π Analysts are becoming increasingly confident that the US regulator will approve a spot Bitcoin ETF. Recent amendments to pending ETF applications, including those from VanEck and BlackRock, have led analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald to believe that approval is likely. They believe that an approved Bitcoin ETF will be a significant milestone for Bitcoin’s adoption and legitimacy, as well as making it easier for investors to access Bitcoin-related services. The price of Bitcoin has already seen a boost amidst speculation of BlackRock’s ETF application moving closer to approval. The approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF is seen as the most important catalyst for Bitcoin’s price movement in the short term. Analysts also point to Grayscale’s recent court victory over the SEC as another positive development for the eventual approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs.
πΈ The team behind Astrid Finance has successfully negotiated the return of 80% of the crypto stolen in an attack on Oct. 28. The Ethereum-based liquid staking protocol managed to convince the hacker to return the majority of the stolen funds after threatening legal action. The hacker agreed to keep 20% of the funds as a bounty and returned the rest. Astrid Finance thanked the hacker for returning the funds and considered the matter settled. They have processed all refunds and will now focus on redeveloping their smart contracts.
π³οΈ El Salvador president Nayib Bukele has officially filed paperwork to run for re-election in the country’s upcoming 2024 presidential election. Bukele, a Bitcoin advocate, has received strong support from the public and his party, New Ideas, is backed by 70% of the country’s voting population. Despite some critics arguing that Bukele is ineligible for re-election according to the constitution, El Salvador’s Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that consecutive presidential terms are allowed. Bukele’s government has implemented various tech-friendly policies and his crackdown on crime has significantly reduced the country’s homicide rate.
β οΈ Crypto lending firm Celsius Network has issued a warning about a new wave of phishing attacks targeting its creditors. Celsius has urged its creditors and community members to be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links. The firm emphasized that it will only request personal information through its official channels, such as the Celsius app, email, or its domain network. Celsius has filed multiple notices about these phishing attempts and victims are advised to report them to the relevant authorities.