Author: NBTC

This is a segment from the Empire newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. Can you still be in crypto “for the tech?” The idealist in me would like to say yes — but it’s an increasingly tricky question to answer. Cryptocurrency and blockchain, in the most general sense, are money technologies. That’s quite different from something like media software, where being in it “for the tech” can be more easily expressed by keeping the software free to use. Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the creator of VLC media player, has over the years refused tens of millions of dollars from advertisers in order…

Cardano (ADA), one of the largest proof-of-stake (PoS) networks, inches closer to its next major milestone on its way to fully decentralized governance. Input Output Global (IOG), a Cardano (ADA) core tech development entity, signals its full support for the upcoming Plomin hard fork activation. Cardano’s IOG pledges support to Plomin upgrade The Cardano (ADA) blockchain hit a massive milestone on its Plomin hard fork schedule. Today, Jan. 18, 2025, Input Output Global (IOG) green-lit the activation of Plomin on the main network. As demonstrated by IOG, this means that all conditions for the governance action stated by Interim Constitution…

For the first time, the IRS has successfully prosecuted a case of tax fraud solely involving crypto. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has won a major victory, setting a legal precedent in the fight against crypto-related tax fraud. In December 2024, Frank Richard Ahlgren III was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $1.1 million for evading taxes on his crypto sales. In a Jan. 27 blog post, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said the ruling marks the first time the tax watchdog has secured a conviction for tax fraud solely involving digital assets. “Beyond the IRS, the case also…

Ethereum sellers have struggled to push the asset below the crucial $3K support for months, while recent price action suggests a bullish rebound. However, ETH remains confined between the 100-day MA at $3.3K and the 200-day MA at $3K. A decisive breakout from this range will determine the cryptocurrency’s next major move. Technical Analysis By Shayan The Daily Chart Ethereum’s price action has been in a consolidation phase following a period of selling pressure, with sellers attempting to conquer the $3K support level. The asset is currently trapped between the 100-day MA at $3.3K and the 200-day MA at $3K.…

The last 24 hours have seen a notable issuance of 2,008,333 RLUSD by the Ripple stablecoin RLUSD Treasury. Ripple Stablecoin Tracker, a community account on X that tracks the minting, redemption and transfer of Ripple’s RLUSD, reports this development in a tweet, highlighting the latest activity at the RLUSD Treasury. 💵💵💵💵💵💵 2,008,333 #RLUSD minted at RLUSD Treasury.https://t.co/6pT9ZQXtwd — Ripple Stablecoin Tracker (@RL_Tracker) January 17, 2025 The most recent minting event highlights the continued expansion of RLUSD, with a steady issuance signaling growing demand for the Ripple stablecoin. In the last 24 hours, 2,008,333 RLUSD were minted at RLUSD Treasury. Jan.…

KuCoin founder Michael Gan has stepped down as the crypto exchange’s CEO following a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Gan stepped down after the DOJ agreed to dismiss all the charges against him and his co-founder, Eric Tang, in the protracted case concerning regulation, money laundering, and other criminal matters. Gan published a farewell message on KuCoin’s blog highlighting his achievements as the company’s leader, including growing the exchange from scratch to a user base of 38 million. According to the outgoing CEO, KuCoin has grown into one of the world’s leading exchanges, playing a significant role…

Bitcoin (BTC) has continued its downward trajectory, trading close to the $90,000 key support amid a persistent market selloff. Its price has declined by over 8% in the past week, raising concerns about further potential declines. With declining buying pressure and a drop in institutional participation, Bitcoin risks slipping below $90,000 in the near term. Here’s why. Bitcoin Struggles as Institutional Confidence Wanes On the BTC/USD one-day chart, BTC trades below the red line of its Super Trend indicator. This indicator tracks the direction and strength of an asset’s price trend. It is displayed as a line on the price…

In an informal Ethereum poll, a majority of ETH wallets collectively holding over 51,198 ETH ($164 million) cast their votes in support of former Ethereum researcher Danny Ryan to become the next leader of the Ethereum Foundation (EF). Meanwhile, others call for the Aave DAO to take over the Ethereum Foundation amid the organization’s recent leadership woes. Ethereum Foundation Leadership Concerns Extend On-chain analytics platform Lookonchain reported that 97% of 335 voters backed Ryan in the unofficial vote. “In an informal Ethereum poll, 97% of 335 voters voted for former Ethereum researcher Danny Ryan to become the next leader of…

Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoin at Ripple, has made a bold prediction for the stablecoin market, declaring 2025 as “the year of the stablecoin.” McDonald stated that as U.S. regulation advances, the stablecoin market will benefit from clearer guidelines and standards. This regulatory clarity is expected to foster greater trust, paving the way for broader adoption. The Ripple SVP expressed optimism that Ripple and its stablecoin, RLUSD, are well-positioned to lead the charge in this new era. 2025 is the year of the stablecoin.As US regulation advances, standards will evolve, innovation will expand & real utility will take off. @Ripple…

Crypto will take a new direction in 2025, predicts Volodymyr Nosov, founder and CEO of WhiteBIT Group. He believes government regulations will track all crypto activities, and that it will prove to be a net positive for the industry. Volodymyr Nosov, founder and CEO of the WhiteBIT group, believes the crypto ecosystem will grow with a mix of innovation and new national regulations. “More and more countries will adopt clear legislative frameworks, providing a powerful catalyst for the global expansion of the crypto ecosystem,” said Nosov. “The year 2025 will be defined by a synergy of innovation and regulation. Finding…