Weekly Roundup 12/20/24 (No SBR?, Prometheum, Crenshaw) (EP.585)
Dec 20, 2024
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This week dives into MicroStrategy's bold purchase of 15,350 BTC, pushing their total to a staggering 439,000 BTC. The controversial Prometheum tokenized securities platform is called out, highlighting its opacity and questionable practices. Political tensions rise as SEC's Caroline Crenshaw faces backlash from crypto advocates. Plus, a Texas bill proposes a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and Riot Platforms adds more BTC to their collection. Legal dramas unfold with Coinbase's courtroom victory and the SEC's Wells notice to an NFT collection.
MicroStrategy's substantial Bitcoin acquisition and Nasdaq 100 inclusion highlight continuing institutional investment in cryptocurrency despite market volatility.
The Senate's rejection of SEC Commissioner Crenshaw's renomination underscores rising industry concern over regulatory approaches to digital assets.
Deep dives
The Impact of Lehman Brothers' Collapse
The collapse of Lehman Brothers serves as a key event in the discussion of market instability and the subsequent federal interventions that followed. With 25,000 employees affected, Lehman's bankruptcy underscores the severe consequences of risky mortgage investments in a failing housing market. In response, the federal government extended an $85 billion loan to American International Group (AIG) as part of efforts to stabilize the financial sector. Such government actions reflect a growing concern over market dynamics and the need for regulatory oversight in times of crisis.
Bitcoin's Mining Landscape and Financial Recovery
Bitcoin mining has shown resilience, with Q4 statistics indicating a substantial 18% increase in hash rate and a recovery in mining revenue to $3 billion. Despite a rebound in Bitcoin's price by 54%, the hash price remains below pre-halving levels, which is a primary concern for miners. Some companies, notably Hud 8 and Core Scientific, have reported impressive gains, showcasing the potential for profitability despite broader market fluctuations. This landscape emphasizes the competitive nature of Bitcoin mining and the strategic decisions companies must navigate to ensure financial viability.
Bitcoin's Potential as a Reserve Asset
The conversation around establishing a Bitcoin strategic reserve has gained traction, highlighting differing opinions on the feasibility and political implications of such a move. Matt Walsh argues that the current market has overinflated expectations regarding government purchasing of Bitcoin, which could lead to disillusionment if these expectations are unmet. With legislative hurdles anticipated, particularly regarding bipartisan support, the likelihood of a federal Bitcoin reserve seems slim. The discussion brings to light the complexities surrounding crypto legislation and the challenges of aligning political priorities with market aspirations.
Developments in Crypto Regulation and Compliance
Recent regulatory developments indicate a more hostile environment towards cryptocurrencies, notably with the renunciation of SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw's renomination amidst significant backlash from the industry. The Senate's scrutiny of regulatory figures reveals a shifting landscape where crypto advocacy is gaining momentum among some lawmakers. Meanwhile, new companies like Anchorage Digital achieving regulatory milestones, such as securing a bit license, signify positive advancements for digital asset compliance. These contrasting scenarios illustrate the ongoing tension between regulatory scrutiny and the adaptive strategies of crypto entities working towards legitimacy in the financial sector.
Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode:
Nic comes out against the SBR on Bloomberg
More Prometheum nonsense
MicroStrategy acquired an additional 15,350 BTC for roughly $1.5 billion, bringing the company's total holdings to 439,000 BTC. Microstrategy was also added to the Nasdaq 100 this week, which will lead to the stock's inclusion in several large ETFs including Invesco's QQQ.
Anchorage Digital has received New York BitLicense approval, enabling them to offer digital asset custody and trading services to more customers in the state such as RIAs and other institutional asset managers.
The US Senate scrapped a vote to renominate SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw in response to immense backlash from the crypto community, led by Coinbase-backed non-profit Stand With Crypto, for Commissioner Crenshaw's treatment of the digital asset industry.
A Texas state representative, Giovanni Capriglione, introduced a bill for the state to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Riot Platforms, the publicly traded Bitcoin miner, acquired 667 BTC this week for $67.4 million to add to their balance sheet, bringing their total holdings to 17,429 BTC.
The NFT collection CyberKongz announced they had received a Wells Notice from the SEC.
A California judge sided with Coinbase in a suit brought by BiT Global over the exchange's delisting of wBTC. Coinbase had recently moved to remove the asset, a tokenized version of BTC tradeable on Ethereum-based networks, following BiT Global, a custodian closely affiliated with Tron founder Justin Sun, assuming custody services for wBTC.