MetaMask security partner Blockaid secures $33M funding

Blockaid, a blockchain security startup and partner of the MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet, has secured $33 million funding to scale its technology designed to stop malicious transactions.

The Series A funding round for Blockaid was led by major industry venture capital firms, including Coinbase investor Ribbit Capital and the early-stage VC firm Variant. Other funding members included Sequoia Capital, Cyberstarts and Greylock Partners.

Announcing the news on Oct. 23, Blockaid also said its security platform is coming out of stealth with its inaugural customers like MetaMask, the OpenSea marketplace, the Rainbow wallet and the Zerion wallet. The startup has formed a strategic alliance…

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Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum Funding Hamas Terror? $41M Of Crypto Seized So Far Could Just Be Drop In Bucket

The United States and Israel are intensifying efforts to curtail cryptocurrency transfers to Hamas following the group’s large-scale attacks on Israel earlier this month. Coins like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum are often implicated as funding streams for Islamist organizations.

The use of digital currencies and crypto exchange platforms to finance Islamist extremism has come under increasing scrutiny after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, France 24 reported.

On Oct. 19, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed new regulations to classify “Convertible Virtual Currency Mixing” (CVC mixing) as a primary money laundering concern to…

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Thailand delays digital money handout, critics call for probe

Thailand’s planned digital wallet scheme that intends to payout 10,000 baht (~$274) to citizens over 16 years old has been delayed while critics call for a probe from the country’s electoral commission.

As originally reported by the Bangkok Post, Thailand’s deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that the planned Feb. 2024 launch of a new digital wallet has been delayed to buy more time for the development of the system.

The Thai government hopes to use the wallet to issue 10,000 baht to eligible citizens in a bid to stimulate the local economy.

A statement from Amornvivat highlighted that the government wants more time to ensure the security of the system underpinning…

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Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial Nearing End, Prosecution Set To Rest Case

The trial of crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried is wrapping up, with the prosecution expected to conclude their case on Oct. 26. The case has seen nearly 20 testimonies regarding an alleged $8 billion discrepancy between FTX and Alameda Research.

As reported by Cointelegraph, the lineup of witnesses over the past three weeks included former FTX employees, customers, investors, government officials, and law enforcement agents. The central argument of the case is that Bankman-Fried intentionally deceived them all.

The defense, led by lawyers Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell, is yet to confirm whether they will waive the case. Their presentation to the jury has reportedly been less…

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SEC has 3% -14% chance of success in Ripple appeal, lawyers predict

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a very slim chance of winning the appeal against Ripple in the ongoing lawsuit, according to lawyer Bill Morgan, who has been closely following the lawsuit.

Morgan in a post on X (formerly Twitter) argued that there is no obvious appellable error other than in “Ripple’s favour regarding ODL sales which don’t meet at least two prongs of the Howey test,” while adding there is a very slim chance of about 3% for SEC’s success in getting an appeal against Ripple.

I don’t see any obvious appellable error other than in Ripple’s favor in respect of ODL sales which don’t meet at least two prongs of the Howey test. The…

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Argentina's Pro-Bitcoin Presidential Candidate Javier Milei Forces Run-Off Election

In a surprising twist in Argentina’s presidential election, pro-Bitcoin candidate Javier Gerardo Milei has emerged as a formidable contender, forcing a run-off election against current Economy Minister Sergio Massa after the first round of voting.

Javier Milei, a libertarian economist who has vowed to shut down the nation’s central bank and expressed support for Bitcoin, managed to secure 31.2% of the vote, a remarkable achievement for a candidate with limited prior political exposure. 

Milei’s passionate advocacy for economic reform have resonated with a significant portion of the electorate. In August, Milei won the most votes in the country’s primary election, a fact owed to the…

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Pro-Bitcoin Javier Milei Fails To Secure Win In First Round Of Argentina’s Presidential Election, Looks Forward To Run-Off Vote

Bitcoin BTC/USD enthusiast and Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei is trailing the country’s presidential election heads to a run-off. Despite being a favorite, Milei has failed to secure a victory in the first round.

According to a CoinTelegraph report, with 90% of the vote counted, economy minister Sergio Massa leads with over 36% support, while Milei lags with just over 30% of the vote. The run-off vote is scheduled for Nov. 19.

See Also: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike As $65M In Shorts Liquidated In A Single Day: Analyst Believes Major Bull Run Could Catapult King Crypto To New Yearly High

Milei, who won the most votes in the country’s primary election in…

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NEW: Over 300 Merchants Now Accept Bitcoin Lightning Payments!

Lugano, Switzerland — In a significant move for cryptocurrency adoption, over 300 merchants in Lugano now accept Bitcoin Lightning payments. This development positions the Swiss city as a pioneer in integrating digital currency with everyday commerce. The fast and low-fee Bitcoin Lightning Network has resonated with Lugano’s forward-thinking business community, signaling a transformative shift in retail practices and setting the stage for broader cryptocurrency acceptance in global markets.