Kraken’s new Layer-2 blockchain, Ink, has launched on the mainnet earlier than expected, driven by strong community backing and developer excitement. Originally planned for 2025, Ink's debut reflects the overwhelming demand shown through millions of testnet transactions and connected wallets.
Ink is built on the Optimism Superchain and focuses on decentralization and interoperability. Kraken plans to begin Stage 1 decentralization in January, introducing permissionless fault proofs to enhance t
Arthur Hayes Urges Trump to Devalue Gold and Back Bitcoin
Arthur Hayes, the CEO of BitMEX, has proposed that the United States devalue the price of gold and establish a Bitcoin reserve to boost its economic growth. In his latest article, Hayes suggests this bold move could help the Treasury quickly generate dollar credits, which could then be used to purchase Bitcoin (BTC). He believes this approach would strengthen the economy and secure the U.S.’s position as a global financial leader.
Hayes argues that devaluing gold could inject significant funds
MicroStrategy May Pause Bitcoin Buys Amid Blackout Rumors
Speculation is rising that MicroStrategy may temporarily halt Bitcoin (BTC) purchases in January due to a rumored blackout period affecting the issuance of shares or convertible debt. These blackout periods, often self-imposed by publicly traded companies, restrict certain financial activities to comply with regulations or avoid the appearance of impropriety.
According to a venture capitalist, Executive Chairman Michael Saylor faces restrictions in January that could prevent him from issuing co
ASIC Sues Binance Australia Over Consumer Protection Failures
Australian regulator ASIC has filed a lawsuit against Binance Australia Derivatives, accusing the company of failing to protect consumers by misclassifying over 500 retail clients as wholesale investors between July 2022 and April 2023. This misclassification allegedly deprived these clients of critical legal protections.
Retail clients in Australia are entitled to safeguards like a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), a Target Market Determination (TMD), and access to dispute resolution systems
The Senate Banking Committee has officially ended its attempt to renominate Caroline Crenshaw as an SEC Commissioner, confirming her term will conclude in January. This decision leaves a crucial vacancy in the SEC, which oversees the U.S. financial markets.
Crenshaw’s replacement must, by tradition, be a Democrat since no more than three of the five Commissioners can belong to the same political party. Her departure, alongside the expected resignation of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler in January, si
Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek recently met with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss strategies for promoting crypto-friendly policies. The meeting focused on appointing pro-crypto figures to key government roles and exploring ways to overhaul the current regulatory landscape for the cryptocurrency sector.
In a significant move, Crypto.com withdrew its lawsuit against the SEC, signaling a potential shift in the exchange’s approach to U.S. regulations. The lawsuit, filed i
Bitwise has announced the launch of a Solana staking ETP, called BSOL, in the European Union. This move comes as the firm faces significant regulatory challenges in the United States, where efforts to introduce a Solana ETF have been stalled. The BSOL ETP aims to attract investors with staking rewards of up to 8% annually, offering an appealing alternative to US-based ETFs, which are prohibited from providing such returns due to securities laws.
Bitcoin spot ETFs in the United States have overtaken gold ETFs in assets under management (AUM), marking a significant shift in investor preference. This milestone reflects the growing popularity of Bitcoin as a modern alternative to traditional assets like gold. Despite gold ETFs having a 20-year advantage, Bitcoin ETFs have surged ahead within just a year of their launch in January 2024.
The approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the US has bridged the gap between cryptocurrency and traditional fi
Ledger users have become the latest targets of a sophisticated phishing scam, as scammers impersonate official Ledger communications to steal recovery phrases. These fake emails, crafted to appear legitimate, urge users to verify their recovery phrases on a fraudulent website, granting attackers full access to victims’ cryptocurrency wallets. The surge in holiday transactions adds urgency to the ongoing threat of crypto scams.
The phishing campaign, detailed by tech news outlet Bleeping Compute
Deutsche Bank's New Tech Bridges Crypto and Finance
Deutsche Bank has unveiled a groundbreaking Layer-2 (L2) blockchain solution to address the compliance challenges of using public blockchains in traditional finance (TradFi). Named Project Dama 2, this initiative is part of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Project Guardian and involves major financial institutions exploring blockchain technology for asset tokenization.
This innovative L2 protocol enhances public blockchains like Ethereum, focusing on cost efficiency, security, and re
Bitcoin Hits $108K: New Record as Confidence Grows
Bitcoin has reached an all-time high of $108,264, continuing its impressive upward trend. The cryptocurrency is trading at $108,223, marking a 2% increase over the last 24 hours. Bitcoin’s price has surged nearly 60% since the U.S. elections, driven by growing confidence in President-elect Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance. Trump has pledged to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve and nominated crypto supporter Paul Atkins to replace current SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who has been criticized for his a
Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed company, has raised $30 million through zero-interest bonds to expand its Bitcoin holdings. This strategic move highlights the company’s growing reliance on Bitcoin as a long-term investment, echoing a similar approach taken by MicroStrategy.
The company announced the issuance of 4.5 billion yen in bonds, set to mature on June 16, 2025. These bonds come with no interest, allowing Metaplanet to avoid short-term financial burdens while boosting its Bitcoin reserves. Wha
EU MP Warns Against Digital Euro, Urges Bitcoin Adoption
In a passionate speech at the European Parliament, Sarah Knafo, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), strongly opposed the European Central Bank's (ECB) plans for a digital euro while promoting Bitcoin as a better alternative for Europe. Knafo urged European nations to follow El Salvador’s example and build their own Bitcoin reserves to strengthen their economies during uncertain times.
Knafo emphasized Bitcoin’s key benefits, including its decentralized system, fixed supply, and rising ad
Bitcoin has reached a new all-time high (ATH) of $107,699.00, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing bull run. This surge has driven the total cryptocurrency market cap to $3.73 trillion, further fueling investor excitement. Now, all eyes are on whether Bitcoin can continue this momentum and hit $110,000 before the year ends.
On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin has broken out of a rising channel pattern, showcasing strong buyer strength. The price movement has hit the target of an inverted hea
MicroStrategy’s $46B Bitcoin Bet Raises Big Questions
MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, now holds 439,000 BTC, valued at around $46.92 billion, representing over 2% of Bitcoin's total supply. This bold strategy has positioned MicroStrategy as a leader in corporate Bitcoin adoption but also raised concerns about its impact on market stability and decentralization.
MicroStrategy’s aggressive approach uses debt and equity to fund Bitcoin purchases, deviating from traditional corporate treasury methods. The company recently raised $1.5 billion by
Riot Platforms Buys $69M in Bitcoin, Hits 17,429 BTC
Riot Platforms has added 667 BTC to its Bitcoin holdings, spending $69 million at an average price of $101,135 per Bitcoin. This acquisition brings Riot’s total Bitcoin reserves to 17,429 BTC, valued at nearly $2 billion at current market prices. The announcement caused Riot’s stock to jump by 8%, showing strong investor confidence in its strategy.
Riot, which began focusing on Bitcoin mining in 2018, operates from its Oklahoma facility and has since adopted a strategy similar to MicroStrategy'
FTX has confirmed that its Chapter 11 reorganization plan will officially take effect on January 3, 2025, with repayments to creditors expected within 60 days. The company has partnered with BitGo and Kraken to manage the distribution process, finally offering hope to those impacted by its collapse.
According to the official notice, eligible creditors must submit tax documentation and register with either BitGo or Kraken to receive their funds. If claims were transferred, payments will go only
MicroStrategy Buys $1.5B in Bitcoin, Hits 439,000 BTC
MicroStrategy has boosted its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing 15,350 BTC for around $1.5 billion between December 9 and December 15, 2024. The company paid an average price of $100,386 per Bitcoin, marking the first time it bought BTC at over $100,000 per coin. This latest acquisition increases MicroStrategy’s total holdings to 439,000 BTC, valued at approximately $27.1 billion.
The company’s strategy of using Bitcoin as its main treasury asset reflects its confidence in the cryptocurrency's lon
Grayscale Opens Horizen Trust as Crypto Market Rallies
Grayscale has opened its Horizen Trust (HZEN) to accredited investors, offering exposure to ZEN tokens without needing to own or manage them directly. This move comes as Horizen (ZEN), a blockchain project utilizing zero-knowledge cryptography, completed its final halving, which has sparked a rally in the ongoing crypto bull market. However, ZEN's current value remains far below its all-time high in 2021.
Grayscale has managed the Horizen Trust for several years, but until now, it wasn’t availa
Bitcoin has reached a new all-time high, crossing $106,368 and marking another milestone for the cryptocurrency. The rally reflects growing institutional interest, expanding adoption, and favorable market conditions that continue to drive momentum.
Crypto analyst Rachael Lucas from BTC Markets noted that this record high signifies a turning point for Bitcoin. “This achievement highlights Bitcoin’s shift from being a retail-dominated asset to one increasingly shaped by institutional investors, E