Crypto Guides, Knowledge & Insights

US Regulator: Investors Reported Losing Over $1 Billion in Crypto to Scams Since 2021

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revealed that more than 46,000 people have reported losing over $1 billion in cryptocurrency to scams since the beginning of last year.　　FTC Says Scammers Stole Over $1 Billion in Crypto　　The U.S. Federal Trade Commission published a “Data Spotlight” report on crypto scams Friday. The FTC is the only federal agency in the country with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy, the regulators website describes.　　Emma Fletcher, senior data researcher at the FTC, wrote:　　Since the start of 2021, more than 46,000 people have reported losing over $1 billion in crypto to scams – thats about one out of every four dollars reported lost, more than any other payment method.　　Specifically, $680 million in cryptocurrency fraud losses were reported in 2021. In the first quarter of this year, the losses due to crypto fraud amounted to $329 million.　　The researcher added that the median individual reported loss is $2,600, noting:　　The top cryptocurrencies people said they used to pay scammers were bitcoin (70%), tether (10%), and ether (9%).　　The regulator further explained that nearly half the people who reported losing crypto to a scam since 2021 said it started with “an ad, post, or

2022-06-06Deep Dive

Goldman Sachs Survey Indicates Insurers Slowly Warming to Crypto

In its latest survey of the insurance sector, Goldman Sachs has, for the first time, included questions related to cryptocurrencies. The replies of top global asset managers show that theyre slowly recognizing crypto assets as investments.　　The adoption of digital assets by insurance sector investors has been a keenly watched space. In December 2020, MassMutual Insurance Company invested $100 million in BTC.　　Interest of Asset Managers in Crypto　　The report observes that although very small, the level of interest among insurers in cryptocurrencies is growing.　　“The vast majority of insurers are not considering investing in cryptocurrencies. American insurers are slightly more interested, with 11% currently invested or considering investing in cryptocurrencies, compared to Asian insurers at 6%, and European insurers at 1%. However, this level of interest is still notable,” the survey report said.　　The Goldman Sachs Asset Management Insurance Survey 2022 has inflation, investment uncertainty, yield enhancement, and Environment Social and Governance (ESG) as the themes. The survey involved 328 CIOs and CFOs, who represent over $13 trillion in global balance sheet assets, which is about half of the global insurance industry.　　How Crypto Fared in the Survey　　The survey asked the respondents to mention three asset classes that they think would deliver the highest returns

2022-06-06Deep Dive

Central African Republic to tokenize natural resources

The Central African Republic is stepping up its blockchain adoption with a new announcement from the president revealing that the country will tokenize access to its natural resources.　　President Faustin-Archange Touadéra posted the statement announcing these latest developments on his official Twitter account. The announcement explained that this is the next step for Project Sango, which the country had earlier announced.　　Part of the statement reads:“We are giving everyone access to the riches of our land. In other words, we are transforming them into equally valuable and important digital assets through an unprecedented new administrative, economic movement.”　　Additionally, the president has directed the parliament to prepare a strategy that will create investment opportunities.　　This is in the buildup to the country‘s Project Sango, launched in May. International bodies like the World Bank and IMF have criticized the country’s Bitcoin adoption move. However, the government appears to be sticking to its guns.　　Meanwhile, Project Sangos website claims that the World Bank has approved a $35 million development fund for the project.　　CAR is blessed with abundant natural resources, including petroleum, copper, rhodium, and diamonds. It also has other minerals like cobalt, manganese, gold, and limestone.　　But the country is one of the poorest and least developed nations despite

2022-06-06Deep Dive

CBDCs To Kill Private Cryptos, Indian Central Bank Warns

The Indian Cryptocurrency market has been dealing with many restrictions lately. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the 30% tax over the profit made from the digital assets trading in this year‘s Union Budget. However, she also mentioned the launch of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) backed by the government. Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of the Nation’s Central Bank has laid a warning for the private crypto tokens.　　RBI maintains negative stance　　Rabi Sankar, newly appointed Deputy Governor of the RBI mentioned that the launch of CBDC might eliminate the logic of private cryptocurrencies existence. Sankar gave out this statement in a webinar organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).　　The Reserve Bank of India has been a big opposer to Cryptocurrency. He extended the authority‘s stand over private digital assets use in the nation. Sankar said that it shouldn’t be permitted just because they are backed by hi-tech. Technology is a tool and it can be used for good however it can also be utilised for undesirable use. An understanding of its limitations is required in order to protect the citizens, he added　　Digital assets carry zero value　　RBIs latest assertion has landed ahead of soon to be released Consultation paper on crypto. The Indian

2022-06-06Deep Dive

Bloomberg strategist says Bitcoin will hit $100K by 2025

Bloombergs Senior Commodity Strategist Mike McGlone was recently a guest at Kitco News. He analyzed the current market and argued that Bitcoin will outperform all other assets in the world and hit $100 thousand by 2025.　　According to McGlone, the great reversion is just getting started. The current market reflects the most significant inflation in 40 years, the first in most peoples lifetime. However, he also argued that once this period is over, Bitcoin will soar and become the best asset to hold in the world.　　McGlone mentioned both Bitcoin and Ss volatility　　McGlone also analyzed the recently changed sentiment towards Bitcoin. He was asked why Bitcoin became a risk-on asset while it behaved as a safe inflation hedge for so long.　　McGlone answered the question by explaining that this volatility is just a maturation period of a nascent technology and asset. He mentioned:　　“260 days volatility in Bitcoin is almost the same as Teslas, the same as what Amazon was in 2009, and the same as what gold was in 1980.”　　He concluded his words by saying that once the transition period for Bitcoin is over, it will become a risk-off asset that can be safely used as an inflation hedge.

2022-06-06Deep Dive

Former product manager at OpenSea charged with insider trading

The charges are related to digital collectibles bought and sold on the NFT marketplace in September 2021.　　On Wednesday, United States prosecutors in Manhattan charged Nathaniel Chastain, 31, with insider trading. Chastain is a former product manager at OpenSea, the largest nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace. This will be the first case of its kind regarding digital assets and traditional criminal investigations.　　Prosecutors claim that Chastain bought 45 NFTs through anonymous hot wallets and anonymous accounts on OpenSea and then sold them for a profit shortly after. He allegedly bought them shortly before they were featured on the OpenSea marketplace homepage and sold them for a profit right after. As the product manager, it would have been in his power to choose which NFTs were featured, giving him direct access to the insider information that he, himself, created.　　Related: What is front-running in crypto and NFT trading？　　Included in the claim of 11 separate trades was the NFT called “Spectrum of a Ramenfication Theory” on Sept. 14, 2021, which would have been sold the next morning for almost four times the buying price.　　U.S. Attorney Damian Williams commented on his offices commitment to follow up on insider trading in all of its forms. Chastain was charged

2022-06-02Deep Dive

Kraken CEO defends listing LUNA 2.0: ‘Bitcoin traders don't pay the bills’

Kraken‘s Jesse Powell came under fire for listing the second-generation LUNA; separately, he railed against TradeFi’s crypto exchange claims.　　The crypto winter has emotions running high. Kraken CEO Jesse Powell came under fire for his defense of listing the new LUNA, also known as LUNA 2.0, which seeks to bring the original LUNA — now known as Luna Classic (LUNC) — and TerraUSD — now known as TerraUSD Classic (USTC) — back from the dead.　　Respected names in the crypto industry such as Nic Carter of Castle Ventures spoke out against the decision, while in a separate tweet thread, Powell lashed out at short-seller Jim Chanos, who had built a large short against Coinbase, Krakens biggest competitor.　　Carter simply tweeted “why” to the official Kraken Twitter account that announced the listing of the new LUNA.　　The worlds fourth-largest crypto exchange, Kraken lists over 160 cryptocurrencies. The list grows every month, from Bitcoin (BTC) to Filecoin (FIL) to the second iteration of LUNA, which currently sits 164th on its price index.　　The first Terra collapse wiped out circa $50 billion, causing suicide hotlines to be pinned to the Terra subreddit, while legal documents reveal Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon liquidated two branches and an entire company

2022-06-02Deep Dive

11% of US insurers invest — or are interested in investing — in crypto

United States-based insurers are the most interested in cryptocurrency investment according to a Goldman Sachs global survey of 328 chief financial and chief investment officers regarding their firms asset allocations and portfolios.　　The investment banking giant recently released its annual global insurance investment survey, which included responses regarding cryptocurrencies for the first time, finding that 11% of U.S. insurance firms indicated either an interest in investing or a current investment in crypto.　　Speaking on the companys Exchanges at Goldman Sachs podcast on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs global head of insurance asset management Mike Siegel said he was surprised to get any result:　　“We surveyed for the first time on crypto, which I thought would get no respondents, but I was surprised. A good 6% of the industry respondents indicated that theyre either invested in crypto or considering investing in crypto.”　　Asia-based insurers were next in line, with 6% interested or currently invested, and European insurers came in at only 1%.　　The report found cryptocurrencies were in fifth place for the asset class insurers expect to deliver the highest returns over the next 12 months, with 6% ranking it as their first choice, beating United States and European equities.　　Around 2% of firms indicated a current crypto investment,

2022-06-02Deep Dive

Taco tokens: Chipotle adds crypto payments via Flexa

Nearly 3,000 Chipotle restaurants across the U.S. will accept 98 cryptocurrencies as the Mexican-style fast food chain partners with Flexa to support crypto payments.　　The popular Mexican fast food chain Chipotle is now accepting cryptocurrency payments through digital payment provider Flexa at all of its over 2,950 United States based restaurants.　　Flexa announced the partnership on June 1st which will see Chipotle accept all the 98 cryptocurrencies Flexa currently supports including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and seven U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins including USD Coin (USDC). Chipotles website does not contain any information on the announcement however.　　The fast food giant is the latest Flexa partner joining other large businesses such as cinema operator Regal Theaters and Bancoagrícola, El Salvadors largest financial institution where Flexa enables both retail and merchant Bitcoin transactions for the banks customers.　　Chipotle has briefly experimented with cryptocurrencies in the past. In April 2021 to celebrate National Burrito Day it gave away $100,000 worth of Bitcoin along with free burritos and claimed it was the first U.S. restaurant brand to offer a crypto giveaway.　　For the so called “chiptocurrency” giveaway Chipotle partnered with former Ripple CTO Stefan Thomas, creating a game where players guessed a code possibly winning either a burrito or up

2022-06-02Deep Dive

Bitcoin daily mining revenue slumped in May to eleven-month low

Bitcoin miners have had a tough month, with revenue and profitability tanking in May. Hash rates remain high, however.　　Bitcoin mining revenue and profitability have continued to slide along with the assets price this year as the crypto winter deepens.　　May has been one of the worst months for Bitcoin miners in the past year as revenue and profitability continue to tank. Bitcoin daily mining revenue tanked as much as 27% in May, according to data from Ycharts sourcing data from Blockchain.com.　　On May 1, the analytics provider reported daily revenue of $40.57 million for BTC miners, but by the end of the month, it had fallen to $29.37 million. Daily mining revenue hit an eleven-month low of $22.43 million on May 24.　　BTC daily mining revenue YTD – ycharts.com　　Daily mining revenue spiked to a peak of around $80 million in April 2021 but has since fallen 62% to current levels.　　Mining profitability, which is a measure of daily dollars per terahash per second, has hit its lowest levels since October 2020, according to Bitinfocharts. The crypto metrics provider currently reports mining profitability of 0.112 USD/day for 1 THash/s.　　Furthermore, the metric has seen a decline of 56% since the beginning of the year and is

2022-06-02Deep Dive

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