Binance and Gulf Energy launch crypto exchange services in Thailand

Gulf Binance, a collaborative venture between global cryptocurrency exchange Binance and Thailand’s Gulf Innova, has officially launched its exchange services in Thailand. On Jan. 16, Binance TH announced that its exchange is now open to all eligible users. According to reports, it features a dedicated order book for Thai baht trading pairs. Additionally, the platform boasts seamless integration...

Trend Micro reveals new malware targeting crypto wallets on Windows

A new strain of info stealer Phemedrone Stealer appears to be targeting crypto wallets and messaging apps, analysts say. Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro recently uncovered a previously unknown malware strain, which was exploiting a now-patched security flaw in Microsoft Windows. According to a report from the Texas-headquartered firm, Phemedrone Stealer focuses on web browsers and extracts data from crypto...

US lawmakers urge SEC to fix cybersecurity after X account hack

U.S. lawmakers have urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review its cyber security preparedness after the financial regulator's X account posted market material information earlier in the week due to a hack. Someone briefly accessed its X, formerly called Twitter, account on Tuesday, the agency had confirmed, and posted a fake message saying it...

Crypto firm Genesis Global Trading to pay $8 million penalty, surrender NY license

The New York Department of Financial Services said Digital Currency Group subsidiary Genesis Global trading will pay an $8 million penalty and surrender its license from the regulator after an investigation found significant failings in the company's anti-money laundering and cybersecurity programs. Genesis - a cryptocurrency market-maker and brokerage firm - failed to maintain an effective...

Fidelity trading app displays spot Bitcoin ETF tickers

Users reported seeing spot Bitcoin ETF symbols on trading platforms ahead of approval from the SEC. Fidelity’s retail trading app showed spot Bitcoin ETF tickers, including ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), although one user confirmed that trading was unavailable for now. Shortly after, Bloomberg notably listed 11 Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs on its terminal under the “pending listing” designation. The Chicago Board Options...

SEC approves spot Bitcoin ETF on accelerated basis

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs on Jan. 10. According to an official SEC filing, spot Bitcoin ETFs have been approved for listing on all registered national exchanges in the U.S., including the Nasdaq, NYSE, and CBOE, following a decade-long hunt for these products. The approval means ETFs will go live in trading...

JPMorgan CEO criticizes BTC despite backing BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reiterated his longstanding skepticism about BTC despite his company’s role in the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF. Despite the cryptocurrency’s status as the most valuable in terms of market capitalization, Dimon remained unswayed, questioning its intrinsic worth. Under Dimon’s leadership, JPMorgan Chase has been identified as an authorized participant for BlackRock’s newly approved spot Bitcoin ETF, the iShares...

Bitwise to donate 10% of Bitcoin ETF profits to support open-source development

Crypto index fund manager Bitwise pledges to allocate 10% of profits from the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF to support Bitcoin open-source development. In an X thread on Jan. 11, Bitwise says it will send the proceeds of its Bitcoin spot ETF to three crypto organizations: Brink, OpenSats, and Human Rights Foundation. Bitwise says that with the donations it wants to “express gratitude...

European Central Bank allocates over $700m to propel offline digital euro development

The European Central Bank (ECB) is allocating over $700 million from its $1.3 billion contract budget for contractors to develop offline payment capabilities for a retail digital euro. In its search for providers offering various services such as risk management, information security, and user application, the ECB disclosed its intention to assign up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.3...

South Korea stands firm on crypto ETF ban, unswayed by U.S. approval

South Korea’s stance on cryptocurrency ETFs remains unchanged despite the U.S. giving the green light to a Bitcoin spot ETF. The South Korean government continues to disallow the launch of cryptocurrency ETFs, adhering to its long-standing policy of not recognizing digital currencies as financial assets. Since 2017, financial institutions in the country have been barred from...