Gronager, co-founder and CEO at Chai...
Post a Comment
Read more

Senators pressure Facebook to 'immediately discontinue' Novi wallet pilot

Facebook’s crypto wallet has been shot down by banking committee senators just hours after it launched a pilot. Five Senators have called for the immediate closure of Facebook’s new crypto wallet just hours after it was launched in partnership with Coinbase. Crypto skeptic Senator Elizabeth Warren was one of the five urging Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to “immediately discontinue” the project. In a letter sent to Zuckerberg on Oct. 19, the five Democrat Senators wrote: “Given the scope of the scandals surrounding your company, we write to voice our strongest opposition to Facebook’s revived effort to launch a cryptocurrency and digital wallet, now branded 'Diem' and 'Novi,' respectively.” Diem is Facebook’s ambitious stablecoin project, formerly known as Libra , which has been the subject of heavy scrutiny and regulatory roadblocks for years resulting in a number of key partners pulling out of the venture. Novi is the firm’s crypto wallet, designed to hold the Die...
Post a Comment
Read more

Galaxy Interactive raises another $325M fund aimed at Metaverse and next gen games

The venture capital firm will fund companies in the interactive sector that combine content, finance and tech. Galaxy Interactive, a venture capital firm focused on next generation interactive technolo, has announced it has raised $325 million for its second fund from 70 different investors. The fund is focused on virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain-based games. In an Oct. 19 announcement , Galaxy Digital, the majority owner of Galaxy Interactive, stated that $150 million from the fund has already been allocated to new portfolio companies including Republic, 1047 Games, Elodie, ROAR, Art Blocks and Masterworks with other additional investments to be announced in coming months. Established in 2018 by general partners Sam Englebardt and Richard Kim, the company now has more than $650 million in assets under management and has invested in more than 75 companies. Englebardt describes the interactive sector as “the intersection of content, finance an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gary Gensler Explains Why SEC Approves a Bitcoin Futures ETF

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has shared why the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided to approve a bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund (ETF) to trade on the NYSE. Meanwhile, the Commission has not approved a spot bitcoin ETF. Why SEC Approves Bitcoin Futures ETF As the first futures-based bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. debuted on the NYSE, the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) explained why the regulator greenlighted a bitcoin futures ETF but not a spot bitcoin ETF. In an interview with CNBC Tuesday, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler reiterated that his agency “should be technology neutral, but not policy neutral.” He elaborated: What we’re trying to do is ensure to the best we can within our authorities to bring projects into the investor protection perimeter. “Bitcoin futures have been overseen by our sibling agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission [CFTC], which I was once honored and proud to serve there and that’s b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bitcoin futures ETF debuts with highest ever first day 'natural' volume of $1B

ProShares’ Bitcoin Strategy ETF saw around $1 billion volume on its opening day, with 24.313 million BITO shares changing hands. ProShares’ Bitcoin Strategy exchange-traded fund (BITO) saw the highest ever first day “natural” volume for an ETF, with the figure reaching a little over $1 billion by the end of the opening day. It is second overall, tailing just behind the Blackrock US Carbon Transition Readiness ETF which booked $1.16B in volume on its debut in April. The ProShare’s Bitcoin futures-based ETF launched on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on October 19 with an opening price of $40.88. According to data from TradingView, BITO closed the day at $41.94 with a total of 24.313 million shares changing hands, equating to a first-day volume of just over $1 billion. Commenting on the BITO’s opening day performance, Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas tweeted that ProShares’ ETF was arguably the largest in terms of “natural” or “grassroots interest.” If we don'...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coinbase Becomes Exclusive Cryptocurrency Platform for NBA, WNBA, USA Basketball

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nasdaq-listed crypto company is now the exclusive cryptocurrency platform partner of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA G League, NBA 2K League, and USA Basketball. NBA’s First Cryptocurrency Platform Partnership The Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced “a multiyear partnership” Tuesday. The partnership “makes Coinbase the exclusive cryptocurrency platform partner of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball,” the announcement details, adding: The deal, which marks the first cryptocurrency platform partnership for each league, will consist of unique content, innovations, activations and experiences from Coinbase to educate fans on the increasing advancements happening across the cryptoeconomy. The NBA G League, or the G League, i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF Debut Captures Close to $1 Billion in Volume

The first bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) launched in the United States and smashed records on Tuesday, capturing close to $1 billion in total volume. Eric Balchunas, the senior ETF analyst for Bloomberg said that the Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) definitely “defied expectations.” Proshares Bitcoin ETF Commands Serious Volume Proshares Bitcoin Strategy exchange-traded fund ( BITO ) did well on its first day, as it closed the day at 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at $41.94 per unit. Meanwhile, the price of bitcoin ( BTC ) soared on Tuesday, tapping a high of $64,367 on the crypto exchange Bitstamp fifteen minutes after the closing bell on Wall Street. As the ETF shares swapped hands on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), BITO reached a daily high of over $42. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart tweeted at the end of the day: “Looks like the final tally is gonna be right around ~$990 million in trading for BITO on its first day trading.” Eric Balchunas, the senior ETF analyst...
Post a Comment
Read more

Concierge Service Catering to Crypto Whales Sees 500% Increase in Clients Over the Last 6 Months 

On Tuesday, Concierge.io, the exclusive travel service backed by Travala.com announced it added new luxury services in order to give crypto investors “a more premium experience to live out their travel dreams.” The concierge service for “the crypto world’s elite” details its added experiences like a seven-star igloo in Antarctica, all-inclusive African safaris, and a stay at a Japanese castle. Exclusive Travel Service Adds New Services The firm Concierge.io is the concierge service focused on cryptocurrencies and it leverages professional travel managers in order to provide customers with unique and luxurious experiences. The company is also backed by Travala.com , a crypto-friendly travel service that accepts a myriad of digital assets for payment. On October 19, Concierge.io announced the company has added new exclusive experiences to its luxury travel services so crypto investors can enjoy their riches in style. The firm has detailed it has already provided first-class stays ...
Post a Comment
Read more

SEC Chair Gary Gensler responds to concerns about first Bitcoin-linked ETF

In the same interview, Proshares CEO Simeon Hyman opined that regulated futures traded in a 40-act ETF will open the opportunity to get BTC exposure to a lot of folks who may have been waiting on the sidelines. SEC Chair Gary Gensler and Proshares CEO Simeon Hyman discussed the launch of the first Bitcoin-linked ETF in a CNBC breaking news segment on Tuesday. Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, also known as BITO, is based on CME Bitcoin futures contracts. CNBC commentator Bob Pisano shared concerns from some investors that BTC futures could deviate from the BTC spot price: “The futures market is a better place for price discovery,” said Hyman. “The CME futures market trades more volume than the largest US crypto exchange. We launched a similar mutual fund on 7/28 and since we launched on Friday, the Bitcoin Reference Rate is up 52 percent, our BTC mutual fund is up 52 percent and the BTC Greyscale Trust is up 37 percent.” The debut of BITO follows announcements that other BTC-linked...
Post a Comment
Read more

Powerful blockchain lobby group urges Washington not to overregulate stablecoins

The stablecoin market is valued at over $130 billion and growing rapidly, putting federal regulators on high alert over systemic risk. A high-profile blockchain lobby group is urging United States lawmakers to adopt a “technology-neutral” approach when it comes to stablecoin regulation, arguing that dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies do not pose a system risk to the financial system. In a 17-page letter addressed to the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, which includes regulators from the Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve, the Chamber of Digital Commerce outlined a six-point plan for future regulatory action involving stablecoins. According to the group, stablecoin laws should be technology-neutral, regulate in a manner that is proportionate to risk, ensure that the U.S. maintains a competitive advantage in blockchain, recognize stablecoins as digital payment systems as opposed to investments, ensure compliance with existing Anti-Money Laundering guidelines and b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn thinks Bitcoin may be the best hedge for inflation

His comments were in line with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who mentioned that inflation was rising along with supply issues. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn warned Tuesday that the next market crisis may be on the horizon, and Bitcoin could be the best hedge against inflation. With the United States government continuing to stimulate the economy, Icahn stated that he fears the dollar is becoming more devalued and that the price of goods is rising. “In the long run we are certainly going to hit the wall. I really think there will be a crisis the way we are going, the way we are printing money, the way we are going into inflation. If you look around you, you see inflation all around you and I don’t know how you deal with that in the long term.” Icahn said on Monday with CNBC. His comments were in line with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell who mentioned that inflation was rising along with supply issues: “As the economy continues to reopen and spending rebounds,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chimeras Play-to-Earn Metaverse Completes Successful Funding Round

PRESS RELEASE. Chimeras successfully raised over $2 million in its latest fundraising round, which will help to fund the play-to-earn project’s market and product development. October 18th, 2021 – The Chimeras Play-to-Earn metaverse project has completed its funding round with the participation of leading blockchain venture companies, including Master Ventures, AU 21, Poolz, BullPerks, X21, OIG Invest, Panda Capital, Shima Capital, LVT Capital, Otis Capital and Lotus Capital. The round successfully raised over $2 million which the Chimeras team has earmarked for the metaverse’s product development and marketing campaigns, including the launch of its brand native token, CHIM. The team is also announcing the upcoming Chimeras initial DEX offering (IDO) on the Ignition , Poolz , and BullPerks platforms. The Poolz platform IDO will take place on October 26th, followed by the Ignition and BullPerks IDOs two days later on October 28th. Additionally, Chimeras are in the process of nego...
Post a Comment
Read more

Celsius responds to NYAG crackdown on crypto lending platforms

“If any regulatory or technical changes are required in a specific jurisdiction, Celsius will provide clear and timely communication as needed,” said the firm. Crypto lending firm Celsius Network has confirmed it is one of three platforms requested to provide information to the New York Attorney General’s office. In a Tuesday blog post, Celsius said it was not one of the two unnamed crypto lending platforms that  New York Attorney General Letitia James ordered to “cease any and all such activity” around selling or offering cryptocurrencies. Rather, Celsius said it was “working on providing regulators in New York” with information regarding its business. “If any regulatory or technical changes are required in a specific jurisdiction, Celsius will provide clear and timely communication as needed,” said the lending platform. “We know that the only way to thrive and ensure our long-term growth is through clear regulatory guidance. We anticipate and plan for these kinds of routine...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mariah Carey buys Bitcoin, hopes to empower fans through education

The Grammy Award-winning artist touted Gemini exchange’s crypto education platform and encouraged fans to learn about investing. Pop icon Mariah Carey is the latest celebrity to embrace Bitcoin ( BTC ) through the Winklevoss-led Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, offering another sign that digital assets are becoming mainstream.  In a video message to her 10.2 million Instagram followers, Carey announced Tuesday that she is partnering with Gemini to boost Bitcoin adoption and support girls of color in their pursuit of STEM degrees — a broad education category that refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In the video, Carey confirmed that she invests in Bitcoin through Gemini. She also gave her fans a referral code to redeem $20 in free BTC. “Did you know you don’t need to buy a whole Bitcoin to invest? In fact, you can buy as little as $5,” she said. Carey credited Cryptopedia, Gemini’s free education platform , for teaching her about cryptocurrency investin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Iran to Pilot ‘National Cryptocurrency,’ Amend Central Bank Law

The central bank of Iran is gearing up to begin the pilot phase of its digital currency project in the near future, its new head announced to representatives of local media. The monetary authority is also preparing to move forward with a plan to reform the legislation that governs its own activities. Iran Preps Pilot for Sovereign Digital Currency The “national cryptocurrency” of Iran will enter its pilot stage soon, the recently appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Iran ( CBI ) Ali Salehabadi has unveiled. Speaking to reporters after his first meeting with lawmakers, the high-ranking official said the regulator is now studying potential risks and benefits associated with the initiative. Quoted by IRIB News and the Financial Tribune, he explained: The pilot trial will start, once the Money and Credit Council approves it. Salehabadi, who has been heading the CBI since Oct. 6, did not provide any further details regarding the Iranian central bank digital currency ( CBDC ). Ac...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bottom-buying traders and new governance features back KeeperDAO’s 118% rally

New governance features, a robust treasury and increasing community activity catalyzed a strong bullish breakout in ROOK price that has traders setting a target at $345. The rapidly evolving realm of decentralized finance (DeFi) has brought a new level of utility and value to the cryptocurrency ecosystem in 2021 but has also provided nefarious actors with numerous exploits for siphoning profits and tokens away from unsuspecting investors. In the past few days, KeeperDAO, a DeFi protocol that allows participants to trade, borrow and stake assets with protection from miner value extracted (MEV) bots that front-run transactions, has rallied 118%.  Data from TradingView shows that since trading at a low of $124.70 on Oct. 12, the price of ROOK has rallied 118% to a daily high at $298 as its 24-hour trading volume spiked from an average of $7 million to $24 million. ROOK/USD 4-hour chart. Source: TradingView Three reasons for the surging price of ROOK include the roll-out of c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coinbase announces multiyear partnership with NBA and WNBA

The deal comes as the NBA prepares to start its 2021–2022 season, marking the association’s 75th anniversary. Major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has inked a deal with the National Basketball Association, giving the platform the opportunity to educate basketball fans on crypto. In a Tuesday announcement, Coinbase said it would become the exclusive cryptocurrency platform partner of the National Basketball Association, or NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball as part of a multiyear sponsorship deal. According to the NBA, Coinbase will create “unique content, innovations, activations and experiences” for basketball fans to learn about the crypto space, as well as be a partner of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, the USA Basketball men’s and women’s national team exhibition tours and the NBA G League Ignite. Coinbase chief marketing officer Kate Rouch said the partnership would involve “interactive experiences to engage with the NB...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cosmos announces launch of new blockchain, Sagan

The project teased the release of the blockchain in a video message with a quote from famous astronomer Carl Sagan and a picture of a canary among the stars. The Cosmos cross-chain network is building a new blockchain aimed at allowing developers to experiment with different protocols. In its quarterly keynote report published on Oct. 19, Cosmos said its Sagan blockchain was currently in development. The project teased the release of the blockchain in a video message with a quote from famous astronomer Carl Sagan and a picture of a canary among the stars. The canary imagery may refer to the blockchain being an experimental “canary network,” the term used by interoperability protocol Polkadot to describe its Kusama test network. In Kusama’s case, the blockchain enables developers to build and use a parachain or test Polkadot’s governance, staking, and other functions in a real environment. Cosmos has been growing steadily following the March launch of its inter-blockchain commun...
Post a Comment
Read more

Polkadot unveils $770M development fund ahead of parachain auctions

Polkadot’s Gavin Wood has announced a more than $770 million development fund just weeks before the network’s parachain auctions are set to go live. Polkadot (DOT) founder Gavin Wood has unveiled a $777 million development fund ahead of the network’s parachain lease auctions. Wood tweeted on Oct. 17 that Polkadot’s treasury has allocated more than 18.9 million DOT (worth roughly $777 million at the time of writing) to a development fund that will be disbursed through community governance. Wood gave broad suggestions as to how the funds might be spent, stating the capital will be mobilized to realize the community’s vision for “building, improving, educating” Polkadot’s ecosystem, in addition to “anything else that the Polkadot governance believes valuable. According to Polkadot’s Wiki, the treasury funds can be spent if approved by the council, which votes on proposals put forward to them. The Polkadot council currently consists of 13 members, however the council plans to expand ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bounce and Arpa Chain surge 25% on Coinbase Pro listings

The “Coinbase effect” has just been observed for two of three tokens freshly listed on the exchange’s Pro platform. Leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced three new listings on its Pro exchange, predictably causing the tokens’ prices to pump. On Oct. 19, Coinbase Pro announced new listings in ARPA Chain (ARPA), Bounce (AUCTION), and Perpetual Protocol (PERP). It confirmed that trading will become available on or after 21.00 PT on Oct. 19, provided ample liquidity enters the market. The three tokens will be each paired with USD, EUR, and USDT. While AUCTION and ARPA rallied during the hours leading up to the announcement’s publication to each gain roughly 25% in the past 24 hours, the news appears to have stirred little interest among PERP traders. After seeing a slight initial climb at the time of the announcement, PERP has lost 5% in the past 24 hours to last trade hands for roughly $17. PERP is currently down 30.7% from its Aug. 30 all-time high of $24.40...
Post a Comment
Read more