Visa introduces a way to pay for gas with a credit card
The company’s successful testing of this technology lets users now handle gas fees using their credit or debit cards. This trial took place on the Ethereum Goerli testnet.
AI Meal Plan App Generates Risky Recipes
A New Zealand supermarket’s AI-powered meal planning app has concocted unusual and even hazardous recipes. Developed by Pak ‘n’ Save, the app was meant to aid customers in creatively using leftover ingredients during the cost of living crisis. However, as users input a wider range of household items, the app offered increasingly questionable recommendations. Suggestions included a bleach “fresh breath” mocktail, ant-poison and glue sandwiches, “bleach-infused rice surprise,” and “methanol bliss” – a peculiar turpentine-flavored French toast.
Bitcoin ETFs: What’s New?
This Sunday (August 13) marks the first deadline for the SEC to weigh in on ARK 21Shares’ Bitcoin ETF application. Weekend deadlines are tricky, but some analysts suggest the decision could drop today. Analyst James Seyffart puts the odds of approval at less than 5%. Keep an eye out for the next milestone: BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF deadline is September 2.
XRP Skyrockets to $50 on Gemini!
Just hours after XRP’s relisting on Gemini, an astonishing pricing anomaly has taken the stage. The XRP price on the platform consistently exceeded $1 and even surged to $50 at one point. This unusual event can likely be attributed to limited liquidity.
Circle Readies for Battle Against Traditional Players
Facing increased competition from conventional financial giants like PayPal Holdings Inc., Circle is taking strategic measures. To counter this threat and counterbalance the diminishing market share of its USD Coin stablecoin, Circle is expecting leveraging a substantial cash reserve surpassing $1 billion. The circulating supply of Circle’s USD Coin has experienced a decline, shrinking from $45 billion to around $26 billion since the start of this year.
Ripple joins BIS initiative to enhance global payments
Following the Bank for International Settlements’ official announcement on August 9th, Ripple has been included in a task force targeting the enhancement and facilitation of cross-border payments. The core task is to fine-tune international payments by increasing the accessibility of payment systems and nurturing the links between them, encompassing API consolidation.
Asset control in dispute between FTX and UCC
As FTX undergoes restructuring, it finds itself clashing with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors over asset governance. John Ray III has shown unease about UCC’s idea of diverting $2.6 billion to U.S. Treasury bonds, all to offset anticipated professional expenses of nearly $330 million. FTX has formerly assailed UCC’s strategy and blamed the committee of attempting illegal oversight over client assets.
Maxine Waters raises alarm over PYUSD
The recent debut of PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, has drawn concern from Congresswoman Maxine Waters. She criticized PayPal’s entry into the cryptocurrency market without a defined federal regulatory structure. Highlighting PayPal’s vast clientele, which outnumbers the combined accounts of major banks, Waters stressed the pivotal role of federal oversight in crypto dealings: “As I’ve said for more than a year, without legislation on the books that establishes clear and strong consumer protections at the Federal level, consumers are at greater risk of harm at the hands of bad actors.”
David Rubenstein wishes he had bought Bitcoin earlier
Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein, in an interview with Bloomberg, expressed his regret for missing the opportunity to invest in Bitcoin when a single coin was worth just $100. Not one to dwell on past mistakes, David’s currently pouring capital into companies making crypto trading accessible for everyone. Sound familiar? David’s story echoes in many of us.
Bernstein envisions stablecoin market soaring to $2.8 trillion
Casting their gaze five years into the future, investment company Bernstein speculates the stablecoin market will burgeon to a staggering $2.8 trillion. A key catalyst for this boom? The widespread adoption of stablecoins by financial platforms, a trend set to amplify the circulation of these tokens.
Crypto world stunned as unknown user burns more assets
After nd4.eth’s dramatic incineration of 2500 ETH valued in the millions 15 days prior, the anonymous figure continues to confound the crypto community. This unidentified actor has recently transferred 3 NFTs from top-tier collections BAYC, MAYC, and BAKC to a burn address, with an aggregate value exceeding $88,000. A deliberate obliteration of digital wealth rages on!
Monobank Takes a Stand: No BTC Payments!
“Simply put, no. Bitcoin raises concerns among both local and European regulators. Our primary business demands our focus, and it wouldn’t be rational to jeopardize it by engaging with a high-risk asset like Bitcoin,” says Mykhailo Rohalskyi. He believes that cryptocurrency lacks advantages over fiat money, apart from the potential to sidestep local currency regulations. Speaking on Ukraine’s crypto landscape, the Monobank co-founder added: “I’m skeptical about the widespread acceptance of cryptocurrencies in our country. The approach of the National Bank of Ukraine to crypto regulation remains uncertain.”
Today’s Focus: The CPI Index Release
The US Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, is set to be unveiled at 12:30 pm UTC. Current index level: 3.0% Forecast: 3.3%, marking a 0.3% CPI increase Discover more about the CPI in our article. Stay vigilant during potential market swings and approach trading wisely! UPD: The rate of inflation in the United States has risen to 3.2%, a bit under the forecasted amount.
Argentine Investigates Worldcoin’s Activities
The Argentine Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP) has opened a probe into the activities of Worldcoin within the country. The issue came to light following widespread iris scanning in various parts of Buenos Aires and its provinces.
What’s up with Base?
The TVL of Coinbase’s blockchain has surged to $146 million following its mainnet launch, surpassing StarkNet’s TVL of $112 million. What’s particularly striking is that roughly 87% of Base’s TVL is held in ETH. However, the network’s throughput still has room for improvement, with its TPS standing at roughly 5.81. For comparison, here are the TPS figures of other L2 solutions: Optimism — 6.88 Arbitrum One — 7.26 zkSync Er — 10.72
Tether Teasing a New Mobile App?
Company’s CTO Paolo Ardoino has shared his excitement about a mobile app designed to facilitate international purchases settlements B2B, B2C and C2C based on USDT and XAUT payments. Notably, the app will also incorporate support for Bitcoin Lightning. Paolo stated that he envisions this app as the future of trade finance. Having personally reviewed the code, his experience as a developer has left him genuinely impressed. Currently, the app is in its testing stages, with more specifics yet to be unveiled.
SEC to Contest Judge’s Ruling on XRP’s Security Status
US District Judge Analisa Torres in New York had previously indicated that XRP sales to sophisticated investors fulfilled the criteria for an investment contract under federal securities law However, this characterization didn’t extend to programmatic investors, which pertains to the general public buying crypto through exchanges.
Hacker wins $1M and pledges donation to Ukrainian Armed Forces
Identifying a crucial flaw in HackenProof’s system, the hacker known as blazezaria was rewarded $1 million, with payouts over the course of a year. He then pledged to allocate 10% from each disbursement to a Ukrainian fund aiding the AFU. The initial contribution of 8290 USDT has been successfully executed.
Disney delves into artificial intelligence
In spite of increasing concerns among its creative workforce, Disney has established a specialized task force to study the applications of artificial intelligence within its different fields of work. The group aims to both pioneer in-house AI-based solutions and to bridge ties with novel startups, hoping to incorporate their pre-developed tech advancements.
Microsoft and Aptos join forces for blockchain innovation
Aptos Labs is set to work with Microsoft to infuse its blockchain products, including fresh developments, with artificial intelligence. Aptos Assistant, a chatbot, is one such innovation that educates users about the Aptos ecosystem and assists developers in crafting smart contracts and decentralized apps. A 15% rise in the APT token’s value followed the announcement of the collaboration.
Universal Music and Google aim to legalize AI-Generated Music
In a joint effort to combat the growing phenomenon of AI-based music forgeries in the industry, companies are working together. Their main aim, though still in initial talks, is to develop a tool that would allow songs generated by artificial intelligence, emulating artists, to be created on legitimate grounds.
FTX fraud leads to legal action against venture capital firms
Several leading venture capital companies such as Temasek, Sequoia Capital, and Softbank, are now facing legal challenges over alleged complicity in FTX fraud. The claimants in the lawsuit accuse the investors of using their power and financial resources to support the exchange’s activities, despite numerous legal violations and misappropriation of customer funds by FTX. For instance, before the eventual bankruptcy of the exchange, Temasek affirmed that their rigorous eight-month scrutiny of financial aspects and compliance standards yielded no troubling findings.
World’s Most Expensive Painting to Become an NFT
Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and famously sold for $450.3 million at Christie’s New York, is set to be transformed into a NFT. The digital tokenization of this controversial artwork, depicting Christ with a crystal orb, will be carried out by ElmonX, a digital assets platform, in collaboration with Bridgeman Images, an international image licensing company. The terms of the NFT sale are scheduled to be revealed on August 12. This initiative follows the successful NFTization of renowned artworks such as Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, , Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, and Claude Monet’s Nymphéas, each created in partnership between the two entities. A total of 330 editions of the Mona Lisa were sold for £150.00 each.
Nearly One-Fifth of New York Residents Own Crypto
The study also revealed that 1 in 3 New York residents views cryptocurrencies as a potential contributor to a more equitable financial system and a valuable investment for the future. The report highlighted the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies within New York, making the state a hub for diverse blockchain initiatives. It pointed out the existence of 692 blockchain organizations and over 800 founders located in the state of New York.
Elon Musk’s Legal Team Calls for Dismissal of Dogecoin Lawsuit
Elon Musk’s legal team argues that his court battle with a group of disgruntled Dogecoin investors has dragged on for too long. The billionaire’s attorney, Alex Shapiro, has requested the dismissal of the revised lawsuit. “Enough is enough,” Shapiro wrote. “This action is yet another example of counsel’s abusive and belligerent litigation tactics.”
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Who Is Crypto Kaleo: A Market Analyst with 700,000 Followers
Crypto Kaleo is a renowned crypto trader and one of the most followed influencers in the industry. Active since 2017, he has built a strong presence on X, TradingView, and other platforms, sharing technical analysis, market predictions, and insightful commentary on the crypto space.
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Zora Network Reviewed: A Testnet Guide
Are sky-high Ethereum fees getting you down? The folks at Zora have come up with an alternative, introducing their Layer 2 solution with lower transaction fees. This article will walk you through how to get involved with the project and earn some rewards.