Kenyan court unfreeze Flutterwave’s seized funds
Nigerian fintech startup Flutterwave recently secured a noteworthy victory in the Kenyan High Court, gaining access to $3 million that had been frozen since July 2022. This legal triumph marks the resolution of a protracted dispute over the frozen funds, which persisted even after the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), an anti-graft agency in Kenya, withdrew […]
UK High Court: Craig Wright Presents Case in Bitcoin Creator Claim
In a significant development today, the UK High Court witnessed the presentation of the case by Craig Wright, who claims to be the elusive creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright has been asserting his association with Bitcoin since 2016, but substantial evidence supporting his claims has remained elusive. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) trial […]
South Korea Proposes Stricter Oversight on Crypto Executives
In a move to bolster regulatory control in the cryptocurrency sector, South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has unveiled a set of proposed amendments. If enacted, these changes could significantly enhance the authority of the local regulator over the crypto industry. Mandatory approval for new crypto executives The key proposal entails mandatory regulatory approval for […]
Nigeria’s CBN announces new changes in the foreign exchange market
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently made a significant announcement on January 31, signaling a change in its approach to the foreign exchange market. The central bank declared the removal of caps on naira exchange rates set for international money transfer operators (IMTOs). This decision, aimed at further liberalizing the foreign exchange market, has […]
DOJ charges Belarusian man for operating an illegal exchange
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently brought charges against Aliaksandr Klimenka, a Belarusian national accused of engaging in money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money services business. The focus of the allegations revolves around Klimenka’s cryptocurrency platform, BTC-e, which stands accused of facilitating anonymous Bitcoin trades. DOJ charges BTC-e platform and its […]
Bitcoin tipped to reach $240,000 after its upcoming halving
As Bitcoin enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming halving event in April 2024, market analysts, including Scott Melker, also known as the “Wolf of All Streets,” have been sharing insights into how this event could influence the cryptocurrency’s price. Scott Melker discusses Bitcoin’s future post-halving Melker, a prominent trader, investor, and host of the Wolf of […]
Ark Invest highlights triggers of Bitcoin’s price in 2024
Ark Investment Management’s “Big Ideas 2024” report sheds light on pivotal factors set to influence Bitcoin’s trajectory throughout the year. The firm emphasizes Bitcoin’s evolution from a speculative instrument to a strategic investment within diversified portfolios. The comprehensive analysis delves into technological convergence and its potential to reshape industries and economies. Ark Invest discusses Bitcoin’s […]
Coinbase enlists former British minister on its advisory council
Coinbase, the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, has enlisted former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to join its global advisory council. Osborne, a prominent political figure, served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016 and now joins other notable figures like Mark Esper, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, and former U.S. Senator […]
Leaked Binance data taken down from GitHub
The recent exposure of sensitive material from Binance on GitHub has raised concerns about the security of one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. According to reports, a collection of information, including code, internal passwords, and infrastructure diagrams, was allegedly leaked by an account named “Termf” and remained publicly available for months on GitHub. The […]
Polygon Labs cut its staff by 19% amid a push for efficiency
Polygon Labs, a company strategically repositioning itself for enhanced operational performance, has recently announced a substantial reduction in its workforce. The decision, communicated by CEO Marc Boiron, involves cutting 60 members, which equates to around 19% of the total staff. Boiron’s rationale for this move is rooted in the broader strategy to cultivate a leaner […]
Donald Trump brands AI as ‘scary’ amid rampant deepfakes
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a focal point of concern for former U.S. President Donald Trump. In a recent interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo, Donald Trump expressed apprehension about the potential dangers posed by AI, describing it as “maybe the most dangerous thing out there.” He emphasized the lack of a clear solution to […]
Russia to involve 30 banks in its CBDC pilot test
Russia’s central bank, the Bank of Russia, has seen an increase in participation in its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot, with a total of 30 banks now involved. Seventeen additional banks have recently signed agreements to join the digital ruble program, bringing the total to 30. This initiative is part of the ongoing testing […]
India set to use technology to address CBDC privacy concerns
India’s Reserve Bank (RBI) is treading carefully in the development of its digital rupee, according to a senior official with knowledge of the central bank’s digital currency (CBDC) pilot programs. While there’s evident progress, the RBI is actively exploring technological solutions to mitigate privacy concerns surrounding the digital rupee. India to address CBDC privacy concerns […]
Apple CEO reveals plans to launch generative AI features in 2024
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has revealed the company’s commitment to developing generative artificial intelligence (AI) features set to be accessible to consumers by the end of 2024. During the recent quarterly earnings call on February 1, Cook expressed his anticipation for the significant opportunities he foresees in the intersection of AI and generative AI for […]
Bank of Spain green-lights Euro-backed stablecoin trial
Monei, a Spanish fintech firm, has recently embarked on trials for a euro-backed stablecoin named EURM, operating under the watchful eye of the Bank of Spain. The company’s announcement, released on January 29, sheds light on the commencement of the trial within a regulatory sandbox. Notably, the trial involves a carefully selected group of individual […]
Russian central bank governor eyes crypto for foreign trades
The Russian Central Bank, under the leadership of Governor Elvira Nabiullina, is actively engaging in discussions regarding the potential utilization of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in foreign trade transactions. This strategic move comes amid a global landscape that is witnessing the convergence of financial technology and geopolitical considerations. Russian central bank touts the use […]
Epic Games to remove racist AI-generated images on Fortnite
Epic Games has taken decisive action in response to player outcry, purging racist AI-generated images uploaded by users in Fortnite, according to a report by Kotaku. Fortnite’s popularity is in part due to its unique feature that allows users to create and share their maps, fostering a sense of creativity within the gaming community. However, […]
Core Scientific reveals its Bitcoin mining numbers in 2023
In 2023, Core Scientific emerged as the largest publicly listed cryptocurrency mining company in North America, having mined a substantial 19,274 Bitcoins valued at $812 million. The company, which operates across several states in the United States, including Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Texas, achieved this feat by mining 13,762 Bitcoins within its […]
FCC chair proposes new law to outlaw AI-generated voices
In a recent development, Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the United States Federal Communication Commission), has proposed classifying calls featuring artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voices as illegal. The intended regulations and penalties would fall under the purview of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This initiative by the FCC Chair comes on the heels of an alarming […]
Bitcoin gets stablecoin boost amid a massive spike in supply
Bitcoin has recently experienced a significant surge, reaching two-year highs, and intriguingly, this surge appears to be correlated with a rise in stablecoin “buying power.” Glassnode’s Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR) oscillator, a tool that measures the ratio between Bitcoin’s market capitalization and the combined value of stablecoins, serves as an insightful indicator of the supply/demand […]
SEC set to dismiss its lawsuit against Debt Box amid court sanctions
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is taking steps to dismiss a lawsuit against a cryptocurrency company named Debt Box, following a federal court order that mandated the SEC to provide reasons for not incurring penalties related to the case. In a recent court filing to an Utah District Court, the body expressed […]
Terraform Labs says bankruptcy filing will help its lawsuit against the SEC
Terraform Labs, the creator of the now-defunct stablecoin TerraClassicUSD (USTC), has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, revealing its intention to use this move strategically to appeal a lawsuit initiated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The decision to file for bankruptcy is aimed at avoiding the necessity of providing a “supersedeas bond,” […]
Spanish government’s X account hunts for airdrops amid hack speculations
The Spanish embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently become a topic of discussion within the crypto community due to peculiar activity on its official social media account. There are suspicions that the embassy’s account may have been compromised, as it engaged with various crypto projects, asking for details related to airdrops, upgrades, and launchpads. […]
New Zealand police confiscate property and money from Onecoin advisor
In recent developments, New Zealand police have confiscated a residential property and over $282,000 in cash allegedly linked to Frank Schneider, an adviser to the Onecoin mastermind, Ruja Ignatova. The seized assets are suspected to be tied to the proceeds of a global Ponzi scheme. Reports suggest that Schneider, a Luxembourg national, may have acquired […]
Fidelity cuts its valuation in Meesho to $3.5 billion
Fidelity Investments has recently devalued its investment in the Indian social commerce startup Meesho by 33.6%, resulting in a revised valuation of $3.25 billion. However, Meesho contends that when adjusted for outstanding shares, its true valuation stands at $3.5 billion. This adjustment comes as Fidelity lowered the value of its Meesho holding to $27.8 million […]
White House releases key actions on AI after the executive order
The White House has recently unveiled a fact sheet outlining its key initiatives in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), following President Joe Biden’s executive order issued three months ago. Bruce Reed, the White House deputy chief of staff, led the White House AI Council, a body comprising officials from various federal departments and agencies. […]
Grayscale Bitcoin ETF exodus shakes up the Bitcoin market
In a recent market analysis by Bitfinex, significant attention is drawn to a substantial sell-off of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust exchange-traded fund (ETF) shares. This sell-off, partially driven by the financial troubles of the exchange FTX, appears to have played a crucial role in the notable drop in Bitcoin prices witnessed in January 2024. Grayscale Bitcoin […]
Binance US faces regulatory roadblocks in Alaska and Florida
Binance US, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange and subsidiary of Binance, has encountered regulatory challenges in Alaska and Florida, as recent reports indicate that authorities in both states have issued mandates prohibiting the platform from operating within their jurisdictions. Binance US license suspended in Alaska and Florida In Florida, the Office of Financial Regulation took swift […]
Bitcoin ordinals-inscribed poem sold on Sotheby’s
Ana Maria Caballero’s poem, “Cord,” recently gained attention for its sale at Sotheby’s, fetching 0.28 Bitcoin or $11,430. This unique event took place as part of the Natively Digital online auction, specifically focusing on Bitcoin Ordinals inscriptions. Notably, this marked a historic moment for Sotheby’s as it marked the first-ever auction of an individual poem, […]
India’s state government fixes website bugs exposing residents’ details
The security vulnerabilities in the Jan Aadhaar portal of the Rajasthan state government have been successfully addressed after being identified by security researcher Viktor Markopoulos in December. The portal, launched in 2019, is part of the state’s initiative to provide a single identifier to residents for accessing welfare schemes. The India state’s website security flaws […]
PeckShield report reveals stolen crypto recovery data in 2023
In 2023, PeckShield, a blockchain security firm, reported a significant decrease in losses attributed to hacks and scams, marking a notable contrast to the previous year. Their data revealed that the total losses amounted to $2.61 billion, excluding multichain losses, indicating a substantial 27.78% reduction from the approximately $3.6 billion recorded in 2022. PeckShield report […]
Deutsche Bank survey result reveals insight into BTC’s future
In a recent survey conducted by Deutsche Bank, a notable revelation emerged as over one-third of the 2,000 respondents expressed an anticipation of Bitcoin’s price dropping below $20,000. The survey, which spanned from January 15 to January 19, sought opinions from individuals in the U.S., U.K., and the Eurozone, focusing on their perspectives on Bitcoin’s […]
Amazon unveils feature film about $4 billion Bitfinex hack
In a recent development, Amazon MGM Studio is gearing up to bring the captivating story of Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and her husband Ilya Lichtenstein to the big screen. The couple made headlines in 2022 when they were charged with conspiracy by the U.S. Department of Justice for their alleged involvement in a $4 billion cryptocurrency […]
SEC crypto enforcements increased by 50% in 2023
In 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) saw a significant surge in crypto-related enforcement actions, marking a notable uptick of over 50% compared to the preceding year. A report released by Cornerstone Research highlighted that the SEC’s intensified focus on digital assets led to 46 enforcement actions against various participants in the digital […]
Nigeria’s Naira plunges to a new low as the CBN governor reacts
The recent decline of the Nigerian currency, the naira, against the U.S. dollar has raised concerns about its stability and prompted efforts to address the situation. On January 25, the official market witnessed the naira reaching a new low at NGN1,398 per greenback, almost converging with the parallel market exchange rate of NGN1,400 to $1, […]
ECB staff survey shows discontent with Lagarde’s leadership
The recent survey conducted by the International and European Public Services Organisation (IPSO) sheds light on widespread discontent among European Central Bank (ECB) staff regarding the leadership of President Christine Lagarde. The survey carried out between December 12 and December 22, 2023, gathered opinions from 1,159 respondents, revealing that over half, precisely 50.6%, rated Lagarde’s […]
UK councils systems suffer from cyberattack disruptions
In recent developments, three local councils in the UK—Canterbury, Dover, and Thanet—are grappling with persistent disruptions to their online services, a week after confirming a cyberattack that knocked some systems offline. These councils, located in the UK county of Kent and collectively serving almost 500,000 residents, jointly announced an investigation into an unspecified “cyber incident” […]
Opera set to launch its AI-powered iOS browser in Europe
Opera, the renowned browser developer based in Norway, has unveiled plans to launch a cutting-edge AI-powered browser tailored for iOS users in Europe. This strategic move comes in the wake of Apple’s commitment to allow alternative browser engines on iOS, aligning with the stipulations of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA mandates a […]
CFTC Chair questions crypto’s regulatory status amid ETF approval
The recent approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States has sparked concerns about potential misunderstandings regarding regulatory oversight for cryptocurrencies. Rostin Behnam, the Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), expressed these apprehensions during a keynote speech on January 26. CFTC chairman waded into crypto regulatory issues The approval of […]
Cruise highlights DOJ probe in its internal incident report
Cruise, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of General Motors (GM), is currently under investigation by federal prosecutors and securities regulators following a notable incident on October 2. In this incident, a pedestrian was struck by a human-driven car and subsequently dragged by a Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco. Cruise releases its internal incident report The Department […]
