Weekly Crypto News Recap - August 18, 2023

August 18, 2023




TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK


Crypto Traders Suffer $1B in Liquidations in Sharp Sell-Off for Bitcoin, Ether

CoinDesk
Crypto prices fell suddenly on Thursday night as $1b in liquidations occurred and bitcoin touched as low as $25,000 on Binance. Some attributed the decline to a WSJ article implying Elon Musk’s SpaceX had sold its bitcoin, while others blamed the shaky macro backdrop that includes recent equity market weakness, multi-year high bond yields, and East Asian economic headwinds. In addition, the move was likely exacerbated by low liquidity and concentrated dealer gamma positioning.


Coinbase Wins Approval To Offer Crypto Futures To US Clients

The Defiant
Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., has become the first regulated entity in the country to offer both spot trading and futures derivatives in the cryptocurrency space. The exchange has received regulatory approval from the National Futures Association (NFA) to offer crypto futures derivatives to eligible U.S. clients. Initially, futures contracts for Ether and Bitcoin will be available.


Grayscale Bitcoin ETF decision could happen this week, pundits say

Cointelegraph
Speculation is mounting that we may soon get a decision on Grayscale’s lawsuit against the SEC in its attempt to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF. Legal experts expect a near-term decision as nearly all March cases over the last two years are decided by the end of August. Further, some point to Tuesdays and Fridays as the preferred days to release judgements, meaning we may get a decision as soon as today.


Ether Futures ETFs Are Poised for U.S. Approval, Bloomberg Reports

CoinDesk
Citing sources familiar with the matter,
Bloomberg reported that the SEC is unlikely to block an Ether futures ETF and may approve one as soon as October. Nearly a dozen companies, including Volatility Shares, Bitwise, Roundhill and ProShares, have filed to launch the ETFs.


Crypto Custodian Prime Trust Files for Bankruptcy

Decrypt
Las Vegas-based cryptocurrency custodian Prime Trust filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. The bankruptcy filing follows Prime Trust's placement into receivership in late June by Nevada regulators, who determined the company was insolvent and unable to service customers.


BITCOIN

Bitcoin Hits All-Time High in Argentina Following Javier Milei’s Shocking Win
Bitcoin Depot Q2 revenue jumps 18% YOY, eyes growth after Nasdaq listing
Bitcoin Frontier Fund launches accelerator program for Ordinals startups
Lightning network capacity decreases while number of channels grows
Bitcoin on Ethereum Coin BTC20 Price Pumps 600% 48 Hours After Launch, Heading for $100m Market Cap


ETHEREUM

Ether whale dumps $41M days before the market crashed
Ethereum 'Restaking' Takes Shape as Next Big Trend in Blockchain Security
Kaiko Research: Bitcoin and Ethereum Are Now Less Volatile Than Oil Amid Dwindling Liquidity
Ethereum MEV incentives limit decentralization new report shows


ALTCOINS

Wintermute Proposal To Borrow YFI Draws Fire From DeFi Community
Mantle pauses token migration to stop FTX converting $43M in BIT tokens to MNT
Sei Mainnet is Live After Testnet Sees More Than 7.5M Wallets Created
Shibarium denies bridge issues, calls it FUD
Tornado Cash lawsuit judge sides with US Treasury in motions for summary judgment
SEC Gets Judge’s Nod to Argue for Appeal against Landmark Ripple Ruling
Dexalot Awarded $3M Grant By Avalanche Foundation
Shibarium launch falters, $2.5M locked in bridged funds wiping $500M from SHIB market cap
Fantom DEX rescued at eleventh hour following planned shutdown
Ripple files opposition to SEC’s expected appeal
TRON Joins JCBA (Japan Cryptoasset Business Association)
SEC v. Ripple: Judge greenlights investment banker declarant’s entry
Crypto Billionaire Justin Sun's Huobi-Linked Exchange WhiteBIT Raises Concerns Over Its Lending Platform
Helium Mobile Debuts Crypto Wireless Network in Miami—For $5 a Month
Metaverse project The Sandbox unlocks $133M worth of tokens
Maker Protocol Revenues Hit 2-Year High of $165M as Interest Rates Soar
CRV Emissions Drop By 16% As Token Turns Three
Argentina’s Data Privacy Agency Investigating Controversial Crypto Project Worldcoin (WLD)
Aragon Aims to Accelerate DAO Launches With Base
BALD Developer Sends $12M Back to Ethereum After Spectacular Mess Up


STABLECOINS

PayPal’s PYUSD Stablecoin to be Integrated in Bybit’s Spot Trading
Tether Stops Support for Bitcoin Layer Omni Citing Lack of Demand
First Digital USD soars on Binance as overall stablecoin market sinks to two-year low
Singapore Financial Regulator Issues Key Requirements for Stablecoin Issuers
PayPal Executive Says PYUSD Will Be Made Available for DeFi in the Future


CRYPTO ECOSYSTEM

Crypto Lender Helio Sentenced for Falsely Claiming to Hold an Australian Credit Licence
Bankrupt BlockFi Gets Court’s Backing, Enables Withdrawal for US Customers
Genesis, FTX Strike Deal for $175M Bankruptcy Claim
Securitize Agrees to Buy Crypto Wealth Manager Onramp to Expand RIA Services
Voyager Sends $85,000,000 in USDC to Circle As Bankruptcy Unfolds: On-Chain Data
Prosecutors Aim to Use Caroline Ellison’s Personal Notes as Evidence Against SBF
Abu Dhabi grants virtual asset firm M2 permission to offer crypto services
Multiple Base crypto projects lose more than $1M to malicious players in 24hrs
Singapore Court to Adjudicate DeFiance Capital's $140 Million Dispute with 3AC Liquidators
De.Fi's Antivirus Tool Releases on zkSync Era Mainnet
CoinDesk to lay off part of editorial staff in preparation for sale of stake: Report
Crypto Sleuth ZachXBT Avoids Lawsuit After Backing Off Claims Against NFT Trader
Celsius customers to vote on settlement plan with Fahrenheit after judge gives okay
Commodity tokenization is the economic aid Africa needs
Sam Bankman-Fried Used $100 Million in Stolen Cash for Political Donations, DOJ Alleges
Ethereum DeFi Dashboard DeBank Launches Layer-2 on Optimism’s OP Stack
'Good Luck' Convincing a Jury: Cameron Winklevoss Rebuts DCG Court Filing
Voyager’s token transfer to Coinbase sparks sell-off suspicions


NFTS / GAMING / METAVERSE

NFT marketplace OpenSea to disable royalty enforcement tool
DeGods Co-Founder Departs Amid Falling NFT Prices and Pushback
Sichuan Province of China Targets Metaverse Industry Expansion to Reach $34.4 Billion by 2025
OpenAI Just Bought a Game Studio—But Why?
Sotheby’s and Yuga Labs respond to lawsuit from Bored Ape investors
Philippine National Police Issues Warning Against Play-to-Earn Crypto Games
Grimace Forever: McDonald's Is Giving Away Free NFTs That You Can't Trade
Adidas and BAPE Team for Ultra-Limited Sneakers With Digital Twins
From Art Blocks to Block Art: Snowfro Gets Physical With 'Heart + Craft'
Zynga Breaks New Ground with Web3 Game: Sugartown
Immutable, Web3 Gaming Platform, Launches zkEVM Testnet in Bid to Diversify Infrastructure
NFT tool Sketch launched by Access Protocol pumps ACS amid sector downturn
The MET Embraces the Metaverse with Roblox to Engage Young Visitors
20 Million Reddit Collectible Avatars Minted on 0xPolygon Platform – NFTs Making a Comeback?


MINING

Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino says Bitcoin mining needs better analytical tools
AI mining method for Bitcoin increases reward chance 260% by calculating future blocks
Perfect storm for undervalued ASICs: Blockstream plans $50M raise to buy miners
Crypto Mining Gets Its Own Lobbying Voice in Washington


EXCHANGES

Coinbase Will Suspend USDT, DAI and RAI Trading for Canadian Users
OKX and CoinRoutes Alliance: Join Forces to Power Institutional Crypto Trading
Coinbase Gives Out $120,000 Worth of Bitcoin to WNBA Players
3AC Founders' OPNX Fined $2.7M by Dubai Crypto Regulator
Rise of the Crypto Underdogs: ‘Low Tier’ Exchanges Gain Market Share after Binance Falters
SDX Leads the Charge in Adopting Crypto Digital Token Identifier Standard
Binance to Shut Down Crypto Payments Service Amid Refocus On Core Products
Binance To Launch opBNB Layer 2 Network Later This Month
New Zealand Crypto Exchange Dasset Begins Voluntary Liquidation, Customer’s Assets Frozen
Binance Accuses SEC of ‘Abusing the Discovery Provisions,’ Seeks Court-Ordered Protection
Blockchain Association Supports Coinbase in Amicus Brief Filing, Says SEC Short Circuiting Legislative Process
Coinbase Says Canada Is Its Next ‘Go Deep Market’ As Crypto Exchange Announces New Expansion
Coinbase launches Stand with Crypto Alliance, reports 52k ‘advocate’ signups on first day
Binance Seeks Registration in Taiwan Under Money Laundering Control Act and FSC
US Senator Files Amicus Brief Supporting Coinbase, Says Court Should Dismiss SEC Lawsuit Against Exchange
Law expert says the amicus brief filed by 6 law scholars ‘absolutely shreds’ the SEC’s theory
Coinbase CEO admits to broken UX, promises rapid improvements following customer feedback


CAPITAL RAISES

Blockchain-Harnessing AI Project Jada Receives $25M in Capital
ZetaChain raises $27M in equity round to enable chain-agnostic interoperability
Ex-Meta Engineer’s Layer-1 Blockchain Linera Raises $6M in New Funding
BitGo Raises $100M After Scrapping Prime Trust Deal: Bloomberg
Dinari Raises $7.5M for Decentralized Stock Trading Platform
Web3 Metaverse & Creator Platform ZTX Raises $13 Million in Blockbuster Fundraising Round
Auradine: How a Crypto Startup Secured $81 Million with a Visionary Pitch
Xverse Secures $5 Million in Seed Funding Round for Bitcoin Web3 Wallet, Led by Jump Crypto
Binance Labs Fuels Helio Protocol's Liquid Staking Pivot with $10M Investment in LSDfi Expansion
Anthropic AI raises $100M from South Korea to bolster telecommunications industry


INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

Grayscale Boosts Bitcoin ETF Team as Potential Ruling in SEC Lawsuit Nears
VC firm a16z releases open-source microverse packed with generative AI NPCs in AI Town
Valkyrie files for Ethereum futures ETF
First EU spot Bitcoin ETF hits Euronext Amsterdam exchange
Kraken Ventures to raise $100M in second fund, with focus on ‘early stage founders’
FC Barcelona secures $132M investment for blockchain and NFT venture
Venture Firm a16z Dives into ZK Technology Research with 'Jolt' and 'Lasso' Projects
U.S. Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) Opens Potential Bitcoin Spot ETFs to Public Opinion
Bitcoin Spot ETF Approval Could Help Power up a New Crypto Cycle: Bernstein


TRADFI / TECH

Microsoft and LeverFi Launch AI-Backed Solution to Overcome DeFi Challenges
Federal Reserve shuts down Farmington Bank over unapproved stablecoin project
SpaceX saw valuation of Bitcoin holdings fall by $373M over two years: WSJ
CME Group to launch BTC, ETH reference rates aimed at Asia’s investors
PayPal Integrates With Crypto Wallet Ledger To Allow Users To Buy Crypto Assets Within App
Silvergate CEO to depart amid ongoing liquidation and investor suits
Uzbekistan permits two banks to issue crypto cards
Vitalik Buterin praises decentralized consensus of X Community Notes
PayPal UK to halt Bitcoin purchases until early 2024
Turn drone footage into 3D metaverses as Nvidia launches new AI tool
Stellar Invests in MoneyGram in Bid to Be a ‘Digital-Forward’ FinTech Leader
FDIC Highlights 'Novel and Complex' Crypto Risks in Annual Review
Netflix Starts Streaming Video Games—Here's Why It's a Big Deal
FedNow showcases DLT-powered payments system as service provider
Custodia Bank Now Accepting US Dollar Deposits, Adding Bitcoin Custody
Visa Exploring Ways of Paying Transaction Fees on the Ethereum Blockchain With Just a Card
PayPal Unveils Cryptocurrencies Hub: A New Crypto-Inclusive Feature


CBDC

Ripple, ConsenSys participate in Mastercard program to promote CBDC innovation
Colombia’s central bank recommends limiting CBDC holdings and spending
Russian Regions Say CBDC Will Help Them Fight Corruption
Kazakhstan Takes Another Step Closer to CBDC Launch – Digital Tenge on Its Way?


REGULATORY / COUNTRIES

SEC seeks to question Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin in Korea
North Korean hackers have stolen $2B of crypto since 2018: Report
UK crypto businesses to comply with FATF Travel Rule beginning in September
China’s new AI regulations begin to take effect
G20 Set to Crystalize Global Crypto Rules as India Wraps Up Presidency
Republican members of Congress demand information on Prometheum approval from FINRA, SEC
Dubai Offers Web3 and AI Firms A 90% License Fee Cut, Seeks To Host Largest Tech Firms In MENA
Zimbabwe central bank close to introducing gold-backed digital tokens into retail
Hong Kong securities regulator issues in-principle approval to HKVAX
S Korean Prosecutors Want to Jail $651m ‘Crypto Scammers’ for 12-15 Years
Brazil’s Congress moves to levy higher taxes on cryptocurrencies
Crypto Fraud Scheme Organizers Face Legal Action by CFTC in Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas
13% of applications approved: British regulator discloses crypto registration stats


ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE

Crypto Donations Campaign Aims to Empower Ukrainian Children Affected by War
Tragedy or rug pull? Inside the collapse of a ‘charitable’ NFT project
'Greenwashing': Gitcoin, Shell Sponsorship Draws Fire From Crypto Pundits
Understanding Blockchain's Eco-Friendly Shift: Five Steps to Clarify Energy Concerns
Shell and Gitcoin: A True Blockchain Alliance or Greenwashing Attempt?
‘Green Finance’ Options Emerge for China’s Digital Yuan
Bitcoin Mining Could Help Decarbonize Energy Grids, Researchers Say


SURVEYS, HACKS, MISC

Cypher Protocol reveals $600K of stolen funds is now frozen on CEXs
Crypto Lender Exactly Hit by $12M Bridge Exploit
Trump Owns Even More Crypto Than First Known, New Documents Show
Mining service provider faces $100M lawsuit over pyramid scheme allegations in China
Fake beta-testing apps enlisted to rob cryptocurrency, FBI reports
Mired in Controversy, A Film Gives HEX and Richard Heart the Hollywood Treatment
Meme Coin Base DEX RocketSwap Hit by $866K Exploit
DeFi Protocol Zunami Loses Over $2.1 Million in a Major Price Manipulation Attack
Sam Bankman-Fried spends 3rd night in notorious New York jail






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