What Happened on Dec. 16th｜Amber Group Raises $300M to Deal with Crisis

DeFi

• Expirable contracts protocol Contango goes live on Arbitrum.
• Perpetual DEX Firefly Exchange launches on BobaBeam.
• Cosmos-based launchpad Eclipse Pad will deploy on Sei.

CeFi

• Auditing firm Mazars pauses all work for crypto clients.
• CZ: Delist $MITH fully complies with Binance terms and conditions.
• FTX asks court permission to sell off 4 subsidiaries, including LedgerX.
• US Fed will lift the interest rate 3 times next year, Goldman Sachs forecasts.

Infrastructure

• Cosmos-based smart contract platform Injective integrates with Wormhole.
• Cross-chain interoperability network Axelar integrates with Celo.

Metaverse & NFTs

• Optimism launches Optimism NFT to represent user identity across the ecosystem.
• Data: Trump Digital Trading Cards revenue exceeds $4.35M, 255 wallets minted over 45 NFTs.
• Web3 domain provider Unstoppable Domains will integrate with Etherscan and Polygonscan.
• Venture capital firm DWF Labs has announced a strategic investment and partnership with metaverse platform Mars Labs.

Policy & Regulation

• Genesis Unit joins FTX Creditors Committee.
• SBF files new bail application in the Bahamas Supreme Court.
• Crypto.com has secured a Payment Institution License from the Central Bank of Brazil.

Fundings

• Amber Group raises $300M in Series C led by Fenbushi Capital US.
• Aztec raises $100M in Series B led by a16z.
• Crypto payment company Utorg raises $5M in a seed round co-led by Dragonfly and others.