DIGITALASSETS
R3 Highlights the Transformative Potential of Tokenization in Finance
R3, a leading enterprise blockchain software firm, discusses the transformative potential of tokenization in the financial sector. The company emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks and industry standards to unlock the full benefits of digital assets. According to a June 2023 report from Bernstein, $5 trillion in assets could be tokenized in the next five years, offering significant opportunities for market participants.
Laser Digital Secures In-Principal Approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market
Laser Digital, Nomura's digital asset subsidiary, has received In-Principal Approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The approval allows the company to offer broker-dealer and asset management services in the UAE, subject to fulfilling specific conditions.
BIGG to Acquire Web3 Company TerraZero in $20M Deal
BIGG Digital Assets plans to acquire TerraZero Technologies Inc. for $20 million, a metaverse company with a 161% growth in Q1 2023. TerraZero will create a subsidiary for BIGG, with TerraZero's CEO serving a 12-month term.
Korean Prosecution Investigates Cypto Coin WEMIX Issuer WeMade and Hyperism Simultaneously
The Korean prosecution has simultaneously raided WeMade, the issuer of the cryptocurrency WEMIX, and Hyperism, the asset management company responsible for WEMIX's market making. This incident comes right after South Korea’s parliament passed the Virtual Asset Protection Act, which aims to crack down on illegal illegal trading practices such as market price manipulation and insider trading.
New Bakkt Study Shows Ongoing Crypto Interest and the Need for Regulation
A recent study by Bakkt Holdings Inc (NYSE: BKKT) reveals that people's interest in cryptocurrencies remains strong despite recent market fluctuations.
EDX Markets Debuts Cryptocurrency Trading Platform and Wraps Up Latest Investment Round
In a key milestone, EDX Markets has successfully kick-started its cryptocurrency trading operations and completed a fresh funding round
Binance Adds Bitcoin Ordinals to NFT Marketplace
Binance has announced that it will soon support Bitcoin ordinals, also known as Bitcoin NFTs, on its NFT marketplace. This will expand Binance’s multichain NFT ecosystem to include the Bitcoin network. Bitcoin ordinals have been on the rise, with over 3 million inscriptions as of May 1, but they remain a controversial topic in the crypto community.
US House to Hold Joint Hearings on Digital Assets
The House Financial Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, and subcommittees will hold joint hearings in May on establishing a bill to provide regulatory clarity to the digital asset ecosystem. The hearings will focus on addressing the market structure and striking a balance between protecting consumers and promoting responsible innovation. The goal is to report a bill out that deals with the capital raising piece for digital assets, all the way through to how a product can go from a securities regime to commodities regime, while preserving rights around products that do not fit into either regime.
US House Committees To Hold Joint Hearings On Digital Asset Regulations
The US House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees, along with the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee, and the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee will hold joint hearings in May to establish regulatory clarity for the digital asset ecosystem. Representative Patrick McHenry, the House Financial Services Committee chairman, has announced that the hearings aim to establish a bill providing regulatory clarity to the crypto sector, which adds to the work on a bipartisan bill led by crypto-friendly Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Raiffeisen Bank to Launch Crypto Investment Service
Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien is teaming up with Bitpanda to provide crypto investment services. Customers can invest in various assets regardless of the capital amount. The new offering will feature over 2,500 digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ether.
CFTC Commissioner Calls for Reduced Cryptocurrency Anonymity
CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero has proposed reducing the anonymity of cryptocurrencies as a means of managing associated risks. Romero spoke at City Week 2023 in London, stating that market integrity, national security, and financial stability cannot be compromised.
US House Committee Chair Criticizes SEC on Digital Assets
US House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry criticized the SEC’s approach to digital assets at an oversight hearing, demanding clear rules for crypto through legislation and pressing SEC Chair Gary Gensler for a definitive answer on whether Ether qualified as a security or a commodity.
Ripple Launches Liquidity Hub to Bridge Crypto and Fiat
Ripple has launched a liquidity solution for businesses to access digital assets, including BTC, ETH, ETC, BCH, and LTC, through various market makers. The Ripple liquidity hub aims to bridge the gap between crypto and fiat, and reduce the cost of operations on high-volume transactions. Notably, XRP is not mentioned in the product launch, which could be attributed to Ripple's ongoing court battle with the SEC.
DWF Labs Invests $60 Million in EOS Network
DWF Labs, a digital asset market maker, has announced an investment deal worth over $60 million with the EOS Network Foundation. The deal includes a $45 million EOS token purchase agreement and a $15 million pledge to invest in businesses and projects based on EOS. The alliance aims to expedite the expansion and acceptance of the EOS Network, particularly with the launch of its enterprise-grade EOS Ethereum Virtual Machine.
Bermuda Remains Committed to Crypto Despite FTX Collapse
Bermuda's Premier and Finance Minister, Edward Burt, stated that despite the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in nearby Bahamas, Bermuda will continue to accommodate digital asset and blockchain technology companies due to the benefits they offer. The territory, which implemented a regulatory framework for digital assets, recently released its first stablecoin powered by the Polygon blockchain.