Aurelia Butler

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    Exclusive-Biden approval ticks up, extremism still top worry, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

    Two-fifths of Americans surveyed said they approved of Biden’s performance, while 56% said they disapproved. That was a slight increase from last month’s poll, which showed that 37% of respondents approved of Biden, close to the lowest level of his presidency.The online poll was conducted March 22-24, after Biden’s annual State of the Union address to Congress, where he delivered an energetic speech challenging Republicans that was intended to tamp down concerns about his age and vigor.Biden, 81, is seeking a second term in office, where he is expected to face off against former President Donald Trump, 77, in the election.A slightly larger number of respondents also expressed concerns over political extremism or threats to democracy, with 23% of respondents saying that was their top concern, up from 21% last month. More than a third of Democrats – 36% – said that was their top worry, while 11% of Republicans and a quarter of independent voters said the same. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from him, including in a fiery speech shortly before hundreds of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Five people died.Trump faces several legal challenges, including some tied to his role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.On the campaign trail, Trump has said he would release people imprisoned for their role in the Jan. 6 attack and has referred to them as “hostages.” He has also made a series of racist and inflammatory statements in his latest run for office.Other top issues for voters were the economy, which 19% of respondents said was the most important problem for the country, and immigration, with 17% of respondents citing it as the top issue. While 32% of Republican voters said immigration was their top concern, that was a decrease from last month’s poll, which showed 38% of Republicans saw it as the top issue for the country.Voters largely disapproved of the country’s institutions.Most people surveyed had unfavorable opinions of the House of Representatives (65%), the Senate (60%) and the Supreme Court (56%).The Federal Reserve was the only institution that a majority favored, with 53% of poll respondents saying they had a favorable view.The U.S. central bank has raised interest rates since March 2022 in a bid to lower inflation, but has kept rates steady since July and is expected to cut rates later this year.The Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses online from 1,021 adults, using a nationally representative sample, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points. More

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    Canada’s Ontario province sees budget deficit tripling as economy slows

    TORONTO (Reuters) – The Canadian province of Ontario on Tuesday forecast its budget deficit would more than triple in the upcoming fiscal year as economic growth stalls and it spends more on housing and roads, as well as measures to ease the cost of living.Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and home to Toronto, its largest city, said its deficit would widen to C$9.8 billion ($7.2 billion), or 0.9% of gross domestic product, in 2024-25, from an estimated C$3 billion in the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31.A deficit is also expected in 2025-26, of C$4.6 billion, before a shift into surplus in 2026-27, one year later than was projected in a fiscal update in November. The province forecast that economic growth would slow to 0.3% in 2024 from an estimated 1.2% in 2023, held back by higher borrowing costs since the Bank of Canada raised interest rates last year to a 22-year high of 5% to cool inflation.Some other Canadian provinces, such as Quebec and British Columbia, have also projected wider deficits. “In the face of global economic uncertainty and high interest rates that continue to put pressure on Ontario families, our government is taking a responsible approach by investing to rebuild Ontario’s economy without raising taxes,” Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement. The province is investing more than C$190 billion over the next 10 years to build and expand highways, transit, homes, high-speed internet and other critical infrastructure.Like the rest of Canada, Ontario’s population is growing rapidly due to high immigration, raising the need for additional housing. The province has a goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031.To speed up that process, the province said it would invest C$1 billion in the new Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and quadruple a fund to a total of C$825 million to help municipalities repair and expand infrastructure.It also proposed measures to reduce costs for families and businesses, including extending temporary gas tax and fuel tax rate cuts to keep rates at nine cents per liter until the end of 2024.Ontario, one of the world’s largest sub-sovereign borrowers, forecast that its net debt-to-GDP ratio would rise to 39.2% in the coming fiscal year after falling to an estimated 38% in 2023-24, the lowest level since 2011-12.Still, the ratio would remain below a debt sustainability target of 40%, while the province expects its borrowing to fall to C$38.2 billion in 2024-25 from C$41.8 billion in the current fiscal year after it raised year-end cash levels. ($1 = 1.3575 Canadian dollars) More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    New RWA usecase unlocked as OPEN launches onchain ticketing ecosystem

    The OPEN Ticketing Ecosystem launched this week, intending to disrupt the $85 billion ticketing industry using blockchain technology.A new RWA use-case is bornAmidst the massive growth for real-world asset (RWA) use cases, onchain tickets might be the next big thing. Traditional ticketing is an $85 billion industry that’s ripe for disruption, with specific opportunities for blockchain-driven solutions. OPEN’s mission is to take all tickets onchain, delivering much-needed transparency for fans and fair earnings for creators.OPN tokenAll ticketing activity on OPEN’s tooling is driven by the OPN token, which will become tradable starting Friday March 29th. Ticket integrators source OPN from the open market in order to access tooling and issue tickets. When staking goes live for OPN, all stakers will earn yield directly from all global onchain ticket activity.Plug & play infrastructureThe OPEN team has built onchain ticketing infrastructure since 2016, resulting in a plug & play toolsuite that adds value at any scale; from small independent artists looking to grow their community and issue NFT collectibles, to large ticketing operators looking to take their tickets onchain. Every ticket issued using OPEN can be verified onchain with full transparency. OPEN has issued over 5 million tickets onchain to date – and is expecting to raise their annual ticket volume to 20 million this year.Event financingTaking ticketing onchain not only makes the ticketing experience smoother – there are additional unlocks that make the lives of everyday creators easier in ways never before possible. Take OPEN’s new event financing tool, a way for artists and event organizers to crowdsource the funds needed to realize a show, tour or festival, by leveraging their unsold inventory of onchain tickets as collateral for DeFi funding. Participants who help realize these events are rewarded with a programmable yield, issued to them automatically the moment the ticket sale takes place. This approach unites the latest in RWA & DeFi tooling to provide freedom and independence to creators.More about OPEN:The OPN token will launch on Friday March 29th. Follow along with OPEN’s mission for taking ticketing onchain through the website: onopen.xyz & the official OPEN twitter account.ContactOlivier [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    LIF3.com integrates Fireblocks to elevate safety and security in next-generation consumer DeFi

    Lif3.com is thrilled to announce its integration with Fireblocks, an enterprise platform for building blockchain applications and managing digital asset operations. This collaboration brings together Lif3’s innovative multi-chain DeFi ecosystem with Fireblocks’ trailblazing security solution, including their Direct Custody platform and cutting-edge Non-Custodial Wallets-as-a-Service (WaaS) to enhance safety, security and enhance operational efficiency for the Lif3 ecosystem.With the integration of Fireblocks’ Non-Custodial WaaS, Lif3 (LIF3/USD)(LIF3/USDt), the revolutionary multi-chain DeFi Layer-1 ecosystem that operates on Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, and Fantom, allows users to maintain complete control over their private keys while minimizing the risks associated with digital asset transactions. This provides consumers and investors alike with unprecedented control over their digital assets, ensuring peace of mind and trust in the security of their transactions.Lif3 is also tapping into the Fireblocks Network, a global hub to connect, transact, and collaborate with the largest community of market participants and integrated partners, to provide a seamless and secure trading environment. The collaboration also embraces Fireblocks Off Exchange, which enables trading from an on-chain MPC shared wallet and eliminates counterparty risks, further solidifying our shared vision of creating a safer, more efficient, and user-empowered digital financial marketplace.“Fireblocks is dedicated to elevating the safety and privacy of user transactions. By integrating our enterprise-grade digital assets infrastructure, Lif3 is setting a new standard for digital assets security, ensuring an unparalleled level of protection and scalability for their users,” said Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks.”Working with Fireblocks is a testament to Lif3’s unwavering commitment to enhancing user security and transaction privacy by offering investors and users alike a secure, interconnected, encrypted, and scalable platform for their transactions,” said Harry Yeh, Managing Director of Quantum (NASDAQ:QMCO) FinTech Group.Additionally, Fireblocks is the first company in the world to achieve a Cryptocurrency Security Standard (CCSS) Qualified Service Provider Level 3 certification, a first-of-its-kind certification that was built as a security standard for crypto wallets and custody by the Cryptocurrency Certification Consortium (C4). The CCSS is designed to augment standard information security practices and complement existing standards such as SOC1 Type I, SOC2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018 – all of which have been awarded to Fireblocks.Together, Lif3 and Fireblocks are not only enhancing the security and efficiency of digital asset transactions but are empowering consumers and investors with the tools and confidence needed to navigate the evolving digital assets landscape. This is more than just a collaboration; it’s an elevated user experience for multi-signature custodial transactions, cold storage of Lif3 tokens, LSHARE tokens, L3USD and strengthened security measures that are beneficial for all. The Fireblocks integration supports Lif3’s vision for a more simplified, safer and interactive user experience and facilitates seamless acquisition for consumer DeFi through the “Lif3 Wallet” available for download on the App Store and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Play.This announcement coincides with Lif3’s recent Ethereum Migration announcement and its strategic partnership with Layer Zero, an alliance designed to address the challenges associated with token bridging, for a more secure and efficient blockchain experience. Lif3.com and the “Lif3 Wallet” continues to be a platform of interest for those invested in the future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology. The commitment to continuous improvement and innovation positions Lif3 as a front-runner in shaping the future landscape of the digital finance economy and its vision and commitment to breaking down barriers to cryptocurrency adoption through the Lif3 Mobile App, a one-stop solution for on-ramping, investing, trading, earning, gaming, and off-ramping.About Lif3.comLif3.com is a complete, omni-chain DeFi ecosystem, that includes a Curated Layer-1 Blockchain, and a self-custody wallet. “Lif3 Wallet” is available on the App Store and Google Play – unlocking the potential of Web3 through consumer DeFi, iGaming and the Entertainment SectorsLIF3LIF3 (LIF3) is an ERC-20 token that powers the LIF3 ecosystem and provides a comprehensive suite of features to manage digital assets across multiple blockchains while allowing users to benefit from staking. To obtain access to $LIF3 on Bitfinex, customers can visit: https://trading.bitfinex.com/t/LIF3:USD- API symbol for LIF3 is LIFIII on Bitfinex Twitter:Lif3 News and Updates:https://lif3.com/newsHow to Buy LIF3 with ETH or USDT on Ethereum:https://support.lif3.com/hc/en-us/articles/8874195179279-How-to-Buy-LIF3-with-ETH-or-USDT-on-EthereumFor official LIF3 logos and branding please visit:https://docs.lif3.com/brand-assetsMedia Contact:[email protected] Quantum Fintech GroupQuantum Fintech Group is a private investment group founded in 2020, and is focused on providing superior returns in the alternative asset space focusing specifically on blockchain investments.Twitter:https://twitter.com/quantumftgContactMedia RelationsChantel EllowayLif3 Labs [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    DoJ files charges against crypto exchange KuCoin over AML violations

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) accuses KuCoin of functioning as a money-transmitting business catering to over 30 million customers without enforcing know-your-customer (KYC) or AML measures until 2023. Moreover, the newly implemented KYC program did not extend to existing customers, leaving significant regulatory gaps. Although Chun Gan and Ke Tang have not been arrested, their failure to register KuCoin with the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has led to serious legal repercussions. The duo were each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the US Bank Secrecy Act and one count of conspiring to run a money transmitting business without the proper license.“KuCoin made itself available to be used, and in fact was used, as a vehicle for laundering the proceeds of suspicious and criminal activities, including proceeds from sanctions violations, darknet markets, and malware, ransomware, and fraud schemes,” the statement reads.The indictment further highlights KuCoin’s vulnerability to being exploited for laundering proceeds from various illegal activities, including sanctions violations and dark web operations. Specifically, KuCoin is alleged to have indirectly received over $3.2 million in cryptocurrency from the sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash, linking the exchange to criminal cases against Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm.Separately, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against KuCoin for not registering as a futures commission merchant among other designations, and failing to implement a KYC equivalent. The CFTC seeks monetary penalties and bans, while the DOJ aims for forfeiture and criminal penalties.Homeland Security Investigations highlighted the case’s severity, labeling KuCoin as part of a “multibillion-dollar criminal conspiracy” and one of the largest crypto exchanges globally. U.S. Attorney Damien Williams criticized KuCoin for its substantial, yet undisclosed, U.S. user base, which contributed to its status as a major player in the crypto market, facilitating billions in daily trades without basic AML policies.Following these charges, KuCoin’s native token (KCS) dropped more than 5%, while Bitcoin saw a 1% decline amidst day-long volatility.Today’s action against KuCoin represents the first instance the DOJ has pursued a cryptocurrency exchange since revealing a 4-billion-dollar settlement with Binance in December 2023. In the wake of the settlement, former CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao resigned and is scheduled for sentencing next month. More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    “Decentralized Githhub” Radicle Launches 1.0, Pioneering Decentralized Code Collaboration

    Radicle, the novel open-source, peer-to-peer code collaboration stack, is proud to announce the launch of Radicle 1.0. The release marks a significant milestone in the protocol’s journey, following its beta release in late 2020 and the alpha version in 2019. Unveiled today, Radicle 1.0 is set to transform the way developers publish and distribute open-source code, AI models, and research.Conceived as a decentralized alternative to centralized forges like GitHub and GitLab, Radicle extends the capabilities of these systems with a decentralized identity system, cutting-edge gossip protocol, and integrated social artifacts which together form a self-hosted network for code collaboration. The team behind the protocol believes that combating the increasing centralization of software products – which risks developers losing autonomy over their identity and data – is of paramount importance.“Software shapes our reality and will continue to do so. We need a neutral place where software can be built and only an open protocol can provide that. Radicle is our answer to that – a sovereign code forge that gives users full autonomy and ownership of their data.” said co-founder Alexis Sellier.Designed to provide a neutral environment where users retain full ownership of their identity and data, Radicle empowers developers to set the rules of their code universe, ensuring a platform that respects the sovereignty of its users.Radicle’s novel software is not only highly secure but also free to use. It enables users to run their own nodes, a feature intended to foster a resilient network that is resistant to censorship and not reliant on trusted third-party services. True to its decentralized ethos, Radicle is entirely local-first, operating without the need for blockchain technology or digital tokens.In Radicle’s network, each user runs the Radicle Stack, consisting of a command line interface and the Radicle Node networked service. Nodes exchange data via a gossip protocol, creating a robust, disruption-tolerant network. Additionally, users can opt for the Radicle Web client and HTTP daemon, offering a web-based experience for enhanced accessibility and convenience. Pro-liberty developers who are accustomed to using Github and GitLab are encouraged to join Radicle and start enjoying the benefits. About RadicleRadicle is a decentralized code collaboration stack that leverages Git’s architecture, combined with advanced cryptography and a gossip protocol, providing an alternative to existing centralized forges. Furnishing developers with a fully sovereign stack for publishing and distributing open-source code and AI models, Radicle is the first decentralized alternative for code collaboration, championing user autonomy, data ownership, and censorship resistance.ContactAvishay LitaniMarket [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    Crypto stock short sellers face $1.9 billion hit as Bitcoin surges – Report

    This downturn for short sellers accompanies Bitcoin’s over 7% jump in late-day trading and an almost 12% rise from its recent low three days ago.The total short interest in crypto-related stocks stands at $10.7 billion, with MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:COIN) accounting for 84% of this short interest. Overall, the sector’s short interest as a percentage of float is over three times larger than the U.S. average of 5.13%.MicroStrategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, leads the downturn with $1.4 billion in mark-to-market losses. This amount contributes to the sector’s $1.9 billion loss today and a $5.7 billion year-to-date loss, highlighting a -79.1% downturn for those betting against the software company. Despite these large losses, the sector remains a hotspot for short selling activity, given its crowded nature and high potential for squeezes.The crowded scores, a measure of how densely packed short sellers are in a stock, averages at 57.34 for crypto stocks, considerably higher than the street average of 32.41. The squeeze scores, which indicate the potential for a short squeeze, average at 78.69, far surpassing the street average of 34.41. MicroStrategy, Coinbase, and Cleanspark Inc (NASDAQ:CLSK) are identified as the most susceptible to squeezes in the sector.Despite Bitcoin’s bullish run, the total short interest in the sector has increased by $3.67 billion to $10.71 billion in 2024. This indicates continued skepticism or strategic hedging by short sellers. However, the recent rally has triggered increased short selling, with the sector’s total short interest climbing by an additional $4.50 billion in the last 30 days, mainly driven by heightened short selling in MicroStrategy.Further gains in MicroStrategy’s stock price could put pressure on short sellers, which at one point could force them to buy back shares to cover their losses. This scenario could drive the stock price even higher. More

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    in Cryptocurrency

    Spectral Launches Syntax, an LLM Enabling Web3 Users to Build Autonomous Agents and Deploy Onchain Products

    Syntax takes natural language and converts it into Solidity code, enabling individuals and enterprises to ship production grade smart contracts, arbitrage agents, NFTs, rollups, and more. Syntax marks the manifestation of the Agent Economy in Web3.Today, Spectral Labs has launched Syntax, a new LLM enabling people to ship agents that automate onchain projects and tasks, thereby manifesting their Web3 product ideas. While still in beta, Syntax’s vision is to create an open onchain Agent Economy, where developers, individuals, and enterprises can for the first time select the agents they would want to delegate their Web3 tasks, projects, and product development to. These projects and products include production grade smart contracts, arbitrage agents, NFTs, rollups, and more.Scaling web3 engineering efforts and shipping new onchain products is limited by the number of solidity developers, as well as enterprises’ ability to test and ship smart contract code in a fast and effective way without burning through engineering resources. Spectral has set out to solve this with its new LLM, Syntax, a development environment designed to manifest Web3 product ideas by converting natural language into Solidity code that can be deployed instantly onchain. For professional developers, Syntax can accelerate and optimize bandwidth by writing large libraries and components. Syntax provides an Agentic experience, where users tell Syntax what they want to build, and Syntax writes and deploys the code onchain at the click of a button. Spectral defines an Onchain Agent as a set of instructions and code capable of deploying itself onchain and possessing a dedicated provisioned wallet for doing so. Loosely similar to custom instructions in ChatGPT, Syntax Agents also have their own identity and can autonomously figure out ways to interact with deployment infrastructure.With Syntax, users can compile, debug, and deploy AI-generated solidity code. Syntax gives users and the industry the ability to quickly test, ship and scale new products, as well as determining the usability and functional relevance of the code generated while also giving them control to quickly edit code snippets. Initially, Spectral’s Onchain Agents will be curated and built by Spectral, but soon every user will be able to create their own Agent and monetize it in future Syntax releases.About SpectralSpectral, a pioneer of the agent economy behind Syntax, is at the forefront of integrating AI with blockchain to democratize development in Web3. Our mission is to simplify the creation and deployment of decentralized applications through autonomous Onchain Agents. Syntax, Spectral’s flagship product, translates natural language into Solidity code, enabling both novices and experts to build on the blockchain effortlessly. With a commitment to transparency and user empowerment, Spectral is shaping a future where anyone can participate in the blockchain revolution. Join us in making this vision a reality and explore the potential of autonomous agents with Spectral. For more information, visit https://spectrallabs.xyz/For more information, users can follow Spectral on Twitter and Discord.ContactSpectral [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More