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With a total artwork value of $24 million Trevor Jones is one of the Top 10 most successfulcrypto artists worldwide.

Trevor Jones journey to crypto art stardom started the same way as many crypto noobs: His portfolio went way up, he failed to take profits, and the price came crashing down wiping out the paper gains.

A traditional painter, Jones always wanted to explore the intersection of art and technology, and he experimented with QR code oil paintings in 2012 and dived into AR art in 2013.

But it was his 2017 investment in Bitcoin that sparked deep curiosity in what this new world of crypto and blockchain was about. After getting rekt in 2018s crypto winter, Jones turned his attention from crypto trader to crypto painter.He says:

I caught that bull run and made a lot of money and then lost a lot of money in 2018. It all went up and all came crashing down.

I really fell down the rabbit hole and got completely excited about the space and the people. I was following whoever I could on Twitter, the likes of Vitalik Buterin and John McAfee and characters like that. Very quickly, I started having thoughts that this is something I would like to explore with my art.

Crypto art was almost non-existent as a genre in 2018 within traditional art circles, so Jones took it upon himself to hire a commercial gallery to stage a crypto-themed exhibition where he showcased some of his first original crypto art at the Crypto Disruption Exhibition.

The 12 paintings I did were all inspired by the crypto space, and from the new perspective I was coming in from, I didnt know a lot about it at the time. I focused on some of the characters, such as Satoshi Nakamoto, ideas and themes like the bull and the bear, hodling and riding the wave. It was kind of me figuring out how to visualize this space through these paintings, he said.

I sold almost everything from the exhibition to anonymous collectors around the world where they paid me in Bitcoin and Ethereum. It really blew my mind because normally when you go through an art gallery to sell work, you dont get to meet the collectors for the most part, its all done behind closed doors. Youd hopefully receive money two to three months down the line when the gallery pays you out.

To get paid immediately was just so eye-opening. A few of the paintings were actually sold before the exhibition even opened. I was just posting some images on Twitter and somebody would reply saying they liked it and how much is it? Id tell them a number, and theyd just send me some Bitcoin, and the sale was done. It was just the most surreal thing.

With a path similar to Josie Bellinis, from crypto artist first to NFT artist second, Jones recalls Coin Fest in April 2019 in Manchester being a pivotal moment. David Moore from Known Origin tried to explain to him why he should be interested in NFTs.

Coming from the perspective of a traditional artist who had a very successful exhibition of paintings that were selling between $5,000 and $12,000, I was grappling with the fact that NFTs at this time were only selling for about $20 or being gifted, Jones says.

It didnt make sense in my head that I should sell a digital representation of a painting for $30 when the physicals were being sold for five figures.

But Jones continued to investigate the world of NFTs, tapping into newfound relationships with the likes of Alotta Money, Pascal Boyart and Coldie. He paid particular attention to Matt Kane and Coldie in the back half of 2019 who were starting to make sales in the hundreds or thousands of dollars and started to think maybe theres a way that it makes sense to bring my work together with a digital counterpart.

He says he was initially hesitant out of concern for collectors of his physical art who had paid top dollar. I felt that it would be disrespectful to then sell that painting for $30, but I was still learning about editions and all the nuances of the space at the time, he says.

The Canadian artist was an instant success when he finally decided to take the NFT plunge. His very first NFT titled EthGirl, a collaboration with NFT art legends Alotta Money, broke the record for the highest sale on SuperRare, selling to ModeratsArt for 72.1 ETH ($10,207 at the time of sale).

Alotta Money is the most amazing dude. I worked with him on EthGirl, which was inspired by the Picasso piece Girl with a Mandolin. It was a big oil painting I did, and he animated it. It was still super early days in the NFT art scene, but it caused a huge bidding war between Moderats and Whale Shark and ended up breaking records.

Everybody was talking about it because this was really the first time that I think artists, including myself, realized we could actually make a living from selling digital art through NFTs. It was really a pivotal moment I believe in the space. It raised a lot of eyebrows to where we might be headed.Check it out by clicking the Play button in the tweet below.

Coming from a traditional art background but with a love of technology and an appreciation for history, Jones says his style is hard to label, but his aim was to be a social realist in this space to capture moments in the crypto space but also in the real world.

I dont really have a unique style, but my work is always connected to the long history and tradition of painting and art history. I studied art history at university for five years. Im somewhat of an anachronism in this space of crypto; heres this crazy innovative digital new world and then some old painter dude comes in and starts working away, and people like what Im doing.

Ive been interested in technology for a while with my previous work painting QR codes and exploring AR back in 2013, so I think thats probably one of the reasons why the collectors in NFTs accepted me with open arms because theres a history of my curiosity in technology and innovation.

Jones, who has lived in Scotland since 1999, has put his own spin on what an NFT IRL event should look like with his Bitcoin Angels Castle Party. The event brings artists and collectors together for a two-night celebration.

With Bitcoin Angel, my life changed entirely in seven minutes, and having spoken with a few bigger collectors on Twitter, one suggested I throw a castle party. At first, I thought it was a stupid idea, but after sleeping on it for a day or two, I came to realize it was a great idea.

I have an opportunity through this castle party to thank all the people who bought one of my artworks. Thats really how it started off, to invite all the owners of Bitcoin Angels and a way of giving back to my community, and its grown from there.

The 2023 castle party will be held in France from September 3 to 5, with holders of Jones artworks receiving discounted tickets. More information here.

To celebrate the coronation of the new King, Jones recently teamed up with the Evening Standard newspaper and Apollo Entertainment to release an open-edition NFT titled The Oath to own a piece of history.

It was a free mint dropped on Nifty Gateway, with 20,200 being minted, which set a record for an open-edition mint on the platform.

I thought it was a cool opportunity to capture a moment in history and get people excited about digital art and what NFTs are. The Evening Standard is one of the biggest U.K. publications, and this was a chance to create something with them to get disseminated out into the real world, said Jones.

Jones cites four artists who were part of the #ArtAngelsNFT series he created to shine a spotlight on emerging artists.

Saint MG (@SaintMG1) Artist and architect from Colombia. Lost Angel in the digital renaissance.

Nurart (@NurArt_) Visual artist from Cuba. Weaver of symbols.

Richard Masa (@RichardMasaArt) Abstract-surrealist from Paris.

Maria Fynsk Norup (@mariafynsknorup) Conceptual self-portrait artist from Denmark. Emotional storytelling.

Art Angels could be considered somewhat of a Shark Tank show meets the dating game. Its where wed connect artists and collectors. Its been life-changing for some of the artists involved. Saint MG made a 1-of-1 sale on SuperRare and some other sales and sold about $9,000, which is a lot in his hometown of Colombia.

Nurart from Cuba has also made life-changing money from some sales and is such a great artist. Richard Masa is absolutely phenomenal, just an amazing artist, be sure to check him out. Maria as a photographer is really special her work just takes you to places.

La Peste Bleue by Alotta Money

(r)Evolution by Alotta Money (gifted by ModeratsArt)

Twitter: twitter.com/trevorjonesart

Linktree: linktr.ee/trevorjonesart

Website: trevorjonesart.com/

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Greg Oakford is the co-founder of NFT Fest Australia. A former marketing and communications specialist in the sports world, Greg now focuses his time on running events, creating content and consulting in web3. He is an avid NFT collector and hosts a weekly podcast covering all things NFTs.

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Top 10 crypto artist Trevor Jones on being rich, rekt and rich again ... - Cointelegraph

While working at JPMorgan within a range of activities, including the London interbank offered rate, investment banking and decentralised finance (DeFi), Ijeoma Okoli learned aboutthree AfricanAmerican mathematicians Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson and their previously unknown contribution to the US space programme in the 1950s and 1960s.

This discovery prompted Ms Okoli to embark on a mission of self-study. This research resulted in an exhibition,Stories of Black Leadership, which is now part of the UKs Black Cultural Archives a collection of black history in the country.She calls this her proudest moment.

The tendency to dedicate time to self-study led Ms Okoli, a financial services lawyer in the traditional finance space, to the non-traditional world of cryptocurrencies and DeFi. That self-study was promoted by the rise of initial coin offerings (ICOs) in 2017.

2022 The Digital Economy Initiative, co-founder, director

2019 Impact X Capital Partners, founding member andlimited partner

2017 Women in Law EmpowermentForum, global advisory board

2015 JPMorgan, executive director

Having spent much of her career as a securities lawyer with extensive experience in structuring deals, Ms Okoli became intrigued by ICOs, which seemed to her to be securities. The ICOs being offered to the public did not seem to qualify with any of the exemptions to registration that exist in the US framework, and were not being registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In order to understand this, Ms Okoli went about learning the language of crypto.

I had to educate myself on the lingo, the technology, the products, and actually do that legal analysis, she adds. I do this with things that interest me. I just go off and think about them and try to figure them out this is one thing that set me on that journey.

While Ms Okoli did eventually conclude that the ICOs she was seeing were not strictly securities offerings, she was still puzzled as to why the SEC was allowing them to flourish and why participants were either intentionally or unintentionally not complying with US securities laws.

As a securities lawyer, she knew (and accurately predicted) when the SEC would start to crack down on the rise of ICOs. Three months after Ms Okoli started her research, in July 2017, the SEC published what is known as the DAO Report.

The report found that tokens or coins offered and sold by a virtualorganisation known as The DAO (digital asset organisation)were securities and therefore subject to the federal securities laws.It confirms that issuers of distributed ledger or blockchain technology-based securities must register offers and sales of such securities unless a valid exemption applies.Those participating in unregistered offerings also may be liable for violations of the securities laws.

During this time, Ms Okoli was asked to co-design the risk and governance framework for cryptocurrencies at JPMorgan.

After leaving the bank in 2022, Ms Okoli founded the Digital Economy Initiative along with Toby Norfolk-Thompson, who serves as a director and chair of the advisory council and is the chief investment officer of Matrixport, a global digital asset manager.

The Digital Economy Initiative is an independent think tank focused on crypto asset policy in the US and UK. It is founded on the understanding that there is a lack of comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks in both jurisdictions. The initiative finds ways to encourage common sense regulatory frameworks that will take into consideration investor and consumer protection, as well as market integrity and financial stability. It is also dedicated to encouraging and not stifling innovation, adds Ms Okoli.

I wanted to make sure that just because its crypto doesnt mean its bad

I wanted to make sure that just because its crypto doesnt mean its bad, she says.

Her experience underpins the work of the Digital Economy Initiative, having worked as a financial regulatory lawyer within several banking groups including asset management, corporate treasury, investment banking and with financial stability issues in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

All of that led to the time we currently exist in now, and can help folks understand the products and understand how things from the traditional financial sector would help in terms of minimising the risks, she adds.

After all, the crypto sector is only around 15 years old (starting with the publishing of the Satoshi Nakamoto white paper laying out the creation of bitcoin in 2009), remarks Ms Okoli.

We must think about everything because its a brand-new sector, she adds.

One element that is yet to exist is the proposed development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Their development is controversial.

CBDCs are issued by governments, she says. To the extent they are actually issued, they would enjoy the full faith and credit of the relevant governments, but you have some folks who are concerned about the governments ability to see their activities in intimate detail in ways we currently dont envisage.

In the US, the constitution protects citizens from government abuses, says Ms Okoli, but privacy and security concerns are valid. These are things that must be considered and worked through, before any decision to issue CBDCs are made, she adds.

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Crypto is a song of youth and experience - - The Banker

The world of cryptocurrencies is a fascinating one, with many different types of digital assets to choose from. However, two of the most popular and widely known cryptocurrencies are Ethereum and Bitcoin. These two digital currencies have made a significant impact on the market, and investors have shown great interest in them. But which is a better investment? In this article, we will compare Ethereum and Bitcoin and determine which one is the better choice for investors. If you are just getting started with bitcoin trading try Immediate Future for a perfect trading experience, it is a fantastic online trading platform.

Ethereum is a blockchain-based platform that enables developers to build decentralized applications (dapps) using smart contracts. The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform is Ether (ETH). Ethereum was launched in 2015 and has since grown to become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The platform has a wide range of use cases, including finance, gaming, and supply chain management.

Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency in the world. It was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates on a peer-to-peer network. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, and new bitcoins are created through a process called mining.

Both Ethereum and Bitcoin have their unique advantages and disadvantages, and both have a place in the world of cryptocurrencies. However, if we consider the potential for growth and versatility, Ethereum may be the better investment. Ethereums smart contract capabilities make it a more versatile platform than Bitcoin, with a wider range of use cases. Ethereums market cap has been growing steadily, and its potential for growth is significant.

In conclusion, while Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency and has been around for much longer than Ethereum, Ethereums smart contract capabilities make it a more versatile platform with a wider range of use cases. Both cryptocurrencies have their unique advantages and disadvantages, but if we consider the potential for growth and versatility, Ethereum may be the better investment.

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Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Which is a Better Investment? - Daily Californian

The rules have already been published, asserted Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Gary Gensler during a keynote speech on Monday, strenuously pushing back on criticism that the SEC has not provided useful guidance for crypto companies looking to remain in compliance with federal law.

The 27th annual Financial Markets Conference, held by the Atlanta Fed, is currently underway under the theme, Old Challenges in New Clothes. Speakers included Gensler and other prominent financial authorities, as well as several players in the digital economy.

Garys speech barely touched upon the digital assets market, but moderator Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, brought up the subject, asking about the SECs ongoing court case with Coinbase, as well as whether Gensler thought the agency had fallen behind on enforcement with cryptocurrencies.

SEC's Gensler Insists Clear Rules for Crypto Market 'Already Exist'

Briefly mentioning Satoshi Nakamoto and the exciting field created by his innovation, Gensler said he doesnt think the SEC is behind the times, mentioning the 140 cases that the agency has brought forth over the years. He was quick, however, to remind the public how cryptocurrency companies are building fraudulent business models.

Its a false narrative that they are decentralized," he said. "They tend towards centralization, and you can find a website and a team of entrepreneurs around most of these. He went on to say that their business models tend to be built on taking customer funds and commingling them.

The SEC has been under firerecently and in years priorby the cryptocurrency industry for not having clear-cut nor innovative regulations.

The regulator seemed slightly miffed when asked about the crypto industrys perennial request for clearer regulations, insisting that there is nothing about a new technology that makes it non-consistent with public policiesrepeating what he stated in a congressional hearing earlier this year.

Story continues

Lack of Crypto Compliance Is SEC's Fault, Say Republican Lawmakers

Looping back to earlier comments, Gensler referred to financial intermediaries in traditional money markets like rent-collecting-nodes, claiming the analogy is clear for crypto companies holding what they deem securities on their platform: they also need to adhere to the rules.

If that seems too difficult, Gensler said, the agency stands ready to help them to come into compliance.

Critics of the SEC have called such offers disingenuous, including the SEC's own crypto-friendly commissioner Hester Peirce, who pointed out that there is "no way to register" with the SEC. Republican lawmakers have similarly said Gensler's "push for firms to come in and register is a willful misrepresentation of the SECs non-existent registration process.

While U.S. regulators like Gensler insist that current regulations are enough, the European Union has been working hard to usher in a new set of rules for the crypto industry.

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Gensler: SEC 'Stands Ready to Help' as Crypto Startups Face Wave of Enforcement Actions - Yahoo Finance

Greetings, fellow voyagers of the crypto sphere! As we meander through the labyrinthine realm of digital currencies, deciphering the regulatory edifice that overlays it proves perplexing. This structure assumes an extraordinary intricacy in the United States, emblematic of the nations stance as a linchpin in the global economy. This manuscript endeavors to illuminate this perplexing network, furnishing an exhaustive synopsis of the cryptocurrency supervisory framework in the US. So, secure your harness and embark upon this enlightening expedition!

Inception of Bitcoin

Our odyssey commences in 2009, a momentous epoch in the annals of financial chronology. This was the juncture at which an enigmatic entity, Satoshi Nakamoto, unshrouded Bitcoin to the worlds gaze. Transcending a mere novel currency, Bitcoin embodied a seismic paradigm shift poised to destabilize conventional monetary systems. As the pioneer cryptocurrency, Bitcoin unfurled the potentiality of decentralized, peer-to-peer economic exchanges, promulgating a radical reimagining of the financial concept.

After Bitcoins advent, many altcoins (alternative cryptocurrencies) rapidly burgeoned. Ethereum debuted, introducing the groundbreaking notion of smart contracts, while Ripple aspired to expedite international transactions, proffering a feasible substitute to sluggish, costly global bank transfers. This surge of ingenuity instigated an exponential proliferation of the cryptocurrency market.

In the sphere of US regulation, theSECcommands a conspicuous standing. Its mandate is to ascertain whether a digital asset qualifies as a security. If deemed so, the support comes under the SECs purview, compelling the issuer to adhere to various regulatory and reporting stipulations to uphold transparency and safeguard investors.

The CFTC is pivotal when a cryptocurrency is classified as a commodity. This entity oversees futures and derivatives markets, asserting that it perceives Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as commodities within its jurisdiction.

FinCEN emerges as another key contender in the regulatory theatre, concentrating on averting money laundering and fraudulent conduct. This entity requires cryptocurrency exchanges and wallet providers to conform to its rules, thereby striving to curb the illicit utilization of cryptocurrencies. If you are looking to trade crypto you should always look for a secure exchange likeCEX.IO

The IRS has stipulated that cryptocurrencies are recognized as property from a taxation perspective. Users must declare their capital gains or losses from cryptocurrency transactions in line with other property dealings.

A series of pivotal events have sculpted the regulatory terrain. One of the most consequential was the SECs 2017 proclamation that certainICOs(Initial Coin Offerings) could be classified as securities. This assertion placed numerous ICOs under the SECs scrutiny and established a benchmark for future token offerings.

Despite prevailing ambiguity, the forthcoming regulatory landscape will usher in enhanced lucidity. As the administration endeavors to balance nurturing technological advancement and assuring consumer protection, we can anticipate the regulatory topography to undergo corresponding evolution.

The impending regulatory modifications could profoundly impact cryptocurrency enterprises and investors. More remarkable regulatory lucidity could spur institutional involvement and expedite the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. However, stringent regulations pose considerable obstacles for nascent crypto startups due to the escalating cost of regulatory adherence.

A dominant challenge within the crypto sphere is the requisite for regulatory precision. With diverse regulatory bodies interpreting cryptocurrencies variably, businesses and investors may need help navigating the regulations. For instance, while the CFTC perceives Bitcoin as a commodity, the SEC has hinted that specific cryptocurrencies could be securities.

Another considerable challenge is the transnational character of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency transactions can effortlessly transcend borders, raising the question: which nations regulations should prevail? This issue grows exponentially intricate when considering regulatory structures for initial coin offerings (ICOs) or in cases of criminal activities such as fraud and money laundering.

The ascension of DeFi, or decentralized finance, has added a new dimension to the regulatory discourse. DeFi platforms function sans intermediaries, leveraging smart contracts on the blockchain. As DeFi continues its upward trajectory, regulators grapple with applying conventional financial statutes to this emergent technology.

While regulation presents hurdles for DeFi, it also aids in conferring greater legitimacy and trust, attracting an expanded user base to DeFi platforms. The code further stimulates traditional financial institutions to integrate with DeFi platforms, fanning the flames of innovation and growth within the sector.

Regulating cryptocurrencies is akin to a tightrope walk. Conversely, regulation is indispensable to safeguard consumers and curtail illicit activities. On the flip side, excessive regulation could smother innovation and impede the crypto industrys growth. The regulators task is to strike an optimal balance.

Some propose that the US adopt a pro-innovation regulatory stance, mirroring nations like Singapore and Switzerland. This could involve the creation of a regulatory sandbox wherein startups could experiment with their services under regulatory supervision. Such an approach could stimulate innovation while ensuring consumer protection.

Interpreting the constantly evolving panorama of cryptocurrency regulation in the US is complex, necessitating a delicate equilibrium between spurring innovation and ensuring consumer protection. As the crypto industry matures and ventures into uncharted territories like DeFi, well likely witness further regulatory architecture developments. Whether youre a crypto enthusiast, investor, or entrepreneur, keeping pace with these changes is vital for successfully navigating the crypto sphere.

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The State of Crypto Regulation in the US - Eye On Annapolis