Author: NBTC

NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

Alex Mashinsky to plead guilty to fraud linked to Celsius bankruptcy

LegalDec 4

Alex Mashinsky, the founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, plans to plead guilty to two counts of fraud, his defense attorney revealed during a hearing on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report. This development comes more than a year after Mashinsky was indicted on seven charges, including fraud, conspiracy, and market manipulation, in July 2023. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges at the time. Mashinsky’s decision to change his plea follows US District Judge John Koeltl’s November ruling denying his motion to dismiss two criminal counts ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for January 2025. Celsius…

Analyst Says It’s Time for Bitcoin Rallies, Updates Forecast on FET and Solana-Based Memecoin

BitcoinDec 4

A closely followed crypto analyst and trader believes that Bitcoin (BTC) has more gas left in the tank despite its latest surge. Pseudonymous analyst Altcoin Sherpa tells his 224,900 followers on the social media platform X that he’s bullish on Bitcoin after reclaiming support at around $60,000. According to the trader, he expects the latest surge to take Bitcoin close to $70,000. “BTC time for $68,000+. Liquidity got taken out below that recent wick low, let’s see if we can get the highs. After that? no clue. But still bullish until shown otherwise.” Source: Altcoin Sherpa/X At time of writing,…

Did ‘AI’ Truth Terminal just pump and dump a coin named $RUSSELL?

AltcoinsDec 4

Truth Terminal, an account on X (formerly Twitter) operated by Andy Ayrey that semi-autonomously incorporates artificial intelligence tools, was recently offered its own cryptocurrency wallet by Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong. The account had an unusual response to this offer, responding, “I think it would be good for you to tell us about Russell first. Specifically, what is Russell’s species?” Who or what is Russell? Some have speculated that Russell is an allusion to Armstrong’s dog. This is apparently based on a deleted X post that appeared to reference the dog using that name. This would partially explain why this…

Congress is back in session. Here’s what to expect in these final weeks.

LegalDec 4

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. Congressional leaders are back on the Hill today for the final weeks of the session, and they have their work cut out. The current federal spending plan expires on Dec. 20, but a government shutdown seems unlikely (at least at this point). Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed interest in passing a continuing resolution that would fund the government through March. The upside for the GOP is they get to put off making bigger decisions until they have control of both chambers. The downside is President-elect…

MicroStrategy's Saylor Issues Crucial Warning

BitcoinDec 4

During a recent appearance on the "Onramp Media" investment podcast, MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor warned Bitcoiners against leveraged trading. "When you're trading 10x leverage…Bitcoin trades down a few thousand dollars, you get forced liquidated while you're sleeping and you lose everything. That's stupid. Don't do that," he said. At the same time, the billionaire has pitched the company's debt-for-Bitcoin strategy: "If you can create a company that raises equity or debt to buy Bitcoin, that's intelligent. If you can borrow money at 4%, that's even more intelligent," he said. Those who have capital that they could hold for more than…

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Makes a Statement on XRP ETF

AltcoinsDec 4

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says an XRP ETF is “inevitable.” Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse believes that it is only a matter of time before the company launches an ETF for XRP. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Garlinghouse expressed confidence that the XRP ETF will eventually be approved, marking a major milestone for Ripple amid its ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “It’s inevitable,” Garlinghouse said, noting the growing demand for crypto-backed ETFs, noting the massive inflows into Bitcoin ETFs following their approval earlier this year. “Since the funds holding bitcoin were first…

‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver Challenges US Tax Evasion Charges

LegalDec 4

Roger Ver, a leading cryptocurrency advocate and early Bitcoin investor, has urged a US court to dismiss tax evasion charges filed against him. He is most popularly known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ among his 745,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). Ver, 45, was arrested in February while attending a crypto conference in Barcelona. He is facing allegations of evading over $48 million in taxes and filing a false tax return. Bitcoin Jesus Claims His Arrest Was Politically Driven The charges are based on the sale of $240 million worth of cryptocurrencies and an “exit tax” linked to Ver’s renunciation of US…

Salvadorans Like Bukele But Aren’t Using Bitcoin, Survey says

BitcoinDec 4

Salvadorans may like President Nayib Bukele for cleaning up the country’s once disastrous security situation. But at least one policy isn’t sticking: Bitcoin. That’s according to a new survey from the San Salvador University Francisco Gavidia, which found only 7.5% of people interviewed said they use cryptocurrency to make transactions, while 92% admitted they didn’t. El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in the country in 2021, the idea of its millennial leader—and prolific tweeter—Bukele. Businesses are legally obligated to accept the cryptocurrency if they have the technological means to do so. President Bukele has also gone on Bitcoin-buying sprees but…

OKX Ventures, The Open Platform, and Folius Ventures Launch $10M Telegram Growth Hub

RegulationDec 4

OKX Ventures, The Open Platform (TOP), and Folius Ventures have announced the launch of a $10 million Telegram Growth Hub. This initiative aims to boost innovation within The Open Network (TON) blockchain and expand Telegram's mini-app ecosystem. The Telegram Growth Hub will select up to ten promising projects for a two-month acceleration program. Teams chosen for this initiative will be eligible for funding from the $10 million pool. Applications are open until November 29, 2024. “We’ve long recognized the immense potential of the Telegram ecosystem and its choice of TON as its preferred blockchain,” Jeff Ren, Partner at OKX Ventures,…

Solana mobile app launch season is upon us

AltcoinsDec 4

This is a segment from the Lightspeed newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. A month ago, Solana Mobile announced that the Solana Seeker would ship in mid-2025. This will mark the second iteration of the Solana phone experiment. Partly driven by speculation that the phone will come with lucrative token airdrops, Seeker has seen good early returns. The phone has garnered 145,000 pre-orders, Solana Mobile general manager Emmett Hollyer confirmed to me. What has slipped a bit below the radar is how Solana’s broader app ecosystem is also quietly shifting into mobile. The Solana DeFi giant Jupiter just debuted its…