Bitcoin has surged past the $63,000 mark for the first time since November 2021, marking a significant milestone in its recent rally.

This surge has been accompanied by substantial inflows into U.S.-traded spot ETFs, with more than 12,000 additional bitcoins added on Tuesday alone. This bullish momentum comes ahead of the upcoming bitcoin halving in April, a biennial event typically associated with strong price gains as the issuance of new bitcoins decreases.

The recent rally has been particularly intense, with Bitcoin's price climbing from below $51,000 just a few days ago to over $60,000 before surpassing the $63,000 mark. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is up more than 10% over the past 24 hours, while the broader CoinDesk 20 Index, representing the largest cryptocurrencies, has rallied by 7.8% during the same period.

Bitcoin enthusiasts and investors are now eyeing the cryptocurrency's all-time high of $69,045, set on November 10, 2021, according to Coingecko. As of the latest update, Bitcoin's price stands at $61,860.38, reflecting the ongoing volatility and upward momentum in the cryptocurrency markets.

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Robinhood Wif Hat, First Dog To A Dollar?🐶

Dogwifhat (WIF), a meme coin based on the Solana blockchain, is set to be listed on the European version of Robinhood, a widely used trading platform.

This announcement comes amidst growing interest in the cryptocurrency, particularly among crypto influencers, making WIF one of the fastest-growing dog-themed cryptocurrencies in the current market cycle.

The decision to list Dogwifhat on Robinhood follows the platform's recent development allowing users to engage with Arbitrum, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, indicating Robinhood's willingness to expand its cryptocurrency offerings. The community-driven success of WIF has been significant, initially gaining attention from crypto analyst Ansem and later receiving a boost from popular influencer Hsaka.

Hsaka's mention of WIF, accompanied by a picture of a wolf wearing a hat, led to a surge in the meme coin's value, increasing by nearly 75% within two days and reaching an all-time high of $1.01. With WIF's trading volume surpassing $1 billion, there is speculation that major cryptocurrency exchanges, known as tier 1 exchanges, may soon list the Solana-based meme coin.

While Binance has listed perpetual contracts for WIF, spot trading has not been enabled yet. Additionally, Coinbase, a prominent US-based crypto trading platform, has not listed WIF at the time of writing. This has led investors to speculate that both Coinbase and Binance could potentially list WIF for spot trading in the near future.

However, it's essential to approach this speculation with caution, as it remains speculative and subject to change based on various factors. Nonetheless, the growing interest in Dogwifhat and its potential listing on major cryptocurrency exchanges indicate the increasing acceptance and adoption of meme coins within the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Nigeria’s $10bn Binance Demand 🇳🇬

Nigeria's government has reportedly demanded $10 billion from Binance, alleging that the exchange enabled $26 billion of untraceable funds to leave the country amid a foreign exchange crisis.

According to the BBC, central bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso stated that Binance's operations in Nigeria were illegal, contributing to the country's economic disruption and the weakening of the Nigerian naira by 70% in recent months.

Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, initially confirmed the $10 billion fine, citing Binance's unauthorized setting of an exchange rate for the Nigerian naira, a responsibility reserved for the central bank. However, Onanuga later clarified to Nigerian news service Peoples Gazette that his comments had been misrepresented. He stated that the government may impose heavy fines on Binance, but no final decision had been made, and the actual amount had not been determined.

The situation escalated when two Binance executives were reportedly detained in Nigeria, and their passports confiscated upon arrival in the country. Nigerian authorities have been investigating crypto exchanges, further complicating the relationship between Binance and the government. Neither Binance nor the Nigerian government responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.

The demand for a hefty fine underscores Nigeria's efforts to address capital outflows and regulate the cryptocurrency industry within its borders. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for Binance's operations in Nigeria and its broader relationship with regulators in the region.

SBF Requests Jail Relief👮‍♂️

Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX, has requested a 63 to 78 month prison term following his conviction for fraud last year.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers contested the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR), which recommended a 100-year prison sentence, labeling it as "grotesque." The filing, signed by Bankman-Fried's new attorneys Marc Mukasey and Torrey Young, highlighted his status as a 31-year-old, first-time, non-violent offender, and emphasized that he was not the sole participant in the fraudulent conduct.

The lawyers proposed an adjusted offense level based on "zero loss," arguing that victims were always poised to recover their losses. They emphasized that FTX's bankruptcy estate expects to fully repay its customers, resulting in zero harm to customers, lenders, and investors. This, they contend, warrants a reduced advisory Guidelines range of 63-78 months.

The filing acknowledged descriptions of Bankman-Fried as a "sociopath" and "notorious fraudster," but countered these portrayals by citing testimonials from those who know him personally. These individuals describe Bankman-Fried as caring deeply about others, exhibiting kindness and loyalty, and being dedicated to doing good in the world.

Furthermore, Bankman-Fried's lawyers argued that FTX and FTX.US were solvent at the time of filing for bankruptcy, with the bankruptcy estate claiming assets exceeding $10 billion, despite an $8 billion hole in the exchange. Considering these factors, the attorneys asserted that a sentence returning Bankman-Fried to a productive role in society would be sufficient to comply with the purposes of sentencing.

While restitution paid to victims can influence sentencing in white-collar cases, Bankman-Fried's legal team emphasized his charitable works and commitment to others as mitigating factors. They urged the court to consider the entirety of Bankman-Fried's character and contributions when determining an appropriate sentence.

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