Seed funding worth $9 million has been raised at the startup crypto exchange [Rocketplace](https://rocketplace.com/). It is a US-based startup looking to enter the digital asset management space. The firm aims to allow investors to do commission-free cryptocurrency trading. It is currently dealing with over 30 different tokens on which it charges 0% commission.

Recently, the company started a financing round in which it was able to secure a $9m in its seed funding round. It is quite remarkable as the market is going through a bear run, and cryptocurrencies are rapidly losing their value. Moreover, many digital asset companies like Celcius and Voyager have filed for bankruptcy. 

Earlier, one of the leading decentralised cloud computing networks, Cudos, concluded its series of funding rounds and secured over [£10 million](/news/article/cudos-funding-over-10-million). 

## Rocketplace plans to grow its crypto offering with seed funds

Ben Hutchinson and Louis Beryl, who are the co-founders of Rocketplace, will mainly focus on fund management and distribution. They believe that cryptocurrencies are likely to see an explosion of new projects. And in this scenario, services related to administering and distributing funds will be in high demand. 

Also, Louis Beryl mentioned that their distribution model will also be in full compliance with regulations. It will educate investors to comprehend the regulations to correctly follow them. This is why they claim ‘to not just be another exchange’.

## How did Rocketplace secure the seed fund crypto?

As of now, Rocketplace is only a 10-member company, having two experienced co-founders. Both Hutchinson and Beryl have been in the industry for a long period. They have worked with firms like Earnest, Y Combinator, a16z, and SolidEnergy Systems. Their reputation of prior experience and expertise allowed the startup to secure substantial funding in the seed round. 

It acquired financing from renowned firms like Accomplice, TTV, Soma Capital, and Menlo Ventures. Moreover, throughout the funding round, Launchpad Capital was the lead investor for the firm. 



Rocketplace crypto exchange lands $9m seed funding

After the launch of RippleNet's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) with foreign exchange provider Travelex, Ripple's XRP token will be used to facilitate fast and low-cost cross-border transactions in Brazil.

On 18 August 2022, Ripple announced that the foreign exchange company Travelex currency services would use RippleNet's ODL to facilitate XRP-based cross-border payments between businesses.

Furthermore, Travelex Bank was cited as the first Brazilian financial institution authorized to deal solely in foreign exchange by the country's Apex bank. [Ripple](/news/article/xrp-case-price-uk) claims this is the first time a Latin American bank has used ODL.

However, other Latin American businesses like Banco Rendimento, Remessa Online, Frente Corretora, and Banco Topazio have used RippleNet services. For now, Travelex will only facilitate these payments between Brazil and Mexico.

Still, the company has plans to expand into other countries in the region and develop additional use cases tailored to the requirements of businesses.

## Travelex currency services and Ripple targeting the Brazilian market

News of the development follows the April 2022 passage of Brazil's first "Bitcoin law," which sought to establish a regulatory framework for treating virtual currencies. The Brazilian central bank is also launching a digital currency (CBDC).

However, economist Fabio Araujo believes that the CBDC "will be able to halt bank runs and impose other restrictions on citizens' access to money," even though this decision has been met with much opposition.

Brazil's adoption of a crypto-friendly regulatory framework and rising institutional interest in digital asset solutions make it a great fit for the ODL, [according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse](https://cointelegraph.com/news/ripple-partners-with-travelex-to-launch-enterprise-crypto-payment-service-in-brazil). Ripple sees Brazil as a crucial market because of the country's strategic location as a hub for Latin American trade, its tolerance of cryptocurrencies, and the government's efforts to foster the development of the fintech industry on a national scale.

For this reason, there has been a flurry of activity in the market as institutions rush to adopt crypto and blockchain technology to address customer concerns.

Travelex currency services adoption of the ODL service will greatly improve the efficacy of cross-border payments, which currently total over $780 billion per year and are directed to Brazil,  according to Garlinghouse.

We've always emphasized creating solutions that have real-world value. We're thrilled to work with a forward-thinking partner like Travelex Bank to facilitate faster and more secure money transfers in Brazil.


Travelex currency services partner with Ripple

Bitex Bitcoin provides a mobile and online platform for investing and trading in digital assets and a matching engine capable of processing up to 1 million transactions per second. The exchange also provides charting tools, order books, trade options, and a derivatives platform with quarterly futures contracts and margin trading. 

[Bitex Bitcoin](https://www.financialexpress.com/market/crypto-exchange-bitex-begins-providing-cryptocurrency-investment-disclosure-following-govt-mandate/2236916/), which was established in 2014, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also provides financial services. Customers benefit from the company's services for cross-border payments, payroll, and billing clients overseas at the lowest possible cost, time, and effort. 

Bitex does not allow U.S. investors to trade on its exchange for foreign exchange control reasons.

In terms of the trading view on the bitex Bitcoin platform, it is similar to other brokerages.

On the [bitex platform's landing page](https://www.bitex.la/) on 10 June 2019, the price chart below displays the volume and the highest bid and ask prices. It displays the order book, or at least a part of it, and a price chart of the selected cryptocurrency and order history. There also two conveniently located  buy and sell boxes. 

![bitex.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/bitex_80029db772.png)


The Bitex trading platform offers a lot more than simply placing orders. For professionals, it provides complex charting and financial indicators. 

Users may also place spot and limit orders on all available trading pairs on Bitex for [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and use the pre-existing 10+ indicators to customise charts to match their trading needs.

## Trading Fees of Bitcoin on Bitex 

Bitex charges a flat 0.50 % trading fee regardless of whether investors are makers or takers. This trading cost approach may appeal to investors who want to pick up existing orders from the order book. 

Bitex's flat trading costs of 0.50 % are higher than the industry average of 0.25%. In addition to trading costs, there is an annual 0.50 % "custody charge," regardless of trading activity or lack thereof.

## Bitex- withdrawal and deposit fees

Bitex withdrawal costs for Bitcoin are 0.0004 BTC. Wire transfers is available however credit cards are not. As a result, their withdrawal costs are reasonable.

## Bitex technology and security 

To stop the rise in fraud, the Bitex Bitcoin exchange platform utilises cutting-edge technology and the best development methods. In order to protect user privacy, all identity papers supplied to the exchange are securely kept in a remote database using the most robust encryption standards. Furthermore, to guarantee a secure experience, Bitex deploys various security methods such as 2FA, email verification, I.P. filtering, mobile verification, and manually verifying anomalous account activity and transactions. 








How Bitcoin is traded on the Bitex Bitcoin

[Monochrome](https://monochrome.co/), a capital growth fund, has been granted an Australian financial services licence (AFSL). It has become the first crypto firm in the country to secure approval. Now, Monochrome can expand its services by offering [Bitcoin spot Exchange-traded Fund](/news/article/btc-etf-approval) (ETF) in Australia. 

Former Binance Australia CEO Jeff Yew established Monochrome in 2021. Since February, the firm has been working on the crypto Exchange-traded fund. For this, they partnered up with the [Vasco Trustees](https://vascofm.com/), which helped the firm to get the licensing from the country’s authorities. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) granted permission for Monochrome to launch the crypto spot exchange traded fund. 
 
## The first AFSL-approved crypto ETF Australia

Monochrome crypto ETF will be the first AFSL-approved one in the country. Though the Australian ETF market is quite saturated, no asset managers are dealing with cryptocurrencies directly. Most fund managers operate as general financial asset managers and do not offer digital assets directly. Also, these firms are only compliant with the regions financial regulations to offer a crypto based product.

With Monochrome receiving an Australian financial services licence. This will allow it to offer a crypto spot ETF in the publicly traded and regulated Australian financial market, making it the first exchange to achieve it.  

## Jeff Yew on the AFSL approval

While sharing his views on the approval, Monochrome’s CEO said it is a significant move that will introduce direct dealings with the cryptocurrencies in the country. He also mentioned that their fund will be a secure option for the investors as it will work within the ASIC’s regulations. 

Moreover, Jeff Yew disclosed that the investors can not only deal with Bitcoin but can also invest in other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH), Binance coin (BNB), and others. 

The final date for the Bitcoin spot ETF Australia launch is not yet finalised. However, it is has been said that it is likely to be launched next month. This move will give crypto trading exposure to the Australian market with substantial transparency and security.
 



Monochrome to offer crypto spot ETFs in Australia

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister revealed that the crypto community had contributed [$54 million in crypto funds](https://cointelegraph.com/news/aid-for-ukraine-s-54m-crypto-fund-buys-vests-scopes-and-uavs) through "Aid For Ukraine" initiative to support the country's military efforts against Russia.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov's disclosed via his Twitter post that the $54M was channeled through the Ukrainian government-run initiative "Aid For Ukraine."

The crypto fund initiative operates by transferring cryptocurrency to the crypto exchange FTX, which converts cryptocurrency into fiat currency, which is then withdrawn and transferred to the National Bank of Ukraine.

## Funding received and its usage by Ukraine

According to Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, the initiative received $54 million in the form of 595 [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) worth $13.9M, 10,190 Ether worth $18.7M, USD Coin worth $2.2M, and Tether worth $10.4M.

The cryptocurrency payments have gone toward military equipment, hardware, and munitions, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth $11.8 million, which are typically used to locate enemy troops and targeted attacks.

Among other army and medical accessories, the donations also included $6.9M for armour vests, $3.8M for field rations, $5.2M for anti-war media drive, and $5M for "weapons of the Ministry of Defense request.”

"Crypto is playing a critical role in Ukraine's defence," said Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Alex Bornyakov on the government-affiliated donation website.

Founder of the Ukrainian crypto exchange KUNA Mike Chobanian added that the crypto community's contributions had demonstrated blockchain technology's influence on nation-states, claiming that it can serve as a "backbone of global security" in times of crisis.

However, the Aid For Ukraine crypto fund is not the only campaign raising funds to support Ukrainian defence efforts. The Reserve Fund of Ukraine, Come Back Alive, UkraineDAO, and Unchain Fund have also contributed funds in the seven-figure range. However, the amount of cryptocurrency-based funds they've received hasn't been disclosed since March 2022.



Crypto has funded $54M to Aid for Ukraine

## Chainalysis crypto scam report

According to a Chainalysis report released on Tuesday 16 August 2022, the research suggests that total crypto scam revenue is presently resting at $1.6 billion, a [65% decrease from the prior year period](https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/crypto-crime-midyear-update-2022/), which appears correlated to the market average of falling cryptocurrency prices. 

The report points out that speculative investment opportunities and outsized profits appeal most to victims during bull markets and that traders more likely to fall for crypto scams. Bull markets also have a larger percentage of new, novice crypto investors who are more vulnerable to scams. 

The numbers in the report are admittedly biased in the report because of the comparably massive PlusToken and Finiko cases in 2021, which generated $3.5 billion in total scam income. According to reports, the most significant fraud case of 2022 has only garnered $273 million to the cannabis investing portal JuicyFields.io, which has locked investors out of their accounts on its cannabis-focused "e-growing" service. 

On the other hand, crypto-based hacking has defied the trend, jumping 58.3% to $1.9 billion through July 2022, excluding the [$190 million Nomad bridge attack](/news/article/nomad-crypto-hack) that began on August 1st. This value increase is primarily due to the emergence of decentralised apps, [which surged in 2021](https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/2022-defi-hacks/).

According to the research, a significant concentration of these hackers originated from North Korean elite cyber organisations such as Lazarus Group, with these entities accounting for over half of the crypto seized.

## Crypto scams are not entirely a bad thing

Due to smart contract programming languages like Solidity are relatively new, the fraud cases are not terrible as these vulnerabilities can improve security by allowing code audits. The crypto brand has suffered due to  bad actors leaving investors feel that there is no security, but through learning the hard way from these mistakes we hope that industry participants will build the crypto ecosystem back better. 

The report also stated that darknet market income is down 43% in 2022; dark web black markets provide illegal products and services, typically utilising cryptocurrency as payment.


Crypto scams are falling as victim investors exit 


A leading cryptocurrency exchange, [Crypto.com](https://crypto.com/) gets authorisation to operate in the United Kingdom. The country’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) provided the registration, in which the Crypto.com news announced on Wednesday. This will allow the firm to expand its crypto asset business throughout the UK as per the country’s regulations. 

Co-Founder and CEO of the firm, Kris Marszalek, shared his views on the confirmation and declared it a ‘significant milestone’ for the exchange. He believes that as the UK is looking to become a [global crypto hub](/news/article/cryptocurrency-investment-uk), expanding the firms crypto services to the region at this time would benefit them. He also showed his commitment to cooperating with the FCA regulations in order to strike the balance of regulation and innovation.

## Crypto.com news: Exchange to trade under FORIS DAX UK LIMITED

Other Crypto.com news suggests that the exchange might not work with this name in the UK. However, the FCA has listed a company under the name FORIS DAX UK LIMITED with the authorisation for certain crypto asset activities. It will also follow anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulations in the country. 

Under the FCA registered trading name, the platform can offer services including exchanging one digital token for another or exchanging digital token for fiat money or vice-versa. 

Apart from that, FCA is also maintaining a [list of unregistered businesses](https://register.fca.org.uk/s/search?predefined=U) involved in digital assets trading. Along with 248 other names, CryptoCOM is also on the list. Mainly, the FCA has not authorised these companies as they fail to comply with the money laundering regulations.

## Significant regulatory approvals for Crypto.com

In August, the exchange was able to secure significant regulatory approvals. Though the FCA approval is the most recent one for the firm. Crypto.com has been regularised by Canada’s Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and Cayman Islands’ monetary authority. Canada’s OSC approved a pre-registration undertaking from the firm on 15 August. Cayman Islands’ authorities also accepted the exchange as a virtual asset service provider on 11 August.  





Crypto.com news: The exchange gets UK approval

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC) has given digital banking firm Revolut permission to offer cryptocurrency services throughout the European Economic Area (EEA).

A fresh report claims that Revolut has been granted cryptocurrency-asset service provider (CASP) status by the island nation's governing body. The company has been on a hiring binge lately, despite the sluggish economy.

## Acceptance of crypto in Cyprus

The new license will allow the business to serve its 17 million European Economic Area customers from its newly established crypto center in Cyprus. After looking into various EU nations, Revolut ultimately decided on Cyprus as its base of operations.

[Famous exchanges including eToro](/news/article/etoro-fees), Crypto.Com, CMC Markets, and Bitpanda all call the country home. The app's representative said that the latest action was due to the sophisticated and tough regulatory regime of the CYSEC agency. He added also that "We heartily accept the European Parliament's clear goal to foster innovation while mandating robust customer protection safeguards to avoid any form of market abuse, and we applaud the new EU-wide law.

Revolut has obtained a license from the Central Bank of Spain and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, in addition to Cyprus (MAS). Over the next six months, the British fintech firm plans to increase the number of employees by 20% across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. In previous Revolute news, the company has hired an additional 43 people so far this year. 

After over two years of debate, the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework will be implemented by the end of 2023. It's a key component of the European Union's plan for the future of digital money.

To this end, MiCA seeks to establish a solid legal framework for the digital assets under its purview that have been excluded from the scope of existing financial services legislation in order to guarantee legal certainty.

It will aim to safeguard market players from the dangers connected with digital assets while also encouraging innovation and level playing fields. In addition, it will deal with threats to economic security.


Revolut News: Bank approved to offer crypto in EEA

One of the leading decentralised cloud computing networks, Cudos, concluded its series of funding rounds. In this successful series, [Cudos funding](https://www.cudos.org/blog/cudos-raises-10million-in-funding/) hit the £10 million mark. Initially, the firm raised around £2 million in seed funding and has further capitalised on that with a series of subsequent funding rounds. 

Cudos is one of the projects of the Cudo ventures. It has now become a global leader in cloud computing and blockchain-related services. The firm is working on providing sustainable and decentralised cloud computing services with its innovative approach. 

Let's see how Cudo Ventures managed to close the capital and what its plan is to grow after securing the substantial Cudos funding! 

## What's Cudo Ventures?

Cudo Ventures is a highly acclaimed, United Kingdom-based firm. A serial tech entrepreneur, Matt Hawkins founded the company in 2017 and still serves as its CEO. Its offerings involve cloud computing networks and developing decentralised platforms. It also has two more projects under its umbrella. These projects are related to sustainable computing and [crypto mining](/news/article/sustainable-mining). 

The firm has launched its own digital token, known as CUDOS. It is the native token that helps in monetising platforms by working as a utility token for them.

## The services Cudos offers

The venture has three main projects in its ecosystem, offering different services. All these projects can work together to combine the power of cloud computing and blockchain technology. These projects include:

1.	Cudos - A decentralised cloud-based computing network.

2.	Cudo Compute - Sustainable computing that utilises the unused power from systems

3.	Cudo Miner - An automated crypto mining service.

## How did Cudos funding raise £10 million?

The press release from the company disclosed that its worth had reached £10 million. It also declared that the Cudos funding took place in a series of rounds. Moreover, it also provided a breakdown of the capital. 

The initial seed funding for the company raised around £2 million. Then, in the pre-series A round, it closed another £2 million. This was further followed by £3.7 million for the token raise. Apart from that, an advanced subscription agreement (ASA) added £2.2 million. Lastly, the firm's strategic partners helped in raising £1 million.

The network has the support of numerous enterprises that helped it secure decent funding rounds. It is backed by enterprises like [Moonrock Capital](https://www.moonrockcapital.io/), BlackDragon Research, BMW Capital, [CSP DAO](https://cspdao.network/), Floem Capital, Exnetwork Capital, and others.  

## What does Cudos funding mean for its growth?

As the company has managed to secure modest capital, it is now looking to expand its business. The firm is looking to attract crypto investors by launching it on several exchanges. After the funding, it launched its token on the Bitmax exchange. 

Moreover, the Crypto.com exchange has also listed the coin, which is now available in over 90 countries. Other notable exchanges that listed the token are Kucoin, Huobi Global, and Bittrex Global. 

In addition, Cudo also launched a mainnet for its network that will further help build decentralised computing infrastructures. Matt Hawkins, the CEO of Cudo, termed the launch an 'incredible achievement.' Also, he expressed that the mainnet launch will help develop sustainable and decentralised computing networks for a more connected world. 

Non-fungible tokens might also enter the Cudos network. Its roadmap suggests that the network may introduce native support for NFTs usage. Also, there can be a bridge between Ethereum and Cudos for conveniently transferring NFTs. With all these innovations, the company seeks to expand its operations. 



Cudos funding round secured over £10 million

The Singapore High Court has extended Zipmex's moratorium by three months after the exchange was hamstrung by its exposure to crypto firms Babel Finance and Celsius Network.

Zipmex (ZMT) was the latest victim of a crypto contagion spurred by the collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin when it revealed in July that it has US$48 million (S$66 million) of exposure to Babel and US$5 million with Celsius.

On July 22, the business applied for a moratorium to prevent creditors from suing Zipmex Asia and other major operating subsidiaries. Zipmex Pte Ltd (the Singapore entity), Zipmex Company Limited (the Thai business), Zipmex Australia, and PT Zipmex Exchange Indonesia are all listed as applicants.

## Committee Given Extra 3 Months

[ZMT had asked for an additional five months](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/singapore-court-grants-crypto-exchange-zipmex-3-month-creditor-protection) to pay off its debts, but on Monday, August 15, Justice Aedit Abdullah voiced worries about the company's lack of communication with its creditors and customers in Thailand. He gave the committee an extra three months, until December 2, to resolve the issues they brought up, with the possibility of further extension.

In the moratorium application hearing on August 1, Justice Abdullah praised Defi Payments for its efforts to involve its creditors.

ZMT has three different investment offers on the table right now. The business has agreed to terms with two investors and received a non-binding letter of offer from a third. Lawyer for ZMT, Jonathan Tang from Morgan Lewis Stamford, claimed that each investor plans to inject capital into the company by purchasing shares in ZMT Asia or by injecting crypto assets into the company in exchange for shares.

The withdrawal process on ZMT was paused in July, although customers have been able to withdraw some Ether and Bitcoin since August 11 and August 16, respectively.

There is a total debt of around $1.1 million represented by the objections. After stating on July 25 that it was collaborating with law enforcement to investigate potential public losses as a result of Zipmex's difficulties, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission has been closely monitoring the effects of the company's troubles on Thai consumers.

Several [other cryptocurrency firms have also sought bankruptcy protection](/news/article/crypto-lending-platform-voyager) in recent months. A moratorium has been placed on Defi Payments' application for a Singapore digital payment token license as the company attempts to restructure the US$402 million in debt it owes to around 147,000 creditors worldwide.
 



Zipmex Gets 3-Month Creditor Protection

Reddit crypto involvement has expanded with the announcement of a collaboration with cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

The partnership allows users to manage community points. It also enables users to buy Ethereum cryptocurrency via integration with FTX.

FTX, the [cryptocurrency exchange](/news/article/best-crypto-exchange-uk-reddit) run by billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, this week confirmed that Reddit users can now manage their blockchain-based community points via the company's payment system, FTX Pay.

As part of the partnership, FTX Pay will be integrated as a payment and cryptocurrency exchange service, enabling new benefits for Reddit Community Points.

## Reddit Crypto Engagement

In 2020, Reddit introduced community points as a means to reward members for engaging with a community. These points are held in the "Vault," a user's blockchain-based wallet that also stores the collectible NFT (non-fungible token) avatars that Reddit unveiled last month. These community points are based on the Ethereum blockchain.

Reddit offers a variety of options to utilise community points, including earning community-specific memberships, voting on issues, recognising creators on the site, and submitting tips. 

Community points are shown next to a user's username as a measure of their reputation on the site. Community points can currently only be used by members of the two subreddits r/Cryptocurrency and r/ForniteBR, but Reddit wants to open it up to more communities eventually.

As community points are stored on the Ethereum blockchain, utilising them will result in gas costs or the price of making a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain.

This entails paying a charge in Ethereum, which some users might not have or may not know how to use. The Reddit partnership with crypto exchange FTX means users can now convert fiat currency (a nation's official currency, such as USD) to Ethereum to pay for those charges. That makes community points more accessible for individuals who may not be familiar with cryptocurrencies.

The FTX-Reddit crypto integration might be seen as Bankman-Fried's bet on the stability of the meme stock phenomena, which started on Reddit.



Reddit Crypto Exchange Partnership with FTX

The recent market sell-off has taken a toll on just about every sector, but some have been hit harder than others. For example, the tech-heavy Nasdaq is down nearly 7% from its high just two weeks ago.

One area that has been particularly hard hit is the red-hot sector of cloud computing. Companies like Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Salesforce.com (CRM) have all seen their stock prices drop by double digits in the past two weeks.

And while the sell-off in these stocks may have been overdone, it has left investors wondering if now is the time to buy or if there could be more downside ahead.

One cloud stock that has been especially hard hit is MetaPlatforms (MP). The [Meta share price](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/META/) has dropped by more than 50% over the last 12 months.

So, what’s going on with MP? And is the recent sell-off an opportunity to buy the dip or a sign that there could be more downside ahead?

Let’s take a closer look…

## What’s Going on With MP?

Meta Platforms is a cloud-based enterprise software company. Its flagship product is [Metaverse](/news/article/facebook-metaverse-nft), a digital workspace that allows employees to securely access all of their applications and data from one central location. The company has seen strong demand for its product as more and more businesses move to the cloud. 

However, the company reported second-quarter revenue of $169.5 million, down 4% from a year ago and below the $172.3 million that analysts were expecting. Meta also posted a net loss of $11.1 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with a profit of $2.2 million, or 2 cents a share, a year ago.

The stock has come under pressure in recent weeks, and is down by over 50% from its all-time high. So, what does the future hold for the Meta share price? Let’s take a look at the bulls and the bears…

## The Bull Case for MP

The bulls argue that the sell-off in Meta Platforms stock is overdone and that the recent weak quarter was an anomaly. There are still plenty of reasons to be bullish on MetaPlatforms.

First, the company’s flagship product, Metaverse, is in high demand. The product is being adopted by more and more businesses as they move to the cloud.

Second, MetaPlatforms is growing quickly. 

Third, MetaPlatforms has a strong balance sheet. The company has no debt and $100 million in cash. This gives the company plenty of financial flexibility to invest in growth.

Fourth, MetaPlatforms is led by a proven management team. The company’s CEO, Scott Smith, is a co-founder of Salesforce.com (CRM). He knows how to build a successful cloud company.

## The Bear Case for MP

The bears argue that the recent weak quarter was not an anomaly and that MetaPlatforms is facing some serious headwinds. They point to the company’s high valuation, which is now trading at nearly 30 times sales. It has been viewed that the company previously known as ‘Facebook’ was forced to rebrand as Meta Platforms after coming under much [scrutiny from its services impact on the mental health of teens](https://www.everydayhealth.com/public-health/facebook-comes-under-fire-after-whistleblower-and-leaked-documents-reveal-negative-impact-on-young-girls/). This was seen as a ploy to divert the negative publicity and not affect the company’s share price.

They also note that Meta Platforms is up against some tough competition, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. And they believe that the recent sell-off could be just the beginning for MP stock.

So, what’s the verdict? Is MetaPlatforms a buy or a sell?

## The Verdict

There are both positive and negative factors to consider when deciding if Meta Platforms stock is a buy in August 2022. 

Ultimately, it comes down to whether you believe the stock is a good long-term investment. 

If you think the company's fundamentals are strong and the stock is cheap at current levels, then it could be a good buy. However, if you're concerned about the stock's technical, tainted reputation  or the overall market conditions, then it may be best to wait for a better entry point.

Please be aware that this is not financial advice.

A Comprehensive Look at Meta Share Price

## How UK users can fund their Binance account

### Step 1: Register an account

UK Users can register for a Binance account with their email or phone number from the  App,  website, or desktop app.

### Step 2: Complete verification

UK users can complete [identity verification](https://www.binance.com/en/support/faq/360027287111) on their Binance account to unlock the Fiat deposit and withdrawal limits, which includes verifying their basic account information, providing ID documentation, and uploading a picture.

### Step 3: Buy crypto

## Deposit Fiat 

Users can deposit up to 50+ Fiat currencies, such as EUR, BRL, and AUD, to their Binance UK account using bank transfer and bank cards. Once deposited, they can use them to buy crypto directly.

## Buy crypto using a debit/credit card

Users can also buy crypto directly using their credit/debit card on the Binance website or the lite mode on the Binance app.

## Buy crypto via P2P

Users can also go to the [Binance P2P](https://www.binance.com/en/support/faq/360043832851) page, select "buy crypto", and click "P2P trading" on the top navigation.

Investors can select the currency they want to buy. They can also filter the price and the "payment" in the drop-down, select an ad, and then click "buy".

Investors must enter the amount or quantity they want and click "buy."

The payment method and amount confirmations are on the order details page.

Investors must complete their fiat transactions within the payment time limit. Then click "transferred, next" and "confirm".

Once the cryptocurrency is released and the transaction completed. Users can click "transfer to spot wallet" to transfer the digital assets to their spot wallet.

Users can also click "check my account" above the button to view the digital asset they just bought.

Make a deposit or transfer crypto from the existing wallet

Users can log in to the Binance UK account and click wallet-overview 

Users then click deposit and see a pop-up window with the following options. 

1) Make a crypto deposit
2) Make a Fiat deposit

If users choose the crypto deposit option, they can select between [BTC](/coins/btc), ETH, USDT, BNB and EOS.

Next, investors choose the deposit network; however, users must ensure the selected network is the same as the platform they are withdrawing from to avoid losing funds.

Users can select BNB, BSC, ETH, SOL, and TRX.

Users must click to copy their Binance UK wallet's deposit address and paste it to the address field on the platform that they intend to withdraw crypto.

The transaction can take time to approve, depending on the blockchain and its current network traffic.

Funds are credited to the user's Binance account right after.

### Step 5: Explore Binance UK products

## Spot trading

Users can trade hundreds of cryptocurrencies in the spot market, including BNB. As well as develop tokens on the Binance smart chain.

Be warned, Binance is cheap to buy but could cost you your coins

As a last word of caution, be weary of keeping your crypto in Binances hot storage wallet, as, they have been known to be hacked and for suspending withdrawals to UK customers. 

What’s more, as they operate in an unregulated industry there is limited to no accountability and guardrails. Binance recently halted Bitcoin withdrawals, citing technical difficulties. According to a tweet, the platform momentarily suspended bitcoin withdrawals early on Monday, June 13, 2022, due to a stalled transaction producing a backlog. 

It may be cost effective to buy your crypto currency on Binance and transfer it to a cold storage wallet such as a Ledger. Consider transaction costs (network fee’s) to transfer coins out from the Binance and understand the risks of buying and holding your coins on the platform.


Guide to the Binance platform for UK users

One of the largest asset management companies [Blackrock Inc](https://www.blackrock.com/corporate). has recently entered the crypto market. It has introduced a private trust that allows its institutional clients in the US to get exposure to spot Bitcoin. Moreover, the news about Blackrock investing in [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) came through after [partnering up with Coinbase](/news/article/blackrock-crypto) for crypto custody and trading services. 

## Blackrock investing proves beneficial for Bitcoin

Blackrock investing in the crypto market has been quite constructive for Bitcoin. On 11 August, its price reached almost $25,000. Though its price has slid to $23,987, the move has boosted investors’ confidence. The overall market sentiment has also been bullish. 

Many known figures in the crypto space also welcome the Blackrock initiatives as a landmark for the market. William Clemente, the lead analyst for Blockware, called it the ‘[most bullish news](https://twitter.com/WClementeIII/status/1557723939366895617)’ for Bitcoin hodlers. He pointed out that it would ensure security for the investors. 

The company itself has also changed its stance on cryptocurrencies. Five years back, its CEO, Fink Larry, labelled Bitcoin as a money laundering index. However, now Blackrock is investing in a BTC product and a crypto trading services as well. As per the statement from the company, the interest from institutional clients in crypto has inspired them to enter the space. 

## Other asset managers in the crypto market

Though Blackrock investing in digital asset class services has been the most impactful, several other players are entering this volatile market. Earlier, Charles Schwab’s asset management arm also invested in the market. It introduced an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for the institutions linked with cryptocurrencies. With the STCE ticker, this ETF was introduced on the 4th of August 2022 on the New York Stock Exchange for trading.

On the other hand, the UK giant, Abrdn, is also exploring cryptocurrencies. This week, FTSE listed Abrdn bought a stake in the exchange Archax, a UK-regulated digital tokens and assets exchange. 



Blackrock investing strengthens crypto’s position

Earlier today, Binance Labs, the startup capital and accelerator arm of BNB, made public its strategic investment in Ankr, the Web3 powerhouse known for its decentralized infrastructure.

Ankr's substantial open-source contributions to Binance's BNB Chain, BNB Liquid Staking, and general ecosystem support are primary drivers that attracted the investment from Binance Labs.

## What is Ankr?

In essence, Ankr facilitates the launch of blockchains for businesses, allowing them to provide superior Web3 experiences to their customers in record time. The protocol, scheduled for release in 2021, will eventually process 200 billion Remote Procedure Call (RPC) queries each month across 50 different blockchain networks.

[Specifically, Ankr's COO Ryan Fang said](https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2022/08/11/binance-labs-makes-strategic-investment-in-ankr/): The addition of Binance Labs as a strategic investor fills us with joy. With the most daily transactions and users, BNB is clearly the leader. 

Ankr serves over 7.2 billion daily blockchain requests on over 30 different blockchains, making it the second largest node provider (after Alchemy). 

The possibility is to further serve its customers, they plan to invest the funds towards expanding its market-leading RPC service and its portfolio of Web3 development tools, which currently includes the Liquid Staking Software Development Kit (SDK), the Web3 Gaming SDK, and the App Chains As A Service.

In addition, their Protocol processes over 7 billion blockchain requests every day across the 18 blockchains on which it provides RPC hosting. The fact that all [BNB initiatives](/news/article/binance-staking) and users stand to gain greatly from Ankr's improvements to the network is another reason for Binance Labs' endorsement of the project.

As previously mentioned, Ankr is responsible for most of BNB's foundational architecture, including the Erigon update, the Archive Node upgrade, and the most recent BNB Application Sidechain (BAS) scaling solution. 

Yi He, a co-founder and manager of Binance will be leading the incubator's venture capital (VC) division.

Yi He will be responsible for Binance Labs' general direction and day-to-day operations, with some of his time spent bolstering infrastructure initiatives and enhancing the practical applications of cutting-edge crypto and blockchain endeavors.


Ankr receives significant investment from Binance

Cross-chain bridges have been the focus of many attacks this year. New data from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic claims that one of the cross-chain bridges, Renbridge, was [used in the laundering of more than $540 million](https://hub.elliptic.co/analysis/cross-chain-crime-more-than-half-a-billion-dollars-has-been-laundered-through-a-cross-chain-bridge/) in illegitimate crypto assets.

According to Wednesday's study, RenBridge, a crypto bridge, has assisted the laundering of at least $540 million in illegal profits since 2020 using a method known as chain hopping. This involves turning one type of cryptocurrency into another and transferring it across various blockchains.

Decentralised cross-chain bridges, according to Elliptic, give "an uncontrolled alternative to exchanges for moving currency between blockchains".

## Cross-chain Bridge Exploits

Cross-chain bridges, also known as blockchain bridges, are mainly utilised for lawful reasons, allowing users to exchange cryptocurrency effortlessly between blockchain networks.

Users often deposit tokens from one chain to the bridge protocol, which is locked into a contract, after which the user receives the equivalent of a parallel token in another chain.

Elliptic warns that these bridges have also been used to launder criminal earnings by ransomware gangs, exploiters, and hackers. It says RenBridge accounts for at least $540 million in laundered proceeds since 2020.

According to the firm, at least $2.4 million in crypto assets stolen during the Nomad attack on August 2 passed across the cross-chain bridge.

Elliptic also revealed that assets from decentralised finance (DeFi) services worth at least $267.2 million had been laundered through the cross-chain bridge in the past two years. It adds that a chunk of the $80 million stolen from the Liquid Global exchange last year, reportedly by North Korea, used RenBridge cross-chain platform.

So far, the Conti ransomware gang, which notoriously struck the Costa Rican government in June, has laundered more than $53 million using RenBridge.

RenBridge is also said to be popular with Russia-linked ransomware operations, with $153 million in ransomware being laundered through the site.

Tornado Cash, a decentralised mixer meant to disguise the sources of cryptocurrency, was [sanctioned earlier this week](/news/article/tornado-cash) by the United States Treasury department. The authority took similar action in May with the mixer Blender.io. The US Treasury noted suspected exploitation by North Korean cyber organisations in both instances.

Additional digital services, such as privacy and censorship avoidance, can be used for illegal and non-criminal objectives. However, DeFi is particularly vulnerable to theft and hacking, and finding chokepoints might benefit security experts and governments.


RenBridge Used to Launder $540M

As Q2 2022 concluded, many companies shared their data for cryptocurrency losses.

Major United States crypto companies like Coinbase and Galaxy Digital have reviewed their activities. The data they shared further substantiates that we are experiencing a [crypto winter.](/news/article/crypto-market-crashing)

As per Coinbase, the dip for the previous quarter reached more than $1.1bn. Galaxy Digital's crypto depletion for the same period was $554 million.

## 'Fast and Furious' Cryptocurrency Losses for Coinbase

One of the largest crypto exchanges, Coinbase was listed by the NASDAQ in 2021. It has shared the data for its crypto losses of more than $1.1 billion in the second quarter of 2022. Since its stock exchange listing, this has been the worst quarter for the firm.

The company announced the deficit via a [shareholder letter](https://s27.q4cdn.com/397450999/files/doc_financials/2022/q2/Q2-2022-Shareholder-Letter.pdf) on August 9, 2022. The letter mentioned that consumer behaviour amid this ‘fast and furious’ crypto winter is the same as previous ones. 

Moreover, it revealed that the company is focusing more on innovation in this downward market as it will help the company in the next cycle. 

Coinbase shared that its revenue was $802.6 million for Q2. The firm experienced a 45.1% dip in comparison to Q1. Also, if you compare this revenue to Q2 2021, there is a decline of around 153.1%.

The firm is looking to join forces with [Blackrock](/news/article/blackrock-crypto). Both firms agreed to the partnership to support Bitcoin trading. The alliance announcement has been embraced positively in the stock exchange as it saw a surge of more than 15%. Analysts believe that, with Coinbase encountering losses and probes from SEC, a partnership with Blackrock might help the firm financially.

## Galaxy Digital Q2 Crypto Losses Reached $554.7m

Another digital assets giant, Galaxy Digital, shared its report for the second quarter of 2022.

As per the data, the deficit piled up to $554.7 million in Q2. In Q2 of last year, the company's total debt was only around $182.9 million.

The cryptocurrency losses for the major firms suggest a further aggravating crypto winter.


Cryptocurrency Losses for Major US 

Tornado Cash, the Ethereum-based non-custodial open source software project, has been sanctioned by the United States’ Treasury department.

The sanctions announced on Monday stop people in the US, and anyone subject to US jurisdiction, from using the cryptocurrency mixer.

All property, as well as interests in property, of Tornado Cash in the US or held by US persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The crypto tool enables users to mix their coins using its smart contract, obscuring the prior trail of coins exchanged over a transparent ledger. 

[The sanction](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220808) relates to the smart contract protocol. These actions have created a bad precedent for open-source software development. 

Following the US Treasury's announcement, it was discovered that Circle, the centralised issuer of stablecoin USDC, has also blocked [every sanctioned address](/news/article/crypto-russia) from using USDC. 

As tracked by internet readers, the number of [black-listed](https://dune.com/phabc/usdc-banned-addresses) USDC addresses now stands at 81.

These activities have prompted many to doubt the security of storing digital assets in a centralised location, even for non-criminals who want to employ privacy-enhancing techniques.

## Tornado Cash Co-creator's Github Account Suspended

Roman Semenov, the co-creator of Tornado Cash, had his GitHub (open source development repository) account disabled. He responded by questioning whether it is now illegal to create open-source code.

Considering the nature of the restrictions imposed this could disturb freedom-loving crypto fanatics. 
These activities also offer various tools in the so-called DeFi space which rely on centralised stablecoins and may have centralised development choke points.

As painful as it may seem, Bitcoin's spontaneous and decentralised nature is a reason why such open-source software exists today.

Open-source software will continue to function as intended, but with increased pressure on software/wallet/protocol developers, only the strongest and most truly decentralised networks will remain.

When considering the long-term case for Bitcoin, one of its most compelling value propositions is that it is an asset with no counterparty risk or dilution (devaluation) risk.
 



Tornado Cash Sanctioned by US Treasury