Category: Reviews

Coinbase Secures VASP License in France as It Continues Expansion in Europe

Coinbase has officially received a license in France and can offer French users trading, custody, and several other related crypto services. Major American crypto exchange Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN) has officially registered as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in France. The exchange is fully permitted to handle crypto services in the countries, allowing it to continue its expansion into Europe. Users in France can now buy or sell supported cryptocurrencies in legal tender or against other crypto assets, as well as use retail and institutional services, including custody. According to…

Demand for DVT Sends SSV.Network Past $150M in Staked ETH

Anyone with the will and the technical ability is free to run their own Ethereum validator and connect to SSV. Ethereum stakers are rapidly warming to Distributed Validator Technology, which is becoming a mainstay of the staking landscape. Following its introduction by SSV.Network, staking operators, and validators have been swift to embrace the technology for the benefits it brings in terms of performance and security. $150M is now staked in SSV either directly or through third-party apps that use the network’s open-source technology. This constitutes over 67,000 in staked ETH…

US Weekly Job Claims Edge Up Slightly amid Robust Labor Market, GDP in Q3 Increases at 4.9%

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that GDP increased at a 4.9% annualized rate in Q3, slightly below the previously reported 5.2% pace. The latest report from the United States Labor Department reveals a marginal increase in weekly jobless claims, with the number rising by 2,000 to 205,000 for the week ending December 16. While this uptick might raise eyebrows, it is important to note that the overall trend remains at historically low levels, indicative of a labor market that has defied expectations amid challenging economic conditions. The US Economic…

Merit Circle DAO Announces BEAM Investment Partnership with Framework Ventures

The partnership between Framework Ventures and Merit Circle will involve locking up BEAM tokens to receive USDC usable for investments. Gaming and metaverse-focused decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) Merit Circle has announced a partnership with San Francisco-based venture capital firm Framework Ventures. According to the announcement, Merit Circle’s collaboration with Framework will see the latter invest in Merit via BEAM tokens. After the acquisition, BEAM tokens will be sent to the treasury, with some sold to strategic investors. The announcement specifies that the tokens will be diversified so that some trusted parties can access…

Crypto Training Demand Reach New Heights among Law Enforcement

In addition to the expected surge in crypto-related probes, the survey uncovered a noteworthy trend in the adoption of blockchain analytics tools.  According to a survey conducted by TRM Labs, 93% of law enforcement agencies worldwide are currently engaged in crypto training programs, with an overwhelming 99% expressing the urgent need to enhance their education to combat illegal activities within the industry effectively. The study titled “Tackling Crypto Crime” was carried out by an external polling company between October and November 2023 to delve into the complexities of crimes involving…

Ark Invest Continues to Trim Holdings in Coinbase (COIN) and GBTC

Amidst the sell-off, Ark Invest has strategically acquired 158,334 shares ($12.1 million) in Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc for its Next Generation Internet ETF.  Ark Invest, a renowned asset management firm led by Cathie Wood, has been making strategic adjustments to its portfolio, most notably in its dealings with Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN) and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). According to the company’s recent trade filing, Ark Invest sold additional tranches of Coinbase shares, offloading a total of 149,780 COIN ($24.2 million) from two of its funds as the stock reached…

Three Arrows Capital Founders See $1 Billion Asset Freeze

A court has frozen the assets of the Three Arrows Capital founders. The company owes $3.3 billion to creditors and filed for bankruptcy after the collapse of the Terra ecosystem last year. One of the most notable events in the crypto industry last year was the collapse of the Terra ecosystem. After Terra failed, many companies connected or exposed to it suffered losses as well. One of these was Three Arrows Capital which filed for bankruptcy in July 2022.  Now, about $1 billion in assets belonging to Three Arrows Capital’s…

Bitcoin Price Eyes $44K Mark as Crypto Market Cap Is Close to $1.7T

The overall crypto market cap was close the $1.7 trillion mark on Wednesday, signaling that more money might be flowing into the crypto industry. Bitcoin (BTC) price rebounded from some of its losses from yesterday, edging close to the $44,000 level early Thursday morning. Recall that on Wednesday, US stocks recorded an unexpected drop that saw the S&P 500 index closing 1.42% lower on the day. This drop, albeit unsurprisingly, was enough to impact riskier assets like Bitcoin and the rest. And as a result, the broader market immediately went…

Oasys Teams Up with Datachain and TOKI to Transform Web3 Gaming Interoperability

This partnership with Datachain and TOKI marks the latest in a series of high-profile collaborations for Oasys, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its ecosystem and progressing through its roadmap. Oasys, a leading gaming-focused blockchain, has forged strategic partnerships with Datachain and TOKI to enhance the interoperability of Web3 games built. This collaboration with Oasys demonstrates the industry’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of Web3 gaming despite difficult conditions in the broader crypto market over the last 18 months. Oasys’ Commitment to Unique Blockchain Experiences Daiki Moriyama, Director of Oasys, emphasizes…

Redditors Redflag Deepfake Video Featuring Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse

A Reddit user has reported that Google is unwilling to take down a video advertisement that appears to be an attempted scam targeting cryptocurrency users. Reddit users have recently uncovered a deepfake video featuring Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, urging XRP holders to transfer their tokens to a specific address with the promise of receiving double the amount – a notorious tactic employed by scammers. A Reddit user reported the fraudulent video in a Reddit thread, thus encountering the deceptive advertisement on YouTube between Nov. 25 and Dec. 3. Additional users…