Tag Archives: israel

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Will BTC Hold $70K as Iran-Israel Tensions Rise?

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Will BTC Hold $70K as Iran-Israel Tensions Rise?

Bitcoin nearly touched $74,000 on Thursday. Today, it is down 3.29% and trading around $70,355 at the time of writing.

The run to $74,000 wiped out $471 million in crypto derivatives in under 24 hours, $348 million of it from short positions caught badly offside. It was the largest daily short liquidation since late February, resetting a significant chunk of leveraged positioning across the market.

The rally, however, didn’t hold.

What’s Weighing on Bitcoin Today

US-Israel-Iran tensions escalated sharply on March 6, sending shockwaves through global markets. The Dow is down over 780 points at 47,954. WTI crude is trading at $83.30. Gold is holding near $5,100

Bitcoin is now moving with a 0.86 correlation to gold, and $74,000 proved too strong a resistance to clear. It now sits directly on a whale bid zone that traders are watching closely.

The Level That Decides What Comes Next

Blockchain advisor and investor Anndy Lian pointed to the $70,000-$71,000 zone as the line to watch.

“If BTC holds the $70,000 to $71,000 whale bid zone, it could retest $74,000,” Lian noted. “A break below risks a move toward $67,500.”

He added that geopolitical risk and rising oil prices remain the primary macro drivers, with derivatives positioning adding crypto-native volatility on top.

One Analyst Still Sees $80K in March

Not everyone is reading this as a warning sign.

Crypto analyst Michael Van de Poppe posted on X: “Very healthy price action on Bitcoin and I think we’ll start to see that breakout next week and see $80K as a test in March.”

Van de Poppe’s view is that the current pullback is consolidation, not deterioration and that the squeeze earlier this week was part of healthy price action resetting the market for a move higher.

The Market Is Split

The market is sitting with two competing views. Technically, the structure could still support a push higher. On the macro side, oil above $80 and a strengthening dollar complicate that path considerably.

With funding rates normalized and open interest slightly lower, what happens next depends on whether geopolitical pressure keeps draining risk appetite or the positioning reset sets up the next leg up.

The $70,000 level will likely tell the story.

 

Source: https://coinpedia.org/news/bitcoin-price-prediction-will-btc-hold-70k-as-iran-israel-tensions-rise/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
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Asian nations more cautious of crypto regulation after Hamas taps digital assets for Israel strike

Asian nations more cautious of crypto regulation after Hamas taps digital assets for Israel strike

Kapoor, who was a speaker at one of the G20 committee meetings on cryptocurrency assets, said the statement had not been translated into action. It was time to revisit the declaration and come up with solutions to back it, he said.

Digital-currency wallets that Israeli authorities linked to the PIJ received as much as US$93 million in cryptocurrency between August 2021 and June this year, the WSJ report said, citing analysis by crypto researcher Elliptic.

Wallets connected to Hamas received about US$41 million over a similar time period, the report added, citing research by crypto analytics and software firm BitOK that is based in Tel Aviv.

“Some countries may bring up the narrative that banning cryptocurrencies is the way forward,” said Anndy Lian, Singapore-based author of the book NFT: From Zero to Hero.

“I would argue that banning cryptocurrencies would not stop terrorist financing, but rather drive it underground and make it harder to trace and stop,” he added. “Cryptocurrencies can be traced and tracked, while fiat (currency) such as US dollars cannot.”

Singapore and Hong Kong have regulated cryptocurrency markets, but most of the governments in the region are just beginning to understand the power of cryptocurrencies that could open up new financing opportunities.

However, investors’ faith has been time and again been tested by scandals and collapses of digital exchanges.

Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency sector was recently hit by a JPEX scandal in which more than HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) went missing, prompting complaints against an ostensibly Hong Kong-based exchange, run by people who have still not been identified.

The revelation about Hamas funding could add to public discomfort, analysts said.

“The disclosure about Hamas could potentially lead to stricter regulations and enhanced scrutiny of crypto transactions in Singapore. It may prompt the MAS to enhance its oversight and enforcement of the crypto sector, as well as to collaborate more closely with other countries to prevent and disrupt terrorist financing through digital assets,” Lian said, referring to Singapore’s central bank.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been taking measures to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, and has been one of the first to regulate the sector in Asia. Hong Kong has been following Singapore’s lead.

“While the government recognises the economic and social potential of cryptocurrency, it is also cautious about identifying and managing risks involved, such as consumer protection and anti-money-laundering/counter-financing of terrorism,” Lian added.

But cryptocurrencies could easily be tracked down “so this may not be the best way for terrorist organisations”, said Singapore-based Branson Lee, who runs custody solution provider Custodize.com.

“Finally, there are many tools to track and trace these funds. Overall, the crypto industry remains aware of these risks and has done well since to conform to many regulations from FATF (Financial Action Task Force) to jurisdictional compliance,” he said.

Southeast Asia, with nearly 700 million residents, has one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, with some 480 million of them as active internet users.

Consumers in countries like Vietnam and India have been among the fastest worldwide to adapt to cryptocurrencies, but authorities in many other places have not yet found a path to govern the ecosystem effectively.

India does not have any specific cryptocurrency regulations in place, but has been working on introducing legislation.

Earlier this month, local media reported that a probe by Indian police brought to light a case where 3 million rupees (US$36,000) in cryptocurrency was stolen from the digital wallets of a Delhi-based businessman and transferred to the accounts of Hamas.

Manhar Garegret, India head at digital wallet Liminal, highlighted that Hamas had launched campaigns on social media to raise funds through cryptocurrency, but Israel used its technical know-how to block the crypto accounts.

The case of digital theft in Delhi together with the report on Hamas funding showed why each country needed to have standards for cryptocurrency regulation and use technical know-how to integrate into a global standard, Kapoor said.

“Criminals are always one step ahead, but if you reverse-engineer processes, then you can have some solutions,” he said. “Every country is vulnerable to some extent or the other.”

Source: https://emeatribune.com/asian-nations-more-cautious-of-crypto-regulation-after-hamas-taps-digital-assets-for-israel-strike/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Asian nations more cautious of crypto regulation after Hamas taps digital assets for Israel strike

Asian nations more cautious of crypto regulation after Hamas taps digital assets for Israel strike
  • The use of crypto by Hamas is a warning for Asian nations looking to regulate digital assets, and highlights the need for standardised laws, analysts say
  • In Asia, just Singapore and Hong Kong have regulated cryptocurrency markets but scandals and collapses of crypto exchanges continue to test investors’ faith

The use of cryptocurrency by Hamas to fund its strike on Israel is likely to raise red flags in Asian countries that are framing regulations to govern the digital currency, and underscores the need for harmonising standards, analysts have said.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, three militant groups – Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah – received large amounts of crypto funds in the year leading up to the October 7 attack.

“It is a kick on the backside for most governments. All regulatory bodies will take a closer look at crypto regulation. Governments will need to start implementing new rules and regulations,” said Raj Kapoor, founder of India Blockchain Alliance.

At the G20 summit in New Delhi last month, a joint declaration called for the regulation, supervision and oversight of crypto assets, among other things, with the bloc saying it would support “a coordinated and comprehensive policy and regulatory framework”.

Kapoor, who was a speaker at one of the G20 committee meetings on cryptocurrency assets, said the statement had not been translated into action. It was time to revisit the declaration and come up with solutions to back it, he said.

Digital-currency wallets that Israeli authorities linked to the PIJ received as much as US$93 million in cryptocurrency between August 2021 and June this year, the WSJ report said, citing analysis by crypto researcher Elliptic.

Wallets connected to Hamas received about US$41 million over a similar time period, the report added, citing research by crypto analytics and software firm BitOK that is based in Tel Aviv.

“Some countries may bring up the narrative that banning cryptocurrencies is the way forward,” said Anndy Lian, Singapore-based author of the book NFT: From Zero to Hero.

“I would argue that banning cryptocurrencies would not stop terrorist financing, but rather drive it underground and make it harder to trace and stop,” he added. “Cryptocurrencies can be traced and tracked, while fiat (currency) such as US dollars cannot.”

Singapore and Hong Kong have regulated cryptocurrency markets, but most of the governments in the region are just beginning to understand the power of cryptocurrencies that could open up new financing opportunities.

However, investors’ faith has been time and again been tested by scandals and collapses of digital exchanges.

Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency sector was recently hit by a JPEX scandal in which more than HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) went missing, prompting complaints against an ostensibly Hong Kong-based exchange, run by people who have still not been identified.

The revelation about Hamas funding could add to public discomfort, analysts said.

“The disclosure about Hamas could potentially lead to stricter regulations and enhanced scrutiny of crypto transactions in Singapore. It may prompt the MAS to enhance its oversight and enforcement of the crypto sector, as well as to collaborate more closely with other countries to prevent and disrupt terrorist financing through digital assets,” Lian said, referring to Singapore’s central bank.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been taking measures to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, and has been one of the first to regulate the sector in Asia. Hong Kong has been following Singapore’s lead.

“While the government recognises the economic and social potential of cryptocurrency, it is also cautious about identifying and managing risks involved, such as consumer protection and anti-money-laundering/counter-financing of terrorism,” Lian added.

But cryptocurrencies could easily be tracked down “so this may not be the best way for terrorist organisations”, said Singapore-based Branson Lee, who runs custody solution provider Custodize.com.

“Finally, there are many tools to track and trace these funds. Overall, the crypto industry remains aware of these risks and has done well since to conform to many regulations from FATF (Financial Action Task Force) to jurisdictional compliance,” he said.

Southeast Asia, with nearly 700 million residents, has one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, with some 480 million of them as active internet users.

Consumers in countries like Vietnam and India have been among the fastest worldwide to adapt to cryptocurrencies, but authorities in many other places have not yet found a path to govern the ecosystem effectively.

India does not have any specific cryptocurrency regulations in place, but has been working on introducing legislation.

Earlier this month, local media reported that a probe by Indian police brought to light a case where 3 million rupees (US$36,000) in cryptocurrency was stolen from the digital wallets of a Delhi-based businessman and transferred to the accounts of Hamas.

Manhar Garegret, India head at digital wallet Liminal, highlighted that Hamas had launched campaigns on social media to raise funds through cryptocurrency, but Israel used its technical know-how to block the crypto accounts.

The case of digital theft in Delhi together with the report on Hamas funding showed why each country needed to have standards for cryptocurrency regulation and use technical know-how to integrate into a global standard, Kapoor said.

“Criminals are always one step ahead, but if you reverse-engineer processes, then you can have some solutions,” he said. “Every country is vulnerable to some extent or the other.”

Source: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3238397/asian-nations-more-cautious-crypto-regulation-after-hamas-taps-digital-assets-israel-strike

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j