Crypto Market Overview January 30th | Dex-Trade

'Date's Over': FBI Wants to Ban SBF from Talking to Witnesses in FTX Case

Federal prosecutors have called on U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to change a measure of restraint for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Freed (SBF), saying he may have been involved in “witness tampering” by sending them encrypted messages. The appeal was set out on four pages of an official document and published last Friday. In it, prosecutors said the SBF attempted to contact “the current General Counsel of FTX US”Ryne Miller via messenger to send encrypted messages, Signal, and email on January 15. “I would really love to reconnect and see [Miller] if there’s a way for us to have a constructive relationship, use each other as resources when possible, or at least vet things with each other.” — SBF commented on his communication with the witness. Prosecutors said Sam also tried to reach out to other FTX employees and employees who were fired. And his desire to “vet things” in relation to Miller suggests an attempt to influence the testimony of potential witnesses. Thus, the prosecution urges that SBF be prevented from communicating with current or former employees of FTX and Alameda Research without the request of lawyers and government permission, and also insists that Sam use any encrypted communication channels.

Ted Cruz Wants to Legalize Crypto Payments in Capitol Stores

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz re-submitted a resolution to Congress on Thursday to accept crypto as legal tender in Capitol Hill merchants. Cruz made his first attempt to legalize crypto transactions at the heart of American political history in November 2021. Then he said: “Cryptocurrency is generating new jobs, encouraging entrepreneurs to invent new values and creating new hedges against inflation, and presenting new opportunities. It is also increasingly being used as a secure form of payment for goods and services. This is precisely why we, here at the United States Capitol, should increase accessibility and signal our support for the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry to those who visit Capitol Hill.” However, his arguments were not well received. For the second time, Cruz wants the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to encourage acceptance of crypto payments by Capitol sovereign stores. What's more, Cruz's new bill would require officials to also contract with merchants that accept crypto as payment at malls and catering establishments in the Capitol. Notably, a consistent crypto advocate, Cruz, is an outspoken opponent of CBDCs and even introduced a bill last April to prevent the Federal Reserve from developing a central bank digital currency.

“Cryptoqueen” Ruja Ignatova Briefly “emerged” from the quagmire of oblivion

The scandalous founder of the largest crypto scam OneCoin, Ruja Ignatova, also known as the “Cryptoqueen,” appeared in the information field more than five years after the disappearance. This time, her name was listed on legal documents for real estate in London, which were filed with the British housing authorities. According to those documents, Ignatova is the so-called beneficial owner of Abbots House Penthouse Limited, a Guernsey-based company that bought a multi-million dollar penthouse in the London suburb of Kensington. The property was recently put up for sale at a price of $15.5 million, which was later reduced to around $13.6 million. Just a few days later, the listing for the sale was taken down. Ignatova was reportedly forced to become the owner of Abbots House Penthouse Limited due to regulations regarding foreign companies that came into effect in the UK last year. According to published documentation, Ignatova has owned the penthouse through Abbots House Penthouse Limited since May 2016. However, the investigators have no traces of Ignatova's presence, as well as the facts of her stay in the UK.