The city of Lugano in Switzerland will integrate the Polygon proof-of-stake protocol into its payment app, MyLugano, offering a multichain digital wallet and plans to add more tokens in the future.
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank is set to offer cryptocurrency trading services to retail customers in Vienna by the end of January 2024, in partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Bitpanda, targeting digital-savvy customers who want to make small investments.
The Bank of Korea will invite 100,000 Korean citizens to participate in a CBDC pilot where they will be able to use the digital currency for payments only, without the ability to store, exchange, or send it to others.
Bitcoin analyst Capo predicts a "massive capitulation event" will occur before the end of the crypto bear market, with a potential crash to $12,000 marking the bottom and altcoins potentially correcting more drastically than Bitcoin.
Matr1x, an NFT gaming company, has raised $10 million in funding for its mobile gaming projects, bringing its total VC funding to $20 million; the company's flagship game, Matr1x Fire, is a first-person shooter with a similar aesthetic to Riot Games' Valorant, and the studio plans to release a third NFT collection that will act as a membership pass for governance access and revenue sharing.
The percentage of Bitcoin's circulating supply that has not moved on-chain in at least a year has reached a record high of 70.35%, indicating a strong belief from long-term investors despite recent price increases, according to blockchain analytics firm Glassnode.
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are being explored by central banks worldwide as a way to modernize and improve financial transactions, but they also present ethical and technological challenges, with concerns over government control and threats to privacy and freedom.
Binance's $4.3 billion settlement with the US is believed to be the final step towards the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as the country's securities regulator required Binance's market dominance to be reduced before granting approval.
Decentralized exchange KyberSwap has been attacked for almost $50 million, prompting administrators to warn users to withdraw their funds as a precautionary measure while the attacker hints at negotiations and mocks the victims through signed transactions.
The number of blockchain games launched this year has dropped by 65%, but there is optimism for a resurgence in 2024 due to increased investment in Web3 gaming. Disney's NFT platform is deemed "irrelevant," and a $26 million NFT is available in the free mobile game NFL Rivals.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was reinstated after 72 hours of turmoil, and a report suggests that his removal may be related to a major AI discovery that could threaten humanity, referred to as "Q Star" or "(Q*)".
Around $46 million in various crypto assets, including wrapped Ether and Arbitrum, has been stolen from the decentralized KyberSwap exchange in a recent DeFi exploit, leading to a significant decline in the platform's total value locked.
Director Carl Erik Rinsch used $4 million from the budget of his Netflix show to bet on Dogecoin, earning $27 million, and is now demanding an additional $14 million from Netflix in damages.
The under-the-radar Ethereum scaling solution, Skale Network (SKL), has tripled its market cap and has potential for further gains, according to crypto analytics platform Santiment, while Ethereum is experiencing increased address activity without a corresponding increase in ETH moving to exchanges, and Chainlink's recent surge was preceded by heavy accumulation from whales.
The Game Boy crypto wallet project, which aimed to gamify the crypto hardware wallet experience, has been put on hold after six months of development, with the team focusing on a new stablecoin project called Open Dollar instead.
BlackRock and Grayscale Investments have met with the SEC to discuss their respective Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications and determine the best redemption model for investors, potentially bringing a spot Bitcoin ETF closer to reality.
Crypto-focused bank Silvergate Capital has fully repaid all remaining deposit liabilities and now holds less than $10,000 following its decision to wind down operations after suffering losses due to the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.
Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce believes that the SEC should not hinder the approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded product, sparking a surge in Bitcoin's price by over 3%.
Bitcoin rises 5.7% to $37,802, reaching a 42.5% increase from its low in October.
Ripple and the SEC are reportedly close to settling their lawsuit, which could potentially lead to a rally in XRP price, although the broader market cues turning bearish may result in further declines.
The total hash rate of Bitcoin has reached a new record high, indicating a strong and secure network, as miners prepare for next year's halving event. The higher hash rate makes it difficult for attackers to control the network, but it also increases energy consumption and costs for miners. The upcoming halving is expected to be a bullish indicator for the market, reducing the supply of Bitcoin and potentially increasing demand.
BONK, a meme coin on the Solana network, experienced a 25% spike in value following the announcement of a BONK futures offering by Binance, highlighting a market-making move by the new CEO.
F2Pool, the third-largest Bitcoin mining pool, faced backlash after it was reported that it may be censoring transactions from an address subject to U.S. government sanctions, sparking controversy as censorship resistance is seen as a fundamental principle of Bitcoin.
Bitcoin (BTC) has remained relatively stable despite recent bearish news and regulatory actions, with Bitcoin derivatives such as futures and options suggesting that investors are not highly risk-averse and are still optimistic about the cryptocurrency's price.
Crypto entrepreneurs must comply with regulations or develop completely decentralized systems in order to navigate the changing global financial landscape, according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson.
Crypto markets have rebounded and Bitcoin is now higher for the week, with observers suggesting that the Binance settlement and CZ's exit may increase the chances of a spot Bitcoin ETF approval by the SEC.
Despite recent price declines, the Ripple cryptocurrency (XRP) could be poised for significant returns as positive developments in its ongoing legal battle and the potential for institutional support contribute to its future prospects.
Uranium3o8, the world's first token backed by physical uranium, has been launched on the decentralized exchange Uniswap, creating a spot market for buying and selling exposure to uranium and enabling qualified entities to purchase and take delivery of the commodity using decentralized finance (DeFi), aiming to create efficient markets and unlock a new asset class.
A report from CoinShares suggests that if a spot Bitcoin ETF is approved in the US, Bitcoin's price could reach as high as $141,000, with the potential for $14.4 billion in investment within the first year of operation. Grayscale and BlackRock are also making progress towards securing regulatory approval for a Bitcoin ETF, while a new token called Bitcoin ETF Token (BTCETF) has raised over $1.3 million in its presale, capitalizing on the ETF hype.
The recent settlement between Binance and the United States Department of Justice is likely to be seen as a positive for the cryptocurrency space, although caution remains due to the pending Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against Binance.
The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has been operating a secret state-owned bitcoin mining operation to avoid an economic crisis, with four mines now identified by Forbes using satellite imagery and inside sources.
Crypto lender Genesis Global has filed a lawsuit against partner Gemini Trust, aiming to recover over $689 million that customers withdrew during a "run on the bank" that led to Genesis collapsing into bankruptcy.
Representatives from BlackRock and Nasdaq met with the SEC to discuss the listing of a spot Bitcoin ETF, with BlackRock preferring an in-kind redemption model, potentially signaling a positive trend towards mainstream adoption if the ETF is approved.
Bitcoin and Ethereum traded sideways as Binance's CEO stepped down and pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering violations, causing the price of Binance's BNB token to plummet, while other major coins and tokens experienced price dips.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, highlighting the US government's crackdown on criminal activity in the cryptocurrency industry. The plea, along with the recent conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, puts pressure on the crypto industry to prove that bad actors are the exception, not the norm, leading to a call for regulatory clarity and new regulations in the sector.
The asset tokenization and RWA space attracted retail and institutional investors in 2023 due to its combination of professionally-managed products and digital asset mechanics, with key themes including blockchain savings, money markets and treasuries as low-risk assets, and tokenized product distribution through institutional client bases.
Coinbase has urged the SEC to respond to its petition for crypto rules, using the recent enforcement action against Kraken as evidence, stating that only a court order will make the commission act.
Popular crypto analyst Jason Pizzino predicts that Bitcoin, crypto, and the stock market will all experience significant surges in the coming months, with BTC potentially reaching $42,000 before its halving in mid-April and the stock market hitting all-time highs in the next market cycle.
Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a relief bounce after a dip in prices, with traders focusing on key levels and liquidity pockets to determine the next direction of the market.
Crypto markets are experiencing contrasting fortunes, with Binance pleading guilty to criminal charges while bitcoin's value has increased by 120% and the overall crypto market has recovered over $800 billion since the arrest of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
Amsterdam recently hosted the Network State Conference, where participants discussed the possibility of a new form of decentralized country that utilizes blockchain and cryptocurrencies to create parallel social and economic institutions. The concept of network states aims to provide citizens with the option to opt-out of traditional social structures and create their own communities based on shared goals. While the infrastructure for network states is still in development, the conference showcased the progress made and the potential benefits of this decentralized model.
DeFi Technologies Inc. is set to launch an exchange-traded product based on XRP to cater to the growing demand for cryptocurrency exposure among European investors.
Binance, the world's largest bitcoin and crypto exchange, has been fined $4.3 billion by U.S. authorities, causing a drop in cryptocurrency prices and concerns about Binance's financial stability.
Crypto exchange HTX and blockchain protocol Heco Chain suffered a combined hack of $97 million in various tokens, with HTX confirming that it will fully compensate for any losses while investigations are underway and services remain suspended.
BCB Group CEO Oliver von Landsberg-Sadie has left the firm, and Oliver Tonkin has been appointed as the new CEO, reflecting the company's preparations for global growth in the maturing crypto industry.
Crypto analyst Inmortal predicts that Bitcoin could surge by over 255%, Ethereum by over 393%, Solana by over 813%, Chainlink by over 1,190%, and 0x0.ai by over 3,378% in the next bull market.
Former Ethereum member Joel Dietz is suing former collaborator Aaron Davis and others for allegedly swindling him out of an ownership stake in MetaMask, highlighting the prevalence of legal battles and abuses of power within the crypto industry.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao steps down and pleads guilty to breaking U.S. anti-money laundering laws as part of a $4.3 billion settlement, leaving his future uncertain and facing a possible 18-month prison sentence.
The SEC recently met with Grayscale Investments to discuss the conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot Bitcoin ETF, following a court order for the SEC to review Grayscale's application after the firm sued over its refusal to allow the conversion.
The crypto community is largely positive about Binance's settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, believing it to be a step towards the approval of a Bitcoin ETF, although some are still skeptical due to pending action from the SEC.