HTX’s Justin Sun claims record profits despite staff cuts

Chinese blockchain personality Justin Sun, who also serves as the de facto owner of crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi Global), claims that the firm posted a profit of $98 million in Q3 2023.

According to the October 26 thread, Sun says that HTX generated a total of $202 million in revenues during the quarter, which was offset by $104 million in expenses, leaving a total profit of $98 million. For Q4 2023, Sun projects that HTX will generate $190 million in revenue, along with $88 million in expenditure, for an estimated profit of $104 million.

“The entire third quarter was a severe quarter for the industry,” said Sun, mentioning that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s high interest rates led to…

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Kraken Begins Notifying Customers It Will Send Their Data to the IRS This November

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is sending a letter to clients notifying them that after losing a lengthy court case, they will need to turn over sensitive data to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after a legal battle that began in May 2021.

Surfacing on Reddit this week, the letter follows a summons from the IRS, and is part of an ongoing effort by tax authorities to access information related to cryptocurrency transactions.

The IRS had initially demanded a range of records and data related to Kraken’s U.S. clients. In response, Kraken objected to the demands, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining client privacy. The exchange engaged in a lengthy litigation process to challenge the…

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Bitcoin is evolving into a multi-asset network

For more than a decade, the primary narratives surrounding Bitcoin (BTC) have focused on its role as a peer-to-peer digital cash and store of value.

However, all indications suggest that we are witnessing a significant shift in this paradigm.

Since the beginning of 2023, one of the most discussed topics in the Bitcoin ecosystem has been the use of the world’s leading blockchain to store information that goes beyond the previously mentioned use cases.

Related: Bitcoin fragments could become more valuable than full Bitcoins

If you have been isolated in an igloo during this crypto winter and are unaware of the developments, here is a brief overview.

In January 2023, developer Casey Rodamor…

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SBF grilled in court on deleted messages during testimony

Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) tried to explain his rationale for deleting corporate messages during a closed-door testimony without the presence of the trial’s jury on Oct. 26.

When prompted as to why he started using corporate communications on the encrypted messaging app Signal by prosecutor Danielle Sassoon of the Southern District of New York, SBF claimed that he only did so with the approval of FTX counsel Daniel Friedberg. However, SBF later said that while counsel approved the use of Signal, he never sought prior approval before utilizing the app’s auto-delete feature.

“At some point I remember changing my toggle to one week auto delete,” the former crypto executive…

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Latest update — Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried trial [Day 13]

Cointelegraph reporters are on the ground in New York for the trial of former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried. As the saga unfolds, check below for the latest updates.

Oct. 26: Prosecutors rest their case

Attendees of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial on Oct. 26 had a disappointing morning as attorneys from both sides kept an endless cycle of repeated questions, sidebars and objections, prompting District Court Judge Kaplan to interrupt witness testimony and urge attorneys to move forward.

Prosecutors rested their case early this morning after FBI agent Mark Troiano briefly testified as the last government witness. In his analysis, more than 300 Signal groups with Bankman-Fried were examined….

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Solana Labs plans to grow ecosystem through new incubator program

Solana Labs has launched an incubator program to help scale startups interested in building on its network.

This incubator program is designed to support teams interested in building on the Solana network by providing engineering and go-to-market support. 

Solana has a total value locked (TVL) of $1.254 billion and around 114 dapps deployed on its network today, according to information on DeFiLlama.

Emon Motamedi, a product manager at Solana Labs, told Blockworks that blockchain development remains a challenge for many startups wanting to build in the space. 

“Whether you are a Web2 founder looking to integrate Web3, a Web3 founder trying to bring your product cross-chain, or a…

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Sam Bankman-Fried thought ‘taking FTX deposits through Alameda was legal’: Report

Former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried addressed a New York courtroom under oath without the 12-member jury present.

According to reports from the courtroom on Oct. 26, SBF’s highly anticipated testimony kicked off with defense attorney Mark Cohen questioning the former FTX CEO on his use of the messaging app Signal and retention of communications data at the crypto exchange. Bankman-Fried reportedly claimed he acted in accordance with company policies on records, and none of the media set to “auto-delete” were “channels for decisions.”

“Why did you turn off auto-delete?” Cohen asked Bankman-Fried.“I had heard from regulators,” he replied.

Cohen pressed the former FTX…

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LayerZero’s wstETH bridge deployment draws Lido DAO ire

LayerZero recently introduced a bridge token allowing users to move Lido’s $5.5 billion wrapped staked ether (wstETH) token between Ethereum, Avalanche, BNB, and Scroll. 

There was one small problem, however: LayerZero apparently didn’t wait for Lido DAO’s permission before deployment.

LayerZero’s announcement of its omnichain fungible token (OFT) before a DAO vote led some Lido DAO members to feel that the DAO is being strong-armed into approval. While Lido DAO’s power has been a subject of concern lately, one member says the DAO has limited leverage to prevent situations like this one.

LayerZero announced its wstETH standard on Wednesday, and Binance’s BNB chain followed…

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Lummis, Hill push for ‘swift’ DOJ action against Binance, Tether 

Senator Cynthia Lummis and Rep. French Hill penned a letter to US Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday.

Hill and Lummis — both of whom have been advocates for crypto — penned the letter following reports that Hamas, and “bad actors,” used Tether and Binance.

Israeli authorities reportedly asked Binance to shutter around 100 accounts tied to Hamas. Tether froze 32 addresses controlled by both Hamas and “Russian-linked entities.” 

The letter cites a report from the Wall Street Journal which is facing controversy after Elliptic — the blockchain analysis firm named in the WSJ report, refuted the figures cited in the article.

The two asked Garland…

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