Kraken Halts XRP Trading For US Users Following The SEC Charges

The list of cryptocurrency exchanges to halt XRP trading from its services for US citizens continues to grow with the addition of Kraken.

Complete Internet Shutdown Wipes Out Uganda Bitcoin Trading

In the US, social media can shut down the president.

French Programmer Sent Bitcoin Donations to Far-Right Activists Who Participated in the US Capitol Riots

A crypto forensic analysis reveals that a French donor sent over $500,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC) to far-right activists in the United States.

Crypto Exchange Located in Europe Will Not Delist XRP Despite Legal Battle

Despite the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s ongoing lawsuit against Ripple for selling XRP, which it refers to as an unregistered security, Gatehub, with offices in the UK and Slovenia, will not delist the cryptocurrency.

Kraken to Halt XRP Trading for US Residents

Clients residing outside the US will be unaffected.

Incoming SEC Chief: Fate of XRP Could Have Wider Impact on Crypto Industry

Gary Gensler, widely expected to be the next chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, believes Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC could have a wide-reaching impact on the crypto industry.

Crypto Exchange Owner Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud Americans

The US has sentenced a cryptocurrency exchange owner to 10 years in prison.

US Lawmakers Reintroduce Crypto Crime Bill to Combat 'Terrorist Use'

The bill calls for the formation of an “Independent Financial Technology Task Force to Combat Terrorism and Illicit Financing.”

$500K Bitcoin Donation Funneled to Groups Involved in US Capitol Riot: Analysis

Blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis has reported that some of the people involved in the US Capitol riot received donations in bitcoin.

Ledger Users Get Phishing Phone Calls After Database Leak

Ledger crypto wallet users are reporting suspicious phone calls that seemingly originate from all across Europe.

Crypto anti-terrorism bill introduced in the US House of Representatives

A bipartisan group of representatives has introduced a bill to the House that seeks to create a task force focused on combating terrorist financing via cryptocurrencies. US Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) has sponsored a new piece of legislation aimed at creating an agency tasked with combating the use of cryptocurrencies in terrorist financing. The bill — H.R.

Biden’s $1.9T Relief Package Proposal Fails to Stir Bitcoin Market

The US dollar's rise on the news maybe be playing spoilsport to the bitcoin bulls.

Crypto Mining Hardware Manufacturer Whatsminer Plans to Launch Public Offering in the US

One of the world’s biggest bitcoin mining machine manufacturers is preparing to go public in the United States.

US Fed: CBDC a ‘very high priority’ to combat bad private sector money

The United States Federal Reserve needs its own digital currency to protect against a possible overnight proliferation of stablecoin technology, says Fed chairman Jerome Powell.

French Man Who Paid $500,000 In Bitcoin to Activists Involved in US Capitol Hill Riot Leaves Behind A Suicide Note

A Frenchman, who paid more than $500,000 In Bitcoin to Trump supporters left behind a scathing suicide note justifying his health difficulties.

Fed Chief Bets That US's 'First-Mover Advantage' in CBDC Race Is Stronger Than China's

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. Source: a video screenshot, Youtube, NBC News Jerome Powell, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve (the Fed), has suggested that the United States is in no rush to issue a central bank digital currency (CDBC), opining that the dollar’s status as the de facto world reserve currency will provide the nation with “first-mover advantage” – no matter what policies

Anchorage Obtains Federal License to Operate as Crypto Bank From the OCC

The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted conditional approval to crypto custodian Anchorage to launch the first federally chartered digital asset bank in the country.

TA: Ethereum Struggles Near $1,250: Why ETH Remains Attractive On Dips

Ethereum gained bullish momentum above the $1,150 resistance against the US Dollar.

TA: Bitcoin Revisits $40K, What Are Chances of BTC Hitting New ATH

Bitcoin price recovered further and surged above the $38,000 resistance against the US Dollar.

Bitcoin friendly Brian Brooks to step down as Acting Comptroller of US OCC

United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced on 14 January that the federal agency’s Acting Controller Brian Brooks will step down, and that Blake Paulson will become the The post Bitcoin friendly Brian Brooks to step down as Acting Comptroller of US OCC appeared first on AMBCrypto.

Ripple Effect: Institutional Giant Grayscale To Dissolve XRP Trust

Grayscale Investments is dissolving the Grayscale XRP Trust in light of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against Ripple.

Coinbase Invests in New US Crypto Mining Pool Titan

Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Coinbase opens the door to more crypto listings with Asset Hub

The US digital currency exchange plans to significantly increase its service offerings this year.

Jerome Powell on CBDCs: ‘We Don’t Feel a Need to Be First’

The US is going slow on central bank digital currencies (CDBCs) considering the risks they may pose to the dollar’s dominance, the Fed Chair said Thursday.

Coinbase invests in US-based mining firm amid industry diversification efforts

Titan secured funding from Coinbase to offer a US-developed software suite for miners. Coinbase Ventures, the investment arm of the major crypto exchange, has invested an undisclosed amount into Titan, a developer of software and services targeted at industrial Bitcoin (BTC) mining. According to Titan’s announcement, the investment will help continue development of the company’s products and improve efficiency and profitability of Bitcoin mining companies. Ryan Condron, co-founder and CEO of Titan, said that “mining has advanced from hobby, to industry, to critical global computing infrastructure, and Titan is prepared to help world-class miners meet these challenges.” Titan offers advanced pool and mining software targeted specifically for professional US-based miners.

Top US Banking Regulator Grants Federal Charter to Crypto Firm Anchorage

South Dakota-based Anchorage Trust Company is making history as the first federally-chartered bank in the US to receive permission to custody digital assets.

Grayscale Scores Another Record, Buys 194% More Bitcoin Than Miners Generated

US-based major crypto investment company Grayscale said it once again "experienced unprecedented investor demand" in the last quarter of 2020.

Survey: The Number of US Financial Advisors Allocating to Crypto in Client Portfolios Jumped 49% in 2020

A survey reveals that the number of US financial advisors allocating to crypto in their clients’ portfolios surged significantly from 2019.

21 Lawyers Gearing Up To Battle SEC’s Case Against Ripple and XRP

Twenty-one lawyers are gearing up to fight the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against Ripple and two of its executives.

Jack Dorsey Defends the Ban on President Trump’s Twitter Account and Praised Bitcoin

Jack Dorsey defended Twitter's decision to ban US President Donald Trump's account but said that the Internet might learn a lesson from Bitcoin.

Greenlight: Anchorage Secures Crypto Banking Charter from the OCC

The OCC has granted conditional approval to the cryptocurrency custodian Anchorage, which could become a US-based national crypto bank.

Charted: Polkadot (DOT) Surges 35%, Key Resistance Turned Support at $10.5

Polkadot’s DOT started a strong surge after it broke the $10.00 resistance against the US Dollar.

US President-Elect Biden to Nominate MIT Blockchain Professor Gary Gensler as SEC Chairman

The US President-elect Joe Biden is set to name Gary Gensler as the new chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to replace Elad Roisman.

TA: Ethereum Fails Again At $1,150: Why Dips Could Be Limited

Ethereum started a decent increase above $1,080, but it failed again near $1,150 against the US Dollar.

TA: Bitcoin Smashes Key Resistance, Why Dips In BTC Are Now Attractive

Bitcoin price broke the main $36,000 and $36,500 resistance levels against the US Dollar.

Jack Dorsey cites Bitcoin as a better model for the internet in Trump ban explanation

Days after Donald Trump’s account was banned, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey explained that it was the right decision, but still sets a dangerous precedent. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey cited his passion for Bitcoin and decentralization in a 13-Tweet thread today explaining why the company banned US President Donald Trump from the platform last week.

Grayscale Investments liquidates all of its XRP ... while it still can

Grayscale is dissolving its XRP Trust, and will distribute cash to investors after liquidating all XRP held by the trust. Institutional crypto fund manager Grayscale Investments has begun the dissolution of its XRP Trust in response to the SEC’s December lawsuit alleging the XRP token is a security under US law. According to an announcement published Jan.

New SEC chair could favor Bitcoin, but not XRP?

Earlier today, reports emerged stating that President-elect Joe Biden’s administration will appoint former chair of CFTC Gary Gensler to lead US Securities and Exchange Commission.

IHS Markit Likely to Join Race for Crypto Indexes on Wall Street: Exec

"We have every millennial that works for us thinks we should have a major pricing, data services, software and participation," said CEO Lance Uggla.

Japan’s FSA Says XRP Not a Security: Report

The regulator's stance contrasts with that of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Anchorage gets OCC's first national charter granted to a crypto bank

With Acting Comptroller Brooks on his way out the door, the OCC has given its first digital bank charter. Custody pioneer Anchorage is the first crypto firm to see a charter from the US national bank regulator. Per a Wednesday announcement from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Anchorage will have conditional authorization to operate as a trust institution nationally.

FinCEN’s Crypto Surveillance Rule Violates the US Constitution

Proposals requiring crypto companies to report transactions amount to "mass surveillance" and flout the Fourth Amendment.

Publicly-Listed Lottery Company to Buy $14.4M Worth of Bitcoin Mining Machines

A US listed Chinese sports lottery firm announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire bitcoin (BTC) mining machines.

This Is The Biggest Risk To Crypto Market According to Pantera Capital CIO

Leveraged trading is the biggest risk to the crypto market in terms of what could cause “something to pop down the line,” according to Joey Krug, Co-chief Investment Officer (CIO) at US-based major crypto investment company Pantera Capital.

An online future for finance is inevitable, says OCC's Brooks

Brooks considers the migration of the financial system onto the internet "inevitable." The departing leader of the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is convinced that the future of finance is blockchain-native, per a conversation with crypto analytics firm Elliptic on Wednesday. Described by Elliptic CEO Simone Maina as "a fairy godfather to the crypto industry," Brian Brooks has been a leading light in US federal policy toward crypto since taking over for Comptroller Joseph Otting in May 2020.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin Trades Sideways as US Inflation Is Muted

The line of sight on US inflation is anything but clear after the Labor Department reports the CPI's smallest yearly gain since 2015.

Bitcoin Startup Ramp Expands to US and Canada

Residents of the United States and Canada now can buy Bitcoin, Etherum, USDC, and DAI via Ramp’s platform.

US Navy Commissions $1.5M Blockchain System for Tracking Critical Weaponry

Blockchain firm SIMBA Chain won a contract to build a system to anticipate demand for "critical" military weaponry parts.

Mastermind of $147 Million Crypto ‘Scam of Epic Proportions’ Sentenced to 10 Years in US Prison

The mastermind of what the US Department of Justice calls a scam of “epic proportions” has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

China's MicroBT is reportedly planning a US IPO

China's MicroBT, one of the world's biggest Bitcoin mining rig manufacturers, is planning to go public in the United States, according to local reports. MicroBT manufactures WhatsMiner and over the The post China's MicroBT is reportedly planning a US IPO appeared first on AMBCrypto.

Top Crypto Lawyer Says New SEC Chief Will Boost Bitcoin – But XRP Is Another Story

Compound Labs general counsel Jake Chervinsky says Gary Gensler, who is widely expected to become the next chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will be favorable to Bitcoin (BTC).

‘Drive your lambos to the moon,’ says Lindsay Lohan in crypto promotion vid

The celebrity was commissioned to record a promotional video for cryptocurrency, in which she forecast new all-time price highs for Bitcoin and Ether. The crypto bull season — and the accompanying hype — is undoubtedly upon us.

ECB president Lagarde renews calls for global regulation of Bitcoin

In a recent interview, Lagarde said that Bitcoin has been used to conduct "funny business" and "totally reprehensible money laundering activity." The European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde has repeated her insistence that global regulators need to tighten the rules to ensure Bitcoin (BTC) falls under more coordinated oversight.  In an interview at the Reuters Next conference — amid an unprecedented bull market for the veteran cryptocurrency — Lagarde argued: “[Bitcoin] is a highly speculative asset, which has conducted some funny business and some interesting and totally reprehensible money laundering activity.” While Bitcoin is pseudonymous, rather than anonymous, its distributed nature and complex interaction with jurisdictional regulatory frameworks present a challenge for international authorities.

Former Coinbase compliance exec joins BitGo as new CCO

BitGo has hired a former Coinbase compliance officer following a $98,000 settlement with the US Treasury. BitGo, a major digital asset custody and security company, has hired a former compliance executive of Coinbase. Jeff Horowitz, Coinbase’s former chief compliance officer, is joining BitGo as its new chief compliance officer, the firm announced Jan.

Most US Financial Advisors Want to up Crypto Holdings in 2021 – Survey

American financial advisors are growing increasingly crypto-keen, with a survey of almost 1,000 professionals in December showing that no advisors were looking to offload crypto holdings over the year ahead.

US Navy awards $1.5M jet fighter contract to blockchain project

SIMBA Chain has been tapped to beef up the supply chain of the United States Navy after receiving a $1.5 million research grant.

Charted: Why Synthetix’s SNX Could Rally To $20 While Bitcoin Corrects

Synthetix (SNX) remained in a bullish zone above $15.00, despite pullbacks in bitcoin and ethereum against the US Dollar.

TA: Ethereum Facing Major Hurdles: Why 100 SMA Could Trigger Fresh Rally

Ethereum struggled to clear $1,150 and started a fresh decline against the US Dollar.

Crypto leaders worry over threat from ‘big tech’ censorship

Social media users are leaving traditional providers in droves in favor of more independent platforms over fears of unwarranted data collection, censorship, and refusal of service. A change to WhatsApp’s terms of service has triggered a mass exodus from the messaging platform to more private and independent rivals like Telegram and Signal, which have registered millions of new users over the last week.  Rather than agreeing to new terms specifying the app’s right to share user data with Facebook, millions of WhatsApp users simply gave up using the platform, abandoning it for less-intrusive competitors.

Number of financial planners investing in crypto increases by 50%

A survey published by Bitwise has found that nearly 10% of investment advisors have made client portfolio allocations into crypto assets. A survey published by crypto index fund provider Bitwise Asset Management has found the number of financial advisors allocating capital toward crypto has increased by roughly 50% in one year. The survey, conducted in partnership with investment website ETF Trends, queried nearly US-based 1,000 financial advisors in December.

TA: Bitcoin Struggles Below $35K, Why BTC Could Revisit $30K

Bitcoin price failed to clear the key $36,000 resistance zone against the US Dollar.

Ripple Unveils Push To Bring XRP Ledger to Central Banks

Amid an ongoing lawsuit with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple is pressing forward to bring the XRP Ledger to central banks.

Reuters: Gary Gensler, MIT blockchain professor and Obama's CFTC chair, to head Biden SEC

Gensler taught a course on "blockchain technology's potential use — by entrepreneurs and incumbents — to change the world of money and finance." President-elect Biden has finally decided on his nominee to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. At least according to Reuters' anonymous sourcing in a Tuesday report, Gary Gensler will be Biden's nominee as SEC Chair.

Bitcoin lessons: What the past 48 hours taught us about whales

After a significant period of swing action, Bitcoin, at the time of writing, was finally consolidating near the $35,000-mark.

US Dollar and Coinbase Also Blamed For Bitcoin Sell-Off

Source: Adobe/Юрий Дьяконов The strenghtening US dollar and technical issues at major crypto exchange Coinbase might be partially blamed for the bitcoin (BTC) crash seen yesterday, according to analysts. There's something behind every crash of the world's number one crypto, and many become determined to find who and what is to blame.

What is USDC? Beginner's Guide (2021)

US Dollar Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin—a cryptocurrency token pegged to the value of a real-world asset, in this case the US Dollar.

Seven times that US regulators stepped into crypto in 2020

From capping off the era of ICOs to tightening regulations on private wallets, US financial watchdogs waded deeper into the crypto land than ever in 2020. As digital assets made strides toward mainstream status in 2020, the guardians of the incumbent financial system have been working hard to minimize disruption caused by their integration.

Stellar Leads Crypto Gains as XLM Rallies by 49%; Pullback Ahead?

Stellar Lumens’ native token XLM was among the biggest gainers in the cryptocurrency market in the previous 24 hours, rising by roughly 49 percent in the US dollar-pegged markets.

Bakkt Predicting Sky-high Growth for ‘USD 3 Trillion’ Crypto Sector

Source: Adobe/あんころもち(ankomando) Bakkt, the US-based crypto platform, owned by the Intercontinental Exchange Inc., is forecasting high rates of growth in the crypto industry over the next few years, as well as growth in associated industries, factors that may have influenced its own decision-making. As reported yesterday, Bakkt is preparing to go public via a merger with blank-check

DeFi coverage protocol expands protection against centralized exchange hacks

Nexus Mutual is now allowing users to cover their centralized exchange accounts. DeFi coverage protocol Nexus Mutual expanded the list of centralized exchanges eligible for incident protection.

Bitcoin price climbs 20% overnight as US banks brace for 40% profit cut

Bitcoin made a swift 20% recovery from the weekend’s bloodbath, while American banks prepare to post major losses in their upcoming quarterly reports.

Avatar Social Platform IMVU Launches Ethereum Token to Power Its Virtual Economy

The VCOIN token launch got the green light from the US Securities and Exchange Commission late last year.

IMVU's new blockchain-backed stablecoin goes live

The token, which has gotten a lot of attention for its interesting way of placating US regulators, is now live for IMVU users in over 140 countries.

Charted: Litecoin Approaching Breakout, Why LTC Could Rally If It Breaks $150

Litecoin price declined heavily below $150, but it found support near $115 against the US Dollar.

JP Morgan Warns a US Bitcoin ETF Could Bust BTC Prices in the Short Term

Strategists at the Wall Street bank have warned that the approval of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the US could negatively impact its price in the short term.

TA: Ethereum Reverses Losses: Why ETH Could Face Resistance Near $1,130

Ethereum declined almost 30% and tested the $900 support zone against the US Dollar.

TA: Bitcoin Holds Strong Above $30K, Why BTC Could Struggle Near $36K

Bitcoin price declined over 25% and it even traded close to $30,000 against the US Dollar.

JP Morgan Warns of Falling BTC Price With Bitcoin ETF Approval in US

JP Morgan’s analysts say that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) is likely negative for bitcoin in the near term.

Crypto Listing and Delisting Announcements: Week 2

Source: iStock/~UserGI15632523 Here is our weekly collection of digital asset listing and delisting, trading pair-related announcements by crypto exchanges that we found last week and today. Have we missed something? Do you have information about new listings and/or delistings? Let us know here. _________________________________________ Atomars Listings: CounosX (CCXX) Unifi Protocol DAO (UNFI)

Now Is the Time to Advance the Decentralized Web

After the US Capitol insurrection and Twitter's unilateral ban of President Trump, decentralizing the web has never been more necessary.

From Booze to Bitcoin: New York Bar Owner Set to Sell Businesses for Cryptocurrency

In what could be the first-ever crypto restaurant sale in the US, New York City bar owner Patrick Hughes is offering to sell two popular restaurants in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood for Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Tether Mints Record 2B USDT in One Week

The previous record of 1.5 billion USDT was set the week before last.

Banks Were Fined $15 Billion in 2020, Study Finds

US banks paid out over $12 billion, with Goldman Sachs racking up a $6 billion bill.

US-Listed Chinese Lottery Firm Plans $14.4M Move Into Bitcoin Mining

Shares of the company traded up 11% on the news of the deal to purchase miners later this year.

IOTA blockchain used to track COVID-19 test results at Frankfurt Airport

Ubrich GmbH is providing a solution using IOTA to the Frankfurt Airport Corona Testing Center. Early on in the pandemic, the heightened need for various biosurveillance measures sparked interest in the relevance of privacy-enhancing technologies such as blockchain that could protect public health data amid the crisis.  An individual Twitter user claimed last week that Frankfurt Airport's Corona testing center appeared to be using IOTA blockchain technology to manage passengers' health stat, and this fact has now been confirmed to Cointelegraph by the technology provider. Ubirch, a blockchain-based cybersecurity technology provider based in Cologne and several other locations, has developed the IT infrastructure for a solution it calls the "Digital Corona Test Certificate." The solution supports verification of an individual's SARS-CoV-2 status while remaining compliant with European data protection standards under the GDPR framework.

Could Bitcoin Reclaim $40,000? The US Dollar Index Has An Answer

Bitcoin logged its worst plunge since March in the previous three sessions, stoking concerns among traders that its overheated price rally is beginning to lose steam.

Charted: Ripple (XRP) Dives Below $0.30, Why 100 SMA Is The Key

Ripple started a strong decline after it failed near $0.3700 against the US Dollar.

TA: Ethereum Corrects 20%: Why ETH Could Find Strong Support At $1,000

Ethereum started a sharp downside correction below $1,200 against the US Dollar.

Bitcoin Billionaire Tyler Winklevoss Pushes BTC Scarcity as 26% of US Dollars Were Printed in 2020

Bitcoin billionaire Tyler Winklevoss again made the case for Bitcoin over the US dollar, alluding to the crypto’s scarcity and limitless federal money printing.

Crypto Advocates Think Joe Biden’s $3 Trillion Stimulus Plan Will Bolster Bitcoin

According to various reports, US President-elect Joe Biden is planning to create another $3 trillion for Covid-19 relief and infrastructure.

TA: Bitcoin Corrects To $35K, Why BTC Could Start A Fresh Increase

Bitcoin price started a downside correction after it broke $39,000 against the US Dollar.

Digital Monetisation in a COVID-19 Era: A Fresh Approach

Gather Network offers users new streams of income as the world is forced to live online The continued grip of CoronaVirus has seen the majority of the world’s population locked down at least once in the last year.

Regulators dial up the heat: Dash, ZEC and Monero reach boiling point?

Can privacy coins be better managed to satisfy both law enforcement interests and those who like the greater anonymity they provide? On New Year’s Day, the US-based crypto exchange Bittrex announced via Twitter that it was delisting three leading privacy coins: Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC) and Dash.

Ethereum Broke Major Hurdle, Why ETH Could Soon Test $1,420

Ethereum settled nicely above $1,000 to start a fresh increase against the US Dollar.

Bitcoin Consolidates above $40K, Why BTC Could Surge To $50K

Bitcoin price gained further momentum and traded to a new all-time high near $42,000 against the US Dollar.

Hester Peirce Says Enforcement From the SEC Not the Best Way To Provide Crypto Clarity

US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce is vocalizing her preference for clearer crypto regulations in the United States.

Ripple’s CEO Addresses Key Allegations by US SEC — Legal Response Coming Soon

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has addressed some of the allegations made by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against his company.

Brace for impact? After hitting $42K, Bitcoin price volatility may rise

Bitcoin whales are selling while buyers in the US are accumulating, who will get the upper hand, and where will BTC’s price go next? The price of Bitcoin (BTC) achieved a new all-time high above $42,000 on Jan.

This Multibillion Bitcoin Dump By US Gov Could Be a Drop in the Bucket

The bitcoin (BTC) price has been a runaway train of late and there is seemingly nothing that can get in its way.

One Big Reason to HODL Bitcoin: to Lower Taxes

Shehan Chandrasekera of CoinTracker told The Decrypt Daily that US-based crypto users should understand long-term capital gains taxes.