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Bitcoin Surge: 73% of Millionaires Already Invested or Plan to Invest in Cryptocurrencies

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As Bitcoin hits $17,800 – near all-time highs – nearly three-quarters of high net worth individuals will be invested in cryptocurrencies before the end of 2022, reveals a new global poll.

The survey, carried out by deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations, finds that 73% of poll participants are now already invested in or will make investments in digital currencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, before the end of 2022.

The findings come as the price of Bitcoin rallied to $17,858 – almost at the $19,763 all-time high reached in December 2017.

The surge takes the leading cryptocurrency’s total market capitalisation to over $315 billion, just below its $335 billion record.

The 700-plus respondents are clients who currently reside in North America, the UK, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Australasia and Latin America.

‘High net worth’ is classified in this context as having a more than £1m (or equivalent) in investable assets.

Of the survey, deVere Group CEO and founder, Nigel Green, who launched the pioneering deVere Crypto app in 2018, said: “The price of Bitcoin is up 125% year-to-date, making it once again one of the best-performing assets of the year.

“As the survey shows, this impressive performance is drawing the attention of wealthy investors who increasingly understand that digital currencies are the future of money and they don’t want to be left in the past.”

The same poll undertaken last year found that 68% of high net worth individuals are now already invested in or will make investments in digital currencies before the end of 2022, meaning there has been a jump of 5% year-on-year.

He continues: “No doubt that many of these HNWs who were polled have seen that a major driver of the price surge is the growing interest being expressed by institutional investors who are capitalising on the high returns that the digital asset class is currently offering.

“They – including some of the biggest Wall Street banks amongst others – are now aware that the world’s biggest and most influential decentralised currency isn’t going anywhere.

“This will mean that they are set to bring even more of their knowledge and capital into the already booming sector – and this is unlikely to have been overlooked by wealthy retail investors.

Mr Green goes on to add: “Nor too will the recent decision by one of the biggest payment companies in the world, PayPal, to allow customers to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin, have gone unnoticed.”

In addition, the deVere CEO says that investors are being attracted to bullish Bitcoin as it is a “legitimate hedge against longer-term inflation concerns which have come to the fore due to stimulus packages” – more of which are promised by major governments and central banks around the world.

“These emergency measures, like the massive money-printing agenda, reduce the value of traditional currencies like the dollar.

“Other inherent characteristics of cryptocurrencies are piquing interest too. These include that they’re borderless, making them perfectly suited to an ever globalised world of commerce, trade, and people; that they are digital, making them perfectly suited for the increasing digitalization of our world; and that demographics are on the side of cryptocurrencies as younger people are more likely to embrace them than older generations.”

Mr Green concludes: “High net worth individuals are not prepared to miss out on the future of money and are rebalancing their portfolios towards these digital assets.”

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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Binance Boss Behind Bars: CZ Sentenced to Four Months for Crypto Exchange Failures

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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has been sentenced to four months in prison for his role in security failures that enabled cybercriminals and terrorist groups to exploit the Binance platform.

The verdict, delivered by US District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle, is the first time a chief executive officer of a major cryptocurrency exchange has been incarcerated for breaching banking secrecy laws.

The courtroom, packed with onlookers and CZ’s legal team, witnessed the billionaire entrepreneur, clad in a dark suit and light blue tie, receive his sentence stoically.

Despite fervent pleas from prosecutors for a three-year sentence to set a precedent in the crypto industry, Judge Jones opted for a shorter term.

In his statement, Judge Jones emphasized that no individual, regardless of wealth or status, is exempt from accountability under the law.

The case against CZ stemmed from a protracted investigation by the US Department of Justice, casting a long shadow over Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and its high-profile leader.

Prosecutors argued that CZ’s failure to implement adequate money laundering safeguards facilitated illicit transactions, enabling cybercriminals and even terrorist groups like Hamas to operate freely on the platform.

The sentencing also comes on the heels of similar crackdowns within the cryptocurrency space, including the recent conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, a former crypto titan who received a 25-year prison sentence for defrauding FTX customers of billions of dollars.

CZ’s defense team, however, contended that he should be spared imprisonment due to his non-US citizenship, which they argued put him at heightened risk in a US detention facility.

Nevertheless, Judge Jones emphasized the gravity of CZ’s offenses, terming them “unprecedented” in scale and impact.

In a post-sentencing statement on social media, CZ expressed acceptance of his fate, vowing to “do his time” and focus on education and philanthropy upon his release.

Despite his impending incarceration, CZ affirmed his commitment to the cryptocurrency sector as a passive investor.

The implications of CZ’s sentencing extend beyond his personal fate, raising questions about regulatory oversight and accountability within the burgeoning crypto industry.

Federal prosecutor Kevin Mosley underscored the deliberate nature of CZ’s violations, arguing that they were not mere oversights but intentional breaches of US law.

As CZ prepares to serve his prison term at Seattle’s Federal Detention Center, SeaTac, the crypto community grapples with the repercussions of his downfall.

The episode serves as a stark reminder that, despite the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies, regulatory scrutiny and legal accountability remain paramount in an increasingly interconnected financial landscape.

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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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