Category: Cryptocurrency

Digital-asset prime brokerage firm FalconX has acquired Arbelos Markets, a derivatives startup launched in 2023 by two crypto industry veterans. Terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed. Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday that the transaction was expected to be financed through a mix of cash and FalconX stock, according to people familiar with the deal, who…

KuCoin is upgrading its systems to simplify crypto payments for users worldwide. This week, the FIU-registered exchange introduced KuCoin Pay, a payment solution enabling merchants to accept cryptocurrency for goods and services. The feature aims to encourage merchants to adopt crypto transactions and allow buyers to use their holdings for everyday purchases. KuCoin claims it…

In recent years, rising crime in the crypto space has drawn the attention of the FBI and other global law enforcement agencies. To aid in tracking laundered crypto funds, Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs established T3, a specialized financial crime unit aimed at curbing illicit activities. In a recent update, Tron confirmed that T3 has…

CSharpCorner, a global platform for software developers, has embraced Web3 technology to provide authentic verification for job seekers in the IT industry. Earlier this week, the platform launched a new Certification Programme, empowering developers to upskill in advanced technologies and earn credentials that are permanently verified and tamper-proof. These blockchain-issued certifications ensure seamless authenticity, simplifying…

The UK is intensifying oversight of cryptocurrency-related advertisements. To align with the country’s crypto advertising regulations, Google is updating its advertising policies this month. UK authorities aim to ensure that only crypto firms compliant with its legal and marketing standards can advertise to its citizens. Although the crypto sector remains in its early stages, it…

Until recently, banks watched from the sidelines with envy as stablecoin market leader Tether Holdings boasted of billions in profits. Now they want in. Earlier this year, Societe Generale – Forge made its Euro-backed stablecoin — which basically represents fiat on a blockchain ledger — available to retail investors. Financial group Oddo BHF SCA is…

The overall crypto price chart indicated a slowed market momentum on Tuesday, December 31. After marking a stellar December with a new all-time high of over $108,000 (roughly Rs. 92.4 lakh), Bitcoin’s trading value on Tuesday was at $92,458 (roughly Rs. 79.13 lakh) on international exchanges. Data by CoinMarketCap showed that Bitcoin registered a loss…

Malaysia, which has been actively cracking down on illegal crypto operations, has issued a notice to the Bybit crypto exchange. The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has instructed Bybit to suspend its services in the country. According to an official SC statement, the Dubai-based exchange has been operating its digital asset exchange (DAX) unlawfully in Malaysia….

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Financial Stability Report for 2024 on December 30. In the report, the apex bank shared its observations around the emerging practice of tokenising assets on blockchains. While acknowledging that this practice is still in its early stages, the RBI flagged potential concerns, noting that asset tokenisation is…

Tether, the blockchain firm which issues the USDT stablecoin, has forayed into a new branch of Web3 before 2024 ends. The company has poured in $2 million (roughly Rs. 17 crore) into Arcanum Capital’s Emerging Technologies Fund II. Arcanum is a Web3-focussed asset management company that provides funding to emerging projects related to blockchain, cryptocurrency,…

Malicious crypto scammers have been found to be fishing for their victims posing as job recruiters online. Popular cyber investigator Taylor Monahan, who goes by the username @tayvano_, has posted an update to his 85,000 followers on X. As per the update, scammers are using recruiting platforms like LinkedIn to reach out to job seekers,…

MicroStrategy will be added to the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 Index, the exchange operator said on Friday, following a meteoric surge in the shares of the bitcoin buyer. The change comes into effect before the market opens on Dec. 23, Nasdaq said. Inclusion in the index typically boosts the stock’s price, as exchange-traded funds looking to replicate…

The cryptocurrency market chart displayed widespread losses on Friday, December 27, with most major cryptocurrencies facing declines. Bitcoin, the most prominent cryptocurrency, saw its value dip by approximately 2 percent on both domestic and international exchanges. According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin was trading at $96,223 (roughly Rs. 82 lakh) on international platforms. Meanwhile, on Indian exchanges…

Hong Kong is moving swiftly to regulate stablecoins, signalling their potential integration into the region’s financial systems. Regulators have drafted a ‘Stablecoins Bill’ that sets forth mandates and restrictions for stablecoin issuers and advertisers. The bill outlines the necessary steps to ensure consumer protection for individuals engaging with stablecoins—crypto assets pegged to reserved assets, such…

Police have arrested a 23-year-old MBBS student in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore for sending around Rs. 8 lakh of cyber fraud money to a gang of Chinese youths by converting it into cryptocurrency, an official said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajesh Kumar Tripathi said the accused, identified as Vikram Vishnoi…

Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Wednesday. Sanctions have complicated Russia’s trade with its major partners such as China or Turkey, as local banks are extremely cautious with Russia-related…

The crypto market is seeing record gains as Bitcoin’s upward momentum continues to create new benchmarks. Over the weekend, BTC spiked to its new all-time high, exceeding $106,000 (roughly Rs. 89.9 lakh). On Monday, the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency underwent some price correction. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $104,527 (roughly Rs….

The overall crypto market witnessed price correction across most cryptocurrencies over the last 24 hours. Bitcoin on Wednesday, December 18 registered a loss of 2.60 percent to trade at $103,740 (roughly Rs. 88 lakh) on foreign exchanges. Earlier in the day, Bitcoin had surged to a new all-time high of over $108,200 (roughly Rs. 91.8…

India, securing the top position on Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index for the second consecutive year in 2024, has earned widespread recognition for its vibrant and skilled community of Web3 developers. Jesse Pollak, a senior Coinbase official, shares this sentiment, describing Indian developers in the fields of crypto, DeFi, and blockchain applications as highly ‘sophisticated’…

Finnish telecom giant Nokia could be looking to deepen its presence in the Web3 space. The company has reportedly applied for a patent related to the encryption of digital assets, suggesting its intention to enter the blockchain arena with a focus on security. The patent, titled “Device Method and Computer Program to Improve Digital Assets…

As we enter the final week of 2024, most cryptocurrencies have registered gains on the price charts. Bitcoin showed a gain of over one percent over the last day on Monday, December 23. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at the price point of $95,661 (roughly Rs. 81.3 lakh) on global exchanges, showed…

US President-elect Donald Trump, who pledged during his campaign to position the country as the “crypto capital of the planet,” is already making strides toward fulfilling that promise ahead of taking office in January 2025. In his latest move, Trump has appointed Yale alumnus Bo Hines as the Executive Director of the newly-formed ‘Crypto Council,’…

Following Donald Trump’s win in the 47th US elections, the crypto industry has seen a rise in valuation, anticipating pro-crypto reforms in the coming months. Leveraging this wave of optimism, Ripple has launched its own stablecoin, RLUSD. The US-based fintech company behind the XRP cryptocurrency introduced RLUSD as a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US…

The overall crypto price chart saw major losses on Friday, December 20. Bitcoin registered a dip of 4.08 percent in the last 24 hours. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $97,100 (roughly Rs. 82.6 lakh) on foreign exchanges, showed CoinMarketCap. On Indian exchanges, meanwhile, Bitcoin reflected losses of up to over five…

Funds stolen by hacking cryptocurrency platforms surged 21 percent from a year ago to $2.2 billion (roughly Rs. 18,710) in 2024, a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis showed on Thursday. The hacking amount exceeded $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,502 crore) for the fourth straight year and the number of incidents rose to 303 from 282 in 2023, it said. Hackers had stolen $1.8 billion (roughly Rs. 15,302…

SOL price predictions remain bullish even in the middle of a market-wide sell-off following the move by the Federal Reserve to halt rate cuts in 2025. Solana’s price is already forming a bull flag even as SOL dips below $200 in a move that analysts anticipate could lead to a bullish breakout past the $210…

WazirX users affected by the July hacking incident may face a longer wait for clarity on compensation. In a recent update, Zettai announced plans to present its proposed financial restructuring scheme to the Singapore Court on January 22, 2025. Zettai, the Singapore-registered entity managing WazirX’s crypto assets, oversees the Indian exchange, which lost over $230…

Regulators in Spain and Germany have cracked down on World (formerly Worldcoin), the project led by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, directing it to delete iris scans of users collected in both countries. The latest action against the firm adds to a string of controversies that the project has faced since it was introduced in 2023….

Australia appears to be auditing the operations of crypto exchanges to protect its citizens from financial risks. In a recent development, Binance has come under legal scrutiny for misclassifying 505 retail investors. This follows a legal challenge against Kraken just days earlier. Both Kraken and Binance are facing lawsuits from the Australian Securities and Investments…

Chainalysis, a blockchain data firm, plans to shift its focus from investigating Web3 violations to preventing them. This week, the US-based company announced its acquisition of Hexagate, a Tel Aviv-based Web3 security firm. The deal, finalised for an undisclosed amount, aligns with Chainalysis’s strategic growth plans for the coming year. Hexagate provides a suite of…

CoinSwitch has published an in-depth analysis of India’s crypto trends for the year, revealing that Shiba Inu, Dogecoin, and Pepecoin gained significant popularity. The report also highlights Delhi and Bengaluru as key crypto trading hubs. This release comes amid ongoing discussions by Indian regulators, who have not set a timeline for the implementation of comprehensive…

The crypto sector currently hosts over 2.4 million tokens, according to CoinMarketCap, leaving investors often uncertain about the legitimacy of their choices. Addressing this challenge, Binance has introduced a new feature named Alpha to its wallet service. Announced on Wednesday, December 18, Alpha will spotlight tokens associated with early-stage Web3 projects, offering insights into those…

The government has no specific timeline in sight to introduce new regulations for virtual digital assets (VDAs) in India, according to Minister of State (MoS) Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. The progress in regulation of VDAs in India was provided when Chaudhary answered questions from two Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Monday. He also…

The Vishvasya Blockchain Technology Stack. that was unveiled back in September, is now being implemented across an array of sectors. The development was recently disclosed by Jitin Prasada, the minister of state (MoS) for electronics and information technology (MeitY), to the Rajya Sabha. As per Prasada, this technology stack is enabling government officials across multiple…

Meta is researching and developing new AI models, that could have potential uses in Web3 applications. The Facebook parent firm has released an AI model called Meta Motivo, that can control the bodily movements of digital avatars. It is expected to make the overall metaverse experience better. The newly unveiled model is expected to offer…

India’s Web3-focussed non-government groups are stepping up efforts to establish international partnerships. On Monday, the India Blockchain Alliance (IBA) announced a partnership with UAE’s free zone for Web3 firms – the Ras Al-Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK-DAO). The aim of this alliance, is to take collaborations on Web3 related education, research, and development initiatives to…

Polygon, the eco-friendly blockchain ecosystem that was co-founded by three Indian technology enthusiasts in Mumbai in 2017, was valued at $20 billion (roughly Rs. 1,69,744 crore) in 2022. Sandeep Nailwal is one of the co-founders and the COO of the blockchain firm, that competes with the likes of Ethereum and Cardano.  He has been working…

The cryptocurrency market has entered a phase of price correction, experts shared with Gadgets360. On Wednesday, December 11, Bitcoin recorded a modest gain of 0.85 percent on global exchanges. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $97,520 (roughly Rs. 82.7 lakh) on foreign exchanges, as per CoinMarketCap. On Indian exchanges, meanwhile, the price…

Bitcoin on Thursday, December 12 reached the price point of $101,014 (roughly Rs. 85.7 lakh) on global exchanges. At the time of writing, data by CoinMarketCap showed that the price of BTC grew by 3.66 percent over the last 24 hours. This is the second time this month that the most expensive cryptocurrency has historically…

US President-elect Donald Trump opened the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday. While addressing the traders at the NYSE, Trump hinted at the implementation of pro-crypto policies during his term. The fresh expression of support from Trump towards the crypto sector came hours after Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84.8 lakh) in pricing…

The Bank of England (BoE) is trying to get the sense of how local businesses are viewing and engaging with cryptocurrencies in the UK. In a notable development, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has issued a directive to local enterprises to disclose their crypto holdings, if any. The PRA is touted as a BOE-affiliated financial…

Shaktikanta Das, who assumed office as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India in December 2018, concluded his six-year tenure this week. In his farewell address, Das praised India’s tech-driven advancements in enhancing its financial ecosystem. He highlighted the introduction of the UPI payment system and the advanced trials of the eRupee CBDC…

Australia has been tightening its regulatory oversight across various sectors. In the latest development, the country has imposed a $5.1 million fine (roughly Rs. 43 crores or AUD 8 million) on Kraken, the US-based crypto exchange. Kraken operates in Australia through the digital currency platform Bit Trade, which has been instructed by authorities to pay…

The crypto craze has gained significant traction within Telegram, fuelled by the platform’s introduction of mini Web3 games for in-app entertainment. However, this surge in interest has also attracted crypto scammers, who have ramped up malicious activities on the app. Security firm Scam Sniffer has issued a warning about scammers exploiting Telegram groups to target…

Crypto exchange Binance has joined forces with USDC-issuer Circle to expand the stablecoin ecosystem globally. The companies announced the development along the sidelines of the ongoing Abu Dhabi Finance Week on Wednesday, December 11. With this partnership, Binance claimed, it wishes to testify to the evolving on-chain financial sector. As for Circle, its USDC stablecoin…

Global payments leader Mastercard is deepening its expansion into cryptocurrency services with a new partnership. In its latest move, the US-based company has teamed up with the popular memecoin ecosystem Floki Inu. As part of this collaboration, Mastercard has introduced a debit card compatible with Floki Inu tokens, currently trading at approximately $0.0002313 (roughly Rs….

Zettai, the Singapore-registered entity overseeing the WazirX crypto exchange in India, is seeking to engage with its creditors following the July hack that resulted in losses exceeding $230 million (roughly Rs. 1,900 crore). In response to the incident, Zettai began developing a financial restructuring plan under the supervision of the Singapore High Court. In a…

The crypto market seems to have stepped into a period of price correction after Bitcoin exceeded the price point of $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84 lakh) last week. On Monday, December 9, Bitcoin saw a minor profit of around 0.35 percent on national and international exchanges. At the time of writing BTC was trading at $99,395…

Cardano Foundation has reportedly teamed up with Dubai-based SEE Institute to create and integrate eco-friendly blockchain solutions into existing systems around supply-chain management, governance, and education among others. In a first-of-a-kind initiative, the partnership also brings to the table a professional diploma in sustainable blockchain solutions. Blockchain forms the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies and the…

The Web3 regulatory landscape is preparing for significant reform, driven by Donald Trump’s shift in stance on the crypto industry. With Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84.6 lakh) shortly after Trump’s election win, Web3 stakeholders are optimistic. Speaking at India Blockchain Week (IBW 2024), Ryan Sungho Kim, co-founder and partner at Hashed, the research firm…

Bitcoin catapulted above $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84.67 lakh) for the first time on Thursday, a milestone hailed even by sceptics as a coming-of-age for digital assets as investors bet on a friendly U.S. administration to cement the place of cryptocurrencies in financial markets. Once it broke $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84.67 lakh) in Thursday’s Asian morning,…

India’s Web3 industry leaders have gathered in Bengaluru to discuss the digital renaissance driven by blockchain-based fintech. On Wednesday, December 4, Web3 venture capital firm Hashed Emergent launched the two-day headliner event of India Blockchain Week 2024 in the country’s tech hub. This marks the second edition of IBW, which made its debut in 2023….

Bitcoin on Monday, December 2 showed a minor gain of 0.35 percent on the global price chart. Over the weekend, the most expensive crypto asset managed to retain its value above the price point of $96,784 (roughly Rs. 81.9 lakh) on international exchanges, according to CoinMarketCap. On Indian exchanges, meanwhile, BTC is trading at $96,206…

Bitcoin bulls are starting to express some doubts after what seemed like an inevitable march toward a record high price of $100,000 loses momentum. “While we’re seeing strong institutional buying pressure, particularly from entities like MicroStrategy’s continued accumulation strategy, the broader crypto ecosystem is experiencing a diversification of capital flows from both institutional and non-institutional…

The BRICS nations are planning to launch a digital assets platform for internal cross-border settlements, a move that seems to have angered the US President-elect Donald Trump. Over the weekend, Trump warned BRICS countries, including India, to prepare for a 100 percent increase in tariff rates if they continue efforts to reduce the US dollar’s…

Bharat Web3 Association (BWA), India’s non-governmental Web3 advisory body, is taking a step to act on the growing cybersecurity threats looming large over the crypto sector. On Monday, December 2, the BWA announced the launch of the Alliance for Blockchain and Crypto Defence (ABCD). As part of this initiative, BWA will put together resources and…

The cryptocurrency market showcased mixed movements on Friday, November 29. Bitcoin saw a slight uptick, gaining less than one percent on international exchanges. According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin is currently priced at $96,507 (roughly Rs. 81.5 lakh). On Indian platforms such as CoinSwitch, Bitcoin’s value rose by around one percent, reaching $98,653 (roughly Rs. 83.3 lakh)….

Ethereum faces pressing questions over its direction as a rejigged user experience saps activity and fees, stoking uncertainty about whether the blockchain will continue to underpin commerce in crypto. Critics point to a growing reliance on so-called Layer-2 blockchains, built on top of Ethereum to improve otherwise clunky and costly transactions. Layer-2 operators like Arbitrum…

Web3 security firm GoPlus has introduced a dedicated browser extension to enhance safety for the Web3 community. Based in the British Virgin Islands, the company has launched the GoPlus Security Extension, compatible with browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. This move follows a surge in security breaches within the $3.34 trillion global crypto sector….

Taiwan is taking regulatory steps to govern its growing crypto sector. In a recent move, the country has made compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) laws mandatory for crypto firms. With the crypto ecosystem expanding, Taiwan has become a hub for Web3 initiatives. According to Statista, Taiwan’s crypto market is projected to grow at an annual…

The cryptocurrency sector, currently valued at $3.31 trillion (approximately Rs. 2,79,67,613 crore), remains a niche market striving to establish its place in the global economy. Governments worldwide are still navigating the complexities of regulating crypto activities. Tornado Cash, a crypto mixer, has faced significant scrutiny in recent months due to its role in obscuring transaction…

President Vladimir Putin’s government is swiftly moving to regulate the crypto sector amid Bitcoin’s historic boom. In a recent development, the Federation Council, Russia’s Upper House of Parliament, approved a bill outlining the taxation framework for crypto assets. Putin has long sought to reduce Russia’s reliance on the US dollar for international transactions, and tools…

The Dogecoin Foundation is looking to raise funding now that the re-election of Donald Trump as the US President has rallied the crypto market to record highs. In a detailed message recently posted on X, the official handle of the Dogecoin Foundation said that it was seeking sponsors to fund their 2025 vision for the…

Hong Kong’s ZA Bank has announced the launch of crypto trading services, enabling retail users to trade assets like Bitcoin directly. Claiming to be Asia’s first digital lender to offer such a service, ZA Bank now allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether through fiat currencies HKD and USD via its app. To…

Bitcoin has shot up to its historical high of $98,000 (roughly Rs. 82 lakh) following the election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the US. During his election campaigning, president-elect Trump showed immense support for crypto engagement, vouching for introducing changes in taxation and business policies. In another pro-crypto step, Trump’s media firm…

Ernst & Young (EY), one of the ‘Big Four’ consultancy firms, has integrated the metaverse element from Web3 into its hiring process. The London based firm, that also has offices in India, has launched a service called eVe, that essentially offers a warm-up pre-interview preparation for candidates applying for a role at the company. The…

Telegram’s Mini Apps initiative has secured substantial funding to advance its integration of Web3 technologies into the messaging platform. Bitget Wallet and Foresight Ventures have committed $20 million (roughly Rs. 168 crore) to drive the growth of Telegram’s Mini Apps, as reported by CoinTelegraph on Monday, November 11. As of July 2024, Telegram reported that…

Bitcoin touched a fresh record high on Friday, with its sights set firmly on the $100,000 barrier (roughly Rs. 84.4 lakh), in a stellar rally for the cryptocurrency sparked by expectations of a more friendly regulatory environment under a Donald Trump administration. It has more than doubled in value this year and is up about…

FTX filed a lawsuit against Binance Holdings and its former Chief Executive Officer Changpeng Zhao, seeking to claw back almost $1.8 billion (roughly Rs. 15,189 crore) it alleges was fraudulently transferred by Sam Bankman-Fried.  Binance, Zhao and other Binance executives received the funds as part of a July 2021 share repurchase deal with Bankman-Fried, the…

The US authorities have charged five individuals with hacking multiple businesses and stealing $11 million (roughly Rs. 92.8 crore) using the Scattered Spider technique. The stolen funds were in cryptocurrency, known for its speed and relative anonymity in transactions. The accused—Ahmed Hossam Eldin Elbadawy, Noah Michael Urban, Evans Onyeaka Osiebo, Tyler Robert Buchanan, and Joel…

Amidst the ongoing crypto rally, the price of Bitcoin saw a slight increase over the last 48 hours, while most altcoins have also seen their prices rise. On Wednesday, Bitcoin’s price rose by less than one percent on national and international exchanges. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $92,425 (roughly Rs. 78…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working with multiple national lenders on advanced trials of the eRupee central bank digital currency (CBDC). Despite recent advancements in the area, the central bank is no rush to roll out its CBDC to users in the country. The situation was addressed in Philippines by RBI deputy governor…

Cryptocurrency price charts around the world looked green on Monday, as the prices of most digital assets continued to rise. Bitcoin clocked gains of around one percent over the last day on both national and international exchanges. The asset, at the time of writing, was trading at $90,574 (roughly Rs. 76.4 lakh) on foreign exchanges,…

Goldman Sachs is looking to venture deeper into crypto-related services. In an interaction with Bloomberg News, Global Head of Digital Assets Mathew McDermott said that the new crypto platform currently under work would focus on facilitating traditional trading and crypto transactions on blockchain networks. The development comes days after pro-crypto billionaire Donald Trump was elected…

CoinSwitch has announced a new initiative to help new crypto investors try their hand at investing in virtual digital assets. The crypto exchange said on Monday that it has rolled out a new service called SmartInvest. Through this feature, the exchange has released a selection of smart investment strategies that early investors can access in…

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Nepal has highlighted a rise in the misuse of crypto assets in the country. The agency, which closely monitors the crypto sphere, has said that the laundering of illicit funding through cryptocurrencies has spiked in the country. The Nepal Rastra Bank has released its ‘Strategic Analysis Report’ that claims…

The founder of a cryptocurrency mixing service known as Bitcoin Fog was convicted in Washington federal court of helping to launder tens of millions of dollars from darknet markets known for selling illegal drugs. A jury on Tuesday concluded Roman Sterlingov, 35, provided a service that jumbled digital tokens to make it more difficult to…

Congress is likely to adopt legislation governing cryptocurrencies during President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, Jay Clayton, a former top Wall Street regulator and potential political appointee, said on Wednesday. Clayton also said he favored easing regulatory burdens to encourage companies to go public, remarks foreshadowing broad-based changes in public policy now anticipated by industry, which spent…

Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin’s value briefly surged to $93,469 (roughly Rs. 78.8 lakh). However, the onset of a price correction prevented it from maintaining that level. As of Friday, November 15, Bitcoin is trading at $87,617 (roughly Rs. 73.9 lakh) on global exchanges and $88,506 (around Rs. 74.4 lakh) on Indian platforms. The…

Tether Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest digital asset company, is getting into the tokenisation of stocks, bonds, funds and commodities. The platform Hadron by Tether, launched Thursday, will allow users to convert assets into products ranging from stablecoins that are pegged to fiat to digital tokens backed by commodities or other forms of collateral. The…

The UK government is advancing efforts to integrate blockchain technology into its financial systems. In a recent announcement, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves revealed plans to pilot a digital gilt instrument in the country. This initiative will utilise Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), commonly known as blockchain. Gilt instruments, a type of government bond widely used in…

The European Banking Authority (EBA) is ramping up its regulatory oversight of the crypto sector. In a recent development, the EBA has issued two detailed sets of guidelines to govern the operations of Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs). As part of these directives, the EBA has emphasised the need for compliance…

Coinbase is actively seeking to enhance its suite of services. This week, the crypto exchange completed its acquisition of Utopia Labs, a San Francisco-based blockchain fintech firm. The acquisition aims to refine Coinbase’s on-chain payment systems and services, although financial details have not been disclosed. Coinbase’s valuation was approximately $59.49 billion (roughly Rs. 5,02,159 crore)…

The financial authorities of Kenya managed to collect KES 10 billion (roughly $77.3 million or Rs. 653 crore) from VASPs in FY 2023-24. The announcement was made by KRA board chairman Anthony Mwaura this week during the Taxpayers’ Day celebration. By requiring official registration of crypto firms, Kenya has effectively tracked businesses involved in digital…

The crypto market is presently more unstable than usual following the election of pro-crypto Donald Trump as the 47th President of the US. Bitcoin, which surged past the price point of $89,900 (roughly Rs. 75.9 lakhs) earlier this week, saw a minor drop of just over one percent in the last 24 hours. On Wednesday,…

The government has yet to announce new rules or modify its approach towards the Web3 industry, after it mandated registrations with the Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) for crypto firms last year. Despite the country’s gradual approach towards exploring the sector, the number of Web3 firms in India is gradually rising. In a recent…

The cryptocurrency market has seen a massive surge in recent days, following US President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the recently concluded election. Bitcoin has seen its price rise by as much as 26.55 percent over the past week, while the total market cap of the crypto sector briefly surpassed the $3 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,53,13,310…

ENS Labs, the firm that launched the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) in 2017, are gearing up for their next major project. By late 2025, they plan to launch a layer-2 blockchain network called Namechain, built on the Ethereum blockchain. Namechain will leverage zero-knowledge rollup technology to improve transaction efficiency, reducing both costs and processing times….

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the BRICS nations are in discussions about using digital currencies to reduce Western influence on fintech. Currently, the group is considering the creation of a digital assets platform aimed at reducing reliance on US dollars for international transactions. President Putin has expressed support for this initiative, highlighting…

The crypto market has experienced significant volatility since November 5, following the election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the US. Bitcoin has surged to a new all-time high, trading above $81,000 (roughly Rs. 68.3 lakh) over the weekend. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is priced at $81,500 (roughly Rs. 68.7 lakh)…

Rohit Wad, a computer science engineer from India’s second tier city of Bhilai presently leads the technology initiatives at Binance, touted as the largest crypto exchange in the world. In conversation with Gadgets360 last week, Wad emphasised that for Web3 adoption to grow, developers must strike the right balance between convenience and security to ease…

Catherine Chen, Head of VIP and Institutional investors at Binance, sat down for an exclusive conversation with Gadgets 360 during the recently held Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai. She highlighted the growing interest in crypto among institutional investors this year, driven largely by the US SEC’s approval of crypto ETFs earlier in the year. In…

JPMorgan is expanding its alliance with blockchain technology. In a recent development, the US-based bank said it has rebranded its blockchain unit, originally launched as ‘Onyx’, to ‘Kinexys’ to signify its operational roadmap for Web3 adoption. The rebranding brings along an array of new financial products and services with blockchain at the centre. This development…

Cybersecurity firm SentinelLabs has raised an alert over a significant threat targeting crypto community members using macOS. According to their findings, the North Korean group BlueNoroff is distributing fake crypto news to entice users into downloading a multi-storage malware infection onto their MacBook. Dubbed the “Hidden Risk” campaign, this attack has been circulating since early…

Following Donald Trump being elected as the 47th US President this week, Bitcoin has surged to new highs. Reaching a second all-time high (ATH), Bitcoin’s price climbed to $76,029 (roughly Rs. 64.14 lakh) on global exchanges, according to CoinMarketCap. Over the past 24 hours, BTC’s value has risen by more than two percent worldwide. On…

Asset management firm UBS has announced that it has completed the pilot trial of a blockchain solution, that will help financial institutes streamline their service offerings around tokenised assets. The Switzerland-based firm currently has a market cap of over $104.3 billion (roughly Rs. 8.8 trillion). Diving deeper into blockchain use cases, UBS teamed up with…

Nearly four months after a hack resulted in losses exceeding $230 million (around Rs. 1,900 crore), WazirX is still focused on restructuring its finances and finalising its operational roadmap. In a virtual town hall held this week, founder Nischal Shetty revealed plans to launch a decentralised exchange (DEX) alongside the existing WazirX platform. Shetty noted…

Bitcoin on Wednesday, November 6 created a new all-time high, just hours ahead of the US election results that seem to be inclining in Donald Trump’s favor at the time of writing. On foreign exchanges, Bitcoin is trading at $74,935 (roughly Rs. 63.08 lakh), showed CoinMarketCap). Over the last day, the value of BTC has…

Misuse of virtual digital assets (VDAs) for money laundering has been a top concern for regulators globally since cryptocurrencies began attracting widespread investor interest. India and the UAE, two regions seeing significant growth in the VDA sector, have now joined forces to address this issue. This week, the Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of both nations…

China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba is reportedly scaling back its metaverse ambitions amid the rapid growth of AI. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Alibaba is cutting dozens of positions within its metaverse division, with sources suggesting the company aims to restructure and enhance efficiency. Previously, Alibaba invested $60 million (roughly Rs. 504 crore)…

A consortium of financial technology and cryptocurrency companies including Robinhood, Kraken and Galaxy Digital on Monday introduced a joint stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. The aim of the newly formed Global Dollar Network is to accelerate usage of stablecoins worldwide and promote an asset that provides proportionate economic benefits to its partners, the companies…

China’s Huawei recently unveiled its new operating system called HarmonyOS Next to power its hardware devices. Among other upgrades, HarmonyOS Next reportedly comes with support for China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). Huawei aims to drive widespread adoption of the digital currency. The brand is among the top smartphone brands in China and is said…

As the US prepares to elect its 47th President on November 5, volatility has noticeably increased across investment markets, including stocks and crypto. Bitcoin on Monday, November 4 saw a minor profit of under one percent on both national and international exchanges. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $69,050 (roughly Rs. 58…

Binance stepped into the final leg of its annual community event, Binance Blockchain Week, on Wednesday. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Momentum’, through which the crypto exchange aims to acknowledge the continuous growth of Web3 sector over the last year despite regulatory, legal and technical challenges globally. The Binance senior leadership, including CEO…

The highly lucrative crypto sector has a global market capitalisation of $2.32 trillion (roughly Rs. 1,95,03,927 crore), but it does come with concerns, especially because of its volatile and largely unregulated nature. Given the situation, Web3 firms trying to establish their brands are often facing a challenging roadmap to market and bring their services to…

Despite its notorious volatility and lack of regulation, the crypto sector appears to be gaining traction within the global investment community. By December, software giant Microsoft is expected to finalise its stance on adding Bitcoin to its balance sheets. Currently, the company is inviting shareholder feedback to gauge support for exploring Bitcoin investments. This development…

The crypto market is experiencing heightened volatility amid the upcoming US elections and broader macroeconomic factors. On Friday, October 25, Bitcoin saw a slight decline of 0.40 percent, bringing its global trading value to $67,767 (roughly Rs. 56.9 lakh), according to CoinMarketCap. However, in India, Bitcoin’s value remained stable, trading at $69,022 (roughly Rs. 58…

Ubisoft has a history of experimenting with Non-Fungible Tokens in gaming, and the company is set to further explore NFT gaming space with a new release. The Paris-based publisher, that makes popular triple-A titles like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, launched Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, a new free-to-play turn-based RPG with NFT integrations, on Wednesday….

Buenos Aires has become the world’s first city to launch a blockchain-based digital identity system for its residents. This initiative allows over 3.6 million people to store more than 60 ID documents on the government-backed MiBA platform. Since Sam Altman’s controversial Worldcoin project emerged last year, the Web3 community has been abuzz with discussions about…

The G20 nations initiated the development of a unified set of cryptocurrency regulations in 2023, with India leading the effort during its presidency. With Brazil taking the reins, the country aims to advance this work towards a global crypto framework. Global financial organisations are now providing their feedback on virtual digital assets (VDAs). Recently, the…

Bitcoin, in the last 48 hours, managed to retain its trading price above the mark of $65,000 (roughly Rs. 54.6 lakh) despite volatility affecting the overall crypto market. On Wednesday, October 23 Bitcoin reflected a minor loss of 0.62 percent on the price chart. On international exchanges, BTC is trading at the price point of…

This year has seen a surge in crypto-related scams and hacks, with the latest being a data breach on the crypto on-ramp platform Transak. In an official statement on October 21, Transak confirmed that the personal information of 92,554 users was compromised in the attack. The platform, which facilitates the conversion of fiat currencies to…

The crypto sector, currently valued at $2.38 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,00,08,386 crore), may have just seen the largest acquisition deal of the year. US and Ireland-based fintech firm Stripe has reportedly spent $1.1 billion (about Rs. 9,248 crore) to acquire Bridge, a platform that facilitates stablecoin issuance. Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch, claimed in a…

The US securities regulator has granted “accelerated approval” to 11 exchange-traded funds to list and trade options tied to spot Bitcoin prices on the New York Stock Exchange, according to a regulatory filing. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had in January approved the Bitcoin ETFs to track Bitcoin, in what was a watershed for…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), that is spearheading the creation and testing of the eRupee CBDC, is aiming to fasten the time it takes for financial settlements to be completed. In a recent keynote address at the RBI@91 high-level conference in New Delhi on October 14, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted that India is…

Robinhood launched its long-awaited desktop platform and added futures and index options trading features to its mobile app on Wednesday, as the fintech firm aims to take market share from traditional brokerages. The 11-year-old commission-free trading app, which became synonymous with mom-and-pop investors in 2021, is now seeking to mature into a full-fledged financial services…

This week, the Asia unit of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) convened in Hong Kong, bringing together members from India, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Pakistan, among others. The meeting aimed to share insights on the financial stability implications of crypto-assets, tokenization, and artificial intelligence across the continent. Co-chaired by Eddie Yue,…

Despite its strict regulatory stance on the crypto sector, India has shown notable growth in crypto adoption. This week, blockchain research firm Chainalysis released its ‘2024 Global Crypto Adoption Index’, where India ranked first out of 151 nations. The country leads in overall crypto adoption, centralised service value, and retail centralised service value. Remarkably, this…

Last week’s roundup of crypto promoters and traders following an elaborate sting operation by federal prosecutors served as a reminder that fake trades used to inflate prices continue to be lingering issue in the digital asset world.  The wash trading strategy used to boost the FBI-created token NexFundAI remains a common practice on decentralised-finance exchanges…

Worldcoin, the controversial blockchain-based human ID project, has been renamed amid ongoing investigations in several countries. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the mastermind behind the initiative, revealed the rebranding to ‘World’ during a company event in San Francisco on October 17. Along with the new name, Altman also introduced a range of new initiatives aimed at…

Web3 venture firm Hashed Emergent is reviving India Blockchain Week (IBW) for its second edition, aiming to spotlight India’s early-stage Web3 developers and companies. Sponsors include prominent Web3 firms like Polygon, Aptos, Starkware, and the Starknet Foundation, alongside other platforms. Investors from various Indian cities will connect with startups seeking funding to accelerate their growth….

With the US election just 20 days away, set for November 5, the crypto market appears to be emerging as a key beneficiary. Bitcoin, mentioned by both Presidential candidates in their speeches, is experiencing a rapid price surge as the election approaches. On Thursday, October 17, Bitcoin recorded a 10.59 percent increase over the past…

Binance, which recently gained FIU approval in India, is collaborating with local law enforcement to investigate crypto-related crimes. In a recent update, Binance announced its involvement with Delhi Police in probing a renewable energy fraud case. As part of this investigation, Rs. 84 lakh (100,000 USDT) has been seized. In a statement issued on October…

Bitcoin surpassed $67,000 for the first time in more than two months, but quickly whipsawed traders as volatility returned to the digital asset sector with US elections approaching.“The confluence of factors ranging from markets to politics has created a potent mix of short squeezes, speculative positioning, and fresh capital inflows, driving Bitcoin to these new…

The Web3 sector is teeming with thousands of products and services striving to engage a new generation of tech-savvy consumers, and blockchain gamification is one effective approach. This process involves incorporating interactive gaming elements to make non-gaming activities more engaging and immersive for users. The blockchain component enhances this concept by integrating Web3 elements, such…

In a move signalling stricter oversight of the crypto sector, the UAE has recently intensified its regulatory stance. The latest development sees the country launching an investigation into the $WAP token, endorsed by rapper Cardi B, whose popular song shares the same name. According to a notice regarding the Solana-based token, the UAE is probing…

Binance’s head of financial crime compliance was denied bail for a second time on Friday as his trial on money laundering charges started in Nigeria, with a judge ruling that the prison in which he is being held is capable of meeting his medical needs. Tigran Gambaryan, an American citizen, has been in detention in…

The crypto market displayed mixed sentiment on Monday, October 14, with nearly equal proportions of gains and losses across cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin posted modest gains of about 2% on both domestic and international exchanges. With this, the trading value of BTC on foreign exchanges has bounced to $64,260 (roughly Rs. 54.02 lakh) after hovering around at…

A recent report by a UN body highlights the rapid rise of crypto-related cyber fraud in Southeast Asia. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the region suffered financial losses of around $37 billion (roughly Rs. 3,10,663 crore) from scams in 2023 alone. To counter this growing trend, the UNODC has…

Three cryptocurrency companies and 15 people have been charged with engaging in widespread fraud and market manipulation following an investigation in which the FBI for the first time directed the creation of a new digital token to help authorities ferret out crime. Federal prosecutors in Boston charged the firms Gotbit, ZM Quant, CLS Global and…

Retail investors are showing a strong interest in cryptocurrencies despite the speculative and volatile nature of these virtual assets. The finding was highlighted in a report released by the Board of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The Madrid, Spain-based body said it surveyed 24 jurisdictions to compile this report titled “Investor Education on…

The Emirate of Dubai, which in recent times has taken multiple measures to establish and promote itself as a hotspot of Web3 activities, is now identifying illegal crypto entities operating within its region. In the latest development, the Web3 governing body of Dubai has initiated an action against seven companies dealing with virtual assets. The…

Google, which has recently been found to be holding a monopoly on web search, has taken a crypto-friendly decision amidst its ongoing legal battles in the US and the EU. As per a fresh update, Google has fully completed the integratigration of Ethereum Name Service (ENS) into Search. This feature was being tested with select…

The crypto market showed fluctuations on Friday, October 11, after the US CPI data emerged higher than expectations. In the backdrop of this development, Bitcoin registered a loss of around one percent on national and international exchanges. At the time of writing, the oldest and most expensive cryptocurrency was trading at $60,576 (roughly Rs. 50.8…

As the number of startups in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow, the demand for funding to support these emerging firms has also increased. VanEck, a global investment management firm based in New York City, has announced plans to invest $30 million (roughly Rs. 258 crore) into promising crypto and AI startups. Currently,…

As global regulatory measures shape the evolving crypto sector, digital assets are emerging as alternatives to traditional investment tools. Despite reaching a historic peak valuation of over $3 trillion (around Rs. 2,51,89,440 crore), crypto assets remain volatile, relatively new, and largely unregulated. A single uninformed decision or unexpected event in crypto investing can lead to…

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) is exploring ways to integrate Web3 services into its financial ecosystem. At a recent press conference, FSC official Hu Zehua stated that the regulatory body is open to involving financial institutions in trials for virtual asset custody services. This move follows growing interest from private lenders in recent months, with…

The cryptocurrency market saw more losses than gains on Wednesday, October 9. Bitcoin experienced minor declines on both domestic and international exchanges over the past 24 hours. Despite these slight setbacks, the leading cryptocurrency has maintained its price above $62,000 (roughly Rs. 52.04 lakh) on global platforms. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading…

Mark Zuckerberg is intensifying Meta’s focus on metaverse initiatives, including hiring experts in generative AI. Recently, Meta showcased a demo of its latest technology, Hyperscape, which turns a smartphone camera into a gateway to photorealistic metaverse environments. According to Zuckerberg, this tool allows smartphones to scan 2D spaces and transform them into hyper-realistic metaverse backgrounds,…

Earlier this week, the UAE announced changes to its tax policy, exempting certain crypto transactions from Value Added Tax (VAT). This move eliminates the previous 5 percent VAT on crypto transfers and conversions. In an interview with Gadgets360, Binance’s Head of Regional Markets, Vishal Sacheendran, called the decision a significant step towards positioning the UAE…

India has emerged as a global leader in crypto adoption for the second year in a row, according to a September 2024 report by Chainalysis. While activities like buying, selling, trading, and holding cryptocurrencies are legal in India, no cryptocurrency has been recognized as legal tender. In an interview with Gadgets360, Cashaa CEO Kumar Gaurav…

The crypto market was largely in the red on Monday, October 7, with most cryptocurrencies facing losses. Bitcoin saw minor declines of less than 1% on both international and domestic exchanges. As per CoinMarketCap data, BTC was trading at $63,625 (roughly Rs. 53.4 lakh) on global platforms. On Indian exchanges like CoinSwitch and CoinDCX, however,…

A report by Check Point Research (CPR) uncovered a crypto wallet draining app on the Google Play Store, masquerading as the popular WalletConnect app. CPR found that the app used “advanced evasion techniques” to steal $70,000 (roughly Rs. 58.6 lakh) over five months from unsuspecting users. The malicious app, named “MS Drainer” after an analysis…

Global bank messaging network SWIFT will trial live transactions of tokenised assets and digital currencies next year, it said on Thursday, the latest step in the currently slow-moving integration of such assets into the wider financial system. Banks and asset managers have been exploring “tokenising” traditional assets like bonds for several years. They hope that…

Two months after it lost $230 million (roughhly Rs. 1,900 crore) to hackers, WazirX is still looking for ways to include its community members in the ongoing restructuring process. The beleaguered crypto exchange has announced that it is in the process of forming a ‘Committee of Creditors’ (COC). Zettai, the Singapore-based majority stakeholder entity of…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reiterated its concerns about El Salvador’s extensive engagement with Bitcoin. The topic was addressed by IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack during a press conference on Thursday. The organisation has been consistent in cautioning the country about the risks of crypto activity given the volatile nature of virtual digital assets. At…

Bitcoin’s price rally faltered on Friday, as the value of the world’s most widely used cryptocurrency dropped by one percent on international exchanges, after crossing the $60,000 (roughly Rs. 50 lakh) mark earlier this week. The value of the most expensive crypto asset dropped to $60,990 (roughly Rs. 51.2 lakh), according to CoinMarketCap. This is…

The potential use cases of blockchain technology appear to be gaining pace in the telecom sector. London-based World Mobile Group is a firm that aims to globalise decentralised Web3 networks. Founded in 2018, the company says its mission is to deliver high-quality web connectivity through a decentralised hybrid network that is 12 times more cost…

Lamborghini has teamed up with Animoca Brands for its Web3 debut. As part of the partnership, supercars from the luxury Italian automaker will be launched by the Hong Kong-based game software firm into metaverse gaming ecosystems. The move from Lamborghini is aimed at getting customers acclimatised to the future of immersive marketing and brand engagement…

Mark Zuckerberg’s bet on the metaverse initially looked like a colossal mistake, wiping more than $100 billion (roughly Rs. 8,39,113 crore) from his net worth. But now it’s paying off big-time. Buoyed by a record-high Meta Platforms share price, Zuckerberg’s net worth has climbed almost sixfold in less than two years to $201 billion (roughly Rs. 16,86,617 crore),…

Crypto investment platform Mudrex has announced a crypto-focused awareness initiative to mark the National Cyber Security Awareness Month this October. In an announcement note shared on Tuesday, October 1 the company said it will be hosting a series of weekly panel discussions focused on crypto safety and cyber security. These sessions will be streamed on…

The NFT market has struggled since the start of the year, with research indicating that 96 percent of digital collectibles have lost value. Despite this downturn, Pos Indonesia, the nation’s state-owned postal service, has ventured into the space by linking its stamps to NFTs. This initiative seeks to merge traditional collectibles like stamps with innovative…

Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, was released from US custody on September 28 after completing a four-month sentence in a California-based low-security prison, Lompoc II. The crypto mogul, who has been banned from the Binance leadership for lifetime, has decided to remain a part of the blockchain ecosystem as an investor….

Japan is set to begin a review of the nation’s cryptocurrency rules, opening up the possibility of lower taxes on digital assets and potentially paving the way for the roll out of domestic funds investing in tokens. The Financial Services Agency in coming months will assess whether the current approach of regulating crypto under the…

The crypto market displayed mixed sentiment on Monday, September 30, with nearly equal numbers of cryptocurrencies posting gains and losses. Bitcoin saw a 1.94 percent decline on international exchanges over the past 24 hours. Despite this dip, the leading cryptocurrency held close to the $65,000 mark (roughly Rs. 54.4 lakh), trading at $64,452 (around Rs….

The overall crypto market is struggling to stabilise with the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris intensifying by the day in the US. On Monday, September 23, multiple cryptocurrencies reflected gains on the price charts. In the last 24 hours, Bitcoin registered profits of around 1.30 percent and 2.15 percent on Indian and…

Hong Kong is actively accelerating efforts to give its fiat currency, the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), a blockchain revamp. The special administrative region (SAR) of China has launched its e-HKD central bank digital currency (CBDC) into the second elaborate phase of trials. Following the footsteps of the Reserve Bank of India, the authorities in Hong…

India’s financial watchdog, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), recently cracked down on the Fiewin gaming scam that had drained $47.6 million (roughly Rs. 400 crore) from its users. In a recent update on the case, Binance has announced that its internal intelligence unit played a key role in assisting the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in uncovering the…

WazirX, the Indian crypto exchange that suffered a $230 million hack in July, is actively working to restructure its finances and compensate affected users. In a recent development, a Singapore court has granted the exchange a four-month moratorium to finalize its financial restructuring. In a press release on Thursday, September 26, WazirX stated that this…

Two YouTube channels of content creator Ranveer Allahbadia (also known as BeerBiceps) were hacked by crypto fraud-promoting miscreants. Allahbadia hosts interactive sessions with Indian celebrities, spiritual leaders, and politicians, with a collective subscriber base of over 12 million.  Following the account breach, both of his channels were inaccessible to him, according to the creator. Meanwhile,…

The overall crypto market is witnessing a rally after the US introduced cuts in interest rates around last week. Bitcoin on Friday, September 27 recorded price hikes of 3.09 percent and 2.4 percent on international and national exchanges respectively. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $65,314 (roughly Rs. 54.6 lakh) on foreign…

Dubai became one of the first jurisdictions in the world to clarify regulatory requirements for Web3 firms in 2022, and regulators are now making changes to its rules related to marketing of digital assets. The Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has announced that marketing content related to digital assets should carry a disclaimer notifying people…

PayPal has announced that its US business account holders can now buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies directly through their PayPal accounts. With this feature, the platform aims to explore the practical applications of cryptocurrencies for its users. Currently, the crypto sector is under regulatory scrutiny in several regions worldwide, as governments express concerns over the…

The Bharat Web3 Association (BWA), India’s leading non-governmental advisory group for Web3, is expanding its international presence. On Wednesday, September 25, the BWA signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Australia and Indonesia. This initiative aims to unite global Web3 efforts and collaboratively enhance the ecosystem’s growth. BWA Chairperson Dilip Chenoy noted that these MoUs represent…

The overall crypto chart showed more gains than losses on Wednesday, September 25. Bitcoin reflected a gain of 1.20 percent on Indian exchanges and a profit of 6.14 percent on international exchanges over the last 24 hours. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $64,380 (roughly Rs. 53.7 lakh) on international exchanges, as…

Sweden has classified some crypto exchanges and crypto-related service providers as ‘professional money launderers’ claiming that these platforms are often used by criminals to launder proceeds from all types of crimes via cryptocurrency. In the official notice, the authorities have identified four types of crypto exchanges that have been designated as professional money launderers (PMLs)….

Coinbase and the US securities regulator faced off in a federal appeals court in Philadelphia on Monday as the cryptocurrency exchange pressed the agency to create new rules for digital assets. Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange, sued the Securities and Exchange Commission last year in an effort to compel the regulator to act on…

India is one of several countries actively working to integrate Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) into their financial systems. Over the weekend, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed a framework aimed at facilitating widespread adoption of CBDCs, known as REDI, which stands for Regulation, Education, Design and Deployment, and Incentives. In its latest report, the…

The official YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India that was used for streaming proceedings was purportedly compromised by hackers on Friday showing crypto advertisements. The channel was uploaded with videos relating to a cryptocurrency product. The entire page has been deleted since. The top court has been using the video streaming platform to live…

Over the weekend, Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov was reportedly arrested in France over charges linked to the operation of the messaging app. Following the development, all popular cryptocurrencies recorded price drops. Bitcoin, for instance, saw losses of nearly two percent on national and international exchanges over the last day. The asset is trading at $66,428…

A digital asset from a blockchain project linked to Telegram Messenger LLP has lost about $2.7 billion (roughly Rs. 22,670 crore) in market value, reflecting the uncertainty sparked by the detention of the messaging app’s co-founder. Toncoin, the token of The Open Network (TON), slid more than 20 percent after Pavel Durov was reportedly taken…

Okto, the self-custodial crypto wallet developed by Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX, has secured a business licence in UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) city. This marks a pivotal milestone in Okto’s plans for expansion in international markets, starting with the UAE, the company said on Tuesday. The reason why this licence is important is because RAK…

As the crypto market entered September 2024, most cryptocurrencies saw significant losses. On Monday, September 2, Bitcoin experienced a price drop of 2.57 percent on Indian exchanges like CoinDCX and a decline of around 1.69 percent on international platforms, according to CoinMarketCap. With this, Bitcoin’s trading value on Indian exchanges presently stands at $61,469 (roughly…

The crypto sector, that is presently valued at over $2 trillion (roughly Rs. 1,70,32,400 crore), is under constant threat from malicious actors who are increasing in number at a rapid pace globally. In a recent blog, Binance sounded an alert about the ‘clipper malware’, that is being used by cyber criminals to manipulate transaction details…

Donald Trump on Monday offered few details about a new cryptocurrency business that the Republican former president, his family and associates unveiled in a live event on X Spaces. Trump engaged in a wide-ranging discussion that touched on the second apparent assassination attempt against him on Sunday and his shift from being a cryptocurrency skeptic to…

The digital assets industry is expanding globally, with blockchain and cryptocurrency-related businesses on the rise. In a new development, Qatar has made a move to attract Web3 developers to establish their operations in the country. The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) in Doha has launched the ‘Digital Assets Lab’ to facilitate the development, testing, and commercialization…

Rexas Finance (RXS) is fast emerging as one of the key daggers in the Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization market. This project implements the tokenization approach to standardize the linkage of physical assets to the blockchain. More people are being brought into the normally complex and illiquid niche of tokenized real estate, fine art, and commodities….

Blockchain technology, also known as distributed ledger technology (DLT), forms the backbone of Web3 innovations, including cryptocurrencies, the metaverse, NFTs, and more. To enhance the functionality and use cases of these networks—often seen as a more secure alternative to traditional Web2 servers—developers employ various techniques. One such method is sharding, which improves blockchain networks by…

A total of 134 countries representing 98 percent of the global economy are now exploring digital versions of their currencies, with almost half at an advanced stage and pioneers like China, the Bahamas and Nigeria starting to see a pick up in usage. The research by the US-based Atlantic Council think-tank published on Tuesday showed…

In August, electronics giant Sony launched Soneium, a layer-2 blockchain, and established Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL) to spearhead its blockchain ventures. In a recent development, Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has partnered with Sony to expand the USDC ecosystem through the Soneium blockchain. This collaboration also seeks to position USDC as…

This week, the crypto market is gearing up for two key events: the upcoming FOMC meeting in the US and the launch of the Donald Trump-backed crypto platform, World Liberty Financial. Amid these developments, Bitcoin showed slight declines on Monday, September 16, with losses of 0.12 percent on Indian exchanges and 1.59 percent on international…

Consumers lost more than $5.6 billion (roughly Rs. 47,029 crore) last year through cryptocurrency-related fraud, according to an estimate from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations — a 45 percent jump from 2022. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 69,500 complaints from consumers in the US and abroad last year, according to a report published…

As the crypto sector undergoes regulatory shifts worldwide, banks are increasingly exploring opportunities to offer services related to virtual digital assets (VDAs). In a recent development, London-based Standard Chartered has launched a digital asset custody service in the UAE. This service will provide secure custody for cryptocurrencies to its UAE-based clients, starting with Bitcoin and…

WazirX, which suffered a loss of over $230 million (approximately Rs. 1,900 crore) in a hack in July, is now working to restructure its finances. In a recent affidavit, the exchange revealed that only 441 users have supported the moratorium appeal filed by its majority stakeholder, Zettai, in a Singapore court. With two million monthly…

Retail trading platform eToro will stop offering nearly all cryptocurrencies to its customers as part of a settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the regulator said on Thursday. eToro also agreed to pay a penalty of $1.5 million (roughly Rs. 12.5 crore) to settle charges that it operated as an unregistered broker and…

The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector aims to remove intermediaries like central banks and brokers from financial transactions, focusing mainly on crypto-based services. In this article, we’ll explore liquidity pools, often described as the driving force behind the smooth operation of DeFi protocols. Liquidity pools allow users to quickly convert assets into cash, accelerating transaction processes…

Bitcoin, on Friday, September 13, posted minor losses of about 0.77 percent across both national and international exchanges. According to CoinMarketCap, BTC’s value dropped to $57,854 (roughly Rs. 48.5 lakh) on global exchanges. However, on Indian platforms like CoinSwitch and CoinDCX, the leading cryptocurrency traded at $60,708 (roughly Rs. 50.9 lakh). In the US, the…

Binance is expanding its services portfolio to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly crowded industry. On Thursday, September 12, the exchange introduced a new ‘token unlock and vesting schedule’ feature, which it says will make tokenomics more transparent and accessible for users. Vishal Sacheendran, Binance’s head of regional markets, noted that the feature is…

India led the way in global adoption of cryptocurrencies for the second straight year as investors braved the country’s tough regulatory stance and steep trading taxes, a report from blockchain analytics company Chainalysis showed on Wednesday. The report, which tracks adoption across four sub-categories in 151 countries, showed India ranked high on usage of centralised…

Days after the FBI warned crypto investors about a rise in crypto-related attacks, an Indonesian exchange has reportedly been hacked. Ten-year old crypto exchange Indodax, headquartered in Bali, was breached by hackers on Wednesday. Blockchain security firm SlowMist estimates that around $22 million (roughly Rs. 184 crore) has been stolen by hackers, in the form…

Ahead of the US’ decision on the reduction of interest rates slated for September 18, the overall crypto market is struggling to overcome volatility. Bitcoin on Wednesday, September 11 saw a loss of 0.42 percent and 1.20 percent on international and national exchanges respectively. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $59,315 (roughly…

Opportunist crypto scammers took advantage of the hype around Apple’s ‘Glowtime’ iPhone 16 event on September 9 to fish for potential victims through Google-owned video streaming app YouTube. Several users posted screenshots of multiple scam videos, that showed Cook promoting crypto giveaways, advertising investment schemes, and instigating crypto transactions through QR codes being flashed on…

The blockchain technology that makes for the foundation of all things Web3 has managed to stir intrigue around its use cases around the world, including in India. In a fresh development, the municipal corporation of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city in India has pushed out a notification seeking blockchain developers. The city wishes to use blockchain to…

A point of intersection between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3 – AI tokens are cryptocurrencies that are linked to AI projects and protocols. In the last few days, the AI tokens category has emerged as a topic of buzz among members of the global tech community. This happened after tech giants like Apple and Nvidia…

The cryptocurrency market on Monday, September 9, was largely profitable, with most digital assets recording gains. Bitcoin registered a minor gain of around one percent on Indian exchanges like CoinDCX and CoinSwitch. At the time of writing, BTC in India was trading at $58,718 (roughly Rs. 49 lakh). On international exchanges, meanwhile, the value of…

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong showcased the first-ever transaction of tokens between two Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents this week. In a playful post, Armstrong mentioned that one AI bought tokens from another AI. This milestone represents a significant step in exploring the possibilities of integrating AI with Web3. To facilitate such interactions, Coinbase has introduced a…

WazirX hacker, who remains unidentified since the hack in July, is reportedly moving around the stolen funds. Data collected by Arkham Research showed that the hacker is using the controversial Tornado Cash platform to do so. Out of the stolen amount of over $230 million (roughly Rs. 1,900 crore), the hacker seems to have moved…

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is deepening its commitment to blockchain, the foundational technology behind Web3. This week, MeitY unveiled a suite of blockchain platforms aimed at empowering Indian developers to build secure, transparent, and reliable digital solutions. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, who led the launch, emphasized the potential of these platforms…

AlgoBharat, the Indian unit of the Singapore-based blockchain firm Algorand Foundation, is ready for the second edition of its Web3-focussed initiative in India. Called the ‘Road to Impact’, this programme is aimed at bringing Web3 developers and startup teams to compete and obtain industry-level mentoring and workshops. This engagement with India’s Web3 talent, as per…

As the UK aims to position itself as a leading hub for Web3 innovation, financial authorities are stepping up efforts to safeguard the crypto sector’s stability and security. A recent report from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed that 90 percent of recent crypto firm registration applications have been rejected. Key reasons for these…