• IOTA, a cryptocurrency start-up leveraging blockchain technology and IoT (Internet of Things), has been chosen to take part in the next stage of testing and development for an European Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) initiative.
• This project seeks to investigate the feasibility of utilizing blockchain technology to both improve current applications and develop new ones for the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).
• The goals of the EBSI include promoting cross-border mobility, reducing waste, ensuring compliance with E.U. regulations, fostering the growth of technology hubs and projects, and making digital services more reliable and trustworthy.

IOTA, a cryptocurrency start-up leveraging blockchain technology and IoT (Internet of Things), has been chosen to take part in the next stage of testing and development for an European Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) initiative. This initiative seeks to investigate the feasibility of utilizing blockchain technology to both improve current applications and develop new ones for the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).

The European Blockchain Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) is an initiative that aims to enhance pan-European blockchain services through a distributed ledger system. This system is expected to allow for greater trust and transparency in transactions, as well as provide better security and privacy for data. Additionally, the project seeks to reduce waste, ensure compliance with E.U. regulations, foster the growth of technology hubs and projects, and make digital services more reliable and trustworthy.

The IOTA Foundation, the organization behind the IOTA cryptocurrency, is one of the few chosen to take part in the next phase of testing and development for the PCP. According to Dominik Schiener, co-founder and chairman of the IOTA Foundation, their technology already shares the same core values with EBSI, so they have felt it has been a very natural fit throughout this testing process.

The IOTA Foundation is confident in their ability to bring distributed ledger technology to the European market and are excited to move onto the next phase of the PCP. As they move forward, they will be working in conjunction with the European Commission and the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure to develop and test a distributed ledger system that can be used to deliver improved European-wide blockchain services.

The IOTA Foundation is hopeful that the successful implementation of this project will lead to the development of new applications and services that can improve the way businesses and individuals are able to operate within the European Union. By taking part in this project, the IOTA Foundation is helping to ensure that the European Union remains at the forefront of digital innovation and development.

• A recent report from eToro revealed that cryptocurrency adoption among female retail investors is on the rise, with 34% of women now owning digital assets.
• The report found that the most popular reason for investing in crypto is the potential to make high returns, although many also believe in the power of blockchain tech.
• The rise in adoption of cryptocurrency among women is significant as it suggests that crypto is succeeding where traditional financial markets have sometimes failed.

Cryptocurrency has been steadily gaining traction in the retail investor space, with more and more people looking to invest in digital assets. Now, it appears that the trend is increasingly being adopted by the female population as well. According to a recent report from eToro, the popular social trading platform, cryptocurrency adoption among female retail investors is on the rise.

The Retail Investor Beat Q4 2022 report surveyed 10,000 retail investors across 13 countries and 3 continents, and found that 34% of women now own cryptocurrency, up from 29% in the previous quarter. This makes digital assets the most widely owned asset class for women after cash.

The report further revealed that the most popular reason for investing in crypto is the potential to make high returns. This is not surprising given the volatility of the market and the rapid appreciation of some assets, like Bitcoin. However, many of the female investors surveyed also believe in the power of blockchain technology and view cryptocurrencies as a transformative asset class.

The rise in adoption of cryptocurrency among women is significant as it suggests that crypto is succeeding where traditional financial markets have sometimes failed. Women have traditionally been underrepresented in the financial markets, but the increasing interest in digital assets shows that this is gradually changing.

This is supported by a survey released by BlockFi, a popular crypto lender, in October 2022. The survey showed that women were still bullish on crypto despite the challenges plaguing the market at the time. 22% of respondents stated that they were still open to buy bitcoin and altcoins in 2023, and one in 10 women had chosen crypto as their first investment.

The increasing popularity of cryptocurrency among female investors is a testament to the growing confidence in digital assets. As the industry continues to mature and expand, more and more women are likely to join the fray and help drive the growth of the sector. With increasing adoption and the potential for high returns, cryptocurrency could become a key asset class for female investors in the years to come.

• Skybridge Capital announced plans to buy back FTX’s stake from their company.
• Anthony Scaramucci, CEO of Skybridge, stated that the process could take months to finalize.
• Richard Gardner argued that Sam Bankman’s investment into the stake wasn’t pertinent as it seemed.

Skybridge Capital, a global investment organization based in New York, has announced plans to buy back FTX’s stake in the company. This news comes after FTX, a crypto exchange, purchased 30% of Skybridge’s firm back in September 2022, before the company encountered several controversies that ultimately led to their bankruptcy.

CEO of Skybridge, Anthony Scaramucci, stated that the purchase process could take months to finalize due to the various investments bankers, bankruptcy individuals, and lawyers that must be consulted in order to make a decision. Scaramucci proposed that the purchase should be finalized by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

The purchase has been met with some criticism, however, as Richard Gardner, CEO of Modulus, argued that Sam Bankman’s investment into the stake was not pertinent. He suggested that it was more of a life jacket than a lifeboat, indicating that it was a risk to one entity. Additionally, White House communication director Anthony Sacramucci argued that the short-term and financier investments could lead to potential issues in the future.

Skybridge plans to use $40 million from the purchase to invest in the crypto industry and to hold onto the balance sheet for a long-term scheme. With the purchase, the company hopes to benefit from the increased stability and security of their investments. For now, Skybridge is waiting for clearance from the various individuals and entities to make a final decision on the purchase.

• FTX, a bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, and its affiliated debtors have reached a cooperation agreement to streamline the liquidation of the exchange’s subsidiary in the Bahamas.
• The legal teams in charge of the bankruptcy lawsuits in the United States and the Bahamas have made a consensual partnership deal to end the differences of opinions between the parties.
• The joint interim trustees and the FTX debtors have declared that they have agreed on a procedure to clarify the inventory underneath its regulation and are confident that the Bahamian Securities Commission (BSC) has protected their virtual assets.

On January 6th, the legal teams representing FTX, a bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, and its affiliates came to an agreement that would allow the parties to streamline the liquidation of FTX’s subsidiary in the Bahamas. The settlement was made in order to end the differences of opinions between the U.S. and Bahamian parties involved in FTX’s bankruptcy lawsuits.

FTX had originally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, and its 50 biggest lenders were owed $3.1 billion. Since then, two parallel liquidation processes had been taking place in Delaware, where the company sought bankruptcy protection, and in the Bahamas, the location of FTX Digital Markets. The agreement between the two legal teams was necessary to make sure that the two processes worked together in a way that was beneficial to all parties involved.

The joint interim trustees and the FTX debtors declared that they had agreed upon a procedure to clarify the inventory beneath their regulation and that the Bahamian Securities Commission (BSC) had taken measures to protect FTX’s virtual assets. FTX’s liquidations CEO John Ray III stated that there were still some differences between the parties that needed to be addressed.

The agreement between the two legal teams is a major step forward in the liquidation process of FTX and its affiliates. It shows that the parties involved are willing to cooperate in order to come to a beneficial outcome for all involved. This is a positive development for FTX’s creditors and shareholders, who will be able to receive their compensation in a timely manner.

• The non-fungible token (NFT) market has continued to thrive despite the overall bearish trend in cryptocurrency.
• 2022 was not as climatic as 2021 for NFTs, with the organic trading volume generated by the NFT market in 2022 being around $24.7 billion.
• The number of NFTs traded increased significantly in 2022, despite the flat overall trading volume.

The non-fungible token (NFT) market has shown resilience despite the bearish trend in cryptocurrency. On Jan. 5, 2023, the single-day trading volume of the NFT market exceeded 32,000 ETH, representing the highest level in three months. This is a stark contrast to the overall bearish sentiment in the cryptocurrency market. The trading volume on the OpenSea platform, one of the biggest marketplaces for NFTs, also reached a two-month high on the same day.

The year 2021 was the year that NFTs caught on and investors rushed to embrace cryptocurrencies and metaverses. However, the enthusiasm for NFTs in 2022 was not as great. According to DappRadar, the organic trading volume generated by the NFT market in 2022 was around $24.7 billion, a slight decrease from the $25.1 billion recorded in 2021. This can likely be attributed to the public scandals in the crypto market, like the FTX collapse, as well as the general waning interest in NFTs. Major cryptocurrencies also crashed, sending the entire market into a frenzy. This caused NFT prices to drop and led to a decrease in trading volume.

Despite the overall flat trading volume, the number of NFTs traded in 2022 increased significantly. DappRadar reported that the total trading volume during the first quarter of 2022 reached $12.4 billion. However, the following quarter saw a steady decline. The trading volume for the second quarter was $8.4 billion, followed by the third quarter at $2.6 billion and the fourth quarter at $1.2 billion.

Overall, the NFT market is still holding up well in 2023 despite the bearish market sentiment and the lackluster performance of NFTs in 2022. The single-day trading volume of the NFT market on Jan.5 exceeded 32,000 ETH and the trading volume on the OpenSea platform also reached a two-month high on the same day. Furthermore, the number of NFTs traded increased significantly in 2022, despite the flat overall trading volume. This shows that the NFT market is still alive and kicking and is likely to continue to thrive in the future.