In today’s bitcoin and cryptocurrency news, read about CoinGecko statistics shows that MATIC, issued by Polygon, has the highest seven-day and twenty-four-hour growth rates, at 11.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, by connecting to the Lightning Network, users of the Cash App can make and receive Bitcoin transactions. As of early 2018, the app could only process on-chain Bitcoin transactions. In terms of monthly active users, Cash App has more than 40 million, or more than six times the population of El Salvador. Finally, in order to get internal files and other non-public information related to the ongoing investigation and prosecution of a PRC-based company, defendants paid double agent under FBI control $61,000 in Bitcoin bribes.
Polygon (MATIC) Leads as Top Stock Struggles
Original Source: Weekly Update: Polygon (MATIC) Takes The Lead While Top One Struggles
Polygon (MATIC), which ranks 11th in the global crypto markets, outperforms top-level coins such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) on the weekly chart.
Polygon’s MATIC is in the lead with an 11.3% gain in the last seven days and 7.7% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.
In addition, Polygon’s token is trading at $0.893304. Over the past week, its price has risen steadily. Since a few days ago, it’s been consolidating between $0.83 and $0.88.
The token price reached $0.90 yesterday before falling and closing at $0.8998. After passing the resistance line, the price might rise to $0.94 and then $1.02 the following week.
The primary factor driving MATIC’s price may be last week’s announcement that “Polygon Crosses 53,000 DApps Mark in a Major Adoption Milestone.”
Alchemy, the top Web3 development platform in the world, reported that at the end of September, Polygon had more than 53,000 dApps, “an increase of over 60% since June and almost an eightfold jump from the start of the year.”
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Weekly Analysis
Bitcoin closes out another week by trying to break $20. Throughout the week, the price stayed between $18,000 and $19,000. The weekly price chart did not show any increase, and in the last week the token price has decreased 0.1%.
BTC’s price saw a bearish pullback yesterday after being rejected at the $19,600 barrier level. The token is currently trading at $19,278.40, turning green.
Since BTC has stayed within a narrow range of $19K-$20K for weeks, it can’t make a decisive move.
A recent poll by The Finder predicts that BTC will experience price volatility in the coming months. The report forecasts that BTC will end the year at $21,300. Even so, this implies an 11% price hike.
CoinGecko data showed that Ethereum (ETH), the second largest coin by market cap, had a strong week against Bitcoin. The token gained 2.5% over seven days.
The token currently trades at $1,339.58, up almost 2% in 24 hours. ETH was trading near a three-week high today after hitting its key resistance level.
Despite today’s increase, Ethereum (ETH) continues to trade in a wide range, building strength for a future rapid move. The limited volume further supports the fact that none of the sides are ready. Only if the rate crosses $1,400 and fixes above it with no or few wicks can the midterm bull run occur.
40 Million Cash App Users Can Now Send and Receive Bitcoin Lightning Payments
Original Source: 40 MILLION CASH APP USERS CAN NOW SEND AND RECEIVE BITCOIN LIGHTNING PAYMENTS
Cash App users can now send and receive bitcoin payments quickly using the Lightning Network, according to the company’s product lead, Michael Rihani.
Cash App transactions in bitcoin are straightforward. First, a user accesses the app’s “Money Tab,” selects Bitcoin, and then a QR code or link is generated to transact with other Lightning-enabled wallets.
The feature is available across the U.S. except in New York. As long as users are engaging with other Lightning wallets, Cash App users can transfer or receive BTC from the app in the U.S., says Rihani.
To access this new functionality, users must update to the newest version of the app, which is supported on Apple iOS and Android mobile devices.
Moreover, Cash App has over 40 million users. This means 40 million users can now settle instant BTC payments by integrating with the Lightning Network.
In February, Cash App revealed its connection with the Lightning Network. This functionality only allowed users to transmit BTC to other Lightning wallets. Today’s announcement allowed users to obtain BTC.
The company’s original statement was followed by “Pay Me In Bitcoin,” which allowed Cash App users to convert their wages into BTC.
Two Chinese Intelligence Officers Accused of Obstructing Justice in Scheme to Bribe a U.S. Government Employee and Steal Documents Related to a PRC-based Company’s Federal Prosecution
Defendants paid $61,000 in Bitcoin bribes to an FBI double agent to obtain internal files and non-public information about an ongoing investigation and prosecution of a PRC-based company.
Two People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence officers are accused of obstructing a criminal prosecution in New York. The suspects are free.
Guochun He, also known as “Dong He” and “Jacky He,” and Zheng Wang, also known as “Zen Wang,” allegedly orchestrated a scheme to steal files and other information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to the ongoing federal criminal investigation and prosecution of a global telecommunications company (Company-1) based in the PRC, including by paying $61,000 in Bitcoin bribes to a U.S. (FBI).
Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, and FBI Director Christopher Wray announced the charges.
“Today’s complaint underscores the PRC government’s efforts to undermine law,” said US Attorney Peace. As alleged, PRC intelligence officers obstructed a criminal prosecution by bribing this office to obtain files and sharing them with a defendant telecommunications company. We’ll always act decisively against crimes against our justice system.
The actions of the PRC intelligence officers charged in this case must be called out for what they are: an extraordinary intervention by agents of a foreign government to interfere with the U.S. criminal justice system, compromise a U.S. government employee, and obstruct the enforcement of U.S. law to benefit a PRC-based commercial enterprise. “The Department of Justice won’t tolerate nation-state actors meddling in U.S. criminal process and investigations”
FBI Director Wray said this case threatens both the American people and the Constitution. By stealing documents from the Eastern District of New York, Chinese intelligence officers threatened not just our criminal justice system, but justice itself. A threat to justice is a threat to our free society, and the FBI is committed to protecting the U.S.
Guochun He and Zheng Wang are accused of obstructing Company-1’s criminal prosecution in New York. Defendant He’s also charged with money laundering for Bitcoin bribes totaling $61,000.
According to the complaint, the defendants are PRC intelligence officers conducting foreign intelligence operations targeting the U.S. for Company-1. Starting in 2019, they directed an employee at a U.S. law enforcement agency (GE-1) they believed they had recruited to steal confidential information about Company-1’s criminal prosecution to interfere with it. GE-1 was an FBI double agent.
The defendants tasked GE-1 with reporting on meetings with prosecutors in Brooklyn in September 2021. The defendants wanted to know which Company-1 employees had been interviewed by the government and about the prosecutors’ evidence, witness list, and trial strategy.
In October 2021, GE-1 sent the defendants a page from a purported U.S. Attorney’s Office strategy memo regarding Company-1. The “SECRET” document discussed charging and arresting two Company-1 employees in the PRC. [1] Guochun He said the document was “exactly what I’m waiting for” and he was “waiting for feedback from some guys” about any questions. Guochun He paid GE-1 $41,000 in Bitcoin for the document.
GE-1 asked defendants about the “SECRET” document. Guochun He said in November 2021, “[Company-1] hasn’t given me specific feedback yet, but they’re interested and my boss needs more information.” Guochun He told GE-1 that “[Company-1] will be interested” in GE-1 stealing more of the strategy memorandum and “may offer more” for it. In December 2021, when GE-1 asked Company-1 for feedback on “what they want me to get,” Guochun He said, “They haven’t given me any positive feedback yet and demanded to speak with you directly.” Guochun He refused Company-1’s request to speak with GE-1 because “it’s too dangerous.”
Recently, Guochun He told GE-1 that Guochun He’s “organization already decided to give you a good reward” for the information GE-1 had provided. Guochun He paid GE-1 $20,000 in Bitcoin in October 2022.
The complaint contains allegations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Guochun Wang faces up to 20 years in prison.
National Security and Cybercrime Section handles the government’s case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Meredith A. Arfa and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee are prosecuting.
Summary of today’s bitcoin and cryptocurrency news
In summary, the statement that “Polygon Crosses the 53,000 DApps Mark in a Major Adoption Milestone” may have been made last week, which may have been the key cause propelling MATIC’s pricing.
Meanwhile, after making their first statement, the firm released a function called “Pay Me In Bitcoin,” which allowed users of the Cash App to have their wages paid in Bitcoin.
Finally, the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section is dealing with the case on behalf of the government. The prosecution is being led by Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Meredith A. Arfa.
