Japan’s rate hike looms over Bitcoin as institutional skepticism persists

Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer Technologies Group is finally set to go public on the Nasdaq this Friday after a series of delays. The Singapore-based firm, which offers cloud mining services, has been in a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger process with Blue Safari Group. Drawn-out merger processBlue Safari Group filed for three extensions within six months last year, the last extension being a year long. The deal was originally expected to close in November 2021. The stopping block for the latest extension was insufficient time to get shareholder approval. However, Bitdeer Technologies Group revealed in a statement that shareholder approval has now been filed with the SEC.The merger was finally approved at an extraordinary general meeting of Blue Safari’s shareholders on April 11. The results of the vote will be included in a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by Blue Safari with the SEC. The deal is expected to close on April 13, 2023. Upon closing, Bitdeer Technologies Group will remain as the combined company, and its shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “BTDR” on April 14.Bitdeer CEO Linghui Kong said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Bitdeer, leaving us poised to list on the Nasdaq and equipped to seize the growth opportunities ahead of us. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to embarking on the next chapter of our journey.” The firm operates six mining data centers globally, with an aggregate electricity capacity of 775MW at the end of 2022. Surviving crypto winterBitdeer Technologies Group, backed by Bitmain founder Jihan Wu, offers cloud mining services, and is participating in a market that has been impacted by market volatility. However, miners that have survived are doubling down on expansion efforts. Yesterday, for example, the U.S. mining firm CleanSpark announced the purchase of 45,000 new mining machines for $144.9 million.Bitdeer will be part of a growing list of Bitcoin mining firms listed on Nasdaq, joining the likes of Riot Blockchain, Marathon Digital, and Canaan. Green miningRecently, the cryptocurrency mining industry has witnessed significant growth in green mining efforts. Terawulf, a US-based company, recently announced that its nuclear-powered mining facility, Nautilus, will come online soon. When fully operational, Nautilus is expected to have a hash rate of 1.6 exahashes per second (EH/s). The facility will run on nuclear power, which will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the mining operations.The energy-use of crypto mining has been coming under scrutiny relative to its carbon footprint and the demands it places on the power grid. In what many in the crypto space have called a “hit piece” targeting mining, the New York Times took aim at the industry on Monday. Bitdeer took to Twitter to call out false claims made by the publication relative to its use of energy during a 2021 winter storm.Bitdeer’s journey to becoming a publicly-traded company has been fraught with delays, but with shareholder approval in place, the company is ready to enter the public markets.

Taiwan to Restrict Offshore Non-Complaint ExchangesTaiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has been working towards taking proactive steps to regulate the cryptocurrency industry within its borders recently. One key guiding principle it has developed is to impose strict regulation on offshore crypto exchanges operating in Taiwan.Photo by Vas on UnsplashTen guiding principlesTaiwan’s Central News Agency reported on Thursday that in an effort to ensure compliance and protect consumers, the FSC has developed ten guiding principles for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). These principles are set to be officially released by the end of this month, according to a government official.The guiding principles will encompass several important aspects of the crypto industry. They will emphasize the need for enhanced information disclosure, requiring businesses to establish clear review standards for the listing and delisting of virtual assets. Additionally, there will be a focus on ensuring the separation and proper custody of assets belonging to both companies and customers.Focusing on offshore complianceThe FSC intends to make it clear that offshore crypto exchanges must adhere to proper compliance registration if they want to conduct business onshore. The move is in line with what appears to be a commitment by the Taiwanese authorities to promote responsible and secure cryptocurrency operations.One particularly significant restriction is the prohibition of illegal solicitation of business by foreign crypto firms. The FSC is determined to enforce this rule strictly. Foreign VASPs that fail to register according to company law and declare their compliance with anti-money laundering regulations to the FSC will be barred from soliciting business in Taiwan or catering to domestic residents.It’s worth noting that Taiwan has been proactive in implementing anti-money laundering laws for VASPs since July 2021. Although this particular measure has been in place, the cryptocurrency industry in Taiwan has largely operated in a regulatory vacuum. However, recent developments suggest a shift towards greater oversight and accountability.One notable example is Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, which has initiated the process of registering for anti-money laundering compliance in Taiwan. Despite not being fully regulated in the country, Binance has established a local entity, “Binance International Limited Taiwan Branch (Seychelles),” and received government approval for company registration.Building a regulatory frameworkIn addition to these regulatory efforts, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has proposed the creation of a new business category within relevant regulations. This move aims to facilitate the formation of cryptocurrency-related industry associations, encouraging the development of self-regulatory guidelines.The forthcoming guiding principles for VASPs are expected to provide much-needed clarity and structure to the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies within Taiwan’s borders.Many leading jurisdictions have been behind the curve in developing a clear, workable regulatory framework for crypto. That has led to many exchanges establishing themselves in offshore locations where light touch regulation is applied. It’s highly likely that the Taiwanese have examined the fallout from this development, best exemplified by the spectacular collapse of Bahamas-based FTX last November.

BitKeep Changes Name to Bitget Wallet Following AcquisitionContinuing the trend set by industry giants like Binance, KuCoin, and OKX, cross-chain wallet provider BitKeep has undergone a transformation, rebranding itself as Bitget Wallet. This strategic shift comes on the heels of the wallet’s acquisition by the prominent Seychelles-headquartered crypto exchange, which acquired a controlling stake for $30 million in March.Photo by Jon Tyson on UnsplashBitget Swap unveiledThe rebranding announcement, made on August 10, coincides with the unveiling of Bitget Swap, a novel cross-chain swap mechanism integrated into the wallet. This innovative feature draws liquidity from a network of approximately 100 decentralized exchanges spanning across 20 chains. The move positions Bitget Wallet as a versatile platform catering to traders seeking fluidity and efficiency across diverse cryptocurrencies.Bitget Wallet users are set to benefit from an enticing proposition as the exchange merges its offerings. A collective Bitget User Protection Fund, boasting a substantial $360 million pool, has been established.The fund is anchored by 6,500 Bitcoin, ensuring robust safeguards against security incidents. This initiative finds its origins in the wake of the FTX exchange collapse last November, with the fund’s value boosted by a subsequent $60 million capital appreciation due to the rally in Bitcoin prices.The synergy between the two businesses has already borne fruit for Bitget. Last month, it clarified that it had surpassed 20 million users, with the wallet integration believed to be responsible for a large part of that user growth.Growing painsBitKeep’s past wasn’t without its challenges. A security breach occurred in December when the wallet’s Android Package Kit (APK) was compromised by malware, causing losses of around $8 million among users who had installed the compromised package. In a commendable move, the company fully compensated the affected users on March 29, signaling its commitment to rectifying such setbacks.Moka Han, Chief Operating Officer of Bitget Wallet, underscored the wallet’s security-focused approach. Han revealed that cross-chain bridges are subject to stringent third-party security audits by notable entities like SlowMist and CertiK before deployment. Rigorous post-deployment monitoring further guarantees a resilient security environment.Payment channel integrationIn its recent evolution, Bitget Wallet has integrated five stable payment channels, including Banxa, Simplex, Alchemy Pay, MoonPay, and FaTPay. These integrations empower users to conveniently purchase cryptocurrencies within the wallet using methods such as credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Additionally, the wallet has introduced a peer-to-peer marketplace, characterized by comprehensive security measures that protect both buyers and sellers.Bitget Wallet’s appeal extends far and wide across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, boasting an impressive user base exceeding 10 million individuals. This figure constitutes nearly half of MetaMask’s user count, signifying the wallet’s considerable popularity.The company didn’t allow the rebrand milestone to pass without taking the opportunity to further promote its offering. On Thursday, it commenced a “Mystery Box Airdrop” event, offering new Bitget Wallet users the opportunity to claim individual rewards of up to 1,000 USDT.Biget’s wallet integration is in line with the changing landscape of crypto exchanges generally, with other prominent players such as OKX, KuCoin, and Binance having also ventured into the realm of self-custody wallets, enhancing their service offerings beyond traditional exchange operations.