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Crypto Derivatives Get a Boost from US CFTC

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The US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) scrapped a key directive that had previously signaled increased scrutiny for digital asset derivatives.

This decision indicates a friendlier regulatory climate for digital assets in the US, given the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance.

CFTC Loosens Oversight for Crypto Derivatives

The CFTC withdrew Staff Advisory No. 23-07 and No. 18-14 by its Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR).

The former, issued in May 2023, focused on the risks of clearing digital assets. Meanwhile, the latter targeted virtual currency derivatives listings.

Upon establishment, both directives hinted at the singling out of crypto products for tougher oversight.

However, both have now been deemed unnecessary, effective immediately, amid the commodities’ regulator’s push toward regulatory consistency.

The decision indicates a shift to treating digital asset derivatives like those on Ethereum (ETH) as traditional finance (TradFi) products.

“As stated in today’s withdrawal letter, DCR determined to withdraw the advisory to ensure that it does not suggest that its regulatory treatment of digital asset derivatives will vary from its treatment of other products,” the CFTC explained.

This move will eliminate the perceived distinctions between digital asset derivatives and TradFi instruments.

It also paves the way for enhanced market participation, which will facilitate broader involvement from financial institutions in the digital asset derivatives market. This could lead to increased liquidity and market maturity.

Nevertheless, the advisory warned derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) to prepare for risk assessments specific to digital products’ unique characteristics.

Therefore, while it reflects the CFTC’s commitment to promoting innovation, it also suggests the intention to maintain strong financial oversight.

Meanwhile, this decision comes only weeks after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) allowed US banks to offer crypto and stablecoin services without prior approval.

However, the OCC had articulated that despite lifting the approval requirement, banks must maintain strong risk management controls akin to those required for traditional banking operations.

“The OCC expects banks to have the same strong risk management controls in place to support novel bank activities as they do for traditional ones,” said Rodney E. Hood, the acting Comptroller of the Currency.  

Therefore, the CFTC’s move to eliminate regulatory bias for crypto derivatives marks a major divide in US policy. On the one hand, the CFTC seeks to scrap the distinction between crypto derivatives and TradFi instruments.

On the other hand, the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) and OCC want banks to maintain risk management controls similar to those required for traditional banking operations despite providing crypto and stablecoin services.

Notwithstanding, these efforts mirror a growing trend among US financial regulators to lower barriers and foster responsible innovation in the crypto industry.

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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Is CZ’s April Fool’s Joke a Crypto Reality or Just Fun?

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On April 1, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) shared an amusing hypothetical on social media platform X (Twitter).

He posed the hypothetical scenario of a user generating a cryptocurrency wallet address commonly used for token burns, which permanently remove tokens from circulation.

Binance’s CZ Shares Cryptic Hypothetical on April Fools Day

Changpeng Zhao’s April Fools’ joke about generating a token burn address sparked discussions. However, the chances of it happening are astronomically low. CZ shared the post during the early hours of the Asian session, kickstarting an interesting discourse.

“Imagine downloading Trust Wallet and finding your newly generated address is: 0x000000000000000000000000000000000000dead. Theoretically speaking, it has the same chance as any other address. Alright, enough imagining. Not gonna happen. Get back to building. Happy Apr 1!” Changpeng Zhao wrote.

It comes in time for April Fools’ Day, celebrated annually on April 1, dedicated to practical jokes, hoaxes, and playful deception. Trust Wallet, integrated as Binance’s non-custodial wallet provider, played along with the joke.

“Happy April Fool’s Day,” wrote Trust Wallet.

While the idea seems far-fetched, CZ was not technically wrong. Theoretically, there is an infinitesimally small probability that someone could randomly generate a wallet address matching “0x000…dead” using software like Trust Wallet.

However, the chances are comparable to winning the lottery multiple times. To put things into perspective, one can generate blockchain addresses using cryptographic hashing functions that produce 160-bit outputs.

This means there are 2¹⁶⁰ possible Ethereum addresses—a number so vast that generating any specific address, such as “0x000…dead,” is practically impossible.

“Haha, imagine the odds! That is a 1 in 2^160 type of vibe. Good one, CZ—back to work now, no distractions from the code,” Synergy Media wrote, putting the rarity into context.

While CZ’s April Fool’s joke entertained the crypto community, the reality remains unchanged. The likelihood of generating a wallet address identical to “0x000…dead” is close to zero. This means the post was a fun thought experiment but nothing more.

“Imagine that you can randomly generate a Bitcoin private key every second, and suddenly one day the private key you generated happens to correspond to Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallet or Binance’s wallet. That’s terrifying,” another user quipped.

However, the joke does highlight the fascinating cryptographic underpinnings of blockchain technology. While every address is technically possible, some are rare and might as well be myths. Crypto users will have to keep burning their tokens the old-fashioned way.

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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XRP Bulls Fight Back—Is a Major Move Coming?

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XRP price started a fresh decline below the $2.080 zone. The price is now recovering some losses and might face hurdles near the $2.150 level.

  • XRP price started a fresh decline after it failed to clear the $2.20 resistance zone.
  • The price is now trading below $2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
  • There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2.10 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
  • The pair might extend losses if it fails to clear the $2.150 resistance zone.

XRP Price Faces Resistance

XRP price failed to continue higher above the $2.20 resistance zone and reacted to the downside, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price declined below the $2.150 and $2.10 levels.

The pair even declined below the $2.050 zone. A low was formed at $2.023 and the price is now attempting a recovery wave. There was a move above the $2.050 level. The price cleared the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2.215 swing high to the $2.023 low.

The price is now trading below $2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $2.10 level. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2.10 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The trend line is near the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2.215 swing high to the $2.023 low.

XRP Price

The first major resistance is near the $2.150 level. The next resistance is $2.1680. A clear move above the $2.1680 resistance might send the price toward the $2.20 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.220 resistance or even $2.250 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $2.2880.

Another Decline?

If XRP fails to clear the $2.120 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.050 level. The next major support is near the $2.020 level.

If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.020 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $2.00 support. The next major support sits near the $1.880 zone.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now losing pace in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $2.050 and $2.020.

Major Resistance Levels – $2.120 and $2.150.



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CFTC’s Crypto Market Overhaul Under New Chair Brian Quintenz

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Brian Quintenz, the incoming Chair of the US CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission), has begun meeting with Capitol Hill lawmakers before his nomination hearing.

On Monday, Quintenz met with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to discuss key regulatory issues, including the CFTC’s role in overseeing crypto spot markets.

CFTC Targets Crypto Spot Market After Derivatives

Brian Quintenz met with Republican Senator from Iowa Chuck Grassley to discuss another element in the CFTC’s crypto market structure regulation agenda. This time, the focus is on crypto spot markets.

“It was wonderful to meet with you Chuck Grassley and discuss your leadership on whistleblower issues as well as the future of the agency,” Quintenz stated.

Grassley also commented on their discussion. He highlighted the CFTC Whistleblower Protection Program for spot crypto markets as part of the agenda. Notably, Grassley is a member of the Senate AG Committee, the legislative body overseeing the CFTC.

Eleanor Terrett, host of the Crypto America podcast, indicated that the Senate AG Committee will have a significant role in part of the CFTC’s crypto regulation agenda. Specifically, it would have an outsized say in whether the CFTC could gain expanded jurisdiction over crypto spot markets.

The meeting comes as the CFTC moves closer to expanding its role in crypto regulation. US President Donald Trump tapped Quintenz, a former executive at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), to lead the agency.

His appointment is part of Trump’s broader plans to reshape crypto oversight. This could potentially give the CFTC greater authority over digital asset markets.

Meanwhile, regulatory developments surrounding crypto have accelerated in recent weeks. The CFTC eased regulatory hurdles for the crypto derivatives market only days ago. The move will enhance market efficiency and attract institutional investors.

Beyond derivatives and spot markets, the CFTC is also exploring other areas of crypto oversight. The agency recently announced plans to host a roundtable discussion on prediction market regulation. It aims to address the regulation of decentralized prediction platforms.

Stablecoins are also on the agency’s radar. The CFTC also revealed a forum to discuss stablecoin regulation and potential risks associated with their widespread adoption.

Additionally, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the CFTC revoked previous crypto-related guidelines, signaling a shift in regulatory strategy.

Crypto markets can also not rule out the possibility of further collaboration between key agencies in the broader industry. Reports indicate that the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the CFTC have discussed reviving a joint advisory committee to coordinate on crypto regulation.

If revived, the committee could serve as a bridge between the agencies. This would address concerns over jurisdictional overlap and streamlining oversight efforts.

As Quintenz prepares for his nomination hearing, his meetings with lawmakers suggest that crypto regulation will be a top priority for the CFTC moving forward.

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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