OTC’s Weekly Retrospect 10/04–14/04/2023

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.­­­­

Major news stories this week;

1. Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade Is Complete, Starting New Era of Staking Withdrawals
2. Twitter to Enable Crypto, Stock Trading After eToro Partnership
3. London Stock Exchange unit to clear bitcoin derivatives
4. Argentina’s National Securities Commission Approves Bitcoin Futures
5. Brazil’s President Lula Urges Developing Countries to Abandon Dollar as Global Reserve Currency

Story Summaries;

1. The much anticipated hard fork — essentially upgrading the blockchain by splitting off a new one — has been characterized by members of the Ethereum community as a historic milestone, completing its multi-year transition to a full proof-of-stake network.
2. Twitter users will soon be able to trade stocks, crypto, and other assets directly via the social media platform, thanks to a partnership with eToro. According to a CNBC report, the new feature will roll out on the Twitter application on Thursday, April 14.
3. London Stock Exchange Group took a step into crypto as its French clearinghouse unit signed a deal with an institutional-focused trading venue to offer trading in bitcoin derivatives. The new venture will be known as LCH DigitalAssetClear.
4. Argentina’s National Securities Commission (CNV) authorized the launch of a bitcoin (BTC) index-based futures contract on Tuesday, according to a statement by their government. The contract is to be based on the bitcoin index of Matba Rofex, an Argentinian stock exchange, with negotiation and settlement in Argentinian pesos.
5. According to Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, developing countries should abandon the U.S. dollar and strengthen their own national currencies. During a speech at the New Development Bank in Shanghai, Lula expressed his nightly pondering: “Why do all countries have to base their trade on the dollar?”

And that’s all for this week’s news! Wishing you a great weekend ahead!