- According to statements from six industry executives and the SEC, the SEC is holding discussions with issuers on specific details; these details are typically discussed as ETF application processes approach completion.
- The SEC appears to have given similar or very similar instructions to multiple issuers. Bitwise had previously submitted a second revised S-1 document.
- On December 6, Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr noted that “Ordinals” had exploited a vulnerability in Bitcoin Core to carry out spam attacks on the blockchain.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are gearing up for a critical week: Why will next week be crucial for Bitcoin and the markets?
Recap of Last Week: Comprehensive Summary!
Discussions between asset management companies aiming for approval by listing Bitcoin ETFs and regulatory authorities suggest that critical technical details indicating imminent approval have been reached. According to statements from six industry executives and the SEC, the SEC is holding discussions with issuers on specific details; these details are typically discussed as ETF application processes approach completion. The SEC must make a final decision on the ARK application by January 10, the earliest decision date. According to insider information, the advanced stage of the discussions indicates that the SEC could potentially approve the ARK application early in the new year and possibly approve the other 12 applications as well.
BlackRock and Bitwise Submit Updates to Bitcoin Spot ETF Applications to the SEC
Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart tweeted that BlackRock has submitted a revised S-1 document for its Bitcoin spot ETF to the SEC. The SEC appears to have clearly given similar or very similar instructions to multiple issuers. Bitwise had previously submitted a second revised S-1 document. This indicates that the SEC and these issuers are actively addressing issues, and these documents likely result from numerous discussions and intense work between the parties.
Bitcoin Developer Luke Dashjr’s Proposal to Disable Ordinals Sparks Community Discussion
On December 6, Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr stated that “Ordinals” had exploited a vulnerability in Bitcoin Core to carry out spam attacks on the blockchain. Bitcoin Core has allowed users since 2013 to set an additional data size limit in messages or mining transactions. Ordinals avoids this limit by hiding its data as program code. The vulnerability was recently fixed in Bitcoin Knots v25.1, but it remains present until the v27 release next year. Dashjr states that Ordinals represents an ongoing attack on Bitcoin.
Luke Dashjr, who asserts that Ordinals and BRC-20 will cease to exist after fixing this vulnerability, responded to F2Pool’s founder Shenyu, who said, “Bitcoin is not Ethereum; what developers say doesn’t matter.”
US Space Force Member Advocates the ‘National Strategic Importance’ of PoW Systems Like Bitcoin
On December 2, Jason Lowery, a member of the US Space Force, suggested in a four-page letter sent to the Defense Innovation Board that the Defense Secretary investigate the ‘national strategic importance’ of Proof-of-Work (PoW) systems like Bitcoin. Lowery argued that such PoW systems, like Bitcoin, could deter cyberattacks and represent the beginning of a cybersecurity revolution. According to Lowery, these systems turn the global energy network into a large, physically costly computer or macrochip, enabling the physical limitation of malicious actors and the protection of various data and messages transmitted over the Internet.
Swiss City Lugano Accepts Bitcoin and USDT for Municipal Taxes
On December 5, the city of Lugano officially announced that it accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) for local government taxes and all other community fees. Residents of Lugano can pay taxes or services by scanning the Swiss QR code on the invoice and using their preferred mobile wallet and chosen cryptocurrency. This initiative is part of Lugano’s “Bitcoin Plan” and is in collaboration with Tether.
El Salvador Launches a New Visa Program
El Salvador introduces a new visa program limited to 1,000 participants per year. Those whose applications are accepted will receive a visa and citizenship if they invest $1 million in BTC or USDT. If all spots are filled with dollars, this initiative is expected to raise $1 billion for El Salvador.
Binance Weekly Summary
Binance Releases its Thirteenth Reserve Report: On December 8, Binance released its thirteenth reserve report. User BTC holdings decreased by 4.05% to 561,000 BTC compared to the previous month, ending with a decrease of 23,656 BTC. User ETH holdings decreased by 0.67% to 3.88 million ETH, ending with a decrease of 26,323 ETH. User BNB holdings decreased by 0.74% to 30.98 million BNB, ending with a decrease of 230,000 BNB. User USDT holdings increased by 5.67% to $16.1 billion, ending with an increase of 866 million USDT. According to DeBank, Binance’s reserve assets saw a net inflow of $311 million in the last month.
Seattle Federal Judge Accepts CZ’s Guilty Plea: According to a court document from the United States Western District Federal Court in Seattle, on Wednesday, Judge Richard Jones accepted the guilty plea of CZ, the former CEO of Binance. Last month, CZ admitted to money laundering and sanctions violations. Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion, making it one of the largest corporate settlements in its history.
US Judge Decides CZ Should Stay in the US Until Sentenced: Federal Judge Richard Jones in the Seattle region on Thursday approved CZ’s request to stay in the US until sentenced on charges of violating US money laundering laws. In a petition submitted to the court on Thursday, the judge accepted the US Department of Justice’s claim that CZ poses a flight risk. CZ’s lawyers objected to this claim, stating that he had paid a substantial bail and voluntarily came to the US to be accountable for his actions. The judge stated on Thursday that he could not convince the court of the possibility of fleeing if CZ were allowed to return to the United Arab Emirates. The judge said in documents submitted to the court on Thursday, “The tie is strong, although seemingly unprecedented, and appears to consist of assets outside the government’s control.” According to bail conditions, Zhao can be released and travel within the US. His sentencing is scheduled for February 23, 2024.
Binance’s New CEO Richard Teng Refuses to Disclose Global Headquarters Location: Binance’s newly appointed CEO Richard Teng refused to disclose the global headquarters location of Binance. In an interview with the Financial Times, Teng, unlike CZ, who claimed that Binance does not yet have a global headquarters, stated that the matter is being evaluated. Teng mentioned that Binance is audited in regulated locations but avoided disclosing the names of audit firms. He added that the company provides the necessary information to regulatory authorities. Teng said, “Do we need to disclose all this information to the public? No.”
What to Expect Next Week?
Next week will be the second week of December and the week when the FED will announce its interest rate decision. In addition, inflation and PPI data will be released in the United States. Next week may contain intense volatility for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. If the FED continues its tightening in monetary policy and raises interest rates, it could put pressure on Bitcoin prices and potentially impact global markets.
The expectation for now is that interest rates will remain unchanged. However, the path the FED will take is still uncertain, so investors should closely monitor the interest rate decision on Wednesday and the speeches of the FED Chairman. Inflation reports in the US will be released on Tuesday. You can find all the details of the calendar below:
Important developments of next week! 🔥#Türkiye #US #FED #FOMC #Bitcoin #BTC $BTC pic.twitter.com/QOjiFFB2hb
— COINOTAG NEWS (@coinotagen) December 10, 2023
