What involves thoughts once you consider Gucci? Designer purses, trend jewellery, elegant Swiss watches? What about fee integration with an ERC-20 governance and utility token that wishes to energy Web3? Rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? The long-lasting Italian trend model introduced this week it will develop its fee choices to incorporate the Bored Ape Yacht Membership-affiliated ApeCoin (APE) — however solely by way of BitPay. In different phrases, Gucci will allow you to liquidate your APE for United States {dollars} and spend the proceeds at its shops.

For those who’re stunned by the information, you need to learn on to study extra about Gucci’s broadening crypto ambitions. Whilst you’re at it, stick round for this week’s Crypto Biz, the place we dissect the newest information surrounding Michael Saylor and Robinhood. We go away you with a sobering evaluation of the Terra-induced crypto market collapse from a high Kraken government.

Gucci turns into first main model to just accept ApeCoin funds

For those who missed it, Gucci formally turned the primary main model to just accept APE funds through Bitpay. The transfer got here months after Gucci introduced that it will settle for 12 crypto property as fee throughout greater than 100 North American shops. Holders of Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE) and different crypto at the moment are in a position to convert their digital property right into a $5,000 GUCCI Tote Bag. Past crypto funds, Gucci launched a pair of nonfungible token (NFT) collections this yr, together with the SUPERGUCCI NFT lineup in February.

Michael Saylor will step down as MicroStrategy CEO however stay as government chair

Bitcoin’s chief evangelist Michael Saylor is clearing his calendar to focus nearly solely on selling the digital asset. This week, Saylor introduced he was stepping down as CEO of MicroStrategy in favor of a brand new government chair place. Efficient Aug. 8, Saylor’s new function will give attention to MicroStrategy’s “Bitcoin acquisition technique and associated Bitcoin advocacy initiatives.” A day after the announcement, MicroStrategy’s inventory value surged to three-month highs. It appears to be like like traders are happy with Saylor’s place. We’ll see how they really feel if crypto winter lasts one other yr.

In my subsequent job, I intend to focus extra on #Bitcoin.

— Michael Saylor⚡️ (@saylor) August 3, 2022

‘That is on me’ — Robinhood CEO to put off 23% of employees after Q2 loss

Robinhood’s foray into crypto appeared nice over a yr in the past once we had been driving the bull market. Now, with crypto, shares and the economic system within the dumps, the low cost brokerage has been compelled to put off almost 1 / 4 of its employees. Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s CEO, delivered the unhealthy information shortly after the corporate reported dismal second-quarter earnings outcomes, which included a 44% decline in year-over-year internet revenues. Crypto-focused firms have seen sweeping layoffs this yr as asset costs plunged and commerce volumes dried up.

“Departing Robinhoodies shall be supplied the chance to stay employed with Robinhood by way of October 1, 2022 and obtain their common pay and advantages. They will even be supplied job search help (together with an choose in Robinhood Alumni Expertise Listing).”

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 2, 2022

Contagion solely hit corporations with ‘poor steadiness sheet administration’ — Kraken Aus boss

The epic collapse of Terra Luna sparked industry-wide contagion in crypto, ultimately resulting in a number of bankruptcies and trillions of {dollars} in misplaced market cap. However, the one firms and protocols that went below had been these with “poor steadiness sheet administration” and a whole lack of information of how blockchain works. That sober evaluation was offered by Kraken Australia managing director Jonathon Miller. He additionally defined why Ethereum proved resilient within the face of chaos and why his mother or father firm, Kraken, is poised to proceed rising.

Don’t miss it! What’s subsequent for Bitcoin and Ether?

Bitcoin’s efficiency over the previous week has taken each the bulls and the bears without warning. In the meantime, Ether has bounced strongly off its lows because the hype surrounding its upcoming Merge intensifies. However, the outlook on each property is as clear as mud. On this week’s Market Report, I sat down with fellow analysts Marcel Pechman and Benton Yaun to debate an essential matter: Have BTC and ETH bottomed but? You’ll be able to catch a full replay of the present beneath.

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