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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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Dogecoin Holding Time and Whale Activity Spikes

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Dogecoin (DOGE), a leading meme coin, is signaling a potential breakout from its narrow trading range.

If this momentum continues, it could reclaim its multi-year high of $0.48, fueled by extended holding periods and increased accumulation by large holders.

Dogecoin Investors Reduce Distribution

The on-chain assessment of DOGE’s performance has revealed a significant spike in the holding time of all its coins transacted in the past seven days. According to IntoTheBlock, this has climbed by 302% during the review period. 

The holding time of an asset’s transacted coins represents the average duration tokens are kept in wallets before being sold or transferred. 

Longer holding periods like this reduce selling pressure in the DOGE market. This reflects stronger investor conviction, as investors choose to keep their coins rather than sell them. 

Dogecoin Holding Time
Dogecoin Holding Time. Source: IntoTheBlock

In addition to reducing selling activity, DOGE whales have increased their holdings over the past week. This is reflected by the 112% uptick in its large holders’ netflow during that period.

An asset’s large holders’ netflow metric tracks the movement of coins into and out of wallets controlled by whales or institutional investors. When this metric spikes, it suggests that these large holders are accumulating more of the asset, signaling increased confidence in its future price movement.

Dogecoin Large Holders Netflow
Dogecoin Large Holders Netflow. Source: IntoTheBlock

DOGE Price Prediction: Bullish Run Could Continue

If this bullish momentum is maintained, DOGE will extend its weekly 3% spike. As buying pressure strengthens, the meme coin could revisit its four-year high of $0.48.

Dogecoin Price Analysis
Dogecoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, this bullish outlook will be invalidated if accumulation stalls and selling activity recommences. In that scenario, DOGE’s price could slip to $0.29.

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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Base DEX Volume Approaches $3 Billion Amid Growing Adoption

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Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 (L2) blockchain solution, has reached new heights, setting an all-time high daily decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume near $3 billion.

This milestone reflects Base’s growing prominence in the L2 space and its role in scaling on-chain transactions for Coinbase users.

Base Hits New Milestone in DEX Volume

Blockchain analyst Dan Smith highlighted Base L2’s record-breaking volume of $2.9 billion, including $1.3 billion in ETH-USD trading, which also hit an all-time high. Other trading pairs, such as ETH-cbBTC and BTC-USD, were close to breaking their own records.

Base DEX Volume By Pair Type
Base DEX Volume By Pair Type. Source: Blockworks Research

The $2.9 billion DEX volume reflects Base’s growing appeal among traders, particularly in ETH-USD pairs, which benefited from recent price volatility. Alexander, another blockchain enthusiast, noted that this milestone marked the first time Base nearly tagged $3 billion in daily volume, alluding to the development as evidence of L2’s growing adoption.

AerodromeFi, a liquidity-focused decentralized protocol on Base, also recorded an all-time high of $1.68 billion in volume, further emphasizing the ecosystem’s momentum.

“This is the first time Base nearly passed $3 billion and AerodromeFi set a new ATH of $1.68 billion in volume,” Alexander commented.

Base’s success is particularly notable because it operates without a native token. Coinbase explicitly ruled out launching a token for Base, prioritizing ecosystem growth and user adoption instead. This approach has likely contributed to its traction by focusing on utility and reducing speculative risks that could deter long-term users.

“There are no plans for a Base network token. We are focused on building, and we want to solve real problems that let you build better,” Base lead developer Jesse Pollak stated recently.

Consistent Growth in Transactions and TVL

The recent achievement follows Base’s earlier milestones, including reaching one billion transactions two months ago and surpassing six million daily transactions in October. More closely, the network recently outpaced Ethereum in user growth amid growing crypto markets.

Additionally, Base’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has seen consistent growth, indicating increased user participation, asset inflows, and liquidity within its ecosystem. A rising TVL signals greater confidence in the platform, fostering a stronger and more sustainable DeFi environment.

Base TVL and DEX Volume
Base TVL and DEX Volume. Source: DefiLlama

Despite its impressive growth, Base has faced some criticism. The network was accused of copying aspects of an NFT project, sparking concerns over originality and intellectual property. While this controversy did not deter adoption, it highlights the challenges of rapid innovation in the competitive blockchain space.

Base’s trajectory positions it as a serious contender in the L2 space, competing with established players like Arbitrum (ARB) and Optimism (OP). Its emphasis on utility, combined with rising user participation and liquidity, paints a promising picture for its future.

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 a Drop Below $0.92 Inevitable?

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Cardano’s recent sideways price action has led to a surge in demand for short positions among futures traders.

As the coin’s momentum slows, traders are increasingly betting on a price decline, signaling a bearish sentiment toward ADA.

Cardano Traders Bet on a Price Decline

According to Coinglass, ADA’s Long/Short Ratio is at a monthly low of 0.82, indicating a high demand for short positions.

An asset’s Long/Short Ratio compares the number of its long (buy) positions to short (sell) positions in a market. As with ADA, when the ratio is below one, more traders are betting on the price falling (shorting) rather than rising. If short sellers continue to dominate, this can increase the downward pressure on the asset’s price.

ADA Long/Short Ratio
ADA Long/Short Ratio. Source: Coinglass

Additionally, ADA’s Weighted Sentiment remains negative, currently standing at -0.074, reinforcing the bearish outlook for the altcoin.

Weighted Sentiment gauges the overall market bias by analyzing the volume and tone of social media mentions. A negative value signals growing skepticism among investors, often leading to reduced trading activity and downward pressure on the asset’s price.

ADA Weighted Sentiment.
ADA Weighted Sentiment. Source: Santiment

Notably, ADA whales have reduced their trading activity over the past week, with the coin’s large holders’ netflow dropping by 90.29%, according to IntoTheBlock.

Large holders, defined as addresses holding more than 0.1% of an asset’s circulating supply, play a significant role in market movements. A decline in their netflow indicates reduced buying activity, adding to the downward pressure on ADA’s price.

ADA Large Holders Netflow.
ADA Large Holders Netflow. Source: IntoTheBlock

ADA Price Prediction: Recovery to $1 or Decline to $0.80?

ADA is currently trading at $0.98, hovering just above its support level of $0.90. If bearish pressure intensifies, the price may test this support. A failure to hold at $0.90 could see ADA’s decline extend further, potentially dropping to $0.80.

ADA Price Analysis.
ADA Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Conversely, if buying activity resurges, ADA’s price could stabilize above the $1 mark.

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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