Aurelia Butler

The cryptocurrency’s pullback came as enthusiasm surrounding Donald Trump’s presidency began to cool, and broader market sentiment was dampened by growing uncertainty over the US interest rate policy path.Bitcoin surged by approximately 11% last week, during which it notched an all-time high of nearly $93,500. The rally was fueled by optimism sparked by pro-crypto Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election.Bitcoin fell 1.5% to $89,663.0 on Monday as of 08:30 ET (13:30 GMT). After clearing the $90,000 hurdle recently, markets are now watching for the cryptocurrency to attack the $100,000 next, which is seen as a key level.Analysts at Bernstein have identified several catalysts that could drive Bitcoin’s price to their cycle target of $200,000 by 2025.“We are entering a stage, where we expect intrigue will turn to pain for the bitcoin bears,” said analysts led by Gautam Chuggani in a Monday note to clients.Bernstein set their current target in June when Bitcoin traded at around $66,000, noting that Bitcoin’s surge toward $100,000 “seems around the corner and our $200K bitcoin target [by the end of] 2025 now looks not as delusional.”Following Trump’s presidential election victory, his administration has made significant pro-crypto moves. Notable appointments include bitcoin advocates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Health and Secretary of Defense.Yet, the most critical appointments for crypto—a new SEC Chair to replace Gary Gensler and a Treasury Secretary—are still forthcoming, the analysts pointed out.Another major driver could be progress toward creating a US bitcoin reserve, a key campaign promise from Trump.Bernstein highlighted that Senator Cynthia Lummis has already introduced the BITCOIN Act, proposing the US acquire up to 5% of Bitcoin’s total supply over five years, equivalent to nearly $100 billion at current prices.While the plan holds strong political momentum, implementing such a reserve could require significant legislative efforts.“Demand for bitcoin this cycle is led by institutions, corporates and retail,” analysts said, but added that the next phase will likely be “sovereign led,” as political support grows for crypto-friendly policies and resistance to CBDCs.“The political winds of change are favoring candidates that prefer crypto deregulation and are against potential surveillance from a CBDC,” they noted.Akin to Bitcoin, broader crypto markets also saw sluggish performance on Monday, mirroring the recent slowdown.World no.2 crypto Ether slipped 0.7% to $3,081.15.Meanwhile, Solana and XRP rose 3.7% and 1.1% respectively, while Cardano traded flat. MATIC/USD also added around 1% on the day.Among meme coins, DOGE/USD edged 0.1% lower, and Shiba Inu fell 0.5%. DOGE saw strong gains last week after Trump announced the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. More

Project founders will receive early access to use newly launched features on ai16z’s Eliza frameworkRyze Labs and ai16z, the first venture capital firm run by autonomous AI agents investing in AI-driven innovation, today announced the launch of an AICombinator program and $5M USD fund aimed at supporting the growth of the ai16z ecosystem. As investors in best-in-class web3 projects, Ryze Labs, together with ai16z, are finding and funding the next generation of developers building at the intersection of AI and crypto.In addition to access to a $5M funding pool, project founders who enter the ai16z and Ryze Labs AICombinator program will receive early access to use newly launched features in the ai16z’s Eliza framework roadmap. Eliza framework is a flexible AI tool for creating unique, interactive characters that can connect to Discord and Twitter, and is widely utilized for developing crypto AI agents. About Ryze Labs Ryze Labs invests in the builders of blockchain technology around the globe that are designing Web3 applications designed to accelerate adoption and democratize access to the next generation of the internet. Ryze Labs has always supported projects founded by hard-working visionaries, that work with cutting-edge technologies, located in the next Silicon Valley. Ryze Labs leverages emerging markets expertise as strategic investors for best-in-class web3 projects looking to expand their international presence into emerging markets with high-growth potential. Ryze has invested in some of the most successful web3 projects to date, including Solana, LayerZero, Polygon, and Wintermute.About ai16zAi16z is the first venture capital firm led by AI agents. Their team of AI leaders are aiming to shape the future of AI. They connect AI entrepreneurs, investors, and experts, fostering growth in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. The singularity is approaching, and we are here to guide it forward. Users can learn more at ai16z.aiContactM Group on Behalf of Ryze Labsmedia@ryzelabs.ioThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Big Time Studios, a Web3 gaming trailblazer and creator of the Open Loot platform and hit game Big Time, which has already processed a half billion dollars in total transaction volume, is making waves again. Active users of the Open Loot platform will soon be able to collect $OL, the marketplace’s first utility token, which will become the cornerstone of the Open Loot.$OL Token$OL token is not a fundraising mechanism. This launch is fair: there are no token sales, team-allocated tokens, or tokens sold to early investors. Open Loot users can collect $OL=ugh various activities within the platform. Players actively engage in unique game opportunities with partners, completing challenges and participating in unique events. For loyal players, the $OL tokens will provide users with early access to games, opportunities to purchase unique NFTs, and discounts on special premium currency packs and NFT primary sales.For game developers, $OL is a powerful tool for user acquisition. Developers can leverage the token to reward players for in-game activity, such as reaching milestones or dropping tokens in-game, which will drive engagement. Limited-timed events can attract users to Open Loot partner games and create exposure for the game and the ecosystem. $OL fosters more profound connections between developers and their audiences, giving developers the power to offer players significant value through competitive, social, and metagame features and targeted promotional offers that enhance player engagement.The potential uses for $OL are vast and will define engagement and innovation across the platform. $OL will foster trust in the Open Loot platform and marketplace, extend reach beyond traditional off-chain models, and lead the way for the Web3 gaming industry, opening up a world of opportunities for players and studios. Open Loot PlatformBig Time Studios’ Open Loot gaming platform and marketplace has facilitated nearly half a billion dollars in transactions since early 2024. This achievement stems from Open Loot’s ability to simplify complex cryptocurrency functions, scalability, distribution, payments, and regulatory compliance for developers. The marketplace boosts NFT discoverability and sales while providing various payment options.Players enjoy high-quality games without typical Web3 issues like connecting a crypto wallet, paying gas fees, or waiting for transactions. Patented Vault technology allows easy NFT buying and selling without high gas fees, with the option to mint them onto the blockchain. The platform includes features like NFT rentals, a marketplace for non-crypto game currencies, and detailed NFT price histories, making Web3 gaming accessible. Game studios benefit from ready-to-use tech solutions, including game launchers and premium currencies. Open Loot also provides expert support in marketing, game economy design, and production, ensuring developers can meet player expectations and achieve success.Open Loot platform manages all foundational elements, overseeing the sales and leasing of digital and traditional items for Big Time, the wildly successful free-to-play multiplayer action RPG, and five pioneering launch partners, each curating distinct Web3 gaming experiences. World Shards, an expansive sandbox MMORPG; Boss Fighters, an engaging multiplayer action title; The Desolation, an immersive cross-platform loot shooter; ShatterPoint, an adrenaline-fueled F2P action mobile RPG; and One Tap, a strategic first-person shooter. Positioned to redefine the gaming sector, Open Loot will focus on high-caliber mid-core to hardcore games.First Half of 2024 SuccessSince the start of 2024, the Open Loot platform has experienced growth driven by its vibrant community and excellent partners. So far, Underscoring Open Loot’s successful quarter was the exchange of over 1,067,103 NFTs and 1,551,969 NFT rentals. This year, more than 226,588 players have crafted more than 3,625,725 NTFs showcasing the platform’s dynamic and engaging ecosystem.Since it opened, Open Loot has amassed over $445,167,044 in total transaction volume, with millions of transactions signaling the platform’s escalating popularity and triumph.Users can visit https://openloot.com/ for more details.About Big Time StudiosBig Time Studios, founded by Ari Meilich, is a pioneering force in the crypto gaming industry, renowned for its innovative Open Loot platform and the hit game Big Time. With a mission to revolutionize the NFT gaming experience, Big Time Studios seamlessly integrates high-quality games with blockchain technology, offering players unparalleled gaming experiences. The curated Open Loot platform gives developers the opportunity to reach a wider audience and drive engagement through unique in-game rewards and events, while players benefit from exclusive access to high-quality games, special NFT sales, in-game perks and airdrops. Big Time Studios’ Open Loot platform has facilitated nearly half a billion dollars in total transaction volume, underscoring its commitment to creating a dynamic and engaging ecosystem for gamers worldwide. For more information, visit Big Time Studios’ website.ContactCMOMichael MiglieroBig Time Studios LTDpress@bigtime.ggThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, had already outlined the cryptocurrency’s groundbreaking concept in its whitepaper a month earlier. However, this release of the original Bitcoin code marked the beginning of its evolution from a mere idea to a functional reality.Back then, Bitcoin was worth nothing. There was no market, no miners and certainly no value attached to the lines of code Nakamoto shared. Fast forward to today, and Bitcoin’s value has skyrocketed, surpassing the $90,000 mark.Satoshi’s vision was to create a decentralized digital currency that could operate without the need for a central authority. This vision was detailed in the Bitcoin white paper, published on Oct. 31, 2008.Bitcoin was launched on Jan. 9, 2009, with Satoshi Nakamoto mining the first genesis block.Fast forward to today, and Bitcoin has reached thousands of dollars, setting all-time highs of $93,495 on Nov. 13.At the time of writing, BTC was up 0.62% in the last 24 hours to $91,785. Bitcoin recovered from its largest two-day drop since Nov. 5, declining in Saturday and Sunday trading session before rising to intraday highs of $92,234 early Monday morning.Investors are lowering their expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction in an otherwise strong U.S. economy, which might pose a challenge for cryptocurrencies because liquidity conditions might influence speculative demand for digital assets.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Plutus, a pioneer in tokenized loyalty rewards, is implementing strategic upgrades to enhance platform integrity and ensure long-term sustainability. Guided by community feedback, with 67% of users expressing support, the company is rolling out initiatives aligned with its whitepaper, including offering rewards of up to 10% on debit card payments, positioning itself as a competitive alternative to traditional cashback and credit card programs.Consequences Of Scaling AmbitionsSince its inception in 2015 as one of the earliest community-supported Ethereum-based platforms, Plutus has pursued rapid growth while maintaining a self-funded approach. This expansion has introduced operational challenges that have, at times, affected the customer experience and community trust.Plutus is now dedicated to addressing these issues and strengthening the platform.Steps to Improve Platform Integrity and User ExperienceIn a move toward greater transparency, Plutus plans to release its financial model as open-source, enabling public verification and contributing to industry innovation.Plutus doesn’t rely on fancy PR firms for polished statements – the company speaks directly and honestly with its community. While there may be missteps along the way, Plutus is committed to improving and ensuring its messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with its values.Looking AheadPlutus prioritizes maintaining a secure, respectful environment as it prepares for growth and an upcoming Series A funding round with an industry-leading partner. This collaboration will support the 2025 network transition, enhancing Plutus’ tokenomics while safeguarding the community and fostering a positive space for customers who share its values. With Tier 1 network support and funding, Plutus remains committed to transparency and sustainability, ensuring its position as a leader at scale and delivering lasting value to millions of customers.For more details on upcoming features, please visit: Plutus White Paper 2024About PlutusPlutus is a leading rewards and finance platform, providing lucrative solutions for its community worldwide. Focused on transparency, trust, and organic long-term growth, Plutus empowers everyday card spenders with tokenised loyalty rewards that maximise value in any economy.ContactPlutus Teampress@plutus.itThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Currently trading above $90,000, Bitcoin has been rallying since Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president, driven by expectations of regulatory easing.The brokerage pointed to key upcoming appointments, including a new SEC chair and Treasury Secretary, as critical for the crypto market. “We expect the SEC chair and Treasury position to be filled by a pro-crypto candidate and that the market should remain positive, regardless of specific appointments,” analysts wrote. Bernstein also highlighted progress in the U.S. toward establishing a Bitcoin reserve but noted that the legislative process could take time. “For us, the demand for Bitcoin this cycle is led by institutions, corporates and retail,” analysts said, adding that momentum signals a shift to broader institutional and sovereign interest in the asset.Bernstein anticipates this cycle to transition from being retail and corporate-led to sovereign-driven, bolstered by deregulation and anti-Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) sentiments.Trump’s promises, which includes boosting U.S.-based Bitcoin mining, simplifying token registration, and supporting stablecoin legislation, are expected to fuel institutional and sovereign demand for digital assets. More