Bitcoin Price: US$68,955.88 (+0.94%)
Ethereum Price: US$ 3,878.47 (-0.68%)
BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF now holds more BTC than MicroStrategy, with 197,943 Bitcoin valued over $13.5 billion, surpassing MicroStrategy’s 193,000 BTC holdings. As institutional demand drives the cryptocurrency market upward, newly launched Bitcoin ETFs, excluding Grayscale’s GBTC, collectively hold assets worth $28 billion. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy plans to raise over $600 million in a debt offering to bolster its Bitcoin reserves, with CEO Michael Saylor reiterating his long-term bullish stance on Bitcoin despite recent market volatility. MakerDAO implements temporary fee adjustments to address a decrease in Dai supply amidst heightened market volatility, aiming to strengthen the protocol and prevent potential liquidity issues. Additionally, Grayscale and Coinbase meet with the SEC to discuss the launch of spot Ether ETFs, with Grayscale proposing both spot and futures Ether ETFs, while various asset managers await SEC decisions on spot Ether ETF approvals expected in May, indicating ongoing uncertainty surrounding crypto investment vehicles and regulatory perspectives.
The cryptocurrency industry experiences a notable uptick in activity driven by surging demand for Bitcoin, leading to a milestone moment as the total value locked (TVL) in decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols exceeds $100 billion. This surge in TVL, fueled by liquid staking protocol Lido and other major players, reflects renewed optimism in the crypto market following the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January. Concurrently, memecoins witness significant price gains amid Bitcoin’s rally, with tokens like Korra and Ribbit surging over 200% in the last seven days. However, amidst the market euphoria, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports a concerning 53% increase in cryptocurrency-related investment fraud in 2023, totalling $3.94 billion, highlighting the persistent threat of scams within the industry. This surge in fraudulent activity underscores the importance of cautious investment practices, especially as investors explore alternative crypto assets beyond Bitcoin. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, echoes this sentiment, urging investors to exercise scepticism toward projects with inflated valuations and emphasising the need for vigilance in navigating the evolving landscape of digital assets.
Sam Altman’s return to the OpenAI board, alongside three new members, follows a tumultuous period in November 2023 when he was initially ousted from the company but later reinstated. Altman’s departure, triggered by alleged communication discrepancies with the board, led to employee dissatisfaction, with the majority calling for the board’s resignation. A subsequent investigation by law firm WilmerHale found the decision’s unforeseen destabilising impact on the company. Despite the upheaval, Altman and Greg Brockman remain favoured to lead OpenAI, according to Bret Taylor, the board’s chair. Meanwhile, revelations of emails between board members and Elon Musk regarding the company’s potential transformation into a for-profit entity surfaced, coinciding with a lawsuit from Musk alleging a breach in OpenAI’s commitment to open-source AI development. In another legal development, a U.S. appeals court overturned the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit against Binance, allowing investors to pursue claims of transparency issues and unregistered securities sales. This decision adds to Binance’s ongoing legal challenges, including suits from the SEC and a recent settlement over money laundering allegations. Additionally, the Arbitrum DAO’s decision to retract a proposal to fund Tornado Cash developers’ legal defence amid money laundering accusations reflects ongoing regulatory scrutiny in the crypto space and the complexities surrounding privacy-oriented technologies.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com
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