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Germany’s Free Democratic Party (FDP) is intensifying its focus on Bitcoin and crypto policy during the run-up to the country’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for February. The party’s newly released election manifesto, published on December 18, signals a notable pivot towards integrating digital assets such as Bitcoin into the existing financial framework. Notably, the FDP mentions Bitcoin and crypto a total of five times throughout the document.

FDP Wants A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Central to the FDP’s platform is the idea of modernizing financial market oversight, while maintaining proportional and competitive regulatory standards. The election program stresses a commitment to “modern financial market regulation” that both protects private creditors and ensures a “level playing field” for all market participants. To achieve this, the FDP proposes expanding the responsibilities of the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) so it can better “support FinTech and crypto innovations.”

The FDP also wants to ensure that Germany’s approach to crypto regulation aligns closely with broader European standards. It states that German rules should not exceed the “European minimum requirements,” implying that an overly stringent national framework could hinder competitiveness. The party suggests examining whether current regulations are “proportionate,” hinting that an overly restrictive environment may discourage innovation and push promising ventures elsewhere within the European Union.

Perhaps most notably, the FDP is “open” to the idea of both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the German Bundesbank incorporating Bitcoin into their currency reserves. While the program does not detail the mechanisms or timeline for such a move, it clearly presents the introduction of a Bitcoin reserve as a forward-looking strategy.

“We are open to the European Central Bank and the German Bundesbank using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as currency reserves. This can strengthen the resilience of the European monetary system,” the election program states.

Further, the FDP’s platform strikes a balance between embracing digital innovation and preserving established monetary practices. It reaffirms support for the continued existence of cash, advocates for “broad acceptance of card payments,” and envisions a digital euro that respects user privacy and remains voluntary.

The party insists that any introduction of digital central bank money must preserve the privacy of users. “digital euro that complements cash must respect users’ privacy and be usable both online and offline. There must be no compulsion to use the digital euro and there must be no additional risks for the financial system,” the FDP demands.

This crypto-friendly pivot comes only a few days after FDP leader and former finance minister Christian Lindner Germany’s Bitcoin Dilemma: Ex-Finance Minister Urges Chancellor For Change that Germany must not lose touch with “innovations.” He compared Germany’s stance unfavorably to the next US administration under President-elect Donald Trump, which he said is poised to capitalize on “advantages that we could also have with Bitcoin.” While Lindner did not explicitly mention establishing a Bitcoin reserve at that time, his comments marked a caesura.

The FDP’s proposal has already drawn attention from key figures in the European tech community. Frank Thelen, a prominent European entrepreneur, technology investor, and TV personality, publicly supported the party’s approach via X: “First pro-crypto party in Germany @FDP. Imho a good addition to the existing currency reserves.”

At press time, BTC traded at $102,388.

On Wednesday, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, successfully acquired municipal debt through a transaction that exclusively utilizes blockchain technology. According to a Bloomberg report, this marks the first instance of municipal bonds being purchased, settled, and held entirely on a blockchain platform.

BlackRock’s Historic Bond Deal

Per the report, the bonds were issued earlier this year by the city of Quincy, Massachusetts, and were underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

The transaction was facilitated through an application on JPMorgan’s private, permissioned blockchain platform, known as Digital Debt Service. Interestingly, this approach not only streamlines the bond issuance process but also enhances transparency and security in municipal finance.

BlackRock’s acquisition was made through its actively-managed exchange-traded fund, the iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF (MEAR). Since its inception in 2015, MEAR has attracted approximately $750 million in client assets. 

As part of this historic deal, BlackRock has taken a total position of $6.5 million in the Quincy bonds, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Pat Haskell, head of BlackRock’s municipal bond group, expressed optimism about the transaction, stating: 

The use of blockchain throughout the lifecycle of bonds is just one example of the potential for this technology to transform capital markets. This transaction marks a significant moment for the municipal bond market and is a testament to BlackRock’s dedication to innovation.

The prospectus for MEAR was recently updated to permit the fund to invest in municipal bonds settled through JPMorgan’s blockchain application, as indicated in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission dated December 17. 

However, investors are cautioned about potential risks, including lack of liquidity and the possibility of errors or limitations inherent in the underlying computer code of the application.

In recent years, several issuers and underwriters have explored the feasibility of blockchain technology in the municipal bond market.

Notably, the board of trustees at Michigan State University considered a deal that would have utilized a proprietary digital assets platform developed by Goldman Sachs, highlighting a growing interest in integrating blockchain solutions within traditional finance.

iShares Bitcoin Trust Surges Towards $60 Billion

In the realm of cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), BlackRock has garnered significant attention, particularly due to ongoing inflows throughout the year. Notably, its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has outperformed its gold ETF in terms of assets under management (AUM).

According to Ki Young Ju, CEO of the market intelligence firm CryptoQuant, it took BlackRock’s gold ETF 20 years to reach $33 billion in AUM. In contrast, the Bitcoin ETF has nearly doubled that figure in less than a year, approaching the $60 billion milestone.

This development occurs amid notable volatility in Bitcoin’s price over the past 48 hours, as traders anticipated the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rate cuts. During this period, despite Bitcoin briefly falling below the $100,000 mark, BlackRock seized the opportunity to purchase $1 billion worth of Bitcoin.

At the time of writing, despite losing the key $100,000 milestone, Bitcoin has managed to recover this level and is currently trading at $101,240. However, the market’s leading crypto still posted losses of 2.3% in the 24-hour time frame.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

As December 2024 unfolds, the cryptocurrency market continues to offer remarkable opportunities for investors aiming to maximise their returns. While Bitcoin remains a dominant force, altcoins have emerged as compelling investment options, promising innovative solutions and strong growth potential. For those seeking the best altcoins to invest in December 2024, Qubetics, Toncoin, Chainlink, VeChain, and Hedera stand out as top contenders.

Each of these projects brings unique value propositions and advancements to the table. From Web3 aggregators to decentralised oracles, their innovative approaches make them indispensable in the evolving blockchain landscape. Let us explore why these altcoins deserve attention this December.

1. Qubetics ($TICS): Pioneering Web3 Innovation

Qubetics has solidified its reputation as the world’s first Web3 aggregator, addressing real-world challenges with transformative solutions. Its decentralised VPN (dVPN) ensures secure internet access while promoting affordability and privacy. Businesses and individuals alike benefit from its practical applications. For instance, a consulting firm can use Qubetics to ensure confidential communication with international clients, while a remote worker relies on its dVPN to protect sensitive data.

The numbers behind Qubetics highlight its potential. Over 359 million $TICS tokens have been sold during its presale, raising $7.2 million. Currently priced at $0.0342, the token offers substantial growth potential. A $50,000 investment today could yield $1,410,390.91 at a $1 valuation or $21,755,867.61 if the price reaches $15 post-mainnet launch.

Why did this coin make it to this list? Qubetics stands out for its robust use cases, strong presale performance, and unparalleled potential for investors seeking the best altcoins to invest in December 2024. 

2. Toncoin: Simplifying Blockchain for Everyday Users

Toncoin, born from the Telegram Open Network project, has carved a niche as a user-friendly blockchain platform. Its seamless integration with Telegram allows users to send and receive cryptocurrency effortlessly, promoting mass adoption. Businesses can leverage Toncoin for efficient payment processing, while individuals enjoy its accessibility for peer-to-peer transactions.

With its expanding ecosystem and ongoing partnerships, Toncoin has attracted attention from both retail and institutional investors. The project’s commitment to scalability and security ensures its long-term viability in the competitive crypto market.

Why did this coin make it to this list? Toncoin’s ease of use and integration with a widely popular platform make it a standout option for investors this December.

3. Chainlink: Bridging Real-World Data and Blockchain

Chainlink continues to lead the decentralised oracle market, enabling smart contracts to interact with real-world data. Its technology is critical for powering decentralised finance (DeFi) applications, supply chain tracking, and more. A logistics company, for example, can use Chainlink’s oracles to verify the authenticity of shipment data, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

The project’s consistent innovation and integration with major blockchain platforms have cemented its position as a market leader. With the increasing demand for reliable data feeds in blockchain applications, Chainlink’s potential remains strong.

Why did this coin make it to this list? Chainlink’s critical role in connecting blockchain with external data makes it one of the best altcoins to invest in December 2024.

4. VeChain: Revolutionising Supply Chain Management

VeChain has emerged as a game-changer in supply chain management, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency, efficiency, and traceability. Its dual-token system supports enterprise-level adoption, offering tailored solutions for industries such as retail, automotive, and healthcare. For example, a food producer can use VeChain to trace the journey of products from farm to table, ensuring quality and compliance.

VeChain’s partnerships with global corporations demonstrate its utility and potential for widespread adoption. Its focus on solving real-world problems ensures its relevance in an increasingly digitalised economy.

Why did this coin make it to this list? VeChain’s ability to provide practical solutions for industries worldwide makes it a top contender for December investments.

5. Hedera: The Enterprise-Grade Blockchain

Hedera offers an enterprise-grade blockchain platform known for its speed, security, and energy efficiency. Its unique Hashgraph consensus mechanism sets it apart, enabling high-throughput and low-latency transactions. Enterprises across sectors, from finance to healthcare, can utilise Hedera to enhance operations and reduce costs.

Hedera’s growing ecosystem of applications and partnerships underscores its potential. With its focus on sustainability and innovation, it appeals to investors seeking long-term growth in the blockchain space.

Why did this coin make it to this list? Hedera’s enterprise focus and technical superiority make it one of the best altcoins to invest in December 2024.

Conclusion: Invest in Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Qubetics, Toncoin, Chainlink, VeChain, and Hedera each offer unique opportunities for investors. Whether it is Qubetics’ transformative Web3 solutions, Toncoin’s accessibility, Chainlink’s oracle technology, VeChain’s industry applications, or Hedera’s enterprise-grade blockchain, these altcoins are shaping the future of cryptocurrency.

Investing in the best altcoins to invest in December 2024 ensures you are positioned to benefit from their growth trajectories. The time to act is now. These projects represent the cutting edge of blockchain innovation—seize the opportunity before it passes.

For More Information:

Qubetics: https://qubetics.com/

Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/qubetics

Disclaimer: This is a paid release. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily represent those of Bitcoinist. Bitcoinist does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information available in such content. Do your research and invest at your own risk.

Pepecoin, the OG green frog meme coin, had a rough week.

$PEPE is down nearly 21% over the past seven days as the euphoria of Bitcoin’s surge above $100K wears off slightly.

Meme coins, more even than most stable cryptos, react to the mood of the broader market. $PEPE is no exception. As $BTC takes a breather, some investors take profits, and $BTC’s price settles in just above $100k, $PEPE is feeling the pinch.

So much, in fact, that Pepe has decided to spice things up with an OnlyFans account.

Will it work? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, there’s never been a better time to look at $PEPE alternatives – and Wall Street Pepe is stepping in to take up the challenge.

Here’s what we know about the current state of affairs in the meme coin market, and why $WEPE could supplant $PEPE as the green frog of choice.

$PEPE Steps Back

Over the past seven days, $PEPE has seen a slight decline. The market cap remains north of $8B but has fallen 22% over the past week.

In short, $PEPE’s hot pace from November into early December has finally cooled. 

That’s in keeping with broader crypto trends. In light of a rough stretch for the US stock markets and news of another Fed rate cut, crypto markets are testing resistance levels and relaxing a bit from the surge of the past few weeks.

It’s worth noting that even $PEPE’s step back is still a step forward overall.

As one of the biggest meme coins by market cap, $PEPE suffers from normal crypto volatility yet still boasts the liquidity necessary to ride out the waves.

$WEPE Hops Up

With $PEPE hitting a lull, a new challenger is hopping into the spotlight. 

Wall Street Pepe, currently in presale, has raised a whopping $31M so far. And with weeks to go, $WEPE looks to become the next big green frog meme coin.

$WEPE offers a trading-focused community where insights and degen plays can be shared. The token is an attempt to bring together the impulsive momentum of meme coins with the analysis and insights of the stock market.

In short, this green frog has $PEPE’s memes and Wall Street genes.

$WEPE’s presale proceeds in stages, with each stage offering tokens at a slightly higher price than the one before. At the time of writing, $WEPE tokens are available for $0.0003649. But it won’t stay at that level for long, and, once the coin is trading on public exchanges, a lot more investors will be coming in, which is known to drive the price up considerably.

WEPE, PEPE Set To Surge Into 2025

The broader crypto market continues to benefit from the favorable US political climate. News of a Bitcoin reserve may have taken a blow, but the Trump administration still looks set to create a regulatory environment that’s far friendlier than the previous government. And that means things are still only looking up for the frogs.

None of this is financial advice, of course. Do your own research, and make your own evaluations on projects based on what you can find out about roadmaps, development teams, token allocations, and more.

But keep your eyes on the green frog dressed like a hedge fund manager. 

It’s been under a week since the launch of the $SOLX presale, but Solaxy’s native token is taking no prisoners. After raising $350K in its first 24 hours, just five days later, that tally has skyrocketed to $2.85M.

Crypto investors are clearly excited by Solaxy’s plan to build a Layer 2 protocol that will build on Solana, incorporating all its good bits and massively improving on where it’s been falling short. 

Solana’s super-high transaction volumes (178.75M over the past seven days, according to DappRadar) are driven mostly by meme coins, and have resulted in some congestion issues and failed transactions. 

That’s why this is great news for crypto investors – particularly those trading meme coins. Solana is, after all, the platform where the majority of meme coins are launched and traded. But it’s not just Solana that’s set to score.

As a multi-chain solution, Solaxy will bridge that critical divide between the big boys of blockchain – Ethereum and Solana. And that means making the most of the high liquidity and security that Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem brings to the table.

Ethereum and DeFi go hand-in-hand, with a total value locked of $131.42B. That said, Solana is also a key player in the DeFi arena – second to Ethereum, with $14.33B in total locked value. And that’s one of the major reasons behind investors clambering to buy $SOLX – DeFi domination is imminent.

If you want to secure your spot in the first Solana Layer 2 presale, visit the official Solaxy website now.

Solaxy’s Meteoric Presale Is On Fire

The $SOLX presale launched at a cool $0.001. But that was a week ago, and the price has now risen to $0.00157. And, with a total token supply of 138,046B, staking rewards are currently estimated at an impressive 1,239% per annum.

The next price stage begins tomorrow in less than 10 hours, when the $SOLX kitty is expected to hit the $3.132M mark. 

As for the $SOLX tokenomics, 30% has been allocated to the development of that all-important Layer 2 ecosystem, and 25% for early bird rewards. The remaining amount is split between the project’s treasury (20%), marketing (15%), and listing the $SOLX on DEXs and CEXs (10%).

How to Buy $SOLX

$SOLX can be bought with $ETH, $USDT, and by credit or debit card. $BNB is another payment option. But be warned, you’ll lose out on the annual staking rewards if you choose to purchase presale $SOLX with $BNB.

As for the card payment option, you will need to link your credit card to a crypto wallet before making a transaction. The Solaxy website recommends that potential investors who don’t yet have a crypto wallet download the Best Wallet app. 

Best Wallet is a good choice – it’s free, secure, and offers lower transaction fees. And, importantly, it’s a non-custodial wallet in the form of a mobile-only app. Unlike many other crypto wallets that belong to centralized exchanges or companies, Best Wallet gives users full and sole control over their wallet. 

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices have significantly crashed in the last 24 hours. This is partly due to Jerome Powell’s speech, which painted a bearish picture for crypto assets despite the announcement of a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut. 

Why The Dogecoin And Shiba Inu Prices Crashed

The Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices are both down over 5% in the last 24 hours. This price crash has happened despite the Federal Reserve announcing a 25 bps rate cut. One major reason for this price crash is believed to be due to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, which painted a bearish picture for these crypto assets. 

Powell hinted in his speech that the Fed was currently ‘hawkish’ despite the 25 bps rate cut. He also suggested that there would likely be fewer rate cuts in 2025, having already made three rate cuts this year. The Fed being hawkish is bearish for the Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices as investors become more skeptical about investing in these risk assets. 

In Dogecoin’s case, crypto analyst Kevin Capital had mentioned that the meme coin’s technical indicators were currently bearish but added that it could be invalidated if the Fed took a dovish stance. However, that didn’t happen, meaning that the Dogecoin price could even plunge further, seeing as fundamentals and technicals are bearish. 

Meanwhile, Powell’s take on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is another factor that could have contributed to the price crashes of Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. The Fed Chair mentioned that the US Central Bank is not allowed to hold Bitcoin and is not seeking a law change. That statement caused the price of Bitcoin to drop below $100,000. 

The Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices share a positive correlation with the flagship crypto, so it was expected that they would also follow suit as BTC corrected. If the Bitcoin continues to drop, then the Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices are also at risk of further declines. 

What Next For DOGE?

In a recent X post, Kevin Capital mentioned that the bias is to the downside in the short term for the Dogecoin Price. This came as he revealed that Dogecoin has witnessed seven straight candles in a row and failed to get above the Macro .786 Fib. The analyst added that DOGE is also losing the macro .5 Fib on the linear chart. 

Meanwhile, Kevin also alluded to Bitcoin, considering the impact the flagship crypto could have on the Dogecoin and Shiba Inu prices by extension. The analyst stated that Bitcoin is getting rejected at the macro 1.703 level and printing a bearish daily candle while having a massive amount of long liquidity to the downside.  

However, the analyst is confident these coins will still regain bullish momentum. He stated that people are overreacting to Powell’s speech and that the dip will be bought. In line with this, he remarked that this is a normal market correction. 

Cryptocurrencies are going through a very good period right now, and some people are likely to walk away with a nice return on their investment as 2024 draws to a close. But this is also good news for the IRS when it comes time for your next tax bill.

When it comes to keeping your tax bill as low as possible, however, crypto losses can also be your friend. You can use them to offset profits you made elsewhere in your crypto portfolio. With good times potentially ahead for crypto coins like Solaxy ($SOL), your tax position is something you should be looking at sooner rather than later.

Crypto Profits Are Taxable Profits

Meme coins are in the ascendant right now, with many of them – Crypto All-Stars ($STARS), Wall Street Pepe ($WEPE), and CatSlap ($SLAP), to name a few – promising high staking yields and higher prices. As investors take advantage of the bullish markets, it can be hard to forget that a percentage of any profits legally need to go to the government.

The IRS is making big changes to the rules starting on January 1st, so unless you do a bit of advance planning, you could find yourself handing over more of your crypto wins to Uncle Sam than you’d hoped for. Thinking ahead to your next one or two tax bills, therefore, makes sense, including how to offset them with your losses.

Of course, we’re not lawyers or accountants, so we can’t give tax advice. We can give you some broad strokes hints, but you should always double-check everything we say with your accountant. Everyone’s tax liabilities are different, so what applies to some people won’t necessarily apply to others.

So When Does Crypto Become Taxable?

It helps to start by defining what the IRS considers to be taxable when it comes to crypto. According to this Forbes article, you’ll need to pay tax on your crypto gains when you’re:

• Selling any of your crypto balances for fiat currency
• Trading one cryptocurrency for another one
• Spending your crypto balance on goods or services (many wallets, like Coinbase, now offer debit cards)
• Earning crypto through staking, mining, or rewards, which is something investors really need to watch out for, when staking new meme coins
• Receiving airdrops or hard forks

If you’ve done any of these things during 2024, you need to ask your accountant for a Form 8949, Schedule D, or Schedule 1.

So, How Can Your Crypto Tax Bill Benefit From Losses?

You should ideally be putting aside 25%-30% of your crypto wins for the tax man. But you could potentially make your bill lower by adding your crypto losses to the tax return. This is completely legal. However, you need to do this by December 31st to take advantage of this for your 2024 tax bill.

Using losses to offset a tax bill is known as tax loss harvesting. This is when you look at your assets and decide which ones are underperforming and currently causing losses for you. You can then sell them at a loss and report that loss to the IRS, who will then hopefully accept them and take them off your bill. In some cases, those losses may even apply to tax bills in future years.

This all serves to illustrate that making losses can have a silver lining.

Signs Look Good For Solaxy

At the beginning of the article, we mentioned Solaxy ($SOL) which is one coin doing extremely well at the moment. It’s the first Solana Layer 2 protocol designed to tackle congestion and scalability issues, which is what’s getting it a lot of attention right now.

While others like Wall Street Pepe and CatSlap are slightly declining at the moment, Solaxy is going in the opposite direction. It’s seeing gains of almost 200% with a current token price of $0.00001839, and a staking APY of 1,280%. So this would definitely be one to consider including in your portfolio.

Don’t Take Our Word as Gospel – Consult an Accountant!

What we’ve outlined here are merely generalizations. You should always consult an accountant or a tax lawyer to make sure the rules apply to your current situation. Like investing in new crypto possibilities, always do your own research!

Bitcoin has surged past its all-time high again, reaching an impressive $108,300 and solidifying its position as the market leader. This rally marks a continuation of Bitcoin’s push into price discovery, fueled by growing investor demand and positive global market sentiment.

Notably, many major markets, including U.S. stocks and gold, are also experiencing upward momentum, creating a favorable macroeconomic environment for Bitcoin’s price action.

Top CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler recently highlighted Bitcoin’s renewed strong correlation with the S&P 500 index, which currently stands at 83%. This connection underscores how BTC is increasingly viewed as a risk-on asset, moving in tandem with traditional financial markets. Adler’s analysis suggests that Bitcoin’s price performance could continue to mirror broader market trends, potentially leading to even greater heights if global equities maintain their bullish trajectory.

As Bitcoin navigates this historic rally, analysts and investors closely monitor the market for clues about its next moves. With global markets aligned and BTC maintaining strong correlations, the stage is set for further price discovery. However, all eyes remain on whether BTC can sustain its momentum and reach new highs in the coming weeks.

Bitcoin Joins Traditional Markets

Bitcoin has evolved from a niche digital asset to a globally accepted store of value, with its increasing mainstream adoption playing a key role in its market movements. Over the past four years, Bitcoin’s price action has often mirrored broader market trends, especially during strong growth in traditional assets like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. This growing relationship highlights Bitcoin’s transition into a risk-on asset, now seen as part of a larger global financial ecosystem.

Top CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler recently shared important insights revealing that BTC is once again strongly correlated with the S&P 500, with the current correlation at an impressive 83%. 

This marks a significant shift from September, when the correlation was a negative 80%. During that time, BTC was undergoing a correction while the S&P 500 was pushing toward a new all-time high. The negative correlation observed back then reflected a market divergence, with BTC and traditional equities moving in opposite directions.

Typically, a high positive correlation between Bitcoin and the S&P 500 signals that both markets are trending in the same direction, often due to shared macroeconomic factors like investor sentiment and global economic conditions. 

The current positive correlation suggests that Bitcoin’s rise is in tandem with the broader financial market’s bullish momentum, which bodes well for further price discovery. As both markets continue to climb, BTC may experience even stronger upward movement, benefiting from the continued growth of global equities.

BTC Visits Uncharted Territory

Bitcoin is trading at $105,200, showing strong momentum after a solid bounce from the previous all-time high (ATH) at the $103,400 level. This bounce is a bullish signal, indicating that BTC maintains its upward trajectory and continues to push into price discovery. BTC holding above this key support level highlights growing investor confidence, suggesting that further gains are likely in the coming days.

If BTC can hold above the critical $104,000 mark in the short term, it would pave the way for a challenge to the $110,000 level. A successful move past $110,000 would mark a new milestone in Bitcoin’s price action, potentially leading to further exploration of uncharted territory.

However, if selling pressure begins to intensify, BTC may experience a retrace back to the $100,000 mark. This level could act as key support, offering a chance for the market to find demand before continuing its rally. Overall, Bitcoin remains in a strong uptrend, and the next few days will be crucial in determining whether it can continue pushing toward new highs or face a temporary pullback.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView 

Just yesterday, Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) announced that it raised $21 million. Today, the counter stands at a staggering $23 million as investors flock to secure their share of $STARS before the presale ends.

A broader meme coin rally in November could’ve benefited $STARS, but such a success wouldn’t have been possible if not for its unique utility. Crypto All-Stars presents the world’s first unified staking platform MemeVault, which allows you to earn passive rewards on your favorite meme coins.

Let’s unpack why $STARS is drawing the community’s attention and why the stars have aligned perfectly for its launch.

Chill Guys Lose It, Penguins Fly, $STARS Align

It’s true that some recent top gainers, like Dogecoin ($DOGE), Just a Chill Guy ($CHILLGUY), and First Convicted Raccoon ($FRED), saw dramatic corrections this week.

However, new stars appear on the meme coin skyline daily. While some fall, new projects like Pudgy Penguins ($PENGU) record 500%+ gains.

$STARS is one such sensation. Unlike meme coins that rely on hype alone, $STARS’ meteoric rise has to do with its underlying staking platform, MemeVault.

Holders of popular meme coins like $DOGE, $PEPE, $SHIB, $BRETT, and $MOG can stake their tokens in the MemeVault to earn passive yields in the form of $STARS. At launch, MemeVault will support the top 11 meme coins, but the project team plans to add more in the future.

This approach future-proofs $STARS because it doesn’t depend on the demand for just one token. Instead, it can attract the entire meme coin community, ever-expanding like the universe itself.

The word of $STARS has spread far across the meme coin space and drew not just degen investors but also whales. Yesterday, a single investor bought over $75,000 worth of $STARS.

Big buys like these make influencers like ClayBro believe $STARS price will double soon after launch.

$STARS to Conquer DEXs First, Are Tier-1 CEXs Next?

$STARS started at a humble price point of $0.00138 and is now selling 21% above that, at $0.0016782. This is the final price before the $STARS presale ends, and holders can claim their tokens.

MemeVault welcomes every degen investor, regardless of their participation in the presale. However, early $STARS adopters will benefit from higher staking rewards within the ecosystem, which means now is the last chance to maximize your potential earnings.

And there’s still time to stake your $STARS at a 144% APY. Rewards will be distributed over two years at a rate of 2801.44 $STARS per $ETH block.

The Crypto All-Stars project team doesn’t openly disclose upcoming listings, but rumor has it we might see $STARS on tier-1 centralized exchanges like Coinbase. It’s likely that $STARS will test the waters on decentralized platforms like Uniswap first.

To ensure smooth trading, Crypto All-Stars allocated 10% of the total token supply to liquidity. Another 20% is reserved for marketing to expand the project’s reach globally and – who knows – launch $STARS right to the moon.

Last 26H to Buy $STARS Before Token Claim

The Crypto All-Stars presale ends tomorrow, and FOMO is through the roof. With just 20% of the total token supply available on presale, investors are rushing to secure their share of $STARS before it sells out.

To buy $STARS, visit the official Crypto All-Stars website, connect your wallet, and buy tokens using $ETH, $BNB, $USDT, or fiat. Then, follow the Crypto All-Stars X and Telegram channels so as not to miss token claim updates.

Remember to do your own research because nothing is certain in life except death and taxes (and, perhaps, $BTC hitting $110,000 this market cycle).

As the crypto market braces up for a new bullish rally in 2025, analysts are focusing on high-performing assets that could lead the charge. Among these, Dogecoin stands out as a contender with growing mainstream adoption and a loyal investor base.

Despite its fun and viral start, DOGE has surged in value over the years, trading at $0.3853 at the time of writing. With the token -48% away from its All-Time High price ($0.7376), investors wonder if DOGE can surpass $1 in the first quarter of 2025. As we find the answers, crypto analysts are betting on a new ICO, DTX Exchange, valued at $0.12.

DTX Exchange (DTX): A Comprehensive Trading Platform Captivating Investors and Analysts

DTX Exchange is a new project redefining the online trading experience by integrating the strengths of centralized and decentralized platforms. It does this by combining the security of decentralized exchanges with the liquidity of centralized exchanges.

This unified platform provides access to a portfolio of financial instruments, from stocks, ETFs, cryptos, forex, and more. As such, it reduces the need for traders to explore multiple exchanges, thereby increasing efficiency, security, and user convenience.

Notably, DTX Exchange is powered by an innovative blockchain, VulcanX, which ensures exceptional performance with a throughput of over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS). This technology, combined with an average execution trade time of just 0.04 seconds, guarantees traders a reliable and fast trading experience.

In addition, DTX features analytical tools such as real-time charting tools for users to make data-driven decisions and capitalize on quick market moves. Another standout of DTX Exchange is its non-custodial storage and wallet trading, which ensures traders retain full control over their assets. As such, it’ll foster trust and safety among traders seeking security and transparency in this hybrid ecosystem.

It’s no surprise that DTX Exchange is doing well in its ongoing presale; it has raised over $10 million so far. With the potential to list on top-tier exchanges like Binance, Uniswap, and ByBit, analysts predict potential growth for this coin, with some forecasting a 500% surge in value post-presale.

With over 300k wallet addresses already onboard, this project is gaining momentum as an all-in-one solution for traders worldwide. Eager investors can purchase DTX tokens at $0.12.

Can Dogecoin (DOGE) Surpass $1 in 2025?

Ranking #1 in the meme coin sector, Dogecoin has become one of the go-to meme projects among top investors and traders. With Elon Musk leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in this new American political landscape, Dogecoin continues to surge in value.

As the new bull cycle approaches, many investment analysts believe that Dogecoin can reach the $1 milestone. Given Elon Musk’s constant involvement, DOGE can almost certainly achieve that price.

However, the token’s dependency on celebrity hypes and a favorable crypto landscape renders it susceptible to fluctuating price action. There’s also the supply issue, as Dogecoin has an infinite amount of DOGE minted. This situation partly undermines the crypto’s capacity to maintain and boosts its value.

Conclusion

As a top crypto, Dogecoin continues to deliver speculative price action among experts and investors. With the bulls returning in full momentum, there’s a growing expectation that DOGE could return to its higher price and hit its $1 milestone in the first quarter of 2025.

While we wait, investors are checking out DTX Exchange, a project performing well in its early stages and ready to soar soon, thanks to its impressive utility. Its presale is still on, and there’s a good chance to hop in and enjoy remarkable gains now and in the future.

Find out more information about DTX Exchange by visiting the links below:

Buy Presale

Visit DTX Website

Join The DTX Community

Prominent crypto market commentator and former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes predicts a “harrowing dump” in the digital assets market around President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. However, Hayes adds that the anticipated market crash will likely be followed by a strong bullish trend reversal.

Hayes Warns Against Overblown Expectations From Trump

Renowned crypto market analyst Hayes shared a new blog post outlining his views on the crypto market’s trajectory for the coming year. According to Hayes, the disconnect between the crypto market’s high expectations for Trump’s incoming administration and the political reality will likely spook investors, triggering a significant market sell-off.

Hayes points to the market’s unrealistic expectations from Trump, saying that it is “almost impossible for Trump to appease his base sufficiently to prevent the Democrats from retaking both legislative bodies in 2026.” As a result, Trump will have, at best, one year to enact any policy changes.

The crypto entrepreneur warned that the market’s realization of these limitations will trigger a “vicious sell-off” in digital assets. He revealed that his investment fund, Maelstrom, plans to book profits ahead of the anticipated sell-off and re-enter the market at lower prices during the first half of 2025. However, Hayes noted that he is open to “admitting defeat” if no market correction occurs by January 20.

Trump’s victory in the US presidential election has sparked fresh hope in the crypto market, resulting in BTC rising past $100,000 price level for the first time ever. At the time of writing, the total crypto market cap stands at $3.81 trillion.

Trump’s victory has also fuelled speculation about the creation of a potential national strategic Bitcoin reserve, a move that could spur competitive sovereign purchases by other nations. However, Hayes does not expect such a reserve to materialize anytime soon. He explained:

While I don’t believe the US government will purchase Bitcoin, it doesn’t affect my positive price outlook. At the end of the day, a gold devaluation creates dollars which must find a home in real goods/services and financial assets.

Contrasting Projections For BTC Price Action

While Hayes foresees an impending crypto market dump in early 2025, crypto financial services firm Matrixport predicts otherwise. According to a recent X post, the firm expects a “strong start” for BTC going into 2025.

Similarly, Standard Chartered bank estimates that BTC may climb up to $200,000 by 2025 as more institutions continue to accumulate the top digital asset. A recent report by crypto exchange Bitfinex also predicts further upside potential in BTC after its consolidation around the $100,000 price level.

Even more ambitious price targets were shared by Bitwise’s Matt Hougan, who said that buying BTC before it reaches $500,000 would still be considered “early.” At press time, BTC trades at $104,002, down 2.8% in the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin (BTC) bull Michael Saylor, who is co-founder and Chairman of MicroStrategy, has expressed a desire to enhance “intelligent leverage” for the company’s shareholders as it continues its strategy of investing heavily in the market’s leading crypto. 

MicroStrategy’s Shares Soar 500% In 2024

In a recent interview on Bloomberg Television, Saylor highlighted that MicroStrategy holds $7.2 billion in convertible securities, with approximately $4 billion effectively acting as equity due to their favorable trading conditions. 

He noted, “They are trading with a delta of approximately 100%, looking like equity,” indicating a strong correlation between the convertible bonds and the company’s stock performance.

MicroStrategy has emerged as a significant player in the cryptocurrency landscape this year, actively pursuing a bold plan to raise $42 billion exclusively for the acquisition and retention of Bitcoin. 

The company’s shares have surged nearly 500% in 2024, significantly outpacing Bitcoin’s own 150% rise during the same period, attributed in part to the firm’s routine announcements of multi-billion-dollar Bitcoin purchases, which have taken place every Monday for the past six weeks. 

Such activities have not only driven up MicroStrategy’s stock price but have also raised questions regarding the long-term sustainability of this aggressive investment strategy.

The firm’s fixed-income securities have attracted attention from hedge funds seeking convertible arbitrage opportunities, a strategy that involves buying the bonds while short-selling the underlying shares. This demand has facilitated MicroStrategy’s issuance of $6.2 billion in convertibles this year, further bolstering its financing capabilities.

Despite concerns about the viability of its investment approach, MicroStrategy’s market capitalization has soared past $90 billion, leading to its inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 Index at the end of trading on Friday. 

This milestone could trigger over $2 billion in share purchases from funds that track the tech benchmark index, according to estimates from Bloomberg Intelligence.

Saylor Open To Crypto Advisory Role

In a related note, Saylor revealed during the interview that he has been actively engaging with members of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, signaling his willingness to contribute to discussions on constructive digital asset policies. 

Saylor stated that he would be open to serving on an advisory council for digital assets if called upon amid Trump’s recent appointment of David Sacks, a former PayPal executive, as the first-ever “White House AI & Crypto Czar.” 

As previously reported by Bitcoinist, this role is designed to oversee the development of government policies concerning artificial intelligence and crypto, a move that aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to reform US crypto regulations and foster an environment conducive to industry growth.

Sacks will be tasked with creating a legal framework to provide the clarity the crypto industry has long sought, enabling it to flourish within the United States. Trump remarked, “He will work on a legal framework so the crypto industry gets the clarity it has been asking for and can thrive in the US.”

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Online reports revealed Craig Wright skipped his UK court hearing today due to an alleged lack of resources to travel. The Australian computer scientist is facing a contempt of court case over his lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers and could receive a prison sentence if the claim is proved.

COPA Vs. Wright Saga Continues

On Wednesday, Australian Computer scientist and self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Craig Wright was expected to appear at the London Royal Court of Justice to attend the hearing regarding the contempt of court case against him.

The hearing attendants reported that Wright didn’t appear in court “due to lack of means for travel.” According to the hearing transcription shared by BitMEX Research, the self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto informed the participants via email he would not be attending.

In October, the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) filed a contempt application form in response to Wright’s $1.2 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core Developers and Jack Dorsey’s Square Up European Ltd.

In the contempt application, COPA argued that the computer scientist had breached the injunction resulting from the main Bitcoin Authorship case. The injunction ordered Wright to admit he was not Satoshi Nakamoto and cease any further legal action related to the disproved authorship claims.

In an early November court hearing, the fake Satoshi denied COPA’s accusations, arguing that his latest legal battle was “fundamentally different” from an identity claim as it was based on his “contributions to the development, maintenance, and extension of the Bitcoin Blockchain.”

Based on this, Wright, representing himself in the lawsuit, asserted not to be in contempt but added that he was willing to amend his case if the court found him to be breaching the court’s injunction.

For context, the self-proclaimed Bitcoin author claimed in the lawsuit that Bitcoin Core developers and all affiliated parties have misrepresented BTC as the original Bitcoin, adding that Bitcoin SV (BSV) is the real version.

Judge Mellor halted Wright’s lawsuit while the Contempt case was resolved, scheduling the hearing for December 18. During the hearing, the parties discussed that Wright’s in-person assistance was required, as he attended the initial hearing via video call from Singapore.

In a subsequent hearing, the court ordered Wright to return to the UK for today’s hearing.

COPA Asks For 2-Year Sentence Over Bitcoin Core Case

COPA’s legal representative, Jonathan Hough, revealed that the non-profit organization offered to pay his travel expenses. Seemingly, Wright refused the offer, stating it “would not cover his business losses.”

“This is the first time that CSW has said he does not have the means to travel. He has covered cost orders of around £10m earlier this year, therefore this latest excuse deserves a large amount of skepticism,” Hough stated.

The email exchange continued, with the Australian computer scientist stating that he would need £240,000 to cover the travel expenses and the business losses:

It comes in at £240,000. Due to the actions by COPA, I am not able to operate as expected. However, even with this funding I would not be in a position to function adequately, nor could I feasibly travel to complete such obligations.

It’s worth noting that Hough requested “a sentence of 2 years and a following term of 6 months if CSW does not withdraw the new claim,” noting that Wright is “staying out of jurisdiction to avoid consequences.”

After Wright’s confirmed absence, British High Court Judge James Mellor decided to continue the hearing and hand down a judgment on Thursday, December 19 at 2 pm UK time. The judge asked COPA’s legal representative to invite Wright to the sentencing before ending the session.

According to new reports, Dogecoin’s market sentiment has plummeted significantly, turning negative once again as its price consolidates. This bearish trend raises the question of whether it is time for investors to buy or sell off their DOGE tokens to avoid future losses.

Dogecoin Market Sentiment Dwindles

On Tuesday, crypto analyst Ali Martinez announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Dogecoin’s market sentiment has turned negative, signaling a shift in investor confidence in the meme coin.

Martinez shared a price chart highlighting two key metrics suggesting that DOGE’s market sentiment is drastically reducing. The first metric, indicated by the blue bars as social volume, represents the number of social media mentions around Dogecoin. 

As a meme coin, social sentiment plays a crucial role in DOGE’s price trajectory. Increases in social volume typically suggest increased interest or hype in a cryptocurrency, which ultimately fuels demand and increased adoption.

The second metric, shown by the red bars on the chart, reflects Dogecoin’s weighted sentiment. This metric tracks the overall positive and negative sentiment surrounding DOGE on social media. When the weighted sentiment falls below the zero line into the negative territory, it signals that investors and traders are adopting a pessimistic outlook on the cryptocurrency. 

In the chart, the weighted sentiment for DOGE has turned negative multiple times, especially during periods of consolidation. Consequently, Martinez has revealed that the recent shift in Dogecoin’s market sentiment is attributed to its ongoing price consolidation.

The analyst has surmised that investors and traders are growing increasingly impatient with DOGE’s prolonged consolidation. The price has remained stagnant despite its rise to $0.4. With the sentiment turning bearish, the Dogecoin price could face additional challenges, leaving investors uncertain whether to buy or sell off their holdings to mitigate potential losses. 

Moving on, Martinez has observed that the red sentiment line on the DOGE chart has dipped below 0.597, reflecting negative market sentiment. This bearish indicator, combined with Dogecoin’s slow price growth, suggests that interest and optimism surrounding the meme coin have declined for now. 

Analyst Says The Longer The Consolidation, The Bigger The Rally

Many in the crypto market have expressed concerns over the recent change in market sentiment due to DOGE’s extensive price consolidation. However, crypto analyst Cephii proposed that this consolidation could catalyze a significant Dogecoin price rally.

According to the analyst, “The longer we consolidate here, the bigger the rip.” This suggests that Dogecoin could experience an explosive price rally once its consolidation ends. Based on his price chart, the analyst has predicted a potential rise toward $0.8 once DOGE can break past key resistance areas. 

Additionally, Cephii has pointed out that Dogecoin’s social metrics remain strong. This is likely due to the continued bullish sentiment within the Dogecoin community, even amid the negative shifts in market sentiment. 

Discussions about Ethereum’s next major price rally have emerged significantly within the crypto community following its recent upbeat strength in the past few days. With upside momentum gaining traction, there are speculations that ETH may rally soon. However, a recent development suggests otherwise.

Anticipated Major Rally For Ethereum Might Require More Patience

Ethereum’s next big upswing is widely believed to be just around the corner as evidenced by several bullish forecasts. Nonetheless, Ali Martinez, a market expert and investor, predicts that the notable much-anticipated move may take longer than the general market expects.

The expert points to a key market sentiment trend that implies that ETH could require more time to build the necessary momentum for its next price breakout. This forecast may also indicate that the altcoin may witness a period of consolidation before any substantial upward movement.

In the past two bull cycles when long-term holders went into greed, Ali Martinez highlighted that Ethereum climbed super high. Meanwhile, the metric shows that long-term holders’ mood is still in the early phases of belief.

Comparing the development in the ongoing cycle with the past cycles, the expert is confident that the altcoin’s next big move could still be ahead. Martinez’s forecast serves as a cautionary insight for traders and investors as ETH navigates the current volatile phase.

As optimism around ETH begins to build, Venturefounder, a crypto analyst has pointed out the digital asset’s path to a new all-time high. His forecast is part of a broader sentiment that ETH might be gearing up for a significant move upward.

After navigating Ethereum’s price action on the 3-week chart, Venturefounder believes that the altcoin will surge to $4,900. Furthermore, the expert solely attributes his forecast to a breakout from an impending chart formation, particularly the Cup and Handle pattern.

The chart shows that ETH has finally reached a weekly close of $3,800 as support. Even though it took the asset weeks to achieve the level, Venturefounder claims that the move was solid.

With ETH closing the week at $3,800 and the Cup and Handle pattern forming, the $4,900 level could be the next price target. Following the milestone, Venturefounder foresees other higher levels, such as $5,349, $6,457, and $7,238, by the end of the Q1 of 2025.

Is ETH’s Outlook Becoming Bearish?

Over the past week, ETH displayed a robust price performance, rising as high as $4,089 on Monday. However, its upside momentum appears to be slowing down, leading to a drop toward the $3,800 level.

This sudden drop has triggered a potential negative outlook for ETH in the short term as investors are gradually becoming pessimistic. Following the price drop of nearly 4% in the past day, its market cap and trading volume have also dropped by 3% and 13% in the same time frame.

After an explosive rally, the Dogecoin price consolidated between $0.35 and $0.47, which saw it gain 78% in a month. This has prompted ADA holders to join PropiChain’s (PCHAIN) token presale to capitalize on its potential for huge profits in 2025.

PropiChain is gaining attention, raising over $1 million in the ongoing presale. The RWA altcoin is tipped to transform the $300 trillion real estate industry through AI, blockchain, and the metaverse.

It has drawn from investors and DOGE whales who think the Dogecoin price action hints at fading momentum. 

Could PropiChain deliver up to 32,390% returns by mid-January, surpassing even DOGE’’s impressive growth?

Dogecoin Price: DOGE Loses Momentum 

The Dogecoin price jumped from $0.1467 in early November and reached a local high of $0.4758 before surrendering gains. At $0.3964, the Dogecoin price has surged 170% in less than 2 months.

After the slide, investors think DOGE is losing momentum. This also comes as old coins that surged in the same period are tanking. These include XRP and Cardano. 

Analysts believe the Dogecoin price will see further downside before having any chance of rising again. This has pushed ADA holders to seek better opportunities in promising presale tokens. 

The Dogecoin price is 46% below its May 2021 all-time high.

Growing Presale Demand Highlights PCHAIN’s Innovation 

Dogecoin is known for its explosive rally and volatility, yet an analyst says PropiChain is well-positioned to outperform the meme coin and other blue-chip assets.

The RWA altcoin has seen an increase in its demand, with the token presale raising over $1 million in the first round. There are two more rounds to go before the public launch but savvy investors are rushing to buy now before it is sold out.

Analysts have lauded PropiChain’s several features as the reason behind its presale success.

The project is tokenizing real estate, enabling fractional ownership. PCHAIN’s users will have access to the global real estate market by buying pieces of property.

Additionally, PropiChain’s users will have their real estate management workload significantly reduced thanks to its smart contract automation feature.

The feature will handle transactions such as auto leasing and lease renewals. Automated transactions have no room for error and there is no human intervention needed. 

The project’s innovation continues with automated valuation models (AVMs). This is an AI-driven algorithm that evaluates the true price of properties. This feature enables buyers and sellers to get fair pricing for their real properties.

PCHAIN’s set of exciting set of tools gets another exciting addition in the form of the metaverse. This feature is reserved for investors in distant locations but willing to invest in properties. 

The metaverse allows users to view properties remotely. By offering a 3D, immersive experience, PropiChain enables investors to make informed purchasing decisions without being present. 

The exciting PropiChain platform has increased demand for the PCHAIN token, with analysts projecting a 32,390% growth by 2025.

Dogecoin Price Action vs PCHAIN’s Momentum

The Dogecoin price momentum is waning and holders are starting to book profits and rotate into promising altcoins.

PCHAIN’s focus on real estate tokenization makes it stand out altcoin with high upside potential. Analysts are predicting more than 32,000% gains after listing for the RWA altcoin.

PCHAIN: Presale Enters Round 2 After Raising Over $1 Million

PropiChain continues with its impressive presale that has entered the second round. After raising over $ 1 million with whales signing up every day, now is the best time to secure PCHAIN before it is listed on secondary exchanges.

Investors are pleased with the project as it has exceeded expectations. A CoinMarketCap listing and independent smart contract audit by BlockAudit have enhanced its credibility in the market.

The RWA altcoin has become the best opportunity to invest in now as the Dogecoin price loses momentum.

Don’t miss this opportunity. Join PropiChain’s presale and watch a $1,000 investment turn into $300K as the platform brings practical innovation to the real estate sector.

For more information about the PropiChain Presale:

Website: https://propichain.finance/ 

Join Community: https://linktr.ee/propichain

 

Metaplanet Inc., a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is ramping up its efforts to build its Bitcoin portfolio. According to multiple reports, the Japanese Bitcoin consulting company has issued ¥4.5 billion ($30 million) in zero-interest bonds to finance its Bitcoin acquisition strategy.

The company shared this news on its bond issuance through a disclosure posted on its website dated December 17th. This is the fourth in the series and formally carries the name Metaplanet Inc. 4th Series Ordinary Bonds.

The total amount of bonds is worth ¥4.5 billion, each costing ¥250 million. According to the company disclosure, the bonds are not subject to interest and will mature on June 16th, 2025.

*Metaplanet to issue 4.5 billion yen in Ordinary Bonds to Accelerate Bitcoin Purchases; Repayment to be made from Warrant Exercise Proceeds* pic.twitter.com/oS93rD7uXk

— Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet_JP) December 17, 2024

Metaplanet And Its Quest To Become Asia’s Biggest Bitcoin Holder

Metaplanet’s December bond offering is the fourth in the series, aiming to fund its Bitcoin strategy. As a publicly traded company, Metaplanet leverages Bitcoin as a primary reserve asset and seeks to use its excess cash to invest in Bitcoin.

According to its corporate manifesto, it’s taking the Bitcoin pivot thanks to the asset’s unique qualities, such as scarcity and apolitical monetary policies.

The latest bond issuance is part of the firm’s strategic plan to become the region’s largest Bitcoin holder. According to its disclosure, the bonds will be released in tranches, allowing the firm to raise money to purchase Bitcoins.

A Strategic Plan To Boost Bitcoin Holdings

Metaplanet Inc. started its Bitcoin-buying spree in April 2024. As of this writing, the Japanese firm has already added 1,150 Bitcoins, or $122.67 million, to its holdings. Metaplanet’s investment thesis is similar to that of MicroStrategy’s, led by Michael Saylor.

The issuance of new bonds is expected to fast-track its investment in digital assets. By offering zero-interest bonds, the company can avoid short-term financial issues while using the fresh funds to add more digital assets. It’s also a win-win scenario for investors since these bonds are offered at a discount but are paid in full upon maturity.

The market responded well to these most recent events; shares of the company surged by 51% during the past five days. The company’s market capitalization is raised to more than $1 billion as its shares hit a high of ¥4,270. The CEO of Metaplanet Inc., Simon Gerovich, has appreciated the overwhelmingly favorable reaction of the market to the move.

Metaplanet And BTC Rewards Program

Apart from its approach of bond issuing, Metaplanet also revealed its Bitcoin Rewards Program. Recently, the company started a ¥30 million ($199,500) prize pool to honor owners of at least 100 shares as of December 31, 2024.

Using a lottery system, the company will select 2,350 shareholders who will get varying amounts of Bitcoins.

Featured image from UEEx, chart from TradingView

The recent XRP price action has been highlighted by another notable surge that saw it reaching just above $2.7 briefly again after a 9% surge on December 17. Although the XRP price was rejected immediately after reaching this level, it continues to exhibit bullish momentum on the daily timeframe chart. Interestingly, popular crypto analyst and XRP advocate Dark Defender recently shared his insights on X, highlighting key price levels that could pave the way for an XRP price surge to $5.85.

Breakout Confirmed As XRP Price Hits $2.72

Dark Defender, known for his consistent bullish stance on XRP even during its prolonged bearish phase, pointed out the significance of the $2.72 price level, which has acted as a support and bounce point. In a recent price outlook, he noted that XRP has been so far following his predicted trajectory, citing the achievement of a $2.72 target he shared two days prior. This validation further strengthens his confidence in the token’s current trajectory.

The significance of $2.72 becomes clearer in light of XRP’s breakout on December 15 from a downward-sloping resistance trendline that has been in play since December 3 on the 4-hour chart. Following this breakout, the XRP price rallied to touch $2.72 before facing rejection and started a short-term decline that brings into focus other critical support levels to keep an eye on.

With this in mind, Dark Defender’s new technical analysis points to $2.42 and $2.52 as the next two notable support levels to watch. Should the price breach the $2.52 level, $2.42 is expected to act as the most crucial bounce point just above the downward sloping resistance trendline that could reignite bullish momentum. A rebound from $2.42 would, in the analyst’s view, set the stage for another upward surge towards higher resistance levels. 

Projected Rise To $5.85: Key Price Levels To Watch

The next stages in XRP’s ascent, according to Dark Defender, lie in overcoming pivotal resistance levels. The first step would be to break above $2.72 and retest its current 2024 high of $2.92. A successful break above $2.92 would open up XRP to new price highs in over six years.

Should the XRP price successfully break through the $2.92 mark, the analyst predicts a sure climb toward $3.43 as an intermediate target, which is its current all-time high price that has stood for over seven years. From there, Dark Defender predicted continued bullish momentum that would drive the token to a long-term target of $5.85. 

At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $2.51 with a market cap of $144 billion. Reaching $5.85 would translate to a 133% increase in price and a market cap of $351 billion.

The conflict between Cardano founder and IOG boss Charles Hoskinson and the Cardano Foundation continues to escalate publicly. The conflict first came public last week when a whistleblower accused the Cardano Foundation of mismanagement led by self-interest.

Hoskinson raised several accusations, the biggest one included the last-minute intervention in the now-accepted Cardano constitution. Hoskinson confirmed the whistleblowers’ claim that the Cardano Foundation almost undermined the Constitution process.

Hoskinson Escalates Fight With Cardano Foundation

The conflict has now flared up again after the Cardano Foundation announced a space on X yesterday, December 17. It wrote: The Cardano Foundation, headed by CEO Frederik Gregaard, CTO Giorgio Zinetti, and executive Alexandre Maaza, recently announced the launch of a series of public forums on X intended to bring “transparency, clarity, and dialogue” to its operations.

According to the Foundation, these sessions aim to “answer questions and share the context needed to move forward together,” and will feature leadership responding to community concerns about financial and governance oversight.

However, Hoskinson questioned the sincerity and efficacy of these forthcoming discussions via X. He suggested that if the Swiss jurisdiction does not permit democratic board elections, the Foundation should relocate.

“Here’s a question before they will lie about how the current board got appointed. If Switzerland doesn’t allow you to democratically elect the board members, then why can’t you move the Foundation to a new jurisdiction that will? The assets can be granted to another body. Ask them about what happened to Tam, Nico, and Manmeet. Ask them about the ESA administrator and what happened,” Hoskinson wrote.

Community members, including Cardano ambassador YUTA-Cardano, pushed back on Hoskinson’s stance. While acknowledging potential shortcomings, YUTA-Cardano emphasized that Swiss bylaws and supervisory bodies can hold the Foundation accountable. He argued that Hoskinson’s proposal for a member-based organization might encounter practical issues, such as devising fair elections and implementing Sybil protection measures. “It comes down to trust,” the ambassador noted.

In response, Hoskinson reiterated that the “foundation shouldn’t be in Switzerland,” underscoring that his primary concern is about long-term community oversight. He contended that, as it stands, the current council—appointed under the Swiss model—is not elected by the ADA-holding community.

“The foundation shouldn’t be in Switzerland. There are many jurisdictions that allow for different DLT foundations like Abu Dhabi or Wyoming. The community could design with the CF a new structure, and the CF could grant the funds to this structure. The alternative is having people appointed by the Swiss government forever choose their successors and never have any community input in the use of funds, leadership, or oversight.”

A separate community member challenged Hoskinson’s claim that the council’s structure implies government intervention. “Nobody in CF is appointed by the Swiss government,” the user wrote. Hoskinson countered by asking, “So, who appointed the current council?” though he provided no further clarification on the selection process or the Swiss authorities’ role.

Pressed to offer a constructive path forward, Hoskinson defended his approach, insisting that “some fights you need to have.” He stressed the gravity of the situation—citing the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake—and the importance of public confrontation: “The CF has publicly stated that these funds will forever be under the control of a council not appointed by the community.”

He concluded, “This outcome was never my intent as a founder of Cardano, and we’ve gotten to a critical juncture. It’s important that the community explicitly knows this reality and the onchain government by armed with facts. I’ve spent 3 years dealing with it privately between IOG and the CF. Their conduct at the constitutional convention and the voting in Catalyst were the last straw. There is no other means to affect change than a public fight.”

At press time, ADA traded at $1.0324.

Analysts from Bloomberg have a positive outlook that a score of cryptocurrency-based exchange-traded funds or ETF would get approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2025.

Crypto investors might have a lot of options next year when it comes to publicly traded crypto securities, one of which would be a combination of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

A Wave Of Crypto ETFs

Two Bloomberg analysts anticipate that exchange-traded funds – XRP and Solana in particular- will soon flood the cryptocurrency space as they foresee that the SEC will approve several of these investment instruments next year.

“We expect a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs next year, albeit not all at once,” Eric Balchunas, one of the Bloomberg analysts, said in a post.

An atmosphere of optimism continues to encapsulate the crypto market as the incoming administration of US President-elect Donal Trump indicates that current SEC Chair Gary Gensler will be stepping down from his office.

We expect a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs next year, albeit not all at once. First out is likely the btc + eth combo ETFs, then prob Litecoin (bc its fork of btc = commodity), then HBAR (bc not labeled security) and then XRP/Solana (which have been labeled securities in pending… pic.twitter.com/29vMdciZxE

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) December 17, 2024

Gensler has been perceived as an anti-crypto state official who implemented stringent regulations on the cryptocurrency space that hinder the growth of digital assets in the US.

Many crypto traders are running high on optimism that Trump will appoint a new SEC head that will be more open to crypto exchange-traded funds.

Bitcoin-Ethereum ETF To Get The Go

Balchunas and fellow Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart believe that an exchange-traded fund that put together Bitcoin and Ethereum would be the first crypto-based traded securities to get the green light from the SEC.

“Dual bitcoin and ethereum ETFs from Hashdex, Franklin [Templeton] and Bitwise will likely be the next spot crypto ETFs approved,” Seyffart said in a post.

Asset managers from Bitwise, Hashdex, and Franklin Templeton are anticipating the launch of this exchange-traded fund that combines the two cryptocurrencies with the largest market capitalization. Hence, these asset managers have already expressed their interest in issuing the traded securities.

Earlier this year, the SEC approved an ETF for Bitcoin in January and another for Ethereum in July. Meanwhile, the new exchange-traded fund would be the first time the two largest cryptos would be merged into one traded securities.

Expect Delay For XRP-Solana

Some crypto analysts claimed that an ETF combining XRP and Solana might have to wait a little longer, expecting that the current SEC administration would not permit the traded securities since these digital assets have been involved in legal battles wherein XRP and Solana have been classified as securities.

Eleanor Terrett, a business journalist, remarked that two of the five applications for exchange-traded funds for Solana have been denied by the current SEC leadership this month.

Meanwhile, Balchunas and Seyffart are still optimistic that the joint XRP and Solana traded securities will get the go-signal from the new SEC administration.

“Both Solana and XRP ETFs will have to wait until the new SEC administration takes control before being seriously considered,” Seyfart noted.

Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView