South Korea's crypto user base surged to 15.59 million in November, surpassing 30% of the population.
The agent is part of a Solana project by X user “Skely”, but both the agent’s and Skely’s X accounts have since been suspended for reasons that, at the time of reporting, were still unclear. Investors Flock to Questionable Solana AI-Themed Project A Solana crypto AI agent dubbed AI Pool, created by an X user
Retail investors worldwide are approaching 2025 with a clear focus on financial growth and diversification. In the UAE, a survey by trading platform eToro revealed growing interest in cryptocurrencies, with 37% of respondents planning to expand their crypto investments alongside traditional assets like stocks and real estate. Meanwhile, software giant MicroStrategy continues to double down on its Bitcoin strategy, seeking shareholder approval to significantly expand its equity-issuance plan to fund a $42 billion Bitcoin acquisition goal over the next three years. MicroStrategy Seeks Shareholder Approval to Expand Equity Plan and Accelerate Bitcoin Purchases Software company MicroStrategy is making a bold move to solidify its position as a leading institutional Bitcoin investor. The company announced a special shareholder meeting to seek approval for an expanded equity-issuance plan, allowing it to purchase more Bitcoin. This development comes as part of its ambitious ”21/21 Plan,” aimed at significantly increasing its Bitcoin holdings over the next three years. In a Dec. 23 proxy filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), MicroStrategy outlined proposals to increase the number of authorized shares for both Class A common stock and preferred stock. If approved, these amendments will provide the company with greater flexibility to issue shares and raise capital. Class A Common Stock: The proposal seeks to increase authorized shares from 330 million to 10.33 billion. Preferred Stock: The proposal aims to expand authorized shares from 5 million to over 1 billion. According to the filing, these changes are critical to supporting the company’s strategic initiatives, particularly its 21/21 Plan, which was unveiled in October. The 21/21 Plan MicroStrategy's 21/21 Plan outlines an aggressive goal: to purchase an additional $42 billion worth of Bitcoin by 2027. The funding strategy is equally ambitious, involving $21 billion raised through equity sales and another $21 billion via fixed-income securities. The company stated in its filing, “Proposals 1 and 2 for this Special Meeting request an increase in the authorized shares of the capital stock of the Company to support further implementation of our 21/21 Plan and future capital markets activity more generally as well as other corporate purposes.” MicroStrategy’s focus on Bitcoin is not new; the company has been a consistent buyer since 2020. However, the pace of acquisitions has intensified since the announcement of the 21/21 Plan. In December alone, the company acquired 42,162 Bitcoin, valued at over $4 billion at current market prices. This surge in purchases has bolstered MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings to a staggering 444,262 BTC as of Dec. 22. The total cost of acquiring these coins stands at $27.7 billion, with an average purchase price of $62,257 per Bitcoin. At current market rates, the total value of the company’s Bitcoin holdings is approximately $43.53 billion. MicroStrategy has already raised substantial funds to fuel its Bitcoin acquisitions: Equity Sales: $13 billion raised through stock issuances. Debt Offerings: $3 billion raised via convertible bonds. The company has also reported strong yields on its Bitcoin holdings, achieving a BTC yield of 17.8% by the end of October. It aims to maintain an annual yield of 6% to 10% between 2025 and 2027. MicroStrategy’s aggressive Bitcoin strategy has been a boon for its stock performance. Shares on the Nasdaq have soared by over 422% year-to-date, largely driven by investor confidence in its cryptocurrency-focused strategy. The date for the special shareholder meeting has not been disclosed, but the outcome will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s future. If shareholders approve the proposals, MicroStrategy will have the resources to accelerate its Bitcoin acquisitions further. The company’s next earnings report, scheduled for Feb. 2, 2025, will likely shed light on its progress and the impact of its Bitcoin holdings on its financial performance. A Bold Bet on Bitcoin MicroStrategy’s CEO, Michael Saylor, has consistently championed Bitcoin as a transformative asset. The company’s latest moves demonstrates its push to integrate Bitcoin into its corporate strategy. With over $43 billion worth of Bitcoin already on its balance sheet and plans to acquire billions more, MicroStrategy remains at the forefront of institutional Bitcoin adoption. While the approach has garnered praise from cryptocurrency enthusiasts, it has also raised questions about the risks associated with such an aggressive investment strategy. As the company continues to double down on Bitcoin , all eyes will be on its execution of the 21/21 Plan and its impact on shareholder value in the years to come. Survey Reveals UAE Retail Investors Plan to Expand Crypto Investments in 2025 In other news, a recent survey commissioned by trading platform eToro has shed light on the financial aspirations of retail investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 2025, revealing a significant interest in increasing investments in cryptocurrencies. The survey, which involved 1,000 participants, highlighted a proactive approach to wealth building and self-improvement among UAE residents. According to the survey, 37% of respondents expressed plans to increase their crypto asset investments in the coming year. This aligns with broader financial goals shared by 54% of participants, who listed achieving financial stability and growth as their primary New Year’s resolutions. These goals ranged from investing in traditional assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities to diversifying portfolios with cryptocurrencies. While cryptocurrencies garnered significant attention, traditional asset classes remained a priority for UAE investors: 40% of participants aim to increase their exposure to stocks, bonds, and commodities. 38% plan to invest in real estate, reflecting a balanced approach to asset diversification. Participants also shared their strategies for meeting their financial aspirations. Notably, 51% of respondents indicated they would increase their overall savings or investment contributions. Other approaches included: Budget and Expense Management: 41% plan to implement comprehensive tracking of their expenses and budgeting to better manage their finances. Lifestyle Adjustments: 38% aim to adopt more frugal and mindful lifestyles, while 28% intend to cut down on shopping and dining out. In addition to savings and budgeting, many UAE investors are looking to boost their earnings through alternative means: Side Hustles: 32% of respondents plan to launch side businesses to generate additional income. Career Changes: 28% are considering career shifts in pursuit of higher salaries. This entrepreneurial spirit aligns with the UAE's broader economic landscape, where innovation and adaptability are highly valued. In a news release, George Naddaf, eToro’s regional manager, praised the proactive mindset of UAE investors, describing their resolutions as a blend of financial security and personal growth. Naddaf remarked, ”2025’s resolutions highlight a proactive approach to not just financial security but also a desire for self-improvement and adaptability.” He also emphasized the UAE’s forward-thinking culture, noting that the country continues to lead in financial resilience and personal development. Beyond financial goals, the survey revealed that UAE residents are equally focused on personal development: 41% of respondents prioritize personal growth, which includes enhancing skills, education, and professional advancement. 34% placed health and well-being at the top of their resolutions, with many planning to focus on fitness, mental health, and stronger social or family connections. The UAE’s Financial and Personal Growth Mindset The survey results reflect a unique blend of financial ambition and holistic self-improvement among UAE residents. The increasing interest in crypto investments sheds light on the nation’s openness to innovative financial strategies, while commitments to health and personal development suggest a balanced approach to life. As 2025 approaches, UAE retail investors are setting the stage for a year of growth and resilience. Whether through increased investments in cryptocurrencies, real estate, or traditional asset classes, or through personal and professional development, their goals demonstrate a forward-thinking and adaptive mindset. The UAE’s commitment to innovation and financial stability continues to position it as a leader in global investment trends, with its residents at the forefront of these developments.
Prosper (PROS) has made remarkable strides by integrating Bitcoin (BTC) hashrate into tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), shaping the landscape of crypto investments. The platform showcased a significant partnership with BITMAIN,
TL;DR Shiba Inu’s Shibarium hit a fresh target, signaling strong user engagement. SHIB climbed by 4% to $0.00002305, with increased token burns and reduced exchange inflows signaling a further pump. Shibarium Keeps Advancing Shiba Inu’s layer-2 blockchain solution – Shibarium – took center stage on Christmas Day, blasting through yet another major milestone. Data shows that the total transactions processed on the protocol exceeded 700 million. This can be viewed as a serious achievement, considering the fact that Shibarium officially saw the light of day last summer. Since then, it has undergone some important developments, such as launching a new user interface (UI) update that improves compatibility with popular self-custody wallets like MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, and Trust Wallet. Shortly after, the team introduced an update through a hard fork to empower the community of developers and innovators and implement quicker block processing times. It also adopted a burning mechanism, which is a bit different from the original program but has the same purpose. Shibarium’s ultimate goal is to foster the development of the Shiba Inu ecosystem by reducing transaction costs, improving speed, and enhancing scalability. As such, some market observers believe its further progress could be a vital factor fueling a rally for the meme coin’s price. How’s SHIB Doing? It is worth mentioning that Shibarium’s latest achievement coincides with the resurgence of SHIB’s price. It currently trades at around $0.00002305, representing a 4% rise on a daily scale. SHIB Price, Source: CoinGecko Other elements suggesting that Shiba Inu has yet to experience a substantial rally are the burning program and the SHIB exchange netflow . The burn rate has jumped by 50% in the past 24 hours, resulting in over 7 million tokens destroyed . Converted in US dollars, the stash is insignificant , but continuous efforts in the field will reduce the circulating supply of the meme coin, making it more scarce and possibly more valuable (assuming demand doesn’t head south). For its part, the SHIB exchange netflow has been predominantly negative in the last week (according to CryptoQuant’s data), with outflows surpassing inflows during most days. This hints at a shift from centralized platforms toward self-custody methods and could be considered bullish since it diminishes the immediate selling pressure. The post Shibarium Hits Another Milestone: Is the SHIB Price Poised for a New Rally? appeared first on CryptoPotato .
USV, one of the early investors in Uniswap (UNI) sent another batch of tokens to Coinbase Prime. The early investor started sending UNI to the exchange since December 6. Union Square Ventures (USV) has sent more Uniswap (UNI) tokens to Coinbase Prime, potentially taking profits on its earlier investments. The fund is one of the early backers of Uniswap from 2020, which waited for a more favorable price range. USV is a Tier 2 fund, specializing in Series A financing. In the latest transaction, USV transferred 578,000 UNI, valued at $8.45M. In three weeks, USV moved 3.511M UNI, valued at $54.56M. The fund holds more than 10M UNI in its remaining share, valued at more than $156M. The involvement of USV is relatively small compared to other VC backers for Uniswap. The fund has a total of 43 early investments in the crypto space, and has achieved higher returns compared to other VC funds. USV was one of the early backers of Polygon, profiting from the platform’s growth during the boom of Web3 services. USV has achieved total returns of over 165,200% . The popular DEX project used its first-mover advantage to raise more than $188M in several rounds over the years. USV participated in a Series A round raising $11M, while Uniswap was still in its early stages and did not yet attract the biggest funds. Uniswap later received backing from A16Z and Polychain Capital, helping the DEX raise its $165M Series B round in 2022. Investors control a little over 18% of the UNI supply, with the biggest share left for governance and community activities. UNI has managed to hold onto a respectable price range, as most backers hold onto their tokens, expecting higher potential returns or governance rights. USV transferred the funds from two main wallets, address 1 and address 2 . The wallets were relatively inactive over the past months, mostly used to store the received UNI for a long-term investment. UNI has already completed its unlocking schedule, so it is up to early backers to decide on the movement and eventual selling of their tokens. UNI still waiting for a stronger breakout The average price for all transfers is $15.53, still far from previous bullish targets from UNI. For USV, however, the holding paid out, as the early market price was under $3.50. USV also held its tokens through the 2021 boom when UNI peaked above $42. After the transfers, UNI still traded at $14.12 . The exchange is increasingly influential, with presence on the tokenless Base blockchain. Despite this, UNI tokens have managed a relatively small rally in 2024. UNI started the year in the $7 range, still managing 100% net growth to date, though lagging behind more active earners. Over the years, UNI has shown patterns suggesting some selling from VC backers or early contributors. The price action of UNI also reflected the overall slowdown of DEX trading in 2022 and 2023. The Uniswap activity expanded in the past year, reaching a peak in November with $118M in fees. The DEX operates with a net loss, due to paying out incentives to its liquidity providers. It now holds more than $6B in total value locked (TVL), spread around 23 chains. Uniswap Labs is also busy promoting its native Unichain to builders, aiming to shift some of the DEX traffic. Uniswap V3 on Ethereum is still the most active version, with $961M in daily trading volumes. The Uniswap universal router smart contract still burns 5.75% of all gas on Ethereum, with busier days leading to even higher activity. In 2024, the profile of Uniswap activity shifted, as USDC became one of the most widely traded assets. More than $1T in trading volumes came from USDC swaps. The DEX has achieved $989.81M in fees for the year to date, potentially ending 2024 with more than $1B in total fees. Uniswap has surpassed Solana and is almost on par with Lido Finance. From Zero to Web3 Pro: Your 90-Day Career Launch Plan
TRON’s ecosystem has experienced significant advancements in stablecoin transfers, lending practices, and daily transaction volumes, redefining its market position. With stablecoins on the TRON network stabilizing at $62 billion, the
Trump's victory enhances optimism in the cryptocurrency market. Altcoins show significant growth amid ETF expectations. Continue Reading: Trump’s Victory Sparks Optimism in the Cryptocurrency Market The post Trump’s Victory Sparks Optimism in the Cryptocurrency Market appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
Binance expands lending options with USUAL token and stablecoin investment. As of Dec. 25, 2024, Binance announced that the Usual protocol (USUAL) token would be added as a new borrowable asset under its Pledged Loan program. The move hopes to…
Binance expands lending options with USUAL token and stablecoin investment. As of Dec. 25, 2024, Binance announced that the Usual protocol ( USUAL ) token would be added as a new borrowable asset under its Pledged Loan program. The move hopes to increase borrowing flexibility by enabling users to use assets from Binance Earn —Binance’s platform for earning rewards on crypto holdings—as collateral and benefit from real-time annualized returns. The inclusion of USUAL into Binance’s flexible lending portfolio is in line with the platform’s growing focus on stablecoin innovation. Recently, Binance Labs invested in the Usual protocol, a decentralized stablecoin issuer backed by real-world assets . This partnership strengthens Binance’s commitment to incorporating cutting-edge technologies and assets into its ecosystem, offering further opportunities for users. You might also like: Binance announces Fantom to Sonic token swap and rebranding timeline Known for its dynamic structure, the Pledged Loan feature—also referred to as the Demand Rate—enables users to manage loans with adaptable terms. Loan rates are updated every minute, ensuring both transparency and flexibility. With a minimum loan amount set at just one USDC equivalent, the service is accessible to a broad range of users. To properly comprehend the terms and risks involved, users are recommended to consult Binance’s official loan FAQs and guidelines . Borrowers are encouraged to proceed with caution and make informed decisions. You might also like: Binance Labs invests in Perena to boost Solana stablecoin adoption