France has a plan for "finfluencers"

 📊 Binance rises as Lithuania's top taxpayer

Bifinity UAB, a subsidiary of Binance, has become one of Lithuania's top five corporate taxpayers within a year, contributing over $45 million.

This data was revealed by DeFi Ignas based on national tax service statistics. In 2022, Bifinity outperformed the four largest banks in Lithuania in tax contributions. Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, Binance's CEO, is the sole shareholder of Bifinity, and this relationship demonstrates Binance's commitment to Lithuania. Despite facing regulatory challenges, Binance has regularly published proof of reserves to address concerns about its financial stability.

🎫 Ripple grabs another license by acquisition

Ripple Labs has acquired Fortress Trust, a Nevada-based company known for its regulatory and tech infrastructure for blockchain organizations.

This acquisition is a significant move by Ripple to expand its regulatory influence in the U.S. The acquisition adds to Ripple's already impressive list of over 30 money transmitter licenses, including the New York BitLicense. Monica Long, President at Ripple, stresses the importance of licenses in delivering high-quality customer experiences. The acquisition aligns well with Ripple's business strategy and roadmap.

🇫🇷 France’s new roadmap for crypto influencers

In response to the growing trend of financial influencers ("finlfluencers") endorsing investment products, France has introduced a non-mandatory "Responsible Influence Certificate".

This certificate, which was initially rolled out by the ARPP in 2021, offers a training module specifically tailored for finlfluencers and requires passing a test on financial advertising. While over 1,000 French influencers have received it, this revised version encompasses endorsements of equities, bonds, ETFs, and crypto-assets. Obtaining this certificate, while not legally mandatory, might affect influencer credibility in the sector.

🔓 Vitalik’s account hacked - $691k worth NFTs stolen

Ethereum co-founder’s Twitter account was compromised by hackers who posted a misleading ConsenSys link.

This fraudulent link falsely promised a free NFT to commemorate Ethereum’s Proto-Danksharding introduction. Those who clicked on the link were deceived and subsequently lost valuable NFTs, with the total estimated value of stolen assets reaching approximately $691,000. Ethereum developer BookyPooBah lost two significant CryptoPunks in the heist. The breach highlights increasing concerns about the rise in phishing scams on the X platform, particularly targeting influential crypto personalities.

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