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The DeFi Education Fund and Beba LLC have jointly initiated legal proceedings against the US SEC to clarify the status of airdrops as non-securities offerings. They argue that the SEC's regulatory actions pose an existential threat to the crypto industry and are an overreach of its power. The lawsuit aims to halt further enforcement actions and obtain a court declaration that airdropped tokens are not securities. Beba LLC's concern over potential SEC scrutiny prompted them to take legal action to establish that their BEBA token airdrop does not constitute a security. They argue that airdropped tokens are free, lack a shared enterprise, and do not entail a reasonable expectation of profit based on the efforts of others. This legal move reflects broader industry apprehension regarding the SEC's stance on digital assets. The lawsuit also accuses the SEC, under Gary Gensler's leadership, of violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by adopting a policy that broadly categorizes...

The emergence of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) marks a significant development for Web3, operating as blockchain-based marketplaces that bring together hardware service providers from various industries. One notable player in this space is Wifi Dabba, a DePIN-based internet service provider aiming to decentralize internet access. Wifi Dabba recently announced its plans to distribute over 100,000 devices throughout India, hosted on the Solana blockchain. This initiative aims to address the challenge of internet access in a country where a significant portion of the population remains unconnected. Despite India's status as a technology hub, millions still lack regular WiFi access, highlighting the urgency of projects like DePINs. Karam Lakshman, CEO of Wifi Dabba, emphasizes the importance of widespread internet access for fostering economic growth, especially in a country with a burgeoning tech sector and significant crypto holdings. The DePIN model...

In a recent development, Silvergate Bank faces a class action lawsuit brought forth by FTX users, who accuse the bank of aiding and abetting fraud in the stock market, particularly through its association with Alameda Research, an affiliated trading company. On March 20, Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro of the San Diego federal court denied Silvergate’s request to dismiss the lawsuit filed in June. The decision underscores the allegations that Silvergate was aware of FTX’s fraudulent activities but still profited from them, unjustly enriching itself at the expense of FTX users. The court's decision highlighted the significance of the Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN), designed to facilitate fund transfers to crypto exchanges, which greatly benefited FTX customers. According to the judge, Silvergate had an obligation to FTX customers due to its integral role in facilitating FTX's operations. Notably, Silvergate provided banking services to both FTX and Alameda, processing transfers that...

Estonia has introduced a comprehensive overhaul of its crypto regulation framework, signaling a significant departure from its previous approach and establishing stricter oversight measures for digital asset businesses. Starting from 2026, crypto firms will fall under the rigorous surveillance of the Financial Supervision Authority, marking a shift from the previous focus solely on anti-money laundering efforts. Matis Mäeker, leader of the Financial Intelligence Unit, highlighted the necessity for crypto companies to adopt robust systems akin to traditional banks to effectively safeguard client assets. This shift in approach has led to a significant reduction in the number of crypto entities in Estonia, from thousands to around 50, reflecting the country's crackdown on non-compliant firms. The new legislation elevates operational and reporting standards while imposing fines of up to €5 million ($43,290). Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev emphasized that companies must adapt to these...

The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a resolution concerning artificial intelligence (AI), marking a global effort to shape the development of this transformative technology. Initiated by the United States and supported by 123 countries, including China, the resolution was unanimously adopted on March 2, demonstrating broad consensus among all 193 U.N. member nations. The resolution urges countries to prioritize safeguarding human rights, protecting personal data, and monitoring AI for potential risks. While lacking legal enforceability, such resolutions serve as vital indicators of global sentiment, signaling the international community's commitment to responsible AI development. Citing concerns about AI's disruptive potential, the resolution highlights risks to democratic systems, fraudulent activities, and job displacement. It emphasizes the need to prevent the improper or malicious design, development, deployment, and use of AI systems, which could undermine human...

Google has agreed to pay a fine imposed by the French government’s competition watchdog for a previous breach of European Union intellectual property (IP) laws related to its treatment of media publishers. The French competition authority raised concerns about Google’s AI service, Gemini (formerly known as Bard), alleging that it utilized content from local publishers and news agencies without proper notification and clearance. In settlement proceedings, Google has pledged not to contest the facts, as confirmed by the watchdog. The company has also proposed a series of remedy measures to address certain shortcomings. However, Google's office in France has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the fine. The fine is a result of a copyright dispute in France concerning online content, initiated by complaints from major news organizations such as Agence France Presse (AFP). Initially, the dispute seemed resolved in 2022 when Google dropped its appeal against an initial 500...

The Riksbank has published its conclusive report on the ‘digital krona’ pilot project, focusing on end-user experiences and offline functionality. Released on March 20, the report delves into a new model for offline retail transactions, diverging from the one proposed in the pilot's Phase 2, where offline transaction data was stored on mobile phones. Four primary use cases were investigated, including funding and defunding the payment instrument, offline payments at point-of-sale (POS) using near-field communication, offline transfers between two cards, and imposing limitations on card balances and transaction numbers. The usage of mobile phones for communication between cards and POS terminals posed security concerns, leading to complexities in user-to-user payments. Synchronization of payment cards after transactions was identified as a crucial issue, with potential liquidity issues if not managed correctly. To address this, counters would ensure proper synchronization and prevent...

The Irkutsk Prosecution Service announced via Telegram that a 35-year-old crypto miner will face trial for allegedly stealing electricity in Cheremkhovo, a town in the Russian crypto mining hotspot of Irkutsk. This move comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal and quasi-legal crypto mining activities in the region. Recently, power provider Rosseti shut down 17 illegal crypto mining farms in Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, and Khakassia. Additionally, 36 "illegal" crypto mining farms were closed in the Republic of Dagestan since 2022. Similar crackdowns have occurred in nearby Abkhazia, another unofficial crypto mining hub. Irkutsk Oblast officials are hopeful that the Russian energy ministry will proceed with plans to increase energy prices for miners, aiming to discourage new miners from flocking to the region and alleviate pressure on the power grids. Prosecution officials released images of seized equipment from the 35-year-old's mining operation in Cheremkhovo. The miner is accused of...

Congressman Patrick McHenry expressed optimism regarding the passage of crucial cryptocurrency legislation before the November elections. He highlighted positive shifts in legislative prospects, particularly after leadership changes within the House Republicans. McHenry credited the appointment of Mike Johnson, following Kevin McCarthy's removal as Speaker, for facilitating progress on contentious legislation. He emphasized Johnson's ability to bring legislation into law, citing his role in arranging a spending deal to prevent a government shutdown as evidence of his strengths. McHenry noted increased opportunities to pass crypto legislation, which is unusual for an election year, expressing hopes for two specific bills. McHenry mentioned the "Keep Innovation in America Act," a crypto market structure reform bill, for which he is working to schedule a House vote. He also discussed the "Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act," which he believes could soon become law, given the Biden...

Amidst Argentina's ongoing economic challenges, a notable transformation is underway as citizens seek to safeguard their wealth against the persistent devaluation of the peso. Increasingly, Argentinians are turning to Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation, signaling a potential departure from the longstanding practice of acquiring US dollars as a means of protection. President Javier Milei's economic policies, aimed at stabilizing the money supply, have coincided with a strengthening peso, prompting citizens to explore alternative avenues for wealth preservation. While the traditional strategy of converting pesos to dollars has lost some appeal due to a strengthened parallel exchange rate and a relatively stagnant US dollar, Bitcoin has emerged as an enticing alternative. Bitcoin's allure lies not only in its potential for appreciation, evidenced by its significant value surge compared to both the peso and the dollar, but also in its capacity for diversification. Argentinians are...

In a significant development, several prominent advocacy groups, including the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), Satoshi Action Fund, Texas Blockchain Council, Paradigm, Lejilex, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have filed amicus briefs in support of Coinbase's appeal against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filings come as Coinbase seeks clarity and regulatory guidance from the SEC regarding digital assets. The crux of the matter lies in the lack of clear regulatory frameworks, with the SEC's refusal to engage in rulemaking resulting in ambiguity and uncertainty within the crypto industry. The delay in providing regulatory clarity not only hampers innovation but also risks driving digital asset companies to relocate outside the United States, as noted in the joint filing by the Satoshi Action Fund and Texas Blockchain Council. This uncertainty has prompted Coinbase and other market participants to seek regulatory clarity to navigate the evolving landscape...

In a bid to strengthen investor protection and ensure market integrity, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom has unveiled plans to implement a market abuse regime for cryptocurrencies within the current year. The move, outlined in the FCA's business strategy released on Tuesday, signifies the regulator's proactive stance in combating illicit activities in the crypto sector. The proposed regime will extend to individuals engaging in market abuse activities related to cryptocurrencies traded on UK exchanges, irrespective of their geographic location. This expansion of regulatory oversight underscores the FCA's commitment to curbing market manipulation and fraudulent practices in the digital asset space. Furthermore, the FCA's business plan outlines ambitious initiatives to enhance its surveillance capabilities through advanced analytics tools, including network analysis and cross-asset class visualizations. These technological enhancements aim to bolster the...