Poodlana price rejoins the ongoing crypto rebound

Poodlana token rose for the second consecutive day as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies bounced back. It jumped to a high of $0.029, up by over 20% from its lowest point on Thursday this week. It has also soared by over 90% from the lowest point on Aug. 20.

Federal Reserve rate cut hopes

The main catalyst for the Poodlana rally was the ongoing crypto comeback. Bitcoin, the biggest crypto in the industry, surged to $64,260, its highest point in weeks and much higher than this month’s low of $49,000.

Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Solana, Ripple, and Toncoin rose sharply. The other notable gainers were the likes of Sunpepe, Pepe, Dogwifhat, and Book of Meme.

This rally happened as investors cheered the upcoming Federal Reserve pivot as the US economy weakness continues. The most recent data showed that the manufacturing sector continued contracting in August.

Worse, the Fed has been relying on faulty jobs numbers to make its decision. A report released this week showed that the number of jobs created by the economy in the 12 months to March were 818k lower than the reported ones. That was the worst revision in over a decade. 

Therefore, in a statement last Friday, Jerome Powell hinted that the Fed would start cutting interest rates in September. The market also expects that the bank will deliver more rate cuts later this year to prevent a hard landing.

Cryptocurrencies and other risky assets do well when the Fed is cutting interest rates. A good example of this is what happened in 2020 as the Fed slashed interest rates to deal with the Covid-19. Bitcoin’s surge led to the birth of meme coins like Shiba Inu and Floki.

At the time, Bitcoin cut rates to zero, which helped to push Bitcoin to a high of $69,000. It then started falling when inflation started rising, leading to expectations that the bank would slash rates. 

The coins are also rising after Robert Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump. This endorsement means that Trump could attract some of Kennedy’s voters. 

Poodlana to regain momentum

Analysts believe that Poodlana, a new Solana meme coin that raised millions of dollars has room to do well despite the recent turbulence.

They point to the performance of other meme coins that have moved from nowhere to become sensations. 

Some of the most notable tokens are Dogwifhat, Bonk, Pepe, and Floki, which have accumulated over $1.5 billion in market cap.

Indeed, data shows that meme coins are now valued at over $47 billion, making them more valuable than companies like General Mills, Electronic Arts, Kroger, Gartner, and Super Micro Computer. 

Therefore, because of Poodlana’s popularity during its token sale, there are chances that it will regain momentum in the coming months as investors rotate to risky assets.

Poodlana’s goal is to become the biggest animal-themed coin in the world. Analysts believe that it can rival the success of the likes of Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Dogwifhat. Learn more about Poodlana here.

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Bitpanda partners with CoinMENA to boost crypto adoption

Crypto exchange Bitpanda and trading platform CoinMENA have announced a strategic alliance aimed at bolstering the latter’s efficiency.

CoinMENA has operational licenses from the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). The platform’s strategic partnership with Bitpanda also seeks to boost the Middle East & North Africa focused crypto entity’s suite of available digital assets products and services.

Market demand

In a comment, CoinMENA co-founders Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa note:

“We are excited to partner with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, an industry leader that shares our commitment to providing top-tier crypto asset trading services. This collaboration will not only enhance trading efficiency but also fulfill one of the most requested features from our users, enabling us to add new crypto assets more rapidly to meet market demands.”

Sam’an also commented on the partnership via a post on X on Aug. 26.

Bitpanda will act as a liquidity provider for CoinMENA, enhancing the exchange’s trading efficiency and user experience.

“The MENA region is one of the most ambitious and innovative regions in the world when it comes to crypto assets,” Bitpanda global head Nadeem Ladki, noted. “Bitpanda Technology Solutions provides institutions in the region access to one of the broadest ranges of crypto assets available, in a fully modular way, all with a highly regulated and trusted partner,” Ladki added.

Bitpanda recently partnered with UAE’s RAKBANK to expand the digital assets space in the UAE. The exchange has also joined forces with Coinmotion and struck a major deal with Serie A giants AC Milan.

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SEC charges Abra for offering unregistered crypto securities

  • SEC has charged Abra with securities violations related to the crypto platform’s Abra Earn program.
  • The regulator previously charged Genesis and Gemini crypto exchange over securities violations related to Gemini Earn.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has charged crypto platform Abra with the offer and sale of unregistered securities.

SEC’s charges filed against Plutus Lending LLC allege that Abra’s retail crypto lending product Abra Earn was offered to US investors. The platform began offering the product in July 2020 and at its peak had nearly $500 million of its $600 million in assets from investors in the US.

SEC alleges Abra operated as unregistered investment compny

According to the SEC, Abra marketed its Earn product promising interest to investors and that the platform used investor funds on various income-generating activities. The effort also helped the company fund interest payments.

The SEC alleges therefore that Abra offered the Earn program as a security, violating the law by operating as an unregistered investment company for two years. Per SEC’s complaint, Abra initiated a halt of its Earn program in the US in June 2023.

“To settle the Commission’s charges, Abra, without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations, has consented to an injunction prohibiting it from violating the registration provisions of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act and requiring it to pay civil penalties in amounts to be determined by the court,” the SEC said in a press release.

Abra recently settled with 25 US states for operating in those jurisdictions with licenses. Notably also, the charges relating to Abra Earn are similar to those filed against Genesis and Gemini over the Gemini Earn program in January 2023. Genesis settled with the SEC earlier this year.

Meanwhile, news of SEC’s charges against Abra also come just days after a US judge ruled that the regulator’s lawsuit against Kraken can proceed. The SEC has cases against Binance, Coinbase and Consensys.

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Stacks (STX) prepares for Nakamoto upgrade: here’s what to expect

Stacks, the largest Bitcoin layer-2 network, is on the verge of a transformative upgrade known as Nakamoto. As the Nakamoto upgrade approaches, Stacks’ native token, STX, currently trading at $1.80, is up 68% from its August lows.

Scheduled to begin this week, the Nakamoto upgrade promises to be a pivotal event for the platform, heralding significant changes in transaction efficiency and expanding use cases.

Stacks Nakamoto upgrade

The Stacks Nakamoto upgrade is set to drastically reduce average transaction times from 10 minutes to mere seconds.

Such a leap in efficiency opens the door to a range of new applications, including the creation and utilization of liquid stacking tokens. These tokens can now be seamlessly integrated into Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms, allowing users to deposit, borrow, and leverage liquidity with greater ease.

In addition to improved transaction speeds, the Nakamoto upgrade will introduce sBTC, a new asset pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin.

Unlike wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), which relies on a central custodian, sBTC aims to provide a decentralized alternative. This enhancement promises increased censorship resistance, cost efficiency, and robust security features.

By simplifying Bitcoin’s use in DeFi, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gaming, sBTC is expected to differentiate itself from existing solutions and attract more creators to the ecosystem.

The anticipated upgrade is not only poised to revolutionize transaction processes but also to bolster the DeFi and NFT sectors within the Stacks network.

As developers roll out the Nakamoto upgrade, the Stacks is likely to see increased adoption and innovation, positioning it as a significant player in the evolving landscape of Bitcoin layer-2 solutions.

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Argentina’s Ministry of Education adds Ethereum to high school curriculum

  • Buenos Aires high schools will start offering blockchain internships on August 27.
  • ETH Kipu will train 500 students in Solidity and prepare 30 instructors.
  • Argentina’s high inflation drives strong local engagement with digital assets.

In a groundbreaking move to advance blockchain education, Argentina’s Ministry of Education has partnered with ETH Kipu to introduce Ethereum and blockchain technology into the high school curriculum in Buenos Aires.

Starting August 27, high schools across the city will offer blockchain internships, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience in this rapidly evolving field.

Spurring blockchain adoption in Argentina

The collaboration with ETH Kipu, a prominent organization dedicated to Ethereum education in Latin America, marks a significant step in integrating cutting-edge technology into secondary education.

The program will include a specialized online Solidity course, designed to train 500 students in the intricacies of decentralized application (DApp) development.

Solidity, a high-level programming language used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, has gained prominence in various networks, including the BNB Smart Chain and Avalanche.

ETH Kipu aims to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in the blockchain sector, while also preparing 30 instructors to deliver comprehensive Ethereum and blockchain training.

According to Paula Doy, co-founder of ETH Kipu, this initiative not only introduces students to advanced technology but also opens new career opportunities, positioning Argentina at the forefront of the global blockchain movement.

Argentina’s soaring inflation driving crypto adoption

The Ministry of Education initiative comes against the backdrop of Argentina’s soaring inflation rate, which has driven significant local engagement with digital assets.

With an annual inflation rate of 276%, many Argentinians are turning to cryptocurrencies like Tether (USDT) to safeguard their assets.

Recently Forbes analysts reported that Argentina leads the Western Hemisphere in crypto adoption, with substantial activity on major platforms like Binance.

ETH Kipu’s partnership with Buenos Aires is a promising development, reflecting the country’s commitment to fostering technological innovation and preparing its youth for the future of digital finance.

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