Unlicensed crypto exchanges face shutdown in Hong Kong

 Hong Kong’s financial regulator has issued a warning to cryptocurrency exchanges: obtain a license or shut down.

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said that all crypto trading platforms operating in the city must apply for a license by the end of the month. All exchanges that fail to do so will be shut down by May 31.

The SFC’s ultimatum is part of a broader effort to bring cryptocurrency trading into the regulatory fold.

Last June, Hong Kong opened up a licensing regime for crypto exchanges as part of the city’s plans to develop its market into a regional digital assets hub.

Latest Solana Meme Coin ‘LAMBO’ Pumps Up 1000x in 24 Hours and This Low Cap Gem Might Be Next

 LAMBO has become the latest Solana meme coin to enjoy a massive listing on the Raydium DEX this week, with its price experiencing a 1000x surge yesterday.

However, as is usually the case with most Solana meme tokens, LAMBO has since corrected heavily, with its price currently down by 52% in the past 24 hours.

Such a reduction doesn’t bode well for the token’s future, and with other new coins offering stronger fundamentals and more utility, most traders will probably prefer to look elsewhere.

Indeed, one new altcoin gaining lots of momentum right now is Sponge (SPONGE), which is in the process of launching the second version of its token, with millions already staked in it.

From Crypto to Likes: The New Wave of Digital Asset Flipping Among Crypto Investors

In the ever-evolving world of investment, cryptocurrency enthusiasts are finding a new lucrative avenue – digital asset flipping. This emerging trend sees investors who once solely focused on the volatile crypto markets now venturing into the realm of social media, where flipping digital properties like accounts and pages is yielding substantial returns. Amidst a period of stagnation in the cryptocurrency sector, savvy investors are diversifying their portfolios by tapping into the dynamic world of social media assets. SWAPD, a platform renowned for facilitating large-scale digital transactions, has become a focal point for these investors, where deals ranging from $200,000 to $300,000 are not out of the ordinary.

Crypto Whales Hunt for Bargains As Bitcoin Prices Slide, Data Shows

Bitcoin traded at a fat premium on Bitfinex compared to the global average price over the weekend, hinting at bargain hunting by whales.

Crypto whales, entities with ample token holdings, appear to be snapping up bitcoin (BTC) at cheaper prices as the leading cryptocurrency continues to slide in the aftermath of the recent U.S. spot ETFs debut.

bitcoin has dropped nearly 19% to $39,770 since the spot ETFs began trading in the U.S. on Jan. 11, CoinDesk data show.

Bitcoin Price Prediction as Greed Index Hits Neutral Post-ETF Launch – Are Investors Losing Confidence?

 In the dynamic realm of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin‘s price trajectory has recently taken a downward turn, falling to $42,000 amidst diminishing enthusiasm for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This decline occurs against the backdrop of a slightly contracting global crypto market, which currently stands at a valuation of $1.68 trillion, marking a modest 0.09% decrease in the past 24 hours.

Final Bitcoin ETF Application Filings Get Posted by Major U.S. Exchanges

Releasing them suggests they’re confident the SEC will approve the first U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs soon.

U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) appear to be on the verge of launching after the exchanges that will list them filed amended documents, suggesting they expect U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approval in the coming days.

The amended 19b-4 filings, filed on behalf of BlackRock, Grayscale, Fidelity and other issuers, join last month's amended S-1 filings, addressing feedback from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). More than a dozen applicants hope to launch the first spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S.; it's likely multiple issuers will be approved simultaneously.

Judge denies Changpeng Zhao’s 2nd attempt to travel to UAE

 Lawyers representing the former Binance CEO filed a new motion on Dec. 27 with sealed medical information about Changpeng Zhao’s child in Dubai.

Judge denies Changpeng Zhao’s 2nd attempt to travel to UAENEWS

Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao will still not be allowed to leave the United States ahead of his sentencing hearing following an order from a federal judge.

In a Dec. 29 ruling as part of a hearing in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, Judge Richard Jones denied a motion from CZ requesting permission to travel outside the country. The reasons for the second motion were unavailable to the public, having been sealed by the court, but CZ’s legal team suggested it involved “medical information regarding Mr. Zhao’s child.”