The Unchained Web Daily Crypto News #83

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/

Banning crypto ‘may not be effective in the long run’ — IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reiterated its call for crypto regulation in certain countries but stated that an outright ban may not be the most effective approach. In a report on Latin America and the Caribbean, the IMF highlighted the different approaches taken by local governments in addressing the adoption of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The IMF acknowledged the high adoption of digital assets in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador, where crypto regulation is still in progress. The organization emphasized that well-designed CBDCs can enhance payment systems, financial inclusion, and transparency, suggesting that addressing the drivers of crypto demand and improving transparency would be more beneficial than a complete ban. The IMF's previous opposition to cryptocurrencies as legal tender has drawn criticism, including a recent proposal for a payment system using a single ledger to record CBDC transactions. Click here for more.

Faroe Islands postal service issues NFT-embedded stamps

The Faroe Islands have introduced a series of digital "crypto stamps" that function as postage while also being stored on the blockchain as nonfungible tokens (NFTs). The stamps, called Stamps of Maybe, were created in collaboration with VariusSystems. Each physical stamp has a corresponding digital version on the blockchain, adding to its rarity. The stamps are influenced by real-time weather data from the local Faroese weather station at the time of activation. Other countries, such as the Netherlands and Austria, have also used blockchain technology to create NFT stamps, combining the traditional concept of stamp collecting with emerging technology. Click here for more.

German intelligence service launches dog-themed NFTs to fetch cyber talent

Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), has launched a dog-themed NFT collection called "Dogs of BND" as part of a recruitment campaign for cybersecurity talent. The collection consists of 999 NFTs inspired by BND's guard and security dogs. To collect the NFTs, participants must find a character string posted on Instagram that leads to an Ethereum address. The BND plans to introduce more challenging tasks with unreleased NFTs as prizes. Since gaining attention, the NFT collection's floor price and trading volumes have significantly increased, but liquidity remains relatively low. Click here for more.

Brazil Congressman Issues Summons for Binance Local Head Over Pyramid Scheme

Guilherme Haddad Nazar, Binance's local director in Brazil, has been summoned by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce's Alfredo Gaspar as securities regulators investigate the exchange's derivatives offering. Congressman Gaspar cited Binance's encounters with international regulators and its alleged involvement in pyramid schemes as the reason for the summons. Binance has affirmed its cooperation with law enforcement and mentioned its previous assistance in investigations by the Federal Police. Brazil, the largest crypto market in Latin America, is investigating Binance while pursuing regulations. Binance has faced legal action and regulatory scrutiny in various countries, including the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands, and France. The Brazilian summons requires a majority vote from the inquiry committee, which will convene on June 27. Click here for more.

Three Arrows Co-Founders Are Back With a New VC Fund. Is Anyone Buying?

Open Exchange (OPNX), a trading platform specializing in claims against bankrupt cryptocurrency entities, has announced a partnership with 3AC Ventures, a new entity with the same name and logo as the now-bankrupt hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC). OPNX aims to provide investment support to projects within its ecosystem and foster a decentralized future. Three Arrows Capital, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, was known for its leveraged trading strategies. The launch of 3AC Ventures has been met with skepticism due to the involvement of individuals associated with troubled crypto exchanges. However, some industry players believe there is a potential for recovery and redemption if the new venture delivers promised results and demonstrates responsible management. Click here for more.

Algorand Cuts Block Time After New Upgrade

Algorand has implemented a protocol upgrade aimed at reducing block time, improving application development speed, and enhancing cost-efficiency on its proof-of-stake blockchain. The upgrade reduces block time from 3.8 seconds to 3.3 seconds, representing the largest percentage reduction in block time. The update also introduces a simulator for testing and simulating issues before deployment and a plugin framework for creating customizable data. The upgrade comes amid growing competition in the blockchain space, with other platforms like Cardano and BNB Chain introducing their own improvements. Algorand's native cryptocurrency, ALGO, has experienced a 4.9% increase in the past 24 hours. The upgrade incorporates feedback from the developer community and coincides with the approaching milestone of 30 million blocks on Algorand's mainnet and its four-year anniversary. Click here for more.

Atomic Wallet gives major update on hack but questions remain unanswered

Atomic Wallet, a decentralized wallet provider, has released an "event statement" about a June exploit that has reportedly resulted in significant losses, potentially reaching $100 million. The statement claims that no new confirmed cases of the hack have emerged since the initial reports and reiterates that less than 0.1% of app users were affected. However, this claim is met with skepticism online. The statement outlines four probable causes of the exploit but states that none of them have been confirmed as causing massive breaches. Atomic Wallet asserts that its security infrastructure has been updated, and an app update to enhance security is in progress, verified by external auditors. Questions have been raised regarding the identity of the external auditors and the need for security infrastructure updates. The statement also mentions the involvement of blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and Crystal Blockchain in the ongoing investigation, although specific details or findings are not disclosed. Click here for more.

‘I expect this to move quickly:’ New UK crypto laws could be in place by autumn

The UK is expected to implement new crypto laws after the summer, following the approval of the Financial Services and Markets Bill by the House of Lords. The bill aims to establish regulations for the crypto industry, including stablecoins, and define crypto assets within the financial services context. The legislation would grant financial regulators more oversight and create a regime to supervise stablecoin issuers. The new laws are seen as a way to enhance financial competitiveness, increase consumer protection, and promote growth and investment in the UK digital asset sector. The bill still requires the final approval of King Charles before coming into effect, but industry leaders are optimistic about its passage into law by autumn, potentially positioning the UK as a global leader in crypto regulation. Click here for more.

Do Kwon’s new home: an overcrowded Balkan prison with mafia suspects and little hope

Former Terra co-founder and CEO Do Kwon is being held in isolation at Spuz Prison in Montenegro, pending extradition proceedings. Kwon was convicted of using a forged Costa Rican passport and sentenced to a four-month term. However, his extradition is sought by prosecutors in South Korea and the US on fraud charges related to the Terra cryptocurrency's collapse in 2022. Kwon's lawyer stated that he and his associate are in stable condition but face difficult conditions in prison. Spuz Prison is known for housing members of feuding mafia clans and has a history of gang violence. The extradition cases are still under review, and Kwon's lawyer is awaiting documentation for the extradition request. Click here for more.

DeFi devs bemoan Uniswap code restrictions: ‘If everyone does it, we all lose’

Uniswap, the top decentralized crypto exchange, has faced backlash from DeFi developers after gating the code for its latest release, Uniswap v4, behind a Business Source License (BSL). This move prevents other developers from using the code for four years. Some developers have accused Uniswap of plagiarizing ideas from rival protocols that had previously released similar features as open source. The decision has raised doubts about Uniswap's commitment to open source development and sparked a debate within the DeFi community. Uniswap's defenders argue that there is no code plagiarism and that the BSL license is a way to protect the project's work. The controversy highlights the tension between open source principles and the desire to protect intellectual property in the DeFi space. Click here for more.

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/

Brought to you by Alexandros Dolgov CBA? (Study/Bitcoin)