Former President Trump issued a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road online drug marketplace, who had received a life sentence in 2015. This action, praised by the Libertarian Party, follows Trump’s previous announcement of a sentence commutation and aligns with his stated intention to significantly lessen cryptocurrency regulation. Ulbricht’s lawyer expressed relief at the correction of an injustice, while the pardon’s timing coincides with expectations of a broader shift in cryptocurrency policy under Trump’s administration. The pardon has sparked debate considering the significant scale of illicit activity facilitated by Silk Road.
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Donald Trump’s new “$TRUMP” meme coin, launched Friday, has seen a dramatic price surge, reaching $26.95 from $0.18, with a market cap exceeding $5 billion. Former aide Anthony Scaramucci condemned the venture as “corruption,” echoing concerns about Trump’s continued use of his image to sell merchandise. Critics cite this as another example of Trump leveraging his position for personal profit, particularly during his presidential campaign. The coin’s rapid growth and the controversy surrounding it highlight the volatile nature of meme coins and raise ethical questions regarding the actions of a president-elect.
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Trump’s embrace of cryptocurrency presents a glaring red flag, raising serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the overall stability of the financial system. His history of financial dealings, marked by bankruptcies and accusations of money laundering, casts a long shadow over any crypto-related initiatives he might undertake. The sheer scale of his potential influence, coupled with his past behavior, suggests a high likelihood of manipulation and exploitation.
The inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market presents a substantial risk. Trump’s involvement could exacerbate this volatility, leading to potentially devastating consequences for ordinary investors. His track record suggests a propensity for prioritizing personal gain over the interests of the wider economy, increasing the risk of a “pump and dump” scheme on a national scale, with taxpayers ultimately bearing the losses.… Continue reading
On Tuesday, Elon Musk changed his X profile name to “Kekius Maximus,” accompanied by a Pepe the Frog avatar in Roman attire. This seemingly blends Pepe the Frog, an internet meme with controversial history, and the Gladiator character Maximus Decimus Meridius. The name change coincided with a significant price surge in a cryptocurrency also named Kekius Maximus, although Musk’s involvement remains unconfirmed. Musk’s action, referencing a video game, is notable given his significant influence on the platform and upcoming role co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency.
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Trump’s latest crypto venture is raising serious concerns, particularly its partnership with a platform allegedly linked to Middle Eastern militant groups. This development underscores a pattern of behavior that many find deeply troubling. The sheer audacity of such a partnership, considering the potential national security risks involved, is shocking. It raises questions about whether established norms and regulations even apply to Trump anymore, and highlights a complete disregard for potential consequences.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Trump’s past actions, such as the abrupt withdrawal of US troops from Syria and Afghanistan, leaving behind valuable assets and potentially endangering allies, already raise serious concerns about his judgment and priorities.… Continue reading
President-elect Trump’s transition team submitted an ethics plan seemingly omitting provisions addressing his own conflicts of interest, a notable oversight given his past and recent business ventures. The plan, while largely complying with the Presidential Transition Act, requires team members, but not Trump himself, to avoid conflicts of interest and safeguard sensitive information. This omission raises concerns, especially considering his new cryptocurrency venture and other recent business dealings. Despite delays in signing agreements with the White House and GSA, the team’s signing of the White House agreement is a positive step towards facilitating information sharing. However, the lack of a GSA agreement raises concerns about secure communication and access to federal resources.
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The mysterious creator of Bitcoin, known as Satoshi Nakamoto, is still unknown. British Bangladeshi entrepreneur Stephen Mollah is the latest claimant, but he failed to convince sceptical reporters at a press conference organised by Charles Anderson. Mollah did not provide evidence to support his claim, such as interacting with the first-ever Bitcoins – an ability supposedly possible only by Satoshi. Several other individuals have been suggested as Satoshi in the past, including Peter Todd and Craig Wright, but none were confirmed. Understanding Satoshi’s identity has piqued interest due to the influential implications on the crypto industry and the wealth associated with holding over one million Bitcoins.
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When I first heard about Trump’s plan to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet,” my immediate reaction was pure skepticism and disbelief. This is coming from a man who failed to deliver on promises of a new and improved healthcare plan and infrastructure during his first term in office. It seems to me that this so-called plan is just another ploy for him to continue grifting, especially if he loses the upcoming election.
The fact that Trump has little to no understanding of cryptocurrency is evident. Crypto operates on the principle of decentralization, which is the exact opposite of what Trump represents.… Continue reading
Crypto scammers are on the prowl, targeting none other than Trump’s MAGA supporters. It seems like a match made in heaven for these con artists, who are capitalizing on the gullibility of this particular group of individuals. With the Trump campaign’s recent announcement that they would accept cryptocurrency, scammers wasted no time setting up fraudulent websites to hoodwink his supporters.
In the days leading up to the announcement, scammers registered domains with common misspellings of the official Trump campaign site, hoping to lure in unsuspecting supporters. Some of these scam websites even mimicked legitimate cryptocurrency payment portals to further deceive individuals.… Continue reading
Russian firms have recently made headlines by purchasing $4 billion worth of India-made arms, paying for it in Indian rupees. This move has raised questions and sparked various discussions about the implications and motivations behind this significant transaction. While some may speculate on the ulterior motives, my take on this situation is that it primarily revolves around economic interests, trade alliances, and strategic geopolitical considerations.
The fact that Russian exporters initiated trading with India using Indian rupees sheds light on the evolving dynamics of global commerce. This massive investment in India-made defence equipment and armaments signifies a substantial shift in the traditional trading patterns and currency preferences within the international arms trade.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood