According to Jin10 data reports, the financial website Marketwatch stated that the minutes of the Federal Reserve's December meeting show that almost all decision-makers believe that the risks to the inflation outlook have increased. U.S. stocks fluctuated between slight gains and losses. The minutes indicate that Federal Reserve officials did not discuss the possibility of interest rate hikes in December. Officials believe that if inflation remains high, the Federal Reserve may keep rates unchanged or loosen monetary policy at a slower pace.
● The number of initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell to 201,000, a new low for 2024
According to BlockBeats, the number of initial jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending January 4 was recorded at 201,000, the lowest level since the week of February 17, 2024.
According to Jin10, the U.S. December ADP employment figures recorded 122,000, below the market expectation of 140,000, marking the lowest level since August 2024. The ADP report indicates a decrease of 11,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector in December, following a decrease of 26,000 in November.
● Federal Reserve Governor Waller: Supports further rate cuts this year
According to Jin10 data reports, Federal Reserve Governor Waller stated that inflation rates should continue to decline in 2025, allowing the Fed to further cut rates, although the pace remains uncertain. Waller pointed out that although inflation seems to stagnate above the 2% target by the end of 2024, market estimates and short-term data lead him to believe that inflation is easing. Despite calls to slow down or halt rate cuts, he believes that inflation will continue to move towards the 2% target in the medium term, and further rate cuts are appropriate.
Waller did not disclose the number of rate cuts expected this year, but noted significant differences in views among Federal Reserve officials, ranging from no rate cuts to as many as five rate cuts. He still believes that the foundation of the U.S. economy is solid, with no signs indicating that the job market will weaken significantly.
● Viewpoint: Bitcoin faces short-term pressure due to macroeconomic changes and market sentiment
According to Foresight News citing Decrypt, Bitcoin is currently facing downward pressure due to macroeconomic changes and market sentiment. Despite breaking through the historical high of $108,000 last December, Bitcoin is currently correcting due to a stronger dollar, increased volatility, and cautious attitudes among traders.
Asymmetric founder and CEO Joe McCann stated that the significant increase in the volatility index (VIX) and the hawkish press conference of the Federal Reserve on December 18 led to a higher probability of short-term downturns. He believes that while there is a short-term bearish outlook, the long-term perspective remains bullish.
Additionally, the unexpected strength of the U.S. dollar index (DXY) has also become a focus. After the Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 basis points, the DXY broke through multi-year resistance, reflecting market dynamics of global liquidity constraints and safe-haven demand. Singapore cryptocurrency trading institution QCP Capital noted in a report to investors that while favorable regulatory narratives support the spot market, the market environment in early January may be unstable due to structural risks such as the debt ceiling issue, which could trigger market volatility. Analysts believe that Bitcoin's performance will continue to be closely related to Federal Reserve policies and the performance of the dollar.
According to Wu Shuo, El Salvador purchased an additional 11 Bitcoins today at 6:56 (UTC+8), valued at approximately $1.05 million. Currently, the country's total holdings amount to about 6022 BTC, worth over $570 million.
According to the official website of Bhutan's Grelip Mindfulness City (GMC), it announced the inclusion of BTC, ETH, and BNB into its urban strategic reserve assets, becoming one of the first special administrative regions in the world to include digital assets in its strategic reserves.
According to information from the official website, BNB was included in the reserve asset list due to its high market value, ample liquidity, and operation on a mature and secure blockchain. One of GMC's future economic priorities is to promote and support the application of blockchain technology, which not only strengthens GMC's economic resilience but also demonstrates its determination to advance blockchain technology development. In March 2025, GMC will hold a high-level meeting to discuss digital asset strategic reserves and establish an international advisory committee.
● Binance 2024 Year-End Report: Registered users exceed 250 million, trading volume hits record
Binance Blog released the Binance 2024 Year-End Report, indicating that in 2024, Binance experienced significant growth, with the number of global users exceeding 250 million. With increased participation from institutional investors, the number of VIP users at Binance doubled, further solidifying its role as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto market.
In terms of compliance and security, Binance has made progress in various areas, including achieving a historical high in trading volume, expanding compliance efforts, and enhancing user security. Binance has obtained regulatory licenses in 21 jurisdictions and has prevented potential losses of over $4.2 billion for users through fraud prevention and improved risk management.
Binance has also promoted the popularization of financial tools, with active users of Binance Pay increasing by 226%, and launching fiat-to-crypto trading channels in 20 new countries. Meanwhile, Binance has provided users with more investment options through products like Binance Earn and On-Chain Yields.
In terms of community building and philanthropy, Binance Academy has trained 44 million learners, and Binance Charity has helped 72,000 people, supporting the global promotion of crypto industry culture. Meanwhile, Binance Square has also seen significant growth, with monthly active users reaching 35 million, becoming one of the leading crypto social platforms.
