US govt delays enforcement of crypto broker reporting requirements: Report

The reporting requirements, aimed at reducing the size of the tax gap, were scheduled to take effect in January 2023, with crypto firms sending reports to the IRS starting in 2024. The provision in the US infrastructure bill signed into law in November, which will require financial institutions and crypto brokers to report additional information, could reportedly be delayed.According to a Wednesday report from Bloomberg, the United States Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service may not be willing to enforce crypto brokers collecting information on certain transactions starting in January 2023, citing people familiar with the matter.

Switzerland-based crypto mining firm expands operations to Texas

The company reported its operations in the United States will have an initial capacity of 3 megawatts, aiming for the firm’s total hashrate to be more than 1.6 EH/s. White Rock Management, a cryptocurrency mining company based in Switzerland, said it will be expanding its operations to the United States, starting with Texas.In a Tuesday announcement, White Rock said it will be partnering with Natural Gas Onsite Neutralization, or NGON, a company that captures natural gas that would otherwise be burned and converts it to energy for use in the firm’s Bitcoin (BTC) mining operations.

KPMG enters the metaverse, invests $30M in Web3 employee training

The long-term objective for the company is to examine other potential metaverse use cases such as health care, consumer, retail, media and financial services. KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms in Canada and the United States, has revealed the opening of its first metaverse collaboration hub to help its employees and clients pursue growth opportunities in the digital era.KPMG is entering the metaverse with a new collaboration hub that will connect employees, clients, and others with Web3.

Celsius denies allegations on Alex Mashinsky trying to flee US

Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky wasn't trying to leave the US last week but has continued to work on recovering liquidity and operations, the company has claimed. Troubled crypto lending firm Celsius is putting their best foot forward to recover operations alongside CEO Alex Mashinsky, who currently stays in the United States, the company has claimed.A spokesperson for Celsius has denied rumors that the company's CEO tried to flee the US last week amid the ongoing liquidity crisis of the Celsius Network.The representative told Cointelegraph on Monday that the firm continues working on restoring liquidity, stating: “All Celsius employees — including our CEO — are focused and hard at work in an effort to stabilize liquidity and operations.

Ripple Will Leave The United States If The SEC Wins In Court, CEO Says

Brad Garlinghouse has not a single doubt about what to do should Ripple lose against the SEC: They will leave the United States for good.

Grayscale reports 99% of SEC comment letters support spot Bitcoin ETF

“The approval of each and every Bitcoin-linked investment product strengthens our arguments about why the US market deserves a spot Bitcoin ETF," said CEO Michael Sonnenshein. Digital asset manager Grayscale reported overwhelming support in public comments for its application to launch a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.In a Monday letter to investors, Grayscale said that of the more than 11,400 letters the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, had received in regards to its proposed Bitcoin (BTC) investment vehicle, “99.96 percent of those comment letters were supportive of Grayscale’s case” as of June 9.

Goldman Sachs downgrades Coinbase stock to ‘sell’

The United States cryptocurrency exchange has seen its stock price plunge in lockstep with Bitcoin, Ether and the broader digital asset market.

Top 5 cryptocurrencies to watch this week: BTC, UNI, XLM, THETA, HNT

Although Bitcoin is struggling to form a bottom, altcoins are on a roll and the current price action could benefit UNI, XLM, THETA and HNT. The United States equities markets witnessed a sharp comeback last week, led by the Nasdaq Composite which gained 7.5%.

Price analysis 6/24: BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, ADA, SOL, DOGE, DOT, SHIB, LEO

A handful of on-chain metrics suggest that Bitcoin could be close to bottoming, and if true, the eventual relief rally could induce sharp gains from altcoins. The United States equity markets and the cryptocurrency space are witnessing a relief rally this week.

John McAfee’s Body Is Still in a Spanish Morgue a Year After He Passed, His Widow Wants Answers

A year ago on June 23, the anti-virus software tycoon John McAfee was found dead in a Spanish prison after Spain’s high court approved McAfee’s extradition to the United States.

CBDC may threat stablecoins, not Bitcoin: ARK36 exec

A state-backed digital currency like the US dollar doesn’t necessarily have to be a competitor to a decentralized cryptocurrency, one industry exec believes. Central bank digital currencies (CBDC) do not pose any direct threat to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) but are still associated with risks in relation to stablecoins, one industry executive believes.According to Mikkel Morch, executive director at the digital asset hedge fund ARK36, a state-backed digital currency like the US dollar doesn’t necessarily have to be a competitor to a private or a decentralized cryptocurrency.That’s because the use cases and value proposition of the decentralized digital assets “often go beyond the realm of simple transactions,” Morch said in a statement to Cointelegraph on Thursday.The exec referred to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell who earlier this year hinted that the United States government would not stop a “well regulated, privately issued stablecoin” from coexisting with a potential Fed digital dollar.As such, active commitment to the CBDC development does not mean that other countries like Singapore are unfriendly to non-state-backed cryptocurrencies, Morch said.

Ripple CEO criticizes SEC for 'contradictions' on crypto regulations

“The SEC [decided] to do regulation through enforcement, which is not efficient and really I think has stifled innovation in the United States," said Brad Garlinghouse. Brad Garlinghouse, the chief executive officer of Ripple Labs, has claimed the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, has inconsistently imposed regulations on crypto firms in the country. Speaking to Wired editor-in-chief at the Collision conference in Toronto on Thursday, Garlinghouse pointed to Ripple’s current legal battle with the SEC, in which the federal regulator has alleged the company’s executives conducted an "unregistered, ongoing digital asset securities offering" with XRP token sales.

US lawmaker lays out case for a digital dollar

"It is now time for Congress to begin the process of considering and ultimately passing authorizing legislation for the issuance of a US CBDC," said Representative Jim Himes. Connecticut House of Representatives member Jim Himes has released a proposal aiming to start a dialogue on the United States potentially launching a central bank digital currency, or CBDC.In a white paper released on Wednesday, Himes urged Congress to begin exploring the rollout of a digital dollar issued by the Federal Reserve to prevent the government from falling behind in innovations in financial technology.

SEC’s Hester Peirce opposes crypto bailouts — SBF didn’t get the memo

The commissioner made it clear she does not support bailouts for anyone in the crypto industry, arguing it's better to “let these things play out.” Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commissioner Hester Peirce has spoken out against crypto company bailouts, arguing it’s actually better to “let these things play out,” to create a more sustainable industry. Peirce, the most pro-crypto commissioner for the United States SEC, told Forbes that the recent crash in crypto, though painful, is separating strong companies from the weak.“When things are a bit harder in the market, you discover who's actually building something that might last for the long, longer term and what is going to pass away,” she said.

FTX US acquires Embed Financial subsidiary for stock trading platform

The FTX Stocks platform has been in beta testing for select US users since May, but the firm reported it would be available to all domestic customers sometime in the summer. The United States-based subsidiary of cryptocurrency exchange FTX will acquire Embed Financial Technologies as part of a deal aimed at “enhancing” the company’s stock offering.In a Tuesday announcement, FTX US said it will purchase Embed Financial Technologies and its subsidiary, clearing firm Embed Clearing, for an undisclosed amount “pending satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.” The deal followed the crypto firm’s announcement in May that it would be launching a stock trading platform, with FTX Stocks partnering with Embed Clearing to “execute, clear and custody” user accounts and trades.According to FTX US president Brett Harrison, the acquisition of the clearing firm will provide the technology and infrastructure facilitating the crypto exchange’s stock offering.

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester Is ‘Not Predicting a Recession,’ Says Inflation Will Move Down

Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank president Loretta Mester doesn’t think a recession will take place in the United States but believes it will take two years to get inflation back down to 2%.

ProShares Announces First Bitcoin-Linked Short ETF in US

Yet another futures-based Bitcoin ETF is set to launch in the United States, but with no spot ETF in sight. 

ProShares will launch ETF aimed at shorting Bitcoin following dip under $20K

The ETF will allow US investors to bet against BTC using futures contracts given the cryptocurrency’s performance in a single day, as measured by the CME Bitcoin Futures Index. The firm behind one of the first Bitcoin futures-linked exchange-traded funds in the United States will give investors a new vehicle to bet against the price of the cryptocurrency.In a Monday announcement, exchange-traded fund issuer ProShares said its Short Bitcoin Strategy ETF would be available for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, starting Tuesday under the ticker BITI.

Stablecoins highlight 'structural fragilities' of crypto — Federal Reserve

“Stablecoins that are not backed by safe and sufficiently liquid assets and are not subject to appropriate regulatory standards create risks to investors," said the Fed report. The Federal Reserve’s board of governors pointed to stablecoins as a potential risk to financial stability amid a volatile crypto market.In its Monetary Policy Report released on Friday, the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System said “the collapse in the value of certain stablecoins” — likely referring to TerraUSD (UST) becoming unpegged from the United States dollar in May — in addition to “recent strains” in the digital asset market suggested “structural fragilities.” The government department pointed to the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets report from November 2021, in which officials said legislation was "urgently needed" to address financial risks.“Stablecoins that are not backed by safe and sufficiently liquid assets and are not subject to appropriate regulatory standards create risks to investors and potentially to the financial system, including susceptibility to potentially destabilizing runs,” said the Fed report.

US lawmakers urge EPA to consider the potential benefits of crypto mining

“Digital assets, and their related mining activities, are essential to the economic future of the United States," said the group of 14 lawmakers. A group of 14 United States senators and House representatives have signed a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency extolling what they believe are the benefits of crypto mining.In a Thursday letter, many US lawmakers including pro-Bitcoin Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Tom Emmer addressed EPA administrator Michael Regan, requesting the government agency analyze the potential impact of crypto mining in an effort to balance innovation with environmental concerns.

US Air Force taps SIMBA Chain to develop budgeting and accounting system

They said the purpose of DiBaT is to convert all dollars in the USAF supply chain budget into tokens and monitor fund movement across billing centers, purchasing centers and suppliers. For many years, the United States Military has been experimenting with blockchain in a number of settings to enhance its operations.

Price analysis 6/15: BTC, ETH, BNB, ADA, XRP, SOL, DOGE, DOT, LEO, SHIB

BTC and select altcoins notched small gains after the Federal Reserve rolled out a 75 basis point rate hike, but technical analysis suggests that further downside is the most realistic outcome. Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted close to the crucial support of $20,000 as traders panicked and dumped their holdings, fearing an aggressive rate hike by the United States Federal Reserve on June 15.

FINRA may hire employees terminated from crypto firms: Report

“Anybody who is getting laid off from a crypto platform and wants to work for FINRA, give me a call," said president and CEO Robert Cook. The United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, reportedly plans to “bulk up” its capability to monitor crypto — a move which could include scooping up employees recently terminated from crypto companies.According to a Tuesday Reuters report, FINRA president and chief executive officer Robert Cook encouraged crypto workers expected to be on the chopping block to reach out to the financial regulator as part of its efforts to increase resources related to the space.

Seized crypto safe with US Marshals Service? Not so much, new audit reveals

OIG’s audit disclosed the lack of documented policies and practices related to the management of seized crypto assets — especially related to the use of inventory spreadsheets. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the United States Department of Justice conducted an extensive audit of the cryptocurrencies seized by the US Marshals Service (USMS) — revealing the dire need for the federal agency to revamp its existing crypto management and policy systems.OIG’s audit on the seized cryptocurrencies found the USMS implementing adequate safeguards over its storage and access.

Spritz Finance Bill Pay Beta Launches on Polygon Network

{PRESS RELEASE – Greenwich, Connecticut, 14th June 2022] Spritz Finance, a Web3 personal finance platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) users to easily pay their bills with crypto, announced today that the company’s closed beta for its bill pay product is now available to all Polygon Network users, beginning in the United States.

Spritz Finance bill pay beta launches on Polygon Network

Spritz Finance, a Web3 personal finance platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) users to easily pay their bills with crypto, announced today that the company’s closed beta for its bill pay product is now available to all Polygon Network users, beginning in the United States.

Spritz Finance Bill Pay Beta Launches on Polygon Network

June 14, 2022 – Greenwich, Connecticut Spritz Finance, a Web 3.0 personal finance platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) users to easily pay their bills with crypto, announced today that the company’s closed beta for its bill pay product is now available to all Polygon Network users, beginning in the United States.

Self-Custody Crypto Wallets To Be Targeted by US Treasury, According to Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo

The United States is concerned about the risks posed by self-custody or unhosted crypto wallets, according to the US Treasury’s Deputy Secretary, Wally Adeyemo.

SEC chair warns about 'too good to be true' returns amid market downturn

Gary Gensler added that he continued to be “intrigued with the technology,” but did not directly address if the SEC would approve a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Gary Gensler, chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, reiterated his call for investor protection in securities offered by crypto firms.Speaking virtually at the Robert F.

US trademark filing hints at Arizona State University planning classes in the metaverse

The seven filings also suggested ASU could be exploring the use of nonfungible tokens to authenticate many documents from diplomas to tickets for university events. One of the largest public universities in the United States by enrollment may be planning to launch virtual classes in the metaverse in the future. According to records submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, on June 7 and June 8, the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University filed seven applications for variations of its name — ASU, Arizona State, Arizona State University — as well as that of its football team, the Sun Devils, to be used in a virtual environment.