ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Citic Securities research report points out that based on its gold price analysis framework, it is optimistic about gold prices in 2025. The global central bank's gold purchasing behavior is expected to continue, and the signaling effect of central banks announcing gold purchases may become more pronounced.The enthusiasm for gold investment in the global market may persist, structurally leaning towards "Asia down, Europe and America up." In 2025, geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine may become more unstable, which is favorable for gold prices to rise.In the medium term, cryptocurrencies and gold do not yet constitute a competitive relationship in risk-averse allocations. According to model predictions, under a neutral hypothesis, the COMEX gold futures price could reach over $3100 per ounce by mid-2025.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Singapore is accelerating its emergence as a crypto hub in Asia with a "risk-adjusted" regulatory approach and a doubling of the number of crypto licenses issued in 2024.According to a report by ApeX Protocol, Singapore currently has 1,600 blockchain patents, 2,433 related jobs, and 81 crypto exchanges. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a total of 13 Major Payment Institution (MPI) licenses in 2024, more than double that of 2023.In contrast, Hong Kong has only 7 licensed crypto exchanges, 890 blockchain patents, and 1,163 related jobs.

ChainCatcher news, according to Morningstar, Edmund Moy, the senior IRA (Individual Retirement Account) strategist at the US Money Reserve, the main distributor of precious metals for the US federal government, stated that on the surface, Bitcoin could become a competitor to gold, as both are alternative assets that can help reduce risk in traditional portfolios. Cryptocurrency bulls have long touted Bitcoin as "digital gold," and Federal Reserve Chairman Powell recently remarked that Bitcoin is "like gold."Edmund Moy believes that their "differences outweigh their similarities," and that "the correlation between gold and Bitcoin is not strong." Given the uncertainty in the coming year, this may be the strongest reason for investors to hold both.Nevertheless, Edmund Moy stated that investors seeking to diversify their portfolios should remember that diversification alone cannot completely eliminate risk, especially considering the volatility of Bitcoin.

ChainCatcher message, Placeholder partner Chris Burniske posted on the X platform: "Although BTC is playing with fire, ETHBTC, SOLETH, and SOLBTC are still performing well. This makes me think that it is not a sign of reduced market risk appetite, but rather influenced by year-end liquidity factors, as people are organizing their books for 2024."

ChainCatcher news, Brazilian congresswoman Julia Zanatta issued a warning on social media, stating that as the country advances in implementing the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) "drex," physical cash may face the risk of disappearing.She opposes a bill that aims to gradually eliminate cash by 2025, arguing that the use of drex should remain voluntary to protect economic freedom. Zanatta highlighted several risks: social control, loss of privacy, and potential financial issues for those unfamiliar with technology.Zanatta also called for increased public awareness and suggested a referendum to decide the future of drex, emphasizing that such a significant change should involve citizen participation in decision-making. Currently, due to privacy concerns, the drex pilot project is facing delays.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the market in January 2025 will face multiple risks and opportunities against the backdrop of Trump's inauguration and the release of non-farm data. Michael Rosen, Chief Investment Officer of Angeles Investments, pointed out that the period from November to January is usually a strong performance time for the market. Historical data shows that the S&P 500 index performs well during the last five trading days of December and early January, known as the "Santa Claus rally." The upcoming employment data and corporate earnings reports will provide key insights into the economic health of the market.Helen Given, Deputy Head of Trading at Monex USA, emphasized that the inauguration of a new government is often accompanied by high uncertainty. The trade policies of the Trump administration could have a significant impact on the global currency market, and the actual effects of policy implementation remain to be seen. Given believes that investors need to pay attention to the actual implementation of proposed policies, which may affect currencies such as the euro, Mexican peso, and Canadian dollar.Damon Polistina, Head of Research at Eaglebrook Advisors, mentioned that a pro-crypto Trump administration could bring positive catalysts to the crypto market. The Federal Reserve's expectations for interest rate cuts may support risk assets like cryptocurrencies, and any positive economic data will further drive market momentum.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, in a record-breaking year, Bitcoin's momentum has slowed in the last few days of the year as investors assess the remaining momentum brought by President-elect Donald Trump's support for the cryptocurrency sector. As of Friday before the European market opened, Bitcoin was trading around $96,200, recovering part of the nearly 3% decline from the previous day. Digital currencies like Ethereum and Dogecoin fluctuated within a narrow range.In the four trading days ending December 24, investors withdrew a net $1.5 billion from a dozen U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs, marking the largest outflow since Trump won the U.S. election on November 5. According to data compiled by foreign media, Bitcoin is facing the risk of a monthly decline in December, which would be its first monthly drop in over four months. Bitcoin reached a record high of $108,316 on December 17 before retreating.

ChainCatcher news, according to the announcement from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the "Measures for the Administration of Bank Foreign Exchange Risk Transaction Reporting (Trial)" have been issued and will take effect immediately. The "Measures" are a supporting document to the "Measures for the Administration of Bank Foreign Exchange Business (Trial)", aimed at strengthening banks' foreign exchange risk management, and early identification, early warning, and early handling of high-risk transactions such as suspected false trade, underground banks, and illegal cross-border financial activities involving virtual currencies.The main contents include: clarifying the responsibility for bank foreign exchange risk transaction reporting, requiring the establishment of a monitoring system and submission of reports; specifying the scope of information reporting, including activities suspected of illegal cross-border capital flows; clarifying the report content, such as basic information and proposed measures; and strengthening internal management measures, including internal control systems and data confidentiality management, etc.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology recently released the "Artificial Intelligence Risk Governance Report (2024) ------ Building an Industry-Oriented Artificial Intelligence Security Governance Practice Plan".The report believes that the understanding of artificial intelligence risks is deepening towards global integration, forward-looking considerations, systematic analysis, and cross-linkage. At the same time, global artificial intelligence risk governance initiatives are increasingly moving towards practical implementation. The international community is accelerating the promotion of transnational coordinated actions in the field of artificial intelligence governance, with the United Nations playing a key role. The Artificial Intelligence Security Summit focuses on security issues and provides a global dialogue platform, with multiple international resolutions, initiatives, and treaties being introduced successively. The governance systems of major economies are becoming clearer, with many countries establishing artificial intelligence security research institutes to conduct research on risk management systems and security benchmarking tests, promoting risk-oriented artificial intelligence security governance work.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, renowned crypto analyst Omkar Godbolev published an analysis stating that the price chart of SOL shows a "bullish return" pattern. According to technical analysis theory, this pattern is seen as a low-risk opportunity for trend breakout traders. The price of SOL surged over 7% this week to $193, rebounding from a previous resistance level identified by a trendline connecting the highs of March and July, which has now turned into support. This line, along with the line connecting the lows of April and August, defines a large descending channel that includes long-term fluctuations from March to October. The price of SOL broke out of this channel in early November, confirming the bullish inclination. SOL quickly climbed above $260, then retraced to the breakout point last week, which technical analysts refer to as a bullish "return pattern."Technical analysis masters Charles D. Kirkpatrick II and Julie R. Dahlquist stated in their book Technical Analysis: The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians: "A pullback occurs when the price breaks upward and then 'retracts' to its breakout level. Retracements are excellent levels to participate in an upward trend. Their timing and distance are often short, but they typically provide a second, lower-risk entry opportunity for breakout traders." Breakout traders look for assets that struggle to surpass specific levels. When the price finally breaks through, these traders enter the market, anticipating significant volatility in the direction of the breakout. Trading breakouts requires constant market monitoring and careful assessment of price and volume trends. Traders who miss the initial breakout often hope to enter during a successful retracement, just like SOL. These entry points are usually considered lower risk because potential exit points or stop-losses can be set just below the breakout point.Prospect theory suggests that people tend to avoid risk when realizing gains. In other words, when potential profits arise, traders often take those gains rather than letting winning trades continue. This trend explains why the first pullback after a breakout does not last long and prices typically retreat to the breakout point. This is because traders who entered with the breakout quickly take profits during the subsequent rise. Traders who missed the first breakout may view the retracement as a second entry opportunity. They go long at the breakout point, ensuring that the support level holds. This explains the rebound of SOL from a key level. If SOL continues to rise, those who took profits shortly after the initial breakout may regret doing so and buy new long positions, further enhancing the bullish momentum, and this is how trends develop. In the second half of 2023, a similar return pattern played out perfectly in Bitcoin, laying the groundwork for a massive bull market. Note that if the price of SOL fails to rebound, the bullish retracement pattern will fail, allowing for a pullback back into the channel.

ChainCatcher news, the Bank of Botswana stated that the local cryptocurrency market in the country is still underdeveloped, and the risks to financial stability are "extremely low." The bank indicated that regulatory measures should be established to prevent potential future risks associated with digital assets.The Bank of Botswana stated: "The risks posed by domestic crypto assets are minimal, but the ongoing misconduct in this area has raised regulatory concerns. Therefore, regulators need to establish an effective oversight framework for the industry."

ChainCatcher news, according to Dailyhodl, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) stated in its quarterly bank profile report that the number of U.S. banks on its "problem bank list" rose to 68 in the third quarter. The total assets held by problem banks increased by $3.9 billion, reaching $87.3 billion. Problem banks account for 1.5% of the total number of banks, which is within the normal range of 1% to 2% for all banks during non-crisis periods.Meanwhile, the amount of unrealized losses on bank balance sheets has decreased. As of the third quarter of this year, banks reported book losses of $364 billion, primarily due to their involvement in the residential real estate and treasury markets. Unrealized losses represent the difference between the price banks paid for securities and the current market value of those assets. In the third quarter, bank book losses decreased by $148.9 billion from $512.9 billion in the second quarter.

ChainCatcher news, CryptoQuant founder and CEO Ki Young Ju posted on the X platform that if a consensus is reached on the status of Bitcoin, it is entirely possible to use Bitcoin to repay U.S. debt. The only risk is that old whales might sell Bitcoin to attack the U.S.; however, if the U.S. government continues to accumulate Bitcoin until 2050 and its price keeps rising, one might doubt whether the old whales would really sell it.

ChainCatcher message, according to the SoSoValue macro sector display, on December 18th, at the interest rate meeting, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, bringing the target range for the federal funds rate down to 4.25%-4.50%. For the rate cut pace next year, the Federal Reserve adjusted its expectations from "four rate cuts" to "two" through the latest dot plot. In addition, the Federal Reserve raised its expectations for future core PCE inflation and GDP growth, which is consistent with Powell's remarks, all conveying a more "hawkish" signal than the market expected. Data shows that the market risk sentiment VIX index rose to its highest point since early August (when the Bank of Japan raised interest rates).SoSoValue analysts stated that the FOMC proposed an unexpectedly aggressive rate cut plan, coupled with Powell's "hawkish" remarks, led to a shift in market sentiment towards panic, with U.S. Treasuries even overreacting. The U.S. stock market subsequently corrected, while the dollar strengthened. Overall, all risk assets reacted strongly to the FOMC's latest signals. Based on macro data, we believe that the fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain unchanged, the dollar remains strong, and consensus-driven assets such as cryptocurrencies continue to be a destination for capital inflows. Each market correction driven by sentiment in the game is a good entry point, and we recommend maintaining risk exposure at this time.

ChainCatcher news, Trading Strategy co-founder Mikko Ohtamaa criticized Polygon for using user-bridged USDC deposits for funding markets (such as Morpho), believing this practice poses multiple risks:Undermining the illusion of self-custody: Although the Polygon bridge is controlled by a multi-signature wallet, this operation breaks users' trust in self-custody.Attracting regulatory scrutiny: The movement of billions of dollars could attract significant attention from regulators and the media.Lack of user choice: Currently, users cannot choose whether to participate in this mechanism, resulting in a lack of transparency.Double counting issue: The bridged USDC is used for lending services on Polygon while also being utilized in Morpho on the mainnet.He suggested that Polygon explore more transparent methods, such as launching an independent bridging service that allows users to choose to convert USDC into "Polygon yield-bearing USDC." Additionally, he mentioned that Circle has launched a non-bridged version of USDC on Polygon, but due to its late introduction and incompatibility with the bridged version of USDC, it has not gained widespread adoption.

ChainCatcher news, reported by Crowdfundinsider, indicates that the crypto trading platform provider Talos has partnered with Crypto Risk Metrics to provide environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data to its regulated clients, in order to comply with the sustainability disclosure requirements of the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).It is reported that Crypto Risk Metrics is a company that offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform focused on the listing and delisting of digital assets and providing ESG data for crypto asset service providers. The platform currently serves several companies, including Bitpanda, Bank Frick, Coinmerce, and dwpbank, helping them meet the compliance requirements of MiCA regulations.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Coinbase stated that it decided to delist wBTC due to "unacceptable risks" posed by Justin Sun. Last week, the issuer of wBTC, BiT Global, filed a broad lawsuit accusing Coinbase of improperly favoring its competitor cbBTC.However, in a 25-page response, Coinbase indicated that this decision was related to Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain, who has also been accused of fraud and market manipulation in the United States. According to Coinbase's documents, Justin Sun is linked to wBTC through a partnership announced in August. Coinbase stated, "Given Justin Sun's involvement, like many other companies in the industry, Coinbase has serious doubts about whether BiT can be a reliable manager."