Digital asset platform Bakkt has announced its plans to shift its focus to B2B technology solutions. The company said it will soon be sunsetting its consumer-facing app, which was designed to give users the ability to utilize their digital assets in different ways. The app, launched in March 2021, offered a user-friendly experience that brought together various digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, loyalty points, and gift cards. Despite the discontinuation of its consumer-facing app, current Bakkt App users will still have access to their crypto and cash holdings through a new web-based platform, available on all devices. According to Bakkt, users …

For readers looking for unique, meaningful gifts for their valentine this Valentine’s Day, consider giving a cryptocurrency-related gift. Here are nine options: A cryptocurrency gift card Give your significant other the gift of choice by giving them a cryptocurrency gift card. They can use it to buy food or any digital asset they want, whether that’s Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) or a stablecoin like USD Coin (USDC). Virtual real estate Readers can buy virtual real estate in the metaverse, such as in Decentraland or The Sandbox, as a unique, romantic gift. Their significant other can build and customize their own …

Blender, the cryptocurrency mixer sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in May 2022, was “highly likely” relaunched as Sinbad, according to risk management firm Elliptic. In a Feb. 13 report, Elliptic said its analysis of Sinbad suggested that the crypto mixer was likely a rebrand of Blender as well as having “the same individual or group responsible for it.” According to the firm, Sinbad was behind laundering roughly $100 million in Bitcoin (BTC) for North Korea’s hacking group Lazarus. Elliptic said following U.S. authorities cracking down on crypto mixers — as OFAC …

Brian Armstrong, the chief executive officer of United States-based cryptocurrency firm Coinbase, is looking for lawmakers and regulators to discuss regulatory clarity in the crypto space. In a Feb. 13 tweet, Armstrong put a call out for anyone with access to the Dirksen Senate Office in Washington, D.C. to meet him at the building’s snack bar and “chat about crypto”. According to the Coinbase CEO, he was looking for “low sugar options” amid the selection of soft serve ice cream and toppings. "’I'm in Washington D.C. and had a meeting canceled," said Armstrong. "If anyone wants to come chat about …

2023 is off to a great start, with Bitcoin (BTC) rocketing up 40% in January. The good news is not relegated to just Bitcoin, however, as this price increase has sent ripple effects across the cryptoverse. Mining revenue jumped $22.66 million in January, and crypto-related stocks doubled on average. Despite this good news, venture capital investments are down 23% from the previous month. Download and purchase this report on the Cointelegraph Research Terminal. For a more detailed look into the various sectors of the crypto space, including venture capital, derivatives, decentralized finance (DeFi), regulations and much more, Cointelegraph Research publishes …

Machine learning has a wide range of applications in the finance, healthcare, marketing and transportation industries. It is used to analyze and process large amounts of data, make predictions, and automate decision-making processes, among other tasks. In this article, learn the five key features of machine learning that make it a powerful tool for solving a broad set of problems, from image and speech recognition to recommendation systems and natural language processing. What is machine learning? Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) that involves the development of algorithms and statistical models, which allow computers to learn from …

Singapore state-owned megabank DBS Group is planning to expand its cryptocurrency services to Hong Kong as the Chinese territory pushes to become a digital asset hub. DBS Bank plans to apply for a license to allow it to offer crypto trading services to Hong Kong customers, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 13. “We are planning to apply for a license in Hong Kong so that the bank could sell digital assets to our Hong Kong customers,” DBS Bank Hong Kong CEO Sebastian Paredes said. Paredes noted that DBS welcomes new crypto-related policies in Hong Kong, and is also “very sensitive” to …

Blockchain infrastructure platform Paxos will halt issuance of new BUSD (BUSD) stablecoins amid the ongoing probe by the New York regulators. Paxos officially announced on Feb. 13 that the firm will end its relationship with Binance for the branded USD-pegged stablecoin BUSD. Starting from Feb. 21, Paxos will stop minting new BUSD tokens, in accordance with directions and coordination with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). Paxos emphasized that all existing BUSD tokens will remain fully-backed and redeemable through Paxos Trust Company through “at least February 2024.” Customers will be able to redeem their funds in USD and …

Popular crypto wallet provider MetaMask warned investors against ongoing phishing attempts by scammers attempting to contact users through NameCheap’s third-party upstream system for emails. On the evening of Feb. 12, web hosting company NameCheap detected the misuse of one of its third-party services for sending some unauthorized emails — which directly targeted MetaMask users. Namecheap described the incident as an "email gateway issue." ⚠️MetaMask does not collect KYC info and will never email you about your account! Do not enter your Secret Recovery Phrase on a website EVER. If you got an email today from MetaMask or Namecheap or anyone …

Recently reported planned enforcement action against Paxos by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over Binance USD (BUSD) has many in the community questioning how the regulator could see a stablecoin as a security. Blockchain lawyers told Cointelegraph said that while the answer isn't black and white, there exists an argument for it if the stablecoin was issued out in the expectation of profits or are derivative of securities. A report from the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 12 revealed that the SEC is planning to sue Paxos Trust Company in relation to its issuance of Binance USD, …

A crackdown by the United States securities regulator on crypto staking could have unintended consequences for decentralized finance (DeFi), according to the head of business development at Lido DAO. In a Feb. 13 Bloomberg report Jacob Blish, who leads business development at Lido's decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), said the most significant risk would be if the SEC eventually concluded that no U.S. citizen can interact with crypto staking services, including protocols. "The biggest risk I personally see as a U.S.-based person is if they come down and say you can no longer even interact with or contribute to these types …

Eddy Alexandre, CEO of purported crypto trading platform EminiFX has pleaded guilty to commodities fraud in a New York district court, agreeing to pay back millions to investors who lost funds to his "cryptocurrency investment scam. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Feb. 10 that Alexandre submitted a guilty plea to one count of commodities fraud, and will pay over $248 million in forfeiture along with restitution yet to be specified. Alexandre was arrested and charged in May 2022 over his role in EminiFX and originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea on Feb. 10. He …