The lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly has approved a bill that paves the way for the state to study the feasibility and advantages of holding Bitcoin.
The bill, which passed the North Carolina House of Representatives on June 28, would allocate $50,000 for a study to explore the potential acquisition, secure storage, insurance, and liquidation of both gold bullion and virtual currencies, including Bitcoin.
The study aims to assess the impact of incorporating gold and cryptocurrency holdings into North Carolina’s financial assets.
It will investigate whether such holdings can act as a hedge against inflation and systemic credit risks.
Additionally, the study will examine whether including gold and crypto assets in the state’s portfolio could reduce volatility and increase overall returns.
One of the bill’s proposals involves the creation of a state-administered depository to house the digital asset holdings. Under this arrangement, North Carolina would act as the custodian of its crypto assets.
The study will also consider the costs and benefits associated with using a privately managed depository or utilizing the depository of another state.
The bill received support from the majority of the 120-member House, with 73 representatives voting in favor, 40 against, and seven absentees.
However, before the bill can become law or be vetoed, it must also pass through the Senate and receive final approval.
In a related development, on May 3, the North Carolina House unanimously passed a bill prohibiting payments to the state using a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
The legislation also forbids the United States Federal Reserve from conducting any future pilot CBDC tests in North Carolina.
Prior to that, on May 2, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina passed a one-year moratorium on cryptocurrency mining.
This temporary ban reflects a growing concern over the environmental impact of mining operations.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, North Carolina is demonstrating an increased interest in exploring the potential benefits and risks associated with cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and their role within the state’s financial infrastructure.
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Bitcoin miners are experiencing a significant surge in revenue sent to exchanges, according to a tweet by Glassnode, an on-chain analytics platform.
The platform reported that miners had sent a record-breaking $128 million to exchanges in the past week, which amounts to a staggering 315% of their daily revenue.
While there have been previous spikes in miner revenue during the 2021 bull run, this recent surge surpasses them all by a considerable margin.
Typically, miners send their Bitcoin profits to exchanges to cover expenses and secure their profits. Given that Bitcoin reached its highest price of the year, touching $31,185 on June 24, this past week presented an opportune time for miners to cash out.
CryptoQuant co-founder and CEO Ki Young Ju echoed this sentiment, noting that the current price-to-earnings ratio was attractive for miners to sell.
However, despite the increased activity from miners, Bitcoin’s price remains relatively stable above the $30,000 threshold.
The $31,000 price level poses a significant resistance for Bitcoin, as it failed to break it both in mid-April and late June.
If bulls are unable to make progress and miners continue liquidating their holdings, the possibility of future losses looms.
Although Bitcoin’s price has surged by over 88% year-to-date, miners still face numerous challenges.
Profitability has dropped by more than 30% since July of the previous year and has plummeted over 80% since the peak of the 2021 bull market.
Moreover, record hash rates of 377 EH/s and peak difficulty levels further compound the obstacles faced by Bitcoin miners.
With rising hash rates, difficulty levels, and energy costs, mining profitability has been negatively impacted.
Consequently, miners may reluctantly need to sell their hard-earned Bitcoin to cover expenses, a situation that is far from ideal.
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According to Michael Shaulov, CEO and co-founder of Fireblocks, an approved BlackRock spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) will bring in new institutional money to Bitcoin, but it will be the retail investors who will ultimately drive significant price surges.
Shaulov made these observations during the Australian Blockchain Week, highlighting that institutional involvement in crypto may not necessarily lead to skyrocketing prices.
Shaulov pointed out that even during the mid-2020 period when there were massive inflows of institutional money, the prices didn’t see significant appreciation until retail investors fervently embraced crypto assets later in the year.
The institutions were acquiring Bitcoin slowly and utilizing algorithms that wouldn’t drive up the market.
On the other hand, retail investors, who participate in a less sophisticated manner, were responsible for dramatic price movements, with 50% increases attributed to them.
However, Shaulov acknowledged that the finite supply of Bitcoin meant that any large-scale accumulation of the cryptocurrency would ultimately impact its price.
He believed it would be easier for institutions currently not participating in the market to add Bitcoin to their allocation due to its unique properties.
Shaulov also discussed the various narratives surrounding Bitcoin among institutional investors.
He mentioned that the narrative surrounding Bitcoin is still unfolding for these institutions. Is it a hedge against inflation? Is it a public reserve currency? Is it a hedge against government financial misdealings? Shaulov personally views Bitcoin as the “ultimate insurance asset.”
He emphasized that Bitcoin possesses properties that make it valuable in times of crisis.
It is disconnected from governments, digitally native, and easily transferable.
Shaulov concluded by stating that the specific value of Bitcoin at any given point, whether it’s $15,000, $20,000, or $60,000, is not as crucial as having enough of it to survive challenging periods.
In his opinion, Bitcoin serves as a reliable asset in times of uncertainty and can provide a safeguard against adverse economic conditions.
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Bspin Casino is an impressive online gambling platform that delivers on multiple fronts. Its Bitcoin-only operation might be a sticking point for some, but for those who value privacy and security, it’s a distinct advantage. With an expansive game library, user-friendly design, robust security measures, and excellent customer service, Bspin Casino is a top choice for both new and experienced players. Whether you’re a fan of slots, table games, or live dealer games, Bspin Casino has something to offer for everyone.
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HSBC, the largest bank in Hong Kong, has reportedly launched its first cryptocurrency services, marking a significant step in embracing the digital asset space.
Journalist Colin Wu revealed in a tweet on June 26 that HSBC customers can now buy and sell Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The cryptocurrency ETFs offered by HSBC are listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, including CSOP Bitcoin Futures ETF, CSOP Ethereum Futures ETF, and Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF.
This move by HSBC aims to expand the exposure of local users to cryptocurrencies in Hong Kong. With a reported 1.7 million active mobile customers as of March 2022, HSBC Hong Kong is a prominent player in the region’s retail banking sector.
It is worth noting that approximately 95% of all retail transactions conducted by HSBC in Hong Kong are processed online, highlighting the increasing preference for digital services.
HSBC has also reportedly introduced the Virtual Asset Investor Education Center in conjunction with its cryptocurrency services.
The purpose of this initiative is to protect investors from risks associated with cryptocurrencies. Investors are required to read and confirm educational materials and risk disclosures before engaging in any cryptocurrency-related investments.
The Virtual Asset Investor Education Center is accessible through various HSBC platforms, including the HSBC HK Easy Invest app, HSB CHK Mobile Banking app, and online banking.
Notably, HSBC has yet to respond to inquiries from Cointelegraph regarding these developments. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
This recent development aligns with reports from mid-June suggesting that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has exerted pressure on major banks to accept crypto exchanges as clients.
The central bank and regulator specifically questioned institutions like HSBC and Standard Chartered regarding their reluctance to serve cryptocurrency exchanges.
HSBC’s introduction of cryptocurrency services may be seen as a response to these regulatory inquiries and a strategic move to stay ahead in the evolving financial landscape.
In summary, HSBC’s entry into the local cryptocurrency market in Hong Kong through the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs signifies a notable step toward embracing digital assets.
The accompanying Virtual Asset Investor Education Center aims to ensure investor protection, reflecting HSBC’s commitment to responsible engagement with cryptocurrencies.
These developments come amidst increasing regulatory scrutiny and highlight the growing acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial institutions.
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Token issuers in Japan will no longer be required to pay corporate taxes on unrealized cryptocurrency gains, thanks to a recent law revision by the National Tax Agency.
The tax exemption, which was approved by the Japanese government nearly six months ago, eliminates the obligation for crypto firms to pay taxes on paper gains from tokens they issued and held.
The discussion surrounding new crypto tax rules in Japan began in August of the previous year as part of broader tax reforms for 2023.
However, the final approval from the tax authority was only granted this week. Under the revised rules, Japanese companies issuing tokens are exempt from the standard 30% corporate tax rate on their holdings.
Prior to this law, even unrealized gains were subject to taxation.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party aims to simplify business operations related to token issuance with the implementation of these tax exemptions.
This move is expected to make it easier for various companies to engage in token-related activities.
The cryptocurrency industry in Japan has experienced significant transformations recently.
As of June 1, the country has been enforcing stricter Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures to align its legal framework with global crypto regulations.
The AML legislation was revised in December after the Financial Action Task Force deemed it insufficient.
In addition, the government passed legislation in June of the previous year prohibiting non-banking institutions from issuing stablecoins.
The new bill, which came into effect a few weeks ago, limits stablecoin issuance to licensed banks, registered money transfer agents, and trust companies.
Japan has been at the forefront of crypto legalization, considering it as a form of private asset, and its regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies is one of the strictest globally.
Following major hacks on exchanges like Mt. Gox and Coincheck, Japan’s financial regulator tightened rules for crypto exchanges.
These local regulations are believed to have facilitated the prompt return of assets to FTX users in Japan after the exchange’s global collapse, in contrast to users in other countries who did not have a clear refund deadline.
Overall, Japan continues to make significant strides in shaping its crypto industry through regulatory measures, ensuring both security and compliance in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.
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The price of Bitcoin hovered around $30,500 as the Wall Street market opened this week, with bullish investors finding newfound support.
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView indicated that the price of BTC remained stable at $30,000 during the weekly close.
At the start of the week, the largest cryptocurrency showed stability as the U.S. markets began trading, and there were hopes for a repeat of the previous week’s performance.
The United States played a significant role in driving buyer interest, particularly after several institutional product applications based on the Bitcoin spot price were announced.
According to popular trader Daan Crypto Trades, most of the action and buying pressure occurred during the U.S. stock market open hours.
This sentiment was echoed by fellow trader Skew, who emphasized the importance of the June 26 U.S. trading session.
On-chain analytics firm Glassnode supported this observation, suggesting that the increased interest in Bitcoin could be part of a longer-term trend driven by the filings for U.S.-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Its weekly newsletter,
“The Week On-Chain,” highlighted the revival of U.S.-led demand after a period of weaker relative demand in 2023, with Asian exchanges experiencing the strongest accumulation year to date.
Regarding BTC’s price performance, trading suite DecenTrader identified a significant resistance level above the current price.
This level was represented by the two-year moving average (MA) at slightly above $32,800. Historical data indicated that the area below the two-year MA had provided a favorable opportunity for accumulation before the subsequent halving cycle.
Shorter timeframes also showed a lack of interest in shorting BTC at current levels, which increased expectations for a resumption of the upward trend.
Traders and analysts remained optimistic about Bitcoin’s overall strength, with potential retracements expected to be shallow.
Rekt Capital, a trader and analyst, stated that when a BTC correction ends convincingly, it is highly unlikely that another deep correction would follow immediately.
Any downside movements were more likely to be temporary dips within a new uptrend continuation.
In conclusion, Bitcoin experienced stable trading around $30,500 as the U.S. markets opened on June 26. The U.S. market played a significant role in driving buyer interest, possibly influenced by the recent filings for Bitcoin ETFs.
Analysts and traders expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s price performance, with resistance levels identified and expectations for a shallow retracement before a continuation of the upward trend.
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Bitcoin’s recent surge above $30,000 has sparked renewed interest among traders, potentially leading to increased buying activity in other cryptocurrencies such as Ether (ETH), Arbitrum (ARB), VeChain (VET), and Stacks (STX).
Bitcoin reached a new 52-week high on June 23, indicating a strong bullish trend.
Traders have held onto a significant portion of the gains made during the week, suggesting a reluctance to book profits.
With a 16% increase this week, Bitcoin has outperformed the S&P 500 Index, which experienced a 1.39% decline.
Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, is also displaying signs of a potential bullish move. Data from Glassnode reveals a sharp decline in Ether balances on exchanges over the past 30 days, hitting a new low of 12.6%.
A similar dip in Ether exchange balances occurred in November 2022, preceding a substantial rally of 33%.
However, caution is advised this time as the decline in exchange balances may be attributed to actions taken by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against major platforms like Binance and Coinbase.
The cryptocurrency market’s recovery extends beyond Bitcoin and Ether, as several altcoins have experienced significant increases from their recent lows.
This suggests a reduction in bearish sentiment and a growing interest among buyers at lower price levels.
The question remains whether the return of buyers will initiate a new bullish phase in cryptocurrencies or if higher price levels will attract selling from bears.
To gain insights into potential short-term price movements, let’s analyze the charts of the top five cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin:
Bitcoin has been trading near the $31,000 level for the past four days, indicating a strong defense by bears. However, the presence of bulls is evident, with the 20-day exponential moving average and the relative strength index (RSI) in the overbought zone, favoring the buyers.
If the price sustains above $31,000, the BTC/USDT pair could embark on its next upward move, surpassing the resistance at $32,400 and potentially soaring to $40,000.
Conversely, a break below $29,500 may lead to a slide towards the 20-day EMA, a critical support level, and further down to the 50-day simple moving average.
Ether:
Ether has faced selling pressure near the $1,928 level for three consecutive days, but the bulls have not relinquished their position. The moving averages are on the verge of a bullish crossover, and the RSI remains in positive territory, suggesting bullish control.
If buyers successfully overcome the $1,928 resistance, the ETH/USDT pair could surge towards the $2,148 to $2,200 range. However, a swift downturn below the moving averages could trigger selling from aggressive bulls, resulting in a correction towards strong support at $1,700.
Arbitrum:
Arbitrum witnessed a rally after surpassing the breakdown level of $1, indicating rejection of recent downside movement. Although the bears are attempting to hinder the recovery at the 50-day SMA, the bulls have successfully defended the 20-day EMA, setting the stage for a potential breakout.
A break above $1.18 could mark the beginning of a new upward trend, with targets at $1.28 and $1.54. On the contrary, a downturn below the $1 to $0.90 support zone may negate this bullish view.
VeChain:
VeChain experienced a reversal from the resistance line on June 23, but struggles to sustain prices below the 50-day SMA, indicating buying interest during dips.
Bulls will likely attempt to drive the price above the resistance line, signifying the end of the downtrend and a potential climb towards $0.026.
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Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas reported that on June 26, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF witnessed its largest weekly inflow in a year, totaling $65.3 million and pushing its assets past the $1 billion mark.
BITO, which is a Bitcoin futures fund and the first BTC-linked ETF in the United States, has become a favorite among institutional investors.
Balchunas noted that the fund has closely mirrored Bitcoin’s performance, trailing spot prices by just 1.05% annually. Additionally, BITO carries a fee of 0.95%.
According to ProShares, the BITO fund has recorded a gain of 59.6% since the beginning of 2023.
The interest in Bitcoin derivatives has seen a surge across the market following BlackRock’s application for its own Bitcoin ETF on June 15. Deribit, a crypto options exchange, reported a significant increase in Bitcoin futures open interest, which currently stands at $319 million as of June 25, representing a rise of approximately 30% compared to the previous week.
The resurgence in ETF trading and the subsequent boost in BTC prices have also brought positive news for Grayscale, the world’s largest crypto asset manager.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which had been trading at a substantial discount to spot BTC prices for months, is now moving closer to narrowing the gap.
At present, the Grayscale premium, or discount, stands at -31.2%, a significant improvement from its low of -49% in December, according to Coinglass.
Although it remains uncertain whether the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, a race has commenced with a new wave of filings following BlackRock’s application. WisdomTree has filed with the SEC for a spot Bitcoin ETF for the third time, and Invesco has also renewed its application for a similar product.
ETF Store President Nate Geraci has identified a list of ETF issuers that he believes are likely to file or refile for a spot Bitcoin ETF based on their past filings.
Geraci mentioned First Trust, VanEck, Global X, Fidelity, and the potential “dark horse,” Schwab, as issuers to keep an eye on.
The competition to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF is heating up, indicating a growing interest from investors and institutions in gaining exposure to Bitcoin through regulated investment vehicles.
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Credible Crypto, a prominent voice in the cryptocurrency community, predicts Bitcoin’s price may soon surpass its previous high of $69,000, citing patterns in past impulse movements.
The prediction, shared via Twitter, suggests Bitcoin (BTC) could reach this peak within the next four months, potentially by October.
This optimism is based on Bitcoin’s strong performance in recent times, and its successful retest of support on monthly timeframes, implying a potential upcoming “parabolic advance.”
According to Credible Crypto, the trend of parabolic advances is characterized by exponentially increasing momentum that peaks at the top, as previously seen in Bitcoin’s movement from $3,000 to $14,000 and $10,000 to $60,000.
The largest monthly candle seen recently was a $10,000 move that took Bitcoin above the $25,000 level.
Following this trend, the analyst expects a similar magnitude in future monthly moves. The gap between the current price and the prior all-time high, which stands at $40,000, could, therefore, be covered within a few monthly candles.
However, this forecast remains speculative, and the actual timing remains uncertain, even though October has been suggested as a likely timeline.
The analyst clarified that while a new all-time high by the year-end is expected, October was merely a guess.
While many are optimistic about Bitcoin’s potential rise, some remain skeptical about the recent price surge attributed to Bitcoin spot price exchange-traded funds (ETFs) applications by firms like BlackRock.
Regulatory hurdles in the US may impede near-term approvals, a concern voiced by trading firm QCP Capital. Meanwhile, BTC trades around $30,000 as of the latest reports, following a brief period of high volatility.
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