US-listed Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF sees net inflows of $38.3 billion in its launch year

Nearly 80% of Bitcoin ETF orders come from retail, but industry analysts expect institutional demand to increase in 2025. By 2024, Bitcoin’s net inflows will reach $35.66 billion, far exceeding industry expectations, while spot Ethereum ETFs are performing strongly, with net inflows of $349.3 million in the past four trading days, adding $2.68 billion to its value since launch. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) led the way with a net inflow of $37.31 billion, while Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) saw net outflows of $11.84 billion and $2.49 billion, respectively, rounding out the top three. The net outflows fell short of Galaxy Digital research director Alex Thorn’s estimate of $14 billion in the first quarter. However, spot Bitcoin ETFs didn’t end the year on a strong note, with $1.33 billion in outflows as of Dec. 12. 19. Five of the past six trading days have seen net outflows, with IBIT seeing the largest outflow of $188.7 million on December 24. A report on October 25 from cryptocurrency exchange Binance found that nearly 80% of demand for Bitcoin ETF shares came from retail, not institutional, investors. However, industry analysts like Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan predict that more institutional investors will enter the market by 2025 as more Bitcoin ETF spot trading platforms come online.This is one of the drivers behind Bitwise’s bullish prediction that Bitcoin prices will hit $200,000 by 2025, while VanEck predicts that Bitcoin prices will top $180,000. Ethereum ETFs are performing stronglyAccording to Farside Investors, the Ethereum product has raised $2.68 billion by 2024 since its launch on July 23. Excluding the outflows from the recently converted Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE), the figure is $6.29 billion. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) and Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH) generated net inflows of $3.52 billion and $1.56 billion, respectively. The low-cost Greyscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH) is third with net inflows of $608.1 million, while the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) has topped $400 million. Currently, ETH’s performance is behind Bitcoin and Solana Sol Items fall $194.87Bitwise predicts a rebound in 2024 and a peak of $7,000 in 2025. Hougan and Bitwise’s head of Bitcoin research, Ryan Rasmussen, said that growth is expected to increase Ethereum layer 2 operations, increase Ethereum ETF spot trading, and “significant growth” in in the symbol of stablecoins and global assets.

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Bitget, Uniswap, FTX rise to lead top crypto gains, best financial indicators rise again

The Christmas holiday is a big event for the crypto market, with Bitcoin and Ethereum coming back from their recent peaks. Despite the movements of the major market leaders, some altcoins have a lot of strength, while others have increased, giving reasons to celebrate the owners. This includes the 3 main exchanges – Bitget, Uniswap, and FTX – all of which have experienced strong growth. Meanwhile, another token called Best Wallet Token is also growing in popularity, raising over $5.5 million in its ongoing ICO. Bitget Token ($BGB) Takes Parabolic Movement The last few years have been very busy for Bitget as the regulations on cryptocurrency trading in the main regions are still strict. While some competitors have backed down from legal challenges (sometimes leaving the country altogether), Bitget has taken notice. Overall, BGB is up 415% in December alone, leaving the rest of the market behind as of this writing. Investors waiting for a rebound can focus on key psychological price levels (such as $6, $5, and $4) before the price has a chance to return to the previous resistance at $3.50. At this point, it may be several weeks before BGB’s price movement enters its next phase, giving market players plenty of time to develop new strategies. Uniswap ($UNI) Pending UNI has risen 8.6% in the past 24 hours, reaching the second spot on CoinMarketCap’s list of winners. The market-leading DEX has benefited greatly from the massive meme-making activity this year, but for now, its price remains in a mixed mood: On the one hand, UNI is forming a head and shoulders chart pattern that, if completed, would send the price down to $10. This would represent a -29% decline from the current price. However, from a bullish perspective, UNI remains in an uptrend, showing strength through the presence of a large daily wick from seven days ago. This recovery could signal that UNI will escape its current troubles and head back up to $19.50, representing a 39% gain for investors. Bulls and bears alike have plenty of money to spend on UNI, but those who like big plays will find this next coin to be a better bet… Will FTX Token ($FTT) 4x in 2025? FTX is a name that is rarely mentioned because it made a lot of headlines when it crashed in 2022, following the lawsuit, trial, and imprisonment of some of its executives. Since then (and a -93% drop in the value of the FTX token in November 2022), FTT has become increasingly popular among traders who are unwilling to accept its high-risk nature. The daily price chart of FTT shows a new phase in the rapid growth of this cryptocurrency: To say that FTT is “different” is an understatement – but if we zoom in, we see a significant opportunity. As FTT develops within the current ascending triangle pattern, the possibility of an upward breakout (as we saw earlier on the BGB chart) increases. If FTT were to reach parity with BGB, there would be little resistance between current prices and a full return to pre-crash values: Of course, this scenario (which involves a 438% increase) is unlikely to happen, on paper. That said, there are some weird things happening in the cryptocurrency market – especially when it’s really down. When Degenwhale and the crypto community truly support an idea, anything is possible. So if FTT has a chance to return to its previous value, 2025 may be the year it does so. Is $BEST the next big utility brand?As we have seen in this article, crypto platform utility tokens have a lot of potential for growth and can generate very large profits. Looking ahead to 2025, the Best Wallet Token ($BEST) will be the emerging utility token. The $BEST pre-sale has raised nearly $6 million to date, and has attracted the interest of savvy investors looking to diversify their holdings. The $BEST token powers the Best Wallet ecosystem, offering everything from the most convenient and secure wallets to crypto exchanges (via Best DEX), iGaming, and all the best services using mobile apps (available for iOS and Android) All Cryptocurrency Services. Investors Need to Know About Trading—Before Tokens Are Available for Trading. $BEST token holders will have access to exclusive access to pre-sale crypto, flight deals, exciting new token tips, iGaming bonuses such as loot boxes, free slots and wallets, low transaction fees across the ecosystem, governance votes, and Staking rewards. As Fireblocks offers security using MPC-CMP wallet technology, security-conscious users can relax and use the Best Wallet to its full potential. Those looking to capitalize on the best ICO should note that Best Wallet was the main target for pre-sale of Pepe Unchained tokens, which raised over $70 million after the launch of its DEX. The sales jumped 8 times. Best Wallet Tips helped investors get their hands on the Catslap meme coin before its grand launch, which was equally successful. Best Wallet’s goal is to capture 40% of the crypto wallet market (an $11 billion industry) and achieve this goal by 2026. It offers great value to investors.

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Bitcoin’s confirmed price hits annual low amid holiday uncertainty

Metrics such as the number of confirmed transactions can be used to gauge investor activity on the Bitcoin network. Daily Bitcoin transaction volumes have fallen to annual lows, reflecting the volatile nature of the holiday season. The total number of confirmed Bitcoin transactions fell to 623,434 on December 26, hitting its lowest point this year, according to Blockchain.com.A confirmed Bitcoin transaction is a transaction that has been approved by the blockchain’s blockchain and is permanently recorded on the blockchain, making it irrevocable. Metrics such as the number of confirmed transactions can be used to gauge investor activity on the Bitcoin network. On December 17, the price of Bitcoin surpassed an all-time high of $108,000, with over 857,000 confirmed transactions, a 37% increase from yesterday’s 623,000. Currently, Bitcoin analysts expect Bitcoin prices to rise above $105,000 shortly after the holiday season, driven by low transaction volume. Weakening public sentiment around Bitcoin signals imminent price recoveryWeakening public sentiment around Bitcoin signals imminent price recovery for the world’s largest cryptocurrency. According to Cointelegraph on December 12, public sentiment around Bitcoin has fallen to its lowest level since 2024, with the average ratio of positive news to negative news about Bitcoin at four to five. 22 However, market research firm Santiment wrote in a December 22 article that this sluggish trading pattern is a sign that Bitcoin’s breakout is imminent: “Healthy traders are showing significant FUD, which is good news for investors who know that the market is moving in line with trading expectations.” Other cryptocurrency analysts are also predicting that Bitcoin will end its rally below $100,000. On December 20, Bitcoin’s daily chart showed three consecutive red candles for the first time since the first week of November, which occurred before Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Ryan Lee, senior analyst at Bitget Research, told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin’s recent decline is a sign of the holiday season: “After Christmas, market activity will pick up again, with funds expected to be heavily allocated to sectors that will benefit from the upcoming Trump inauguration…BTC is trading at $94,000-$105,000 this week.” President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 1 could be the next big move for Bitcoin. August 20, 2025.

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Kyrgyzstan to cut cryptocurrency mining tax by 50% in 2024

Kyrgyzstan is considered a hotbed for cryptocurrency miners because it has yet to use renewable energy sources. While cryptocurrency values ​​have increased in 2024, crypto mining taxes have been reduced for Kyrgyzstan’s economy. Cryptocurrency mining taxes contributed more than 46.6 million Kyrgyzstani soms ($535,000) to the country’s economy this year, according to a budget document released by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance on December 25. According to local media reports, this represents a reduction of more than 50% from the cryptocurrency mining tax introduced in 2023, which was 93.7 million soms, or more than $1 million. The cryptocurrency mining tax rate in Kyrgyzstan is 10% of the cost of electricity used by cryptocurrency miners in the country, including VAT and sales tax. The country is considered ideal for cryptocurrency mining due to its vast renewable energy resources, many of which are underutilized. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, more than 30% of Kyrgyzstan’s total electricity generation comes from hydroelectricity, but the country’s hydroelectricity capacity is only 10%. Cointelegraph has reached out to the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Kyrgyzstan for comment. Bitcoin mining could help secure future renewable energy grids Bitcoin mining could help secure future energy grids, as renewable energy sources often produce electricity intermittently and cannot be stored. Deutsche Telekom will use the remaining energy from renewable energy sources to power its Bitcoin mining operations. The company announced on November 11 that Bitcoin mining equipment will be installed at the Riva factory and the glass-blocking factory in Backnang, Germany, which will be operated by Metis Solutions. Deutsche Telekom’s pilot project is based on the increasing number of renewable energy sources that are not being wasted. Oliver Nyderle, head of digital trust and Web3 infrastructure at Deutsche Telekom MMS, said that the country’s increasing energy supply will come from intermittent sources such as wind turbines and that more infrastructure will be needed to monitor the power grid. Needle wrote in his post that Bitcoin mining could be used to manage power fluctuations in the national electricity grid: “We took this opportunity with Bankhaus Metzler and RIVA Engineering GmbH to test the impact of Bitcoin miner regulation on electricity production. The remaining energy is converted into digital value by miners. We call it digital currency photosynthesis.” The use cases for Bitcoin mining go beyond the financial benefits for miners. In Finland, a Bitcoin mine uses the heat generated by mining equipment to heat a city of over 11,000 inhabitants.

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How to Get Into Crypto Mining Without Expensive Equipment

Do you have a budget for crypto mining? Here’s how to get started without spending a lot of money or getting burned. Key points: Cloud mining is a way to mine crypto without expensive equipment, but it comes with an upfront cost and potential hidden fees. Low-cost hardware options, such as a cheap GPU or gaming PC, can help you get started mining without spending a fortune. When choosing a cryptocurrency to mine on your budget, choose coins that use low-power algorithms like PoS to reduce hardware requirements. For those looking to mine cryptocurrency on a budget, USB miners and browser-based mining are entry-level solutions. Cryptocurrency mining sounds like a high-tech dream that requires thousands of dollars in equipment and huge electricity bills, but that’s not all. What if it was an affordable way to join the party and raise money?While there are many methods that won’t make you rich overnight, they can help you learn the ropes and earn a small profit in the process. Let’s take a look at how much it costs to mine cryptocurrency and how to reduce it. How much does it cost to mine cryptocurrency? With high electricity bills and the cost of top-of-the-line equipment, mining Bitcoin in your basement isn’t as viable as it used to be. Yes, you might find some digital gold, but the chances of making a profit depend on your setup and where you live. Spoiler: it’s not cheap. First, you’ll probably need some pretty expensive hardware, like a graphics processing unit (GPU) and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Entry-level drill rigs start around $1,500, while professional-level models can cost more than $10,000. Now, let’s talk about power. The mining industry is a very energy poor industry. According to the global average, it takes about 266,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to mine 1 Bitcoin. However, some cryptocurrency miners have turned to new energy sources, such as hydro and solar power, to reduce costs and impact on the environment. Low-Cost Crypto Mining Options Cloud Mining If you’re looking to mine cryptocurrencies without having to do any work, cloud mining can be a low-cost option. You don’t need to buy expensive hardware, you can rent computing power from a mining farm via an online platform. It’s like taking on the heavy lifting while you stand by and watch your cryptocurrency grow. Another advantage? No noisy machines, no electricity bills, and no technical headaches. But it’s not always easy to get by, as cloud mining contracts require upfront payments, and sometimes there are no fees. Additionally, not all providers are the same, so it’s important to verify the provider before committing.Electricity costs vary to mine 1 BTC, with home electricity costs ranging from $13,300 to $133,000, depending on your location. Some locations may not be profitable, while others (if you’re lucky) may allow you to recoup your investment. To estimate your potential profits, you can use an online mining calculator that takes into account your hardware and electricity costs. While most popular GPUs and ASICs are pre-configured, custom computing power can also be imported. Bitcoin USB Miner Think Bitcoin mining is only good for large companies with deep pockets and industrial sites? The USB Bitcoin Miner is a compact plug-and-play device that brings the mining experience to the masses. It performs a fraction of the performance of high-end ASIC devices, but it provides a cost-effective and efficient way to access the Bitcoin network. By connecting to a mining pool, you can participate in the world’s efforts to verify transactions with low fees and risks. The GekkoScience Compac F is a USB Bitcoin miner with a hash rate of 200 gigahashes per second (GH/s) and costs between $120 and $150, depending on the retailer. However, saying that USB miners are plug-and-play is not the whole story. They still require careful setup, including proper cooling, power management, and reliable software, to run smoothly and avoid overheating or crashing. Gaming PCsIf you have a good gaming PC, you’re halfway to success. You can start with current hardware and upgrade as needed. For GPUs, low-end options ranging from $500 to $1,500 include the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super, AMD Radeon RX 570, or AMD Radeon RX 560, which can get you a good performance without a huge price tag. For the CPU, a low-end chip like the Intel Pentium G4560 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is sufficient. With the right setup, you can start mining cryptocurrency without spending a lot of money. Pool mining When it comes to other low-cost cryptocurrency mining options, pool mining may be your cheap ticket to the game. Instead of investing in an expensive mining rig, you can join a mining pool like CGMiner, BFGMiner, or EasyMiner. Pool mining allows you to join other miners and share profits based on the amount of work completed, meaning you don’t need expensive hardware to start earning cryptocurrency. However, mining pools typically have pool fees, which reduce the amount of money you earn, and sometimes reduce the reward based on the percentage of work completed. Browser-based mining Browser-based mining is an entry-level move that allows you to mine small amounts of cryptocurrency while you are online, using only your browser. While it won’t make you a millionaire overnight, it doesn’t require fancy hardware or expensive ASICs. Simply use a mining site like CryptoTab and let your computer’s processing power do the work. Another option is a built-in mining script, which runs on a website and uses the visitor’s computer power to mine cryptocurrencies in the background. The downside is that browser-based mining is slow, consumes system resources, slows down browsing, and offers little return compared to traditional mining setups. Which cryptocurrency is cheaper for me?Mining requirements vary for different cryptocurrencies because each cryptocurrency uses different algorithms, block fees, and network complexity, all of which affect the computing power and energy consumption required for mining. If you want to get into crypto mining on a budget, it’s important to focus on coins that use less resource-intensive…

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Is the Bitcoin DCA platform dead? Here’s what traders think

Some cryptocurrency traders are saying that altcoins are a better option than Bitcoin right now,” though not everyone agrees. As prices tumbled in the final days of 2024, Bitcoin’s dominance has returned to nearly 60%, and traders are clearly realizing that it’s time to shift their accumulation strategies to altcoins. “Currently, altcoins offer a much better R/R [risk-on-reward] than Bitcoin,” anonymous cryptocurrency trader Dyme said in a note on December 27, adding: “Bitcoin’s DCA period has now exceeded 1.5 years.” A survey published by Kraken on October 10 found that nearly 83.5% of crypto investors use a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy, and 59% still use it as their primary method of buy crypto currency. 7. A DCA strategy involves investing a certain amount of money in an asset at set and consistent times to capture the highs and lows to reach an average selling price. Dyme said that the $64,400 mark could be a higher risk/reward ratio for the meme currency. However, Dyme said that Bitcoin’s price is currently down to $96,438 and investors should “stay the course and continue to move higher.” Soap Capital CEO Tyler Durdan echoed similar sentiments in a statement on Dec. 12. 26 X posted that “the next stage is going to be very clear.” Durdan added: “I think this is probably the last stage because the change is still the issue.” Adam Cochran, partner at Cinnaeamhain Ventures, seemed to agree, saying that the US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve is “not likely at this Conference,” making it difficult for Bitcoin to outperform the rest of the market in the short term. “Other assets benefiting from regulatory clarity, new product launches, the new era of ICOs, etc., will suck a lot of money out of the BTC space,” Cochran said in his December 26 post. A shift in America’s “top-down” attitude toward Bitcoin However, some observers, including Blockchain Association CEO Kristen Smith, say Bitcoin’s momentum is far from over, with new investor momentum still growing even at this stage of the cycle. In December. Smith told CNBC on February 26 that Bitcoin could hit $200,000 before falling to $50,000. That’s a 108% increase from Bitcoin’s current price, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin is currently trading at $95,720, with CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost recently calling $95,000 a “useful point to implement a DCA strategy.” Smith also said that the incoming Trump administration, along with changing “on-the-ground” attitudes in the United States and the addition of more financial advisors, could lead to a new wave of capital inflows into Bitcoin. “As more financial advisors advise their clients to do this, I think more people will jump into Bitcoin,” Smith said. “People are still looking for more Bitcoin, not less,” he added.

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Bitcoin price drops 4% as TradingView ‘error’ leaves power to zero

Bitcoin on December 26th seemed to be a market reaction to the fake TradingView chart data. The apparent market error killed Bitcoin’s rise Bitcoin BTC prices quickly fell to $95,569, down 4%, ending the Christmas trading environment, according to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro. Bitcoin fell to $95,000 as social media users reported the negative trend on TradingView’s Bitcoin chart. This shows that Bitcoin’s share of the cryptocurrency market cap has dropped to 0%. The error was later corrected, and is believed to have been the result of a knee-jerk reaction to the trading, sending BTC/USD lower. – So, there was a TradingView error around BTC’s power, causing people to panic buy? Is everyone dumping TradingView now? wrote trader Satoshi Flipper on X. Data from tracking source CoinGlass shows that $33 million in BTC longs have been liquidated in the past four hours at the time of writing. Bitcoin’s market cap has been the subject of increasing concern among traders in recent weeks as altcoins have struggled to maintain new highs. The dominance reached 61.5% in mid-November before the reversal and the expectation of a “different year”. – BTC’s dominance reached the point of destruction in 2021 and was rejected, – concluded the trading account Aqua in its latest analysis for X. “I think BTC’s dominance has reached the point where ALTs will start to outperform BTC in the coming months. Finally, we will see the real ALT moment.” Trader, analyst and investor Michaël van de Poppe compares the strength of altcoins to the dot-com bubble of the early 2000s. – Altcoin prices are still low. The total market cap is just $1.5T. “Dot.com is in a $10-15T bubble,” he said in a Christmas Day post. “This is a sound assessment for the highs over the next few years, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a 20-50x increase by 2025.” Bitcoin Expects ‘Big Break’ in Q1 2025 Despite the volatility, market players remain bullish on the short-term outlook. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investor Eljaboom is one of them, predicting that Bitcoin prices will continue to rise after the new year. “$BTC is poised for its next bull run,” he told X-Fans as he added a two-week chart. – The chart has just formed a candlestick pattern on increasing volume, right next to the lower end of the bullish pattern. This behavior indicates an imminent breakout – marked as part of the X-bar. ” If so, the gauge could move the speaker to $110,000 to $130,000 by the end of January, with $120,000 looking like a realistic target. The consolidation here is solid”

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Cryptocurrency investments should support emerging markets

Cryptocurrency investments should more closely follow market adoption patterns.Many say that Web3 is just a place for imagination because of its ability to make millions overnight, because memes are more important than useful. Old manufacturers and dreamers will soon lose faith in the future of the industry. In addition to media reports, there are other bright spots. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are very beneficial to people, especially in emerging markets. Society is experiencing a fundamental shift in the way Web3 technology empowers the poor and underbanked and overcomes the shortcomings of new and legacy financial institutions. Investment must continue. Developing countries lead the adoption curve By 2024, the World Bank estimates that 1.4 billion people worldwide will lack access to finance. The partnership aims to address the problem of unequal distribution of wealth. The industry must support other innovators who are committed to driving change. Africa is one of the leading regions for cryptocurrency adoption, due to low access to banking services. Even in 2021, nearly 300 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to basic financial services. Lack of access significantly limits people’s ability to manage their daily lives, save and invest money – let alone run a business. Crypto is changing that narrative. According to Chainalysis’ 2024 Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index, developing countries are leading the pack, with countries like India, Indonesia, and Nigeria leading the way. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest Bitcoin adoption rate in the world at $98,330 in 2023, with Nigeria leading the global cryptocurrency adoption index. By mid-2023, Sub-Saharan Africa will account for 2.3% of the global cryptocurrency market cap, with a market value of $117.1 billion. In this space, cryptocurrencies have practical uses beyond their intended use. Things are improving In emerging markets, we are seeing practical uses for cryptocurrencies beyond their use as a hedge. Local entrepreneurs who understand the local issues are driving meaningful change, and new technological innovations are being developed to meet the desired goals. Projects like CARE’s pilot projects in Kenya and Ecuador, which are distributing cryptocurrency-based loans to vulnerable groups, are demonstrating how cryptocurrency can provide access to basic goods and services and boost economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-fungible tokens have become a cross-border fundraising tool. Major regulatory issues could hinder adoption growth. The Indian city of Raipur set a record for blockchain-based assets through an innovative crypto startup called Airchains. This blockchain solution is designed to prevent fraud and reduce processing times from one month to three days. In developing countries, many studies are being conducted to consider this issue. However, Raipur has a bidding process and is willing to deal with this challenging issue. Use the wallets, not the shiny new ones Although the flow of capital to cryptocurrency projects in emerging markets is increasing in importance, it is still light compared to the funds available to projects in developed countries. In 2023, developed countries, especially the United States, will invest approximately $1.975 billion in the third quarter alone, with US companies accounting for 34.5% of all cryptocurrency capital projects. In contrast, developing countries are finding it difficult to access matching funds, with total investment in Africa reaching $1 billion this year, highlighting the challenges in investment plans in these region. Recently, there has been a growing awareness of the potential of emerging markets. Cryptocurrency investments should now focus on where mass adoption is taking place. In emerging markets, cryptocurrencies are more of a tool than a speculative asset.

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Analysts “won’t be surprised” if Ethereum surpasses Bitcoin in January

According to analysts, Ethereum’s relative strength against Bitcoin could rise in January, which could trigger an “altcoin run” for Ethereum. One cryptocurrency analyst says Ether is showing signs of a breakout against Bitcoin in January 2025. According to Trading View, Ether’s ETH ticker has fallen $3,499.43, while Bitcoin’s relative strength against the BTC ticker has fallen $98,189, with the ETH/BTC ratio now at 0.0356. MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said in a December 24 X post that he “won’t be surprised if ETH/BTC falls below 0.04 in January.” ETH’s strength could trigger an “altcoin run” for Ethereum. The last time the ETH/BTC ratio hit the 0.04 level was on December 8, when ETH was trading at $4,018, just above the psychological $4,000 level. Van de Poppe predicts that in January 2025, there will be an outflow into Bitcoin while Ether will increase in inflows, which could stabilize the price. He expects this to trigger a “distribution of altcoins in the Ethereum ecosystem.” Shiba Inu SHIB (ticker $0.00002314) and Mantle MNT (ticker $1.25), the second and third largest tokens in the Ethereum ecosystem outside of stablecoins, have risen 7.10% and 3.32%, respectively, in the past 24 hours. Bitcoin continues to trade below $100,000 at $98,805, according to data from CoinMarketCap. It hit the six-figure price milestone for the first time on December 5. Analysts See Ether ETFs Outperforming Some analysts have noted that Ether spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could outperform Bitcoin ETFs in 2025. ETF Store President Nate Geraci said in a December 20 X post that “Net inflows into ETH ETFs are currently at the same level as gold ETFs, but we expect inflows to accelerate from here.” Related: Why Ethereum Maxis Says ETH Will Be the “Comeback Kid” of 2025 Pseudonymous crypto trader Brent expressed a similar opinion, This came shortly after a crypto analyst said Ether’s underperformance against Bitcoin may soon be coming to an end. Into The Cryptoverse founder Benjamin Cowen wrote to X in December. 4. He believes that the ETH/BTC crash is over (or almost over) and that the uptrend should continue over the next 6-12 months.

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BRICS Welcomes Nine Countries as Partners – Russia Hints Four More Will Join Soon

BRICS is set to expand to include nine new partner countries in 2025, signaling growing global rapprochement with BRICS as more countries seek to secure ties. BRICS to expand to include new partner countries in 2025 Several countries will gain BRICS partner status from January 1, 2025, after Russia receives the relevant confirmations, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday. Ushakov, referring to the BRICS summit in Kazan, said, “One of the main outcomes of the summit was the creation of the category of BRICS partner countries and an agreement on the list of 13 invited countries,” TASS reported. Russian officials added that they have been sent to these states. So far, willingness to become BRICS partner countries has been confirmed by Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. “From January 1, 2025, they will officially acquire the status of BRICS partner countries. However, we expect replies from the other four countries to which we sent invitations soon,” he added. Ushakov noted that Eritrea has shown interest in cooperation with BRICS countries, reflecting the growing number of countries seeking cooperation with it. Representatives of partner countries will be invited to important meetings such as BRICS summits and foreign ministers’ meetings. The official added, “We believe that it is right to include partners in high-level security meetings, parliamentary forums and other events.” Regarding Russia’s chairmanship position in BRICS, Ushakov noted that Moscow is making efforts to incorporate new members into the organizational framework. He stressed that Russia needs to support the work of BRICS in an expanded manner “so that the new members of the group can harmoniously adapt to the usual arrangements and modes of interaction.” Ushakov assessed the process as successful and stressed the importance of Russia’s role in leading the bloc through the transition period.

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Despite Bitcoin’s surge, miners struggle to make a profit in 2024

While Bitcoin is expected to be profitable in 2024, many mining stocks are continuing to record losses this year. Bitcoin fell to $96,255 on December 24, with a 2024 return of 113%, but most mining stocks managed to boost the cryptocurrency’s profits and ended in the red. According to data from Hashrate Index and Google Finance, the majority of registered miners will end 2024 in negative territory, with losses reaching 84%. Of the 25 mining companies listed in the index, only seven have made a profit for investors this year. At the time of writing, Bitdeer (BTDR) is up 167%, Cipher (CIFR) is up 33%, Hut 8 (HUT) is up 91%, Iris Energy (IREN) is up 72%, Northern Data (NB2) is up 58%, Core Scientific (CORZQ) is up 327% and TeraWulf (WULF) is up 169%. On the other hand, Argo Blockchain (ARB) is down 84%, Sphere 3D (ANY) is down 69%, MARA Holdings (MARA) is down 12%, Hive (HIVE) is down 29%, and Greenidge (GREE) is down 74%. For example, Bitfarms (BITF) fell 44% and BitFufu (FUFU) fell 18%. Challenges facing miners in 2024 Overall, 2024 will be a year of adjustment for Bitcoin mining companies as they deal with falling prices and rising costs and find new sources of revenue to stay afloat. Miners have earned more than $71 billion since the network’s inception, but every four years, their income from mining new blocks is cut in half during a halving event. The most recent Bitcoin halving occurred in April, reducing the mining fee from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. According to Blockchain.com, mining revenue was $42 million as of December 22, down from a peak of $100 million in April.At the same time, the difficulty of creating a new block on the Bitcoin blockchain has doubled compared to last year, fueling the increasing costs of Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin’s average difficulty is currently 108.52, up from 72.01 last year and up 50.71% over the past 12 months. Mining costs have also risen sharply due to the increase in costs. For example, BitFuFu reported that Bitcoin mining costs increased by 168% to $51,887 per BTC, while mining power increased by 62.5%. In order to increase their financial position, many listed mining companies have turned to the capital markets. Nine of the 13 Bitcoin mining companies listed in the US raised a total of $1.25 billion through share offerings in the second quarter. This trend continued in the third quarter, with an additional $530 million raised, bringing the total to $2.2 billion. In addition, many companies are looking to transform their operations by 2024. Bitcoin mining firm Core Scientific has entered the artificial intelligence space by partnering with CoreWeave to host Nvidia GPUs, aiming to meet the growing demand for intelligent computing power. The partnership will bring Core Scientific $8.7 billion in revenue over the next 12 years. Some mining companies are following the lead of publicly traded companies and using Bitcoin reserves to bolster their portfolios. The latest in this trend include MARA and Hut 8.

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Cryptocurrency Sector Valuation Surges Past $3.5 Trillion Amid Market Rebound

The cryptocurrency market experienced a dramatic resurgence on Thursday, as the total sector valuation soared beyond $3.5 trillion. This marks a robust 9.4% recovery following the market crash earlier in the week, signaling renewed investor confidence and market stability. Liquidations Highlight Volatility Despite the positive movement, the last 24 hours have been turbulent for many traders. Data reveals that approximately 104,700 traders faced liquidations, with the total value of liquidated contracts reaching $298.5 million. Notably, long contracts accounted for 58% of this total, equating to $172.7 million. This highlights the significant risks associated with leveraged trading in the volatile cryptocurrency market. Political Endorsement Boosts Bitcoin In an unexpected turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of adopting a Bitcoin strategic reserve during his visit to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. While details remain sparse, such a move could mark a watershed moment for Bitcoin, further legitimizing it as a strategic financial asset. Market analysts speculate that this announcement contributed to the day’s bullish sentiment, as it underscores the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency at the highest levels of government and finance. Broader Implications The recent surge in valuation is being closely watched by market participants and analysts. This rebound not only restores a degree of investor confidence but also raises questions about the sustainability of such rapid recoveries in the face of underlying volatility. With institutional interest in cryptocurrency continuing to rise and potential political endorsements on the horizon, the sector appears poised for further growth, albeit with its characteristic unpredictability. The Road Ahead As the market moves forward, traders and investors will need to remain vigilant. The events of the past week serve as a stark reminder of the cryptocurrency sector’s inherent volatility, where substantial gains and losses can occur in short timeframes. However, the prospect of greater institutional and governmental involvement suggests a more stable and regulated future for digital assets. For now, the cryptocurrency market’s ability to recover so strongly after a significant downturn reflects its resilience and the growing belief in its long-term potential.

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