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5 highlights from America’s largest cryptocurrency crackdown in history

CNN New York –
The US government just sent a clear message to the world of cryptocurrencies, a market valued at around $1.4 trillion.
Just as cryptocurrency investors hoped to move past the historic conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder and former CEO of collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, U.S. officials made another show of force against criminal activity that surrounds cryptocurrencies.
Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, found guilty on Tuesday for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, potentially allowing bad actors of all kinds to use the platform to move money.
Here are five highlights of the largest fine ever imposed on a financial services company in US history, which happens to be a cryptocurrency company:
Zhao and Bankman-Fried were widely seen as the faces of the cryptocurrency industry. Now his guilty plea, along with Bankman-Fried’s convictionit means that good players in the cryptocurrency industry will have to present a more convincing case to skeptics to prove that the two were exceptions and not the norm.
In light of Tuesday’s news, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, took the opportunity to distinguish the cryptocurrency exchange he runs from Binance, which has admitted to engaging in anti-money laundering, unlicensed money transmission and violations of sanctions.
“Since Coinbase was founded in 2012, we have taken a long-term view. I knew we had to embrace compliance to become a generational company that would stand the test of time,” Armstrong said in an X post Tuesday afternoon.
“Today’s news reinforces that doing the hard way was the right decision. Now we have the opportunity to start a new chapter for this industry,” she added.
At the same time, government agencies that oversee cryptocurrency regulation and compliance don’t want people to forget Bankman-Fried and Zhao.
“In the last month alone, the Department of Justice has successfully prosecuted the CEOs of two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges in two separate criminal cases,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Tuesday. “The message here should be clear: using new technology to break the law does not make you a disruptor. It makes you a criminal.
Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, has pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Cryptocurrencies fell on Tuesday as investors digested the latest regulatory news from Washington DC. But by Wednesday they had made a roaring return.
Binance coin initially fell about 6% after the US Department of Justice announced it had filed charges against Zhao following a multi-year investigation into Binance. Prices were up 3.5% on Wednesday morning.
Other cryptocurrencies suffered on Tuesday due to a greater crackdown from the Fed that also affected cryptocurrency companies such as Kraken and Tether.
Bitcoin fell about $420, 1.1%, to $37,071. Ethereum, meanwhile, fell $40, or 2%, to $1,997 per coin.
On Wednesday, both Bitcoin and Ethereum were back on the rise. Bitcoin rose 2.4% and ethereum rose 5%.
So what explains the oscillations?
Reports released Tuesday suggest that Zhao’s deal with the Justice Department could allow him to retain a majority stake in Binance. This raised investors’ hopes. They were also simply anxious to finally see the long investigation concluded.
Overall, it was a good year for cryptocurrencies. Since the beginning of the year, Bitcoin has grown by approximately 120%. In the same period, Ethereum grew by almost 70%.
The agreement Binance reached with the government requires it to cease operating in the United States.
People based in the United States were greeted with a notice on the Binance.com site Tuesday evening that said it is “not available in your country or region.” But there’s a bit of fine print.
“If you are located in the United States or select US territories, Binance.US is a US-regulated platform where you can buy, trade, convert, and stake cryptocurrencies with low fees,” the notice continues.
Binance.US is a subsidiary of Binance created in 2019 to “serve US consumers and comply with US regulations,” according to a post on the site.
Binance.US is not affected by Tuesday’s announcement because it is a registered money services business, Treasury officials said. This means that people in the US could still buy and sell cryptocurrencies under Binance’s umbrella.
Tuesday’s announcement is a vivid example of the federal government’s tough stance on illicit activities involving cryptocurrencies. To put it simply, the feds – from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Treasury Department – are not messing around.
Just this week, the SEC sued Kraken, another cryptocurrency exchange, alleging that it operates as an unregistered securities exchange. The agency’s complaint also alleges that the exchange commingled clients’ assets with the company’s holdings.
This isn’t the first time the SEC has sued Kraken. In fact, it’s one of several lawsuits the agency has filed just this year against crypto companies like Bittrex and Coinbase. The SEC’s lawsuit against Binance for allegedly violating investor protection laws remains in litigation.
Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Binance is leaving the United States as part of the deal made between the cryptocurrency exchange and law enforcement.
Despite suffering some unfavorable rulings this year, the SEC is expected to continue to aggressively crack down on crypto firms by taking them to court.
But if Tuesday’s major announcement made anything clear, it’s not just the SEC that’s trying to keep cryptocurrency-related wrongdoing at bay: it’s the entire federal government.
This also includes the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Treasury Department. There is even a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team within the Department of Justice that actively identifies and investigates criminal cases involving digital assets.
“While criminal and civil actions are subject to different legal standards, this collective effort represents the overall government approach we are taking to combat corporate crime,” Garland said Tuesday.
U.S. officials already have an ingenious set of regulations at their disposal to root out financial crimes, such as laws criminalizing money laundering and bank fraud.
This is exactly how the feds secured the first corporate deal with a cryptocurrency exchange.
“You have seen both in our actions today and in previous cases that we will be relentless in using every tool we currently have available against those who seek to use technologies in a way that abuses those platforms… or [that] we do not prevent the use of such platforms for illicit activities,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said during Tuesday’s press conference.
But officials have suggested there is room for new regulation.
Calls for “regulatory clarity” are nothing new, and new cryptocurrency regulations could help both investors and law enforcement distinguish legitimate crypto products from criminal facades.
It is unclear how or when comprehensive regulation of cryptocurrencies will be implemented. One way is through agency-level regulation at the SEC or CFTC, which would still be subject to judicial review if challenged in the courts, and another is through Congress.
“I have been advocating for closing some of these gaps, particularly around commodity tokens, and I think if we are able to do that, obviously with the help of Congress, we can prevent these actions from happening and not have to be here after the fact,” CFTC Chairman Rostin Benham said Tuesday.
News
Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch

Key points
- Spot ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. today, with the funds initially having more than $10 billion in collective assets under management.
- Analysts expect the launch of spot ether ETFs to have a net negative impact on the underlying price of ether in the near term, due to expected outflows from the pre-existing Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than $500 million in inflows on Monday.
- Franklin Templeton, a spot ETF issuer on bitcoin and ether, has invested in a project that intends to bring Ethereum technology to Bitcoin.
Nine-point ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) started trading on the stock market on Tuesday, but all the optimism ahead of their approval did not translate into gains for the cryptocurrency markets.
Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, dropped less than 1% around the $3,400 level as of 1:30 PM ET, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell more than 2% to around $66,000.
Ether ETFs’ Debut Isn’t as Flashy as Bitcoin ETFs’
Spot ether ETFs began trading at just over $10 billion assets under management (AUM)), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, most of that money is in the current Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) which has now been converted into an ETF.
“In the long term, Grayscale will simultaneously have the highest and lowest fees in the market. The asset manager’s decision to keep its ETHE fee at 2.5% could lead to outflows from the fund,” Kaiko Research said in a note on Monday.
Outflows from ETHE, if they occur, would be similar to those faced by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after spot bitcoin ETFs began trading in January of this year, most likely due to high fees for the two original funds. Grayscale’s existing fund charges 2.5% fees, while a new “mini” ether ETF will charge 0.15% and commissions for other ETFs are set at 0.25% or less.
Such outflows could impact the price of ether and market sentiment.
“There could be a pullback shortly after the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs, i.e. outflows from Grayscale Ether Trust could dampen market sentiment in the short term,” Jupiter Zheng, a partner at Hashkey Capital’s liquid fund, told The Block.
But Grayscale remains optimistic.
“Compared to the splashy debut of spot bitcoin ETPs in January, the launch of ethereum ETPs has been relatively muted,” said Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, adding that investors may be “undervaluing” ether ETFs that are “coming to the U.S. market in tandem with a shift in U.S. cryptocurrency policy and the adoption of tokenization by major financial institutions.”
Bitcoin ETF Inflows Continue to Rise
As for bitcoin, there is clearly no lack of demand for spot ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBITS) recorded its sixth-largest day of inflows in its short history on Monday, at $526.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. Daily inflows for the overall spot bitcoin ETF market also hit their highest level since June 5.
In particular, asset manager Franklin Templeton, which has issued both bitcoin and ether ETFs, appears to have decided to cover its back when it comes to Ethereum by investing in Bitlayer, a way to implement Ethereum technology on a second-layer Bitcoin network, according to CoinDesk.
News
Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here’s What You Need to Know

Key points
- Spot ether ETFs will begin trading on U.S. exchanges on Tuesday. Nine ETFs will trade on Cboe BZX, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.
- Ether ETFs offer investors exposure to the price of their underlying assets.
- Commissions on these new ETFs generally range from 0.15% to 0.25%.
- These ETFs do not provide exposure to Ethereum staking.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved nine ether spots (ETH)exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for trading on U.S. exchanges. Trading for these new cryptocurrency investment vehicles begins today. Here’s everything you need to know.
What new ether ETFs are starting to trade today?
Spot ether ETFs starting trading today can be found at Quotation, NYSE Arkand Cboe BZX. Here’s a breakdown of each ETF you can find on these three exchanges, along with the fund tickers:
Cboe BZX will list the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH), the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH), the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), the Franklin Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV).
Nasdaq will have the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) created by BlackRock, which also operates the largest spot bitcoin ETF under the ticker IBIT.
NYSE Arca will list the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) and the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE). The Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), which will begin trading on the same exchange.
How does an ether ETF work?
Spot ether ETFs are intended to offer exposure to the price of ether held by the funds. Ether is the underlying cryptocurrency of the Ethereal network, the second largest crypto network by market capitalization.
ETF buyers are buying shares of funds that hold ether on behalf of their shareholders. Different spot ether ETFs use different data sources when it comes to setting the price of ether. Grayscale Ethereum Trust, for example, uses the CoinDesk Ether Price Index.
None of the ETFs launching today include pointed etherwhich represents a potential opportunity cost associated with choosing an ETF over other options such as self-custody or a traditional cryptocurrency exchange.
Ether staking currently has an annual return of 3.32%, according to the Compass Staking Yield Reference Index Ethereum. However, it is possible that the SEC will eventually approve Ether staking held by ETFs.
How can I trade Ether ETFs?
ETFs can simplify the trading process for investors. In the case of cryptocurrencies, instead of taking full custody of the ether and taking care of your own private keysSpot ether ETFs allow investors to purchase the cryptocurrency underlying the Ethereum network through traditional brokerage accounts.
Today, not all brokers may offer their clients spot ETFs on cryptocurrencies.
What are the fees for ether ETFs?
The fees associated with each individual spot ether ETF were previously revealed In the S-1 OR S-3 (depending on the specific ETF) deposit associated with the offerings. These fees are 0.25% or less for all but one.
The Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which converts to an ETF, has a fee of 2.5%. The Grayscale Mini Ethereum Trust has the lowest fee at 0.15%. These fees are charged on an annual basis for the provider’s management of the fund and are in line with what was previously seen with spot bitcoin ETFs.
Brokers may also charge their own fees for cryptocurrency trading.
News
Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Market odds and memecoins related to US Vice President Kamala Harris have soared as the latest round of donations tied to the Democratic campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours, bolstering sentiment among some traders.
The odds of Harris being declared the Democratic nominee have risen further to 90% on cryptocurrency betting app Polymarket, up from 80% on Monday and setting a new high.
Previously, in early July, bettors were only betting on 8%, but that changed on Saturday when incumbent President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run in the November election. Biden then approved Harris as a candidate.
Polymarket traders placed $28.6 million in bets in favor of Harris, the data showsThe second favorite is Michelle Obama.
Somewhere else, Memecoin KAMA based on Solanaa political meme token modeled after Harris, has jumped 62% to set a new all-time high of 2 cents at a market cap of $27 million. The token is up a whopping 4,000% from its June 18 low of $0.00061, buoyed primarily by the possibility of Harris becoming president.
As such, Harris has yet to publicly comment on cryptocurrencies or her strategy for the growing market. On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for the cryptocurrency market and is expected to appear at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday.
However, some expect Harris or the Democratic Party to mention the sector in the coming weeks, which could impact price action.
“While he has not yet received the official nomination, there is consensus that last night’s development is in line with current Democratic strategy,” cryptocurrency trading firm Wintermute said in a Monday note emailed to CoinDesk. “Keep an eye on Democrats’ comments on this issue in the coming days.
“The prevailing assumption is that Harris will win the nomination and any deviation from this expectation could cause market volatility,” the firm added.
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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

The cryptocurrency market has seen a lot of growth and imagination lately, with new ventures popping up regularly. A critical pattern in this space is the rise of crypto pre-sales, which give backers the opportunity to get involved with promising projects early on. Artemis is a standout option for crypto investors looking to expand their portfolios amid the many pre-sales currently underway.
Cryptocurrency presales, commonly referred to as initial coin offerings (ICOs), allow blockchain ventures to raise capital by offering their local tokens to early backers before they become available on open exchanges. Investors can take advantage of these presales by purchasing tokens at a lower price. If the project is successful and the token’s value increases, investors stand to receive significant returns.
>>> Explore the best cryptocurrency pre-sales to buy now <<
The Ultimate List of the Top 5 Cryptocurrency Pre-Sales to Invest In
- Artemis: The aim of Artemis (ARTMS) will become the cryptocurrency equivalent of eBay or Amazon. The upcoming Phase 4 will see the launch of the Artemis Framework, which will serve as a stage for digital money exchanges where buyers, sellers, specialized organizations and those seeking administration can participate in coherent exchanges.
- DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
- 99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
- WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
- eTukTuk focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
We have determined that Artemis is the best new cryptocurrency presale for investment after conducting extensive research. It presents itself as the unrivaled cryptocurrency presale choice currently open.
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Top 5 Crypto Pre-Sales and Best Cryptocurrencies for Investment Today
Artemis (ARTMS) is attempting to establish itself as the cryptocurrency version of eBay or Amazon. The Artemis Crypto System, which will act as a platform for cryptocurrency transactions, will be launched in Phase 4. Buyers, sellers, service providers, and requesters will all benefit from seamless trading with this system. Customers will be able to purchase things, such as mobile phones using digital money, as well as sell products such as involved bicycles and get paid in cryptocurrency. Additionally, crypto money can be used to pay for administrations such as clinical consultations, legitimate care, and freelance work. Artemis Coin will act as the main currency of the ecosystem, with Bitcoin and other well-known cryptocurrencies from various blockchain networks backing it.
Artemis Coin has increased in price from 0.00055 to 0.00101 from 0.00094. Artemis may be attractive to individuals looking to recoup losses in Bitcoin, as predicted by cryptocurrency analysts. At this point, it seems to present an interesting presale opportunity.
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The world of digital currency pre-sales is an exciting and exciting opportunity that could open the door to game-changing blockchain projects. Projects in this article, like Artemis Coin, offer the opportunity to shape the future of various industries and the potential for significant returns as the industry develops.
However, it is imperative to approach these investments with caution, thorough research, portfolio diversification, and awareness of the risks. You can explore the digital currency pre-sale scene with greater certainty and increase your chances of identifying and profiting from the most promising venture opportunities by following the advice and methods in this article.
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