Author: Andy Josh

Historical trading patterns show that December is one of the most active months in global crypto markets, driven by portfolio reallocation, seasonal liquidity conditions, and anticipation of early-year volatility. Participation not only rises, but trader behaviour becomes more experimental, with greater openness to new strategies and platforms. This effect has traditionally proven temporary: activity typically declines sharply in January as risk frameworks are reset, before gradually normalising from mid-February onward. Winter WonderTrade is structured to operate within – and extend – this behavioral cycle. Rather than treating December’s surge as an isolated volume spike, the initiative leverages seasonal momentum as…

Solana’s meteoric rise from $10 to $240 created millionaires who recognized the opportunity early. Today, as SOL trades near its all-time highs with a $110 billion market cap, the mathematics of another 10x seem impossible. But VFX Token, built on Solana’s infrastructure and backed by a licensed $40 million trading firm, offers the same ground-floor opportunity at just $0.06 that early SOL investors seized at $10. The Solana Success Story You Can’t Repeat Solana delivered life-changing returns for investors who bought below $10 in 2020-2021. Those who held through the volatility watched their investments multiply by 24x as SOL reached…

Crypto and fintech firms are seeking bank charters under the Trump administration, aiming to expand operations and reduce borrowing costs, according to a Reuters report. At least six industry executives said the new political climate presents an opportunity for crypto firms to boost credibility with customers by securing banking licenses. A bank charter allows a firm to operate as a bank, defining its structure, permitted activities, and regulatory obligations to ensure customer protection and financial stability. “We’ve seen a lot more interest and are working on several applications now,” said Alexandra Steinberg Barrage, a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke. She…

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) continued to bleed capital last week, marking the 17th straight day of outflows — the longest losing streak since CoinShares began tracking data in 2015. $1.7B in Outflows Marks Fifth Consecutive Week of Selling Crypto ETPs recorded $1.7 billion in outflows last week, accelerating from $876 million the week before. This brings the five-week total to $6.4 billion, according to CoinShares’ report on March 17. Despite this sustained selling pressure, year-to-date (YTD) inflows remain positive at $912 million. James Butterfill of CoinShares noted that the ongoing sell-off reflects weakening investor sentiment, but some products have managed…

Elon Musk has reignited an old conspiracy theory regarding the gold reserves at Fort Knox, fueling a debate about transparency and the future of U.S. gold holdings. In a recent post, Musk questioned whether the U.S. Treasury’s $425 billion worth of gold is still securely stored at the facility, suggesting that it might be time for a live, public audit of the fabled gold vault. The controversy surrounding Fort Knox dates back decades. Musk’s statement followed a comment from Senator Mike Lee, who revealed that despite being a sitting senator, he had been repeatedly denied access to the depository. Musk…

Google is working on making Bitcoin easier to use, directly integrating it into the Google ecosystem. At the Hong Kong Bitcoin Tech Carnival on February 18, 2025, Google Web3 specialist Kyle Song shared exciting news about the tech giant’s plans to make Bitcoin more accessible to everyday users. The company has been working for over a year on integrating Bitcoin into its vast ecosystem, aiming to lower the barriers for Web2 users and make Bitcoin usage as seamless as existing Web2 payment systems. Google’s Plan for Bitcoin IntegrationAccording to Song, Google is creating a solution that allows users to access…

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has announced a strategic addition of 269.43 Bitcoin to its treasury, marking a significant step in its ongoing Bitcoin accumulation strategy. The purchase, valued at $25.6 million, was made at an average price of $95,000 per BTC, increasing Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin holdings to 2,031.41 BTC. With the latest acquisition, the firm’s Bitcoin reserves are now worth approximately $159 million, reflecting an average purchase price of $78,000 per Bitcoin. This move is part of Metaplanet’s broader strategy to use Bitcoin as a core treasury asset, following a model similar to that of Strategy (formerly known as MicroStrategy),…

Bitcoin’s trajectory is closely tied to broader macroeconomic conditions, and upcoming U.S. labor market data could play a pivotal role in determining its next big move. According to quantitative analyst Benjamin Cowen, the key factor to watch is the unemployment rate. If it remains within the 4.1%-4.2% range, Bitcoin could follow a similar pattern to last year, potentially rallying into February and March. However, significant deviations in the unemployment rate—whether too high or too low—could introduce uncertainty, impacting bond yields, Federal Reserve policies, and ultimately, Bitcoin’s price. The latest labor market report, released on January 10, showed that the U.S.…

Gary Gensler, the former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is returning to MIT’s Sloan School of Management as a Professor of the Practice. According to a press release from MIT dated January 27, Gensler will be a member of both the Global Economics and Management Group and the Finance Group. His research focus will include artificial intelligence, finance, financial technology, and public policy. In addition to his professorship, Gensler will also serve as co-director of FinTechAI, a prominent research initiative at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), which is the largest lab of its…

The highly anticipated ANIME token, backed by the Azuki NFT brand, is set to make its debut on January 23, 2025, on major exchanges including Binance, Bybit, and OKX. Before its official listing, Binance will conduct a significant airdrop for eligible users. Binance Airdrop Details From January 17 to January 20, Binance users who hold BNB and are subscribed to the BNB Simple Earn products will receive an airdrop of 500 million ANIME tokens—approximately 5% of the token’s total supply. The airdrop marks the first step toward the token’s public introduction and its listing on the exchange. ANIME will officially…

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would make cryptocurrency a national priority, potentially on his first day back in office, January 20. According to a Bloomberg report on January 17, citing sources familiar with the matter, the order would direct regulatory agencies to collaborate with the crypto industry and could establish a council to represent and advocate for its interests. Details of the Proposed Executive Order The executive order would aim to streamline regulatory processes and align government agencies with the crypto industry’s needs. Sources suggest the initiative could pave the way for a…

Bitcoin’s current price of $90,000 presents a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, even as analysts warn of a potential dip below $70,000, according to Fundstrat Capital Chief Investment Officer Tom Lee. In a January 13 interview with CNBC, Lee emphasized that Bitcoin’s current valuation is a good entry point for those looking to hold over the long term. “I don’t think anyone is going to lose money buying here at $90,000. If they’re trying to time this, maybe they get lucky, and it goes to $70,000,” Lee said, adding that Bitcoin is expected to be “one of the best-performing assets of the year.” A Normal Correction in…

The upcoming week is set to see significant token releases, totaling over $5 million, including tokens from prominent projects such as SUI, OP (Optimism), ZETA, KAS, DYDX, ENA, and others. These unlock events are crucial as they will increase the circulating supply of these tokens, which can influence their market dynamics, liquidity, and price performance. According to Tokenomist, the first major release will be from SUI. Approximately $263.20 million worth of SUI tokens—around 2.19% of its total circulating supply—will be unlocked, with the event taking place in the next 24 hours. Following this, Optimism (OP) will release $58.61 million worth…

Justin Sun, the founder of the TRON blockchain, reportedly asked Bullish, the crypto exchange that now owns CoinDesk, to remove a critical article about him eating the world’s most expensive banana. The piece, which explored Sun’s consumption of Maurizio Cattelan’s $6.2 million banana artwork, was met with disapproval from Sun’s team, sources say. The article, titled “I Watched Justin Sun Eat the World’s Most Expensive Banana. I Don’t Get It,” was published in late November. It delved into the bizarre nature of the act, the banana’s status as an artwork, and Sun’s ongoing legal issues with the U.S. Securities and…

After months of slowdown, the NFT market is beginning to show signs of recovery, marked by a significant 22% increase in trading volume in November. According to data from DappRadar, NFT trading volume reached $698 million last month, up from October, signaling a rebound in market activity. DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas attributes the surge to increased interest in high-value “blue-chip” NFT collections, such as those from Yuga Labs, and rising token prices. This surge in activity, she notes, is driven by improved liquidity, heightened investor confidence, and a broader shift in how NFTs are perceived—moving from purely speculative assets to…

Worldcoin has officially rebranded as “World,” debuting its Ethereum layer-2 network, World Chain, along with several significant updates. During a keynote address on October 17, Worldcoin founder Sam Altman announced the rebranding and enhancements to its iris-scanning Orb devices. The new branding is now reflected across all social media platforms and the company’s website. The upgraded Orb devices will feature Nvidia hardware, making them up to five times more powerful while reducing their carbon footprint and requiring fewer components. Initially, these new Orbs will be deployed in self-service kiosks in select markets, aiming to accelerate proof of human verifications globally.…

The Infraud Bitcoin bribery case has concluded with a Moscow court sentencing former federal detective Marat Tambiev to 16 years in prison. The Balashikha City Court found Tambiev and his assistant, Kristina Lyakhovenko, guilty of accepting bribes from credit card fraudsters, according to a report by Izvestia. A Landmark Bribery Scandal Legal experts have dubbed this case “the largest bribe in modern Russian history.” The Infraud Organization operated internationally between October 2010 and February 2018, specializing in credit card fraud, commonly referred to as “carding.” Tambiev will serve his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony, while Lyakhovenko received a nine-year…

On September 25, Worldcoin faced a significant selloff by large holders, yet it managed to maintain upward momentum, rising by 17.3% to reach $2.12. As a result, the asset’s market capitalization surpassed $1 billion, positioning it as the 69th-largest cryptocurrency. The daily trading volume for Worldcoin experienced an impressive 85% increase, totaling $430 million. According to IntoTheBlock, large holders of Worldcoin saw outflows of 6.23 million WLD, valued at approximately $13.15 million, indicating that the number of whales selling far outweighed those accumulating the asset. Typically, whale selloffs signal panic or profit-taking, which often leads to price declines. However, Worldcoin…

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reached a settlement with TrueCoin and TrustToken, the companies behind the TrueUSD (TUSD) stablecoin, imposing a $700,000 penalty. The SEC described TrueUSD as a “purported stablecoin,” highlighting allegations that its backers misrepresented the token’s stability and defrauded investors. According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, TrueCoin and TrustToken were involved in the unregistered offer and sale of investment contracts through TUSD, as well as in “profit-making opportunities” from November 2020 to April 2023. Jorge G. Tenreiro, Acting Chief of the SEC’s crypto unit,…

On September 18, spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. recorded net outflows of $52.83 million, marking the end of a four-day streak of inflows that had brought in over $500 million. According to data from SoSoValue, the majority of these outflows were driven by ARK 21Shares’s ARKB, which saw $43.4 million leave its fund. Grayscale’s GBTC and Bitwise’s BITB also reported outflows of $8.1 million and $3.9 million, respectively. In contrast, Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust was the sole spot Bitcoin fund to experience inflows on that day, attracting $2.7 million. The other eight spot Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock’s…

Recently, former President Donald Trump has positioned himself as a champion of Bitcoin, attracting millions of dollars in donations from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry. He’s proposed that the U.S. should emulate El Salvador by creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve, suggesting that the government should retain seized crypto assets rather than liquidating them. Additionally, he’s floated a rather impractical policy idea: that all remaining Bitcoin should be mined exclusively in America. Given these bold statements, one might assume that Trump is a fervent Bitcoin enthusiast, deeply invested in the cryptocurrency as a financial future. However, the reality is quite…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that crypto mining and data centers together account for 2% of global electricity consumption, a figure expected to rise to 3.5% within the next three years. This significant energy demand has raised concerns about the environmental impact of these energy-intensive industries. In response, the IMF suggests that increasing the electricity tax by 85% could compel the industry to adopt more environmentally responsible practices. By implementing a targeted tax, policymakers hope to encourage the crypto industry to reduce its carbon footprint and adopt cleaner energy sources. Cryptocurrency mining is particularly energy-intensive, with a single…

Santa Monica, California, is making strides in the world of cryptocurrency with the launch of a dedicated “Bitcoin Office.” This new initiative aims to educate residents and businesses on Bitcoin’s potential impact on the modern economy, and to foster broader adoption of digital currencies. The Bitcoin Office will focus on forging partnerships within the cryptocurrency sector to support Santa Monica’s economic recovery. Its goals include creating job opportunities, developing strategic collaborations, and building a robust, future-oriented local economy. The city’s vision is for Santa Monica to become a hub for Bitcoin innovation on the West Coast, unlocking new opportunities, attracting…

BitGo, a company that handles digital assets, has just received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) License from Singapore’s financial authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This license allows BitGo to provide a range of services related to digital payment tokens (DPTs), such as securely storing and trading cryptocurrencies in Singapore. This approval, announced on Thursday, means that BitGo can now offer unlimited payment services for digital currencies. BitGo’s Singaporean customers will be able to buy and sell crypto assets through the company’s secure, insured storage solution. The MPI license is a big deal because it shows that Singapore is…

The Ronin blockchain has become the leader in daily active users among all blockchains, hitting 2 million daily users on July 29. This puts it ahead of other popular blockchains like Tron and Solana. According to Token Terminal, which tracks on-chain activity, Ronin’s daily active users are the number of unique addresses interacting with important contracts on the network. This data shows people actively using the network to make transactions and engage with services. Ronin’s growth in 2024 has been significant. Factors contributing to this include a boom in activity on its NFT marketplace, Mavis Market, and the listing of…

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has reported a significant increase in cryptocurrency payments to Chinese precursor manufacturers, indicating a growing preference for digital assets within this industry. In 2023 alone, over $26 million in crypto was deposited into wallets associated with these entities, with approximately 60% of payments made in Bitcoin. TRM Labs, which boasts backing from major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Visa, Citi, and PayPal, observed a sixfold surge in crypto deposits from 2022 to 2023. Their recent research report disclosed that deposits into addresses linked to Chinese drug producers more than doubled in the first four months…

Nayib Bukele, 42, has officially begun his second term as El Salvador’s president, set to govern for another five years with near-total control of parliament. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the National Palace in San Salvador, where President Bukele received the presidential blue and white sash from Ernesto Castro, the President of the Legislative Assembly. The event was broadcast live, drawing crowds of cheering Salvadorans. President Bukele has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency, and it was recently revealed that El Salvador holds more Bitcoin than previously estimated. In a recent post on X, Bukele disclosed that the country…

Grayscale’s forthcoming spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) is anticipated to experience substantial outflows, with projections averaging around $110 million per day. According to a recent report by analysis firm Kaiko, this projection is based on the observed pattern with Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after it transitioned from a closed-end fund to an ETF on January 11. In the first month following its conversion, GBTC experienced outflows amounting to 23% of its assets under management (AUM), totaling $6.5 billion. Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF Holds $11 Billion in AUM Currently, Grayscale’s Ether Trust (ETHE) has an AUM of $11 billion. If ETHE experiences…

Former US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind cryptocurrencies, expressing enthusiasm for “all things related to this new and burgeoning industry.” Trump reiterated his pro-crypto stance during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention, stating, “I am very positive and open-minded to cryptocurrency companies.” Trump emphasized his commitment to ensuring the survival of cryptocurrency, contrasting his stance with what he perceives as President Biden’s attempts to stifle the industry. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Biden, accusing him of wanting cryptocurrency to “die a slow and painful death.” He vowed that such an outcome would never…

The American Bankers Association (ABA) urged House leaders on Monday to support a bill that would prevent the Federal Reserve from creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for individuals and using it as a monetary policy tool. Congressman Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) introduced the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 5403) in September 2023. With backing from 165 cosponsors, the bill is expected to be voted on this week. “ABA believes strongly that a CBDC, defined as a digital form of central bank money that is widely available to the general public, is unnecessary in the United States and would present…