BITCOIN

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has passed four crypto bills. “Congress is asserting its authority to design a regulatory framework, rather than allowing overzealous federal agencies to fill the gap with enforcement actions,” said the CEO of Blockchain Association. US House Committee Advances 4 Crypto Bills The U.S. House Financial Services Committee passed four digital asset bills last week. Following the passing of the bills, Kristin Smith, CEO of Blockchain Association, tweeted Friday: “This is a result of a coordinated effort to educate + support crypto’s Congressional champions.” The executive continued: This week was a milestone for the American crypto industry, and for the promise of real progress on the path toward a workable regulatory framework in the U.S. The four bills are the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, and the Keep Your Coins Act. T

U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul agree that America does not have a free market. Referencing RFK Jr. stating that America has “a crony corporatist system,” Paul stressed: “He’s right!” RFK Jr. and Ron Paul on Free Market Former U.S. Representative Ron Paul has expressed his agreement with U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), who recently said that America does not have a free market. Kennedy is a son of former U.S. Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Paul, an American author, physician, and retired politician, served as a U.S. representative and made three attempts to become the president of the United States. In 2015, he founded the Ron Paul Liberty Report, a platform dedicated to offering insightful opinions and analysis on contemporary issues affecting our lives and finances. Paul tweeted Saturday: “RFK Jr. recently pointed ou

Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, has warned that more banks in the U.S. will fail as the Federal Reserve continues to hike interest rates. He stressed: “It will break down in the regional banks, which support 60% of the economy … We’ve started to see the cracks.” Kevin O’Leary Foresees More Bank Failures Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, chairman of O’Shares Investments and O’Leary Ventures, has predicted that more banks in the U.S. will fail as the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. Sharing his prediction in an interview with CNBC on Thursday after the Fed announced its latest interest rate hike , O’Leary stressed: “You keep squeezing the toothpaste tube, you keep rolling it up, you keep raising rates, and you know things are going to break, you just don’t know when and where.” Mr. Wonderful opined: I am just predicting — and I am very cautious on this — it will break down in the regional banks, which supports 60% of the economy. The Shark Tank st

Bitcoin started the week trading higher, as markets prepared for a big week of economic data in the United States. The headline announcement will be Friday’s nonfarm payrolls, in addition to services and manufacturing activity data. Ethereum continued to trade above a key support point on Monday. Bitcoin Bitcoin ( BTC ) was in the green to start the week, with the price trading at its highest point since last Friday. Traders are optimistic heading into August, which has historically been a bullish month for the cryptocurrency. BTC /USD hit an intraday high of $29,489.87, which comes following a low at $29,059.50 during Sunday’s session. Bitcoin chart by TradingView Bitcoin bulls rejected a breakout below the $29,000 mark, just as the relative strength index (RSI) closed in on a collision with a resistance level at 46.00. This ceiling appears to be a major obstacle preventing price from moving towards its obvious target at the $30,000 mark. At the time of writing, the RS

An industry organization in Japan has suggested that the government should reform taxation rules for crypto assets and transactions. Its members are convinced that the current tax regulations hinder growth of the Web3 economy in the country and discourage taxpayers from holding and using cryptocurrencies. Japan Government Asked to Amend Tax Laws for Crypto Gains and Transactions The Japan Blockchain Association (JBA) has submitted a request to the government in Tokyo to revise the taxation regime for virtual currencies. The organization led by co-founder and CEO of Japanese crypto exchange Bitflyer, Yuzo Kano, insists that the proposed changes would allow more domestic companies to enter the Web3 sector. The JBA is calling for a review of the taxation system for crypto assets, which it says is hindering the growth of the Web3 business in Japan, as well as for the development of an environment in which citizens can own and use digital assets, the Japanese crypto news outlet Coinpos

A covert cryptocurrency mining operation, suspected of electricity theft, was uncovered in a Marina Square shophouse in Miri, Malaysia. Representatives from the Sarawak police and Sarawak Energy plant revealed that the successful operation was made possible by a tip-off from the public. Malaysia’s Sarawak Energy and Police Uncover Illegal Crypto Mining Camp in Miri The state utility company, Sarawak Energy, and the local police department announced the dismantling of an alleged unauthorized crypto mining camp set up in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Authorities captured roughly 34 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners and their associated connections. “All the equipment used for the mining operation, including the direct tapping cables and servers, were seized. A police report has been lodged and an investigation is currently underway,” Sarawak Energy stated. Compared to other global regions, electricity rates in Malaysia are relatively low. As such, Sarawak Energy repo

Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news during the last week. In this issue, Argentina is likely to settle part of a payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) using the Chinese yuan, Bolivia is already making payments using the Chinese yuan, and Sazmining announced the launch of mining operations in Paraguay. Argentina to Complete IMF Payments With Chinese Yuan The government of Argentina will complete part of a disbursement to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) using the Chinese yuan. According to sources linked to Economy Minister Sergio Massa, the $3.4 billion that must be settled this July will be made using “CAF funds, with yuan, and other sources of financing.” The Argentine government recently obtained a “bridge loan” from the CAF (the Latam Development Bank) of $1 billion, effectively getting indebted to pay for its outstanding debt with the IMF. If completed, this would not be the first time that Argenti

Two masterminds of the Telecoin cryptocurrency scam will each serve more than six years in jail after a court in the United Kingdom found them guilty of fraud. According to Lee Parish, the detective chief inspector, the duo used the allure of crypto investment to dupe prospective investors. Fraudulent Sale of Shares A court in the United Kingdom has convicted and jailed masterminds of the Telecoin cryptocurrency scam Ross Jay and Michael Freckleton to more than six years in prison each. In sentencing the duo, the Southwark Crown Court said Jay and Freckleton had orchestrated a fraudulent sale of shares and used the proceeds for personal gain. According to a statement on the City of London Police website, the duo perpetrated the scam between 2015 and 2017. During this period, the two scammers successfully convinced their victims to deposit a little over $650,000 into a bank account which they controlled via their company Digi Ex. Commenting on how Jay and Freckleton were able to d

Recent statistics reveal that in the past fortnight, about 270,000 units of ethereum ( ETH ) were deposited into liquid staking derivative protocols. Currently, these decentralized finance (defi) staking platforms hold an estimated 10.65 million ether locked within their systems. Ethereum Liquid Staking Landscape Continues to Swell Liquid staking platforms based on ethereum ( ETH ) have continued to attract sizable deposits, as evidenced by an influx of 270,000 ETH , equivalent to slightly above $505 million at present ETH exchange rates. Back on July 14, 2023, about 10.38 million ETH was secured in these platforms, a figure that experienced a surge to 10.65 million by July 29. Lido Finance continues its reign over these 23 liquid staking applications, claiming 74.31% of the market share. Two weeks ago, Lido held 7.71 million ether within its infrastructure, a figure which has since climbed to 7.91 million. Coinbase, with its grip on 10.99% of the liquid-staked ETH market sha

PRESS RELEASE. Road Town, BVI, July 30, 2023 – LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list DBear Coin (DBC) on July 31, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the DBC/ USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading at 6:00 UTC on July 31, 2023. DBear Coin (DBC) is a lifestyle Blockchain-Commerce for the MZ generation, characterized by Web3.0, Metaverse, and customized NFT. All DBC platforms are interconnected like a universe, enabling users to learn, play, and shop. Its native token, DBC, will be listed on LBank Exchange at 6:00 UTC on July 31, 2023, with the goal of expanding its global footprint and supporting the realization of its forward-thinking objectives. Introducing DBear Coin DBear Coin (DBC) is a lifestyle Blockchain-Commerce for the MZ generation, characterized by Web3.0, Metaverse, and customized NFT. All DBC platforms are interconnected like a universe, enabling users to learn, play, and shop. DBC serves as both a membership point

PRESS RELEASE. SINGAPORE — 30 July 2023 — TOKEN2049 , Asia’s premier Web3 and crypto conference, announced a slate of prolific title sponsors and headline speakers for its upcoming Singapore edition. With just 50 days to go in the countdown, TOKEN2049 will take place from 13-14 September 2023 at Marina Bay Sands , ahead of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 race weekend. Heralding a record-breaking repertoire of over 300 exhibitors, TOKEN2049 is set to welcome over 10,000 attendees with over 80 percent coming from overseas, making it the industry’s largest international gathering of the year. Congregating key business leaders from traditional finance and big tech to crypto-native entrepreneurs and builders as well as policy-makers, TOKEN2049 continues to cement its world-class status as the global premier Web3 event. Panels, keynotes, and fireside chats at this year’s TOKEN2049 will address a myriad of topics including the changing global regulatory landscape, the converg

Russia’s deputy prime minister has stated that the topic of a common BRICS currency may still be on the table at the economic bloc’s upcoming leaders’ summit. A total of 69 leaders, including all African heads of state, have already been invited to the August summit where de-dollarization will be among the key topics discussed. Russian Official on BRICS Currency Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stated in an interview with Russian news outlet Tass on the sidelines of the second Russia-Africa summit this week that the issue of creating a basket of BRICS currencies may be raised at the economic bloc’s upcoming summit that will take place from Aug. 22-24. The BRICS nations comprise Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Russian official was quoted as saying: The BRICS leaders will hold a meeting soon where they may touch upon the settlement system issue. Perhaps, the idea of creating a basket of currencies based on a certain payment unit will also be discuss

The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services has passed the Keep Your Coins Act of 2023 to protect the self-custody of crypto. “Those attacking self-custody oppose individual freedom. They want someone they control to control your assets,” said Congressman Warren Davidson who introduced the bill. Keep Your Coins Act of 2023 Advances The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services passed the Keep Your Coins Act of 2023 (H.R. 4841) on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), “would ensure that consumers are allowed to maintain custody of their digital assets in self-hosted wallets,” ⁦the committee described. Congressman Davidson tweeted Friday: Last night, U.S. House Committee on Financial Services⁩ passed my bill to protect self-custody. Those attacking self-custody oppose individual freedom. They want someone they control to control your assets. Defend Freedom. Keep Your Coins Act of 2023 prohibits federal agencies “from restricting the use of convertible

Dogecoin snapped a three-day losing streak on Saturday, as the meme coin found a point of support. The move came as X, formerly Twitter, continued its re-brand by showcasing its new logo over the San Francisco skyline. Shiba inu surged by over 5% today. Dogecoin (DOGE) Dogecoin (DOGE) rebounded on Saturday, as the token ended a recent three-day losing streak in today’s session. DOGE/USD hit an intraday peak at $0.07828 earlier in the day, following Friday’s drop to a bottom at $0.07653. Yesterday’s decline saw the meme coin move near a support point at $0.07600, however bulls rejected a full on collision. Although DOGE is now up by almost 2% from Friday’s low, price might have hit a wall, due to the current position of the relative strength index (RSI). The index is hovering below a ceiling at 63.00, which would need to be broken, if DOGE bulls intend to secure further gains this weekend. At the time of writing this, price strength is tracking at 62.53. Shiba Inu (SHIB) Shiba

Russian President Vladimir Putin has railed against using the dollar as a political weapon in a meeting with the New Development Bank’s president, Dilma Rousseff. Putin stated that this weaponization and the recent developments in global finance complicated the institution’s growth to help third-world countries facing difficult conditions. Russian President Vladimir Putin Talks Dollar Weaponization in Recent Meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the weaponization of the dollar and its effects on the global economy in a recent meeting with Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank (NDB) — also known as the BRICS bank — during the second Russia-Africa Summit held in Saint Petersburg. Putin explained this weaponization complicated Rousseff’s task of growing and developing the NDB’s role in the current international arena. Talking to Rousseff, Putin stated : I am confident that … you will make every effort to develop this institution. In the current conditi

Minnesota has become one of the few U.S. states to permit crypto donations to political campaign committees. However, according to the state’s new rules, crypto donations must be converted to U.S. dollars within five days. In the event of price changes within the five-day grace period, these must be shown separately in campaign finance reports. Converting Crypto Donations to Dollars The U.S. state of Minnesota has become one of the first states in the country to okay crypto donations to political campaign committees. Under the state’s new rules, which took effect in July 2023, recipients of crypto donations are nevertheless required to convert these to U.S. dollars within five days. According to a report by Axios, the crypto contributions must be valued at the digital assets’ respective prices when the donations were made. In the event of the prices changing within the five-day grace period, such changes must be shown separately in campaign finance reports. Minnesota’s decision t

U.S. lawmakers have advanced the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act that establishes a regulatory framework for the crypto market. “Our bill establishes clear principles to ensure financial security and certainty as digital asset developers continue to innovate,” a lawmaker explained. FIT for the 21st Century Act Advances U.S. lawmakers have advanced the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act ( H.R. 4763 ). On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee passed the bill, followed by the House Committee on Agriculture approving it on Thursday. The FIT for the 21st Century Act establishes a digital asset framework to provide regulatory certainty to the crypto market. Reps. French Hill (R-AR), chairman of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion; Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture; and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), chairman of the Subcommittee on Commodity Mar

Palau, an insular nation in the Philippines Sea, has partnered with Ripple, announcing a limited pilot for its own U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin issued using XRP technology. According to Jay Hunter Anson, a member of the board of directors of Palau’s Ministry of Finance, the test started about three weeks ago to validate the design of the stablecoin system. Palau and Ripple Announce Test Pilot of U.S. Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin Palau, a country comprising more than 300 individual islands, is testing a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin on top of the Ripple network. Jay Hunter Anson, a member of the board of directors of Palau’s Ministry of Finance, stated that the pilot started in March and that the project has been distributing Palau’s Stablecoin (PSC) for three weeks. Hunter Anson was the first to make a purchase using PSC, dubbed the “kluk,” purchasing a Micronesian breakfast at a collaborating vendor on July 13. He explained that PSC was “a prototype digitization of the U.S. dolla

Economist Peter Schiff has warned that the Federal Reserve is wrong about its recession outlook, advising everyone to get out of the U.S. dollar. He stressed that the U.S. currency is being destroyed, emphasizing that it is losing purchasing power. “Rather than fighting inflation, the Fed fueled the fire,” Schiff claimed. Peter Schiff Warns U.S. Dollar Is Being Destroyed Economist and gold bug Peter Schiff issued multiple warnings on Wednesday following the Federal Reserve’s announcement of a 25 basis point interest rate hike. Responding to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s statement that the Fed is no longer forecasting a recession for the U.S. economy, Schiff said on Fox Business Wednesday: The Fed is wrong on its recession outlook. We’re going to have a recession. In fact, it’s going to be a severe one … Inflation is going to get worse, not better. “The real rate of inflation, regardless of how the government wants to misreport it … is higher than five percent,” the economist ins

U.S. prosecutors have asked a federal judge to put crypto exchange FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in jail over alleged witness tampering before his trial starts in October. While requiring the prosecution to formalize the request and giving the defense enough time to make its case, the judge issued a temporary gag order restricting their public comments. Prosecutors Seek Sam Bankman-Fried’s Detention Over Witness-Tampering Allegations During a hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors in the case against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), founder and former chief executive of the failed digital asset exchange FTX, asked U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan to send the crypto entrepreneur to jail. SBF has been living under house arrest in his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California since December 2022 when he was released on a $250 million bond. His trial on criminal charges linked to the collapse of the crypto trading platform is scheduled to begin in October. The prosecution is seeking modificati

During a Twitter Spaces event on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democratic U.S. presidential contender, revealed that he acquired 14 bitcoin for his children. This announcement comes on the heels of financial documents filed on June 30, 2023, which indicated his ownership of the leading cryptocurrency. Bitcoin Supporter Robert Kennedy Jr Purchases 14 Bitcoin for His Kids On July 26, 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Scott Melker, also known as the Wolf of All Streets, in a Twitter Spaces gathering. An avid bitcoin (BTC) supporter, Kennedy recently revealed a proposal to back the U.S. dollar with bitcoin while speaking at a Heal-the-Divide event if elected president. Kennedy confirmed his bitcoin ownership during Wednesday’s Twitter Spaces discussion with Melker, following reports that surfaced in early July about his cryptocurrency holdings. “Right after the Bitcoin Conference, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and bought two bitcoin for each of my seven childre