Smartreflex

• The District Columbia Court of Appeals has expedited the hearing of the oral argument between Grayscale Investments and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• The court has set March 7 as the date for both parties to present their oral arguments.
• Grayscale is facing liquidity strain and sued the SEC back in June 2020 after its application to convert its flagship Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to a full-fledged Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) was denied.

The District Columbia Court of Appeals has fast-tracked the hearing of the ongoing lawsuit between Grayscale Investments and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The court has set the date for March 7 for both parties to present their oral arguments, accelerating a process that Grayscale had expected would not come until sometime in the second quarter.

Grayscale, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG) which is owned by Barry Silbert, is facing liquidity strain due to its broad exposure to the recently collapsed FTX Derivatives Exchange. The company took action back in June 2020 and filed a lawsuit against the SEC after their application to convert Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to a full-fledged Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) was denied.

The SEC’s decision to deny the application was highly controversial and the organization was widely criticized by both the crypto-community and industry experts. Grayscale argued that the decision was unjustified and that the SEC failed to provide a clear explanation as to why it had refused the application.

The upcoming oral argument is likely to be a highly contentious affair, with both Grayscale and the SEC likely to present their cases in an attempt to prove their respective points. The outcome of the hearing could have a significant impact on the future of the cryptocurrency industry, as a successful conversion of GBTC to an ETF could open the doors to a flood of investments from institutional investors.

Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the case between Grayscale and the SEC has become a highly important legal battle which has the potential to shape the future of the cryptocurrency market.

• Binance Charity is offering over 30,000 Web3 scholarships in 2023 as part of the Binance Scholar Program.
• The Binance Charity Scholar Program (BCSP) will also offer Web3 courses allowing students to upskill without having to overcome unnecessary financial barriers.
• Nearly 82,000 students have shown interest in becoming part of the BCSP.

Crypto exchange Binance is providing greater educational opportunities in the rapidly emerging Web 3 space. Through the Binance Charity Scholar Program (BCSP), the crypto exchange is offering over 30,000 Web3 scholarships in 2023. The program is aimed to make digital education and skills development accessible to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it due to financial barriers.

The BCSP will offer Web3 courses to students, allowing them to upskill and gain knowledge of the technology without having to worry about the cost of tuition and course fees. Binance Charity believes that having a diverse and talented blockchain industry is necessary and the BCSP is one of the steps they’re taking to make that happen.

The BCSP has already gained a lot of interest from students. Nearly 82,000 students have already shown interest in becoming part of the program. Binance Charity plans to expand the program in the coming years to reach even more students and help them gain the skills they need to succeed in the blockchain industry.

The BCSP is a great initiative by Binance Charity and is a step towards making digital education and skills development accessible to everyone. The program will help bridge the gap between those who can afford to learn and those who cannot and will help create a more diverse and talented blockchain industry.

• Apple has indefinitely postponed the launch of its much-anticipated Apple Glasses headsets.
• The postponement is based on the fact that Apple is facing significant technical difficulties in developing the product.
• The AR Headsets are designed to work like the Google Glass smart glasses, offering digital representation that is overlaid with the real world as compared to the virtual world as presented by its Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality technology.

American multinational technology giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) has indefinitely delayed the launch of its most revered Apple Glasses headsets. This announcement follows a year of speculation from Bloomberg that the launch date of the AR headsets may be postponed until this year. The postponement was based on the fact that Apple is facing significant technical difficulties to develop the product at this time.

The AR Headsets are designed to work like the Google Glass smart glasses, offering digital representation that is overlaid with the real world as compared to the virtual world as presented by its Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality technology. This technology is lightweight and can be used for a range of purposes, from gaming to work. The headset was meant to be a more productive venture for Apple, as it would focus its developmental efforts on AR/VR headsets and find ways to make them more affordable.

The postponement of the product launch is a major setback for Apple, as the company was hoping to capitalize on the growing demand for augmented and virtual reality technologies. However, the company remains committed to developing the product and is working on ways to improve the headset’s capabilities and reduce its cost.

In the meantime, Apple is continuing to focus on its other products and new technologies such as its mobile operating system, macOS, and its new iPad Pro. It is also investing heavily in research and development to come up with new and innovative products. As such, the company is not completely abandoning its plans for the AR headset and is expected to eventually launch the product.

While the exact launch date of the product is still uncertain, Apple is expected to continue its development efforts in order to make the device more reliable and affordable. It is also likely to further explore the potential of the AR and VR technologies and incorporate them into its other devices. With its commitment to finding ways to make the device more accessible and user-friendly, Apple is sure to remain a leader in the world of augmented and virtual reality technologies.

• Big Eyes Coin (BIG), Near Protocol (NEAR), and UniSwap (UNI) are all viable altcoins to consider for investment in 2023.
• UniSwap is a top trading protocol/decentralized exchange (DEX) that facilitates automated trading of DeFi tokens.
• Big Eyes Coin has a unique 200% bonus offer that is the hottest thing in crypto right now.

As we enter the new year, many crypto enthusiasts are looking to make changes to their crypto holdings in order to stay ahead of the game and make the most of their investments. For those who have done their research and have an accurate analysis of the market, the ideal time to make their purchase is now. However, for those who are still unsure of which altcoin to invest in, some of the best options for 2023 include UniSwap (UNI), Near Protocol (NEAR), and Big Eyes Coin (BIG).

UniSwap is a top trading protocol/decentralized exchange (DEX) that facilitates automated trading of DeFi tokens. With over $3 billion in Total Locked Value (TVL), it is no wonder why the protocol has seen a surge in adoption and prominence in the previous year. By leveraging automated solutions, UniSwap looks to reduce costs, risks, and eliminate the need for identity verification while creating liquidity for the DeFi ecosystem. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking to invest in DeFi tokens.

Near Protocol is an open source blockchain platform that is designed to scale as the user base grows. By leveraging sharding, the platform is able to process multiple transactions in parallel and make sure that the network remains secure and reliable. Near Protocol also supports a wide range of smart contracts, making it an ideal choice for those looking to invest in blockchains and smart contracts.

Finally, Big Eyes Coin has a unique 200% bonus offer that is the hottest thing in crypto right now. The coin is designed to be a stablecoin and its goal is to provide users with a stable, secure, and reliable form of payment. The coin is backed by a variety of assets, including gold, silver, and other precious metals, and offers a low-cost and convenient way to transact online. It also has a unique feature that allows users to receive 200% bonus if they purchase the coin during a certain period of time.

In conclusion, all three of these altcoins are viable options for those looking to invest in 2023. While UniSwap is a top trading protocol/decentralized exchange (DEX) that facilitates automated trading of DeFi tokens, Near Protocol is an open source blockchain platform that is designed to scale as the user base grows, and Big Eyes Coin has a unique 200% bonus offer that is the hottest thing in crypto right now. No matter which coin you choose to invest in, you can be sure that it will be a great choice for the coming year.

• Decentraland native token MANA surged 70% within the past week, hitting a high of $0.67.
• This surge is due to increasing positive investor sentiment in the broader crypto markets and strong performance by metaverse tokens to begin the year.
• Other notable gaming and metaverse tokens such as Gala Games (GALA) and The Sandbox’s SAND also experienced marked rises in the last seven days.

Decentraland’s native token, MANA, has experienced a remarkable surge in the past week, rising 70% and hitting a high of $0.67. This surge was sparked by increasing positive investor sentiment in the broader crypto markets and strong performance by metaverse tokens to begin the year. The token hit a base of $0.284 at the end of December 2022, but has experienced an upswing in 14 of the subsequent 16 days since then.

Other notable gaming and metaverse tokens have also seen marked rises in the last seven days. Gala Games (GALA) has risen 30%, while The Sandbox’s SAND has seen a 32% surge in the past week. This trend is due to the improving macroeconomic metrics and growing investor interest in digital currencies with smaller market caps.

The MANA token is currently trading at $0.67, and although it has eased some of its intraday gains, it is still up 22% in the past 24 hours. The sustained surge of the MANA token is likely to continue as the industry continues to gain traction and more investors begin to pour money into the digital space. Decentraland’s platform has seen increasing adoption and with that, the demand for its native token is likely to increase even further.

• Bulgarian police denied any political motives in their recent investigation of Nexo
• Prosecutor General spokesperson Siika Mileva defended the investigation by saying it has become a national sport to attack the institutions
• Mileva argued that almost all investigations that affect someone’s financial interests lead to accusations and attacks

The Bulgarian police recently conducted an investigation into crypto lending firm Nexo, sparking accusations of political motives behind the raid on the company’s office. Siika Mileva, a spokesperson for Bulgaria’s chief prosecutors, has denied any political agenda in the investigation.

Mileva argued that in almost all cases in recent years involving a prosecution starting an investigation that affects someone’s financial interests, leads to accusations and attacks. „It has become a national sport to attack the institutions,“ Mileva said. The news about the Nexo investigation comes within a month of its exiting the US market in December 2022.

The spokesperson also defended the investigation saying that prosecutors and investigators searched Nexo’s Bulgaria office in the capital Sofia as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion and money laundering. There were also suspicions that the investigation was in connection with the company’s political donations, something which Mileva has denied.

The investigation has caused considerable concern among the crypto community, with some suspecting that the Bulgarian government may be trying to target Nexo due to its political donations. However, Mileva has been adamant that the investigation is purely a criminal one and that there is no political motivation behind it.

Mileva has also argued that the investigation is necessary in order to protect the Bulgarian people from financial fraud and money laundering. She further added that the authorities need to take all necessary steps to ensure that people’s money is safe and to prevent any kind of criminal activity related to financial services.

The investigation into Nexo is ongoing and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. In the meantime, it is important for the crypto community to be aware of the facts and to not jump to conclusions about the motives behind the investigation.

• An NFT influencer, NFT God, has lost a significant amount of their net worth in NFTs and crypto following a wrongful download of hostile software found through Google Ads search results.
• The Twitter user, Alex, claims to have made a crucial mistake that enabled attackers to use their wallet, as they clicked on a sponsored advertisement for open-source video streaming software instead of the official website.
• Following a series of phishing tweets sent out by the hackers on two Twitter accounts owned by Alex, they acknowledged the malicious software in their hardware from the sponsored advertisement that had caused unwanted activities.

An NFT Influencer, going by the name of NFT God, has recently fallen victim to malware found through a Google Ads search result. The individual, known as Alex, had made a crucial mistake that enabled attackers to access their wallet, resulting in an immense loss of their net worth in NFTs and crypto.

The incident began when Alex had searched for OBS, an open-source video streaming software, through Google’s search engine. Instead of selecting the link via the official website, they clicked the sponsored advertisement for what seemingly looked like the same thing. It wasn’t until a few hours later that Alex was made aware of the malicious software in their hardware, with the sponsored advertisement playing a major role in it.

Two of Alex’s Twitter accounts were compromised, as the hackers sent out a series of phishing tweets. Following this, Alex admitted to the wrongful download from the sponsored advertisement and the unwanted activities that it had caused.

Though the amount lost is currently unknown, it is likely to have been a substantial amount given NFT God’s status as an influencer. The incident serves as a reminder to all users to be aware of suspicious links and advertisements when searching online, as well as to take extra precaution when downloading any type of software or application.

• FTX is able to officially sell off four of its key units; FTX Europe, FTX Japan, its derivatives arm LedgerX and Embed.
• Interested buyers may indicate their interests between January 18 and February 1, with more than 117 buyers already expressing their interest.
• A bankruptcy judge has issued an order for FTX to sell its units and that sale notices will be made available to the public within three working days.

The cryptocurrency exchange FTX has been granted the official go-ahead to sell off four of its key units, raising funds to repay creditors. The units that are up for sale are FTX Europe, FTX Japan, its derivatives arm LedgerX and Embed – its stock-clearing platform. The sell-offs will be overseen by investment bank Perella Weinberg, with interested buyers able to indicate their interests between January 18 and February 1.

The order for FTX to sell its units was made by bankruptcy judge John Dorsey on Thursday following a Wednesday hearing. Court documents have revealed that more than 117 buyers already have an interest in the sell-offs, with more expected to join in within the given timeframe. Sale notices will also be made available to the public within three working days.

FTX exchange used to be a major force in the crypto industry up until it filed for bankruptcy on November 6, 2020, after the company’s assets were frozen due to a missed payment to a creditor. FTX had previously been an innovator in the industry, introducing a range of products, including leverage trading and options.

FTX is hoping to use the proceeds of the sell-off to pay back its creditors and help the business stay afloat. The company’s creditors have been pushing for it to raise funds to cover its debts, though the exact amount FTX needs is unknown.

Due to the relative uncertainty of the crypto market, it is difficult to predict the exact outcome of the sell-off. However, it is likely to be a positive one for FTX, as more than 100 buyers have already expressed an interest in the company’s units.

The sell-off will also be an important moment for the crypto industry as a whole, as it marks a shift from the more traditional financial instruments to a more decentralized and digital market. It will also be a great opportunity for investors to get involved in the rapidly growing crypto market.

Overall, the sell-off of FTX’s units is set to be an important moment in the history of the crypto industry. The company will be able to raise funds to cover its debts and the buyers will have a chance to get involved in the industry. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

• The Polygon (MATIC) network is planning a hard fork scheduled for January 17 to improve performance and reduce gas spikes and chain reorganizations.
• The Polygon community voted to decrease SprintLength to 16 blocks from 64 and increase BaseFeeChangeDenominator from 8 to 16.
• The hard fork is intended to reduce the time to finality and address the current Polygon impasse.

The Polygon (MATIC) network, an Ethereum scaling solution, is planning a hard fork scheduled for January 17th to improve performance and reduce gas spikes and chain reorganizations. This hard fork is intended to reduce the time to finality and address the current Polygon impasse.

The Polygon ecosystem has grown exponentially in the past year, with over 207 million unique addresses and more than 2.3 billion processed transactions. However, the network has been facing issues such as gas spikes and chain reorganizations, which have caused delays in transaction confirmations and reduced the throughput of the network.

In order to address this issue, the Polygon community initiated a forum discussion and proposed a hard fork. The community asked for a vote on changes in BaseFeeChangeDenominator and SprintLength. After 15 votes, 87 per cent agreed that decreasing SprintLength to 16 blocks from 64 and increasing BaseFeeChangeDenominator from 8 to 16 will help address the current Polygon impasse.

The Polygon governance team has stated that increasing BaseFeeChangeDenominator from 8 to 16 will help smooth out the increase and decrease rate in baseFee when the gas exceeds or falls below the target gas limits in a block. The hard fork is expected to reduce the severity of gas spikes and address chain reorganizations, while also improving the performance of the network.

The Polygon community is hopeful that the hard fork will help to improve the performance of the network and ensure that the network remains secure and reliable. The hard fork is scheduled to take place on January 17th and the team is confident that it will be a success. The MATIC price has also responded positively to the hard fork news, rising 3% since the announcement.

The Polygon team is committed to ensuring the security and reliability of its network and is confident that the hard fork will help to improve performance and reduce time to finality. The team is also looking forward to the hard fork and believes it will be a crucial step in achieving the network’s full potential.

• Paytm shares declined 8.8% on Thursday after a shareholder offloaded 19.20 million shares.
• Reports suggest that the likely seller in the Paytm block deal is Alibaba Group affiliate Ant Financial.
• The monetary value of the recent sale is estimated to be around $125 million.

Paytm, the Indian digital payments and financial services platform, saw its shares drop sharply on Thursday following a series of block deals recorded by parent One97 Communications Ltd. According to reports, roughly 19.20 million shares or a 3% stake in the platform changed hands, with the monetary value of the recent sale estimated to be around $125 million. The likely seller in the Paytm block deal is said to be Alibaba Group affiliate Ant Financial, who held 164.42 million shares, or a 24.88% stake, in Paytm as of September last year. Morgan Stanley reportedly advised Alibaba on the deal.

The recent decline in Paytm shares marks the steepest plunge since November 22nd, with the company’s stock trading at Rs 528 a share as of press time and down 5% from its previous close on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Before this development, the company’s stock had accrued 15% since December 26th. It traded up 8.7% in the first week of 2021 and had gained around 40% in 2020.

Paytm has been continuously expanding its services and offerings, with recent launches including Paytm Bank, Paytm Money and Paytm Payments Bank. Additionally, the platform is said to be in the process of raising $2 billion to fund its growth plans. Despite the recent downturn in its stock price, Paytm’s market capitalization still stands at over $15 billion.