Zug, Switzerland, September 21st, 2023, Chainwire The partnership entails an enterprise node deployment service offered by Chainbase The Open Network (TON) Foundation has partnered with Chainbase and Tencent Cloud to simplify blockchain development as the Foundation ushers in the next era of Web3 mass adoption across the Asia-Pacific region. As one of the world’s leading cloud providers, Tencent Cloud offers reliable computing resources and optimized network connectivity through its global cloud infrastructure. Tencent Cloud has already successfully supported TON validators and plans to expand its services further to help meet TON’s high compute intensity and network bandwidth needs. Tencent Cloud and TON Foundation are devoted to supporting web applications and bots built within Telegram. For example, Telegram games built on TON can benefit from Tencent Cloud’s enriched gaming solution and reference cases. For all projects built on TON, Tencent Cloud will offer, subject to approval, a dedicated amount of cloud credits and product discounts, made available through the Tencent Cloud Startup Program. TON Foundation offers an enterprise-ready blockchain system built for large-scale Web3 applications featuring near-instant transaction speeds, highly reliable connectivity, low latency, and low fees. TON Foundation’s support for the launch of Wallet in Telegram, an integral piece of the Web3 ecosystem infrastructure, is a clear demonstration of this. Today, TON is well suited to cultivate growth in emerging markets like the Asia-Pacific region, as developers are able to leverage the tools provided by Tencent Cloud and TON to acquire and onboard users, ensuring a familiar, intuitive, and natural user experience. Leveraging their extensive experience in data indexing and querying, Chainbase will offer the first data indexing product on TON. This will allow for the free utilization, querying, and analysis of all TON data per developers’ unique use cases. Chainbase’s enterprise node deployment service will deliver low-latency and highly reliable blockchain connectivity for Web3 projects and developers on TON, empowering them to achieve more with less effort. This partnership aims to simplify blockchain development and elevate user experiences across various industries. Projects interested in learning more about integrations through Chainbase and Tencent Cloud may contact TON Foundation directly via Telegram. About TON Foundation: The Open Network Foundation (TON Foundation) is a non-profit organization founded in Switzerland in 2023. TON Foundation is 100% funded by the community, acting in the community’s interests, and supports initiatives aligned with The Open Network’s mission. Learn more at https://ton.foundation. About The Open Network (TON): The Open Network (TON) is putting crypto in every pocket. By building a Web3 ecosystem in Telegram Messenger, TON is giving billions the opportunity to own their digital identity, data, and assets. See more at https://ton.org/. About Chainbase Chainbase is an all-in-one data infrastructure for Web3 that allows you to index, transform, and use on-chain data at scale through diverse tools we provide, such as pre-defined APIs, SQL studio, data syncing, subgraph hosting, and more. With an OPEN, FAST, RELIABLE platform, and a suite of seamless developer tools, Chainbase’s ultimate goal is to increase data freedom in the crypto and unleash better data utilization and full data ownership. More than 5,000 developers actively utilize our platform as their data backend and integrate our service into their main workflow. Additionally, we are working with ~10 top-tier public chains as first-tier validators and managing over US $500Mn tokens as a validator node provider. Find out more at: chainbase.com About Tencent Cloud Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. As for Web3, Tencent Cloud is committed to helping builders accelerate the adoption of decentralized technology, with our connections with global Web3 ecosystem players, and our simple, secure tools and cloud infrastructure. Find out more at: https://www.tencentcloud.com/solutions/web3 Contact TON Foundation [email protected]

Alchemy Pay secures Money Transmitter License in Arkansas for global expansion. First U.S. license, joining industry leaders Coinbase, Block, and others. Cryptocurrency payment gateway Alchemy Pay has taken a significant step toward global expansion by securing a Money Transmitter License in the state of Arkansas, United States. The license, issued by the Arkansas Securities Department, grants Alchemy Pay the authority to offer various financial services, including selling or issuing payment instruments, handling stored value and prepaid access, and transmitting money, digital currency, or monetary value. The Alchemy Pay team revealed that the license was officially granted on September 13, marking it as the company’s first Money Transmitter License in the United States. This places Alchemy Pay alongside other cryptocurrency firms such as Coinbase, Block (founded by Jack Dorsey), MoonPay, and bitFlyer exchange, which are authorized to facilitate crypto-to-fiat transactions in Arkansas. A Milestone? The acquisition of the Money Transmitter License marks as a noteworthy achievement for Alchemy Pay, as the community believes that it is showcasing its commitment to obtaining local regulatory approvals in key global markets. Notably, the firm has already obtained licenses in countries like Indonesia and Lithuania. Robert McCraken, Alchemy Pay’s ecosystem lead, emphasized the company’s dedication to compliance, stating, “With a strong dedication to compliance, our team had invested substantial time and effort into securing licenses across various countries and regions.” He added that Alchemy Pay is preparing to extend its services to users in the United States, aligning with its mission to bridge the gap between traditional fiat and the crypto global economies. Adding to it, Alchemy Pay was included as a compliant service provider within the Site Data Protection program by global payment giant Mastercard in June 2023. Also it has achieved recognition as an official service provider by Visa in January 2023.

In 2014, Mt. Gox lost 850,000 Bitcoins, now worth nearly $23B, due to a major security breach. They pushed the original deadline of October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2024. This year, the U.S. DOJ charged two individuals with conspiring to steal a significant share of the stolen BTC. In another chapter in the Mt. Gox saga, Nobuaki Kobayashi, the trustee overseeing the defunct Bitcoin exchange’s estate, has officially announced an extension of the deadline for repaying its creditors. This decision comes as the exchange’s users have endured a seemingly never-ending, decade-long pursuit of closure via fund reimbursement following the 2014 security breach. According to the letter dated September 21, 2023, the new deadline for creditor repayments has now been pushed to October 31, 2024, which was originally slated for October 31, 2023. Despite the delay in the final payout, there is a glimmer of hope for the affected creditors. Also, Kobayashi has stated that repayments for these creditors could potentially commence as early as the end of this year. Providing some relief to those who have been patiently waiting for their lost funds. The Mt. Gox security breach, which occurred on February 25, 2014, resulted in a staggering loss of 850,000 Bitcoins belonging to investors, worth nearly $23 billion based on current prices. The exchange managed to recover approximately 20% of the stolen tokens in the aftermath of the hack. Further, earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice made significant strides towards justice in the case. Charging two Russian men—Alexey Bilyuchenko and Aleksandr Verner—with joining to steal approximately 647,000 Bitcoins from Mt. Gox between 2011 and 2014. This marked a significant breakthrough in holding those responsible for the historic cryptocurrency theft accountable.

After a rigorous testnet period, a new decentralized marketplace for Bitcoin hashpower goes live Sept. 26th on the Arbitrum One network CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#bitcoin–The Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace will officially launch on September 26th, unlocking global access to Bitcoin mining hashpower for Web3 users. Launching on September 26th on the Arbitrum One network, the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace represents the next step towards the greater decentralization of Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin miners will have a frictionless path toward buying and selling mining capacity, and non-miners will be able to participate in the same marketplace. Smoothing the “Peaks-and-Valleys” for Bitcoin Miners’ Operations Through the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace, miners can sell their hashrate through smart contracts, specifying hashrate amount, duration, and price. This contributes to business predictability and de-risking, enabling them to set fixed prices that provide regular earnings. Conversely, miners can use the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace to purchase hashpower from other miners. This allows miners to increase their chances for earning bitcoin rewards without purchasing rapidly depreciating equipment. These buyers can easily browse and select contracts that suit their needs, secure in the knowledge that they are engaging in direct, trustless transactions and paying in real-time as the contract is completed. In either scenario, the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace helps provide additional predictability to their revenue streams. Further, miners in low-electricity-cost areas could arbitrage those below-average prices through selling hashrate contracts at market prices, keeping the difference. Mining: Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere Through the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace, users can mine bitcoin without the need for highly specialized knowledge, costly hardware outlays, or long-term commitments. With the Lumerin Wallet and detailed documentation, users can buy hashpower contracts, route that hashpower to their pool, and earn mining revenue directly. Unlocking Access to Mining for a More Decentralized Bitcoin Founder Ryan Condron explained the potential impact of the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace’s launch: “Today marks a milestone in our journey to re-democratize mining,” says Condron. “With the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace now live, we are starting to restore the decentralization of the Bitcoin mining landscape by providing a direct, accessible path for everyone to be part of the mining ecosystem.” The choice of launching on the Arbitrum One network underscores Lumerin’s commitment to user experience, offering users faster transactions, reduced gas fees, and a seamless experience overall. “Bitcoin hashpower remains the basis for supporting the most secure distributed network yet devised, creating opportunities for new financial systems and so much more,” said Jeff Garzik, CEO and co-founder of Lumerin partner Bloq, Inc. “Through Lumerin, professional miners and crypto enthusiasts alike will be able to participate in Bitcoin mining in ways that make the distribution of hashpower more fluid and democratized, thus bringing our ecosystem closer to its goals.” The platform’s unique approach has the potential to reshape the dynamics of crypto mining, making it more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. About Lumerin The Lumerin Protocol is an open-source project working on decentralized data stream routing. Its first development, the Lumerin Hashpower Marketplace, is a peer-to-peer platform that makes Bitcoin hashrate tradable and liquid, unlocking mining profitability and providing greater access to capital and hashrate on a global scale. Website: https://lumerin.io/ X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/hellolumerin Medium: https://medium.com/lumerin-blog Telegram: https://t.me/LumerinOfficial Introductory Video: “Mine Bitcoin Everywhere” Documentation: https://lumerin.gitbook.io/lumerin-hashpower-marketplace/ Contacts For media inquiries, interviews, and more information, please contact: [email protected]

A significant expansion to its upcoming staking programme has been announced by the delegated liquid staking protocol stake.link. The introduction of a number of new features and improvements will support stake.link’s status as the leading Chainlink staking solution. The new features made public by stake.link are intended to benefit from Chainlink Staking’s v0.2, the version that will go live in Q4. The Priority Pool is a feature that has been created by stake.link among other modifications. Users will be able to stake LINK using a smooth and highly effective approach before Chainlink increases its capacity from 25 million to 45 million tokens. For depositors, the priority pool automates LINK staking, resulting in a “set and forget” staking experience. Furthermore, according to a statement from stake.link, the company will migrate its stSDL (staked SDL) receipt tokens to reSDL (reward escrow SDL), an NFT version of the SDL token. This will be done with the intention of encouraging long-term platform involvement by raising boosts and governance votes. According to the Chainlink roadmap, the 20M LINK that will be made available to the Chainlink staking pool in Q4 will be released in three stages. Less than 20M LINK may be available for deposit after phase three begins, when the LINK from the stake.link priority pool will be staked against the community pool. Therefore, while staking in the priority pool, LINK owned by holders of reSDL will be given preference over LINK held by non-holders of reSDL. Stake.link has also revealed that it would soon introduce “SergAI,” a chatbot powered by AI. SergAI will provide answers to queries on issues like liquid staking thresholds, the priority pool, and how receipt tokens work as a subject matter expert on all things Chainlink and stake.link.

Utherverse brings almost 20 years of operational experience, patents and proprietary technology, millions of users and hyper-realistic experiences to the metaverse NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Utherverse, one of the largest metaverse platforms in the world, has begun taking reservations for its $1.235 million equity crowdfunding campaign with Republic, a leading investment platform that provides access to startup, real estate, crypto and gaming investments for both retail and accredited investors. People interested in participating in the crowdfund can get more information and reserve a spot at https://republic.com/utherverse. Investors will be notified when the crowdfund goes live. The minimum investment is $150. “Utherverse is uniquely poised to truly deliver on and realize the full potential of the metaverse,” said Brian Shuster, founder and CEO of Utherverse. “From hyper-realistic user experiences and AI-driven innovations to e-commerce, B2B and B2C marketing and revenue opportunities, we are establishing a platform that will be a dominant force in the virtual world.” Investment considerations include: Utherverse is already the world’s most successful metaverse platform based on number of users. The current generation of the Utherverse platform was successfully franchised in 17 countries, creating unprecedented opportunities for the Web3 version. As one of the first virtual worlds, Utherverse has almost 20 years of operational history which is far beyond that of any competitor. The upcoming beta launch of the Utherverse Web3 platform is already receiving widespread attention with the closed beta almost at capacity. More than 80 patents have been issued for the company’s technology, including many Internet-enabling technologies and intellectual property that addresses a variety of needs within metaverse platforms, ranging from the physics of movement and immersive displays to physical interaction between users and animation control. Utherverse features the proprietary Xaeon Web3 browser and metaverse search engine that will let users quickly search millions of metaverse worlds, landmark their favorite places and teleport directly to events and locations. fNFTs (functional NFTs), dynamic tokens that represent goods with utility that have function within Utherverse, such as apparel, living spaces and event tickets. Utherverse has offered the first and second pre-sale rounds of the Uther Coin (UTHX) through Nexus Ecosystems as part of the token’s initial decentralized offering (IDO). The Uther Coin will be the in-house currency for all metaverses on the Utherverse platform. In addition, Utherverse is offering metaverse-as-a-service as well as an interoperable metaverse platform. This includes tools and technologies that will enable third parties to create and operate their own virtual worlds, creators to design digital assets and businesses to offer a wide range of products and services in a wide range of industries. Bonus perks for different levels of crowdfund investment include whitelist for early beta access, VIP access, varying quantities of UtherTokens, fNFT apartments and penthouses, and investor and founder titles. Utherverse will launch its closed beta of the next generation version of the platform Sept. 26. The closed beta will provide a preview of its Web3 capabilities as well as test and continue the final build-out of the next generation of the popular platform. Users will be able to claim their Utherverse usernames and begin to experience the Web3 version of the platform with experiences such as such as outdoor concerts, rooftop dance clubs with live DJs, film and movie screenings, shopping, art galleries and much more. In addition, users will be able to interact with each other in a variety of settings, as well as buy and sell virtual goods and participate in other e-commerce opportunities. Utherverse is a metaverse platform that enables developers to build interconnected virtual worlds, provides hyper-realistic immersive experiences for consumers and opportunities for companies to market and monetize their products and services. Utherverse generates revenue from custom metaverse building services, sales of NFTs and a variety of business verticals including advertising/marketing, shopping/retail, conferences/conventions, education, dating, lifestyle, entertainment events/performances, VIP experiences and virtual offices. The Utherverse platform was launched in 2005 by internet visionary Brian Shuster. The platform has served tens of millions of users with billions of virtual commerce transactions. Utherverse has developed the technology and received more than 80 patents critical toward operating large-scale metaverses. The company is based in British Columbia, Canada. More information can be found online at Utherverse.io; Twitter/Instagram: @Utherverse; Facebook: /UtherverseDigital; LinkedIn: /utherverse-digital-inc/; Telegram: /UtherverseAnnouncements; Discord: /Utherverse.io. Contacts Steve Honig The Honig Company, LLC 212-401-4875 [email protected]

A recent announcement by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggests that the crypto industry may be in for more pain as it continues to endure the far-reaching consequences that the Commission’s enforcement actions have had on it. More Pain Incoming For Crypto? During the Securities Enforcement Forum Central 2023, David Hirsch stated that his office plans to bring action against other crypto companies that were breaking the law. Hirsch heads the agency’s unit (Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit) that handles crypto enforcement, including the lawsuits against the biggest crypto exchanges in the world, Binance and Coinbase, and another against Ripple. These actions are already negatively impacting these companies and, by extension, the crypto industry. As such, any further action could dampen the mood in the crypto market further. For instance, Binance US, the American arm of Binance, has seen a significant drop in its trading volumes since it began to face regulatory scrutiny. In June, the SEC sued Binance US for a range of infractions, including misrepresentation of trading controls and oversight on the platform. This forced the company to suspend trading for more than 100 token pairs, causing a significant drop in trading activity and investor confidence. Also, despite securing a major victory against the SEC, Ripple’s XRP has lost most of its gains that resulted from the judgment. The XRP price has remained tepid overall, and one of the reasons for this could be that the Commission’s regulatory stance on Ripple has cast doubts in the minds of potential investors, especially with the SEC contesting Judge Analisa Torres’ ruling. The SEC’s continued clampdown on companies in the industry evidently influences how outsiders interact with stakeholders in the industry as they may be looking to avoid the SEC’s wrath. Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz, also recently revealed how the SEC’s lawsuit made the company lose a deal with a stablecoin issuer. Meanwhile, others in the industry may be forced to leave the market or shut down certain parts of their operations, as in the case of crypto exchange Bittrex, which had to shut down its US operations earlier this year. DeFi Not Exempted From SEC’s Wrath So far, the SEC has been known to have largely gone after crypto projects that are more centralized. However, Hirsch stated that Decentralized Finance (DeFi) projects, which could be a direct reference to decentralized exchanges (DEXs), would not be exempted from his unit’s enforcement actions as the “label of DeFi” will not deter them from conducting investigations and doing their job. He, however, admitted that the Commission might not have enough resources to go after all these projects as they are already burdened with several lawsuits. This is in line with pro-XRP legal expert Fred Rispoli’s reasoning that the Commission may be looking to avoid any further legal battle as they do not have enough manpower to handle any additional lawsuit.

Immutable (IMX) surged 33% to $0.7201 with a massive 2302% increase in trading volume. Maker (MKR) reached 16-month highs above $1,360, outperforming the broader crypto with a 152% return this year. In the midst of a week marked by a slight recovery in the global crypto market, investors are eyeing alternative options to Bitcoin as several of the top 50 cryptocurrencies are displaying significant rallies. Here are the top 3 cryptocurrencies that are gaining momentum and boasting strong community support. Immutable (IMX) Immutable (IMX) has emerged as the front-runner in terms of daily price gains, surging by 33% to reach a trading price of $0.7201. This remarkable price increase is a notable success story for Immutable, a mid-cap coin that had long been trading below the $0.550 price range. Immutable (IMX) Price Chart (Source: CoinMarketCap) The exact catalyst for Immutable’s surge remains a subject of speculation, as no major upgrades or partnerships have been announced by the core team. Nevertheless, Immutable has been actively launching ecosystem initiatives aimed at piquing community interest. The introduction of its zkEVM protocol on testnet in August and its continuous efforts to streamline game development are contributing to its growing appeal. Furthermore, an influx of new wallets and bullish sentiment from whales have driven Immutable’s daily trading volume up by over 2302%, reaching $328 million at the time of writing. Astar Network (ASTR) Astar Network (ASTR), one of the pioneering parachains on the Polkadot blockchain, is leading the market’s recovery with a price surge of more than 6.2%. Currently trading at $0.05781, this rise is supported by a 365% increase in trading volume over the past 24 hours, reaching $34 million. Astar Network (ASTR) Price Chart (Source: CoinMarketCap) The positive momentum seen in the Astar Network is backed by substantial progress within its ecosystem. Notably, a partnership inked with Sony in September is yielding promising results, with a growing number of sign-ups to its incubation program. The future growth of Astar Network is closely tied to its Astar 2.0 vision, which was unveiled recently and outlines the next phase of the protocol’s development. Maker (MKR) Maker (MKR) is drawing attention as on-chain data reveals increased interest from whales and new wallets. MKR has shown significant strength, surging by approximately 120% from its lows in June 2023 ($613) to its current price above $1,335. It has also reached 16-month highs, which were last seen in May 2022. Maker (MKR) Price Chart (Source: CoinMarketCap) As of now, MKR is up by 5% in the past 24 hours and 16% in the past week, driving its market capitalization above $1.28 billion and increasing its trading volume by 30% to $107 million. Notably, MKR has outperformed the broader crypto market this year, delivering a 159% return, in contrast to Bitcoin’s 64% increase over the same period.

Over the last several weeks, Toncoin (TON) has shown a strong upward trend. The TON price still has a strong positive trend despite today’s pullback. The Open Network’s native cryptocurrency, TON, has risen to the tenth spot in market value, overtaking Tron (TRX). This follows TON’s recent surge, which has sent the token up more than 24% in the last 7 days, as measured by statistics from CMC. The debut of Telegram’s TON blockchain-based self-custodial digital wallet is largely responsible for this trend. The development was shared during the Singaporean Token2049 conference. TON Storage, TON Proxy (a decentralized VPN service), and the TON naming system are only a few of the many services available on The Open Network. Customers use the TON token as payment for these services. Defying General Market Trend Over the last several weeks, Toncoin (TON) has shown a strong upward trend. Yesterday, the cryptocurrency continued its rally, reaching a new multi-month high of $2.60. The cryptocurrency has been defying the general market trend with its strong bullish momentum for quite some time. Today, however, it has declined by 7.24 percent. Source: CoinMarketCap At the time of writing, the price of TON is $2.32 as per data from CMC. Moreover, the trading volume is down 14.99%. If the price manages to go above the recent high of $2.60 then it is likely to start a fresh rally. However, if the price goes below $1.95 support level then it is likely that the price will go all the way till $1.63 level. The TON price still has a strong positive trend despite today’s pullback. However, prospective investors need to keep a careful eye on the token’s critical levels, as well as the general market mood.

Optimism has revealed its plans to sell 116 million OP tokens to seven private buyers. According to the update, this sale is for treasury management tokens. Based on current prices, this sale will transfer approximately $159 million worth of OP tokens to the buyers. Given the sheer amount of the sale, some traders believe it will likely cause a decline in OP’s price. Optimism Announces Sale OF 116 Million OP Tokens Following Third Airdrop Event In detail, Optimism posted a community update on September 20 on selling approximately 116 million OP tokens. The tokens are from the unallocated portion of the OP Token treasury, and these tokens are part of the Foundation’s original working budget of 30% of the initial OP supply. According to the update, the tokens are subject to a two-year lockup. During the lockup period, the purchasers can delegate the tokens to third parties for on-chain governance. Also, the announcement stated that from September 20, several transactions will take place with the released tokens. It noted that the transactions are pre-planned. It bears mentioning that this token sale comes a few days after Optimism announced its third OP airdrop to reward community members for participation in on-chain governance. Optimism released over 19 million OP tokens to over 31,000 unique addresses. Meanwhile, the OP community received the announcement with mixed reactions, with one user expressing disappointment. He expressed concerns that the token sale will increase Optimism’s circulating supply, impacting the price. Optimism’s Private Token Sale: Will It Affect OP’s Price? Some observers have expressed concern that the sale will affect OP’s price negatively, as the buyers may dump their tokens. However, there are a few reasons why this is unlikely to happen. Firstly, the sale is private, meaning the buyers are not required to disclose their identities or intentions for the tokens. Therefore, it makes it difficult for traders to anticipate the buyers’ actions. Secondly, the tokens are from the OP treasury’s unallocated portion and are not part of the circulating supply. It means that the sale will have a minimal impact on the availability of OP on the open market. Furthermore, the tokens are subject to a two-year lockup period. The lockup prevents buyers from selling them on secondary markets until at least 2025, reducing the likelihood of a sell-off that could depress price. Overall, Optimism can fund its development by raising capital from investors without relying on the public. Such action could lead to increased demand for OP from bullish investors on the project’s long-term prospects. Historical Data Suggests Private Sales Could Boost OP Price Other projects have held similar private sales in the past. Recall that Polygon raised $450 million last year in a private token sale led by Sequoia Capital India. Also, in 2021, Arbitrum raised $120 million in a private token sale led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. In both of these cases, the private token sales positively impacted the price of the respective tokens. The Polygon MATIC’s price increased by over 50% in the two weeks following the announcement of the private sale. Similarly, the price of AAVE increased by 20% in the two weeks following Arbitrum’s private sale announcement. Therefore, based on this historical precedent, the private sale could benefit OP in the long run. However, note that the cryptocurrency market is volatile, and OP’s price is not guaranteed to increase.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) trading volume has dipped 14% in the past 24H. BTC price hovers above the 9-day EMA, reinforcing short-term bullish sentiment. The impact of Mt.Gox extending its repayment deadline on the BTC price is subject to speculation. Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has been generating both hope and fear within the community due to its recent price movements. On Monday, Bitcoin demonstrated a bullish momentum with its foray into the $27,000 range. However, bears instilled fear, when BTC quivered and fluctuated between $26,864 and $27,290. Despite high expectations, the recent Federal Reserve meeting held on Wednesday had a minimal impact on Bitcoin’s price. Earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the country might see only two more interest rate hikes by the end of 2023. The previous meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) resulted in the first of these two interest rate increases. Following the recent FOMC meeting, the target interest rate remains at 5.25% – 5.50%, aligning with global market expectations. However, it’s worth noting that this interest rate is the highest it has been in 22 years. Meanwhile, as a bullish hope to the community, prominent financial advisors like Robert Kiyosaki continue to emphasize the importance of acquiring assets like gold, silver, and Bitcoin today rather than fixating on their future prices. Kiyosaki also recently made bold predictions, suggesting that Bitcoin could potentially reach $120,000 by next year and an even more striking projection of $500,000 per BTC by 2025. Furthermore, the crypto market diverts its major attention to observing the impacts of Mt.Gox creditors’ recent actions on Bitcoin. The memory of the 850,000 BTC hack in 2014 on Mt.Gox could never fade away. The defunct crypto exchange has now extended the repayment date to October 31, 2024 — an additional 12 months. This raises high speculations among investors. Will Bitcoin Bears Lose Their Strength? A closer look at Bitcoin’s recent price movements reveals an underlying bullish trend on the daily chart. Notably, the 9-day exponential moving average (EMA) was recorded below the trading price at $26745, further emphasizing the bullish sentiment. The daily relative strength index (RSI) stands at 56, indicating a neutral position. However, trading volume has decreased by 14% in the last 24 hours, resting at $12 billion. Bitcoin (BTC) Daily Price Chart (Source: TradingView) If the price manages to break through the $28,000 resistance level, BTC could test the $31,480 resistance. Conversely, a drop below the $26,370 support level might see Bitcoin testing the critical $25,000 level. Will BTC Hit $30K Anytime soon? Share your thoughts by tweeting us at @The_NewsCrypto

Bitcoin analyst and fervent BTC advocate, Will Clemente, has recently shed light on a compelling macroeconomic landscape unfolding, potentially favoring the world’s leading cryptocurrency. Clemente suggests that the United States is currently facing an unavoidable predicament, where it must increase its money supply significantly to manage its mounting debt burden. This, he argues, sets the stage for substantial currency debasement in the near future. Clemente’s analysis hinges on the growing probability of the United States further expanding its money supply over the coming years. With the relentless trend of rapid money printing, he raises a critical question: Which assets will emerge as the top performers in this volatile financial landscape? Among the contenders, including the stock market, commodities, real estate, and venture/angel investing, Clemente’s resounding answer is Bitcoin. Bitcoin: The Digital Safe Haven As Clemente delves into his rationale, he highlights the unique attributes that make Bitcoin stand out in this tumultuous economic climate. He emphasizes that while gold has long been considered the go-to asset during periods of currency debasement, Bitcoin’s upcoming halving event will significantly bolster its stock-to-flow ratio, surpassing even that of gold and silver. Furthermore, Bitcoin’s advantages of being highly transportable, divisible, verifiable, and provably scarce position it as a superior alternative to traditional commodities. The sentiment surrounding Bitcoin’s potential is not limited to crypto enthusiasts and analysts. Best-selling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” Robert Kiyosaki, has echoed similar sentiments. Kiyosaki emphasizes the urgency of taking action in the current economic climate. He dismisses questions about future price predictions for Bitcoin, gold, and silver in 2025 as “silly.” Instead, he urges individuals to focus on their present holdings, emphasizing that time is running out to seize the opportunities presented by these assets. Act Now Before Prices Surge Kiyosaki contends that Bitcoin, gold, and silver remain relatively affordable investments at present but warns that this window of opportunity is closing fast. He predicts that as more people recognize the potential of these assets and rush to acquire them, prices will inevitably surge. As Bitcoin’s current price hovers around $27,028.81, the recent 2.8% seven-day increase underscores the growing interest in these digital and precious metal assets. The macroeconomic stage appears to be set for Bitcoin to shine amidst concerns about the U.S. economy. Analysts like Will Clemente and financial experts like Robert Kiyosaki are sending a clear message: the time to act is now, as the future of Bitcoin and precious metals becomes increasingly promising in an uncertain financial world. Featured image from Inside Bitcoins

Many Ethereum addresses linked to the platform’s ICO have begun to exhibit movement. The ETH price seems to have lost momentum after facing resistance at $1666 level. To improve the openness and accessibility of smart contract audits for decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, developers of Ethereum (ETH) have created a new standard called ERC-7512. This month, Richard Meissner, co-founder of Safe, presented a suggestion on the Ethereum Magicians forum that has generated a lot of debate among developers. The fundamental goal of ERC-7512 is to provide an on-chain depiction of audit reports that can be parsed by contracts, allowing users to extract useful information about the audits, such as the auditors participating and the verified standards, from the audit reports themselves. After eight years of inactivity, an Ethereum ICO participant sent 32.1 ETH and 160.1 ETH to Coinbase. This specific Ether address was part of the Ethereum Genesis and had been credited with 200 ETH at the outset. Many Ethereum addresses linked to the platform’s ICO have begun to exhibit movement in the last few months, after lying dormant for years. Speculation and intrigue have been heightened in the crypto market as a result of the unexpected activity. Bears Dominate At the time of writing, ETH is trading at $1622, down 1.05% in the last 24 hours as per data from CMC. The ETH price seems to have lost momentum after facing strong resistance at $1666 level. It will now test the first support at $1610 level, breaking which the price will likely decline all the way till $1538 mark. Source: CoinMarketCap Moreover, if the price breaks below the key $1538 support level then it is likely to decline all the way till $1431 mark. On the other hand, if the price manages to go above the $1666 mark then it will likely rally towards the $1737 level.

Ethereum has been one of the cryptocurrencies to maintain a reasonably high level even through multiple price crashes in the market. However, it seems like the altcoin will not be able to hold as it has done in the past with a dreaded bearish signal resurfacing to threaten the asset’s price. Ethereum Addresses Holding More Than 1,000 Coins Fall Over the last few years, the Ethereum whales have fervently held on to their coins. The large holders were some of the most convinced when it comes to the altcoin, with the number of wallets holding more than 1,000 coins maintaining above 2018 lows. However, the support has broken as conviction has declined. Glassnode reported on Wednesday, September 20, that the number of ETH addresses holding more than 1,000 coins has finally fallen to 6,082. The last time that the figure was this low was back in 2018 when the bear market was in full bloom. This means that for the last five years, this number has held, until now. The significance of this decline is evident in what happened the last time when the figure was this low. With the bearish trend that was recorded in 2018, expectations have turned to a decline for Ethereum’s price as well. What Happened The Last Time? In 2018 when this Ethereum metric was at this level, the altcoin’s price suffered massively. The year saw its price plunge from as high as $1,367 to as low as $80 in the span of 12 months. The low conviction that followed this would carry on into the next year, triggering a long bearish winter for ETH. Ethereum’s already tepid hold on the $1,600 level is also threatened by massive sell-offs. Over the last few days, there have been a series of large transactions all carrying massive amounts of ETH toward centralized exchanges. The most recent of these transactions include 22,343 ETH worth $36.2 million at the time of the transaction being moved to Coinbase. Two hours later, Whale Alert flagged another large transaction carrying 16,500 ETH ($26.77 million) to the OKEx crypto exchange. Since one of the major reasons why investors transfer tokens to centralized exchanges is to take advantage of their deep liquidity and sell their tokens, it is possible these whales are looking to sell these coins. In such a case, investors could be looking at massive selling pressure on the horizon for ETH, which could send its price back below the $1,600 support.

The panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), voiced her opposition. The Senate, where Democrats have a majority, may provide significant opposition. A measure to prevent efforts to establish a CBDC in the United States has been approved by a House committee. Concerns about impeding development and U.S. competitiveness in the international financial sector were at the forefront of the arguments that the contentious decision sparked on Capitol Hill. The committee, which Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) chairs, pushed for the measure to need express approval from Congress for any CBDC development. Furthermore, the Act prohibits any Federal Reserve projects that may be used for monitoring, with the goal of protecting the privacy of citizens. Strong Opposition However, the panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), voiced her opposition to the decision. She said the Republicans’ anti-innovation posture would cause the United States to fall behind other countries. Particularly China, in the race to establish international norms for CBDCs. Moreover, she cautioned that as a result, future payment methods for Americans risk sacrificing efficiency, convenience, and affordability. The planned regulation has brought up worries regarding innovation, and its timeliness has been emphasized. The House acted despite continuing disagreements over other crucial financial reforms. Republican lawmakers were adamant about blocking efforts to create a CBDC. The Senate, where Democrats have a majority, may provide significant opposition to this measure. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, is less enthusiastic about digital assets than his fellow House Republicans. Moreover, the Fed has been conducting preliminary studies in preparation for the eventual establishment of a CBDC. Michael Barr, the vice chairman for supervision, has made it clear that this kind of change would need an order from the White House and legislation from Congress. Highlighted Crypto News Today: Standard Chartered’s Crypto-Arm Zodia Custody To Offer Staking Service

Prominent analyst EGRAG CRYPTO has brought attention to the potential of a significant surge in the XRP price, based on a technical analysis that relies on Fibonacci retracement levels. According to a recent tweet from the analyst, “#XRP Color Code To $1.4: If XRP triumphantly closes above the Fib 0.5 level at $0.57 with undeniable confirmation, we’re setting our sights on the $1.4!” The detailed analysis of the chart shared by EGRAG CRYPTO reveals key price points that are significant for the future movement of XRP. The “wicking” range is indicated between $0.3875 and $0.4719. A dip below $0.3875 would be a cause of concern as this would invalidate the chart setup. The “ranging” area where XRP does not have any clear direction and is just moving sideways, is defined by the analyst as the range between $0.4719 and $0.5119. But iff the cryptocurrency manages to push past $0.5119, it enters the “bullish” territory that extends up to $0.5738, which is also the pivotal 50% Fibonacci retracement level. According to EGRAG CRYPTO breaching this price level is the key catalyst for an extensive XRP price rally. The analyst assumes that XRP will not experience any significant resistance after pushing above the 50% Fibonacci level and could eventually break through the yearly high at $0.9310. However, according to the analyst, this is not the end of the road. According to him, the final target of a 250% rally is the 1,618 Fibonacci extension level, which is at $1.4694. Long-term XRP Price Prediction EGRAG’s broader perspective on XRP’s price performance is rooted in his analysis of the historical accumulation trends. The concept revolves around the notion that the longer an asset remains in accumulation, the more formidable the subsequent breakout. A few days ago, he identified multiple accumulation zones for XRP, with each phase leading to significant price multipliers. With XRP currently in its longest accumulation zone of 68 months, EGRAG CRYPTO believes this could be the prelude to an explosive rally. The analyst has provided potential price scenarios based on XRP’s all-time high (ATH) of $3.3. The most aggressive of these predicts a 27x surge from its all-time high, positioning the cryptocurrency at nearly $89.1. The second assumption is a 6.75x increase from ATH elevating the token to approximately $22. Third assumption predicts a 2x multiplier from ATH landing at $6.6, whereas the fourth assumption by the analyst targets a 14x target concluding to $46. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $0.5093 after an attempt to regain the trend line (black) failed.

Terra Luna Classic (LUNC) has been on the radar of crypto enthusiasts and investors, but its recent price performance has left many scratching their heads. Since mid-August, the altcoin has been caught in a pronounced downtrend, drawing the attention of traders worldwide. This intriguing price movement is marked by the presence of two distinct descending trend lines, which have consistently acted as dynamic barriers of support and resistance. The continuous interplay between Terra Classic’s price and these trend lines has given birth to a descending channel pattern. This pattern, shaped by the seesawing between support and resistance, holds the potential to offer insights into the altcoin’s trajectory in the days to come. Terra Classic At A Crossroads The current LUNC price, as per CoinGecko, hovers at $0.00005745 with a modest 24-hour gain of 0.3%. However, over the past seven days, it has seen a slight decrease of 0.4%. The price chart has been marked by short-bodied daily candles adorned with extended wicks, indicative of market indecision. Yet, history suggests that within falling channel patterns, such as the one LUNC is currently in, a bullish breakout often occurs. This hints at the possibility of LUNC breaking through the upper trend line and potentially experiencing a 6.3% surge. Analyzing The Potential For A Bullish Rally Experts in the crypto space suggest that such a bullish move could amplify the demand pressure for Terra Luna Classic, potentially propelling the coin to rally by as much as 25%. This would put the next major resistance level at $0.000075 squarely in the altcoin’s sights, offering hope for those holding LUNC tokens. However, it’s worth noting that the crypto market is currently under the shadow of uncertainty. Renowned crypto analyst Nicholas Merten recently sounded a cautionary note in a YouTube strategy session. Merten predicted a prolonged bearish trend for Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins, expressing concern that this downturn could lead to widespread liquidations and the removal of excess money from the system, potentially contributing to economic challenges. Terra Luna Classic’s price behavior, ensnared within the confines of a descending channel pattern, is a topic of keen interest among crypto enthusiasts. While historical patterns hint at the possibility of a bullish breakout, the broader market climate remains uncertain. As investors brace for potential turbulence, all eyes are on Terra Classic to see if it can break free from the gravitational pull of its descending trend lines and defy the prevailing market sentiment. (This site’s content should not be construed as investment advice. Investing involves risk. When you invest, your capital is subject to risk). Featured image from Sport Découverte

Crypto analyst Nicholas Merten has given an insight into the future trajectory of the Bitcoin price, suggesting that the flagship cryptocurrency may experience turbulent times ahead. The Calm Before The Storm For Bitcoin In a recent episode of his YouTube channel DataDash, Merton mentioned that Bitcoin, other altcoins, and the broader asset market were on the brink of a major move as several macro factors were coming together. He further went ahead to discuss how these different “dominos” could “potentially cause a lot of pain in the economy.” The first macro factor he mentioned was equities. According to him, the direction of equities and the broader assets are going to have a “direct impact” on Bitcoin. He showed a direct relation between the equity market and the crypto market as coins began to pick up at the beginning of the year, right around when the former was on a high. However, he pointed out that the equity market has been relatively quiet as the narratives that are meant to push it higher haven’t done the job. As such, he believes that if stocks like Apple’s, Microsoft’s, and Fang’s (basically the stocks of major tech companies) don’t start picking up, then there could be a “really big problem” (most likely in reference to the crypto market). Re-Inflation On The Rise Another factor that he emphasized was the inflation data. Merton seemed to suggest that the Fed wasn’t doing enough to curb inflation and bring it down to the target of 2%. According to him, the Fed could have taken a more stringent approach by raising the rates by 75 basis points or even 100. The inflation rate is known to have a significant impact on the crypto market, as a higher rate means that investors may have little or nothing to spend in the crypto market. Merton noted that it is evident that the Fed isn’t doing enough as the prices of several goods and services (including energy) seem to be re-inflating. He made a comparison to the ‘70s when inflation was also at an all-time high and stated that if this time is nearly similar to then or if there is a trend, then it could be a “huge problem.” Some may argue that the ‘70s were extreme times, especially with the oil embargo, which makes it different from this period. However, Merton noted that there isn’t much difference as we have the situation with BRICS, which suggests that the world is de-globalizing and nations are less trusting of one another. This would invariably affect trade deals and foreign relations, something which Merton believes would have “inflationary pressures,” and the Fed is well aware of this. He stated that the major reason we are experiencing this re-inflation is because supply and demand aren’t balanced. According to him, there is excess money in the system due to the “excess printing of money” which people got rich off and the stimulus checks during the COVID era. As such, there is so much purchasing power without there being enough supply to meet these demands.

Polygon (MATIC) enthusiasts remain undeterred as they continue to push the price of the digital asset higher despite a prevailing bearish market structure, While the higher timeframe structure paints a bearish picture, buyers have been steadily driving prices upwards. At the time of writing, MATIC is priced at $0.541671 on CoinGecko, marking a 2% gain in the past 24 hours and a noteworthy 4.5% increase over the course of a week. Derivatives Market Wary Despite MATIC’s Resilience Market participants in the derivatives sector have, however, approached MATIC’s recent bullish moves with caution. Data provided by Coinalyze reveals a consistent dip in Open Interest, even in the face of decent price gains. This dip suggests a lack of conviction among traders regarding MATIC’s price rebound. However, there are underlying indicators that may paint a more optimistic picture for Polygon, according to price analysis. The Funding Rate has remained positive since last week, and the Spot CVD (Cumulative Volume Delta) has maintained its upward trend. These factors hint at a growing demand for MATIC, which could play a pivotal role in supporting a sustained bullish surge. Moreover, buyers found renewed enthusiasm as Bitcoin (BTC) made a swift climb to the $27,000 price range, igniting fresh bullish sentiment. Technical Signals Point Toward Growing Confidence A closer look at the technical indicators shows that buying pressure has been gradually increasing. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) currently stands at 58, underscoring the rising bullish sentiment among MATIC investors. Similarly, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has flipped positive with a reading of +0.04, indicating an influx of capital into the asset. Examining the 12-hour chart for MATIC reveals a conservative yet sustained bullish approach to the price rebound. These signals collectively point towards a growing bullish confidence in the short term. While the broader market may appear bearish, MATIC enthusiasts seem determined to defy the prevailing sentiment and drive the digital asset’s value higher. Polygon (MATIC) buyers have remained resilient in the face of a bearish market structure. The digital asset’s price has shown steady progress, and key indicators suggest that demand for MATIC remains intact. With growing buying pressure and positive technical signals, MATIC enthusiasts may have reason to believe that the tide could turn in their favor, despite the overarching market conditions. Investors will be closely watching the coming days to see if this bullish momentum can be sustained. (This site’s content should not be construed as investment advice. Investing involves risk. When you invest, your capital is subject to risk). Featured image from YouWorkForThem

Dogecoin enthusiasts are buzzing with anticipation following recent developments at X, the platform previously known as Twitter. As part of its ambitious expansion to enhance its “Everything app”, X is introducing a range of payment integrations, and with Elon Musk at the helm, many speculate that Dogecoin could be among the supported cryptocurrencies. Linda Yaccarino, X’s CEO, today unveiled a video outlining the app’s prospective features. From sharing information and participating in community discussions to making calls and tuning into community chats, the updated app promises to be a comprehensive platform. Particularly striking is the video’s revelation that X aims to evolve into a payments app, revealing features that allow users to promptly make online purchases, remit money, and harness income from ad revenues when participating in Elon Musk’s creator community. This step is significant, solidifying rumors and speculations that had been swirling in recent months regarding X’s ambitions in the payments domain. Elon Musk, having taken the reins of Twitter last year and rebranding it to X, is known for his holistic vision of creating an all-in-one app experience. Given his vocal support for cryptocurrencies, especially Dogecoin, there’s been rampant speculation about the potential introduction of DOGE payments on X. Notably, there’s not (even a small) hint about the integration of DOGE or crypto in general in the video released today. Cause Of Concern For Dogecoin Investors? Nevertheless, the DOGE community remains hopeful. Dogecoin’s price trajectory witnessed a sharp surge last year when news of Musk’s acquisition of Twitter began circulating. Although the coin has seen a downtrend since, it remains firmly within the top ten cryptocurrency assets by market capitalization. While Musk has not recently made overt Dogecoin-related posts, such as sharing a DOGE meme or donning a DOGE shirt like in the past, he continues to be deeply engaged with its community. Evidence lies in his interactions on X, where he frequently communicates with notable Dogecoin figures, such as DogeDesigner (@cb_doge). A look at his X feed and communications reveals that Dogecoin community member DogeDesigner is one of his favorite accounts to interact with. In the last 24 hours alone, Musk has written 11 replies to tweets from DogeDesigner. Musk is also in regular communication with Dogecoin creator Billy Markus. So there are good reasons to argue that Musk’s fondness for Dogecoin has not diminished. In a noteworthy development, three weeks ago, X procured money or currency transmitter licenses in seven US states, including Maryland, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and has thus laid the groundwork for today’s revelation. Interestingly, while the Rhode Island license does encompass crypto payments, it also covers more general payment providers like PayPal and Venmo. Since June, X has secured similar licenses from other states, including Arizona, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, and New Hampshire. These licenses, though broad in scope, are important building blocks for Musk’s ambitions to potentially venture X into a worldwide payment processor. DOGE Price At press time, DOGE was trading at $0.0627. Thus, the Dogecoin price is trading almost exactly at the same level as a month ago. On the higher time frames (1-day chart), DOGE shows a clear downtrend (black line) that needs to be broken in order to unleash a new upward momentum.