The past week proved to be bearish for the top 100 DeFi tokens, as a majority of them experienced a decline in value. However, one event in particular triggered concerns about the stability of Tether (USDT), the popular stablecoin.
On June 15, an imbalance occurred in Curve Finance’s 3pool, leading to a potential depegging scare for USDT as its weightage in the pool surged above 70%.
This resulted in a significant amount of selling pressure. In response to the situation, Tether’s chief technology officer downplayed the fears of depegging, referring to the market conditions as stress tests for the stablecoin and dismissing the “FUD” (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) surrounding the issue.
Another noteworthy event involved a crypto trading bot that borrowed a substantial amount of $200 million to execute arbitrage trades but only managed to generate a meager profit of just over $3.
This highlights the risks and challenges faced by automated trading systems in the volatile cryptocurrency market.
Meanwhile, Uniswap, a prominent decentralized exchange protocol, unveiled its version 4 code on June 13, opening up possibilities for the introduction of new liquidity pools.
This development aims to enhance the functionality and user experience of the platform.
However, not all news was positive in the DeFi space. Sturdy Finance, a DeFi lending platform, suffered a loss of $800,000 through a draining incident. In an effort to recover the funds, the platform’s team offered a $100,000 bounty for their return.
They also reopened their stablecoin market on June 16. Additionally, the Hashflow protocol experienced an exploit resulting in a loss of $600,000. Nevertheless, Hashflow assured its users that they would be fully compensated for their losses.
The overall sentiment in the DeFi market remained bearish, with most of the top 100 tokens trading at their lowest levels in three months.
This downward trend reflects the prevailing market conditions and highlights the volatility and inherent risks associated with cryptocurrency investments.
In summary, the imbalance in Curve Finance’s 3pool, which caused concerns about the stability of Tether’s peg to the US dollar, was a significant event in the past week’s DeFi landscape.
Despite the challenges faced by the industry, developments like the release of Uniswap’s version 4 code continue to drive innovation in the decentralized finance space.
However, incidents of platform exploits and losses underscore the importance of robust security measures and risk management strategies in the DeFi ecosystem.
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Avraham Eisenberg, the individual accused of orchestrating a massive theft of approximately $116 million from the decentralized exchange Mango Markets, is set to face trial in the United States on December 4.
The trial date was established by Judge Richard Berman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, as indicated by court records filed on June 14.
Eisenberg stands accused of executing a significant exploit on Mango Markets in October 2022, resulting in the pilfering of governance tokens MNGO, USD Coin (USDc), and Marinade Staked SOL (mSOL).
He has pleaded not guilty to three criminal charges, including commodities fraud, commodity manipulation, and wire fraud, all connected to the Mango Markets exploit.
In October 2022, the platform reported that Eisenberg had returned around $67 million of the funds. At the time, he claimed that his actions were legal and part of a “highly profitable trading strategy.”
Both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Eisenberg’s defense team have until June 22 to present pretrial motions concerning the trial schedule.
Additionally, Eisenberg faces separate civil lawsuits filed in January by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Mango Markets.
Since his arrest in Puerto Rico in December 2022 and subsequent transfer to Oklahoma, the alleged Mango Markets exploiter has remained largely silent on his Twitter account.
Following a hearing in February, during which he waived his right to bail, he has been primarily held in U.S. custody.
The upcoming trial will determine the outcome of the criminal charges brought against Eisenberg.
It will shed further light on the allegations surrounding the Mango Markets exploit and provide an opportunity for the legal system to assess the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.
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Nike, the renowned footwear and apparel giant, has hinted at the possibility of releasing a collection of sneaker nonfungible tokens (NFTs) within the popular online game Fortnite, developed by Epic Games.
This move could potentially open up a significant opportunity for the adoption of Web3 technology among traditional gamers. Fortnite boasts an impressive user base, with over 242.9 million active players in the last 30 days, according to Active Player data.
On June 16, Nike made an announcement on its social media platforms, revealing that the “ultimate Sneakerhunt” would commence on June 20. Accompanying this announcement was a brief video featuring the prominent Air Max logos of both Fortnite and Nike against a backdrop of floating clouds in the sky. The video also showcased the name of the sneaker hunt, “Airphoria,” and presented Nike’s Web3 platform logo, .Swoosh, alongside the Unreal Engine logo of Epic Games.
Although details are scarce at this point, members of the NFT community speculate that Nike may have developed an NFT-related game using Fortnite Creative 2.0. This new feature allows users to create their virtual island game maps utilizing Fortnite assets.
A Twitter user noted that Nike had previously created a game on ROBLOX, but it did not involve NFTs. Therefore, the integration of .Swoosh in Airphoria suggests a potential NFT connection. Furthermore, Epic Games has shown a favorable stance toward NFT gaming.
Nike’s NFT division has been actively working to establish a presence in the traditional gaming space. On June 1, .Swoosh announced its intention to integrate NFTs into games developed by EA Sports, the company responsible for the immensely popular Fifa soccer game franchise and other titles. However, the specific EA Sports games that will incorporate Nike NFTs have yet to be confirmed.
The upcoming Airphoria sneaker hunt in Fortnite showcases Nike’s ongoing efforts to embrace Web3 and explore the possibilities of NFTs in the gaming industry. By leveraging the massive player base of Fortnite, Nike aims to engage a wider audience and introduce them to the world of digital collectibles. As the partnership between Nike, Epic Games, and EA Sports continues to unfold, it will be intriguing to see how NFTs become integrated into the gaming experience, shaping the future of both industries.
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Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon, the creator of the failed Terra (UST) stablecoin, appeared in court in Podgorica, Montenegro, facing charges of forging official documents. Meanwhile, a U.S. judge presided over a hearing to determine whether the digital assets produced by Terraform Labs constituted securities. This pivotal question forms the crux of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) fraud case against the company and its founder.
Terraform Labs and Kwon were responsible for two cryptocurrencies that caused significant disruption in global crypto markets last year. They have requested U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan to dismiss the SEC’s allegations, which assert that they defrauded investors by selling billions of dollars in unregistered securities.
TerraUSD, an algorithmic stablecoin designed to maintain a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, derived its value from another paired token called Luna. Both tokens suffered a substantial loss in value when TerraUSD, also known as UST, fell below its dollar peg in May 2022. Prior to this collapse on May 9, TerraUSD boasted a market capitalization exceeding $18.5 billion, ranking it as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency.
The SEC’s complaint alleges that Terraform Labs and Kwon deceived investors regarding the stability of UST while falsely claiming that their crypto tokens would appreciate in value.
During the hearing, Judge Rakoff raised doubts about whether the offering of Terraform Labs’ Anchor protocol, which promised returns of up to 20% on TerraUSD deposits, should be considered a security. He questioned the nature of this protocol, highlighting that it was exclusive to those who had taken the initial step. Consequently, he pondered why it shouldn’t be regarded as a securities contract.
Terraform Labs and Kwon argue for the dismissal of the case, asserting that their digital assets do not meet the criteria to be classified as securities. Furthermore, they maintain that the SEC lacks the authority to regulate the industry.
The outcome of this legal battle will undoubtedly have significant implications for the cryptocurrency sector, as it could potentially establish important precedents regarding the classification of digital assets as securities. The ruling will shape the future regulatory landscape and provide clarity to market participants and investors alike.
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Sturdy Finance, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, recently endured an exploit that led to the temporary suspension of its stablecoin market. The lending platform, on June 16, reinstated the stablecoin market, enabling users to regain access to their assets.
The precautionary halt was emphasized as a measure of “an abundance of caution,” assuring users that their funds were never jeopardized.
The exploit, which cleverly manipulated a flawed price oracle, led to significant drain of funds from Sturdy’s platform.
Post-exploit, the team at Sturdy Finance is engaging in collaborative efforts with security specialists, focusing on on-chain analysis to reclaim the lost funds. An alliance with global law enforcement has been formed to aid in information collection and potential asset recovery.
To incentivize the return of the funds, Sturdy Finance has proposed a bounty of $100,000 to the perpetrator. The DeFi protocol’s team pledged to put the issue to rest if the stolen funds are returned to their crypto wallet. If this fails to occur, the same bounty is offered to anyone who can aid in either arresting the hacker or recovering the stolen funds.
Simultaneously, as digital theft grows in complexity, hackers are devising increasingly cunning techniques to obscure their ill-gotten wealth. According to a report by blockchain analytics company, Chainalysis, published on June 15, hackers have been found utilizing mining pools to camouflage their stolen assets.
This method transforms the stolen funds into what appears to be legitimate earnings from mining activities, effectively diverting suspicion from illicit ransomware activities.
Celsius, the bankrupt crypto lender, has adjusted its bankruptcy filing and awaits approval from a New York court, following an acquisition by the Fahrenheit crypto consortium. The reorganized plan, filed on June 15, involves conversion of all customer altcoins, barring those in “Custody and Withhold accounts,” into Bitcoin and Ethereum, commencing from July 1.
The restructuring agenda also proposes to manage retail borrowers’ claims using the ‘set off treatment’, which involves balancing losses against profits in the same year. Any losses not offset against income could be rolled over for offsetting against future years’ income.
However, David Adler of law firm McCarter & English, warned that Celsius’ approach might not sit well with borrowers. Despite demanding repayment of loans, Celsius plans not to honor certain contractual obligations, such as returning borrowers’ collateral. Adler warned, “This proposed ‘treatment’ violates every consumer lending law out there (state, federal) and the ad hoc Borrower group will be opposing this plan.”
As part of its restructuring strategy, Celsius seeks to appoint Chris Ferraro as the foreign representative to handle its U.K. assets in line with the U.K.’s Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations. This would secure the company’s U.K. assets and recognize the U.S. Chapter 11 as the “foreign main proceedings” for a global solution.
On May 25, the Fahrenheit crypto consortium, including venture capital firm Arrington Capital and US Bitcoin Corp, secured the bid to purchase Celsius’s assets, valued at around $2 billion. The new agreement anticipates the new company will garner about $450–500 million in liquid cryptocurrency, while US Bitcoin Corp has plans for a 100-megawatt Bitcoin mining plant.
Celsius suspended withdrawals on June 13, 2022, after it was caught up in poor investments and a crypto market downturn following the failure of the Terra ecosystem.
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Bybit, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, has announced that its integration with Copper’s ClearLoop network has been completed.
This integration will allow investors to trade on Bybit’s exchange while settling off-chain, to ensure the near-instant settlement of their trades. This is especially useful during periods of heightened market volatility, as blockchain transaction confirmation times typically increase significantly during such periods.
As the assets will be safeguarded under secure Multi-Party Computation custody at Copper, Bybit’s integration with ClearLoop also empowers institutions with its clear English Law trust structure.
Copper’s ClearLoop network provides clients with off-exchange settlement which mitigates counterparty risk and improves capital efficiency.
Clients can also benefit from Copper’s market-first trust documentation, which mitigates both exchange counterparty and insolvency risk.
By joining the ClearLoop network, Bybit has demonstrated its commitment to transparency, accountability, safety, and effective governance.
Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, hailed the integration, saying: “Bybit now sits alongside major industry players within the ClearLoop network that honor the pillars of good governance by being transparent, accountable, and, above all, secure.
“A little over a year ago, security was the biggest concern for institutional investors, but we are now removing concerns by partnering with custodians like Copper that offer the right set of tools for our institutional clients,” Zhou added.
Meanwhile, Copper CEO Dmitry Tokarev said his company is “excited to join forces with Bybit, who share our commitment to asset security, user experience and to setting higher standards for the crypto industry to reach its full growth potential.”
Amidst the lawsuits by US regulators against leading competitors Binance and Coinbase, cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has observed a significant upsurge in new account registrations from Latin America. The platform reported a 43% increase in new users from the region between June 6 and 9 compared to the daily averages, with Brazil and Argentina driving the growth, as per a Bitget spokesperson.
In Brazil, the number of new Bitget clients soared by 54%, with total deposits experiencing a 208% spike. In Argentina, the customer base and total deposits grew by 33% and 87% respectively. The crypto exchange, which also operates in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico, reported a 134% rise in total regional deposits during this period.
With over 8 million customers in 100 countries, Bitget didn’t disclose the total user count in Latin America. The uptick in figures is attributed to the recent regulatory developments in the US, where the SEC sued Binance on June 5 on 13 charges, leading to Binance net outflows of $3.128 billion over the past week, while Bitget’s deposits increased by $14.8 million.
Gracy Chen, Bitget’s Managing Director, expressed her confidence in the industry’s resilience despite recent upheavals, stating that “favorable policies are being implemented in places like Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and new opportunities are emerging.”
On June 6, Coinbase, another major crypto exchange, was sued by the US SEC for allegedly dealing in unregistered securities. The SEC Chair accused Coinbase of failing to provide adequate protection against fraud, manipulation, and conflicts of interest, leading to an overnight change of 113.06% in Coinbase’s trade volume, which reached $1.5 billion.
Interestingly, both Binance and Coinbase have been actively expanding their local operations in Brazil, a market of significant importance to these exchanges.
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Crypto.com, the Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the suspension of its service to institutional clients in the United States, effective from June 21. The move is attributed to limited demand from institutional customers, a situation that has been aggravated by challenging market conditions. The platform’s institutional users were given advance notice about the service suspension.
Despite this, Crypto.com’s retail mobile application and platform will continue to operate in the U.S. The retail customers can still access cryptocurrency derivatives trading regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as the exchange’s UpDown Options feature. This allows users to speculate on the future movements of various cryptocurrencies, by opening long or short trading positions.
The company remains open to the possibility of reinstating its institutional exchange service in the U.S. in the future.
While the firm’s U.S. institutional offering is being suspended, Crypto.com recently received a major payment institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore for digital payment token services. This enables the company to continue offering its services in Singapore.
June 2023 has been a volatile month for cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the U.S. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated legal actions against Binance.US and Coinbase, citing various alleged violations of securities laws.
These developments come as part of a growing regulatory crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry in the U.S., which has been intensifying over the past eight months, following the collapse of the FTX exchange. The wider cryptocurrency ecosystem has responded critically to the SEC’s actions, highlighting the ongoing tension between the crypto industry and regulatory authorities.
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In a recent spate of attacks, fraudsters have taken over at least eight Twitter accounts of crypto influencers, promoting phishing scams and swindling nearly $1 million in digital assets, reports blockchain investigator ZachXBT. He identified several wallets connected to these scams through on-chain links associated with the hijacked accounts.
Among the victims are high-profile individuals like Pudgy Penguins’ Cole Villemain, DJ and NFT collector Steve Aoki, and Bitcoin Magazine’s Pete Rizzo. Even staunch crypto critic Peter Schiff’s account was exploited to push a suspicious link related to tokenized gold in DeFi.
ZachXBT suggests some of these breaches might have occurred through a Twitter admin panel, in addition to SIM swapping. Once the scammers gained control, they instantly began posting phishing scams. Lackluster response times from Twitter allowed some fraudulent tweets to remain active for several hours, sometimes even days.
OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati and The Sandbox co-founder Arthur Madrid were also among those targeted. The scams often involved promoting fake airdrops of ERC-20 tokens, with Murati’s account used to promote a counterfeit OPENAI token airdrop.
The investigator urged users to adopt security keys for two-factor authentication rather than SMS-based options. He called on Twitter to thoroughly investigate these incidents, given the substantial amount stolen.
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