SEC’s John Stark: Crypto Investors Need to Exercise Due Diligence

• John Stark, former chief of the SEC office of internet enforcement, joined CNBC’s ‚Squawk Box‘ to discuss the collapse of crypto exchange FTX
• The host raised the issue of due diligence, more specifically the lack thereof where investments in FTX were concerned
• Stark defended the state agencies, pointing out they’ve won many cases; they stopped ICOs, lending programs, agreements for future tokens

John Stark, the former chief of the SEC office of internet enforcement and president of John Reed Stark Consulting, recently joined CNBC’s ‚Squawk Box‘ to discuss the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. The host of the show raised the issue of due diligence and the lack thereof when it comes to investing in FTX. In response, John Stark pointed out that the public is not used to the business model of FTX and that investors should look for value and the long-term when it comes to investing.

He also noted that the state agencies have done a good job in clamping down on the industry and preventing frauds, citing the numerous cases they have won and the ICOs, lending programs and agreements for future tokens that they have stopped. He also criticized the lack of due diligence displayed by Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, saying that Bankman-Fried’s approach of “we don’t look at the product, service, etc…we look at whether this is an idea we can pitch to someone. If we think this is something we can sell, then we’re all in” is the wrong way to invest.

John Stark also noted that the state agencies should be ashamed that customers have lost their money with no claims on anything coming out of the bankruptcy. He concluded his remarks by saying that investors should be much more careful when it comes to investing in the crypto space.

Overall, John Stark’s comments on the collapse of FTX highlighted the need for investors to be more diligent when it comes to investing in the cryptocurrency space. He also noted the important role that state agencies have played in clamping down on frauds and protecting investors from losses. Investors should take his advice to heart and always do their due diligence before investing in any cryptocurrency.

Crypto Market in 2023: VC Funds, Banks, and Starbucks Investing, But Retail Investors Sitting Out

• Jacquelyn Melinek, senior crypto reporter at TechCrunch, spoke to CNBC Market Alert about what lies ahead for the crypto market in 2023.
• Retail investors are likely to sit out of the crypto market in 2023, but VC funds and big brand businesses like Starbucks will continue to invest.
• To rebuild trust within the crypto ecosystem, regulators need to create a framework that is more suitable for the industry.

The crypto market has had a tumultuous year in 2022, with several industry changing events such as the collapse of Terra. With the future of the industry in question, Jacquelyn Melinek, senior crypto reporter at TechCrunch, spoke to CNBC Market Alert about what lies ahead for the crypto market in 2023.

When asked if crypto had any kind of future in 2023, Melinek said that there was a high chance that retail investors will sit out of the crypto market in 2023, especially those who have been interested in the past but have seen many industry changing events like Terra’s collapse. At the same time, she noted that the “true believers” were those who were building the space and would continue to do so in 2023.

In terms of who will be the main investors in crypto in 2023, Melinek pointed to VC funds and big brand businesses like Starbucks investing in the space. Additionally, she noted that banks would also be getting involved. Despite the difficult year that required capital, Melinek stressed the importance of rebuilding trust within the crypto ecosystem. To do this, she argued that regulators needed to step in and create a framework that was more suitable for the industry.

Overall, the crypto market has certainly had its share of ups and downs this year. With the future of the industry uncertain, Melinek’s comments provide an insight into what we can expect from the crypto market in 2023.

Explore the Metaverse: The Sandbox, Metacade, and Decentraland Lead the Way

• The Sandbox (SAND) is a decentralized 3D world that allows users to create, share, and monetize in-game experiences.
• Metacade is a decentralized gaming platform with a focus on making gaming fun, engaging, and rewarding.
• Decentraland (MANA) is a virtual world where users can create, experience, and monetize content and applications.

The metaverse, or the collection of virtual worlds, is becoming an increasingly popular way to communicate, create, and experience content. While some people are still struggling to understand what the metaverse is, there are some projects that have become major players in the space. Projects like The Sandbox, Metacade, and Decentraland are leading the way in terms of innovation and have the potential to shape the future of the metaverse.

The Sandbox is a decentralized 3D world that allows users to create, share, and monetize in-game experiences. The game is built using voxels, which are blocks that are easy to manipulate and allow users to create intricate and detailed objects like cars, buildings, sculptures and more. Players can own LAND tokens, which are non-fungible, allowing them to be bought and sold with SAND tokens. Players can also purchase ASSETs, or objects designed by other players, to use in the game. Companies like Forbes, Gucci, and Warner Music Group have all used The Sandbox and it’s likely that many more will follow in the future.

Metacade is another player in the metaverse. It is a decentralized gaming platform that is focused on making gaming fun, engaging, and rewarding. The platform is built on the Ethereum blockchain and is designed to give gamers the ability to create, share, and play games with others all over the world. The platform also has a built-in rewards system that allows players to earn tokens for playing games, creating content, and engaging with the community.

Finally, Decentraland is a virtual world where users can create, experience, and monetize content and applications. The world is built on the Ethereum blockchain, and users can purchase LAND, the decentralized digital asset, to claim virtual real estate. From there, users can build whatever they want in the world, such as shops, galleries, or even games. Additionally, users can monetize their creations through MANA, the project’s native token, by selling their creations or charging admission fees.

These three projects are just a few of the many that are making waves in the metaverse. As the space continues to grow, it’s likely that these projects will continue to be key players in the space. As such, it’s important to consider the long-term price forecasts for each project to get an idea of what the future of the metaverse might look like. The Sandbox (SAND), Metacade (MCT), and Decentraland (MANA) are all expected to see significant growth over the next few years, with some analysts predicting that SAND and MANA could both reach as high as $10-20 by 2025.

With the metaverse becoming increasingly popular and the potential for these projects to shape the future, it’s important to keep an eye on these three projects as they continue to grow and innovate. As the space continues to evolve, these projects may become the main players in the metaverse.