Etherscan expands through Solscan acquisition

Binance Set For Japanese Market Re-Entry With 34 Token ListingsBinance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is gearing up to re-enter the Japanese market with a bang on August 14. According to a report published by local crypto media outlet Coinpost, Binance Japan is set to immediately list an impressive 34 tokens.The move will put Binance ahead of its domestic rivals, as the offering will be the most extensive in terms of the selection of tokens made available to Japanese customers.Photo by David Edelstein on UnsplashBNB token offeringIn addition to that, Binance intends to make its native token, BNB, available in Japan for the first time. Exchange tokens have proven to be controversial in recent times. In November 2022, FTX’s reliance on their native token FTT caused a run on the exchange which Binance started once it started to sell off the token. Similar concerns have been expressed ever since about a similar reliance within Binance relative to its BNB token.The expansion into Japan will likely prove a tonic for Binance, given the difficulties it has experienced in other markets recently. Regulatory pushback has forced Binance out of markets such as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Cyprus over the course of the past three months.The company has been actively working to comply with Japan’s regulatory environment. In a Twitter video posted in July, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance’s Founder and CEO, expressed his excitement about re-entering the Japanese market. He praised Japan’s clear and progressive approach to crypto regulations, citing the well-established framework that dates back to 2017, as well as recent developments, including the opening up of crypto listing frameworks and the passing of stablecoin regulations in June.Roadmap to market re-entryBinance’s journey back into Japan started in November 2022 when it acquired 100% ownership of Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC). The acquisition paved the way for Binance to be regulated by the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA). As part of this move, SEBC underwent a name change, rebranding itself as Binance Japan Inc. The company then announced in May its plans to re-enter the Japanese market.The re-entry comes after the JFSA had previously issued warnings in 2021 against Binance for operating in the country without proper registration. Now, with the acquisition of SEBC and its regulatory compliance, Binance has gained a foothold in the Japanese market once again.Binance Japan aims to provide a comprehensive suite of services to its Japanese customers. New users can access spot trading, Earn products, and the NFT marketplace, while existing customers can migrate to the local subsidiary starting August 14. The token offerings include a diverse range of assets, and the addition of BNB presents exciting opportunities for traders and investors in Japan.Rival exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken have decided to halt their operations in the country as they struggled to adjust to Japanese market conditions. The move by Binance to re-enter Japan’s market will be closely watched to see if it can succeed where others have failed.

Matrixport’s Market Sentiment Index Points Towards Bullish MomentumMatrixport, the Singapore-headquartered digital asset financial services provider, has once again showcased its Bitcoin Greed & Fear Index in forecasting unit price trends relative to Bitcoin. The company has repeatedly pointed to trends indicated by the proprietary index, with its current signals on this occasion pointing towards a potential resurgence of bullish sentiment for Bitcoin (BTC).Potential price resurgenceRecent data from Matrixport’s index demonstrates a notable shift from 30% to 60%, a significant rebound following July’s sharp decline from above 90%. This rebound has caught the attention of Markus Thielen, who serves as the Head of Research and Strategy at Matrixport. Thielen conveyed his thoughts on the current indications provided by the Index in a recent note to clients.Thielen noted that the index appears to have reached its bottom, as the daily signal indicates an impending upward push. This tactical bullishness, following a four-week period of consolidation, raises the possibility of Bitcoin prices resuming their upward trajectory.Historical data comparisonDrawing upon historical patterns, the index’s peaks and troughs, along with its 21-day simple moving average (SMA), have consistently aligned with shifts between bullish and bearish trends in Bitcoin’s value. Currently, the 21-day SMA shows signs of bottoming out, which further bolsters the argument for an upcoming resurgence of positive volatility in the Bitcoin market.Gauging sentimentAt its core, the Greed & Fear Index serves as a gauge for investor sentiment within the cryptocurrency realm. When readings exceed 90%, they signify a state of greed or unwarranted optimism, whereas readings below 10% denote extreme fear or pessimism. These metrics hold a certain significance as they often coincide with market peaks marked by excessive optimism and bottoms marked by intense fear.For the past several weeks, Bitcoin’s price movement has been subdued, oscillating within the range of $28,000 to $30,000. This stagnation has coincided with broader market volatility and anticipations of forthcoming interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the early months of the upcoming year.Analysts are pinpointing consideration by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the approval of a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) as a pivotal catalyst for future price fluctuations given the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has gotten involved. In a recent interview with Forbes, contributor Sam Lyman stated: “A lot of bitcoin ETFs have been filed in the last couple years — but none from an asset manager as high-profile and well connected as BlackRock.”Not an exact scienceMatrixport’s Bitcoin Greed & Fear Index stands as one individual tool which can be utilized in order to arrive at a forecast relative to Bitcoin pricing. Price forecasting is far from an exact science and while it is encouraging that the Index is pointing towards a potential bullish resurgence in Bitcoin’s price movement, market participants will need to remain mindful that markets by their very nature are unpredictable, particularly so when it comes to a nascent asset such as Bitcoin.As the market watches the SEC’s deliberations relative to a Bitcoin ETF closely, the time ahead is likely to hold significant developments that could shape the future trajectory of Bitcoin’s value.

Superblock Rolls Out Crypto Wallet, Garnering Over 680K Pre-RegistrantsSouth Korean blockchain startup Superblock has successfully rolled out its own cryptocurrency wallet, named Over Wallet, according to a report by local news outlet Newsis. The wallet has already amassed over 680,000 pre-registrants since April, ahead of its official release.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on UnsplashAccessibility and cost reductionOver Wallet serves as the mobile crypto wallet for the Over Protocol, a blockchain mainnet developed based on the paper published by Superblock’s CEO, Kim Jae-yun. The Over Protocol distinguishes itself through its accessibility, offering enterprises interested in the Web3 industry an opportunity to reduce costs associated with infrastructure investment and service operation.With the introduction of Over Wallet, Superblock empowers users with the capability to collect and manage Over points. The company plans to add functions for the management and transfer of token assets to provide an even more optimized user experience.Currently, Over Wallet is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.Mainnet launch next yearAs part of the preparations leading up to the Over Protocol’s mainnet launch in the first half of next year, the Over Community Access Program (OCAP) has also been unveiled. OCAP enables users to earn Over points by completing various tasks. These accumulated points can then be used at the Over Protocol pop-up store, a side event scheduled for the annual blockchain conference, Korea Blockchain Week 2023, taking place in Seoul in September. The event will collaborate with KREAM, a resale and trading platform catering to collectors of limited editions.Superblock CEO Kim has a notable background, having founded Decipher, a blockchain study group at Seoul National University, in 2018. During the establishment of Superblock, Kim successfully secured funding from investors Spring Camp and Naver Z, both affiliates of the Korean search engine giant Naver.There has been additional support that underpins Superblock’s commitment to blockchain ventures. Last October, the company partnered with Shinhan Securities for technological cooperation. Subsequently, in February of this year, Superblock raised a Series A funding round of 9 billion KRW ($7 million). Investors in this round include notable names like conglomerate SK Inc., game developer Netmarble, and venture capital firm DSC Investment.