NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has warned that the National Security Agency (NSA) is on the verge of significantly expanding its surveillance capabilities through a new bill amending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), potentially allowing the government to compel a wide array of businesses and individuals to assist in NSA surveillance operations. […]
The excitement surrounding the upcoming Bitcoin halving has led to a significant increase in Google searches for “Bitcoin halving,” with interest reaching its highest point ever, more than double that of the last halving event in 2020, and is predicted to hit peak popularity. The halving event, which reduces the rewards miners receive by half, […]
OP_CAT, a proposal aimed at introducing Ethereum-like smart contract functionality to Bitcoin, has been assigned the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) number 347, marking the first step towards potentially implementing this long-discussed software upgrade. Co-authors Ethan Heilman and Armin Sabouri have emphasized that receiving a BIP number mainly facilitates discussion around the proposal by providing a […]
Marathon Digital plans to increase its 2024 hash rate target for Bitcoin mining from 35-37 EH/s to 50 EH/s, thanks to expanded capacity from recent acquisitions, aiming to more than double its mining operations without the need to raise additional capital. The company’s growth includes purchasing a 200 megawatt Bitcoin mining center and two additional […]
According to Chainalysis’ “Crypto Spring Report,” stablecoin adoption and market importance are seeing a rapid increase in 2024, with a significant rise in the number of addresses holding them and their use in on-chain transactions, making them a global financial asset. Legislation efforts in the U.S., such as the Lummis-Gillibrand Payment Stablecoin Act, aim to […]
Tether has partnered with the TON Foundation, launching $60 million of USDT on The Open Network (TON) blockchain as announced at the Token2049 event in Dubai, making TON the 11th largest blockchain out of 16 supproting Tether. This collaboration also introduced the gold-pegged Tether Gold (XAUT) stablecoin on TON, with cross-border payments touted as free, […]
Hong Kong customs officers arrested three individuals involved in a HK$1.8 billion ($228 million) money laundering operation that utilized a cryptocurrency platform and bank accounts of shell companies, with investigations revealing suspicious activities such as abnormally frequent large transactions in accounts with no clear financial backgrounds. The suspects, who did not know each other, allegedly […]
Nubank, a Brazilian neobank, has introduced new features for its cryptocurrency customers. The Sao Paolo-based organization recently enabled deposits and withdrawals of bitcoin, ether, and solana in its cryptocurrency service, broadening the use cases of its platform. Before, the company only allowed users to purchase, hold, and sell cryptocurrency assets. Nubank Enhances Cryptocurrency Features: Opens […]
Edward Snowden criticized the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for targeting app developers aimed at restoring financial privacy, responding to the arrest of the founders and CEO of cryptocurrency mixing service Samourai Wallet on charges related to money laundering and operating without a license. Snowden’s remarks show his ongoing support for financial privacy within the […]
Former First Lady Melania Trump has announced a customizable $245 necklace, “Her Love & Gratitude,” to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12, 2024; the necklace comes with a flower pendant, an adjustable chain, and options for personalization with names, initials, or dates. Buyers of the necklace will also receive a limited-edition digital collectible minted on […]
The first bitcoin futures contracts listed on B3, the stock exchange in Brazil, experienced significant interest from investors on debut day. According to a note delivered by the stock operator, 7,400 bitcoin futures contracts were traded, with the instrument reaching a peak of 111,000 orders on screen. While B3 has also bitcoin ETF contracts, futures […]
Goldman Sachs analysts believe that whether the upcoming Bitcoin halving will turn out to be a “buy the rumor, sell the news” event may have less impact on bitcoin’s medium-term outlook. They explained that the bitcoin price performance will likely continue to be driven by the supply-demand dynamic and continued demand for spot bitcoin exchange-traded […]