Author: Max Bauer

As the U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris looms, the question of whether cryptocurrency will make its way into the discussion remains uncertain. Despite the growing prominence of digital currencies, prediction markets indicate that the odds are slim. On Polymarket, a platform where users bet on the likelihood of specific debate topics, the chances of Trump mentioning “crypto” or “Bitcoin” stand at a modest 17%. This reflects a cautious outlook among traders, who wager 17 cents per share on the possibility. Should Trump bring up these terms, each share would pay out $1 in cryptocurrency; otherwise, the…

As the highly anticipated debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris approaches, uncertainty surrounding the event is causing ripples in both the stock and cryptocurrency markets, according to analysts at QCP Capital. While the cryptocurrency market cap saw a modest 1.9% gain over the past day, major tokens like bitcoin and ether have experienced declines for the week, dropping 3% and 6%, respectively. The analysts attribute this to the broader market volatility, with the correlation between crypto and global stocks nearing a two-year high. “Macroeconomic uncertainty is currently dominating the cryptocurrency market,” noted QCP Capital analysts, highlighting the 30-day correlation…

Paypal and Venmo have integrated the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) into their platforms. ENS, a decentralized naming system built on the Ethereum blockchain, allows users to replace complex crypto addresses with readable names. Announced by ENS Labs on Tuesday, this integration will initially benefit U.S. users. When sending crypto, users can now input the recipient’s ENS name directly into the search field. The platforms will then automatically identify the corresponding wallet addresses, streamlining the process. ENS Labs highlighted that this feature will minimize errors in crypto transactions on Paypal and Venmo. Furthermore, it will make it easier for users to…

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has released a detailed list of policy positions on her campaign website, outlining her vision for a future administration. While the platform covers a wide range of issues, including tax cuts for middle-class families and affordable housing, it notably omits any mention of cryptocurrencies. Harris’s policy document, titled “Supporting American Innovation,” focuses on bolstering U.S. leadership in key industries like semiconductors, clean energy, and artificial intelligence. The document emphasizes her commitment to building upon the progress made by the current administration in these sectors. The absence of any mention of cryptocurrencies in…

Following the arrest and subsequent investigation of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in Paris last month, Toncoin (TON) experienced significant market volatility. However, according to a recent analysis by cryptocurrency analysis company Kaiko, selling pressure on TON has eased in early September. Immediately after Durov’s arrest on August 24th, TON’s trading volume surged from $10 million to $156 million and reached an all-time high of $169 million on August 28th. Prices also plummeted by over 20% within three hours on August 24th and continued their downward trajectory in the following weeks. Kaiko’s analysis points to a sharp negative flip in TON’s…

Digital asset investment products experienced a substantial net outflow of $726 million last week, matching the record outflow seen in March, according to the latest data from CoinShares. Analysts attribute this negative sentiment to stronger-than-expected macroeconomic data, increasing the likelihood of a 25 basis point interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Bitcoin bore the brunt of the outflows, with a total of $643 million leaving Bitcoin-related investment products. In contrast, shorting Bitcoin saw inflows of $3.9 million, indicating a bearish sentiment among some investors. Ethereum also experienced outflows of $98 million. Solana was a notable exception, with inflows of…

According to Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, the Bitcoin spot ETF is on track for unprecedented institutional adoption. In a recent social media post, Balchunas noted that the ETF has already attracted over 1,000 institutional holders within just two quarters of its listing. Balchunas highlighted the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as a prime example of this trend, with 661 institutional holders and 20% of its shares held by institutions and large advisors. He further estimates that institutional ownership of IBIT could reach 40% within the next 12 months. This rapid institutional uptake, Balchunas suggests, is “very bizarre,”…

OKX, in collaboration with the meme project Floki, has announced an airdrop of Simon’s Cat (CAT) tokens to eligible FLOKI holders on its platform. The snapshot for eligibility was taken at 00:59:59 London Time on August 30, 2024. FLOKI holders on OKX who met the criteria will receive CAT tokens directly in their OKX accounts. To be eligible for the airdrop, users needed to hold at least 400,000 FLOKI tokens on OKX at the time of the snapshot. This was a token quantity requirement, not a dollar value. CAT tokens will be distributed proportionally to eligible FLOKI holders based on…

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed optimism about launching Ripple’s stablecoin this year, pending regulatory approval in the U.S. He also highlighted the potential for stablecoins in Japan, where new legislation has created a favorable environment for such assets. Garlinghouse acknowledged that Japan has been a more conservative market but emphasized the benefits of its clear regulatory framework. He noted that Japan’s early adoption of regulations has fostered entrepreneurship and investment in the crypto space. While Ripple is currently focused on launching its U.S. dollar stablecoin, Garlinghouse believes that yen stablecoins are inevitable, given the growing demand for such assets…

Bitcoin ATMs are rapidly proliferating across the United States, but experts warn they’re also becoming a hotbed for cybercrime. While these machines resemble traditional ATMs, the high value of cryptocurrency makes them attractive targets for hackers. Bitcoin ATMs are susceptible to various attacks. Hackers can install malware to steal private keys, manipulate transactions, or exploit network vulnerabilities to intercept data. Timothy Bates, a cybersecurity professor at the University of Michigan, emphasizes the risk posed by irregular software updates and inadequate network security. Government agencies are raising concerns about the surge in bitcoin ATM scams, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting…