Binance judgement cements US crypto approach

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) handed down a record fine of $4.3bn (£3.2bn) to the Binance crypto exchange yesterday, 21st November, for “consistent and egregious” violations of US laws and financial regulations. Founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepped down with immediate effect to be replaced as CEO by Richard Teng, former Head of Regional Markets…

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FTX Bankruptcy News

FTX logo and generic financial reports and calculator

The newly-appointed CEO of the complex FTX group of companies has made his first filing in the bankruptcy court for the district of Delaware. It makes grim reading for anyone who has run a business, from startups with a handful of customers to listed companies. An unprecedented failure of trust and governance The administrator, John…

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Live from the FTX meltdown

An exploding planet and FTX logo

*** Originally published Friday 11th November, edited for latest developments*** Where are we now? Thursday 17th November: The first filing is made in the bankruptcy court of the state of Delaware. You can read the key takeaways here. Saturday 12th November, 3am UTC: A reported hack starts to drain funds from FTX under the nose…

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Celebrating the Ethereum Merge

Ethereum Merge

It took 17 seconds to change the landscape of cryptocurrency. At a fraction before 6.43am UTC on 15th September, block number 15537394 was confirmed by a staking pool, not by a miner. The Ethereum Merge, also known as the Paris Network Upgrade, was complete. Celebrations all around. But what does this actually mean? Let’s go…

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Inside Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity screenshot

Axie Infinity is hitting the headlines. This germ of an idea that emerged in 2017 has now reached a $30 billion valuation and sees activity on a par with mainstream games, according to Forbes. During the pandemic it became a lifeline for many people in the Philippines who earned enough from play to replace their…

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Unpacking El Salvador’s Bitcoin Rollout

El Salavador Flag and Bitcoin logo

Today’s the day that El Salvador officially recognises Bitcoin as legal tender. For the first time, a public, decentralised cryptocurrency is being adopted by a sovereign nation. What does this actually mean for the people, the economy, and crypto? Anyone can use Bitcoin Although El Salvador makes its use official, there is nothing to stop…

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NFTs and digital fine art – a love match

Three artworks

Artist James Atkins launched his first crypto art collection on Valentine’s Day 2021. As at 1st September 2021, 99 digital fine art pieces had been sold to thirty different collectors around the world, and the hundredth piece, the signed complete set with unlockable content, is up for auction. How did James hit the ground running…

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Central Bank Digital Currencies gather steam

British bank notes

Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs, are gathering steam. The years since the 2008 financial crash have seen both the emergence of cryptocurrencies and a rapid rise in the use of digital forms of payment. The Bank of England published their second discussion paper on CBDC a few days ago, and Governor Andrew Bailey told…

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Five things to love about crypto

magic internet money

Cryptocurrency has had some of bad press recently with the turbulence in the markets and the attentions of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, among others. Those of you who have been #hodling for “when lambo, when moon?” may be a little disillusioned right now, but there’s plenty to love about crypto. From science fiction…

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Initial Coin Offerings – Snake Oil or Saviour?

2017 was the year that Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) hit the technical business press, and cryptocurrency stepped out of the shadows. It’s been a remarkable ride: in June, when finalising details of my novel Bitcoin Hurricane, the publisher asked whether Bitcoin was well enough known for the book to sell. By Christmas, at every signing…

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