Author: dfmines

Bitcoin’s fluctuating correlation with US equities is raising questions about its role as a global safe-haven asset during periods of financial stress.Bitcoin (BTC) exhibited a strong negative correlation with the US stock market when analyzing the short-term, seven-day trailing correlation, according to new research from blockchain data provider RedStone Oracles, shared exclusively with Cointelegraph.Bitcoin, S&P 500, 7-day rolling correlation. Source: Redstone OraclesHowever, RedStone said that the 30-day indicator signals a “variable correlation” between Bitcoin price and the S&P 500 index, with the correlation coefficient ranging from -0.2 to 0.4.This fluctuating correlation suggests that Bitcoin “doesn’t consistently function as a true hedge for equities” due to its lack of a strong negative correlation below -0.3, which is needed for “reliable counter movement during market stress,” the report said.Bitcoin, S&P 500, 30-day rolling correlation, 1-year chart. Source: Redstone OraclesRelated: $1B Bitcoin exits Coinbase in a day as analysts warn of supply shockThe research suggests that while Bitcoin may not be a dependable hedge against stock market declines, it offers value as a portfolio diversifier.This fluctuating dynamic signals that Bitcoin often moves independently from other assets, potentially offering additional returns while other assets are struggling. Still, Bitcoin has yet to mirror the safe-haven dynamics of gold and government bonds, RedStone suggests.Related: Nasdaq-listed GDC plans to buy Bitcoin and TRUMP memecoin for $300MBitcoin needs to “mature” before decoupling from stock marketWhile Bitcoin is poised to grow into a safe-haven asset in the future, the world’s first cryptocurrency still needs to “mature” as a global asset, according to Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder and chief operating officer at RedStone.“Bitcoin still needs to mature before decoupling from stock markets,” Kazmierczak told Cointelegraph, adding:“Increased institutional adoption will absolutely help — we’re already seeing this effect with corporate treasury investments reducing Bitcoin’s 30-day volatility and with BlackRock repetitively praising BTC as an asset in a portfolio.”Meanwhile, Bitcoin will see growing recognition as a portfolio diversifier, with an annualized return of over 230% for the past five years, which “significantly outperformed” both stocks and traditional safe-haven assets, Kazmierczak said, adding that “even a small 1–5% Bitcoin allocation can meaningfully enhance a portfolio’s risk-adjusted returns.”Source: Vetle LundeMeanwhile, Bitcoin’s declining volatility supports BTC’s growing maturity as a global financial asset. Bitcoin’s weekly volatility hit a 563-day low on April 30, a development that may signal more stable price action.Bitcoin’s price volatility fell below the realized volatility of the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100, signaling that investors are increasingly treating Bitcoin as a long-term investment vehicle, Cointelegraph reported on May 13.Magazine: Uni students crypto ‘grooming’ scandal, 67K scammed by fake women: Asia Express

Key takeawaysFake crypto investment platforms give themselves away in a few obvious ways.Many use fake reviews, incorrect contact information and unrealistic promises to lure you in.The best approach is a healthy dose of skepticism. Watching for these red flags will keep you safe while investing.The burgeoning cryptocurrency market, with its lack of centralized authority and a constant flow of inexperienced users, makes digital assets a prime target for scammers. Fake crypto investment platforms are a common scam method, masquerading as useful services for crypto traders.Before signing up for any crypto investment platform, it’s essential to learn the telltale signs of a scam. This article will detail what to watch out for and how to verify if a crypto investment platform is legitimate. These tips will teach you how to avoid crypto scams. Did you know? The FTC hosts a crypto scam detection guide that allows you to view common crypto scams, sorted by company name, scam type and other keywords. How to spot a crypto scamHere are 10 crypto investment scam red flags to watch for when choosing a cryptocurrency investment platform.1. Promising unrealistic returnsWhat to watch for: Fake crypto investment platforms will try to entice you with unrealistic promises, like “Make 1 Bitcoin in just a few days!” A legitimate crypto exchange won’t need to sell you with fake deals.How to verify: The platform’s services should speak for themselves. None of them will give you a special advantage over the other, especially not one that can net you a Bitcoin just days after signing up. This is one of those prime crypto scam warning signs.2. Fake team membersWhat to watch for: It’s easy to make an “our team” page on any website, let alone one offering a decentralized service. At a minimum, these pages should include photos, descriptions and links to LinkedIn or other verified social media platforms.How to verify: Double-check team pages for legitimacy. Some scammers might also set up fake social media pages, so scan those for authentic interactions and delve deep into each team member’s project history.3. Inconsistent white paperWhat to watch for: Let’s be honest, most scammers won’t expect customers to read their project white paper. It’s probably something they threw together in ChatGPT or even plagiarized from a legitimate project.How to verify: Read a project’s white paper in-depth and watch for legitimate use cases. Make sure the project solves a real problem, has a legitimate purpose and a realistic plan for the future. Don’t fall for buzzwords!Did you know? Justin Sun, founder of Tron’s long-standing blockchain platform, has been accused of plagiarizing Ethereum’s white paper.4. False endorsementsWhat to watch for: Just as it’s super easy to fabricate an “our team” page, scammers can place fake endorsements all over their home page. It’s as quick as copying and pasting a company logo like Forbes.How to verify: Instead of trusting an exchange’s webpage, look up news releases and other proof of these supposed endorsements. Cointelegraph provides a directory of legit exchanges to help you identify fake crypto websites.5. Lack of regulatory informationWhat to watch for: Now, regulatory requirements may vary depending on whether you’re looking at a centralized or decentralized platform, but if you’re looking at the former, know that centralized platforms cannot operate without regulatory approval from your government.How to verify: Typically, you can check a government database to confirm if a platform is licensed. If it’s not, it may not be trustworthy. For example, the CEO of Tether (USDT) refuses to comply with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The company is known for its resistance to comply with regulatory policies, causing industry-wide suspicion.6. Pushy sales tacticsWhat to watch for: Pushy sales tactics are a big red flag. If a platform reaches out to you through social media, such as through a direct message on X, Discord or Telegram, you can be sure it’s a scam. Scammers might claim to be an employee or crypto influencer ready to provide you with an “exclusive offer” or “limited time deal.” How to verify: A real exchange would never reach out to potential customers like this, especially via social media. Social media DMs are widespread crypto scam tactics.Did you know? Some top crypto scams in 2024 were phishing attacks, rug pulls and fake airdrops. 7. Fake location/contact infoWhat to watch for: Crypto investment platforms with a real product, even decentralized ones, will have contact information. Even Uniswap has a support email with which to get in touch. Centralized entities should also have addresses of their offices, ones that you can cross-reference with Google Maps for legitimacy purposes. How to verify: If a crypto investment platform is missing any contact information, consider that a red flag. This is an easy sign to miss.8. Fake reviewsWhat to watch for: Tech products, blockchain-based and otherwise, feature user reviews front and center on their websites. That said, you can tell if these are real or manufactured. Keep an eye out for reviews with repetitive language and a lack of a critical eye, which only praise the platform. Glowing reviews are often fake, possibly even written by AI.How to verify: Search for platform reviews on Reddit and other social media sites. Other users will tell you if the platform is legit or not. If a platform has no social media accounts, there is more reason to avoid it.9. Fake airdrops or giveawaysWhat to watch for: Some fraudulent platforms may offer airdrops or giveaways as promotions to attract positive attention. However, participating in the fake airdrop might require inputting a wallet seed phrase or private key. How to verify: Legitimate airdrops will be announced on social media platforms like X, the platform’s blog on Medium or its official website. They’ll only ask for your wallet address, nothing more.3. No fiat offrampingWhat to watch for: A crypto exchange with no fiat offramping means it’s not registered with local financial institutions. The platform might demand that you only work in crypto.How to verify: If you sign up for an exchange and it immediately asks you to send crypto into your wallet on the platform instead of linking a payment method like a bank or card, this is a big red flag.Cryptocurrency investment scams thrive on urging you to make rash decisions. It’s always best to be skeptical when choosing where to trade, invest or hold your crypto. Take your time, do your research, and double-check every piece of information a platform provides. These crypto fraud prevention tips will help keep you safe, protecting your assets and peace of mind. Use them to create a crypto scam checklist.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

GFO-X announced the successful launch of its UK regulated trading venue for centrally cleared digital asset derivatives. This venue aims to meet the growing institutional demand for compliant crypto futures and options. The first institutional trade was executed between Virtu Financial and IMC, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of institutional-grade digital asset markets. […]

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Let’s break it down. A quick thread on how this proposal is making Ethereum more efficient, scalable, and affordable: 1/ Blob fees dropped to near-zero. If you recall, we took apart about EIP-7691 in our Expainer series, and as we observe, before Pectra, median blob fees hovered around 1.43 gwei. Now, they have dropped to…
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This content is provided by a sponsor. PRESS RELEASE. While the Bitcoin price has already climbed back to above $100k, the XRP price has remained stuck in the $2 zone. As XRP stalls, Remittix(RTX), an emerging PayFi protocol on Ethereum, is up over 400% in presale! Let’s find out why crypto analysts believe RTX is […]

Michael Saylor’s Strategy, one of the world’s largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, could become the top publicly traded equity one day, according to a Strategy analyst.Strategy will be the “number one publicly traded equity in the entire market” because of its future financial strength enabled with Bitcoin (BTC), Strategy analyst Jeff Walton predicted in the new Financial Times documentary, Michael Saylor’s $40 billion Bitcoin bet.The company currently holds about 568,840 Bitcoin, worth roughly $59 billion, and Walton believes that advantage could push it past all other publicly listed firms in the future. “Strategy holds more of the best assets and the most pristine collateral on the entire planet than any other company, by multiples,” Walton said.Strategy raised $12 billion in 50 daysThe analyst pointed to the firm’s ability to rapidly raise capital as another indicator of its strength. In November 2024, Strategy raised $12 billion in just 50 days.“It’s incredibly hard to raise $100 million of capital, and they just raised $100 million of capital 120 times in 50 days, and they were able to buy Bitcoin with that capital. That’s insane,” Walton said.Strategy analyst Jeff Walton in the Financial Times’ documentary “Michael Saylor’s $40 billion Bitcoin bet.” Source: YouTubeIn the documentary, Saylor also paints a bullish picture of the company’s future due to its Bitcoin adoption.“I think that MicroStrategy is in a position where we can grow from a $100 billion enterprise to a $1 trillion enterprise to a $10 trillion enterprise,” Saylor said.Related: Coinbase considered Saylor-like Bitcoin strategy before opting out: BloombergHe also predicted that Bitcoin would one day reach a price of $13 million per coin:“My forecast for 2045 is 13 million a Bitcoin. I would think in the four to eight year time frame. Certainly, in 10 years we should be at a million. So one million in 10 years you know 10X that or more in 20 years.”Walton’s prediction on Strategy potentially beating all publicly traded equities in the future comes amid the company ranking the 151st largest company in the world by the market capitalization of $117 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap.To become the largest, Strategy would need to surpass Microsoft, whose current market cap exceeds $3.3 trillion. Magazine: Bitcoin to $1M ‘by 2029,’ CIA tips its hat to Bitcoin: Hodler’s Digest, April 27 – May 3

Kazakhstan has the potential to become a leading crypto hub in Central Asia if regulatory restrictions are eased, according to Kanysh Tuleushin, the country’s first vice minister of digital development, innovation and aerospace industry.In a recent op-ed for the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, Tuleushin said digital mining and smart policy shifts could position Kazakhstan as a regional leader in blockchain innovation.“If all restrictions were lifted and digital asset trading was allowed across Kazakhstan, the impact could be significant,” he wrote.  “Kazakhstan might become Central Asia’s crypto hub,” Tuleushin added, suggesting that broader legalization and taxation could add hundreds of billions of the country’s tenge currency to the national budget.He called for nationwide crypto rules, transparent exchanges and legal crypto ATMs.Binance’s CZ signed an MOU with Kazakhstan in 2023. Source: CZRelated: Kazakhstan mulls Binance, Bybit for digital asset trading Crypto miners could modernize KazakhstanTuleushin said crypto mining firms could play a key role in modernizing the nation’s energy infrastructure. He noted that, similar to the United States, miners in Kazakhstan could help balance the power grid by consuming surplus energy.Through the 70/30 energy initiative, foreign investors fund thermal power upgrades, with 70% of the generated capacity going to the national grid and 30% allocated to miners.He also proposed utilizing associated petroleum gas from oil fields to power data centers, reducing emissions while generating revenue for oil producers.Kazakhstan’s crypto mining sector has already contributed $34.6 million in taxes over the past three years. As of 2023, the government registered 415,000 mining machines, issued 84 licenses, and accredited five mining pools, Tuleushin said.Crypto trading on the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) exchange surged from $324 million in 2023 to $1.4 billion in 2024. From 2025, miners will be required to sell 75% of their mined assets via AIFC platforms.Related: Kazakhstan CBDC pilot drastically reduces VAT refund waitKazakhstan struggles with unregulated crypto tradesDespite progress, crypto transactions remain largely unregulated outside the AIFC, with an estimated $4.1 billion in turnover in 2023, 91.5% of which took place beyond government oversight.Authorities shut down 36 illegal exchanges in 2024, freezing $4.8 million in assets and disrupting two Ponzi schemes.The country is also building an in-house central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital tenge. Development began in February 2023, with an initial launch set for 2025.Aside from Kazakhstan, other Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have also taken a friendly approach toward the digital asset industry.On May 7, Binance signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kyrgyzstan’s National Agency for Investments to introduce crypto payment infrastructure and blockchain education in the country.Magazine: Metric signals $250K Bitcoin is ‘best case,’ SOL, HYPE tipped for gains: Trade Secrets

Cryptocurrency exchange Bullish has announced a partnership with the Gibraltar Government and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) to develop the world’s first regulatory framework for the clearing and settlement of derivative contracts settled in virtual assets. This initiative aims to enable crypto derivative contracts to be cleared and settled in virtual assets by a […]