📣 South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority's Initiative:
Granting Licenses to 60 Crypto Platforms by End of March

➡️The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa aims to grant licenses to 60 cryptocurrency platforms by the end of March. With over 300 applications received late last year, the FSCA is expediting the licensing process to regulate the growing crypto sector effectively.

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📣Hong Kong Financial Regulator Flags Bybit as 'Suspicious' Cryptocurrency Trading Platform in Latest Advisory

➡️In a recent alert, Hong Kong's financial regulator identified Bybit, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, as a "suspicious" platform for crypto trading. Despite the submission of a crypto exchange license application by its local entity, Spark Fintech, earlier this year, Bybit continues to face scrutiny from regulatory authorities.

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📣El Salvador's Bitcoin Wallet: More than Just Sats

➡️ El Salvador's Bitcoin wallet received an influx of approximately $700 worth of satoshis, along with unique donations like cats and a cypherpunk manifesto. This eclectic mix reflects the diverse community rallying behind El Salvador's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender.

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📣 North Korean Cyber Gang Utilizes Tornado Cash for $12M Ethereum Laundering.

➡️ Reports unveil the return of the notorious North Korean hacking outfit, Lazarus Group, spotlighted for their recent cryptocurrency escapades. Allegedly, they've successfully laundered a staggering $12 million in Ethereum through the coin-mixing service Tornado Cash within the span of just one day. The pilfered crypto, previously lying dormant, sprung into action on March 13, embarking on a whirlwind journey through Tornado Cash's anonymizing mechanisms.

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📣 Bitcoin Surpasses Gold in Investor Portfolios: JPMorgan Report

➡️ In a significant shift, Bitcoin has outpaced gold in investor portfolio allocation, as per analysis by JP Morgan. Managing Director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou revealed that, accounting for volatility, Bitcoin's presence in investor portfolios stands at 3.7 times that of gold.

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📣Stablecoin Sector Surges: USDE Supply Soars by 376%

➡️Over the last 12 days, the stablecoin sector has witnessed an impressive $4.95 billion surge, reaching a record-high market valuation of $149.03 billion in 2024. Notably, Ethena's USDE stands out with a remarkable 376% increase in its supply over the past 30 days.

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📣Celsius Creditors Discontent with Bankruptcy Compensation.

➡️Following the Celsius bankruptcy, some account holders allege receiving 30% less compensation than initially promised. They express dissatisfaction with being offered U.S. dollars instead of cryptocurrency, resulting in significantly reduced payments.

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📣Russia Regulates Use of Digital Assets for International Settlements

➡️President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation allowing the use of digital assets for international transactions, marking a significant step in Russia's crypto regulation. The law designates the Central Bank of Russia as the regulator for such transactions, expanding the scope of digital assets beyond domestic use.

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📣Billion-Dollar Volumes and Then a Steep Drop Prompts Allegations of Wash Trading on Aevo

➡️Aevo faces accusations of wash trading following a rapid surge in trading volumes followed by a sharp decline. The platform attributes the spike to customers seeking to participate in its airdrop by increasing trading activity on its decentralized exchange.

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📣US Manufacturing Firms Embrace the Metaverse, Says WEF Report

➡️A growing trend among manufacturing firms in the United States reveals a strategic shift towards leveraging the industrial metaverse to address intricate challenges throughout the production cycle, as outlined by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

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📣Vanguard's Take on Bitcoin ETFs: Insights from CEO and CIO

➡️Get exclusive insights from Vanguard's Chairman and CEO, Tim Buckley, and Chief Investment Officer, Greg Davis, as they delve into the topic of Bitcoin ETFs. Discover Vanguard's perspective on why they view Bitcoin ETFs as speculative assets in this informative webcast excerpt.

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📣Grayscale Updates Ethereum ETF Filing, Citing Investor Demand

➡️Grayscale has made amendments to its regulatory filing as part of its efforts to transition its Ethereum Trust into a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). The move comes in response to what Grayscale describes as significant demand from investors who seek and merit exposure to an Ethereum-based fund.

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📣Chamber of Digital Commerce Urges Biden to Intervene in U.S. Citizen's Detention by Nigeria

➡️The Chamber of Digital Commerce is calling upon President Biden to intervene in the detention of a U.S. citizen by Nigeria. The detainment of Gambaryan is deemed arbitrary and lacking due process, posing a substantial challenge to international law norms and diplomatic relations. This appeal highlights the urgency for diplomatic action to address the situation and ensure the rights and safety of the detained individual.

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