Author: Coindesk

2025 could be a big year for cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of financial services giant Nomura.More than twelve crypto ETFs could be launched in the U.S. this year, if approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Laser Digital said in a report last week.Asset managers have submitted 12 filings to the SEC to date, the report noted, and potential products include a ProShares ETF that denominates the S&P 500’s return in bitcoin, a combined bitcoin/ether ETF, and litecoin, XRP and Solana based products.Laser Digital said a bitcoin/ether ETF is likely to…

Another jurisdiction has Polymarket in its crosshairs. Over the weekend, Singapore’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) ordered local internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform, according to reports from users in the city-state.”You have attempted to access an illegal gambling site hosted by an unlicensed gambling service provider,” the announcement reads, warning that those found guilty of gambling with unlicensed service providers are liable for a fine of up to SGD 10,000 ($7200) or a jail sentence of up to 6 months.The GRA has yet to make a public announcement on the issue, nor have they launched…

The market for alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) may see an extra dose of volatility this week, as the impending token unlock schedule will release billions of dollars worth of supply for several coins, including Ondo Finance’s ONDO token.Data from Tokenomist show the weekly unlocks calendar, that includes names like ONDO, ARB, STRK SEI and others, is worth $3 billion – the largest amount since November.Decentralized tokenization-focused platform Ondo Finance’s ONDO accounts for a giant share of the tally.On Jan. 18, the project will free up 1.94 billion ONDO worth $2.23 billion, equating to over 130% of the token’s circulating supply of…

Billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, plans to dispose of several assets, including investment in bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETF), to avoid potential conflicts of interest with his new role, according to a report by The New York Times.On Saturday, Bessent, who once worked for billionaire liberal philanthropist George Soros, filed the ethics agreement and financial disclosures as required for the impending Senate confirmation, revealing assets and investments worth over $700 million. The tally includes BTC ETF holdings worth $250,000 to $500,000, according to media reports.The other key investments posing a potential conflict…

As bitcoin (BTC) wobbles around the $90,000-$95,000 area, down more than 10% from its all-time high touched a bit less than four weeks ago, a contrast is growing between traders — whose technical analysis tools show the top cryptocurrency may be due for another plunge — and long-term investors who believe the bull run is nowhere near done.That’s according to David Siemer, CEO of Wave Digital Assets, a firm that provides asset management services to funds and high net-worth individuals in the crypto space. The company counts Charles Hoskinson, the CEO of the firm behind Cardano, as one of its…

U.S.-listed bitcoin (BTC) miners accounted for 25.3% of the global network in December, Jefferies said in a research report on Thursday.The bank cut its price target for MARA Holdings (MARA) to $20 from $24, while maintaining its hold rating on the stock. The shares rose 0.5% to $18.43 during early trading Friday.Mining profitability improved in December as the average price of bitcoin gained 15%, outpacing the increase in the network hashrate, which was 6.5% higher, the report said.The hashrate refers to the total combined computational power used to mine and process transactions on a proof-of-work blockchain and is a proxy…

Bitcoin (BTC) has not broken below $90,000 since Nov. 18, and continues to swing between $90,000 and $100,000. The sentiment generally flips bullish when bitcoin approaches $100,000 and investors try to continue the bull market. However, this also works the other way and as bitcoin heads toward $90,000, like on Thursday, investors turn bearish. Bitcoin will move where maximum pain occurs, so far that is the chopping period between these two valuations. Derivatives in bitcoin play a large part in these volatile price swings; derivatives such as futures and options only make up a few percentage points of the overall…

The EU’s MiCA regulations, which came into effect on Dec. 30, will likely boost euro denominated stablecoins, JPMorgan (JPM) said in a research report on Wednesday.”Under MiCA, only compliant stablecoins can be used as trading pairs in regulated markets, prompting EU exchanges to adjust their offerings,” analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote.This has resulted in compliant stablecoins such as Circle’s EURC gaining strength, whereas non-compliant stablecoins like Tether’s EURT faced challenges, the Wall Street bank said.A stablecoin is a type of crypto designed to hold a steady value and is usually pegged to the U.S. dollar, though other currencies and…

Weakness in bitcoin (BTC) has deferred to other crypto majors from Solana’s SOL to memecoin dogecoin (DOGE), data suggests current levels could prove ripe for risk-on traders.“Crypto’s top meme coin Dogecoin has been extremely quiet outside of a temporary run-up at the beginning of the year,” analytics firm Santiment wrote in a Thursday report, citing social metrics and sentiment based on online chatter. “Since its top exactly one month ago, Dogecoin has shed -28% of its market cap. Crowd sentiment has been near its lowest point over the past year. (This) means there is actually some nice upside to be…

By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)The crypto market has regained some stability, with BTC rising back to nearly $95K as order books signaled the presence of bargain hunters. Late Wednesday, prices tested the long-standing support zone of $90K-$93K, which has successfully halted downward movements at least six times since the second half of November.This latest bounce will be tested by Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which is anticipated to show an addition of 164,000 jobs in December, following November’s gain of 227,000, per FXStreet. The unemployment rate is expected to match November’s pace of 4.2%, while average…