Bakkt Shifts Focus to B2B Technology Solutions, Plans to Discontinue Consumer App

Bakkt Holdings Inc. announced Monday that it will solely focus on business-to-business technology solutions and discontinue its consumer application. The company stated that the app will officially be discontinued on March 16, 2023, and app users will continue to have access to all of their assets. Bakkt Consumer App to Sunset, Loyalty Points Still Accessible … Read more

US Government Seizes $700 Million in Assets From Disgraced FTX Co-Founder Sam Bankman-Fried

Federal prosecutors have seized $697 million in assets, mostly comprised of more than 56 million Robinhood shares worth $526 million, from FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Court filings detailed that the U.S. government seized a series of bank accounts belonging to Bankman-Fried, holding millions in cash. US Government Seizes Millions in Cash and Robinhood Shares From … Read more

FTX’s $5.5 Billion in Alleged ‘Liquid Assets’ Includes Locked SOL Cache and Illiquid FTT Holdings

Two days ago, bankruptcy administrators and FTX debtors published an update for unsecured creditors claiming the discovery of $5.5 billion in liquid assets. Roughly $3.5 billion of these funds are cryptocurrency assets, with 11 different digital currencies classified as “liquid assets.” However, two of the firm’s top cryptocurrency caches are not liquid as the company’s … Read more

Latam Based Crypto Exchange Bitso Launches QR Payment Service for Tourists in Argentina

Bitso, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Latam, has launched a QR payments program geared towards travelers in Argentina. The service proposal seeks to ease the way in which travelers and tourists make payments in the country, using Bitso’s interoperable QR payment technology to avoid unnecessary and often confusing cash exchange transactions in the … Read more

Publicly-Listed Bitcoin Miner Argo Blockchain’s Stock Gets Downgraded, Firm Offloads Close to 4,000 Bitmain Miners

On Oct. 31, 2022, the publicly-listed bitcoin miner Argo Blockchain revealed the firm’s attempt to obtain $27 million in a scheduled financing deal fell through. According to the company’s October update, Argo said it did not believe the deal “will be consummated” and now two market analysts have downgraded the company’s shares. Argo Blockchain’s $27 … Read more

Bank of Russia Eases Restrictions on Purchases of Dollar and Euro Cash

The Central Bank of Russia has relaxed some limitations for Russian banks selling U.S. dollars and euros to the public. The increased supply of foreign cash may affect the crypto market in the country as currency restrictions have been a driver of increased demand for digital coins. Monetary Authority of Russia Expands Citizens’ Access to … Read more

Israel Prohibits Cash Deals for Amounts Starting as Low as $1,700

New legislation introducing tighter restrictions on payments with large sums of cash will enter into force in Israel on Monday. The goal, as stated by the country’s tax authority, is to improve the fight against organized crime, money laundering, and tax evasion. Critics doubt the law will achieve that. Authorities in Israel Go After Cash … Read more