Crypto News Summary: FTX V2 Announced, Transit Finance Hacker Returning Funds, Dapper Labs Restricts Russian Accounts

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Sead Fadilpašić

Journalist

Sead Fadilpašić

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Sead specializes in writing factual and informative articles to help the public navigate the ever-changing world of crypto. He has extensive experience in the blockchain industry, where he has served...

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Last updated: 

January 9, 2024

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Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news.
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Exchange news

• A new version of the FTX crypto exchange will go live on November 21, the CEO announced, with an improved matching engine. “We’ll be rolling out a whole new order matcher, lower latency API pathways, a whole slew of other features,” CEO Sam Bankman-Fried tweeted today.

Security news

• A hacker who attacked cross-bridge decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Transit Finance has transferred BNB 2,500 ($688,000) to sanctioned privacy protocol Tornado Cash, on-chain data shows. They said they would return BNB 10,000 ($2.75 million) to victims, according to a blog post by Transit Finance.

Regulation news

• Dapper Labs, the company behind the super-popular CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot, is restricting Russian accounts from using its payment services, following sanctions imposed by the European Union on Thursday, said the announcement. “It is now prohibited to provide crypto-asset wallet, account, or custody services of any value to accounts with connections to Russia, irrespective of the amount of the wallet,” it added. Dapper has not closed the accounts though.

Investment news

• South Korean investment firm Blockwater failed to repay its $3.4 million loan taken from uncollateralized lending provider TrueFi, according to a blog post by TrueFi.  The latter said it has collected $645,405, while the remaining debt is estimated to be nearly $2.97 million at the time of the default.
• Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain, was reported to be the “real buyer” of the recent Huobi stake sale, per WuBlockchain, citing multiple sources. However, Sun told The Block that the claim is “wrong” and that he is “only an advisor to Huobi.”

Legal news

• The US Department of Justice announced charges against a man who allegedly distributed fake prescription drugs and other substances on dark web markets, receiving payment mostly in bitcoin (BTC). The man exchanged the crypto for dollars in hundreds of transactions, laundering more than $5.35 million, they said.

Web3 news

• Web3 ecosystem Crypto Oasis said it had identified more than 1,450 active Web3 organizations in the UAE at the end Q3 2022. The research also identified more than 7,000 individuals working in the crypto, blockchain, metaverse, and Web3 industry.

CBDC news

• The province of Fujian in China has executed its first digital yuan land transfer, according to local reports. The Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade paid ¥51 million ($7.14 million) for a plot of land through the Agricultural Bank of China.

Metaverse news

• HTC VIVE has announced a partnership with the technology and investment company e& to develop its metaverse solutions. e& universe’s debut at GITEX 2022 will have two demonstrations, said an announcement, adding that e& universe will allow users to explore the exhibition virtually, and at the same time log in from a wide range of devices including VR, PCs, and smartphones via a browser.
• OVER, the decentralized infrastructure for an open, Augmented Reality (AR)-enabled metaverse, launched its new desktop application, OVER GATE Console. Per an announcement, it enables users to organize, manage, and customize their live AR events across the metaverse. Once the OVER application is downloaded, the console allows users to choose from the OVRLands they own or an available location and host live events of any kind, inviting an unlimited number of guests who will be able to play an active role in the events.