Noticias

At the recent ETFs in Depth conference, leading industry voices from BlackRock and Tidal shared insights into the growing dominance of Bitcoin and Ethereum within the ETF landscape.Jay Jacobs, Head of Thematic and Active Equity ETFs at BlackRock, emphasized the untapped potential of flagship cryptocurrency assets. "We’re really just at the tip of the iceberg with Bitcoin and especially Ethereum," Jacobs noted. "Just a tiny fraction of our clients own [$IBIT and $ETHA], so that’s what we’re focused on—versus launching new altcoin ETFs."Mike Venuto, Chief Investment Officer at Tidal, shed light on the constant demand for innovative ETF strategies involving Bitcoin. "We have people coming to us all the time trying to pitch 'Bitcoin + something else' ETFs," he remarked, reflecting the overwhelming market interest in expanding crypto-centric investment options.Venuto also predicted a broader integration of crypto with traditional market giants in ETFs. "Every options strategy you can think of is going to be tied to Bitcoin, Nvidia, Tesla, and MicroStrategy in ETFs. It’s coming," he said, underscoring the synergy between crypto assets and high-growth technology companies.As institutional interest surges and crypto ETFs gain traction, these remarks highlight the strategic focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum as cornerstone assets in the evolving financial landscape.

According to Foresight News, recent monitoring by CertiK has revealed two significant phishing incidents this week, each resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. The first incident involved a victim with an address starting with 0x7a12c, who suffered a loss of approximately $7.8 million. The second incident affected a victim with an address beginning with 0x4711B, resulting in a loss of around $2.3 million. These incidents have contributed to a total loss of approximately $14.7 million from phishing attacks recorded so far in December. The substantial financial impact of these phishing attacks highlights the ongoing threat posed by cybercriminals in the digital space. Phishing, a method where attackers deceive individuals into providing sensitive information, continues to be a prevalent issue, especially in the cryptocurrency sector. The losses reported this month underscore the need for heightened security measures and awareness among users to protect their digital assets. As the frequency and sophistication of phishing attacks increase, it is crucial for individuals and organizations to remain vigilant. Implementing robust security protocols, educating users about potential threats, and staying informed about the latest phishing tactics are essential steps in mitigating the risk of falling victim to such scams. The incidents reported by CertiK serve as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding financial assets in the digital age.

According to Foresight News, a man from Austin, Texas, has been sentenced to two years in prison for submitting false tax returns related to his cryptocurrency transactions. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that Frank Richard Ahlgren III was found guilty of underreporting or failing to report capital gains from the sale of Bitcoin, amounting to $4 million, between 2017 and 2019. Ahlgren's actions involved significant profits from these transactions, which he did not accurately disclose in his tax filings. The case highlights the legal obligations of taxpayers to report any gains or losses from the sale of assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, on their tax returns. This requirement is part of the broader regulatory framework ensuring transparency and compliance in financial reporting. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office played a crucial role in this investigation, with Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan noting the significance of this case as the first criminal tax evasion prosecution solely focused on cryptocurrency. In addition to his prison sentence, Ahlgren has been ordered to pay $1,095,031 in restitution to the United States. This case underscores the increasing scrutiny on cryptocurrency transactions by regulatory authorities and the importance of accurate reporting in tax filings. The outcome serves as a warning to individuals engaging in cryptocurrency trading to adhere to tax laws and regulations to avoid severe legal consequences.

According to BlockBeats, on December 13, 10xResearch shared insights on social media regarding Bitcoin's strategic focus on decentralization over increasing transaction throughput. This decision has been pivotal in establishing Bitcoin's identity as 'digital gold.' This classification provides traditional financial investors with a framework to understand Bitcoin's role in portfolio management as a digital gold, risk mitigation tool, or inflation hedge. It also offers insights into Bitcoin's potential valuation trajectory. The total above-ground gold stock is approximately $18 trillion, with $8 trillion attributed to jewelry, a sector Bitcoin is unlikely to replace.However, Bitcoin can target $4 trillion in private investments (bullion and coins), $3.1 trillion in central bank reserves, and $2.7 trillion in other uses, such as industrial applications and financial institution holdings. This $10 trillion segment of the gold market represents Bitcoin's potential target. With Bitcoin's current market valuation at $2 trillion, it suggests a potential for fivefold growth as it continues to position itself as digital gold.There are significant differences in the ownership of gold and Bitcoin. Approximately 1 billion people own gold as jewelry, with an additional 150 million holding it as an investment, either directly through bullion and coins or indirectly through financial instruments like ETFs. In contrast, Bitcoin ownership is estimated to be higher, with up to 600 million individuals holding it as an investment. This gap is expected to widen, as research and surveys indicate that 25% of millennials are cryptocurrency holders, including Bitcoin, compared to only 4% of baby boomers.

According to BlockBeats, Magic Eden has announced the addition of support for the BNB Chain. As of December 13, BNB Chain is now available on Magic Eden's Launchpad, Mint Terminal, and Marketplace. This expansion allows users to access and utilize BNB Chain's features across these platforms, enhancing the overall user experience and broadening the scope of blockchain interactions available on Magic Eden. This move is part of Magic Eden's ongoing efforts to integrate more blockchain networks and provide a diverse range of options for its users.

According to Odaily, Exodus Movement, Inc. (OTCQX: EXOD), a custodial cryptocurrency software platform, has released its latest updates on digital asset holdings and transaction volumes. The preliminary unaudited results for the fourth quarter of 2024 reveal significant growth in transaction processing. From October 1 to November 30, 2024, the platform's transaction volume reached $1.26 billion, marking an increase compared to the $960 million processed throughout the entire third quarter of 2024. This rise in transaction volume indicates a robust performance for the company during the initial months of the fourth quarter. As of December 11, 2024, Exodus Movement holds over 1,900 Bitcoins and more than 2,660 Ethereum. These holdings reflect the company's substantial digital asset reserves, underscoring its position in the cryptocurrency market. The reported figures highlight the platform's capacity to manage and process significant volumes of transactions, contributing to its ongoing growth and stability in the digital asset sector.

According to PANews, the NFT series Azuki has announced that Hong Kong actor Stephen Fung has become its new creative partner. Fung will join the team as an advisor, contributing to the reimagining of anime fandom and storytelling. This collaboration aims to enhance the narrative and engagement within the Azuki community, leveraging Fung's expertise in the entertainment industry to bring fresh perspectives to the project. The partnership reflects Azuki's commitment to expanding its creative horizons and connecting with a broader audience through innovative storytelling approaches.

According to Odaily, Web3 risk provider Allez Labs has collaborated with DeFi protocols Morpho and Yearn to draft a Polygon Improvement Proposal. This proposal seeks feedback from the Polygon community regarding the deployment of approximately $1.3 billion in stablecoin reserves, specifically DAI, USDC, and USDT, from the Polygon PoS Bridge. The proposal outlines a plan to deposit the DAI reserves into Maker's sUSDS vault, while USDC and USDT reserves would utilize Morpho's vault as the primary source of yield. Allez Labs is set to manage the risks associated with these vaults, ensuring the security and efficiency of the proposed financial strategies. The proposal is open for discussion on the community forum and will also be reviewed by Polygon's dedicated protocol governance committee.

According to Foresight News, DWF Labs has announced a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center. This collaboration aims to foster innovation and growth within the Web3 ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The partnership will focus on several key initiatives designed to support early-stage cryptocurrency projects. One of the primary components of this collaboration is the organization of accelerator programs. These programs are intended to nurture emerging crypto projects by providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to thrive in the competitive blockchain landscape. Additionally, the partnership will offer ecosystem grants to support the development and expansion of promising projects within the Web3 space. Furthermore, DWF Labs and the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center will provide strategic advisory services. These services are aimed at helping projects achieve sustainable growth by offering expert insights and tailored strategies. The collaboration underscores a commitment to advancing the Web3 ecosystem in the MENA region, positioning it as a hub for blockchain innovation and development.

According to U.Today, Dan Morehead, the founder and managing partner of Pantera Capital, has forecasted significant developments for Bitcoin and stablecoins in 2025. In a recent interview with CNBC, Morehead expressed optimism about the impact of clear regulations on institutional involvement in the cryptocurrency space. He highlighted that most institutions currently have minimal exposure to blockchain technology, but anticipates that increased engagement will benefit the sector. Morehead's comments come in the wake of BlackRock's recommendation for investors with multi-asset portfolios to allocate 1-2% to Bitcoin. This suggestion has been described as a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency industry by Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz, who believes it could lead to broader institutional adoption. The potential for Bitcoin ETFs to attract more inflows in 2025 compared to 2024 has also been noted by Bitwise, as reported by U.Today. The hedge fund manager observed that interest in Bitcoin has grown significantly compared to the previous year. He remarked that the doubling of Bitcoin's price this year is not particularly remarkable, as it has averaged such growth annually for the past 11 years. Pantera Capital maintains a bullish outlook, with Morehead asserting that the market still has substantial room for expansion. In addition to Bitcoin, Pantera Capital holds significant positions in other cryptocurrencies, including Toncoin (TON) and Solana (SOL). Morehead has also made a bold prediction regarding Bitcoin's future value, suggesting that its price could potentially reach $740,000. This optimistic forecast underscores Pantera Capital's confidence in the continued growth and evolution of the cryptocurrency market.

According to U.Today, Billy Markus, also known as Shibetoshi Nakamoto and the cofounder of Dogecoin (DOGE), has shared an unconventional tip for achieving success on social media. Markus, who is known for his candid remarks, humorously suggested that to gain a large following, one should "release a cryptocurrency worth $60 billion that the richest man in the world finds amusing." This statement highlights the influence of Dogecoin and its association with Elon Musk, who has been a significant supporter of the meme cryptocurrency. Markus's post implies that his substantial social media following is largely due to the Dogecoin community's support. Initially created as a joke, Dogecoin has evolved into a major asset in the cryptocurrency market, boasting a market capitalization of over $61 billion. Markus humorously acknowledges that he did not solely rely on Dogecoin's success but benefited from his connection with Musk, which has helped the project thrive. The combination of Dogecoin and Musk's influence has been a driving force behind Markus's social media popularity. In addition to social media fame, Dogecoin has been praised by analysts for its impressive performance as the leading meme coin in the crypto space. Despite its origins as a "joke," Dogecoin has become a significant player in the market. As of the latest update, DOGE was trading at $0.416, marking a 3.21% increase in the last 24 hours. However, the market volume has seen a notable decline of 34.87% to $6.09 billion. Despite this drop, bullish sentiment remains strong among investors. Market observers attribute the positive sentiment to Musk's influence, as he has been nominated as one of Dogecoin's key influencers in the upcoming administration. Musk's posts on social media platform X have been known to impact DOGE's market price significantly. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that despite market corrections, Dogecoin's technical indicators suggest the potential for the cryptocurrency to regain its bullish trend. This ongoing support and optimism continue to bolster Dogecoin's standing in the crypto market.

According to U.Today, Max Keiser, a well-known Bitcoin advocate and advisor to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, has issued a stark warning to gold investors. This comes as Bitcoin has surged past the $100,000 mark, prompting Keiser to address gold enthusiasts through his social media account on the X network. His warning follows a significant discovery by El Salvador's leadership, revealing that the country may possess gold deposits valued at $3 trillion. President Nayib Bukele recently announced that El Salvador could potentially hold the largest gold deposits globally, attributed to the region's volcanic activity. Research conducted on just 4% of the potential areas has already identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued at approximately $131.565 billion. The total potential gold deposits are estimated to exceed $3 trillion, surpassing the country's GDP by over 8,800%. In addition to gold, the exploration has uncovered other valuable materials such as gallium, tantalum, and tin, which are essential for the upcoming industrial revolutions. Despite a longstanding ban on metal mining due to environmental concerns, Bukele is contemplating lifting the prohibition to clean the polluted rivers rather than allowing the pollution to persist. Max Keiser reacted to the news by engaging with a suggestion from a user on the X network, who proposed that El Salvador should sell its potential gold reserves and invest the proceeds in Bitcoin. Keiser agreed, stating that selling gold at a discount to purchase Bitcoin is the only viable strategy for gold investors to remain profitable. He argued that Bitcoin is gradually rendering gold obsolete, leading to a diminishing pool of future gold buyers. Without buyers, Keiser believes that mined gold would lose its value. Currently, Bitcoin is trading at $101,240, reflecting a 7.22% increase over the past two days.

According to U.Today, Chainlink (LINK) has achieved a significant milestone in its price metrics, reaching $29 for the first time in over three years. This development has sparked enthusiasm within the Chainlink community, with expectations of further gains. The price surge is attributed to the actions of LINK whales, who have acquired a substantial amount of tokens that were offloaded by retail investors. In the past two months, Chainlink whales, holding over 100,000 LINK tokens, have purchased 5.69 million LINK. Conversely, retail investors have sold 5.67 million LINK from their collective wallets, possibly due to impatience, panic-selling, or profit-taking before a potential price drop. Currently, LINK has slightly decreased from the $29 mark and is trading at $27.92. The market volume has increased by 52.86%, reaching $2.7 billion. Earlier trading saw LINK's price fluctuate between $28 and $29 before stabilizing at its current level. Santiment, a market analytics platform, suggests that the whale activity has supported the price movement, indicating increased confidence in the token. Despite the positive signals, Santiment emphasizes that Chainlink's long-term success is closely linked to Bitcoin's performance. Bitcoin's positive performance and stability often influence the price trajectory of altcoins like LINK. Bitcoin has recently regained its $100,000 price level and is currently trading at $100,424.56. If the market remains favorable and Bitcoin continues its growth, LINK could reach new levels in this cycle. However, other factors, such as Chainlink's partnerships with SWIFT and UBS Asset Management, have previously influenced LINK's price and could play a role in its future performance.

According to Foresight News, LayerZero has announced a vote on whether to activate protocol fees, scheduled to begin on December 20 at 8:00 UTC+8 and conclude on December 27 at 8:00 UTC+8. This vote will determine if LayerZero will start charging a protocol fee for each message, with the collected fees being used to repurchase and burn ZRO, thereby reducing its circulation. The proposal suggests a fee structure where messages between Arbitrum and Optimism would incur a cost of $0.01 in DVN/executor fees. An additional protocol fee of $0.01 would be charged, bringing the total cost to $0.02. The $0.01 protocol fee would be collected in a funding contract that automatically repurchases and destroys ZRO. For the referendum to be valid, at least 60% of the circulating supply, equivalent to 65,968,349.4 ZRO or more, must participate in the vote.

According to CoinDesk, a community cohort within the Polygon DAO is evaluating a proposal to leverage over $1 billion in idle stablecoin reserves currently held on the Polygon PoS Chain bridge. This initiative aims to capture yields, as outlined in a pre-proposal governance post. The PoS Bridge holds approximately $1.3 billion in stablecoins, making it one of the largest on-chain holders of such assets. However, these reserves remain idle, resulting in an opportunity cost of around $70 million annually, based on the current benchmark lending rate for the three major stablecoins. The authors of the proposal suggest that the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector has matured sufficiently to allow assets held in the Polygon PoS bridge to be used productively and securely. This could incentivize additional activity on the Polygon PoS network. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are entities governed by rules encoded as computer programs, controlled by token holders, and operate without central authority influence. The proposed plan involves utilizing Morpho Labs' vaults to manage USDC and USDT, aiming for a conservative 7% annual return through strategies involving high-quality collaterals such as USTB, sUSDS, and stUSD. This approach could potentially generate an additional $70 million annually from these idle assets. The yield generated would be reinvested into the Polygon ecosystem, fostering growth across the network and its ecosystem. Should the proposal pass an initial community check, it will seek to generate yield by gradually deploying DAI, USD Coin (USDC), and Tether (USDT) from reserves into decentralized finance protocols. Each asset deployment will require a separate proposal to be presented and approved by the community in the future. Meanwhile, Polygon's native token, POL, has experienced a 5% decline in the past 24 hours, reflecting a broader downturn in the cryptocurrency market.

According to PANews, World Liberty Financial's governance page has announced that the WLFI community has approved its first proposal to deploy a lending instance on the Ethereum mainnet based on Aave v3. This new instance will support lending and borrowing of ETH, WBTC, USDC, and USDT, managed through Aave's risk management system. The WLFI protocol aims to provide a seamless experience for users new to decentralized finance (DeFi), promoting the adoption of over-collateralized lending and enhancing Aave's leadership in the digital asset lending market. As part of this initiative, AaveDAO will receive 20% of the protocol fee income from this instance, along with 7% of $WLFI tokens, which will be used for governance participation and liquidity incentives.

According to CoinDesk, MicroStrategy, the software company founded by Michael Saylor, is not the only major corporate entity accumulating bitcoin. A recent report by JPMorgan highlights that crypto miners are also adopting this strategy in response to increasing profitability pressures. These pressures are largely attributed to the upcoming reward halving in April and a rising network hashrate, which indicates heightened competition and mining difficulty within the industry. JPMorgan analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, suggest that these challenges have prompted miners to either hoard bitcoin or seek further investments in the cryptocurrency. Some are even diversifying into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing businesses. Notably, MARA Holdings has adopted a bitcoin-buying strategy similar to MicroStrategy's, known as BTC yield, to navigate these challenges. MARA now holds 35,000 tokens, valued at approximately $3.5 billion, making it the second-largest publicly listed corporation in terms of bitcoin holdings. The trend is not limited to miners. Semler Scientific, a medical-device manufacturer, has also been actively purchasing bitcoin, amassing $144 million worth of the cryptocurrency. The introduction of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. earlier this year has provided institutional investors with a more direct avenue for bitcoin exposure. This development has led to the underperformance of miner shares, which were previously considered a proxy for bitcoin. JPMorgan's report also notes that miners are increasingly turning to debt and equity offerings to finance their operations, rather than selling their crypto reserves. This year, miners have raised over $10 billion in equity, surpassing the previous record of $9.5 billion set in 2021. This shift in strategy underscores the evolving landscape of bitcoin investment and the growing interest from both corporate and institutional players in the cryptocurrency market.

According to Finbold, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) recently made headlines in the cryptocurrency world as its shareholders decisively voted against a proposed corporate investment in Bitcoin (BTC), a move advocated by MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor. This decision, announced on December 10, had minimal immediate impact on Microsoft's stock price. However, it did cause a brief dip in Bitcoin's value, which quickly recovered. The rejection was not entirely unexpected, given Microsoft founder Bill Gates' long-standing skepticism towards Bitcoin. Gates, a prominent critic of the cryptocurrency, had previously expressed a desire to short Bitcoin back in May 2018, when the cryptocurrency was valued at $9,373. Fast forward to December 13, 2024, Bitcoin's price has surged to $100,273, marking a significant 969.8% increase. This dramatic rise highlights the potential missed opportunity for those who heeded Gates' bearish stance. An investor who chose to go long on Bitcoin with a $1,000 investment at the time of Gates' comment would now see their investment grow to $10,698.07, realizing a profit of $9,068. Looking ahead, the cryptocurrency community and various on-chain analysts are optimistic about Bitcoin's future performance. The sentiment suggests that Bitcoin is in the early stages of a bull cycle, with the recent milestone of surpassing $100,000 seen as just the beginning. Predictions for 2025 are even more bullish, with a common price target of $250,000 emerging among notable investors and analysts. Robert Kiyosaki, author of 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' and a well-known Bitcoin advocate, is among those forecasting such a rise. More surprisingly, Tom Lee from Fundstrat has echoed this ambitious prediction. If Bitcoin reaches this target, those who invested $1,000 in 2018, contrary to Gates' advice, could see their investment grow to $26,672.36 by next year. This potential growth underscores the ongoing debate about Bitcoin's value and the differing perspectives on its future trajectory.

According to Foresight News, CoinDesk reports that Societe Generale's digital asset subsidiary, SG-Forge, in collaboration with the Banque de France, has successfully completed the first blockchain-based repurchase agreement transaction in the Eurozone. In this groundbreaking transaction, SG-Forge used bonds issued on the Ethereum blockchain in 2020 as collateral to obtain central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued by the Banque de France on its DL3S blockchain.This transaction marks a significant milestone in the exploration of blockchain technology for interbank refinancing operations. Under the framework of the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, SG-Forge is actively investigating potential use cases for its euro stablecoin, EUR CoinVertible (EURCV). The successful completion of this transaction demonstrates the technical feasibility of using blockchain for such financial operations and highlights the potential of CBDCs to enhance the liquidity of digital financial securities.Societe Generale emphasized that this transaction showcases the potential of blockchain technology in the banking sector, particularly in improving the efficiency and liquidity of financial securities through the use of CBDCs. This development is a step forward in the integration of digital assets into traditional financial systems, paving the way for further innovations in the digital finance landscape.

According to BlockBeats, the BitVol Index, a measure of Bitcoin's expected 30-day implied volatility, increased to 64.62 on December 13, marking a daily rise of 0.91%. This index, developed by financial index company T3 Index in collaboration with options trading platform LedgerX, reflects the volatility derived from the prices of tradable Bitcoin options. The BitVol Index is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which incorporates the actual prices of options and other parameters, excluding volatility, to deduce the implied volatility. Implied volatility is a critical metric as it represents the market's expectations of future volatility, inferred from the competitive pricing of options by numerous traders. This makes it a valuable indicator of market sentiment and expectations regarding future price movements, providing insights into the perceived risk and uncertainty in the Bitcoin market.