The article discusses the decline of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in the crypto industry due to regulatory scrutiny, legal challenges, and the prevalence of scam projects. It explores the potential for ICOs to regain relevance if regulatory challenges are addressed. The emergence of alternative fundraising methods like Security Token Offerings (STOs) and Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) is highlighted, with IEOs offering enhanced regulatory compliance and investor protections. The article emphasizes the importance of solid business plans, market demand, and well-defined products or services for successful fundraising in the evolving crypto landscape.

塞拉利昂实施了一个月的禁渔令以保护其渔业资源。该国是西非渔业资源丰富的国家之一，但自上世纪八十年代以来，由于外国商业捕捞船的进入，特别是中国船队，鱼类资源大幅下滑。工业拖网渔船的捕捞量巨大，且常超过申报量，对当地渔民构成压力。塞拉利昂缺乏监管资源，面对非法、不报告和无管制的捕捞活动（IUU）问题严重。英国广播公司（BBC）的纪录片揭露了非法的双拖捕捞行为。塞拉利昂政府采取措施，包括禁渔令和拒绝为条件差的中国船队续签许可证。议会批准了两项联合国协定，旨在增强监管和保护海洋资源。专家和当地渔民对禁渔令的效果意见不一，但都认为这是一个积极的开始。

El Salvador is set to issue its first-ever $1 billion Bitcoin-backed bonds, known as Volcano Bonds, marking a significant milestone in the integration of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The DeFi ecosystem, which includes cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and Metaverses, has grown significantly, reaching $174 billion by mid-November 2021. The El Salvadorian bonds aim to democratize access for both institutional and retail investors, showcasing the mainstream acceptance of crypto-assets. The article also highlights D/Bond, a decentralized bonds system based on smart contracts, which has garnered support from various investors and advisors. Experts like Rasheed Saleuddin and Jason Hung praise the potential of D/Bond to revolutionize the financial space with its innovative approach.

Leon Li, founder of Huobi Group, is in talks to sell his nearly 60% stake in the cryptocurrency exchange, potentially marking the industry's largest takeover amid a $2 trillion global crypto market. The deal, which could value Huobi at $3 billion, has drawn interest from FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried and Tron’s Justin Sun, though Sun denies involvement. Huobi, once dominant in China, has faced challenges following China's ban on crypto transactions, leading to a significant market share drop and potential layoffs. The exchange is seeking expansion in markets like Australia and Dubai amidst regulatory hurdles in Uzbekistan.

Bitcoin experienced one of its worst weeks, with prices falling below $20,000 for the first time since 2020, reaching a low of $17,770. The decline is attributed to tighter monetary policies and fears of a recession. Key events include Celsius locking up $12 billion in crypto assets and insolvency claims against Three Arrows Capital. Despite the downturn, MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor remains committed to investing in Bitcoin. The Federal Reserve's interest rate hike and significant realized losses reported by Glassnode also contributed to the market's negative sentiment.

New York may become the first U.S. state to ban cryptocurrency mining operations that use energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) methods. The state Senate is pushing for a moratorium on such operations to comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This move follows China's crackdown on crypto mining, which led many miners to relocate to the U.S. The U.S. government is also examining the environmental impact of digital assets, with President Joe Biden signing an executive order for a comprehensive strategy on digital assets. The proposed legislation in New York could potentially drive the crypto mining industry out of the state.

ASIC prices have been in a 13-week decline across all efficiency tiers, with Luxor Mining projecting further decreases. Bitcoin's hashprice has also dropped, with expectations of continued decline unless Bitcoin's price increases. Hello Pal has started cryptocurrency mining operations in Australia and launched new video chatting apps, DogeChat and DoggeChat, integrating cryptocurrency payments. Australia's first Bitcoin ETF is set to launch on the Cboe exchange, with significant investment anticipated.

The North African digital market is dominated by young males and the upper-middle class, comprising 44% of the user landscape. Orange's Observatory of Digital Uses report highlights similar digital user profiles in North Africa and Europe, with a high level of digital use for remote work at 55%. The report also notes the impact of COVID-19 on business operations and digital maturity. Ismael Belkhayat, of B2B e-commerce platform Chari, discusses the high cost of 4G services and its influence on digital penetration among the upper-middle class, as well as the sustained use of digital services post-pandemic.

China's WeChat, developed by Tencent, will support the digital yuan (e-CNY), potentially tripling its user base. WeChat joins Alibaba and JD in facilitating digital yuan payments, marking a significant step ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The People’s Bank of China has also enabled e-CNY usage through pilot wallet apps and major domestic banks. The digital yuan's rollout will be closely watched for its implications on cross-border transactions, anti-money laundering measures, and data privacy concerns.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade agreement involving 15 Asia-Pacific countries, has come into effect. This agreement, covering 30% of the world's GDP and population, is expected to boost exports and economic connections within the region. Japan, China, and South Korea are projected to be the biggest beneficiaries. Concurrently, China is preparing to launch its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan, which has been successfully trialed and is anticipated to play a significant role in the region's economic activities. The RCEP aims to enhance trade and investment, potentially positioning China as a key player in global economic recovery.