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Crypto Snapshot: Latest News and Trends  

By SYGNAL

📈 Market News:  

• Bitcoin ($BTC) surged past the $100,000 mark earlier this month, marking a historic milestone. However, it has since retreated to $93,350, reflecting a 4% decline for December 2024. (CNBC)
• Ethereum ($ETH) witnessed a 43% price increase over the year 2024, adding $118 billion to its market cap, now valued at $418 billion. (Forbes)
• SUI ($SUI) and Dogecoin ($DOGE) were the top-performing altcoins of 2024, with SUI gaining 509% and Dogecoin climbing 333%, the latter reaching its highest levels since the pandemic. (Forbes)
• Since the U.S. Election Day on November 5, 2024, the global crypto market value has surged by over $1 trillion, hitting a new high of $3.6 trillion. (Forbes)

📜 Regulatory News:  

• Montenegro has approved the extradition of Terraform Labs' founder Do Kwon to the U.S. The move underscores increasing scrutiny on stablecoins and regulatory accountability. (Barron's)

🌐 Adoption and Usage:

• Following their approval in January 2024, Bitcoin ETFs have been instrumental in driving institutional adoption, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust now managing $60 billion in assets. (Forbes)

💸 Money Flow:  

• Over the course of 2024, the crypto market saw a dramatic increase in capital, attributed to the launch of Bitcoin ETFs and heightened institutional interest. The market's aggregate value rose significantly, culminating in a historic high of $3.6 trillion in December. (Forbes)

🗣️ Crypto Influencers:  

• Mike Alfred forecasted a major Bitcoin ($BTC) price movement in the coming weeks, pointing to the largest-ever Bitcoin options expiry and market makers' exposure as key factors. (Forbes)   

🌟 Other Highlights:  

• Over 2024, altcoins like Stellar ($XLM), Toncoin ($TON), and the Hedera Network token ($HBAR) outperformed Bitcoin, with gains of 233%, 155%, and 248%, respectively. (Forbes)
• Dogecoin ($DOGE) saw a remarkable resurgence in 2024, climbing 333% and reaching its highest value since the pandemic. (Forbes)

Stellar: The Quiet Giant Awakening? 

Stellar is making waves with its cross-border payment solutions, attracting attention for its efficient and low-cost transactions. $XLM $2B market cap and steady trading volume growth signal readiness for its next move.  Whale activity is picking up, suggesting institutional interest in Stellar’s potential to reshape financial systems. Analysts believe the coin’s ability to hold support at $0.49 indicates strength for a potential rally. Rumors of a Ripple-Stellar partnership could act as a major catalyst, boosting both adoption and investor confidence. Stellar’s focus on real-world utility makes it a hidden gem in the current market landscape.

Stellar’s Explosive Growth: Can XLM Hit 2021 Highs? 

Stellar $XLM is proving its potential, rebounding from an 8% pullback to hold support above $0.49. Following an incredible 173% surge, XLM is consolidating, indicating readiness for another leg up. The coin’s utility in cross-border payments continues to attract global attention, especially in high-inflation regions. Stellar’s trading volume spiked by 124%, reinforcing its ability to hold key support at $0.49 and setting the stage for a potential climb toward its 2021 peak of $0.79. Whale activity has also resumed, signaling renewed confidence among major players. Rumors of a Ripple partnership add another layer of intrigue to Stellar’s potential growth. Keep an eye on XLM; its next move could surprise the market. 

**📊 DutchEd Too: Portfolio Rebalanced**

The portfolio has been rebalanced to maintain its target allocations and ensure optimal performance. Adjustments were made to bring each asset back to its intended percentage.

Here’s a summary of the changes:
- $SOL: +0.99%
- $XRP: -0.23%
- $XLM: +1.62%
- $TIA: +0.18%
- $ATOM: -0.55%
- $OP: +0.12%
- $RUNE: -0.63%
- $DOGE: +0.75%
- $SHIB: +0.78%
- $MANA: -0.49%
- $GRT: -0.31%
- $SUSHI: -0.97%
- $UNI: -1.26%

The largest adjustments were made to $XLM and $UNI, which required rebalancing to restore their target allocations. This ensures the portfolio remains well-diversified and aligned with its strategic goals.

The rotation to ISO 20022 compliant cryptocurrencies has been impressive:

$HBAR $IOTA $ALGO $XRP $QNT $ADA $XLM $XRP

From coincodex:

The ISO 20022 standard has gained significant importance in the financial industry as a unified messaging standard for electronic data exchange between financial institutions. While initially developed for traditional financial transactions, the standard has now expanded to include the world of cryptocurrencies.ISO 20022 brings standardization and interoperability to the crypto space, ensuring smoother communication between various platforms and participants.