NewsBriefs - Flowdesk secures $102 million in funding to expand crypto services

Mar 4, 9:00 AM The Block

Flowdesk secures $102 million in funding to expand crypto services

Flowdesk, a France-based crypto trading firm, raised $102 million through a combination of equity and debt to enhance its services, led by HV Capital. The funding, mostly equity, will support the firm's expansion in tokenization, OTC derivatives, and establishment of a crypto credit desk, amidst a bullish crypto market. This move aims to scale Flowdesk's operations and presence globally, including a planned workforce expansion and new office in the United Arab Emirates.

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• Mar 4, 9:00 AM The Block

  Flowdesk secures $102 million in funding to expand crypto services

  Flowdesk, a France-based crypto trading firm, raised $102 million through a combination of equity and debt to enhance its services, led by HV Capital. The funding, mostly equity, will support the firm's expansion in tokenization, OTC derivatives, and establishment of a crypto credit desk, amidst a bullish crypto market. This move aims to scale Flowdesk's operations and presence globally, including a planned workforce expansion and new office in the United Arab Emirates.

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• Mar 4, 3:03 AM Nasdaq

  Nasdaq files 19b-4 form for Hedera HBAR spot ETF from Grayscale

  Nasdaq submitted a 19b-4 filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the listing of Grayscale's Hedera (HBAR) spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). This filing, part of a two-step process, will commence the SEC's review once published in the Federal Register. The initiative follows similar filings by Nasdaq for other crypto ETFs and marks increasing activity in altcoin ETF proposals in the US.

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• Mar 3, 2:55 PM The Block

  Aave deploys lending markets on Sonic in strategic layer 1 expansion

  Aave has expanded its lending markets to Sonic, marking its first Layer 1 expansion of the year. This move builds on the successful launch of version 3 of Aave following governance approval. Sonic, having rebranded from Fantom, offers innovative fee monetization that could provide a new income stream for Aave. The expansion includes significant liquidity commitments and coincides with Aave ceasing its lending operations on the Polygon PoS chain.

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• Mar 3, 1:00 PM Tether

  Tether appoints Simon McWilliams as new CFO to lead full audit initiative

  Tether, the leading stablecoin issuer, announced the appointment of Simon McWilliams as CFO, signaling a move towards a full audit aimed at enhancing transparency and regulatory compliance. This decision highlights Tether's commitment to reinforcing financial integrity and maintaining its position as a trusted partner in the expanding global role of crypto and the US dollar. The appointment is part of Tether's broader strategy to strengthen financial inclusion and trust worldwide.

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• Mar 3, 9:06 AM Hand-Picked

  Binance to delist non-MiCA compliant stablecoin trading pairs for EEA users by March 2025

  Binance announced that it will cease offering spot and margin trading pairs for non-MiCA compliant stablecoins such as USDT, FDUSD, TUSD, USDP, DAI, AEUR, UST, USTC, and PAXG to users in the European Economic Area (EEA) by March 31, 2025. This decision aligns with the latest EU regulatory requirements under the MiCA framework. Binance advises EEA users to convert their non-MiCA compliant stablecoins to MiCA-compliant assets like USDC and EURI or to EUR. The platform will still support custody and allow conversions post-deadline.

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• Mar 3, 3:39 AM Hand-Picked

  Metaplanet acquires additional 156 Bitcoin, boosting holdings to 2,391 BTC

  Metaplanet Inc. has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing an additional 156 bitcoins at an average price of 12,952,147 yen per Bitcoin, increasing its total holdings to 2,391 bitcoins. This acquisition is part of the company's Bitcoin Treasury Operations. Metaplanet uses Bitcoin Yield (BTC Yield), a key performance indicator, to evaluate the effectiveness of its acquisition strategy and measure financial gains in yen, enhancing transparency for shareholders.

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• Mar 3, 2:39 AM The Block

  Coinbase CEO suggests Bitcoin as the sole choice for US crypto reserves

  Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong advocates for exclusively incorporating Bitcoin into the US's proposed crypto reserve, aligning with its simplicity and potential as a digital successor to gold. This recommendation comes in response to President Donald Trump's announcement of including various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ether, SOL, XRP, and ADA in the reserve. Meanwhile, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao react to the news impacting crypto markets, with significant price surges noted across major crypto tokens.

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• Mar 2, 6:57 PM The Block

  Hyperliquid trader nets $7 million on leveraged BTC and ETH positions

  A trader on Hyperliquid made $7 million in 24 hours by leveraging long positions in bitcoin and ether ahead of Trump's crypto reserve announcement. Using 50x leverage, the trader strategically positioned over $200 million, with the timely announcement boosting token prices and aiding in substantial profits. The market reacted positively, especially with additional price rises after further details of Trump's crypto strategic reserve clarified the inclusion of BTC and ETH.

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• Mar 1, 7:05 PM Cointelegraph

  Ethereum developer Danny Ryan joins Etherealize as co-founder

  Danny Ryan, a prominent Ethereum developer, has joined Etherealize as a co-founder to help market Ethereum to institutional investors. Ryan aims to bridge Ethereum with the real world, complementing co-founder Vivek Raman's efforts. His role will involve leveraging real-world adoption, encouraging sensible regulation, and advancing research and development within Ethereum's multiple layers. This move coincides with leadership changes at the Ethereum Foundation and heightened investor concerns over Ethereum's declining price.

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• Feb 28, 1:21 PM Hand-Picked

  Ethereum Foundation introduces the EF Silviculture Society to uphold core values

  The Ethereum Foundation has launched the EF Silviculture Society, an advisory group composed of external individuals. This group will provide informal guidance to sustain Ethereum's commitment to open source, privacy, security, and censorship resistance. These core values are crucial for attracting skilled developers and maintaining the integrity of Ethereum's network.

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• Feb 28, 2:00 AM Base

  Base introduces new tools to enhance speed, simplicity, and scalability for crypto builders

  Base has launched three innovative tools to enhance its platform: Flashblocks, Base Appchains, and Smart Wallet Sub Accounts. Flashblocks improve transaction speeds on Base with preconfirmation blocks reducing effective block times to 200 milliseconds. Base Appchains, Layer-3 solutions, provide scalable infrastructure for high-demand apps, while Smart Wallet Sub Accounts streamline user experience by integrating multiple onchain accounts into a single wallet interface. These innovations aim to make Base faster, simpler, and more powerful, supporting the growth of a global onchain economy.

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• Feb 27, 9:27 PM @EleanorTerrett

  SEC clarifies that meme coins are not securities, likens them to collectibles

  The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance has issued guidance stating meme coins are not considered securities by federal definitions and resemble collectibles more closely. This classification excludes transactions involving meme coins from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, and as a result, meme coin traders and holders do not receive protections under federal securities laws.

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• Feb 27, 6:03 AM BleepingComputer

  Scammers use 'GrassCall' app in new crypto job scam

  Cybercriminal group 'Crazy Evil' is using social engineering and a malware-infused app called 'GrassCall' in crypto-related job scams, specifically targeting crypto wallets. Various social media platforms and job sites like LinkedIn, CryptoJobsList, and WellFound have been used to distribute fake job offers, enticing victims to download GrassCall which then steals wallet information. The websites and accounts linked to these scams have now been deactivated following a significant number of complaints from affected individuals.

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• Feb 26, 11:04 PM The Block

  SEC concludes investigation into crypto exchange Gemini without enforcement action

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has closed its investigation into the crypto exchange Gemini and decided not to pursue any enforcement action. Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss announced the decision, highlighting the prolonged legal and financial impacts on Gemini and the broader crypto industry. The move is part of a broader shift in the SEC's stance on crypto under new leadership, with other investigations and legal actions against major crypto firms also being retracted.

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• Feb 26, 10:31 PM The Block

  SEC and Justin Sun may settle case involving Tron and BitTorrent

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), along with crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and his companies, Tron Foundation Limited, BitTorrent Foundation Ltd., and Rainberry Inc., are seeking to stay their ongoing legal case to explore potential resolution. This motion comes after their initial charge in March 2023 for allegedly selling cryptocurrencies Tronix (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT) through unregistered schemes. The parties believe a stay benefits the court and saves judicial resources.

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