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$623M in Bitcoin From 2016 Bitfinex Hack Moved Under Cover of Coinbase Listing Hype

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Over $623 million worth of bitcoin (BTC, -0.74%) (BTC) stolen Bitfinex in 2016 was moved on Wednesday, according to Twitter account Whale Alert, coming on the same day the whole market celebrated a milestone in crypto history: Coinbase’s direct listing on Nasdaq.

Trade The Chain, a real-time crypto data service, confirmed the number of bitcoin moved and said it amounts to about 10% of the total 119,756 BTC stolen from Bitfinex in 2016’s hack.

The activity came as cryptocurrency exchange giant Coinbase went live with its direct listing on Nasdaq and analysts told CoinDesk that the timing may not be a coincidence.

“We believe that the BTC transfers started during the trading for Coinbase’s direct listing,” Nick Mancini, research analyst at Trade the Chain, told CoinDesk in an interview. “The media shields allow them to at least get less publicity, considering there are fewer people tracking their movements or reporting it … everyone’s focused on the Coinbase listing.”

As Decrypt previously reported, over 5,000 BTC was also moved on Nov. 30 from the same stolen fund.

The November move of the funds came as bitcoin’s price headed toward $20,000, a record high price at the time.
But some suggested that the move is unlikely to create any near-term risks to bitcoin’s price.

“The 2016 Bitfinex hack BTC are some of the most tracked and blacklisted funds in the world,” Adam Cochran, a partner with Cinneamhain Venture, wrote in a tweet. “No exchange will process them. They can basically never be cashed out.”

However, with the rise of decentralized exchanges, Mancini said that there might be ways for the “bad actors” from the hack to obfuscate the addresses of the stolen bitcoin through popular crypto fundraising methods such as initial DEX offerings (IDOs).

“Although it is time-consuming, difficult, and somewhat trackable, we have seen with the wallets of where the money was transferred, they are already trying to obfuscate everything as best as possible,” Mancini said. “I suspect that this is not the final destination for these coins but the first destination for a path of many ways that these bad actors will take to eventually extract value out of the bitcoin. “

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Bitcoin

Bitcoin (BTC) Holds Steady Above $70,900 as Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) Outflows Increase

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Bitcoin (BTC) maintains its stronghold above $70,900 despite increasing outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC).

As reported by CheckonChain, a total of $124.9 million flowed out of GBTC recently, contrasting with modest inflows into other investment vehicles like Fidelity’s FBTC and Bitwise’s BITB.

This trend has prompted speculation within the market regarding its impact on Bitcoin’s price dynamics.

While some believe that continued outflows from GBTC may exert selling pressure on BTC, driving down prices, others adopt a more cautious approach.

They argue that such outflows are expected from GBTC, given its relatively higher fee structure compared to alternative investment options.

Traders, however, seem to be pricing in a degree of stability for Bitcoin in the coming weeks, with optimistic forecasts on platforms like Polymarket.

According to predictions, there’s a 60% chance that BTC will reach $75,000 by the end of April, while the likelihood of it hitting $80,000 stands at 32%.

Despite the varying sentiments among market participants, Bitcoin’s resilience above the $70,900 mark underscores its status as a cornerstone asset in the crypto space.

Investors continue to monitor developments closely, navigating through the complex interplay of factors influencing Bitcoin’s price trajectory.

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Bitcoin Tests $66,000 Amidst Volatility Forecast

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As Bitcoin surged to a $66,000 price level during Asian trading hours, cryptocurrency markets brace for heightened volatility, with market observers predicting turbulent times ahead.

The cryptocurrency’s price volatility has been a subject of much discussion, particularly in light of recent events.

Semir Gabeljic, Director of Capital Formation at Pythagoras Investments, who highlighted the ongoing volatility cited a recent drawdown of 10% fueled by spot Bitcoin ETF outflows from GBTC, totaling approximately $300 million on March 20.

Gabeljic emphasized that such drawdowns typically occur in the lead-up to Bitcoin halving events, signaling a potential for increased volatility in the near future.

Meanwhile, the CoinDesk 20 (CD20), which tracks the world’s most liquid digital assets, experienced a minor dip of 0.5%.

However, amidst this overall market movement, CoinDesk’s Digitization Index (DTZ) saw a notable uptick, led by protocols like Ethereum Name Service (ENS), which rose by 2.7% during Asia trading hours.

Singapore-based trading firm QCP Capital noted the current consolidation in the market, with Bitcoin and Ethereum trading within a relatively tight range.

They suggested that the market might see a pause in activity over the weekend following the volatility leading up to the previous weekend’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

Also, QCP Capital highlighted the continued outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), expecting a fourth consecutive day of BTC spot exchange-traded fund net outflows.

The firm also pointed out a widening discount on Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and the market’s diminishing expectations for the approval of a spot Ethereum ETF.

With Bitcoin’s test of $66,000 and ongoing market dynamics, cryptocurrency investors and analysts remain vigilant, anticipating further fluctuations in the days to come.

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Binance CEO Forecasts Bitcoin Surge Beyond $80,000 on Institutional Inflows

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Binance Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng has set his sights on Bitcoin surging beyond the $80,000 price level on the back of rising institutional investments into crypto-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Speaking at an event in Bangkok on Sunday, Teng highlighted the significant impact of the launch of Bitcoin ETFs in the United States earlier this year.

He noted that this development has attracted a considerable influx of institutional investors, propelling fresh funds into the cryptocurrency market.

Teng expressed confidence in Bitcoin’s upward trajectory, emphasizing that “we’re just getting started.”

Initially estimating Bitcoin to reach around $80,000 by the end of the year, Teng now believes that the cryptocurrency’s price will surpass this milestone.

He attributed this bullish outlook to a combination of decreasing supply and sustained demand within the market.

However, he cautioned that the rally wouldn’t be without its fluctuations, suggesting that the market’s ups and downs would ultimately benefit its overall health.

Bitcoin has already surged by an impressive 56% this year, reaching a record high of nearly $73,798 last week.

Despite concerns among some investors about a potential bubble, Teng remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s future trajectory.

Teng’s forecast comes in the wake of his appointment as CEO of Binance, succeeding co-founder Changpeng Zhao in November following the company’s $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities.

With relentless inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs since their approval in January, Teng expects further institutional adoption in the near term, with more endowments and family offices anticipated to increase their allocations into Bitcoin ETFs.

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