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• Jan 15, 8:00 PM The Block

  BitMEX faces additional $100 million fine for Bank Secrecy Act violations

  Bitcoin derivatives exchange BitMEX has been fined an additional $100 million for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. US District Judge John G. Koeltl deemed the previously agreed $110 million fine and corporate guilty pleas by BitMEX as insufficient, following the firm's failure to implement an adequate anti-money laundering program and illicitly allowing U.S. users on its platform. BitMEX's parent company, HDR Global Trading Inc., will also undergo a two-year probationary period.

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• Jan 15, 3:32 PM Cointelegraph

  Bitget CEO predicts AI token market could reach $60 billion by 2025

  Bitget CEO Gracy Chen forecasts that tokens associated with AI agents could achieve a market capitalization of up to $60 billion by 2025. Initially, these tokens will be employed in crypto transactions and to enhance exchange operations. Despite the rapid growth, with a market cap reaching $15 billion recently, Chen advises cautious investment in tokens offering practical solutions. AI tokens are poised to significantly influence Web3, transforming cryptocurrency trading and operations within decentralized communities.

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• Jan 15, 1:38 PM Hand-Picked

  Core inflation rate slows to 3.2% in December, less than expected

  The US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rose by 0.4% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking an overall increase of 2.9% over the past 12 months. This rise was significantly influenced by a 2.6% increase in the energy index and consistent price increases in the food sector. Notably, the core inflation rate, which excludes food and energy, reported a 3.2% increase over the year.

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• Jan 15, 12:20 PM Cointelegraph

  Malaysia considers new crypto policy after consultations with UAE and Binance's CZ

  The Malaysian government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is exploring the creation of a crypto regulatory framework following discussions with Abu Dhabi leadership and Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, the founder of Binance. The initiative seeks to modernize Malaysia's financial system and align with global financial trends, potentially opening the country to more crypto-friendly regulations. The collaboration between Malaysian policymakers and the UAE might lead to comprehensive studies involving key financial authorities to address associated concerns and opportunities.

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• Jan 15, 11:09 AM Cointelegraph

  Tether sues Swan Bitcoin over joint venture agreement breaches

  Tether, a stablecoin issuer, has filed a lawsuit against Swan Bitcoin, alleging significant breaches of their joint venture agreement. The dispute stems from a 2022 partnership to establish 2040 Energy, a Bitcoin mining venture. Tether claims to have acted in good faith and accuses Swan of reckless actions that compromised the venture, leading to legal proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales. This lawsuit escalates ongoing tensions following accusations against Swan employees of theft and a subsequent hostile takeover involving a competing firm, Proton Management.

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• Jan 15, 2:56 AM 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.

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• Jan 15, 1:53 AM 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.

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• Jan 14, 7:58 PM 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.

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• Jan 14, 4:11 PM 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.

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• Jan 14, 10:06 AM 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.

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• Jan 14, 3:30 AM 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.

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• Jan 14, 2:00 AM 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.

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• Jan 14, 12:00 AM 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.

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• Jan 13, 9:02 PM 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.

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• Jan 13, 5:45 PM 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.

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