Author: Max Bauer

El Salvador is reportedly preparing to amend its groundbreaking Bitcoin Law as part of a deal to secure a $1.3 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The proposed change would make accepting bitcoin as payment voluntary for businesses, rather than mandatory as currently stipulated. According to a recent Financial Times report, this concession is a key condition set by the IMF for approving the loan. The move is part of a larger financial package expected to total $3.3 billion, with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank each contributing an additional $1 billion. A final agreement…

The Czech Republic has passed legislation exempting cryptocurrency holdings from capital gains tax if held for more than three years. This move, unanimously approved by the Czech Parliament on December 6th, is set to come into effect on January 1st, 2025, and signals a significant step towards encouraging long-term cryptocurrency investment within the country. According to local news outlet Parlamentní Listy, the new law establishes specific conditions for cryptocurrency transactions to be exempt from personal income tax. Individuals whose total annual gross income from cryptocurrency transactions does not exceed CZK 100,000 (approximately $4,000 USD) will qualify for the exemption. Crucially,…

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has highlighted Bitcoin’s potential as a key diversification asset in its 2025 Global Outlook report. The report emphasizes Bitcoin’s fixed supply and growing demand, driven by increasing investor confidence in its wider adoption as a payment technology, as key factors contributing to its unique value proposition. According to BlackRock, Bitcoin’s distinct value drivers set it apart from traditional assets and contribute to its low correlation with stocks and other risk assets. The report notes that Bitcoin’s price appreciation is linked to its predetermined supply meeting growing demand, fueled by the belief in its potential…

Pump Fun, the Solana-based protocol that exploded onto the cryptocurrency scene in September 2024, has been blocked for users in the United Kingdom. The platform has reportedly received a warning from the FCA. The platform, known for launching memecoins and various celebrity-themed tokens, displayed a notice stating, “Our systems have identified that you are in the United Kingdom. In accordance with the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom, this site is currently unavailable to users in the United Kingdom.” A link is provided for UK users to withdraw any remaining funds from their “privy wallet.” Pump Fun’s meteoric rise…

Charles Bobrinskoy, vice chair and head of the investment group at Ariel Investments, has issued a stark warning about Bitcoin, calling it a “get-rich-quick scheme” destined to “end badly.” In a recent interview, Bobrinskoy argued that Bitcoin’s recent price surge is purely momentum-driven, fueled by speculative fervor and the allure of quick profits. Bobrinskoy dismissed the idea of Bitcoin having intrinsic value. He pointed out that even proponents have shifted their narrative from transactional value to a store of value argument. He criticized those who believe the government is hindering Bitcoin’s progress, arguing that the cryptocurrency enjoys less regulation than…

Bitcoin’s rally is far from over, according to market analyst Kyle Wool. In a recent interview, Wool expressed strong optimism for the cryptocurrency, stating he “would not be shorting it.” He cited several factors contributing to Bitcoin’s positive momentum, including a potentially crypto-friendly SEC chair, former President Trump’s increasing engagement with crypto, and the likelihood of a dovish Federal Reserve. Wool, who admits to not having been a Bitcoin proponent in the past, now believes the cryptocurrency has reached a “legitimacy moment,” solidifying its status as a currency. He suggests holding existing Bitcoin positions and even buying on dips. Shifting…

Fundstrat Global Advisors’ Head of Research, Tom Lee, believes Bitcoin’s recent surge is a strong indicator of overall market risk appetite and a precursor to S&P 500 growth through the end of the year. In a recent interview, Lee stated that the breakout suggests investors are becoming more risk-tolerant after a period of caution. He attributes this shift to a large amount of idle capital previously parked in cash or held back due to economic uncertainty. Lee predicts the S&P 500 could reach 6,300, though he acknowledges potential bumps in the road. Lee highlighted several upcoming macroeconomic events that could…

Justin Drake, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, has declared that Solana’s period of rapid growth is coming to an end and poses no substantial threat to Ethereum. Despite acknowledging Solana’s current development momentum, Drake argued that Ethereum’s focus on long-term gains will ultimately prevail. In a recent statement, Drake asserted, “Solana is at its peak now, but I think this will be the end of Solana’s golden age, because all of Solana’s competitive advantages in latency and throughput will disappear because the fundamental differences in the architecture make it non-scalable.” This critique centers on Solana’s underlying architecture, which Drake…

XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency, has seen its impressive five-fold price rally over the past month falter, declining for two consecutive days. This coincides with broader market volatility triggered by political events in South Korea, where the president briefly enacted martial law earlier this week. While Bitcoin and Ether have largely recovered, and BNB reached a new all-time high, XRP remains in the red, down 8% on Wednesday and 18% on Tuesday. The connection between South Korea’s political situation and XRP’s price dip isn’t entirely clear. Mena Theodorou, co-founder of crypto exchange Coinstash, told, “It’s probably not a coincidence that XRP…

Following former President Donald Trump’s announcement of his intent to nominate Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman, Ripple executives expressed strong support for the crypto-friendly pick. Atkins, CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, has been nominated pending a potential second Trump term. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse lauded the nomination, calling Atkins “an outstanding choice” who will “bring common sense back to the agency.” Garlinghouse further emphasized the opportunity for a regulatory shift, stating, “Along with Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, it’s time to swiftly and definitively end the prohibition era on crypto, restoring freedom of choice, economic growth,…