Crypto Regulation in Europe: Dutch Regulator Vows Strict Treatment Under MiCA

• The Netherlands‘ financial regulatory body, AFM, plans to maintain a strict attitude towards the Dutch digital assets sector despite looser European rules.
• AFM Chair Laura van Geest commented that cryptocurrencies are difficult to fathom, vulnerable to deception, fraud and manipulation.
• Despite the EU’s looser MiCA regulations, the Netherlands will not be lowering their supervision levels in order to compete with other countries.

Dutch Financial Regulator Vows Strict Treatment of Crypto Business Under MiCA

The financial regulatory body of the Netherlands intends to maintain a tough attitude towards the Dutch digital assets sector despite looser European rules. The head of the agency overseeing the industry doesn’t think crypto is good news and highlights its flaws in an article.

Head of Dutch Financial Authority Says Cryptos Are Difficult to Fathom, Vulnerable to Fraud

Most countries in the West are „tightening the reins“ on crypto but a total ban is „difficult to imagine“, according to Chair of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), Laura van Geest. In her column devoted to cryptocurrencies in Het Financieele Dagblad, she remarked that although cryptos have been given more lenient treatment than existing financial products under EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, they remain difficult to fathom and vulnerable to deception, fraud and manipulation. Van Geest also pointed out that crypto asset values are mainly based on speculation and prices can fluctuate considerably. Consumers have been warned about these risks by regulators as well as by AFM estimates which show that around 2 million people own crypto assets in The Netherlands with most investing less than €1,000.

EU Regulations Remain Less Strict for Cryptocurrencies

EU institutions and member states reached an agreement on MiCA last year which introduces rules for crypto service providers across Europe who must obtain regulatory approval before operating within any common market. However, even though this legislation is less strict compared with existing financial products regulations, Laura van Geest insists that AFM will not lower their supervision levels so as not compete with other countries: „We choose [not]…to drop our supervision“. This stance may lead some companies looking elsewhere or attempting to enter through another European jurisdiction instead.

Crypto World Still Limitedly Linked with Traditional Financial Sector

Van Geest further noted that there is still only a limited link between traditional finance world and cryptocurrency within The Netherlands; however warnings from regulators about potential risk have come true over time as more people become involved with cryptos causing price volatility in markets around the world due largely due speculation rather than actual use cases for tokenised assets.

Conclusion

In conclusion it appears as if The Netherlands is taking a tougher stance on cryptocurrency use compared with many other EU states even if this means potentially cutting off access from certain companies looking for entry into its market through different jurisdictions – something which may ultimately prove beneficial down line when it comes regulation enforcement and consumer protection within this space .

Binance Trains Ukraine’s Cyberpolice in Crypto Security: $34M Transferred

• Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, has provided training to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in the form of online seminars on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies.
• The training covered Binance’s anti-money laundering policy and methods developed by the exchange to detect and prevent fraud.
• The exchange has been involved in dozens of similar initiatives over the past year, including workshops attended by representatives from various nations.

Binance Trains Ukraine’s Cyberpolice and Security Service

Crypto exchange Binance has organized training courses for representatives of law enforcement authorities in Ukraine.

Binance Provides Crypto Training to Security Officials in Ukraine

The world’s largest digital asset exchange, Binance, has provided training to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies in the form of online seminars for their staff devoted to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies.

A representative of the crypto trading platform informed the participants about Binance’s anti-money laundering policy, as well as methods developed by the exchange to detect and prevent fraud.

Participants of Training Courses

Employees of the Ukrainian Cyberpolice, which is the cybercrime combatting unit of the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) attended these classes.

Ukraine Fights with Russia

Kiril Khomyakov, Binance general manager for Ukraine and Central Europe noted that „Ukraine, which is fighting a bitter war with Russia, responds to various challenges on a daily basis. Among them are financial crimes that threaten the stability and security of the country’s financial ecosystem. Our goal is to unite efforts to prevent cybercrime and, in particular, financing terrorism.“
< h2 >Binance’s Involvement
< p >Ukraine‘ s law enforcement agencies are involved in operations against crypto-related crime. In November last year ,the Cyberpolice force hit a fraud scheme making €200 million a year by luring investors through call centers across Europe .The unit has also voiced support for legalization of cryptocurrencies .In March last year ,it started accepting crypto donations .
< P >Binanc e ’s Investigations team has hostedand participatedin over 30 workshops on cybercrimeand financial crimeoverthepastyear ,attendedbyrepresentativesoflaw enforcementservicesfromvariousnations .Theexchangehasalsobeenengagedineducationalprojectsin theregion .

Fintech Flutterwave Denies Reports of $6.3M Account Hack

• Nigerian fintech Flutterwave has denied reports suggesting its user accounts were hacked and $6.3 million stolen.
• The firm stated that a routine check of its transaction monitoring system uncovered „an unusual trend of transactions“ on some user profiles.
• Flutterwave took preemptive action to address the issue before any harm could be done, they said; however, users have disputed this version of events.

Flutterwave Denies Client Account Hacking Reports

The Nigerian fintech Flutterwave has rejected reports suggesting that hackers have stolen as much as $6.3 million from user accounts. The fintech firm said a routine check of its transaction monitoring system helped to uncover „an unusual trend of transactions on some users‘ profiles.“ Motion to Freeze The Nigerian fintech unicorn, Flutterwave, has said reports suggesting that hackers stole approximately $6.3 million from client accounts are not true. In a statement issued on March 5, the fintech insisted that no user lost any funds and that corrective action taken had in fact enabled it to „address the issue before any harm could be done to our users.“

Flutterwave’s Response

Flutterwave’s statement denying the hacking claims followed a Techpoint report which suggested that as much as $6.3 million (2.9 billion naira) had been siphoned from users‘ accounts. According to the statement, the company is working with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to keep their ecosystem safe and secure. Flutterwave also claimed that their preemptive steps helped them address the issue before any harm was done to their users.

User Disagreement

Meanwhile, on Twitter, some users rejected Flutterwave’s version of what transpired and have insisted that the hacking incident is true. One user posted evidence such as an affidavit swearing this is true along with an expired lawyer seal dating back to 2017 and a confirmation by his bank stating Flutterwavw contacted them in regards to this matter..

Company Investigation

In response to this situation, Fluterwave said it is currently conducting an investigation into these events in order guarantee customer security moving forward while vowing never compromise their customer’s trust again .

Conclusion

At present time, it remains unclear whether or not there was indeed a breach in security at Fluterwave but regardless they are taking steps necessary ensure customer security and transparency moving forward .

Trezor Takes Control: Faster Production, Enhanced Security for Crypto Wallets

• Trezor, a crypto hardware wallet manufacturer, has announced that it will produce its own silicon chips to enhance device security and reduce lead times for mass production.
• The new “chip wrapper” is designed to give the company more design freedom in its future products and make the manufacturing process more agile.
• Trezor is collaborating with Stmicroelectronics, a manufacturer of microcontrollers and semiconductor technologies, to develop its chips.

Trezor Takes Control of Chip Production

Trezor, the manufacturer of crypto hardware wallets, has announced that it will take control of its wallet chip production process by producing its own silicon chips. The company states that the newly designed „chip wrapper“ will enhance device security and considerably shorten lead times for mass production.

Enhanced Security & Faster Production Time

The new chip-making process enhances security significantly by eliminating third-party chipmakers and associated vulnerabilities. Trezor also noted that it will significantly reduce lead times by bypassing supply chain issues.

Collaboration with Stmicroelectronics

In a press release sent to Bitcoin.com News, CFO Štěpán Uherik further explained that the company is collaborating with Stmicroelectronics, a manufacturer of microcontrollers and semiconductor technologies in order to create their chips: „By unpacking the process, identifying areas where we could take control, and collaborating with our partner [Stmicroelectronics] in new ways,“ Uherik said in a statement,“we’ve managed to make the manufacturing as agile as it can be.“

Growing Demand for Crypto Wallets

Hardware wallets have experienced substantial demand since the collapse of FTX ,as crypto enthusiasts have transferred billions of dollars worth of crypto assets from centralized trading platforms. In addition, several companies have unveiled new hardware wallet models such as Ledger Stax developed by Tony Fadell (creator of iPod). Furthermore decentralized exchange aggregation service 1inch Network has launched a hardware wallet as well Coinkite introducing Coldcard Q1 product .

New Chips Utilized in Trezor Model T Hardware Wallet

The new chips developed by Trezor will be utilized in the Trezor Model T hardware wallet ensuring increased safety features for users.

Edogawa Ward Uses Metaverse Tech to Solve ‚Hikikomori‘ Problem

• Edogawa Ward in Tokyo plans to use metaverse tech to help social recluses, also known as „hikikomori,“ begin to integrate with society again.
• The ward will organize a series of hybrid (virtual and in-person) meetings this year with the objective of reuniting people with social reclusion problems and helping them in their reintegration process.
• This condition is estimated to affect more than 1 million Japanese, with experts considering the number to be higher, closer to the 2 million mark.

Edogawa Ward Leveraging Metaverse for Hikikomori Reintegration Processes

Edogawa Ward in Tokyo announced that it will offer a series of metaverse meetings as part of the reintegration process for social recluses in the area. The meetings will be held in hybrid form, with remote users being able to shield their identities using avatars if desired. About this initiative, a ward officer explained: We want to offer a place where they would think ‚I want to be there with the others.‘

Hikikomori Issue

The social exclusion (or hikikomori) problem in Japan is a condition that affects some individuals, who seclude themselves from society and decline to have any interaction with others. This condition is estimated to affect more than 1 million Japanese, with experts considering the number to be higher, closer to 2 million mark. This condition can cause problems in the families of these individuals, who must provide for them causing economic strain.

Metaverse Initiative Aim

The inclusion of metaverse-based techniques aim at dealing with this phenomenon could ostensibly help some of these individuals interact virtually with their peers. According to a 2021 survey, 9096 residents were hikikomori in Edogawa thus making this initiative all more relevant and necessary. On the reach of this action and its significance Edogawa Ward Mayor Takeshi Saito stated: We don’t think everything will be solved just because we offer a metaverse. It’ll probably be helpful for some people.“

Hybrid Meetings Capacity

The meetings will have six events organized by non-profit Kazoku Hikikomori Japan where up 80 participants can attend; 50 on metaverse platform and 30 at designated venue . These events are scheduled for 2023 giving hope that even those who are unable leave their rooms or interact socially due Covid 19 pandemic can take steps towards integration into society through these virtual/hybrid meetings .

Toda City School Absenteeism Initiative

Another initiative similar targeting school absenteeism was launched at Toda City which has seen promising results by offering support services such as mental health counseling , job training programs etc focusing on youth’s issues .

Blur Token Launch Plummets 85%, Users Receive ‚Care Packages‘

• Blur, a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace launched its native token this week.
• The coin reached a high of $5.02 per token but has since dropped more than 85% against the U.S. dollar.
• Airdrops of the market’s token called LOOKS have also taken place, but volumes have subsided since then.

Blur Marketplace Launches Native Token

The Blur non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace launched its native token this week, and users who were awarded token allotments received “care packages”. Blur tokens began trading at noon on Feb 14, reaching a high of $5.02 per token.

BLUR Price Drops 85% in a Matter of Hours

However, the coin has since dropped more than 85% against the U.S. dollar by 2:10 p.m., with BLUR having a market capitalization of approximately $176 million and global trade volume of about $12 million at that time point, with 8,798 unique addresses holding BLUR tokens and 18,900 transfers having taken place. By 2:33 p.m., BLUR rebounded and hit the $0

North Korea Steals Record Amount of Crypto in 2022: UN Report

• North Korea has managed to steal more cryptocurrency last year than in previous years, according to a draft U.N. report.
• Cybercrime groups linked to North Korea have obtained crypto worth over $1 billion in 2022 alone.
• South Korean intelligence authorities believe that 10% of the total was extracted from accounts of South Korean companies and individuals.

UN Report Unveils North Korea Stole Record Amount of Crypto Assets in 2022

The regime in North Korea has managed to steal more cryptocurrency last year than in any other year, according to a draft United Nations (U.N.) report which is to be released by the end of this month or early March. The document, seen by Reuters and Nikkei Asia, reveals how the isolated country is raising funds through cyberattacks and circumvention of international restrictions.

Estimates Suggest DPRK Acquired Crypto Worth Over $1 Billion

The findings in the confidential U.N. report are based on information provided by U.N. member states and cybersecurity firms, with different estimates being quoted as its authors conclude that 2022 was a record-breaking year for crypto theft linked with Pyongyang’s Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). One estimate produced by South Korea suggests that hackers controlled by DPRK have acquired crypto worth $630 million during the studied period, while a cybersecurity company has assessed that the virtual money they obtained exceeded $1 billion.

10% Stolen From South Korean Accounts

Data compiled by Chainalysis also implies that North Korea-linked hackers have been particularly active last year, having stolen around $1.7 billion worth of coins; intelligence authorities reported that about 10% of this amount was taken from accounts belonging to South Korean companies and individuals who are likely unaware their funds were laundered and used for financing nuclear and missile development programs carried out within DPRK’s borders.

Crypto Theft Used as Financing Source

The independent sanctions monitors believe that higher value of cryptocurrency assets was stolen by DPRK actors in 2022 than any other period before it; such operations enable Pyongyang’s regime to evade international restrictions while also providing them with an extra source for financing their activities as well as providing an opportunity to launder money — all without being officially tracked or held accountable for these actions due to lack of global oversight when it comes down to digital assets ownership rights enforcement measures in place within most nations worldwide at this moment in time..

International Cooperation Needed To Stop Crypto Theft

This latest development further highlights need for greater international cooperation when it comes down tackling potential threats posed by malicious actors using cryptocurrencies as tool for illegal activities; while there is no single solution proposed just yet, increased focus on blockchain forensics combined with unified stance against illicit transactions should provide much needed support towards protecting financial networks worldwide — not just those located within borderlines established by each individual nation state..

Bitcoin, Ethereum Rally Ahead of FOMC Meeting Results: ETH, BTC Marginally Higher

• Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) were marginally higher on Feb. 1 ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting results.
• BTC/USD moved to an intraday high of $23,225.02 while ETH/USD rose to a peak of $1,598.52 earlier in the day.
• Volatility rose due to the Fed meeting, with the RSI remaining close to a floor at 68.00 for BTC/USD and 57.64 for ETH/USD.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Rise Ahead of FOMC Meeting Results

The prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum have gone up marginally ahead of the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting results that are expected to increase rates by 25 basis points, taking current rates to 4.75%.

Bitcoin Price Movement

Bitcoin (BTC) was trading above $23,000 when today’s session started and it briefly moved past an interim ceiling at the $23,200 level before volatility due to Fed meeting saw prices move back below this point and return to $23,045 as of writing. The 14-day relative strength index (RSI) remained close to a floor at 68.00 as of writing with the index tracking at 69.83 until after the Fed meeting concludes.

Ethereum Price Movement

Ethereum (ETH) was also seen rising marginally higher on Wednesday with prices moving closer to the $1,600 zone; ETH/USD reached a peak of $1,598.52 earlier in the day following a bottom at $1,569.04 from Tuesday’s session priorly; however bulls were unable to push prices above resistance as sentiment shifted while RSI was unable track past its own ceiling at 58 with it currently tracking at 57.64 instead – should this sentiment continue it is highly likely that ETH will fall towards its floor at $1,550 again soon enough..

Impact on Cryptocurrency Prices

It remains unclear how today’s FOMC meeting will affect cryptocurrency prices but many believe that if rates do go up then investors may be less inclined to invest in crypto given their volatile nature which could lead to price declines across crypto markets; however if rates remain steady or even decrease then investors may see this as an opportunity and start investing more into crypto – pushing prices up further over time than they already have been recently..

Conclusion

Overall traders are cautiously optimistic about today’s FOMC meeting results but are aware that anything can happen; whichever way it goes cryptocurrencies could be impacted significantly given how much attention has been paid towards them lately so it’ll be interesting what direction things take from here onwards..

Shop Smarter with PAYB.IO: Save Time & Money Shopping with Cryptocurrency!

• PAYB.IO is an e-commerce market operator that provides cryptocurrency holders with a multi shopping cart to place orders in multiple online stores.
• It eliminates the need for multiple logins and payment transactions in different FIAT currencies, making shopping easier and saving users‘ time.
• PAYB.IO establishes partnerships to offer additional discounts for cryptocurrency holders and supports purchases in online stores that do not accept cryptocurrency payments.

PAYB.IO is a European company that is revolutionizing the way cryptocurrency holders shop. With their innovative multi shopping cart service, users can place orders in multiple online stores simultaneously and pay for them all with one cryptocurrency transaction. This eliminates the need for multiple logins and payment transactions in different FIAT currencies, significantly reducing the time it takes to shop online.

PAYB.IO also opens up the possibility of shopping in stores that do not accept cryptocurrency payments. The platform offers a growing list of supported cryptocurrencies and constantly expands to include more tokens. This makes it easier for cryptocurrency holders to access goods and services which would otherwise be unavailable to them.

The company is open to partnering with projects that have their own token, enabling clients or team members to pay with them in online stores. Furthermore, PAYB.IO establishes partnerships to offer additional discounts for cryptocurrency holders. This gives users an added incentive to shop online and save even more time and money.

The payment system of PAYB.IO is secure and licensed, and the company has gained the trust of its users by handling both large and small purchases. This makes it an attractive and reliable option for cryptocurrency holders looking to shop online.

For more information on PAYB.IO and its services, visit their website and watch their explanatory video. Additionally, follow PAYB.IO on social media to find out about their partnerships and discounts. With PAYB.IO, cryptocurrency holders can enjoy a streamlined shopping experience and save time and money.

Meme Coins Dive Lower, RSI Remains Overbought Despite Drop

• Meme coins moved lower on Jan. 19, with Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) declining by over 10% and 8% respectively.
• SHIB/USD dropped to an intraday low of $0.00001097, and DOGE/USD slipped to a bottom of $0.08013.
• Despite the decline, the relative strength index (RSI) of both coins is still deeply overbought.

The cryptocurrency markets have been on a wild ride in recent days, with meme coins being no exception. On Jan. 19, the meme coins followed the broader market trend, moving lower as cryptocurrency markets plunged following recent highs. Shiba inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) were among the biggest losers, declining by over 10% and 8% respectively.

Shiba inu (SHIB), which rose to a nine-week high on Wednesday, fell by nearly 10% today. Markets have been largely overbought in the past few days, with bears seemingly reentering. Following a high of $0.00001295 in yesterday’s session, SHIB/USD dropped to an intraday low of $0.00001097 earlier today. Thursday’s drop came as the meme coin was unable to cross a long-term resistance level at $0.00001300. Despite the relatively large drop in price, the 14-day relative strength index (RSI) is still deeply overbought. As of writing, the index is tracking at a level of 80.22, which is close to a ceiling at the 82.00 mark. SHIB has somewhat rebounded from earlier declines, and is currently trading at $0.00001114.

Dogecoin (DOGE) also declined on Thursday, with prices falling for a fifth straight day. Since rising to a one-month high on Saturday, the meme coin has moved lower in consecutive sessions. Today’s low saw DOGE/USD slip to a bottom of $0.08013, which is nearly 8% lower than Wednesday’s peak. Looking at the chart, the drop saw DOGE near a key support point at $0.08000, with bulls so far resisting a breakout. Recent decline has pushed price strength significantly lower, moving from a reading above 70.00 on Saturday, to 52.35 as of writing. The 50.00 mark on the RSI indicator seems to be a sustainable support point, however, should this fail to hold, DOGE bears will likely intensify the selling pressure.

Overall, the meme coins were unable to sustain the gains from Wednesday, with both SHIB and DOGE declining. Despite the decline, the relative strength index (RSI) of both coins is still deeply overbought. This suggests that markets have not yet been completely oversold, and that meme coins could potentially rebound if the broader market starts to trend higher.