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Bitcoin exchange LocalBitcoins will close this month after 10 years of operation, in response to current market conditions. The company said in a statement, "we are sad to share, that regardless of our efforts to overcome challenges during the ongoing very cold crypto-winter, we have regretfully concluded that LocalBitcoins can no longer provide its Bitcoin trading service."

Feb 9, 2023

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted that he's heard rumors that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission wants to ban retail investors from engaging in cryptocurrency staking, the income-generating technique at the core of running blockchains including Ethereum. CoinDesk Global Policy and Regulation Managing Editor Nikhilesh De shares the latest developments.

Feb 9, 2023

Tokens utilizing artificial intelligence technology have been on a tear recently, as ChatGPT's popularity is spiking and tech giants like Google and Microsoft are entering the space. CoinDesk Executive Director of Global Content Emily Parker discusses the relationship between crypto and AI.

Feb 9, 2023

Crypto lender SALT has closed a $64.4 million Series A funding round from a share sale to accredited investors less than three months after a planned sale fell through due to the implosion of centralized crypto exchange FTX. SALT Lending CEO and Director Shawn Owen discusses the raise, business plans, and outlook for crypto lending.

Feb 9, 2023

Okcoin Chief Operating Officer Jason Lau joins "First Mover" to discuss the recent pause in bitcoin's January rally as the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization trades sideways, staying below the $23,000 level. Plus, insights on the Ordinals protocol boosting network activity on the Bitcoin blockchain to a two-year high, according to a new CryptoQuant report. And, his reaction to LocalBitcoins planning to close down amid crypto winter.

Feb 9, 2023

Recently, Kraken closed its Abu Dhabi office less than a year after securing a license in the region. This comes after the crypto exchange announced a wave of layoffs last year. Kraken's Head of Strategy Tomas Perfumo addresses reorganization, saying it was "independent of any any of event like FTX [but] born out of the notion we're trying to focus."

Feb 8, 2023

SPiCE VC co-founder and managing partner Tal Elyashiv discusses the "pressure" on VC firms to make timely investment decisions in the past few years and adds that the same fate is "beginning to happen with generative AI companies that are now the new shiny object."

Feb 8, 2023

Geoffrey Chen, Fidenza Macro blog Author, weighs in on crypto market sentiment after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized "disinflation" again in a speech on Tuesday. "We're in a Goldilocks scenario," Chen said. "The threat of recession is there, but it's definitely receding," he added.

Feb 8, 2023

Turkish singer Haluk Levent’s charity Ahbap is leading the response with roughly $2 million in crypto donations raised on the Avalanche, BSC and Ethereum blockchains in less than a day. Local exchange Paribu is also fundraising for two nonprofits assisting in the response. CoinDesk Türkiye Editor-in-Chief Serdar Turan joins the conversation.

Feb 8, 2023

Turkish nonprofits are raising millions of dollars in crypto for the earthquake response. Reacting to Turkish singer Haluk Levent warning his Twitter followers about fraudulent accounts popping up in the wake of the devastation, CoinDesk Türkiye Editor-in-Chief Serdar Turan shares tips for avoiding these types of scams.

Feb 8, 2023