NewsBriefs - VanEck asserts Solana ETF application still active despite form removal

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  • Cryptoslate

    VanEck asserts Solana ETF application still active despite form removal

    VanEck's head of digital assets research confirms their Solana spot ETF application remains active, despite the removal of 19b-4 forms from Cboe's website. VanEck maintains SOL should be classified as a commodity like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The firm highlights Solana's decentralization progress, citing decreased concentration of token holdings and a high Nakamoto Coefficient. VanEck believes evolving legal perspectives support SOL's commodity status in secondary markets.

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    • Binance

      Binance will list TRUMP meme coin on futures market

      Binance has recently announced the listing of the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin on its futures platform. Launched today, the crypto has already achieved a market value exceeding $4 billion and has surged by 208% in just 24 hours.

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    • Hand-Picked

      Swiss Bitcoin advocates seek national vote to include crypto in central bank reserves

      In Switzerland, Bitcoin supporters are initiating a campaign to have a national vote on including Bitcoin in the Swiss National Bank's reserves, alongside traditional assets like the dollar and gold. This effort involves collecting 100,000 signatures to prompt a public consultation under the Swiss system of direct democracy. The proponents argue that adding Bitcoin could provide the Swiss National Bank an investment not controlled by any foreign entity, enhancing Switzerland's financial sovereignty.

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    • Bybit

      Bybit to list TRUMPUSDT token for perpetual pre-market trading

      Bybit announced the listing of TRUMPUSDT for Perpetual Pre-Market Trading, starting with a Call Auction on January 18, 2025, at 9:35 AM UTC. The trading process includes a Call Auction phase, an Order Withdrawal period, followed by Match-Making Tradeoff, and possibly a Continuous Auction. The listing is intended for pre-market notice and does not guarantee a permanent spot on Bybit's Derivatives platform.

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    • The Block

      Pro-crypto Vivek Ramaswamy to announce bid for Ohio governor

      Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and crypto advocate, plans to run for governor of Ohio. He has previously campaigned against regulatory overreach in the crypto sector. His bid announcement is expected soon, coinciding with his role in leading the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing federal regulations. The gubernatorial race is scheduled for 2026, aligning with the department's project completion.

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    • Hand-Picked

      IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel to resign upon Trump's inauguration

      IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel announced he will resign following President-elect Trump's inauguration, despite his term originally set to expire in 2027. Werfel's decision, influenced by discussions with various stakeholders including IRS employees and Congress, aims to facilitate a smooth transition for Trump's nominee, former Rep. Billy Long. This comes amid ongoing transformations within the IRS supported by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which Werfel has been leading to enhance the agency's efficiency and enforcement capabilities.

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    • The Block

      MARA Holdings hashes portrait of Trump on Bitcoin blockchain to commemorate inauguration

      MARA Holdings, a Nasdaq-traded Bitcoin mining company, has embedded a portrait of Donald Trump, the incoming 47th president of the US, onto the Bitcoin blockchain at block 879613. This move coincides with Trump's upcoming presidency, during which he plans to prioritize crypto regulation and support for the mining industry in the US. MARA also gained significant profit by mining this block, demonstrating the continued growth of cryptocurrency activities in the context of political developments.

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    • Hand-Picked

      Supreme Court upholds law threatening TikTok ban over national security concerns

      The Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by Jan 19 or face a US ban, citing national security risks from Chinese control over the app. The decision leaves an uncertain future for TikTok and its 170 million US users, with potential changes pending from the incoming Trump administration. The ruling emphasizes national security over free speech rights associated with TikTok's operational dynamics.

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    • Bloomberg

      Chinese state-sponsored actors hack US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's computer, access unclassified files

      US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's computer was hacked by Chinese state-sponsored hackers, with fewer than 50 unclassified files accessed. The breach, part of a larger espionage campaign, also affected two deputy secretaries and targeted the Treasury's unclassified systems, focusing on its role in sanctions, intelligence, and international affairs. Over 400 devices and more than 3,000 files across unclassified personal devices were compromised in the attack.

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    • The Block

      Phantom wallet secures $150 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital and Paradigm

      Phantom Wallet has successfully raised $150 million in a Series C funding round at a valuation of $3 billion, led by Sequoia Capital and Paradigm. The funding round also included significant contributions from a16z and Variant. Phantom's CEO highlighted the wallet's growing popularity as a sign of shifting user preference towards self-custody crypto platforms over centralized exchanges like Coinbase. The company also reported having 15 million monthly active users and $25 billion in self-custody assets. Phantom aims to use these funds to expand its influence and foster greater crypto adoption globally.

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    • The Block

      Phantom Wallet secures $150 million in Series C funding, reaches $3 billion valuation

      Phantom Wallet successfully raised $150 million in a Series C funding round led by Sequoia Capital and Paradigm, reaching a valuation of $3 billion. The round also included notable investors a16z and Variant. Phantom attributes its success to a growing preference for crypto transactions through digital wallets over traditional exchanges like Coinbase. The company reported 15 million monthly active users and $25 billion in self-custody assets. Phantom Wallet aims to expand crypto adoption and become the leading consumer finance platform, bolstered by its dominance as a Solana-based wallet.

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    • Cointelegraph

      Senator Lummis questions US Marshals over potential sale of seized Bitcoin

      Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis has inquired the US Marshals Service about the US government's intent to sell 69,370 Bitcoin seized from the Silk Road, arguing that it contradicts the plans for a national Bitcoin stockpile. The letter, prompted by Judge Richard Seeborg's denial of a petition to block the asset forfeiture, raises concerns about the timing during a presidential transition and its misalignment with strategic reserve policies.

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    • CoinDesk

      BoJ rate hike on Jan. 24 poses risk to crypto and traditional markets

      Investors are anticipating potential disruptions in both crypto and traditional markets due to a likely interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on January 24. Historical precedents suggest that a BoJ rate hike could lead to significant market sell-offs, similar to the effects seen in August when bitcoin fell to $49,000. The market currently anticipates a 90% probability of this increase, amidst concerns of high inflation in Japan, which could further influence market dynamics.

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    • Bloomberg

      Swiss State-Owned Bank PostFinance introduces Ethereum staking

      Swiss state-owned bank PostFinance AG has introduced Ethereum staking to its digital-asset offerings, allowing holders to earn passive income. The bank announced plans to add staking for other tokens soon and highlighted its status as the first systemically important bank to offer staking services. This development reflects growing enthusiasm for crypto in Switzerland, influenced by surging asset prices and political changes in the US.

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    • The Block

      Pyth Network introduces Lazer, a new oracle for latency-sensitive crypto applications

      Pyth Network has launched Lazer, a new oracle service offering ultra-low-latency price feeds specifically designed for latency-sensitive crypto trading apps and exchanges. Lazer operates with customizable frequency channels that can refresh as quickly as one millisecond, potentially enhancing DeFi protocols' performance against centralized exchanges. The service supports up to 20 simultaneous price feeds on Solana and is compatible with multiple blockchain environments including EVM and SVM. Lazer differentiates itself by sourcing data directly from first-party publishers rather than third-party providers.

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    • The Block

      Bloomberg analyst predicts Litecoin ETF likely next for US approval

      A Litecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by Canary Capital is likely the next spot crypto ETF to gain approval in the US following an amended S-1 form submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bloomberg's Senior ETF Analyst, Eric Balchunas, highlighted that the SEC's engagement with the filing and changes in SEC leadership could influence this outcome. The exact impact of the newly appointed, crypto-friendly SEC chair Paul Atkins remains uncertain as his confirmation timing is unclear.

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