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The Unchained Web Daily Crypto News #82

Alexandros Dolgov CBA? (Study/Bitcoin)

发布日期: 2023年6月21日

If you enjoy and find value in the newsletter, please feel free to donate for its upkeep and independent nature as much as you think is fair:

Monero Wallet Address:

42EkgN23XZoLJXrgMJjrRM7jYpmirk1WvWUWc2SDF6kZAXVzHMGy5XB8JM8Vce3iHGKh9H8ACWF9J6ErrfKCP48mL2yeWcw

Bitcoin Wallet Address: bc1q4283c60tv2p7exfeu2ql7dk2n7utswgl43n2fk

ETH & ERC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

BNB & BRC-20 Address: 0xD16429e3F253f50CfF306B2bE8966ce935332116

Reclaim (some) Privacy Webinar Series: Intro to SearXNG & other privacy engines

In April, I am planning my first webinar in a series focused on privacy. The specific webinar will be focused on why Google may not be the best search engine to use and the SearXNG meta search engine and how it can be used to enhance privacy when using a search engine to research or find something to one's interest.

If you are interested in the topic, feel free to click "attend" on the link to the event below: https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/7167975601373458433/about/

Disclaimer: The Unchained Web Daily is going through some small changes such as the logo of the newsletter and soon perhaps once again, the cover of the newsletter itself. I decided to add Bitcoin as a logo for one main reason: It is the cryptocurrency that started it all. The aim of this change is due to the events of the EU banning privacy coins. My aim with adding Monero as a cover to the newsletter is to prompt and encourage Europeans to ask themselves:

Why is my democratic government who is - supposedly - so concerned about my privacy, banning one of the strongest tools currently on earth that I can use to protect my privacy, a tool whose privacy even my own government itself can not penetrate? Is this not the aim of privacy from the beginning? To guard my own data as best as possible?

Even if Monero was banned, nothing bans people from writing books, creating content on how to best use Monero to protect one's own privacy or using its symbols in its content. After all, a paragon of democracy, diversity, inclusion and privacy such as the EU, would not, surely, ban books, online content and symbols that give a nod towards extreme privacy, right?

Five US enforcement agencies form new digital currency anti-crime task force

A new task force called the Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Crimes Task Force has been formed by various US enforcement agencies to combat crimes related to the darknet and digital currency. The task force will focus on tackling cryptocurrency-enabled crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, theft of personal information, and child exploitation. The agencies involved include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona, the Office for U.S. Attorneys, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Postal Inspection Service. The task force aims to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that exploit anonymity on the darknet or use digital currency for illegal activities. This collaboration follows a rise in cryptocurrency usage for criminal purposes. The task force will have an international reach, leveraging the HSI's presence in 56 countries. Similar specialized units for crypto-related enforcement have been established worldwide, including by Interpol and Canadian police. In the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission have also taken steps to address cryptocurrency-related crimes. Despite the challenges faced by law enforcement, there have been successful efforts to combat these crimes, including the seizure of illegally obtained funds and increased investigations into cybercrime. Click here for more.

The Metaverse is Coming to Bitcoin, Declares Bitmap Theory

Bitmap Theory is a new concept that aims to bridge the gap between Bitcoin and the metaverse. Similar to Bitcoin Ordinals, Bitmap allows individuals to claim ownership over Bitcoin blocks. The open-source standard, created by Bitoshi Blockamoto, enables integration of any block into the metaverse. Users can inscribe Bitcoin blocks and distribute fractionalized transactions, fostering a community-driven space. The announcement of Bitmap Theory has sparked enthusiasm in the Ordinal community, with people rushing to claim historic blocks and engage in inscription frenzy. iDclub, a domain service platform, tracks the number of inscriptions on the Bitcoin blockchain, and Bitmaps have gained significant popularity in a short period. Despite the complexities, users are excited about the possibilities and are selling blocks for significant amounts. Mark Shaw has provided helpful information and insights about Bitmaps on Twitter, including suggested blocks to inscribe and potential use-cases. Click here for more.

There's a Fake Trezor Wallet in the Apple App Store Draining Crypto

A malicious Trezor app has been discovered on the Apple App Store under the name "Trezor Wallet Suite," posing a risk to users' cryptocurrency holdings. The fake app requests users' seed phrase, allowing the operators to steal their crypto. The app has been available for weeks, potentially putting numerous users at risk. The legitimate Trezor wallet is called Trezor Suite Lite, and the fraudulent app managed to evade Apple's review guidelines. Trezor has not yet responded to the issue. This incident follows Ledger's controversial launch of Ledger Recover, a private key recovery service, a few months ago. Hardware wallets like Trezor are considered secure but require technical knowledge for proper use. Click here for more.

CFTC Commissioner Warns Hackers in 2023 ‘More Coordinated, Innovative, and Resourced’

Christy Goldsmith Romero, a Commissioner at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), highlighted the growing threat of cyber hackers during her speech at a conference. She noted that cybercriminals are becoming more coordinated and sophisticated, often finding refuge in nation-states like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Romero emphasized the need for organizations to fortify their systems in the face of cyber threats such as ransomware, zero-day vulnerabilities, and third-party vulnerabilities, which are compounded by the increasing use of artificial intelligence. She proposed five pillars to combat cyber hackers, including developing a proportionate strategy, adhering to recognized norms and best practices, enhancing accountability and governance, bolstering third-party risk resilience, and leveraging existing cybersecurity work. Romero called for collaboration between regulators, industry participants, and the government to collectively defend against cybercriminals. Recent incidents, such as the Atomic Wallet exploit and the indictment of two Russian nationals for the 2011 hack of Mt. Gox, highlight the persistent threat and the need for robust cybersecurity measures. North Korea, in particular, remains a threat, with state-sponsored hackers using mixers to hide their activities and laundering money to benefit top leaders. Precautions are necessary to protect against hacking efforts in the digital finance space, given the increasing usage of cryptocurrencies. Click here for more.

Arpa Network Goes Live on Ethereum Mainnet

Arpa Network, a decentralized computation protocol, has launched on the Ethereum mainnet after completing two months of testnet operations. The network focuses on preserving privacy, allowing users to conduct blockchain activities and transactions that are difficult to trace back to specific entities or groups. The launch enables Ethereum developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dapps) such as gaming, lotteries, decentralized voting systems, and identity management systems. Arpa Network plans to mint the remaining 500 million ARPA tokens for staking rewards and ecosystem funding, with a gradual release process. The network is also finalizing a six-month community pool staking program, offering monthly rewards and performance monitoring. Arpa Network is exploring integration with other EVM-compatible chains, including BNB Chain, and considering layer 2 chain solutions. As of Wednesday, ARPA tokens were trading at 5 cents with a market capitalization of $50 million. Click here for more.

Digital Euro: The Bill Is Ready but Politicians Aren’t Convinced

The European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission are facing a lack of enthusiasm from political decision-makers regarding the proposed digital euro. While technical details for the central bank digital currency (CBDC) are being finalized, the political support is lacking. The current focus of the proposed legislation is on what the CBDC should not do, such as competing with savings or investment. Politicians are now complaining about the lack of a positive case for what the CBDC should be used for, which has led to delays in the legislative proposal. Euro finance ministers have discussed the importance of developing a compelling narrative about the added value of the digital euro. Skepticism and concerns about replacing physical cash and potential privacy issues have been raised in the European Parliament. Some lawmakers question the need for a digital euro, highlighting the existing sophistication of the EU's payment networks. Commercial banks are seen as resisting the project to protect their private payment methods. The lack of a clear and convincing case for the digital euro is a challenge in gaining political consensus. However, some remain optimistic that a majority in the European Parliament will eventually support the digital euro proposal. Click here for more.

Tether Issues USDT on Kava Blockchain; KAVA Token Climbs 5%

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has expanded its presence by issuing the stablecoin on the Kava blockchain's layer 1. This move aims to improve liquidity across multiple blockchains. Following the announcement, the native token of the Kava blockchain, KAVA, experienced a surge in value before receding. Kava recently upgraded its mainnet to enhance transaction speeds and cross-chain functionality. Currently, USDT is supported on several other blockchains, including Ethereum, Tron, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and Bitcoin via Omni. Tether's market cap reached a record high of $83.5 billion, surpassing its main competitor USD Coin (USDC), which has a market cap of $28 billion. Click here for more.

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Bitcoin up 36% YoY after China warned BTC was ‘heading to zero’

The Chinese government's predictions that Bitcoin would become worthless have been proven wrong as the cryptocurrency has gained approximately 36% since the government's announcement. In June 2022, Chinese media warned citizens that Bitcoin was a worthless asset. However, Bitcoin's value has actually increased since then. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $28,852, up from around $20,000 when the warning was issued. Despite China's regulatory actions against cryptocurrencies, such as banning crypto exchanges in 2017 and announcing a new ban on crypto in 2021, Bitcoin has continued to thrive and reach all-time highs. China remains a significant player in Bitcoin mining and allows its citizens to own and invest in cryptocurrencies. Click here for more.

Crypto Sites Are Naming Fake Dispute Resolution Organizations: Canada’s Securities Regulator

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has issued a warning to investors about crypto companies that falsely claim to be authorized by non-existent regulatory or dispute-resolution organizations. The CSA has listed several organizations that these companies claim to be affiliated with, including names such as Financial Standard Commission FSC Canada and Blockchain Association. The CSA advises investors to independently verify the existence of any referenced organization before engaging with a crypto firm. The CSA did not provide evidence of wrongdoing by these groups, and some of them do not have a web presence. The Financial Commission, which operates the Blockchain Association, has stated that it is a legitimate company and disagrees with the characterization of its business. Click here for more.

Binance Netherlands exit — Dutch central bank says registration failings are confidential

Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, has failed to obtain a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license in the Netherlands. The Dutch central bank, De Nederlandse Bank (DNB), did not grant the necessary clearance for Binance to operate in the country. Binance will terminate its services in the Netherlands, allowing customers only to withdraw assets from the platform starting July 17. The specific reasons for the failed registration remain confidential due to the DNB's supervisory laws. Binance claims to have gone through an extensive registration process and intends to continue its efforts to obtain authorization in the country. The DNB's requirements for VASP registration align with those for other financial institutions, based on anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations. Binance may explore operating in the Netherlands under the new European Union regulation called Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) if it meets the necessary requirements in other EU member states. In July 2022, Binance was fined 3.3 million euros ($3.6 million) by the DNB for operating without clearance. Meanwhile, Coinbase received approval from the DNB in September 2022 and is expanding into Europe while facing a legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Click here for more.

German newspaper giant denies reports of replacing editors with AI

German tabloid company Bild has denied reports that it is replacing its editorial team with artificial intelligence (AI) and automated processes. Bild's parent company, Axel Springer SE, was reportedly planning to use AI to replace various editorial jobs, but Bild's director of communications stated that the reports are false. The announcement was related to a restructuring program for regional newspaper editions, involving a reduction in regional editions and the closure of regional offices. The company confirmed that it will increasingly use AI to support journalistic work but emphasized that AI is meant to create more time and space for journalistic creativity, with human journalists always checking and verifying the results. The concerns over job losses due to AI development continue to be a topic of discussion in various industries. Click here for more.

Tech giant Alibaba announces crypto-friendly chair following Daniel Zhang stepping down

Joe Tsai, the executive vice chair of Alibaba, will become the new chair of the company, replacing Daniel Zhang. Zhang will step down as chair and CEO on September 10 but will continue as the chair and CEO of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group. Eddie Yongming Wu, the chair of Taobao and Tmall Group, will succeed Zhang as the CEO of Alibaba and also replace him on the company's board of directors. Tsai has been involved in investments in crypto firms, including FTX, Polygon, and Artifact Labs. Alibaba is one of the world's largest companies, and China has a complex relationship with crypto and blockchain, with crackdowns on mining firms but also trials of a digital yuan. Alibaba had launched an NFT marketplace and an NFT solution under its cloud business unit, but the latter was deleted without explanation shortly after its launch. Click here for more.

Invesco Reapplies for Bitcoin ETF, Advocates for More Crypto Investment Products

Invesco, an investment management company with $1.4 trillion in assets under management, has reapplied for a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). In its filing, Invesco argued that the absence of a spot Bitcoin ETF leads investors to riskier alternatives and mentioned insolvencies of FTX, Celsius Network, BlockFi, and Voyager Digital Holdings. The company emphasized the need for investor protection and stated that approval for a spot Bitcoin ETF relies on a surveillance sharing agreement with a significant, regulated market, rather than regulating the spot Bitcoin market itself. BlackRock also advocated for such agreements, suggesting Nasdaq as a potential participant. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not provided any indication of when it will announce a decision regarding a Bitcoin ETF. Grayscale, which is currently associated with CoinDesk, has sued the SEC over the rejection of its Bitcoin spot ETF and expects a decision in the case by September. Click here for more.

Tether and Bitfinex pledge $100K grant for private operating system

Tether Operations Limited and Bitfinex have announced a 100,000 USDT grant to support the development of Qubes OS, an open-source privacy operating system. Qubes OS is known for its strong security architecture and approach to protecting user privacy, using virtualization to isolate different tasks and applications in separate virtual machines. The OS has gained recognition from Bitcoin enthusiasts and libertarians, with Edward Snowden endorsing it as the best OS for security. Qubes OS provides users with the ability to create and manage secure compartments for various activities and data. Tether and Bitfinex's support for Qubes OS highlights the importance of privacy and security in the digital age. Click here for more.

Deutsche Bank Applies for Digital Asset License in Germany as TradFi Pushes Further Into Crypto

Deutsche Bank has applied for regulatory permission from Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, to operate as a crypto custodian. The bank expressed its interest in cryptocurrency custody back in February 2021, aiming to offer an institutional-grade storage solution with insurance-grade protection. The planned digital asset custody platform would allow users to buy and sell digital assets, provide services like taxation and valuation, fund administration, lending, staking, voting, and more. Deutsche Bank's asset management group, DWS, has also reportedly been in talks to acquire a minority stake in two crypto companies. The bank is actively expanding its digital asset and custody business, as stated by David Lynn, the head of Deutsche Bank's commercial banking unit. Click here for more.