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Welcome to the March 18th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em tackle the same question: “Is this a thing?”

What can you expect from this week’s crypto news-wrap up? We debate headlines about Russians trying to liquidate their cryptocurrency, Coinbase’s new product, Limewire rebranding as an NFT marketplace, and more.

Russians look to liquidate cryptocurrency in UAE

Russians are looking to liquidate billions in cryptocurrency holdings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where crypto firms are getting flooded with requests. Some Russians are looking to purchase real estate, while others are trying to convert cryptocurrency into cash. The UAE has previously been clear about hoping to become a blockchain global hub.

Why is this suddenly happening? It’s simple: Russians are getting scared Switzerland might end up freezing their crypto assets any time now. Specifically, the Swiss government has been open about planning to freeze cryptocurrency owned by Russian citizens. This is quite the controversial move, given that many crypto enthusiasts believe crypto was created to avoid situations like this.

What are your thoughts? When can we agree on sanctions when it comes to human rights, or should we accept that “sanctions” will never be the same again, thanks to the rise of cryptocurrency?

Neil says:

Yeah, I think that’s where things get interesting. A lot of crypto enthusiasts know crypto can be used to circumvent sanctions, but there are certainly going to be situations where countries sanction each other. How will the exchanges respond to those governments, and how often will they obey or dismiss the requests? I think this is an important question to explore.

Em says:

I guess this just goes to show that some of the traditional whale investors still see crypto as a speculative asset and not what it’s meant for — an alternative money that should be in self-custody. Trying to figure out how to move it and where to move it to avoid sanctions shouldn’t be the main question if it’s being used for its decentralized purpose.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a big “future issue” thing, Em thinks it is more of a “whale mindset” thing.

Who do you agree with?

Coinbase launches beta Coinbase One subscription

If you’ve followed the cryptocurrency news for a while, you know that Coinbase is one of the major players in the space. The crypto exchange is launching a subscription model-based product called Coinbase One that offers zero trading fees to the user. Coinbase still hasn’t disclosed how much Coinbase One will cost.

Those who opt for Coinbase One also get access to 24/7 customer support and account protection up to $1 million dollars. Users will not be able to share their subscription and will not be reimbursed for previous crypto trading fees. The majority of Coinbase revenues still come from trading fees.

What do you think? Is this a smart move for Coinbase and/or wealthier crypto investors?

Neil says:

Yeah, I think this is a smart move. I would go so far as to say this should’ve rolled out even sooner, as some kind of premium service. It allows Coinbase to diversify its revenue while also catering to people who actively trade 24/7. This is a smart move from Coinbase, in my opinion.

Em says:

I guess a subscription for traders is an interesting idea. If you do a lot of trades, I guess it might be worth it and perhaps there’s a market for it. Everything seems to be a sub these days so I don’t blame Coinbase for trying it out. It’s their prerogative to make money whatever way they want to. It’s also my prerogative not to use it since I’m more of a HODLer than a trader.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a thing, Em doesn’t care too much about it.

Who do you agree with?

Limewire comes back after a decade

If you grew up in the early days of the Internet, then you might remember trying to download music from a file-sharing service called Limewire. Limewire launched in 2000 and eventually attracted 50 million monthly users at its peak.

The music industry eventually helped shut it down in 2010. A federal judge claimed Limewire was responsible for copyright infringement on a “massive scale.” Limewire is often associated with other well-known P2P file sharing services of the time, including Napster, Kazaa, and Bearshare.

After over a decade, Limewire wants to come back as an NFT marketplace. The relaunch is planned for May, thanks to two Austrian brothers who purchased Limewire’s assets and IP last year. Limewire will focus on music-related NFTs rather than digital collectibles in general.

Any thoughts on Limewire’s rebrand? Since Limewire is familiar to millions of millennials, is this a smart play?

Neil says:

Yeah, I’m not going to lie – this is getting a bit annoying. It looks like there are so many millennial brands running straight to the crypto space to try to rebrand themselves, and it would be fine if the projects were working out. I still haven’t really heard much about Radioshack’s rebrand. I think the more revolutionary NFT platforms are going to be original companies, not an older brand trying to come back to life.

Em says:

Lollll most millennials remember Limewire. Good times. Who knows if this NFT marketplace will be any good but I view it kind of like BlockbusterDAO — it’s there for the nostalgia factor. And maybe that’s all it needs to succeed, who knows. But I’m sure all the boomers will be thankful if they’re not getting letters from their ISP saying to stop using P2P file sharing. hahaha.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is an annoying thing, Em thinks it’s a coin toss thing.

What do you think?

Yuga Labs acquires 2 NFT collections

When it comes to established NFT projects, there’s probably no bigger name than the Bored Ape Yacht Club, or BAYC. The creator of the BAYC project, Yuga Labs, is looking to capitalize on other NFT collections in the space.

Yuga Labs has acquired the intellectual property rights of both the CryptoPunks and MeeBits NFT collections. This is a massive acquisition considering these are two of the most well-known NFT collections in the sector. CryptoPunks sales skyrocketed as a result.

Yuga Labs clearly wants to be the biggest company in the space. When will consolidation become a major challenge to the principle of decentralization? What do you think about “M&As” within the context of NFTs and cryptocurrency?

Neil says:

It’s a very difficult question that has to be answered. If the company behind the world’s most high-profile NFT collection then ends up snatching up other high-profile collections, it seems kind of inevitable. The problem is: when do the acquisitions get to the point where it’s clear that decentralization is impossible?

Em says:

Considering crypto and blockchain are all supposed to be about decentralization, it doesn’t appeal or sit well when we see consolidation of assets like this. Sure, it’s the market tendency for these things to happen, but when they do, I say: “Let’s burn it down!” Ok, not literally. But you know what I mean — keep breaking up centralization wherever we see it.

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em agree this is pretty much an inevitable, and unfortunate, thing.

We have a consensus! Do you agree?

EU crypto regulation is one step closer

Many crypto analysts, experts, and enthusiasts have been keeping a close eye on the EU vote regarding cryptocurrency regulation. The Economic and Monetary Committee voted 31-4 in favor of the Markets in Crypto Assets, or MiCA, framework. This was a new draft of the MiCA framework. The MiCA legislation was first introduced in 2020.

We reported last week and agreed that it was probably a good thing the vote was previously postponed, given that a provision was attempting to ban proof-of-work cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Instead, the committee voted for a provision that would eventually address the sustainability of crypto mining activities by January 2025.

What are your thoughts on this announcement? How much does this move the needle in Europe, or is this more performative than anything else?

Neil says:

I don’t know how to even celebrate a “regulatory win” when it comes to crypto. Crypto legislation will evolve over the next decade, and there are going to be all sorts of agencies and bodies that demand more from the industry. I guess it’s a win to celebrate cautiously, until some new regulatory hurdles come up.

Em says:

Watching governments and politicians try to figure out how to regulate crypto is kinda hilarious to be honest. It’s almost like when kids are playing freeze tag and the one who’s losing keeps making up new rules so he’s not losing anymore. Regulators still don’t know exactly how crypto works, but gosh darn it, they’re gonna try to regulate it anyway!

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s an evolving process thing, Em thinks it’s a freeze tag thing.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: trading a million for less than a penny

Many NFT buyers are hoping to become the next crypto millionaire, especially given that 2021 was a banner year for non-fungible tokens in general. Unfortunately, this next situation involves an NFT collector who has to start from square one.

A collector named Dino Dealer took to Twitter to admit he had sold an EtherRock for much less than intended. Dino Dealer had accidentally listed his EtherRock #444 for 444 WEI instead of 444 ETH. The NFT was immediately purchased and has since been relisted for sale. Dino Dealer admitted his net worth of around $1 million had just disappeared.

The Internet can be a ruthless place, and this situation was no exception. Many anti-crypto and anti-NFT accounts dogpiled on Dino Dealer, with some accounts asking why he had his “net worth in a rock jpeg.” Other pro-crypto accounts urged others to be more sensitive to the situation.

Yep, it’s another “I accidentally sold for x” horror story. Thoughts on what happened here?

Neil says:

I’m not here to “dunk” on this guy, because it honestly really is wild that someone can lose that much money that quickly. I think the immutability of the blockchain does mean we will have to figure out ways to recover from human error, but I’m not positive what that looks like. Regardless, it’s another cautionary tale about double-checking everything before buying, selling, listing, sending, or receiving anything.

Em says:

Ooooof. As a butterfingers myself, I know that this kind of thing can happen to anyone. If I had an EtherRock, you best believe I’d be super careful with it! But beyond just cringing and awkwardly chuckling at the self-imposed misfortune, I think it’s a good reminder about diversification. Is your net worth really $1 million when you can lose it with one mis-click?

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em can empathize with this week’s bad idea. Also, never put all of your money into one NFT!

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you the meme of the week:

And that’s our crypto news wrap-up!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that Limewire will be able to rebrand as an NFT marketplace? Are you worried about Yuga Labs becoming the “Amazon” of the NFT space, or is it too early to care about anything other than growth right now? What would you do if you accidentally sold your most prized NFT for less than a penny?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

Welcome to the March 11th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em tackle the same question: “Is this a thing?”

Ukraine is STILL dominating the crypto news wrap-up, but of course there are other headlines to discuss. They include Biden’s upcoming executive order, Drake partnering with a crypto betting company, Tai Lopez getting into NFTs, and more.

Ukraine crypto headlines everywhere

It’s no surprise that many cryptocurrency news items are about Ukraine, thanks to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The country has raised over $50 million in crypto, but there are also some new questions. There’s good news for those who want to donate: the government now accepts over 70 digital assets.

Ukraine had promised an airdrop, but then decided to cancel it. Obviously, this wasn’t good news to those who had donated hoping for some kind of return on their donation. Either way, Ukraine is now buying military gear thanks to cryptocurrency.

Any new observations since last week regarding how crypto is playing a role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Neil says:

I think there are new questions regarding how crypto companies might “support” sanctions. I think it’s a hard line to walk because crypto exchanges have to comply with the law to some extent, but it’s still difficult to truly “ban” it in any meaningful way. I still think this conflict is proving how crypto will be used/weaponized in future conflicts.

Em says:

This crisis impacts everything — economics, politics, technology, and social and humanitarian issues. Of course crypto would be a player in such a serious world event. The problem is that it’s such a complex situation that it’s hard to even know what is happening, let alone which things will turn out as positive or negative events.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is still a crypto thing, Em thinks it’s a world event thing.

Who do you agree with?

Billionaire backs off anti-crypto stance

If you’ve followed crypto for a while, you know that many financial experts and businessmen tried to downplay cryptocurrency when it first went mainstream. It seems like more and more, many of these same people are beginning to understand cryptocurrency is here to stay.

Ken Griffin is the billionaire CEO of investment firm Citadel, and he is finally saying he made the wrong call regarding crypto. He stated that Citadel would begin engaging with crypto “in the months to come.” In 2017, Griffin had compared interest in Bitcoin to tulip bulb mania.

Should we applaud this, or is this just a hedge fund owner doing the bare minimum?

Neil says:

There were a lot of bankers and financial “experts” that criticized crypto, and many of them are still criticizing it. It’s great that he walked it back, but let’s also remember that Ken Griffin is the guy that bought a copy of the Constitution, at least partially so the ConstitutionDAO couldn’t get it. He knows he was wrong, and admits it – but he’s still clearly “against” crypto, and this is about optics more than anything else.

Em says:

Money talks. And if there’s one thing a billionaire knows about, it’s money. I don’t think we can blame people for not seeing the trajectory of crypto before it came to fruition. Many people didn’t, even if they knew about it. Even if he’s getting on the bandwagon late by crypto enthusiast estimations, he’s getting on the bandwagon.

Bottom line:

Neil doesn’t think this is an “applaudable” thing, Em thinks it is.

Who do you agree with?

Drake partners with Stake

Drake is easily one of the biggest music artists in the world, and he’s been teasing a possible cryptocurrency partnership for some time. The internationally-known rapper will be partnering with Stake, a crypto betting site. Stake is considered one of the biggest crypto casinos in the world, although it is not available to United States users.

It looks like an announcement has finally been made on Drake’s Instagram, and the rapper will participate in a live event called “Drake on Stake.” The rapper has apparently been an active player on the platform, reportedly making a $1.3 million Superbowl Bitcoin bet several weeks ago.

Any thoughts on this particular deal? Should Drake be wary of this partnership, given the fact that the SEC has targeted other entertainers regarding crypto deals and sponsorships?

Neil says:

Whether you listen to him or not, Drake is one of the biggest artists in the world. Do I think that this announcement will shake up the crypto world? No. Still, it’s one of the world’s biggest artists partnering with a crypto casino. As for breaking the law, I assume (and hope) Drake’s team did their due diligence to avoid any potential fines or legal consequences. This is a net positive.

Em says:

To be honest, I don’t think I could name one Drake song, so him getting into the cryptosphere is as meaningful to me as if your cousin’s dog groomer made a partnership with Stake. But hey… do you, Drake. Have fun, get in the game — just try not to get public backlash or lawsuits for being scammy like so many other celebrities have.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a thing, Em doesn’t care about it.

What do you think?

Biden’s executive order is coming

Last month, we reported the Biden administration was moving closer towards providing cryptocurrency regulation. It looks like the Russia/Ukraine conflict may have made it so that Biden plans on signing an executive order this week, even though the administration had planned for an order before the war began.

The executive order will reportedly do several things, including asking the Financial Stability Oversight Control (FSOC) to study illicit financial concerns. The FSOC is a government agency created to monitor the stability of the U.S. financial system. The order also may explore the possibility of a new U.S. central bank digital currency.

What do you think the executive order will say? Do you anticipate any surprises? Any thoughts on how this will affect the markets?

Neil says:

There’s just no way that this is going to be too anti-crypto. I think the Biden administration understands cryptocurrency is here to stay, and I think the language will be pretty careful. Biden is worried about how crypto can help countries avoid sanctions, so there might be something about that – but frankly, I’m not sure what exactly can be “regulated” here.

Em says:

It seems to me that Joe Biden is the Mr. Magoo of our world political leadership. It would be funny if it wasn’t so excruciating. And when it comes to an executive order about crypto, I don’t know what it will say, but I can’t imagine it will be anything super meaningful. Politics doesn’t understand crypto, and an executive order won’t stop the advancement of technology.

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em don’t really think this executive order will be much of a thing.

We have a consensus. Do you agree?

Andre Cronje and Anton Nell calls it quits

There are some developers that are critical to the growth of a sector, and Andre Cronje is considered a “godfather” in the DeFi space. Anton Nell, one of his frequent collaborators, took to Twitter to announce that both Cronje and himself would be quitting their DeFi projects.

Nell pointed out that this was not a “knee-jerk reaction” and that it was time that they “closed this chapter.” Cronje had already deleted his Twitter account and updated his Linkedin account to reflect he is no longer associated with the Fantom Foundation.

Dozens of DeFi tokens tumbled as a result of the announcement. Cronje first came to prominence as the founder of Yearn Finance.

What are your thoughts on this announcement? What does the fact that dozens of tokens have fallen say about “decentralization,” if they have this much impact?

Neil says:

Yeah, this is a pretty bad look. If Defi is going to truly be decentralized, then a couple of key developers can’t be responsible for affecting dozens of tokens like this. Cronje has definitely voiced concerns in the past, and I’m sure the tokens will recover – but it’s still a bad look.

Em says:

Well, it’s too bad. Whatever caused them to peace-out of the community, hopefully they’re happier. But it’s not really that big of a shocker. Cronje has left projects before and made complaints about the community. I don’t know how difficult it is out there for developers ‘cause I’m not one, but hopefully Fantom has a strong team and can bounce back.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a bad look thing, Em thinks it’s a “too bad” thing.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: The Tai Lopez NFT disaster

There are many NFT influencers out there, but one influencer hasn’t had the most welcome entrance into the NFT space. That would be Tai Lopez, a social media influencer most known for his advertisements that feature him showing off luxury cars. He’s been a controversial figure for some time now.

Tai Lopez has launched his own NFT collection, and it isn’t going well. Around 2,000 NFTs have been minted (out of 18,300), and only about $1.3 million was raised. These are even worse numbers when you consider that Lopez has pledged to purchase a hotel, nightclub, AND a restaurant that would be exclusive for those who bought his NFTs.

The collection is called the OG (Original Garage) Social Club. You can find further details here. On social media, countless NFT influencers and enthusiasts have pointed out flaws with his project, and it’s getting ridiculed relentlessly.

Neil says:

Yeah, I’m not going to lie… I can’t stand this guy. Even guys like Gary Vee seem to have a lot more sincerity and better intentions than Tai. I mean, in case it wasn’t obvious, the NFT immediately siphons out funds into the team’s wallet. It’s such an obvious cash grab that it’s insane: it costs $50,000 for an NFT to win $10,000 in a basketball game with him. All in all, the NFT community avoided this collection, and Tai embarrassed himself.

Em says:

Haha! If Joe Biden is the Mr. Magoo of politics, Tai Lopez is the Billy Mays of the internet — amusingly entertaining, but who really takes him seriously? I mean seriously, if you heard that Tai Lopez got into crypto, how could you NOT guess that he’d be embroiled in scam accusations?

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em agree this was a bad idea.

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you the meme of the week:

And that’s our crypto news wrap-up!

Would you buy a Tai Lopez NFT? Does a Drake endorsement make you think twice about opening an account with a cryptocurrency casino? Do you think DeFi tokens will make a strong recovery? Any thoughts about Ukraine/Russia and how they are both using crypto to their advantage?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like crypto regulation is finally on the horizon in the United States. According to reports, President Joe Biden will sign an executive order aimed at bolstering crypto regulation within the next few days. Sources indicate that the initial efforts will be focused on conducting studies on regulating and issuing cryptocurrency.

This is good news for those who have been calling for more clarity and trust in this area, as well as for investors who want to see greater stability in the crypto markets.

Crypto regulation oversight may be shared amongst several agencies

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair Rostin Behnam indicated last that he wanted the committee to be tasked with the regulation of the crypto spot market. Behnam also asked if the CFTC could work together with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to share the responsibility for crypto regulation, and it looks like President Joe Biden is taking steps to make it a reality. In an executive order set to be signed this week, the president will direct federal agencies to begin working on a plan to regulate the cryptocurrency market – this includes CFTC, SEC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and the Office of the Comptroller.

This move comes as no surprise given the increasing popularity of crypto assets and the groundswell of concerns amongst US citizens about the rising costs of inflation. With this executive order, the president is sending a clear message that his administration is taking crypto regulation seriously and is ready to respond to consumer demand. With the sheer number of agencies potentially involved in the studies and possibly regulation oversight – it looks like some guidance will be expected soon.

Will crypto regulation protect consumers?

Only time will tell how this executive order will impact the crypto-asset market overall. Many industry participants feel that crypto regulation is necessary in order to protect consumers and foster innovation in the space. However, others worry that too much regulation could stifle growth and innovation. There are also looming concerns that have yet to be addressed from high-ranking officials like SEC Commissioner Hester Pierce about the already “fragmented regulatory systems”.

It remains to be seen exactly how this new regulatory regime will take shape and its impact on existing systems, but it’s clear that the days of crypto being a Wild West are numbered. So if you’re thinking about investing in cryptocurrency, now is the time to do your homework and make sure you understand the risks involved.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.

Welcome to the March 4th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em tackle the always-relevant question: “Is this a thing?”

This week’s crypto news wrap-up includes Ukraine raising millions of dollars in cryptocurrency, NYC’s NFT vending machine, some closure to the infamous Bitconnect scandal, and more.

Ukraine raises over $50 million in cryptocurrency

The world’s news headlines are dominated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but cryptocurrency has emerged as a relevant talking point. The country has managed to raise over $50 million in cryptocurrency and has even kept wallet addresses in a pinned tweet on their official Twitter account. There’s more: UkraineDAO has also raised millions of dollars in support of the Ukrainian army.

The situation is also a bit interesting given the fact that Ukraine now wants to weaponize cryptocurrency by also asking crypto exchanges to block Russian users. Several exchanges have chosen to refuse.

What are your thoughts on how crypto is playing a role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Neil says:

I think crypto is really proving its power when it comes to raising money for Ukraine, and I also think it was smart for crypto exchanges to refuse to block Russian users. Times like now prove that cryptocurrency is useful. Overall, I think a lot of cryptocurrency critics should recognize how it’s helping Ukraine here.

Em says:

In a war, everyone will use every tool they have. At the end of the day, crypto is just a tool. Whoever uses it best will win. It’s also true that this economic, social, technological, and international upheaval we’re experiencing is what crypto was created for. Hold on, everyone.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a “crypto proving its power” thing, Em thinks it’s a “crypto is a tool” thing.

Who do you agree with?

The world’s first NFT vending machine is here

The world is still crazy about NFTs, but it looks like it might get a bit easier to buy them if you live in the Big Apple. The world’s first NFT vending machine has arrived in Manhattan’s Financial District. The machine is open for 24 hours a day and allows customers to purchase Solana-based NFTs.

Neon, a Solana-based NFT marketplace, is behind the machine, and the CEO claims he’s trying to help people understand they don’t need cryptocurrency to buy NFTs. The machine accepts both debit cards and credit cards.

NFT vending machines: Is this something that will catch on, or is this really just about novelty?

Neil says:

I’m not really a fan of this one. I don’t think it’ll catch on, and I think the entire concept is a bit ridiculous. In the Guardian story where a reporter actually visits the machine, multiple things go wrong. This is just one of those ideas that isn’t really going to pan out right now.

Em says:

Maybe this idea is kind of silly and counter to the most philosophical and “pure” uses of crypto — according to the enthusiasts. But also… we know giant-claw-plushie-toy vending machines are also a complete scam, but we like them anyway. Maybe there’s a place for NFT vending machines at Dave & Buster’s! 😛

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this isn’t a thing, Em thinks it could be a thing.

Who do you agree with?

Bitconnect founder finally charged

If you’ve followed cryptocurrency for several years, you probably know Bitconnect was one of the biggest crypto scandals in recent history. The saga is finally coming to a close, with Bitconnect’s founder, Satish Khumbani, indicted by a federal grand jury for the $2.6 billion crypto scheme. He was charged in San Diego, but reportedly still remains at large.

Bitconnect operated as a Ponzi scheme, where money from newer investors was used to pay back earlier investors. This was marketed through a “lending program” that didn’t exist. Bitconnect went defunct in 2018.

Any thoughts on the Bitconnect scandal finally coming to a final conclusion? Do you think they will find Kumbhani soon, or not?

Neil says:

This whole fiasco was a huge deal in 2017 and 2018, and it’s a bit insane it took this long for Kumbhani to be charged. It’s even crazier that he has now apparently disappeared. Something tells me they might find him eventually, but it’s all a bit embarrassing.

Em says:

This dude kinda had is coming, and if he gets nailed, he gets nailed. Maybe it’s bad publicity for crypto, but at the same time, this kind of stuff happens in every new market. It happens in every old and established market too, tbh; it’s just hidden better by the big, influential players. *cough* the fed *cough*

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a bad thing, Em thinks it’s a “scammers are in every market” thing.

What do you think?

Bank of America denies “crypto winter”

Many people suggested that the cryptocurrency sector has fallen victim to a “crypto winter,” likely referring to the fact that both Bitcoin and Ethereum have fallen significantly from their all-time highs. Bank of America recently released a note suggesting that the idea of a “crypto winter” is exaggerated.

The note stated that user adoption and developmental growth means that “crypto winter” isn’t likely. The note was titled “”Digital Assets: In The Flow.” However, it also acknowledged that crypto upside would likely be limited thanks to “Federal Reserve and macroeconomic headwinds.”

What do you think of Bank of America’s note and/or their agenda behind the note?

Neil says:

Bank of America has been releasing some pro-crypto reports, but it is still a bit strange to see one of America’s biggest banks declaring that a “crypto winter” might not exist. Is Bank of America trying to embrace crypto more than the competition strategically, or is this just one random note? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t take this too seriously.

Em says:

This does seem, on the surface, like it’s counter to BofA’s interests as a legacy finance institution. I can only conclude that it’s a PR play of some kind, or they’re actually resigned to the idea that crypto isn’t going away. Either way, I think it’s positive narrative hype for the crypto market in the short term, and I can’t complain about that.

Bottom line:

Neil doesn’t think this is a thing, Em thinks it’s a narrative thing regardless.

Who’s side are you on?

EU postpones crypto regulations vote

The European Parliament was expected to vote on crypto regulations on February 28, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the vote was canceled. Stefan Berger, the “rapporteur” (parliament member in charge), clarified that he didn’t want the framework to be misinterpreted. The vote has been postponed indefinitely.

What’s the reason for the sudden change? It might be that the draft included a provision hinting that lawmakers were hoping to ban proof-of-work cryptocurrencies starting January 2025. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies in the world, rely on proof-of-work.

Is this postponement a good thing, or a bad thing? Any additional thoughts on cryptocurrency regulation in general?

Neil says:

Yeah, I have no idea why they even thought this would be feasible. I do think that there should be more concrete steps towards regulation, and it’s a bit surreal to see delay after delay. In this case, however, a postponement was a good thing.

Em says:

Listen. Regulators still don’t understand crypto. They have a long way to go before they do, so I’m glad this got the brakes before it was voted on. Governments are still trying to figure out what to do with crypto and how it can be regulated, but my view is that the longer they’re on the fence, the better for crypto.

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em agree that the postponement was a good thing.

We have a consensus! Do you agree?

Bad idea of the week: BuyTheBroncos, hold your horses

Our crypto news wrap-up always ends with a bad idea, but this particular idea is more unrealistic than “bad.” I’m referring to the fact that there is now a DAO – the BuyTheBroncos DAO – that wants to buy the Denver Broncos.

Many have pointed out that DAOs can revolutionize crowdfunding. There’s a lot of potential here, but it’s not the time to try to raise billions of dollars to buy a sports team. There’s also no way the Denver Broncos would even allow themselves to be “governed” by a DAO.

Look – DAOs can raise millions of dollars. Just last week, we discussed Julian Assange raising millions of dollars thanks to his DAO. There’s also a massive difference between raising millions of dollars and raising BILLIONS of dollars.

What are your thoughts on BuyTheBroncos?

Neil says:

BuyTheBroncos wants to raise $4 billion, and there’s just no way I see this happening. At this point, there’s no real reason for this to happen. There’s a lot of well-deserved interest in DAOs, but this particular goal is not the move. How would a DAO govern a sports team? What about NFL ownership laws? It’s not realistic.

Em says:

It’s definitely ambitious, I’ll give them that. Buying the Broncos is a moonshot if I ever saw one. But at the same time, I’ve also written about how buying a sports team could play out in concept for DAOs. Even if they’re a bit premature to the game, it may be possible in the future. If it ever does happen, just know I told you so. 😀

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s an impossible thing, Em thinks it’s a possible thing.

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you the meme of the week:

And that’s our crypto news wrap-up!

Would you ever buy an NFT from a vending machine? The Bitconnect founder might be charged, but when will he be found? How much will crypto play a role in the Russia/Ukraine conflict?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

Welcome to the February 25th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em examine cryptocurrency news headlines and ask, yet again: “Is this a thing?”

This week’s crypto news wrap-up has stories featuring JP Morgan, Snoop Dogg, Salesforce, and Julian Assange – so it’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone. Let’s get right into the biggest cryptocurrency news items of the week.

JP Morgan steps into the metaverse

It looks like a major bank has just stepped into the metaverse. JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in America, just opened a lounge in Decentraland. The lounge is named Onyx, a nod to the bank’s blockchain-based platform.

There’s even a portrait of Jamie Dimon in the lounge. Dimon has been the CEO of JPMorgan Chase since 2005 and has also criticized cryptocurrencies in the past, claiming they “have no intrinsic value.” This isn’t that surprising considering the bank has been vocal about the immense potential of the metaverse.

If you had to guess, do you think major banks will follow JP Morgan into the metaverse?

Neil says:

No, I don’t. I think a lot of banks are bullish on the metaverse, but I still feel like it’s a bit early. I feel like metaverse early adopters will lean toward the creative side: artists, gaming developers, and fashion brands. I think banks still have time, and JP Morgan might be first, but it won’t force anyone else’s hand.

Em says:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg: companies sinking money to make the metaverse happen? Or the metaverse happening so companies sink money? Either way, it seems like the metaverse is happening. Whether it’s today or tomorrow, I think the other banks will all have to jump in if they don’t want to miss out.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this isn’t a thing, Em disagrees.

Who do you agree with?

Snoop Dogg creating first metaverse record label

Many rap fans were excited to hear Snoop Dogg had acquired Death Row Records. For those who don’t know, Death Row Records is a legendary hip-hop label that helped launch the careers of artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and 2Pac.

It looks like Snoop Dogg wants to turn the record label into an “NFT label” and hopes to be the first major record label in the metaverse. Snoop Dogg isn’t a stranger to the space, and he might end up raising over $125 million with his latest NFT collection. This was made possible thanks to a partnership with Gala Games, a blockchain gaming platform.

What do you think about the Death Row rebrand? Can a metaverse record label be successful right now?

Neil says:

Look – if anyone is staking their claim in the metaverse early, it’s Snoop Dogg. Salute to him and his success, but I think it’s a bit early for music acts to be “broken in” in the metaverse. The metaverse has to become more popular for this to really work, and NFTs are easier to market with established artists, not rookies.

Em says:

I hope people in the metaverse like Snoop cause it seems like he’s angling to be king of the whole place. As far as the record label goes, if it’s a successful one, I don’t think it matters how they run it — the music is what’s important, the tech is just a vehicle.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a “too early” thing, Em thinks it’s a “bigger picture” thing.

Who do you agree with?

Salesforce employees protesting NFT plans

Salesforce is planning on exploring NFT initiatives, and a lot of employees are upset about it. Hundreds of employees signed a letter protesting the move, citing environmental and economic concerns.

Employees also cited the rise of NFT scams as another reason to protest the move. Salesforce plans to create an “NFT Cloud” where users can create NFTs and list them on NFT marketplaces. Salesforce claims it will be holding a “listening session” to hear about employee concerns.

Do you really think that hundreds of employees will walk away from Salesforce jobs over NFTs, or is this just more about taking a “moral” stance?

Neil says:

I think there are many people who hate NFTs and say so all over social media, but I sincerely doubt whether all these people are walking away from their jobs. I don’t see Salesforce caving here, but employees are certainly allowed to express themselves. It’s one thing to have an opinion, and another to walk away from a job position.

Em says:

I’m not really too surprised by this because its product is largely used by nonprofits with some kind of cause. It would make sense that its employees would be willing to herald a cause as well. And honestly, these days it seems like upward pressure from a small but vocal group often works. We’ll see if it does and the company changes its tune.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks the protest is a “it will blow over” thing, Em it’s a “we’ll see” thing.

What do you think?

The DAO to free Julian Assange

Julian Assange remains one of the most controversial figures in the world, with some people believing he’s a hero and some arguing he’s a traitor. Assange is the founder of Wikileaks, an international nonprofit focusing on news leaks and offering otherwise classified information to the masses.

Assange is currently working to appeal his extradition to the United States. The AssangeDAO has now raised $53 million in Ethereum in support of Assange, which is more than the amount raised by the ConstitutionDAO several months ago. The funds were raised thanks to an NFT auction for an NFT collection called Censored, created by Assange in collaboration with digital artist Pak.

Do you think crypto has the power to help Assange fight his legal battles? If so, would that be a huge victory against critics who claim “Web 3.0” is a marketing scam?

Neil says:

I think that these DAOs to help people with legal battles are definitely interesting, and we know Ross Ulbricht also has a DAO. If the world could see that crypto can help someone as well-known as Assange, then yes, I think that would be a pretty big move to show DAOs do have value, whether you like Assange or not.

Em says:

It’s apropos that the new way of crowdfunding through DAOs would be harnessed for Assange. Back in the Wikileaks days, crypto was how Assange was able to keep it funded, and now things are coming full circle. I think this is the type of thing crypto is perfect for and should be used for.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this can be a validation thing, Em thinks it’s a “full circle” thing.

Who’s side are you on?

Colorado accepting Bitcoin for state taxes

There is still a lot of debate about crypto regulation in the United States, but it looks like Colorado is proving to be a bit more crypto-friendly than most states. The state will soon accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency for state-related tax payments.

In a CNBC interview, Colorado governor Jared Polis said he expects Colorado will begin accepting crypto “by the summer.” The state hopes for additional innovations, such as accepting Bitcoin for other state-related payments. Polis was clear that Colorado would immediately convert the crypto into dollars to maintain current accounting standards.

Is this a major move, or is this just more of a symbolic move as we wait for more concrete legislation? Should more states be doing this, or should crypto enthusiasts care more about the bigger picture first?

Neil says:

There are a couple of states out there with pro-crypto legislation, but it doesn’t look like these local initiatives are really working out (check out our “bad idea” of the week). I think paying taxes in BTC is a big step for a state, but it’s not really that significant or historical. We need clear federal legislation that offers regulation but supports innovation.

Em says:

Is it just me or does it seem highly ironic to use crypto to pay taxes? Considering the purpose of crypto in the first place — to exit the central bank and fiat game — the fact that we now want to use it to bow before the central bank is horrifying and hilarious at the same time.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s not a thing, Em thinks it’s an ironic thing.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: Miami’s cryptocurrency proves to be mediocre

In a previous crypto news-wrap up, we debated about Francis Suarez and his plans to launch a Miami-focused cryptocurrency. Now it looks like the MiamiCoin has been losing steam. In fact, it recently reached an all-time low.

MiamiCoin has lost over 90% of its value since its debut, so it’s extremely hard to declare it as anything other than a complete failure. In a Fox Business interview, Suarez tried to frame the coin as a success since it has “generated $20 million in revenue” for Miami. Suarez claims $5 million will be used for rent stabilization funds.

He says he “never obsessed over the price” and pointed out there are still “use cases to be utilized” with respect to MiamiCoin.

Okay, it’s been several months, and the price is at an all-time low. Is it time to admit MiamiCoin is now bad PR for crypto, instead of the good PR many believed it would be?

Neil says:

Yeah, this is pretty much a complete failure. You’re the mayor: you have all the business and government partnerships to help make this a success. If you aren’t showing the value of MiamiCoin, it’s going to just eventually be worth nothing. It is definitely a “bad PR” thing at this point.

Em says:

We know crypto is volatile and most of crypto is down right now, so this is not much of a surprise. If you’re gonna be the first on something like this, go all in. That does seem to be what Suarez is doing. But it’s still quite funny to watch government endeavors go so classically as they always do.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a failure thing, Em thinks it’s a government thing.

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you this beloved meme of the week:

And that’s our crypto news wrap-up!

Will JP Morgan still charge overdraft fees in the metaverse? Who will be the first rapper to sign a metaverse record deal, and will Salesforce cave under the pressure or stick to their NFT plans?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

See you in March!!!

Welcome to the February 18th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em explore cryptocurrency news headlines and work diligently to answer one important question: “Is this a thing?”

Should we go ahead and call this the Super Bowl crypto news wrap-up? Crypto was front and center in the past week. This week’s crypto news headlines include: Coinbase’s unconventional ad, Larry David joining forces with FTX, crypto romance scams, and more.

Coinbase and the unconventional QR code ad

Coinbase remains one of the biggest and most influential companies in the cryptocurrency space, so it’s only right they had their own Super Bowl ad. Instead of nabbing an A-list actor to help them reach the masses, they did something else entirely.

The Super Bowl ad was a QR code floating around on a black screen for 60 seconds. Was this a screensaver or a commercial? While many on social media thought the ad was confusing, it was successful. The Coinbase app crashed because of the ad’s popularity, and Coinbase stock is reacting favorably. The issues only lasted for several minutes.

Was this ad a runaway success, and do the numbers speak for themselves? Should the community be paying attention to criticisms about oversaturation?

Neil says:

Yeah, this was genius. Coinbase got about 20 million hits in a minute, and it wasn’t the kind of commercial that tries to get you to embrace crypto. If you want to scan the QR code, you can. They could have hired a movie star and spent (more) millions on production, but they went the unconventional route and it was incredibly successful. I can only salute it.

Em says:

Haha, well, divisive things get people’s attention. From a marketing perspective, I think it was a good play. But it’s worth pointing out that I detest QR codes and would not have scanned it out of pure spite! When I go to restaurants and I have to scan a thing to get the menu, I’m physically enraged… but that’s just me. 😀

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this was a genius thing, Em is less impressed.

Who do you agree with?

Larry David stars in an FTX commercial

FTX continues to be a cryptocurrency exchange that knows how to skyrocket to the top, and we discussed their expansion into Asia last week. Now, FTX is making headlines because its Super Bowl commercial featured Larry David, a comedy legend who had never appeared in a commercial before.

David is known for the contrarian character he plays on Curb Your Enthusiasm, a fictional series inspired by his real life. In the commercial, David plays a time-traveling skeptic who doesn’t seem to ever believe in some of the most powerful discoveries in human history. The commercial ends with him remaining skeptical about cryptocurrency.

What did you think of the Larry David commercial?

Neil says:

Yeah… I should put a disclaimer that I’m a pretty big Larry David fan. He’s famous for playing a contrarian skeptic, and it worked really well here. The fact that FTX got Larry David to do his first commercial… and he’s talking positively about the experience… definitely a win for FTX.

Em says:

I loved it. It perfectly fit Larry David’s persona, and it was very funny. Good build up, good punchline, great marketing. I can see why it irked people if they don’t like Larry or don’t like crypto but whatever, I thought it was hilarious.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks Larry can do no wrong, Em thinks it was well-executed.

Who do you agree with?

Binance invests in Forbes

When you think about cryptocurrency, you might think about the future: a world where life is a bit more decentralized, and there are less intermediaries with respect to your finances, identity, and even real estate. You probably aren’t thinking about legacy media at all.

Well, it looks like Binance is certainly interested in media, because it’s making a $200 million strategic investment in Forbes. Forbes is also planning its own SPAC, and many believe that this is part of Binance’s bigger initiative for Web 3.0 content generation.

Is this a smart move, or is this the kind of investment that should be met with more scrutiny? Is Forbes going to lean more pro-crypto now?

Neil says:

I could see how this would be criticized, but I mean… Bezos owns the Washington Post. If we are being honest, a lot of Forbes articles are pro-crypto regardless. I think it’s a smart move on Binance’s part, and it’s a bit amusing when you consider that Binance wanted to sue Forbes at one point. Either way – if Binance has a major scandal, I guess no one should expect Forbes to remain neutral.

Em says:

I think this story is also hilarious. The fact that legacy media pretends to be objective but can literally be bought — and that’s exactly what Binance is doing — is so full of irony that it puts a giant smile on my face. These are the things crypto companies should be doing.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a standard thing, Em thinks it’s an ironic thing.

Who do you agree with?

The infamous crypto laundering couple

It’s a good thing that the Super Bowl happened when it did because most cryptocurrency headlines were talking about an interesting couple. Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein were arrested for laundering money from the infamous Bitfinex hack.

Ok – so a couple of people were arrested for being shady. What’s the big deal? Well, the couple was able to launder a staggering $4.5 billion dollars worth of Bitcoin. It’s now officially the largest financial seizure in the history of the Department of Justice.

Morgan was also a rapper, and many of her music videos were shared on social media after news of the arrest broke. Morgan performed under the moniker “Razzlekhan.” Netflix announced a new series involving the Bitfinex hack.

Is this bad PR for crypto, or is this more about the fact that crypto will always be home to people trying to game the system? There are strange details about the story that make it interesting, but will it fade out over time?

Neil says:

This was a massive story on social media, but it already looks like the story has faded away thanks to the Super Bowl ads. It’s pretty fascinating, and I can see why Netflix swooped in. I mean, check out some of Razzlekhan’s rap videos. Is this a major scandal? Eh. I think people will forget about it completely by next month.

Em says:

Oof. This is rough. Of course, we know that crime happens and criminals still exist. If crypto exists, bad guys will try to take advantage. But I think that’s unavoidable. Skeptics of crypto are going to be skeptical and the people who like it still like it … and the criminals still do crime.

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em agree this is a “crime” thing, not a crypto thing.

We have a consensus! Do you agree?

Russia backs off a crypto ban

Russia hasn’t exactly embraced cryptocurrency, even recently suggesting that it would ban crypto in general. It looks like the country is deciding to regulate crypto instead of ban it, a move that is sure to be applauded by crypto investors and enthusiasts. The regulations are likely to take effect in either late 2022 or early 2023.

Policymakers are expected to introduce new legislation to help oversee crypto as a currency. This move is also significant because Russia is home to around 11% of all Bitcoin mining operations. India recently changed its tune regarding crypto, after once threatening to ban cryptocurrency altogether. Transactions over 600,000 rubles (around $8,000 USD) will have to be declared.

Regulation is obviously better than a ban. Do you think this helps force the hand of the United States and other countries, as in “If Russia can start regulating, you can, too”?

Neil says:

Yeah, I think the fact that countries like India and Russia are backing down from crypto bans kind of says it all. I do think that when other major countries are figuring out what to do, the United States is pressured to take more initiative and offer some concrete regulation.

Em says:

Yes, we expect this kind of stuff out of Russia. And there could be a whole debate about what countries are doing the best/worst or are slowest/fastest adapting to and regulating crypto. But honestly, there are bigger fish to fry. The Ukraine situation is much more worrying than whether an authoritarian government is trying to regulate your BTC.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a thing, Em thinks there are bigger fish to fry.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: Watch out for romance scams

Loneliness can be tough to deal with, but it’s better than losing all your money. Romance scammers in particular are turning to crypto, making off with about $139 million last year.

The number of romance-related frauds that were reported to the FTC rose around 70% in 2021.

In other words, criminals are relying on romance-related scams more than ever before. A recent documentary on Netflix, Tinder Swindler, detailed the adventures of Shimon Hayut, a conman who duped several women into sending him money after meeting them on Tinder.

The scammers will feign love interest in individuals but eventually ask for money. Their method varies, with some scammers claiming they need money for an emergency. Other cybercriminals claim to be financial experts who can help victims invest in the crypto markets.

If you take anything away from this crypto news-wrap up: don’t send crypto to the person you’re talking to over the Internet, and take some real steps towards protecting your crypto holdings!

Stay away from anyone on dating apps asking you for money. Is this a bad look for crypto in general – or is this more about the fact that people are lonelier during the pandemic?

Neil says:

Romance scams have existed for centuries. The fact that crypto is involved makes sense – there’s more privacy than saying “Hey, send that money to this bank account.” I think scammers are always trying to find some kind of angle, and it’s easy to see how romance scams would become more popular during a pandemic where more people feel lonely. It’s that simple – it’s more about loneliness than crypto.

Em says:

I know everyone just wants to be loved. But please, for the love of God, learn to recognize scams. The internet is a wonderful and dangerous place. Maybe just get back in church and meet someone that way if it’ll save you from a romance scammmm :’(

Bottom line:

Neil thinks romance scams have always been around, Em thinks you should go back to church and find someone more wholesome (and less scammy!).

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you this beloved meme of the week:

And that’s our crypto news wrap-up!

What was your favorite Super Bowl crypto ad, or did you find any of them a bit cringe? Are you thinking about setting up an NFT portfolio now that the markets are looking a bit better? No matter how lonely your Valentine’s Day was – don’t send your Bitcoin to someone you never met, even if they text you back quickly.

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

Welcome to the February 11th, 2022, edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em examine the latest cryptocurrency news headlines and address the ever-relevant question: “Is this a thing?”

Bitcoin is back over $40,000, which means you may just be able to buy your Valentine one of many romantic crypto-related gifts. This week’s crypto news headlines include: Gensler wants exchanges to come to the table, the Super Bowl is selling NFTs, and job opportunities in the metaverse.

Gensler wants some cooperation

We pointed out last week that Biden was attempting to regulate Bitcoin, and that he was framing it as a national security matter. It looks like SEC Chairman Gary Gensler wants more crypto platforms to voluntarily work with the SEC to help define regulations.

Gensler isn’t exactly the cryptocurrency industry’s friend right now, so the olive branch may be a bit late. Countless crypto experts and insiders assumed Gensler would take a crypto-friendly approach to regulation since the former MIT professor has taught classes on blockchain technology in the past.

Gensler also admitted that some coins can qualify as commodity tokens, and that the SEC would work with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate those particular coins.

Should crypto exchanges consider this approach, or is it just too late to take Gensler at his word?

Neil says:

I wouldn’t trust Gensler. He’s made it clear he wants to protect investors, but it’s not like crypto exchanges will get anything out of actually meeting with the SEC. Gensler has made it clear that he wants to be the villain here, so why would anyone suddenly latch on to this olive branch?

Em says:

Everything that happens in the bureaucracy is a power play. If they can get the upper hand in controlling market players, they will. The whole point of crypto was to step outside of government control — now it’s just a battle to see who will win.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a “don’t trust Gensler” thing; Em thinks it’s a power play thing.

Who do you agree with?

FTX enters Japanese markets with Liquid acquisition

It seems like every week, FTX seems to make the news. The crypto exchange made last week’s cryptocurrency headlines with its $32 billion valuation, and now it looks like FTX is aggressively pursuing Asian markets.

FTX has acquired the Japanese crypto exchange Liquid for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is expected to close by March 2022, and Sam Bankman-Fried has been previously open in interviews about his international ambitions for FTX. The crypto billionaire has also previously stated he doesn’t believe we’re in a “crypto winter,” but that markets in general were “moving” more than usual.

FTX plans on more acquisitions, and its rise has already been meteoric. At what point should we be concerned about decentralization?

Neil says:

Yeah, I’m not going to lie – there’s something a bit disturbing about this. FTX is already massive, and they’re purchasing other large crypto exchanges. How does this not lead to more centralization? Some platforms will be more successful than others, but centralization should be a concern.

Em says:

The way companies and large endeavors are structured dictates that, as they grow and become successful, they’ll become more centralized. Only a conceptual shift can change that, and DAOs are trying to do it. Maybe with DAOs, even big companies like FTX can decentralize some day.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a “stay wary” thing; Em thinks it’s a “maybe DAOs can help” thing.

Who do you agree with?

Will Florida be home to the first NFT purchase?

One of the most interesting things about blockchain technology is that it allows for tokenization. Any individual can tokenize their assets and sell them as a digital asset rather than a physical asset. It looks like a Gulfport home may just be the first home to sell as an NFT in the United States.

The house is located in Tampa Bay. The realty group is claiming that ownership of the home will be transferred in the form of an LLC, and that ownership will be transferred with the NFT. The owner hopes to “stimulate conversation” regarding real estate and blockchain technology.

The auction will be hosted by Propy, a blockchain proptech startup that was previously involved in the world’s first-ever NFT real estate transaction. The starting price is $650,000. The sale will also include a mural by a local Florida artist. Around 1,500 bidders have already lined up.

If this sale is successful, will we see a lot more U.S. homes sold as NFTs? Or is this really just a novelty thing?

Neil says:

This is one that might take a while to catch on. I think blockchain can absolutely disrupt real estate, but we also have to consider that the real estate sector has done things a certain way for a long time. Even the fact that it took THIS long for a home to be sold as an NFT in the U.S. kind of proves that. I think, for now, this will remain a novelty.

Em says:

Tokenized real estate is something people have been talking about since early NFT days. Everyone saw the possibility and the ideas of it, but the execution is only now starting to come to fruition. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time, but the beginning of the idea playing out in reality.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a novelty thing; Em thinks it’s a “just the beginning” thing.

What do you think?

The metaverse hiring spree continues

The “metaverse” buzzword gained a lot of traction in 2021, thanks especially to Facebook’s rebrand to Meta. It hasn’t exactly done wonders for Meta stock, which recently suffered its biggest one-day stock drop ever.

However, it doesn’t seem to be stopping many companies from actively hiring for the metaverse. In just the past two weeks, Nike posted five metaverse-related job positions. Disney is also recruiting for a metaverse-related business development manager position.

The hiring spree isn’t just limited to entertainment companies: fashion companies and athletic leagues and organizations are also hiring for similar positions. There are recent reports that Roblox will pay somewhere around $430,000 a year for metaverse-related positions.

Even with Meta’s recent fiasco, will we see a continued hiring spree for metaverse job positions?

Neil says:

I completely understand why people are skeptical about the metaverse, or think it’s dystopian. But it’s ridiculous to blame the metaverse for what happened with Meta. Facebook’s reputation has been terrible for a long time. The hiring spree won’t stop, and Meta is far from the only company pursuing the metaverse.

Em says:

The metaverse is going to happen. It doesn’t matter what people or the market want. When you have huge players like Meta and Disney sinking billions into it, the consumers will get on board. It just depends on whether it’s the “metaverse” that we envisioned or just another plutocracy.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks it’s a “the metaverse is bigger than Meta” thing; Em thinks it’s a “money talks” thing.

Who do you agree with?

Super Bowl NFTs are here

We know crypto companies have created Super Bowl commercials to help reach the masses, but it looks like the Super Bowl itself is interested in NFTs. This year, Super Bowl attendees will receive virtual commemorative tickets in the form of NFTs. The championship game remains one of the biggest television events in the world. Some are now referring to the Super Bowl as “The Crypto Bowl.”

This isn’t a massive surprise, considering the NFL has previously issued commemorative tickets as NFTs. Super Bowl LVI will take place in Los Angeles on February 13, 2022, between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.

If you had to guess, what do you think these Super Bowl NFTs will be worth by this time next year?

Neil says:

Well, it doesn’t get more mainstream than the Super Bowl. I’m going to assume it will be worth more this time next year – maybe several thousand dollars each. Let’s say $3,000 each.

Em says:

I like tokenization and NFTs. Do I like Super Bowl or sports NFTs? Personally, no. Do I think, despite my salty opinions on sports, they may have value in the future… um, no. Ok, so I’m not unbiased but only time will tell.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a thing; Em disagrees.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: Don’t drug your father

We cover unfortunate stories in the “bad idea” section, but this one is particularly horrendous. Imagine this scenario: a 24 year-old offers a cup of tea to his father. Heartwarming, right?

In this case, no. Liam Ghershony told his father he was adding an “energy boost” in the form of a white powder to the tea – but it was benzodiazepine that he added. Benzodiazepine is a form of depressant, and Ghershony purposely added it to the tea to knock him out. Why?

Well, naturally, he wanted to steal his father’s cryptocurrency. He moved $400,000 from his father’s account into an account he could control. He claims now that he did not realize the amount of benzodiazepine he had added to the tea was lethal. He claims he believed his father would wake up. He was also struggling with drug abuse at the time.

Officers eventually found Ghershony’s father on the floor, where he was unresponsive. The father spent four days recovering at the hospital. Liam Ghershony was originally charged with attempted murder, but pled guilty to felony assault. Thanks to his parents’ wishes, Liam only spent 125 days in jail and also underwent two months of residential drug and mental health treatment.

There’s nothing much to say here: don’t drug your dad and try to steal his cryptocurrency.

Neil says:

Wow. Yeah, this story is pretty astonishing… I understand we are changing the way we think about drug addiction, but the fact that he didn’t go to jail for a long time is kind of crazy to me. Just a depressing situation, all around.

Em says:

Yikes!!! People will get up to some crazy hijinks and this is definitely an example of that. I can’t imagine a scenario where that would be worth it, even if you succeeded. Everyone please protect your keys and get a poison taster.

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you this beloved meme of the week:

And that’s our cryptocurrency weekly wrap-up!

Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl, or are you more looking forward to Valentine’s Day? Do you feel like the markets are finally rebounding out of crypto winter now that Bitcoin is back over $40K?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

Welcome to the February 4, 2022 edition of the Decentral Weekly Crypto News Wrap-Up, where Neil and Em take on the latest cryptocurrency news headlines and answer the always-important question: “Is this a thing?”

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which should warm your heart, but the financial markets are still ice cold. Hopefully you’re spending more time researching if you’re spending less time trading (we certainly don’t blame you!) This week’s crypto news headlines include: Biden pushing for more crypto regulation, a DAO wanting to start a fast food franchise, India planning on taxing crypto at 30%, and more.

Biden wants crypto regulation

The Biden administration is more interested than ever in cryptocurrency regulation, especially given recent volatility in the crypto markets. The word is that Biden wants to sign an executive order in February to regulate Bitcoin, framed as a matter of “national security.”

The administration reportedly wants to frame the regulation in a number of ways: claiming that crypto makes it harder to tax wealthy people, arguing that crypto hurts the dollar, and also pointing out that there is a legal “grey area” when it comes to DAOs.

Is this going to be a good or bad thing for the markets?

Neil says:

I can obviously understand why the government is trying to regulate crypto (to control it), and the bear market doesn’t make things any easier. I think a lot of people associate crypto with wealth, and the American public doesn’t like wealthy people right now. The White House claims it would have a central role when it comes to regulation – but how much can they really control? Even countries that banned crypto are home to millions of crypto traders. The real question is: will there be concrete regulation, instead of everyone always wondering about regulation?

Em says:

Of course the government is going to try to regulate crypto. It tries to regulate everything. It’s a hammer and everything is a nail. But, to me, It doesn’t matter whether this is good or bad. Politicians don’t understand the cryptosphere well enough to regulate well, even if they want to.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is more of a “wait and see” thing, Em thinks it’s more of a “politicians are too dumb” thing.

Who do you agree with?

Legendary heirs enter the NFT space

With the NFT boom of 2021 behind us, many experts and analysts expected that more corporations would enter the NFT sector now that there are billions of dollars at play. Of course, it also means that more high-profile artists want to get in on the NFT action – even if they are technically no longer physically with us today.

Some of the most legendary artists of all time have left behind memorabilia – and some heirs are looking to turn that memorabilia into NFTs. Julian Lennon, the son of John Lennon, will be auctioning off some of his father’s private collection as NFTs. The items include “Beatles iconography” and “personal items.” It includes the Afghan coat that John Lennon wore for the Magical Mystery Tour, a Beatles TV special.

Lennon isn’t alone! The heirs of Pablo Picasso will also be auctioning off 1,010 digital art pieces of one of his ceramic works that has never been seen publicly. Marino Picasso, the granddaughter of Pablo Picasso, is spearheading the project. Florian Picasso, Pablo’s great-grandson, claims that this would “build a bridge between the NFT world and the fine art world.”

Does this add more credibility to the NFT space, or does it just look like heirs cashing in because they realize the money they can make?

Neil says:

I do think this is a major deal, and pretty big crypto news. There have been some incredible NFT artists that have emerged, but Picasso art and Lennon memorabilia offer a different level of credibility. Obviously, they’re going to make a lot of money – but I do think that those kinds of names are held at a certain status, and they matter.

Em says:

Wait…John Lennon has a son? I legit didn’t know that. But I guess, get your profits, guy. Why not? Everyone else is taking advantage of the NFT cash cow these days. I can’t say that I would ever buy physical Beatles memorabilia, but I’m sure there’s a market for NFTs.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a thing, Em doesn’t care that much.

Who do you agree with?

FTX valued at $32 billion

Even with a lot of negative cryptocurrency news headlines out there, it looks like Sam Bankman-Fried simply cannot lose. The billionaire’s crypto exchange has recently been valued at a staggering $32 billion, proving that investors are behind FTX despite the recent bear market. This happened thanks to a recent $400 million in Series C funding.

The valuation is $7 billion more than FTX’s valuation in October 2021. Incredibly, this means that FTX is now worth more than the Nasdaq exchange and Twitter. Bankman-Fried has said repeatedly that he believes 2022 will be a year where FTX forges new partnerships and enters new

FTX continues to succeed. Is this proof that investors are still behind crypto despite the bear market, or is this more of a “FTX is an exception” thing?

Neil says:

Honestly – this is really just a testament to Sam Bankman-Fried. There will always be success during bear cycles, but what he’s doing with FTX seems to be unprecedented. I think FTX is the exception here.

Em says:

I think this is a good omen for crypto. Even during a down market, the major players are still thriving, getting eyeballs, and getting new adopters. I definitely saw crypto.com ads during the division championship football games and probably we will during the superbowl. Keep hyping.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is an FTX thing, Em thinks it’s a crypto thing.

What do you think?

Will we see a fast-food DAO?

We’ve seen more DAOs rise up than ever before, and some of them haven’t exactly been PR home runs. There was the DAO that tried to purchase a copy of the Constitution and failed, and the Dune DAO that didn’t seem to understand the concept of intellectual property.

FriesDAO wants to raise $9.69 million dollars to start a real-world fast food franchise. Those who invest can potentially influence how operating revenue is spent, given the fact that the tokens will act as governance tokens. Token holders will not get ownership rights, however. Brett Beller, co-founder of the alcohol delivery startup Drizly, points out that this is because of the way “the SEC has actually laid things out.”

It is unclear what fast-food restaurant that the DAO will purchase, but around $1.3 million in USDC has been raised within 2 days of the whitelist sale.

Does this idea make sense, and do you think it has a good chance of succeeding?

Neil says:

See, this is the kind of thing that I can get behind. Golf clubs, exclusive NFT restaurants…those are cool, but why not try to do something that everyone can participate in? Plenty of crypto enthusiasts can easily support the business without breaking the bank, too. I’m a fan of this idea: it’s more realistic than most.

Em says:

I think we’re kind of throwing mud at the wall with DAOs for now. Not to say any of these are bad ideas or definitely won’t work. We just don’t know exactly how best to utilize DOAs yet or what their future looks like. This is a time of experimentation and I’m fine with it.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a down to earth DAO thing, Em thinks it’s an “everyone’s experimenting” thing.

Who do you agree with?

India wants to regulate crypto finally?

There has been a lot of discussion about the fact that two of the biggest and most powerful countries in the world, China and India, haven’t been too keen on crypto whatsoever. There have been rumors swirling that India would ban cryptocurrency for years.

There is some new crypto news that most enthusiasts can get behind: instead of banning crypto, India is looking to tax crypto at 30%. Also, India’s central bank will be launching a digital rupee by 2023, although details are scarce.

The announcements were made by India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. Interestingly enough, her speech did not include the words “crypto” or “cryptocurrency.” Instead, the phrase “virtual digital asset” was used. Regardless, there’s no question that the cryptocurrency sector is booming in India, whether the government likes it or not.

Is the tax too high? Should we take India at its word, given the fact that they’ve seemed to reverse so much on this issue?

Neil says:

I think this is pretty good news. Yes, India might always “reverse their stance” technically, but this is a LOT better than a ban. More people in India are interested in crypto than ever before, and a 30% tax isn’t THAT far off a standard capital gains tax. I’d say this is a thing – a good one.

Em says:

Crypto was invented to sidestep government fiat currencies and escape monopolistic monetary systems. Of course governments want to tax it, but honestly I think it’s ridiculous. It’s not for anyone’s protection except the central banks and potential CBDCs in the future.

Bottom line:

Neil thinks this is a good thing, Em thinks it’s a ridiculous thing.

Who’s side are you on?

Bad idea of the week: Facebook’s Diem dreams are over

Zuckerberg’s crypto dreams are officially done for.

The Meta-backed Diem, many thought, would be a gamechanger. Meta owns Instagram and Whatsapp, and plenty of analysts$ thought that developing a cryptocurrency was the logical next step. Now, Diem has been sold to Silvergate Capital, a crypto bank, for $182 million dollars. The Diem was meant to be a stablecoin alternative, and was first rolled out in 2019.

How did this happen? You’re a social media platform with BILLIONS of users, and those users usually interact with their friends and family. It’s easy to see why Facebook was interested in developing a crypto, but was it doomed from the start because regulators would never allow it?

If you’re Jack Dorsey, the answer is simple. Zuckerberg was too busy trying to create his own cryptocurrency rather than embrace Bitcoin. The project was plagued not only by regulatory troubles, but there was also lots of internal conflict at Diem.

Should we pour out a little liquor for Diem?

Neil says:

I know that a lot of people think that this was doomed from the start, but it’s actually surprising to see someone with the money and power that Zuckerberg has, not be able to pull off their cryptocurrency dreams. It’s obviously a good sign for crypto enthusiasts who prioritize decentralization.

Em says:

We knew it was coming. This project has been struggling for years. There was no way regulators in the US were going to roll over and let Libra grab the market share of digital currency adoption before the government could roll out a CBDC. Unacceptable!!

Bottom line:

Both Neil and Em agree that Zuck was out of his league on this one.

What do you think?

Meme of the week

As always, Em brings you this beloved meme of the week:

And those are our cryptocurrency news headlines!

What fast food restaurant do you hope that FriesDAO purchases? Will you bid on the Picasso or Lennon NFTs? How much do you think that Biden will try to tax crypto profits, or do you not have any profits to tax (we get it, it’s been a rough couple of months)?

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts/opinions/perspectives at @decentralpub with the hashtag #weeklycryptonews on Twitter.

Oh and if you’re still looking for gift ideas for your crypto valentine, check out our crypto gift giving guide: from personal mining rigs to crypto swag, there’s something for everyone!

In episode ten of the Uncensored Crypto docuseries, Michael Hearne sits down with crypto experts to discuss how beginners can get started in cryptocurrency and tell which projects are worth investing in.

The docuseries as a whole discusses how censorship is used to hide the benefits of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and decentralized systems from people looking for digital sovereignty and financial freedom. It also covers how crypto can completely change the traditional centralized systems as we currently know them.

The tenth episode looks at a key way to make this happen: how to get more people involved in crypto, especially those who are new and might be hesitant to invest. Crypto experts share their best advice for newbies so they can enter the world of crypto confidently and knowledgeably.

Recap of topics covered in episode 10 of Uncensored Crypto

Getting started in crypto

“Just go invest your first 20, 50, 100 dollars, and buy a little bit of Bitcoin. That’s your first step. And from there, that begins your process of your education, so that you can make informed decisions for yourself, and once you take the first step, the second step kind of comes naturally. Along the third, and then down the rabbit hole you go. But that’s an easy way to do it. Most people get stuck because they’re like, ‘Wow, I don’t know what to do.’ It is that simple. You just make your first baby step.” – Brock Pierce

Cryptocurrency is far from mainstream yet, so many people are still confused by what exactly it is. While many people have heard the words “crypto” and “Bitcoin,” they don’t really understand what they mean. And that’s before you get into other terms in the crypto world like blockchain, centralized and decentralized exchanges, and dApps.

It’s easy for anyone thinking of getting started in crypto to quickly become overwhelmed. Uncensored Crypto explores the best way for someone to start their crypto journey. Many crypto experts agree that a good strategy is to start slow and only invest what you can afford to lose, as you would with a regular investment.

Uncensored Crypto proves that crypto doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t have to be computer-savvy to understand it, either. Taking the simple step of investing just $20 will help set you on the path to keep learning more about it.

Evaluating crypto projects

“So I think community is very important because no matter how great the project is, no matter what real world problem it solves, and I think that’s another thing you have to look at, what’s the real world problem that this solves? What’s the market for it? But no matter how big that is, if they don’t have interest in the actual token or the coin from people within the community that are going to be buying it, then it doesn’t matter. It’s going to go nowhere. It’s going to sit at a stalemate and not move. And if you’re doing it for investment purposes, then you really want, again, you want that particular coin to move.” – Cecil Robles

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge into crypto, you face the next step: how do you decide what to invest in? With thousands of cryptos out there, how can you possibly tell which ones are worth it? How can you know which ones will be the next Bitcoin?

According to the crypto experts in Uncensored Crypto, there is no easy answer. Instead, it will take some research on your part to find which projects speak to you. Read the project’s whitepaper and learn what problem the team behind it is trying to solve. Are there competitors doing something similar? What makes this project stand apart from the competition.

But in the end, as Robles points out above, a crypto project should have a vibrant community behind it. The team should be actively interacting with them on social media. Seeing that others are so devoted to the project’s success shows that it has a lot of momentum behind it.

Investing and trading crypto

“So this is the kind of thinking that leads to people missing out on the gains, when you think that you’re already too late. A lot of us already have that thought all the time. ‘Oh, something’s already done a five X. I’m too late to invest in that,’ when in reality, no, it’s just getting started. And now you have the start of the momentum and you have validation that this is a good investment. I think looking at crypto as a whole, no, we’re still very early, even with Bitcoin.” – Alex Benfield

You’ve likely heard of the people who invested in Bitcoin early on and are now millionaires. If you’re new to the crypto world, you might want to invest in crypto with the same goal in mind: strike it rich.

But considering that Bitcoin is now valued at around $47,000 per coin, it can seem like you’re already too late. Well, the experts in Uncensored Crypto reassure would-be crypto investors that it’s actually not too late, and you should get started now rather than wait any longer.

Crypto is still very much in its early stages and is still not considered mainstream. While you realistically might not become a millionaire, it’s a good idea to buy and hold now before regulations, institutional investors, and retail investors jump on board.

What does the future look like for getting started and investing in crypto?

Is it worth getting started in crypto?

It’s safe to say that 2021 was a big year for the crypto market. During this bull market, investors saw the price of Bitcoin climb as high as $69,000. Ethereum peaked at $4,800, and new projects like Solana and Avalanche quickly grew and made it into the top 10 largest cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Bitcoin also saw some significant institutional adoption by countries like El Salvador and Zimbabwe, and was embraced by politicians in the U.S. like Miami mayor Francis Suarez and New York mayor Eric Adams.

Also, some new projects made partnerships with traditional institutions, like Avalanche’s partnership with Deloitte. And other crypto-related projects that were covered in the Uncensored Crypto docuseries saw explosive growth, like NFTs, web3, and DeFi projects.

All this to say, now is a great time to start investing in cryptocurrency! It’s not too late to miss out on making a good return on your investment, and not too early that the market is hard to navigate.

There are tons of beginner-friendly places out there to start investing, like Coinbase, Binance, or Gemini. And many simple hot wallets, like the Exodus or Trust wallets.

Currently, it’s estimated that around 23% of Americans invest in cryptocurrency, which is a considerable jump from the 8% in 2018.

And given the enthusiasm behind blockchain, the metaverse, and NFTs, it seems likely that more people, tech companies, retailers, and other institutions will be jumping on the bandwagon in the future.

Future of investing in crypto

In 2021, crypto investments increased 36% from 2020, for a total value of $9.3 billion. By late 2021, the total value of the crypto market reached $3.3 trillion.

This shows that investing in crypto has become a major industry and is only likely to keep growing in the future.

If the Uncensored Crypto docuseries shows anything, it’s that the crypto market as a whole is still new and is only getting bigger in the future.

As the docuseries explores, crypto and blockchain technology have the potential to revolutionize the current financial system as we know it.

Centralized exchanges like Coinbase have seen a huge jump in membership, with a growth of 56 million users and a total valuation of $65 billion in 2021.

As mentioned above, now more than ever there are many great places for newbies to start if they want to begin investing.

Of course, crypto enthusiasts won’t hesitate to tell you that you should jump on board now. However, you might hear from mainstream financial experts that it’s too risky and isn’t worth it. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle.

It’s true that cryptocurrency is notoriously volatile. And if you’re not careful with where or what you invest in, you could risk your money. But this doesn’t make crypto a bad investment.

While crypto has been around for a relatively short amount of time, given its long-term trajectory, it’s clear that holding it as a long-term investment can pay off for any investor.

Established projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum are safe choices, but there are many newer projects that show potential. Just remember, one way that crypto differs from traditional investing is that anyone can create their own coin.

So if you’re looking to invest in newer projects, be sure to do your research and never put all your eggs in one basket. Like investing in anything, diversity is usually best. And if you follow basic security protocols to keep your investments secure, you can have a safe, positive crypto investing experience.

When I started my journey to learn crypto back in November 2021, I knew absolutely nothing about the world I was entering. I was a complete crypto newbie, and while I heard of things like Bitcoin and Dogecoin before, I never really paid much attention.

But as I began my journey, I quickly started to learn about crypto, decentralization, and blockchain technology. Over seven weeks, I began researching projects to invest in, exploring wallets and exchanges, and made my first official investment.

Now that it’s been a month since I wrapped up my journey, what are my investments looking like? Did a hodl through the “January reckoning”? Have I changed up my investment strategy?

What I learned from the crypto market crash

2021 was an overall great year for crypto. But by the end of the year, the crypto market crashed.

Bitcoin had reached an all-time high of $69,000, but it is now around $43,000 at the time of this writing. Many other crypto projects similarly lost value during this crash, including those I invested in.

I chose to invest in a couple of projects around November 2021 when they were climbing in value, and they’re still currently worth less than I bought them at.

I remember thinking that one project in particular I wanted to invest in was going up in value every day, so I needed to invest sooner rather than later instead of waiting. If I had only been more patient, I could have invested at a much lower price than I did.

Source: Photo by Executium on Unsplash

Did I hodl?

So, did the “January reckoning” scare me away? Did I sell off my investments, or am I continuing to hodl?

Don’t worry, I haven’t given up that easily! I am definitely continuing to hodl.

If there was one takeaway I learned from all my research to learn crypto, it’s that the market is volatile.

So with that in mind, and considering the long-term, upward trend of the crypto projects I invested in, I plan to keep holding on.

I’ve only had these investments for a little less than two months, so I’m eager to keep hanging on and see what 2022 has in store for these projects and the crypto world as a whole.

Overall, I don’t regret the investments I chose. I am still interested in these projects and the potential of the technology behind them.

Do I have a new investment strategy?

As far as my investment strategy, I am also keeping that the same. I am maintaining a long-term outlook and don’t plan to sell my investments until years down the road.

When I first invested, I checked my Coinbase account multiple times per day to see the market changes– mostly because of beginner excitement.

But now, I don’t check my account nearly as often, maybe just once per week.

I also have not added any new investments yet or tried any new wallets or exchanges. While I don’t plan on investing a large amount of my money, there are some projects that I’m considering investing in.

Source: Photo by Executium on Unsplash

What will I do next on my journey to learn crypto?

There are other cryptos I’ve been thinking about adding to my portfolio to make it more diversified, but I haven’t done so yet. The top three crypto projects I’m considering investing in right now are:

Ethereum
Polkadot
Cardano
Cosmos

I’m also thinking of buying more of the same crypto I already have while the price remains low, or “buying the dip.” Check out my post on managing my portfolio to see which projects I am currently investing in.

Overall, I am still taking my journey to learn crypto slowly and making sure to do my research before I invest in something new. There’s still a lot for me to learn as a crypto newbie, but I’m still having fun while doing so!

Russians look to liquidate cryptocurrency in UAE

Coinbase launches beta Coinbase One subscription

Limewire comes back after a decade

Yuga Labs acquires 2 NFT collections

EU crypto regulation is one step closer

Bad idea of the week: trading a million for less than a penny

Meme of the week

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Ukraine crypto headlines everywhere

Billionaire backs off anti-crypto stance

Drake partners with Stake

Biden’s executive order is coming

Andre Cronje and Anton Nell calls it quits

Bad idea of the week: The Tai Lopez NFT disaster

Meme of the week

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Crypto regulation oversight may be shared amongst several agencies

Will crypto regulation protect consumers?

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Ukraine raises over $50 million in cryptocurrency

The world’s first NFT vending machine is here

Bitconnect founder finally charged

Bank of America denies “crypto winter”

EU postpones crypto regulations vote

Bad idea of the week: BuyTheBroncos, hold your horses

Meme of the week

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JP Morgan steps into the metaverse

Snoop Dogg creating first metaverse record label

Salesforce employees protesting NFT plans

The DAO to free Julian Assange

Colorado accepting Bitcoin for state taxes

Bad idea of the week: Miami’s cryptocurrency proves to be mediocre

Meme of the week

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Coinbase and the unconventional QR code ad

Larry David stars in an FTX commercial

Binance invests in Forbes

The infamous crypto laundering couple

Russia backs off a crypto ban

Bad idea of the week: Watch out for romance scams

Meme of the week

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Gensler wants some cooperation

FTX enters Japanese markets with Liquid acquisition

Will Florida be home to the first NFT purchase?

The metaverse hiring spree continues

Super Bowl NFTs are here

Bad idea of the week: Don’t drug your father

Meme of the week

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Biden wants crypto regulation

Legendary heirs enter the NFT space

FTX valued at $32 billion

Will we see a fast-food DAO?

India wants to regulate crypto finally?

Bad idea of the week: Facebook’s Diem dreams are over

Meme of the week

In This Article

Recap of topics covered in episode 10 of Uncensored Crypto

Getting started in crypto

Evaluating crypto projects

Investing and trading crypto

What does the future look like for getting started and investing in crypto?

Is it worth getting started in crypto?

Future of investing in crypto

In This Article

What I learned from the crypto market crash

Did I hodl?

Do I have a new investment strategy?

What will I do next on my journey to learn crypto?

In This Article