According to an onchain metric, Litecoin (LTC), currently the 12th largest cryptocurrency based on market cap, appears to be undervalued in the market. The metric used to determine this is the market value to realized value (MVRV) Z-score, which currently registers in the negative for Litecoin, as per data from analytics company Glassnode.
The market cap of a cryptocurrency is computed by multiplying the current market rate of the coin with the total number of coins in circulation. In contrast, the realized value is a modified version of the market cap, taking into account the market value of coins at the time they were last transferred on the blockchain.
This excludes coins that have fallen out of circulation, which, in the case of Litecoin, amounts to more than 15%. It is believed to provide a more accurate representation of the actual or fair value of the network.
The Z-score, in this context, is an indicator of how many standard deviations the market value is from the realized value. Over time, Z-scores greater than eight have been associated with overvaluation and peaks in bull markets, while negative scores have pointed to undervaluation and market lows.
The fact that Litecoin’s Z-score remains negative indicates the cryptocurrency is still being traded at a relative bargain based on its historical standard. This trend of negative Z-scores has been ongoing since July of the previous year.
This isn’t a first for the metric. In the past, the Z-score has repeatedly dipped below zero, often serving as a precursor to significant bull market movements. Based on historical precedent, it seems that Litecoin’s price is more likely to rise than fall. However, it’s worth noting that Litecoin, along with the larger cryptocurrency market, is susceptible to various macroeconomic factors, including liquidity contraction and the overall state of the global economy.
At the time of reporting, Litecoin is being traded at $92, signifying an approximately 31% increase since the start of the year. Earlier this week, Litecoin’s price hit a one-month peak of $95, as per CoinDesk data.
Litecoin is poised for its third mining reward halving in early August. Following this event, the mining reward for each block will decrease by 50%, going from 12.5 coins to 6.25 coins.
FTX’s legal team has filed a lawsuit against its former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder Zixiao Wang, and a former high-ranking executive, Nishad Singh, alleging neglect in due diligence in the $220 million acquisition of the stock-clearing platform, Embed.
In a filing dated May 17, it was claimed that FTX, through its U.S. subsidiary, paid $220 million for Embed while reportedly conducting “almost no due diligence” on the platform.
FTX filed for bankruptcy and was given approval by the overseeing judge to sell Embed along with other assets. However, the highest bid received for the platform was a mere $1 million, leading FTX’s lawyers to state that the platform’s software was essentially worthless – something they accuse the FTX group and insiders of failing to realize prior to the acquisition.
FTX’s lawyers note that of the 12 entities expressing non-binding interest, all but one declined to submit a final bid after thorough due diligence. The sole remaining bidder was Michael Giles, Embed’s founder, and former CEO.
FTX’s lawyers further allege that Giles personally received approximately $157 million during the acquisition. However, his final bid to reclaim ownership of Embed was only $1 million, subject to closing reductions.
They also claim that misleading records were produced to mask Alameda Research’s involvement in the Embed acquisition’s funding. They argue that funds were moved between FTX entities, contrary to claims that they came from Bankman-Fried, Singh, and Wang.
FTX is seeking to have the transactions designated as “avoidable fraudulent transfers and obligations, and/or preferences,” and wants the defendants’ claims disallowed until FTX recovers the funds lost in avoidable transfers.
After filing for bankruptcy in November 2022, FTX’s new leadership has been intent on recovering funds to reimburse customers and creditors, and is contemplating a potential relaunch of the exchange.
Cryptocurrency has been making headlines in recent years as one of the most disruptive technologies to hit the financial industry. Owing to its decentralized, transparent, and secure nature, it has the potential to transform the way we conduct financial transactions. As cryptocurrency adoption grows, more companies are entering the market to explore innovative use cases for the technology.
Some of these companies are worth paying attention to, as they have shown promising developments and gained significant industry attention. These companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with cryptocurrency and are paving the way for the future of finance.
Many are focused on creating a decentralized internet through blockchain technology, where individuals own their data and can share it securely without intermediaries. Others are creating a digital currency platform that enables seamless, peer-to-peer transactions, removing the need for traditional financial institutions. As the adoption and use cases of cryptocurrencies continue to expand, crypto marketing is becoming increasingly important for projects looking to reach new markets, onboard new users, and drive growth and adoption of their tokens and platforms.
In addition to these companies, some are exploring the use of cryptocurrency in niche areas such as supply chain management, healthcare, and real estate. These companies demonstrate how cryptocurrency can solve real-world problems and create new opportunities for businesses and individuals. Notably, since the inception of Bitcoin, more than 21,000 different cryptocurrencies have been created. Here are lists of novel crypto companies worth paying attention to in 2023.
Contractus
Contractus is a service that makes signing contracts easy and safe. It uses a special computer system called blockchain to keep everything secure. Users can sign a contract with just one click! This platform is powered by the Solana blockchain, which is a perfect system that can handle a lot of people using it at once. With Contractus, users don’t need to use an intermediary to sign their contract, which means everyone involved is quickly and legally bound to follow their terms. Contractus costs are low and payment can be made with different cryptocurrencies.
Contractus uses a special way of protecting a contract called “Shamir’s Secret Sharing method” and “multi-signature technique”. These make sure that no one can see the contract unless they are supposed to and that everyone follows the contract’s rules. With Contractus, you can be sure that your contract is kept secret and that everything is fair. The good thing about the platform is that it is cheap and efficient, especially for essential contracts that need to be very trustworthy. If you keep a balance of 10.000 CTUS tokens or use the token for payment, you qualify for a special feature called “Holder mode” for free.
CoinPayments
CoinPayments is one of the leading cryptocurrency payment processors worldwide. With over 1,000,000 user accounts and more than 120,000 registered merchants in over 190 countries, CoinPayments has become one of the most widely used multi-crypto payment systems available online. Since 2013, we have developed a complete crypto payment gateway that allows merchants to accept over 100 cryptocurrencies and hold over 2,000+ altcoins, all on a single platform.
CoinPayments is much more than a Bitcoin payment processor. It’s a complete crypto payment gateway with innovative solutions such as: point of sale interface, crypto invoice builder, multi-signature wallets, long-term storage vaults, mobile & desktop support, and industry-low transaction fees (starting at 0.5%). Among the features available in CoinPayments, there is also a conversion tool that allows for converting cryptocurrencies quickly and efficiently.
CoinPayments connects merchants and individuals to the global cryptocurrency economy. Start your crypto payments journey by opening an account with CoinPayments today.
Taiyo Robotics
Taiyo Robotics significantly changed in December 2021 when Solport Tom acquired it from its original project owners. Following the acquisition, Tom wasted no time expanding the team, hiring over 20 employees dedicated to promoting Taiyo Tech products and building a strong community around them. This move has brought fresh perspectives and resources to the project, propelling it forward in its mission.
At Taiyo Robotics, the main focus is on being an innovative NFT project operating on the Solana Blockchain. The company’s goal is to develop cutting-edge technology and provide a wide range of services to its users. These services include self-serving features, utility options, a launchpad for new projects, a vibrant Discord community, and robust security tools. Taiyo Robotics strives to offer a comprehensive package that caters to its community’s diverse needs and interests, ensuring their engagement and satisfaction with its offerings.
Risitas
Risitas Coin, also known as $RISITA, is the ultimate memecoin specifically created for crypto enthusiasts who seek to add excitement and diversity to their investment portfolio. Inspired by the iconic Spanish comedian El Risitas, the coin aims to inject laughter and entertainment into the realm of cryptocurrency. Risita is not just another run-of-the-mill meme token! It is a roaring tribute to the late and legendary Juan Joya Borja, famously known as “El Risitas.” His infectious giggles captured the hearts of millions and quickly became an internet sensation, spreading like wildfire across various online platforms.
However, the mission extends beyond mere laughter. $RISITA is driven by the desire to honor comedy kingpin, bringing joy and laughter to the meme community while supporting charitable causes. Users will not only join a community of meme enthusiasts but also contribute to a greater purpose of spreading happiness and positively impacting society.
Wrapping Up
The rise of cryptocurrency is changing how we view and interact with finance. With the potential to disrupt traditional financial systems and create new opportunities for innovation, it is no wonder that more and more companies are entering the market. As we look to the future, it will be exciting to see how these companies continue to shape the industry and unlock the potential of cryptocurrency.
Despite a cautionary note from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has successfully sold 14 billion Zimbabwean dollars (approximately $39 million) in gold-backed digital tokens.
The Zimbabwean central bank announced on May 12 that it had received 135 applications totaling 14.07 billion Zimbabwean dollars for the purchase of the gold-backed cryptocurrency. At the official exchange rate of 362 Zimbabwean dollars to one US dollar, this amount is worth approximately $38.9 million. However, the exchange rate is considerably higher on the street.
Launched in April, the cryptocurrency tokens are backed by 139.57 kilograms of gold. The sale period ran from May 8 to May 12. The tokens were available for a minimum of $10 for individuals and $5,000 for corporations and other entities, with a minimum holding period of 180 days. The tokens can be stored in e-gold wallets or on e-gold cards.
The sale is part of an initiative to stabilize the national economy and counteract the persistent devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar against the US dollar. A second sale of digital tokens is planned, with the bank inviting applications to be submitted this week for settlement by May 18.
RBZ Governor Dr. John Mangudya stated that the issuance of the gold-backed digital tokens is intended to “expand the value-preserving instruments available in the economy and enhance the divisibility of the investment instruments and widen their access and usage by the public.”
This move comes in the wake of a warning from the IMF against Zimbabwe’s strategy for a gold-backed currency. The IMF suggested the country should liberalize its foreign-exchange market instead, according to a Bloomberg report from May 9.
Zimbabwe has been grappling with currency instability and inflation for over a decade. In 2009, the country adopted the US dollar as its currency after hyperinflation made the local currency practically worthless. The Zimbabwean dollar was reintroduced in 2019 in an attempt to revitalize the local economy, but it again faced significant instability.
Jump Trading, a firm associated with Terraform Labs, has been accused in an Illinois district court lawsuit of manipulating the price of the collapsed algorithmic stablecoin, TerraUSD (UST). Court documents from May 9 suggest that Jump Trading bought millions of UST tokens in 2021 with an intent to artificially inflate its price to $1.
The plaintiff, Taewoo Kim, alleges that Jump Trading and its CEO, Kanav Kariya, breached the Commodity Exchange Act, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulations, and engaged in common law unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit claims that Jump Trading was an early supporter and the primary financial contributor to Terraform Labs. From November 2019 to September 2020, Jump Trading allegedly made several agreements with Terraform and its affiliates. The agreements allowed Jump to borrow tens of millions of Terra LUNA tokens from Terra and to offer market-making services for LUNA, UST, and aUST transactions.
In return, Jump Trading had the opportunity to buy LUNA tokens at a significant discount, which could then be sold on the market for profit.
The legal filing states that in May 2021 — a year before Terra’s ecosystem collapsed — the UST stablecoin algorithm failed to maintain its $1 peg. This led Terraform and its CEO, Do Kwon, to orchestrate trades to support the token’s price:
“Rather than publicly admitting TFL’s algorithm’s failure to maintain UST’s advertised peg price (which was fundamental to the perceived market value of UST and aUST), TFL and Kwon secretly conspired with Defendant Jump to manipulate the market prices for UST and aUST by making secret, coordinated trades to maintain UST’s $1 peg.“
The alleged scheme involved Jump Trading buying over 62 million UST tokens between May 23 and May 27, 2021. This action reportedly artificially increased UST’s price to $1 and also inflated aUST’s price.
The court filing alleges that Terra and Kwon altered their initial agreements to reward Jump for its purported market manipulation. They reportedly gave Jump more than 61.4 million LUNA tokens at a discount of over 99% from their market price at the time. Jump allegedly later sold these LUNA tokens in the market for a profit exceeding $1.28 billion.
Cointelegraph tried to reach out to Jump Trading regarding the lawsuit but received no immediate response.
On March 13, Bloomberg reported that U.S. prosecutors are scrutinizing a Telegram chat group discussion involving Jump Trading, Alameda Research, and Jane Street Group about a potential TerraUSD stablecoin bailout.
The U.S. Justice Department is also investigating the stablecoin’s collapse, which led to a $40 billion loss in the Terra ecosystem in May 2022. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have questioned former Terraform Labs staff recently.
Kwon was arrested in Montenegro in March for allegedly using fake documents. South Korean and U.S. authorities are seeking his extradition. He was released on bail for 400,000 euros on May 12 and is currently under house arrest.
Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has endorsed a bill that limits the application of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) within the state, as reported by local media. DeSantis had earlier in March urged the state legislators to craft this bill.
The newly ratified law disallows the use of a CBDC of the United States as legal tender under Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). It further proscribes the use of CBDCs issued by foreign governments and encourages other states to enact similar restrictions in their respective commercial codes.
At the bill’s signing event, DeSantis expressed that his decision was influenced by the current U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, and its exploration of this nascent financial technology. He noted that despite the U.S. not having a CBDC or any immediate plans to roll one out, he believes the exploration implies an intent to do so.
“If they didn’t have plans to implement this, they wouldn’t have studied it,” he remarked. DeSantis further opined that the issuance of a U.S. CBDC would signify a significant power shift from consumers to a centralized authority.
He also perceived the possible launch of a CBDC as a threat to existing cryptocurrencies, stating, “I believe they aim to marginalize and abolish other forms of digital assets like cryptocurrencies because they lack control over them, which they detest.”
The enacted bill introduces modifications to Florida’s prevailing commercial code. DeSantis cited a growing trend among states to incorporate CBDCs into their Uniform Commercial Codes, which he believes is influenced by powerful entities. He said:
“We examined this and concluded, ‘… We are not going to include central bank digital currency in our commercial code,’ but we also decided, ‘… We need to implement safeguards for Floridians against this,’ and so we will specify in the Uniform Commercial Code that we do not recognize CBDC.”
Despite the allegations, the Uniform Law Commission has made efforts to quash any insinuations that it endorses the adoption of CBDC, even releasing a recent statement to clarify its stance.
John Montague, a legal expert from Florida-based Montague Law, informed Cointelegraph: “This bill implies that transactions involving CBDCs won’t enjoy the typical UCC protections, which might discourage entities or individuals from conducting such transactions using CBDCs.” He continued, “The UCC can impose obligations and modify rights of third parties, even without their explicit contractual agreement. Florida possesses the power to amend this definition.”
The law will be operational from July 1.
The crypto community associated with the PEPE memecoin has expressed significant displeasure following an email from Coinbase labeling the Pepe meme as a “hate symbol” exploited by alt-right groups.
Borovik.eth, a notable cryptocurrency influencer, shared a screenshot of Coinbase’s email newsletter dated May 10 with his 96,000 followers. The email referenced a 2016 decision by the Anti-Defamation League to categorize the frog-themed character as an online hate symbol.
The characterization of the token incensed the memecoin’s followers and holders, leading to demands for Coinbase to apologize. In response, some users have begun closing their Coinbase accounts.
A Twitter user and solidity developer, Kenobi, argued that Pepe is not a hate symbol and announced his intention to shift his funds to the US-based crypto exchange, Gemini. He ended his tweet with the hashtag “#deletecoinbase”.
The hashtag “#deletecoinbase” has since become a trending topic on Twitter, amassing more than 14,000 tweets in the last two hours, according to Tweetbinder data.
After Binance added the token for trading on May 5, other members of the Crypto Twitter community who hold Pepe have been urging various cryptocurrency exchanges to also list the token. Coinbase, however, has given no hint as to whether it plans to add the Pepe token to its platform.
When approached for comment, a Coinbase representative stated that the exchange had “nothing further to add” in an email to Cointelegraph.
Interestingly, Cameron Winkelvoss, CEO of Gemini, seems to have paid attention to the community’s request. On May 9, the Winklevoss-owned crypto exchange added the memecoin for trading, providing a more neutral description of the new token.
Following the news about Coinbase’s email, the price of Pepe dropped 2.6%. At the time of writing, Pepe was trading at $0.00000184, marking a decrease of 10.4% over the past 24 hours, as per data from CoinGecko.
Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, recently sent an open letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the rulemaking process for Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs).
In the letter, Grewal emphasizes the need for regulatory clarity and urges the SEC to prioritize providing guidance for RIAs in the digital asset space.
Grewal’s letter highlights the challenges faced by RIAs dealing with digital assets, as the existing regulatory framework does not provide clear instructions on how to approach this emerging asset class.
He emphasizes that the lack of guidance is hindering the growth of the digital asset industry and could potentially harm investors in the long run.
The letter also addresses the importance of understanding the unique characteristics of digital assets and the need for a tailored regulatory approach. Grewal suggests that the SEC should consider the underlying technology and the various use cases of digital assets while formulating rules for RIAs.
Grewal further urges the SEC to collaborate with industry participants, as they can provide valuable insights and expertise to help create a balanced regulatory framework. By engaging with the digital asset industry, the SEC can better understand the technology, its risks, and its benefits, ultimately leading to more effective regulation.
In conclusion, the open letter from Coinbase’s legal chief highlights the pressing need for regulatory clarity in the digital asset space. It calls on the SEC to prioritize providing guidance for RIAs and to engage with industry participants in order to create a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework that fosters growth and protects investors.
Amid concerns about a potential denial-of-service (DoS) attack on the Bitcoin network, several prominent Bitcoin maximalists have stepped forward to allay fears, insisting that the network remains secure and robust.
Rumors of a potential DoS attack began circulating when users started noticing delays in Bitcoin transactions. This fueled speculation that malicious actors were attempting to flood the network with low-fee transactions in order to slow it down.
However, Bitcoin maximalists were quick to refute these claims, emphasizing that the network is designed to withstand such attacks. These experts argue that the recent congestion is primarily due to an increase in legitimate trading activities, as well as a higher demand for block space.
Notably, Bitcoin developer Jimmy Song took to Twitter to address the concerns, stating that the network is not under attack and that the delayed transactions are simply a result of increased demand. Song further clarified that Bitcoin’s sophisticated fee system is designed to prevent DoS attacks by prioritizing transactions with higher fees, ensuring that the network remains functional even during periods of high demand.
Other prominent figures in the Bitcoin community, such as Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, and Jameson Lopp, CTO of Casa, also chimed in to support this stance. They emphasized that the Bitcoin network has demonstrated its resilience over the years and that it is highly unlikely that a DoS attack could be successful in disrupting the network.
While the recent congestion on the Bitcoin network has raised concerns, the reassurances from Bitcoin maximalists have helped to ease fears and reinforce the network’s reputation for security and reliability. Users are encouraged to remain patient during periods of high demand and adjust their transaction fees accordingly to ensure timely processing.
For the second time within a 12-hour timeframe, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has temporarily halted Bitcoin (BTC) withdrawals. The exchange has assured its users that the suspension is only temporary and is due to network congestion.
On May 7th, Binance first announced that it had suspended Bitcoin withdrawals for a brief period. The exchange cited a “large backlog of outgoing BTC transactions” as the reason for the halt. Within a few hours, the platform resumed its withdrawal services, but only to suspend them again later in the day.
Binance’s CEO, Changpeng Zhao, took to Twitter to address the situation, explaining that the suspensions were necessary to address the congestion and ensure the smooth functioning of the platform. He assured users that their funds were safe and that the situation would be resolved as quickly as possible.
The suspension of Bitcoin withdrawals on Binance has raised concerns among users and the wider cryptocurrency community, with some speculating about the possibility of a security breach or other issues. However, no evidence has been found to support these claims, and Binance has maintained that the issue is purely related to network congestion.
In the past, Binance has experienced similar issues with other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, due to increased trading volumes and congestion on the networks. The exchange has always managed to resolve these issues swiftly, and it is expected that the current situation with Bitcoin withdrawals will be no different.
While the temporary suspension of Bitcoin withdrawals on Binance may cause inconvenience for some users, the platform’s commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring the safety of its users’ funds has been appreciated by the community.