Web3 communications protocol WalletConnect is set to airdrop its own native token, Connect Token (WCT), on the Ethereum layer-2 network Optimism, to users who have actively engaged with the WalletConnect Network.

Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and a key figure in the FTX fraud scandal, has been lauded by federal prosecutors for her “exemplary” cooperation in the investigation.

Circle, the issuer of the popular USD-pegged stablecoin USDC, has announced its integration with Brazil and Mexico’s real-time payment systems. The stablecoin is, as a result, now available within both countries’ banking systems.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• WalletConnect Announces WCT Token Airdrop on Optimism
• Prosecutors Praise Caroline Ellison's "Exemplary" Cooperation in FTX Fraud Case
• Circle Integrates USDC with Brazil's PIX and Mexico's SPEI Payment Systems
• Bitcoin’s Cumulative Returns During the Day of CPI Announcements

WalletConnect Announces WCT Token Airdrop on Optimism

Web3 communications protocol WalletConnect is set to airdrop its own native token, Connect Token (WCT), on the Ethereum layer-2 network Optimism, to users who have actively engaged with the WalletConnect Network.

The WalletConnect network includes wallets, applications, nodes, and developers, with the airdrop being designed to reward those who have contributed to the protocol’s growth and success. WCT is set to have an initial supply of 1 billion tokens, with 18.5% of these tokens being allocated for airdrop season 1, which will end on October 11.

To participate in the airdrop, users have to register by connecting their wallets, linking their GitHub accounts, and providing an email address. The WCT token will initially be non-transferable to allow for a period of stabilization and development.

Token transfers could be enabled later on through community governance. WCT’s launch comes with the creation of the WalletConect Foundation, which will oversee the WalletConnect protocol.

Prosecutors Praise Caroline Ellison's "Exemplary" Cooperation in FTX Fraud Case

Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and a key figure in the FTX fraud scandal, has been lauded by federal prosecutors for her “exemplary” cooperation in the investigation.

Ahead of her sentencing for fraud committed at FTX, the government highlighted Ellison's significant role in unravelling the multibillion-dollar scheme and helping secure the conviction of its founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Prosecutors urged Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to consider the extraordinary challenges she faced as a cooperating witness. In a letter, they emphasized Ellison was the target of an unprecedented level of attention and harassment for a cooperating witness, with her therapist sharing details about her with an author, and Bankman-Fried leaking her personal diary to the New York Times.

Ellison's cooperation was particularly complex given Bankman-Fried was her on-again-off-again boyfriend and her former boss.  Prosecutors wrote, however, that despite these challenges, she remained “candid and dedicated to telling the truth — as embarrassing as it often was for her — and in assisting with bringing the most culpable party to justice.”

Circle Integrates USDC with Brazil's PIX and Mexico's SPEI Payment Systems

Circle, the issuer of the popular USD-pegged stablecoin USDC, has announced its integration with Brazil and Mexico’s real-time payment systems. The stablecoin is, as a result, now available within both countries’ banking systems.

By integrating USDC with both countries’ real-time payment systems, PIX in Brazil and SPEI in Mexico, Circle allows businesses and individuals to directly access USDC from local financial institutions without international wire transfers, significantly reducing transaction times and costs.

The integration also allows for seamless conversion between USDC and local fiat currencies, the Brazilian Real and the Mexican peso.

Circle’s expansion into Latin America aligns with the growing popularity of stablecoins in cross-border transactions. Per the firm, remittances from the United States to Mexico reached $63 billion last year after rising 7% from the prior year.

Bitcoin’s Cumulative Returns During the Day of CPI Announcements

Historical data shows that Bitcoin’s reaction to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data can be volatile, with price swings often following key economic releases. CCData’s recent analysis shows that while in April and May BTC’s price surged after CPI announcements, it plunged in July.

The latest CPI report, in August, had a neutral impact on Bitcoin even as inflation dropped. This is likely a result of the historically negative September performance of the cryptocurrency.

State of the Crypto by Top Tier Exchange Volume

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