Author: Max Bauer
As Bitcoin prices soar, the FBI is grappling with a corresponding surge in cryptocurrency-related scams, ranging from fraudulent investment schemes to deceptive employment opportunities. According to Special Agent David Paniwozik of the FBI’s Baltimore field office, criminals are increasingly drawn to the cryptocurrency space, exploiting its relative novelty and the potential for quick profits. “They want to get involved and try to make money, and this seems to be a quick and easy way,” SA Paniwozik stated. A key vulnerability lies in the public’s unfamiliarity with cryptocurrency technology. This lack of understanding makes individuals more susceptible to sophisticated scams, Paniwozik…
Bitcoin could reach a staggering $800,000 by the end of next year if President Trump’s economic proposals are implemented, according to Perianne Boring, founder and CEO of the Digital Chamber. Boring made the bold prediction during a recent interview, citing Trump’s pro-crypto stance and the potential for his policies to ignite a Bitcoin boom. The interview followed comments made by Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, at a Bitcoin conference in Abu Dhabi. The younger Trump stated that his father intends to transform the US into “the crypto capital of the world” and will be a strong…
The cryptocurrency development landscape experienced a slight cooling in 2024, with overall developer numbers dipping slightly compared to the previous year. However, the long-term trend remains positive, fueled by a surge of new developers exploring the space and a significant increase in experienced developers. A key geographical shift also occurred, with Asia surpassing North America as the leading hub for crypto development. While 39,148 new developers entered the crypto arena in 2024, the total number of developers saw a marginal decline of 7%. This mixed growth pattern suggests a maturing ecosystem, with established developers playing an increasingly prominent role. Indeed,…
Bitcoin’s recent surge past the $100,000 mark may be followed by a period of consolidation, according to analysts. While the flagship cryptocurrency briefly touched $103,844.05 last Thursday, it has since retreated and is currently down approximately 1%, according to Coin Metrics. Experts predict this stagnation could persist for another two weeks before the uptrend resumes. Katie Stockton, managing partner at Fairlead Strategies, an independent research firm and investment advisor, noted “short-term momentum is weak” in a Monday report. The failure to hold above $100,000 has triggered a short-term “sell” signal, suggesting a period of consolidation. However, Stockton maintains a bullish…
Venture capitalist and Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya recently expressed concern over the potential of Google’s new quantum computing chip, Willow, to disrupt the cryptocurrency landscape, particularly Bitcoin. After seeing Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s post about Willow, Palihapitiya admitted to missing a meeting as he scrambled to calculate the potential threat to Bitcoin’s security. According to Palihapitiya, it would take approximately 8,000 Willow chips to break the SHA-256 encryption algorithm that underpins Bitcoin. He estimated a “two to five year shot clock” before this level of quantum computing power becomes a reality, forcing blockchains to adopt new hashing algorithms. Palihapitiya’s…
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of current Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra, urged Thailand to prepare for the growing influence of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, during a seminar held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hua Hin. He revealed that his friends predict Bitcoin could reach a staggering $850,000 and emphasized the importance of staying informed about these technological advancements, suggesting they will inevitably shape government policies. Thaksin, speaking at a seminar organized by the Pheu Thai Party, highlighted the potential impact of Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, particularly on trade relations with Thailand. He cautioned about potential tax…
MicroStrategy, the data analytics firm turned major bitcoin investor, will join the prestigious Nasdaq-100 Index before markets open on December 23rd, Nasdaq announced Friday. This move comes after a remarkable six-fold increase in MicroStrategy’s share price this year, propelling its market capitalization to nearly $94 billion. The inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 is expected to further boost MicroStrategy’s stock price as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the index purchase shares to mirror its composition. This development underscores the growing influence of cryptocurrency investments on traditional financial markets. MicroStrategy’s aggressive investment in bitcoin, initiated in 2020 amid declining software revenue, has transformed the…
Bitcoin Suisse, a veteran European cryptocurrency provider, has released a bullish report forecasting Bitcoin’s price to surge beyond $180,000 and potentially reach $200,000 in 2025. The report also highlights the potential for an Ethereum staking ETF to outperform a Bitcoin ETF and projects a five-fold increase in the total market capitalization of altcoins in the first half of 2025. According to Bitcoin Suisse’s Dynamic Cycle Risk and Dynamic On-Chain Cycle Risk models, as well as aggregated growth projections, Bitcoin is on track to achieve new all-time highs next year. While the cryptocurrency entered 2025 in a high-risk phase, the models…
Grayscale Investments, a leading digital currency asset manager, has announced the launch of the Grayscale Chainlink Trust, offering qualified investors exposure to Chainlink (LINK) in the form of a security. This move simplifies investment in LINK, eliminating the complexities of directly purchasing, storing, and securing the cryptocurrency. As of December 12th, the Grayscale LINK Trust boasted a net asset value (NAV) of $111.91 per share and held $30,468,812 in assets under management. The Trust is designed to track the market price of LINK, less fees and expenses. According to Grayscale’s official website, the Trust is “one of the first securities…
A Japanese lawmaker has ignited debate by proposing the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve, potentially positioning the cryptocurrency as a strategic national asset. Satoshi Hamada, a Member of Parliament representing the Party to Protect the People from NHK, formally submitted a written inquiry to the government regarding the feasibility of such a reserve. Hamada’s proposal comes amid growing international interest in Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Citing developments in Brazil and the United States, where discussions around incorporating Bitcoin into treasury holdings are reportedly underway, Hamada urged the Japanese government to explore converting a portion of its foreign exchange…