Author: Roland Guirdonan

Article written by Roland Guirdonan

Japan’s FSA considers approving Bitcoin ETFs and cutting crypto taxes

February 11, 2025 2 mins read

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is exploring the possibility of allowing Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and reducing taxes for crypto investors. If these changes are approved, they could help integrate cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system, encouraging more people to invest and enhancing protections for investors. The FSA is currently in discussions with financial experts to see if existing regulations can adapt to the fast-changing crypto landscape. These discussions are

FTX emails creditors under $50,000 about fund distributions

February 10, 2025 1 min read

FTX has begun notifying creditors with claims under $50,000 about their fund allocation. They have emailed these creditors to explain the next steps for receiving payments. Sunil, a representative for FTX creditors, shared this news on X. Payments will not come directly from FTX. Instead, creditors must sign up with BitGo or Kraken, which are the chosen distribution service providers. FTX has already sent the first batch of funds to

MicroStrategy ends its 12-week Bitcoin buying streak

February 5, 2025 1 min read

MicroStrategy has paused its Bitcoin purchases after a 12-week buying spree, surprising many in the crypto world. The company holds a vast amount of Bitcoin worth billions, but it did not add to its holdings this week. Michael Saylor, the CEO, confirmed this pause and noted that they did not sell any Class A common stock or use the proceeds to buy more Bitcoin. This change raises questions about the

Coinbase users lose over $150 million in social engineering scams

February 3, 2025 1 min read

ZachXBT, a blockchain analyst, has reported that Coinbase users have lost at least $150 million due to social engineering scams. One victim lost a staggering $11.5 million in Bitcoin on Base, Coinbase’s layer-2 network. This situation raises serious concerns about the security of this major US cryptocurrency exchange. On January 31, ZachXBT highlighted another significant theft. A user lost 110 cbBTC, which is Coinbase’s wrapped Bitcoin, after falling for a

UBS is testing blockchain to boost retail gold investments

February 2, 2025 1 min read

UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, has successfully tested its fractional gold investment product called UBS Key4 Gold. This project uses blockchain technology on ZKsync Validium, which is a layer 2 solution on the Ethereum network. UBS manages assets worth $5.7 trillion and is leading the way in combining blockchain with traditional finance. The goal of UBS Key4 Gold is to make gold investments accessible to retail investors. The bank is working

Securitize and Apollo teams up to launch a diversified credit fund

February 2, 2025 1 min read

Securitize, a tokenization platform, has teamed up with Apollo, a major alternative asset manager worth $730 billion. They announced their partnership on January 30, aiming to launch the Apollo Diversified Credit Securitize Fund, known as ACRED, on multiple blockchains. This fund will provide tokenized access to a diversified credit strategy. It will be available on popular networks like Solana, Ethereum, Aptos, Ink, Avalanche, and Polygon. This marks the first time

Virtuals Protocol price rises to highs of $2.65

February 1, 2025 1 min read

The cryptocurrency market is always changing, and recently, the value of VIRTUAL, the token for Virtuals Protocol, has surged. This increase followed the announcement of its listing on Upbit, a major cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea. The token rose by 28%, reaching $2.65 during morning trading in Europe. This news has attracted many investors, showing the potential of this innovative project in the blockchain space. Market data reveals that VIRTUAL’s

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT helped recover $20M in stolen crypto for the U.S. gov

January 23, 2025 2 mins read

ZachXBT, a well-known blockchain investigator, recently shared that he helped the U.S. government recover $20 million stolen in a hack but received no financial reward for his efforts. He discussed his commitment to the crypto industry on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the minimal financial returns for his investigative work. ZachXBT mentioned that despite his significant contributions, he often remains uncompensated. He has played a crucial role in exposing scams and

Over $3 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options expire today

January 18, 2025 1 min read

Today, approximately $3 billion in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) options are expiring, generating notable activity in the cryptocurrency market. This event coincides with Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, adding to the excitement as Bitcoin exceeds the $100,000 milestone. Specifically, over 21,600 Bitcoin options contracts, valued at around $2.2 billion, are set to expire. The put-to-call ratio for Bitcoin stands at 0.94, indicating a positive outlook among traders who anticipate price

Thailand’s SEC explores spot Bitcoin ETFs

January 16, 2025 1 min read

Thailand is exploring the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoins to enhance its financial system while addressing crypto-related concerns. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand is at the forefront of this initiative, signaling a shift towards greater cryptocurrency adoption. The SEC is evaluating proposals for spot Bitcoin ETFs, which would provide new investment avenues for both retail and institutional investors. Pornanong Budsaratragoon, the SEC Secretary-General, highlighted the

Indian crypto Mudrex pauses crypto withdrawals until January 28

January 13, 2025 1 min read

Mudrex, an Indian cryptocurrency exchange, recently halted crypto withdrawals, causing confusion and frustration among users. The suspension, announced on January 11, will last until January 28. Mudrex stated that the pause is necessary to enhance the platform’s systems and prevent misuse by malicious actors. CEO Edul Patel emphasized the importance of ensuring security when handling crypto to avoid illegal activities. Despite being one of the few exchanges in India allowing

SUI open interest surges from $679M to $1.26B

January 11, 2025 1 min read

SUI open interest surges from $679M to $1.26B. In early 2025, SUI shows strong performance as it nears its all-time high. The price increase is supported by rising trading activity and capital inflow, indicating growing confidence from both institutional and retail investors in the asset’s value. A notable rise in Open Interest from $679 million to $1.26 billion in just nine days highlights important market psychology. This increase suggests that