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New cryptocurrency projects can take advantage of a growing market entering 2025.

But is this the best the market can be? Or is the crypto market set for even bigger things to come? 

A recent report from Fidelity, the investment giant, highlighted that the crypto world is just now entering the stage of broad adoption.

They draw the comparison between digital assets now – including crypto – and the heady growth of the internet with mobile phones, wireless technology, and the internet’s general integration into every aspect of modern life.

In other words, Fidelity doesn’t think the crypto market has capped at all; instead, it’s just now entering an era of explosive growth, big gains, and rapidly developing technology.

And there’s one new cryptocurrency project with the potential to soar above the rest and draw huge numbers of investors to its innovative voting and earning mechanisms. 

New Cryptocurrency Project $FLOCK Brings Vote-to-Earn To a Broader Audience

Flockerz ($FLOCK) pioneers a new protocol mechanism – Vote-to-Earn, or V2E. 

Any $FLOCK token holders gain the opportunity to vote on community proposals in the Flock DAO (decentralized autonomous organization).

The V2E mechanism better aligns meme coin communities with long-term goals, opening the door for bigger gains and broader adoption.

Currently in the presale stage, Flockerz has already raised almost $9.2M. There are under two weeks left before the presale ends, meaning the best time for investors to get in on the project is now.

Flockerz is also part of the upcoming crypto highlight from Best Wallet, the world’s leading Web3 wallet, which identifies key new cryptocurrency projects and provides access to them directly within the app itself. 

Crypto: Still In The Early Stages

The Fidelity report maintains that crypto is still early in its lifecycle. The technology isn’t brand new anymore but is mature enough that new use cases can emerge even while adoption grows.

And even while the sector grows beyond its original humble beginnings, certain elements remain the same.

As the Fidelity report notes, ‘the core principles of decentralization, modularization, and data privacy remain central to its ongoing development.’

Flockerz offers a case in point: the V2E mechanism is exactly the sort of decentralized governance model (combined with an earning mechanism) founded on core crypto principles while pushing meme coin development forward.

It’s part of a growing trend for meme coins to pioneer new use cases or innovative approaches to utility, such as the upcoming Meme Index project, which incorporates traditional stock market indexes with meme coins. 

That’s big news for the meme coin sector, which is building on big gains in 2024 as it seeks to become a major force in the crypto economy.

$FLOCK to 13x?

With the broader market, including Ethereum and Bitcoin, looking for even bigger growth in 2025, and with Flockerz flying high on a $9.2M presale, could $FLOCK increase by 100%? Or could it go even higher? 

Some analysts have identified Flockerz as having the potential to go 13x, returning big gains for early investors. 

And on a related point, Fidelity identified a continued ‘risk-on’ attitude towards tech and crypto from investors. That’s a good sign for $FLOCK and other new cryptocurrency projects.

There’s never been a more exciting time in the crypto world, and there’s a growing number of promising crypto projects.

But as always, be careful to do your own research. Crypto investments are risky, as Fidelity points out, and any investor should be careful not to invest more than they can afford to lose.

That said, keep an eye on the feathered friends of $FLOCK. 

On-chain data shows the Bitcoin netflow on Binance has turned negative recently. Here’s what this could mean for the asset’s price.

14-Day SMA Bitcoin Binance Netflow Has Plunged Recently

In a CryptoQuant Quicktake post, an analyst has discussed about the trend in the 14-day simple moving average (SMA) of the Bitcoin Exchange Netflow for the Binance platform.

The “Exchange Netflow” here refers to an indicator that keeps track of the net amount of the cryptocurrency that’s entering into or exiting out of the wallets associated with a given centralized exchange.

When the value of this metric is positive, it means the investors are depositing a net number of coins to these platforms. As one of the main reasons why holders would transfer to exchanges is for selling-related purposes, this kind of trend can lead to a bearish outcome for the asset.

On the other hand, the indicator being negative implies there are more outflows taking place on the exchange than inflows. Such a trend can be a sign that the investors are accumulating, which can be bullish for the coin’s price.

Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Exchange Netflow for Binance, as well as its 14-day SMA, over the last few months:

As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Exchange Netflow for Binance has seen a sharp negative spike during the past day, which implies the investors have withdrawn a large number of tokens from the platform.

During the second half of last month, the indicator mostly stayed inside the positive territory, which resulted in the 14-day SMA attaining a value greater than zero.

In the chart, the quant has highlighted the instances of the 14-day SMA showing this trend in the last few months. It would appear that the pattern has generally led to short-term declines for the asset in this period. The latest inflows into the platform, too, were accompanied by a drawdown in the Bitcoin price.

After the latest sharp negative spike has appeared in the daily version of the Binance Exchange Netflow, though, its 14-day SMA value has also dipped back into the red zone.

While a surge into the positive territory precedes a short-term decline for the asset, a plunge into the negative region usually leads to bullish price action. Thus, Bitcoin may currently be well-set in terms of this indicator.

In total, the users of the exchange have taken a net amount of 5,407 BTC off into self-custody during the latest negative spike in the Binance Exchange Netflow.

BTC Price

Bitcoin has retraced its latest recovery during the last 24 hours as its price has slipped under the $98,000 level.

Эксперт компании Fidelity Digital Assets Мэтт Хоган опубликовал отчет, в котором утверждает, что политика государств по отношению к биткоину в этом году претерпит кардинальные изменения.

Bitcoin (BTC) crossed the psychologically significant $100,000 price level yesterday, fuelling optimism among bulls that the digital asset could continue its upward momentum and achieve new all-time highs (ATH) in the coming weeks.

Head-And-Shoulder Pattern Bound To Fail?

With Bitcoin reclaiming a key price level, speculation about its future price trajectory has intensified. Analysts are closely monitoring bearish chart patterns for potential invalidation, which could signal a continuation of the bullish trend.

One such bearish formation is the head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily chart, which garnered significant attention throughout December. This pattern was seen as a possible signal that Bitcoin might experience a sharp correction to the mid-$70,000 range.

For the uninitiated, a head and shoulders pattern is a bearish chart formation that indicates a possible reversal from an uptrend to a downtrend. It features three peaks with the middle peak as the highest, known as the “head,” flanked by two lower peaks called “shoulders,” and a neckline acting as a critical support level. A break below this neckline confirms the bearish trend.

However, with Bitcoin surpassing $100,000, the probability of the head-and-shoulders pattern materializing has diminished. According to crypto analyst Aksel Kibar, current market trends suggest the bearish scenario may fail to unfold. Kibar explained:

BTCUSD On daily scale formed a similar head-and-shoulders top. Price is now challenging the high of the possible right shoulder. Breach can result in a pattern negation and should be considered bullish. Head-and-shoulders failure price target stands at 116K.

Kibar also noted that even if the head-and-shoulders pattern plays out and Bitcoin drops to $73,800, it might still not disrupt the broader bullish trend. Such a retracement would likely serve as a pullback to test the previous ATH around $73,000 as a new support level.

It is worth noting that since surpassing its March 2024 ATH, Bitcoin has not experienced a major pullback, aside from a flash crash to $90,500 on December 4. Typically, bull markets are characterized by steep price declines followed by rapid recoveries, setting the stage for the next leg upward.

Bitcoin Price Projections For 2025

Price forecasts for Bitcoin in 2025 remain overwhelmingly bullish. For instance, crypto analyst Jason A. Williams predicts that BTC could reach $131,500 by the first quarter of 2025.

Similarly, Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick envisions Bitcoin climbing to $200,000 by the end of 2025, driven by factors such as strategic Bitcoin reserves and increasing institutional interest.

However, crypto entrepreneur Arthur Hayes has issued a cautionary note, suggesting that the wider crypto market might face a “harrowing dump” around President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. At press time, BTC trades at $100,099, down 0.7% in the past 24 hours.

Управляющий Национального банка Чехии (ČNB) Алеш Михл заявил, что финансовый регулятор может рассмотреть возможность покупки небольшого количества биткоинов для диверсификации государственных резервов.

Эксперт компании Presto Research Мин Чон заявил, что причиной падения курса биткоина и ухода криптоотрасли в «красную зону» является макроэкономическая ситуация на глобальных рынках.

A UK judge has ordered the seizure of $4.3 million in Bitcoin (BTC) from a British crime lord known as “Don Car-Leone.” The ruling comes after the fugitive failed to prove the crypto holdings weren’t related to criminal activities.

Fugitive Crime Boss Claims Bitcoin Fortune Is Lawful

UK High Court judge Mr. Justice Timothy Mould recently granted the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) the right to seize £3.5 million worth of Bitcoin, around $4.3 million, from convicted crime boss Alexander Surin, also known as “Don Car-Leone.”

According to The Telegraph’s report, Surin fled to Dubai after being convicted in France in 2015 for drug trafficking. After his conviction, the National Crime Agency (NCO) seized his high-end car fleet, money, and several properties in London.

At the time, he and his wife accepted that the £4.5 million seized assets, worth around $5.6 million, were acquired with money from criminal activities. Moreover, Surin, who seemingly earned the nickname from his luxury car fleet, holds millions in Bitcoin in a Coinbase Kenya account.

However, he claims his Bitcoin holdings were earned lawfully by trading gold bullion in Dubai. The fugitive argued that the Bitcoin was made through two sales with a trader operating out of “small rooms in shops or buildings” at Dubai’s gold souk.

Surin added that the trader allegedly doesn’t have a website or bookkeeping record to prove the sales, as he conducts his business “based on trust and reputation.”

Judge Orders Seizure Of BTC Holdings

CPS’ representative, Martin Evans KC, told the High Court that “compelling evidence” suggested the money was made through illicit activity. Evans cited two large transfers into Surin’s Coinbase Kenya account proceeded from Christian Hargreaves, who was convicted and sentenced to 17 years for “conspiracy to supply class A drugs.”

According to the report, The CPS told the court that apart from two fake invoices, Surin didn’t provide records that explained how he became so wealthy after having previous assets seized.

Moreover, Evans argued that Surin and Hargreaves being British created the “sufficient connection to England and Wales” required to launch proceeds of crime action to seize the Bitcoin sitting in the Coinbase Kenya account.

Through email, Surin responded to the CPS’s claims, stating there was “no evidence to show my involvement in any criminality to suggest that the bitcoin were the proceeds of crime.”

However, Mr. Justice Mould dismissed his claims and ruled that Surin’s Bitcoin holdings were laundered money from illegal drug trafficking, granting the CPS the right to seize the crypto assets:

The evidence advanced by the (CPS), that in each case those transactions were made by Hargreaves with the knowledge of the defendant with a view to laundering money derived from illegal drug trafficking, is compelling. (Surin’s) alternative explanation, that each was a legitimate gold bullion sale to Panache Jewels LLC, lacks any credibility in the face of the (CPS’s) evidence.

Бывший генеральный директор криптобиржи BitMEX и глава инвестиционного фонда Maelstrom Артур Хейс заявил, что в первом квартале 2025 года глобальный приток ликвидности приведет к росту биткоина и крипторынка в целом.

HashKey Group, a prominent Asia-based cryptocurrency financial services firm, has successfully obtained Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration approval from the Central Bank of Ireland through its European arm, HashKey Europe Limited (HEL).

This milestone marks a significant step in HashKey’s global expansion strategy, as it is “HashKey Group’s first VASP license fully compliant with the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD5).

Strengthening Global Regulatory Footprint

The VASP registration allows HashKey Europe Limited to offer a suite of regulated services, including virtual asset-to-fiat and virtual asset-to-virtual asset exchange, custodial crypto wallet services, and facilitating virtual asset transfers between accounts.

Prior to Ireland, HashKey had already secured regulatory licenses in financial hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Bermuda, showcasing a strategic focus on aligning with “strong regulatory frameworks” worldwide.

According to the announcement, HashKey Europe Limited’s registration with the Central Bank of Ireland signifies the “firm’s readiness” to comply with European Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regulations.

The registration ensures that HashKey operates within a “well-defined legal and regulatory environment,” which is crucial for building investor confidence and facilitating institutional adoption of digital assets.

The approval comes at a time when global regulatory scrutiny on virtual asset providers is intensifying, highlighting the need for crypto firms to align with international compliance standards.

HashKey’s strategy revolves around establishing regulated entities in key markets, creating a global infrastructure capable of serving institutional and retail clients while mitigating regulatory risks.

Furthermore, HashKey’s blockchain innovation, including the recent launch of its Ethereum Layer 2 HashKey Chain on the mainnet, highlights the company’s focus on developing scalable and efficient blockchain infrastructure.

These technological advancements complement its global compliance approach, ensuring secure and transparent service delivery across jurisdictions.

Expanding Service Portfolio And Market Influence

HashKey Group’s portfolio encompasses a range of business divisions, including HashKey Exchange, HashKey Global, HashKey Capital, HashKey OTC, HashKey Cloud, and HashKey Tokenisation.

This diverse range of services positions the firm to cater to varying market needs, from asset management and exchange services to blockchain infrastructure and tokenization.

The VASP approval in Ireland not only enhances HashKey’s presence in Europe but also aligns with the broader goal of supporting the “sustainable growth” of the virtual economy.

In its official statement, HashKey emphasized its commitment to compliance, delivering value-added services, and “fostering trust” within the Web3 ecosystem. The company wrote:

HashKey Group remains dedicated to supporting the sustainable growth of the virtual economy by ensuring compliance with international regulations, delivering value-added services, and fostering trust within the ecosystem.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

In a move to bolster its presence in the European market, Backpack Exchange, a crypto trading platform established by former employees of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX and Alameda Research, has acquired the European entity of the defunct FTX exchange for $32.7 million. 

As earlier reported by Bloomberg, this acquisition aims to expand Backpack’s derivatives offerings in a region where the regulated crypto derivatives market is increasingly gaining traction.

FTX EU’s Bankruptcy Claims Transferred

FTX EU was one of the units that fell under bankruptcy proceedings following the collapse of the exchange in 2022. As part of the acquisition deal, Dubai-based Backpack will assume responsibility for distributing court-approved bankruptcy claims totaling approximately €53 million ($55 million) to affected FTX EU customers.

The FTX estate had previously pursued legal action to recover millions from the original owners of FTX EU. However, this lawsuit was ultimately dropped as part of a settlement that facilitated the sale of the unit to its co-founders, Patrick Gruhn and Robin Matzke, who then sold it to Backpack.

This acquisition is particularly noteworthy as FTX EU holds a MiFID II license, allowing it to offer crypto derivatives trading within the European Union. 

The transaction has received approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, paving the way for Backpack to operate legally in the region.

Armani Ferrante, the CEO of Backpack, emphasized that returning funds to customers is the company’s “top priority” following the acquisition. In an interview, he stated, “We will not serve a single user, not serving a single trade in the EU until we have the ability to return customers’ funds.” 

A Rising Star In Crypto? 

Founded in 2022, Backpack has already made a mark in the industry. Ferrante, who previously worked at Alameda Research and played a pivotal role in developing the Solana blockchain, brings valuable experience to the table.

Co-founder Tristan Yver also has a background as a former executive at FTX. Backpack secured a virtual-asset service provider license in Dubai and is currently pursuing a license to operate in Japan, having raised $17 million last year at a valuation of $120 million.

With the acquisition of FTX EU, Backpack is positioned to offer regulated crypto derivatives products, including perpetual swaps—futures contracts that do not expire—across the European Union. 

The regulated crypto derivatives market in Europe has become increasingly appealing to various crypto firms, as evidenced by Coinbase Global Inc.’s recent acquisition of a Cyprus-based brokerage unit, which also secured a MiFID II license.

“Derivatives make up an enormous amount of crypto trading volume,” Ferrante remarked, expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to reintegrate crypto derivatives trading in the EU. 

As the market evolves, firms like Backpack are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of crypto trading by offering innovative and regulated products that cater to the growing demand.

At the time of writing, FTT, the defunct exchange’s native token, is trading at $3, following the broader market correction with a drop of nearly 11%. 

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

Gemini согласилась выплатить $5 млн для урегулирования иска Комиссии по торговле товарными фьючерсами США (CFTC), обвинившей биржу во введении регулятора в заблуждение при попытке получить одобрение фьючерсного продукта на биткоин.

Data shows the Bitcoin Open Interest has seen a sharp increase alongside the recovery rally that the asset’s price has gone through.

Bitcoin Open Interest Has Observed A Spike Recently

As pointed out by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn in a new post on X, the Bitcoin Open Interest has shot up. The “Open Interest” here refers to an indicator that keeps track of the total amount of derivatives positions related to BTC that are currently open on all centralized exchanges.

When the value of this metric rises, it means that the traders are opening fresh positions on the market. As the total amount of leverage present in the sector rises when positions increase, this kind of trend can lead to more volatility in the asset’s price.

On the other hand, the indicator going down implies that the derivatives users are either closing up their positions of their own volition or being forcibly liquidated by their platforms. Such a trend may result in calmer price action for the cryptocurrency.

Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the 24-hour percentage change for the Bitcoin Open Interest over the past month or so:

As is visible in the above graph, the Bitcoin Open Interest has recently registered a sharp positive change, which suggests that investors have opened up a large number of positions inside a short window.

The impetus behind this trend is likely to be the notable price recovery that the cryptocurrency has seen during the last couple of days. Investors find rapid moves in the asset to be exciting, so they tend to participate in more speculation than normal whenever they occur.

As mentioned before, an increase in the Open Interest can lead to BTC becoming more volatile. The reason behind this is the fact that mass liquidation events turn more probable the more leveraged positions there are in the market. Such events can be violent, with all the liquidations feeding back into the price move that triggered them.

Some growth in the Open Interest may still not be bad for the asset, but when it occurs inside a narrow window and is of a sufficiently large scale, the risk of the price being negatively affected can be considerable indeed.

As the analyst has highlighted in the chart, the latest jump in the Open Interest took its percentage change into a zone that has generally signaled trouble for Bitcoin in the past month.

Given this pattern, it now remains to be seen whether the derivatives market will have to see another cooldown before the asset’s rally can continue.

BTC Price

Bitcoin recovered above the $102,000 mark earlier, but the coin appears to have seen a pullback since then, as its price is back at $100,800.

Генеральный директор Череповецкого литейно-механического завода Владимир Боглаев даёт ответ всем экспертам, считающим, что России не требуется полностью своё производство Ведущий: Илья Бокатов #РадиоАВРОРА...

Президент Ripple Моника Лонг рассказала о стратегических планах компании по запуску собственного стейблкоина Ripple USD (RLUSD) и поделилась прогнозом на дальнейшие перспективы альткоина XRP.