## Bitcoin's Resilience and Growth Potential

Bitcoin's value proposition remains **strong**, especially as it recently topped **$90,000**. This surge not only highlights the **stability** of Bitcoin but also its **potential for long-term upside**.  

## Avoiding the Copycat Trap
While many investors are tempted to look at alternatives like **Dogecoin (DOGE)** or **MicroStrategy (MSTR)**, it's essential to recognize that these options may not offer the same level of **sustainability** and **growth potential** as Bitcoin.  

Investors should focus on the **top crypto**, which has a proven track record and a robust **market position**. Unlike copycat coins, Bitcoin's fundamentals are backed by a solid **network effect** and **adoption curve** that other cryptocurrencies struggle to replicate.  

### Final Thoughts
In the current market landscape, aligning your investments with **Bitcoin** is a wise strategy. Its dominance and **market resilience** make it a crucial asset for any serious investor.  

Stay informed and make educated decisions by prioritizing Bitcoin over less established alternatives.

Bitcoin's value proposition remains strong, with potential for long-term upside. Read why I advise investors to buy the top crypto rather than DOGE-USD or MSTR.

Why Bitcoin is the Best Investment Choice Over Dogecoin and MicroStrategy Right Now

## Bitcoin's Rising Role in Russian Trade

Russian companies are increasingly turning to **Bitcoin** and other **digital currencies** for international transactions, according to Finance Minister **Anton Siluanov**. This shift is a response to **Western sanctions** affecting trade with key partners like **China** and **Turkey**.

### What Sparked This Change?
Siluanov stated that legislative changes enabling the use of Bitcoin were implemented to mitigate the impact of these sanctions. He mentioned on the Russia 24 television channel, "As part of the experimental regime, it is possible to use bitcoins, which we had mined here in Russia (in foreign trade transactions)." This indicates that transactions using Bitcoin are already taking place, and he expressed a desire for these practices to be **expanded and developed further** in the future.

### The Future of Digital Currencies
Siluanov is confident that digital currencies will play a significant role in future international payments, suggesting that the trend will continue to grow over the next year.

### Why This Matters
Russia's increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies aligns with President **Vladimir Putin**'s recent criticisms of the U.S. administration for undermining the **U.S. dollar**'s status as a reserve currency through political maneuvers. Putin noted that this has prompted many nations to look for **alternative assets**, highlighting Bitcoin as a prime example.

He also remarked that cryptocurrencies might become the **only instrument for international trade** for countries facing sanctions. This comes despite a recent announcement regarding a **six-year ban on cryptocurrency mining** in ten regions of Russia, effective from January 1, 2025, due to concerns about excessive energy usage.

### Current Market Status
As of now, Bitcoin is trading at **$98,305**, reflecting a **4% increase** over the past 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Russian companies have started using Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and other digital currencies for international transactions, said Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Wednesday.

Russian Companies Embrace Bitcoin for Global Trade Amid Sanctions: A Strategic Shift

### Christmas Day Bitcoin Surge

Bitcoin experienced **an exciting surge**, climbing past **$99,000** on Christmas Day, fueled by renewed optimism in the market. However, this rally was short-lived, as it quickly corrected to **$98,000**, establishing a strong support level.

![Bitcoin Rebound](https://cryptoslate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/christmas-bitcoin-768x403.jpg)

### Market Performance

According to **CryptoSlate’s data**, Bitcoin gained over **5%** within 24 hours, bouncing back from a weekly low of **$92,973**. At the time of writing, it was trading at **$98,000**. This rebound coincided with a broader recovery in altcoins, including **Ethereum**, **XRP**, and **Solana**, each recording gains of over **4%**.

The **global crypto market cap** increased by **3.5%**, reaching **$3.44 trillion**, while the **Crypto Fear and Greed Index** soared to **73**, indicating a sentiment of **Greed**.

### Whale Accumulation Strategy

This bullish trend aligns with insights from **Santiment**, a blockchain analytics firm, which noted that market rebounds often follow panic-induced sell-offs by retail traders. This allows larger investors, or **“whales,”** to acquire assets at discounted rates. Santiment stated:
> “Historically, when retail traders begin to sell based on panic and emotion, whales and sharks have opportunities to scoop up more coins with little resistance, creating bounces.”

### Liquidation Data

Despite the positive momentum, the recent rally faced challenges. Data from **CoinGlass** indicated that over **$290 million** was liquidated in the past 24 hours, affecting **105,883 traders**. Most of these losses came from short positions, totaling **$162 million**, while long positions accounted for **$128 million** in liquidations. Bitcoin traders faced the largest losses, with **$78 million** wiped out, followed by Ethereum traders with **$51 million**.

### Current Market Data

As of **12:52 pm UTC on Dec. 25, 2024**, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap, priced at **$98,000** with a market capitalization of **$1.94 trillion** and a **24-hour trading volume** of **$46.21 billion**. The total crypto market is valued at **$3.42 trillion**, with Bitcoin dominance at **56.76%**.

![Bitcoin Market Overview](https://cryptoslate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/christmas-bitcoin.jpg)  
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

Bitcoin's brief recovery ignited broader altcoin surges and pushed the Crypto Fear and Greed Index to 'Greed.

Bitcoin's Holiday Surge: Briefly Reaches $99,000 Before Correction

Coinbase, founded in June 2012, originally focused on **facilitating Bitcoin transactions**. Over the years, it has diversified its services significantly. After a challenging 2022, **Coinbase shares have surged** by **697%** over the past two years, bringing its market cap to **$70 billion**.

## Betting on the Entire Crypto Industry
Coinbase's unique position in the market allows it to **bet on the growth of the entire cryptocurrency sector**. While Bitcoin gets most of the attention, other blockchain projects like **Ethereum**, **XRP**, and **Solana** also present investment opportunities. Coinbase's revenue model is evolving as it aims to reduce reliance on **volatile trading volumes** and focus on more stable income from subscriptions and services such as **stablecoin revenue**, **staking rewards**, and **custody solutions**.

## Crypto Over the Long Term
The company's success hinges not only on the **thriving cryptocurrency market** but also on its ability to leverage this growth. As crypto prices rise, trading activity typically increases, which can expand Coinbase's user base and revenue.

Recent innovations, such as the **Base Layer-2 solution** and the **USDC stablecoin**, show Coinbase's commitment to exploring **new growth avenues**. However, the future of the crypto market remains uncertain, with many tokens potentially becoming worthless.

## Temper Expectations
Despite the current bullish sentiment in the market, significant **regulatory and technical challenges** remain. The transition to cryptocurrencies will require them to outperform the existing financial systems in costs, speed, and security. Therefore, skepticism exists about whether Coinbase will achieve a **trillion-dollar valuation**.

![Coinbase Logo](https://g.foolcdn.com/art/companylogos/mark/COIN.png)

**Current Price:** $279.62  
**Today's Change:** (4.28%) $11.47

Coinbase (COIN 4.28%) was founded in June 2012 with the sole purpose of facilitating the buying and selling of Bitcoin. But over the next 12 years, the digital asset brokerage and exchange operator has expanded into a broader business by offering more services.

Could Coinbase Reach a Trillion-Dollar Valuation by 2040? Exploring the Possibilities

## Major Move in Israeli Finance: Bitcoin Mutual Funds Coming Soon

The **Israel Securities Authority (ISA)** has granted approval for **six mutual funds** that will track the price of **Bitcoin (BTC)**, set to launch on **December 31**. This comes after a significant wait, as the approval was finalized last week, according to **Calcalist**.

These funds will be offered by prominent institutions including **Migdal Capital Markets, More, Ayalon, Phoenix Investment, Meitav**, and **IBI**. Management fees for these funds will vary, ranging from **1.5% to 0.25%**. Notably, one of the funds will be **actively managed**, aiming to outperform Bitcoin's market performance.

Currently, these funds will **transact just once a day**, but future products are expected to allow for continuous trading. This move aligns with the trend seen in the U.S., where spot Bitcoin **exchange-traded funds (ETFs)** received approval almost a year ago, resulting in a surge of investor interest that has seen these funds gather **$35.6 billion**.

An anonymous executive from an investment house commented on the lengthy process, stating, "The investment houses have been pleading for more than a year for ETFs to be approved... But the regulator marches to its own tune. It has to check the details."

This development marks a significant step for cryptocurrency investment options in Israel, as the country embraces the growing interest in Bitcoin and its financial products.

The Israel Securities Authority approval was granted last week, Calcalist reported.

Exciting New Bitcoin Mutual Funds Launching in Israel Next Week!

Cryptocurrency investors are experiencing a **remarkable year in 2024**, with the total market cap reaching **$3.5 trillion**, more than doubling from 2023. Leading coins like **Bitcoin (BTC)** are driving this growth, while even **XRP** has rebounded impressively, gaining **250%** this year after overcoming regulatory challenges.

### The Case for XRP (Ripple)
The global banking system is often slow and inefficient, with money transfers taking days. **Ripple** aims to streamline this with its **Ripple Payments** network, allowing financial institutions to transact directly, using **XRP** as a bridge currency. This method can save on currency exchange fees and transaction costs. 

After a significant legal battle with the **SEC**, which partially resolved in August 2024 with a **$125 million fine**, XRP has regained momentum. The token is trading around **$2.21**, but remains well below its all-time high of **$3.40** from 2018. The upcoming political climate may further influence XRP’s potential, as a more crypto-friendly administration could ease regulatory pressures.

![Bitcoin Symbol](https://g.foolcdn.com/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fg.foolcdn.com%2Feditorial%2Fimages%2F801908%2Fgold-coin-with-a-bitcoin-symbol-on-it-cryptocurrency-btc.jpg&amp;op=resize&amp;w=700)

### The Case for Bitcoin
In contrast, **Bitcoin** is a decentralized asset with a capped supply of **21 million coins**, of which **19.8 million** are already mined. Unlike XRP, Bitcoin has not faced regulatory issues, and the **SEC** has approved numerous **Bitcoin ETFs**, enhancing its appeal as a regulated asset. Bitcoin's market cap currently stands at **$1.9 trillion**, and many view it as a digital gold equivalent, with predictions suggesting it could reach **$893,000** per coin in the future, should it catch up with gold's market cap.

![XRP Symbol](https://g.foolcdn.com/art/companylogos/mark/XRP.png)

### The Verdict
While **XRP** offers innovative solutions, its future heavily depends on adoption by banks, which may choose to use fiat currencies instead. This makes XRP a speculative investment. Conversely, **Bitcoin** has established itself as a reliable store of value. With the growing popularity of Bitcoin ETFs and its limited supply, it is poised for better performance in **2025** compared to XRP. Investors are encouraged to consider these factors when deciding where to allocate their funds.



Cryptocurrency investors are having a great year in 2024. The total value of all coins and tokens across the industry currently stands at $3.5 trillion, more than doubling from where it ended in 2023.

XRP vs. Bitcoin: Which Cryptocurrency Will Outperform in 2025?

### Pantera Capital’s Bullish Outlook on Crypto

The CEO of **Pantera Capital**, a firm dedicated to digital assets, has made a bold prediction: the **crypto market** is expected to reach its peak in **2025**. In a recent interview on the **Bankless podcast**, Dan Morehead shared his insights on Bitcoin's price movements and the historical significance of halving cycles.

### Understanding Bitcoin Halving

A **Bitcoin halving** event occurs approximately every four years, where the rewards for mining Bitcoin are halved, effectively reducing the supply. Historically, these events have been associated with significant price rallies. The last halving took place in **April**, and Morehead suggests that based on past patterns, Bitcoin is on track to hit its peak in about **seven months**.

### Timeline to the Peak

Morehead predicts that **August 2025** will be the month to watch, stating:
> *“Everything’s kind of setting up for that... I still think it’s pretty real.”*  
He estimates that Bitcoin could reach a price of **$117,000**, indicating an increase of more than **18%** from its current trading value of **$98,713**.

### Historical Data Insights

Morehead's analysis is rooted in historical data, noting:
> *“Our data is that the halving starts about 400 days before the actual halving, the impact, the low in the markets, and then the high is 480 days after it.”*  
In the past, this pattern has proven accurate, making his forecast compelling for investors.

![Crypto Price Prediction](https://dailyhodl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/realistic-price-bull-top.jpg)

### Current Market Status

As of now, Bitcoin is trading at **$98,713**, reflecting a **3.8%** increase in the last 24 hours. The upcoming months are pivotal for the crypto market as investors watch for signs of the anticipated bull cycle.

[Watch the full interview here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3nj3TTaOV8)

The CEO of digital assets-focused investment firm Pantera Capital is predicting that the crypto market's bull cycle will peak in 2025.

Crypto Bull Market Forecast: Pantera Capital Predicts 2025 Peak at $117,000

Crypto just had a **blockbuster year** fueled largely by **Trump's election win**. Citi analysts are closely watching several factors that could influence the industry in 2025. Here are **6 pivotal factors** to keep an eye on:

## A Supportive Macro Backdrop
The analysts expect the current **macro backdrop** to continue supporting risky trades into Q1 2025, but warn that the outlook beyond that is uncertain, depending on **Trump's economic policies** and **stock volatility**.

## Continued Inflows to Spot ETFs
**Strong inflows into crypto spot ETFs** are anticipated to continue into 2025, providing additional growth momentum. Bitcoin spot ETFs have seen inflows of **$36.4 billion** since trading began in January, while Ethereum spot ETFs have garnered **$2.4 billion** since July.

## Crypto in Multi-Asset Portfolios
**Portfolio allocation** will be key for future returns. Bitcoin's inclusion in multi-asset portfolios during this year's rally could add value, but it remains a **volatile asset**. Analysts suggest that crypto returns need to be priced higher than equities to justify significant allocations.

## Stablecoin Issuance
**Stablecoins** are expected to see continued issuance, especially after Trump's election, creating a healthier market. This could challenge Tether's dominance, particularly with new partnerships emerging in the space.

## More Widespread Adoption
The most crucial theme to track is **adoption**. While ETF activity and stablecoin market caps have improved, analysts believe that broader adoption is necessary for sustained returns.

## Less Regulation
Finally, the analysts predict that **regulation** will play a significant role as Trump takes office, with expectations for lighter regulations that could facilitate broader adoption. This shift is seen as a move from enforcement to a more legislative approach.

Overall, these factors could significantly shape the crypto landscape as we head into 2025, making it an exciting time for investors and enthusiasts alike.

The crypto industry had a blockbuster year, and 2025 will likely bring further wins for the industry. Here are 6 key factors to watch, Citi says.

Why Bitcoin is the Best Investment Choice Over Dogecoin and MicroStrategy Right Now

Summary:

Bitcoin's Resilience and Growth Potential

Avoiding the Copycat Trap

Final Thoughts

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Other Latest News

Russian Companies Embrace Bitcoin for Global Trade Amid Sanctions: A Strategic Shift

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Could Coinbase Reach a Trillion-Dollar Valuation by 2040? Exploring the Possibilities

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XRP vs. Bitcoin: Which Cryptocurrency Will Outperform in 2025?

Crypto Bull Market Forecast: Pantera Capital Predicts 2025 Peak at $117,000

Unlocking the Future of Crypto: 6 Key Factors That Could Define 2025 According to Citi

Other Latest News

Russian Companies Embrace Bitcoin for Global Trade Amid Sanctions: A Strategic Shift

Bitcoin's Holiday Surge: Briefly Reaches $99,000 Before Correction

Could Coinbase Reach a Trillion-Dollar Valuation by 2040? Exploring the Possibilities

Exciting New Bitcoin Mutual Funds Launching in Israel Next Week!

XRP vs. Bitcoin: Which Cryptocurrency Will Outperform in 2025?

Crypto Bull Market Forecast: Pantera Capital Predicts 2025 Peak at $117,000

Unlocking the Future of Crypto: 6 Key Factors That Could Define 2025 According to Citi