ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, WisdomTree's latest research report points out that the institutionalization of the crypto asset market has made Bitcoin no longer a niche investment, and multi-asset portfolios that include Bitcoin continue to outperform those that do not. The institution's analyst Dovile Silenskyte stated that asset management firms may fall behind in the rapidly evolving financial landscape if they do not incorporate digital assets into their multi-asset portfolios.The report predicts four major trends in the crypto market by 2025:Under the Trump administration, the U.S. regulatory environment is becoming more favorable, with more crypto asset ETPs, including Solana and XRP, expected to be approved by 2025;Ethereum's irreplaceable status as the infrastructure for DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 will be further solidified, with the Dencun upgrade promoting the development of the Layer-2 ecosystem;The Solana network has advantages in stablecoin payments and cross-border remittances, with stablecoins becoming an indispensable part of the global financial system;The tokenization of physical assets is expected to expand significantly by 2025, reshaping the landscape of industries such as private equity and venture capital;

ChainCatcher news, according to AXIOS, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong proposed in a blog post that the U.S. should establish a Bitcoin strategic reserve aimed at accelerating economic freedom. The article was published on the eve of Trump's second inauguration.Additionally, Armstrong called on global leaders to take measures to support the development of cryptocurrencies, including implementing friendly policies, establishing special economic zones for digital assets, and improving government efficiency.

ChainCatcher news, cryptocurrency-supporting Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that if the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) destroys materials related to digital assets, it will face criminal consequences.In a letter sent to FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg on Thursday, the Wyoming Republican senator indicated that whistleblowers at the FDIC had reported to her allegations of these documents being destroyed, and claimed that these whistleblowers are "being closely monitored by management" to prevent them from reporting to the Senate, suggesting that legal action would be taken.Lummis stated in a declaration: "The FDIC is suspected of destroying and concealing materials related to Operation Chokepoint 2.0 with the intent to obstruct the oversight functions of the U.S. Senate, which is not only unacceptable but also illegal. If it is found that someone within the FDIC intentionally destroyed materials or attempted to impede the Senate's oversight functions, a criminal referral will be swiftly made to the U.S. Department of Justice."

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the UK government has appointed Emma Reynolds to replace Tulip Siddiq, who resigned due to a corruption scandal, as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. She will be responsible for overseeing digital assets, central bank digital currencies (CBDC), and broader financial sector matters.

ChainCatcher news, FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett posted on X that U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill has appointed Tom Emmer as the vice chairman of the Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee. He also nominated other Republican members of the committee.

ChainCatcher news, the Central Bank of Russia has introduced regulations to manage foreign exchange operations involving digital rights. According to Russian law, digital rights include electronic records such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities, and digital tokens. These rights represent claims or obligations related to assets or services. The new decree will take effect on January 11 and outlines the obligations of residents engaged in such transactions, aiming to clarify and strengthen the oversight of digital assets used for trade and payment purposes.A key requirement outlined in the regulation is that foreign trade contracts involving digital rights settlements must be registered with authorized banks. The document states: "Foreign trade contracts, including those settled using digital rights, must be registered with authorized banks. The registration thresholds for these contracts remain unchanged: import contracts exceeding 3 million rubles and export contracts exceeding 10 million rubles."In addition to registration, the Central Bank of Russia also explained: "The regulation specifies the documents and information that residents must provide to banks, including transaction data related to the transfer or receipt of digital rights as a means of payment under foreign trade contracts, as well as data related to other foreign exchange operations involving digital rights."By defining these requirements, the Central Bank of Russia aims to integrate digital rights into the broader financial system while reducing the risks associated with their use.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Ian McGinley, the Enforcement Director of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), announced he will resign on January 17. He joined the agency in February 2023 and led enforcement actions against companies such as Binance, KuCoin, and Falcon Labs. In a statement announcing his resignation on January 17, Ian McGinley stated that "making the CFTC the primary enforcement agency for digital assets" was a top priority during his tenure.Reports indicate that Trump's transition team has set its sights on a long list of potential CFTC leaders, but has not acted as swiftly as it did during appointments at the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, if cryptocurrency legislation progresses in 2025, the CFTC may replace the SEC as the dominant regulator of the U.S. digital asset market.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, Grayscale has announced a variety of digital assets it is considering for future investment products, including but not limited to:$KAS, $APT, $ARB, $TIA, $HBAR, $MNT, $SEI, $S, $STRK, $TON, $TRX, $AERO, $BNB, $ENA, $INJ, $JUP, $ONDO, $PENDLE, $RUNE, $DOGE, $IMX, $AKT, $FET, $AR, $EIGEN, $HNT, $JTO, $PYTH, $WLD.In addition, Grayscale has also listed assets that are not included in its cryptocurrency sector as of December 31, 2024:$HYPE, $AI16Z, $VIRTUAL, $FLOCK, $GRASS, Hyperbolic, Prime Intellect, Sentient, Space and Time, Story Protocol.

ChainCatcher news, VanEck's Head of Digital Asset Research Matthew Sigel pointed out that the fintech company Block is expected to become the first publicly traded company in the S&P 500 index to hold Bitcoin.After achieving profitability in the first quarter of 2024, the company has met all the inclusion criteria for the S&P 500, including a market capitalization of over $18 billion, a public float of over 10%, and profitability for five consecutive quarters. According to historical data, eligible companies are typically included within 3 to 21 months (except for LULU, which took 65 months).Sigel noted that the current financial sector's share in the S&P 500 is 13.9%, lower than the overall market level of 14.6%, which is favorable for Block's inclusion as a financial stock in the index.

ChainCatcher news, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett disclosed on social media that U.S. Congressman French Hill announced that the Financial Services Committee has identified several key positions, including:Vice Chair of the Committee: Bill Huizenga (MI-04)Chair of the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee: Bryan Steil (WI-01)Chair of the National Security and Illicit Finance Subcommittee: Warren Davidson (OH-08)

ChainCatcher news, Binance published a blog post titled "The Long Game of Cryptocurrency: The Utility of Digital Assets Beyond Investment," which explores the practicality of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology beyond finance. It emphasizes their potential and real-world applications in enhancing the unbanked population, providing decentralized identity and privacy, transforming supply chains, healthcare, and social impact innovation. The article states that the true value of digital assets goes far beyond investment, and by focusing on real-world applications and utility, investors can better understand why cryptocurrency is indeed a long game worth playing. When the next bear market arrives, it will be easier to stay steady if one is confident in the utility of the specific investments held.

ChainCatcher news, Yassine Elmandjra, head of digital assets at Ark Invest, announced his departure on the X platform.He stated that today is his last day after more than six years with the company, and he expressed gratitude for the experiences and memories with CEO Cathie Wood and the ARK Invest team.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Financial Times, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam will resign from his position on January 20, the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration, and will officially leave office on February 7.Behnam is concerned that regulation of digital assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, remains insufficient. Behnam stated, "There is still a significant portion of the digital asset space that is unregulated within the U.S. regulatory framework, and given the adoption we are seeing from some traditional financial institutions and the enormous demand from retail and institutional investors for these products, it is very important to fill this gap."He noted that the CFTC is still "well positioned to become the spot regulator for digital commodity assets."

ChainCatcher news, according to Hong Kong Wen Wei Po, Hong Kong Legislative Council member and chairman of the Web3 and Virtual Assets Development Task Force, Wu Jiezhuang, stated that regarding how the Hong Kong virtual asset market can serve the needs of the country in the future, it is possible to explore the introduction of a "Digital Pass," which would open a special channel allowing mainland investors to buy and sell digital assets recognized by Hong Kong. This would further enrich the connotation of connectivity between the mainland and Hong Kong, while also benefiting financial innovation and cultivating new productive forces.The mainland prohibits cryptocurrency trading; however, under "one country, two systems," cryptocurrency trading in Hong Kong is legal. Similarly, while gambling is banned in the mainland, it is legal for mainland citizens to gamble in Macau. Therefore, Wu Jiezhuang believes that the connectivity of financial markets between the mainland and Hong Kong, and whether to allow mainland citizens to invest in virtual assets recognized by Hong Kong in the future, will mainly depend on the overall development of the international situation. He believes that the mainland will adjust its policies in a timely manner. Currently, the United States is actively embracing digital assets, and the mainland also places great importance on developing the digital economy, viewing it as a new productive force. The SAR government is also listening to the voices of the industry and embracing the new track of the digital economy.

According to ChainCatcher news, as reported by Crowdfund Insider, the results of the 2024 Crypto Literacy Survey released by Crypto Literacy show a significant increase in respondents' recognition of digital assets. The survey found that 98.6% of respondents who consider themselves knowledgeable own cryptocurrency, while only 32% of respondents own cryptocurrency with limited understanding. Key findings of the survey include:Respondents with advanced knowledge are three times more likely to own cryptocurrency than those with limited knowledge, with 31.8% of respondents indicating a deep understanding of cryptocurrency, a significant increase from 11.0% in 2022;29% of respondents view cryptocurrency as a long-term retirement strategy, while 22% use it for daily trading;59% of respondents believe that regulatory clarity is the most important task for the new government;The proportion of respondents who consider cryptocurrency "extremely dangerous" has decreased from 43.1% to 35.2%, with more people viewing it as "some kind of risk" or "neutral"; 26.6% of respondents still have doubts about the source of cryptocurrency's value;Only 22% of respondents correctly identify the importance of private keys, 14% understand the functions of DeFi, and 9% know the role of staking in the blockchain ecosystem.The survey was conducted in October 2024, with 670 U.S. respondents participating, covering various ages, genders, and income levels, aiming to provide actionable insights for education and policy initiatives.

ChainCatcher news, venture capitalist and Bitcoin advocate Anthony Pompliano stated in an interview with Fox Business that digital assets are maturing and gaining a foothold in traditional finance."I think a big deal in 2025 will be that cryptocurrencies have grown up and become part of the traditional financial system. There are pros and cons to this. But now we have a seat at the negotiating table—you can see donations and influence on the political stage. But you will also see this in the financial realm now, and I believe this will have a huge impact on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in 2025."

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by the Financial界, the National Intellectual Property Administration's information shows that Nokia Technologies Limited has applied for a patent titled "Device Method and Computer Program," with publication number CN 119155674 A, and the application date is June 2024.The patent abstract indicates that it provides a device, method, and computer program for use in user devices to perform the following: encrypt digital assets using a first key to form encrypted digital assets; provide the encrypted digital assets and an index for the encrypted digital assets to a first network function; and provide an identifier for the encrypted digital assets to a first entity.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Bo Hines as the Executive Director of his "Presidential Digital Asset Advisory Council," leading his "Crypto Council."Bo Hines was a college football player and failed to win election to Congress in 2022. Trump wrote, "In his new role, Bo Hines will work alongside David Sacks to drive innovation and growth in the digital asset space while ensuring industry leaders have the resources they need to succeed."