Could a new bill effectively ban all crypto transactions in the US?

A study finds that a cancer drug may also flush out dormant HIV. Co-founder of a major cryptocurrency protocol is accused of being a serial scammer. Jan 30, 2022 [View in browser]( Good morning to a promising development in the health field. A recently conducted study demonstrated that a cancer drug might also reverse HIV latency and drive the virus out of hiding. On another note, the U.S. might be going stricter in cryptocurrency transactions. A bill that allows the unilateral blockage of cryptocurrency transactions is under consideration with the purported aim to stop scammers in their tracks. Speaking of scammers, the co-founder of a major cryptocurrency protocol was revealed to be a serial fraudster that had been convicted multiple times. This is The Blueprint. Keep reading. INNOVATION [Could a New Bill Effectively Ban All Crypto Transactions in the US?]( [a Bitcoin symbol and gavel]( The U.S. Treasury Department is considering a bill that would allow it to [unilaterally block cryptocurrency transactions]( without public notice. And advocates say it could help stop ransomware attacks. A stronger America. The bill is called the America COMPETES Act. The White House claims it will "make our supply chains stronger" and allow the country to "outcompete China and the rest of the world." - “Right now, China and other bad actors are threatening our national security and global financial stability,” said in a statement Chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee, Maxine Waters. “This is why the America COMPETES Act is common sense, long overdue legislation that will finally hold countries like China accountable for the ways that they engage in illicit or aggressive activity to harm our nation’s financial system. With this bill, our country and our allies will be stronger and better suited to compete and push back against these attacks..." What does this mean? Trying to ban cryptocurrencies is a notoriously difficult feat to achieve. [China is proof of that]( and the U.S. may very well want to take note and instead consider a different approach. In the meantime, time will tell how the America COMPETES Act fares. [Read More]( HEALTH [Study Finds That a Cancer Drug May Also Flush Out Dormant HIV]( [A mockup of an HIV vaccine]( As studies on [a vaccine for HIV]( continue, a new small but powerful study conducted on 32 patients has found that pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug often used in the treatment of melanoma, might also reverse HIV latency, essentially driving the virus out of hiding. [Research on the drug]( has been delayed as scientists can only test it on people who are suffering both from cancer and HIV. “It’s not straightforward to bring this approach to the clinic in people living with HIV without cancer,” explained Professor Sharon Lewin – Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. - There shouldn't be any serious side effects. “The side effects… are significant, for example, five to 10 percent of people will get an adverse event. In a cancer setting, this isn’t a major concern as you have a life-threatening illness, but in HIV, the situation is very different. People can now live normal and healthy lives with HIV, so any intervention for a cure must have very low toxicity." Lewin and her colleagues must investigate whether the drug can also boost the immune system enough to then attack and destroy HIV. The team must also evaluate whether the drug can be used safely on people who do not have cancer and only have HIV. Even though they still have a long road ahead of them, the results of their work could potentially be revolutionary. [Read More]( CULTURE [Co-Founder of a Major Cryptocurrency Protocol Is Accused of Being a Serial Scammer]( [a Bitcoin on the hook, as a bait]( Cryptocurrencies are notorious for being the source of frauds like [the November Bitcoin scam]( that forced Instagram users to film "hostage-style videos." Investors, however, were still shaken to find out that the co-founder of multi-billion dollar cryptocurrency protocol DeFi Wonderland was a convicted fraudster. On Thursday morning, blockchain sleuths took to Twitter to announce they had discovered that "Sifu," a core member of DeFi Wonderland's founding team, was actually Michael Patryn. Patryn is believed to be a long-time serial scammer and the co-founder of QuadrigaCX, a failed Canadian cryptocurrency exchange that according to provincial regulators was operating as a simple Ponzi scheme. He has allegedly been convicted of crimes multiple times. This, however, did not stop Daniele Sestagalli, the founder of DeFi Wonderland, from working with him despite finding out his true identity one month ago. - Sestagalli tweeted the following: “I want everyone to know that I was aware of this and decided that the past of an individual doesn’t determine their future.” This tweet was, however, followed by a statement where Sestagalli revealed that he had asked Patryn to step down. Although it seems this case has resolved itself, it does raise a question about the level of anonymity present in the DeFi space. [In cases involving fraudsters]( the space presents itself as a tempting area of involvement for those with previous run-ins with the law. Could it be that in the DeFi space just like in real life, transparency is best? [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Would you trust your crypto assets to a known fraudster? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Nope, I'd be cashing out immediately.]( [People can change, we owe them the benefit of doubt.]( [Meh. How clean are non-DeFi spaces anyway?]( [You know what, maybe we need more transparency.]( Yesterday’s Results Yesterday we asked if you think NFTs will be around and as popular 10 years from now. All in all, very few of you argue it will go bigger and the others believe it will live on one way or another. And yeah, half of you admit to not having a high-level understanding about NFTs. No big surprise? I still don't get the deal about NFTs. 50% They won't be as nearly as popular as right now, so no. 26% We're kind of in a bubble right now, but they will evolve and live on. 17% Haha. They will go much bigger. 7% [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Why the HQ of the US Department of Defense Is Shaped Like a Pentagon]( The 32nd U.S. president may also have something to do with it. [Why the HQ of the US Department of Defense Is Shaped Like a Pentagon]( AND ANOTHER THING... - Denmark is planning on lifting domestic restrictions, declaring that [COVID-19 is no longer a threat]( to the general public. - Did you know that working in multiple browser tabs is terrible for your focus? It is [just an illusion of multitasking](. (Mashable) - What would you do if you were stuck in a desert? This engineer [turned his car into a motorbike]( to escape. - The James Webb Space Telescope's first target is [a star named HD 84406]( in the Big Dipper asterism. (Space.com) - A shipping group has launched the world's first offshore charging station that will allow vessels to [charge while moored to a buoy](. - Why ExxonMobil, Sinopec, and Dow [are betting on plastic](. (CNBC/YouTube) - A recently developed "artificial leaf" could play an important role in our fight against global warming by [capturing carbon dioxide at rates 100 times faster]( than existing systems. 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