CryptoNews of the Week by NordFX

CryptoNews of the Week


– A real drama unfolded in the cryptocurrency market after hackers breached the social network X (formerly Twitter) account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and posted a fake tweet about the approval of the long-awaited bitcoin exchange-traded funds (BTC-ETFs). This statement caught investors off guard as it was expected that this important decision by the SEC would only be published on Wednesday, January 10. The market reacted instantly, and the price of the main cryptocurrency soared to $48,000.
The head of the regulatory body, Gary Gensler, urgently published a denial, stating: "The SEC's Twitter account was hacked, and an unauthorized tweet was published. The SEC has not approved the listing and trading of bitcoin spot exchange-traded products." Following this message, the BTC price reversed and dropped to around $45,000.

– As anticipation for a positive decision from the U.S. SEC grew, the number of Google search queries for "Bitcoin ETF" reached a record level. Last week, the percentage index exceeded the 50 mark, and this week it hit the maximum of 100 points. Interestingly, the search queries for "Bitcoin ETF" predominantly come not from the U.S. but from other countries. Canada leads with 100, followed by Hong Kong (86) and Singapore (85). Switzerland (73) ranks fourth, and Germany (72) is fifth among the most interested countries. As for the U.S. itself, it holds the 9th place with 39 percentage points.

– SEC Chair Gary Gensler warned on January 8 about the volatile nature of crypto assets and also reminded of the risks associated with crypto service providers. His recommendations followed amidst firms submitting updated applications for launching bitcoin exchange-traded funds (BTC-ETFs). Perianne Boring, the founder and president of the U.S. Chamber of Digital Commerce, believes that the SEC could delay its decision. In her view, amendments to these applications could be the reason for postponing the deadlines. Consequently, the Commission would need more time to coordinate the changes and might not complete all procedures even by the end of the week.
Perianne Boring hopes she is wrong. However, she admits that Gary Gensler and members of the expert commission may have received another chance to delay the final decision. The SEC, she is confident, has enough tools at its disposal to block the market entry of this exchange product altogether and is not willing to give up its position without a fight. Markus Thielen, an analyst at Matrixport, also believes that the regulator may avoid making a positive decision.

– Television host and founder of the hedge fund Cramer & Co., Jim Cramer, stated that the price of bitcoin has peaked and further growth should not be expected. He made this statement at the moment when bitcoin surpassed the $47,000 mark. Social media users and the crypto community consider Cramer a unique "indicator," whose predictions in the vast majority of cases... do not come true.

– Macro-strategist Henrik Zeberg expects a fantastic bull market in 2024. According to him, the dynamics of digital assets this year, driven by the arrival of new players, will be "parabolic." "[Bitcoin] will be absolutely explosive: it will go vertical. I think we will reach at least $115,000. That's my most conservative forecast. The $150,000 level is also quite achievable, and I see the potential for $250,000," notes the economist.
Zeberg added that thanks to the entry of institutional and traditional investors following the potential approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, the first four months of 2024 could be "incredibly impressive" for the crypto market. Everyone who did not participate in the first or second bull cycles will now say, "Oh, I missed the first two times, but I will be in this one." However, the expert believes that traditional markets are facing "the worst crash since 1929," when the Great Depression began in the U.S. 

– An unknown user sent on January 5 nearly 27 BTC (worth about $1.2 million at the time) to the wallet of bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. This sender's address received funds from three different sources, the majority originating from a wallet registered with the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
The genesis wallet of Satoshi Nakamoto, as of the time of writing, contains 99.67 BTC, which is valued at around $4.4 million. These assets have remained unmoved since the disappearance of the bitcoin creator in December 2010. Coinbase director Conor Grogan commented, "Either Satoshi has awakened, bought 27 BTC on Binance and transferred them to his own wallet, or someone just burned a million dollars." He also speculated that it might be a form of "strange marketing" related to the potential approval of a spot bitcoin ETF.

– Vytautas Kaseta, President of the Crypto Economy Organisation, has stated that while the crypto community celebrates January 3 as the birthday of bitcoin, technically this is not correct. On that day, Satoshi Nakamoto generated the zero block of the BTC blockchain, known as Genesis. However, this block only served as a starting point for creating the network, as it contained no actual transaction data. The first non-zero block, mined on January 9, 2009, marks the beginning of real transactions in the network, when the blockchain came to life as a functional means of exchange. It's the creation of this block that should be considered the true birthday of the first cryptocurrency, Vytautas Kaseta believes.

– The approval of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on the first cryptocurrency represents a "turning point" for the asset's adoption. In this scenario, the price of bitcoin could soar to $200,000 by the end of 2025, according to analysts at Standard Chartered in a recent report. The bank estimates that by the end of 2024, exchange-traded funds will hold between 437,000 BTC and 1.32 million BTC. This is equivalent to a market inflow of $50-100 billion.
The analysts noted that exchange-traded products related to gold exhibited a similar dynamic, but only seven to eight years after their launch. "Bitcoin will see the same growth as a result of the approval of a spot ETF in the U.S., but we will see it materialize over a shorter period (one to two years), given the rapid development of the crypto market," explained Standard Chartered.

– Venture investor Chamath Palihapitiya echoed a similar sentiment, believing that 2024 could be the most important year for the first cryptocurrency. The billionaire noted in a new episode of the All-In podcast that the approval of a large number of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will likely be a "game changer for BTC." This could ultimately lead to the widespread adoption of the asset. Palihapitiya added that in this case, by the end of 2024, bitcoin will become a part of the traditional financial lexicon.

– Renowned analyst PlanB believes that the value of bitcoin could soon reach a range between $100,000 and $1 million. He explained that he does not expect a fall in BTC price because its level of adoption is only at 2-3%. According to the logistic S-curve of organizational development and Metcalfe's law, a decrease in asset profitability should not be expected while the level of adoption is below 50%. Therefore, the analyst opines, "the main cryptocurrency can expect exponential growth for a couple more years."
It's worth noting that PlanB is the creator of the Stock to Flow model for predicting the course of bitcoin. This model reflects the ratio of the available supply of an asset to the volume of its production. Thus, according to this model, the current price of the coin for most holders exceeds the purchase cost, which is a "distinctive signal of bullish growth."

– According to CoinDesk, the 40-day correlation between digital gold and the Nasdaq 100 technology index has dropped to zero. Over the last four years, this price relationship was positive, ranging from moderate (0.15) to strong (0.8). The indicator reached its maximum value during the bear market of 2022. Now, bitcoin has completely "broken away" from the Nasdaq, thanks to expectations of the ETF launch.
Experts from Fairlead Strategies, interviewed by the publication, spoke about the prospects of maintaining the "independence" of digital gold in the near future. This nullification of correlation could signify the potential use of the first cryptocurrency as a means of diversifying investment portfolios. "We believe that the price correlation will remain low in the coming months, given the potential approval of a spot bitcoin ETF and the halving in April. Furthermore, risk assets generally exhibit lower correlation in bull markets compared to bear markets," the experts explained.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– On Tuesday, January 2, the price of bitcoin rose above $45,860 as investors anticipated a statement from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs. The last time BTC traded at this level was in April 2022.
Analysts at Matrixport suggest that the primary cryptocurrency could surpass $50,000 in the coming days. The main drivers of the digital gold's price increase will be the potential approval of spot BTC-ETFs, demand from financial institutions, and a shortage of coin supply in the market. "Institutional investors cannot afford to miss another potential rally. Therefore, they must buy immediately," the experts shared their forecast. In their view, regulators might announce the approval of new exchange-traded products "today or tomorrow, ahead of most investors' expectations." This will serve as a powerful factor in the price growth of the leading cryptocurrency. 

– Wall Street investment giants BlackRock, Fidelity, and Invesco, along with Valkyrie and Bitwise, companies specializing in crypto asset operations, have announced in their press releases their readiness to launch spot ETFs on bitcoin. Bitwise and BlackRock, in particular, have formed initial capital for trading operations, amounting to $200 million and $10 million respectively. These companies have disclosed key details of their future trades, including trading chains, partnerships with key brokerage firms, and the commission rates their potential ETF partners will charge clients, pending the green light from the SEC.
Eric Balchunas, Bloomberg ETF analyst, opines that the investment corporations' proposals are largely similar. He anticipates that the competitive battle among BTC-ETF issuers will primarily revolve around fee structures, brand history, and customer preferences.
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor previously remarked that the approval of BTC-ETF, which the entire crypto industry is eagerly awaiting, could be the most significant event for the American stock market in the last three decades.

– Analysts at the platform Immunefi have calculated that, compared to 2022, when the total stolen funds amounted to $3.9 billion, this year's figures have more than halved – by 54.2%. In total, due to hacks and fraud, the crypto industry suffered losses of $1.8 billion in 2023. Researchers have tallied that $1.69 billion in losses were attributed to 219 hacking attacks, and about $103,000 was lost in 100 cases of fraud. The biggest losses were incurred in November ($343 million), September ($340 million), and July ($320 million).
It's worth noting that the Immunefi project manages a fund of $135 million for payments to "white hat" hackers who find vulnerabilities in decentralized financial platforms (DeFi).

– The new President of Argentina, Javier Milei, has proposed the legalization of digital asset circulation. He assured that once the bill is passed, citizens will be able to own and trade cryptocurrencies regardless of their origin and the actual location of coin storage. This digital currency legalization program is part of the economic reforms proposed by Javier Milei.
According to the new law, crypto assets that Argentine citizens voluntarily report by March 31 will be subject to a 5% tax rate. By November 30, the tax level will be increased to 15%. Subsequently, if the fiscal authorities discover undeclared cryptocurrency assets, the settlement of requirements may be accompanied by the imposition of an increased tax rate and additional penal sanctions.

– While the majority of crypto market participants view the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs as an exclusively positive event for BTC, some experts believe otherwise. Analysts at the platform CryptoQuant think that with the launch of this financial instrument, the main cryptocurrency's price could drop from its current levels to $32,000. CryptoQuant noted that the market is factoring in a 90% probability of these ETFs being approved in early January. This reflects investors' optimism about the instrument but at the same time creates a classic "buy the rumour, sell the news" scenario.
"The likelihood of the ETF approval becoming a catalyst for selling on the news is increasing, as market participants have a large unrealized profit. For short-term bitcoin holders, it's about 30%, which historically precedes a price correction," the company asserts.
Analysts also highlighted the influence of miners' behaviour. Due to the recent rise in BTC's price, they have shifted back to active selling and could significantly impact the dynamics of the main cryptocurrency's price.

– Cathy Wood, the CEO of ARK Invest, also anticipates the possibility of a short-term sell-off. However, she remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of bitcoin. "A sell-off upon the news wouldn't be a surprise. But I believe it will be a very short-term phenomenon," Wood concluded. The head of ARK also noted the significant impact on bitcoin's price that even modest institutional investments can have. Her opinion is based on the scarcity of BTC and the expected inflow of institutional funds into the asset following the approval of ETFs.

– Analysts at the crypto exchange BIT share a similar view. They believe that bitcoin will continue to grow despite the "buy the rumor, sell the news" mindset. Even if the launch of the ETF causes a short-term sell-off, the combination of buyer pressure and the reduction in supply following the halving will lay the foundation for an extremely bullish 2024, potentially leading to the establishment of a new all-time high (ATH).

– Nic Carter, a financing partner at Castle Island Ventures, aligns with Cathy Wood's perspective. He believes that the ETF will unlock new classes of capital, fostering structural flows that will benefit the BTC market. Carter also thinks that in the context of the ETF launch, even the halving event seems less significant.

– Bitcoin futures indicate a bullish trend for the spring of 2024. Data from Binance futures contracts, expiring on March 29th, show that the annualized price of bitcoin is currently exceeding 20%. When futures trade at a higher price than the spot price, this situation is referred to as "contango". This condition suggests that the market expects the price of the asset to rise by the time the contract expires. According to The Block’s Data Dashboard, the difference between the spot price and the future price of BTC has increased to a record high level.

– A special agent from the FBI office in Alabama, USA, informed FOX News journalists that in 2023, around 300 state residents who fell victim to fraudulent cryptocurrency operations lost an average of $170,000 each. Matt Tootle observed that the greatest danger was posed by schemes involving the theft of digital assets using methods of so-called social engineering.
"We see cases where fraudsters spend months developing seemingly decent relationships with their future victims. For example, they create fake internet resources, showing victims the balance of their assets and the profitability of investing in cryptocurrencies. In some cases, to encourage the aggrieved investors to continue funding or make a large money transfer, fraudsters allow the victim to witness the 'effectiveness' of the crypto project and even withdraw a portion of the funds," the special agent explained. As a result, victims realize that they have lost all their money only weeks or months after the initial 'investment'. 

– Peter Schiff, President of Euro Pacific Capital and a gold enthusiast, shared his forecast for 2024 in a series of tweets. "Investors are convinced that the Federal Reserve has managed to restore price stability without causing a recession, achieving a miraculous soft landing," wrote Schiff. "The big surprise in 2024 will be not only that the economy falls into a recession, but also that high inflation returns with doubled force."
"More importantly," Schiff notes, "technical indicators are collapsing... The Fed plans to lower interest rates, which will not only accelerate the downturn but also exert new upward pressure on inflation." In his view, "this not only indicates a weak and troubled economy but also foretells a significant fall in the dollar exchange rate and a rise in prices for imported goods in 2024." According to the financier, this situation does not bode well for bitcoin. Recall that Schiff has previously stated that there is "nothing more low-quality than cryptocurrencies," and "bitcoin is nothing." He also compared asset holders to a cult. "No one needs bitcoin. People buy it only after others convince them to do so. After acquiring [BTC], they immediately try to attract others to it." In his words, "it's like a cult."
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Brian Armstrong, the head of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, published an article filled with numerous statistical data. Following a significant market correction this year, the value of cryptocurrencies increased by 90%, accompanied by a 60% increase in trading volume in the fourth quarter (Q4). Armstrong highlighted that currently, 425 million people worldwide own cryptocurrencies. Additionally, 83% of the G20 member countries and major financial centres have either implemented or are in the process of developing regulations for the industry.
He emphasized that over 100,000 merchants and payment systems worldwide now accept payments in cryptocurrencies, including companies like PayPal and Visa. Armstrong also referenced a report by Circle, according to which the volume of international settlements in stablecoins over the last year exceeded $7 trillion. This indicates that stablecoins are assisting fiat currencies like the US dollar to exist in digital form.
In countries with underdeveloped economies, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Nigeria, cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular among the population. People living and working abroad use cryptocurrencies for money transfers. Crypto transfers are on average 96% cheaper than traditional methods and take 10 minutes instead of 10 days, as mentioned in Armstrong's article. Even major financial hubs, London, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Singapore are transforming into crypto centres to expand employment opportunities in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector.
Brian Armstrong underscored that cryptocurrencies provide people with economic freedom by giving them access to their own money and allowing them to fully participate in the economy, regardless of the limitations of powerful, but outdated, financial companies. 

– Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), published a post on X (formerly Twitter) on December 22, addressing the industry's non-compliance with regulations. "There are numerous violations in the cryptocurrency sphere," the post read. "It's a breach of trust resulting in many people being harmed. All they can do is wait for the court to declare them bankrupt."
The community instantly reacted to the SEC head's statement, emphasizing that they had long requested the regulator to clarify the specific rules they need to comply with. It is known that Coinbase, the largest American cryptocurrency exchange, has been striving for years to get clarity from the SEC on industry regulations.
Billy Markus, the founder of Dogecoin, stated that the SEC Chairman had not established real rules. Markus went on to describe Gensler as "useless in every respect." Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, also commented on Gensler's post. He characterized it as "staggering hypocrisy" and called Gensler "politically accountable" for undermining the integrity of the SEC's requirements.
On the same day, the SEC issued a new statement, expressing "deep regret" over some mistakes made by the Commission during enforcement proceedings. Paul Grewal, the Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, pointed out that the SEC's "regrets" about its mistakes do not negate the fact that its chairman is "intimidating the entire American industry." From a legal standpoint, these regrets hold no significance for any taxpayer or judge.

– Jan van Eck, the head of the eponymous company that also applied to launch a spot BTC-ETF, gave an interview to CNBC. "I cannot imagine any other asset overtaking bitcoin," he stated. Jan van Eck views the first cryptocurrency as the best means of saving and expects BTC to reach a record high in the next 12 months. "Bitcoin has 50 million users. It's an obvious asset that is growing right before our eyes," he declared. The head of VanEck also dismissed the idea that bitcoin is a "bubble." The businessman explained that an asset that consistently surpasses its previous highs in each upward trend simply cannot be considered "inflated."

– Bitcoin will end the year as one of the most profitable assets, largely due to the excitement surrounding applications for bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The leading cryptocurrency, having grown by more than 163%, outperformed traditional assets, only falling behind semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose stocks more than doubled amid the artificial intelligence wave.
Kaiko Research analysts believe that this year's bitcoin price dynamics can be divided into three phases: an early rally from cyclical lows, a mid-year pause, and a year-end rally, indicating the development of a new bull market.
Kaiko points out that bitcoin has long been regarded as a hedge against inflation, a digital alternative to gold, or a completely new asset. However, for most of its history, its price was significantly tied to macroeconomic conditions, the strength of the dollar, and stocks. This year marked a change when bitcoin began losing its correlation with stock indices, including the Nasdaq 100. The most rapid decoupling occurred recently, when the asset surpassed the $40,000 mark, the analysts note.

– According to the forecast of Brandon Zemp, CEO of the consulting firm BlockHash, 2024 will be a favorable year for bitcoin, the launch of cryptocurrency ETFs, and the adoption of regulations for crypto-assets.
Zemp, the author of "The Future Economy: A Crypto Insider’s Guide to the Tech Dismantling Traditional Banking," mentioned the collapse of the FTX exchange, the bankruptcy of crypto lenders, and the downfall of some stablecoins. He believes that the failure of crypto projects was facilitated by investors themselves, who bought colourful JPEG-format NFTs and trusted developers creating useless software.
"The good news is that cryptocurrencies are here to stay, and wrongdoers are constantly being pushed out of the market. A bullish trend is again on the horizon, and it may be more stable as bad players have been removed from the scene," the head of BlockHash declared. He expressed hope that in 2024, U.S. legislators will be able to bring regulatory clarity to the crypto market. "I would not like everything to be decided in courts. I am hopeful that next year a cryptocurrency bill will be passed. Otherwise, regulators will continue to sink their teeth into the industry, and cryptocurrencies will continue to resist," added Zemp.

– Analysts at the analytical company IntoTheBlock reported that hodlers hold a record number of bitcoins and Ethereum. IntoTheBlock classifies as hodlers those who have kept digital assets for at least a year. According to their data, as of December 24, hodlers owned 70% of the circulating bitcoins and 74% of Ethereum. The chart suggests that hodlers began accumulating coins as early as 2022. In such a market situation, a supply shock could occur. In this case, an increase in the value of digital assets would be inevitable, even with a constant level of demand.
IntoTheBlock experts also noted that this year Ethereum lags behind bitcoin in terms of price growth. Since January 1, BTC has increased in price by 163%, while ETH has risen only by 90%. Considering the increasing number of Ethereum blockchain users, analysts believe that in 2024, this altcoin will appreciate more than bitcoin.

– The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it has not changed its stance and continues to advocate for a complete ban on the use of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment and a tradable commodity. High-ranking government officials have indicated that the central bank sees no significant benefits in issuing licenses to cryptocurrency companies. According to central bank representatives, private cryptocurrencies threaten India's macroeconomic stability, violate the country's monetary sovereignty, expose consumers to risks, and facilitate illegal activities, including money laundering and financing terrorism. Officials assert that, at best, crypto assets should be viewed as gambling.
However, the RBI considers it prudent to launch its own digital currency, as a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) would be another tool to stimulate the rapid development of the digital economy. The Reserve Bank of India is confident that a digital rupee will provide consumer protection and serve as an alternative to private cryptocurrencies.

– Investor and bestselling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, made three key forecasts for 2024. His first prediction is based on the actions of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which are expected to introduce their own gold-backed cryptocurrency. This, he believes, will lead to the demise of the US dollar. According to Kiyosaki, bitcoin and precious metals may benefit from this, as investors shift their funds into these assets. "The US dollar will die. Trillions of dollars will return home. Inflation will skyrocket. Buy gold, silver. Next year bitcoin will shoot up to $120,000," Kiyosaki declared.
His second forecast suggests that traditional investors, who usually allocate 60% of their funds in bonds and 40% in stocks, will face significant losses in 2024. To safeguard themselves, he recommended reallocating 75% of their portfolio into gold, silver, and bitcoins, and investing the remaining 25% in real estate or oil stocks.
Finally, Kiyosaki's third and last prediction is a stark warning about the severity of the upcoming market crash. Rejecting the idea of a soft landing, he asserts that a crash landing is more likely, which could lead to a full-scale economic depression. 

– American venture capitalist Tim Draper has speculated that the value of bitcoin might significantly surpass the $250,000 mark in the upcoming year. He believes the route to widespread adoption of this premier cryptocurrency will be paved through stablecoins. Draper explained his confidence in bitcoin's potential, recalling his belief in the cryptocurrency even when it was valued at $4,000. He attributed the slower-than-expected growth of bitcoin to the apprehensions of a rigid U.S. government, acknowledging his underestimation of the United States' conservative stance.
Draper, an avid supporter of smart contracts, envisions a future where all financial dealings, including investments, payments, salary disbursements, and tax transactions, could be conducted in bitcoin. He anticipates that stablecoins will act as a critical transitional tool, facilitating bitcoin's mass acceptance. "Stablecoins will remain functional as long as the dollar retains its viability. However, as the dollar's influence wanes, I foresee a shift where people will gravitate towards bitcoin," Draper predicted.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States is expected to approve the first spot bitcoin ETFs around January 8-10. This opinion was expressed by Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart. In his view, the SEC has been strategically delaying applications for the instrument to approve most of them simultaneously, thereby not giving an advantage to any single issuer. This is why Seyffart is confident in the mass approval of requests in January. An additional argument in favour of approving bitcoin ETFs is Grayscale's court victory against the SEC in August. Seyffart stated that the Commission has been "cornered by the judges."

– The CEO of investment firm VanEck, Jan Van Eck, believes that the first cryptocurrency holds an advantage over other digital assets in its role as a store of value. In an interview with CNBC, he stated that bitcoin possesses unique properties that make it unmatched in the realm of internet finance and has already become a viable alternative to gold. Van Eck also dismissed the idea that bitcoin is a "bubble," arguing that an asset consistently surpassing its previous highs on each new upward trend cannot be considered "inflated."
According to the businessman, the coin is expected to reach a new all-time high within the next 12 months. Regarding the bitcoin ETFs for which 13 companies, including VanEck, have applied, he, like James Seyffart, speculated that the SEC will approve all ETFs simultaneously.

– Legendary trader and analyst Peter Brandt has identified a "rising wedge" technical pattern on the Ethereum price chart, traditionally seen as a precursor to a bearish trend reversal. According to this model, Brandt suggested that the price of the largest altcoin might decrease to $1,000 and possibly further to $650. He also revealed that he took a short position on this asset on December 15. Despite his forecast, Brandt stressed that price chart patterns are not infallible and may not always behave as predicted in theory.
Brandt previously expressed his view that Ethereum cannot rival Bitcoin as a store of value, questioning the rationale of holding ETH over BTC. He predicts that within ten years, the altcoin will no longer be traded on exchanges, citing the high transaction fees associated with ETH as a significant drawback.
(Background note: Brandt brings over four decades of experience in financial markets and is the creator of Factor Trading, a platform offering expert reports and asset price chart analysis.).

– Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy, has described the leading cryptocurrency as an asset capable of transforming investment strategies globally. He believes that "bitcoin will either fall to zero or soar to $1 million." If the first cryptocurrency continues to gain the trust of financial institutions, its price is likely to rise rapidly. Saylor highlighted bitcoin's unique advantages as a digital asset: its decentralized nature, limited supply of 21 million coins, and increasing adoption worldwide.
Saylor acknowledged that his "zero or million" forecast underscores the volatility inherent in the cryptocurrency market. He noted that most institutions currently underestimate bitcoin. If it is on the path to becoming a primary asset in institutional portfolios, the current level of investment in bitcoin is insufficient. However, an increasing number of institutions are beginning to shift their investment strategies, aiming to increase their bitcoin holdings in anticipation of long-term growth.

– Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and one of the early developers of bitcoin, compared the last few years to a biblical plague epidemic. He mentioned COVID-19, the quantitative easing of monetary policy by central banks, wars affecting the cost of electricity, and inflation leading to bankruptcies among individuals and companies.
Back observed that as 2023 comes to an end, the impacts of many of these events have subsided. "The bankruptcies of companies related to Three Arrows Capital, Celsius, BlockFi, and FTX... all of that is largely over. I don’t think we're in for many more big surprises," he stated. Back anticipates that 2024 will be a year of recovery for bitcoin, as the cryptocurrency is expected to react to the upcoming halving in April, potentially reaching a price of $100,000 even before the event.

– The shocking payment of a $4.3 billion fine imposed by the U.S. Department of Justice on the major cryptocurrency exchange Binance last month was not the end of its troubles. Two more cases have been opened against the platform.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) of the U.S. accused Changpeng Zhao (commonly known as CZ) and Binance itself of illegal operations in the country. In this proceeding, the exchange agreed to pay another substantial fine of $2.7 billion, while former CEO CZ personally will have to pay $150 million. As a result, Binance has already been penalized by American authorities to the staggering amount of $7 billion. However, there's still a conflict to be resolved with the SEC, and it's unlikely that the amounts involved in this case will be smaller than those with the CFTC and the Department of Justice.

– In early December, Binance conducted a survey involving users from the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. U.S. citizens were understandably not surveyed. The survey found that 45% of the exchange's users consider cryptocurrencies a means of earning additional income. Over a third of the respondents (36%) engage in cryptocurrency transactions weekly. Of these, 58% use cryptocurrencies for online purchases, 12% for international transactions and money transfers, and another 12% pay for in-store purchases with cryptocurrencies. 59% of the respondents have been involved in cryptocurrencies for 1 to 5 years, 14% have been in the market for over five years, and only 12% have been dealing with crypto assets for less than six months.
Survey participants also shared the positive impact of cryptocurrencies on their lives. A majority of them – 76% – are confident that cryptocurrencies can provide financial equality in society.

– Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has warned that deepfakes pose a serious and real threat to the crypto community. He cited an example of a YouTube video created using artificial intelligence, where a pseudo-Hoskinson discusses an upcoming giveaway in ADA. The AI skilfully replicates the real Hoskinson's intonations and speech manner, giving the impression of a live broadcast.
Cybersecurity experts say that deepfake technology has advanced to the point where it can be used online, allowing fraudsters to mimic someone's voice, image, and movements during a conversation or virtual meeting. They point out that this technology is widely available, relatively easy to use, and continually improving.
For reference: ADA is the native cryptocurrency of Cardano, named after Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century English mathematician recognized as one of the first computer programmers. She is particularly known for her work in 1842 on a computational machine.

– Chainalysis analysts have identified at least 1,013 addresses involved in targeted phishing scams. Phishing is a type of fraud where criminals send emails or SMS messages asking the recipient to click on a link or log into their account. Perpetrators often impersonate representatives of exchanges or digital wallets. In 2022, victims of phishing lost approximately $517 million, while in 2023, thefts totalling around $375 million have been recorded so far. The record for a single phishing incident is a theft of $44 million.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– On the morning of December 11, bitcoin fell sharply to $40,145. This abrupt decline lasted no more than five minutes. Multiple theories explain this event. One suggests that strong U.S. job market data released on December 8 triggered the drop. Alternatively, it could have been a result of someone's nerves giving way, a technical glitch, or a trading error in transaction size by a platform, trading robot, or trader, which led to cascade stop-loss execution in futures trading. Coinglass data indicates that over 24 hours, long positions amounting to more than $400 million were liquidated, including $85.5 million in bitcoin.
Since mid-August, the growth has been about 85%, and more than 160% since the start of the year. Thus, some analysts believe that a major player might have decided to secure profits ahead of the year's end. Two days before this event, the head of DecenTrader, known as FibFilb, warned, "We have grown significantly this year, and a correction is expected. […] It's been overdue," he declared on December 9. 

– Trader and analyst Michael Van De Poppe, founder of Eight, encouraged the community not to worry, noting that corrections, particularly deep ones, are common in the illiquid altcoin market. After recent events, he updated his bitcoin forecast, identifying the key support zone at $36,500-$38,000. He believes bitcoin's momentum is waning and anticipates Ethereum will outperform in the upcoming quarter.
Crypto expert William Clemente also isn't concerned about the bitcoin price drop, viewing it as inevitable. He argues that such corrections set the stage for the next bullish trend by eliminating overleveraged long positions.

– EQI Bank's director, Eli Taranto, agrees with Van De Poppe's prediction and also foresees a decline in bitcoin's value. He noted that as traders secure profits and await decisions on ETF applications, bitcoin's price will continue to fluctuate, subject to the butterfly effect, where minor influences can have significant and unpredictable consequences. Taranto specifically suggested a potential fall in BTC's price to $39,000.

– In early December, El Salvador launched a program offering residency and a chance for citizenship for a $1 million investment via bitcoin or USDT. The "Salvadoran Freedom Visa," in partnership with Tether, is limited to 1,000 participants. If fully subscribed, it will bring $1 billion into the country, with plans to expand the program further.
El Salvador's offer is notably more expensive than similar programs in nearby Caribbean countries like Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Lucia, which start at $100,000. Alistair Milne, founder of Altana Digital Currency hedge fund, criticized the program as uncompetitive, highlighting that some EU countries offer citizenship for less, like Malta's €750,000 (~$810,000) option.
However, early interest is evident, as 153 individuals have already applied for the Salvadoran program despite Milne's scepticism.

– CryptoQuant experts suggest the possibility of bitcoin breaking the $50,000 mark in early 2024, as reported by The Block. This forecast is based on analysing the activity of digital gold holders and includes transaction volume dynamics, market capitalization, and Metcalfe's law in the context of cryptocurrencies. "Bitcoin could aim for the [$50,000-$53,000] range," the experts noted. However, CryptoQuant believes the market is nearing an "overheated bullish phase," historically followed by pauses and corrections. They highlighted that over 88% of coin supply is "in profit," indicating potential seller pressure and likely short-term corrections, often aligning with local peaks historically.

– The ongoing discussion revolves around a law proposed by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren to tighten control over cryptocurrency transactions. In December 2022, Warren suggested equating crypto companies with financial institutions regulated under the Bank Secrecy Act, requiring digital asset entities to adhere to the same requirements as banks. Her drafted "Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act" mandates customer identification for crypto platforms. However, Alex Thorn of Galaxy Research argues this is impractical for decentralized platforms lacking user verification capabilities, potentially leading to an effective ban on bitcoin in the U.S. Neeraj Agrawal, CEO of Coin Center, criticizes the bill as an attack on technological progress and privacy, urging it not to proceed in the Senate. Many experts believe the bill has little chance of passing; during her 11-year career, only a small fraction of Warren's 330 drafted bills have been enacted, mostly as parts of other laws, with only one passing unchanged – a minor law concerning flag display rules on U.S. federal property.

¬– The governments of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan have started developing joint measures to combat North Korean hackers who attack cryptocurrency projects. These hackers use the stolen funds to finance weapons of mass destruction programs, including nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles, with damages amounting to billions of dollars. The largest incident in the industry's history was the $625 million hack of the Ronin sidechain of Axie Infinity by the Lazarus group. Additionally, the U.S. is investigating cryptocurrency use by terrorists, with calls in the Senate to hold companies like Binance and Tether accountable for facilitating transfers to illegal groups. Subsequently, Tether voluntarily froze all wallets on the sanction list.

– The $4.3 billion fine did not resolve Binance's issues. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to accuse Binance of illegal securities trading and other violations. U.S. Department of Justice officials intend to thoroughly scrutinize the trading platform's activities for compliance with legal norms. Binance is required to grant continuous access to its documents and records, including employee, agent, intermediary, consultant, partner, contractor, and trader information, to the Department of Justice, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and other financial regulators and law enforcement agencies. John Reed Stark, former head of the SEC, mockingly referred to this scrutiny as a "financial colonoscopy."

– Goldman Sachs investment banking experts released a report on the global economy, including the cryptocurrency market. They predict bitcoin prices may soon rise, driven by anticipated approvals of spot BTC-ETFs, the upcoming halving of mining rewards, and falling yields of U.S. 10-year treasury bonds. Importantly, in 2024, when the Federal Reserve begins a cycle of lowering interest rates, bitcoin could receive an additional bullish boost. The analysts explain that lower interest rates make borrowing cheaper, thereby encouraging risk-taking in both the economy and financial markets, including in the cryptocurrency sector. This outlook contrasts with the scenario of rapid rate increases seen in 2022.

– Analyst using the pseudonym Doctor Profit has thoroughly analysed bitcoin's growth cycles. In his view, digital gold goes through five key phases that illustrate the overall dynamics of the cryptocurrency market. Doctor Profit believes that the foundation of the new bull market was laid in the price range of $16,000 to $25,000. According to the analyst, at this stage, investor sentiment is changing, laying the groundwork for an upcoming upward trend, and the market is gradually preparing for dynamic changes.
The next phase covers the range from $25,000 to $38,500: this marks a period of market recovery. Bitcoin holders' activity and optimism are on the rise, paving the way for subsequent stages. As the market gains momentum, BTC enters the third phase, with its price fluctuating between $38,500 and $48,000. This trend is significant in shaping expectations for the future, as investors seek to capitalize on dynamic price changes, and the crypto market enters a period of increased activity.
According to Doctor Profit's analysis, the fourth, "golden" phase will commence within the price range of $48,000 to $69,000. It is at this stage that the market surges to its peak values, and investor euphoria reaches its zenith. Finally, the fifth phase arrives. The peak of the previous bull market, around $69,000, heralds the beginning of bitcoin's super-cycle, during which the price of the leading cryptocurrency will reach historic highs.
However, despite all the optimism, Doctor Profit cautions that before transitioning to the next phase, a significant correction of 20-30% awaits the leading cryptocurrency.

– Thirteen years ago, on December 12, 2010, the creator of the first cryptocurrency under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published his final post on the forum before disappearing from the public eye. The message gave no hint of the departure of this enigmatic figure (or figures). It contained a description of an update and code for elements of Denial-of-Service (DoS) control in protocol version 0.3.19. This was a time when digital gold was trading at $0.20, and as Satoshi himself and other users noted, the network "was not at all resistant to DoS attacks."
In the time leading up to his disappearance, Satoshi faced disagreements within the developer community, which escalated from forum discussions. He was often criticized for exerting excessive control over the project and making unilateral decisions. Apparently, the founder of the blockchain had planned to leave the team in advance. Therefore, before disappearing, he handed control of the protocol over to the community, with developer Gavin Andresen at the helm. (For reference: Gavin Andresen is currently the Chief Scientist of the Bitcoin Foundation. He has access to an alert key that allows him to broadcast messages about critical network issues to all clients.)
"Satoshi's contribution to decentralization and his fight against financial dictatorship are more than just a technological marvel. It is a movement for economic freedom and sovereignty. His disappearance is not just an act of self-preservation but also a reminder that not everything in life revolves around personal fame," wrote one of the users on the BitcoinTalk forum, remembering the last post of the creator of the first cryptocurrency.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– On the night of December 5 to 6, the flagship cryptocurrency reached a peak of $44,464. The last time BTC traded above $40,000 was in April 2022, before the collapse of the Terra ecosystem triggered a massive crypto market downturn. The current positive sentiments in the market are linked to the potential approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart stated that the approval of these fund launches is likely to occur between January 5 and 10. Among other reasons for the rise in BTC are the increasing network hash rate and investor optimism regarding the recovery of the U.S. economy. Investor hopes are also fuelled by upcoming changes in crypto industry regulations.

– Bitcoin's price is expected to surpass the $100,000 level even before the upcoming halving in April 2024, according to Blockstream CEO Adam Back. The cryptocurrency industry veteran noted that his forecast does not take into account a potential bullish impulse in the event of the SEC approving spot Bitcoin ETFs. Regarding the long-term movement of digital gold quotes, the entrepreneur agreed with the opinion of BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, who predicts a range of $750,000 to $1 million by 2026.
For reference: Adam Back is a British businessman, a cryptography expert, and a cypherpunk. It is known that Back corresponded with Satoshi Nakamoto, and a reference to his publication is included in the description of the bitcoin system. Adam Back, who had not previously made public price forecasts for BTC, garnered significant attention from many members of the crypto community due to these statements.

– Ledger's CEO Pascal Gauthier, Lightspark's Chief Marcus David, and CoinDCX's top executive Vijay Ayyar also anticipate the bitcoin price to reach $100,000 in 2024. They shared this outlook in an interview with CNBC. "It seems that 2023 was a year of preparation for the upcoming growth. The sentiments towards 2024 and 2025 are very promising," stated Pascal Gauthier.
"A number of market participants expect bullish growth sometime after the halving, but considering the news about ETFs, we could very well start seeing growth before that," believes Vijay Ayyar. However, in his opinion, a "complete rejection of ETF could disrupt this process," and this is something that should always be kept in mind.

– Cardano's leader, Charles Hoskinson, ridiculed CoinDesk's annual list of "Most Influential Personalities in the World of Cryptocurrency." According to Hoskinson's calculations, "appearing on Coindesk's most influential list carries an 18 percent chance of a prison sentence." Since Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has topped this list four times, he has a very high chance of ending up behind bars.
Previously, leaders of crypto projects who now face legal issues were included in this prestigious list. This includes the founder of the collapsed Terra project, Do Kwon, and the former CEO of the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried. According to observations by Hoskinson and other prominent figures who appeared on the CoinDesk list multiple times, they have encountered legal problems.
Some members of the crypto community responded to Cardano's leader, suggesting that he might be envied for not being on this list. It's worth noting that last year, Hoskinson expressed displeasure with CoinDesk for not including him in the top 100 most influential figures in the cryptocurrency industry and for not mentioning him in surveys over the eight years.

– Jim Lee, Chief of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS), has stated that investigations related to cryptocurrency occupy more than 50% of the agency's working hours. While almost 90% of cases were related to money laundering three years ago, last year, over half of various tax violations were related to failure to report income from capital gains in cryptocurrency or mining, as well as concealing ownership of crypto assets.
"The desire to evade cryptocurrency taxes spans a wide range of taxpayers, from individuals to various levels of corporate institutions intentionally not disclosing their cryptocurrency income. Therefore, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division is forced to initiate an increasing number of cases of tax crimes involving crypto assets every year," lamented the official.
Jim Lee reminded that cryptocurrency is subject to taxation, and failure to pay or report accurate information about crypto income to the authorities can result in both penalty sanctions and imprisonment for up to five years.

– According to the well-known bitcoin maximalist Max Keiser, bitcoin may soon surpass the $150,000 mark and continue to rise. Keiser shared that, according to unconfirmed rumours, the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Qatar is preparing to enter the crypto market with massive investments, intending to allocate up to $500 billion into the leading cryptocurrency. "This will be a seismic shift in the cryptocurrency landscape," believes Keiser.
He noted that, in his observations, many major financial institutions such as BlackRock, Fidelity, Ameritrade, Bakkt, JP Morgan, and others are gearing up to launch crypto products. These products could potentially encourage institutional investors, including hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, to invest in digital assets.

– Not all influencers are confident in the optimistic prospects of BTC's value growth and strongly recommend exercising maximum caution when it comes to cryptocurrency investments. For instance, one of the prominent public crypto sceptics and advocate for physical gold, Peter Schiff, is certain that the speculative frenzy surrounding bitcoin ETFs will soon come to an end, and the collapse of bitcoin will be more impressive than its recent rallies.

– Renowned analyst Ali Martinez believes that if Ethereum closes above $2,150 for the week, this altcoin could pave the way for an upward movement with a target level of $2,600, and possibly even up to $3,500. These targets are determined by Martinez based on the analysis of graphic patterns.
Martinez also notes that approximately 5.85 million crypto wallets hold 43.8 million ETH acquired at prices ranging from $1,900 to $2,100. Therefore, this range could become a "significant support level for years to come."

– Military forces should prioritize the study of the underlying algorithm of bitcoin, Proof-of-Work (PoW), to ensure the defense capability of the country, according to U.S. Space Force Major and author of the book "Softwar," Jason Lowery. In an open letter to the Defense Innovation Board of the U.S. Department of Defense, he highlighted that the issue holds "national strategic significance." According to him, the blockchain of the first cryptocurrency is not only a "monetary system" but also provides the foundation for securing "all forms of data, messages, or command signals."

– Bloomberg Intelligence's Senior Macro Strategist, Mike McGlone, asserts that currently, bitcoin exhibits much greater strength than gold. The expert noted that on December 4th, the price of gold reached a record high, fuelled by investors' expectations of a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Subsequently, gold declined by 5.1%, while bitcoin continued to rise, surpassing $44,000.
However, the analyst cautioned that bitcoin's volatility may hinder its ability to trade reliably, similar to physical gold, during periods of "risk aversion." According to McGlone, for bitcoin to compete with the precious metal as an alternative asset, it must establish key reliability indicators. These include achieving a negative correlation of BTC with the stock market and attaining a high deficit during periods of money supply growth.

– Alejandro Cao de Benos was detained at the Madrid railway station. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in April 2019, Benos demonstrated to North Korean officials how a state could use cutting-edge technologies for money laundering and evading international sanctions. Before his arrest, the Spaniard had been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) most-wanted list for over a year, hiding in Barcelona under a fictitious name.
As a supporter of the North Korean regime, in 2000, Benos founded the Korea Friendship Association and appeared in documentaries about North Korea. The U.S. Department of Justice claims that Benos began planning a blockchain conference in North Korea in 2018. Among its participants was former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith, who was also arrested for involvement in the event. In 2022, Griffith was sentenced to five years in prison.
On Friday, December 1, Benos appeared before the High Court of Spain. He refuted the charges brought by the U.S. prosecution, deeming them false. The man faces up to 20 years of imprisonment in a U.S. prison, but extradition proceedings have not yet begun.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– The share of bitcoins potentially yielding profit has reached 83.7% of the total supply. This is the highest figure since November 2021, according to a report from Bitfinex analysts. Meanwhile, market activity is low. Experts have noted that coin owners are reluctant to sell, and buyers are not actively seeking them. "One reason for this is that the actual size of unrealized profits remains modest," added Bitfinex.
According to analysts, the ratio between short-term and long-term holders of digital gold is shifting in favor of the latter. The active supply of bitcoin has fallen to a five-year minimum: only 30% of coins have moved in the past year. Accordingly, approximately 70% of bitcoins, or "unprecedented" 16.3 million BTC, remained inactive throughout the year. At the same time, 60% of coins have remained motionless for two years. According to Bitfinex specialists, these indicators signify that the market is "in a relatively strong position" as coin owners see a positive return on their investments and are not in a hurry to liquidate assets.

–  As a result of the resolution of the U.S. authorities' claims against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao, bitcoin is now poised to exceed $40,000 by the end of the year, according to statements from Matrixport. Various estimates suggested that Binance could face fines of up to $10 billion, with allegations of illegal misappropriation of user funds or market manipulation. However, on November 21, an agreement was reached, with the company agreeing to pay $4.3 billion to U.S. authorities. Changpeng Zhao stepped down as CEO and posted a bail of $175 million to remain free. This outcome is considered by Matrixport experts as a "turning point in the crypto industry," indicating that Binance will likely retain its position among the largest crypto exchanges for at least the next two to three years.
In light of this news, Bitcoin initially experienced a temporary correction but then rebounded from $36,000. This confirmed a strong trend, and according to Matrixport experts, a rise above $40,000 in December appears "inevitable." However, they assess the probability of this "inevitable" outcome not at 100%, but at 90%. 

– During a speech before students in Frankfurt, Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank, shared that despite "numerous warnings," her son invested in cryptocurrencies. However, the investments turned out to be unsuccessful, and he lost approximately 60% of the invested funds. Nevertheless, according to the head of the ECB, the investment amount was not very significant.
"He ignored my recommendations. Of course, it's his right. But when we talked about it next time, he admitted that I was right. I have a very negative attitude towards cryptocurrencies. People can invest in anything and speculate on anything. But they don't need to enable participation in various criminal and sanction-evading schemes and businesses," concluded Ms. Lagarde.

– The TRON (TRX) blockchain, created by the head of the cryptocurrency exchange HTX and Poloniex, Justin Sun, has reportedly surpassed bitcoin in popularity among terrorists, according to experts interviewed by Reuters. They claim that this is due to the higher transaction speed and lower cost of transactions. The TRON company stated that they do not control the users of the blockchain, adding that theoretically, any technology can be used for criminal activities.
Reuters-analysed experts also stated that the dominant asset in the TRON network is the stablecoin USDT from the company Tether. Tether has previously faced accusations of aiding fundraising for terrorists from US legislators. The company has denied these allegations, emphasizing its active participation in freezing suspicious funds, including in collaboration with Israeli authorities. It's worth noting that the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing in Israel froze 143 wallets on the TRON blockchain from July 2021 to October 2023.
However, journalists point out the difficulties in accurately assessing the amounts collected by terrorists in cryptocurrencies, and it is challenging to determine whether the assets in the frozen wallets were indeed intended for such groups.

– Specialists from the analytical company Santiment have noted an increase in the correlation between the cryptocurrency and stock markets. In November, bitcoin, Ethereum, and the S&P 500 index, on average, grew by 9.2%. The strengthening correlation was observed after bitcoin traded in a narrow price range in late October to early November, showing no significant fluctuations. According to historical data, if bitcoin continues to outpace stocks, it will once again disrupt the correlation, which is considered one of the factors for the formation of a bullish crypto market, according to Santiment.
On November 24, the price of the leading cryptocurrency reached $38,300 for the first time since May of the previous year, prompting bitcoin traders to start taking profits. This is indicated by the slowing growth of the number of wallets with a positive balance. From November 23 to 27, the indicator increased by only 0.25%, reaching 50.91 million wallets. 

– The trader, analyst, and founder of the venture company Eight, Michael van de Poppe, predicts that a few weeks before the approval of the first spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the coin's price may rise to $48,000. The expert anticipates that the bitcoin ETF will be approved by the SEC in the next five to six weeks. Consequently, the price of BTC could increase in December as investors seek to profit from the potential rally.
However, after approval, the price of the leading cryptocurrency may experience a sharp decline. The potential retracement target is the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA), currently around $26,500. Van de Poppe suggests that this downward trend may persist even after the upcoming halving. The analyst suspects that it is during this period that traders will actively accumulate coins, triggering the next bullish rise with a target ranging from $300,000 to $400,000.

– Strategists at Standard Chartered Bank believe that BTC could reach $50,000 this year and $120,000 by the end of 2024. The bank's initial forecast hinted at a potential surge to $100,000 but was later revised upward. The price of $120,000 is nearly three times the current value. The optimism from Standard Chartered's experts is linked to the increased profitability of mining when selling a smaller quantity of tokens to maintain the same cash flow volume, ultimately leading to price growth.

– The term "Bitcoin Santa Rally" is gaining popularity on social media platforms, fuelled by the impressive growth of the leading cryptocurrency by approximately 10% in November and 130% since the beginning of the year. This phenomenon echoes the historical "Santa Claus Rally" in the stock market when stocks surge between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In the crypto market, a similar rally first occurred in late November 2013 when the price of bitcoin was less than $1,000. Throughout December, the bitcoin price consistently rose, reaching a peak of $1,147 by December 23. The next significant surge happened during the holiday season in 2017. Bitcoin embarked on a steep upward trajectory, surpassing $19,000 by mid-December and touching $20,000 for the first time.
However, in 2021, Santa Claus didn't bring joy to crypto traders; the result was the opposite. On November 10, the asset reached an all-time high, approaching $69,000, but in December, the price was influenced by volatility and low trading volumes during the holiday season. By the end of the year, bitcoin was trading around $46,000.
Naturally, this year, members of the crypto community are hopeful for bitcoin's growth, as indicated by Google Trends data.

– Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano (ADA), criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for not classifying bitcoin as a security, thereby granting it "complete freedom of action," unlike other cryptocurrencies. According to Hoskinson, BTC is not as decentralized as the SEC believes: more than 51% of the hashing power can be controlled simply by taking the three largest mining pools to court.
In response, Blockstream CEO Adam Back explained to Hoskinson that the main reason is that bitcoin did not conduct an initial coin offering (ICO). "Bitcoin did not conduct an ICO. Most people thought it had no value. It was mined from scratch, it is decentralized, the project has no CEO. ICOs are what led regulators to demand registration from crypto companies. So ADA, Ethereum, and other crypto assets are considered securities under the Howey Test. And bitcoin is considered a commodity," stated Adam Back.
Hoskinson countered by stating that Cardano also did not conduct an ICO. According to him, the project simply distributed coins, and then thousands of people, who had never met before, began trading ADA on crypto exchanges and using the Cardano blockchain for their projects.

– The National Police Agency of South Korea has issued a warning about an increase in activity from North Korean hackers. Experts noted that the criminals are resorting to new sophisticated schemes, often posing as government officials and well-known journalists.
In 2023, North Korean hacking activity has shown a significant escalation in both scale and aggression. Unlike the previous year, where the primary focus was on the spread of ransomware programs, this year there is a shift towards more aggressive phishing attacks. In 2023, South Korean authorities halted the operations of more than 40 fictitious websites associated with cybercriminals. 

– Dan Tapiero, Managing Partner and CEO of 10T Holdings, is confident in the inevitable increase in the value of the world's first cryptocurrency. The businessman believes that bitcoin is becoming an increasingly attractive means of savings. "There are many things, such as real estate, that people often invest in. Art, paintings... And bitcoin really can become part of such asset lists."
According to Tapiero, the "next bull trend will come in 2025. And we will see bitcoin surpass $100,000." "I think that's a pretty conservative estimate," he added. The expert believes that negative interest rates on U.S. Treasury bonds will serve as a special "mega-bull signal" for BTC.

– Former CEO of the crypto exchange BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, intends to withdraw funds invested in U.S. Treasury bonds and put them into cryptocurrency before the "Chinese printing press starts its monetary intervention."
According to his forecast, China will significantly increase its investment volumes in external markets. This monetary and credit expansion, combined with the weakening of the U.S. dollar, has the potential to benefit the cryptocurrency market. "Such a scenario will have a positive impact on the value of many risky assets, including cryptocurrencies. The interchangeable nature of global fiat credit implies that capital from China may permeate adjacent financial markets and contribute to the increase in the value of digital assets such as bitcoin," explains the co-founder of BitMEX.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– The largest crypto exchange, Binance, has announced that it has reached a global agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in connection with their investigations into issues related to registration, compliance, and violations of anti-Russian sanctions.
As part of the agreement, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepped down from the position of CEO of the exchange as of November 21, 2023. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Binance will pay regulators and law enforcement authorities substantial amounts (approximately $7 billion) in fines and compensations to resolve charges and claims against them.
In addition to the financial settlement, Binance has agreed to completely withdraw from U.S. markets and will "adhere to a set of stringent sanctions compliance commitments." Furthermore, the exchange will be under the five-year observation of the U.S. Tresrey service with open access to its financial records, records, and systems.
While such a significant fine will heavily impact the company, experts view this decision unequivocally positively, considering the exchange's leading role. Representatives of Binance also stated their firm belief in both the crypto industry and the bright future of their company.

– Bittrex Global, another crypto exchange based in Liechtenstein, will cease all operations and halt trading on December 4th. The exchange's management strongly advises all customers to log into their accounts and withdraw their assets as soon as possible. Bittrex Global has already frozen its referral program and halted advertising campaigns.

– Scammers recently conducted another fake cryptocurrency giveaway impersonating Elon Musk. The campaign included live video streams on YouTube featuring a deepfake of Musk. The individual in the video spoke with a generated voice. Participants were initially required to send cryptocurrency to specified addresses to take part in the giveaway. They were promised to receive the cryptocurrency back to their wallets, but with a 200% bonus. According to experts from BitOK, even several well-known news outlets fell into the trap, sharing links to the fake broadcasts.

– Javier Milei, a libertarian and implicit supporter of bitcoin, emerged victorious in the second round of the presidential elections in Argentina. He will assume the presidency of the country on December 10.
Due to the economic crisis, the Argentine peso is rapidly depreciating, with inflation exceeding 140% over the last 12 months. Milei blames the central bank for the troubles affecting the state's residents, branding the agency's employees as fraudsters. He believes they devised a mechanism to deceive citizens through an inflation tax.
During the electoral campaign, Javier adeptly manipulated his positive statements about bitcoin, stating that, thanks to this cryptocurrency, "money will return to its creator – the private sector of the economy." However, the new head of Argentina has not yet declared his intention to recognize bitcoin as legal tender, following the example of President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. Furthermore, he has advocated for a dollarization policy, entailing the replacement of the Argentine peso with the US dollar. 

– Can we expect a new significant downward correction from bitcoin? According to the well-known analyst Willy Woo, this is unlikely. He examined blockchain data reflecting the average purchase price of BTC by investors, based on which he concluded that the main cryptocurrency probably won't fall below $30,000 again.
Woo shared with readers a chart showing a dense gray band, indicating the price around which a significant portion of the bitcoin supply fluctuated at that time. According to Woo, this reflects "strong consensus value." The analyst claims that since the creation of bitcoin, this band has acted as reliable price support. Woo's chart shows that such bands have formed eight times throughout the entire existence of bitcoin and have always supported its price.
However, not everyone trusts Woo's calculations. For instance, an analyst using the pseudonym TXMC reminded that in 2021, Woo made a similar forecast, stating that bitcoin would never drop below $40,000. Yet, the following year saw precisely that happening.

– According to the calculations of several experts, the fundamental indicators of the cryptocurrency have never looked better. For instance, 70% of the existing supply of BTC has not moved from one wallet to another during this year, marking a record in bitcoin's history. Such withdrawal rates are extraordinary for a financial asset, as summarized by a group of analysts led by Gautam Chhugani.
Another positive factor is the upcoming halving, which could reduce the monthly selling pressure from miners from $1 billion to $500 million (at today's BTC rate of $37,000).
Additionally, the potential approval of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. is seen as a positive catalyst. This approval would facilitate large investors' access to the cryptocurrency. According to experts from Bernstein, against this backdrop, the price of the leading cryptocurrency could rise to $150,000 by the beginning of 2025.

– Apple users have filed a collective lawsuit against the tech giant, accusing it of unfair competition due to restrictions on cryptocurrency payments. The document filed in the California district court claims that Apple entered into a "secret agreement" with Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App to limit users' use of decentralized cryptocurrency technology in payment applications.
The plaintiffs also allege that Apple employs "technological and contractual restrictions," including hardware exclusivity in the App Store and "constraints on web browser technology," to "exercise unlimited control over each application installed and launched on iPhone and iPad." As a result, users are forced to pay higher trading commissions.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Apple has faced such lawsuits. The court ruling in the Epic Games lawsuit against Apple stated in April 2023 that software providers in the App Store are allowed to offer alternative payment options to avoid high commissions.

– Experts from the analytical company Glassnode highlight a continuous outflow of BTC coins from exchanges. The overall supply of the primary cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly scarce, and the circulating supply is currently at a historical minimum.
In a recent report by Glassnode, it is stated that 83.6% of all circulating bitcoins were acquired by current owners at a lower cost than the current market value. If this metric surpasses the 90% mark, it could indicate the beginning of the euphoria stage, where almost all market participants have unrealized profits.
According to analysts, statistically, these figures can help determine the current stage of the market. For instance, when less than 58% of all BTC coins are profitable, the market is considered to be in the bottom formation stage. Once the metric surpasses the 58% mark, the market transitions to the recovery stage, and above 90%, it enters the euphoria stage.
Glassnode believes that over the past ten months, the market has been in the second of these three stages, recovering from a series of negative events in 2022, such as the collapse of the Luna project and the bankruptcy of the FTX crypto exchange.
 

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Forex and Cryptocurrencies Forecast for November 20 - 24, 2023

EUR/USD: November 14 - a Dark Day for the Dollar


In the previous review, the overwhelming majority of experts expressed opinions favouring further weakening of the American currency. This prediction came to fruition. The Consumer Inflation report in the United States, published on Tuesday, November 14, toppled the Dollar Index (DXY) from 105.75 to 103.84. According to Bank of America, this marked the most significant dollar sell-off since the beginning of the year. Naturally, this had an impact, including on the dynamics of EUR/USD, which marked this day with an impressive bullish candle, rising nearly 200 points.

It is noteworthy that exactly a year ago, after the release of data on October inflation, U.S. bond yields plummeted, stock indices soared, and the dollar significantly declined against major world currencies. And history repeated itself. This time, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the U.S. for October decreased from 0.4% to 0% (m/m), and on an annual basis, it dropped from 3.7% to 3.2%. The Core CPI for the same period decreased from 4.1% to 4.0%: the lowest level since September 2021.

In reality, a 0.1% drop in inflation is not that significant. However, the market's strong reaction demonstrated how overbought the dollar was. As analysts at ING (Internationale Nederlanden Groep) write, a powerful bullish trend in Q3 this year led to a 4.9% increase in the dollar. Keeping the dollar strong was easy due to the high interest rates and increased yields of U.S. Treasury bonds.

But everything comes to an end at some point. The data released on November 14 confirmed the weakening of inflationary pressure and convinced the market that the Federal Reserve (FRS) would no longer raise the key interest rate. Moreover, market participants now do not rule out that the regulator may shift to easing its monetary policy not in the middle of next summer but as early as the spring of the following year. ING economists believe that the onset of a recession in the U.S. will compel the FRS to cut the rate by 150 basis points in Q2 2024. According to MUFG Bank, the probability of a rate cut in May 2024 is now 80%, in March – 30%. Such a reduction will halt the dollar's bullish rally, support so-called commodity currencies, and, as MUFG believes, EUR/USD could reach the height of 1.1500 over the next year.

As for the near-term outlook, according to Societe Generale economists, regardless of the outcomes of the Federal Reserve meeting on December 13 and the ECB on December 14, seasonal trends for the euro in the last month of 2023 are bullish. However, the dollar may be supported by weak growth rates in the Eurozone. Germany's economy is in a state of stagnation, preliminary GDP data for the Eurozone showed a decline of -0.1% in Q3, and the European Commission lowered the economic growth forecast for 2023 from 0.8% to 0.6%. Therefore, the euro may also come under pressure from speculation about a cut in the ECB interest rate.

EUR/USD finished the past week at the level of 1.0913. Currently, experts' opinions on its immediate future are divided as follows: 60% voted for the strengthening of the dollar, 25% sided with the euro, and 15% remained neutral. As for technical analysis, 100% of trend indicators and oscillators on D1 are coloured green, but 25% of the latter are in overbought territory. The nearest support for the pair is located around 1.0830, then 1.0740, 1.0620-1.0640, 1.0480-1.0520, 1.0450, 1.0375, 1.0200-1.0255, 1.0130, 1.0000. Bulls will encounter resistance in the area, then 1.0945-1.0975 and 1.1065-1.1090, 1.1150, 1.1260-1.1275.

 Next week, on Wednesday, November 22, the minutes of the last meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will be published. On Thursday, November 23, preliminary data on business activity (PMI) in Germany and the Eurozone will be released, and the following day will bring similar indicators from the U.S. Additionally, traders should take into account that on Friday in the United States, markets will close early as the country observes Thanksgiving Day.

GBP/USD: Surprise from UK CPI

The strengthening of the pound on U.S. inflation data turned out to be even greater than that of the euro. On November 14, GBP/USD rose by 240 points, from 1.2265 to 1.2505. This is good news for the British currency. However, there is also bad news: inflation in the United Kingdom is on the decline.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in October decreased from 0.5% to 0% (m/m) and fell from 6.7% to 4.6% on an annual basis. The Core CPI for the same period decreased from 6.1% to 5.7%. All these figures turned out to be below expectations and were a surprise not only for the market but also for British officials.

Megan Greene, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, stated in an interview with Bloomberg TV on November 16 that despite the current decline in inflation, wage growth in the UK remains incredibly high, and labour productivity is low. These two factors complicate the movement toward the target CPI level of 2.0% and make one wonder whether the Bank of England's policy is restrictive enough. According to Megan Greene, BoE might have to stick to a restrictive policy longer than anticipated.

If inflation does not bring new surprises, it is unlikely that the Bank of England will continue to raise interest rates in the coming months. But even if it continues to keep it at the current level of 5.25%, while the Federal Reserve starts lowering rates, it will benefit the pound. However, at the moment, making any forecasts is quite challenging.

"We remain cautious for now," write economists at German Commerzbank. "One surprise does not mean everything is settled. And given the remarkable instability of inflation in the UK, there is a risk that the return to the target inflation level will be uneven. Wage data released on Tuesday also confirms this view. At the moment, the Bank of England can breathe a sigh of relief, but caution is still necessary."

GBP/USD ended the past week at the level of 1.2462. As for the median forecast of analysts for the near future, here their voices were divided equally: a third of them pointed north, a third to the south, and a third to the east. For D1 trend indicators, 90% point north, 10% to the south. All 100% of oscillators are looking up, with 15% of them signalling overbought conditions. In the event of the pair moving south, it will encounter support levels and zones at 1.2390-1.2420, 1.2330, 1.2210, 1.2040-1.2085, 1.1960, and 1.1800-1.1840, 1.1720, 1.1595-1.1625, 1.1450-1.1475. In the case of the pair rising, it will face resistance at levels 1.2500-1.2510, then 1.2545-1.2575, 1.2690-1.2710, 1.2785-1.2820, 1.2940, and 1.3140.

Events of the upcoming week in the calendar include a speech by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on Tuesday, November 21. The following day will see the release of the Inflation Report and discussion of the country's budget, and on Thursday, November 23, preliminary data on business activity (PMI) in various sectors of the UK economy will be released.

USD/JPY: U.S. Treasuries Expected to Rescue the Yen

On November 13, USD/JPY reached a height of 151.90, updating a multi-month high and returning to where it traded in October 2022. However, on U.S. inflation data, the yen staged a comeback.

Unlike the U.S. CPI, macro statistics from Japan had minimal impact on the yen, though there were notable points to consider. For instance, the country's GDP in the third quarter showed a decline of -0.5% after a 1.2% growth in the previous period and a forecast of -0.1%. Against this backdrop, the head of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Kadsuo Ueda, made a surprising statement on Friday, November 17, stating that the country's economy is recovering and is likely to continue doing so, albeit at a moderate pace.

Ueda is not certain that the weak yen negatively affects the Japanese economy. On the contrary, this weakness has a positive impact on exports and the profits of Japanese companies operating in the global market. Therefore, the head of the regulator is unsure about the order and extent to which the Bank of Japan will change its monetary policy. "We will consider ending the YCC policy and negative rates if we can expect our inflation target to be reached on a stable and sustainable basis," vaguely stated Kadsuo Ueda.

Meanwhile, Japan's Finance Minister, Sin'iti Sudzuki, stated that he is ready to take necessary measures in case of increased speculative pressure on the national currency. Deputy Minister Ryosei Akazawa supported his chief and reiterated that the government would intervene in the foreign exchange market to curb excessive volatility. The words of both officials somewhat strengthened the national currency, and on Friday, November 17, it found a local bottom at the level of 149.19. The final chord sounded slightly higher – at 149.56.

Hopes that the BoJ will eventually tighten its monetary policy continue to linger among market participants. Strategists at Danske Bank, for example, predict a decline in USD/JPY below the 140.00 mark within 6-12 months. In their view, this is primarily due to the fact that the yield of long-term U.S. bonds has peaked. "We expect that in the coming year, the yield differential will contribute to the strengthening of the Japanese yen," they write. "In addition, historical data suggest that global conditions characterized by slowing growth and inflation favor the strengthening of the Japanese yen."

Speaking of the near-term prospects for the pair, 65% of analysts expect further strengthening of the yen, while 35% anticipate a new advance of the dollar. As for the technical analysis on D1, the forecast here is maximally neutral. Both among trend indicators and oscillators, the ratio between red and green is 50-50. The nearest support level is in the zone of 149.20, then 148.40-148.70, 146.85-147.30, 145.90-146.10, 145.30, 144.45, 143.75-144.05, 142.20. The nearest resistance is 150.00-150.15, then 151.70-151.90 (October 2022 maximum), further 152.80-153.15, and 156.25.

There is no planned release of any other significant statistics regarding the state of the Japanese economy in the upcoming week.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: When Will You Become a Bitcoin Millionaire?

According to the Wayback Machine web archive, the surge in the value of the main cryptocurrency has led to a threefold increase in bitcoin millionaires since the beginning of the year. As of November 12, their count reached 88,628, a significant jump from the 28,084 recorded on January 5. Notably, bitcoin's price rose from $16,500 to $37,000 during this period.

Now, envision the potential scenario envisioned by Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, where digital gold could soar to $500,000 within the next five years. Could the number of millionaires surpass a million? Moreover, when the BTC rate exceeds $1 million, as forecasted by ARK Investment CEO Catherine Wood, could we also join the ranks of those possessing this coveted wealth? It's highly desired that these aspirations materialize. Now, let's delve into why they could become reality and why they might crumble into fragments.

The experts at Matrixport have identified six drivers that, in their opinion, will contribute to the emergence of a BullRally in the coming months. These are: 1) SEC approval of spot bitcoin ETFs with trading expected to commence in February-March 2024; 2) the IPO of Circle, the issuer of USDC; 3) court approval for the relaunch of the FTX exchange in December 2023, with actual resumption of operations in May-June; 4) the bitcoin network halving; 5) the implementation of EIP-4844 following the Dencun hard fork in the Ethereum blockchain in Q1 2024; 6) the potential onset of easing in the monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve by mid-2024.

Diving deeper into two of these factors, the first and the fourth: they currently play a crucial role in accelerating the accumulation of BTC by hodlers, surpassing the issuance of new coins by 2.2 times. Notably, over 57% of coins from the circulating supply have been dormant in wallets for over two years. Simultaneously, the supply from short-term holders and speculators is sharply decreasing. This dynamic creates a significant deficit in the digital gold market, propelling prices upward. Many experts anticipate that this trend will intensify significantly after the approval of spot ETFs and the 2024 halving.

According to the analytics agency Glassnode, since mid-2022, due to the decline in crypto asset prices, miners have been compelled to sell nearly all the coins they mined to cover operational expenses and payments on debts, amounting to approximately $1 billion per month. After the halving and a 50% reduction in rewards, this volume is expected to decrease to $0.5 billion. Some companies may struggle to sustain mining operations altogether. The influx of new coins is projected to drop from 81,000 to 40,500 per quarter, further amplifying the supply shortage and driving prices upward. Historical data indicates that, in the year following halvings, BTC prices surged by 460% to 7745%.

Regarding the potential influx of institutional capital upon approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), much has already been discussed. Let's delve into a few more forecasts. According to analysts at CryptoQuant, the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization would rapidly increase by $1 trillion in this scenario. Approximately ~1% of assets under management (AUM) from managing companies would enter the bitcoin market, potentially raising the market capitalization of digital gold by $450-900 billion. In terms of price, this suggests a short-term increase for the BTC/USD pair to $50,000-73,000.

Analysts from Bernstein predict that, in the event of bitcoin ETF approval, the asset's price could reach $150,000 by 2025. Meanwhile, their counterparts at LookIntoBitcoin advise profit-taking when the coin appreciates to at least $110,000. To determine the peak height to which BTC will rise, LookIntoBitcoin specialists calculated the so-called Terminal Price. This is computed considering various factors, including the time between bitcoin mining and spending, as well as the quantity of coins in circulation. Calculations indicate that bitcoin will reach the Terminal Price during the next bull rally, expected to conclude by the end of 2025. Looking at a longer horizon, one can explore the forecasts of Mike Novogratz and Catherine Wood for the next five to seven years (see above).

And now, a bucket of cold water poured on the hot heads of crypto optimists by analysts at JPMorgan, one of the world's largest banks. They recently released a sceptical report that scrutinizes investor expectations. The main theses are as follows: 1) The introduction of spot ETFs will only lead to a capital shift from existing investment products (such as Grayscale Bitcoin Trust) but will not generate new demand; 2) Lost SEC cases [against Ripple and Grayscale] will not increase loyalty in crypto regulation, and as the regulatory framework takes shape, the situation will only become more stringent; 3) The impact of the halving is unpredictable, as the reward reduction is already factored into the price.

So, what awaits the leading cryptocurrency? This is the question posed by Peter Schiff, the president of Euro Pacific Capital, known as the "gold bug" and a fervent critic of bitcoin. This billionaire conducted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) on the topic of when the crash of the leading cryptocurrency will occur. The majority of respondents (68.1%) believe that the asset should be bought and held. 23% of those surveyed predicted the coin's crash after the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs. Only 8.9% voted for the crash to happen before the launch of these exchange-traded funds.

Now about the current situation. Bitfinex exchange analysts warn that the price of bitcoin has reached a local maximum and may correct in the near future. According to their report, the average purchase price of BTC by short-term holders (Short-Term Holder Realized Price – STH RP) is currently at $30,380, and the difference between this figure and the current price of the asset is the highest since April 2022. Historically, this indicates that the coin's price has reached a local maximum and may correct to the STH RP level, dropping to the $30,000–$31,000 range.

Doctor Profit, an analyst, also anticipates a correction and believes that the next correction following the positive trend will bring BTC back to around $34,000. "The market is overheated right now. Correction is a matter of time," he wrote on his microblog.

On the contrary, Matrixport analysts believe that a confident breakthrough above $36,000 will push the price of the leading cryptocurrency towards the $40,000 resistance. After that, it may open the way to the $45,000 height, which could be reached by the end of 2023. "Considering the steady growth in the number of buyers during US trading hours, we can see price growth by the end of the month (and year). Santa Claus rally can start at any moment," emphasized the specialists.

Many members of the crypto community supported Matrixport's positive forecast. Analyst CrediBULL Crypto believes that BTC will soon realize an impulse that will send the coin to $40,000. Trader CryptoCon also joined the optimists. According to his calculations, BTC has room to reach $47,000. However, he believes that this level may only be reached in the summer of 2024, after which a correction to around $31,000 is possible. The active growth phase due to the halving, according to CryptoCon, is expected by the end of 2024 – the beginning of 2025.

As of the writing of this review on Friday, November 17, BTC/USD is trading at $36,380. The total market capitalization of the crypto market is $1.38 trillion ($1.42 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has dropped from 70 to 63 points but still remains in the Greed zone.
 

NordFX Analytical Group
 

Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Thanks to the rise in the price of the main cryptocurrency, since the beginning of the year, the number of bitcoin-millionaires has tripled. As of November 12, their count stood at 88,628, compared to 28,084 on January 5. This surge represents a growth of 215%. When categorizing millionaires by capital size, those with a minimum of $1 million amounted to 81,962, while those with holdings of at least $10 million numbered 6,666. These figures are sourced from the Wayback Machine web archive.

– Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of the crypto exchange Binance, referred to the economic model of bitcoin as "the greatest business model ever invented in our world." He made this comment in response to data indicating that mining revenues reached new highs. According to media reports, on November 12 alone, BTC miners earned over $44 million in rewards and block fees. This marks the highest daily income in the past year, surpassing the record set in April 2022.

– Security blockchain company SlowMist specialists uncovered a counterfeit Skype application used by hackers in China to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in various cryptocurrencies. Exploiting the country's ban on international messengers, users are forced to download them from unofficial sources. In addition to the malicious pseudo-Skype, hackers used a phishing domain posing as Binance exchange. This allowed them to track messages with addresses resembling TRX and ETH formats. Subsequently, wallets were replaced with those owned by the hackers. The SlowMist team identified and blacklisted over 100 such fraudulent wallets. One of them alone received 110 transactions totalling over 192,856 USDT, stolen from users in China.

– Senator Cynthia Lummis defended the crypto industry and opposed claims that cryptocurrencies are actively used in illegal financial activities. She appealed to the U.S. Congress with a request not to succumb to speculative attacks and emphasized that illegal financial operations are a problem in any economic sector, not related to the asset class but rather to the opportunities for wrongdoers to commit such crimes. "Cryptocurrency is present in less than 1% of the total volume of all illegal financial activities. If we could create a regulatory structure allowing the crypto industry to operate in America, rather than in unregulated foreign markets, its share would be even smaller," said the senator. The reason for Cynthia Lummis's statement was several U.S. news agencies reporting that on the eve of the invasion of Israel, the military wing of HAMAS collected millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Against this backdrop, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a long-time advocate for stricter crypto regulation, formed a coalition of more than 100 senators demanding the immediate adoption of new rules to combat terrorism financing and money laundering in cryptocurrency.

– Investor and bestselling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, believes that central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve (FRS), are not designed to protect the average person. For this reason, the expert advised exercising wisdom and cited the example of the wealthy. According to him, millionaires do not work for "fake" money, such as the US dollar; instead, they invest in "real assets" like rental properties, gold, silver, and bitcoins, providing long-term financial security and freedom.

– Peter Schiff, the President of Euro Pacific Capital and known as the "gold bug" and a staunch critic of Bitcoin, conducted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) about when the crash of the main cryptocurrency would occur. The responses did not please him much, as the majority of respondents (68.1%) believe that the asset should be bought and held. 23% of those surveyed predicted the crash of the coin after the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs. Only 8.9% voted for the crash to happen before the launch of these exchange-traded funds. Despite the results, Schiff was not deterred, and in his comments, as usual, he took an extremely negative position. "Based on the results obtained," the financier wrote, "I assume that Bitcoin will fall before the ETF launch. Therefore, people who bought into the rumours will not receive any real profit."

– In contrast to Peter Schiff, analysts from Bernstein predict that if spot Bitcoin ETFs are approved, the asset's price will reach $150,000 by 2025. Meanwhile, their colleagues from LookIntoBitcoin recommend taking profits when the coin appreciates to at least $110,000. To determine the peak height to which BTC will rise, LookIntoBitcoin specialists calculated the so-called Terminal Price of the coin. It is calculated considering various factors, including the time between BTC mining and spending, as well as the amount of coins in circulation. The calculations showed that bitcoin will reach the Terminal Price during the next bull run, expected to end in late 2025. After that, a dump will begin, and the BTC price, as usual, will rapidly decline.

– According to ARK Invest CEO Cathy Wood, in the next seven years, the total value of crypto assets could reach $25 trillion, driven by industry development and widespread adoption. She made this forecast while commenting on applications for exchange-traded BTC-ETFs. According to her, traditional markets demonstrate a "flight to quality," as Larry Fink, the head of BlackRock, stated, or a "flight to safety," as stated in ARK Invest. This happens because "Bitcoin does not carry counterparty risk." "Look at what happened during the regional banking crisis. Bitcoin rose from $19,000 to almost $30,000 because the KRE, the regional bank index, collapsed. If you look at this stock index today, it has again dropped to the level it was in March," she added. Wood is confident in the success of the flagship cryptocurrency because "most people understand that bitcoin is a monetary revolution. It is the first global, private, digitally based, rule-based monetary system in history." It's worth noting that Cathy Wood is not alone in her super-optimistic forecasts: Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz believes that within five years, digital gold will rise to $500,000.

– According to Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, local businesses in Argentina are massively transitioning to payments in bitcoins and USDT. Argentinians and tourists can now even buy products with the USDT stablecoin at the Central Market in Buenos Aires: one of the largest fruit and vegetable suppliers in Latin America. The adoption of cryptocurrency in the country is thriving due to hyperinflation and the devaluation of the paper peso. The inflation rate here rose to 108.8% (YoY) in April, remaining the highest since 1991. Six months ago, the Central Bank of Argentina raised the interest rate to 97%, but this stringent step turned out to be insufficient to curb price growth.

– Bitfinex exchange analysts warn that the price of Bitcoin has reached a local maximum and may correct soon. Currently, according to their report, the average short-term holder realized price (STH RP) of BTC is $30,380, and the difference between this figure and the current asset price is the highest since April 2022. Historically, this indicates that the coin's price has reached a local maximum and may correct to the STH RP level, i.e., drop to the range of $30,000–$31,000. Analyst Doctor Profit also expects a correction, believing that the next correction following positive dynamics will bring BTC back to around $34,000. "The market is overheated right now. Correction is a matter of time," he wrote on his microblog.

– Trader, analyst, and founder of the venture company Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, analysed the current price of Ethereum. In his opinion, overcoming the altcoin resistance at $2,150 will signify the end of the bear market and push the cryptocurrency above the $3,000 threshold, where it may stabilize in the range of $3,100-$3,600. (It's worth noting that the price of Ethereum is above the 200-day SMA, and the coin showed 22 green days in the previous month).

– Matrixport analysts believe that a confident breakthrough above $36,000 will propel the price of the first cryptocurrency to the $40,000 resistance. After that, it will open the way to the $45,000 height, which can be reached by the end of 2023. "Given the steady growth in the number of buyers during US trading hours, we can expect price increases by the end of the month (and year). The Santa Claus rally could start at any moment," the specialists emphasized. As for 2024, Matrixport named six possible drivers that will contribute to positive dynamics: 1) SEC approval of Bitcoin ETF with trading beginning in February-March 2024; 2) IPO of Circle, the issuer of USDC; 3) court approval to restart FTX exchange in December 2023, with actual resumption of work in May-June; 4) bitcoin halving; 5) implementation of EIP-4844 following the Dencun hard fork in the Ethereum blockchain in the first quarter of 2024; 6) possible start of the easing of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy by mid-2024.

– Many participants in the crypto community supported Matrixport's positive forecast. Analyst CrediBULL Crypto believes that BTC will soon realize an impulse that will send the coin to $40,000. Trader CryptoCon also joined the optimists. According to his calculations, BTC has a "cushion" up to $47,000. The level, as he believes, can be reached in the summer of 2024, after which a correction to around $31,000 is possible. CryptoCon is confident that the active growth phase, against the backdrop of the halving, will occur at the end of 2024 – the beginning of 2025.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Former Ethereum platform consultant Steven Nerayoff has accused Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Lubin of fraudulent activities. He believes that the co-founders of ETH have misled the crypto community by using social media. Furthermore, according to the lawyer, Buterin and Lubin are involved in manoeuvres that are a thousand times larger in scale than the crimes committed by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
"Statements by Buterin that he attempted to create a decentralized currency are fake. It was centralized from the beginning, and today, it is likely even more concentrated," Nerayoff wrote. In particular, the lawyer suggests the possibility of a secret agreement between the Ethereum network administration and high-ranking U.S. officials, such as SEC Chairman Gary Gensler and former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, at the early stages of altcoin initial placements.
"A small circle of ETH investors controls about 75% of all protocol assets. So now it's easy to manipulate the price or even set its lower or upper limit. Most of the trading you see on exchanges is fake or fictitious to create the illusion of liquidity," Nerayoff expanded on his accusations.
Previously, this lawyer speculated that the full-scale attack on Ripple by U.S. regulatory bodies could have been sponsored by influential ETH holders. In his view, Ripple's detractors may include individuals associated with the SEC, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and even some Ripple employees.

– Crypto investigator Truth Labs believes that it is not the U.S. but the Chinese conglomerate Wangxian Group that has decisive influence over the Ethereum network, and organizations close to the Communist Party of China (CPC) control almost 80% of mined ETH. Truth Labs also claims that Wangxian was one of the original sponsors of the Ethereum network in 2015. The group is also attributed with creating original wallets for Buterin.

– Co-founder of Estonian LHV Bank Rain Lõhmus lost the password to a wallet containing 250,000 ETH. The businessman acquired the coins during an ICO in July 2015, and they remained dormant since then. At that time, the purchase cost him $75,000. On November 10, 2021, when the Ethereum price reached an all-time high of around $4,800, Lõhmus's holdings grew to $1.22 billion. However, even now, they amount to approximately $470 million. Now, the businessman intends to recover the password using artificial intelligence. "My plan," he stated, "is to create Rain Lõhmus as an AI and see if he can retrieve his memories." The possibility of losing access to his funds, the businessman called a "weak point" of blockchain. "It makes you think that this perfect decentralization carries risks that you don't usually consider," Lõhmus shared his conclusions.

– The approval of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on Bitcoin may not benefit either the main cryptocurrency or the people who use it. This is the opinion expressed by the former CEO of BitMEX, Arthur Hayes. He referred to investment giants like BlackRock as "agents of the state." "The state needs its citizens to 'sit in the paper banking system' to tax them with inflationary taxes to repay constantly growing debts. This makes sense for institutional entities that are inherently subject to the state," he said.
According to Hayes, institutional interest in the asset poses a situation that "ultimately may not be to our liking." "Yes, it's good, an ETF emerges, the price rises to a level it can reach. But what is the ultimate benefit of one institution owning all of this cryptocurrency?" he questioned.

– The first cryptocurrency may reach the $47,000 mark by the end of November 2023, according to Rachel Lin, CEO of the decentralized derivatives exchange SynFutures. 'The past weeks have solidified October's reputation as 'Uptober,' with bitcoin gaining nearly 29%. What's even more interesting is that historically, November outperforms October with an average bitcoin return of over 35%. If this November delivers a similar profit, the asset will reach approximately $47,000,' she stated.
As an additional positive factor, Lin noted the growth in the number of users and transactions. In her view, the surge in spot trading volume with a noticeable increase in transfers exceeding $100,000 is particularly noteworthy. 'This is a clear indicator of heightened institutional interest,' the specialist believes. 'Major players are consolidating positions in digital assets, especially in BTC. If we look at the inflow last week, we can see a massive increase: about $325 million entered the sector, with almost $300 million going into bitcoin. Options data also reflect bullish market sentiment.”

– As highlighted by Markus Thielen, the head of research at Matrixport, recent macroeconomic shifts, especially in the Federal Reserve's policies, suggest a potential rally in the market of cryptocurrencies. He reminded us that after the conclusion of the Federal Reserve's policy tightening cycle in January 2019, digital gold (referring to bitcoin) appreciated fivefold. Thielen cautioned against expecting a repetition of such dynamics while explaining that the first cryptocurrency could 'make significant advances' in 2023 and 2024. According to the expert's calculations, bitcoin tends to grow by an average of 23% during the pre-Christmas period of November and December this year.

– Analyst using the alias "Doctor Profit" has shared a rather conservative forecast. He believes that the period leading up to the BTC halving will range between $26,000 and $41,000. In his opinion, investors should be prepared for possible corrections. The expert also does not rule out the possibility of "black swan" events, similar to the one that pushed BTC to local lows before the halving in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

– In an interview with CNBC, the founder of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, listed the factors that he believes will lead to a tenfold increase in the price of bitcoin in the medium term. First, he mentioned the upcoming halving, which is expected to increase demand for the cryptocurrency and create a shortage in the market. Another source of buyer pressure will be spot-based ETFs based on the first cryptocurrency.
The third factor will be the soon-to-be-implemented new fair value accounting rules for bitcoin reserves of companies in the United States. Saylor believes that this will open the door for corporations to adopt bitcoin as a treasury asset and create shareholder value. The entrepreneur also pointed out the positive effect of regulatory and law enforcement actions by authorities, including the lawsuit against the former CEO of the collapsed FTX exchange. According to Saylor, "all these early crypto cowboys, tokens that are unregistered securities, unreliable custodians" were liabilities for bitcoin. To take the crypto industry to a new level, it needs "parental supervision." The founder of MicroStrategy also believes that the industry needs to "move away from the 100,000 tokens" that are simply used for speculation and focus on bitcoin. "When the industry shifts its focus away from the small shiny tokens that distract and destroy shareholder value, I think it will move to the next level, and we will see a tenfold increase from where we are now," Saylor concluded.

– The founder of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been found guilty of the alleged violations worth billions of dollars. On November 2, the jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case, convicting Bankman-Fried of seven episodes of fraud, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy. According to the law, the controversial businessman faces a minimum of 110 years in prison, essentially a life sentence. However, the judge has the discretion to impose a less severe punishment.

– CEO of ARK Investment Management, Catherine Wood, was asked which of the three asset classes she would prefer to hold for 10 years – cash, gold, or bitcoin. Without hesitation, she replied, "Without a doubt, bitcoin. It is capable of safeguarding savings from both inflation and deflation... It's digital gold." Wood noted that she expects cross-pollination between industries like AI and cryptocurrencies, believing that the first cryptocurrency will only benefit from innovation. As a reminder, according to her predictions, in the next decade, the price of BTC will exceed $1 million. 

– While for Catherine Wood, bitcoin is "digital gold," for billionaire Charlie Munger, it's the "dumbest investment," "rat poison," and a "venereal disease." In a recent interview, this associate of Warren Buffett once again criticized digital gold. "When people start creating artificial currency, it's like adding spoiled product to a traditional recipe that has been around for a very long time and used by many people," the investor said. According to him, one of the effective ways to advance civilization is to have a strong currency. It could be shells, corn kernels, gold coins, or debt obligations - the key is that this currency is issued by a central bank.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– October 31 is bitcoin's birthday. On this very day in 2008, an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published a document titled "bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System". However, it's worth noting that bitcoin only made its debut as a cryptocurrency in the market on January 3, 2009. On this day, a block was mined containing the date and a brief excerpt from The Times article: "The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks".
On January 12, 2009, Nakamoto executed the first transaction on the network, sending cryptocurrency to developer Hal Finney. That same year, bitcoin was listed on the New Liberty Standard exchange. On this platform, one could purchase 1309 BTC for just $1 (worth nearly $55 million today).

– According to experts at CoinGecko, the "Uptober effect" is a reality, not merely an internet meme. (The term is derived from the combination of the words "up" and "October"). In eight out of the past ten years, the cryptocurrency market has shown growth in October compared to the preceding month. On average, the "Uptober effect" results in a 14% increase in the total market capitalization of digital assets – ranging from 7.3% in 2022 to 42.9% in 2021, as calculated by CoinGecko. The exceptions were in 2014 and 2018 when the market declined by 12.7% and 8.3% respectively over the month.
This year, starting from $27,000 on October 1st, bitcoin tested the $35,000 mark by October 24th, reflecting an approximately 30% growth. Even more significant rallies were shown by altcoins like Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK).

– "Bitcoin is gold for the young," opined billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, a former associate of George Soros at the Quantum Fund. "I'm 70 years old, and I have gold. I was taken aback when bitcoin started to emerge. But it's evident that the younger generation views it as a savings mechanism because it's much more convenient to handle," he observed. He believes that the foremost cryptocurrency has attained a brand stature akin to the precious metal, which has maintained its allure for 5,000 years. "I have an affinity for both. I don't possess bitcoin, but perhaps I should," Druckenmiller remarked.

– Peter Schiff, another "gold bug" and the head of Euro Pacific Capital, posits that the final nod from the SEC for spot bitcoin ETFs will spell the end for the bullish rally of the principal cryptocurrency. Currently, bitcoin is trading around $35,000, as speculators are banking on a favourable regulatory decision. This optimism might very well represent the zenith of the rally unless bitcoin sells off sooner. In Schiff's view, crypto traders might commence offloading coins, locking in profits even prior to any definitive decision from the SEC.

– A well-known bitcoin maximalist, TV host, and founder of Heisenberg Capital, Max Keiser, went on a tirade, dubbing Ethereum a "shitcoin" and its creator, Vitalik Buterin, a "terrorist". "Shitcoins like ETH, XRP, BNB, ADA, and thousands of others are crafted by financial terrorists and are indubitably employed to fund terrorism. Do your job and incarcerate everyone associated with these coins!" Keiser urged law enforcement. This former trader perceives bitcoin as distinct from other digital assets since it embodies a digital commodity designed to combat central banks and criminals vested with power. According to Keiser, in contrast, shitcoins were merely concocted to destabilize the financial system. Keiser's statement predictably drew a torrent of criticism. The blunter members of the crypto community labelled him a scammer, wishing him behind bars. The more courteous individuals advised the TV host to delve into the documentation of other cryptocurrencies to fathom their nuances.

– According to Guy Gotslak, co-founder and president of My Digital Money, Ethereum will reach $10,000 sooner than many expect. He believes that ETH has all the fundamentals required for significant growth, and it will be a walk to the top, not a giant leap.
During the recent cryptocurrency market rally, Ethereum increased by 21%, and the majority of the crypto industry participants believe that bitcoin's growth influenced ETH's rise. However, Gotslak thinks otherwise, being confident that the price movement of the main altcoin is independent of what happens with bitcoin.
The trading expert is optimistic about ETH's prospects, as he believes the market is looking for a safe haven. His confidence is also based on the numerous use cases of the Ethereum blockchain, which has been chosen by several Fortune 500 companies. Gotslak asserts that, with further technological advancements, this blockchain will become the most used, and ETH will become the most popular cryptocurrency.

– Michael Van De Poppe, founder of the venture company Eight and CEO of MN Trading, believes that bitcoin has officially entered a bullish market phase. The expert thinks the asset is ready for a rally to $50,000, after which a pullback will occur, followed by a new all-time high (ATH). Van De Poppe noted that BTC would face resistance at the $38,000 level but would likely continue to rise, reaching $45,000-50,000 by January 2024. However, he also mentions that a drop below $33,000 is still possible and sees it as an excellent opportunity for long positions.
Van De Poppe predicts that after the April halving, there will be a consolidation and sideways movement for an extended period before bitcoin begins to set new highs.
Look Into Bitcoin creators also believe that after BTC surpassed the $34,000 mark, it started the early phase of the bullish market. The next targets are $41,900 and $65,050.
A trader by the nickname Rekt Capital is less optimistic, expecting a significant drop by March 2024. After the halving, the expert anticipates a consolidation in the $24,000-30,000 range and then a parabolic growth to six-digit figures.

– In an interview with CNBC, renowned cryptocurrency enthusiast Anthony Pompliano expressed optimism about bitcoin's bullish trend. He emphasized that BTC's price rise is due to solid demand and supply. "Bitcoin is the most disciplined central bank in the world. [...] Bitcoin's supply is limited to 21 million coins, and this starkly contrasts with central banks that can issue an unlimited amount of money and bonds. Due to bitcoin's scarcity and its decentralized nature, it has become an attractive asset, especially during times of economic uncertainty," stated Pompliano.

– In the US, bitcoin mining is beginning to be used for heating saunas. Such a sauna has started operating in Brooklyn, New York. The heat generated by mining equipment is used as the source of water heating. As saunas become increasingly popular among Americans, this development benefits miners, as it adds another point to the discussion on the public benefit or significance of such entrepreneurial activity.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Bitcoin experienced a rapid ascent on October 23 and 24, reaching a level of $35,188 for the first time since May 2022. This surge in the value of the leading cryptocurrency was driven by a combination of real-world events and high-impact speculative and false news related to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
For instance, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that the SEC would not contest the court's decision in favour of Grayscale Investments. (To recap, at the end of August, the court granted Grayscale's lawsuit challenging the regulator's refusal to approve its application to launch a bitcoin ETF. Consequently, the company has effectively obtained permission from the U.S. court to convert its flagship fund, GBTC, into a spot bitcoin ETF). Additionally, there was news of the SEC discontinuing its legal proceedings against Ripple and its executives.
Discussions also revolved around the potential approval of an ETF for Ethereum and rumours of BlackRock's spot BTC-ETF gaining approval. BlackRock confirmed last week that this news was false. Nevertheless, the short squeeze prompted by this counterfeit news somewhat bolstered the cryptocurrency's growth, unsettling the market. The initial local trend gained momentum due to a series of liquidations of short positions opened with substantial leverage. According to Coinglass, a total of $161 million worth of such positions were liquidated.
Undoubtedly, the news was fabricated, but as the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. A spot exchange-traded fund on bitcoin by BlackRock, named iShares Bitcoin Trust, appeared on the list maintained by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC). BlackRock informed the SEC about the planned commencement of a seed round in October for its spot BTC-ETF, and it may have already initiated the acquisition of cryptocurrency for this purpose. This also fueled speculations and rumors that approval for their ETF is inevitable.
In discussing the catalysts for bitcoin's surge, it's also essential to mention the drop in the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) to monthly lows on October 23rd, a decline attributed to the reduction in 10-year treasury yields. Additionally, several experts believe that technical factors played a role - technical analysis has long signaled the possibility of a bull rally after breaking out of a sideways trend. 

– Another reason cited by experts for bitcoin's rise is the inflation issues in the United States and geopolitical risks such as the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. As explained by Zach Pandl, the Managing Director of Grayscale Investments, many investors view bitcoin as "digital gold" and aim to use it to minimize financial risks. According to CoinShares, investments in crypto funds increased by $66 million last week, marking the fourth consecutive week of capital inflow.

– Optimism regarding the SEC registration of many spot bitcoin ETFs has increased, and a positive decision is expected "within months." This conclusion has been drawn by analysts at JPMorgan. Specialists have taken note of the lack of an SEC appeal against the court's decision in the Grayscale case. The regulator has been instructed not to obstruct the transformation of the bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund. "The timing of approval [...] remains uncertain, but it is likely to occur [...] by January 10, 2024 - the final deadline for the ARK Invest and 21 Co. applications. This is the earliest of various final deadlines to which the SEC must respond," noted JPMorgan. Experts also emphasize that the Commission may choose to approve all proposals at once to ensure fair competition.

– In the distant future, the security of the first cryptocurrency is threatened not by quantum computing but by changes in the reward model for miners. This statement was made by Dr. Lawrence H. White, a professor of economics at George Mason University. According to him, after the last bitcoin is mined, which is expected to occur around 2140, the primary source of income for miners will be transaction fees. "People are concerned that it may not be possible to attract a sufficient number of miners to ensure the system's security," White warned. At the same time, the professor emphasized that at the current moment, the first cryptocurrency is protected from hacking because an attack on its network using quantum computers is not in the miners' interests.
White considers it unlikely that bitcoin will be used as a means of payment. Although, according to him, other cryptocurrencies that provide "more stable purchasing power" could assume that role.

– Peter Schiff, the President of Euro Pacific Capital, and a critic of the first cryptocurrency, has stated, "It's not a resource; it's nothing." He also likened holders of the asset to a cult. "No one needs bitcoin. People only buy it after others persuade them to do so. After acquiring [BTC], they immediately try to convince others to join in. It's like a cult," Schiff wrote.

– Opinions among members of the crypto community about BTC's future have diverged. Many market participants are confident that a positive news backdrop will support the further rise of the cryptocurrency. For example, Will Clemente, the co-founder of Reflexivity Research, believes that the behavior of the coin should unsettle the bears who planned to buy BTC at a lower price. The forecast of a trader and analyst known as Titan of Crypto implies that the coin will move to $40,000 by November 2023. Optimists are also joined by Michael Van De Poppe, the founder of the venture company Eight, and Charles Edwards, the founder of Capriole Fund.
However, there are those who believe that BTC won't continue to rise. For instance, analysts Trader_J and Doctor Profit are confident that after hitting a local maximum, the coin will enter into a prolonged correction. Their forecast does not rule out a drop in the BTC/USD pair to $24,000-$26,000 by the end of the year. A negative BTC forecast was also supported by a trader known as Ninja. In his view, the technical analysis, which includes an analysis of gaps on CME (gaps between the opening and closing prices of Bitcoin futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange), indicates a likelihood of BTC dropping to $20,000.

– The company Matrixport has published an analytical report discussing the growing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) effect in the cryptocurrency market. Analysts cite their proprietary trading indicators, which allow them to successfully forecast digital asset prices. In their view, by the end of the year, the price of Bitcoin could reach $40,000, and in the event of the approval of a Bitcoin ETF, it could rise to $56,000.
(FOMO - Fear of Missing Out is a term that describes situations where the fear of missing opportunities or valuable resources leads to specific actions. Examples include investments driven by the fear of being left behind while others are making profits.).

– Investor and author of the bestseller "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, has stated that once physical gold surpasses the $2,000 threshold (the current price is $1,975), bitcoin will move towards $100,000, with the next target being $135,000. Kiyosaki expressed scepticism regarding the value of the U.S. dollar, referring to it as counterfeit.

– Hal Finney was the first recipient of BTC. Consequently, many members of the crypto community speculate that the late Hal Finney might indeed be the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Jameson Lopp, a former Chief Engineer at BitGo and co-founder of Casa, conducted an investigation and became convinced that Finney is not the creator of the first cryptocurrency. Lopp discovered that Satoshi Nakamoto sent an email to Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn just 2 minutes before Finney completed a 10-mile race in Santa Barbara, California. Given that Finney was running for 1 hour and 18 minutes, it seems implausible that he could have been at a computer to send that email to Mike Hearn.

– As it turns out, traders in Thailand are using Tarot cards and astrology to predict price movements. For example, a popular astrologer who goes by the name Pimfah leads a Facebook group with over 160,000 members. There are also predictors on YouTube, like Ajarn Ton, who has over 26,000 subscribers. His channel features hundreds of videos, and in one of the recent ones, he predicts a 50,000% rise in the altcoin Terra Luna Classic. Considering that the project has collapsed and been abandoned for a long time, it's unlikely that this prediction will come true. However, there have been successful predictions as well. For instance, in August 2022, a well-known local predictor named Mor Plai forecasted the recovery of the crypto market. Several months later, this prediction made headlines in Thai newspapers.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– On October 16, the bitcoin exchange rate soared to $30,102 before plummeting to $27,728. Following BTC, other digital assets also experienced a sharp increase in price, only to subsequently decline steeply. According to Coinglass data, the surge in prices led to the liquidation of over 33,000 trading positions, resulting in trader losses of $154 million. Of this amount, $92.0 million was attributed to bitcoin, $22.7 million to Ethereum, and $4.6 million to Solana.
The spike in prices occurred after Cointelegraph published a report stating that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had approved BlackRock's application for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). It later emerged that the news was false. Cointelegraph's editorial team apologized for disseminating inaccurate information. The publication explained that one of its staff members had seen the news about the approval of the BTC ETF on Platform X (formerly Twitter) and decided to publish it as quickly as possible, without conducting fact-checking or obtaining approval from the supervising editor. Representatives from the SEC also emphasized that "the SEC itself is the best source of information about the SEC," and advised users to "exercise caution regarding what they read online."
In response, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink clarified that he could not comment on the status of the application's review. The executive also believes that the bitcoin rally was not so much driven by rumours of the approval of a spot BTC ETF, but rather by people's desire to utilize quality assets. He included bitcoin, gold, and Treasury bonds in this category of quality assets.

– Opinions among crypto industry representatives are divided regarding what lies ahead for BTC. For example, trader, analyst, and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, believes that the false report will not hinder the cryptocurrency's growth. According to his observations, the coin has already entered a phase of positive movement. "The trend is already upward. The lows have been set for us to buy [cryptocurrency]. Sooner or later, a bitcoin ETF will enter the market; it just won't happen today," says the head of Eight.
The authors of the analytical channel Root on Platform X (formerly known as Twitter) also think that the false news did not exert significant pressure on the cryptocurrency. In their view, the coin's pump, despite the subsequent correction, has actually helped improve its position. However, there is also a substantial portion of the crypto community that holds a negative outlook, predicting that the coin could drop to the $19,000-$23,000 range.

– The founder of SkyBridge Capital and former White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci, believes that the first cryptocurrency is "in many ways more valuable than gold" and could "easily" reach a market capitalization of $15 trillion. According to his calculations, at such a capitalization, the price of bitcoin would be approximately $700,000.
Scaramucci asserts that the current financial system is "broken." "Strange things could happen when you see countries that are hostile to the U.S. trading in bitcoin or other assets, distancing themselves from the dollar because the United States has used its currency to assert its personal geopolitical will," he said. However, Scaramucci clarified that bitcoin is unlikely to become the "universal standard of money," as some crypto maximalists desire. 

– Italian car manufacturer Ferrari has added digital assets as a payment method in the U.S. According to Reuters, this feature will be extended to Europe in Q1 2024. Initially, the company is accepting bitcoin, Ethereum, and the stablecoin USDC.
Ferrari management stated that the decision was made in response to customer requests. "Some of these are young investors who have built their fortunes on digital assets. Others are more traditional investors looking to diversify their portfolios," company representatives explained. 

– The market capitalization of the cryptocurrency sector could increase by $1 trillion if spot bitcoin ETFs are approved in the U.S., according to analysts at CryptoQuant. They believe that the chances of such an outcome have significantly increased following the legal victories of Ripple and Grayscale against the SEC. It should be noted that the deadline for the SEC's decisions on applications from BlackRock and other companies is set for March 2024.
Experts highlight that a positive decision would lead to a new wave of adoption of this asset class by institutional investors. Approximately $155 billion could flow into the bitcoin market, raising its capitalization from the current $543 billion to nearly $700 billion. In this scenario, the price of bitcoin could reach $100,000 or even $200,000, according to a study conducted by Finbold.
Finbold also consulted PricePredictions' artificial intelligence for forecasts. According to the AI calculations, after the approval of a bitcoin ETF, the flagship crypto asset could quickly reach the $100,000 mark. PricePredictions emphasized that additional factors such as the general acceptance of bitcoin, actions of institutional investors, regulatory activity, and overall macroeconomic conditions will play a significant role.
As for the short-term forecast, the AI predicts that by November 1, 2023, the coin will reach a value of approximately $29,576, which is about 4% higher than its current price.

– According to data from the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Government owns approximately 200,000 bitcoins, valued at over $5.65 billion. These assets were primarily confiscated from cybercriminals and participants in illegal darknet activities. An interesting fact is that, according to research by specialists at Morgan Creek Capital, the U.S. Government held only 69,640 BTC last year. This significant increase indicates that the U.S. has substantially ramped up its efforts to curb criminal activity and the illicit use of cryptocurrencies.

– Edward Snowden, a former employee of the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States, is known for having stolen 1.7 million confidential files and leaking this classified information to The Guardian and The Washington Post newspapers in 2013. The data pertained to global mass surveillance conducted by American intelligence agencies. Following this, he fled and found asylum in Russia. According to Snowden, he used bitcoins 10 years ago to pay for the servers he used to leak the secret documents.
Now, speaking at a conference in Amsterdam, the former spy has stated that bitcoin lacks real anonymity, allowing governments to easily track the individuals behind certain transactions. Snowden spoke about government and regulatory bodies attempting to control bitcoin and the entire industry, noting that the creation of a bitcoin ETF is actually another attempt to "tame" BTC.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has stated that nearly 200 accounts on the crypto exchange Binance were used by HAMAS militants. The CFTC emphasized that exchange staff were aware that their platform was facilitating potentially illegal activities yet turned a blind eye and even joked about it in internal chats. According to the regulator, as early as February 2019, Binance's former Compliance Director Samuel Lim had received information regarding the use of the exchange by representatives of the movement. However, as Lim explained to a colleague, HAMAS members typically transferred "small amounts" that would unlikely even suffice for purchasing an AK-47.

– Warren Buffett's partner and Vice Chairman of American holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger, stated that most investments in digital assets will ultimately become worthless. "Don't get me started on bitcoin. It's the dumbest investment I've ever seen," the 99-year-old investor expressed during the Zoomtopia online conference.
Munger also shared his views on artificial intelligence, noting that AI has actually been around for quite some time, tracing its roots back to the 1950s. "We've always had artificial intelligence. It's when software generates even more software," he said. However, in his opinion, the technology is "generating hype, probably more than it deserves."

– U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Bitcoin Magazine in an interview that he intends to defend bitcoin if elected as the President of the United States. He also expressed scepticism towards Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). According to Kennedy, national digital currencies could become a tool for governments to control individuals' financial transactions. "The freedom to transact is as important as freedom of speech," the politician stated.

– Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT, described bitcoin as a "super logical step on the technology tree." The artificial intelligence creator appreciates the idea that humanity now has an international currency beyond the control of any single government. The OpenAI leader believes that corruption is a key impediment to societal progress, and that bitcoin is poised to overcome this obstacle.
Altman also expressed disappointment with the U.S. government's stance on the cryptocurrency industry: "I'm disheartened by many of the actions taken by the U.S. government recently. The war on cryptocurrencies seems to be never-ending, and authorities want to take everything under their control." Like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Altman believes that if the United States launches a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), it will become a state tool for surveillance over citizens.

– Analyst Benjamin Cowen believes that the crypto market is entering "one of its most brutal" phases in its cycle. According to the expert, bitcoin's dominance in the market capitalization of the crypto sector is increasing amidst a decline in the price of altcoins and diminishing investor interest in this asset class.
Using Fibonacci retracement levels, Cowen predicts that BTC dominance will likely peak at 60%, as it did in the previous cycle. The analyst emphasized that this metric is unlikely to rise to 65% or 70%, primarily due to the stablecoin market. (As of October 10, according to CoinMarketCap, bitcoin's share in the overall market capitalization of the crypto market was 49.92%.)

– Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes has stated that the price of the leading cryptocurrency could reach $70,000 next year, and between $750,000 to $1 million by 2026. He justified his prediction based on factors such as the asset's limited supply, the potential approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, and geopolitical uncertainty. "I think this will be the biggest boom in financial markets in the history of mankind. Bitcoin will skyrocket to absurd levels, the Nasdaq will soar to absurd levels, and the S&P 500 will rise to absurd levels," Hayes declared.

– Analyst Nicholas Merten holds a diametrically opposite view. He believes that bitcoin could significantly crash due to actions taken by the Federal Reserve, potentially leading to a prolonged economic downturn in the U.S. If commodities such as oil, natural gas, and uranium begin to stabilize or decline in price, Merten sees this as a sign of an impending short-term recession. In that scenario, he suggests that stocks could fall by approximately 33%, similar to the correction that occurred in October 2022. In turn, bitcoin would react to this situation by dropping to the $15,000-$17,000 range.
Merten is convinced that a sustained bullish trend in the market is unlikely until the Federal Reserve begins to increase liquidity in the economy. "Bitcoin thrives when there's an increase in the money supply in the market and when investors are in a risk-on mood. However, at the moment, neither of these conditions is met," Nicholas Merten explained.

– A bitcoin mining farm called Lava Pool has been launched in El Salvador, utilizing renewable geothermal energy. The project is being developed by Volcano Energy and Luxor Technology, with 23% of the net income being allocated to the country's government. According to Volcano Energy's management, this move validates El Salvador's efforts to integrate bitcoin into its national energy infrastructure, providing rapid income and flexible load management options for the power grid.
The described initiative is part of a more ambitious project by Volcano Energy aimed at establishing a global bitcoin mining station powered by renewable solar and wind energy. Within the framework of this project, plans are underway to construct a renewable energy generation park with a capacity of 241 MW.

– Comparing the current dynamics of bitcoin to what transpired before and after the halvings in 2015 and 2019 indicates that the market is moving in the same direction as it did then. After its summer peak, the current coin price is undergoing a downward correction, but this is not surprising: typically, 200 days before a halving, the leading cryptocurrency could lose up to 60-65% of its value before resuming its growth trajectory.
Many experts are predicting significant price increases for bitcoin in 2024. For instance, analysts at JP Morgan suggest a price of $45,000, while those at Standard Chartered forecast $100,000. Writer and investor Robert Kiyosaki and cryptographer Adam Back also target the $100,000 mark. Fundstrat Research founder Tom Lee envisions BTC at $180,000. Venture capitalist Tim Draper expects $250,000, and billionaire Mike Novogratz, along with ARK Invest CEO Cathy Wood, project the coin to grow to $500,000 and $1 million next year, respectively.
The current optimism among investors can also be attributed to the present price dynamics of the digital gold: despite receding from its summer peak, investments in BTC have yielded a return of more than 60% since the beginning of the year.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Bitcoin recorded its first green September since 2016, increasing from $26,012 to $26,992. According to TradingView data, the cryptocurrency market's market capitalization also experienced an uptick. It stood at approximately $1.029 trillion at the beginning of September and rose by 6.1% to $1.092 trillion by month-end.
Ran Neuner, a trader and the founder of Crypto Banter, emphasizes the significance of the positive September closing for the leading cryptocurrency. "The last time bitcoin saw a rise in September in a year preceding a halving, we had another rally of 70% in the final quarter. That was in 2015," he notes.
Analysts at Bitfinex share a similar sentiment. "The cryptocurrency market closed September in the green, which is rare but typically leads to a bullish trend in October," they write.
According to a report by Bitfinex Alpha, futures market indicators also confirm an optimistic outlook for October. The report includes network data, which shows that the current price is supported by dynamics between long-term and short-term holders. Indicators reveal that seasoned long-term investors are resolved to remain holders within the current price range. Bitcoins held for 6-12 months remain largely stagnant, and the supply of BTC that is more than three years old has been inactive since February 2023.

– According to data from network analytics firm Santiment, "whales" (wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC) have been quietly accumulating bitcoin and Tether (USDT) over the past six weeks. Their holdings have now reached a 2023 peak of 13.03 million BTC, indicating a bullish long-term outlook for bitcoin. 

– The rise in bitcoin during the early days of October has somewhat offset the negative close of Q3, which saw a 12% decline. However, analysts at QCP Capital have warned that the possibility of retesting the $25,000 level should not be ruled out, despite the positive seasonality often referred to as "Uptober." According to statistics, over the past eight years, bitcoin has only finished October in the red in 2018. In other years, the monthly gain ranged from 5.5% to 48.5%. This time, experts anticipate that the resistance level will be between $29,000 and $30,000.

– On Monday, October 2, bitcoin reached a local peak of around $28,562. However, by the evening of the same day, traders began to take profits, and the coin fell below $27,500. Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone believes that such a pullback in bitcoin was inevitable. Pressure tends to build when the digital currency gains aggressively in value. Increased volatility is accompanied by heightened activity from sellers looking to profit from the asset's rise.
McGlone doubts that bitcoin will reach $30,000 in the near future. The primary factor hindering further BTC growth is the strict policy of U.S. authorities. Repressive actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are deterring institutional investors from entering the cryptocurrency space. Global recession risks are also dampening risk appetite. In such a scenario, equity markets won't be able to grow, emphasized the Bloomberg strategist, adding that digital currencies will also suffer.

– Donald Trump is considered a staunch opponent of bitcoin. However, former SEC employee John Reed Stark believes that Trump may change his stance on cryptocurrencies during the 2024 presidential elections to garner support from voters who use digital assets. This speculation is supported by two facts. First, last year Trump released and sold a collection of NFT Trump Digital Trading Cards. Second, he still owns $2.8 million worth of Ethereum. Stark suggests that if Trump returns to the presidential office, he will prompt the SEC to approve the issuance of bitcoin ETFs and will also ease regulatory pressure on the crypto industry.

– The SEC has asked the U.S. District Court in New York not to dismiss its lawsuit against Coinbase. In its statement dated October 3, the Commission responded to Coinbase's claims, reiterating its position that certain cryptocurrencies traded on the platform qualify as investment contracts and, therefore, must be registered with the SEC. The regulator noted that Coinbase "has always known" that the cryptocurrencies it offers are securities and claimed that the exchange has already acknowledged this in its documentation.

– Additionally, on October 3, the court rejected the SEC's motion for an interlocutory appeal in its case against Ripple. The agency wanted to appeal the court's decision that the sale of XRP on crypto exchanges does not constitute an investment contract. However, this plan by the officials fell through. Against this backdrop, XRP appreciated by 5% within 24 hours.

– In July, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against the crypto lending platform Celsius. The crux of the accusation is that Celsius attracted billions of dollars through the illegal and unregistered sale of "cryptocurrencies recognized as securities," repeatedly misled investors about its financial condition, and manipulated the price of its own token (CEL). The SEC has also levelled fraud charges against Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky, with a court hearing set for September 17, 2024. The platform plans to partially repay its debt to creditors this year, transferring to them bitcoin, Ethereum, and shares in a new organization, NewCo, totalling $2.03 billion.

– Trader under the alias Bluntz is confident that bitcoin has "officially" entered a bull market and that all predictions of a drop to the $24,000 level are unfounded. In his opinion, the coin's rise above $27,000 confirms that BTC is currently in a bull market. "I think it's time to let go of any bearish bias," wrote Bluntz.

– Last week, we reported that the Artificial Intelligence from CoinCodex predicted the flagship crypto asset's price to be around $29,703 by Halloween (October 31st). This time, another AI, the machine learning algorithm of the forecasting platform PricePredictions, gave a similar result. According to its analysis, the BTC price on October 31st will hover around the psychologically important mark of $30,403. The forecast was made using several key technical indicators, including the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Bollinger Bands (BB), and others.

– In his forecast, trader, analyst, and founder of venture company Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, is optimistic about not only October but also Q4 of 2023. He attributes his positive outlook to the potential approval of spot bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and the halving effect. The expert anticipates that the growth in the last quarter could elevate the price to around $40,000.
It's worth noting that the historical performance of BTC in this period has been quite mixed. For instance, in 2018, the digital asset's value declined by nearly half over three months, but a year earlier it had surged 142.2%. 

– The analyst known as dave the wave believes that Ethereum will continue to depreciate against bitcoin at least until the end of 2023. The expert published a chart depicting the price dynamics of ETH relative to BTC, which shows a descending triangle indicating a fall in the altcoin's price.
Dave the wave drew an analogy to the trend observed from 2017 to 2018, suggesting that Ethereum will significantly devalue against bitcoin due to a strong BTC market rally. The chance for ETH to appreciate could come during the "altcoin season," which would begin after BTC reaches its peak value.
The analyst also made a long-term forecast on the price changes of bitcoin using logarithmic growth curves. According to this forecast, over the next 10 years, the cryptocurrency will outperform stocks in terms of investment returns and will become a primary means of wealth accumulation due to a significant increase in value.

– Bestselling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki urged people to invest in the first cryptocurrency before the launch of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). "The Fed's CBDC is coming," he wrote. "Privacy is gone. Big Brother will be watching. When the CBDC hits the market, gold, silver, bitcoin, and cash will become invaluable. Start accumulating them now before it's too late." It's worth noting that in February, Kiyosaki predicted that bitcoin would rise to $500,000 by 2025 and called it the best hedge in turbulent times, while also cautioning about the asset's volatility.

– The total value of cryptocurrencies stolen by hackers since the beginning of 2023 has exceeded $1.15 billion, according to calculations by PeckShield. Nearly a third of all losses occurred in September, with damages from 22 crypto project hacks during that month amounting to almost $356 million. In contrast, only $17 million was stolen in the previous month, suggesting that even hackers take a vacation in August.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of SkyBridge Capital, stated at the Messari Mainnet conference in New York that the worst is over in the current bear market for digital assets. "If you own bitcoin, I wouldn't sell it. You've weathered the storm. [...] The next 10-20 years will be extraordinarily bullish," he said. 
The investor acknowledged that there are "headwinds" for bitcoin in the current macroeconomic environment, such as high interest rates, scepticism from SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, and negativity surrounding the acceptance of digital assets. However, he is confident that bitcoin offers more potential than gold. In his view, the proliferation of bitcoin ETFs will lead to the widespread adoption of digital assets.

– Mark Yusko, the CEO of consulting firm Morgan Creek Capital, believes that a positive decision on bitcoin ETF applications will trigger an inflow of $300 billion in investments. In such a scenario, the coin's market capitalization and value would see significant growth.
 
– Several other experts have predicted a decline in bitcoin's value leading up to the April 2024 halving. An analyst going by the pseudonym Rekt Capital compared the current market conditions to the BTC price dynamics in 2020 and speculated that the coin's price would decline within a descending triangle. However, in his opinion, the drop will be significantly less severe, as the coin will depreciate by 27% to $19,082.
Renowned trader Bluntz, who had previously predicted how far bitcoin's value would plunge during the 2018 bear trend, also foresees a continuation of the downward trajectory in the cryptocurrency market. He doubts that the asset's value has reached its bottom, as the descending triangle forming on the chart appears incomplete. For this reason, Bluntz anticipates that bitcoin will decrease in value to around $23,800, thereby completing the third corrective wave.

– Noted analyst Benjamin Cowen also believes that after several weeks of trading within a narrow range, the BTC price could fall to the $23,000 mark. Cowen bases his forecast on historical patterns, which indicate that the flagship cryptocurrency's price usually experiences a significant dip before a halving event. According to Cowen, data from past cycles suggest that BTC and other cryptocurrencies do not perform exceptionally well in the period leading up to such a pivotal event.

– Research firm Fundstrat speculates that, contrary to a bearish outlook, the price of BTC could actually surge more than 500% from its current value due to the halving, potentially reaching a level of $180,000. Meanwhile, financial corporation Standard Chartered estimates that the price of the oldest cryptocurrency could rise to $50,000 this year and to $120,000 by the end of 2024.
Current network activity suggests that investors are likely anticipating a new price surge, as bitcoin reserves on exchanges are approaching a six-year low.

– Over the years, the crypto community has been rife with bold speculations and conspiracy theories about who created bitcoin, how it was created, and why. One theory posits that it was conceived by the Communist Party of China, ostensibly for global domination. Others contend that it was the work of "good Samaritans" who aimed to aid societal progress. Some even believe the trail leads back to the CIA.
Within the bitcoin ecosystem, there is another persistent group that claims Satoshi Nakamoto was an employee of the National Security Agency (NSA). One of the most secretive U.S. intelligence agencies, according to this view, had an active role in creating the first cryptocurrency. Nic Carter, co-founder of research firm Coin Metrics, lends credence to this theory by pointing out that the Secure Hash Algorithm 256 (SHA-256) was created by mathematician Glenn M. Lilly. Lilly developed it under the supervision of the NSA and published the algorithm in 2001. He later served as the head of the NSA's mathematical research department.
Carter refers to his new theory as the "bitcoin lab leak hypothesis." He suggests that the bitcoin blockchain was initially an internal research project by the NSA aimed at collecting adversary information—a new "monetary weapon" for undermining third-country economies.
Matthew Pines, Director of Intelligence at Krebs Stamos, concurs with Carter's opinion. The cryptography analyst believes the creation of the BTC blockchain could be the result of collaboration between NSA cryptography experts and crypto enthusiasts. During the process, a communication breakdown occurred, and the anonymous developer inadvertently leaked proprietary information, thus making the project public property.
It is worth noting that the NSA was one of the first organizations to describe a system similar to bitcoin in a 1996 paper titled "How to Make a Mint: The Cryptography of Anonymous Electronic Cash." The paper proposed a system using open-source cryptography to allow users to make anonymous payments without revealing their identity.

– Dune Analytics is tracking 295 wallets that, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), belong to the North Korean hacking group Lazarus. According to the latest data, these wallets currently hold digital assets amounting to approximately $47 million, including $42.5 million in BTC, $1.9 million in ETH, $1.1 million in BNB, and $640,000 in stablecoins, primarily Binance USD. It's worth noting that this is the lowest estimated value of Lazarus Group's crypto assets.
Meanwhile, Lazarus' wallets continue to show high activity: the last transaction was recorded on September 20. Interestingly, the hackers do not hold reserves in privacy coins like Monero, Dash, or Zcash, which are much more difficult to trace.

– Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy, has compared the rate of fiat currency devaluation to inflation dynamics. He demonstrated that individuals could lose their savings if held in traditional currencies, as funds in U.S. dollars would have lost about 99% of their value over the past 100 years.
Saylor believes that bitcoin mitigates these risks due to its inherent characteristics. According to him, the flagship cryptocurrency represents a revolutionary technology with numerous advantages, including a capped supply of 21 million coins. Consequently, BTC is the best way to preserve your reserves, the billionaire concludes.

– The analyst known as CryptoCon notes that currently, bitcoin may be reflecting a pattern reminiscent of the 2015 market cycle, potentially paving the way for a new all-time high. According to his analysis, bitcoin is most likely to reach such a peak in December 2025 and could trade between $90,000 and $130,000.

– The Shanghai Intermediate People's Court has recognized bitcoin as a unique digital currency, despite the existing ban on trading these assets in China. The court granted bitcoin this status for several reasons: 1. It possesses qualities inherent to money, such as being storable, usable as a means of payment, and a measure of value for goods and services; 2. It enjoys global popularity; 3. It is valuable due to its limited supply of coins.
The court's decision does not impact the circulation of bitcoin in China and does not legalize cryptocurrency trading. However, the recognition of BTC as a digital currency lends the coin legitimacy. It is likely that, moving forward, it will be treated as virtual property in legal proceedings.

– Trader DonAlt believes that Ethereum could experience a significant devaluation before reaching the bottom of its cycle. "The worst is yet to come," he writes. "I would say we are, at best, two weeks away from the bottom." According to DonAlt's calculations, the floor for ETH stands at 0.047 BTC or $1,232.

– Cryptocurrencies have come to the aid of Lebanese residents who have been impoverished due to hyperinflation and governmental missteps. The economic crisis in the country erupted in 2019, leading to a 95% collapse of the national currency against the U.S. dollar. Moreover, in March 2023, the inflation rate almost doubled, ranging from 252% to 269%. According to the United Nations, about 78% of the country's population now falls below the poverty line.
As a result, a shadow crypto economy has emerged. Lebanese citizens are using USDT stablecoins as a means of payment and are earning their wages in bitcoin. Bitcoin mining has become not only incredibly popular but also highly profitable. According to CoinGecko data, Lebanon has the lowest cost of mining 1 bitcoin, at just $266. In comparison, due to higher electricity costs in the United States, this figure reaches $46,280.

– Experts have once again turned to artificial intelligence, this time to forecast the price of the flagship cryptocurrency by Halloween (October 31). CoinCodex's AI posits that by the specified date, the price of bitcoin will rise to $29,703.
Interestingly, the crypto market even has a term called "Uptober." The idea is that every October, bitcoin experiences significant price gains. Considering data from 2021, bitcoin was valued around $61,300 on October 31, marking a more than 344% increase compared to 2020. This phenomenon held true even in the past year of 2022, despite the high-profile crash of the FTX exchange. On October 1, 2022, the asset traded at $19,300, but by October 31, it had reached $21,000.
On the flip side, there are currently no concrete reasons for expecting a serious bull run. The key factor exerting downward pressure on the crypto market continues to be the Federal Reserve's tight monetary policy. As of the end of September, the U.S. regulator chose not to raise the refinancing rate but did not rule out such a move in the near future. Moreover, there is a likelihood that the regulator will maintain its course of tight monetary policy into the next year. It's also unclear how the SEC will act concerning applications for spot bitcoin ETFs.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Bitcoin is grappling with the $27,000 level ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, set to be announced on September 20. John Bollinger, the creator of the Bollinger Bands volatility indicator, believes that the leading crypto asset is poised for a breakout. The indicator employs standard deviation from a simple moving average to identify asset volatility and potential price ranges. Currently, the BTC/USD pair is forming daily candles that touch the upper band, which may suggest a reversal back to the central band or, conversely, an increase in volatility and an upward movement. The narrow Bollinger Bands on the charts indicate that the latter scenario is more likely. However, Bollinger himself is cautious in his commentary, stating that it's too early to draw any definitive conclusions.

– Many participants in the crypto community are confident that bitcoin will continue to grow. For instance, an analyst going by the pseudonym Yoddha believes that bitcoin has a chance to reach a new local high and target $50,000 by the end of the year. Following that, a correction to $30,000 could occur in early 2024, ahead of the halving event.
Crypto blogger Crypto Rover argues that troubles in the U.S. economy will serve as a catalyst for bitcoin's growth. Should a confident breakout occur around the $27,000 resistance level, a price movement to $32,000 could be anticipated.
Analyst DonAlt, who accurately predicted the cryptocurrency rally earlier this year, posits that bitcoin has a chance for another significant rally and could set a new high for 2023. "If we rise and overcome the resistance we're currently battling," he writes, "the target could be around $36,000. [...] I don’t rule out missing a good entry at $30,000 because if the price takes off, it may rise too quickly. [However] there are substantial reasons for a downward move as well. In the worst case, I'll take a minor hit if it dips into the $19,000 to $20,000 range."

– Prominent analyst known by the pseudonym PlanB has reaffirmed his forecast made earlier this year. He noted that the November 2022 low was the bottom for bitcoin, and its ascent will commence closer to the halving event. PlanB believes that the 2024 halving will propel the leading cryptocurrency to $66,000, and the subsequent bull market in 2025 could elevate its price beyond the $100,000 mark.

– According to CoinShares, investments in crypto funds decreased by $54 million last week, with bitcoin accounting for $45 million of the outflows and Ethereum making up $5 million. Investments in funds allowing for short positions on bitcoin decreased by $4 million. This marks the fifth consecutive week of capital outflows, which have occurred in 8 out of the last 9 weeks. The total outflows over the past two months amount to $455 million. Meanwhile, weekly trading volumes have increased to $1 billion, representing a 42% surge compared to the previous week. 

– Chainalysis has compiled a ranking of 154 countries based on the proportion of citizens investing a significant share of their savings in crypto assets. India topped the list, followed by Nigeria and Vietnam. The top 20, in descending order, included the United States, Ukraine, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, Thailand, China, Turkey, Russia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Mexico, Bangladesh, Japan, Canada, and Morocco.
Analysts noted that the global cryptocurrency adoption index is far from the historical highs seen in 2021 and is showing a declining trend. Most countries occupying leading positions in the ranking are categorized by the World Bank as nations with below-average income per capita.

– A new wave of cryptocurrency scams impersonating Elon Musk has emerged on the social media platform TikTok, as reported by Bleeping Computer. According to the publication, videos are being uploaded hourly, featuring Musk purportedly giving interviews to major outlets and directing viewers to a website where a giveaway is taking place. Fraudsters have created hundreds of such websites, some of which pose as cryptocurrency exchanges.
Journalists from the publication tested one of the giveaways: they created an account on the platform and entered the promo code provided in the TikTok video. They were then promised a bitcoin deposit into their account. A balance of 0.34 BTC (~$9,000) allegedly appeared in their wallet. However, upon attempting to withdraw the funds, they were asked to activate their account by depositing 0.005 BTC (around $132). 

– U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown has called for stricter disclosure requirements for companies in the digital assets industry. Brown sent letters to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), emphasizing the significant financial losses suffered by cryptocurrency investors. According to his data, investors lost approximately $10 billion in 2022 due to fraud and hacking attacks.
Additionally, nine American lawmakers have endorsed a bill aimed at combating money laundering through cryptocurrencies, which has been reintroduced for consideration in the U.S. Congress.

– Analysts at Matrixport, a provider of cryptographic services, believe that the surge in applications for launching spot bitcoin ETFs is revitalizing the digital asset market and could act as a catalyst for the price growth of the flagship cryptocurrency. The company notes a substantial "potential buying pressure for bitcoin," particularly from investors interested in the offering of a spot exchange-traded fund. Against this backdrop, bitcoin's dominance level has risen to 50.2%, marking the highest level in a month and nearing the 26-month peak of 52%, reached at the end of June.

– According to data from Chainalysis, cybercriminals from North Korea stole $340 million in 2023, with a third of that amount coming from just two attacks. This figure is significantly less than the previous year's record of $1.65 billion stolen in 2022. However, the attack dynamics are causing concern among experts. In the last 10 days alone, the Lazarus Group has hacked the Stake platform for $40 million and the CoinEx exchange for $55 million. 

– Investor and bestselling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, believes that traditional fiat currency has no future, and the future of money lies in cryptocurrencies. According to the expert, the U.S. economy is on the brink of a serious crisis, and cryptocurrencies, especially bitcoin, offer investors a safe haven during these turbulent times. Kiyosaki forecasts that the price of bitcoin could soar to $120,000 next year, with the 2024 halving serving as a key catalyst for the rally.
The specialist also revealed that he personally owns 60 BTC, which he acquired at $6,000 per coin. As a result, his current profit from this transaction exceeds $1.25 million. 

– Analyst Jason Pizzino believes that bitcoin's bullish market cycle began to form around January and this process is not yet complete, despite the recent price consolidation. According to the trader, bitcoin will confirm its bullish sentiment if it crosses a key level at $28,500.
"In this market, we've rarely seen levels below $25,000. I'm not saying it can't go down, but for the last six months, the weekly closes have been above these levels. So far, so good, but the bulls aren't here yet. They need to at least occasionally see closes above $26,550," states Pizzino. "The bulls still have a lot to accomplish. I'll start talking about them once we cross the white line again at the $28,500 level. That's one of the key levels for the beginning of bitcoin's upward movement, to then attempt to break through $32,000.".

– According to popular analyst and host of the DataDash channel Nicholas Merten, the crypto market may be in for another downturn, signalled by decreasing stablecoin liquidity. "It's a good indicator for identifying trends in the crypto market. For example, from April 2019 to July 2019, bitcoin rose from $3,500 to $12,000. During that same period, stablecoin liquidity increased by 119%. Then we see a period of consolidation where liquidity also remained stable. When bitcoin rose from $3,900 to $65,000 in 2021, stablecoin liquidity soared by 2,183%," shares the expert.
"Liquidity and price growth are linked. If liquidity is decreasing or consolidating, then the market is likely not going to grow. This holds true for both cryptocurrencies and financial markets. Market capitalization needs liquidity to grow, but we're seeing it constantly decrease, making a decline in cryptocurrency prices more likely," states Nicholas Merten.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, addressed the United States Senate, stating that the vast majority of cryptocurrencies fall under the jurisdiction of his agency. Consequently, all market participants, including exchanges, brokers, dealers, and clearing agencies, must mandatorily register with the SEC.
Gensler drew parallels between the current crypto industry and the tumultuous years at the beginning of the 20th century when securities market legislation was still in development. During that era, the agency implemented a series of stringent enforcement actions to regulate the industry, and many cases ended up in court. Similar measures are needed today. They are not only intended to deter entrepreneurs but also to safeguard investors, as perceived by the head of the SEC.

– Starting from November 1, 2023, Sarah Breeden will assume the position of Deputy Governor at the Bank of England. According to her current statements, cryptocurrencies do not currently pose a significant risk to the country's financial stability. However, they could become problematic if closely integrated into the financial world, such as in the case of using stablecoins for payments.
In her perspective, "cryptocurrencies are assets without intrinsic value. Their price can potentially drop to zero, so investors should be prepared for the possibility of losing all their money. Nevertheless, blockchain technology can be valuable for the financial system." The official has pointed out that recent events have underscored the risks within the cryptocurrency sector. Consequently, the cryptocurrency market's downturn has adversely affected two major American banks, Silvergate and Signature, and has also led to the collapse of the stablecoin UST, along with the bankruptcy of several crypto-lending institutions. Given the global nature of the cryptocurrency market, collaborative efforts among regulatory authorities are crucial for devising comprehensive oversight measures for crypto assets, as highlighted by Breeden.

– On Monday, September 11, the BTC price dropped below $25,000 despite the weakening dollar and rising stock indices. This drop occurred amidst rumours that the controversial exchange FTX plans to sell digital assets as part of a bankruptcy procedure. On Tuesday, investors started buying again at the lower price points, causing the coin's value to rise above $26,500.
According to several analysts, there is no fundamental justification for these fluctuations in the price of bitcoin. Essentially, due to low liquidity and a declining market capitalization, the asset is shifting between different groups of players. In reality, investors are looking ahead to September 20 when the next Federal Reserve (FRS) meeting is scheduled.

– We have previously reported on the case of James Howells, a programmer who accidentally discarded a hard drive containing cryptocurrency during an office cleanup in August 2013. Consequently, the hard drive, which held 7500 BTC, ended up in a landfill in Newport, United Kingdom.
Over the course of ten years, Howells has been petitioning local authorities for permission to search for his lost wealth. Recently, his legal representatives sent an open letter to the municipality, requesting access to the landfill site by September 18th. In the event of refusal, the unsuccessful crypto investor intends to initiate a legal lawsuit against the city council, seeking compensation for the value of the lost bitcoins, which currently stands at approximately $250 million. Howells also plans to challenge the authorities' decision to deny him access to the landfill.
Howells stated, "I've tried everything I could over the past decade, but they have been unwilling to cooperate, so I am left with no choice but to pursue legal action. They have even refused to engage in serious discussions about the matter. Regardless of the type of asset, whether it's bitcoin, gold, or diamonds, not addressing this issue is simply imprudent.".

– Analysts from the cryptocurrency platform Matrixport have issued a warning that if Ethereum (ETH) were to fall to $1,500, it could pave the way for a further drop to $1,000. This lower level is considered justified based on their revenue forecasts for the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem. Matrixport highlights that ETH is not a "super-hard currency" capable of resisting inflation, as last week, the number of newly issued coins exceeded the amount burned by 4,000, deviating from the deflationary model that the blockchain transitioned to when switching from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm.

– Analyst Benjamin Cowen has set an even lower target. He stated that Ethereum is on the brink of "extreme swings," which could result in its price dropping to a range of $800 to $400 by the end of the year. This potential decline is linked to the possible reduction in the profitability of blockchain platforms built on Ethereum's smart contract technology.
According to Cowen, both the Ethereum bulls and bears "have suffered setbacks and failed to execute their strategies." This will likely lead to both sides realizing losses by the end of 2023.

– The Twitter account of Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin was compromised as a result of a SIM card swap attack. Buterin had not enabled two-factor authentication, allowing the attacker to change the login password for his account by entering a code sent via SMS. Subsequently, the criminal posted a message on Buterin's behalf, falsely claiming a free NFT giveaway, and stole digital assets worth $691,000 from individuals who followed the provided link and linked their crypto wallets.

– David Marcus, co-founder of PayPal and CEO of Lightspark, a company specializing in integrating BTC payments using the Lightning Network, has made an unexpected statement. It turns out he himself doesn't believe that bitcoin will become a popular method of payment for purchases. Marcus explained that the currencies transmitted over the network will still remain fiat currencies that people are familiar with and use today. As for bitcoin, he likened it to a small data packet on the internet that is used to transfer values such as dollars, yen, or euros.

– Trader, analyst, and founder of the venture company Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, is predicting the last correction in the price of the leading cryptocurrency before an upcoming bull rally. In his view, if the bears manage to breach the exponential moving average line, which is positioned at $24,689, the worst-case scenario would see the coin drop to $23,000.
The specialist believes that this upcoming correction provides the final opportunity to buy bitcoins at a lower price. Institutional demand for digital assets is growing, so in the long term, the cryptocurrency's price will rise due to buying pressure.
However, it's worth noting that on August 17th, the BTC price broke below the ascending trendline that began in December 2022 and stayed below it. This suggests a high risk of a prolonged bearish trend.

– Dan Gambardello, the founder of Crypto Capital Venture, predicts that the next bull cycle could be the most impressive in the cryptocurrency market. The analyst has singled out ETH and XRP as cryptocurrencies to watch in the upcoming bull rally. His attention to these two altcoins is driven by Ripple's victory over the SEC in court and the approval of ETH ETF applications submitted by reputable fund managers.
At the same time, Gambardello has cautioned that the cryptocurrency market follows cycles, and it appears to be in an accumulation phase at the moment. Consequently, the analyst has warned that there is a possibility that the price of bitcoin could drop to $21,000 in the coming weeks. He attributes this potential drop to market manipulation by large players who may be suppressing prices and accumulating coins in anticipation of the next bull run.

– Prominent analyst known as CrypNuevo has analysed the current dynamics of bitcoin. According to this specialist, in the near future, the flagship cryptocurrency could reach the $27,000 mark. However, as the analyst emphasized, this is likely to be a false move. Furthermore, a subsequent drop is expected, potentially down to the $24,000 level.

– Mike McGlone, Senior Macroeconomic Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, has cautioned investors that the near future could be challenging for the crypto sphere. In his view, digital assets gained popularity during an era of zero interest rates. However, monetary policy is currently undergoing changes, which could pose problems for the industry. This is evident in the decline in Bitcoin's price, despite positive news about the impending approval of spot ETFs in the United States.
"Cryptocurrencies flourished during an unprecedented period of zero interest rates, but this policy is rapidly changing, with consequences for prices. In Q3, bitcoin dropped by 15%, despite the potential approval of spot ETFs. Cryptocurrency, traded around the clock and without weekends, could become one of the most accurate indicators of an impending reset in the global economy. It has been overly inflated with liquidity, and now we're witnessing a liquidity unwind," believes the analyst.
McGlone pointed out that by November, according to futures, the yield on US government bonds is expected to reach 5.45%. This is significant, especially when considering that from 2011 to 2021, this figure was only 0.6% annually, precisely when bitcoin and other digital assets experienced substantial growth. Therefore, the liquidity outflow from cryptocurrencies is not surprising.
(Recall that back in June, Mike McGlone had already warned about the potential decline in bitcoin's price and turned out to be correct)
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– 9% of Nigeria's population is aware of the existence of digital assets, surpassing the United States, which has an awareness level of 95%. Of these, 76% have owned or currently own cryptocurrencies, with the most popular coins being bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Dogecoin. The instability of the national currency has driven Nigerians toward the acquisition of digital assets, according to a study by ConsenSys.
Among Nigerian respondents, 70% stated that they understand the fundamental concepts of blockchain technology. They are followed by citizens of South Korea (63%), South Africa (61%), Brazil (59%), and India (56%). Experts note that the level of awareness about this technology is much lower in Europe and the United States compared to African countries. Meanwhile, only half of the surveyed Americans are using digital assets.

– A People's Court in China has declared that cryptocurrency falls under the category of legally protected property. According to the verdict, virtual assets have economic characteristics and should therefore be classified as property that is legally protected.
In light of this, legal experts have put forward a set of measures aimed at combating criminal activities in the realm of cryptocurrency. They have also underscored the need to harmonize criminal and civil laws to address the challenges associated with asset confiscation.

– In a recent Twitter post titled "What's Happening with XRP," Ripple's Chief Technical Officer, David Schwartz, suggested that this particular altcoin could become the global reserve currency. According to Schwartz, a significant portion of the world has already moved away from the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency. Every nation would prefer its own currency to take this position and would not want a rival country's currency to do so. Schwartz believes that this situation could lead to the world transitioning to a digital currency like XRP, which is not controlled by geopolitical competitors.

– The artificial intelligence platform PricePredictions has calculated a projected bitcoin price of $26,228 for September 30. The forecast is based on several key technical indicators, including Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI), Bollinger Bands (BB), among others.

– In a TradingView publication, an analyst using the pseudonym Tolberti has indicated that the recent fluctuations in bitcoin's price could serve as the year's "bull trap." Tolberti notes that a "Head and Shoulders" pattern, typically a bearish indicator, appears to be forming on the current BTC chart.
Additionally, Tolberti cites several key metrics that bolster his bearish outlook. A particularly telling indicator is bitcoin trading below its 200-week moving average (MA), which is traditionally a sign of extended bearish sentiment. He suggests that bitcoin's value might plummet to $10,000, with a potential market turnaround perhaps occurring as late as March 2024.

– Alistair Milne, the Chief Investment Officer of the digital currency fund Altana, believes that the price of bitcoin could reach $100,000 without the approval of spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in the United States. In his view, the ETF topic merely distracts market participants. It's worth noting that in June, when BlackRock and several traditional financial organizations submitted ETF applications to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the flagship cryptocurrency experienced its most significant growth in over a year, surpassing the $30,000 mark. However, this upward momentum was short-lived.
Milne is confident that issues in the U.S. banking sector, stabilization of risk assets following the completion of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes and increasing profitability in the crypto-mining sector will drive bitcoin's price upward.

– According to analysts at Cointelegraph, the value of "digital gold" could experience a significant drop in the coming weeks. This forecast is based on the bearish trends emerging in bitcoin derivatives. The BTC price chart leaves little doubt that investor sentiment has not improved following Grayscale's victory over the SEC on August 29, 2023. Consequently, experts anticipate that the leading cryptocurrency's value could decline to $22,000 in the near future.
Cointelegraph analysts believe that the delay in launching spot Bitcoin ETFs has left a negative impact on the market. Furthermore, many experts link market troubles to the U.S. regulatory actions against exchanges like Binance and Coinbase. Multiple sources suggest that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is likely to level charges against the world's largest trading platform and initiate a criminal investigation, focusing on allegations related to money laundering and violation of sanctions against Russian companies.
Currently, market participants are in a state of limbo, unsure of what to expect. This regulatory uncertainty is tipping the scales in favour of the bears. Fear and doubt reign in the derivatives market, creating favourable conditions for those betting on a decline.

– Renowned blogger and analyst Lark Davis has stated that the bitcoin halving scheduled for April 2024 could lead to a 500-600% increase in the cryptocurrency's price, potentially pushing it to around $150,000 or even $180,000. According to additional data from the expert, the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs could attract about $20-30 billion in "new money." Davis asserts that this influx of capital would allow investors to purchase nearly half of all circulating bitcoin on centralized global exchanges (CEX).
Lark Davis also shared a chart comparing the price trajectory of physical gold. He noted that when the first ETF for the precious metal was approved in the U.S. markets, its price initially dipped. However, it subsequently rallied, adding over 110% to its peak value. Davis opined that a similar scenario could unfold for bitcoin.

– At the end of August, the monthly chart for digital gold indicated an exit from the overbought zone according to the Stochastic Oscillator, signalling potential disappointment for bitcoin bulls. This observation was made by experts at Fairlead Strategies. According to the analysts, such a signal often indicates the passing of a local peak. They pointed out that similar scenarios occurred under comparable circumstances at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2021.
"The decline in the Stochastic Oscillator suggests that the process of establishing a bottom could be prolonged, especially considering the looming Ichimoku cloud serving as resistance (~$31,900)," the report stated.

– Popular analyst and crypto-millionaire William Clemente has stated that interest in the crypto industry has significantly waned recently. According to his observations, the total trading volume of digital assets has dropped to its lowest levels since 2020. Additionally, based on Google search statistics, people are searching for information on bitcoin and cryptocurrencies far less frequently, reaching multi-year lows.
Clemente also highlighted another sign of market participants' apathy. According to him, indicators for realized and implied volatility, as well as the Bollinger Bands' divergence on a weekly timeframe, are near record lows.
Another well-known trader and analyst going by the pseudonym DonAlt concurred with Clemente. He noted that this is precisely what failure looks like but ironically emphasized that there's no turning back now.

– Trader, analyst, and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, noted that the markets appear unstable and are generating many doubts. Bitcoin's dominance level is starting to decline, and the majority of altcoins in trading pairs with BTC are beginning to regain their positions. This signifies interest in this asset class rather than a lack of it. Van De Poppe emphasized that this traditionally occurs 8-10 months before a BTC halving. 

– Arthur Hayes, co-founder of the crypto exchange BitMEX, stated that bitcoin has been in a bullish trend since March 2023 and is expected to experience a new surge over the next 6-12 months. Hayes believes that the uptrend was triggered by the Federal Reserve's $25 billion banking sector stabilization program in light of the "rescue" of Silicon Valley Bank. According to Hayes, this situation has prompted traders to focus on assets with limited supply, like bitcoin. While this currently only involves a small portion of market participants, their numbers will continue to grow, he is convinced.
 

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– The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have introduced regulations for the taxation of cryptocurrencies. Officials anticipate that the new rules will "close the tax gap and ensure that everyone is playing by the same set of rules." According to the proposed guidelines, crypto brokers will be treated in the same manner as traditional brokers, such as stockbrokers.
Under the new regulations, the category of "brokers" includes cryptocurrency platforms, payment systems, and certain crypto wallets. The IRS and the Treasury Department emphasized that decentralized exchanges also fall under these rules. These entities are required to conduct customer identification and, starting in 2025, provide tax reporting. The U.S. Treasury expects that the cryptocurrency industry will generate $28 billion in tax revenue over the next 10 years.

– The analyst known as A Chain of Blocks believes that the BRICS nations' intention to move away from the U.S. dollar should draw attention to Ripple (XRP), the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. According to him, the majority of the member countries view XRP as a viable global payment option capable of facilitating transactions between member states.
At the most recent summit of the group, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that BRICS countries would not use the U.S. dollar for transactions among themselves. However, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, expressed during the same summit that the U.S. dollar would continue to dominate international trade. Puri noted that talk of de-dollarization is premature at this stage. His statement is corroborated by statistical data. Despite calls from BRICS authorities to use national currencies, the dollar's share of international transactions processed through the SWIFT system reached a record 46.5% in July.

– The crypto exchange HashKey Group has submitted an application to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for the issuance of cryptocurrency derivatives. If the regulator gives the green light, the exchange's clients will be able to trade futures on bitcoin and Ethereum.
To mitigate financial risks, novice traders will be restricted from executing certain trades. All clients will receive a warning if they invest more than 30% of their capital in cryptocurrencies, and their transaction limits will be reduced. Additionally, account balances can only be replenished using bank cards, creating challenges for residents of countries that have banned cryptocurrency trading.

– Tom Lee, co-founder and chief researcher at Fundstrat Global Advisors, predicts that due to the halving event, the bitcoin price will reach $100,000 per coin. In his view, halvings serve as catalysts for bitcoin price growth, as they reduce the supply of new coins and increase scarcity. Lee also considers factors such as rising demand for bitcoin from institutional investors, corporations, and retail buyers, as well as advancements in technological development and innovations within the bitcoin network. However, he acknowledges that bitcoin could experience significant price volatility on its path to reaching the targeted level.

– In contrast to Tom Lee, Nassim Taleb, a renowned writer, philosopher, and former trader, has a bearish outlook on bitcoin. He argues that bitcoin lacks intrinsic value and is purely a speculative asset, prone to extreme volatility and manipulation. He also criticizes bitcoin for not being an efficient medium of exchange, citing high transaction fees, slow transaction speeds, and low throughput. According to Taleb, bitcoin cannot compete with traditional currencies or other cryptocurrencies that possess superior technical attributes. He predicts that by the end of 2023, the price of bitcoin will drop to $0 per coin.

– British billionaire Jeremy Grantham, founder and chief strategist of GMO, one of the largest investment firms in the world, also has a bearish outlook on Ethereum and the cryptocurrency market overall. He believes that Ethereum is part of a global cryptocurrency bubble that will eventually burst. The billionaire compares cryptocurrencies to historical examples of bubbles, such as the Tulip Mania in the Netherlands in the 17th century, the South Sea Company in England in the 18th century, and the dot-com boom in the United States in the late 20th century. In his opinion, cryptocurrencies lack real value and are fueled by irrational enthusiasm and investor greed. Jeremy Grantham predicts that by the end of 2023, the price of Ethereum will drop to $100 per coin.

– Vitalik Buterin, co-founder and chief developer of Ethereum, has a contrasting view, believing that ETH could rise to $10,000 per coin. He bases his forecast on the idea that the leading altcoin will continue to develop and improve through new technological updates, the implementation of sharding, enhanced security and privacy, as well as the expansion of the DApps and smart contracts ecosystem. Buterin also believes that Ethereum will attract the attention of institutional investors who will use it as a means to diversify their portfolios and hedge against inflation.

– The Israeli government is shifting towards a more lenient approach to cryptocurrency regulation. To that end, a special research group has been created to study the regulation of DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), which is also conducting public consultations on this matter until September 2023.
Currently, cryptocurrency in Israel is recognized as a financial asset, and any capital gains are taxed at a rate of 25%. If transactions involving cryptocurrency are classified as commercial, the tax rate could be much higher—up to 53%. Lawmakers appear to have recognized the severity of such regulations and are moving towards a more moderate approach: a bill exempting foreign residents from capital gains tax on the sale of cryptocurrency has already passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
As for mining, profits from this activity are subject to regular income tax (17%). Israeli mining company Kafkamining noted in its blog that conducting such a business in the country is entirely feasible.

– In August, PayPal launched its own stablecoin, PYPL, in partnership with Paxos on the Ethereum blockchain. This raised valid concerns about its demand for transactions due to Ethereum's high fees. Recently, analytics firm Nansen confirmed that PayPal's stablecoin has not yet gained traction among cryptocurrency users. Nansen speculated that the payment giant is likely targeting a different demographic altogether. 

– According to Santiment data, only 5.8% of the total bitcoin volume is currently held on exchanges. This marks a historic low for the asset, a level not seen since December 17, 2017.
Analysts believe that several factors have influenced this trend, including a long-term holding strategy. Additionally, faith in bitcoin's potential as a reliable store of value is growing, while confidence in the safety of funds on cryptocurrency exchanges is diminishing. This shift is prompting individuals to opt for self-custody of their assets. Regulatory pressures on leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance, particularly issues with the SEC, have acted as a catalyst for this process. Due to regulatory scrutiny worldwide, bitcoin whales withdrew 5,000 BTC from the trading platform in just one minute.

– According to an analysis published on TradingView by TradingShot, bitcoin could reach the Fibonacci correction level of 0.86 at $50,000 by the end of 2023. The TradingShot analysis focuses on historical readings of the MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) indicator. Additionally, the analysts point to a support level established based on the last bear cycle's lowest peak. This level has shown resilience, consistently closing all monthly candles above it, with the exception of the sudden crash triggered by the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

– Despite BTC trading in a consolidated phase, demand for the leading cryptocurrency appears to be increasing. Over the past 12 months, Google Trends has shown a surge in searches for the keyword "buy bitcoin." Activity from bitcoin whales also corroborates this sustained interest in the primary cryptocurrency; transactions exceeding $100,000 are averaging around 57,400 transactions per week.
 

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– The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has called for the regulation of cryptocurrencies rather than their outright ban. According to the bank's experts, a ban that's hard to enforce might hamper innovation. BIS also pointed out that cryptocurrencies are especially popular in emerging markets due to the volatility of local fiat currencies and challenges in accessing banking institutions. However, they could trigger severe sudden shifts in capital flows, threatening the financial stability of these nations.
Additionally, the BIS assessed cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Analysts believe that the introduction of such investment products will also increase risks, as it provides market access to a broader audience lacking financial expertise.
It's worth noting that in June, several major investment firms, including BlackRock, submitted applications to launch spot bitcoin ETFs. However, according to some experts, the current regulatory body is likely not to approve them, and the process could be postponed until 2024. Analysts opine that if such products receive approval in the US, the cryptocurrency market could access up to $30 trillion in capital, and the price of bitcoin might exceed $150,000 per coin.

– The Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund has filed a petition on behalf of 12 Bitcoin Core developers in the High Court of the United Kingdom, seeking to dismiss a lawsuit from Craig Wright, who they regard as the self-proclaimed creator of the first cryptocurrency, and his company Tulip Trading. The case dates back to February 2021, where Wright demanded access to two wallets containing approximately 111,000 BTC (~$2.86 billion at the time of writing), allegedly stolen due to the fault of Bitcoin Core employees. One of the addresses is associated with the hacking of the crypto exchange Mt.Gox.
The fund's lawyers insist that Wright, mockingly referred to as "pseudosatoshi," must prove his ownership of the bitcoins before the court makes a final decision. The document states, "Dr. Wright has a long history of fraudulent schemes, forgeries, and dishonesty (including in legal cases within this jurisdiction and internationally). [...] These proceedings are an attempt by Wright, through Tulip Trading, to use British courts as an instrument of fraud."
Craig Wright claims that he purchased the bitcoins at the end of February 2011 from the Russian exchange WMIRK. However, he has been unable to provide any evidence of this transaction. Furthermore, the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund emphasized that if Wright truly owns the address containing 79,957 BTC, it would be tantamount to complicity in the hacking of Mt.Gox.

– An analyst known by the pseudonym Tolberti has predicted a continuation of the bearish trend in the bitcoin market and a decline in the cryptocurrency's value to $10,000. This forecast is based on the BTC price falling below the 200-week and 20-month moving averages (MAs), and the formation of a bearish flag on the chart, signalling the persistence of the negative trend.
According to the expert, the price of bitcoin will oscillate within a downward channel until it reaches a bottom around $10,000 by the time of the halving in April 2024. During the bearish trend, two significant corrections will occur, providing opportunities to profit from short positions.
Tolberti also noted the low demand for BTC and the weakness of digital gold relative to physical gold. Since reaching its all-time high of $68,917 in the fall of 2021, bitcoin has depreciated by more than 2.6 times. In contrast, the price of the precious metal has increased during the same period, reaching a historic value of $2,080 on May 4.

– Trader, analyst, and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, noted that bitcoin's dominance is declining, increasing the likelihood of an altcoin rally. According to him, as soon as bitcoin's dominance tested the 200-week moving average (MA) and exponential moving average (EMA), BTC's market share started to decline, indicating a potential shift in market dynamics.
The downward trajectory described by the analyst may persist in the coming months and could signal a temporary diversification in the cryptocurrency market as investors turn to other fast-profit instruments. However, if the leading cryptocurrency rises above the 200-week MA and EMA, it will lead to a restoration of bitcoin's dominance and a growth in its price.

– In the opinion of many investors and traders, the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a classic indicator, serves as a valuable tool to gauge the condition of an asset. It fluctuates between 0 and 100, with values above 70 typically indicating overbought conditions, and values below 30 suggesting oversold conditions.
The current fall of bitcoin's daily RSI below the 20 mark (17.47 at its lowest) is comparable to the oversold conditions during the market crash in March 2020, when the entire financial landscape was gripped by fear and uncertainty.
Analysts and traders are now closely watching this RSI movement, as it could signal a potential bullish reversal in the BTC trend. Historically, extreme oversold values have often preceded significant price rebounds. However, this indicator must be approached with caution. RSI oversold levels can provide insights into potential price reversals, but they are not a guaranteed sign. Cryptocurrency markets are known for their unpredictability, and their direction can be influenced by a multitude of factors, among which political and macroeconomic factors play a huge role. 

– Analyst Dave the Wave, who accurately predicted the cryptocurrency market crash in May 2021, believes that the current bear market for bitcoin will last at least until the end of the year. The expert used his own version of logarithmic growth curves, which allow for predicting bitcoin's macro-maximums and macro-minimums, filtering out medium-term volatility and noise. Currently, according to his calculations, bitcoin is trading at the lower boundary of the logarithmic growth curves but is still in the "buy zone." Dave the Wave does not rule out that bitcoin may decline a bit further, and by mid-2024 will rise to new highs above $69,000.

– According to popular analyst Benjamin Cowen, the current decline in the price of the first cryptocurrency may be far from final, and bitcoin will continue to fall. This bearish trend, in his opinion, aligns well with the current trend of the global economy.
Cowen also noted that a similar drop in bitcoin occurs every four years. "The fact is that every four years, in August or September, the year before the U.S. presidential elections, there's a correction in the American market. And bitcoin correlates with the indices of the U.S. stock market. If we look at 2023, we will see this as well. In 2019, bitcoin plummeted by 61%. In 2015, the decline was about 40%. In 2011, we saw a 'black swan' of 82.5%. So, every year before the halving and the American elections, we see a decline in bitcoin."

– Wall Street legend, analyst, and trader Peter Brandt already allowed for a drop in the bitcoin price back in May, as he identified a pattern on the price chart known as a "pennant" or "flag," indicative of "bearish consequences." Now, he has warned that bitcoin may break out of the upward trend that began in January 2023, as it approaches a critical price region. The expert clarified that a close below $24,800 will damage the daily and weekly charts and increase the likelihood that the bullish impulse in BTC will fail. 

– Another analyst, publishing under the pseudonym Credible Crypto, noted that the current market scenario closely resembles what was observed in 2020. Back then, the leading digital currency rose in price from approximately $16,000 to $60,000 within a few months. The specialist stated that the market's flagship is now "taking a breather" after the price increase since the beginning of this year. According to the analyst, this is a normal correction. The current situation almost entirely reflects the price movement dynamics of bitcoin from March to August 2020. What's happening now, in his opinion, indicates that the goal is asset accumulation. Credible Crypto pointed out that bitcoin began a "parabolic rally" in 2020 precisely after such a phase. "The breakout from the accumulation range last time triggered the next step upward, causing BTC's price to soar." And according to the expert, this time bitcoin has twice as much time, or about 4 months, to do it again in 2023. Meanwhile, the analyst emphasized that his forecast will become invalid if the digital gold's quotations fall below $24,800. (This is the support level that Peter Brandt also identified as critical.)

– Since 2018, criminal groups from North Korea have conducted over 30 hacking attacks, stealing digital assets totaling around $2 billion, according to a report by TRM Labs. In just the first seven months of 2023, hackers from North Korea stole about $200 million in cryptocurrency. However, analysts note that criminal activity has significantly decreased compared to the previous year. At that time, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Korean government-controlled group Lazarus carried out the largest hack in history, stealing $625 million from the crypto project Ronin Bridge.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that North Korea continues to develop its nuclear program, and an important source of its funding is becoming the funds obtained from attacks on bitcoin exchanges.
 

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– The digital gold market has reached a stage of extreme apathy and exhaustion, with volatility indicators at the beginning of the week hitting record low levels. This conclusion was drawn by Glassnode analysts. To support their statement, the experts pointed to the Bollinger Bands spread narrowing to 2.9%. Lower values were observed only twice in history: 1) in September 2016, when quotes were at $604 ahead of the bull market's onset, and 2) in January 2023, when the price traded between $52 and was at $16,800.
Such low volatility reflects a situation where the acquisition cost of most coins moving on the blockchain is very close to the spot price. For this reason, realized gains and losses are relatively small. "This suggests that all investors wanting to lock in profits or losses at this price range have done so. The market needs to take steps to incentivize new spending and break the investors' apathy," the specialists explained.

– Michael Van De Poppe, a trader, analyst, and founder of Eight Venture Company, posits that we're currently in the second phase of capitulation. This phase is often perceived as the most uneventful period in the cycle, making it feel as though the markets are stagnant. "Stay patient and find solace in the fact that you're still engaged in the market. Continue to accumulate positions," Van De Poppe suggests. He emphasizes that as major corporations make their moves, the smartest strategy is to follow their lead. He believes that for bitcoin to experience substantial growth, it needs to break the $29,700 barrier. Once this is achieved, its next significant milestone will be reaching $40,000.

– Kevin Kelly, the co-founder and head of research at Delphi Digital, has identified signs of an early bull rally. According to Kelly, a typical crypto cycle begins when bitcoin reaches an all-time high (ATH), followed by an 80% drop. Roughly two years later, it rebounds to its previous ATH and continues to ascend to a new peak. This pattern typically spans about four years.
Kelly believes this trend isn't arbitrary and aligns with a "broader business cycle." He observed that bitcoin's price peak often coincides with the ISM manufacturing index, which is currently in the final phase of a downtrend. This situation reminds Kelly of the market dynamics between 2015 and 2017.
He pointed out that the last two bitcoin halvings occurred approximately 18 months after the asset hit its lowest point and seven months before it broke its historical high. The next halving is anticipated in April 2024. Following that, Kelly estimates that about six months later, bitcoin might reach a new ATH. However, he cautioned that there's no certainty this scenario will play out as described. He also speculated on the possibility of a "false bottom" emerging.

– An analyst known as Ignas has also conducted a cyclical analysis and predicts a bitcoin bull market in 2024. He bases his projection on a recurrent sequence observed in the primary cryptocurrency over the years: 1. A descent of 80% from its all-time high (ATH), bottoming out a year later (4th quarter of 2022). 2. A two-year period to recover and reach its preceding peak (4th quarter of 2024). 3. An additional year of price appreciation leading to a new ATH (Q4 2025).
Ignas notes that in 2022, the cryptocurrency sector grappled with macroeconomic hurdles. However, current indications suggest an improving landscape. The anticipated bitcoin halving in April 2024 might align with a worldwide uptick in liquidity, potentially fuelling the expected bull run. Furthermore, emerging applications for bitcoin and the initiation of spot bitcoin ETFs, once greenlit by the SEC, are likely to have a consequential impact on its price.

– Based on a survey conducted by the popular blogger and analyst known as PlanB, 60% of respondents believe that a bull market will commence following the halving. PlanB himself estimates that by the time of this event, BTC will be valued at around $55,000. Indications for the coin's potential rise to this level are suggested by the Bitcoin forecasting model S2F, which was developed by him.

– Since November 2022, the Russian rouble has depreciated by approximately 65% (from 50 to 100 roubles per $1). This devaluation has allowed miners in Russia to earn substantially more since mining costs have remained constant. This has sparked a significant surge, despite international sanctions. Representatives from the company BitCluster have shared that orders for large batches of equipment (of 10, 20, or even 30 MW) are coming in almost daily. "The market simply can't construct new data centres fast enough to meet the demand. Major clients find themselves waiting for months," shared sources at BitCluster.
A significant portion of the demand comes from Chinese miners who are migrating from the US to Russia. However, there remain inherent risks in conducting this business in Russia due to the near absence of regulatory oversight.

– The author of the best-selling financial book "Rich Dad Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, dubbed gold and silver as "God's money," while designating bitcoin as the "dollar of the people." "I have an affinity for bitcoin primarily because we both oppose the same entities - the US Federal Government, its Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and Wall Street. I hold no trust in them. If you trust them, then keep your savings in dollars; you'll essentially have an IOU," he expressed.
He further opined, "Bitcoin seems to be on a trajectory towards $100,000. The downside: if there's a crash in the stock and bond markets, we might see gold and silver prices soaring astronomically. Even grimmer, a collapse of the global economy could see bitcoin valued at a million, with gold potentially costing $75,000 and silver around $60,000. The magnitude of the national debt is alarming, putting everyone in a precarious position," Kiyosaki commented. He concluded with, "I sincerely hope I'm mistaken.". 

– Goldman Sachs strategists anticipate that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut its key interest rate in the second quarter of 2024. Such a move is expected to provide a boost to BTC's price. The motivation behind this rate cut could be the inflation reaching its target rate of 2.0%. However, Goldman Sachs acknowledges that the Fed's actions remain unpredictable, and the rate might linger at its peak level for an extended period.
For context: According to the CME FedWatch Tool, 68% of market participants expect that by May 2024, the rate will be reduced by at least 25 basis points.

– American political commentator Jon Stewart accused Wall Street, the global financial hub, of corruption and compared its operations to the schemes of Sam Bankman-Fried, the head of the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX. "His objective was to sow discord in certain parts of the financial system, namely the cryptocurrency sector. When I look at the intricate workings of Wall Street, it doesn't seem much different from what Bankman-Fried was up to," Stewart stated.

– Well-known trader and analyst, Dave_the_Wave, who has a reputation for accurate predictions, has cautioned that bitcoin might undergo a major correction by the end of 2023. He suggests that bitcoin could drop to the lower end of its Logarithmic Growth Curve (LGC), marking an approximate decline of 38% from its high this year. However, Dave_the_Wave also points out a silver lining: as bitcoin experiences heightened price stabilization from a macroeconomic standpoint, it's gradually shedding its volatility and evolving into a more stable investment asset.
 

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– Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist and businessman who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, has now expressed his disillusionment. "As the creator of bitcoin, I am both fascinated and disappointed by how far the so-called cryptocurrency industry has deviated from bitcoin's original vision," he wrote. Wright insists that bitcoin was never intended to be an investment or a store of value. Yet, the focus has now shifted towards speculation, quick profits, and "pump and dump" strategies. "It's saddening to see so much attention given to the price, rather than the transformative power of the technology," laments the scientist.

– Adam Back, one of the leading figures in the crypto industry and CEO of Blockstream, has wagered a million satoshi (0.01 BTC) that the price of bitcoin will reach $100,000 before the next halving. The bet was the result of a wager made with a user of platform X (formerly Twitter) under the pseudonym Vikingo. Vikingo believes that the 'digital gold' will not achieve this price level until at least 2025. The head of Blockstream is confident it will happen by March 31, 2024, which is roughly a month before the halving. Blockstream's former Director of Strategy and now CEO of Jan3, Samson Mow, agreed with his former colleague. He also anticipates a new all-time high will be reached before the halving, not after.
At the time of writing, a bet of 1 million satoshi is approximately worth $290. Considering Adam Back's net worth is estimated to be between $100-300 million, the bet amount elicited a number of cheeky comments. Some users even offered to provide the entrepreneur with financial assistance.

– The popular analyst known as PlanB, who created the S2F (Stock-to-Flow) bitcoin forecasting model, believes that by the time of the next halving, BTC will be valued at around $55,000. The S2F model's signals indicate the likelihood of the coin moving to this price point.
Opinions gathered by the BeInCrypto editorial team vary from PlanB's prediction. For instance, analysts from Seeking Alpha believe that the cryptocurrency should be priced at about $98,000 for miners to remain profitable after the halving event.

– Mayor of Miami and U.S. presidential candidate, Francis Xavier Suarez, told CoinDesk TV in an interview that his election campaign is accepting donations in the leading cryptocurrency. Supporters of the politician can donate a minimum of 0.00034 BTC or an equivalent of $1.
"Nobody wants the federal government to know how much money you have and where you keep it," Suarez stated. "The biggest mistake made by this administration [under President Biden] is that they don't understand the crypto industry, so they've resorted to a heavy-handed regulatory approach instead of establishing basic rules.".

– Trader, analyst, and founder of the venture company Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, debunked investors' speculations about the first cryptocurrency's price plummeting to the $12,000 mark and reassured those talking about a total capitulation of altcoins.
"The bear market has been ongoing for over two years," he wrote, making it the longest market in cryptocurrency history. However, this is unsurprising against the backdrop of hacks, bankruptcies, and legal disputes in the crypto industry. From the analyst's observations, bearish sentiments are most often found among those who invested in digital assets for the first time in 2021. "For them, the slow loss of money feels extremely painful, and they only anticipate further portfolio value decline," noted the expert.
In his view, we are currently in the second stage of capitulation – the most boring period of the cycle where it seems like nothing is happening in the markets. "Be patient, take solace in the fact that you're still in the game, accumulate positions. [...] Major companies are entering the fray, and the wisest thing you can do is follow their lead," Van De Poppe advised.

– Founder of the charitable foundation The Bitcoin Foundation, Charles Shrem, believes that the issuance of stablecoins by PayPal (PYUSD) will lead to an increase in the price of bitcoin to at least $250,000 much faster than anticipated. In his view, ETH will surge at an accelerated pace to $18,000 since PYUSD is issued on the Ethereum blockchain. Consequently, the value of this altcoin may rise due to an increased number of network users brought by PayPal clients.
It remains a mystery why Shrem believes PYUSD will positively impact bitcoin's price. A crypto trader known by the pseudonym Smitty thinks that the issuance of stablecoins will, on the contrary, result in a decrease in BTC's value, as it will boost the investment appeal of its competitor, ETH.

– The primary digital asset has been held within a narrow trading range for two months, and network indicators point to accumulation in anticipation of a price breakout. According to the Blockware Intelligence newsletter, the volume of liquid and highly liquid supply is at its lowest level since 2018. Speculative traders swap a decreasing number of coins back and forth, while long-term holders consistently resort to cold storage, Blockware stated.

– Prominent trader, Tone Vays, noted that selling pressure is on the rise and the price of the foremost cryptocurrency could significantly decline. "Bitcoin continues to struggle, but I'd say there's a high probability of the BTC rate dropping to the next moving average. And if daily candles keep closing below the previous ones, I'd advise reducing the position by 50% because I can't pinpoint to what levels bitcoin might drop. It could potentially fall to $25,000. There are enough people in the market who, for some reason, keep selling their coins," the analyst writes.
Tone Vays is convinced: if bitcoin does drop to $25,000, there's a high likelihood of further long-term decline. From an expert's perspective, the primary cryptocurrency "stands on the edge of a cliff, and things are looking grim." "The price needs to rebound immediately, I mean, within this month. We can't afford to decline for another month; otherwise, panic will ensue in the market, and I wouldn't be surprised if BTC trades below $20,000. Moreover, miners might start offloading their reserves, which is highly risky," the specialist warns.
It's worth noting that in late May, Vays predicted a swift rise of the premier cryptocurrency above $30,000. The forecast turned out to be accurate; however, BTC couldn't sustain that level.

– The Arkham Intelligence platform has offered a $46,000 reward for credible information leading to the perpetrator behind the FTX exchange hack. It's worth noting that on November 11, 2022, FTX suffered a theft of crypto assets amounting to approximately $400 million. On the same day, the exchange filed for bankruptcy. To claim the reward, individuals are required not only to identify the hacker but also to provide indisputable evidence of the individual's guilt. Submissions for this bounty must be made by August 17.
Miguel Morel, CEO of Arkham, has expressed that the platform will persistently support such investigations in the future to deter potential offenders.
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Michael Novogratz, the CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners, shared his investment advice in a recent Bloomberg interview. "For young investors who are comfortable with taking risks, I would advise buying Alibaba stocks and investing in silver, gold, bitcoin, and ethereum, which would make up my $100,000 portfolio," he said. For those who are more cautious, he recommends allocating only 30% of their investment to this portfolio, with the remaining balance to be invested in bonds and index funds.
Novogratz's confidence in the future of bitcoin has been bolstered after the largest investment company, BlackRock, filed for a spot bitcoin ETF. The businessman noted that Larry Fink, BlackRock's CEO, had never believed in bitcoin, but has now changed his opinion. "Now, he's saying that BTC will be a global currency, and people worldwide will trust it. He's taken the orange pill. He believes in bitcoin," said Michael Novogratz.

– Peter Brandt, a legendary trader and veteran of the financial industry, believes that over time, bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, will "emerge from the shadow" of more traditional investment assets like stocks and gold, and in the future, it will be bitcoin that sets the tone in the financial market.
Brandt emphasized that U.S. regulators will certainly approve the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs. However, the analyst believes this approval, and even the halving, won't be news. Following these events, instead of rising, the price of BTC could decline. "In 48 years of speculation," Brandt writes, "I have always found that markets anticipate events before they happen." The Wall Street legend advises always adhering to the adage, "Buy on the rumour, sell on the facts."

– Robert Kiyosaki, the investor and author of the financial bestseller "Rich Dad Poor Dad", has stated that he still favours bitcoin, along with gold and silver. He has noted that the rise in the stock market won't save the U.S. economy as it occurred solely due to President Joe Biden raising the debt ceiling.

– Fernando Perez Algaba, a prominent crypto and forex influencer who disappeared on July 18, was found dead in Argentina, according to media reports. A group of children discovered the millionaire's mutilated body in a suitcase. His head was later found in a backpack, which had been shot three times.
Algaba, in the months prior to his death, had been sharing photos of his opulent lifestyle with his nearly 920,000 Instagram followers. He had also recounted a fairy tale-like story to the media about his rise from a simple pizza delivery man to a highly successful "Forex and crypto trader". However, it came to light at some point that Algaba was grappling with escalating debts, tax complications, and monetary demands from investors in a crypto scheme that he admitted had "spiralled out of control".
A threat to gouge out his eyes and cut off his hands was received by Algaba a week before his assassination. The New York Post reported that one suspect has already been apprehended by the police in relation to the murder of the crypto millionaire.

– Cryptocurrency traders lost digital assets amounting to $303 million due to hacking attacks in July, according to experts from CertiK. The latest major breach involved an attack on DEX Curve Finance's stablecoin pools, exploiting a vulnerability in the Vyper code. The exchange lost digital assets worth about $52 million. It's worth noting that, as per data from PeckShield, the crypto industry experienced at least 395 hacks from January to June 2023, resulting in a theft of approximately $480 million.

– Billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper, in an interview with FOX Business, stated that the acceptance of the first cryptocurrency, bitcoin, by the world is simply a matter of time. "Retailers will eventually recognize the 2% savings they could make by accepting bitcoin, eliminating the need to pay banks and credit card companies," he explained.
Draper repeated his prediction in July that the value of bitcoin would ascend to $250,000, a milestone he expects will be reached by 2025. Notably, Draper had made the same price prediction back in 2018, although he then envisaged that bitcoin would hit this mark by 2022, a forecast that evidently did not materialize.

– An analyst under the pseudonym TechDev forecasts a slightly lower but still significant figure for BTC. To predict the price of BTC, he relies on the behaviour of traditional financial markets, such as the price of 10-year Chinese government bonds, the dynamics of the Dollar Index, as well as the balance sheets of Central Banks in major countries, and so on. According to him, the coin's price closely follows global liquidity indicators, and the current economic cycle should once again conclude with a substantial increase in the money supply. Therefore, bitcoin is gearing up for growth.
The analyst believes that the logarithmic growth curve indicator, which overlooks short-term asset fluctuations, suggests that by 2025, the leading cryptocurrency will reach a level of $140,000. "Note that this is a very rough approximation, based on specific parameters of the indicator and the steepness of the momentum," TechDev warned. He also noted that another indicator, Bollinger Bands, is in a very narrow range. The last time bitcoin exited such a range, a full-scale bull trend began.

– According to Crystal Blockchain, an analytics firm, Ukraine has received $225 million in cryptocurrencies since February 2022 to counteract the deployment of Russian troops. The bulk of these donations have been in USDT ($83 million), ethereum ($79 million), and bitcoin ($41 million), with additional contributions made in other cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, Russia has also solicited cryptocurrencies for military expenditure, though the total collected is significantly less, ranging between $2 million to $8 million. 

– George Milling-Stanley, the Chief Gold Strategist at State Street Global Advisors, maintains that bitcoin cannot be considered a replacement for gold due to the risk of extensive losses. He emphasized that gold has a history spanning 6,000 years during which it has repeatedly proven its reliability and value, whereas bitcoin has only been around for a dozen years. "Bitcoin's volatility merely refutes claims that the primary cryptocurrency is a long-term strategic asset and can compete with gold. Gold is a hedge against inflation. Gold is insurance against a stock market fall. Gold is insurance against a weakening dollar," the strategist stated.
Notably, State Street Global Advisors manages the world's largest physically backed gold ETF. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that George Milling-Stanley is defending the positions of the precious metal. 

– Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of BitMEX exchange, has published an article in which he predicts the flagship cryptocurrency will skyrocket to $760,000. In his view, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects into the bitcoin blockchain will significantly increase the coin's attractiveness as the base asset of the ecosystem.
Hayes believes that ethereum should exhibit a similar development model. If AI-based projects are integrated into this altcoin, the investment attractiveness of ETH, the primary transaction tool in the network, will greatly intensify. In this case, the altcoin could appreciate by 1,556%. Thus, the BitMEX co-founder doesn't rule out the possibility that ETH might soar to $31,063.
Another factor Hayes considers will stimulate the growth of ETH over the next five years is the expansion of the decentralized finance (DeFi) market. The majority of protocols in this ecosystem are based on ethereum, and their popularity continues to increase. The growth in the number of decentralized exchange (DEX) users will lead to a rise in ETH transaction volumes and, consequently, an increase in the altcoin's price.

– A CME Group report reveals that ETH/BTC exhibits almost zero correlation with changes in interest rates, gold futures, and crude oil. However, it is significantly influenced by factors such as the strength of the U.S. dollar, changes in bitcoin market supply, and the performance of tech company stocks. The research states that ETH is more vulnerable to USD, and the ETH/BTC pair is more influenced by changes in BTC supply than ETH. Simultaneously, ETH often grows relative to BTC on days when tech company stocks increase in value.
According to CME Group economists' predictions: 1) ETH/BTC will follow the price dynamics of bitcoin. This is due to the fact that ETH strongly correlates with BTC, yet it's more volatile than bitcoin. 2) Increased demand for BTC due to geopolitical factors will also strengthen ETH. 3) ETH will strengthen ahead of the bitcoin halving in 2024, assuming BTC's price increases. However, the analysts noted that the growth in demand for crypto assets, which was very strong during the first eight years of bitcoin's existence, has noticeably slowed down in the past five years. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the halving will lead to a price increase for both BTC and ETH.

– A survey conducted on the financial platform Finder has given insights into the future prospects of Ethereum. Industry experts who took part in the survey predict that Ethereum (ETH) will reach an average value of $2,400 by the end of 2023. Furthermore, they estimate that Ethereum's price will escalate to $5,845 by the end of 2025, and by 2030 it will rise to $16,414. It's important to highlight that 56% of these experts believe the present time is the most favourable for purchasing ETH. Approximately 41% recommend holding onto the cryptocurrency, while a meagre 4% suggest selling it.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Robert Kennedy Jr., a U.S. presidential candidate from the Democratic Party, advocates for the support of the U.S. dollar using hard assets such as gold, silver, platinum, and bitcoin. The politician believes that this move could stabilize the economy, curb inflation, and usher in a new era of financial stability and prosperity in America.
Market strategist Todd "Bubba" Horwitz responded to Robert Kennedy Jr.'s inclusion of bitcoin in the basket of hard assets. According to him, this will enable bitcoin to reach a price of $35,000, and then $40,000, within the next six months. Horwitz highly praised the growing recognition of BTC by regulatory bodies such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which will also contribute to the growth of the leading cryptocurrency.

– The implementation of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) worldwide varies significantly: projects are divided into retail ones, intended for citizen use, and so-called wholesale ones, geared towards interbank transfers and large businesses. Currently, 125 central banks are working on launching national CBDCs, but only three countries, Nigeria, the Bahamas, and Jamaica, have already put their CBDCs into full operation. Meanwhile, Ecuador and Haiti have abandoned this idea due to the high cost of the projects and low demand from the population. Ecuador launched its project as early as 2014 but withdrew it as the number of users did not exceed 3% of the country's population.
Even a number of senators resist the development of a digital dollar in the U.S. In a pre-emptive move, the governors of Texas and Miami banned its circulation within their states in May of this year.

– Bloomberg Senior Analyst Eric Balchunas believes that the approval of applications to launch spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. will open up the bitcoin market to $30 trillion in capital. According to forecasts by analytics firm Fundstrat, the launch of a bitcoin ETF could increase daily demand for bitcoin by $100 million. In this case, even before the halving scheduled for April 2024, the price of BTC could rise by 521% from current levels and reach up to $180,000.

– Craig Steven Wright, an Australian computer scientist and businessman, has claimed since 2016 that he invented bitcoin. He filed a lawsuit against 13 BTC developers and several crypto companies, including Blockstream, Coinbase, and Block, alleging they infringe his copyright to the first cryptocurrency.
However, Wright lost the copyright lawsuit in February. The court deemed his arguments insufficient. Now, a UK court has satisfied an appeal that has granted Wright the right to claim copyright over bitcoin.
Whether Wright truly created bitcoin and hid under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto will be determined by the court during a trial in January 2024. "Copyright protection issues will be resolved during a full court hearing, but only if Dr. Wright demonstrates that he is Satoshi Nakamoto," the court statement said. Meanwhile, Wright's lawyers stated that he is "pleased" with the outcome of the case and acknowledged his high chances of winning.

– Experts at SlowMist reported the discovery of a phishing program in the App Store aimed at stealing user data and cryptocurrencies. It mimics legitimate applications and thereby ends up on the user's device. The victim is then asked to enter their Apple ID password. Once they have this information, the malicious actors add their phone numbers to the trusted list for Apple's two-factor authentication. This allows them to control account permissions and gain full access to its contents. To mask their activity, the hackers create additional Apple IDs and use the victim's resources through the family account access feature. 

– Just like on traditional markets, changes in investor sentiment on the crypto market follow certain patterns. Considering the so-called "Wall Street Cheat Sheet," which describes the psychology of market cycles and the corresponding emotions of traders, after passing through the pessimistic phases of "panic," "capitulation," and "depression," bitcoin is moving towards the "hope" stage.
According to analyst CryptoYoddha's chart, the cryptocurrency is currently going through the "disbelief" or "sucker's rally" stage. The next step is the "hope" of price recovery, potentially to $50,000 and above by the end of 2023. The upward movement will correspond to the passage through the stages of "optimism," "belief," "thrill," and finally, "euphoria."

– An analyst known as Trader Tardigrade believes that bitcoin is replicating the same price structure as it did in the period from 2013 to 2018, when it followed the pattern of transitioning from the "previous peak" to the "top-1", which preceded "top-2" and the "retest" (the stage at which bitcoin currently stands). If this model holds true, the next step would be a price "boom" which could lead to bitcoin rising to $400,000 by 2026.

– According to another expert, Stockmoney Lizards, bitcoin has just emerged from its third historical cycle, during which it reached an all-time high of $68,900, and has entered its fourth price cycle. The culmination of this cycle could be a new record between $150,000 and $200,000 in Q2 or Q3 of 2025.

– Cody Buffington, the host of the Altcoin Buzz YouTube channel, holds the view that a surge in bitcoin's volatility will occur sooner than everyone anticipates. According to him, the upcoming volatility of the flagship cryptocurrency could rival its growth since January 2023.
Buffington noted that in July, the price of bitcoin oscillated in a narrow range around the $30,000 mark, which served as a kind of test for both bulls and bears. And more often than not, such flat trading occurs before major movements. As proof, he pointed to the Bollinger Bands and a visual display of the indicator, which shows that the bitcoin price chart is in its narrowest state since the start of 2023.

– Ripple recently released a review examining the impact of the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry on business and the financial sector. According to the document, more than 90% of global financial leaders believe that blockchain technology will significantly influence business and finance over the next three years, indicating a substantial increase in their confidence in virtual currencies. 79% of business leaders expressed interest and confidence in using cryptocurrencies in their business. When considering various areas of cryptocurrency application, 44% of financiers chose their use for cross-border payments. Moreover, over 76% of company leaders are interested in institutional DeFi as a strategy for implementing innovations.

– According to a survey of 29 analysts conducted by Finder.com, their median forecast is as follows. Experts expect that by the end of the year, BTC will rise to $38,488, while the potential peak of bitcoin in 2023 could reach $42,000. By the end of 2025, according to the averaged opinion of analysts, the coin's price could reach $100,000, and by the end of 2030 - $280,000.
Naturally, individual forecasts of experts varied. Overall, the majority of survey participants (59%) are optimistic about BTC and believe that now is a good time to enter the market, 34% simply advise holding the existing cryptocurrency, and 7% suggest selling it.

– At present, there is a certain hype around the artificial intelligence industry. Experts from the publication Finbold decided to ask Google Bard, a machine learning system, how much the flagship of the crypto market will cost after the long-awaited halving in 2024.
The AI noted that several factors could influence this, but bitcoin is very likely to reach a new all-time high. This will be facilitated not only by halving, but also by a more global implementation of BTC, as well as interest from institutional investors. Speaking of specific figures, Google Bard noted that after the halving, the coin could on a sharp impulse reach the $100,000 mark. On the other hand, Google Bard highlighted factors that could limit the growth of bitcoin. The AI also did not rule out the possibility that the crypto winter may continue in 2024.

– Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, which created the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has launched his own cryptocurrency, Worldcoin, based on a blockchain system that uses eye recognition for user authentication and distinguishes between humans and bots. On July 24, the Binance cryptocurrency exchange listed the Worldcoin (WLD) token and preliminary trading began in the newly added spot pairs WLD/BTC and WLD/USDT.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Mike Novogratz, the CEO of blockchain company Galaxy Digital, recommends buying bitcoin, pointing to the rising US national debt. In just the first week of July, the country's debt to creditors has increased by $1 trillion, reaching a total of $32.47 trillion. It is evident that this could destabilize the financial system, lead to another round of inflation, and result in a drop in the dollar's value. "This is madness... Buy bitcoin," Novogratz urged in response to a publication about the escalating debt of the United States.

– However, not everyone, like Mike Novogratz, foresees a bright future for BTC. According to the educational project 99bitcoins, bitcoin has been declared dead 474 times. The published "obituaries" spoke of the "insolvency and uselessness" of the primary cryptocurrency, asserting that the Bitcoin network is a "bubble," an "elaborate Ponzi scheme," and a "cryptocurrency dummy, with no real substantiated value."
Among the authors of these "posthumous messages" in 2023, there were quite a few well-known names in the financial world. These included Chamath Palihapitiya, the founder and CEO of venture company Social Capital; Robin Brooks, the chief economist of the Institute of International Finance (IIF); Harvey Jones from the British news agency Daily Express; Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase; TV host Jim Cramer; and John Reed Stark, a former official of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Vitalik Buterin has recently also criticized bitcoin. In the view of the creator of ethereum, the flagship cryptocurrency lacks scalable second-layer solutions to become more than just a payment network.

– Crypto market experts have drawn the results for Q2 2023. These three months proved to be turbulent, and the industry experienced a series of ups and downs. Most high-capitalization projects displayed negative dynamics during this period, primarily due to ongoing legal disputes between the SEC and major crypto exchanges Binance and Coinbase. This had a significant negative impact on many coins in the TOP-100, as the SEC classified them as securities.
However, amidst the turbulence, bitcoin, and some other digital currencies, such as BCH and LTC, demonstrated high performance. According to the CryptoRank report, their success was driven by news related to exchange-traded funds and institutional listings. Bitcoin, in particular, delivered an impressive return that outperformed traditional financial instruments, overshadowing the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes, as well as gold and silver, in the first half of 2023.
Undoubtedly, one of the most significant events was the application for a spot bitcoin ETF by BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. This event particularly benefited BTC, which reached a new high for 2023. BlackRock's initiative started a chain of events where numerous asset managers also began either renewing or submitting new applications for spot bitcoin ETFs. It is important to note that the SEC has previously rejected all such applications. In this case, a final decision on BlackRock's application is expected no earlier than the middle of Q3 2023 and no later than mid-March 2024, just a month before the next BTC halving.

– The crypto market traditionally experiences a lull during the summer. Admittedly, trading volumes increased in June thanks to spot bitcoin ETF applications from BlackRock and other companies, but overall, Q2 witnessed a decrease in trading activity. According to CryptoRank, crypto exchanges recorded a decline in trading volume in Q2, reaching the lowest level in the last two years.

– The bitcoin halving in 2024 is tentatively set to take place on April 12. It has the potential to exert a fundamental influence on both the price of BTC and the overall cryptocurrency market, as it is a crucial mechanism in the primary cryptocurrency's protocol. Every 210,000 blocks, or once every four years, it halves the reward that miners receive for mining a block. This is done to create a deflationary environment and to support the value of BTC by reducing the rate of new coin issuance. (The total emission size is set at 21 million coins.)
Originally, from 2009, miners received 50 BTC for each generated block. In 2012, the reward decreased to 25 BTC, in 2016 – to 12.5 BTC, and after 2020 – to 6.25 BTC. When the 2024 halving occurs, the mining reward will be reduced to 3.125 coins.
Historical data suggest that after this event, the bitcoin exchange rate may once again sharply increase. After the 2012 halving, the BTC price rose from $11 in November 2012 to $1,100 in November 2013. Following the 2016 halving, the price increased from $640 in July to $20,000 in December 2017. The 2020 halving enabled the coin's price to rise from $9,000 in May 2020 to a peak of $69,000 in November 2021. However, despite this statistic, experts warn that past results do not guarantee their repetition in the future.

– After the 2024 halving and the halving of the reward for a mined block, miners will have to adapt to a new reality. They will need to acquire more powerful and energy-efficient equipment or upgrade their existing ones. According to forecasts, many small companies will most likely leave the market or be acquired by larger players. As a result, we should expect the mining market to become centralized, falling under the control of a few large pools. This would make the network more susceptible to manipulations and hacking attacks. However, a sharp increase in the price of bitcoin could at least partially offset these negative factors.

– Analysts asked ChatGPT to talk about some potential events that could have a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market. The Artificial Intelligence's response was as follows:
1. Regulation: Legislative or regulatory changes in key countries can greatly affect the cryptocurrency market. If important jurisdictions adopt laws that severely limit the use or trade of cryptocurrencies, it could strongly affect their prices and accessibility.
2. Large-scale hacking attacks: If large-scale hacking attacks occur on major cryptocurrency exchanges or wallets, it could cause panic in the market and lead to significant losses.
3.Technological breakthroughs: New technologies or improvements in blockchain and cryptocurrencies can also have a significant impact. This can include new consensus protocols, improved scalability, or enhanced privacy protection methods.
4. Large companies' investments: If major companies like Apple, Google, or Amazon start actively investing in cryptocurrencies or integrating them into their services, it could significantly increase the value of cryptocurrencies and overall interest in them.
5. Global economic events: Cryptocurrencies are often considered a "safe haven" during economic instability. So global economic crises or significant changes in inflation, interest rates, or currency exchange rates could also influence the crypto market.

– The former CEO of BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, Arthur Hayes, has speculated that bitcoin might become the ideal currency for artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In his opinion, digital gold is superior to other assets in this respect, as it possesses characteristics such as decentralization, resistance to censorship, proven deficit, and dependence of intrinsic value on energy costs. "There is nothing today that can compare to bitcoin in these parameters," wrote Hayes.
He believes that in the future, investors may reevaluate the first cryptocurrency due to its "adoption" by artificial intelligence. According to Hayes, this will occur due to a desire to "avoid inflation in the fiat financial system" and to "capture part of the next phase of human and computer evolution." The former CEO of BitMEX added that by 2025-2026, the AI economy will account for up to 50% of global GDP, against which backdrop bitcoin will reach $760,000.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– As of the end of June, the primary cryptocurrency holdings belonging to Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the nephew of the 35th US president and a current electoral candidate, reached $250,000. This was revealed by a financial report discovered by CNBC. Kennedy's representatives confirmed that the funds are personally his.
Interestingly, during the Bitcoin-2023 conference, this presidential candidate called digital assets "a symbol of democracy and freedom," yet denied his investments in cryptocurrency. "I'm not an investor, and I'm not here to give investment advice," stated this electoral race participant at the time.

– Standard Chartered bank specialists predicted in April that bitcoin would reach $100,000 by the end of 2024. The figures from the July forecast look slightly higher. According to analysts, the price of bitcoin could exceed $50,000 this year, and by the end of next year, it might reach $120,000. "Increased miner profitability per mined BTC means they can sell less, preserving the inflow of funds, which reduces the net supply of the asset and leads to a price increase," explained Geoff Kendrick, the bank's analyst.

– The involvement of major investment firms in the race to launch spot bitcoin ETFs suggests that the leading cryptocurrency is no longer a "passing fad," stated Michael Sonnenshein, the CEO of Grayscale Investments. According to him, market participants are "responding positively to the inclusion of traditional financial institutions in bitcoin." "Recent news [...] underscores the resilience of this asset class in a broader sense, and many investors view [digital gold] as a unique investment opportunity," Sonnenshein added.

– Meta's new network Threads, often referred to as a Twitter clone, was launched on July 5. The user base of the new platform is approaching 100 million, largely due to Instagram users, though it is still far from matching Twitter's 450 million users.
It was previously reported that in the spring, eight popular cryptocurrency accounts on Twitter were hacked, resulting in the hackers acquiring nearly $1 million. It now seems that fraudsters have also turned their attention to the new network. Developers from the decentralized finance platform Wombex Finance reported the appearance of a counterfeit duplicate account on Threads, suggesting that extortionists may be operating there. Leonidas, one of the popular NFT bloggers, reported a similar case.

– Michael Van De Poppe, the founder of venture company Eight, believes that bitcoin is preparing for a surge to $41,000. The popular analyst bases his opinion on the recent rise in the price of the leading cryptocurrency and Fibonacci levels. According to him, "the previous annual high for BTC was overcome in April. And now we are seeing increasingly higher highs, as traders build upward momentum and positions." "To continue the upward trend that we call a bull cycle, bitcoin needs to reach a new and clearer high," explains Michael Van De Poppe. "There are several points that can help determine the potential for further growth using Fibonacci levels. And right now, I would say we're facing a rally up to $41,000."
"There are two scenarios - growth above the current high, followed by some consolidation and retracement before a new rise. Or consolidation at current levels, followed by accelerated growth over the next few months. For bitcoin, this is pretty standard behaviour. And then we'll move towards $41,000 or even $42,500," predicts the analyst.

– Robert Kiyosaki, an economist and the author of the well-known book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," has made another bold statement. He asserts that by 2024, bitcoin will reach a value of $120,000 per coin. Kiyosaki bases his forecast on the belief that BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will soon adopt the gold standard and release their own gold-backed cryptocurrency. This could undermine the dominance of the US dollar in the global economy and lead to its devaluation. He also warns that many traditional financial institutions may go bankrupt in the near future due to their imprudent decisions and corruption.
In light of this, Kiyosaki recommends protecting one's funds from inflation by purchasing physical and digital gold. He also believes that bitcoin is one of the best ways not only to preserve but also to increase capital amid the instability of the financial system.
(For reference: On July 11, the Russian Parliament passed a law establishing legal norms for the introduction of the digital rouble.)

– Markus Thielen, Head of Research at crypto financial service Matrixport, forecasts a similar figure, albeit not at the start but by the end of 2024. He stated in an interview with CoinDesk that the quotations of the premier cryptocurrency could exceed the $125,000 mark by the end of next year. "On June 22, bitcoin reached a new annual high. Historically, this signal indicated the end of bearish and the beginning of bullish markets," he explained.
According to Thielen, the price of bitcoin could skyrocket by 123% over 12 months and by 310% over a year and a half. With such growth, the asset's price would rise to $65,539 and $125,731 respectively. The expert's forecast is based on the average returns of similar signals in the past: in August 2012, December 2015, May 2019, and August 2020. Thielen deliberately ignores the first case with a growth of 5,285% over 18 months, describing it as "epic" and "disproportional."

– Guy Turner, the host of the popular cryptocurrency channel Coin Bureau on YouTube, believes that in the medium term, there are two factors in favor of a massive growth of ethereum. The main one is the EIP-4844 update, which is expected to introduce a preliminary sharding (segmentation) mechanism for the network of the main altcoin. This update will be extremely important as it could, theoretically, give Ethereum the ability to scale on par with centralized systems.
The show host also noted that the issue of privacy remains very important. According to him, the developers of the second-largest cryptocurrency remain extremely concerned about this issue. "The huge focus on privacy and security is not surprising if you think about institutional investors. For them, it's a cornerstone," Turner highlighted. He recalled that Vitalik Buterin has raised this issue repeatedly, calling it "one of the three problems that need to be solved, otherwise ethereum will collapse.".

– Analyst and trader Michael Pizzino believes that a fall in the US dollar could lead to price increases for cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, SOL, MATIC, XRP, Gala, and Render. In his opinion, the dollar is ready for a sharp devaluation. However, the expert does not consider an apocalyptic scenario of the collapse of the main global currency, since the dynamics of its exchange rate are slower than for other classes of financial assets.
Still, Pizzino predicts a steady downward trend for USD in the foreseeable period and a redistribution of funds in favor of digital assets. The macrographic chart suggests their upward trend, and considering the correlation between USD and BTC, a decline in the former could contribute to an increase in the value of the latter, which would then be followed by an increase in the value of other crypto assets. 

– Lightning Labs, a company specializing in software development, has unveiled its latest product: a plugin for ChatGPT that allows sending Bitcoin payments. Lightning Labs also presented a set of tools for developers that allow AI models like GPT to carry out bitcoin transactions on the Lightning Network. This step aims to bring AI technologies closer to the world of cryptocurrency, paves the way for new innovations, and promotes the development of this field.
 

Notice: These materials should not be deemed a recommendation for investment or guidance for working on financial markets: they are for informative purposes only. Trading on financial markets is risky and can lead to a loss of money deposited.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Numerous Twitter users, including many cryptocurrency traders and investors, have voiced complaints against Elon Musk. The discontent was tied to the billionaire and new owner of the social network implementing a series of restrictions. Starting from July 1, 2023, verified users are able to view up to 6,000 posts per day, while unverified users are limited to only 600. At the same time, this limit is further reduced to 300 posts for new accounts.
According to several experts, these new restrictions may have a negative impact on the crypto market. Many industry participants have been receiving a large amount of important information via Twitter. However, it has now become significantly more difficult to obtain current data and news.
Musk himself assured that this measure is temporary and is necessary in order to reduce the load on the system's internal servers. He said that the limits will later increase to 8,000, 800, and 400 posts, respectively.

– The rapid fall in the price of the leading cryptocurrency is only a matter of time. This was asserted by the president of Euro Pacific Capital, "gold bug" Peter Schiff, adding that he had underestimated the "bubble potential of Bitcoin." In his view, most investors do not believe in the first cryptocurrency, they merely hope that someone will buy it at a high price.
The businessman believes that stories about people losing money on cryptocurrency will overshadow those about people getting rich from it. "The peak we saw in 2021, around $70,000, that's it, and ultimately bitcoin will burst," he predicted.

– "The adoption of spot bitcoin ETFs is a major event for the crypto industry," stated Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy. "It's an important milestone on the path to institutional acceptance. I believe it's important, but I don't think bitcoin will rise overnight to $5 million."
"The approval of spot bitcoin ETF applications will make investors realize that the first cryptocurrency is a legitimate asset," the billionaire explained. "If the SEC approves applications for this asset, a user can press a button and purchase $10 million of BTC within 30 seconds." (The SEC is currently reviewing several applications for the launch of spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds. However, the Commission maintains that these applications are not sufficiently clear and comprehensive.)
For reference: MicroStrategy additionally purchased 12,333 BTC amounting to a total of $347 million between April 29 and June 27. Saylor's company now owns a total of 152,333 BTC, valued at over $4.6 billion, which were acquired at an average rate of $29,668.

– A survey revealed that 92% of Earth's inhabitants have heard of cryptocurrencies at least once. The study involved 15,158 individuals aged between 18 and 65 years from 15 countries across America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
37% of the respondents consider this asset class as part of the monetary system. However, only 15% of Britons and 17% of Germans agree with this statement. Nigerians (65%) and Argentinians (56%) are the most interested in holding digital assets, seeing them as an effective means of preserving value. Analysts attributed this to the instability of local financial systems and state currencies. 26% of those surveyed consider crypto assets to be a scam. Primarily, Americans and Britons associate cryptocurrencies with fraudulent schemes.

– Most cryptocurrency exchanges do not allow minors to trade digital assets, but parents can open accounts on their behalf and allow them to participate in trading. Youth readily engage in this activity, and there are numerous stories of children investing in Bitcoin since its inception. For instance, Erik F. received $1,000 to invest in BTC when he was 12 years old, and by the time he turned 18, he had become a millionaire thanks to it.
According to data published last year by the platform Gohenry, 1.33 million children in the UK invested money in cryptocurrency. Moreover, a study titled "Parents, Kids, and Money," conducted by T. Rowe Price, showed that 57% of children aged 8-14 are familiar with digital currencies. They are better informed about cryptocurrencies than their parents, with only 47% of parents familiar with the technology - 10% less than their kids.

– Market participants should exercise more caution when trading cryptocurrency, warned CoinDesk researchers. The fact is that starting from Q4 2022, global fiat liquidity indicators have been rapidly declining, and the rise in BTC quotes in such conditions is an anomaly. The BTC rate hit a local price bottom of $15,500 in November last year and has since doubled in price to $31,000. Moreover, just since June 15, its value has spiked by over 20%. This occurred against the backdrop of news that major companies had once again submitted applications for the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs.
According to Lewis Harland, portfolio manager at Decentral Park Capital, the situation remains complex. He confirmed that lately, tracked fiat indicators, such as the Fed's net liquidity and global net liquidity level, have significantly dropped. "This is the main reason why we are cautious about BTC, despite the market's optimistic consensus. We think that investors are overlooking this," Harland added.
The global net liquidity indicator, which takes into account the supply of fiat in several major countries, has decreased to $26.5 trillion - the lowest level since November 2022. Such data was provided by the platforms TradingView and Decentral Park Capital. 

– Crypto strategist and trader known as Bluntz, who accurately pinpointed the bottom of bitcoin's bear market in 2018, believes that ethereum is showing all the signs of a powerful rally that could occur in the coming months. According to his words, the remaining part of 2023 may set ethereum on parabolic growth, allowing the leading smart contract platform to significantly outperform BTC.
Bluntz is considered an experienced practitioner of technical analysis and, in particular, Elliott Wave Theory, which allows forecasting price behaviour following the psychology of the crowd that tends to manifest in waves.
According to this theory, a bullish asset shows a five-wave rally, with the third wave signalling the steepest rise. Bluntz suggests that ethereum is already in the early stages of the third wave's surge, which could lead to ETH approaching $4,000 by the end of 2023.

– Crypto trader Altcoin Sherpa is confident that the leading cryptocurrency may rise to $32,000 first and then to the new 2023 high of $40,000. However, he's not certain about the latter. This should be followed by a significant downward correction.
Addressing the ETH/BTC pair, Altcoin Sherpa noted that ethereum is likely to fall relative to the flagship crypto asset and target the minimum range around 0.053 BTC, or $1,614.

– Well-known crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen made a forecast about the likely price trajectory of Bitcoin and altcoins. In his opinion, compared to current levels, bitcoin could grow approximately by 14% and reach a maximum of $35,000 in 2023. "In the short term, it's really hard to say whether bitcoin can rise a bit again. For myself, I set a target of $35,000," the expert said.
Cowen also talked about what will happen to other coins if the BTC price does reach this goal. He believes this will be insignificant news for the altcoin market, as it will most likely continue to crash in pairs with Bitcoin. "Upon reaching $35,000, Bitcoin at some point must go down," argues Cowen. "I think it will have to repeat some of these movements, as usually happens in the year preceding the halving. And at this point, the altcoin market will drop a little bit more, and the dominance of Bitcoin will continue to grow. Liquidity is drying up, so people see relative safety in Bitcoin compared to the altcoin market. But this does not mean that Bitcoin cannot fall, it means that it is somewhat safer."

– Marathon Digital CEO Fred Thiel reported that the global financial market is demonstrating a decrease in correlation between two assets that investors traditionally view as effective hedges against market volatility. While the price of Bitcoin is showing explosive growth, the price of gold is gradually decreasing. Fred Thiel suggested that this not only indicates a shift in priorities in favor of digital assets but also demonstrates the widening accessibility of bitcoin to a broader circle of investors.
In April, analytical company Kaiko cited data on the correlation between BTC and XAU within 50%. At the time, according to Kaiko analyst Dessislava Aubert, this represented the strongest link between the two assets in more than a year.

– According to technical analysis data, the main cryptocurrency's rate on the BTC/USD chart may form a new "bullish flag". This opinion was expressed by experts from Fairlead Strategies. "Bitcoin is digesting its gains during the consolidation phase," they said. "A new bullish flag might be forming, which will emerge when breaking above the weekly Ichimoku cloud around $31,900."
The experts explained that this figure consists of a pole and a flag. According to them, its pole represents the initial price rally, and the flag represents the subsequent consolidation, caused by a "temporary exhaustion of bullish sentiments" and the absence of strong pressure from sellers. According to the theory of technical analysis, once an asset breaks the price above the contour of the flag, it tends to grow by an amount approximately equal to the length of the pole.
In the case of bitcoin, the upward movement from the June 15, 2023, low at $24,790 to the June 23 high at $31,388 represents the pole, and the subsequent consolidation formed the flag. According to analysts, a potential BTC breakout will allow the cryptocurrency's cost to reach the next key resistance level at $35,900.

– Venture capitalist Tim Draper has revised the timeframe within which the price of the main cryptocurrency is supposed to grow to $250,000. "I think we'll have to wait a little longer," the billionaire wrote, adding that his forecast will come true by the end of June 2025 with a 100% probability.
Draper had previously predicted that the price of bitcoin would reach $250,000 by the end of 2022. When his forecast didn't come true, he extended the timeline for its realization by another six months to mid-2023. Now he has made a new "correction", adding that the BTC price will exceed his assumptions due to the adoption of cryptocurrency by women.
However, Draper expressed concern about the regulation of digital assets. "Law enforcement regulation is killing our economy," he wrote on June 20. "I think we have a real problem because the SEC is sowing fear, and all innovators are leaving the country... This forced regulation doesn't make sense."
 

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– Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of the 35th President of the United States and participant in the current election race, outlined his plans regarding bitcoin and financial independence of citizens in an interview with The New York Post.
The candidate promised to make decisions that "support bitcoin and transaction freedom, allowing people to manage their own wallets." He clarified that he would create a relaxed regulatory environment in the U.S., which would incorporate "strict control to prevent money laundering." Kennedy also voiced opposition to a digital dollar. "I oppose central bank digital currencies because they are tools of control and oppression, and they are likely to be abused," explained the politician.
He also identified the search for ways to globally regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies as a significant challenge. Citing remarks by Elon Musk, he noted that "AI will first take away jobs, then it will kill us."
For reference: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental lawyer, radio host, and writer known for his anti-vaccination advocacy and conspiracy theories.

– Peter Schiff, President of Euro Pacific Capital, a gold enthusiast, and a fervent critic of bitcoin, claimed that there is "nothing lower quality than cryptocurrencies." "Until recently, the rally in highly speculative assets had excluded Bitcoin. Now that it has finally joined the party, it is likely to end soon," he wrote. According to Schiff, such rallies usually end when the "lowest quality things," such as digital assets, finally join them.
Recall that in March, the President of Euro Pacific Capital urged the sale of the leading cryptocurrency and buying gold amidst the issues with Silvergate Bank.

– Cameron Winklevoss, one of the founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, announced on Twitter that both institutional and retail investors have begun purchasing bitcoin. Notably, according to him, institutions are extremely interested in buying Bitcoin ahead of the approval of spot ETFs.
It's worth noting that the investment giant BlackRock recently filed an application to launch a spot Bitcoin trust, intended to simplify institutional access to the crypto market. Another investment behemoth, Invesco, which manages assets worth $1.4 trillion, has applied to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF. (MicroStrategy believes such an ETF could absorb trillions of dollars).
"The window to buy bitcoin in advance is closing. Bitcoin was the most obvious and profitable investment of the last decade. But it will remain just as beneficial in this decade!", claimed Cameron Winklevoss. Hugh Hendry, the manager of the hedge fund Eclectica Asset Management, agrees with him, suggesting that bitcoin could triple its capitalization in the medium term.

– Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise, stated in an interview with Bloomberg that the cryptocurrency market has shown incredible resilience in the face of constantly increasing regulatory pressure. The recent application by BlackRock, the largest asset management company, to launch a Bitcoin spot ETF is just one of the reasons for a new bull cycle.
"In fact, bitcoin has been gradually rising since November of last year when FTX collapsed. Meaning, cryptocurrencies grew despite all the growing anxiety. Now we have BlackRock, who has raised the flag and declared that BTC matters. That it's asset institutional investors want to invest in. I believe we've entered a new era of cryptocurrency, which I call 'prime,' and expect a multi-year bull trend that's only just beginning," argues the businessman.
The CEO of Bitwise predicts that not only cryptocurrencies will flourish, but also companies working in this industry. The businessman is expecting a multitude of new crypto firms to enter the stock market, as well as companies with large cryptocurrency reserves.
As early as 2021, Matt Hougan said that the futures-based cryptocurrency ETFs, which exist in the US market, are not particularly suitable for long-term investors due to their high ancillary costs. Only when spot exchange-traded funds for bitcoin emerge will institutional investors begin substantial capital injections.

– Popular bitcoin maximalist and advisor to the President of El Salvador, Max Keiser, believes that SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has sufficient technical and political tools to assign XRP and ETH the status of a security, which would ultimately kill these altcoins. "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) works for the banking cartel, racketeering on behalf of financial structures," Keiser wrote in his blog.
The crypto enthusiast thinks that the mere fact of XRP and ETH's fate being in the hands of regulatory bodies already suggests that these assets are too centralized and incapable of surviving without losses in the lawless and conflict-ridden environment where the SEC operates. Some opponents of the SEC argue that computer code, by definition, cannot be a security. However, Max Keiser considers this a weak and dead-end argument since the functionality and purpose of the crypto asset will play a significant role in its classification.
Recall that the Commission classified Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Coti (COTI), Algorand (ALGO), Filecoin (FIL), Cosmos (ATOM), Sandbox (SAND), Axie Infinity (AXS), and Decentraland (MANA) as securities. The crypto community practically did not react to this regulator's statement. Moreover, several cryptocurrency platforms took the SEC's statement as guidance for action and delisted to avoid possible claims.

– The next bitcoin halving, which is expected to occur in April 2024, will reduce miners' rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block. According to an analyst operating under the pseudonym InvestAnswers, such a reduction in supply from miners could catalyse a significant bullish surge.
The expert believes that further institutional adoption, including BackRock's application for a spot Bitcoin ETF, will also increase demand for the asset and further reduce supply. Apart from BlackRock, Fidelity, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole, Citadel, and Invesco have also shown activity in the crypto market. Together, they manage assets totalling $27 trillion. And bitcoin's market cap is just a little more than $0.5 trillion. Only a tiny part of this half-trillion is being traded in the market. This implies that "demand for Bitcoins is growing, and the supply is drying up. And that means the price is rising," explained InvestAnswers. 

– The main altcoin has secured its position above the key $1850 mark, and a number of analysts believe that ethereum has the potential to realize bullish momentum in the near term. For example, popular expert Ali Martinez points out that ETH may face serious resistance near the $2,000-2,060 zone, as over 832,000 addresses previously opened sales in this range. However, if ethereum overcomes this zone, it has every chance of reaching $2,330 on a sharp impulse. And in perspective, a path opens for further growth up to $2,750.
On the other hand, specialists at Santiment believe that the altcoin is currently unstable. This is due to a significant battle between buyers and sellers near the $1,900 region. However, the overall supply of ethereum on centralized platforms has decreased by 9.2%. In theory, this could provide additional support to the main altcoin.

– Futures contracts for ethereum and bitcoin will expire on Friday, June 30. According to AmberDate, more than 150 thousand BTC options will be liquidated by this deadline on the Deribit Exchange, amounting to approximately $4.57 billion. Another $2.3 billion will be allocated to ETH contracts. Experts from CoinGape believe that this could be a trigger for a serious increase in volatility in July and provide significant support to these assets. However, a lot will also depend on the macroeconomic statistics coming from the U.S.

– Morgan Creek Capital's founder and CTO, Mark Yusko, believes that bitcoin and the crypto markets have entered a bullish trajectory. In his opinion, this trend may last up until the next halving. "I think the rally is just starting. We've just entered the so-called crypto-summer season," the specialist wrote. However, he warned that a speculative explosion caused by halving is usually followed by an excessive reaction in the opposite direction, known as a crypto winter.
According to the head of Morgan Creek Capital, bitcoin is digital gold, and it is ready to replace what physical gold has done for 5,000 years. As for ethereum, Yusko thinks of it as a substitute for fiat currency.

– Ten years ago, Davinci Jeremie posted a video on YouTube in which he strongly recommended his viewers spend at least one dollar on Bitcoin, and explained why BTC would grow in the coming years. At that time, this forecast from Jeremie either angered or amused most investors who did not want to heed the recommendation. Now, they bitterly regret it - the $1 invested at that time could have bought more than 1,000 BTC, which today are valued at $30 million.
 Jeremie noted in a recent interview that bitcoin should be bought even now. According to him, only 2 percent of the world's population owns cryptocurrency, so it still has time to please its investors with new records. "However, there is also one problem here," says Jeremie. "Everyone wants to have a whole Bitcoin. No one wants to go to the store and say, 'Can I get one trillionth of an apple'. So even though Bitcoin is divisible, this property is essentially its Achilles heel. The solution to the problem is to make the display of small parts of BTC more comprehensible. For example, do not write amounts like 0.00001 BTC, but replace them with an equal number of Satoshi, that is, the smallest indivisible particle of 1 bitcoin worth 0.00000001 BTC."
 

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Bitcoin experienced an unexpected surge from June 15 to 21, smashing through resistance levels of $25,000 and $26,500, and ultimately peaking at $29,000. This represents an impressive six-day growth of approximately 17%. Following in the footsteps of this leading cryptocurrency, altcoins also witnessed similar uptrends. For instance, Ethereum recorded a roughly 12% appreciation.
This notable ascent cannot be attributed to a single catalyst. Rather, bitcoin's rise coincided with a sequence of positive developments within the industry. Investment heavyweight BlackRock submitted a proposal for a spot bitcoin trust, aimed at streamlining institutional entrance into the crypto market. Deutsche Bank, one of Germany's most formidable financial conglomerates, declared its foray into the digital asset sector, taking on cryptocurrency storage duties. Wall Street powerhouses, Citadel and Fidelity, joined forces to launch a decentralized crypto exchange named EDX Markets on June 20th. Invesco, another investment juggernaut, overseeing $1.4 trillion in assets, has lodged an application to roll out a spot Bitcoin ETF. MicroStrategy has even speculated that such a spot Bitcoin ETF could absorb trillions of dollars. One additional factor potentially fuelling bitcoin's rise could be the minting of a fresh batch of Tether stablecoins (USDT).

– It's worth noting that the surge of the flagship cryptocurrency occurred despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) crackdown on the digital market. Recall that the SEC previously filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered assets. In court documents, the SEC classified more than a dozen tokens as securities. Experts believe that a victory for the regulator could lead to the delisting of these coins and limit the potential development of their blockchains. In total, over 60 coins have already made it onto the regulator's blacklist.
Preston Pysh, a popular author on investment books, believes that this regulatory pressure was part of a planned campaign. The goal being to give major players the opportunity to enter the digital asset market under favourable conditions. He substantiated his perspective with the daring moves made by Wall Street giants, as previously mentioned.

– TV host and billionaire Mark Cuban and former SEC executive John Reed Stark discussed the ongoing crackdown on the crypto industry. Stark believes the SEC's actions are necessary. According to him, the regulator is trying to protect investors from potential fraud and scams in this sector. He's also convinced that the SEC's actions will ultimately benefit the industry, by weeding out dishonest participants and increasing transparency.
As for Mark Cuban, he drew a comparison to the early days of the internet. In the billionaire's view, "90% of blockchain companies will fail. 99% of tokens will fail. Just like 99% of early internet companies."

– El Salvador could potentially clear its debts through bitcoin and geothermal cryptocurrency mining. This viewpoint was expressed by Max Keiser, the CEO of Volcano Energy. The former trader and television host moved to El Salvador in 2022 and now serves as an advisor to President Nayib Bukele. Keiser asserts that, owing to its legal framework regarding cryptocurrency and energy resources, El Salvador could become a global centre for bitcoin mining. This could create new jobs, boost the country's GDP, and enable it to settle its debts with creditors.
As for Volcano Energy itself, Keiser believes that the company's market capitalization will grow to $50 billion, exceeding El Salvador's GDP, which is estimated at $29 billion. According to him, this growth will be driven by bitcoin's price rising to $1 million per coin.

– Author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki, is convinced that the crisis in the banking sector is far from over. Last week, he warned of an impending crash in the real estate sector. According to the expert, California-based mortgage lender LoanDepot is already on the brink of bankruptcy, and the looming real estate market crash could likely be far worse than the 2008 crisis. In light of this situation, Kiyosaki once again advised his followers to prepare for disaster by accumulating precious metals and bitcoin.

– Galaxy Digital's CEO, Mike Novogratz, has compared the recent crypto crash to the collapse of Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis of 2008-2009. The billionaire believes that the industry needs to be legalized. In that case, it will become transparent, and regulators will be able to ensure investor safety. As it stands, regulators lack sufficient levers to control the movement of funds in digital currencies. Novogratz made these remarks at a summit organized by Bloomberg.
The CEO of Galaxy Digital also believes that in the fight against inflation, demand for alternative instruments will intensify, one of which is bitcoin. He foresees that the price of bitcoin will reach $500,000 in the long term.

– Placeholder venture partner Chris Burniske is known for accurately predicting the crypto bottom in 2022. He also noted that cryptocurrencies often surge when the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) takes a breather. A cooling down in stocks triggers a capital flow into riskier assets, prompting a bullish rally for BTC.
In this context, Burniske referenced data from Glassnode founders Jan Happel and Yann Allemann. According to their observations, starting from 2019, bitcoin has shown strong growth whenever the NDX showed signs of bullish exhaustion. Currently, bitcoin is just a few steps away from outperforming the NDX again, as the index is nearing its local peak.  

– Popular investor and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, believes that the market situation makes the realization of negative BTC forecasts impossible, particularly those predicting a drop in cryptocurrency to $12,000. In his opinion, investors should now be "filling their pockets" in anticipation of further growth.

– BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes believes that U.S. authorities are not only hindering the development of the blockchain industry but are also creating conditions for it to shift to China. Last week, he published an article criticizing the U.S. crackdown on the industry. In his article, Hayes emphasized that China is more flexible than the U.S. and allows investors to enter the crypto sphere through platforms registered in Hong Kong. This metropolis is beginning to accumulate significant capital, which positively affects its financial development. Conversely, the American market is losing appeal, forcing companies and funds to leave.

– Former Coinbase CTO, Balaji Srinivasan, has issued a stark warning. He believes that since Apple, Microsoft, and Google have access to all user data on their devices, including private wallet keys, they could assist authorities in confiscating cryptocurrency from its owners if required. He argues that it would only take permission from the governments of G7 countries and China to do this. Srinivasan considers such permission quite possible, as authorities are interested in the development of CBDCs - digital currencies managed by central banks - and the elimination of their competitors in the form of Bitcoin and various altcoins.

– Prominent analyst Benjamin Cowen has warned of a potential fall in Ethereum compared to the leading cryptocurrency. ETH/BTC could plummet by 45% from its current value of 0.066 BTC. "As far as I can tell from the chart," he wrote, "we constantly see lower peaks in ETH/BTC, at least in the short term. However, in the longer term, we see even lower peaks in 2017 (0.036 BTC). And this is where the level of recovery might begin." At the same time, the analyst notes that the likelihood of a "bull rally" in this pair without a downward correction is quite low - first, the "bears" need to complete this movement. "Only then will we be able to assess the prospects for ETH/BTC," Cowen concluded.

– For the first time since 2021, BTC's market dominance has approached 50%. This means that half of the entire market capitalization is attributed to a single asset. The index last rose this high two years ago, in May 2021. The current rise is associated with SEC pressure on altcoins and the application for a spot Bitcoin trust by BlackRock.
MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor believes that bitcoin's dominance will reach 80% in the coming years. There are now about 25,000 tokens of varying quality in the market, and this confuses large investors. After the SEC helps remove excess assets, large capital will be more willing to invest in the leading cryptocurrency.

– Cybersecurity analysts have discovered that 95% of users of hacking software for stealing NFTs are schoolchildren. They are responsible for stealing tokens worth $73 million. They then spent these assets on purchasing skins in Roblox, branded items, food delivery, and gambling. According to The Block, high school students do this without fully realizing the crime. They perceive the theft as a game. The peak activity of young criminals occurs during the summer holidays when they have more free time.
 

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– American bitcoin exchanges are likely to be required to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as brokers, and all cryptocurrencies will be classified as securities. These conclusions were drawn by strategists at JPMorgan bank. According to experts, such a situation will exert significant pressure on the industry. However, they believe that this approach also has positive aspects, as digital assets will be subject to the same legislation as traditional ones.
JPMorgan analysts noted that the actions of the SEC highlight the need for U.S. lawmakers to develop a clear regulatory framework. According to them, otherwise, the crypto industry is likely to leave the United States and relocate to other jurisdictions, while venture financing in the sector will decline. The new rules will "rid the industry of bad practices and dishonest players, which, in turn, is necessary for the industry to mature and witness more active institutional participation."
It is worth recalling that earlier, the SEC filed lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase, accusing the platforms of selling unregistered assets. In the court documents, the SEC named over a dozen tokens as securities. According to experts, a regulator's victory could lead to the delisting of these coins and limit the potential development of their blockchains. In total, over 60 coins have already ended up on the regulator's blacklist.

– According to the analytical platform Glassnode, investor behavior has noticeably shifted the distribution of Bitcoin across regions. Experts from the company have reported a significant decline in the share of American players, whose dominance peaked between 2020 and 2021. The downward trend has been observed since the sharp drop in BTC price last year, with the share of Americans decreasing by 11% since mid-2022. During the same period, the share in the Asian region increased by 9.9%.

– Adam Back, the creator of the Hashcash algorithm and CEO of Blockstream, is considered one of the key figures in the field of modern cryptography and the crypto industry. In a recent conversation with Decrypt, this prominent scientist stated that the cryptocurrency market is "anti-fragile." Like water, it flows and, when faced with obstacles, finds alternative paths. Therefore, if any major crypto exchange operating in the United States stops serving its customers due to regulatory pressure, the industry will eventually find a way out. In the event of restrictions on bank transfers in the US, bitcoin traders would simply shift towards opening bank accounts in other jurisdictions in euros or Swiss francs and engage in trading using a different currency.

– Journalists from Bitcoin.com conducted a survey with six popular AI chatbots regarding the potential of Bitcoin becoming a global reserve currency. The experiment involved ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 from OpenAI, Bard from Google, Claude Instant and Claude 4 from Anthropic, as well as the creative mode of Bing AI.
ChatGPT 3.5 struggled to assess the potential of bitcoin and other digital assets, citing existing "issues and uncertainties." According to its response, the likelihood of achieving reserve currency status depends on "current events and the evolution of the crypto currency ecosystem." However, it noted that its information was based on data available until September 2021.
Bard emphasized the need for wider adoption of bitcoin by central banks and other financial institutions, as well as the improvement of price stability and advancements in blockchain technology. The bot stated, "If bitcoin can overcome these challenges, it could become a global reserve asset within the next decade. However, it is also possible that this may never happen or that it will take much longer to achieve this goal."
Claude Instant, pointing out "significant obstacles" for bitcoin in terms of stability and recognition, considered it unlikely for BTC to become a reserve currency in the next 5-10 years. As for the 10–15-year horizon, Claude 4 estimated the probability of such an event to be in the low to moderate range. ChatGPT 4 also stated that it would take "several years or even decades" for bitcoin to achieve reserve currency status and warned that it "cannot confidently predict the future."
Bing AI took a "creative" approach and listed a range of factors that will determine the future of bitcoin. These factors include widespread adoption of the asset, including by financial institutions, innovation and improvement of technology, scalability and user-friendliness, regulation and legal status management, taxation and compliance with regulatory requirements, and competition and interaction with other crypto assets and fiat currencies.
In summary, it can be said that all six Artificial Intelligences behaved like experienced politicians and did not provide any specific answers to the question posed.

– According to The Wall Street Journal, the actions of hackers associated with North Korea have caused $3 billion in damage to the crypto industry. Half of this amount was reportedly used to finance a program for the development of ballistic nuclear missiles. As per the statement by U.S. authorities, North Korea has formed a "shadow" army of thousands of IT specialists around the world for these purposes. Cybersecurity experts believe that the "arms race" with North Korean hackers has only just begun.

– Peter Brandt, known as the "Mysterious Market Wizard," has been successful in accurately predicting the crypto winter of 2018 and many other market movements in the digital asset space. Now, this legendary trader and analyst has virtually "buried" all coins except bitcoin. "Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency that will be able to finish this marathon. All others, including Ethereum, are counterfeits or scams," wrote Brandt.
Many members of the crypto community were puzzled by the fact that a respected analyst placed the second-largest cryptocurrency, ethereum, in the same category as fraudulent projects. In response, Brandt stated, "Silver to BTC's gold is ETH. ETH will likely survive, but the real legacy is BTC."

– Vitalik Buterin, the founder of ethereum, believes that the success of his blockchain depends on three main "transitions" that need to happen almost simultaneously. According to him, the leading altcoin is "failing" without sufficient scaling infrastructure that would make transactions on the network cheaper.
Another factor is related to the transition to smart contract wallets, which has been challenging in terms of user interaction. Moreover, these wallets will need to protect data to fully align with the concept of zero-knowledge (ZK) privacy. The last factor for ethereum's success that Buterin mentioned is privacy. In his opinion, significant improvements in identification systems and the implementation of hidden addresses are necessary.
"Achieving scalability, wallet security, and user privacy is crucial for the future of ethereum. It's not just about technical feasibility but also about practical accessibility for ordinary users," concluded the network's founder.

– Benjamin Cowen, the founder of Into The Cryptoverse, has noted that liquidity in the crypto market has dried up for quite some time, and many people have been blaming the SEC for what is happening. Most of them believe it is the end for the entire industry. According to Cowen, altcoins will face retribution, while Bitcoin dominance will continue to grow.
A similar sentiment was expressed by renowned trader Gareth Soloway, who compared the crypto market to the dot-com bubble. He stated that the collapse that occurred in the early 2000s would repeat itself in this industry. Soloway asserted that the "system needs to be cleansed of garbage" in order to thrive. According to him, 95% of all tokens "will strive toward zero."

– ARK Invest CEO Cathy Wood has doubled down on her bitcoin forecast, stating that the leading cryptocurrency will reach seven-figure values. In an interview with Bloomberg, she reaffirmed her confidence that the $1 million target for BTC will be achieved.
According to Wood, the current global economic environment increases her trust in the flagship crypto asset. "The more uncertainty and volatility in the global economy, the more our confidence grows in Bitcoin, which has been and remains a hedge against inflation," she stated. The head of ARK Invest believes that the greater risk lies not in inflation but in deflation, which she sees looming over the world. In this case, the primary cryptocurrency would act as an antidote against the crisis in the traditional financial system.

– Prominent investor and founder of venture firm Eight, Michael Van De Poppe, has analyzed the market capitalization chart of the crypto market and arrived at discouraging conclusions. According to the analyst, the current situation is not what one would want to see. He noted that a breakthrough below the support of the 200-week moving average (SMA) indicates a continuation of the downward trend.


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CryptoNews of the Week


– Michael Saylor, the CEO of MicroStrategy, conducted a Twitter poll on the importance of the U.S. presidential candidates supporting cryptocurrencies for the upcoming 2024 elections. As of May 29, the poll had garnered participation from 31,200 users. Nearly 84% of the respondents answered "yes," while only 16% voted against it.
It is worth noting that in recent times, some American politicians have increasingly expressed their willingness to foster the development of the crypto industry if elected as president. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently stated his opposition to the implementation of a digital dollar and voiced his support for Bitcoin. He criticized the approach of the Joe Biden administration towards crypto assets, believing that overly stringent regulatory measures could stifle the industry's growth in the country.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democratic Party candidate, is also convinced that Bitcoin can save people from financial collapse. The politician pledged to protect the rights of Bitcoin owners and miners if he becomes president.

– After significant and tumultuous events in the crypto space in 2022 and early 2023, such as the FTX crash in November and numerous other bankruptcies including Celsius, Voyager Digital, and Three Arrows Capital, bitcoin managed to reduce its losses and grow by over 60% since the beginning of this year. Business Insider gathered expert opinions on what could happen to the leading cryptocurrency by the end of 2023.
Charmyn Ho, Head of Analytics at the crypto exchange Bybit, believes that bitcoin won't be able to reach a new all-time high until the macroeconomic environment becomes clearer. This depends on the forecast of a potential recession in the US, Europe, and other major economies due to an inverted yield curve combined with a range of other unfavourable macroeconomic factors such as inflation. Another factor to consider is the halving, although it is expected to occur in April 2024.
According to Jagdeep Sidhu, President of the Syscoin Foundation, despite several crypto storms, the ecosystem's resilience remains evident. The market has recovered from the FTX debacle, showcasing its ability to absorb shocks and evolve. If inflation in the US decreases and there is more regulatory clarity regarding digital assets, bitcoin could reach $38,000 by the end of the year, roughly 40% higher than the current value.
Based on Tim Shan's scenario, Chief Operating Officer of the crypto exchange Dexalot, bitcoin will trade in a range of $25,000 to $32,000 by the end of 2023. However, if inflation remains high, it may return to the lows seen earlier this year.
David Uhryniak, Director of Ecosystem Development at TRON, is confident that bitcoin will finish the year above $35,000. According to him, traders are not rushing to invest significant amounts of money and want to assess the direction of the leading cryptocurrency and the market as a whole. By the fourth quarter of 2023, much of the uncertainty should dissipate.

– According to analysts at JPMorgan, the price of bitcoin is expected to rise to $45,000. This is indicated by the current price of gold, which is nearly $2,000 per ounce. Analysts state that these two assets typically move in tandem. JPMorgan strategists estimate that the value of physical gold held outside central banks is currently valued at approximately $3 trillion. This implies a price of digital gold around $45,000 per coin, assuming that the volume of bitcoin in private investor portfolios aligns with the volume of the precious metal.
However, the $45,000 price is considered by JPMorgan analysts as the upper limit for bitcoin, suggesting limited potential for the asset. Nevertheless, this calculation does not take into account the halving event and the increased costs for miners. The upcoming halving in 2024 will automatically double the cost of bitcoin mining to around $40,000, and historically, this figure has served as the lower bound for the asset's price.
Regarding Ethereum, JPMorgan notes that the altcoin may face some selling pressure and is expected to lag behind bitcoin in terms of growth in the near term.

– Renowned cryptocurrency analyst, Tone Vays, believes that bitcoin is exiting its consolidation phase, with many investors having already "bought the bitcoin dip," indicating that the leading cryptocurrency is gearing up for further growth. However, in order to continue this upward trajectory, bitcoin needs to overcome resistance at the $30,000 level. If the bulls manage to do so, BTC is poised to reach new price highs.
"It is indeed time for bitcoin to rise," says Vays. "Although, when looking at the weekly chart, the bulls lack strength. [...] There is still time to overcome resistance. We need to surpass $30,000, reverse the Lucid SAR indicator, and then we will rise to $34,000, where another resistance level awaits."
For reference, the Lucid SAR indicator is a variation of the Parabolic SAR indicator. It is a trend-following indicator that combines price and time to calculate trends and determine entry and exit points.

– Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of BitMEX, believes that 2023 will be highly volatile for bitcoin due to the actions of the US Federal Reserve, but he does not expect the cryptocurrency to reach new records. "I don't think bitcoin will reach $70,000 this year. It is more likely that we will surpass this level next year, after the halving. Bitcoin will continue to grow in 2025 and 2026. And then, I expect an apocalypse. This situation will not occur when everyone expects it... We are currently sitting on a powder keg - the US has printed a huge amount of money, there is no trust in it, and people are trying to earn a living," muses Hayes.
It's worth noting that these are the personal opinions and speculations of Arthur Hayes, and they do not represent a guaranteed forecast for the future performance of bitcoin. Cryptocurrency markets are inherently volatile and subject to various factors, making it challenging to predict their exact trajectory.

– Researchers from VanEck have presented three price scenarios for Ethereum in 2030. In the base case scenario, the coin would be valued at $11,849. In the bullish scenario, the ETH price would reach $51,006, while in the unfavorable bearish scenario, the coin would plummet to $343. "Our estimates are based on the assumption that Ethereum will become the dominant global open-source settlement network. A significant portion of the commercial activity of high-profit potential business sectors will be conducted on the platform. The dominant platform is likely to capture the lion's share of the market," write VanEck analysts.
The report also notes that Ethereum is likely to become a store of wealth similar to bitcoin but with some differences. "We argue that ETH goes beyond being a transactional currency or a commodity similar to oil or gas. We believe that the coin is not a full-fledged store of value like Bitcoin due to the potential for code changes in Ethereum and the overall utility-focused nature of the project. However, this cryptocurrency can become a savings asset for government organizations seeking to maximize human capital.".

– The government of Bali, Indonesia, implemented strict measures at the end of May against cryptocurrency payments for goods and services, reminding tourists that the Indonesian rupiah is the only legal tender. Crypto tourists will face severe consequences, including administrative sanctions, deportation, and even criminal prosecution. As a result, some members of the crypto community have reconsidered their plans to visit Bali.
Tourism plays a crucial role in the island's economy, contributing 28% of its revenue. If a portion of tourists stops visiting the resort, it could lead to various economic problems, including increased unemployment and a decline in people's income.

– Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that the bitcoin network can be an effective tool in combating bots and fake accounts. The businessman cited the use of bots on social media as an example. According to him, the digital "civil war" in modern society is fuelled by billions of fake accounts that sow hatred among real users. With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, creating deepfakes has become much easier, while detecting them has become more challenging.

The head of MicroStrategy believes that decentralized identity (DID) solutions can address this issue, increase trust, and ensure secure and independent data exchange. For example, if someone wants to launch billions of bots on Twitter, it would cost them billions of transactions. By integrating cryptocurrencies into social networks and leveraging the capabilities of the decentralized bitcoin network, such actions would become costly and have serious consequences, according to Saylor.

– According to popular analyst Credible Crypto, bitcoin could replicate the impulse waves of growth observed in previous bull cycles and set a new price record as early as 2023. "I keep hearing that it's unrealistic for Bitcoin to set a new price record this year. But I think we need to compare it to the last impulse in 2020. Remember, it took Bitcoin about three months to surpass the $10,000 level. But within the following two months, it grew by an additional 90%. And just four months later, it set a price record, increasing fivefold from $10,000. So don't tell me that anything is impossible for Bitcoin. We'll likely see it at new highs, possibly even this year," wrote Credible Crypto.

– Nova, a specialist in tracking crypto whales' activities, has discovered an average trader who has become a major holder of digital assets in just five months. Trader 0x743 has executed successful trades since January of this year and now boasts a record realized profit of over 10,000%, with their current portfolio valued at approximately $578,345. Nova noted that the crypto whale's success is attributed to a successful trading strategy rather than mere luck. 0x743 did not make reckless purchases and demonstrated "discipline and good trading behaviour."
It's worth noting that the crypto market is highly volatile, and extraordinary profits come with inherent risks. Individual trading outcomes can vary, and it's important for traders to exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and make informed decisions when engaging in cryptocurrency trading.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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CryptoNews of the Week


– Romanian crypto investor Daniel Nita purchased 10,000 pizzas for 1.01 BTC (~$26,800 at the time of purchase) to celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day. Nita made the purchase at Vintage Pub in Bucharest, paying through Binance Pay. He then organized a party where he handed out pizzas on the city streets.
It's worth recalling that every year on May 22, the cryptocurrency community celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day. This holiday was inspired by a landmark event in the industry when, in 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz was the first in the world to buy two Papa John's pizzas, paying for them with 10,000 BTC. However, the primacy of this purchase is now being disputed. In our previous review, we detailed that four months before Hanyecz, someone named Sabunir might have sold a JPEG image for 500 bitcoins, which was about $1 at the time.

– The United States is at risk of losing its leading position in the cryptocurrency industry, potentially giving way to the UAE, South Korea, Australia, and Switzerland, warns ARK Invest analyst Yassine Elmandjra. In his view, the ambiguous regulatory environment negatively impacts existing companies and deters new players. The expert noted that the recent flight of market makers Jane Street and Jump Trading from the United States is a sign of this negative reaction. Citing data from Coin Metrics, he also added that over the past two months, the volume of Bitcoin trading in the country has fallen by 75% - from $20 million per day in March to $4 million in May.
Recall that just in 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has brought claims against crypto exchanges Bittrex, Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, and Genesis. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao.

– Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, believes that the upcoming halving and regulatory intervention in the crypto industry will positively impact bitcoin and strengthen its dominance. Saylor pointed to the growing interest of investors shifting towards bitcoin from other tokens. According to him, BTC's competitors naturally fall away after more stringent industry regulation. This became particularly noticeable after SEC Chairman Gary Gensler stated that "everything except bitcoin" falls under the securities laws.
"Crypto tokens and crypto securities will be regulated, and they might even cease to exist. Bitcoin is the only commodity that the SEC does not intend to regulate. Bitcoin is the safest network and the safest asset," stated the MicroStrategy CEO. In his opinion, a steady outflow of capital from the rest of the crypto space into Bitcoin will soon begin, and he already sees the start of a new bull cycle.
For reference: As of April 4, 2023, MicroStrategy, along with its subsidiary companies, owned about 140,000 BTC. The company paid a total of $4.17 billion for them. Thus, the average purchase price amounted to $29,803 per bitcoin.

– Obi Nwosu, CEO of the crypto platform Fedi, like Saylor, has stated that bitcoin's superiority over other cryptocurrencies is apparent in all aspects. The specialist expressed confidence that Bitcoin has the fastest, cheapest, simplest, most decentralized, and safest ecosystem. By the end of 2023, this will become even more apparent, as effective solutions for network functionality development are increasingly emerging. However, unlike Michael Saylor, Obi Nwosu believes that there will still be a place for other cryptocurrencies in the crypto space.

– Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone expects a collapse in the bitcoin exchange rate to support at $7,366. This forecast is based on the downward movement of the 52-week moving average (MA) on the BTC chart. McGlone notes that before the massive pump in 2020, this line, on the contrary, was moving upwards.
According to the expert, the negative trend will continue, and the cryptocurrency will face hard times. "The U.S. Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates, despite the banking panic. The drop in commodity prices may argue in favor of the potential for deflation of high-risk assets. The simultaneous increase in the cost of bitcoin and a rally in the stock market seems unlikely," McGlone said.
It is worth noting that not so long ago, at the end of last year, he gave a completely opposite forecast. Then, according to him, bitcoin was supposed to appreciate to $100,000. 

– A trader known as Dave the Wave, known for several accurate forecasts, believes that bitcoin is currently consolidating in the "buy zone" of the logarithmic growth curve. This curve evaluates the long-term highs and lows of the leading cryptocurrency throughout its entire life cycle, ignoring short-term volatility.
The analyst notes that, based on the current market structure, a rise above $32,000 will signal a breakthrough of the consolidation channel. Therefore, according to Dave the Wave, any purchase below $31,000 remains a great deal. In his conservative estimate, the target price of bitcoin by the end of the year should be around $40,000.

– The online publication BeInCrypto decided to find out whether BTC could continue to rise, or if the prolonged sideways trend would end with another drop. Opinions within the crypto community were divided. For example, a forecast from popular blogger CryptoKaleo does not rule out Bitcoin updating its local maximum. Signals that allow betting on the coin's growth were also seen by the trader known as DaanCrypto. He noted BTC's rebound from the weekly moving average (MA200). From a technical analysis perspective, this behavior of the cryptocurrency could indicate buyer strength.
Crypto blogger Nebraskangooner, on the other hand, sees signals for a decline on the chart. His forecast does not rule out the cryptocurrency falling to $25,500. This, the blogger believes, is indicated by the coin's exit from the symmetrical triangle formed on the chart. The negative Bitcoin forecast was supported by typically optimistic analyst Inmortal. He also does not rule out a BTC drop to as low as $22,000. However, Inmortal is confident that the cryptocurrency will be able to quickly recover its positions.
There's a well-known saying that goes, "So many people, so many opinions." In this case, it can be paraphrased as, "As many analysts as there are forecasts."

– Prominent investor and former Coinbase CTO, Balaji Srinivasan, is once again in the news. He previously made headlines with a sensational bet of $1.5 million that bitcoin would reach a value of $1 million within 90 days. This prediction was made in March 2023, but Srinivasan prematurely admitted his loss in early May.
Now, Srinivasan has declared that "if Twitter was the central theme of the presidential election in 2016, in 2024, for the first time, it could be bitcoin." As evidence, the investor cited statements from U.S. President Joe Biden that he does not intend to agree to a deal with the Republican Party aimed at protecting wealthy individuals and cryptocurrency traders who evade taxes. Srinivasan believes another proof of his correctness is the ongoing debates among American legislators over cryptocurrency regulation and the Web 3.0 space.
Interestingly, another Democratic presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy Jr., has challenged Biden by hailing Bitcoin as a tool to support democracy.

– Michael van de Poppe, an analyst, trader, and founder of the consulting platform EightGlobal, has told his Twitter followers that a successful retest of the $26,280 support level (MA200) could signify the end of bitcoin's correction and consolidation. Therefore, he believes this level is a good one at which to accumulate bitcoin.
"If we look at past periods, a retest of the 200-day moving average has always been a great time to accumulate bitcoin. Over the past six months, bitcoin has spent a lot of time below this indicator, making it [BTC] undervalued. The next week will be key: a quick retest and bounce upward will signify the end of Bitcoin's correction," the crypto analyst reasons. Michael van de Poppe is confident that, for bitcoin's future growth to be confirmed, it needs to secure a level above $27,000: this will demonstrate the bullish sentiment of investors. However, if BTC fails to conquer and hold this level, it is likely to roll back to $26,000.


Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

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