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Crypto Firm Abra To Return $82 Million To Users In US Settlement

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Cryptocurrency firm Abra has reached a settlement with 25 US state financial regulators for operating a cryptocurrency company without state licenses. The states took collective action against the firm, its subsidiaries, and CEO William Barhydt. The firm will return about $82 million worth of digital assets to customers.

Abra Enters Settlement With 25 States

In a June 26 press statement, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) announced the settlement following the collective action taken against ABRA and its CEO. According to the release, state financial regulators from Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Vermont, etc carried out an investigation and discovered Abra carried out crypto services which included buying, selling, and investing without a license. 

Charlie Clark CSBS Chair reiterated the obligation of state regulators to protect financial consumers and investigate firms.

State financial regulators take their role to protect consumers and prevent unlicensed activity seriously. Companies that do not operate within the bounds of state laws will be held accountable.”  

As part of the agreement, Barhydt will be barred from participating in any capacity in the business in states where the settlement occurred. However, he can become a passive investor.

Company To Refund Customers

Per the settlement, Abra will refund digital assets in its platform for US Abra Trade customers. This will lead to about $82.1 million in crypto assets returned to users in states involved in the settlement.

Once the remaining virtual assets are returned pursuant to the settlement terms, up to $82.1 million will be paid back to consumers. The investigation and settlement took place in conjunction with a separate investigation by state securities regulators.”

Timi facilitates user repayments, states involved agreed to waive the fine of $250,000 per jurisdiction as penalties for operating the platform with the required license. This adds to the list of US regulatory cases in the United States as authorities ramp up efforts citing consumer protection.

Also Read: Are Spot Ethereum ETFs Set To Launch In 14 Days Post S-1 Amendments?

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David is a finance news contributor with 4 years of experience in Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies. He is interested in learning about emerging technologies and has an eye for breaking news. Staying updated with trends, David reported in several niches including regulation, partnerships, crypto assets, stocks, NFTs, etc. Away from the financial markets, David goes cycling and horse riding.

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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Toncoin (TON) v Cardano (ADA): On-chain Data Show Gains

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The crypto market fluctuations continue to dominate the market while assets like Toncoin and Cardano move away from bearish sentiments. In the past week, most top assets traded sideways after exits recorded by institutional investors in the market. The status quo saw Bitcoin (BTC) price hovering around $61,000 before attempts at a rebound.

Toncoin and Cardano have shown promise ahead of the market outpacing top crypto assets by market capitalization. At press time, the market cap slumped 1.42% to $2.29 trillion with Bitcoin and Ethereum posting 24-hour losses. Major drivers of TON and ADA prices are bullish on-chain factors and key industry developments.

Toncoin Leads Asset Gainers 

Toncoin soared 4.5% in the last 24 hours, leaving the wider market in the dust and adding to its recovery numbers. In the last seven days, TON moved up 8% wiping out previous losses. While most monthly numbers dropped for most assets, TON continued to soar hitting 22%. The asset flipped Dogecoin to become the 8th largest crypto by market cap inching closer to a new all-time high. 

TON price stands at $8.05 taking its market cap to $19.8 billion while volumes are up 57% today. Last month, Toncoin tapped a new all-time high at $8.24 and remains 2.37% behind the mark. With rising bullish interest, some users expect the asset to break that level. 

Toncoin recorded traction as Kazakhstan exchanges began trading the asset following regulatory approval. Similarly, Pantera Capital also increased its investment in Toncoin. 

Cardano Attracts Growth 

The community dubbed ETH killer jumped 3.5%  to trade at $0.418 pushing its market capitalization to $14.9 billion. Weekly numbers were up 6% while daily trading volumes saw a slight increase. Overall, ADA’s recent bullish following anticipated network upgrades and a rise in on-chain volumes. The asset is tipped by bulls to breach the current resistance level despite market fluctuations. 

Also Read: Why Are Ethereum Institutional Products Depleting Before ETF Launch?

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David is a finance news contributor with 4 years of experience in Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies. He is interested in learning about emerging technologies and has an eye for breaking news. Staying updated with trends, David reported in several niches including regulation, partnerships, crypto assets, stocks, NFTs, etc. Away from the financial markets, David goes cycling and horse riding.

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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Ripple and Coinbase Use Binance Win to Contest SEC Claims

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Coinbase and Ripple Labs are using Binance’s pivotal legal victory to challenge ongoing cases with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Both companies argue that the SEC’s approach needs more clarity and consistency, necessitating formal rulemaking to better define the regulatory perimeter for digital assets.

Ripple, Coinbase Cite Binance Case Against SEC

Ripple Labs and Coinbase have intensified their legal defenses by referencing a recent court order involving Binance, which achieved a partial dismissal in its SEC lawsuit. The companies argue that this precedent highlights the need for the SEC to establish clear regulations. In its latest court filing, Ripple emphasized the judge’s remark that cryptocurrency does not align seamlessly with existing securities laws, such as those established by the 1946 Howey Test. This test is crucial for determining whether a transaction qualifies as an investment contract and thus falls under securities regulation.

 

Coinbase has concurrently voiced concerns over the SEC’s expansive interpretation of securities laws applied to the crypto industry. The exchange asserts that this broad application could be more extensive and better defined, pushing for a definitive rulemaking process to provide legal clarity. In its appeal, Coinbase cited the recent Binance ruling to bolster its case for rulemaking, arguing that the decision underscores the inconsistencies in current regulatory applications.

 

Also Read: Bybit Exchange Unveils Support For ASI Alliance, Will FET Rebound?

Coinbase Demands Clarity in SEC Regulatory Battle

The SEC has engaged with various cryptocurrency platforms and assets, deeming some of their operations as securities offerings without proper registration. In the case of Ripple, the SEC’s lawsuit initiated in December 2020 alleged that Ripple raised over $1.3 billion through sales of its XRP token, which the SEC classified as an unregistered security. However, in a significant turn, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that certain “programmatic sales” of XRP did not constitute securities transactions, introducing a nuanced interpretation Ripple now seeks to leverage to challenge broader SEC claims.

 

Coinbase faces similar regulatory scrutiny. The SEC argues that the platform operated as an unregistered securities exchange, a claim that Coinbase refutes, urging a formal rulemaking process to clarify these regulatory boundaries. Both Coinbase and Ripple use recent judicial outcomes, notably the Binance case, to argue for a more structured and transparent regulatory framework from the SEC, stressing that the current state of affairs is inefficient and unclear.

Crypto Firms Rally Around Binance Court Decision

The partial victory for Binance in its own SEC lawsuit has become a strategic reference point for other crypto entities embroiled in legal challenges with the regulator. Despite Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s decision to proceed with most of the SEC’s claims against Binance, her dismissal of the charge regarding secondary sales of Binance Coin (BNB) as securities has been perceived as a significant legal precedent. Coinbase and Ripple have particularly highlighted this aspect of the ruling in their ongoing litigation.

 

Further developments are anticipated, with a scheduled conference for the SEC’s case against Binance set for July 9. Meanwhile, Coinbase and Ripple continue to press for regulatory clarity, which they argue is crucial for the industry’s stability and growth.

 

Also Read: Genesis Digital Is Considering Going Public Via IPO In US: Report

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Maxwell is a crypto-economic analyst and Blockchain enthusiast, passionate about helping people understand the potential of decentralized technology. I write extensively on topics such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, tokens, and more for many publications. My goal is to spread knowledge about this revolutionary technology and its implications for economic freedom and social good.

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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Forced BTC Selling By Bitcoin Miners to Continue As Network Fees Collapse 90%

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According to the latest report from Kaiko Research, forced selling by Bitcoin Miners is likely to continue ahead amid reduced rewards and lower network fees. Over the past two months following the Bitcoin halving event, Bitcoin miners have been divesting their holdings to cover their operation expenses.

Bitcoin Network Fees Tank By 90%

As per the Kaiko report, the Bitcoin network fees have collapsed by 90% in the last six months. While the Bitcoin network fee was $45 in January 2024, it has not come down to an average between $3 to $5.

Soon after the Bitcoin halving event, the network fees surged all the way to $150 for a very short period of time amid the massive surge in the NFT minting taking place on the Bitcoin blockchain. This was a short-term respite to the Bitcoin miners before the network fees headed significantly downwards.

Bitcoin miners are also facing growing pressure as block rewards have dropped from 6.25 BTC before halving, to 3.125 BTC post halving. On the other hand, mining costs have surged as the demand for computational power has increased.

At the same time, the Bitcoin price remaining almost flat and showing sideways consolidation has added to further woes. Also, there’s less bullish optimism among retailers or institutions with inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs dropping significantly in comparison to the first quarter.

With the BTC price receiving little stimulus from other ends, the Bitcoin miners will have no option but to sell more of their holdings.

Also Read: Europe’s Bitcoin Mining Giant Northern Data Eyes A US IPO

Here’s How Bitcoin Miners Are Coping Up

Kaiko reported that one of the largest Bitcoin miners – Marathon Digital – had to sell 390 BTC during the months of May and plans for additional sales to stabilize its operations. This could push the BTC price even lower if other miners join the bandwagon. Currently, the immediate support for Bitcoin on the downside is $60,000. Losing this can trigger a BTC price drop to $57,000 and $54,000 subsequently.

Also Read: Bitcoin Price Slips Below $63K As Entity Dumps $114M BTC To Binance

Amid the Bitcoin mining profitability sinking, players like Marathon Digital also resorted to mining other PoW cryptocurrencies like Kaspa (KAS).

Kaiko also predicts that financial pressures will lead to mergers among miners aiming to streamline operations and enhance profitability. This trend of consolidation is expected to persist as the effects of Bitcoin halving continue to impact the industry.

For instance, Riot Blockchain attempted a hostile takeover of Bitfarms Ltd., illustrating the consolidation trend. Similarly, CleanSpark Inc. recently announced an all-stock acquisition of Griid Infrastructure Inc. for $155 million.

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Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.

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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