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Swiss cryptocurrency investment manager Ficas and its subsidiary Bitcoin Capital have jointly listed two actively managed digital assets exchange traded products on local stock exchange Six.

Their new 1 Ficas Active Bitcoin and 1 Ficas Active Ethereum ETPs, which invest directly in their respective physical cryptocurrencies, are available to institutional and private investors in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the EU, except Hungary.

Bitcoin Capital said the listings allowed investors to easily buy the new ETPs via their banks or brokers just as they do with other listed financial investments, such as equities or bonds.

Luca Schenk, chair of Bitcoin Capital, said crypto assets would soon be part of the diversification strategy of many investment portfolios.

This article was previously published by Ignites Europe, a title owned by the FT Group.

He added that his companys two new products, which focus on the two most relevant cryptocurrencies, may, through their active management, improve the overall portfolio risk by reducing underlying volatility.

Bitcoin Capital regards itself as a pioneer in innovative investment products, having launched what it claims was the worlds first listed actively managed crypto ETP, the 15 Ficas Active Crypto ETP, last year.

The company said it was already planning the launch of additional new crypto investment products, adding that the crypto journey will be far from over.

Last week US firm Invescobecamethe largest asset manager to launch a bitcoin ETP in Europe, while smaller domestic rival WisdomTreerolled outthree cryptocurrency basket ETPs for European investors earlier this week.

Fidelity launched a spot bitcoin ETF in Canada last week and Ignites Europe previously reported that UBS and State Street Global Advisors were also looking into the potential for products to offer exposure to cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin.

*Ignites Europe is a news service published by FT Specialist for professionals working in the asset management industry. It covers everything from new product launches to regulations and industry trends. Trials and subscriptions are available at igniteseurope.com.

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Bitcoin Capital and Ficas team up to launch crypto ETFs on Six - Financial Times

We tend to think of the world as the past, present and future, and as these distinguished moments in time. However, we intuitively know that this is not the case. Instead, we are always in a state of flux, this slow progressive evolution in order to suit humanitys growing needs, knowledge and demands. However, with change comes adjustment, and what we are facing right now is an adjustment to the digital realm, the world of Bitcoin and our digital identity: a crossing of the chasm, a state of change away from the physical realm of traditional finance, legacy structures and the world as we know it. This article is meant to highlight some of these critical hurdles brought up by Raoul Pal and Robert Breedlove in an effort to get the collective consciousness thinking about how we can transition to this digital realm with minimal volatility and entropy.

One thing Raoul and Breedlove bring up many times throughout the talk is the metaverse. Therefore, lets first ensure we are on the same page when it comes to the metaverse. We often hear the metaverse is the future; however, what most deep down the rabbit hole may argue is that the metaverse has been blossoming into existence since the birth of the internet. However, we are only just starting to define it now. Lets go deeper ...

Most of us tend to interpret the metaverse as this digital environment where we hang out in a virtual world- the world Mark Zuckerberg is pushing with his Facebook ads, i.e., Meta. But, I would argue that the metaverse is not this virtual world that it is made out to be, but rather a digital interface to ones digital self. It is our digital identity where we interact with our online social community, manage our digital possessions and store our digital wealth, to name a few aspects which are currently easy to identify. With that being said, this osmosis into the metaverse is not a movement of people away from the physical world into the digital world, but rather a transfer of wealth and identity from the physical realm to the digital realm. Although many people already do and will continue to spend time in digital worlds in video games and social platforms, most of us will still very much be rooted in the physical world for the time being.

Building on this idea, what will happen to physical assets? An assets value is subjective and is worth something usually because it provides value to us in some way or another. At the moment, our physical assets offer greater perceived value than our digital assets. This explains the discrepancy between the value of physical versus digital assets globally, e.g., real estate is worth over $300 trillion while the complete cryptocurrency market cap sits at $2.5 trillion (recently as high as $3 trillion). The question now is, how does this value shift over into the metaverse? This, I believe, is a demographic shift. As our population ages, those in earlier generations with limited exposure to the digital realm (i.e., digital identity, digital assets or digital possessions), will slowly bequeath their wealth to their offspring, which will find greater value as technology evolves in the metaverse. However, it should be noted that you will find utility and value in different areas and offerings within the metaverse depending on your age, values, interests, gender and location. Some people may choose to stay primarily in the physical world if the metaverse doesnt seem to provide ample value to them. Others may dive in headfirst.

Where are we now? We are currently in a state of limbo, one toe in the digital plane and the rest of the body out. Most of us have exposure to the metaverse when it comes to our digital identity, but only a handful of us find greater value in digital assets over physical assets, although this is quickly changing. However, as we see greater adoption, we will also encounter greater hurdles (technological, political, financial etc.). Taking this into account, this shift towards the metaverse isnt something that will happen overnight. As previously mentioned, it is a generational demographic shift that has been underway since the invention of the internet. The transition from handwritten letters to email and social media was just the start. Now we should continue to see the transition of wealth, jobs, and identities to the digital plane.

When can we safely say the metaverse is our reality? Just like inflation impacts everyone differently, as it is dependent on your consumption habits, what you classify as the metaverse is unique to you. There are many ways to measure your presence in the metaverse, i.e., by time, wealth, reputation, interests, job, hobbies or knowledge. With that in mind, some people may argue that we are already in the metaverse due to the amount of time we spend engrossed in technology. On the other hand, others may say we havent reached that inflection point just yet, or that the metaverse will become our reality when:

- We spend more time connected to the digital realm than the physical realm - When digital wealth surpasses physical wealth

- When were able to vote for our politicians in this digital world

- When the majority of jobs are in the digital plane

- When we can digitally upload ones consciousness

...and some will say the metaverse will never become our reality.

My personal belief is that the metaverse is supplemental to our physical existence, and it is not one or the other. The metaverse eases our physical existence by dematerializing our limitations and constraints, such as distance, time, aging, wealth, connection, etc. However, there is and will continue to be an abundance of value in the physical world. But ultimately, this decision of whether we are or arent or what is versus what isnt the metaverse is not for me to decide. Ill pass that one onto you.

Opinions aside, although the definition of what constitutes the metaverse may be subjective, what's not so subjective is that we are and will continue to face hurdles as we see greater adoption.

Every new technology has to cross the chasm to reach mainstream adoption (the chasm is detailed in the image above). During this crossing of the chasm, we see creative destruction take hold, where legacy systems collapse and new technology changes the way we interact with theworld. All new technology has some form of disruption. Its just that some technology is more disruptive than others.

With the introduction of the digital camera, we witnessed the dismantling and disruption of the traditional film market. But from this, we saw the boon of photography and documentation. However, when it comes to cryptocurrencies, we have only just started to scratch the surface of what is possible. Here is an example of some of the sectors this new technology has the potential to disrupt:

- The financial system (banking, remittances, micropayments, credit markets, to name a few) - Social media and digital interaction

- The internet (our digital footprint)

- Voting

- Insurance

From everything mentioned so far, it should be evident that we are in the middle of a major global state change, a transfer of identity, wealth, possessions and interactions from the physical realm into the digital realm. As Raoul and Robert eloquently explain, with this state of change in place, we have to overcome some major hurdles. We need to ensure we are heading in the right direction collectively. Therefore, we should ask ourselves, how do we get there safely, without a consolidation of power or the crippling of our economy? These are a few key questions we have to figure out before conquering the chasm of adoption. Lets touch on a few key hurdles we have to face:

If an asset, such as bitcoin, is our primary currency and store of value and it is wildly outperforming the majority of other investment opportunities, then we will be disincentivized to transact and spend with it. Yes, there will be occasions here and there, but in general, the majority of the world we know will be starved of capital. This will push central banks to intervene and over-regulate in order to stop this capital flight from traditional assets to digital assets, but in doing so, itll only lock people into our failing system, delaying the inevitable and amplifying its negative effects down the line.

Eventually, if we can predominately move across into the digital realm, this problem of capital flight will be solved. At this point, bitcoin will reach market saturation, similar to gold today, where it protects purchasing power but is no longer an asymmetric bet on technology and a failure of the current system. But in the interim, how do we take advantage of bitcoins positive properties while also promoting the exchange of bitcoin between one another?

In the short term, if we were to see a seismic shift of capital away from traditional assets and into digital assets, this starvation of capital from traditional assets would create sizable losses. Suppose traditional assets start facing major losses, while at the same time, there is a lack of transacting in digital assets, creating a reduction in realized gains; then wed have a problem on our hands. We could see a significant decrease in capital gain revenue and an increase in capital losses, further eroding the tax base. This could push policymakers to implement overbearing regulation, resulting in measures such as taxation on unrealized gains. This would stifle the prosperity in the metaverse and limit the transition of individuals to the digital realm.

In the long term, if we embrace a currency such as bitcoin as a legal tender:

1. The government will no longer receive capital gains tax from any appreciation in the value of bitcoin. This would be in line with the fact that a countrys legal tender is not subject to taxation if/when it appreciates/depreciates.

2. We live in an inherently deflationary world, whereby technological advancement allows us to get more for less. Over time this advancement increases productivity and efficiency, causing the cost of goods, services and assets to decline slowly. However, this is only possible under a currency with a fixed money supply (such as bitcoin). The lack of monetary expansion causing dilution would allow the currency to capture these technological gains. This may sound positive; however over time, most assets may decline in price, resulting in increased capital losses, reducing tax revenue.

With that being said, one could argue that by adopting a currency such as bitcoin, the government will no longer be spending in a currency that loses purchasing power one day to the next. Therefore, all tax revenue will go further, making up for this reduction in tax revenue. If that is the case, then this may all come out in the wash. However, we should still be conscious of these potential taxation issues. With that in mind, how do we ensure that assets such as bitcoin are taxed appropriately, but as not to restrict their potential as a solution to our fragile system? And, how do we take into account an increase in capital losses?

We are in the middle of one of the biggest revolutions in human history, and alongside this revolution, we face an assortment of immense deflationary forces such as:

- Demographics (an aging population with limited purchasing power)

- Our major debt burden consuming productive capital

- Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots consuming jobs

- Competition in the workforce due to overcrowding of what jobs remain

- Currency debasement, destroying our purchasing power

- Monetary intervention suppressing interest rates and traditional asset returns - Capital flight into the digital realm putting strain on the traditional system

As these forces become more pervasive, it becomes harder and harder for the lower- and middle-income segments of the population to survive. This is a big issue! The majority of the population is under immense pressure as they are being squeezed from all angles. How do we give them a voice, meet their needs and stop them from revolting?

One potential option Raoul proposes is embracing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), allowing easier implementation of fiscal stimulus such as universal basic income (UBI). By doing so, we could redirect the flow of the capital away from asset owners and into the hands of the most at-risk individuals. This will aid in bridging the gap between the physical and the digital realm for the lower- and middle-wealth percentiles, allowing them to support themselves as these deflationary pressures take hold.

My worry with this view is that CBDCs have the potential to give governments globally immense power and control. If this power is used in the ways mentioned above, then I am all for it. However, if CBDCs are used with the interests of the few in mind, this will only further consolidate wealth and power and could potentially end this utopian decentralized vision of the metaverse. Therefore, is there a way to implement CBDCs but somehow define the boundaries for which they can be used, preventing misuse and the centralization of power?

However, regardless of which route we chose to bridge the chasm, Raoul does bring up a good point: if we are able to transition over to a decentralized metaverse and democratize this incredible technological boon in productivity and innovation, then we may be able to implement a natural form of UBI, where we could monetize our own digital identity. Although this is currently not possible, as our online corporations current structure is to capitalize off of our data by monetizing our every move, a decentralized metaverse shifts this power and revenue generation into the hands of the user.

As technology advances, we are and will continue to see robots and AI replacing our jobs. Additionally, as energy costs slowly trend to near zero, we should see the cost of living slowly decline. Adding in the fact that we are witnessing a giant demographic shift where people have fewer children due to the costly environment we live in, this should cause gross domestic product (GDP) per capita to skyrocket. This could mean we are about to face one of the most productive periods in human history.

However, with costs slowly working their way to near zero and jobs being replaced by technology, resulting in more time on our hands, will this considerable increase in productivity bring about:

1. A decentralized open-source world where we push for equality of opportunity and where technology is shared freely? If so, this could result in a renaissance period with a focus on culture, art, and science leading to immense prosperity, innovation, and growth;

Or,

2. A darker, more centralized productivity boon where the vast majority of the patents pertaining to this powerful technology that now governs our lives is under the control of a few key players? In this case, we would most likely see significant poverty and some of humanitys more challenging times ahead due to the centralization of power and wealth.

On top of all that, we are currently seeing major global exploitation of our digital identities. Not only are we seeing our online data being used in for-profit activities, but we are also seeing targeted media leading to psychological manipulation allowing these large monopolistic entities to sway the population.

Unfortunately, with everything mentioned above, the free market isnt going to solve these hurdles we face in the way we want. It is going to solve them with the total accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few. Therefore, what can we do to ensure this powerful technology of the future is in the hands of the people while also promoting the continuation of free markets?

With all that being said, how we approach these tough questions will define our future. Will crossing the chasm result in a:

a) Decentralized Metaverse? This would be a bright future where creative destruction is encouraged: Where there is a dispersion of power within a decentralized metaverse, brought about by rules and regulations that prevent the destruction and manipulation of the free markets, all while suppressing the overbearing powers of monopolies that asphyxiate competition. It should be noted that we may still have nation-state fiat currencies, but globally, wed embrace an immutable decentralized asset as our world reserve currency. This would lower the cost of living and democratize technology and finance, reducing wealth inequality. But more importantly, it would restrict the centralization of power with a technology that complements our deflationary world.

b) Centralized Metaverse? This would look similar to the current state of play, where a handful of large corporations have overwhelming control over our data and access to vast sums of capital, allowing them to lobby, protect their interests, and influence politics. In addition to the suppression of creative destruction, will we follow in Chinas footsteps and see the rise of CBDCs and social credit scores? This would give the government unfettered access to all our personal data, laying the foundation for the destruction of free markets and suppression of capital flows into any technology that poses a threat to the governments power.

Or will we walk the middle ground just like we have done many times throughout history, experiencing a give-and-take between centralization and decentralization?

We tend to think that when new technologies, such as Bitcoin and the metaverse appear, we all jump on board, and everything is hunky-dory. However, the reality is, if certain events had not happened the way they did, we might not have many of the innovations and advancements we see today. These technologies dont just appear. They are years in the making, a culmination of previous technological progress and human endeavours. They emerge from our experiences, needs and desires, and they are a byproduct of decisions we made ten, fifty, one hundred years ago. With this in mind, coming together as a collective, and understanding the unintended consequences of our choices will help guide us in making more efficient and productive decisions for the future.

The future is bright if we make it.

This is a guest post by Sebastian Bunney. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC, Inc. or Bitcoin Magazine.

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Facing The Chasm: The Future Of Bitcoin And The Metaverse - Bitcoin Magazine

MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Other than buying it directly, US-based investors have few options to gain exposure to cryptocurrency tokens like bitcoin and ether.

While multiple futures-based bitcoin ETFs launched over the past two months, they come with high tradings costs that could deviate from the underlying return of bitcoin. And the SEC is showing no signs of giving in to allowing a spot-based bitcoin ETF, which would directly own the underlying cryptocurrency similar to gold and silver ETFs.

But there is one way investors can easily gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without buying the coins directly, and that's through individual stocks, according to JPMorgan. Companies like MicroStrategy and Coinbase, among others have significant exposure to the success crypto broadly and bitcoin specifically.

"Such listed companies have become increasingly popular vehicles for investors to get exposure to the crypto industry," JPMorgan said in a note last week.

These are the 9 stocks with the highest correlation to bitcoin and ether, according to JPMorgan. Relative performance charts were sourced from Koyfin.

9. Bit Minin

Ticker: BTCMMarket Capitalization: $503.6 million3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 57.5%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 54.1%

Koyfin

8. Galaxy Digital

Ticker: GLXYMarket Capitalization: $2.5 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 52.7%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 60.6%

Koyfin

7. Marathon Digital

Ticker: MARAMarket Capitalization: $5.0 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 61.8%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 53.4%

Koyfin

6. Hut 8 Mining

Ticker: HUTMarket Capitalization: $2.2 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 61.5%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 58.2%

Koyfin

5. Riot Blockchain

Ticker: RIOTMarket Capitalization: $3.8 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 65.3%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 58.7%

Koyfin

4. Hive Blockchain

Ticker: HIVEMarket Capitalization: $1.7 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 63.3%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 65.4%

Koyfin

3. Coinbase

Ticker: COINMarket Capitalization: $61.3 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 64.6%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 55.3%

Koyfin

2. Bitfarms

Ticker: BITFMarket Capitalization: $1.8 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 70.8%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 68.5%

Koyfin

1. Microstrategy

Ticker: MSTRMarket Capitalization: $7.1 billion3 Month Correlation to Bitcoin: 75.8%3 Month Correlation to Ether: 73.6%

Koyfin

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Stocks with the highest correlation to bitcoin and ethereum: JPMorgan - Markets Insider

Do you remember the time when a fleeting mention of Bitcoin, stablecoins or even central bank digital currencies by a top-ranking government official was considered major news all over the cryptoverse? Feels like its been forever. As we find ourselves in the midst of digital assets global mainstreaming, such statements come in droves every day and are expected. Randal Quarles, an outgoing member of the U.S. Feds board of governors, warned against overregulating stablecoins and even rebuked some of the conclusions that the Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets had articulated in its November report. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted to remaining undecided on the issue of the digital dollar, but prospective Fed vice chair Lael Brainard seems to be all in on the CBDC project. It goes without saying that the leading makers of economic policy are deeply immersed in these issues.

Below is the concise version of the latest Law Decoded newsletter. For the full breakdown of policy developments over the last week, register for the full newsletter below.

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission is standing its ground on spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. WisdomTrees application for a spot BTC product to be traded on the CBOE bZx Exchange became yet another to be turned down by the regulator. The rationale for the decision was familiar as the SECs verdict cited the proposed ETFs sponsors lack of demonstrated capacity to prevent fraud and manipulation and protect investors.

The SEC has been under fire from multiple directions for its discriminatory stance of accepting derivatives-based products based on an assets derivatives while inhibiting the products based on the asset, itself. The latest round of criticism came from asset manager Grayscale Investments in a letter to SEC Secretary Vanessa Countryman where the firm argues that the failure to treat the two types of BTC-based products equally constitutes a violation of the Administrative Protections Act (APA).

Later this week, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services is calling a hearing focusedsquarelyon digital assets and the future of finance in fact, that is what the hearing is officially called. Top crypto CEOs, including those of Circle, FTX, Bitfury and Coinbase, will climb Capitol Hill to make their case for the benign regulation of the industry and defend its role in the nations economic competitiveness. This could be the biggest opportunity in months for the leaders of the crypto space to catch key lawmakers ears and deliver their opinions and recommendations directly.

The last issue of this newsletter focused extensively on the disconcerting news out of India where a new bill hinted at a possible blanket ban on all private cryptocurrencies. The good news is that things might be less dreadful than they initially appeared. The bills sponsor, former Indian Finance Secretary Subhash Garg, followed up with a statement that the language around the prospective ban was misleading and that the actual shape of the nations crypto regulation will emerge after extensive discussions with stakeholders and industry participants.

Furthermore, a cabinet note obtained by local media suggests that the government had been eyeing a set of regulatory measures around crypto assets rather than an outright ban.

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Law Decoded: Bitcoin exchange-traded funds are put on the spot again, Nov. 29Dec. 6 - Cointelegraph

A protester holds up a placard during a rally against new pandemic laws and vaccination mandates in Melbourne on December 4, 2021. ( WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

If you ask the developers behind a new cryptocurrency called Unvaxxed Sperm if theyre opposed to vaccines, theyll claim to be unsure.

Were not anti-vaccine, one of the developers called Jason, who would only provide his first name, told VICE News, claiming that the project is here to ensure the continuity of objective scientific inquiry and the freedom of discourse.

But moments later, another developer who wouldnt reveal his identity and simply goes by the name Fauci, said: To a degree, I'd say we are anti-vaccine.

To be very clear, Unvaxxed Sperm and the people behind it are not anti-vaccine to a degree; they are completely anti-vaccine, baselessly claiming that 90 percent of the population has no need to take a COVID-19 vaccine and advocating that the pandemic can be medicated with alternative remedies like ivermectin, even though the only studies to claim the drug typically prescribed as a horse de-wormer can treat COVID-19 have been retracted.

Unvaxxed Sperm launched just over a week ago and saw explosive growth last Thursday and Friday. However, over the weekend, the price once again plummeted, leaving many in the groups Telegram channel to question the future of the coinwhich trades as nuBTCand whether the whole thing was simply a scam.

Dang, what happened here, one used wrote on Telegram on Monday morning.

The cryptocurrency is a offshoot, or fork, of SafeMoon, a cryptocurrency that went viral earlier this year thanks to the support of celebrities like Jake Paul and KEEMSTAR.

Fauci said he has a group of around seven cryptocurrency veterans'' who are advising him on the project, though he was unwilling to name any of them. When VICE News pointed out that the anonymity surrounding the project could create a sense that this project may be a scam, Fauci said such a situation wasnt unusual in crypto circles, adding that one of the benefits of blockchain technology was privacy and anonymity.

While this is true, that aspect of crypto-culture has also allowed many scammy developers to disappear with people's money without being caught, and has encouraged a trend of promoting so-called doxxed devs to lend a project legitimacy by having a public face.

While SafeMoon promised to make investors rich, the developers behind Unvaxxed Sperm say their plan is to use the meme-able nature of their coin to make it go viral and draw people into their anti-vaccine community, promising big plans that include a pureblood version of Tinder, cryogenically frozen unvaccinated sperm, and something called Project Super Sperm.

Its worth noting, however, that many new projects in crypto seek to draw investors in by touting a vague and unrealistic roadmap of new features and experiences like an app or a game. Some of these promises turn out to be part of a scams lure. Meanwhile, Unvaxxed Sperm's whitepaper page (where project developers typically lay out their schemes in detail) is blank and only says cumming soon.

The developers say they were inspired by the success of a Lets Go Brandon cryptocurrency that gained some momentum last month when right-wing commentator Candace Owens backed it.

It really showed me that political movement can kind of happen on the blockchain, Fauci told VICE News. You can really organize on the blockchain and it's a much harder thing to suppress just because of the decentralized nature of all of it.

Then they saw protesters at an anti-vaxxer protest holding signs that said: Unvaxxed Sperm is the new Bitcoin. This is based on the erroneous belief that in the future, the sperm and eggs of unvaccinated people will be worth a fortune when people realize the COVID-19 vaccines have damaged their ability to procreate.

In fact, studies have shown that getting vaccinated does not affect sperm quality or count. "There is evidence that the vaccine is safe for men and that it does not affect sperm production/quality," Dr. Tony Chen, clinical assistant professor at the Stanford School of Medicine urology department, told VICE News last August.

The developers compare their project to how powerful memes were in the lead-up to the 2016 election, drawing people who werent typically engaged in politics into the Republican Party and in support of former President Donald Trump.

A lot of cryptocurrencies lure investors with promises of benefits that ultimately dont happen. And in Unvaxxed Sperms case, the cryptocurrency is just the beginning of their plans. Next up will be a DAO or decentralized autonomous organization, which the developers say will allow investors to vote on a variety of topics, including which groups or individuals the project should donate money to. This list includes a whos who of anti-vaxxer doctors, influencers, and grifters, who already earn plenty of money from speaking engagements and selling bogus health supplements based on their infamy within the anti-vaxxer community.

The developers also plan to launch a version of Tinder for purebloods. The term purebloodtaken from the Harry Potter bookshas become a rallying cry for unvaccinated people who are trying to reclaim the term as a way to tout their superiority over their jabbed fellow citizens.

From here, however, the projects plans become even more ambitiousand unhinged.

Due for launch in the first half of 2022 is the Freedom Apothecary, an online marketplace where people can buy suppressed supplements and medicines such as ivermectin (using their Unvaxxed Sperm crypto, of course).

And in the third quarter of 2022, they plan to launch Operation Noahs Ark, a repository for cryogenically freezing unvaxxed sperm and eggswhich in a worst-case scenario would be required for the continuity of the human race, Jason said.

Finally, in the last three months of 2022, there will be Project Super Sperm but the developers couldnt say more about this. Its secret, they insisted. We can't really go into that right now; it's kind of a work in progress.

The developers seem convinced that the viral nature of the Unvaxxed Sperm cryptocurrency will help open the eyes of millions of people to the truth about COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that once people begin investigating the community, theyll be quickly convinced.

But a quick trawl through the meme-heavy Telegram channel where investors speak to each other and the developers, its clear that the people who are investing in Unvaxxed Sperm are completely uninterested in hearing about the efficacy of ivermectin and only interested in making money.

When Jason announced Monday morning that Fauci had been hospitalized but plans were progressing as normal and that the price should begin climbing again, one user called Dave responded by writing: Wow. Great fucking news. Time to shill guys.

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Unvaxxed Sperm Is Trying to Become the Anti-Vax Bitcoin - VICE

Analysts weigh in after bitcoin falls to its lowest since October 6. (Photo Illustration by ... [+] Chesnot/Getty Images)

Bitcoin prices declined today, falling to their lowest since early October, and setting their latest multiweek low.

The worlds largest digital currency by market value dropped to $53,359.80, CoinDesk data shows.

At this point, it was trading at its lowest since October 6, additional CoinDesk figures reveal.

After falling to its lowest point in more than seven weeks, bitcoin prices bounced back, climbing above $57,000 later in the day.

[Ed note: Investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be prepared to lose their entire investment.]

Recently, bitcoin prices have repeatedly moved toward $53,000, a level that some analysts have identified as providing key support.

While the digital currency has made attempts on that level, they have all been unsuccessful.

Several technical analysts weighed in on the implications of bitcoins repeated failure to convincingly break through support near $53,000.

Beginning Friday, Bitcoin began testing the support at about $53K, said Joe DiPasquale, CEO of cryptocurrency hedge fund managerBitBull Capital.

Each time it fell to that level, it bounced higher, signaling strong support there, he added.

Todays dip to just over $53K led it to bounce back to a higher price, added DiPasquale.

This signals that we have strong purchasing interest at that level. When repeated support this happens, it is evidence of demand at that level and a bullish signal that the asset will appreciate from there.

Dylan LeClair, head of market research for Bitcoin Magazine, also commented on the situation.

$53,000 is a key level, which happens to be the average on-chain cost basis of short term holders in the market, he noted, citing market data.

Throughout bitcoins history the realized price (on-chain cost basis) of short term holders has served as key bull market support.

Konstantin Anissimov, executive director at CEX.IO, also spoke to key level. However, he offered a different take on the matter.

We see three factors contributing to $53k serving as strong support, he stated.

Bitcoins market cap is $1 trillion at $52,950 USD. This level has been key support/resistance through 2021 and is now being retested as support again.

The chart below illustrates what Anissimov described.

This chart shows how the $1 trillion market cap served as key support and resistance.

Further, he spoke to other developments that might interest market observers.

Recent selling pressure is largely forced via liquidations with minimal signs of selling/capitulation from long-term market players, stated Anissimov.

This suggests the ~23% decline off all-time highs isnt a larger trend reversal. Since November 10 (day of ATH) there have been $968 million USD of liquidations.

This chart shows the dollar value of liquidations (both daily and in total) since November 10, when ... [+] bitcoin hit its all-time high.

Finally, Anissimov spoke to market sentiment.

He mentioned the BTC Fear and Greed Index provided by alternative.me, emphasizing that it was at 27 when he provided this input. The figure had increased to 33, a figure that also pointed to fear, at the time of this writing.

BTC has hovered in the fear to extreme fear level of the index, which is usually the case after weaker handed holders have exited the market.

The Fear & Greed Index from alternative.me shows that the sentiment surrounding "Bitcoin and other ... [+] large cryptocurrencies" is fearful.

In addition to emphasizing the key support provided near the $53,000 level, LeClair outlined several important factors for market observers to watch going forward.

He spoke to the derivatives market, noting that although a complete flush of long biased derivatives have yet to occur, funding on perpetual swaps remains moderately high, but nothing too extreme or worrisome.

The macroeconomic backdrop and the potential for the Fed to delay tapering the current pace of balance sheet expansion is something bitcoin traders are watching closely, added LeClair.

Also, a rising dollar against other foreign currencies as seen in the dollar currency index (DXY) over the course of 2021 is also of significance, and should be watched closely.

Disclosure: I own some bitcoin, bitcoin cash, litecoin, ether, EOS and sol.

Continued here:
Bitcoin Reached A 7-Week Low TodayHere's What Traders Should Know - Forbes

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Bitcoin notched its latest all-time high of the year this month when it went over $68,000 for the first time. Within a matter of days, it had dropped back below $56,000.

This latest high point is a huge increase for Bitcoins price after starting the year below $30,000 in January. Its price fluctuates wildly by the day and even by the minute.

Still, many experts say Bitcoin is on its way to passing the $100,000 mark, though with varying opinions on exactly when that will happen. The volatility is nothing new, and is a big reason experts say new crypto investors should be extremely cautious when allocating part of their portfolio to cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin has shown as steady a rise in value over the years as any other cryptocurrency on the market. Its only reasonable for Bitcoin investors to be curious about how high it can ultimately go.

Unfortunately, Bitcoins price is extremely difficult to predict and even more susceptible to market factors than more established asset classes. But we decided to ask some experts for their best guesses anyway. Heres what they said:

Conservative predictions of Bitcoin say the cryptocurrency will reach $100,000 by 2023.

Some experts are more bullish. The most knowledgeable educators in the space are predicting $100,000 Bitcoin in Q1 2022 or sooner, says Kate Waltman, a New York-based certified public accountant who specializes in crypto.

Others are hesitant to predict a number and a date, but rather point to the trend of increasing value over time. Investors should expect a pretty sustainable rise in Bitcoins long-term value driven by organic market movement, with the $100,000 threshold in near-sight, predicted Jurrien Timmer, director of global macro at Fidelity Investments, last month.

What I expect from Bitcoin is volatility [in the] short-term and growth [in the] long-term, says Kiana Danial, founder of Invest Diva and author of Cryptocurrency Investing For Dummies.

Unsurprisingly, youll find widely varying opinions and predictions on how high Bitcoin can go (and when) from well-known crypto investors, evangelists, and public commentators. Here are some more predictions we found, ranked from low to high over the next year:

And it isnt just crypto insiders who are making Bitcoin predictions. Big financial institutions have made their own predictions, as well, with JPMorgan predicting a long-term high of $146,000 and Bloomberg predicting it could hit $400,000 by 2022.

Even if Bitcoin breaks $100,000, stay focused building on your overall portfolio including passive index funds, emergency savings, and your retirement account(s).

Normal economic factors influence the price of cryptocurrency just like any other currency or investment supply and demand, public sentiment, the news cycle, market events, scarcity, and more.

As a new and emerging asset, additional factors influence Bitcoins value more than the average currency or security. Here are some:

There are only 18 to 19 million Bitcoins currently in circulation, and minting will stop at 21 million. Industry experts consistently point to this built-in scarcity as a big part of cryptocurrencys appeal.

Theres a fixed supply but increasing demand, says Alexis Johnson, president of the blockchain public relations and events company, Light Node Media.

Other experts point out Bitcoin has value because people give it value. Thats really why everybodys buying because of the psychological aspect, says Nelson Merchan, Johnsons Light Node Media co-founder. That can make it difficult for the average consumer to discern whether Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are legitimate. The whole concept of supply and demand only works when people want something scarce even if it previously didnt exist.

It actually does almost kind of seem like a scam, Merchan says about Bitcoins origins. Though he says hes seen his crypto holdings reach millions at times since he began investing in 2017, hes also seen them disappear in an instant.

Im a big believer that if its not in cash, you dont really have that money because in crypto, anything can drop dramatically overnight, Merchan says. This is why certified financial planners suggest only allocating 1% to 5% of your portfolio to crypto to protect your money from the volatility.

One of the main factors driving the price increase of Bitcoin is the rate at which new consumers are buying and exploring cryptocurrency, says Waltman.

Crypto technology is being adopted at a faster rate than humans first adopted internet technology, she says. Assuming it continues, the compounding acceleration of new adoption could keep pushing the value of Bitcoin higher and higher.

Bitcoin adoption has been increasing at an annual rate of 113%, according to data from the digital asset management firm CoinShares. (Meanwhile, people adopted the internet at a slower rate of 63%.) If people warm up to Bitcoin at a comparable rate to that of the internets early days (or faster), the report makes the case that there will be 1 billion users by 2024 and 4 billion users by 2030.

CoinDesk reported last month the number of new wallets worldwide increased 45% from January 2020 to January 2021, to an estimated 66 million. Popular crypto exchange Coinbase says it has now over 73 million worldwide users, while fellow exchange Gemini recently released its State of U.S. Crypto Report, which found 21.2 million Americans own cryptocurrency of some kind.

Federal officials have made it clear in recent months they are paying attention to the crypto industry. President Joe Biden recently signed an infrastructure bill requiring all crypto exchanges to notify the IRS of their transactions. Similarly, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently said stablecoins a type of crypto linked to the value of the U.S. dollar should be subject to federal oversight.

The conversation on regulatory policies is patchy, said an industry white paper published byFlourish, a fintech platform designed for investment advisors. With a relatively new asset class like cryptocurrency, any new regulation has potential to impact value and in turn investors portfolios.

When China banned crypto in September 2021, for instance, investors saw the price of Bitcoin drop, though it has since risen and resumed its usual volatility. Even though theres now about a decade of precedent for Bitcoin, the Securities and Exchange Commission is taking all decisions on a case-by-base basis in what experts refer to as its crawl, walk, run strategy toward mainstream crypto adoption.

[Regulation has] kind of evolved over the last five years, says Ben Cruikshank, head of Flourish, Regulators can always change their mind.

Finally, another major influence on Bitcoins price is a cycle known as halving. Its complicated and algorithmic in nature, but in essence halving is a step in the Bitcoin mining process that results in the reward for mining Bitcoin transactions getting cut in half.

Halving influences the rate at which new coins enter circulation, which can impact the value of existing Bitcoin holdings. Historically, halvings have correlated with boom and bust cycles. Some experts try to predict these cycles down to the day after a halving event concludes.

As with any investment, financial planners and other experts advise against letting Bitcoins price fluctuations lead you to emotional decision making. Studies have shown investors who contribute regularly to passive index funds and ETFs perform better over time, thanks to a strategy called dollar cost averaging.

Thats part of why experts recommend not investing more than 5% of your overall portfolio in cryptocurrency, and never to invest at the expense of saving for emergencies and paying down high-interest debt. The path to long-term wealth and saving for retirement is most often successful for people with diversified investments like low-cost index funds, with crypto making up a very small part.

And even with crypto, experts say a set-it-and-forget-it approach makes sense. Passive investing is a very valid way to achieve financial goals, says Arkansas-based certified financial planner Sarah Catherine Gutierrez.

Since crypto is still new to most people, its OK to wait and see how things unfold before putting your money on the line. We only have about 10 years of data to inform crypto price predictions, and the value of Bitcoin while climbing long-term is highly volatile from day to day.

Volatility makes it hard to know the what and why behind your crypto strategy. Before investing in Bitcoin or any alternative assets, ask yourself what you want to achieve from your participation in this particularly volatile market, and why. That will help you stay focused.

I dont think people understand across the board how to value [Bitcoin], says Gutierrez. When youre buying it, you need to know your expectation of what value youre going to get from what youre buying.

Financial planners dont have a bias against cryptocurrency, Gutierrez says, particularly if a client expresses an interest in learning about it. However, you should ask yourself whether you need crypto as part of your plan. In most cases, says Gutierrez, the answer is no.

Our take is that we dont think you need Bitcoin in order to reach financial goals, she says, adding that the average person should favor simple ways of investing that are easy to understand. This will keep you on track for core financial goals and better position you long-term for a healthy retirement.

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Bitcoin Will Hit $100,000, According to Experts. Heres When They Predict It Will Happen - NextAdvisor

South Park, the animated TV series that often tackles topical issues with a comedic twist, showed Bitcoin being used as a mainstream means of payment in the not too distant future.

In the Post COVID episode of its 24th season which aired Thursday, South Park depicted one of the shows protagonists, Stan Marsh, paying for a stay in a cheap motel using Bitcoin (BTC) roughly 40 years from now, when the pandemic is jokingly about to end for good. The fictional Super 12 Motel Plus in a future where nearly all brand names have plus and maxx included only accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, with the show having Marsh pay using a plastic card with the BTC logo and a QR code.

Its the future weve all decided centralized banking is rigged so we trust more in fly-by-night Ponzi schemes, said the motel clerk.

Many in the crypto space know South Park for its criticism of the United States governments and banks response following the 2008 financial crisis, popularized by the meme aaaand... its gone referring to Marsh losing money immediately after depositing it in a bank. Among the other future predictions in the recent episode are autonomous vehicles, holographic digital assistants and stand-up comedy becoming a shadow of itself amid woke culture.

Though referencing cryptocurrency and blockchain in mainstream media is somewhat commonplace now, this wasnt always the case. The first TV series to feature BTC was The Good Wife in January 2012, but others have gone on to use the emerging technology and financial tool for both comedy and drama. This year, James Spaders character in The Blacklist claimed to know the true identity of Satoshi, and The Simpsons showed the BTC price moving to infinity on an animated stock ticker feed.

Related: Reality show is casting crypto users locked out of their wallets

Bitcoin's appearance on the popular animated series comes as the price of the crypto asset has stayed mostly under $60,000 for more than a week. According to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro, the BTC price is $59,237 at the time of publication, having fallen more than 14% since reaching an all-time high of $69,000 on Nov. 10.

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The future is Bitcoin, according to South Park creators - Cointelegraph

Thailand is laying the groundwork to become a crypto-positive society with the aim to attract crypto holders and boost its tourism industry. The country hopes to gain back some of the $80 billion in lost tourism revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working with the countrys regulators to make it easier and more convenient for visitors to spend cryptocurrencies in the country, Bloomberg reported Saturday citing TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

The governor detailed, There are people who have become wealthy from holding digital currencies and they may want to use the wealth they have accrued, elaborating:

If they can use their currencies here without having to exchange it, or be faced with government taxes, then it would create convenience for them.

He explained that the Thai tourism authority is laying the groundwork for the wider acceptance of cryptocurrencies, which it plans to have in place by the time global travel returns to normal.

The plan is already being discussed with the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bank of Thailand (BOT), and Bitkub Online Co., the largest crypto exchange in the country, the governor revealed.

Furthermore, the authority will set up a new unit next year to handle the issuance of its own crypto tokens, produce a wallet, and build a new tourism ecosystem, he added. Thailand currently does not recognize cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin and ether, as legal tender.

The Thai tourism authority aims to recoup some of the $80 billion in lost revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, Thailand attracted almost 40 million foreign travelers, generating more than $60 billion in revenue.

However, the country shut down its borders for more than a year due to the pandemic. It recently opened its borders to vaccinated travelers.

Yuthasak suggested that Thailand could recoup about 80% of its pre-pandemic tourism revenue in 2023 with only half the number of foreign tourists in 2019 by getting someone like Russell Crowe or a crypto holder like Tim Cook to travel here.

He expects Thailands tourism industry to return to pre-Covid levels by 2024, adding that the country is targeting about 1 million high-spending tourists in the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile, the authority hopes that 10% of crypto holders will eventually travel to Thailand.

The TAT governor opined:

Crypto is the future, so we must make Thailand a crypto-positive society to welcome this group of quality tourists.

What do you think about Thailand becoming a crypto-positive society? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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Thailand Plans to Become 'Crypto-Positive Society' Governor Says 'Crypto Is the Future' Regulation Bitcoin News - Bitcoin News

Crypto

Barcroft Media

Bitcoin entered a bear market on Friday, falling more than 20% from its record $69,000 high as concerns of a new COVID-19 variant spread across markets. But other cryptocurrencies are performing just fine despite the risk-off environment.

With 14,865 cryptocurrencies in existence and counting, there are more than triple the number of crypto coins than there are US exchange-listed stocks. That large amount makes it nearly impossible to keep track of all the big movers in the crypto sector outside of well known coins like bitcoin, ether, and dogecoin.

The surge in new crypto coins has come amid a massive bull market for the space, with a recent rally in bitcoin helping catapult the sector to a near-$3 trillion market valuation. But the rise is also being driven by smaller coins that have seen extraordinary surges this year, including solana, cardano, and shiba inu.

With less liquidity and more volatility, these alternative cryptocurrencies can deliver investors massive losses or gains in a short period of time. Shiba inu is down about 40% from its recent high, despite being up millions of percentage points year-to-date. Meanwhile, squid game token fell 99% in a single day after delivering swift gains of 75,000%.

Keeping an eye on the weekly winners can help investors identify which coins are beginning to see increased traction in the crypto community.

These are the five best performing cryptocurrencies with a market value of more than $1 billion over the past week despite a decline in bitcoin and ether, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

5. Crypto.com Coin

Symbol: CROMarket Value: $17.4 billion7-Day Performance: 33.3%

CoinMarketCap

4. Basic Attention Token

Symbol: BATMarket Value: $2.2 billion7-Day Performance: 36.5%

CoinMarketCap

3. Zcash

Symbol: ZECMarket Value: $3.3 billion7-Day Performance: 59.5%

CoinMarketCap

2. The Sandbox

Symbol: SANDMarket Value: $6.3 billion7-Day Performance: 67.2%

CoinMarketCap

1. Gala

Symbol: GALAMarket Value: $5.0 billion7-Day Performance: 216.8%

CoinMarketCap

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Bitcoin bear market: These are the 5 best performing cryptocurrencies - Markets Insider