SBF criminal trial moves to closing arguments

The ongoing criminal trial involving FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) will move into closing arguments on November 1. 

On Day 15 of the SBF trial, lead defense attorney Mark Cohen’s request for acquittal was denied by presiding judge Lewis Kaplan. Instead, the case will move to closing arguments from both sides at 9:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. UTC) on Nov. 1, with all evidence discovery concluded. Attornies from both sides declined to call any further witnesses. 

SBF has pleaded not guilty to all seven fraud-related charges in his criminal case, but is expected to face five more counts in a second trial scheduled to start in March 2024, including the alleged $150 million bribe of a Chinese…

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SBF trial: The defense rests, soon it will be up to the jury

Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial, where he faces seven federal counts of fraud and conspiracy, is coming to a close. 

The jury heard the last of the evidence Tuesday morning, and now all that’s left is some final quibbling between counsel and closing arguments. 

After subjecting their client to two-and-half days on the witness stand, the defense rested its case Tuesday, and the government declined to put on a rebuttal. In his final hours under oath, Bankman-Fried gave the jury more of the same: a relatively muted tone, sparse eye contact and lots of details he was never asked to give.  

“Look, Mr. Bankman-Fried,” Judge Lewis Kaplan started, continuing on to remind the…

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SEC Chair Gary Gensler Celebrates The 15th Anniversary of The Bitcoin White Paper

Today, SEC Chair Gary Gensler took to X (Twitter) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper. 

Gensler, who was nominated by President Biden to serve as SEC Chair in 2021, celebrated the publication of the original Bitcoin white paper by the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto, along with a message that read, “If Satoshi Nakamoto went as Satoshi Nakamoto for Halloween, would we be able to tell? Happy 15th anniversary to Satoshi’s famous white paper that started crypto.”

This unexpected celebration of the Bitcoin white paper by the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has sparked intrigue and discussion among Bitcoin enthusiasts and investors, as the…

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Solana ‘roast’ reveals painful truths

Anyone who’s ever listened to or participated in a “roast” knows the fine line between innocuous observation and painful truth is often crossed, even when the jabs are delivered in a friendly manner. 

And few are more sensitive to clever digs than the most dedicated crypto community members — often exhibiting passionately blind loyalty to their selected blockchain tribe.

So it was with some trepidation that Superteam founding member Kash Dhanda and Framework Ventures principal Brandon Potts stirred up a few frank critiques for a Solana “roast” on the Lightspeed podcast (Spotify/Apple).

“If you’re trying to get me in trouble, I’ve got a few ideas,” says Dhanda as he…

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Top 10 Trending Crypto Coins of The Day

  1. Celestia: Market Cap of $293 Million.
  2. Toncoin: Market Cap of $74 Billion.
  3. inSure DeFi: Market Cap of $146 Million.
  4. Arbitrum: Market Cap of $1.1 Billion.
  5. Shiba Saga: Market Cap of $20 Million.
  6. Dione: Market Cap of $29 Million.
  7. Unibot: Market Cap of $42 Million.
  8. Bitrock: Market Cap of $13 Million.
  9. Osmosis: Market Cap of $229 Million.
  10. Nym: Market Cap of $71 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.

Headwinds, tailwinds for Coinbase ahead of Q3 earnings

Coinbase is likely to reveal this week that economic challenges persisted in 2023’s third quarter, though potential positive regulatory developments could ultimately offer tailwinds for the company.  

Executives are set to report the company’s latest quarterly financial results Thursday. Coinbase suffered quarter-over-quarter declines in trading volumes and net revenue from April to June, as previously disclosed.

Read more: Coinbase’s situation ‘tenuous’ despite ‘better than feared’ Q2 results

Despite those second-quarter weak points, the exchange’s adjusted EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — remained positive for a second…

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Bitcoin white paper turns 15 years old

Fifteen years ago today, Satoshi Nakamoto — whose true identity remains a mystery — published their seminal white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.”

Spanning just nine pages, this document offered up a blueprint that reimagined the way we perceive and transfer value in a digital age. It delved into the intricacies of cryptographic hashing, the architecture of blocks and the timing mechanisms that would be used to sustain them.

One of the white paper’s main innovations was its proposed proof-of-work system. While not Satoshi’s invention, its application in the context of a decentralized cryptocurrency was novel. Building upon ideas like Adam…

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Keep your community engaged with these 12 tips

The members of a community of any type want to feel like they’re involved, connected and part of something that’s genuinely unique and valuable. That’s certainly true of the communities that support nonfungible token projects. 

And it’s not just about a “warm and fuzzy” feeling. A healthy, engaged community can not only provide valuable feedback and long-term investors for NFT project leaders, but its members can also generate buzz, leading to increased demand and, optimally, driving up the value of their investments. Through their own initiatives, they can even grow the project’s ecosystem.

Without a doubt, creative and conscientious NFT project leaders who work to foster…

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The Reformation of Money: Bitcoin’s Whitepaper And Its Parallels To Martin Luther

It’s that time of year when the leaves are changing, the chill of winter is in the air, and many of us in the Western world are once again gearing up for the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas are important holidays for many and one of the best times to gather with family. Still, I would argue that one of the most important holidays is only celebrated by .01 percent of the global population.

That’s right, I am talking about Whitepaper Day. It was 15 years ago today that one of the most important documents ever written was released to the world. The importance of this document is akin to Martin Luther, who published his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31,…

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LATEST: Billionaire Investor Stanley Druckenmiller Considers Adding Bitcoin to His Portfolio

Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, in a recent discussion with Paul Tudor Jones, disclosed that he currently doesn’t hold any Bitcoin but believes he should. He compared Bitcoin to gold, highlighting the generational divide in investment preferences. Druckenmiller once invested in Bitcoin alongside a significant gold position. Meanwhile, Tudor Jones reaffirmed his support for Bitcoin amid global uncertainties, including potential Federal Reserve rate hikes. Despite past reservations, he remains committed to Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. The discussion underscores the evolving investment landscape and the shifting perceptions of digital assets.