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Kraken Amplifies European Footprint with BCM Acquisition
US-based cryptocurrency exchange, Kraken, has announced its plan to acquire Dutch crypto broker BCM as part of its European expansion strategy. This move aligns with the new MiCA regulatory framework, promoting a favorable investment climate in the region. The acquisition will enhance Kraken's service offerings and market position in the Netherlands.
E.U and US Can Coordinate Effort "on a Shared International Approach to Regulating Crypto": EU Commissioner
Mairead McGuinness, a Commissioner for financial services, financial stability, and capital markets union at the European Commission has called on the United States and the European Union to coordinate efforts with respect to regulating digital currencies.
Coinbase warns of losing crypto industry leadership
The U.S. SEC has issued a Wells notice to Coinbase. As a result, Coinbase warns that the U.S. government’s regulatory approach to crypto has created an uncertain and unstable environment. Meanwhile, other countries, such as France, the U.K., and the European Union, are building friendlier crypto regulation ecosystems and becoming crypto hubs, causing the U.S. to lose its status as the leading hub of the crypto sector.
Exclusive: Why Sharding is a Bad Idea to Solve the Blockchain Trilemma?
In Part 2 of the interview, Fan Long shares with us the technical breakthrough of Conflux Chain, including the use of tree graph and directed acyclic graph! Long also compares Conflux Chain with competitors like Algorand and he explained to us why sharding is a bad idea to solve blockchain trilemma!
European Crypto Startups See Record VC Investment in 2022
Despite a challenging year for the crypto industry in 2022, VC investment in European crypto startups reached an all-time high of $5.7 billion, with decentralized finance startups seeing a 120% increase in investments. Europe is also home to the highest number of crypto startups, but lags behind the US in unicorns and startups with over $1 million in funding. Investment in financial service-based startups declined by 19% compared to 2021, while infrastructure grew by 24%. The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulations are set for a final vote in April 2023.
EU to Vote Restricting PoW-based Crypto Assets
The European Union could see a major change in the cryptocurrency industry as proof-of-work cryptocurrencies face an indeterminate future.
EBA Issues Updated Guidelines for Crypto Asset Service Providers
The European Banking Authority (EBA) extends Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing measures to include crypto firms, aiming to harmonize regulatory approaches and mitigate financial crime risks in the EU.
ECB to Warn Countries in the Eurozone about Crypto Regulation
The European Central Bank is reportedly on track to issue warnings to national authorities within the Eurozone about individual handling of the crypto ecosystem.
European Union Close in Agreeing on Crypto Regulations - Bloomberg
As the clamor for crypto regulations has continued to intensify, the European Union (EU) is close to agreeing on a comprehensive regulation that will govern the nascent digital currency ecosystem
Atomicals Market Addresses Security Breach and Announces Compensation Measures
Atomicals Market has implemented measures to restore user trust and enhance platform security following a significant security breach, emphasizing community engagement's crucial role in protocol's future.
Spain Strengthens Crypto Oversight to Settle Tax Debts
Spanish Ministry of Finance is implementing legislative reforms to increase cryptocurrency monitoring, enabling seizure of digital assets for tax debt resolution, aligning with EU regulations.
EU Plans to Bar Interest Payments on Deposits in Stablecoins
Patrick Hansen, the head of Strategy at DeFi startup, Unstoppable Finance, said the expected MiCA bill could come as early as this month’s ending.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Bitcoin Dark Web Chemical Weapon Purchase
A 45-year-old man from Columbia, Missouri pled guilty yesterday in a US federal court to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon—via the dark web using Bitcoin.
Crypto Exchange Binance Withdraws Crypto License Application in Germany
Binance has withdrawn its application for a crypto license in Germany. The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) advised the exchange to withdraw its application.
ESMA Launches Key Consultations on Crypto-Asset Regulations under MiCA
ESMA conducts consultations on reverse solicitation exemptions and classifying crypto-assets as financial instruments, aiming to harmonize EU regulations with MiFID II.
EU Parliament Committee Rejects Proposal to Limit Proof-of-Work Crypto
The proposal could have limited the use of cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin and Ethereum) powered by an energy-intensive computing process known as proof-of-work.
Danish FSA Orders Saxo Bank to Divest Crypto Holdings, Indicating Tightening Regulation
The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet) on July 4, 2023, issued a directive to Saxo Bank, instructing the financial institution to divest its holdings in cryptoassets. This move is based on the current legal framework, which prohibits banks from trading cryptoassets for their own account.
Kraken Irish Subsidiary Awarded VASP Authorization by Central Bank of Ireland
Payward Europe Solutions, Kraken's Irish subsidiary, has been granted VASP authorization by the Central Bank of Ireland. This authorization comes at a critical time as the EU is set to vote on the MiCA regulation, which requires all companies operating as a crypto assets service provider in the EU to register with an authorized regulator.
EU Agreement on MiCA May Not Favor Stablecoins
After much deliberation and compromises from the European Commission, Assembly, and Council, a final agreement that builds the comprehensive framework for the digital currency ecosystem has finally been made
Crypto Regulation Takes New Leap as European Council Adopts MiCA
The European Union is drawing closer to adopting the comprehensive Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation as the European Council has passed the framework.
European Parliament Ratifies MiCA Framework in Landslide Vote
The long-awaited Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation has just scaled through the European Parliament as MPs voted massively in favour of the bill.l
China’s Petrochemical Sector Conducts First Blockchain-Powered Warehouse Receipt Finance
China’s petrochemical industry has accomplished the first-ever blockchain-enabled digital warehouse receipt pledge financing transaction to minimize costs.
Exclusive: How to Ensure Random Numbers in Public Blockchain?
Following Part 1 of our interview, Jing Chen of Algorand further teaches our readers on how to ensure the randomness of a number in public blockchain! She also evaluates the existing Proof-of-Stake (POS) protocols: Delegated VS Bonded VS Pure POS!
Exclusive: Blockchain Trilemma Solved? Secrets Revealed by Turing Award Winner's Algorand
There are numerous blockchain project teams attempting to address the blockchain trilemma, and the Turing Award winning team Algorand is one promising candidate. We have the pleasure to speak with Jing Chen, Chief Scientist of Algorand, on how Algorand attempts to solve blockchain trilemma with its Byzantine agreement. She also explains why Algorand is non-forkable and the restrictions on Algorand’s adversary model!
Volvo Cars Invests in London-based Blockchain Firm to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Footprint
Volvo Cars, a leading Swedish car manufacturer, has invested in Circulor, a London-based blockchain company majoring in industrial supply chains. It sealed the deal through its venture capital investment arm called the Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
Leaked EU Commission Draft on Crypto Assets Law: How Will Cryptocurrency be Regulated?
A leaked European Union legislative draft on digital assets reveals the country's plans for cryptocurrency trading and issuance across the nation.