#2025

Ethereum Layer 2 solution Linea developed by Consensys is heading towards decentralization. At Devcon 2024, the company announced the Linea Association to oversee the blockchain’s development and governance along with the launch of the LINEA token.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), one of the main competitors of NVIDIA, debuted its new AI chip, the Instinct MI325X. During the Advancing AI 2024 event, the company announced that the chip will be in production in the second half of 2025.

Visa, the leading company in the banking payments sector, is working on a solution to tokenize traditional assets on the blockchain. The Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP), a platform for creating tokens on Ethereum, was announced in a report published on October 3, 2024.

Bloomberg reports that Dragonfly Capital, a crypto-focused venture company, is preparing to raise $500 million for a new fund aimed at early-stage blockchain projects. So far, over $250 million has been secured, with the full fundraising expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.

Thailand's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Bitkub, is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the local stock market in 2025. CEO Jirayut Srupsrisopa has announced that the company is currently seeking financial advisors to prepare the necessary documentation and facilitate the listing process.

OpenAI, a leading developer in artificial intelligence, achieved an annual revenue exceeding $2 billion, driven by the immense popularity of its ChatGPT application. This achievement positions the tech startup as one of the fastest-growing companies ever. Some Microsoft investors are optimistic, forecasting that revenues could double by the end of 2025 due to strong business demand.

FTX's portfolio liquidation is unlikely to shake the market significantly, as noted by Coinbase in their latest weekly report. They cited multiple reasons supporting this claim. 1. Weekly Sell Limits: Initially, liquidations are capped at $50 million per week for digital assets. This limit will gradually increase to $100 million in subsequent weeks. Any permanent increase to a maximum limit of $200 million requires approval from two committees representing FTX debtors. 2. Insider-Affiliated Tokens: Stricter controls govern the sale of “insider-affiliated” tokens, necessitating a 10-day advance notice to the same committees. 3. Locked Holdings: A significant portion of FTX’s SOL holdings, along with some other tokens, are locked until approximately 2025 due to token vesting schedules, limiting their availability for sale. 4. Hedging Measures: FTX has the option to hedge its sales of BTC, ETH, and other debtor-identified assets through an investment advisor, contingent on prior committee approval. These precautions ensure a measured and controlled approach to asset liquidation.

According to Blockstream CEO Adam Back, Bitcoin is set to hit $100,000 before its 2024 halving. He's wagered against a Twitter user, Vikingobbitcoin, who believes it won't happen until 2025. The loser of the bet will owe 1 million sats.

The research company 10X Research, known for its reliable forecasts, predicts another wave of “gold rush” enthusiasm in the crypto market. According to their model, Bitcoin could soar to an impressive $100,000 by January 2025!

Uber, renowned for its ride-hailing and delivery services, has announced that it will be launching an AI-driven chatbot assistant (GPT-4o) to assist its drivers with real-time, useful information. Scheduled for an early 2025 release in the U.S., the assistant is designed to simplify tasks and provide relevant insights to drivers.

The global payment system Swift is set to start testing digital asset transactions via its network in 2025. Having experimented with blockchain technology for a while, Swift is now preparing to conduct trials with banks. The initial tests are planned for Europe, North America, and Asia.

BitGo is set to launch its own yield-bearing stablecoin, USDS, in early 2025. The stablecoin will be backed by cash and short-duration Treasury bills that generate returns. The initial market capitalization is expected to reach approximately $10 billion within the first year.

Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, believes that Gary Gensler, the current Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will step down in January or February 2025, assuming a win by Donald Trump. Gensler's term is set to end in June 2026.

The Biden administration has reiterated its proposal to implement a 30% excise tax on electricity used by miners, targeting the 2025 fiscal year's budget. This move mirrors a similar proposal from last year, which ultimately was not adopted.

Investment fund Pantera Capital has forecasted a boost in Bitcoin's price following the forthcoming halving in April 2024, a pattern observed in the past. With historical trends as a basis, they anticipate Bitcoin will hit $35,000 before the halving and surge to $148,000 by 2025. Decisive events, like a positive court verdict for XRP and the greenlight for BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF, are expected to shape these potential outcomes.

Raoul Pal, once at the helm of Goldman Sachs, envisions a steep rise in the global count of cryptocurrency users. He drew parallels between the initial decade of digital assets and internet evolution, leading to the conclusion that the tally of cryptocurrency enthusiasts could hit the 1.2 billion mark by the end of 2025. His projections suggest this number could catapult to a staggering 5.1 billion by 2030. The key drivers in achieving such an extensive digital asset adoption, he believes, will be Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and NFTs.