Connect with us

Hot Projects

Major SEC Case Against Binance and CZ Zhao Moves Forward | EVM News

Avatar

Published

on


Major SEC Case Against Binance and CZ Zhao Moves Forward

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — A significant portion of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Binance and its co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao will continue, following a recent ruling. The lawsuit, filed last year, accused Binance of mishandling customer funds, misleading investors, and violating securities laws.

SEC Charges Binance and Zhao. Source: SEC Press Release

Defendants sought to dismiss the case, but Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled late Friday that out of 13 counts, 10 will proceed entirely, and two partially, with one count dismissed.

SEC vs. Binance Court Order
Source: US District Court for the District of Columbia
SEC vs. Binance Court Order. Source: US District Court for the District of Columbia

SEC Dismisses BUSD and BNB Sales Claims, Scrutiny of Binance Continues

The count dismissed pertains to the sales of BUSD, a stablecoin now nearly defunct after regulatory actions. Stablecoins are typically pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar, backed by cash and bonds. This dismissal narrows the scope of the lawsuit but leaves significant allegations intact.

BUSD Price Volatility Chart
Source: CoinGecko
BUSD Price Volatility Chart. Source: CoinGecko

The ruling also partially dismissed parts of a count regarding the sales of BNB, a token integral to the Binance ecosystem. Specifically, the dismissed portion relates to secondary sales of BNB by parties other than Binance. BNB remains a major player in the crypto market, with a market value of about $87 billion, ranking as the fourth-largest digital asset according to CoinGecko.

Top 8 Cryptocurrencies by Market Cap
Source: CoinGecko
Top 8 Cryptocurrencies by Market Cap
Source: CoinGecko

An allegation concerning Binance’s Simple Earn program was also partially dismissed. Simple Earn allows investors to lend tokens and earn interest. However, the core of the count remains, continuing the scrutiny on Binance’s business practices.

Binance’s legal challenges are not new. In November, the exchange faced a landmark $4.3 billion penalty in a plea deal with the Justice Department and US regulators over violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws. Following this, Changpeng Zhao was sentenced to four months in jail. The SEC was not part of this plea agreement.

CZ’s Sentencing and Crypto Bullrun Anticipation by Futurist Kwame
CZ’s Sentencing and Crypto Bullrun Anticipation. Source: Futurist Kwame

Gensler Targets Crypto Industry

Under Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC has maintained that most digital tokens are unregistered securities subject to its regulation. Gensler has been vocal about his criticism of crypto exchanges and the digital asset industry for alleged noncompliance with securities laws. Despite numerous SEC lawsuits, the question of whether digital tokens are securities remains unresolved, with clarifying legislation from Congress still pending.

Adding to the SEC’s regulatory approach, the agency recently accused Consensys Software Inc. of failing to register as a brokerage and improperly collecting millions in fees. Consensys has disputed these claims, reflecting the ongoing tension between the SEC and the crypto industry.

The ongoing case, presided over by Judge Jackson, is officially titled SEC v. Binance, 23-cv-01599, in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.


Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hot Projects

Hamster Kombat Reaches 239M Users in 81 Days | EVM News

Avatar

Published

on


Hamster Kombat Reaches 239M Users in 81 Days

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that Hamster Kombat has reached 239 million users in just 81 days.

Hamster Kombat’s viral success has been phenomenal. Since its launch in March 2024, the game has attracted over 200 million players. Durov highlighted some impressive metrics, including the game reaching 100 million monthly users in just 73 days. The game continues to grow, adding 4-5 million new users daily. This makes it one of the fastest-growing digital services globally.

Durov shared these insights on his Telegram channel, which has 2.7 million subscribers. He emphasized that the game’s popularity could introduce many people to Web3 and blockchain technology.

Hamster Kombat’s Explosive Growth: 239M Users in 3 Months. Source: Du Rove’s Channel

Hamster Kombat Prepares for Token Launch on TON Blockchain in July 2024

Hamster Kombat’s upcoming token launch on the TON blockchain is highly anticipated. The project’s roadmap shows that on-chain infrastructure and in-game wallet implementation were completed in June 2024. Players have been able to link their TON wallets in the game since June.

Durov mentioned that the token minting would happen soon. He stated,

“Soon, Hamster’s team will mint its token on TON, introducing the benefits of blockchain to hundreds of millions of people.”

The official website suggests that in-game token utility will roll out in July 2024. The exact date for the token launch has yet to be confirmed. However, the developers have been preparing the community through frequent updates on social media.

Hamster Kombat’s official website suggests that in-game token utility will be rolled out in July 2024. Source: Hamster Kombat
Hamster Kombat’s official website suggests that in-game token utility will be rolled out in July 2024. Source: HamsterKombat

Game Sets Guinness Records and Boosts Engagement with New Levels

Hamster Kombat has set several Guinness World Records. The game’s YouTube channel has gained over 10 million subscribers in just six days, 13 hours, and 15 minutes. This milestone surpasses the growth rate of even Mr. Beast’s channel.

The game offers various ways for players to earn coins. One method involves watching YouTube content, where players earn 100,000 coins for each video viewed. This strategy has significantly boosted the game’s social media presence.

One of Hamster Kombat’s social media posts stresses that in-game profit per hour is the primary metric players should prioritize ahead of its token launch. Source: Hamster Kombat
One of Hamster Kombat’s social media posts stresses that in-game profit per hour is the primary metric players should prioritize ahead of its token launch. Source: HamsterKombat

The developers have also introduced a new level for players’ hamster avatars. Reaching the “Creator” level requires accumulating 18 billion in-game coins. This has added another layer of engagement for the players.

The 11th and final level players can reach as a hamster CEO -
The 11th and final level players can reach as a hamster CEO – “The Creator”. Source: HamsterKombat

Hamster Kombat’s success raises interesting questions about Web3 games. These games could potentially serve as an alternative universal basic income (UBI) mechanism. Players trade their time for in-game entertainment and education about cryptocurrencies.

Hamster Kombat’s approach to social media growth has resulted in staggering metrics. The game’s YouTube channel has 32 million subscribers since its launch in May 2024. Its X profile has 11.3 million followers, and its Telegram channel has 49.4 million subscribers.


Continue Reading

Hot Projects

Binance Celebrates 7th Anniversary with 200 Million Users | EVM News

Avatar

Published

on


Binance Celebrates 7th Anniversary with 200 Million Users

Key Takeaways:

  1. Binance Celebrates 7th Anniversary: Binance marks its seventh anniversary with over 200 million users worldwide.
  2. ‘Be Binance’ Campaign Launch: The campaign rewards customers with activities and contests across 19 countries.
  3. Educational Focus for Growth: Binance emphasizes education to reach the goal of one billion Web3 users.

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is marking its seventh anniversary. The exchange now has over 200 million users worldwide, highlighting its significant presence in the digital asset industry.

Binance’s 7th Anniversary Campaign Announcement. Source: TOBTC

Binance Celebrates 200 Million Users with Global ‘Be Binance’ Campaign

To commemorate this milestone, Binance has introduced a campaign called “Be Binance.” Rachel Conlan, Binance’s chief marketing officer, stated that the campaign aims to reward and celebrate the company’s loyal customers.

“Through determination, curiosity, and responsibility, we’ve faced challenges and reaped rewards, thanks to our 200 million users. As we journey toward financial freedom, we stay true to our values: humility, kindness, collaboration, and gratitude,”

Conlan said.

The “Be Binance” campaign includes activities such as in-person meet-ups, virtual events, and social media contests. The campaign will occur in 19 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Spain, and Benin. Participants can win a share of $7,000 worth of Binance’s BNB tokens and other merchandise.

Education Key to Binance’s Massive User Growth and Trading Volume

Binance sees substantial growth potential beyond its current user base. Rachel Conlan emphasized the importance of education in attracting more users.

“Education and raising awareness are absolutely key. 200 million+ is an impressive number, but both the industry and our user base still have massive potential for growth,”

she said.

Binance’s daily trading volume exceeds $25.3 billion, making it more than seven times larger than Coinbase, which has a daily trading volume of $3.3 billion. The exchange gained its first 100 million users in five years and reached 200 million in two more years. Over 30 million new users joined in the first half of 2024.

Top crypto exchanges. Source: CoinMarketCap
Top crypto exchanges. Source: CoinMarketCap

Binance Sets Sights on One Billion Web3 Users with ‘Be Binance’ Campaign

Binance aims to reach one billion Web3 users.

“A few years ago, 200 million users looked like something from a sci-fi movie. Today, onboarding the first billion to Web3 feels like an attainable target,”

Conlan said.

The “Be Binance” campaign is part of this effort, offering activities and educational initiatives.


Continue Reading

Hot Projects

US Job Market Slump Could Fuel Bitcoin Prices | EVM News

Avatar

Published

on


US Job Market Slump Could Fuel Bitcoin

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The US job market is showing signs of weakening, which might boost Bitcoin prices. The unemployment rate in the US rose to 4.1%, surpassing the anticipated 4.0%. This is the highest level since December 2021.

In June, the US economy added 206,000 jobs. This figure exceeded the expected 191,000 but fell short compared to May’s revised 218,000 jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released this data on July 5.

US Employment Data Summary – June 2024. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

A weakening labor market in the US could serve as a positive catalyst for Bitcoin prices. Jag Kooner, head of derivatives at Bitfinex, stated,

“If the NFP report shows weaker-than-expected job growth, it could increase expectations for future rate cuts, which might bolster Bitcoin prices as investors seek alternative assets in anticipation of a looser monetary policy.”

Bitcoin prices have been in a downtrend for over a month. The cryptocurrency has fallen below the significant $60,000 mark, reaching a four-month low. On July 5, Bitcoin dropped over 10.5% in 24 hours, hitting $53,550, according to Bitstamp data.

BTC/USD, YTD chart. Source: TradingView
BTC/USD, YTD chart. Source: TradingView

The last time Bitcoin traded at this level was in February 2024. Some traders worry the bull cycle might have ended, while others see the current correction as typical. The analyst Rekt Capital noted,

“This pullback is -21% deep & 45 days long. In this cycle, average retrace depth is -22% & average retrace duration is 42 days. In terms of retrace depth, this is almost an average retrace. In terms of retrace duration, this is an above-average pullback.”

BTC/USD, 1-week chart. Source: Rekt Capital
BTC/USD, 1-week chart. Source: Rekt Capital

Bitcoin ETFs Face Net Negative Outflows

Institutional inflows from US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been lagging. US ETFs are on track for their third consecutive week of net negative inflows. This week alone has seen over $315 million in cumulative net outflows, according to Dune data.

Bitcoin ETF net weekly flows. Source: Dune
Bitcoin ETF net weekly flows. Source: Dune

Kooner believes Bitcoin ETF flows could see an uptick if the weakening labor market drives expectations of an interest rate cut. He said,

“Bitcoin ETF flows might see an uptick if market participants believe that economic uncertainty will drive the Fed towards eventual rate cuts, enhancing the appeal of Bitcoin as an inflation hedge. However, significant inflows would depend on broader market sentiment and risk appetite.”

Summary of Key Points

  1. Unemployment Rate: Rose to 4.1%, highest since December 2021.
  2. Job Additions: 206,000 jobs added in June, lower than May’s revised 218,000.
  3. Bitcoin Prices: In downtrend, dropped to $53,550 on July 5.
  4. Bitcoin ETFs: Third week of net negative inflows, over $315 million outflows this week.
  5. Market Sentiment: Cautious with potential interest rate cuts being monitored.


Continue Reading

Trending