battle – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:38:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 battle – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 HYPE Price Prediction: Native Markets Wins USDH Stablecoin Battle as Crypto Hayes Calls for $5K Target https://earlybirdsinvest.com/hype-price-prediction-native-markets-wins-usdh-stablecoin-battle-as-crypto-hayes-calls-for-5k-target/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/hype-price-prediction-native-markets-wins-usdh-stablecoin-battle-as-crypto-hayes-calls-for-5k-target/#respond Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:38:39 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/hype-price-prediction-native-markets-wins-usdh-stablecoin-battle-as-crypto-hayes-calls-for-5k-target/

Crypto Journalist

Anas Hassan

Crypto Journalist

Anas Hassan

About Author

Anas is a crypto native journalist and SEO writer with over five years of writing experience covering blockchain, crypto, DeFi, and emerging tech.

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HYPE price prediction scenarios reached new extremes as BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes projected the token could reach $5,000, building on his earlier forecast of 126x gains within three years.

His bold call coincides with Native Markets securing the USDH stablecoin ticker for Hyperliquid after defeating heavyweight competitors, including Paxos and Ethena.

Technical analysis reveals HYPE trading near $54 after completing what appears to be a major Elliott Wave cycle, with indicators suggesting potential retracement toward $25-$50 support levels before resuming its upward trajectory.

The platform’s dominance in perpetual futures markets and $1.2 billion annual revenue provide fundamental support for Hayes’ ambitious long-term targets.

Native Markets Triumph Fuels Stablecoin Integration Plans

Native Markets emerged victorious in Hyperliquid’s USDH stablecoin governance vote after weeks of intense competition.

The decision followed validator commitments, and the prediction market indicated that it heavily favored the team over established competitors.

Ethena withdrew from the race on Thursday, citing community concerns about non-native infrastructure requirements. The exit eliminated a major contender that initially appeared well-positioned for the partnership.

Paxos remained in contention despite revising its proposal midweek. The updated Version 2, which is no longer relevant, included deep PayPal and Venmo integration, zero-cost on- and off-ramps, and a $20 million incentive package.

Paxos also committed all USDH revenue to Hyperliquid growth until it reached a $1 billion TVL.

Additionally, the community has noted that Native Markets won due to its tight integration with Hyperliquid’s ecosystem.

Reserves in cash and U.S. Treasuries will be managed by BlackRock off-chain, while tokenized assets utilize Superstate and Stripe’s Bridge infrastructure.

The team pledged to split all reserve yield between Hyperliquid’s Assistance Fund and broader ecosystem development.

Backing from Uniswap Labs, Paradigm, and Polychain veterans further strengthened credibility among validators.

Elliott Wave Completion Indicates Major Retracement Risk

HYPE’s chart structure suggests completion of a major Elliott Wave 1 cycle around the current $54 levels.

HYPE Price Prediction: Native Markets Wins USDH Stablecoin Battle as Crypto Hayes Calls for $5K Target

The ending diagonal pattern exhibits corrective characteristics across each subwave, indicating potential exhaustion of the current bullish impulse.

Technical confluence points toward a significant retracement targeting the $25 region.

This level represents multiple support factors, including untapped volume nodes, the macro 0.382 Fibonacci retracement, and speed fan golden pocket alignment.

The ascending channel containing recent price action approaches the upper boundary resistance.

HYPE’s positioning near $53.42 suggests potential topping action despite maintaining bullish momentum characteristics throughout the advance.

Fair Value Gap identification provides substantial buying interest zones during any corrective moves.

These market inefficiencies typically act as price magnets during periods of volatility, where rapid movements leave gaps that require fills.

Alternative wave count scenarios involving nested 1-2 structures appear less probable given current market conditions.

However, decisive breaks above $61 could shift bias toward continued bullish interpretation rather than correction expectations.

FOMC Volatility Creates Strategic Entry Opportunities

Short-term analysis focuses on the Federal Reserve’s September 16-17 FOMC meeting, anticipating rate cuts that could catalyze broader market volatility.

Expectations center around 25 basis point cuts or potentially more aggressive monetary policy action.

Immediate resistance clusters near the 0.618 Fibonacci level at $56.22, with stronger resistance in the $57.50 zone.

HYPE Price Prediction: Native Markets Wins USDH Stablecoin Battle as Crypto Hayes Calls for $5K Target

These levels represent logical profit-taking areas for short-term traders and potential reversal points for broader corrections.

The support structure identifies key levels at $52.74, with deeper support around $49.88.

The alignment with $50 bid levels creates high-probability setups for both continuation and retracement scenarios based on Fibonacci retracement positioning.

Hayes’s $5,000 projection assumes an explosive expansion of the stablecoin market beyond $10 trillion, driving speculative trading demand.

Hyperliquid’s 60% perpetual futures market share and $1.2 billion annual revenue support long-term bullish scenarios despite near-term technical headwinds.

Is BTC Hyper the Next 100x Bitcoin Layer-2 Everyone’s Building?

While HYPE faces potential correction before reaching Hayes’s $5,000 target, this Bitcoin Layer-2 solution is gaining strong development momentum.

Smart investors know that finding scalability projects early can lead to massive returns during infrastructure upgrades.

BTC Hyper is getting attention because it makes Bitcoin faster and programmable using Solana technology.

The platform turns Bitcoin into a DeFi asset with smart contracts and instant transactions.

The presale has raised over $13 million, with the mainnet launch approaching. Early investors can earn over 150% staking rewards while the network prepares for full deployment.

Worth noting that the best Layer-2 projects get adopted quickly once developers start building applications.

BTC Hyper launches soon with audited smart contracts and cross-chain features. This means you should join now if you want presale access.

You can buy BTC Hyper tokens on the ongoing presale website using BTC, ETH, USDT, or credit cards.

Visit the Official Website Here


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Battle of Top Dividend Stocks: Waste Management vs. McDonald's https://earlybirdsinvest.com/battle-of-top-dividend-stocks-waste-management-vs-mcdonalds/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/battle-of-top-dividend-stocks-waste-management-vs-mcdonalds/#respond Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:47:13 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/battle-of-top-dividend-stocks-waste-management-vs-mcdonalds/ Two dividend stalwarts, two very different engines behind the checks.

Shares of WM (WM -0.64%) and McDonald’s (MCD -0.97%) have both held investor interest in 2025 for their dependable cash returns.

WM, formerly known as Waste Management, is the largest North American waste services provider. The waste company is tying dividend growth to a rising free cash flow outlook and a slate of high-return projects in recycling, renewable natural gas, and newly integrated medical-waste operations. McDonald’s, the global burger chain with a heavily franchised model, is leaning on value promotions, loyalty, and digital to keep comparable sales and earnings moving in a choppy consumer environment.

The question for income investors is which dividend looks better today. Looking at the fundamentals, one comes out ahead as the better long-term bet.

A bar chart with a growth trend.

Image source: Getty Images.

Waste Management: Strong growth prospects

WM’s latest quarter underscored a cash-generation story that increasingly supports the dividend. In the second quarter of 2025, management affirmed an adjusted operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) outlook with a midpoint of about $7.55 billion and raised full-year free cash flow guidance to between $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, up $125 million from initial guidance. Management attributed part of the lift to tax policy restoring 100% bonus depreciation, while highlighting continued margin strength in the core collection and disposal business and contributions from sustainability investments (recycling and renewable energy).

Operationally, the quarter was solid: WM reported 12.1% year-over-year growth in adjusted operating EBITDA for its legacy waste business, with this portion of its business’s EBITDA margin coming in higher than 31%. Net income also improved year over year.

Notably, CEO Jim Fish emphasized the company’s progress “on all fronts” in the company’s second-quarter earnings release, calling out core collection and disposal strength and the ongoing integration of WM Healthcare Solutions — an added growth vector alongside recycling and renewable energy.

On the dividend itself, in December of last year, WM increased its payout rate by 10% for 2025 to $3.30 annually ($0.825 quarterly). This gives WM a dividend yield of 1.5%, based on the stock price, at the time of this writing. Importantly, the company’s payout ratio is about 47%, a conservative level that leaves ample room for future dividend raises while still funding growth projects. Against the updated free cash flow outlook, the dividend appears well covered, leaving room for reinvestment and buybacks over time.

Some risks include the volatility of recycling commodity prices from quarter to quarter and the added complexity of integration work in healthcare services. Still, with free cash flow projected to comfortably exceed dividend outlays this year, WM’s return profile looks anchored by cash — and positioned for steady dividend growth through the cycle.

McDonald’s: The bigger yield

McDonald’s dividend is larger in absolute dollars and supported by one of the most profitable models in global restaurants. In the second quarter of 2025, global comparable sales rose 3.8% (U.S. up 2.5%), consolidated revenue grew 5%, and earnings per share increased 12% (7% when adjusting for one-time items).

In McDonald’s second-quarter earnings release, chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski credited value, marketing, and menu innovation for the performance, noting the company’s ability to scale digital investments “at speed.”

The fast-food giant raised its quarterly dividend 6% to $1.77 in September of last year, reflecting confidence in its strategy and steady cash flow generation. This puts McDonald’s dividend yield at 2.3% — meaningfully ahead of WM’s. But McDonald’s payout ratio stands at about 60%, a level that provides less flexibility than WM’s and signals the dividend already consumes a larger share of earnings.

With a heavily franchised base and robust operating margins, McDonald’s typically converts a meaningful share of revenue into earnings and cash, which supports both the dividend and ongoing repurchases. Recent updates also highlighted loyalty momentum, with systemwide sales to loyalty members at roughly $33 billion over the trailing 12 months, reinforcing the durability of demand drivers.

That said, investors should watch value perceptions and traffic among lower-income consumers. Management has leaned into value offerings to protect traffic, and while this has helped comps recently, pressure on price-sensitive guests remains a variable to monitor. Even so, the blend of brand strength, marketing scale, and digital reach gives McDonald’s levers to support steady earnings and cash returns.

McDonald’s tends to trade at a premium price-to-earnings multiple compared to some fast-food peers, reflecting the resilience of its franchised model and margin profile. WM also often commands a premium, given its essential services and cash visibility. For investors weighing the two, both stocks trade at premium valuations, which makes the growth path behind each payout especially important.

Ultimately, Waste Management wins this battle. Its dividend yield is lower today, but the combination of rising free cash flow, conservative payout coverage, and multiyear investments in recycling, renewable energy, and healthcare services give it stronger capacity for dividend growth. McDonald’s offers scale and immediate income, but WM’s trajectory points to more robust raises over time and clearer long-term cash flow visibility, making it the better dividend stock for investors with a long-term horizon.

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XRP Army Credited for Court Win in Ripple’s SEC Battle https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-army-credited-for-court-win-in-ripples-sec-battle/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-army-credited-for-court-win-in-ripples-sec-battle/#respond Sat, 06 Sep 2025 05:17:53 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-army-credited-for-court-win-in-ripples-sec-battle/

John Deaton, an attorney who represented XRP
XRP


$2.81

holders during Ripple’s legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), shared in a post on X that community participation helped shape the outcome of the case.

He noted that the thousands of statements submitted by XRP users led the judge to recognize that the token, in some cases, was not sold as a security.

The legal fight began in 2020, when the SEC accused Ripple and two executives of selling XRP without proper registration.

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Over the next few years, XRP buyers formed an online community, often referred to as the “XRP Army“. Deaton said they organized around the case and submitted affidavits to the court to explain how they used the token.

These statements described XRP as a digital asset purchased through exchanges, without direct involvement from Ripple. Many participants argued that their decisions were not based on the company’s actions, and they did not expect to profit from Ripple’s business activities.

Deaton pointed to that reference as proof that community members made a difference. According to him, had the judge not mentioned the affidavits, it would be fair to question their relevance.

However, since they were included, he argued that their efforts had a clear role in shaping the court’s understanding.

Supporters had spent months gathering and submitting their statements. Each affidavit served as a formal declaration, which offered insight into how retail investors approached XRP.

Deaton said these filings showed that many users did not view XRP as an investment in Ripple’s success, which helped the court separate everyday users from institutional buyers.

On August 7, the SEC and Ripple jointly requested that the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismiss their cases. What did they say? Read the full story.


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The battle between Bitcoin Core vs Knots is getting ugly https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-battle-between-bitcoin-core-vs-knots-is-getting-ugly/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-battle-between-bitcoin-core-vs-knots-is-getting-ugly/#respond Mon, 01 Sep 2025 02:28:51 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-battle-between-bitcoin-core-vs-knots-is-getting-ugly/

If you’re new to Bitcoin or the only sats you hold are in an ETF or a centralized exchange, you’d be forgiven for not knowing about Core vs Knots and the entire OP_RETURN saga. But if you’ve weathered a few cycles, HODLed like a champ, and are still scratching your head, it’s time you opened your eyes: the 2025 ‘spam wars’ bear all the hallmarks of the block size wars almost a decade before it, and it’s getting ugly fast.

Like the block size wars, the spam wars involve a fundamental ideological clash over the core principles of Bitcoin, particularly scaling versus decentralization, and whether to prioritize network capacity and ease of use over a simpler, permissionless protocol.

Supporters of Bitcoin Core, the long-standing reference implementation, and Bitcoin Knots, an increasingly popular alternative maintained by developer and CTO at Ocean Mining, Luke Dashjr, are at loggerheads, and the gloves are coming off.

Core vs Knots, what’s happening?

At the center of the controversy is Bitcoin Core’s planned removal of the 80-byte limit on OP_RETURN data in its upcoming v30 release, scheduled for October 2025.

This technical change, intended to boost flexibility and unlock new use cases for embedding data on Bitcoin’s blockchain, is fiercely opposed by Knots backers, who argue it transforms the main network into a dumping ground for non-financial transactions and spam.

Core developers, like Peter Todd and Jameson Lopp, claim the change supports broader innovation, like digital art and document verification. They support everyone’s right to use the Bitcoin blockchain as they feel and not have governance or morals thrust upon them. Lopp posted:

“I truly detest politics. Thus I have little patience for those who try to impose traditional governance models onto Bitcoin. If you don’t like anarchy, you’re free to leave.”

Knots supporters like Samson Mow and Luke Dashjr warn that the upgrade risks bloating the blockchain, undermining Bitcoin’s neutrality, and weakening its monetary purpose. Dashjr warned:

“What do you think will happen now that Core is opening the floodgates to spam, and essentially endorsing it? (No matter what they say, that’s how spammers will take it.) Any chance we have of making Bitcoin a success will go out the window – unless the community takes a clear stand and rejects the change.”

Network philosophy and neutrality

The Core vs Knots dispute highlights deeper ideological rifts about Bitcoin’s function. Should Bitcoin remain a strictly monetary settlement layer, or can it evolve to serve more experimental on-chain data needs, so long as fees are paid?

Core’s apparent policy shift is seen by some as relinquishing its gatekeeping role, allowing any use case if the user pays. Knots supporters, however, emphasize control with features like anti-spam protection and argue that the removal of data caps could centralize power and threaten scalability.

Miners and relay service operators play a pivotal role, determining which transaction types end up in blocks and how the network responds to diverging software preferences. Node operators, too, have increasingly migrated to Knots: its share of the network doubled over six weeks in May-June 2025, and has now reached ~17% of all Bitcoin nodes, a sign of growing protest and possible fragmentation ahead of Core’s v30 launch.

Bitcoin nodes
Bitcoin nodes

Where is it heading?

While there is no hard fork yet, mounting tensions and the possibility of blocks or transactions being rejected by different software clients evoke memories of the 2017 SegWit split.

The Core vs Knots scenario also raises another fundamental issue surrounding the true decentralization of the Bitcoin network: how many of Bitcoin’s supporters run their own node? Dashjr posted:

“Bitcoin’s greatest threat to survival is that far too few people are using a full node. For Bitcoin to work, at least 85% of economic activity needs to do so.”

With technical, political, and philosophical stakes at play, October’s Core v30 release may define the next era of Bitcoin development and decentralized consensus, determining whether diversity in software serves Bitcoin’s resilience or sparks an outright chain split.

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Chainlink Vs. XRP Battle Heats Up As Bitwise Files For LINK ETF https://earlybirdsinvest.com/chainlink-vs-xrp-battle-heats-up-as-bitwise-files-for-link-etf/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/chainlink-vs-xrp-battle-heats-up-as-bitwise-files-for-link-etf/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:14:28 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/chainlink-vs-xrp-battle-heats-up-as-bitwise-files-for-link-etf/

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The race for crypto ETFs is intensifying as two tokens, Chainlink (LINK) and XRP, come under scrutiny. Crypto asset manager Bitwise officially submitted paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, seeking to launch a Bitwise Chainlink ETF that provides investors with direct exposure to LINK, the native token of the oracle network.

Bitwise Pushes Forward With Chainlink ETF Filing

According to the S-1 filing, the fund will directly hold LINK, providing investors with a way to gain exposure to the token without having to purchase it directly on the open market. In practice, this means that investors can create shares using the LINK token and redeem their shares to receive LINK again, or they can complete the process in cash. Shares in the fund will also be issued and redeemed in cash, a Trust-Directed-Trade process that mirrors the structure of other spot ETFs.

The SEC has only recently begun to allow issuers to offer in-kind creation and redemption for crypto-based ETFs. The Bitwise Chainlink ETF application does not yet include a ticker symbol. It does not specify the exact listing venue. Still, Bitwise plans to list the fund on a U.S. national securities exchange after obtaining approval from the SEC. The paperwork, however, shows that Coinbase Custody Trust Company would act as the custodian for the LINK tokens and also serve as the prime execution agent.

Chainlink’s price action has already responded positively to the news of the Bitwise ETF application. The token is trading above $23 and has gained nearly 5% in the daily chart. Traders are now watching to see if LINK can extend its ETF momentum and push toward a price breakout to $30 if the cryptocurrency continues its uptrend.

Chainlink And XRP Battle For ETF Spotlight

While Chainlink is gaining attention with its ETF filing, XRP is not far behind in the race. Bitwise has filed amended S-1 forms for its XRP ETF, with key catalysts for possible SEC approval expected in October. The amendments to the XRP ETF filing were likely made in response to feedback from the SEC. 

If the XRP ETF follows a path similar to Ethereum’s, market experts predict approval could come first, with trading beginning about two months later. Meanwhile, if it follows the same pattern as Bitcoin ETFs, the most favorable outcome could see trading begin within just one to five days after approval, rather than waiting months.

With Bitwise filing for a LINK ETF and also pursuing an XRP product, both tokens are firmly in the spotlight and could soon compete directly as regulated investment products available through spot ETFs. 

XRP’s price action remains steady despite waiting for ETF approval. The token is hovering near $3.22 after recently climbing to $3.60. Traders are now watching to see if XRP can break out again as the ETF review process moves forward.

Chainlink price chart from TradingView.com (XRP ETF)
LINK price loses support at $25 | Source: LINKUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured image from DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Second Circuit Court officially dismisses Ripple-SEC appeals, ending four-year legal battle https://earlybirdsinvest.com/second-circuit-court-officially-dismisses-ripple-sec-appeals-ending-four-year-legal-battle/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/second-circuit-court-officially-dismisses-ripple-sec-appeals-ending-four-year-legal-battle/#respond Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:04:05 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/second-circuit-court-officially-dismisses-ripple-sec-appeals-ending-four-year-legal-battle/

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a mandate on Aug. 22 approving the dismissal of the appeals in the case between Ripple and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The court order, shared by lawyer James Filan on X, officially ends one of crypto’s most consequential legal battles. 

Despite the news, XRP’s price increased less than 1% within one hour, trading at $3.0694 as of press time.

The dismissal follows a joint filing on Aug. 7, in which Ripple and the SEC agreed to end their appeals after a formal Commission vote. 

The agreement marks the conclusion of a dispute that began in December 2020 when the SEC sued Ripple Labs, CEO Brad Garlinghouse, and co-founder Chris Larsen for allegedly conducting an unregistered securities offering through XRP sales.

Legal battle concludes, ETF odds remain high

Under the settlement terms, XRP will not be classified as a security, representing a major victory for Ripple. Each side will cover its own legal costs, according to the court filing. 

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty previously described the agreement as closing a chapter that has overshadowed the crypto industry for nearly four years. 

The outcome places Ripple alongside other crypto firms like Coinbase that have successfully resolved enforcement actions with the SEC. Further, it removes regulatory uncertainty around XRP’s status, keeping the odds of approval of XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) high.

In February, Bloomberg ETF analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart predicted 65% odds of approval for spot XRP ETFs in the US. 

Polymarket bettors placed their odds of such an approval happening this year at 98% in early June, followed by a 10% slide after the SEC delayed decisions on multiple filings the same month.

Despite the sliding odds on the crypto-based prediction market, Balchunas and Seyffart raised their odds to “90% or higher” on June 20.

Polymarket traders continued to oppose the analysts, taking the odds to 62% in early August after the news that Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw opposed the approval.

However, Balchunas reiterated the high odds of approval of XRP ETFs:

“Interesting, trades reporting how Polymarket odds of XRP ETF approval went down to 62% after the votes were disclosed showing Crenshaw voting no, but a) she’s gonna vote no on EVERYTHING and b) it’s meaningless, she’s outnumbered = we haven’t changed our odds, still at 95%.”

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Yuga Labs’ $9 Million Win Reversed as Court Sends NFT Battle Back to Trial https://earlybirdsinvest.com/yuga-labs-9-million-win-reversed-as-court-sends-nft-battle-back-to-trial/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/yuga-labs-9-million-win-reversed-as-court-sends-nft-battle-back-to-trial/#respond Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:16:19 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/yuga-labs-9-million-win-reversed-as-court-sends-nft-battle-back-to-trial/

Yuga Labs’ $9 million legal victory against artist Ryder Ripps and his business partner Jeremy Cahen has been reversed by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On July 23, the court decided that Yuga Labs had not yet proven that the non-fungible token (NFT) project launched by Ripps and Cahen was likely to mislead buyers. As a result, the case will return to a California district court for a full trial.

Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano posted on X that they “will now finish the fight in the district court”.

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Despite losing the financial award, the court confirmed that NFTs can be considered “goods” under US trademark law. That could make it easier for NFT creators to sue over copycat projects in the future.

The judges also agreed that Yuga Labs was the first to use the Bored Ape Yacht Club name in a commercial context. Solano stated that it showed Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs are valid trademarks and called it “an important win for every NFT holder”.

The legal fight began in 2022 when Yuga Labs sued Ripps and Cahen over their NFT collection called “Ryder Ripps Bored Ape Yacht Club”. Yuga argued that the collection copied their original Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs.

The next phase of the legal process will involve a closer look at Yuga Labs’ claims of trademark misuse and cybersquatting.

Meanwhile, a legal case targeting Dolce & Gabbana’s US division over a failed non-fungible token (NFT) venture has been dismissed. Why? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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Open Banking Battle: Crypto Orgs Urge Donald Trump to Step In https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-banking-battle-crypto-orgs-urge-donald-trump-to-step-in/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-banking-battle-crypto-orgs-urge-donald-trump-to-step-in/#respond Sat, 26 Jul 2025 18:46:33 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-banking-battle-crypto-orgs-urge-donald-trump-to-step-in/

A group of trade organizations representing the crypto, fintech, retail, and restaurant industries has asked US President Donald Trump to support rules that let people share their financial data with apps and services of their choice.

According to a letter dated July 23, groups such as the Blockchain Association, Crypto Council for Innovation, and Financial Technology Association said that big banks are working against innovation.

These banks are suing to stop the open banking rule and making it harder for apps to get the information they need to function.

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The letter read:

Let us be clear: financial data belongs to the American people, not the banks. The freedom to choose financial tools and control one’s own data is fundamental to free markets and personal liberty—core American values.

The groups are requesting that the Trump administration submit a legal brief by July 29. This brief would tell the court that consumers, not banks, own their financial data and should be able to share it with other services without paying fees.

The letter also explains that the rule helps everyone in the financial system. It stated that the rule improves safety and gives clear standards for data sharing. These standards benefit banks, tech firms, and crypto companies alike.

Additionally, the letter said that strong innovation in this area has made the US a global leader in finance.

On July 17, several banking and credit union groups asked US regulators to hold off on granting federal bank licences to crypto companies. What did they say? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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Open-Source Developers Get Backing in DOJ Legal Battle https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-source-developers-get-backing-in-doj-legal-battle/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-source-developers-get-backing-in-doj-legal-battle/#respond Thu, 10 Jul 2025 06:16:17 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/open-source-developers-get-backing-in-doj-legal-battle/

A group of crypto advocacy organizations has joined a legal effort to stop the unfair treatment of open-source software creators.

On July 7, Paradigm, the Blockchain Association, the DeFi Education Fund, the Crypto Council for Innovation, and others filed a court document supporting developer Michael Lewellen in his lawsuit against the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Lewellen built a decentralized finance (DeFi) program that does not hold or control user funds. He currently faces charges under a federal law, Section 1960 of Title 18, which was written to regulate unlicensed money businesses.

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The group argued that the DOJ is overextending the law by treating those who only create and share code as if they are actively transferring money on behalf of others.

The filing argued that posting open-source code does not qualify as “money transmitting”. The group compared the DOJ’s position to blaming a frying pan maker for what someone cooks in it.

The brief stated that someone cannot “transmit” or “transfer” money for someone else without first having control of that money.

According to the filing, the DOJ’s actions have made developers hesitant to build privacy tools or new DeFi projects in the United States. The group warned that if this continues, many developers will either stop their work or move to other countries to avoid possible charges.

The organizations have asked the court to let Lewellen’s case move forward and to make a clear ruling that open-source publishing is not illegal under current laws.

Recently, Paradigm submitted a legal brief in support of Roman Storm, one of the co-founders of Tornado Cash. What did the company say? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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Crypto Exchange Coinone Wins South Korean Court Battle Over Doubled Bitcoin Withdrawals https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-exchange-coinone-wins-south-korean-court-battle-over-doubled-bitcoin-withdrawals/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-exchange-coinone-wins-south-korean-court-battle-over-doubled-bitcoin-withdrawals/#respond Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:51:17 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-exchange-coinone-wins-south-korean-court-battle-over-doubled-bitcoin-withdrawals/

Coinone won an appeal to force five of customers to return bitcoin

they managed to double withdraw from the South Korean crypto exchange over a glitch in 2018.

According to local media, the Seoul Western District Court’s second civil division said the traders benefited from “unjust enrichment” because the exchange had already completed the first withdrawal on-chain before its server restored their balances.

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The mix-up began when Coinone’s software flagged slow confirmations from the Bitcoin network as failed transactions, and automatically topped up users’ accounts even after the withdrawals were properly processed. The traders then withdrew same coins again.

The Bitcoin network experienced significant congestion back around that time as transaction volumes skyrocketed, in the culmination of a years-long scaling debate that had led to the Bitcoin Cash

hard fork a year earlier.

At the time, the average transaction fee on the Bitcoin network reached a then-record $55, while the memory pool, a sort of “waiting room for transactions,” grew to 250,000 unconfirmed transactions.

A lower court initially blamed Coinone’s own servers and ordered the payment of only partial damages. On appeal, judges called the network delay an outside event, said the platform need not shoulder the loss and told the users to repay the funds.

Coinone has faced controversy in the past. In a separate trial in 2023, former employees admitted receiving as much as 2 billion won (around $1.46 million) to list tokens.

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