Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

On Wednesday, Solana Labs unveiled the launch of token extensions, marking a noteworthy advancement in the SPL Token standard. The blockchain network’s token extensions aim to provide a suite of solutions for businesses transitioning to distributed ledger technology, emphasizing security, compliance, and ease of use. Solana’s New Token Extensions Set to Boost Blockchain Adoption According to the announcement, Solana -based token extensions are designed to cater to a wide range of industries, including stablecoins, real-world assets (RWAs), and payments. These extensions offer features like transfer hooks, transfer fees, confidential transfers, permanent delegate authority, and non-transferability. Each of these features serves a specific purpose, from providing control over token interactions to ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder and CEO of Solana Labs , highlighted the significance of this development. “Token extensions build on the chara

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revised the question about digital assets included on income tax forms. Moreover, the tax authority has added the question to four additional tax forms. “The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just by those who engaged in a transaction involving digital assets in 2023,” the IRS emphasized. IRS Adds Digital Asset Question to 4 More Tax Forms The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced Monday that the digital asset question on income tax forms “was revised this year to update wording.” Moreover, the question has been added to four additional tax forms. The IRS also reminded U.S. taxpayers that they must “answer a digital asset question and report all digital asset related income when they file their 2023 federal income tax return, as they did for their 2022 federal tax returns.” The tax authority detailed that the digital asset question varies depending on the form, “with appropriate variations tailored for corporate, partnership o

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, Bitwise, a leading digital asset manager, made a groundbreaking announcement as the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to reveal its bitcoin wallet address. Emphasizing its commitment to transparency, Bitwise stated, “proud to walk the walk with BITB,” and affirmed that “onchain transparency is core to Bitcoin’s ethos.” Bitwise Sets New Standard: Onchain Spot Bitcoin ETF Authentication Bitwise , the cryptocurrency asset management firm known for its recent introduction of the BITB U.S. spot bitcoin ETF, has become the first ETF to authenticate its BTC reserves. This development comes closely on the heels of Arkham Intelligence, an onchain analytics company, disclosing the onchain BTC holdings of several major players including Blackrock, Bitwise, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton. “Today the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) becomes the first U.S. bitcoin ETF to publish the bitcoin addresses of its holdings,” Bitwise wrote on the social media

Following a sudden plunge in the value of its native token OKB, which fell over 50% in a matter of minutes, Okx exchange has committed to developing a compensation plan for users caught in the resultant wave of automatic liquidations. Okx Exchange to Roll Out Compensation After Unexpected OKB Token Flash Crash Okx exchange experienced a flash crash of its native token, OKB , which plunged over 50% in value on Jan. 23. The sudden drop in price, from $50.69 to a low of $25.10, caused a flurry of automatic liquidations of margined positions, leading to a brief period of intense volatility. Okx has since stabilized the situation and is actively developing a compensation plan for the affected users. This abrupt price movement occurred at 9:07 a.m. UTC, with the token recovering to trade at $47.27. Okx, in a statement , attributed the volatility to the automatic liquidation of several margined positions after the token’s value fell from $50.69 to $48.36. Okx has acknowledged the unusual

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has admitted that a SIM swap attack compromised its X account, where a fake announcement about the approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) was posted. “The unauthorized party obtained control of the SEC cell phone number associated with the account in an apparent ‘SIM swap’ attack,” the regulator said. SEC Says It’s a Victim of a SIM Swap Attack The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provided an update on Monday regarding the unauthorized access of its @SECGov account on social media platform X. The attack occurred on Jan. 9 and the SEC’s X account was used to post an unauthorized message claiming the agency had approved spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Notably, the agency had not approved spot bitcoin ETFs at that time. The securities regulator detailed: Two days after the incident, in consultation with the SEC’s telecom carrier, the SEC determined that the unauthorized party obtained control o

Gold bug and economist Peter Schiff has warned of deeper losses for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), emphasizing that they are “now in bear markets.” Referencing the Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF which is down more than 50% in over two years, Schiff predicted that those who bought the newly approved spot bitcoin ETFs “will experience even worse results.” Peter Schiff’s Spot Bitcoin ETF Outlook Gold bug and crypto skeptic Peter Schiff expects deeper losses for the newly launched spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). He shared his outlook in several posts on social media platform X this week. The price of bitcoin rose above $47K in anticipation of the spot bitcoin ETF approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, BTC embarked on a downward trajectory following the approval , dropping below $40K on Monday and $39K on Tuesday. Schiff described on Monday: All the spot bitcoin ETFs are now in bear markets, defined as a drop of 20% or more f

Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC’s Mad Money show, has doubled down on his bearish bitcoin price outlook, predicting that the cryptocurrency will continue to struggle against the backdrop of a plummeting crypto market. “Unlikely that bitcoin finds its footing,” Cramer emphasized, after previously declaring the recent price drop a “nasty beginning” to a significant downward spiral. Jim Cramer Expects Further Bitcoin Price Drop Mad Money host Jim Cramer weighed in on the price of bitcoin on social media platform X again this week. Cramer is a former hedge fund manager who co-founded Thestreet.com, a financial news and literacy website. Cramer wrote on X Tuesday after the price of bitcoin fell below $39K : “Now that bitcoin’s down about 20% from its high I expect a strong stand to be made but it won’t hold because not enough money is coming in. New theme: Number Go Down.” On Monday, after the price of bitcoin dropped below $40K for the first time in 48 days, the Mad Money host wrote: U

In the dynamic world of crypto markets, recent trends have illuminated intriguing divergences in the altcoin market, particularly between ethereum and solana, relative to bitcoin. A comprehensive report published by Glassnode, an onchain analytics firm, delves into this phenomenon. Altcoin Dynamics Altered: Ethereum and Solana Lead Post-ETF Era In the latest edition of Glassnode ’s “The Week Onchain,” Alice Kohn’s research, published on Jan. 23, 2024, highlights ethereum’s ( ETH ) standout performance, marked by a notable surge in derivatives market activity, and the impressive journey of solana (SOL), especially post-bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval. Ether has recently outshone bitcoin, recording its strongest performance since late 2022. Kohn’s report notes a surge of over 20% in ethereum’s value relative to bitcoin, coinciding with a revitalized interest in ethereum’s derivatives market. This resurgence, signaling a potential shift in capital flows, has led to incr

Crossborder Capital’s Michael Howell, a veteran in global finance, offered a liquidity-based view on the current state of the economy. He challenged the prevailing narrative of monetary tightening with evidence of a rise in liquidity, which in turn should uplift stocks, gold, and cryptocurrencies. Michael Howell of Crossborder Capital Focused on Rising Global Liquidity and Its Market Impact Michael Howell is the founder and CEO of Crossborder Capital , a London-based FCA registered, independent research and investment company with over $1 billion assets under management. Previously he was Head of Research for Baring Securities and Research Director of Solomon Brothers. With a deep understanding of international finance and economics, Howell has become a prominent figure in analyzing global liquidity trends and their impact on markets. Recently, he appeared on Forward Guidance to shed light on the current macroeconomic landscape, emphasizing the continued rise in global liquidity an

The government of China has announced the creation of a metaverse standardization working group to establish different rules to govern the Chinese Yuanverse platform. The standardization group will be integrated by Chinese universities, government institutions, and companies like Tencent, Huawei, Baidu, Netease, and Sense Time. China Announces Metaverse Standardization Group The Chinese government aims to create standards for metaverse platforms. In a circular released on January 19, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) communicated the formation of the Metaverse Standardization Working Group, which will aim to establish rules for the organization of metaverse platforms and the development of the Yuanverse, a national metaverse platform. The standardization group will be integrated by several entities including Chinese universities, and companies like Huawei, Tencent, Baidu, Netease, and Sense Time. The proposal, which is based “on the needs of indus

Ripple Labs has opposed the requests by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for post-compliant discovery concerning XRP . Ripple argued that the regulator’s requests are “untimely” and “the SEC has failed to justify each of its requests on the merits.” Moreover, the crypto firm stated that “the information the SEC seeks has no bearing on the court’s remedies determination.” SEC Seeks More Information From Ripple Regarding XRP In response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s motion to compel certain post-compliant discovery regarding XRP , Ripple Labs sent a letter to Judge Sarah Netburn on Friday, firmly opposing the SEC’s requests. The SEC wants Ripple to produce audited financial statements for 2022 and 2023 as well as all post-complaint contracts for the sale or transfer of XRP to non-employee counterparties. The agency also demands Ripple answer an interrogatory about the amount of “ XRP institutional sales proceeds” received after the complaint fili

Florida Senator Marco Rubio expressed his worries about the increasing influence of BRICS, the international group, in the world’s economic system. According to Rubio, if the group keeps expanding, it will be a valid alternative to the current system, allowing nations to sway away from the U.S. dollar and unilateral sanctions. Senator Marco Rubio Alerts About BRICS Influence in World Economics The BRICS group, formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, might threaten the supremacy of the U.S.-led financial system in the future. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida acknowledged that the continued expansion of this group might interfere with the ability to exert sanctions on other nations. In a recent article, Rubio stated that the recent addition of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Iran to BRICS enhanced its “attractiveness as an alternative to the American and European-led financial system.” Ru

Morgan Stanley has warned about the risk of the U.S. dollar losing its dominance, fueled by growing interest in digital assets, including bitcoin. Emphasizing that the U.S. dollar’s dominance “is being increasingly scrutinized,” the investment bank stated: “A clear shift towards reducing dollar-dependency is evident, simultaneously fueling interest in digital currencies such as bitcoin, stablecoins, and CBDCs.” Morgan Stanley on Dedollarization Risk Morgan Stanley published a report last week titled “Digital (De)Dollarization?” written by Andrew Peel, the investment bank’s executive director and head of Digital Asset Markets. “The U.S. dollar’s dominance as the cornerstone of the international financial system is now being reconsidered in the face of evolving geopolitical shifts and the growing U.S. twin deficits,” the executive said, adding: Notably, the recent growth in interest of digital assets such as bitcoin, growth of stablecoin volumes, and the promise of central bank di

Congressman Tom Emmer has offered to help former U.S. President Donald Trump fight the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the U.S. “I agree with President Trump; CBDCs pose a serious threat to Americans’ right to financial privacy. I look forward to working with him as we continue the fight against the expanding government surveillance state,” the lawmaker stated. Rep. Emmer Joins Trump in Fight for Americans’ Right to Financial Privacy House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has expressed support for former U.S. President Donald Trump in the fight against the creation of a digital dollar. Last week, Trump promised the American people that if he is elected president of the United States in the upcoming election, he will make sure that a central bank digital currency (CBDC) does not get created in the U.S. “As your president, I will never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency … Such a currency would give a federal government … absolute control over y

Global investment bank JPMorgan has warned of additional outflow from Grayscale’s bitcoin fund, cautioning that it will put “further pressure on bitcoin prices over the coming weeks.” The bank’s analyst also explained that the $3 billion inflow into new spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) “reflects a rotation from existing bitcoin vehicles” or “from retail investors shifting from digital wallets held with exchanges/retail brokers to cheaper spot bitcoin ETFs.” JPMorgan Warns of Looming Bitcoin Selloff JPMorgan analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou shared his bitcoin’s price outlook on Linkedin Friday, specifically the impact of spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) launches and outflows from Grayscale’s bitcoin fund. Grayscale converted its bitcoin trust (GBTC) into a spot bitcoin ETF after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved it along with 10 other funds on Jan. 10. “The bitcoin price declined by more than 10% since the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs last wee

Based on the recent report from Arkham Intelligence, the launch of the satoshivm (SAVM) token two days ago saw three adept crypto traders, often referred to as ‘snipers,’ each earning a profit of $1 million. Arkham’s findings revealed that the most proficient of these sniping addresses achieved a staggering gain of over a million dollars, accomplishing this feat in under 40 minutes. Lone Sniper Hits $7 Million Jackpot, Trio of Traders Net $1 Million Apiece During SAVM Crypto Launch Crypto snipers managed to make some decent profits from the recent satoshivm (SAVM) launch, Arkham Intelligence detailed. Sniping, essentially refers to the practice of executing crypto trades with exceptional speed and precision to gain a strategic advantage. The strategy involves pre-setting parameters for immediate purchasing upon a new token’s launch and leveraging automated trading bots. According to market data from coingecko.com, SAVM came out the gate with an initial price of $6.83 per unit and

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s former head of internet enforcement has explained that crypto holds the key to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. He stressed that every U.S. presidential candidate should immediately appoint an internal Crypto Czar. “The stark reality is that above all else, people have always voted with their wallets,” he emphasized. Former SEC Official on Crypto and Presidential Election Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official John Reed Stark has shared his view on crypto and how it could influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. 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. The former SEC official detailed on social media platform X Wednesday: The crypto movement holds the key to the 2024 presidential election. Every presidential con

Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, is seeking approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer options on its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). The SEC has opened a comment period for a proposed rule change, filed by Nasdaq, to list and trade options on Blackrock’s spot bitcoin ETF. Since launch, Blackrock’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust has amassed 28,622 bitcoins. SEC Opens Comment Period for Options Trading on Ishares Bitcoin Trust Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, is seeking to offer options on its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Nasdaq, which lists and trades IBIT, filed a proposed rule change (Form 19b-4) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday to list and trade options on IBIT. In its SEC filing, Nasdaq explained: The Exchange believes that offering options on the Trust [IBIT] will benefit investors by providing them with an additional, relatively lower cost i

Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC’s Mad Money show, has warned of a bitcoin selloff. While cautioning investors about investing in bitcoin and the newly launched spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), he said: “I’m not as stridently against these new investment vehicles as Gary Gensler is … At this point, Bitcoin’s been around for 15 years, it’s fairly well-established, and I don’t want to try to stop anyone from speculating in this stuff, as long as they do their research.” Jim Cramer’s Bitcoin Prediction Mad Money host Jim Cramer weighed in on the bitcoin price outlook several times this week, particularly focusing on how the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could affect its trajectory. Cramer is a former hedge fund manager who co-founded Thestreet.com, a financial news and literacy website. The price of bitcoin pushed above $47K in anticipation of the SEC approving spot bitcoin ETFs. However, after the approval, it p

An independent examiner was initially barred from delving into the FTX bankruptcy case. However, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has recently overturned this decision, mandating that the defunct crypto exchange undergo an investigation by an external party. This ruling points out that such an inquiry may intensify oversight and inform prospective investors about the inner workings of these types of operations. Court Mandates External Probe into FTX, Highlighting Potential Crypto Market Risks The U.S. government has expressed a strong desire for an independent examination of the FTX debacle. When U.S. trustee Andrew Vara, overseeing the case, requested a third-party investigation, Judge John Dorsey rejected the plea . Consequently, the government escalated the matter to the Appellate Court, seeking to reverse this decision. Ultimately, the trustee’s efforts proved successful, achieving the sought-after objective. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia

The head of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has warned of significant risks associated with cryptocurrencies, particularly for emerging market economies. “It can impact your financial stability, currency stability, and monetary system,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said. RBI Governor’s Crypto Warnings Shaktikanta Das, the governor of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), issued several warnings regarding cryptocurrency at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Das said: Cryptocurrencies have huge risk, particularly for emerging market economies because it can impact your financial stability, currency stability, and monetary system. “There is no underlying. It is not a currency, but it has the potential to become a currency in which event it can occupy the part of the payments system. It can impact your banking system and therefore it has very much risk involved in it,” the Indian central bank governor stressed. Commenting on the app

U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill “to combat the illicit use of crypto assets.” The Preventing Illicit Finance Through Partnership Act “will allow federal regulators to work with the private sector to gain insight into the often-misunderstood world of crypto to weed out bad actors without crushing an entire emerging industry,” Senator Cynthia Lummis described. Preventing Illicit Finance Through Partnership Act 2024 U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance Through Partnership Act of 2024 on Wednesday. Hagerty and Lummis are members of the Senate Banking Committee. The bill seeks to “establish an information-sharing pilot program to combat the illicit use of crypto assets,” according to the bill’s text. The legislation targets illicit finance through enhanced communication between federal law enforcement agencies and private companies. Senator Lummis opined: There are bad actors in every industry and crypto assets are