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☆ Tornado Cash founders charged with laundering more than $1 billion, including millions for North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Two founders of Tornado Cash, the widely known Russian cryptocurrency mixer, have been charged with laundering more than $1 billion in criminal proceeds. Charges in the indictment include conspiring to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit sanctions violations and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The third co-founder, Alexey Pertsev, who is not mentioned in this action, faces trial in Amsterdam over his involvement with Tornado Cash. Tornado Cash is used by some people as a legitimate way to protect their privacy in the still-nascent crypto market. Using a crypto mixing service like Tornado Cash masks those details by anonymizing the funds and concealing the identity of the buyer.

Persons: Roman, Semenov, Storm, James Smith, Alexey Pertsev, Roman Semenov, Damian Williams, Brian Klein, Waymaker, Klein, Lazarus Organizations: Tornado, Lazarus, Justice Department, CNBC, Tornado Cash, Storm, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Foreign Assets, Lazarus Group, U.S . Treasury, Treasury Department Locations: Russian, Korean, Washington, York, Amsterdam, U.S, Harmony

☆ Crypto market bounces off recent sell-off, bitcoin rises to $26,500
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin rose more than 2% to $26,517.09. The crypto market move higher coincided with gains in the major stock averages. "Add in summer trading volumes, and you have a recipe for day-to-day volatility. Crypto has been suffering since the spring from low liquidity and thin trading volumes, which has exacerbated moves on both the upside and the downside. "The correlation between equity indices and bitcoin has declined to near zero in 2023," said Sam Callahan, lead analyst at Swan Bitcoin.

Persons: Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano's, Callie Cox, Jerome Powell, Crypto, Sam Callahan Organizations: Federal, Swan Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Jackson

☆ Altcoins slide to begin the week while bitcoin and ether stabilize
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The crypto market was lower to start the week after bitcoin posted its worst week since May. Bitcoin was higher by just 0.02% at the $26,136.36, according to Coin Metrics. Last week, it lost 11% due to a sharp decline that began Wednesday afternoon. Ether was lower by 0.18% at $1,674Altcoins were making bigger moves to the downside on Monday, however. The Cosmos token lost more than 3% and Uniswap's coin was 2% lower.

Persons: bitcoin, Bitcoin, Ripple's XRP, Cardano, Chris Martin Organizations: Metrics, Solana, Polygon, Cosmos Locations: China, Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore

☆ Bitcoin drops to new two-month low as world markets sell off
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin is placed on a PC motherboard, in this illustration taken June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Top cryptocurrency bitcoin hit a fresh two-month low on Friday, breaking out of its recent tight range, as a wave of risk off sentiment grips world markets. It then slipped to a two-month low of $26,172 during Asian trading hours on Friday, its lowest since June 16 . It was lifted in June by BlackRock applying to launch a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States. Some investors interpreted that move as an indication that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would approve spot bitcoin ETF applications from various asset managers, including Grayscale.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, bitcoin, FTX, Wall, Joseph Edwards, Bitcoin, Edwards, Elizabeth Howcroft, Dhara Organizations: REUTERS, Enigma Securities, BlackRock, U.S . Securities, Exchange, SEC, Thomson Locations: United States

☆ Bitcoin briefly breaks below $26,000, heads for worst week since November
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bitcoin was last lower by more than 6% at $26,099.00, according to Coin Metrics, following a stunning fall that began late Thursday. The crypto asset briefly dropped below $26,000 twice between late Thursday night and Friday morning. The move pulled the rest of the crypto market lower. For the week, bitcoin is down more than 11.5% and on pace for its seventh weekly loss in the past eight and its worst week since November. Coin Metrics measures a week in crypto, which trades 24 hours a day, from the 4:00 p.m.

Persons: Bitcoin, Ripple's XRP, bitcoin, Crypto Organizations: Solana, Street, Elon, SpaceX

☆ Bitcoin falls 7.2% to $26,634
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin is placed on a PC motherboard, in this illustration taken June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - Bitcoin dropped 7.2% to $26,634 at 21:45 GMT on Thursday, losing $2,067 from its previous close. Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, is down 16.3% from the year's high of $31,818 on July 13. Ether , the coin linked to the Ethereum blockchain network, dropped 11.29% to $1,547.4 on Thursday, losing $203.8 from its previous close. Reporting by Yana Gaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Yana Gaur, Shinjini Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Bitcoin, Bengaluru

☆ Bitcoin falls to lowest level in nearly two months after Fed minutes dial up inflation concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A representations of virtual currency Bitcoin is seen in front of a stock graph in this illustration taken May 19, 2021. The central bank minutes from the July meeting cautioned that Fed officials see "upside risks" to inflation that could potentially lead to more rate hikes. At that meeting, Fed raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest in more than 22 years . The eventual debut of a spot bitcoin ETF, one of crypto's biggest positive catalysts, also lost some steam this week, he added. Several of the top crypto assets by market cap – including Binance's BNB coin , Ripple's XRP and the Solana and Polygon coins – were lower by more than 3% Thursday.

Persons: Fed, Bitcoin, Sylvia Jablonski, Needham's John Todaro, Ripple's XRP Organizations: Treasury, Metrics, Fed, CNBC, SEC, Solana Locations: U.S, Defiance, –

☆ Asset manager Valkyrie files for Ethereum-focused ETF with US SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 16 (Reuters) - Asset manager Valkyrie has filed for an Ethereum Strategy exchange-traded fund (ETF) that will invest in ether futures and other collateral assets, paperwork filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission showed on Wednesday. The greenlighting of the ETF by the SEC was seen as a watershed moment for cryptocurrencies at the time. The regulator, however, has rejected dozens of applications for spot bitcoin ETFs, citing inadequate level of trading surveillance that could leave the underlying spot market subject to fraud and manipulation. Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Valkyrie, Manya Saini, Anil D'Silva Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Exchange, BlackRock, SEC, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Bengaluru

Celsius Network logo and representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration taken, June 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photoCompanies Celsius Network Limited FollowNEW YORK, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Crypto lender Celsius Network on Monday received a U.S. bankruptcy judge's permission to seek creditor approval for its bankruptcy plan, advancing a proposal to exit Chapter 11 as a new entity owned by its creditors. Some creditors oppose the plan, but the official committee appointed to represent junior creditors supports it and will recommend that Celsius customers vote in favor. Celsius had 600,000 customers who held about $4.4 billion in interest-bearing Celsius accounts when it filed for bankruptcy, according to court documents. This will allow Celsius customers to sell equity shares that they will receive as part of their bankruptcy recovery, according to court documents.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Martin Glenn, Alex Mashinsky, Mashinsky, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Arrington, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, . New Jersey, New York

☆ PayPal’s stablecoin may be a payments catalyst, but it will face these near-term hurdles, BofA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PayPal 's new stablecoin — known as PYUSD — has the potential to facilitate payments , but it must overcome several headwinds before it takes off, Bank of America said. "Over the longer term, we expect PYUSD to experience additional adoption headwinds as competition from [central bank digital currencies] and yield-bearing stablecoins increases," the analyst added. "Over the longer term, we expect PYUSD to experience additional adoption headwinds as competition from CBDCs and yield-bearing stablecoins increases," he said. "Investors may have been fine holding non-yield bearing stablecoins, such as USDT and USDC, when rates were close to zero, but yield-bearing stablecoins will likely become increasingly available and attractive." Instead, Bank of America expects PYUSD to target the "largely untapped" market for blockchain-enabled asset transfers, payments and remittances.

Persons: —, headwinds Shah, PYUSD, Shah, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: PayPal, Bank of America Locations: U.S

☆ PayPal is diving deeper into crypto by launching its own stablecoin—what investors should know
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PayPal has added a new cryptocurrency to its roster: PayPal USD (PYUSD). On Monday, the online payments service became the first major U.S. financial company to launch its own U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. PayPal USD is "100% backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. Treasuries and similar cash equivalents," according to a Monday press release. Additionally, PayPal's stablecoin is redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars, which means one PayPal USD can be redeemed for one U.S. dollar and vice versa. Notably, Paxos was ordered to stop issuing Binance's dollar-pegged stablecoin, BUSD, by the New York State Department of Financial Services in February.

Persons: PYUSD, Paxos, PayPal's, Dan Schulman Organizations: PayPal, U.S ., U.S, Paxos Trust Company, New York State Department of Financial Services

Hands hold the biometric imaging device, the Orb, of the identity and financial public utility Worldcoin, which aims to create a World ID digital passport, with a tradeable cryptocurrency, in Berlin, Germany August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - Worldcoin has no problem attracting eyeballs. More than 2.2 million people have signed up, getting their irises scanned in exchange for a digital ID and, in some countries, free crypto. The new project from ChatGPT founder Sam Altman aims to create a blockchain-based "identity and financial network". PitchBook analyst Robert Le said there were several startups trying to build blockchain-based digital identity systems, but none on Worldcoin's scale.

Persons: Annegret, Sam Altman, WLD, Gordon Grant, Andreessen Horowitz, Robert Le, James Butterfill, Worldcoin, It's, Riyad Carey, Elizabeth Howcroft, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Genesis, Reuters Graphics, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Pravin Char, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Berlin, Germany, Kenya

☆ PayPal launches first dollar-backed stablecoin from a major U.S. financial institution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PayPal on Monday launched a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin to help facilitate payments as its latest addition to its suite of crypto services. The new asset, called PayPal USD (PYUSD), was designed to address the "emerging potential" to "transform payments in web3 and digitally native environments." PayPal said the stablecoin's function is to reduce friction for in-experience payments in virtual settings and allowing direct flows to developers. PayPal USD is issued by Paxos, which also previously issued the dollar-pegged, Binance-branded stablecoin BUSD. Paxos was ordered by the New York State Department of Financial Services in February to stop issuing BUSD, which marked the beginning of this year's decline in the stablecoin market cap.

Persons: Dan Schulman, Paxos, they're Organizations: PayPal, Monday, U.S ., Paxos, New York State Department of Financial Services Locations: U.S, web3

☆ Here's how to invest $100,000 right now, according to billionaire Mike Novogratz
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Billionaire Mike Novogratz would put $100,000 in Alibaba stock, silver, gold, ether, and bitcoin. That advice is for young and risk-tolerant investors, he told David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV. But for more risk-averse investors, Novogratz said they should mainly focus on bonds. I'd be buying silver, gold, bitcoin and ethereum. His preferred assets have made gains year to date, with Alibaba up 12%, gold 7.7%, silver 3.5%, ether 52.5%, and bitcoin 74.4%.

Persons: Mike Novogratz, David Rubenstein, Novogratz, That'd, bitcoin, Larry Fink's, Fundstrat Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Privacy, Galaxy Digital Locations: Wall, Silicon, Beijing, BlackRock

☆ Cryptocurrencies fall to begin August, bitcoin dips under $29,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ether , which has joined bitcoin in recent months as a sort of large cap, blue-chip trade in crypto, was down by 1.4%, after finishing July down by 3.35%. It was under extra pressure due to a recent exploit in DeFi giant Curve, however. Whenever investors hear the word hack ... it puts the whole crypto market on the backfoot and that's what's happening here," Gilbert said. Bitcoin volumes have also dropped significantly from their recent highs and have failed to reclaim them despite the price of bitcoin showing so much resilience this year. "When bitcoin heads south so do most altcoins ... and they're selling off a little bit further given what we're seeing with Curve."

Persons: bitcoin, Josh Gilbert, Altcoins, Ripple's, XRP, Aave, We've, Gilbert Organizations: Metrics, SEC, Binance, Solana, Polygon's, Finance, ERC, Blackrock ETF Locations: DeFi, Blackrock

☆ Bernstein says buy these assets to play the big crypto investment themes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

With bitcoin's price and trading volume still little changed, Bernstein is highlighting other crypto assets with good opportunities for investors. Bitcoin investors have been feeling deja vu as the setup for the next bull run takes shape. "It is time to dial up the crypto exposure, either through crypto equities or direct digital asset exposure for multi-asset strategies," he said. However, several investing themes within the market have emerged in recent years, and Bernstein has identified opportunities in specific assets to play each segment. Chhugani identified a seventh category, crypto games and prediction markets, but said market leaders in that space have yet to emerge.

Persons: Bernstein, Gautam Chhugani, Chhugani, Solana, Uniswap, Bernstein's, Ripple's XRP, Michael Bloom

☆ Review: Wagner Would Have Liked AR, but Not This ‘Parsifal’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Zachary Woolfe | More About Zachary Woolfe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a squabble within the notoriously squabbling Bayreuth Festival about funding the expensive augmented reality, or AR, glasses, money was allotted for 330 sets in a theater of 1,925 seats. A much smaller group, including critics, gets the glasses, which superimpose on that live staging a crowded AR environment that is constantly in motion. They miss the space between them and the stage seeming to fill with twinkling stars as the soft prelude begins. The fly that seems to land on the outside of the AR lenses. The rocky ledge that appears to fill the area beneath the seats in the third act.

Persons: straightforwardly, Pablo Heras

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin and ether hold steady after the Fed raises interest rates: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Rob Frasca, co-founder and managing partner at COSIMO Ventures, discusses investor appetite for artificial intelligence-based projects that focus on crypto and blockchain technology following the launch of Worldcoin, the OpenAI CEO's crypto project. Frasca also discusses the impact of financial institutions filing for spot bitcoin ETFs on the industry and markets.

Persons: explainers, Rob Frasca, Frasca Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC, COSIMO Ventures

☆ Bitcoin’s chart shows a new cycle is taking hold and investors should make use of current sluggishness, says Canaccord Genuity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

He told investors to "utilize pending near-term weakness to add exposure near important technical support at their 50-day moving averages." Investors should expect the first level of resistance at about $30,493 on the upside and the next at $31,476, he said. Should the bitcoin price turn lower, first support would be at $28,717, about the level of its 50-day moving average. "This confirms the long-term trend is now up, a strong technical positive, and is consistent with a four-year cycle taking hold in cryptocurrencies," Mirza wrote. Lately, investors have been drawing similarities between the cryptocurrency's recent behavior and its moves in the lead up to the last halving.

Persons: Canaccord, Bitcoin, Javed Mirza, Canaccord Genuity, Mirza, bitcoin, CNBC's Michael Bloom Locations: cryptocurrencies

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEther reclaims $1,900, and Nasdaq halts crypto custody plans: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Apple App Store founding director Phillip Shoemaker weighs in on Google Play announcing a major shift in its policy. It will now allow developers to incorporate digital assets, like NFTs, into their apps and games in the store.

Persons: explainers, Phillip Shoemaker Organizations: Nasdaq, CNBC Crypto, CNBC, Apple, Google

Second-biggest token Ether had its best session since March and Ripple , which a U.S. judge ruled could be legally sold on public crypto exchanges, soared 73%. "The regulatory environment is changing," said Matthew Dibb, chief investment officer at crypto asset manager Astronaut Capital. He said further cases would probably shed more light on how courts will treat private crypto offerings. The world's biggest asset manager, BlackRock (BLK.N), filed to launch a bitcoin exchange traded fund last month and earlier in July exchange operator Cboe (CBOE.Z) refreshed its filing for a similar fund to be run by asset manager Fidelity. "For the first time in a while, it's been consistently positive news coming though and that means you've got momentum."

Persons: Bitcoin, Matthew Dibb, Justin d'Anethan, Greg Moritz, FTX, Sam Bankman, Alex Mashinsky, We'd, Chris Weston, it's, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Capital, BlackRock, Fidelity, Investors, Solana, Commodity Futures, Commission, Tab, Traders, U.S, SEC, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, Keyrock, Hong Kong, reining, China, noncomplicance, Melbourne, Singapore

☆ NYC mayor Eric Adams to update disclosure form after failing to report crypto holdings, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives for a press conference on gun violence at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner on June 26, 2023 in New York City. New York City mayor Eric Adams has reportedly pledged to correct his annual financial disclosure form filed with the Conflicts of Interest Board, after failing to report his cryptocurrency holdings. It is unclear how much Adams' crypto holdings are worth. Miami mayor Francis Suarez's progressive crypto policies drew start-ups, venture firms, and crypto exchanges to Florida during the pandemic. In a similar disclosure by Suarez, the Miami mayor reported crypto holdings of $71,321 at the end of 2022, according to documents obtained by The Miami Herald via the county elections department.

Persons: Eric Adams, Adams, bitcoin, Francis Suarez's, Suarez, Jack Mallers Organizations: York City, New York City . New York City, Daily, CNBC, Miami, The Miami Herald Locations: York, New York City . New York, bitcoin, Florida, New York

☆ Cryptocurrencies head for a winning week after sharp rally fueled by Ripple court decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Cryptocurrencies headed for a winning week after a court decision Thursday fueled a sharp, broad crypto market rally. Bitcoin is on pace to end the week higher by about 3%, according to Coin Metrics, and on pace to finish above $30,000. Ripple's XRP led the rally after a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that it's a security in some cases but not others. XRP is on track to end the week with a 65% gain. The token tied to Solana is up 30.5% for the week, Cardano's ada has gained 21% and Polygon's matic token in on track to finish 25% higher.

Persons: Cryptocurrencies, Ripple's XRP, Cardano's ada Organizations: Metrics, of, Solana, Polygon's Locations: Southern, of New York

A U.S. judge said on Thursday that Ripple Labs Inc did not violate securities law by selling its XRP token on public exchanges. Although the decision was specific to the individual case, it unleashed a wave of optimism among crypto investors that more cryptocurrencies may also not be deemed securities. Still, the enthusiasm for some was tempered by a report from the Wall Street Journal that Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has laid off more than 1,000 people in recent weeks. "The regulatory environment is changing," said Matthew Dibb, chief investment officer at crypto asset manager Astronaut Capital. Still, crypto investors have taken encouragement from the world's biggest asset manager, BlackRock (BLK.N), filing to launch a bitcoin exchange traded fund last month.

Persons: XRP, Coinbase, Bitcoin, Matthew Dibb, Justin d'Anethan, Binance.US, bode, Sam Bankman, Alex Mashinsky, Patrick Hillmann, Hillmann, We'd, Chris Weston, it's, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore, Alex Richardson, Josie Kao Organizations: Labs, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Wall Street, Capital, SEC, U.S, Wall, Twitter, BlackRock, Fidelity, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, U.S, California , New Jersey, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Asia, Keyrock, Hong Kong, XRP, reining, China, Binance, Melbourne, Singapore

☆ XRP coin surges after judge delivers a huge win to Ripple in its case against the SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ripple's XRP token surged more than 30% at one point on Thursday after a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that it's "not necessarily a security on its face." The price of XRP was last higher by 28.90% at about 60 cents a coin, according to Coin Metrics. The news gave hope to crypto investors, who breathed a sigh of relief that other altcoins may not be considered securities either. Polygon's matic token gained 11%, while litecoin and the token tied to Solana jumped 8%, and Cardano's token advanced 7%. "Also, it will likely have an important impact on the Binance and Coinbase lawsuits."

Persons: Ripple's, XRP, Cantor Fitzgerald's Elliot Han Organizations: of, Metrics, Solana, CNBC Locations: Southern, of New York, U.S

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