On Christmas day, prolific DeFi users found a surprise in their stocking courtesy of a unicorn that looks a little like Kurt Russell: decentralized exchange platform 1inch launched its governance and utility token 1INCH, which peaked at nearly $2.80 per token shortly after release. Harkening back to the release of the Uniswap token over the summer — an event that many likened to a “DeFi stimulus check” — the token was distributed via an “airdrop” to wallets who had used the platform for trades or had provided liquidity in the past. The average user received roughly 1,600 tokens, and one …

Ricardo Salinas Pliego, chairman at conglomerate Grupo Salinas and Mexico’s second richest man, has revealed to Cointelegraph in an interview that he bought his first Bitcoin in 2013, when it was worth around $200. That, according to the billionaire, was his “best investment ever”. After holding it all the way until its 2017 highs, he sold all his positions at $17,000 and bought it again later at a cheaper price. “We always return to the scene of the crime”, he joked. Now Salinas holds around 10% of his liquid portfolio in BTC and doesn't plan to sell any of it …

Yes, yes, I know: You’re an excellent Twatter, and omitting from this list your one zinger that got 50 likes borders malfeasance. Likewise, this reporter is a negligent compiler of listicles for overlooking some spicy day where your favorite trader-nee-influencer colorfully described Brad Garlinghouse’s anatomy. If it’s any consolation, please know that I hate the hellsite just as much as you do. The year was terrible for almost all of the planet, and even though crypto enjoyed a strong secular bull market, everyone still managed to come together, rise above adversity, and treat each other horribly anyway. I looked up …

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is listening. At least, per a Dec. 23 announcement, the SEC is responding to long-term industry complaints that nobody knows who can handle security token trading. The SEC is both requesting comment on the issue and extending a hand to the crypto industry. Perhaps most notably, the commission's announcement will keep broker-dealers safe from enforcement for the next five year: "In particular, the Commission’s position, which will expire after a period of five years from the publication date of this statement, is that a broker-dealer operating under the circumstances set forth in Section IV …

A privately held exchange has launched on the Binance Cloud platform for the first time. Mandala says its goal is to deliver enhanced trading depth, security and transaction speeds to users — enabling them to trade cryptocurrency with confidence. This is coupled with a “unique focus on compliance” that will bring cryptocurrencies to the masses, with an ecosystem tailored to passionate beginners and institutional investors alike. In explaining why launching on the Binance Cloud was so significant, Mandala’s chief technology officer Zach Daniels said: “Binance allows us to take advantage of not only their liquidity and technology, but their development …

The crypto industry has come a long way in recent years — and now, digital currencies are easily accessible for most consumers around the world. But one exchange argues that there is a much bigger problem to solve: educating everyday consumers about how these assets can benefit them. Blocktrade says it plans to exponentially expand its user base in 2021 and is working to create an advanced platform that’s easy to use and functional. Underpinning this strategy is a wealth of educational resources that will help newcomers learn everything they need to know about the markets, key players, and the …

Amid an ongoing bull run of Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin options are hitting a new historical milestone. Bitcoin options are derivative contracts that grant the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell BTC at a predetermined price. According to data from Skew, Bitcoin options volumes crossed $1 billion on Dec. 16. Skew announced the news Thursday on Twitter, noting that Bitcoin options saw its “first $1 billion day.” Deribit, a major global crypto futures and options exchange, had the largest BTC options volume on the day at $879 million. The exchange has emerged as the most popular …

The German word for securities is wertpapieren, or "papers of worth," which may soon be as outdated as nocturnal traders saying they're burning the midnight oil. Per a Reuters report from Wednesday, Merkel's cabinet had passed a new law that will end the requirement to have a paper certificate for sale of a security, overtly looking to advance blockchain trading within the country. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholtz reportedly said, “The paper certificate may be dear to some for nostalgic reasons, but the future belongs to its electronic version.” The Finance Ministry called the shift to all-electronic securities a component …

The crypto industry has matured substantially in recent years — so much so that it’s practically unrecognizable when compared to the bull run of 2017. And one of the biggest developments in this dynamic space? Futures. These derivatives give investors exposure to the price movements of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, without the need to physically own the asset. Although the arrival of futures trading presents opportunities, it isn’t without risks — after all, BTC remains as prone as ever to sudden price movements. Through the futures market, crypto enthusiasts have an opportunity to generate returns when the markets are in …

A new survey of global fund managers reveals that Bitcoin has climbed in the rankings of “most crowded trade” beating out traditional investments like gold and bonds. Bitcoin was third on the overall list of options for the category, named as the busiest trade by 15% of survey respondents. Only tech stocks (52%) and short dollar positions (18%) ranked higher. BofA Fund Manager Survey of the most crowded trades ht @jsblokland pic.twitter.com/KvlP8bTe7x — (@chigrl) December 15, 2020 The Global Fund Manager Survey was conducted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch between the period of Dec. 4 to 10 and asked …

The Bitcoin price (BTC) reached the $19,400 mark in the past 24 hours, which has served as a critical resistance level since the start of December. However, on-chain indicators show that the dominant cryptocurrency could stagnate or consolidate until early 2021. Although BTC is nearing its all-time high at around $20,000, there are compelling reasons to expect more sideways action. On-chain analysts primarily explore two indicators to gauge the sentiment of an ongoing rally: the Spent Output Profit Ratio, or SOPR, and Long-Term Holder MVRV. The SOPR indicator shows whether short-term holders are selling at a profit or a loss. …

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is trying to make heads or tails of the recent explosion in decentralized finance. On Monday, the CFTC’s Technology Advisory Committee hosted a presentation called “The Growth and Regulatory Challenges of Decentralized Finance” by law professor Aaron Wright and attorney Gary DeWaal. In large part, the presentation was a briefing on the operations of decentralized platforms like Uni, which have commanded a greater share of crypto trading and headlines since this summer. Wright summarized the advantages of DeFi as potentially providing services for lower cost to a greater number of people by virtue of automating …