Cryptocurrency

Binance Accused of Sharing Customers Data With Russian Government

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2022

In a lengthy report obtained by Investors King, one of the world’s leading business media platforms Reuters had accused Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange platform of sharing client data, including names and addresses with the Russian government.

According to the report, a particular Russian agency known as Rosfinmonitoring or Rosfin was looking to track bitcoin donated to the now-jailed Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Therefore, approached Binance, who at the time was seeking license/approval to operate in Russia, for the details of donors to the Navalny network, the now proscribed network by the Russian government.

Explaining the reason for the move, Rosfinmonitor claimed the donations were used to finance those seeking to expose corruption inside Vladimir Putin’s government.

Quoting text messages reportedly shared by one of Binance’s officials with a business associate, Reuters said Gleb Kostarev, the head of Binance Eastern Europe and Russia, agreed to the request to share client data. He, however, claimed he didn’t have “much of a choice”.

In response to Reuters, Binance declared the report false and denied ever sharing user data, including Alexei Navalny with Russian FSB-controlled agencies and Russian regulators.

The leading cryptocurrency platform said “Prior to the war, Binance’s engagement in Russia was no different from that of any other international organization – from banks to burger restaurants.

“Like every other blockchain company with users in Russia, prior to the War with Ukraine, Binance was advocating for Russia to develop an effective crypto regulatory framework – an effort we are undertaking in every market we operate in.

“As soon as the war started, we stopped working in Russia. Instead, we implemented sanction requirements. Today, as far as we know, Binance is the ONLY crypto exchange in the world to implement the latest package of sanctions imposed by the European Union aim at Russian account holders.”

Binance further stated that it had donated over $10 million to Ukraine’s humanitarian unit since the war started, a gesture commanded by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation himself.

However, Binance said as a law-abiding organisation it has a process that allows any government or law enforcement agency to request user data from the company via legal means. Suggesting it is possible Russia had requested the data prior to the war, like the U.S and other governments.

“On the specific matter of not sharing data – today, any government or law enforcement agency in the world can request user data from Binance as long as it is accompanied by the proper legal authority. In fact, we have developed a landing page specifically for this purpose which has been in place for over one year which is used by leading law enforcement agencies from around the world. Russia is no different. Fulfilling disclosure obligations to the authorities in each jurisdiction is a large part of becoming a regulated business and Binance fulfills its legal obligations.”

It should be recalled that earlier in the year, many Nigerians accused Binance of blocking their accounts without any reason. In response, Binance had claimed those accounts were ordered closed by the FBI. Meaning, the leading cryptocurrency platform is not decentralised but a very centralised organisation that works in tandem with conventional policies.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Bitcoin

Bitcoin Fails to Hold $63,000 Amid Weak Risk Appetite, Growing Selling Pressure

Published

4 days ago

October 8, 2024

Samed Olukoya

bitcoin to Nigerian Naira - Investors King

Bitcoin remains below $63,000 after failing to hold above it over the past two days while Ethereum is also struggling to reclaim $2,440.

The crypto market has been trading sideways since the beginning of this week.

The cautious moves in the crypto market come amid uncertainty over a range of economic and political factors in the US and geopolitics in the Middle East.

Add to that the potential selling pressure that the US government may exert with its permission to sell around 70,000 Bitcoin.

The Supreme Court has allowed the US Marshals Service to proceed with the sale of 69,370 Bitcoins seized from the Silk Road online store, which would be the largest sale of its kind in history. While the nature and pace of this selling is not yet known, it will not necessarily put downward pressure on prices if it is done in over-the-counter (OTC)
transactions, according to Beincrypto.

As for the economic side, in light of the surprise labor market numbers that were much better than expected and Jerome Powell’s hawkish speech, hopes for a rapid continuation of interest rate cuts this year have diminished. While the relatively high rates remain for a longer period and the continued rise in Treasury bond yields will weaken appetite for risky assets in general, including cryptocurrencies.

Whereas, after the hypothesis of a half-percentage point cut at the next November meeting was the most likely, it has now become excluded in the Fed Fund futures market, and the probability of a quarter-percentage point cut has become 87%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The remaining 13% is for the possibility of keeping current rates unchanged.

The state of caution may also prevail in the markets in the coming weeks, as we anticipate the presidential elections in the United States, which will begin next month. While the outcome of these elections could cause a structural shift in the crypto industry.

Far away, in the Middle East, markets are still anticipating the nature of the expected escalation in the region, especially regarding the nature of the Israeli response to the unprecedented attack from Iran and the nature of the counter-response. While one of the most prominent scenarios is targeting energy facilities, which would bring inflation back to the forefront, which in turn may require central banks to keep interest rates high.

Cryptocurrency

Will Pump-and-Dump Fun Kill the Meme Coin Frenzy in 2024?

Published

4 weeks ago

September 15, 2024

Temitayo Olukoya

The meme coin market, once dominated by viral hits like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, is facing a new challenge in 2024: the rise of pump-and-dump schemes masquerading as community-driven fun.

These events, organized on social media platforms, encourage participants to collectively buy a meme coin, inflating its price before early investors quickly sell, leaving many with heavy losses.

While pump-and-dump schemes are not new to crypto, 2024 has seen them take on a new form in the meme coin space, branded as “fun events” or “pump parties.” Communities treat these schemes as a kind of joke, with memes about losing money or rockets crashing back to Earth, softening the blow of financial risk. However, this emerging trend has begun to erode trust in meme coins.

Meme coins, by nature, thrive on internet culture, hype, and community sentiment. Their value is rarely tied to any real utility, making them particularly susceptible to manipulation. As more pump-and-dump schemes surface, many fear that investors, especially newcomers, may begin to associate all meme coins with high risk and fleeting value.

This shift could mark the beginning of the end for the meme coin craze. Established tokens like Dogecoin may survive thanks to their strong communities, but lesser-known meme coins may struggle to gain traction as pump-and-dump events increase skepticism.

The future of meme coins depends on whether the community can move past these schemes and find more sustainable ways to build value—or risk being seen as nothing more than a fleeting, high-stakes game.

Cryptocurrency

Telegram Mini Apps Ushers in a New Era For Airdrop Hunters

Published

4 weeks ago

September 15, 2024

Temitayo Olukoya

Telegram, a social media platform has taken center stage with the rise of a new wave of mini-apps designed specifically to streamline the airdrop process, thereby gaining an increase in momentum within the crypto communities.

The crypto industry had always been about innovation, but airdrops—free token giveaways by blockchain projects—had long been plagued by inefficiencies. Manual distribution was slow and error-prone, scammers frequently exploited the process, and users often struggled to keep track of the numerous airdrops they were eligible for.

However, Telegrams’ simple user interface allowed projects to upload their token pools and define criteria for participants, such as holding specific tokens or completing tasks like following social media accounts, playing games, linking crypto wallets and others for airdrop eligibility.

List of Airdrops for Telegram Users

Fintopia
Blum
X Empire
PocketFi
Hamster Kombat
Hot
Tomarket
OGC
Sidekickfan
Major
TonxDao
Notgram
Memefi
Agent 301
Zesh
Acki Nacki
Vertus
Tapswap
Catizen
Cats
TonStation

Catizen Airdrop
Catizen is set to airdrop its tokens on September 20, 2024. The game focuses on AI-powered cat characters, offering users a play-to-earn experience with dynamic AI interaction. This anticipated airdrop event is expected to increase the game’s player base significantly.

Hamster Kombat Airdrop
Hamster Kombat will have its airdrop on September 26, 2024. As one of the most popular Telegram-based battle games, players engage in competitive combat using unique hamster characters. Don’t miss out on this exciting airdrop before the official listing.

Cats Telegram Airdrop
The Cats Telegram project has announced its airdrop event for the end of September 2024. The game features feline characters, and players can earn tokens through engaging challenges and missions. With an enthusiastic community, the airdrop is expected to boost user engagement.

Major Airdrop
Major, a rising star in the play-to-earn arena, will conduct its airdrop on October 1, 2024. Players can expect immersive gameplay with various missions and rewards. This airdrop will precede its highly anticipated listing, so be sure to participate.

TonStation Airdrop
TonStation, known for integrating the TON blockchain into play-to-earn mechanics, will hold its airdrop on October 6, 2024. The game offers players a chance to earn tokens through interactive station-building tasks. Secure your tokens during this airdrop event!

MemeFi Airdrop
MemeFi’s airdrop will take place on October 9, 2024, offering users a chance to earn valuable tokens. This Telegram-based game merges memes with financial strategies, creating a fun yet profitable play-to-earn experience. Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

X Empire Airdrop
X Empire, known for its competitive empire-building gameplay, will airdrop tokens on October 15, 2024. Players can expect an engaging experience with strategic challenges. This airdrop precedes its listing, offering players an early chance to grab in-game assets.

TapSwap Airdrop
TapSwap is set to host its airdrop in mid-October 2024. This game allows players to earn tokens through quick, tap-based challenges. With its rising popularity, the airdrop is expected to attract a large number of participants. Stay tuned for the exact date!

PocketFi Airdrop
PocketFi’s airdrop is scheduled for Q4 2024. This play-to-earn game combines DeFi features with fun, interactive missions. Players can earn tokens through various in-game activities. The exact airdrop date will be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates.

Blum Crypto Airdrop
Blum Crypto is set to conduct its airdrop in Q4 2024. This game blends blockchain technology with immersive gameplay, offering players the chance to earn tokens. The airdrop is anticipated to draw significant interest from the Telegram gaming community.