Bitcoin

Alameda Research reportedly withdrew the most funds from FTX US, the U.S. arm of FTX, days before the crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy. The majority of the withdrawn cryptocurrencies were sent to wallets owned by FTX International, “suggesting that Alameda may have been operating to bridge between the two entities,” crypto intelligence firm Arkham said. Alameda’s Withdrawal Analysis From FTX US exchange Crypto intelligence firm Arkham shared an analysis Friday showing that Alameda Research withdrew the most funds from FTX US, the U.S. arm of FTX, days before the crypto exchange collapsed. Arkham tweeted: Arkham analyzed flows from FTX US in the final few days before the collapse, finding that Alameda withdrew the most funds, at $204M. Arkham added that it has identified eight different addresses where Alameda Research transferred the crypto assets it withdrew. The crypto intelligence firm noted that of the $204 million: $142.4M (69.8% of the total) was sent to wallets ow...

Billionaire Bill Ackman has warned that the crypto industry needs to self-police or it risks being shut down. He added that regulators need more resources to police the bad actors in the crypto space and will likely take years to catch up. Bill Ackman on Crypto Regulation and the Need for Industry to Self-Police Billionaire Bill Ackman shared his thoughts on a variety of crypto-related topics, including crypto regulation, in a series of tweets Saturday. Ackman is the CEO and portfolio manager of Pershing Square Capital Management, a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). His current net worth is about $3.5 billion. Regarding cryptocurrency regulation, he said: “I am not sure we need new rules. Much of the fraud that is taking place is old-fashioned pump and dump schemes, and failures of custodians to protect customer assets.” The executive continued: “I suspect that existing anti-fraud and other laws already govern these violations. ...

A recent survey sponsored by the Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange Coinbase shows that institutional investors increased their allocations during the crypto winter. The firm emphasized that there is “a strong signal of the acceptance of crypto as an asset class” and “the price outlook over the long term remains positive.” Coinbase’s Institutional Investor Survey The Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase published Thursday the findings from a survey it sponsored to understand how decision-makers at U.S. institutions view digital assets. The survey was conducted independently by Institutional Investor Custom Research Lab between Sept. 21 and Oct. 27. A total of 140 institutional investors in the U.S. participated in the survey, representing about $2.6 trillion in assets under management. Coinbase was not involved in sourcing the respondents. Coinbase wrote: Institutional investors increased their allocations during the crypto winter, with many using this as an opportunity to ...

The Venezuelan fiat currency, the bolivar, has lost almost 40% in its exchange rate against the U.S. dollar in a month. According to reports, the seasonal payments that the government has to make, and the lack of liquidity of the government to intervene in the currency market are part of the equation leading to this, however, some also include crypto as part of the problem. Venezuelan Currency Takes a Nosedive The Venezuelan currency, the bolivar, has been losing its value at an alarming rate after enjoying a period of relative stability recently. The currency has lost almost a 40% against the U.S. dollar in parallel markets, with citizens being alarmed at the accelerated pace of the devaluation. According to the popular price index Monitordolar , each dollar had a price of 9.05 bolivares on Oct. 25. The exchange rate increased to 12.63 bolivares per dollar on No. 26. There are several explanations for this plunge. According to analysts, this nosedive was expected due to the elevat...

The Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, has said the newly designed naira banknotes are set to enhance the effectiveness of the organization’s monetary policy and bolster the financial inclusion cause. Forcing Currency Hoarders to Return to the Banking System According to the Nigerian central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele , the recently launched naira banknotes are expected to force currency dealers to return “hoarded currency [back] into the banking system.” In a speech delivered at the new naira banknotes unveiling ceremony, Emefiele claimed that the new banknotes could potentially enhance the effectiveness of the country’s monetary policy. Besides helping return the older banknotes into circulation, the CBN governor insisted the redesigned naira banknotes are likely to bolster the bank’s financial inclusion cause. Emefiele explained: We believe that this exercise would help in increasing financial inclusion, moving towards a more cashless economy, and ensuring...

According to directives issued by Samuel A. Jinapor, the Ghanaian minister for lands and natural resources, large-scale gold mining companies will be required to “sell 20% of all refined gold at their refineries to the Bank of Ghana.” A gold-for-oil scheme is part of the Ghanaian government’s plan to stop the further dwindling of the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Bank of Ghana to Use Cedi to Pay for Gold Following the revelation that Ghana plans to buy oil products using gold, Samuel A. Jinapor, the country’s minister for lands and natural resources, announced on Nov. 25 that starting in 2023, large-scale mining companies “shall sell twenty per cent (20%) of all refined gold at their refineries to the Bank of Ghana.” Payments for the gold will be made using the local currency — the cedi — and will be “at spot price with no discounts.” According to a Facebook post shared by Ghanaian vice president Mahamudu Bawumia, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) and the Precious Minerals Marketing ...

Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether cannot be classified as securities or investment instruments, according to a communication issued by the financial watchdog in Belgium. The authority has tried to clarify the matter, noting that the digital coins may be subject to other regulations. FSMA: Securities Laws Do Not Apply to Bitcoin and Other Decentralized Cryptocurrencies In response to multiple requests for clarification from citizens and businesses, Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority ( FSMA ) has explained why it believes bitcoin, ether and other similar cryptocurrencies cannot be considered securities or investment instruments. According to its position published on Thursday, the country’s securities laws do not apply to such digital assets, which have no issuer and are created by a computer code as opposed to the execution of an agreement between an issuer and an investor. However, the regulatory body pointed out that if these crypto assets have a payment or...