Author: Sagarika Chatterjee

In a recent cybersecurity incident, the Twitter account belonging to the Aptos Foundation, an organization associated with the blockchain-based project Aptos, has been hacked. The perpetrators behind the breach directed unsuspecting individuals to a fraudulent website, luring them into participating in a fake airdrop. The compromised Twitter account posted a message referring to an airdrop on the Ethereum blockchain, enticing users with the promise of free tokens. Furthermore, it appears that the Twitter account of Mo Shaikh, the CEO of Aptos, may have also fallen victim to the same scam, further adding to the credibility of the fraudulent scheme. Swift…

According to court filings on Wednesday, Bittrex Inc., a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has come under scrutiny for alleged violations of multiple Florida laws. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) accused the exchange of failing to comply with regulations, including failing to segregate customer assets from the company’s operating capital and failing to maintain a sufficient surety bond. In opposition to Bittrex Inc.’s request for Automatic Stay, which would protect the bankrupt estate from certain creditor actions, Brandon Greenberg, assistant general counsel to the OFR, revealed that the regulator had advised the exchange on resolving the charges against it. Greenberg…

In recent months, the enforcement of non-fungible token (NFT) royalty payments has sparked tension between platforms and creators. However, data analytics platform Nansen’s latest report reveals that NFT royalty payments plummeted to a two-year low in June. This decline has been further exacerbated by the rise of royalty-optional marketplace Blur and OpenSea’s policy. While the practice of paying optional royalties remains uncommon, some prominent collections have still managed to rake in millions in royalty payments since their inception. Nansen analysts Javier Cerdan and Edward Wilson explain that competition between marketplaces has led to the drive to keep royalty payments low…

Account abstraction, also known as “smart accounts,” is a concept in the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. It refers to a way of making crypto wallets more advanced and user-friendly by adding features similar to traditional bank accounts. The expansion of the Ethereum and Web3 ecosystem in Asia is driven by various factors. One of them is the introduction of scaling solutions called zkEVM and Optimistic Rollups, which improve the performance and scalability of Ethereum. These solutions provide developers with security and the ability to create applications that can handle large numbers of users. According to Laura Shi, an…

In a recent development, Twitter’s implementation of new rate limits has caused a significant decline in the indexing and display of tweets on Google’s search engine. This change has had a substantial impact on the reach and visibility of crypto-related information shared on the popular microblogging site. According to a report from Search Engine Land, Google Search has experienced a drastic drop of over 60% in the number of indexed URLs from Twitter in the past few days. The number of tweets indexed by Google plunged from 471 million to 180 million, highlighting the severity of the situation. On July…

In recent times, the cryptocurrency market has witnessed a peculiar trend, with the emergence of knockoff coins that aim to replicate the success of popular meme cryptocurrencies. These new tokens, often branded as ‘2.0’ versions, have attracted the attention of crypto enthusiasts and traders who missed out on the initial hype surrounding meme coins. Among the notable examples is Pepecoin (PEPE), which has seen tremendous growth and a surge in trading volumes. However, it is important to note that these trends are typically short-lived, lasting only a few weeks, as observed in previous instances. One of the most recent entries in…

Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, hit a low point in November at around $15,500, but it has since doubled in value to $31,000. In the past two weeks alone, its price has gone up by almost 20%, thanks in part to companies like Fidelity showing interest in Bitcoin by applying for a spot-bitcoin ETF. The Nasdaq index, which represents many technology companies on Wall Street, also hit its lowest point in late 2022 but has since risen by nearly 50%. The broader S&P 500 index has also gained 25% over the same period. Financial markets have become riskier since late…

In recent years, social media platforms have become a powerful tool for information sharing, networking, and influencer marketing. However, the issue of fake followers continues to plague platforms like Twitter, even after significant changes introduced under Elon Musk’s leadership. New data from dappGambl has shed light on the persistent problem, revealing that as many as 10% of followers on accounts belonging to crypto influencers and companies are fake. Image Social media platforms have witnessed a surge in the presence of fake accounts and bots, with Twitter being no exception. The phenomenon of fake followers has plagued the credibility of users…

The recent refiled applications for spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuers by Fidelity, WisdomTree, VanEck, ARK Invest, Galaxy/Invesco, and BlackRock have brought attention to the importance of surveillance-sharing agreements. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rejected Bitcoin ETF applications in the past due to the absence of these agreements, which are aimed at preventing market manipulation and safeguarding consumers. In response, Cboe’s BZX Exchange has named Coinbase, a prominent U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, as its surveillance-sharing partner to address this requirement. Surveillance-sharing agreements have long been a crucial aspect of Bitcoin ETF applications. The SEC has emphasized the need…

The Azuki NFT collection, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based startup Chiru Labs, had been a blue-chip brand in the world of digital assets. However, their recent release of the Elementals NFTs failed to meet expectations, causing a surge in long-term holders selling off their Azuki NFTs. They confessed that they had “missed the mark” with the Elemental drop and promised to do better. Due to the collection’s alleged dilution of the original Azukis, the community condemned it for being too similar to those creatures. The Azuki team apologized for their errors and promised to execute better in the future.…