BTC Archives

Kraken starts notifying customers about the distribution of FTX claims

January 11, 2025 1 min read

Kraken has started distributing claims for creditors of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. This announcement comes from Sunil, an FTX creditor activist. Creditors who opted for Kraken to manage their claims are receiving emails confirming the completion of the onboarding process. This marks an important step in repaying creditors after FTX’s bankruptcy in 2022. BitGo, another company assigned to handle claims, will begin its distribution process soon, although no specific

A recent survey by Bitwise, an asset management firm, shows increasing interest in cryptocurrency among US financial advisors. The survey, conducted from November 14 to December 20, 2024, found that 56% of advisors are more likely to invest in crypto after the 2024 elections. This indicates a shift towards integrating crypto into mainstream financial portfolios. In 2024, 22% of advisors included crypto in client portfolios, a rise from 11% in 2023. Client interest is also high, with 96% of advisors receiving inquiries about cryptocurrency last year. Among those already investing in crypto, 99% plan to maintain or increase their investments in 2025. Bitwise's Chief Investment Officer, Matt Hougan, noted that 2024 marked a significant moment for crypto adoption, as advisors are recognizing its potential. However, challenges remain, as two-thirds of advisors still lack direct access to crypto for their clients. Access to crypto investments is limited, with only 35% of advisors able to directly purchase crypto for clients. Many advisors prefer crypto equity ETFs for market exposure without direct investment in cryptocurrencies. Regulatory concerns have also been a barrier, but in 2024, only 50% of advisors cited regulatory uncertainty as a major issue, down from previous years. The survey indicates a change in attitude among advisors who were once hesitant about crypto. In 2024, 8% of these advisors considered investing in crypto, which has now increased to 19%. This suggests a growing acceptance of crypto as a viable asset class. The Bitwise survey included 400 financial advisors from various sectors in the US. Looking ahead, 2025 is expected to be a crucial year for crypto in financial advisory, with rising demand, improved regulations, and new investment products likely to drive further adoption.

A Bitwise survey reveals 56% of US financial advisors plan crypto investments in 2025

January 11, 2025 1 min read

A recent survey by Bitwise, an asset management firm, shows increasing interest in cryptocurrency among US financial advisors. The survey, conducted from November 14 to December 20, 2024, found that 56% of advisors are more likely to invest in crypto after the 2024 elections. This indicates a shift towards integrating crypto into mainstream financial portfolios. In 2024, 22% of advisors included crypto in client portfolios, a rise from 11% in

Grayscale Investments, a prominent crypto asset manager, has rebalanced four key investment funds for 2025 following its Q4 2024 portfolio review. The funds affected are the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund (AI Fund), Decentralized Finance Fund (DeFi Fund), Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC Fund), and Smart Contract Platform Ex-Ethereum Fund (GSCPxE Fund). In the AI Fund, Grayscale sold some assets and introduced Livepeer (LPT) along with tokens like NEAR Protocol, Render, Bittensor, Filecoin, and The Graph. This aims to enhance the fund's exposure to decentralized AI technologies. For the DeFi Fund, Grayscale replaced Synthetix with Curve. The updated portfolio now includes Uniswap, Aave, Lido, MakerDAO, and Curve, with Uniswap being the largest at 47.88% and Curve at 6.71%. The GDLC Fund saw Avalanche replaced by Cardano. Its current holdings consist of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano, with Bitcoin making up 73.52% and Cardano only 1.44%. The GSCPxE Fund also underwent changes, adding SUI to its portfolio, which now includes Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, Sui, NEAR Protocol, and Polkadot. These rebalancing efforts are designed to align the funds with market trends and strategies. Grayscale noted that these funds do not generate income but distribute assets to cover expenses, leading to a gradual decrease in total holdings. The rebalancing occurs quarterly based on performance evaluations. In October 2024, Grayscale considered 35 altcoins for future inclusion in its products, continuously updating its strategies.

Grayscale Investments rebalances its crypto fund

January 11, 2025 1 min read

Grayscale Investments, a prominent crypto asset manager, has rebalanced four key investment funds for 2025 following its Q4 2024 portfolio review. The funds affected are the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund (AI Fund), Decentralized Finance Fund (DeFi Fund), Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC Fund), and Smart Contract Platform Ex-Ethereum Fund (GSCPxE Fund). In the AI Fund, Grayscale sold some assets and introduced Livepeer (LPT) along with tokens like NEAR Protocol, Render,

Standard Chartered secures a Luxembourg license under MiCA to offer crypto custody across the EU

January 11, 2025 1 min read

Standard Chartered, a major British bank, has received a license in Luxembourg to offer digital asset custody services throughout the European Union. This development is part of the bank’s strategy to expand its cryptocurrency services in line with the new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations, which aim to standardize crypto rules across the EU. With this license, Standard Chartered can create a regulated entry point into the EU, allowing it

A U.S. federal court has approved the sale of 69,370 Bitcoin seized from the Silk Road marketplace, concluding a four-year legal battle

A U.S. court approves the sale of $6.5 billion in seized Silk Road Bitcoin

January 10, 2025 1 min read

A U.S. federal court has approved the sale of 69,370 Bitcoin seized from the Silk Road marketplace, concluding a four-year legal battle. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg denied attempts to block the forfeiture, allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to liquidate the Bitcoin, valued at $6.5 billion. This marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. history, linked to the dark web platform shut down in 2013. The liquidation process

A transformative partnership has been established between GITEX ASIA 2025 and SGTech, two major forces in the technology industry

GITEX ASIA AND SGTECH FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO TRANSFORM ASIA’S TECH LANDSCAPE

January 9, 2025 2 mins read

The Most International Tech & Startup Event in Asia | 23-25 April 2025 | Marina Bay Sands, Singapore A transformative partnership has been established between GITEX ASIA 2025 and SGTech, two major forces in the technology industry, aiming to accelerate growth and innovation across Asia’s digital and startup ecosystems. Signed during GITEX GLOBAL 2024, the world’s largest tech and startup event, this alliance marks a significant milestone in advancing technology

Dogecoin drops by over 14% as Bitcoin slides $93K

January 8, 2025 1 min read

Dogecoin (DOGE) experienced significant losses, leading to a decline among major cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin (BTC) fell to nearly $93,000. This drop was linked to new economic data that caused U.S. Treasury yields to rise sharply. DOGE dropped by 14%, while other crypto like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), BNB Chain (BNB), and Ethereum (ETH) also saw declines of at least 7%. Bitcoin itself fell by 5.5%. The downturn in the crypto

Riot Platforms mined 516 Bitcoin in December

January 8, 2025 1 min read

Riot Platforms reported a Bitcoin production of 516 BTC in December 2024, which is a 4% increase from November’s 495 BTC. However, this figure represents a 17% decline compared to December 2023, when 619 BTC were mined. Daily production also fell from 20 BTC in December 2023 to 16.5 BTC in December 2024. The company is expanding its Corsicana facility in Texas, completing the first 400 MW development phase. CEO

Gemini crypto exchange agrees to pay $5M settlement in CFTC case

January 8, 2025 1 min read

Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a case with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The case involved allegations that Gemini made misleading statements about the manipulation of bitcoin futures contracts over seven years ago. The settlement was announced in a letter from CFTC attorney K. Brent Tomer. Notably, Gemini did not admit or deny any wrongdoing.

Bybit Officially Launches Physical Card for Brazilian Users, Offering 2% Cashback and Exclusive Perks

January 8, 2025 3 mins read

Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced the official launch of its Bybit Physical Card, exclusively available to users in Brazil. This unlocks Bybit Card’s full capabilities for virtual and physical payments, better serving users in Brazil and furthering Bybit’s commitment to the market. The Bybit Physical Card allows Brazilian users to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency into their daily lives, offering convenience for global spending. Empowering users

JAN3, the developer behind the AQUA Bitcoin wallet

The developer behind the AQUA Bitcoin wallet raises $5M to develop its Liquid Network wallet AQUA

January 6, 2025 1 min read

JAN3, the creators of the Bitcoin wallet AQUA, have successfully secured $5 million in seed funding to enhance the development of their Bitcoin-centric superapp. The funding round was spearheaded by Fulgur Ventures, with participation from notable investors including Tether, Grupo Salinas, Lightning Ventures, and East Ventures. This latest funding follows an earlier pre-seed round in which JAN3 raised $620,000 in early 2023. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, highlighted the wallet’s

Mining company MARA (Marathon Digital) lends out 7,377 Bitcoin in 2024

January 6, 2025 1 min read

MARA, previously known as Marathon Digital, has actively engaged in Bitcoin lending throughout 2024, lending out 7,377 BTC to established third parties. The company’s vice president of investor relations, Robert Samuels, highlighted that the lending program is designed for short-term arrangements, yielding modest returns to help offset the operational costs associated with Bitcoin mining. This initiative comes in light of the challenging nature of the mining industry, particularly following the