Thursday , September 28 2023
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Mercy Tukiya Mutanya



Articles by Mercy Tukiya Mutanya

Binance France Urges Users to Convert Fiat to Crypto

1 day ago

The global crypto exchange has been facing intense regulatory scrutiny. Most of its regulatory issues are in Europe

Binance has urged customers in France to convert their fiat currency on the exchange to crypto. This comes on the heels of the crypto exchange losing its euro banking partner Paysafe.
As part of the partnership, Paysafe provided Binance France with infrastructure for euro deposits and withdrawals via SEPA bank transfers. The companies announced the drawing end of their partnership in June. It expired on September 25 with Binance yet to reveal a new partner.

Speaking on French radio station BFM, a Binance confirmed that the exchange recommended that users convert their fiat to cryptocurrency for free as soon as they could. He added:
“Binance is working as quickly as

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Leaked Documents Hint at Microsoft’s Crypto Plans for Xbox

2 days ago

Crypto integration into Xbox also has the potential to onboard millions to crypto, further propelling adoption.

Recently leaked internal documents suggest that Microsoft plans to integrate crypto wallets into its Xbox gaming console. The documents were posted on the gaming forum ResetEra and reveal that an Xbox roadmap from May 2022 featured plans to add support for crypto wallets to the next version of Microsoft’s flagship gaming console.
The documents were leaked in connection to a Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) lawsuit against the tech giant’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. In a memo to Microsoft employees, the Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer confirmed the authenticity of leaked documents but added that a large portion of the documents was outdated and did

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Binance Academy Notes 62% Increase in Usage Led by Learners from Emerging Markets

2 days ago

The platform’s usage is not limited to individual users but also extends to educational organizations.

Global crypto exchange Binance’s open-access blockchain and crypto education platform Binance Academy has reported a 62% increase in the number of users.  According to platform data, from September 2022 to August 2023 there was a marked increase in individuals seeking crypto education. This brings the total number of individuals to use the platform to further their knowledge of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies since it was founded in 2018 to 39 million.  
Top trending topics in crypto education so far this year include the Metaverse, Bitcoin, Crypto Wallets and Candlesticks. Beginner-level articles on topics such as how to trade cryptocurrencies, what blockchain technology is

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Alibaba’s Logistics Arm Cainiao to File for $1B+ Hong Kong IPO

6 days ago

Meanwhile, Alibaba has put a hold on Hong Kong IPO plans for its grocery chain Freshippo.

The Alibaba Group’s logistical arm Cainiao Network Technology is set to reportedly file for its Hong Kong Initial Public Offering (IPO) by next week, making it one of Alibaba’s first units to go public. According to sources familiar with the matter, the logistics firm is looking to raise more than $1 billion from the sale share. They added that the valuation has not been decided on and no final decisions have been made so some details could change.
Bloomberg reported earlier this year that the logistics firm has been working on the IPO with banks such as Citic Securities, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase. Sources suggest that China International Capital had to drop out of the process due to conflicts

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Instacart Founder Apoorva Mehta Now Is Billionaire after Selling Stake Post-IPO

6 days ago

Mehta stepped down from his role as the company’s CEO last year and following Tuesday’s IPO, will cease to serve as Executive Chairman.

Online grocery delivery startup Instacart’s founder Apoorva Mehta is now a billionaire after selling 700,000 shares of the company. Mehta, 37, co-founded Instacart in 2012 and went on to grow the business to a market value of $8.8 billion following an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on Tuesday. Mehta is now reportedly worth $1.1 billion.
At its peak in March 2021, Instacart was valued at $39 billion. The co-founder’s 10% stake in the company made him a billionaire with a $3.5 billion net worth. The pandemic-boosted numbers finally tapered, cutting Instacart’s internal valuation to around $13 billion in October 2022.

Mehta quit his job as a

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LimeWire Acquires BlueWillowAI Following Launch of AI Studio

8 days ago

The step into the world of generative AI seems to be part of LimeWire’s rebranding strategy.

Peer-to-peer file-sharing platform LimeWire has announced its acquisition of the popular AI image generation platform BlueWillowAI. The Wednesday announcement comes after the August launch of LimeWire AI Studio, a move into the world of generative AI by a company that was widely known for its popularity in the music piracy scene before being shut down in 2011.
BlueWillow was launched in January and claims to be the second-largest AI image-generation community on Discord after Midjourney with 2.3 million active members and more than 500 million images generated so far. The acquisition will facilitate the integration of BlueWillow’s proprietary text-to-image and image-to-image AI models into the

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Meta Dismisses WhatsApp Ads Reports

13 days ago

WhatsApp has a user base of over 2 billion people worldwide and analysts have predicted that it will eventually take advantage of this and monetize the service.

Tech giant Meta has dismissed claims that it is considering adding ads to its WhatsApp messaging app. This comes after the Financial Times reported that teams at Meta have been exploring the possibility of showing ads in lists of conversations with contacts on the WhatsApp chat screen. The report also claimed that the company was also considering introducing a paid, ad-free version of the app.
WhatsApp head Will Cathcart however, denied the claims in a post on the social media app X. The company has stated that it is not testing or working on WhatsApp ads nor does it have any plans to that effect.

This @FT story is false.

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OKX Eyes 10-Year Deals with McLaren and Man City, Unveils ‘Stealth Mode’ Race Car

14 days ago

A large chunk of OKX’s $25-$50 million annual advertising budget goes towards its sports deals.

Crypto exchange OKX wants its deals with Formula 1 team McLaren and UEFA Champions League-winning team Manchester City to last a decade. The company reportedly spends $25-$50 million per year in its sponsorship deals with the two sports teams.
OKX’s Global Chief Marketing Officer Haider Rafique told The Block in an interview that the company has a five-year deal with McLaren and hopes to extend it to at least ten years. Partnerships between crypto firms and sporting brands have taken a major hit in the past months but OKX appears determined to stand by its partners.

The web3 company unveiled a new version of the McLaren race car emblazoned with the OKX logo ahead of the Singapore Grand

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Hong Kong and Israel Partner with BIS to Test CBDCs That Settle on Central Bank Balance Sheet

16 days ago

According to BIS research, 93% of central banks across the world are investigating the feasibility of issuing CBDCs.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of Israel (BOI) have partnered to address the privacy concerns associated with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). This is according to a joint report titled “Project Sela – An Accessible and Secure Retail CBDC Ecosystem” released by the two central banks and the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub (BISIH) Hong Kong Centre.
Project Sela has reportedly demonstrated that CBDCs have the potential to settle directly on the central bank balance sheet while ensuring that user data remains safe and private. The report outlines the objectives of the Sela proof of concept which included making the onboarding

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OKX Partners with Circle to Bring USDC Features to Wallet and DEX Aggregator

20 days ago

The partnership also includes an integration of Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) with the OKX DEX aggregator to enable USDC cross-chain swaps across Ethereum, Avalanche, Arbitrum and the OP Mainnet ecosystems

Global crypto exchange OKX and stablecoin issuer Circle have partnered to bring USDC  features to the OKX Wallet and OKX DEX aggregator. This is according to a September joint announcement by the companies.

Strap in for a next-gen USDC experience with #OKXWallet and @Circle! 🎉

Enjoy zero-fee USDC transactions until October 5th. Users can also seamlessly transfer $USDC between leading chains like @Ethereum and @Avax.
Curious? Learn more ↓
— OKX (@okx) September 7, 2023

OKX Wallet’s Smart Account users will be able to make USDC transfers without network fees as

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Opera GX Integrates AI Tool for Improved Gaming Experience

21 days ago

To use the AI tool, Opera GX users will have to enable “Early Brid” in their browser settings.

Gaming browser Opera GX has announced an integration of the ChatGPT-powered AI feature Aria to improve the gaming experience for users. Aria was first launched on the flagship Opera browser in May to make it easier for users to search the web, find quick answers to questions and write code. It is currently available in over 180 countries and has over a million beta users.
Opera GX Early Bird users will be able to interact with the browser AI that is designed to provide helpful tips and the latest gaming news. The AI tool is able to use real-time internet data to provide up-to-date answers to user queries. Gamers will be able to get specific answers to gaming-related questions such as the

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US Treasury and IRS Propose Cryptocurrency Reporting Rules for Brokers

21 days ago

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) warns that “limits on third party information reporting to the IRS is an important factor contributing to the tax gap, which is the difference between taxes legally owed and taxes actually paid”. 

The United States  Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have jointly released a proposed set of cryptocurrency regulations requiring brokers to report gains and losses incurred during the sale of cryptocurrency and digital assets.
A statement released on September 5 by the Office of Advocacy of the US Small Business Administration reveals that the proposal was released on August 29. It explains:

“The proposed rules would require digital asset brokers, including trading platforms, payment processors, and

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Coinbase to Launch Crypto Lending Service for Institutional Clients

22 days ago

In addition to the failed Lend program, Coinbase has attempted other lending services in the past.

Coinbase has announced that it is working on a crypto lending service for institutional clients in the United States. A September 1 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shows that the company has already raised $57 million to go towards the project.
The service would help fill the hole left in the market after the implosion of major crypto lenders like Genesis and BlockFi last year.  The exchange reportedly plans to enable clients to lend it money – mainly crypto assets – and hold on to collateral exceeding the value of the loan. In similar fashion to the prime brokerage service offered by banks, Coinbase will then be able to make secured loans to its institutional

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HashKey Capital Launches $100M Altcoin-Focused Liquid Fund

27 days ago

Taking advantage of this environment, HashKey Exchange became the first crypto firm in the city to obtain a license under the new licensing regime last month.

HashKey Capital, the investment arm of Hong Kong-based financial services firm HashKey Group, has announced the launch of a secondary market crypto fund focused on investment in altcoins. The firm, which has over $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) and recently closed its third venture fund at $500 million, is looking to raise $100 million for the new fund over the next 12-month period.
According to a Thursday Reuters report, its potential clients include high-net-worth investors and Asian family offices. Portfolio manager, Jupiter Zheng Jialiang emphasized that the bulk of the fund’s investments will be in altcoins, with

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Crypto Exchange OKX Plans to Expand into India despite Murky Regulatory Environment

27 days ago

The exchange recently partnered with blockchain platform Neo to bring its APAC Hackathon to the southern city of Bengaluru in an effort to understand the local culture and support the Web3 ecosystem.  

Global cryptocurrency exchange OKX has announced that it will be expanding to India despite the murky regulatory environment in the country. In an interview with CoinDesk, the platform’s Chief Marketing Officer Haider Rafique revealed that OKX was looking to scale up its wallet services by tapping into the rich local developer community.
“We’re going to learn about the community. We’re going to work with local folks. Figure out where we can add value,” Rafique stated.

OKX, a top ten crypto exchange, has about 200,000 wallet users in India, about 5% of the country’s web3 users. The

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Airline Group Lufthansa Launches Polygon-Based NFT Loyalty Program

28 days ago

The rewards program has the potential to bring blockchain technology to more users as Lufthansa Group has about 36 million members in its regular Miles and More loyalty program.

Lufthansa Group, the parent company of airlines such as Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings, Brussel Airlines and others, has announced the launch of a new NFT-based loyalty program. Eligible customers in the program will receive blockchain-based digital trading cards that they can use to unlock benefits.
The loyalty program is called Uptrip and is available on all of the group’s airlines. The trading cards will be thematic and based on destinations, aircraft used for travel, and even specific holidays. Users who manage to collect all the cards in a specific themed collection

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OpenAI Eyes $1B in Annual Revenue as More Businesses Adopt AI Use

29 days ago

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerOpenAI Eyes $1B in Annual Revenue as More Businesses Adopt AI Use
OpenAI revealed that since the launch of ChatGPT nine months ago, it has been adopted by more than 80% of Fortune 500 companies.
OpenAI Eyes $1B in Annual Revenue as More Businesses Adopt AI Use

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Elon Musk’s X Faces 2,200 Arbitration Cases with Filing Fees Over $3M

August 29, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerElon Musk’s X Faces 2,200 Arbitration Cases with Filing Fees Over $3M
X’s legal team argues that the company did not mandate employees to go the arbitration route and as such cannot be expected to cover the larger share of the filing fees.
Elon Musk’s X Faces 2,200 Arbitration Cases with Filing Fees Over $3M

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YouTube Partners with Universal Music Group for AI Music Incubator

August 22, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerYouTube Partners with Universal Music Group for AI Music Incubator
Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO stated that the music industry’s best bet for success in the face of AI was an artist-centric approach to generative AI. 
YouTube Partners with Universal Music Group for AI Music Incubator

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Argentina Launches Investigation into Worldcoin over Privacy Concerns

August 11, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerArgentina Launches Investigation into Worldcoin over Privacy Concerns
Besides the criticism of its method and storage of data collection, the project has also been subject to scrutiny over its onboarding of early adopters.
Argentina Launches Investigation into Worldcoin over Privacy Concerns

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XRP Price Can Hit $100-$500 in 4-7 months, Wells Fargo Treasury Manager Says

August 1, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerXRP Price Can Hit $100-$500 in 4-7 months, Wells Fargo Treasury Manager Says
Using Liquidity Strength as a key metric, the expert provided a detailed breakdown of her calculations before coming to her prediction. 
XRP Price Can Hit $100-$500 in 4-7 months, Wells Fargo Treasury Manager Says

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Alphabet Records Cloud Unit Growth amid Google AI Plans

July 26, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerAlphabet Records Cloud Unit Growth amid Google AI Plans
Sundar Pichai revealed that the company was planning to use new AI models to automate some customer services. 
Alphabet Records Cloud Unit Growth amid Google AI Plans

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Professional Gamers Ready to Explore Blockchain-Based Games

July 21, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerProfessional Gamers Ready to Explore Blockchain-Based Games
Walter Lee, BNB Chain’s growth partner and GameFi lead, believes that Web3 and blockchain technology have the potential to empower traditional gaming ecosystems.
Professional Gamers Ready to Explore Blockchain-Based Games

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Melania Trump’s ‘Man on the Moon’ NFT Drop at Odds with NASA Regulations

July 21, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerMelania Trump’s ‘Man on the Moon’ NFT Drop at Odds with NASA Regulations
NASA’s Regulations on Merchandising Requests and Media Usage Guidelines strictly prohibit the use of its intellectual property in NFT.
Melania Trump’s ‘Man on the Moon’ NFT Drop at Odds with NASA Regulations

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BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Unlock $30T Worth of Capital

July 13, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerBlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Unlock $30T Worth of Capital
Over the past decade, the SEC has rejected as many as 30 spot Bitcoin ETF applications from firms such as Gemini, Fidelity, and WisdomTree.    
BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Unlock $30T Worth of Capital

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Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Sells $12M in Coinbase Shares amid Rally

July 12, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerCathie Wood’s Ark Invest Sells $12M in Coinbase Shares amid Rally
Meanwhile, some Coinbase executives, including CEO Brian Armstrong, have been taking advantage of the stock’s rally in recent months.
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Sells $12M in Coinbase Shares amid Rally

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BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Has Potential to Revolutionize Finance

July 6, 2023

[unable to retrieve full-text content]CoinspeakerBlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Has Potential to Revolutionize Finance
Fink believes that a spot Bitcoin ETF has the potential to be as revolutionary for the financial sector in general as traditional ETFs were for the mutual fund industry.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Has Potential to Revolutionize Finance

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