Blockchain.com Inks Multi-Year Deal With Dallas Cowboys Star Quarterback Dak Prescott

August 23, 2022 Bitcoin.com

NFL Franchise Houston Texans to Accept Cryptocurrencies for Single Game Suites

August 17, 2022 Bitcoin.com

Reddit partners with FTX to enable ETH gas fees for community points

August 9, 2022 Coin Telegraph

With the new integration, Reddit users will be able to purchase Ether from supported Reddit apps via FTX’s payment and exchange infrastructure platform FTX Pay.

After moving away from Bitcoin (BTC) payments years ago, online forum Reddit now seems to be inching closer to embracing cryptocurrency payments via a new partnership with the FTX exchange.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX and Reddit announced in a joint statement on Tuesday that the platform intends to integrate Reddit’s Community Points in the United States, the European Union, Australia and other markets.

The partnership features the integration of FTX Pay as a payment and crypto exchange solution to unlock new crypto-enabled perks for Reddit Community Points. Introduced in May 2020, Reddit Community Points are a measure of reputation in communities or subreddits, allowing users to own a piece of their favorite communities.

“As a unit of ownership, points capture some of the value of their community. They can be spent on premium features and are used as a measure of reputation in the community,” Reddit said when launching the Community Points two years ago. Reddit Community Points are based on Arbitrum, one of the most Ethereum scaling solutions.

With the new integration, users will be able to purchase Ether (ETH) from supported Reddit apps via FTX’s payment and exchange infrastructure platform FTX Pay. The cryptocurrency can be used to pay blockchain gas fees, or network fees for their Community Points transactions on-chain.

“We're always working to empower communities and introduce new ways to use Reddit, and decentralized, self-sustaining blockchain technology allows us to do that. By working with FTX, we're able to do this at scale,” Reddit staff software engineer Niraj Sheth said.

Bankman-Fried noted that the partnership with Reddit marks FTX s commitment to empower online communities to harness the power of blockchain. “FTX Pay's payment and exchange infrastructure integrates with Reddit Community Points, making the customer experience a more seamless process,” he added.

The news comes amid Arbitrum developer Offchain Labs launching the Arbitrum Nova chain on Tuesday. Arbitrum Nova, the second chain launched in the Arbitrum ecosystem, is designed to serve as the premier solution for Web3 gaming and social applications. Apart from Reddit and FTX, other firms like Google Cloud, Consensys, P2P and QuickNode participated in the launch by becoming inaugural members of Nova's “Data Availability Committee.”

One of the most popular websites in the United States, Reddit has been largely involved in the crypto and blockchain industry for many years. The discussion platform is known for once allowing users to pay for their premium membership in Bitcoin but removing the opportunity in 2018.

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has been widely involved in crypto, launching a $100 million Web3 investment fund last year. Ohanian subsequently launched another $200 million Web3 and social media fund in collaboration with the Ethereum scaling solution Polygon.

Binance to Sell NFT Tickets for Major Italian Soccer Club Lazio

July 30, 2022 Bitcoin.com

74% of public agencies feel under-equipped for crypto investigations: Report

July 26, 2022 Coin Telegraph

chainalysis

Law enforcement and regulatory agencies investigating cryptocurrency-related incidents need better data, training and private partnerships, according to an industry survey conducted by Chainalysis.

A public agency survey conducted by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis highlights the need for better tools, training and support for cryptocurrency-related investigations.

The blockchain data platform delved into the topic in its 2022 State of Cryptocurrency Investigations Survey, with 74% of respondents indicating their agencies were under-equipped to investigate cryptocurrency-related crime.

Chainalysis polled some 300 respondents across 183 public sector agencies in the United States and Canada to unpack the challenges and successes working in the sector.

An overwhelming number of respondents indicated that cryptocurrencies were relevant to their investigations and that their respective agencies would do well to invest more resources.

Despite cryptocurrency being central in some investigations, most respondents agreed that the space could positively advance the financial system and disagreed with the suggestion that cryptocurrencies were used primarily by criminals.

Chainalysis noted the growth of legitimate cryptocurrency usage far outweighs the growth of criminal usage. Still, the percentage of illicit usage is significant enough in U.S. dollar terms that the public sector must be prepared to investigate.

Respondents also suggested their agencies have investigators or analysts specializing in cryptocurrency-related investigations. The survey also indicated that many agencies do not use specialized blockchain analytical tools, and 74% of respondents believe their agency isn’t well-equipped to investigate cryptocurrency-related crime.

Chainalysis highlighted this as a major problem given the constantly changing industry, citing the recent shift from centralized services to decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, which are more complex and difficult to investigate:

“If agencies aren’t becoming proficient in cryptocurrency investigations now, their knowledge gaps could compound, causing them to fall further behind the criminals exploiting cryptocurrency regularly.”

The survey revealed that over half of the 300 respondents see more than ten cryptocurrency-related cases in a year, while nearly 40% encountered more than 20 incidents. Scams, fraud, drugs, cybercrime and ransomware were the most commonly investigated crypto-related crimes.

Chainalysis highlighted the need for trustworthy data powered by robust blockchain analysis tools that allow for simple and valuable data visualizations. Training in cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis was another point raised by respondents, while partnerships with the private sector could deliver these tools and resources.

Iota Foundation joins Dell to develop real-time carbon footprint tracking

June 7, 2022 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

The Iota Foundation joined Dell along with ClimateCHECK and BioE to fight climate change using real-time carbon footprint data.

Iota Foundation, a non-profit distributed ledger technology ecosystem provider, partnered with tech giant Dell Technologies to develop a data-driven solution for the real-time tracking of carbon footprints.

Edge solutions from Dell Technologies announced the onboarding of Iota, climate-change-focused technology company ClimateCHECK, and BioE, to develop a solution on top of Dell’s in-house initiatives: Data Confidence Fabric (DCF) and Project Alvarium.

We've partnered w/ @Iota, BioE, & @ClimateCHECK to develop real-time carbon footprint tracking through a #data confidence fabric!

Hear how #ProjectAlvarium accurately tracks carbon footprints w/ #DellTech Edge solutions.

https://t.co/u5CxmbMBAL @Intel #IOTA #Sustainability pic.twitter.com/52RENnEW3X
— Dell Edge & Telecom (@Dell_Edge) June 6, 2022

Iota has been an active participant in Project Alvarium, which was first conceptualized by Dell Technologies in 2019 to utilize vetted data from the DFC or “trust fabric” across heterogeneous systems. Matthew Yarger, head of sustainability at the Iota Foundation, stated:

“Transparency and trust in data is paramount for addressing the global issues of climate change and transitioning to climate action.”

Sharing details about the initiative, Yarger explained that the four companies together developed an integrated digital measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) tool.

In conjunction with Project Alvarium, the digital MRV can pick up data from sensors and manual input and process it through Dell PowerEdge servers to ultimately deliver near real-time insights into the carbon footprints of BioE’s sustainable energy and composting facility. Yarger added:

“We’re now able to track and verify data around climate change and how we’re actively trying to address it at a level that’s never been achieved before.”

KenGen, an energy company from Kenya recently invited Bitcoin (BTC) miners to run their operations using its renewable power capacity.

As Cointelegraph reported, KenGen generates 86% of its energy through renewable geothermal sources. Local reports suggest that KenGen plans to rent out space from its Olkaria facility, situated at a volcanic site.

The acting director of geothermal development at KenGen, Peketsa Mwangi, too confirmed the company’s intent to host Bitcoin miners in Kenya:

“We’ll have them here because we have the space and the power is near, which helps with stability.”

F1 Monaco GP: Bybit’s Red Bull Racing NFTs, crypto-F1 partnerships, more

May 29, 2022 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

From NFTs and fan tokens to multi-year partnerships, the crypto community continues to support the F1 landscape in numerous ways.

Crypto has taken over the world, and Formula One was no exception to the disruption. From NFTs and fan tokens to multi-year partnerships, the crypto community continues to support the F1 landscape in numerous ways.

Monaco Grand Prix 2022 saw F1’s fastest pit crew, Oracle Red Bull Racing (ORBR), partner with crypto exchange Bybit to launch ORBR’s 2022 NFT collection — minted over the Tezos blockchain. The limited-edition NFT collection is made available via an auction, wherein bidders get to collect digital collectibles representing various aspects of Red Bull’s past, present and future.

Speaking to Cointelegraph editor-in-chief Kristina Cornèr, Bybit co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou said that F1 has a symbiotic relationship with crypto as the partnerships between the two industry pulls in young investors into the F1 fan base:

"Formula 1 is the challenger of the norm, and that really goes well with crypto. [...] It's a really huge synergy we see."

Max Verstappen's F1 car sporting the Bybit logo. Source: Cointelegraph

Parallelly, Bybit premiered “The Search for the Next Level,” a film starring Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio “Checo” Pérez — (spoiler alert) circled around the launch of the new RB18 car.

Something big is on its way ...

Find out more about this next level partnership with @redbullracing!

Catch the full film — out now on the Bybit Race Insider Page: https://t.co/wKhQa6uIqQ #TheSearchForTheNextLevel pic.twitter.com/l5aWurtkbL
— BYBIT (@Bybit_Official) May 24, 2022

Aston Martin F1, too, signed a multi-year partnership deal with crypto exchange Crypto.com for exploring fan engagement and investment initiatives. Crypto.com NFT marketplace continues to be the go-to place for Aston Martin NFT airdrops and limited-edition collectibles.

On-track action is about to kick off in Monaco.

Don’t miss a moment of the #MonacoGP weekend.#F1 | @cryptocom
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 27, 2022

This year crypto giant Binance partnered with Alpine F1 Team to issue NFT airdrops and collectibles. Taking fan engagement to the next level, Binance conducted an event on May 20, allowing one fan to experience the life of an Alpine F1 mechanic.

Looking forward to spotting #Binance at the #MiamiGP this weekend on the @AlpineF1Team cars. pic.twitter.com/BBEp1HBAYk
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) May 7, 2022

Cointelegraph previously reported on the overall crypto-F1 partnerships as of March 2022.

A few prominent collaborations active during the Monaco Grand Prix 2022 are Ferrari and blockchain firm Velas, Mercedes and crypto exchange FTX, and Alfa Romeo and Shiba Inu (SHIB) inspired meme token Floki.

A recent study conducted by fintech giant Deloitte concluded uncovered the potential of blockchain and cryptocurrencies to open up new markets and revenue opportunities for the sports industry:

“A nexus will form around sports collectibles, ticketing, betting, and gaming. We are just beginning to see its [cryptocurrency’s] potential, as well as the new markets it could lead to.”

The study also highlighted the possibility of new markets that allow “fractional ownership of season tickets and suites and a reinvention of the ticket resale process.”

WEMIX gains 200%+ after stablecoin and boosted staking rewards announcement

May 27, 2022 Coin Telegraph

Altcoin Watch

New partnerships, a mainnet upgrade and plans to launch a stablecoin appear to have triggered a 200% rally in WEMIX price.

Blockchain-based gaming, also known as GameFi, is an up-and-coming sector that could potentially be one of the primary catalysts for kickstarting the mass adoption of blockchain technology.

WEMIX, a gaming protocol that operates on the Klaytn network, aims to get in on the GameFi revolution and this week, the project's native token (WEMIX) rallied even as the wider market continued to sell-off.

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows that since hitting a low of $1.27 on May 12, WEMIX price climbed 269% to hit a daily high at $4.70 on May 25 as its 24-hour trading volume increased to $652 million.

*WEMIX/USDT 1-day chart. Source: TradingView*

Three reasons for the price reversal for WEMIX are the upcoming launch of WEMIX 3.0, a series of project launches and partnership agreements, and the introduction of lockup staking for token holders.

WEMIX 3.0

The main development attracting attention to WEMIX is the protocol's planned mainnet launch, which is scheduled to take place on June 15.

WEMIX 3.0 will be an Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) compatible public chain that will utilize a stake-based proof-of-authority (SPoA) consensus algorithm.

As part of the mainnet launch, WEMIX will also be introducing the WEMIX Dollar (WEMIX) as the native stablecoin of the ecosystem.

WEMIX will be a 100% collateralized stablecoin, backed by USD Coin (USDC) and off-chain assets like fiat currencies.

New partnerships boost excitement

May has been a busy month for the WEMIX protocol after multiple games launched or announced their upcoming launch dates on the network. New additions include Crypto Ball Z, Four Gods and Every Farm, as well as the onboarding of the SpoLive sports prediction game.

Along with protocol launches, WEMIX announced several strategic investments including being the lead investor in the Old Fashion Research (OFR) crypto fund as well as an investment in an U.S.-based augmented reality metaverse startup called Jadu.

On May 17, the team behind WEMIX also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam Blockchain Association.

Increased staking rewards

WEMIX also launched Stake360, an incentive that offers WEMIX holders boosted staking rewards for committing to an extended lockup period.

#WEMIX #Lockup #Staking 「Stake360」 Notice

❓What is #Stake360?
- Stake360 is 90 days/180 days/270 days/ 360 days maturity reward staking service.

Details of #Maturity #reward, #Heritage system, and Token #Airdrop is provided below : https://t.co/ceeAxW1Z2f pic.twitter.com/u973uVvC6Z
— WEMIX (@WemixNetwork) May 19, 2022

In addition to the standard 7% staking reward available to all token holders, investors who agree to a 90 to 360 day lockup can earn from 9% to 20.28%.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Swiss Watchmaker TAG Heuer Now Accepts Cryptocurrency in US

May 23, 2022 Bitcoin.com

Goldman Sachs reportedly eyes FTX alliance with regulatory and public listing assistance

April 21, 2022 Coin Telegraph

CFTC

The reported discussion between the two CEOs of the company happened in March last month, at a time when FTX requested CFTC to eliminate the role of brokers in product offerings.

Goldman Sachs is reportedly pursuing an alliance with one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges FTX.

The chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs David Solomon reportedly met with Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX in a closed-door meeting in March to discuss various prospects of working together, reported Financial Times.

According to the report, the major points of discussion were around mitigating regulatory compliance in the United States and Goldman Sachs offered to help them, especially with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Apart from regulatory assistance, the Wall Street bank also offered to help with future funding rounds.

The latest report highlights the growing relationship between traditional Wall Street giants and emerging crypto companies. Goldman Sachs has also shown interest in helping FTX with its public listing. However, people familiar with the matter claimed that Bankman Fried is currently looking for more private fundraising opportunities.

FTX has racked up a valuation of $32 billion after three funding rounds ranging in hundreds of millions of dollars. The last funding round came towards the end of January when the crypto firm closed a $400 million funding round, which is also the smallest of the three funding rounds.

Goldman Sachs like many other Wall Street giants has come a long way from its early days of Bitcoin bashing and currently looking to take a pie in FTX, one of the biggest crypto market companies at the moment.

Goldman Sachs and FTX didn’t respond to requests for comments from Cointelegraph at the time of publishing.

The reports of an alliance between one of the biggest wall street banks and one of the largest crypto exchanges come at a time when FTX had filed an application with CFTC requesting to eliminate brokers such as Wall Street banks in the financial markets with its crypto futures products.

Partnership