crypto blog
Crypto exchange Kraken’s new NFT marketplace to issue loans
Kraken founder and CEO Jesse Powell recently shared in an interview with Bloomberg News that the crypto exchange will launch a nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace that will enable users to borrow funds against their NFTs. Powell explained that the company plans to enter the NFT space in early 2022 and hopes to add the feature to determine the liquidation value of an NFT and if it can be put up as collateral for a loan. “If you deposit a CryptoPunk on Kraken, we want to be able to reflect the value of that in your account,” said Powell. “And if you want to borrow funds against that.” The value of NFTs, however, is all over the spectrum and only a small percentage of token owners hold a digital collectible valued for as much as a CryptoPunk, whose floor price is 66.9 ...
New to crypto trading? Here are 5 tips on how to start 2022 on the right foot
It doesn’t matter how experienced you are at trading because nothing can be done to protect a person against the might of cryptocurrencies’ price swings. Currently, Bitcoin’s (BTC) volatility, the standard measure for daily fluctuations, stands at 64% annualized. As a comparison, the same metric for the S&P 500 stands at 17%, while the volatility spec for WTI crude oil is at 54%. However, it is possible to avoid the psychological impact of an unexpected 25% intraday price swing by following five basic rules. Fortunately, these tactics do not require advanced tools or large sums of money to hold through periods of high volatility. Plan to refrain from withdrawing money in less than 2 years Let’s assume that you’ve got $5,000 to invest, but there’s a good possibility that you might need ...
Law Decoded: Three regulatory trends of 2021, Dec. 20–27
It is that time of the year: Singular events must be abandoned in favor of end-of-year, big-picture narratives and yearly lessons learned. As many governments across the globe finally had to face the rapidly mainstreaming realm of digital finance, the year is packed with developments in crypto policy and regulation that are impossible to fit into a neat little summary. However, it is possible to try and distill several major trends that have come to the fore during the past 12 months, and that will keep shaping the relationship among societies, state power and the crypto space as we roll into 2022. Below is the concise version of the latest “Law Decoded” newsletter. For the full breakdown of policy developments over the last week, register for the full newsletter below. U.S. Congress notic...
Concerts in the Metaverse could lead to a new wave of adoption
Colin Fitzpatrick is a Dubliner based in Dubai who turned a bad time during quarantine into a business that promises to bring your favorite artists to a metaverse near you. His company Animal Concerts, which launches in January, is in the process of signing world-class artists to perform in the decentralized worlds of the Metaverse. Among the first to get the Animal Concerts treatment was Grammy-winning rapper Future, who performed at an in-person Animal Concerts-themed Halloween party in Miami, which was filmed in such a way that it can later be broadcast in the Metaverse. In this startling new land, there are no COVID restrictions nor travel bans, and artists can sell NFT memorabilia to fans with little overhead, investment or middlemen. Virtual concerts have already begun to appea...
Price analysis 12/27: BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, ADA, XRP, LUNA, AVAX, DOT, DOGE
Bitcoin (BTC) and most major altcoins have bounced off their immediate support levels, indicating that the sentiment is improving and traders are buying on minor dips. Billionaire and Mexico’s third-richest person Ricardo Salinas Pliego said in his Christmas and New Year message to stay away from fiat money, terming it as “fake money made of paper lies.” Instead, he advised people to “invest in Bitcoin.” Veteran trader Peter Brandt warned that “chart pattern breakouts should be viewed with great suspicion” during the thinly traded holiday period in the last half of December. Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360 Analysts remain bullish for 2022. Crypto analyst and pseudonymous Twitter user DecodeJar believes that Bitcoin could surpass $100,000 and reach the conservative ...
How to store crypto in 2022, explained
Cryptocurrency holders can seek out wallets that offer the best of security, functionality and usability –– features that cater to any set of users. Users must be careful to consider factors including security, functionality and ease of use when determining where they will keep their funds. Although this typically means a choice between hot or cold storage, newer wallet releases give users many of these features within a single offering. The HitBTC team has since released their own wallet, branded by its security and clean interface, with the driving force to ensure that cryptocurrencies are universally accessible. The wallet itself is designed for anyone to use, whether it’s a first-time cryptocurrency user or an avid investor. It offers diverse functionality...
Mexican billionaire says ‘buy Bitcoin’ in New Year message
Mexico’s third-richest person sent out a heart-warming New Year message to Bitcoin (BTC) enthusiasts on Christmas Eve. Ricardo Salinas Pliego recommended moving away from fiat money and buying Bitcoin in a two-minute festive video. He gives three pieces of advice to his 957,200 followers on Twitter as part of his Christmas and New Year message before asking his followers to retweet and share: “Steer clear of fiat money. Whether it’s the Dollar, the Euro, or the Yen –it’s all the same. It’s fake money made of paper lies. Central banks are producing more than ever.” He pauses before pointing to the camera to say, “Invest in Bitcoin!” In front of a golden Christmas tree, the other two “presents” of advice Salinas left his followers were to let go of jealousy and to believe in oneself, p...
Metaswap Gas incommunicado as experts link MGAS price drop to rug pull
Blockchain security company PeckShield has alerted investors of a possible rug pull event after identifying a massive 46.99% price drop on MetaSwap’s MGAS token. The MetaSwap protocol allows nonfungible token (NFT) swaps over the Ethereum, Binance and Polygon blockchains. Following the unexpected price drop, all official accounts linked with Metaswap Gas — including Twitter, Instagram and Medium — were removed, supporting PeckShield’s claim of a rug pull. #RugPull PeckShield has detected that @MetaSwapMGAS soft-rugged, the stolen funds (1,100 BNB) are transfered to @TornadoCash (#BSC). DO NOT STAKE in this contract and if you’ve approved it, REVOKE https://t.co/b7sSsMz3ZE — PeckShield Inc. (@peckshield) December 27, 2021 According to PeckShield, 1,100 BNB tokens worth almost $602,000...
Iran halts authorized crypto mining to save energy for winter
Amid Iran’s energy consumption increasing during the winter, local energy authorities have decided to halt operations of authorized cryptocurrency mining centers. Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, chairman of the board and managing director of Iran Grid Management Company (Tavanir), announced that Iran is shutting down crypto mining centers again to reduce liquid fuel consumption in power plants amid decreasing temperatures. Mashhadi said that Iranian authorities took this action to reduce energy consumption last month, The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported on Saturday. “The Energy Ministry has been implementing measures since last month to reduce the use of liquid fuels in power plants, including cutting licensed crypto farms’ power supply, turning off lampposts in less risky are...
Binance gets green light from Canada and Bahrain
Binance is celebrating the new year with approvals from two different sides of the world. The crypto exchange has been granted an in-principle license by the Central Bank of Bahrain to operate as a crypto asset service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain. According to the announcement, the in-principle approval a first for a Binance entity in the Middle East and North Africa region. In a statement, Binance CEO CZ said that approval from national regulators is “essential to build trust in crypto and blockchain and help further improve mass adoption.” When it comes to licensing, it is “a matter of formalities,'” according to Abdulkarim Haji, director for licensing at the country’s central bank. He highlighted Bahrain as the ideal location for Binance to establish...
Analysts say 2022 will be ‘defined by agility and cost-efficiency’ instead of ‘blockchain purity’
The entire crypto market took great strides toward mass adoption in 2021 and now that the year is nearly complete, analysts are setting their price targets for 2022. Many analysts supported calls for a $100,000 (BTC) price before the end of 2021 and although this seems unlikely, most investors expect the key price level to be tackled before Q2 of 2022. Here’s a look at some of the Bitcoin price predictions analysts are expecting in 2022. Bitcoin is still on track to surpass $100,000 Analysts has been more reticent in providing off the cuff Bitcoin predictions ever since PlanB’s stock-to-flow model incorrectly predicted a $98,000 BTC price by the end of November, even though the model had been spot on from August through October. While some traders are now questioning the validity of ...
6 Questions for Cristina Dolan of InsideChains
We ask the buidlers in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for their thoughts on the industry… and throw in a few random zingers to keep them on their toes! This week, our 6 Questions go to Cristina Dolan, co-founder and chief operating officer of InsureX Technologies, an alternative insurance marketplace based on blockchain, and CEO of InsideChains, which builds large consortia and marketplaces with economic token layers to facilitate the global exchange of data and transactions. Cristina is an engineer, entrepreneur and author who has successfully embraced advanced technologies to build and grow disruptive businesses throughout her career in media, telecommunications, e-commerce and, more recently, fintech. As an early adopter of crypto and blockchain technologies, she co-founded an...
