ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, following the significant success of the cryptocurrency industry in last year's U.S. elections, Canadian digital asset companies have begun to apply the lessons they learned.It is reported that the Canadian crypto industry hopes to see digital assets become a bigger focus in that election, just like in the U.S. In July, Stand With Crypto expanded to Canada, but the Canadian branch does not intend to support candidates in the upcoming elections. Instead, its goal is to "inspire the cryptocurrency advocacy community" and launch a grassroots movement for supporters to engage in dialogue with other Canadians and their parliamentary members.Although cryptocurrency may not be a political focal point in Canada, the country has played a significant role in the industry. The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, was born in the country, and Canada is home to the world's first Bitcoin ETF. Other issues that the Canadian crypto industry lobbies for include allowing the use of Bitcoin in retirement savings plans and tax-free savings accounts, as well as incorporating crypto into open banking legislation.So far, no political party in the country has supported the industry, but digital asset companies have been trying to position crypto as a way to enhance affordability—an important focus in Canadian politics.

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg's senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas posted on the X platform that in the 2024 top 20 ETF rankings, VOO closed at $116 billion, surpassing the old record by $65 billion; IVV closed strongly at $89 billion, and BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF IBIT ranked third with $37 billion.

ChainCatcher message, Bloomberg columnists Marcus Ashworth and Mark Gilbert's key takeaway for 2025 is: buckle up, it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride.Regarding the future of Bitcoin, they pointed out that Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman stated last month on the Bluesky social platform that although Bitcoin has surpassed $100,000, there are still no legitimate use cases even after 15 years.The recent surge in Bitcoin prices has at least one identifiable catalyst: the hope that the Trump administration will take a more lenient stance on cryptocurrencies. This expectation is likely to be realized under the leadership of incoming SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, who is believed to have a more favorable attitude towards the crypto market than his predecessor, and the regulatory environment is almost certain to become less hostile.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, as Bitcoin prices hit an all-time high, asset tokenization has once again become a hot topic in both traditional finance and the cryptocurrency sector. This technology, which digitizes physical assets and records them on the blockchain, is favored by Wall Street institutions including BlackRock. Industry insiders believe its potential may surpass that of the internet.This round of asset tokenization frenzy is driven by factors such as the Bitcoin bull market and Trump's election victory. Unlike the attempts of a few years ago to apply blockchain technology in scenarios like Walmart's supply chain tracking, this wave focuses more on the digitization of financial assets such as real estate and bonds.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, on Thursday, the price of Bitcoin rose after digital asset "hoarder" MicroStrategy announced plans to split and issue more shares, a move that will enable it to purchase more Bitcoin."MicroStrategy announced that it will issue more shares next year to buy more Bitcoin, which pushed the price up," said Sean McNulty, trading director at liquidity provider Arbelos Markets. "The market is very optimistic about MicroStrategy's Bitcoin purchases, which is one of the biggest reasons driving the market up. Keeping an eye on MicroStrategy news has become an important part of my daily work."According to a filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 23, MicroStrategy is seeking approval to increase the number of authorized Class A common shares and preferred shares. This move will provide the company with greater financial support as it has transformed from a software manufacturer into a Bitcoin accumulator.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Singapore issued 13 cryptocurrency licenses to a range of cryptocurrency operators in 2024, including OKX and Upbit, as well as Anchorage, BitGo, and GSR. This number is double that of the licenses granted last year, while Hong Kong's similar approval system is much slower in comparison.Analysis points out that both Singapore and Hong Kong are competing to attract virtual asset companies to their markets through specialized systems, tokenization projects, and regulatory sandboxes, but the progress is uneven. Hong Kong's exchange regulatory system is much stricter in many important aspects, such as the custody of client assets and the policies for token listing and delisting, which may enhance Singapore's attractiveness.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, in 2024, Singapore issued 13 cryptocurrency licenses to several cryptocurrency operators, including exchanges OKX and Upbit, as well as Anchorage, BitGo, and GSR, more than double the number from the previous year. In contrast, the issuance of similar licenses in Hong Kong has been slow. Both cities are trying to attract digital asset companies by establishing dedicated systems, tokenization projects, and regulatory sandboxes. Local governments believe that cryptocurrencies have the potential to enhance their appeal as global business hubs, but progress is uneven.Angela Ang, senior policy advisor at consulting firm TRM Labs, stated, "Hong Kong has a much stricter regulatory regime for exchanges in many important aspects, such as client asset custody, token listing, and delisting policies. This may tilt the balance towards Singapore." The approval process in Hong Kong has been slower than expected, and regulators have indicated plans to approve more exchanges by the end of the year. Currently, Hong Kong has fully authorized seven platforms to operate, four of which received approval on December 18 (with some restrictions). Additionally, seven others hold temporary licenses. Well-known exchanges like OKX and Bybit have withdrawn their applications for licenses in Hong Kong. Hong Kong only allows trading of the most liquid cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and prohibits investors from trading smaller, more volatile tokens (i.e., altcoins). Roger Li, co-founder of the cash and cryptocurrency over-the-counter exchange chain One Satoshi, stated, "The requirements to reach profitability are quite high."

ChainCatcher message, regarding "The ETF Store president says it's shocking that ETF issuers have not applied for a Dogecoin ETF," Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas agreed, adding, "I originally thought we would see issuers submit applications before Christmas. Now it seems we may have to wait until Atkins (SEC new chairman Paul Atkins)/Trump officially takes office."

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg's senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shared an interview video of SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on the X platform, in which Hester Peirce stated, "Most SEC commissioners in the past did not want things to go smoothly, but now there has been a shift to wanting things to go smoothly, which makes things much easier."Eric Balchunas noted that Hester Peirce appeared very happy, smiling, suggesting that the Ethereum ETF staking might be approved, as she mentioned that these products are "more useful" for investors.

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas expects a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs to emerge next year, likely starting with a BTC + ETH combination ETF, followed by LTC, HBAR, and XRP/Solana.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Bitcoin took a slight breather after first breaking through $108,000, as traders awaited the anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cut decision and assessed the optimism brought by incoming President Donald Trump's support for cryptocurrencies.Trump has promised to introduce friendly regulatory policies aimed at establishing the U.S. as a leader in the cryptocurrency space and supports the idea of creating a strategic national Bitcoin reserve. MicroStrategy is set to join the Nasdaq 100 index, which also adds to this optimism, as it opens up possibilities for the company to further profit from Bitcoin investments. The market widely expects the Federal Reserve to implement another 25 basis point rate cut on Wednesday, but the clarity of future policy direction has diminished due to strong U.S. economic growth and inflation risks stemming from Trump's broader agenda.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the latest U.S. inflation data has strengthened bets on the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates again, and Bitcoin has once again surpassed $100,000. The prospect of a loose monetary environment has eased investor sentiment, driving the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index to a record high.Henry Elder, head of UTXO Management, stated, "The market likes to see inflation rates meet expectations." He added that traders are "trying to figure out whether $100,000 is a ceiling or a floor."Since Trump won the U.S. election on November 5, Bitcoin has risen by about 50%, with approximately $11 billion net inflow into U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs during this period, while Ethereum spot ETFs attracted $2.4 billion in net inflow.

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart posted on social media that whether Microstrategy (MSTR) can be classified as part of the Nasdaq 100 may depend on its ICB classification. If the company's operating business is software as a service, it would classify it as a tech stock. However, its stock performance is now largely tied to financial engineering, stemming from its Bitcoin purchases.Chairman Michael Saylor has stated that he hopes to transform MicroStrategy into a "Bitcoin bank." If the ICB reclassifies MicroStrategy as a financial stock, it will not meet the qualifications for the Nasdaq 100.

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas posted on the X platform that BlackRock's Bitcoin spot ETF "IBIT" has assets equivalent to the total of 50 ETFs focused on Europe (regional + single country), which have been in existence for 20 years.In addition, ETF and technology strategist Todd Sohn believes that the investment environment in Europe has bottomed out and cannot get any worse.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, artificial intelligence (AI) companies have significantly outpaced cryptocurrency mining enterprises in energy demand for data centers, becoming a new dominant force in the global electricity market. AI technology giants are willing to pay up to three times the price of electricity compared to Bitcoin miners to support their data centers. This fierce competition is forcing Bitcoin miners to turn to marginalized or intermittent power sources.MAR Holdings CEO Fred Thiel stated that the electricity costs paid by AI companies are much higher than those of crypto miners, putting the latter under survival pressure. For example, his company recently acquired a wind farm in Texas to maintain operations, but this type of power supply is not stable. Additionally, the disadvantages that crypto miners face in loan default rates and financing costs make electricity suppliers more inclined to cooperate with technology giants.It is worth noting that the recent surge in Bitcoin prices, surpassing $100,000, may slow down the trend of miners' data centers being acquired. However, industry experts predict that Bitcoin miners will be further pushed into marginal markets that cannot meet AI's electricity demands, such as inefficient power facilities in remote areas. This competitive landscape indicates that the energy demand patterns of the AI and cryptocurrency industries are undergoing significant changes, while also revealing the relative weaknesses of miners in terms of technology and capital capabilities.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Bloomberg, in a filing on October 31, MicroStrategy stated that "the significant decline in Bitcoin's market value could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, potentially posing liquidity and credit risks to our business operations, as our means of obtaining cash are limited aside from the revenue generated by our enterprise analytics software business." MicroStrategy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, due to Donald Trump's choice of a cryptocurrency-friendly financier as the head of the U.S. top financial regulatory agency, the rise of cryptocurrencies has made a few companies that mimic MicroStrategy's convertible bond sale strategy winners. These companies have followed MicroStrategy Inc.'s strategy of raising funds through the sale of convertible bonds to purchase Bitcoin.Investors have flocked to companies connected to the industry, opening the floodgates for financing. The $6.2 billion convertible bonds issued by MicroStrategy this year are just the beginning, as part of its latest plan to raise $21 billion through fixed-income issuance. Other companies have also followed this trend, with MARA Holdings Inc. selling over $2 billion in assets (also to purchase Bitcoin), while Core Scientific Inc. has raised over $1 billion so far this year.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, large financial companies such as Standard Chartered Bank and Virtu Financial Inc. are preparing to join a new cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform in London.The trading platform Global Futures and Options Ltd. (referred to as GFO-X) announced on Monday that it has signed agreements with ABN Amro Clearing and market maker IMC, and it expects to launch in the first quarter of next year. GFO-X is supported by M&G Investments (the asset management division of pension giant M&G Plc).GFO-X will handle trading of Bitcoin index futures and options, initially planned to go live by the end of 2023, but it failed to launch on schedule due to two delays. The trading on GFO-X will be cleared by LCH SA, which is owned by the London Stock Exchange Group.

ChainCatcher news, Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas stated that the SEC, led by Gary Gensler, has rejected the application for the Solana ETF, and it is expected that the issuer will resubmit the application after the new SEC chairman Paul Atkins takes office.