Digital Assets
Digital assets are about more than just Bitcoin. The global adoption of blockchain, expansion of cross-border payments, new investment vehicles tied to intellectual property, and more, could one day establish a global market of digitized assets worth $50 trillion. This channel provides access to the latest developments, opportunities, risks, and thought leaders in the growing Digital Assets space.
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Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched its Crypto app in the European Union (EU), allowing eligible customers to engage in crypto trading with the added incentive of earning Bitcoin rewards. Customers stand to receive up to 1 BTC as a reward when signing up and can earn an additional 1 BTC for each successful referral. The platform claims to be the sole custodial crypto platform in the EU offering customers a percentage of their trading volume back every month, paid in Bitcoin.
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More Stories on Digital Assets
Digital Assets: Key Crypto Players Sever Links With Silvergate Capital
On March 2nd, four firms related to cryptocurrency announced that they will no longer be doing business with Silvergate Capital (NYSE: SI). This decision was made after Silvergate revealed in an SEC filing that it was delaying its annual report due to ongoing investigations. (PYMNTS)
Digital Assets: Binance Creates AI-Fueled Frenzy On Bicasso, Its NFT Generator
Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, has announced the launch of Bicasso, an AI-based art generation platform that allows users to create and mint NFTs on demand. The beta version of Bicasso was launched on March 1, but the overwhelming demand for the platform caused technical issues, with the hard cap of 10,000 NFT mints selling out within just 2.5 hours.
Digital Assets: Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Circulates Discussion Paper To Allow Crypto Trading
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) has proposed regulatory amendments that would allow clients of non-banking institutions (NBMs) to trade cryptocurrencies. NBMs, which provide investment, advisory, and brokerage services, currently cannot accept direct deposits or act as custodians, but TASE intends to expand their authorized activities to include crypto trading.
Digital Assets: Coinbase to Delist Binance-Branded BUSD Stablecoin Effective March 13
However, Coinbase assures that holders can withdraw their BUSD funds anytime. Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, has announced that it will suspend the trading of Binance-branded BUSD stablecoin on its platform, citing its failure to meet Coinbase’s internal listing standards. The stablecoin will be de-listed on March 13th…
Digital Assets: G20 Asks The IMF And FSB To Prepare Technical Paper On Global Crypto Regulation
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are working together to develop a technical paper that proposes a coordinated global approach for regulating crypto assets. The paper will be presented at the next meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in October.
Digital Assets: Russian Perpetrators Of Ponzi Forsage DeFi Platform Indicted
Four individuals from Russia, Vladimir Okhotnikov, Olena Oblamska, Mikhail Sergeev, and Sergey Maslakov, have been indicted in the US for allegedly running a global Ponzi scheme through their decentralized finance (defi) crypto platform, Forsage. The US Justice Department announced that the platform had defrauded investors of around $340 million. The accused are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and could face a maximum of 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Digital Assets: Binance And Ingenico Tie Up For In-Store Crypto Payments In France
Ingenico, the world leader in payment acceptance solutions, has partnered with Binance, the world’s largest blockchain ecosystem and digital asset exchange, to offer an in-store cryptocurrency payment acceptance solution in France.
Digital Assets: Another Casualty From The FTX Saga – Crypto Hedge Fund Galois Capital Shuts Down
Quantitative hedge fund Galois Capital has decided to close down and return remaining money to investors after half of its assets were trapped on the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.
Digital Assets: Hong Kong Releases ‘Consultation Paper’ On Digital Assets; Beijing Looks On
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has proposed new regulations for the cryptocurrency industry (“virtual asset trading platforms”), and has requested feedback from the public. The proposed rules are set to go into effect on June 1, 2023, and include stricter guidelines for cryptocurrency trading platforms, such as licensing and investor protection measures.
Alternative Investments/Digital: BlackRock Unveils Metaverse Themed ETF
BlackRock, one of the largest ETF issuers in the US, has launched a thematic equity fund targeting companies worldwide that are shaping the development of the metaverse, a future iteration of the internet comprising persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe. The iShares Future Metaverse Tech and Communications ETF (NYSEARCA: IVRS) has been listed with an expense ratio of 0.47%.
Digital Assets: Amidst Crypto Winter, Singapore’s DBS Bank Enjoyed Robust Growth At Its DDEx Digital Exchange
Singapore-based DBS Bank has revealed impressive growth at its DBS Digital Exchange (DDEx) during 2022. It reported an 80% increase in the number of Bitcoin (BTC) traded on DDEx in 2022 compared to the previous year, and a doubling in the number of BTC custodized with the bank. The number of Ether (ETH) traded on DDEx was also up by around 65%.
Digital Assets: Abu Dhabi Creates $2B Warchest For Web3, Blockchain, And Metaverse Startups
Abu Dhabi is committing over $2 billion to a new program, “Hub71+ Digital Assets,” aimed at financing startups in the Web3, blockchain, and metaverse application fields. This ecosystem will be located at Hub71 in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Digital Assets: Berkshire Hathaway’s Charlie Munger Delivers Fresh Diatribe Against Crypto
Charlie Munger, the Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A), has referred to people who oppose banning cryptocurrencies as “idiots” and said that anyone buying crypto is “ridiculous.” He was speaking during a live-streamed interview with CNBC at the Daily Journal’s annual shareholders meeting.
Digital Assets: Hong Kong The New Mecca For Crypto Providers?
Interactive Brokers and DBS to unveil crypto trading in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Bakkt is sunsetting its consumer app.
Digital Assets: Financial Doom And Gloom Warnings From Kiyosaki, Schiff
Robert Kiyosaki and Peter Schiff have both issued dire warnings about the precarious status of the financial markets. While Kiyosaki is the acclaimed author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, Schiff is an economist and inveterate gold bug.
Digital Assets: Binance And Mastercard Launch Prepaid Crypto Card In Brazil
Binance and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) have jointly launched the Binance Card in Brazil, allowing Binance users in the country to make purchases and pay bills with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and BNB at over 90 million Mastercard merchants globally. However, the user must have a valid national ID.
Digital Assets: NBA and Meta Extend Collaboration For Basketball In The Metaverse
The NBA has announced an extension of its partnership with Meta to broadcast 52 games using virtual reality technology in the metaverse. The games will be available on Xtadium, a co-viewing platform, and five of them will be presented in a more immersive way on Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship metaverse app. This move aims to provide existing fans with a more interactive experience and attract new fans familiar with VR technology to the sport.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Infrastructure Company Blockstream Raises $125M
Blockstream, a leading Bitcoin infrastructure firm, has raised $125 million in convertible note and secured loan financing to expand its institutional bitcoin mining services. Kingsway Capital led the convertible note, with other investors including Fulgur Ventures.
Digital Assets: As Withdrawals Surge, Crypto Focused Banks Borrow Billions From Home-Loan Banks
Two of the largest banks catering to cryptocurrency companies, Signature Bank (NASDAQ: SBNY) and Silvergate Capital Corp, (NYSE: SI) have taken loans of billions of dollars from Federal Home Loan Banks to stem a flood of customer withdrawals.
Digital Assets: NAB Launches AUDN, A Stablecoin Backed By The Australian Dollar
The National Australia Bank (NAB) (ASX: NAB) plans to launch a stablecoin, called AUDN, that will be pegged to the Australian dollar and will be on the Ethereum network.
Digital Assets: N26 Crypto, A New Product From Mobile Bank N26, Launches In Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, and Ireland
Mobile bank N26 has expanded the availability of its cryptocurrency trading service, N26 Crypto, to customers in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal and Ireland.
Digital Assets: Genesis, A Subsidiary Of DCG, Files For Insolvency
Genesis Global Trading, a subsidiary of Barry Silbert’s Digital Currency Group (DCG), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of New York court.
Digital Assets: WEF Launches Virtual Global Collaboration Village In The Metaverse
The World Economic Forum (WEF), together with Accenture (NYSE: CAN) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), unveiled a prototype of the Global Collaboration Village metaverse at its Annual Meeting 2023. This metaverse is a platform for organizations to come together and address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Digital Assets: Binance Launches “Binance Mirror,” A Cold Custody Solution For Institutions
Binance has launched an off-exchange settlement solution called “Binance Mirror” which allows institutional investors to lock collateral by connecting their qualified cold wallet with Binance Custody. The assets can then be mirrored on their Binance exchange account.