Cryptocurrency

Today, Balchunas tweeted that the world’s largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap, Bitcoin, is among the best performers as 2025 has just kicked off. Digital gold is on this list together with gold miners, uranium, and psychedelics.The worst performers so far, according to Balchunas’s tweet, include China, treasuries, and lithium.Twice in December, Kiyosaki tweeted that he expects the world’s pioneer cryptocurrency to surge as high as $350,000 in 2025. The main reason for that, according to Kiyosaki’s expectations, was that the US now has a pro-crypto president who during his election campaign made a promise to embrace Bitcoin and crypto, implement adequate legislation for those, and even create a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the country over the next four years of his presidency.Besides, throughout 2024 and earlier, Kiyosaki has often mentioned the fast growing US national debt and excessive spending of the government, as well as the Fed Reserve printing billions of US dollars out of thin air, thus reducing the value of the US dollar as a currency and bringing down its purchasing power.After doubling down on his $350,000 prediction for Bitcoin in 2025, Kiyosaki published a tweet on January 2 to slightly adjust his price outlook. This time, he tweeted that he expects Bitcoin price to surge at least to $175,000 but then perhaps extend its growth to the level he had mentioned earlier – $350,000.Many experts are placing bullish expectations and hopes in Bitcoin this year, hoping it will regain $108,000 and go higher.This article was originally published on U.Today More

A top ETF analyst Eric Balchunas from Bloomberg reacted to the historical anti record with a more “glass half full” approach, claiming that these pullbacks are to be expected and are long overdue.He also said that Bitcoin ETFs probably won’t keep growing so fast, and while the amount of money that left might have caught some by surprise, it’s just a sign that things are shifting. It’s like taking a breather on a journey where you have been moving forward consistently, from an expert’s point of view.The timing of these outflows lines up with a developing story in Bitcoin’s price dynamics. There is a pattern on the charts that looks like a “head-and-shoulders” shape, and if it breaks below the $92,000 neckline, it could take the price to as low as $70,000 per BTC.The details still tell a different story as IBIT ended 2024 on a strong note, pulling in over $37 billion in inflows over the year. Its Ethereum equivalent, ETHA, also got a lot of attention, raking in $3.53 billion.These ETFs helped solidify BlackRock’s spot as a major player in institutional crypto investment, with Bitcoin holdings worth about $53 billion and Ethereum at almost $3.7 billion. But even the best of these funds can be affected by market cycles.This article was originally published on U.Today More

The report revealed that open interest in BTC and ETH perpetual swaps remained stable during the critical year-end options expiration, despite not returning to the highs seen in early December 2024. This steadiness indicates that traders did not heavily depend on perpetual contracts to hedge the delta of expiring options, contributing to the subdued volatility during this period.Trading volumes fell during the winter holiday season, coinciding with a drop in realized volatility, which hit its lowest levels of December. Despite the expiration of December’s options, there wasn’t a surge in volatility as expected. Instead, realized volatility fell to the lower end of its recent range.The implied volatility term structure for BTC options continues to be steep, with longer-dated implied volatility around 57% and 1-week at-the-money options trading about five points lower. Most of the expired open interest has not been reinvested, maintaining a neutral call-put balance. As a result, BTC’s options market shows limited leverage compared to its position at the beginning of December 2024, indicating a cautious sentiment.Despite the substantial expiration of ETH options in late December 2024, the market dynamics remained stable. A spike in realized volatility in December did not carry over into the new year, with ETH’s spot price currently exhibiting lower volatility compared to short-tenor implied volatility.Over the past week, the implied volatility term structure for ETH options has changed, briefly steepening before flattening again, diverging from BTC’s consistently steep profile. This pattern suggests that ETH’s options market is preparing for potential short-term volatility in spot price movements.Interestingly, call options for ETH have gained momentum at the start of 2025, dominating the market and indicating an optimistic outlook among traders.This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C. More

According to Green, this move would not only cement the dollar’s dominance but also ignite a historic Bitcoin bull run.Green believes the establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is “almost inevitable.”He explains, “The US will likely cement Bitcoin as a cornerstone of its financial strategy, and this monumental decision will push Bitcoin’s value to unprecedented levels.”The forecast follows Senator Cynthia Lummis’ introduction of the Bitcoin Act of 2024, which proposes acquiring one million Bitcoins over five years using Federal Reserve remittances.While political negotiations may reduce the target, Green believes a reserve of 300,000 to 400,000 Bitcoins will still materialize, driven by “overwhelming momentum from both retail and institutional investors.””This is more than an economic initiative; it’s a geopolitical masterstroke,” Green states. He argues that such a reserve would bolster the US’s position as a crypto leader and secure the dollar’s relevance in an increasingly digital economy.Support from President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress strengthens the proposal’s prospects.Trump, described by Green as a “pro-Bitcoin ringmaster,” is galvanizing his party around crypto-friendly policies.”Republican dominance and Trump’s role…provide the perfect conditions for such a transformative policy,” Green adds, noting bipartisan support from pro-crypto Democrats.Despite potential political hurdles, Green believes strong demand and fear of missing out (FOMO) among investors will ensure a meaningful reserve is established.He predicts this reserve would “trigger a Bitcoin bull run of epic proportions,” driving exponential value growth and reshaping global financial markets.”Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset,” Green concludes. “It is becoming a strategic tool for economic resilience and global competitiveness.” More

Whether it is market preparation, extensive investment activity or internal restructuring, such movements frequently spark conjecture about their motivations. A total of 1,481 Bitcoin was transferred to a new wallet address in this transaction, which was worth $142.08 million. The transaction’s nature raises the possibility that it was made for cold storage or the creation of a new position with no apparent market intent.With a value of $239.2 million, the 2,481 BTC transfer reflects the first one’s features. The size alone suggests a whale-level player, but in the absence of additional blockchain activity the goal is still hypothetical. Despite these big transactions, the price of Bitcoin is still comparatively stable at $96,270.Following a recent rally, the price action displays consolidation with the asset trading below the 50 EMA. Despite the initial bullish momentum, this positioning indicates lingering bearish pressure. Bitcoin may continue on its upward trajectory if it can push above the 50 EMA. On the other hand, the chart’s lack of volume raises questions regarding the strength of any prospective rally.Reduced trader participation may indicate caution, but the low volume may also make price movements easier. Frequently such significant fluctuations prompt inquiries regarding the general mood of the market. Depending on the on-chain activity that follows, these transfers may indicate an accumulation phase, institutional repositioning or market redistribution.Furthermore, it appears from the comparatively flat price action that the market is waiting for a catalyst to determine its next course of action. As of right now, Bitcoin seems to be in a consolidation phase with resistance at $96,500 and crucial support levels around $87,500.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Xenea, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, has integrated decentralized storage to support dynamic data use cases, positioning itself as a robust infrastructure for the next era of Web3 applications. Guided by the vision of “Ideas Transcending Millennia,” Xenea focuses on long-term token and data storage solutions while enabling new capabilities for AI and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN).To strengthen the protocol’s reliability, Xenea follows a peer-review approach. Core architecture papers are submitted to the IEEE, a prominent academic society in telecommunications, for validation. Code implementation begins only after these papers undergo rigorous academic peer review. The validated papers are accessible on IEEE Xplore.Xenea incorporates two key technological architectures:Background of Recruiting Ecosystem PartnersXenea features its own distributed storage system and operates as an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, enabling businesses to handle a broader range of data on the blockchain. In the emerging era of the distributed web—integrated with advancements in AI, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI), and virtual technologies—secure and permanent data storage infrastructure is becoming increasingly essential. Xenea aims to meet this need by offering its storage solutions to a broader range of Web3 projects.Xenea’s public mainnet and Token Generation Event (TGE) are scheduled for launch in Q1 2025. As part of the preparation, a download campaign for the XENEA Wallet is underway as of December 2024. This campaign serves as a critical step toward ensuring the robustness of the Proof of Democracy (PoD) security at the mainnet launch. Participants who contribute significantly during the campaign will be prioritized for token airdrops and Mining Passport NFTs. Wallets with these NFTs will play an active role in consensus and supporting the Xenea network structure.The XENEA Wallet download campaign has achieved over 1.2 million downloads to date. This growing user base presents a significant opportunity for ecosystem partners, offering high visibility and user acquisition potential. By leveraging the XENEA Wallet for exposure and engaging in collaborative cross-marketing initiatives, Xenea aims to foster mutual growth and strengthen the ecosystem.In a pilot cross-marketing initiative with Chat3, an early adopter of the Xenea blockchain, over 250,000 users were successfully directed to their service, resulting in notable activity levels.Xenea is actively engaging in business development with local economic organizations and government bodies across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Future expansion into these regions is also being explored in collaboration with ecosystem partners.To learn more about Xenea’s technology and development journey before applying as a partner, it is recommended to review their blog.Ecosystem Partner RecruitmentXenea is seeking ecosystem partners to collaborate on expanding its blockchain infrastructure. Eligible project representatives can submit inquiries via the partner application form linked below.Main Benefits as an Ecosystem Partner1. Web3 ProjectsPartnership Inquiry Form: https://forms.gle/AKFU66cRRuJ3C5nt9For more information on XeneaThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

The Genesis Block, also known as Block 0, was mined by Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym used by Bitcoin’s creator or creators, on Jan. 3, 2009. Unlike subsequent Bitcoin blocks, the Genesis Block rewarded 50 BTC, which can never be spent.This first block included an iconic message embedded in its code: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” which refers to a headline in The Times published on the same day.Although Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper Oct. 28, 2008, many believe its launch date of Jan. 3, 2009, reflects the cryptocurrency’s birthday.The days that followed were historic: Jan. 9, 2009, saw the first release of the Bitcoin software that launched the network and the first units of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin 0.1 on this date, with only Windows supported.On Jan. 12, 2009, the first transaction on the Bitcoin network was recorded in block 170 between Satoshi and legendary cypherpunk Hal Finney.Since this time and now spanning 16 years, Bitcoin has grown significantly to become a global phenomenon. With a current market cap of $1.91 trillion, Bitcoin is trading at $96,560 after setting record highs of $108,268 on Dec. 17.Bitcoin inspired thousands of cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects, altering the future of finance, technology and governance.Bitcoin surged to $97,776 on Thursday, while altcoins such as Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin and Solana gained as investors increased their holdings at the start of the year.Crypto assets fell toward the end of 2024. Although the rally that propelled Bitcoin to fresh highs beyond $100,000 had faded, the flagship cryptocurrency nevertheless finished the year up more than 120%. Long-term investors took profits, but others sold on renewed uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decreases in 2025.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Even with the early hiccups in the new year, IBIT had a solid run in 2024, pulling in a total of $37.2 billion in inflows. BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF (ETHA) also had some serious investor interest, raking in $3.53 billion during the same time.As of now, BlackRock has about 548,505 BTC worth $52.81 billion and around 1,071,415 ETH worth $3.68 billion.There’s an outlook for Bitcoin, that now there is an attempt to form a classic visual pattern “head-shoulders,” which will be activated at the breakdown of the neckline — around $92,000.If that happens, from here we can expect a deep correction to the area of $80,000-$70,000. This will mark a 30% decline from the relevant all-time high for BTC, which is a healthy textbook correction needed for continuation of the upward trajectory.This article was originally published on U.Today More