English

NewsBriefs - Crypto ATM count skyrockets in Australia

Editor-curated news, summarized by AI

  • 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.

    Bloomberg

    • Latest

    • Cointelegraph

      Osprey Funds to file for SEC approval to convert Bitcoin trust to ETF

      Osprey Funds announced plans to file a Form S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to convert its Osprey Bitcoin Trust into an ETF. This move follows the termination of a prior acquisition deal with Bitwise, and amid growing activity in the ETF sector, as exemplified by SEC approvals for other Bitcoin and Ether index ETFs. Osprey's decision was driven by the competitive landscape and a recent spike in its unit value, despite prior challenges.

      Expand
      Cointelegraph

    • The Block

      World Liberty Financial moves $61.4 million in Ether for treasury management

      World Liberty Financial, a crypto project endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, has transferred $61.4 million worth of ether to various wallets, including Coinbase Prime, for standard treasury management activities. The movements are related to routine business functions such as payment of fees and working capital adjustments, emphasizing that these are common practices and not token sales. The project's wallet, monitored by Arkham Intelligence, showed a significant reduction from its mid-December peak of $83 million to $16.7 million.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Cointelegraph

      a16z's Eliza Labs releases white paper on Web3-native AI agents

      Eliza Labs, part of ai16z, released a white paper detailing a new toolkit named Eliza, aimed at integrating Web3 applications with AI agent functionalities. The toolkit will enable AI agents to manage blockchain data, interact with smart contracts, and facilitate autonomous data analysis and trading for investors. This development is expected to democratize access to advanced AI features, transforming the use of AI in Web3 environments.

      Expand
      Cointelegraph

    • The Block

      K33 revises stance on selling Bitcoin at Trump's inauguration amid mixed market signals

      Bitcoin reached new all-time highs after Donald Trump's election win but has faced subsequent market downturns. K33 analysts, previously advocating to sell Bitcoin during Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, have reconsidered this strategy due to uncertain market conditions and potential favorable crypto policies from Trump. Despite mixed signals including rising US yields and a strong dollar impacting Bitcoin prices, K33 remains bullish on Trump's long-term influence on crypto.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Bloomberg

      CFTC reviews Crypto.com's Super Bowl derivatives, requests trading pause

      The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is reviewing derivatives contracts related to the Super Bowl and other sports events traded on Crypto.com to ensure they comply with legal standards. The CFTC has requested Crypto.com to pause trading of these contracts initiated on December 23 as they examine potential violations related to gaming regulations. Crypto.com has declined to suspend trading, insisting on adhering to federal court precedents and committing to cooperate with the CFTC while continuing to support trading across all US states.

      Expand
      Bloomberg

    • Metaplanet

      Metaplanet launches Bitcoin Magazine Japan to boost adoption

      Metaplanet Inc. has launched Bitcoin Magazine Japan to foster Bitcoin adoption and understanding among Japanese citizens. This initiative, aiming to onboard one million Japanese individuals, will provide educational resources and create a platform for discussion and collaboration. The magazine seeks to explore Bitcoin's potential to address economic challenges such as deflation and low-yield investments in Japan, emphasizing economic freedom, technological innovation, and individual sovereignty.

      Expand
      Metaplanet

    • Soneium

      Sony's layer 2 blockchain Soneium launches on mainnet

      Sony Block Solutions Labs, based in Singapore, has launched the mainnet of its Soneium blockchain, a public, Ethereum-based Layer 2 network. The mainnet launch follows successful testing and pilot operations, which included 15.4 million active wallet addresses and over 50 million transactions. Soneium aims to enhance the Web3 experience by focusing on inclusivity and utility for content creators, fans, and communities, while addressing issues like creators' rights and value distribution. With this launch, Sony plans to expand Soneium by exploring new use cases that blend digital and physical experiences.

      Expand
      Soneium

    • CNBC

      SEC imposes $45M penalty on Robinhood for multiple securities law violations

      The SEC has fined two Robinhood broker-dealers a total of $45 million for violating over 10 different securities laws. These violations, occurring between 2020 and 2021, include failing to report suspicious trading, inadequate identity theft protections, unauthorized access issues, and incorrect securities trading information reporting. Robinhood has acknowledged these primarily historical issues and expressed commitment to regulatory compliance moving forward.

      Expand
      CNBC

    • The Block

      US court mandates SEC to clarify denial of Coinbase's crypto rules request

      The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has required the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide a detailed explanation for why it denied Coinbase's request for crypto-specific rulemaking. The court labeled the SEC's initial refusal as arbitrary and capricious but stopped short of ordering the SEC to commence rulemaking. This decision follows a history of disputes between Coinbase and the SEC regarding the need for clear crypto regulations.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      Sui leads Layer 1 tokens with a 542% increase and 7.5 billion transactions

      Sui (SUI) has emerged as a leading Layer 1 blockchain token, delivering an impressive 542% return over the past year and outperforming competitors such as BNB. Trading at $0.80 one year ago and now at $5.21, Sui's exceptional performance is credited to its unique technological architecture developed by Mysten Labs. The platform uses an object-centric model and the Move programming language, facilitating efficient transaction processing. Additionally, Sui's new Mysticeti consensus algorithm has helped achieve daily transaction peaks of 58.4 million and process a total of 7.5 billion transactions, positioning it as a strong contender in the shifting market dynamics of the crypto industry.

      Expand
      The Block

    • CoinDesk

      Capital Group now owns 5% of Bitcoin investor Metaplanet

      Capital Group, a major investment firm managing over $2.3 trillion, has acquired a 5% stake in Metaplanet. Based in Japan, Metaplanet is known for its significant investments in Bitcoin, similar to MicroStrategy's approach. Since adopting this strategy, Metaplanet's share price has soared by more than 1,700%. Capital Group is also a substantial shareholder in MicroStrategy, evidencing a focused investment strategy in firms with substantial crypto holdings.

      Expand
      CoinDesk

    • The Block

      CoinShares reports modest crypto fund inflows amidst stronger US economic indicators

      Global crypto funds experienced modest net inflows of $48 million last week, despite initially attracting nearly $1 billion, as stronger US economic data and a more hawkish Federal Reserve influenced market sentiment. This shift resulted in significant outflows of $940 million in the latter half of the week. Bitcoin-based investment products registered net inflows, while Ethereum-based funds saw sharp outflows. The overall crypto market reflected a downturn with the GMCI 30 index dropping by 12.5%.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Cointelegraph

      Indian Railways issues NFT tickets on Polygon for rare Mahakumbh festival

      Indian Railways, in collaboration with Chaincode Consulting, is issuing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for train tickets on the Polygon blockchain for passengers attending the Mahakumbh Mela, a significant Hindu pilgrimage occurring once every 144 years. The technological partnership aims to digitize the travel experience, making ticket traceability and engagement more innovative for millions of visitors. The use of Polygon enables faster transactions and reduced costs, enhancing scalability and environmental sustainability of the tickets.

      Expand
      Cointelegraph

    • ANIME

      Azuki-backed Animecoin unveils ANIME token on Ethereum, Arbitrum with over 50% community allocation

      Azuki is set to introduce the ANIME token on Ethereum and Arbitrum in January 2025, allocating 50.5% of the total 10 billion tokens to community engagement and initiatives. This strategic move avoids venture capital involvement and focuses on empowering the anime community through the decentralized brand building, aiming to foster an economy driven by fans and creators.

      Expand
      ANIME

    • The Block

      Mango Markets to cease operations following SEC settlement

      Mango Markets, a Solana-based decentralized exchange, will cease operations after a settlement with the SEC necessitated the destruction and delisting of its MNGO tokens. The governance DAO and development organization were implicated in the unregistered sale of crypto assets. This decision follows a tumultuous period marked by legal challenges and an internal controversy within the DAO.

      Expand
      The Block