MicroStrategy has welcomed former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks, Jane Dietze, and Gregg Winiarski to its board, expanding it to nine members. This move follows MicroStrategy's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100, effective Dec. 23. Brooks, who briefly led Binance.US and served as acting Comptroller of the Currency, is seen as a significant addition due to his deep connections in the banking sector. The Nasdaq 100 listing highlights MicroStrategy's status as a major player, alongside Palantir and Axon, while Illumina, Super Micro Computer, and Moderna exit the index.

**Crypto News Flash**

- **Hawk Tuah Memecoin Scandal:** Influencer Haliey Welch addresses allegations of a memecoin rug pull involving the Hawk Tuah (HAWK) token. Welch is cooperating with lawyers, though she isn't named in the lawsuit against the token's creators.

- **Cathie Wood's Bold Predictions:** ARK Invest's Cathie Wood forecasts a surge in tech startup mergers and acquisitions if Donald Trump wins the election. She also maintains her bullish stance on Bitcoin, predicting it could hit $1 million by 2030.

- **Cryptopia Hack Payouts:** Liquidators of the defunct Cryptopia exchange have begun distributing $225 million to victims of a 2019 hack, marking a significant step in the liquidation process.

- **Craig Wright's Legal Troubles:** Craig Wright, who claimed to be Bitcoin's creator, received a suspended one-year sentence in the UK for contempt of court related to lawsuits against Bitcoin developers.

**Crypto News Flash: Tai Mo Shan Settles with SEC for $123M**

- Tai Mo Shan, a Jump Crypto subsidiary, has agreed to a $123 million settlement with the SEC. The charge? Misleading investors about TerraUSD's stability before its collapse.

- In 2021, Tai Mo Shan bought Terra LUNA at a discount and invested $20 million in UST to maintain its dollar peg. However, TerraUSD's crash in May 2022 shook the crypto world.

- The fallout prompted regulatory changes, like the Lummis-Gillibrand Stablecoin Act of 2024, banning algorithmic stablecoins. The SEC emphasizes compliance with securities laws to protect investors.

**Crypto Industry Faces Global Debanking Challenges**

The crypto sector is grappling with debanking threats under Operation Chokepoint 2.0. OKX's Jason Lau emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with banks and regulators to counteract these challenges. Lau highlights that trust is crucial in the traditional financial world, and maintaining partnerships is key.

Debanking is a global issue, impacting innovation and free speech. In Australia, Binance faced sudden debanking, while in the UK, political views led to account closures. The UK government now demands banks provide clear reasons and notice for account closures, yet crypto firms still face hurdles.

Spacecoin XYZ has successfully launched its first satellite into orbit, a significant milestone in its mission to secure blockchain networks from space. Co-founder Daniel Bar revealed that this satellite is part of a broader plan to deploy a constellation of satellites, aiming for a full network by 2025. The satellite, equipped with "crypto engines" and powered by solar panels, promises unparalleled security as a space-based data center. Spacecoin's ambitious project includes a two-tiered blockchain network, with the "Celestial Chain" in space and the "Uncelestial" network on Earth, offering a futuristic approach to blockchain infrastructure.

Bitcoin is making waves as it nears the $100,000 mark, following a dramatic price surge. In just 24 hours, BTC/USD jumped by $7,000, reaching highs of $99,500 on Bitstamp. This rebound came after a dip to December lows near $92,000, with buyers flocking back to Coinbase, easing previous sell-side pressure.

Traders like Exitpump and Superbro highlighted key technical indicators, noting Coinbase's increased buying volumes and the 50-day SMA acting as support. Despite the price rally, US Bitcoin ETFs faced significant outflows, with the iShares Bitcoin Trust seeing record withdrawals.

NFT sales have skyrocketed, with Ethereum-based collections leading the charge. Last week, digital collectible sales hit $304 million, marking a significant rise. Ethereum NFTs alone saw a 76% increase, totaling $201 million and accounting for 66% of all NFT sales.

Bitcoin and Solana NFTs trailed with $40 million and $29 million, respectively. Other chains like Mythos, Immutable, Polygon, and BNB collectively reached $25.9 million.

Pudgy Penguins topped the charts with $54.4 million in sales, while LilPudgys and Azuki also saw impressive gains. December's NFT sales have already surpassed November, making it the best month since May.

**Crypto Liquidity Pools: Essential Yet Risky**

Crypto liquidity pools are vital for decentralized finance (DeFi), enabling seamless trading without traditional order books. Participants, known as liquidity providers, earn rewards by supplying funds to these pools, which are crucial for decentralized exchanges like Uniswap.

However, the DeFi space is not without risks. Fake liquidity pools, often set up by scammers, lure investors with promises of high returns. Once significant funds are gathered, scammers execute "rug pulls," leaving investors with worthless tokens. To avoid falling victim, watch for red flags like unrealistic promises, anonymous developers, and inactive communities. Conduct thorough research and verify locked liquidity to safeguard your investments.

Regulators worldwide are increasingly addressing DeFi scams, but the decentralized nature poses enforcement challenges.

Ethereum's price is currently caught between two key psychological levels, struggling to maintain a position above $4,000. According to crypto analyst Rekt Capital, ETH has repeatedly breached the $4,000 mark, peaking at $4,077, but hasn't sustained it. The $3,000 level now acts as a psychological support, with ETH possibly consolidating between $3,000 and $4,000 in the near term.

On the ETF front, spot Ether ETFs have seen inflows of $2.43 billion since their July launch in the U.S., with analysts predicting continued growth. VanEck forecasts Ether's price could hit $6,000 by late 2025.

Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, has invested $775 million in Rumble, a YouTube alternative known for its uncensored content. Tether CEO Paolo Ardonio emphasized the company's commitment to freedom of speech and financial independence, highlighting the strategic partnership with Rumble. Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski expressed excitement about the collaboration, aiming to challenge YouTube's dominance. Following the announcement, Rumble's stock surged by 51.60% in after-hours trading. Additionally, Rumble plans to add Bitcoin to its balance sheet, with up to $20 million allocated for this move.

Web3 applications, or DApps, often lag behind Web2 apps in speed due to the complexity of organizing blockchain data from various sources. Maxim Legg, CEO of Pangea, suggests that data indexing can resolve this bottleneck, streamlining the process for developers. Currently, many developers create in-house solutions, which are inefficient and time-consuming. As blockchain throughput increases, the need for efficient indexing grows. Ethereum and its layer-2 solutions aim to boost transactions per second (TPS) significantly, with Starknet and ZKsync targeting major throughput improvements to rival networks like Solana.

AI agents are set to revolutionize Web3 by 2025, with cryptocurrency staking and onchain trading as early applications, according to industry experts. These autonomous machines are already reshaping the digital economy by creating Web3 apps and launching tokens. By 2025, over 1 million AI agents are expected to operate on blockchain networks, up from 10,000 today, potentially earning millions weekly.

Challenges such as technical issues, regulatory hurdles, and centralization remain. However, AI-driven staking and liquidity management are promising early use cases. As AI's role grows, the need for decentralized solutions and regulatory frameworks will become crucial.

Injective and Sonic are teaming up to launch the Smart Agent Hub, a cross-chain AI platform connecting Solana's SVM with Injective's decentralized ecosystem. This hub will enable developers to monetize AI agents through tokenization and fractional ownership. The initial testnet is set for early 2025, with full integration rolling out over several months.

The hub will link Injective's blockchain with Solana using Sonic infrastructure and the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol. This collaboration follows Injective's iAgent SDK launch, which uses OpenAI tech for data analysis and trading. The AI agent sector, with a market cap of $11.2 billion, is poised for growth.

**Crypto News Flash: Coinbase, Deutsche Bank, and More**

- **Coinbase Delisting Drama:** Coinbase's decision to delist Wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC) has led to a $1 billion lawsuit from BiT Global Digital Limited. The Hong Kong-based firm accuses Coinbase of anticompetitive behavior to promote its own Coinbase Wrapped BTC (cbBTC). A federal judge recently sided with Coinbase, denying a temporary restraining order against the delisting.

- **Deutsche Bank's Blockchain Move:** Germany's Deutsche Bank is developing a layer-2 blockchain on Ethereum using ZKsync to enhance transaction efficiency and regulatory compliance, as part of Singapore’s Project Guardian.

- **USDT Trading in Europe:** Despite Coinbase's delisting of Tether's USDT for European users, major exchanges like Binance and Kraken continue to support it, pending full MiCA regulation implementation.

- **FTX Repayment Plan:** FTX's bankruptcy case progresses with a repayment plan set for Jan. 3, 2025, aided by Kraken and BitGo.

- **BVNK's US Expansion:** BVNK raises $50 million to enter the US stablecoin market, planning new operations in San Francisco and New York.

Bitcoin's recent price action has caught the attention of traders, with three consecutive red candles on the daily chart, a pattern not seen since November. BTC has dipped over 15% from its peak, but some analysts believe the correction is nearing its end. Captain Faibik suggests a bounce around $94,000, while Cold Blooded Shiller anticipates a deeper pullback to $85,000. Meanwhile, selling pressure, especially on Coinbase, has intensified, with realized losses hitting $28.9 million recently. For a bullish reversal, Bitcoin needs to close above $95,000.

EigenLayer's slashing testnet is now live, with a mainnet launch awaiting approval of ELIP-002. This upgrade aims to enhance security by introducing Unique Stake Allocation and Operator Sets for Actively Validated Services (AVS). Unique Stake Allocation allows restaking operators to minimize slashing risks by designating specific funds for single AVS tasks. Operator Sets enable AVS to organize operators and set slashing parameters. RedStone and Infura are among the first to join as AVS, with EigenLayer focusing on expanding its network and onboarding consumer crypto applications.

**News Flash: Metallicus Expands with Bonifii Acquisition**

Digital banking and blockchain platform Metallicus has acquired Bonifii, a fintech service company linked to 70 credit unions. This move aims to create a new credit union service operator on The Digital Banking Network, enhancing blockchain services for the financial sector.

With this acquisition, Metallicus now partners with over 80 credit unions, 16 of which already use Metal blockchain technology. The company plans to onboard more institutions, offering tailored solutions to improve operations and reduce costs.

Metallicus' involvement with the FedNow digital payments system highlights its growing influence in the digital banking space.

Bitcoin's recent pullback has caught traders' attention, as it marks the third day of decline. However, lower prices have attracted strong buying interest, likely fueled by cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index came in at 2.4%, slightly below the forecast. This has improved market sentiment, which had turned bearish after Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted at fewer rate cuts in 2025.

Analysts are debating whether this is a deeper correction or a buying opportunity. Bitcoin's accumulation range is forming at current prices, with key support levels to watch. The crypto market remains volatile, with traders closely monitoring price movements across top cryptocurrencies.

Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are gaining traction, with net inflows outpacing Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs, analysts report. Data from CoinShares reveals seven consecutive weeks of inflows, peaking at $2.2 billion in late November. This trend may persist into 2025, driven by ETH's strong price performance and potential staking yields.

ETH has outperformed BTC in recent months, bolstered by increased network activity, including AI developments. Analysts predict ETH's spot price could hit $6,000 by late 2025, with staking yields potentially enhancing ETF returns. The SEC's approval of BTC and ETH index ETFs could further boost ETH fund inflows.

**News Flash: Memecoin Drama Unfolds with 'Hawk Tuah'**

Hailey Welch, known for her viral TikTok fame, is in the spotlight again, but this time for the controversial Hawk Tuah (HAWK) memecoin. After its December launch, HAWK skyrocketed to a $500 million market cap, only to plummet by 90%, sparking rug pull accusations.

Welch, who promoted the token but isn't named in the lawsuit, is cooperating with lawyers representing affected investors. Blockchain data reveals a wallet that profited over $1 million, intensifying the scrutiny. The SEC's stance on tokens as securities adds uncertainty to potential legal outcomes.