WAO ART #338

Crypto Valley, a leading blockchain hub in Switzerland, has experienced significant growth, according to a new report. The region now hosts 1,290 companies. The value of the top 50 entities in the hub doubled to $382.93 billion in 2023, and the hub is home to 13 unicorns.

ProShares, the firm behind the first bitcoin futures ETF in the US, is preparing to launch five more crypto offerings, but none of them will directly hold bitcoin. The planned ETFs will track the daily performance of the Bloomberg Galaxy Bitcoin Index at different levels.

El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, is gaining popularity despite his authoritarian tendencies. He won the presidency at a young age and has used social media and his affinity for cryptocurrency to connect with the public.

A consortium consisting of Digital Finance CFC (DFCRC) and Imperium Markets is launching a pilot project to explore the potential benefits of asset tokenization in Australia's money and debt capital markets. The pilot aims to reduce industry risks by utilizing blockchain technology.

Nigerian crypto startup Canza Finance has announced the closure of a $2.3 million strategic funding round. The funds will be used to acquire operating licenses from various African regulators and to develop the infrastructure for its decentralized finance (defi) platform, Baki.

The cumulative transaction volume of crypto exchanges in Indonesia dropped by 60% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to the heavy taxes imposed on cryptocurrencies, which are classified as commodities in the country.

BlackRock, the world's largest hedge fund, has acquired 16,361 Bitcoins for its newly listed spot Bitcoin ETF, making it the third-largest holder of Bitcoin among public companies. The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) now has a market value of $707.43 million.