## Bitcoin's Resilience and Growth Potential

Bitcoin's value proposition remains **strong**, especially as it recently topped **$90,000**. This surge not only highlights the **stability** of Bitcoin but also its **potential for long-term upside**.  

## Avoiding the Copycat Trap
While many investors are tempted to look at alternatives like **Dogecoin (DOGE)** or **MicroStrategy (MSTR)**, it's essential to recognize that these options may not offer the same level of **sustainability** and **growth potential** as Bitcoin.  

Investors should focus on the **top crypto**, which has a proven track record and a robust **market position**. Unlike copycat coins, Bitcoin's fundamentals are backed by a solid **network effect** and **adoption curve** that other cryptocurrencies struggle to replicate.  

### Final Thoughts
In the current market landscape, aligning your investments with **Bitcoin** is a wise strategy. Its dominance and **market resilience** make it a crucial asset for any serious investor.  

Stay informed and make educated decisions by prioritizing Bitcoin over less established alternatives.

Bitcoin's value proposition remains strong, with potential for long-term upside. Read why I advise investors to buy the top crypto rather than DOGE-USD or MSTR.

Why Bitcoin is the Best Investment Choice Over Dogecoin and MicroStrategy Right Now

Silicon Valley poured more than **$394.1 million** into the US presidential election this year, according to a Guardian analysis, with **Elon Musk** contributing a staggering **$243 million** to **Donald Trump**’s campaign. This analysis highlights the **growing influence of the tech industry** in US elections, particularly as advocates of **cryptocurrency** mobilize to prevent regulation.

### Major Donors from the Tech World
The donations came from major tech players like **Google**, **WhatsApp**, **LinkedIn**, and **Netflix**. Here are some notable contributions:
- **$242.6 million** from **Elon Musk** (Tesla, SpaceX, X)
- **$5.5 million** from **Marc Andreessen** (Andreessen Horowitz)
- **$5.1 million** from **Jan Koum** (WhatsApp founder)

In contrast, **Kamala Harris** received a total of **$120.9 million**, with significant donations including:
- **$51.1 million** from **Dustin Moskovitz** (Facebook co-founder)
- **$17 million** from **Reid Hoffman** (LinkedIn co-founder)
- **$11.7 million** from **Chris Larsen** (Ripple chair)

### The Mechanics of Political Donations
The FEC filings provide a glimpse of the millions tech is pouring into Washington. The **Citizens United v FEC** ruling made it easier for wealthy individuals and corporations to contribute to campaigns, leading to the rise of **Super PACs** that can spend unlimited amounts on political advertising.

### Ideological Shifts in Silicon Valley
The trend of tech billionaires supporting Trump, despite years of criticism, reflects a significant **ideological shift** within Silicon Valley. Industries like **crypto** and **AI** are increasingly engaging in politics to stave off regulation. Notably, Trump's recent nomination of **Paul Atkins**, a crypto-friendly CEO, as head of the **Securities and Exchange Commission** indicates a warming relationship with the industry.

### Cryptocurrency's Political Impact
The **crypto lobby** is rapidly becoming a significant political force, outspending traditional industries. Their influence was evident in congressional elections, where they spent **$40 million** against incumbent Democrats. Even Trump, who once called crypto a **“scam,”** has embraced the industry, launching his own cryptocurrency and accepting donations in **Bitcoin**.

### Conclusion: The Future of Tech and Politics
With tech giants and billionaires playing both sides, the political landscape is evolving. The analysis also hints at the **dark money** influencing elections, as seen with donations from figures like **Bill Gates**, who contributed **$50 million** through non-profit channels, obscuring the transparency of political donations.

For a deeper dive into the **methodology** behind these findings, see the detailed explanation provided in the article.

FEC filings offer only a glimpse of the money tech is pouring into Washington as it seeks to influence government

The $394 Million Tech Influence: How Silicon Valley's Billionaires are Shaping US Politics

Haliey Welch, known for her viral catchphrase **"Hawk Tuah,"** is embroiled in controversy over her newly launched cryptocurrency, **Hawk Tuah Coin (HAWK)**. Initially celebrated, the token's value skyrocketed to **$490 million** before crashing to **$36.6 million** within hours, leading to accusations of a **pump-and-dump scheme** against Welch.

### Backlash and Legal Implications
As the situation escalated, social media turned against Welch, with fans now demanding accountability. A prominent law firm has even offered to represent those who lost money, hinting at possible **legal repercussions** for Welch.

### Welch's Response
In the face of rising criticism, Welch took to **X (formerly Twitter)** to defend herself, claiming she did not profit from the coin's launch and that her team took measures to prevent early token sniping. She stated:
> "Team hasn't sold one token, and not one KOL was given a free token. We tried to stop snipers through high fees at launch on @MeteoraAG. Fees have now been dropped."

However, her defense did not resonate with many. Critics accused her of **insider trading** and inconsistency in her statements, with comments such as:
- "Snipers made $3M on your scam, and insiders have started selling."
- "Haliey, you are most likely going to prison."

### Future Uncertain
Despite her denials, the fallout suggests a challenging future ahead. The cryptocurrency community is closely monitoring the situation, questioning whether this marks the beginning of Welch's downfall or if she can redeem her reputation. For now, her future as both an influencer and a meme coin creator remains precarious.

Haliey Welch, who skyrocketed to fame with her viral catchphrase &quot;Hawk Tuah,&quot; is now at the center of a heated scandal involving her newly launched cryptocurrency, Hawk T

Haliey Welch's Hawk Tuah Coin Scandal: From Fame to Infamy in the Crypto World

The crypto market witnessed a **positive surge** on Friday, with **XRP** and **BTC** gaining momentum amid optimistic regulatory developments. 

### SEC Appeal: Will Chair Gensler Withdraw the Appeal Before Leaving the Agency?
The **SEC's** intention to appeal rulings in the **Ripple case** is pivotal for both XRP and ongoing investigations against crypto exchanges. The deadline for the SEC to submit its appeal is **January 15, 2025**, shortly before Trump’s inauguration and the anticipated exit of Chair Gensler. Gensler's recent actions indicate a potential push to solidify the SEC's stance before leaving. 

### Bitcoin (BTC) Revisits $101k on BTC-Spot ETF Inflows
On Thursday, the **US BTC-spot ETF market** saw impressive inflows of **$766.7 million**, marking six consecutive sessions of growth. This surge in demand has positively influenced BTC, pushing it past the **$100k** threshold. Notably, the US BTC-spot ETF market now holds over **1.1 million BTC**, surpassing Satoshi Nakamoto's holdings, a significant milestone. 

### Bitcoin Strategic Reserve: Can BTC Hit $1 Million on US Government Demand?
BTC's recent rise to **$101k** is fueled by speculation about it becoming a **strategic reserve asset** under the Trump administration. With appointments of crypto-friendly officials, there is hope for clearer regulations that could elevate BTC's status. The potential for BTC to reach **$1 million** hinges on government demand and regulatory clarity. 

### Bitcoin Price Outlook
On Friday, BTC experienced a **2.68% increase**, closing at **$99,695** after briefly touching the **$101k** mark. Future BTC price movements will largely depend on the upcoming **CFTC Chair nomination** and potential oversupply risks from Mt. Gox and the US government, which holds a substantial **198,109 BTC stockpile**. 

![XRPUSD Daily Chart](https://example.com/xrp-chart)  
*XRPUSD 071224 Daily Chart*  

Stay tuned for more insights as the crypto landscape evolves with the impending changes in the SEC and government leadership.

XRP and BTC advanced on Friday, with positive sentiment toward the regulatory outlook, fueling buyer demand.

XRP's Future and Bitcoin's Surge: What Trump's SEC Changes Mean for Crypto

### Bitcoin Reaches New Heights

**Bitcoin's** value has soared, surpassing the **$100,000 mark** for the first time, igniting excitement in the cryptocurrency community. This unprecedented milestone has led **Michael Saylor**, executive chairman of **MicroStrategy Inc.**, to reaffirm his positive outlook on Bitcoin.

### Saylor's Investment Philosophy

In a recent interview with **Yahoo Finance**, Saylor shared his straightforward investment strategy: **"Just keep buying Bitcoin with your spare capital. It's going to appreciate against the dollar forever."** He emphasized the importance of viewing Bitcoin as a **long-term asset**, advocating for a systematic approach where investors average their purchase prices quarterly.

### Long-Term Portfolio Strategy

Saylor believes that **Bitcoin should be a core part of any long-term investment portfolio**, with funds allocated for a **four to ten-year horizon**. He highlighted that MicroStrategy has created significant shareholder value by holding onto Bitcoin, suggesting that understanding the technology behind it is not necessary to reap its benefits.

### Celebrating the Milestone

The recent surge to **$100,000** is a critical moment for the cryptocurrency market, prompting discussions within the community about potential celebrations. Saylor has been vocal about Bitcoin's potential to become a **global capital**, predicting that its value could reach **$13 million per coin by 2045**.

### Price Action

As of now, Bitcoin is trading at **$99,308**, showing a **1.7% increase** in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, **MicroStrategy's stock** has seen a remarkable **476% gain** year-to-date, closing at **$395.01** on Friday.

![Michael Saylor](https://example.com/michael_saylor_image.jpg)  
*Image courtesy: Michael Saylor / MicroStrategy*

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) value has reached an unprecedented milestone, crossing the $100,000 mark.

Michael Saylor's Bold Bitcoin Strategy: Why You Should Keep Buying BTC Now!

### **A Shocking Scam in New Jersey**  
A New Jersey resident became a victim of a **sophisticated scam**, paying nearly **$300,000 worth of Bitcoin** to two European men in exchange for **counterfeit gold**.  
  
### **The Alleged Fraudsters**  
The suspects, **Ciprian A. Tiber** (33) and **Ahmed Zarei** (43), both from Romania, face **two counts of money laundering** and **one count of theft by deception**. As of now, they remain at large following the issuance of arrest warrants on **October 25**.  
  
### **The Deceptive Transaction**  
In **September 2023**, the two men met the victim in Bergen County to discuss selling **gold coils**. The victim transferred approximately **11 Bitcoins**, valued at around **$289,000** at the time, only to find out later that the gold coils were fake.  
  
### **Tracing the Funds**  
Investigators traced the transaction and discovered that the Bitcoin was sent to a **crypto wallet** owned by Tiber and Zarei, who allegedly transferred the funds to various **cryptocurrency exchanges** under **fake names**.  
  
### **A Warning from Authorities**  
Bergen County Prosecutor **Mark Musella** emphasized the difficulty in detecting cryptocurrency scams but reassured the community that investigators are committed to exposing such schemes.  
  
### **Call for Information**  
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office urges anyone with information about the whereabouts of Tiber and Zarei to contact their tip line at **201-226-5532**.

The alleged fraudsters are also accused of transferring the funds to crypto accounts registered under fake names. 

Beware of Cryptocurrency Scams: New Jersey Resident Loses $289K in Bitcoin for Fake Gold

### Liquidium's DeFi Lending Hits New Heights

**DeFi lending** on Bitcoin-based **Liquidium** has reached a **four-month high** of **21 BTC** as of December 5, 2024, coinciding with Bitcoin’s remarkable surge past **$100,000**.

![Liquidium DeFi Lending](https://cryptoslate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/bitcoin-defi-lending-768x403.jpg)

**Borrowers** can now leverage **instant loans** through Liquidium, which has seen increased activity alongside Bitcoin's mainstream adoption. 

### Loan Volume Breakdown

Onchain data indicates that loans against **Runes** made up **57%** of Liquidium’s daily volume, contributing **12 BTC**, while **Ordinals** accounted for the remaining **43%**, contributing **9 BTC**. This trend reflects a year-long growth for Liquidium, which has facilitated over **63,000 loans**, totaling more than **3,378 BTC**. Runes dominate the platform, making up over half of all collateral.

### Innovative Features and Security

Liquidium allows users to borrow Bitcoin against a variety of assets, including **Runes**, **Ordinals**, and **BRC-20 tokens**. Its **non-custodial model** utilizes **Discreet Log Contracts (DLC)** for secure escrow, protecting lenders’ returns even in the case of defaults.

Analysts attribute the increase in Liquidium's activity to **Bitcoin's price rally** and the introduction of **spot Bitcoin ETFs**, which have significantly boosted **institutional interest** in the ecosystem. Furthermore, the market sentiment has improved with expectations of **crypto-friendly regulations** under a potential **Trump-led administration**, enhancing optimism for broader industry growth.

### Upcoming Features

Looking ahead, Liquidium plans to introduce new features aimed at enhancing user experience. A new **instant loans feature** will allow borrowers to access funds without needing lender countersignatures, streamlining the loan process for all sizes. Additionally, the **Custom Loan V2 upgrade** will provide a gallery-like interface, enabling users to create and customize loan offers, making the platform more dynamic and accessible.

Liquidium’s sustained growth and innovations position it as a pivotal player in the expanding **Bitcoin DeFi** ecosystem.

Liquidium's rise aligns with Bitcoin's mainstream momentum, bolstered by institutional interest and regulatory optimism.

Liquidium's DeFi Lending Surges as Bitcoin Breaks $100K – What You Need to Know

The Netflix documentary, **Biggest Heist Ever**, reveals the outrageous crimes of **Ilya Lichtenstein** and **Heather Morgan**, a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, who pulled off a heist worth **$72 million** in Bitcoin in **2016**. This amount has ballooned to approximately **$4.5 billion** today due to the cryptocurrency's rapid growth. The film dives into the details of how this couple, both tech enthusiasts, transitioned from successful careers in Silicon Valley to orchestrating one of the largest heists in history.

### 10 Police Watched The Stolen Money Being Spent
Bitcoin's unique nature means that while it offers anonymity, it also leaves a digital trail. Law enforcement was able to track the stolen Bitcoin from **Bitfinex**, the exchange that was hacked, to the couple's accounts and monitor their spending habits. This unique visibility of cryptocurrency posed challenges for the thieves, as their transactions could be traced.

### 9 Heather & Ilya Left A Thriving Tech Startup
Despite their success, Ilya and Heather abruptly moved to New York City, leaving behind their tech careers. This decision raised eyebrows, but it wasn't until their involvement in the heist came to light that it made sense.

### 8 Razzlekhan Was Inspired By Awkwafina
Heather embraced a new persona as a rapper named **Razzlekhan**, inspired by her interview with **Awkwafina**. Despite lacking talent, she pursued this career, even as it contradicted her professional image.

### 6 Ilya's Father Was Also A Skilled Hacker
Ilya's father, a skilled hacker himself, may have played a role in helping the couple execute their heist, although he was not a central figure in the investigation.

### 5 The Bag Labeled Burner Phones And Other Evidence
In their New York apartment, the FBI discovered incriminating evidence, including **burner phones** labeled explicitly for their intended use. This lack of caution was striking for individuals involved in such a massive crime.

### 3 Bitfinex May Be The Primary Beneficiary Of The Seized Bitcoin
Bitfinex, the company from which the Bitcoin was stolen, has sought to compensate its users, potentially positioning itself as the main beneficiary of the seized assets, which have appreciated significantly in value.

### 2 Heather Was Released From Prison Due To Health Conditions
Despite her involvement in the heist, Heather was released from prison due to health issues, allowing her to continue her activities in the cryptocurrency space.

### 1 A Billion Dollars Worth Of Bitcoin Is Still Unaccounted For
While the FBI recovered over **$3 billion**, there remains **$1 billion** worth of Bitcoin unaccounted for, raising questions about its fate. The couple's actions and the resulting fallout from their heist continue to captivate audiences, highlighting the complexities of cryptocurrency crime.

The Biggest Heist Ever documentary sheds light on the most successful crime in modern history, and it all came from an unsuspecting couple.

Why Bitcoin is the Best Investment Choice Over Dogecoin and MicroStrategy Right Now

Summary:

Bitcoin's Resilience and Growth Potential

Avoiding the Copycat Trap

Final Thoughts

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Other Latest News

The $394 Million Tech Influence: How Silicon Valley's Billionaires are Shaping US Politics

Haliey Welch's Hawk Tuah Coin Scandal: From Fame to Infamy in the Crypto World

XRP's Future and Bitcoin's Surge: What Trump's SEC Changes Mean for Crypto

Michael Saylor's Bold Bitcoin Strategy: Why You Should Keep Buying BTC Now!

Beware of Cryptocurrency Scams: New Jersey Resident Loses $289K in Bitcoin for Fake Gold

Liquidium's DeFi Lending Surges as Bitcoin Breaks $100K – What You Need to Know

Uncovering the Biggest Heist in History: The Shocking True Story Behind Netflix's Documentary

Other Latest News

The $394 Million Tech Influence: How Silicon Valley's Billionaires are Shaping US Politics

Haliey Welch's Hawk Tuah Coin Scandal: From Fame to Infamy in the Crypto World

XRP's Future and Bitcoin's Surge: What Trump's SEC Changes Mean for Crypto

Michael Saylor's Bold Bitcoin Strategy: Why You Should Keep Buying BTC Now!

Beware of Cryptocurrency Scams: New Jersey Resident Loses $289K in Bitcoin for Fake Gold

Liquidium's DeFi Lending Surges as Bitcoin Breaks $100K – What You Need to Know

Uncovering the Biggest Heist in History: The Shocking True Story Behind Netflix's Documentary