Cathie Wood predicts Bitcoin will reach $1.5 million by 2030, driven by its limited supply and increasing demand.
Cathie Wood, founder of ARK Invest, shared her bold predictions about the future of Bitcoin and the market. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, she discussed the potential for important changes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), driven by regulatory shifts. With the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opening many opportunities, these changes are anticipated under the Trump administration. Wood sees a wave of M&A, which she says will benefit venture capitalists and startups alike.
Wood doubled down on her optimistic outlook for Bitcoin. She also repeated her belief that the cryptocurrency would reach $1.5 million by 2030. Bitcoin’s value was climbing steadily, breaking past

Metallicus acquires Bonifii to enhance blockchain solutions for credit unions, offering digital asset products, identity management, and secure payments.
Metallicus, a leader in blockchain technology for banking, has acquired FinTech company Bonifii, previously known as CULedger. This is a major step forward to bring blockchain solutions to credit unions. Metallicus and Bonifii, as a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), will now partner to use Metallicus’ blockchain platform The Digital Banking Network (TDBN). In addition, this will give credit unions access to new financial tools.
According to the blog post, Bonifii’s current customer base, which includes over 70 credit unions, will be able to benefit from this partnership. Now they will be able to use the capabilities of Metal

Morocco is set to become the first developing country with clear crypto regulations. It will also balance security, innovation, and financial growth.
The Governor of Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Abdellatif Jouahri, recently shared that Morocco is close to adopting a legal framework for regulating crypto-assets. It seeks to first manage the use of crypto-assets and also encourage financial innovation.
According to Jouahri, the framework was designed in line with G20 recommendations. At the same time, it would also mitigate the financial risks associated with crypto-assets. However, the governor stressed that the aim is to regulate crypto assets rather than close off opportunities for innovation.
Morocco Poised to Lead in Crypto Regulations for Developing Nations
The framework was developed in

Ohio introduces legislation for Bitcoin reserve, joining Pennsylvania and Russia in exploring digital currencies for financial stability.
Ohio State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) introduced new legislation on December 18. The bill, House Bill 703, is called the “Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act.” It suggested the state Treasury be permitted to include BTC as an investment within its diversified investment portfolio.
The proposed bill calls for the establishment of a Bitcoin fund in the state treasury. This would allow the State Treasurer to purchase BMV or any other cryptocurrency and hold Bitcoin. It does not need any investment, but it does not have much demand at present either. Consequently, it sets the legal precedent for future Bitcoin transactions.
Bitcoin can be useful

Metaplanet raises 9.5 billion yen to accelerate Bitcoin reserves. This acquisition positions Metaplanet as a key player in the digital asset market.
Japanese investment firm Metaplanet Inc. has raised 9.5 billion yen ($60.6 million) this week through two bond issuances. With these funds, the company intends to accelerate its Bitcoin purchases.
Metaplanet will issue a 5 billion yen ($31.9 million) bond. It comes after the 4.5 billion yen ($28.7 million) bond issue earlier in the week. Both bonds are interest-free and will mature on June 16, 2025. This is part of the company’s wider strategy to hoard Bitcoin and grow its reserves.
Buying more Bitcoin makes sense as the institutional interest in digital assets grows. Since Donald Trump was elected, more investors have become interested in

Cryptopia liquidators distribute $400M to victims of 2019 hack. Ongoing distributions are planned for verified users in the New Year.
The liquidators of the bankrupt Cryptopia exchange have reached a significant milestone in their ongoing liquidation process. More than 10,000 verified account holders have now received their first cryptocurrency distributions over the past two days. It is part of an effort to return assets to those who have been affected by the Cryptopia 2019 hack.
In just two days, Grant Thornton, the firm handling the liquidation, declared that over $400 million NZD worth of cryptocurrency had been returned on chain, which includes Bitcoin and Dogecoin. After years of work to identify and confirm the users affected by the hack, this is a major step.
Cryptopia Liquidators

Hut 8 acquires 990 Bitcoin for $100 million. Now, it has reached $1 billion in holdings. The strategic reserve supports capital growth plans.
Hut 8, one of North America’s largest Bitcoin miners, has announced the purchase of 990 Bitcoin for $100 million. The acquisition brings the company’s endemic Bitcoin holdings to 10,096, at once worth in trim exceeding $1 billion as of December 18, 2024. This news was shared on the Hut 8 official X account. The price of the newly acquired Bitcoin is an average of $101,710 per coin. This puts Hut 8 as one of the world’s top ten biggest corporate Bitcoin holders.
Through low-cost production and a recent strategic purchase, Hut 8 acquired the 10,096 Bitcoin it holds. On average, the reserve has a cost of $24,484 per Bitcoin. The company’s financing

Mo Shaikh steps down as Aptos Labs CEO. Avery Ching will take over to drive innovation and growth in the blockchain space.
Aptos Labs Co-Founder and CEO Mo Shaikh has announced he is stepping down from his role to “start a new chapter.” This decision marks a significant shift in the leadership of the blockchain company. Shaikh shared this news on the social media platform X. He was grateful for the journey and hopeful for the company’s future.
Further, he talked about his passion for building companies from the ground up and his pride for what Aptos has accomplished since it was founded. Shaikh said he is leaving the company with great optimism that the talented team at Aptos Labs will continue to bring their collective vision to life. Under his leadership, the company found itself on the

MARA Holdings acquires 15,574 BTC for $1.53 billion and plans further Bitcoin purchases, boosting its position in crypto market.
MARA Holdings has made significant moves to expand its Bitcoin holdings, acquiring 15,574 BTC for approximately $1.53 billion. At that time, Bitcoin was priced at around $98,529 per BTC. The news was shared through the company’s MARA X account. Aside from this acquisition, MARA also repurchased about $263 million of its existing convertible notes due 2026. According to the company, the remaining proceeds from this acquisition will be used to purchase more Bitcoin in keeping with the company’s goal to increase its digital asset portfolio.
Proceeds from zero-coupon convertible notes financed MARA’s recent acquisition. In November and December, the company raised

Hong Kong grants licenses to four more crypto exchanges, aiming to become a global crypto hub with efficient licensing processes.
Hong Kong is taking significant steps to establish itself as a global crypto hub by granting licenses to four more crypto exchanges. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) approved licenses for Accumulus, HKbitEX, DFX Labs, and EX.IO. These licenses came after on-site inspections when the exchanges responded to the regulator. Before that, licenses were granted to OSL, HashKey, and HKVAX. It shows that Hong Kong is actively working towards establishing a regulated market for crypto firms.
The licensing process that is used by the SFC is very efficient. On the 12th June 2023, Hong Kong officially commenced the licensing of VATPs which are involved in virtual

El Salvador adjusts Bitcoin policies under IMF loan deal, reducing government involvement and merchant requirements, boosting financial stability.
El Salvador is making significant changes to its Bitcoin strategy as part of a $1.4 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Central American country will receive the loan over the next 40 months. In return, El Salvador has agreed to adjust its Bitcoin policies. As pointed out by the IMF, these changes are intended to help the country lower its debt to GDP ratio.
One of the changes is that Bitcoin will not be mandatory for merchants anymore. However, the acceptance of the cryptocurrency will not be mandatory in the case of the proposed model. The government’s participation in the Chivo wallet, a platform created for

South Korean lawmaker Kim Nam-kook sentenced to prison for concealing $7.5M in cryptocurrency, sparking calls for stricter regulation.
A South Korean congressman has been sentenced to six months in prison for concealing his crypto holdings. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-kook hid assets worth 9.9 billion won ($6.8 million) and 990 million won ($680,000) between 2021 and 2022. This was a breach of the law that bars public officials from holding any property without declaring it to the public. This case has attracted so much attention because of rising instances of celebrities owning cryptocurrencies.
During the final session on December 18, the prosecution sought a six-month imprisonment of Kim. The hearing was conducted at the Seoul Southern District Court in the presence of the

Bybit will stop withdrawal and custody services for French users starting January 8, 2025, amid increasing regulatory scrutiny in France.
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has announced it will cease providing withdrawal and custody services to users in France starting January 8, 2025. This decision follows increased scrutiny from French financial regulators. Bybit reiterated it will fully adhere to all the laws and regulations in the applicable jurisdictions. However, because of the current changes in French regulation, it will be impossible for the exchange to provide such services to French citizens or residents.
The exchange has called on all the affected users to withdraw their funds before the end of September. The remaining users with balances below 10 USDC of tokens in their

EFCC arrests 792 individuals, including foreign nationals, for involvement in cryptocurrency romance scams. Major crackdown on crypto fraud.
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 792 people involved in cryptocurrency romance scams. The arrests occurred on December 10, 2024, at the Big Leaf Building in Victoria Island, Lagos. Among the arrested people were 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and other foreigners.
This operation was conducted under information provided to the EFCC. The suspects were charged with crimes of cryptocurrency fraud and romance scams. The Big Leaf Building which looked like an office of some large company was also used in training some Nigerian helpers. It was operated by foreigners who took up Nigerian personalities in their dealings.
EFCC

FTX announces its Chapter 11 plan’s effective date as January 3, 2025, with BitGo and Kraken assisting in customer recovery.
FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange once led by convicted founder Sam Bankman-Fried, has set a date for its Chapter 11 reorganization plan. After years of uncertainty, the exchange announced that the plan would take effect on January 3, 2025. This date will also be the first distribution record date concerning the holders of allowed claims within the plan’s Convenience Classes.
The Initial Distribution will be made within 60 days of the effective date. But it will entail customers’ know-your-customer (KYC) and other distribution requirements to participate. As for the Initial Distribution, it should be mentioned that this process is only applicable to the Convenience

Metaplanet raises 4.5 billion yen to expand Bitcoin holdings, boosting stock prices and strengthening its position in the crypto market.
In a major development, Metaplanet, often referred to as Japan’s MicroStrategy, raised 4.5 billion Japanese Yen through the issuance of ordinary bonds on December 17. These bonds, which carry no interest, were sold to EVO FUND. The bonds have a maturity date set for June 16, 2025. The money received will go towards purchasing more bitcoins for the company to hold. This latest move is part of Metaplanet’s continuing drive to build up its cryptocurrency holdings.
After the bond issuance, Metaplanet, the company in question, saw its stock price soar to new record highs. The stock reached ¥4,270 and traded 17.8 million shares at ¥1,580,000,000 (~¥27.8 billion

Ripple launches RLUSD, a stablecoin backed by U.S. dollar reserves, for global financial use and seamless crypto transactions.
Ripple has announced the launch of RLUSD, its new USD-denominated stablecoin. Starting December 17, 2024, RLUSD will be available on several global exchanges. These include Uphold, Bitso, MoonPay, Archax, and CoinMENA. The company wants to list RLUSD on additional platforms such as Bullish, Bitstamp, Independent Reserve, Mercado Bitcoin, and Zero Hash in the next couple of weeks.
It is important to understand that RLUSD is meant to be a trustworthy and stable digital currency. It is collateralized by U.S. dollar deposits, government securities and cash like instruments. This makes it reliable and easily saleable or liquid. To ensure the public can verify the

MicroStrategy increases Bitcoin holdings with a $1.5B purchase, bringing total to 439,000 BTC, reinforcing its dominant position.
MicroStrategy has made another major Bitcoin acquisition. The company purchased 15,350 BTC for $1.5 billion on 16 December. This marks the first time MicroStrategy has bought Bitcoin above $100,000 per coin. The average price paid for a Bitcoin was $100,386.
MicroStrategy now owns 439,000 BTC after this latest buy. The total value of its holdings is about $27.1 billion. The average price it has bought Bitcoin at is $61,725 per coin. This makes the company one of the largest Bitcoin holders in the world today.
Indeed, MicroStrategy has reaped big from its Bitcoin investment policy. For QTD up to December 15, 2024, the company yielded 46.4% of Bitcoin. The yield

Bitpanda receives VARA approval to expand into the UAE, setting the stage for full operations with local partnerships and compliance.
Bitpanda, Europe’s leading regulated cryptocurrency platform, is taking a significant step toward expanding globally. The company has received in-principle approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai.
This approval takes Bitpanda closer to commencing its operations in the UAE under the entity, Bitpanda Broker MENA DMCC. However, Bitpanda has yet to obtain a full operating license to commence its operations in the region fully.
The approval happened within eight months of its application to Bitpanda. It underscores the company’s focus on innovation and regulation of the digital asset business. The approval is also a significant win

Mark Longo, known as Squirrel Dad, sues Binance for unauthorized use of Peanut the Squirrel’s images and intellectual property.
Mark Longo, known as Squirrel Dad, has taken legal action against Binance. He claims the company used his intellectual property without permission. This includes images and trademarks associated with Peanut the Squirrel, an animal Longo rescued in 2017. Peanut, also referred to as P’Nut, gained a lot of popularity on social media platform. The squirrel’s pranks were posted on the Instagram page “P.NUT Sanctuary,” which received many followers.
In a letter to Binance posted on X on December 16, Longo claimed that the firm was using the “PNUT” branding for cryptocurrency services. He said that this use was unlawful and done without his permission. Longo’s legal

Bitget receives Bitcoin Service Provider license in El Salvador, expanding its services and regional growth in Latin America and Europe.
Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has received major approval in El Salvador. The Central Reserve Bank granted the platform a Bitcoin Service Provider (BSP) license. This license enables Bitget to conduct activities like exchanging Bitcoin for fiat currencies and providing payment services and custody services.
According to the blog post, this step is in line with Bitget’s plans to go global and improve its regulatory compliance. The BSP license grants the company the ability to purchase, sell, custody, and transfer Bitcoin in El Salvador. Additionally, Bitget has applied for a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) license from the National

REI Network partners with Imagen AI to empower Web3 creators, offering zero-fee minting, seamless NFT creation, and decentralized opportunities.
REI Network has partnered with Imagen AI, the world’s first decentralized social network powered by AI, to revolutionize the AI and Web3 experience. The announcement was made from the official X account of REI Network.
As mentioned earlier, REI Network is built on a high performance zero fee blockchain. It is light in weight, compatible with EVM, and designed for high scale operations. The work provides an overview of the network’s necessity as the blockchain industry has transformed over time. Through the absence of transaction fees, REI Network is revolutionizing how blockchain works by ensuring that everyone experiences its efficiency. This

Sheila Warren steps down as CEO of CCI, transitioning to President and Senior Global Policy Advisor, while Ji becomes CEO.
Sheila Warren, the current CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), will step down from her position in January after leading the organization for three years. Her leadership was at a time when the cryptocurrency industry was facing major challenges. These include major crashes and increased regulatory actions. Also, giants such as FTX rose and fell, making the situation even more complicated.
In a recent post on her official X account, Sheila Warren said that she is resigning from the position of the CEO of CCI. On this occassion, she has several feelings and emotions in her mind while thinking of a leader. She also stressed the fact that the construction of

Sui partners with Ant Digital to tokenize ESG assets, expanding Web3 investment opportunities and accelerating blockchain innovation in renewable energy.
Sui, a cutting-edge Layer 1 blockchain, has entered a strategic partnership with Ant Digital Technologies and its Web3 arm, ZAN. The aim is to advance the integration of real-world assets (RWA) into the Web3 ecosystem. This development was disclosed on X Sui’s official X account.
Sui will now tokenize ESG real-world assets, allowing investors from around the world to invest in them for the first time. These assets, known as “notes,” will be linked to a foremost solar material manufacturer. This is a significant development for Sui as these assets will be on-chain, bringing new investment into blockchain.
There is the Sui Foundation, which

Riot Platforms boosts its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing 5,117 BTC for $510 million, reflecting growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin mining company Riot Platforms has made a major acquisition, purchasing 5,117 bitcoins between December 10 and December 12, 2024. The average price of the Bitcoins was $99,669, which led to the total cost of the purchase of about $510 million. Therefore, the overall number of bitcoins Riot has accumulated has risen to 16,728 as of December 12, 2024.
The acquisition was financed with a portion of the net proceeds of the offering of convertible senior notes due in 2030 with a coupon of 0.75% for cash and in cash. Riot Platforms had earlier disclosed this offer, through which the firm mobilized $500 million in funds. Only accredited institutional

Texas man Frank Ahlgren sentenced to two years for crypto tax evasion, ordered to pay $1M restitution to the U.S.
Frank Richard Ahlgren III, an early Bitcoin investor from Austin, Texas, has been sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion. Ahlgren filed false tax returns from 2017 to 2019, underreporting gains from selling over $4 million worth of Bitcoin. These actions resulted in a tax loss of over $1 million. This is the first criminal tax fraud case that was focused on cryptocurrencies.
According to the statement of the U.S. Department of Justice, Ahlgren began his Bitcoin spree in 2011 when he bought the digital money. He purchased approximately 1,366 bitcoins in 2015 through Coinbase. He then sold about 640 bitcoins in October 2017 for $3.7 million. Ahlgren was able to use the

BingX launches CreatorX Program to empower content creators, offering incentives, exposure, and collaboration in the crypto industry.
BingX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has launched its CreatorX Program to empower content creators. This initiative aims to inspire individuals passionate about blockchain and cryptocurrency. This way, the program will provide structure for incentives, exposure, and collaboration. This will allow creators to succeed in the growing crypto industry.
As stated in the press release on 13 December, CreatorX Program is designed for influencers, teachers, and even beginners in social media activity. It is easy for the creators to sign up, upload content, and even monitor the progress that has been made in the program.
In addition, creators will be categorized

Bank of England watchdog requests firms to disclose crypto disclosures to shape future regulations and ensure financial system stability.
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), part of the Bank of England, has taken a significant step to monitor the stability of the financial system concerning cryptocurrencies. On 12 December, the PRA put out a formal notice to organizations asking about their current and planned interactions with cryptoassets up until March 2024. This action is within a more extensive campaign to assess the challenges posed by the cryptocurrencies and the formulation of the right regulatory measures.
The PRA is collecting data from firms regarding their existing and expected cryptoassets. There is also a need for companies to also disclose how they use the Basel

Circle and Binance partner to boost USDC and crypto adoption, enabling 240M users to trade, store, and use USDC globally.
Circle and Binance have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of USDC and cryptocurrencies. Both Allaire and Binance CEO Richard Teng revealed the partnership during Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire also shared this news on his X account. The partnership will enable Binance’s 240 million users to trade, store, and use USDC for transactions.
Technically, this is not just an update, but it indicates a change in the application of stablecoins all around the globe. Thus, guaranteeing the investors a new level of convenience and safety for transactions, Binance is successfully implementing the adoption of USDC. Notably, the Binance

DWF Labs commits a $20 million fund to support innovative Web3 projects, blending AI and blockchain to transform industries.
DWF Labs, a new-generation crypto market maker and investor, has launched a $20 million fund to support the development of autonomous AI agents. This move highlights their commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI and blockchain technology. According to the blog post, the fund is to invest in Web3 projects that are developing new AI solutions. These solutions will expectedly reinvent industries and the nature of the digital economy.
Proposals that will be selected for funding will provide not only cash but also assets that will help with expansion. They will get up to $100,000 in cloud server credits. It assists them in achieving higher performance and growing the