NewsBriefs - TRON founder Justin Sun pledges $1m to DAO supporting Telegram's Pavel Durov

Aug 26, 9:44 AM Cryptoslate

TRON founder Justin Sun pledges $1m to DAO supporting Telegram's Pavel Durov

Justin Sun, TRON's founder, pledged $1 million to a DAO advocating for Telegram founder Pavel Durov's release. Durov was arrested in France on Aug. 23, facing accusations of content moderation failures on Telegram. Prominent crypto figures, including Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin, support Durov's release using #FreePavel. The arrest raises concerns about software and communications freedom in Europe. Sun's pledge aims to demonstrate crypto industry unity in supporting Durov.

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• Sep 13, 6:39 AM Coindesk

  Kraken demands jury trial in SEC lawsuit, presents defense arguments

  Crypto exchange Kraken has requested a jury trial in its legal battle against the US SEC. The firm denies engaging in illegal conduct and argues it never registered with the SEC as it wasn't required to. Kraken claims digital assets aren't investment contracts subject to SEC regulation. The exchange faces allegations of violating federal securities laws, similar to cases against Binance and Coinbase. Kraken accuses the SEC of acting without due process and fair notice, suggesting action was taken for exercising its first amendment rights.

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• Sep 13, 5:55 AM Taiko

  Taiko prepares to upgrade rollup protocol and launch Ontake fork

  Taiko is upgrading its rollup protocol to version 1.9.0 and preparing for Ontake, the first Taiko BCR protocol fork. Key improvements include enhanced L2 EIP-1559, transaction re-confirmation support, batch processing, and Calldata for contract proposers. These upgrades aim to boost efficiency, reduce Gas costs, and improve data handling flexibility on the Taiko L2 network.

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• Sep 12, 11:07 PM Cryptoslate

  Congressman proposes bill for joint CFTC-SEC digital asset committee

  Congressman John Rose introduced the BRIDGE Digital Assets Act to create a Joint Advisory Committee overseen by the CFTC and SEC. The committee aims to unify digital asset regulations, explore blockchain's potential in financial markets, and address regulatory uncertainty in the US crypto industry. The bill mandates a 20-member committee of industry stakeholders to meet twice yearly and provide recommendations to both agencies.

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• Sep 12, 9:25 PM PR Newswire

  HTX to boost Bitcoin Lightning Network applications with new partnership

  HTX has formed a strategic partnership with fintech innovator IBEX to utilize the Bitcoin Lightning Network, enhancing payment efficiency and reducing costs. This collaboration focuses on integrating Lightning Network technology to improve transaction speeds and explore new markets, providing diverse financial services globally. IBEX, a key advocate for Bitcoin transactions, offers instant settlement, low fees, and high security through its Lightning Network solutions. HTX will integrate IBEX's technology, enabling faster confirmations and lower fees for users. Both companies plan to expand into Asian, Latin American, and African markets, promoting crypto payments and exploring various application scenarios.

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• Sep 12, 11:57 AM Cointelegraph

  CEX.IO reopens in UK, embraces new crypto regulations

  Crypto exchange CEX.IO has resumed operations in the UK after a temporary suspension in 2023 to comply with new FCA regulations. The platform backs stricter crypto rules, viewing them as consumer protection measures. CEX.IO aims to support the UK's growth as a crypto market leader while adhering to upcoming Financial Services and Markets Act changes. The UK's regulatory shifts have affected multiple crypto firms, including Nexo, PayPal, and Bybit.

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• Sep 12, 12:57 AM PR Newswire

  CleanSpark to boost Bitcoin mining with Tennessee facility acquisitions

  Bitcoin miner CleanSpark has finalized agreements to acquire seven Bitcoin mining facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a total of $27.5 million. The acquisition will add 5 EH/s to CleanSpark's hashrate, boosting it by 22%. The company expects to reach 37 EH/s by end of 2024. The deal includes 85 MW of capacity across sites ranging from 10-20 MW each. CleanSpark plans to install S21 pro miners promptly after closing. This expansion is part of CleanSpark's ongoing effort to capitalize on market opportunities and strengthen its presence in regions with favorable political and energy conditions, similar to its operations in Georgia.

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• Sep 11, 12:45 AM The Digital Chamber

  Digital Chamber urges Congress to define NFTs as consumer products

  Digital Chamber calls on US Congress to legislate NFTs as consumer products, exempt from securities laws. This comes after SEC's Wells notice to OpenSea, seen as regulatory overreach. The chamber argues many NFTs are for consumptive use, not investment, and should be treated as consumer goods. They warn SEC's approach threatens NFT creators, communities, and companies. Digital Chamber urges swift congressional action to keep the NFT industry in the US, benefiting the economy.

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• Sep 9, 2:43 PM The Block

  QCP Capital expects Trump-Harris debate and CPI data to drive crypto volatility

  QCP Capital reports two key events likely to impact crypto market volatility this week: the Trump-Harris debate and the final US CPI reading before the Fed's rate decision. Bernstein analysts predict Bitcoin could reach $80,000-$90,000 if Trump wins, but potentially test $30,000-$40,000 if Harris wins. Derivatives traders are cautious short-term but bullish long-term, with significant purchases of March 2025 Bitcoin call options at high strike prices. Despite recent drops, some institutions view current prices as a bottom and are adding to bullish positions.

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• Sep 9, 5:49 AM Cointelegraph

  Japanese power firm explores Bitcoin mining with waste solar energy

  TEPCO's subsidiary Agile Energy X is testing Bitcoin mining using surplus solar energy. The company aims to utilize wasted renewable power, potentially generating $2.5 billion in Bitcoin annually from 10% of Japan's projected surplus energy. This initiative could promote increased green energy adoption and leverage output control practices. The project involves mining rigs near solar farms in Gunma and Tochigi prefectures.

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• Sep 8, 5:58 AM Cointelegraph

  Ripple CEO predicts rising demand for yen stablecoins in Japan

  Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse foresees strong demand for yen stablecoins in Japan, citing the country's regulatory clarity on crypto and stablecoins. He notes Japan's thriving entrepreneurship and investment environment. Ripple plans to launch a US dollar stablecoin first before considering a yen stablecoin. Garlinghouse aims to partner with US regulators before going live with Ripple's stablecoin, emphasizing global opportunities. Ripple recently began testing its RLUSD on XRP Ledger and Ethereum mainnets.

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• Sep 7, 10:45 AM U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

  WisdomTree cancels Ethereum Trust filing with SEC after three years

  Asset manager WisdomTree has officially withdrawn its Ethereum Trust S-1 registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Originally submitted on May 27, 2021, the company has decided not to proceed with the issuance of Ethereum ETF shares. Despite the withdrawal, WisdomTree requested that the fees paid for the registration be credited for future use. This move coincides with VanEck's decision to close its Ethereum Strategy ETF due to low demand.

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• Sep 5, 4:25 PM Financial Conduct Authority

  FCA reports 87% of crypto registration applications failed to meet UK standards

  The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approved only 4 out of 35 crypto registration applications in the 2023-24 fiscal year. 87% of applications failed to meet anti-money laundering standards. Since 2020, the FCA has received 359 applications, with only 44 firms currently registered. Successful registrants include Binance's payment partner BNXA, PayPal's UK unit, and Komainu. The regulator awaits legislation to fully authorize crypto firms, but plans have been paused by the new Labour government.

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• Sep 3, 7:48 AM VentureBeat

  Mysten Labs' SuiPlay0X1 now available for preorder

  Mysten Labs has officially opened preorders for the SuiPlay0X1, a new gaming handheld integrated with Sui blockchain technology. Priced at $600, the device is available for purchase using SUI, ETH, and SOL tokens. The first 1,000 preorders will include a soul-bound NFT offering exclusive access and rewards. The SuiPlay0X1 features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU, AMD Ryzen 780M GPU, and a 7-inch IPS screen. It supports WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and has a storage capacity of 512GB SSD. The device is set to be delivered in 2025.

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• Sep 2, 3:00 PM Metaplanet

  Metaplanet partners with SBI for Bitcoin custody and trading in Japan

  Metaplanet, a Bitcoin investment firm, has partnered with SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of Japan's SBI, for Bitcoin trading and custody services. This move aligns with Metaplanet's corporate Bitcoin accumulation strategy, providing access to compliant and tax-efficient custody services. Metaplanet, dubbed "Asia's MicroStrategy," has recently acquired 360.368 BTC for about $23 million. SBI VC Trade offers tax benefits on unrealized crypto gains for corporate customers and allows Bitcoin as collateral for financing. This partnership reflects Metaplanet's vision as a modern financial services provider and complements its equity and debt financing efforts.

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• Aug 30, 2:37 AM Bloomberg

  Crypto ATM count skyrockets in Australia

  Australia now ranks third globally in crypto ATMs, with a sixteen-fold increase over two years. The US leads with 32,000 machines, followed by Canada with 3,000. This surge reflects growing interest in crypto, especially among younger generations. The regulatory environment in Australia has been pivotal in supporting this boom. Clear guidelines have encouraged businesses to invest in Bitcoin infrastructure, including ATMs, ensuring compliance with local laws. However, the rapid expansion of Bitcoin ATMs also brings challenges, such as increased regulatory scrutiny and the potential for misuse in activities like money laundering.

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