#cryptocurrency

Cheongju’s administration has reached out to seven South Korean crypto exchanges, including Upbit and Bithumb, to investigate the holdings of around 8,520 individuals who owe a minimum of 1 million won ($750) in local taxes. After the investigation, authorities in Cheongju aim to seize cryptocurrency assets from such tax evaders. Crypto have increasingly been used for hiding assets in South Korea. Over the span of 2021 and 2022, a total of around $180 million worth of crypto were seized by the South Korean government from individuals who evaded their taxes.

The Dogecoin Foundation has expressed its heartfelt condolences over the passing of Balltze, the dog widely recognized online as Cheems. He passed away on August 18, 2023, during a surgical procedure. Balltze rose to internet fame in 2017 due to a photo capturing his distinctively troubled expression. Among the plethora of memes generated from this image, one in particular stands out: a comparison with Kabosu, the Dogecoin cryptocurrency mascot. Condolences have also poured in from various cryptocurrency and meme communities worldwide.

PayPal suspends crypto buying services in the UK Starting October 1, 2023, PayPal will no longer support cryptocurrency purchases for it's users from the United Kingdom. This action is consistent with the company's obligation to comply with local financial legislation. While the measure is planned to last until the start of 2024, PayPal remains hopeful about restoring the service. During the suspension, users are free to either hold their existing cryptocurrencies without any associated fees or sell them if they choose.

The current market landscape marks an unprecedented decline in liquidity, according to Bloomberg Intelligence's senior macro strategist, Mike McGlone. If this pattern holds throughout 2023, he warns of a potential sharp descent in Bitcoin prices, which would ripple through Ethereum, XRP, and the general cryptocurrency domain. “What should be early indications of recessionary times? The best indication should be bitcoin and that’s where I’m looking for the bleeding occasion from bitcoin and it’s still kind of showing what I expected.” “Picture December: Recession looms, Fed hesitates on easing due to inflation,” said McGlone.

Dasset, a cryptocurrency exchange in New Zealand, has left its users unable to access their holdings. Attempts to log onto the official site redirect customers to the webpage of the law firm Grant Thornton. A released statement details that Grant Thornton will control the liquidation process of the exchange. It has immediate plans to cooperate with all customers to safeguard all the residual funds. "Dasset’s management says a significant reduction in asset values and trading levels impacted its ability to trade profitably. It was determined the appointment of liquidators was in the best interests of all stakeholders," Grant Thornton highlighted.

The FBI has sounded the alarm bells: Lazarus Group and APT38, North Korean hacker collectives, could potentially sell off stolen cryptocurrency amassing $40 million, potentially affecting Bitcoin's valuation. Through their investigative work, the agency has identified nearly 1580 BTC across six distinct Bitcoin addresses. The stolen assets are reportedly from Alphapo, CoinsPaid, and Atomic Wallet. In aiding market monitoring, the FBI has disclosed the associated wallet addresses, urging vigilance on any transactions involving them.

With MiCA's launch on the horizon, Croatia's government is hard at work developing rules to address the shortcomings. This includes a June directive that mandates all cryptocurrency companies to register within a two-month period. Officials are now on the path to implement "passporting," a MiCA feature that permits financial entities from a single country to serve the entire European Union under their home country's rules. Croatia's intention with these moves is to make the nation more appealing to cryptocurrency companies than other EU countries.

The country intention to seek a court-ordered shutdown of Facebook unless the social media giant takes decisive action to address alleged investment and cryptocurrency scam advertisements on its platform. According to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, over 200,000 individuals fell victim to deceptive Facebook ads. The ministry highlighted that common tactics employed by scammers included crypto investment and trading schemes, often featuring images of celebrities and prominent financial figures, and promising daily returns of up to 30%. The ministry is in the process of gathering evidence regarding these scam advertisements, with their number estimated to be over 5,300.

Coin Center, a crypto-focused policy nonprofit, has reached out to Congress members, urging for more transparent crypto tax regulations. In a letter to Senate Finance Committee's Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo, Coin Center emphasized the need for guidance on cryptocurrency taxation, especially concerning capital gains. They suggested a threshold for gains below which no tax would be due. Coin Center also stressed the importance of a "de minimis" exemption, without which, every small crypto transaction could become a taxable event. This exemption would simplify the use of cryptocurrencies for daily payments, especially for micropayments.

The SEI token, having just been released, now finds itself in the 85th spot in terms of market capitalization, as reported by Coinmarketcap. It's also making its presence felt in daily trading, occupying the seventh position with a volume of $1,6 billion. While current metrics paint a promising picture for the project, it's worth noting that the cryptocurrency arena frequently sees such developments. Therefore, it's wise to approach this news with measured optimism.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has disclosed details concerning the approval process for registrations of cryptocurrency-related companies. Since the beginning of 2020, out of 291 applications received, only 38 have met the criteria for approval. This culminates in an endorsement of only 13% of the requests. Meanwhile, 155 were retracted, often on the advice of the FCA, for re-submission at a later date when in better adherence to the requisite standards. In the UK, cryptocurrency companies must be formally registered with the FCA to conduct their activities within the bounds of the law.