News
Lately: the comeback of cryptocurrencies and the Toronto tech entrepreneur enjoying the ride
In this week’s issue:
π The Toronto tech entrepreneur making the most of the cryptocurrency rebound
π€ Tech giants are committed to artificial intelligence
π§ Neuralink gets the green light for a second patient
πΆβπ«οΈ Some things don’t last forever on the Internet
The return of cryptocurrencies
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Tech entrepreneur Mike Silagadze feels cryptocurrency’s recovery with his company Ether.fi.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail
Bitcoin’s value has soared over the past year as investors pour money into newly approved cryptocurrency ETFs, which allow investors to dive into the world of cryptocurrencies without buying them directly. And, earlier this month, FTX said so could repay almost all of its customers which lost money β plus interest β after the cryptocurrency exchange imploded in spring 2022. One of the cryptocurrency companies that is enjoying this comeback is Ether.fi, a blockchain-based financial services entity founded by the entrepreneur of Toronto Mike Silagadze. Ether.fi allows users to save, invest and spend cryptocurrencies in real-life transactions. This week, technology journalist Sean Silcoff spoke with Silagadze on the explosive growth of Ether.fi and the regulatory gray area of ββthe cryptocurrency market.
Tech companies are committed to developing AI safely, I swear
The world’s leading AI companies came together this week to sign a pledge saying they will follow AI safety standards, which were first introduced at a summit last year in Britain. The voluntary commitment is a kind of international agreement on industry βred linesβ for machine learning standards and testing. The European Union has also passed key rules on artificial intelligence, which impose rigorous transparency requirements on high-risk systems such as healthcare and government.
Questions about the safety of AI are reaching fever pitch. Last week, OpenAI’s Jan Leike announced that he was stepping down the day after the company released GPT-4o, an eerily human-like voice assistant capable of real-time conversations. βSafety culture and processes have taken a back seat to brilliant products,β Leike wrote about X. Another ex An OpenAI employee told Vox Media that he had “gradually lost faith in OpenAI’s leadership and their ability to manage AGI responsibly, so I left.”
Neuralink gets green light from FDA
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Noland Arbaugh is the first patient to take part in the first-in-human clinical trial of the Neuralink device.REBECCA NOBLE/The New York Times News Service
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant startup, has won Food and Drug Administration approval to embed its chip in a second person, according to a document viewed by the Wall Street Journal. The implant is about the size of a quarter and has 64 external wires that are inserted into the brain’s motor cortex, which can turn movement signals into computer commands. Essentially, once in the brain of a quadriplegic patient, all you need to do is think about using your hand to move a cursor or click a button, and it would happen.
The first Neuralink patient underwent the surgery earlier this year, and although only about 15% of the wires in his brain are still in place, the chip continues to work. To prevent the wires from falling out, for the second patient, Neuralink will embed them deeper into the brain, up to eight millimeters compared to three to five millimeters for the first patient. Neuralink said it plans to implant 10 people this year and plans to submit applications to Canada for a similar clinical trial.
It turns out that the Internet can forget
A few years ago, I tried to find the blog I kept in high school, which was essentially an online diary written in the voice of whatever writer I was in love with at the time, like Kurt Vonnegut or JD Salinger. (Yes, I was insufferable.) But despite all my Googling, I couldn’t find it, which led me to wonder: Is it still online somewhere? Or did it evaporate into the Internet ether? People always say that nothing really disappears from the Internet. But in reality, large areas of the web have already disappeared.
According to a new analysis from the Pew Research Center, 38% of 2013 web pages are no longer accessible, 54% of Wikipedia pages contain at least one link in the references section to a page that is no longer active, and 23% of news sites have at least one one. broken connection. For someone who has worked in digital publishing long enough to see enough publications fold and take their entire archive with them, this last statistic isn’t all that surprising. At least we still have the Wayback Machine.
What else are we reading this week:
The Euclid Project’s stunning deep-space vistas provide valuable clues to dark energy detectives (The Globe and Mail)
Crypto astrologers see price movements in the stars (Wired)
When you’re a clickworker, no one knows you’re old (Rest of the world)
Sound bite
βWhat is unusual today, in the context of the history of drugs, is that people go to dealers to buy drugs, not to have fun, but to work more efficientlyβ β Daniel Kolitz, on the rise of Adderall, as heard ON this week’s episode of Lately.
Money for adults:
SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, $455
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Red light therapy is all the rage and I want it. Provided
Okay, listen to me. I know this mask looks weird. It is expensive. And, perhaps, the epicenter of dubious health claims and grotesque influencer culture. But I still want it! Sue me! Light therapy is all the rage among skincare and beauty influencers β and even among neuroscientists and podcaster Andrew Huberman β who say it improves skin, improves attention and improves mood. This mask from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare it has a red light mode to fight wrinkles and build collagen, blue light to treat acne by destroying bacteria, and combined purple light to fight both aging and acne. I have yet to try it in person, but I have friends who now swear by this mask. Consider me influenced.
Cultural radar
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A good candidate for a tall finance man with blue eyes and a trust fund. iStockPhoto / Getty Images
From TikTok to the main stage, βMan in financeβ is the song of the summer
Every now and then, a viral moment breaks through social media feeds and enters the real world. For those who are extremely online, it’s magical and jarring.
This particular tune was started on TikTok by 26-year-old creator Megan Boni, known by the username Girl On Couch, who made a video of herself singing a satirical love anthem a cappella: βI’m looking for a man in finance. Trust Fund. 6β²5. Blue eyes.” In the caption Boni writes: “Can someone make this into a real song please, just for fun.”
Since it was first released three weeks ago, the clip has been viewed more than 26 million times and spawned countless remixes by DJs, including by the Canadian electronic duo Loud Luxury who recently performed their interpretation to thousands of screaming fans. After her song went mainstream, Boni quit her day job and will officially release the song as a single. And for those wondering, she is still looking for a man in the finance field.
News
Block Investors Need More to Assess Crypto Unit’s Earnings Potential, Analysts Say β TradingView News
Block, a payments technology company led by Jack Dorsey square could become a formidable player in the cryptocurrency mining industry, but Wall Street will need details on profit margins to gauge the positive impact of the business on earnings, analysts said.
Block signed its first large-scale cryptocurrency mining hardware pact on Wednesday, agreeing to supply its chips to bitcoin miner Core Scientific CORZbut no financial details were disclosed.
JP Morgan estimates the deal could net Block between $225 million and $300 million, but said more information will be needed to assess the hardware business’s long-term earnings potential.
βWe still have a lot to learn in terms of the margins of this business, so we are hesitant to underwrite this transaction until we know more about the cadence and economics,β J.P. Morgan said.
The deal marks a major step for the payments company, which started out as βSquareβ in 2009 before rebranding in 2021 in a nod to its focus on crypto and blockchain technologies.
Dorsey, who co-founded and ran Twitter (now known as βXβ), has long been bullish on Bitcoin. Block began investing 10% of its monthly gross profit from Bitcoin products into Bitcoin in April.
In the first quarter, nearly 9% of the company’s cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities consisted of bitcoin.
βThis development (the deal with Core Scientific) is further evidence of Blockβs role as an emerging leader in the crypto hardware ecosystem,β Macquarie analysts Paul Golding and Emma Liang wrote in a note.
Analysts say similar deals to follow could further validate Block’s reputation in the industry.
But J.P. Morgan said the stock’s performance will be determined by Block’s other segments, such as Square and Cash App.
Block shares have lost nearly 17% this year.
News
This Thursday’s US Consumer Price Index could be a game-changer for cryptocurrencies!
3:30 PM βͺ 4 minute read βͺ by Luc Jose A.
This Thursday, attention will be focused on the United States with the anticipated release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This economic indicator could trigger significant movements in the markets, especially for the U.S. dollar and cryptocurrencies. While investors remain vigilant, speculation is rife about the potential impact of these key figures.
The Consumer Price Index: The Cornerstone of the American Economy
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a key measure of inflation which reflects changes in the price of goods and services purchased by American households. This index is calculated monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and serves as a barometer for the cost of living. The consumer price index covers a wide range of products, including food, clothing, housing, health care, and entertainment. Economists and policy makers closely monitor this data to anticipate economic trends and adjust monetary policies accordingly.
The June CPI data is due to be released this Thursday at 2:30 p.m., and is highly anticipated by investors. The current consensus is for headline annual inflation to decline to 3.1%, from 3.3% the previous month, while core inflation is expected to remain stable at 3.4%.
THE BIGGEST EVENT THIS WEEK π¨
The U.S. Consumer Price Index is expected to
PUBLICATION TODAY AT 8:30 AM ET.EXPECTATIONS ARE 3.1% WHILE
LAST MONTH THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) WAS 3.3%HERE ARE SOME SCENARIOS π
1) CPI above 3.1%
THIS WILL BE A DAMAGE TO THE MARKET
GIVEN THAT THE LAST TIME THE CPI DATAβ¦ photo.twitter.com/yudjPLPl8gβ Ash Crypto (@Ashcryptoreal) July 11, 2024
Consumer Price Index Release: What Does It Mean for the Dollar and Bitcoin?
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index is a key determinant of the value of the US dollar. If the consumer price index declines more than expected, it could reinforce expectations of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September, thus weakening the dollar. A weaker dollar could benefit GBP/USD, which recently broke a major resistance level, and Bitcoin, which could see its price rise due to increased demand from institutional investors.
Current forecasts suggest that headline inflation will decline to 3.1%, with core inflation holding steady at 3.4%. However, a surprise increase in the consumer price index could upset these expectations. Fed Governor Lisa Cook has mentioned the possibility of a soft landing for the economy, with inflation falling without a significant increase in unemployment, which could lead the Fed to consider rate cuts. This outlook is particularly favorable for stock markets and cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, which could benefit from a more accommodative monetary policy.
According to experts at 10x Research, especially their CEO Markus Thielen, Bitcoin could see a significant increase if the CPI data confirms a decline in inflation. Thielen indicated that Bitcoin could reach almost $60,000, a prediction that has already been reflected with a rise to $59,350 before the data was released.
Therefore, Thursday’s CPI data could determine the future direction of financial and cryptocurrency markets. High inflation could strengthen the US Dollarwhile a drop in inflation could pave the way for rate cuts by the Fed, thus giving a boost to Bitcoin and other digital assets.
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Luke Jose A.
A graduate of Sciences Po Toulouse and holder of a blockchain consultant certification issued by Alyra, I joined the Cointribune adventure in 2019. Convinced of the potential of blockchain to transform many sectors of the economy, I am committed to raising awareness and informing the general public about this ever-evolving ecosystem. My goal is to enable everyone to better understand blockchain and seize the opportunities it offers. Every day, I strive to provide an objective analysis of the news, decipher market trends, convey the latest technological innovations and put into perspective the economic and social issues of this ongoing revolution.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be construed as investment advice. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.
News
Crowd Expects Bitcoin Bounce Suggests Further Losses, As RCO Finance Resists Crash
Bitcoin is seeing a rebound after its recent price crash to $53,000. Other altcoins are subsequently recovering, with many cryptocurrency investors increasingly making new entries. However, Santiment warned against this hopium, suggesting that Bitcoin could extend its price losses.
As the broader market anticipates Bitcoin’s next price action, RCO Finance (RCOF) demonstrates resilience, attracting thousands of people in influxes. Read on for more details!
RCO Finance challenges the market crisis
RCO Finance (RCOF) is approaching $1 million in funding raised, amid growing interest from institutional traders seeking stability from Bitcoin’s wild price swings. While much of the broader market has seen significant price losses, RCO Finance has remained resilient, experiencing a surge in its pre-sale orders.
As a result, the project seems oblivious to the current market conditions, leading top market experts to take a deep dive into its ecosystem. They identified why RCO Finance was able to withstand the bearish pressure and its potential to hold up even stronger during the impending broader market crash.
The main reason was related to the innovative use of RCO Finance AI Trading Tools as a Robo Advisor. This tool has been integrated into RCO Finance’s cryptocurrency trading platform, offering full automation and highly accurate market forecasts to help investors make informed decisions.
Read on to learn more about this tool and other exciting features of RCO Finance!
Bitcoin Bounces Amid Impending Crash
Bitcoin is bouncing back, rallying 8% after plunging to its lowest point since February on July 5. While this rebound has triggered a bullish wave in the broader market, many cryptocurrency analysts predict it could be short-lived as Bitcoin is poised for an imminent crash toward the $50,000 zone.
On a Post X (formerly Twitter)Santiment revealed that while the crowd is anticipating a Bitcoin rally, this potential crash could trigger FUD and panic, causing average traders to wither and give up on Bitcoin. The platform noted that Bitcoin rally has historically occurred after these weak hands sold their holdings.
In particular, these cryptocurrency analysts speculate that the previous and upcoming Bitcoin crash is largely the result of bearish market psychology, as opposed to large BTC sell-offs by the German government and Mt. Gox. In particular, Ki Young Ju, founder and CEO of CryptoQuant, noticed that “the sales were rather negligible, given the overall liquidity of Bitcoin.”
Enjoy seamless investing on RCO Finance
RCO Finance is making investing easier and easier, democratizing access to high-level tools and cryptocurrency earnings that were once reserved for professional and institutional investors. It has also prioritized accessibility, allowing investors of all levels to easily navigate its features through its intuitive interface.
Additionally, they can also maintain anonymity and privacy as the platform has no KYC requirements. To build trust, the platform has instead emphasized regular smart contract audits by respected security firm SolidProof.
Performance data shows massive adoption, indicating that it is doing its job effectively. Investors can also capitalize on RCO Financeβs fast transaction speeds and incredibly low transaction fees, with leverage options up to 1000x to further optimize their portfolios and maximize returns.
Leverage RCO Finance’s pre-sale earnings
An in-depth analysis of the RCO Finance ecosystem revealed that it has strong potential to rival and surpass major cryptocurrencies in the cryptocurrency industry. With a very limited total token supply and excellent tokenomics, RCO Finance is poised to reach its target of $1 billion in market cap upon its official launch.
RCO Finance has adopted a deflationary model, strategic burn mechanisms, and a vesting schedule. However, the project encourages long-term holding by focusing on sustained growth through incredibly high staking rewards.
RCOF tokens are currently available at an altcoin price of $0.01275 in progress Pre-sale Phase 1. This is likely the lowest price these coins will ever trade at, as they are expected to increase exponentially with each new presale phase.
With RCOF expected to be $0.4 at launch, investors jumping in now can expect a Return 30x on their investment!
For more information on RCO Finance (RCOF) presale:
Join the RCO Financial Community
Disclaimer: The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily represent those of Crypto Reporter. Crypto Reporter is not responsible for the reliability, quality and accuracy of any material in this article. This article is provided for educational purposes only. Crypto Reporter is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Do your own research and invest at your own risk.
News
Bitget Ranks Third Among Cryptocurrency Exchanges by Capital Inflows in Q2
Although Bitget is not the largest cryptocurrency exchange in terms of total volumes, it closed a favorable quarter. From April to June, the platform ranked third in net capital inflows and showed the strongest growth in market share compared to its competitors.
In the second quarter, investors moved $700 million into Bitget, and activity on the platform increased by nearly 50%.
The exchange has seen a surge in user funds, with Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), and Ethereum (ETH) rising 73%, 80%, and 153%, respectively, in the first six months of the year. This growth coincided with adding 2.9 million new users to the platform.
This has positioned Bitget among the top exchanges with the highest positive net inflows in the last quarter. Only Binance, which remains the market leader, and Bitfinex have performed better in this category.
According to CCDataβs latest H2 Outlook Report, the exchange also recorded the highest market share growth among centralized exchanges, increasing 38.4% from H2 2023 to H1 2024.
Bitgetβs spot trading volume has also seen a visible increase, going from $28 billion in Q1 to $32 billion in Q2, marking an increase of over 10%. The platformβs monthly visitors have reached 10 million. Although its volumes are increasing, Bitget still does not rank among the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges in terms of spot trading.
The changes taking place in the centralized cryptocurrency exchange market show that competition is becoming more and more intenseAn example of this is the recent surge in popularity of Bybit, which has become the second largest exchange in terms of spot trading volumes.
Sports Sponsorships and New Products
Gracy Chen, Source: LinkedIn
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, commented on the quarterly performance, saying, βQ2 2024 was a pivotal period for Bitget. Our collaboration with Turkish athletes, along with significant growth in users and website traffic, is part of our global expansion.β
In an effort to expand its global presence, Bitget has partnered with three Turkish national athletes as part of its #MakeItCount campaign, starring Lionel Messi. The deal with the famous footballer It was signed in Februaryto build brand presence in Latin America.
The exchange also launched a $20 million TON Ecosystem Fund in partnership with Foresight Ventures to support early-stage projects on The Open Network.
The exchange introduced two new initial token listing products, PoolX and Pre-market, which collectively launched over 100 projects. Additionally, Bitgetβs native token, BGB, was recognized as the best-performing centralized exchange token in June and was ranked among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by Forbes.
In its latest move, the cryptocurrency exchange aimed to become a regulated player in IndiaThe announcement comes as the worldβs most populous democracy grapples with the complexities of integrating cryptocurrencies into its financial ecosystem.
Even recently,
Bitget Wallet Announced a joint investment with cryptocurrency investment firm Foresight X in Tomarket, a decentralized trading platform. This initiative targets emerging asset classes and aims to expand the portfolioβs services beyond traditional decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
Although Bitget is not the largest cryptocurrency exchange in terms of total volumes, it closed a favorable quarter. From April to June, the platform ranked third in net capital inflows and showed the strongest growth in market share compared to its competitors.
In the second quarter, investors moved $700 million into Bitget, and activity on the platform increased by nearly 50%.
The exchange has seen a surge in user funds, with Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), and Ethereum (ETH) rising 73%, 80%, and 153%, respectively, in the first six months of the year. This growth coincided with adding 2.9 million new users to the platform.
This has positioned Bitget among the top exchanges with the highest positive net inflows in the last quarter. Only Binance, which remains the market leader, and Bitfinex have performed better in this category.
According to CCDataβs latest H2 Outlook Report, the exchange also recorded the highest market share growth among centralized exchanges, increasing 38.4% from H2 2023 to H1 2024.
Bitgetβs spot trading volume has also seen a visible increase, going from $28 billion in Q1 to $32 billion in Q2, marking an increase of over 10%. The platformβs monthly visitors have reached 10 million. Although its volumes are increasing, Bitget still does not rank among the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges in terms of spot trading.
The changes taking place in the centralized cryptocurrency exchange market show that competition is becoming increasingly intenseAn example of this is the recent surge in popularity of Bybit, which has become the second largest exchange in terms of spot trading volumes.
Sports Sponsorships and New Products
Gracy Chen, Source: LinkedIn
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, commented on the quarterly performance, saying, βQ2 2024 was a pivotal period for Bitget. Our collaboration with Turkish athletes, along with significant growth in users and website traffic, is part of our global expansion.β
In an effort to expand its global presence, Bitget has partnered with three Turkish national athletes as part of its #MakeItCount campaign, starring Lionel Messi. The deal with the famous footballer It was signed in Februaryto build brand presence in Latin America.
The exchange also launched a $20 million TON Ecosystem Fund in partnership with Foresight Ventures to support early-stage projects on The Open Network.
The exchange introduced two new initial token listing products, PoolX and Pre-market, which collectively launched over 100 projects. Additionally, Bitgetβs native token, BGB, was recognized as the best-performing centralized exchange token in June and was ranked among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by Forbes.
In its latest move, the cryptocurrency exchange aimed to become a regulated player in IndiaThe announcement comes as the worldβs most populous democracy grapples with the complexities of integrating cryptocurrencies into its financial ecosystem.
Even recently,
Bitget Wallet Announced a joint investment with cryptocurrency investment firm Foresight X in Tomarket, a decentralized trading platform. This initiative targets emerging asset classes and aims to expand the portfolioβs services beyond traditional decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
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