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Telegram has become the go-to app for heroin, guns, and everything illegal. Can crypto save it?

Digital Finance News Staff

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Telegram has become the go-to app for heroin, guns, and everything illegal. Can crypto save it?

“Far from the level you would expect. Pungent odor of ammonia. Very nervous. One star,” writes one disgruntled customer about his $240 purchase of Colombian cocaine. Another reviewer reported a better experience, leaving a five-star rating and exclaiming, “Better than the street stuff around me!” Recommended.”

This is not a South American drug market or even an obscure dark web market. It is Telegramone of the top five in the world most downloaded The go-to app and communications platform for everyone from activists to cryptocurrency enthusiasts. A recent tour of Telegram channels that function as department stores by Fortune revealed that it’s quick and easy to find everything from heroin jars to stolen stimulus checks to AK-47 machine guns.

Telegram’s end-to-end encryption means no third parties can access user data. But as a result, the app failed to create an advertising-based economy and regulate content. So, to continue operating without selling user data or undergoing the regulatory oversight required by its IPO, the app turned to crypto. (Telegram initially created the Telegram Open Network (TON) but abandoned the project due to regulatory issues. The TON Foundation resumed work on the blockchain to preserve the technology, renaming it The Open Network and launching Toncoin.)

If successful, Telegram could become a “great app” without needing to tune in. But the implications of this situation go further than just opening the dark web to the general public: extremists and criminals who run popular channels could earn cryptocurrencies for their content.

“Creating a Telegram is easier than creating a Facebook account,” says David Maimon, a professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University who has been monitoring thousands of illicit groups and channels on Telegram since 2019. .For criminals, “Telegram is now the place to go.”

The dark net in your pocket

Telegram’s philosophy is rooted in its political origins. CEO Pavel Durov founded Russia’s most popular social network, VKontakte. In 2014, he was forced to flee after refusing to share his Ukrainian users’ data with the government. Before his expulsion, he had developed Telegram to communicate with his brother, now CTO Nikolai, out of fear of government spying.

With over 900 million monthly active users, Telegram has nearly doubled in size since 2021 and aims to reach 1.5 billion by 2030. Based in Dubai, it has “disclosed 0 bytes of user data to third parties, including governments. » As a result, it is difficult to regulate and monetize, leading to a boom in illicit channels. (Fortune sent messages to Telegram’s PR channel seeking additional comment, but received no response.)

The dark web itself is slow, requires the Tor browser, and its complex URLs change frequently. Telegram can be easily found in the App Store. And if someone can think of something they want, Telegram almost certainly has it. LSD and OxyContin. Cloned credit cards. Stimulus checks. Meandering paragraphs of stolen identities, with victims reduced to their names, dates of birth, social security numbers, emails, passwords, home addresses and card numbers. Typing vaguely related lingo into the app’s search engine brings up dozens of channels, many with tens of thousands of members competing to give you the best deal.

Channels offer drop-down menus, shopping carts, wishlists and reviews. One, “exclusively for members of the credit card industry”, offers free tutorials on how to commit fraud, before customers move on to purchasing CVV codes and card clones. “Our hundreds of satisfied customers will attest to the fact that we offer only the highest quality supplies for your project. We appreciate your trust! », writes the administrator in a broadcast to more than 50,000 members. In the most mundane corners, discounted gift cards, flights and hotel stays exchange hands. “It’s really crazy what’s happening. The spectrum is really broad,” says Maimon.

So attracting big ad dollars is a challenge. “If you protect data and privacy, you can’t sell ads,” Cosmo Jiang, a portfolio manager at Pantera Capital, tells Fortune. “They’re really bad at monetization.”

Telegram launched an advertising platform in 2021. Advertisers can post text messages of 160 characters or less on channels with at least 1,000 subscribers. Telegram channels generate 1 trillion views per month, but only 10% of them are monetized by ads, Durov said in February.

Turning to crypto

An alternative option for Telegram to make money is crypto, which promises the “highest potential to maintain control and monetize,” says Pantera’s Jiang, who invested in TON. Funding is from Pantera “The largest investment ever made,” and earlier this month the company revealed it was raising its initial funding, according to a letter shared with investors and viewed by Fortune.

Launched in 2018, the original TON network was abandoned in 2020 following a legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission. But now, in a more favorable regulatory environment and improved market conditions, the company is turning headfirst into crypto in a desperate attempt to monetize without pandering to authorities.

TON, also known as Toncoin, is “Telegram’s largest liquid asset on its balance sheet,” Jiang notes. It accrues staking rewards from transaction fees and protocol issuance. Additionally, there are “trading agreements” where it earns more TON over time based on certain performance criteria, Jiang adds.

In September, Telegram launched a self-custodial wallet called TON Space, built by third-party developers, that allows users to send USDT, its native Toncoin, and Bitcoin to other users. The majority of illicit payments are made off-app via cryptocurrencies, Maimon says, although he has seen “a few mentions” of payments via the TON wallet starting to appear on Russian-operated channels. But with the wallet still in its infancy, TON transfers for illicit goods could become more common.

Building on this momentum, Telegram announced in March that channel owners would begin receiving 50% of all revenue generated from ads on their channels, with all payments settled through TON. It also revealed its Mini Apps feature, which allows users to create apps in Telegram, with the aim of becoming more and more like a super app. WeChatwhich has more than 1.3 billion users, mainly Chinese.

When browsing some illicit channels recently, the only ads that appeared were links to competing stores. So, at least for now, criminals running shops and extremists spreading propaganda will be paid in Toncoin for advertisements on their channels.

So far, Telegram’s crypto bet is working. Toncoin has nearly tripled since March, trading at nearly $7, according to data from CoinGecko. The same month the revenue share was announced, Durov revealed the company is “close to profitability”.

“If TON really takes off, then they never need to go public,” Jiang says. In a channel dedicated to stolen stimulus checks, a seller quotes Lil Wayne: “Scared money doesn’t make money. » In another store of stolen bank details, distributed to more than 27,000 subscribers, we can read: “Put food on the table”.

(This article has been updated to add clarification on The Open Network’s role in the development of the TON blockchain and that the self-custodial wallet integrated into Telegram was developed by a third party.)

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We are the editorial team of Digital Finance News, where seriousness meets clarity in cryptocurrency analysis. With a robust team of finance and blockchain technology experts, we are dedicated to meticulously exploring complex crypto markets with detailed assessments and an unbiased approach. Our mission is to democratize access to knowledge of emerging financial technologies, ensuring they are understandable and accessible to all. In every article on Digital Finance News, we strive to provide content that not only educates, but also empowers our readers, facilitating their integration into the financial digital age.

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Today’s top crypto gainers and losers

Digital Finance News Staff

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Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Top crypto gainers and losers of the day

Over the past 24 hours, Jupiter and JasmyCoin emerged as the top gainers among the top 100 crypto assets, while Bittensor and Mantra plunged as the top losers.

Top Winners

Jupiter

Jupiter (JUP) led the charge among the biggest gainers on July 27.

At the time of writing, the crypto asset had surged 12.6% in the past 24 hours and was trading at $1.16. JUP’s daily trading volume was hovering around $282 million, according to data from crypto.news.

JUP Hourly Price Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

Additionally, the cryptocurrency’s market cap stood at $1.56 billion, making it the 62nd largest crypto asset, according to CoinGecko. Despite the recent price surge, the token is still down 42.6% from its all-time high of $2 reached on Jan. 31.

Jupiter functions as a decentralized exchange aggregator that allows users to trade Solana-based tokens. The platform also offers users the best routes for direct trades between multiple exchanges and liquidity pools.

In addition to being a DEX aggregator, Jupiter has expanded into a “full stack ecosystem” by launching several new projects, including a dedicated pool to support perpetual trading and plans for a stablecoin.

JasmyCoin

JasmyCoin (JASMI) has increased by 12% in the last 24 hours and is trading at $0.0328 at press time. JASMY’s daily trading volume has increased by 10% in the last 24 hours, reaching $146 million.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 2

JASMY Hourly Price Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

The asset’s market cap has surpassed the $1.5 billion mark, making it the 60th largest cryptocurrency at the time of reporting. However, the self-proclaimed “Bitcoin of Japan” is still down 99.3% from its all-time high of $4.79 on February 16, 2021.

JASMY is the native token of Jasmy Corporation, a Japanese Internet of Things provider. The platform seeks to merge the decentralization of blockchain technology with IoT, allowing users to convert their digital information into digital assets.

The initiative was launched by Kunitake Ando, ​​former COO of Sony Corporation, along with Kazumasa Sato, former CEO of Sony Style.com Japan Inc., Hiroshi Harada, executive financial analyst at KPMG, and other senior executives from Japan.

Kaspa

Kaspa (KAS) saw a 100% increase in trading volume and an 8% increase in price over the past 24 hours, trading at $0.19 at the time of publication.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 3

KAS Hourly Price Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

According to data from CoinGecko, Kaspa now ranks 27th in the global cryptocurrency list, with a circulating supply of approximately 24.29 billion KAS tokens and a market capitalization of $4.59 billion.

Kaspa is a cryptocurrency designed to deliver a high-performance, scalable, and secure blockchain platform. Its unique Layer-1 protocol includes the GhostDAG protocol, a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism that enables faster block times and higher transaction throughput compared to standard blockchains.

Unlike Bitcoin, GhostDAG allows multiple blocks to be created simultaneously, speeding up transactions and increasing block rewards for miners.

Bonk

Bonk (BONK) is the only one coin meme which made it to this list of biggest gainers and jumped 8.6% in the last 24 hours. Trading at $0.000030, the Solana-based meme coin’s market cap has surpassed $2.1 billion, surpassing Floki (FLOKI), another competing dog-themed coin with a market cap of $1.78 billion.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 4

BONK Hourly Price Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

BONK’s daily trading volume hovered around $285 million. However, BONK is still down 33.5% from its all-time high of $0.000045, reached on March 4.

Bonk, a meme coin that rose to prominence in 2023, has contributed significantly to Solana’s value increase amid the meme coin frenzy.

Bonk started out as a simple dog-themed coin. It has since expanded its features to include integration with decentralized finance. The project also partners with cross-chain communication protocols, NFT marketplaces, and various other cryptocurrency ecosystems.

BONK trading pairs are now listed on major exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and Bitstamp.

The big losers

Bittensor

Bittensor (TAO) was the biggest loser among the 100 largest crypto assets, according to data from CoinGecko.

At the time of writing, TAO, the native token of decentralized AI project Bittensor, was down 5%, trading around $344. The crypto asset had a daily trading volume of $59 million and a market cap of $2.43 billion.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 5

TAO 24 Hour Price Chart | Source: CoinGecko

Bittensor, created in 2019 by AI researchers Ala Shaabana and Jacob Steeves, initially operated as a parachain on Polkadot before transitioning to its own layer-1 blockchain in March 2023.

Mantra

Mantra (OM) fell 6%, trading at $1.13 at press time. The digital currency’s market cap fell to $938 million. Additionally, the 82nd largest crypto asset has a daily trading volume of $26 million.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 6

OM Price Hourly Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

Mantra is a modular blockchain network comprising two chains, Manta Pacific and Manta Atlantic, specialized in zero-knowledge applications.

Coat

Coat (MNT) also saw a 2.4% drop in price, now trading at $0.8413. Currently, Mantle has a market cap of around $2.75 billion, which ranks 36th in the global cryptocurrency rankings by market cap, according to price data from crypto.news.

Jupiter and JasmyCoin lead the rally: Today's top crypto gainers and losers - 7

MNT Hourly Price Chart, July 26-27 | Source: crypto.news

Over the past 24 hours, MNT trading volume also fell by 6%, reaching $240 million.

Mantle, formerly known as BitDAO, is an investment DAO closely associated with Bybit. The MNT token is essential for governance, paying gas fees on the Mantle network, and staking on various platforms.

Built on the Ethereum network, Mantle provides a platform for decentralized application developers to launch their projects. It has become particularly popular for GameFi applications, leading to the formation of an internal Web3 gaming team.

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Bitcoin Price Drops to $67,000 Despite Trump’s Pro-Crypto Comments, Further Correction Ahead?

Digital Finance News Staff

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Bitcoin Price Drops to $67,000 Despite Trump’s Pro-Crypto Comments, Further Correction Ahead?

Pioneer cryptocurrency Bitcoin has registered a 1.13% decline in the past 24 hours to trade at $67,400. Despite a strong pro-crypto stance from US presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, this massive selloff has raised concerns in the market about the asset’s sustainability at a higher price. However, given the recent three-week rally, a slight pullback this weekend is justifiable and necessary to regain the depleted bullish momentum.

Bitcoin Price Flag Formation Hints at Opportunity to Break Beyond $80,000

The medium-term trend Bitcoin Price remains a sideways trend amidst the formation of a bullish flag pattern. This chart pattern is defined by two descending lines that are currently shaping the price trajectory by providing dynamic resistance and support.

On July 5, BTC saw a bullish reversal from the flag pattern at $53,485, increasing its asset by 29.75% to a high of $69,400. This recent spike followed the market’s positive sentiment towards the Donald Trump speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville on Saturday afternoon.

Bitcoin Price | Tradingview

In his speech, Trump outlined several pro-crypto initiatives: he promised to replace SEC Chairman Gary Gensler on his first day in office, to establish a Strategic National Reserve of Bitcoin if elected, to ensure that the U.S. government holds all of its assets. Bitcoin assets and block any attempt to create a central bank digital currency (CBDC) during his presidency.

He also claimed that under his leadership, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies will skyrocket like never before.

Despite Donald Trump’s optimistic promises, the BTC price failed to reach $70,000 and is currently trading at $67,400. As a result, Bitcoin’s market cap has dipped slightly to hover at $1.335 trillion.

However, this pullback is justified, as Bitcoin price has recently seen significant growth over the past three weeks, which has significantly improved market sentiment. Thus, price action over the weekend could replenish the depleted bullish momentum, potentially strengthening an attempt to break out from the flag pattern at $70,130.

A successful breakout will signal the continuation of the uptrend and extend the Bitcoin price forecast target at $78,000, followed by $84,000.

On the other hand, if the supply pressure on the upper trendline persists, the asset price could trigger further corrections for a few weeks or months.

Technical indicator:

  • Pivot levels: The traditional pivot indicator suggests that the price pullback could see immediate support at $64,400, followed by a correction floor at $56,700.
  • Moving average convergence-divergence: A bullish crossover state between the MACD (blue) and the signal (orange) ensure that the recovery dynamics are intact.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A CBDC is a digital form of fiat currency issued and regulated by a country’s central bank. It aims to provide a digital alternative to traditional banknotes.

The proposal for a strategic national Bitcoin reserve is a major confirmation of Bitcoin’s legitimacy and potential as a reserve asset. Such a move could position Bitcoin in a similar way to gold, potentially stabilizing its price and encouraging other countries to adopt similar strategies.

Conferences like Bitcoin 2024 serve as essential platforms for networking, knowledge sharing, and showcasing new technologies within the cryptocurrency industry.

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Swiss crypto bank Sygnum reports profitability after surge in first-half trading volumes – DL News

Digital Finance News Staff

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Swiss crypto bank Sygnum reports profitability after surge in first-half trading volumes – DL News
  • Sygnum says it has reached profitability after increasing transaction volumes.
  • The Swiss crypto bank does not disclose specific profit figures.

Sygnum, a Swiss global crypto banking group with approximately $4.5 billion in client assets, announced that it has achieved profitability after a strong first half, with key metrics showing year-to-date growth.

The company said in a Press release Compared to the same period last year, cryptocurrency spot trading volumes doubled, cryptocurrency derivatives trading increased by 500%, and lending volumes increased by 360%. The exact figures for the first half of the year were not disclosed.

Sygnum said its staking service has also grown, with the percentage of Ethereum staked by customers increasing to 42%. For institutional clients, staking Ethereum has a benefit that goes beyond the limitations of the ETF framework, which excludes staking returns, Sygnum noted.

“The approval and launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs was a turning point for the crypto industry this year, leading to a major increase in demand for trusted, regulated exposure to digital assets,” said Martin Burgherr, Chief Client Officer of Sygnum.

He added: “This is also reflected in Sygnum’s own growth, with our core business segments recording significant year-to-date growth in the first half of the year.”

Sygnum, which has also been licensed in Luxembourg since 2022, plans to expand into European and Asian markets, the statement said.

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Former White House official Anthony Scaramucci says cryptocurrency bull market could be sparked by regulatory clarity

Digital Finance News Staff

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Former White House official Anthony Scaramucci says cryptocurrency bull market could be sparked by regulatory clarity

Anthony Scaramucci, founder of Skybridge Capital, says the next cryptocurrency bull market could be sparked by a new wave of clear cryptocurrency regulations.

In a new interview On CNBC’s Squawk Box, the former White House communications director said he and two other prominent industry figures traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak to officials about the dangers of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler’s hardline approach to cryptocurrency regulation.

“Mark Cuban, myself, and Michael Novogratz were in Washington a few weeks ago to speak with White House officials and explain the dangers of Gary Gensler and Elizabeth Warren’s anti-crypto approach. I hope that message gets through…

“Overall, if we can get regulatory policy around Bitcoin and crypto assets in sync, we will have a bull market next year for these assets.”

Scaramucci then compares crypto assets to ride-hailing company Uber, saying regulators were initially wary of the service but eventually decided to adopt clear guidelines due to public demand.

“Remember Uber: Nobody wanted Uber. A lot of regulators didn’t want it. Mayors and deputy mayors didn’t want it, but citizens wanted Uber and eventually accepted the idea of ​​regulating it fairly. I think we’re there now.”

The CEO also says young Democratic voters believe their leaders are making the wrong choices when it comes to digital assets.

“I think President Trump’s move toward Bitcoin and crypto assets has shaken Democrats to their core, and I think very smart, younger Democrats are recognizing that they are completely off base with their positions, completely off base with these SEC lawsuits and regulation by law enforcement, and now they need to get back to the center.”

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