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Phillip Gradwell Joins Tether During Legal Battle

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Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, has appointed Phillip Gradwell as the new Head of Economics. Gradwell joins the company amid a lawsuit alleging market manipulation involving USDT.

Stablecoins remain a crucial focus for digital asset regulators and the public. Their backing and dollar peg are some of the areas of interest.

Phillip Gradwell To Enhance Tether’s Communication

In a Monday announcement, Tether revealed its intention to leverage Gradwell’s experience engaging regulators, among other skills, to further its mission. He will help the firm advance its understanding of digital asset adoption, focusing on how Tether’s USDT stablecoin supports dollar hegemony.

“As the first and most widely used stablecoin, USDT conveniently and securely brings the US dollar to people globally. This enhances the liquidity and stability of the US financial system. It also reinforces the role of the dollar in global finance thereby supporting dollar hegemony. Philip’s expertise will enable Tether to bring even further understanding to our indispensable role in supporting the dollar,” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino wrote.

Phillip Gradwell transitioned from a six-year career as chief economist at the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. Tether’s interest in his experience measuring digital asset activity and communicating with regulators comes amid an ongoing market manipulation lawsuit.

Read more: What Is a Stablecoin? A Beginner’s Guide

In the long-standing class-action lawsuit, which traces back to 2019, Shawn Dolifka and Matthew Anderson claim Tether and Bitfinex conspired to manipulate cryptocurrency prices using USDT stablecoin. Reportedly, Bitcoin is among the cryptocurrencies whose prices the defendants manipulate.

“[Tether and Bitfinex] executed a sophisticated scheme to fraudulently inflate the price of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. They orchestrated massive, carefully timed purchases […] to signal to the market that there was enormous demand. Thus, caused the price of those commodities to spike,” an excerpt in the court documents read.

With this, the plaintiff claims Tether and Bitfinex violated the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA) and the Sherman Antitrust Act. The plaintiff also challenges the stablecoin’s status, that its one-to-one backing by the US dollar is false.

“In reality, Tether issued billions of USDT to itself with no US dollar backing — simply creating the USDT out of thin air. This ultimately resulted in billions of dollars of damage to innocent crypto commodity purchasers.”

Exhibit from alleged suspicious trading activity on the Bitstamp exchange, Tether Bitfinex case
Exhibit From Alleged Suspicious Trading Activity on Bitstamp. Source: CourtListener

Tether and Bitfinex Denounce Manipulation Lawsuit

Since its inception, the lawsuit has suffered multiple delays, amendments, and settlements. In 2021, Tether signed an $18.5 settlement with the New York Attorney General over USDT backing. In October 2021, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) also imposed a $41 million fine against Tether regarding the same matter.

Throughout the ongoing litigation, Tether and Bitfinex assert that the plaintiffs lack evidence to support their market manipulation claims. Nearly three weeks ago, Judge Katherine Failla of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York permitted the plaintiffs to proceed with a proposed Second Amended Complaint. Despite this, Tether remains confident in their defense, believing the plaintiffs’ “conspiracy theories” will ultimately be rejected.

“The decision does not suggest that plaintiffs’ claims have any merit, as leave to amend a complaint is freely granted and the Court must accept plaintiffs’ allegations as true, however baseless they might be in reality. As with the prior complaint, the claims asserted in plaintiffs’ proposed amendment are wholly without merit. Ultimately, it is the facts and evidence that matters, not plaintiffs’ false and misleading allegations,” Tether stated.

Read more: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks?

This development reflects the ongoing strife between crypto firms and industry regulation. Tether’s onboarding of Gradwell’s knowledge and experience highlights its commitment to defending its position and bringing in personnel with skill sets that could deliver a favorable outcome. 

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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