"Global markets are anticipating a less dovish Fed in 2025," said Zaheer Ebtikar, founder of crypto fund Split Capital. "As a result, crypto event traders and market makers are reducing risk." Federal Reserve officials cut their benchmark interest rate for the third time in a row on Wednesday, but kept a lid on the number of cuts expected in 2025. Lower interest rates typically increase demand for most riskier assets, such as cryptocurrencies. David Lawant, head of research at crypto prime broker FalconX, said that while rate cut forecasts are currently affecting prices, they may not have a long-term impact because Bitcoin's correlation with major stock indexes has fallen. "The slower pace of rate cuts expected in 2025 is not entirely surprising, but it has put some pressure on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies," said Lawant. "While macro factors have traditionally influenced cryptocurrency price action, sector-specific factors are likely to dominate in the coming weeks and months, especially as markets anticipate policy changes from the new administration." (Bloomberg)

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, wrote on X that Powell is not as cooperative with Trump as he is with Biden. But it doesn't matter, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary nominated by Trump, will check and balance Powell like Yellen. Simple ways for the Trump team not to rely on the Fed to print money: -End the custody of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac); -Devalue the dollar against gold; -Easy the supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) exemption.

Eric Council Jr., the hacker who hacked into the US SEC X account in January and posted a message suggesting that the Bitcoin spot ETF had been approved, will be allowed to travel during the holidays. Judge Amy Berman Jackson recently filed a document with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, stating that Council can travel to North Carolina with a third-party custodian between December 23 and 29. The judge said that Council "must provide the Pretrial Services Department with its precise itinerary and information about its accommodation at least two business days before the trip." (Cointelegraph) Earlier in October, U.S. federal prosecutors planned to offer a plea agreement to an Alabama man who was accused of participating in the hacking of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) X account in January and posting a false social media post about approving the first Bitcoin spot ETF. "We're going to offer a plea deal, but we don't know if he'll take it," U.S. prosecutors told the judge at a hearing in federal court in Washington. Eric Council Jr., 25, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and fraud using an access device. Council's cooperation may help prosecutors track down his co-conspirators in the case, who allegedly used stolen personal information of an SEC employee to gain access to the agency's accounts.

According to BlockBeats, Nick Timiraos, often referred to as the 'Federal Reserve's mouthpiece,' reported on December 19 that there has been a shift in the perception of inflation risks among Federal Reserve officials. In September, out of 19 officials, three believed that the risks to the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation forecast were tilted to the upside, suggesting that if the forecasts were incorrect, they might be too low. Today, the sentiment has changed significantly, with 15 out of the 19 officials now expressing concerns that the risks associated with the already revised upward core PCE inflation remain skewed to the upside. This indicates a growing consensus within the Federal Reserve that inflationary pressures could be more persistent than previously anticipated. The core PCE inflation is a critical measure for the Federal Reserve as it excludes volatile food and energy prices, providing a clearer picture of underlying inflation trends. The shift in the Federal Reserve officials' outlook reflects ongoing economic uncertainties and the challenges in accurately forecasting inflation in a dynamic economic environment. The increased concern over inflation risks suggests that the Federal Reserve may need to consider further adjustments to its monetary policy to address potential inflationary pressures. This development is crucial as it could influence future interest rate decisions and impact economic growth and stability.

According to Cointelegraph, El Salvador is set to make significant changes to its Bitcoin policies as part of a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Central American nation will receive the funds over the next 40 months, following its commitment to measures aimed at reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio. The IMF announced on December 18 that the potential risks associated with El Salvador's Bitcoin project will be significantly reduced in accordance with the Fund's policies. Legal reforms will ensure that Bitcoin acceptance by the private sector becomes voluntary, while public sector involvement in Bitcoin-related economic activities will be limited. El Salvador initially began purchasing Bitcoin in 2021, and according to the Bitcoin Office's tracker, the country currently holds 5,968.8 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $602 million. Despite reaching out for comments, Cointelegraph did not receive an immediate response from El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office. The IMF also stated that taxes in the country will continue to be paid in US dollars, which remains the official currency, and that government involvement in the state-backed crypto wallet Chivo will be gradually reduced. The agreement, which still requires approval from the IMF Executive Board, concludes four years of negotiations that were complicated by President Nayib Bukele's decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in June 2021, making El Salvador the first country to do so. The IMF has consistently urged Bukele to abandon his Bitcoin plans, citing the speculative nature of the cryptocurrency as a potential risk to the country's economy. The agreement will also facilitate additional loans from other global financial institutions, including the World Bank, bringing the total financing package to over $3.5 billion. In response to the IMF's announcement, Max Keiser, a Bitcoin adviser to President Bukele, dismissed the agreement as "bureaucratic, meaningless nonsense" on social media platform X. He emphasized that Bitcoin usage in El Salvador has always been voluntary and continues to grow. However, a recent survey conducted in October revealed that 92% of Salvadorans do not use Bitcoin for transactions, an increase from a 2023 survey where 88% reported not using the cryptocurrency for transactions.

Bitcoin posted its biggest drop in more than three months, falling to around the key $100,000 level, as speculative investments generally retreated after the Federal Reserve signaled more caution about future rate cuts. The Fed meeting results should not surprise investors who have been concerned about "recent continued higher U.S. inflation and activity data," Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Australia Pty, wrote in a report. "However, it has served as a catalyst to wash out some of the speculative excesses that have flowed into risk assets such as stocks and Bitcoin after the U.S. election." Since the November 5 election, Bitcoin prices have risen 50%, hitting an all-time high of $108,316 earlier this week. Paul Veradittakit, managing partner at Pantera Capital, said that "all signs point to a bottom and a good outlook for Bitcoin," even if some traders were disappointed with the Fed meeting and took profits. (Bloomberg)

Grayscale announced that its Mini Bitcoin Trust (BTC) will have a net inflow of more than $1 billion in 2024. As of December 17, the ETF has more than $4 billion in assets under management. In July, Grayscale spun off two new ETFs from its older BTC and ETH funds, the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust and the Mini Ethereum Trust. The management fee for the Mini Trust is 0.15%, excluding promotion fees, which is the lowest base fee charged among spot cryptocurrency ETFs.

El Salvador’s struck a loan deal with the IMF and will make Bitcoin acceptance voluntary and roll back government involvement in Bitcoin-related projects. source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/el-salvador-bitcoin-payment-voluntary-imf-loan-deal?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

미 FOMC는 시장의 예상대로 정책금리를 0.25%포인트 인하하기로 결정했지만, 파월 의장은 기자회견에서 내년 전망에 대해 속도를 늦추고 보다 신중하게 평가할 것이라고 발언하며 금리 인하 횟수를 줄일 것임을 시사했다. 미국 주식 및 암호화폐 시장은 이에 반응해 하락했다. 이를 코인포스트가 19일 전함. 미국 주요 주가지수인 S&P500은 이날 약 3% 하락하며 코로나 쇼크가 발생한 2020년 3월 이후 가장 큰 ... source: https://coincode.kr/28542

A California court has ruled that Coinbase can delist wBTC on the first court date of Sun Yuchen's affiliated company BiT Global's lawsuit against the exchange. Coinbase announced last month that it would delist wBTC on December 19. Last week, BiT Global filed a temporary restraining order in an attempt to prevent Coinbase from delisting the token. The company argued that the move would cause imminent and irreparable harm. However, on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín said there was no reason to prevent Coinbase from delisting the asset, which has undergone a major transformation in recent months. A person familiar with the lawsuit said in an interview: "They are trying to prevent us from proceeding. The court ruled today that none of the factors they raised meet the requirements." (The Block) Earlier, Coinbase (COIN.O) said that Coinbase would delist wBTC because Sun Yuchen would bring "unacceptable risks."

Golden Finance launches the 2543rd issue of "Golden Morning 8", a morning report on the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, to provide you with the latest and fastest news on the digital currency and blockchain industry.

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Sygnum has partnered with Moomoo Singapore to launch a new digital asset fund for accredited investors, aiming to offer diversified strategies in the growing cryptocurrency market. The fund, available in 2025, focuses on active management to maximise returns and manage risks in this emerging asset class.