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• Jan 14, 2:00 AM Soneium

  Sony's layer 2 blockchain Soneium launches on mainnet

  Sony Block Solutions Labs, based in Singapore, has launched the mainnet of its Soneium blockchain, a public, Ethereum-based Layer 2 network. The mainnet launch follows successful testing and pilot operations, which included 15.4 million active wallet addresses and over 50 million transactions. Soneium aims to enhance the Web3 experience by focusing on inclusivity and utility for content creators, fans, and communities, while addressing issues like creators' rights and value distribution. With this launch, Sony plans to expand Soneium by exploring new use cases that blend digital and physical experiences.

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• Jan 14, 12:00 AM CNBC

  SEC imposes $45M penalty on Robinhood for multiple securities law violations

  The SEC has fined two Robinhood broker-dealers a total of $45 million for violating over 10 different securities laws. These violations, occurring between 2020 and 2021, include failing to report suspicious trading, inadequate identity theft protections, unauthorized access issues, and incorrect securities trading information reporting. Robinhood has acknowledged these primarily historical issues and expressed commitment to regulatory compliance moving forward.

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• Jan 13, 9:02 PM The Block

  US court mandates SEC to clarify denial of Coinbase's crypto rules request

  The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has required the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide a detailed explanation for why it denied Coinbase's request for crypto-specific rulemaking. The court labeled the SEC's initial refusal as arbitrary and capricious but stopped short of ordering the SEC to commence rulemaking. This decision follows a history of disputes between Coinbase and the SEC regarding the need for clear crypto regulations.

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• Jan 13, 5:45 PM The Block

  Sui leads Layer 1 tokens with a 542% increase and 7.5 billion transactions

  Sui (SUI) has emerged as a leading Layer 1 blockchain token, delivering an impressive 542% return over the past year and outperforming competitors such as BNB. Trading at $0.80 one year ago and now at $5.21, Sui's exceptional performance is credited to its unique technological architecture developed by Mysten Labs. The platform uses an object-centric model and the Move programming language, facilitating efficient transaction processing. Additionally, Sui's new Mysticeti consensus algorithm has helped achieve daily transaction peaks of 58.4 million and process a total of 7.5 billion transactions, positioning it as a strong contender in the shifting market dynamics of the crypto industry.

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• Jan 13, 4:00 PM CoinDesk

  Capital Group now owns 5% of Bitcoin investor Metaplanet

  Capital Group, a major investment firm managing over $2.3 trillion, has acquired a 5% stake in Metaplanet. Based in Japan, Metaplanet is known for its significant investments in Bitcoin, similar to MicroStrategy's approach. Since adopting this strategy, Metaplanet's share price has soared by more than 1,700%. Capital Group is also a substantial shareholder in MicroStrategy, evidencing a focused investment strategy in firms with substantial crypto holdings.

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• Jan 13, 12:32 PM The Block

  CoinShares reports modest crypto fund inflows amidst stronger US economic indicators

  Global crypto funds experienced modest net inflows of $48 million last week, despite initially attracting nearly $1 billion, as stronger US economic data and a more hawkish Federal Reserve influenced market sentiment. This shift resulted in significant outflows of $940 million in the latter half of the week. Bitcoin-based investment products registered net inflows, while Ethereum-based funds saw sharp outflows. The overall crypto market reflected a downturn with the GMCI 30 index dropping by 12.5%.

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• Jan 13, 8:02 AM Cointelegraph

  Indian Railways issues NFT tickets on Polygon for rare Mahakumbh festival

  Indian Railways, in collaboration with Chaincode Consulting, is issuing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for train tickets on the Polygon blockchain for passengers attending the Mahakumbh Mela, a significant Hindu pilgrimage occurring once every 144 years. The technological partnership aims to digitize the travel experience, making ticket traceability and engagement more innovative for millions of visitors. The use of Polygon enables faster transactions and reduced costs, enhancing scalability and environmental sustainability of the tickets.

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• Jan 13, 2:00 AM ANIME

  Azuki-backed Animecoin unveils ANIME token on Ethereum, Arbitrum with over 50% community allocation

  Azuki is set to introduce the ANIME token on Ethereum and Arbitrum in January 2025, allocating 50.5% of the total 10 billion tokens to community engagement and initiatives. This strategic move avoids venture capital involvement and focuses on empowering the anime community through the decentralized brand building, aiming to foster an economy driven by fans and creators.

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• Jan 12, 9:01 AM The Block

  Mango Markets to cease operations following SEC settlement

  Mango Markets, a Solana-based decentralized exchange, will cease operations after a settlement with the SEC necessitated the destruction and delisting of its MNGO tokens. The governance DAO and development organization were implicated in the unregistered sale of crypto assets. This decision follows a tumultuous period marked by legal challenges and an internal controversy within the DAO.

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• Jan 11, 12:46 AM The Block

  Messari cuts 15% of staff in response to industry-wide layoffs

  Messari, a prominent crypto data and research firm, has dismissed about 15% of its full-time staff and ended several contractor agreements to refocus on core product growth amid a broader wave of layoffs in the crypto industry. The staff reduction is part of an organizational restructuring intended to enhance business efficiency, according to CEO Eric Turner.

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• Jan 10, 11:03 PM The Block

  DOJ charges operators of Blender.io and Sinbad.io crypto mixers

  Three Russian nationals were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia for their role in the operation of two crypto mixers, Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov face charges of money laundering and running an unlicensed money transmitting business. Crypto mixers, such as Blender.io and Sinbad.io, are used to anonymize crypto transactions, often attracting legal scrutiny for their role in facilitating crime.

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• Jan 10, 6:58 PM Cointelegraph

  Grayscale maintains bullish Bitcoin outlook despite macroeconomic pressures

  Despite recent macroeconomic challenges, including a strong US jobs report that boosted the US dollar and impacted Bitcoin's price, Grayscale's head of research, Zach Pandl, remains optimistic about Bitcoin's future. Pandl emphasized a structurally bullish outlook for crypto, expecting positive developments around the US Presidential inauguration and upcoming regulatory changes under a new administration, which could enhance the crypto market's potential.

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• Jan 10, 12:50 PM Bybit

  Bybit announces temporary service restrictions for Indian users

  Bybit, a crypto exchange, has announced a temporary restriction on services for users in India effective January 12, 2025, at 8AM UTC. The restrictions, which include the suspension of new trades and access to products, are in response to recent directives from Indian regulators. Withdrawals will remain active, but all trading functions including position modifications, crypto and fiat deposits, as well as copy trading and bot operations will be affected. This measure is part of Bybit's ongoing process to secure registration as a Virtual Digital Asset Service Provider in India.

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• Jan 10, 12:26 PM CoinDesk

  Bitcoin funding rates briefly turn negative, signaling potential market bottom

  Bitcoin's (BTC) futures perpetual funding rate briefly turned negative on Thursday, marking the first such occurrence this year, according to Glassnode data. Typically, a negative funding rate signals that short positions are paying long positions, which can indicate a potential local market bottom. This phenomenon occurs amidst BTC's price fluctuations between $90,000 and $100,000, with negative rates previously aligning with market bottoms, such as during the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. While such rates do not guarantee immediate rebounds, they often precede shifts in market sentiment and price adjustments.

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• Jan 10, 9:00 AM CoinDesk

  CFPB proposes regulations on stablecoins and wallets as Trump prepares for presidency

  The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed new regulations targeting stablecoin issuers and wallet providers, aligning the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to include virtual wallets and stablecoins. This initiative, which could significantly affect crypto business operations in the US, comes as Donald Trump is set to assume office, potentially replacing the CFPB director. The proposal, now open for public comment, extends consumer protection to digital payment mechanisms and must withstand potential opposition from a Trump-led administration and a Republican Congress.

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