French Senator Proposes Taxing Bitcoin as Luxury Item, Potentially Driving Innovators Away

BitMEX received a $100 million fine from Manhattan federal judge John G. Koeltl for money-laundering violations in the U.S. The exchange's attorneys argued that previous fines and guilty pleas were sufficient, but Koeltl disagreed.

MicroStrategy, a bitcoin treasury company since August 2020, has used cash, ATM offerings, and convertible bonds to acquire BTC. They plan to raise $2 billion through perpetual preferred stock, offering fixed dividends without voting rights. The company aims to benefit from the extended duration of this capital structure.

The Department of Justice stated that the recovered Bitcoin from the 2016 Bitfinex hack, valued at $9 billion today, should be returned to the exchange as there are no specific victims. Despite efforts to reimburse customers, some have contested the claim of being fully compensated.

Justin Sun is offering a VIP package for $50,000 to attend Donald Trump's inauguration events, including the Cabinet Reception, Victory Rally, swearing-in ceremony, inauguration parade, and Starlight Ball. The package aims to promote Liberland and establish partnerships with the incoming administration.

XRP has surged 15% in the last 24 hours, hitting a price not seen since 2018, with meme coin prices on the XRP Ledger also rising. The token has outperformed other major cryptos, gaining 28% in a week and ranking third by market cap.

The potential US ban on TikTok has led to the rise of a Chinese meme coin called MOMO on the Solana blockchain, which has surged 160x in the past three days. This meme coin, with a market cap under $5 million, gained significant value with minimal trading volume.

Despite upcoming changes in SEC leadership, the regulator remains steadfast in pursuing enforcement cases, including the appeal against Ripple. Ripple's XRP price has surged, despite legal battles and criticisms of SEC's use of taxpayer dollars.

Thailand is considering allowing the listing of local Bitcoin spot ETFs to provide more options for investors. The country's SEC Secretary-General emphasized the need to adapt to global cryptocurrency adoption and ensure investor protection. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra suggested issuing stablecoins backed by government bonds and allowing companies to issue stablecoins backed by corporate bonds.

Eliza Wakes Up introduces a humanoid AI companion designed for deep connections and task execution, not for sexual purposes. The robot, priced at $420,000, aims to be a productivity partner for individuals and businesses, offering emotional intelligence and physical abilities.

Polymarket faces proposed bans in Thailand and Singapore due to allegations of facilitating illegal online gambling through cryptocurrency. The platform has also been scrutinized in Taiwan, France, and the United States for similar reasons.