BNB price is still consolidating above the $200 support zone against the US Dollar. It could start a decent increase if there is a close above the $220 resistance. BNB price is slowly moving higher toward the $220 resistance against the US Dollar. The price is now trading above $210 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $211.5 on the 4-hour chart of the BNB/USD pair (data source from Binance). The pair might gain bullish momentum if there is a daily close above $220. BNB Price Remains In A Range This past week, BNB price again retested the $200-$202 support zone. The bears made another attempt to clear the key $200 support, but they failed. A low was formed near $203 before the price started a decent increase, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. There was a move above the $210 and $212 levels. The price tested the main $220 resistance. A high is formed near $219.2 and the price is now consolidating above the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $203 swing low to the $220 high. BNB is now trading above $210 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support near $211.5 on the 4-hour chart of the BNB/USD pair. Source: BNBUSD on TradingView.com If there is a fresh increase, the price could face resistance near the $215.5 level. The next resistance sits near the $220 level. A clear move above the $220 zone could send the price further higher. In the stated case, BNB price could test $235. A close above the $235 resistance might set the pace for a larger increase toward the $250 resistance. More Losses? If BNB fails to clear the $220 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $211 level and the trend line. The next major support is near the $207 level or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $203 swing low to the $220 high. If there is a downside break below the $207 support, the price could drop toward the $202 support. Any more losses could initiate a larger decline toward the $185 level. Technical Indicators 4-Hours MACD – The MACD for BNB/USD is losing pace in the bearish zone. 4-Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BNB/USD is currently above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $211, $207, and $202. Major Resistance Levels – $215, $220, and $222.

Ethereum price failed to start fresh increase above $1,600 against the US dollar. ETH is now struggling to stay above the $1,550 support zone. Ethereum extended its decline and tested the $1,550 support zone. The price is trading just below $1,580 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance near $1,570 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could accelerate lower if the bulls fail to protect the $1,550 support. Ethereum Price Dips Further Ethereum struggled to settle above $1,650 and started a fresh decline. ETH traded below the $1,620 and $1,600 support levels. There was a short consolidation phase before the price extended its decline, unlike Bitcoin. There was a move below the $1,575 support and the price tested $1,550. A low is formed near $1,553 and the price is now consolidating losses. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance near $1,570 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. Ethereum is now trading just below $1,580 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price is facing resistance near the $1,570 level and the trend line. The 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1,669 swing high to the $1,553 low is also just above the trend line. The first major resistance is near the $1,600 zone or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1,669 swing high to the $1,553 low. Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com A close above the $1,600 resistance might start a decent increase. In the stated case, Ether could rise and recover toward the $1,660 resistance. Any more gains might open the doors for a move toward $1,720. More Losses in ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $1,570 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1,550 level. The next key support is $1,520. A downside break below the $1,520 support might send the price further lower. In the stated case, the price could drop toward the $1,480 level. Any more losses may perhaps send Ether toward the $1,420 level. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Level – $1,550 Major Resistance Level – $1,570

Bitcoin price is consolidating above the $28,000 support. BTC could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $28,550 resistance zone. Bitcoin started a consolidation phase below the $28,500 level. The price is trading above $27,800 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance near $28,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if there is a clear move above the $28,550 resistance. Bitcoin Price Aims Fresh Increase Bitcoin price retreated and trimmed gains from the $30,000 resistance zone. BTC traded below the $29,200 and $28,800 levels to move back into a short-term negative zone. However, the bulls were active near the $28,000 zone. A low was formed near $28,100 and the price started a consolidation phase. There was a move above the $28,250 level. The price tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $30,000 swing high to the $28,100 low. Bitcoin price is now trading above $28,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $28,550 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance near $28,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The next key resistance could be near $29,000 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $30,000 swing high to the $28,100 low. A clear move above the $29,000 resistance zone could set the pace for a larger increase. The next key resistance could be $29,500. Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com If the bulls remain in action, the next stop above $29,500 could be $30,000. Any more gains might send BTC toward the $30,650 level. More Losses In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $28,550 resistance zone, it could slide further. Immediate support on the downside is near the $28,350 level and the triangle region. The next major support is near the $28,000 level. A downside break and close below the $28,000 support might send the price further lower. The next support sits at $27,600 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $28,350, followed by $28,000. Major Resistance Levels – $28,550, $29,000, and $29,500.

In 2012, a staggering 50,000 Bitcoin (BTC) were stolen from the infamous Silk Road, an illicit dark web marketplace. Over the years, the value of the stolen BTC skyrocketed to $3 billion, making it one of the most significant mysteries in cryptocurrency. However, nearly a decade later, a critical mistake by the thief led to a breakthrough in the case, allowing the IRS-CI (Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation) to crack the puzzle. CNBC has obtained exclusive footage that reveals how investigators meticulously connected the dots, ultimately leading to the unmasking of the perpetrator behind the Bitcoin heist. Silk Road Bitcoin Heist Unraveled The story begins in Athens, Georgia, an unsuspecting college town familiar with typical misdemeanors. On the night of March 13, 2019, 28-year-old Jimmy Zhong, a local computer expert, made an unusual 911 call to report the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Bitcoin from his home. Per the report, the investigation into the theft from Zhong’s residence initially yielded no suspects. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department, inexperienced in crypto-related cases, struggled to make headway. In a quest for answers, Zhong sought the assistance of local private investigator Robin Martinelli. Although not well-versed in cryptocurrencies, Martinelli was determined to crack the case. Martinelli meticulously examined Zhong’s extensive home surveillance system and stumbled upon a crucial piece of evidence—a slender figure captured in the footage from the night of the crime. Little did Zhong know that while reporting his stolen Bitcoin, a team of IRS agents worked tirelessly to solve the 2012 Silk Road hack. However, the hacker’s identity remained concealed until a tiny slip-up occurred. In September 2019, the hacker mistakenly transferred around $800 worth of BTC to a cryptocurrency exchange that adhered to established banking regulations, including “know your customer” procedures. To the investigators’ surprise, the account used for the transaction was registered in Jimmy Zhong’s name, linking him to the stolen Silk Road funds. The IRS contacted the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, seeking collaboration to build a solid case against Zhong. United by a shared objective, Lt. Jody Thompson, IRS-CI special agent Trevor McAleenan, and Shaun MaGruder, CEO of cyber intelligence company BlockTrace, formed a team. Armed with evidence, they obtained a federal search warrant for Zhong’s residence. On November 9, 2021, a large team of officers raided Zhong’s home, delivering the shocking news that he was the prime suspect. From Creator To Thief? Investigations revealed that Zhong, an early coder allegedly involved in the development of Bitcoin since its inception in 2009, had played a role in perfecting the technology. In an ironic twist, a hacker involved in the creation of Bitcoin had transformed into one of the most prominent BTC thieves in history. Zhong was charged with wire fraud, pleaded guilty, and received a sentence of one year and a day in federal prison, starting on July 14, 2023. Zhong could not retain the illicit funds despite his immense fortune in stolen BTC. The US government seized the assets, initiating a process for victims of the Silk Road hack to reclaim their lost Bitcoin. However, no claimants came forward, and the government sold the seized Bitcoin, with the proceeds likely to be shared with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department as a token of appreciation for their assistance. In his statement to the judge, Zhong admitted that the stolen Bitcoin had made him feel important, but ultimately, his actions had only benefited the government financially. While the original crime of the Bitcoin theft from Zhong’s Athens residence remains unsolved, the arrest and conviction of Zhong have brought closure to one of the most significant cryptocurrency crimes of our time. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Two Fantom Foundation wallets on Ethereum and the Fantom Network have fallen victim to a phishing attack, losing over $650,000, according to reports from CertiK, a blockchain security firm. Another report by “Spreakaway” on X alleges that one of Fantom’s team members also lost $3.4 million. Fantom Foundation Falls Victim To Phishing Attack Fantom Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the Fantom ecosystem. On the other hand, Fantom is a scalable, layer-1 blockchain that is compatible with Ethereum. Like the world’s most valuable network, the platform supports the deployment of smart contracts. For clarity, Fantom’s network was not hacked; the foundation’s wallets were compromised. According to CertiK, the Fantom Foundation lost $470,000 on Fantom and at least $187,000 on Ethereum. Following the attack, Etherscan data show that the scammers consolidated funds into one account, holding at least $7 million of various coins. The address has already been marked and identified as a facilitator of multiple phishing campaigns impacting crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. Reports on Reddit show that Fantom Foundation fell victim to a “zero day” exploit on Chrome, a web browser, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands worth of FTM. In a screenshot of a Telegram conversation said to have been shared by a Fantom admin, the foundation acknowledged that “some” of their wallets were “drained.” They are actively tracking the movement of stolen funds. Zero Day Exploit, FTM Sinks Even Lower A zero-day exploit is a vulnerability unknown to the developer or its tech team, who might be able to fix it. Because the flaw isn’t known to the team, the threat actor can exploit it until it is patched. This is why zero-day exploits can be consequential, especially for DeFi protocols whose infrastructure relies on flawed software. In the same screenshot shared on Reddit, a representative of Fantom Foundation said they didn’t update their browser to the latest version. The latest Chrome browser update, version 118.0.5993.70, was released on October 11. Following this news, FTM fell roughly 5% and is now rocking close to multi-month lows. If bears press on, the coin may drop below 2022 lows. As such, it will reverse all gains made in the first half of 2023. At this year’s peaks, FTM prices rose to as high as $0.65 in February 2023 before contracting to spot rates. The coin is trading at approximately $0.17 and under intense selling pressure.

New, secure way to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency TULSA, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In an exciting new venture, WeStreet Credit Union has announced a new Crypto Portal for users to buy, sell and hold their digital currency. The portal was launched in August as an exclusive members-only feature and became available to the public this month. Cryptocurrency is a general term for any decentralized digital currency, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. These cryptocurrencies are maintained by a peer-to-peer network of computers on a public ledger called blockchain. In the past, crypto was most often traded via unregulated online exchanges. While digital-only exchanges often come with a risk for users, WeStreet’s Crypto Portal aims to change that. “At WeStreet, we always keep our community, their needs, and their financial goals top of mind. Right now, many of our members and the broader community are looking for an accessible, all-in-one way to invest in cryptocurrency,” said WeStreet Credit Union President and CEO Greg Gallant. “We want to empower users and make sure they feel confident in their cryptocurrency ventures, and we believe our Crypto Portal is the best solution on the market for our community.” Unlike unregulated digital-only exchanges, WeStreet Credit Union is a traditional, federally regulated credit union staffed by member service professionals, providing financial products designed to meet the needs of its members. WeStreet has partnered with a Qualified Crypto Custodian, which is a Trust company, providing users with a way to manage cryptocurrency assets through their online banking app. Many digital-only exchanges are unregulated, which has been a major cause of billions of dollars of cryptocurrency being lost in recent years. By using a combination of best-in-class systems, the regulated custodian WeStreet has partnered undergoes financial and technology audits, to ensure users’ digital assets are protected. “We also independently monitor crypto balances with our qualified custodian several times a day and immediately work to resolve any discrepancies if any do appear,” said Gallant. WeStreet also utilizes an audited ledger to keep track of customers’ crypto assets and monitor their account activities, which allows the credit union to better serve users by quickly addressing and resolving any issues or discrepancies. Users will always have access to their funds to purchase, sell, and hold at any time, empowering them to make informed financial decisions that best serve their needs. A variety of the most popular and highly circulated coins are available for purchase on the platform, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Stellar. Coins Avalanche and Chainlink will be added to the platform in late October. More information on the Crypto Portal can be found at westreet.org/crypto-portal. About WeStreet Credit Union WeStreet Credit Union was established in 1943 on the philosophy of people helping people. Today, WeStreet has grown to over 56,000 members, $970+ million in assets, more than 200 employees, and serves 11 Northeast Oklahoma counties with 14 convenient locations. WeStreet Credit Union is a community-minded financial institution focused on serving and enriching the lives of others. By creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, WeStreet helps neighbors become members and members become family. For more information about WeStreet Credit Union, visit westreet.org. Contacts Jenny Berry [email protected] 918-691-0750

As the crypto market suffered major losses due to the bear season, meme coins were not left out. These tokens which are often created in line with memes on the internet saw their cumulative market cap drop by $3.2 billion in 2023. This decline has paved the way for possibly buying these highly popular tokens at what could be considered a discount. Dogecoin (DOGE): King Of The Meme Coins Dogecoin (DOGE) has managed to retain its title as the king of the meme coins over the years but that has not helped the altcoin to dodge the bloodbath. Despite starting out the year 2023 strong and trading close to the $0.1 level, it has succumbed to the seemingly never-ending bear pressure and fallen around 50% since then. Dogecoin is currently trading at one of its lowest points since the year began, which could signal a prime time for purchasing the meme coin. According to data from Messari, DOGE’s price is currently over 91% lower than its all-time high price of $0.738. This means that a return to its all-time high in a bull market would be an almost 10x return on investment from its current $0.059 level. Shiba Inu (SHIB): The DOGE Killer When Shiba Inu first came out in 2020 as an alleged ‘Dogecoin killer’, crypto investors did not take it seriously. It wasn’t until it mounted one of the most impressive rallies of 2021 that investors saw its potential. Eventually, it grew to become the second-largest crypto among the meme coins, clocking an over $10 billion market cap at one point. However, just like its biggest competitor Dogecoin, Shiba Inu has been subject to unfavorable conditions which have seen its price decline rapidly. It is almost 92% below its October 2021 all-time high of $0.0000869. So just like Dogecoin, a return to its all-time high price will also see SHIB return almost 10x on its current price of $0.00000706. SHIB also remains a fierce competition for Dogecoin after the team released their very own Layer 2 blockchain called Shibarium. This blockchain, built atop the Ethereum network, has put it in the league of large players such as Polygon (MATIC), Arbitrum (ARB), and Optimism (OP). Pepe Coin (PEPE): The New Kid On The Block Pepe Coin (PEPE) is currently only a few months old but it has already shown that it deserves to be listed among the top meme coins. PEPE’s run-up to over $1.4 billion in a bear market was nothing short of historical. But even this new kid on the block could not completely shake off the bears. PEPE’s market cap has fallen by over $1.2 billion since it hit its all-time high in May, which could present a buying opportunity. Now, given PEPE’s performance in a bear market, it is expected to rally even more in a bull market. Since it is currently 84% below its all-time high price, a return to that level from here would mean an 8x return. The coin also commands a significant following with 520,000 followers on Twitter, making it one of the most followed meme coins in the space.

Scroll, a zero-knowledge rollup project, has officially launched its mainnet, aiming to boost Ethereum’s throughput. The mainnet’s initial focus is onboarding infrastructure providers to the network. Scroll utilizes zkEVM technology, offering an experience almost identical to Ethereum and allowing the execution of smart contracts with full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. Scroll, a zero-knowledge rollup project aimed at boosting Ethereum’s throughput, has officially launched its mainnet, according to an announcement Tuesday. Chinese journalist Colin Wu reported that Scroll’s mainnet will initially focus on onboarding infrastructure providers to the network. The project utilizes zkEVM technology, which the team states provides an experience virtually identical to Ethereum. A key advantage of zkEVM rollups like Scroll is that they allow the execution of smart contracts with full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. This avoids some of the limitations of other scaling approaches. Scroll outlined upcoming milestones In their press release, the team outlined upcoming milestones, including building a decentralized network of verifiers and sequencers for transaction ordering. This implies that a native token and airdrops are likely not imminent and remain further down the roadmap. Rollups like Scroll essentially bundle or “roll up” transactions off-chain and generate cryptographic proofs that are verified on Ethereum. This can significantly reduce congestion and fees on the root chain. Along with fellow zkEVM project zkSync, Scroll aims to deliver Ethereum’s security guarantees and ecosystem support while vastly improving throughput. However, decentralized control and token distribution appear to still be in their early stages. The launch marks a significant step forward for Scroll, but real-world usage and adoption remain key challenges ahead as Ethereum continues to see growth in demand. Rollups represent one highly anticipated scaling avenue to unlocking Ethereum’s true long-term potential.

The foundation’s significant assets were safe and sound since they were kept in cold wallets. CertiK, a blockchain security auditing organization, has verified the hack. The Fantom Foundation is dealing with the fallout of a security breach that affected its blockchain infrastructure. The operation of the organization was disrupted because hackers used a zero-day flaw in Google Chrome. This is just one of several security incidents this month that has shaken confidence in the blockchain sector, and it resulted in the theft of $657,000. Over 35 wallets that were crucial to the foundation’s Fantom and Ethereum networks had their resources emptied. This problem was revealed thanks to discussions within the Fantom Foundation community, particularly on Telegram. Moreover, users were the first to report on this disturbing trend. In spite of all the upheaval, the foundation’s significant assets were safe and sound since they were kept in cold wallets. Private Key Theft Likely CertiK, a blockchain security auditing organization, has verified the hack. Community estimates put the financial harm at $657,000, which is far lower than the compromised total. The magnitude of the security breach is unaffected by the mismatch in the numbers. Blockchain analysis shows that the attackers, using the fake identity “Fake_Phishing188024,” were able to steal several cryptocurrencies from the foundation’s wallets. As further evidence of another transaction is uncovered, the specifics become direr. To an account using the name “Fake_Phishing32” on the Fantom network, the foundation sent over a million Fantom tokens from Wallet 20. These kinds of trades are strongly indicative of a private key theft, a devastating security breach for any blockchain organization. Highlighted Crypto News Today: Ethereum Scaling Solution Scroll Launches Mainnet

China developers are active and willing to build on leading blockchain platforms if statistics from Solana Hyperdrive Hackathon submission details are anything to go by. In an X post on October 17, Matty Taylor, the Head of Growth at the Solana Foundation, said there were far more developers from China who submitted applications, willing to participate in the Solana Hyperdrive hackathon than from the United States. Solana Attracting Chinese Developers The hackathon has a prize pool of $1 million, and all submissions had to be submitted by October 15. It is an online event aiming to “nurture and expand” the Solana ecosystem. Developers from 68 countries submitted, with the highest numbers coming from China and Vietnam. The rest were mainly from the United States, India, Mexico, Turkey, and Germany. That notable participation from Chinese developers can be a massive boost for Solana, indicating that the blockchain could be popular in the Asian economic powerhouse. China remains pro-blockchain and believes that the technology can give them an edge and even improve efficiency in some critical sectors, like agriculture, healthcare, governance, and finance, that the country seeks to enhance gradually. However, China has banned crypto trading and mining, citing the “need to go green, protect consumers, and ensure financial stability.” The Chinese central bank, PBoC, said cryptocurrencies could pose a risk to the country’s financial system. Unlike Ethereum, Solana permits fast transaction processing and is relatively scalable with decent activity. Although the project suffered following the collapse of FTX in November 2022, there has been a revival in price and on-chain activity. The Revival, Will SOL Breach $30? To illustrate, non-fungible token (NFT) trading activity on Solana has steadily risen over the past few months. While there was a spike, the network didn’t halt, as in previous instances, especially in 2022. Instead, the high reliability seems to have inspired activity, directly helping revive SOL prices that collapsed by over 90%, worsened by news that Sam Bankman-Fried and Alameda Research allegedly embezzled customer funds. FTX had invested in Solana and has a considerable share of SOL, which will be liquidated and reimbursed to impacted clients. At spot rates, SOL is up 36% from September 2023 lows and overly firm. Looking at the candlestick arrangement in the daily chart, SOL is trading at October and 2023 highs and could break higher if bulls press on. The October 16 bull bar is wide-ranging, has marked trading volumes, and could anchor the next leg towards July 2023 highs of around $32.

Users cannot withdraw USD without first converting it to stablecoins or another digital asset. Binance US notified users of the update via email and provided detailed instructions. Binance US has implemented fundamental changes to its financial activities in the USA. The exchange is no longer allowing users to make direct withdrawals in US dollars as of this week. As stated in their revised terms of service, they will no longer let users withdraw USD without first converting it to stablecoins or another digital asset. Importantly, unlike conventional financial guarantees, US currency deposits are no longer covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Regulatory Concerns The decision comes after months of increased scrutiny from US authorities, which has presented the corporation with significant operating obstacles. Binance US has been the target of several lawsuits over its financial dealings, prompting a review of its offerings. As a result, dollar deposits were frozen this summer, a prelude to the present withdrawal restriction. Customers will have to adjust how they get at their funds because of the alterations. There will be no option for cashing out in US currency. To withdraw dollars, users must first convert their funds to another digital asset or stablecoin. Binance US notified users of the update via email and provided detailed instructions for the new procedure. The company’s problems, however, extend beyond only regulatory ones. After the SEC took strong action, banking partners were hesitant to maintain ties. This fallout, initiated by a June SEC complaint, highlights the difficult climate in which crypto exchanges like Binance US operate. Binance’s problems aren’t exclusive to the United States. The firm is no longer accepting new UK customers. This decision came quickly after its UK promotional partner, Rebuilding Society, was hit with new regulations from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Highlighted Crypto News Today: Massive Dogecoin Transfer to Coinbase Sparks Speculation

Recently, Uniswap, a prominent decentralized exchange, made headlines by introducing a 0.15% swap fee on specific tokens. While generating buzz and curiosity, this decision has raised several questions regarding its impact on traders. Decentralized exchanges (DEX) facilitate peer-to-peer trading without intermediaries. The absence of centralized entities has advantages but also presents challenges, especially regarding fee structures. Uniswap’s latest update to alter its fee structure is a significant shift with potential implications for its large user base. Uniswap Fee Structure: Analyzing The Financial Impact According to data shared by Colin Wu, a blockchain-focused reporter, the daily fees from this change on Uniswap V3 could range between $388,000 and $444,000. Providing deeper insight into the platform’s operations, Wu mentions that approximately 35% to 40% of the entire transaction volume on Uniswap occurs on the front end. These figures, while substantial, are just the tip of the iceberg. Specific tokens targeted for this new fee include popular tokens such as ETH, USDC, WETH, USDT, DAI, WBTC, agEUR, GUSD, LUSD, EUROC, and XSGD. However, according to the Chinese reporter, this fee will only apply when these tokens are traded through Uniswap Labs interfaces on the mainnet and its supported Layer 2 networks. Understanding The Broader Context While the announcement sparked curiosity, it also led to some confusion concerning the fees. Uniswap’s help center, in response, clarified that these newly implemented fees stand apart from the Uniswap Protocol fee switch, which is determined through votes by Uniswap’s governance mechanism. Despite the explanation by the DEX’s team, the genesis of this new fee introduction remains ambiguous to many within the community. In response to Wu’s initial post, several individuals opposed the update, with a particular user questioning the rationale behind the 0.15% fee, the considerations leading to this specific percentage, and the selection of particular tokens for the fee imposition. According to data from Coinmarketcap, Uniswap has reported a significant trading volume of $518.3 million in the past 24 hours, capturing 18.3% of the market share within the decentralized exchange sector. Meanwhile, Uniswap native token UNI has witnessed a substantial decline. The asset has dipped by more than 10% over the past two weeks and showed a continuous drop of 5.5% in the last 24 hours. Currently, UNI is trading for $3.8. Featured image from Bitcoin-Bude, Chart from TradingView

Dogecoin’s price is currently around $0.055, down from its all-time high of $0.73. Crypto trader Ali Martinez noted a large multi-year triangle pattern forming for Dogecoin. The official Dogecoin Twitter account urged community members to withdraw DOGE from centralized platforms and use self-custody wallets. A whale-sized transfer of the popular meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) has caught the attention of the crypto community. According to blockchain tracker Whale Alert, an anonymous wallet moved 110 million DOGE, worth around $6.1 million, to leading U.S. exchange Coinbase on February 5th. The massive transaction comes as Dogecoin hovers near $0.055, down significantly from its all-time high of $0.73 last year. Some analysts believe DOGE may be primed for a new bull run towards the psychologically important $1 level if it can hold key support. Dogecoin is approaching a large multi-year triangle pattern Crypto trader Ali Martinez noted that Dogecoin is approaching the apex of a large multi-year triangle pattern. He advised traders to watch the $0.0482 support level closely for signs of weakness that could lead to new lows. The transfer itself did not immediately impact DOGE prices. Meanwhile, the official Dogecoin Twitter account recently urged community members to withdraw DOGE from centralized platforms. Citing the common phrase “not your keys, not your coins”, they advised using self-custody wallets instead. The warning follows similar guidance from Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow to secure holdings in personal wallets. Crypto projects often encourage such custody to reduce counterparty risk. While the motivation behind the mega Dogecoin transfer is unknown, it has brought renewed attention to the long-running meme coin as investors evaluate both its price outlook and the team’s caution about holding on exchanges. The coming weeks may determine whether DOGE can break its current lull.

CryptoQuant has revealed in its latest report that the Bitcoin market cap could rise by as much as $1 trillion after launching the spot ETFs. Bitcoin Could See A 165% Rise When The Spot ETFs Launch Yesterday, fake news of the approved iShares Bitcoin spot ETF took the sector by storm, as all cryptocurrencies observed sharp rallies. At the peak of this surge, BTC had approached the $30,000 level. However, when the market realized the truth about the announcement, the asset quickly retraced to the levels it was at before the rally. While the gains were only brief, the rally nonetheless provided a glimpse into the strong reaction that the market could see to the launch of a real ETF. This was just one spot ETF; however, several others are waiting in line to be approved. How would the market look like when all these ETFs have launched? In its new report, the on-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant has discussed precisely that. The above table shows information about the various companies waiting to be approved for the Bitcoin spot ETF, including the total size of their assets under management (AUM). “Although these ETFs are not expected to be approved this year, the probability that they will be approved by the final deadline (March 2024) has been growing as a result of favorable court rulings for Grayscale (GBTC Fund) and XRP in their respective legal fight against the SEC,” says the firm. In total, these companies’ AUM are around $15.6 trillion. If they put just 1% of this amount towards BTC, it would mean inflows of a whopping $155 billion for the asset. “To put it in context, these amounts represent almost a third of the current market capitalization of Bitcoin,” notes CryptoQuant. Now, how this capital inflow could affect the market cap of BTC isn’t exactly simple to say. Generally, the market cap increases by more than just the raw capital entering the cryptocurrency. The firm has used the “realized cap” metric to assess this relationship. The realized cap is a capitalization method for BTC that calculates its total value by assuming that the value of each coin is the same as the price at which it was last transacted on the blockchain. The realized cap can be imagined as the total investment made by the investors, accounting for the prices at which each bought their coins. The chart below shows how this realized cap has compared with the market over the years. The graph shows that the market cap and realized cap usually have noticeably different growth rates, as they have always followed pretty different paths. CryptoQuant has calculated the ratio between the annual growths of the two caps and has found that for most of the asset’s history, the market cap has grown by 3 to 6 times faster than the realized cap. If the realized cap grows by $155 billion when the spot ETFs get approved and the asset managers allot 1% of their AUM to Bitcoin, the market cap could grow by between $450 and $900 billion. The report notes this figure implies “the market cap would increase between 82% and 165% from the current level and that Bitcoin price could reach between $50K and $73K as a result of these inflows of fresh money.” BTC Price Bitcoin has enjoyed some uptrend over the past few days as the asset has now climbed above the $28,500 level.

Large Chainlink (LINK) holders have rapidly accumulated tokens over the past 5 weeks. Chainlink has gained 30% over the last 5 weeks, reaching around $7.51. Wallets holding between 100,000 to 1 million LINK added over $38.5 million worth of tokens in the last week. According to analytics provider Santiment, large Chainlink (LINK) holders have been rapidly accumulating tokens over the past 5 weeks amidst a price recovery. Chainlink has gained 30% over the last 5 weeks, now trading at around $7.51. During this period, Santiment data shows wallets holding between 100,000 to 1 million LINK have added over $38.5 million worth of tokens in just the last week. This aggressive accumulation by larger holders contrasts with smaller traders taking profits. Whale moves are seen as more indicative of long-term conviction in an asset. Chainlink aims to provide tamper-proof inputs Chainlink aims to provide tamper-proof inputs and outputs for complex smart contracts through a decentralized oracle network. LINK tokens help secure the network and pay for different services. Continued accumulation by whales even after a sizable price rebound often signals confidence in further upside ahead. These holders are positioning for long-term rather than short-term gains. However, Santiment cautions that extreme whale accumulation sometimes precedes price corrections if it becomes overheated. Moderation is ideal for sustained uptrends. For now, the ongoing whale activity provides promising evidence of strengthened commitment to Chainlink amidst the recent recovery. But sustainability depends on consistent fundamental development and adoption alongside technical strength.

Shiba Inu’s ecosystem hasn’t been spared from the crypto market volatility in recent weeks, as the price has been caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty in recent times. While investors are still wondering about the short-term outlook of the crypto, a Shiba Inu whale has gone ahead to move $32.4 million in SHIB tokens into an unknown wallet. Whale Moves $32.4 Million Shiba Inu This whale transfer appears to have generated interest from SHIB investors, considering the relatively quiet environment within the Shiba Inu ecosystem. The sheer size of this transaction is notable and worth monitoring, as a selloff could introduce selling pressure and negatively impact SHIB’s price, even if temporary. However, sometimes whales will move their funds around between wallets for various reasons other than buying and selling. It would seem like this is the case, as an in-depth look into the transactions shows the transfer could’ve been between wallets controlled by the same entity. According to on-chain data, the transaction was made from the address “0xe9bb” into a new private address “0x44a8”. The recipient wallet “0x44a8” now holds a total of over 4.58 trillion SHIB, worth more than $33 million at the time of writing. Address “0xe9bb” had initially received the tokens from “0xA863” before transferring it out to “0x44a8” in less than 10 minutes. Large Sell Incoming? This whale transfer is one of the largest SHIB transactions this month. But while whale movements tend to reveal the current market sentiment, a single transfer cannot necessarily move the entire market, even if there’s a selloff. As a result, Shiba Inu’s price hasn’t reacted much to the transfer but has lost 0.29% of its market cap in the past 24 hours. Although there’s always a possibility of the whale dumping their entire bag, this trading behavior suggests they intend to keep holding the tokens. SHIB is currently the second-largest meme cryptocurrency, although the majority of investors are losing money at this point. As reported from data provided by IntoTheBlock, only 9% of holders are making money at the current price. Nevertheless, the SHIB burn rate saw a spike of 233% since the beginning of the new week as community members remain committed to reducing its available supply. At the time of writing, Shiba Inu is trading at $0.000007059. Yesterday, the value of the cryptocurrency skyrocketed to 0.000072 as a direct reaction to Bitcoin crossing the $29,000 threshold. However, the meme coin has retraced most of its gains from Monday. It is down 0.61% in the last 24 hours, but seeing 1.97% gains on the weekly chart.

Bitcoin (BTC) has retraced to the $28,400 level following a failed breakout above $30,000, resulting in a high rate of liquidations for both long and short positions. Additionally, the recent fake news surrounding the approval of Blackrock’s spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) by the US Securities and Exchange Commission has disrupted the upward trend and introduced new bearish indicators in the Bitcoin market. RSI Screams Sell Renowned trader and crypto analyst Ali Martinez suggests selling BTC based on its 4-hour chart Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator. His simple trading strategy advises selling BTC when the RSI exceeds 74.21 and buying when the RSI dips below 30.35. As seen in the chart above, BTC’s RSI stands at the 74 level, which is notably high considering that on October 16, after the spread of the fake news on various platforms, including X (Formerly Twitter), the RSI reached as high as 82.83. While this indicator may seem straightforward, it has proven effective on BTC’s 4-hour chart. For instance, on October 1st, Bitcoin peaked at $28,500, but after the RSI climbed above 80, the leading cryptocurrency swiftly dropped to $27,150 within hours. Although the effectiveness of these indicators is not always guaranteed, the combination of the recent false pump, the ongoing retrace evident in all BTC charts, the lack of bullish momentum, and the prevailing market sentiment of fear, doubt, and uncertainty could create the perfect storm for BTC to retest lower support levels before potentially embarking on another upward movement. Bitcoin Pre-Halving Retracements Sound Alarm Bells To further support Ali Martinez’s bearish thesis, renowned crypto analyst Rekt Capital recently shed light on Bitcoin’s historical retracements approximately 180 days before halving events. According to Rekt, in 2015/2016, approximately 180 days before the halving, Bitcoin experienced a retracement of -25%. Similarly, in 2019, around the same timeframe before the halving, Bitcoin retraced by -38%. While Rekt Capital identifies as a macro bull, he acknowledges that historical data favors bearish trends before halving events. This observation raises the question of whether history will repeat itself in 2023. Will Bitcoin witness a significant retracement similar to previous cycles, or will the market dynamics 2023 deviate from historical patterns? What is certain is that as the crypto community eagerly anticipates the 2023 halving, uncertainty looms regarding Bitcoin’s price behavior leading up to the event. As of the current market conditions, BTC is trading at $28,400, indicating a profitable position across all time frames. In the past 24 hours, Bitcoin has experienced a modest increase of 1%. Over the seven, fourteen, and thirty-day periods, BTC has recorded profits of 3.7%, 4%, and 7%, respectively, despite the earlier bearish factors. The sustainability of Bitcoin’s current price level remains uncertain, as it remains to be seen whether it will withstand potential retracements soon. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Nicola Sebastiani, formerly of Sony PlayStation Studios and Apple, to head The Sandbox’s global content development team and worldwide creator ecosystem NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Sandbox, the leading decentralized virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicola Sebastiani as its new Chief Content Officer. With his extensive background in the gaming industry, Nicola will play a crucial role in shaping the content and creator ecosystems within The Sandbox. In his new role at The Sandbox, Nicola Sebastiani will work closely with The Sandbox global community of content creators, gaming studios and brand partners to publish a variety of content across styles, from single-player to social hubs, complete with community reward mechanics and new engaging game formats. He will also oversee game publishing and in-house game production for The Sandbox’s partners, which includes more than 250 agencies and studios within The Sandbox’s Partners Program and over 400 brand partners across entertainment (The Walking Dead, Lionsgate), music (Warner Music Group, Steve Aoki, Avenged Sevenfold), lifestyle (Complex, Paris Hilton, BBC Studios, Cipriani, Alo Yoga) fashion (Gucci, Lacoste), education (Ledger, British Museum) social impact (People of Crypto, Code Green) and gaming (Ubisoft, Atari). Nicola will also drive development of Game Maker and VoxEdit, the platform’s no-code creator tools, and expand on the immense success of The Sandbox’s Game Jam events, which bring together game designers and creator communities to co-create new touchpoints for existing brands and celebrities. This format is incredibly exciting and engaging, as it puts creators in control of culture and provides brands fresh takes on crafting interactive content that resonates with new audiences. Nicola Sebastiani joins The Sandbox from PlayStation Studios, where he held a pivotal role driving the studio’s mobile games strategy as vice president and head of Mobile, building PlayStation’s mobile user base. Prior to his time at PlayStation, Nicola made significant contributions at Apple, where he served as head of Games Business Development for the App Store before contributing to the successful launch of Apple Arcade as its head of Content. All aspects of his role will contribute to making building games and experiences in The Sandbox a fun and rewarding experience for everyone all over the world, says Sebastiani: “Every day, millions of players interact and socialize in virtual worlds, with an increasing number of them aspiring to create and share their own virtual experiences. This shift to user-generated content is at the core of The Sandbox’s mission to empower the creator generation to build fun, engaging, and socially enriching experiences, with organic opportunities to monetize their work. I’m inspired to work towards this mission alongside our global community and empower a new generation of creators.” Nicola’s experience positions him perfectly for The Sandbox’s next chapter, says its co-founder and COO Sébastien Borget: “Nicola has proven experience in building exciting new game formats on emerging platforms and supporting both creators and players with the tools they need to have fun and be successful. His expertise and passion will amplify the creativity of our diverse community of creators as they push beyond gaming to launch music, fashion, sport, entertainment and cultural experiences on our open metaverse platform.” The Sandbox continues to support interoperability by bridging avatar collections from partners, who can then enable owners to play in The Sandbox with their own digital assets. As avatars remain the center of identity in virtual worlds, brands continue to release their own collections so owners can play as their favorite characters, such as Elvis, Madballs, Paris Hilton, the Rabbids, Steve Aoki, Snoop Dogg, LaMelo Ball or Gordon Ramsey. This strategic appointment comes at a time of significant momentum for The Sandbox, which recently reached a milestone of 5 million wallets registered, and will roll out self-publishing for all landowners by the end of the year, boosting the reach of its virtual platform where users can create and monetize experiences for their communities. The Sandbox is also pleased to announce two other executive appointments. Mathieu Nouzareth, formerly The Sandbox CEO of North America, has been promoted to chief business officer, where he will oversee global business strategy. Amit Kumar, chief growth officer, will assume the role of chief marketing officer, where he will work alongside a diverse ecosystem of partners to expand The Sandbox’s global community. About The Sandbox The Sandbox, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is one of the decentralized virtual worlds that has been fueling the recent growth of virtual real estate demand, having partnered with major brands including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Rabbids, Cut the Rope, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, SM Entertainment, The Smurfs, Care Bears, and Atari. Building on the existing The Sandbox IP that has more than 40 million global installs on mobile, The Sandbox metaverse offers players and creators a decentralized and intuitive platform to create immersive 3D worlds and game experiences and to safely store, trade, and monetize their creations. For more information, please visit www.sandbox.game and follow the regular updates on Twitter, Medium, and Discord. About Animoca Brands Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner, a Fortune Crypto 40 company, and one of the Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023, is a Web3 leader that leverages blockchain to deliver digital property rights to consumers around the world to help to establish the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including original games such as The Sandbox, PHANTOM GALAXIES, Life Beyond, and Crazy Defense Heroes, and products utilizing popular intellectual properties from the worlds of sports and entertainment, such as The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, Be., PIXELYNX, WePlay Media, and Gryfyn. Animoca Brands is one of the most active investors in Web3, with a portfolio of over 400 Web3 investments, both directly and through Animoca Ventures, including Yuga Labs, Axie Infinity, Polygon, Consensys, Fireblocks, OpenSea, Dapper Labs, Yield Guild Games, Alien Worlds, and many more. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook. About Nicola Sebastiani Born in Italy with a French heritage, Nicola Sebastiani developed a deep passion for video games early on. This passion led him to his first job at Square Enix, the Japanese gaming company. After pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Michigan, Nicola joined Ubisoft as the first product manager for the mobile team. Nicola then moved to Apple, playing a pivotal role in shaping Apple Arcade as the Head of Content. Most recently, Nicola was the VP and Head of Mobile at PlayStation Studios, where he drove the studio’s mobile games strategy. Currently, he serves as the Chief Content Officer of The Sandbox, supporting its creator-centric ecosystem with world-class no-code tools to shape the next generation of gaming. Contacts Shirley Cedeno [email protected]

Polkadot (DOT) has been grappling with a descending resistance trendline, experiencing a relentless decline since February. In the month of October, the digital asset suffered a 10% drop, plummeting from $4.3 to $3.6. Market analysts are warning of the potential for further losses should the prevailing bearish pressure persist. However, a slight glimmer of hope emerged as DOT attempted a reversal at $3.6, hinting at the possibility of overcoming the overhead resistance barrier. At present, the DOT price according to CoinGecko stands at $3.74, depicting a marginal 0.3% decline over the last 24 hours and a 2.8% dip over the span of seven days. DOT’s Struggle For Recovery The absence of horizontal support below the current price underscores the significance of Fib retracement levels in forecasting potential bottoming areas. Notably, a Fibonacci retracement tool was utilized, encompassing the lower high of $4.8 on August 29 and the recent dip of $3.6 on October 12. This analysis highlighted that the path to recovery for DOT faces significant obstacles at the 23.6% Fib ($3.9) and the 38.2% Fib ($4). Complicating matters further, the $4 level, serving as the second resistance target, coincides with a daily bearish order block (OB). This confluence suggests that crossing the $3.9 threshold could prove challenging for bullish momentum. Polkadot Developers Stand Strong Despite the persistent price downturn, the developers within the Polkadot ecosystem remain resolute and undeterred. This unwavering commitment is evident from the substantial Polkadot active developers, which are currently hovering close to an all-time high. This figure notably exceeds the levels recorded in 2021 when the altcoin’s price reached its peak. In a recent announcement, Parity Technologies, a significant player in blockchain infrastructure, revealed its strategic shift towards decentralization within the Polkadot (DOT) ecosystem. The forthcoming organizational changes are anticipated to mark a new chapter for the company in the months to come. Polkadot’s Cutting-Edge Technology Advancement Amidst circulating rumors, Parity Technologies promptly dispelled speculations about a massive layoff of approximately 300 employees during a recent off-site gathering in Mallorca. The company emphasized that any adjustments to the workforce will be gradual and in alignment with its progressive decentralized strategy. Emphasizing their dedication, Parity underscored their commitment to driving the advancement of Polkadot’s cutting-edge technology. Their key focus remains on enhancing the developer experience and fostering a resilient developer community within the Polkadot ecosystem, ensuring its sustained growth and innovation. (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 Mudrex

The SOL price rose in tandem with the speculation that the Blackrock ETF was approved. SOL is up 7.55% in the last 7 days owing to significant performance in the last few weeks. Following a vote in favor of discontinuing the Lido on Solana protocol, Lido Finance, a decentralized liquid staking platform, will cease its Solana operations. It will “begin shortly” according to a blog post published by Lido on Monday, which states that the organization will cease its Solana staking product. 65 million Lido (LDO) holders voted in favor of discontinuing the Solana blockchain, as reported by Lido’s community poll on Snapshot. Only 5.1 million people voted in favor of contributing to the protocol to keep Lido operational on Solana. Bulls in Control The SOL price rose in tandem with the speculation that Blackrock ETF was approved, and it has continued to rise even after Blackrock has dispelled those rumors. Since the beginning of the year, the price of Solana (SOL) has risen in tandem with a long-term rising support trendline. At $27, there is some strong resistance. SOL is trading within a long-term rising triangle and inverse head and shoulders pattern, as per the daily time period. There are two bullish patterns present, but if prices can’t go beyond $27, it might signal a reversal to the downside. Source: CoinMarketCap At the time of writing, SOL is trading at $24.11, up 4.41% in the last 24 hours as per data from CMC. Moreover, the trading volume is up 46.05%. Also, SOL is up 7.55% in the last 7 days owing to significant performance in the last few weeks. The price is currently testing $24.3 resistance area and if it manages to cross over, then it will likely head towards $26.3 resistance level. Conversely, if the price breaks below $21.2 support level then it will likely test $18.9 level.