Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed $108,000 on December 17, with forecasts of a possible peak at $220,000 by March 2025. Bitfinex analysts expect the bull market to continue until the end of 2025, with a potential price reaching $339,000.

- In 2024, the price of BTC increased by 150%.
- Donald Trump's victory in the US elections contributed to the growth.
- Analysts warn of potential corrections on the way to the peak.

- Analysts expect that in 2025, ETF approvals or rejections for altcoins may occur.
- According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, Litecoin (LTC) and Hedera (HBAR) have a better chance of getting ETF approval sooner than Ripple (XRP) and Solana (SOL).
- LTC and HBAR are not classified as securities, which increases their chances of approval.
- XRP is facing legal issues, which is delaying its ETF.

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Ethena Labs has launched a new stablecoin USDtb, backed by the BUIDL fund from BlackRock. USDtb, developed in collaboration with Securitize, operates like traditional fiat-backed stablecoins. The main reserve asset—BUIDL—makes up 90% of the backing for USDtb. This strengthens the Ethena ecosystem, offering a low-risk alternative with stable returns.

Binance has expanded support for the meme token Simon’s Cat (CAT), including it in several trading programs. As a result, the price of CAT surged by 50%, reaching a new high of $0.00006330, before falling to $0.00005597. The token is now available in pairs CAT/USDT, CAT/BNB, CAT/FDUSD, and CAT/TRY. Binance has also added CAT to the Simple Earn and Binance Futures programs, which has increased its popularity.

Lido, the leading protocol for liquid staking, has announced the cessation of its operations on Polygon. The decision was made after discussions in the DAO forum and voting by LDO token holders. The reasons were low user adoption and high maintenance costs. The process will begin on December 16, 2024, and will conclude on June 16, 2025. Users are advised to withdraw their tokens before this date.

Bitcoin L2 Labs announced the release of a new asset sBTC on the Stacks mainnet, backed by Bitcoin at a 1:1 ratio. sBTC allows for decentralized movement of BTC between Bitcoin layers while maintaining network security. sBTC deposits will become available on December 17, 2024, and withdrawals will be possible in March 2025. Initially, there is a limit of 1000 BTC to manage liquidity.

Bitcoin continues to trade above $100K and aims for the $110K mark. Higher highs and lows are observed on the daily chart, and the $100K level has become a support zone. However, the 4-hour chart shows a risk of reversal if the price does not break through the ascending channel. A decrease in reserves on exchanges indicates a reduction in supply, which may contribute to further price increases.

Aurora Labs has introduced TurboChain and TurboSwap for the AI ​​memecoin Turbo (TURBO), partnering with Near Protocol. TurboChain offers scalability and compatibility with Ethereum and other networks. TurboSwap enables decentralized trading with cross-chain liquidity. These initiatives support Aurora Labs’ plans to launch 1,000 blockchains by 2025.

Bitcoin is trading above $107,000, but Bitfinex analysts believe the asset is far from "euphoric peaks". According to historical data, the cryptocurrency market is in the middle of a bullish phase and could reach a peak in 2025. Prices are expected to reach $339,000 or $145,000 due to declining yields. Institutional demand and ETFs support growth, minimizing corrections.

Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of nearly $108,000 after MicroStrategy purchased 15,350 BTC. Analysts expect growth to $250,000 or even $500,000. XRP Ripple has risen by 130% in a month, trading above $2.50. The launch of the stablecoin RLUSD is anticipated. Pi Network urges users to rely on official channels and use the verified Pi Wallet while awaiting the launch of the open network.

Ripple has announced the launch of its long-awaited stablecoin RLUSD, which will take place today. According to CryptoQuant, the amount of issued tokens has reached almost $66 million, of which $52.9 million is on the Ethereum network and $13.3 million on XRPL. RLUSD is backed by dollar deposits and government bonds, with monthly audits. The stablecoin is intended for cross-border payments and integration into DeFi.

The South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit announced the listing of the MOCA Network token (MOCA), which caused a sharp increase in its price and trading volume.

- The price of MOCA rose by 160% in 24 hours, reaching $0.426, and then stabilized around $0.22.
- Trading volume increased by 7,500%, reaching $1.32 billion.
- The market capitalization of MOCA grew by 205%, totaling $341.61 million.

Animoca Brands, the owner of MOCA, raised $10 million for the development of Mocaverse, supported by investors such as OKX Ventures and CMCC Global.

The Australian Federal Court fined Bit Trade, the operator of the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, $8 million for offering an unapproved margin lending product. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) accused the company of violating financial regulations, as the product was offered without defining a target market. Over 1,100 customers were affected, losing a total of $7.85 million. ASIC emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance to protect investors. Kraken expressed disappointment at the court's decision and called for an update to cryptocurrency legislation.

Binance exchange will increase the collateral ratios for six altcoins, including Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), starting December 17. The PNUT ratio will rise from 35% to 45%, while the ratios for other assets will increase from 10% to 20%. This change may affect users by increasing the risk of liquidation. PNUT, supported by well-known personalities, has generated significant interest and price growth after being listed on Binance.

The stablecoin market is showing significant growth in 2024 due to increased adoption of cryptocurrencies and participation from institutional investors. The focus is on the new stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD), which has received approval from NYDFS. Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, warns against speculation, emphasizing that RLUSD is intended for stability rather than speculative profit.

Ripple has announced the launch of its long-awaited stablecoin RLUSD, which will be available for trading tomorrow, December 17. The asset will be presented on platforms such as MoonPay, Bitso, CoinMENA, and others. RLUSD, fully backed by dollar deposits and U.S. government bonds, has received approval from NYDFS. The Ripple board of directors includes prominent economists, including Raghuram Rajan.

Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $106,500 but soon fell by $2,000. Its market capitalization is $2.070 trillion, and its market dominance is around 54%. Among altcoins, LINK, SUI, and AAVE showed significant growth. SUI set a new record, exceeding $4.9. The total market capitalization of cryptocurrency increased by $80 billion, reaching $3.850 trillion.

Pi Network has issued important warnings for its users. The project team urges reliance only on official channels and to use the authentic Pi Wallet in the Pi Browser. With 14 million confirmed users and one million remaining, the project plans to launch the open network by December 31. However, delays and skepticism continue to spark debates around the project.

Bitcoin hit a new all-time high of $106,500, marking a historic moment in its 16-year history. The nearly 200% gain this year has been driven by increased activity from large holders. The number of wallets holding more than 100 BTC has grown by 9.9% since October 10. Donald Trump's comments about creating a U.S. strategic reserve for Bitcoin also contributed to the rally.