Author: Max Bauer

According to Bloomberg, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly in discussions with the digital asset industry to potentially establish a dedicated White House position focused solely on cryptocurrency policy. This unprecedented move would mark a significant step for the burgeoning industry and highlight its growing influence in Washington. Sources close to the transition efforts indicate that the Trump team is actively vetting candidates for this potential role, which could take the form of a senior staff position or a “crypto czar” responsible for overseeing policy and regulation across various federal agencies. Crypto industry advocates are reportedly pushing for the…

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently accused the Biden administration of waging an “unlawful war” on the cryptocurrency industry. In an interview, Garlinghouse expressed optimism about the future of crypto under a Trump administration, citing Trump’s more favorable stance towards digital assets. Garlinghouse highlighted Ripple’s focus on cross-border payments, utilizing its digital asset XRP to facilitate faster and cheaper transactions. However, he lamented the hostile regulatory environment in the US, which he believes has stifled Ripple’s growth within the country. He pointed to a lawsuit filed by the SEC four years ago regarding XRP’s classification as a security, which has deterred…

Apple users, particularly those with Intel-based MacBooks, are urged to update their operating systems immediately following the discovery of two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities. The warning comes as former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, took to social media with a stark message: “If you use a Macbook with Intel based chip, update asap! Stay SAFU!” Apple confirmed the active exploitation of these vulnerabilities in a security advisory released on Tuesday. The vulnerabilities, identified by Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), affect both macOS and iOS systems, prompting Apple to release urgent security updates: iOS 18.1.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1.1,…

Coinbase, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced it will list Floki Inu (FLOKI). Trading for FLOKI on the Ethereum network (ERC-20 token) is scheduled to begin on or after 9:00 AM Pacific Time on November 21, 2024, provided liquidity conditions are met. Coinbase emphasized the importance of using the correct network, cautioning users against sending FLOKI via other networks to avoid potential loss of funds. The official ERC-20 contract address for FLOKI is 0xcf0c122c6b73ff809c693db761e7baebe62b6a2e. Initially, trading will be available on the FLOKI-USD pair, rolling out in phases as sufficient supply of the asset is established. Coinbase also…

Arkham Intelligence, the company behind the Binance-listed altcoin Arkham (ARKM), has announced a surprising move to launch a spot cryptocurrency trading platform in the United States. This announcement comes shortly after the company revealed plans for a futures trading platform specifically excluding US users due to regulatory restrictions. While the company intends to offer spot trading in the US, it included a significant caveat: “Eligibility may vary by region. Users residing in the United States will be excluded from participation until participation is legally permitted in their country and state.” This suggests the platform’s US launch is contingent on future…

According to Coindesk, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Teresa Goody Guillén, a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience in cryptocurrency and securities law, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Goody Guillén, a partner at BakerHostetler and co-lead of its blockchain practice, has emerged as a prominent contender for the position, according to sources familiar with the matter. Cryptocurrency companies are actively advocating for Goody Guillén’s appointment, citing her deep understanding of both the SEC’s inner workings and the complexities of the blockchain industry. She has previously represented both traditional Wall Street firms and blockchain companies in cases against…

The introduction of options trading on the iShares Bitcoin Trust, the leading Bitcoin ETF with $43 billion in assets, is poised to reduce Bitcoin’s volatility and broaden its investor base, according to Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital. Speaking on Bloomberg Television on Tuesday, Thorn explained that wider adoption of Bitcoin, facilitated by options trading, will contribute to decreased volatility. “Over time, as it’s more widely held, volatility will decrease,” Thorn stated. “Options will help dampen volatility, and as volatility comes down, people can take larger position sizes.” Nasdaq launched options trading for the iShares Bitcoin Trust…

John Bollinger, renowned technical analyst and creator of Bollinger Bands, weighed in on Bitcoin’s recent all-time high, noting that the milestone eliminates a potential bearish signal on the cryptocurrency’s chart. The record price invalidates a possible negative Bollinger Band divergence, a technical pattern that can sometimes foreshadow a price reversal. Bollinger acknowledged the recent period of consolidation in Bitcoin’s price, describing it as a normal occurrence within an uptrend. While some might interpret consolidation as a sign of weakness, Bollinger suggests it’s a natural part of a healthy bull market. However, the analyst also expressed concern about the lack of…

Bitcoin mining economics saw a significant boost in the first half of November, according to a JPMorgan research report released on Monday. Analysts Reginald Smith and Charles Pearce attributed this improvement to a rising hashprice, a key metric for mining profitability. The hashprice, which measures the revenue miners earn per unit of hashing power, jumped 29% since the end of October. This surge was driven by a combination of factors, including Bitcoin’s price rally outpacing network hashrate growth and an increase in transaction fees as a proportion of the block reward. The report also highlighted a significant increase in the…

A recent ruling by the Songjiang District People’s Court in Shanghai has highlighted the complex legal landscape surrounding virtual currencies in China. While affirming that virtual currencies possess property attributes akin to virtual commodities, the court underscored the illegality of business activities related to their issuance and trading. This decision follows a case involving an agricultural development company (Company X) that contracted with an investment management company (Company S) to issue its own virtual currency for fundraising purposes. The case, a service contract dispute, stemmed from a 2017 agreement between the two companies. Attracted by the explosive growth of Bitcoin…