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  • 10/24/23: BlackRock Secures Ticker for Bitcoin ETF 🪨💰🤫

10/24/23: BlackRock Secures Ticker for Bitcoin ETF 🪨💰🤫

Author

Valko
October 24, 2023

Top News

  • 🪨 BlackRock’s ETF on DTCC website with ticker iBTC | The Block

  • 💰 Nym’s Innovation Fund raises $300M for privacy infra | CoinDesk

  • 🤫 Binance rumored to settle for billions of dollars | @KasperLoock

BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF appears on DTCC website with ticker IBTC

BlackRock's proposed spot bitcoin ETF turned up on list maintained by the DTCC with the ticker IBTC. It's still pending review by the SEC.

⌐◪-◪ → Congratulations to BlackRock and iShares for locking up the clean ticker, $iBTC. This move has investors wondering whether the pending Bitcoin ETFs will be approved simulteneously or one-by-one. I surely wouldn’t want to be the guy who has to explain to the public why one got approved before others. The real question is, who’s going to secure the ultimate ticker? → $HODL.

Nym Technologies Attracts $300M in Crypto Fund Commitments for Privacy Infrastructure

The Nym Innovation Fund, with commitments from investors such as Polychain, KR1, Huobi Incubator and Eden Block, supports projects looking to safeguard privacy in the crypto ecosystem.

⌐◪-◪ → Crypto VC activity is picking up again, with several sizeable rounds over the last few weeks. This fund however, is on a different level, with $300M raised from top-tier firms like Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain, HashKey, KR1, and others. Its refreshing to see VC’s prioritize privacy tech - which if you know me - is the sector I’m most bullish on in crypto. The public ledger is a dystopian nightmare IMO and must be addressed before full-scale adoption.

Rumors leak that Binance is settling for billions of dollars.

Now that it’s already starting to leak that Binance is settling for billions, might as well know the other big rumor...

⌐◪-◪ → While these rumors remain unconfirmed, they come in conjunction with other daming news - like Binance US halting direct dollar withdrawals or their many executive departures, including the head of Binance UK this week. But wait, there’s more…rumors also indicate that CZ may be stepping down as CEO. On the bright side, if Binance goes bust, we can buy Bitcoin at a discount!

Peripheral Vision

⛓️ Crypto & DeFi

  • Coinbase refutes rumors of BTC withdrawal limits | CoinDesk

  • North America leads the world in crypto usage, over 25% | The Block

  • Ethereum gas fees spike by 5x from 9 to 45 gwei | CoinDesk

  • Tether stablecoin hits record $84B, 70% of market | CryptoSlate

  • Lightspark aims to break down global payment barriers | Blockworks

  • DYdX open sources V4 code for upcoming Cosmos Chain | CoinDesk

  • PEPE memecoin burns $5.5M tokens, outpaces Bitcoin | CoinDesk

  • Safereum exit scam results in $1.27M loss after $600k raise | Decrypt

  • Bitmain announces miner built for zk-powered Aleo chain | CoinDesk

🏦 Wallstreet & VC

  • Ark Invest sells Coinbase & GBTC shares as Bitcoin rallies | The Block

  • NASD Raises $3.3M Seed Round for asset issuance | CoinDesk

  • Deutsche Bank completes 1st stablecoin swap on UDPN | The Block

  • Cube Exchange raises $9M for hybrid trading platform | CoinDesk

  • Archax to launch regulated exchange for tokenized assets | CoinDesk

🏛️ Legal & Regulatory

  • Grayscale’s victory over SEC confirmed by US courts | The Block

  • SEC officials are shocked by spot Bitcoin ETF delays | Decrypt

  • Coinbase to make final case to kill SEC accusations today | CoinDesk

  • Binance says CTFC is trying to police the world | CoinDesk

  • Fireblocks taps former NY regulator for compliance | The Block

🌎 Rest of the World

  • Head of Binance UK and CEO of Bitfinity leaves company | CoinDase

  • Argentina’s pro-BTC candidate head to run-off election | CoinDesk

  • Brazil’s Central Bank plots CBDC adoption | The Block

🖼️ NFTs & Metaverse

  • Jack Butcher has an upcoming Velocity Pass drop | @punk9059

  • Async Art announced decision to cease operations | LuckyTrader

  • FriendTech user dumps $1.5M & switches to Bitcoin dApp | CoinDesk

  • Film3 summit returns to LA this weekend | Decrypt

Spectacular Shoutout

Epic shoutout from @redlioneye, who does amazing reporting on all things crypto with his project @redlion.

To get featured here → give us a shoutout on 𝕏!

Remember: price is a lagging indicator.

If you’ve been reading Specs daily, today shouldn’t be a surprise.