Crypto Industry Updates: LG's NFT Closure, BlackRock's Ethereum ETF Insights, and More

1. **LG to Close NFT Marketplace Art Lab**: LG announced the closure of its NFT marketplace, Art Lab, on June 17, with purchases ceasing from March 10. The platform, launched during the NFT craze in 2022, will transfer NFTs to users' wallets by April 30.

2. **BlackRock on Ethereum ETFs**: BlackRock's Robert Mitchnick highlighted the potential impact of regulatory changes on Ethereum ETFs, noting the lack of staking returns as a hindrance to their success compared to Bitcoin ETFs.

3. **Crypto Exchanges Target India**: Major crypto exchanges like Coinbase are focusing on the Indian market, anticipating regulatory easing. This follows India's delay in releasing a consultation paper on cryptocurrency regulation.

4. **Eric Trump Joins Metaplanet**: Eric Trump has been appointed to the strategic advisory board of Japanese company Metaplanet.

5. **$ETH Whale Profits**: An $ETH whale transferred 34,000 $ETH to Coinbase, realizing a 44-fold profit since 2017.

6. **Australia's New Crypto Regulations**: Australia introduced a new regulatory framework for digital assets, requiring major platforms to obtain financial services licenses while addressing de-banking issues.

7. **Nasdaq's 24/7 Trading Plans**: Nasdaq plans to offer 24/7 trading, influenced by the demand for continuous cryptocurrency trading.

8. **OCC Ends Reputational Risk Review**: The OCC ceased its reputational risk review of banks following backlash from the crypto industry.

9. **DTCC Supports ERC3643 Standard**: DTCC will promote the ERC3643 token standard, reflecting a positive regulatory stance on tokenization.

10. **YZi Labs Expands to Biotech**: YZi Labs appointed Jane He as general partner to lead biotech investments, expanding its focus from Web3 to AI and biotech.

11. **Pump.fun Bans Indian Users**: Pump.fun, a meme coin platform, has banned Indian users.

12. **Bitnomial Launches $XRP Futures**: Bitnomial launched the first CFTC-regulated $XRP futures in the US and withdrew its lawsuit against the SEC.

13. **Tether's US Treasury Holdings**: Tether is set to become the seventh-largest holder of US Treasuries in 2024, surpassing several countries.

14. **Pump.fun Launches PumpSwap**: Pump.fun launched PumpSwap, a DEX for meme coins, amid declining trading volumes.

15. **SEC on PoW Mining**: The SEC clarified that proof-of-work mining does not involve securities laws.

16. **Trump Advocates for Stablecoin Legislation**: Trump called for Congress to pass stablecoin legislation, emphasizing US leadership in cryptocurrency.

17. **Walrus Protocol's Token Model**: Walrus Protocol announced its token economic model, with a focus on stable storage costs and network security.

18. **TON Foundation Raises $400M**: The TON Foundation raised over $400 million through a token sale, with significant venture capital participation.

19. **Kraken Acquires NinjaTrader**: Kraken acquired NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion to enter the US crypto futures market.

20. **Telegram's User Milestone**: Telegram surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, boosting the TON ecosystem's revenue.

21. **Binance Launchpool Lists Nillion**: Binance Launchpool will list Nillion, a decentralized network, with trading pairs launching on March 24.