Crypto Wrap-Up: Ending 2024 on a High Note

DAILY MARKET OVERVIEW

Big Bitcoin Buys!

🎉 As we say goodbye to 2024, here’s wishing you a profitable and exciting 2025. Let’s dive into today’s top crypto news to close the year strong! 🚀

💰️ MicroStrategy and Tether Keep Stacking Bitcoin

MicroStrategy, the company run by Bitcoin superfan Michael Saylor, ended the year with another big buy, acquiring 2,138 BTC for $209 million. This brings their total Bitcoin holdings to 446,400 BTC, worth $27.9 billion. Saylor has already hinted at more purchases in 2025, showing his continued confidence in Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value.

Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, also made a significant move. They purchased 7,629 BTC for $705 million, bringing their total reserves to 82,000 BTC. Tether’s strategy focuses on diversifying its holdings to strengthen financial stability. Both MicroStrategy and Tether are betting big on Bitcoin’s long-term potential, despite its volatility.

🔨 BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Smashes Records

BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF has become the fastest-growing ETF in history, pulling in $425 million in options trading volume on its first day. The ETF’s low 0.25% expense ratio is attracting both institutional and retail investors, making it an easy way for many to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

This record-breaking success highlights the growing demand for Bitcoin in traditional finance and solidifies BlackRock’s position as a leader in the evolving crypto investment space.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Considers Adding Bitcoin to Reserves

A Hong Kong lawmaker has proposed including Bitcoin in the government’s financial reserves. The plan aims to boost the local economy, attract global investment, and position Hong Kong as a leader in financial innovation.

The initial step would focus on Bitcoin ETFs before possibly holding Bitcoin directly. If the proposal moves forward, Hong Kong could become a global example of how governments can incorporate cryptocurrency into their fiscal strategies.

📜 Grayscale Predicts Smart Contracts Will Dominate 2025

Grayscale, one of the most influential names in crypto, expects smart contract platforms to lead the market next year. Ethereum remains the frontrunner, but competitors like Solana and Sui are rapidly gaining ground, offering faster and cheaper alternatives.

These platforms enable innovations such as tokenized assets and decentralized apps, which are key areas of growth. Grayscale’s outlook suggests that competition will drive significant advancements in the space, making smart contracts one of the most exciting sectors to watch in 2025.

🇺🇸 The U.S. and Bitcoin Reserves: Unlikely for Now

The idea of the U.S. adopting Bitcoin as part of its financial reserves has been floating around, but experts remain skeptical. Prediction markets currently give this a 29 percent chance of happening under Trump’s administration.

While advocates argue that Bitcoin could reduce national debt and act as a hedge against inflation, political resistance and economic concerns make this move unlikely in the short term. The growing conversation around Bitcoin’s role in finance, however, shows how the asset is increasingly being taken seriously on a global scale.

As 2024 comes to a close, Bitcoin remains a major focus, with companies and even governments making bold moves. At the same time, smart contract platforms are laying the groundwork for the next big wave of blockchain innovation.

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for crypto. Whether you’re following Bitcoin, exploring smart contracts, or just staying informed, it’s clear there’s a lot to look forward to. Stick with us for all the updates. 🚀

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SOCIAL SENTIMENT

Elon Musk Pumps Pepe 🐸 

Elon Musk is indirectly pumping meme coins again, much like he did for Doge in 2021, but this time it’s PEPE.

Today, Musk changed his profile picture and renamed himself to “Kekius Maximus,” a gladiator version of Pepe created by the X AI Grok. This move sent PEPE soaring, with the coin gaining 15% on the day.

But the real surprise wasn’t PEPE, it was another meme coin on ETH called KEKIUS, launched just 17 days ago. Off the back of these news, KEKIUS exploded with over 700% growth for the day, stealing the spotlight.

It’s becoming pretty clear that Musk is leaning heavily into PEPE this cycle, retweeting and sharing Pepe memes regularly, fueling speculation and hype around the frog-themed coin.

NEWS OVERVIEW

The Latest Crypto Headlines 📰 

Crypto VCs Share Optimistic Yet Cautious 2025 Funding Outlook
Crypto VCs foresee steady growth in 2025, focusing on startups with strong product-market fit and real-world adoption.

Telegram Gaming Boosts TON Blockchain User Adoption
Telegram games like "Notcoin" helped the TON blockchain grow from 4M to 128M accounts, redefining web3 gaming.

Do Kwon Extradited to U.S. for TerraUSD Collapse Charges
Montenegro extradites Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon to the U.S. to face fraud and money laundering charges.

MiCA Challenges Stablecoins Like Tether in the EU
The EU’s MiCA regulation tests Tether’s compliance, reshaping the region’s crypto landscape and pushing smaller firms out.

YOUTUBE INFLUENCER SUMMARY

Summary From The Top Influencers 📷️ 

Josh Olszewicz - The 2025 Transition (31.12.2024 Summary)

Josh Olszewicz offers a detailed perspective on the shifting crypto landscape as we transition into 2025. His approach reflects caution, favoring liquidity and preparedness over aggressive trading. Here's a distilled look at his views:

Current Portfolio and Strategy

Josh emphasizes the importance of staying cash-heavy, 80% of his portfolio is in cash, the highest in his career. This isn't because he's overly bearish but because he sees more downside potential in early 2025, particularly in Q1. He identifies price levels he finds attractive: Bitcoin (BTC) below $90K (ideally near $80K) and Ethereum (ETH) around $2,800.

Key Influences in Early 2025

The first 100 days of 2025, coinciding with Donald Trump's presidential term, are pivotal. Josh highlights major uncertainties:

• Policy Effectiveness: The trajectory of interest rates, inflation, and government interventions could swing markets.
  

• Regulatory Clarity: Progress in stablecoin legislation and crypto product acceptance by the U.S. government signals long-term bullishness for the sector.

Josh suggests significant government missteps from central banks or other policies could inadvertently boost BTC prices, as crypto serves as insurance against institutional errors.

Altcoins and Market Liquidity

Josh is cautious about altcoins, especially those beyond the top 100 by market cap. Liquidity is key; weaker coins could struggle if the dollar strengthens or interest rates rise. For now, he prefers safer bets like BTC and ETH, while hinting at February 2025 as a potentially bullish month for ETH.

Technical Analysis and Risks

Technicals are underwhelming, with momentum fading across major assets. Josh points to cloud-based indicators suggesting that markets might see further downside before any significant recovery. He warns that dollar strength above 110 could crush altcoins, making liquidity injections or lower rates critical for a rebound.

Long-Term Outlook

Despite short-term caution, Josh is optimistic about crypto's broader adoption. With ETFs, IPOs, and increasing institutional interest, he sees strong potential in BTC and ETH. However, timing is key, Josh is focused on being patient, waiting for clear signals to re-enter the market.

In essence, Josh's strategy for 2025 is clear: prioritize liquidity, avoid speculative altcoins, and stay alert for opportunities as the macroeconomic and regulatory picture unfolds.

Jesse Eckel - Top 5 Cryptos To Buy And HOLD For 2025 (31.12.2024 Summary)

Jesse Eckel anticipates a monumental crypto bull run in 2025 and has identified five high-risk, high-reward altcoins he believes could thrive in this environment. These projects are focused on emerging trends like gaming, AI, and decentralized technologies.

1.UNA: A crypto gaming project from former Ubisoft developers, UNA has a current market cap of $6.3 million. Its focus on AI and gaming positions it to capitalize on the 2025 gaming narrative. Jesse predicts it could reach $60 million (10x growth) as a base case and $17 billion in an ultra-bullish scenario, particularly if it benefits from exchange listings and market hype.

2.Research Coin (RSC): This decentralized science (DeSci) project, co-founded by Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, currently has a market cap of $90 million. Jesse highlights its strong narrative and untapped potential on major exchanges. His base case is $1 billion (10x growth), with an optimistic $50 billion scenario if it gains widespread community support.

3.WINR: As a platform enabling crypto gambling and prediction markets, WINR facilitates projects like meme coin launchpads and prediction apps. Its $21 million market cap leaves room for substantial growth. Jesse forecasts $500 million (23x growth) as a base case, with a stretch goal of $70 billion if the platform gains significant traction during the bull run.

4.SolForge Fusion (SFG): Created by the designer of Magic: The Gathering, SFG is a crypto card game with a $6 million market cap. Jesse foresees $172 million (26x growth) in a base case scenario and $10 billion if gaming takes off during 2025. Its unique creator story strengthens its appeal in a growing niche.

5.Arbius (AIUS): A cutting-edge AI project, Arbius focuses on decentralized AI agents and open-source AI development. With a $14 million market cap, it stands out in the AI narrative. Jesse’s base case is $200 million (10x growth), but he sees a potential moonshot to $100 billion if Arbius pioneers fully autonomous AI technology, a groundbreaking achievement that could redefine the space.

Jesse reminds viewers that these picks are based on his personal research and are not financial advice. While the opportunities are exciting, the risks are high. Always conduct your own research and manage your investments responsibly.

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