**Curve Finance Sees Revenue Surge Amid Market Optimism**

Curve Finance, a decentralized exchange, reported nearly $37 million in annualized revenues over the past month, marking a 23% increase. This growth is attributed to heightened demand for leveraged financing and the introduction of new products like the Savings vault and scrvUSD token.

The recent U.S. elections have boosted market confidence, with expectations of pro-crypto policies under President-elect Donald Trump. Curve's native token, CRV, has surged 300% since the election, now boasting a market cap over $1 billion. The platform continues to innovate with products like scrvUSD, attracting significant investor interest.

Cryptocurrency exchanges are witnessing a surge in average deposits in 2024, fueled by increased activity from professional and corporate investors. A CryptoQuant analysis highlights that Binance's average daily Bitcoin deposit rose by 2.77 BTC, surpassing Kraken and Coinbase. Bitcoin deposits jumped from 0.36 BTC in 2023 to 1.65 BTC in 2024, while Tether deposits soared from $19,600 to $230,000. Binance hit a record daily deposit of 6.85 BTC on Nov. 3. The reelection of Donald Trump and the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs have further boosted crypto adoption, with institutional funds reaching over $30 billion.

Chainlink (LINK) has been making waves in the crypto market, surging 27% on December 3rd after teaming up with EU-based 21X to launch a tokenized asset settlement system. This partnership aims to create Europe's first EU-regulated tokenized securities market, utilizing Chainlink's crosschain Interoperability Protocol. LINK's price has skyrocketed 50% in a week and 125% over the past month, hitting a two-year high of $26.92. Trading volumes soared to $8.6 billion, reflecting heightened investor interest. Despite a potential slowdown, some traders are optimistic, eyeing a $50 target for LINK.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF has hit a milestone, now holding over 500,000 BTC, valued at approximately $48 billion. This makes it the most actively traded spot Bitcoin ETF, controlling 2.38% of Bitcoin's total supply. The ETF offers a simplified way for investors to gain Bitcoin exposure without the hassles of direct ownership.

Meanwhile, MicroStrategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, recently bought 15,400 BTC, upping its total to 402,100. Crypto miner MARA Holdings also expanded its stash, purchasing 6,484 BTC, making it the second-largest corporate Bitcoin holder.

Blockchain technology is set to transform the global uranium trade with the launch of Uranium.io, a decentralized platform built on the Tezos blockchain. This innovative platform aims to make uranium trading more accessible, especially for retail investors, by lowering entry barriers traditionally faced in this market. Partnering with Curzon Uranium and Archax, Uranium.io will leverage blockchain's transparency and global reach to democratize access to this critical energy asset. This move aligns with the growing demand for nuclear energy, driven by its low-emission benefits for powering AI technologies.

Microsoft shareholders are gearing up for a crucial vote on December 10, deciding whether to add Bitcoin to the company's balance sheet. This comes amid a Bitcoin bull market and a proposal suggesting Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. However, Microsoft's board has advised against it, emphasizing their successful treasury management.

Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy made a compelling case for Bitcoin, suggesting a potential $5 trillion boost to Microsoft's value. Yet, experts argue that Microsoft's conservative approach and focus on AI and tech investments might outweigh the allure of Bitcoin's potential gains. The decision could significantly impact Microsoft's market perception and strategy.

Franklin Templeton is making strides in the crypto world by integrating a verification system for its tokenized funds, the Franklin Bitcoin ETF and the OnChain US Government Money Fund, using Jiritsu's network on Avalanche. This move aims to allow asset managers to issue tokens backed by fund shares, potentially opening up these tokens to retail investors. Currently, only registered asset managers can trade the BENJI token, representing the fund's shares on various blockchains. The new system ensures tokens are properly backed, with retail versions expected by year-end, enhancing access and reducing investment friction.

Crypto investors, brace yourselves! Cybersecurity experts are predicting a surge in phishing scams this December as scammers aim to exploit the holiday shopping season. In November alone, over 9,200 investors lost a staggering $9.3 million to these scams, with one unfortunate victim losing $661,000 in stETH within minutes.

Malicious signatures are a key tool for scammers, allowing them to drain wallets by gaining control over digital assets. With phishing attacks expected to rise, experts advise verifying communications, enabling two-factor authentication, and avoiding public WiFi for sensitive activities. Stay vigilant and scrutinize blockchain transactions to protect your assets during this high-risk period.

MicroStrategy is unfazed by potential Bitcoin downturns, even if BTC plummets below $20,000. According to capital adviser Jeff Walton, the company could withstand an 80% drop in Bitcoin's value without major issues. MicroStrategy, led by CEO Michael Saylor, has heavily invested in Bitcoin, with recent purchases boosting their holdings. Walton argues that the firm's balance sheet is not over-leveraged, despite criticisms of corporate Bitcoin adoption. Meanwhile, institutional demand for Bitcoin is surging, with companies like MicroStrategy and MARA significantly increasing their holdings, signaling a bullish trend in the market.

**Bitcoin's Path to $100K: Awaiting Breakthrough**

Bitcoin's price momentum has stalled, with the cryptocurrency struggling to break past the $98,000 resistance level. After several attempts, BTC fell to $94,812, according to Cointelegraph data. Analysts like Michaël van de Poppe suggest that Bitcoin won't see significant gains until it surpasses this barrier.

Despite previous rallies linked to political events, Bitcoin's rise to a new high remains contingent on macroeconomic factors. Analysts predict a potential surge to $110,000 by 2025, but short-term holders' selling patterns have hindered recent progress. The market awaits a breakthrough to reignite momentum.

**Crypto News Flash:**

- **DMM Bitcoin Liquidation:** DMM Bitcoin is set to liquidate after a $320 million hack in May. The exchange will transfer customer assets to SBI Group's SBI VC Trade by March 2025. The hack involved the theft of 4,502 BTC from a hot wallet.

- **Rising Rug Pulls:** Blockchain security firm TenArmor reports a surge in rug pulls, with incidents spiking from 4-6 daily in October to 31 on November 14. Users are advised to scrutinize token contracts to avoid scams.

- **DEXX Exploit:** Solana's DEXX platform was exploited for $21 million. Over 900 victims reported losses, with speculations of a private key leak as the cause.

- **Tornado Cash Ruling:** A US court overturned sanctions on Tornado Cash, allowing Ethereum nodes to process its transactions freely. The app remains controversial for its use in both privacy protection and illicit activities.

Tron (TRX) has hit a record market cap of $20 billion, with its price soaring to an all-time high of $0.23, marking a 13% rise in just 24 hours. This surge comes as Tron founder Justin Sun invests $30 million in Donald Trump's crypto project. TRX has climbed 42% this month and over 101% year-to-date. Analysts suggest this could signal the start of an altcoin season, with Bitcoin's dominance declining and investors shifting focus to altcoins. December's rally is already underway, with interest in altcoins like Hedera (HBAR) also spiking.

**XRP Ledger Lowers Reserve Requirements**

XRP Ledger has slashed its base reserve requirements from 10 XRP to just 1 XRP, effective December 2. This move, announced by validator operator Vet, aims to make it easier for new users to join the network by reducing the amount of cryptocurrency needed to fund wallets. Additionally, the owner reserve has dropped from 2 XRP to 0.2 XRP per object, covering NFTs, trust lines, and more. While some developers worry about increased ledger activity, others see it as a positive sign of growth. This change coincides with XRP's price surge amid ongoing legal battles with the SEC.

German fintech firm 21X has secured regulatory approval to launch a blockchain-based tokenization platform under the EU’s DLT Pilot Regime. The license, granted by Germany's BaFin, allows 21X to operate a trading and settlement system for tokenized financial instruments from its Frankfurt base. The platform is set to launch in early 2025, offering services like tokenization, issuance, and trading. Collaborating with partners like Polygon and Chainlink, 21X aims to leverage blockchain's scalability and security. This marks a significant step in integrating blockchain with traditional financial markets.

Chainlink's token, LINK, soared by 29% recently, hitting $25.32, marking a 53% gain over the past week. This surge is partly attributed to comparisons with XRP, which also saw a significant rally. Chainlink enthusiasts argue that LINK is the true "bank coin," highlighting its partnerships with major financial institutions. They contrast this with XRP, labeling it a "banker-themed memecoin" with limited success in cross-border payments. Chainlink's advocates emphasize its active collaborations with traditional finance, positioning it as a key player in the blockchain space.

Crypto trading in South Korea has hit a fever pitch, with retail volumes soaring to $18 billion in just 24 hours, surpassing the country's stock market by 22%, according to 10x Research. This surge marks the second-highest trading day of the year as traders dive into high-momentum altcoins. Ripple's XRP led the pack with $6.3 billion in volume, followed by Dogecoin and Stellar. Despite Bitcoin's mild 15% funding rate, the altcoin market is buzzing, signaling an "alt season." XRP's meteoric rise, up 436% in a month, has propelled it to the third-largest crypto by market cap.

Top U.S. lawmakers have introduced the "AI Act of 2024," a bill aimed at studying AI's impact on financial services and housing. Spearheaded by Congresswoman Maxine Waters and co-sponsored by House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry, the bill mandates federal regulators like the Federal Reserve to assess AI's role in areas such as money laundering and fraud detection. The initiative underscores AI's growing influence in mortgage lending and credit scoring. This move aligns with the House Committee's Bipartisan AI Working Group, formed to explore AI's potential benefits and risks.

Crypto industry insiders are buzzing over the U.S. government's recent transfer of $1.9 billion in Bitcoin to Coinbase. Critics, including Space Force engineer Jason Lowery, label the move a "huge strategic mistake," arguing the government doesn't grasp Bitcoin's value. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and others agree, questioning the wisdom of selling BTC.

Despite speculation, analytics suggest these transfers might be custody actions, not sales. The U.S. still holds about 183,850 BTC worth $17.7 billion. Bitcoin prices briefly dipped but have since stabilized. The debate continues on the government's crypto strategy.

Crypto exchange volumes soared to a three-year high in November, reaching nearly $3 trillion, driven by Donald Trump's election win and hopes for favorable crypto regulations. Data from New Hedge highlights this surge, with platforms like Crypto.com reporting record volumes. The election outcome, with pro-crypto candidates gaining seats in Congress, has fueled optimism for a supportive regulatory environment in the US.

Globally, increased regulatory clarity is attracting more investors. Kraken saw significant activity in Bitcoin, Solana, and Dogecoin perpetuals, while Bitcoin ETFs contributed to the bullish trend, drawing substantial inflows. The crypto market cap hit $3.47 trillion, buoyed by macroeconomic shifts and potential US policy changes.

Sonic Labs is gearing up for the public launch of its new layer-1 blockchain, Sonic, after achieving its first completed block, Genesis. This speed-focused, Ethereum-compatible blockchain aims to enhance network performance by reducing latency and transaction fees, positioning itself as a successor to the Fantom Opera network. Supported by the Fantom Foundation, Sonic recently unveiled its upgraded testnet, Blaze, and completed a snapshot for its S token airdrop. With a transaction finality of 720 milliseconds, Sonic aspires to be the fastest EVM chain, attracting developers with lucrative incentives.