Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s former head of internet enforcement, a crypto skeptic, now believes that the SEC is likely to approve a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). He further expressed that “the legacy of SEC Chair Gary Gensler could be the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF,” emphasizing: “That is a mammoth victory for big crypto.” Stark Now Expects SEC to Approve Spot Bitcoin ETF Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official John Reed Stark now believes that the securities regulator is likely to approve a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). Stark is currently president of cybersecurity firm John Reed Stark Consulting. He founded and served as chief of the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement for 11 years. He was also an SEC enforcement attorney for 15 years. This week, the SEC reportedly made “rare” calls to spot bitcoin ETF filers regarding their applications. Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett shared on social media platform X Th...

Blackrock has revealed a plan to seed its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with $10 million on Jan. 3. The world’s largest asset manager has engaged in six recent meetings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to address its filing. In response to the SEC’s concerns, the firm has opted for the cash creation model, departing from its initial preference for the in-kind model. Blackrock Amends Spot Bitcoin ETF Filing After 6 Meetings With SEC Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, filed an amendment to its registration statement (S-1) for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday. The firm disclosed that it plans to seed Ishares Bitcoin Trust with $10 million on Jan. 3, 2024. The amendment details that the seed capital investor, an affiliate of the trust’s sponsor, purchased seed shares worth $100,000 for the spot bitcoin ETF on Oct. 27, subject to conditions. The filing also outlines the ...

On Saturday, the smart contract platform Solana’s token, solana (SOL), eclipsed the $100 threshold, achieving a weekly growth exceeding 36% against the U.S. dollar. Throughout the year, investor sentiment toward solana (SOL) has remained overwhelmingly positive, intensifying following the conviction of ex-FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried on multiple charges on Nov. 2, 2023. Solana’s Market Triumph In the previous year, solana (SOL) has escalated an impressive 764% relative to the U.S. dollar, breaching the $100 milestone on Dec. 23, 2023. This price point for SOL has been unprecedented since April 2022, and the cryptocurrency has overtaken BNB to become the fourth largest by market capitalization. Currently priced at $102 per coin, SOL boasts a market value of approximately $43.58 billion. The coin’s daily trading fluctuation on Saturday ranged from $93 to $104. Over the last month, SOL has seen an increase exceeding 80%, with a near 38% rise in the past fortnight alone. SOL is up 6.6...

A petition to stop a proposed crypto ban in the U.S. has gained traction. The Chamber of Digital Commerce explained that the Digital Asset Anti Money Laundering Act, introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren and currently supported by 19 U.S. senators, is “a crypto ban” that “threatens to stifle innovation, harm job prospects, and undermine the U.S. economy in a sector that is burgeoning with potential.” Petition to Stop Proposed Crypto Ban in US The “Stop The Crypto Ban” petition , initiated on Change.org by the Chamber of Digital Commerce on Dec. 16, has garnered nearly 10,000 signatures at the time of writing. “As concerned citizens of the United States, we need you to sign this petition to stop a proposed ban on cryptocurrency,” the leading U.S. blockchain and digital asset trade association wrote. “By signing this pledge, you agree to not support any cosponsor of the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act in any future election campaign.” The chamber added: The Digital Asset A...