Here are some of the major developments from the world of crypto over the past few days.
Bitcoin has soared above the $50,000 mark, marking a significant milestone after more than two years. However, this resurgence comes amidst a vastly different landscape in the crypto market compared to its previous ascent. This time, the surge is fueled by heightened institutional demand, potential shifts in interest rates, and anticipation surrounding the upcoming Bitcoin halving.
Unlike in December 2021, when Bitcoin faced a tumultuous period characterized by a bear market and various challenges such as consecutive interest rate hikes and institutional collapses, the current environment appears more favorable. Market analyst Josh Gilbert highlights the macro conditions, pointing to anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2024 and the fourth Bitcoin halving, which is expected to increase the asset's scarcity.
Moreover, the performance of Bitcoin ETFs has bolstered confidence among investors, with significant inflows recorded in recent weeks. Despite subdued retail interest, analysts suggest that this may indicate a more sustainable foundation for market growth. With anticipation building around the upcoming halving and positive sentiment surrounding institutional investment, projections such as CEO Ki Young Ju's forecast of Bitcoin reaching $112,000 in 2024 underscore the optimism prevailing in the market.
The sentencing date for Binance's former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, has been postponed to April 30th, following a rescheduled hearing filed in a Seattle Federal Court. Originally set for February 23rd, Zhao faces potential imprisonment of up to 18 months on money laundering charges to which he pleaded guilty.
Despite expectations for a "brief" sentence, a filing from the prosecution indicates that Zhao may face a harsher punishment, with the possibility of up to ten years in prison. However, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission official John Reed Stark suggests that under U.S. sentencing guidelines, Zhao could receive a minimum-security prison sentence ranging from 12 to 18 months.
Currently out on bail with a $175 million bond, Zhao remains in the United States awaiting his sentencing. However, a U.S. Federal court order has barred him from traveling outside the country, denying his request to leave for Dubai, where his family resides. Zhao's offer of all his equity in Binance.US as security, valued at approximately $4.5 billion, was noted in a recently unsealed letter to the judge, though concerns about flight risk were raised if he were permitted to travel to Dubai. Zhao had previously pleaded guilty to failure in maintaining an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance, resulting in a $4.3 billion settlement with the U.S. government, and he has stepped down as CEO of the exchange as part of the agreement.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler has addressed concerns raised by four U.S. House Representatives regarding an unauthorized tweet sent from the official SEC X account on January 9th. In his response, Gensler confirmed that the tweet, falsely declaring approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), was the result of a hacker gaining access through a SIM swap attack. The hacker made two posts and liked two tweets before the SEC could intervene, with the unauthorized access terminated by 5:30 pm on the same day.
Gensler outlined ongoing investigations into the incident, with the SEC coordinating efforts with law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Emphasizing the SEC's commitment to cybersecurity, Gensler assured lawmakers of the seriousness with which the commission takes its obligations in this regard. The fake tweet briefly roiled the crypto market, although the following day saw the SEC officially approving 11 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products.
Concerns regarding the security breach highlighted the absence of two-factor authentication on the SEC's account, a detail confirmed by the commission in a subsequent statement. With spot Bitcoin ETF approval secured, attention now shifts to potential decisions on spot Ether exchange-traded products, with VanEck poised as one of the frontrunners awaiting a decision, expected by May 2024 according to SEC deadlines.