WHAT’S BREWING IN CRYPTO NEWS?
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This Week: Alpen Labs Raises $8.5M to Build Bitcoin Platform
January 20, 2025
Alpen Labs, a company building financial tools for Bitcoin, recently raised $8.5 million in funding. This transformative funding round was led by two groups called Cyber Fund and DBA, with additional support from Ribbit Capital, Castle Island Ventures, and Geometry, who had backed Alpen in earlier funding efforts.
Alpen Labs is a company that creates tools to expand Bitcoin’s usefulness beyond payments. This hefty $8.5 million will be used to build a new system called Strata. Strata’s goal is to make Bitcoin easier to use by adding features like secure, self-managed wallets and private, user-friendly payment options.
Strata will officially launch in February, but people can start exploring it next month when the test version, called a “testnet,” becomes available. Developers can start even sooner with a special developer version.
Strata will be an open platform, meaning anyone can use or build on it. The goal is to expand Bitcoin’s functionality beyond your standard buying and selling. For example, Strata will operate through self-custody, meaning people can store their Bitcoin without needing a bank or middleman. It also promises to make payments simple and private, connect Bitcoin with other systems, and introduce stablecoins. Strata will even allow Bitcoin to back loans, so you can borrow money without selling your Bitcoin.
For many people, Bitcoin is a digital currency used mainly for investments or speculative trading. But with Strata, Bitcoin will transform into a practical tool for everyday use.
This funding marks a big step forward for Alpen Labs as they work to launch Strata. It packs Bitcoin with more features and makes it accessible to everyone, not just tech-savvy users.
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This Week: Jeju Island Plans NFT Cards to Reel in Young Tourists
January 13, 2025
Jeju Island, South Korea’s tropical hotspot, is turning to NFTs to reel in younger visitors. The island plans to roll out NFT-powered tourist cards aimed squarely at millennials and Gen Z. These cards, debuting with a trial run in late 2025, come packed with goodies like travel subsidies, membership perks, and discounts at local attractions – basically a sweet deal to get folks coming back for more while boosting local businesses.
The NFT cards are tied to Jeju’s local digital currency, Tamna Jeon. This stablecoin has been around since 2019, powering prepaid cards for merchants and residents. Now, tourists can benefit, too, using the currency to snag deals as they explore. Plus, they’ll have a chance to document their trips – think dates, photos, and all the fun stuff – on a blockchain platform connected to the NFTs.
During the pandemic, domestic tourism on Jeju island tanked, especially among younger visitors. Now, by incorporating NFTs into its tourism strategy, the island is aiming to bounce back and pump some fresh energy into the economy.
South Korea has some strict rules on crypto, but Jeju’s leaders seem pretty confident, especially given that the island is no stranger to blockchain. This is just the latest in a string of tech-savvy moves, including the launch of Tamna Jeon and blockchain-based services like traffic management and VAT refunds for tourists.
If you’re getting excited – you should be! Jeju’s new NFT cards could set the standard for travel hotspots worldwide, meaning you could swim and sunbathe with the breezy perks of NFTs.
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This Week: 2025 Crypto Predictions – A Bullish Year Ahead
December 26, 2024
What a year, folks!
The 2024 crypto market was on fire with big moves and breakthroughs. Bitcoin ETFs grabbed the attention of institutions and everyday investors. Ethereum and Solana hit new highs with Layer 2 scaling, and Bitcoin capped off the year by shattering records with over $106,000. With clearer regulations and crypto adoption picking up speed, 2025 is shaping up to be another blockbuster year. Let’s see what’s potentially in store.
1. Bitcoin’s Ascent to $200K
As corporations and governments increasingly show interest in Bitcoin and we see a continuation in ETF inflows, Bitwise Asset Management predicts Bitcoin’s price could reach $200,000 in 2025.
2. Ethereum’s Layer 2 Boom
Layer 2 solutions are getting more popular as companies like Sony and Kraken jump into blockchain projects. These solutions make Ethereum faster and cheaper to use. The Pectra upgrade is also on the horizon, and it’ll boost network efficiency and improve how everything runs.
3. Tokenized Real-World Assets
Tokenization is about to go mainstream. People are already looking at tokenizing unconventional assets like churches. This shift could completely change how we think about investment portfolios. Some say by 2025, the market for tokenized assets could blow past $50 billion.
4. AI-Powered Meme Coins
AI-powered meme coins made a mark in 2024 when a chatbot helped propel one to a shocking 1.5 billion market cap. Some analysts predict 2025 will be their breakout year with smarter designs, real utility like AI-driven trading tools, and a healthy dose of irreverent pop culture.
Here we go! Innovation is building every day, and 2025 will be a pivotal year for cryptocurrency. Hold on to your wallets, and saddle up for the crypto bull ride.
This Week: Bitcoin Shatters Records With $106K
December 19, 2024
Bitcoin closed out the year with fireworks, shattering records and hitting a jaw-dropping $106,533 before settling at just over $104,000. That’s a 65% surge in the fourth quarter alone, leaving the broader crypto market bursting with fireworks just in time for New Year’s.
So, what’s responsible for the great Bitcoin surge?
Big money played a significant role here. Wallets holding 100+ Bitcoin jumped nearly 10% since October, showing that institutional and high-net-worth investors are feeling more confident. This rally also got a boost from a mix of economic tailwinds like lower interest rates, a softer dollar, and whispers of broader adoption of digital assets globally. Even skeptics had to sit up and take notice.
Adding fuel to the fire, MicroStrategy’s inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 sparked a fresh wave of optimism, drawing even more eyes to Bitcoin as it plants its flag in the mainstream. And while there’s been chatter about a potential U.S. Bitcoin reserve, it’s the global embrace of crypto, from governments to retail traders, that’s truly propelled this historic run.
Critics warned of volatility, and they weren’t entirely wrong. The market saw $118 million in liquidations during the rally. But for Bitcoin believers, the recent dips are just speed bumps on a path to greater heights.
As Bitcoin’s total market cap sits comfortably in the trillions, the question isn’t whether the crypto king will continue its run but how high it can go. With 2025 just around the corner, bullish predictions are already stacking up. Could $150,000 be next? If this year proved anything, it’s that Bitcoin thrives on defying expectations, and the sky doesn’t seem like the limit anymore.
This Week: Czech Rep. Exempts Crypto Taxes
December 13, 2024
The Czech Republic just dropped some big news for crypto fans. Starting January 1, 2025, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies held for over three years won’t face capital gains tax. Parliament gave the green light to this new law on December 6, 2024. This is great news for anyone who plans on investing in crypto in the long term.
According to the new law, if your annual crypto spending stays under CZK 100,000 (around $4,000), you’re also off the hook for taxes on those transactions. That means residents will be able to make small, tax-free purchases through crypto, like grabbing a coffee or lunch.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala spilled the details online, explaining that the plan simplifies taxes and backs up modern tech. By making crypto more accessible, lawmakers can reward long-term investors and give the industry a much-needed boost.
The new rule also syncs up with the EU’s MiCA framework, which is designed to bring consistent crypto regulations across Europe. To craft this policy, the Czech Republic borrowed ideas from securities laws, which assures users with more clarity and stability.
Even crypto bought before 2025 can qualify for these benefits as long as you meet the requirements.
With this innovative new law, the Czech Republic now hangs out with Switzerland and the UAE in the crypto-friendly club. Lawmakers see this as a win for keeping businesses and brainpower in the country. Sure, some details still need ironing out, like how to prove ownership, but that hasn’t stopped experts from hyping the move.
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