Crypto
St. Louis startup trades digital comic book art for cryptocurrency
Comedian guide followers can use cryptocurrency to purchase artwork at Fan Expo St. Louis at America’s Middle.
ST. LOUIS — Fan Expo St. Louis is underneath method at America’s Middle, and earlier than the weekend is over, 1000’s of followers will have fun all issues popular culture.
Guests can seize an autograph, decide up collectibles and even buy one-of-a-kind art work. There’s additionally Creators Version, a St. Louis startup that caters to comedian guide followers.
What’s totally different about them? No conventional foreign money is required.
“You simply strive issues and see if it really works,” stated artist Thompson Knox. “Generally it is good to simply play”
Like many artists, Knox additionally has a day job.
“I am additionally the chief technique officer at Regular Rain, which is a digital company right here in St. Louis. And finally, what I noticed is this chance to convey the 2 issues I really like probably the most collectively,” he stated.
Creators Version is a digital collectibles firm that sells non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, to assist comedian guide artists.
“In the midst of the pandemic, artists could not go to reveals anymore (or) work together with followers, they usually could not fundraise for themselves as a result of most artists go to reveals to fulfill followers, but in addition to promote prints and unique art work,” stated Knox. “And so what we got here up with as an concept was to have the ability to promote these NFTs.”
An NFT is a digital collectible that is bought with cryptocurrency, a kind of digital cash that makes use of encryption know-how to make it safe.
Cryptocurrency can be utterly decentralized, which means that no entity corresponding to an organization or a authorities can successfully management it. And it may be purchased on any trade like Coinbase, Binance, FTX or Crypto.com.
“In case you’re a fan, there’s actually no collectible like this. I am going to the present, and I am handing comedian books forwards and backwards. Money is altering palms, however there is no report of who owned that piece of art work or that comedian guide or that buying and selling card earlier than.
“And on this planet of blockchain and cryptocurrency, all of that’s tracked and logged. So you possibly can really observe again provenance and authenticity of the items that you just purchase which can be digital all by means of that know-how,” Knox stated.
Creators Version first artwork drop featured comedian guide artist Zach Howard.
“Any time because the world sort of strikes on know-how, it advances society with it. It’s so vital for artists to not be left behind as a result of it’s extremely straightforward for artists to seek out themselves ready the place they cannot make a dwelling,” he stated.
It helps pay the payments and connects Howard together with his followers.
“Individuals can have private interactions with me on one thing of mine that no person else has. You already know, all of the enjoyable issues that go together with collectors—comedian books, tech, the entire enjoyable stuff,” Howard added.
For Knox, it is about giving again to the group he loves and giving comedian guide followers a solution to buy artwork utilizing the most recent world foreign money.
“It is new. It is thrilling. To our information, we’re the one people (on the) present which can be going to be doing this. We’re doing it to assist the artists,” he stated.
Creators Version representatives can reply cryptocurrency questions at their sales space—A403—in Artist Alley at Fan Expo St. Louis, which runs by means of Sunday.
Crypto trader Intuitio declared the current market downturn a “bear trap,” comparing it to the 2021 summer bear trap while noting the stronger positions of Bitcoin BTC/USD and Ethereum ETH/USD this time around.
What Happened: Intuitio asserts that the present summer bear trap closely mirrors that of 2021. He points out that the bear trap in 2021 spanned from mid-April to mid-July, lasting three months. He adds that currently, we are two months into a similar bear trap.
| Cryptocurrency | Price (April 15, 2024) | Current Price |
| Bitcoin BTC/USD | $62,919.10 | $62,459.48 |
| Ethereum ETH/USD | $3,066.72 | $2,898.83 |
| Solana SOL/USD | $134.46 | $144.06 |
| Dogecoin DOGE/USD | $0.155273 | $0.1491 |
| Shiba Inu SHIB/USD | $0.00002273 | $0.00002363 |
A significant observation is the pattern in altcoin performance. In 2021, most altcoins dropped by 60-70%, while now they are down about 60%. However, the strength of Bitcoin and Ethereum sets the current scenario apart. In 2021, Bitcoin fell by 55%, but it is now only down 20%. Similarly, Ethereum declined by 65% in 2021 but is only down 30% now.
Intuitio attributes this relative strength to the influence of cryptocurrency ETFs, which have bolstered the two leading cryptocurrencies. He states this as “an amazing sign of strength.”
Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2021 bear trap, where quality altcoins surged 10x from their lows, Intuitio believes a similar rebound is imminent. “Bottom is very close. We are going to pump very soon. And yes, ETH will lift the whole market,” he asserts.
However, he emphasizes that not all assets will perform equally, with some pumping more than others.
Also Read: Crypto Expert Reveals How To Find ‘High-Risk High Reward’ Meme Coins
Why It Matters: Intuitio advises investors to remain focused and strategic, particularly on the fastest meme and AI coins, recommending concentrated bets on a maximum of four coins with big longs. He stresses the importance of the next six months, describing them as crucial for building significant positions in the market.
The trader suggests holding your ground, staying observant, and preparing for a surge in the crypto market. As he puts it, “Hold up your head and keep grinding,” signaling that those who navigate wisely through this bear trap will emerge stronger in the impending market upswing.
However, Former Wall Street Macro Trader Wizard Of SoHo has a different viewpoint on this. He states that it would be the biggest mistake to compare this cycle to 2021. He adds, “That cycle had trillions in stimulus and zero rates injected into the economy. This cycle has had zero new money injection.”
What’s Next: The influence of Bitcoin as an institutional asset class is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga’s upcoming Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.
Read Next: Trader Nets A 553X Return With Meme Coin Of ‘The Most Memeable Cat On The Internet’
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image created using artificial intelligence with Midjourney.
North Korea funnelled $147.5 million through the cryptocurrency mixer platform Tornado Cash in March, according to a confidential report by United Nations sanctions monitors reviewed by Reuters.
This illicit activity follows a hack on the HTX cryptocurrency exchange late last year, marking a major case in a broader pattern of North Korean cyber thefts targeting digital currency platforms.
The UN monitors reported to the Security Council sanctions committee that they have been investigating 97 suspected North Korean cyberattacks on cryptocurrency firms from 2017 to 2024, with total stolen funds amounting to approximately $3.6 billion.
The $147.5 million laundered in March was linked directly to the HTX exchange breach, based on data from crypto analytics firm PeckShield and blockchain research firm Elliptic.
In 2024 alone, the monitors have scrutinised 11 cryptocurrency thefts valued at $54.7 million, noting that many of these attacks might have been inadvertently facilitated by small crypto-related companies hiring North Korean IT workers.
These workers, operating abroad, reportedly generate substantial income for the isolated nation, which continues to face severe international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs.
North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been under UN sanctions since 2006.
Despite these measures, the country has continued to find ways to finance its prohibited activities, including through cybercrime and the use of virtual currency mixers like Tornado Cash.
The US sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022 for allegedly supporting North Korean money laundering activities.
In 2023, two of its co-founders were charged with facilitating over $1 billion in illicit transactions, including for a North Korean cybercrime group.
Virtual currency mixers like Tornado Cash function by blending cryptocurrencies from various users, obscuring the origin and ownership of the funds.
This makes them attractive tools for laundering stolen cryptocurrency.
Lawyers for Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, who pleaded not guilty to US charges in September, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The UN sanctions monitors faced a setback when their mandate expired at the end of April due to a Russian veto against its renewal.
Despite this, some monitors submitted incomplete work, including the findings on North Korea’s cryptocurrency activities, to the Security Council’s North Korea sanctions committee.
In addition to cyber theft, the UN monitors have been investigating reports of Russia releasing $9 million of North Korea’s frozen assets and allowing Pyongyang to open an account at a Russian bank in South Ossetia.
This arrangement is reportedly aimed to enhance North Korea’s access to international banking networks.
Furthermore, the monitors observed continued maritime activities suggesting ongoing arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
Ships suspected of carrying weapons have been seen travelling between North Korea’s Rajin port and Russian ports like Vladivostok and Vostochny.
China has also been implicated, with a North Korean vessel reportedly undergoing maintenance at China’s Ningbo port.
The US and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a charge both Moscow and Pyongyang deny.
However, both nations have committed to deepening their military cooperation.
In an additional report last month, UN monitors confirmed that debris from a missile that landed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in January was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile.
This highlights North Korea’s ongoing missile development and potential involvement in global conflicts.
North Korea’s evasion of UN sanctions continues to be a significant issue.
The monitors documented 208 voyages by North Korean cargo ships suspected of offloading coal in Chinese waters, often through ship-to-ship transfers.
Chinese Coast Guard vessels were observed in proximity to these transfers, raising questions about enforcement and compliance with international sanctions.
The Chinese mission to the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these findings.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Crypto
Crypto NFT Today: The Latest News in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, & NFTs- May Week 2 – Innovation & Tech Today
Welcome to another edition of Crypto NFT Today! The past two weeks have been full of must-know events that’ll be defining points for the future of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFTs.
With President Biden blocking a Chinese bitcoin mine, Wells Fargo announcing new investments in ETFs, and more, there’s lots of essential news you should know about. So, let’s dive in and see what’s happening!
President Biden Blocks Chinese Bitcoin Mine
On May 14, President Joe Biden issued a directive prohibiting a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining company from possessing land adjacent to a nuclear missile base in Wyoming, citing concerns about national security.
The directive mandates the sale of property utilized as a cryptocurrency mining facility near the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. MineOne Partners Ltd., a company partially supported by Chinese investors, and its subsidiaries are instructed to dismantle specific equipment on the premises.
This action coincides with the United States’ plans to impose significant new tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment, and medical supplies imported from China.
Wells Fargo Announces Investments in ETFs
According to a regulatory disclosure, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) has revealed its involvement in cryptocurrencies by investing in several Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This move reflects a growing interest in digital assets within the financial sector.
The disclosure indicates that Wells Fargo has acquired shares of Grayscale’s GBTC Bitcoin ETF, providing the bank with approximately $141,817 worth of exposure to the digital currency. Additionally, Wells Fargo has made a smaller investment of less than $1,200 in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO). This ETF enables investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin futures contracts, allowing them to speculate on the future price movements of the cryptocurrency.
Wisconsin Buys Blackrock Spot Bitcoin ETF
According to a filing, the U.S. state of Wisconsin acquired 94,562 shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in the first quarter, valued at nearly $100 million.
Following this news, Bitcoin experienced a 1% increase, currently trading at $61,957. However, it saw a 1.7% decline over the past 24 hours, coinciding with the release of new inflation data exceeding expectations during U.S. morning hours.
Wisconsin, which submitted its quarterly 13F report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, becomes the first state to publicly disclose its bitcoin investment. Additionally, the state’s investment board bought shares of Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) valued at approximately $64 million.
OKX Australia Launches
OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange, has launched its services in Australia, offering spot and derivatives trading options for local users.
This move follows OKX’s establishment of a Sydney office in May last year and marks the latest expansion into international markets, joining previous entries in countries like Turkey and Singapore.
OKX’s expansion into Australia reflects the growing interest in cryptocurrencies among Australians. Notably, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is considering the potential introduction of Spot Bitcoin ETFs by the end of 2024.
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