The post MicroStrategy Debuts on Nasdaq-100, Boosting Bitcoin Exposure and ETF Inflows appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News In the latest development, Bitcoin proxy MicroStrategy has officially debuted on the Nasdaq-100. Data from NASDAQ revealed that Palantir PLTR and Axon Enterprise AXON joined the Nasdaq 100 alongside MicroStrategy. They replaced Illumina (ILMN), Super Micro (SMCI), and Moderna (MRNA), with the reconstituted index set to begin trading on Dec. 23. NASDAQ 100 Gains Indirect BTC Exposure Notably, MSTR entered at the 52th position, accounting for about 0.42% of the total market capitalization of all companies in the index. Nasdaq noted that ETFs that track the Nasdaq 100 will automatically include MicroStrategy in their holdings. For instance, the Invesco QQQ ETF QQQ, a popular tech-focused fund with $320 billion in assets, will now acquire shares of MicroStrategy, regardless of investor preference. The inclusion of MicroStrategy in the Nasdaq 100 not only reflects the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency but also introduces new volatility to the index. Nasdaq noted that his shift could have extensive implications for both public markets and the broader ETF sector. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart had previously predicted that the inclusion could lead to an influx of around $2.1 billion in buying activity from ETFs that track the Nasdaq-100. Remarkably, the company’s stock has surged around 476% this year, with shares gaining momentum alongside Bitcoin’s price movements. MSTR stock reached a record high of around $473 on November 20, when Bitcoin traded above $92,000. MSTR Buys More BTC Besides, recently, MicroStrategy has increased its holdings for the seventh consecutive week. The company bought 5,262 BTC for a total of $561 million in the week ended Dec. 22 to take its total holdings to 444,262 BTC. The latest acquisitions were funded by share sales under the company’s at-the-market program (ATM). MicroStrategy has $7.08 billion left on the ATM program. This news was announced right after MSTR was added to the Nasdaq 100 index. Originally an enterprise software company, MicroStrategy pivoted in 2020 under its founder, Michael Saylor, who has embraced Bitcoin with firm commitment. The company continues to acquire more Bitcoin, betting its entire business on the cryptocurrency’s future. Bitcoin is up about 120% this year due to rising adoption. Moreover, President-elect Trump’s plans to create a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve has further fueled the enthusiasm of crypto bulls.
WAGMI’s legacy traces back to its roots as the North American Bitcoin Conference (TNABC), a name synonymous with innovation and pioneering the crypto landscape. Ethereum was launched from this stage, setting a precedent for other major industry players. Now, as WAGMI evolves, it continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Crypto, Blockchain, and
The post Time to Buy Solana? Expert Reveals SOL Flashing Buy Signal appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Solana (SOL), the world’s fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has experienced a notable price decline in recent days. Solana (SOL) Flashing Buy Signal, Expert Says Amid this continuous price drop, a prominent crypto expert posted on X (previously Twitter) that the technical indicator TD Sequential is flashing a buy signal for Solana (SOL) on its daily time frame. The TD Sequential presents a buy signal on the #Solana $SOL daily chart, anticipating a price rebound! pic.twitter.com/FMhtsQxTt5 — Ali (@ali_charts) December 23, 2024 Solana (SOL) Price Action and Upcoming Level According to expert technical analysis, SOL has recently broken out from its crucial support level and is currently receiving support from the 200 Exponential Moving Average (EMA). This support from the 200 EMA could play a crucial role for SOL and determine whether the altcoin will rally or face a price decline in the future. Source: Trading View Currently, SOL appears to be consolidating within a tight range between $175 and $188 over the past two trading days. Based on recent price action, if SOL holds above the 200 EMA, there is a strong possibility it could soar by 30% to reach the $240 mark in the near future. Conversely, if SOL fails to maintain this support level and closes a daily candle below the $175 mark, it could drop by 30% to reach the $120 level. $105 Million Outflow from Exchanges Amid this challenging phase, long-term holders have shown strong interest in SOL, according to the on-chain analytics firm Coinglass. Data from SOL spot inflow/outflow reveals that exchanges across the cryptocurrency market have witnessed an outflow of a significant $105.5 million worth of SOL in the past three days. This substantial outflow indicates potential upside momentum and suggests an ideal opportunity to add SOL. Current Price Momentum Currently, SOL is trading near $182.3 and has experienced a modest price increase of over 0.5% in the past 24 hours. During the same period, the altcoin’s trading volume dropped by 5%, indicating reduced participation from traders and investors amid market uncertainty.
Community Gaming has announced the upcoming launch of Forkast, a game prediction market built on the Ethereum sidechain Ronin. Ronin, the blockchain network developed by Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity ( AXS ) also powers other projects like Pixels. When Forkast goes live, users will be able to make predictions on various topics, including gaming, esports, streamers, and web3, according to a press release . from Community Gaming. The on-chain prediction market is set to launch on January 7, 2025. You might also like: Animoca Brands Japan backs blockchain gaming platform Oasys In a blog post announcing the upcoming launch, the Ronin team said: “This marks a significant milestone in Ronin’s journey towards an ecosystem beyond gaming and into consumer-focused dApps. Their $CGX ecosystem token will also launch on the Katana DEX alongside Forkast.” The anticipated unveiling follows Forkast’s introduction earlier this month, with this latest development making the game predictions marketplace one of Ronin’s first consumer apps integration. This should help boost decentralized finance across Ronin. Stake and earn rewards Forkast will enable users to stake their CGX tokens to earn rewards while making predictions on tailored markets related to internet culture, gaming, esports, and web3. The platform will offer weekly rewards and daily liquidity boosts to enhance user engagement and ecosystem growth. The platform also emphasizes cross-platform accessibility, allowing users to transition between Community Gaming and Forkast for activities like predictions, tournaments, and quests. Cross-chain support will further facilitate these interactions. As the crypto gaming and predictions markets expands, ease of user onboarding becomes crucial. Forkast plans to leverage Ronin Waypoint, the account and keyless wallet system for Ronin that allows for unified gaming without the need for seed phrases or wallet extensions.. Waypoint will also see users benefit from gasless transactions when claiming rewards such as loot boxes. Ronin validators adopted Chainlink’s cross-chain interoperability protocol in October, with CCIP becoming the network’s official cross-chain infrastructure. CCIP went live on Ronin earlier this month. Read more: Russia’s Kaspersky warns scammers post crypto wallet seed phrases on YouTube to steal funds
Community Gaming has announced the upcoming launch of Forkast, a game prediction market built on the Ethereum sidechain Ronin. Ronin, the blockchain network developed by Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity (AXS) also powers other projects like Pixels. When…
Donald Saves Crypto could turn early investors into multi-millionaires, like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) did. Donald Saves Crypto (DONALCRY), a new Solana memecoin that was launched today, is set to explode over 18,000% in price in the coming days. This is because DONALCRY is set to soon be listed on numerous crypto exchanges, according to reports. This will give the Solana memecoin exposure to millions of additional investors, who will pour funds into the coin and drive its price up. Currently, Donald Saves Crypto can only be purchased via Solana decentralized exchanges, like Jup.ag and Raydium.io, and early investors stand to make huge returns in the coming days. Early investors in SHIB and DOGE made astronomical returns, and Donald Saves Crypto could become the next viral memecoin. Donald Saves Crypto launched with over $8,000 of liquidity, giving it a unique advantage over the majority of other new memecoins, and early investors could make huge gains. How to Buy To buy Donald Saves Crypto on Raydium.io or Jup.ag ahead of the CEX listings, users need to connect their Solflare, MetaMask or Phantom wallet, and swap Solana for Donald Saves Crypto by entering its contract address – Gyy3ss5Yj2ioZWuz6BNbDPGUGUxhwoCskRuU2cGo9k2Q – in the receiving field. If you don’t have one of these wallets already, you can create a new wallet in a few minutes and transfer some Solana to it (which will then be used to buy the memecoin), from an exchange like Coinbase, Binance and many others. In fact, early investors could make returns similar to those who invested in Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) before these memecoins went viral and exploded in price. If this happens, a new wave of memecoin millionaires could be created in a matter of weeks – or potentially even sooner. The Solana memecoin craze continues amid larger memecoins, like Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogecoin (DOGE) and DogWifHat (WIF) trading sideways in recent weeks and losing momentum. This is why many SHIB, DOGE and WIF investors are instead investing in new Solana memecoins, like DONALCRY. Such memecoins have no utility and no inherent value, but investors looking for high gains have been investing in them due to their potential to rapidly rise in price.
The post Ripple News: Gary Cardone Says Brad Garlinghouse Failed XRP Investors on ‘60 Minutes’ appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse appeared in a recent 60 Minutes interview, which provided exposure for both Ripple and the broader cryptocurrency industry. However, the interview also faced criticism for including comments from John Reed Stark, a vocal critic of crypto, who dismissed it as a scam with no utility. His views align with those of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, and many felt they were presented without proper counterpoints. Garlinghouse later took to social media and pointed out that 60 Minutes failed to mention a federal judge’s ruling that XRP is not a security. He also said that the program overlooked the SEC’s legal setbacks and meetings between Gensler and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. These omissions sparked concerns about potential bias in the reporting. On the Good Morning Crypto Show, Gary Cardone shared his thoughts on Garlinghouse’s appearance on 60 Minutes, saying he’d rather speak his truth than worry about how it’s edited. He pointed out that Ripple paid for the interview, which likely cost millions, and questioned why Garlinghouse would let it be edited in a way that made him look bad. Cardone argued that if Garlinghouse couldn’t control the interview, it raised doubts about his leadership. He also criticized the marketing strategy, saying it failed as an investment. Cardone admitted that he bought XRP, expecting Garlinghouse to perform better. However, he remains uncertain about holding it long-term. He also mentioned that when he asked Ripple-related questions, he never received answers, particularly about why Ripple doesn’t replicate MicroStrategy’s strategy of buying and holding assets like XRP. However, despite these issues, Garlinghouse considered the appearance a success for Ripple, as it showed the company’s legitimate use of XRP for cross-border transactions and brought to attention the growing recognition of blockchain technology.
The blockchain developer ecosystem is shifting: fewer developers are entering the space, and experienced developers are dominating the work, Electric Capital’s research report shows. Blockchain developers are key to the crypto industry. They build apps and tools that attract users…
The blockchain developer ecosystem is shifting: fewer developers are entering the space, and experienced developers are dominating the work, Electric Capital’s research report shows. Blockchain developers are key to the crypto industry. They build apps and tools that attract users and create value. More users bring more developers, therefore creating a cycle of growth. Yet, despite crypto’s focus on decentralization, the developer market appears to become more centralized, with experienced developers taking the lead, per Electric Capital’s recent research report . Table of Contents Fewer active developers Established developers gain share Where developers live Developers diversify across chains Use cases expand What this means for space Fewer active developers The total number of active blockchain developers has dropped sharply. In November 2022, there were over 31,000 active developers. By November 2024, the number had dropped to 23,160, a 25% decline in two years. Total monthly active developers | Source: Electric Capital Part-time developers were hit the hardest. Their numbers dropped from 16,600 in November 2022 to 12,386 in November 2024. Newcomer developers also saw a sharp decline: in November 2022, there were 18,547 newcomers when two years later, the number dropped by over half to just 8,986. In contrast, established developers (those with two or more years of experience) are growing. During the same period, there were 6,903 established developers, and this number grew to 11,400 in just two years, a 65% increase. Andrew Morfill, CIO of Zodia Custody, an institution-first digital asset custodian backed by Standard Chartered, says the decline in part-time and new blockchain developers “can likely be attributed to factors such as market volatility and/or increasing complexity due to market maturation.” “This complexity requires a deeper understanding of the technology, which can be daunting to newcomers. At the same time, this trend shows a consolidation of developers already in the market committing and staying. It is also being seen in institutional customers, where those already in the market are doubling down, while new entrants are still at the fringes with the tipping point for the next wave of adoption yet to be fully realized.” Andrew Morfill in the conversation with crypto.news Morfill suggested that developer activity typically lags behind broader market price trends, predicting that the current decline “will likely reverse in the first half of 2025.” He also noted that while fewer new developers might “slow the influx of fresh ideas and diverse perspectives,” the continued presence of experienced developers could foster an environment where “newcomers and part-timers have strong mentors and robust frameworks to build upon.” Meanwhile, Francesco Andreolí, head of the developer community at Consensys, attributed the decline in part-time and new developers to the “increasingly technical demands of blockchain projects,” which Andreolí claims “often require specialized knowledge and sustained commitment.” “To counter this, more education, mentorship, and beginner-friendly tools are needed to attract the next wave of web3 talent and make the maturing industry more accessible. Striking a balance between leveraging experienced developers and fostering fresh talent is crucial.” Francesco Andreolí in the conversation with crypto.news Andreolí also highlighted the importance of ecosystem maturity and accessibility in blockchain development, noting that while the tooling for blockchain development is improving, it often “lacks the polish and simplicity of more mature ecosystems,” which makes it challenging for part-time developers to contribute effectively. To address this, Andreolí pointed out that “we are building pre-built environments like CLIs to make onboarding easier for new developers and recreate optimal web2 developer experiences, thereby lowering barriers to entry.” The head of developer community at Consensys also emphasized the need to combat the perception of exclusivity in blockchain development, which he said can “alienate newcomers, particularly those without a deep technical background.” He advocated for fostering inclusivity and creating tools that “democratize access to blockchain development,” stressing that these steps are vital for nurturing innovation and diversity essential to the industry’s long-term growth. Established developers gain share Electric Capital’s “2024 Developer Report,” which analyzed 902 million code commits across 1.7 million repositories, shows the growing influence of experienced developers. Established developers (those in crypto for 2+ years) are at all-time highs, growing 27% YoY and committing 70% of code commits, the report reads. Active developers by tenure | Source: Electric Capital This means that while the overall developer count is falling, experienced developers are taking a bigger share of the work. The report also found that 39,148 new developers explored crypto in 2024, though this growth among newcomers is not enough to offset the loss of part-time developers and those leaving the industry. Andreolí cautioned that the shift could centralize influence among a small group of contributors, creating risks for the ecosystem. “The fragmentation of ecosystems — with developers needing different skills, such as Rust for some chains and Solidity for others — creates additional barriers to collaboration and broader participation.” Francesco Andreolí Andreolí also expressed concerns about the potential “homogenization of innovation,” noting that an over-reliance on experienced developers might lead to “solutions shaped by established paradigms, potentially stifling the creativity that comes from new entrants and diverse backgrounds.” This, he suggested, could stifle the creativity often brought by newcomers and individuals from diverse backgrounds. To mitigate these challenges, Andreolí underscored the importance of fostering cross-chain collaboration through open-source projects, community-driven governance, and tools that promote permissionless innovation, emphasizing that such efforts “activate developers within communities, enabling them to become an integral part of the developer experience.” At the same time, Morfill believes that the growing dominance of experienced developers is a “natural sign of the industry’s maturation,” adding though that “decentralized development is somewhat of a myth, given the small number of people running some of the entities at the core of the web3 and DeFi ecosystem.” “Projects such as Solana provide an excellent gateway for the next wave of adoption for developers — as well as projects and institutions — with ecosystems built around core entities, projects and protocols being key in 2025. This also means that cross-chain capability and interoperability will feature heavily and become paramount for projects and entities wanting to scale.” Andrew Morfill Where developers live Blockchain development is global. Asia now leads in developer share. North America, once the top region, has fallen to third place. The U.S. remains the top country for blockchain developers, with 18.8% of the global share, though it is a big drop from 38% in 2015. Breakdown by type | Source: Electric Capital India is emerging as a leader. In 2024, the country onboarded the most new developers, accounting for 11.7% of the global share. Other countries with significant developer bases include the U.K. (4.3%), China (4%), and Canada (3.8%). Developers diversify across chains Developers are working on more blockchain ecosystems than ever before. In 2015, fewer than 10% of developers worked on multiple chains. However, by 2024, one in three developers now work across multiple chains. You might also like: Solana is the fastest growing blockchain for new crypto developers: report Ethereum ( ETH ) remains the largest ecosystem for total developer activity, the data shows. However, Solana ( SOL ) is attracting more new developers as it grew its developer base by 83% in 2024, making it the top ecosystem for newcomers. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ( BTC ) development remains stable, with 42% of developers working on scaling solutions. Use cases expand Different blockchains attract developers based on specific use cases: Ethereum: Leads in total developer activity and remains a hub for decentralized finance. Solana: Dominates decentralized exchange usage and is a leader (64%) in low-fee use cases like NFT/meme coins minting. Coinbase’s Base: Responsible for 42% of the “new code being written in the Ethereum ecosystem” and owns 97% of NFT minting volume. Stablecoins and re-staking are also growing sectors. Stablecoins now have over $195 billion in circulating supply and more than $80 billion in daily transaction volume. The re-staking sector, led by projects like EigenLayer, grew its full-time developer count by 130% in 2024, the report shows. You might also like: Crypto’s next big thing isn’t meme coins, it’s stablecoins What this means for space While the shift toward experienced developers shows that the industry is maturing, it also raises concerns about centralization. As newcomers decline and established developers dominate, the industry could become less diverse. This trend also reflects broader market challenges. The 7% decline in total developers in 2024 indicates that some are leaving due to market uncertainty or fewer opportunities, especially following the significant blow dealt by the FTX collapse . The bankruptcy’s ripple effects continue to impact the industry even today. Electric Capital’s report describes developers as a “leading indicator of value creation,” emphasizing that a decline in developer participation could hamper blockchain innovation over time. Read more: Meme coins, pump.fun, AI and crypto with PepeCoin developer Brian Fanzo
San Jose, Costa Rica, December 23rd, 2024, Chainwire Winna.com , a crypto-focused casino gaming platform launched in the summer of 2024, has successfully raised $15 million in a seed funding round, as first reported by Crunchbase . The investment will support Winna.com in enhancing its product offerings and accelerating its growth. The platform already boasts a thriving community of over 10,000 active players, signaling strong early traction in the competitive online gambling space. Transforming Online Gambling Through Crypto Paul Martens, CEO and Co-Founder of Winna.com, highlighted the growing appeal of crypto casinos. “More and more players are recognizing the significant advantages that crypto and Bitcoin casinos offer over traditional online platforms. Privacy and the ability to gamble anonymously are key drivers for this shift,” he said. Martens also praised the platform’s commitment to transparency through its provably fair gaming system. “Provably fair games give players a unique opportunity to gamble with confidence, knowing the outcomes are not only fair but also verifiable by anyone,” he added. Winna currently features a range of provably fair crypto games, including Mines, Plinko, Roulette, Blackjack, Keno, and Dice. Martens revealed plans to leverage the recent funding to expand their portfolio, particularly in player versus player (PvP) games. “We aim to develop more innovative crypto games that continue to deliver an industry-low house edge of just 1%,” he said. Diverse Offerings for Every Player In addition to its original crypto games, Winna.com offers over 4,000 slots, live casino games, and game shows from leading providers such as Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Evolution, and more. The platform also operates a crypto-first sportsbook , featuring live coverage of over 10,000 events across 100+ tournaments, including major leagues like the NFL, NBA, UFC, MLB, and the Premier League. Building Trust and Speed in Online Gambling When asked why players choose Winna.com, Martens emphasized the platform’s commitment to trust and user satisfaction. “Trust is at the core of our brand. Players know they’ll receive their winnings within seconds, and every game round is fair and verifiable. We prioritize our users’ privacy and avoid unnecessary procedures that are common with some of our competitors,” he stated. VIP Excellence and Industry-Leading Rewards Winna.com’s team includes four VIP hosts with extensive experience in physical gaming establishments like MGM in Las Vegas. Elias Platzer, Head of Player Development, explained the importance of their VIP program. “Our VIP program is a cornerstone of our identity. We’re committed to offering the most rewarding experience, with unmatched bonuses and rewards through our Rakeback program,” Platzer said. A Vision for the Future Martens concluded by sharing his vision for Winna.com’s future. “We are set to transform the online gaming experience by developing unique games, delivering a one-of-a-kind VIP program, and setting new standards for trust and transparency in the industry,” he said. With its innovative approach, commitment to fairness, and focus on user satisfaction, Winna.com aims to contribute meaningfully to the crypto gambling industry. Winna.com is the source of this content. This Press Release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. About Winna.com Launched in the summer of 2024, Winna.com is a cutting-edge crypto casino and sportsbook with offices in Costa Rica and Switzerland. Backed by a team of seasoned professionals from the traditional iGaming and crypto industries, Winna.com offers provably fair crypto games, thousands of slots and live casino options, and a crypto-first sportsbook. Focused on trust, fast payouts, and exceptional VIP experiences, Winna.com is redefining the online gaming experience for crypto enthusiasts worldwide. Contact Paul Mertens Winna paul@winna.com