#crypto

In collaboration with its subsidiary Zynga, acquired for $12.7 billion last year, Take-Two is launching “Sugartown,” a web3 game built on Ethereum, marking the debut of a “major mobile game developer” crafting a crypto-based game “from the ground up.” Players will utilize Ethereum (or ERC-721) tokens to access the game, stake for energy, and earn in-game currency. Access tokens named Oras will also be minted this year as part of an initial release.

The decision comes as its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), is in talks to bring in strategic investors. CoinDesk's CEO, Kevin Worth, described the move as necessary for a "financially sound business" and to facilitate the sale of CoinDesk Inc. This layoff affects 20 individuals, making up almost half of the editorial team. Earlier reports suggested CoinDesk was close to a $125 million deal led by crypto investor Matthew Roszak of Tally Capital.

Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange, has joined forces with Peoples Trust Company. This collaboration facilitates access to the Interac e-Transfers system, streamlining deposit and withdrawal processes for its Canadian user base. What's more, they're gifting users a one-month free gateway into the Coinbase One subscription. This means no trade-related fees, amplified staking profits, and swift client support. "Canada is well positioned to be a global leader in the cryptoeconomy thanks to the high levels of crypto awareness, a passionate local tech ecosystem, and the progress towards a strong regulatory framework," voiced Nana Murugesan, the International Development VP at Coinbase.

John Reed Stark, ex-chief of the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement, believes the current SEC won't approve a Bitcoin spot ETF due to various reasons. However, Stark suggests that if a Republican wins the 2024 presidential election, the SEC might ease its crypto-enforcement and be more open to a Bitcoin spot ETF. He also speculates that SEC chair Gary Gensler might resign, potentially paving the way for Hester Peirce, known as "Crypto Mom", to take a leading role.

A year has passed since WhiteBIT's exchange token was unveiled on August 14th. In this brief time, the team behind it didn't just rest on their laurels; they launched a blockchain, making WBT's first anniversary a celebration of a genuine coin! Facing the challenges of a prolonged bear market head-on, WBT swiftly carved out its own space, gaining a legion of ardent supporters. Its market standing? A noteworthy triple of its inaugural IEO pricing and a 5th rank amidst centralized exchange tokens, as chronicled by CoinGecko. We salute this shining star and hope for further ascent, delighting all crypto enthusiasts who set the level!

The recent debut of PayPal's stablecoin, PYUSD, has drawn concern from Congresswoman Maxine Waters. She criticized PayPal's entry into the cryptocurrency market without a defined federal regulatory structure. Highlighting PayPal's vast clientele, which outnumbers the combined accounts of major banks, Waters stressed the pivotal role of federal oversight in crypto dealings: "As I’ve said for more than a year, without legislation on the books that establishes clear and strong consumer protections at the Federal level, consumers are at greater risk of harm at the hands of bad actors."