Author: Michelle Lazo

Elon Musk has been a vocal advocate of Dogecoin since his initial tweet in 2019, and his recent actions suggest he’s gearing up to expand DOGE’s utility further into his business ventures. Notably, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) has started accepting DOGE as payment for its merchandise, a move following Musk’s visit to the Berlin gigafactory where the idea gained traction. This quiet rollout on Tesla’s website saw the DOGE price surge over 20% shortly after enthusiasts noticed the update.

In parallel, Musk’s social media platform, X, previously known as Twitter, is also setting the stage for broader cryptocurrency use. X has been actively acquiring payment licenses across the U.S., now holding 25, with more expected. This development is crucial for facilitating peer-to-peer  transactions akin to those on Venmo or Cash App, paving the way for potential DOGE integration.

Musk’s interest in integrating DOGE into X was hinted at in a retweet he made, featuring a comparison of the old and current X.com logos and the caption “The Everything App.” This retweet, originally posted by a user associated with DOGE’s UX/UI design, suggests a full-circle vision for Musk’s involvement in online payments, tracing back to his early career at X.com, which later evolved into PayPal(NASDAQ:PYPL).

While the roadmap towards DOGE integration on X appears promising, it faces regulatory challenges. Despite these hurdles, Musk’s efforts to acquire the necessary licenses indicate a strong commitment to transforming X into an ‘everything app’ and possibly making DOGE a key element of this transformation.

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The landscape of cryptocurrency investment is witnessing a shift with the rise of Key Opinion Leaders, who are not only investing in crypto startups but also promoting them, often with advantageous conditions. Recently, major social media figures have transformed into influencer-investors, receiving perks such as discounted valuations and early selling options, a trend becoming increasingly common in crypto’s evolving ‘KOL’ economy.

KOL rounds have emerged as a cost-effective strategy for crypto startups to market their projects. This method contrasts sharply with traditional paid promotions, offering a way to leverage the KOLs’ extensive social media reach to attract investors and users. Platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) are popular stages for these promotions, influencing retail traders’ decisions.

However, the transparency of these financial arrangements often remains murky. Several insiders, preferring to remain anonymous, have raised concerns about the disclosure of these agreements to the public, potentially breaching U.S. consumer protection laws. According to Ariel Givner, a lawyer specializing in crypto law, the failure to disclose these financial ties could mislead the audience, many of whom rely on such endorsements for investment decisions.

Moreover, the structure of these deals frequently allows KOLs to sell their stakes soon after a token launches, potentially undermining the long-term stability of the project in favor of immediate gains. This practice, while lucrative for KOLs and beneficial for the initial marketing push of a project, might result in significant losses for retail investors who remain unaware of the behind-the-scenes arrangements.

As the creator economy continues to reshape online interactions, crypto startups are increasingly opting for influencer-led funding rounds, which promise wider exposure and potentially higher initial buy-in rates without the upfront costs of traditional marketing campaigns.

While this model offers a modern twist on raising capital, it also introduces complexities and ethical considerations regarding investor protection and market transparency. The debate continues on the need for clearer regulations and disclosures to safeguard the interests of all parties involved in such transactions.

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Injective, a blockchain platform originally built on Cosmos technology, experienced a meteoric rise with its INJ token escalating thirty-three times in value during 2023, only to face a sharp decline this year. In a strategic pivot, Injective is now set to broaden its scope by launching a layer-3 network within the Ethereum ecosystem, leveraging Arbitrum’s technology.

The new layer, named “inEVM,” is designed to be compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine  and aims to bridge three major blockchain networks: Ethereum, Cosmos, and Solana. The inEVM will utilize Arbitrum’s Orbit toolkit, which enables developers to create customizable chains while ensuring interoperability across different ecosystems.

This expansion could potentially rejuvenate interest in the INJ token, which outshone most of its peers last year, achieving a peak market capitalization exceeding $4 billion. Despite the general uptick in the crypto markets in 2024, with the CoinDesk 20 index climbing 25%, INJ has seen a nearly 30% decrease in its value.

According to Injective Labs, this initiative will not only facilitate the development within the Ethereum layer-2 space but also maintain Injective’s attributes of high speed and low transaction costs. Additionally, operations on the inEVM network will support the Injective ecosystem’s tokenomics through a mechanism that regularly burns a portion of all protocol fees.

Eric Chen, co-founder of Injective Labs, emphasized in a press release that the integration with Arbitrum is pivotal for enhancing blockchain networks and infrastructure. He highlighted the importance of interoperability in bridging the gaps among leading layer-1 platforms, thereby enabling a more fluid exchange of assets and liquidity across various blockchain ecosystems.

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FTX has announced that almost all its customers will be reimbursed, just under two years after the cryptocurrency exchange’s dramatic failure. In a recent court filing, FTX disclosed it owes creditors approximately $11.2 billion, but has between $14.5 billion and $16.3 billion available for distribution.

According to the documents submitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the plan not only covers full claims but also includes supplemental interest payments at a rate of 9%, assuming residual funds are available. This partial compensation might offer little solace to investors who suffered significant losses during the exchange’s collapse. When FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022, Bitcoin was valued at around $16,080. Since then, the price of Bitcoin has escalated to approximately $62,675, representing a substantial potential loss for those who might have retained their cryptocurrency investments.

Under the proposed plan, customers and creditors with claims up to $50,000 are set to receive about 118% of their claim value, covering nearly 98% of FTX customers. The ability to settle these claims comes from the successful liquidation of assets primarily associated with Alameda Research or FTX Ventures, as well as through litigation claims.

At its peak, FTX was the third-largest global cryptocurrency exchange. Its rapid downfall began with a financial crisis akin to a bank run, leading to bankruptcy filings in November 2022. Following the collapse, FTX’s founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried stepped down and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison in March for his role in the massive fraud at FTX.

The aftermath of the scandal also brought down several high-profile endorsements, including those from celebrities like Tom Brady and Stephen Curry. John Ray III, known for his work in the Enron bankruptcy, has since taken over as CEO of FTX, announcing plans to potentially revive the FTX.com exchange amidst exploring other strategic options.

Despite the controversy, FTX’s new management remains optimistic, with Ray expressing satisfaction over the proposed chapter 11 plan that would fully satisfy non-governmental creditor claims with additional interest.

Meanwhile, the saga of crypto mismanagement extends to Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, whose former CEO Changpeng Zhao was recently sentenced to prison for allowing illicit activities through the platform. Binance had considered purchasing FTX just before its 2022 collapse but withdrew amid emerging financial issues.

The bankruptcy court is scheduled to review the FTX asset distribution plan on June 25, potentially turning a new page for the beleaguered exchange.

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British fintech giant Revolut has introduced a new crypto trading platform called Revolut X, tailored for retail customers in the U.K., signaling a deeper dive into digital assets. This move, highlighted in a recent blog post, solidifies Revolut’s commitment to the crypto industry, where it aims to cater to both novice and seasoned crypto investors.

With a user base of over 40 million, Revolut is among the world’s largest fintech firms and is now poised to compete with major crypto exchanges like Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and Binance. The platform will offer trading options for over 100 tokens, with fees varying between zero to 0.09%. Trading on Revolut X requires having an existing Revolut account, allowing users to easily transfer funds between their Revolut X and standard Revolut retail accounts.

This development follows Revolut’s introduction of Revolut Ramp in March, a feature that enables direct crypto purchases through a partnership with MetaMask. According to Leonid Bashlykov, head of crypto exchange product at Revolut, the platform is designed to empower customers to expand their wealth across both fiat and crypto assets.

Fintech analyst Boaz Sobrado noted that Revolut’s profitability has closely aligned with its crypto operations, particularly during the crypto market’s bull run in 2021. He emphasized that the high margins in crypto trading are likely to continue boosting Revolut’s financial performance.

The launch aligns with recent regulations from the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K., which introduced a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period for crypto transactions, setting a barrier that favors larger, established companies like Revolut and Kraken over smaller or offshore entities.

The optimism surrounding Revolut X also ties into broader market dynamics. Since the U.S. approval of 10 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds on January 11, which now manage over $53 billion in assets, the crypto market has seen significant growth. Companies like BlackRock(NYSE:BLK) and Fidelity issuing crypto products have further expanded the investor base, enhancing market potential.

However, Revolut’s strengthening in the U.K. market contrasts with its recent retreat from the U.S. crypto market in August 2023 due to regulatory uncertainties, impacting only 1% of its users. Meanwhile, other fintech players like Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD)have also faced regulatory challenges in the U.S., with Robinhood receiving a Wells Notice from the SEC regarding its crypto operations.

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