Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

Financial giant ING has predicted that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in the second quarter of next year. “We are currently forecasting 150bp of rate cuts in 2024 with a further 100bp in early 2025,” ING’s chief international economist detailed, noting that U.S. economic data confirmed that there’s “no need for any further Fed policy tightening.” ING’s Fed Rate Cut Prediction Global financial services firm ING’s chief international economist, James Knightley, published an article last week outlining why he expects the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates next year. Citing U.S. data showing modest growth, cooling inflation, and a cooling labor market, the economist emphasized that it’s “exactly what the Fed wants to see.” He described: This should confirm no need for any further Fed policy tightening … We expect rate cuts from the Fed from the second quarter onwards. “We are currently forecasting 150bp of rate cuts in 2024 with a further 100bp i...

The CEO of Franklin Templeton, a $1.33 trillion asset manager, says there’s “obviously” a demand for bitcoin, noting that a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) is “a better way” to access the cryptocurrency. The executive added: “It’s going to unlock nontraditional, noncorrelated types of asset classes that are going to be interesting for our clients.” Franklin Templeton Sees Demand for Bitcoin Franklin Templeton Investments CEO Jenny Johnson shared her perspective on bitcoin and bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in an interview with Fortune last week. The firm reported $1.33 trillion in assets under management as of Oct. 31. “I think it’s important that we differentiate bitcoin and blockchain. I think that there’s a demand for bitcoin. It has its own use case, and that’s why you’re seeing these ETFs,” she began. Franklin Templeton is among the asset managers who have filed to launch a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)....

A U.S. Space Force major has urged the Department of Defense to integrate Bitcoin as an “offset” strategy. Emphasizing that “Integration of this technology could revolutionize national defense strategies in cyberspace,” he stressed: “Addressing this could be vital for the U.S. to maintain its position as a global superpower and leader among nations.” ‘Bitcoin Represents Not Just a Financial Innovation but a Paradigm Change in Cybersecurity’ Major Jason Lowery wrote an open letter to the Defense Innovation Board on Dec. 2 regarding “the national strategic importance of Bitcoin,” he described on Linkedin. Lowery is an astronautical engineer serving in the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Defense Innovation Board provides independent recommendations to Department of Defense (DOD) leaders on emerging technologies and innovative approaches that the DOD should adopt to ensure U.S. technological and military dominance. “During my studies at the Department...

The bitcoin mining corporation Riot Platforms, a publicly traded firm within the industry, recently announced a significant expansion of its operations. The firm has completed its largest-ever acquisition of application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners, securing 66,560 units of Microbt’s latest Whatsminer M66S models. This substantial purchase is set to boost Riot’s current mining capabilities by 18 exahash per second (EH/s). Riot Platforms Amplifies Bitcoin Mining Capabilities With Record $290.5 Million ASIC Acquisition Operating from Texas and listed on the Nasdaq, Riot revealed its monumental investment of $290.5 million in acquiring 18 EH/s of Microbt bitcoin miners, averaging a cost of $16 per terahash. This acquisition marks Riot’s most substantial investment to date. The company has also negotiated future options to purchase an additional 75 EH/s of hardware from the ASIC manufacturer. The newly ordered 66,560 units of Microbt’s Whatsminer M66S models represent a s...

Recent statistics reveal that Microstrategy, a company known for its business intelligence, mobile software, and cloud services, has seen a significant increase of over 30% in its bitcoin investments. The company invested a total of $5.314 billion, with the current value of its bitcoin cache reaching $6.915 billion, marking a substantial profit of $1.601 billion. Microstrategy’s Profits Have Risen by More Than 30% or 40,401 Bitcoin Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR ) has experienced this notable growth following bitcoin’s ( BTC ) surge past the $39K mark. Currently, Microstrategy stands as the largest holder of bitcoin, surpassing both public and private entities, with the exception of governments and exchange-traded products such as Grayscale’s GBTC. As of the latest update , the company holds an impressive 174,530 BTC , currently valued at $6.915 billion based on the prevailing exchange rates. Microstrategy’s investment in BTC , amounting to $5.314 billion, was acquired at an average c...

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, bitcoin’s value surged past the $40K mark, peaking at $40,846 at 8:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Over the past week, bitcoin has witnessed an 8.4% increase and a 3% rise in the past 24 hours, achieving a peak that the cryptocurrency hadn’t seen in 20 months. Bitcoin Rises Above the $40K Zone Bitcoin ( BTC ) reached a peak previously last observed in early April 2022, as its value per unit soared beyond the $40,000 threshold. The intraday trading saw the cryptocurrency’s price fluctuating from a low of $39,309 to a high of $40,846 per BTC . This surge in price brings bitcoin’s total market capitalization to $795.87 billion, accounting for 50% of the entire $1.593 trillion crypto economy. Bitcoin chart by TradingView Since the start of the year, BTC has experienced a remarkable 140% rise against the U.S. dollar, and in the past month alone, this leading cryptocurrency has increased by just over 49%. Currently, bitcoin boasts a global trade volume of $17....

Mohammed and Benamar M., two brothers accused of exploiting Platypus, an avalanche-based automated market maker (AMM) platform, were acquitted of any criminal wrongdoing in a landmark case for French justice. The judge in charge stated that the individuals just interacted with a smart contract that gave “more than it had to give.” Platypus Hackers Acquitted After Perpetuating $9 Million Exploit Two individuals linked to the exploit of Platypus, a stablecoin-focused automated market-making (AMM) platform built on top of Avalanche, have been acquitted of criminal wrongdoing in France. The Paris Judicial Court dropped charges of accessing a computer system, money laundering, and concealment for Mohammed and Benamar M., two brothers who managed to siphon over $9 million from Platypus’ smart contract using an exploit. The two individuals arrested in February never denied that they exploited the platform. Instead, Mohammed acknowledged the facts, arguing that he had acted as a “white ha...

November marked a significant milestone in the 2023 revenue generated by bitcoin miners, reaching a peak of $1.16 billion. This month not only stood out in terms of total earnings but also set a record for the highest monthly fees collected by miners within the year. Bitcoin Mining Fees Soar to Yearly High in November, Fueling Revenue In November, bitcoin ( BTC ) miners experienced a prosperous period, bolstered by increased prices and a substantial uptick in transfer fees. Data reveals that miners amassed a total revenue of $1.16 billion, with fees contributing $142.19 million to this sum. This performance eclipsed the former zenith reached in May 2023, where total earnings were $919.22 million, inclusive of $125.92 million in fees. From May to November 2023, bitcoin miners experienced a fluctuation in earnings, with fees escalating from about $17 million to a peak of $38 million in June. The total revenue in November surpassed May’s figures by approximately 26.19%. Yet, the has...

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that something bad may happen in the U.S. economy. “I’m not trying to scare people. I’m more in the category that something could go wrong,” he stressed. “A lot of things out there are dangerous and inflationary. Be prepared … Interest rates may go up and that might lead to recession.” Jamie Dimon Says ‘Be Prepared’ The CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, issued several warnings regarding the U.S. economy this week at the 2023 New York Times Dealbook Summit in New York and the Global Investment Summit organized by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London. Elaborating on his recent warning of “ the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades,” Dimon said at the Dealbook Summit on Wednesday: “If you look at history and you open a newspaper of any month, any year, of course, there’s always tough stuff going on — wars, depressions, recessions….” He explained that the current situation, including the war in Ukraine, the huge humanitar...

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has issued more warnings about the U.S. economy, including a giant market collapse, a possible next Great Depression, and another war. The famous author emphasized that millions of people will face “really hard times ahead.” He urged them to be prepared, reiterating his recommendation of gold, silver, and bitcoin. Robert Kiyosaki Sees ‘Really Hard Times Ahead’ for Millions The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, is back with dire warnings about the U.S. economy. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. The famous author wrote on social media platform X Thursday that a “giant market collapse is here” because the Three Stooges are running the White House, the U.S. Treasury, and the Federal Reserve. He continued: Possible...

Skybridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci has predicted a substantial influx of capital from Wall Street into spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) once they are approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He highlighted the unleashing of salesforces from major institutions, anticipating over $100 billion flowing into bitcoin following spot bitcoin ETF approvals. Scaramucci on Market Impact of Spot Bitcoin ETFs Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of asset management firm Skybridge Capital, discussed his outlook on spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in an interview on The Scoop, The Block’s podcast, on Thursday. “The not-so-secret reality of Wall Street is that products are sold and not bought. Imagine an army, a legion of people who are going to be selling,” he began, adding that they will be “giving the Mantra speech about bitcoin” to brokerage firms and financial advisor offices who will then tell their clients to put 1% in BTC . He described: These...

The transformation of the Ethereum network, popularly known as ‘The Merge,’ marked a significant shift in the blockchain’s energy usage and climate impact. A detailed report by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) meticulously dissects this journey, offering invaluable insights into Ethereum’s historical and current ecological footprint. This transition, deeply rooted in environmental considerations, demonstrates a pivotal change in the digital asset ecosystem. Ethereum’s Environmental Footprint Transformed, Says CCAF Report Before The Merge , Ethereum’s proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism demanded considerable energy, largely due to the computational intensity of mining processes. This phase, while essential for the network’s security and integrity, raised environmental concerns due to its high energy consumption. The latest CCAF report highlights this period as a critical phase in understanding Ethereum’s total environmental impact. The CCAF’s previous article on the su...

In the past six months, Bitcoin miners’ revenue has dropped by more than 30%, with November revenues approximately $270 million lower than October revenues. The drop in Bitcoin miners’ revenue is attributed to Bitcoin price volatility, increased competition, and higher electricity prices. Gradual Decline in Miner Revenue Bitcoin miners’ revenues have fallen by over 30% in the past six months, despite the gradual increase in the price of Bitcoin from its March 10 low of just over $20,000 to just over $38,000 on Dec. 1, 2023. According to banklesstimes.com data , miners’ November revenue of $615.1 million is approximately $300 million less than the January revenue. Since reaching a high of $918.8 million in January, miners’ revenue has gradually declined in the months that followed. The month of October was the only time this trend was bucked, with miners securing the second-highest monthly earnings of 2023 at $885 million. Commenting on the drop in miner revenue, Alice Leetham, an ...

Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz expects the price of bitcoin to be significantly higher when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approves spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “We will see a pretty successful shift of psychology … when the government says ‘you are allowed to buy bitcoin,'” he described. Mike Novogratz’s Bullish Bitcoin Prediction Galaxy Digital CEO Michael Novogratz explained why the price of bitcoin is poised to rise “significantly higher” in an interview on Bloomberg TV Wednesday. His bullish prediction hinges on the potential approval of the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Novogratz detailed: “There’s a bunch of good things happening for bitcoin. We are going to get an ETF. Right now there’s a lot of anticipation. Some of that is built into the price.” He added that when you actually get a spot bitcoin ETF announcement, which he believes to be two months before it starts...

Ripple’s chief legal officer says the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is “anything but infallible,” emphasizing that the regulator is “bloated, broken, and beleaguered.” He advised investors not to be intimidated when having to deal with the securities watchdog. ‘SEC Is Anything But Infallible’ Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, slammed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on social media platform X on Thursday. Quoting an article published in the Wall Street Journal stating that the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against the SEC in recent years, Alderoty stressed that the securities regulator is “anything but infallible,” noting that the agency is “bloated, broken, and beleaguered.” He also advised investors: “Don’t be intimidated when they come knocking.” Commenting on Alderoty’s statement, lawyer John Deaton shared : “I remember when I sued the SEC and some people said: ‘You’re crazy.’ Why? The SEC is only good at one thing: intimida...

Ocean, a Bitcoin mining pool that recently raised $6.2 million in a seed funding round led by former Twitter (now known as X) CEO Jack Dorsey, is currently filtering ordinal inscription transactions. Giacomo Zucco, a bitcoiner, confirmed that Ocean was using Knots as a node, a software developed by Luke Dashjr known to filter Ordinal inscriptions. Ocean Bitcoin Mining Pool Filtering Ordinal Inscriptions Ocean, a Bitcoin mining pool, has acknowledged that it is currently applying a filter that affects Ordinals-related transactions. The pool, which recently closed its $6.2 million seed round led by former X CEO Jack Dorsey, excludes certain Bitcoin Ordinals transactions using Knots, a Bitcoin node known to apply these filtering policies. Giacomo Zucco, who was part of the conference as part of the relaunch of the pool, confirmed this fact, stating that it was currently using several filtering policies, excluding what he called “spam.” Zucco stated : Some ‘inscription’ spam is don...

The U.S. deputy secretary of the Treasury has revealed that the Treasury Department has asked Congress for more tools and authorities “to go after illicit actors in the digital asset space.” Moreover, he stressed: “We need to update our illicit finance authorities to match the challenges we face today, including those presented by the evolving digital asset ecosystem.” Treasury Seeks More Powers in Digital Asset Space Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo outlined the Treasury’s key priorities in addressing illicit actors within the cryptocurrency space at this year’s Blockchain Association’s Policy Summit on Wednesday. “We are calling on Congress to create a secondary sanction regime that will not only cut off a firm from the U.S. financial system but will also expose any firm that continues to do business with the sanctioned entity to being cut off from the U.S. financial system,” he revealed. “This is a significant tool we do not request lightly. But we need to do every...

Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, has held another meeting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to discuss its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) application. The firm has proposed a “revised in-kind” model for its spot bitcoin ETF that it believes will “resolve” the SEC’s concerns. The regulator has reportedly indicated that it prefers spot bitcoin ETFs to use the cash creation method. Revised In-Kind Model for Spot Bitcoin ETF Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, held another meeting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s Division of Trading and Markets this week regarding its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) application. According to a memorandum dated Nov. 28 posted on the SEC’s website, the two parties discussed “Nasdaq Stock Market LLC’s proposed rule change to list and trade shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust.” The asset management firm explained: “During our 11/20 meeting with Trading & Markets staff...

Microstrategy has expanded its bitcoin holdings with the acquisition of 16,130 more bitcoins. With this latest purchase, the Nasdaq-listed software intelligence firm is now hoding 174,530 bitcoins, acquired for around $5.28 billion. Since adopting its bitcoin strategy, Microstrategy’s stock has outperformed major asset classes and indices. Microstrategy’s Bitcoin Treasury Rises to 174,530 Coins Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) has disclosed its most recent acquisition of bitcoin. The firm’s chairman and former CEO, Michael Saylor, shared on social media platform X Thursday: Microstrategy has acquired an additional 16,130 BTC for ~$593.3 million at an average price of $36,785 per bitcoin. As of 11/29/23, Microstrategy now hodls 174,530 $ BTC acquired for ~$5.28 billion at an average price of $30,252 per bitcoin. According to the company’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the additional coins were acquired in cash during the period between Nov. 1 and N...

The Australia-based and Nasdaq-listed Iris Energy recently announced the acquisition of 1.3 exahash per second (EH/s) capacity in Bitmain’s latest Antminer T21 models. This purchase boosts Iris Energy’s proprietary mining capacity to a notable 8.3 EH/s. Iris Energy Secures 1.3 EH/s in Latest Bitmain Deal Iris Energy (Nasdaq: IREN ) announced on Thursday its procurement of 7,000 next-generation T21 bitcoin ( BTC ) miners from Bitmain Technologies. The deal, amounting to roughly $18.6 million, translates to a cost of $14 per terahash. Bitmain has agreed to postpone 20% of this sum until May 30, 2024, while Iris Energy plans to settle the balance through structured payments. At the end of October, Bitmain introduced the T21 series, an air-cooled unit boasting up to 190 terahash per second (TH/s) capacity and a 19 joules per terahash (J/T) efficiency rating. Iris Energy highlighted that these T21 units’ enhanced efficiency ratio will elevate their entire fleet’s performance from 29.5...

Economist Peter Schiff has warned that the U.S. dollar is “on the verge of a historic crash.” He stressed that there won’t be a soft landing for the U.S. economy, predicting a “c rash & burn” scenario. Schiff highlighted the potential for increased inflation, rising interest rates, and elevated unemployment. “The economy is weaker than the Fed thinks and the result will be larger budget deficits and higher inflation,” he noted. Peter Schiff’s Latest Economic Warnings Economist and gold bug Peter Schiff is back with gloomy economic predictions in a series of posts on social media platform X. He wrote on Tuesday: The U.S. dollar is on the verge of a historic crash. This will be a game changer for the Fed and the economy, as it will send inflation, interest rates, and unemployment soaring. Forget about a soft-landing. It’s crash & burn. He added: “The U.S. dollar is toast. As inflation heats up, to avoid getting burned the world will turn to gold as the most viable alternat...

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has recommended buying bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Warning that the global economy is slowing to a possible depression and the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve will print trillions in “fake dollars,” he urged investors: “Don’t be caught sleeping like most Americans. Take action now.” Robert Kiyosaki and Spot Bitcoin ETFs The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, has suggested investing in bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for investors who prefer this approach over direct investment in bitcoin. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. On Tuesday, Kiyosaki posted on social media platform X, expressing concern about the Cardboard Box Index, an indicator used by some investors to assess consumer goods production...