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Citigroup Executive Steps Down To Explore Crypto

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3 months ago

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Citigroup executive Shobhit Maini has resigned from his post as the global head of digital assets in the bank’s markets division. Maini, a Citigroup veteran of more than 14 years, has given notice to the company to take up an “entrepreneurial opportunity in the digital asset space.”

Citigroup Executive Steps Down

Citigroup executive Shobhit Maini has decided to resign from his role as the global head of digital assets in the bank’s markets unit. 

As reported in the memo from Lee Smallwood, the head of markets innovation and investments at Citigroup, Maini is stepping down to pursue entrepreneurial projects in the cryptocurrency sector.

After the departure of Maini, Deepak Mehra, the international lead for markets strategic investments at Citigroup, will take over the leadership of the digital assets team. This appointment suggests a smooth transition and Citi’s continuing interest in developing and adopting blockchain technology.

Citigroup’s Blockchain Initiatives

During his tenure at the bank, the Citigroup executive has been piloting the tokenization of private equity funds using the blockchain. In February, Citigroup said it had conducted a trial proving that a blockchain system could tokenise a private equity fund. This test was a part of a larger strategic plan that the bank had embarked upon to transform its operations and expand its presence in the digital assets ecosystem.

The test involved working with Wellington Management and WisdomTree, thus underlining the bank’s efforts to incorporate blockchain into the traditional financial industry. 

This move under the Citigroup executive is consistent with the bank’s objective to move into digital assets, which the company demonstrated when it introduced a service in September that converts customers’ deposits into tokens for cross-border transactions.

Challenges and Controversies

While the bank has been pushing forward with its blockchain initiatives, the bank has faced challenges, including accusations of money laundering activities. A June report cited that drug traffickers allegedly used Citibank ATMs to launder money, exploiting perceived weaknesses in the bank’s oversight.

According to the report, two individuals from California, who are believed to be associated with the Sinaloa drug cartel, made several cash deposits into Citibank ATMs. These transactions raised questions on the dynamics of the bank’s anti-money laundering policies.

The bank, nonetheless, argued that it has adequate measures to monitor and disclose any suspicious transactions and it always offers its full assistance to the authorities in their investigations.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi

Kelvin is a distinguished writer specializing in crypto and finance, backed by a Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science. Recognized for incisive analysis and insightful content, he has an adept command of English and excels at thorough research and timely delivery.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Donald Trump’s Victory Odds Fall, Here’s How Bitcoin and Altcoins React

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53 mins ago

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November 2, 2024

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As per the data from Polymarket, Donald Trump’s chances of a presidential victory dropped by a strong 4.5% just three days before the announcement of the results. As a result, Bitcoin and altcoins in the broader crypto market have taken a pause in any directional move unless things become clear further.

Donald Trump Loses Majority In Swing States

Over the past week, former President Trump held the victory odds strongly to more than 60% per the Polymarket data. However, on Friday evening, these numbers dropped by 4 percentage points. At 58.1% now, Donald Trump still maintains a lead by 16 percentage points over his rival and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

The two states where Harris is once again gaining ground over Trump are Wisconsin and Michigan. However, he holds a formidable lead in other states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Georgia.

Just over the last two days, Donald Trump’s winning percentage numbers have dropped ten odd percentage points. Investors have already taken massive bets over the rising victory odds of Donald Trump over the past month. However, this recent swing can bring some jitters across the investor community.

As per the latest WSJ report a French user is betting more than $38 million on Donald Trump’s victory while stating that he has no political motive. The user identified himself as a French national who previously lived in the United States and worked as a bank trader. If Trump wins, the user stands to gain over $80 million, but a Kamala Harris victory could mean a total or significant loss.

Bitcoin and Altcoins Take a Pause

Following the surge to $73,000 earlier this week, the Bitcoin price plunged on the last day of October to settle under $70,000. However, yesterday’s correction dragged the altcoins even lower with ETH, SOL, XRP, and others falling by even greater percentage points.

Bitcoin speculators are increasingly drawn to leveraged futures positions as anticipation builds around the upcoming U.S. election. Meanwhile, data reveals that approximately 180,000 BTC previously held by long-term holders have shifted, de-risking into the hands of significant ETF buyers.

This trend indicates a cautious but active repositioning among seasoned investors, balancing speculative and long-term strategies in the lead-up to the election. For the first time in the last eight trading sessions, the total inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs turned negative as victory chances for Donald Trump dropped further. The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF IBIT has been dominating the inflows over the past two weeks, with total inflows crossing $26 billion in a significant milestone.

The Ethereum price took a dive under $2,500 with top traders like Peter Brandt predicting further crash. However, if the bulls support the levels of $2,480, we could witness a rebound from here. As of press time, the ETH price is trading at $2,509 with a market cap of $302 billion.

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Bhushan Akolkar

Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast with a keen understanding of financial markets. His interest in economics and finance has led him to focus on emerging Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Judge Grants More Time For US Government To Negotiate FTX Donation Return

Published

5 hours ago

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November 2, 2024

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A U.S. federal judge has granted the government additional time to negotiate the return of up to $13.25 million in political donations made by former FTX executives Sam Bankman-Fried and Nishad Singh. Judge Lewis Kaplan, presiding over the case, approved the government’s request to extend negotiations with various political action committees (PACs) until January 15, 2025. 

The US government is working to reclaim funds that Bankman-Fried and Singh donated to Democrat-aligned PACs and liberal advocacy groups before FTX’s collapse.

US Government Pushes PACs For Return of $13.25M in Donations from FTX’s Executives

In a recent court filing, the US government formally requested more time to negotiate with political action committees (PACs) that received donations linked to Sam Bankman-Fried and Nishad Singh. Judge Lewis Kaplan approved the request, allowing the US until January 15, 2025, to continue its discussions.

The PACs in question, including the Senate Majority PAC, Emily’s List/Women Vote, and the Future Forward PAC, are largely Democrat-aligned organizations. The US government is seeking the return of funds contributed in the names of Bankman-Fried and Singh, which reportedly total $13.25 million. 

According to testimony, Singh stated he made some donations at Bankman-Fried’s instruction, even signing blank checks used for political contributions.

Court Filing Details Negotiation Efforts with PACs

The court documents indicate that the government is currently negotiating with several PACs to determine the forfeitability of the donations received. The Future Forward PAC, which reportedly received $1 million in Singh’s name and $5 million from Bankman-Fried, and GMI PAC, which received $2 million, are among those targeted in the recovery efforts. Senate Majority PAC and Women Vote were also recipients, with donations amounting to $2 million and $2.25 million, respectively.

These negotiations follow broader efforts by the US government to address donations tied to FTX executives amid allegations of fraudulent activity by Bankman-Fried and his associates. Several political organizations have reportedly returned funds previously donated by the executives, while others have redirected the money to charitable causes.

As part of the ongoing investigation, Bankman-Fried’s former colleague Nishad Singh recently received a sentence of time served and three years of supervised release. Nishad will avoid prison after providing testimony against Bankman-Fried.

The case has drawn attention to the legal considerations around political contributions from sources facing allegations of financial misconduct. 

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Ronny Mugendi

Ronny Mugendi is a seasoned crypto journalist with four years of professional experience, having contributed significantly to various media outlets on cryptocurrency trends and technologies. With over 4000 published articles across various media outlets, he aims to inform, educate and introduce more people to the Blockchain and DeFi world. Outside of his journalism career, Ronny enjoys the thrill of bike riding, exploring new trails and landscapes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Craig Wright Faces Contempt Charges After Suing Block

Published

9 hours ago

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November 1, 2024

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Australian computer scientist and self-described Bitcoin founder Craig Wright has taken to the courts once again, this time filing a $1.18 billion lawsuit against Block, a payment company owned by Jack Dorsey.

Wright – who spuriously claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto – is accused of contempt of court by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance – COPA. It is the same group that, earlier this year, provided “overwhelming” evidence Wright did not invent Bitcoin.

“Faketoshi” Craig Wright Held in Contempt Again

An Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, who has said he invented Bitcoin, is accused of contempt of court on Friday. He filed a $1.18B lawsuit against Block, the company founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, in a British court.

Wright insists that he authored the original, 16 years old Bitcoin whitepaper, a work published under the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto.” However, the court ruled that there was “overwhelming evidence” showing that Wright didn’t write the foundational 2008 document.

The Crypto Open Patent Alliance sued Craig Wright to prevent him from suing Bitcoin developers. Following a weeklong trial at London’s High Court, a judge ruled in May that Wright had lied “extensively and repeatedly.” The court also ruled Wright forged documents “on a grand scale.”

In July, the judge referred Wright to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether he should be put under perjury charges. The court also issued an injunction against Wright from initiating any legal action based on his claim to be Satoshi.

Denying the Document Forgery

Craig Wright is appealing a decision of the High Court. It found him to have lied and forged documents purporting his claim to be the creator of Bitcoin. A decision as to whether he will be allowed an appeal has yet to be decided.

In his testimony in February, Mr Wright denied the forgery of the documents. However, during a preliminary hearing on Friday, the COPA lawyer, Jonathan Hough, said that Wright breached the court’s injunction by filing a lawsuit against Square Up Europe Limited, a Block subsidiary, earlier this month. Wright attended the hearing via videolink from Singapore and didn’t have legal representative.

Craig Wright has said that he doesn’t believe he is in contempt of court over the Block case. He indicated that he would amend his lawsuit, if found in contempt, to make clear it has “nothing to do with the ownership of the creation of the system.” Whether Wright was in contempt will be clear at a hearing set for December. In the meantime, his suit against Block will stay active until then.

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Teuta

Teuta is a seasoned writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in macroeconomics, technology, and the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries. Starting her career in 2005 as a lifestyle writer for Cosmopolitan in Croatia, she expanded into covering business and economy for several esteemed publications like Forbes and Bloomberg. Influenced by figures like Don Tapscott and Bruce Dickinson, Teuta embraced the blockchain revolution, believing crypto to be one of humanity’s most crucial inventions. Her fintech involvement began in 2014, focusing on crypto, blockchain, NFTs, and Web3. Known for her excellent teamwork and communication skills, Teuta holds a double MA in Political Science and Law, enjoys punk rock, chablis, and has a passion for shoes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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