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Paxful to Build School in Nigeria Under Its 100 School Initiative to Support Emerging Markets

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Paxful, a Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Marketplace to Commence School Construction in Nigeria

Paxful, a global peer-to-peer bitcoin marketplace, has announced that they will be building a fourth school in its Built with Bitcoin’s 100-school initiative which aims to bring quality education centers to emerging countries.

Located in Nigeria, the school will come fully equipped with a state-of-the-art solar-powered and water well system.

The new school will be built in the Ankara Nandu community of Sanga Local in Nigeria and will serve an estimated 100-120 children between the ages of three to six years old. Home to roughly 4,000 people, the city currently has only one school facility which is being used for both primary and secondary school purposes.

“We chose this particular community because of the limited resources and school infrastructure,” says Ray Youssef, CEO and co-founder of Paxful. “They are in dire need of quality learning spaces and this school is an honest representation of the impact Bitcoin can have on societies as a whole, and more specifically, how it can enhance education.”

The new school will double as an adult learning space in the evenings assisting in providing hundreds of people with a supplemental education. In response to safety requirements associated with COVID-19, The company will also provide Personal Protective Equipment for all teachers and students including face-masks and hand sanitizers.

Earlier in September, the company revealed (https://bit.ly/35Vrj88) its business expansion into Nigeria, their leading market in Africa in terms of volume and number of users. To strengthen operations and cement a physical presence in the country, Paxful appointed Nena Nwachukwu as Regional Manager for Nigeria.

Movement to empower education in Africa

Supporting over 400 students at present, Paxful’s #BuiltwithBitcoin initiative began in 2017 with partner Zam Zam Water, a humanitarian organisation devoted to eradicating poverty by providing clean, sustainable water and access to quality education to villages across the globe. The first two schools were built in Rwanda and the third school was built in Mukalala Village in Machakos County in Kenya earlier this year.

Through the 100-school plan, the company expects to bring education to nearly 15,000 young people throughout Africa while providing jobs to nearly 300 teachers. All schools, including the newest location in Nigeria, come with water filtration systems, not just to supply the locals, but also to give them an opportunity to sell the water to their local community at a very affordable price.

All the schools are also equipped with solar panels to cut spends on electricity and bypass regular electricity cuts. Paxful covers all fees associated with running a school including teacher and support staff salaries, bills for electricity and water as well as school supplies and uniforms for the students.

Supporting ongoing development and tracking success

All the completed schools under the #BuiltwithBitcoin initiative are progressing and performing very well as the company remains committed in providing the necessary tools and opportunity for the students to succeed. Continuous upgrades are made, and maintenance of the schools are monitored.

The passing rates within these schools have been higher as the confidence of the students are boosted with each child receiving their own textbooks in addition to basic school stationery supplies. Usually students share handbooks and textbooks and leave them at the school for use by other students.

As the communities always have more students than what the schools’ capacity can cater for, the initiative adopted a two-tier class approach, by having all the schools provide classes in four-hour blocks in the mornings and in the afternoons. This helps to support the highest number of students possible and not allow the quality of education to be affected. Desk space has also been limited to two to three students per bench to facilitate a healthy teaching environment.

Understanding the important role, they play in the success of the schools and learning journeys of the students, teachers and educators at these schools are also paid 15% above the national average of their salary, respective to their country.

“Each one of our schools follows the curriculum of their respective ministry of education. All textbooks, guidelines, and calendars fulfill all necessary requirements for testing and progress. Local officials have been supportive of the initiative’s efforts as we simply want the students to be able to succeed and graduate onto higher education by ensuring their educational foundation is strong and capable,” adds Youssef.

Aside from building schools, #Builtwithbitcoin has also supported a number of other philanthropic causes in various countries including Kenya and South Africa.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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U.S. Prosecutors Recommend 36-Month Prison Term for Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao

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In a significant development in the legal saga surrounding Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, U.S. prosecutors have recommended a 36-month prison term for its founder, Changpeng Zhao.

The recommendation follows Zhao’s guilty plea to violating laws against money laundering, a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle between Binance and U.S. authorities.

Zhao, commonly known as CZ, stepped down as Binance’s chief last November, simultaneously admitting to the violations alongside the exchange.

The firm agreed to a hefty penalty of $4.32 billion as part of the settlement with prosecutors.

According to court filings submitted to the U.S. district court for the western district of Washington, prosecutors argued that the magnitude of Zhao’s willful violation of U.S. law warranted an above-guidelines sentence.

While federal sentencing guidelines set a maximum term of 18 months in prison for Zhao, prosecutors emphasized the severity of the violations and their consequences in advocating for the extended sentence.

The legal scrutiny surrounding Binance stems from allegations that the exchange failed to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions involving designated terrorist groups such as Hamas, al Qaeda, and ISIS.

Furthermore, prosecutors alleged that Binance’s platform facilitated the sale of child sexual abuse materials and served as a recipient of a significant portion of ransomware proceeds.

As part of the settlement, Zhao agreed to pay a $50 million fine and disengage from any involvement with Binance, the platform he founded in 2017.

The penalties imposed on Binance included a staggering $1.81 billion criminal fine and restitution of $2.51 billion.

The recommendation for a 36-month prison term underscores the seriousness with which U.S. authorities are addressing violations within the cryptocurrency industry.

The outcome of Zhao’s sentencing, scheduled for April 30 in Seattle, will likely have far-reaching implications for both Binance and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders across the industry are closely monitoring developments to gauge their impact on the future of cryptocurrency exchanges and their founders.

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SEC Philippines Urges Removal of Binance App from Google Play Store and Apple App Store

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines has intensified its regulatory oversight over cryptocurrency trading platforms, particularly targeting Binance, one of the world’s largest digital asset exchanges.

In a bold move, the SEC Philippines has formally requested the removal of the Binance app from both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The action, disclosed through letters addressed to Google and Apple on April 19, 2024, underscores the SEC’s concerns regarding unauthorized investment solicitation activities facilitated by the Binance platform.

SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino emphasized that allowing access to the Binance app and website poses a significant threat to the security of funds belonging to Filipino investors.

This move represents a significant escalation in the Philippines’ regulatory efforts to safeguard investors and maintain financial stability within the cryptocurrency market.

The SEC’s decision to target Binance reflects growing concerns globally regarding the lack of oversight and potential risks associated with digital asset trading platforms.

Binance, known for its extensive range of cryptocurrency trading services, has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide.

While the company has made efforts to comply with regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of investor protection measures and compliance protocols.

The SEC Philippines’ call for the removal of the Binance app from major app stores highlights the regulator’s determination to enforce strict oversight and uphold investor confidence in the country’s financial markets.

The move is likely to have implications not only for Binance but also for other cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the Philippines and beyond.

Investors and industry stakeholders are closely monitoring developments, awaiting further updates on the SEC’s regulatory actions and their potential impact on the cryptocurrency ecosystem in the Philippines.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, market participants are urged to exercise caution and stay informed about evolving regulatory requirements and compliance obligations in the digital asset space.

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Binance Loses Ground in Global Bitcoin Trading Amid Regulatory Challenges

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Binance, once a dominant force in global Bitcoin trading, is now facing significant headwinds as regulatory challenges and intensified competition reshape the industry.

Over the past year, Binance has share of the market had declined outside the United States.

According to data from research firm Kaiko, Binance’s market share in non-US Bitcoin trading has plummeted from 81.3% to 55.3%.

The trend is mirrored in the trading of smaller cryptocurrencies, known as altcoins, where Binance’s share has dropped from 58% to 50.5%.

The decline in Binance’s market share can be attributed to several factors. One significant factor is the cessation of a promotion that previously waived trading fees, which drew in substantial trading volumes.

With the end of this promotion, offshore markets have become less concentrated, allowing smaller exchanges to gain momentum and capture a larger share of the trading activity.

Platforms such as Bybit and OKX have emerged as formidable competitors to Binance, expanding their presence in regions like Asia.

Bybit, in particular, has seen its share of non-US Bitcoin trading surge from 2% to 9.3%, while OKX’s share has risen from 3% to 7.3%. These exchanges have capitalized on Binance’s vulnerabilities, seizing market share and establishing themselves as viable alternatives for cryptocurrency traders.

Binance’s challenges are further compounded by ongoing regulatory scrutiny and legal issues. In November of last year, Binance and its co-founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to US anti-money laundering and sanctions violations.

The company has since been working to rebuild its reputation and navigate a complex regulatory environment, particularly in the United States.

Under the leadership of its new CEO, Richard Teng, a former regulator in Singapore, Binance has implemented stricter token listing rules and appointed a board of directors to enhance oversight and compliance measures.

Despite these efforts, the exchange continues to face regulatory challenges and uncertainty, which have undoubtedly impacted its market position and reputation.

The broader cryptocurrency industry has experienced significant growth, fueled by a fourfold increase in the price of Bitcoin since the beginning of last year.

However, Binance’s diminishing market share underscores the rapidly changing dynamics of the industry, where regulatory compliance and competitive pressures are reshaping the landscape of global cryptocurrency trading.

As Binance navigates these challenges, the future of the exchange and its position in the cryptocurrency market remain uncertain.

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