An overview of current news in the crypto space
08.01.2024

An overview of current news in the crypto space

By bit.team

In our digest, we took a look at some important crypto industry news over the past week:

  1. South Korean authorities plan to ban credit card purchases of cryptocurrencies
  2. An unknown user sent 26.9 BTC to Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallet
  3. The market of digital financial assets in Russia will reach 250 billion rubles by the end of 2024, according to expert forecasts
  4. How to choose a cryptocurrency project for investment and avoid risks
  5. What awaits the regulation of cryptocurrencies in Russia in 2024?
  6. The Central Bank of Nigeria approved the launch of the cNGN stablecoin

Now for more details. Reading time: 8 minutes.

  1. South Korean authorities plan to ban the purchase of cryptocurrencies from credit cards
    Authorities in South Korea intend to ban the purchase of cryptocurrencies from credit cards. The Financial Services Commission of South Korea (FSC) has proposed an amendment to the credit card law to prevent the purchase of digital assets on overseas cryptocurrency platforms. The FSC has expressed legitimate concerns about credit card funds being siphoned off, used for money laundering and speculative activities. The FSC’s proposal is now in the public opinion gathering stage and is expected to be considered by the South Korean parliament in the first half of 2024. Rules were already introduced in 2021 requiring citizens to use local cryptocurrency exchanges for trading and licensed exchanges to accept deposits only from verified users.
  2. Unknown user sent 26.9 BTC to Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallet
    An unknown user made a surprising transaction, sending 26.9 BTC (almost $1.2 million) to a wallet believed to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin. The transaction, split between multiple parts and sources, has sparked widespread discussion in the crypto community. Most of the funds were sent from a Binance wallet, as noted on the Arkham Intelligence platform. The Genesis wallet associated with Satoshi currently holds over 99 BTC worth around $4.4 million, however, these funds have remained untouched since December 2010 when Satoshi disappeared. It is believed that the bitcoin creator may control over 1 million BTC, which is valued at nearly $47 billion. This event has sparked different theories and speculations about Satoshi’s return and the motives behind these transactions. A Coinbase director suggested that it could have been a Satoshi “awakening” or part of a strange marketing campaign for the potential approval of a spot bitcoin-ETF.
  3. Russia’s digital financial assets market is expected to reach RUB 250bn by the end of 2024, according to expert forecasts
    By the end of 2024, Russia’s digital financial assets (DFA) market is expected to reach RUB 250bn, according to expert forecasts. In 2023, this market has already reached almost 100 billion rubles and continues to show strong growth. Digital financial assets are issued only by operators included in the Central Bank’s register. The most popular operators in the CFA market are Atomise, Lighthouse, Sberbank, Alfa Bank and others. Various innovative projects such as digital bond issuance and real estate tokenisation have demonstrated the potential and flexibility of digital assets in various sectors. Regulators are also making changes to the regulation of transactions in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, which has an impact on the operation of exchange platforms. Nevertheless, the Russian government is discussing the possibility of introducing its own digital currency, and some banks have already launched platforms for issuing CFAs. Overall, the CFA market is forecast to continue to grow and increase significantly by 2030.
  4. How to choose a cryptocurrency project for investment and avoid risks
    According to experts, when choosing a cryptocurrency project to invest in, you should pay attention to a number of factors to avoid scammers and failed investments. One of the key signs of unreliable blockchain projects is unbalanced strategies, which can be checked in the documentation or on the project’s website. It is also important to examine technical indicators, especially user activity on the blockchain, to detect possible rate manipulation. High returns cannot be guaranteed and promises in this regard should be taken with caution. The project team also plays an important role, and its professionalism can be assessed by communication in social networks, comments in the media and expert articles. Anonymity of creators, lack of technical documentation and detailed roadmap, as well as failure to meet deadlines and content theft are also signs of unscrupulous projects. However, to avoid risks, more thorough research and analysis of projects before investing is required.
  5. What is in store for cryptocurrency regulation in Russia in 2024?
    Experts have noted several key trends related to the regulation of the digital assets and cryptocurrency market in Russia next year. One of the main trends will be the use of digital assets for cross-border payments. Projects offering technical solutions for cross-border payments using cryptocurrency have already emerged in Russia. It is expected that in 2024 there will be clearer rules and regulations related to cross-border payments using digital assets. Another important topic will be the regulation of mining and taxation of digital currencies. The State Duma is considering a bill including requirements for miners, tax reporting and restrictions on the disposal of cryptocurrency. The bill is expected to be passed in 2024 after significant amendments. In addition, experts are discussing the possibility of using cryptocurrency and digital financial assets for international settlements. This could be a breakthrough in the CFA (digital financial asset) market, where various platforms have already been developed to issue CFAs linked to real assets such as gold or real estate. Overall, Russia is expected to adopt new laws and regulations related to the regulation of digital assets and cryptocurrencies in 2024. This may create a clearer and more stable environment for developing digital financial technologies and attracting investment in this area.
  6. Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the launch of the cNGN stablecoin
    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the launch of the cNGN steiblcoin. The African Stablecoin Consortium (ASC) has received approval for the pilot launch of a stablecoin that will complement the CBN’s digital currency, eNaira. The new stablecoin is scheduled to launch on 27 February. The ASC assures that cNGN is compliant with the regulatory requirements and standards of the CBN, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. The new stablecoin is compatible with Bantu and BNB Smart Chain, with plans to expand support to other blockchains in the future. The cNGN has a 1:1 peg to the Nigerian naira and is backed by fiat currency reserves in commercial banks. It will facilitate the exchange of naira and digital currencies in the global market, as well as simplify transactions for Nigerians sending money to families back home. The CBN lifted the ban on Nigerian banks from participating in cryptocurrency transactions in December 2023. Launched in October 2021, CBDC eNaira is designed to increase access to banking services, but utilisation is still low.

Thank you for being with us. Crypto-industry news on Bit.team – always up to date.