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$1.4 trillion wipeout hits crypto industry at Davos — except for a lone flashy orange bitcoin car

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$1.4 trillion wipeout hits crypto industry at Davos — except for a lone flashy orange bitcoin car

Alongside the Davos Promenade in 2023 there have been fewer crypto firms than in earlier years after the market crash. Circle, the corporate behind the stablecoin USDC, was one the few current.

Arjun Kharpal | CNBC

DAVOS, Switzerland — Over the previous few years on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, the variety of cryptocurrency business attendees has boomed.

However after a close to $1.4 trillion wipeout in 2022, the crypto business is being a bit extra reserved with the way it splashes the money and a number of other firms noticed final 12 months aren’t in attendance. 2022 was marked by failed crypto initiatives, liquidity points and bankruptcies, topped off by the collapse of main alternate FTX.

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When the World Financial Discussion board was held final Could, bitcoin was hovering round $30,000, after having already fallen greater than 50% from its all-time excessive hit in November 2021. Extra ache adopted with bitcoin dipping as little as $15,480.

The Promenade is the primary road in Davos the place firms and governments take over outlets and cafes for the week. Final 12 months, crypto companies from all walks of life took over the place. However for the reason that market slide, there are far fewer crypto companies with flashy retailer fronts at Davos.

One store promoting non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, has disappeared. Costs of NFTs, that are digital collectibles, additionally plunged final 12 months. What’s left are firms that survived the bear market and that need to broaden their companies.

“It’s totally clear that the hypothesis interval is drawing to a detailed and each firm that you simply see featured … is basically centered on real-world use instances,” mentioned Teana Baker-Taylor, vice-president of coverage and regulatory technique at Circle, the corporate behind the USDC stablecoin.

A stablecoin is a sort of digital foreign money that’s imagined to be pegged one-to-one with a fiat foreign money. USDC is pegged to the U.S. greenback. Circle says it’s backed with real-world property corresponding to U.S. Treasurys in order that one USDC might be redeemed for $1.

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Casper Labs, an organization that has constructed a blockchain designed for use by companies, is operating an area on the Promenade referred to as the Blockchain Lab. Casper Labs was additionally current final 12 months in Davos.

Cliff Sarkin, chief of strategic relations at Casper Labs, mentioned he is “cautiously optimistic” that the crypto market has bottomed.

“So we’re over a 12 months into the bear market, so I feel the shock of that’s settled in and for these of us which were within the area for years … we really feel like that is the time to construct,” Sarkin informed CNBC.

He added that the crypto companies which have remained at Davos are “substantiative initiatives” and “the actual offers” versus issues like NFTs.

There have been additionally these in conventional finance who welcomed fewer crypto companies.

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Mark Haefele, chief funding officer at UBS International Wealth Administration, was requested throughout an occasion hosted by the Swiss financial institution what he wish to see in Davos this 12 months. He mentioned he had seen it already: “It is much less crypto on the primary road.”

The mysterious case of the orange bitcoin automobile

On Monday, a flashy vibrant orange Mercedes-Benz automobile was parked outdoors of the Blockchain Hub on the Promenade.

The orange Mercedes was parked alongside the Promenade in Davos. No person within the neighborhood noticed who parked it there. The license plate says “Kuna” on it, which is the title of a Ukrainian cryptocurrency alternate.

Arjun Kharpal | CNBC

A coin that represented a bitcoin was positioned the place the Mercedes-Benz emblem would often be. On the tires and the licenses plate, the phrases “in crypto we belief” had been printed. The license plate had the Ukrainian flag on it and the title Kuna, which is the corporate behind a cryptocurrency alternate of the identical title.

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Kuna additionally arrange the “reserve fund of Ukraine” after the warfare with Russia started the place folks might donate crypto to Ukraine.

Individuals within the neighborhood that CNBC spoke to couldn’t confirm who parked the automobile there.

Nevertheless, two crypto executives who spoke to CNBC didn’t welcome the orange automobile, significantly after the market crash and the excesses of the business had been uncovered. One remarked that the presence of such a automobile was not useful for the business’s fame which took a success final 12 months.

CNBC reached out to Semen Kaploushenko, CEO of the Kuna alternate, through LinkedIn, however is but to obtain a response.

CNBC additionally reached out to the Blockchain Affiliation of Ukraine which Kuna founder Michael Chobanian is the president of, however is but to obtain a response.

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The license plate and tyres had the phrases “in crypto we belief” printed on them.

CNBC | Arjun Kharpal

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‘Pharma Bro’ or Barron? Debate on brains behind Donald Trump crypto coin rages

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‘Pharma Bro’ or Barron? Debate on brains behind Donald Trump crypto coin rages

Donald Trump has been aggressively courting the cryptocurrency community as part of his 2024 campaign, including meeting with bitcoin miners, fundraising in Silicon Valley, and opening his campaign to crypto donations last month, a first for a major party candidate.

Now, Trump, who in 2019 called bitcoin a currency “based on thin air,” is embroiled in his first cryptos scandal, amid allegations that his youngest son Barron—or maybe disgraced pharma exec Martin “Pharma Bro” Shkreli—is behind a cryptocurrency “meme coin” called DJT, the same letters as the former president’s initials.

Earlier this week, vague rumors began circulating that the coin, which launched in May, was going to be the former president’s “official token,” sending the value of the crypto coin surging.

As of Thursday afternoon, DJT’s value had soared by triple-digit percentages, reaching a market capitalization of over $150m.

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The run on DJT, which shares a three-letter abbreviation with stock in the former president’s actual media company, inspired a feverish search for whether Trump or his campaign was behind the crypto effort.

On Tuesday, Arkham, a market intelligence firm, offered a $150,000 bounty for the person who could prove who was behind DJT.

A day later, the company announced that a crypto analyst using the X screenname ZachXBT had submitted “definitive evidence” that Shkreli, who was released from prison in 2022 for a series of fraud charges related to his time running two hedge funds, was the brains behind the operation.

The analyst shared screenshots of what he said were direct messages with Shkreli, in which the former pharmaceutical investor, known for jacking up the price of cancer drugs, claimed, “I have over 1000 pieces of evidence I created it with Barron,” a reference to Trump’s son.

ZachBXT also claimed the coin was linked to a Discord user named Cameron Roxborough, who claimed to be a classmate and friend of Trump’s son.

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A LinkedIn profile under that name shows Roxborough attending the same Florida school from which Barron Trump recently graduated.

After the bounty announcement, Shkreli claimed he created the coin after being approached by Roxborough on behalf of Barron Trump, and that the former president approved of the idea.

The investor said in a live X Spaces discussion that he didn’t have any personal incentives in the coin, and created the product to “see where it would go,” and that “everything” made on the scheme would go to Barron and the Trump family.

“I can prove Trump and/or Trump family involvement,” he later wrote on X.

The Trump family and campaign have not publicly commented on the DJT coin.

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The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign and Roxborough for comment.

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Luxolo Launches Game-Changing Cryptocurrency Investment App – The Defiant

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Luxolo Launches Game-Changing Cryptocurrency Investment App – The Defiant

Portland, Maine, June 20th, 2024, Chainwire

Luxolo, a concierge cryptocurrency service, recently announced the nationwide launch of its cutting-edge app, set to revolutionize how individuals manage and invest in cryptocurrencies. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, the Luxolo app seeks to redefine user experiences with its innovative features, user-centric design and human support team composed of Crypto experts. The app aims to make cryptocurrency management accessible and straightforward for users of all experience levels.

Simplifying Cryptocurrency Investment

Luxolo sets itself apart from larger companies in the industry with is its unique combination of a concierge service and an easy-to-use app. The concierge service provides personalized assistance, guiding users through the complexities of cryptocurrency investment and management.

Key Features

  • Concierge-Style Human-Powered Support: Offers personalized, human-powered service and technical support.
  • Self-Custody Cold Storage: Users can utilize the Luxolo Vault, an analog cold storage wallet, for unmatched security and investment control.
  • User-Friendly Platform: Users can seamlessly manage Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with easy bank account links.
  • Real-Time Market Data: The info users potentially need to make decisions is readily available on the app.
  • Secure Transactions: The platform is backed by the power of Ballet cold storage wallets. Users can schedule transfers their funds with the security offered by an app.
  • Simplified Portfolio Management: Users can finally manage all their crypto investments with the ability to track value changes, move crypto, and keep it all safe with physically backed cold storage.
  • Educational Resources: The Luxolo Learning Center empowers users with the knowledge to potentially make informed investment decisions.
  • Diverse Investment Options: Access a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC.

“Our app not only supports individual financial growth but also enhances the broader understanding of digital currencies,” said Michael Seymour, Director of Sales and Marketing at Luxolo Financial.

The Luxolo App’s Impact on Crypto Investing

The app’s seamless integration with various cryptocurrencies ensures that users can efficiently manage their digital assets in one convenient place. With the launch of the Luxolo app, the company is set to make a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market, empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures with confidence and ease.

The Luxolo app is now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, users can visit Luxolo’s website or the Luxolo Learning Center.

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About Luxolo

Luxolo is dedicated to empowering individuals through innovative financial solutions in cryptocurrency. Based in Portland, ME, Luxolo strives to deliver technologies that pave the way for a secure and accessible digital finance future.

Contact

Michael Seymour
Luxolo Financial
sales@luxolo.io

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United States – Fin Tech – JONES DAY PRESENTS: Cryptocurrency 2024

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United States – Fin Tech – JONES DAY PRESENTS: Cryptocurrency 2024


Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.

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