As Donald Trump prepares to assume office, his promise to make the U.S. a “crypto capital” sparks renewed interest in cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin (BTC) hit a historic $100,000 in December 2024, and some analysts forecast prices ranging between $78,000 and $250,000 in 2025. However, as the crypto market goes mainstream, concerns about the risks of eased cryptocurrency regulation grow.

What Drives Cryptocurrency Speculation?

Blockchain technology has wide applications, but the dramatic price swings of Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and meme coins attract the most attention. Many investors are driven by speculative demand rather than the fundamental utility of these assets. Meme coins, in particular, thrive on social media hype and celebrity endorsements, making them prone to volatile price movements with little regard for underlying technology or long-term prospects.

Fuelled by Trump’s pro-crypto stance, major institutions like BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) have entered the crypto market. Institutional backing increases liquidity and legitimacy but also raises the risk of market bubbles similar to the late 1990s dot-com era. The potential for inflated valuations driven by political enthusiasm poses dangers for novice and seasoned investors alike.

Financial Bubbles and Contagion Risks

Financial bubbles occur when prices exceed an asset’s fundamental value. When bubbles burst, the fallout spreads across related markets. Crypto crashes in 2022, including Terra Luna and FTX collapses, highlight the contagion risk. The bankruptcy of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in 2023 underscored how interconnected tech, venture capital, and speculative markets can destabilize banks.

One notable incident was Circle, the issuer of stablecoin USDC, which temporarily lost its dollar peg when SVB collapsed. With $3.3 billion in reserves at SVB, fears of a liquidity crisis caused the depegging. This event illustrated how crypto’s integration with traditional finance increases vulnerabilities, making stronger cryptocurrency regulation crucial for stability.

The Role of Celebrity Influence

Celebrity endorsements have fueled meme coin speculation. Elon Musk’s playful social media antics frequently drive coin prices. Most recently, his name change to “Kekius Maximus” led to a 700% surge in the Kekius token. Social media influencers like Logan Paul have faced scrutiny for undisclosed financial interests in meme coins.

The SEC has investigated celebrities promoting cryptocurrencies without transparency, raising concerns about pump-and-dump schemes. These schemes artificially inflate prices before insiders sell at a profit, leaving retail investors with losses. Despite the SEC’s efforts under former chair Gary Gensler, Trump’s potential appointment of Paul Atkins, a crypto advocate, raises questions about future enforcement.

The Paradox of Crypto and Financial Freedom

Cryptocurrency’s promise lies in decentralization and financial independence. Yet, paradoxically, many investors rely on influencers rather than informed research. Market crashes, like the one in 2022, left countless retail investors devastated, highlighting the need for protective regulations even as the sector touts liberty.

Relaxing cryptocurrency regulation may boost short-term gains but threatens long-term stability. Political support could lead to under-regulated markets prone to manipulation, undermining public trust and the very decentralization ethos that draws people to crypto.

Conclusion

The crypto market’s mainstream acceptance comes with opportunities and risks. Under Trump, easing cryptocurrency regulation may spur innovation but also magnify dangers. Investors must weigh potential gains against the need for safeguards to avoid repeating past bubbles and crashes. Strong, balanced oversight is essential to protect consumers while fostering a sustainable, transparent crypto economy.

Ultimately, the future of cryptocurrency depends on achieving a delicate balance between innovation and regulation. While relaxed oversight may attract more institutional investment and boost adoption, it also risks opening the door to fraud, market manipulation, and unchecked volatility. Investors must remain vigilant, diversify portfolios, and prioritize research over hype.

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VILNIUS, Lithuania, Jan. 13, 2025 /CNW/ — The ARMswap team is thrilled to announce the launch of its 1^st version of its DeFi protocol. The web3 world is booming with numerous layer-1 and layer-2 blockchains, each having their unique algorithms and capabilities. However, their closed architecture hinders seamless interaction and information flow between networks, creating inefficiencies. ARMswap’s launch addresses this fundamental inefficiency in the current blockchain architecture and introduces a more optimized version of the multi-directional cross-chain swaps and bridges.

Simplifying Cross-Chain Transactions

“The fragmentation of blockchain networks has been a critical issue, and users were compelled to navigate through various DEXs and third-party bridges to perform a single cross-chain transaction,” notes the CTO of ARMswap. “ARMswap’s launch represents a watershed moment in addressing this fragmentation that has constrained Defi’s evolution.”

ARMswap’s architecture, validated through rigorous security audits by the leading Blockchain security firm Hashlock, combines advanced cryptographic protection for user funds. ARMswap’s protocol delivers secure and rapid swap/bridge operations, setting new industry benchmarks for transaction processing efficiency.

The platform supports 31 blockchains and their native coins in its V1 launch in Jan 2025, with plans for expansion to include more blockchains every quarter. 

In V2, ARMswap will integrate with protocols like Chainlink, Axelar network, Layer zero, Wormhole, etc., to provide extensive coverage of EVM & non-EVM chains. In V3, Armswap will introduce its own framework for relayers and oracles for seamless interoperability across Web3.

ARMSP Fair Launch

ARMswap is launching its utility token, ARMSP, in Jan 2025, incentivizing liquidity providers to actively participate in the ecosystem and to share platform and pool returns with the platform participants.

ARMswap is also releasing its DeFi Mobile App (IOS & Android) in March 2025, enabling users to connect their existing wallets and perform swap transactions and participate in liquidity pools and rewards.

Limited Supply

Join the ARMswap V1 platform and participate in the ARMSP token Fair Launch on 13^th Jan 2025, with a limited supply of 400 million tokens out of 1.25 billion max supplies. Early participants can enjoy bonuses and earn rewards through the ARMswap MVP program. After a 12-month vesting period, ARMSP will be listed on all major exchanges globally.

About ARMswap:

ARMswap UAB simplifies cross-chain asset transfers and brings the power of Web3 and the de-centralization of blockchains into our daily lives and businesses. 

Website: www.armswap.com 

For Media Inquiries:
Contact Name: Husnain Aslam
Title: Chief Technology Officer
Email: media@armswap.com

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SOURCE Armswap UAB

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TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The VerifiedX (VFX) Network, VerifiedX.io, has launched its mainnet non-custodial wallet VFX SwitchBlade, which enables full native Bitcoin functionality. The VFX SwitchBlade also supports a ‘first-mover’ fully decentralized and self custodial Bitcoin Tokenization (Verified Bitcoin) with on-chain native features, enabling real day-to-day utility, while solving current frictions for all Bitcoiners globally today. 

Verified Bitcoin (vBTC) enables anyone the ability to save, spend, withdraw, borrow, lend, mint & transfer media / documents, and vault actual Bitcoin with on-chain recovery features eliminating the need for third-parties or hardware wallets, through a feature rich simple text smart contract. This incredibly unique Bitcoin token provides for enhanced privacy with near-instant transaction finality, all with near-zero fees. Verified Bitcoin tokens are transferable in any denomination completely peer-to-peer, so long as they have a native Bitcoin balance and always maintain a fully decentralized and non-custodial evergreen 1:1 peg. This means that 1 vBTC will always equal 1 BTC and token owners may withdraw their underlying Bitcoin anytime with a ‘one-click’ multisig action or off-ramp the token itself, in whole or in part, at any participatory liquidity provider.

This empowering development will inevitably help provide congestion relief for the Bitcoin network, dramatically reduce Bitcoin holders cost of ownership and transfers, enable media embedding, and increase self-custodial security exponentially, adding immediate utility to holders of the largest digital asset class. It is anticipated that Verified Bitcoin may also help facilitate additional native scarcity with Total Value Vaulted (TVV) over time on VerifiedX Vaults.

VerifiedX – VFX (VerifiedX.IO) is the first open-source decentralized network that is both a universal layer 1 and a Bitcoin specific sidechain for the purpose of tokenized self-custody, on-chain storage, and peer-to-peer commerce of both digital & physical assets.

For Further Inquiries:
Website: https://verifiedx.io/
Discord: https://discord.gg/7cd5ebDQCj
Twitter (X)): https://twitter.com/vfxblockchain
Github: https://github.com/verifiedxblockchain

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SOURCE VerifiedX.io

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HONG KONG, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nano Labs Ltd (Nasdaq: NA) (“we,” the “Company,” or “Nano Labs“), a leading fabless integrated circuit design company and product solution provider in China, today announced that the Company through Nano bit HK Limited (“Nano bit”), its wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a partnership (the “Partnership”) with BitFi, a leading cryptocurrency asset management platform, jointly developing innovative Bitcoin asset management solutions. The Partnership marks a new chapter in Nano Labs’ global technological innovation and strategic ecosystem development.

As part of this strategic initiative, Nano Labs agrees to adopt Bitcoin as a long-term strategic reserve asset, with Nano bit responsible for the management and operation of these assets. BitFi, serving as the Company’s professional partner, agrees to provide comprehensive solutions, including asset custody, quantitative management, and value-enhancing strategies, to ensure the security and profitability of such reserve assets.

The Partnership not only signifies a new phase in Nano Labs’ strategic engagement with the Bitcoin ecosystem but also underscores BitFi’s technical expertise and leadership in cryptocurrency asset management. By leveraging their complementary strengths, the two companies aim to advance the development of the Bitcoin ecosystem and drive sustainable growth across the industry.

About Nano Labs Ltd

Nano Labs Ltd is a leading fabless integrated circuit (“IC”) design company and product solution provider in China. Nano Labs is committed to the development of high throughput computing (“HTC”) chips, high performance computing (“HPC”) chips, distributed computing and storage solutions, smart network interface cards (“NICs”) vision computing chips and distributed rendering. Nano Labs has built a comprehensive flow processing unit (“FPU”) architecture which offers solution that integrates the features of both HTC and HPC. Nano Lab’s Cuckoo series are one of the first near-memory HTC chips available in the market*. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: ir.nano.cn.

* According to an industry report prepared by Frost & Sullivan.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s plan to appeal the Staff’s determination, which can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Nano Labs Ltd
ir@nano.cn

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

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SOURCE Nano Labs Ltd

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DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —  Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has released the latest crypto derivatives report, published weekly with Blocks Scholes. Noting BTC’s retreat from the $100k mark a week into the new year, the analysis showed on-risk assets including crypto bore the brunt of broader macro factors. Past week’s data indicates heightened uncertainty in market dynamics ahead of Trump’s anticipated Jan. 21 inauguration, highlighting shifting investor sentiment during this significant political transition.

Key Insights:

Perpetuals Took a Winter Break: The perpetual swap market experienced a notable decline in liquidity over the holidays, with trading volumes winding down throughout Dec. 2024, leading to decreased realized volatility across the market. Notably, open interest maintained stability compared to levels preceding the great expiration of options contracts in Dec. 2024, indicating conservative positioning and limited hedging activity in perpetual swap markets.

Wide Disparity Between 30-Day Implied Volatility and 7-Day Realized Volatility: ETH’s options markets signalled an unmistakable preference for call options. In contrast,  BTC’s open interest is rebalancing after the expiration in Dec. 2024. Both ETH and BTC have experienced notable changes in their term structures heading into the new year. The sharp divergence between implied and realized volatility is at its largest since the U.S. elections, suggesting that options traders are paying a premium to price in a higher level of risk or volatility despite the calm at the surface.

ETH Calls Gaining Traction 

There has been a reshuffling in ETH open interest. While put options still hold sway in terms of total volume, call contracts have seen an uptick after Dec. However, the optimism comes with a caveat—the decline in realized volatility in the year so far has given options traders pause. The volatility term structure has steepened further, with short-term volatility (measured at a 30-day tenor) still sitting more than 15 points above its realized counterpart. This gap is the widest since the pre-election period of 2024, when geopolitical uncertainty fueled volatility premiums. Today, however, the premium seems driven more by general speculation than by any specific event. Even as the market settles, investors remain cautious, signaling looming uncertainty.

Access the Full Report here.

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk /#BybitResearch

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

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