03 January 2025

Macro/TradFi

  • The Swiss Chancellery has launched a proposition to include Bitcoin in Switzerland’s national reserves, alongside traditional assets like gold.

  • In its 2025 Crypto Outlook report, Franklin Templeton predicts that several countries will integrate Bitcoin into their strategic reserves, strengthening its role as both a digital store of value and a global financial asset.

  • U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs saw record net inflows of US$2.08B in December, approximately double of November’s US$1B, according to SoSoValue.

  • Bitwise Asset Management has filed with the SEC to launch a new ETF aimed at corporations adopting the 'Bitcoin Standard,' tracking those companies integrating Bitcoin as a core treasury asset.

  • Strive Asset Management filed with U.S. regulators to launch the Strive Bitcoin Bond ETF, offering exposure to Bitcoin bonds by focusing on convertible bonds from companies like MicroStrategy with significant Bitcoin investments.

  • Asset manager Volatility Shares has filed to launch ETFs investing in Solana futures contracts, a move that could also improve the chance of spot Solana ETF approval.

Crypto

L1/L2:

  • Hyperliquid has introduced native staking on its mainnet, allowing holders to earn rewards for securing the network. Users can choose from 16 validators based on metrics like uptime, commission rates, reputation, and community contributions.

DeFi:

  • Decentralized exchanges recorded over US$436B in monthly trading volume in December, setting a new all-time high, according to DefiLlama.

  • Net deposits on lending protocol Aave surpassed US$33.4B, setting a new record and exceeding levels from the 2021 bull market.

  • Solana token launchpad Pump.fun is approaching US$400M in total revenue, as users continue utilizing the platform despite a December decline in meme coin market cap.

  • Solana restaking protocol Solayer has unveiled the Solayer Foundation together with its governance token, LAYER.

Stablecoins:

  • Frax Finance’s frxUSD stablecoin is set to launch after approval of Securitize’s governance proposal to use BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized money market fund as backing.

Others:

  • AI Agent platform ai16z is considering changes to its tokenomics, including a phased overhaul, and exploring the launch of a Layer 1 blockchain.

  • Accountable raised US$2.3M in seed funding to advance its privacy-focused platform for real-time verification of borrowers' assets, liabilities, and trading exposure in the undercollateralized crypto credit market.

  • MoonPay, a crypto payment provider, has gained approval to operate under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

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