Ripple to acquire Standard Custody & Trust Co. to expand US presence

  • Ripple acquires Standard Custody & Trust Co. to bolster US presence and regulatory compliance.
  • The acquisition enables Ripple to expand service offerings, including asset tokenization and custody solutions.
  • The move comes amid reports of an agreed settlement between Ripple and the US SEC.

Ripple has announced the acquisition of Standard Custody & Trust Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of PolySign, marking its second recent purchase of a custody business.

With a focus on regulatory compliance and expanding its service offerings, Ripple’s acquisition aims to pave the way for broader financial capabilities within the United States.

Ripple’s expansion into the US market

Ripple, known for its innovative blockchain-based payment solutions, is strategically positioning itself to further penetrate the US financial sector.

Despite ongoing legal disputes, Ripple remains committed to enhancing its regulatory qualifications and operational capabilities within the country. By acquiring Standard Custody & Trust Co., a company with a New York trust charter, Ripple aims to unlock new opportunities for growth and diversification in the US market.

In a tweet, Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, has reiterated the importance of the acquisition. He has stated:

“With Standard Custody, we’ll be able to improve existing product offerings for our customers, as well as explore new products and use cases, all in a fully compliant way. To date, Ripple has secured: nearly 40 U.S. money transmitter licenses, MPI license from MAS, and VASP registration with Central Bank of Ireland (and counting!)”

Enhancing regulatory compliance and service offerings

The acquisition of Standard Custody & Trust Co. reflects Ripple’s proactive approach to addressing regulatory challenges and tapping into the potential of the US financial landscape.

By obtaining a New York trust charter through this acquisition, Ripple gains the ability to conduct a wider range of business activities within the United States. This includes offering in-house services to financial institutions interested in leveraging blockchain technology for asset tokenization and custody solutions.

With this strategic move, Ripple aims to provide its customers with enhanced flexibility and comprehensive services, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving financial ecosystem.

The post Ripple to acquire Standard Custody & Trust Co. to expand US presence appeared first on CoinJournal.

Ledger and Coinbase forge integration to streamline crypto purchases

  • Ledger and Coinbase streamline crypto purchases with Coinbase Pay integration.
  • Users can now receive crypto purchases directly on Ledger hardware wallets.
  • The collaboration aims to simplify the self-custody process and increase accessibility.

Hardware wallet provider Ledger has joined forces with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to simplify the process of purchasing and transferring digital assets.

The collaboration introduces Coinbase Pay into Ledger Live, offering users a seamless way to receive their crypto purchases directly on their Ledger hardware wallets, eliminating additional fees and streamlining the overall experience.

Coinbase Pay integration into Ledger Live

Ledger users can now benefit from a more user-friendly and efficient process, thanks to the integration of Coinbase Pay into the Ledger Live application. The integration addresses the complexities previously associated with transferring crypto assets from exchanges to self-custody wallets, providing a hassle-free solution for users.

Ian Rogers, Chief Experience Officer at Ledger, emphasized the significance of the integration, comparing it to how travel agency Skyscanner simplified travel bookings. The streamlined process not only reduces the risk of errors but also enhances accessibility for both experienced users and newcomers to the world of self-custody.

Acknowledging the ongoing debate among crypto purists about the necessity of self-custody, Rogers emphasized that users now have a choice when it comes to securing their digital assets. The collaboration with Coinbase Pay demonstrates that users can opt for digital ownership through self-custody or choose alternative wallets, mirroring the diversity of bank accounts. The aim is to make the experience simple and appealing, particularly for those who are new to self-custody. With a straightforward and confident tone, Rogers highlighted that this integration is a step toward advancing the narrative of digital ownership, even as centralized exchanges continue to play a role in the crypto landscape.

Anticipating user influx as market enters new cycle

As the crypto space enters a new cycle with the recent launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Ledger anticipates an influx of new users. While these users may initially engage with ETFs, the hardware wallet provider hopes to encourage them to explore and ultimately adopt self-custody solutions.

Ledger sees self-custody as the true use case for cryptocurrencies, emphasizing the importance of user education and providing straightforward options for securing digital assets.

The post Ledger and Coinbase forge integration to streamline crypto purchases appeared first on CoinJournal.

CoinDCX and Koinex merge to propel crypto adoption in India

  • CoinDCX and Koinex have merged to navigate regulatory hurdles in India.
  • Seamless transition for Koinex users to access assets via the CoinDCX platform.
  • CoinDCX reaffirms its commitment to the Web3 community, remaining open to further partnerships.

In a strategic move to navigate regulatory uncertainties hindering the cryptocurrency landscape in India, India’s leading crypto exchanges CoinDCX and Koinex have announced a merger. The collaboration aims to address the challenges faced by users while fostering crypto adoption in the country.

The merger ensures a seamless transition for Koinex users to access their assets through the CoinDCX platform, emphasizing support for the Web3 community and commitment to regulatory compliance.

Seamless transition for Koinex users

Existing Koinex users can expect a smooth transition process as they migrate to the CoinDCX platform. With a focus on user convenience, assets will be automatically transferred for those with existing CoinDCX accounts and matching KYC details.

For users requiring KYC verification or without matching details, a straightforward onboarding process is in place to facilitate access to their assets. A dedicated customer support desk has also been established to provide personalized assistance throughout the integration process, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users.

CoinDCX, as India’s leading and FIU-compliant exchange, reaffirms its commitment to fostering a secure and transparent Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) ecosystem in the country. The merger with Koinex underscores CoinDCX’s dedication to providing a robust platform for crypto enthusiasts while navigating regulatory challenges. Moreover, the company remains open to further partnerships that enhance value for users and contribute to ecosystem growth.

By merging forces, CoinDCX and Koinex aim to not only address the immediate concerns of users but also to contribute to the long-term growth and development of the cryptocurrency ecosystem in India. This strategic move emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in overcoming regulatory hurdles, paving the way for broader acceptance and usage of cryptocurrencies in the country.

The post CoinDCX and Koinex merge to propel crypto adoption in India appeared first on CoinJournal.

Bitcoin Dogs: What to know about this historic BRC-20 presale

  • Bitcoin Dogs (0DOG) will launch its highly anticipated BRC-20 token presale on February 14, 2024.
  • The 0DOG presale, the first ever ICO on Bitcoin, will last 30 days.
  • The project offers a gaming and NFT ecosystem on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Bitcoin Dogs will be the first ever presale on the Bitcoin blockchain when its ICO goes live on February 14th, 2024. The project will bring a new NFT and gaming ecosystem to Bitcoin and its native token 0DOG is currently one of the hottest upcoming token sales.

Scheduled to launch at 11 am GMT on Wednesday, Bitcoin Dogs is attracting incredible attention from the cryptocurrency community.

What is Bitcoin Dogs?

Bitcoin Dogs is a cryptocurrency project set to launch on the Bitcoin blockchain. It combines the allure of crypto gaming and NFTs into a powerful ecosystem that taps into Bitcoin’s pioneering network. While a few other projects have debuted as layer-2 chains with the introduction of Ordinals, none has handled a BRC-20 presale on the original blockchain.

As such, Bitcoin Dogs’ native token 0DOG is the first ever token to achieve this. With an engaging metaverse game featuring virtual pets, this project is also doubling up as a potentially huge investment opportunity.

With the innovative Ordinals technology, Bitcoin Dogs offers its community a dog lovers’ paradise on the blockchain. While users will be able to store their NFT collection on Bitcoin, there’s an attractive side to acquiring, training and raising pets in a play-to-earn (P2E) ecosystem – the chance to earn 0DOG.

This BRC-20 project is thus taking user experiences and features that have elevated P2E blockchain games like Axie Infinity to the next level. This will include key partnerships across the gaming industry as well as a cross-chain bridge.

0DOG presale

The 30 days from February 14, 2024 are all Bitcoin and dog lovers have to be part of the exciting project that Bitcoin Dogs promises. The 0DOG token will debut at $0.015 in stage 1, before a programmed three-day increase culminates in the final stage 10 end date of March 15, 2024.

Going by the details in the Bitcoin Dogs whitepaper, the $0DOG presale price will rise to $0.0404 at the presale’s final stage. The presale will offer 810 million tokens, or 90% of the total supply, to the community. When the presale ends, any unsold 0DOG tokens will be burned.

Bitcoin Dogs’ imminent presale launch comes at a time the crypto market is reveling in the latest bounce that saw BTC price record its best weekly returns in over four months. The spot Bitcoin ETFs sentiment remains a big catalyst as is the upcoming halving set for April.

Can Bitcoin Dogs ride these catalysts as well its historic launch to overtake Bitcoin Cats? The buzz around the 0DOG presale suggests so. 

If you are after a detailed look at Bitcoin Dogs, check out their whitepaper. Alternatively, join the waitlist to get all key updates and events.

The post Bitcoin Dogs: What to know about this historic BRC-20 presale appeared first on CoinJournal.

3 altcoins to watch this week: Polygon, Frax and Memeinator

  • Polygon (MATIC) rebranding to POL could be a bullish catalyst.
  • Frax (FXS) is launching its layer-2 blockchain, potentially buoying price outlook.
  • Memeinator (MMTR) presale has reached stage 15 as meme coin looks to dominate market upon launch.

The past week saw cryptocurrencies surge as Bitcoin broke above $48,000. While BTC price has retreated below the above level, investors keen on potential bull momentum in coming months are likely to use the dip to buy more.

Top altcoins such as Ethereum, Solana and XRP are worth a look at. However, a few tokens could stand out amid key news events and developments. Here’s why Polygon (MATIC) and Frax Finance (FXS) and Memeinator (MMTR) could be two of the tokens to watch in coming weeks.

Polygon (MATIC): Rebrand could be bullish

Polygon’s MATIC is one of the top altcoins to retreat on Monday as Bitcoin pared gains from the weekend. The cryptocurrency was down about 3% as the broader crypto market mirrored US futures ahead of this week’s economic data releases.

MATIC however remains more than 5% up this past week and in position to retest the $1 level. According to crypto analyst The DeFi Investor, Polygon is one of the projects to watch in coming weeks due to the upcoming MATIC to POL rebrand. 

Per the analyst, the rebrand could happen this month and such events have “generally [been] bullish if done right.”

Frax Finance (FRX): L2 launch is a key milestone

On February 7, 2024, the Frax Finance team announced access to the testnet and mainnet of its modular blockchain Fraxtal. Immediate access was available for select partners, while it is set to go live for normal users in coming days.  

Fraxtal has incentives lined up for users, including an airdrop, liquidity rewards, and new FXTL points. These are earmarked for later this month, with the platform’s partners and developer teams using the interim time to bring their dApps to the blockchain. Staking of FXS is also open.

FXS price reached highs of $42.80 in January 2022. The current price is 79% down from that peak. If the Frax L2 blockchain public launch adds to overall market catalysts for FXS, its likely to be one of the tokens to watch in coming months.

Memeinator (MMTR): The meme coin to challenge DOGE?

Memeinator is a new crypto token in presale. The MMTR token is a meme coin that will be the utility token of the Memeinator ecosystem.

When it launches, Memeinator’s main goal will be to establish itself as a top meme coin project that challenges and possibly overtakes Shiba Inu and Dogecoin. Part of that mission comes with a hostile takeover of all useless meme coins that offer nothing to the community.

These subpar tokens are mere copycats that have often left holders with worthless bags. Inspired by the Terminator, the Memeinator has come with the Meme Warfare – ready to render judgement to weak meme tokens.

The project has already shown its traction with the massive presale participation, surge in social media followers and perhaps most importantly, the launch of its staking pool and token burn. The target is to reach a $1 billion market cap, and that means a potentially significant surge in post-launch price.

Currently in stage 15, the Memeinator has raised more than $4.2 million, with MMTR price rising to $0.022. Details on the Memeinator presale page shows the next price level will be $0.023, and the value will continue to rise through stage 20 of the presale.

The post 3 altcoins to watch this week: Polygon, Frax and Memeinator appeared first on CoinJournal.