Editor's Choice
Binance Pay and xMoney launch a strategic partnership to expand cryptocurrency payments in Europe: growth of the network to 32,000 points of sale and a 36 percent increase year over year 💳
Binance Pay, a cryptocurrency payment solution from Binance, has entered into a long-term partnership with xMoney, a European Web3 payment provider. This collaboration will allow Binance Pay users to pay for goods and services through the xMoney network, simplifying transaction processes. The partnership will open access to a variety of business segments, including luxury, travel, and gaming, and accelerate crypto payments, making them more profitable and convenient. Thanks to the partnership, the Binance Pay network has expanded to 32,000 points of sale, reflecting a 36 percent growth year over year.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand is launching a platform based on DLT technology for trading tokenized securities, supporting different blockchains and new electronic instruments 📊
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand will launch a platform based on distributed ledger technology (DLT) for trading digital tokens. This will allow companies to use their large investor base. The platform will cover all stages of bond trading, investor registration, payment and settlement, as well as support for different blockchains. Four token projects have already been approved, and two more are under review. The release of tokenized and electronic securities is expected.
OpenAI launches the "deep research" feature for ChatGPT Pro users: a new tool for accurate and detailed research in the fields of science, politics, and finance 📊
OpenAI has introduced a new feature for ChatGPT Pro users — "deep research", designed for complex research in fields such as finance, science, and politics. This tool helps obtain detailed answers based on multiple sources. The responses will be accompanied by links and explanations for verifying the information. The model o3, optimized for web search and data analysis, is used. However, the function is not always accurate and may make mistakes in formatting and source selection. Testing results showed that the new tool significantly outperforms other models.
India will introduce a tax penalty of up to 70 percent on undisclosed cryptocurrency income: amendments to the Tax Code will come into effect on February 1, 2025, including cryptocurrencies as virtual digital assets 📊
Indian authorities will impose a tax penalty of up to 70 percent on undisclosed cryptocurrency income as part of amendments to the Tax Code. Starting from February 1, 2025, cryptocurrencies will be classified as virtual digital assets, and owners will be required to report their crypto assets to tax authorities. If cryptocurrency profits are not declared within 48 months, a penalty of up to 70 percent of the tax amount and interest will be imposed.
Since February 2, in the European Union, fines of up to 35 million euros or 7 percent of annual revenue apply to companies using AI with unacceptable risk 🚫
Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, 10 percent on Chinese goods — Canada introduces countermeasures worth 155 billion dollars, Mexico and China prepare countermeasures 💵
Swiss bank UBS is testing blockchain on ZKsync for digital gold investments, enhancing scalability and privacy for retail investors with Ethereum Layer 2 🚀
FIU-IND imposed a fine of $1.06 million (₹9.27 crore) on the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit for violating PMLA 2005, ignoring the mandatory registration, and failing to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements in India 🚫
FTX has settled a lawsuit with K5 Global over disputed investments worth $700 million as part of efforts to recover funds and bankruptcy proceedings, with the terms of the deal undisclosed ⚖️
Former senior advisor to the U.S. Federal Reserve System, John Rogers, arrested for passing classified information to Chinese intelligence, which could give China an edge in the markets 💼
Uniswap v4 has officially launched on blockchain networks Ethereum, Polygon, and others with improvements in the form of hooks and the singleton liquidity model to speed up transactions and reduce costs 💡
Grayscale launches an investment fund for Dogecoin (DOGE) – a meme coin with open source and no limit on the number of coins in circulation, available only to institutional investors 🐕
The U.S. Federal Reserve has allowed banks to serve cryptocurrency clients while managing risks, despite high caution in the industry and the "Operation Choke Point 2.0" investigation 🔍
Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, stated that banks can serve clients working with cryptocurrencies if they understand the risks. He emphasized that banks should be cautious when engaging in cryptocurrency activities due to the high level of risk. Powell also noted that banks should not refuse legitimate crypto clients, despite possible caution arising from regulation. His remarks came amid the investigation of "Operation Choke Point 2.0," which examines cases of de-banking cryptocurrency companies.
The SEC recognized the submission of the Canary Capital application for the creation of a Litecoin ETF, which could lead to the first approved ETF for an altcoin in 2025, after the application is reviewed through Nasdaq 📈
The SEC recognized the submission of the Canary Capital application for the creation of a Litecoin ETF, which could become the first approved ETF for an altcoin, besides Bitcoin and Ethereum, in 2025. The application was submitted through Nasdaq and accepted after a leadership change at the SEC. This move marks the beginning of the official review process, which may take up to 240 days. If the decision is positive, the Litecoin ETF will be an important step in the development of crypto investments in the U.S., opening new opportunities for investors in altcoins.
The native USDC is launching on the main Aptos network: simplifying transactions without bridges, improved availability for developers and users, with upcoming support on Coinbase 🚀
The native USDC is now available on the main Aptos network, eliminating the need for bridges and simplifying the process for users and developers. The previously used bridged version of USDC, lzUSDC, was transferred from Ethereum, but now Circle has launched the native version. This will make it easier for Aptos developers to integrate the largest regulated stablecoin into decentralized applications. In the near future, USDC on Aptos will also be supported on Coinbase, significantly expanding its availability.
Tether integrates USDT into the Bitcoin network via the Lightning Network using Taproot Assets to improve the speed, security, and scalability of transactions, opening up new opportunities for financial applications ⚡
Tether integrates its stablecoin USDT into the Bitcoin network via the Lightning Network with the help of Taproot Assets, which improves asset compatibility on the Bitcoin blockchain. This integration will provide fast and cheap transactions while maintaining high security and scalability of Bitcoin. In the future, USDT will become an important element of financial systems based on Bitcoin, improving microtransactions, remittances, and cross-border settlements, opening up new opportunities for financial applications.
Best news of the last 10 days
The SEC has approved the creation of an ETF by Bitwise Asset Management, which will track the price of Bitcoin and Ether with a ratio of 83 percent for Bitcoin and 17 percent for Ether, with assets stored by Coinbase 💰
Pump.fun is accused of violating securities laws and making $500 million in commission fees, claiming that all tokens created on the platform are securities 💰
Kraken resumes staking services for users in the U.S., offering 17 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and Cardano, after settling with the SEC and a $30 million fine 💰
The Time account on X was hacked to promote a fake cryptocurrency based on Solana, which caused a brief spike in the token's price. Kate Grossman confirmed the hack and warned not to buy the token 🚫
The European Central Bank lowered rates by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, Lagarde hinted at further cuts in case of falling inflation and rejected Bitcoin as a reserve asset 📉
The ECB has lowered rates by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, and Christine Lagarde hinted at a possible further reduction if inflation continues to decrease. She expressed confidence that inflation will return to the target level of 2 percent by 2025. Lagarde rejected the use of Bitcoin as a reserve asset, stating that the cryptocurrency does not meet liquidity and security requirements. The eurozone economy faces risks of slowdown amid weak growth and geopolitical instability.
Trump Media announced the launch of the fintech brand Truth.Fi, investments in bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and plans to diversify assets through ETFs, which led to an 8 percent rise in stock 📈
Trump Media, owned by Donald Trump, has announced its entry into fintech with a new brand, Truth.Fi, and intends to invest in bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. This led to an 8 percent rise in the company's stock. Trump Media plans to create investment products targeting the U.S. economy and collaborate with Charles Schwab to develop funds. However, the company's actions raise concerns due to potential conflicts of interest, considering Trump's influence on the regulation of the financial and cryptocurrency sectors.
The Spanish court has started an investigation against Binance over the theft of €67,550: Entrepreneur JL claims that the platform did not issue him an access code and did not return his money after two years of attempts 💰
The Spanish court has begun an investigation against Binance in the case of the theft of €67,550. Entrepreneur JL filed a lawsuit, claiming that the platform did not issue him a access code after depositing funds. He has been trying to get his money back for two years without success. Judge María Velázquez granted his petition, stating that there are sufficient grounds for an investigation. JL must now provide evidence to continue the lawsuit. This case is part of a series of lawsuits against Binance in different countries.
Texas could become the first U.S. state to create an official Bitcoin reserve, allowing Bitcoin to be accepted for tax and fee payments in order to form a strategic reserve 💸
Texas could become the first U.S. state to create an official Bitcoin reserve. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick included this project in the legislative priorities for 2025. According to the plan, the state will begin accepting Bitcoin for tax and fee payments, which will help form a strategic reserve. With annual tax revenues exceeding $250 billion, Texas has significant potential for this. The initiative is also supported by other states, such as Arizona, and reflects the growing political support for cryptocurrencies in the U.S.