Gary Gensler Has a Secret Agenda? 😯
In today’s edition: 💼 Judge nods to BlockFi, 💥 Old BTC wallets at risk, 💡 OKX launches Layer 2, 🎥 NFTs meet Disney magic, and more!
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What’s Poppin’?
by Brandy Betz, James Rubin, and Samyuktha Sriram
Judge Allows FTX, BlockFi to Resume Claim Negotiations
Crypto lender BlockFi recently emerged from bankruptcy and has claimed the defunct crypto exchange cost it more than $1 billion.
Cathie Wood Suggests Gensler Is Hesitant on Bitcoin ETFs Due to Treasury Ambitions
The head of ARK Invest told CNBC that the SEC Chair isn’t actually concerned about potential market manipulation.
$1 Billion in Old Bitcoin Wallets Vulnerable to Exploits: Report
Crypto recovery firm Unciphered disclosed vulnerabilities that could impact millions of BitcoinJS-based wallets created between 2011 and 2015.
OKX Partners With Polygon to Launch Layer 2 Network ‘X1’
The crypto exchange plans to launch its own zero-knowledge proof-based Layer 2 network with OKB serving as its native token.
Dapper Labs Partners With Disney on NFT App
The upcoming Disney Pinnacle app will let users collect and trade unique pins featuring IP from the media giant, including Star Wars.
The recent Wall Street Journal article that claimed Hamas raised $130 million via cryptocurrency has sparked considerable debate, especially after Sen. Elizabeth Warren used it as her sole source to ask for tighter regulations around crypto. However, the veracity of this claim has come under scrutiny.
Yaya Fanusie, Jessi Brooks, and Andrew Fierman delve into the veracity of reported figures, the methodology behind them, and the subsequent industry responses that sought to correct the public record. They examine the political implications of cryptocurrency, its use in funding organizations, and the nuanced role of stablecoins in this digital economy. Additionally, they address the broader challenges in regulating crypto to prevent illicit funding, emphasizing the need for factual accuracy and a comprehensive approach to understanding and tackling such complex issues.
Daily Bits…✍️✍️✍️
🚔 The Delaware Department of Justice will investigate the fake BlackRock XRP Trust filing that temporarily spiked XRP prices.
🔍 SEC reported a “productive year” with increased enforcement actions in the crypto industry, including charges against high-profile firms and celebrities.
💥 Over $307 million in leveraged long positions in crypto were liquidated yesterday, marking the largest such wipe-out since August amid a sharp decline in digital asset prices.
⚖️ India's Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking government regulation of cryptocurrency trading and mining, citing misuse of the legal process.
👾 A Mutant Ape Planet NFT developer Aurelien Michel pleaded guilty to a $3M fraud and agreed to pay $1.4M in forfeiture.
⛏️ Bitcoin miner Hut 8 reported a more than doubled net loss in Q3, with reduced production due to higher network difficulty and operational issues.
🧠 Singapore's regulators aim for sustainable AI development, drawing lessons from the challenges faced in the crypto sector.
Today in Crypto Adoption...
🏦 Standard Chartered's SC Ventures launched tokenization platform Libeara, aiming to make diverse asset classes more accessible.
💹 The Monetary Authority of Singapore collaborated with major financial firms like JPMorgan, DBS, and BNY Mellon to pilot tokenization in various financial services.
💱 IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva suggested Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) could replace cash, especially in island and advanced economies, highlighting their potential for resilience and financial inclusion.
🔒 Crypto custodian Hex Trust secured a full Virtual Asset Service Provider license in Dubai, expanding its services to institutional clients and sophisticated investors.
The $$$ Corner…
💰 Blockchain.com raised $110 million in Series E funding, led by Kingsway Capital, despite a decrease in valuation from its peak in 2022.
What Do You Meme?
Recommended Reads
Unchained: Experts Challenge WSJ and Senator Warren’s Claims on Hamas Crypto Fundraising
Jesse Walden on the progressive ownership model in the evolution of token distribution models
Exit games for EVM validiums: the return of Plasma by Vitalik Buterin
📈 Your Market Update 📉
BTC is down 1%, trading at $35,987
ETH is down 2%, trading at $2,000
BTC dominance: 49.06%
Crypto market cap: $1.43T
*All data as of today, 06:22 am ET
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