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  • 10/10/23: Israel Freezes Hamas-Linked Crypto 🇮🇱📋🚀

10/10/23: Israel Freezes Hamas-Linked Crypto 🇮🇱📋🚀

Author

Valko
October 10, 2023

Top News ⌐◪-◪

  • 🇮🇱 Israeli authorities freeze Hamas-linked crypto accounts on Binance

  • 📋 New BTC whitepaper outlines off-chain smart-contract functionality

  • 🚀 Ethereum Layer-2s account for 61% of all ETH transactions

Israel Authorities Freeze Hamas-Linked Crypto Accounts on Binance - Decrypt

Israeli authorities, in coordination with the crypto exchange Binance, froze accounts suspected with suspected links to Hamas.

⌐◪-◪ → This is a friendly reminder of the crypto saying - not your keys, not your coins. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for fighting terror, but I also think it’s important to highlight the control governments + centralized exchanges have over customer funds. It’s not really crypto if they can freeze and seize your assets. It also begs the question, what happens to any unrelated wallets/accounts that have touched “dirty money”?

Bitcoiner drops BitVM paper — Bringing Ethereum-like contracts to Bitcoin

Bitcoin developer Robin Linus of ZeroSync has unveiled “BitVM,” which proposes to bring Ethereum-like contracts to life on Bitcoin. Its architecture is based on fraud proofs and its implementation doesn’t require a hard fork.

⌐◪-◪ → Bitcoin maxis are trying to bring Ethereum-like functionality to their network, claiming that any computable function can be verified on Bitcoin, per BitVM’s new whitepaper. However, the Ethereum community remains skeptical, citing major limitations. It’s hard to have Ethereum’s functionality with Bitcoin’s security, but that is the goal.

Layer-2 Blockchains Host Most Ethereum Transactions: Messari - Decrypt

"It's very good for Base that Friend.tech chose it for launch," says Messari senior research analyst Kunal Goel.

⌐◪-◪ → This is a new all-time high for L2 transactions, but the question is can it last? The growth came largely from Base’s explosive launch, which was fueled by Friend Tech, the viral social app that recently saw an 80% drop in volume. For a visual of Ethereum L2 usage, check out this nice visual from Messari.

Peripheral Vision ⌐◪-◪

⛓️ Crypto & DeFi

  • 95% of BTC supply hasn’t moved in the past month, new all-time high

  • Pro-BTC Presidential Candidate, RFK, leaves Dems to go Indie

  • Bitcoin dominance vs. other cryptocurrencies at 3-month high

  • After FTX failed, Binance launched $1B rescue plan, only $30M used

  • 3Commas, trading platform, hit with 2nd security breach this year

  • Leading BTC miners increase hash rate in Q3 despite tough summer

  • Bitmain, BTC miner, pays delayed staff wages after cash flow issues

  • FTX may have lost billions during last year’s hack due to poor security

  • Ripple CFO Kristina Campbell leaves the company

🏦 Wallstreet

  • Fidelity says BTC is the most secure & decentralized digital money

🏛️ Legal & Regulatory

  • Trader Joe’s sues crypto DEX over matching name, Trader Joe

  • CTFC voting on penalizing co-founder of bankrupt lender, Voyager

  • SBF’s attorneys make last minute request to enter new evidence

  • Caroline Ellison to give pivotal testimony today in SBF’s criminal case

  • Gary Wang calls out SBF for lying in a tweet during FTX's downfall

🌎 Rest of the World

🖼️ NFTs & Metaverse

Spectacular Shoutouts ⌐◪-◪

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