Strike and Fiserv Partner to Make Bitcoin Lightning Payments Easier for Merchants

•Strike has partnered with Fiserv to integrate Bitcoin’s lightning network with Clover, a point-of-sale terminal provider.
•This integration allows certain Clover merchants to accept lightning payments, expanding Bitcoin’s use case as a medium of exchange.
•Strike’s service converts Bitcoin payments into a merchant’s currency of choice on the back end, letting merchants accept different forms of payment.

Bitcoin payment and wallet provider Strike recently partnered with fintech giant Fiserv to integrate Bitcoin’s lightning network with the point-of-sale terminal provider, Clover. This groundbreaking partnership is sure to expand Bitcoin’s use case as a medium of exchange and provide merchants with more payment options.

Strike’s integration with Clover effectively allows merchants to accept „cash-final“ USD payments over the lightning network. This means that merchants can accept lightning payments, which are faster and cheaper than traditional payments, and have them immediately converted into the currency of their choice. This makes it easy for merchants to accept lightning payments without having to worry about the volatility of cryptocurrencies.

The integration also makes it easier for merchants to accept different forms of payment. Instead of having to manually accept each type of payment, merchants can now accept lightning payments through their Clover terminal. This makes the checkout process smoother and easier for both the merchant and the customer.

Overall, Strike’s integration with Clover is a big win for both Bitcoin and merchants. Not only does it make it easier for merchants to accept payments, but it also provides them with a new way to accept payments that is faster and cheaper than traditional payment methods. This is sure to benefit both merchants and customers alike and make it easier for merchants to grow their business.

FTX Impersonator Scam Steals Over $20K: Users Warned to Stay Vigilant

• Scammers have created a fake FTX token, dubbed FTX 2.0, to impersonate the now-bankrupt crypto exchange less than 24 hours after the company’s new CEO announced that the platform could be revived.
• According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, the bad actors sent the tokens to the FTX exchange, pretending to add liquidity before airdropping them to other crypto exchanges.
• The aim is to lure users into clicking fraudulent links that drain or burn their account balances.

Cryptocurrency exchanges have been the target of fraudsters for a long time, and the latest attempt to dupe users is no different. Within 24 hours of the announcement that the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX could be revived, scammers have created a fake FTX token, dubbed FTX 2.0, to impersonate the platform.

According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, the bad actors sent the tokens to the FTX exchange, pretending to add liquidity before airdropping them to other crypto exchanges. This has been done as a way to lure users into clicking fraudulent links that promise rewards but end up draining or burning their account balances.

The fake FTX 2.0 token has been designed to look similar to the original token, making it difficult for users to differentiate between the two. The scammers have also included back door functions in the token’s smart contract, which can be used to manipulate user balances.

Crypto exchanges have warned users to be vigilant when dealing with any cryptocurrency-related service. Users are advised to thoroughly research the token and its associated smart contract before investing, and to only use credible sources for their information.

Despite these warnings, it appears that some users have already fallen victim to the scam. PeckShield estimates that the fraudsters have managed to steal over $20,000 worth of cryptocurrency from unsuspecting users.

In response to the scam, the FTX team has released a statement urging users to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activities. The team has also promised to reimburse users who have been affected by the scam.

The incident is yet another reminder of the need for all crypto users to be extra vigilant, especially when dealing with unknown or untrusted sources. As the industry continues to grow, so too will the number of scams and fraudsters looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users.

Bitcoin Reaches Two-Month High, Over $650 Million in Positions Liquidated

• Bitcoin skyrocketed by double digits, reaching a two-month high of over $21,000.
• This impressive rally resulted in the liquidation of over $650 million in total positions, with almost $600 million of that being short positions.
• The start of the year has been quite favorable for the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin standing around $16,500 on January 1.

The cryptocurrency market has seen great success so far this year, with Bitcoin reaching a two-month high of over $21,000 in one of its most impressive rallies in about a year. This surge in Bitcoin’s value has resulted in the liquidation of over $650 million in total positions, with almost $600 million of that being short positions.

The cryptocurrency market was relatively quiet in the first few days of the year, with Bitcoin standing around $16,500 on January 1. It then began to slowly add value, breaking above $17,000 earlier this week. However, the real surge in Bitcoin’s value came in the following days, as it kept breaking into forgotten ground and eventually reached the $20,000 mark.

The success of Bitcoin has had a knock-on effect on other alternative coins, with many of them also seeing increased value. This resulted in the liquidation of over $650 million in total positions, the majority of which were from short positions.

This impressive rally in Bitcoin’s value has been welcomed by traders and investors alike, as it has provided a much-needed boost to the cryptocurrency market. The start of the year has been quite favorable for the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin reaching heights that have not been seen for some time. It will be interesting to see if this surge in value will continue in the coming weeks and months.

Crypto Market Stabilizing: DCG Set to Shape Market Bottoming in 2023

• According to Arcane Research, the crypto market is stabilizing in 2022 after a hectic year.
• Bitcoin’s 7-day volatility has reached lows not seen since February 2019.
• DCG’s next steps may further intensify downward price action, potentially leading to a ‚market bottom event‘ in 2023.

In the past year, the cryptocurrency market saw some of its wildest swings in history, leaving investors reeling from the rapid changes in fortune. However, according to the latest edition of Arcane Research, the entire market appears to be stabilizing even though there’s still some uncertainty left. All eyes are on DCG’s next steps, which can further intensify downward price action and may shape to be a ‚market bottom event‘ in 2023.

Bitcoin’s current price action was defined as ’stale‘ as its volatility slumbered toward rare lows. Data suggested that the largest coin’s 7-day volatility reached lows not seen for two and half years as it plunged to 0.7%. The current numbers were only visited once since February 2019 – during the stagnant markets of July 2020. Meanwhile, the dollar’s volatility has fallen to its lowest levels since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

As such, investors have begun to focus on accumulating more coins and building their exposure. This is likely to be the theme of 2022 as the market continues to stabilize and more investors join the cryptocurrency space. The increasing institutional interest will also help bolster the market and provide a stronger foundation for the asset class.

At the same time, DCG’s next steps will also be crucial in determining the direction of the market. The firm has a lot of influence in the industry and any move it makes can have a significant impact on the markets. If DCG decides to invest in a certain coin or project, it could lead to an influx of capital and push prices higher. However, if the firm takes a conservative approach, it could lead to further price drops and may even lead to a ‚market bottom event‘ in 2023.

Overall, the cryptocurrency market is entering a new phase that will be focused on accumulation and building exposure. The next few months will be important for the industry as DCG’s moves will be the key factor in determining the direction of the market. If all goes well, the market may finally reach the bottom and start a new bull run in 2023.

Crypto Market Heats Up: Bitcoin Breaks $17K, ETC and Lido DAO Surge

• Bitcoin touched the $17,000 mark for the first time in several weeks.
• Ethereum Classic and Lido DAO saw impressive gains on Saturday.
• MakerDAO has regained its DeFi throne, while LDO has seen double-digit weekly gains.

The crypto market has seen some impressive gains this weekend, with Bitcoin finally managing to break the $17,000 barrier, while Ethereum Classic and Lido DAO have seen significant gains. After a relatively quiet end of the year, the primary cryptocurrency had been struggling to challenge the $17,000 mark for several days, but finally managed to do so on Saturday.

At the same time, Ethereum Classic and Lido DAO have seen some impressive gains. ETC has been particularly active in the past few days, with prices rising by nearly 10% on Saturday alone. Meanwhile, Lido DAO has seen double-digit weekly gains, even though MakerDAO has regained its DeFi throne. The altcoin is up by 17% since the beginning of the week, reaching its highest level in two months.

The rest of the altcoin market has been relatively quiet, with most coins trading around their previous levels. That said, some coins, such as Aave and Uniswap, have seen minor gains, as investors continue to search for the next big DeFi project.

Overall, it looks like the crypto market is back on track, with the primary cryptocurrency finally managing to break the $17,000 barrier. While it remains to be seen if BTC can maintain these levels, the altcoins have also seen some impressive gains this weekend. With MakerDAO back in the driver’s seat, and Lido DAO showing double-digit weekly gains, it looks like the DeFi sector is still the focus of investors.