When news broke about the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s decision to prohibit non-compete agreements, it brought back memories of my own experience leaving a blockchain startup to join another early-stage company. Upon my departure, my former employer sent a cease-and-desist letter alleging a breach of a non-compete clause in my employment contract.

Despite the weak legal grounds of their claim, I found myself entangled in a lengthy dispute, facing financial losses, emotional strain, and months of unemployment. My story is not unique. Nearly one in five Americans is bound by non-compete agreements, leading to unnecessary hurdles for both employees and employers.

The FTC’s move to ban non-compete agreements is a significant step forward, with Chair Lina M. Khan estimating it could spur the creation of 8,500 new startups through increased competition. As someone working in the blockchain and digital assets sector, I see this decision as aligning with the open-source ethos fundamental to our industry’s innovation.

It’s ironic that a blockchain startup, built on principles of decentralization and collaboration, would resort to enforcing restrictive non-compete clauses. Furthermore, the contrast between my experience and California’s long-standing ban on non-competes highlights the potential impact of such regulations on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

The FTC’s action signals a positive shift, not only for individual employees like myself but also for the broader crypto industry, where talent mobility and innovation thrive in an environment free from unnecessary constraints.

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Paystand (NASDAQ:PAYS) has made a strategic move by acquiring spend management software startup Teampay, aiming to establish a “no-fee B2B digital payment and spend powerhouse.”

While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Teampay has successfully raised $65 million since its inception in 2016.

The merger brings together two entities servicing over 1 million businesses on a commercial blockchain, with a transaction volume exceeding $10 billion to date, representing close to 2% of annual U.S. business-to-business payments.

Jeremy Almond, CEO of Paystand, shared with TechCrunch that Teampay represents a new breed of fintech companies, offering innovative products to CFOs seeking to modernize their workflows. The acquisition aligns with Paystand’s vision of providing next-gen experiences to its customers amidst a significant modernization wave.

Maintaining the Teampay brand is a strategic decision due to its established reputation in the market, according to Almond.

The acquisition of Teampay marks Paystand’s second in two years, following the purchase of payment platform Yaydoo in 2022. With a valuation surpassing $1 billion and $98 million in venture capital funding since its inception in 2014, Paystand aims to leverage Teampay’s capabilities to enhance both accounts receivable and accounts payable processes.

Almond emphasizes the trend of consumerization in the enterprise space, aiming to replicate the seamless payment experiences seen in consumer finance apps like Venmo and CashApp within the B2B realm.

Despite fintech’s recent growth, the banking industry grapples with outdated payment rails, resulting in higher fees, increased intermediaries, and delays. Paystand addresses these issues by leveraging decentralized financial infrastructure powered by the Ethereum blockchain, offering zero-fee business-to-business payments through its Paystand Bank Network.

Almond believes that blockchain technology represents a paradigm shift away from traditional central banking systems, offering real value to businesses and finance teams. He asserts that the readiness of blockchain and decentralized finance networks lies in their ability to create tangible benefits for users.

In conclusion, Paystand’s acquisition of Teampay signifies a strategic move towards revolutionizing B2B payments within the decentralized finance landscape, offering businesses enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and streamlined processes.

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Amidst a broader market crash, Ethereum experiences a 2.50% decline, fueling concerns of a potential drop to $3,000. Despite this setback, some investors maintain optimism for long-term gains, pointing to the possibility of a bullish trend triggered by Bitcoin Halving. However, ETH faces resistance even as it finds support at $2,850, with conflicting signals from technical indicators adding to market uncertainty.

Ethereum, the leading altcoin by market capitalization, has not escaped the recent market downturn, witnessing a 2.50% decline in price. Worries about a potential descent to $3,000 have emerged following this setback and amid broader concerns of a significant market correction.

Nevertheless, despite the current downturn, certain investors remain hopeful about Ethereum’s long-term trajectory. The historical precedent of Bitcoin Halving sparking an altcoin season hints at the potential for a future uptrend.

With a market capitalization of $382 billion, Ethereum has experienced an 18% drop over recent weeks. However, the ETH price has found support around the 50% Fibonacci level, approximately $2,850.

The consolidation on the weekly chart between the 50% and 61.80% Fibonacci levels has been prolonged by the latest downturn. The smaller rejection from the 50% Fib level suggests a possible bullish breakout, potentially leading to sustained levels above $3,000.

Can Ethereum Regain Momentum?

At its current trading price of $3,140, Ethereum displays an intraday Doji candle, highlighting the altcoin’s volatile nature. The resumption of an upward trend for Ethereum may occur if the market manages to avoid further losses.

Technical indicators offer a mixed outlook for Ethereum. The bearish crossover in the MACD and signal lines on the weekly chart reflects the recent pullback phase. However, a rebound from the 50% Fib level in ETH price could reignite positive momentum.

A potential breakout above the $3,265 resistance level may signal an entry opportunity for a bull run continuation. Such a scenario could test the formidable $4,000 resistance level, potentially resulting in a 25% increase.

However, while the likelihood of a drop to $3,000 remains minimal, it still concerns investors amidst the current market conditions. The prevailing uncertainty prompts investors to carefully evaluate the potential outcomes for Ethereum’s price movement.

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Industry insiders anticipate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will reject proposals for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the price of ether in the coming month, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Several firms, including VanEck and ARK Investment Management, have submitted applications to the SEC seeking approval for ETFs that would mirror the spot price movements of ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The SEC is slated to make decisions on VanEck’s and ARK’s applications by May 23 and May 24, respectively.

Meetings between these firms and the SEC in recent weeks have reportedly been disheartening, with agency staff offering little insight into the concerns surrounding the proposed ETFs. This stands in stark contrast to the extensive deliberations that preceded the approval of bitcoin-based ETFs earlier this year.

Led by crypto skeptic Gary Gensler, the SEC had historically rejected bitcoin ETFs due to concerns over market manipulation. However, pressure mounted after Grayscale Investments successfully challenged the SEC’s stance in court, leading to the recent approval of spot bitcoin ETFs. Despite arguments from ETF issuers citing precedents set by bitcoin ETFs and ether futures-based ETFs approved last year, the SEC appears poised to deny the current filings, signaling a setback for the cryptocurrency industry.

While some issuers intend to submit additional documentation to the SEC to prolong discussions, expectations of a rejection have already impacted ether’s price. Although the cryptocurrency has seen a modest increase in value this year, it has lagged behind bitcoin, which reached new all-time highs recently.

The SEC’s scrutiny of ether ETFs has been limited thus far, with only a few meetings reported, including one with crypto exchange Coinbase. Coinbase argued that the rationale behind approving bitcoin ETFs should extend to ether products, given the correlation between ether futures and the spot market.

If the SEC rejects the ether ETFs, it may be due to concerns regarding the availability and reliability of statistical data on the ether market. Some observers speculate that the SEC may require more time to assess the impact of ether futures trading before greenlighting spot ETFs.

Despite the anticipated rejection, some industry insiders believe that legal challenges could eventually pave the way for ether ETFs. However, for now, the prospect of approval remains uncertain, leaving the cryptocurrency market in a state of flux.

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Financial markets are experiencing a profound transformation with the rise of asset tokenization, signaling more than just a passing trend among technology enthusiasts. It represents a fundamental evolution in the management and transaction of assets on a global scale.

The distinction between crypto-native tokens and tokenized real-world assets is paramount. While crypto-native tokens like bitcoin and ether exist purely in the digital realm and serve various purposes within their ecosystems, tokenized RWAs bridge the gap between digital and traditional finance. They enhance liquidity and fractionalization, making previously illiquid assets more accessible.

The recent launch of BlackRock’s BUIDL, a tokenized private short-term treasury fund, is a significant milestone in the realm of tokenization. BUIDL attracted nearly $300 million in assets within its first month, signaling BlackRock’s endorsement of tokenization as the future of markets. Tokenized government treasuries, exemplified by products like BENJI and USDY, have seen exponential growth, with the market surpassing $1.2 billion.

Currently, on-chain RWAs represent a $7.5 billion market, but the pace of growth and the widening array of tokenized assets, including treasuries, commodities, real estate, and more, suggest a tipping point. Forecasts indicate that the market for tokenized assets could reach $16 trillion by 2030, facilitating the development of new financial ecosystems across DeFi protocols.

A new demographic of investors has emerged within the crypto-native space, accustomed to accessing financial products and services directly from their wallets. These investors have benefited from a decentralized ecosystem operating 24/7, with lower barriers to entry compared to traditional financial systems.

Geopolitical events can have a significant impact on tokenized assets, as demonstrated by the trading behavior of PAXG during heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. This underscores the importance of asset safety, a principle that applies to both traditional and digital markets.

The concept of “Bring Your Own Wallet” represents a paradigm shift, empowering individual investors to manage and access their assets without relying on intermediaries. As more assets transition to blockchain, asset managers will adapt

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