🔒 Vitalik Buterin Advocates for Enhanced Wallet Privacy and Security

📝 In a recent 4,000-word blog post, Ethereum's creator, Vitalik Buterin, emphasized the critical role of wallets as the interface between users and the Ethereum blockchain. He urged developers to prioritize privacy and security in wallet technology.

“A user only benefits from any decentralization, censorship resistance, security, privacy, or other properties that Ethereum and its applications offer to the extent that the wallet itself also has these properties,”

Buterin stated.

🔧 Buterin proposed various enhancements, including privacy improvements through the Waku secure communication protocol and account security advancements utilizing ZK-SNARK technology to reduce hacks in products like zkemail and Myna Wallet. He explained that these products use ZK-wrapped centralized IDs to convert traditional IDs into Ethereum addresses for transactions, with ZK-SNARK technology proving ID ownership.

📋 He clarified that his suggestions are feasible with existing infrastructure and are not exhaustive.

The goal of this post is to give my own views of some of the properties that an ideal Ethereum wallet would have,”

he wrote.

🤝 Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed interest in Buterin's ideas on X, particularly social recovery for private key management. He noted,

I agree, social recovery is a good idea, surprised we haven’t made more progress on it,”

referring to using trusted guardians for better management.

🔄 Similarly, Uniswap announced plans to implement some of Buterin's suggestions. Beyond immediate improvements, Buterin also predicted future innovations involving artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and active defense systems against attacks. However, he cautioned against relying on these immature technologies for asset security today.

➡️ UK Bans Access to Pumpdotfun for Residents

🚫 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom issued a warning on December 3 regarding the Solana-based meme coin launchpad Pumpfun, stating it was operating without proper authorization. Following this warning, access to Pumpfun has been restricted for users in the UK.

⚠️ In its statement, the FCA cautioned that the platform

may be providing or promoting financial services or products without our permission

and advised users to avoid dealing with this firm due to potential scams. The regulator expressed concerns that Pumpfun may be targeting people in the UK despite lacking authorization to conduct business there.

🔒 The platform, which enables users to create and trade Solana tokens without coding skills, confirmed that UK-based users can no longer access its services. Those attempting to visit the site from the UK are greeted with a warning about restricted access, stating,

Restricted jurisdiction. Our systems have identified that you are in the United Kingdom

and providing a link for users to withdraw any deposited coins.

⚡️ As of now, Pumpfun has not publicly addressed the FCA's warning on its official X account or Telegram channel. Under UK regulations, companies offering cryptocurrency-related services must register with the FCA if they are subject to the country’s money laundering laws. The FCA warns that customers using unauthorized firms like Pumpfun risk losing their funds with little to no recourse and lack financial protections for recovering their money.

📉 Since its launch in January, Pumpfun has faced several controversies. In May, it introduced a livestreaming feature for meme coin creators after a user set themselves on fire during a promotion. This feature led to further outrage due to disturbing stunts, including threats to animals and a staged suicide. In October, the platform faced severe backlash when child sexual abuse material was found on its site, revealing flaws in its moderation system. Following these incidents, Pumpfun removed the livestreaming feature entirely.

📊 Despite these controversies, Pumpfun accounted for 62% of all Solana transactions in November, according to Dune Analytics. However, the platform’s ethical and legal issues raise questions about its long-term viability. Pumpfun is registered in the UK under Baton Corporation Ltd., with employees reportedly working in London during a high-profile internal scandal.

🚀 Discovering $DEFI: The Only AI Agent Token Backed by $BTC ETF with Potential for Massive Upside

💎 Recently, I stumbled upon $DEFI, an intriguing AI Agent token that stands out in the crowded market. What caught my attention is its unique backing by 21Shares, the first $BTC ETF eminent, which positions it for a potential x100 upside.

🔍 While exploring various threads in search of a promising investment, I came across @DeFi. The handle itself is a clear indication of its focus. The exciting part? They seem to be gearing up to launch their own AI Agent. A tweet announcing this is expected to be pinned on Monday, the 9th.

📈 Given that this AI Agent is supported by a fund associated with the BTC ETF, I believe it presents a great opportunity for early investment before the major announcement. The recent performance of other AI Agent tokens further supports this narrative, highlighting that this is currently one of the biggest trends in the web3 space.

🚨 Breaking: 📢 MicroStrategy Buys Another 21,550 BTC For $2.1 Billion ⚡️

MicroStrategy has added to its Bitcoin holdings for the fifth consecutive week, buying 21,550 BTC for $2.1 billion.

👉 Read more

📈 Tether's USDT: A Key Player in Cryptocurrency Adoption

🌍 The latest report from Tether highlights the crucial role of its stablecoin, USDT, in bridging traditional fiat currencies and digital assets. As of the beginning of Q4 2024, 109 million on-chain wallets hold USDT, making it one of the most widely held digital assets. This figure is more than twice the number of Bitcoin holders and nearly matches the 128 million wallets holding Ethereum.

💼 Additionally, 86 million accounts on centralized systems have made on-chain USDT deposits. Centralized exchanges received 4.5 billion web views in the first three quarters of 2024, underscoring their significance in the crypto ecosystem. Notably, emerging markets contributed to 46% of these visits, with many users purchasing, holding, and sending USDT exclusively on these platforms.

📊 Tether's previous insights report indicated that by the end of Q3 2024, USDT had been received by 330 million on-chain wallets and accounts. This number does not include millions of users holding USDT on centralized exchanges (CEXs). USDT remains the market leader with four times as many wallets as all other stablecoins combined. As of November 1, there were 54 million on-chain wallets holding more than one cent of USDT, outnumbering the 13.8 million wallets containing all other stablecoins by a ratio of 4:1.

📈 Philip Gradwell, Head of Economics at Tether, noted on X that ^^USDT $0.01+ wallet numbers grew 71% in the last 12 months and 129% in the previous 12 months. Wallets of stablecoins other than USDC grew just 3% in the last 12 months.^^ He added that while USDC primarily grew on Solana and Base, USDT still represents 30% of stablecoin wallets on Solana.

🌐 Tether reaffirmed its commitment to “provide technology that empowers people around the world to live in a self-sustainable and independent way.”

🚀 Next AI Agent in the game? All eyes on De.FI this week

All buzz started on December 9 with updates on their official website and Twitter. The signes point to a huge release, and the roadmap confirms it — DeFi AI Agent is coming!

Here are some facts about the project:

🌟 De.Fi is supported by prominent investors including Angels from Binance, Coinbase, and OKX VC, as well as ConsenSys (MetaMask) and 21Shares (the first BTC ETF issuer).

🎤 Hosted biggest side event at DevCon conference in November - "De.Fi World 2024". With speakers from over 70 tier-1 projects were present, showcasing De.Fi's influence in the crypto stage.

🌐 The hottest domain in the crypto space - De.Fi

🗣 De.Fi has received endorsements from founders and directors of major projects like Binance, Polygon, MatterLabs (zkSync), and Fantom. This demonstrates its credibility and influence within the crypto community.
discourse.

🔔The main announcement is set for December 13, let's see what they prepared for us👀

🧠 Putin's Vision: The Rise of Strong AI

🌍 Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the potential emergence of "strong AI" that could surpass human capabilities. Speaking at the AI Journey International Conference, he noted that recent advancements in AI reasoning abilities could lead to significant breakthroughs.

🗣 Putin stated,

More and more experts and scientists say that the development of the ability to reason will lead to the emergence of strong artificial intelligence. That is, such technologies that will outperform humans in key activities.

He highlighted that traits traditionally associated with humans, such as thinking, speech, memory, and understanding, are increasingly being matched or exceeded by AI systems.

⚖️ While there are various predictions regarding the rise of sentient artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the singularity, there are no guarantees due to potential energy and technological limitations. Nevertheless, the AI sector remains a top priority for Putin.

🎯 He acknowledged its importance for achieving national development goals, enhancing defense capabilities, improving the economy and social sectors, public administration, and fostering innovation. Putin stressed the necessity for Russia to become a global leader in AI technology development and its integration into all aspects of life.

🚀 He concluded,

Of course, we must lead the way,

emphasizing that the administration should pioneer this new frontier with innovative examples and applications of AI.

🧰 SEED is getting closer to listing, and the biggest airdrop ever is waiting for you.

You’re ready, holding your SEED Birds NFT, but the mystery remains:
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❓ How will your NFTs truly shine?

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EXPLORE WHAT'S NEXT FOR SEED 🔎

⚡️ Embracing Decentralization: The Future of Finance and the Internet

🚀 Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Web3 are revolutionizing our interaction with finance and the internet. DeFi eliminates intermediaries by providing financial services directly on public blockchains like Ethereum. This shift empowers users to engage in activities such as lending, borrowing, and trading without traditional banking systems. On the other hand, Web3 represents the next evolution of the internet, emphasizing decentralization, blockchain technology, and user-controlled data. It envisions a digital landscape where users not only navigate but also own their online experiences.

🌟 DeFi is akin to a creative financial playground. Users can construct and modify financial systems without needing approval from banks or governments. Key components of DeFi include:

- Staking and Restaking: Locking cryptocurrency to secure a blockchain and earn rewards, with the option to reinvest earnings for potentially greater returns.
- Lending and Borrowing: Users can lend their crypto for interest or borrow against it without credit score concerns, facilitated by platforms like Compound and Aave.
- Bridges: These enable seamless asset transfers across blockchains.
- Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): Platforms like Uniswap allow direct token swaps between wallets, ensuring control and privacy.
- Oracles: These provide real-world data for smart contracts.
- Yield Farming: Users contribute crypto to liquidity pools for trading and receive rewards, often in new tokens.
- Collateralized Debt Positions (CDPs): Users can lock assets as collateral to borrow other tokens.
- Derivatives: Traditional finance instruments like options and futures are available on the blockchain.
- Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization: DeFi enables the tokenization and trading of physical assets like real estate and art.

↪️ Web3 is not just an upgrade; it's a transformative reimagining of the internet. Its key features include:

- User Ownership and Control: Users are stakeholders in Web3, benefiting from their participation in platforms.
- Decentralization: Operating on a distributed network, Web3 is resistant to censorship and centralized failures.
- Interoperability: Web3 systems work together seamlessly, allowing free movement of digital assets and identities.
- Privacy and Security: Blockchain technology enhances data security and gives users control over their personal information.
- Community Governance: Many Web3 platforms are governed by decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), promoting democratic decision-making.

💎 Self-custodial solutions are essential to DeFi and Web3. They empower users to manage their digital assets and identities without reliance on banks or intermediaries. These solutions enable safe fund management through wallets directly connected to blockchain systems. In this decentralized landscape, users have complete control over their assets and data.

🌟 DeFi and Web3 signify a shift towards a more inclusive digital future. They empower users to reshape their interactions with money, data, and online connections. As we engage in activities like staking crypto or trading virtual assets, we become part of a movement that is redefining our digital experiences. The future is decentralized, and the opportunities are limitless.

🤔 Here’s Why Ripple’s RLUSD May Not Be Pegged To $1 After Launch 👀

David Schwartz attributes Ripple RLUSD's pre-launch spike over $1,200 to limited supply and high demand, predicting a stable price of $1.

👉 Read more

📉 Bitcoin's Recent Plunge: A Market Overview

📌 On Wednesday, bitcoin's price fell below the $100,000 mark, reaching an intraday low of $99,997. The entire crypto market experienced a downturn, dropping 5.74% in the past 24 hours.

📈 Just a day before, bitcoin had reached its all-time high of $108,364. However, after the U.S. Federal Reserve's meeting where they indicated a slower pace for future rate reductions, bitcoin's price dropped further. It eventually dipped under the $100K threshold, settling at $100,563 per coin. Bitcoin fell 4.8% against the U.S. dollar, while ethereum (ETH) dropped by 5.5%.

🐿 Meme coins suffered significant losses, with peanut the squirrel (PNUT) plummeting by 19.24% and popcat (POPCAT) falling 18.80%. Other cryptocurrencies like fantom (FTM), thorchain (RUNE), and theta token (THETA) also experienced declines ranging from 12.33% to 12.52%.

📊 Despite the overall market slump, global trading volume increased by 31% to reach $248.41 billion. Tether (USDT), bitcoin (BTC), and ethereum (ETH) led in daily trading volumes. However, the derivatives markets saw $671.52 million in positions liquidated within 24 hours, primarily affecting long positions in BTC, ETH, XRP, DOGE, SOL, and LTC.

⚠️ This recent dip serves as a reminder of the volatility in the crypto market. Even minor macroeconomic changes can trigger significant price swings. As bitcoin recovers just above the $100,000 mark, the market's reaction highlights how investor sentiment can be swayed by external factors.

Is SEED Token hinting at a SUI launch? 👀 If true, this is HUGE! 🚀

🌱 Seeds of Growth: A New Partnership Unveiled

💧 The journey of growth begins with a single seed and a single drop of water. When these two elements unite, they create the potential for something extraordinary.

🌱 In the SEED garden, a significant partnership is taking shape. This collaboration is aimed at fostering growth, grounded in strategic planning and driven by a long-term vision.

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🌍 BRICS and the Potential of a Gold-Backed Digital Currency

💱 The BRICS nations are considering the development of a gold-backed digital currency to lessen their dependence on the U.S. dollar in international trade. This initiative is discussed in an article by Alexej Jordanov, published by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). Jordanov highlights that geopolitical changes, such as Russia's removal from the SWIFT payment network, have prompted BRICS to explore alternative settlement systems.

For the BRICS group, a gold-backed digital currency could make a big difference. Lower transaction costs and reduced exchange rate volatility are among the tangible benefits,

Jordanov explains. He notes that BRICS countries represent 40% of the global population and over 30% of the world's GDP, yet the dollar still dominates global trade.

📉 The proposed currency could be pegged to gold and a basket of BRICS currencies, utilizing distributed ledger technology (DLT) for transparency. Jordanov suggests that implementing such a currency could lower transaction fees and exchange rate risks. He states,

By tokenizing gold reserves, each digital unit would be backed by tangible assets stored in secure vaults, with regular audits ensuring accountability.

⏱️ This system could enable real-time settlements and attract nations outside the bloc seeking alternatives to dollar-dominated networks. However, Jordanov also acknowledges the challenges of implementation, including the need for effective coordination among BRICS nations and potential geopolitical obstacles.

Some potential benefits of a gold-backed digital currency are discernible, but implementation will not be straightforward. Effective coordination among BRICS nations is required, alongside investments in technological infrastructure,

he cautions. Despite these challenges, with their strategic gold reserves and economic influence, BRICS is likely to continue pursuing ideas to reshape global finance and provide an alternative to the dollar-centric order.

🎄 Holiday Market Trends: Bitcoin ETFs Struggle While Ethereum ETFs Thrive

📉 On December 23, U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) faced significant outflows, losing $226.56 million from their reserves. Despite Blackrock's IBIT gaining $31.66 million, seven other ETFs saw larger reductions. Fidelity’s FBTC was hit hardest, losing $145.97 million, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC with a loss of $38.39 million. Other notable declines included Invesco’s BTCO down $25.56 million and Bitwise’s BITB which lost $23.75 million. Despite this dip, the twelve bitcoin ETFs still maintain a cumulative net inflow of $35.83 billion since January 11, 2024.

🌟 In contrast, the nine ethereum ETFs enjoyed a successful day, gaining $130.76 million in inflows. Blackrock’s ETHA led the pack with $89.51 million added, while Fidelity‘s FETH brought in $46.37 million. Bitwise’s ETHW also attracted $963,720. However, Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust experienced a slight setback, losing $6.09 million. These positive inflows have increased the cumulative net inflows since July 23 to $2.46 billion.

📊 Overall, the market showed mixed results as bitcoin ETFs struggled amidst holiday jitters, while ethereum ETFs capitalized on the situation with significant inflows.

💡 Eric Semler Predicts Growing Bitcoin Adoption Among Public Companies

📈 Eric Semler, chairman of Semler Scientific, predicts that more companies will adopt the bitcoin standard, stating that not owning bitcoin will soon be seen as "irresponsible." He attributes the slow adoption of bitcoin as a reserve asset in public companies to the conservative approach of some institutions.

Many people instinctually see new and unfamiliar things as risky. But sometimes, the new and unfamiliar is the safer and more responsible strategic option. I believe this is one of those times,

Semler said, comparing the U.S. dollar and bitcoin as reserve assets.

🔮 Semler foresees a shift in perspective regarding bitcoin ownership among public companies:

In the near future, I predict it will be considered IRRESPONSIBLE for public companies not to own bitcoin on their balance sheets.

💰 Semler Scientific began its bitcoin journey in May by acquiring 581 BTC for $40 million. Semler praised bitcoin as a "major asset class with more than $1 trillion of market value," and even preferred it over gold. Since then, the company has increased its bitcoin holdings, recently purchasing 211 BTC for $21.5 million, bringing its total to over 2,000 BTC.

📊 Other companies are also following this trend. Rumble, a digital video distribution platform, recently invested $20 million in bitcoin, and Metaplanet, a public company in Tokyo, has made similar purchases.

🇳🇱 MoonPay Secures MiCA Approval In The Netherlands Amid Europe Expansion Plans 🇪🇺

MoonPay recently announced that it secured MiCA regulation approval to offer services in The Netherlands, primarily Dutch investors.

👉 Read more

📈 Bitcoin Miners Achieve Record Earnings and Hashrate in December

💰 Bitcoin miners have already surpassed their November earnings this December, accumulating $1.33 billion with two days still remaining in the month. This increase in revenue is attributed to rising bitcoin prices, despite a decline in hashprice, which measures the value of 1 petahash per second (PH/s) of SHA256 output. The hashprice has dropped from $61.78 per PH/s to $55.57 over the past 30 days. During this period, Bitcoin’s hashrate reached an all-time high of over 805 exahash per second (EH/s).

🔧 A scheduled difficulty adjustment on December 29 is anticipated to result in a slight increase, driven by faster block discovery times averaging 9 minutes and 53 seconds per block. The current total computational power of the network stands at 791.45 EH/s, contributed by sixty-five entities each operating at least 286.33 kilohash per second (KH/s).

📊 Despite the decrease in hashprice, December's revenue has already exceeded November's total of $1.21 billion, which included $38.73 million from onchain fees. So far this month, miners have earned $37.69 million from onchain fees and the majority of their revenue, $1.29 billion, has come from Bitcoin’s subsidy. With just over 48 hours left in the year, it is likely that bitcoin miners will surpass November’s fee totals.

🚀 As the month draws to a close, the sector appears set for further growth driven by increasing computational power and a steady market demand. Despite occasional profit fluctuations, the momentum remains strong due to technological advancements and an expanding operational scope.