Data site OnChainFX reports that each of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization hit a record high in the past four days. The price of Ripple’s XRP token, the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has passed a dollar for the first time on Thursday. According to Coinmarketcap, XRP surged 46 percent to $1.13 during Thursday’s trading session. It now has a market capitalization of over $43 billion.
Second Broker/Dealer in Hot Water over North Dakota Broker
The North Dakota Securities Commissioner Karen Tyler says Woodbury Financial Services has agreed to pay $600,000 to victims of a fraudulent scheme by Kevin Wanner, a broker from Bismarck, N.D., according to the Associated Press. Wanner, who made a plea deal in federal court on charges of mail fraud and money laundering, allegedly bilked 66 investors over 15 years. In August, Tyler announced a settlement with another broker/dealer Wanner was registered with, Questar Capital Corporation, which paid over $2.4 million to his victims. The scheme involved the sale of fictitious brokered time certificates of deposit, and unregistered interests in pooled vehicles.
Pot Projected To Be a Growth Industry
According to a report by Ameri Research Inc., the global legal cannabis market, which was valued at $14.3 billion in 2016, is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 21.1 percent between 2017 and 2024, culminating at a value of $63.5 billion by 2024. The market is going through a period of strong growth thanks to increasing legalization and decriminalization of cannabis products across North America and Europe. The report indicates that due to the complex regulatory structure at the state and federal levels, the full potential of the market is not yet realized.
