Friday December 1, 2023
◾ BlackRock (BLK) proposed a revised in-kind model to help resolve the SEC’s concerns over a spot bitcoin ETF. (SECfilings)
◾ Binance’s VIP clients were given advanced warning about the exchange’s settlement with the US Treasury Department. (Bloomberg)
◾ MicroStrategy (MSTR) purchased 16,130 bitcoin for approximately $593 million in November. (MicroStrategy)
Government & NGO Actions
◾ The Solomon Islands launched a pilot CBDC pegged to the Solomon dollar called Bokolo Cash. (Cbsi)
◾ The SEC is seeking comments on Fidelity’s spot ether ETF. (SECfilings)
◾ Germany’s securities regulator ordered futurum bank AG to address its money laundering and terrorist financing deficiencies. (Bafin)
Financial Notices & Public Company Releases
◾ Hut 8 Mining (HUT) announced the completion of its merger with US Bitcoin adding the combined business is not a US domiciled entity. (Hut8)
◾ MicroStrategy (MSTR) filed a common stock sales agreement for up to $750 million with TD Cowen, Canaccord and BTIG. (MicroStrategy)
◾ CleanSpark (CLSK) generated FY 2023 revenue of $168 million with adjusted EBITDA of $25 million. (PRNewswire)
◾ Bitfarms (BITF) mined 392 bitcoin (6.4 EH/s) in November selling 350 BTC. (GlobeNewsWire)
Restructuring, Losses & Legal News
◾ The Celsius bankruptcy judge may require a new creditor vote before allowing the failed crypto lender to re-everge as a bitcoin miner. (Reuters)
◾ A Singapore court approved the continuance of a class action lawsuit filed against Terraform Labs and its former CEO Do Kwon. (BusinessTimes)
◾ Forkast Labs laid off the majority of its editorial staff following its recent merger with data provider CryptoSlam. (TheBlock)
◾ Inter Milan sued Zytara Labs for €29 million over unfulfilled sponsorship payments for Digital Bits as the title sponsor in the 2022-2023 season. (Sempreinter)
◾ International soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is being sued for his role in promoting Binance’s efforts to illegally sell unregistered securities in the US. (CourtFilings)
Protocols, Applications & Business News
◾ Polygon gave DraftKings preferential payments to agree to become a network validator for its blockchain. (CoinDesk)
◾ Circle is denying claims that it has been used to finance Hamas. (Circle)
◾ Swiss digital asset manager Pando Asset filed an application to file a spot bitcoin ETF with the SEC. (SECfiling)
◾ Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank is rebranding as AMINA Bank AG. (BusinessWire)
◾ Mastercard (MA) announced the release of an advanced generative AI shopping tool called Shopping Muse. (MasterCard)
◾ Tiger Management’s $13 billion Private Investment Partners 15 fund reported a paper loss of 18% at the end of September following write downs of 94% on OpenSea and 69% on Bored Ape Yacht Club. (Bloomberg)
◾ The United Nations is partnering with Algorand to launch an academy to educate its development staff about blockchain technology. (PRNewswire)
◾ Sam Bankman-Freid was extorted for protection money while imprisoned in the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center. (X)
Market Data
◾ The Russian-linked Black Basta ransomware group received $107 million in payments from victims since 2022. (Elliptic)
◾ Ethereum's greenhouse gas emissions were comparable to those of the nation of Honduras before switching to a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism in 2022. (Reuters)