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Tether Poses Major Audit Risks

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Renowned advocacy organization Consumers’ Research raised concerns about Tether, criticizing the USDT stablecoin issuer for exposing users to significant risks due to its business model.

Despite these concerns, Tether has recently emerged as one of the most profitable crypto companies globally, reporting massive quarterly profits.

Consumers’ Research Slams Tether for Audit Risks

In a letter aimed at protecting consumers, addressed to Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Consumers’ Research criticized Tether for failing to conduct an audit to prove that its USDT stablecoin is backed 1:1 by the US dollar, despite promises dating back nearly 10 years.

The report described this failure as a serious risk, calling Tether and USDT a “disaster for consumers waiting to happen.”

“Tether’s continual failure to undergo an independent audit raises a distressing red flag for the company and its USDT product. Tether has promised that it would conduct a full audit since at least 2017 but has still failed to do so. In August 2022, its CEO stated that an audit was ‘likely months away.’ Years later, there is still no audit,” read a paragraph in the letter.

In addition to the lack of audits, Consumers’ Research criticized Tether for its history of doing business with bad actors, including sanctioned crypto exchanges like Garantex and BitPapa. The report also referenced a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, which accused Tether of “enabling a parallel economy that operates beyond the reach of US law enforcement.”

Read more: 9 Best Crypto Wallets to Store Tether (USDT)

The Consumers’ Research also detailed Tether’s “history of false claims,” mentioning key red flags, including but not limited to:

  • In 2018, the US Department of Justice investigated Tether and Bitfinex’s involvement in crypto market manipulation.
  • In 2019, New York determined that Tether moved hundreds of millions of dollars to conceal the loss of $850 million in client money.
  • In 2021, Tether ceased trading activity in New York and paid $18.5 million in penalties.
  • In 2022, Tether settled charges stemming from false statements allegedly made regarding its backing of USDT with US dollars with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
  • Also, in 2022, the SEC fined the law firm that claimed the US dollar-backed USDT for improper accounting purposes.

These reports, which raise concerns about Tether’s financial safeguards, accuse the firm of undermining America’s efforts to fight illicit entities.

“Tether has many of the same issues that FTX and Celsius had before their collapse – potentially costing consumers billions of dollars using deceptive and misleading marketing tactics that are inconsistent with the truth,” the report concluded.

Amidst these claims, it is worth mentioning that Tether is collaborating with Tron and TRM Labs to combat USDT criminal activity.

Tether Relies on Attestations for its Reserves

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated in an April interview that the company relies on attestations for its reserves. He also revealed that Tether is seeking an auditor from among the top global accounting firms. However, the Big Four — Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG — are reportedly hesitant, fearing potential damage to their reputations.

“So you are a Big Four auditing firm, and you have the entire banking industry that is your customer. Why would you risk 100,000 customers for a couple of stablecoins? Between the FTX disaster and the hacks, heists, and regulatory crackdowns in crypto, it hasn’t been easy to sign on as a client for one of those top accounting outfits,” Ardoino said.

Despite these concerns, Tether remains highly profitable. A recent report revealed that Tether outperformed BlackRock, with earnings of $6.2 billion compared to the asset manager’s $5.5 billion.

“How is it possible that a stablecoin issuer with around 100 employees made more money than the largest mutual fund company in 2023? You give them dollars. They give you Tether tokens, which are essentially entries on the blockchain. They use your dollars to buy US bonds yielding 5%. They use the yield to buy Bitcoin for their balance sheet. You do not need many people to do this, and it is an extremely profitable business model. Now you understand why BlackRock has taken an interest in crypto,” crypto analyst Frederik Lund explained.

Read more: A Guide to the Best Stablecoins in 2024

Indeed, Tether’s profits are bolstered by income from US Treasuries and mark-to-market gains on its Bitcoin and gold holdings, according to a recent blog post, which suggests these factors inflate the company’s financials. A quarterly attestation showed $118.44 billion backing Tether-related stablecoins — over $5 billion more than the circulating supply — indicating the stablecoins are fully backed by reserves.

In a recent legal victory, a UK court ruled that Tether’s USDT stablecoin qualifies as property. This decision, made by the High Court Justice for England and Wales, follows the UK Parliament’s move to recognize crypto, NFTs, and carbon credits as personal property under British law.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Trump Media Files Trademark for Crypto Platform TruthFi

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Trump Media & Technology Group is exploring the development of a crypto payment platform, as revealed by a recent trademark filing. 

The application, submitted by Donald Trump’s social media company on Monday, outlines plans for a service named TruthFi. The proposed platform aims to offer crypto payments, financial custody, and digital asset trading.

Following the trademark announcement, Trump Media’s stock rose approximately 2%. At the time of writing, the stock was trading at $30.44, up by nearly 75% this year. 

However, details about TruthFi remain scarce, including its timeline or operational specifics. This initiative suggests an effort by Trump Media to expand its business model beyond Truth Social. 

The social media platform was established back in 2022, after Trump was banned from Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). 

Trump Media truthfi trademark filiing
TruthFi trademark filing. Source: Trademark Status and Document Retrieval

Nevertheless, launching a large-scale cryptocurrency platform could require Trump Media to acquire additional resources or partner with an established firm. This is because the firm currently has a small workforce of less than 40 employees. 

“The filing, made with the USPTO on Monday, indicates that Trump Media plans to offer: Digital wallets, Cryptocurrency payment processing services, and A digital asset trading platform,” US Trademark Attorney Josh Gerben wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

As reported by BeInCrypto earlier, Trump Media is also in discussions to purchase the b2b crypto trading platform Bakkt. Shares in Bakkt surged by nearly 140% since the news earlier this week. 

Meanwhile, the President-elect’s crypto plans seem to be in full swing even before he takes office in January. He is also reportedly considering the first-ever crypto advisor role for the White House, and interviewing several potential candidates.

Earlier today, the current SEC chair Gary Gensler announced his resignation before Trump’s term begins. Gensler’s resignation boosted the crypto market, as it signals a major change in the SEC’s regulatory stance

Notably, XRP surged 7% to its highest value in three years. Bitcoin also neared $99,000, as the overall crypto market cap reached $3.4 trillion. 

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Banana Gun Rises After Justin Sun’s $6.2 Million Art Purchase

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Justin Sun, founder of TRON and Poloniex CEO, has purchased the viral art piece Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s.

Following the purchase, Sun announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he plans to eat the artwork. This has ignited a frenzy of memes, commentary, and market reactions, even causing the crypto token Banana Gun to spike in value.

Crypto Reacts: Banana Gun on the Rise

Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian gained international fame in 2019 when it was first displayed at Art Basel Miami. Its simplicity and absurdity—a banana taped to a wall—sparked debates about the nature of art. The so-called artwork became viral when performance artist David Datuna ate it in a stunt dubbed Hungry Artist.

Sun’s pledge to eat the $6.2 million fruit has also drawn parallels, adding another layer of humor to the piece’s history. The Tron founder even said he’s willing to donate the banana to Elon Musk and send it to Mars.

Justin Sun with Comedian Artwork. Source: X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, several users even recreated their own version of Comedian and shared it on social media. One fan followed up by taping bananas around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, encouraging others to “tape all over the world” and start a movement.

What they are campaigning for, precisely, remains to be seen.

“In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture. Stay tuned,” Sun said on X.

The ripple effects of Sun’s purchase eventually trickled beyond the confines of art and humor and into crypto markets. The token Banana Gun, which shares its name with the theme, surged nearly 16% following the news. Traders and enthusiasts, ever attuned to cultural moments, appear to have seized the chance to capitalize on the buzz.

Banana Gun Price Performance.
Banana Gun Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto.

Sun’s acquisition and the banana’s virality bring to mind another recent development in the art-crypto nexus. Earlier this week, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin allegedly minted 400 Patron NFTs. This development sparked hopes of a resurgence for the NFT market.

This aged well…. $BANANA is an insane project. For me, this is in the same league as $ZIG. Fundamentals are truly insane. No matter which narrative will cook next, $BANANA will profit from it,” said one trader on X.

The combination of Sun’s high-profile purchase and the market’s reaction to Banana Gun demonstrates how art, humor, and technology continue to blur boundaries. Whether Sun’s banana-eating spectacle will leave a lasting impact or peel away (pun intended) into meme history, one thing is certain—the intersection of crypto and culture remains as unexpected as ever.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Cardano (ADA) Price Hits 41% Weekly Growth, $1 Target in Sight

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Cardano (ADA) price has surged 41.89% in the last seven days, signaling strong bullish momentum in the market. The uptrend remains strong, supported by key technical indicators like the ADX and Ichimoku Cloud, which point to sustained positive sentiment.

However, signs of consolidation and narrowing gaps in short-term indicators suggest that the rally could face challenges if buying pressure weakens.

ADA Current Uptrend Is Still Strong

Cardano DMI chart shows an ADX of 42.7, indicating a strong trend. The metric has remained above 40 since November 7. This high ADX value confirms the robustness of ADA ongoing uptrend, signaling solid momentum behind the recent price movements.

With the positive directional index (D+) at 21.3 and the negative directional index (D-) at 11, bullish pressure continues to outweigh bearish activity, further supporting the upward trajectory.

ADA DMI.
ADA DMI. Source: TradingView

The ADX measures the strength of a trend without considering its direction. Values above 25 indicate a strong trend, while those below 20 suggest a weak or nonexistent trend. With an ADX at 42.7, ADA is clearly in a strong uptrend, showing significant market confidence.

The gap between D+ and D- reinforces the bullish dominance, suggesting that ADA price could sustain its upward movement if current conditions persist.

Cardano Ichimoku Cloud Shows An Important Signal

The Ichimoku Cloud chart for Cardano indicates a generally bullish trend, as the price remains above the cloud (Kumo). The Tenkan-sen (blue line) and Kijun-sen (red line) are relatively flat, showing signs of consolidation after ADA’s recent rally.

While the price is still trading above these lines, the narrowing gap between the price and the Tenkan-sen suggests weakening short-term momentum.

ADA Ichimoku Cloud.
ADA Ichimoku Cloud. Source: TradingView

The green cloud ahead signals potential support for ADA uptrend, but the current consolidation phase highlights the need for sustained buying pressure to maintain this momentum.

If the price drops below the Kijun-sen or approaches the cloud, it could signal a possible shift toward bearish sentiment.

ADA Price Prediction: Can It Reach $1 In November?

If Cardano (ADA) maintains its strong uptrend, it could test the resistance at $0.85. Breaking this level could pave the way for further gains, with the potential to reach the $1 threshold, marking a 20% rise from current levels and the highest price for Cardano since April 2022.

ADA Price Analysis.
ADA Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, as indicated by the Ichimoku Cloud, a potential reversal could be on the horizon. If bearish momentum takes over, ADA price could face significant downward pressure, potentially dropping to $0.51.

If this support fails, the price could decline further to $0.32, representing a steep 59% correction. This highlights the importance of the current support and resistance levels in determining ADA’s next direction.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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