GM 👋
This is the Smoothie Newsletter.
Bitcoin almost hit $45k recently.
Right now is the most my friends and family have been asking me about crypto.
Oh, you want my thoughts too?
All I can say is that people are really excited for the upcoming new year.
Now what I really want to see is development in crypto PRODUCTS.
Hopefully this surge in price brings in a new era of builders and entrepreneurs.
Bitcoin has made a comeback.
I have friends messaging me saying:
The digital currency recently soared to nearly $45,000, its highest point in 18 months, as per CoinDesk Indices.
This resurgence contrasts the sector's troubled past, highlighted by the collapse of FTX and the legal issues faced by Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao.
Despite these setbacks, bitcoin has risen 150% this year, although it's still below its late 2021 peak of about $69,000.
The surge in bitcoin’s value is attributed to several factors. Key among them is the anticipated regulatory approval for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This development, expected as early as January, could make crypto investments more accessible and appealing to a broader range of investors.
Furthermore, the expectation of a change in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy, moving away from hikes, has also fueled investment in riskier assets like bitcoin.
The SEC is currently considering multiple applications for bitcoin spot ETFs from major asset managers. This move is expected to significantly boost institutional adoption of bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and XRP. Additionally, public optimism is growing around the potential for these ETF approvals to drive bitcoin prices even higher, with some analysts predicting a surge near $60,000.
Bitcoin's current rally is a reflection of a shift in investor sentiment and a growing acceptance of its role in the financial markets.
Despite past scandals involving key figures in the crypto industry, the market is moving on, with bitcoin leading the way in a renewed wave of enthusiasm for digital assets.
Remember, this isn’t financial advice. But keep your eyes on what’s happening 👀
Ten: $7.5M
Layer 2 solution for Ethereum Ten (ex Obscuro) raised $7.50M funding round from Republic Capital (ex Republic Labs), KuCoin Labs, R3, Big Brain Holdings, One Block Capital Advisory, Magnus Capital, Builder Capital, DWF Labs, Cryptopia VC, Insignius Capital, Token Metrics Ventures, Pragma Ventures, GTS Ventures, vVv fund, TPC Club (The presale club), Cogitent Ventures, BeGlobal.
Shadow: $9M
Crypto data platform startup Shadow raised $9M in a Seed funding round led by Paradigm, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Electric Capital, Ethereum Foundation, Uniswap Labs Ventures, Flashbots.
QANplatform: $15M
Quantum-resistant Layer 1 hybrid blockchain QANplatform raised $15M funding round led by MBK Holding.
1) Rise Work: Web3 Payroll & Compliance for Global Teams
2) Morpho Optimizers: Lend and borrow crypto assets
3) DOT: Grow Your Crypto Business
This is a special newsletter. Every week, we deconstruct the best crypto trends and share those insights with you.
