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Tether Increases Bitcoin and Gold Holdings to $4.8 Billion and $5 Billion

Tether (USDT) circulation has increased to $120 billion, marking a 30% increase by 2024.

Tether’s Bitcoin and gold holdings have increased to $4.8 billion and $5 billion, respectively.

Tether’s net worth has doubled to $14.2 billion as it faces ongoing legal challenges.

Tether has announced a substantial increase in its Bitcoin and gold reserves, as detailed in its latest Consolidated Financial Figures and Reserves Report for Q3 2024.

Tether’s Bitcoin holdings have reached an impressive $4.8 billion, while its gold reserves are now $5 billion, reflecting the company’s strategy to bolster its asset base amid growing global demand for its stablecoin, USDT.

USDT Circulation Increases 30%

This quarter was particularly notable for Tether, as USDT circulation soared to a record $120 billion, representing a 30% increase in 2024.

This increase totals $27.8 billion so far this year and brings Tether’s market cap close to that of its competitor, Circle’s USDC, which currently stands at $35 billion, according to data from CoinGecko.

Tether’s growth is indicative of the growing reliance on stablecoins within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, driven by increased market adoption and confidence.

Tether Expands Holdings of US Treasuries

In addition, Tether has significantly expanded its holdings of US Treasuries, which now amount to $84.5 billion, making up the largest segment of its reserves. This strategic move has contributed to Tether’s strong financial health, with net assets doubling to $14.2 billion from $7 billion at the end of 2023.

In addition, through its subsidiary, Tether Investments Limited, the company manages an additional $7.7 billion in assets across sectors such as sustainable energy, Bitcoin mining, and data infrastructure. However, these assets are not included in the reserves backing Tether tokens.

Despite its growth, Tether is currently embroiled in three civil litigation cases related to its holdings and operations. Notably, these cases include a class action lawsuit related to the 2017-2018 Bitcoin price crash, a lawsuit stemming from the Celsius bankruptcy, and a dispute over USDT in a wallet not controlled by Tether.

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How do I become a crypto specialist?

Becoming a crypto specialist requires a mix of technical knowledge, financial understanding, and practical experience in the world of cryptocurrency. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to become a crypto specialist:

1. Understand the Basics of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

  • Learn blockchain technology: Start by studying how blockchain works—its structure, consensus mechanisms (like Proof of Work, Proof of Stake), and decentralized systems.
  • Understand key concepts: Study the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, altcoins, tokens, and smart contracts.

Resources:

  • Read books like Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos.
  • Explore online courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or edX.

2. Study Cryptography and Security

  • Cryptography: Cryptocurrencies are secured by cryptographic techniques. Understanding asymmetric cryptography, hashing algorithms, and encryption is crucial.
  • Cybersecurity: Learn how to secure crypto wallets, exchanges, and private keys from hacking or theft.

Resources:

  • Take courses on cryptography and cybersecurity basics.
  • Learn how public and private keys work.

3. Familiarize Yourself with Blockchain Development

  • Coding knowledge: Learn programming languages commonly used in blockchain development, such as:
    • Solidity (for Ethereum smart contracts)
    • JavaScript
    • Python
    • Go
    • Rust (for Solana and other blockchains)
  • Smart Contracts: Learn how to write and deploy smart contracts, especially on Ethereum.

Resources:

  • Use resources like CryptoZombies or Ethernaut to practice Solidity and smart contract development.
  • Participate in hackathons like ETHGlobal or Chainlink Hackathons.

4. Understand the Financial and Economic Aspects

  • Tokenomics: Learn about the economic models behind cryptocurrencies, including token supply, inflation rates, governance, and staking mechanisms.
  • Market Analysis: Study the crypto market, including price trends, technical analysis, and fundamental analysis.
  • DeFi (Decentralized Finance): Understand decentralized finance applications such as lending, yield farming, and decentralized exchanges.

Resources:

  • Follow crypto financial news and analysis (CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph).
  • Study DeFi protocols like Uniswap, Aave, and Compound.

5. Stay Updated on Regulations and Compliance

  • Learn the legal aspects: Crypto regulations vary by country and are constantly evolving. Study the legal framework around Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Security Token Offerings (STOs), and regulatory bodies (like the SEC).
  • AML/KYC: Learn about Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, which are important in the crypto space.

6. Gain Practical Experience

  • Start trading or investing in crypto: This will help you understand market dynamics, price volatility, and how different tokens perform.
  • Work on real-world blockchain projects: Contribute to open-source blockchain projects on GitHub or participate in internships at blockchain companies.
  • Consulting or freelance work: Offer your skills to companies that need help with blockchain integration, crypto payments, or DeFi strategy.

7. Consider Certifications

  • Certified Cryptocurrency Expert (CCE) by Blockchain Council.
  • Certified Blockchain Developer (CBD) by Blockchain Training Alliance.
  • Certified DeFi Expert by DeFi Academy.
  • Ethereum Developer Certifications through ConsenSys Academy.

8. Build a Network

  • Join crypto communities: Engage in online forums, Reddit groups, or Discord channels focused on blockchain and crypto.
  • Attend conferences: Participate in blockchain events like Consensus or Devcon to network with professionals and stay updated on trends.

By continuously learning and engaging with the crypto ecosystem, you’ll develop the expertise to become a crypto specialist.

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Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange BingX launches new cryptocurrency project incubator

A Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange is launching a new platform to support promising digital asset projects.

In a new press release, BingX says it is launching BingX Labs, a new cryptocurrency project incubator that aims to help promising cryptocurrency projects with high potential distribute their tokens efficiently.

According to the press release, BingX is interested in projects that are deemed to “show strong marketing, user acquisition potential, and innovative technical solutions,” though specific digital assets were not mentioned. The company says it will offer market-making services, technical support, and strategic consulting to clients.

“The Lab is open to collaborating with successful and experienced Web3 teams and supporting industry-leading projects that demonstrate significant market potential and traction.

Leveraging the largest trading volume and community on the BingX exchange, BingX Labs is committed to supporting projects from their early stages and helping them succeed in the capital markets.”

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Bitcoin Wallet cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency news Retirement

How long do you have to live in Canada to get an old age pension?

To qualify for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension in Canada, there are specific residency requirements you need to meet. Here are the details:

General Eligibility

  1. Age Requirement: You must be at least 65 years old.
  2. Residency Requirements:
    • Living in Canada: You must have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after the age of 18 to qualify for the OAS pension if you are currently living in Canada.
    • Living Outside Canada: If you are living outside Canada, you must have lived in Canada for at least 20 years after the age of 18 to qualify for the OAS pension.

Full OAS Pension

To receive the full OAS pension, you generally need to have lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18. If you haven’t met this requirement, you may still receive a partial pension.

Partial OAS Pension

If you do not qualify for the full OAS pension, you can receive a partial pension. The amount of the partial pension is calculated based on how long you have lived in Canada after the age of 18. Specifically:

  • For each year of residency in Canada (after age 18), you will receive 1/40th of the full OAS pension amount.
  • For example, if you have lived in Canada for 20 years after turning 18, you would receive 20/40ths (or half) of the full OAS pension.

Special Considerations

  1. International Agreements: Canada has social security agreements with many countries. These agreements can help you qualify for the OAS pension by allowing you to combine periods of residence in Canada with periods of residence or contributions in other countries.
  2. OAS Pension Deferral: You can choose to defer your OAS pension for up to 5 years after you become eligible. For each month you delay receiving your pension, your monthly payment will increase by 0.6%, up to a maximum of 36% at age 70.

Summary

  • Minimum Residency for OAS: 10 years if currently living in Canada; 20 years if living outside Canada.
  • Full Pension Residency: 40 years.
  • Partial Pension: Calculated as 1/40th of the full pension for each year of residence in Canada after age 18.
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Pepe Price Analysis Reveals Bullish Strength as Bitcoin Plummets

Pepe Price Analysis: PEPE price fell 10.4% in the last 24 hours to trade at $0.000008358 during European trading hours on Monday. This follows the fall in the price of Bitcoin, which may have led to the entire crypto market value decreasing by 4.7% at the time of publication.

However, Pepe’s price chart shows some signs of optimism that could still propel this meme coin to new heights or at least protect it from excessive bleeding during these volatile market conditions.

PEPE price showed falsification on the daily chart shortly after Bitcoin price fell below a critical support level. The meme coin was one of the best performing meme coins on the Ethereum blockchain, which of course led to BTC’s drastic turnaround. Pepe price had just broken out of a falling wedge and was retesting the falling wedge’s upper trendline before heading towards $0.00001720, the highest price ever.

Since Bitcoin crashed on July 1, 2024, PEPE has fallen 30% from its current price. Interestingly, PEPE price continues to rise above the 200-day SMA, a feat that inspires bullish sentiment among market participants.

PEPE price is now at a relatively weak support level, around $0.00000773. If the bulls prevail, PEPE could rise 26% to reach $0.0001108, which is also in line with the 50-day SMA. On the other hand, the meme coin could fall further in a 20% decline to find support at $0.00000650.

PEPE’s 14-day relative strength index (RSI) is at 34, just four points above the oversold area (OS). If it slides into this zone, the PEPE price could come under more selling pressure, which could catapult it towards the $0.00000650 support level. On the contrary, the RSI at 34 indicates a strong upside potential for the meme coin if general market conditions change.

The price of Bitcoin continues to fall and given its 51% market dominance, meme coins like Pepe may have little chance of breaking free from this dominance.

Final result

Despite Bitcoin’s sharp decline, Pepe coin demonstrates unexpected resilience and maintains bullish sentiment in a volatile market. This strength shows the meme coin’s unique market dynamics and suggests growing interest from traders looking for alternative investments amid broader cryptocurrency volatility.