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• Jan 16, 4:35 PM Cointelegraph

  Senator Lummis questions US Marshals over potential sale of seized Bitcoin

  Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis has inquired the US Marshals Service about the US government's intent to sell 69,370 Bitcoin seized from the Silk Road, arguing that it contradicts the plans for a national Bitcoin stockpile. The letter, prompted by Judge Richard Seeborg's denial of a petition to block the asset forfeiture, raises concerns about the timing during a presidential transition and its misalignment with strategic reserve policies.

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• Jan 16, 2:00 PM CoinDesk

  BoJ rate hike on Jan. 24 poses risk to crypto and traditional markets

  Investors are anticipating potential disruptions in both crypto and traditional markets due to a likely interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on January 24. Historical precedents suggest that a BoJ rate hike could lead to significant market sell-offs, similar to the effects seen in August when bitcoin fell to $49,000. The market currently anticipates a 90% probability of this increase, amidst concerns of high inflation in Japan, which could further influence market dynamics.

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• Jan 16, 12:37 PM Bloomberg

  Swiss State-Owned Bank PostFinance introduces Ethereum staking

  Swiss state-owned bank PostFinance AG has introduced Ethereum staking to its digital-asset offerings, allowing holders to earn passive income. The bank announced plans to add staking for other tokens soon and highlighted its status as the first systemically important bank to offer staking services. This development reflects growing enthusiasm for crypto in Switzerland, influenced by surging asset prices and political changes in the US.

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• Jan 16, 5:58 AM The Block

  Pyth Network introduces Lazer, a new oracle for latency-sensitive crypto applications

  Pyth Network has launched Lazer, a new oracle service offering ultra-low-latency price feeds specifically designed for latency-sensitive crypto trading apps and exchanges. Lazer operates with customizable frequency channels that can refresh as quickly as one millisecond, potentially enhancing DeFi protocols' performance against centralized exchanges. The service supports up to 20 simultaneous price feeds on Solana and is compatible with multiple blockchain environments including EVM and SVM. Lazer differentiates itself by sourcing data directly from first-party publishers rather than third-party providers.

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• Jan 16, 2:59 AM The Block

  Bloomberg analyst predicts Litecoin ETF likely next for US approval

  A Litecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by Canary Capital is likely the next spot crypto ETF to gain approval in the US following an amended S-1 form submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bloomberg's Senior ETF Analyst, Eric Balchunas, highlighted that the SEC's engagement with the filing and changes in SEC leadership could influence this outcome. The exact impact of the newly appointed, crypto-friendly SEC chair Paul Atkins remains uncertain as his confirmation timing is unclear.

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• Jan 15, 10:02 PM Cointelegraph

  Oklahoma introduces bill to use Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset

  A new bill has been introduced in the Oklahoma House of Representatives by state Representative Cody Maynard that would allow state pension funds and savings accounts to invest in Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Dubbed the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, the bill highlights Bitcoin's role as a decentralized, non-governmental store of value, positioned to protect financial assets in an increasingly adopted institutional landscape. This move aligns with similar legislative initiatives in several US states aiming to leverage Bitcoin to safeguard state finances.

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• Jan 15, 8:00 PM The Block

  BitMEX faces additional $100 million fine for Bank Secrecy Act violations

  Bitcoin derivatives exchange BitMEX has been fined an additional $100 million for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. US District Judge John G. Koeltl deemed the previously agreed $110 million fine and corporate guilty pleas by BitMEX as insufficient, following the firm's failure to implement an adequate anti-money laundering program and illicitly allowing U.S. users on its platform. BitMEX's parent company, HDR Global Trading Inc., will also undergo a two-year probationary period.

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• Jan 15, 3:32 PM Cointelegraph

  Bitget CEO predicts AI token market could reach $60 billion by 2025

  Bitget CEO Gracy Chen forecasts that tokens associated with AI agents could achieve a market capitalization of up to $60 billion by 2025. Initially, these tokens will be employed in crypto transactions and to enhance exchange operations. Despite the rapid growth, with a market cap reaching $15 billion recently, Chen advises cautious investment in tokens offering practical solutions. AI tokens are poised to significantly influence Web3, transforming cryptocurrency trading and operations within decentralized communities.

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• Jan 15, 1:38 PM Hand-Picked

  Core inflation rate slows to 3.2% in December, less than expected

  The US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rose by 0.4% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking an overall increase of 2.9% over the past 12 months. This rise was significantly influenced by a 2.6% increase in the energy index and consistent price increases in the food sector. Notably, the core inflation rate, which excludes food and energy, reported a 3.2% increase over the year.

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• Jan 15, 12:20 PM Cointelegraph

  Malaysia considers new crypto policy after consultations with UAE and Binance's CZ

  The Malaysian government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is exploring the creation of a crypto regulatory framework following discussions with Abu Dhabi leadership and Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, the founder of Binance. The initiative seeks to modernize Malaysia's financial system and align with global financial trends, potentially opening the country to more crypto-friendly regulations. The collaboration between Malaysian policymakers and the UAE might lead to comprehensive studies involving key financial authorities to address associated concerns and opportunities.

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• Jan 15, 11:09 AM Cointelegraph

  Tether sues Swan Bitcoin over joint venture agreement breaches

  Tether, a stablecoin issuer, has filed a lawsuit against Swan Bitcoin, alleging significant breaches of their joint venture agreement. The dispute stems from a 2022 partnership to establish 2040 Energy, a Bitcoin mining venture. Tether claims to have acted in good faith and accuses Swan of reckless actions that compromised the venture, leading to legal proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales. This lawsuit escalates ongoing tensions following accusations against Swan employees of theft and a subsequent hostile takeover involving a competing firm, Proton Management.

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• Jan 15, 2:56 AM Cointelegraph

  Osprey Funds to file for SEC approval to convert Bitcoin trust to ETF

  Osprey Funds announced plans to file a Form S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to convert its Osprey Bitcoin Trust into an ETF. This move follows the termination of a prior acquisition deal with Bitwise, and amid growing activity in the ETF sector, as exemplified by SEC approvals for other Bitcoin and Ether index ETFs. Osprey's decision was driven by the competitive landscape and a recent spike in its unit value, despite prior challenges.

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• Jan 15, 1:53 AM The Block

  World Liberty Financial moves $61.4 million in Ether for treasury management

  World Liberty Financial, a crypto project endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, has transferred $61.4 million worth of ether to various wallets, including Coinbase Prime, for standard treasury management activities. The movements are related to routine business functions such as payment of fees and working capital adjustments, emphasizing that these are common practices and not token sales. The project's wallet, monitored by Arkham Intelligence, showed a significant reduction from its mid-December peak of $83 million to $16.7 million.

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• Jan 14, 7:58 PM Cointelegraph

  a16z's Eliza Labs releases white paper on Web3-native AI agents

  Eliza Labs, part of ai16z, released a white paper detailing a new toolkit named Eliza, aimed at integrating Web3 applications with AI agent functionalities. The toolkit will enable AI agents to manage blockchain data, interact with smart contracts, and facilitate autonomous data analysis and trading for investors. This development is expected to democratize access to advanced AI features, transforming the use of AI in Web3 environments.

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• Jan 14, 4:11 PM The Block

  K33 revises stance on selling Bitcoin at Trump's inauguration amid mixed market signals

  Bitcoin reached new all-time highs after Donald Trump's election win but has faced subsequent market downturns. K33 analysts, previously advocating to sell Bitcoin during Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, have reconsidered this strategy due to uncertain market conditions and potential favorable crypto policies from Trump. Despite mixed signals including rising US yields and a strong dollar impacting Bitcoin prices, K33 remains bullish on Trump's long-term influence on crypto.

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