SEC Chairman Paul Atkins asks for a long-term resetting of the agency’s regulatory approach towards crypto. This unprecedented step has the potential to change the game for investors, businesses, and ultimately the future of blockchain innovation in the US. DeliciousNFT.com is all set to walk you through what this means for you. We’re dishing out the dope on everything decentralized!
SEC's Call for Crypto Regulation Reform
Atkins’ view is a major shift from the hammer of an enforcement-first paradigm espoused by his predecessor, Gary Gensler. He argues that outdated rules and aggressive enforcement have stifled innovation in the crypto industry for years, creating market and regulatory uncertainty. This uncertainty has caused even the most promising of projects to shy away from deploying in the US. Without strong IP protections, innovation may be driven abroad. Atkins would like to turn the tide on this trend by promoting a more welcoming environment to crypto businesses.
Atkins sees this as a necessary first step to striking the right balance between fostering innovation and protecting investors. He refers to this idea as “deregulation with guardrails.” Such an approach clearly delineates the boundaries to avoid the appearance of fraud and manipulation. Simultaneously, it protects consumers while allowing bona fide crypto projects to prosper. He has long considered clarity to be the most important goal and says the SEC should focus on providing guidance rather than litigation.
The SEC hopes to get some direction by holding industry and expert-focused roundtables, with the help of its newly created crypto task force. Our last webinar featuring “Know Your Custodian” was the first of many as we began to explore captivating topics such as crypto custody. Our objectives in raising these questions are to determine if we should reconsider existing requirements under the Exchange Act, the Investment Advisers Act, or Investment Company to better accommodate crypto assets and blockchain technology. Atkins has praised Commissioner Hester Peirce for her "principled and tireless advocacy for common-sense crypto policy," positioning her as a key figure in shaping the new regulatory framework.
Overview of Current Crypto Regulations
Today, crypto regulations in the US are a mismatched quilt of rules and interpretations, mostly rooted in our established securities laws. The SEC has by and large characterized most crypto assets as securities bringing them under the ambit of registration and other compliance measures. This has put crypto businesses in a regulatory limbo. They have a hard time knowing what assets are covered and under what rules they need to operate.
Without definitive regulatory parameters, the ground has been a fog of confusion for many crypto businesses. They are instead left now swimming in a legal limbo and on the receiving end of potential enforcement actions from the SEC. This uncertainty has driven institutional investors from their potential initial entry into the market. To be confident, they require a clear and predictable regulatory environment. You have the SEC taking an enforcement-first approach. By bringing brazenly overreaching and high-profile lawsuits against platforms like Coinbase and Binance, they are adding to the uncertainty and hampering innovation.
The existing regulatory environment further complicates the picture for crypto custody. Current regulations for legacy assets do not adequately apply to crypto. Crypto’s unique features, such as the requirement for safe storage of private keys, are not considered in these rules. This controversial state of affairs has incited passionate arguments. Industry observers are debating whether capital markets regulators require new rulemaking to address the unique risks associated with crypto custody.
Reasons for the Need for Overhaul
Atkins makes the case that the stiff regulatory posture being taken is not helping to create an environment where the crypto industry could thrive and innovate. He argues that the SEC’s enforcement-blanket approach has created a culture of fear and uncertainty. Consequently, companies are afraid to introduce innovative products and services in the US. This has led to the US missing out on billions of dollars of potential economic opportunity and technological innovation.
Current regulations are typically created for legacy financial products. Or, even if they do, their scope might not suit the particular nature of crypto assets. Just applying these rules as-is can have unintended consequences and could suppress innovation. The SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121) deemed crypto custody as balance sheet liabilities for banks. This change rendered it prohibitively costly for banks to custody crypto assets, thereby shutting the door on institutional adoption.
The second reason the federal regulatory framework is due for an overhaul is the quick-moving nature of innovation within the crypto industry. New technologies and use cases are jumping all the time, and current regulations just don’t have the legs to catch up. What’s required is a far more flexible and adaptable regulatory framework to keep pace with these developments while letting the industry evolve.
Debut of First XRP Spot ETF in Brazil
Despite the US regulatory landscape being unclear at best, countries around the world are continuing to advance with adoption of crypto. The launch of Brazil’s first XRP spot ETF is a notable milestone. Most importantly, it points to the growing institutional interest in XRP and the broader crypto market. This ETF allows investors to gain exposure to XRP without having to hold the asset directly. Consequently, it levels the playing field by opening the door for more types of investors to get involved.
Significance of the Launch
If Brazil succeeds in launching its first XRP spot ETF, it would make waves. More importantly, it underscores the increasing global recognition of crypto assets as bona fide investment vehicles. This is the first regulated, familiar product for investors, allowing them to gain exposure to XRP. In doing so, it might bring an order of magnitude more capital into the crypto space. If successful, this will create opportunities for similar products in other countries. If the regulatory environment only becomes a bit more favorable, this still does not rule out the US.
This step is another indication of Brazil’s efforts to take the lead in adopting digital assets into its banking and financial infrastructure. Brazil is positioning itself as a leader in the new, dynamic global crypto space by providing a regulated, transparent investment vehicle such as an XRP ETF. Such a change would make the country more attractive to crypto-related businesses and investments.
If an XRP ETF is made available, that too would help minimize the volatility associated with directly holding XRP. The ETF thus provides a more liquid and regulated investment vehicle. In turn, this can help to stabilize the price of XRP and make it a more attractive asset for institutional investors.
Market Reactions and Implications
In response to the positive news from Brazil, XRP continued a market-wide bullish trend and increased by 15% recently. In fact, upon the news, XRP’s price went up 50%. That’s a clear signal of healthy investor appetite for the product and optimism about the future role of XRP. The launch could help trading volume and liquidity for XRP. This recent development will only serve to fortify its position as a leader in the crypto landscape.
The approval of Brazil’s first XRP spot ETF could provide a spark for other asset managers looking to follow. They could do the same with similar products for other crypto assets. This would trigger a rush of new crypto ETFs. In doing so, investors will have an easier time diversifying their portfolios and gaining exposure to a wider range of digital assets.
DeliciousNFT.com considers the arrival of the XRP spot ETF in Brazil a landmark achievement. It’s a reminder of just how important regulatory clarity and innovation are in setting the stage to encourage crypto adoption. This past year has shown that when regulators provide a clear and supportive framework, the crypto industry flourishes. This kind of environment draws amazing talent and investment.
Bitwise Registers NEAR ETF Amid Growing Institutional Interest
Bitwise, one of the largest crypto asset managers, has filed a NEAR ETF. This action represents the next step in growing institutional interest in the alt coins and the greater crypto landscape. Asset managers are rushing to add products. They’re bringing more diverse crypto investment products to market to meet the increasing appetite from institutional investors.
Overview of NEAR and Its Market Position
NEAR Protocol is a developer-friendly, scalable layer-one blockchain that enables fast and cheap transactions. It implements an innovative sharding mechanism with separate data chains named “Nightshade” to reach high transaction throughput with low fees. NEAR is an open-source platform that developers use to build powerful decentralized applications (dApps) that make up the next generation of the internet.
NEAR has recently developed a lot of interest among cryptocurrency investors thanks to its cutting-edge technology and a rapidly expanding ecosystem of dApps. The developer and user community is active and growing. In addition, the NEAR native token has seen tremendous price appreciation in recent years. NEAR is now in the top ten cryptocurrencies ranked by market capitalization.
Just yesterday Bitwise filed for a NEAR ETF, further demonstrating institutional investor demand. They are beginning to realize the full potential behind NEAR and its underlying technology. This in turn could lead to greater investment in NEAR itself, helping to drive more growth of its ecosystem.
Impact on Altcoin Investments
Beyond direct bullish factors the registration of a NEAR ETF would boost altcoin investments broadly. Specifically, it signals to the market that institutional investors are getting more comfortable with investing in altcoins – cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. This would result in greater capital inflows into the altcoin space and greater diversification of investment portfolios.
A NEAR ETF would pave the way for more retail investors. This would open them up to getting familiar with NEAR without having to directly hold the asset themselves. This would create upward buying pressure on NEAR and cause the price to increase even more.
For DeliciousNFT.com, registration of a NEAR ETF would be considered an enormous victory for the ecosystem. Most notably, it highlights the increasing importance of altcoins in the overall crypto market. Institutional investors are starting to realize the potential that alternative cryptos have. They are all actively looking for ways to get exposure to these assets.
North Korea's Lazarus Group and Fictitious US Companies
The North Korean Lazarus Group has already been linked to using the cover of fake US companies. This clever scheme is one of the many ways that they attempt to launder stolen cryptocurrency. This underscores the larger, still-present challenges of crypto security and the need for strong, enforceable guardrails to prevent illicit activity.
Methods Used for Deception
Through multi-faceted schemes, The Lazarus Group misled investors and laundered ill-gotten cryptocurrency. They create these shell companies, in which they give fake addresses, and put in officers that are fictitious. They use stolen identities and anonymously opened bank accounts in layering transactions that obscure the origin of transactions.
The organization deploys social engineering strategies to entice would-be investors into falling victim to fake crypto schemes. It’s downright easy to just spin up counterfeit websites or social media profiles to trumpet these wins. Creating online communities is an important way to build trust with future investors.
Cybercriminal ingenuity and crypto crime, as illustrated by the Lazarus Group’s actions, it further serves as a reminder that investors and crypto businesses alike should exercise heightened caution and diligence.
Implications for Crypto Security
The Lazarus Group’s crypto hacking is important as it sets the stage for the future of crypto security. The entire crypto ecosystem is a breeding ground for illicit activity. This startling reality further demonstrates the tremendous need for effective anti-money laundering measures and financial crime preventative efforts.
Crypto exchanges and other crypto-related businesses should be required to adopt robust Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls. This goes a long way toward ensuring their platforms aren’t abused to facilitate illegal activity. They require a proactive approach wherein they engage with and support law enforcement agencies to effectively detect, disrupt and dismantle illicit criminal enterprises.
Investors need to understand the risks inherent in investing in crypto. Preventative measures to protect yourself from fraud should always be a top priority. Always do your own research before investing in any crypto projects. Watch out for unsolicited investment opportunities, and never enable two-factor authentication on your accounts with weak passwords. Make sure your passwords are incredibly strong to further protect yourself.
Federal Reserve's Shift in Crypto Guidance for Banks
The Federal Reserve has walked back its overly cautious guidance for banks on crypto activities to give financial institutions greater clarity and flexibility. This would be a seismic blow to innovation in the crypto space. Second, it will likely push banks to take a more proactive approach to crypto asset involvement.
Details of the New Guidance
This is a shift in direction by the Federal Reserve, as evidenced by new guidance released Friday. This explains when banks can engage in crypto-related activities, such as offering custody services, issuing stablecoins, and transferring cryptographic assets. The new guidance reaffirms the importance of risk management as well as a commitment to complying with all related existing regulations.
The new guidance addresses the problem of crypto custody outright. It lays down distinct requirements for banks that offer custody services for crypto assets. This would go a long way toward addressing issues related to the security and safety of crypto assets that banks might hold.
Recently, the Federal Reserve has changed its tune to focus on the importance of these novel crypto assets. This amendment is further proof that a changed financial world means banks must change as well.
Potential Impact on Innovation in the Crypto Space
Here’s how the Federal Reserve’s new guidance has the potential to clarify and inspire innovation in the nascent crypto space. This prompts banks to have a further seat at the table on crypto assets. These moves are likely to trigger new waves of investment into crypto projects. It would further accelerate adoption of crypto technologies and creation of crypto-related products and services.
The new guidance does provide some clarity and flexibility. This would help to lower the regulatory ambiguity that has been chilling innovation in the crypto space. This would spur additional entrepreneurs and businesses to go create new and innovative crypto solutions.
DeliciousNFT.com tempered hopes somewhat by welcoming this increased flexibility while pointing out the need for action. If implemented correctly, this exciting development has the potential to unlock impressive new possibilities that would benefit the entire crypto industry. Among regulators, there has been a notable shift toward greater receptiveness to crypto assets. They’re excited to work with banks to set a simpler, more workable regulatory framework.
CME Group's Upcoming XRP Futures Launch
CME Group, the largest exchange for derivatives in the world, is going to introduce XRP futures. This step would further legitimize XRP and provide institutional investors with greater trading flexibility for the cryptocurrency.
What to Expect from the Futures Market
With the introduction of XRP futures on CME Group, we should expect to see an influx of institutional investors into the XRP market. Futures contracts are popular among institutional investors since they let them speculate on the future price of XRP without having to hold the asset directly. This can make the product appealing to institutional investors that want to hedge their risk or seek profits from price fluctuations.
The futures market adds liquidity to the XRP market. This upgrade provides one more convenience for prospective investors to join the flocks and buy and sell XRP. This can at once dampen price volatility, taking pressure off of consumers and taxpayers, and lead to a more efficient market.
XRP futures launching on CME Group is a huge step forward for XRP’s broader adoption. It opens the door for the increasingly popular crypto industry to get its hooks in.
Potential Effects on XRP Pricing
The introduction of XRP futures would be a watershed moment for XRP pricing. A robust futures market can offer a valuable price discovery mechanism, aiding in the fair value of XRP. In doing so it can help to create a more stable and predictable price for XRP.
The futures market further exaggerates these price movements as it works to increase both upward and downward trends in prices. Conversely, if there is strong demand for XRP futures, the price of XRP may be driven up. On the contrary, if demand for XRP futures is weak, then it will likely be bearish for XRP price.
As a result, the introduction of XRP futures could have a significant impact on XRP’s trading volume. This uptick in activity could have consequences, including increased price volatility. We can’t emphasize enough that all investors must know and understand the dangers involved in trading futures contracts. They’re only allowed to invest dollars that they would be okay losing.
Predictions on Ethereum's Future by Cardano Founder
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has shared his predictions on the future of Ethereum, sparking debate and discussion within the crypto community.
Comparison to Other Disrupted Technologies
2022 visionary Hoskinson’s comparisons almost always play the same tune — portraying Ethereum as the next technology to be disrupted by younger, more agile innovations. He warns as the crypto landscape continues to change and expand, Ethereum will find it harder to hold onto its control and dominance.
For one, his analysis often zooms in on past examples of technological disruption. He uses examples such as the transition from mainframes to personal computers and the move from mobile landlines to today’s ubiquitous mobile phones. Innovation is a relentless tide, his recurring theme goes, and no technology is ever safe from the next wave of disruption.
Implications for the Crypto Ecosystem
Hoskinson’s predictions carry heavy implications for the future of the entire crypto ecosystem. If Ethereum capitulates on its dominance, then the power will shift the other way completely. Aside from allowing for more experienced leaders, this shift would allow new types of industry leaders on the national stage.
This would be a major blow to all the other crypto projects that have been built on Ethereum. Look for a huge knock-on impact to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Most of these projects will need to update themselves to a rapidly evolving high-tech landscape or they will quickly become outdated and irrelevant.
On behalf of DeliciousNFT.com, Hoskinson’s outlook reminds us that innovation and playfulness will perpetually characterize and nurture the crypto industry. The crypto ecosystem changes rapidly every day, and projects that do not drive innovation will inevitably get surpassed.
Tether's Increased Investment in Juventus Football Club
Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin has tripled its holdings of Juventus Football Club. Tether’s announcement comes amid a wave of similar crypto attempts to strengthen brand-building through sports sponsorships.
Strategic Reasons Behind the Stake Increase
Tether has increased its stake in Juventus Football Club. This strategic decision was probably made to increase brand visibility and reach a more diverse audience. Sports sponsorships are one of the most powerful ways to enhance your brand’s visibility. They link your organization to attributes such as teamwork, athleticism, and success.
Juventus Football Club is one of the most popular and successful football clubs in the world, with a large and loyal fan base. By sponsoring Juventus, Tether gets their message in front of millions of customers, creating a broad base of potential customers and brand loyalty.
Meanwhile, stablecoin issuer Tether has dramatically increased its sponsorship stake in Juventus. This decision is a clear sign of faith in what the future holds for the crypto market. Because of regulatory uncertainty and overall market volatility, the crypto market is still in turmoil.
Potential Benefits for Tether
Tether has hugely upped the ante on its investment in Juventus. This positive move will improve brand awareness and reputation, and it can help reach a larger audience.
The sponsorship would further legitimize Tether and the larger crypto market. Tether can counteract bad vibes about crypto by associating with a known and trusted brand such as Juventus. This partnership will enable Tether to begin mastering trust with new customers.
DeliciousNFT.com considers Tether’s growing investment into Juventus to be a positive sign. The last part of this story underscores just how important brand building has gotten in today’s crypto industry. With the growing competitive landscape, businesses must discover new methods for standing out and earning consumer trust.
Exclusive Dinner for $TRUMP Token Holders Hosted by Trump
Donald Trump hosted an exclusive dinner for holders of the $TRUMP token, a meme coin that has gained popularity among his supporters. This unusual event underscores the intersection of politics and crypto and the burgeoning power of meme coins.
Overview of the Event and Expectations
The limited-edition dinner for $TRUMP token holders created plenty of excitement among the crypto crowd. Attendees were anticipating their face time with Donald Trump. Their goal was to develop relationships with other crypto holders and better understand his stance on crypto.
For them, the event developed into a perfect promotional platform for pumping their $TRUMP token. It raised a ton of awareness, and may even increase its value! Meme coins, such as Dogecoin or Shiba Inu, usually build upon social media enthusiasm and community activity to take off.
Market Response to the Announcement
The subsequent announcement of an exclusive dinner with him for $TRUMP token holders sent the token’s price skyrocketing. Just as clearly, this event demonstrates the influence that celebrity endorsements and community meetups can have in the emerging meme coin market.
The original sentence was markedly different, retaining a negative connotation to refer to politics. At the same time, this 2021 phenomenon underscored the high-stakes risk of investing in meme coins. Speculation similar to their highly volatile nature, meme coins are usually the target of pump-and-dump schemes.
This exclusive $TRUMP token holder dinner illustrates the wild west speculation of the current meme coin craze. In doing so, it highlights the critical importance of reminding investors to do their homework before putting money into any crypto asset.
Cantor-Backed Bitcoin Venture Aims for 42,000 BTC
A Bitcoin-focused company supported by Cantor Fitzgerald will buy 42,000 BTC. Taking this kind of action underlines Bitcoin’s value as a store of value and the deep institutional interest behind them.
Goals and Strategies of the Venture
The venture’s aim of hoarding 42,000 BTC shows a deep, long-term bullish outlook on the future of Bitcoin. The venture probably intends to keep the Bitcoin as a long-term store of value, wagering that its price will go up in the future.
The rebranded organization can pursue some creative tactics to obtain Bitcoin. These methods involve buying it on exchanges, trading it OTC or mining new Bitcoin.
Cantor Fitzgerald’s support of the venture lends additional credibility and financial backing, raising the stakes and potential success of the venture even higher.
Market Impact and Future Prospects
No doubt the venture’s purchase of 42,000 BTC will significantly raise the floor of the Bitcoin market. By further restricting the already limited supply, this action would likely greatly increase the price.
The venture's success could encourage other institutional investors to enter the Bitcoin market, further legitimizing Bitcoin as an asset class.
DeliciousNFT.com considers the Cantor-backed Bitcoin venture to be a powerful sign of increasing institutional interest in Bitcoin. This positive trend is demonstrative of Bitcoin’s long-term utility as a long-term store of value.
Bitcoin Surpasses Google and Silver in Value
Bitcoin has surpassed Google and silver in market capitalization, demonstrating its growing dominance in the financial world and its increasing acceptance as a store of value.
Current Market Position of Bitcoin
Bitcoin’s current market position speaks to the coin’s resilience and its increasing popularity among new investors. It’s survived a thousand market cycles and regulatory attacks. As a consequence, it’s become the most dominant cryptocurrency and one of the most important forces in the global financial system.
Bitcoin’s market capitalization has already overtaken that of most traditional companies and assets, such as Google and silver. This transformation is a testament to Bitcoin’s increasing impact and its ability to challenge established financial markets.
Factors Contributing to Its Rise
Five important factors have contributed to Bitcoin’s growth. These factors are its fixed supply, characteristics as a decentralized digital asset, accelerating adoption by institutional investors and a growing recognition of Bitcoin as a store of value.
Back to bitcoin — it’s a deflationary asset because it has a hard cap of just 21 million coins. This scarcity can drive its price up especially as demand grows. Its decentralized nature means it can’t be censored or controlled by the government or other centralized entities.
The growing acceptance of Bitcoin by institutional investors has provided greater legitimacy to the asset class and has