In 2023, the United States experienced a significant rise in cryptocurrency-related investment fraud, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) highlighting it as the major source of investment fraud losses.
According to the FBI, the nation saw a staggering 53% increase in crypto investment fraud, with losses surging from $2.57 billion in 2022 to approximately $3.94 billion in 2023.
This figure constituted about 86% of the total $4.57 billion lost to investment fraud across the board.
The FBI report draws attention to the growing trend of victims being lured into cryptocurrency scams, promising them high returns on their investments.
“These scams are designed to entice those targeted with the promise of lucrative returns on their investments,” the FBI noted.
Among these, romance scams have emerged as a prevalent method, wherein criminals create fake online personas to build relationships and trust with their victims.
They then concoct compelling stories to convince the victim to transfer cryptocurrency, only to vanish subsequently.
The analysis firm Chainalysis, in December 2023, identified romance scams as the cause for at least $374 million in suspected stolen cryptocurrency during the year.
Additionally, Cointelegraph reported on January 1 that phishing scams had ensnared over 324,000 cryptocurrency users, leading to approximately $295 million in digital assets being lost to wallet drainers in 2023 alone.
The issue of cryptocurrency scam victims is not confined to the United States; it is a global concern.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported in April 2023 that Australians had lost AU$221.3 million ($146.9 million) to investment scams involving cryptocurrency in 2022.
This marked a 162.4% increase from the previous year, indicating the expanding reach and impact of these scams worldwide.
The significant rise in crypto-related fraud underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and more robust protective measures for investors globally.
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The Bitcoin market is currently teeming with optimism, projecting a potential surge toward or even beyond the $90,000 mark in the imminent weeks.
This bullish outlook is anchored in a combination of encouraging technical analyses, on-chain data, and fundamental factors.
Currently, Bitcoin (BTC) is experiencing a period of consolidation, oscillating within a triangular pattern that mirrors a bull pennant, especially after reaching a new all-time high of $69,210.
Such formations are often interpreted by traditional analysts as bullish continuation patterns, hinting at a possible price escalation akin to the height of the prior uptrend, usually accompanied by a spike in trading volume.
Given Bitcoin’s recent performance and its consolidation post-new highs, experts predict a significant breakout, targeting a price around $92,500 in the forthcoming weeks, marking a 35% increase from its current position.
The recent upturn in Bitcoin’s price is also aligned with an increase in capital inflows into United States-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which currently boast over $53 billion in reserves, a notable leap from $27.95 billion at their inception in January.
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The surge in ETF inflows suggests a growing investor interest, likely driving demand for Bitcoin as fund managers purchase additional assets to mirror the ETF‘s indexed composition or sector.
Market analyst Timothy Peterson highlighted the positive momentum triggered by the Bitcoin Spot ETF approval, suggesting a potential climb to $100K by October 2024.
Additionally, the anticipation surrounding the upcoming Bitcoin halving event adds to the bullish sentiment.
Historically, halving events, which reduce the mining reward by half, have preceded price increases.
Analysts also draw parallels between Bitcoin’s current market dynamics and the period leading up to its November 2021 rally toward $69,000.
Market analyst Jelle notes similarities in the price action around all-time highs, indicating a potential upcoming surge akin to the last bull cycle, albeit with distinct characteristics.
Jelle elaborates, “Bitcoin is acting similar to 2020’s all-time high breakout,” describing a pattern of a failed breakout followed by consolidation and a subsequent successful surge.
If this historical pattern repeats, Bitcoin could be setting its sights on surpassing $75,000 in the near future, reinforcing the optimistic forecasts for its price trajectory.
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BlackRock, a global asset management powerhouse, is set to diversify its Global Allocation Fund (MALOX) by acquiring spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
A recent update to its United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on March 7 indicates the firm’s interest in integrating physically backed Bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs), including its own iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and ETFs from other providers.
The statement from the filing emphasizes, “The fund may acquire shares in ETPs that seek to reflect generally the performance of the price of Bitcoin by directly holding bitcoin — ‘Bitcoin ETPs’ — including shares of a Bitcoin ETP sponsored by an affiliate of BlackRock.”
These investments will focus on Bitcoin ETPs listed on national securities exchanges, ensuring compliance with trading standards.
The BlackRock Global Allocation Fund, established in 1989, aims to yield returns through a dynamic investment approach, involving U.S. and international equities, debt, and money market securities from major corporations like Microsoft and Apple.
As of the recent update, MALOX boasts $17.8 billion in assets under management.
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However, MALOX isn’t the sole BlackRock fund eyeing spot Bitcoin ETFs.
A similar intention was revealed for its Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (BSIIX) in an SEC filing dated March 4.
The firm’s venture into Bitcoin ETFs gained momentum with the launch of the iShares Bitcoin Trust on January 11, paralleled by nine other spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S.
Remarkably, the iShares Bitcoin Trust has shown exponential growth, with its Bitcoin holdings surging over 7,000% from 2,621 BTC at its inception to 187,531 BTC by March 7, 2024, valuing its assets at $12.6 billion.
Moreover, BlackRock is exploring the potential of a spot Ether ETF, having filed an application for the iShares Ethereum Trust in November 2023.
The financial community is closely watching to see if U.S. regulators will greenlight a spot ETH ETF in 2024, considering it took over a decade for the SEC to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF in the nation.
This move by BlackRock underscores its proactive stance in expanding its cryptocurrency offerings, reflecting a growing interest in digital asset investments within traditional financial sectors.
On March 8, Bitcoin soared to unprecedented heights, propelled by the U.S. unemployment data which strengthened the argument for potential interest rate cuts.
The cryptocurrency reached an all-time high of $70,184 on Bitstamp, as per data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, amidst optimistic market movements encouraged by the latest jobless statistics from February.
These figures surpassed expectations, suggesting that inflationary pressures might be diminishing due to strict economic policies.
The national unemployment rate was reported at 3.9%, a slight increase from predictions, while the job growth numbers for January were adjusted downwards.
The Kobeissi Letter, a trading analysis platform, noted that the market responded positively, with stocks climbing.
This upward trend was attributed to the increased unemployment rate and significant revisions to job additions.
The cryptocurrency market, including Bitcoin and various altcoins, rallied along with stocks, marking a significant moment as Bitcoin crossed the $70,000 threshold for the first time.
READ MORE: Bitcoin Hits Record High in South Korea, Sparks Debate Over ‘Kimchi Premium’
Market analysts highlighted the importance of this milestone occurring ahead of a scheduled block subsidy halving, suggesting that Bitcoin could reach its macro cycle peak sooner than anticipated.
Mikybull Crypto, a prominent voice in the market, remarked on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “Bitcoin is doing what it has not done in history. Cycle top is coming faster than what people projected.”
Additionally, the jobs data indicated a weakening U.S. dollar, with the U.S. dollar index (DXY) dropping to near its two-month low at 102.36, down almost 5% from its peak earlier in the year.
This decline in dollar strength further fueled speculation regarding the Federal Reserve’s next moves.
Although the Fed’s decision on interest rates is awaited on March 20, expectations remain largely hawkish, with the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool estimating a mere 3% chance of an interest rate cut.
Throughout the week, Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, have reiterated a cautious stance on future monetary policies, maintaining conservative language despite the optimistic market trends spurred by the latest economic indicators.
Travala.com, a cryptocurrency-friendly travel agency, is launching a unique Bitcoin cashback program aimed at rewarding its most loyal customers.
This initiative is designed to capitalize on Bitcoin’s (BTC) scarcity, offering an innovative reward for the platform’s Smart Diamond tier members.
This tier is part of the loyalty program operated by the AVA Foundation’s blockchain platform, with the program details shared in an exclusive announcement to Cointelegraph.
Juan Otero, the CEO of Travala.com, emphasized Bitcoin’s enduring presence and its increasing appeal to a broader audience, especially following the approval of the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.
He stated, “Bitcoin is here to stay, and it’s now becoming more appealing to mainstream audiences, thanks to the recent approval of the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.”
According to Otero, the Bitcoin cashback rewards not only enhance the attractiveness of using cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions but also ensure that rewards are credited swiftly, within 24 hours after completing a trip.
Travala.com users, especially those eligible for the rewards, enjoy complete freedom in how they utilize their Bitcoin cashback.
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This includes paying for various travel services on the platform or transferring their BTC to external wallets, exchanges, or platforms.
Notably, Bitcoin ranks as one of the top three payment methods on Travala.com, with around 9% of the platform’s travel bookings paid in BTC, totaling over $5 million in transactions for flights, hotels, and activities in 2023 alone.
However, the program is exclusive, requiring users to own a Travel Tiger NFT and stake 2,500 AVA tokens for Smart Diamond membership.
With only 1,000 Travel Tiger NFTs available, minted on the Ethereum blockchain and priced at a floor of 2.6 Ether (approximately $9,800), the program offers a limited opportunity for travelers to earn rewards.
Travala advocates for the potential of cryptocurrency-based cashback programs to disrupt traditional Web2-based models.
By leveraging Bitcoin, the platform aims to reduce fees associated with conventional payment methods and mitigate the risk of chargeback fraud.
Otero also sees the Bitcoin rewards initiative as a gateway for introducing newcomers to the Web3 ecosystem, highlighting the AVA Foundation’s role in providing cashback and loyalty rewards, payment discounts, and exclusive access through its native AVA token.
On March 5th at 3:00 pm (UTC), Bitcoin’s (BTC) value soared to an unprecedented 96,734,000 South Korean Won (approximately $72,504) on Upbit, South Korea’s leading cryptocurrency exchange.
This event underscored the notable price disparity often referred to as the Kimchi Premium or Korea Premium Index, which has been on a rising trajectory alongside BTC’s value since the beginning of February.
According to CryptoQuant, a notable on-chain data resource, the Korea Premium Index climbed from 5.19 on February 28 to 6.84 by March 5.
This increase aligned with Bitcoin’s price reaching a historic peak above $69,200 on the same day, fueled by the continuous influx of investments into the United States’ Bitcoin ETFs.
“The Bitcoin price rally is mainly driven by institutional demand in the United States,” CryptoQuant analyst Ho Chan Chung explained to Cointelegraph.
Contrarily, the price surge in South Korea is propelled predominantly by retail spot purchases due to the absence of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the nation.
The phenomenon of the Kimchi premium first came to light in 2016 and was highlighted in a 2019 study by the University of Calgary.
The study revealed that, from January 2016 to February 2018, Bitcoin prices on South Korean exchanges were on average 4.73% higher than those in the United States.
The disparity was even more pronounced during Bitcoin’s December 2017 bull run, with South Korean exchanges listing Bitcoin at nearly 50% higher than global averages.
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This led CoinMarketCap to exclude some Korean exchanges from its listings due to the significant price discrepancies.
In 2021, the Kimchi premium reached a zenith of 21.56% on May 19, coinciding with Bitcoin trading above the $36,000 mark, ahead of hitting its previous all-time high in November 2021.
Although some traders attempt to capitalize on these price variances through arbitrage, the premium predominantly persists due to market inefficiencies, especially during notable uptrends.
As Bitcoin continues to captivate global interest, South Korea’s financial regulator is deliberating the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs, a move that could potentially harmonize these price disparities.
“Among authorities, I am one of those who are positive about virtual assets,” Lee Bok-hyun, the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, mentioned in a March 5 Reuters report, indicating ongoing internal discussions on the matter.
Despite initial reluctance from South Korea’s financial authorities in January regarding the regulation of Bitcoin futures ETF sales, they acknowledged that the brokerage sales of spot Bitcoin ETFs might contravene the Capital Markets Act.
Currently, the Korea Premium Index persists, with Bitcoin’s price on Upbit around 93,800,000 KRW ($70,000), in contrast to its approximately $67,000 value in other markets.
In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Ivo Crnkovic-Rubsamen, the Chief Strategy Officer and Technical Lead for Trading at the dydx exchange, pinpointed algorithmic trading firms as the primary cause of recent disruptions at some of the world’s largest centralized cryptocurrency exchanges.
According to Crnkovic-Rubsamen, the intense retail interest and swift price movements have prompted these firms to significantly amplify their order and cancelation requests to maintain their positions in the market.
“It’s common for a trading firm to 20 times the output of orders and cancels at a very busy time,” he explained.
This surge in activity coincides with notable technical difficulties experienced by leading exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Bybit.
These issues emerged shortly after Bitcoin’s price surpassed $60,000 for the first time in more than two years on February 28.
Crnkovic-Rubsamen remarked that such situations are typical in bull markets when there’s a spike in retail interest and substantial price movements.
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The fallout from these outages included Citron, an investment research firm, recommending a short sale on Coinbase stock, which then saw an 11.36% increase in its value within 24 hours, trading at $229.15 according to Google Finance.
Crnkovic-Rubsamen highlighted a significant difference between centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs), particularly in how they manage trading limits for market makers.
In CEXs, trading limits can be customized based on trust, leading to potential system overloads during bull markets.
This contrasts with DEXs, where trading limits are protocol-defined, eliminating favoritism and ensuring stability regardless of market conditions.
He also touched upon the reliability of centralized exchanges, acknowledging their efficiency and optimization under normal conditions but noting their vulnerability during peak periods.
“Centralized matching engines are awesome at performance, they’re super optimized and efficient, but when they go down, that’s it […] There is a reliability trade-off there,” Crnkovic-Rubsamen concluded, highlighting the inherent stability challenges faced by centralized platforms compared to their decentralized counterparts during times of intense market activity.
On March 5, Bitcoin’s market value soared to an unprecedented peak of $1.35 trillion, marking a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency’s history.
This surge was fueled by a 3.35% increase in Bitcoin’s price over the previous 24 hours, reaching $67,322 by 12:55 pm UTC.
Over the past week, the first-ever cryptocurrency saw an impressive gain of over 17%, as reported by CoinMarketCap.
This record-setting performance momentarily positioned Bitcoin as the world’s eighth-largest asset, surpassing the $1.347 trillion market cap of silver, the globe’s second-most valuable precious metal, as per CompaniesMarketCap.
The remarkable climb followed a record-breaking daily close of $68,245 on March 4, eclipsing its prior highest close of $67,525 on November 8, 2021.
This development has fueled predictions by analysts that Bitcoin’s price might hit the $100,000 threshold by the end of 2024.
A significant factor contributing to Bitcoin’s bullish momentum has been the recent approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States.
READ MORE: Bitcoin Withdrawals Surge as Exchanges See Largest Outflows in 5 Years Amid Price Rally
A March 4 Bitfinex research report highlighted a 44% surge in Bitcoin’s value in February, attributing the growth to a $7.5 billion investment in Bitcoin ETFs.
This influx not only catalyzes market expansion but also underscores a positive market sentiment and the potential for further investment.
Furthermore, Bitcoin futures on centralized exchanges have witnessed record-high open interest, signifying strong investor confidence in a continuous uptrend.
Bitfinex analysts noted that the total open interest for Bitcoin futures contracts exceeded $26 billion on March 1, breaking the previous high of $24 billion set in late 2021.
Adding to the flurry of activity, MicroStrategy, the leading corporate investor in Bitcoin, announced plans to raise $600 million to finance additional Bitcoin purchases.
The funding, disclosed in a March 4 X post by executive chairman Michael Saylor, will be sourced through senior convertible notes, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to Bitcoin investment amidst a buoyant market.
Gary Gensler, the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has been vocal about his concerns regarding the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, indicating a contentious atmosphere between regulatory bodies and the crypto sector in the United States.
This discord is further amplified by some U.S. lawmakers who oppose Gensler’s stance, challenging the SEC’s approach to regulating crypto assets.
This disparity within the government has created an uncertain environment for crypto projects based in the U.S., largely due to the ambiguous and fluctuating criteria used by the SEC to determine what constitutes a security, primarily relying on the outdated Howey test.
The heart of the issue lies in the mechanism of law creation in the U.S., which differs significantly from that in other countries, leaving the cryptocurrency industry in a precarious position.
Two Supreme Court cases, Loper vs. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. vs the U.S. Dept of Commerce, are poised to potentially redefine federal agencies’ discretion in interpreting laws, a change that could significantly impact the crypto industry’s regulatory landscape.
At the center of this debate is the principle of Chevron deference, established by the 1984 Chevron vs. Natural Resources Defense Council case.
This legal doctrine allows federal agencies considerable leeway in interpreting laws, provided their interpretation is reasonable and Congress has not explicitly legislated on the matter.
Critics argue this deference has allowed agencies like the SEC to overextend their regulatory reach, especially in rapidly evolving sectors like cryptocurrency.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has been vocal about the detrimental effects of vague regulations on the crypto industry, pushing for clearer legislation.
The ongoing discussion around the Chevron deference and its potential recalibration by the Supreme Court could empower the public and their elected representatives to demand more precise laws governing digital assets.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the cases of Loper vs.
READ MORE: Bitcoin Surges to Record Highs Against the Euro and Multiple Currencies
Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. vs the U.S. Dept of Commerce could narrow the SEC’s interpretative authority, possibly aligning the regulation of cryptocurrencies more closely with Congressional intent.
Attorney Jeremy Hogan, known for his coverage of the Ripple vs. SEC case, highlights the significance of these cases for the crypto industry, suggesting that a ruling against Chevron deference could positively influence major litigation involving digital assets and the SEC.
However, Hogan also notes that the direct impact on the crypto industry might be limited since the SEC primarily relies on the Howey test for regulatory authority over digital assets.
Nonetheless, any mention of cryptocurrencies in the Supreme Court’s ruling could bolster arguments against the SEC’s regulatory overreach.
As the crypto industry continues to evolve, it’s increasingly intersecting with broader regulatory concerns, emphasizing the importance of vigilant and proactive engagement with legal developments.
This dynamic underscores the critical role of legal interpretations and the potential for future cases to shape the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in the U.S.
American business intelligence and cloud-based services firm MicroStrategy is mulling investing in Ethereum, sources told Crypto Intelligence News on Wednesday.
New Ethereum holdings would be in addition to MicroStrategy’s impressive Bitcoin holdings, and will not in any way impact their continued accumulation of BTC, a person familiar with the matter emphasised.
Crypto Intelligence News has approached MicroStrategy for comment, but has not received a response at the time of publishing this article.
These reports come after MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, its founder and current Executive Chairman, announced on Tuesday that it intends to raise $600 million through the sale of convertible debt in a private offering.
The purpose behind this significant financial move is to further increase the company’s bitcoin holdings. Since the middle of 2020, MicroStrategy has aggressively been buying bitcoin, now holding approximately 193,000 tokens valued at over $13 billion, based on the current bitcoin price of $67,500.
The decision to issue convertible debt comes at a time when MicroStrategy’s stock has seen substantial growth, with its value almost doubling in 2024. This includes a notable 24% rise in just one day’s trading session. However, in early trading on Tuesday, the company’s shares experienced a 6% drop.
This strategy reflects MicroStrategy’s ongoing commitment to bitcoin as a central component of its investment approach, leveraging the recent strong performance of its stock to finance further acquisitions of the cryptocurrency.