Category Archives: Cryptocurrency

Hong Kong and Singapore are Asia’s Preeminent Crypto Hubs – Analytics Insight

One of Asias preeminent crypto hubs in Singapore, while another is Hong Kong. Additionally, both cities have recently been home to a large number of multinational crypto enterprises. According to sources, managing partner Annabelle Huang of Amber Group stated that the business kept one of its largest offices in Hong Kong. It is getting ready to apply for the new virtual asset trading platform (VATP) license from the city. There is no doubt that Singapore and Hong Kong are Asias crypto hubs as they have different approaches to regulating cryptocurrency assets. Singapores low licensing requirements first drew cryptocurrency companies there. However, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has recently adopted a much stricter stance against trading platforms.The MAS specifically forbids cryptocurrency exchanges from advertising or promoting their services to the general public.

This year, the MAS has put up further regulations that would prevent individual investors from accessing specific cryptocurrency offerings. These would stop investors from taking out loans to buy cryptocurrencies. Additionally, they would outlaw businesses from lending or staking their coins to earn returns. However, interest in cryptocurrencies is still high in Singapore despite the financial regulators sometimes paternalistic attitude.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has established a legal framework for the establishment of cryptocurrency exchanges with the VATP license. The new regulations will require exchanges to register with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) rather than outright forbid any particular operations. Platforms with an SFC license could only assist professional investors under the previous system.

Singapore and Hong Kong might draw the greatest attention from overseas. Other Asian markets, though, are developing their crypto ecosystems away from the larger centers. By purchasing the cryptocurrency exchange DeCurret last year, Amber Group established a presence in Japan.

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Hong Kong and Singapore are Asia's Preeminent Crypto Hubs - Analytics Insight

Beyond the Hype! A Closer Look at Three Community-Driven … – Analytics Insight

Cryptocurrencies have been the talk of the town for the past few years, with new coins popping up every now and then. In this article, we will explore three different cryptocurrencies: Shiba Inu (SHIB), Cardano (ADA), and Dogetti (DETI). Each of these coins has unique features that make them stand out in the world of crypto.

Well delve into their communities, their goals, and their potential for growth in the future. From Shiba Inus cute and cuddly branding to Cardanos commitment to inclusivity and accessibility and Dogettis focus on community-driven initiatives. Well see what makes these coins bark, strive and howl. Well also emphasize the importance of investing in a strong community-driven coin when considering investing in cryptocurrency. So lets dive in and explore these exciting cryptos

Shiba Inu (SHIB) was introduced in 2020 as a direct offshoot of Dogecoin, with a unique twist of its own. The cute and cuddly branding combined with its ambitious aspirations has garnered SHIB an enthusiastic following. Unlike Dogecoin, which is largely a fun coin, Shiba Inu aims to build a decentralized ecosystem that includes a social network, a charity fund, and a decentralized exchange.

Shiba Inus focus on community-driven initiatives is one of its standout features. The development team has donated significant amounts to various causes, and SHIB holders are encouraged to participate in community events and vote on proposals for the coins development.

Looking forward, the Shiba Inu community remains optimistic that their vision for a decentralized ecosystem will come to fruition. There are plans in motion for the development of their own blockchain and new partnerships in the pipeline, with the potential to make SHIB a major player in the world of cryptocurrency.

The Cardano (ADA) blockchain platform was established in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson with a vision to build a sustainable and secure infrastructure for managing digital assets. The platforms core focus on academic research and proof-of-stake consensus mechanism makes it stand out in the realm of cryptocurrencies.

Cardano has a devoted community of developers, investors, and enthusiasts who share a common goal of creating a more transparent and equitable financial system. This community is constantly striving to improve the Cardano ecosystem by developing innovative tools and apps and promoting the use of ADA for payments.

As the Cardano ecosystem continues to evolve, its community is confident that it will make a significant impact in the world of blockchain and digital assets. With a strong team and a passionate following, Cardano is poised to achieve its mission of creating a better future for everyone through decentralized finance.

Dogetti (DETI) is a new cryptocurrency that has emerged in the world of meme coins, particularly those with dog-themed branding. The coin has been gaining popularity due to its unique features, which make it stand out from other meme coins.

One of the standout features of Dogetti is its impressive tokenomics. Every transaction made with the coin triggers a 6% fee, which is then divided into various pools. These pools include a charity wallet, holder rewards, and liquidity/burn wallets. This allocation of fees helps to ensure the coins longevity and expansion, while also transferring wealth into the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

In addition, Dogetti is run by the community, meaning that everyone involved has a stake in the success of the coin. This decentralized approach is a major attraction for investors looking for a coin that prioritizes community involvement and empowerment.

The world of cryptocurrency is ever-evolving, and there are always new and exciting projects to invest in. However, investing in a strong community-driven coin like Shiba Inu, Cardano, or Dogetti can be a great decision for both short-term gains and long-term success. These coins have loyal and passionate communities that are always pushing for innovation and adoption, which can help to increase their value in the long run.

So if youre looking to invest in cryptocurrency, dont just look at the coins price or market cap. Take the time to research the community behind it and see if theyre truly dedicated to the projects success. After all, in the world of crypto, community is king!

Presale: https://dogetti.io/how-to-buy

Website: https://dogetti.io/

Telegram: https://t.me/Dogetti

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Dogetti_

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Beyond the Hype! A Closer Look at Three Community-Driven ... - Analytics Insight

PassimPay: the new frontier of cryptocurrency transactions – Crypto Mode

The world of cryptocurrencies is constantly expanding. Some states, just to name one, El Salvador, have adopted Bitcoin as a legal currency. But as more and more users enter this world and begin to make their first transactions with cryptos, they realize how quick and easy it is to pay and receive money in cryptocurrencies.

Recently, more and more entrepreneurs have started accepting payments in crypto for their businesses. Hence the idea of PassimPay is to provide a financial tool that can complete crypto transactions instantly, securely, and with low fees.

Introduction to PassimPay

PassimPay can be defined in several ways, as it has various functions wrapped up in a single platform:

PassimPay is apayment systemthat allows transactions with cryptos instantly. It is ane-walletwhere users can store their crypto in total security. It is also afinancial toolwith several integrated and customizable features.

PassimPay is designed to be used by everyone, experts and beginners as well as individual and business users, thanks to theintuitiveanduser-friendly dashboardand the dual account:PersonalandBusiness.

The 3 key adjectives that describe PassimPay are: Simple, convenient, and reliable,which is also their motto, and which immediately makes it clear what PassimPay has set its sights on.

PassimPay: Dual account option at the service of users

PassimPay has a useful dual account option, as each account has unique features and opportunities for users.

During registration, users can decide to create aPersonalor aBusiness accountdepending on their needs and requirements.

Personal account

The personal account is to facilitate individual users to carry out their crypto transactions quickly and easily, and in addition, it allows them to store their crypto in absolute security.

Main Features

Business account

The business account is for all entrepreneurs who want to accept cryptocurrency payments for their online store, e-commerce, and any business project.

Main Features

15+ available cryptocurrencies

PassimPay supports 21+ cryptocurrencies, the most popular with the highest market capitalization. For instance:BTC, ETH, USDT, BNB, USDC, ADA, DOGE, SHIB, BUSD, LTC, TRX, BCH, EOS, etc.

But the PassimPay team is constantly updating the list by adding new options.

In the crypto world, since there is no intermediary entity, as in the case of banking transactions, it is essential to use very high-security standards, as cyber-attacks are becoming more and more common. For this reason, PassimPay uses state-of-the-art security measures. Among them: Two-Factor Authentication, Network/application firewall, DDoS protection provided by Cloudflare, Intrusion detection, and many others.

PassimPay: Step-by-step registration guide

All the features become available after registering an account and signing in. Here is a detailed explanation of the various steps on how to create an account in a few clicks:

1)Visit the PassimPay website https://passimpay.io/, and click the Sign upbutton on the top right of the homepage.

2)Selecta PersonalorBusinessaccount based on your specific needs.

3)Choose a username, email, and password and tick By checking this box, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

4)You will receive a code by email that you can use to activate theTwo-factor authentication (2FA), an essential security measure to protect your account.

5)At this point, it is necessary to create aMaster Key, which is the way to recover your account if you lose access to it. It is enough to tick the 3 boxes and click Continue.

6)Copy and save your master key securely and click Confirm.

7)Enter the master key as required and click confirm.

8)Now you receive a notification: Welcome to your PassimPay account and click Activate protection, to activate the email protection.

9)The registration is complete, and you can use PassimPay.

For your convenience, here is the link to the video with a step-by-step explanation from the official YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@passimpay.

PassimPay affiliate program: extra income for users

PassimPay provides its users with an affiliate program that allows them to earn extra income by sponsoring PassimPay and inviting other users to join the PassimPay community.

The system is simple: share your affiliate link that each account has with your friends and acquaintances, and each time one of your referrals withdraws funds. A commission depends on your level:5%, 7%, or 10%.

PassimPay uses this method because they firmly believe that the most effective way of advertising is when their users share their personal experiences about the project.

Final thoughts

PassimPay is increasingly establishing itself on the global market by growing its community with users from worldwide. More and more users trust their services and carry out their crypto transactions thanks to its features that set it apart from other payment systems.

None of the information on this website is investment or financial advice and does not necessarily reflect the views of CryptoMode or the author. CryptoMode is not responsible for any financial losses sustained by acting on information provided on this website by its authors or clients. Always conduct your research before making financial commitments, especially with third-party reviews, presales, and other opportunities.

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PassimPay: the new frontier of cryptocurrency transactions - Crypto Mode

From water to cryptocurrency: The paradox of utility and market value – Cointelegraph

There has been a very interesting mystery that has been occurring for many years. Its known as the paradox of value or the water-diamond paradox. Many economists and philosophers have tried to figure it out without much success. The main idea behind this is the contradiction that although water is essential for survival, its price in the market is much lower compared to the price of diamonds. We all know that diamonds dont have much practical use in our everyday life, especially compared to water.

The concept of utility is the main thing behind this contradiction. As we just mentioned, water is very important to all of us, and its utility value is incredibly high. On the other hand, diamonds are an expensive luxury item with limited practical use, making their use value very low. At the same time, when we compare the prices of both in the market (not in all places in the world, but overall), the price of a diamond is many times higher than the one of water. This raises the question of what determines the market value and what are the most important factors that affect it. Is utility the main factor behind the market value or there is something else?

In the world of cryptocurrencies, a very similar discussion has been taking place for a long time likely since the birth of this new type of market. Most investors believe that crypto prices should be and are very much related to utility. However, as we have already seen from the water-diamond paradox, maybe this is not always valid.

One reason for this could be that the price is not dependent only on the utility but also on other factors like supply and demand, for example, which can affect price action regardless of the utility.Another important factor that can affect the price of a cryptocurrency can be the cost of minting. This can affect the market value no matter what the utility is. If the expense of production of a coin is high, its price may also be high even if its utility is very limited. Likewise, the opposite is also true. If the cost of the token is low, the price may be low too even if there are plenty of use cases behind it.

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Another explanation for the disproportion between utility and price can be the concept of network effects. In the case of cryptos, the value of a coin is often tied to the size and strength of its network. This means that the more people use a particular coin, the more valuable it becomes, even if it has only one utility as a store of value, for example. This is because a bigger network brings more liquidity for the coin.

However, the opposite is also true. If a cryptocurrency doesnt have many users or is not widely adopted, its utility value may be high, but its price may be low. This is because there are fewer opportunities to use the coin, and it is less liquid. Keep in mind that if we go back to the paradox, we can find out that even this doesnt always have the same effects on price. As we know a lot more people use water on a daily basis compared to diamond users, but water is still the cheaper option.

Furthermore, one big factor that can impact the price of a cryptocurrency is speculation. Cryptocurrencies are very often viewed and advertised as speculative investments. There are plenty of people who are buying them in the hope that their prices will increase over time. Such speculation can increase the price of a coin, even if its utility value is low. This is because investors are ready to pay more for an asset if they believe its price will go higher in the future.

If you want to put this into practice, you may try to use these guidelines:

In conclusion, the water-diamond paradox highlights the complexity of market value and how it is determined by a variety of factors. Although utility can be an important component of market value, it is not the only one and it may not have the most significant effect on the price.

In the world of cryptocurrencies, the same can be said. The utility may be a serious factor in determining the price of a coin. However, other things such as cost of production, supply and demand, network effects and speculation can even play a more crucial role. By taking these factors into account, we can have a better understanding of how market value is determined, so we can make better-informed decisions when we are analyzing crypto-investing opportunities.

Bogomil Stoev is the CMO ofSeasonal Tokens the ERC20 token system designed to make cyclical trading profitable.

This article was published through Cointelegraph Innovation Circle, a vetted organization of senior executives and experts in the blockchain technology industry who are building the future through the power of connections, collaboration and thought leadership. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Cointelegraph.

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From water to cryptocurrency: The paradox of utility and market value - Cointelegraph

Elon Musk’s Twitter To Allow Users To Trade Stocks & Cryptocurrency From This Week – Indiatimes.com

After merging Twitters parent firm Twitter Inc last week, Dogecoin supporter Elon Musk has taken another step to to turn Twitter into a super app that offers payments ,banking and much more.

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Also Read:Dogecoin Price Jumps After ElonMuskIntroduces Pet Dog As NewTwitter CEO

'Dogefather' Elon Musk's Twitter will let its users access stocks, cryptocurrencies and other financial assets through a partnership with eToro, a social trading company.

Starting Thursday, a new feature will be rolled out on the Twitter app. It will allow users to view market charts on an expanded range of financial instruments and buy and sell stocks and other assets from eToro, the company said, as per CNBC.

Currently, its already possible to view real-time trading data from TradingView on index funds like the S&P 500 and shares of some companies such as Tesla. That can be done using Twitters cashtags feature you search for a ticker symbol and insert dollar sign in front of it, after which the app will show you price information from TradingView using an API (application programming interface).

Through this partnership, Twitter cashtags will be expanded to cover far more instruments and asset classes, an eToro spokesperson reportedly said.

Youll also be able to click a button that says view on eToro, which takes you through to eToros site, and then buy and sell assets on its platform. EToro uses TradingView as its market data partner.As weve grown over the past three years immensely, weve seen more and more of our users interact on Twitter [and] educate themselves about the markets, Yoni Assia, eToros CEO, said, as per the report.

There is very high quality content, real-time content on financial analysis of companies and whats happening around the world. We believe this partnership will enable us to reach those new audiences [and] connect better the brands of Twitter and eToro.

Founded in Israel in 2007, eToro is an online brokerage anda multi-asset investment company that focuses on providing financial servicesthat let users buy and sell stocks, cryptocurrencies and index funds.

Among its prominent features is a function that allows people to mimic the trading strategies of other users. The company reportedly has more than 32 million registered users across Europe, Asia and the United States, Assia said, adding thathe worked with the same team at Twitter on the stock market data tool that he had worked with on previous partnerships with the company.

Also Read:Timeline Of ElonMusk-Twitter's$44 Billion Deal

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Under Musks tenure as CEO, Twitter has done mass layoffs, taking its headcount from about 7500 to just 1,500 in a bid to reduce costs and reach profitability.

His actions have spooked advertisers, with many brands leaving Twitter in light of concerns that its content moderation standards would slip.Last week Musk had said that almost all advertisers had returned to the app.

Click here to know what all has went wrong at Twitter in past few months under Musk, and the promises he made but remain unfulfilled till date.

For more such interesting content and the latest financial news,keep reading Worth.Click here.

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Elon Musk's Twitter To Allow Users To Trade Stocks & Cryptocurrency From This Week - Indiatimes.com

Crypto Transfer 97% Cheaper: Here’s How Bitcoin, Ethereum … – Analytics Insight

According to a new report by Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, cryptocurrencies reduce international money transfer fees by 96% and speed up the transaction time by 99%. Apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum another new cryptocurrency name Signuptoken.com is also expected to play a vital role in lowering the cost of remittance fees in the future.

Sending out hard-earned money to beloved ones across the oceans gives many expatriates a sense of satisfaction. The IMF data shows that about one billion people in the world depend on cross-border remittances. But, a recent research by Coinbase has shown that people around the world spend up to $48 billion on commissions just to transfer money. US citizens alone spend $12 billion annually on fees for cross-border transactions. In the United States, the fees for international money transfer range from 5.5%-10.8%. And the transaction time for a traditional money transfer can take from 1-10 days.

But according to Coinbases research, cryptocurrencies reduce the cost of sending money internationally by 96.7% compared to the current system. And it only takes 10 minutes to process the transaction compared to the traditional money transfer system. The average fee for sending Bitcoin(BTC) to another wallet costs just $1.50 regardless of the transfer amount. Similarly, Ethereum(ETH) costs an average of 0.75% per transaction. Hence, sending money in Bitcoin(BTC), Ethereum(ETC) or any other crypto makes the cross-border transaction nearly 97% cheaper and 99% faster than the traditional transfer method.

Signuptoken.com is a new cryptocurrency built on the Ethereum blockchain. The project team aims to simplify crypto investment and provide efficient crypto services by incorporating new technologies.

To achieve its first aim, Signuptoken.com has skipped the presale stage. The project team has set a target of receiving one million email signups from potential investors. As no fee is charged for the signup process, crypto enthusiasts are more interested in it.

People who want to invest in Signuptoken.com can visit the official website and signup with their mail id for free. Once registered, users will be added to Signuptoken.coms millionaire club.

The token will be launched after reaching one million sign-ups. The project team will notify the registered users about the launch by mail. Therefore, registered users will get early access to buy tokens on the Uniswap crypto exchange platform.

Signuptoken.com is also looking to make a great impact in the remittance industry. With its innovative platform, Signuptoken.com aims to provide a seamless and cost-effective way for individuals and businesses to send money across borders.

The benefits of using Signuptoken.com for cross-border transactions go beyond just cost savings. It can offer greater transparency and security than traditional money transfer services, ensuring that funds reach their intended destination without any issues.

According to a research report by Accenture, about 20% of the worlds population owns some form of crypto assets. This rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) has opened up new possibilities for crypto-based remittance services. By leveraging the power of DeFi protocols, these services can offer even lower fees and faster transaction times, making them even more attractive to users.

Website: https://www.signuptoken.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_SignUpToken_

Telegram: https://t.me/SignUpTok

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Chainalysis and Calgary police launch cryptocurrency investigation center – Cointelegraph

A joint task force featuring investigators from the Calgary police department and analysis from blockchain data firm Chainalysis, dubbed the Western Canada Cryptocurrency Investigations Centre, was officially launched on April 12.

In a blog post announcing the partnership, Chainalysis co-founder and chief strategy officer Jonathan Levin remarked that this demonstration of public-private partnership to solve novel issues in financial services is a model that the rest of the world can learn from.

The new center will expand on current efforts to address expanding cryptocurrency-related crime in Western Canada.

According to Chainalysis, Canada has seen a massive uptick in cryptocurrency adoption rates. Per the companys blog post, when we look at Canadian engagement with crypto ATMs, decentralized exchanges, and centralized exchanges, we see that Canada has experienced a nearly 213% increase since 2019 as of Jan 2023, with a peak level of adoption around 865% greater than March 2019 in May of 2021, driven largely by interest in DeFi.

Related: Canada crypto regulation: Bitcoin ETFs, strict licensing and a digital dollar

This rapid growth, however, has been accompanied by an increase in crime. Chainalysis reports that more than $41 million in funds were lost to cryptocurrency scams in Canada in 2022 alone. It also notes that for every 1,000 Canadians, there was at least $1,144 CAD in total exposure to illicit crypto activity in the same period.

The Calgary police department plans to implement the private-sector expertise from Chainalysis to augment its investigator training programs and, per the blog post, to provide officers with around-the-clock case support.

The next steps, according to Chainalysis, involve expanding the program to serve more law enforcement agencies in Western Canada. The company intends to eventually scale this concept globally, working with law enforcement personnel around the world to offer bespoke, customized offerings depending on the unique needs of the region at hand.

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What Is On-Balance Volume and Why Is It Essential to … – MUO – MakeUseOf

On-balance volume (OBV) is a technical indicator that focuses on market momentum and uses volume flow to anticipate changes in the prices of an asset. Although the indicator was created in 1963 by Joseph Granville as a metric to discover stock market opportunities, it's since been utilized to significant effect away from traditional stocks among cryptocurrency investors.

Granville hypothesized that volume was an essential force driving traditional markets, and OBV was his solution to anticipate better when major moves would occur based on volume changes.

So, this is how on-balance works in detail and how you can use it for your trading strategy.

According to Granville, OBV is like "a spring being wound tightly" because when volume increases sharply without a stock's price changing, the stock's value would eventually jump upward or fall downward. This highlights one of the more curious facets of on-balance volumethe actual value of the metric isn't particularly important.

For stock market and cryptocurrency traders alike, the most critical indicators to look out for are based on direction. This can provide a range of high-quality insights regarding buy and sell opportunities, helping with your fundamental crypto analysis.

With this in mind, there are many ways to interpret OBV based on its readings:

Considering this information, we can use the past 12 months of Bitcoin's on-balance volume to see how the indicator has helped anticipate new trends. While the values associated with BTC's OBV can rise and fall in line with the value of the asset amd its candlestick patterns, we can see evidence of downward trend signals and even negative divergence in recent months.

With OBV data serving as a credible indicator of what may be occurring in the short-term future for cryptocurrencies, it can be a valuable asset for investors to utilize before making trading decisions. If OBV indicates that a downward trend is likely to reverse and vice versa, it can make for an excellent buying opportunity.

The many momentum indicators that on-balance volume can provide traders mean that it can be an essential tool in discovering ideal entry and exit points for a cryptocurrency or as a robust confirmation tool to aid other trading strategies.

When looking at OBV in relation to price movements, it's possible to discover divergences that could indicate trend reversals for assets. On top of this, there are many ways that traders can utilize OBV.

When a strong trend is discovered in OBV, it can be best to follow it for better insights. If the on-balance volume rises, then the price is likely to go up, but OBV can also help traders discover possible divergences through the data. This means that the metric can stipulate the potential strength of a trend and its eventual end, which is great for investors seeking an exit point in a position.

Before making a trade, you can then use this data indicator to confirm the trends you see on other analysis tools. Alternatively, if you don't understand what's going on with one of your other tools, you can use OBV to analyze the trend you see.

Although on-balance volume can offer good data-driven guidance for traders, it's best to combine the indicator with other tools like moving averages or momentum indicators. This can help you to connect your insights with market sentiment.

As with traditional trading, combining indicators can help you gain as complete a picture as possible before deciding to trade.

Divergences can be one of the most essential things for crypto traders to look out for. When the price of an asset moves in one direction while OBV goes in another, this may indicate that a trend is about to end. This means it can signify to traders that it's time to take profits or identify an exit point.

A bullish divergence occurs when the price of a security is making lower lows while OBV is making higher lows, while a bearish divergence is when an asset is making higher highs but OBV is making lower highs.

For traders, it's essential to use on-balance volume to inform decisions on divergences to spot the best opportunities to buy and sell an asset.

The great thing about on-balance volume is that it's a relatively easy-to-use indicator that can be paired with other predictive indicators like the Bollinger bands or the triple threat combo to spot possible breakouts in price.

Although it's a great tool to inform decisions, you must not solely let OBV make your decisions for you. For instance, whales can easily manipulate market movements due to their funds. This could lead to a significant spike in trading volume that throws OBV off in the short term.

As always, look to build a complete picture with other tools. The world's best traders are always well-informed, and OBV can complement a more holistic view of crypto trading.

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Planning Board is prepared to recommend operating permit for … – Niagara Gazette

The Niagara Falls Planning Board heard no dissent Wednesday night to the application of Northeast Data, doing business as BlockFusion, a cryptocurrency mining operator, to receive the first high-energy use operating permit in the city.

The only speakers during a 5-minute public hearing were attorneys for BlockFusion, who urged the Planning Board members to recommend that their application be approved by the Falls City Council. The board scheduled a special meeting for April 25 to consider the recommendation request.

None of the board members raised any questions about or objections to BlockFusions application. Planning Board Chairman Tony Palmer noted the companys 233-page application submission was exhaustive in outlining how the company would comply with the citys recently revised Zoning Code which places new restrictions on high energy use industries such as crypto-mining, data centers and cannabis cultivation.

BlockFusion attorneys told the board that their application meets all the qualifications for a high-energy use operating permit. They said the board should take our voluminous submission as a wish to comply with the new regulations.

The BlockFusion application has also been referred, by the City Council, to the Falls Zoning Board of Appeals for review. After receiving the recommendations of the two advisory boards, the council will make a final determination on the request for an operating permit.

BlockFusion had been operating a crypto-mining facility on Frontier Avenue, but shutdown operations in November after the city notified the company that it was in violation of the new high-energy use industry Zoning Code amendments. Officials said BlockFusion immediately filed its application for an operating permit and made changes to comply with the new regulations.

The city also sought a preliminary injunction to block the continued operation of two other cryptocurrency mining facilities in the Falls.

The Planning Board also unanimously recommended that the City Council give final approval to a proposed new ordinance that will amend the Falls Zoning Code by adding new requirements that will govern the location and hours of operation for stores that sell marijuana and regulate where cannabis can be legally cultivated in the city.

City Planner Kevin Forma had previously told the board that the Zoning Code changes were made at the direction of the states Office of Cannabis Management and that the director of the office had made clear that local municipalities could only adopt the rules and regulations put forward by the state.

At our last meeting, we were told this is pretty cut and dried, Palmer said. Theres not much we can do.

Under the new ordinance, cannabis dispensaries that engage in sales only can operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. and may not operate for more than 70 hours a week. Dispensaries that allow on-site consumption may operate from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. with the same 70-hour weekly restriction.

Retail dispensaries may not be located within 500 feet of a community facility and on-site consumption dispensaries can not be located within 1,000 feet of similar operations, within 500 feet of a school, within 200 feet of a house of worship or 500 feet of a community facility.

Dispensaries are subject to yearly inspections by the citys department of code enforcement. Forma noted that dispensaries are limited to retail zones, while cultivation is only permitted in industrial zones.

In January, the Niagara County Planning Board failed to recommend the new ordinance. The county board members raised a host of objections that ranged from the ordinance not being specific on locations for sale or cultivation, to a sense that the city will see little financial benefit from the cannabis industry.

The zoning code changes do not effect a dispensary opened Wednesday morning by the Seneca Nation of Indians adjacent to the Seneca Niagara Casino. Because that dispensary is located on sovereign Native American land, it is not subject to state or local laws.

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Planning Board is prepared to recommend operating permit for ... - Niagara Gazette

A new hype train: Is AI taking away the spotlight from cryptocurrency? – Vulcan Post

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this story belong solely to the author.

If crypto and Web3 were the tech buzzwords of 2022, then artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes certainly have this year on lock.

With the launch of generative AI tools, the technology has come into public view and is creating headlines by the day. The internet has been flooded with fake images of the Pope wearing a puffer jacket and when it comes to pressing issues, everyone wants to know what ChatGPT thinks.

Theres no doubt that some of this is driven by novelty. After all, ChatGPT doesnt actually think for itself not yet, at least. Its trained on existing data and reiterates the information which it deems most appropriate.

Nonetheless, all over social media, its being treated as a sentient being with its own moral and political opinions. Much like the people trying to get rich off of memecoins last year, theres now a great number trying to go viral with generative AI.

The funding landscape reveals a similar changing of the guard. In the first quarter of 2022, crypto venture capital (VC) investments reached an all-time-high, but theyve been dwindling ever since. Following the market crash and broader economic downturn, investors have become far more cautious when looking at crypto projects.

This air of caution has impacted startups in other industries as well, with overall investments down across all funding stages.

According to research by Crunchbase, AI remains one of the few bright spots, accounting for almost 20 per cent of funding in the first quarter of 2023. This is largely courtesy of OpenAI, which received US$10 billion in investment from Microsoft this January.

With the spotlight shining bright, it stands to reason whether AI is headed down the same path as crypto fuelled by hype-driven investments and internet memes.

Looking back at the 2017 initial coin offering (ICO) boom when crypto projects raised money by issuing their own cryptocurrencies theres a lot of money which could have been put to better use.

Over US$4 billion was raised through ICOs that year, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, 80 per cent of these ICOs turned out to be scams and out of those that werent, almost half failed within the first four months.

When it comes to AI, this doesnt seem as likely. While there is an element of hype involved, AI projects are far more driven by utility.

There are apparent use-cases for generative tools in fields like copywriting, branding, graphic design, and beyond. This wasnt the case for many crypto projects which found short-lived success.

NFTs and memecoins were often driven by community, with members rallying together to build interest. The utility was an afterthought and a fair amount of projects gambled on going viral through an Elon Musk or Shaquille ONeal tweet.

In contrast, AI ventures have found institutional backing from the jump. Major tech companies such as Google and Microsoft are actively involved in the space and have invested billions in startups. Where crypto was met with skepticism, AI is readily viewed as an essential for the future of technology.

Today, the crypto industry is purging scams and money-grabs in favour of purpose-driven ideas. Utilities such as cross-border remittance and trade settlement are still being invested in despite the state of the market.

AI despite grabbing the attention of the masses more recently seems to be at a similar level of maturity. The industry has always been purpose-driven and the recent increase in investments is better explained by technological advancements than all the social media hype.

Celebrities have given up their NFT profile pictures and Twitters forgetting all about Shiba Inu. Although bluechip coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum have been steadily recovering, theyre still well off their all-time-highs. For everyday investors especially those who joined during the bull market its not a stretch to think crypto is dying.

The reality might not be quite as dramatic. Crypto may no longer grant exponential net worth boosts, but blockchain technology still has very legitimate uses. For retail investors, this might become most apparent through tokenised investments.

With Project Guardian piloting tokenised bonds and companies like OpenEden looking into tokenised treasury bills, investors could soon have easier access to traditional financial instruments. Overseas transaction times may improve as well, once banks begin using blockchain for transaction settlement.

That being said, its not quite the same as the Bitcoin vision of a decentralised economy, where everyone took charge of their own finances and institutions were left to gather dust. Probably for good reason though while there are risks to storing money with a bank, the crypto winters have made it clear that self-custody is no easy task either.

In 2022 alone, almost US$4 billion was lost to scams and hacks in the crypto space. Theres a constant need to be wary and if trouble does arise, theres rarely anyone to turn to.

All things considered, crypto is more likely headed for a makeover than the morgue; and once the winter ends, therell be a safer environment for investors to return to.

Featured Image Credit: Reuters

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A new hype train: Is AI taking away the spotlight from cryptocurrency? - Vulcan Post