Tether (USDT) has recently refuted allegations made by the United Nations regarding the involvement of its USDT stablecoin in illicit activities, such as money laundering and scams. Responding on January 16th, Tether emphasized the role of blockchain technology in crime prevention.

Working With The Law

Tether readily collaborates with law enforcement entities like the DOJ, FBI, and USSS, highlighting its dedication to combating financial crime. Emphasizing the potential of blockchain technology to facilitate the tracking of illegal activities, Tether asserts that their transparent blockchain network enables close monitoring of transactions.

This transparency additionally aids in thwarting illegal transactions of various categories, a challenging task with conventional currency. Tether also pointed out that they recently prevented over $300 million in suspicious transactions.

A Hypocritical Stance

Rather than criticizing blockchain, Tether urges the UN to recognize its merits in the fight against crime. They advocate for collaborative efforts to comprehend and leverage blockchain effectively. Tether expresses a commitment to using digital currencies responsibly and transparently, inviting the UN to engage in discussions to explore ways of reducing digital asset crimes.

This approach aligns with a broader trend in the crypto industry, actively combating financial crime and asserting that blockchain can serve as a tool to prevent crime rather than being its source. Some have even gone as far as to claim that the United Nations is being very hypocritical since it is not like corruption does not exist in the UN either. In fact, the organization has been called inefficient, incompetent and unwieldy by many in the past.

Ubisoft, the publisher of immensely popular titles like Far Cry, Prince Of Persia, and Splinter Cell, has recently partnered with the Wemix Blockchain Node Council. This collaboration makes Ubisoft one of the 40 Wemix partners responsible for running validator nodes on the new Wemix 3.0 network, an Ethereum-compatible EVM blockchain. Previously, the Wemix blockchain operated on the Klaytn mainnet, and it has now been rebranded as Wemix Classic.

A Reliable Infrastructure

The updated Wemix blockchain utilizes a PoS (Proof of Stake) authority consensus algorithm, blending a PoS structure with a PoA (Proof of Authority) model. In line with other blockchains, the Wemix network relies on nodes to authenticate transactions. Nodes, essentially computers running the blockchain software, confirm transactions, and operators are rewarded with cryptocurrency for their contributions. Ubisoft is now the 26th partner, termed Wonder, within the Node Council Partners (NCP), contributing to the validation of the blockchain.

The Future Of Gaming

Ubisoft has been an early entrant into the blockchain gaming domain, particularly among major Western publishers, and demonstrates a sustained interest in the crypto industry. In 2021, Ubisoft integrated free in-game NFTs into Ghost Recon Breakpoint, leading to backlash by gamers critical of its adoption of crypto technology.

Despite this, Ubisoft has persisted in its exploration of crypto, serving as a node operator for the Hedera blockchain in 2022 and the Cronos blockchain in 2023. Additionally, Ubisoft hinted at its inaugural blockchain game, Champions Tactics, and initiated the first free NFT mint for the game, resulting in millions of dollars in trading volume within just a few hours.

The Fantom Foundation has officially reduced the validator self-staking requirement on its layer-1 blockchain, Fantom, by 90%, following a governance vote over six months ago. As of a recent announcement on X, the staking threshold for Fantom (FTM) has been decreased to 50,000 FTM, equivalent to $19,500 as of this time.

It is worth noting that three months ago, the official hot wallet of Fantom was indeed compromised, resulting in a loss of $550,000, which represented less than 1% of the overall funds.

Safety Is Key

Fantom emphasized that this adjustment aims to enhance overall security and increase accessibility for running a validator. A higher number of validators allegedly makes it more challenging for potential malicious attacks, as validators operate by bundling and sharing transactions. Finality is achieved when at least two-thirds of network validators reach a consensus.

The team also anticipates that an increase in validators will result in faster processing of submitted transactions. They assured users that the growth in the validator count will not negatively impact overall network performance, provided the new validators run on quality hardware.

Competition Is Heating Up

Addressing potential security concerns, Fantom clarified that lower staking requirements do not pose a risk, as transaction confirmation power is proportional to the corresponding staking amount, not the number of validators it operates. Fantom had been proposing a reduction in the minimum FTM required to run a node since at least February 2022.

Right now, Fantom currently boasts 58 validators securing its network. In comparison, Ethereum, the leading layer 1 smart contract platform, has over 1.1 million validators. Other platforms like Cardano, Solana, and Avalanche hosted 2,589, 1,876, and 1,119 validators, respectively, according to a June 2023 report citing Messari data.

On behalf of the Web3 community, we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the companies that announced their success in fundraising between 9th January 2024 and 15th January 2024. We are thrilled to see such tremendous support from all involved. Well done! 

Altitude raised $6.1M and successfully completed on-chain testing and will soon move to a closed beta, available to whitelisted addresses, followed by a full launch.

Umoja Labs raised $3.5m, which helps introduce the first DeFi asset risk management primitive, allowing anyone to hedge their market losses just like a multi-billion dollar hedge fund would.

AI Arena raised $11m and plans to put this funding to use in building out the PvP (Player Vs Player) platform fighter as well as developing similar titles.

Fizen raised $480K and, thanks to the enhanced resources that the platform has acquired, the team will focus on marketing and user growth going forward.

Tune.FM raised $20m. The popular Web3 music platform received $20 million in capital from alternative investment group LDA Capital to advance its goals of helping musicians earning a greater share of royalties from their work.

Eesee raised $ 2.85m. The raise included a $1.1 million seed round and a $1.75 million private round, with participation by SevenX Ventures, Maven Capital, MetaBros, Contango Digital Assets, BasementDAO, and more.

Convergence raised $1.8m. Starting with StakeDAOHQ, Convergence is an agnostic governance aggregator, designed to optimize yields across the Curve Finance ecosystem.

Agrotoken raised $12.5m. The Argentinian startup Agrotoken, a tokenization infrastructure startup for agricultural commodities with main operations in Brazil, announced a new round led by Visa. 

Noah DeFi raised $ 2.4m. Through this investment, the ENV aims to support NoahArk Tech Group as they create new avenues for collaboration and development that benefit the entire EOS DeFi ecosystem.

Bitfinity Network raised $7m. Bitfinity, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin Layer 2 network based on the Internet Computer protocol, raised $7 million in total funding.

Orbiter Finance raised an undisclosed amount. The Layer-2 cross-rollup bridge announced that it has closed its first round of funding for an undisclosed amount with participation from participants like Tiger Global and A&T Capital.

BeWater raised $1m. BeWater offers standardized event services, including hackathons, with the highlight being the ability to launch a hackathon in just 10 minutes without the need for permission.

JAN3 CEO and Bitcoin enthusiast Samson Mow predicts an imminent substantial supply shock in Bitcoin, anticipating a potential surge to $1 million very soon. This projection relies on an anticipated supply shock resulting via the demand generated by recently sanctioned Bitcoin ETFs and ongoing market adjustments.

A Critical Few Months Ahead

Should institutions like BlackRock and MicroStrategy persist in acquiring BTC at a brisk pace, the supply could exhaust in approximately four months, rendering Bitcoin scarcer than ever before. Further complicating market dynamics is the impending Bitcoin Halving, an event historically influencing prices by reducing the rate of new BTC creation. The mining reward for new blocks is expected to be cut in half and be 3.125 BTC as compared to the current 6.25 BTC in roughly 90 to 120 days. This, combined with escalating demand and diminishing supply, might lead to an unparalleled price surge.

Mow subscribes to the Max Pain theory, an idea initially conceptualized by traditional financial markets, suggesting that price movements pertaining to BTC could result in maximum financial losses for a substantial number of market participants. In the crypto realm, this could manifest as abrupt and extreme price fluctuations, catching many traders and investors off guard.

Serious Consequences

Mow emphasizes the potential for a short squeeze in the near future, where an unexpected surge in the price of BTC compels short sellers to buy back at higher prices, further boosting the price. The concept aligns with the historical defiance of conventional market expectations shown by Bitcoin alongside its volatile nature.

According to Mow, a rapid ascent to $1 million would disrupt plans for nations and companies investing in Bitcoin, impact the usability of the Lightning Network due to high fees, and challenge the Stock-to-Flow (S2F) model used to predict the value of the flagship crypto.

He also outlines various consequences if Bitcoin were to quickly reach $1 million, including El Salvador missing the opportunity to issue Bitcoin bonds, major economists losing their jobs, Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy falling short of their supply acquisition goal, and a profound impact on the unprepared legacy financial system.

The crypto sphere remains consistently unpredictable, as evidenced by the recent adjustments to the crypto indexes of the Hong Kong Virtual Asset Consortium (HKVAC). XRP, once a leading contender in the global crypto arena, has been removed when it comes to the top five positions in the HKVAC Worldwide Crypto Index, making way for the ascendant Solana (SOL).

The Emergence Of Fresh Contenders

This reshuffling is not merely a numerical shift, it signifies a noteworthy transformation in the crypto landscape. In December 2023, Solana, distinguished by its innovative blockchain structure, surpassed XRP in market capitalization, prompting the HKVAC to favor Solana over XRP in its esteemed index.

The alterations do not end there. Avalanche (AVAX), another influential crypto player, has secured a place in the top 10 index, displacing TRX. While such volatility and swift changes are routine in the crypto world, they underscore the evolving interests of investors and the dynamics of the market.

Wider Significance And Outlook

Despite the raised eyebrows over the decision to exclude XRP, it is crucial to consider the broader picture. The aforementioned indexes serve as indicators for the crypto market, and recent modifications hint at a broader inclination toward diversification and acknowledgment of emerging technologies in the blockchain sector.

Notably, the Hong Kong crypto community remains vibrant, with the local financial regulator preparing for the introduction of spot crypto exchange-traded funds. This development, alongside the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently approving multiple spot Bitcoin ETF applications, indicates increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies.

However, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has emphasized that crypto transactions by these ETFs must occur through SFC-licensed platforms or authorized financial institutions. This requirement underscores the significance of regulatory adherence and the necessity for a balanced approach to innovation and investor safeguarding in the crypto domain.

Bitcoin, despite the recent introduction of several ETFs, experienced a drop below $43,000 due to market corrections. After the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, the price of BTC became volatile, reaching over $49,000 but quickly falling to around $43,000.

A Bright Future

The approval of the aforementioned Bitcoin ETFs saw $4.6 billion in trades, impacting crypto company stocks like MicroStrategy and Coinbase Global. Despite the price drop, experts remain positive about the future of both Bitcoin and crypto in general, viewing the decline as an opportunity to buy at lower prices and foreseeing a potential rise to $200,000.

While Bitcoin faces challenges, some altcoins like Ethereum have experienced smaller losses, while others like SOL and ADA have dropped significantly. The global crypto market cap has also decreased by $80 billion in a day.

Other Markets

Amidst a continuous decline in prices for various goods in China and subdued consumer demand, expectations for corporate earnings boosting the stock market are diminishing. Companies, encompassing various industries like electric vehicles to fast food, are competing with promotions to attract consumers amid concerns about job prospects and a persistent property slump.

Moreover, consumer prices have fallen for a third consecutive month, raising worries about corporate profits and share prices. Although China is likely to achieve its 2023 growth goal of about 5%, attention is now focused on potential challenges like deflation risks, the housing crisis, and a confidence crunch that could affect momentum this year. 

Elsewhere, oil prices increased after Britain and the United States launched military strikes against Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, as tensions in the Red Sea rose further. West Texas Intermediate and Brent futures went up by more than 4% Friday morning, reaching their highest level since December 27th, 2023. Finally, crude oil prices in the US rose to $75.25 per barrel, while the global benchmark reached $80.75.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has undergone a significant shift in his perspective on cryptocurrencies and, notably, Bitcoin (BTC). In a recent media tour, Fink expressed a newfound appreciation for Bitcoin, emphasizing its role as a safeguard against authoritarian regimes. This transformation comes in the wake of the SEC recently approving 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs.

A Change In Tone

Contrary to his stance in 2017, when he, alongside Jamie Dimon, criticized Bitcoin, Fink now praises it as a long-term store of value, especially for individuals in countries where distrust in the government or concerns about currency devaluation exist.

Acknowledging the fact that the flagship crypto, alongside several altcoins, have previously been involved in illicit activities across the globe and continue to do so, Fink nevertheless points to the opportunities that adopting a more progressive approach toward the digital assets could present, citing a change in his viewpoint during the pandemic.

Slow And Steady

With the aforementioned approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC, including those by BlackRock, Fink believes this step legitimizes Bitcoin and enhances safety. He contends that the critical question now is whether people will accept Bitcoin as a border-crossing asset.

In a separate interview, Fink expressed interest in an Ethereum ETF, emphasizing the significance of these developments as initial steps toward tokenization. However, Fink remained tight-lipped about potential future crypto-based ETFs, including Ethereum and XRP, choosing to not provide any further comments on the matter.

A potential disruption in Bitcoin (BTC) supply is looming, evident via on chain data revealing that approximately 57% of all BTC has remained inactive for a minimum of two years. Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards highlighted this trend, emphasizing that the long term holders (LTHs), individuals holding Bitcoin for at least 155 days, include those with a substantial portion of the stagnant supply.

A Noteworthy Pattern

As a statistical observation, coins held by long term holders tend to remain untouched on the blockchain, showcasing a reluctance to move. The aforementioned two years segment comprises investors with an even more resolute commitment, as their holding period surpasses the 155 day mark.

Since the FTX collapse, the supply held by these LTHs has consistently achieved new all time highs, although the recent growth has slightly decelerated. Currently, approximately 57% of Bitcoin is under the control of these committed holders.

Supply Shock May Intensify

Charles Edwards underscores the significant impact of this situation, creating a substantial supply squeeze in the cryptocurrency market. He also draws attention to a historical pattern, noting that similar trends have preceded previous bull runs, indicated by green lines on the chart.

In a noteworthy development, the United States SEC recently granted approval for Bitcoin spot ETFs. Edwards suggests that this approval might intensify the supply shock, emphasizing that the ETFs are approved only for cash subscriptions, leading to a continuous reduction in available Bitcoin on the market. Additionally, chart analyst James V. Straten suggests that this approval could offer another perspective on the brewing supply shock in the asset.

The Ethereum Foundation plans to implement significant alterations to the account abstraction standard within Ethereum to minimize gas consumption, particularly for layer-2 solutions. On January 10th, 2024, a sneak peek of the substantial amendments to the ERC-4337 standard specification was revealed by the Ethereum Foundation. This specification addresses account abstraction, also recognized as smart accounts.

Streamlining The Process

The upcoming version 0.7 incorporates insights gathered over nine months of utilizing ERC-4337, as outlined by developer John Rising. The most notable modification pertains to the structure of account abstraction transactions, which are more intricate than typical Ethereum transactions. Now, these transactions necessitate the specification of five gas values instead of just one.

Rising clarified that the user has to designate multiple gas values to accommodate the fact that an account can perform computations while its signature is being verified. Rising further expounded on the rationale behind requiring more gas values. With smart accounts, he added, users can employ various signature types and pay for gas in diverse ways. Consequently, the gas required varies, and the transaction must delineate the amount willing to be spent for this validation.

Other Important Details

The updated specification will also impose a 10% penalty on users for all unused gas during execution, preventing apps when it comes to submitting transactions with unnecessarily high gas limits. Account abstraction, or smart accounts, extends the capabilities of basic Ethereum accounts by enabling them to possess programmable logic and rules, unlocking various use cases unattainable with conventional accounts.

While current Ethereum accounts are somewhat inert and fixed, account abstraction empowers them to become active and programmable. Proposed in September 2021 through EIP-4337 by Vitalik Buterin and other developers, the Ethereum Foundation has not disclosed a specific release date for version v0.7 but indicated that the security audit is commencing. Rising speculated that everything should be finalized by ETH Denver at the end of February this year.

Elon Musk recently engaged in a conversation with Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood, expressing his views on Bitcoin at an X Space event. The Tesla CEO, while maintaining his generally indifferent stance toward the leading cryptocurrency, mentioned his openness to considering the use of Bitcoin on X. Musk likened Bitcoin to gold, emphasizing its unsuitability for transactions.

Musk Comes Clean

During the discussion, Musk disclosed both his personal holdings of Dogecoin as well as the fact that SpaceX owns Bitcoin. Regarding Bitcoin ETFs recently gaining regulatory approval in the United States, signaling a new phase for both Bitcoin and the broader crypto industry in general, Musk remarked on the immediate market impact. BTC saw its value surge to $47,500, influencing a broader uptick in the crypto market, including various altcoins.

Ulterior Motives

In response to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission recently tweeting about the approval of Bitcoin Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), which was later said to be a false announcement after SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated that the account was hacked, Musk, who had been relatively silent about Dogecoin, reentered the conversation with the comment LFGDogeToTheMoon.

It is worth noting that in 2021, Tesla ceased accepting Bitcoin as payment for vehicle purchases due to concerns about the environmental impact associated with the cryptocurrency. In related news, X quietly removed a key feature for paid subscribers, as these users can no longer set an NFT as their profile picture. The feature was first introduced back in January 2022. 

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved various rule changes concerning the introduction of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. This decision is expected to lead to the conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, holding around $29 billion in cryptocurrency, into an ETF. Mainstream issuers like BlackRock and Fidelity are also likely to launch competing funds, with trading set to commence sometime this week.

This approval comes amid a year marked by significant law enforcement actions targeting crypto firms and industry leaders, including the conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and multiple actions against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.

SEC Finally Comes Around

The approval is seen as a significant step in integrating crypto into mainstream finance, providing institutions and financial advisors with a familiar and regulated route to gain exposure to Bitcoin. Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood expressed optimism about institutional interest, stating that the approval is a green light for institutions.

While the SEC has traditionally opposed spot Bitcoin funds, a shift in stance on ETFs emerged in 2023, potentially influenced by a court decision criticizing the SEC for blocking Bitcoin ETFs while allowing funds tracking BTC futures. SEC Chair Gary Gensler emphasized that the approval specifically applies to exchange-traded products (ETPs) holding Bitcoin, a non-security commodity. This approval does not signal a willingness to approve listing standards for crypto asset securities.

To The Moon

The optimism for approval gained momentum when BlackRock filed an ETF application in June, triggering a surge in applications by other firms. Over ten firms are in the formal process toward a launch, each competing for market leadership with varying expense ratios and marketing efforts. Some firms have already reduced their proposed fees. While not guaranteed, several BTC ETFs are expected to begin trading on the Cboe BZX exchange soon.

The anticipation of ETFs has influenced a recent surge in cryptocurrency prices, as advocates believe their introduction will stimulate demand via investors previously deterred by custody and exchange security concerns.