Kategorie: Crypto Business

Kraken NFT marketplace will reportedly allow zero gas fees on all NFT trades on the platform.

Major crypto exchange Kraken has announced that the waitlist for its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace is open.

The announcement, published on Tuesday, comes a few months after the US-based cryptocurrency firm revealed plans to launch Kraken NFT. This will be the crypto exchange’s NFT marketplace that’s being highlighted as a “complete solution” for users seeking to explore, trade and secure NFT collections.

Zero gas fees for on-platform trades

Among the many features, users are set to benefit from when using the new NFT platform is what Kraken says is “zero gas fees” on all trades involving NFTs custodied on the platform.

“Once your NFT is custodied with Kraken NFT, you will not pay any blockchain network fees for trading activity that takes place within our platform,” the Kraken team said in a blog post.

According to the exchange, users will only pay gas fees when they transfer NFTs onto or off the marketplace.

Use cash or crypto

Kraken NFT will offer users access to the buying and selling of NFTs via cash or crypto, whichever the customer prefers. This, according to the platform, will occur via seamless integration of the NFT account with a customer’s Kraken account.

In this way, offers can be listed in fiat currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP, among others. Users will also have access to over 120 cryptocurrencies.

Other features include multiple blockchain support

Kraken NFT will eventually support several blockchains, but the initial launch, according to the team, will involve Ethereum and Solana support.

Apart from supporting multiple blockchains, the marketplace will also integrate the security protocols and measures applied on the main network to secure the NFT platform.

Meanwhile, NFT creators on the platform will benefit from a reward system that assures them a cut of earnings made in secondary sales. This will work via a feature dubbed Creator Earnings.

Kraken NFT Marketplace will join a list of other NFTs platforms from major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase, Binance, FTX and KuCoin.

The projects are coming up thick and first as the NFTs space continues to experience rapid growth. The industry saw billions of dollars worth of digital collectibles traded in 2021.

The post Kraken opens waitlist for its NFT marketplace appeared first on Coin Journal.

Bit2me, a Spanish cryptocurrency exchange, has taken a bold step to expand its operations to Latam. According to a local media statement, Bit2me announced that it has established a new office in Brazil that will tackle compliance tasks. This is one of the operation strategies the exchange has introduced in Spanish-speaking countries. 

According to Bit2me, Brazil is a key factor because of its high number of crypto users and the crypto market. In support of this Bit2me CFO, Pablo Casadio said:

‘’Brazil is a key country in the entry of Bit2me in Latin America since more than 20 million Brazilians already invest in cryptocurrencies, which shows their interest in learning about this new technology.’’

For smooth operations in the country, the exchange onboarded former Binance employee, Ricardo Da Ros, to oversee its expanding operations in the country. The exchange is very optimistic about Da Ros’s entry into the Brazilian market since he will be able to educate customers more about the crypto market and bitcoin.

He stated:

‘’I believe that with Bit2me we will be able to improve the knowledge of cryptocurrencies in Brazil and bring Satoshi Nakamoto’s idea closer to all Brazilians interested in this revolution.’’

Compliance-based services approach

The exchange has always believed in a compliance-based service approach; besides, it was the first exchange to be issued a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license by the Bank of Spain back in February.

From the look of things, the compliance idea might be introduced to Brazil’s operations since the exchange already has a setup that will secure customer transactions.

According to the exchange, the office will help in the prevention of finance terrorism and money laundering. This will boost the exchange power over its competitors that are operating outside the country, besides, Brazil is working on the approval of a crypto law that will regulate virtual asset service provider operations.

The post Bit2me launches a new office in Brazil to expand its operations appeared first on Coin Journal.

Crypto.com, a top cryptocurrency exchange and trading platform available across the globe, has added a former Visa regulatory chief to its team, according to a brief detail shared on LinkedIn.

Roeland Van der Stappen, who headed Visa’s regulatory affairs team for Europe, has reportedly left the role and taken up an offer at the cryptocurrency firm.

In his LinkedIn announcement on Monday, Van der Stappen said he was now Crypto.com’s Vice President, Policy and Engagement for EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa). 

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Vice President, Policy and Engagement, EMEA at Crypto.com! Looking forward to dive into #crypto and #Web3 policy issues and begin sharing all the great things my colleagues are working on,” he wrote.

Van der Stappen headed Visa’s regulatory affairs team in Europe for three and half years and had previously worked at banking giant Barclays.

Crypto.com was founded in 2016 and currently counts over 4,000 people as part of its team. The exchange, which recently expanded its services to the US market, has a customer base of over 10 million people.

The post Crypto.com hires ex-Visa regulatory chief as VP of policy for EMEA appeared first on Coin Journal.

Damac Properties, UAE-based real estate developer and Dubai’s largest real estate developer, has announced that it will start accepting two major cryptos, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as an alternative method of payment.

During the occasion, the head of digital transformation and General Manager of Operations at Damac said:

“DAMAC Properties has always been at the forefront of innovations from developing luxury homes to creating unique experiences. This move towards customers holding cryptocurrency is one of our initiatives at DAMAC to accelerate the new economy for newer generations, and the future of our industry.”

Besides, DAMAC will be investing 367 million UAE dirhams equivalent to $100 million into its metaverse that is aimed at developing virtual cities.

Dubai embraces the crypto world

Dubai is on its way to becoming a crypto hub as the majority of the crypto exchanges are establishing their base in the city after the government decided to issue a Virtual asset license under Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).

One of the exchanges to shift its base is Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world, which recently opened over 100 jobs in UAE after it acquired a virtual currency license. Other exchanges like FTX are also establishing their headquarters in the Gulf state.

The post Damac properties introduce Bitcoin and Ethereum payment option appeared first on Coin Journal.

Ondo Finance, a crypto startup that seeks to build a decentralised investment bank as well as offer customised financial products to both institutional and retail investors, has secured $20 million in its Series A funding round.

The funding was co-led by Founders Fund, a venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel and Pantera Capital, a blockchain-focused institutional asset manager. Coinbase Ventures, GoldenTree, Tiger Global, Wintermute, Flow Traders, and Steel Perlot joined the round as strategic investors, Ondo Finance noted in a press release.

In August 2021, Ondo announced a $4 million seed round led by Pantera Capital.

Ondo Finance eyes more DeFi products

The startup will use the funds to build its team as part of broader plans to accelerate the adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) within the mainstream investment sector.

As well, the firm wants to launch new products and enhance its suite of existing product offerings, including decentralised structured products and Liquidity-as-a-Service offering.

“Vaults”, which are bundles of DeFi products tempered with different risk levels and through which investors get to hedge against downside risks, have become very popular. Ondo wants to provide more products and access.

“We’ve been delighted to see the demand for Ondo’s community vaults and Liquidity-as-a-Service offerings, which have really been a simple MVP with no liquidity mining or other incentives from us“, said Nathan Allman, the startup’s founder and CEO.

He added that the team is eyeing new products that make it even easier for passive investors seeking exposure to DeFi yields. 

According to Allman, the new products will come with customised risk levels and will include vaults for algorithmic stablecoins and blockchains.

The post Founders Fund, Pantera co-lead $20M investment in Ondo Finance appeared first on Coin Journal.