Business
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Business
Singapore’s financial watchdog considers further restrictions on crypto
The Monetary Authority of Singapore, or MAS, has been “carefully considering” adding restrictions that could affect how retail investors handle crypto, according to one of the government’s senior ministers. According to parliamentary records published on Monday, Singapore senior minister and MAS chair Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the financial watchdog may consider “placing limits on retail participation” for crypto investors as well as introducing rules on the use of leverage for crypto transactions. Shanmugaratnam also called for regulatory clarity among financial regulators around the world, “given the borderless nature of cryptocurrency markets.” In January, the MAS barred crypto service providers from advertising or marketing in public spaces, and was behind regulations to shut down cr...
Celsius pays down 143M in DAI loans since July 1
Celsius (CEL) has repaid a substantial amount of its outstanding debt to Maker (MKR) protocol since the beginning of the month, signaling that the troubled crypto lending platform was trying to stave off a complete collapse amid credible rumors of insolvency. Since July 1, Celsius has repaid $142.8 million worth of Dai (DAI) stablecoins across four separate transactions, according to data from DeFi Explorer. The crypto lender still has $82 million in outstanding debt owed to Maker. Out of $1.8 billion in lifetime investments, the firm’s losses currently stand at $667.2 million. With the loan repayments, Celsius’ liquidation price on its Wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC) loan has dropped to $4,966.99 Bitcoin (BTC). The liquidation price reportedly fell by nearly half since Celsius posted a...
ECB officials prepare for ‘harmonization’ of crypto regulations: Report
The European Central Bank, or ECB, will reportedly be preparing to implement a new law by warning European Union member states about the necessity of harmonizing regulations for crypto. According to a Sunday report from the Financial Times, the ECB was concerned about possible regulatory overlap between respective central banks in the EU and crypto companies as officials prepare to implement the Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA, framework. The European Parliament, European Commission, and European Council reached an agreement on June 30 to bring crypto issuers and service providers within their jurisdictional control under a single regulatory framework. Regulators from 19 EU member states will reportedly attend a supervisory board meeting in July to discuss MiCA and its possible implement...
Amber Heard Seeks to Throw Out Verdict in Johnny Depp Defamation Trial
Amber Heard’s lawyers have asked a judge to throw out the $10.35 million verdict against her in the defamation case filed by ex-husband Johnny Depp, arguing that the verdict was not supported by the evidence and that one of the jurors may not have been properly vetted by the court. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In post-trial motions filed Friday (July 1), Heard’s attorneys call the jury’s June 1 award of $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages to Depp “excessive” and “indefensible.” They ask the judge to set aside the verdict and dismiss Depp’s lawsuit or order a new trial. Immediately after the verdict, the judge reduced the compensatory damages to $350,000 under a state cap. Depp sued Heard for libel in Fairfa...
Women could help drive Bitcoin to $250k, saysTim Draper
Crypto continues to see greater adoption around the world, with a major shift likely to come after the latest market downturn. Some of the upside impetus could actually be triggered from a group of market participants not currently a big part of the space – women. Survey reports have shown that women currently make up only a small percentage of investors in crypto. For instance, an CNBC survey in August last year revealed that male involvement in crypto was more than double that of women – 16% for men crypto compared to 7% for women. The gap is also pretty much the same in the Exchange-Traded Funds market, statistics showing a 14%:7% ration in favor of men. So, what happens if the crypto space saw increased adoption by women? According to venture capitalist Tim Draper, it would...
Meta signals closure of Novi wallet after a 10-month pilot
Meta’s first foray into the world of cryptocurrencies is set to end in September with the closure of its Novi wallet pilot project. Novi’s website landing page has been revamped to inform pilot users that the platform will be decommissioned on September 1. This ends an eight-month-long pilot project that saw users based in the United States and Guatemala participate in a trial of the cryptocurrency-powered payment platform. Users are directed to withdraw the remaining funds from their respective Novi wallets to their linked bank accounts. Guatemalan users can also withdraw holdings in cash at a select site in Guatemala City. Novi users are also encouraged to download their account information before the closure date, including transactions and activity on their accounts. From Sept. 1, user...
Meta signals closure of Novi wallet after a 10-month pilot
Meta’s first foray into the world of cryptocurrencies is set to end in September with the closure of its Novi wallet pilot project. Novi’s website landing page has been revamped to inform pilot users that the platform will be decommissioned on September 1. This ends an eight-month-long pilot project that saw users based in the United States and Guatemala participate in a trial of the cryptocurrency-powered payment platform. Users are directed to withdraw the remaining funds from their respective Novi wallets to their linked bank accounts. Guatemalan users can also withdraw holdings in cash at a select site in Guatemala City. Novi users are also encouraged to download their account information before the closure date, including transactions and activity on their accounts. From Sept. 1, user...
Hodlers and whales: Who owns the most Bitcoin in 2022?
One of the main features of the Bitcoin blockchain is its transparency. Bitcoin lets anyone see every transaction that has ever been made on its network and check the balance of every address out there. Because of this transparency, we’re able to know who owns the most Bitcoin (BTC) in 2022. It’s important to look at who owns the most BTC, as the cryptocurrency’s supply is limited to 21 million coins. In February, Kim Grauer, director of research at blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis, told Cointelegraph that an estimated 3.7 million BTC have been lost, effectively deflating the cryptocurrency’s circulating supply. Experts estimate that as Bitcoin’s adoption rises, demand for it will skyrocket. As 3.7 million coins are estimated to be lost and a significant amount is being held on-chain ...
Hodlers and whales: Who owns the most Bitcoin in 2022?
One of the main features of the Bitcoin blockchain is its transparency. Bitcoin lets anyone see every transaction that has ever been made on its network and check the balance of every address out there. Because of this transparency, we’re able to know who owns the most Bitcoin (BTC) in 2022. It’s important to look at who owns the most BTC, as the cryptocurrency’s supply is limited to 21 million coins. In February, Kim Grauer, director of research at blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis, told Cointelegraph that an estimated 3.7 million BTC have been lost, effectively deflating the cryptocurrency’s circulating supply. Experts estimate that as Bitcoin’s adoption rises, demand for it will skyrocket. As 3.7 million coins are estimated to be lost and a significant amount is being held on-chain ...
The UK ‘Bitcoin Adventure’ shows BTC is a family affair
Bitcoin (BTC) is for everyone: toddlers, kids, hard rockers and even racing pigs. At the “Bitcoin Adventure” held in Avon Valley, near Bristol, Bitcoiners and hobbyists shared their knowledge, quips and personal journeys down the Bitcoin rabbit hole despite the predictably wet United Kingdom weather. Better still, Bitcoin’s “toxic maximalism” was MIA. pic.twitter.com/7IOtpYuSDh — The Bitcoin Adventure (@TheBTCAdventure) July 3, 2022 A world-first for a Bitcoin meetup, the “Adventure” took place at a wildlife park. So while some of the U.K.’s household name Bitcoiners headlined the main stage, the 250 attendees who bought tickets, (payment in BTC, naturally) could also play with the park’s furry Bitcoiner mascots: petting goats, cuddling rabbits and specta...
The UK ‘Bitcoin Adventure’ shows BTC is a family affair
Bitcoin (BTC) is for everyone: toddlers, kids, hard rockers and even racing pigs. At the “Bitcoin Adventure” held in Avon Valley, near Bristol, Bitcoiners and hobbyists shared their knowledge, quips and personal journeys down the Bitcoin rabbit hole despite the predictably wet United Kingdom weather. Better still, Bitcoin’s “toxic maximalism” was MIA. pic.twitter.com/7IOtpYuSDh — The Bitcoin Adventure (@TheBTCAdventure) July 3, 2022 A world-first for a Bitcoin meetup, the “Adventure” took place at a wildlife park. So while some of the U.K.’s household name Bitcoiners headlined the main stage, the 250 attendees who bought tickets, (payment in BTC, naturally) could also play with the park’s furry Bitcoiner mascots: petting goats, cuddling rabbits and specta...
Does the Metaverse need blockchain to ensure widespread adoption?
Many assume, too, that blockchain technology will play a key role in the Metaverse, along with other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR). But, is the use of blockchain really a foregone conclusion? Stanford University professor Jeremy Bailenson recently moderated a World Economic Forum panel with some of the world’s leading thinkers of the Metaverse and blockchain. “The first question posed to the panel was ‘Do we need the blockchain for the metaverse?’” Bailenson, founder of Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, recounted to Cointelegraph. “The consensus was that the Metaverse could exist without blockchain.” As an example, Bailenson offered up metaverse pioneer Second Life, founded in 2003, which has 70 million current registered accoun...
