Decentralized oracle network Pyth has been integrated into Filecoin to improve smart contract developers' accessibility to real-world data. This and more news is in this handy daily digest so you're always up to date with the latest developments in the crypto world.
Pyth and Filecoin partner
📍The integration of Pyth oracles into the Filecoin network will unlock data for global Web2 and Web3 participants. This has been highlighted by the Filecoin developers in a release, in which they emphasized that now “over 400 real-time market data sources are permissionlessly available to smart contract developers on the Filecoin peer-to-peer network.”
Pyth oracles will help optimize the execution environment for Filecoin VM smart contracts, providing developers on this network with access to new tools that allow them to build robust marketplaces on the blockchain.
Jonathan Victor, co-founder of Ansa Research, highlighted that the launch of Pyth oracles on Filecoin represents a fundamental pillar to allow the DeFi ecosystem on the FVM to accelerate this year.
Filecoin is “a decentralized storage network designed to store humanity’s most important information,” as defined by its developers, while Pyth is a network focused on publishing low-latency financial data in a transparent and secure manner on blockchain networks.
Tether reveals its Bitcoin holdings
📍In Tether’s recently released reserves report, the USDT issuing company revealed that it holds over $2.800 billion worth of BTC. The figure corresponds to approximately 65.470 BTC, according to the current price of the cryptocurrency at the time of writing this article.
Tether shared the report from the latest audit carried out by the BDO firm on its USDT reserves. Let us remember that the company committed to carrying out recurring audits of the stablecoin reserves in favor of transparency, especially after the collapse of the Terra ecosystem, caused by the disassociation of its algorithmic stablecoin UST, which ended up generating a crisis of confidence in the crypto ecosystem.
According to the published report, it is also detailed that the company made a profit of $6.200 in 2023, of which 29% came from its investments and holdings in Bitcoin and gold.
While Tether's main product is the USDT stablecoin, which is pegged to the US dollar, the company has launched other stablecoins and has been expanding its business into other sectors, such as BTC mining.
Bitcoin continues to expand in Germany
📍Century-old bank Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte has partnered with a blockchain startup to accelerate Bitcoin adoption. According to the statement shared with Bitcoin Magazine, the bank will collaborate with Terahash Energy to educate and develop innovative Bitcoin-secured solutions. The bank stands out among the pioneers in Germany in offering services based on the market-leading cryptocurrency to its clients.
Now, through the partnership with Terahash Energy, VR Bank Bayern Mitte is looking to leverage the startup's strengths to accelerate education and foster awareness about Bitcoin's potential in the financial system.
Hong Kong investigates Worldcoin
📍Local authorities in Hong Kong have opened an investigation against Worldcoin, the project promoted by the creator of Chat GPT. The Hong Kong Personal Data Privacy Commissioner's Office, which is leading the investigation, ordered the raid on Worldcoin's headquarters in the city due to concerns over the privacy of user data.
Worldcoin, promoted by Sam Altman, CEO of Chat GPT, is a cryptocurrency project that was born with the premise of creating a global, open and accessible identification system for everyone. Through this project, its creators have been distributing WLD tokens, after scanning people's irises, to prove that they are human, using electronic devices called Orbs.
However, it appears that the protocol used by Worldcoin, which involves scanning human irises, violates Hong Kong's biometric data handling and privacy protection laws, prompting authorities to take action against the project. According to the office, six Worldcoin locations in the city were raided this week.
Celsius Network will start refunds this month
📍Celsius Network creditors will begin receiving refunds starting February 28th. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is set to repay its creditors more than $3.000 billion.
As reported by Celsius, the official Unsecured Creditors Committee (UCC) has approved its transition to Mining NewCo, a new company that will be dedicated to Bitcoin mining. Celsius Network's transition to this company is part of the plan to emerge from bankruptcy, which had already been approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court.
Continue reading: El Salvador maintains its stance on Bitcoin: It will remain legal tender
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