Cduwatch

• Nasdaq Inc. is planning to launch cryptocurrency custody services by the end of Q2 this year.
• Fidelity and Bank of New York Mellon already offer such options, while Nasdaq has applied for a limited-purpose trust company charter in New York.
• The new service could help institutions explore the crypto asset class more effectively.

Nasdaq to Offer Crypto Custody Services

Nasdaq Inc., one of the leading stock exchanges globally, aims to complete all necessary regulatory requirements and roll out its new cryptocurrency custody services by the end of Q2 this year. This move would make Nasdaq join other financial behemoths like Fidelity and Bank of New York Mellon who already offer similar options.

New York Department of Financial Services

In order to monitor this new business, Nasdaq has applied for a limited-purpose trust company charter from the New York Department of Financial Services. The successful completion of this process could lead to Nasdaq offering crypto custodial services by mid 2023, allowing institutions to explore the asset class more effectively.

Existing Crypto Custodians

Fidelity Investments and America’s oldest bank – BNY Mellon – are two major names in the financial sector who have already taken steps into becoming crypto custodians. They both provide secure storage for digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ether, which could be seen as a significant step forward from traditional finance into cryptocurrencies.

Nasdaq Digital Assets Division

Last September saw another push from Nasdaq towards embracing cryptocurrencies when it established a division called Nasdaq Digital Assets with an aim to help institutions interested in exploring the asset class more easily. Tal Cohen – Executive Vice President at Nasdaq – commented on how they plan on “providing necessary resources” with their new division while striving “to make digital assets part of mainstream investing”.

Conclusion

With its plans on launching crypto custodial services by mid 2023, along with existing players like Fidelity Investments and BNY Mellon, we are likely going to see an increase in institutional interest towards cryptocurrencies over the next few years as more reliable storage options become available for them thanks to companies like Nasdaq taking initiative in making that possible.

• Bitcoin’s price surged past $27,000 and nearly touched $28,000 for the first time in 9 months.
• Altcoins such as Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), Uniswap (UNI), Avalanche (AVAX), and Ethereum Classic (ETC) have also seen impressive gains of up to 14%.
• Stacks (STX) has been the star performer, surging by over 115% on a weekly basis.

Bitcoin Taps New 9-Month High

Bitcoin initiated yet another leg up in the past 24 hours, resulting in nearing $28,000 for the first time since June 2022. The US banking crisis, which later expanded to Europe as well, harmed bitcoin’s price performance at the end of last week as the asset tumbled below $20,000 for the first time in two months. However, with the start of a new week Bitcoin began adding a couple of grand daily which resulted in breaking above $26,000 on Tuesday. After its initial retracement to $24,000 BTC went on a roll once again on Thursday and Friday and spiked above $27,000 coming inches away from tapping $28,000.

Altcoins Follow Suit

The altcoin market is well in green with ETH reclaiming $1,800 while SOL UNI AVAX and ETC have skyrocketed by up to 14%. These digital assets are all showing positive signs of growth making them attractive investment opportunities for traders looking to diversify their portfolios.

Stacks Soars 115% Weekly

Stacks (STX) continues with its massive gains surging by triple-digit on a weekly scale becoming one of most profitable investments this week for investors looking towards cryptocurrency markets. STX’s success has been attributed to its innovative technology which combines smart contracts with Bitcoin’s security measures allowing developers build decentralized applications securely without relying on third parties or centralized services.

What Does The Future Hold?

It remains uncertain what will happen next but given Bitcoins strong fundamentals and increasing retail demand there is potential that prices could continue moving upwards towards forecasted resistance levels near 30K USD throughout 2021 and beyond. As mentioned earlier altcoins have also shown great promise so it’s likely that these coins will follow suit with BTC’s movements however investors should always do their own research before investing into any digital asset due to their volatile nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion this weekend looks promising for both BTC and altcoins alike with prices continuing their climb higher despite some volatility along the way as expected from any high risk/high reward investment opportunity like cryptocurrencies. Investors that are considering entering markets should always consider their own risk appetite before doing so but it’s safe to say that this weekend looks very encouraging for long term holders!

• Paxos conducted a survey which found that 75% of consumers are confident in the future of cryptocurrencies.
• Despite recent implosions and volatility, 89% of respondents trust crypto intermediaries for holding their funds.
• Consumers also expressed an appetite for integrating crypto into their everyday financial lives.

Consumer Confidence in Crypto Remains High

A survey by Paxos, the New York-headquartered blockchain technology company, found that 75% of consumers remain confident in the future of cryptocurrencies despite a turbulent 2022. The survey revealed that 72% of respondents were not concerned with the market’s volatility and 89% still trust crypto intermediaries such as exchanges, mobile payment apps and banks to hold their funds.

Desire for More Crypto Integration

The study demonstrated a significant desire to integrate more cryptocurrency into everyday financial lives. The top three desired use cases mentioned by respondents included using crypto to pay bills, making purchases online and transferring money between family members or friends.

Crypto Adoption on the Rise

In addition to having faith in cryptocurrency’s future, the survey also showed that more users are adopting it as part of their investment portfolios. Compared to 2021 data from Paxos’ previous study, twice as many participants said they currently own some form of digital asset (51%) compared to those who owned it last year (26%). This suggests an increase in adoption among new users who may have been previously reluctant or uninterested due to security concerns or lack of understanding about how digital assets functioned.

Crypto Investment Education Needed

The survey further highlighted how there is still much work to be done in educating consumers about investing in cryptocurrency safely and securely. Nearly half (46%) stated they had little knowledge on how crypto works while nearly one-third (29%) admitted they did not understand risk management when investing digitally – suggesting a need for more education around these topics.

Conclusion

Overall, this research shows that consumer confidence remains strong despite recent turbulence within the industry, indicating potential growth opportunities for companies offering secure storage solutions and educational resources around cryptocurrencies going forward.

• Riot Blockchain achieved an all-time high of 9.7 EH/s in hash rate capacity and mined 5,554 BTC in 2022.
• It had a total revenue of $260 million despite the bear market that reigned during the year.
• Riot tripled its hash rate capacity and finished the year at an all-time high of 9.7 EH/s in hash rate capacity.

Riot Blockchain’s Performance in 2022

Riot Blockchain reported a total revenue of nearly $260 million for 2022, a 22% increase compared to 2021, despite the devastating bear market that reigned during the bigger part of the year. It mined 5,554 BTC and boosted its hash rate capacity to an all-time high of 9.7 EH/s. The Colorado-based bitcoin miner produced 46% more bitcoin in 2022 than in 2021 but its BTC mining revenue stood at $156 million compared to the $184 million registered the year before due to crypto market collapse.

All Time High

CEO Jason Les described Riot’s performance as “remarkable” highlighting that they more than tripled their hash rate capacity leading to numerous monthly production records and finishing the year at an all-time high of 9.7 EH/s in hash rate capacity which is a testament to their hard work throughout 2022.

Rockdale Facility Expansion

Three new buildings at Riot’s Rockdale Facility were completed in 2022 with a fourth nearing completion in Q1 2023 when it will be fully operational adding additional 8MW power capacity for future expansion purposes allowing them to increase their hashing power without any additional outlay or capital expenditure on hardware or electrical equipment installation costs associated with mining cryptocurrency operations such as Bitcoin mining rigs and ASIC miners used by Riot Blockchain Inc today while maintaining strong financial position.

Heat Wave Impact

Despite this positive news Riot production levels shrank during summer due to heat wave affecting their efficiency but they still managed to mine 46% more Bitcoin during 2022 then 2021 reaching an impressive 5,554 BTC with total revenue of nearly 260 million US Dollars for 2022 making it one successful company even against all odds from bear markets and extreme weather conditions across USA during summer months last year .

Conclusion

This remarkable performance from Riot shows that even under difficult circumstances companies can thrive and develop if led by experienced team members who are able to stay ahead of competition constantly improving process flows related directly or indirectly towards cryptocurrency mining operations like those done by Riot Blockchain Inc over past few years helping them reach these astonishing results no matter what kind of challenges come along their way whether it comes from markets or nature itself proving that anything is possible if enough effort is put into achieving goals no matter how hard times may get .

• Matthew Klinger, a 51-year-old Jefferson City, Missouri resident was sentenced to five years of supervised probation after admitting to shooting a bitcoin ATM with a handgun.
• He pleaded guilty in Cole County to first-degree property damage last week and got five years of supervised probation.
• A law enforcement officer will monitor Klinger’s actions for five years after the latter destroyed the BTC ATM in Jefferson City.

Missouri Citizen Sentenced to 5 Years of Probation After Shooting a Bitcoin ATM

Matthew Klinger – a 51-year-old resident from Jefferson City, Missouri – had his fate sealed when he plead guilty in Cole County to first-degree property damage last week. Now, he has been sentenced to five years of supervised probation after admitting to shooting a bitcoin ATM with a handgun.

Klinger’s Motives Behind Violent Act

When asked about his motives behind the violent act, he said he ravaged the bitcoin ATM “so that it could not take money from anyone else.” It remains unclear whether the machine had any faults before the moment of shooting.

Supervised Probation Details

Klinger received five years of supervised probation as part of his sentence and an assigned law enforcement officer will monitor his actions during this period. The officer will ensure that Klinger obeys all court rulings and failure to comply can result in jail time as an alternative form of punishment.

Incident Timeline

The incident occurred back in August 2020 when Klinger arrived at Vapor Maven on Missouri Boulevard where he requested to talk to the general manager of the store (where the ATM was placed). After hanging up, he took out his handgun, fired five rounds into the machine, and left without saying anything else. He later admitted everything to his wife before calling police who eventually found him at home where they also discovered weapon used for crime on porch nearby.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Matthew Klinger is now facing 5 years of supervised probation as punishment for vandalizing a Bitcoin ATM located near Jefferson City, Missouri last year. During this time period an assigned law enforcement officer will oversee all activities conducted by him and if any rules are broken then prison time can be expected instead as consequence.

• An elderly British woman was tricked into sending over $200,000 to a romance scammer.
• The Nottinghamshire police managed to restore some of the stolen funds and warned people to be extra vigilant with online dating.
• The wrongdoer orchestrated the scheme from Nigeria pretending to be a US Army surgeon in order to steal the pensioner’s money.

Romance Scam Victimizing Elderly British Woman

An elderly British woman living in Nottinghamshire lost more than $200,000 after becoming a victim of a bitcoin romance scam. The person who orchestrated the scheme was located in Nigeria and pretended to be a US Army surgeon in order to deceive her into sending over her savings. Fortunately, the police managed to restore some of the stolen funds and warned people to take caution when engaging in online dating activities.

How It Happened

The unfortunate incident began when the woman, whose name was not identified, started chatting with an individual she met online in May 2020. This person introduced himself as a US Army surgeon and their communication quickly progressed into what seemed like an intimate relationship. After some time he told her that he loved her but needed money for his contract termination so they could finally meet up face-to-face. He then insisted that she should send him money via Bitcoin which she eventually did without suspecting any foul play on his part.

Police Intervention

Realizing that she had been scammed out of her life savings, the woman immediately contacted the Nottinghamshire police for assistance. After running an investigation, they were able to locate and retrieve some of the stolen funds from the suspicious Bitcoin address used by the wrongdoer during the fraud transaction.

Lessons Learned From This Incident

This case serves as an important reminder for all individuals who wish to engage in online dating activities: always be extra careful with whom you choose share your personal information or financial resources with! Additionally, authorities warn people not only about potential scams targeting them but also advise them on how best protect themselves against them such as verifying identities before sending any sort of money or confidential details over internet connections.

Preventive Measures To Take

In order avoid being victims of similar schemes it is advisable that people: never respond or click on unsolicited emails; use strong passwords; get familiarized with common signs of phishing attempts; never share sensitive information such as credit card numbers or bank accounts without proper authentication from both parties involved; and always research whether someone’s identity can be verified before engaging in any kind of payment activity with them – especially if it involves large sums of money!

• Bitcoin dropped below $22K after failing to break its 8-month long resistance at $25K.
• The pullback is seen as a correction phase to form a new spike.
• Primary support levels are at $21K and the 50-day moving average which is currently at $20.3K.

Bitcoin Dipped Below $22K

Bitcoin’s recent rally has been followed by a slight bearish leg after being rejected from the $25K substantial resistance region, dropping below the minor support level of $22.3K. This pullback can be seen as a correction phase to form a new spike in Bitcoin’s price movement.

Bulls Might Be Preparing Another Push Higher

The overall sentiment among market participants has improved due to Bitcoin’s recent rally and this change of scene has spurred a positive momentum across the industry. After an impulsive surge, it is essential for the continuation of the rally that a correction phase takes place – usually simultaneous with the formation of pullbacks – and thus this recent drop could be considered such a case before another spike occurs.

Primary Support Levels

The primary support levels for Bitcoin include the price level of $21K and the 50-day moving average which is currently at $20.3K and will act as targets for this recent decline if it continues further downwards.

Technical Analysis By Shayan

On the 4-hour timeframe, sell-stop orders were grabbed below the minor support level of $22.3K during this correction phase, which suggests that buyers might be preparing another push higher once these current positions have been flushed out from over-heated futures market positions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although Bitcoin dipped below $22k, signs point towards bulls preparing another push higher soon in order to continue its recent rally, with primary supports levels set at $21k and the 50-day moving average currently being at $20.3k should price fall further down during this correction stage before pushing up again impulively

• FTX Group is requesting that politicians who benefitted from their donations in the 2022 midterm election cycle return the funds.
• The exchange and its affiliated debtors are sending confidential letters to recipients of their political contributions, expecting repayment by February 28th, 2023.
• FTX estimates that up to $93 million could be returned if related parties agree to repay or are forced to do so by the Bankruptcy Court.

FTX Requests Return of Donations

FTX Group is requesting that politicians who received hefty donations during the 2022 midterm election cycle return the funds. The exchange and its affiliated debtors are sending out confidential letters to all recipients of their political contributions, expecting repayment by February 28th, 2023. If related parties refuse to repay voluntarily, they may be forced to do so by the Bankruptcy Court with interest accruing on what they owe once legal action begins. FTX estimates that up to $93 million could be returned if these conditions are met.

SBF’s Political Beneficiaries

The request follows Sam Bankman-Fried’s donation of tens of millions of dollars during the 2022 midterm election cycle. At least 196 members of Congress have been identified as having received donations from FTX, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif). Other prominent beneficiaries include Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO).

Voluntary Repayment

In December 2020, FTX announced arrangements for recipients of their funds to voluntarily return them. According to their press release on Sunday, those who accept repayment must do so by February 28th or risk being brought before the Bankruptcy Court for further action.

Future Implications

If successful in recovering all payments made at Sam Bankman-Fried’s direction, FTX will have a better chance at finding financial stability after bankruptcy proceedings began last year due to a drop in cryptocurrency prices and increasing competition within the industry. Additionally, future recipients may think twice before accepting large donations from companies such as FTX going forward if they know they could be asked to pay it back later on down the line due to bankruptcy proceedings or other situations like this one..

Conclusion

FTX is currently taking action against recipients of its political contributions in order for them to return what was given during the 2022 midterm election cycle. If successful in recovering all payments made at Sam Bankman-Fried’s direction, this could help stabilize their financial situation as well as serve as a warning for future donors and receivers alike about taking such generous offerings from companies like FTX in case similar circumstances arise again down the line.

• Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, has announced the winners and conclusion of its Hero Trader Awards 2022 competition.
• The event was organized to select the best 15 copy traders with high moral standards and professional qualities through community voting.
• The Hero Trader Awards 2022 commemorated the advancement of copy trading based on transaction data from Bitget’s One-Click Copy Trade in 2022, which was used to select 75 Star Traders who participated in the contest.

Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, has concluded its Hero Trader Awards 2022 competition. This event was designed to recognize the best 15 copy traders with high moral standards and professional qualities through community voting. This year’s Hero Trader Awards 2022 was special, celebrating the advancement of copy trading based on transaction data from Bitget’s One-Click Copy Trade in 2022.

The competition featured 75 Star Traders who were selected on the basis of their copy trading performance over the past year. After the selection process, the community was asked to vote for the best 15 traders among them. The voting process was highly competitive, but it ultimately resulted in the selection of the 15 best traders.

The award ceremony was held online and the top 15 traders were rewarded with various prizes such as cash, digital assets, and even merchandise. The grand prize of the competition was $10,000 in cash, which was given to the top trader. The remaining 14 traders received a variety of prizes such as digital assets, a Bitget product package, and other merchandise.

Speaking of the competition, Bitget’s CEO, Jason Li, said: “We are extremely proud to have hosted the Hero Trader Awards 2022 and to have recognized the best 15 traders among the 75 Star Traders we had selected. We are also excited to have given them various prizes as a token of appreciation. We hope that the awards will encourage more traders to join the copy trading community and to become a part of the Bitget ecosystem.”

The Hero Trader Awards 2022 was a great success and it was a great way for Bitget to recognize the top copy traders in the community. The competition also served as a reminder of the amazing progress made by copy trading in the crypto world. It is a great milestone for the crypto derivatives industry and we are sure that it will encourage more traders to join the copy trading community.

• On January 23, 2014, Vitalik Buterin announced Ethereum on the Bitcointalk forum.
• Buterin’s idea was to construct a new, potentially superior iteration of the Bitcoin blockchain.
• Ethereum has come a long way in the past nine years, becoming one of the most popular and influential blockchain projects in the world.

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the announcement of Ethereum on the popular Bitcointalk forum by its founder, Vitalik Buterin. This announcement signaled the beginning of a revolutionary blockchain project that has since become one of the most influential projects in the world.

Vitalik Buterin’s first involvement in the Bitcoin space dates back to 2011, when he began participating in the forum created by Satoshi Nakamoto. He also co-founded and wrote articles for Bitcoin Magazine. Buterin was determined to construct a new, potentially superior iteration of the Bitcoin blockchain, and in 2013, he released a white paper that described the concept of a new digital currency. He sent the paper to a few of his friends, and the Ethereum project was born.

On January 23, 2014, Vitalik Buterin announced the Ethereum project on the Bitcointalk forum. He described the project as a “next-generation platform” that would allow anyone to create decentralized applications and smart contracts. His goal was to create a platform that could serve as a foundation for the future of the web.

Since then, Ethereum has come a long way. It is now one of the most popular and influential blockchain projects in the world. Its core feature, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), has enabled developers to create and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts with ease. Ethereum also has its own cryptocurrency, Ether, which has become one of the most popular digital assets on the market.

The success of the Ethereum project has been remarkable, and it is thanks in large part to the vision and hard work of Vitalik Buterin. The project has come a long way in the nine years since it was announced on the Bitcointalk forum, and it looks set to continue its success into the future.