Cryptocurrency

Global Currency Adoption Index Jumps 881 Percent, Nigeria Ranked Sixth

Published

3 years ago

August 19, 2021

Nigeria ranks sixth in the global cryptocurrency adoption index to become the second African country in the top 10 list, according to the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index by blockchain data platform Chainalysis.

Cryptocurrency adoption has skyrocketed in the last twelve months, and the variation in the countries contributing to that show that cryptocurrency is a truly global phenomenon. The worldwide adoption of cryptocurrency has grown by over 2,300 percent since the third quarter of 2019 and over 881 percent in the last year.

“Our research suggests that reasons for this increased adoption differ around the world — in emerging markets, many turn to cryptocurrency to preserve their savings in the face of currency devaluation, send and receive remittances, and carry out business transactions, while adoption in North America, Western Europe, and Eastern Asia over the last year has been powered largely by institutional investors,” the report said.

The blockchain data analytics firm explained that its Global Crypto Adoption Index is made up of three metrics. The first is “on-chain cryptocurrency value received, weighted by purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita.” The second is “on-chain retail value transferred, weighted by PPP per capita,” and the third is “peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange trade volume, weighted by PPP per capita and the number of internet users.”

Chainalysis noted that the biggest change to its new crypto adoption index methodology from last year’s index “was the elimination of a fourth metric,” which was the “Number of deposits by country weighted by [the] number of internet users.

“We rank all 154 countries according to each of those three metrics, take the geometric mean of each country’s ranking in all three, and then normalize that final number on a scale of 0 to 1 to give every country a score that determines the overall rankings. The closer the country’s final score is to 1, the higher the rank.”

According to the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index, Vietnam ranks first, followed by India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Kenya, Nigeria, Venezuela, and the U.S.

2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index- Investors King

The top 20 countries in Chainalysis’ 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index and their rankings in the component metrics that make up the overall ranking. Source: Chainalysis

China and the U.S. dipped in the new overall ranking. Last year, China ranked fourth overall while the U.S. ranked sixth. This year, the U.S. ranks eighth while China ranks 13th. “The biggest reason both countries dropped is that their rankings in P2P trade volume weighted for internet-using population declined dramatically — China fell from 53rd in this component to 155th, while the U.S. fell from 16th to 109th,” Chainalysis detailed.

“Growing transaction volume for centralized services and the explosive growth of DeFi [decentralized finance] are driving cryptocurrency usage in the developed world and in countries that already had substantial adoption, while P2P platforms are driving new adoption in emerging markets,” the firm explained.

Chainalysis revealed that “data shows that growing transaction volume for centralized services and the explosive growth of DeFi are driving cryptocurrency usage in the developed world and in countries that already had substantial adoption, while P2P platforms are driving new adoption in emerging markets.”

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Cryptocurrency

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, NEAR Protocol Soar 5%-10% in Cryptocurrency Rebound

Published

18 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and NEAR Protocol have seen impressive gains ranging from 5% to 10%, igniting optimism among investors after a period of volatility.

Dogecoin, the meme-inspired digital currency, surged by 5% to add to its recent momentum while Shiba Inu, another popular meme coin, followed suit with a 10% jump.

NEAR Protocol, a blockchain platform focusing on decentralized applications, also joined the rally with a solid 5% increase.

This surge comes on the heels of Bitcoin’s resurgence, which saw a nearly 5% gain to briefly break the $62,000 price level.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, reclaimed the $3,000 level, further bolstering confidence in the market.

The rally was spurred by the release of the U.S. April jobs report, which showed the addition of 175,000 jobs, falling short of the expected 245,000.

This unexpected development eased concerns about higher interest rates, prompting a positive response from cryptocurrency investors.

Market analysts pointed out that the softer-than-expected jobs data led to an increase in the likelihood of at least one rate cut by September, according to CME FedWatch data.

This dovish sentiment, coupled with the Federal Reserve’s indication of no immediate interest in cutting rates, contributed to a more favorable environment for cryptocurrencies.

Moreover, Coinbase analysts highlighted the recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, where policymakers tapered the pace of the central bank’s balance sheet runoff, signaling a more dovish stance.

This move was interpreted as a positive signal for both fiat and cryptocurrency markets.

Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, expressed confidence in Bitcoin’s recent performance, suggesting that it may have bottomed out at $56,000.

However, he cautioned investors to expect a gradual recovery rather than a swift ascent to previous highs.

Hayes forecasted a period of range-bound price action between $60,000 and $70,000 until August.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to navigate through fluctuations, the recent rebound in Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and NEAR Protocol reflects a renewed sense of optimism among traders, fueled by positive developments in the broader financial landscape.

Cryptocurrency

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

Published

4 days ago

May 1, 2024

Samed Olukoya

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.

Cryptocurrency

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

Published

2 weeks ago

April 24, 2024

Samed Olukoya

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.