Author: NBTC

In a significant market-first move, Crypto.com has announced a major partnership with ALL – Accor Live Limitless, the global loyalty programme and booking platform of Accor Group. This collaboration will enable Crypto.com users to seamlessly convert their cryptocurrency holdings into Accor Reward points, opening a new avenue for utilizing digital assets for real-world travel experiences. Crypto Meets Travel Rewards The partnership allows users of the Crypto.com App, who are also ALL members, to convert over 20 supported cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin ($BTC), Ethereum ($ETH), and Crypto.com’s native token Cronos ($CRO), into Reward points. These points can be spent across Accor’s extensive…

With Bitcoin briefly surpassing $100,000 and the S&P 500 posting its best year since 2019, Bank of America’s strategist warns of a potential market overshoot. U.S. stocks and cryptocurrencies are showing signs of overheating, with Bank of America Corp.’s Michael Hartnett warning of a potential “overshoot” in early 2025, Bloomberg reports. The S&P 500’s price-to-book ratio surged to 5.3 times in 2024, nearing a peak of 5.5 seen during the dot-com bubble in March 2000. Hartnett cautioned that if the index approaches 6,666 points — about 10% above current levels — the rally could overextend. Yet, despite this, the bank’s…

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has been a cornerstone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and a leading platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). As of December 20, Ethereum is trading at approximately $3,410, showing a decline of about 10.6% from the previous close. Ethereum’s price dynamics have been influenced by several factors: Market Volatility: Recent market fluctuations have led to significant price movements in Ethereum, with intraday highs reaching $3,813 and lows dipping to $3,405. Regulatory Speculations: Hype surrounding the Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. has contributed to price volatility. Earlier this…

The Bank of England (BoE) has decided to maintain interest rates at 4.75% amid reaccelerating inflation in the UK, according to the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting released on Thursday. The decision to keep rates unchanged was made by a 6-3 vote, with three members advocating a 0.25% point reduction. UK inflation edged higher in November 2024, according to data released today by the Office for National Statistics. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% in October, marking the second consecutive monthly increase above the central bank’s 2% target. The Consumer Price…

Amid speculation that BlackRock may be preparing to launch an XRP ETF, an executive from the company has provided an update. Over the past few months, several XRP enthusiasts have been anticipating an XRP ETF filing from BlackRock. It all began after a fake XRP ETF filing from the company was filed on the State of Delaware website last year. At the time, the price of XRP skyrocketed tremendously, soaring by over 15%. However, BlackRock quickly refuted the report, emphasizing that the filing was fake. Ever since, several asset managers like Bitwise, Canary Capital, 21Shares, and WisdomTree have submitted separate…

Hex Trust, a prominent platform for virtual asset staking, custody, and market activities, has announced the release of HT Markets MENA. Hex Trust’s HT Markets MENA in Dubai aims to provide fiat on/off-ramp operations within Dubai’s jurisdiction, letting accredited and institutional investors access the regulated and secure digital asset market. The platform disclosed this development in its recent statement. Hex Trust Expands Services with HT Markets MENA Launch Hex Trust pointed out that HT Markets MENA launch reflects a notable development. It reportedly provides on and off-ramp services to Dubai-based users for fiat currencies. However, it delivers the respective services…

The state of Florida plans to introduce a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the first quarter of 2025, according to The Street. This initiative, backed by Florida’s influential political leaders and blockchain advocates, signals the state’s ongoing push to become a leader in Bitcoin adoption. Florida’s Bold Move: A Bitcoin Reserve Samuel Armes, president of the Florida Blockchain Business Association (FBBA), revealed that the state is likely to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve during the upcoming legislative session starting in the first quarter of 2025. The move builds on Florida’s existing investments in Bitcoin and crypto-related assets, particularly through its $185.7…

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency initiative linked to the Trump family, has significantly increased its on-chain activity over the past week. According to blockchain data, the project has invested millions of dollars into expanding its crypto holdings, including Ethereum (ETH), Aave (AAVE), Chainlink (LINK), Ethena (ENA), and Ondo (ONDO). Strategic Ethereum Investment World Liberty Financial’s latest acquisition involves 722.213 ETH for $2.5 million USDC through Cow Protocol on December 20. Notably, Ethereum remains the largest asset in WLFI’s portfolio. This latest acquisition, coming amid the market-wide dip, elevated the project’s total ETH holdings to 15,598 ETH, now worth $52.98…

The Fed’s recent decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points has sparked debate among leading economists about the path of monetary policy over the next two years. The move, expected by many on Wall Street, could signal the start of a steady cycle of rate cuts, with some experts predicting cuts at every Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting through September 2025. Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust and former Philadelphia Fed economic advisor, believes the Fed will take an aggressive approach to rate cuts given the softening labor market and slowing economic growth. “Private nonfarm payrolls…

A dormant PEPE whale showed activity for the first time after nearly 600 days. PEPE has factored in a 14.18% price increase over the past week as per CMC data. This weekend has not entered into slumber, as Bitcoin spurs into bullish runs. The cryptocurrency surged to the $102K level in the past day. This has stirred some activity in the market, and the altcoin sector has shown mixed signals toward the bullish run. Meanwhile, a particular PEPE whale has caught market attention. According to LookOnChain reports, a dormant PEPE whale, a few hours ago moved all of his 2.1…