The MakerDAO exchange balance, which represents the amount of Dai stablecoins held by centralized exchanges, has increased significantly in the past week. According to data from CryptoQuant, the MakerDAO exchange balance jumped from 29.7 million Dai on September 21 to 42.4 million Dai on September 28, a 42.8% increase. This indicates that more users are depositing their Dai tokens into exchanges, possibly to trade them for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies.
The MakerDAO exchange balance is one of the metrics that reflects the demand and supply of Dai, which is pegged to the US dollar and backed by various crypto assets. A higher exchange balance could mean that there is less demand for Dai as a medium of exchange or a store of value, or that there is more supply of Dai from borrowers who mint new tokens by locking up their collateral in MakerDAO smart contracts. Alternatively, a higher exchange balance could also mean that users are anticipating a rise in the price of Dai relative to the US dollar and are holding their tokens in exchanges to sell them at a higher rate later.
Changpeng Zhao, the founder and CEO of Binance, has recently issued a statement denying any involvement with CommEX, a controversial crypto exchange that has been accused of fraud and money laundering. CZ said that he has never invested in, partnered with, or endorsed CommEX, and that any claims to the contrary are false and misleading. He also warned the public to be careful of scams and fake news that try to exploit his name and reputation. CZ reiterated his commitment to building a safe and transparent ecosystem for the crypto industry, and urged the regulators to crack down on the bad actors that tarnish its image.
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Gary Gensler, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), testified before Congress on Wednesday, facing tough questions from lawmakers about the regulation of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Gensler repeatedly stated that he believes many of these products are securities and should fall under the SEC’s jurisdiction, but he was unable to provide clear and consistent criteria for determining which ones are securities and which ones are not. He also admitted that the SEC has not issued any formal guidance or rules on this matter, leaving the industry and investors in a state of uncertainty and confusion.
Courtyard, a popular online retailer of trading cards and collectibles, announced that it sold out its entire stock of Pokémon Cards Packs in a matter of seconds on Thursday. The packs, which contained rare and valuable cards from the Pokémon franchise, were priced at $60,000 each and attracted thousands of eager buyers. Courtyard said that it was overwhelmed by the demand and apologized to those who were unable to secure a purchase.
The company also promised to restock more Pokémon Cards Packs in the future but did not specify a date or quantity. Pokémon Cards Packs are one of the hottest items in the market, as collectors and fans seek to obtain the elusive cards that feature iconic characters and creatures from the beloved video game and anime series. Some of the cards can fetch millions of dollars at auctions, making them highly sought-after and profitable investments.
RTFKT, the leading brand in digital fashion and NFTs, has announced that its Forged Airforce 1’s, the first physical sneakers with embedded NFTs, will start shipping to customers in October. The Forged Airforce 1’s is a collaboration between RTFKT and Nike and feature a unique design that combines the iconic silhouette of the Airforce 1 with futuristic elements inspired by RTFKT’s metaverse.
Each pair of sneakers comes with a unique NFT that can be used to access exclusive content and experiences in RTFKT’s virtual world. The Forged Airforce 1’s were sold out in minutes during the pre-sale in August and have been highly anticipated by sneakerheads and NFT collectors alike.