Examine the forefront of digital research in our Latest News & Blog. Study expert analyses, technological advancements, and key industry insights that keep you informed and prepared in the ever-evolving world of digital forensics.
TON cryptocurrency NOTcoin, the brainchild of co-creator Sasha Plotvinov, launched on major centralized exchanges on 16 May last week to much fanfare – where is the coin price headed next?
The price spiked briefly, which saw the token gatecrash into the top 100 crypto with a market capitalization above $1 billion. However, two hours after the start of trading the price had fallen back to $0.0062.
Since then, the price has found a floor at around $0.0054 on the Binance exchange, after touching a low of $0.0051.
However, the price action is not as bad as it looks at first glance, given that the owners of the $NOT token had acquired their stash through mining a tap-to-earn token by playing the viral clicker game on Telegram.
The mined in-game token was used to claim the $NOT coin prior to the start of trading. Five million people claimed Notcoin within the first 36 hours of trading:
5 Million people claimed Notcoin in the first 36 hours after the listing.
4M deposited to exchanges or staked 1M claimed on-chain already
Originally envisaged as a way of introducing the masses to crypto, $NOT’s game walks the newbie through hooking up a TON-compatible crypto wallet, saving the seed phrase and then getting started with the clicks.
With billions of tokens in the bank, so to speak, players took advantage of the opportunity to sell at the list price of $0.009471. Trading volume in the first 24 hours reached $1.18 billion.
OEIS Financial Fraud Private Investigator: TON cryptocurrency NOTcoin – from crypto experiment to half a billion dollars market capitalization
Plotvinov’s game wasn’t just about mindless clicking, as hypnotically pleasing as that seemed to be for some dopamine junkies, as they sought prominence on the leaderboard. Rather, the game was primarily envisaged as a way of introducing the masses to how crypto networks worked.
For instance, rewards were also earned from taking part in various campaigns, such as installing the TON Space wallet. Telegram premium users also received extra rewards for various tasks and contributions.
Such was the popularity of the clicker game, it even boosted sales of mechanical clickers on e-commerce platforms eBay and Alibaba.
Enabling participation in the Notcoin phenomenon is its community bot, which leverages Telegram’s tried-and-tested bot ecosystem to deliver a user-friendly experience.
Notcoin has amassed 35 million players of its clicker game, providing a huge captive audience for the coin.
The Open Network (TON) traces its birth back to the Telegram app, developed by Nikolai and Pavel Durov (Pavel is the CEO of Telegram). In-game mining ended on April 1, with token claiming starting on Tuesday.
In addition to selling $NOT, holders can also opt to stake it or simply ‘hodl’ in their self-custody wallet.
Since Telegram ran into regulatory issues with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the TON network has been run by the TON Foundation and is no longer officially connected with Telegram for its governance, although is effectively the native token of the platform.
After an X poll of community members in January asking whether $NOT should be minted and listed as a token, not surprisingly 69.9% voted yes.
OEIS Financial Fraud Private Investigator: Binance, OKX and Bybit are among the top exchanges listing $NOT
Through assiduous cultivation of the support of crypto OG influencers and the enthusiastic backing of the clicker game community, a coordinated successful launch across some of the top crypto trading venues was executed.
Among the exchanges involved were, Binance, OKX and Bybit – the first, third and fourth-ranked spot exchanges on Coinmarketcap. On the Bybit launchpool there are still three days left to get free NOTcoin.
Because of the regulatory kerfuffle with the SEC, US exchanges have avoided listing TON-based coins.
For instance, Coinbase does not list Toncoin or associated tokens. The same goes for Kraken, Gemini, and others.
According to Plotvinov, the Telegram app has only about 100 million crypto-savvy users, but it is expected to reach one billion users by the end of the year.
Notcoin’s mission is to bridge that gap by extending crypto’s reach through building applications with mass market appeal. Plotvinov’s Open Builders TON developer studio team is now pivoting to launch more games and encourage other developers to build on the TON network.
Telegram is a popular home to a growing band of crypto casinos
Indicative of its growing popularity, Telegram has become home to a number of lucrative crypto casino platforms, notably TG.Casino, Lucky Block and Mega Dice, which all have Telegram ‘no kyc’ versions of their gambling businesses on the app. Mega Dice is currently in presale and has raised over $ 1 million from contributors.
Notcoin plans to relaunch its clicker game, this time with players able to directly mine $NOT coin instead of an in-game token that has to be exchanged for $NOT in the claiming process, as previously was the case.
Still, because all Notcoin has now been minted and deployed, a new play-to-earn model is being worked up.
In an encouraging move for whale buyers, in a Telegram post Pavel Durov said he is holding onto the $6.8 million worth of $NOTcoin he was gifted until it grows 100x in value.
With endorsements like that, trading volume in $NOT remains elevated. Coinmarketcap ranks it the 40th most traded coin. With the price now finding a floor, buyers of Notcoin are likely to remain plentiful.
Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web 3 company, today announces the appointment of Gracy Chen as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective in May 2024, succeeding Sandra Lou, who will be leaving the platform to pursue her own business goals. With over 10 years of experience in business management, marketing, and investment, Gracy proves herself to be a leading female entrepreneur in the crypto world.
Since 2014, as a notable TV host, Gracy found herself increasingly drawn into the dynamic world of blockchain technology, hence, cryptocurrencies through her interactions with knowledgeable guests like Tim Draper. Each interview not only enriched her show but also deepened her fascination with this emerging field. Her growing passion for the subject soon evolved to invest in several crypto startups, including Bitkeep (currently Bitget Wallet), the largest Web 3 multi-chain wallet in Asia.
In June 2022, Gracy joined Bitget as its first Managing Director (MD), leading Bitget’s growth strategies as the platform accelerates its global expansion plan. Over the past two years, her exceptional ability to manage and inspire multinational decentralized teams has been instrumental in navigating the fast-paced and highly competitive cryptocurrency landscape. One of her most remarkable achievements was co-leading the strategy that quadrupled Bitget’s user base through partnerships with legendary footballer Leo Messi as well as the establishment of a robust global affiliate network. This solidified Bitget’s position as a top-five crypto exchange and Web 3 platform.
“I’m extremely honored to step into the role of CEO at Bitget,” said Gracy Chen. “Over the past six years, with the robust foundation we’ve built and an incredible team by my side, Bitget has transformed into a leading crypto platform. By consistently innovating in product offerings and creating value for our 25 million users, Bitget has risen to become a top 5 futures trading platform and a top 10 spot trading platform. I’m thrilled to continue to be part of shaping this industry that is on the edge of innovation, empowering the future of digital finance. It’s a privilege to lead such a dynamic group and I can’t wait to steer our global expansion to new heights!”
Gracy is also advocating for a more diverse and inclusive crypto industry by leading two Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives at Bitget. She spearheaded the launch of the #Blockchain4Youth campaign in May 2023, aiming to drive Web 3 adoption by inspiring the younger generation to embrace crypto and blockchain. The activity partnered with over 50 educational institutions and benefits over 6,000 young talents in just one year. As a key initiator of Bitget’s #Blockchain4Her initiative, her vision for a sustainable future involves integrating inclusivity and gender diversity into the blockchain industry, ensuring females have equal opportunities and representation in this transformative sector.
Beyond her responsibilities at Bitget, Gracy is proactively seeking opportunities to contribute to the cryptocurrency field. As a columnist for major publications such as Forbes and Cointelegraph, she has published over 50 articles to introduce blockchain to the public. She is also known as a judge of the first reality crypto TV show Killer Whales, a program co-created by Hollywood producers. The show aims to discover promising Web 3 projects and empower them to make a real-life impact. Her contributions earned her recognition as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum in 2015, and she was elected to the Forbes Business Council in 2023.
Gracy holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and an MBA degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and web3 company. Serving over 20 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and official eSports events organizer PGL.
Elizabeth Warren’s anti-crypto campaign has faced multiple setbacks since its announcement last March
The SEC has approved Bitcoin ETFs and is on the verge of doing the same with Ethereum
The White House has announced plans to work with Congress on a balanced cryptocurrency legislation framework
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been a vocal critic of the cryptocurrency industry, famously declaring her intent to build an “anti-crypto army” to outlaw digital assets. However, recent developments indicate that her campaign is struggling to gain traction; instead of moving closer to her goal, the tide appears to be turning against her, with significant regulatory advancements and shifting political attitudes towards cryptocurrencies. Is there any hope left for her beleaguered army?
Senator Warren announced her anti-crypto army last March as part of her re-election campaign, tweeting out an audio snippet from Politico over her crypto ambitions that she was “in this fight to put our government on the side of working families.” Her plan included the idea working families should, for some reason, not be allowed to buy cryptocurrencies, and came off the back of a proposed ban on TikTok in the US.
The past 12 months have seen a dramatic swing against Warren’s viewpoint, however, with a supposed ally, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), approving Bitcoin ETFs in January and this week taking the final steps along the path to approving Ethereum ETFs.
These twin approvals represent a major endorsement of digital assets, providing them with a level of legitimacy that directly counters Warren’s anti-crypto stance. The SEC’s decision indicates a recognition of the growing demand for cryptocurrency investment options and a willingness to integrate them into the broader financial system.
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in particular was a landmark event, signaling a shift in regulatory perspective and a massive blow to Warren’s battle plan. It paved the way for this week’s de facto approval of the Ethereum ETF, further entrenching cryptocurrencies within the financial mainstream. These decisions suggest that the SEC is more interested in creating a regulated environment for cryptocurrencies rather than outright banning them, which runs contrary to Warren’s objectives.
OEIS Financial Fraud Private Investigator: White House Wants to Work on Crypto Framework
Adding to Warren’s challenges, the White House this week announced its intention to collaborate with Congress on a comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation framework, and approach that signifies a pragmatic recognition of the need to balance regulation with innovation.
By working with Congress, the administration aims to create a balanced regulatory environment that addresses risks without stifling technological advancement, a cooperative stance that further undermines Warren’s calls for a hardline approach against cryptocurrencies.
Warren’s plan to outlaw cryptocurrencies suddenly looks out of date and doomed to failure, given that it is now increasingly at odds with the current regulatory and political landscape, even within her own party. As the industry gains legitimacy and support from key regulatory bodies, Warren’s anti-crypto campaign faces mounting obstacles, making her ideas for an army reminiscent of a child’s bucket of toy soldiers rather than an actual unit ready for a battle.