Ether

Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, functioning as a fuel for operations within the network. It serves multiple purposes: as a digital currency, it can be bought, sold, and held as an investment; as a utility token, it's used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the Ethereum network. Ether is integral to running decentralized applications (dApps) and executing smart contracts on Ethereum, providing the necessary resources for these operations. As Ethereum evolves, especially with upgrades like Ethereum 2.0, Ether's role remains central, facilitating not just transactions but also the broader ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi) and various blockchain-based applications.


Markets

Crypto Investors Are Left Guessing the Fed’s Next Move

The CPI data shows inflation remains problematic. Crypto investors are hoping the U.S. central bank breaks from its monetary hawkishness of the past year.

(Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)

Policy

SEC Is 'Completely Out Of Control,' Says a16z Crypto's Head of Policy

At the annual Futures Industry Association conference in Boca Raton, representatives from crypto companies argued the lack of regulatory clarity would stifle US innovation.

Panelists at FIA Boca 2023 (left to right): Coinbase Senior Institutional Strategist John D'Agostino, Coinbase Associate General Council Julia Huechel, a16z Head of Policy Brian Quintenz, CoinFund President Chris Perkins (Tracy Wang/CoinDesk)

Markets

Bitcoin Options Volume on Deribit Hits Highest Level in 22 Months as Bank Failures Breed Volatility

Traders seek options to hedge against market volatility as U.S. bank failures triggered sharp repricing of interest rate expectations.

Bitcoin's 24-hour trading volume surges amid market volatility. (Amberdata)

Markets

Vitalik Buterin-Named Wallet Sent 500 Ether to Mint RAI, Buy USDC Amid Depegging

USDC depegged over the weekend to 87 cents, and a Buterin-labelled wallet bought on the dip.

Vitalik Buterin shares a new blog post on Ethereum's roadmap to address scaling, privacy, and wallet security. (CoinDesk)

Markets

First Mover Asia: Bitcoin’s Store of Value Narrative Is on Full Display; Crypto Prices Stay Green

ALSO: CoinDesk's Helene Braun writes that the current banking crisis won't doom banks that serve the digital asset industry.

(Pixabay)

Markets

Prices, Volume Spike on Mix of Regulators' Backstops and Lower Rate Expectations

Investors found comfort in banking and finance regulators’ interventions on behalf of depositors to Silicon Valley and Signature banks, and grew hopeful that the Federal Reserve would not boost interest rates at its next meeting.

The FDIC completed a sale of most of Silicon Valley Bank's assets to First Citizens Bank. (George Rose/Getty Images)

Markets

Bitcoin Surges as Bank Client Rescue Eases Contagion Fears, Fuels Hopes for Fed Dovishness; Binance's $1B Conversion Helps, Too

Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs analysts have predicted the U.S. central bank will not raise interest rates at its next FOMC meeting on March 22, according to a report.

(Timon Studler/Unsplash)

Markets

First Mover Asia: Silicon Valley Bank Failure Highlights Small Banks’ Vulnerability; Bitcoin Soars Past $22.5K

Since September 2021 the growth in cash assets in small bank balance sheets has turned negative.

(Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Policy

Ether a Security? That Could Have Huge Ramifications for Crypto, Legal Expert Says

The outcome of the New York Attorney General's lawsuit against KuCoin could prompt federal regulatory action against the second-largest crypto asset, says Penn State University Dickinson Law professor Tonya Evans.

Tonya Evans (ProfTonyaEvans.com)

Markets

Bitcoin, Ether Fall for Third Consecutive Week

A toxic cocktail of inflationary fears, crypto industry contagion and concerns about a possible U.S. government bitcoin sale has pressured market prices.

(Unsplash)