Solana has emerged as the leading blockchain in terms of daily active addresses, surpassing established players like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Recent data reveals that Solana recorded 3.04 million active addresses, showcasing its increasing traction in the blockchain space. In comparison, Toncoin and Tron also showed impressive numbers with 2.89 million and 2.5 million active addresses, respectively, highlighting their growing ecosystems and user engagement.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum maintain strong market positions, their daily active addresses lag significantly behind newer competitors. Bitcoin registered about 779,650 active addresses, while Ethereum saw around 417,900. This trend suggests that newer blockchains may be drawing users away, likely due to factors such as lower transaction fees and faster processing times.
Other noteworthy blockchains, including Litecoin, Algorand, Dogecoin, and Avalanche, displayed varying levels of daily activity, reflecting a diverse landscape in user engagement. As blockchain technology continues to advance, the competition among these networks is set to intensify, potentially reshaping the future of digital asset interactions.
Visa has launched a new platform to help banks test tokenized assets and smart contracts, marking a significant step in its growing involvement in the digital asset sector. The payment giant’s tokenised asset sandbox has already been trialled by Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, to guide banks in navigating the evolving financial landscape. Visa’s initiative is part of a broader push to integrate fiat-backed tokens into the blockchain, offering regulated solutions for banks to issue their tokens and engage in on-chain capital markets.
Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s Head of Crypto, highlighted the growing opportunity for banks as real-world assets become tokenised on blockchains. He stressed that a regulated approach is essential, ensuring customers can access these digital markets safely. Visa’s move aligns with trends in traditional finance, where firms like BlackRock see immense potential in tokenising financial assets, a development that could revolutionise the industry. Central Banks are also exploring how tokenisation can modernise finance, with Visa playing a key role in advancing this transition.
PayPal is enhancing its cryptocurrency offerings to include business account holders, enabling them to use digital assets in everyday transactions. The new service, however, will not be available for businesses in New York at the launch. Since 2020, PayPal and its subsidiary Venmo have allowed consumers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Now, with the demand from merchants for similar access, PayPal is facilitating transfers of cryptocurrencies to external wallets, allowing businesses to send and receive digital tokens on blockchain networks.
This significant development means that US merchants can now handle digital currencies much like traditional money, with PayPal acting as a bridge between conventional finance and the expanding world of cryptocurrency. In August 2023, PayPal took a further step by launching its stablecoin, PayPal USD, which debuted on the Ethereum blockchain. Backed by US dollar deposits and short-term Treasuries, PayPal USD has already seen substantial usage, particularly after its expansion to the Solana blockchain.
Since May, the weekly transaction volume of PayPal USD has surged to over $500 million, compared to $150 million previously. Currently, the total supply of PayPal USD across Solana and Ethereum has reached $534 million, with a distribution of 74% on Ethereum and 25% on Solana. With these advancements, PayPal is poised to significantly influence how businesses integrate cryptocurrency into their operations.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz has confirmed that Turkey will not impose a tax on crypto or stock trading profits this year. The government had considered introducing such a tax but is now focusing on reducing existing tax exemptions instead, giving investors a clearer picture of the country’s financial policies.
The idea of a tax on crypto and stock profits was initially postponed in June after a decline in Turkey’s stock market. The government’s new strategy aims to refine its current tax regulations, concentrating on narrowing tax exemptions rather than implementing new taxes.
The decision offers temporary relief to investors in Turkey’s financial markets, especially those using crypto and stocks to safeguard against inflation. While other nations, including the UK and Japan, evaluate how to tax digital assets, Turkey’s approach leaves room for potential policy shifts in the future.
In a remarkable turn of events for Bitcoin, approximately 20,000 new millionaires have emerged this year, bringing the total number of wallets holding at least $1 million to around 110,388. The increase reflects an 18% rise in wealthy Bitcoin holders, signalling a strong performance for the cryptocurrency. The surge in millionaires has been linked to significant price movements, particularly following speculation regarding Jeff Bezos’ rumoured $8 billion Bitcoin investment.
Bitcoin’s price has experienced substantial growth throughout 2024, starting at $42,300 and climbing to $63,591, representing over a 50% increase. Notably, the cryptocurrency reached a peak of $73,000 in mid-March, with a 7.8% rise in September alone. This impressive performance has been fuelled by robust market demand and key financial announcements, including anticipated interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Bank.
The positive trends extend beyond just millionaires. The number of Bitcoin wallets holding at least $100 has surged from 19.8 million to 21.6 million this year, while those with a minimum balance of $1,000 increased from 8.9 million to 10.37 million. Additionally, high-value accounts, including those with at least $10,000, rose significantly from 2.72 million to 3.43 million, showcasing broad participation in the Bitcoin market.
As the market continues to expand, Bitcoin’s appeal is evidently on the rise, with more investors benefiting from its increasing value. The growing number of wallets accumulating substantial amounts of Bitcoin underscores the cryptocurrency’s strengthening position within the global financial landscape.
The chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler, has warned of widespread fraud in the cryptocurrency industry, accusing companies of disregarding laws designed to protect investors. He highlighted recent enforcement actions against crypto firms, including Binance and FTX, as evidence of the sector exploiting unwary investors.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has made a surprising U-turn, becoming an advocate for cryptocurrency. The former president, now seeking a third term, promises to make the US the global centre for crypto innovation and has even launched his own cryptocurrency business, World Liberty Financial. It marks a stark contrast to his previous criticisms of Bitcoin, which he once dismissed as a scam.
As the US presidential elections approach, the future of cryptocurrency regulation is at a critical point. Trump’s pro-crypto stance opposes the Biden administration’s clampdown on the industry. With millions being spent on political donations, the outcome could significantly influence the direction of crypto regulation, both in the US and worldwide.
Donald Trump made headlines on Wednesday by becoming the first US president, past or present, to publicly use Bitcoin. During a visit to PubKey, a cryptocurrency-themed bar in Manhattan, Trump completed a Bitcoin transaction with the help of the bar’s staff, purchasing burgers ahead of a rally in Long Island. His public use of the Bitcoin network has further solidified his engagement with the crypto industry.
This appearance follows his recent support for World Liberty Financial, a new crypto project involving Trump and several of his children. The project, which formally launched earlier this week, plans to issue a governance token called WLFI. Trump’s involvement in the crypto space has grown significantly in recent months, as he seeks the industry’s backing in his third run for president.
Trump has been vocal in his promise to make the US the ‘crypto capital of the planet,’ as he courts the digital asset sector in his campaign. His ongoing efforts to align with the crypto community signal a strategic push to secure their support ahead of the 2024 election.
Kamala Harris has made her first public comments on cryptocurrency during her US presidential election campaign. Speaking at a Wall Street fundraiser on 22 September, Harris pledged to encourage investment in AI and digital assets while ensuring consumer protection. She also emphasised the need for consistent regulations to create a safe business environment. This marks a shift in Harris’ campaign, with many speculating on how her approach to crypto would differ from President Joe Biden’s.
Harris’ remarks have drawn attention from the crypto industry, with some viewing her comments as a positive step. However, critics, such as crypto legal experts, are wary of her focus on consumer protection, noting that it could be used to stifle the sector. Coinbase’s policy chief acknowledged Harris’ statement as significant but suggested it was less forward-thinking than Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance. Trump, who has embraced the industry by releasing NFTs and backing his family’s crypto platform, has vowed to overhaul the current regulatory framework if elected.
Crypto has become a key issue in the upcoming election, with both Harris and Trump vying for the support of the industry. National polls show the two candidates running neck-and-neck, with Harris leading Trump by a slim margin of 2.9 percentage points.
A recent report by NFT Evening analysts reveals that 96% of over 5,000 NFT collections are considered “dead” in 2024. These collections have seen no trading activity, sales, or social media engagement for more than a week, highlighting the steep decline in the once-thriving non-fungible token market. The average lifespan of NFT collections has also shortened to just over a year, significantly less than traditional cryptocurrency projects.
2023 was a particularly challenging year for NFTs, with nearly 30% of projects collapsing, and almost half of all NFT owners facing losses. Despite this bleak outlook, some collections, such as Azuki, have still proven profitable, delivering a 2.3x return on investment for token holders. On the flip side, Pudgy Penguins holds the record for the largest drop in value, losing 97% of its worth.
Experts warn that the NFT market’s decline calls for caution among investors and suggests creators rethink their approach to project development. As the market continues to shrink, many are urging for a more sustainable and strategic direction to prevent further collapses.
Russia is planning to introduce a new tax system for cryptocurrency miners, basing it on electricity usage rather than the value of mined tokens. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov revealed on 18 September that the government is considering an excise tax on the electricity consumed by miners as a temporary solution before implementing a tax on their profits. The authorities have faced difficulties in calculating miners’ earnings, particularly as some do not disclose all of their wallets.
The proposed tax follows Russia granting legal status to industrial crypto mining earlier this year. Lawmakers are expected to pass legislation on the crypto mining tax by the end of the State Duma’s autumn session. The government’s long-term aim remains profit-based taxation, but electricity consumption is seen as a more practical approach for the time being, especially given the complexities of accounting in the crypto industry.
While cryptocurrency exchanges remain unregulated in Russia, there have been calls for the establishment of state-run platforms for trading digital assets. Meanwhile, Russia is positioning itself as a global leader in the crypto mining sector, with major firms such as Gazprom setting up large-scale mining operations. The country’s finance ministry expects the industry to generate substantial tax revenue by 2025.
