Friday August 26, 2022
◾ Afghanistan has imposed a nationwide ban on digital currency trading and the Taliban have begun to arrest individuals defying the order. (Bloomberg)
◾ Japan’s Financial Services Agency is considering changes to the tax code that could reduce the maximum capital gains tax on digital assets from 50% to 20%. (Cointelegraph)
◾ Reports accuse tether (USDT) of not adhering the US sanctions and blacklisting accounts associated with the Tornado Cash mixer. (WashingtonPost)
Government & NGO Actions
◾ Dutch authorities have denied bail to the imprisoned developed of the Tornado Cash mixer requiring him to spend at least 90 days in jail. (Cryptobriefing)
◾ Singapore’s Monetary Authority has sent questionnaires to both applicants and holders of digital asset licenses seeking business information including the names of the top tokens owned and staked as well as the top lending and borrowing counter-parties. (Bloomberg)
◾ India’s anti-money laundering agency has conducted searches at the office and homes of executives of CoinSwitch alleging the crypto exchange has violated forex laws. (Bloomberg)
◾ The SEC has delayed a decision on VanEck’s proposed spot bitcoin ETF until October 11th. (SEC)
Public Company Releases
◾ Argo Blockchain (ARBK) mined 939 bitcoin and zcash (classified as BTC equivalents) during the first half of the year, generating total revenue of $32.5 million. (Accesswire)
◾ Applied Blockchain (APLD) generated 7.5 million in revenue in Q4 bringing its total top line to $8.5 million for the year ending May 31st. (Applied)
◾ Applied Blockchain (APLD) announced plans to change its name to “Applied Digital Corporation.” (Applied)
◾ Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot plans to go public through a merger with blank check company GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp (GSRM) at a transaction value of $1.2 billion. (Globenewswire)
◾ Mawson Infrastructure (MIGI) mined 90 bitcoin (3.5 EH/s) in July generating an additional $1.8 million in revenue from participating in energy curtailment programs. (Businesswire)
◾ Canadian crypto platform WonderFi Technology (WNDR) has submitted an application to up-list and trade on Nasdaq. (Money.tmx)
Restructuring, Losses and Legal News
◾ Objections to pay Voyager Digital executives retention bonus have been dropped as long as other cost cutting measures are imposed. (Cases.stretto)
◾ Zipmex has engaged a restructuring firms to assist the troubled crypto platform and is seeking a meeting with its primary regulator, Thailand’s SEC. (Zipmex)
Protocols, Applications & Business News
◾ FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has denied reports that he is merging FTX’s venture arm with Alameda Research’s efforts. (Twitter)
◾ Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) is speaking with retail brokers and market makers about making a strategic investments into its recently acquired digital asset exchange, ErisX. (Reuters)
◾ Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank has decided to scrap its plan to acquire locally-based crypto exchange Bitkub due to regulatory concerns. (Reuters)
◾ Missouri-based Sullivan Bank has partnered with Bakkt (BAKKT) to enable its customers to buy, sell and hold bitcoin and ether. (Businesswire)
◾ Coinbase (COIN) launched a voter registration tool to provide the crypto community with tools to participate in policy discussions happening across the United States. (Coinbase)
Metaverse Briefings & Activations
◾ Beijing’s municipal government has released a two-year Metaverse Innovation and Development Action Plan to build a global digital economy benchmark city in Chinese capital. (TheBlock)
Exchange, Custody and Product Updates
◾ Binance has announced it plans to provide users with forked versions of ethereum following the move to proof-of-stake. (Binance)
◾ Coinbase (COIN) is launching nano ether futures contracts. (Coinbase)
◾ Crypto.com has successfully completed its SOC 2 Type II Compliance audit. (Crypto.com)