The U.S. SEC Has Initiated Talks with Grayscale Investments on the Conversion to Spot Bitcoin ETF

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated discussions with Grayscale Investments regarding the details of their application to convert the GBTC trust product into an ETF. This development could have a significant impact on the crypto industry, according to an individual familiar with the ongoing interactions between the two parties.  The industry eagerly anticipates the SECs approval of one or more ETF applications, as it is believed that this moment could streamline the path for everyday investors to access digital assets. The anonymous source revealed that Grayscale has been in contact with the SECs Trading and Markets Division, as well as the agencys Division of Corporation Finance, ever since winning the legal battle. These discussions have been taking place in private. (Coindesk)  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

SEC Opposes Binance’s Motion To Dismiss Lawsuit

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed opposition to a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against Binance.US, Binance, and CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), arguing that the defendants violated securities laws and committed fraud.SEC opposes Binance‘s motion in Securities Lawsuit  The SEC also requested Judge Amy Berman Jackson sign a proposed order in favor of the regulator. The SEC opposes Binance’s motion outlines several reasons why the court should deny the motion to dismiss.  Firstly, the SEC argues that the defendants actions violated the Howey test, which determines whether a transaction is an investment contract and therefore subject to securities laws. The SEC also asserts that the defendants violated investment contract rules by illegally listing unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrencies.  Furthermore, the SEC opposes Binances motion, claiming that the agency is overreaching its authority by regulating the crypto industry. The SEC maintains that it has the authority to protect investors under existing securities laws, regardless of the asset class involved.The Agency Reaffirms Authority to Regulate Crypto  Additionally, the SEC accuses Binance.US of delaying and failing to cooperate with the SEC‘s investigation. The SEC highlights disputes related to document discovery and depositions, which have hindered the SEC’s ability to effectively investigate the

2023-11-09Deep Dive

Ark Invest Collaborates with 21Shares to Launch a New Series of Digital Asset ETFs

Ark Invest is preparing to launch a series of new ETF products in partnership with 21Shares, aiming to provide investors with a range of robust options for incorporating digital assets into their portfolios.  “These products are designed to achieve long-term capital appreciation through strategic investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts, as well as applications of blockchain technology, leveraging on-chain signals and our crypto-native expertise,” as stated by 21Shares.  According to the prospectus, these ETF products will be listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe), with five products set to begin trading next week.  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

BRC-20 Founder: Updating BRC-20 Documentation to Version 0.9, First Update in Seven Months

BRC-20 founder domo announced on X platform that version 0.9 Freeze will be updated to the BRC-20 documentation at block height 816,000. This marks the first update in seven months and emphasizes the importance of simplicity and trust in maintaining consensus.  According to the official documentation Proposal page, The Freeze takes into account past issues with the old version Ord and anticipated significant updates. It aims to standardize indexers to ensure consistent script validity and state stability within BRC-20.  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

WSJ: Former NYSE President in Talks to Relaunch FTX

Former New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farleys company is one of three entities bidding for the remaining assets of FTX as the auction process enters its final stages. According to sources, the cryptocurrency exchange Bullish, financial technology startup Figure Technologies, and cryptocurrency venture capital firm Proof Group are competing to acquire FTX. The winning bidder will have the opportunity to relaunch the exchange after it exits bankruptcy proceedings next year. (The Wall Street Journal)  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

Crypto Bank SEBA Secures Cryptocurrency-Related Services License from SFC

Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank has been granted a license by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, allowing its subsidiary to operate crypto-related services locally.  In a statement today, SEBA announced that the license permits SEBA Hong Kong to trade and distribute all securities, including virtual asset-related products, such as over-the-counter derivatives and structured products based on virtual assets.  The bank is also authorized to provide advice on securities and virtual assets and manage assets in fully delegated accounts for traditional securities and virtual assets.  SEBA Bank opened a new office in Hong Kong in November of last year. Currently, the bank conducts global operations in Switzerland, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong.  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

UAE Central Bank Issues Guidelines to Penalize Unlicensed Local Virtual Asset Service Providers

Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank has been granted a license by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, allowing its subsidiary to operate crypto-related services locally.  In a statement today, SEBA announced that the license permits SEBA Hong Kong to trade and distribute all securities, including virtual asset-related products, such as over-the-counter derivatives and structured products based on virtual assets.  The bank is also authorized to provide advice on securities and virtual assets and manage assets in fully delegated accounts for traditional securities and virtual assets.  SEBA Bank opened a new office in Hong Kong in November of last year. Currently, the bank conducts global operations in Switzerland, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong.  

2023-11-09Deep Dive

Robinhood’s Q3 Report: Cryptocurrency Revenue Dips 55% to $23 Million!

Robinhood Markets Inc. faced a late-trading setback as its shares tumbled following the release of financial results that fell short of estimates.  The online brokerages revenue took a hit due to decreased cryptocurrency trading activity, resulting in a drop in transaction-based revenue.  The company disclosed a net revenue of $467 million, missing the average analyst prediction of $478.9 million. Nevertheless, this figure marked a 29% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Transaction-based revenues experienced an 11% decline from the previous year, settling at $185 million. This decrease was primarily attributed to lower cryptocurrency trading volumes, which plummeted by 55% over the year, as reported by Robinhood in a statement on Tuesday.  The news of the financial results led to a 7% drop in Robinhood‘s share price during late trading in New York. Despite this setback, the company’s shares have seen a significant overall increase of nearly 20% throughout the year.Global Expansion and Regulatory Challenges  In a bid to continue its global expansion, Robinhood also revealed its plans to introduce European cryptocurrency trading and initiate its brokerage operations in the UK in the coming weeks.  Robinhood is well-known for offering commission-free trading services, enabling users to trade various cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin,

2023-11-08Deep Dive

SushiSwap CEO Proposes "Deploying New SUSHI Token Economics"

SushiSwaps newly appointed CEO, Jared Grey, has initiated a community proposal to deploy a new tokenomics for SUSHI. The proposal is currently undergoing a community poll. The new token model is built upon principles of protocol sustainability, enhanced token utility, and fund diversification, and includes:  Liquidity Subsidies: Improving the efficiency of liquidity subsidies to reduce the annual cost of SUSHI emissions.  Value Alignment: Aligning SUSHIs revenue with sustainable emissions.  Financial Stability: Addressing the current emissions-to-revenue ratio affecting economic viability to enhance stability.  LP Incentives: Realigning incentives for liquidity providers to remain competitive.  Staking Mechanism: Consideration of modifications to the xSushi staking.  xSushi Distribution: Providing fairer value distribution among participants for xSushi staking.  Additionally, the new economic model is designed to strategically expand through DEX innovations and includes:  Transaction Fees: The primary source of income from trading in liquidity pools.  Routing Fees: Income from transaction fees acquired through Aggregation Router.  Staking Fees: Potential revenue from staking rewards.  Partnerships: Opportunities for income growth through strategic partnerships.  

2023-11-08Deep Dive

Decentralized GPU Infrastructure Aethir Announces Testnet Launch

Decentralized GPU infrastructure provider Aethir has announced the launch of its testnet. Built on the Arbitrum network, the Aethir testnet allows game developers to create cloud ports instantly, and AI enterprises can utilize localized computing power for human-AI interaction.  In July of this year, Aethir achieved a pre-A round funding with a valuation of $150 million, with leading investments from Sanctor Capital, Hashkey, Merit Circle, and CitizenX. Other investors include Mirana Ventures, Animoca Brands, Momentum6, Big Brain Holdings, Builder Capital, Tess Ventures, Maelstrom (Arthur Hayes), Lapin Digital, among others. The total funding raised has now exceeded $9 million.  

2023-11-08Deep Dive
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