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On Saturday, the co-founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, took to Twitter and gave his perspective on the “existing corporate attempts to create the metaverse.” Buterin noted that a metaverse will happen, but he doesnt believe the current corporate metaverse attempts are going anywhere. Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Shares His Thoughts on Existing Corporate Metaverse Attempts This weekend Vitalik Buterin discussed the metaverse after sharing a tweet from the co-founder of Dialectic and blockchain auditor, Dean Eigenmann, who said he doesnt believe the metaverse “will happen in the ways VCs are currently funding.” Buterin shared Eigenmann’s tweet on Saturday and agreed with the assessment. “The ‘metaverse’ is going to happen, but I don’t think any of the existing corporate attempts to intentionally create the metaverse are going anywhere,” Buterin said . 24 hours later, Buterin’s tweet about the metaverse is closing in on 10,000 likes and close to 1,500 retweets. Buterin’s metavers...

If extradited to the United States, crypto exchange BTC-e’s alleged operator Alexander Vinnik will become a “hostage” due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to his Greek lawyer. France is likely to send the Russian back to Greece soon and Zoe Konstantopoulou is trying to prevent his subsequent transfer to U.S. custody. Alexander Vinnik’s Greek Defense Fights His Extradition to US A French court is expected to approve next week the return of convicted money launderer Alexander Vinnik to Greece. Greek authorities arrested the Russian national in 2017 and handed him over to France, two years later, where he was charged with identity theft and extortion as well. He has now served his five-year sentence there, taking into account the time spent in detention prior to the trial. Vinnik was apprehended in Thessaloniki, where he arrived on vacation with his family, on a warrant from the U.S., where he is also accused of laundering at least $4 billion through the infamous BTC-e e...

Charles Schwab’s $655 billion asset management arm is launching its first crypto-related exchange-traded fund (ETF). The new fund is expected to start trading this week on the NYSE Arca exchange. Charles Schwab Launches Its First Crypto-Related ETF Schwab Asset Management, a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corp., announced last week the launch of the Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF (NYSE Arca: STCE), calling the new product “its first crypto-related ETF.” Charles Schwab is a major American brokerage, banking, and financial services company. Schwab Asset Management currently has over $655 billion in assets under management, according to its website. It is the third largest provider of index mutual funds and the fifth largest provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The first day of trading for the Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF is expected to be on or about Aug. 4, the announcement details, adding: The fund is designed to track Schwab Asset Management’s new proprietary index, the Schwab...

Quik.com is offering minting of NFT domains, which will allow users to host their decentralized web pages and even change their digital wallet’s heavy addresses, while the evolving virtual universe, the decentralized web3, and its related technologies are still in the early stages of adaptation. Users will have the opportunity to obtain their lucky number as the race has just begun. Visit Quik.com’s NFT Domain Marketplace . Mint your first Metaverse Domain Name . Mint your first VR Domain Name . Mint your first Web3 Domain Name . Minting NFT domains is more than just a trend; it’s an innovative possibility that optimizes blockchain technology and enables users to construct decentralized websites with full control and ownership over the data and content. as opposed to conventional domains that are run, controlled, and even licensed by the ICANN regulatory body. It permits the user to buy a domain but does not transfer the actual ownership. Users are the actual owners of the d...

Regulators in the U.S. and U.K. have met to discuss broader crypto regulatory initiatives. They reaffirmed their commitment to “continued cooperation to support safe financial innovation, as well as to strengthen regulatory outcomes for stablecoins across jurisdictions.” US and UK Regulators Collaborate on Crypto Regulation The U.S. Department of the Treasury published a joint statement last week on the U.K.-U.S. Financial Regulatory Working Group. The group held a meeting on July 21. Participants included officials and senior staff from HM Treasury, the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, the U.S. Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve Board, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The statement explains that the financial regulatory working group was formed in 2008 “to deepen bilateral regulatory cooperation...

BRICS nations have revealed they’re “creating an international reserve currency” analysts believe is meant to challenge the U.S. dollar and the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) currency. Further, Donald Trump warns of a depression in the U.S., Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki says we’re in for the “biggest bond crash” in over 200 years, and FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried says he’s ready to deploy “hundreds of millions beyond what we have thus far” to help digital currency companies. Buckle up for another Bitcoin.com News Week in Review. Targeting the US Dollar’s Hegemony: Russia, China, and BRICS Nations Plan to Craft a New International Reserve Currency While inflation data in Europe and the U.S. has risen significantly higher last month, Russia and members of the BRICS countries revealed leaders in the five major emerging economies are in the midst of “creating an international reserve currency.” Analysts believe the BRICS reserve currency is meant to...

A new report has claimed the Central African Republic, which became the first country in Africa to make bitcoin legal tender, recently requested the regional central bank’s assistance in developing a cryptocurrency regulatory framework. The report also said the CAR had expressed its “commitment to the single currency and respect for the statutes of the Bank of Central African States.” Developing a Crypto Regulatory Framework After initially clashing with the Central African Republic (CAR) over its decision to make bitcoin legal tender, the Bank of Central African States (BCAS) recently claimed it had received a request for assistance in developing the “regulatory framework governing crypto assets” from the government in Bangui. In a statement, the BCAS revealed the CAR had reiterated its commitment to the regional group’s statutes. By sending this request for assistance to BCAS, which serves six countries that make up the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (EMCCA), t...

On July 27, the Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW) announced it will be supporting an initiative with Harvard University’s Library Innovation Lab (LIL) called the “Democratizing Open Knowledge” program. With FFDW’s support, LIL plans to explore decentralized technologies that can preserve digital information. Democratizing Open Knowledge While there’s a lot of information to consume in 2022, it’s hard to verify what is legitimate and there’s a significant amount of distrust toward mainstream media sources. In the U.S. for example, America’s trust and confidence levels in the media sunk to record lows in a recent Gallup poll published this month. Out of the American adults surveyed, only 16% said they had “quite a lot” of confidence in today’s news publications, and only 11% trusted news on television. Moreover, during the last few years, there’s also been a lot of disinformation and debates over technical definitions. For example, this past week, the term “recess...

In a move seen as an attempt to pacify protesting bank clients, Chinese authorities in Henan province announced their latest repayment plan which sees customers with deposits ranging between $14,827 and $22,240 qualify for reimbursement. In addition, authorities said two unnamed officials from the province are being investigated for allegedly violating the law. Reimbursements Set to Commence in August Authorities in China’s Henan province have reportedly announced plans for another round of repayments to clients of rural banks whose bank accounts have been frozen since April. The repayments program is set to start on August 1 and according to an arrangement put forward by authorities, only clients with deposits that range between 100,000 yuan ($14,827) and 150,000 yuan ($22,240) qualify to receive a reimbursement. According to a Reuters report , authorities in the province are now moving to pacify the restive bank clients who have been protesting against the three rural banks’ deci...

The latest troubles in the crypto space have allegedly led to an increased supply of second-hand luxury watches, according to a leading trading platform. As a result, prices of sought-after models by major brands like Rolex and Patek have dropped, the company revealed. Higher Supply After Crypto Crash Hurts Resale Prices of Top Watches From Swiss Brands Like Rolex The recent decline in the valuations of crypto assets has directly impacted pricing of luxury watches from Rolex, Patek Philippe and the like, a German online platform that lists hundreds of thousands of watches has noticed. The supply of trophy watches, such as the Rolex Daytona or Patek Nautilus 5711A, “is now much larger,” the Karlsruhe-based Chrono24 said in a statement, quoted by Bloomberg. The crypto collapse is easing supply of the most desired models on the second-hand market, it elaborated. The report notes that the decreasing prices of the most wanted timepieces is an indication that the second-hand luxury wat...

Veteran investor Jim Rogers, who co-founded the Quantum Fund with billionaire investor George Soros, has warned that more bear markets are coming and the next one will be “the worst” in his lifetime. Noting that many stocks will go down 90%, he stressed that investors will lose a lot of money. Jim Rogers Says ‘the Worst’ Bear Market in His Lifetime Is Coming Next Famed investor Jim Rogers warned about an incoming bear market that will be “the worst” in his lifetime in an interview with Kitco News, published last week. Rogers is George Soros’ former business partner who co-founded the Quantum Fund and Soros Fund Management. Citing that we are somewhat in a bear market right now, he predicted that the worst has yet to come, warning: More bear markets are coming … The next one is going to be the worst in my lifetime. While explaining that in 2008, “we had a problem with too much debt,” he stressed that the debt has skyrocketed since then. “The debt, oh my God, look out the window...

The famous author of the best-selling book Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, has discussed what he believes is the “best investment value today.” What is the Best Investment Value Today? Rich Dad Poor Dad’s Robert Kiyosaki Answers The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, has suggested that investors buy silver, stating that the precious metal is the best investment value today. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. Kiyosaki tweeted Thursday: “Q: What is best investment value today?” He replied that the answer is silver, noting that gold’s price has climbed above $1,700 but silver has fallen to $20. “I do not touch paper gold or silver ETFs [exchange-traded funds]. I only want real gold or silver coins. Silver is an industrial precious metal. Gold is not. Do...

PRESS RELEASE. The Futurization of Urban Lifestyle Summit was held in Dubai at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on July 29, 2022. MaskEX Global — A well-known worldwide exchange, was the event’s organizer and sponsor. Throughout this seminar, MaskEX engaged with like-minded people in an open and constructive dialogue about blockchain and flat digital assets, ranging from market analysis to technological innovations and current market trends. During the entirety of this seminar, MaskEX participated in an open and productive conversation about blockchain technology and fiat digital assets with people who shared similar perspectives. The topics of discussion ranged from market analysis to technological innovations and current market trends. Eric Yang, the co-founder of MaskEX, predicted that flat digital asset regulation will already cover almost the whole globe by the year 2022. He also said that since the train is continuously travelling across the world, it would finally be entirely r...

The Nigerian central bank has accused currency speculators of being behind the local currency’s recent plunge to a new all-time low of N710 against the greenback. The leader of a Nigerian association of bureau de change operators insisted crypto trading may be to blame for the naira’s recent plunge in value. Nigerians Converting to USD According to local reports, the parallel market exchange rate of the Nigerian currency against the greenback recently plunged to a new low of N710 per dollar. The currency’s rapid depreciation is reportedly being fueled by Nigerians who are converting their savings from naira to the greenback. Yet, despite the currency continuing depreciation on the parallel market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) insists the naira’s official exchange rate against the dollar remains at approximately N424 for $1. In a statement following the naira’s latest fall, Osita Nwanisobi, the CBN’s director of corporate communications, blamed speculators for causing the curr...

Crypto exchange Binance will be offering NFT tickets for the games of one of Italy’s leading soccer teams, Lazio, during the upcoming season in the Italian Serie A championship. Supporters of Lazio will be able to use the tokens to also take advantage of various discounts. Lazio Fans to Buy NFT Tickets From Cryptocurrency Exchange Binance Binance, the world’s leading crypto trading platform, announced it’s launching sales of NFT tickets for the matches of the Italian football club S.S. Lazio during the 2022/23 season. Buyers will use the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to visit the legendary Stadio Olimpico, Rome’s largest sports facility, and watch the home games of their favorite team. Besides access to the stadium, the ticket owners will be able to benefit from many discounts, including 10% on any product sold in the Lazio store and 20% on the tickets for the club’s matches in Europa League, the annual competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Besi...

The Central African Republic’s token sale appeared to have gotten to a slow start after less than 13 million out of the 210 million Sango coins were sold since the commencement of the sale on July 25. The country has claimed its decision to adopt bitcoin has won praise from “other African countries exploring the possibilities of adopting a similar system.” Just Over $1.2 Million Raised Since Token Sale Commenced The sale of the Central African Republic (CAR)’s Sango crypto token, which commenced on July 25, has reportedly started off slowly with just under 13 million coins having been sold to date. With the initial selling price set at $0.10 per coin, it means the CAR has now raised approximately $1.26 million since the commencement of the sale, a website tracking the token sale has shown. As previously reported by Bitcoin.com News, investors that wish to acquire their share of the 210 million Sango coins on offer must fork out a minimum of $500. Prospective buyers can pay using ...

Ripple’s general counsel has urged U.S. lawmakers to pass “sensible crypto legislation” amid a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit over the sale of xrp. “Rather than providing regulatory clarity through rulemaking, the SEC is bullying crypto markets by filing unproven allegations masquerading as regulation,” he opined. Ripple’s Counsel Calls for ‘Sensible’ Crypto Regulation Stuart Alderoty, general counsel for Ripple, stressed the importance of sensible cryptocurrency legislation in an opinion piece published Wednesday. Referencing a House Financial Services Subcommittee hearing on Investor Protection where Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) pushed the SEC to go after major cryptocurrency exchanges that traded XRP , Alderoty emphasized: Sherman’s off-base remarks underscore the urgent need for sensible crypto legislation from Washington. The SEC sued Ripple Labs, CEO Brad Garlinghouse, and co-founder Chris Larsen in December 2020, alleging that the XRP sale was an u...

The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, has published a video explaining how the agency plans to regulate crypto exchanges. “I’ve asked our staff to work directly with the platforms to get them registered and regulated,” the SEC chief revealed. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s Video About Regulating Crypto Exchanges U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler published a video Thursday explaining how the securities watchdog plans to regulate crypto exchanges and provide investor protection. Gensler explained in the video the similarities and differences between crypto trading platforms and traditional exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). “When you trade on a stock market, you have certain protections,” he began, adding that investors are “protected against fraud, manipulation, running, and the like.” Noting that crypto platforms serve “millions, sometimes tens of millions” of retail customers who are directl...

A U.S. lawmaker has demanded answers from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai about their measures against fake cryptocurrency apps appearing in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. “Millions of Americans use mobile apps to invest in unregulated digital assets,” said Senator Sherrod Brown. “Reports have emerged of fake crypto apps that have scammed hundreds of investors.” U.S. Senator Questions Chief Executives of Apple and Google on Fake Crypto Apps Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and the CEO of Alphabet and Google, Sundar Pichai, regarding their measures against fake cryptocurrency apps on their platforms. He stressed that it is “imperative that app stores have the proper safeguards in place to prevent against fraudulent mobile application activity.” Senator Brown’s letters followed a warning by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against fake cr...

PRESS RELEASE. July has seen a jump in crypto prices, and none more so than the utility token of Alchemy Pay, ACH. ACH saw a 43% increase in just 24 hours on July 20th, making it crypto’s biggest gainer. ACH has also broken into the TOP 10 most searched tokens on almost every crypto site over the past two weeks, including Coingecko and Coinmarketcap. The ACH token has seen so much interest that Binance is now supporting it for margin trading – unusual for a project of Alchemy Pay’s size. Alchemy Pay is a Singapore-based payment provider addressing some of the industry’s biggest barriers to entry with its crypto on/off ramp payment plugins, as well as its crypto acceptance for merchants and businesses. ACH Listed On Binance US, Crypto.com & KuCoin Part of the reason for the impressive price action is the token’s recent listings on Binance US, Crypto.com (website and app), KuCoin, and Kraken. As well as its availability across the world’s largest exchanges, ACH can now be stak...

The global lending institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told the Kenyan central bank that its proposed digital shilling must “do no harm” to existing private sector digital money. The lender insisted the proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) must “not stifle such welcome digitalisation developments by taking away customers of banks and other digital finance providers.” Keeping Payment System Open and Competitive The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly said the Kenyan central bank’s proposed digital currency should complement and not threaten the existing private sector digital money. The global lender insisted that if no safeguards are put in place, a digital currency issued by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) can potentially lower transaction costs to the point of driving out mobile money operators such as M-Pesa out of business. According to a report by The Nation, the IMF, in its commentary, said it wants the CBK’s digital shilling document...

In Bitcoin.com News’ inaugural newsletter featuring the biggest crypto and economic news stories from Africa, the head of an African regional central bank, Herve Ndoba, implores the bank’s board to introduce a common digital currency. At the same time, the regional bank warned that the Central African Republic’s bitcoin law is incompatible with regional laws. Meanwhile, Kenyan activists have said cryptocurrencies can potentially create new ways for young people to earn. The latest Visual Capitalist rankings of countries with the highest default risk in 2022 show Ghana as the first ranked in Africa, and second globally. The Central African Republic’s Bitcoin Law Compels Head of Regional Central Bank to Call for Creation of Common Digital Currency The head of the Bank of Central African States (BCAS), Herve Ndoba, has told the regional central bank’s board that it must create a common digital currency which will be used by six countries belonging to the Central African Monetary Union ...

Law enforcement in Greece has recently tried to locate Ruja Ignatova, founder of the infamous Onecoin pyramid scheme. According to a leading Greek daily, investigators acted on intelligence suggesting she was still in the country. Also known as ‘Cryptoqueen,’ Ignatova was last seen boarding a plane to Greece several years ago. Authorities in Athens Try to Find ‘Missing Cryptoqueen’ Who Flew to Greece 5 Years Ago Greece has become the scene of the latest episode in the manhunt for Ruja Ignatova, one of the co-founders of the notorious crypto pyramid Onecoin. The country is believed to be the last destination she visited before her disappearance almost five years ago. Ignatova, dubbed the ‘Cryptoqueen,’ has been missing since Oct. 25, 2017 when she took a Ryanair flight bound for Athens in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. She is now wanted by Interpol, Europol and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for misappropriating at least $4 billion from investors in the fake cryptocurr...