2022 was a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs for the blockchain industry. While the year’s first quarter looked promising, the crypto industry has been on a downward trajectory ever since. While indications of a global macroeconomic slowdown increase, these headwinds hamper the blockchain industry’s potential recovery. There are some signs of stabilization in the crypto market and a potential upside at the start of the new year. For those serious about understanding the crypto space’s different sectors, including venture capital, derivatives, decentralized finance (DeFi), regulations and much more, Cointelegraph Research publishes a monthly Investors Insights report. Compiled by leading …

The crypto space is notorious for its significant swings and ups and downs. Yet the 2022 crash seems harsher and more unpredictable than previous bear markets. Still, there are ways for investors to safeguard their crypto assets and protect them despite the turbulent times. Regardless of the somewhat hostile environment, crypto adoption is still rising, signaling that the bear times will end. According to recent research, about 20% of people in America who have never owned crypto plan to invest by the end of the year. But why is the space crashing when interest is on the rise? Why was …

Abu Dhabi-based blockchain platform Venom Foundation and investment manager Iceberg Capital announced they will allocate $1 billion of funding to Web3 and blockchain firms through a new partnership. The Venom Ventures Fund is set to invest in protocols and Web3 decentralized applications (DApps) focused on payments, asset management, decentralized finance (DeFi) and GameFi products and services. The fund is a partnership between layer-1 blockchain solution, Venom Foundation and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) investment management firm, Iceberg Capital. The latter will look to leverage its existing network to offer incubation programs and industry connections as well as marketing, exchange listing …

The average crypto investor probably isn’t planning on dying of old age anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a plan in place to pass on their crypto in the event they meet an unlikely demise, lawyers warn. Speaking to Cointelegraph, Dubai-based crypto lawyer Irina Heaver believes that “billions” worth of Bitcoin (BTC) has been lost due to a lack of proper death-related planning by hodlers. She noted that many families have been unable to access their loved one’s crypto assets due to private keys being taken to the grave, and emphasized the importance of discussing crypto assets …

As the investigation into FTX continues, the crypto exchange’s former engineering chief Nishad Singh followed former FTX and Alameda Research executives Gary Wang and Caroline Ellison by reportedly meeting with federal prosecutors to cut a deal. Singh attended a proffer session sometime last week at the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York for prosecutors to determine if he has valuable information to offer in the lawsuit against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, according to a Jan. 10 Bloomberg report. Prosecutors are interested in Singh’s insight regarding FTX’s political donations as one of the charges Bankman-Fried faces …

Digital asset manager Osprey Funds has reportedly laid off most of its staff since the summer, underscoring the ongoing operational challenges posed by crypto’s enduring bear market. Yahoo Finance reported on Jan. 9 that Osprey Funds is currently operating with fewer than ten employees after laying off 15 staff members since the summer. CEO Greg Kling told the publication that the layoffs were consistent with the market downturn and that Osprey was not at risk of closing operations. Osprey offers accredited investors access to crypto-focused investment products, including an over-the-counter Bitcoin (BTC) trust that can be purchased inside brokerage accounts. …

Crypto payment platform Wyre modified its withdrawal policy to limit users from cashing out up to 90% of their assets just days after two former employees allegedly hinted the possibility of a shutdown. On Jan. 7, 2023, Wyre imposed a withdrawal limit on its platform, citing “the best interest of our community.” Following the policy modification, Wyre users can withdraw up to 90% of their crypto funds as the company explores strategic options to circumvent the prolonged bear market. We are modifying our withdrawal policy. While customers will continue to be able to withdraw their funds, at this time, we …

Global payments giant Mastercard is ramping up its exposure blockchain tech yet again, after announcing a Polygon-based accelerator program to help musicians build their careers via Web3. The firm announced the "Mastercard Artist Accelerator" program via a Jan. 7 blog post, outlining that from this spring, it will connect five emerging musicians from across the globe with mentors that will help them set up their brand in the Web3 music space. "The artists will gain exclusive access to special events, music releases and more. A first-of-its-kind curriculum will teach the artists how to build (and own) their brand through Web3 …

The winds of crypto winter may be still blowing, but it doesn't seem to be stopping venture capital firms from piling into cryptocurrencies. In fact, recent events influenced by the bear market, such as the collapse of FTX, could bring "further trust into the ecosystem," according to Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO at Laser Digital, the recently launched digital assets arm of the Asian giant Nomura Holdings. "More traditional players are entering the space who can help to regulate the sector. This means players who understand regulation as well as the importance of clients' aggregation, stability, and execution," explained Mohideen, …

Cryptocurrency adoption has been on the rise in El Salvador in recent years, with the country becoming the first in the world to adopt Bitcoin (BTC) as a legal tender. This landmark decision has attracted the attention of the global cryptocurrency community and has sparked discussions on the potential benefits and challenges of widespread adoption. El Salvador’s controversial move with its cryptocurrency adoption would not have been possible if it was not due to President Nayib Bukele, who garnered international attention after announcing the Bitcoin adoption plan and passed it into law. The legislation required all businesses within the country …

Cryptocurrency Exchange Huobi has seen over $94.2 million dollars in net outflows within the past week. Within the past 24 hours alone, approximately 60 million dollars flowed out of the exchange, according to a report by crypto analytics company Nansen. In the past 24 hours, Huobi has seen a significant increase in net outflows $60.9M* of the $94.2M* net outflow in the past week occurred in the past day alone *Contains Ethereum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Fantom, & Polygon flows pic.twitter.com/JV1Tg13QMY — Nansen (@nansen_ai) January 6, 2023 Nansen also reported that a significant portion of withdrawals was mainly in Tether (USDT), …

Investment firm Fidelity has written down the value of its initial stake in Twitter following its funding of Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media platform. According to a filing of the Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund in November 2022, the firm has written down the carrying value of its Twitter investment by more than 50 percent. The filing was first reported by Axios. A write-down is a reduction in the value of an asset on a company’s balance sheet. This typically occurs when the asset's market value falls below its book value, which is the value at which the …