Supriya Sharma

Sygnum, the crypto banking group, has raised over $40 million in a strategic funding round, surpassing its target of $35 million. The funding was led by asset manager Azimut Holding. This comes as the industry recovers from the 'crypto winter' and investors seek trusted financial institutions. The raised capital will support Sygnum's expansion into new markets, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The bank also plans to develop its regulated products and bank-to-bank digital asset services. With operating licenses in Switzerland, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Luxembourg, Sygnum currently manages assets worth over $4 billion for more than 1,700 clients across 60 countries.

Thailand's cryptocurrency exchanges are informing their customers about the upcoming changes in crypto taxes implemented by the Thai tax authorities this year. The changes will affect crypto traders, miners, and individuals earning in cryptocurrencies. To comply with these changes, local exchanges like Bitkub have updated their websites' FAQ sections to provide information on the taxes applicable to digital assets. While the tax authorities categorize certain activities as taxable, the exchanges assure customers that their information is not shared with tax authorities unless requested by the customers themselves. This new development comes as part of the Thai government's efforts to generate revenue from the crypto space, following the introduction of the 15% capital gains tax on crypto trading profits in January 2022. It seems that the focus of these tax policies is primarily on income or assets acquired overseas, including citizens engaged in crypto trading activities within the country.

As the Chinese economy and stock markets continue to decline, many Chinese investors, like Shanghai-based finance executive Dylan Run, are turning to cryptocurrencies as a safe haven. Despite the ban on crypto trading and mining in China, people are finding creative ways to invest in bitcoin and other crypto assets through grey-market dealers and overseas bank accounts. Chinese brokers and financial institutions are also exploring crypto-related businesses in Hong Kong to find growth opportunities. While China's crackdown on the property sector and poor performance of traditional assets have left investors searching for alternatives, bitcoin has seen significant gains. This has led to speculation that the Chinese government may be warming up to cryptocurrencies, making Hong Kong a potential testing ground for these efforts. Ultimately, more and more Chinese investors are seeking refuge in cryptocurrencies amid the uncertain and disappointing investment environment at home.

Lido DAO has rebuked LayerZero for deploying a crypto bridge without explicit approval, triggering criticism from the Lido community. LayerZero had asked for endorsement but proceeded before receiving official consent. The move was seen as disrespectful and undermining the seriousness of the DAO. A consortium of crypto infrastructure providers accused LayerZero of attempting to gain a first-mover advantage and lock-in users. In response, Lido DAO members voted in favor of a rival bridge proposal from Axelar and Wormhole. Pending a formal vote, these providers will become Lido's official choice for moving stETH tokens to BNB Chain. The controversy highlights the importance of cross-chain interoperability as blockchains proliferate, and the sensitivity of endorsements from protocols.

The recent developments in the Bitcoin ETF market suggest a potential rebound in the Bitcoin price. With a noticeable slowdown in Grayscale's selling activities, there is hope for Bitcoin bulls as this could stabilize prices and restore investor confidence. Major players like BlackRock and Fidelity have demonstrated their commitment to Bitcoin, with significant holdings in BTC. The dynamics of the recent sell-off, primarily involving FTX, are expected to ease on day 9, contributing to a more stable market environment. The emergence of Bitcoin ETFs as significant holders of the cryptocurrency showcases growing institutional interest. Despite Grayscale's selling spree, Bitcoin ETF managers are acquiring 15 times the daily Bitcoin supply, demonstrating strong demand from institutional investors. The new ETFs have absorbed a net total of 122,000 BTC in just 8 days, overcoming Grayscale's release. The decrease in GBTC volume may indicate exhaustion in selling, while a net inflow of $409 million on the ninth day suggests renewed investor interest.

Bitcoin ETF Day 8 Update: Market Rebound Signals Bottom As Grayscale Selling Slows Down Since the approval of Bitcoin ETF applications by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 11, followed by the commencement of trading a day later, the ETF race has witnessed impressive trading volumes on each trading day. As the market recovers from a sharp correction, recent developments indicate a notable slowdown in Grayscale selling, which could potentially signal a rebound for the Bitcoin price following the recent 20% drop. Market expert James Mullarney and Bloomberg ETF expert Erich Balchunas provide key insights into Bitcoin ETF fund flows after 8 days, shedding light on the evolving dynamics and investor sentiments surrounding this development. Hope For Bitcoin Bulls One of the key observations made by James Mullarney is the deceleration in Grayscale’s selling activities. While Grayscale continues to sell, the pace of their selling has significantly reduced, indicating a potential shift in their strategy. This is seen as a positive sign for the market, as a slowdown in Grayscale selling could contribute to stabilizing Bitcoin prices and restoring investor confidence. Amidst this backdrop, major players in the asset management industry, such as BlackRock and Fidelity, have showcased their resilience and commitment to Bitcoin. BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, currently holds 44,000 BTC in assets under management (AUM), indicating their growing exposure to the cryptocurrency. Similarly, Bitcoin ETF issuer Fidelity, renowned for its digital asset services, stands strong with 40,000 BTC AUM, demonstrating their continued confidence in Bitcoin and its long-term potential. Moreover, the dynamics of the recent sell-off are noteworthy. The majority of the selling pressure observed in the market involved FTX, which completed day 8 of trading. However, as the market enters day 9, the expectation is for a significant reduction in selling pressure from FTX and Grayscale, potentially contributing to a more stable market environment, according to Mullarney. The emergence of Bitcoin ETFs as significant holders of the cryptocurrency is another positive aspect to consider. ETFs have not only absorbed the 101,600 BTC sold by Grayscale but have also increased their holdings by an additional 21,100 BTC in just 8 days. According to Mullarney, this indicates growing institutional interest in Bitcoin, as ETFs continue to accumulate significant amounts of the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin ETF Issuers Counter Grayscale Selling Despite Grasycale’s selling spree, Mullarney highlights that the Bitcoin ETF managers alone are acquiring 15 times the daily Bitcoin supply, surpassing 13,444 BTC against the 900 BTC daily creation rate. This notable inflow of BTC demonstrates the strong demand from institutional investors and highlights the potential impact of ETFs on the overall Bitcoin market. Interestingly, the new ETFs have absorbed a net total of 122,000 BTC in just 8 days, overcoming the impact of Grayscale’s release and contributing to a positive net inflow. Bloomberg ETF expert Erich Balchunas adds further insights to the analysis. Balchunas notes that the volume of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) has decreased, which could be a sign of exhaustion in selling. However, $515 million was withdrawn from GBTC yesterday, resulting in a total outflow of $3.96 billion since its conversion to an ETF. On a more positive note, there was a net inflow of $409 million on the ninth day, indicating renewed investor interest.

Despite Bitcoin's struggles in the post-ETF approval market, Ethereum has emerged as a winner in the sector, outperforming both Bitcoin and altcoins. According to Glassnode's latest report, Ethereum has seen a slower relative momentum but has still managed to outperform the wider altcoin space by -17%. Additionally, Ethereum's dominance against Bitcoin has increased by about 2.9% since Bitcoin's spot ETFs were approved. While the altcoin side of the sector has experienced a net rise, Ethereum has consistently outperformed them. This has led to a new narrative in the sector, with the potential for ETH spot ETFs gaining approval and expressing optimism in the market.

Ethereum Is The Biggest Winner In Post-ETF Approval Market: Glassnode While Bitcoin has struggled since the much-anticipated spot ETFs have gone live, Ethereum has emerged as a winner in the sector. Ethereum Has Done Better Against Both Bitcoin And Altcoins Recently In its latest weekly report, the on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has discussed how Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the altcoins have performed against each other recently. The cryptocurrency sector as a whole has enjoyed a net rise since BlackRock first filed for its exchange-traded fund (ETF) last year. This period was filled with speculation about whether the various spot ETFs would go through. Still, starting mid-October, the assets rose as confidence that approval would be achieved went up. “Bitcoin’s market cap has increased by +68.8% since BlackRock first filed for their ETF, and the aggregate Altcoin Market Cap followed suit, rising by +68.9%,” reads the report. “However, Ethereum has seen more sluggish relative momentum, underperforming the wider altcoin space by -17%.” Next, Glassnode has talked about the “market cap dominance” of these asset classes, which measures the percentage share they occupy in the total valuation of the cryptocurrency sector. Since the FTX collapse in November 2022, Bitcoin’s market cap dominance has notably risen. However, BTC hasn’t taken a share of Ethereum as the second-largest coin’s dominance has moved mostly sideways in this period. Instead, the altcoins and stablecoins are the ones who have lost dominance to Bitcoin. The BTC spot ETFs finally gained approval earlier this month, but the event turned out to be a sell-the-news one for the asset. In this post-ETF era, though, a new narrative has appeared in the sector in the form of the ETH spot ETFs. “Shortly after the approval of the Bitcoin ETF, several issuers have filed or suggested a willingness to advocate for a spot ETF for Ethereum,” notes Glassnode. “Although obtaining approval for an ETH-based ETF might be more challenging due to the SEC possibly considering Ether as more of an investment contract, the markets appeared to express optimism.” As the chart below shows, Ethereum’s dominance against Bitcoin has gone up. As the graph shows, ETH’s market cap dominance versus BTC has increased by about 2.9% since the latter’s spot ETFs gained approval from the US SEC. The altcoin side of the sector has seen a net rise in this period as well, but the alts haven’t been able to keep up with ETH, as the latter has generally outperformed them.

The IRS has revised the digital asset question on tax forms, adding it to four additional tax forms. This means that all taxpayers, not just those involved in digital asset transactions in 2023, must answer the question. The IRS defines digital assets as digital representations of value recorded on secure ledgers or similar technology, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and NFTs. The revised question asks if taxpayers received, sold, exchanged, or disposed of a digital asset or a financial interest in one during 2023. The IRS emphasizes that all taxpayers must answer this question when filing their 2023 federal income tax return.

IRS Revises Digital Asset Question on Tax Forms The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revised the question about digital assets included on income tax forms. Moreover, the tax authority has added the question to four additional tax forms. “The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just by those who engaged in a transaction involving digital assets in 2023,” the IRS emphasized. IRS Adds Digital Asset Question to 4 More Tax Forms The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced Monday that the digital asset question on income tax forms “was revised this year to update wording.” Moreover, the question has been added to four additional tax forms. The IRS also reminded U.S. taxpayers that they must “answer a digital asset question and report all digital asset related income when they file their 2023 federal income tax return, as they did for their 2022 federal tax returns.” The tax authority detailed that the digital asset question varies depending on the form, “with appropriate variations tailored for corporate, partnership or estate and trust taxpayers.” On Form 1040 for reporting U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, the question reads: At any time during 2023, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)? The IRS defines a digital asset as “a digital representation of value that is recorded on a cryptographically secured, distributed ledger or any similar technology.” The tax authority specifically mentioned that common digital assets include convertible virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The IRS emphasized: The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just by those who engaged in a transaction involving digital assets in 2023. In 2022, the digital asset question on Form 1040 was slightly different. It read: “At any time during 2022, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award, or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, gift, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?” In 2021, the digital asset question simply read: “At any time during 2021, did you receive, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any financial interest in any virtual currency?” Besides Forms 1040 (Individual Income Tax Return), 1040-SR (U.S. Tax Return for Seniors), and 1040-NR (U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return), the digital asset question now appears on four other tax forms: 1041 (U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts), 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income), 1120 (U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return), and 1120-S (U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation).

Bitwise, a leading digital asset manager, has made history by becoming the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to publicly disclose its bitcoin wallet address. This move emphasizes Bitwise's commitment to transparency and aligns with the core ethos of Bitcoin. By publishing their onchain addresses, Bitwise sets a new standard for authenticity in the cryptocurrency industry. They aim to increase public transparency further by exploring partnerships with firms like Hoseki App to provide real-time cryptographic attestations. Other spot bitcoin ETFs may now consider adopting a similar approach to address verification, following Bitwise's groundbreaking example.

Tokenized securities provider Ondo Finance announces APAC expansion Ondo Finance, a U.S.-based issuer of tokenized securities, announced today the opening of its first office in the Asia Pacific region. The company, which claims to have occupied close to 40% of the global market share of tokenized securities, currently offers three tokenized products — OUSG, OMMF and USDY — which allows exposure to U.S.-based asset classes such as U.S. Treasuries and money market funds. "There is an active and rapidly growing crypto community and an appreciation for the type of high-quality exposure to U.S. assets that our tokens provide," Nathan Allman, founder and chief executive officer of Ondo, said in the press release. Ondo has appointed Ashwin Khosa, who had worked for Tether and Bitfinex, as the vice president of business development for the APAC region. In November, Ondo and the Mantle Network launched USDY, a tokenized note secured by U.S. Treasuries and bank deposits. Ondo also launched USDY on Solana in December, according to its X post. Ondo did not specify its APAC office location in the statement. It did not immediately respond to The Block's request for comment. Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures. © 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Charles Hoskinson Responds to Report Questioning Cardano’s Utility Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson has fired back in response to a report by crypto research firm K33 Research that questioned the utility of Cardano’s native token, ADA. In a bold retort earlier this week, the founder of Cardano downplayed the credibility of the research firm, setting the stage for a contentious debate within the cryptocurrency community. Published on Monday, the report, titled “Why you should sell all your ADA (Cardano)”, contended that ADA lacks meaningful use and value. Notably, a smart contract network’s native token needs substantial use to hold any value. The firm, however, argued that ADA lacks such utility, adding that there was no credible path toward achieving it. The firm also highlighted the absence of proof of ADA’s utilization beyond exchange transfers and alleged artificial activity by holders. One of the critical points in the report revolved around the stablecoin market on Cardano. While other networks thrive with stablecoins like USDT or USDC dominating DeFi altcoin investing, the firm argued that Cardano is lagging. It pointed out the limited presence of Cardano-collateralized stablecoins valued below one dollar, signalling the network’s lack of meaningful decentralized finance (DeFi) activity. The firm further predicted a bleak future for Cardano akin to past blockchain projects such as IOTA, NEO, and EOS. The firm argued that successful blockchains must grow organically from real use rather than being propelled by inflated hype and subsidized bootstrapping. “Cardano has an enticing story for newcomers, with Cardano being branded as “the peer-reviewed research-driven blockchain network…still, all price signals also point to Ada gradually disappearing from the crypto map. ADA has not rallied in line with other ‘stronger’ smart contract tokens when markets have improved, which is a strong indicator of a dying coin,” the firm stated. Meanwhile, in a dismissive response to the criticism, Charles Hoskinson questioned the identity of K33 Research, expressing ignorance with a straightforward, “Who? Never heard of them.” Hoskinson’s reaction resonated within the ADA community, with some criticizing K33 Research for what they perceived as a targeted attack on the network. Particularly, “ADA Whale”, a prominent ADA commentator, voiced skepticism over the report, stating, “FYI: this is not how a serious research paper reads or looks like.” He went on to invite the firm’s researchers, urging them to examine what he described as “a fact-based thread on Cardano” that he shared last week. Notably, this recent critique is not the first time Cardano has faced skepticism. Hoskinson has previously defended the network from claims that it is a “ghost chain”, lacks a working product, and is too decentralized. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, Cardano stands resilient and is currently the eighth-largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of $17.9 billion. Moreover, it maintains its status as the second-largest crypto asset by staking market capitalization, underscoring its continued relevance in cryptocurrency.

XRP On The Brink: Urgent Call For Bulls As Analysts Predict Dire Correction Ahead XRP is currently at a critical juncture, as crypto analyst CoinsKid has pointed out. The analyst has raised concerns about the altcoin’s immediate future and emphasizes the urgent need for bullish momentum to prevent a significant downturn. Bulls Should Step In Quick In the post shared on X, CoinsKid stressed that if the bulls don’t step in soon, XRP could face a drastic “macro correction,” potentially plummeting its price toward the $0.38 level. This warning follows a period of declining prices for XRP, which has seen the asset struggle to maintain its value. The analyst elaborated, “Squeaky bum time. TICK TOCK,” highlighting the urgency and the nervous anticipation surrounding XRP’s price movement in the coming days. This sentiment reflects a broader concern among XRP investors and market observers. The lack of bullish activity in the recent period has left XRP vulnerable to further losses, raising fears that it could slide to its lowest levels in months. The potential drop to $0.38 would represent a loss in value and mark a new phase of uncertainty for the cryptocurrency. This comes when the broader crypto market is experiencing its own challenges, with various assets facing downward pressure. XRP Price Action And Bearish Confirmation XRP’s recent market performance has been far from reassuring for its holders. Over the past week, the asset has seen a decline of more than 10%, and so far, this bearish trend shows no signs of abating. The altcoin is trading below $0.53, a drop of nearly 5% in the past 24 hours. This downward trajectory is further corroborated by crypto analyst Ali, who has pointed out that should XRP breach the $0.55 level, the altcoin could tumble down to as low as $0.34. Such a drop would take the altcoin to a price point not seen since April 2023, an alarming prospect for investors and the XRP community. Despite this downturn, XRP’s daily trading volume has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion over the past week. At the time of writing, Altcoin’s trading volume was around $1.28 billion.

SEC Countdown: Bitcoin ETF Approval Signals - Notifications Incoming! 🚀 Excitement reverberates in the crypto sphere as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gears up to notify approved ETF issuers, paving the way for potential launches ahead of the looming January 10 deadline. 📅 📆 Decision Day Nears: January 10 Deadline Crucial for Ark Investments and 21Shares! With the January 10 deadline on the horizon for the SEC to pass judgment on the spot Bitcoin ETF proposed by industry giants Ark Investments and 21Shares, anticipation is high. The SEC is expected to communicate the fate of other ETF applications to asset managers early next week, as reported by Reuters. 🕒 🏁 Sprint to Launch: Asset Managers Eyeing the January 10 Decision Window! For asset managers who met the year-end deadline, the race is on to launch their ETFs in sync with the critical January 10 decision. Prominent contenders include Valkyrie, Bitwise, WisdomTree, Franklin Templeton, BlackRock, VanEck, and Invesco. Early notifications could pave the way for a synchronized and thrilling launch. 🚦 👥 Elite 14 Spotlight: Asset Managers in the ETF Approval Arena! Among the 14 asset managers vying for approval of similar ETFs, some have already submitted comprehensive forms to the SEC, outlining sponsor fees and technical intricacies. Fidelity emerges as a frontrunner with the lowest proposed sponsor rate at an impressive 0.39%. While other contenders keep their rates undisclosed, the competition intensifies. 🔥 #Cryptocurency #CryptoNews #coin

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Overnight smoked brisket

Marca o @ da gata grau de rua 244 😍😍💑

@TRINArockstarr I am incredibly thankful for such an amazing evening filled with joy and warmth.

Grateful! 🥹🐬🙏🏽 What a night!

@katyperry Wow, that's truly fascinating! It's amazing how the North Star, despite its immense cultural significance, is actually the 50th brightest star. It just goes to show the power of great PR in shaping our perceptions and beliefs.

just found out that the North Star is not even the brightest star. It’s the 50th brightest star to be exact. Dang, that’s some great PR.

@BrunoMars Chúc mừng Giáng Sinh!!! Hy vọng bạn đã có một ngày thật vui vẻ và tràn đầy yêu thương bên gia đình và những người thân yêu. Mong rằng năm mới sẽ mang đến cho bạn nhiều niềm vui, thành công và ước mơ trở thành hiện thực.

Merry Christmas!!! ♥️