OTC’s Weekly Retrospect 12/09–16/09/2022

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 massive software upgrade just went live — here’s what it does
2. Fidelity Is Considering Offering Bitcoin to Retail Investors: WSJ
3. Dubai Luxury Hotel Palazzo Versace Allows Guests to Pay in Crypto
4. Granath v Wright: Satoshi Trial 2022 begins in Norway
5. South Korea Issues Arrest Warrant for Terra CEO Do Kwon: Report

Story Summaries;

1. Ethereum’s biggest-ever upgrade just took effect, in what industry experts are calling a game changer for the entire crypto sector. Thus far, all signs suggest the so-called merge — which is designed to cut the cryptocurrency’s energy consumption by more than 99% — was a success.
   The very first proof-of-stake block of transactions has finalized with a nearly 100% client participation rate. This was, by far, the best-case scenario.
2. Fidelity customers may soon be able to buy Bitcoin via the company’s brokerage platform, according to The Wall Street Journal.
   Boston-based investment giant Fidelity, which manages over 34.4 million retail accounts and is one of the world’s biggest fund managers, is evaluating whether to offer Bitcoin to its individual investors, the newspaper reported Monday.
3. Guests staying at Palazzo Versace Dubai have, since September 7, had an option to settle payment for services rendered via cryptocurrency. The hotel also plans to add the crypto payment option to its e-commerce platforms to enable guests to pay for gift vouchers using digital currencies.
4. The trial in Granath v Wright has begun in Norway, as Magnus ‘Hodlonaut’ Granath attempts to convince the Oslo District Court that his Twitter rampage against Dr. Craig Wright did not amount to unlawful defamation.
   It was an unusual moment: after years of impersonal conflict, from nasty jabs on social media to legal warnings to an extended lead-in to trial.
5. A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon, some four months after the Terra ecosystem’s implosion.
   Local outlet Chosun reported on Wednesday that a team from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office also issued arrest warrants for other employees, including Nicholas Platias, a former head of research at Terra, and staff member Han Mo. All three are believed to be currently residing in Singapore.

And that’s all for this weeks news! Wishing you a great weekend and as always, Happy Friday!