NewsBriefs - Telegram introduces feature to convert digital gifts into NFTs

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• Apr 16, 3:57 AM Metaplanet

  Metaplanet issues $10 million in zero-interest bonds to fund Bitcoin purchases

  Metaplanet has issued 11th series of ordinary bonds totaling $10 million to EVO FUND, carrying no interest. The funds from this issuance will be used to purchase Bitcoin, building on earlier plans detailed in January 2025. The redemption of these bonds, scheduled for October 14, 2025, will be financed through the proceeds from the 14th to 17th Series of Stock Acquisition Rights.

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• Apr 16, 3:14 AM The Block

  Semler Scientific plans $500 million securities offering to boost bitcoin portfolio

  Semler Scientific has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to offer $500 million in securities to potentially expand its bitcoin holdings and cover general corporate expenses. The company, which embarked on a bitcoin investment strategy in May 2024, aims to use the funds from the various securities sales, including debt securities, common stocks, and warrants, primarily for acquiring more bitcoin, alongside other corporate needs. As of now, Semler holds 3,192 BTC with an unrealized loss of approximately $14 million.

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• Apr 16, 2:10 AM CoinDesk

  Bitcoin retreats, Ether, XRP slide after Nvidia selloff sparks risk-off mood

  The equity and crypto markets took a downturn as Nvidia shares plummeted following a $5.5 billion charge resulting from a US government ban on its H20 chip sales to China. Bitcoin dropped to $83,600, XRP fell by over 2% to $2.08, and Cardano's ADA declined by 4% to $0.61. The broader CoinDesk 20 Index also saw a 2% decrease. Additionally, AI-associated cryptocurrencies performed poorly in tandem with a significant drop in Nvidia’s shares.

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• Apr 16, 1:41 AM OKX

  OKX announces US launch of crypto exchange and Web3 Wallet

  OKX US CEO Roshan Robert announced the launch of OKX's centralized crypto exchange and OKX Wallet in the US, establishing a regional headquarters in San Jose, California. US customers can access advanced trading tools, lower fees, and deep liquidity. The company also ensures a secure, compliant environment with a robust KYC process, fraud detection systems, and monthly proof of reserves reports verified by Hacken. The OKX Wallet supports over 130 blockchains and integrates a DEX aggregator for greater token access.

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• Apr 15, 11:20 AM Protos

  AWS outage impacts major crypto exchanges and wallets including Binance and KuCoin

  An Amazon Web Services outage in the Singapore region disrupted several major crypto platforms. Binance temporarily suspended withdrawals but resumed services shortly after. KuCoin and MEXC also experienced service interruptions, and crypto wallet Rabby faced similar issues. The AWS outage led to operational disruptions, including problems with asset transfers and order cancellations on MEXC, though their futures trading remained unaffected.

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• Apr 15, 6:27 AM CoinDesk

  Janover doubles SOL holdings to $21M, stock surges 1700%

  Janover has expanded its Solana (SOL) holdings to approximately $21 million, doubling its stack with an additional purchase of 80,567 SOL tokens worth around $10.5 million. This move aligns with the company’s new treasury strategy focused on SOL, following its acquisition by former Kraken executives Joseph Onorati and Parker White. Since embracing this crypto focused approach, Janover's share price has soared by over 1700%. The company continues its operations in commercial real estate while also planning to operate Solana validators.

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• Apr 14, 3:38 PM The Block

  Kraken expands US equities trading with plans for UK and European markets

  Kraken has introduced US equities trading on its platforms through a partnership with Alpaca, offering over 11,000 stocks and ETFs commission-free. Initially available in select US states with plans for a national rollout, Kraken aims to provide a unified account for managing crypto, stocks, and ETFs. The expansion includes fractional investments and is part of Kraken's broader strategy to pave the way for asset tokenization and respond to growing demand for seamless, 24/7 trading across various asset classes.

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• Apr 14, 2:00 PM NVIDIA

  NVIDIA launches first US-based AI supercomputer manufacturing sites

  NVIDIA is establishing its first US-based facilities for manufacturing AI supercomputers, including production of the Blackwell chips in Arizona and supercomputers in Texas. The company is partnering with TSMC, Foxconn, and Wistron for production and with Amkor and SPIL for packaging and testing. This initiative, covering over a million square feet of manufacturing space, aims to ramp up mass production within 12-15 months and could generate half a trillion dollars of AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years.

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• Apr 14, 12:29 PM Avalon Labs

  Bybit integrates Avalon to expand Bitcoin yield opportunities through CeDeFi bridge

  Bybit has partnered with Avalon to incorporate a CeDeFi protocol into Bybit Earn, allowing users to generate yield on Bitcoin. Avalon utilizes a 1:1 Bitcoin-pegged token for fixed-rate borrowing, operational on the Mantle and Antalpha Prime platforms. The tokens are subsequently bridged onto Ethereum and other blockchains. This integration facilitates a bridge from CeFi to DeFi, leveraging assets in high-yield strategies managed by Ethena Labs' protocols.

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• Apr 14, 11:41 AM The Block

  JPMorgan expands blockchain payment services to include GBP

  JPMorgan's blockchain division, Kinexys, has launched British pound-denominated blockchain deposit accounts in the UK, expanding its real-time settlement service to include the pound alongside existing euro and dollar functionalities. This enhancement facilitates 24/7 cross-border transactions and foreign exchange with more flexible FX settlement times. Kinexys has grown significantly since its inception, processing over $1.5 trillion in transactions, with corporate clients like LSEG's SwapAgent and commodities firm Trafigura among the initial users of the new GBP service.

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• Apr 14, 10:25 AM The Block

  Crypto funds see $795 million in outflows amid Trump tariff turmoil, reports CoinShares

  Global crypto investment products saw net outflows of $795 million last week, driven by negative sentiment from tariff policies by President Trump, as reported by CoinShares. These outflows have cumulatively reached $7.2 billion since early February, nullifying most gains from the beginning of the year. Despite these challenges, a late-week surge in prices pushed the total crypto assets under management to $130 billion, an 8% increase. US investors led the outflows, particularly in bitcoin-focused and Ethereum-based products.

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• Apr 13, 6:53 PM Bitcoin Sistemi

  Mantra token price plunges 77% on Binance due to mass sell-off by key holders

  The Mantra (OM) token listed on Binance experienced a sudden price drop of 77%. This significant decline was attributed to a selling spree by a manipulative group that held a large share of the tokens.

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• Apr 13, 5:52 PM The Block

  CryptoPunk seller pleads guilty to tax evasion on $13M in NFT profits

  Waylon Wilcox of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges for not reporting over $13 million earned from the sale of 97 CryptoPunk NFTs. The US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania highlighted that Wilcox avoided nearly $3.3 million in taxes, marking a significant case in US law concerning NFT-related tax evasion. The IRS emphasizes the importance of reporting virtual currency transactions, with CryptoPunk sales now scrutinized in this light.

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• Apr 12, 1:01 PM Decrypt

  Lomond School in Scotland to accept Bitcoin payments and considers BTC reserve

  Lomond School in Helensburgh, Scotland, will become the first UK school to accept Bitcoin as payment, addressing requests from local and international parents. The school plans to incorporate Bitcoin in phases and convert it to pound sterling to manage risks, ensuring compliance with UK financial regulations. Additionally, Lomond School may establish a Bitcoin asset reserve if the cryptocurrency gains wider acceptance in the UK and globally.

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• Apr 11, 8:20 PM The Block

  SEC crypto task force roundtable signals regulatory shift as Uyeda backs innovation-first approach

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, is exploring temporary regulatory measures to encourage blockchain innovation in the US. This approach marks a shift from the stricter oversight under former Chair Gary Gensler. The discussions occurred during a roundtable hosted by the SEC's crypto task force, which included major industry players like Uniswap Labs, FalconX, Coinbase, and representatives from traditional financial institutions. The SEC's evolving stance comes ahead of Paul Atkins taking over as Chair, indicating potential for a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment.

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