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As the Argentine economy is racked by record inflation, its people are turning to Bitcoin as a way to protect their economic security.

The Argentine Republic is currently experiencing the worst inflation rates in the world. The nation’s economy has experienced low levels of inflation, somewhere around 25%, for decades; yet the…

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Hong Kong is on the verge of a significant shift in the cryptocurrency market. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is expected to green-light spot bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) that allow for in-kind creations and redemptions as soon as the second quarter of this year. This development follows the applications from Harvest Global and Venture Smart Financial Holdings for a spot bitcoin ETF, after the SFC’s December announcement expressing openness to such financial products. Although none have been approved yet, experts believe approval is imminent.

The introduction of in-kind redemptions for these ETFs marks a departure from the cash-only redemptions seen in the U.S., offering advantages in terms of cost, taxes, and liquidity. This move is anticipated to have a substantial impact on the Asian cryptocurrency market, potentially directing significant investments into approved portfolios. The shift underscores a deeper familiarity with crypto assets in the region, compared to the U.S., and highlights the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investments globally.

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Today, a freelance developer focused on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, Super Testnet, unveiled his latest invention, Hedgehog, a protocol for asynchronous layer two bitcoin payments.

“This is a protocol similar to the Lightning Network,” Super Testnet stated. “And that it is a layer 2 for Bitcoin payments, only in this one, unlike the Lightning Network, the two parties don’t have to both be online, it’s asynchronous. One party can send the other money then they’re offline.”

One of the features of Hedgehog channels is its simplicity compared to lightning channels, according to the project’s Github. State updates in Hedgehog channels only require the sender to propose an update, which…

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The blockchain truly is a marvelous piece of technology. A mechanism to timestamp the order of digital information without needing to depend on a centralized operator. A decentralized mechanism with no one in charge, that provides undeniably cryptographic guarantees around what data was added to the temporal record in what order. This property is the entire reason Bitcoin is useful as a form of digital money, without it there would be no way for the system to function at all without a centralized authority.

All of these guarantees are provided by three simple technical building blocks: private/public key cryptography, merkle trees, and hash algorithms. Every Bitcoin block is just some…

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BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, announced plans to launch a tokenized money market fund on the public Ethereum blockchain. Analysts at Bernstein laud this decision, emphasizing its potential to elevate Ethereum’s status among smart contract platforms. The move signifies a shift towards broader interoperability and programmability in crypto, as opposed to the previous perception of crypto as mere “retail casinos.”

BlackRock’s fund, named the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), will invest in U.S. Treasury bills, repurchase agreements, and cash, aiming for liquidity and stability. This initiative not only enhances crypto’s legitimacy but also paves the way for traditional institutional investors to explore on-chain funds, offering benefits like 24/7 settlement, transparency, and reduced operating costs. With partners like Securitize and traditional custodians like BNY Mellon onboard, this venture signals a significant step towards merging traditional finance with the burgeoning crypto space.

BIGCAP COINS:

1. Pepe: Market Cap of $3.3 Billion.
2. Bitcoin: Market Cap of $1.3 Trillion.
3. Solana: Market Cap of $84.6 Billion.

MIDCAP COINS:

1. DEVAI: Market Cap of $7.9 Million.
2. Ondo: Market Cap of $1.3 Billion.
3. BOOK OF MEME: Market Cap of $753 Million.

RISING COINS:

1. pepeCoin: Market Cap of $569 Million.
2. Grok: Market Cap of $119 Million.
3. Pandora: Market Cap of $133 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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Vancouver, 25 March – In a significant boost to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network infrastructure in Southeast Asia, Neutronpay has announced the completion of a $1.5 million bridge funding round, led by Axiom Capital. This strategic infusion of capital is set to propel Neutronpay’s mission of delivering instant and low-cost payment solutions across the region, reinforcing its commitment to fostering an inclusive digital economy.

Allen Farrington stated on behalf of Axiom:

“We are delighted to continue to support Albert and the team as they prove out the utility of Lightning infrastructure in Southeast Asia. We expect to see a continued normalization of the superiority of the Lightning…

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Galaxy Digital, led by Mike Novogratz, turned its fortunes around by posting a $302 million net income in the last quarter, marking a significant rebound from a $94 million loss in the previous period. This 421% surge in earnings contrasts sharply with the $288 million net loss recorded at the end of 2022. The financial upswing reflects a robust performance across its lending, trading, mining, and banking sectors, fueled by rising cryptocurrency prices, especially bitcoin. By February’s end, the company boasted a pre-tax income of around $300 million for 2024, with assets under management topping $10 billion, including a $27 million investment in Celestia.

The firm also highlighted its mining success, reporting $18.7 million in revenue—a 31% increase from the last quarter—and producing 1,077 bitcoins at an average cost of under $8,000 each. Despite higher costs due to limited curtailment opportunities and increased network hashrate, Galaxy Digital’s strategic growth and market resilience have positioned it strongly in the evolving crypto landscape.

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