Tag: Investment

  • Jiuzi Holdings taps SOLV Foundation for its $1B Bitcoin investment plan

    Jiuzi Holdings taps SOLV Foundation for its $1B Bitcoin investment plan

    Jiuzi Holdings taps SOLV Foundation for its $1B Bitcoin investment plan

    • Jiuzi commits up to $1B and 10,000 BTC to SOLV’s DeFi yield platform.
    • The partnership bridges TradFi compliance with DeFi Bitcoin finance.
    • JZXN shares have surged over 17% following the strategic announcement.

    Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN) has unveiled a sweeping $1 billion Bitcoin finance initiative through a strategic partnership with SOLV Foundation, a decentralised finance (DeFi) platform managing more than $2.8 billion in total value locked.

    The move positions Jiuzi as one of the few Nasdaq-listed firms actively bridging traditional finance (TradFi) with DeFi to create compliant, yield-generating Bitcoin products for institutional investors.

    10,000 Bitcoin commitment to SOLV’s flagship SolvBTC.BNB vault

    The partnership will see Jiuzi allocate up to $1 billion from its digital asset plan into Bitcoin staking and yield-focused blockchain products.

    Central to the strategy is a commitment of up to 10,000 Bitcoin to SOLV’s flagship SolvBTC.BNB vault on the BNB Chain — one of the largest Bitcoin yield platforms in the ecosystem.

    The assets will be safeguarded by regulated third-party custodians and verified through Chainlink’s proof-of-reserves auditing system, ensuring transparency and institutional-grade security.

    This marks a pivotal moment for Jiuzi Holdings, which is best known for its new energy vehicle infrastructure business in China.

    The company has been steadily diversifying into blockchain finance, and its partnership with SOLV Foundation signals a deepened commitment to positioning Bitcoin as a productive, yield-bearing asset rather than a passive store of value.

    Building a compliant bridge between TradFi and DeFi

    Jiuzi and SOLV have emphasised that the partnership will operate under strict compliance with US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations and Nasdaq listing standards.

    The collaboration will establish a joint Steering Committee composed of senior representatives from both organisations.

    This committee will develop and oversee Bitcoin-centric DeFi initiatives, including expanding the adoption of SolvBTC across additional blockchain networks such as Solana and Base.

    By combining Jiuzi’s regulatory standing and institutional access with SOLV’s on-chain expertise, the partnership aims to create a secure, transparent, and scalable financial framework for Bitcoin-based products.

    Both companies view the collaboration as a model for how regulated capital can participate safely in decentralised yield markets.

    Optimising treasury strategy through blockchain

    Beyond its yield products, Jiuzi will anchor its corporate treasury around Bitcoin as its primary digital asset.

    The firm’s Bitcoin holdings, including those of its subsidiaries, will be deposited on SOLV’s platform and managed under the supervision of approved custodians.

    This approach is designed to maximise capital efficiency while maintaining visibility and accountability through blockchain-based auditing tools.

    Li Tao, Chief Executive Officer of Jiuzi Holdings, described the partnership as “a transformative step forward” that strengthens the company’s Bitcoin vault strategy and aligns it with one of the most advanced ecosystems for Bitcoin liquidity and staking.

    SOLV Protocol co-founder Ryan Chow added that the partnership merges Jiuzi’s regulatory stature with SOLV’s expertise in managing large-scale Bitcoin assets, paving the way for secure institutional capital flow into DeFi.

    Notably, the news of the partnership sparked a sharp rally in Jiuzi’s stock, with shares surging more than 22% in trading following the announcement.

    Investors responded positively to the company’s expansion into digital asset finance, recognising the potential for Jiuzi to play a pivotal role in institutional Bitcoin adoption.

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  • Aerodrome price surges 10% after Animoca Brands announces strategic investment

    Aerodrome price surges 10% after Animoca Brands announces strategic investment

    Aerodrome Finance Price

    • Aerodrome Finance price eyes breakout above $1.
    • This comes after Animoca Brands announced it market-acquired and staked AERO tokens.
    • Market sentiment and the institutional confidence may propel Aerodrome Finance price to $1.34.

    Aerodrome Finance (AERO) price is up amid bullish momentum.

    The token gained as web3 and gaming investor Animoca Brands makes a strategic investment, a move that helped AERO price extend 24-hours to over 10% and briefly surpass the $1 mark.

    The Animoca Brands’ backing of Aerodrome Finance adds to the growing institutional interest in the decentralized exchange project on Base.

    Animoca Brands acquires, stakes AERO

    Animoca Brands announced its acquisition of AERO tokens on October 28, noting it made purchases on the open market. The company then staked all of these tokens for veAERO, demonstrating long-term commitment to Aerodrome Finance.

    Buying and staking AERO aligns with Animoca’s mission to generate value in open networks and support innovative protocols.

    As noted in the post above, the company sees Aerodrome as a dominant player on Base. With more than 50% of the DEX total value locked (TVL) on the blockchain, Aerodrome has become the central liquidity hub for the ecosystem.

    “Aerodrome is a key component in the engine behind Base’s DeFi growth and Coinbase is making it seamless for its CEX users to trade tokens which have liquidity on DEXs such as Aerodrome thus driving more value to Aerodrome voters. With sustainable tokenomics for $AERO and the team’s ability to execute, Aerodrome has proven its standing as a key player in Base infrastructure,” Animoca Brands posted on X.

    The investment follows a pattern of institutional backing for Aerodrome, including previous acquisitions by entities like Coinbase Ventures and Wintermute Ventures.

    Alexander Cutler, CEO of Dromos Labs and a core contributor to Aerodrome, lauded Animoca’s move. He noted that AERO’s value is accessible only through open market participation and active involvement.

    Price outlook: AERO bulls eye breakout above $1

    At the time of writing, AERO is up nearly 2% on the day and has extended the uptick to 10% in the past 24 hours.

    Over the past week, AERO has climbed 26%. This sees it outperform the broader market gains and form an uptrend since touching lows of $0.70 on Oct. 17.

    Currently, price hovers in a key range near $0.99 as bulls aim for a decisive breakout above the $1 psychological level.

    AERO price chart by TradingView

    If AERO strengthens above $1, it would allow bulls to target the next hurdles around $1.2 and then $1.34.

    The RSI at 70 on the 4-hour chart nonetheless suggests gains will firmly push AERO into the overbought zone. However, the MACD points to strength for buyers as the signal line cuts above the zero line, suggesting bullish momentum.



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  • Jito’s JTO token rises on a16z’s $50 million investment in Solana staking protocol

    Jito’s JTO token rises on a16z’s $50 million investment in Solana staking protocol

    a16z Invest In Jito

    • Jito’s native token, JTO, jumped 3% intraday on October 16, 2025, following a16z’s $50 million investment.
    • The $50 million investment by Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm, acquiring locked JTO tokens, signals strong institutional confidence in Jito’s liquid staking and MEV solutions.
    • The funding will fuel Jito’s Block Assembly Marketplace and node expansion.

    Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm has  announced a $50 million investment in Jito, acquiring a substantial allotment of the protocol’s native JTO tokens.

    Jito, an important infrastructure layer on the Solana blockchain, offers liquid staking and maximum extractable value (MEV) extraction.

    a16z investment of $50m in staking protocol

    Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) $50 million infusion into Jito marks the venture firm’s largest single commitment to a Solana staking protocol.

    It eventually emphasizes strategic token purchases over traditional equity. In exchange for the investment, a16z received non-circulating JTO tokens, locking them for an extended period.

    Brian Smith, executive director of the Jito Foundation. highlighted the deal’s novelty:

    If you’re accepting long-term alignment where you can’t sell for a while, then there’s traditionally some modest discount associated with that.

    This structure, particularly 16z’s prior $55 million LayerZero and $70 million EigenLayer investments, prioritizes ecosystem growth over quick flips.

    The capital to accelerate Jito’s roadmap, including BAM node expansion.

    Strategically, it aligns a16z with Solana’s high-throughput ethos, where Jito’s MEV tools mitigate front-running risks plaguing other chains.

    This infusion arrives amid a16z’s aggressive crypto pivot, following $4.5 billion in new funds raised earlier in 2025.

    As institutional inflows swell, the deal could herald a staking renaissance, democratizing yields while fortifying blockchain security.

    Jito price outlook

    Jito is currently trading at $1.16, up nearly 3% and has touched highs of $1.19 across major exchanges.

    The gains came amid news of a16z’s investment and reflected trader optimism around the token as institutional validation takes root. Solana’s price rising in the past few weeks also buoyed traders.

    Analysts are linking this rebound to the investment’s timing, coinciding with positive Solana network metrics. This includes a 15% uptick in daily active users and rising decentralized finance volume.

    In terms of the technical outlook for JTO, the daily chart price is near the oversold territory with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 35.

    The indecisive market nonetheless has Jito poised above $1 after bulls recovered from lows of $0.33 seen on October 10, 2025.

    Jito price chart by TradingVew

    Other than the technical perspective, regulatory shifts that could impact liquid staking tokens remain a risk.

    However, recent SEC exemptions and broader market downturns indicate a long-term bullish outlook.

    The surge to near $1.20 suggests bulls could eye the $1.50-$1.70 range, above which lie the key targets of $1.85 and $2.56.

    If market conditions align, buyers will target the all-time peak above $5.61 reached in December 2023.



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  • Bitwise CIO bats for diversified crypto investment, compares Bitcoin to Google

    Bitwise CIO bats for diversified crypto investment, compares Bitcoin to Google

    Crypto news today: Bitcoin nears all-time high; ETH, DOGE, PEPE, ATOM show bullish signs

    • Bitwise CIO makes a case for diversified crypto investment in different assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche.
    • He compares it to 2004, when Google was the leading internet company, though Netflix made the most money for investors in a 21-year period.
    • He equates Blockchain to the internet, saying the technology can be used for different purposes, like the internet.

    Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan makes the case for diversified crypto investment, even as he hails Bitcoin as an important asset. 

    Hougan said that while “Bitcoin is the king of crypto assets”, citing that it is the largest cryptocurrency, while having the most liquidity and being well known.

    He says Bitcoin is the only digital asset that has a shot at being an important global currency. He said the asset is similar to digital gold. 

    Bitwise’s CIO said that despite the important status of Bitcoin, it is wise to invest in other cryptocurrencies, making a comparison with the historical performance of internet companies. 

    Google and Netflix

    Hougan asks the investors to put themselves in 2004. 

    Google was the leading internet company then, and investors would have been tempted to put money into Google as it is the “dominant player”, Hougan said. 

    He points out that while Google has done exceptionally well in the next 21 years, gaining over 6300%, investing in other internet companies would have served investors well, as the internet is a “general purpose technology” with uses in retail, social media, and software.

    Investing in companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Salesforce, which are leading players in other verticals of the internet, would also go on to pay huge gains for investors. 

    Netflix is the highest performing stock in this period with gains of over 50,000%. 

    Amazon and Salesforce also rack up 10,000% and 7,000% gains, respectively, leaving Google as the worst-performing stock among this group during this time. 

    Blockchain is similar to the Internet

    Hougan compares Blockchain technology to the internet, saying the former is also a general-purpose technology with different crypto assets used for different purposes. 

    “You can use a blockchain to create a better form of money (Bitcoin) or to create a programmable network for transferring real-world assets” (Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche).

    You can build new types of applications (DeFi, DePin) or middleware that services other blockchains (Chainlink). 

    You can also build traditional businesses that support the crypto economy (Coinbase, Circle, Marathon Digital)”, Hougan writes.

    Power of passive investing

    It is now a regular occurrence that passive funds are trumping actively managed funds. 

    Hougan points this trend out.

    “Over the past 20 years, actively managed US equity funds have underperformed their benchmark indexes 97% of the time”, he said. 

    It is important to invest in the big picture rather than picking winners, Hougan writes. 

    He adds that after studying history, it makes sense to own a basket of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink. 

    In the last 4 years, different crypto assets emerged as the number one performer in different years.

    Hougan demonstrates this with data. He points out that it is impossible to predict cryptocurrency winners in 2030. 



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  • Crypto recorded $1.3B in investment product inflows this past week

    Crypto recorded $1.3B in investment product inflows this past week

    Bitcoin (BTC) price breaks above $62K as crypto market awakens after Fed rate cut
    • Crypto investment products registered $1.3 billion in inflows last week
    • Ethereum outpaced Bitcoin with $793 million compared to $407 million

    Digital asset investment products notched $1.3 billion in inflows in the past week.

    It’s the fifth consecutive week of positive net flows for crypto exchange-traded products despite recent price declines. According to latest weekly flows report from digital asset manager CoinShares, the scenario outlines strong interest in buying amid market weakness.

    Ethereum outpaces Bitcoin in weekly net inflows

    Per a Coinshares report on February 10, the net inflows is almost double from the $747.4 million recorded the week before. The increase comes despite US President Donald Trump’s tariff impositions that saw prices dip amid investor reaction.

    Bitcoin and Ethereum dominated the inflows. However, the latter outpaced the former this week, registering $793 million inflows compared to Bitcoin’s $407 million.

    Overall, Bitcoin ETPs represent 7.1% of total market capitalization, making digital asset investment products the largest holder compared to other investments.

    “Digital asset investment products saw inflows for the 5th consecutive week totalling US$1.3bn. Bitcoin’s BTC saw inflows of US$407m, with ETPs globally now representing 7.1% of the current market capitalisation. It was Ethereum who stole the show this week, with the price falling recently close to US$2,100 leading to significant buying-on-weakness, with inflows of US$793m,” CoinShares posted on X.

    Investors see decline as a buying opportunity particularly after the rise in investment interest followed Ethereum’s price dip.

    In the meantime, XRP and Solana secured third and fourth positions respectively with $21 million and $11million. Meanwhile, $1 billion in overall net inflows by the US was the highest regionally, followed by Germany, Switzerland, and Canada with $61 million, $54 million, and $37 million, respectively.

    Bitcoin’s price has struggled with downside pressure below $100k in recent weeks. ETH has also experienced a tough month or so, with prices helmed below $3,000 and hitting lows of $2,100 at one time.

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  • National Bank of Bahrain launches a Bitcoin investment fund

    National Bank of Bahrain launches a Bitcoin investment fund

    National Bank of Bahrain launches a Bitcoin investment fund
    • The National Bank of Bahrain launches the GCC’s first Bitcoin investment fund.
    • The fund offers accredited investors exposure to Bitcoin as a capital-protecting option.
    • Bahrain ranks fifth globally in Bitcoin holdings, emphasizing its crypto-friendly stance.

    The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has made headlines with the launch of a groundbreaking investment fund aimed at providing accredited investors with exposure to Bitcoin.

    This initiative marks the first Bitcoin-linked structured investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

    National Bank of Bahrain collaborating with APR Digital

    In collaboration with APR Digital, the fund is designed to cater to the growing interest in digital assets, particularly Bitcoin.

    Hisham AlKurdi, Group Chief Executive of Markets & Client Solutions at NBB, in a press release, expressed pride in introducing this innovative product, stating, “We are proud to introduce this bespoke structured investment, which blends the appeal of digital asset exposure with the security of capital protection.”

    This move underscores the bank’s commitment to providing wealth management clients with secure and diverse investment opportunities.

    Boost for Bitcoin adoption in Bahrain

    As Bitcoin continues to gain traction worldwide, the launch of this fund is a significant boost for BTC adoption in Bahrain.

    The country is currently ranked fifth globally for the largest Bitcoin holdings, with a portfolio of approximately 13,166 BTC, valued at around $844 million.

    Unlike some nations that acquire BTC mainly through seizures, Bahrain has been actively accumulating the cryptocurrency, positioning itself as a leader in the digital asset space.

    Furthermore, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has implemented a clear legal framework to foster the adoption of digital currencies.

    Recently, the CBB granted a payment service license to the crypto exchange Crypto.com, allowing it to provide crypto services to Bahraini users, further solidifying Bahrain’s status as a crypto-friendly nation.

    With the introduction of this Bitcoin investment fund, the National Bank of Bahrain aims to capitalize on the growing potential of cryptocurrencies, offering clients a unique avenue for portfolio diversification in an evolving investment landscape.

    As interest in digital assets continues to rise, Bahrain’s proactive approach is likely to encourage further investment and innovation in the region.

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  • Grayscale launches investment fund for AVAX Token, fueling market surge

    Grayscale launches investment fund for AVAX Token, fueling market surge

    Grayscale launches investment fund for AVAX Token
    • Grayscale launches Avalanche Trust, offering exclusive AVAX exposure for investors.
    • AVAX price surged to $25.16, with a nearly 9% increase in Avalanche Open Interest.
    • The new fund enhances Grayscale’s portfolio, aligning with its crypto strategy.

    Grayscale Investments, the world’s largest crypto fund manager, has announced the launch of a new investment fund dedicated to Avalanche (AVAX) token.

    Officially unveiled on August 22, the Grayscale Avalanche Trust expands the firm’s suite of over 20 crypto investment products and offers accredited investors a new avenue for exposure to Avalanche’s native cryptocurrency.

    Grayscale Avalanche Trust to provide direct access to AVAX

    Grayscale’s Avalanche Trust is a single-asset investment vehicle that operates similarly to the firm’s existing products, focusing exclusively on AVAX. Unlike Grayscale’s exchange-traded funds, this trust is available only to qualified investors and is not exchange-traded.

    The Avalanche Trust is designed to provide investors with direct access to AVAX, the token that powers Avalanche’s multi-chain smart contract platform. This platform is known for its focus on optimizing scalability, network security, and decentralization, while also facilitating the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA).

    The new fund aligns with Grayscale’s broader strategy to offer innovative investment opportunities within the evolving crypto ecosystem. It adds to Grayscale’s recent expansions, which include trusts for MakerDAO’s MKR token, Bittensor, and Sui.

    With a track record of pioneering crypto investment products, Grayscale continues to cement its position as a leading player in the digital asset space. The launch of the Avalanche Trust highlights the firm’s commitment to broadening access to emerging and impactful developments in the cryptocurrency market.

    AVAX price movements

    The announcement has had a significant impact on the market seeing it came amid other major Avalanche news including Franklin Templeton expanding its blockchain-integrated money market fund to Avalanche.

    The price of AVAX surged to a high of $25.16 before pulling back slightly to around $24.75 at press time.

    Additionally, Avalanche’s Open Interest has seen a nearly 9% increase, reflecting heightened investor interest and enthusiasm.

    Among other developments, the price surge underscores the positive reception of Grayscale’s new fund and its potential to attract substantial capital flows into the AVAX token.

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  • Crypto investment products see first inflows in over a month

    Crypto investment products see first inflows in over a month

    • Digital assets investment products saw $130 million in inflows, the first after four weeks of outflows.
    • Bitcoin remains above $62k and saw inflows of $144 million this past week.

    As Bitcoin shows fresh resilience above $62,000, latest market data reveals that digital asset investment products recorded inflows for the first time in over a month last week.

    On Monday, digital assets manager CoinShares published its weekly report on crypto investment products.

    The details showed the industry saw $130 million in inflows for the week ending May 10. It’s the first time the metric reads positive since the first week of April – a run of four weeks of outflows.

    Notably, Bitcoin saw inflows of $144 million, while short-Bitcoin ETPs recorded outflows of $5.1 million.

    The majority of the inflows were seen in the US, with $135 million. Hong Kong saw $19 million in inflows. Elsewhere, Canada and Germany recorded outflows of $20 million and $15 million respectively.

    ETP volumes remain low

    While the week saw inflows overall, CoinShares’s head of research James Butterfill wrote in the company blog that ETP volumes have continued to decline.

    For instance, the market saw ETP volumes of $8 billion last week, while it averaged $17 billion in April.

    These volumes highlight ETP investors are participating less in the crypto ecosystem at present, representing 22% of total volumes on global trusted exchanges relative to 31% last month,” Butterfill noted.

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  • US sanctions Bitcoin ETF, NuggetRush set to cross $1.8M in investment

    US sanctions Bitcoin ETF, NuggetRush set to cross $1.8M in investment

    • Bitcoin ETF has become a reality with the SEC approving its listing on major exchanges in the United States.
    • NuggetRush is the latest crypto sensation that has raised more than $1.8 million from eager investors.
    • As 2024 progresses, both NuggetRush and Bitcoin are expected to perform well this year.

    The United States on 10 Jan 2024 decided to include Bitcoin in major investment funds by approving 11 Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). By doing this, the SEC has allowed Bitcoin to be bought by a wide range of investors, from big pension funds to regular people.

    Cryptocurrency fans are thrilled with this decision because Bitcoin is the best crypto investment to date. The US financial authority had previously turned down such requests, worried about the possibility of fraud and market manipulation. However, they have now given their nod and it’s finally going to be launched soon. Meanwhile, another development that has been the talk of the town is the massive presale success of an emerging altcoin called NuggetRush. It has crossed $1.8 million in investment till now and is considered a good cryptocurrency ICO for this year.

    Let’s find out more about the Bitcoin ETF sanction and the hype around the NuggetRush presale.

    Why is Bitcoin ETF news exciting for crypto fans?

    ETFs are collections of investments that let people invest in various assets without actually owning them. They are sold on stock markets like regular shares, and their value changes based on the performance of the assets they include. An ETF might have different assets, like gold and silver, or shares from various sectors like technology and insurance. Some ETFs already include Bitcoin indirectly. However, a spot Bitcoin ETF will purchase Bitcoin directly at its current DeFi coin price.

    Several investment firms, including big names like Blackrock and Fidelity, have been waiting for the SEC’s approval to include Bitcoin in their ETFs. After some discussion over the details, the first approvals have been granted. This has made it the best crypto for beginners who don’t have much knowledge about this industry. It means a new group of investors can now get into Bitcoin without the hassle of digital wallets or crypto exchanges. It’s expected that a lot of money will flow into the Bitcoin market as these financial firms begin to invest.

    Some experts think this won’t greatly change Bitcoin’s price, as spot Bitcoin ETFs exist in other countries. However, with big US players entering the market, many believe Bitcoin’s value will go up due to increased demand.

    Some people think this decision marks a significant moment, showing that Bitcoin is being taken seriously, at least as the top crypto to invest in.

    NuggetRush looking strong as it crosses $1.8M in investment

    NuggetRush is a popular play-to-earn gaming cryptocurrency which is considered the best crypto coin for investment. It has been showing impressive strength as it has gathered an investment of over $1.8 million. For those who might not be familiar, play-to-earn (P2E) games are a type of online game where players can earn real money by playing. NuggetRush is one such game that’s catching a lot of attention in the gaming communities.

    The price of each NuggetRush token is currently set at $0.018. This is quite affordable and offers a good opportunity for those interested in how to get into cryptocurrency without a huge investment. NuggetRush’s pre-sale is divided into five rounds, and right now, it’s in the fifth round. This means there’s still an opportunity to get in before the presale ends.

    One of the exciting aspects of NuggetRush is its expected launch price, which is projected to be $0.020 per token. This suggests that those who invest now during the presale could potentially see a profit when the token goes live. It’s always good to see a potential for profit in any investment, and NuggetRush seems to offer that. This makes it one of the best altcoins to watch out for this year.

    In addition to the play-to-earn aspect, NuggetRush also offers something called NFT staking. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a kind of digital asset that represents ownership of a unique item or piece of content. By staking NFTs in NuggetRush, players can earn an extra 20% return. This is an attractive feature for those who are into the trending NFT market and are looking for additional ways to increase their earnings.

    Another notable feature of NuggetRush is that it has zero tax on buying and selling tokens. In the world of cryptocurrency, it’s common to see some taxes or fees associated with transactions. The fact that NuggetRush doesn’t impose any tax on transactions makes it one of the best NFT cryptos for youngsters. It means that players and investors can buy and sell tokens without worrying about additional costs eating into their profits.

    Conclusion

    As the SEC has approved Bitcoin ETF in the United States, a lot of people are now happy. Another milestone is also achieved by a notable crypto coin called NuggetRush in the world of gaming and cryptocurrency. With its entry price of $0.018 per token and the bonus of NFT staking, it’s easy to see why it’s drawing significant investment.

    For more information on the NuggetRush presale, visit the NuggetRush Presale Website.

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  • Ex-Deutsche Bank investment banker faces up to 30 years behind bars

    Ex-Deutsche Bank investment banker faces up to 30 years behind bars

    • The former Deutsche Bank employee, Rashawn Russell, was arrested in April 2023.
    • Russell is accused of causing at least 29 investors to lose not less than $1.5 million.
    • Russell fabricated multiple documents and misled investors regarding the status of their investments to orchestrate his scheme.

    Rashawn Russell, formerly employed as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, has admitted his guilt in connection with allegations of embezzling funds from investors enticed by promises of substantial returns from cryptocurrency trading, as confirmed by the US Justice Department. The news comes right on the heels of Deutsche Bank tapping Swiss crypto firm Taurus for crypto custody services.

    This plea comes on the heels of Russell’s arrest in April, which implicated him in an intricate fraudulent operation. He now confronts the possibility of a prison sentence of up to 30 years, in addition to the obligation to reimburse investors with a sum exceeding $1.5 million.

    Why was Rashawn Russell arrested?

    US Attorney Breon Peace issued a statement in which he remarked:

    “Russell exploited the fascination of investors in cryptocurrency markets to orchestrate a deception against trusting clients.” He further emphasized, “The expeditious conviction in this instance underscores our commitment to holding those engaging in deceitful practices within the digital asset sector accountable.”

    Details unveiled during the plea hearing, in conjunction with court records, reveal that between November 2020 and August 2022, Russell, who formerly worked as an investment banker and was registered as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, played a pivotal role in an intricate fraudulent endeavour. He duped investors into investing their capital into his R3 Crypto Fund by offering false assurances of substantial, at times guaranteed, profits stemming from cryptocurrency ventures.

    In reality, a significant portion of the investors’ finances was diverted by Russell for personal enrichment, gambling, and repaying previous investors. As a result of this deceitful operation, at least 29 investors suffered losses that amounted to no less than $1.5 million.

    Fabrication of documents and misleading investors

    As part of the fraudulent scheme, the Justice Department revealed back in April that “Russell fabricated multiple documents and misled investors regarding the status of their investments.” At one juncture, Russell purportedly sent an investor a doctored image of a bank statement supposedly sourced from a bank’s website, falsely indicating the availability of substantial liquidity. In another instance, when an investor sought to retrieve their investment, Russell neglected to transfer the funds and instead dispatched a counterfeit bank wire transfer confirmation to the investor, falsely suggesting the return of their capital.

    According to the April indictment, Russell’s duplicitous ploy targeted “numerous individuals, including his friends, former college classmates, and former colleagues at a financial institution,” the specific identity of which has been made known to the Grand Jury.

    Russell’s LinkedIn profile, which has since been deleted, disclosed his employment history at JP Morgan, Moody’s, and Deutsche Bank, where he commenced his career as a banking analyst in July 2018, ultimately advancing to the position of associate in July 2020.

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