Month: January 2023

Lakers excited to add Rui Hachimura, but Rob Pelinka says more moves are possible

LOS ANGELES — Rui Hachimura had no sooner arrived at his new home arena than the Lakers put him to work.

Moments after walking through the tunnel at Crypto.com Arena, Hachimura was in Lakers warm-up gear and on the court, going through drills with assistant coach Phil Handy and under the watchful gaze of his new head coach and new GM. But what stood out about the session even more than Hachimura sinking corner 3-pointers or swishing jumpers out of post-ups was his face: Hachimura beamed for almost the entire half-hour workout.

It was only days ago when the 24-year-old told The Washington Post that he wanted “to be somewhere that wants me as a basketball player.” He didn’t play on Tuesday night against the Clippers, but already he could feel it sinking in that he was with not only a team that needs a player like him but also in a place where he once dreamed of living.

“It’s so funny that when I was in college, I came here for college games and stuff, and I was joking around how this was gonna be my home,” Hachimura said. “So it’s great it’s really happening right now. So yeah, I’m so happy, and I’m so excited for this.”

The Lakers are excited, too. By getting Hachimura in a Monday trade, they added a 6-foot-8 forward and former top-10 draft pick who they kept a close eye on during his Gonzaga days and who they might be able to re-sign this summer. For a team in need of size, depth and youth, Hachimura checks a lot of boxes.

“He definitely fills a big void of giving us more size on the perimeter, a guy who can also guard bigger players in the post,” Coach Darvin Ham said after watching Hachimura’s pregame workout. “Just what he brings offensively, a guy that can create his own shot as well as fall into the system seamlessly.”

But, General Manager Rob Pelinka said during a Tuesday evening press conference, that doesn’t mean the Lakers will stand pat. While the Lakers pounced on an opportunity that Pelinka acknowledged was “a little bit slow” (the Lakers made only the second in-season trade in the league so far), the franchise is continuing to talk to other teams: “Doesn’t mean our work is finished,” he said.

The resources that loom the largest ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline are the Lakers’ two tradeable first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. Pelinka has indicated a willingness to use them publicly, but the Lakers have been reluctant to part with them without getting a true impact player in return.

The front office managed to get Hachimura with a package of Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks, keeping some of their powder dry for a bigger trade down the road. The Lakers also have contracts including Patrick Beverley ($13 million) and Lonnie Walker IV ($6.5 million) they could use to make deals before the deadline.

But Pelinka said before moving the first-round picks, the team wants to make a move that doesn’t just improve them, but makes them a legitimate contender, saying “there is no in-between.

“That’s a really delicate calculus and something, the entire front office, we evaluate with all the moves,” Pelinka added. “If we see a move that puts us as a frontrunner to get another championship here, the 18th one here, we’ll make it. And if that move doesn’t present itself, we’ll be smart and make it at a later time.”

If he’s able to make his Lakers debut Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, Hachimura hopes to have an immediate impact. He’s played with three Lakers before during his time in Washington: Russell Westbrook, Thomas Bryant and Lonnie Walker IV. Alongside All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis (who hopes to return this week), he thinks he’ll fit right in.

“I think I can shoot the ball – threes, I can shoot midrange, I can attack the rim,” he said. “Even off the ball, cutting and stuff is good for me. I can get a rebound and push the ball and stuff, so I can do a lot of stuff. I think it’s going to be great.”

The Japanese-born Hachimura said he’s also attracted in part to the large L.A. market with a considerable population of Japanese ancestry. He’s also now just a nine-hour flight from his home country, where he’s a high-wattage star.

Pelinka hopes Hachimura falls in quickly.

“It’s expected by Darvin (Ham) and us that we’re competitive every night and I think one of the things with Rui is, if you look at the Gonzaga program and with the Wizards, he plays the game the right way,” Pelinka said. “And I think when he jumps into this flow of super competitive guys that are playing aggressively and physically every night, it’s going to bring also another level out of him.”

Will BTC’s Recent Price Surge To Over $23,000 Lead To A Bullish Rally?

 

Bitcoin, the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency, has been rising and has reached $23,333 for the first time since August 19. Over the weekend, BTC broke through the $23,000 barrier for the first time in five months, making it exciting for the cryptocurrency market. 

Meanwhile, Ethereum, the second-largest digital coin, reached $1,664.78 for the first time since November 7, 2022.

 The reason for its bullish trend, on the other hand, could be attributed to institutional investors, who are increasing their holdings in anticipation of the next bull run. 

The price of bitcoin (BTC) has recently increased, benefiting both short-term and long-term investors, according to on-chain statistics.

 It is also worth noting that the percentage of Bitcoin holders who are now profiting in the short term has risen to 97.5%, the highest level since November. Long-term BTC holders, on the other hand, have benefited from Bitcoin. 

Aside from that, investors ignored the numerous issues confronting the cryptocurrency industry, most recently Genesis Global Holdco LLC’s petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As a result, the BTC gains were unaffected.

Risk-On Crypto Mood Pushes Bitcoin and Ethereum To New Highs

The global cryptocurrency market has maintained its upward trend and is currently flashing green near the $1.06 trillion mark. This came after bitcoin, the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency, broke through the $23,000 barrier for the first time in five months, indicating that the cryptocurrency market is entering a new era.

However, institutional investors, who are increasing their holdings in anticipation of the next bull run, are the primary drivers of rising BTC demand. 

Bitcoin, the world’s largest digital asset, is in an unusually upbeat mood after rising by more than 36% this month. Moving on, the next major turning point in the cryptocurrency market could occur at the upcoming Fed meeting next month.

How The Bearish US Dollar Is Underpinning Bitcoin’s Price Rally 

The falling value of the US dollar is another factor supporting the price of the cryptocurrency. On Tuesday, the broad-based US dollar remained on the defensive, sitting at a nine-month low against the euro and giving back recent gains against the yen as traders continued to assess the likelihood of a US recession and the direction of Federal Reserve policy. 

The US dollar index, which compares the greenback to a basket of six rival currencies such as the euro and yen, fell 0.09% to 101.92, closing in on the 7-1/2-month low of 101.51 set on Wednesday.

BTC Bulls: Short-Term And Long-Term Holders Are Winning Big Time

The price of bitcoin (BTC) has risen significantly in recent weeks, generating profits for both short- and long-term investors, according to on-chain statistics. 

At the time of writing, the percentage of Bitcoin holders making short-term profits had risen to 97.5%, the highest level since November.

Long-term Bitcoin holders, according to Glassnode, have also benefited from Bitcoin.

Gemini Downsizes To Adapt To The New Economic Reality

A spokeswoman for Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange, told CNBC on Monday that the company will lay off nearly 10% of its total workforce. In less than a year, Gemini has seen at least three rounds of layoffs. 

According to PitchBook data, Gemini had 1,000 employees as of November 2022, which means that 100 people may have lost their jobs.

According to TechCrunch, Gemini previously reduced its workforce by 7% in July 2022, following a 10% reduction the previous month.

As a result, while this may be considered negative news, it has had no negative impact on the cryptocurrency market thus far. 

On the other hand, the growing number of COVID-19 cases in China will have an impact on the cryptocurrency market. As a result, this was regarded as a critical factor that could limit future gains in the cryptocurrency’s price. 

Bitcoin Price 

Bitcoin is currently valued at $23,097 and has a $27 billion 24-hour trading volume. Bitcoin has gained over 1% in the last 24 hours. With a live market worth of $435 billion, CoinMarketCap presently ranks top. 

Bitcoin is currently facing heavy resistance around a $23,250 level along with an immediate support at $22,500. If the candles fall below the $22,500 level, a bearish correction will most certainly commence and last until the $21,500 mark is hit. If Bitcoin falls below $21,500, it might fall as low as $20,450.

The RSI and MACD indicators are overbought, but the recent bullish engulfing candle is signaling chances of a bullish trend continuation. On the upside, the immediate resistance level for Bitcoin is $23,250, and a break above this level might expose BTC to levels as high as $23,900 and $25,150.

Buy BTC Now

Ethereum Price 

The price of Ethereum in the last 24 hours was $1,635, with a trading volume of $8.3 billion. The ETH/USD pair has found immediate support at $1,610, and candles closing above this level are likely to trigger an increase in BTC. 

On the upside, ETH is anticipated to face immediate resistance at $1,675, and a bullish crossover over this level might expose ETH to $1,750.

On the downside, a bearish breakdown of $1,610 might open up additional selling space till $1,550.

Buy ETH Now

Bitcoin Alternatives

CryptoNews Industry Talk has reviewed the top 15 cryptocurrencies for 2023. If you’re looking for a higher potential investment opportunity, there are plenty of other projects worth considering.

The list is updated weekly with new altcoins and ICO projects.

 

What Is RxPass, and Can It Save You Money on Prescription Medication?

Taking prescription medications is routine for many Americans. In fact, about 66 percent of US adults take prescription drugs, according to the 2021 Health Policy Institute — while “nearly half of adults take 2 or more medications daily & many find it hard to afford them,” Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, tweeted.

That’s why — in addition to hoping to boost subscriptions — on Tuesday, Jan. 24, Amazon announced the addition of a generic prescription perk for Prime members. Available only at Amazon Pharmacy, RxPass is a monthly subscription add-on that lets Prime members purchase multiple generic medications for one flat fee of $5. It gives members access to a list of up to 50 drugs for common conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, and diabetes. The chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy said that over 150 million people in the US already take one or more of the medications offered.

In light of the offer, social media is already making jokes at the US healthcare system’s expense. “When private corporations offer a better deal on medicine than the government,” writes one user. While it’s not a replacement for insurance, the company noted on its site that its flat fee is often cheaper than going through traditional pharmacies using insurance.

This isn’t the first time the e-commerce behemoth has dabbled in healthcare. In 2020, Amazon launched its own online pharmacy after acquiring PillPack in 2018. It also launched Amazon Care, a telehealth service, which was shut down at the end of last year. In July 2022, it acquired One Medical in place of it. But how does its new service, RxPass, really work — and is it worth it? We break down everything you need to know below.

What Is RxPass?

RxPass is an Amazon Prime add-on that will now allow US-based members to purchase from a list of 50 generic medications used to treat more than 80 common chronic conditions. Among the list are medications to treat high blood pressure, anxiety, and diabetes. However, it doesn’t offer specialty medications like insulin. Also, it’s not a replacement for insurance. The service itself costs $5/month per person, on top of the Prime membership of $14.99 per month. It offers discounts of up to 80 percent on generic drugs and up to 40 percent on brand-name prescriptions. Delivery is free.

How Does RxPass Work?

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’d subscribe to RxPass for an additional $5/month. That means you can get all of your prescribed medication available via Amazon pharmacy to be filled as often as needed for the same flat monthly fee.

Amazon pharmacists or support staff are available to discuss medications and coordinate with your doctor, Amazon reports. And RxPass also allows for auto refill, so depending on the prescription, RxPass members will have the choice to have their medications delivered on either a monthly or quarterly basis. You can find the full list of medication included here and search by medication or by condition to confirm if they carry what you need.

Does RxPass Take Insurance?

With RxPass, you don’t need to use insurance because instead you’re paying with the flat fee. (And no, you can’t use your HSA or FSA to pay the monthly fee.) The service can be helpful to those without insurance or in the case when insurance doesn’t cover certain medications. For example, if you’re paying more than $5 a month on all of your medication, RxPass would be more cost effective. For other medication needs, Amazon Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans.

Worth mentioning: RxPass is restricted based on the state where the prescription will be shipped. For example, it’s not currently available in California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. Customers who are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid are also unable to enroll in the service. But they can still fill their prescriptions at Amazon Pharmacy using government insurance.

 

Crypto exchange Digital Surge emerges as a rare survivor of FTX fallout

 

The Australian crypto exchange had $23.4 million of digital assets locked on FTX when it collapsed and FTX’s Australian subsidiary went into administration.

Australian cryptocurrency exchange Digital Surge appears to have narrowly avoided collapse, despite having millions of dollars in digital assets tied up in the now-bankrupt FTX crypto exchange.

On Jan. 24 local time, Digital Surge creditors approved a five-year bailout plan, which aims to eventually refund its 22,545 customers who had their digital assets frozen on the platform since Nov. 16, while allowing the exchange to continue operating.

The rescue plan was first floated to customers by the exchanges’ directors via email on Dec. 8, the same day the company fell into administration.

As per the “Deed of Company Arrangement,” the Australian crypto exchange will receive an $884,543 (1.25 million Australian dollars) loan from an associated business, Digico — allowing the exchange to continue trading and operating.

In a statement, administrators at KordaMentha stated that creditors would be paid over the next five years out of the exchange’s quarterly net profits.

“Customers will be repaid in cryptocurrency and fiat currency, depending on the asset composition of their individual claims,” KordaMentha said, according to a Jan. 24 report from Business News Australia.

Cointelegraph reached out to Digital Surge, which confirmed that at the second meeting of creditors on Jan. 24, a resolution was voted in favor of the rescue plan.

“We expect further communication will be provided to all customers as the administration process with KordaMentha progresses,” it added.

The Brisbane-based crypto exchange had been in operation since 2017 but became one of the casualties of FTX’s collapse in November, freezing withdrawals and deposits only days after FTX filed for bankruptcy and FTX Australia was placed into administration.

At the time, Digital Surge explained they had “some limited exposure to FTX” and would update customers in two weeks’ time — though this was later revealed to be to the tune of around $23.4 million, according to Digital Surge administrator KordaMentha.

 

The exchange has been one of the few crypto firms to form a solid plan to restart operations and avoid liquidation despite sizeable exposure to FTX.

Since November, several crypto firms, including crypto lending firms BlockFi and Genesis, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a result of exposure to the fallout of FTX and market turmoil.

 

FBI Agent Who Investigated Trump-Russia Collusion Has Been Arrested for Colluding with Russia

A former senior FBI counterintelligence official involved in the Trump-Russia probe was arrested and charged over the weekend for money laundering and violating sanctions against Russia while secretly working with Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch who the U.S. government sanctioned.

Charles McGonigal was the special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI’s New York Field Office until he retired in 2018. McGonigal was arrested Saturday afternoon at JFK Airport, following travels in Sri Lanka, according to Fox News sources.

McGonigal, 54, is accused of violating U.S. sanctions by agreeing to provide services to Deripaska. The Russian billionaire was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2018 for reasons relating to the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia. The oligarch was criminally charged last year with violating those sanctions.

Sergey Shestakov, a former Soviet and Russian diplomat, was also arrested on Saturday, according to the indictment. After becoming a U.S. citizen, Shestakov, 69,  worked as a Russian interpreter for courts and government offices.

McGonigal has hit with a second indictment on Monday, on charges related to his receipt of $225,000 in cash from a former employee of a foreign intelligence service, while he was still employed at the Bureau.

According to the nine-count indictment, unsealed today, from August 2017 and continuing through and beyond his retirement from the FBI in September 2018, McGonigal concealed from the FBI the nature of his relationship with a former foreign security officer and businessperson who had ongoing business interests in foreign countries and before foreign governments. Specifically, McGonigal requested and received at least $225,000 in cash from the individual and traveled abroad with the individual and met with foreign nationals. The individual later served as an FBI source in a criminal investigation involving foreign political lobbying over which McGonigal had official supervisory responsibility. McGonigal is accused of engaging in other conduct in his official capacity as an FBI Special Agent in Charge that he believed would benefit the businessperson financially.

McGonigal and Shestakov “both previously worked with Deripaska to attempt to have his sanctions removed, and, as public servants, they should have known better,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement. “This Office will continue to prosecute those who violate U.S. sanctions enacted in response to Russian belligerence in Ukraine in order to line their own pockets.”

Both men are charged with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), one count of violating the IEEPA, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Shestakov is also charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, prosecutors said.

“The FBI is committed to the enforcement of economic sanctions designed to protect the United States and our allies, especially against hostile activities of a foreign government and its actors,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said. “Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence.”

“After sanctions are imposed, they must be enforced equally against all U.S. citizens in order to be successful,” Driscoll added. “There are no exceptions for anyone, including a former FBI official like Mr. McGonigal. Supporting a designated threat to the United States and our allies is a crime the FBI will continue to pursue aggressively.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Deripaska as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) on April 6, 2018, and sanctioned him “for acting on behalf of a senior official of the Russian Federation’s government and for operating in the Russian energy sector.”

In 2021, the two defendants agreed to and did investigate a rival Russian oligarch of Deripaska in return for concealed payments from Derispaska, in violation of sanctions the United States imposed in 2018, the indictment says. McGonigal and Shestakov allegedly knew their actions violated U.S. sanctions because, among other reasons, while serving as special agent in charge, McGonigal received then-classified information that Deripaska would be added to a list of oligarchs considered for sanctions.

As part of their negotiations with Deripaska’s agent, McGonigal, Shestakov and the agent attempted to conceal Deripaska’s involvement by, among other means, not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payments from Deripaska, according to the indictment.

In 2019, McGonigal and Shestakov also allegedly worked on behalf of Deripaska in an unsuccessful effort to have the sanctions against Deripaska lifted. In November 2021, when FBI agents questioned Shestakov about the nature of his and McGonigal’s relationship with Deripaska’s agent, the interpreter made false statements in a recorded interview, federal prosecutors said.

While serving as chief of the cybercrimes section at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., McGonigal was reportedly one of the first bureau officials to pick up on George Papadopoulos’ boast that he knew the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. The former 2016 Trump advisor’s gossipy remarks helped spur the Operation Crossfire Hurricane.

McGonigal was also involved in the bureau’s probe of Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, according to text messages released by Senate Republicans. “Our Team is currently talking to [Carter Page] re Russia,” he wrote on March 16, 2017, to an FBI colleague.

Deripaska has ties to disgraced former British spy Christopher Steele, who compiled the infamous dossier that alleged the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election.

Steele acted as a paid lobbyist on behalf Deripaska, and used the FBI to launder his political work. “Steele furnished intelligence information that the FBI disseminated, including in four Intelligence Information Reports (IIRs) sent throughout the U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) concerning the activities of Russian oligarchs,” Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz Horowitz confirmed. “By the time Steele was closed by the FBI as a CHS [confidential human source] in November 2016, the FBI had disseminated 10 IIRs based on Steele’s reporting.”

Sergei Millian, a pro-Trump Belarusian-American businessman was falsely accused of being a source for the Steele Dossier, and of being someone who substantiated the existence of the infamous “pee tape.”

Special Counsel John Durham’s years-long investigation into the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation however determined that Steele’s colleague Igor Danchenko was the primary researcher behind the now debunked and discredited dossier.

Millian, who has fought for years to regain his reputation after it was dragged through the mud, said on Twitter that Durham should talk to McGonigal, as he “now has a motive to out the co-conspirators who made false accusations against President Trump.”

Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) Achieves Market Capitalization of $51.28 Million

Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) traded down 3% against the dollar during the 1-day period ending at 0:00 AM E.T. on January 24th. One Ampleforth Governance Token token can now be purchased for about $3.41 or 0.00015052 BTC on cryptocurrency exchanges. Ampleforth Governance Token has a total market cap of $51.28 million and $6.77 million worth of Ampleforth Governance Token was traded on exchanges in the last day. Over the last seven days, Ampleforth Governance Token has traded 1.2% higher against the dollar.

Here’s how related cryptocurrencies have performed over the last day:

  • Aidi Finance (BSC) (AIDI) traded down 8.7% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0000 or 0.00000000 BTC.
  • Zoo Token (ZOOT) traded down 4.3% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0590 or 0.00000261 BTC.
  • CareCoin (CARES) traded 4.3% lower against the dollar and now trades at $0.0732 or 0.00000324 BTC.
  • OmniaVerse (OMNIA) traded 2.6% lower against the dollar and now trades at $0.0020 or 0.00000009 BTC.
  • Kitty Inu (KITTY) traded down 4.3% against the dollar and now trades at $90.62 or 0.00400651 BTC.
  • Lunar (LNR) traded up 5.1% against the dollar and now trades at $0.0286 or 0.00000127 BTC.
  • Hokkaidu Inu (HOKK) traded 2.8% lower against the dollar and now trades at $0.0005 or 0.00000002 BTC.
  • QANplatform (QANX) traded down 4.3% against the dollar and now trades at $6,361.15 or 0.28122715 BTC.
  • 2G Carbon Coin (2GCC) traded 0.3% lower against the dollar and now trades at $135.02 or 0.00596925 BTC.
  • Lego Coin (LEGO) traded 1.2% higher against the dollar and now trades at $0.0408 or 0.00000180 BTC.

Ampleforth Governance Token Token Profile

Ampleforth Governance Token was first traded on April 20th, 2021. Ampleforth Governance Token’s total supply is 15,297,897 tokens and its circulating supply is 15,051,575 tokens. Ampleforth Governance Token’s official Twitter account is @ampleforthorg and its Facebook page is accessible here. Ampleforth Governance Token’s official website is www.ampleforth.org.

According to CryptoCompare, “ORTH is Ampleforth’s (AMPL) governance token. FORTH holders can vote on proposed changes to the Ampleforth protocol or delegate their votes to representatives who vote on their behalf.AMPL is the a rebasing cryptocurrency. Like Bitcoin, AMPL is non-dillutive. Unlike Bitcoin AMPL can be used to denominate contracts of predictable value. Where AMPL represents an independent currency that functions as a unit of account, FORTH is the governing mechanism that oversees its evolution.FORTH was launched by the Ampleforth team as a “Day One launch” in conjunction with Coinbase in April of 2021.”

Ampleforth Governance Token Token Trading

It is usually not currently possible to purchase alternative cryptocurrencies such as Ampleforth Governance Token directly using US dollars. Investors seeking to trade Ampleforth Governance Token should first purchase Bitcoin or Ethereum using an exchange that deals in US dollars such as GDAX, Coinbase or Gemini. Investors can then use their newly-acquired Bitcoin or Ethereum to purchase Ampleforth Governance Token using one of the exchanges listed above.

 

$XRP & $BLUNT become Australia’s Favorite Cryptos

 

The global economy is experiencing difficulties with power supply and inflation, which has negatively impacted the cryptocurrency market. Prices have dropped significantly since the beginning of 2022, causing many investors to hesitate to invest in crypto. 

However, despite different predictions, crypto token prices are now rising, and new projects are being created, providing new investment opportunities. It is a good time to buy crypto tokens while they are at a lower price and hold onto them until they regain their value. Additionally, it is worth considering investing in crypto projects that are in the early stages of development.

If you want to know our top picks for the best token to invest in Australia, you only have to keep reading.

>>> BUY BUDBLOCKZ TOKEN NOW <<<

BudBlockz ($BLUNT)

BudBlockz is a new platform that aims to deliver global access to cannabis enthusiasts in the rapidly growing cannabis market. BudBlockz is creating a platform for cannabis users to buy and sell products related to cannabis privately and securely.

The demand for BudBlockz is driven by its revolutionary features, which include DeFi, NFTs, and play-to-earn mechanics integrated into an ecosystem with a cannabis aesthetic.

Users who hold $BLUNT will become members of the BudBlockz DAO and can make proposals and vote on BudBlockz’s development.

They will also have further investment opportunities, such as percentage ownership of dispensaries and farms and discounted prices on cannabis-related products.

The private sale and presale phases created a great opportunity for average investors to get involved in a token that promises to make 100x your portfolio in the coming months of 2023.

Ripple ($XRP)

Ripple develops XRP to provide low-cost international, efficient money transfers. XRP has existed since 2012 as one of the oldest digital currencies.

XRP can be traded on the Ripple networks. $XRP is designed to settle transactions in 3 to 5 seconds at an average cost of $0.0002 per transaction.

This transaction fee is charged as an anti-spam measure and is not paid to any party but instead is irrevocably destroyed via a process called burning.

Unlike Bitcoin, where new tokens can be mined into circulation, 100 billion $XRP tokens were created in 2012, and no new tokens will be created. Ripple releases 1 billion XRP tokens monthly to control the supply.

The coin has managed to remain among the list of the top 10 coins by market cap, even as it was the subject of many controversies, the most notable being the ongoing XRP-SEC lawsuit.

Conclusion

Once again, you could pick and invest in many cryptocurrencies, but investing in the right one is a determining factor in increasing your chances for success. That is why we have selected these two tokens, $XRP, and $BLUNT, as the best to invest in Australia. 

Check rates of Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana

 

 

Today’s cryptocurrency prices: Check rates of Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana

Jan 25, 2023, 11:09 am
3 min read

 

Bitcoin has shed 1.9% over the last 24 hours, trading at $22,621.23. It is 6.9% higher than the previous week.

The second most popular token, Ethereum, has dropped 5.5% from yesterday and is trading at $1,546.85. From the previous week, it is down 1.4%.

The market capitalization of Bitcoin and Ethereum stands at $436.25 billion and $186.47 billion, respectively.

 

What about the movement of other popular cryptocurrencies today?

BNB is trading at $301.85, which is 6.2% lower than yesterday and 0.6% up since last week.

XRP’s price is $0.44 today, falling 3.0% in the last 24 hours. Compared to last week, it is 5.0% up.

Cardano and Dogecoin are trading at $0.33 (down 6.5%) and $0.088 (down 6.1%), respectively.

 

Solana has moved up by 0.1% since last week

Solana, Polka Dot, Shiba Inu, and Polygon are currently trading at $22.91 (down 7.3%), $6.18 (down 6.6%), $0.000011 (down 6.9%), and $0.99 (down 4.6%), respectively.

Based on the weekly chart, Solana is up 0.1%, while Polka Dot has risen by 3.7%.

Shiba Inu’s value has risen by 6.7% in the last seven days, whereas Polygon is down 3.7%.

 

Take a look at top 5 gainers of the day

Based on the 24-hour movement, the top gainers are Threshold, Quant, UNUS SED LEO, USDD, and Dai. They are trading at $0.055 (up 13.79%), $153.66 (up 6.03%), $3.47 (up 1.08%), $0.99 (up 0.17%), and $1 (up 0.09%), respectively.

 

What is the status of the popular stablecoins today?

A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency that has very little volatility. Its value is linked to a real-world asset such as fiat currency or gold.

Some of the popular tokens, Tether, USD Coin, and Binance, are trading at $0.99 (flat), $0.99 (flat), and $0.99 (flat), respectively. Terra Classic is listed at $0.00011 (down 5.14%).

 

Check out today’s top 5 losers

The biggest losers of the day are Flow, Optimism, Rocket Pool, EthereumPoW, and Synthetix. They are trading at $1.07 (down 12.39%), $2.01 (down 11.88%), $36.71 (down 10.72%), $3.71 (down 9.99%), and $2.32 (down 9.67%), respectively.

 

Top cryptocurrency spot exchanges

Looking at the traffic, liquidity, trading volumes, and confidence in the legitimacy of trading volumes, the top three cryptocurrency spot exchanges are Binance, Coinbase Exchange, and Kraken.

Binance and Coinbase Exchange saw 24-hour volumes of $19.95 billion (up 3.21%) and $2.31 billion (up 8.82%), respectively. Kraken recorded a volume of $0.72 billion, which is up 9.68% from yesterday.

 

Here are today’s leading DeFi tokens

DeFi or decentralized finance refers to global, peer-to-peer financial services on public blockchains.

Dai, Avalanche, Uniswap, Wrapped Bitcoin, and Chainlink are some of the popular DeFi tokens.

They are currently trading at $1 (up 0.11%), $17.02 (down 8.33%), $6.29 (down 7.07%), $22,579.7 (down 1.86%), and $6.72 (down 5.58%), respectively.

 

Check out today’s top 5 NFT tokens

Non-fungible tokens or NFTs are cryptocurrencies that cannot be exchanged for one another like other tokens due to their lack of fungibility.

ApeCoin, Decentraland, Axie Infinity, Flow, and The Sandbox are some of the prominent NFT tokens.

They are currently trading at $5.45 (down 5.55%), $0.66 (down 9.45%), $11.22 (down 7.23%), $1.07 (down 12.42%), and $0.77 (down 8.68%), respectively.

 

Total cryptocurrency market capitalization

The current global crypto market cap is $1.05 trillion. The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $55.98 billion. They have remained flat over the last day.

The global crypto market cap was $811.44 billion last month, while three months ago, the total capitalization stood at $931.04 billion

Japan’s Terra Drone gets $14M lift from Saudi investors • TechCrunch

 

Terra Drone said today it has raised $14 million in Series C funding from Wa’ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, marking the VC firm’s first investment in Asia. 

The Japan-headquartered company, which builds drone software, hardware and uncrewed aircraft traffic management software, said the new capital brings its total raised to $97 million since its inception in 2016. It declined to comment on its post-money valuation. According to sources familiar with the situation, the startup was valued at more than $200 million in March last year when Terra Drone closed a $70 million Series B. 

The move comes in line with Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” plan, which lays out goals to reduce the nation’s dependence on hydrocarbons and promote the use of drones in services. For example, fossil fuel companies in Saudi Arabia will utilize Terra Drone’s technology for inspection services. Drones are supposed to detect things like oil leakage. Saudi Aramco is the world’s largest oil producer and plans to increase fossil fuel production in coming years despite scientific consensus that such activities are wrecking the Earth’s climate.  

Terra Drone director Teppei Seki told TechCrunch that the startup participated in a drone program run by the nation Saudi Aramco held last year for Saudi Vision 2030. 

Saudi’s $500 billion Neom project, a 25,600 km2 city-building project on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, also will utilize Unifly’s uncrewed traffic solutions for drone services. Terra Drone is the largest shareholder in Unifly, which will work for the Neom project to commercialize drones, aiming to complete the first phase of the project in 2025. 

With the latest funding, Terra Drone plans to set up a new subsidiary, Terra Drone Arabia, wholly owned by Terra Drone, and further promote drone inspections in the region. On top of that, the company plans further international penetration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through the new office in Saudi Arabia.  

Terra Drone currently offers its drone and UAM solutions to 10 countries. Denmark uses Terra Drone’s uncrewed aircraft traffic management (UTM) in Danish health drones and its Health Drone Project to carry blood and medicine. Terra Drone’s UT drone for inspection is certified as a ship inspection by the International Register of Shipping, the Japan-based startup said. 

Since its last fundraising, its subsidiaries’ sales have grown by more than 50%, the company said. 

CEO of Terra Drone Toru Tokushige founded Terra Drone in 2016 to develop drone software like global air traffic management to prevent collisions by enabling safe and efficient drone and urban air mobility operations. 

“Supported by the global track record of Terra Drone, our investment represents a compelling attempt at building the UAM ecosystem in the Kingdom, one that circles a sustainable economy,” said managing director at Wa’ed Ventures Fahad Alidi. “We foresee rapid adoption for UAM technology as an emerging tech vertical in the region, and Terra Drone is well-positioned to localize their innovation across the region, starting with the Kingdom.” 

 

 

Pag-IBIG home loan program benefits over 100K members

MANILA – A total of 105,212 Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund members were able to avail of its home loan program for the year 2022.

In a press release issued on Thursday, Pag-IBIG announced that they have released a record-high PHP118 billion in home loans last year, which is higher by 21 percent, or a total of PHP20.57 billion, compared to the PHP97.28 billion in home loans released in 2021.

With the amount, Pag-IBIG financed the acquisition and construction of 105,212 homes for its members, equivalent to an 11 percent increase from the 94,533 homes financed in 2021, setting a new record high.

“This is very good news because as the amount of home loans we release increases, so does the number of Filipinos who now have homes of their own,” said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who also heads the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

“Pag-IBIG Fund’s performance is a testament to our united and unwavering efforts to resolve the country’s housing backlog, in line with the objective of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program,” he said.

The Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program is a flagship program of Marcos that is aimed at addressing the country’s housing needs by building 1 million houses each year for the next six years.

Marcos earlier expressed the need to provide families with shelter most especially the poor residents, as well as those employed people who struggle to have decent housing.

Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta noted that the number of housing units financed in 2022 also marks the first time that the agency has financed more than 100,000 housing units in a single year.

Acosta added that out of the said number of housing units financed by the agency last year, 18,657, or 18 percent, were socialized housing units availed by members from the minimum-wage and low-income sectors.

“We at Pag-IBIG Fund have always strived to provide our members — the Filipino workers — the means to have their own homes through affordable shelter financing. That is why we take great pride in achieving a record high number of housing units financed in 2022, because it means that we have empowered even more Filipinos in gaining their own homes,” she said

For 2023, Acosta assured Pag-IBIG members of a continuous service providing them with the most affordable home loan in the market, so that they too can achieve their dream of homeownership. (PNA)