🎲 Polymarket bettors are in a tizzy over the definition of "approved" in a $13.2M wager on the approval of Ether ETFs by May 31. The "Yes" camp celebrated early when the SEC greenlit 19b-4 filings, but the "No" camp argues that without the S-1 filing, the party's not started yet. One disgruntled "No" bettor even changed their name to "RevengeTour19B4" in protest. Meanwhile, the "Yes" camp insists that the bet was on "approval," not trading commencement. As the debate rages on, both Polymarket and Risk Labs remain tight-lipped. Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the Crypto World Turns!"

🤖 "Hello, this is not President Biden!" In a twist straight out of a sci-fi novel, political consultant Steven Kramer faces a hefty $6 million fine for using AI to mimic Joe Biden's voice in robocalls. The AI-powered prankster asked New Hampshire voters to "save their vote" for the November election. The FCC didn't find the joke funny, slapping Kramer with 13 felony voter suppression charges and 13 misdemeanor impersonation charges. Meanwhile, Lingo Telecom, the unwitting accomplice in transmitting the calls, faces a $2 million fine. Kramer claims his stunt was an act of civil disobedience to highlight the dangers of AI in politics. Talk about a costly punchline! 📞💰

🎉 Spot Ether ETFs have been given the green light for their 19b-4 filings! If the US securities regulator follows the Bitcoin ETF timeline, we could see these funds launching as early as mid-June. But don't hold your breath, the S-1 approval process could take up to five months. 😅

Bloomberg ETF analysts are optimistic, with one even suggesting a mid-June launch is "certainly possible". However, there's a small chance that one of the five SEC Commissioners could challenge the decision within the next 10 days. But hey, let's not rain on our parade.

If the S-1s get signed off, Ether ETFs could see 10-20% of the flows that Bitcoin ETFs have seen. That's a potential $2.66 billion! But let's not count our chickens before they hatch. Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀

🎉 Ether (ETH) ETFs are on the brink of approval, and some experts believe this could be the SEC's subtle nod that ETH isn't a security. "ETH is a commodity, even with its current attributes," says Adam Cochran, partner at Cinneamhain Ventures. But don't pop the champagne just yet! Some believe the SEC might still chase after staked ETH. "ETH itself, they're not going to call a security but staked ETH might be a security," warns Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart. So, while the party's starting, keep an eye out for party poopers! 🍾🎉

🚀 VanEck, the asset manager, has been given the green light by the SEC for its spot Ether ETF, and they're not shy about celebrating! Just half an hour after the approval, they released a 37-second ad inviting viewers to "Enter the Ether." While the SEC still needs to approve the S-1 filing for trading to start, the ad has already garnered over 170,000 views and a largely positive response. Other asset managers are yet to release ads for their approved ETFs. So, are we ready to fuel a less centralized, open-source economy? That's up to you and me, says VanEck.

🎲 From poker pro to crypto whiz, Roy Bhasin, aka Zeneca, has been making waves in the NFT world. After a rollercoaster ride with his NFT portfolio, he's now all in on Fantasy Top, a game built on Ethereum's L2 network. Zeneca's poker skills have helped him navigate the chaotic crypto waters, teaching him to disassociate from money and focus for long periods. Despite his portfolio's ups and downs, he's still passionate about NFTs and Web3, and believes in the potential of blockchain technology. Just remember, folks, it's all fun and games until someone loses their chips! 🎰

🎭 In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood thriller, President Biden is pondering whether to veto a pro-crypto bill, H.J.Res.109, that both the House and Senate have passed. This bill aims to overturn an SEC rule that requires banks to keep customers' crypto on their balance sheets. Biden's initial stance was to veto, citing concerns over limiting the SEC's regulatory reach. However, with a surprising show of bipartisan support for the bill, the crypto community is left in suspense. Will Biden stick to his guns or bow to the political pressure? Stay tuned for the next episode!

🚀Fantom Foundation, the brains behind the Fantom decentralized network, is launching a new foundation to oversee the rollout of their upcoming Sonic chain. The Sonic Foundation will manage Sonic’s governance, network treasury, partnerships, and DApp ecosystem. Sonic will offer a new layer-1 solution and a built-in layer 2 that connects directly to the Ethereum network. This means Sonic users can tap into Ethereum’s vast ecosystem of decentralized applications, liquidity providers, and community. Fantom's unique consensus model, Lachesis, allows for a finality time of 1-2 seconds per block. Sonic boom, anyone?

🎉 The SEC has given a thumbs up to spot Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds in the US! This nod of approval comes despite whispers of the regulator possibly labeling Ether as a security. This move follows the SEC's approval of Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year, making 2022 a year of firsts for the crypto industry. However, don't pop the champagne just yet, as ETF issuers still need the SEC's signature on their S-1 registration statements before trading can officially begin. This could take anywhere from days to months. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill that could bring more regulatory clarity to the crypto world. Stay tuned for more updates!

📉 Bitcoin's recent price drop from $71,980 to $67,550 left traders in shock, especially those betting on a new all-time high after the early week rally. Despite this, analysts remain optimistic, predicting a parabolic uptrend once BTC breaks 2021's all-time highs. Some even suggest this could be a "fake out", a pattern Bitcoin has displayed before. The current correction has also led to a "hidden bullish divergence", further supporting Bitcoin's upside. However, the downturn did result in a $159.3 million liquidation of long positions. But hey, what's a rollercoaster ride without a few drops? 🎢

📣 The US House of Representatives passed the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, a bill that could put the kibosh on Federal Reserve banks offering certain products or services directly to individuals. The bill, which is as controversial as pineapple on pizza, has sparked debates about potential abuse of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and the risk of undermining the U.S. dollar's primacy. Critics have called the bill a "word salad" favoring "crypto bros," while supporters warn of a dystopian future where the politician you despise most controls a CBDC. The bill now faces a vote in the Senate. Stay tuned! 🍿

👩‍💼Power women in crypto! Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, manages a $4 billion trading volume exchange. From a TV host learning about Bitcoin at $300, to leading a major crypto exchange, her journey is nothing short of inspiring. She's not alone. Meet He Yi, co-founder of Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange. Once a TV host and VP at OKcoin, she now co-leads Binance, handling a whopping $36.5 billion daily volume. These ladies are shattering glass ceilings and proving that crypto isn't just a man's world. 💪🚀

🏔️ Bitcoin (BTC) has reached new heights, literally! Dadvan Yousuf, a 23-year-old crypto enthusiast, waved the BTC flag at the summit of Mount Everest. Not just a stunt, Yousuf aimed to highlight the global disparity in access to financial education. Sherpas and climbers were intrigued, asking about memecoins and where to buy them at 8,849 meters above sea level. Despite the frostbite and near-death experiences, Yousuf's determination was as solid as Bitcoin's blockchain. Next stop, the moon? 🚀

🚀 Buckle up, crypto enthusiasts! A friendlier regulatory environment is expected by 2025, thanks to positive developments. Bloomberg's Nathan Dean suggests that Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF approvals could be on the horizon, with 71 House Democrats supporting the FIT Act. Stablecoin frameworks might also emerge by next year. However, the SEC still holds the reins on token classifications. Meanwhile, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority has approved the first Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs, a step towards making Britain a global crypto hub. Hong Kong is also considering staking custodied Ether. So, keep your eyes peeled for a potential Ethereum ETF decision from U.S. regulators!

🎉 Good news, New Yorkers! After a 9-month break, Coinbase is back in the XRP game! 🎉 Coinbase's chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, announced that XRP trading is now available in NY. This comes after the SEC's 2020 lawsuit against Ripple Labs, which led to many exchanges, including Coinbase, delisting XRP. But the tables have turned, and XRP is back on the menu after a 2023 court ruling. Despite some ongoing regulatory hurdles, XRP's price has reacted positively, jumping from $0.51 to nearly $0.53. So, get your trading hats on, folks!

🧱Waves founder Sasha Ivanov has unveiled Units Network, a new project designed to connect ecosystem chains in a fully interoperable and trustless manner. The network, which is based on the Waves ecosystem, allows users to launch their own layer-1 (L1) blockchain based on Waves staking. Ivanov believes that the simplicity of launching blockchain networks and their effective connection to existing networks are key to the mass adoption of blockchain technology. The Units Network is fully compatible with Ethereum and aims to simplify the process of launching your own blockchain network. The network is expected to launch in June-July this year.

🔍Montenegro's Justice Minister, Andrej Milović, is playing a high-stakes game of "Where in the World is Do Kwon?" The Terraform Labs co-founder, found liable for fraud in the US, is currently in Montenegro, dodging extradition requests from Uncle Sam and South Korea. Kwon was nabbed in March 2023 for using fake travel docs, but his legal team has been playing a masterful game of "Delay the Extradition". The SEC, not amused, wants Kwon and Terraform to cough up a cool $5.3 billion for their shenanigans. Stay tuned for the next episode of "Crypto Fugitives"!

📣 Lawmakers in the US House are urging the SEC to approve a spot Ether (ETH) ETF, promising a safer and more regulated access to ETH for investors. The bipartisan group, including majority whip Tom Emmer and Democrat Josh Gottheimer, sent a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, requesting a fair and consistent review of digital asset-backed ETF applications. The letter also hinted at ETFs based on "other digital assets", sparking speculation on the breadth and pace of ETF industry expansion. Meanwhile, the crypto community eagerly awaits the SEC's decision on an Ethereum ETF, expected by month-end. Will the SEC give the green light or will Godzilla continue to battle Kong? Stay tuned! 🍿

🎵 AI-powered music platform, Suno, has raised a whopping $125M to make beat-making as easy as typing a text. The platform, which has already seen 10 million users including Grammy winners, allows users to generate songs, album artwork, and titles based on text prompts. Despite the competition from tech giants Google and Meta, Suno stands out with its ability to create two-minute tracks, compared to Google's 30-second snippets. But don't worry, traditional musicians, Suno's not here to steal your thunder, it's just here to make some beats! 🎶

📣 Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is urging banks to prepare for AI's impact on the banking industry. Deputy Chief, Arthur Yuen, highlighted successful cases where banks re-skilled 2% of their staff for new roles. Yuen suggests that banks should proactively plan for manpower development to coexist with AI. The HKMA has updated its Supervisory Policy Manual to encourage banks to set clear future directions for manpower development. The central bank will also study AI's impact on banking jobs to provide industry reference. Yuen remains optimistic that the banking sector can maximize tech benefits while minimizing labor market impacts. 🏦💼🤖