LATEST: Hong Kong Greenlights Bitcoin & Ethereum ETF

Hong Kong has taken a significant step forward in the cryptocurrency market by approving several applications for Bitcoin and Ethereum spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). The green light from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission allows China Asset Management, Bosera Capital, and HashKey Capital Limited to offer ETFs that investors can subscribe to using Bitcoin and Ethereum directly. This move positions Hong Kong as a leading financial hub in the evolving digital asset landscape.

Additionally, Harvest Global Investments has received principal approval from the commission for their Bitcoin and Ethereum digital asset spot ETFs. These developments are seen as a major endorsement of cryptocurrency’s potential and viability as a financial asset. By integrating digital currencies into traditional financial structures, Hong Kong is setting a precedent that could potentially influence global markets and regulatory approaches to cryptocurrencies.

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NEW: 540K+ New Cryptocurrencies Debut in 2024’s Start, CoinGecko Reports

Over half a million new altcoins have flooded the market from January to April 2024, highlighting a robust expansion in the cryptocurrency sector. According to CoinGecko, a leading crypto data aggregator, their recent analysis shows that 540,000 new tokens debuted this year, averaging 5,300 daily launches. This surge, powered by a revived interest in memecoins since late February, pushed March’s figures to a staggering 195,735 new tokens. The cumulative count of cryptocurrencies since December 31, 2021, now stands at 2.52 million, including both active projects and those no longer in circulation, marking a significant increase from the 440,000 recorded at the end of that year.

The continual innovation in blockchain technology and the reduced costs of on-chain transactions are setting the stage for potentially even larger waves of new tokens, especially memecoins. CoinGecko anticipates that the number of new cryptocurrencies could surpass the previous year’s total of 830,000, given the current pace. This trend underscores a growing enthusiasm for blockchain technologies and speculative trading within the crypto community, suggesting a flourishing future for the digital asset market.

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Top Trending Crypto Coins of The Day

BIGCAP COINS:

  1. Bitcoin: Market Cap of $1.2 Trillion.
  2. Pepe: Market Cap of $3.0 Billion.
  3. Solana: Market Cap of $61.7 Billion.

MIDCAP COINS:

  1. HashAI: Market Cap of $112 Million.
  2. cat in a dogs world: Market Cap of $272 Million.
  3. Hooked Protocol: Market Cap of $122 Million.

RISING COINS:

  1. BOBO: Market Cap of $101 Million.
  2. Andy: Market Cap of $65.4 Million.
  3. Pandora: Market Cap of $64.8 Million.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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Crypto Hiring: Chainalysis enlists high-level IRS veteran

Jim Lee, who spent nearly three decades at the Internal Revenue Service, has departed the agency to take up a role titled global head of capacity building at blockchain research firm Chainalysis.

Lee was most recently the head of IRS Criminal Investigation. 

“Crypto is the future of finance, which also means it’s the future of crime,” read a header from Lee’s introductory blurb. 

While leading IRS-CI, Lee helped take down the dark web marketplace Hydra, seized crypto being used to finance Hamas and helped take down Welcome to Video, a crypto-based child exploitation site, Lee said. 

Read more: All fraud will eventually be ‘crypto fraud.’ And that’s okay.

“[B]y…

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Asia’s Growing Impact on the Bitcoin Market

Asia’s financial markets are increasingly embracing Bitcoin, signaling a significant shift in the cryptocurrency sector. Hong Kong is leading the charge by approving Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), a move likely to enhance Bitcoin’s legitimacy and accessibility to investors.

South Korea is not far behind, with plans to approve Bitcoin ETFs, indicating a growing interest and acceptance in the region. Additionally, Chinese fund managers are launching their own Bitcoin ETFs, expanding the investment landscape for digital currencies in Asia.

The introduction of US Bitcoin ETFs has had a remarkable impact on the market, contributing to a surge in Bitcoin’s price from $38K to $73K. This rise underscores the bullish sentiment permeating the market, suggesting that the current bull market is just gaining momentum, driven by global acceptance and institutional investment.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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Funding Wrap: Monad raises $225M, Berachain bags $100M in big week for L1s

For venture capitalists looking for significant returns on their crypto investments, layer-1 blockchains that are compatible with Ethereum’s software are a pretty popular bet. 

This week, two layer-1 blockchains compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) secured significant funding. Monad, which is developing a parallel EVM, raised $225 million in a round led by Paradigm.

Meanwhile, Berachain, an EVM-compatible layer-1 built with Cosmos’ software development kit (SDK), closed a $100 million Series B funding round co-led by Brevan Howard Digital’s Abu Dhabi branch and Framework Ventures.

Read more: Paradigm leads $225M round for high-throughput blockchain Monad

Monad’s…

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LATEST: Amid Crypto Downturn, Samson Mow Stands Firmly Bullish on Bitcoin

Despite recent dramatic falls in the cryptocurrency market, Samson Mow, a prominent advocate for Bitcoin’s long-term potential, steadfastly upholds a bullish view. Bitcoin recently plunged to $60,660, the lowest in nearly a month, losing 14% amid global geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, altcoins saw even steeper declines, with the TOTAL 2 index reflecting a 22% drop in value. Amid this sharp downturn, Mow’s unwavering support underscores a bright forecast for Bitcoin, positing that the cryptocurrency is poised for considerable growth.

As the market begins to stabilize, Bitcoin is demonstrating signs of recovery, trading at $63,950 with a 5.22% increase from its recent trough. This rebound comes just as the cryptocurrency community braces for the upcoming Bitcoin halving, an event that introduces further complexity to the price trajectory. Mow’s optimism in these uncertain times offers a hopeful perspective to investors, suggesting resilience and a robust future for Bitcoin despite current volatility.

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Check Out the Top Crypto Gainers of the Day

$1M – $10M MarketCap:

  1. PolkaBridge (PBR): 73%
  2. NALS (NALS): 30%
  3. Planet Mojo (MOJO): 20%
  4. Honk (HONK): 7.7%
  5. zkLend (ZEND): 6.3%

$10M – $100M MarketCap:

  1. lmeow (LMEOW): 89%
  2. GAM3S.GG (G3): 53%
  3. Xend Finance (RWA): 18%
  4. Onomy Protocol (NOM): 16%
  5. Truflation (TRUF): 15%

$100M – $1B MarketCap:

  1. Slerf (SLERF): 29%
  2. Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BVM): 23%
  3. Zeus Network (ZEUS): 17%
  4. BinaryX (BNX): 15%
  5. Guild of Guardians (GOG): 13%

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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Percentage of Annual Salary Needed to Buy 1 Bitcoin

Owning a single Bitcoin has become a significant investment compared to the average annual salaries around the world. In the United Kingdom, it would take 191% of an average yearly income to buy one Bitcoin. The United States sees a lower but still substantial figure at 122%.

Canadian buyers would need to spend almost twice their annual earnings, with the cost of one Bitcoin sitting at 197% of their average salary. Across Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore residents would need to dedicate 137% and 124% of their annual salaries, respectively, while in Japan, the cost soars to 257%.

Australians would require 159% of their average yearly income for a single Bitcoin. In contrast, Switzerland offers the most affordability among the listed countries, demanding 86% of an average salary. The United Arab Emirates sits in the mid-range at 161%.

South Korea features one of the highest percentages, with 235% of an average annual salary needed to purchase one Bitcoin, demonstrating the significant financial commitment required to invest in this cryptocurrency across different regions.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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LATEST: Ripple CTO Anticipates DeFi Boost with New XRPL Lending Protocol

David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, recently voiced strong support for a groundbreaking lending protocol slated for introduction on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This endorsement is particularly notable given Schwartz’s role in developing the ledger itself. The proposal, crafted by Aanchal Malhotra, head of research at RippleX, and developer Vito Tumas, aims to infuse the ledger with new functionalities, specifically enhancing its decentralized exchange (DEX). According to Schwartz, the adoption of this protocol could transform the DEX into a cornerstone of accessible, efficient, and transparent financial services.

The mechanism of the proposed system allows users to deposit fungible tokens like XRP, wBTC, and wETH into a lending pool, earning interest on their contributions. Transactions between borrowers and pool delegates would be negotiated off-chain, with agreements subsequently recorded on the ledger, ensuring transparency and security. This initiative is also poised to benefit developers by simplifying the integration of lending applications into XRPL, thus expanding its utility and fostering a wider array of use cases.

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