Crypto Market Update – August 2023

September 11, 2023

As we step into the final stretch of summer, the #cryptosphere continues to buzz with groundbreaking developments:

  • PayPal further cements its position in the digital asset space by introducing on and off ramps for Web3 payments, paving the way for smoother transitions between the traditional and decentralized finance ecosystems.

  • In a significant move, Pantera Capital spearheads a $16.5 million funding round for StarkWare-powered decentralized exchange, Brine Fi, showcasing a strong vote of confidence in the platform’s potential to revolutionize crypto trading dynamics.

  • Mark your calendars as Google announces a policy shift, green-lighting advertisements for NFT games starting September 15th, a move that promises to bring a fresh wave of visibility and engagement to the burgeoning NFT gaming sector.

  • In a monumental stride, Coinbase receives regulatory approval to venture into the crypto futures space in the US, setting the stage for a new era of investment opportunities and market expansion in the crypto industry.

These strides underscore a vibrant and evolving landscape, hinting at an exciting trajectory for the crypto industry as we venture into the fall season.

ACROSS THE HEADLINES

Fund giant Franklin Templeton plots spot bitcoin ETF

“The $1.4 trillion asset manager joins BlackRock, Fidelity and others in pursuit of such a product two weeks after Grayscale’s court victory against the SEC”

 

PayPal Introduces On and Off Ramps for Web3 Payments

“By adding Off Ramps, crypto wallet users in the U.S. can convert their crypto to USD directly from their wallets into their PayPal balance so they can shop, send, save, or transfer to their bank or debit card.”

 

Solana jumps on Visa stablecoin announcement as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remain flat

T”he native token of the Solana blockchain jumped Tuesday after Visa announced it will expand its stablecoin capabilities to the Ethereum alternative.”

 

FTX Looks to Offload Billions in Crypto: Here’s What it Means

“The exchange is seeking regulatory approval to liquidate $3.4 billion in crypto assets, and FTX lawyers are also suing LayerZero, an on chain interoperability protocol to recover lost assets to the tune of $21 million.”

 

First bitcoin ETF could be coming soon as court rules in favor of Grayscale over SEC

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has paved the way for bitcoin exchange-traded funds.”

 

Riot compensated $30 million to shut off Texas bitcoin miners in August

“Riot, who runs North America’s largest bitcoin mining facility in Rockdale, curtailed its power usage by over 95% during peak demand to earn the power and demand response credits…”

 

JPMorgan Is Exploring Blockchain-Based Deposit Token for Payments, Settlements

“JPMorgan Chase & Co. is in the early stages of exploring a blockchain-based digital deposit token for speeding up cross-border payments and settlement, according to a person familiar with the work.”

 

Pantera Capital leads $16.5 million round for StarkWare-powered DEX Brine Fi

“As an order book-based spot DEX, Brine Fi enables users to directly execute orders with other traders in a similar way to centralized exchanges but onchain, retaining full custody of their crypto assets while placing trades.”

 

MetaMask Adds Bank and Paypal Feature To Withdraw to Fiat

“The “Sell” tool allows customers to seamlessly change their crypto holdings into fiat currency, with the option to send the funds directly to their bank accounts.”

 

Google will allow ads for NFT games starting Sept. 15

“Google has updated its cryptocurrency advertising policy to allow for blockchain-based nonfungible token (NFT) gaming advertisements as long as they don’t promote gambling or gambling services.” 

 

Coinbase Creates New Crypto Lending Service Geared TowardLarge Investors

“The platform was quietly revealed in a U.S. Securities andExchange Commission filing on Sept. 1, which showed $57 million had already been raised for the program.”

 

LSE Group to launch blockchain-powered trading venue for traditional assets

“The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) is developing a new digital markets business that will make it the first major exchange to utilize blockchain technology to offer extensive trading of traditional financial assets.”

 

What the Judges Said: Unpacking the Grayscale Court Ruling

“The United States Court of Appeals DC Circuit sided withGrayscale in its legal battle against the US Securities and Exchange Commission over its ETF conversion plan.”

 

Polychain-backed Manta launches Pacific Layer 2 on mainnet

“Manta Network announced the mainnet launch of MantaPacific, its Layer 2 blockchain that allows the development of zero-knowledge-enabled apps.”

 

Coinbase Receives a Green Light to Dive into Crypto Futures Space in the US

“On August 16th, Coinbase proudly declared its official nod to spearhead a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) platform.”

 

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