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Animoca Brands Launches MOCA Coin, Eyes IPO in 2025

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Animoca Brands launched its own token, MOCA Coin, on Thursday. The launch turns heads, given the rarity of public companies in crypto making such a move.

The GameFi and metaverse giant is planning to go public in early 2025 in Hong Kong or the Middle East. The two regions are famous for their favorable stance towards cryptocurrency.

MOCA Coin Soars to $141 Million Market Cap

Following its launch, MOCA Coin skyrocketed by over 90%, with CoinGecko data showing a market capitalization above $141 million. Serving as a utility token in Animoca’s ecosystem of Web3 games and applications, it will help expand Animoca Brands’ network and boost the conglomerate’s growth.

“Mocaverse and MOCA Coin represent cultural capital that today may appear objectified (like most NFTs). However, it will become more social and symbolic in meaning and purpose. This is as Mocaverse’s reputation layer grows and increasingly rewards and incentivizes the creation of cultural capital,” Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chair Yat Siu wrote in a Medium post.

Read more: 7 Best Cloud Gaming Services in 2024

The surge in market capitalization is unsurprising given Animoca Brands’ heft as a leading force in the cryptocurrency gaming and metaverse sectors. However, the token launch stirred debate, given the company’s plans to go public early next year.

In hindsight, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) delisted Animoca Brands in 2020 for owning token-issuing entities like The Sandbox (SAND). The regulator cited questionable governance and the use of simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs) in its subsidiaries. Despite submitting a 39-page report to address these concerns, the ASX delisted the company.

SAFEs provide a straightforward and efficient way for startups to raise capital, avoiding complexities associated with traditional equity financing instruments. They allow investors to invest in early-stage companies and participate in their growth potential while mitigating some risks typically associated with early-stage investments.

Amid regulatory uncertainty, public companies remain skeptical about issuing their own tokens. Coinbase, for example, has not launched a token despite going public on the Nasdaq three years ago.

Skepticism for firms doing business in the US comes amid tough regulation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the regulator, companies deceptively use Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to raise capital from investors without clear disclosures, as the law requires.

The regulator sued multiple firms for raising funds through unregistered ICOs. Among them are smart contract-auditing firm Quantstamp, Token Metrics CEO Ian Balina, and Loci Inc. and its chief executive, John Wise. The regulator also investigated Binance and Ripple on ICO-related claims.

Animoca Brands CEO on Token Launch

According to Yat Siu, the token launch does not compromise its oncoming initial product offering (IPO) because it is not equity. Speaking to a news site, the Animoca Brands executive said it is a utility token with “no profit sharing and no claim to profit.” This means MOCA Coin holders will not receive earnings per share against their holdings.

It is worth noting, however, that Animoca Brands does not do business in the US, unlike Coinbase. This puts the firm and its executive chair outside the purview of the US SEC, led by chair Gary Gensler.

Read more: Who Is Gary Gensler? Everything To Know About the SEC Chairman

In late June, the SEC chair highlighted compliance issues within the crypto industry. He noted that securities laws are established to safeguard investors and maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets. Gensler added that when tokens and platforms fail to provide necessary disclosures to investors, this lack of compliance poses risks to the public.

“And we have a set of pretty clear rules. There’s nothing inconsistent about crypto securities and the securities laws,” he stated.

Furthermore, Gensler warned that moving operations abroad would not excuse crypto companies from following US securities laws. The regulator’s stance reflects the challenges of complying with regulatory restrictions in the US.

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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Top Crypto Airdrops to Watch in the First Week of April

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As traders and investors anticipate the beginning of April and the onset of the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, crypto airdrops present an opportunity to join promising communities while they are still on the ground floor.

This week, three notable crypto airdrops stand out as worth watching.

Walrus

Walrus (WAL), a decentralized storage protocol on the Sui blockchain, launched its mainnet and token generation event (TGE) on March 27. The event coincided with South Korea’s Upbit exchange listing WAL.

The TGE saw Walrus distribute 4% of its 5 billion token supply via an airdrop. Eligible participants, including early Sui ecosystem users and testnet contributors, received Soulbound NFTs redeemable for WAL tokens. As April commences, 6% of Walrus tokens are reserved for future community rewards.

“At the moment 4% of the 10% tokens allocated for the airdrop have been distributed, so Walrus still has tokens to reward users,” Cryptorank.io noted.

WAL powers storage payments, staking, and governance, with listings on exchanges like Crypto.com and MEXC offering prize pools. The project’s airdrop comes after raising $140 million from Andreessen Horowitz, Standard Crypto, Electric Capital, and Comma3 Ventures, among others.

Meanwhile, Walrus’s market cap exceeds $573 million, reflecting strong adoption potential. Data on CoinGecko shows it was trading for $0.45 as of this writing.

Walrus (WAL) Price Performance
Walrus (WAL) Price Performance. Source: CoinGecko

Staking opportunities with validators like Mysten Labs or Nansen enhance rewards, but high commissions (up to 60%) apply. One of Walrus and Sui’s founders recently announced that users could stake WAL tokens to get airdrops. As this could mean airdrops from Walrus and projects from the Sui ecosystem, engaging with Sui dApps and testnets remains key for future allocations.

Nansen

The project has raised up to $88.2 million from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase Ventures, Accel, and Mechanism Capital, among others. Coupled with the fundraiser, Nansen has a valuation of $750 million.

Nansen, a leading blockchain analytics platform, confirmed an airdrop, drawing excitement due to its prominence and past reward patterns. The project launched a staking program and announced a point system in 2025.

“We’re excited to announce that we have acquired Stakewithus (SWU)! SWU is a non-custodial staking service provider with $80m+ staked by 30k+ users & supports 20+ chains You can now analyze data, monitor your portfolio, and stake assets in one place with Nansen,” read the announcement.

Users can stake assets (STRK and TRX), and points are expected to be credited retrospectively. Nansen also mentions the NSG token, so participants will most likely receive an airdrop for points.

Market participants should monitor Nansen’s social channels and partnerships for updates, as airdrops typically reward active users or data contributors.

With no token launched yet, any potential airdrop might tie into a future native token, likely incentivizing early adopters or premium subscribers. Given Nansen’s influence in the crypto space, tracking wallet activity and on-chain data, its airdrop could attract significant attention.

Participants should engage with its tools and stake in supported ecosystems to position themselves for unannounced opportunities.

OG Labs

This modular AI chain combines Layer-1 blockchain with decentralized AI, focusing on scalable Data Availability for AI applications.

The status of OG Labs airdrop stands confirmed, bringing forth an emerging player in the crypto space. This makes it a speculative target for market participants. It boasts up to $325 million in funds raised from investors such as Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Animoca Brands, and OKX Ventures, among others.

The airdrop is potentially tied to Web3 innovation or NFT ecosystems (given the “OG” moniker). It follows models like Walrus, rewarding early testers or community members.

“There are new activities on the OG test network – we can request test tokens and make swaps,” Cryptorank.io noted.

The OG Labs airdrop requires no investment. Users can engage through OG Labs’ Newton Testnet, which tests-core functionalities like decentralized storage, consensus, and data availability services. Participants must complete at least 20 transactions, stay active for three days, and interact with features like swaps, storage scans, and NFT minting.

“Interact with the OG Labs Testnet and Become Eligible for the Airdrop,” crypto researcher Guatamgg stated.

Additionally, users can boost eligibility by taking Discord roles such as OGurus or OG Role. These activities involve community contributions and verification steps. This airdrop targets active ecosystem participants, aligning with OG Labs’ emphasis on community-driven development.

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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Strategic Move for Trump Family in Crypto

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Energy infrastructure platform Hut 8 Corp has partnered with US President Donald Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., to launch American Bitcoin Corp.

The company is dedicated to industrial-scale Bitcoin mining and developing a strategic reserve.

All You Need to Know about American Bitcoin

American Bitcoin’s leadership team includes Mike Ho as executive chair, Matt Prusak as CEO, and Eric Trump as CSO. The Board of Directors comprises Mike Ho, Asher Genoot (also Hut 8 CEO), Justin Mateen, and Michael Broukhim.

According to the announcement, Hut 8 holds an 80% ownership stake in American Bitcoin. This follows the contribution of its ASIC miners to American Data Centers Inc., a company formed by investors including the Trump brothers.

Subsequently, they renamed and relaunched the entity as American Bitcoin. As a new subsidiary focused on industrial-scale Bitcoin mining, this move aims for an efficiency of 50+ EH/s (exahashes per second). Meanwhile, Hut 8 remains the key infrastructure partner, consolidating financials under its brand.

Eric Trump, co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He also emphasized the synergy between Hut 8’s operational excellence and shared passion for decentralized finance (DeFi) as a foundation for significant future growth.

“…By combining Hut 8’s proven operational excellence in data centers with our shared passion for Bitcoin and decentralized finance, we are poised to strengthen our foundation and drive significant future growth,” an excerpt in the announcement read, citing Eric Trump.

Donald Trump Jr. highlighted their longstanding commitment to Bitcoin, noting their conviction in Bitcoin personally and through their businesses. He reiterated the opportunity presented by mining Bitcoin under favorable economics and the potential for investors to participate in Bitcoin’s growth through this new platform.

Similarly, Genoot described the launch of American Bitcoin as a pivotal evolution in their platform strategy. By establishing a standalone entity for mining operations, Hut 8 aims to align each business segment with its respective cost of capital. Specifically, they would create two focused yet complementary companies.

Meanwhile, this venture is part of the Trump family’s broader engagement in the crypto industry. World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture linked to the Trump family, recently launched USD1. US treasuries, dollars, and cash equivalents back the stablecoin. The venture aims to facilitate secure cross-border transactions for investors and institutions.

Furthermore, reports indicate that the Trump family is discussing acquiring a stake in Binance.US. This is the American arm of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Given the family’s growing involvement in the sector, such an investment could significantly influence the crypto market.

These initiatives reflect the Trump family’s commitment to positioning the US at the forefront of the crypto industry. It also aligns with President Donald Trump’s ambition to establish the US as a global leader in digital assets.

“While people are worrying about the daily price action, President Trump and Eric Trump are building the infrastructure to take crypto to the next level,” crypto investor Gordon noted.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

BeInCrypto data shows BTC was trading for $82,199 as of this writing. It is down by over 1.13% in the last 24 hours, unmoved by news of American Bitcoin. However, this could change once US markets open.

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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Don’t Fall for These Common Crypto Scams

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ZachXBT, a well-known blockchain investigator, recently shared two key “minimum checks” on Telegram to avoid crypto scams.

He emphasized that users must accept full financial responsibility if they take risks in these situations and added that recovering lost funds would be extremely difficult.

Evaluating a Project’s Credibility is Crucial

ZachXBT highlighted two critical scenarios: depositing funds into forked DeFi protocols on newly launched EVM chains and getting scammed by projects with few smart followers on Kaito.

“If you make either of these decisions, it is your own personal choice to risk funds, and I will NOT help you,” ZachXBT stressed.

Many newly launched DeFi protocols on EVM chains are replicas of existing ones. Their teams often do not create original code but instead, fork from established protocols. This process requires minimal technical skills yet introduces significant security risks.

A recent incident highlighted the risks in the DeFi space. The DeFi protocol SIR.trading was reportedly hacked, leading to an estimated loss of $350,000. Despite the project’s documentation promoting it as a “new DeFi protocol for safer leveraged trading,” it acknowledged the risks related to smart contract vulnerabilities.

This case illustrates how new DeFi protocols often become targets for hackers. Additionally, in late March, the DeFi lending protocol Abracadabra suffered a loss of approximately $13 million due to an exploit involving collateralized tokens.

The second situation ZachXBT warned about involves getting “rugged” (falling victim to a rug pull) by projects with few smart followers on Kaito. Kaito is an AI-powered analysis tool that measures real community interest. He advised that checking followers’ numbers and quality is a basic step to avoid falling for projects that use fake engagement or empty marketing hype.

Investor Xero agreed with ZachXBT, stating that Kaito can be a credibility assessment tool.

“Kaito has become an amazing security and reputation tool that I value over others. It can help you identify an impersonator or a new rug project fast. If a 40k+ follower project isn’t connecting with real smart followers, it’s not legit,” Investor Xero commented.

Other Emerging Crypto Scams

In addition to ZachXBT’s warnings, several new scam tactics have recently been flagged.

Investor Jerome warned about a scheme that exploits browsers’ automatic download function to trick users into downloading malicious software.

Another method involves scammers creating and sending small transactions. They would be often as little as 0.001 tokens—using fake wallet addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones. Their goal is to deceive users into copying and pasting the fraudulent address when making future transactions.

Additionally, Microsoft has identified StilachiRAT, a new remote access trojan specifically designed to target cryptocurrency wallets and login credentials.

According to a Chainalysis report, from 2021 to 2024, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms have been the primary targets of crypto hacks.

Amount of Funds Stolen by Victim Platform Type. Source: Chainalysis
Amount of Funds Stolen by Victim Platform Type. Source: Chainalysis

The report explains that DeFi platforms may be more vulnerable because developers prioritize rapid growth and launch over security measures. This lack of security focus makes them prime targets for hackers.

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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