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.

Luno Among First Crypto Firms to Receive South Africa License

South Africa has started licensing crypto firms, with Luno among the first batch of companies to receive regulatory approval. Regulators in the country have said around 60 firms are set to receive approval by April. Crypto exchange Luno received a license from South Africa’s financial regulator, the company said Thursday, becoming one of the first crypto entities to be regulated in the country. In a statement, the company said it received approval as a financial product under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (FAIS). Luno PTY LTD now appears on FSCA's registry of authorized entities. The South African…

RegulationApr 14

Standard Chartered Raises Year-End BTC Forecast to $150K, Sees 2025 High of $250K

Standard Chartered increased its year-end bitcoin price forecast by 50% to $150,000. The bank also predicted BTC will reach a high for the cycle of $250,000 during 2025 before settling around $200,000. The ether price could climb to $8,000 by year-end if a spot exchange-traded fund is approved in the U.S. Standard Chartered (STAN) raised its year-end forecast for bitcoin's (BTC) price to $150,000 from $100,000. The bank also predicted BTC will reach a high for the cycle of $250,000 next year before settling around $200,000, according to an emailed investment note on Monday. Standard Chartered based its analysis on…

BitcoinApr 14

Study Finds 70% to 80% of Secondary Market Transactions Involve Crypto and Stablecoins

Around 70% to 80% of transactions in the crypto secondary market transactions occur between crypto assets and stablecoins. The South Korean government’s welcoming stance, coupled with the high popularity of crypto assets in the country, are among the reasons why the won is now the second most-used fiat currency. Decline in 2021/2 Crypto-to-Stablecoin Volumes According to the latest analysis by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) of the crypto asset market structure, approximately 70% to 80% of secondary market transactions occur between crypto assets and stablecoins, with no involvement or use of fiat currencies. While this is often the…

MarketsApr 14

TON Foundation Teams Up With HashKey to Drive Crypto On-Ramping in Telegram

TON started life as a project by Telegram but was picked up by members of its community after the messaging app abandoned it due to legal action from the SEC. Native token Toncoin was largely unmoved immediately following the announcement. The stewards of the TON ecosystem have formed a partnership with HashKey Group, the parent company of the Hong Kong-licensed crypto exchange of the same name. One of the aims of the partnership is to increase provision for on- and off-ramping of crypto and fiat to Asia-Pacific users of the wallet service in messaging app Telegram. The TON blockchain started…

AltcoinsApr 14

Crypto Tax Law Firm Accuses Ex-Employee of Stealing Secrets for YouTube Videos

A law firm specializing in crypto taxation recently filed a trade secrets lawsuit in an Illinois US District Court. It names a competitor and a former employee as defendants, alleging misappropriation of confidential materials through YouTube videos. These include templates, client forms, and other proprietary information. In the lawsuit, Gordon Law Group sued ex-employee Justin McCormick and his current employer, Founder’s CPA on four grounds. McCormick’s tenure at Gordon Law spanned less than nine months, from Dec. 4, 2021 to Aug. 16, 2022. Now, he is a senior associate within the digital asset department at Founder’s CPA, an organization offering…

RegulationApr 14

Crucial Fed Decision for Future BTC Price to Be Announced This Week, Here's Catch

Prominent Chinese crypto journalist and blogger Colin Wu, who often shares an insider perspective on the cryptocurrency space on X/Twitter, has reminded the community that later this week the scheduled FOMC meeting will take place. During this event, the U.S. Fed Reserve will make a fundamental announcement that is likely to impact the future movement of the Bitcoin price. Interest rate decision coming According to the tweet published by the aforementioned insider, during a FOMC meeting scheduled for March 20, Wednesday, U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell will announce the Fed's decision on the interest rate. However, data published by…

BitcoinApr 14

Eclipse Fi Integrates KinetixFi to Offer a DeFi One-Stop Shop

Eclipse Fi, a famous DeFi liquidity and launch protocol, has announced an exclusive integration. The company has asserted that it is integrating KinetixFi (a prominent decentralized exchange) to provide a one-stop shop for DeFi-related services and products. On its official X account, the firm mentioned that KinetixFi operates under the Kava network. 🚨 The $KFI Kinetix IDO on Eclipse Fi is coming soon!@KinetixFi is a one-stop shop for everything DeFi. They’re an EVM-based project, built on the Kava network, looking to make DeFi easier, more efficient and overall better for everyone. – A team that built one of @0xPolygon… pic.twitter.com/clneyfyb5s…

DeFiApr 14

Five Arrows buys private equity-backed Rimes

Private equity firm EQT AB has agreed to sell Rimes Technologies to Five Arrows, Rothschild & Co.’s alternative assets division. This news, announced by EQT, involves the company and its co-shareholders selling Rimes to Five Arrows Long Term Fund (FALT) and Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI). EQT to sell data management tech firm Rimes to Five Arrows https://t.co/1LOFxb5884 Swedish Fintech firm EQT has agreed to sell Rimes to Rothschild & Co.’s alternative assets unit Five Arrows. — 📍FinTech.CEO 📍CBDCs.AI (@CryptectiveHQ) April 13, 2024 The exact sale price hasn’t been revealed, but Bloomberg News reports that the transaction values Rimes at…

MarketsApr 14

The Similarities of Terra Luna and This Altcoin Promising High Staking Returns Are Remarkable! Could They Have The Same Endings? Here are the Details

Ethena Labs, a decentralized protocol focused on the yield-generating USDe stablecoin, has become a point of contention among crypto investors, drawing parallels with the Terra ecosystem, which faced a tumultuous collapse in 2021. Ethena Labs Creates Controversy with High Return Strategy and Compared to Terra Ethena's token has sparked mixed reactions within the crypto community since its public launch in February. Stakeholders who stake USD for at least seven days are currently enjoying an annual return of approximately 37%. This high return enabled the total value locked (TVL) on the protocol to rise from $178 million to $2.3 billion in…

AltcoinsApr 14

VARA’s CEO Proposes Cost-Sharing Model to Support Small Crypto Businesses

Matthew White, the CEO of Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), has voiced intentions to alleviate regulatory pressures on smaller cryptocurrency entities. Speaking at a regulatory panel during the Paris Blockchain Week, White acknowledged the imperfections in current crypto regulations and emphasized the need for improvements, particularly to support smaller players in the industry. White highlighted the significant financial strain associated with regulatory compliance, particularly for smaller businesses lacking adequate resources. He expressed VARA's focus on exploring solutions to mitigate these challenges, aiming to create a regulatory environment that accommodates all participants. Among the proposed measures is a concept where…

RegulationApr 14