Ego Death Capital Raises Over $43 Million To Fund Bitcoin Companies

Ego Death Capital, a venture capital fund focused on investing in Bitcoin technology startups, has announced the successful first close of its $100 million second fund.  

The fund has already secured $43.35 million in commitments from investors, underscoring strong interest in backing the next wave of Bitcoin companies. Ego Death has previously backed leading startups like Relai, Breez, Fedi, LN Markets, and more.

Founded by Jeff Booth, Andi Pitt, and Nico Lechuga, Ego Death Capital targets Series A investments in rapidly scaling Bitcoin startups with this fund. Preston Pysh and Lyn Alden have also recently joined them as a General Partner in the second fund. 

The successful first close…

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LATEST: UK Grants Banking License to Crypto-friendly Revolut

Revolut, a leading global fintech, has moved into the Prudential Regulation Authority’s ‘mobilisation’ stage after receiving its UK banking license with restrictions. This crucial development paves the way for Revolut to enhance its banking operations in the UK, where it serves over nine million customers. During this phase, UK customers will see no changes in their current e-money accounts.

Nik Storonsky, CEO of Revolut, expressed immense pride in this achievement, emphasizing the company’s commitment to becoming the UK’s preferred banking service. Storonsky highlighted the strategic expansion of services, including a robust cryptocurrency exchange, demonstrating Revolut’s pioneering approach in the fintech space.

This advancement not only solidifies Revolut’s position as a powerhouse in financial technology but also signals a promising horizon for crypto services in mainstream banking, underscoring its potential to reshape financial transactions globally.

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LATEST: Sygnum Doubles Spot Crypto Trading, Eyes MiCA-Compliant EU Expansion

Sygnum, the global digital asset banking group, announced a profitable first half of 2024, driven by a dynamic increase in business metrics, including a remarkable 500% boost in crypto derivatives trading. The company’s growth is further underscored by its substantial $4.5 billion in client assets and a strategic expansion of its platform and partnerships.

Building on its strong start, Sygnum has set the stage for a promising future. The company’s loan volumes soared by over 360%, and daily trades with 20+ B2B banks now service more than a third of the Swiss population. Additionally, the establishment of a new office in Europe in Q1 2025 signals Sygnum’s readiness to scale operations under the EU’s MiCA regulations, enhancing its connectivity within the global crypto ecosystem.

With a growing institutional client base nearing 2,000 and a 250-strong international team, Sygnum is poised to lead the market. The recent capital raise of $40 million and a valuation of $900 million highlight the confidence in its trajectory, setting a strong foundation for continued innovation and expansion in both traditional and crypto asset markets.

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Mt. Gox customers to receive crypto assets after 10-year wait

Repayments to the customers of Mt. Gox are set to begin after a decade-long court process. 

Tokyo-based Mt. Gox once processed more than 70% of all BTC transactions at its peak before collapsing in 2014 after the loss of 950,000 BTC. Bitcoin was worth just $600 at the time.

About 20,658 customers will receive a portion of their lost assets this month, estimated at over $9 billion worth of BTC, BCH and ETH today.

The repayment process is planned to begin with BTC and BCH repayments first, according to Mt. Gox’s rehabilitation trustee. 

Kraken CEO David Ripley announced the successful redistribution of Mt. Gox BTC and BCH to creditors yesterday. A sum of 48,641 BTC was sent to an…

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LATEST: Franklin Templeton Endorses Solana, Predicts Major Role in Crypto Industry

Global asset management leader Franklin Templeton Investments has recently affirmed its bullish outlook on Solana (SOL), positioning the blockchain as a key player in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape. The firm detailed its belief that Solana is not only gaining traction but is also poised to significantly influence the industry’s future. This endorsement is seen as a substantial positive catalyst for SOL.

Franklin Templeton outlined several important developments that they believe will propel the crypto sector forward, extending beyond the dominant roles of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The firm praised Solana for its increasing adoption and ongoing maturation, highlighting the network’s resilience in overcoming technological challenges. They specifically noted Solana’s potential in utilizing high-throughput, monolithic architecture.

With over seventy years of experience and expertise, Franklin Templeton is one of the most established and influential asset management companies globally. Its support for Solana underscores the blockchain’s growing recognition and potential within the crypto market, further solidifying its importance in the broader digital asset ecosystem.

Daily US Bitcoin ETFs Net Flow Analysis (As of July 24, 2024)

As of July 24, 2024, BlackRock has continued to lead the market of Bitcoin ETFs with 336,036 BTC, demonstrating continued strength with net inflows of +1,093 BTC. On the other side, Grayscale and Bitwise have reported losses in their holdings, with the former’s GBTC reported 11 BTC lighter and the latter’s BITB taking a more pronounced loss down -1,068 BTC.

At the same time, Fidelity’s FBTC remained stable at 181,039 BTC with constant holdings indicating a balanced interest from investors. But here, other players such as ARK Invest and VanEck both saw huge outflows, which indicated sentiment-driven changes in investments or strategic reallocations.

The total holdings across all of these ETFs amount to 911,396 BTC, valued at around $60.6 billion, with a collective net outflow of -1,394 BTC or roughly -$92.8 million. This shows the developments in the ETF sector, as investors position themselves according to market conditions and the opportunities that now arise in the crypto space.

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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Lightspeed Newsletter: Wine tokenization on Solana

Today, enjoy the Lightspeed newsletter on Blockworks.co. Tomorrow, get the news delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe to the Lightspeed newsletter.

Howdy!

I’d like to be more of a wine snob, but I’m useless at figuring out what the notes in a glass of wine are or whatever. I was once told that every red wine tastes like cherry, though, so I just fall back on that one if I need to pretend to know what I’m doing.

Anyways, wine, but on the blockchain:

DVIN wants to keep track of wine

It was a brutally hot afternoon as I sat in a midtown Manhattan office building with David Garrett and Jana Kreilein, the co-founders of wine tokenization platform dVIN. An unopened bottle of…

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