CoinDesk 20 Index: 3,273.75 +7.19%
Bitcoin (BTC): $98,833.89 +1.06%
Ether (ETH): $3,356.95 +1.95%
S&P 500: 5,948.71 +0.53%
Gold: $2,707.27 +1.42%
Nikkei 225: 38,283.85 +0.68%

A message from Kraken

Bitcoin is inching closer to the $100,000 mark, though its momentum has slowed. It clinched another record on Thursday at $99,500, dipping below $99,000 heading into the U.S. open. BTC has risen 1% over the past 24 hours, while the broad-market CoinDesk 20 Index gained over 7%. Most alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) in the CD20 outperformed BTC, an early sign of capital rotation into smaller, riskier tokens as bitcoin's pace stalls. The $100,000 price point poses a significant resistance level, where investors might take profits on their investments. Still, there's a possibility of BTC rallying to $115,000 by Christmas, supported by broadening stablecoin supply, inflows into ETFs and bullish options positioning on BlackRock's spot BTC ETF (IBIT), 10x Research said in a Friday note.

Altcoins are taking their moment to shine as regulatory headwinds look poised to clear. Gary Gensler, the chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to leave on Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration date. Industry participants anticipate that the agency's new leadership will be more open to approving investment products for smaller tokens and allowing staking for ETFs. XRP led the rally, gaining 33% in 24 hours and Cardano's ADA rose over 15%. Solana's native token (SOL) hit an all-time high above $260, the first of the large-cap altcoins to surpass the 2021 market peaks.

Financial service giant Charles Schwab wants to directly offer crypto to users, its incoming CEO said,a sign that U.S. institutions are increasingly emboldened by an expected regulatory sea-change towards digital assets. "We’ve been waiting on a change in the regulatory environment … and we’re confident that we think that will come in short order," Rick Wurster said in an interview. Also, digital asset manager Bitwise officially joined the race to launch a spot-based solana ETF in the U.S.

Proof-of-stake smart-contract blockchain Cardano's native cryptocurrency ada (ADA) is having its moment. The token has surged 10% in the past 24 hours, trading at 90 cents early Friday on Coinbase and other exchanges. That's the highest price since May 2022, according to CoinDesk Indices data.

The price has risen 22% this week, taking the month-to-date gain to 152%. That has raised the token's market capitalization to $30.85 billion, making it the world's 10th-largest digital asset. In contrast, the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), a measure of the broader crypto market, has advanced 14% this week and 58% this month.

ADA's rally is accompanied by continued accumulation from whales, hefty crypto addresses with more than $10 million in the token. According to Tagus Capital, whales now hold over $12 billion in ADA.

On-chain activity confirms the involvement of whales and institutions, indicating that this rally could have staying power. Data from analytics firm IntoTheBlock shows the number of large transactions involving ADA has skyrocketed by 300% in two weeks.

It's a sign of "heightened interest from institutional investors," Tagus Capital said in a daily newsletter, noting the spike in large transactions. "Some of this momentum is sentiment-driven, as previously noted, with Cardano's founder, Charles Hoskinson, hinting at potential collaborations with the Trump administration for crypto-friendly policies."

A message from Kraken

- Omkar Godbole