Terraform Labs CEO and co-founder Do Kwon [has been arrested in Montenegro](/news/article/do-kwon-hiding-in-serbia). He oversaw the multi-billion dollar collapse of the TerraUSD-LUNA ecosystem and has been [charged with fraud](/news/article/terraform-labs-accused-of-fraud-by-sec) by US prosecutors.

## Do Kwon arrested: Series of events

In early 2023, Do Kwon and Terraform Labs [were accused of](/news/article/do-kwon-red-notice) "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud", with eight charges announced against him by US prosecutors.

He was arrested on 23 March in Montenegro, travelling under a false name and in possession of fake documents. South Korean authorities released a separate arrest warrant for him in September 2022. They were at the scene to confirm his identity through official fingerprint records.

## Do Kwon arrested: Why did the TerraUSD-LUNA ecosystem collapse?

The Terra ecosystem was created in 2018 by Terraform Labs and is largely known for its decentralised algorithmic stablecoin, TerraUSD (UST), and reserve asset cryptocurrency, Luna (LUNA). The (now defunct) algorithmic stablecoin system is simple to understand:

•	1 UST = $1 LUNA.

•	If UST<$1, burn UST and mint LUNA. Burning will raise UST's price.

•	If UST>$1, burn LUNA and mint UST. Minting will decrease UST's price.

What [made this system a Ponzi scheme](/news/article/terra-luna-collapse) was the unsustainable interest rate of nearly 20% offered upon staking UST on the Anchor Protocol.

## The system was built to fail.

Upon shifting from a fixed interest model to a dynamic one, UST began its downfall on 7 May, 2022, when a UST whale sold an enormous amount of the stablecoin.

To compensate for the de-pegging of UST, mass burning of the stablecoin began, leading to a surplus of LUNA on the open market. Both cryptocurrencies collapsed and more than $40B in UST-LUNA market value was wiped out. Even a $3.5B Bitcoin reserve fund failed to control the downslide of the value of both crypto tokens.

In a nutshell, the model was based on minting an endless supply of LUNA to maintain UST at $1 and keep investors happy with an unsustainable interest rate model.

It should be noted that Do Kwon and the algorithmic stablecoin system were called out by a renowned economist Frances Coppola well before all this unravelled. Do Kwon mocked her publicly.

![dokwon.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/dokwon_f0af2d76e8.png)
 
Source: [Twitter (@stablekwon)](https://twitter.com/stablekwon/status/1410491186196795398?s=20)

I hope that [Do Kwon’s arrest is one step](/news/article/do-kwon-terra) towards a safer and better crypto space for all.


do kwon beind bars in montenegro with red filter

Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon Arrested

Chainlink is a [decentralised network of oracles](/news/article/chainlink-news) that allows smart contracts to interact safely with real-world services and data beyond the realms of blockchain technology. But can LINK, its native currency, reach a value of $10,000?

![link1.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/link1_9a7f58580e.png)
 
Put simply, Chainlink enables current, traditional, and modern economies to securely, efficiently, and transparently connect to the emerging blockchain space in social and business processes.
Can Chainlink reach $10,000 by 2030? Will LINK have a solid 2023?

## What is Chainlink?

The crypto and blockchain space is ever-growing. [Research suggests](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/blockchain-technology-market) that the global blockchain technology market size will reach $1431.54B by 2030, at a CAGR of nearly 88% between 2023-2030. To put it into perspective, the industry was valued at $10.02B in 2022!
 
Currently, the largest chunk of the global blockchain technology market is dominated by financial services, with government, healthcare, media and entertainment, retail, transport and logistics, and travel commanding significant traction.

Chainlink has established itself as a key constituent of numerous blockchain applications. The Web3 services platform is poised to grow further as more players enter the industry. What is Chainlink exactly, and why should you know about it? Here is what makes the blockchain platform stand out.

## What makes Chainlink stand out?

As blockchain enthusiasts, we all know the primary purpose of blockchain technology is to eliminate the middleman through decentralised architecture and enjoy the benefits of reliable and secure data computation and storage systems.

Blockchain technology, however, is much more than the simple moving and recording of funds on a decentralised ledger.

Some high-level programmable blockchains allow for the execution of commands that are more expressive in nature through applications built on the chain that execute actions based on predefined, consequential events.

An example of such a command set is: if Pizza Delivery X is not delivered within 30 minutes, issue a Refund of Y to Customer Z.

These blockchain applications are called 'smart contracts' and have been the subject of major blockchain development since Ethereum (ETH) introduced them on an enormous scale in 2015.

Now, the problem is that much of the data required by [smart contracts to execute commands](/news/article/smart-contracts-blockchain) is not readily available on the blockchain. Blockchain technology does not allow for external data fetching either, as there is no ability built-in permitting smart contracts to connect with the external world.

Hence, real-world datasets such as enterprise systems, web data, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, sports scores, and asset prices (and pizza delivery details!) are simply unavailable on decentralised ledgers. This deficiency severely impacts smart contract development.

However, there is a silver lining. This is where Chainlink comes into the picture (big time!). A software constituent called an 'oracle' can provide this data to the blockchain. The oracle mechanism, however, must possess the same reliability and security properties of the blockchain to avoid counterparty risk.

A single centralised oracle is a single point of failure - if the oracle fails to deliver accurate results or results at all, the entire smart contract is at risk.

Chainlink, with its decentralised oracle network, comes to the rescue. The Web3 services platform was built to allow smart contracts to automatically transfer data between blockchains and external systems securely and reliably.

A decentralised network of oracles gathers data from numerous sources, aggregates it, and delivers a validated, solitary data point to a smart contract, enabling the contract to execute a set of commands accurately. This eliminates the possibility of a single point of failure.

Furthermore, Chainlink provides several layers of security that extend the boundaries of decentralisation, thereby ensuring that users can trust the platform. [These features include](/news/article/chainlink-staking-to-boost-oracle-security):

•	Generalised architecture.

•	Data signing.

•	High-quality data.

•	Blockchain agnostic.

•	Service-level agreements.

•	Reputation systems.

•	Oracle and data privacy.

•	Advanced oracle computations.

You can think of a Chainlink oracle as a composable piece of architecture. In today’s blockchain sphere, interoperability is the need of the hour. Along with being blockchain agnostic, Chainlink oracles ensure a high level of composability. Here is what Stani Kulechov, CEO of Aave, had to say about the same:

“Part of composability is that you don’t have to build everything by yourself. Chainlink’s oracle is very good, and it’s part of this whole composability idea, it’s vital.”

High words of praise indeed. To put it into perspective, the company itself has outlined a massive [77 smart contract use cases](https://blog.chain.link/smart-contract-use-cases/) it enables, the primary ones being decentralised finance (DeFi), insurance, gaming, and traditional systems.

If it has not been made evident yet, technologies like Chainlink will play a massive role in shaping what the projected $1T+ global blockchain technology market is meant to be in years to come. 

That said, what role does LINK, the blockchain’s native cryptocurrency, have to play in the grand scheme of things?

## Can Chainlink reach $10,000 in 2023?

### LINK price prediction: basics of the cryptocurrency

LINK is an ERC-677 token (an extension of ERC-20), and it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. The ecosystem is supported by many smart contract developers, security auditors, node operators, and data providers. Anyone can become a node operator on Chainlink.

LINK compensates these node operators for retrieving data from external data sources, converting it into a blockchain-readable format, off-chain data computation, and uptime guarantees. LINK first caught the public eye when it stormed to $52.7 in May 2021.

Of course, several keen investors had their eyes on the token long before that. According to [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/chainlink), at the time of writing, the cryptocurrency's price is $8. The market cap of the crypto token is just over $3.93B, with a 24-hour trading volume of nearly $720M.

The crypto asset has a total supply of 1B tokens and a circulating supply of over 491M tokens. As mentioned, LINK reached an all-time high of 52.7 on 10 May, 2021, and an all-time low of $0.149 on 29 November, 2017. Let us see how the cryptocurrency has fared in the past 12 months.

![link.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/link_3a6a1a8187.png)
 
Source: [Coingecko](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/chainlink)

If we look at the above chart, 2022 was quite a rocky year for the digital asset (the same holds true for the entire industry!). After reaching the summit of $18.08 on 4 April, the cryptocurrency slumped to $6.58 on 13 May. That said, LINK has had a great start to 2023.

The crypto asset started the year at $5.57, and at the time of writing, it is at its highest yet (this year, of course), at $8.

## LINK price prediction 2023

It is near impossible to predict the price LINK could reach in 2023. That said, the signs are positive and the market is showing signs of recovery after a horrid end to 2022 [following the SBF saga](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-bail-co-signers-revealed).

LINK has already crossed the $8 barrier. With the [Ethereum Shanghai Hard Fork](/news/article/ethereum-shanghai-upgrade) around the corner, we could see a push toward $10 very soon. Will LINK match its all-time high levels in 2023? Unlikely. But we may see LINK push towards $20, as it did in April 2022.

Anything is possible, and if macroeconomic conditions ease up and we head into a bull market (never say never), the sky's the limit. We advise you to trade wisely and follow market updates on a daily basis before making a long-term investment decision.

## Can Chainlink reach $10,000?

Okay, let us do the maths. At LINK's current supply of 491M tokens, for each token to be valued at $10,000 would mean that the cryptocurrency's market cap is a crazy $491B!
Impossible? No.

Likely? Probably not.

To put it into perspective, the world's most valuable crypto asset, Bitcoin (BTC), has a market cap of just over $460B at the time of writing. LINK is ranked 23rd on the list of crypto assets with the highest market cap.

LINK is more likely to hit the three-digit mark in the future than the five or even four-digit mark. Historically speaking, LINK seems to be a sound investment, as it does not abide by usual altcoin movements, meaning it is relatively less volatile than other cryptocurrencies. That said, DYOR at all times, and hope for the best.


Can Chainlink Reach $10,000?

[ShadowSwap](https://shadowswap.xyz/) decentralised exchange (DEX), a protocol built on Core Blockchain, has announced the launch of an Initial Farm Offering (IFO) model to maximise community engagement and strengthen the Core ecosystem.

The IFO model features the iSHDW initiative, thereby permitting users to commit the DEX ecosystem’s native token, SHDW, to take part in upcoming IFOs on the ShadowPad launchpad.

## What is the ShadowSwap IFO model and how does it work?

The ShadowSwap IFO model promotes the stability of SHDW through the iSHDW mechanism and provides pre-launch support (in the form of IFOs) to projects launching on Core via the ShadowPad.

The iSHDW mechanism is relatively easy to understand. iSHDW works in the form of credits. For example, 1,000 iSHDW enables you to commit 1,000 SHDW in upcoming IFOs on ShadowPad.

It should be noted that iSHDW is not a new token. Rather it is a mechanism to determine the maximum amount of SHDW a user can commit to the IFO system. You can obtain iSHDW by [staking SHDW in Shadow Pools](/news/article/best-crypto-staking-platform). The longer the staking duration, the more iSHDW will be allocated to you.

The lock duration threshold is set for six weeks. This basically means that you will not receive the full iSHDW allocation if you stake SHDW for a period below six weeks. You will receive the full allocation if you stake the cryptocurrency for a lock period meeting or surpassing the threshold.

This, of course, will come with the [passive income you earn](/news/article/metamining-earning-passive-income-from-bitcoin) through staking in Shadow Pools. This move will improve the stability of SHDW, as users will stake the crypto token to receive maximum iSHDW allocation and participate in IFOs. ShadowSwap has also launched token vesting.

According to a [tweet](https://twitter.com/Shadowswap_xyz/status/1636997687185637376?s=20) published by the DEX on 18 March, the token vesting feature "gradually releases tokens, boosting IFO allocation for users and avoiding supply shocks on project launching as we have seen across all IFOs/IDOs done on Core".

These moves will lead to healthier project launches on Core and encourage solid community building and engagement. It is likely that large IFO raises will take place, encouraging developers to build on Core and launch via the ShadowPad.
 
![shadowswap.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/shadowswap_50f9a526e7.png)

Source: [Twitter (arewa_crypto)](https://twitter.com/arewa_crypto/status/1637002146657845250?s=20)

Overall, the move seems to be a solid one, with ShadowSwap promising a Twitter user that a "special Q&A" session will be conducted for further details into the IFO model.


pink image of shadowswap icon and pile of NFTs

ShadowSwap Launches IFO Model to Enhance Core 

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is set to suspend British pound sterling deposits and withdrawals for all users by 22 May, 2023. Binance GBP deposits and withdrawals for new users were halted on 13 March, 2023.

## What led to the Binance GBP suspension decision?

According to a Binance spokesperson, Paysafe, [the cryptocurrency exchange’s fiat partner](/news/article/kraken-crypto-exchange-plans-bank-launch) for GBP deposit and withdrawal services via debit/credit card and bank transfers, "will no longer be able to provide these services from 22 May, 2023".

As of Monday, these services have been suspended for new users.

That means new Binance users [CANNOT deposit and withdraw](/news/article/binance-suffers-1bn-outflows) in the fiat currency. How soon Binance will tie up with a new fiat partner for GBP deposit and withdrawal services is yet to be seen.

Given that there are still a couple of months until the suspension kicks in, it is likely that the centralised exchange (CEX) will announce a new partner by then. At the time of writing, Binance is exploring alternatives and insists that fewer than 1% of its user base will be [affected by this decision](/news/article/binance-linked-to-bitzlato).

It is worth noting that all “other methods of depositing and withdrawing other fiat currencies as well as buying and selling crypto” [on the cryptocurrency exchange](/news/article/bestchange-find-the-best-crypto-rates) remain “unaffected”.

That means existing users from the UK can avail themselves of GBP and all other fiat currency options until 22 May. If the crypto exchange does not find a solution to this dilemma, UK users will have to resort to other fiat currency options post-suspension.

If a Binance UK user wishes to convert their US dollar (USD), for example, to GBP, they can use services such as XE.com.
 
![binance.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/binance_f54589d340.png)

Source: [XE.com](https://www.xe.com/)

XE.com is an international money transfer service that is simple to use. With real-time exchange rates, low fees, and quick transfers to over 170 countries in more than 100 fiat currency options, you can trust the [service to convert any fiat currency](/news/article/dai-to-gbp) you withdraw on Binance to GBP.

To utilise the service, create an account with your email address, enter the recipient’s bank details, address, and payment information, double-check the entered details, obtain the expected delivery date, and send your money transfer! Of course, solutions like XE.com are a last resort.

The popular crypto exchange should be able to sort out the GBP situation soon.


red image of binance trading app and bitcoins on a table

Binance GBP Deposits and Withdrawals Suspended

A crypto firm backed by US rapper Jayceon Terrell Taylor, also known as "The Game", had its licence revoked by the US Securities and Exchange Commission [for violating securities laws](/news/article/sec-probe-paxos-over-busd) after falling short of submitting the necessary periodic reports.

The crypto startup, called ParagonCoin Limited, leverages blockchain technology for the legal cannabis sector and was founded in 2017 by Jessica VerSteeg.

## Why was ParagonCoin Limited’s registration revoked?

According to a class-action suit against ParagonCoin Limited in January 2018, the cryptocurrency startup [allegedly violated securities laws](/news/article/crypto-exchange-kraken-faces-sec-probe) in the initial coin offering (ICO) it held back in 2017, raising $70M.

The cannabis crypto firm promoted its native token 'PRG' as a currency for the legal cannabis industry and hired American rapper The Game to promote its offering. 

However, it failed to register its token sale with the SEC.
As such, a civil penalty was imposed on the cryptocurrency startup, requiring it to pay a fine of $250,000, register its token PRG as a security, and file periodic reports with the SEC.

The SEC was prompted to commence legal proceedings against the firm in February 2022, as it violated the [terms of its settlement with the SEC](/news/article/paul-pierce-settles-with-sec). ParagonCoin Limited failed to file a report since March 2019, in which the company stated that it lost more than $10M in 2018.

According to the SEC, the cannabis cryptocurrency startup ignored a delinquency letter sent to it by the SEC.
Additionally, [the SEC pointed out](/news/article/sec-crypto-enforcement-warning) that ParagonCoin Limited did not reply to its order commencing proceedings in February 2022, nor did it respond five months later to offer reasons why it should not be found guilty as things stand.

This is not the first mess The Game and the startup have found themselves in. However, this could be the last for ParagonCoin Limited. Back in 2021, both the rapper and the cryptocurrency startup's executives were found to be liable for more than $12M in a class-action lawsuit. You can read more here.

It is yet to be seen what steps ParagonCoin Limited will take to salvage the situation. Rapper The Game, meanwhile, continues to thrive in the Web3 space, with numerous partnerships in place, including as co-founder of the popular Web3 live-streaming platform, Shiller.


red image of rapper "the Game" and Paragon coin logo

Rapper The Game's Crypto Firm Licence Revoked

In a recent [podcast episode](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2iBhhDShX30sfdKOiU2agw) of The Scoop, The Block's Frank Chaparro and Kraken Chief Legal Officer Marco Santori discussed the crypto exchange's plan to launch a bank.

Kraken's ultimate goal is to support other crypto companies finding it difficult to establish a relationship with banks.

## US banks hesitant to accept crypto firms as new clients

Given increased crypto regulatory actions in the US, banks are hesitant about taking on cryptocurrency firms as new clients. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by Chair Gary Gensler, believes that most crypto assets offered by cryptocurrency companies are securities, thereby [subject to regulation.](/news/article/sec-probe-giving-advice-for-crypto-trading)

Following the unceremonious decline of major industry [players such as FTX](/news/article/ftx-funds-political-donations-to-be-recovered) and BlockFi, the SEC has put the US-based segment of the industry under the microscope. Following a [reported SEC probe of the Kraken](/news/article/crypto-exchange-kraken-faces-sec-probe) crypto exchange over unregistered securities, the cryptocurrency trading platform agreed to pay a $30M fine.

This resulted in the Kraken [suspending its staking operations](/news/article/crypto-tumbles-as-kraken-suspends-staking) with retail investors. This decision by the SEC did not go well with the community, investors, and even politicians.

That said, there is a silver lining for Kraken, and it is in the form of a [recent incident involving Silvergate](/news/article/silvergate-bank-crisis-sees-crypto-tank). In early March 2023, Silvergate 'missed' the deadline for 10K filings. This led the SEC to warn the bank about its capacity to carry on as a "going concern".

As a result, Ledger, Circle, Paxos Trust Company, Coinbase, and several other high-end industry clients publicly cut ties with the cryptocurrency bank. This led Kraken crypto exchange to decide to launch its own bank and support cryptocurrency firms.
 
Scrolling to the bottom of Kraken's [website](https://www.kraken.com/bank), you will see the Kraken Bank option. The facility has yet to be launched, but you can sign up for updates by filling out a short form.

According to the website, Kraken is "planning a phased launch in 2022". This may be a typing error, or the webpage needs to be updated with the latest content. It should be noted that the trading platform is the first cryptocurrency firm to be handed a US state banking charter.

Operating as an independent affiliate of the Kraken network of products, the “[Bitcoin bank](/news/article/crypto-banks-access)" will be based out of Wyoming, with a forward-facing regulatory framework. Good news may follow later this year.


Kraken Crypto Exchange Plans Bank Launch 

Flare Token (1FLR) is the native cryptocurrency of [Flare Network](https://flare.network/), a robust EVM-based Layer 1 (L1) blockchain that has two protocols: Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) and State Connector. These protocols enable developers to create an ecosystem of powerful, decentralised interoperability applications. Read on to unearth our FLR price prediction for 2023.

![flare.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/flare_7033b6507d.png)
 
The Flare motto is "#ConnectEverything", and with an ever-increasing stance towards interoperability and composability in the crypto sphere, Flare is a blockchain of great potential. Naturally, the FLR price will be affected by all the attention the ecosystem is receiving.

## 1FLR price prediction: basics of the crypto token

According to [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/flare-token), the FLR price is nearly $0.03634 at the time of writing. The crypto asset has a circulating, total, and maximum supply of 4B (4,000,000,000) tokens.

With a market cap of just over $2.25M, it is safe to say that Flare is currently in the nascent stage of adoption - the best is yet to come (please DYOR before investing).

The FLR price achieved an all-time high of around $0.0026 on 23 October, 2021. The most popular decentralised crypto exchanges to purchase and trade 1FLR are Quickswap and SushiSwap. With a 24-hour trading volume of just $1,091, we can assume that trading of the crypto token is not ‘hot’ at the moment.

That said, the cryptocurrency is a fascinating long-term investment option. There are factors to consider when making a 'significant' purchase decision. Here is what makes 1FLR stand out.

## What makes Flare special?

1FLR powers the [Flare ecosystem of decentralised applications](/news/article/flare-network-explained) (DApps). As mentioned before, the core protocols of the blockchain, FTSO and State Connector, play a pivotal role in enabling developers to create DApps.

FTSO is an oracle network that delivers trusty, decentralised data to DApps on Flare. State Connector allows for reliable, decentralised data procurement from external blockchain ecosystems and the internet.

By using Flare’s pricing and interoperability protocols coupled with scalable EVM-based smart contracts, developers can build with more data to serve numerous ecosystems, thereby expanding the reach and value of their products.

Developers can build their own bridges, securely relay data, utilise state from any connected blockchain ecosystem, and take advantage of decentralised price and data and scalable EVM smart contracts.

These smart contracts make use of a low-carbon consensus algorithm. Furthermore, Flare offers an enterprising grants system for promising teams.

The Flare Ecosystem Support Program gives financial and resource support to projects and entities within the blockchain ecosystem. Grants are awarded in 1FLR and Songbird (SGB) quarterly in the quest to accelerate the growth of the network.

These grants are awarded after a stringent internal application and evaluation procedure. Additionally, developers are free to attend Developer Q&A sessions every week on Wednesday at 15:00 UTC. These sessions are a must for project advice and feedback and Flare-focused engineering questions.

In our humble opinion, Flare is an ecosystem of much promise, and the 1FLR [price could skyrocket](/news/article/ethereum-pow-price-prediction) soon. Please visit the website, join the community on Telegram and Discord, and explore all socials and documents before making an investment decision.

On a final note, do study the project's Twitter. Several fascinating developments are under way and all signs point towards an investment gem.


FLR Price Prediction 2023: Is $1 Possible?

DeFi Llama is a premier decentralised finance (DeFi) [analytics dashboard](/news/article/compass-nft) that primarily tracks the total valued locked (TVL) of blockchains and their decentralised applications (DApps).

In this guide, we have summarised each of the platform's offerings.
 
## Why should I use DeFi Llama?

If you look at the above image, you will see that the platform offers a variety of dashboards to track decentralised finance data (left-hand side of your screen). 

This includes Yields, Liquidations, Volumes, Fees/Revenue, Raises, Hacks, and more. Simply click on a category of your choice to view and analyse relevant data.

With the [help of available dashboards](https://defillama.com/), you can keep track of the entire decentralised finance sphere and conduct in-depth research into all major blockchains and DApps.
What makes this data even more interesting is that it allows you to visualise the [growth of the sector](/news/article/how-can-features-of-blockchain-support-sustainability-efforts) over time and see how major blockchains and DApps have developed.

While the available information may seem like an overload to new users, it is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into potential gems if you figure out where to look, among other possibilities (please DYOR!).
 
For example, if we look at the above chain-by-chain breakup of the crypto sphere, we see that Ethereum (ETH) dominates the space, with a TVL of over $30B. Ethereum boasts 670 protocols at the time of writing, and if we click on it, we will see the collection of protocols on the blockchain.
 
With the help of this data, we can determine the categories of Ethereum protocols, their TVL, TVL statistics, etc. This information could help us find great opportunities (again, DYOR!).

If we click on Lido (LDO), for example, further insights into the protocol, including important links, token information, methodology, competitors, raises, treasury, yields, fees, and revenue breakup, are available.
 
It should be noted that this is just one way of using the platform. To put it into perspective, there are 2,176 protocols listed on DeFi Llama currently - numerous data metrics are available and the number of possibilities is endless.


DeFi Llama: A Decentralised Analytics Dashboard 

Calvaria: Duels of Eternity [is a play-to-earn (P2E)](/news/article/nakamoto-games-premier-blockchain-system) battle card game with a Mexican-inspired storyline based in the afterlife and its own crypto token, $RIA. Led by Maxwell Borowski, Jeremy Robb, Paul Reed, Justina, and Co., the goal of the Calvaria team is to accelerate the mass adoption of blockchain gaming.

## Calvaria crypto: What is it?

Supported by KuCoin, Windvane, and Polygon Studios, the Calvaria Universe is set in two cities - Arcilla Divina and Miaquilia - and The Void. The platform is built on Polygon.
 
The Calvaria team claims to serve as a "bridge" between cryptocurrency and the world, saying it is an "ambassador to [gamify the learning process](/news/article/what-is-gamefi), guiding users into crypto". But it fails to get the first thing right: keeping it simple. Arcilla Divina is described in a complicated manner and does not capture the reader’s attention.

What we can decipher from this description is that the 'dark' city will perpetually take new forms, with "the buildings themselves" warping, degenerating, and even seeming to "tremble at times".
 
The main characters of Arcilla Divina are Santa Muerte, El Maldito, and El Pesado.

![calvaria1.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria1_f475b58119.png)
 
Miaquilia is described as the “greatest of human cities, both a marvel and a testament to mankind's collective imagination”. The futuristic city constantly takes “new forms as architects, engineers, and artists make bids for alterations''. The city boasts of “large dining halls, pleasure domes, and libraries”.
 
The main characters of Maquilia include Quetzalqoatl, Ocelotl, and Yahui.

![calvaria2.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria2_fe1505447e.png)

 
As the name suggests, The Void is an “endless yet murky black expanse” comprising a temple and ivory forests. Those who arrive at The Void are “granted true unconscious and final rest, a sleep to never awaken from”.
 
The character cast of The Void is The Void, Crowing Dusk, and Eye of Void.

![calvaria3.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria3_49a769b51b.png)
 
These nine characters are part of the Calvaria battle card game. Each character card has a distinguished set of abilities. The game's goal is to defeat opponents using complex tactics and strategies to win rewards in the form of the platform's native currency, $RIA, collectible NFT tokens, and numerous upgrades.

The platform has a dedicated NFT marketplace. Players can compete in the single-player mode, play against one another, and participate in seasonal tournaments.

Each game resource (decks, unique cards, and upgrades) belong to players and can be sold on secondary markets (such as OpenSea and Rarible).

## Calvaria crypto $RIA utility and tokenomics

$RIA is an ERC-20 token that fuels the Calvaria ecosystem, thereby maintaining economic stability. The token can be purchased on BKEX, LBank, Changelly, and Uniswap (TBA at the time of writing). The crypto [asset can also be won](/news/article/crypto-gaming-coins) as a reward upon playing the game.

The crypto token has a fixed supply of 1,000,000,000 $RIA. Here is a breakdown of the tokenomics:

•	Staking pool: 25%

•	Prize pool: 20%

•	Presale: 15%

•	Reserve and Burn: 15%

•	Operations: 8%

•	INO: 6%

•	Team: 5%

•	Liquidity: 4%

•	Advisors: 2%

The $RIA presale (Q4 2022 to January 2023) was successful, with the pledged 150,000,000 tokens being sold and more than $3M being raised over five stages. As per [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/calvaria-doe), the cryptocurrency is currently trading at $0.033.

Presale investors can now claim their crypto tokens by [visiting the website](https://calvaria.io/) and connecting the same wallet they used to purchase the cryptocurrency. To proceed, click on the “CLAIM” button. You should receive the tokens in your wallet almost immediately.

You must have some Ethereum (ETH) in your wallet for the transaction to take place. Please enter the below information into your wallet to see the deposited $RIA:

Token address: 
0x9b110Fda4E20DB18Ad7052f8468a455de7449eb6
Decimals: 18
Symbol: RIA
Name: Calvaria: Duels of Eternity
INO and seed participants will receive their cryptocurrency via airdrop.

## What is next for Calvaria crypto?

The alpha version of the game will launch in Q2 2023. Meanwhile, several INOs and NFT drops are set to take place in Q1 2023. The official game launch will take place in Q3 2023.

While the game looks fantastic on paper, there are several areas for the team to work on. As mentioned before, simplicity is key. The website content should be worked on.

Recently, upon launching $RIA on BKEX, several users faced issues with deposits and withdrawals of the cryptocurrency on BKEX. With mainstream launch and adoption around the corner, Calvari must take greater onus in such situations.

![calvaria4.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria4_776b5a040f.png)
 
Source: [Twitter (@CalvariP2E)](https://twitter.com/CalvariaP2E/status/1623187342881333250?cxt=HHwWhIDRhbqS3IYtAAAA)

To put it into perspective, a user commented that “the launch of your token was really bad”.

All said and done, investors are excited, and rightly so.


Calvaria Crypto: An Epic P2E Game

US payment goliaths Visa and Mastercard are pausing the launch of certain [crypto-based services and products](/news/article/visa-crypto-wallet-plans-outlined) in the wake of numerous high-profile collapses in the crypto industry, such as [FTX](/news/article/ftx-funds-political-donations-to-be-recovered) and BlockFi.

The bankruptcies/shortcomings of several major players in the industry, current market conditions, and [increased regulatory scrutiny](/news/article/imf-crypto-regulation-g20-summit) have led Visa and Mastercard to change their plans with immediate effect.

## Why have Visa, Mastercard pushed back the launch of crypto services and products?

Over the past few years, card giants such as Visa and [Mastercard explored partnerships](/news/article/mastercard-start-path) with leading crypto firms. They set up dedicated teams to survey and potentially integrate blockchain technology into their products and services.

In April 2022, Mastercard and Nexo teamed up to launch the world’s first [crypto-backed payment card](/news/article/nexo-card-or-binance-card).

In October 2022, [Visa announced](/news/article/visa-crypto-consulting) global debit card agreements with disgraced cryptocurrency exchange FTX as part of an expanded partnership. Following the downfall of the crypto trading platform a few weeks later, Visa terminated the partnership in November.

In 2021, American Express said it would consider using cryptocurrency to redeem reward points.

An unnamed American Express spokesperson said that while the organisation continues to explore the significant use cases of blockchain technology, crypto will not replace their "core payment and lending services", "in the near term".

While Visa and Mastercard have put a halt to [crypto service and product](/news/article/visa-bitcoin-debit-card-review) rollout at the time of writing, they are optimistic about the future of blockchain technology. Their cryptocurrency-centric strategy and focus remain unchanged.

In a conversation with [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/), a Visa spokesperson said the high-profile failures seen recently in the sector act as "an important reminder" that there is a long way to go before cryptocurrency is "part of mainstream payments and financial services".

Talking to Reuters, a Mastercard spokesperson commented on how the company intends to continue to apply blockchain technology to “build more efficient systems” that “help address current pain points”.
It should be noted that the delayed launch of cryptocurrency services and products by massive payment corporations like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express and the halt on the forging of new partnerships is not a poor reflection of blockchain technology. Instead, it is a sign of the times.

With [global crypto regulatory frameworks](/news/article/australia-crypto-regulation) being built as we speak, it makes the utmost sense to explore blockchain technology further and play the waiting game while the market settles and consumer/investor confidence rebuilds itself.


visa and mastercard cards with red filter

Visa, Mastercard Pause Crypto Services Launch 

Ocean mining crypto may require you to purchase a mining hardware setup. It is important to factor in the volatility of Ocean Protocol (OCEAN), the number of competing OCEAN miners, the cost and power of the mining rig (note: crypto mining [consumes considerable energy](/news/article/norway-bitcoin-mining), and profitability metrics before investing.

There are many hardware rig options on the market today. We have made it easy to choose one best suited to Ocean mining crypto and your requirements.

![oceanmining.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/oceanmining_9736398af3.png)

## Ocean crypto options: mining hardware rigs

There are several Ocean mining crypto options, but before we explore them, let's revise some crypto mining basics.
The power of a crypto hardware rig is determined in the form of hashrate.

The greater the hashrate, the more guesses your hardware setup can make to solve cryptographic puzzles (and earn cryptocurrency as a reward). When there are a large number of competing miners, mining difficulty increases, and it is beneficial to have a system with greater computational power.

If you are considering investing in a long-term crypto-mining option, we recommend purchasing an ASIC miner. An ASIC rig comprises a motherboard, ASIC chip, and cooling system. Here is a list of the [best options](https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/best-asic-miners/) for the same.

Avoid mining with a GPU setup, as they are more expensive than ASIC miners and generate less power. DO NOT mine with a CPU!
It should be noted that earning a return on investment (ROI) may take a few months. Mining setups produce significant noise and heat and [consume considerable electricity](/news/article/sustainable-mining) (as mentioned before).
You may also have to invest in repair work, as these setups run 24/7 and are prone to wear and tear.

We have great news for you if you do not want to invest in hardware. [The IQMining platform](https://iqmining.com/) makes it possible to mine OCEAN without purchasing hardware equipment. Simply sign up, purchase a cloud mining contract, and withdraw your profit to a compatible digital wallet (more on this later).

![ocean2.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/ocean2_8cae447f68.png)

Source: [IQMining](https://iqmining.com/)

The above chart displays the list of available cryptocurrencies, price in USD, hashrating algorithm, block number, and network H/S. Please study each of these concepts and make an informed investment decision.

IQMining makes it possible to mine hundreds of altcoins from the comfort of your home. The shortest available contract spans a duration of one year. You can avail yourself of a lifetime contract as well!

## Everything you should know about OCEAN

The OCEAN utility token is an ERC-20 token that powers the Proof of Work (PoW) Ocean Protocol ecosystem - an ecosystem of next-gen tools to unlock data at a large scale. You can purchase the cryptocurrency at a number of [popular cryptocurrency exchanges](/news/article/coinmama-crypto-exchange), including Binance, Kraken, Uniswap, and Crypto.com.

The digital asset can be stored in any wallet with ERC-20 compatibility. We recommend hardware wallet options, as they are the safest. [Some wallets to choose from](/news/article/best-crypto-wallet-uk-top-picks) include Ledger, Trezor, and MetaMask. Once you have purchased/mined the digital token, you can earn additional rewards via staking.

The longer you stake OCEAN, the more staking and voting rewards you receive. If you stake OCEAN, you will receive veOCEAN tokens corresponding to the staking period.

For example, if you stake X OCEAN for one year, you will receive 0.25X veOCEAN. For a two-year staking period, you will receive 0.5X veOCEAN. For three and four-year staking durations, you will receive 0.75X and X veOCEAN, respectively. veOCEAN holders will receive rewards from Data Farming and community fees.

The price of the crypto asset at the time of writing is nearly $0.46, according to [CoinMarketCap data](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ocean-protocol/). Do factor in the digital asset's price, the potential of the ecosystem in the long-term, and each of the listed metrics when making an Ocean mining crypto decision


Ocean Mining Crypto: All You Need to Know 

The IMF has shared its views on the need for crypto regulation during a meeting of senior government officials from around the world.

At the G20 Summit 2023 in Bengaluru, India, on 24-25 February 2023, all G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met in the quest to encourage global economic stability and growth by facilitating cooperation and dialogue among G20 members (19 countries and the European Union).

Many topics were discussed, including a [modern international tax system](https://www.livemint.com/news/india/g20-aims-for-global-deal-on-mnc-taxing-rights-in-h1-2023-11677432143132.html). One topic which caught our attention was crypto regulation. Managing Director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), Kristalina Georgieva, called for [greater private crypto regulation](/news/article/japanese-crypto-regulation-call-made), citing the risk of financial stability.

## IMF crypto regulation calls

Georgieva shared the IMF crypto regulation view at a press briefing during the G20 Summit 2023 in Bengaluru and stated that “private crypto assets are not money”.

She urged regulators to implement stricter measures, asserting that if regulation fails or is implemented too slowly, then "we should not take off the table banning those assets", adding they could create a "financial stability risk".

Georgieva underlined that the IMF, joined by the Financial Stability Board alongside the Bank for International Settlements, is devoted to establishing a foundation for regulating crypto assets not issued by central banks or governments.

Georgieva said, "We have to differentiate between central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that are backed by the state and stablecoins, and crypto assets that are privately issued."

To summarise, according to Georgieva, regulating (or potentially banning) private cryptocurrencies is important, as they can pose significant risks to financial stability. The IMF, BIS, and FSB are working towards establishing a regulatory foundation for private crypto tokens.

This is not a new theme of discussion. Several [countries are actively working](/news/article/australia-crypto-regulation) towards a stringent regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies.

Following US President Joe Biden's executive order in March 2022, for example, arrangements towards greater crypto regulation were accommodated in the 2023 budget proposal (also released in March 2022). A framework was brought forward in September 2022 based on the executive order.

[The UK plans](/news/article/cryptocurrency-regulation-uk) to make digital assets a regulated financial instrument. The Swiss government has already inculcated a mature cryptocurrency framework into its regulatory system.

India has a strict crypto taxation framework, while the United Arab Emirates is assembling an authority focused solely on digital currencies. It is safe to say that cryptocurrency regulation is underway, whether you like it or not.


IMF Crypto Regulation Calls at G20 Summit 2023

You need to understand some basics before we can dive into the ATOM price prediction for 2023.

Cosmos is an ecosystem of independent parallel blockchains, each powered by classical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BZT) consensus algorithms, such as Tendermint. Not to be confused with [the Cosmos ecosystem](/news/article/cosmos-crypto-explained), Cosmos Hub (ATOM) is one of the many blockchains on this network.

Cosmos Hub connects to several other blockchains (aka zones) via the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC) – a state-of-the-art interoperability protocol. At the time of writing, the primary role of ATOM is to secure Cosmos Hub through a staking mechanism. 

https://cryptocurrencynews.com 

![Screenshot 2023-02-20 at 15.03.56.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_02_20_at_15_03_56_e08ea90cf8.png)

Source: [Cosmos ecosystem](https://cosmos.network/)

## Cosmos Hub and ATOM

Cosmos Hub serves as the economic centre of the Cosmos ecosystem, providing crucial services to the ‘Interchain’ – a new internet consisting of an extensive network of interconnected blockchains. These services include the following:

•	The blockchain operates a next-gen DEX, Gravity DEX, allowing for quick and cheap cryptocurrency swapping across the Interchain.

•	The Interchain Security feature positions ATOM at the centre of security for multiple chains in return for additional staking rewards.

•	As an ecosystem router, the blockchain establishes IBC connections with compatible chains and operates decentralised bridges with ecosystems such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

•	The blockchain is at the ecosystem's crossroads and is, hence, extremely secure. This makes the blockchain ideal for serving as an asset custodian and account management hub.

We can see that ATOM plays a significant role in securing the above services. In return, staking rewards and transaction fees are distributed to ATOM stakers. The cryptocurrency serves as a voting mechanism in governance as well.

We can also see that the Interchain Security feature may play an important role in the ATOM price prediction for 2023. The Interchain Security protocol went live in January, so ATOM may pick up significant momentum in Q1 2023. Let us explore the cryptocurrency's market cap and historical data to understand better ATOM price prediction and its potential ceiling.

## ATOM market cap and historical data

The crypto asset has an infinite token supply, with a circulating supply of nearly 300M, a [market cap of](/news/article/what-is-market-cap-in-crypto) just over $3.4B, and a 24-hour trading volume of ~$200M – all at the time of writing.

If we look at historical price data over the previous month, the crypto token has experienced a significant surge in price, with a low of $8.96 on 20 December, 2022, and a high of $13.30 on 14 January, 2023. In other words, ATOM grew in price by nearly 50% in this interval! At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is valued at $14.44.

ATOM achieved $15.57 on 6 November, 2022, and fell to $8.64 on 17 December, 2022. Truth be told, the crypto token had a volatile year, as did most in the crypto space.

If we look at statistics in 2022, ATOM reached an all-time high of $44.45 on 17 January, 2022, before plummeting to $6.32 on 17 June, 2022.

So far, we have explored the importance of Cosmos Hub and how ATOM is at the epicentre of the blockchain. We also dived into historical data and discovered that ATOM had a year of many highs and lows in 2022.

To understand how ATOM may fare in 2023 and make a price prediction, we need to understand the importance of Cosmos in the general scheme of things, ecosystem features/collaborations that may spark further interest in ATOM, and the health of the crypto sphere at large.

## ATOM price prediction: factors to consider

To make an ATOM price prediction for 2023, here are some factors to consider:

### Interchain Security rollout

A key factor to consider in Q1 2023, especially, is the importance of the Interchain Security feature rollout. Having launched in January 2023, the Interchain Security protocol may play a vital role in the further adoption of the blockchain ecosystem.

Cosmos is an ecosystem of more than 200 blockchains, the central blockchain of which is Cosmos Hub. The blockchain ecosystem previously allowed developers to build application-specific blockchains only if they could manage their validators. The problem is, developing a validator set from scratch is not a piece of cake – it is time and resource intensive.

This is where Interchain Security comes into the picture. With this feature, developers can now build new application-specific blockchains and secure them using the same security validators that run Cosmos Hub.

Furthermore, these blockchains will send fees to those security validators, further incentivising ATOM stakers – this is a crucial point to note.

Essentially, this feature enables Cosmos to emulate the [design of Polkadot (DOT)](/news/article/polkadot-price-uk). On Polkadot, each application-specific blockchain, by default, shares its validator security with the central relay chain.
Initially, this feature was set to be rolled out in August/September 2022, but was delayed. At the time, Cosmos contributors stated:

“Interchain Security will emerge as the premier method for projects to get the highest level of security in Cosmos by leveraging the entire 175+ Cosmos Hub validator set.”

Ideally, the rollout of this feature will see increased developer activity on the blockchain ecosystem and further adoption of the crypto asset, with increased staking rewards on the horizon. Overall, this feature is expected to make the blockchain ecosystem simpler to use, cheaper, and quicker.

### Cosmos as an ecosystem is a game-changer

Thanks to the IBC, Cosmos has become the Interchain. As a high-speed interoperability platform, Cosmos has gained significant traction (pretty obvious from the wild price statistics in 2022!). One of the pressing issues affecting the crypto space is a lack of composability between blockchains in different ecosystems.

The blockchain ecosystem solves this problem and serves as a viable alternative to slow, unscalable, expensive, and [environment-damaging PoW protocols](/news/article/pos-vs-pow). IBC makes it easier for the blockchain sphere to communicate seamlessly, thereby attempting to eliminate fragmentation between different blockchain ecosystems – the ultimate goal.
To put this into perspective, Cosmos allows interoperability with Bitcoin and Ethereum via bridges. A bridge to Polygon is awaited and, too, may play a major role in ATOM’s price rise.

Several popular blockchains, including Binance Chain (BNB) and Crypto.com Coin (CRO), are built using the Cosmos software development kit (SDK). We may see numerous new players building on Cosmos very soon.

### ATOM tokenomics

The rollout of the Interchain Security feature was expected to see ATOM's new tokenomics structure come into play, with a transitory phase of 36 months. The ATOM 2.0 proposal, though, was rejected by the community on 15 November, 2022.

With an infinite token supply, the cryptocurrency's tokenomics structure is based on inflationary dynamics.
To put this into perspective, there were 214M tokens in circulation in March 2019, compared to the ~300M tokens in circulation today – an increase of nearly 40%. The new tokenomics structure proposed the issuance of 10M ATOM tokens per month, with the issuance rate steadily decreasing to 300,000 tokens per month, thereby bringing down the cryptocurrency's inflation rate to 0.1%.

You must factor in the tokenomics of ATOM when making a price prediction. The supply of the cryptocurrency will keep increasing exponentially.

## ATOM price prediction: verdict

All said and done, there is no roof to the potential ATOM has. Having highlighted each of the factors that may play a role in the crypto asset’s price rise in 2023, it is fair to say that ATOM is a good long-term investment option.

Cosmos solves one of the most pressing issues affecting the crypto sphere – a lack of interoperability and composability. Cosmos and Polkadot are among the few players who have set out to solve this problem and are doing a great job as we speak. The rollout of the Interchain Security feature is a game-changer for the ecosystem, as it will bring about several changes.

The market situation has not been the greatest of late, so make sure you invest wisely. On a concluding note, keep an eye on the latest Cosmos news and DYOR at all times!


ATOM Price Prediction 2023 

According to a [Bloomberg report](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-08/cryptocurrency-exchange-kraken-faces-probe-by-sec-over-unregistered-securities) published on 8 February, [renowned crypto exchange Kraken](/news/article/kraken-review) faces a probe by the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) over unregistered securities.

[The probe is related to](/news/article/sec-probe-giving-advice-for-crypto-trading) some offerings the cryptocurrency exchange has made to US clients. According to someone familiar with the investigation who wishes to remain unidentified, proceedings are currently at an advanced stage and settlement could come in the following days.

It is currently unclear which offerings or tokens are under the microscope.

Moni Talks reached out to the SEC for further comments on the probe, but, as is the norm, the SEC does not comment on the status of a 'potentially existing' investigation.

## What does the probe mean for crypto exchange Kraken and the industry?

At the time of writing, we are unsure of the magnitude of the investigation. That said, if Kraken is guilty of breaching securities laws, the ramifications for the cryptocurrency exchange and the industry at large could be significant, especially after the FTX saga of Q4 2022.

If Kraken settles with the SEC, this could pressure other cryptocurrency firms to discuss deals with the agency. In December 2022, SEC Chair Gary Gensler commented on the runway for crypto firms to register with the regulator getting shorter.

The SEC is firm with its stance - most of the tokens offered by crypto firms are securities and should be subject to the rules of the regulator. It should be noted that all SEC investigations DO NOT lead to enforcement action. Instead, individuals or firms may have to pay a fine and/or face other penalties.

![kraken.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/kraken_677edbef91.png)
 
Source: [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/kraken/)

With a [trading volume of nearly $640M](https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/kraken/) at the time of writing, US-based Kraken is the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange. This statistic alone indicates that any potential legal ramifications on the cryptocurrency trading platform could have a telling impact on the industry.

This is not the first probe Kraken has faced. In 2022, Kraken paid a fine of more than $360,000 and invested $100,000 in sanctions compliance over allegations that the cryptocurrency trading platform [violated US sanctions against Iran](/news/article/kraken-exchange-under-investigation). The settlement was reached with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Global crypto regulations will come into effect soon, whether you like it or not, and several countries are actively working towards this.


Crypto Exchange Kraken Faces US SEC Probe 

Yes, you read that right. According to newly proposed advertising [laws from the United Kingdom](/news/article/cryptocurrency-regulation-uk) Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), executives of crypto firms in the region could face up to two years of jail if they fail to meet specific requirements around advertising crypto.

## What is the FCA and what did it propose?

[The UK FCA is a financial regulatory body](/news/article/uk-fca-explains-low-crypto-approval) that operates independently of the Government. The agency is tasked with regulating financial firms that provide services to consumers and maintaining financial market integrity.

In a [statement released](https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/cryptoasset-firms-marketing-uk-consumers-must-get-ready-financial-promotions-regime) on 6 February, 2023, the FCA announced that cryptocurrency firms marketing to consumers in the UK must prepare for the "financial promotions regime". This includes firms based overseas.

If consented to by the Parliament, under the FCA's proposed "promotions regime", crypto firms must either have permission from the agency to advertise their services or a bespoke exemption under the Financial Promotion Order.

If and when this "regime" comes into being, there will be only four courses for advertising [crypto asset services in the UK](/news/article/fintech-companies-uk-2023):

1.	The promotion is communicated by FCA-authorised personnel.

2.	The promotion is made by unauthorised personnel but approved by the FCA. At the moment, legislation is making its way through the Parliament which, if approved, would bring into being a [regulatory gateway](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/995565/HMT_WR_113_Consultation_Response.pdf) that authorised firms will need to pass through to approve financial promotions for unauthorised personnel.

3.	The promotion is conveyed by a crypto firm registered with the FCA under the 2017 regulations known as MLRs (Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)).

4.	The promotion abides by the conditions of a bespoke exemption in the Financial Promotion Order.

The FCA further said promotions not following one of those routes would be a breach of FSMA (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) section 21, "which is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment".

Along with jail time for crypto firm executives, illegally advertising crypto in the UK could lead to public warnings, websites being taken down, and further enforcement actions.

## Prepare now

Indeed. It is worth noting that the implementation period for this regime is four months from the date of approval by the Parliament.


yellow image of person advertising crypto in the uk

Advertising Crypto in the UK Could Lead to Jail

Nakamoto Games is a leading [play-to-earn (P2E) ecosystem](/news/article/free-play-to-earn-games) built on Polygon, where you can play several blockchain-based games and earn lucrative rewards in the form of the Nakamoto Games coin, NAKA.

The platform also enables developers to launch their P2E blockchain games seamlessly. This guide will dive into everything you MUST know about the gaming platform.

![nakamato.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/nakamato_3d3ddf63a4.png)
  
Source: [Nakamoto Games](https://www.nakamoto.games/)

## Nakamoto Games' market cap
  
At the time of writing, the [Nakamoto Games market cap](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/nakamoto-games) is just over $20,529,042. The NAKA token is currently valued at $0.2837, with a circulating supply of almost 65M tokens and a total/maximum supply of 180M tokens. Having launched in December 2020, it is fair to say that the Polygon-based P2E blockchain ecosystem is still fairly young.

If you want to buy or sell the NAKA token, BitMart is presently the most active crypto exchange. Other cryptocurrency exchanges to buy and sell NAKA include Quickswap and KuCoin.

You can also purchase the crypto asset on the gaming platform itself, via the P2P DEX. That said, we advise against this for three reasons:

•	The price per asset varies wildly – currently, the crypto asset is up for sale at $0.06, $0.2, and $1, respectively, via three separate, verified sellers!

•	We cannot vouch for the security of your funds via a P2P transfer.

•	You may not be able to buy tokens in bulk.

That said, if you opt for the P2P option, ALWAYS purchase via a verified seller – sellers with a verified 'tick' by their wallet address.

## The Nakamoto Games coin

If you are a gamer looking to utilise your skills to earn quick money, this P2E ecosystem is a good start. The platform claims to enable you to “generate a sustainable and sizable income”. Of course, you must be a skilled player to earn NAKA rewards.

The platform allows anyone with a [MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet](/news/article/what-is-metamask) to access a suite of P2E games and compete for eye-catching rewards and weekly prize pools. Mobile support is currently unavailable, and anyone with a Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera browser can access the platform via their desktop device.

The Nakamoto Games coin is at the heart of the ecosystem, providing gamers with the required “fuel” to partake in any game – for example, to acquire ammunition within a shooting game.

All NAKA tokens used within games are pooled into a weekly prize pool, a portion of which is burned (deflationary dynamics). The players who rank highest on the leaderboards for each game will receive rewards from the prize pool. The token also plays a part in ecosystem governance.

Token holders may vote on proposals like the burning of NAKA tokens and the composition of weekly prize pools. The final use case of the cryptocurrency is to incentivise developers to conduct research and development on the platform.

If you want to explore additional earning options, the platform allows players to stake their tokens for 180 days and receive a variable/fixed APR. It also boasts of a decent referral programme – for every friend (gamer) you bring to the platform, you will receive a 3% referral bonus on every game your friend plays.

## What games can you play?

At the moment, you can choose from a truly large suite, including story mode and tournaments. Additionally, if you want to play for fun, without earning rewards in the platform's native token (and spending on NAKA, for starters), the platform provides a selection of free-to-play games as well!
 
Source: Nakamoto Games

It should be noted that free-to-play games reward players too – the top ten gamers daily receive free items as rewards!

There are several gaming categories on the platform, including action, shooting, [NFT games](/news/article/coralcube-nft-game-changer), and sports. Choose a category you prefer, select a game that appeases you, and start playing! Here are the top ten games on the P2E blockchain gaming platform at the time of writing:

1.	BUBBLE SHOOTER.

2.	NIGHT WARRIOR.

3.	TANK BATTLE.

4.	SPOOKY RUN.

5.	ZAKA.

6.	NAKA TD.

7.	NAKA STRIKE (Single Player).

8.	CANDY SHOP.

9.	NAKAR RACING INSANITY.
 
10.	NAKA STRIKE (Multi-Player).
 
We recommend trying story mode games, as they are known to pose a serious challenge and keep you on your toes! Other features on the platform worth exploring include Nakaverse, NAKA Punks, and [Marketplace](/news/article/gamestop-nft-marketplace).

## Nakamoto Games for developers

Much like how developers can launch their applications on the Google Play Store, Nakamoto Games enables developers to deploy their P2E blockchain games onto the platform via the Nakamoto User Base. 

Developers can monetize their games and may earn rewards in the form of the platform's native cryptocurrency for their research and development efforts.

We advise you to review the [platform’s whitepaper](https://main.nakamoto.games/pdf/NAKA-Whitepaper.pdf), all social media platforms, and conduct thorough research before building and launching a game on the platform. The blockchain ecosystem is fairly nascent, has a fascinating tokenomics structure, and could potentially boom in the next bull cycle – that said, as advised already, DYOR!


purple image of nakamoto games blockchain logo

Nakamoto Games: A Premier P2E Ecosystem

[Bitrue](https://www.bitrue.com/home/) is a leading Singaporean CEX founded in July 2018 by Curtis Wang and a team of crypto enthusiasts and finance professionals. The crypto exchange also has offices in Taiwan, the US, and Europe.

The trading platform comes with a straightforward registration process (KYC is not mandatory) and enables you to buy, trade, and invest in more than 700 crypto assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Aave (AAVE), and Cardano (ADA).

In this 2023 Bitrue review, I cover all you need to know about the platform, including trading features, security, and fees.

## Bitrue trading features

Listed are the features of the [one-stop trading platform](/news/article/coinmama-crypto-exchange):

•	Spot trading: at the time of writing, the cryptocurrency exchange enables you to conduct quick, safe (we will detail this later), and cheap transactions in more than 1,000 trading pairs. The CEX is one of the most proactive in the business, having latched onto the Bonk (BONK) and Fronk (FRONK) dog coin trend almost immediately by offering spot options.

•	Futures trading: take advantage of numerous perpetual futures margined in stablecoins such as USD Coin (USDC), Tether (USDT), and other digital currencies.

•	Leveraged ETFs: leverage trading with near-zero risk of liquidation is made possible by the trading platform.

•	Buy and sell crypto: buy and sell a [vast range of digital currencies](news/article/how-does-crypto-trading-work) via payment options such as credit/debit card (powered by Simplex), international wire transfer (no wire fee for ACH USD payments) in currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF, and cryptocurrency (powered by Trust Wallet).

•	Bitrue coin (BTR): by holding BTR, you can reap the benefits of a 30% discount on trading fees, voting rights (new token additions), and much more.

•	Earn: once you have purchased a crypto asset on Bitrue, you can take advantage of the “Power Piggy” feature. This feature enables you to earn a passive interest rate on your deposited crypto.

•	Copy trading: this feature will be launched on the platform soon. Copy trading enables you to automatically copy the positions opened and managed by another trader.

## Bitrue trading fees

The XRP-centric CEX charges some of the lowest fees in the industry, with a 0.098% fee applicable on BTC, ETH, and USDT trading pairs, and XRP trading pairs incurring a 0.280% trading fee. XRP/BTC, XRP/USDT, and XRP/ETH trading result in a 0.2% fee (not the usual 0.280% that other XRP trading pairs incur).

Using BTR for transaction fees will make you eligible for an additional 30% discount on the fees mentioned above. Withdrawal fees are dynamically adjusted. Here is a list of some common token withdrawal fees:

•	ADA: 1 ADA

•	BTC: 0.0005 BTC

•	ETH: 0.01 ETH

•	LTC: 0.001 LTC

•	USDC: 13 USDC

•	USDT: 2.6 USDT

•	XRP: 0 XRP

## Is Bitrue safe?

Bitrue has had its [fair share of security troubles](https://www.forbes.com/digital-assets/exchanges/bitrue/). On 27 June, 2019, the crypto platform was hacked, leading to the loss of around $4.2M in XRP and ADA. The hack affected 90 clients and was, at the time, the 17th [largest crypto exchange hack](/news/article/binance-hack) in history.

To its credit, the exchange took all the right steps to contact local authorities, issue a formal statement, and refund all customers by 4 July, 2019. On the same day, the CEX launched the BTR token, only for the server to crash immediately.

A token pricing issue occurred on the mobile platform, resulting in some traders buying the token for inflated prices. Some sellers (of course) took advantage of this vulnerability and made some quick money.

The trading platform suffers from periodic deposit and withdrawal issues and other security concerns (an attempted 51% attack on 8 January, 2019, for example). In addition, there are several customer reports of stolen funds, frozen accounts, and inadequate support.

In a nutshell, Bitrue offers some fascinating features without a flashy website, good mobile applications for Android and iOS users, and decent security features. While Bitrue wouldn't be my first choice to trade cryptocurrencies on, it certainly wouldn't be my last (DYOR!).


Bitrue Crypto Exchange Reviewed

Wallet Whale is a [UK-based membership programme](/news/article/best-crypto-rewards-card-uk) that enables you to enjoy deals and discounts across retail, dining, holiday travel, Flava grocery shopping, health and fitness products, and home and garden essentials. This article explores what you need to know about the membership service.

![wallet.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/wallet_f583f12ded.png)

 Source: [Wallet Whale](https://walletwhale.co.uk/)

## Benefits of a Wallet Whale card

Listed are the benefits of becoming a Wallet Whale member:

•	Get the mobile phone you want with a guaranteed contract via one of their partners [WITHOUT a credit check](/news/article/what-is-decredit). Additionally, as a member, you can enjoy extra data, texts, and minutes. It should be noted that the mobile contract partner (such as Vodafone) will require you to conduct several weekly payments to prove your capability to pay on a contract before they ship your desired mobile phone.

•	Enjoy discounted retail in more than 6,500 British high street locations, across 300-plus retail stores and eateries. Carry your card when you go out dining.

•	Easily upgrade your holiday travel experience via the membership portal. This includes upgrading your accommodation and travel insurance benefits, among other possibilities.

•	Take advantage of exclusive Flava supermarket deals with a free premium Flava Benefits Pro account. This includes a lifetime of free shipping and spreading the cost of your grocery shopping. 

Flava is the only UK supermarket that offers these features without interest.

•	Access to a range of health and beauty products is available.

•	Reap the benefits of discounted home and garden essentials shopping.

•	Other benefits include online shopping deals and special motoring deals.

## How to become a member

To enrol on the programme, you must pay a one-time sign-up fee of £39.99 and a recurring monthly fee of £24.99. According to the website, payments will appear as "WalletWhale03707704660" on your billing statement.

![whale.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/whale_b8494c4cae.png)
  
Source: [Wallet Whale](https://walletwhale.co.uk/)

Fill out a form that requires you to enter your title (Mr, Mrs, Miss, or Ms), first and last names, email address, mobile number (optional), and date of birth. Please read the privacy policy and terms and conditions before clicking on the Next button.

If you have any queries, you can reach out to customer support via phone or email:

Phone number: 03707704660

Email address: customerservices@walletwhale.co.uk

Visit the [website](https://walletwhale.co.uk/) for more details and the FAQ section in particular.


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