BITCOIN

A national survey commissioned by Coinbase suggests that about 20% of U.S. adults currently own crypto. In addition, 29% of U.S. adults plan to buy or trade crypto in the next 12 months. “The vast majority of Americans want to see the financial system updated and they believe crypto can be a powerful part of the solution,” Coinbase said. Crypto Survey Commissioned by Coinbase A nationwide survey of 2,202 participants from the general population was conducted by Morning Consult from Feb. 10-14. “The data were weighted to be representative of U.S. adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, and region,” the market research firm described. “The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of the global financial system and how U.S. adults and cryptocurrency investors view the future of the crypto market and exchanges.” Citing the survey results, the Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, which commissioned the study, commented: The vast majority...

Economist Peter Schiff has predicted that the U.S. Federal Reserve will ultimately throw in the towel on its inflation fight to confront “something it fears even more, which is a complete economic collapse, another financial crisis, or a sovereign debt crisis.” He stressed, “The months of declining inflation are in the review mirror,” emphasizing that now “we’re going to see accelerating inflation.” Peter Schiff on Potential Economic Collapse Economist and gold bug Peter Schiff shared some dire warnings about where the U.S. economy is headed and the consequences of the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation in an interview with Greg Hunter on the USAWatchdog show, published Saturday. Citing recent economic data, including the personal consumption expenditures price index which rose 0.6% in January, Schiff said: “The months of declining inflation are in the review mirror. And now we’re going to see accelerating inflation as measured by these government indexes.” Asserting that t...

PRESS RELEASE. GameSwift has announced the open alpha version of its all-in-one Platform for playing and building web3 games. It features the GameSwift ID – a revolutionary passwordless sign-on system with an in-built wallet that offers seamless web3 onboarding for games and players. In addition to this groundbreaking feature, the company has garnered attention for its strategic partnerships with Polygon and Casper Network, which aimed to accelerate the mass adoption of web3 games. The newly released GameSwift Platform and its Launcher and ID components create a comprehensive hub for gamers seeking an optimal web3 gaming experience. Thanks to this user-friendly and inclusive solution, even those without blockchain knowledge can enjoy playing web3 games. Web3 Gaming: Onboarding Players Proves to be the Biggest Challenge Web3 gaming is an exciting new frontier, but one of the industry’s biggest challenges is onboarding new players. This is mainly because the requirements for web3 g...

Israel’s public stock exchange is suggesting regulatory amendments that would permit some clients to trade crypto assets. The proposals, which have been put forward for public consultation, come at the backdrop of a growing number of regulated institutions getting involved in the digital asset market, the exchange noted. TASE Exchange Moves to Regulate Cryptocurrency Trading for Brokers The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ( TASE ) has published a draft proposing to allow clients of non-banking institutions (NBMs) among its members to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. It intends to expand the list of authorized activities for such entities in order to add crypto trading. NBMs provide brokerage, investment and advisory services, and operate as intermediaries. While they can process various transactions such as the transfer of funds, they are not permitted by law to accept direct deposits from customers or act as custodians. Israel’s only public exchange is now seeking feedback on its regulator...

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler has detailed why he considers all crypto tokens other than bitcoin as securities. While acknowledging that crypto tokens may have different setups, he stressed that “at the core, these tokens are securities.” SEC Chair Believes All Crypto Tokens Other Than Bitcoin Are Securities The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, explained why he believes all crypto tokens other than bitcoin are securities in an interview published Thursday by New York Magazine’s Intelligencer . Gensler believes that the securities watchdog has all of the legal tools needed to oversee the crypto sector, the publication conveyed, adding that the SEC boss explained that pretty much every sort of crypto transaction already falls under the SEC’s jurisdiction except spot transactions in bitcoin itself and the actual purchase or sale of goods or services with cryptocurrencies. The SEC chairman was quoted as ...

PRESS RELEASE. Flynt Finance, a cryptocurrency portfolio management platform, has announced a partnership with Ceffu, formerly known as Binance Custody, to provide its clients with enhanced asset storage security and access to its off-exchange settlement solution, Mirror. Ceffu is an institutional custodian that offers secure custody and liquidity solutions. With this partnership, Flynt Finance’s clients will benefit from Ceffu’s secure cold storage solutions, which are designed to protect against theft, loss, and other risks associated with the storage of digital assets. Flynt Finance’s automated strategies, including its covered call and delta-neutral strategies, allow clients to earn yields on their cryptocurrency investments on a weekly basis up to 80% APY. This new partnership with Ceffu will help to further safeguard these investments and provide clients with added peace of mind. In addition to enhanced asset storage security, Ceffu offers a feature called Mirror, which allo...

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says “it is critical to put in place a strong regulatory framework” for crypto on the sidelines of the G20 meeting for finance ministers and central bank governors. “We haven’t suggested outright banning of crypto activities,” Yellen added. Janet Yellen on ‘Strong’ Crypto Regulation U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talked about crypto regulation in an interview with Reuters Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 meeting for finance ministers and central bank governors under India’s presidency in Bengaluru. Yellen emphasized the importance of establishing a robust regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies while clarifying that the U.S. has not proposed an outright ban. The treasury secretary said: We haven’t suggested outright banning of crypto activities, but it is critical to put in place a strong regulatory framework … We’re working with other governments. Crypto regulation was among the key topics discussed by the G20 finance ministers ...

Billionaire Jeffrey Gundlach, aka the “Bond King,” has warned of “painful outcomes that are coming in the next recession.” Commenting on the Federal Reserve’s attempt to curb inflation, he cautioned: “The more you try to reduce the severity of problems, you’re going to end up ultimately having a very high severity problem.” ‘Bond King’ Jeffrey Gundlach on the Next Recession Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of investment management firm Doubleline, shared his outlook on the U.S. economy in an interview with Yahoo Finance last week. Gundlach is nicknamed “the Bond King” after he appeared on the cover of Barron’s as “The New Bond King” in 2011. According to Forbes, his net worth is currently $2.2 billion. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a soft landing or a hard landing,” he began. “People are always asking me this question: ‘How bad is the recession going to be?’ It doesn’t matter, as long as we’re going into a recession, you have to have a certain deg...

Major crypto exchanges have failed to prevent sanctioned Russian banks and traders from transacting, according to a blockchain forensics report. At least two established coin trading platforms continue to allow Russians to use their bank cards in peer-to-peer deals, the analysis shows. It also highlights an increased Russian interest in tether. Russian Traders Still Using Leading Cryptocurrency Exchanges to Bypass Restrictions Some of the world’s largest digital asset exchanges have been failing with measures to prevent Russian banking institutions under sanctions from operating through their platforms, reveals a report by the blockchain analytics firm Inca Digital, announced on the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine. According to the research, quoted by Bloomberg and Politico, traders can still use debit cards issued by Russian banks sanctioned by the U.S., Canada, U.K., and the European Union among others, including the state-owned Sberbank, to trade o...

India has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) to develop “a synthesis paper” on crypto assets as part of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors under India’s presidency. “This would help in the formulation of a coordinated and comprehensive policy approach to crypto assets,” said India’s finance ministry. India Asks IMF and FSB for Technical Paper on Crypto The Indian government released on Saturday its “G20 Chair’s Summary and Outcome Document” following the first two-day G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors that took place in Bengaluru on Feb. 24-25. Crypto regulation was among the topics discussed. During a panel discussion on cryptocurrency regulation as part of the G20 meeting, India requested that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) collaborate on a technical paper on crypto assets. According to the summary document: IMF and the FSB to jointly su...

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) says delegates from over 200 jurisdictions have agreed on “an action plan to drive timely global implementation of FATF standards” on crypto assets. The standard-setting body said many countries have failed to implement its previous requirements on crypto, including the “travel rule.” Countries Agree to Implement FATF Crypto Standards The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization established to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, announced Friday the outcome of its plenary which took place on Feb. 22-24. “Delegates from over 200 jurisdictions of the Global Network participated” in a number of discussions at its headquarters in Paris, the FATF said. A number of issues, including those relating to crypto assets, were discussed, the FATF noted, elaborating: Delegates further agreed on an action plan to drive timely global implementation of FATF standards relating to virtual assets (also termed cr...

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided guidance for member countries to develop effective crypto policies. The board stressed the need to develop comprehensive crypto regulations to “better mitigate the risks posed by crypto assets while also harnessing the potential benefits of the technological innovation.” IMF Executive Board Provides Guidance on Crypto Regulation The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Thursday the outcome of a discussion held by its executive board directors on a paper titled “Elements of Effective Policies for Crypto Assets.” Noting that the paper sets forth a regulatory framework that “can help members develop a comprehensive, consistent, and coordinated policy response” to crypto assets, the IMF emphasized: By adopting the framework, policymakers can better mitigate the risks posed by crypto assets while also harnessing the potential benefits of the technological innovation associated with it. The first elem...

U.S. regulators and the Federal Reserve have issued a joint warning about key liquidity risks associated with crypto assets. However, the regulators clarified that banks “are neither prohibited nor discouraged from providing banking services to customers of any specific class or type, as permitted by law or regulation.” US Regulators Issue Joint Statement on Crypto The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) jointly issued a statement regarding crypto on Thursday. The Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the OCC explained that their statement “highlights key liquidity risks associated with crypto assets and crypto-asset sector participants that banking organizations should be aware of.” They warned: In particular, certain sources of funding from crypto asset-related entities may pose heightened liquidity risks to banking organizations due to the unpredictability of the s...

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced the deployment of Base, an Ethereum layer two (L2) scaling network, after developers launched the Base testnet on Thursday. The company said it is incubating Base within Coinbase and that the L2 chain will progressively decentralize over time. Coinbase L2 Scaling Platform Aims to Help Scale the Crypto Economy Coinbase is joining the competition of Ethereum L2 scaling projects, such as Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Loopring, Starknet, and others, by launching an L2 called Base. The company announced the launch of the Base testnet on Thursday and advised the public to stay tuned for the upcoming mainnet launch. On Twitter, Coinbase stated , “Base is an Ethereum L2 that offers a secure, low-cost, developer-friendly way for anyone, anywhere, to build decentralized apps. Our goal with Base is to make onchain the next online and onboard 1B+ users into the crypto economy.” The cryptocurrency exchange explained that Base will be open-sour...

U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer has introduced the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Anti-Surveillance State Act “to halt efforts of unelected bureaucrats” from “stripping Americans of their right to financial privacy.” The bill also prohibits the Federal Reserve “from issuing a CBDC directly to anyone.” CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act Introduced U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN) announced Tuesday that he has introduced the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Anti-Surveillance State Act in the House of Representatives. The recently elected House Majority Whip tweeted: Today, I introduced the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act to halt efforts of unelected bureaucrats in Washington, DC from stripping Americans of their right to financial privacy. Emmer elaborated in a follow-up tweet that the bill “does three things” by amending the Federal Reserve Act. Firstly, it “prohibits the Fed from issuing a CBDC directly to anyone,” the lawmaker wrote. Secondly, it “bars the Fed from using a...

World Wide Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee says cryptocurrency is “really dangerous” and “only speculative.” While claiming that crypto is for those who “want to have a kick out of gambling,” he noted that it could be useful for remittances. Sir Tim Berners-Lee on Crypto Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British computer scientist who is widely credited with the invention of the World Wide Web, shared his thoughts about cryptocurrency on CNBC’s “Beyond the Valley” podcast, published last week. Berners-Lee called cryptocurrency “dangerous” and likened it to gambling. Claiming that “cryptocurrency can be 100% speculative” and “not linked to anything at all,” he opined: It’s only speculative. Obviously, that’s really dangerous. He asserted that crypto is for “if you want to have a kick out of gambling, basically.” He also compared cryptocurrency to the dot-com bubble, noting that people were valuing various internet stocks “because of what they imagined other people will value them in the...

The CEO of crypto exchange Kraken, Jesse Powell, says U.S. regulators “let the bad guys get big and blow up because it serves their agenda.” The executive explained: “Bad guys operate with huge competitive advantages. They suck up users, revenue, and venture capital that would otherwise have gone to good guys.” Kraken’s CEO Has a Theory on U.S. Crypto Regulation The chief executive of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, Jesse Powell, took to Twitter Sunday to express his opinion regarding crypto regulation in the United States. The executive began: I have a theory: Regulators let the bad guys get big and blow up because it serves their agenda. Powell proceeded to name three goals he believes regulators are trying to achieve. The first is to “destroy capital/resources in [the] crypto ecosystem,” he wrote. The second is to “burn people, [and] deter adoption,” he continued, adding that the third is to “give air cover to attack good actors.” The Kraken boss asserted that for regulators...

Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, has warned that U.S. crypto regulation is “getting very, very aggressive.” Noting that regulators are now “regulating by enforcement, penalties, and massive fines,” O’Leary emphasized the importance of staying out of the way of the SEC, Chair Gary Gensler, and other regulators. Kevin O’Leary Shares Outlook for Crypto Regulation Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary has shared his outlook for the crypto industry following several enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Mr. Wonderful tweeted Monday: Venture funding for new crypto projects is virtually dead and aftermarket trading for existing projects is at massive discounts. Reason? The regulator is now regulating by enforcement, penalties, and massive fines. “The venture community has moved on to the next ‘big’ thing, AI,” he added. O’Leary explained in an interview with Trader TV Live, published Sunday, that following the collapse of cryptocurrency exc...

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has launched a cryptocurrency scam tracker to help residents “spot and avoid crypto scams.” The regulator stated: “As reports of new crypto scams emerge, the DFPI will continually update this tracker to promptly alert and protect the public.” California Regulator’s Crypto Scam Tracker The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) of the U.S. state of California announced last week the launch of its Crypto Scam Tracker to help people in the state “spot and avoid crypto scams.” The financial regulator described: The tracker details apparent crypto scams identified through a review of complaints submitted by the public and allows California consumers and investors to do their own research and prevent harm to themselves and others. The Californian regulator’s crypto scam tracker is a database — searchable by company name, scam type, or keywords — for consumers to learn more about crypto-specific ...

Gemini’s co-founder believes that the next crypto bull run will come from the East. “It will be a humbling reminder that crypto is a global asset class,” he said. “The West, really the U.S., always only ever had two options: embrace it or be left behind. It can’t be stopped.” Gemini Co-Founder on Next Crypto Bull Run Cameron Winklevoss, co-founder of the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, believes that the next crypto bull run will come from the East. He tweeted Sunday: My working thesis [at the moment] is that the next bull run is going to start in the East. It will be a humbling reminder that crypto is a global asset class. “The West, really the U.S., always only ever had two options: embrace it or be left behind. It can’t be stopped. That we know,” he emphasized. “Any government that doesn’t offer clear rules and sincere guidance will be left in the dust. Quickly. This will mean missing out on the greatest period of growth since the rise of the commercial Internet,” ...

The largest bank in Southeast Asia, DBS, has revealed that bitcoin trading volume on its cryptocurrency exchange jumped 80% in 2022 while ether trading volume surged 65%. “We believe that the market has decisively shifted its focus towards trust and stability, especially in the wake of multiple scandals that have rocked the industry,” a DBS executive described. DBS Sees Record Trading Volumes for Bitcoin and Ether DBS, the largest bank in Southeast Asia, announced last week that its digital asset exchange saw record trading volumes for bitcoin and ether in 2022. In addition, the number of BTC and ETH under custody at the bank soared during the same time period. According to the bank, the number of bitcoin traded on DBS Digital Exchange (DDEX) was close to 80% higher year-on-year while the number of ether traded on the platform was nearly 65% higher. The bank further revealed that the “number of bitcoin and ether custodised with DBS [is] up more than 100% and 60% respectively,” em...

Binance US has refuted reports that draw parallels between it and “fraudulent exchanges that have gone bankrupt.” The U.S.-based crypto trading platform stressed that “only Binance.US employees” have access to its bank accounts, denying the allegation that global crypto exchange Binance has “secret access.” Clarifications by Binance US Binance US, a U.S.-based cryptocurrency trading platform affiliated with the global crypto exchange Binance, has refuted reports that compare it to fraudulent and bankrupt crypto exchanges. Binance and Binance US claim that they are separate entities with different management teams. “There have been many attempts to draw parallels between Binance.US and fraudulent exchanges that have gone bankrupt,” the official Twitter account for Binance US tweeted Thursday. “There is no comparison,” the exchange stressed and proceeded to provide some evidence to support its claims. Firstly, Binance US explained that its leadership is comprised of ex-employees of ...