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Most Recent Market Trades

September 4, 2025

New York, USA

Netflix $1,253.93 +27.75 +2.26%

NVIDIA Corp $170.80 +0.17 +0.10%

Microsoft Corp $507.37 +2.01 +0.40%

http://Amazon.com Inc $235.04 +9.05 +4.00%

Meta Platforms Inc $747.53 +10.48 +1.42%

Alphabet Inc Class A $231.03 +0.37 +0.16%

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TKO Group $190.11 +3.51 +1.88%

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September 2, 2025

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Netflix $1,214.11 +5.86 +0.48%

NVIDIA Corp $170.74 -3.37 -1.94%

Microsoft Corp $505.12 -1.57 -0.31%

Amazon dotcom $225.34 -3.66 -1.60%

Meta Platforms Inc $735.11 -3.59 -0.49%

Alphabet Inc Class A $211.35 -1.560.73%

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TKO Group $185.35 -4.21 -2.22%

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Netflix $207.14 -1.35 -0.65%

NVIDIA Corp $181.77 +1.96 +1.09%

Microsoft Corp $502.04 -2.22 -0.44%

Amazon Dotcom Inc $228.71 +0.77 +0.34%

Meta Platforms Inc $754.10 +0.80 +0.11%

Alphabet Inc Class A $207.14 -1.35 -0.65%

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NVIDIA Corp $177.99 +3.01 +1.72%

Microsoft Corp $507.23 +2.99 +0.59%

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Meta Platforms Inc $754.79 +15.69 +2.12%

Alphabet Inc Class A $206.09 +6.34 +3.17%

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Netflix $1,158.60 -0.80 0.069%

NVIDIA Corp $173.72 -4.15 2.33%

Microsoft Corp $524.11 -9.39 1.76%

Amazon Inc $214.75 -19.36 8.27%

Meta Platforms Inc $750.01 -23.43 3.03%

Alphabet Inc Class A $189.13 -2.77 1.44%

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July 2025

Published July 24, 2025:
(Sydney, Australia)

Netflix $1,176.78 -13.30 1.12%

NVIDIA Corp $170.78 +3.75 2.25%

Microsoft Corp $505.87 +0.60 0.12%

Amazon $228.29 +0.82 0.36%

Meta Platforms Inc $713.58 +8.77 1.24%

Alphabet Inc Class A $190.23 -1.11 0.58%

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Published July 22, 2025:
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Netflix $1,233.27 +24.03 1.99%

NVIDIA Corp $171.38 -1.03 0.60%

Microsoft Corp $510.06 +0.0100 0.0020%

Amazon Inc $229.37 +3.24 1.43%

Meta Platforms Inc $712.97 +8.69 1.23%

Alphabet Inc Class A $190.10 +5.04 2.72%

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August 2, 2025

Market regime change: Microsoft weakening whilst Alphabet strengthens Nvidia and OpenAI have become synonymous with the AI revolution, each offering its own breakthrough solutions. This has made Nvidia the most valuable company on the market. OpenAI remains private for now. However, the old guard of IT giants, such as Microsoft and Alphabet, are not standing on the sidelines of the AI race, although they are conducting it in different ways, which is affecting their shares differently.

Microsoft owns a stake in OpenAI, giving it access to the latest developments, but integrates them into its own programmes, including chatbots.

For a long time, betting on Microsoft was an indirect bet on OpenAI with their well-known ChatGPT. This approach paid off earlier this year, as the share price recovered faster than many competitors after the April slump. From its lows at the start of April to its highs at the end of July, the stock soared 55%, already making its way to historic highs since the beginning of June.

For a long time, Alphabet shares lagged their competitor in terms of share price growth over the past five years. They were also weaker in their recovery after the April correction, adding 40% to their lows before peaking at the end of July.

However, since August, the markets have clearly shifted into a different mode, with MSFT falling 7.5% against GOOG's 13% growth. This divergence began even before the release of GPT-5, the latest model, which faced widespread criticism from users, forcing the company to revert to GPT-4, originally announced over two years ago. Negative sentiment was also fuelled by comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who acknowledged that the market is currently in a bubble due to inflated expectations.

Google Gemini is steadily developing and gradually gaining consumer support due to its convenient integration into the company's extensive ecosystem. This aspiration resonates with investors. It seems that market participants are seeking to diversify their bets on AI agents, creating demand for Alphabet shares at the expense of Microsoft.

September marks the end of the financial year in the US, and investors often use August and September to switch to new trends or restart existing ones. September is historically the worst month for stock indices, but it can also be a good entry point during a downturn.

It is only important to understand whether we are seeing the start of a trend reversal or a temporary correction. Signals of this should be sought in MSFT's dynamics. Technically, with the stock trading at $506, it remains within a corrective pattern as long as it stays above the $450–$470 range. The upper bound aligns with last year's peak and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the rally from the April lows to the July highs, while the lower boundary corresponds to the 200-day moving average. A break below this level would signal a deeper trend reversal.

GOOG shares are close to local overbought conditions, as the RSI on daily timeframes is approaching 75, near which the shares have experienced local corrections over the past six years. Therefore, there is a high chance that both shares will soon experience increased selling pressure; the only question is how deep this correction will be.

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SEO News via Media Man: Ways to Improve your Site’s Ranking (SEO)

Ways to Improve your Site’s Ranking (SEO)

New strategies for Search Engine Optimization

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential digital marketing practice that plays a vital role in making your website visible to both visitors and search engine crawlers. The primary objective of SEO is to optimize relevant and authoritative content to assist visitors in finding solutions to their queries efficiently.

The ultimate aim of SEO is to create high-quality and informative content that increases the volume of traffic that your website receives daily. Optimizing your website involves creating and expanding your content to ensure that search engines will choose your site over its competitors.

The focus of SEO is to perfect the quality and quantity of your webpage to make sure that your website has an edge over others. Therefore, SEO plays an essential role in driving traffic to your website, which is crucial for the visibility and success of your online Business.

1. Publish Relevant, Authoritative Content

This article provides valuable suggestions on how to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and enhance website ranking on search engine results. Creating quality content that caters to the user’s needs is the driving factor of SEO marketing, and the article emphasizes that there is no substitute for great content.

The article further provides guidance on identifying appropriate keyword phrases for each authoritative content page and making use of them strategically throughout the content. Creating distinct web pages for each distinct targeted keyword phrase is advisable to enhance ranking.

The article suggests using keywords in headings, subheadings, URLs, and titles, and stressing the importance of readability and user-friendliness of the content. Using emphasis tags and strategically linking to relevant sources is also encouraged. By following these valuable suggestions, users can create SEO-friendly content that benefits the readers while improving their website’s overall ranking.

2. Update Your Content Regularly

Maintaining updated content is crucial to improve your website’s relevancy, and it is a crucial factor that search engines prioritize as well. We highly recommend scheduling regular content audits, for instance, on a semesterly basis, to update your webpages and blog posts accordingly.

Writing additional content frequently on your departmental news blog can enhance your search engine rankings by incorporating relevant keyword phrases. Brief blog posts can also be helpful if they offer specific updates related to your targeted topics.

Moreover, interlinking your related CMS webpages and blog posts can provide readers with a better understanding of your website’s content and additional information on the subject. Thus, keep your website updated and relevant to improve your visitor’s user experience and attract more traffic to your site.

3. Metadata

Website designers use metadata to provide information about a website’s content. When creating a webpage, a space between the “head” tags is reserved for metadata.

If you use a CMS website they have already filled in the metadata. However, as your content changes, it is important to review and update the metadata.

Title Metadata

Title metadata is the most important because it determines the page title that appears at the top of a browser window and in search engine results. For those with a CMS website, the web team has automated this process based on your page title. Therefore, it is essential to use well-thought-out page titles that include keyword phrases.

Description Metadata

Description metadata is a brief and interesting summary of what your website contains. It’s like a store’s attractive display that encourages people to visit. Usually, it should be two sentences long. Search engines may or may not use this summary, but it’s good to have it in case they do.

Keyword Metadata

Keyword metadata is not very helpful in improving your search engine ranking. However, it’s useful to include some of your important keywords in the metadata. You should select a few phrases with one to four words each and add three to seven of them. For example, “computer science degree” or "pop culture agency" are good keyword phrases to use.

4. Have a Link-worthy Site

Making your website popular involves efforts in developing valuable content and enhancing its search results. To achieve this, you must focus on creating informative and unbiased content that caters to the readers’ interests and queries.

Furthermore, your website might earn a backlink from other websites if it provides good value to the readers. This can improve its search engine ranking immensely, which can bring in more visitors. It is also crucial to incorporate descriptive hyperlinks in the text as opposed to generic “click here” links.

This helps in giving proper context to people who use screen readers and makes it easier for search engines to crawl your website. You can lift your website SEO performance by using appropriate keywords in your content and developing internal links. These techniques can help you build a better online presence and increase your website’s popularity.

5. Use ALT Tags

Want search engines to find your website and to make it more accessible for people who use text-only browsers or screen readers? Simply put, use alt tags to describe your media content, like images and videos, with alternative text descriptions.

These descriptions act as labels for search engines and help them identify your page better. They also provide context for those who cannot view the media directly. By making your website more accessible and searchable, you can improve its overall user experience.

News

New strategies for Search Engine Optimization

New areas of digital marketing are as changeable and require so much adaption and new-thinking as the world of SEO. Search Engine Optimization has come a long way from its beginnings in the 1990s, and the technologies deciding what is “good SEO” or not changes from year to year.

That’s why tech companies are launching new strategies aimed at long-term goals in both data-driven and relations-based SEO all over the world, by implementing tactics from both traditional PR and modern SEO and link-building.

Below, we will discuss the nature of SEO, how SEO is changing, and why choosing an agency will be the key to your SEO success.

Best SEO practices:

Find your customers with data-driven market analysis

Find authoritative marketing partners using data-driven PR

Reach your customers with high quality outreach and credible link-building

What is SEO?

In order to discuss the ways in which SEO works, it’s important to understand the basic principles on which the concept is built. SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization, and is an umbrella term for processes in which users optimize their websites in order to rank higher on search engines such as Google whenever customers search for keywords relevant to their website.

By optimizing the various aspects of a website, SEO aims to improve its ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs), thereby increasing the quantity and quality of traffic. In layman’s terms, it helps more people to find your website by increasing its digital visibility.

Why is SEO important?

There’s an old SEO joke that goes like this: A man asks a detective “Where’s the best place to hide a body?” The detective answers “Why, on the second page of Google, of course!”. In other words, ranking on the first page of Google is the key to getting traffic and therefore sales or viewings on your webpage, as few people bother to look past the first results page.

In fact, the first spot on Google is ten times more likely to get a click than results number ten, and the top three results receive over half of all clicks. That’s why the goal of every SEO strategist is to get a website into the top ten search results on Google, and preferably in the top three.

That’s why SEO marketing lives on, despite some people saying that SEO is dead. The answer is: it’s more alive than ever. It just doesn’t fit into the mold of the quick-results culture of the modern world, but it is still effective.

The evolution of SEO

SEO as a term first came into use in 1997, despite the first website being published in 1991. The coin was termed John Audette of Multimedia Marketing Group early that year, and so the hunt for the top of the search engine results pages began.

In the beginning, there were several competing names for the concept, including search engine ranking, website promotion, etc. The strongest competitor was the term “search engine marketing”, which was originally pitched as a successor to SEO. But ultimately, search engine optimization proved to be the most steadfast and all-encompassing term, while SEM is used to describe concepts like paid search marketing and advertising.

Google’s rise to power

In the 2000s, Google grew to become the search engine giant we know it as today. Soon enough, the organization was able to survive on its own. At that time, they also launched effective web crawlers and PageRank algorithms, which changed the SEO game.

Google began measuring both on-page and off-page content to decide SERP listings, forcing SEO to expand their work sphere and link-building took off as a popular tactic. Around the same time, Google also introduced PageRank scores, a website score between 1-10, which was an early version of today’s Domain Authority.

These measures were broken down further with the introduction of Google Analytics and the Google Webmaster Tools (Search Console) in 2006. Later major updates, such as Panda and Penguin in 2011 and 2012 respectively, were put in place to sort out poor quality SEO work and reward those with quality websites.

To this day, Google continues to release core and minor updates that impact the way that SEO can work. The platform has grown to be such a reputable platform that in 2022 it was estimated that Google accounted for more than 85 percent of the search engine usage, which is why it’s the platform that most SEO strategies focus on today.

The big three: Local, social, mobile

There have been three major changes in the way that people search the web, that has not been a result of search engine updates. The first of these came in the mid-2000s, when there was an adaptation toward geographical searches, which birthed local SEO. This meant that people were now searching for businesses near them, such as restaurants or car washes, media, gaming and sports agents, thus increasing the need for separate local search engine strategies. This development also resulted in the advancement of end-user data, including search history and personalized interests.

Fast-forward another decade into the 2010s, and a whole new set of searching and web-using emerged. Rather than just using the universal search-functions, users were now turning to medias such as YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social medias for news and knowledge. Most importantly for SEO, these networks became revolutionary in building brand awareness. As such, the old term of search engine marketing (SEM) became ever more important on these platforms.

As users started to bring their lives and entertainment from the big screens, such as laptops or TVs, they also began to use search engines straight from their mobile phones. This third change in user patterns led to mobile searching overtaking desktop searches in 2015, and added mobile adaptability to the list of SEO tools.

The 2020s, AI, and the future of SEO

We’ve finally arrived at our current time. The 2020s have brought with it a continued increase in digital usage and SEO is perhaps more important than ever. One of the biggest challenges the world of SEO stands before today is generative AI. Chat GPT, X including Grok, the free global access to generative AI as a search function, was released in the winter of 2022/2023, and has garnered instant attraction from both customers and competitors, including Google. It is still unclear what impact generative AI will have on SEO practices such as keywords analysis, although it is already affecting the quality of content on the web.

New strategies for new challenges

As new SEO directives arrive from Google’s updates, they also require new strategies. However, some companies have decided to create new strategies with a focus on longevity. Among new strategies are both traditional link-building and outreach including, in combination with inspiration from the traditional PR marketing sphere.

The other two strategies that they’ve developed are strongly data-driven market research and PR. The market research is a process in which the company can help customers who want to scale globally to find the best geographical place for them to start their SEO journey, based on SEO factors such as demand and competition.

The market-driven PR can build on that market research or stand alone, as a new way of reaching new marketing partners in international business circles. From these new partners, it is then possible to continue with link-building as well as traditional PR strategies. This is a unique way of piercing niche markets across the globe to attract potential customers.

How does SEO work?

Now that we’ve seen the evolution of SEO it’s time to get to the real question: what is SEO marketing actually, and how does it actually work? In order to understand how SEO works, it’s important to understand these two things: what Google wants and what the customers want. Only by doing so will you understand how you should optimize your web page.

What Google wants

One of the reasons why Google rose to such immense heights early on was due to the founders’ initiative to implement RankPage, or clear guidelines for how to rank content on their platform. Initially, the program worked by ranking content dependent on the link structure of the website, that built the foundation for the modern link building strategies. Simply put, links to the webpage acted as votes of confidence for the webpage.

Today, this concept has developed into the E-E-A-T formula, where Google ranks content based on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. These measures are interpreted by what the site’s link building looks like, such as what EEAT websites include links back to their landing page. They then ensure that the webpage produces reliable and accurate information, and are most likely to answer their customers’ questions.

Ultimately, the reason why Google wants to prioritize high quality content is because happy Google customers are more likely to return to Google for more information, and therefore generating income for the search engine.

So, how does Google find and rank the webpages? They do this through three stages: crawling, indexing, and serving results.

Crawling means that Google sends “bots” or computer programs to scan through large chunks of the internet to find new or updated pages. They can only find it by going through a link.

Googles then sorts through and organizes the content and puts it in the huge Google Index – a database for webpages.

Lastly, Google serves the results by how relevant they are to the customer queries.

What the customer wants

Broadly speaking, there are three types of searches that customers make, and they can be described as Do-Know-Go. Whenever we search the internet, we either want to do something (such as make a purchase or visit a tourist attraction), know something, or go somewhere. These three types of searches can be further broken down, but these are the basic concepts.

These three prompts can help you optimize your content so that you are answering the demand of the people. By realizing what your customer wants, you can provide SEO-optimized content which is relevant and fresh, which Google will reward you for.

SEO components, or how to do SEO

So how does a webpage get to that top of the search engine results page? While there is no quick fix, SEO provides a long-term strategy which aims at doing just that. SEO incorporates several different tactics in this long-term strategy, in which there are three main components:

Technical SEO

On-page SEO

Off-page SEO

Technical SEO refers to optimization on your webpage. This can for example mean implementing site maps so that Google can crawl the page more easily, increasing the website speed, or making the site mobile adaptable.

On-page SEO refers to edits to the content that is already on the webpage, rather than the technicalities behind it. This can for example include keyword optimizing headings, producing SEO-optimized blog posts, URL and picture optimization, and adding meta titles and descriptions.

Off-page SEO, on the other hand, is part of the link-building strategy. The focus here lies on building credibility and brand awareness by for example writing guests posts and linking to your webpage on other, reputable sources. The key here is to create backlinks, which give authority and endorsement to your website, and thus giving Google a sign that you are a credible source too.

To get good results, it’s important to implement all of the tactics above in a combined effort to get Google’s attention. However, these general descriptions are only scraping the top of the iceberg of SEO. Beneath these lay a whole science of various methods and strategies to rank at the top of the results page.

Link-building

The on-page and off-stage SEO practices can also be called SEO link-building. That’s because they both refer to building a link-system which Google will reward, whether it’s by driving links to your website from other credible sources or creating a seamless link-flow internally on your webpage.

Links to and on your website act as votes of trust, credibility and authority, which is why they are a crucial part of your SEO strategy. However, the links need to be carefully and thoughtfully crafted so that they maintain the right level of relevance and credibility, which can be done through producing high quality SEO content.

SEO content

For both on-page and off-page work, SEO content plays a huge role. As mentioned earlier, Google ranks webpages depending on both their link-building and how credible, authoritative, and expert their content is. However, these two factors are not as separate as one might think: with high quality content, it is also easier to build a good SEO link-building network.

Often when we discuss SEO content, we tend to think of texts of lesser quality that are packed with poor quality links. However, due to Google’s updates, such as Penguin, poor content is continually being phased out. That means individuals and agencies are having to spend more time recruiting better writers and spending more time on content.

As we discussed earlier, SEO content needs to be adapted to both the demands from the customer (a.k.a. the searching person) and Google. That means texts need to be relevant, authoritative, credible, and high quality. These texts also need to be SEO optimized using meta-data, such as titles and descriptions, and keywords in the headings in order for Google’s crawlers to pick up better on the relevancy factor.

That being said, the research and preparation for both good and bad content remains the same – all SEO content needs proper keyword research.

Keyword research

Finding the right keywords will not only make you more competitive as an SEO user, but will also help you understand your audience better. That’s because keywords are clues to who your audience is. For example, the keywords “how to ski” and “ski maintenance” could technically be placed in the same text contextually, but they imply that we’re dealing with skiers of different skill levels.

The keywords are both guides for the link-building process and the content. When building links, it’s important that both the link, the placement, and the publishing website are relevant in the context in order for Google’s crawlers to give it a credible ranking.

There are several tools on the market for finding the best keywords, and there are also a ton of metrics for understanding how good a keyword is and what the chances are of breaking into the competition for that specific keyword. Common metrics include keyword difficulty, traffic potential, cost-per-click, etcetera.

Brand awareness

Ultimately, what these various tactics aim to do is to bring brand awareness to your website. People are twice as likely to purchase from a brand they recognize. An American study found that 75 percent of shoppers tend to go for known retailers, and nearly 70 percent do the same when deciding what search result to click on.

Doing SEO: alone or SEO agency?

As you can tell, there is a lot of information and knowledge that goes into producing and completing good SEO strategies. If you are considering adapting some SEO strategies, you may be wondering whether you should do it all on your own or hire an agency.

Without sugar-coating it, doing SEO alone is a lot of hard work. First and foremost, you got to have basic understandings of both SEO tools, Google Analytics, and good writing skills. Then you need good networking skills and a sense of price bargaining to get your links out to credible sources. On top of this, you need to stay up to date with all the latest developments within Google updates, market changes, and new technologies such as generative AI which can impact your SEO strategies. All of this can be both time consuming and costly.

If it feels overwhelming, there are a ton of SEO agencies on the market that are ready to help. Some of them focus solely on SEO content production, whereas others focus solely on technical SEO or solely on SEO link-building.

Some agencies offer entire packages, where staying SEO updated, building and optimizing webpages, link-building, content production, and publishing is included. Together with the new data-driven strategies and tactics, Media Man Group offers services that are great for both those who are somewhat new as to those who are already familiar and wanting to grow beyond.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about SEO

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is a digital marketing form that focuses on creating digital visibility on search engines such as Google by improving websites’ rankings in the search results.

What is the difference between SEO and SEM?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and works with creating organic ranking improvements on platforms like Google. SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing and focuses on paid promotions and marketing on platforms like Google.

How long does SEO take?

Good SEO typically takes between 4 months to a year to see good results. However, it’s crucial to understand that SEO is a long-term strategy, that is never really finished. If you are lucky enough to rank at 1 on Google, the job doesn’t stop there: then you want to maintain that spot by continuing your SEO work.

Why do you need SEO?

SEO helps to build brand awareness, which is key in gaining credibility amongst both Google and potential customers. That’s why SEO is worth it, even if it is a long game.

Media Man

The Media Man Group is primarily and online news, media and sports management firm and website portal developer. By default Media Man developed many effective SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) techniques and strategies since their launch in 2001. SEO helped elevate Media Man websites into Hitwise "Top 10" status (entertainment - personalities) category. Media Man also offers a range of media and convergent media services including article copy, PR (public relations), text link based campaigns, product placement and endorsement, buzz marketing (via websites and social media) and brand building. The company is best known for insightful media analysis, specalising in pop culture/entertainment, streaming and subscriber television including PPV (Pay-Per-View), PLE, pro wrestling aka sports entertainment coverage, MMA (mixed martial arts), and commentary and coverage on an array of trending topics, with strong focus on X (formerlly Twitter), Alphabet (Google, YouTube, Blogger etc) and new and emerging technology and news platforms and developments. MM is both organic search and AI search friendly. Media Man is often referenced in both mainstream, niche and alternative news media stories. The company motto remains "Putting Your Name Out There".

Websites

Media Man
www.mediaman.com.au

Media Man Int
www.mediamanint.com

#Agency #Search #PopCulture #SEO #Authority #Expert #Experts #NewsMedia #Creative #Niche #Agent #PR #AI #GregTingle #trend #buzz #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Cryptocurrency News

Cryptos (Near live)

Bitcoin $109,704.32 USD +2.504%
ETH $2,558.37 USD +1.27%
Tether $0.9999 USD -0.11%
XRP $2.39 USD +1.66%
BNB $673.18 USD +3.52%
Solana $173.67 USD +3.43%
USD Coin $164.36 USD -0.05%
Dogecoin $0.2364 USD +4.67%
Cardano $0.7729 USD +3.94%
TRON $0.2678 USD -0.57%
Wrapped Bitcoin $109,317.98 USD +2.46%

News

Bitcoin close to the top

Market Picture

Market capitalisation has risen 2% in the last 24 hours to $3.37 trillion, 8.5% below January's all-time peaks. However, Bitcoin buyers are showing more confidence, trading above the $107k area (+2.9%). Ethereum and many other altcoins saw stronger intraday gains but still have a lot to recover after retreating significantly following the broader market pullback after Trump’s inauguration.

Bitcoin is forming its fourth consecutive daily growth candle. Bulls continue their attempts to secure a foothold above the $107K level. While the first cryptocurrency has briefly reached higher levels, it has yet to establish a sustained hold above them.

Last week, there was a stabilisation around $103k, which now looks like a foundation for further growth. The realistic near-term target for the bulls looks to be the area of $113K, which would be an extension to 161.8% of the growth impulse from early May and the subsequent mini correction at the beginning of last week.

Bitcoin's upward move is gradually waking up altcoins, although they still have considerable room to rise to previous highs, making them increasingly attractive to retail traders. The trend of a weakening dollar can also be seen as a breeding ground for growth.

News Background

On-chain signals and market data for Bitcoin remain constructive. Buying sentiment continues to support further growth, indicating that it may not yet be time to cash in, according to CryptoQuant.

Strategy bought an additional 7,390 BTC ($764.9 million) last week at an average price of $103,498 per coin. The company now owns 576,230 BTC bought at an average price of $69,726. The total investment is valued at $40.18 billion.

Major players via options have bet on Ethereum's significant growth, said CoinDesk analyst Omkar Godbole. The strategy will yield the biggest profits if ETH rises to $6,000 or higher by 26 December.

The Binance exchange has filed a motion to dismiss FTX's $1.76 bn lawsuit. The company's lawyers called the claims ‘legally untenable’ and asked for the case to be dismissed.

According to Fortune, Circle's IPO may not take place as the USDC issuer is in talks with Coinbase and Ripple to sell the business for at least $5bn. (FxPro)

News

Cryptocurrency News

Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin has risen from $94,000 to over $106,000 in May, a 13% increase, driven by strong institutional interest and ETF inflows ($3.3 billion this month). Analysts predict it could hit $110,000 by month's end, with some forecasting $220,000-$250,000 by year-end due to regulatory tailwinds and reduced volatility.

Regulatory Developments: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act on May 20 with a 66-32 vote, aiming to regulate stablecoins and establish a federal framework for digital currencies. A final vote is pending post the May 26 holiday. Texas may become the second U.S. state to allow a Bitcoin reserve if SB 21 is signed, following New Hampshire’s lead.

XRP Momentum: XRP briefly overtook Tether as the third-largest cryptocurrency. Its price surged 15% in 2025, trading at $2.40, with South Korean investors driving demand. The launch of XRP futures ETFs by CME Group on May 19 is seen as a pivotal moment. Predictions suggest XRP could reach $3-$20 by 2030.

Cybersecurity Concerns: Coinbase reported a cyberattack costing $180-$400 million, affecting a small subset of users’ data. Bybit faced a $1.5 billion heist in February, the largest ever. In France, crypto-related kidnappings targeting wealthy investors have raised alarms.

Institutional Adoption: Blackstone disclosed holding 23,094 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust, marking its first public bitcoin position. JPMorgan, Ondo, and Chainlink announced a $100 billion blockchain platform for tokenizing real-world assets.

Market Trends: The crypto market cap rose 1.2% to $3.46 trillion, with $124 billion in trading volume. However, concerns about overconfidence and potential corrections persist. Galaxy’s Nasdaq listing ($GLXY) has sparked enthusiasm, with potential to rival other crypto stocks. (Grok)

News

Blockchain News

Regulatory Moves in the U.S.: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill to regulate stablecoins, with new consumer protections and limits on tech companies issuing them. This follows a previous Democratic block, signaling growing acceptance of blockchain’s role in finance, though concerns about oversight and corruption persist.

Coinbase Joins S&P 500: Crypto exchange Coinbase was added to the S&P 500, a milestone for the crypto industry, though it faced a cyberattack compromising customer data, with remediation costs estimated at $180–400 million.

New Hampshire’s Crypto Push: New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to allow its treasury to invest in cryptocurrency. Proposed bills aim to prevent discrimination against digital assets and establish blockchain-specific legal frameworks, though their fate remains uncertain.

Cardano Embezzlement Allegations: Cardano faces claims of $600 million in ADA embezzlement. Founder Charles Hoskinson promised an audit to restore trust, potentially setting a precedent for blockchain self-governance.

Ripple and XRP Developments: Ripple warned XRP holders about scams amid a market uptick. XRP is expanding into multichain interoperability with Cosmos and EVM sidechains, positioning it as a key player in blockchain connectivity.

Chainlink and Stablecoin Integration: World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin, backed by U.S. treasuries, hit $2 billion in market cap and is now cross-chain with Chainlink’s CCIP, enabling secure transfers across Ethereum and BNB Chain.

Security Concerns: French crypto entrepreneurs, including Paymium’s CEO, face rising targeted attacks, prompting enhanced security measures. Global threats to crypto executives are increasing, with organized crime targeting digital wealth.

Blockchain in Gaming: Blockchain gaming saw a 10% drop in user activity in April, but the ecosystem is maturing. Mainstream companies like Ubisoft and Sega are experimenting with NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics.

JP Morgan’s Blockchain Milestone: JP Morgan used Ondo and Chainlink for its first public blockchain deal, a historic step for institutional crypto adoption.

Ethereum Node Storage Solution: Vitalik Buterin proposed a local-first design to reduce Ethereum node storage requirements from 1.3TB, aiming to lower barriers for users. (Grok)

News

XRP News

Latest XRP News Summary (as of May 22, 2025)

Price Movement: XRP is currently trading around $2.31-$2.55, experiencing a 4% weekly drop but holding key support levels. Analysts suggest a potential rebound to $3.40, with some optimistic predictions targeting $11.34 by year-end or even $123 based on historical patterns, though short-term forecasts indicate limited gains until October 2025. A critical support level is at $2.30; a drop below could lead to a crash to $2.00.

SEC Lawsuit Developments: Ripple and the SEC are nearing a settlement in their long-standing legal battle, with the SEC filing a motion to lift the injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors and reduce a $125 million penalty. A recent court ruling on May 18 rejected the SEC’s request for an indicative ruling, but Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer downplayed it as procedural. The outcome could clear the path for XRP-spot ETF approval, a significant bullish catalyst.

XRP Futures and ETF Speculation: The CME Group launched cash-settled XRP futures on May 19, boosting institutional interest and speculation about spot ETF approvals. Firms like 21Shares, Bitwise, and Grayscale have filed for XRP ETFs, with Polymarket bettors giving an 83% chance of approval. However, BlackRock’s silence and a recent court decision have delayed ETF momentum, causing some bearish pressure.

Technological Advancements: Ripple is integrating XRP with Cosmos and developing EVM sidechains for better blockchain interoperability. Its custody service now supports shared MPC wallets, and the XRP Ledger is seeing growth in tokenization and DeFi, with rising Total Value Locked (TVL). StraitsX launched a Singapore-dollar stablecoin (XSGD) on the XRP Ledger, enhancing its utility.

Market Sentiment and Political Support: XRP sentiment remains mixed but leans bullish due to legal optimism and endorsements, notably from President Donald Trump, who suggested XRP as a potential strategic reserve currency. Posts on X highlight community excitement, with Ripple announcing an XRP Rewards Event to engage holders. However, some analysts warn of regulatory scrutiny and market volatility impacting short-term performance.

Ripple IPO Speculation: Market speculation suggests a Ripple IPO could value the company at over $100 billion, potentially boosting XRP’s price, though XRP in Ripple’s escrow won’t count toward valuation until the IPO.

Critical Note: While bullish catalysts like ETF prospects and legal clarity exist, ongoing regulatory uncertainty and market dynamics could pose risks. Some community predictions (e.g., $250 by 2026) appear speculative and lack robust evidence. Always conduct thorough research before making investment decisions, as market conditions are volatile. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"Banking now is like sending a letter: you send it, you don't know if it reached there. Ripple is more like sending an iMessage: you send it, and you immediately know" Chris Larsen

"Bitcoin is a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster, and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy" Michael J. Saylor

News

Elon Musk quotes

“Fundamentally, bitcoin is not a good substitute for transactional currency,” Musk told Time Magazine after being named Time’s 2021 Person of the Year. “Even though it was created as a silly joke, dogecoin is better suited for transactions.”

"The transaction volume of bitcoin is low, and the cost per transaction is high,” he said. Musk added that bitcoin is more suitable as a store of value, which is why its investors want to hold onto it and not sell it or use it for transactions.

Dogecoin, on the other hand, is a currency that “encourages people to spend, rather than sort of hoard as a store of value” Elon Musk

News/Intel

What Is A Cryptocurrency ETF? A Guide For Crypto Investors Looking To Diversify

A cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle that allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly holding them. Crypto ETFs can be a simpler, highly regulated way to invest in the volatile crypto world, offering diversification and ease of trading.

This guide will explain what crypto ETFs are, how they work, their advantages and the potential risks investors should consider.

What Is A Crypto ETF?

A crypto ETF is a financial product that provides investors with indirect exposure to digital assets like bitcoin and ether. Instead of directly purchasing and storing these cryptos, investors can buy shares of a crypto ETF, which tracks the value of one or more digital currencies. These ETFs trade on traditional stock exchanges, making them accessible through regular brokerage accounts.

Crypto ETFs are available in two main forms: spot ETFs and futures ETFs.

Spot ETFs directly hold the underlying crypto, while futures ETFs rely on contracts that speculate on future crypto prices. This difference can impact an ETF’s performance, with spot ETFs offering more direct price exposure and futures ETFs providing a way to trade on expected price movements.

Investing in crypto ETFs offers simplified access to digital assets. However, these funds are not without risks. Investors should know potential issues, including counterparty risks, management fees and limited control over the underlying digital assets. Understanding these factors can help investors make informed decisions.

How Does A Cryptocurrency ETF Work?
A cryptocurrency ETF functions like a traditional exchange-traded fund, trading on major stock exchanges. Investors can buy and sell shares of a crypto ETF throughout the trading day, with prices fluctuating based on the value of the underlying crypto it tracks. Crypto ETFs offer real-time pricing, which provides greater flexibility for investors.

Crypto ETFs are structured to hold either the actual crypto in the case of spot ETFs or derivative contracts, as in futures ETFs, that reflect crypto prices. The fund’s manager ensures the ETF maintains its target exposure by buying or selling assets as needed. This allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing crypto wallets or navigating complex exchanges.

Types Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Crypto ETFs come in several forms, offering different ways to invest in the digital asset market. Bitcoin ETFs focus solely on bitcoin, providing direct exposure to its price. Ethereum ETFs are dedicated to tracking the value of Ethereum. Blockchain ETFs invest in companies involved in blockchain technology rather than holding crypto directly. Multi-Crypto ETFs provide access to a mix of several cryptos within a single fund.

These options allow investors to choose between a single-asset focus or a diversified approach that reduces the risk of relying on one asset.

Bitcoin ETFs: Spot Vs. Futures
There are two kinds of Bitcoin ETFs, spot and futures. Spot bitcoin ETFs hold actual bitcoin reserves, with each share backed by actual crypto. This means investors gain direct exposure to bitcoin’s price movements without needing to manage or store bitcoin themselves. Spot ETFs are regulated financial instruments, with custodians securely storing the underlying bitcoin to protect against risks like hacking or theft.

In contrast, bitcoin futures ETFs do not hold actual bitcoin. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on bitcoin’s future price. These contracts are agreements to buy or sell bitcoin at a set price on a future date. While this approach offers bitcoin exposure, it introduces added complexity. Costs like roll premiums – expenses an ETF is required to pay when replacing expiring futures contracts with new ones – can reduce investor returns. Futures contracts may not perfectly track bitcoin’s spot price, causing price differences between the ETF and the actual bitcoin market.

Ethereum ETFs
Similar to bitcoin ETFs, ether ETFs come in two main types, spot and futures-based. Spot ether ETFs hold actual ETH in a secure, regulated custody account, giving investors direct exposure to the cryptocurrency's price. When purchasing ether ETFs, investors buy shares representing a portion of the ETF's Ethereum holdings.

Futures-based ether ETFs do not hold ETH directly. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on Ethereum's future price. These ETFs are easier to regulate and avoid custody risks, but may experience tracking errors and higher costs due to frequent contract rollovers.

Blockchain ETFs
Blockchain ETFs invest in companies using blockchain technology instead of holding cryptocurrencies directly. These funds provide exposure to industries like supply chain management, cybersecurity and digital identity. Unlike crypto ETFs, which focus on digital assets like bitcoin or ether, blockchain ETFs diversify across multiple sectors.

Examples include Robinhood, which offers crypto trading and blockchain services; Metaplanet, an investor in blockchain startups; and Cleanspark, a bitcoin mining company operating energy-efficient mining facilities. Blockchain ETFs let investors benefit from blockchain’s growth without direct ownership.

Multi-Crypto ETFs
Multi-Crypto ETFs expose a range of digital assets rather than focusing on a single one. These funds offer investors a balanced approach, allowing them to invest in multiple coins, such as bitcoin, ethereum, and solana, all within one investment product.

Grayscale's Digital Large Cap Fund is a notable example, holding a mix of major digital assets. Roughly 75% of the fund is allocated to bitcoin, 19% to ether, and the remainder to solana, ripple and avalanche. This approach helps spread risk and gives investors broader exposure to the evolving crypto market.

Why Are Investors Interested In Crypto ETFs?
Investors are drawn to crypto ETFs because they provide a straightforward method to gain exposure to digital assets without directly owning them. Through crypto ETFs, investors can access crypto through traditional brokerage accounts, avoiding the complexities of managing digital wallets, private keys or secure storage. Crypto ETFs also offer the security of institutional-grade funds, which are managed by professional fund managers and operate under regulatory guidance.

One of crypto ETFs' most appealing aspects is their portfolio diversification. Instead of investing in a single cryptocurrency, investors can choose multi-asset ETFs that spread risk across the crypto market.

Pros And Cons Of Crypto ETFs
Crypto ETFs offer a convenient way to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing cryptocurrency. However, like any investment, they come with benefits and drawbacks. Understanding these pros and cons can help investors make informed decisions.

Pros Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Accessibility: Crypto ETFs can be traded through traditional brokerage accounts, making it easy for investors to gain exposure without using crypto exchanges.

Diversification: Investors can choose multi-crypto ETFs, spreading their risk across multiple digital assets instead of relying on a single cryptocurrency.

Regulatory Oversight: Crypto ETFs are managed by regulated financial institutions, providing regulated security compared to direct crypto ownership, which can be challenging.

Cons Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Limited Control: Investors do not own actual crypto, meaning they cannot use it for transactions or transfer it to a private wallet.

Management Fees: Crypto ETFs often have management fees that can reduce returns over time, especially futures-based ETFs with frequent contract rollovers.

Tracking Errors: Futures-based crypto ETFs may not perfectly mirror the spot price of cryptocurrencies due to price differences between futures and actual assets.

Cryptocurrency ETFs Vs. Direct Crypto Investments
Crypto ETFs offer investors a way to gain exposure to digital assets without direct ownership. Investors do not need to manage private keys or secure digital wallets, making ETFs a simpler option for those who want crypto exposure without the technical complexities.

In contrast, direct crypto investments allow investors to buy, hold and control actual digital assets. This approach provides complete ownership, enabling investors to transfer, spend or stake their crypto as they see fit. Direct investments also avoid management fees but come with responsibilities like wallet security, exposure to hacking risks and the need to manage transactions on crypto exchanges.

Who Are Crypto ETFs Right For?
Crypto ETFs are ideal for beginner investors who want exposure to digital assets without the complexity of directly buying, storing or managing cryptocurrencies. These funds offer a simple, regulated way to invest, making them suitable for those new to the crypto market who are more comfortable with traditional financial products.

They are also well-suited for traditional investors familiar with stock markets but wanting to explore crypto. By trading on exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, crypto ETFs provide a convenient option for those who prefer to avoid the security risks of crypto exchanges.

The Future Outlook Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
The future of cryptocurrency ETFs looks bright, with BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF posting $356 million in inflows, the longest streak of 2025, and bitcoin flirting with new highs. As regulatory clarity improves, driven by bullish sentiment from SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, more funds are launching, providing investors with greater choice and confidence.

Bottom Line

Crypto ETFs make it easier to invest in digital assets without directly buying and managing cryptocurrencies. They are a good option for beginners, traditional investors and those looking for diversified exposure. With choices like bitcoin, ether, multi-crypto and blockchain ETFs, investors can find a fund that fits their goals while reducing some risks of direct ownership.

The future of crypto ETFs looks promising as more funds emerge and regulatory clarity improves. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF is seeing record inflows, showing strong investor interest. As the market grows, crypto ETFs offer a straightforward way to participate in the digital asset space.

Cryptos and Markets

Cryptos

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

May 19, 2025
Sydney, Australia

Bitcoin $104,266.52 USD +0.52%
ETH $2,421.78 USD -3.18%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.41%
XRP $2.39 USD +1.05%
BNB $644.71 USD -0.00%
Solana $168.47 USD +0.54%
USD Coin $1.00 USD -0.13%
Dogecoin $0.2251 USD +3.48%
Cardano $0.7427 USD -0.85%
TRON $0.2662 USD -2.40%
Wrapped Bitcoin $104,441.92 USD +0.75%

News

XRP News

Price Movement: XRP is trading around $2.40-$2.55, with a recent peak at $2.65 on May 14, 2025. It’s up over 366% in the past year but dipped 1.6% recently due to market consolidation and legal uncertainties. Analysts suggest a potential rally to $3.00 if it breaks the $2.72 resistance, supported by bullish indicators like RSI and low exchange inflows. Some predict explosive growth to $5.90, $15, or even $123 based on technical patterns, though these are speculative.

SEC vs. Ripple Lawsuit: The ongoing legal battle with the SEC remains pivotal. On May 15, Judge Analisa Torres rejected a joint SEC-Ripple motion to amend a prior settlement due to procedural issues, leaving the case in limbo. Despite this, Ripple’s legal chief confirmed XRP’s non-security status remains intact. A $50 million settlement was briefly finalized, but renewed scrutiny and the SEC’s push to lift restrictions on institutional XRP sales have stirred uncertainty. A resolution could pave the way for XRP-spot ETF approvals.

ETF Speculation: Hopes for an XRP-spot ETF have driven price surges, with filings from firms like 21Shares, Bitwise, and Franklin Templeton. However, BlackRock’s silence after SEC talks and a delayed decision on Solana ETFs (with XRP ETF deadlines looming in June) have tempered optimism. Experts warn an ETF might not fully align with XRP’s utility-driven adoption.

Market and Adoption: XRP hit $1.2 billion in daily trading volume in South Korea, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum. Ripple’s technological advancements include EVM sidechains for blockchain interoperability and shared MPC wallets for secure custody. President Trump’s endorsement of XRP as a potential strategic reserve currency and Missouri’s crypto tax break law have fueled bullish sentiment. Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road could lock up 5% of XRP’s circulating supply, potentially driving prices to $5-$15 short-term.

Futures and IPO Buzz: The CME Group is set to launch XRP futures today, May 19, 2025, a move seen as a step toward institutional adoption and potential ETF approval. Speculation about a Ripple IPO, possibly valuing the company at $100 billion, continues to grow, with SBI Holdings noting XRP in escrow won’t count toward valuation until the IPO.

Community Sentiment: XRP’s community is optimistic, with commentators like “J4b1” calling May 19 a potentially historic day, possibly tied to the futures launch or legal developments. However, claims of a finalized SEC settlement by May 19 appear unverified. Posts on X highlight excitement but also speculative narratives, like BlackRock buying XRP, which lack confirmation.

Critical Note: While bullish projections abound, some analysts caution that historical patterns may not hold, and regulatory hurdles could persist. Always verify claims, especially from X posts, as they can be speculative or misleading. For the latest, check trusted sources or monitor Ripple’s official channels. (Grok)

News

Dogecoin News

Price Movements and Market Performance: Dogecoin has shown significant volatility, with a recent 48.7% surge over the past month, trading around $0.223 as of May 18, 2025. It reached a high of $0.248 in early May but faced a slight pullback, consolidating near $0.22–$0.23. Analysts suggest a potential breakout above the $0.25–$0.26 resistance could spark a new bull run, with price targets ranging from $0.30 to $0.70 in the next 30 days, and some optimistic forecasts eyeing $1 in 2025. However, a "death cross" on technical charts indicates midterm bearish risks, making the $0.21 support level critical.

Whale Accumulation: On-chain data reveals that Dogecoin whales have accumulated over 1 billion DOGE in the past month, signaling strong confidence in future price gains. This activity, coupled with an 800% surge in daily active addresses (reaching 674K, the highest since November 2024), suggests robust network engagement and potential for an explosive price move if support holds.

ETF Speculation: Enthusiasm is growing around four Dogecoin ETF applications under SEC review, including one from 21Shares in partnership with the Dogecoin Foundation. Bloomberg analysts estimate a 75% chance of approval in 2025, which could drive mainstream adoption and price growth. This news contributed to a 528% spike in active addresses on May 13, from 74,640 to 469,477.

Network and Ecosystem Developments: The Dogecoin Foundation is pushing for broader adoption through DogeOS, an app layer for gaming, AI, and DeFi, backed by $6.9 million in investment. This aims to transform Dogecoin from a meme coin to a utility-driven asset, potentially supporting its $100 billion market cap goal.

Market Sentiment and Speculation: Posts on X reflect bullish sentiment, with unverified claims of PayPal accepting Dogecoin payments circulating, though these lack confirmation. Additionally, Dogecoin’s futures open interest surged from $989 million to $1.62 billion, indicating heightened speculative trading. Some analysts warn of overheating risks, but others see room for growth before a cycle top.

Cautions and Risks: Dogecoin creator Billy Markus warned about a potential asset bubble that could crash the global economy, though specifics were vague. Geopolitical tensions and trade policy shifts continue to influence crypto markets, adding uncertainty. The coin’s volatility and reliance on speculative momentum remain concerns. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Movie News

Michael Saylor’s $40BN Bitcoin Bet: The Financial Times released a documentary exploring Michael Saylor’s bold corporate investment in Bitcoin, highlighting his journey from corporate strategy to crypto prominence. Posts on X indicate strong interest, describing it as a must-watch for Bitcoin enthusiasts.

Everyone Is Lying To You For Money: Set to premiere at SXSW London in June 2025, this crypto-skeptical documentary features interviews with former FTX and Celsius CEOs, Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky, and examines El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption under President Nayib Bukele.

Crypto Man: A South Korean crypto-themed film based on true events, slated for release in January 2025, was in post-production as of December 2024.

Satoshi Nakamoto Film: Directed by Sophia Banks, this upcoming feature film, based on Andrew O’Hagan’s “The Satoshi Affair,” will explore the mystery of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator.

Ross Ulbricht Documentary: Filmmakers Jonah Tulis and Blake J. Harris are nearing completion of a documentary featuring over 60 hours of interviews with Ross Ulbricht, the pardoned Silk Road founder, focusing on his life and the platform’s role in popularizing Bitcoin.

Biggest Heist Ever: Netflix’s 2024 documentary details the 2016 Bitfinex hack by Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who laundered $4.5 billion in Bitcoin, dubbed “Bitcoin’s Bonnie and Clyde.”

Aimy in a Cage: This 2015 dystopian horror film, adapted from a graphic novel, was the first movie fully funded by Bitcoin, allowing director Hooroo Jackson to maintain creative control.

Cold Wallet: A 2025 thriller about cryptocurrency fraud, presented by Steven Soderbergh, has been praised for its suspenseful take on a home invasion tied to crypto.

These projects reflect growing cinematic interest in Bitcoin’s cultural, financial, and criminal dimensions.

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

“Trading Bitcoin is like trading Apple, Amazon, Google, or Facebook a decade ago. The more you obsess over timing the market, the more mistakes you make. They were all technology networks that were dominant & destined to grow.” - Michael Saylor, Former CEO of MicroStrategy

"Whereas most technologies tend to automate workers on the periphery doing menial tasks, blockchains automate away the center. Instead of putting the taxi driver out of a job, blockchain puts Uber out of a job and lets the taxi drivers work with the customer directly." - Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum

"The Latin American countries where you have this combination of inflation or hyperinflation cycles – deflation as well – and then you have very high friction for financial transactions, a high percentage of people who are unbanked, cryptocurrencies make total sense." – Fred Thiel, CEO of Thiel Advisors & Marathon Digital Holdings

“…we know gold is a $12 trillion asset, bitcoin’s about a 10th of gold. Could they be half of gold? At one point, Sure, it could … And at some point, it will be larger than gold… that money is finding its way to Gen Z and Millennials, and they feel much more comfortable with digital gold than old clunky gold.” - Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital

“If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.” - Satoshi Nakomoto, Founder of Bitcoin

Markets

ASX futures down 7 points/0.1% to 8360 on Sat

Australian dollar +0.1% to 64.10 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.7%
Nasdaq +0.5%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.3%
FTSE +0.6%
DAX +0.3%
CAC +0.4%

Bitcoin +0.9% to $US104,244

Spot gold -1.1% to $US3203.65 per ounce on Saturday

US oil +1.4% to $US62.49 a barrel on Saturday

Brent crude oil +1.4% to $US65.41 a barrel on Saturday

Iron ore -1.5% to $US99.70 per ton (Singapore 62% grade)

10-year yield:
US 4.48%
Australia 4.45%
Germany 2.59%

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

May 13, 2025
Sydney, Australia

Bitcoin $102,452.96 USD -1.57%
ETH $2,473.59 USD -1.39%
Tether $0.9993 USD -0.10%
XRP $2.53 USD +7.21%
BNB $662.27 USD +1.78%
Solana $172.50 USD -0.12%
USD Coin $0.9993 USD -0.07%
Dogecoin $0.2295 USD -1.04%
Cardano $0.8162 USD +0.72%
TRON $0.2732 USD +3.10%
Wrapped Bitcoin $102,406.50 USD -1.66%

News

Cryptocurrency News

Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin has surpassed $100,000, briefly touching $105,000, driven by optimism around global trade deals, particularly U.S.-U.K. agreements and ongoing U.S.-China talks. Analysts warn of a potential short-term sell-off ahead of the May 13 CPI print, with BlackRock noting quantum computing as a risk for Bitcoin ETFs.

Ethereum Rally: Ethereum (ETH) has surged over 44% in three days, reaching $2,600, fueled by the Pectra network upgrade and declining Bitcoin dominance. Analysts speculate ETH could hit $10,000 or even $12,000 in 2025 due to institutional adoption, DeFi growth, and a high ETH burn rate.

Altcoin Momentum: Altcoins like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE) are rallying, with DOGE up 27% and ETH leading with a 32% weekly gain. Bitcoin’s dominance has dropped to 63.89%, signaling a potential altcoin season.

Meta’s Crypto Plans: Leaked reports suggest Meta is exploring cryptocurrency support for its 3 billion users, potentially integrating stablecoins for creator payments, which could boost market sentiment.

Regulatory Developments: SEC Chairman Paul Atkins is prioritizing a rational crypto regulatory framework, with XRP noted as the only regulated cryptocurrency in the U.S. However, a bipartisan stablecoin bill (GENIUS Act) stalled due to concerns over Trump’s personal crypto ventures, raising conflict-of-interest issues.

Market Inflows: Crypto investment products saw $882 million in inflows last week, with U.S. crypto ETFs hitting a record $62.9 billion in cumulative net inflows since January 2024. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF recorded a 19th consecutive day of inflows on May 9.

Other News: Coinbase acquired Deribit for $2.9 billion, expanding its derivatives offerings. New Hampshire passed a law allowing state investment in cryptocurrencies. France’s rumored crypto ban was mentioned on X but lacks credible confirmation and should be treated as speculative. (Grok)

Blockchain News

Meta’s Blockchain Push: Meta is reportedly exploring a blockchain-based payment system, potentially offering low-cost digital transfers. This follows their unsuccessful Diem project, signaling renewed interest in blockchain integration.

Crypto in Education: Animoca Brands’ Yat Siu highlights blockchain’s potential in education, particularly through DeFi student loan financing. Ripple’s $25 million donation to a crypto education fund underscores growing academic influence.

XRP and Interoperability: XRP is expanding into multichain interoperability, connecting with Cosmos and EVM sidechains. With 200+ financial partners, it aims to bridge traditional finance and crypto ecosystems.

Avalanche and Web3 Gaming: Avalanche’s John Nahas emphasizes blockchain as seamless backend infrastructure for gaming, citing examples like Gunzilla Games’ “Off the Grid,” which leverages blockchain for user ownership.

Policy Shifts: The Trump administration is driving a pro-crypto agenda, with plans to integrate blockchain into financial systems. Bank regulators are exploring blockchain-based payment systems, a stark contrast to previous skepticism.

Robinhood’s Blockchain Platform: Robinhood is developing a blockchain-based platform for trading tokenized US securities in Europe, potentially partnering with Arbitrum or Solana.

Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade: Ethereum’s latest upgrade introduces features like smart wallets and lower fees but has raised concerns about a new attack vector that could allow hackers to drain funds.

Other Developments: Brave is integrating Cardano into its browser wallet, and MBS Global plans a $9 billion blockchain financial hub in the Maldives.

For real-time updates, platforms like Cointelegraph or CryptoSlate on X are active sources,

News

Crypto market slows down, nearing a top

Market Picture

The crypto market slowed down but continued to move upwards over the weekend, reaching $3.35 trillion. For the past few days, it has been trading in the region of the highs since early February. Ethereum and Dogecoin have been the stars of this movement, adding around 40% in seven days, although the former's contribution is certainly more significant.

The crypto market's sentiment is consolidating in the greed zone, leaving the corresponding index at 70 for the last three days. This is a good basis for continued gains: not too hot to take profits and not too cold to leave traders on the sidelines.

Bitcoin rallied above $105.5k on Monday morning, entering the area of highs where it has twice failed to hold over the past six months. The impressive corrective pullback from late January to early April, in our opinion, created substantial margin for a new wave of growth. Therefore, we will not be surprised if, along with the positive dynamics of stocks, BTCUSD will move to the renewal of historical highs already this week.

News Background

On the weekly bitcoin chart, after the upward breakout of the ‘bull flag’ pattern, a further rise to $182,000 is possible, given the growth before the downward consolidation. Cointelegraph presented such a scenario.

Significant inflows into spot bitcoin ETFS in the US continued for the third week in a row. According to SoSoValue data, weekly net inflows into spot BTC-ETFS totalled $921 million, bringing the total to $41.16 billion since bitcoin-ETFS were approved in January 2024.
Inflows into spot Ethereum-ETFS in the US broke after two weeks, recording a small net outflow of $38.2 million to $2.47 billion since last July.

Cryptoquant noted that the strategy firm's pace of bitcoin purchases exceeds the rate at which miners are issuing new coins. The firm's holdings alone imply an annual deflation of the asset of 2.23%.

Public mining companies sold about 70% of mined bitcoins in April against a falling mining profitability, TheMinerMag calculated. Since March, miners seemed to be moving away from the HOLDing strategy that had prevailed last year.

Over the years, Coinbase has considered investing a significant portion of its savings in bitcoin, following the example of Strategy, but abandoned the idea because of the risks, said Brian Armstrong, head of the exchange. (FxPro)

News

Markets

ASX futures are pointing up 97 points/1.2% to 8364

AUD -0.0% to US63.70¢

Bitcoin -1.6% to $US102,525
Wall St:
Dow +2.8% S&P +3.3% Nasdaq +4.4%
VIX -3.51 to 16.03
Gold -0.03% to $US3235.57 an ounce
Brent oil +1.8% to $US65.03 a barrel
Iron ore +3.2% to $US100.00 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.47% Australia 4.36%

News

May 12, 2025

Investors ramp up crypto spree as bitcoin nears record high

Australian investors have pounced on the plunge in bitcoin earlier this year and have been ramping up exposure to the cryptocurrency in a bold bet that could pay off handsomely, with analysts tipping prices to hit $US200,000 this year.

The world’s largest digital asset crossed the key $US100,000 level last week for the first time since February. Bitcoin extended that rally on Monday to trade near $US105,000, just shy of its record of around $US109,000 on January 20 – the day US President Donald Trump was inaugurated.

It represents a stunning turnaround for the cryptocurrency, which traded as low as $US74,000 in early April amid Trump’s escalating trade war. But sentiment started to shift as traders hunted for alternatives to US assets as they questioned the stability of the world’s largest economy.

“Bitcoin appeared to benefit from capital rotation associated with ‘sell-America’ positioning and growing scepticism around US monetary dominance,” Global X investment analyst Justin Lin told The Australian Financial Review after upgrading his year-end price target to $US200,000.

The trend was reinforced by a resurgence in global bitcoin exchange-traded funds in April, with investors adding $US2.9 billion ($4.5 billion) to those vehicles. That marked a sharp reversal from February and March, when more than $US5 billion in total was pulled from the space.

A further $US1.58 billion of flows moved into global bitcoin ETFs in the first eight days of May, according to US-listed crypto exchange Coinbase.

In Australia, local ETFs have attracted $148 million in inflows so far this year – more than double compared to the same period in 2024.

And unlike the US, Australian investors have been consistent buyers throughout this year. Local bitcoin ETFs experienced $6.9 million of inflows in March and $20.5 million in new flows in April, according to Global X.

Trump gala

The second-largest digital token, ethereum, has also been swept up in last week’s rally, surging as much as 33 per cent in its steepest weekly gain since 2021, when low interest rates fuelled the pandemic-era crypto boom.

While ether has benefited from easing global trade tensions, the token was boosted by a network upgrade designed to reduce fees, improve network efficiency and enable more complex wallet functionalities – moves seen as necessary to fend off competition from faster-growing rivals like solana.

Trump has become an advocate of digital assets during his second term by rolling back legal actions against many companies in the sector, establishing a bitcoin reserve, easing regulation and even launching his own memecoin.

The president is due to host a private gala dinner on May 22 with the top 220 holders of the Trump memecoin, an event that could mark a “turning point” for the broader cryptocurrency market, according to Global X’s Lin.

“[The event’s] symbolic value is significant,” he said. “It could serve as a launchpad for broader crypto-friendly rhetoric and possibly renewed regulatory commitments. Any such pivot would inject momentum into the sector.” (AFR) *Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review.

News

Cryptocurrency Movies

Here’s a concise rundown of notable cryptocurrency-themed movies and documentaries, blending education and entertainment, based on their relevance to blockchain, Bitcoin, and digital currencies:

Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopters like Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, volatility, and potential to disrupt finance. Insightful for understanding the early crypto community. Available on various streaming platforms.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
Chronicles Bitcoin’s ideological roots and its impact on financial systems, featuring interviews with key crypto figures. Great for grasping Bitcoin’s societal implications. Available on Netflix and other platforms.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018)
Explores blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, demystifying the technology’s potential. Funded and distributed via blockchain, it’s a unique watch. Available on Prime Video.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
A 60-minute dive into the history of money and Bitcoin’s role in challenging centralized finance. Features experts like Vitalik Buterin. Streamable on platforms like YouTube.

Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022)
A Netflix documentary investigating the mysterious death of QuadrigaCX CEO Gerry Cotten and the $250 million in missing investor funds. Gripping for scam enthusiasts.

Biggest Heist Ever (2025)
A Netflix documentary detailing the 2016 Bitfinex hack, where 120,000 Bitcoin (worth over $4 billion) were stolen. Focuses on Heather Morgan (aka Razzlekhan) and Ilya Lichtenstein. A fresh take on crypto crime.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. Follows a Wall Street banker uncovering a cryptocurrency-fueled money laundering scheme in his hometown. Critically mixed but engaging for drama fans. Available on Google Play and Prime Video.

Silk Road (2021)
A crime drama about Ross Ulbricht and the dark web marketplace Silk Road, where Bitcoin was the primary currency. Explores the legal and ethical complexities of crypto in illicit markets. Available on streaming services like Fandango.

Dope (2015)
A coming-of-age comedy-drama where high schoolers use Bitcoin for a dark web drug transaction. Not crypto-centric but an early mainstream nod to Bitcoin’s cultural presence. Streamable on Netflix.

Bitcoin Heist (2016)
A Vietnamese action-comedy about undercover agents chasing a crypto hacker, “The Ghost.” Blends suspense and humor, offering a lighthearted take on crypto crime. Available on Prime Video.

Why Watch These?
These films range from educational documentaries to thrilling fictional tales, reflecting crypto’s rise, scandals, and societal impact. Documentaries like Banking on Bitcoin and Trust Machine are ideal for learning about blockchain’s mechanics and potential, while thrillers like Crypto and Silk Road dramatize the risks and allure of digital currencies. For 2025, Biggest Heist Ever is a must-watch for its fresh perspective on a massive crypto theft.

Where to Watch

Most are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Google Play, or Fandango. Check specific platforms for availability in your region. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Movies On Netflix

Netflix currently offers a few movies and documentaries focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Here are the most notable ones available as of my last update:

Bitconned (2024) - A true-crime documentary about three individuals who exploited the cryptocurrency market, scamming millions from investors to fund lavish lifestyles. It dives into the darker side of crypto with a focus on the Centra Tech scam. [IMDb: 6.5]

Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022) - This documentary explores the mysterious death of Gerald Cotten, founder of the QuadrigaCX exchange, and the $250 million in investor funds that vanished. It follows investors turned amateur detectives unraveling the scandal. [IMDb: 6.3]

Hotel Bitcoin (2024) - A Spanish comedy film where four friends discover a fortune in lost bitcoins, sparking a chaotic adventure to protect their windfall and friendships. It’s a lighter, fictional take on Bitcoin’s allure.

Biggest Heist Ever (2024) - A documentary covering the Bitfinex hack, where a couple, dubbed the "Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde," allegedly laundered nearly 120,000 bitcoins. It’s a deep dive into one of crypto’s most infamous crimes.

Crypto Boy (2023) - A Dutch drama about a young man drawn into the world of cryptocurrency after a fallout with his father, exploring themes of ambition and deception. It’s more character-driven than educational.

Notes:

Availability may vary by region, so check Netflix in your area.

Some older Bitcoin documentaries, like Banking on Bitcoin or The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, are not currently on Netflix but may be available on other platforms like Amazon Prime or YouTube.

For a broader list, posts on X also mention Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It and The Blockchain and Us, but these are not confirmed on Netflix at this time. (Grok)

News

Memecoins Today:

Memecoins are seeing significant activity today, May 13, 2025, with several coins rallying and ongoing controversies shaping market sentiment. Here's a concise overview based on recent developments:

Market Performance:

Dogwifhat (WIF), Book of Meme (BOME), and FLOKI are extending double-digit rallies, driven by a risk-on sentiment in crypto markets following US-China tariff reductions. Technical indicators suggest potential for further gains.

Moo Deng, a Solana-based memecoin, surged 153% in the past 24 hours, fueled by institutional demand for SOL and retail interest after Bitcoin’s rally above $103,000.

FLOKI is highlighted on X as a top performer, with posts suggesting it could lead the memecoin rally alongside DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE.

Political and Controversial Developments:

Trump’s $TRUMP Memecoin: The coin remains in the spotlight due to a May 22 dinner for top holders at Trump’s Virginia golf club, sparking ethical concerns and political backlash. The coin surged over 50% after the announcement, reaching a $2.7 billion market value, though 764,000 investors have lost money compared to 58 wallets profiting significantly.

Melania’s $MELANIA Memecoin: Launched January 19, it saw sniper traders earn $99.6 million by buying minutes before its public announcement. The team recently sold $1.5 million in tokens, amid a weakening memecoin market.

Legislative Pushback: Senate Democrats blocked stablecoin legislation due to controversies surrounding Trump’s crypto ventures. Proposed bills, like the End Crypto Corruption Act, aim to ban presidents and officials from issuing digital assets to curb potential conflicts of interest.

Market Sentiment:
X posts reflect active interest in memecoins, with users seeking recommendations and shilling coins like FLOKI and letsBONK. However, some posts highlight the speculative nature, describing pump-and-dump cycles.

Discussions on memecoins hit a year-to-date high, shifting focus from Bitcoin and layer-1 protocols, though some argue the memecoin frenzy is cooling as stablecoins gain traction on Solana.

Broader Context:

Memecoins face criticism for lacking intrinsic value, with some viewing them as celebrity-driven schemes. However, advocates suggest AI agents could drive a “memecoin renaissance” by adding utility.

The $TRUMP token’s performance has been lackluster compared to its peak, with onchain activity spiking after the dinner announcement but still down 79% from its all-time high.

Critical Note: While memecoins are rallying, their volatility and speculative nature carry significant risks. The political ties to certain coins, especially $TRUMP, raise ethical and legal questions, potentially influencing market stability. Always verify information, as X posts can contain unverified claims, and memecoin investments are highly speculative. (Grok)

Bull Market: Def

"Bull market" describes a financial market where prices are rising or are expected to rise. It commonly refers to the stock market but can be applied to anything that is traded, such as bonds, real estate, currencies, and commodities.

Social Media News

X Wins Media Man 'Social Media Platform Of The Year' award; Runner-up: YouTube

Grok wins Media Man 'AI Of The Year' award

December 28, 2024

News

Elon Musk's X Actions Stir Free Speech Debate

Prominent conservative accounts on X, including Laura Loomer's, have recently lost their verification badges and faced other account restrictions after critiquing Elon Musk's views on immigration. Musk has indicated that the platform's algorithm reduces the reach of accounts that are frequently muted or blocked by credible users. This incident has led to allegations of censorship among right-wing influencers, while Musk himself has addressed these changes in policy. The actions have reignited discussions about the balance between free speech and content moderation on X. (Credit: Grok)

Grok Profile via Grok!

"Grok" is a term coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 science fiction novel "Stranger in a Strange Land." It means to understand something deeply and intuitively, often with an empathetic or profound connection to the subject. The word has transcended its original context to become part of the vernacular, especially within communities like computer science, where it signifies a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of concepts or systems.

The term also refers to an AI chatbot developed by xAI, named Grok, which aims to provide answers with a humorous and truthful perspective, modeled after the "Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy." This AI chatbot is designed to engage in natural conversation, provide witty responses, and even tackle "spicy" questions that other AI might shy away from. It has real-time access to the world via the X platform (formerly Twitter), which gives it an edge in providing current information.

In summary, "grok" can refer to:

A verb meaning to understand something profoundly and intuitively.

The name of an AI chatbot with unique capabilities in humor and real-time information processing. (Grok)

Grok News via Grok!

Here's a summary of the latest news related to Grok:

Grok-2 Release: xAI has released Grok-2, a new version of its AI chatbot, which is now available for free to all users on X. This model is three times faster, offers improved accuracy in following instructions, and has enhanced multilingual capabilities. It also includes features like web search for real-time information and citation capabilities for fact-checking.

Image Generation: xAI introduced an image generation model, initially code-named Aurora, which is now part of the Grok chatbot's capabilities. This feature allows for photorealistic image creation and is available to users on X, with plans to expand access.

Mobile App and Standalone Web App: Grok has expanded its reach with a standalone iOS app and now a web app in Australia, broadening its accessibility beyond the X platform. These apps include features like PDF analysis, image generation, and real-time X post searches.

Funding and Future Developments: Elon Musk's xAI has secured a significant funding round, increasing its valuation and focus on developing new consumer and enterprise products, including plans for Grok 3. This funding will support further advancements in AI technology and the expansion of Grok's capabilities.

Controversy and Public Perception: Grok has faced scrutiny for potential misinformation, especially in political contexts. Despite this, there's a growing positive sentiment among users who appreciate its straightforwardness and utility in searches, particularly for political or controversial topics.

User Accessibility: Previously exclusive to premium subscribers, Grok is now accessible to all X users with some limitations on usage for free-tier accounts, such as a cap on the number of prompts and image generations per session. (Grok)

xAI via Grok

xAI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk with the goal of "understanding the true nature of the universe." The company was established in March 2023 and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. xAI focuses on developing AI to accelerate human scientific discovery, aiming to create a maximally helpful AI, exemplified by their product, Grok, which is designed to provide truthful and helpful answers.

xAI has raised significant funding, with a Series C funding round bringing its valuation to over $40 billion by December 2024, after raising $6 billion. This funding is being used to enhance its AI models, including the development of Grok 2 and the construction of a massive supercomputer named "Colossus" in Memphis, Tennessee.

The company's approach includes leveraging real-time data from Musk's other ventures like X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla, suggesting a synergy that could potentially give xAI an edge in the AI race. xAI also released an API for its AI models, allowing developers to integrate its technology into various applications.

The mission and operations of xAI have been met with a mix of excitement and skepticism, with some viewing it as a significant player in advancing AI, while others are concerned about the implications of Musk's influence over AI development, especially considering his past with OpenAI and his views on AI safety and regulation. (Grok)

Media Man: Groking impressive stuff Team Musk.

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Markets and Cryptos

May 10, 2025
Sydney, Australia

Markets:

ASX futures up 12 points/0.2% to 8261
AUD +0.1% at US64.09¢
Bitcoin +1.8% to $US103,152
Dow -0.3%
S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.00%
Gold +0.6% to $US3326.57 an ounce
Oil +1.7% at $US63.92 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% at $US97.00 a tonne

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin. $102,887.02 USD. - 0.18%
Ethereum. $2,331.30. +6.50%
Tether $1 USD -0.10%
XRP. $2.35. +1.83. +2.4%
BNB. $638.149. +2.35%
Solana. $172.18. +6.56%
USD Coin. $1 USD -0.17%
Dogecoin: $0.2045 USD +5.52%
TRON. $0.2562 USD +3.06%
Cardano $0.7801 USD +2.20%
Wrapped Bitcoin $102,930.51 -0.28%

News

Crypto News

Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000: Bitcoin reclaimed the $100,000 mark for the first time since February, driven by optimism around a U.S.-UK trade deal announced by President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The deal, which includes a 10% U.S. tariff on UK goods and reduced UK tariffs, has fueled a broader market rally. Bitcoin was trading at $102,700 late Thursday, with analysts noting potential support at $100,000 and resistance near $107,000.

Other Cryptocurrencies Rally: Ether surged over 14% to $2,050.46, its highest since late March, while Solana and Dogecoin gained 10% and 12%, respectively. The total crypto market cap rose 2.5% to $3.09 trillion.

Stablecoin Bill Blocked: The GENIUS Act of 2025, aimed at regulating stablecoins, was stalled in the U.S. Senate on May 8 by Democratic lawmakers, citing concerns over President Trump’s ties to the crypto industry, including his family’s World Liberty Financial stablecoin venture.

German Seizure of Crypto Assets: German authorities seized €34 million ($38 million) in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dash, from the eXch platform, linked to laundering funds from Bybit’s $1.4 billion hack in February 2025.

SEC and Ripple Settlement: The SEC and Ripple filed a joint letter on May 8 to dissolve an August 2024 injunction against Ripple and return $75 million of $125 million in penalties held in escrow.

Trump’s Crypto Ventures: World Liberty Financial, a Trump-affiliated firm, unveiled a stablecoin and secured a $2 billion deposit deal with an Emirati fund. However, Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, are pushing back against crypto legislation, alleging corruption tied to Trump’s crypto ventures.

Bitcoin Investment Moves: Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) announced a $180 million Bitcoin purchase, adding 1,895 BTC, while a new whale withdrew $50 million in Bitcoin from Binance.

Ethereum Upgrades: Ethereum’s Pectra protocol upgrade went live on May 7, boosting investor interest. Analysts predict ETH could hit $5,925 in 2025, with long-term forecasts up to $15,575 by 2030.

Market Sentiment: The crypto market is in a transitional phase, with Bitcoin down 14% from its January 2025 high of $109,079. Analysts like Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick forecast Bitcoin reaching $120,000 by Q2 2025 and $200,000 by year-end. (Grok)

News

A sharp crypto market awakening

Market Picture

TThe crypto market has added about 5.8% to its capitalisation over the past 24 hours, bringing it to $3.24 trillion. This is roughly the area where the market has been consolidating for most of February. A pause halfway to the area of historical highs above 3.50 looks like a logical respite. Back in November, the market surged without major pauses—but this time, the momentum appears more measured, with less of the earlier excitement.

The crypto market sentiment index reached 73, which is only a couple of steps away from extreme greed and is the highest since late January. Often, this is a working sentiment for continued growth.

Bitcoin has been reaching levels above 104000 this morning, adding an impressive 5% in the last 24 hours and 33% in 30 days. At current highs, all eyes are on how soon it will reach the all-time highs, which are less than 6% away, and whether or not it can overcome them outright. While similar rallies have broken records in the past, we still expect some consolidation near the highs before any decisive move higher.

The rocket of the last few days has certainly been Ethereum, which soared 23% in the last 24 hours, strengthening twice as fast as Bitcoin over the month. The technique worked perfectly. ETHUSD stomped around the 50-day moving average for a long time and rose in value by a third in less than two days to $2380. The rise to 2700 looks like an ‘easy part’ of the growth. Further upside will already have to be fought for.

News Background

On May 8, bitcoin's realised capitalisation reached a record $890.74 billion, which could indicate that BTC is poised for significant growth, CryptoQuant noted. The metric is the aggregate value of all coins in circulation based on the quotes at which they were last transferred.

Ethereum shows the best weekly performance in the top 20 cryptocurrencies. Nansen notes the accumulation of ‘smart money’ by institutions like Wintermute.

U.S. banks can perform crypto transactions on customer requests, provide custodial services through third parties, and generate tax returns on digital assets. This is stated in a clarification from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Payments company Stripe has launched a product called Stablecoin Financial Accounts. It will allow businesses in 101 countries to hold balances in dollar-denominated Stablecoins and receive and send fiat and cryptocurrencies. (FxPro)

Best Quotes Of The Day

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Sky News Australia

Sky News Australia wins Medfia Man 'News Outlet Of The Month' award

Sky News Australia Wins Media Man 'News Outlet Of The Month' (Australia) Award Again

News

Meta, Mark Zuckerberg are joining the 'vibe shift' in the Western world by ending their collaboration with biased third-party fact checkers

Meta's stunning about-face on its fact-checking program shows the pendulum is in full swing towards common sense as free speech makes its long-awaited comeback, writes Rocco Loiacono.

It was Bob Dylan who sang, “for the times they are a-changin’”.

Just under four years ago Meta/Facebook acceded to pressure from the Biden Administration to censor content on its platforms regarding COVID, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted.

Much of that content, of course, proved to be true.

Meta also placed restrictions on topics such as immigration and gender identity during a crackdown at the time.

Now Zuckerberg has suddenly discovered that the Meta fact-checking program was biased against conservatives.

That much we already knew, as exposed through Sky News host Peta Credlin, SkyNews.com.au Digital Editor Jack Houghton and others, particularly in relation to actions by the thoroughly discredited RMIT Fact Check Lab, which partnered with Meta, to censor opinions on the ‘No’ side of the Voice Referendum.

Zuckerberg said the recent elections around the globe felt “like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritising free speech”.

You got that right.

There is a cultural shift afoot, a shift, hopefully, that sees a return to a mutual respect for dissenting views, a respect for arguably the greatest gift the liberal Western democratic tradition has given us: free speech. (Sky News Australia)

In a recent op-ed published in the Australian, historian Niall Ferguson referred to a Substack post from February 2024 by Santiago Pliego, who declared we were witnessing a “vibe shift”.

Pliego wrote that the vibe shift is “a return to – a championing of – Reality, a rejection of the bureaucratic, the cowardly, the guilt-driven; a return to greatness, courage, and joyous ambition” and “spurning the fake and therapeutic and reclaiming the authentic and concrete”.

I am old enough to remember how old Eastern Bloc leaders told their subjects how superior communism was, before it all came crashing down.

Now we are seeing another vibe shift.

The rise and success of Giorgia Meloni in Italy and Javier Milei in Argentina – in the teeth of internal and global opposition and condemnation – is testament to that. (Sky News Australia)

Full article and coverage via Sky News Australia

https://www.skynews.com.au/insights-and-analysis/meta-mark-zuckerberg-are-joining-the-vibe-shift-in-the-western-world-by-ending-their-collaboration-with-biased-thirdparty-fact-checkers/news-story/9429235bf25bd774088fff76f27fba99

Video

'Win for free speech and common sense': TV host welcomes Meta scrapping fact checkers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caOYvfTVvRE&t=21s&ab_channel=SkyNewsAustralia

January 8, 2025

Sky News host Danica De Giorgio has welcomed Mark Zuckerberg scrapping Meta’s fact checkers in America, stating the decision as a win for free speech and common sense.

In a significant move, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would be scrapping third-party fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, instead the social media giant will replace them with user-generated ‘community notes’.

The announcement comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

“This is the Donald Trump effect at work already,” Ms De Giorgio said. (Sky News Australia)

News Flashback

Elon Musk trolls Sydney Morning Herald for predicting he will be 'forced to hand over the reins' at Tesla in 2025

Billionaire Elon Musk has given a brutal reply to the Sydney Morning Herald after the publication made the wild prediction he will leave his role at Tesla in the new year.

December 30, 2024

By Patrick Staveley and Max Melzer

Elon Musk has hit back at the Sydney Morning Herald after the masthead wildly predicted the billionaire would quit Tesla in 2025.

SMH published an opinion piece by technology editor David Swan on Sunday evening which shared a series of predictions for tech in the new year.

One of the predictions centred on Musk and whether his busy list of commitments would force him to part ways with Tesla as he focuses on a new role in 2025 as the joint lead of the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration.

"To be juggling leadership roles at X, Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, the Boring Company and Neuralink was already unsustainable," the SMH op-ed read.

"Musk has already found himself at loggerheads with MAGA diehards like Steve Bannon over immigration issues, and the inauguration is still weeks away. He’s also been at loggerheads with the justice system, after a US judge blocked Musk’s $US56 billion ($90 billion) pay package from Tesla.

"After constant controversies and distractions, it will all come to a head in 2025, and Musk will be forced to hand over the reins at Tesla, a company many mistakenly think he founded." (Sky News Australia)

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/elon-musk-trolls-sydney-morning-herald-for-predicting-he-will-be-forced-to-hand-over-the-reins-at-tesla-in-2025/news-story/1ec0b3fb3aa99d2af1b76fa3b76b3007

Full article and coverage via Sky News Australia @SkyNewsAust

Media Man

Sky News Australia is the Media Man 'News Outlet Of The Year' 2024 (Australia) award winner

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Sky News Australia via Grok

Sky News Australia is a conservative-leaning news channel, part of the News Corp Australia network. Here are some key points about it:

Ownership and History: It was originally launched in 1996 as a joint venture between British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), Seven Media Group, and Nine Entertainment Co. News Corp Australia acquired it in 2016, making it a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

Content and Ideology: Sky News Australia is known for its conservative perspective, often featuring opinion-based programs in its prime time lineup. Its content includes rolling news coverage, but it's particularly noted for its commentary and analysis from a right-leaning viewpoint.

Distribution: The channel is available on pay television in Australia and New Zealand. There's also a free-to-air version, Sky News Regional, which combines programming from Sky News Australia and Fox Sports News, distributed through select terrestrial TV stations.

Digital Presence: Sky News Australia has a significant online presence, with apps available for mobile and tablet devices providing access to breaking news, analysis, and opinion pieces. They also maintain an active social media presence, including on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, where they share news updates and clips from their shows.

Controversies and Notable Moments:
The channel has faced criticism for its political stance, particularly in relation to climate change skepticism and its coverage of certain political figures or events.
A notable incident included the termination of a contract with former Liberal Party MP Ross Cameron due to his use of offensive language.

There have been instances where Sky News hosts and commentators have stirred controversy with their remarks on various social and political issues, reflecting the channel's conservative editorial line.
Current Trends and Topics:
Recent discussions on X related to Sky News Australia have highlighted political issues like the visit of Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to Israel, debates over election cycles, and responses to antisemitic incidents in Australia. These reflect the channel's engagement with national and international politics from its conservative perspective.

Sky News Australia thus plays a significant role in shaping public discourse in Australia, especially among those who align with or are interested in conservative viewpoints. (Grok)

Media Man Web Tips

Online Content

In saturated markets, growth hinges on seizing market share through SEO-centered content marketing and innovation to highlight your business's unique selling points.

Comprehensive competitor and keyword research alongside high-quality, structured content creation are vital to establishing industry authority in competitive markets.

Adoption of emerging platforms and continual monitoring of performance metrics ensure content marketing strategies are result-oriented and adaptive.

A saturated market presents business owners with unique challenges. It can be difficult for new businesses to break into a saturated market or for well-established businesses to increase their revenue. However, with SEO-driven content marketing strategies, you can capture more market share and add to your existing customer base.

What is a saturated market?
A saturated market has little to no new consumer demand for a product or service. This can occur for several reasons, including intense competition, lowered demand or changing trends, making certain products or services obsolete. Some examples of saturated markets include the smartphone manufacturing industry, social media news and services, the fast food industry and the cryptocurrency/Bitcoin news sector.

It's important to distinguish a saturated market from a niche market. Even though they are both extremely competitive, this competition is caused by different factors. Niche industries are competitive because they cater to a much smaller customer base with very specific needs. Saturated markets, in general, consist of a much broader consumer base that has already been claimed by established competitors.

Challenges of a saturated market
Saturated markets present several specific challenges. The lack of customer growth can make it difficult for businesses to grow or diversify their revenue streams. Saturated markets are very difficult to break into since businesses must compete against established suppliers who may have high customer retention rates due to their brand reputation.

The only way for businesses in a saturated market to grow significantly is to steal market share from their competitors. This requires innovation since companies must either increase demand by having a new product or find ways to highlight their brand's unique selling points.

Content marketing strategies for a saturated market
One of the best ways to stand out in a saturated market and steal market share is to update your content marketing strategies.

Start with SEO
SEO is essential if you want to gain visibility in today's saturated markets. Having quality content will not help you if potential consumers are not finding it. Technical SEO and SEO-driven content strategies can help your content rank higher on SERPs, ensuring that your target audience is regularly seeing your content.

Using effective SEO helps you increase your brand visibility and customer base. At Outpace SEO, optimizing multiple forms of content, including images, service pages, blogs and alternate text, is one of the strategies we use to make sure that our clients are as competitive as possible in difficult search landscapes.

Do the right research
To effectively implement SEO-driven marketing, businesses need to research their target demographic, relevant keywords and competitors. For example, at my company, we conduct competitor audits for our clients to identify which topics and types of content are ranking on the first page, as well as any content gaps.

Write original, high-quality content
Businesses can develop an effective content strategy based on keyword research. The content you produce should be original, creative and written by people, not AI - or at least mainly by people, like the hard working folks at Media Man. Updating content regularly and making sure it is accurate can also help you build authority and credibility. High-quality content published regularly will establish you as a major player in your industry, helping you build a customer base.

Optimize content structure
Content structure has the potential to boost rankings and help businesses appear in AI overviews, rich snippets and xAI, and perhaps also ChatGPT search results. One strategy we use to optimize our clients' content is using long-tail keywords and high-volume search queries in the headers. Length is also important: research the average length of your competitor's pages that are ranking in the top spots, and start creating content that is similar in length.

Embrace new platforms
What platforms are your customers using? TikTok, X AI, ChatGPT search and Instagram are just a few examples of new opportunities for content marketing. Keeping up with new platforms rather than sticking to outdated strategies can help you stay ahead of the competition and capture market share. Rather than spreading your resources thin and diluting your brand, identify the most effective platform for your demographic and use it to highlight your unique selling points.

Monitor success
Your marketing strategies should provide tangible results. If they are not, it might be time to adjust. Monitoring the right KPIs, such as engagement, click-through rates, bounce rates, rankings and conversions, can help you gain a clearer picture of which content is actually working for you. Making data-driven decisions about content marketing strategies is one of the best ways to succeed in a saturated market.

Update your content strategies to succeed
If your business is in a saturated market, scaling and increasing revenue will be especially challenging. To succeed, it's important to optimize every aspect of your content so that it works for your business. Using SEO to inform content marketing strategies and making data-driven decisions can help you update and improve content while building brand authority. Stay competitive in saturated markets with SEO-driven content marketing practices.

News

Media Man Web Tips SEO, Search Engines And More; For Business And Beyond; Tips, insider terms, proven time tested methods and more from the front line

Gonzo journalism elements to help keep things interesting ... Human and AI Elements!

SEO, Search Engines And More; For Business And Beyond; Tips, insider terms, proven time tested methods and more from the front line; Gonzo journalism elements to help keep things interesting ...

Human and AI Elements!
SEO or Hunt Machine Optimisation is the process of perfecting the website’s visibility to have applicable quests on hunt machines. More visibility in hunt results makes the point attract the attention of the druggies. and the population at large.

Search Machines such as and similar as Google, Yahoo, and Bing use technology to bottleneck on the web on different spots. They collect information about each point and also put them in an indicator. Further, the algorithm analyses the runners in the indicator grounded upon numerous different factors to determine the applicable spots that appear in a hunt result. The ranking factors for seo toronto can be keywords, unique content, applicable length of content, image attributes, etc. Optimizing the point with SEO factors can grease crawling and indexing and help the point rank advanced in hunt results. Unlike paid hunt advertisements, organic rankings on point can’t be achieved on hunt machines. thus, it becomes important to optimize websites to rank advanced in hunt results.

When it comes to Statistics, The first five Google quests on the first runner account for 67.60, while only 0.78 of Google quest click on the alternate runner. 70 of the marketers consider SEO more effective than PPC for generating deals. 51 of shoppers surveyed say they use Google to probe a purchase they plan to make online. These are a many statistics to punctuate the significance of SEO.

An effective SEO strategy can help the runner rank advanced and reach the right followership and increase website business when it comes to businesses. It can also help in getting transformations. Readout why SEO is important for businesses.

1. Increases visibility of a website

SEO, when done right, can help businesses increase their visibility on the website. It’s the direct motorist of bettered visibility and prints in the hunt results. Using the right keywords, adding backlinks from high sphere authority websites, optimizing metadata on the point, and participating unique content are among the many factors that can help the point increase visibility. SEO facilitates crawling and indexing, which helps in adding the visibility of a website.

2. Increases website business

Organic hunt is pivotal to a business. Search Machines contribute to a business’s visibility, and SEO can help druggies land to the point. SEO builds an online presence, increases website business, and helps the business to grow. The advanced the website ranks, the further business the business shall admit. The first Google hunt result has a 28.5 click- through rate which falls down to 2.5 for the tenth hunt result.

3. Enhances stoner trust on website

SEO establishes the authority of content on the hunt machine by admitting parameters like unique content, quality backlinks, advanced runner ranking, and stoner geste, which enhances stoner trust in the website. spots that are listed on the hunt machine are considered believable than the runners that aren’t. Quality SEO helps establish business credibility, gives exposure, and enhances its character.

4. This leads to a better consumer experience of the website.

SEO can help in perfecting the consumer experience and furnishing quality content to the consumers. It makes the content dependable through quality backlinks and the right keywords. SEO helps search machines in relating the right spots that are helpful to the stoner. Website speed is another criterion that plays an important part. A slow website will have a high brio and tends to distort the experience.

5. Search Machines aren’t perfect, and if you don’t take applicable way, your website will be ranked lower.

Hunt Machines need or, as we call, colorful conditions to identify point applicability. SEO enables the hunt machine to effectively judge its applicability and show the same in the hunt results. The better these conditions are satisfied, the advanced the runner ranks, which can help the business get website business, make credibility, and lead to transformations.

6. High website business would lead to advanced transformations.

Transformations can be appertained to the asked thing the point or business has. That can be enabling deals, subscribing to a service, adding readership, etc. Quality SEO promotes high website business which in turn leads to advanced transformations. High-engaging websites are bound to get a better conversion as they can gather maximum eyeballs.

Conclusion

SEO has come a critical element to the online success of businesses. Businesses who want to make sure of their strong online presence need to invest in SEO.

Fun Fact: The next article/scribe we publish on SEO and the like will be much more traditional in nature, and may not actually get as many readers, such is the nature of the online news and publishing media. More regular SEO news coverage on the Media Man Group of websites.

Media Man

The Media Man Group is primarily an online news, media and sports management firm and website portal developer. By default Media Man developed many effective SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) techniques and strategies since their launch in 2001. SEO helped elevate Media Man websites into Hitwise "Top 10" status (entertainment - personalities) category. Media Man also offers a range of media and convergent media services including article copy, PR (public relations), text link based campaigns, product placement and endorsement, buzz marketing (via websites and social media) and brand building. The company is best known for insightful media analysis, specalising in pop culture/entertainment, streaming and subscriber television including PPV (Pay-Per-View), pro wrestling aka sports entertainment coverage, MMA (mixed martial arts), and commentary and coverage on an array of trending topics, with strong focus on X (FKA Twitter), Alphabet (Google, YouTube, Blogger etc) and new and emerging technology and news platforms and developments. Media Man is often referenced in both mainstream, niche and alternative news media stories. The company motto remains "Putting Your Name Out There".

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Mining News

Mining industry ‘critical’ to future energy transition

Breton Technology Middle East and Australia Chairman Lance Kawaguchi says the mining industry is “critical” to the future energy transition.

A prominent tech and manufacturing company is pushing the boundaries of sustainable mining globally through the deployment of battery-electric machinery and advanced autonomous technology.

“Our mission is to try to do our part to be sustainable,” Mr Kawaguchi told Sky News Australia.

“What we are trying to do is to find solutions ... to still be able to mine but reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption.”

Media Man: Sky's the limited with the right resources, media and business associates, vision and hard and smart work!

News

Mining via Grok

Mining is an essential industry that involves the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth. Here's an overview based on general knowledge and contemporary information:

Methods of Mining:

Underground Mining: Used for deep mineral deposits. This method involves creating shafts or tunnels to reach the ore. It's more expensive and can be hazardous but is necessary for high-value minerals located deep underground.

Open Surface (Pit) Mining: Best for minerals located near the surface. This method creates an open pit to extract the ore. It's generally safer and less expensive than underground mining when the ore body is near the surface.

Placer Mining: Utilizes water to extract minerals, typically gold, from sediments in river channels or other alluvial deposits.

In-Situ Mining: Involves dissolving the mineral resource in place using chemicals and then processing it at the surface without moving the rock. This method is often used for uranium.

Environmental Impact:

Mining has significant environmental impacts:

Land Disturbance: Open pits, spoil heaps, and tailings change landscapes dramatically, often leading to deforestation and habitat destruction.

Water Pollution: Mining can lead to acid mine drainage, where acids and heavy metals leach into water sources, which is harmful to aquatic life and human health.

Air Pollution: Dust from mining operations can affect air quality, and processing some ores releases harmful gases.

Rehabilitation: Modern mining practices often include plans for land rehabilitation post-mining, though the success of these efforts can vary widely.

Technological and Economic Aspects:

Technology: Modern mining uses advanced technology for exploration (like satellite imagery, geophysical methods), extraction (automated machinery), and processing (bioleaching, for instance).

Economics: Mining can be extremely lucrative, driving economic growth in many regions. However, the volatility in mineral prices can lead to boom-and-bust cycles in mining-dependent communities.

Energy Transition: There's an increasing focus on mining due to the demand for minerals critical for renewable energy technologies (like lithium for batteries).

Social and Political Dynamics:

Labor: Mining often employs significant numbers of workers, but conditions can be tough, leading to labor disputes. Automation in mining aims to reduce human risk but also affects employment.

Community Impact: Mining operations can bring development to remote areas but also social displacement, health issues, and conflicts over land use and water rights.

International Relations: Countries rich in resources can become focal points for international partnerships or competition, as seen with rare earth elements or, historically, with uranium, like the recent interest in Niger's uranium by countries like Turkey.

Bitcoin and Cryptomining:

Unlike traditional mining, cryptocurrency mining involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions on the blockchain, which requires significant computational power and energy. Recent X posts highlight a growing intersection between digital and physical mining worlds through themes like Bitcoin mining games and the environmental debate around the energy consumption of crypto mining.

This overview captures the multifaceted nature of mining, from its methodologies to its broader implications on society, technology, environment, and global politics. (Grok)

News/Profile via Grok

Mining Industry

The mining industry continues to evolve, influenced by various economic, environmental, technological, and regulatory factors:

Technological Advancements: The industry is seeing a push towards automation and the use of advanced machinery, aiming for efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental impact. Technologies like autonomous drilling systems, AI for exploration and mine planning, and IoT for real-time monitoring of equipment are becoming more common.

Environmental Concerns and Sustainability: There's increasing pressure for the mining industry to adopt more sustainable practices. This includes efforts to reduce water usage, lower emissions, rehabilitate mined lands, and use renewable energy sources in mining operations. The concept of "green mining" is gaining traction, where the focus is on minimizing the environmental footprint throughout the lifecycle of a mine.

Regulatory Changes: Governments around the world are updating mining laws to boost growth while ensuring environmental protection and community rights. For instance, as seen in posts on X, Indonesia has updated its mining regulations to streamline operations but also to ensure compliance and environmental protection.

Demand for Critical Minerals: The rise in demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies has shifted focus towards minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. These are crucial for batteries and electronics, leading to what might be described as a new mining boom for these specific resources.

Economic Impact and Market Dynamics: The mining sector's health often serves as a barometer for global economic activity. Recent sentiment, as reflected on platforms like X, indicates optimism with expectations of increased investment in the sector, though there are calls for more favorable conditions like lower power tariffs and stable policies.

Supply Shortfalls: There's growing concern over supply shortfalls for several key metals due to insufficient current mining output to meet the rising demand, especially for those used in high-tech products and green technologies.

Investment and Expansion: The industry is looking at significant expansion, with equipment industries related to mining expected to grow by a substantial margin. This growth is driven not just by traditional mining but also by the need for new mines to meet the demand for metals critical for the tech and green industries.

Global Perspective: While the U.S. remains a significant player, countries like Australia, with its gold rushes in the past, and now regions in Africa and South America, are central to the global supply of various minerals. The strategic importance of mining in national economies and for global supply chains continues to be a focal point in geopolitical discussions.

Social License to Operate: Mining companies are increasingly aware of the need for a social license, meaning gaining community and societal approval, not just regulatory permits. This involves better engagement with local communities, more transparent operations, and contributing positively to the areas they operate in.

Remember, while these insights reflect general trends and sentiments, the mining industry's specifics can vary greatly by region, the mineral in question, and current global economic conditions. Always consider the latest reports and local news for the most current state of affairs in the mining sector. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Mining Profile And News via Grok

Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation, but it's also a critical component of the maintenance and development of the blockchain ledger. Here's a simplified overview of how it works:

Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions broadcasted to the network into a block. They verify that these transactions are legitimate according to the rules of the Bitcoin network (e.g., checking for double-spending).

Creating a Block: Once a set of transactions are verified, they are added to a block. Each block contains a reference to the previous block, forming a chain (hence, blockchain).

Proof of Work: Miners must solve a complex mathematical puzzle that requires significant computational power. This puzzle is essentially finding a hash that meets certain criteria (the hash must start with a certain number of zeros). The difficulty of this puzzle adjusts to ensure that a new block is mined approximately every 10 minutes.

Hash: A hash is a function that converts an input of letters and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length. In Bitcoin, the SHA-256 hashing function is used.

Finding the Solution: The first miner to solve the puzzle gets to place the next block on the blockchain and claim the rewards. This process involves a lot of trial and error, with miners adjusting a value called the "nonce" in the block header to try to produce a hash that meets the criteria.

Rewards: The successful miner is rewarded with:
Block Reward: A set amount of newly minted bitcoins. This reward halves approximately every four years in what's known as the "halving." As of my last update, the block reward was 6.25 bitcoins, but by 2024, it would have halved again if the schedule continued as planned.
Transaction Fees: All the transaction fees from the transactions included in the block.

Energy Consumption: Bitcoin mining is notorious for its energy consumption due to the computational power required for proof of work. This has led to discussions about the environmental impact of Bitcoin.

Mining Pools: Because the probability of mining a block solo has become very low due to the network's total computational power, many miners join mining pools. Here, miners combine their computational resources and share the block rewards according to the amount of work they contributed to the probability of finding a block.

Equipment: Over time, mining has evolved from using CPUs to GPUs, FPGAs, and now ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), which are designed specifically for mining and offer significant efficiency improvements.

Decentralization and Security: The mining process helps to secure the network by making it economically infeasible to attack or alter the blockchain. For an attacker to change any part of the blockchain, they would need to redo the proof of work for all subsequent blocks and outpace the honest nodes, which is impractical without controlling more than 50% of the network's mining power.

Since we're now in 2024, if there have been significant changes or updates to Bitcoin mining practices, technology, or regulations since my last update, those would be worth checking out for the most current information. Would you like me to search for any recent developments in Bitcoin mining? (Grok)

#Mining #MiningNews #MiningIndustry #MiningStocks #Energy #Resources #Technology #Innovation #Blockchaing #Bitcoin #BTC #newsfeed #newsfeeds #newswire #Grok #MiningPR #PR #News #media #mediaman #mediamanint #XMining

Trump, Biden reports rock chip sector

July 17, 2024

A pair of developments sparked by the current president and his 2024 challenger sent shudders throughout the chip sector today.

Why it matters: The industry most crucial to defense and the AI revolution continues to be squeezed on multiple sides — as demand continues to outpace supply.

Driving the news: Former President Trump chided Taiwan in a Bloomberg interview published yesterday for taking away U.S. chip manufacturing and using the U.S. as an "insurance policy" against China.

Overnight, a separate Bloomberg report suggested that the Biden administration is considering putting into place severe U.S. trade restrictions on advanced chip technology to China that could be imposed on several foreign-made products.

Zoom in: The administration is facing pressure from domestic companies that feel disadvantaged by existing U.S. trade restrictions. Now it's attempting to sway allies to limit their own companies from continuing to supply China with advanced semiconductor technology, Bloomberg noted.

The intrigue: Chip stocks were pummeled across the globe today (Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm among them), alongside some Big Tech names including Meta and Apple.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed down 2.8% to its worst level since December 2022.

Analyst Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners speculated on CNBC today, however, that some investors may be using the news as an excuse to take profits.

What we're watching: ASML shares fell more than 12.7% today despite issuing better-than-expected bookings for its machines in its last quarter.

TSMC, which closed down about 8%, is scheduled to release its latest earnings report tomorrow morning. (AXIOS)

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Elon Musk’s X Files Antitrust Suit Against Global Advertising Alliance

August 6, 2024

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has launched a significant antitrust lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and several of its member companies, alleging an illegal ad boycott that targeted the platform. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, is aimed at GARM, its parent firm World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), and members including CVS Health, Mars, Orsted and Unilever.

In an open letter to advertisers, X CEO Linda Yaccarino highlighted the reasons behind the lawsuit, stating that it was a direct response to GARM’s actions which allegedly cost the company billions of dollars. “This is not a decision we took lightly, but it is a direct consequence of their actions,” Yaccarino wrote. “The illegal behavior of these organizations and their executives cost X billions of dollars” per The New York Post.

The lawsuit is seeking trebled compensatory damages and injunctive relief, according to a complaint viewed by The New York Post. GARM, led by Robert Rakowitz, is an initiative of the WFA, which represents many of the world’s largest companies and ad organizations, including Disney and Coca-Cola. Its members control 90% of global marketing spending, nearly $1 trillion per year.

Yaccarino emphasized that the issue extends beyond financial damages. “This case is about more than damages — we have to fix a broken ecosystem that allows this illegal activity to occur,” she added.

According to The New York Post, the suit argues that the boycott undermined the marketplace of ideas by financially harming certain viewpoints over others. (Credit: PYMNTS)

Full article and coverage via PYMNTS

https://pymnts.com/cpi-posts/elon-musks-x-files-antitrust-suit-against-global-advertising-alliance/

PYMNTS is a former Media Man 'Business News Outlet Of The Month' award winner and finalist

News

Elon Musk takes GARM, several companies to court over alleged advertising boycott of X outlined in bombshell report

August 7, 2024

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has taken several companies and an advertising alliance to court over allegations of a "boycott" of X.

Elon Musk has waged “war” against advertisers as his social media platform X filed an antitrust lawsuit against a global ad alliance and several major companies, accusing them of illegally boycotting the site.

X filed a suit in a federal court in Texas against the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and its members CVS Health, Mars, Orsted and Unilever.

The suit comes after a report from the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee found GARM and its members “directly organised boycotts” and employed other indirect tactics to target disfavoured “platforms, content creators” and news organisations to demonetise them.

It alleges that GARM’s boycott led advertisers to pull money from X under the guise of “brand safety” concerns.

X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino argued this tactic hindered users on the social media platform from accessing a wide breadth of ideas by funding alternative viewpoints.

“The consequence - perhaps the intent - of this boycott was to seek to deprive X’s users, be they sports fans, gamers, journalists, activists, parents or political and corporate leaders, of the Global Town Square,” she wrote.

“To put it simply, people are hurt when the marketplace of ideas is undermined and some viewpoints are not funded over others as part of an illegal boycott.”

Mr Musk shared his colleague’s statement to the platform and boldly declared: “We tried peace for 2 years, now it is war.”

He later encouraged “any company who has been systematically boycotted” to file a suit.

Following his post, video sharing platform Rumble joined Mr Musk’s lawsuit, claiming it has also been impacted towards GARM’s alleged skew away from right wing voices and ideologies.

The platform announced its move on X where it accused GARM of being “a conspiracy to perpetrate an advertiser boycott of Rumble and others, and that's illegal”.

Since Musk took over the social media platform in October 2022, X has suffered a serious dive in ad dollars with the platform taking in US$2.5 billion in 2023, according to Bloomberg.

This was down from the US$1bn it was bringing in every quarter of 2022.

Musk triggered controversy again in November 2023 when he endorsed an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jewish communities push “hatred against whites”.

The X owner responded: “You have said the actual truth,” sparking an advertiser exodus that was reported to have lost the company as much as $75m, per The New York Times.

He made headlines again in the same month after blasting advertisers boycotting the social media platform, boldly declaring: “Go f**k yourself”.

“If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f**k yourself. Go f**k yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is,” he said. (Sky News Australia)

Full article and coverage via Sky News Australia

https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/elon-musk-takes-garm-several-companies-to-court-over-alleged-advertising-boycott-of-x-outlined-in-bombshell-report/news-story/7bac6243aada770042d14ca84afc23e7

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Market, Commodities and Financial News Snapshot via Media Man

August 7, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6520 USD (up $0.0024 USD)

Iron Ore Sep Spot Price (SGX): $102.85 USD (down $0.70 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $72.96 USD (down $1.02 USD)

Gold Price: $2,389.45 USD (down $19.96 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.0095 USD (up $0.0085 USD)

Bitcoin: $56,485.71 USD (up 3.10% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 38,997.66 at 5.02pm NY time (up 294.39 points on yesterday's close)

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Bitcoin drops 10pc as rout deepens

August 5, 2024

Bitcoin is under pressure from a bout of risk aversion in global markets that saddled the largest digital asset with its heftiest weekly loss since the collapse of the FTX exchange in 2022.

The original cryptocurrency sank more than 10 per cent at one point before paring some of the decline to trade at $US54,333 ($83,590). The token lost 13.1 per cent in the seven days through Sunday, the most since the FTX bankruptcy period. Smaller tokens such as ether and meme-crowd favourite dogecoin also nursed heavy losses.

The declines come as a global stock sell-off intensifies, reflecting concerns about the economic outlook and questions over whether heavy investment into artificial intelligence will live up to the hype surrounding the technology. Geopolitical tension is rising in the Middle East, adding to investor skittishness.

Bitcoin exchange traded funds in the US suffered their largest outflows in about three months on August 2. The digital asset has also tumbled through its 200-day moving average price.

The latter technical chart pattern “opens the way for a deeper pullback” towards $54,000, Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Australia, wrote in a note.

Bitcoin has been buffeted by a range of factors since hitting a record of $US73,798 in March, including shifting political fortunes in the US as pro-crypto Republican Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris – who has yet to detail a digital-asset policy stance – lock horns in the presidential race. (AI News, Wires)

Chip Maker/Tech Stock News

Nvidia suffers biggest loss in world history after $646 billion bloodbath

"This is a concern"

June 27, 2024

The AI and microchip company has lost 13 per cent in valuation in the past three days.

Nvidia stock has fallen for the third consecutive day and the company has entered the history books as a result. The AI technology and microchip giant's value has seen an incredible climb since 2023 and last week became the world's biggest and most valuable company in terms of market capitalisation.

But since then it has been an absolute bloodbath. Shares dropped 6.7 per cent in value on Monday, which takes the total three-day value drop to 13 per cent, or $646 billion (USD$430 billion).

Not only was the 6.7 per cent fall the largest single-day plummet since April, but it's also the biggest three-day value loss for any company in history, according to Bloomberg.

Even with the slump, Nvidia remains up nearly 140 per cent this year, making it the second-best performer among S&P 500 Index components, behind Super Micro Computer, another favourite AI play.

The stock suffered a drawdown of about 20 per cent earlier this year, although it quickly returned to all-time highs.

While investors have flocked to Nvidia given the sky-high demand for its chips used in AI processing, the scale of Nvidia’s rally – it soared about 240 per cent over the course of 2023 – has underlined concerns about its valuation.

The stock trades at 21 times estimated sales over the next 12 months, making it the most expensive in the S&P 500 by this measure. Still, it remains well liked on Wall Street. Nearly 90 per cent of the analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying, and the average analyst price target points to an upside of about 12 per cent from current levels.

“The momentum in Nvidia and AI stocks, in general, has been staggering,” said Charlie Ashley, portfolio manager at Catalyst Funds. “In terms of investing, I would not be a contrarian right now.” (AI News, Bloomberg, Wires, Yahoo!)

Videos via Yahoo! Finance

It's Nvidia's market, and we're all just trading in it, Steve Sosnick says (Yahoo! Finance) June 26, 2024

Why Nvidia’s rise is similar to the dot-com bubbl (Yahoo! Finance) - June 27, 2024

Gold price all-time highs: 'Not trusting central banks' is main driver, strategist says (Yahoo Finance) - April 2024