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The much-anticipated approval of a Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in the United States is nearing fruition, as major players such as BlackRock, Grayscale, and 21Shares have submitted crucial 19b-4 amendments in response to the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) request. This marks a crucial stage in the approval process, hinting at possible unofficial approval. The next steps involve asset managers completing S-1 documents, potentially paving the way for US exchanges to list shares of investment securities linked to Bitcoin. Analysts expect the SEC to review the documents next week, with ETF trading potentially commencing the following Thursday if approved. Despite this positive development, the cryptocurrency market has shown limited excitement, with Bitcoin struggling to recover from recent declines and trading below $44,000. Other cryptocurrencies, including Solana and Ethereum, also exhibit cautious investor sentiment.(Source: Cryptopolitan)

Companies in Nigeria's cryptocurrency sector are responding to the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) approval of the cNGN stablecoin project. Nigerian banks and fintechs, part of the Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC), introduced cNGN in December, aiming to provide benefits to token holders and the Nigerian economy. Crypto analyst Rume Ophi believes the country's crypto community will appreciate the new stablecoin, emphasizing the importance of promotion and education efforts. While there are reports that cNGN will complement Nigeria's stablecoin eNaira, opinions differ on the compatibility of stablecoins on public and private blockchain networks. (Source: Cointurk)

Próspera ZEDE, the special economic zone in Honduras, has formally acknowledged Bitcoin (BTC) as a legitimate unit of account. The recognition covers various commercial, tax, and financial transactions within the zone. The announcement, made by Jorge Colindres, acting manager and Tax Commissioner of Próspera ZEDE, outlines the conditions under which legal entities can adopt Bitcoin as their unit of account. Entities interested in doing so must file a notice with the Tax Commissioner within thirty days of the relevant tax period, referencing an approved major cryptocurrency exchange, such as Kraken or Coinbase. (Source: Finbold)

Banco de España has selected its collaborators for central bank digital currency (CBDC) tests, partnering with Cecabank, Abanca, and Adhara Blockchain. This collaboration comes a year after the central bank issued an open call for participants. The CBDC program, separate from the digital euro project, will involve a simulated tokenized bond settlement as part of the experiment with the Cecabank-Abanca consortium. Additionally, Spain's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation announced plans to implement the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation six months ahead of the deadline. (Source: Cointelegraph)

Universal Music, the world's largest music group, has filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, a rival of OpenAI, alleging that its AI-based platform Claude produces lyrics that are "nearly word-for-word" copies of copyrighted material. In a parallel development, visual artists are taking legal action against AI ventures Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt, claiming copyright infringement. The artists argue that these platforms utilized their works' styles without obtaining proper permissions or providing due credit and compensation. In the U.S., AI developers facing copyright claims have often turned to the "fair use doctrine" as a defense strategy. This legal approach, previously employed by Google in 2015, hinges on factors such as the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and the impact on the market for the original work. The cases underscore the intricate legal landscape surrounding copyright issues in the evolving field of...

On January 4, influential figures in Turkey's cryptocurrency sector, including Tansel Kaya, Turan Sert, Devrim Danyal, Vedat Güven, and Nurullah Dündar, convened at Istanbul University to deliberate on the circulating draft of Turkey's cryptocurrency law. While the draft has not been officially confirmed, discussions shed light on its key aspects: Access to Global Exchanges: Turkish crypto investors will retain the ability to trade on global exchanges. Foreign Exchange Regulation: Foreign exchanges seeking to serve Turkish investors must establish a local company in Turkey, obtain permission, and comply with regulatory standards. Taxation Focus: The draft currently lacks details on taxation, with the primary emphasis on combating money laundering. Taxation considerations are expected to emerge in a subsequent phase. Regulation and Oversight: Exchanges operating in Turkey will be subjected to regulatory frameworks and oversight. The draft is anticipated to undergo scrutiny by the Plan...

Republican Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri has announced his retirement, revealing in a post that he will conclude his term in December 2024. Luetkemeyer, who served as the chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial, played a significant role in cryptocurrency-related legislation. His retirement follows the introduction of a bill targeting the use of China's digital yuan by U.S. financial institutions, citing surveillance concerns by the Chinese Communist Party. The departure signals potential changes in the approach to cryptocurrency regulation in the U.S. Congress. (Source: Coingape)

Bitcoin has experienced a rebound, surpassing the $44,000 level following a recent plunge. The market sentiment, as indicated by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, leans towards Greed with a value of 72. Grayscale and VanEck's filings for spot Bitcoin ETFs have raised hopes for approval by the SEC, contributing to the positive market sentiment. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index measures emotions and sentiments in the cryptocurrency market, with a value of 0 indicating "Extreme Fear" and 100 representing "Extreme Greed." (Source: crypto.news)

ACE, Taiwan's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is currently under investigation by Taiwan's criminal police for fraud exceeding NT$1 billion. The probe focuses on the promotion and sale of cryptocurrencies referred to as 'shitcoins,' a term used to describe worthless or fraudulent digital assets. The investigation targets key figures, Lin Nan and Pan Nan, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to deceive investors through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Substantial assets, including cash and virtual currency, have been seized by authorities. This case highlights the challenges and risks associated with fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency space. (Source: Cryptopolitan)

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a motion in federal court urging the judge to consider a summary judgment in its case against cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The SEC referenced a recent ruling in a case against Terraform Labs and its co-founder Do Kwon, where the judge largely sided with the SEC, considering specific tokens as securities. The SEC argues that the Terra case's analysis is relevant to its case against Binance, emphasizing the similarities in issues related to stablecoins and staking programs. Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao had filed a motion to dismiss the SEC's case in September. (Source: Cointelegraph)

Matrixport's cautious stance on the approval of Bitcoin Spot ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) by the SEC projects a potential rejection in January 2024. The statement suggests hedging long exposure due to SEC Chair Gensler's skepticism towards cryptocurrencies. In the event of ETF denial, a forecasted -20% Bitcoin price drop is expected, despite a positive end-of-2024 outlook. This report briefly impacted the broader crypto market, with BTC and ETH experiencing a temporary downturn. However, Bloomberg ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas maintains an optimistic view, citing a high chance of approval, contrasting Matrixport's perspective. (Source: Matrixport)

South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) has proposed an amendment to the credit finance act, aiming to prohibit citizens from using credit cards for cryptocurrency purchases. The amendment intends to limit local traders from buying cryptocurrencies on foreign exchanges to address concerns about illegal fund outflows, money laundering, and speculative behavior. The FSC is seeking public feedback on the proposal until February 13, with plans for review and voting in the first half of 2024. This move aligns with previous regulatory measures in South Korea, including the requirement for real-name verified accounts for crypto trading on local exchanges. (Source: The Block)