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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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GRASS Jumps 30% in a Week, More Gains Ahead?

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GRASS has surged nearly 30% over the past week, with its market cap climbing back to $415 million and its price breaking above $1.70 for the first time since March 10.

This strong performance has been backed by bullish technical signals, including a consistently positive BBTrend and a rising ADX. However, with momentum indicators beginning to cool slightly, the next few days will be key in determining whether GRASS continues its rally or enters a period of consolidation.

GRASS BBTrend Remains Strong, But Is Slightly Declining

GRASS’s BBTrend is currently at 11.28, marking the fourth consecutive day in positive territory, after peaking at 14.85 two days ago.

The BBTrend (Bollinger Band Trend) indicator measures the strength of price trends by analyzing how far the price moves away from its moving average within Bollinger Bands.

Generally, values above zero indicate an uptrend, while values below zero suggest a downtrend. The higher the positive reading, the stronger the bullish momentum, whereas deep negative values reflect strong selling pressure.

GRASS BBTrend.
GRASS BBTrend. Source: TradingView.

With GRASS maintaining a BBTrend of 11.28, the token is still in an active uptrend, although slightly cooler than its recent peak.

Sustained positive BBTrend readings typically signal that buyers remain in control and that upward momentum could continue.

However, the slight pullback from 14.85 might suggest that momentum is starting to ease. If the BBTrend begins to decline further, it could be an early sign of consolidation or a possible reversal.

For now, GRASS appears to be holding onto bullish momentum, but traders should monitor any shifts in trend strength closely.

GRASS ADX Shows The Uptrend Is Getting Stronger

GRASS is currently in an uptrend, with its Average Directional Index (ADX) rising to 30.31 from 26.49 just a day ago, indicating a strengthening trend momentum.

The ADX is a widely used technical indicator that measures the strength of a trend, regardless of its direction, on a scale from 0 to 100.

Values below 20 suggest a weak or non-existent trend, while readings above 25 indicate that a trend is gaining traction.

When the ADX moves above 30, it typically signals that the trend is becoming well-established and may continue in the same direction.

GRASS ADX.
GRASS ADX. Source: TradingView.

With GRASS’s ADX now above the 30 threshold, the current uptrend appears to be gaining strength. This suggests that bullish momentum is firming up and that price action may continue favoring the upside in the near term.

As long as the ADX remains elevated or continues climbing, the trend is likely to sustain, attracting more interest from momentum traders.

However, if the ADX begins to plateau or reverse, it could signal a potential slowdown or consolidation phase ahead.

GRASS Could Form A New Golden Cross Soon

GRASS’s Exponential Moving Average (EMA) lines are showing signs of a potential golden cross, a bullish signal that occurs when a short-term EMA crosses above a long-term one.

If this crossover confirms, it could mark the beginning of a sustained uptrend. GRASS is likely to test the immediate resistance at $1.85 as some artificial intelligence coins start to recover good momentum.

GRASS Price Analysis.
GRASS Price Analysis. Source: TradingView.

Should bullish momentum from the past week persist, the token may push even higher toward $2.26 and eventually $2.56 or $2.79, possibly solidifying its position as one of the best-performing altcoins in the market.

However, if the trend fails to hold and sentiment shifts bearish, GRASS could pull back to retest the support at $1.63.

A break below this level might open the door to a deeper correction, potentially driving the price down to $1.22.

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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Vitalik Buterin Promotes Ethereum Layer 2 Roadmap

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced a new roadmap aimed at strengthening the security and finality of Layer 2 (L2) solutions.

His proposal introduces a flexible, multi-proof system designed to support Ethereum’s scalability while preserving its core principles of decentralization and trust minimization.

Ethereum’s New Layer 2 Roadmap

At the heart of Buterin’s technical framework is a “2-of-3” model. This system uses three different proof types—optimistic, zero-knowledge (ZK), and trusted execution environment (TEE) provers.

A transaction is finalized when any two of these agree, significantly reducing the risk tied to relying on a single-proof method. The model offers a pragmatic balance between speed, robustness, and decentralization.

Buterin emphasized the importance of diversification, especially as zero-knowledge systems mature. He warned that shared code among ZK rollups could cause bugs to propagate across implementations, raising systemic risk.

“This means that the finality of rollups can be as fast as zk proving (~<1hr for now) while protecting the system from soundness bugs in the zk system,” Wei Dai, a research partner at 1kxnetwork, explained.

Meanwhile, Buterin’s roadmap also lays out the requirements for what he calls “Stage 2 rollups.” These next-generation rollups would deliver near-instant confirmations, high finality, and strong resistance to failures—even in semi-trusted environments.

Importantly, they would still adhere to Ethereum’s 30-day upgrade delay, a rule that safeguards the network’s stability during transitions.

Buterin Makes Case for Open-Source Funding

Beyond scalability, Buterin is also advocating a cultural shift in how the crypto community approaches development funding.

In a separate blog post, he suggested shifting the focus from “public goods funding” to “open-source funding.”

His concern is that the phrase “public goods” has become politically and socially loaded, often used in ways that prioritize perception over impact.

“A big part of the reason why the term ‘public good’ is vulnerable to social gaming is precisely the fact that the definition of ‘public good’ is stretched so easily,” Buterin argued

He noted that public goods funding is vulnerable to social desirability bias. This often favors those who can navigate community politics over those who deliver meaningful value.

In contrast, open-source funding emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and the building of tools that genuinely benefit the broader ecosystem.

Buterin believes that the goal should not be to fund any open-source project indiscriminately but to support those that create maximum value for humanity.

This stance aligns with his broader vision of a sustainable, community-driven blockchain infrastructure.

Together, Buterin’s proposals could redefine both the technical direction of Ethereum’s scalability efforts and the philosophical foundations of its funding strategies—reinforcing the network’s long-term commitment to decentralization, security, and public benefit.

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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US Senators Question Trump’s Involvement in USD1 Stablecoin

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A coalition of US Senators is raising serious concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving President Donald Trump and an upcoming stablecoin project called USD1.

The digital asset, backed by World Liberty Financial (WLF), has drawn scrutiny due to Trump’s reported ties to the company behind it.

Warren-Led Group Flags Risks of Presidential Involvement in USD1 Approval

On March 28, a group of lawmakers led by Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

They asked both agencies to clarify how they plan to uphold regulatory integrity regarding the impending USD1 stablecoin.

The request comes as Congress considers the GENIUS Act, a bill that would grant the Fed and OCC broad authority over stablecoin regulation.

“The President of the United States could sign legislation that would facilitate his own product launch and then retain authority to regulate his own financial company,” they noted.

The Senators warned that allowing a sitting president to profit from a digital currency regulated by federal agencies under his influence poses a major threat to financial stability. They argue that such a situation is without precedent and could erode public trust in the regulatory process.

“The launch of a stablecoin directly tied to a sitting President who stands to benefit financially from the stablecoin’s success presents unprecedented risks to our financial system,” They argued.

The letter outlines scenarios where Trump could directly or indirectly influence decisions involving USD1.

For instance, the President could interfere with the OCC’s evaluation of the stablecoin’s application or discourage enforcement actions against WLF.

They also suggested that Trump could pressure the Federal Reserve to provide emergency financial support for USD1 during market volatility—support that may not extend to competing stablecoins.

“[Trump] could also attempt to direct the Fed to establish a master account at the central bank for WLF. He could intervene to deny such assistance to USD1’s competitors,” the lawmakers stressed.

In addition, the Senators noted that the GENIUS Act contains no conflict-of-interest provisions that would prevent Trump from using his office to benefit financially from the stablecoin’s success.

This absence of guardrails, they say, opens the door to regulatory favoritism and economic manipulation.

Considering this, the lawmakers demanded clarification on how the Fed and OCC would handle key issues. These include the approval process for USD1, the potential creation of liquidity support during crises, and WLF’s oversight of potentially unsafe business practices.

The agencies must submit their responses by April 11, 2025. The letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Chris Van Hollen, Jack Reed, and Cory Booker.

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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