James Wilson, Author at Optimisus

FBI arrests a 25-year-old man for allegedly hacking the US SEC X account

October 18, 2024 1 min read

A 25-year-old man from Athens, Alabama, named Eric Council Jr., has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly hacking into the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account. The US Attorney’s Office revealed that Council was part of a group that posted a misleading message on the SEC’s account, falsely claiming the approval of the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). Council faces serious charges, including conspiracy to commit aggravated

Ethereum’s daily active addresses surges by over 20%

October 15, 2024 2 mins read

Ethereum is currently experiencing a notable increase in user engagement, with daily active addresses rising by 21%. This surge in activity typically suggests a growing user base, which could support price increases. However, despite this uptick, Ethereum’s price remains under pressure, hovering around $2,533. Traders are actively selling, which has made it difficult for the token to break through significant resistance levels. The rise in unique addresses conducting transactions indicates

MicroStrategy’s net asset value premium hit 2.5 times it’s bitcoin holdings

October 11, 2024 1 min read

MicroStrategy, a company that identifies itself as a Bitcoin Development Company, has seen its stock performance soar in relation to Bitcoin’s price, reaching a premium not seen in over three years. The company’s net asset value (NAV) premium, which is calculated by comparing its market capitalization to the value of its Bitcoin holdings, has climbed to approximately 2.5. As of the last market update, MicroStrategy’s market cap stood at around

Dan Gallagher, the chief legal officer at Robinhood

Robinhood’s top lawyer Dan Gallagher is a leading contender to replace SEC Chair Gary Gensler if Trump wins

October 8, 2024 1 min read

Dan Gallagher, the chief legal officer at Robinhood and a former SEC commissioner, is emerging as a potential replacement for SEC Chairman Gary Gensler should Donald Trump win the presidency. According to a report by Politico, Gallagher is favored by several former regulators and securities lawyers, particularly in light of the SEC’s ongoing scrutiny of Robinhood’s crypto operations. Gallagher has downplayed the SEC’s investigation into Robinhood, arguing that the company

The Open Network (TON) launches Memelandia, a decentralized hub to expand its meme coin ecosystem

October 7, 2024 1 min read

The Open Network (TON) is making waves in the meme coin arena with the launch of Memelandia, a decentralized hub designed to engage and expand its community of meme coin enthusiasts. This innovative platform integrates seamlessly with Telegram, leveraging its massive user base of 900 million to enhance interest and participation in the meme coin market. Memelandia is not just another platform; it’s a vibrant ecosystem where communities can thrive

Ripple's Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty

Ripple’s CLO slams the SEC’s latest appeal in the ongoing XRP legal battle

October 4, 2024 1 min read

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has expressed strong criticism of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent appeal regarding XRP, which challenges a previous ruling that deemed XRP not a security. This appeal follows a ruling by Judge Analisa Torres, who imposed a $125 million fine on Ripple, significantly less than the SEC’s initial demand of $2 billion. Alderoty described the SEC’s move as disappointing and indicative of

SWIFT plans to trial digital asset transactions for 11,000 banks next year

October 4, 2024 1 min read

SWIFT, the global banking network, is set to revolutionize the financial landscape by enabling digital asset transactions for over 11,000 financial institutions starting next year. This ambitious initiative aims to bridge the gap between traditional banking and the burgeoning world of digital assets, tackling regulatory and privacy challenges head-on. The project will kick off with trials across North America, Europe, and Asia, allowing banks to delve into tokenized assets. SWIFT

Binance alerts users to the rising threat of Clipper malware

Binance is expanding its compliance team and emphasizing crypto education

October 1, 2024 1 min read

Binance, one of the leading crypto exchanges, is intensifying its compliance initiatives, reflecting a broader commitment to regulatory adherence in the evolving crypto landscape. Currently, the company has allocated between 500 to 600 employees to regulatory tasks, with plans to increase this number to 700–800 by the end of the year. This move comes in the wake of founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepping back from daily operations due to a

Matrixport announces the all-cash acquisition of Crypto Finance

September 30, 2024 1 min read

In a significant move within the crypto landscape, Matrixport, a prominent crypto financial services provider, has successfully acquired Crypto Finance (Asset Management) AG (CFAM), a Swiss-based investment solutions firm. This acquisition, finalized on September 30, was executed as an all-cash deal and will see CFAM rebranded as Matrixport Asset Management AG. The CFAM unit was previously part of the Crypto Finance Group, which is owned by the Deutsche Börse Group.

Russian authorities in Dagestan intensify efforts to shut down illegal underground crypto mining farms

September 25, 2024 1 min read

The Republic of Dagestan in Russia has been combating illicit crypto mining, having uncovered multiple clandestine operations. Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov, the Prime Minister of Dagestan, has advocated for stricter restrictions due to the miners’ persistent advancement in concealment techniques. The prime minister disclosed the discovery of multiple unlicensed mining operations located in subterranean tunnels, rendering them more difficult to identify. A concealed farm in the Sergokalinsky district was revealed, containing more

A judge orders a fraudster to pay over $36 million in fines and restitution

September 23, 2024 1 min read

A federal judge has mandated that William Koo Ichioka pay more than $36 million in fines and restitution for his involvement in a fraudulent crypto and forex operation. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued the order on September 20. Ichioka was mandated to remit $31 million in restitution and a $5 million civil penalty. He was prohibited from trading in CFTC-regulated markets and from registering with the CFTC.

Ethereum transaction fees spike, despite a drop in active accounts