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Showing posts from November 23, 2023

Bitcoin Mining Pool F2pool Acknowledges OFAC Transaction Censorship; Backpedals After Community Backlash

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F2Pool, a Bitcoin mining pool, has admitted to filtering transactions coming from Bitcoin addresses flagged by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). After the situation was discovered by 0xB10C, a Bitcoin developer, F2pool co-founder Chun Wang acknowledged that his pool was indeed applying this filter, announcing it would drop the censorship until there was consensus in the community on the issue. F2pool Acknowledges Compliance With OFAC Sanctions F2pool, one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools in the world, acknowledged having been filtering transactions coming from addresses flagged by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Chun Wang, a co-founder of the pool, admitted applying a compliance filter for these transactions after 0xB10C, a Bitcoin developer, published an article that examined different transactions to determine if they were intentionally filtered or if there were other explanations for this behavior. The investigation , which examined six different tran

Court Upholds Detention of Ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, Deeming Release Arguments ‘Unpersuasive’

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As Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal representatives gear up to appeal the ex-FTX chief’s recent verdict, they have requested the court for his provisional release from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Upon examination of Bankman-Fried’s claims, a clerk from the court of appeals deemed them “unpersuasive.” Bankman-Fried’s Attempt at Release Has Been Denied by the Court of Appeals Sam Bankman-Fried is eager to leave incarceration at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been since August. In a recent effort, his attorneys sought to secure his release while preparing for his appeal, filing a motion with the Court of Appeals. However, the court’s clerk, Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, firmly rejected this plea , maintaining the necessity for continued imprisonment. The decision by the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, is rooted in the initial grounds for revoking his bail . The court identified credible evidence suggesting Bankman-Fried attempt

US Prosecutors Urge Court to Keep Binance’s Ex-CEO in the Country Amid Flight Risk Concerns

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In the wake of the settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, federal authorities are insisting that the exchange’s former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), remain stateside until his sentencing in February 2024. Justice Department Seeks to Restrict Ex-Binance CEO’s Travel Before Sentencing A recent court filing reveals that U.S. prosecutors have petitioned Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida to ensure Changpeng Zhao’s (CZ) continued presence in the U.S. This request, lodged on Wednesday, aims to reassess the bond conditions set on November 21, 2023. The U.S. government articulates concerns about CZ being a “substantial risk of flight.” The filed document explicitly states: [The Government] requests that the court order that Zhao should not be permitted to return to the UAE before sentencing. Currently residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), CZ lives with his three children and partner. The prosecutors argue that the prospect

Glassnode Analysis Reveals Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval Could Unleash $70B Capital Influx

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The approval of a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. could inject substantial new capital into the cryptocurrency market. Glassnode’s latest analysis on the subject provides a deep dive into how spot bitcoin ETFs could reshape market demand and supply, signaling a new era for bitcoin’s integration into mainstream financial markets. Glassnode: Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Be a Catalyst for Major Demand and Increase Volatility An influx of demand would confront relatively limited liquid bitcoin (BTC) supply, potentially amplifying volatility, Glassnode researchers detail in a report published on November 20. The study by the blockchain data firm Glassnode indicates there’s significant pent-up demand for a spot bitcoin ETF product . The analysts estimate up to $70.5 billion could flow into the market from stock, bond, and gold investors allocating just a fraction of assets. Even more conservative projections see tens of billions entering in the first years. Unlike exis