Tag: FTX

  • FTX US Makes Strategic Investment in IEX Group

    FTX US Makes Strategic Investment in IEX Group

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    FTX US, a leading platform for the trading of digital assets, announced today that the company has entered into an agreement to make a strategic investment in IEX Group. Both companies are planning to establish a simple and transparent market structure for digital asset securities.

    The mentioned deal, which is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close next month. The partnership between the two companies will assist retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in an inclusive way.

    The latest investment news from FTX US came nearly 2 months after the digital asset trading platform raised $400 million in its Series A funding round. In addition, the company topped the valuation of $8 billion.

    Commenting on the recent investment in IEX, Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX and FTX US, said: “Investing in IEX created a tremendous opportunity for FTX US. With this investment, we’re aligned with one of the most trusted and innovative companies in equities markets. We will collaborate on the further establishment of crypto market structure and work closely with regulators, allowing institutions around the world to enter the marketplace seamlessly.”

    Crypto Assets

    Digital currencies have gained immense popularity among retail and institutional investors during the past few years. Brad Katsuyama, the CEO and Co-Founder of IEX, said that the crypto industry needs to engage with regulators to unlock its full potential.

    “From the first conversation with Sam, it was clear to me that FTX and IEX were truly aligned on the future potential for digital assets and the unique roles our firms could play as partners in shaping market structure that benefits the end investor. We both see the regulators as important allies in providing a clear path forward and attaining the highest possible standards for investor protection,” Katsuyama said in the press release.

    FTX US, a leading platform for the trading of digital assets, announced today that the company has entered into an agreement to make a strategic investment in IEX Group. Both companies are planning to establish a simple and transparent market structure for digital asset securities.

    The mentioned deal, which is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close next month. The partnership between the two companies will assist retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in an inclusive way.

    The latest investment news from FTX US came nearly 2 months after the digital asset trading platform raised $400 million in its Series A funding round. In addition, the company topped the valuation of $8 billion.

    Commenting on the recent investment in IEX, Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX and FTX US, said: “Investing in IEX created a tremendous opportunity for FTX US. With this investment, we’re aligned with one of the most trusted and innovative companies in equities markets. We will collaborate on the further establishment of crypto market structure and work closely with regulators, allowing institutions around the world to enter the marketplace seamlessly.”

    Crypto Assets

    Digital currencies have gained immense popularity among retail and institutional investors during the past few years. Brad Katsuyama, the CEO and Co-Founder of IEX, said that the crypto industry needs to engage with regulators to unlock its full potential.

    “From the first conversation with Sam, it was clear to me that FTX and IEX were truly aligned on the future potential for digital assets and the unique roles our firms could play as partners in shaping market structure that benefits the end investor. We both see the regulators as important allies in providing a clear path forward and attaining the highest possible standards for investor protection,” Katsuyama said in the press release.

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  • FTX Launches $2 Billion VC Fund to Invest in Crypto Startups

    FTX Launches $2 Billion VC Fund to Invest in Crypto Startups

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    On January 14, FTX, a popular Bahamian-based
     
     cryptocurrency exchange 
    led by Sam Bankman-Fried, announced a launch of a new venture capital business unit called FTX Ventures. According to the Wall Street Journal media outlets, the exchange has pumped $2 billion fund into the new capital unit to focus on investing in crypto-industry startups. The allocation makes the FTX Ventures’ fund as one of the largest venture capitals in the crypto industry. FTX exchange disclosed that the $2 billion venture fund will be led by Amy Wu, a former General Partner at $10 billion venture capital firm Lightspeed.

    As per FTX exchange, the FTX Ventures will majorly focus on
     
     blockchain 
    and cryptocurrency investments. Wu talked about the development and stated that the fund will make strategic concentrated bets into companies in the crypto market, from Latin America, Africa, and beyond. She said that FTX Ventures is especially excited about consumer and social web3 as well as Web3 gaming applications. She further mentioned that the venture firm also targets layer-1 and layer-2 blockchain platforms, blockchain infrastructure, cross-chain protocols, crypto-fueled and NFT-powered video games, and wallet payment applications.

    “It’s not necessarily tied to the strategy of FTX. The objective is more to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology. We want to be known for the value add that we bring, leveraging the resources, the expertise and the global network of FTX,” Wu elaborated.

    Why Crypto Startups Are Attracting Venture Capital Money

    The development by FTX cryptocurrency exchange to have launched its FTX Ventures’ fund comes at a time when the crypto and blockchain space sees a lot of interest from venture capital companies. Such interests translated into a significant amount of investments made in the space during the year 2021. Startups in the crypto and blockchain sector have become winners in the category of record-breaking fundraising. Venture capitalists bet big in cryptocurrency in the previous year, investing more cash than ever into emerging companies in the sector. Startups in the blockchain and crypto space were powered by a record $33 billion in ventral capital funding last year. That can be compared with the year 2020, which saw venture funding of about $3.1 billion.

    In 2021, about 43% of crypto funding went into firms involved in lending, investing, exchange services, and trading of cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, 17% was channeled towards startups in Metaverse (a network of 3D virtual worlds), Web3 (a decentralized online ecosystem based on the blockchain), DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), and FTs (non-fungible tokens). Other categories that also attracted significant venture capital interest include decentralized finance, infrastructure, and custody.

    Crypto startups have become so profitable that they have begun attracting growth-stage capital. In the previous year, major crypto funds such as Hivemind, a16z, and Paradigm managed to raise billions of dollars to bet in crypto and blockchain startups.

    On January 14, FTX, a popular Bahamian-based
     
     cryptocurrency exchange 
    led by Sam Bankman-Fried, announced a launch of a new venture capital business unit called FTX Ventures. According to the Wall Street Journal media outlets, the exchange has pumped $2 billion fund into the new capital unit to focus on investing in crypto-industry startups. The allocation makes the FTX Ventures’ fund as one of the largest venture capitals in the crypto industry. FTX exchange disclosed that the $2 billion venture fund will be led by Amy Wu, a former General Partner at $10 billion venture capital firm Lightspeed.

    As per FTX exchange, the FTX Ventures will majorly focus on
     
     blockchain 
    and cryptocurrency investments. Wu talked about the development and stated that the fund will make strategic concentrated bets into companies in the crypto market, from Latin America, Africa, and beyond. She said that FTX Ventures is especially excited about consumer and social web3 as well as Web3 gaming applications. She further mentioned that the venture firm also targets layer-1 and layer-2 blockchain platforms, blockchain infrastructure, cross-chain protocols, crypto-fueled and NFT-powered video games, and wallet payment applications.

    “It’s not necessarily tied to the strategy of FTX. The objective is more to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology. We want to be known for the value add that we bring, leveraging the resources, the expertise and the global network of FTX,” Wu elaborated.

    Why Crypto Startups Are Attracting Venture Capital Money

    The development by FTX cryptocurrency exchange to have launched its FTX Ventures’ fund comes at a time when the crypto and blockchain space sees a lot of interest from venture capital companies. Such interests translated into a significant amount of investments made in the space during the year 2021. Startups in the crypto and blockchain sector have become winners in the category of record-breaking fundraising. Venture capitalists bet big in cryptocurrency in the previous year, investing more cash than ever into emerging companies in the sector. Startups in the blockchain and crypto space were powered by a record $33 billion in ventral capital funding last year. That can be compared with the year 2020, which saw venture funding of about $3.1 billion.

    In 2021, about 43% of crypto funding went into firms involved in lending, investing, exchange services, and trading of cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, 17% was channeled towards startups in Metaverse (a network of 3D virtual worlds), Web3 (a decentralized online ecosystem based on the blockchain), DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), and FTs (non-fungible tokens). Other categories that also attracted significant venture capital interest include decentralized finance, infrastructure, and custody.

    Crypto startups have become so profitable that they have begun attracting growth-stage capital. In the previous year, major crypto funds such as Hivemind, a16z, and Paradigm managed to raise billions of dollars to bet in crypto and blockchain startups.

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  • Ledger Partners with Crypto Exchange FTX

    Ledger Partners with Crypto Exchange FTX

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    Crypto partnerships are on the rise. With surging global adoption, leading companies in the crypto ecosystem are announcing collaborations to make digital assets more accessible. Ledger, one of the most popular hardware wallets, today announced a partnership with crypto exchange FTX.

    As a result of the latest collaboration, the liquidity, leverage, and trading options of FTX will be available via Ledger Live, the company’s secure self-custody application. The collaboration between FTX and Ledger has enabled global users of Ledger Live to trade a broad range of digital currency pairs.

    Ledger outlined a few challenges related to the accessibility of digital assets in the global crypto ecosystem and mentioned that the recent partnership will provide quick access to trading in a secure environment.

    “This is an important innovation in cryptocurrency trading,” said FTX Founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. “Investors are looking for increased security and self-custody solutions without sacrificing liquidity, leverage, and trading options. The partnership between FTX and Ledger addresses this pain point for the marketplace, by providing quick access to trading while assets remain fully secure.”

    With a valuation of more than $25 billion, FTX is one of the fastest-growing crypto firms in the world. In October 2021, the digital exchange secured $420 million in funding.

    Partnership

    The press release shared by Ledger states that the users can take advantage of innovative services in a smooth manner. With access to over 300 cryptocurrency trading pairs, the collaboration provides an important opportunity for portfolio diversification.

    “Ledger is the number 1 choice for serious crypto investors. More than 15% of all crypto assets are secured by the more than 4 million Ledger Nanos sold since 2014,” added Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier. “In the past, they would need to move their assets to an exchange, trade, and move back again. Now serious traders and investors can do everything right from the security of their Ledger Nano.”

    Crypto partnerships are on the rise. With surging global adoption, leading companies in the crypto ecosystem are announcing collaborations to make digital assets more accessible. Ledger, one of the most popular hardware wallets, today announced a partnership with crypto exchange FTX.

    As a result of the latest collaboration, the liquidity, leverage, and trading options of FTX will be available via Ledger Live, the company’s secure self-custody application. The collaboration between FTX and Ledger has enabled global users of Ledger Live to trade a broad range of digital currency pairs.

    Ledger outlined a few challenges related to the accessibility of digital assets in the global crypto ecosystem and mentioned that the recent partnership will provide quick access to trading in a secure environment.

    “This is an important innovation in cryptocurrency trading,” said FTX Founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. “Investors are looking for increased security and self-custody solutions without sacrificing liquidity, leverage, and trading options. The partnership between FTX and Ledger addresses this pain point for the marketplace, by providing quick access to trading while assets remain fully secure.”

    With a valuation of more than $25 billion, FTX is one of the fastest-growing crypto firms in the world. In October 2021, the digital exchange secured $420 million in funding.

    Partnership

    The press release shared by Ledger states that the users can take advantage of innovative services in a smooth manner. With access to over 300 cryptocurrency trading pairs, the collaboration provides an important opportunity for portfolio diversification.

    “Ledger is the number 1 choice for serious crypto investors. More than 15% of all crypto assets are secured by the more than 4 million Ledger Nanos sold since 2014,” added Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier. “In the past, they would need to move their assets to an exchange, trade, and move back again. Now serious traders and investors can do everything right from the security of their Ledger Nano.”

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  • KYC tools can minimize hassle for US crypto market, FTX CEO says

    KYC tools can minimize hassle for US crypto market, FTX CEO says

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    Ongoing regulatory scrutiny has forced many crypto businesses across the globe to close up shop. 

    Amid this crackdown, Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO of prominent crypto exchange FTX, has been vocal about his continued efforts to adapt to the changing regulations around running crypto businesses, announcing FTX’s efforts toward finding systems for streamlining its Know Your Customer (KYC) operations. 

    “As we mature as a company, we’ve been building out our checks, finding and incorporating more signals,” Bankman-Fried stated. He also highlighted the addition of a new feature on FTX that confirms a user’s jurisdiction based on their registered phone number. Bankman-Fried said:

    “We check users’ phone numbers against their submitted names in KYC1, in order to further verify them. When this doesn’t work or there isn’t data, we’ll require KYC2 to access some features of the site, including futures.”

    Sharing insights within FTX’s United States operations, the entrepreneur stressed the company’s continued efforts in “searching for more tools to confirm identity, hopefully while minimizing the hassle for users.” Bankman-Fried hopes this effort will help the company experience “smoother” operations within U.S. jurisdictions. 

    Currently, FTX aims to outperform rival crypto exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase. As reported by Cointelegraph, the CEO has previously said that acquiring Goldman Sachs and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange “is not out of the question at all” if it can surpass all crypto businesses to become the biggest exchange.

    Complementing the announcement concerning the KYC-related update, Bankman-Fried cited investors’ funds and safety as a priority. He also assured investors there would be no restrictions on withdrawals unless the exchange can link the user’s activities to money laundering and theft-related activities. In doing so, the crypto exchange will continue to implement two-factor authentication and similar methods to help prevent theft.

    Related: Regulatory clarity for crypto would take 3 to 5 years, FTX CEO says

    Bankman-Fried recently discussed the immediate need for clarity in crypto regulation, supporting FTX’s drive to apply for licenses across numerous jurisdictions. In doing so, the FTX CEO claimed to spend “five hours a day” on regulation- and licensing-related activities.

    The CEO said that he expects governments to have a clearer stance on crypto regulations in the next three to five years and intends to comply with KYC and Anti-Money Laundering requirements unique to each jurisdiction they serve.