• Sudeban, the Venezuelan banking watchdog, is currently working on a mechanism to review crypto-related transactions in real-time to control the influence these have on the currency exchange market.
• The Venezuelan government is aiming to monitor the the movements of crypto-based P2P exchanges to protect the value of the bolivar.
• More than 75 bank accounts have been blocked due to suspicious activity related to cryptocurrency transactions since the end of 2021.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to grow, governments around the world are taking steps to keep up with the changing digital financial landscape. In Venezuela, the banking watchdog Sudeban is working on a system to monitor crypto-related transactions to protect the value of the national currency, the bolivar.

The organization has stated that its goal is to “fight the irregular practices that attack our currency and the stability of the exchange market.” To this end, they are designing a system that can review crypto-based transaction in real-time, with the help of Sunacrip, the national cryptocurrency regulator. The aim is to monitor the movements of peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto exchanges and the U.S. dollar – Venezuelan bolivar exchange rate, which analysts have linked to the recent cryptocurrency drought in the country.

In addition, more than 75 bank accounts have been blocked due to suspicious activity related to cryptocurrency transactions since the end of 2021, as reported by Legalrocks, a national financial information website. This is part of the government’s efforts to clamp down on illegal activities associated with cryptocurrencies and protect the value of the bolivar.

The Venezuelan government is clearly taking steps to ensure that the cryptocurrency industry does not have a negative impact on their economy. While the country has been hit hard by the global pandemic, the government’s efforts to protect the value of the bolivar are a positive sign that they are taking the industry seriously and looking to safeguard the stability of the currency.

• Ethereum has transitioned from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS) and in the 105 days since, 4,790.45 ether or $5.7 million in value has been added to the supply.
• Ethereum’s current issuance rate of new coins per annum is 0.014%, a stark contrast to the simulated PoW inflation rate of 3.58% per year.
• To date, 2,795,773 ether or $8.78 billion in U.S. dollar value has been burned by destroying ETH since the Aug. 5, 2021 London Hard Fork.

Since the launch of Ethereum in late July 2015, the blockchain network has gone through numerous changes and improvements. In September of 2022, Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm to a proof-of-stake (PoS) network. This transition has allowed for a more secure, efficient, and decentralized blockchain network that has seen significant growth since its transition.

According to ultrasound.money metrics, Ethereum’s issuance rate of new coins has dropped considerably and only 4,790.45 ether has been minted since The Merge took place on Sept. 15, 2022. This is in stark contrast to what it would have been if Ethereum was still a PoW chain, with a simulated inflation rate of 3.58% per year. That would have been approximately 1,247,674.60 ether added to the supply by 10:15 a.m. (ET) on Dec. 29, 2022, instead of $5.7 million in value added.

In addition to the lower issuance rate, Ethereum also has a burn mechanism, in which ether is destroyed and taken out of circulation. To date, 2,795,773 ether or $8.78 billion in U.S. dollar value has been burned by destroying ETH since the Aug. 5, 2021 London Hard Fork. According to Dune Analytics, the biggest leader in terms of the number of ETH burned is tied to the Ethereum Improvement Proposal 1559.

The transition to the PoS consensus algorithm has been the biggest milestone for the Ethereum network since its inception. The lower issuance rate and burn mechanism have contributed to the network’s overall security and efficiency, and have further cemented Ethereum as one of the most trusted blockchain networks in existence. With the number of validators set to exceed 500,000 in 2023, the Ethereum network is sure to become even stronger.

• Kraken will cease its operations in Japan and deregister from the Financial Services Agency (JFSA) as of January 31, 2023.
• All affected clients have until Jan. 31 to withdraw their fiat and crypto holdings, the announcement adds, noting that deposit functionality will be removed on Jan. 9.
• The crypto market has suffered significantly this year, with bitcoin falling more than 65% year-to-date.

Kraken, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has decided to shut down services in Japan due to the current Japanese market conditions and a weak global crypto market. According to the company, the resources needed for further growth in Japan are no longer justified.

The decision to exit the Japanese crypto market is part of the company’s efforts to prioritize resources and investments in areas that align with the company’s strategy and will best position Kraken for long-term success. Kraken has informed all affected clients that they have until January 31st to withdraw their fiat and crypto holdings, and that deposit functionality will be removed on January 9th. The company is also fully funded to ensure all affected clients can withdraw their assets in a timely manner.

The global crypto market has been in a state of flux this year, with Bitcoin falling more than 65% year-to-date. This has had a knock-on effect on many cryptocurrency companies, with several filing for bankruptcy, including FTX, Three Arrows Capital (3AC), Voyager Digital, and others. Other exchanges have also had to make tough decisions, with Kraken being the latest to make the decision to exit the Japanese market.

Kraken’s exit from Japan is yet another sign of the instability of the crypto market and the need for companies to carefully plan their strategies in order to ensure long-term success. It is also a reminder of the importance of diversifying investments and not putting all one’s eggs in one basket. With the crypto market in a state of flux, investors must be vigilant and ensure that their crypto portfolios are well-diversified to minimize losses.

• The Argentine Senate is discussing a project to regulate the way individuals and organizations promote cryptocurrency.
• The objective of this project is to educate consumers on the dangers of investing in crypto and to protect them from investing in crypto Ponzi schemes.
• The meeting proposed that any crypto-related publicity would have to include slogans explaining the risks that such investments carry.

The Argentine Senate is currently discussing a project that aims to regulate the way in which individuals and organizations promote cryptocurrency. The main objective of this project is to provide consumers with the necessary education to understand the potential risks associated with investing in cryptocurrency, as well as to protect them from being scammed by Ponzi schemes.

The meeting, which saw the presence of Sebastian Negri and Martín Breinlinger, members of the Argentine Securities Commission, presented several cryptocurrency schemes that had promotion and advertising through different media. It was proposed that any crypto-related publicity should include slogans and warnings that explain the risks that such investments carry.

Senator Eduardo Andrada and others spoke in favor of the project, arguing that it would provide potential investors with the necessary information to make an informed decision. Negri emphasized the benefits that the approval of such a law would bring to potential investors, stating “With the rise of Bitcoin from 10,000 to 69,000 dollars, what they did was promise people that the profitability that occurred the previous year would continue, and this is not the case.”

Meanwhile, other senators and attendants had different views regarding the project, arguing that it could be interpreted as an implicit endorsement of cryptocurrency investments, and that it could potentially lead to an increase in the number of scams.

The discussion is still ongoing, and it is yet to be seen if the project is approved and implemented. If it is, it will be a step forward in providing more protection to consumers and helping to prevent the spread of fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

• Japanese mobile gaming company Gumi has entered a strategic alliance with Square Enix and SBI Holdings, issuing new stock valued at $52.7 million dollars.
• The alliance will give Gumi access to the financial and content creation experience of its partners, allowing it to pivot towards digital immersive entertainment and the metaverse.
• Gumi’s target is to make the metaverse business a second earnings pillar in addition to its current mobile online game business.

The gaming industry has seen a tremendous growth in recent years, with more and more companies looking to include immersive elements in their games. One such company is Gumi, a Japanese mobile gaming company that has just announced a capital and business alliance with Square Enix and SBI Holdings.

The three companies have entered into the alliance in order to build new business opportunities around the metaverse. The deal includes the issuance of new shares valued at $52.7 million, which will give SBI Holdings a 22.46% stake in the company and make it the top shareholder. Square Enix will have a marginal stake of 3.01%.

Gumi’s target is the metaverse, and the funds raised will be invested to grow this new metaverse business “at an even faster rate than ever before.” As part of the alliance, Gumi will also have a platform to list the tokens it wants to issue as part of its future game strategy.

The alliance will give Gumi access to the financial and content creation experience of its partners, allowing it to pivot towards digital immersive entertainment and the metaverse. The company has declared that it is working to make the metaverse business a second earnings pillar in addition to the mobile online game business, which is the current mainstay of earnings.

Gumi is looking to capitalize on the growing interest in the metaverse and virtual worlds, and the alliance is part of its strategy to do so. By partnering with Square Enix and SBI Holdings, Gumi will be able to gain access to their experience and resources, allowing it to expand its offering and create new opportunities.

The alliance is an important step for Gumi and its partners, as it marks the beginning of a new journey for the company. The funds raised will be invested in the metaverse business, allowing Gumi to grow its offering and create new opportunities. It will be interesting to see how the company’s move towards digital immersive entertainment and the metaverse will affect the gaming industry in the future.