Category: Bitcoin Wallet

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ProShares Futures Bitcoin ETF Hits ATH on Spot ETF Hype

Amid growing anticipation and excitement surrounding the Bitcoin spot ETF, the ProShares ‘BITO’ BTC Future ETF has reached a new all-time high (ATH).

ProShares Futures BTC ETF performs well

According to a post on X by Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, ProShares’ BITO is approaching $1.5 billion in total value locked (TVL). This comes just two weeks after Eric Balchunas acknowledged that the product works extremely well. Balchunas highlighted that the ProShares Bitcoin Futures ETF doubled in value in 30 days.

At the time, the popular analyst attributed the rise in value to industry-wide anticipation for the immediate approval of the Bitcoin ETF by the US SEC. A user X pointed out the irony in the relationship between the ProShares Bitcoin Futures ETF and potential BTC spot ETFs.

Once the SEC approves the Bitcoin spot ETF, it will certainly replace products like the ProShares BTC Futures ETF. Spot ETFs allow investors to legally trade the price of BTC without owning a Bitcoin address or privacy keys. This is different from futures, which only mimic the spot price of Bitcoin and offer exposure to the price movements of Bitcoin futures contracts.

Bitcoin ETF approval odds remain at 90%

Optimism regarding the agency’s positive decision continues and has even intensified in recent days. Experts still express optimism about the possibility of a timely approval of the Bitcoin ETF. Balchunas reiterated his earlier prediction that SEC approval is a matter of time.

He boldly stated that the chances of approval remain at 90%, as previously speculated.

The SEC just delayed Franklin Templeton and Hashdex’s Bitcoin ETF applications due to the premise that “the rules of a national securities exchange must be ‘designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices’ and ‘to protect investors and the public interest’. “

In connection with the delay, the SEC is now seeking public comment on whether Templeton’s application should be approved or disapproved. As the SEC provided the update to Franklin Templeton’s application ahead of the January 1, 2024 deadline, it suggests that the regulator may be streamlining all BTC spot ETF applications for mass approval in January.

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eToro Bags License to Operate in the United Arab Emirates

Global trading and investment platform eToro has announced the receipt of its latest license from the United Arab Emirates.

eToro license marks an important milestone

eToro has received approval to operate under the Financial Services Permit (FSP) from the international financial center in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Financial Markets Authority (ADGM). The license was specifically issued by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Possession of this license gives the social investment platform the legal right to offer its services in the region.

Notably, this new license from eToro authorizes the platform to operate as a securities, derivatives and cryptoassets broker in the United Arab Emirates. The company recognizes the latest addition as a milestone in its journey toward global expansion.

The United Arab Emirates becomes a crypto paradise

eToro also plans to help UAE residents increase their wealth by providing them with an avenue to gain financial knowledge, especially when it comes to cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, ADGM is confident that eToro’s UAE license, which gives the company access to ADGM’s dynamic ecosystem and progressive regulations, will help drive the platform’s vision.

It is important to note that the crypto atmosphere in the UAE has become conducive for many crypto companies, especially those seeking solace outside the United States. Regions like Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become safe havens for crypto companies facing challenges with US authorities due to the clear regulatory framework available.

In May, the UAE Central Bank published new AML guidelines for financial institutions dealing with cryptocurrencies and NFTs. A few months later, Binance, a leading digital asset services provider, became the first cryptocurrency exchange to receive the Minimum Operating Viable Product license in Dubai, proof that the region’s regulatory push is working.
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Bitcoin Bitcoin Wallet cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency news

Matrixport Analyst Predicts Rise in Bitcoin ETFs After $4.3 Billion Binance Deal

Investors appear to have remained concerned amid Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao’s $50 million lawsuit settlement and Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement that sent ripples through the cryptocurrency world. In contrast to recent market sentiment, Matrixport analyst Markus Thielen believes this result is a boon for Binance and predicts its continued dominance over the next 2-3 years.

Additionally, Thielen foresees an increase in supported exchanges and sees this deal as a catalyst for the long-awaited approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States.

Binance deal will raise expectations for Bitcoin ETFs

Markus Thielen of Matrixport emphasizes the regulatory impact of the Binance deal and claims that the cleanup of the industry by US agencies positions Bitcoin as a safe haven asset. Meanwhile, the expected increase in supported exchanges, along with increased scrutiny, sets the stage for the long-awaited approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF.

Notably, Thielen states in a recent interview with CNBC that the deal dramatically increases the likelihood of a Bitcoin spot ETF next year, marking a fundamental shift from unregulated to regulated exchanges in the crypto landscape.

As the industry adapts to a more regulated environment, institutions are expected to take center stage in 2024, with Bitcoin potentially becoming a focal point in investors’ portfolios. Meanwhile, the future, marked by regulatory hurdles and institutional adoption, promises transformative developments in the crypto space.

Also read: Sam Altman returns to OpenAI, what happens now with Microsoft?

Legal turmoil on Binance

According to recent reports, Binance CEO CZ agreed to pay a fine of $50 million, while Binance faces a payment of $4.3 billion. On the contrary, Matrixport analyst Markus Thielen sees this as a favorable outcome, suggesting that with CZ’s resignation and the smaller-than-feared fine of around $10 billion. Furthermore, he predicts that Binance is poised to maintain its status as one of the top three cryptocurrency exchanges in the near future.

The settlement, which addresses money laundering violations and other charges totaling $898 million, includes agreements with FinCEN, OFAC and CFTC, of which $1.8 billion will go to these agencies. Although CZ is banned from operating a business for three years, the possibility of a “clean” return to Binance remains open.
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Bitcoin Model That Predicted a Peak of $60,000 Now Targets $732,000 Next

The price of Bitcoin can be unpredictable. But surprisingly, a specific model managed to predict the 2021 peak above $60,000 already in 2019.

This same model now points to a peak close to $732,000 per coin. Is this a realistic estimate or pure hope? Let’s take a look at the model and find out.

Predict the latest bull market peak years in advance

In 2019, the preferred model for predicting future Bitcoin prices was the now-debunked Plan B Stock-To-Flow (S2F) model. But around the same time, Greg Cipolaro attempted to modify the S2F model with very accurate results.

While Plan B failed to raise the price per BTC above the projected $100,000, Cipolaro’s model peaked at around $60,000.

Bitcoin hit $65,000 in April 2021 and then $68,000 in November 2021. At the very least, BTCUSD beat its modest estimates, while the price fell below Plan B by miles.

The model is based on post-halving supply price targets. More important than what happened after the 2020 halving, however, is what Cipolaro’s model predicts after the next halving.

Could Bitcoin hit $732,000 after the 2024 halving?

While it’s notable to get it right just once based on Cipolaro’s model, it could be a matter of luck or coincidence. If the model works again, you are more likely to find something meaningful.

Especially when the next projected target is $732,000 per BTC. The target is much higher than most existing estimates, which point to between $100,000 and $200,000 per coin.

This represents an increase of approximately 1,800% from current levels. From the Black Thursday low of $3,800 to the 2021 high of $68,000 represents a return of almost 1,600%, so these figures are not out of the realm of possibilities for the king of cryptocurrencies.

During 2017 alone, Bitcoin increased by more than 2,000%. And this occurred after the price had already appreciated more than 400%. Today, Bitcoin is up 140% from its 2022 lows. Could the leading cryptocurrency by market cap add another 1,800% to reach the peak predicted by the model?

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Bitcoin Halving: When is the next Bitcoin halving date?

The Bitcoin halving date is usually a quadrennial event on the Bitcoin blockchain where the reward assigned to miners for successfully verifying and adding new blocks to the blockchain is substantially reduced. The term Bitcoin halving refers to the phenomenon where the reward for mining Bitcoin is cut in half.

The importance of the halving event lies in its role in reducing the rate of creation of new Bitcoins as the cryptocurrency approaches its fixed supply limit. In 2009, each block mined on the chain generated a reward of 50 BTC. As of October 2023, there are approximately 19.5 million BTC in circulation, leaving only around 1.5 million bitcoins to be released through mining rewards.

What is Bitcoin Halving?

After the Bitcoin network successfully processes 210,000 blocks approximately every four years, there is a reduction in the block rewards given to Bitcoin miners for their transaction processing efforts. This phenomenon is commonly known as the “bitcoin halving,” as it precisely halves the rate at which new BTC enter circulation.

This reward mechanism will last until approximately the year 2140, at which time the default limit of 21 million coins will be reached. Beyond this point, miners will be compensated through transaction processing fees paid by network users. This fee will eventually serve as motivation for miners to participate and sustain the network.

Previous Bitcoin Halving Events

There have been a total of three Bitcoin halving events so far. The first halving event occurred on November 28, 2012, in which the reward value for each block mined was 25 bitcoins. Subsequently, the second halving event occurred on July 9, 2016, halving the reward value again, reaching 12.5 bitcoins.

Lastly, the most recent halving event occurred on May 11, 2020, where the reward was reduced to 6.25 Bitcoins for each successfully mined block. With the next halving on the horizon, scheduled for mid-2024, the block reward will be 3,125 BTC.

Why does the halving happen every 4 years?

The Bitcoin mining algorithm is designed to seek the discovery of new blocks approximately every 10 minutes. However, the actual time needed to find the blocks can vary, sometimes exceeding 10 minutes and sometimes less. This variation in block mining times may shorten or extend the duration needed to reach the next halving milestone. For example, if blocks consistently take an average of 9.66 minutes to mine, it would take approximately 1,409 days to mine the 210,000 blocks needed (assuming four years of 1,461 days, including one day for a leap year).

When will the next Bitcoin halving date be?

The next Bitcoin halving is expected to take place around April 2024, coinciding with the mining of block 740,000. During this event, the block reward will be reduced from 6.25 bitcoins to 3,125 bitcoins. The exact date of the halving remains uncertain due to variable block generation time, with the network aiming for an average of one block every ten minutes.

BTC Price Prediction After BTC Halving

Bitcoin price is projected to reach an all-time high (ATH) after the upcoming Bitcoin halving event. Market experts, traditional financial companies, and CoinGape Media analysts predicted that the price of Bitcoin would surpass $120,000. The current ATH price is $68,789. Some experts, such as the CEO of investment management company ARK Invest, Cathie Wood, believe that the price of BTC will reach $1 million by 2030.
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