LensLinks: Issue 91

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
February 10, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • Is BTC exiting bear market?

  • Robinhood board gives nod to buy Sam Bankman-Fried’s $578M stake

  • Metaverse Crypto Sector Bounces Hard, Outperforms DeFi

  • Umami Finance CEO Dumps All Tokens After Week-Long Drama, Leaving Crypto Hopefuls Stranded

  • Cardano Upgrade Aims to Improve Cross-Chain Features as On-Chain DeFi Crosses $100M TVL

  • Super Bowl and Web3—how brands are using the metaverse and NFTs despite lack of crypto ads

  • Why Regulated Custody is the Next Step for DeFi - The Defiant

  • LocalBitcoins Closes Trading Platform After A Decade

  • The Singularity: Crypto AI tokens struggle as Google chatbot ad campaign shows factual issues; stock falls 6%

  • And Much, Much, More…

QUOTABLE

❝

“In a time of growing markets, evolving technologies, and new forms of risk, our Division of Examinations continues to protect investors. In executing against the 2023 priorities, the Division will help ensure compliance with the federal securities laws and rules.”

- SEC Chair Gary Gensler

NOTABLE

Bitcoin monthly chart flashes buy signal; Is BTC exiting bear market?

The sentiment around Bitcoin remains optimistic, as chart patterns give a buy signal and indicators suggest it is out of the bear market.

finbold.com/bitcoin-monthly-chart-flashes-buy-signal-is-btc-exiting-bear-market

Robinhood board gives nod to buy Sam Bankman-Fried’s $578M stake

Robinhood is working with the U.S. Department of Justice to buy back former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s $578 million stake in the company.

cointelegraph.com/news/robinhood-board-gives-nod-to-buy-sam-bankman-fried-s-578m-stake

Metaverse & Gaming

Metaverse Crypto Sector Bounces Hard, Outperforms DeFi

Major projects including decentraland and enjincoin are leading a metaverse renaissance across crypto markets over the year so far.

blockworks.co/news/metaverse-crypto-bounce-outperform-defi

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Umami Finance CEO Dumps All Tokens After Week-Long Drama, Leaving Crypto Hopefuls Stranded

The move followed on the back of Umami making changes to how its value accrual token worked.

www.coindesk.com/web3/2023/02/09/umami-finance-ceo-dumps-all-tokens-after-week-long-drama-leaving-crypto-hopefuls-stranded

Crypto Trading

Cardano Upgrade Aims to Improve Cross-Chain Features as On-Chain DeFi Crosses $100M TVL

“This upgrade will bring new cryptographic primitives to Cardano, encouraging greater interoperability and secure cross-chain DApp development with Plutus,” IOG said Wednesday.

finance.yahoo.com/news/cardano-upgrade-aims-improve-cross-085432942.html

Metaverse & Gaming - a little more…

Sandbox boss argues case for an open metaverse

Sebastien Borget, COO and co-founder of Sandbox, argued a decentralised metaverse is essential to the concept succeeding.

www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/sandbox-boss-argues-case-for-an-open-metaverse

Super Bowl and Web3—how brands are using the metaverse and NFTs despite lack of crypto ads

Marketers are using the Big Game to experiment with tools like NFTs and the metaverse.

adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/super-bowl-and-web3-brands-use-metaverse-and-nfts-despite-crypto-absence/2470241

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi - a little more…

Aave Deploys Native Stablecoin GHO on Ethereum Testnet

GHO joins an increasingly competitive space as rival DeFi protocols also issue or are moving to release their own protocol-native stablecoins.

www.coindesk.com/tech/2023/02/09/aave-deploys-native-stablecoin-gho-on-ethereum-testnet

Bryan Legend The Crypto King Rises Again with Vulcan Blockchain | Bitcoinist.com

Bryan Legend is a crypto visionary, influencer, investor, and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of OOXY Labs and the CEO of Vulcan Blockchain, a

bitcoinist.com/bryan-legend-the-crypto-king-rises-again-with-vulcan-blockchain

Why Regulated Custody is the Next Step for DeFi - The Defiant

The events of 2022 have been sobering for the digital asset industry. Billions of dollars worth of assets have vanished due to excessive risk-taking, financial mismanagement and malfeasance, and the result was a massive decline in digital asset values.

thedefiant.io/self-custody-critical-to-build-trust-in-crypto

Crypto Trading - a little more…

LocalBitcoins Closes Trading Platform After A Decade

Via an official statement, the popular peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading platform LocalBitcoins announced the discontinuation of its service.

bitcoinist.com/localbitcoins-closes-platform-after-decade-service

Crypto Spot Trading Volume Sees Largest Percentage Rise in Two Years: CryptoCompare Report

Spot trading volumes in the cryptocurrency space rose 57.9% to $860 billion, the highest percentage increase since January 2021, according to a report published by leading crypto data provider CryptoCompare.

www.cryptoglobe.com/latest/2023/02/crypto-spot-trading-volume-sees-largest-percentage-rise-in-two-years-cryptocompare-report

SEC to increase scrutiny of crypto-trading firms and ESG funds in 2023

The SEC's new priorities follow Chair Gary Gensler's warning to crypto firms to "come into compliance" with securities laws after FTX filed for bankruptcy.

www.cnbc.com/2023/02/08/sec-to-increase-scrutiny-of-crypto-trading-firms-and-esg-funds-in-2023.html

The Singularity:
AI, Quantum Computing, Robotics, Bio-engineering & Other Stuff on the way

Public safety enforcement needs to evolve alongside the metaverse – but how?

GovInsider sits down with experts from information, communications and technology (ICT) service provider, NCS, to find out how advancements in the metaverse, 5G, and robotics will be used to enhance public safety in the years to come.

govinsider.asia/intl-en/article/public-safety-enforcement-needs-to-evolve-alongside-the-metaverse-but-how

Crypto AI tokens struggle as Google chatbot ad campaign shows factual issues; stock falls 6%

Following a strong start to 2023, crypto AI tokens stalled as Google failed to demonstrate accuracy in its chatbot preview

cryptoslate.com/crypto-ai-tokens-struggle-as-google-chatbot-ad-campaign-shows-factual-issues-stock-falls-6

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

Kraken Faces Heat from SEC over Unregistered Securities: Report - Crypto Economy

Crypto exchange Kraken is reportedly being investigated by the SEC over whether it breached rules around the offering of securities.

crypto-economy.com/kraken-faces-heat-from-sec-over-unregistered-securities-report

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Disclaimer: This note is distributed by Regiment, LLC for informational purposes only and is sourced from publicly available media reports. It is not an investment recommendation or solicitation for any investment. The information is current as of date and subject to change. In such case Regiment, LLC does not undertake to provide any updates. Recipients must be aware that any private, alternative investments discussed are speculative in nature, often illiquid, and subject to loss of capital.