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Locked Down in Coronavirus Quarantine? Why not get your Blockchain Credentials for Free?
The coronavirus epidemic has been ravaging China and has raised concerns regarding the effect the disruption may have on the growth of technology within the region. Rising from the panic of the virus has been a plethora of misinformation and fake news which has, in fact, led the country to increase its use of blockchain technology.
Grayscale Launches Bitcoin Mining-Centered Investment Entity
Crypto asset management firm Grayscale plans to launch a new private co-investment opportunity in mining hardware that enriches the bitcoin ecosystem.
OneCoin Co-Founder Sentenced to Two Decades in Prison Over Multibillion-Dollar Fraud
Karl Sebastian Greenwood, co-founder of the OneCoin cryptocurrency scheme, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for deceiving millions of investors worldwide, leading to losses exceeding $4 billion. The scheme, based in Sofia, Bulgaria, was marketed as a revolutionary cryptocurrency, but was later revealed to be a sham. Greenwood and co-founder Ruja Ignatova used the scheme to finance extravagant lifestyles.
Bitcoin Has Been Through Two US Presidential Elections, This One Will be Different for BTC
During the two US elections in 2012 and 2016, Bitcoin was still too nascent to have seen any profound impact arise. What about this coming election?
Celestia's Core Values: Bridging Off-chain Governance with User-centric Network
Mustafa Al-Bassam delineates five core values for Celestia's social layer aimed at enhancing trust-minimization and user-centric network functionalities. These values include the primacy of off-chain governance, user elevation, credible neutrality towards execution environments, economic sustainability, and minimizing overhead and state bloat. The discourse provides a profound insight into Celestia's commitment to fostering a user-driven, trust-minimized blockchain network.
Ripple Is Planning to Go Public, Says SBI CEO
SBI Group, one of Ripple's main shareholders, revealed that Ripple is still considering going public once its lawsuit with the SEC is settled.
Binance Futures to Introduce USDC-Margined BOME, TIA, and MATIC Perpetual Contracts with Up to 75x Leverage
Binance Futures is set to expand its trading offerings by launching USDC-margined perpetual contracts for BOME, TIA, and MATIC cryptocurrencies. These contracts will provide traders with leverage of up to 75x, allowing for enhanced trading opportunities. The launch is aimed at enhancing users' trading experience and increasing trading choices on the Binance Futures platform.
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Seeks Advice on Designing Prudential Treatment for Crypto-assets
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision publishes paper going over the design for prudential treatment for crypto assets. The paper goes over areas such as risks of crypto-asset exposures, capital, and liquidity requirements, and general considerations for the prudential treatment.
Singapore Regulators and Banks Develop Crypto Customer Screening Standards
Singapore's monetary authority and police forces are collaborating with traditional banks to optimize their procedures for opening accounts for digital asset service providers. After six months, results and conclusions for risk management and due diligence will be published. The guidelines will cover stablecoins, NFTs, and transferable gaming or streaming credits, with banks reserving the right to make decisions based on their own risk assessment.
Will The Outcome of Biden-Trump US Presidential Race Affect Crypto?
Market experts have debated whether the outcome of today's US presidential election will affect the crypto industry.
Over 1 Million Applicants Join Nigeria's 3MTT AI Program
Nigeria's 3MTT program, led by Bosun Tijani, is attracting over one million applicants, demonstrating the country's commitment to AI education and fostering a technologically skilled workforce.
Cryptocurrency Hackers Target Trump Presidential Campaign Website with Monero Scam Addresses
US President Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign website was briefly compromised yesterday in an attempt by hackers to gain cryptocurrency funds.
Binance Thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is the Greatest of All Time
In an exciting collaboration, Binance and Cristiano Ronaldo have announced the upcoming release of their second NFT (non-fungible token) collection, titled ForeverCR7: The GOAT.
Bitcoin Price Will Ignite on September 7, Says Former Prudential Securities CEO and New Bitcoin Bull George Ball
George Ball the former chief executive of Prudential Securities and current chairman of Sanders Morris Harris has joined the growing list of traditional financial industry experts to advocate for Bitcoin as a safe have asset and hedge against inflation.
Stanford University's Percy Liang Spearheads AI Transparency Initiative
Stanford's Foundation Model Transparency Index highlights a significant transparency gap in AI foundation models, highlighting the need for enhanced practices and regulations.
DWF Labs' Andrei Grachev Fires Back at GSR Cristian Gil
A Twitter feud between Andrei Grachev of DWF Labs and Cristian Gil of GSR.io has ignited discussions about the state of the crypto market and the role of market makers. The public disagreement has even led to a proposition for a "Crypto Fight Night," where the loser would have to leave the crypto markets.
Twitter and Facebook Grilled in Senate Hearing Over Social Media Censorship of US Presidential Election
Facebook and Twitter are facing heat from US Congress for how they handled political misinformation circulating on the social media platforms.
Bitget U30 Hackathon Recognizes Budding AI and Blockchain Innovators
Bitget’s Under 30 Virtual Hackathon, a part of its Blockchain4Youth initiative, concluded on October 16, 2023, showcasing exemplary AI and blockchain innovations. With over 1,000 participating teams, winners were recognized across various categories, each receiving $10,000. The hackathon highlighted promising young talents, aligning with Bitget's aim of promoting blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption among the youth.
Report: TON and Telegram Forge Alliance in Q3 2023
The TON Ecosystem saw substantial growth and strategic alliances in Q3 2023. Notable highlights include a collaborative venture with Telegram, set to roll out the self-custodial wallet, TON Space, to Telegram's 800 million users, and a steady increase in TON accounts and on-chain active wallets. Various community initiatives and developer-centric events further illustrated TON's commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem, setting a solid foundation for its expansive vision in the crypto landscape.
Curve Founder Michael Egorov Withdraws Near 12 Million CRV Tokens
Michael Egorov, the founder of Curve Finance, withdrew nearly 12 million CRV tokens, equivalent to $5.08 million, from the platform's vesting contracts on October 12, 2023. This move aligns with the vesting schedule of CRV, enabling Egorov to claim $235,000 worth of CRV daily.
Ukraine’s Largest Bank Privatbank Suspends Money Transfers to Crypto Exchanges amid Martial Law
Other local banks in Ukraine have also imposed restrictions authorized by the country’s central bank under the current martial law.
Christine Lagarde Announced EUR 750 Billion Bond Buyback, Bitcoin Surged 10%
With the launch of ECB's €750 Billion bond buyback, Bitcoin, in the last 24 hours witnessed a steep increase in price clocking at 16% growth.
Cryptocurrency Payments now Accepted at Tifon Gas Stations in Croatia as Firm Hopes to Tap Tourist Trade
Croatia's Tifon is keen on introducing crypto payments to enable tourists to use Bitcoin and ETH to pay for fuel and other services at designated gas stations.
Elon Musk Endorses Pro-Crypto Republican Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
Elon Musk endorses pro-crypto candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Amidst tense crypto regulations, the 2024 U.S. elections may shape the future of digital currencies.
NFT Trading Platform Giant MakersPlace Completes $30M in Series A Financing
Non-Fungible Token (NFT) trading platform MakersPlace announced the completion of a $30 million Series A financing jointly led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Pantera Captial.
Thailand SEC Eases ICO Restrictions
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to lift restrictions on retail investment in initial coin offerings (ICOs). The SEC aims to permit bigger investments in asset-backed ICOs, including those backed by real estate and infrastructure.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Bring his Fans into Web3.0 through Binance Partnership
Binance exchange has signed Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese footballing legend who now plays for Manchester United FC in an exclusive multi-year deal.
PwC Cybersecurity: CatchMe if you Kan
Felix Kan is a Partner in PwC’s Risk Assurance Cybersecurity Privacy practice with 10 years of extensive experience. Kan began his career as an ethical hacker and has committed his career to helping Hong Kong companies enhance their protections against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Third Co-Founder of Centra Tech Pleads Guilty for $25 Million ICO Fraud
It has recently been announced that the third co-founder of Centra Tech has agreed to plead guilty for his role in the $25 Million Initial Coin Offering (ICO) Scam his cryptocurrency firm was involved in.
UK Embraces Crypto Innovation with Groundbreaking Financial Services Act
The UK government has taken a bold step forward in the financial services sector, embracing the dynamic world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology with the passing of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.
New Blockchain Patent Presented by US Postal Service as Trump Denies Funding for Mail-In Votes
In light of the 2020 US presidential elections, Trump admitted to denying funding to the United States Postal Service (USPS), despite the mailing service’s proposal on Thursday of a new patent for a blockchain-powered voting system, which would make ballot casting more secure.
UK to Host First International AI Safety Conference in November
The United Kingdom is set to host the world's first international conference on AI safety on November 1-2, 2023. The summit aims to position the UK as a mediator in tech discussions between the US, China, and the EU. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will host the event at Bletchley Park, featuring notable attendees like US Vice President Kamala Harris and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. The conference will focus on the existential risks posed by AI, among other safety concerns.
Neara Secures $24M Series B Boosting Utilities' Resilience and Renewable Energy Integration
Neara, with a fresh $24M Series B funding, is set to bolster its AI-centric infrastructure modeling platform, aiming to mitigate climate risks faced by utilities and accelerate renewable energy integration. The investment led by Prosus Ventures will fuel Neara's global expansion and the development of its novel System of Enablement functionality, facilitating a smoother transition towards renewable energy, especially in the US and Europe.
Jacobi Asset Management Introduces Europe's First Premier Bitcoin ETF with a Green Initiative
Jacobi Asset Management launches Europe's first Bitcoin ETF on Euronext Amsterdam, blending crypto investment with a green initiative. The ETF, compliant with SFDR Article 8, offers a unique Renewable Energy Certificate solution.
OKX Ventures Invests in Celestia Lab's Series B Funding for Modular Blockchain Development
OKX Ventures has invested in Celestia Lab's Series B funding round to advance the development of the first modular blockchain network, Celestia. This investment aligns with the growing trend towards modularity in blockchain technology, aimed at overcoming scalability issues inherent in traditional Layer-1 chains. The initiative also underscores OKX Ventures’ broader commitment to fostering blockchain innovation globally.
Spanish Renewable Energy Firm Partners with Climate Blockchain Initiatives to Boost Carbon Offset Sales on Blockchain
Acciona, a leading Spanish renewable energy company, has joined hands with Climate Blockchain Initiatives (CBI), a Valencia-based startup, to boost the sale of its carbon offsets using the latter’s blockchain-powered trading platform.
Coinbase and Venmo Users Angered by Privacy Issues—Fintech Firm Faces Second Class Action Lawsuit
A second lawsuit has been filed against the fintech company Plaid, for violating user data privacy agreements they hold with major financial accounts that use Coinbase and Venmo.
Crypto Candidate Andrew Yang Calls for Clarity on Hodgepodge Regulations
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has been owning his moniker as the ‘Crypto-Candidate’, as he once again highlighted the “high potential” of cryptocurrencies in an interview with Bloomberg on January 29. During the interview, he discussed his thoughts and strategy for regulating digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Attorneys for Ex-FTX CEO Samuel Bankman-Fried Challenge Proposed Jury Questions Ahead of Fraud Trial
The defense attorneys for former FTX CEO Samuel Bankman-Fried have submitted a letter challenging the proposed jury questions for the upcoming fraud trial. They assert that the government's proposed questions could harbor bias against Bankman-Fried, potentially leading to an unfair trial. The defense suggests an alternative voir dire to ensure a fair jury selection process, while the prosecution opposes these suggestions. The trial is slated to begin on October 4, 2023, following jury selection on October 3.
Brock Pierce's Presidential Campaign Enlists Akon as Chief Strategist
Crypto entrepreneur Akon has announced that he will be endorsing Brock Pierce’s presidential campaign and joining the crypto venture capitalist’s campaign team.
G7 Bank Sector Higher Money Laundering Risk than Crypto Industry, Reports Mexico Financial Intelligence
According to a report released by the Financial Intelligence Unit of Mexico, the G7 banking sector was most at risk of money laundering operations.
Republicans Cry Foul Play, USPS Postal Employee Retracts Claims of Ballot Tampering
The US elections have finally come to an end, amid a flurry of anticipation and misinformation that have left the Republican party incredibly infuriated.
Nexo Allocates Additional $50M to Long-standing Token Buyback Initiative
Crypto lending platform Nexo has approved periodic repurchases of its NEXO token for up to $50 million.
SEC Revokes License of ParagonCoin Crypto Startup
ParagonCoin, a crypto startup backed by rapper The Game, had its license revoked by the SEC for violating securities laws by failing to file periodic reports. The startup had held a $70 million initial coin offering in 2017, and in 2021, was found liable for more than $12 million in a class-action lawsuit. Meanwhile, other rappers like Snoop Dogg and Eminem are entering the Web3 space with NFTs and new startups.
Amazon Invests $4 Billion in AI Startup Anthropic for Advanced Foundation Models
Amazon and AI startup Anthropic have entered into a $4 billion investment agreement to develop advanced foundation models. The collaboration will provide Anthropic with AWS resources and allow Amazon to build on Anthropic's AI models. Both companies are committed to AI safety and responsible scaling.
Vitalik Buterin's Vision of Techno-Optimism and AI's Future
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin advocates for a balanced approach to technology, considering both its benefits and risks, particularly in the context of AI and existential risks.
AML BitCoin Lobbyist Abramoff to Pay $55K in Convicted Guilt Plea for ICO Fraud
In the civil case filed against Jack Abramoff for his role in the 2018 Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scandal, the AML BitCoin lobbyist is expected to pay $55, 000 in disgorgement and interest for his conspiracy in fraud.
Qualcomm CEO: Generative AI Will Redefine the Smartphone Industry in 2024
2024 is set to be a transformative year for AI in smartphones, with advancements in hybrid AI models and new features reshaping user experiences and industry dynamics.
AmeriCoin - The Pathway to Monetary Freedom, Tokenization and the American Dream?
Is cryptocurrency the tool to achieve the “American Dream”? Adam Kokesh, the leading libertarian candidate of the 2020 U.S. presidential race has revealed the plan to develop AmeriCoin cryptocurrency. The development of AmeriCoin will be led by Alastair Caithness, the Chief Blockchain Policy Advisor appointed by Kokesh.
Australia's National Blockchain Steering Committee Mobilizes Domestic Developer Community
The Australian National Blockchain Roadmap Steering Committee is seeking expressions of interest from its domestic blockchain community to create working groups on supply chain and credentialing.
Binance Enhances Trading Options with New Pairs and Bot Services
Binance boosts its trading services with new spot trading pairs and trading bot services, expanding options and enhancing user experience. This includes pairs like MOVR/TRY, LDO/FDUSD, and more, with a focus on FDUSD and Turkish Lira pairs.
Islamic Coin Launches Community Rewards on Haqq Network
Islamic Coin announces a Community Rewards program to appreciate and engage its community. The #ISLM Rewards, launched on October 11, 2023, comprises three waves targeting different engagement levels and community segments. The initiative aims at fostering a Shariah-compliant Web3 financial ecosystem, with the first distribution of rewards commencing on October 11, 2023. The program, however, excludes Dubai residents from participating.
SEC Charges Crypto Project Unikrn $6.1M for ICO Violations
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Unikrn for conducting an unregistered initial coin offering of its native token, UnikoinGold (UKG).
Alibaba’s Ant Group Set to be 2020’s Top IPOs in Hong Kong and Shanghai
Ant Financial, formerly known as Alipay and known renamed to ‘Ant Group’, has announced its intentions of launching an initial public offering (IPO) that would be featured both on the Shanghai Stock Exchanges' STAR board and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX/ SEHK).
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Criticizes Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton's Regulatory Approach
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse criticizes former SEC Chair Jay Clayton for his aggressive regulatory approach, citing hypocrisy based on a 2020 lawsuit against Ripple. The ongoing legal tussle and recent developments highlight the broader regulatory uncertainties in the crypto industry.
Understand JPMorgan's DocLLM: Enhancing AI-Powered Document Analysis
JPMorgan introduces DocLLM, an AI model for multimodal document understanding. This lightweight extension of LLMs excels in analyzing business documents, employing a novel spatial attention mechanism and bounding box information instead of costly image encoders.
Students at Texas-based University Accorded with Blockchain-Powered GreenLight Credentials
The University of North Texas (UNT) in Dallas has unveiled GreenLight Credentials, a blockchain-enabled academic records verification platform, for its students, giving them more control of their transcripts.
DeSantis Proposes Flat Tax and IRS Elimination, Sparks Trump Rivalry in 2024 Race
In the 2024 presidential campaign, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advocates for a flat tax system and the elimination of the IRS, a move that has ignited a political battle with Donald Trump, highlighting internal Republican party dynamics and differing tax policy visions
Pro-Russia Groups Evaded Sanctions With Over $2M Crypto Donations
American blockchain analysis firm, Chainalysis, has released a detailed report on how over $2 million in cryptocurrency donations have been used to fund the Russian-wing of the war in Ukraine
Bitcoin Eyes $12K, Experts Say It Will Surge Regardless of US 2020 Presidential Election Outcome
Market experts have said that Bitcoin's price will be unaffected by the outcome of the US presidential elections.
Bankless: Solana's Resilience and Prospects Amid Market Challenges
Solana has navigated through a challenging bear market and technical issues to emerge stronger in 2023. With improved network performance, diversification into new sectors like NFTs and AI, and upcoming developments like Neon EVM and Solang, Solana's future appears promising despite past setbacks.
Ransomware Attack Directed Towards University of California Generated 118 Bitcoin
The University of California, San Francisco’s plans to further COVID-19 vaccine research were disrupted by a ransomware attack on the school’s servers.
FreeInit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Enhance Video Generation by Nanyang Technological University
FreeInit, developed by Nanyang Technological University, enhances video diffusion models by iteratively refining noise initialization, significantly improving temporal consistency in video generation.
The Sandbox Appoints Nicola Sebastiani as Chief Content Officer
The Sandbox announced the appointment of Nicola Sebastiani as its Chief Content Officer to bolster its global content development. With a notable background from Sony PlayStation Studios and Apple, Sebastiani is set to enhance The Sandbox’s creator and content ecosystems. Alongside, executive promotions were announced with Mathieu Nouzareth now as Chief Business Officer and Amit Kumar as Chief Marketing Officer, marking a strategic move towards expanding its global community and fostering user-generated content in its decentralized virtual platform.
Could Blockchain be a Solution for Mail-In Voting Issues and Election Ballot Counting Fraud?
Amid the misinformation circulating in response to the US presidential elections, blockchain technology has been brought up as a solution to prevent voter fraud.
NYAG Letitia James Warns Investors About Crypto Investment Risks
New York Attorney General, Letitia James to issue a new guidance on the risks inherent in the crypto industry
Nomura's Laser Digital Launches Ethereum Adoption Fund for Institutional Investors
Nomura's Laser Digital has launched an Ethereum Adoption Fund, focusing on institutional investors, with a strategy involving staking and regulated custody, aiming to increase institutional engagement in Ethereum investments.
The Nascent Primary Market of Security Token Offerings
Now that the ICO market bubble ebbed away security token offerings (STOs) have emerged, allowing investment in regulated securities recorded on a blockchain according to new research from the Oxford Faculty of Law
China expands digital yuan usage for cross-border trade
China is promoting the use of its digital yuan, also known as e-CNY, for cross-border trade in its Belt and Road initiative. The city of Xuzhou plans to allow the use of e-CNY to pay for services and storage charges for goods carried by cross-border trains, with plans to extend its usage to pay taxes and utility services in the city. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is also testing the digital yuan as a cross-border payment tool in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, while the Chinese government ramps up its CBDC efforts amid a shift away from the U.S. dollar in international trade markets.
Brock Pierce and Blockchain Capital Sue Florida-Based Company for Copyright Infringement
Brock Pierce and his business partners are suing Blockchain Capital Management LLC (BCM) for copyright infringement.
Taiwanese Authorities Caution Against Crypto Betting for 2024 Presidential Election
Taiwanese authorities warn against using cryptocurrency betting platforms for the January 2024 presidential election, amid ongoing investigations and multiple arrests.
Blockchain-Based Voting Could Solve Trump and Biden Presidential Election Dispute
The US Presidential election is coming to an end, although results are still being anticipated. This is how blockchain can change the voting system.
Former US Secret Service Officer Warns of FTX Customer Targeting Risk
Former US Secret Service officer Jeremy Sheridan has cautioned that the release of personal information of FTX customers could make them potential targets for identity and asset theft. Sheridan supported a motion from FTX debtors to withhold the confidential information of customers associated with the failed crypto exchange.
DWF Labs Co-founder Andrei Grachev Announces Financial Partnership with DMCC
Andrei Grachev, co-founder of DWF Labs, announced a financial partnership with DMCC, supporting firms transitioning to Dubai DMCC. This announcement, juxtaposed with Grachev’s recent Twitter feud with GSR.io's Cristian Gil, highlights the competitive and cooperative facets of the crypto market landscape, and the challenges and opportunities DWF Labs encounters in its journey.
OneCoin's Former Legal Head Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering
Irina Dilkinska, former OneCoin legal head, has admitted to wire fraud and money laundering charges in the cryptocurrency pyramid scheme, facing a potential ten-year prison term, while co-founder Ruja Ignatova remains fugitive.
Mastercard Launches Web3 Crypto Solution
Mastercard has launched a Web3 solution called the "Mastercard Crypto Credential" aimed at improving user verification standards in the digital asset space. The solution offers users a unique identifier, helping them to verify that an address has been vetted by Mastercard and operating in compliance with the firm's standards. Partnerships with crypto wallet providers and blockchains were also announced.
Exploring the Basel Committee's Draft on Crypto Asset Exposure
The Basel Committee has unveiled a draft document detailing the disclosure requirements for banks' cryptoasset exposures. Standardized templates under a new chapter, DIS55, are introduced to ensure consistency in disclosures. The Committee seeks public and market participants' feedback on the draft until January 31, 2024, with an eye towards implementing the requirements on January 1, 2025.
Top UFC Fighters to Receive Bonuses in Bitcoin During PPV Events
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s leading mixed martial arts competition, has teamed up with crypto exchange Crypto.com to offer best-performing fighters bonuses in Bitcoin (BTC).
John McAfee Indicted for Tax Evasion and for Fraudulently Promoting ICOs Through Twitter
The DOJ is charging John McAfee with tax evasion and failure to file tax returns, according to an unsealed indictment that was revealed yesterday.
Ethereum's Layer 2 Debate: Buterin Aligns with Daniel Wang on Validium Classification
Vitalik Buterin agrees with Daniel Wang on classifying Ethereum rollups using external data chains as validiums, not traditional rollups. This debate underscores the nuances in Ethereum's layer-2 scaling solutions, focusing on security and scalability trade-offs.
Central Bank Official: Blockchain Application Ideal for Chinese Commercial Banks
Li Wei, the Technology Departmental Head of the People’s Bank of China, has urged Chinese commercial banks to embrace blockchain and digital finance.