Author: NBTC
Since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to public office, the Securities and Exchange Commission has scaled back its crypto enforcement agenda. It has dropped cases, closed investigations, and changed what it prioritizes for enforcement. The most prominent case to fall out of the docket so far is the SEC’s lawsuit against Gemini Trust Company. Earlier this week, the SEC, alongside Gemini’s exchange now operating as Gemini Space Station, filed a joint stipulation to dismiss the Earn case after a “100 percent in-kind return” of investors’ crypto assets. The case was filed in early 2023 over its high-yield lending product, Gemini…
A prominent whale, identified today by market analyst Lookonchain, has completely dumped his ETH holdings after experiencing an $18.8 million loss over the past two weeks, now decided to pump his entire Ether funds into XAUT (Tether Gold). XAUT, also commonly known as Tether Gold, is a digital (tokenized) gold backed by physical gold. The digital token was launched by Tether, the firm behind the operation of the USDT stablecoin, in January 2020. With the move to tokenize the hard asset on blockchain, Tether aims to make gold more accessible and convenient for both institutional investors and even retail customers.…
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a new consultation last week seeking feedback on proposals to govern how crypto firms do business in the country. The consultation focuses on how firms offering cryptoasset services should meet requirements around consumer protection, conduct standards and regulatory oversight. It forms part of the FCA’s wider crypto roadmap, which aims to align the treatment of cryptoassets more closely with traditional financial services. “These proposals continue our progress towards an open, sustainable and competitive crypto market that people can trust,” the regulator said. “The Consumer Duty sets appropriate standards for crypto firms by ensuring…
Ethereum (ETH) has extended its weekly losses to nearly 10% thanks to a bearish technical setup and fading risk appetite across digital assets. Nonetheless, artificial intelligence (AI) predicts that the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap is going to pull back before the end of the month. More specifically, OpenAI’s flagship large language model, ChatGPT, suggests that under a base-case scenario, which entails no surprising market shocks and steady adoption, Ethereum could trade around $3,400 by February 1. The projection implies a 17% upside from the current Ethereum price of approximately $2,905 and would place the asset back within striking distance…
During his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared that a top executive at one of the world’s 10 largest banks told him that crypto is now their “number one priority” — and that they view it as “existential.” Armstrong’s post, shared on X, highlighted a shift in how legacy financial institutions are engaging with crypto. The remark underscores the growing urgency among traditional banks to adapt to crypto infrastructure, particularly as global regulators move closer to establishing clearer rules for digital assets. Just wrapped up our week in Davos. I don’t love wearing…
A man has been arrested in Uzbekistan for illegally moving well over a million U.S. dollars’ worth of money through global cryptocurrency exchanges. While coin transactions are not prohibited in the Central Asian nation, trading platforms need government approval to operate in its jurisdiction. Uzbekistani trader to be prosecuted for using major crypto exchanges Uzbekistan’s Law enforcement agencies have detained a resident of the city of Andijan, in the southeastern Bukhara region, accused of illegal trading of digital assets “on an especially large scale.” According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the citizen has conducted…
Reading between lines: Stagnant crypto prices stem from “OG” whales exiting and speculative capital rotating into commodities. Long-time holders are selling large amounts of bitcoin and ether due to emerging concerns over quantum computing threats. Speculative money has shifted so aggressively that silver is currently trading with the volatility of a memecoin. Historical data suggests the market needs three to four months to flush leverage, a cycle that began in October. What comes next: Artificial intelligence and “task-specific agents” are poised to transform Ethereum into a fully autonomous machine economy. The new ERC-8004 protocol enables trustless agentic activity, allowing digital…
China US trade tensions escalated again after Beijing openly criticized Washington’s tariff threats targeting Europe. The remarks followed comments linked to Greenland’s strategic importance. Chinese officials warned that trade coercion would destabilize global markets and undermine cooperation. The sharp response signals rising geopolitical friction beyond bilateral disputes. The latest dispute adds another layer to already fragile global trade relations. The US tariff threat aimed at Europe triggered concerns across Asia and Europe. China framed the move as unilateral pressure that damages international norms. Officials urged major economies to avoid weaponizing trade policy. Greenland geopolitics now sits at the center of…
The US crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, has exposed a growing split inside the crypto industry. While Coinbase withdrew support after recent Senate amendments, Ripple has publicly backed the bill and urged lawmakers to move forward. The divergence highlights how the same regulatory framework can produce very different winners and losers, depending on a company’s business model and strategic direction. 🚨NEW: Some of the crypto industry’s leading firms and trade associations are coming out in support of the @BankingGOP’s market structure bill this evening after Coinbase came out against it. So far, we’ve seen endorsements from…
Ethereum (ETH) is trading around $2,900, down 1% over the last 24 hours and more than 10% weekly. Several days ago, ETH fell below the $3,000 level and recently tested support near $2,700–$2,800. It has yet to recover with strength. Breakdown Pattern Raises Risk Analyst Trader Tardigrade shared a 3-day chart showing a bear flag forming on Ethereum. This pattern is characterized by a sharp drop and is usually followed by further downside. The asset is now breaking below the lower support of the flag. The post notes that Ethereum must close above $2,906 soon to avoid a larger drop.…