Tag: Crypto

Bit Digital (BTBT) – June Numbers Released; Raising Price Target

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Tuesday, July 09, 2024

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

BTC Mining. Bit Digital produced 61.7 BTC during June, a 2.5% decrease from 63.3 in the previous month. The active hash rate was 2.57 EH/s versus 2.54 EH/s the prior month. We expect to see an increase in active hash rate in the second half of the year as the Company becomes more opportunistic in deploying efficient miners.

AI/ETH. The Company had 256 servers actively running, similar to last month, and earned an estimated $4.1 million of unaudited revenue from its anchor contract during the month. Approximately 17,184 ETH was actively staked as of June 30, 2024, flat with last month. Bit Digital earned 3.5% blended APY on its staked ETH, up from 3.1% last month.


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Robinhood Doubles Down on Crypto With $200M Bitstamp Buyout

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Robinhood Markets is making its biggest bet yet on the booming crypto market. The popular trading platform announced a deal to acquire Bitstamp, one of the world’s oldest and largest cryptocurrency exchanges, for approximately $200 million in cash.

The blockbuster transaction represents Robinhood’s largest acquisition to date and a major escalation of its push into the digital assets space. By bringing Bitstamp’s established crypto exchange capabilities in-house, Robinhood is positioning itself to become a fierce competitor to industry giants like Binance and Coinbase.

Founded in 2011, Bitstamp has emerged as a leading crypto exchange particularly popular among European and Asian traders. Its core spot trading platform offers a deep pool of liquidity with over 85 digital assets available for trading. Critically, Bitstamp also holds around 50 operational licenses and registrations across the globe.

For the fast-growing Robinhood Crypto division, acquiring Bitstamp provides an immediate expansion of its product lineup and geographic reach. The deal comes as Robinhood’s crypto business is already experiencing explosive growth. In the first quarter of 2024, crypto revenues drove a massive earnings beat, underscoring the intense customer demand. However, the company is also facing headwinds from U.S. regulators.

Just last month, Robinhood disclosed that it received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding its crypto trading practices. The SEC has staked out an aggressive position that many digital assets should be classified and registered as securities. In contrast, Robinhood and other major crypto firms have pushed back against what they view as regulatory overreach by the SEC into the crypto markets. Despite the legal turbulence, Robinhood intends to keep communicating with regulators as it moves forward with the integration of Bitstamp.

Analysts view Robinhood’s big crypto bet as ultimately positioning the company for further growth. The Bitstamp deal supercharges its global crypto capabilities at a time when adoption of bitcoin, ether and other digital assets is rapidly accelerating worldwide. An analyst stated the acquisition fits squarely with Robinhood’s crypto-first strategy and could be a game-changer, immediately making them a major player worldwide. The analyst reiterated a Buy rating and $15 price target on the stock.

Indeed, Robinhood’s shares spiked over 3% in pre-market trading as investors cheered the transformative deal. The stock has already surged 69% so far this year amid the company’s renewed focus on profitable growth after cost-cutting measures.

While the $200 million price tag is just a drop in the bucket for Robinhood’s over $6 billion war chest of cash reserves, the acquisition symbolizes its all-in embrace of crypto. By combining Bitstamp’s battle-tested exchange with its own fast-growing retail crypto platform, Robinhood is positioning itself for a major shake-up of crypto trading.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending any additional regulatory hurdles. But one thing is clear – Robinhood has gone full-crypto, and its fight for dominance in this rapidly evolving space is only just beginning.

Ether ETFs Get Green Light, Ushering In New Era for Crypto Investing

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The crypto world was abuzz this week as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave the green light for the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that will track the price of ether, the cryptocurrency powering the Ethereum blockchain.

In a little-noticed release on Thursday evening, the SEC approved a rule change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) that effectively opens the door for ether ETFs to be listed and traded just like their bitcoin counterparts.

This landmark decision represents a major milestone for the crypto industry’s evolution into mainstream finance. It grants ether, after years of regulatory ambiguity, a legitimacy akin to that bestowed upon bitcoin last year when the first bitcoin ETFs hit the market.

“This is a huge development that really drives home ether’s commodity status from a regulatory perspective,” said Rachel Lin, CEO of crypto derivatives platform SynFutures. “It will allow investors, from retail to institutional, to gain exposure to ether through a regulated, familiar investment vehicle.”

Ether is the second-largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin with a market cap of around $220 billion. It has rapidly emerged as a crucial piece of infrastructure undergirding large swaths of crypto and blockchain applications beyond just a medium of exchange.

The Ethereum network hosts a multitude of decentralized apps and services, including large stablecoin ecosystems, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms for lending/borrowing, and a rapidly expanding universe of blockchain-based games and metaverse projects. All these rely on ether as the “gas” that powers the network.

Major crypto companies quickly celebrated the ruling as catalyzing new growth for the ecosystem. “This approval from the SEC will allow millions of investors to embrace crypto in a familiar, regulated way,” said David Puth, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange CoinX.

The decision paves the way for asset managers to launch ether ETFs that directly hold the cryptocurrency, similar to existing bitcoin offerings like the Bitcoin ETF. This could drive significant new investment into ether from both institutional players seeking crypto exposure without holding the underlying asset, as well as retail investors who want a simple ether investment product available in traditional brokerage accounts.

However, some key questions remain around which specific ETF proposals will get approved, when they might begin trading, and whether they will be physically-backed with actual ether or employ indirect exposure through derivatives.

Leading ETF issuers like BlackRock, Fidelity, and WisdomTree have active filings for ether ETFs that could get a look. But smaller players like Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest were among the first movers on bitcoin ETF filings and could be better positioned for any initial ether product launches as well.

While the ether ETFs have a regulatory greenlight, they will still need to be approved on an individual basis by the SEC and the exchanges they list on. Industry analysts expect a speedy process, with the first launch potentially coming in the next few months.

For ether investors who have waited years for this moment, simple and convenient access to the world’s most actively utilized crypto network through traditional market infrastructure is almost at hand. The launch of ether ETFs may turbocharge investment into the Ethereum ecosystem – and accelerate the momentum behind crypto’s move into mainstream finance.

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Release – Bit Digital, Inc. Announces First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on BTBT

NEW YORK, May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) (the “Company”), a sustainable platform for digital assets and artificial intelligence (“AI”) infrastructure headquartered in New York City, today announced its unaudited financial results for the First Quarter ended March 31, 2024. 

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter of 2024

  • Total revenue was $30.3 million for the First Quarter of 2024, a 266% increase compared to the First Quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the commencement of our Bit Digital AI business and by a higher realized bitcoin price.
  • Revenue from bitcoin mining was $21.9 million for the First Quarter of 2024, a 166% increase compared to the prior year’s quarter. The Company’s Bit Digital AI business, referred to as High performance computing services (“HPC”), began generating revenue in January 2024, and recognized $8.1 million of revenue during the quarter. The Company issued a one-time service credit of $1.3 million to its HPC customer as compensation for decreased utilization during the initial deployment period, which included testing and optimization phases. Illustratively, adding back this credit would yield pro forma gross margins of approximately 72% on a net basis compared to reported gross margins of 61% for the segment. Revenue from ETH staking was approximately $0.3 million.
  • The Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $35.5 million, and total liquidity (defined as cash equivalents and restricted cash, USDC, and the fair market value of digital assets) of approximately $163.21 million, as of March 31, 2024.
  • Total assets were $291.1 million and Shareholders’ Equity amounted to $265.2 million as of March 31, 2024.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 was $58.5 million for the First Quarter of 2024 compared to $1.5 million for the First Quarter of 2023.
  • GAAP earnings per share was $0.43 on a fully-diluted basis for the First Quarter of 2024 compared to a loss of $0.03 for the First Quarter of 2023.

Operational Highlights for the First Quarter 2024

  • The Company earned 410.7 bitcoins during the First Quarter of 2024, a 13% increase from the prior year. Growth was primarily driven by a higher active hash rate and partially offset by an increase in network difficulty.
  • The Company paid approximately $0.05 per kilowatt hour to its hosting partners for electricity consumed during the First Quarter of 2024.
  • The average fleet efficiency for the active fleet was approximately 28.3 J/TH as of March 31, 2024.
  • The Company earned 111.1 ETH in native staking and 1.3 ETH in liquid staking, respectively, in the First Quarter of 2024.
  • Treasury holdings of BTC and ETH were 956.4 and 16,031.43, respectively, with a fair market value of approximately $68.2 million and $58.5 million on March 31, 2024, respectively.
  • The BTC equivalent4 of our digital asset holdings as of March 31, 2024 (defined as if all ETH and USDC holdings were converted into BTC as of that date) was approximately 1,790.0 BTC5, or approximately $127.7 million.
  • As of March 31, 2024, we had 48,898 miners owned or operating (in Iceland) for bitcoin mining with a total maximum hash rate of 4.2 EH/S.
  • The Company’s active hash rate of its bitcoin mining fleet was approximately 2.76 EH/s as of March 31, 2024.
  • The Company purchased approximately 2,350 bitcoin mining units during the First Quarter of 2024.
  • Approximately 85% of our fleet’s run-rate electricity consumption was generated from carbon-free energy sources as of March 31, 2024. These figures are based on data provided by our hosts, publicly available sources, and internal estimates, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable practices in the digital asset mining industry.
  • The Company had approximately 3,008 ETH actively staked in native staking protocols as of March 31, 2024. The decrease relative to the prior quarter was due to the Company changing its provider for native staking solutions. As of April 30, 2024, the Company had approximately 17,184 ETH actively staked in native staking protocols.
  • On January 22, 2024, approximately 192 servers (1,536 GPUs) began generating revenue from the Company’s AI customer contract. Subsequently, approximately 64 additional servers (512 GPUs) commenced revenue generation on February 2, 2024.
  • On January 26, 2024, the Company finalized an agreement with Coinmint for up to 6 MW of additional mining capacity at Coinmint’s hosting facility in Massena, New York. This new agreement brings the Company’s total contracted hosting capacity with Coinmint to approximately 46 MW.

Management Commentary

“Our First Quarter 2024 results represent a strong start to the year with revenue growing by more than 250% and GAAP Net Income in excess of $50 million. The primary drivers for the improved performance were the commencement of our Bit Digital AI business and a higher realized bitcoin price.

We were well prepared for the halving which occurred in April 2024. Our balance sheet remains a core strength with over $160 million of total liquidity as of March 31, 2024, zero debt, and a growing revenue stream that is not correlated to the economics of bitcoin mining. While we continue to evaluate the post-halving bitcoin mining landscape, our goal of reaching 6.0 EH/s this year remains intact. We are actively engaged in discussions for both incremental hosting opportunities and potential acquisitions.

We continue to believe that capital allocation optionality provided by our complementary business lines is a key differentiator for our Company. We are actively evaluating a number of growth opportunities, both organic and inorganic, across each of our business lines. We are in the late stages of finalizing an agreement to double the size of the GPU fleet for our anchor client and our negotiations with prospective clients are progressing well. Our target of reaching a $100 million annualized revenue run-rate by year-end for this segment remains intact.”

About Bit Digital

Bit Digital, Inc. is a sustainable platform for digital assets and artificial intelligence (“AI”) infrastructure headquartered in New York City. Our bitcoin mining operations are located in the US, Canada, and Iceland. The Company has established a business line, Bit Digital AI, that offers infrastructure services for artificial intelligence applications.  For additional information, please contact ir@bit-digital.com or visit our website at www.bit-digital.com.

Investor Notice 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under “Risk Factors” in Item 3.D of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. If any material risk was to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of Bit Digital’s production of bitcoin. Actual operating results will vary depending on many factors including network difficulty rate, total hash rate of the network, the operations of our facilities, the status of our miners, and other factors. See “Safe Harbor Statement” below.

Safe Harbor Statement 

This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” relating to the business of Bit Digital, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Footnotes:

1 This figure excludes approximately 2,701 ETH that were transferred to an internally managed fund.

2 Adjusted EBITDA refers to earnings before interest expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization expense (“EBITDA”) adjusted to eliminate the effects of certain non-cash and / or non-recurring items.

3 This figure excludes approximately 2,701 ETH that were transferred to an internally managed fund.

4 “BTC equivalent” is a hypothetical illustration of the value of our digital asset portfolio in bitcoin terms. BTC equivalent is defined as if all non-BTC digital assets, comprised of ETH and USDC, were converted into BTC as of March 31, 2024, and added to our existing BTC balance. Conversion values are found using the closing price on coinmarketcap.com.

5 This figure excludes approximately 2,701 ETH that were transferred to an internally managed fund.

FTX Bankruptcy Plan Aims to Repay Most Customers in Full, Plus Interest

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

In a remarkable turn of events, the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX has proposed a bankruptcy reorganization plan that could see nearly all of its customers fully repaid for their lost funds – and then some. According to a court filing released on Wednesday, FTX estimates it owes creditors around $11.2 billion, but has managed to recover between $14.5 billion and $16.3 billion to distribute.

The proposed plan states that customers whose claims amount to $50,000 or less, which accounts for around 98% of FTX’s creditors, will receive approximately 118% of their allowed claim amount. This means these customers would get all of their money back, plus an additional 18% payout on top.

This development comes as an incredible lifeline for the many retail investors and traders who had their funds frozen when FTX collapsed into bankruptcy in November 2022 amid fraud allegations against its founder Sam Bankman-Fried. At the time, new CEO John Ray III bluntly stated it was one of the most catastrophic corporate failures he’d seen in 40 years of restructuring experience.

So how did FTX manage to raise over $14 billion to repay creditors after such a spectacular implosion? The answer lies in a series of strategic asset sales and recovering investments made by the exchange and Bankman-Fried’s hedge fund Alameda Research.

One of the biggest windfalls came from selling most of FTX’s stake in artificial intelligence company Anthropic, which is backed by Amazon. That divestment alone netted FTX close to $900 million. The exchange also monetized various other venture investments and digital asset holdings.

However, FTX faced a significant hurdle – a large sum of cryptocurrency that went simply missing from the exchange after its bankruptcy. This denied them the ability to benefit from the massive price appreciation that leading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have seen since November, which is up over 270%.

As John Ray III noted, the company had to “look to other sources of recoverable value to repay creditors” beyond just holding crypto assets. Their aggressive asset sales and recovery efforts seem to have paid off.

While undoubtedly positive news for FTX’s customers, the proposed bankruptcy plan still requires approval from the court overseeing the case. The plan release also reminded that Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven criminal counts related to FTX’s collapse and received a 25-year prison sentence.

If approved, the FTX bankruptcy would represent one of the most successful cryptocurrency exchange restructurings to date in terms of customer reimbursement. It’s a glimmer of hope amidst an industry still reeling from a crisis of consumer confidence following FTX and other high-profile blowups in 2022.

Of course, repayment is just one step in FTX’s long road to reorganization. Serious questions remain around tightening regulatory oversight and restoring trust in centralized crypto trading platforms. But for its customers at least, this plan could provide closure and make them remarkably whole after a near-total wipeout.

Robinhood’s Crypto Arm Receives Wells Notice from SEC: What Investors Need to Know

Posted on by cpatches

On May 4, 2024, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) announced that its cryptocurrency trading division, Robinhood Crypto, had been served with a Wells notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The news sent ripples through the market, prompting concerns among investors and stakeholders. But what exactly does this mean for Robinhood and its investors?

A Wells notice is not a confirmation of guilt but rather a formal notification from the SEC indicating its intent to recommend enforcement action against a company or individual. In Robinhood’s case, the SEC alleges potential violations of Sections 15(a) and 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This notice follows a prior SEC investigation into Robinhood Crypto’s cryptocurrency listings, custody practices, and platform operations.

Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s chief legal, compliance, and corporate affairs officer, emphasized the company’s stance, stating, “We firmly believe that the assets listed on our platform are not securities and we look forward to engaging with the SEC to make clear just how weak any case against Robinhood Crypto would be.” Despite the Wells notice, Robinhood remains resolute in its position regarding the nature of the assets listed on its platform.

The receipt of a Wells notice can have multifaceted implications for both the company and its investors. From a financial perspective, Robinhood could face increased legal costs associated with defending against potential enforcement actions. Moreover, the company’s reputation may suffer, potentially leading to decreased investor confidence and stock price volatility. However, it’s essential to note that a Wells notice does not guarantee the ultimate filing of enforcement actions, and the outcome of any regulatory proceedings remains uncertain.

Following the announcement, Robinhood’s stock experienced a brief downturn in pre-market trading, dropping as much as 9%. However, the stock quickly rebounded after the opening bell. Year-to-date, Robinhood’s stock has seen substantial growth, up more than 43%, while bitcoin futures have climbed over 50%. The market’s reaction underscores the uncertainty surrounding the potential implications of the Wells notice on Robinhood’s future performance.

As Robinhood prepares to navigate the regulatory landscape in response to the Wells notice, investors should closely monitor developments and assess the potential impact on the company’s operations and financial health. While uncertainties loom, Robinhood’s proactive approach and commitment to engaging with the SEC signal its intent to address regulatory concerns head-on. Ultimately, the resolution of this matter will shape the trajectory of Robinhood’s journey in the crypto space and its relationship with investors moving forward.

Bitcoin’s Next Major Milestone Is A Few Days Away: The 2024 Halving

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

A once-every-four-years event in the Bitcoin world is rapidly approaching – the highly anticipated “halving.” Scheduled to occur around April 19th, 2024, this mechanism hard-coded into Bitcoin’s DNA is set to cut the rate of new BTC issuance in half. It’s a pivotal moment that could supercharge the crypto’s scintillating 2024 rally and reignite the bull market.

The halving is a deflationary feature designed to control Bitcoin’s supply over time by reducing the block reward paid to miners. From its inception in 2009 until 2012, miners received 50 BTC per validated block. That number was cut in half to 25 BTC at the first halving in 2012, then halved again to 12.5 BTC in 2016, and most recently to 6.25 BTC in 2020.

Now in 2024, the block reward is set to get cut again from 6.25 to around 3.125 BTC. By systematically slowing the issuance rate over time, Bitcoin’s supply is kept scarce in the face of theoretically increasing demand. This perceived scarcity is one of the factors purported to give Bitcoin its monetary value premium as a form of “digital gold.”

The halving events have historically preceded huge price surges in Bitcoin. A year after the May 2020 halving, Bitcoin rallied over 545%. Similar explosive rallies were witnessed after the 2016 and 2012 events as well. The logic is that as new supply slows after the halving, demand has to be higher to sustain price levels.

Some analysts think the halving impact has already been priced into Bitcoin’s blistering 2024 rally amid optimism around newly launched U.S. Bitcoin ETFs and rising institutional adoption. Since January 1st, BTC has surged over 60% to fresh all-time highs near $74,000.

But many Bitcoin veterans believe the halving could simply be the catalyst that reignites the next true crypto bull cycle akin to cycles past. They point to the recent rally as just the warm-up act before the main event. Adding fuel to the fire, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates later this year, thereby boosting risk assets like Bitcoin.

According to crypto exchange Bitfinex, Bitcoin could rally 160% in the 12-14 months post-halving to over $150,000 per coin if historical trends play out. While past returns are no guarantee of future performance, the scarcity effects of reduced supply could indeed supercharge demand.

Of course, doubters remain plentiful. There’s the argument that three prior data points create a small sample size from which to draw conclusions. The 2020 cycle was potentially inflated by pandemic stay-at-home narratives. And as Bitcoin matures, price movements may become more decoupled from fundamentals like the halving.

For crypto diehards though, the halving represents a once-in-a-cycle opportunity to get positioned ahead of the next major uptrend in Bitcoin prices. After spending 2022 and much of 2023 brutalized by the brutal crypto winter, many view it as the light at the end of the tunnel. Whether it marks just another bullish catalyst or something even bigger remains to be seen. But Bitcoin’s next milestone moment is fast approaching.

Bitcoin Soars to New Heights: Opportunities in the Crypto Market and Beyond

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, has once again captured the attention of investors worldwide by setting a new all-time high price of nearly $69,000. This remarkable achievement serves as a reminder that even in the ever-evolving landscape of finance, there are always opportunities to be found – often in unexpected places.

The recent surge in Bitcoin’s value can be attributed to the launch of several spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) earlier this year. These ETFs have provided everyday investors with unprecedented access to the cryptocurrency market, fueling a surge in demand that has outpaced the available supply. With institutional investors and ETFs scooping up more Bitcoin than is being mined daily, a supply crunch has emerged, further driving up prices.

While the crypto market has been the center of attention, this event also highlights the potential for overlooked investment opportunities in other sectors. Just as Bitcoin was once dismissed by many as a passing fad, there are countless emerging growth companies and innovative technologies that are currently being underestimated by the broader market.

Small-cap stocks, in particular, often fly under the radar of mainstream investors, yet they can offer significant upside potential for those willing to conduct thorough research and identify promising ventures. From groundbreaking medical innovations to disruptive technologies reshaping entire industries, the small-cap universe is brimming with hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

The key to successful investing in these often-overlooked areas lies in taking a long-term perspective and maintaining a diversified portfolio. Just as the crypto market has experienced its fair share of volatility over the years, emerging growth companies can be subject to significant price fluctuations as they navigate the challenges of scaling their operations and gaining market share.

However, for those with the patience and risk tolerance to withstand these ups and downs, the potential rewards can be substantial. Many of today’s industry titans, from Amazon to Tesla, were once small-cap companies with ambitious visions and innovative products that captured the imagination of forward-thinking investors.

As the Bitcoin story continues to unfold, it serves as a powerful reminder that investment opportunities can arise in unexpected places. By keeping an open mind, conducting thorough research, and maintaining a disciplined approach, investors can position themselves to capitalize on the next big thing – whether it’s in the realm of cryptocurrencies, cutting-edge technologies, or any other sector ripe for disruption.

Take a moment to take a look at Bitcoin Depot and Bit Digital who are exploring and pioneering the cryptocurrency sector.

Bitcoin Tops $45K for the First Time Since 2022

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The cryptocurrency market is off to a strong start in 2024, led by Bitcoin’s climb back above $45,000 for the first time since April 2022. Bitcoin gained over 150% in 2023, marking its best annual performance since 2020. Analysts say bitcoin’s resurgence is driven by growing optimism that the long wait for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) may finally end in early 2024.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has rejected numerous proposals for a spot bitcoin ETF over the years, arguing the crypto market is too susceptible to manipulation. But the SEC appears to be warming up to the idea amid maturing crypto regulation and infrastructure. The approval of a spot bitcoin ETF would allow mainstream brokerages to offer crypto exposure to millions of investors for the first time.

Ethereum, the native cryptocurrency of the ethereum blockchain, also rallied to start the year. It gained over 90% in 2023 despite volatility that whipsawed the crypto market. Ethereum has benefited from upgrades to the ethereum network as it transitions to a more energy-efficient proof-of-stake consensus model.

Other layer-1 blockchain tokens like Solana’s SOL, Polygon’s MATIC and Polkadot’s DOT saw steep gains in 2023 as well. The growth of decentralized finance and Web3 applications continues to drive interest in Ethereum rivals.

The upbeat momentum in crypto has also lifted shares of companies with significant digital asset exposure. Crypto exchange Coinbase saw its stock jump in early trading, along with bitcoin holding firm MicroStrategy.

Mining companies like Riot Blockchain and Bit Digital were up sharply as higher bitcoin prices improve profitability for crypto miners. Even crypto-adjacent equities like Tesla, which holds bitcoin on its balance sheet, have outperformed the broader stock market recently.

Macroeconomic trends are also providing tailwinds for the crypto market after a brutal 2022 bear market. The collapse of the Terra/Luna ecosystem, bankruptcies of key industry players like Celsius Network and FTX, and meltdown of algorithmic stablecoins wiped over $2 trillion from the crypto market cap at its lowest point.

But expectations that the Federal Reserve and other central banks could start cutting interest rates in 2024 have renewed appetite for risk assets. Lower rates tend to benefit high-growth, speculative investments. The crypto market meltdown also flushed out excess leverage and speculative frenzy.

With crypto giants like FTX and Alameda Research gone, attention is returning to building and expanding the underlying utility of blockchain networks. The growth of decentralized applications and services like decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), metaverse virtual worlds and Web3 remain long-term tailwinds for crypto adoption.

Some analysts predict the crypto market could get an added boost in 2024 from the U.S. presidential elections. Bitcoin’s four-year reward halving schedule has coincided with recent election year performance. If the crypto bull market resumes as 2024 dawns, analysts say the next Bitcoin halving could fuel further growth.

While risks like regulation and security breaches remain, the crypto industry has weathered previous downturns. With fundamentals still favorable for broader blockchain adoption, the crypto market appears ready to leave its 2022 woes behind as it charges into the new year.

Coinbase Aims for Crypto Crown as Binance Stumbles

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

With the U.S. government cracking down on Binance, slapping the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange with $4.3 billion in fines and forcing its maverick founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao to relinquish control, arch-rival Coinbase sees an opening to reclaim market share by playing the role of the “good guy” traded on Wall Street.

Coinbase shares have jumped some 18% over the past week to around $118 as CEO Brian Armstrong asserted last Tuesday’s settlement finally “closes that chapter of crypto’s history” in which Binance flouted global regulations while handling over $15 trillion in trades since 2017. By contrast, Armstrong now aims to position Nasdaq-listed Coinbase as the compliant, institutional exchange best positioned to capitalize on the crypto industry’s shift toward greater oversight.

“Building a company offshore, skirting regulation, it’s just not going to work,” Armstrong told CNBC, taking a shot across the bow of both Binance as well as consumers who transacted on the exchange drawn by its swift listings of new – often risky – digital assets. With federal agencies now policing crypto’s “Wild West” era, Armstrong wants to reassure investors that Coinbase will work hand-in-hand with authorities, supporting his belief that crypto can operate by the same rules as traditional finance.

Whether such harmony emerges remains clouded by legal issues confronting Coinbase itself, including an ongoing SEC lawsuit filed last June. While Armstrong feels “very good” about Coinbase’s defense and his aim is full regulatory clarity, such certainty seems distant given bitcoin’s recent plunge marking another crypto winter. Nonetheless, the humbling of the industry’s one-time dominant exchange gives his company a momentary edge.

Binance’s astronomical rise represented a meteoric challenge to Coinbase’s early market supremacy following its 2012 launch and 2017 debut on public markets weeks before bitcoin hit a historic peak near $20,000. Former Bloomberg programmer and Tokyo Stock Exchange developer Changpeng Zhao founded Binance in Shanghai in 2017, developing technical capabilities allowing it to scale at warp speed by listing new cryptocurrencies faster than cautious Coinbase.

With an opaque corporate structure based initially in Asia and subsequently the Cayman Islands, Binance also dodged oversight as global regulators sounded alarms. But its explosive growth quickly afforded Zhao celebrity status as one of crypto’s biggest whales and most vocal proselytizers. Meanwhile, to keep pace with its insurgent rival now commanding the majority of trading volumes, Coinbase rushed to expand its offerings but continued adhering to compliance standards in order to maintain institutional investor confidence.

Yet as U.S. authorities targeted Binance last year with a series of harsh punitive actions, momentum swung back toward its compliant competitor. Both the CFTC and SEC ultimately launched suits against Zhao’s exchange for allegedly violating investor protection statutes, culminating in extensive settlement terms compromising Binance’s autonomy going forward. With its renegade era under CZ seemingly finished, Armstrong aims to leverage Coinbase’s head start collaborating openly with financial watchdogs.

Despite his bravado about closing an ignominious chapter for crypto, Armstrong must still confront lingering suspicions from regulators like the SEC about whether any exchanges can provide adequate investor protections around highly speculative digital assets. Coinbase itself has fought SEC assertions that it facilitated unregistered securities trades.

While the two suits differ, both target core business models questioning whether current legislation written before crypto’s advent can properly govern such technologies. Beyond exacting large fines, authorities want to slow crypto trading – putting platforms like Coinbase and Binance in an existential vice grip complicated by token assets’ fluctuation between currency and security classifications.

How Congress and agencies like the SEC ultimately delineate acceptable crypto activity under existing statutes or new legislation could determine which exchanges remain standing. Ironically victories could stem as much from legal ingenuity as technology innovation. But with Binance at least temporarily defanged, Coinbase remains well positioned to shape crypto’s second act blending Wall Street’s institutional trust with Silicon Valley’s disruptive daring.

Clearly the crypto landscape entering 2024 stands on shifting sands, clouded by bitcoin’s swoon, regulatory turbulence and possible global recession. Yet should pioneer blockchain currencies and exchanges somehow emerge resilient, Coinbase sits ready to seize the market share boon a humbled Binance left on the table. After years sparring in crypto’s octagon, this match’s decision appears nearer – though mainstream adoption stays stubbornly out of reach.

Binance CEO Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

In a watershed moment for cryptocurrency oversight, Changpeng Zhao, billionaire founder of crypto exchange Binance, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. Binance itself also pleaded guilty to similar criminal charges for failing to prevent illegal activity on its platform.

The guilty pleas are part of a sweeping, coordinated crackdown on Binance by U.S. law enforcement and regulators. As part of the settlement, Binance agreed to pay over $4 billion in fines and penalties to various government agencies. Zhao himself will personally pay $200 million in fines and has stepped down as CEO.

The implications of this development on the broader crypto sector could be profound. As the world’s largest crypto trading platform, Binance has played an outsized role in the growth of the industry. Its legal troubles and the record penalties imposed call into question the viability of exchanges that flout compliance rules in the name of rapid expansion.

Prosecutors allege that Binance repeatedly ignored anti-money laundering obligations and allowed drug traffickers, hackers, and even terrorist groups like ISIS to freely use its platform. According to the Department of Justice, Binance processed transactions for mixing services used to launder money and facilitated over 1.5 million trades in violation of U.S. sanctions.

U.S. authorities were unequivocal in their criticism of Binance’s focus on profits over meeting regulatory requirements. This suggests that other exchanges that aggressively pursued growth while turning a “blind eye” to compliance may face similar crackdowns in the future. The $3.4 billion civil penalty imposed on Binance also sets a benchmark for potential fines other non-compliant entities may confront.

The charges against the world’s largest crypto exchange and its high-profile leader represent federal authorities’ most aggressive action yet to rein in lawlessness in the cryptocurrency industry. Officials made clear they will continue targeting crypto companies that break laws around money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other illicit finance.

More broadly, CZ’s guilty plea underscores the pressing need for sensible guardrails if crypto is to shed its reputation as primarily facilitating illegal activity. Though blockchain technology offers many potential benefits, its pseudonymous nature makes it vulnerable to abuse by criminals and terrorists financing unless exchanges rigorously verify customer identities and the source of funds.

For the wider crypto sector, the Binance takedown may spur valuable change. Many experts argue overly lax regulation allowed crypto exchanges to ignore Anti-Money Laundering rules other financial institutions must follow. The billion-dollar penalties against Binance could convince the industry it’s cheaper to self-regulate.

The Binance case may accelerate calls for a regulatory framework tailored to the unique risks posed by cryptocurrencies. Rather than stifle innovation in this nascent industry, thoughtful policies around KYC, anti-money laundering, investor protections and other issues could instill greater confidence in cryptocurrencies among mainstream investors and financial institutions.

Of course, because cryptocurrency transactions are pseudonymous, crypto will likely remain appealing for certain unlawful activities like narcotics sales and ransomware. But with Binance’s guilty plea, regulators sent the message that flagrant non-compliance will not fly. Exchanges allowing outright criminal abuse may face existential legal threats.

For exchanges determined to operate legally, the Binance debacle highlights the existential risks of non-compliance. No matter how large or influential, exchanges that refuse to meet their regulatory responsibilities risk jeopardizing their futures. Expect most exchanges to immediately review their KYC and AML policies in the wake of the Binance penalties.

At minimum, the charges will likely damage Binance’s reputation. Although the company remains operational, it could lose market share to competitors perceived as more law-abiding. For crypto investors, the uncertainty and loss of trust surrounding such a dominant player create fresh volatility in already turbulent markets.

Perhaps most profoundly, seeing handcuffs slapped on crypto’s one-time “king” punctures the industry’s former aura of impunity. After the Binance takedown, ongoing federal probes into FTX and other exchanges, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal conviction, crypto fraudsters might finally fear the consequences many avoided for so long. For better or worse, crypto is evolving.

Sam Bankman-Fried Found Guilty on All Counts in FTX Fraud Trial

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder and former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been found guilty on all charges related to fraud and money laundering. The verdict was handed down on Thursday by a jury in a Manhattan federal court following over a month of dramatic testimony in one of the most high-profile white collar criminal trials in recent history.

Bankman-Fried faced seven criminal counts tied to allegations he defrauded FTX customers and investors out of billions of dollars. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before returning guilty verdicts on all counts, affirming the prosecution’s allegations that the 30-year-old knowingly misled investors and misappropriated customer deposits to cover losses at his hedge fund, Alameda Research.

Each fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the money laundering conviction includes up to another 20 years. This brings the total maximum sentence to 115 years behind bars for Bankman-Fried. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 2024, where the exact prison term will be determined by Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Rapid Downfall of a Crypto Pioneer

The verdict represents a dramatic demise for Bankman-Fried, who was once hailed as a pioneer within the crypto industry. The MIT graduate founded FTX in 2019, and it grew rapidly to become one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges with a valuation of over $30 billion at its peak.

But FTX collapsed almost overnight last November after a report revealed a leaked balance sheet showing Alameda Research owed billions of dollars in loans to FTX. The news triggered a liquidity crisis and customer withdrawals that quickly bankrupted both companies.

Prosecutors presented evidence over the course of the trial that Bankman-Fried had secretly transferred customer funds from FTX to cover losses at Alameda as the hedge fund made a series of failed investments. In total, an estimated $8 billion in customer money vanished.

When asked on the witness stand whether he stole funds, Bankman-Fried testified “I never intended to commit fraud.” But the 12-person jury ultimately sided with the prosecution in deeming his actions fraudulent.

Watershed Moment for Crypto Accountability

The guilty verdict represents a major victory for authorities seeking greater accountability within the largely unregulated crypto industry. Bankman-Fried’s conviction on all criminal charges related to the FTX collapse will likely spur further calls for regulation to protect investors participating in digital asset markets.

Many Industry observers believe the prosecution and ultimate guilty verdict for Bankman-Fried will serve as a warning for other crypto executives. His undoing may deter similar misconduct, as leaders now know they can face severe criminal repercussions for defrauding customers.

While the FTX saga damaged trust in cryptocurrencies broadly, the decisive guilty verdict helps restore some faith that justice can be served. Investors who lost their savings when FTX failed may find some solace knowing its founder and chief architect will now likely serve substantial prison time.

For Bankman-Fried himself, the future now looks increasingly bleak. His sentencing in March 2024 will determine exactly how many years he’ll spend incarcerated for the crimes that led to FTX’s epic collapse and wiped out billions in customer funds. But the outcome is already clear – his fraud conviction ensures Bankman-Fried will go down in history as a disgraced figure instead of the visionary entrepreneur he once portrayed himself to be.

Coinbase Confident in Coming US Bitcoin ETF Approval After SEC Court Defeat

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is increasingly confident that a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) will soon be approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), following the regulator’s recent court loss blocking Grayscale’s bitcoin fund from becoming an ETF.

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, told CNBC that the company is “quite hopeful” that pending bitcoin ETF applications will now be approved by the SEC. He highlighted that they should be granted under the law, referring to the Appeals Court ruling that the SEC had no basis to deny Grayscale’s bid to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF.

The SEC decided last week not to appeal that court decision, likely clearing the path for a bitcoin ETF to be greenlit in the coming months. While Grewal did not give a timeline, he expressed confidence the SEC will now approve a bitcoin ETF application soon since it cannot arbitrarily reject them following its court loss.

A bitcoin ETF would allow mainstream investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency through investing in the fund, without having to directly purchase and hold bitcoin. This could benefit crypto exchanges like Coinbase which are commonly held assets in portfolios aiming to give investors crypto exposure.

However, Grayscale still faces some challenges converting its popular GBTC fund into an ETF. Its parent company Digital Currency Group (DCG), along with Genesis Trading and Gemini crypto exchange, were recently accused in a lawsuit by New York’s attorney general of defrauding investors to the tune of over $1 billion.

Nevertheless, Grewal sounded positive that additional bitcoin ETF products will be coming online soon as the SEC complies with court rulings requiring it to evaluate ETF applications neutrally, solely based on their merits.

Bitcoin has stealthily risen around 72% so far this year, recovering strongly after huge declines in 2022. Driving this comeback is renewed investor interest thanks to expectations of fewer Fed interest rate hikes, and hype building ahead of bitcoin’s next “halving” event in 2024 which will reduce bitcoin mining rewards by 50%, constricting supply.

However, crypto trading volumes have declined recently, as retail investors remain gun-shy after massive crashes of large players like FTX, BlockFi and Three Arrows Capital. The collapses have bred distrust of centralized crypto intermediaries.

Grewal expressed encouragement that “bad actors” in crypto like FTX are being held criminally accountable for alleged multibillion dollar fraud. He believes this will renew consumer interest in cryptocurrency investments.

FTX filed for bankruptcy last year amid a liquidity crunch after investors fled the platform over concerns on its financial stability. Its founder Sam Bankman-Fried was criminally charged by US prosecutors over allegations he defrauded FTX customers and investors out of billions. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty and is currently facing trial.

While the crypto winter persists, Grewal foresees developments on the horizon that will entice investors back into digital assets. The expected approval of a bitcoin ETF could be one catalyst. With blue chip financial giants like Fidelity Investments, CME Group and others applying for bitcoin ETFs, credibility could be lent to crypto as an asset class.

As bitcoin and the broader crypto industry aim to rebuild trust, regulators are focused on rooting out bad actors and holding companies to account for violating securities laws. This could pave the way for institutional investors to gain comfort with crypto, with an ETF providing easy exposure.

If the SEC delivers on expectations and approves a bitcoin ETF application in 2023, it would cap a multi-year effort by the industry and represent a major milestone in mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies. For exchanges like Coinbase seeking to broaden their client bases, it could provide a crucial on-ramp for the next generation of crypto investors.

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