The price of bitcoin has fallen below the $100,000 mark following China's announcement of new tariffs on American imports. This decision, which comes amid increasing trade tensions between the two powers, has caused a shockwave in the markets. Analysts fear a period of heightened volatility if Sino-American negotiations do not progress.
As the crypto ecosystem holds its breath, Ethereum is set to make a historic leap. Slated for March 2025, the Pectra update is not just about fixing bugs or tweaking parameters. It is reshaping the very foundations of the network. Vitalik Buterin, an unending visionary, recently unveiled innovations that could transform Ethereum into a scaling machine and a mainstream ecosystem. But behind the technical promises lies a deeper strategy: to make Ethereum the backbone of an accessible Web3. Here's an explanation.
In the grand theater of power, Trump outlines a bold move: perhaps a crypto-friendly sovereign fund. Between a bluff and strategic genius, the suspense remains intact.
The medical technology company Semler Scientific (NASDAQ: SMLR) continues its aggressive investment strategy in bitcoin with the acquisition of an additional 871 BTC, bringing its total portfolio to 3,192 BTC. This transaction comes as the giant MicroStrategy takes a pause in its acquisitions.
RWA, once discreet, now flamboyant: +94% in one year, 4 billion in inflows, crypto rejoices. A revived market, a revolution underway, and numbers that are dizzying.
The tug-of-war between the crypto industry and American banking regulators is reaching a decisive turn. For several years, companies in the sector have denounced restrictions that limit their access to traditional banking services. This phenomenon of "debanking," perceived as an unjustified impediment, hampers their development and fuels a climate of uncertainty. In response to this situation, Coinbase is stepping up. In a letter addressed to the Federal Reserve (Fed), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the platform demands the removal of obstacles that prevent banks from collaborating with crypto players. Coinbase is asking for the cancellation of an OCC directive, as the platform believes it imposes an excessive approval process for new banking activities related to cryptos. The company considers this approach contrary to the law and calls on regulators to officially recognize the right of banks to offer custody and execution services for cryptos. This offensive comes as the debate gains political momentum. Under pressure from Republican lawmakers, Congress is holding two key hearings this week, in the Senate and the House of Representatives, to examine these controversial practices. The outcome of these discussions could redefine the regulatory framework of the crypto industry in the United States.
The Bitcoin network continues to surprise. While analysts expected a slowdown in hashrate after the April 2024 halving, the computing power mobilized by mining companies has just reached a historic record of 833 exahashes per second (EH/s), an increase of 9% in just a few days. This surge in power is explained by the massive investments made by mining companies, which anticipated the reduction in block rewards by strengthening their infrastructure. However, a surprising contrast emerges: despite a price hovering around 100,000 dollars, transaction fees are at historically low levels, which undermines the profitability of mining companies and raises questions about the economic balance of the network.
On February 4, 2025, David Sacks, recently appointed as the "Czar" of cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence (AI) by the Trump administration, made a resounding announcement at a historic conference. Before an audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and regulators, he declared the end of the "persecution" of the crypto industry in the United States, a major turning point for the sector.
A key step has been taken in the regulation of the crypto market in the United States. Under the leadership of Mark Uyeda, acting chair, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the creation of a Crypto Task Force, an entity responsible for providing more clarity to the rules governing cryptocurrencies. To structure its actions, the SEC has launched a dedicated website that offers companies and investors a space to submit their proposals and better understand regulatory requirements. This initiative comes as the crypto sector calls for clear guidelines and as the SEC faces off against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over the issue of jurisdiction for cryptocurrencies. In addition to defining the boundary between securities and unregulated assets, this task force could shape the future of crypto ETFs and influence the oversight of trading platforms. However, its real impact will depend on its ability to establish a constructive dialogue with the industry, an approach that is still lacking in the SEC's current policy.
The growing adoption of inscriptions on Bitcoin could push the average block size to 4 megabytes (MB), according to a report published on February 4 by Mempool Research. This significant development occurs in a context where the debate over the use of the Bitcoin network echoes the old "block wars" that divided the community between 2015 and 2017.