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Japan’s MicroStrategy Metaplanet To Raise $745M To Buy 21,000 Bitcoins

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Metaplanet, popular as Japan’s MicroStrategy, has announced a massive $745 million fundraising plan in an aggressive push to increase its Bitcoin holdings. Following MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin playbook, the Japanese firm has been raising funds and has acquired over 1,700 Bitcoin already over the past eight months. Additionally, the company also unveiled its 2025-2026 plan where it plans to acquire a total of 21,000 Bitcoins in the next two years.

Metaplanet Announces Historic ¥116 Billion Capital Raise for BTC Purchases

In the latest announcement, the Japanese firm issued 21 million shares of 0% discount moving strike warrants in a landmark capital raise, set to generate approximately ¥116 billion i.e. $745 million. Metaplanet declared that it would direct these funds towards additional Bitcoin purchases.

Just as MicroStrategy continues its Bitcoin buying spree with the latest 10,107 BTC purchase, the Japanese firm is making similar moves. Following the board meeting on January 28, the company approved the issuance of the 13th to 17th series of stock acquisition rights.

Furthermore, for this capital raise, the company has also entered into a Stock Issuance Rights Purchase Agreement with EVO FUND. The announcement came as Bitcoin price has once again caught the upward trajectory gaining 3.5% and moving past $102K levels again.

Japan’s MicroStrategy started adding Bitcoins to its balance sheet last year in May 2024. In the last eight months, it has successfully added 1762 BTC thereby triggering a massive surge in its stock price. The Metaplanet stock price continues to rise, soaring 3.10% on Tuesday to shoot 4,120 levels, and is up by 2,347% on the year chart.

2025-2026 Mega Bitcoin Buying Plan

Furthermore, Metaplanet, which identifies itself as a Bitcoin Treasury company has announced its mega plan for BTC purchases for the year 2025-2026. The company said that by the end of this year, it plans to increase its Bitcoin holdings by more than 5x to 10,000 BTC. Similarly, it also plans to double this holding in the next year to 21,000 BTC by the end of 2026. Speaking on the development, Simon Gerovich, Representative Director of Metaplanet said:

“Since adopting the Bitcoin Standard on April 8, 2024, Metaplanet has experienced exponential growth. The market has recognized Metaplanet as Tokyo’s preeminent Bitcoin company, and we are seizing this momentum to solidify our position as a global leader. Our vision is to lead the Bitcoin renaissance in Japan and emerge as one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holders globally. This plan is our commitment to that future.”

Key Milestones Achieved

The Japanese firm achieved some key milestones last year clocking a record-breaking 309.82% Bitcoin yield in Q4 2024, up from 41.7% in Q3 2024. Dylan LeClair, Director of Bitcoin Strategy at Metaplanet said:

“BTC Yield is the foundation of our strategy and the ultimate measure of our success. We don’t measure performance in fiat currencies like the yen or the dollar—our benchmark is Bitcoin itself”.

Furthermore, the company’s Bitcoin holdings currently stand at 1,761 BTC at an average purchase price of ¥11.85 million per Bitcoin. However, it already sitting on more than 100% profit as the current value of the holdings exceeds ¥27.7 billion.

Metaplanet shareholders surpassed 50,000, while share trading volume increased 430x year-over-year in JPY terms. Also, since adopting the BTC Standard in April 2024, the company’s market capitalization has surged by an extraordinary 7,000%. This puts that Japanese firm among the top 15 globally among publicly listed companies holding Bitcoin as of year-end 2024.

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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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DeepSeek AI Removed From Apple and Google Store In Italy

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The artificial intelligence application DeepSeek has been removed from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in Italy. Italian users attempting to download the app on Wednesday received messages stating that it was “currently not available in the country or area” on Apple’s platform and “not supported” on Google’s service.

Italy Restricts DeepSeek AI Amid Growing Data Privacy Concerns

According to a recent report, DeepSeek AI is unavailable on Apple and Google app stores in Italy. Despite this restriction, users who had previously installed the app can still access its services. The app remains available for download in other European Union countries and the United Kingdom.

The sudden removal of DeepSeek AI follows an inquiry by Italy’s data protection authority regarding the app’s data collection and storage practices. The regulator has asked DeepSeek to disclose the type of data collected, its sources, intended use, legal basis, and storage locations. The company has been given 20 days to respond.

Notably, the Chinese company recently gained widespread attention after surpassing ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store. The rapid growth of the AI application led to concerns among investors, triggering a sell-off in technology stocks. The app’s rise has been attributed to its claims of offering AI services at a lower cost than competitors.

The increasing adoption of DeepSeek has drawn scrutiny from regulators and competitors alike. The Italian data regulator, known for its active stance on AI oversight, has previously taken similar actions, including a temporary ban on ChatGPT in 2023.

OpenAI’s Allegations Against DeepSeek

In a parallel development, OpenAI has alleged that DeepSeek may have used its research and technology to develop its AI model. The accusations revolve around a process called knowledge distillation, which involves extracting insights from pre-existing AI models to improve performance at a reduced cost.

OpenAI has stated that Chinese and other foreign companies are consistently attempting to leverage the work of leading U.S. AI firms. Speaking to Fox News, White House AI and crypto czar, David Sacks added,

“There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models,” Mr Sacks said. I think one of the things you’re going to see over the next few months is our leading AI companies taking steps to try and prevent distillation. That would slow down some of these copycat models.”

US National Security Concerns

In addition, a recent CNN report highlighted that U.S. officials are evaluating the national security risks associated with DeepSeek’s expansion. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the National Security Council is examining the potential implications of the app’s rise.

The U.S. Navy has already taken precautionary measures by banning its personnel from using DeepSeek due to security and ethical concerns. The rapid emergence of DeepSeek AI has prompted discussions on regulatory oversight, competitive practices, and data security.

Additionally, to maintain a competitive edge, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Gov for U.S. agencies, ensuring secure AI use within Microsoft Azure. The platform enhances efficiency in tasks like policy drafting, data analysis, and cybersecurity. With over 90,000 government employees using ChatGPT since 2024, OpenAI aims to meet strict compliance standards.

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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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Ripple USD (RLUSD) Stablecoin Secures Another Listing; Releases Reserves Report

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Crypto payments firm Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has secured a listing on another crypto trading platform on Wednesday. High-leverage crypto exchange Margex now supports RLUSD alongside other stablecoin to offer users access to reliable and efficient trading solutions. Meanwhile, the crypto giant has also released a reserves report for the Ripple USD stablecoin.

Ripple’s RLUSD Gets Listed On Margex Crypto Exchange

Crypto trading platform Margex has announced listing RLUSD stablecoin among other stablecoin offerings, according to a press release on January 29. The exchange said it will be available as collateral for trading crypto pairs.

Users can now use RLUSD alongside other stablecoin offerings such as USDT, ensuring reliable and efficient crypto trading. Also, Ripple USD listing on its platform will help users achieve fast and secure cross-border payment globally. NYDFS-regulated Ripple stablecoin is a trusted stablecoin for trading crypto assets and payments, offering cheap and secure options for users. Interestingly, it can be used as a hedge during market fluctuations.

Margex Integrated TradingView Charting Tool

Margex also announced integrating TradingView’s Charting Tool. This will offer users more than 100 technical indicators, over 110 drawing tools and 17 chart types.

The platform also added Dogecoin (DOGE) instant withdrawal and deposit option. The platform’s existing instant withdrawal and deposit options include Kaspa (KAS) and Toncoin (TON).

RLUSD Supported Crypto Exchanges

Ripple’s regulated stablecoin RLUSD is listed on crypto platforms such as Bitstamp, Uphold, Bullish, Independent Reserve, Moonpay, Bitso, and Coinmena.

The company seeks listing on major crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance and Bybit. Ripple executives CEO Brad Garlinghouse and President Monica Long expect a massive increase in demand for its stablecoin in 2025.

Ripple USD Reserve Report

Meanwhile, RLUSD stablecoin remains pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio at press time. It is backed by a collateralized mechanism that includes dollar deposits, government bonds, and cash equivalents.

Ripple RLUSDRipple RLUSD
RLUSD Reserve Report

Standard Custody & Trust Company has released the RLUSD reserves report for December by accounting firm BPM. Until December 31, total market value of the reserves is $83.21 million. It has $30 million in US treasury bills, $30.11 million in government money-market funds, and $22.97 million in cash deposits, with accrued interest of $20,912.

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Varinder Singh

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At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting.

Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.

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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Senator Cynthia Lummis Accuses US SEC of Overreach In Coinbase Case

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Wyoming Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis has filed an amicus brief in Coinbase’s legal fight against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filing was made to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in connection with Coinbase’s appeal of the US SEC’s enforcement action against the exchange.

The SEC had sued Coinbase for allegedly running an unregistered trading platform, as well as an unregistered broker and clearing agency.

Senator Cynthia Lummis Says SEC Undermines Congress in Coinbase Lawsuit

In a recent brief, Senator Cynthia Lummis criticized the SEC for going beyond its mandate under the former chair, Gary Gensler. According to Lummis, the SEC’s actions went against Congress’s mandate in regulating cryptocurrencies. She also accused the agency of using its regulatory power to re-interpret securities laws and go after digital asset trading platforms without an act of Congress.

Lummis stressed that the role of Congress is to provide a clear legal framework for the regulation of digital assets in legislation. She stated that the SEC’s approach to regulation was unconstitutional. It violated the checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches.

This comes only days after Senator Cynthia Lummis was voted to head the Senate’s Digital Assets Subcommittee. She wants to set guidelines on cryptocurrencies and make Bitcoin part of the financial system in the United States. Senator Cynthia Lummis stressed that the country should act quickly to retain the leading position in financial innovation.

In 2023, the SEC brought a lawsuit against Coinbase alleging the company was operating as an unregistered exchange, broker and clearing agency. The top crypto exchange, called for the dismissal of the SEC lawsuit, accusing the regulator of overreaching in its application of securities laws. The case was since transferred to the U.S. Court of Appeals after a district court granted Coinbase the permission.

In her brief, Senator Cynthia Lummis claimed that what the SEC was doing was a form of “legislation by enforcement.” She pointed out that it is Congress, not the US SEC, that can define crypto regulations.

However, despite the ongoing SEC lawsuit, the top crypto exchange continues its global expansion. Coinbase secured a VASP license in Argentina, reinforcing its commitment to regulated growth. Matías Alberti will lead operations, aiming to strengthen the platform’s presence in the region.

Judicial Oversight on SEC’s Authority

Additionally, Lummis highlighted the need for the judiciary to intervene in cases involving the SEC’s enforcement of digital asset regulations. She stressed that the Second Circuit Court should provide clarity on when digital assets qualify as securities. This ruling, according to Senator Cynthia Lummis, could have effects on ongoing cases, including lawsuits against other exchanges.

The brief also noted that the Congress is in the process of drafting legislation that will help solve the issues. Senator Cynthia Lummis pointed to her work with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on a bill that would help to define the jurisdictions of the SEC and the CFTC with regard to cryptocurrencies.

With Gary Gensler leaving the office of SEC Chair, the agency’s approach to regulating crypto is likely to change. Recently, the Acting Chair, Mark Uyeda unveiled plans to form a new crypto task force to work towards achieving reasonable crypto regulations.

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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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