Top Cryptocurrency News of the Day - 03/12/2024

Are you curious about the latest in the crypto world? Here’s a rundown of today’s key trends and events affecting Bitcoin prices, blockchain technology, DeFi, NFTs, Web3, and crypto regulations.

Trump's Top SEC Chair Pick Paul Atkins Reluctant to Take Job: Source

For Paul Atkins, reportedly Donald Trump’s leading choice for the position of Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), several factors would need to align for him to accept the role.

According to an individual familiar with Atkins’ perspective, the position may not appeal to him due to the extensive effort required to address the challenges within the agency. Atkins reportedly believes that the SEC has become inefficient and was poorly managed under the leadership of outgoing Chair Gary Gensler.

This sentiment has also been echoed by Chris Giancarlo, a former Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Giancarlo, who has publicly supported Atkins for the SEC role and was himself once considered for the position, has expressed a shared reluctance to undertake the task of addressing what he referred to as Gensler’s “mess.”

Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner, was reportedly seen at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort this week, according to an industry source. Another source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Atkins was scheduled for interviews regarding the SEC chairmanship on Sunday and Monday.

Curve Finance monthly revenues up more than 20% on DeFi surge

Decentralized exchange Curve Finance has reported annualized revenues of nearly $37 million over the past 30 days, according to data from Token Terminal. This marks an increase of approximately 23% compared to the previous month, attributed to higher demand for leveraged financing and the introduction of new features such as the Savings Vault and the scrvUSD token, the company shared with Cointelegraph on December 3.

Curve’s native token, CRV, has surged by around 300% since Donald Trump won the United States presidential election on November 5. The token now boasts a market capitalization of over $1 billion, as reported by CoinGecko.

Launched in 2020, Curve Finance is one of the older protocols in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. However, it has made significant efforts this year to remain competitive with newer rivals. In June, the platform implemented the crvUSD stablecoin for distributing fees to token holders, replacing its previous model of payments through shares of the 3crv liquidity pool.

Bitget launches BitEXC customized crypto exchange in Vietnam

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has introduced a new trading platform in Vietnam, named BitEXC. This platform is designed to cater specifically to the preferences of Vietnamese users, offering localized customer support and educational resources.

A Strategic Move in Southeast Asia

The launch of BitEXC aligns with Bitget’s strategic expansion efforts in Southeast Asia, a region where Vietnam holds significant potential, ranking second globally in cryptocurrency ownership. According to Bitget, approximately 21.2% of Vietnam's population currently owns digital assets.

Trading Services and Payment Options

BitEXC provides various trading services, including peer-to-peer (P2P), spot, and futures trading. The platform supports payments through ViettelPay (state-owned), Momo (a Vietnamese service powered by Canadian firm Nuvei), and ZaloPay, which is integrated with the Zalo instant messaging system. On its launch day, only P2P trading was available, with additional features to follow.

Upcoming Features

Bitget plans to introduce an "Earn" program and copy trading capabilities within the next three months, further enhancing the platform’s offerings for Vietnamese users.

Novarad Enhances CryptoChart Image Sharing Solution with New DICOM Routing Application

Novarad, a leading developer of medical software solutions, is pleased to announce the upcoming release of its DICOM Route Application in January 2025. This innovative feature, integrated into Novarad's CryptoChart platform, aims to significantly enhance the image-sharing experience for healthcare professionals. CryptoChart is a digital sharing solution that enables hospitals and imaging centers to share patient studies through physical QR codes, secure text links, and now directly into other PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) networks.

The DICOM Route Application allows users to seamlessly transmit shared studies to any DICOM-compatible system within their local network with just a few clicks. This enhancement offers greater flexibility and efficiency in how shared medical images are accessed and utilized.

David Grandpre, Novarad's Director of Product, highlighted the application's impact: "The DICOM Route feature addresses one of the key challenges in image sharing across different networks. It eliminates the need for complex integrations, such as HL7 interfaces, and removes the manual process of uploading studies from patient CDs, DVDs, or thumb drives. Once implemented, this feature securely routes images directly into any PACS from any device within the same network, streamlining workflow and enhancing accessibility."

Crypto-AI startup GAIB raises $5 million in pre-seed funding

GAIB, a crypto-AI startup specializing in GPU tokenization, has successfully raised $5 million in its pre-seed funding round.

The funding round was led by Hack VC, with Faction VC and Hashed serving as co-leads, GAIB announced on Tuesday. Additional investors included Spartan, Animoca Brands, MH Ventures, Aethir, Near Foundation, Chris Yin of Plume Network, and Lucas Kozinski of Renzo Protocol.

Founded in June of this year, GAIB commenced its fundraising efforts the same month and finalized the round in July, according to Kony Kwong, the company’s co-founder and CEO. Kwong, who also serves as a venture partner at L2 Iterative Ventures, previously worked as an investment analyst within Huobi Global's strategic mergers and acquisitions team.

The pre-seed funding was structured as a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) with token warrants. Kwong declined to disclose the post-funding valuation or confirm whether any investors have taken advisory or board positions.