Cryptocurrency

MicroStrategy soared 6.1%, while Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) and Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) rose 4.3% and 3.5%, respectively. Mara Holdings and Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT) increased approximately 6% and 4%, respectively, according to CNBC data.As of Wednesday’s close, MicroStrategy’s stock was up 542.8% year to date. Robinhood is up more than 200%, while Coinbase has nearly doubled. Mara Holdings has underperformed the pack with a 10.5% increase.MicroStrategy’s aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy has boosted MSTR stock growth. According to Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy’s cofounder and chairman, the company raised $13.5 billion and bought 149,880 BTC for about $90,231 in November.The company increased its BTC holdings this week; on Dec. 2, MicroStrategy revealed that it had acquired 15,400 BTC for over $1.5 billion, or around $95,976 per Bitcoin, and had achieved a BTC yield of 38.7% QTD and 63.3% YTD. As of Dec. 2, MicroStrategy holds 402,100 BTC acquired for $23.4 billion, or nearly $58,263 per Bitcoin.Investors have also flooded into leveraged MicroStrategy ETFs, according to a JPMorgan research note released on Wednesday.Bitcoin was last up 7.24% at $102,896 at the time of writing, according to CoinMarketCap data. In 2024, Bitcoin has increased by more than 140% this year. The recent pick of pro-crypto Paul Atkins as SEC chairman has helped to fuel the increase.Speaking at the DealBook conference on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell described Bitcoin as “just like gold, only it’s virtual, it’s digital.” He clarified that “people are not utilizing it as a form of money, or as a store of value” and that “it’s not a competition for the dollar, it’s really a competitor for gold.”This article was originally published on U.Today More

What is more, Brandt referred to the massive new moonstone as “a big yawner,” saying that he “did not understand the big deal of $100,000.” Brandt did not explain his attitude to BTC’s new record high. He has always been favorable toward Bitcoin compared to other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum or XRP. Many times, he has trashed ETH versus BTC. Recently, Brandt also hinted in a tweet that he does not expect Bitcoin to stop at $100,000.The Bitcoin community eagerly responded to Brandt’s tweet, and many stated that $100,000 is related to the importance of “round numbers” and “human psychology.” Some just said, “It means you can sell 1 BTC for 100,000 US Dollars. Pretty wild.”However, many other cryptocurrency experts – mostly investors, though, not traders, including Anthony Pompliano and Robert Kiyosaki – have underscored the importance of Bitcoin breaking through that historic resistance level and the biggest sell wall in history.Pompliano, founder of the Pomp Investments fund, believes that this was an important psychological level, by crossing which Bitcoin will begin to attract skeptic boomers, who will begin buying BTC just in case, to make sure they have not missed out on a big opportunity.Founder and former CEO of the Binance exchange Changpeng Zhao (CZ) tweeted that unlike many others, he did not make a lot of money on this Bitcoin price surge since the number of Bitcoins he holds has remained the same recently. Apparently he was hinting that he did not buy any more BTC on the dip this year.JAN3 boss Samson Mow has reaffirmed his earlier prediction that Bitcoin will surge to $1 million per coin after hitting $100,000. In a recent tweet, he suggested that Bitcoiners should once again add “laser eyes” to their avatars until BTC reaches $1 million.This article was originally published on U.Today More

The move upwards pushed EOS’s market cap up to $2.2578B, or 0.06% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. At its highest, EOS’s market cap was $17.5290B.EOS had traded in a range of $1.2687 to $1.5145 in the previous twenty-four hours.Over the past seven days, EOS has seen a rise in value, as it gained 85.88%. The volume of EOS traded in the twenty-four hours to time of writing was $1.0539B or 0.29% of the total volume of all cryptocurrencies. It has traded in a range of $0.7950 to $1.5350 in the past 7 days.At its current price, EOS is still down 93.49% from its all-time high of $22.98 set on April 29, 2018.Bitcoin was last at $101,285.8 on the Investing.com Index, up 5.81% on the day.Ethereum was trading at $3,884.06 on the Investing.com Index, a gain of 1.70%.Bitcoin’s market cap was last at $2,015.6698B or 54.90% of the total cryptocurrency market cap, while Ethereum’s market cap totaled $469.3760B or 12.78% of the total cryptocurrency market value. More

Once it broke $100,000 in Thursday’s Asian morning, boosted by U.S. President-elect Trump’s nomination of pro-crypto Paul Atkins to run the Securities and Exchange Commission, it was soon at an all-time high of $103,619. It was last fetching $102,675, up about 5% on the day.The total value of the cryptocurrency market has almost doubled over the year so far to hit a record over $3.8 trillion, according to data provider CoinGecko. By comparison, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) alone is worth about $3.7 trillion.Bitcoin’s march from the libertarian fringe to Wall Street has minted millionaires, a new asset class and popularised the concept of “decentralised finance” in a volatile and often controversial period since its creation 16 years ago.Bitcoin has more than doubled in value this year and is up more than 50% in the four weeks since Donald Trump’s sweeping election victory, which also saw a slew of pro-crypto lawmakers being elected to Congress.”CONGRATULATIONS BITCOINERS!!! $100,000!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!” Trump said on Truth Social, his social media network, on Thursday.”We’re witnessing a paradigm shift,” said Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO of U.S. crypto firm Galaxy Digital (TSX:GLXY).”Bitcoin and the entire digital asset ecosystem are on the brink of entering the financial mainstream – this momentum is fuelled by institutional adoption, advancements in tokenisation and payments, and a clearer regulatory path.”Trump – who once labelled crypto a scam – embraced digital assets during his campaign, promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” and to accumulate a national stockpile of bitcoin.”We were trading basically sideways for about seven months, then immediately after Nov. 5, U.S. investors resumed buying hand-over-fist,” said Joe McCann, CEO and founder of Asymmetric, a Miami digital assets hedge fund. Bitcoin’s proponents cheered Trump’s nomination of Atkins to the SEC.A former SEC commissioner, Atkins has been involved in crypto policy as co-chair of the Token Alliance, which works to “develop best practices for digital asset issuances and trading platforms,” and the Chamber of Digital Commerce.”Atkins will offer a new perspective, anchored by a deep understanding of the digital asset ecosystem,” said Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith.”We look forward to working with him … and ushering in – together – a new wave of American crypto innovation.”A slew of crypto companies including Ripple, Kraken and Circle are also jostling for a seat on Trump’s promised crypto advisory council.PART OF THE LANDSCAPEBitcoin has proven a survivor through precipitous downturns.Its move into six-figure territory is a remarkable comeback from a dip below $16,000 in 2022 when the industry was reeling from the collapse of the FTX exchange. Founder Sam Bankman-Fried was subsequently jailed.Analysts say the growing embrace of bitcoin by big investors this year has been a driving force behind the record-breaking rally.U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds were approved in January and have been a conduit for large-scale buying, with more than $4 billion streaming into these funds since the election.”Roughly 3% of the total supply of bitcoins that will ever exist have been purchased in 2024 by institutional money,” said Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered (OTC:SCBFF).”Digital assets, as an asset class, is becoming normalised,” he said.It is already becoming increasingly financialised, with the launch of bitcoin futures in 2017 and a strong debut for options on BlackRock (NYSE:BLK)’s ETF in November.Crypto-related stocks have soared along with the bitcoin price, with shares in bitcoin miner MARA Holdings and exchange operator Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) each up around 65% in November. Software (ETR:SOWGn) firm Microstrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), which has repeatedly raised funds to buy bitcoin and held an aggregate of about 402,100 bitcoins as of Dec. 1, has gained around 540% this year. Trump himself unveiled a new crypto business, World Liberty Financial, in September, although details have been scarce and billionaire Elon Musk, a major Trump ally, is also a proponent of cryptocurrencies.’WHO CAN PROHIBIT IT’ Cryptocurrencies have been criticised for their massive energy consumption and use in crime around the world, and the underlying technology is far from delivering a revolution in the way money moves around the globe.The U.S. and Britain announced on Wednesday they had disrupted what they described as a global money laundering ring which used cryptocurrency to help rich Russians to evade sanction and launder cash for drug traffickers.Although calculations vary, the Cambridge University Centre for Alternative Finance estimates bitcoin uses around the same amount of electricity each year as Poland or South Africa.Still, as Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out at an investment conference on Wednesday: “Who can prohibit it? No one.” And its longevity is perhaps testament to a degree of resilience.”As time goes by it’s proving itself as part of the financial landscape,” said Shane Oliver, chief economist and head of investment strategy at AMP (OTC:AMLTF) in Sydney.”I find it very hard to value it … it’s anyone’s guess. But it does have a momentum aspect to it and at the moment the momentum is up.” More

Schiff contends that institutional purchases and political scheming rather than natural market demand are to blame for Bitcoin’s ascent to six figures. He cites mounting conjecture, especially in the United States, regarding the inclusion of Bitcoin in national reserves as this rally’s main motivator.He claims that this government narrative has emerged as a key selling point for institutional investors igniting a surge in hope and new investment. The aggressive accumulation strategy of MicroStrategy and Michael Saylor is contributing to the rally. According to Schiff, MicroStrategy may have been the big buyer in the most recent trades, accelerating the upward trend and shattering the $100,000 psychological barrier.The likelihood of U.S. institutional interest in Bitcoin is amplified by the reserve, which makes it into what Schiff refers to as a state-backed asset in disguise. Schiff highlights the positive aspect of gold’s 0.24% increase today despite his criticism. He highlights that gold is still a trustworthy way to hold onto value unaffected by the speculative frenzy surrounding Bitcoin.While supporters of Bitcoin rejoice over its most recent success, Schiff doubts its long-term viability, contending that reliance on official narratives runs counter to the decentralized philosophy upon which Bitcoin was founded. Arguments like these show the divergent views on Bitcoin’s place in the financial industry as it approaches six-digit territory.Critics like Schiff see this as a departure from Bitcoin’s original intent, while supporters see it as confirmation of its potential. In any case, the $100,000 milestone is a turning point in the history of Bitcoin, solidifying its impact in both the crypto and traditional finance sectors.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Social-lifestyle app STEPN GO is thrilled to announce the next milestone in its ongoing partnership with adidas: the launch of the first-ever STEPN GO x adidas co-branded physical running shoes featuring the STEPN GO logo. This exciting development follows a successful year of collaboration between the two brands, which previously saw the release of the STEPN GO x adidas Genesis NFT Sneakers. Now, the partnership moves beyond the digital world and into the physical, with a limited-edition collection of 1,200 physical adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes.This marks the latest phase of STEPN GO and adidas’ year-long partnership, which began in April 2024 with the launch of the STEPN Genesis NFT collection. After building excitement with the NFT drops, the introduction of STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 highlights how the two brands are pushing the boundaries of digital and real-world fashion.Starting December 13, the limited-edition collection of STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes will be available exclusively on the MOOAR marketplace. This initiative is reserved for holders of STEPN and STEPN GO x adidas Genesis Sneakers, reflecting adidas’ commitment to empowering physical movement and innovation.With only 1,200 Ultraboost 5 shoes available, this drop combines the cutting-edge performance of adidas with the active lifestyle ethos of STEPN GO.The raffles for the STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes will take place from December 13 to December 17, with four separate raffles. An advantage will be given to STEPN and STEPN GO x adidas Genesis NFT holders, while opportunities for broader participation will be provided through a contest on X and two raffles exclusively open to the ALTS by adidas and STEPN Apps communities.Winners will be able to claim their shoes between January 6 to January 22, after a 3-week trading period allowing everyone to buy their tickets on the secondary market. The collection comes in four limited edition co-branded shoe styles, with the color being randomly assigned to winners, adding a unique element of surprise.The STEPN GO x adidas collaboration is a significant step in integrating an active lifestyle into everyday life, showcasing STEPN GO’s innovative approach to fitness technology and its leadership within the Web3 ecosystem. By combining digital and physical experiences, this partnership underscores the growing impact of STEPN GO, not just as a fitness app but as a pioneer in redefining possibilities in the Web3 space.About STEPNSTEPN is Web3’s leading lifestyle app with over 5.7 million registered users. By incentivizing exercise through rewards, the app requires users to purchase a virtual Sneaker NFT and earn rewards through walking, jogging, or running. Over the years, STEPN has partnered with prolific brands like adidas, Atlético De Madrid, Steve Aoki, and ASICS.About STEPN GOBuilding on the success of STEPN, the pioneering move-and-earn platform, STEPN GO revolutionizes social fitness in everyday life. Buy, borrow, or lend your Sneakers to earn rewards by staying active. Your rewards can be used to level up, cash out, or flex your online appearance, fostering both physical activity and social connections.About adidasadidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 59,000 people across the globe and generated sales of € 21.4 billion in 2023.ContactMarketing ManagerEmmanuel [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

To achieve that, Bitcoin demonstrated an approximately 9.25% spike in the past 24 hours, surging from $94,890. Bitcoin first reached $99,280 and then printed two consecutive green candles that took it above $100,000. At the time of this writing, BTC is changing hands at $102,823.Changpeng Zhao explained this by saying that he has not been buying any dips recently, and his Bitcoin stash has remained the same: “I still have the same number of bitcoins.”However, he noticed that “everything else became a little cheaper, relative to bitcoin,” either referring to the altcoins he holds, such as BNB, for example, or to altcoin prices in the market at the moment. As for Binance Coin, launched by CZ along with Binance in 2017, on Wednesday, it hit a new all-time high of $793.The former contained 10 BTC, which is now worth $1,023,075 (which cost $50 in 2012), and the latter’s contents are valued at $5,160,551. According to the aforesaid data source, back in 2011, those 50 BTC were worth $219.This awakening seems logical now that Bitcoin has finally stepped over the $100,000 threshold, which many Bitcoin maximalists expect to be the first step toward surging to $1 million per BTC.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Aria Coin, an alien-inspired token, has experienced a notable 3000% surge in value. Aria Coin goes beyond being a token, positioning itself as a movement to reshape the meme coin market with its interstellar vision and community-centric mission.Aria Coin has unveiled an initiative to reach the moon—literally. Partnering with advanced technology to send a special package to the lunar surface by 2025. Guided by the motto, “Unlock the riches of Aria,” this token aspires to provide more than gains—it wants to provide an out-of-this-world experience for its community.Through the Aria Mini Application, users are empowered with opportunities to get tokens, enter exclusive raffles, and unlock experiences, including family vacations, plane tickets, and limited-edition NFTs. This innovative approach distinguishes Aria Coin in the crowded meme coin space.An Alien Perspective: A Fresh Take on Meme CoinsThe meme coin market has long been plagued by pump-and-dump schemes and projects lacking substance. Aria Coin want to rewrite this narrative with a mission to bring value, sustainability, and engagement to the forefront.At the core of Aria Coin is its vibrant community. Known as Arians, members are rewarded with experiences such as holidays, exclusive watches, and substantial token giveaways. By launching AriaLand, an immersive mini-application accessible via Telegram’s AriaLandBot, Aria Coin ensures its community thrives.AriaLand Features:The Story Behind Aria CoinAria Coin draws inspiration from the vastness of space, aiming to spark curiosity and innovation. Its ecosystem uses advanced AI and AR technology to gamify everyday life, providing users with engaging experiences similar to Pokémon GO.The experience is guided by Master Veludo, an AI-powered character central to Aria Coin’s story. Veludo acts as a personal assistant, leading users through interactive tasks that allow them to get tokens, discover hidden treasures, and unlock real-world benefits like discounts and potentially gain rewards.By seamlessly integrating cryptocurrency into daily life, Aria Coin offers a unique combination of education, community connection, and tangible rewards.A Shift in the Meme Coin LandscapeAria Coin distinguishes itself in the crypto space with a solid market cap, active trading volume, and unique community initiatives. Positioned for significant growth, targeting a 100x rise in the near future.“The meme coin market has never seen anything like Aria Coin. We’re here to inspire, connect, and reward our community in ways never imagined,” said Garry, the CMO of Aria Coin and one of the visionary behind it.About Aria CoinAria Coin is a community-focused cryptocurrency project designed to empower users while redefining the meme coin space. Through its innovative AriaLand ecosystem, AI-driven gamification, and groundbreaking lunar mission, Aria Coin is setting new standards in the crypto world.This article was originally published on Chainwire More