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Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), the largest federal bank in Germany with total assets of €333 billion, has announced a strategic partnership with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, a leading European crypto platform. This collaboration is set to launch in the second half of 2024, introducing cryptocurrency services to LBBW’s corporate clients.

Major German Bank Enters Crypto

As part of the agreement, Bitpanda will provide an “investment-as-a-service” infrastructure which includes the custody and procurement of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with other digital assets. Stefanie Münz, a member of LBBW’s Board of Managing Directors, emphasized the security and strategic benefits of this partnership, stating, “With the custody of crypto assets, we are positioning ourselves with clear added value for our corporate customers – while guaranteeing the highest security standards.”

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The move by LBBW follows a growing trend among German banks to incorporate cryptocurrency services. Last year, Commerzbank obtained a custody license from the financial regulator BaFin, positioning itself as a pioneer among German universal banks in the custody space. Similarly, Deutsche Bank has also applied for a custody license, signaling a strengthening interest in crypto assets among major financial institutions.

Unlike Commerzbank, which currently limits its crypto services to institutional clients, LBBW’s partnership with Bitpanda, which holds several crypto licenses including a BaFin license for the custody and proprietary trading of cryptocurrencies, allows it to circumvent the need for a direct license by leveraging Bitpanda’s established regulatory framework.

LBBW’s decision to partner rather than build its own infrastructure from scratch allows for a faster market entry. “Bitpanda provides the necessary technical and regulatory infrastructure to offer our customers innovative and, above all, secure solutions in the area of digital assets,” Münz added.

Bitpanda’s role extends beyond just a service provider. As Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, CEO of Bitpanda Technology Solutions, notes, “The partnership marks a milestone. LBBW is leading the way for its customers and demonstrating how tradition and experience can go hand in hand with innovative strength, agility and a pioneering spirit.”

This collaboration is part of a broader trend of digital transformation in the financial sector, where banks are increasingly adopting blockchain and other digital asset technologies. LBBW itself has been involved in blockchain initiatives since 2017, showcasing its long-standing commitment to digital innovation.

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The partnership is initially set for three years, with both parties expressing optimism about the potential for expansion, including potentially broadening the service to include private customers in the future. As digital assets continue to become a standard part of corporate balance sheets, partnerships like that between LBBW and Bitpanda play a critical role in shaping the future of banking and investment in Europe.

At press time, BTC traded at $66,075.

In the ongoing legal battle between cross-border payments company, Ripple and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a crypto expert has speculated that a possible settlement may be on the horizon. The recent events surrounding the case outlined by the expert, have indicated a progression to a potential conclusion in the case between the two parties. 

Ripple And SEC On The Brink Of Settlement?

XRP community member and expert, Ashley Prosper has speculated that the recent legal proceedings observed between Ripple and the US SEC could be key indicators pointing towards a possible culmination of the three-year-long court battle. In an X (formerly Twitter) post published on Friday, April 12, the crypto expert outlined an extensive number of factors and occurrences that suggest the possibility of a legal settlement. 

According to Prosper, the Second Circuit’s decision to reject the SEC’s disgorgement in cases lacking financial loss, alongside the SEC’s failure to identify investors who suffered financial losses from Ripple has added weight to Ripple’s defense. 

The crypto expert also noted that the SEC’s recent investigations and enforcement actions against Ethereum and crypto exchange UniSwap could be another indication of a possible conclusion of the legal case. By diverting its attention to these projects, the SEC might aim to classify Ethereum as a security, thereby impacting the broader crypto market and its case with Ripple. 

Moreover, Prosper speculates that Ripple’s recent announcement to launch a stablecoin and expand into the market hints that a settlement was imminent. This move could suggest that Ripple was moving forward with its business plans, indicating confidence that could be stemmed from a potential settlement. 

More Factors That Hint A Potential Resolution In Sight

In her post, Prosper uncovered other factors that strongly suggest a forthcoming settlement and the eventual conclusion of the SEC and Ripple case. 

The crypto expert disclosed that a settlement conference was slated for April 16th before Ripple could submit a response to the SEC’s remedies brief and demands. This timing could be an indicative factor that both parties may be open to reaching an agreement and possible compromise. 

She also highlighted the recent 500 million XRP released from escrow on Friday, April 12. According to Prosper, the April escrow unlock might have been aimed at funding a potential settlement. 

Following her statement, Prosper later clarified that no settlement had been scheduled for the specified date and that the 500 million XRP locked within the escrow was not released for settlement purposes.

This underscores that the notion of a settlement between Ripple and the US SEC was purely speculative, as there are currently no reports or statements from either the SEC or Ripple confirming the possibility of a resolution to the ongoing legal battle.  

Генеральный директор CryptoQuant сообщил, что новые биткоин-киты, которые владеют своими активами менее 155 дней, держат на своем балансе до 9% оборотного запаса BTC и продолжают наращивать запасы в ожидании роста цен.

The rollercoaster ride of 2023 left many cryptocurrency investors feeling queasy. But in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH), a tentative return to the digital asset market is underway, marked by a newfound sense of prudence.

A recent KPMG study surveying over 2,400 private crypto investors painted a picture of a market regaining its footing, albeit with a newfound sense of direction.

Gone are the days of reckless all-in bets. The report revealed a surprising trend – over half (54%) of those surveyed are allocating a significant chunk, over 20%, of their total investments to digital assets. But this enthusiasm is tempered by a healthy dose of caution.

Investors are taking their time, conducting more thorough research before taking the plunge. It seems the wild rides of 2023 have instilled a newfound respect for the volatile nature of the crypto market.

Cryptocurrency With A Long-Term Vision

This newfound caution isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The study also indicated a shift towards a longer-term perspective. A sizeable portion of investors, particularly those with a heavier crypto allocation, are signaling a commitment to the industry for the next three to five years. This suggests a growing confidence in the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies, even if the short-term path might be bumpy.

Security Concerns Cast A Shadow

However, caution doesn’t just mean conducting more research. It also means prioritizing safety. Security remains the paramount concern for DACH investors, with a whopping 82% emphasizing it as the deciding factor when choosing a crypto exchange. This echoes a wider sentiment across the crypto landscape – trust and security are fundamental for widespread adoption.

Cryptocurrency And The Regulatory Rollercoaster

The regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrency is another lingering source of concern. The report highlights investor apprehension regarding market manipulation and the lack of clear regulations. This is a concern not just for investors, but for regulators themselves.

Germany, for instance, has been proactive in establishing frameworks to create a secure environment for cryptocurrencies. Laws allowing banks to handle crypto have been passed, and discussions are ongoing regarding regulations for exchanges and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).

Regulatory bodies like BaFin, Germany’s financial watchdog, are ramping up efforts to implement Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules to combat fraud and illicit activities on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Renewed Focus On Digital Assets

The DACH region’s renewed interest in cryptocurrency signifies a maturing market. Investors are no longer blinded by hype and are approaching the asset class with a more balanced perspective.

This, coupled with proactive regulatory efforts, could pave the way for a more sustainable and secure crypto future in the region. However, challenges like market volatility and regulatory uncertainty remain.

Whether DACH investors can weather these storms and navigate the complexities of the cryptocurrency landscape will determine the ultimate fate of this digital asset class in the region.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Data shows the Bitcoin Open Interest has observed a notable cool off recently, something that could be positive for the rally’s hopes.

Bitcoin Open Interest Has Cooled Down From Recent Overheated Levels

As explained by an analyst in a CryptoQuant Quicktake post, the Bitcoin Open Interest has registered a retrace recently. The “Open Interest” here refers to a measure of the total amount of BTC-related derivative contracts currently open on all exchanges.

When the value of this metric rises, it means that the investors are opening new positions on the derivative market right now. Generally, the total leverage in the market goes up when new contracts crop up, so an increase in the Open Interest could lead to higher volatility for the asset.

On the other hand, a decline in the indicator implies the derivative users are either closing up their positions of their own volition or getting forcibly liquidated by their platform. Either way, the market could act in a more stable manner after such a decrease, due to the lower leverage.

Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Open Interest since the start of the year:

As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Open Interest had risen alongside the price as the rally fueled by the spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had occurred.

In this surge, the indicator had achieved a new all-time high above $18 billion as the cryptocurrency’s value itself had marched to a new record. Historically, though, extreme levels of Open Interest have been a sign of the market being overheated, so the asset was in a delicate situation at these ATH levels.

What followed the heated market was a notable drawdown in the coin’s value, alongside which the Open Interest had also seen a significant cool off. Since then, as BTC has ranged, so has the metric.

The indicator has been jumping back and forth between overheating and cooling down, and with the recent drawdown in the price, its value dropped to a low under $14 billion.

Generally, when the Open Interest is overheated, the asset could become more probable to see volatility. This sharp price action that may emerge could, in theory, take the coin in either direction, but the recent trend has been that the Open Interest has only cooled off with a decline in the price.

The indicator dropping back to lower levels, however, has been conductive for price increases. In the latest drawdown, the Open Interest briefly hit the lowest levels since the start of March.

What has followed this derivative market cooldown has been the rebound in the cryptocurrency’s price. If Open Interest now doesn’t overheat again, the chances of this rebound lasting could be optimistic.

BTC Price

Bitcoin has been making recovery from its plunge during the weekend as its price has climbed back up to $66,300 so far.

Академическая наука как проблема. Бюрократические пороки, токсичность гуманитарной сферы и рецепты исправления положения дел в научно-образовательной системе России. А также история и актуальные проблемы...

Канадская майнинговая компания Bitfarms увеличила собственный хешрейт в сети Биткоина до 7 EH/s благодаря развертыванию 5000 новых единиц оборудования.

On Monday, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced that it had approved a number of Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs for trading. This decision has been a long time in the making and has been expected by all in the crypto community. As expected, the announcement turned out to be bullish for the market, driving a notable recovery in the prices of cryptocurrencies all across the space.

Bitcoin Bounces Toward $67,000

Over the weekend, the crypto market saw a market crash that sent the Bitcoin price back below $60,000. This development was brought about partly by the move from Iran toward Israel, with many anticipating that it would be the start of World War III. However, both sides have since backed down, giving the markets time to recover.

Amid this recovery came the announcement from the Hong Kong SFC, which has given the market a much-needed boost. The Bitcoin price had been trending around the $64,000 line following the cease-fire, and the announcement pushed it further.

One reason the Hong Kong SFC approving the trading of Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the space is due to the success of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. As institutional investors packed up BTC to back the investments in their funds, the Bitcoin price rose rapidly alongside it.

In the same vein, as Chinese investors gain access to Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, a lot of buying is expected to happen as the funds have to hold the underlying cryptocurrencies to back the investment. This way, more buying is expected to happen in the coming weeks.

Can BTC Reclaim $70,000?

Despite the weekend flush, there is still a lot of bullishness in the market, showing that crypto investors believe the crash was a chance to buy back in. Bitcoin’s price, already up over 3% to above $66,000 in the last day alone, proves this to be the case.

In addition, Spot Bitcoin ETF issuers continue to buy the asset, increasing their AuM to over 4.7% of the total BTC supply. As the Hong Kong funds join the race, the portion of the BTC supply owned by institutional investors is expected to grow rapidly, and this competition to buy up the asset could lead to a supply squeeze.

In the case of a supply squeeze, the Bitcoin price could rise quickly to reclaim the $70,000 level once more, which is a less than 5% move from here. Then, to reach a new all-time high, BTC would have to move around 12%, something that has proven easy to do in the last few months.

Cryptocurrency investigator ZachXBT has unearthed a connection between a notorious crew involved in fraudulent activities and the emerging cryptocurrency project known as Leaper Finance. This discovery comes amidst growing concerns over the security and integrity of digital finance platforms, particularly in the wake of multiple high-profile scams that have rocked the industry.

Cryptocurrency’s Dark Side: Fraudsters Strike Again

The crew, previously implicated in outright fraud and accused of orchestrating multimillion-dollar scams on platforms such as Mauritius, Kokomo, and Lendora, has reportedly resurfaced within the digital currency ecosystem.

According to ZachXBT’s latest findings, the same hackers responsible for past illicit activities have now shifted their focus to Leaper Finance, injecting approximately $1,000,000 into liquidity pool contracts in an attempt to manipulate the system.

Community Alert: The group of scammers who stole 8 figs with Magnate, Kokomo, Lendora, Solfire, etc is back with a new project on Blast @Leaperfinance

Last week they funded an address on Blast with ~$1M of laundered funds from the previous rugs and have begun adding liquidity… pic.twitter.com/yqRKvZuuye

— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 14, 2024

This pivot marks a troubling development in the ongoing battle against cryptocurrency fraud. It underscores the adaptability of cybercriminals who, despite increased scrutiny and regulatory measures, continue to exploit vulnerabilities within the decentralized landscape of digital finance.

Leaper Finance: A Catalyst For Crypto Chaos?

During the height of their fraudulent activities, the crew targeted platforms like Magnate, Kokomo, Lendora, and Solfire, executing sophisticated scams that resulted in significant financial losses for unsuspecting investors.

The fraudulent transfers of tens of millions of dollars wreaked havoc on these networks, highlighting the urgent need for improved security measures and regulatory oversight within the cryptocurrency space.

The emergence of Leaper Finance as the latest target of these malicious actors has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. With its liquidity pool contracts now under scrutiny for potential manipulation, investors and regulators alike are on high alert, monitoring the situation closely to prevent further damage to the integrity of the platform and the broader crypto community.

Cyber Criminals Exploit Blockchain For Money Laundering

What’s particularly concerning about this latest development is the utilization of blockchain technology not only as a means of facilitating legitimate transactions but also as a tool for laundering stolen funds.

By injecting ill-gotten gains into platforms like Leaper Finance, cybercriminals are able to obfuscate the origins of their money, making it difficult for authorities to trace and recover the stolen assets.

This trend highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals in the digital age, as they leverage innovative technologies to circumvent traditional banking systems and launder illicit funds with relative impunity. The rise of encrypted cryptocurrency wallets further complicates efforts to combat financial crime, creating a new frontier for law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to navigate.

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView

Норвегия меняет законодательство о центрах обработки данных (ЦОД). Власти не готовы развивать индустрию майнинга.

Сооснователь Unlimited, бывший топ-менеджер управляющего фондом Bridgewater Associates, усомнился в биткоине из-за его сильной волатильности на фоне политической напряженности по всему миру.

Следственный комитет по Карачаево-Черкесской Республике возбудил уголовное дело против начальника управления по контролю за оборотом наркотиков местной полиции.  

Юристы крупнейшей американской криптовалютной биржи Coinbase подали промежуточную апелляцию по иску Комиссии по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC). Адвокаты настаивают: сделки с криптовалютами, которые не накладывают обязательств на первоначального эмитента, не могут быть признаны инвестиционным контрактом.

Amidst the volatile landscape of cryptocurrency markets, Australian attorney Bill Morgan has voiced concerns about the action of XRP against notable crypto assets like BTC, noting an extreme decline in performance over time.

XRP Versus Bitcoin Plummeted On Every Timeframe

Bill Morgan‘s report sheds light on how XRP has reacted to the largest crypto asset since 2021.  According to the lawyer, its performance in relation to Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and USD is now completely red throughout all timeframes, ranging from 24 hours to three years. His observations offer a sobering reminder of the token’s difficulties within this timeframe.

This concerning indication is a wake-up call for stakeholders, urging them to reevaluate their investment strategy in light of changing market dynamics as XRP battles to stay afloat against the top cryptocurrency. Morgan previously warned the crypto community that whichever timeline they choose to start with, the crypto asset has underperformed BTC.

The attorney’s post came in response to a pseudonymous X user who claimed that since the clarity of the summary judgment, particularly 9 months ago, XRP has witnessed a decline of more than 76% compared to BTC. Specifically, the July last year clarity summary judgment determined the digital asset’s nature.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Ripple Labs of selling XRP as an unregistered security, thereby claiming the coin itself is a security. However, Judge Torres Analisa ruled against the Commission, saying that the cryptocurrency does not constitute a security nature but a digital token. With the verdict, XRP officially became one of the cryptocurrency assets that have been fully regulated and put through a trial.

While the X user believes the development might have negatively impacted its price compared to BTC, Morgan does not support the idea. He stated that this does not imply that legal clarity was the reason for the decline nor that it is not crucial for the token or any other cryptocurrency in the market.

The Pair Headed For Antarctica

Morgan is not the only crypto enthusiast who has recently shed light on the pair. Peter Brandt, a well-known market analyst, also weighed in on the subject, highlighting that the XRP/BTC pair is headed to Antarctica, leading to speculations among investors as to what this meant.

There are several different ways that one could read Peter Brandt’s unexpected and cryptic phrase. It can suggest a chilly, pessimistic picture for the asset against the BTC chart, indicating that prices may drop to all-time lows akin to the icy conditions of Antarctica.

However, it might also imply venturing into new territory and delving into depths never before witnessed by the cryptocurrency industry. Given the recent performance, it might be considered that Brandt’s phrase was reflecting on the negative aspect of the pair.

Рынок цифровых активов демонстрирует осторожный рост на фоне снижения уровня эскалации конфликта на Ближнем Востоке между Ираном и Израилем, говорят аналитики СoinМarketСap.

Замдиректора департамента экономического и гражданского законодательства Минюста Вьетнама заявил: хотя криптовалюты в стране официально не запрещены, для них нужно разработать правила контроля.

Эксперты TokenInsight подготовили квартальный отчет о состоянии криптовалютного рынка. Согласно цифрам, общий объем торгов у топ-10 крупнейших бирж более чем на $6 трлн превысил объемы торгов за четвертый квартал 2023 года.

Крупнейший федеральный банк Германии Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) объявил о партнерстве с австрийской криптобиржей Bitpanda, в рамках которого будет оказывать услуги по хранению криптовалют.

Николай Волков и Алексей Савватеев размышляют о том, как возродить школьное и вузовское образование, а также анализируют проблемы фундаментальной науки Радио АВРОРА на Boosty: https://boosty.to/radio_aurora...

Генеральный директор Tether Паоло Ардоино сообщил о запуске платформы для токенизации, которая будет доступна всем пользователям.