Home Blog Page 1049

Shiba Inu Lead Teases Potential Launch of New Projects, Says Community ‘Will Need a Much Longer Checklist’

0

Shiba Inu lead developer Shytoshi Kusama teases the potential launch of new and exciting projects, creating anticipation among SHIB holders.  

The latest teaser comes following the launch of SHIB: The Metaverse early access. Shiba Inu community members took to X to celebrate the feat in style. While some users focused on the metaverse project, others used the opportunity to outline a checklist of major accomplishments within the Shiba Inu ecosystem this year. 

Highlights of Shiba Inu Accomplishments 

In particular, a SHIB enthusiast who goes by the pseudonym “Go Forward Crypto” shared a checklist containing accomplished projects and partnerships within the Shiba Inu ecosystem. 

They include the launch of Shibarium and its integration with top blockchain wallets and exchanges, Shiba Eternity’s transition to the L2 blockchain, SHIB: The Metaverse early access launch, and the launch of ShibaSwap 2.0. 

Other projects include the launch of the Shibarium burn portal ShibTorch, Shiba Inu tokens’ integration across 12 blockchains through the Chainlink partnership, and other partnerships. Notably, the user shifted focus to Shiba Inu’s plans, asking Kusama what innovations are planned for next year. 

Kusama Says More Projects and Initiatives in The Offing 

Interestingly, the Shiba Inu leader indicated that the community member will need a much longer checklist than the one highlighted. Kusama’s commentary teases the possibility of more partnerships, innovation, and projects that the team is working on to potentially unveil by 2025. 

More Surprise in Store 

Notably, the enigmatic Shiba Inu leader issued a similar comment yesterday following the launch of SHIB: The Metaverse early access. 

In an X post, Kusama noted that the Shiba Inu ecosystem team still has more ‘surprises in store’ for the community, hinting at ongoing developments of new projects. He emphasized that the SHIB: The Metaverse launch is ‘just the first of many things coming soon.’ 

However, he did not reveal the nature of the upcoming projects or potential partnerships the community should expect. 

Upcoming Shiba Inu Projects 

In the meantime, the community is anxiously anticipating the launch of several Shiba Inu-related projects, including TREAT. The token has been in development for over two years and has yet to launch for public use. 

As reported earlier, the team sold some portions of the token to venture capitalists (VCs) as part of a $12 million fundraiser for the development of a Layer-3 blockchain. 

Despite making necessary preparations for the TREAT launch, including creating an official X account for the token, the team has yet to announce a date for its public release.  

Additionally, the team is also developing an L3 blockchain, which is expected to be released soon alongside the TREAT token. Shiba Inu’s upcoming stablecoin, SHI, is another project the community is anticipating. 

Furthermore, the community is anticipating the mainnet launch of top Shiba Inu projects, including Shiba Eternity.  

Bitcoin Traders Flip Bullish After Christmas Jump: Is $110K Finally Within Reach?

0

Bullish sentiments around Bitcoin appear to be flipping bullish following the latest recovery push from the industry firstborn.

Bitcoin, the leading crypto by market cap, has had a woeful showing over the past week amid market uncertainty sparked by statements from the Federal Reserve. But as the Christmas holiday festivities swing into high gear, the asset has shown flickers of strength, stirring optimism of a run to new highs at a potentially psychologically important level.

Bitcoin Traders Flip Bullish

On Christmas day, December 25, 2024, Bitcoin surged to highs just above $99,900 to cap off a 7% rally from Christmas Eve lows around $93,500.

Following the strong performance, traders are again significantly optimistic about the asset’s price in the short term, at least according to Santiment Feed data.

On Thursday, December 26, the prominent crypto analytics firm shared data showing that predictions that Bitcoin was on its way to clinch the $110,000 price point again flooded social media platforms with social dominance spiking from 0 to a high 0.056 per the analytics firm’s scale.

Is this psychologically important level finally within reach?

A Potential Contrarian Indicator

Despite the optimism, Santiment Feed warns that historically, the rally typically comes when the crowd does not expect it. To be sure, the chart shared by Santiment Feed on Thursday shows that Bitcoin price corrections have followed previous spikes in these $110,000 calls.

Chart showing dominance of Bitcoin price mentions across social media
Chart showing dominance of Bitcoin price mentions across social media. Source: Santiment Feed

Specifically, on December 15, calls that Bitcoin would hit $110,000 spiked as the asset hit $106,000. However, the price eventually topped out at $108,000 and reversed course.

Similarly, on December 18, $110,000 Bitcoin price predictions picked up again as the asset traded at $104,000, but these hopes were dashed following the Fed’s projection of fewer than expected interest rate cuts in 2025.

The asset tumbled from highs around $106,000 on the day to below the $100,000 price point and has languished there since.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin’s price appears to be facing rejection at the $100,000 price point again, as it has shed some of its Christmas gains to trade around the $98,000 price point.

As such, hopes of a Bitcoin rally to new highs in the short term may now depend on a potential Santa rally.

Ethereum ICO Whale Shifts 4,160 ETH Worth $14.5M to Kraken

0

An Ethereum ICO whale moves a substantial amount of Ethereum to the crypto exchange Kraken, sparking speculations of a possible dump.

In today’s Ethereum news, a whale wallet shifted 4,160 ETH, worth $14.5 million, to a crypto exchange for a possible sale. According to data from SpotOnChain, the address transferred millions of dollars’ worth of Ethereum on Christmas Day.

Transaction Details

The transaction occurred between the Ethereum whale wallet and Kraken at 21:20 (UTC) on December 25. Specifically, the address “0x55df” moved 4,162 ETH ($14.5 million) to “0x54d6,” a Kraken deposit wallet.

SpotOnChain tied the sending wallet to an Ethereum initial coin offering (ICO) participant, who received 20,000 ETH at the time of the event. Notably, the whale acquired the Ethereum stash during the offering in 2015 for $0.31 per coin, totaling $6,200.

Although the whale staked the Ethereum he received then, he habitually dumps the asset at local peaks to realize some profit. For context, data shows that the whale wallet sold 2,719 ETH ($10.1 million then) when Ethereum reached $4,000 on December 4.

The Ethereum ICO participant also sold some on October 31 and September 28, dumping a combined 60 ETH ($158,000) on those days. Meanwhile, the whale still holds 7,043 ETH, worth $24.6 million, currently staked to yield rewards.

Ethereum ICO On-Chain Activities

Incoming Price Correction?

SpotOnChain noted that the Ethereum ICO wallet has a history of selling at local market peaks. This suggests that the wallet anticipates further correction for the altcoin king.

Also, sales from ICO participants have dwindled recently compared to the incessant dumps between September and October. Ethereum became a contrarian play at the time, failing to mirror the bullish momentum in the broader cryptocurrency market.

For context, an Ethereum wallet went on a two-week selling spree in October, concurrently dumping 19,000 ETH ($31.6 million at the time). During the same period, another ICO participant moved 5,000 ETH ($12.2 million) to Kraken, sparking skepticism among enthusiasts.

A resumption of dumps from Ethereum whales could spark bearish sentiments around the ecosystem, affecting the asset’s price considerably. In the meantime, the altcoin king trades at $3,438, down 1.5% in the past 24 hours.

Here are XRP Safe, Feasible and Unlikely Price Targets For This Cycle

0

Altcoin Moe, a prominent crypto trader, segments XRP price targets into groups of safe, feasible and unlikely ones.

The disclosure comes on the back of the uncertainty that has engulfed the broader crypto market, impacting altcoins like XRP. This uncertainty is the product of a massive pullback led by Bitcoin (BTC) following hawkish remarks from the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

With XRP demonstrating impressive resilience, the altcoin has been the subject of several analyses, with market watchers presenting ambitious price targets. 

Amid these bullish projections, Altcoin Moe, who boasts a decade of trading experience, suggests some targets are realistic while others are just too unlikely to materialize. He revealed this in a recent disclosure, presenting a similar commentary for 29 altcoins, including XRP.

Safe, Feasible and Unlikely XRP Price Targets

According to the analyst, market commentators and investors who envision a 4x increase for XRP might actually see their predictions come true. Altcoin Moe categorized a 4x projection as “Safe” for XRP.

He believes a 4x rise is likely for XRP in this cycle, which could push prices from the current $2.23 to $8.92, around the $9 level. Interestingly, while XRP traded for $0.53 in September, analyst Big Mike predicted a rally to $9. 

Meanwhile, Altcoin Moe suggests that beyond the 4x projection, a 9x target for XRP this cycle is feasible, but failed to categorize it as safe. 

This suggests that while a 9x is possible, unforeseen market conditions are capable of hindering it. Such a 9x rise would put XRP price at $20. Two months back, Crypto YouTuber ModernInvest claimed it would be weird if XRP failed to hit $20 in this cycle. 

Speaking further, Altcoin Moe then stressed that those expecting XRP to surge 15x might face disappointments, as this rally is “unlikely.” For context, a 15x increase from this level would push XRP price to the $33 region. 

Several market commentators such as wealth mentor Linda Jones and analyst Bobby A have predicted an XRP rally to $33. In September, market watcher EGRAG Crypto also projected a possible XRP rally to $33, leveraging Elliott Wave and Fibonacci levels. Economist XRP Shark insisted in July XRP could still target $33. 

XRP Shows Resilience 

The latest commentary from Altcoin Moe comes amid ongoing market turbulence. For context, Bitcoin recently collapsed from the $108,000 all-time high to trade below the $100,000 mark. In response, XRP has also observed sustained bearishness, but appears to be showing resilience, as it still maintains a 15% increase in December.

In comparison, Ethereum (ETH), the king altcoin, is down 8.09% in December, while Bitcoin has dropped 2.34% this month. At press time, XRP changes hands for $2.23, maintaining the $2 price level, which it plans to leverage as a springboard for when a market-wide rebound ensues.

No Animoca Brands Solana Token, Firm Warns Amid Chairman’s X Account Hack

0

Animoca Brands dispels claims of introducing a Solana-based token as speculations mount following a recent hack.

Amid the recent market euphoria and the holiday cheer, bad actors are looking to take advantage to rob unsuspecting crypto users of their hard-earned assets. In the latest instance, these bad actors have targeted followers of the well-known crypto venture capital firm Animoca Brands.

No Solana Token

Notably, Animoca Brands has warned followers that it is not launching any official token or NFT. The firm stressed this in a Thursday, December 26 X post disavowing a now-deleted pinned post from its chairman, Yat Siu.

The deleted post claimed that Animoca Brands was collaborating with Pump.fun to launch a token with the ticker MOCA on Solana, sharing a link for users to buy.

Screenshot of the now deleted X post from the hacker using Yat Sius X account
Screenshot of the now deleted X post from the hacker using Yat Sius X account. Source: X

However, according to Animoca Brands, this post came from a hacker who had managed to compromise Yat Siu’s X account. The firm noted that it would release an update after recovering the account. 

The exploit comes amid recent excitement around Moca Network, which also uses the MOCA ticker. Moca Network is a decentralized interoperable ecosystem built on Layer Zero and backed by Animoca Brands. Over the past seven days, MOCA, the native token of this ecosystem, has surged 142%.

A Phishing Attack

While Animoca Brands has yet to offer information about how Siu suffered the hack, prominent crypto sleuth ZachXBT has argued that the firm’s co-founder likely fell victim to a phishing email scam from a hacker that has stolen approximately $500,000 in the past month from 15 other similar exploits, including The Arena and Brett.

According to ZachXBT, this hacker typically impersonates the X team to warn of a non-existent copyright infringement and trick unsuspecting users into following a phishing link to enter their password or two-factor authentication code. After obtaining these details, they go on to launch meme coin scams using the X account.

The recent exploit is another instance highlighting the need for greater security consciousness among founders and projects in the crypto space. ZachXBT highlights that Siu could have prevented the hack if he had used a hardware security key.

2,884,590,622,344 Shiba Inu Moved to Unknown Wallet: Here’s What’s Happening

0

Popular crypto tracking service Whale Alert has called public attention to a large movement of Shiba Inu tokens from the Turkish exchange BtcTurk to an unknown wallet. 

Whale Alert indexed the transaction yesterday, revealing that a whopping 2,884,590,622,344 (2.88 trillion) Shiba Inu tokens were withdrawn to an anonymous wallet from BtcTurk at 16:23 (UTC).

The transaction was valued at $65.7 million at the time, attracting the attention of Shiba Inu community members. 

Shiba Inu Investors React 

As expected, the transaction elicited reactions from SHIB proponents, with many investors seeking to know the user’s identity and rationale behind the transaction. 

Some speculated that the transaction was initiated by a crypto whale who chose to move their SHIB holdings from the Turkish exchange in anticipation of a potential price surge. 

However, others believe the movement was for security purposes. This is because storing crypto assets in personal blockchain wallets is safer than keeping them on exchanges. 

BtcTurk Provides Clarity 

Amid this debate, BtcTurk clarified that it initiated the transaction as part of its routing wallet optimization efforts. For context, crypto exchanges usually move their assets between wallets for several reasons, ranging from security purposes to operational efficiency. 

Since these transfers are on-chain, they mostly appear as large crypto transactions on the blockchain, with tracking services like Whale Alert indexing them on X. 

Earlier this year, The Crypto Basic reported several in-house SHIB transfers relating to Robinhood. They include the movement of 2.7 trillion SHIB and another shuffling of 3 trillion tokens.  

BtcTurk’s transfer of 2.88 trillion Shiba Inu tokens is similar to the aforementioned transactions on Robinhood. Furthermore, the Turkish exchange emphasized that it is in control of the transfers, dismissing any concern of suspicious activity. 

SHIB Ranks as 3rd Biggest Crypto in BtcTurk’s Wallet 

Meanwhile, data from Etherscan shows that the recipient wallet, which initiated its first transaction two days ago, currently holds 2,984,691,196,812 (2.98 trillion) SHIB, worth $66.49 million. 

This positions Shiba Inu as the third biggest asset in the wallet behind Pepe (PEPE) and Ethereum (ETH). 

In the meantime, Shiba Inu is trading at $0.0000223, reflecting a decline of 4.11% over the past day. SHIB is also down 7.69% in one week and 11.48% in one month. 

This decline aligns with a broader correction across the crypto market. Amid the global market cap drop by 0.93% in the last 24 hours, now standing at $3.4 trillion.

Grayscale XRP Trust Set to End 2024 With Over 300% Gains

0

The Grayscale XRP Trust is set to end this year 2024 with a whopping 300% gain due to XRP’s impressive gains in November and December.

As 2024 draws to a close and the Christmas festivities enter full swing, crypto investors have many reasons to be cheerful. This is particularly true for institutional investors in XRP.

Grayscale XRP Trust Investors See Massive Gains

Early investors in Grayscale’s XRP Trust will likely be smiling to the bank this holiday. The product, which re-launched in September 2024, looks set to end the year with a share price gain of over 300% since inception, surging from $10.85 to $45.46 at the time of writing.

Interestingly, most of XRP’s gains that reflected in the XRP trust share price have come within the past month primarily due to Donald Trump’s election victory, which has sparked a wave of pro-crypto sentiment amid promises made to the industry on the campaign trail.

Chart showing Grayscale XRP Trust share price performance since inception
Chart showing Grayscale XRP Trust share price performance since inception. Source: Grayscale

At the same time, many believe that the regulatory cloud that has long shrouded the asset may be dissipating. For context, XRP has been at the center of an SEC lawsuit from 2020 alleging that Ripple, one of the project’s primary developers, broke securities laws through its sale of the asset.

Following a partial court victory in July 2023 and the imminent change of the SEC guard, many are optimistic that the asset will continue to gain more clarity, so much so that it could soon get spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to broaden access for institutions, potentially leading to billions in capital inflow.

Spot XRP ETFs Coming Soon?

Recently, controversial crypto influencer Ben “Bitboy” Armstrong suggested that the gains recorded by Grayscale’s XRP Trust could play a role in pushing XRP ETFs over the finish line soon. The view comes as the gains may bolster investor confidence in the asset, adding to the many factors driving the ETF push.

At least four asset managers have already thrown their hats in the ring to launch spot XRP ETFs. These prospective issuers include Canary Capital, 21Shares, Bitwise, and WisdomTree. 

With the most recent ETF application coming in November 2024, XRP holders could be looking at an approval timeline that extends to July 2025 in the best-case scenario, as the SEC typically has 240 days to respond.

Bitcoin Reserve Considered in Multiple US States Ahead of Trump’s Federal Push

0

Several states in the U.S. are already considering the idea of a strategic Bitcoin reserve as proponents await a push from Donald Trump on the federal level.

On the campaign trail for the November 2024 elections, now President-elect Donald Trump made several big promises to the crypto industry. Still, none has been as talked about following the election as his intention to launch a strategic U.S. Bitcoin reserve.

However, while pundits continue to debate the feasibility of such a move at the Federal level and its possible market impacts, some states may be looking to get in on the action.

U.S. States Consider the Orange Pill

Following Donald Trump’s election victory, at least three U.S. states are considering building their own Bitcoin stockpile employing unique frameworks, as recently highlighted in a CNBC Crypto World report on Tuesday, December 24. Speaking with CNBC, Centrifuge General Counsel Eli Cohen asserted that the development was significantly positive for the crypto markets.

Pennsylvania 

On November 12, barely a week after Trump’s announcement as the next U.S. president, Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Cabell proposed a bill to allow the state treasurer to invest state funds in Bitcoin.

House Bill 2664, or the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, seeks to allow the treasurer to invest up to 10% of the State General Fund, the Rainy Day Fund, and the State Investment Fund in Bitcoin.

Cabell argues that implementing the bill would help protect state assets against inflation. He asserted that the state’s purchasing power had reduced by a staggering 20% in the past four years alone while Bitcoin continues to gain strength against the dollar.

So far, Pennsylvania’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act has received only one co-sponsor, Representative Aaron Kaufer.

Texas

On December 12, Texas State Representative Giovanni Capriglione proposed House Bill 1598, or the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, to allow the state to establish a Bitcoin reserve within its treasury.

Unlike Pennsylvania’s proposed bill allowing the treasurer to purchase Bitcoin with established state funds, the proposed Texas bill will establish the reserve by enabling residents to pay charges and taxes with Bitcoin. The stockpile will also be open to voluntary donations.

The Texas bill also details the establishment of cold storage and a holding period, noting that the state must not sell the reserve for at least five years.

Like Pennsylvania’s Cabell, Capriglione also argues that Bitcoin could act as an inflationary hedge preserving value for Texans.

On Tuesday, Centrifuge’s Eli Cohen told CNBC that Texas’ bill may face significant infrastructure hurdles and problems getting the crypto community to submit their wallet for taxes.

Ohio

Ohio is the most recent to join the Bitcoin rush. On December 17, state Representative Derek Merrin submitted a proposal to allow the state to establish a Bitcoin stockpile.

House Bill 703, or Ohio’s Bitcoin Reserve Act, seeks to give the state treasurer the flexibility to invest in Bitcoin if they desire and build a reserve from seized assets.

Merrin hopes the bill will pave the way for quick legislation in 2025.

The recent state bills, like the proposed national effort, are all in their early stages, and it remains unclear if they can garner the needed support to become law. But till then, the ensuing speculation continues to drive excitement about Bitcoin and crypto.

Russia Finance Minister Confirms Use of Bitcoin for International Trade

0

Businesses in Russia are utilizing Bitcoin and other crypto assets in international trade as part of a broader effort to bypass Western sanctions.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov confirmed this development in a statement today. Siluanov noted that legislative changes this year have enabled the use of cryptocurrencies for foreign payments.

The move comes as Russia faces increasing difficulties in conducting trade with major partners like China due to heightened caution from banks. These institutions are wary of engaging in transactions with Russia, fearing potential repercussions from Western regulatory bodies.

Legislative Changes Open Path for Crypto Usage

This year, Russia passed laws allowing the use of cryptocurrencies in international trade. In August, the country legitimized the mining of crypto assets, including Bitcoin. Russia has become one of the world’s leading Bitcoin mining nations, giving it a strong foundation for this new phase of financial operations.

Siluanov emphasized that the nation has already integrated Bitcoin, along with other crypto assets, into some foreign trade transactions under an experimental regime. “It is possible to use BTC, which we had mined here in Russia,” he explained during a broadcast today.

Furthermore, Siluanov expressed confidence that using cryptocurrencies in international trade will continue to expand. “We think they should be further expanded and developed. I am confident this will take place next year,” he stated.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. government for weakening the U.S. dollar’s status as the global reserve currency by using it for political leverage. 

He argued that this has pushed numerous nations to explore alternative assets. He specifically highlighted Bitcoin as an example, noting that it remains beyond the control of any government. 

Latest Regulation on Bitcoin Mining in Russia

In a related development, Russia has outlawed Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining in key regions, effective January 1, 2025, until March 15, 2031. Affected areas include Dagestan, Chechnya, and parts of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson. 

The move aims to address electricity imbalances caused by subsidized energy costs in these regions. While crypto mining remains legal in Russia, miners must report earnings to the Federal Tax Service, with limits on energy use.

Here are Cardano Addresses in Profit Despite Price Consolidation

0

More Cardano (ADA) addresses are currently witnessing profits on their investments despite the ongoing price consolidation.

For context, ADA is one of the biggest victims of the current market turbulence. After recovering above $1 to claim $1.18 on Dec. 12, Cardano faced another phase of intense selling pressure, dropping to a one-month floor of $0.7618 on Dec. 20 before rebounding slightly.

Cardano Addresses in Profit Amid Price Drop

Despite the mild rebound, Cardano remains below the $1 psychologically relevant threshold at press time, down 15.39% in December. However, this turbulent phase has not impacted investor profitability as many would expect.

Notably, data from blockchain analytics resource IntoTheBlock confirms that up to 2.71 million Cardano addresses are still witnessing profits on their ADA holdings. This figure represents an impressive 61.63% of the total wallets holding Cardano.

Cardano GIOM IntoTheBlock
Cardano GIOM | IntoTheBlock

In contrast, about 1.51 million addresses, marking 34.28% of total wallets, bought Cardano above the current price, and are seeing losses as a result of the price collapse. Meanwhile, wallets at a breakeven currently amount to 179,970.

Interestingly, Cardano address profitability was at a much better position earlier this month, in the heat of the latest market uptrend. With ADA climbing to a three-year peak of $1.23 on Dec. 3, addresses in the money rose to a whopping 3.27 million, representing 74.35% of the total.

With Cardano now 26% down from the recent peak, profitability ratio has dropped below the 70% mark. This metric could improve significantly once the current consolidation phase passes, as ADA looks to break back above the $1 price region.

Cardano Eyes Break Above $1

The path to this recovery would involve a breach of the Dec. 21 resistance at $0.9972. Once the bulls break above this level, Cardano could face another roadblock at the dynamic 20-day moving average (MA) ceiling currently at $1.0321. Conquering this area would allow ADA cement its position above $1 and flip it back to support.

IntoTheBlock identifies a robust supply wall between $0.9696 and $1.09. Within this price range, over 243,900 addresses purchased 3.77 billion ADA tokens. This sell wall could bolster the resistance for Cardano when prices reach this range.

ADA Sell Wall IntoTheBlock
ADA Sell Wall | IntoTheBlock

Analysts such as Javon Marks believe in ADA’s potential to breach these resistance levels. In an analysis this morning, Marks suggested that Cardano’s next direction could be bullish, evident from its recent breakout. The market watcher expects another 180% surge, which could take prices to $2.77.

At press time, Cardano changes hands for $0.9135, down 2.26% today after two days of bullish performance. If the pullback persists, the bulls need to defend the lower Bollinger Band at $0.8164 to avoid steeper declines. Meanwhile, whales have continued to buy the dip.

ADA 1D Chart
ADA 1D Chart