The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is gearing up to broaden its financial product offerings by incorporating crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for Bitcoin and Ether.
This significant development is set to unfold in the second quarter of 2024, with the LSE poised to start receiving applications for these novel ETNs.
The announcement made on March 11 delineates a strategic move towards embracing the burgeoning realm of cryptocurrency within the established frameworks of traditional financial markets.
The LSE has outlined specific criteria for the admission of crypto ETNs in its recently published Crypto ETN Admission Factsheet.
Although an exact commencement date for accepting applications has not been disclosed, the exchange has made clear its requirements.
For an ETN to be considered, it must be physically backed by Bitcoin or Ether and refrain from leveraging.
A critical stipulation is the transparent availability of the market price or value of the underlying crypto asset.
Furthermore, the crypto assets backing the ETNs must be securely stored, preferably in cold wallets, and the custodians of these assets must comply with Anti-Money Laundering legislation from the UK, EU, Switzerland, or the US.
READ MORE: Grayscale and Coinbase Meet with SEC to Push for Spot Ether ETFs
ETNs, defined by the exchange as debt securities linked to an underlying asset, offer investors an opportunity to engage with the performance of cryptocurrencies within regulated trading hours.
This method presents a less direct approach compared to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with ETNs being backed by issuer’s credit rather than a collective pool of assets, and is viewed as a softer alternative for those seeking exposure to crypto assets.
Parallel to the LSE’s initiative, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also indicated a willingness to accommodate Recognised Investment Exchanges (RIEs) wishing to establish market segments for crypto-backed ETNs, albeit restricted to professional investors.
This category encompasses authorized or regulated credit institutions and investment firms.
The FCA emphasizes the need for stringent controls to safeguard investors and mandates adherence to the UK’s listing regime, including ongoing disclosure and the provision of prospectuses.
Despite this openness towards institutional engagement with crypto-backed ETNs, the FCA maintains a cautious stance towards retail investors, citing the high-risk nature of cryptoassets.
The authority has reiterated its position that such investments are not suitable for the retail market, warning of the potential for total loss and underscoring the largely unregulated status of cryptoassets.
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Elon Musk announced the decision to open source xAI’s artificial intelligence model, Grok, amid a growing lawsuit with OpenAI, a rival AI chatbot developer.
Musk’s announcement on X on March 11 reveals Grok will become open source starting this week, though he provided no further details on the move.
This decision was met with positive feedback on X, where one user suggested OpenAI should follow suit, prompting Musk to criticize OpenAI as “a lie.”
The backdrop to Musk’s announcement is a lawsuit he filed on February 29 against OpenAI, accusing it of breaching the founding agreement by partnering with Microsoft, which had invested nearly $3 billion into OpenAI by the end of 2023.
Musk’s legal action seeks to compel OpenAI to adhere to its original open-source and non-profit commitments, aimed at developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for humanity’s benefit.
This move comes amid escalating tensions marked by OpenAI transitioning into a profit-driven entity, a change Musk initially appeared to support based on emails released by OpenAI executives after the lawsuit.
Further complicating the scenario, OpenAI reinstated Sam Altman as a board member following a brief dismissal, acknowledging the instability his absence caused within the company.
Musk’s push for making Grok open source echoes his lawsuit’s plea for a return to open-source AGI development for global benefit.
Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI, stands out as it integrates with the X social media platform, providing real-time information access and handling sensitive topics often avoided by other AI systems.
To interact with Grok, users need a verified X account. Performance-wise, Grok is positioned between OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3.5 and the more advanced ChatGPT-4, showcasing its competitive edge in the AI landscape.
Musk’s latest move signals a significant step towards advocating for open-source principles in AI development, amidst ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding the future of artificial intelligence.
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The Layer-2 blockchain network Arbitrum is gearing up for a significant event on March 16, as it plans to release $2.32 billion worth of Arbitrum (ARB) tokens from vesting.
According to data from Token Unlocks, this release will involve approximately 1.1 billion ARB tokens, constituting about 76% of the token’s current circulating supply.
The breakdown of the distribution includes 673.5 million tokens, valued at roughly $1.41 billion, allocated for the Arbitrum team and advisers.
Additionally, 438.25 million tokens, with an approximate value of $915 million, are earmarked for the project’s investors.
This event is characterized as a “Cliff Unlock,” meaning that all these tokens will be made available at once on the unlock date, without any gradual release leading up to this point.
The impending unlock has stirred discussions within the cryptocurrency community, with expectations of potential price fluctuations for the ARB token.
READ MORE: Grayscale and Coinbase Meet with SEC to Push for Spot Ether ETFs
Some community members are considering short positions against ARB in anticipation of the unlock, while others have opted to sell their holdings beforehand.
In contrast, JJcycles, a crypto influencer on X, offered a more optimistic view by drawing parallels to a similar event with Solana, which saw its token price increase following a token unlock, contrary to common expectations.
The coming week will also see other blockchain projects releasing their vested tokens.
Specifically, on March 13, Aptos is set to unlock about 24 million of its tokens, valued at around $329 million, which represents 6.73% of its current circulating supply, designated for its foundation, community, core contributors, and investors.
Additionally, several other projects, including APE, Flow, CyberConnect, Moonbeam, and Euler, are scheduled to release vested tokens, contributing to a total of approximately $53 million in digital assets.
Consequently, the total value of tokens expected to be unlocked this week amounts to around $2.7 billion, highlighting a significant period of activity within the digital asset market.
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The cryptocurrency world is once again abuzz with excitement as Shiba Inu (SHIB), a meme-based digital currency, experiences a surge in its market price, echoing sentiments of a possible repeat of its meteoric rise back in 2021.
Investors are on edge, speculating on a potential resurgence that mirrors the past glory of SHIB’s performance.
In the midst of this growing anticipation, Ali Martinez, a well-regarded cryptocurrency analyst, has brought to light a critical observation in SHIB’s price movement.
Through a meticulous technical analysis, Martinez has pinpointed a symmetrical triangle pattern on SHIB’s four-hour chart.
This pattern is characterized by two converging trendlines, one ascending and the other descending, meeting at a point and is widely recognized in the trading world as a harbinger of a possible price breakout, which could swing in either direction.
This technical formation was identified following a period of heightened price volatility that commenced on March 5th. Such volatility often leads to a phase of consolidation before the market makes a decisive move.
Martinez posits that if SHIB can sustain a closing price above the pivotal resistance level of $0.000038, it could trigger a bullish rally, potentially enhancing its value by up to 40%, aiming for a target price of $0.000052.
Shiba Inu has not only demonstrated a significant increase in its valuation since the beginning of March, with its price more than tripling, but it has also cemented its position as a formidable player in the cryptocurrency arena.
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As of the latest figures, SHIB trades at $0.00003273 and proudly stands as the 10th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, which is currently valued at $19.22 billion.
This remarkable achievement highlights the meme coin’s enduring appeal and market strength.
However, the future for Shiba Inu remains uncertain and highly dependent on several market dynamics.
The investor community is keenly observing SHIB’s price behavior for any signs of the anticipated breakout.
While Martinez’s analysis hints at a bullish journey towards $0.00005, stakeholders must also brace for the inherent volatility that comes with the territory of cryptocurrency investments.
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Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will hold over 10 percent of the Bitcoin supply by the third quarter of this year, an analysis by Crypto Intelligence has found.
This analysis is contingent on the applications for Ether spot ETFs in the US being rejected in the coming weeks, as the approval of a non-BTC ETF could significantly impact demand for the existing Bitcoin spot ETFs.
This is because there would be another crypto product easily available to investors and institutions, and this would potentially limit demand for BTC ETFs.
This could be exacerbated by the fact that Ether is deflationary, while Bitcoin’s supply is continuing to grow; although the rate of this growth will decrease following the April halving.
READ: Tether Expands USDT Stablecoin to Celo Network, Offering Microtransactions at Sub-Cent Fees
The existing spot Bitcoin ETFs already hold over four percent of the 21 million BTC that will eventually be mined, and a supply crunch – which could send the BTC price well over the $120,000 mark – is expected to take hold in the coming months.
Bitcoin has already posted strong gains as a result of the demand that is flowing through the spot BTC ETFs, and the world’s first-ever cryptocurrency is currently trading at just under the $72,000 mark, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Ethereum, meanwhile, recently jumped above $4,000, but it is still yet to get close to breaching its all-time high.
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Tether, a leading stablecoin operator, is expanding its USDT stablecoin’s reach by partnering with the Celo network, which is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible layer-1 network designed specifically for rapid and cost-efficient payments.
This collaboration, announced on March 11, is expected to significantly benefit USDT users by introducing “notably low, sub-cent transaction fees” around $0.001, thus facilitating microtransactions.
A source close to Celo highlighted the network’s commitment to providing fast, low-cost payments globally since its launch in April 2020.
Transitioning to an Ethereum L2, according to a spokesperson, would maintain low gas fees—a critical factor for achieving global prosperity, aligning with Celo’s community mission.
The introduction of USDT to the Celo ecosystem will enrich the platform’s variety of stable assets, which includes Mento’s eXOF and the cREAL, among others.
These stable assets are instrumental in supporting remittances, savings, lending, and cross-border payments.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tether USDT to the Celo ecosystem, which is fast becoming a leader in stablecoins and real-world assets,” said Rene Reinsberg, Celo co-founder and foundation president.
READ MORE: Sam Altman Reinstated to OpenAI Board Amid Legal Battle with Elon Musk
He emphasized the added options for users seeking fast, low-cost payment methods and the enhancement of stablecoin use cases benefiting people globally.
Details on when USDT will be officially issued on the Celo blockchain were not disclosed by Tether representatives.
However, this move places USDT alongside 14 other blockchains supported by Tether, such as Tron, Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, with Tron and Ethereum hosting the majority of USDT circulation.
The integration occurs amidst growing concerns within the crypto community over rising Ethereum network fees, which have soared as Ether prices breached $4,000.
These high fees have particularly affected Ethereum-based USDT transactions, which require ETH for gas fees.
Nevertheless, the Celo network’s EVM compatibility does not inherently link it to Ethereum’s fee structure, offering a semblance of independence from the volatile gas fees, as noted by a Celo insider.
This strategic move by Tether into the Celo network is also noted alongside the introduction of its major competitor, the Circle-issued USD Coin (USDC), to Celo, marking a significant period of growth and diversification for stablecoins on the platform.
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A renowned cryptocurrency analyst is predicting a significant surge in the price of Dogecoin (DOGE), suggesting the meme-based digital asset could see a nearly 500% increase in value in the upcoming weeks.
Ali Martinez, who boasts 50,700 followers on a social media platform, bases his prediction on historical trends, indicating DOGE could reach $1 by mid-April.
At the time of his analysis, DOGE was valued at $0.167.
Martinez’s forecast hinges on DOGE’s potential to break above its range resistance, mirroring its performances in 2017 and 2021, which could catalyze a meteoric rise in its value.
This perspective is not unique to Martinez.
Altcoin Sherpa, another crypto analyst with a considerable following of 209,800 on the same social media platform, echoed a similar sentiment earlier in the week.
Altcoin Sherpa highlighted the influence of Elon Musk, one of DOGE’s most prominent supporters, as a crucial factor that could drive the coin to the $1 milestone.
However, he expressed uncertainty regarding the timing of this surge.
READ MORE: BNB Hits Two-Year High Amid Market Optimism – What Price Target is Next?
Altcoin Sherpa shared his thoughts, emphasizing DOGE’s potential for significant gains due to Musk’s backing and its status as the leading meme coin.
Despite this optimism, he noted that the returns might not replicate those seen in 2021 due to the current market cap.
Moreover, he considered investing in DOGE as a relatively safe bet with high potential for returns, albeit with uncertain comparative risk-reward ratios against other investments.
In addition to his DOGE analysis, Martinez also commented on the market sentiment surrounding Ethereum challenger Fantom (FTM), pointing out an uptick in whale transactions, increased whale holdings, and decreased FTM balances on exchanges, signaling positive market activity.
FTM’s price was noted at $0.828 at the time of his remarks.
Aside from DOGE, SHIB is another popular dog-themed crypto – and there have been dozens of bullish Shiba Inu price predictions issued in recent weeks.
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Crypto firms Grayscale and Coinbase recently engaged in discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to advocate for the approval of spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
This dialogue, part of an ongoing effort to broaden the accessibility of cryptocurrency investments, took place on March 6, immediately after the comment period for Grayscale’s proposal to convert its Ethereum Trust into an ETF ended.
Grayscale aims to replicate its successful conversion of its Bitcoin Trust into an ETF with Ethereum, addressing SEC concerns regarding market manipulation risks.
During the meeting, Coinbase presented arguments supporting the approval of Ether ETFs, drawing parallels with the earlier approval of Bitcoin ETFs.
They highlighted the inherent mechanisms within Ether that mitigate the risks of fraud and manipulation, suggesting that Ether’s market dynamics are substantially similar to those of Bitcoin.
Furthermore, Coinbase underscored its surveillance-sharing arrangement with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a regulatory measure designed to enhance trading oversight, which was a stipulation by the SEC for the Bitcoin ETFs.
Coinbase’s Nate Geraci pointed out the strong correlation between Ether’s futures and spot markets, akin to Bitcoin’s, questioning any rationale for the SEC to reject spot Ether ETFs especially after approving Ether futures ETFs traded on the CME.
Grayscale, on its part, is not only pursuing the spot ETF but has also proposed an Ether futures ETF, highlighting the strategic difference between immediate asset trades in the spot market versus the futures market’s contractual agreement for future trades.
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The push for the approval of a spot Ether ETF is not limited to Grayscale and Coinbase; several prominent asset managers, including Invesco, Galaxy Digital, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and BlackRock, are also in the race.
They eagerly await the SEC’s final decision, anticipated in May, amid a backdrop of regulatory uncertainty that has left many wondering about the SEC’s stance on this innovative investment vehicle.
Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas shared his insights on the situation, noting the unusual silence from the SEC regarding their views on the proposed crypto ETFs, contrasting this with the more communicative approach taken during the Bitcoin ETF discussions.
This silence has stirred concerns among asset managers, who remain hopeful yet uncertain about the prospects of introducing spot Ether ETFs to the market.
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In a significant turn of events, Sam Altman has made his comeback to the OpenAI board after a tumultuous period in November 2023 that saw him briefly removed from the organization.
OpenAI announced on March 8 that Altman rejoined its board of directors, a decision accompanied by the addition of three new board members: Sue Desmond-Hellmann, previously CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Nicole Seligman, former executive vice president and general counsel at Sony Corporation; and Fidji Simo, chair of Instacart.
Altman’s reinstatement comes after a dramatic episode four months earlier when he was abruptly ousted from the board and dismissed from his CEO position.
Reports from Cointelegraph in November highlighted that Altman was terminated for purportedly not being “not consistently candid in his communications with the board.”
The move to dismiss Altman led to a significant backlash within OpenAI, with a majority of the employees, 505 out of 700, signing a letter demanding the board’s resignation.
On the day of the announcement about Altman’s return, OpenAI also disclosed that WilmerHale, a law firm, conducted an investigation involving interviews with several board members and a review of over 30,000 documents.
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The findings suggested that the board’s previous decision to remove Altman was unexpectedly destabilizing for the company.
Bret Taylor, the chair of the OpenAI board, stated, “We have unanimously concluded that Sam and Greg are the right leaders for OpenAI,” affirming their confidence in Altman and Greg Brockman’s leadership.
Furthermore, on March 6, OpenAI shared details of communications with Elon Musk, who expressed a desire to shift the company’s direction towards a “for-profit” model.
This disclosure followed a lawsuit Musk filed against OpenAI on February 29, accusing the company of deviating from its original commitment to openly share AI advancements, facilitated by a partnership with Microsoft.
Musk’s legal action seeks to ensure OpenAI adheres to its foundational open-source ethos while also attempting to halt the commercial exploitation of artificial general intelligence technology.
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The ban on Binance’s naira operations in Nigeria has drawn significant concern from local cryptocurrency stakeholders, who fear it will negatively impact many Nigerians’ livelihoods and potentially increase youth unemployment.
In discussions with Cointelegraph, stakeholders expressed their concerns over the delisting of Nigerian naira-related services from Binance, predicting that it could spur the development of new crypto exchanges aimed at filling the void left by Binance’s departure through compliance with local regulations.
Nathaniel Luz, CEO of Flincap—a liquidity platform for crypto exchanges—highlighted the immediate effect on Nigerian traders reliant on Binance for peer-to-peer trading.
Luz pointed out that, while affected, some traders have adapted by moving their operations to WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
Oladotun Wilfred Akangbe, Flincap’s chief marketing officer, voiced concerns over the ongoing uncertainty in cryptocurrency regulation within Nigeria.
He believes the suspension of Binance operations could significantly erode confidence within the Nigerian crypto community, fostering a climate of fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
Binance, in a statement on its website, announced significant changes for its Nigerian users.
READ MORE: BNB Hits Two-Year High Amid Market Optimism – What Price Target is Next?
Starting March 8, at 8:00 am UTC, the platform will automatically convert naira balances to Tether (USDT) and will stop supporting naira deposits from March 5, at 2:00 pm.
Withdrawals were halted from March 8, at 6:00 am, with the conversion rate set at 1 USDT for 1,515.13 naira. This move came after Binance delisted all naira trading pairs in late February.
The backdrop to these developments includes the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor expressing suspicions on February 27 about crypto exchanges, including Binance, being involved in illicit transactions, citing “suspicious flows” of funds.
These suspicions led to increased scrutiny on Binance’s operations, with the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes summoning Binance CEO Richard Teng for a meeting before March 4.
The regulatory landscape in Nigeria has been fluctuating, with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating in 2023 that Binance Nigeria was not registered or regulated by it, rendering its operations illegal.
However, in a surprising turn, the Central Bank of Nigeria reversed its earlier stance on crypto assets in December 2023, advising banks to disregard the previous ban on crypto transactions.
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