Ripple’s legal representatives, amidst the ongoing legal battle with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have put forth a contention suggesting that the regulatory body lacks the necessary grounds to pursue an appeal.
The legal team for Ripple filed a document on September 1 with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asserting that the SEC’s motivation for seeking an appeal predominantly stems from dissatisfaction with a judge’s prior decision.
This decision had ruled that the XRP token did not meet the criteria to be classified as a security in relation to sales directed at retail investors.
Ripple’s lawyers emphasized that the requisites for an “interlocutory appeal,” which demands exceptional circumstances, are conspicuously absent in this particular case.
The legal representatives urged the presiding judge to dismiss any request for an appeal or a stay based on these grounds.
In unity with the Individual Defendants, who are also part of the lawsuit, Ripple vociferously opposed the SEC’s appeal request.
This development follows a sequence of events where the SEC attempted to contest and postpone a July ruling by Judge Analisa Torres.
The July decision concluded that XRP did not primarily qualify as a security as outlined by the SEC’s guidelines.
READ MORE: OKX Cryptocurrency Exchange Expands into India, Focusing on Web3 Potential and Local Talent
The regulatory agency had then asserted that substantial differences of opinion on the relevant laws justified their pursuit of an appeal.
The lawsuit, initially initiated by the SEC against Ripple, CEO Brad Garlinghouse, and co-founder Chris Larsen in December 2020, led to a wave of delistings of the XRP token from various exchanges.
However, Judge Torres’ subsequent ruling prompted some of these exchanges to consider relisting the token in light of the evolving legal situation.
Brad Garlinghouse expressed disappointment with the need for legal action to rectify what he perceives as the SEC’s flawed understanding of facts and regulations within the U.S. cryptocurrency community.
Throughout 2023, the SEC has been actively pursuing various cryptocurrency entities for alleged securities violations, including prominent platforms like Binance and Coinbase.
In a recent victory for the cryptocurrency industry, asset management firm Grayscale achieved success in court against the SEC.
An appeal prompted the court to mandate a review of Grayscale’s application for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).
As the legal proceedings between the SEC and Ripple continue, Judge Torres has proposed a jury trial slated to commence in the second quarter of 2024.
Other Stories:
Ronaldinho Denies Involvement in Alleged $61 Million Crypto Pyramid Scheme
Ethereum Liquid Staking Providers Embrace 22% Cap to Safeguard Decentralization
US Crypto Industry Sees Hope in Court Rulings Restraining SEC
Warren Buffett, the celebrated investor and Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman, marked his 93rd birthday on Aug. 30. Over his extensive career, he’s adhered to a value investing strategy akin to the “buy and hold” approach seen with cryptocurrencies.
However, Buffett’s focus lies in assets with robust earnings potential, investing in sectors where he and his team possess in-depth insights into associated risks, competition, and advantages.
The question arises whether such a focused strategy can surpass Bitcoin’s performance in the long term.
Additionally, it’s worth pondering why one of the greatest stock pickers, Buffett, currently holds significant cash and short-term bonds as the second-largest position in his portfolio.
A notable instance of his approach is Berkshire Hathaway’s top holding, Apple (AAPL) shares. Despite acquiring them in 2016 when Apple was valued at over $500 billion, far from being an early investor, Berkshire Hathaway continued adding to its AAPL investment in 2022, despite the stock rallying over 500% since the initial purchase.
This showcases Buffett’s dedication to long-term investment strategies, regardless of recent price fluctuations.
In a February 2012 shareholder letter, Berkshire Hathaway expressed concerns about currency devaluation and the limitations of gold as a store of value.
It argued that gold lacks practical utility, with demand falling short of production for industrial and jewelry purposes.
Gold’s price primarily relies on fear-based sentiment, leading to temporary price spikes. Conversely, investments in productive companies generate substantial returns.
Unfortunately for Buffett, Bitcoin’s price surged by 683% in the year following his skeptical comments on nonproductive commodities’ value storage potential. Over four years, Bitcoin’s gains reached a staggering 9,014%.
READ MORE: Robinhood Acquires Over 55 Million Shares From Former FTX CEO SBF in $606 Million Deal
To compare Berkshire Hathaway’s stock performance with Bitcoin, considering Buffett’s focus on earnings and yield, an analysis simulated Berkshire Hathaway’s stock performance using a factor of three to mimic a leveraged position.
If one invested $1,000 in Bitcoin (spot) and initiated a leveraged long position in Berkshire Hathaway shares in early 2019, they’d have seen a $7,020 return in BTC versus $5,623 in Buffett’s holding company.
Similarly, for investments beginning in 2017, the returns would have been $3,798 in BTC versus $1,998 using the leveraged long strategy in Berkshire Hathaway’s shares.
Buffett’s investment thesis faces a potential loophole: Berkshire Hathaway currently holds a record-high $147 billion in cash equivalents and short-term investments, comprising 18.5% of its market capitalization.
This raises queries about whether it seeks better entry points into stocks or finds the 5.25% returns on fixed-income investments satisfactory.
This scenario underscores that even accomplished investors may hesitate to deploy their cash, prompting questions about whether funds on the sidelines, including $5.6 trillion in money market funds, might seek alternate protection against resurging inflation.
While Bitcoin isn’t a flawless store of value and its volatility is a concern, it’s important to note that it hasn’t yet faced a global economic recession.
Nonetheless, Bitcoin consistently outperforms Berkshire Hathaway shares, implying that investors increasingly see it as a viable alternative store of value.
Considering this, Berkshire Hathaway’s substantial cash position serves as a cautionary note for Bitcoin skeptics.
With Bitcoin’s market capitalization at $500 billion, it signifies untapped potential for it to play a more significant role in finance.
Other Stories:
Bitwise Surprises Market by Withdrawing Bitcoin and Ether ETF Application Amid SEC Delays
UK MPs Call for Global Alliance to Safeguard Against AI Misuse and Deepfakes
A substantial acquisition of Ripple’s XRP token has been identified by Whale Alert, a prominent crypto tracking platform.
The platform noted a transfer of 66,666,659 XRP, equating to approximately $33,065,809, from Binance to an undisclosed wallet.
This transfer has ignited discussions about the potential ramifications for its market value.
In recent times, noteworthy transfers of significant XRP amounts have taken place within Ripple’s ecosystem, as sizeable quantities of XRP have been deposited into secure escrow accounts.
Notably, these include 300,000,000 XRP, valued at approximately $146,927,854, and an additional 500,000,000 XRP, with an approximate worth of $244,748,526.
These developments transpire amidst the ongoing legal dispute between Ripple and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Ripple’s legal representatives have presented a response to the SEC’s appeal following Judge Analisa Torres’ July verdict that XRP does not qualify as a security during public sales.
READ MORE: US Crypto Industry Sees Hope in Court Rulings Restraining SEC
In their response, Ripple’s legal team contended that the criteria for an interim appeal were not met.
They urged the court to either dismiss the appeal or institute a stay on proceedings.
Recent activity has shown notable increases in the utilization of XRP, as evident in a seven-month peak in on-chain transactions and a three-month high in circulation.
These metrics indicate heightened engagement and activity within the XRP ecosystem, which could potentially lead to an upsurge in demand.
The trajectory toward achieving a $1 valuation for XRP remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, the ongoing developments within the XRP ecosystem continue to exert an influence on the token’s value and spark conjecture among investors.
Other Stories:
Ronaldinho Denies Involvement in Alleged $61 Million Crypto Pyramid Scheme
Ethereum Liquid Staking Providers Embrace 22% Cap to Safeguard Decentralization
OKX Cryptocurrency Exchange Expands into India, Focusing on Web3 Potential and Local Talent
A cohort of influential Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom has recommended that the government collaborate with democratic allies to address potential misuses of artificial intelligence (AI), underlining London’s aspiration to play a pivotal role in advancing this burgeoning technology.
The Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee (SITC), an advisory body to the government, released a report on August 31 urging Britain to align itself with like-minded nations.
This collaborative effort aims to collectively counteract any misuse of AI by state-affiliated or non-affiliated entities that may have ulterior motives.
In a bid to establish AI guidelines, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to host a summit at Bletchley Park, a historically significant World War Two code-breaking center, in early November.
This summit will bring together global leaders and tech influencers to not only regulate AI more effectively but also position the UK as a central hub for the AI industry.
The interim report from the SITC highlights the potential for AI to propagate deepfakes, deceptive content that could mislead the public.
Additionally, it underscores the risks posed by malevolent actors who might exploit AI to create novel biological and chemical weaponry.
READ MORE: OKX Cryptocurrency Exchange Expands into India, Focusing on Web3 Potential and Local Talent
The House of Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Committee has recently advised the government to reconsider granting AI developers unrestricted access to employ existing music, literature, and art in their training datasets.
An alternate report issued on August 30th raises concerns that excluding AI-driven text and data mining from copyright protections could devalue arts and culture, relegating them to mere resources for AI’s progress.
Discussions within the government have surfaced regarding the participation of China in the November meeting.
The gathering will convene leaders from the Group of Seven nations and industry leaders, as reported by Bloomberg, citing informed sources.
The SITC report has advised the government to draft an AI bill for deliberation during the upcoming parliamentary session on November 7.
The report emphasizes that failing to do so could cause the UK to lag behind other legislative endeavors, especially the ongoing discussions concerning the EU’s AI Act.
Other Stories:
US Crypto Industry Sees Hope in Court Rulings Restraining SEC
Ronaldinho Denies Involvement in Alleged $61 Million Crypto Pyramid Scheme
Ethereum Liquid Staking Providers Embrace 22% Cap to Safeguard Decentralization
In the month of August 2023, the crypto space witnessed a disturbing trend as malicious actors targeted digital assets, resulting in losses exceeding $45 million, as reported by CertiK, a blockchain security firm.
This adds to the year-to-date (YTD) total of $997 million in losses due to crypto-related incidents.
CertiK’s report sheds light on the breakdown of these losses, attributing $26 million to exit scams, $6.4 million to flash loan attacks, and $13.5 million to various exploits during August.
These combined attacks confirmed an overall loss exceeding $45 million, underscoring the vulnerability of the crypto landscape.
Several significant incidents stand out among the contributors to this substantial amount of loss.
The attack on the Zunami Protocol resulted in losses of $2.2 million, while the Exactly Protocol exploit took a toll of $7.3 million.
Additionally, the PEPE withdrawal incident inflicted a staggering $13.2 million in losses, revealing the multifaceted nature of threats facing the crypto community.
Throughout 2023, CertiK’s data reveals a disturbing upward trajectory in losses attributed to exploits, hacks, and scams.
This year alone, the accumulated losses exceed $997 million. Among these losses, flash loan attacks accounted for approximately $261 million, exit scams amounted to over $137 million, and exploits constituted a staggering $596 million.
Despite the grim statistics, it is noteworthy that the losses in August exhibited a relative decrease when compared to the previous month. In July 2023, Web3 data outlet De.Fi recorded a total loss of approximately $486 million.
READ MORE: South Korean Parliamentary Subcommittee Rejects Expulsion Motion Over Cryptocurrency Controversy
The Multichain exploit, a significant contributor, alone accounted for around $231 million of this total. Following these unfortunate events, Multichain made the difficult decision to halt its operations on July 14 due to a lack of operational funds and alternative sources of information.
The company cited the inability to communicate with its CEO, who had been detained by Chinese authorities, as a significant impediment to its operations.
In summary, the crypto space faced substantial losses of more than $45 million in August 2023 due to malicious activities, contributing to a year-to-date total of over $997 million in losses.
Despite a slight decline from the previous month, these losses underscore the pressing need for enhanced security measures within the crypto industry to protect against a range of threats, including exit scams, flash loan attacks, and exploits.
Other Stories:
BlockFi Advances Fund Recovery Efforts with Court Application
What’s New in Crypto Staking This Year
Bitcoin Holds Strong Above $27,000 as Traders Maintain Bullish Outlook
Staking, the act of locking one token into a smart contract to earn the same or a second token as reward, is one of the industry’s oldest use cases. It sounds so simple, and yet this act has proven the key to securing blockchain networks worth billions of dollars, all through a bond system that incentivizes working for the collective good.
In 2023, staking is more vital than ever thanks to PoS becoming the dominant consensus mechanism across L1 and L2 coupled with the rise of staking derivatives that are unlocking deeper liquidity onchain. With innovation continuing apace, you can be forgiven for having missed some of the key staking developments that have occurred in crypto this year. Here’s what’s new – and what’s still to come in the world of onchain staking.
The Rise of Restaking
One of the most powerful new capabilities to emerge from staking is restaking: the ability to use the same stake to secure multiple protocols. EigenLayer is at the forefront of this trend, pioneering a solution that allows staked ETH to be used to safeguard cryptoe-conomic activity on other chains. One of the year’s most hyped projects, EigenLayer is opening in phases, causing maximum FOMO whenever the ETH staking cap is raised. Aided by airdrop rumors, expect the interest in Eigen to rise to a crescendo in Q4.
To Stake or Not to Stake
If staking is a net good for crypto ecosystems, why is it so controversial with lawmakers? It basically comes down to the rewards that stakers can earn: some financial regulators, the SEC in particular, believe this makes staking tokens potential securities and that exchanges should be barred from offering this service. In the US, exchanges have been forced to wind up their staking programs this year, but all is not lost. Recent court cases, not least Grayscale’s appeals win against the SEC, have given the industry confidence to fight back against regulators. Don’t be surprised if staking becomes de rigueur in the US once more in the near future.
Babylon Sets Out Its Stake
What’s Bitcoin got to do with staking? It is, after all, the primary network to have stubbornly clung to Proof of Work all these years, with no signs of it pulling an ETH and embracing PoS. Be that as it may, Bitcoin may have a future to play in securing Proof of Stake chains according to Babylon. The team behind Babylon network have released a lite paper that details the first ever trustless and self-custodian BTC staking protocol that can be used by PoS chains.
Like the restaking proposed by EigenLayer, Babylon’s litepaper proposes using a non-native asset to secure other chains. This solves problems associated with finding sufficient collateral to secure emerging networks. Led by Babylon founder David Tse and his research team, the paper’s authors propose a cryptographic scheme that harnesses Bitcoin’s scripting language to secure PoS chains.
Ethereum Staking on Demand
US exchanges might have had to rein in their staking programs, but other entities are expanding theirs. Crypto.com has rolled out onchain staking for ETH, SOL, and DOT. Meanwhile, Bitget Wallet has launched its own ETH staking service with gas fee subsidies to reduce costs for users.
Elsewhere, in Dubai, custodial crypto staking is now available after the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) revised its Custody Services Rulebook. Finally, back in the US, the IRS has declared staking rewards as taxable income. While no one relishes paying more tax, the clarity this brings will allow more US citizens to participate in staking in knowledge of their total liabilities.
Bitcoin is maintaining its recent gains, as traders remain optimistic about the bullish trajectory of its price. Despite briefly retreating from the highs above $28,000, the cryptocurrency has not experienced a complete retrace of its recent upward move.
Encouragingly, Bitcoin’s price action on lower timeframes is being supported by a crucial moving average, effectively safeguarding the $27,000 mark.
This trend is highlighted by data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView.
Of particular significance is the resilience displayed by BTC/USD in adhering to a long-term trend line that was previously lost as support in August.
This trend line corresponds to the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), positioned at $27,180.
Although there were instances where hourly candle closures fell below this level toward the end of August, such occurrences failed to initiate a significant breakdown.
Instead, Bitcoin remains closely aligned with the 200-day EMA as the month concludes.
Prominent trader Moustache, known for insights on market trends, noted the positive development, observing that Bitcoin has reclaimed the daily EMA 200-Line.
Expressing confidence in this trend, Moustache dismissed the likelihood of a more favorable entry point occurring in the near future.
This view contrasts with the bearish outlook propagated by various reputable sources, many of whom anticipate a return to levels as low as $25,000.
READ MORE: Digital Currency Group Reaches Agreement with Genesis Creditors for Potential Recovery
However, trader Jelle echoes Moustache’s optimism by underscoring the importance of Bitcoin’s ability to sustain itself above the $27,000 threshold.
Jelle described the current market behavior as conducive to further upward movement, citing a brief spike followed by a shallow retrace and maintenance above a key high-timeframe (HTF) level.
In the midst of the ongoing discussions about Bitcoin’s performance, analyst Rekt Capital advised caution due to prevailing market conditions.
Some previously crucial bull market moving averages are currently acting as resistance, adding an air of uncertainty to the situation.
Further insight from Material Indicators, a monitoring resource, suggests that Bitcoin’s trajectory could complete a full circle.
For a renewed push towards higher local highs, a resurgence of bullish sentiment is deemed essential. The proprietary trading tools of Material Indicators identify $27,760 and $24,750 as pivotal levels to monitor on the upside and downside, respectively.
This assessment underscores the delicate balance between the potential for continued gains and the looming risk of a downward reversal.
Other Stories:
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s Negative Price ‘Discount’ Expected to Reverse by 2024
Federal Judge Overturns SEC’s Denial of Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF
dYdX Unlocks $14.02 Million in DYDK Tokens for Community and Trader Rewards
Crypto lending company BlockFi, which had faced financial challenges, has taken a step forward in its fund recovery process.
Seeking approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, BlockFi has requested the transfer of “trade-only” assets from users’ accounts into stablecoins, enabling users to withdraw their funds.
These assets, including Algorand’s native token, Bitcoin Cash, and Dogecoin, have posed withdrawal difficulties.
To address this, BlockFi proposes a one-time conversion into stablecoins like Gemini Dollar (GUSD).
The application clarifies that these trade-only assets constitute less than 0.5% of the total U.S. wallet assets of BlockFi users.
Meanwhile, other trade-only assets like Cardano, Solana, and Avalanche are being held separately by BlockFi International.
Importantly, the request has received the backing of the committee of BlockFi creditors, a body recognized by the court.
Having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2022, BlockFi joined other companies like FTX, Celsius Network, and Voyager Digital in facing financial turmoil.
READ MORE: Europe Welcomes First-Ever Bitcoin ETF
Last year, client fund withdrawals were temporarily suspended, but on August 16, the court granted permission for withdrawals after a nine-month hiatus.
The court has also provisionally endorsed BlockFi’s restructuring strategy.
The company’s focus is on recuperating funds from key entities such as Alameda Research, FTX, Three Arrows Capital, Emergent, and Core Scientific.
Notably, a recent legal move by BlockFi sought to prevent FTX from retrieving substantial funds to repay its creditors, marking the ongoing complexities in the process.
As of April 2023 estimates, BlockFi’s debt reached up to $10 billion, owed to over 100,000 creditors.
Among them, the three largest creditors were owed $1 billion collectively, while the defunct crypto hedge fund 3AC was owed $220 million.
In summary, BlockFi’s application to transfer trade-only assets into stablecoins is a significant stride towards refunding users.
Supported by a recognized creditors’ committee, this move aligns with BlockFi’s ongoing efforts to navigate its financial challenges and meet its debt obligations.
Other Stories:
Anticipation Grows as Bitcoin Halving Nears, Experts Predict Surge Beyond $100,000
Argo Blockchain Shows Resilience with 50% Reduction in Half-Year Losses
Shibarium Surpasses 100,000 Wallets in 24 Hours Post-Relaunch
Digital Currency Group (DCG), a prominent cryptocurrency industry venture capital firm, has reached a preliminary agreement with creditors of its cryptocurrency lending subsidiary, Genesis.
According to a court document released on August 29, if the revised plan is sanctioned, unsecured creditors could potentially recover between 70% and 90% of the equivalent United States dollar value.
The revised plan also offers the possibility of recovering 65% to 90% on an in-kind basis, dependent on the specific digital asset denomination.
In a statement to Cointelegraph, DCG expressed satisfaction in reaching a preliminary agreement with both Genesis and the Unsecured Creditors Committee.
This agreement establishes the groundwork for a comprehensive resolution of the claims within the Genesis Chapter 11 Cases, aiming to provide significant recovery opportunities for creditors.
The formalized agreement will be documented and presented to the bankruptcy court for ultimate approval, aligned with the confirmation of a chapter 11 plan.
READ MORE: Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s Legal Team Deems Trial Preparations Inadequate
In order to address its existing obligations to debtors, which encompass a $630 million obligation in unsecured loans maturing in May 2023, as well as a $1.1 billion commitment under an unsecured promissory note due in 2032, DCG is planning to enter into novel debt facilities and a partial repayment arrangement.
These liabilities encompass a first-lien facility with a two-year maturity totaling $328.8 million, along with a second-lien facility with a seven-year maturity totaling $830 million.
Additionally, DCG has agreed to make $275 million in payments in installments before the effective date of the plan, in accordance with the terms of the partial repayment agreement outlined in the filing.
Genesis, along with numerous other crypto lending entities, faced the impact of the extensive bear market in 2022, resulting in the filing for bankruptcy in January 2023.
The company found itself indebted to its top 50 creditors with a sum exceeding $3.5 billion, which included notable firms like Gemini and VanEck’s New Finance Income Fund.
In prior reports, Genesis suspended withdrawal operations in mid-November 2022, attributing the decision to unparalleled market turbulence caused by the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange.
The company cited an unexpectedly high volume of withdrawals that surpassed its available liquidity as a consequence of this incident.
Other Stories:
Hashdex Challenges Status Quo with Innovative Approach in Pursuit of Bitcoin ETF Approval
Three Former Team Members Accused of $16 Million Theft from Pepecoin (PEPE) Multisig Wallet
Right now, it seems that the sporting sector is undergoing a huge transformation. A lot of this comes down to the lasting impact of the pandemic. Even though it has caused a lot of challenges for the industry, it has also sped up the adoption of new technologies. This can include the blockchain. At the end of the day, the use of blockchain technology has become very popular within the sporting industry and this offers new opportunities for clubs and fans.
When you break everything down, you will soon see that blockchain technology is a decentralised ledger and it is able to provide a lot of transparency and security for a number of transactions. The tech has a lot of applications too, including sports. You can use it for ticket sales as well as fan engagement.
Opportunities to Generate Revenue
One very important thing to remember is that clubs now have the chance to generate as much revenue as they want. When utilising blockchain technology, European teams have been able to gain over $200 million in revenue, from tokens that are sold on Socios.
This new stream of revenue has helped clubs to recover some of the losses that they might have incurred during the pandemic. Another area where blockchain could possibly revolutionise the area is through sports betting. By using blockchain, sports can become way more transparent. It can also be used to eliminate the risk of fraud, and any negative stigma that might be associated with sports betting. This helps to provide a much safer environment for fans.
Transforming Fan Engagement
One thing to know about football and football live stream providers is that blockchain could revolutionise the way things are done. Web3 is now coming out and blockchain technology could easily drive the adoption of a way more decentralised internet. The sports sector really is one of the leading industries that is able to benefit from the power of blockchain too which is great.
Juan Mata has been exploring the blockchain for quite some time and he has also explored a lot of charitable causes as well. The Common Goal initiative looks to use blockchain as it encourages people to take part in various social organisations.
This happens across the world. Through the Common Goal, it seems that Mata is able to make the world a better place and he also wants to increase transparency where possible. He has the aim of being able to increase the trust that people have in the sport and this is great to say the least.
The Use of Blockchain in Sport
Right now, it would seem that blockchain has a lot of use within the sporting world. It is in the early stages but the potential is great. This kind of tech could well account for the opportunities present and it is being valued in the trillions. The sporting sector is increasing the surface of possibilities and it is phenomenal to think about what blockchain technology could bring.
In conclusion, it would seem that the use of blockchain in terms of fan engagement could well be transforming the sporting industry. It’s a win-win for both clubs and it is also a w
in for fans too. It offers a new transformative landscape and you also have the emergence of Web3 as well. This is blockchain technology that drives the adoption of a user-focused internet. The sporting industry is one of the many that are able to benefit from the power of blockchain tech and it is of no surprise to see that things are only going to grow from here.
Who knows what the future holds or what is going to happen next, but with that in mind, more has to be done to make sure that the sector keeps on track with its current pacing.