As the new year 2024 unfolds, the crypto market sees potential for a bull run. With the Bitcoin (BTC) halving around 100 days away, 11 spot Bitcoin ETF applicants, including BlackRock and Grayscale, await approval or denial from the U.S. SEC. The SEC's acceptance of 19b-4 amendments signals a step towards approving a spot BTC ETF. 
However, Dennis Kelleher of Better Markets urges caution, citing potential risks for investors. As you might have guessed, he has been subjected to backlash from the crypto community.
Now, here are the top 6 most interesting stories of the week, all waiting to be discovered. Delve into the latest news you might have missed, and explore the fascinating world of crypto beyond the headlines.
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TOP CRYPTO NEWS RECAP (DECEMBER 31–JANUARY 6, 2023)
●      MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor Initiates $216 Million Share Sell-Off for Bitcoin Investment
●      IRS Enforces Reporting of $10k+ Crypto Transactions Starting 2024
●      SEC Approval Could Spark $10 Billion Inflows to Bitcoin ETFs, says Bloomberg Analyst
●      Vitalik Buterin Unveils Ethereum's 2024 Roadmap with Emphasis on PoS Improvements
●      Anonymous Bitcoin User Surprises Crypto Community with $1.17M Gift to Satoshi Nakamoto's Genesis Wallet
●      SEC Urges Court to Consider Terraform Labs Ruling in Binance Case
MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor Initiates $216 Million Share Sell-Off for Bitcoin Investment
MicroStrategy's executive chairman, Michael Saylor, has begun selling $216 million worth of his company's shares over four months, aiming to increase his personal Bitcoin holdings. 
Starting on January 2, he planned to sell 5,000 shares daily, addressing personal obligations while maintaining a "significant" stake in MicroStrategy. Saylor, known for his Bitcoin advocacy, seeks to capitalize on MicroStrategy's outperformance, having recently increased the company's Bitcoin holdings to 189,150, valued at $8.5 billion.
IRS Enforces Reporting of $10k+ Crypto Transactions Starting 2024
As part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden, the IRS now requires reporting on digital asset transactions exceeding $10,000. The law, effective in 2024, mandates crypto brokers to provide personal information within 15 days, sparking concerns about compliance. 
Coin Center's Jerry Brito highlights the challenge of reporting for miners, validators, and decentralized exchanges, urging IRS guidance. The vagueness prompts calls for a de minimis exemption by Coin Center to streamline reporting under the expanded requirements.
SEC Approval Could Spark $10 Billion Inflows to Bitcoin ETFs, says Bloomberg Analyst
Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart suggests a 90% chance of the U.S. SEC approving a spot Bitcoin ETF, potentially attracting $10 billion in the first year. Seyffart believes the #SEC is compelled to approve due to previous denials being deemed irrelevant by courts. 
The decision, expected by Jan. 10, follows BlackRock's ETF filing and SEC's court loss to Grayscale. Seyffart dismisses concerns of rejection and highlights potential institutional adoption delays despite approval.
Vitalik Buterin Unveils Ethereum's 2024 Roadmap with Emphasis on PoS Improvements
Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared the #Ethereum roadmap for 2024, focusing on key aspects like the Merge and advancements in single-slot finality (SSF). Buterin highlighted the importance of SSF in addressing Ethereum's PoS design weaknesses post-Merge. 
He emphasized a simplified and resilient Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus while acknowledging minor changes in the overall technical direction. Additionally, Buterin expressed a desire to reconnect with Ethereum's original "cypherpunk" vision, emphasizing privacy and peer-to-peer principles.
Anonymous Bitcoin User Surprises Crypto Community with $1.17M Gift to Satoshi Nakamoto's Genesis Wallet
An unidentified #Bitcoin (BTC) user sent 26.9 BTC, worth $1.17 million, to the original Bitcoin wallet created by Satoshi Nakamoto. The surprise transaction, occurring on January 5, fueled speculation about Nakamoto's involvement. This came after 2 days of celebrating Bitcoin’s 15th birthday, Jan. 3, 2009, when the first block was mined.
However, Conor Grogan of Coinbase hinted at the possibility of an unusual ETF marketing scheme. The Genesis Wallet, untouched since Nakamoto's disappearance in 2010, saw its balance increase to 99.67 Bitcoin, valued at around $4.3 million.
SEC Urges Court to Consider Terraform Labs Ruling in Binance Case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking a judge's consideration of a summary judgment in its case against Binance. Referring to a recent ruling against Terraform Labs, the SEC argues similarities, stating that the court's analysis of Terra's stablecoin is relevant to Binance's stablecoin BUSD and related programs. 
The regulatory agency aims to use the Terra judgment as "further grounds" to deny Binance's motion to dismiss, filed on the grounds of regulatory overreach. Binance recently settled for $4.3 billion in a case with U.S. financial regulators.
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