Latest Updates
Turkey’s Central Bank Bans Use of Crypto For Payments
- The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey will also prevent payment providers from providing fiat onramps for crypto exchanges.
- Citizens who exclusively use payment providers as fiat-to-crypto gateways now have two weeks to clear their balances.
Latest Updates
Binance Chain Burns $595 Million Worth of BNB
- Binance burned 1,099,888 BNB, reducing the total supply of the token to 169,423,937 BNB.
- This is the highest-ever burn in terms of dollar-value, as BNB has seen its price increase 1,581% during Q1 2021.
Flow Blockchain Launches Test Environment For Smart Contracts
- Flow Playground is a web-based, interactive testnet that enables developers to write and run smart contracts on Flow.
- The company also introduced a new programming language called Cadence set to make app development simpler.
Societe Generale Issues Security Token on Tezos
- The bank issued a €5 million Euro Medium-Term Note (EMNT), a type of fixed debt security that expires in 5 to 10 years.
- The transaction is a key step in launching the bank's enterprise-focused crypto arm in 2022.
OpenEthereum Experiencing Sync Issues Amid Berlin Upgrade
- Shortly after the Berlin upgrade was activated, the Ethereum software client malfunctioned, and is now stuck on block 12,244,294.
- Popular crypto companies, such as Coinbase and Ledger, are now experiencing issues with their ETH and ETC-20 services.
1inch Network Optimized For The Berlin Hard Fork
- 1inch optimized its smart contracts to avoid suffering from increased costs brought on by the Berlin hard fork.
- One of the EIPs incorporated in the fork could triple the cost for swapping tokens on DEXs.
GMO Trust Selects Zero Hash For Yen-Backed Stablecoin Settlement
- Zero Hash's settlement network will now support GMO Trust's dollar and yen backed stablecoins, GYEN and ZUSD.
- The partnership aims to eliminate the typical bottlenecks for cross-border JPY transfers and settlements.
BitPay Joins The Crypto Open Patent Alliance
- BitPay, a leading provider of crypto payment services, has joined the alliance to share its open-source projects.
- COPA is focused on removing patents to encourage crypto development and adoption.
ECB Releases Results From CBDC Public Consultation
- The European Central Bank received over 8,200 responses on its digital euro public consultation, 94% of which were from private citizens.
- The top priority for 43% of citizens and professionals who responded was for their payments to remain private.
Editors' Picks
Biden Administration Worried About China’s CBDC
- The Treasury, State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council are researching China's digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) system.
- Officials are not worried about short-term impacts the digital yuan could have, but are weary of the potential long-term effects on the U.S. dollar.
Visa to Settle Payments in USDC on Ethereum
- Crypto.com will be the first company allowed to manage its Visa card business entirely in the USDC stablecoin.
- The new USDC settlements platform will be made available to other Visa crypto partners "later this year".
Layer 2 Platform Arbitrum Announces V4 Testnet
- The V4 testnet is Arbitrum's topmost mainnet release candidate.
- Once launched, V4 will simplify rollups, upgrade the node software, and reduce the cost of L1 transfers.
China Proposes Global Rules For CBDCs, Expands Digital Yuan Trials
- A representative of the PBoC has proposed synchronizing CBDC fund flows around the world, as to assist regulators in monitoring the transactions for compliance.
- Chinese citizens can now apply for a digital yuan wallet with one of the six state owned banks in Shanghai and Beijing.
Paysafe Partners With Coinbase to Bring Skrill Wallet to U.S. Customers
- Through its integration with Coinbase, Skrill will enable its users to not only buy crypto with U.S. dollars, but also with Bitcoin.
- The wallet will be launched in a phased roll-out, with its web version being available immediately, while its mobile app will be released in April.
Guides
How to Leverage Yield Farming on Alpha Homora – The Simple Guide
- Learn how Alpha Homora works, how to open a leveraged position and earn more with the same amount of assets, and how to manage your positions.
- We also explain how to choose a pool to leverage, the rules of leveraging on the platform, and how to calculate possible scenarios.
How to Farm QUICK on QuickSwap – The Simple Guide
- This article will teach you how to take advantage of one of the most lucrative liquidity mining programs on the market right now, while saving money on transaction fees.
- We will take you through the strange but fascinating world of multiple network bridges and AMM quirks so you can have a seamless experience using the Layer-2 based exchange.
How to Optimise APY For Liquidity Mining Rewards
- Users tend to blindly trust the APY calculations of the liquidity mining programs, despite the fact that they are typically flawed.
- Knowing how compound interest works, how often to sell given your stake, and how to hunt for low gas fees are all invaluable skills we will look at.
How to Buy Cryptocurrency – The Simple Guide
- Learn how to buy cryptocurrency on four of the most prestigious crypto trading platforms in the world.
- To make an informed decision, you need to research what each platform offers, i.e., supported assets and countries, fees, and payment methods.
How to Farm BNT on Bancor – The Simple Guide
- Bancor's liquidity mining program offers lucrative APYs, impermanent loss protection, and single-sided exposure.
- We explain how Bancor works, how its liquidity mining program works, and how to farm BNT rewards on the platform.
Opinion
The Rise of Bancor
- The exchange was the first to prove the feasibility of AMM, but has since struggled to compete with other DeFi platforms.
- However, through the introduction of several smart features and innovations, notably single-sided exposure, Bancor is surging among the DeFi ranks.
The Blockchain-Enabled Elections Of The Future
- We now have the technology to immutably store and process data in a trustless environment, yet we still resort to paper ballots as the fundamental ingredient for elections.
- In a blockchain-enabled future, voting will be as simple as withdrawing money from an ATM, and processing election results will be finished in minutes.
Opinion: How Will Crypto Markets React To The Second Wave Of COVID-19?
- As several countries have already entered the second period of lockdown, many parts of the world are bracing for a long winter of isolation.
- How will this affect crypto markets this time around, and how will it differ from the first lockdown?
Opinion: Why The $100,000 Harvest Finance Bounty Is Absurd
- Only if we put ourselves in the shoes of the attacker can we find a possible angle of negotiation in a bid to recover more from the 13 million USDC and 11 million USDT that were profited from the arbitrage scheme.
- Although the Harvest Finance team has acted responsibly in the face of an unprecedented-to-the-project crisis, their bounty reward initiative is naive.
Opinion: The Impact Of PayPal Entering The Crypto Market
- PayPal will expose cryptocurrency access to its 346 million user base and 26 million merchants worldwide.
- The news is a stamp of mainstream approval on cryptocurrency, but doesn't come without its downsides, including asset encapsulation and centralization, the latter seen by many as the enemy of what Bitcoin stands for.
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In Other News
Coinbase Grants Employees 100 Shares Ahead of Public Listing
- According to the reference price set by Nasdaq, the value of share options given to employees could reach $25,000.
- COIN trading is set to begin on 14 April.
South Korea’s Shinhan Bank Joins Hedera Governing Council
- The South Korean bank has been providing DLT-based services, such as policy loans, pension funds, and interest rate swap deals, since 2017.
- Other members of Hedera's governing council include organizations such as Google, IBM, LG Electronics and Tata Communications.
Optimism Mainnet Upgrade to Erase Transaction History
- The Optimism team decided to pursue a "regenesis" of the network to prepare for the July mainnet launch.
- The upgrade will not affect funds, but will remove all transaction history before the regenesis.
ConsenSys Raises $65M From J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, Others
- Financial services firm UBS, as well as blockchain-focused firms Protocol Labs, Maker Foundation and Alameda Research also participated in the funding round.
- The funds will help the firm expand its enterprise blockchain solutions centered around DeFi and Web3.
Gemini Exchange Integrates ComplyAdvantage AML Solutions
- Gemini will utilize ComplyAdvantage's risk management solutions to automate customer onboarding.
- The integration is a result of Gemini's rapid customer growth and the need for more efficient review processes.
EIB to Issue Bonds Using Blockchain Technology
- The European Investment Bank has hired Goldman Sachs, Banco Santander and Société Générale to look into bonds issued on a blockchain.
- An initial investor meeting is reportedly set to start on 15 April.
Fantom Becomes Pilot Partner of Orion Protocol’s Wallet Swap SDK
- The Fantom network will become the latest blockchain to be integrated into Orion's protocol.
- FTM token holders will be able to access Orion's cross-chain liquidity directly from their wallets sometime in the third quarter of 2021.
Horizon Protocol IFO Launching on PancakeSwap
- Horizon will allocate 10% of the HZN supply for the sale, which is set to take place on 15 April.
- To participate in the IFO, users need to provide CAKE-BNB liquidity on PancakeSwap.
Binance Launches Stock Token Trading
- Stock tokens will lower the barrier of entry for traditional stock trading and qualify holders for capital returns on the underlying equity.
- The first stock token to launch will be of Tesla (TSLA).
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Binance Chain Burns $595 Million Worth of BNB
- Binance burned 1,099,888 BNB, reducing the total supply of the token to 169,423,937 BNB.
- This is the highest-ever burn in terms of dollar-value, as BNB has seen its price increase 1,581% during Q1 2021.
Societe Generale Issues Security Token on Tezos
- The bank issued a €5 million Euro Medium-Term Note (EMNT), a type of fixed debt security that expires in 5 to 10 years.
- The transaction is a key step in launching the bank's enterprise-focused crypto arm in 2022.
OpenEthereum Experiencing Sync Issues Amid Berlin Upgrade
- Shortly after the Berlin upgrade was activated, the Ethereum software client malfunctioned, and is now stuck on block 12,244,294.
- Popular crypto companies, such as Coinbase and Ledger, are now experiencing issues with their ETH and ETC-20 services.
1inch Network Optimized For The Berlin Hard Fork
- 1inch optimized its smart contracts to avoid suffering from increased costs brought on by the Berlin hard fork.
- One of the EIPs incorporated in the fork could triple the cost for swapping tokens on DEXs.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Societe Generale Issues Security Token on Tezos
- The bank issued a €5 million Euro Medium-Term Note (EMNT), a type of fixed debt security that expires in 5 to 10 years.
- The transaction is a key step in launching the bank's enterprise-focused crypto arm in 2022.
GMO Trust Selects Zero Hash For Yen-Backed Stablecoin Settlement
- Zero Hash's settlement network will now support GMO Trust's dollar and yen backed stablecoins, GYEN and ZUSD.
- The partnership aims to eliminate the typical bottlenecks for cross-border JPY transfers and settlements.
Coinbase Grants Employees 100 Shares Ahead of Public Listing
- According to the reference price set by Nasdaq, the value of share options given to employees could reach $25,000.
- COIN trading is set to begin on 14 April.
ConsenSys Raises $65M From J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, Others
- Financial services firm UBS, as well as blockchain-focused firms Protocol Labs, Maker Foundation and Alameda Research also participated in the funding round.
- The funds will help the firm expand its enterprise blockchain solutions centered around DeFi and Web3.
Fantom Becomes Pilot Partner of Orion Protocol’s Wallet Swap SDK
- The Fantom network will become the latest blockchain to be integrated into Orion's protocol.
- FTM token holders will be able to access Orion's cross-chain liquidity directly from their wallets sometime in the third quarter of 2021.
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Turkey’s Central Bank Bans Use of Crypto For Payments
- The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey will also prevent payment providers from providing fiat onramps for crypto exchanges.
- Citizens who exclusively use payment providers as fiat-to-crypto gateways now have two weeks to clear their balances.
Biden Administration Worried About China’s CBDC
- The Treasury, State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council are researching China's digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) system.
- Officials are not worried about short-term impacts the digital yuan could have, but are weary of the potential long-term effects on the U.S. dollar.
U.K. FCA Adds Crypto Firms to Crime Reporting List
- The FCA now requires "all crypto asset exchange providers and custodian wallet providers" to submit annual financial crime reports.
- The move follows the regulator's plan to increase its regulatory oversight in the crypto space, which began in January 2020.
Canadian Securities Regulator Outlines New Rules For Crypto Trading Platforms
- The new regulation is set to foster innovation while protecting investors.
- Crypto trading platforms that fail to initiate the new registration process by 19 April could face enforcement action.
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CRYPTOCURRENCY
1inch Network Optimized For The Berlin Hard Fork
- 1inch optimized its smart contracts to avoid suffering from increased costs brought on by the Berlin hard fork.
- One of the EIPs incorporated in the fork could triple the cost for swapping tokens on DEXs.
Horizon Protocol IFO Launching on PancakeSwap
- Horizon will allocate 10% of the HZN supply for the sale, which is set to take place on 15 April.
- To participate in the IFO, users need to provide CAKE-BNB liquidity on PancakeSwap.
CipherTrace Launches DeFi Compliance Tool
- Called DeFi Compli, the new tool is targeted at helping DeFi projects be compliant with OFAC, a U.S. office responsible for enforcing economic sanctions.
- The new tool uses an oracle on Chainlink to spot crypto wallet addresses on OFAC's sanctions list, and prevent DeFi projects and DEXs from interacting with them.
1inch Network Optimized For The Berlin Hard Fork
- 1inch optimized its smart contracts to avoid suffering from increased costs brought on by the Berlin hard fork.
- One of the EIPs incorporated in the fork could triple the cost for swapping tokens on DEXs.
Coinbase Grants Employees 100 Shares Ahead of Public Listing
- According to the reference price set by Nasdaq, the value of share options given to employees could reach $25,000.
- COIN trading is set to begin on 14 April.
Gemini Exchange Integrates ComplyAdvantage AML Solutions
- Gemini will utilize ComplyAdvantage's risk management solutions to automate customer onboarding.
- The integration is a result of Gemini's rapid customer growth and the need for more efficient review processes.
GMO Trust Selects Zero Hash For Yen-Backed Stablecoin Settlement
- Zero Hash's settlement network will now support GMO Trust's dollar and yen backed stablecoins, GYEN and ZUSD.
- The partnership aims to eliminate the typical bottlenecks for cross-border JPY transfers and settlements.
Tether to Launch on Polkadot, Kusama
- USDT will first become available on the Kusama network, which allows developers to test new apps and blockchains before launching them on Polkadot.
- Once launched, USDT will become the "first ever" stablecoin to be made available on the Polkadot's multi-chain network.
Circle Enables Seamless International Payments Using USDC
- Circle builds upon the existing financial system by allowing its users to interact with stablecoins.
- The platform uses USDC to transfer value, and settles the transactions in fiat currencies.
Fantom Becomes Pilot Partner of Orion Protocol’s Wallet Swap SDK
- The Fantom network will become the latest blockchain to be integrated into Orion's protocol.
- FTM token holders will be able to access Orion's cross-chain liquidity directly from their wallets sometime in the third quarter of 2021.
MetaMask Launches Institutional Offering
- MetaMask Institutional (MMI) has been in trial through the Early Adopter program since December 2020.
- By integrating with custodian Curv, MMI provides features that solve most institutional needs when it comes to cryptocurrencies.
Ledger Live Introduces Floating Swap Rates
- The new option will ensure lower fees when swapping assets through the Ledger Live app.
- Floating swaps also increase the swap limit from $50,000 to $5 million per transaction.
Goldman Sachs Exploring Offering BTC to Wealthy Clients
- Goldman's private wealth management unit clients with at least $25 million to invest could get access to Bitcoin funds.
- Increased demand from clients has led the bank to consider adding the new product.
Fidelity Named Custodian of Silvergate’s BTC Collateralized Loans
- The BTC collateralized loans are funded through the Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN).
- The collateral will be held by Fidelity Digital in its secure cold storage.
Fidelity Seeks SEC Approval to Launch Bitcoin ETF
- The "Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust" ETF will follow the digital assets performance through Fidelity's Bitcoin Index PR.
- The fund will be managed by Fidelity affiliates, which will serve as its sponsors, administrators, custodians and trustees.
OpenEthereum Experiencing Sync Issues Amid Berlin Upgrade
- Shortly after the Berlin upgrade was activated, the Ethereum software client malfunctioned, and is now stuck on block 12,244,294.
- Popular crypto companies, such as Coinbase and Ledger, are now experiencing issues with their ETH and ETC-20 services.
1inch Network Optimized For The Berlin Hard Fork
- 1inch optimized its smart contracts to avoid suffering from increased costs brought on by the Berlin hard fork.
- One of the EIPs incorporated in the fork could triple the cost for swapping tokens on DEXs.
Optimism Mainnet Upgrade to Erase Transaction History
- The Optimism team decided to pursue a "regenesis" of the network to prepare for the July mainnet launch.
- The upgrade will not affect funds, but will remove all transaction history before the regenesis.
Christie’s to Auction Off a Set of CryptoPunk NFTs
- Christie's estimates the value of the rate set between $7 million and $9 million.
- The set will be auctioned off at the 21st Century Evening Sale on 13 May, in New York.
Teller Finance Announces Mainnet Launch With Fortune Teller NFT Sale
- The NFTs will be used to provide liquidity to the protocol.
- Users that stake their NFTs will be able to earn APYs.
NFT Marketplace OpenSea Raises $23M in Series A
- Angel investors such as Ron Conway, Mark Cuban, Tim Ferriss, Belinda Johnson, Naval Ravikant, Ben Silberman, and others also participated in the funding round.
- a16z said OpenSea is becoming the Amazon of NFTs by bringing "all platforms together and eases transactions among all parties".
UMA Protocol Launches Call Options
- UMA’s new infrastructure allows users to build a decentralized call option with any underlying asset.
- UMA's UMAc35-0421 call option token expires on 30 April and has a strike price of $35.
PSG’s Fan Token Doubles in Value After Team Secures Champions League Quarter-Finals
- Blockchain platform Chiliz saw record-breaking trading volume with its Fan Tokens.
- The company plans on capturing more of the sports market with an expansion to the United States.
Chainlink Awards Grant For xDai Integration
- Protofire will use the grant for a native integration of Chainlink's oracle technology into xDai Chain.
- Being both a validator and core developer of the xDai technology stack made the firm an excellent candidate for the grant.
Bitcoin.com Will Host the Ideaology IEO
- The Ideaology crowdsale will be the second one hosted by exchange.bitcoin.com, after the successful IEO of Atari's very own ATRI token last year.
- The IDEA token will be native to a platform for freelance workers, with an integrated digital marketplace and an Idea launch-pad.