🏦 Kraken cuts 30% of staff to 'weather crypto winter'
Kraken, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, will lay off 30% of its headcount, or 1,100 people, “in order to adapt to current market conditions,” co-founder and CEO Jesse Powell said on Wednesday.Kraken will offer 16 weeks of compensation as severance and will extend the affected employees’ vesting window. In a blog post titled “Kraken Takes Steps to Weather Crypto Winter,” Powell said that slowing growth, prompted by “macroeconomic and geopolitical factors,” had muted customer demand, lowered trading volumes and cut sign-ups. Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 28 and has shed several hundred employees in the restructuring process.
Kraken, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, will lay off 30% of its headcount, or 1,100 people, “in order to adapt to current market conditions,” co-founder and CEO Jesse Powell said on Wednesday.Kraken will offer 16 weeks of compensation as severance and will extend the affected employees’ vesting window. In a blog post titled “Kraken Takes Steps to Weather Crypto Winter,” Powell said that slowing growth, prompted by “macroeconomic and geopolitical factors,” had muted customer demand, lowered trading volumes and cut sign-ups. Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 28 and has shed several hundred employees in the restructuring process.
🇮🇹 Nexo secures registration in Italy
Crypto lender Nexo has gained a registration as a “virtual currency operator” in Italy, the company said in an announcement today. This allows the European-based firm to legally provide its services to Italian citizens. The license is issued by Organismo Agenti e Mediatori. The European Union is set to pass a set of laws on crypto assets that will allow firms to passport their license across the 27-nation bloc. Nexo plans to take advantage of this under the Markets in Crypto Assets regulation, according to the statement. The new rules are anticipated to come into force in 2024. Nexo’s website shows registrations in several U.S. states and six other countries.
Crypto lender Nexo has gained a registration as a “virtual currency operator” in Italy, the company said in an announcement today. This allows the European-based firm to legally provide its services to Italian citizens. The license is issued by Organismo Agenti e Mediatori. The European Union is set to pass a set of laws on crypto assets that will allow firms to passport their license across the 27-nation bloc. Nexo plans to take advantage of this under the Markets in Crypto Assets regulation, according to the statement. The new rules are anticipated to come into force in 2024. Nexo’s website shows registrations in several U.S. states and six other countries.
🇧🇷 Brazil's long-awaited crypto bill inches to the finish line after seven years
After a series of legislative twists and turns spanning seven years, Brazil's long-awaited crypto bill could finally reach the president's desk. Brazil's Chamber of Deputies voted on Tuesday to pass on a crypto regulation bill to Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose term ends on Dec. 31. The crypto regulation is to define digital assets and their service providers, as well as help guard against money laundering and fraud. The bill gained momentum after Brazil's Senate approved a version of it in April, but slowed in the past few months as it sat in the Chamber of Deputies awaiting a decision after several points in the Senate version were stripped out.
After a series of legislative twists and turns spanning seven years, Brazil's long-awaited crypto bill could finally reach the president's desk. Brazil's Chamber of Deputies voted on Tuesday to pass on a crypto regulation bill to Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose term ends on Dec. 31. The crypto regulation is to define digital assets and their service providers, as well as help guard against money laundering and fraud. The bill gained momentum after Brazil's Senate approved a version of it in April, but slowed in the past few months as it sat in the Chamber of Deputies awaiting a decision after several points in the Senate version were stripped out.
💰 Bitcoin mining revenue lowest in two years, hash rate on the decline
The revenue earned by Bitcoin (BTC) miners fell to two-year lows owing to poor market performance and a heavier computational demand amid rising network difficulty. However, an ongoing downturn in the Bitcoin hash rate over the past month. The total Bitcoin mining revenue — block rewards and transaction fees — in U.S. dollars fell down to $11.67 million, a number last seen on Nov. 2, 2020, when Bitcoin’s trading price was around $13,500. Adding to the above, the difficulty of mining a Bitcoin block has skyrocketed to an all-time high of almost 37 trillion — forcing Bitcoin miners to spend more energy and computational power to stay competitive.
The revenue earned by Bitcoin (BTC) miners fell to two-year lows owing to poor market performance and a heavier computational demand amid rising network difficulty. However, an ongoing downturn in the Bitcoin hash rate over the past month. The total Bitcoin mining revenue — block rewards and transaction fees — in U.S. dollars fell down to $11.67 million, a number last seen on Nov. 2, 2020, when Bitcoin’s trading price was around $13,500. Adding to the above, the difficulty of mining a Bitcoin block has skyrocketed to an all-time high of almost 37 trillion — forcing Bitcoin miners to spend more energy and computational power to stay competitive.
🇸🇻 El Salvador Launches a National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC)
The “specialized administrative unit” ONBTC will coordinate and consult all bitcoin projects in El Salvador. El Salvador’s government doubled down on its crypto initiatives by creating a National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) that will oversee all local projects related to the asset. Despite the prolonged bear market, El Salvador’s authorities seem determined to advance their bitcoin strategy. According to a recent LinkedIn post, the government created a National Bitcoin Office that will function as a “specialized administrative unit, with functional and technical autonomy within the Presidency of the Republic.”. The entity will analyze all individuals who wish to meet the BTC-loving President Nayib Bukele to discuss the nation’s.
The “specialized administrative unit” ONBTC will coordinate and consult all bitcoin projects in El Salvador. El Salvador’s government doubled down on its crypto initiatives by creating a National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) that will oversee all local projects related to the asset. Despite the prolonged bear market, El Salvador’s authorities seem determined to advance their bitcoin strategy. According to a recent LinkedIn post, the government created a National Bitcoin Office that will function as a “specialized administrative unit, with functional and technical autonomy within the Presidency of the Republic.”. The entity will analyze all individuals who wish to meet the BTC-loving President Nayib Bukele to discuss the nation’s.
📶 Ethereum Sharks And Whales’ ETH Accumulation Tops Two-Year High
Ethereum’s sharks and whales are buying ether at the fastest rate seen in years – according to a major analytics firm – a factor said could accelerate the value of the second-largest cryptocurrency in the next bull run. the digital asset surged by 50% in about a month. Ethereum’s active shark and whale addresses continue accumulating with prices less than a quarter of their All-Time High levels a year ago. In October/November 2020, these 100 to 100,000 ETH addresses assisted in pushing ETH to a +50% price rise over 5 weeks’’ Santiment tweeted. At the time of writing, ETH was changing hands for $1,219.
Ethereum’s sharks and whales are buying ether at the fastest rate seen in years – according to a major analytics firm – a factor said could accelerate the value of the second-largest cryptocurrency in the next bull run. the digital asset surged by 50% in about a month. Ethereum’s active shark and whale addresses continue accumulating with prices less than a quarter of their All-Time High levels a year ago. In October/November 2020, these 100 to 100,000 ETH addresses assisted in pushing ETH to a +50% price rise over 5 weeks’’ Santiment tweeted. At the time of writing, ETH was changing hands for $1,219.
🇷🇺 Putin calls for blockchain-based international payment system
The Russian President criticized Western's sanctions and urged for a system "independent of external interference". Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized monopoly in global financial payment systems and called for an independent and blockchain-based settlement network on Nov 24. Putin also noted that global payments and nations are at risk due to tense relations between Russia and the West following Ukraine's invasion, labeling sanctions imposed by countries as "illegitimate restrictions". Another recent development, a bill was introduced into the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Nov. 17 legalizing cryptocurrency mining and the sale of the cryptocurrency mined , laying down a legal framework for a national exchange.
The Russian President criticized Western's sanctions and urged for a system "independent of external interference". Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized monopoly in global financial payment systems and called for an independent and blockchain-based settlement network on Nov 24. Putin also noted that global payments and nations are at risk due to tense relations between Russia and the West following Ukraine's invasion, labeling sanctions imposed by countries as "illegitimate restrictions". Another recent development, a bill was introduced into the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Nov. 17 legalizing cryptocurrency mining and the sale of the cryptocurrency mined , laying down a legal framework for a national exchange.
🇸🇻 El Salvador President Bukele Launches Special Agency to Handle All Things Bitcoin
El Salvador has become the global face of Bitcoin adoption. It has been over a year since the Central American country adopted Bitcoin as a legal tender. The country has been buying one Bitcoin per day since Nov. 18. On Wednesday, El Salvador introduced a digital asset issuance bill for crypto adoption. According to a LinkedIn post by Torres Legal, the government of El Salvador created the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) to manage all things related to cryptocurrency. Torres Legal is a group of lawyers with business and financial trading operating in El Salvador. The President of El Salvador and the Ministry of Tourism signed the creation of the entity through Decree No. 49, published in the Official Gazette of Nov. 17.
El Salvador has become the global face of Bitcoin adoption. It has been over a year since the Central American country adopted Bitcoin as a legal tender. The country has been buying one Bitcoin per day since Nov. 18. On Wednesday, El Salvador introduced a digital asset issuance bill for crypto adoption. According to a LinkedIn post by Torres Legal, the government of El Salvador created the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) to manage all things related to cryptocurrency. Torres Legal is a group of lawyers with business and financial trading operating in El Salvador. The President of El Salvador and the Ministry of Tourism signed the creation of the entity through Decree No. 49, published in the Official Gazette of Nov. 17.
🇹🇷 Turkey to Confiscate ‘Suspicious’ Assets Related to FTX: Report
Turkey’s MASAK is willing to seize assets associated with FTX and launch an investigation against SBF. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board of Turkey (MASAK) seeks to seize “suspicious” assets linked to the battered cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The Turkish agency sought a greenglight from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to launch a thorough inspection on FTX and its dubious activities over the years. The entity vowed to confiscate “suspicious” assets related to the platform should the regulators give their approval. MASAK is also willing to examine the actions of Bankman-Fried and determine his role.
Turkey’s MASAK is willing to seize assets associated with FTX and launch an investigation against SBF. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board of Turkey (MASAK) seeks to seize “suspicious” assets linked to the battered cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The Turkish agency sought a greenglight from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to launch a thorough inspection on FTX and its dubious activities over the years. The entity vowed to confiscate “suspicious” assets related to the platform should the regulators give their approval. MASAK is also willing to examine the actions of Bankman-Fried and determine his role.
💰 MakerDAO Disposes of renBTC as Stablecoin Collateral
MakerDAO – the issuer of the decentralized stablecoin DAI – unanimously passed a proposal this week to remove renBTC as a form of reserve collateral. The Bitcoin-pegged token was deemed too risky to hold exposure to in light of its connections to the now-bankrupt trading desk Alameda Research. As announced by MakerDAO over Twitter on Thursday, Maker’s governance voted to offboard the RENBTC-A Vault type in a governance poll that opened on Monday.“Considering the acquisition of the Ren project by Alameda Research and the recent bankruptcy of the latter, the Ren development team disabled the Ren network mints,” said Maker. Ren 1.0 network, it said, will shut down within 30 days after November 18th.
MakerDAO – the issuer of the decentralized stablecoin DAI – unanimously passed a proposal this week to remove renBTC as a form of reserve collateral. The Bitcoin-pegged token was deemed too risky to hold exposure to in light of its connections to the now-bankrupt trading desk Alameda Research. As announced by MakerDAO over Twitter on Thursday, Maker’s governance voted to offboard the RENBTC-A Vault type in a governance poll that opened on Monday.“Considering the acquisition of the Ren project by Alameda Research and the recent bankruptcy of the latter, the Ren development team disabled the Ren network mints,” said Maker. Ren 1.0 network, it said, will shut down within 30 days after November 18th.
🟠 Binance’s Zhao says industry is ‘healthier’ after a ‘nasty’ year
Binance CEO Chanpeng Zhao said the industry is in a "healthier" place after a "nasty" 2022, and he expects better things in 2023. He declined, however, to make any specific predictions. "The trick for us is to monitor the industry and then whatever is trending we try to support it," Zhao said. The CEO, who launched a recovery fund for troubled crypto companies in the wake of FTX's collapse, did not mince words when it came to his former competitor. Binance earlier today released its proof-of-reserves system, starting with bitcoin, in order to show that the exchange is healthy and solvent. For bitcoin, Binance has provided a snapshot of account balances and the exchange's bitcoin reserves
Binance CEO Chanpeng Zhao said the industry is in a "healthier" place after a "nasty" 2022, and he expects better things in 2023. He declined, however, to make any specific predictions. "The trick for us is to monitor the industry and then whatever is trending we try to support it," Zhao said. The CEO, who launched a recovery fund for troubled crypto companies in the wake of FTX's collapse, did not mince words when it came to his former competitor. Binance earlier today released its proof-of-reserves system, starting with bitcoin, in order to show that the exchange is healthy and solvent. For bitcoin, Binance has provided a snapshot of account balances and the exchange's bitcoin reserves
🪙 Binance clarifies initial $1 billion recovery fund deposit came from own assets
Crypto exchange Binance clarified that an initial $1 billion deposit to its crypto industry recovery fund came from its own assets after details of the transferring wallet raised questions among some commentators on Twitter. On-chain transactions show the funds came from one of Binance's cold wallets for BUSD, the exchange's dollar-pegged stablecoin. This wallet was recently listed in Binance's proof of funds documentation, which shows all the cold and hot wallets the exchange owns as part of a transparency push following this month's collapse of rival crypto exchange FTX.
Crypto exchange Binance clarified that an initial $1 billion deposit to its crypto industry recovery fund came from its own assets after details of the transferring wallet raised questions among some commentators on Twitter. On-chain transactions show the funds came from one of Binance's cold wallets for BUSD, the exchange's dollar-pegged stablecoin. This wallet was recently listed in Binance's proof of funds documentation, which shows all the cold and hot wallets the exchange owns as part of a transparency push following this month's collapse of rival crypto exchange FTX.
🪙 Justin Sun, Tron DAO line up to contribute to Binance recovery fund: Exclusive
Blockchain operator Tron DAO and Justin Sun, its billionaire founder, have applied to contribute capital to Binance’s industry recovery fund. The application comes after seven crypto industry heavyweights were unveiled as its initial contributors yesterday. Binance published details of the fund yesterday after CEO Changpeng Zhao had earlier signaled a plan to launch it. Binance poured an initial $1 billion into the vehicle. Meanwhile, Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures, Aptos Labs, Animoca Brands, GSR, Kronos and Brooker Group agreed to an initial aggregate commitment of around $50 million.
Blockchain operator Tron DAO and Justin Sun, its billionaire founder, have applied to contribute capital to Binance’s industry recovery fund. The application comes after seven crypto industry heavyweights were unveiled as its initial contributors yesterday. Binance published details of the fund yesterday after CEO Changpeng Zhao had earlier signaled a plan to launch it. Binance poured an initial $1 billion into the vehicle. Meanwhile, Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures, Aptos Labs, Animoca Brands, GSR, Kronos and Brooker Group agreed to an initial aggregate commitment of around $50 million.
🇬🇧 UK’s 'biggest ever' scam leads to 100 arrests after police track bitcoin records
More than 100 people were arrested in what the London’s Metropolitan Police calls “the UK’s biggest ever fraud operation” after taking down a fraud website called iSpoof used on 200,000 potential victims in Britain alone. Scotland Yard’s Cyber Crime Unit worked in cross-national cooperation, including authorities in the U.S. and Ukraine, to take down the site this week. In a 20-month period, the Met police claims the operation earned the criminals almost £3.2 million ($3.9 million). Tracing bitcoin records, which was used to pay for iSpoof’s services, allowed the Cyber Crime Unit to narrow down suspects.
More than 100 people were arrested in what the London’s Metropolitan Police calls “the UK’s biggest ever fraud operation” after taking down a fraud website called iSpoof used on 200,000 potential victims in Britain alone. Scotland Yard’s Cyber Crime Unit worked in cross-national cooperation, including authorities in the U.S. and Ukraine, to take down the site this week. In a 20-month period, the Met police claims the operation earned the criminals almost £3.2 million ($3.9 million). Tracing bitcoin records, which was used to pay for iSpoof’s services, allowed the Cyber Crime Unit to narrow down suspects.
👉 Telegram sells usernames worth $50 million on the Open Network blockchain
The names were sold via Fragment, a platform that secures name ownership on the blockchain. In slightly less than one month, Telegram has sold $50 million usernames on The Open Network, a blockchain that the company developed, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov claimed. Telegram in October gave users the ability to buy usernames for its app via a blockchain-based platform called Fragment. The platform lets interested parties buy available usernames and secure ownership on its "The Open Network" blockchain, known as TON. Telegram has sold more than $50 million in usernames, founder Pavel Durov said.
The names were sold via Fragment, a platform that secures name ownership on the blockchain. In slightly less than one month, Telegram has sold $50 million usernames on The Open Network, a blockchain that the company developed, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov claimed. Telegram in October gave users the ability to buy usernames for its app via a blockchain-based platform called Fragment. The platform lets interested parties buy available usernames and secure ownership on its "The Open Network" blockchain, known as TON. Telegram has sold more than $50 million in usernames, founder Pavel Durov said.
📣 Broker-dealer INX makes bid for Voyager's assets
Broker-dealer and digital assets trading platform INX is making a play for bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital's assets. INX joins other industry players such as CrossTower, Wave Financial and Binance.US in the bidding process. Voyager filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July due to its over $650 million exposure to the collapsed crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC). Crypto exchange FTX.US initially won the bidding process for Voyager's assets in September. The auction process for Voyager's assets reopened after the FTX Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Broker-dealer and digital assets trading platform INX is making a play for bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital's assets. INX joins other industry players such as CrossTower, Wave Financial and Binance.US in the bidding process. Voyager filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July due to its over $650 million exposure to the collapsed crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC). Crypto exchange FTX.US initially won the bidding process for Voyager's assets in September. The auction process for Voyager's assets reopened after the FTX Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
🇪🇺 Policymakers crank the heat on new EU crypto laws in FTX hearing
EU policymakers laid pressure on enforcing bloc-wide crypto regulations in the European Parliament’s economic committee today following the spectacular collapse of FTX. is a sufficient band aid for the implications of the debacle. "The collapse calls for urgent need of the MiCA regulation," said Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, the European Commission's financial unit deputy. FTX saw a dramatic demise after the collapse of its native token, FTT, a crash that affected millions of users and numerous firms. The exchange, which was valued at $32 billion at the start of the year, filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11.
EU policymakers laid pressure on enforcing bloc-wide crypto regulations in the European Parliament’s economic committee today following the spectacular collapse of FTX. is a sufficient band aid for the implications of the debacle. "The collapse calls for urgent need of the MiCA regulation," said Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, the European Commission's financial unit deputy. FTX saw a dramatic demise after the collapse of its native token, FTT, a crash that affected millions of users and numerous firms. The exchange, which was valued at $32 billion at the start of the year, filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11.
🪙 Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures, GSR contribute to Binance's $1 billion recovery fund
Binance's industry recovery fund, to which it's already contributed $1 billion, has attracted some big names early on including Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures and market maker GSR. Binance is looking to amass around $1 billion for its “industry recovery fund,”. The fund was announced last week to help mitigate the fallout stemming from FTX's collapse. Binance's initial commitment of 1 billion BUSD can be verified at the following address. The addresses of other participants will be available in the next week. Binance expects more participants to join soon, with over 150 applications already received. Public addresses must be shared for transparency.
Binance's industry recovery fund, to which it's already contributed $1 billion, has attracted some big names early on including Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures and market maker GSR. Binance is looking to amass around $1 billion for its “industry recovery fund,”. The fund was announced last week to help mitigate the fallout stemming from FTX's collapse. Binance's initial commitment of 1 billion BUSD can be verified at the following address. The addresses of other participants will be available in the next week. Binance expects more participants to join soon, with over 150 applications already received. Public addresses must be shared for transparency.
🇪🇺 EU blockchain infrastructure plan proceeds as parliament passes digital policy
The European Parliament passed a vote on the Digital Decade policy program, which will help businesses and public services digitalize their work and promises support for a “pan-European blockchain-based infrastructure.".The plenary meeting vote passed by 529 to 22 on Thursday. The policy file sets ambitions for the European Union to achieve digitization goals for 2030. It outlines large-scale, so-called “multi-country projects” to achieve the targets covering topics such as building common data infrastructure, beefing up on high-performance computing, rolling out 5G internet corridors and investing in blockchain and web3 solutions.
The European Parliament passed a vote on the Digital Decade policy program, which will help businesses and public services digitalize their work and promises support for a “pan-European blockchain-based infrastructure.".The plenary meeting vote passed by 529 to 22 on Thursday. The policy file sets ambitions for the European Union to achieve digitization goals for 2030. It outlines large-scale, so-called “multi-country projects” to achieve the targets covering topics such as building common data infrastructure, beefing up on high-performance computing, rolling out 5G internet corridors and investing in blockchain and web3 solutions.
🇸🇬 Hodlnaut faces Singapore police investigation for alleged fraud
Crypto lending platform Hodlnaut is under police investigation in Singapore for alleged fraud and cheating three months after freezing client withdrawals and filing for protection from creditors. This may hinder the firm’s recovery from a series of legal and financial complications. Hodlnaut and its leaders are suspected of making "false representations relating to the company’s exposure to a certain digital token," according to a police statement on Wednesday. The beleaguered company has seen a series of liquidity crises and legal complications. Earlier in November, it turned out the Singapore-based crypto lender held assets worth $13.1 million.
Crypto lending platform Hodlnaut is under police investigation in Singapore for alleged fraud and cheating three months after freezing client withdrawals and filing for protection from creditors. This may hinder the firm’s recovery from a series of legal and financial complications. Hodlnaut and its leaders are suspected of making "false representations relating to the company’s exposure to a certain digital token," according to a police statement on Wednesday. The beleaguered company has seen a series of liquidity crises and legal complications. Earlier in November, it turned out the Singapore-based crypto lender held assets worth $13.1 million.
TP ICAP gets FCA approval to offer crypto services to institutional clients
TP ICAP's new exchange, known as Fusion Digital Assets, will use the firm's electronic OTC platform, Fusion, to give clients access to a non-custodial cryptoasset exchange for order matching and trade execution. The interdealer broker's new trading venue will be for institutional clients only. The firm's new venture will also integrate with Fidelity Digital Assets for safekeeping clients' assets and settlement services. The platform will offer diversified Liquidity from proven market makers around the globe. The wholesale crypto market has "lacked the credible infrastructure and assurance necessary for the firm's traditional client base to allocate capital," said Duncan Trenholme, co-head of digital assets at TP ICAP Group.
TP ICAP's new exchange, known as Fusion Digital Assets, will use the firm's electronic OTC platform, Fusion, to give clients access to a non-custodial cryptoasset exchange for order matching and trade execution. The interdealer broker's new trading venue will be for institutional clients only. The firm's new venture will also integrate with Fidelity Digital Assets for safekeeping clients' assets and settlement services. The platform will offer diversified Liquidity from proven market makers around the globe. The wholesale crypto market has "lacked the credible infrastructure and assurance necessary for the firm's traditional client base to allocate capital," said Duncan Trenholme, co-head of digital assets at TP ICAP Group.