Author: Max Bauer

Former President Donald Trump’s trade policies targeting China with increased tariffs could inadvertently bolster Bitcoin, according to several market analysts. The pressure on the Chinese economy, evidenced by the yuan hitting a 16-month low on Monday, is expected to drive capital outflows, potentially benefiting the cryptocurrency market. David Brickell, head of international distribution at FRNT Financial, points to a precedent: “When China devalued its currency in 2015, Bitcoin promptly traded over three times higher.” He argues that a weakening yuan will accelerate capital flight from China, with Bitcoin becoming a prime destination due to existing capital controls restricting traditional channels.…

Despite Bitcoin’s recent price decline, cryptocurrency analytics firm Alphractal is holding back from purchasing, citing several key concerns in a statement released today. The firm argues that current market conditions do not justify entering a long position, even with the potential for missing out on short-term gains. Alphractal’s analysis centers around three primary arguments: the limited impact of ETF inflows, premature bullish sentiment, and divergent whale behavior compared to previous market cycles. ETF Inflows Not a Reliable Indicator: The firm points out that Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) inflows alone don’t necessarily translate into sustained price appreciation. They cite the example…

Bitcoin’s rise continues, recently touching $100,000, and Anthony Pompliano, founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management, argues that its future success is decoupled from political influence. In a recent interview, Pompliano posited that Bitcoin is becoming the new benchmark for investors, potentially eclipsing the S&P 500. Pompliano highlighted the limitations of the S&P 500, noting its restricted trading hours compared to Bitcoin’s 24/7 availability. He emphasized Bitcoin’s large and liquid market, making it highly sensitive to global liquidity shifts. Crucially, Pompliano pointed to a generational shift, with younger investors increasingly using Bitcoin as their benchmark, adhering to a “beat Bitcoin…

Michael S. Barr, the Federal Reserve’s Vice Chair for Supervision, will resign from his post on February 28, 2025, or earlier if a successor is confirmed, the Federal Reserve Board announced Monday. Barr, considered a key figure in the regulatory approach towards cryptocurrency within the banking sector, will retain his position as a governor on the Federal Reserve Board. Barr’s resignation letter was submitted to President Joseph R. Biden. His departure comes after a tenure marked by increased scrutiny of banks and their interaction with digital assets. Some industry observers have linked Barr’s stringent oversight to the difficulties banks have…

The Federal Reserve is poised for a potentially turbulent 2025 as new voting members join the rate-setting committee amid renewed concerns about inflation. The changing composition of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) adds another layer of complexity to the central bank’s already challenging task of navigating the economy. Earlier this month, the Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point, signaling only two such reductions for 2025. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized a more cautious approach, indicating that future rate cuts will be gradual and data-dependent, particularly regarding inflation’s trajectory back towards the 2% target.…

CNBC’s Jim Cramer, in his daily “Stop Trading” segment, addressed the recent decline in Bitcoin, suggesting it might present a buying opportunity for those still on the sidelines. Noting three consecutive days of declines and $330 million pulled from BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, Cramer acknowledged the atypical nature of the downturn. Despite the dip, Cramer reiterated his positive outlook on Bitcoin, advising viewers to watch it closely. He suggested a potential entry point around $90,000, viewing Bitcoin as a valuable hedge, particularly in light of what he described as a $36 trillion market opportunity for the cryptocurrency. Cramer linked Bitcoin’s price…

Two contrasting proposals to significantly integrate Bitcoin into the United States’ financial reserves have ignited a debate about the potential benefits and risks of such a move. Both proposals, unveiled at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, suggest holding Bitcoin as a strategic asset, mirroring the nation’s gold reserves. However, they differ significantly in scope and financing mechanisms. The first proposal, championed by former President Trump, advocates retaining the approximately 198,000 Bitcoins, currently valued at around $19 billion, seized by the U.S. Marshals Service from criminal activities. This approach would effectively halt the current practice of selling confiscated Bitcoin, creating a substantial…

After a record-breaking year in 2024, Bitcoin’s price has cooled off in recent weeks. However, experts predict a potential re-ignition in 2025, fueled by growing decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and anticipated regulatory clarity under the Trump administration. Bitcoin’s surge past $100,000 in 2024 was largely attributed to President-elect Trump’s victory, alongside the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs and the Federal Reserve’s easing policies. Joe McCann, founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric, a venture capital fund investing in Bitcoin-based startups, believes the market is anticipating another price run-up around Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, based on options market activity. He cautions, however,…

Bitcoin’s price could surge to around $150,000 this summer, according to Carol Alexander, a finance professor at the University of Sussex. However, she cautions that significant price swings will likely persist due to high leverage trading on cryptocurrency exchanges. Alexander, who previously accurately predicted Bitcoin reaching $100,000 in 2024, shared her latest forecast with CNBC, expressing increased bullishness for the cryptocurrency’s prospects in 2025. While suggesting a potential price target of $200,000 for the year, Alexander emphasized the continuing volatility in the Bitcoin market. She anticipates Bitcoin trading within a wide range of $100,000 to $200,000 by the summer. This…

Bitcoin could reach a price between $180,000 and $200,000 by the end of 2025, according to Sid Powell, co-founder and CEO of decentralized finance platform Maple Finance. Powell shared his bullish prediction on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe,” citing the anticipated growth of Bitcoin ETFs and the potential establishment of a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve as key drivers. Powell compared the expected trajectory of Bitcoin ETFs to the historical performance of gold ETFs, noting significant increases in inflows in the years following their introduction. He believes a similar pattern will emerge with Bitcoin ETFs as institutional asset managers increasingly incorporate the…