Author: Cointelegraph

Major global cryptocurrency exchange FTX is expanding operations in the United Arab Emirates by receiving a virtual asset license in Dubai. The license is apparently granted under a new cryptocurrency law adopted last week in Dubai, with Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) becoming a major crypto regulator in the Emirate’s special development and free zones. According to FTX founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX has received the “first and so far only” digital exchange license from Dubai. Binance has also obtained a crypto license in Dubai under the same program, according to a report by Bloomberg. The world’s largest…

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Surging commodities and a strong dollar add to stock traders’ woes, with Goldman Sachs’ former CEO wondering why cryptoassets are not “having a moment.” Bitcoin (BTC) stayed near one-week lows on March 7 as a flight to safety among investors did crypto markets no favors. BTC/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: TradingView Gold, dollar spell sour times for stocks Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD bouncing at around $37,600 overnight before tracking around $1,000 higher. The pair had faced pressure into the weekly close, resulting in its lowest levels this month amid reports that Western sanctions against Russia could expand to include an…

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Bitcoin price action goes from $45,000 to $40,800 in 48 hours thanks to an increasingly volatile macro environment. Bitcoin (BTC) bended to new macro pressures on March 4 after bulls failed to hold $42,000 for long. Europe stocks sink on Friday open Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD reaching lows of $40,800 on Bitstamp Friday after a major options expiry event. Overnight performance, initially showing a recovery, had been stymied by worries over a nuclear power plant fire in Ukraine. BTC/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: TradingView Stocks futures fell on the news, the severity of which was subsequently questioned. https://twitter.com/lisaabramowicz1/status/1498618253173735425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1498618253173735425%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcointelegraph.com%2Fnews%2Fbitcoin-returns-to-test-40k-as-macro-factors-pile-up-to-squash-btc-bulls In Germany,…

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Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent has filed for a virtual concerts patent with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) according to business data-tracker Qichacha. The application comes as Chinese companies race to secure Metaverse trademarks. Even though the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) took a strong stance against the Metaverse and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) in November, stating that it would track them with Anti-Money Laundering tools, more than a thousand Chinese companies have submitted over 16,000 metaverse-related trademark applications according to a report from Chinese news outlet, The Paper. Despite the warnings, the Chinese multinational technology and video-game colossus Tencent, has been leading China’s charge into the Metaverse. According to the…

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In a move that may suggest growing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies and NFTs, Nomura Holdings has announced it is establishing a new digital assets team to look into possible opportunities in the asset class. The wealth management company said that it was restructuring its Future Innovation Company into a brand new Digital Company, which will begin operations in April. The main objective of the new company will be to increase clients’ use of digital assets and provide related services. Nomura Group President and CEO said, Kentaro Okuda said: “The new Digital Company will lead deeper collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, accelerate…

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Binance, the world’s leading crypto exchange by trading volume is returning to the Malaysian markets with a strategic stake in the country’s regulated digital asset trading platfrom MX Global. Binance and Cuscapi Berhad acquired a key stake in MX Global, one of the four Recognized Market Operators – Digital Asset Exchange licensed by the Securities Commission (SC) in Malaysia. The leading crypto exchange has a significant presence in the Asian region and with its new partnership in Malaysia, the exchange aims to expand the sustainable growth of the crypto market in the Southeast Asia region. MX Global, on the other hand, aims…

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Apart from high-profile athletes and politicians who are taking salaries in crypto, a study shows that the number of ordinary people who take some of their salaries in crypto has increased globally. Tracking trends that occurred in 2021, global hiring firm Deel published a report that noted a 10% month-over-month increase in people who want to be paid in crypto since November 2020. The data, pulled from over 100,000 contracts in over 150 countries, shows that Latin America (LATAM) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are on top of the regions that have employees taking a portion of their pay in crypto.…

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The United Arab Emirates is reportedly getting ready to start issuing federal licenses for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) by the end of the first quarter of 2022. The move is expected to become part of a complex regulatory framework that the Middle Eastern nation is looking to establish on its way to becoming one of the world’s most crypto-friendly jurisdictions. What could this trajectory look like for the UAE? The proposed regime The UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) is reportedly finalizing rules that would allow digital asset firms to set up shop in the country. While working on the legislation,…

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On Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on multiple fronts, prompting a swift response from the Ukrainian government as it mobilized troops, armed civilians and called upon world leaders to come to its aid.  The same day, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine began accepting donations for its armed forces by setting up a designated bank account for foreign currency wire transfers. The Ukrainian army cited “numerous requests from individuals and legal entities who are not residents of Ukraine and wish to make donations.” It appears one particular part of the memo caught the attention of social media users: “National legislation…

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Japan Exchange Group (JPX), the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Exchange owner, warned the public against companies that are misleading Japanese investors by selling crypto assets under the JPX brand.  JPX issued the alert after receiving reports about an ongoing attempt to dupe unwary investors into trading Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies on platforms misrepresented as JPX or one of its subsidiaries. The company highlighted that the fraudulent companies in question are replicating JPX names, logos and URLs in various forms — including iterations of JPEX, jpex and Japan Exchange — on their platforms and marketing initiatives. JPX’s alert noted: “Be aware that…

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