Bitcoin holds above $23K despite crypto hacks – analyst explains why

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) continues to hold above the $23,000 price level despite recent hacks that have seen malicious actors drain millions of dollars from two crypto platforms.

BTC price, which recorded its best monthly performance since October 2021 with over 17% in 30-day returns and hit its highest price level since mid-June, is poised around $23,300 as at the time of writing.

Crypto analyst on BTC strength despite hacks

The outlook suggests bulls are strengthening above a key level that has previously provided the base for fresh momentum. Even then, the resilience comes amid a new wave of crypto hacks.

This week alone has seen two major heists – an attack on crypto swap platform Nomad bridge on Monday saw hackers steal nearly $200 million in user funds, and on Tuesday, Solana (SOL) was exploited to leave over 7,000 wallets compromised. More than $5 million had been stolen by Wednesday.

But according to Marcus Sotiriou, an analyst at digital asset broker GlobalBlock, Bitcoin continues to suggest strength above $23k despite the exploits. He explained why this could be the case, noting:

Despite these hacks, the illicit activity relative to fiat currencies remains low,” a scenario the analyst says is supported by South African professor Steven Sidley’s recent remarks that illicit transactions involving fiat currencies were 50x that experienced in crypto.

BTC above key level

Sotiriou also notes that Bitcoin is trading above the critical level presented by the 200-week moving average. A look at the charts show that the level is currently around $22,900, and bulls’ ability to hold above it could prove important to a new leg up, the analyst noted.

The chart below shared by Documenting Bitcoin via Twitter shows Bitcoin price return to the 200-week MA.

In a note to clients published on Wednesday, Sotiriou adds that Bitcoin’s show of strength above the 200-Week MA also comes as data indicates short Bitcoin funds recorded higher outflows this past week – the first such outflows for the inverse BTC product in the US over the past five weeks.

Also importantly, inflows into Bitcoin funds jumped in July to $474 million, up from outflows of $481 the previuos month.

This is the biggest monthly inflow of 2022. As these funds are typically purchased by institutions and high net worth individuals, this is a signal that smart money is very interested in buying crypto at these prices,” Sotiriou said in emailed comments.

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Review of CoinSmart cryptocurrency exchange

CoinSmart is a rapidly growing Canadian crypto platform founded in 2018. It’s suitable for inexperienced crypto traders and supports 16 leading cryptocurrencies.

The platform also supports the US dollar, euro, and Canadian dollar and is accessible in around 50 countries.

How CoinSmart works

After opening and having your CoinSmart account verified, you can fund it via wire transfer, INTERAC e-transfer, crypto, bank draft, or credit or debit card. The platform credits all deposits to the user’s account the same day they are made. It processes cash withdrawals within five business days. Accounts are typically verified on the day you sign up.

To register with CoinSmart, you’ll be asked for your name, address, date of birth, email, and phone number. They email you a verification link, you click on it, and you’re all set – usually.

A few users have been asked to undergo manual verification by uploading a few documents. The platform asks for a government-issued ID and a selfie of the user holding it, so both the front and back are visible. They’re also asked to upload a copy of a recent utility bill.

Key features

CoinSmart has very low trading fees: only 0.2%. If you’re a high-volume trader, the savings on fees will add up quickly. Many crypto platforms in Canada charge 1% or more in trading fees.

This platform also has minimal spreads. To put it in other terms, the difference between the buy and sell price is small. This makes it possible to trade more frequently than you otherwise would and save more money.

CoinSmart does not charge a fee on deposits. The fee for withdrawing fiat is 1%. Crypto withdrawals incur network fees only.

Depositing fiat via debit or credit card can be costly, with fees reaching 6% on occasion. It’s best to stick to bank transfers or INTERAC, especially if you’re just getting started.

Feature-rich app

CoinSmart has a functional, feature-rich mobile app. The feature we loved most was the widget SmartTrade, which is available on mobile and desktop and enables rapid trades. You buy and sell crypto with a couple of clicks.

The mobile app is available on iOS and Android. It features two-factor authentication, biometric login, and many other security features to keep your assets safe. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say their security is on par with that of banks.

The platform has a 95% cold storage policy, according to which it stores all crypto assets offline in different locations to thwart hacking attempts.

CoinSmart is regulated by OSC (Ontario Securities Commission) and FINTRAC. It also has a Securities Dealer License, which few Canadian exchanges can boast.

It is an official member of TRUST, an anti-money laundering group, alongside leading exchanges like Kraken, Coinbase, and Gemini.

OTC Trading

Institutions and high-volume traders can participate in OTC trading, a premium service with a dedicated account manager and preferential pricing. You get exclusive access to special CoinSmart events, lower slippage, and same-day settlements on all trades.

Using the OTC trading desk, you can place orders in US dollars, Canadian dollars, euros, British pounds, and Japanese yen. You must undergo KYC and AML verification, but the process will be expedited.

Pros

·         Competitive trading fees

·         Instant account verification

·         Supports major fiat currencies

·         Customer support available 24/7 via phone, live chat, email

·         Assets insured for up to $100 million

Cons

·         High fees on credit & debit card deposits

·         Not available in the USA

·         Limited coin offering

·         1.5% fee on deposits of less than $2,000

Why should you sign up with CoinSmart?

CoinSmart not only offers low fees and features fantastic customer support, but is also user-friendly and highly secure. It insures user assets for up to $100 million – BitGo, a renowned custodian, is responsible for the assets. 

CoinSmart is publicly traded and complies with strict financial regulations, accounting for its high transparency and security. 

What makes this exchange unique?

CoinSmart is very beginner-friendly and a great vantage point for novice crypto traders due to this. The user interface is intuitive and makes depositing a breeze.

CoinSmart is the only platform with the so-called Smart Guarantee, which provides the benefit of instant deposit crediting, same-day account verification, and processing of fiat withdrawals within a few days, not two weeks as the industry standard.

Last but not least, CoinSmart has a nice referral program. If you refer a friend and your friend deposits $100 or more, the platform gives each of you a reward of $15.

The bottom line

CoinSmart is a publicly-traded company subject to strict financial control, making it very safe to invest with. They are required to submit an extensive volume of financials with their annual statement, rendering fraud almost impossible.

CoinSmart is possibly the safest and most secure Canadian crypto exchange. We’ve been trading with them for several months now and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other users.

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MEXC.com review: all you need to know about MEXC

MEXC, also known as MEXC Global, is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2018. It features straightforward transactions and is accessible globally. Users can start trading, buying, and selling crypto as soon as they sign up.

How it works

MEXC is a hassle-free platform with a simple registration process. The services available are clearly listed on the top menu of the website. You’ll be asked for an email address to verify your account, and you will likely be good to go after that.

You start by clicking on “Sign Up” in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. You can register via mobile phone as an alternative to an email address, whichever is more convenient.

The platform recommends undergoing KYC to enhance security and raise your official withdrawal limit.

If you agree, among the documents that may be required as part of the KYC procedure are a national ID card, a driver’s license, or a passport.

If you sign up by phone, you’ll be prompted to link your number to Google Authenticator. You do this using the same login details as those for your MEXC Account.

You can deposit crypto or via debit or credit card. The easiest way is through MasterCard or Visa. You enter the details and select the amount of crypto you want to buy. One of the nicest surprises about this platform is how quickly funds appear in your wallet – it rarely takes more than half an hour.

You can purchase crypto via P2P Trade, which involves buying crypto privately from sellers all over the world via fiat transfer. To use this method, you will need to pass KYC.

It’s also possible to deposit crypto from another exchange or a wallet through the blockchain. This is done through the MEXC wallet. Select the blockchain and make a deposit.

Key features

MEXC stands out with its variety of more than 200 available cryptocurrencies. This is among the most offered by a crypto exchange.

MEXC offers margin trading, spot trading, ETF indices, and a futures market. There is leverage of up to 125x on the futures market and asset of your choice.

Staking for a number of cryptocurrencies is possible. It’s one way to earn a passive income. Among the assets available for staking are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Polkadot.

The interest rate on earnings depends on the selection and market conditions. It’s around 10% on most cryptocurrencies, which is lucrative only if you’re holding a decent amount of crypto. We saw an APY of up to 70% on some new coins. 

Pros

·         Apps available for Android and Windows users

·         Over 200+ cryptocurrencies available

·         Several trading markets

·         Staking available for several cryptocurrencies

·         Fast and accurate charts

Cons

·         No iOS app available

·         Few assets in the quick buy option

·         No quick swaps between two coins

Reasons to sign up with MEXC

The high leverage is appealing to professionals, but novices are advised to stay away from this type of trading as the losses can be dramatic.

What’s of benefit to everyone across the board? The highly accurate charts, which reflect changes in real-time. Imprecise and slow charts can cause users to lose money. These trading charts are among the fastest and most detailed we’ve seen.

They open with very little loading time. You can choose any asset or trading pair and the respective chart pops up momentarily for you to analyze and customize.

Traders can change the candles, choose different timestamps of the charts, expand the chart, select different main indices and sub-indices, etc.

What makes MEXC unique?

Apart from the super-fast and accurate charts, they stand out thanks to their professional, competent, and multilingual support team, who helps resolve issues quickly and effectively. You can reach the team via live chat or email. If you choose to send an email, you’ll get a response in several hours at most.

Final verdict

MEXC is a good choice for investors and traders of practically any experience level. The global crypto exchange offers services in almost every country. They prioritize security, urging users to take advantage of two-factor authorization and anti-hacking codes as additional protection of their accounts.

MEXC offers a vast range of crypto trading pairs to choose from, a sufficient number of trading markets, a mobile app for Android users, and staking on several cryptocurrencies. All of these aspects appeal to new users and secure the loyalty of existing customers.

The post MEXC.com review: all you need to know about MEXC appeared first on CoinJournal.

An objective review of Paxful.com

Paxful is a digital wallet service and a peer-to-peer exchange, which has users in almost 200 countries and supports more than 300 payment methods to purchase Bitcoin.

It is a much-needed solution for seasoned investors and traders in countries where they cannot access Bitcoin and altcoins any other way.

How it works

The following deposit methods are available to Paxful customers:

·         Bank transfer

·         PayPal

·         Skrill

·         Neteller

·         A debit card or credit card

·         Western Union

·         Payoneer

·         iTunes gift card

·         Amazon gift card

·         Cash

·         Cryptocurrencies

The seller releases Bitcoin to the buyer after confirming receipt of funds from the platform’s escrow service.

Paxful is available all over the world. The minimum amount you can buy is equivalent to $10.

To sign up, all you need to provide is your name, country, mobile number, email address, and password.

Verification levels

Paxful has a relatively high number of verification levels: four. For the first one, you’re asked to validate your phone and email address. The trade limit is $1,000.

For the second, you’re required to undergo ID verification. The trade limit is $10,000.

On level 3, the platform requires address verification, and the limit is set at $50,000 per trade. On the highest level, the limit is above that, but enhanced due diligence is required. High-volume traders will find this a worthwhile option as Paxful can be used in any location with a reliable internet connection, even where crypto trading is banned.

Paxful has a desktop and a mobile trading app. To get started, click on the “New Order” button. Verifying the seller’s ID before you commit to purchase from them is recommended. Once you’ve reviewed the seller to your satisfaction, enter the amount of money you’d like to spend. The seller will transfer the crypto to you. Until then, your funds will be in escrow.

Key features

Paxful offers low fees and a wide variety of payment methods. The service fee is around 1% and is charged to process withdrawals from Paxful to your account. Below are a few other key features.

High security

Paxful is a highly secure platform, albeit unregulated. It follows strict KYC and AML (know your customer and anti-money laundering) procedures. With every deposit, the platform creates a new wallet for users, reducing the risk of a hack. Paxful also introduced two-factor authentication a few years ago.

Cloud-based wallet

Paxful is more than a trading platform; it’s a Bitcoin and Tether wallet. You can use this cloud-based wallet anywhere in the world as long as your internet access is reliable.

The wallet is directly linked to Paxful’s exchange platform so that users can sell and buy Bitcoin quickly and seamlessly.

Pros

·         Offers biometric verification

·         Fixed trading fees

·         Hundreds of payment methods

·         Quick and responsive support

·         Reliable escrow trading

Cons

·         Only Bitcoin, Tether, and Ethereum available for trading

·         Trading can be challenging for novices

Why should you use Paxful?

You’re always in control of your funds when using the Paxful wallet app. Paxful also offers a wide variety of payment methods, with bank transfers being the most popular option. 

The platform holds all funds in highly secure escrow until both the buyer and the seller have received full assurance the transaction will go through as agreed. The escrow feature provides much-needed trust in a market that has yet to make a name for itself in this respect.

The support team is helpful and responsive if issues arise. They are patient and can help walk inexperienced users through the process. They will answer your questions to your full satisfaction.

What makes it different from competitors?

All too often, people are forced to compromise when selecting a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange. In most cases, you have to choose between low fees and a high number of payment methods with extra features. If you are looking for impressive features, you have to pay higher fees. 

Paxful is one provider that breaks with this tendency. Its minimum fee is set at just 0.5% and doesn’t charge fees on crypto purchases. The fee incurred by sellers depends on the payment method. It’s highest on gift card payments: 4% on average.

Final verdict 

All in all, we find this platform’s pluses outweigh the minuses. It features a sleek design, peer-to-peer crypto trading, a vast range of deposit methods, and no fee for buying crypto. Unfortunately, it has a limited cryptocurrency selection to choose from, but that may change as it grows.

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