View moreIn This Week’s Recap:
- Bitcoin ETF’s Flip Gold
- Crypto Prices Pause
- AI DLT Adoption
- BankSocial Corner
- Hot Topics
The Big Idea
Bitcoin ETFs Lead Gold
Bitcoin ETFs have now surpassed gold ETFs in total assets, hitting $129 billion, fueled by strong investor interest in crypto. This comes less than a year after spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved by the SEC. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust is leading the charge with nearly $60 billion in assets, even surpassing its iShares Gold Trust in November — a clear sign of shifting institutional preferences. Since November, Bitcoin ETFs have seen more than $5 billion in inflows, reflecting rising demand for crypto as an alternative in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. As investors look to hedge against inflation and instability, Bitcoin’s growing prominence in the ETF space marks an important milestone for the broader crypto market.
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Adoption News
Crypto Takes a Breather
Macroeconomic forces continue to influence the crypto market, with the strengthening U.S. dollar and a tightening supply of stablecoins shaping the landscape. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has climbed to 109, often leading to reduced interest in risk assets like crypto as investors favor the dollar. However, the limited supply of stablecoins indicates strong demand, a positive sign for issuers and the broader market. With the U.S. presidential inauguration approaching on January 20th, investors are also closely monitoring potential political shifts that could impact market sentiment. While the Crypto Fear and Greed Index shows some bullish optimism, these factors together will play a key role in determining the direction of the crypto market in the short term.
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Tech News
AI Adopts DLT
The future of cryptocurrency is set to be shaped by both humans and AI, with some experts predicting that AI agents could soon outnumber human users on blockchain networks. As AI tools like Virtuals gain traction, platforms are seeing significant revenue, and AI agents are transforming how blockchain applications are built and used. This shift could lead to faster, more efficient adoption of crypto, as AI is less hindered by the technology’s current user experience barriers. While some raise concerns about trust and authentication, the convergence of AI and crypto is expected to spark a new wave of innovation, democratizing access and accelerating the digital economy.
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BankSocial Corner
Starting 2025 with Momentum
We’re starting 2025 strong at BankSocial! This week, we distributed December’s BSL staking rewards, showcasing the real-time utility of the BSL DAO. With even more exciting developments on the horizon, we’re eager to continue growing the ecosystem and delivering value to our community. We’re also proud to announce that COO Becky Reed has been named to Butterscotch Media’s “Who’s Who” list of visionaries for 2025 — a well-deserved recognition of her leadership. Big things ahead — stay tuned!
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While anyone can access the BankSocial ecosystem, certain features including the exchange require Verifiied®- our simple KYC solution. Login to My.BankSocial.io and start the process now.
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Hot Topics
What’s on everyone’s mind?
Bitcoin’s hashrate is on track to reach 1 zettahash per second by 2027, putting pressure on miners to secure cheaper energy and more efficient equipment, as the network’s increasing difficulty and rising energy costs challenge profitability.
Oklahoma Senator Dusty Deevers has introduced the Bitcoin Freedom Act, which would allow workers to be paid in Bitcoin and enable vendors to accept it as payment, with Deevers stating, “In a time when inflation is eroding the purchasing power of hard-working Oklahomans, Bitcoin provides a unique opportunity to protect earnings and investments.”
A U.S. court has approved the liquidation of 69,370 Bitcoin, valued at $6.5 billion, seized from the Silk Road marketplace, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle; however, the sale won’t happen immediately as federal asset forfeiture involves multiple steps, with some of the Bitcoin already moved to Coinbase for custody.
was originally published in BankSocial News on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
