Author: Max Bauer

Avalanche, a prominent layer-1 blockchain and the tenth largest by total value locked (TVL), has activated its highly anticipated ‘Avalanche9000’ upgrade (also known as the Etna upgrade). This landmark upgrade represents the most significant technical overhaul in the network’s history since its 2020 launch. The upgrade, which has been in development for months, introduces a suite of improvements designed to reduce transaction costs, lower validator operating expenses, and streamline application development. Avalanche leadership has previously stated that a key objective of ‘Avalanche9000’ is to attract developers and encourage the creation of customized blockchains, known as subnets or “L1s,” using Avalanche’s…

Ripple Labs has officially launched its highly anticipated U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, entering the competitive stablecoin market currently dominated by Tether. The stablecoin became available on global exchanges starting today, following final regulatory approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) last week. RLUSD distinguishes itself through its robust reserve backing, consisting of U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government bonds, and cash equivalents. To ensure transparency, Ripple has committed to monthly attestations of these reserve assets, conducted by an independent auditing firm. This move aims to address concerns surrounding reserve transparency that have plagued some existing stablecoin issuers.…

Despite a lack of progress in curbing inflation in November, market analysts widely anticipate the Federal Reserve will cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at its December 17-18 meeting. Federal funds futures indicate a near 100% probability of this rate cut, according to analyst Megan Leonhardt. This move is likely motivated by a desire to align the benchmark rate with current economic conditions, including cooling inflation and a normalizing labor market. However, the future path of interest rates remains uncertain. While the December cut seems almost guaranteed, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to signal a…

MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor has made a provocative call for the US government to liquidate its gold reserves and invest heavily in Bitcoin. In a recent statement, Saylor argued that Bitcoin is emerging as the world’s dominant reserve capital network, surpassing traditional assets like real estate and stocks. Saylor’s proposal involves the US government acquiring 20-25% of the Bitcoin network, a move he believes would catalyze the development of this global reserve capital network. He envisions this action prompting China, Russia, and other nations to divest from their existing assets and embrace Bitcoin, leading to a significant influx of capital…

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…