As of December 31, 2024, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing notable developments:

Bitcoin's Performance and Future Outlook

Bitcoin has seen a slight decline in December, dropping 0.4% to $93,862 in early trading and down 1.9% for the month. Despite this, it has achieved significant gains over the year. Analysts, such as Alex Thorn from Galaxy Digital, anticipate further growth in 2025, driven by increased adoption from institutions, corporations, and nation-states. President-elect Donald Trump's plans to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve and appoint crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC are expected to bolster Bitcoin's price in 2025, though uncertainties remain in the crypto market.

MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Acquisition

MicroStrategy Inc. has purchased an additional 2,138 bitcoins at an average price of $97,837 per coin, totaling $209 million. This acquisition increases the company's holdings to approximately 446,400 bitcoins, acquired at an average cost of $62,428 each, totaling around $27.9 billion. The current market value of these holdings is estimated at $41.1 billion. Despite a 5% drop in the company's stock following the announcement, MicroStrategy remains committed to its Bitcoin acquisition strategy, with about $6.88 billion in shares available for future sales.

XRP's Market Performance

XRP has risen 2.1% to $2.09, marking a roughly 6% increase from its December opening price of $1.97, despite overall cryptocurrency market struggles in December. Utilized by Ripple Labs' digital payments platform, XRP has seen a significant 300% surge since Donald Trump's election, with anticipated eased regulatory pressures from SEC chairman Paul Atkins. However, analysts caution that this positive momentum might not last, as market conditions could either encourage further investment or accelerate declines.

Regulatory Environment and Banking Relations

In the U.S., discussions are intensifying over banks excluding certain clients, including crypto businesses, from services—a practice known as "debanking." With potential actions from the incoming Trump administration, figures like David Sacks and Brian Brooks are advocating for reviews and possible enforcement of fair access rules to address perceived political biases in banking decisions. Banks, wary of sanctions and regulatory scrutiny, often avoid certain clients, reflecting a risk-averse trend since the 2008 financial crisis.

Market Sentiment and Institutional Interest

The anticipated crypto-friendly stance of the Trump administration has generated optimism among investors. Significant funds are being infused into Bitcoin ETFs, with expectations of favorable legislation and improved relationships with banks. Wall Street entities, including BlackRock, Charles Schwab, and Goldman Sachs, are making notable moves into the digital asset market. While the future of crypto prices remains uncertain, some enthusiasts predict substantial growth, potentially reaching $200,000 by the end of 2025. However, the market remains volatile, and unpredictable factors could influence future asset movements.
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According to PANews, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino recently addressed concerns about USDT on the X platform. He was responding to comments by weRate co-founder and JAN3 CEO, who decried the spread of “FUD” (fear, uncertainty, doubt) around the stablecoin. Ardoino strongly denied rumors that USDT would be declared illegal in Europe by December 30, 2024.
He stressed Tether's compliance with MiCA regulations, noting that these rules provide for a transition period of 6 to 18 months to allow stablecoin providers to adjust. He also indicated that some exchanges are currently seeking more clarification regarding the specifics of these new regulations.

Bankrupt Bitcoin miner sells its Temple site for $40.6 million in cash

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Crypto might be all about innovation and potential, but 2024 reminded us that the space can get pretty wild. From billion-dollar scams to long-awaited justice, here are the top crypto scandals of the year—and the lessons they leave behind.
1. FTX’s Fallout: Sam Bankman-Fried Behind Bars

Remember the FTX collapse? It’s still sending shockwaves. Sam Bankman-Fried, the face of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March. Billions of customer funds vanished under his watch.
Other key players got their share of justice, too. Ryan Salame (Co-CEO) was sentenced to 7.5 years, while Caroline Ellison, SBF’s ex and former Alameda CEO, got two years for her cooperation. Meanwhile, SBF is appealing his sentence—apparently writing a prison diary while at it.
2. Terraform Labs’ Big Fine

Terraform Labs, the company behind the 2022 $40 billion market crash, faced a $4.5 billion fine this year. Founder Do Kwon? He’s still stuck in Montenegro after being arrested with a fake passport. Both the U.S. and South Korea want him extradited, but the process is a mess.
3. Celsius Founder Admits Guilt

Alex Mashinsky, the founder of Celsius, confessed to fraud and token price manipulation. Facing up to 30 years in prison, Mashinsky admitted to misleading customers and creating a false sense of security. His sentencing is set for April 2025.
4. OneCoin’s “Cryptoqueen” Still Missing

The Onecoin Ponzi scheme, which scammed investors out of $4.5 billion, remains one of crypto’s darkest stories. While some accomplices got hefty sentences, Ruja Ignatova, the infamous “Cryptoqueen,” is still missing. Rumors even suggest she might have been murdered.
5. The Bitfinex Hack Wraps Up

The couple behind the 2016 Bitfinex hack, Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, were finally sentenced. Morgan, aka “Razzlekhan” (a wannabe rapper), got 18 months, while Lichtenstein received five years. Fun fact: their story is now a Netflix doc.
6. Operation Destabilise

This UK-led operation uncovered massive Russian criminal networks using crypto for laundering money. From drug lords to arms dealers, this case exposed the underbelly of crypto’s darker uses.
7. SEC’s X Account Hacked

Even the SEC wasn’t safe in 2024. Hackers took over its X account (formerly Twitter) and posted fake $BTC ETF approval news. The chaos didn’t last long—Eric Council Jr., the mastermind, was arrested in Alabama.

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It’s a wild world out there—invest wisely.
Interesting Coin Today: $XRP $SUI (Bullish Potential)
Disclaimer:This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly speculative and come with significant risks, including the loss of your entire investment. Always conduct thorough research and consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The information provided is based on publicly available data and should not be considered as an endorsement or guarantee of any kind.
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Bitcoin fell about 5% in December and ended 2024 on a downward trajectory, despite MicroStrategy's large weekly purchases.

As investors move into 2025, historical market data shows that January could be an important month for #bitcoin and other #cryptocurrencies . According to data compiled by
Coinglass, bitcoin has historically performed very strongly in the first quarter, with its price rising an average of 3.35% in January and nearly 57% in the first quarter over the same period since 2013.
However, bitcoin is not the only currency that is ending the year on a down note: since the Federal Reserve last met in mid-December, the Nasdaq 100 Index has fallen about 5%. Bitcoin has lost about 15% of its value over the same period.
But as Fundstrat's Tom Lee recently pointed out, a weak stock market at the end of the year doesn't necessarily mean a bearish start to next year. In fact, the data suggests the opposite.
In years where the market was weak in December, January is usually a rebound month. Last week, only 18% of stocks #rose on the New York Stock Exchange, the lowest three-day gain in 65 years. As Lee notes, the 12 stocks with the worst market breadth since 1962 ended the year returning an average of about 5% of their gains after January's performance, a 75% gain.
In this case, weakness through the end of 2024 could mean strength for stocks and, by extension, bitcoin in the new year. It could mean that.
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