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January 10, 2024

“[The Bitcoin ETF] creates a bridge to the traditional financial market ... Long term, I think money’s going to come in.”

- James Seyffart, Bloomberg analyst

The bitcoin ETF is here!

After a decade of waiting, we finally have the ability for ordinary investors to buy bitcoin directly from their brokerage accounts. This also gives access to institutional investors (read: the big money) to start investing in crypto.

This is a milestone moment.

It is the beginning of a new era, where old-school finance meets new-school crypto. We are proud of the industry for this milestone, and we're proud of our thousands of fellow investors (like you!) who have kept the faith.

If you need to understand how it works, re-read our updated Parable of the Bitcorn. And if you want to understand what it means for the future, we unpack it in today's feature article on Crypto Trends for 2024.

Read on!

Top Trends in Crypto for 2024

by Danielle Greving

Investor takeaway: The bitcoin ETF changes everything. Now that the world's premiere crypto is officially part of the world's financial system, it unlocks many investing opportunities.

In this feature, we look ahead to 2024... and the future looks bright:

• An optimistic start to bitcoin prices
• The widespread adoption of Ethereum
• The rise of Coinbase
• Market-shaping events like the bitcoin halving and the spot ETF

It's no wonder we're bullish on crypto's potential for the upcoming year.

Read on to gaze into our crystal ball >>

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New Blockchain Risk Scorecard: UNUS SED LEO (LEO)

When iFinex created LEO, it was never meant to be a permanent token. But somehow, it has become one of the top 25 crypto assets worldwide. Our question was, why?

There have been controversies around the token and its creator. iFinex launched LEO in a $1 billion IEO after a well-publicized scandal, which saw them (allegedly) using $850 million in Tether holdings to cover operational expenses after Crypto Capital lost that amount in 2019, claiming Polish authorities seized it as part of a money laundering scheme.

So, why are people investing in LEO -- and should you consider it? Read our Risk Scorecard to find out.

Not yet a Premium member? Sign up now to get access to our industry-leading library of investor scorecards.

Must Read

Today's most important stories for crypto investors.

Coinbase: Why This Exchange Is A Better Investment Than Buying Cryptocurrencies (Seeking Alpha)

Investor takeaway: Coinbase stock has significantly outperformed bitcoin, with $COIN shares appreciating over 360% against Bitcoin's 160% gain in the past year. Coinbase is a productive asset due to its diverse revenue streams from transaction fees and services, unlike bitcoin's non-productive nature as a store of value.

Coinbase's expansion into new services and an anticipated bullish environment for cryptocurrencies in 2024 is a significant thesis for continued upward price momentum. The piece also acknowledges the risks involved in investing in a company heavily reliant on cryptocurrency markets and regulations.

SEC's Twitter Blunder (The Defiant)

Investor takeaway: A mistakenly posted tweet by the U.S. SEC regarding the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF created a brief market fluctuation in bitcoin prices on Tuesday. This tweet, later corrected by the SEC chair, led to a temporary price surge in bitcoin, followed by a drop.

Now that the actual approval is here, no one knows if the price of bitcoin will go up or down in the coming days. Long-term, however, we're bullish.

Consumer Crypto’s Breakout Cycle (Medium)

Investor takeaway: This article outlines historical crypto trends, starting from bitcoin's influence on wallets and exchanges, Ethereum's impact on decentralized apps like DeFi and DAOs, and the explosion of NFTs, to highlight the next big thing.

The next big thing, according to this piece, is new infrastructure that will make crypto easier for consumers: low-fee blockchains, embedded wallets, on/off ramps, identity protocols, and new distribution channels.

Investors may want to put at least part of their focus on this shift to consumer-oriented crypto applications in the coming year. Crypto is about to get a lot easier, faster.

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We Wish You a Merry Cryptmas

And a happy new year.

Best Staking Rates

The best rates for DeFi staking this week.

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Wall Street, meet bitcoin.

(Thanks Techopedia)

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