Author: NBTC

The public discussion around scaling in the last few years has become poisoned and captured by an incredibly toxic and defeatist attitude: “Why bother?” “Why bother trying to scale? Basic napkin math shows it’s impossible no matter what we do for everyone to self custody.” “Why bother trying to scale? People are stupid and lazy anyway, even if we did people would just use a custodian anyways.” “Why bother trying to scale? I’ve got mine, I’ll be rich enough for self custody, who cares about the stupid and lazy plebs anyways?” This attitude is permeating the entire space more and…

Macau intends to launch a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) and connect it to mainland China’s digital yuan and Hong Kong’s e-HKD. The Macau government is working with the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) to advance the e-pataca, local outlets report. It intends to launch a prototype that features basic functions during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau’s handover, set for December 20. Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Similar to Hong Kong, it operates under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and as such, it has its…

Ripple has sparked excitement within the XRP community by amplifying the trending phrase “Lock in.” The statement, which originated in community conversations, has become a sign of anticipation and acceptance, and Ripple’s acknowledgment has boosted sentiment, with many seeing it as a way of recognizing the collective spirit surrounding XRP and its ecosystem. Lock in pic.twitter.com/ia7hxNkc7h — Ripple (@Ripple) December 9, 2024 Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently appeared on the renowned news program “60 Minutes” to discuss the cryptocurrency industry’s ongoing regulatory challenges. The segment aired on Dec. 8, but Garlinghouse expressed disappointment with the way the interview was edited,…

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. Starting next year, the SEC will operate with a smaller team of commissioners while we wait for the Senate to approve President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees. SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, both Republicans, are the only sitting commissioners who will remain with the agency after Inauguration Day. After SEC Chair Gary Gensler departs, how the agency approaches the crypto industry should see a big shift, according to Peirce. “We have a big toolkit,” Peirce said earlier this month during an appearance at the Blockchain Association…

REI Network has announced a partnership with PoPP, a Web3 social identity platform, in a historic development for the Web3 space. The objective of this strategic partnership is to integrate PoPP’s Web3 social protocols with REI’s zero-fee, EVM-compatible blockchain. Both platforms will collaborate to facilitate on-chain behavioral insights that will drive the development of next-generation DeFi, GameFi, and NFT ecosystems. Excited to announce a transformative partnership between REI Network and @Hi_PoPPOfficial! 🤝By combining REI’s zero-fee, EVM-compatible blockchain with PoPP’s Web3 social protocols, we’re enabling on-chain behavioral insights to power next-gen DeFi, GameFi, and NFT ecosystems. pic.twitter.com/WbabG8Pzf2 — REI Network｜From #GXChain!…

For centuries, self-custody has symbolized financial autonomy, enabling individuals to secure their wealth—from gold to cash—without intermediaries. Bitcoin extends this principle into the digital realm, offering a censorship-resistant, decentralized way to hold assets. Yet, upcoming European regulations under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR) threaten to complicate self-custody for Bitcoin users. A New Regulatory Era MiCA, adopted in April 2023, aims to regulate crypto-assets comprehensively in the EU. The revised TFR applies the “Travel Rule” to Bitcoin transactions, requiring detailed sender and recipient information for compliance. These changes will come into effect in…

Since Ethereum’s (ETH) price fell below $4,000 on December 17, it has struggled to reclaim that level, fueling speculation that ETH might not return to the zone before the end of 2024. However, a 5% price increase in the last 24 hours suggests sentiment might be shifting. For Ethereum to retest the $4,000 mark, several key factors must align. Here’s what needs to happen. Ethereum Holders Get Set to Break the Hurdle According to the In/Out of Money Around Price (IOMAP), Ethereum price holds strong support at $3,352. At this point, 3.34 million Ethereum addresses hold 3.18 million coins and…

Cocoa, an unlikely commodity, has become the best-performing asset of 2024, surpassing bitcoin, the U.S. stock market, and other commodities such as gold. Experts predict that prices will likely continue to rise due to relentless demand and climate adversities. Neither Bitcoin nor Gold: Cocoa Rises as the Top Commodity of 2024 2024 was a great year for investors, who were able to reap earnings from stocks, digital currencies like bitcoin, and even commodities like gold. Nonetheless, an unlikely commodity took the crown as the best-performing asset of 2024: cocoa. Cocoa, an agricultural commodity and precursor to chocolate, enjoyed a remarkable…

Some were frustrated that it took six months for the Milady Cult Coin (CULT) to launch onto Ethereum. But founder of Remilia Corporation, Charlotte Fang, claims that it was all part of the plan. They also teased future CULT airdrops and compared the project to a religion. “We waited for the right timing. You only get one chance to set the tone for a launch,” Fang told Decrypt. “We were giving away a lot of size, so it had to be right. Waiting some months doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things when you’re building a thousand year empire.”…

Following the recent US election, leading figures in the cryptocurrency world have seen a massive boost to their wealth, according to a report by Coindesk. CEOs like Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong and Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse experienced major financial gains after the election results. Armstrong, for example, earned an additional $129 million from stock sales, while Coinbase’s market value surged by $21 billion. Armstrong’s stake in Coinbase increased by nearly $2 billion, bringing its total value to $6.4 billion. Coinbase also made a notable political contribution, donating $74 million to various political action committees (PACs) to support the election. Armstrong’s stock sales…