Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• The CFTC is questioning whether Crypto.com and Kalshi meet derivatives regulations
• In December, Crypto.com’s CEO said its derivatives trading platform was the “first regulated platform in the US”
• Robinhood launched its Super Bowl event contracts on Monday

Crypto.com and prediction marketplace Kalshi have been asked to provide more information to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to determine if their Super Bowl event contracts comply with derivatives regulations.

In December 2024, Crypto.com launched its derivatives trading platform, enabling users to place bets on the outcome of sports events, including the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, between reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

In an announcement, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said it was the “first regulated platform in the US to offer it to our users.”

Kalshi launched its prediction platform days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. It launched its Kansas City vs Philadelphia Football prediction on January 23.

In a report from Bloomberg, the CFTC said: “We are continuing to review the contracts in accordance with our regulations.”

Bloomberg previously reported, in January, that a five-member group of CFTC commissioners had decided to vote on a 90-day review period for contracts. The review would extend past this Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

The CFTC is expected to vote by mid-April on whether to bar event contracts or issue a new ruling.

Robinhood enters the field

The CFTC’s measures come as Robinhood announced on Monday that it was launching its event contracts and letting users vote on the game’s outcome. This will be done through Kalshi’s exchange.

Primarily focused on its stock-trading background, Robinhood’s expansion into event contracts is another way for the platform to engage with users keen to get into the market.

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• Bybit has been fined $1.06 million for PMLA non-compliance
• India blocked Bybit sites pausing the exchange operations in the country
• Bybit is seeking a VDASP license amid compliance confusion

India’s financial watchdog has levied a hefty fine on Bybit, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, for failing to adhere to the country’s stringent anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

According to the country’s Ministry of Finance, the fine amounted to $1.06 million (9.27 crore rupees).

While this move underscores India’s commitment to regulating the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, it leaves Bybit’s compliance status unclear.

Why such a hefty fine?

Bybit’s troubles began when it was found operating without securing mandatory registration under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of India, Bybit is classified as a ‘reporting entity’ due to its services in the digital asset space.

In December 2023, the FIU identified several crypto exchanges for non-compliance with local anti-money laundering laws, but Bybit was not among the listed exchanges.

However, the exchange continued to expand its operations in India without the required registration, prompting the FIU to take action.

Indian authorities, through the Ministry of Electronics and Communication Technology (MEITY), blocked Bybit’s websites under the Information Technology Act 2000, effectively halting Bybit’s operations in India.

However, the suspension came after Bybit had already announced a pause in its services due to “recent developments with Indian regulators,” hinting at prior knowledge of regulatory scrutiny.

Bybit has applied for a VDASP license in India

Amidst these challenges, Bybit has been actively working towards rectifying its status in India. The exchange has applied for a Virtual Digital Asset Service Provider (VDASP) license, aiming to legally operate within India’s crypto market.

This application was completed back on June 26, 2024, indicating a proactive approach to meet regulatory requirements.

Vikas Gupta, Bybit’s country manager for India, expressed optimism about obtaining a full operations license in the coming weeks, suggesting an expectation of smoother regulatory waters ahead.

Initially, there were announcements from Bybit suggesting successful registration and fine settlement, but these were later retracted, leaving the public and stakeholders in limbo regarding the exact compliance status of Bybit in India.

India’s approach indicates a strong push towards ensuring that all financial entities, including those dealing in cryptocurrencies, adhere strictly to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing norms.

Other major exchanges like Binance, KuCoin, and OKX have also faced similar regulatory actions for non-compliance with PMLA and other financial laws.

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• The lawsuit claims DOGE has been given “unlawful” access to personal and financial information
• The sensitive information includes names, addresses, bank details, social security numbers, birth dates, and email addresses

US union groups have sued the US Treasury and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing Elon Musk’s DOGE agency to access individuals’ personal and financial information.

The Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) filed the lawsuit in a Washington, DC federal court.

All three groups are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), an umbrella group with over 50 unions representing over 12.5 million workers.

According to the lawsuit, within a week of being sworn in, Bessent presented DOGE-affiliated individuals with “unlawful ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information”.

The lawsuit adds that Musk and his team had previously sought to access the Bureau’s records; however, they were rebuffed by a civil servant who has since been put on leave by Bessent.

“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented,” the 19-page lawsuit reads. “Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records.”

The sensitive information includes names, social security numbers, birth dates and birthplaces, home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and bank account information.

Lawsuits filed

Following President Donald Trump’s election win in November, Trump confirmed that Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy would lead DOGE to “dismantle government bureaucracy.”

Since then, the DOGE agency, reportedly, had three lawsuits filed against it minutes after Trump was sworn in last month.

In a 30-page lawsuit, public interest law firm National Security Counselors questioned the legality of DOGE.

According to the complaint, DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires advisory committees to follow certain rules, including allowing public involvement.

National Security Counselors state that DOGE meets the requirements to be considered a “federal advisory committee.” Yet, while similar agencies follow a “fairly balanced” representation, keep meeting records, and allow public involvement, as required by law, DOGE doesn’t.

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• Floki invests $125K in $BADAI AI protocol.
• Less than two days are remaining for the Dogizen presale to close
• Both BADAI and Dogizen aim to innovate in blockchain.

The Floki DAO has overwhelmingly voted to invest $125,000 into the BADAI, an AI Agent protocol set to launch on the BNB Chain.

Floki DAO Passes Vote To Invest $125,000 From The Floki Treasury In The $BADAI Token

The Floki DAO has voted 99.71% in favor of a proposal to invest $125,000 from the Floki Treasury in $BADAI, the most anticipated AI Agent protocol launching on BNB Chain.

This move sends a… https://t.co/qh8VGdk5tW pic.twitter.com/3dv6xXob2b

— FLOKI (@RealFlokiInu) February 4, 2025

Interestingly, the Floki DAO’s decision coincides with the final days of the Dogizen presale, which has already captured the market’s attention by raising over $3.87 million. These developments signal a vibrant period for both projects, each leveraging unique strategies to carve out niches in the crypto and gaming sectors.

Floki’s strategic investment in AI Agent protocol BADAI

Floki’s decision to invest in $BADAI reflects a broader strategy to deepen its footprint in the blockchain and AI sectors.

The vote, with an approval rate of 99.71%, shows the community’s confidence in BADAI’s potential to revolutionize how AI applications are developed and deployed within a decentralized ecosystem.

BADAI aims to harness AI and machine learning to create tools that can be used by developers across the blockchain space, thereby enhancing the capabilities of smart contracts and other blockchain functionalities.

This investment not only diversifies Floki’s treasury but also strengthens its position as a leader in identifying and supporting high-potential blockchain initiatives.

By backing $BADAI, Floki is not just investing in a token but in an entire ecosystem that could see significant growth and adoption in the coming years, potentially benefiting $FLOKI and $TOKEN holders through increased project partnerships and technological advancements.

Dogizen presale ends in two days

As the Floki DAO makes its strategic moves, the Dogizen project is on the brink of another milestone with its presale set to end on February 7th.

Dogizen has positioned itself as the first Initial Coin Offering (ICO) directly on the Telegram platform, tapping into its vast user base of over 950 million. Its presale has been a testament to the crypto market, raising $3.87 million out of a $4.76 million goal so far.

The Dogizen presale is structured in such a way that the token price increases with each presale stage, offering early investors an upper hand. Currently, the price of Dogizen’s native token, DOGIZ, stands at $0.000085 with an anticipated increase to $0.000094 in the next presale stage.

Notably, Dogizen’s approach contrasts sharply with competitors like Catizen, which diluted its token value through mass airdrops. Instead, Dogizen’s methodical community and investor base growth through its ICO aims at creating a stable price environment post-launch.

With the market conditions currently favoring speculative investments, Dogizen is likely to enter the market with significant momentum, especially given its timing which aligns with a period of increased interest in cryptocurrency from various market segments.

This could position Dogizen to outperform its peers, particularly in the Telegram gaming niche, where it seeks to redefine social gaming through blockchain technology.

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• THORChain node operators have approved a restructuring plan allowing it to convert its $200M debt into equity tokens.
• The move is aimed at stabilizing THORChain’s operations by addressing its liabilities.
• THORChain (RUNE) price rose 13.7% after the news but remains down 72.7% over the past month.

THORChain node operators have approved a restructuring plan proposal that will see a decentralized liquidity network convert a $200 million debt into equity tokens.

The approval will allow THORChain to address its financial liabilities, stabilize operations, and restore confidence among its users.

The restructuring proposal, dubbed “Proposal6,” the plan, arose after THORChain decided to pause its lending and savers programs on January 23, following community discussions about the existential risks posed by its ThorFi feature.

At that time, the platform had accrued roughly $200 million in liabilities. The pause led to a contraction of the network, with 31 validators exiting, around $100 million in liquidity being shed, and a significant drop in the price of RUNE, THORChain’s native token. However, the network continued its core operations, demonstrating its resilience amidst the turmoil.

The approved restructuring plan

Proposed by Maya Protocol’s Aaluxx Myth, the restructuring plan was put to a vote by Node Operators and has now been officially ratified.

Under this proposal, THORChain will mint 200 million “TCY” tokens, each representing $1 of the platform’s debt. These tokens will be airdropped to those affected by the lending and savers programs’ suspension.

The TCY tokens are designed to receive 10% of THORChain’s network revenue in perpetuity, providing holders with a continuous revenue stream in RUNE tokens, similar to dividends.

To facilitate liquidity for these new tokens, THORChain’s treasury will seed a liquidity pool, allowing holders to convert their equity tokens into other assets at their discretion.

This setup aims to give creditors the flexibility to exit their positions as market demand for THORChain’s revenue becomes reflected in the token’s price.

Following the approval of the proposal, the implementation is now in the hands of THORChain’s development teams, which include groups from Nine Realms Capital, Maya Protocol, Rujira Network, and Strangelove Labs.

The development teams are tasked with ensuring a prompt yet meticulous rollout, with details on the exact timeline still being finalized.

Community members have, however, expressed mixed reactions. While some see this as a pathway back to stability and growth for THORChain, others are sceptical about the plan’s long-term viability, the complexity of the new token structure, and potential legal implications regarding the issuance of what might be considered unregistered securities.

THORChain (RUNE) reaction to the development

Following the announcement of the approved plan, the price of RUNE experienced a notable uptick. As of the latest trading data, RUNE was priced at $1.38, marking a 13.7% increase within the last 24 hours.

However, this positive movement comes after a period of significant decline, with RUNE down 37.8% over the last week, 58.2% over two weeks, and 72.7% over the last month, suggesting that while the restructuring news has been met with some optimism, broader market conditions or concerns about THORChain’s future stability might still be influencing investor sentiment.

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