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Cryptography startup Fabric raises $33M for new data privacy chip

Blockchain Capital and 1kx co-led the Series A round that will back the development of a new computing chip focused on data privacy.

Fabric Cryptography, a Silicon Valley hardware startup, has closed a $33 million Series A funding round co-led by Blockchain Capital and 1kx to build new computing chips focusing on data privacy. 

The round also saw the participation of Offchain Labs, Polygon, and Matter Labs. The investment follows a $6 million seed round led by Metaplanet with participation from Inflection and Liquid2 Ventures, among other investors. 

According to an Aug. 19 announcement, the startup is developing a new cryptography processing unit called the Verifiable Processing Unit (VPU), a silicon chip that uses a cryptography-specific instruction set architecture. “This means that any cryptographic algorithm can be broken down into its mathematical building blocks that are natively accelerated and supported by the chip,” said the company. 

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Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Chaos Labs Secures $55M Series A Funding to Bolster Defi Risk Management Solutions

Chaos Labs Secures M Series A Funding to Bolster Defi Risk Management SolutionsChaos Labs has raised $55 million in a Series A funding round, led by Haun Ventures, to advance its onchain risk management platform for decentralized finance (defi). The company plans to use the funds to further enhance its technology, which automates real-time protocol parameter recommendations to improve the security and efficiency of defi protocols. Chaos […]

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Sam Bankman-Fried $500M Anthropic stake irrelevant to case, prosecutors say

United States prosecutors argue that the potential for FTX investors to be made whole through the high valuation of Anthropic cannot be presented by Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team.

United States prosecutors have requested the court presiding over Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial to bar his legal team from making any arguments relating to the potential recovery of FTX customer assets that were invested in Anthropic.

Bankman-Fried invested $500 million in the artificial intelligence startup in April 2022. The U.S. government is set to present evidence that the Anthropic investment was made using misappropriated funds from FTX customer deposits.

Anthropic has made headlines in recent weeks as it looks to raise fresh funds from investors, courting the likes of Amazon and Google which could lead to a valuation of $20 to $30 billion.

U.S. prosecutors note that recent reports focused on the potentially high valuation of the company would also increase the value of Bankman-Fried’s investment, which could increase the potential recovery for FTX customers and other creditors in the FTX bankruptcy.

Related: Sam Bankman-Fried ordered ‘special privileges’ for Alameda account on FTX — Gary Wang

According to the letter submitted to Judge Lewis Kaplan, the legal teams representing the U.S. government and Bankman-Fried conferred over various issues that could be elicited during cross-examination of witnesses.

Bankman-Fried’s legal team plans to present evidence regarding the current value of the former FTX CEO’s $500 million investment in Anthropic last year.

The prosecutors believe that this evidence is intended to be used to support the argument that FTX customers and other victims would be fully compensated for their losses, which the court has previously indicated as an “impermissible purpose”:

“Such evidence would therefore be wholly irrelevant, and present a substantial danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, and waste of time.”

The U.S. government maintains that its indictment against Bankman-Fried is centred on allegations of wire fraud using FTX customer deposits to make investments and other expenditures. The prosecutors argue that any mention of investments made that might have been profitable are ultimately immaterial and irrelevant to the charges that the jury is considering.

The U.S. government contends that while it plans to introduce evidence of Bankman-Fried’s alleged misappropriation of customer deposits that resulted in massive losses on FTX’s balance sheet, it does not intend to offer any evidence regarding the ultimate losses of victims once the FTX bankruptcy process is complete.

Cointelegraph journalist Ana Paula Pereira is in New York covering the Bankman-Fried trial. The first week of the trial has been centered on establishing how some $8 billion of FTX customer funds went missing from the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange.

Magazine: Blockchain detectives: Mt. Gox collapse saw birth of Chainalysis

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Web3 made simple: Brinc joins forces with Cointelegraph Accelerator

Brinc partners with Cointelegraph Accelerator to establish a two-way support bridge for startups developing the future of Web3.

Web3 startups often face challenges unique to the nascent ecosystem — complex regulatory landscapes and scaling with decentralization are just two of many. Venture capital flowing into Web3 startups experienced a big drop over the last year, and new projects need more help than ever to carry their work throughout the early phases.

This is where Web3-focused accelerators can step in. Programs designed by industry leaders act as pathfinders to guide promising projects and startups through the uncharted horizons of Web3. Tailored to the specific needs of Web3 ventures, accelerator programs offer a range of resources, including mentorship from industry experts, access to a well-established network and programs designed to address the unique challenges faced by newly emerging startups.

Web3 startup funding took a hit during the crypto winter of 2022, and has not recovered so far. Source: Cointelegraph Research

Web3 startup funding took a hit during the crypto winter of 2022, and has not recovered so far. Source: Cointelegraph Research

Web3-friendly accelerators join forces

When the market conditions become unpredictable, it’s crucial for the industry to collaborate and find ways beyond VC money to endure the economic downturns. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Brinc is a venture accelerator that empowers game changers to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges and actively supports entrepreneurs from around the globe on their path to innovation. Offering accelerator programs to companies in a variety of sectors, ranging from climate and food technologies to hardware, Internet of Things (IoT) and Web3, the company has invested in 239 companies originating from more than 36 countries.

Brinc’s Web3 program is delivered in partnership with Animoca Brands and is set to host its fourth cohort in Q1, 2024. Through the program, Brinc has accelerated more than 60 Web3 companies, covering technology and infrastructure, DeFi, gaming, metaverse, entertainment, healthcare, arts and culture.

The new partnership between Brinc and Cointelegraph seeks to create a two-way bridge between the former’s Web3-focused accelerators and the Cointelegraph Accelerator program. The aim is to utilize the complementary nature of the two accelerators by combining Cointelegraph’s global audience and marketing experience with Brinc’s expertise in product development, token design, scaling strategy and network introductions.

Brinc accelerator programs provide mentorship, funding and access for startups. Source: Brinc

Brinc accelerator programs provide mentorship, funding and access for startups. Source: Brinc

Together with Cointelegraph Accelerator, Brinc aims to hold joint demo days for up-and-coming Web3 startups so they can showcase their projects to a broader audience. As part of the collaboration, Cointelegraph and Brinc will open up their respective networks of projects, mentors and investors to the participants of their accelerators.

Brinc’s network of prominent Web3 names, which consists of Animoca Brands, Consensys, AWS, Filecoin and more, will provide mentorship for Cointelegraph Accelerator participants. Likewise, Brinc’s accelerator program and potential portfolio companies will receive Web3 Marketing and other workshops conducted by Cointelegraph Accelerator on top of special discounts for Cointelegraph’s media products.

This clarifies the roadmap for any startups joining the programs: Participants can build their minimum viable product, strategize to scale and connect with best-fit partners under Brinc’s guidance, and then launch it to the global audience via Cointelegraph Accelerator.

Cointelegraph Accelerator ignites the growth of promising Web3 projects by developing marketing strategies, providing advertorial media coverage, organizing workshops with specialists, and arranging participation in crypto events and introductions to Cointelegraph’s network of partners, consisting of institutional investors, exchanges and advisers.

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Musk Mulls AI Startup to Rival Chatgpt Maker Openai, Report

Musk Mulls AI Startup to Rival Chatgpt Maker Openai, ReportEntrepreneur Elon Musk is preparing to launch a startup that will compete with Openai, the creator of Chatgpt, a media report unveiled. According to quoted knowledgeable sources, the owner of Twitter and Tesla is already assembling a team of developers and talking to investors. Elon Musk Reportedly Working to Establish Openai Rival, Registers X.AI Corp […]

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

AI-Focused Cryptogpt Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding to Expand Into Asian Markets

AI-Focused Cryptogpt Raises  Million in Series A Funding to Expand Into Asian MarketsA Layer two (L2) project, called Cryptogpt, which leverages ZK-rollup technology and artificial intelligence (AI), has announced that its team has raised $10 million in capital from a Series A funding round. The crypto and AI firm disclosed that the new funds would be used to expand into the largest Asian markets, and the company […]

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

OKX seeks Australian expansion citing ‘huge appetite’ for crypto

The exchange's chief marketing officer believes Australians are above-the-curve when it comes to crypto education and interest.

Seychelles-based crypto exchange OKX has signaled its intention to expand its crypto services to Australia, a country it believes is primed to take on the next wave of crypto adoption.

The trading platform explained in a March 29 statement that Australia would be a key growth market for the firm moving forward. The firm states it provides services to over 100 countries. In July 2022, it secured a provisional license in Dubai.

"We see Australia as an indispensable part of this strategy and a key growth market. With such a strong uptake of crypto in Australia already, we're committed to the local market and aim to build a strong local office,” the firm wrote in a statement.

Haider Rafique, the chief marketing officer of OKX told Cointelegraph that the decision to expand "Down Under" was driven by a “huge appetite” of Australians for more crypto investment and trading products:

“What I’ve interestingly found over the last 5-6 years is that Australian retail investors certainly show a huge appetite for exploring crypto as an investment vehicle and also for trading. When I came to OKX, I certainly saw that in terms of web traffic and people from Australia trying to explore OKX services.”

Rafique believes Australians are above-the-curve in terms of crypto education, which he hopes will make OKX’s move into the market all the more smooth.

“They’re pretty familiar with crypto, the value of blockchain, the promise that it holds in the future, and I think from us as a company, it makes it really intriguing for us to extend our services in this market,” he said, adding:

“I think the value creation we can do for Australians will ultimately lift all boats.”
OKX Ambassadors Daniel Ricciardo and Scotty James with OKX CMO Haider Rafique at the Q&A session held in Melbourne on March 30. Source: OKX

A September 2022 survey from Australian crypto exchange Swyftx found that about 1 million Aussies are expected to enter into crypto for the first time within the next 12 months, which represents about 4% of the country’s population.

Rafique said he was also impressed with Australia’s crypto startup scene.

It is understood that the trading firm has not yet registered with AUSTRAC, the licensing regime required to offer cryptocurrency services in Australia.

OKX was not in a position yet to share where the Australian office would potentially be located or how large the team would be. OKX currently employs over 1,750 staff, according to LinkedIn.

Related: OKX latest proof of reserves reveals $8.9B in assets

OKX is in the process of applying for a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in Hong Kong too, Rafique confirmed.

The expansion plan into Australia and Hong Kong comes as OKX recently announced plans to cease its services to Canadians in June.

Magazine: Can you trust crypto exchanges after the collapse of FTX?

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Asset management firm launches BTC Lightning Network startup accelerator

The startup accelerator will consist of four yearly 8-week programs, with successful applicants receiving $250,000 and one receiving an additional $500,000 at the end of the program.

Asset management firm Stone Ridge, the parent company of Bitcoin company NYDIG, has launched the first startup accelerator that focuses on the Bitcoin Lightning Network and the Taro protocol, called In Wolf’s Clothing (Wolf). 

The accelerator consists of 8-week programs in which the best founders and startup teams from around the world will be brought to New York City, with accommodation and travel costs covered.

The teams which apply and are accepted into the program will receive a guaranteed investment of $250,000.  One team will be chosen by a panel of judges to receive an additional $500,000 of funding during the demonstration day at the end of each program.

The programs will occur four times per year, with the first now open to applications and set to kick off in April next year.

Kelly Brewster, the CEO of Wolf, pointed to one-on-one mentorships and access to a range of specialists as additional benefits of the program.

Despite macroeconomic headwinds and a huge drop in the price of Bitcoin (BTC), the Lightning Network has continued to see rapid growth in its capacity over the last year, recently breaching the 5,000 BTC threshold after having only hit 4,000 BTC in June.

Bitcoin Lightning Network capacity. Source lookintobitcoin.com

Related: CashApp adds support for Bitcoin Lightning Network

The Lightning Network is a layer-2 solution built on top of Bitcoin that allows users to send satoshis, the smallest amount of Bitcoin can be divided into, with greater speeds and lower fees.

The Taro protocol is a Taproot-powered protocol designed by the Bitcoin software firm Lightning Labs, which allows assets issued on the Bitcoin blockchain to be transferred to the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

In other words, Taro allows the Lightning network to become a multi-asset network with Bitcoin at its core.

According to data from 1ml, at the time of writing the network's capacity is currently sitting at 5,140 BTC, representing a 5.43% increase over the past month, and median transaction fees are well under 1 millionth of a cent per satoshi.

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

NEAR Protocol partners with Google Cloud to support Web3 devs

Under a partnership with NEAR Protocol, Google Cloud will support NEAR developers in building and scaling their Web3 projects and DApps.

NEAR Foundation has announced a new partnership between Google Cloud and NEAR Protocol, providing infrastructure to NEAR’s Web3 startup platform, Pagoda. 

According to an Oct. 4 announcement, this partnership will allow Google Cloud to provide “technical support” to NEAR grant recipients by providing infrastructure for NEAR’s Remote Procedure Call (RPC) node provider to Pagoda.

Near Protocol is a decentralized application (DApp) platform that focuses on usability among developers and users. It uses sharding technology to achieve scalability and, as a competitor to Ethereum, is also smart-contract capable and a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain.

Launched in Feb. 2022, Pagoda is a startup platform that provides Web3 developers building on NEAR with a full-stack toolset to build, launch and maintain their Web3 projects or DApps on the blockchain.

In a statement, Google Cloud Director of Digital Assets Carlos Arena said his company's infrastructure will allow NEAR developers a means to “build and scale,” and said the company will continue to support “new products and services on blockchain-based platforms.”

Related: Lesson learned? Sky Mavis teams up with Google Cloud to avoid another Ronin hack

In September, Google Cloud inked a similar partnership with Binance’s smart contract blockchain platform BNB Chain, allowing startups that are building products and services on the BNB Chain blockchain to also be able to build on Google Cloud’s scalable, secure and open source infrastructure.

Google Cloud launched a new digital assets team in January to support the development and evolution of the blockchain ecosystem. The digital asset team is focused on helping Google Cloud’s customers create, trade store value and launch new products on blockchain-based platforms.

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?

Co-Founder of Zimbabwean Fintech Startup: ‘Everyone Has a Right to Access Funds and Financial Freedom’

Co-Founder of Zimbabwean Fintech Startup: ‘Everyone Has a Right to Access Funds and Financial Freedom’Cryptocurrencies have been proven to be a financial tool that can be used to store value or make payments by those excluded from the financial system. Yet, despite this being true in many jurisdictions, many of those that might benefit from cryptocurrencies are still not using them. Regulatory Uncertainty and Ignorance There may be several […]

Russia Using Bitcoin to Bypass Sanctions – Is the Global Financial System Cracking?