Day: February 27, 2025

SEC says memecoins aren’t securities, but fraud will still be policed

admin

The US Securities and Exchange Commission says it does not view memecoins as securities but warned any fraudulent tokens could still be subject to enforcement actions by other regulators. The agency’s Division of Corporation Finance said in a Feb. 27 statement that, in its view, memecoins “do not involve the offer and sale of securities under the federal securities laws” and “are akin to collectibles.” “As such, persons who participate in the offer and sale of meme coins do not need to register their transactions with the Commission,” the SEC…

‘It’s time for the Commission to rectify its approach’

admin

Key Takeaways The SEC has dismissed its civil enforcement action against Coinbase through a joint stipulation. The SEC’s decision aligns with a shift towards developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets. Share this article The SEC today dismissed its civil enforcement action against Coinbase and Coinbase Global through a joint stipulation, ending a legal battle that began in 2023. Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda stated: “It’s time for the Commission to rectify its approach and develop crypto policy in a more transparent manner. The Crypto Task Force is designed…

Hyperliquid flips Solana in fees, but is the ‘HYPE’ justified?

admin

The decentralized perpetual futures trading sector has a new leader: Hyperliquid (HYPE). Launched in December 2024, Hyperliquid has its own Layer-1 blockchain, which has surpassed Solana in 7-day fees.  What’s fueling its rapid growth, and how does HYPE compare relative to Solana’s native token SOL (SOL)? Protocols ranked by 7-day fees, USD. Source: DefiLlama Hyperliquid’s core offering is its perpetual futures DEX, which enables traders to access up to 50x leverage on BTC, ETH, SOL, and other assets. It features a fully onchain order book and zero gas fees. Unlike…

Saga CEO discusses crypto industry’s shift toward GOP — ETH Denver

admin

Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of layer-1 blockchain Saga, believes that digital assets began as a bipartisan issue but gravitated toward the Republican Party in the last election cycle due to the previous administration’s anti-crypto policies. In an interview with Cointelegraph’s Turner Wright during the ETHDenver Conference, Liao pointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lack of cohesive policy as the industry’s primary challenge. The CEO said: “The crypto community felt as though the administration of power was not really helping out the crypto community with policies that would…

SEC dismisses lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase

admin

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has dismissed its lawsuit with crypto exchange Coinbase on Feb. 27, filings show, ending the case permanently. The SEC agreed to voluntarily dismiss all litigation tied to Coinbase and Coinbase Global with prejudice, which included withdrawing from its initial June 2023 lawsuit and its request for an interlocutory appeal with the US Court of Appeals, a Feb. 27 court filing shows. It comes after the two parties announced an agreement to end the legal dispute on Feb. 21. Source: Inner City Press The SEC…

Inside the Lazarus Group money laundering strategy

admin

In the post-mortem of the $1.5 billion Bybit hack, two blockchain research organizations — Nansen and Chainalysis — have revealed the Lazarus Group’s money laundering strategy, which includes swapping illiquid assets for liquid assets, creating a complex money trail, and letting certain wallets sit dormant to let scrutiny die down. According to Nansen, the typical Lazarus Group strategy first involves swapping the illiquid assets into those that are more fungible and, therefore, easier to move. After the Bybit hack, the perpetrator converted at least $200 million in staked tokens into…

GPT-4.5 to launch in plus tier next week: Sam Altman

admin

Key Takeaways GPT-4.5 will be available to Plus tier subscribers next week according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The launch is constrained by GPU availability, prompting OpenAI to increase its GPU inventory significantly. Share this article OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced today that GPT-4.5 will launch for Plus tier subscribers next week, describing it as “the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person.” GPT-4.5 is ready! good news: it is the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person to me. i have had several…

Custodia Bank CEO calls out Washington’s debanking ’skullduggery’

admin

Recent efforts to “debank” crypto firms in the US revealed a “staggering” level of corruption among government officials, and the problem is not yet resolved, one banking executive said in a Feb. 27 interview during Bitcoin Investor Week.  “The magnitude of skullduggery that is happening in Washington D.C. is really incredible… and it’s not over yet,” Caitlin Long, Custodia Bank’s founder and CEO, said during a panel at the event.   In 2023, the US Federal Reserve, which regulates banks, stymied Custodia’s efforts to service crypto firms by denying the…

Bank CEO calls out Washington’s debanking “skullduggery”: Bitcoin Investor Week

admin

Recent efforts to “debank” crypto firms in the US revealed a “staggering” level of corruption among government officials, and the problem is not yet resolved, one banking executive said in a Feb. 27 interview during Bitcoin Investor Week.  “The magnitude of skullduggery that is happening in Washington D.C. is really incredible… and it’s not over yet,” Caitlin Long, Custodia Bank’s founder and CEO, said during a panel at the event.   In 2023, the US Federal Reserve, which regulates banks, stymied Custodia’s efforts to service crypto firms by denying the…

Dubai-based Disrupt.com to invest $100M in AI startups

admin

Dubai-based venture capital firm Disrupt.com has announced plans to invest $100 million in artificial intelligence startups at the intersection of Web3 and other industries, in a move that could further commercialize emerging AI technology.  According to a Feb. 27 announcement, the funds will back AI startups building solutions for cybersecurity, Web3, automotive technology, and the retail sector, among others.  Disrupt.com’s founders were the creators of cloud solutions provider Cloudways, which was acquired in 2022 by the US-based Digital Ocean Holdings for $350 million in cash.  The funding round was announced…