Author: NBTC

This is a segment from the Empire newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. This is not a happy story. But I can’t get it out of my head. Earlier this month, it was reported that 21-year-old Alabama resident Berman Nowlin — convicted of wire fraud and money laundering charges over an NFT rug pull in 2022 — had died by suicide. A district court in Florida had ruled him guilty only three weeks earlier. He was due for sentencing later in January and faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The rug pull in question referred to a…

Crypto exchange Gemini has appointed a new senior management team in Europe and plans to significantly expand its footprint in the region in 2025, the company said in a press release on Thursday. Mark Jennings has joined the company as its new head of Europe and Daniel Slutzkin has been appointed head of the U.K., Gemini said. Jennings was previously employed by rival exchange Kraken as its COO for European operations. Slutzkin joins from U.K. broker Stake. Vijay Selvam has assumed the role of international general counsel, and will be based in the U.K., the exchange said. Selvam relocated from…

Bitcoin rebounded this morning and briefly broke through $98,000 before dipping by 0.05%. Bitcoin(BTC) is currently trading at $97,903, and odds on BTC reaching $100,000 in November have also decreased in betting markets. Current Bitcoin Price The market cap for BTC also dropped by 0.05% to $1.94 trillion. The 24-hour market volume is now $52.14 billion after surging by 18.25%. The current market sentiment for Bitcoin is in sync with our Bitcoin Price Prediction trends, and it might even reach a maximum value of $99,917, by the end of the year 2024. Courtesy: Coinmarketcap When it comes to Bitcoin’s stature…

Mantle, the leading blockchain ecosystem powering Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) Mantle Network and Ether Liquid mETH staking protocol, has successfully integrated Ethena’s USDe and Mantle’s mETH on Compound, the leading DeFi lending protocol trusted by the community. This marks a significant step in Mantle’s mission to foster ecosystem synergies, driving widespread DeFi adoption and creating new opportunities for innovation in 2025 and beyond. The integration of USDe and mETH on Compound represents a major achievement for the Mantle ecosystem. USDe has gained significant traction, particularly on the Mantle network, with a TVL of $92.3 million. By bringing USDe to Compound,…

This week brings several major token generation events (TGEs) across diverse sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, liquidity marketplaces, and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). A TGE marks a significant milestone for cryptocurrency projects, involving the creation and distribution of tokens to investors, users, or the public. It often follows fundraising and product development, serving as a crucial step in launching a new token. Here’s an overview of the top TGEs to watch this week. Ink Finance (QUILL) Ink Finance, a DeFi engine designed for protocols, DAOs, and real-world assets (RWAs), has already made a strong impact. Following a $5 million private…

FV Bank is expanding its stablecoin offerings, adding PYUSD for USD integration and cross-border payments. FV Bank has enhanced its stablecoin services by integrating PayPal USD (PYUSD) into its digital banking platform. This addition enables account holders to receive PYUSD directly into their USD accounts, with real-time conversion to USD, simplifying global transactions. The feature is now available and allows customers to send PYUSD payments directly from their USD accounts without needing to mint the stablecoin or manage external wallets, according to a press release shared with crypto.news. FV Bank facilitates this through its real-time processing system, which converts USD…

Metaplanet Stock Price has surged significantly following the company’s exclusive license deal for Bitcoin Magazine Japan, positioning it for further growth in the Japanese crypto market. Metaplanet Bitcoin Holdings have increased to approximately 1,142 BTC, with the company continuing to buy more Bitcoin through bond issuance to expand its crypto portfolio. After signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bitcoin Magazine on July 26, 2024, Metaplanet Inc. (Tokyo: 3350) has announced the definitive agreement to launch Bitcoin Magazine Japan. According to the announcement, Bitcoin Magazine Japan will help Metaplanet to become a leading driving adoption force in the country ahead.…

Solana-based Moo Deng (MOODENG) shot up over 80% within an hour after prominent American crypto exchange Coinbase announced it plans to list the token. Data from CoinGecko shows the meme token is now priced at about $0.57. In a 24-hour period, MOODENG has jumped by nearly 54%. The token, which gained traction in September, is still down from the all-time high price of $0.68 it touched in November. It only has 16% more to rise until it beats that level, though. Assets added to the roadmap today: Moo Deng (MOODENG)https://t.co/rRB9d3hSr2 — Coinbase Assets 🛡️ (@CoinbaseAssets) December 2, 2024 The asset…

Kraken has announced a new initiative for clients receiving funds from FTX on its platform. These clients will be eligible for fee credits, allowing them to trade up to $50,000 in cryptocurrency without incurring trading fees. In December, Kraken was chosen as a partner for distributing funds to former FTX clients. The company aims to reduce the cost of converting these US dollar payouts into cryptocurrencies. Eligible clients will receive up to $105 in Kraken trading fee credits (KFEE), based on the amount of funds received. These credits will be available on Kraken Pro and credited upon receipt of the…

Thailand’s Provincial Electricity Authority has shut down a Bitcoin mining farm for tampering with power meters to steal electricity worth hundreds of millions of baht. According to local media, the PEA, in collaboration with the Crime Suppression Division, has seized 996 Bitcoin mining rigs during a raid on the mining farm located in the Phanat Nikhom district of Chonburi. Authorities discovered the operators of the farm had tampered with their electricity meters to use electricity for mining operations largely free of charge, leading to millions of baht in losses for the Thai state electricity provider. Those responsible for running the…