FUTURES PREDICTION: CFTC Chairman Heath Tarbert believes the crypto world will see ethereum futures contracts sometime in 2020. Speaking during DC Fintech Week, Tarbert said he “absolutely” believes ether futures are possible now that he has confirmed ether is a commodity not a security. “The volume to which it’ll trade, no idea, that’s where the markets decide." Full story
WITH ADDED BITCOIN: The Opera web browser has added bitcoin e-commerce and TRON integration to its Android version. The enhanced crypto functionality will let Opera's Android users make bitcoin payments directly from a built-in digital wallet and interact with decentralized apps on the TRON blockchain. Full story
CRYPTO CARRIES: In the era of negative interest rates, return-hungry investors could be tempted to borrow low-interest fiat currencies and invest in higher-yielding cryptocurrencies.The carry trade was seen in 2004-2008 when the Fed Reserve set rates at 5.25 percent when those in Japan were stuck near 0.5 percent. In a twist on the strategy, analysts say investors could be tempted by attractive returns on crypto loans, and potentially sell their bitcoin later after the miner reward halving next year. Full story
SIM-SWAPS PLEA: Crypto investor Michael Terpin has written an open letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai requesting urgent action on SIM-swapping fraud. Terpin, who lost $24 million in a SIM-swap hack himself, asked the regulator to make mobile carriers hide customer passwords from employees and to provide a “no port” option, adding an extra hurdle before SIMs can be reassigned. Full story
ADVOCACY DRIVE: Ripple has opened a new office in Washington, D.C., to strengthen its advocacy efforts for blockchain and cryptocurrency. Announced on Tuesday, the blockchain payments provider said the move comes as it expands a team to educate policymakers on the benefits of the tech. Full story | 