Ethereum Looks To End 18-Month Losing Streak Against Bitcoin

In the ongoing narrative of the cryptocurrency realm, Ethereum is poised to terminate its 18-month losing streak against Bitcoin, presenting a potential turning point in market dynamics. Concurrently, Bitcoin grapples with persistent challenges, as its value approaches the $40,000 threshold, evoking apprehension within the trading community. With Bitcoin holding at $41,641 and struggling to recover from recent lows, discussions around a potential price floor gain traction. Analysts such as Michaël van de Poppe and Rekt Capital contribute their insights, proposing strategic accumulation zones in the mid-$30,000 range.

Against this backdrop, the cryptocurrency landscape witnesses notable on-chain activities, exemplified by a substantial movement of 59,000 BTC after a dormant period of three to six months. Social media commentator Ali sheds light on this development, revealing an average acquisition cost of $26,000 and a realized profit nearing $900 million. As Bitcoin undergoes these market dynamics, Ethereum emerges as a strong contender, challenging a long-term downward trendline in the ETH/BTC pair. Surpassing 0.06 BTC and consolidating near its highest level since April 2022, Ethereum faces a critical juncture. Analyst Caleb Franzen underscores this by highlighting the consolidation occurring at a resistance trendline above the 200-day moving average cloud, signalling a potential momentum shift in favour of Ethereum against Bitcoin. The intricate dance between these two major cryptocurrencies unfolds within the dynamic and evolving cryptocurrency market.

Also Read: Crypto Prices Gain Marginally With Fall In Trading Volume; Bitcoin, Ethereum Up

Crypto exchange Debiex faces romance scam allegations, CFTC claims $2.3M in losses

Cryptocurrency exchange Debiex is facing serious allegations from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which has labelled it a "bogus digital asset platform." The CFTC is pursuing civil charges against Debiex, accusing senior staff members of orchestrating romantic relationships with potential customers to deceive and misappropriate funds. According to the CFTC's statement on January 19, Debiex staff allegedly engaged in misleading potential customers, gaining their trust and subsequently convincing them to open accounts with the exchange. Despite only identifying five victims over a two-year period, the regulator claims that over $2 million was stolen through this scheme, involving what they referred to as a "pig butchering scheme."

As Valentine's Day approaches, the public is cautioned to exercise caution, especially regarding connecting crypto wallets or signing up for crypto services through romantic connections. This warning aligns with a broader trend of romance scammers capitalizing on the popularity of cryptocurrencies to exploit victims for financial gain. The CFTC's case against Debiex adds to a growing list of instances where scammers have used romantic relationships to defraud individuals, highlighting the need for increased awareness and vigilance within the crypto community.

Italian startup BlockInvest to tokenize non-performing loans

Italian startup BlockInvest is making significant strides in the real-world asset tokenization space by venturing into the Italian non-performing loans (NPL) market, which has grown to encompass hundreds of billions of euros. BlockInvest plans to tokenize NPLs in two distinct projects, with the first serving as a proof-of-concept. In collaboration with Milan-based securitization consultant 130 Servicing, the startup aims to issue native digital asset-based securities notes directly on the blockchain. The second project involves partnering with credit management company Davis & Morgan to tokenize distressed real estate credits, facilitating the tokenization of financing agreements and related instruments. This move aligns with BlockInvest's overarching goal of introducing fractional ownership, improving liquidity, and creating a more accessible and efficiently managed market.

Tokenization, a process that transforms real-world assets into digital tokens on the blockchain, is expected to bring several benefits to the Italian NPL market. By leveraging Polygon technology and being backed by Credit Agricole Italia Bank, BlockInvest aims to minimize the impact of non-performing exposures on financial institutions' stability while rejuvenating the health of loan portfolios. The tokenization of distressed assets is seen as a strategic move to enhance market dynamics, providing fractional ownership options, increasing liquidity, and ultimately contributing to the overall efficiency of the market. This initiative comes as Italy addresses long-standing concerns about its NPL market, with the Financial Stability Board urging legislative efforts, court system upgrades, and increased resources to further support the market's development.