Avalanche raises $250 million to boost layer-1 upgrade

  • Avalanche has raised $250 million from Galaxy Digital, Dragonfly and ParaFi Capital among other investors.
  • The token sale comes as Avalanche nears the mainnet launch of its layer-1 blockchain upgrade.

Avalanche has secured $250 million in a token sale fundraiser as the layer-1 blockchain looks to bring its upgrade to market.

Galaxy Digital, Dragonfly, and ParaFi Capital led the blockchain project’s fundraiser, with more than 40 investment firms participating. They include SkyBridge, SCB Limited, Hivemind, Big Brain Holdings, Hypersphere, Lvna Capital, Republic Capital, and Morgan Creek Digital.

Per an announcement on Dec. 12, other backers of the round include FinTech Collective, CMCC Global, Superscrypt, Cadenza, Chorus One, and Tané Labs.

Avalanche9000 upgrade

The locked token sale comes a few weeks after Avalanche9000, the project’s highly anticipated upgrade launched in a testnet. Avalanche is looking to make transactions and deployment of applications on the L1 cheaper by 99.9%.

“Our support of Avalanche, and the growth and scalability of blockchain protocols, is essential to the future of this industry,” Jason Urban, global head of trading at Galaxy, said.

“By helping Avalanche reach a broader institutional investor base, we are accelerating their ability to innovate and scale. At Galaxy, we are providing Avalanche with the strategic resources and services needed to foster institutional participation and long-term growth, ensuring they can lead the next wave of blockchain adoption with Avalanche9000,” Urban added.

Avalanche9000 targets ecosystem dominance across real-world asset tokenization, gaming, loyalty and rewards, and payments among other sectors. The project introduced a $40 million grant program that includes $2 million for referral rewards, to incentivize developer activity on Avalanche.

“Avalanche is uniquely positioned to be a driving force in the evolution of on-chain institutional finance,” Ben Forman, founder and managing partner of ParaFi Capital, said. “Architectural advantages like fast transaction finality and high throughput, combined with customizable virtual machines, make it an ideal platform for securely and compliantly issuing and managing tokenized assets.”

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Vote postponed to renominate SEC commissioner Caroline Crenshaw

  • Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown called it a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw”
  • The vote was postponed minutes before it was due to begin by Brown
  • No date has been set for Crenshaw’s renomination

A US Senate vote to renominate Democrat Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been postponed.

The vote was originally scheduled on December 11; however, it was postponed minutes before it was due to begin, reports Bloomberg. Sherrod Brown, the Senate Banking Committee chair, delayed the vote. When Brown requested the vote occur later that day, Republican senators blocked his request.

Brown later released a statement saying that corporate special interests are running a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw.”

No date has been set for her renomination.

Earlier this week, crypto and blockchain advocacy groups voiced their opposition to Crenshaw’s renomination.

In a letter to Brown and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott, the Blockchain Association and the DeFi Education Fund argued that Crenshaw’s actions have undermined Congress’s mandate to establish clear regulatory policies for the crypto industry.

In their letter, they mention Crenshaw’s “continued opposition to the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETP.”

Following the news of Crenshaw’s reappointment, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, took to X to say: “She tried to block the Bitcoin ETFs, and was worse than Gensler on some issues (which I didn’t think was possible).”

A Republican-majority SEC?

The delay to Crenshaw’s renomination opens up the possibility of a three-person Republican SEC once Donald Trump enters the White House in January. Crenshaw’s term at the SEC officially ended in June; however, if she’s renominated she would be the only Democratic SEC commissioner.

The SEC can make up to five commissioners, but no more than three can form the same political party. Current SEC chair Gary Gensler, a Democrat, is stepping down on January 20, and SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga, also a Democrat, will step down on January 17.

Last week, Trump nominated pro-crypto Paul Atkins, a Republican, as chair of the SEC.

Including Gensler and Lizárraga, the three remaining SEC commissioners include Republicans Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda.

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3 tokens on track for new all-time highs like Tron (TRX) and Bitcoin (BTC)

The crypto market has witnessed a number of tokens rallying toward new all-time highs (ATHs), including notable players like Bitcoin (BTC) and Tron (TRX). Despite some setbacks, such as the US government transferring nearly $2 billion worth of Bitcoin, BTC has remained resilient, triggering a massive impulsive move that saw it reach an ATH of $104,698. While Tron (TRX) hit its own milestone of $0.4485, new players like Rexas Finance (RXS), Solana (SOL), and XRP are gaining traction and vying for the spotlight. 

Rexas Finance: RXS Transforming Real-World Asset Investments

Rexas Finance is revolutionizing real-world asset (RWA) tokenization by bridging traditional investments with blockchain technology. Its platform enables users to tokenize and trade assets such as real estate, commodities, and collectibles, offering unprecedented access and liquidity. The Rexas Token Builder is the heart of this ecosystem, empowering users to tokenize assets with ease. Through this tool, users can issue digital tokens representing shares of physical assets, unlocking new investment opportunities. Complementing this feature is the Rexas QuickMint Bot, which simplifies token creation via platforms like Telegram and Discord.

Additionally, the Rexas Launchpad supports fundraising for blockchain projects, facilitating token sales and connecting developers with investors. This multifaceted approach reinforces Rexas Finance’s role in transforming asset management and investment.

With a total token supply of 1 billion, RXS has raised $25.25 million through its presale, now in Stage 9 at $0.125 per token. Investors purchasing at this stage can expect a 1.6x return upon launch, while the token’s price has already increased by 4.18x since Stage 1. A $1 million giveaway further incentivizes participation, offering 20 winners $50,000 each in USDT. Listed on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, RXS benefits from enhanced visibility, credibility, and community engagement. Its CertiK audit ensures robust security, instilling investor confidence. Rexas Finance’s potential for a $10+ valuation by early 2025 highlights its strong growth trajectory, making now the ideal time to join this transformative project.

Solana SOL Eyeing ETF Catalysts

Solana, currently trading at $224, is positioned for a breakout fueled by rumors of a potential ETF approval in 2025. Although its price has retreated from a high of $263, technical indicators suggest bullish momentum. Solana’s 50-day moving average remains above the 200-day moving average, and its RSI indicates room for growth without overbought conditions. Institutional interest in Solana remains strong, with key support levels around $215 and resistance near $240. A breach of this resistance could pave the way for a retest of its previous high and further gains. Solana’s integration into real-world applications strengthens its long-term outlook, with the potential ETF serving as a major growth driver. The community’s optimism about Solana’s future is reflected in its adoption and network upgrades. If market stability persists, SOL could achieve the significant milestone of $1,000 in the coming years.

XRP Sustaining a Bullish Momentum

XRP is riding a wave of bullish sentiment, rallying over 290% year-to-date despite early skepticism. Currently trading within a critical range of $2.13 to $2.92, XRP is poised to retest its all-time high of $3.8. Technical support at $1.88 and $2.13 reinforces its upward trajectory, while a breakout could trigger a new target of $3.999. Predictions for XRP extend beyond its current momentum, with some analysts forecasting prices as high as $10 or even $18 in the next market cycle. This optimism stems from XRP’s resilience in overcoming market challenges and its expanding utility within the crypto market. The token’s 200% rally in the last month underscores its potential to outperform expectations, particularly as it garners attention from analysts and investors alike.

Conclusion

As Bitcoin and Tron achieve new all-time highs, tokens like Rexas Finance, Solana, and XRP are carving their own paths to success. Rexas Finance’s innovative approach to real-world asset tokenization sets it apart, offering unmatched opportunities for investors. Solana’s potential ETF approval and XRP’s bullish momentum add to their appeal.

For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below:

Website: https://rexas.com

Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M

Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf

Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance

Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance

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Australia fines Kraken operator $5 million for non-compliance

  • Kraken operator in Australia Bit Trade will pay a $5.1 million fine for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • The Australian Securities and Investment Commission accused the crypto platform of offering a credit facilty that did not comply with regulations.

Kraken crypto exchange’s Australian operator firm has been slapped with a AU$8 million ($5.1 million) fine for non-compliance with Australian regulations.

The Australian federal court fined Bit Trade following a lawsuit by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. In its order, the court said that the Kraken crypto exchange operator must comply with the country’s crypto regulations.

The court ordered that the exchange ought to pay 8 million Australian dollars as a penalty for non-compliance with the local regulations. Notably, Kraken recently announced a licensed broker offering for clients in Australia.

Bit Trade failed to comply with regulations

In August this year, the court ruled in favour of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The regulator had filed a case accusing Bit Trade of issuing a credit facility without following the legal proceedings.

ASIC argued that Bit Trade did not make the target market determination, a requirement to protect investors. Between October 2021 and August 2023, ASIC stated that the firm offered a margin extension to 1,100 users which cost them a loss of over $5.2 million without following the legal requirements.

The market regulator’s demand was Bit Trade to pay a fine worth 20 million Australian dollars. On their argument, Bit Trade put their limit to a maximum of four million Australian dollars. The penalty follows these proceedings, and the Kraken operator in Australia has 60 days to comply with the order.

In addition, the firm would cover for all the commissions court proceedings costs.

Kraken has faced regulatory hurdles in the US too, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), suing the exchange earlier in November 2023.

SEC’s allegations include Kraken offering of unregistered activities and operating as an unregistered broker. In August 2024, a US court denied the exchange’s motion that sought to dismiss the SEC’s lawsuit.

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Bitcoin reclaims $100k, could rally higher on possible Fed rate cut

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin is trading above $100k and could rally higher in the coming days.
  • iDEGEN’s pre-market auction officially hits $4 million as more investors troop in.

Bitcoin reclaims the $100k spot

The cryptocurrency market began the week poorly, with Bitcoin dropping to the $93k region on Monday. However, Bitcoin rallied by over 3% on Wednesday to reclaim the $100k level.

At press time, the Bitcoin price stands at $100,877 and could rally higher in the coming days. Market analysts expect a Fed rate cut next week, which could spark a further upward move for Bitcoin. 

What is iDEGEN?

The crypto market underwent a correction earlier this week, and the funding rate has now returned to neutral. This implies that investors are pushing more funds into the crypto market again.

Investors are also looking at new projects, and one that is grabbing headlines is iDEGEN. It is a project that seeks to merge the memecoin and the AI ecosystems. It is a sentient degenerate AI memelord.

According to the team, the iDEGEN tool learns, evolves, and adapts based on what the community feeds it on X. This primarily implies that iDEGEN is powered by AI but ultimately raised by degens. 

Its launch as a memecoin is understandable, considering the massive growth recorded by memecoins in recent years. The memecoin market is worth over $45 billion and is expected to grow larger in the coming months and years. 

Users feed iDEGEN their data through tweets, tags, and comments. The tool then absorbs that post and adds it to its knowledge base; that’s how it learns. Furthermore, the tool posts on X every 60 minutes and can generate and post memes. 

Read more about the iDEGEN project here. 

iDEGEN’s pre-auction market raises over $4 million

The iDEGEN pre-market auction is selling out fast. The team has sold nearly 1 billion $IDGN tokens, raising $4.2 million in the process. 

The pre-market auction leverages an unconventional method to attract more investors. iDEGEN’s presale price adjusts every five minutes based on market activity. iDEGEN explained that the price remains steady for the next period if an investor purchases $IDGN tokens within five minutes. However, if purchases occur consecutively, $IDGN’s price rises by 5%. Finally, if no one buys the tokens within five minutes, the price drops by 5%.

Per the team’s whitepaper, the pre-market auction will continue until January 1, 2025. Once the pre-market auction ends, the $IDGN token will list on cryptocurrency exchanges. 

Should you buy the $IDGN tokens now?

The crypto market is in a Bull Run, and market experts expect further growth in 2025. With iDEGEN launching on the first day of 2025, investing in the project during its presale could be a smart decision. 

iDEGEN is an interesting project that combines AI and meme coins. It could become one of the leading meme coin projects on the Solana blockchain. Its adoption of a pre-market auction model also ensures transparency and fairness during the token sale process. Finally, the iDEGEN team’s website has a live pre-market listing price, allowing investors to track the token’s progress accurately before its launch on trading platforms.

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