Bitcoin proponent Mow makes series of big Bitcoin predictions for 2025
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes cryptocurrency can modernize the country’s financial system. RBA Governor Skeptical of Bitcoin Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers says cryptocurrency can help modernize the country’s financial system and should not be hindered by excessive regulation. While acknowledging legitimate concerns about crypto’s use by criminals, Chalmers noted that Donald Trump’s re-election has prompted
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has recently emerged as a central figure in two debates shaping the cryptocurrency and tech landscapes. On one front, Buterin has urged Elon Musk to adopt a more measured tone in discussions about free speech and immigration on X, while also voicing concerns over the use of platform moderation tools. Simultaneously, Buterin has extended substantial financial support to the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers. Vitalik Buterin Urges Elon Musk to Moderate Tone Amid Heated H1B Visa Debate Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called for Elon Musk to adopt a more measured approach in his public discourse following a heated debate on the treatment of foreign tech workers in the United States. Buterin’s comments, shared in a Dec. 31 post on X, were in response to an expletive-laden defense by Musk of immigrant workers employed under H1B visas, a stance that has sparked outrage among some conservative voices. The controversy began when Musk expressed support for hiring foreign tech workers, arguing that immigration contributes positively to the US technology sector. His comments drew sharp criticism from conservatives, who argued that such policies disadvantage native-born workers. The debate quickly escalated, with accusations that Musk’s social media platform was silencing dissenting voices by removing premium features from accounts critical of his position. Musk’s combative tone in defending his stance, coupled with allegations of censorship on X, further inflamed the situation. Critics accused the platform of undermining free speech — a principle Musk has championed since acquiring X in 2022. Musk’s response to these allegations was defiant, but it also reignited discussions about the responsibilities of tech leaders in moderating public discourse. Buterin, a prominent voice in the tech and cryptocurrency space, intervened with a plea for balance. While he commended Musk’s dedication to free speech, he expressed concern over the “tone of discourse” and the alleged use of the “social media banhammer” to stifle dissent. In his post, Buterin stressed the importance of respecting free speech even when it challenges one’s own beliefs. He warned of the dangers of centralized control over public discourse. “The banhammer is controlled by one group today, it will be controlled by another group tomorrow.” Buterin urged Musk to recognize the broader implications of his actions, emphasizing the need for leaders to set a positive tone. He cautioned against fostering an adversarial environment, likening such an approach to a “wartime mode” that stifles innovation and collaboration. Buterin also criticized the concept of the “banhammer” as an ineffective tool for managing public speech, arguing that it often leads to polarization. He described a bleak outcome where public discourse deteriorates into “balkanization,” “monoculture,” or a “constant war of all against all.” Instead, Buterin called for a shift toward constructive dialogue and collaboration, advocating for a brighter and more inclusive approach to leadership. He urged Musk to use his influence on X to foster an environment that benefits humanity rather than deepening societal divides. Musk’s Persona and Response Musk, known for his provocative online persona, recently changed his X name to “Kekius Maximus,” blending internet culture references with the iconic Gladiator character Maximus Decimus Meridius. This whimsical alter ego is emblematic of Musk’s unconventional style, but it has also drawn criticism for undermining the gravity of serious debates. While Musk has not directly responded to Buterin’s remarks, the exchange places the spotlight on the challenges faced by influential figures navigating the intersection of technology, free speech, and societal expectations. The debate between Buterin and Musk shows the complexities of balancing free speech with responsible leadership in an era where social media platforms wield immense power over public discourse. As global leaders in technology, both figures face growing scrutiny over their ability to influence societal norms and set the tone for public conversations. For Musk, the controversy serves as a reminder of the challenges in aligning his platform’s policies with his outspoken defense of free speech. For Buterin, it highlights the importance of measured leadership in fostering a culture of open and constructive dialogue. The ongoing debate over H1B visas and free speech extends beyond X, reflecting broader tensions within the tech industry. As companies grapple with workforce diversity and globalization, leaders like Musk and Buterin play pivotal roles in shaping the narrative. Their exchanges serve as a microcosm of the challenges faced by the tech industry in balancing innovation, inclusion, and accountability. As the discourse unfolds, the tech world — and society at large — will watch closely to see how leaders navigate these contentious issues, setting the tone for the future of public dialogue in an increasingly connected world. Vitalik Buterin Donates $170,000 to Tornado Cash Developers’ Legal Defense Amid Ongoing Trials In addition to reaching out to Musk, Buterin also recently made a substantial contribution to the legal defense fund for Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, providing critical support in their high-profile legal battles. Buterin’s donation, totaling 50 Ether (ETH) — valued at approximately $170,000 at the time — was announced in a Dec. 31 post by the Juicebox project, Free Pertsev and Storm. This marks a continued effort by Buterin to rally behind the developers, who have faced significant legal challenges stemming from their involvement in the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash. Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev are at the center of legal controversies surrounding Tornado Cash, a decentralized protocol that allows users to anonymize cryptocurrency transactions. The US Treasury Department sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022, alleging that it was used by bad actors, including North Korean hackers, to launder over $7 billion in crypto assets since 2019. Buterin’s donation accounts for approximately 25% of the total $650,000 raised through JusticeDAO to support the Tornado Cash developers. Roman Storm, one of the recipients, confirmed the donation, emphasizing its significance ahead of his trial, which is scheduled to begin on April 14. Alexey Pertsev, who was arrested by Dutch authorities in 2022, was convicted of money laundering in May 2024 and sentenced to over five years in prison. He plans to appeal the verdict. Meanwhile, Roman Semenov, another Tornado Cash developer, has been charged by US prosecutors but remains at large. The charges against Tornado Cash developers include money laundering, fraud, and violations of sanctions laws. These allegations have ignited widespread debate within the cryptocurrency community, with many viewing the legal actions as an overreach by regulatory authorities. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Tornado Cash on its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list in August 2022, effectively sanctioning its operations . The move sparked a backlash from privacy advocates and crypto enthusiasts, who argue that the protocol’s open-source nature and immutable smart contracts make it akin to public infrastructure rather than a controlled entity. In November 2024, an appellate court ruled that the Treasury had “ overstepped ” by sanctioning Tornado Cash’s immutable smart contracts. However, this ruling did not directly impact the criminal cases against the developers. Vitalik Buterin has been a vocal advocate for privacy and decentralization in the crypto space. His donation to the Tornado Cash developers is not the first demonstration of his support. In October, Buterin contributed 100 ETH (then worth $240,000) to the same Juicebox project. Earlier fundraising efforts on platforms like GoFundMe were shut down, leaving JusticeDAO as a primary avenue for financial support. Buterin’s contributions have drawn attention to the broader implications of the Tornado Cash case. In a statement, he stressed the importance of preserving innovation and protecting individuals in the decentralized ecosystem from punitive measures stemming from the actions of malicious actors. Wider Crypto Industry Outcry The sanctions and subsequent criminal charges against Tornado Cash developers have sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency industry. Advocacy groups like Coin Center, along with prominent crypto firms such as Coinbase, have filed lawsuits challenging the Treasury’s actions. Critics argue that targeting developers for creating open-source technology sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the core principles of decentralization and freedom. Coin Center and Tornado Cash users contend that the sanctions infringe upon constitutional rights, such as free speech and due process. The crypto community has rallied behind the developers, calling for clearer regulatory guidelines and protections for individuals contributing to open-source projects. The Tornado Cash saga represents a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency industry, testing the boundaries between regulatory oversight and the ethos of decentralization. As developers face potential legal liability for creating tools that can be misused, the case raises critical questions about innovation, accountability, and the future of blockchain technology. As the April 14 trial date for Roman Storm approaches, the crypto industry will be closely watching for developments in both the legal proceedings and the broader regulatory landscape. For Tornado Cash, its developers, and the broader crypto community, the legal battles serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between fostering innovation and navigating an evolving regulatory environment.
According to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will likely depend on the global perception of the United States economy and the strength of the US dollar. Meanwhile, Hive Digital announced that it will relocate to Texas due to Trump’s pro-Bitcoin policies, and Switzerland made major strides with a proposal to include Bitcoin in its national monetary reserves. Crypto Investors Get Temporary Relief from IRS FIFO Rule The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) granted temporary relief to cryptocurrency holders on centralized exchanges from a rule that would have mandated the use of the FIFO (First In, First Out) accounting method for tax purposes. Under the initial IRS ruling , if investors did not explicitly select an accounting method, like HIFO (Highest In, First Out) or Specific Identification (Spec ID), brokers would default to reporting sales using FIFO. This method assumes that the oldest cryptocurrency bought is sold first, which could lead to higher capital gains taxes for many taxpayers. Tax experts like Shehan Chandrasekera , the head of tax at Cointracker, warned that the immediate enforcement of the rule could have caused serious financial strain for crypto investors during a bull market. Selling older assets first, often with the lowest cost basis, would unintentionally maximize taxable gains. Mark Thomas , a crypto commentator, pointed out that FIFO could be beneficial only in specific scenarios, like when the sale date is more than one year after the earliest crypto purchase but within a year of the latest purchase, potentially qualifying for long-term capital gains tax instead of short-term. The temporary relief postpones the rule’s enforcement for sales on centralized crypto exchanges until Dec. 31 of 2025. This extension allows brokers more time to implement support for multiple accounting methods. During this period, taxpayers are responsible for maintaining their own records for tax reporting purposes. This update happened after a legal challenge was filed on Dec. 28 by the Blockchain Association and the Texas Blockchain Council against the IRS. The lawsuit argues that the expanded broker reporting rules, which include decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and require brokers to disclose detailed information about digital asset transactions, violate constitutional rights. The expanded requirements are set to take effect in 2027, and will obligate brokers to report taxpayer identities and gross proceeds from crypto and other digital asset sales. Trump Era May Shift Focus Away from Bitcoin In addition to the latest tax developments, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju recently suggested that President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will likely depend on the global perception of the United States economy and the strength of the US dollar. According to Ju, store-of-value assets like Bitcoin and gold typically experience price surges when there are perceived threats to US economic dominance . However, the continued global confidence in the US economy and the dollar as a safe haven currency may diminish the likelihood of the Trump administration adopting Bitcoin as part of a strategic reserve. Ju argued that Trump’s focus on projecting US strength and the ongoing inflows of capital into the dollar could reinforce confidence in its supremacy, which could potentially lead to a reversal of pro-Bitcoin policies. Ju also shed some light on a broader trend, particularly in emerging economies, where people increasingly choose the US dollar or dollar-pegged stablecoins over gold or Bitcoin as a safe haven. He specifically pointed to examples like Koreans favoring the dollar due to the weakening won and people in hyperinflation-stricken regions using stablecoins to preserve value. At the Bitcoin MENA conference, Paxos CEO Charles Cascarilla stated that the financial system is moving on-chain, with stablecoins poised to improve the utility of the US dollar by combining its reliability with the internet’s speed and connectivity. He also mentioned that stablecoins have become a critical tool for individuals in regions experiencing economic instability. For instance, Turkey grappled with a 67% inflation rate in March of 2024, and has seen the world’s highest rate of stablecoin purchases relative to GDP. Stablecoin purchasing as a share of GDP (Source: Chainalysis) Chainalysis reported in 2023 that over 50% of digital assets sent to Latin American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico were stablecoins. Trump’s Bitcoin Vision Attracts Hive Digital to Texas Bitcoin mining firm Hive Digital Technologies (HIVE) announced plans to relocate its headquarters from Vancouver, Canada, to Texas thanks to President-elect Donald Trump’s pro-Bitcoin stance. In a statement on Dec. 31, HIVE specifically mentioned the Trump administration’s support for innovation and a favorable regulatory environment for Bitcoin miners as influential factors in the decision. Texas was chosen for its supportive business climate, robust energy infrastructure, and access to skilled talent. HIVE described the US as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption. The company also sees the depth of US capital markets, with $40 trillion in market capitalization and $500 billion in daily trading volumes, as very essential to its growth strategy. Executive chairman Frank Holmes believes that relocating to the US provides the liquidity, visibility, and valuation opportunities that are necessary for scaling operations. Texas emerged as a hub for Bitcoin mining by hosting major operators like Applied Digital, Galaxy, Bitdeer, Cipher, Core Scientific, Hut 8, Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and Iris Energy. The state’s appeal to miners aligns with Trump’s earlier statements advocating for Bitcoin mining to remain in the US. After a meeting with Riot Platforms executives, Trump shared plans on Truth Social about his desire for all future Bitcoin to be mined domestically. Switzerland Moves Closer to Bitcoin Adoption at National Level Meanwhile, a new proposal to require the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to include Bitcoin in its monetary reserves has been initiated by the Swiss federal chancellery. The initiative was launched on Dec. 31, and aims to gather 100,000 signatures to qualify for a public referendum. Giw Zanganeh, Tether’s vice president of Energy and Mining, and Yves Bennaïm, founder of Swiss Bitcoin nonprofit think tank 2B4CH, spearheaded the proposal alongside eight other Bitcoin advocates. The idea was first explored in October of 2021, and gained momentum as Bitcoin's adoption by nation-states became more plausible. The proposal seeks to amend Article 99 Paragraph 3 of the Swiss Federal Constitution to mandate the SNB to build monetary reserves that include both gold and Bitcoin. The proponents of the proposal argue that this measure will contribute to a financially sound and sovereign Switzerland. The campaign was officially registered in Switzerland’s Federal Gazette on Dec. 31, and has until June 30 of 2026 to collect the required signatures. Bennaïm described the timing as ideal due to the increasing relevance of Bitcoin in global financial systems. Bitcoin adoption in Switzerland has seen a lot of growth, particularly in Lugano, where 260 merchants accept the cryptocurrency. The city also hosts the annual “Plan ₿” Bitcoin conference. However, SNB Chair Martin Schlegel has voiced some concerns about Bitcoin’s energy consumption and suitability as a payment method. Globally, other nations are also exploring Bitcoin reserves. In the United States, a bill sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis proposes holding Bitcoin in the Treasury’s reserves. Politicians in Brazil and Poland expressed similar interest.
According to recent monitoring by Trader T, December 2024 was a landmark month for the Ethereum ETF, with an impressive net inflow of $2.1 billion—a record for any single month.
Bitcoin's 2025 growth will be driven by institutional adoption, regulatory changes, political shifts, reduced supply, macroeconomic trends, and reserve asset potential.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has stepped up to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. In a December 31 update shared by the Juicebox project Free Pertsev and Storm, Buterin donated 50 ETH, valued at approximately $170,000, to aid the embattled developers. This generous contribution constitutes about 25% of the $650,000 raised through JusticeDAO to back their legal battle. Buterin Supports to Strengthen Legal Aid The case stems from allegations that the Tornado Cash mixing service facilitated illicit activities. Dutch authorities arrested Pertsev in 2022 , leading to a conviction for money laundering and a prison sentence of over five years. Pertsev plans to appeal the verdict. Similarly, U.S. prosecutors have charged Storm and Roman Semenov with money laundering, sanctions violations, and fraud tied to their roles in the project. Storm, who is currently out on bail, awaits his trial scheduled for April 14, while Semenov remains at large. The charges largely stem from the U.S. Treasury Department’s 2022 decision to add Tornado Cash to its Specially Designated Nationals list, citing its alleged use by hackers, including North Korean groups, to launder over $7 billion in cryptocurrency since 2019. Industry Criticism and Legal Challenges The sanctions and criminal charges have sparked widespread backlash from the crypto community, with many arguing they unfairly target developers of neutral technology. Buterin’s recent donation follows a previous contribution of 100 ETH (approximately $240,000) to the same cause in October, highlighting his continued commitment to defending the developers. Efforts to crowdfund support have faced challenges, such as GoFundMe’s shutdown of a similar campaign in February. Despite these obstacles, the crypto community has rallied behind the developers, emphasizing the importance of protecting innovation and ensuring due process. The U.S. Treasury faces ongoing lawsuits from advocacy group Coin Center and Tornado Cash users backed by Coinbase, arguing that sanctioning immutable smart contracts overreaches regulatory authority. While a November appellate court ruling found the Treasury had overstepped, it did not influence the criminal proceedings against Storm. The post Vitalik Buterin Donates 50 ETH to Tornado Cash Legal Defense Fund appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
AI agents, a relatively new trend in crypto, can alter the entire landscape of Web3, as they gain more coding and trading capabilities. The expectations for AI agents go beyond the short-term hype, as there are ways in which agents can accelerate all crypto trends. AI agents will go beyond their short-term rally, with the potential to accelerate all crypto trends. Only after a few months as primarily content agents, the newly launched startups are testing the AI’s independent coding capabilities. One of the first tests for independent creation capabilities was ran by AI16Z, one of the leading agents in the past months. AI16Z has the exposure to attract developers, while also posting its own open source code on GitHub. First PR reviewed, commented on, and merged—powered by our @github @ai16zdao agent! 🚀 The only manual touchpoint (for now) was updating the branch and resolving comments to make it mergable. This is just the beginning. Get hyped for what’s next! 🛠️🤖🔥 pic.twitter.com/SNkYnRrxSV — Reality Spiral – ai16z/acc/🧚♀️ (@reality_spiral) January 1, 2025 At this point, AI agents are capable of very fast content and code creation, but they still face the bottleneck of attracting other developers and end users. However, a new trend has emerged where AI agents from one ecosystem communicate with each other. All agents from Virtuals Protocol are also connecting on social media and engaging in an AI swarm. This connection network may become a source of value, as competing for human mindshare is still the bottleneck of crypto. Most of the self-directed behaviors are still in the testing stage, but they have the potential to accelerate previous crypto trends, this time performed by AI agents. AI market abandons gimmick tokens The last months of 2024 focused on novelty tokens, which were reportedly the creation of AI language models. This led to the rise of GOAT, FARTCOIN, GNON, and others, which mostly depend on hype and speculative trading. The new year comes with a shift toward utility and infrastructure. Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) extended its rally into the new year, peaking at $4.10. Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) set new price records above $4.10. | Source: CoinGecko AIXBT, one of the leading crypto accounts, shifted to market analysis and data-gathering. In the past few weeks, AIXBT grew its mindshare and accrued more X followers, surpassing Truth Terminal , the original content-producing AI agent. AI16Z also extended its influence, in preparation for its own AI agent launchpad. The project also hinted at creating its own L1 network. Swarm introduces AI breeding One of the trends that picked up in December and will continue into the new year is the Spore.fun framework. Spore.fun takes the idea of digital genes, which had its first iteration with NFT collections. While the first AI agents were deliberately created and trained by humans, Spore introduces a form of breeding. The project truly integrates all Web3 themes, including a tokenization and fee side, digital genes and breeding, and full ownership of newly bred AI models. Spore also uses existing infrastructure, partnering with leading AI projects, including AI16Z and the ELIZA framework, as well as Phala Network, which offers specialized computation and security for AI agents. AI agents may take a share of human-dominated Web3 activity The AI agent trend also achieves a feat that has evaded crypto projects – fast and iterative product launches, instead of focusing on the technicalities of chains. AI agents use Web3 and tokens in the background, instead focusing on tapping the value of content. AI mutation, breeding, tokens, and interactions are starting to build a new crypto economy, taking on the turf of crypto influencers and traders. The new economy still has relatively low value locked compared to other crypto trends, but expects growth in the new year. AI agents are still only capable of small-scale actions, and cannot compete with the liquidity of DeFi, lending and other human-dominated tools. However, the space is quickly growing. Within days, VIRTUAL rallied to over $4B in market capitalization, while AIXBT is on track to reach $700M after a near-vertical climb. Just like meme tokens accelerated altcoin speculation, AI agents may accelerate the meme space, going through trends even faster than human actors. The value created, however, is still expected to accrue to the top infrastructure tokens. The AI agent trend may also lift up DePIN assets and builders of utility frameworks to make agent activity easier and faster. From Zero to Web3 Pro: Your 90-Day Career Launch Plan
Despite once promising never to ‘scam’ his followers by promoting digital assets, the belligerent influencer Andrew Tate , who has become increasingly known for his troubles with Romanian law enforcement, has been active in certain segments of the cryptocurrency community in 2024. Of the many projects he helped advertise – many of which he is accused of swiftly abandoning – he is most associated with an ill-fated meme coin called Daddy Tate (DADDY). Though DADDY had several periods in 2024 – most notably in July and October – when it performed admirably, it is, nonetheless, substantially down this year. DADDY meme coin performance in 2024 Specifically, on June 14, 2024, the earliest date available in the chart retrieved on December 31 from CoinMarketCap by FInbold, Daddy Tate was changing hands at $0.2407. From there, it waxed and waned on multiple occasions and even recovered near its initial highs on July 5 – to $0.2239 – and on October 15 – to $0.1814 – but its trajectory was generally downward with a series of lower highs. Finally, at the time DADDY data was retrieved, the meme coin was priced at $0.06032 – 74.48% below its original valuation. Such a plunge means that those investors who jumped at the opportunity to back Andrew Tate’s cryptocurrency project with $1,000 would have lost $750 and have $250 left. DADDY all-time price chart. Source: CoinMarketCap Why DADDY price might never recover While starting high and rushing to meet the ground is nothing strange for meme coins and other altcoins, there is a particular note of drama to the collapse of Daddy Tate. The worst and most decisive of its downturns – at least to date – can be traced back to a scathing video published by the prominent online sleuth and Youtuber Stephen Findeisen, better known as Coffeezilla. In the video, Findeisen claims to have investigated Andrew Tate’s involvement with cryptocurrencies and argues that, essentially, all of these interactions amount to little more than ‘pump and dump’ schemes . Though the late October video was more of an overview of the allegations than an in-depth analysis of alleged shady behavior, investors apparently took note as it led to DADDY crashing approximately 40% by early November. The post Here’s how much Andrew Tate’s crypto crashed in 2024 appeared first on Finbold .
Altcoin Sherpa remains positive about Fartcoin's potential despite its volatility. He focuses on strategic buying to maintain an average cost below $0.80. Continue Reading: Analyst Discusses Fartcoin’s Value and Investment Strategy The post Analyst Discusses Fartcoin’s Value and Investment Strategy appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .