Tag: paying

  • Sky Protocol buyback program starts paying off as SKY token jumps 12%

    Sky Protocol buyback program starts paying off as SKY token jumps 12%

    SKY token price surge

    • Sky Protocol has spent nearly $75M on buybacks since February 2025.
    • SKY token has risen by 12.6% in a week, nearing previous highs.
    • Buybacks reduced supply and boosted investor confidence.

    The price of the SKY token has jumped 12.6% over the past seven days as the Sky Network buyback program starts to bear fruits.

    The steady rise comes after months of token repurchases, with Sky Protocol investing tens of millions of dollars to reduce supply and stabilise market confidence.

    Sky Protocol’s buyback strategy

    Sky, formerly known as Maker before rebranding in August 2024, has made headlines with its aggressive buyback plan.

    Since February this year, the protocol has used nearly 75 million USD to purchase SKY tokens directly from the market.

    The most recent update revealed that in August alone, Sky spent 5.5 million USD to acquire 73 million tokens.

    Notably, this consistent activity has helped to gradually lift the token’s price.

    In late February, SKY was trading just above six cents.

    Today, it is changing hands at a little over seven cents, and while the number may look modest, it marks a meaningful recovery for a token that had faced periods of volatility.

    The buybacks are designed to reduce circulating supply, creating upward pressure on value while signalling financial confidence from the project’s side.

    SKY token price recovery gains momentum

    Market data from Coingecko shows that SKY has gained more than 12% in the past week, outperforming several other decentralised finance tokens.

    The token’s performance since the start of the buyback has been steady, rising over 8% across six months despite broader market swings.

    In late July, SKY even touched 9.6 cents, getting close to its all-time peak of just over ten cents recorded in December, before taking a surprising dip to just above six cents in August.

    By comparison, Uniswap’s UNI token has risen about 6% in the same timeframe, while Aave’s AAVE has gained over 25%.

    These comparisons highlight that although SKY has not delivered the strongest returns, its growth is tied directly to a deliberate financial mechanism rather than just speculative market sentiment. This distinction makes Sky’s approach stand out within the altcoin space.

    Why the buybacks matter

    Token buybacks are not new in crypto, but Sky’s scale and consistency are drawing attention.

    By removing tokens from circulation, the project is reducing potential selling pressure and rewarding holders with gradual value appreciation.

    The fact that Sky has committed $75 million to this strategy suggests a strong treasury position and confidence in its ecosystem.

    Other projects, such as World Liberty Financial and Pump.fun, have also launched similar programs, indicating that the model may become more common across the industry.

    For Sky, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the current momentum can be sustained, especially if market conditions turn volatile again.

    Investor sentiment already appears to be shifting in line with these efforts. A token that fell to a low of 3.5 cents earlier this year has nearly doubled from that point, reflecting renewed faith in its long-term role.

    With a market capitalisation of around $1.64 billion and more than $6.2 billion in total value locked on the platform, Sky is positioning itself as one of the more stable players in DeFi.

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  • Kidnapped WonderFi CEO released after paying $720k ransom

    Kidnapped WonderFi CEO released after paying $720k ransom

    • Dean Skurka is the president and CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian crypto company
    • Skurka was forced into a vehicle in downtown Toronto during rush hour
    • He said that client funds and data remain safe and weren’t impacted by the kidnapping

    The kidnapped CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency company WonderFi has returned safely after electronically transferring CAD$1 million ($720,000) to his captors.

    On Wednesday, at around 6 p.m. during rush hour, Dean Skurka, the president and CEO of WonderFi, was forced into a vehicle in the area of University Avenue and Richmond Street W. in downtown Toronto, reports CBC.

    Skurka was ordered to pay the ransom demand of CAD$1 million. He was later released in Centennial Park in Etobicoke, according to a source close to the investigation. Speaking about the kidnapping, Skurka said:

    “The safety and security of all of WonderFi’s employees are paramount. Client funds and data remain safe, and were not impacted by this incident.”

    According to Jameson Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of Casa, a security firm focused on protecting crypto users, Skurka’s kidnapping is the 171st case where violence has been used to target crypto holders.

    Lopp said:

    “As the [Bitcoin] price goes up, more awareness of the space permeates throughout society and as a result, more criminally minded people decide they want to try to figure out what the ROI of executing a physical attack against a known crypto holder is.”

    The kidnapping comes at a time when Bitcoin is going through a price rise.

    Yesterday, Bitcoin achieved a new all-time high of $76,677 on major crypto exchanges. The new price came amid the US Federal Reserve announcing a 25 basis points interest rate cut.

    Earlier in the week, Bitcoin broke a new all-time high of $75,317 as voting results signalled a Donald Trump win for the White House.

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  • Michael Saylor’s bet on Bitcoin paying off, his BTC holdings now valued at $1B

    Michael Saylor’s bet on Bitcoin paying off, his BTC holdings now valued at $1B

    Michael Saylor’s bet on Bitcoin paying off, his BTC holdings now valued at $1B
    • Michael Saylor personally holds $1 billion in Bitcoin, owning 17,732 BTC.
    • MicroStrategy holds 226,500 BTC, valued at over $12 billion, with a $37,000 average cost.
    • Saylor views Bitcoin as a superior, secure asset and advocates continuous investment.

    In a recent interview on Bloomberg Television, Michael Saylor, the Chairman of MicroStrategy, revealed he holds Bitcoin worth approximately $1 billion.

    This makes him one of the most prominent BTC holders in the world, joining the ranks of figures such as Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao, the Winklevoss Twins, and Satoshi Nakamoto.

    Michael Saylor has not sold any of his BTC holdings

    Saylor’s endorsement of Bitcoin as a capital investment asset is both passionate and unwavering. In his discussion with Bloomberg’s Sonali Basak on August 7, Saylor confirmed that he possesses a significant personal stack of Bitcoin, which he first disclosed four years ago.

    At that time, he announced owning 17,732 BTC, a figure that has only grown since.

    Despite the significant appreciation of Bitcoin’s value over the years, Saylor has not sold any of his holdings, continuously acquiring more of the cryptocurrency.

    Seeing Bitcoin as a generational wealth asset

    For Saylor, Bitcoin represents more than just a speculative investment. He describes it as a revolutionary financial tool, superior to both physical and traditional financial capital.

    According to Saylor, Bitcoin is an unparalleled asset that offers generational wealth potential for individuals, families, corporations, and even countries. His commitment to Bitcoin is rooted in its perceived stability and security, as well as its ability to preserve value over time.

    During the interview, Saylor emphasized his belief that “there is never a bad time to buy Bitcoin.” He likened Bitcoin to “cyber Manhattan,” suggesting that investing in it is akin to acquiring prime real estate in the most coveted location.

    This analogy highlights his conviction that Bitcoin, as a scarce and desirable asset, will always hold significant value, regardless of market fluctuations.

    MicroStrategy has accumulated 226,500 BTC under Saylor’s leadership

    Saylor’s investment philosophy extends beyond his personal holdings to his leadership of MicroStrategy. Under his guidance, the company has amassed a substantial Bitcoin reserve, totalling 226,500 BTC, valued at over $12 billion.

    This massive investment represents a significant portion of the company’s balance sheet. MicroStrategy’s average cost per Bitcoin stands at approximately $37,000, and the company is set to execute a 10-to-1 stock split, which could further impact its financial structure and stock performance.

    In addition to discussing his personal holdings, Saylor also addressed Bitcoin’s broader implications for corporate finance. He asserts that Bitcoin can “fix” corporate balance sheets by providing a secure and stable asset for long-term investment.

    Saylor points to Bitcoin’s immense computational and electrical power, which he argues makes it “nation state resistant” and “nuclear-hardened.” He proudly notes that the Bitcoin network consumes more electricity than the United States Navy, a testament to its robust security and resilience.

    However, Saylor’s enthusiasm for Bitcoin is not just limited to its investment potential. He views cryptocurrency as a groundbreaking technological advancement, with the power to reshape financial systems globally.



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