New Balance ‘Virtual Goods’ Trademarks Hint of Upcoming Metaverse and NFT Venture

Following Adidas and Nike getting into the metaverse, the sneaker manufacturer New Balance seems to be prepping to launch virtual items tied to its products. The firm filed three trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that describe “downloadable virtual goods” featuring “footwear, clothing, sports bags, sports equipment, and accessories for … Read more

Crypto Ban in Russia Can Have Opposite Effect, Medvedev Warns as Opposition Mounts Against Proposal

Dmitry Medvedev, former president and prime minister of Russia, has voiced his concerns over Bank of Russia’s initiative to ban most crypto operations. Prohibition could bring the opposite result, the Russian politician warned, joining a chorus of opinions against the restrictive policy. More Officials and Organizations Reject Central Bank’s Call to Prohibit Cryptocurrency Central Bank … Read more

IMF Urges El Salvador to Drop Bitcoin Tender Law, Executive Board Report criticizes BTC Bonds, Chivo Wallet

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been very critical of cryptocurrencies and according to a report on Tuesday, the IMF’s board has “urged” El Salvador to discontinue its bitcoin tender status. A few members of the IMF’s board said the country’s decision to leverage bitcoin within its financial system could pose risks. IMF Report Attempts … Read more

Low Volumes Across Crypto Spot Markets and Derivatives Indicate Bearish Conditions

Digital currency markets have slipped significantly in value during the last two weeks and the lower prices have not sparked higher trade volumes. Data shows cryptocurrency spot market volume has slipped from $1.4 trillion in November 2021, to this month’s $593 billion in volume. Bitcoin futures open interest and volumes have dropped considerably over the … Read more

Indonesian Religious Organization Issues Decree Forbidding Use of Crypto by Country’s Muslim Population

Indonesia’s Tarjih Council and the Central Executive Tajdid of Muhammadiyah have issued a fatwa (decree) stipulating the illegality of cryptocurrency use or investment by the country’s Muslims. The fatwa points to the volatility as well as the lack of state backing as reasons why Muslims must avoid investing or using cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies Thought to Be … Read more

IMF: Crypto Could Soon Pose Risks to Countries’ Financial Stability

Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) say that “crypto assets are no longer on the fringe of the financial system.” In addition, they “could soon pose risks to financial stability especially in countries with widespread crypto adoption.” ‘Our Analysis Suggests Crypto Assets Are No Longer on the Fringe of the Financial System’ The International … Read more

Political Parties in Thailand Voice Opposition to Government Plan to Tax Crypto Gains

As Thailand prepares to impose a levy on crypto profits, parties on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns over the government’s current proposal. A number of political figures have insisted that important aspects need to be clarified in order to avoid double taxation of income related to cryptocurrencies. Thai Politicians Warn About Negative … Read more

Shiba Inu Project Reveals ‘Doggy DAO,’ Devs Say Phase 1 to Provide ‘Immediate Power to the SHIB Army’

During the last half of 2021, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) have been popping out of the woodwork in mass numbers, airdropping tokens and creating governance systems for specific projects. Just before the end of the year on December 31, the developers behind the Shiba Inu crypto protocol have announced the launch of a “Doggy DAO” … Read more

Ex-Head of Crypto Exchange Wex Released in Poland

Former chief executive of the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Wex, Dmitry Vasiliev, has been released from arrest in Warsaw earlier this month. The ex-head of the now-defunct coin trading platform has since returned to Russia while court proceedings against him in Poland are still ongoing. Polish Court Rejects Extradition of Wex Executive to Kazakhstan Authorities in … Read more