Crypto News
Changpeng Zhao denies reports of a Binance.US deal, defends Trump
Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has denied many of the claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from US President Donald Trump.In a March 13 X post following the release of the report, Zhao said he had no discussions regarding a business deal between the Trump family and Binance.US. He further denied claims that he wanted a presidential pardon from Trump, which could potentially allow him to assume an operational or management role at Binance.“No felon would mind a pardon, especially being the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] charge,” said CZ. “Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto, and the residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.”CZ’s statement on a March 13 Wall Street Journal report. Source: Changpeng ZhaoIn November 2023, Binance reached a deal with US authorities requiring the exchange to pay $4.3 billion and Zhao to plead guilty to one count of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failure to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at the exchange. CZ stepped down as CEO, was later sentenced to four months in prison, and reportedly was permanently enjoined from operating or managing Binance as part of the deal.What would a president pardon do for CZ now?Having already served time in prison, CZ seeking any potential pardon from Trump would not erase the former CEO’s felony charge. However, according to the US Justice Department, a pardon will “facilitate removal of legal disabilities imposed because of the conviction” — e.g., potentially removing any restrictions on Zhao’s involvement with the crypto industry.Related: Abu Dhabi’s MGX backs Binance with $2B stablecoin investmentThe 2023 deal with Binance did not resolve the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s civil case with the crypto exchange. However, after the departure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler and the appointment of Commissioner Mark Uyeda as acting chair, the regulator filed for a 60-day pause in court. Since Trump took office in January, the SEC has dropped several investigations and enforcement actions against major crypto firms, including those who donated to his campaign or inauguration fund. In addition to halting Binance’s case, the SEC may be considering wrapping up its civil suit against Ripple Labs.Magazine: Meet lawyer Max Burwick — ‘The ambulance chaser of crypto’
Published Date: 2025-03-13 16:09:26Creator: Cointelegraph by Turner Wright
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Solana price bottom below $100? Death cross hints at 30% drop
Solana (SOL) price completed a “death cross” on the one-day chart on March 12, as the altcoin consolidated near its long-term support level at $125. This could potentially accelerate the SOL price sell-off in the near term for a drop below $100 for the first time since February 2024. Solana’s 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA death cross occurs when a bearish crossover occurs between the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs), with the long-term indicator above the short-term indicator. Last month, the 50-day and 200-day exponential moving averages (EMAs) triggered a death cross on Solana’s one-day chart, after which prices dropped 17%, from $137 to $122. While the SMA and EMA death crosses carry similar implications, the EMA triggers the death cross faster since it responds more quickly to price changes. A double death cross from the SMA and EMA will likely increase the possibility of a correction. Historically, the odds are neutral for Solana. Since its inception, SOL’s price has witnessed a death cross three times (including 2025) when prices have been on a 90-day or higher downtrend. The first death cross in 2022 triggered a 90% collapse, but the FTX’s fiasco escalated its severity. The second death cross occurred in September 2024, but it reversed within a month, leading to the Trump rally. Related: 3 reasons why Ethereum can outperform its rivals after crashing to 17-month lowsYet, the current structure and sentiment mirror the 2022 death cross when we compare market conditions. On both occasions, a new all-time high preceded the downtrend, which led to the death cross.As Cointelegraph reported, Solana’s revenue dropped 93% since January, dropping from $238 million to $32 million. This indicates a current lack of activity on Solana’s network after the end of the memecoin frenzy.Can Solana traders defend $125?Based on its technicals, Solana remains in a tricky spot when comparing previous death cross returns and collective market sentiment. Solana must hold support between $125 and $110 for a bullish reversal. Since March 2024, SOL prices have rebounded six times after testing the support range, closing above $125 on each weekly retest. Solana 1-week chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA weekly close below $125 will signal market weakness, potentially increasing the likelihood of a drop below $100. The immediate price target after $110 is around $80 for Solana, which is a significant 30% correction. The downtrend target carries confluence with the weekly 0.5 Fibonacci retracement line. Solana bullish divergences on the 1-day and 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewHowever, the bulls will pin their hopes on a bullish divergence between the price and relative strength index (RSI) on the 1-day and 4-hour charts. If Solana manages to avoid another lower low, the divergences will remain valid, which can push prices higher above $125, enabling Solana to avoid a drop below $100 and possibly establish a bottom at $112. Related: Will Bitcoin price reclaim $95K before the end of March?This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Published Date: 2025-03-13 16:06:29Creator: Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly
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ETH falling by 20% may trigger $336M in DeFi liquidations — Web3 exec
If the price of Ether (ETH) falls by a further 20%, the price decline could trigger a cascade of up to $336 million in decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidations, according to Kevin Rusher, founder of the real-world asset (RWA) lending platform RAAC.The executive warned that a decline to $1,857 would trigger $136 million in liquidations, and a price drop to $1,780 could potentially trigger an additional $117 million in loan liquidations — making these the next price levels to watch.Rusher added that the worst-case scenario would be a 20% drop in ETH’s price to around the $1,500 price level, which could liquidate $336 million in DeFi loans, sending the markets tumbling. In a written statement shared with Cointelegraph, Rusher said:“The main catalyst of this crisis is a single $130m ETH-backed loan in Sky, formerly Maker, which is on the verge of collapse despite the borrower scrambling to add more collateral. Every cycle, crypto-backed loans suffer from extreme volatility, leading to cascading liquidations that crash the price of assets.”The executive called for integrating RWAs, such as real estate and gold, which feature much stabler values, into the DeFi ecosystem to offset volatility and prevent cascading liquidations due to overleveraging.Total ETH liquidations. Source: CoinGlassRelated: 3 reasons why Ethereum can outperform its rivals after crashing to 17-month lowsETH price crumbles; more pain coming?Ether has dropped to multi-year lows against Bitcoin (BTC), signaling another potential 30% drop against the supply-capped asset, and led to some analysts predicting a potential $1,600 price bottom for ETH.ETH’s price has declined by over 15% in the past seven days and has been trading well below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) since February.The relative strength index (RSI) is currently at 31, which is almost in oversold territory, potentially representing a local bottom and could signal an impending price reversal.Current Ethereum price action and analysis. Source: TradingViewEther’s disappointing price action prompted calls from some market analysts to shift into higher-performing altcoins to maximize profit potential.“If still stuck on ETH, it is likely a good time to dump it to buy a higher beta altcoin,” trader Alex Krüger said in a March 12 X post.Magazine: Pectra hard fork explained — Will it get Ethereum back on track?This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Published Date: 2025-03-13 15:04:42Creator: Cointelegraph by Vince Quill
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75% of VASPs registered in the EU will not be able to comply with MiCA
Opinion by: Slava Demchuk, co-founder and CEO of AMLBotAll virtual asset service providers (VASPs) registered in the EU before 2025 must comply with Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) requirements this year. Not all will be able to do so. The MiCA regulation is, in essence, a good legal framework for the crypto industry, but it also has some disadvantages, especially for crypto startups and small businesses. Looking at the case of Estonia and its implementation of crypto licenses in 2017, it is possible to predict that around 75% of VASPs will need to cease their operations in the EU. What happened in Estonia with crypto licenses? In 2017, Estonia was one of the first EU member states to introduce a crypto licensing process. Getting a crypto license (a VASP registration) was easy and fast. No physical presence, share capital requirement, or proof of having sound Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) systems in place were required. The result? By 2019, Estonia had issued around 2,000 crypto licenses. Starting in 2019, however, Estonia adopted several amendments to the law, incorporating requirements similar to MiCA. As a consequence, the majority of licensed crypto companies were not able to comply with new requirements and lost their licenses. Today, Estonia has only around 45 licensed crypto businesses.Current situation in the EU with VASP registrationSimilar situations will occur in countries with light VASP registration requirements, such as Poland and the Czech Republic. There are around 1,600 VASPs registered in Poland, owing to the easy and fast process of registering in the country before the MiCA implementation. With minimal requirements, one can open a company and receive a VASP registration in these countries within a few weeks. These licensing processes completely changed in 2025 when MiCA entered fully into force. All the registered VASPs must comply with new requirements, which will be the same regardless of their country of incorporation; otherwise, they will be required to cease their business. Recent: 10 stablecoin issuers approved under EU’s MiCA — Tether is left outMost of them will not be able to comply, based on previous experience, such as when 1,900 companies lost their VASP registrations in Estonia. Those license losses occurred as a result of several key factors: Their size: Many registered VASPs were one-to-three-person companies that provided essential exchange in p2p platforms or over-the-counter. They will not have enough resources to comply with strict MiCA requirements.The cost: Acquiring a MiCA license is expensive. It was previously possible to receive VASP registration in Poland or the Czech Republic for 2,000-4,000 euros. The price for a MiCA license is much more than that, typically around 30,000-80,000 euros, depending on the business model and country of incorporation.The requirements: Companies that apply for a MiCA license must prove they have many complex processes in place, including but not limited to AML/KYC, data protection and cyber resilience. Therefore, the company must hire many specialists and build many processes. Based on the number of VASPs registered in Poland, those 1,600 VASPs will need to find 1,600 AML/compliance officers (one per VASP) by July 2025 — when all VASPs in Poland shall comply with MiCA — that have relevant knowledge, expertise and pass the fit-and-proper test. This will be nearly impossible.In addition, MiCA has high share capital requirements ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 euros, depending on the services a company provides. Many currently registered VASPs are startups or small companies whose revenue will not be able to cover all the costs needed to build the processes mentioned above and satisfy the share capital requirements. Where does that leave the small businesses and the startups? They will not be equipped to comply with MiCA.Opinion by: Slava Demchuk, co-founder and CEO of AMLBot.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Published Date: 2025-03-13 15:00:00Creator: Cointelegraph by Slava Demchuk
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Bitcoin price drops 2% as falling inflation boosts US trade war fears
Bitcoin (BTC) shrugged off gains at the March 13 Wall Street open as US inflation markers continued to fall.BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBitcoin follows stocks lowerData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD circling $81,500, down 2.3% on the day.The February print of the Producer Price Index (PPI) came in below median expectations, copying the Consumer Price Index (CPI) results from the day prior.“On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand advanced 3.2 percent for the 12 months ended in February,” an accompanying press release from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated.“In February, a 0.3-percent increase in prices for final demand goods offset a 0.2-percent decline in the index for final demand services.”US PPI 1-month % change. Source: BLSAlready a double tailwind for crypto and risk assets, cooling inflation also stunted a rebound in US dollar strength, as viewed through the US Dollar Index (DXY).US Dollar Index (DXY) 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewDespite this, both stocks and crypto remained unmoved, leading trading resource The Kobeissi Letter to tie in the ongoing US trade war.“As we have seen, the market has had a very MUTED reaction to inflation data that would’ve previously sent the S&P 500 SHARPLY higher,” it wrote in part of its latest analysis on X.“Why is this the case? This data provides President Trump a reason to keep doing what he is currently doing.”S&P 500 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewKobeissi explained that trader war efforts may now intensify, given slowing inflation.“This is exactly why markets are not recovering losses following some of the best inflation data in months,” it continued, suggesting traders should “buckle up for more volatility.”A week before the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision, market expectations for financial easing remained similarly lackluster, with the chance of a cut at just 1%, per data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool. Odds for the Fed’s May meeting were at 28%.Fed target rate probabilities. Source: CME Group“The Fed has already decided: steady course, no cuts this FOMC. Powell made that clear last week,” popular crypto trader Josh Rager told X followers earlier in the week, referencing a recent speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. “Rate cuts? More likely in May/June, not March.”BTC price inertia leaves key resistance intactBitcoin price action thus sat between bands of buy and sell liquidity on exchange order books, with the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) in place as resistance.Related: Bitcoin whales hint at $80K ‘market rebound’ as Binance inflows coolFor Keith Alan, co-founder of trading resource Material Indicators, this trendline, which typically functions as support during Bitcoin bull markets, was the nearest important level to reclaim.“Bitcoin faces strong resistance at the 200-Day MA for the 4th consecutive day,” he summarized on X.Referring to Material Indicators’ proprietary trading tools, Alan concluded that such a reclaim was unlikely on the day, notwithstanding surprise catalysts in the form of announcements from the US government.BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: Keith Alan/XMeanwhile, data from monitoring resource CoinGlass showed key upside resistance clustered immediately below $85,000.BTC liquidation heatmap (screenshot). Source: CoinGlassThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Published Date: 2025-03-13 14:23:36Creator: Cointelegraph by William Suberg
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Addressable introduces cost per wallet metric for Web3 marketing
Web3 marketing firm Addressable has launched cost per wallet (CPW), a new metric aimed at improving user acquisition tracking for decentralized applications (DApps) and blockchain businesses.The company claims CPW provides a more precise measure of user engagement compared to traditional Web2 marketing, where metrics such as customer acquisition cost (CAC) and cost per click (CPC) are commonly used, by tracking onchain wallet activity instead of ad clicks or website logins.A lower CPA means customer acquisition is more efficient, while a lower CPC indicates that businesses are implementing more cost-effective ad campaigns. Addressable claims that CPW would allow businesses to determine which users are “high-value” and are more likely to get converted into their marketing funnels, helping them optimize their marketing efforts and avoid “bots.” Users with wallets more likely to convert to crypto productsAddressable chief operating officer and co-founder Asaf Nadler told Cointelegraph that their analysis data showed that users with a wallet are more likely to convert to crypto products:“Our analysis reveals a striking insight: users with a crypto wallet installed are 18 times more likely to sign up and seven times more likely to convert to crypto products.”Nadler argued this makes CPW a “more effective” metric than traditional metrics. The executive said metrics like CPC or cost per impression (CPM) often fail to determine who are high-intent users and which ones are simply “low-quality traffic,” users who may not be interested in their products. “For the first time, crypto companies can accurately measure which campaigns drive engaged, high-value users, rather than wasting resources on bots or ‘normies’ who are unlikely to convert,” Nadler told Cointelegraph. In a press release, Addressable said the new Web3-native acquisition metric could help crypto projects track how many users become active participants in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, wallets or exchanges. Effect of wallet ownership on engagement, logins and conversions Source: AddressableRelated: UAE saw 41% increase in crypto app downloads in 2024 — AppsFlyerMarketing for institutional adoptionWhile CPW primarily targets retail user acquisition, the broader crypto industry is also shifting focus toward institutional adoption.On Jan. 22, Etherealize, a marketing firm backed by the Ethereum Foundation, launched to educate institutions on blockchain and Ether (ETH). Etherealize co-founder Grant Hummer said the company wants to bring “all of Wall Street onto Ethereum rails.” Additional reporting by Ezra Reguerra. Magazine: Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking: Here’s why
Published Date: 2025-03-13 14:00:00Creator: Cointelegraph by Lyne Qian
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US-Canada tariff flip-flops have Bitcoin miners on their toes
Bitcoin miners are adapting their business strategies as the continued trade war between the US and Canada makes energy prices and policies all the more uncertain.US President Donald Trump threatened to double his tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, leading the government of the province of Ontario to walk back its own plan to increase the cost of power exports to the US.Ontario Premier Doug Ford had promised to further increase the surcharge or even “shut off the electricity completely,” given further provocation. However, he appears to have softened his stance, at least for now. The trade war may have reached a lull, but some crypto firms are looking ahead at possible policy changes in order to protect their growth. Bitcoin miners expect changes in energy marketsBen Ganon, the CEO of Canadian Bitcoin mining firm Bitfarms, told Bloomberg on March 11 that the recent energy price hikes, had they gone through, were unlikely to affect his firm’s business. Bitfarms’ operations are mostly in Quebec and British Columbia, both of which boast significant hydroelectric capacity in relation to the total provincial energy mix. Ontario, by comparison, is “not as robust of an energy market. And over the last several years, they’ve really taken a big push on cutting back on baseload capacity.”But even though Bitfarms’ energy situation may look solid for the time being, Ganon said that the tariffs “have implications for what policy and regulatory frameworks are going to look like in the future.”He said that his firm wants to see “greater access to electricity markets” as well as fewer regulations on setting up a new business or new power applications. Energy policy has been a contentious area of debate in Canadian politics, with critics accusing the Liberal government — now led by Prime Minister Mark Carney — of harming the Canadian economy with their strategies to lower emissions. Related: What Canada’s new Liberal PM Mark Carney means for cryptoGanon said: “The opportunities that are present in the United States are also present in Canada. And I think that this will all resolve itself and end up in a much more deregulated and smooth and efficient market because for years it’s been tied up in regulatory red tape.”How would a Bitcoin miner benefit from tariffs?Tariffs on goods such as steel, aluminum, and other industrial products — intended to encourage domestic production in the US— also impact Bitcoin miners, with some effects being unexpectedly beneficial.While Ganon noted that miners can’t control the Bitcoin price, they can control their electricity costs. “One of the ways that we can do that is we can look for pockets of energy that are underutilized, that used to power heavy industry, which has been outsourced to other countries over the last 20 or 30 years.”According to Ganon, Bitfarms has operations in Pennsylvania — a “Rust Belt” state heavily affected by the outsourcing of American steel and metals industries. His firm’s assets could soon be in high demand if the US manufacturing industry were to come back from the dead.Ganon said that Bitcoin miners have been investing heavily in energy infrastructure that “used to power aluminum smelters and steel refineries and all the stuff which was outsourced.”“Now Bitcoin miners have these assets. And as the pendulum swings back to America, those assets are now in high demand.”China tariffs squeeze Bitcoin mining hardwareCanadian miners like Bitfarms may be unconcerned for now, but Trump’s tariffs on China have already begun to squeeze American crypto miners, who import hardware from China-based firms like Bitmain.According to Bloomberg, shipments of Bitcoin mining hardware from China to the US were experiencing significant delays as of February 2025. The delays reportedly were the result of the US blacklisting Bitmain’s AI affiliate Xiamen Sophgo Technologies. Heavy customs fees for inspections of Bitmain-affiliated hardware have cost US miners up to $500,000, according to Vishnu Mackenchery, director of global logistics and services at Compass Mining Inc. New tariffs could make new imports of next-gen miners to the US “completely cost-prohibitive,” according to Synteq Digital CEO Taras Kulyk.China-based mining hardware producers like Bitmain could set up operations in other countries to avoid US sanctions. During Trump’s first term, when he imposed a 25% tax duty on a number of consumer electronic goods from China, many mining hardware producers moved to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to avoid tariffs.Bitmain even announced it would launch a US production line in December 2024 to “provide faster response times and more efficient services to the North American customers.” Bloomberg noted that the firm did not provide the exact location of its US line. Related: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says US should bring BTC onshoreTrump’s economic policies continue to be a mixed bag for the crypto industry. Wild fluctuations in trade policy and last-minute reversals have made the market difficult to predict. Elsewhere, the European Union has promised to impose counter-tariffs on the US, further threatening asset valuations. Bitcoin price chart Sept. 1, 2024 to March 13, 2025. Source: TradingViewMarcin Kazmierczak, co-founder and chief operating officer of blockchain oracle solution firm RedStone, told Cointelegraph this could see Bitcoin sink to $75,000, a level not seen since November 2024. Magazine: Mystery celeb memecoin scam factory, HK firm dumps Bitcoin: Asia Express
Published Date: 2025-03-13 13:30:00Creator: Cointelegraph by Aaron Wood
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Trump family held talks with Binance for stake in crypto exchange — Report
Representatives of US President Donald Trump’s family have reportedly held talks with Binance about acquiring a stake in the crypto exchange.Binance reached out to Trump’s family representatives in 2024, offering to strike a deal as part of a plan to resume Binance.US operations in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 13.Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report mentioned that Binance’s billionaire founder Changpeng Zhao — who served four months in prison in the US — has been pushing for the Trump administration to grant him a pardon.“It is unclear what form the Trump family stake would take if the deal comes together or whether it would be contingent on a pardon,” the report said.World Liberty Financial among deal optionsAccording to WSJ, a potential opportunity could be a scenario where Trump takes the stake in Binance or proceeds with the deal through World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a Trump-backed crypto venture launched in September 2024.Trump has emerged as the first US “crypto president,” launching his Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin days before returning to the White House on Jan. 20. A similar memecoin subsequently came from Trump’s wife, Melania, while Trump’s son, Eric Trump, has been actively pushing for Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto adoption.Cointelegraph approached Binance for a comment regarding the report on the alleged deal but did not receive a response by publication.Additionally, Binance executives anticipated a potential legal resolution in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) civil case against Tron founder Justin Sun, The WSJ reported.Sun, who in November 2024 announced a $30 million investment in Trump’s WLFI, jointly asked a US court to halt his case with the SEC in February 2025.Neither Sun nor any Binance representatives attended the first White House Crypto Summit on March 7, 2025.Trump slams WSJ for “polluted thinking” of the EUMinutes before the WSJ article was published at 1:00 pm UTC, Trump took to Truth Social to slam the publication for allegedly reporting wrong information.“The Globalist Wall Street Journal has no idea what they are doing or saying. They are owned by the polluted thinking of the European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of ‘screwing’ the United States of America,” the president wrote.Source: Donald TrumpWhile Trump was fast to address the WSJ report minutes before its publication, key Trump-linked industry figures — including Elon Musk and David Sacks — did not react to the news on social media.Source: Changpeng ZhaoZhao subsequently took to X to deny the allegations, suggesting that the WSJ article is “motivated as an attack on the president and crypto.”“Fact: I have had no discussions of a Binance.US deal with … well, anyone,” CZ wrote.Related: Donald Trump’s memecoin generated $350M for creators: ReportBinance CEO praises Trump as a catalyst for a “global pro-crypto shift”Meanwhile, Binance CEO Richard Teng did not immediately respond to the report within the first hour of its publication.Instead, Teng took to X on March 13 to highlight his new interview with CNBC, where he praised Trump as a catalyst for a “global pro-crypto shift.” Teng expressed confidence that the crypto industry is widely supporting Trump, stating: “If you ask anybody in the crypto industry, people prefer the current administration compared to the last one.”Still, some apparently have not been happy with all of Trump’s crypto policies, with many advocating for Bitcoin-only US reserves instead of a multi-crypto approach that has been eventually chosen by the administration.House Democrats have also been concerned about the plummeting TRUMP memecoin, proposing legislation to ban the issuance of memecoins by any US public officials.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions
Published Date: 2025-03-13 13:26:55Creator: Cointelegraph by Helen Partz
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Web3’s UX problem — and how to fix it, feat. Ponder One
The latest episode of Hashing It Out dives into one of Web3’s most persistent challenges: usability. Host Elisha Owusu Akyaw speaks with Moe El-Shibib and Selim Sezgin, co-founders of Ponder One, about the hurdles preventing mainstream adoption and the technologies that could make blockchain interactions seamless for everyday users.The UX RoadblockWeb3 continues to grow, but usability remains a major barrier. Many users struggle with onboarding, navigating DeFi platforms and managing assets across multiple chains. In the interview, Sezgin highlights that technical innovation has outpaced user experience, making blockchain interactions complex for newcomers.“While technical innovation has been a driving force, usability and accessibility remain pain points… Our whole goal is to simplify Web3 and make it as usable as possible.”To address this, the discussion explores AI-driven solutions that simplify blockchain transactions. AI can automate swaps, bridging and decision-making, reducing the need for technical knowledge. Related: Web3 businesses can outsmart crypto scams before they strike — Here’s howCrosschain functionality is also a key focus, ensuring users can interact seamlessly across blockchains without manually switching networks.Decentralization vs usability in governanceDecentralized governance also plays a significant role in shaping Web3 applications. The Ponder One team emphasizes the importance of community-driven decisions, allowing users to vote on integrations and protocol developments. However, governance structures must balance decentralization with efficiency to remain effective.Looking ahead, the industry is moving toward real-world assets (RWAs), AI-driven applications and enhanced accessibility to DeFi. As innovation progresses, broader adoption will hinge on simplifying blockchain technology for users.This episode touches on key insights into Web3’s current challenges and future developments, highlighting the need for a simplified and more accessible blockchain ecosystem.Listen to the full episode of Hashing It Out on Cointelegraph’s podcast page, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your podcast platform of choice. And don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s full lineup of other shows.Magazine: Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking: Here’s why
Published Date: 2025-03-13 13:06:17Creator: Cointelegraph by Elisha Owusu Akyaw
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US Bitcoin ETFs break outflow streak with $13.3M inflow
Over $1.67 billion exited US spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in March, but investors stopped the bleeding by bringing in $13.3 million on March 12 as the BTC market price inched closer to $85,000.As of March 12, spot Bitcoin ETFs had attracted $35.4 million worth of inflows spread across two days, according to Farside Investors data. On the other hand, spot Ether ETFs recorded inflows on just one occasion, bringing in $14.6 million on March 4.Spot Bitcoin ETF daily flow data. Source: Farside InvestorsBitcoin ETFs break outflow streak with $13.3 million inflowAccording to Sosovalue, the cumulative net inflows of BTC ETFs confirmed the recent $13.3 million inflow on March 12, signaling a pause in Bitcoin’s ETF outflows.The total value of the trades that day for Bitcoin ETFs amounted to $2.01 billion, its lowest daily value since Feb. 20. The inflows were contributed by three BTC funds: BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) and the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC).Daily flow of investments into spot Bitcoin ETFs. Source: SosovalueOn the Ethereum side, the one day of inflows saw contributions from the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH).Spot Ether ETF daily flow data. Source: Farside InvestorsMarket downturn and geopolitical tensions drive ETF outflowsThe broader market downturn and macroeconomic uncertainties have contributed to the ETF outflows, driven by geopolitical tensions, trade wars and bearish investor sentiment.Related: Crypto ETPs see 4th straight week of outflows, totaling $876M — CoinSharesAnalysts say that the lack of concrete implementation or unmet expectations regarding President Donald Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve plan has also exacerbated selling pressure.Despite Bitcoin maintaining levels above $80,000, market watchers warned that the upcoming European Union retaliatory tariffs could introduce greater volatility, further influencing Bitcoin’s price trajectory.Magazine: Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking: Here’s why
Published Date: 2025-03-13 12:57:34Creator: Cointelegraph by Arijit Sarkar
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