Among the most popular Bitcoin mining pools available on the market today is MetaMining Club.

Based in Abuja, Nigeria, MetaMining Club is Africa's fastest growing blockchain mining operation and provides its clients with the opportunity to benefit from the mining of Bitcoin with minimal effort.

## Why mining?

The rise of Bitcoin has left many asking, "how do I get involved?". The recent volatility of crypto market trading means the search for Bitcoin passive income has never been greater.

For some time, one of the most popular methods for making money in crypto has been to get involved in mining. Crypto mining is the validation of transactions across a Proof of Work (PoW) network.

Computers battle to solve complex algorithmic math problems in a competition to process the next block of data on the chain – hence the term blockchain. For doing this, miners are [rewarded a portion of the fees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency#Mining) charged to those sending crypto.

Mining Bitcoin has proven to be a very lucrative business, with large mining 'farms' set up worldwide. Some of these operations consist of thousands of mining rigs processing many transactions a day.

As you are probably all aware, mining [Bitcoin uses a massive amount of electricity](/news/article/crypto-mining), so much so that many Bitcoin mining farms look to locate their rigs in cold climates (negating the need for expensive air conditioning) with low electricity rates.

## Pool mining

Mining crypto has become increasingly difficult with recent rises in the cost of electricity and the hardware needed to compute ever-complex calculations. There is, however, a cheaper alternative to setting up your own mining operation. This is what is known as Bitcoin pool mining. With pool mining, no technical knowledge is needed. As the name suggests, you simply contribute to a pooled mining operation that conducts [all the hard work for you](https://river.com/learn/how-bitcoin-mining-pools-work).

[MetaMining Club](https://metaminingclub.com/) can manage the entire process for you – all you have to do is invest your money with them.

MetaMining Club has 10 'packages' to choose from, costing from under £2,500 up to £39,000. Each option promises varied levels of returns. For example, if you opt for the CityBoy package costing 7 million Naira (£12,618), you can expect payouts of somewhere between 480,000 and 880,000 (£865 - £1586). Calculations are a little vague, but the website shows that the expected monthly mining output is somewhere between 0.0029 and 0.0043 BTC. All machines used are S91 Antminers, which can process up to 15.2 Terra hashes per second.

## Risks

MetaMining Club offers the customer the chance to get involved with Bitcoin mining without getting their hands dirty. MetaMining Club hosts machines on their own mining farms and, in turn, connects these machines to major mining pools. This way, MMC can ensure that its returns are among the best in the business.

The high hash rate output is also one of the main reasons MetaMining lub can provide above-average rates of return.

Obviously, investing in crypto comes with risks. However, as miners are not actively trading, the volatility associated with crypto does not have any bearing in this situation. Furthermore, because MetaMining Club connects to mining farms abroad, they do not have to comply with restricting legislation in your resident country.

With any investment, it is important to conduct your own research and due diligence before you decide to part with your hard-earned cash. I advise the same in this situation


Metamining: Earning Passive Income from Bitcoin

After a last-minute change of heart, it is a question challenging many in the last couple of months – just when is the Shibarium release date?

A series of delays towards the end of last year means that the release date for this eagerly awaited Ethereum scaling solution has remained a mystery. New evidence has shown that, finally, we may be moving closer toward the launch of this long-awaited 'layer 2 scaling solution'.

## ‘Layer 2 scaling solution'

Shibarium is a [layer 2 scaling solution](https://crypto.com/university/what-are-layer-2-scaling-solutions) built on top of the [Ethereum](/news/article/ethereum-merge) network. It is designed to facilitate the Shiba Inu ecosystem. In theory, this should provide thousands of users access to the myriad Ethereum-enabled applications.

Layer 2 solutions take advantage of the vast security and infrastructure benefits of layer 1 blockchains while ultimately providing cheaper and faster transactions. They achieve this by 'sitting on top' of layer 1s and using technical innovations like Roll-ups and Federated Side Chains to increase transaction times while reducing gas fees.

This helps to take pressure off a main chain while continuing to provide access to its benefits. Close association with Ethereum allows users of layer 2 scaling solutions like Shibarium access to the massive DeFi ecosystem on the world's second largest blockchain.

## Immediate benefit

What can we expect when the Shibarium release date is finally decided? It goes without question that Shibarium is one of the most highly anticipated projects to be launched in the Shiba Inu ecosystem. But just what will its launch mean in real terms?

Let's look at some of the immediate benefits.

Firstly, and most importantly, the successful launch of Shibarium will mean much lower transaction fees for those looking to develop applications on the platform. The high gas fees associated with the Ethereum blockchain are well documented. They are often a barrier to entry for those looking to get into crypto. Scaling solutions such as Shibarium promise to be much cheaper to use without losing the security benefits of the Ethereum blockchain. This is a massive draw for any developers looking to build.

Due to the [blockchain trilemma](https://academy.binance.com/en/articles/what-is-the-blockchain-trilemma), speed is often sacrificed at the expense of security. That means peak period transactions across Ethereum can slow to as little as 30 transactions per second. Because scaling solutions such as Shiberium do not access the main chain, transactions can reach into the thousands and provide much-needed scalability when it is needed the most.

This combination of cheaper and faster transactions is irresistible to developers looking to take advantage of Ethereum's stability and security. Indeed, the latest data shows that decentralised gaming application developers, such as those behind Shiba Eternity, are beginning to realise that this promising layer 2 solution provides everything they are looking for.

The successful rollout of Shibarium is sure to present more opportunities for the burning of the SHIB token, which will come as a great relief to holders of the coin. With 500 TRILLION tokens at its launch, many industry experts believe this high number is unfavourable to any future price gain. Consequently, Shibarium is expected to feature several burn mechanisms contributing to the drop in circulating supply.

With plans to launch a Metaverse project also in the pipeline, Shibarium is surely one of the projects to keep a close eye on in 2023.

The native token of the project, $BONE, has been democratically distributed by its anonymous creator Ryoshi. Like most other layer 2 solutions, node operators across the network will be rewarded in BONE for validating and processing transactions. With a circulating supply of 230 million tokens, BONE has every opportunity to be a highly tradable coin.

## Project release date - ‘close’

At the time of writing, the Shibarium release date is still unclear. However, as we are all aware, the world of crypto is unpredictable and anything can happen.

That said, the creators behind the project, Unification Foundation, are keen to get the ball rolling. An October 2022 [Twitter post](https://twitter.com/ShytoshiKusama/status/15869099) by Lead Developer Shytoshi Kusama highlighted the team's insistence on doing 'one thing at a time'.

As far as we can tell, the project has completed an internal alpha testnet phase before a public testnet phase which shows that the project release date is 'close'. It is thought that one of the key components of the project is the development of a secure and efficient wallet function. Getting this element correct is something that cannot be rushed.


blue image of shiba inu dogs smiling with shibarium shiba coin in centre

Shibarium Release Date Update

Founded in 2019, Acala is a self-contained decentralised finance (DeFi) network built on and designed to facilitate the Polkadot ecosystem. It's native token is the Acala coin, ACA.

The project has been specifically optimised for DeFi use and is both scalable and Ethereum (ERC-20) compatible.

The [project](https://acala.network/) provides a vast array of cross-chain financial applications, which make it highly flexible and help to maintain consistent levels of demand. Users can trade with Acala Swap, issue self-certified loans through the Acala dollar stable coin (aUSD), access liquidity farming opportunities, and earn staking rewards through Liquid DOT staking (LDOT).

In the future, Acala coin (ACA) will be bridged to Ethereum and Bitcoin, as well as Compound Gateway, which was synonymous with the project's development.

This project is leading the way in developing hybrid crypto and fintech products alongside US fintech company Current and helping to bring DeFi yield opportunities to its three million US customers.

## Tokenomics

ACA is the native token of the Acala network. There are currently some 613 million coins in circulation, which, at current prices, gives a market cap of just over $73 million. The max supply is set at 1,000,000,000 tokens, which are subject to a 0% rate of inflation with a fixed and deflationary profile.

ACA is available from a wide variety of cryptocurrency exchanges, but [Binance](/news/article/guide-to-binance-uk) proves to be the most popular, carrying 58% of ACA/USDT volume. KuCoin, Kraken, and Gate.io are other popular places [to purchase the token](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/acala/markets/).

The stand-out feature of Acala is the native stablecoin known as aUSD. As we mentioned above, the project is helping to drive the adoption of DeFi protocols through the use of the Polkadot ecosystem. aUSD can also be used on the Kusama network, ensuring even more stability in its mission to provide parity with the US dollar.

aUSD has been designed to be completely decentralised. It is multi-collateralised and backed by a series of cross-chain assets.

However, it is essential to differentiate between the Acala dollar (aUSD) and the Acala coin, which is the native token for the Acala platform.

At its genesis, the ACA token has been distributed democratically, with 49.6% of tokens allocated to community members. The remaining 50.24% has been split between Backers (11.66%), Early Backers (18.33%), and the Founding Team (20.25%).

## Benefits

The Acala coin (ACA) is the utility token that powers Acala, [the DeFi hub of Polkadot](https://acala.network/acala/token). The token is used for various features, which we will look at here.

•	ACA is used to pay transaction fees which form the lifeblood of validators on the network. Furthermore, the coin is used to incentivise nodes to monitor and relay messages across the Polkadot network.

•	Acala coin holders are entitled to vote on crucial network issues that help drive the project's development. Token holders can also elect future council members.

•	ACA is also used to auto-adjust risk parameters which drive interest rates and collateral ratio. Furthermore, any staked ACA can be used to deploy new Substrate pallets on the Acala blockchain.

## Parachain auction

ACA has been earmarked to support early participants in the Polkadot parachain auction through the issuance of DOT. Once received, a portion of the chosen ACA will be unlocked and become transferable, with the remaining amount vested and slowly released over the duration of the parachain slot.

80% of any ACA resulting from the parachain auction will have a linear vest over the course of the parachain slot release, while 17% of the supply will be issued as rewards to supporters of the first parachain auction.
 
In short, this means that supporters will receive 3 ACA for every DOT contributed, although this number is set to increase depending on your level of involvement. 20% of ACA received from the parachain auction will be unlocked, liquid and usable within Acala's DeFi ecosystem.

## Conclusion

As you can see, there are myriad ways in which holders of the ACA token can help contribute to and secure the network making Acala one of the most innovative and flexible DeFi ecosystems on the market today.

This project is a perfect example of a breed of new and exciting FinTech start-ups helping to create the bridge from the TradFi to the DeFi world.


Green image of tech pattern with acala coin logo in centre

Acala Coin Use and Value Explored

The need for alternative forms of payment has never been greater. The rise of Web3 payment solutions, like Kasta crypto, proves this need is more than just a passing trend.

The Web3 payment provider Kasta was developed to expedite the adoption of decentralisation while providing a viable medium of digital exchange.

Built on the Polygon network, Kasta crypto is an [ERC-20](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum#ERC20) token allowing holders to send and receive the same coins instantly and for free. This simplicity and ease of use will make the platform a hit in the digital revolution.

## Simple yet powerful

The project has been designed with simplicity in mind, making the transfer of digital assets safe and convenient. Holders can send tokens via mobile number or by simply scanning the QR code. Using crypto has never been easier.

At its core, the project is a basic wallet application with various features encouraging everyday use. This accessibility means anyone can quickly learn to use the platform for their own benefit.

The application is a powerful all-in-one wallet allowing even the most novice crypto users to enter the Web3 world. While the platform only supports eight coins so far, they include some of the most popular tokens on the market.

## Easy Swap

The platform's native token is the [$KASTA coin](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/kasta/markets/) which is currently available at a wide variety of exchanges, including Gate.io, UniSwap, and ByBit.
With a current circulating supply of 129 million priced at $0.0266 per coin, the total market cap is $3.4 million.

The 'Easy Swap Engine' allows holders to choose which token to receive, regardless of the coin sent. For example, should a friend send Bitcoin, you can simply change your settings to ensure that all crypto is received in Ethereum.

Kasta crypto token forms the backbone of the application, and, alongside P2P payments, it will soon be used for several other purposes.

## Future of Kasta

This project is a shining example of a P2P payment processor and is leading the way in blockchain adoption and Web3 development. The company has ambitious plans for the future, with many features currently in the pipeline. 

In the near term, users will be able to earn passive income by taking advantage of various yield-generating opportunities via the mobile app. Furthermore, platform users will also be able to apply for a debit card, allowing them to spend their crypto holdings in a wide variety of merchant stores. 

Lastly, all application users will be able to choose to stake their idle crypto and earn passive income.

With countries like Nigeria pushing their citizens to adopt [distributed solutions](/news/article/paybis-rewards-customers), the future of cross-border payments is about to change. Applications like Kasta crypto are at the cutting edge of the decentralised revolution and will form the backbone of the future society.


Kasta Crypto - Changing Thinking on Money

Koda Apex, aka KAPEX crypto, is a utility token designed to reward those who stake its sister token, $KODA. However, this coin can also be used for payments for both products and services. The main difference is the lower fees associated with [KAPEX crypto](https://koda.finance/kapex/).

Koda describes itself as 'a long-term deflationary store of value for SummitBC Ecosystem investors'. Due to its inflationary tokenomics, the project is an excellent choice for long-term investment, it claims.

Let's look at some of the main features and benefits of the project.

## Rewards

As mentioned above, KAPEX crypto is essentially the reward token for those staking on the parent network. In addition, every transaction across the ecosystem increases the token's liquidity.

So other than rewards for passive staking, what other benefits are there to holding the coin? The benefits are wide-ranging and include:

•	Paying of exchange fees.

•	Paying service and product fees.

•	Purchasing of NFTs.

•	Paying staff or contractors.

•	Motivating team members as a bonus.

•	All business-to-consumer transactions.

•	Peer-to-peer transactions.

In addition to the above, the project has very low network fees, resulting in ultra-low transaction costs. Its supply is controlled by algorithmic tokenomics and backed by its sister coin. Furthermore, anyone looking to unstake their KODA will need to pay for this with KAPEX.

It sounds like an excellent crypto to get involved in, and, with prices currently at historic lows, now is a good time to buy. But are there any drawbacks?

## Compromise

Sadly, the program was compromised via both PancakeSwap and SummitSwap on 17 October, 2022, with the loss of some 78 BNB coins equalling £21,561 of user funds. As a consequence, the management team has advised not to buy the coin going forward. The exact details are unclear, but it appears to be the result of a [vanity address exploit](https://koda.finance/kapex-exploit-on-17th-october-2022/).

This hack and the subsequent price drop are obviously alarming and not a great look for the team behind the project.

Both tokens are managed by 'Summit Better Crypto Limited', which describes itself as a "PR and marketing firm specialising in the promotions of projects within the Cryptocurrency world".

As the company was only set up in May 2021, no filings of accounts are available for analysis. Furthermore, the company website states, "SummitBC employs third-party developers to support the projects we are promoting". Make of this what you will.

Something we can take away from this project is the urgent need for comprehensive [regulation in the crypto space](/news/article/crypto-regulation-uk). While there is nothing to suggest that there has been any wrongdoing in this example, the collapse of KAPEX value shows that consumers desperately need better protection.

Furthermore, this example shows that it is important for consumers to carry out stringent due diligence to ensure any investments they make are based on realistic future projections rather than promotional shilling through social media or so-called 'crypto influencers'.


green image of  cryptocurrency with triangle kapex logo

Kapex Crypto: Signal for Tougher Regulation?

The rise in popularity of distributed networks and blockchain tech is taking the world by storm. Despite recent market events, the interest in cryptocurrencies continues to grow. None more so than in the credit and debit card sector. This report will look at the industry, tell you what you need to know, and examine recommendations for the future.

## How they work

When it comes to finding the best crypto rewards card UK, the idea behind cryptocurrency debit and credit cards is relatively simple. Users preload with their favourite cryptocurrency, enabling them to make purchases online, in-store, or simply to withdraw cash from the ATM. Regardless of whether the merchant accepts cryptocurrency or not, the card will automatically convert the purchase for you and debit the amount from your cryptocurrency balance. Most cards are issued through the Visa or Mastercard networks, so their reach and penetration is vast.

That said, it is important to understand the nature of the crypto wallet. Every crypto card issuer is a digital wallet at heart. The wallet is the power behind the card, providing the access to the merchant.

Many experts believe that in the next ten to 15 years, credit and debit cards will be consigned to history as the online wallet becomes ubiquitous and used for every online and real-world purchase. The intricacies of the digital wallet are vast and too long to go into detail here. Suffice it to say, security, versatility, and power are sure to lead to wide-scale adoption.

The main steps for applying for a crypto debit or credit card usually take the following pattern:

1.	Create a wallet.

2.	Buy your cryptocurrency from a reputable exchange like [Binance](https://www.binance.com/en-GB) or [Coinbase](https://www.coinbase.com/).

3.	Apply for your card.

4.     Connect to your wallet.

5.	Fund the card.

6.	Use the card to make purchases.

## Cashback

Almost all crypto debit and credit cards feature some kind of rewards system, which vary from issuer to issuer. However, the most popular reward systems are cashback on purchases, whether they occur online or in-store.

The range and scope of deals are vast and, as you might expect, very competitive. However, while most offer competitive cashback rewards, the general range lies between 1% and 5% cashback on purchases, online or in-store.

Take [BlockFi](https://blockfi.com/), for example. While BlockFi only offers 15 cryptocurrencies, they do not charge fees to move your crypto in and out of the wallet. When combined with a 1.5% cashback on all purchases made over the Visa network, this makes BlockFi one of the more attractive options available.

However, given [BlockFi’s recent problems](/news/article/is-blockfi-bankrupt), users should proceed with caution.

One of the largest names in the industry, Crypto.com, offers users a whopping 8% on purchases made on the Visa network. Furthermore, with no fees, users can preload their cards with more than 80 different cryptocurrencies.

In comparison, Coinbase has a 2.49% cryptocurrency liquidation fee, but users can earn $4 rewards on all purchases made on the Visa network. However, with only eight supported cryptocurrencies, users may find the Coinbase debit card rather limiting.

As you might expect, the deals on offer are very competitive. Your choice will depend on what you feel comfortable with and what you want to use the card for. However, one core theme throughout is the simplicity to set up and the user-friendliness, which, as we all know, is key in attracting and retaining customers.

## Other rewards

In your search for the best crypto rewards card UK, you'll find that there is a vast array of rewards designed to appeal to customers looking for ways to earn and spend their digital assets. While cashback on purchases may be the most popular, other rewards come in the form of earning APY on your crypto holdings, auto staking on eligible coins, or discount codes and vouchers. 

For example, popular investment platform eToro will automatically stake any coins you hold that are eligible for rewards. While eToro will take a cut of the rewards generated, this is an excellent and hassle-free way to earn passive income from your holdings.

Furthermore, popular wallet Nexo supports 32 coins while allowing users to earn APY on their holdings. While this is a unique idea in the crypto world, Nexo can only be used on the Mastercard network and, therefore, its reach is limited.

A handful of providers give the user a broader array of rewards. [Crypto.com](https://crypto.com/) is a well-known name in the industry, with large sporting sponsorship deals throughout most of 2022. Anyone signing up for Crypto.com’s mid-tier Visa debit card is eligible for a range of free perks, including Amazon Prime, Spotify, and Netflix monthly subscriptions, alongside airport lounge access and many more.

## Reach

When searching for the best crypto rewards card UK and choosing your crypto debit or credit card, there are several considerations you must make before making your decision. The following may help you find one which is best for you:

## Availability

Before looking at other benefits, it is important to find a provider compatible with purchases in your country. Due to crypto's worldwide appeal, this shouldn't be a problem. It is prudent to check the small print just in case they plan to charge you for using the card in your native country.

## Supported coins

With Bitcoin remaining the most popular cryptocurrency, it is easy to see why most cards offer Bitcoin functionality. However, if you decide that you would rather spend or earn other cryptocurrencies, you must choose a card supporting your choice.

## Rewards

As we have already discussed, cashback schemes are the most popular form of reward for using a crypto credit or debit card. Shopping around to find one which offers the best rate is important. Other rewards, such as discount codes and vouchers, are available, but are not as common.

## Fees

The majority of cards available today come with associated fees, whether for use abroad, pre-loading with your favourite cryptocurrency, transferring your crypto, or withdrawing cash from an ATM. Therefore, finding a card with low or zero fees can save you money.

## Five of the best

Let's look at some leading cards on the market today:

- Coinbase

- Crypto.com

- Binance

- eToro

- Nexus	
 
## Conclusion

As we can see, competition among crypto credit/debit card providers and their associated wallets is high. While this may at first appear confusing, it is important to remember that the companies want your business, so each offer should be as competitive as the last.

Applying for and setting up your debit/credit reward card is an excellent way to build your crypto portfolio by earning cashback on your purchases, receiving staking rewards, or generating APY just for holding. Like many other areas of crypto, debit/credit reward cards help to make your money work passively for you, and herein lies their appeal.

With the world becoming increasingly digital and places to use cash becoming scarce, the timing has probably never been better to apply for a crypto rewards card.


blue picture of cryptocurrency reward app mobile phone

Best Crypto Rewards Card UK

There is one cryptocurrency you may not have heard of but is sure to make a big splash in 2022 and beyond. 

Hedera Hashgraph describe themselves as a third generation cryptocurrency platform which uses Direct Acyclic Graph technology instead of the regular blockchain often associated with Bitcoin and Ethereum. What this means is that Hedera Hashgraph can process 1000’s more transactions at lightening speeds at little to no cost and with Smart Contracts about to be launched on the platform you can expect to hear much more about Hedera Hashgraph in the weeks to come.

## An enterprise grade network platform for Web 3.0 and beyond

The brainchild of Dr Leemon Baird, Hedera Hashgraph is currently the most used, sustainable enterprise led public network allowing businesses and individuals to create decentralised applications (dApps) on the market today. The platform has been designed to be fairer and more efficient therefore circumnavigating some of the issues faced by more traditional networks on offer today. The statistics speak for themselves - 

![Hedera.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Hedera_4c863a7992.png)

Funded through an ICO in August debate and decide 2018 Hedera went live in September 2019 and to date almost 50% of its 50 billion native tokens (HBAR) are in circulation. HBAR is the fuel that powers the Hedera network allowing users to access a myriad of Web 3.0 applications such as smart contracts, file storage and more general transactional services. With rumours of HBAR staking becoming available to the public soon 2022 is shaping up to be quite a year for Hedera Hashgraph.

## Gossip about gossip

What sets Hedera apart from some of its competitors is its gossip protocol. In short, this unique network structure ensures that nodes only have to confirm the most minimum details passed to them from the previous nodes. This then of course ensures lightning-fast transaction times and much lower costs than competitors.

Like Ethereum the Hedera Hashgraph is responsible to a Governing Council of members which support the decentralised aims of the project via the management of network nodes as well as participating in governance rights. With companies as large as Boeing, Google, LG, Avery Denison and IBM already on the council it is easy to see why Hedera has such a promising future.

## Super-fast speeds and little to no cost

As I mentioned earlier, Hedera Hashgraph does not use a conventional blockchain model and instead relies on a Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG) framework which many cite as the third incarnation of the blockchain. Essentially a Proof of Stake network at heart the main difference between DAG network and traditional Proof of Stake models is the ability to scale and provide extremely fast transactions at little to no cost.

The average transaction fee on Hedera is $0.0001 and finality (completion) is reached in under 5 seconds. As the above table shows Hedera has the ability to process 10,000 transactions per second which when compared to a Proof of Work model shows there is just no comparison, that being said, is it any wonder some of the world’s biggest names have chosen to become Hedera Governing Council members?

## Crypto as software not an alternative to money

The main use cases for the Hedera network cover the all the major markets in crypto today. The Hedera platform is able to -

•	Provide a token service allowing users to mint NFTs with just a few lines of code.

•	Provide a consensus service which acts as a layer of trust for any application built upon it.

•	Allow developers to build DApps through the integration of smart contracts.

•	Provide users with a decentralised file service facility.

Just last Friday, Google Cloud announced their plans to provide cloud file storage solutions to the crypto industry in particular to Hedera, Theta and Dapper Labs. The fact that Google is a Hedera governing council member underlines how much interest both parties have invested in providing the network platforms of the future. 

Famed celebrity ‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary recently stated crypto has evolved into software rather than an alternative form of money although it has to be said many people understood this from day one. O’Leary said of Hedera “Great team, good engineers. What’s the economic premise that would keep that growing? Boeing want a quasi-centralised/decentralised platform, they want the best of both worlds. HBAR can deliver that, check the box 


Hedera Hashgraph: Best performer of 2022?

In the summer of 2021, Formula One announced a partnership with one of the fastest-growing crypto exchanges, with over 10 million users worldwide, as the inaugural global partner of the new Sprint series. This important partnership elevates crypto to mainstream multi-media and introduces crypto to a mass audience who may not have any previous knowledge or awareness on the subject.

Then in February 2022, Formula One world champions, [Red Bull Racing](https://www.redbullracing.com/int-en), announced details of a sponsorship deal with a Singapore-based crypto exchange worth a reported $150 million. Although details on the deal are scant, it is understood to be the largest cryptocurrency sponsorship deal in international sport, signalling continued adoption and legitimacy for crypto.

The three-year deal sees the crypto exchange become a Red]Bull Racing ‘principal team partner’, with the aim to grow fan engagement and manage the issuance of the forthcoming fan token. The deal comes after the company became the main sponsor of the Argentinian national football team in November.

Lewis Hamilton, who is arguably the most famous and successful F1 driver currently racing for Mercedes, is sponsored to wear the branding of another crypto exchange. Further expanding global awareness across the Formula 1 fanbase.

## Fan tokens

Fan tokens are digital assets that enable sports teams, leagues, clubs, associations, and players to strengthen engagement with fans around the world. The rise of this unique area of digital assets is expected to continue throughout the year and into the near-term future, as more and more household names look to get involved. 

Holders of fan tokens are permitted to access a variety of fan-related membership perks such as voting on club decisions, rewards, merchandise design, and unique fan experiences. Fan tokens have the ability to democratise and organise fan engagement while giving the fan the opportunity to feel more involved. Unlike [NFTs](/news/category/nft-news), fan tokens are interchangeable and just like fiat, can be exchanged for merchandise, VIP experiences, and much more.

The world-class football player, Lionel Messi, recently signed a new contract with the French team PSG in which a percentage of his payment is being paid in the PSG Fan token. How long will it be before F1 drivers start getting paid in fan tokens by their teams?

## “At the forefront of technological innovation”
 
In a statement, Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner, stated  that “the team’s passion to exist at the forefront of technological innovation, to set the competitive pace and to disrupt the status quo.” Horner went on to say that the partnership with the crypto exchange would enliven “the fan experience in F1 through digital innovation……  and will help us build a deeper, more immersive, and unique connection with the team for fans around the world.”



Formula One Teams Make Moves in Crypto

The continued worldwide adoption of crypto and blockchain took another giant leap forward today with the announcement of tax implications and the issuance of CBDC’s from the Indian Ministry of Finance.

As part of the national budget for the forthcoming year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced any income from the transfer of ‘virtual digital assets’ is to be subject to a 30% tax. Sitharaman went on to declare that a digital Rupee would most likely be released sometime between 2022 and 2023 providing a clear sign that India is one step ahead in its proposed release of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). 

## Largest crypto market in the world.

In a long and detailed speech lasting over two hours, Ms Sitharaman said “there has been a phenomenal increase in transaction in virtual digital assets. The magnitude and frequency of these transactions have made it imperative to provide for a specific tax regime.”  

India is believed to have one of the largest crypto markets in the world with as many as 15 million individual crypto investors. This figure has increased significantly in recent years despite the Royal Bank of India attempting to ban cryptocurrency trading in 2018 when it ordered banks not to facilitate crypto trade. More recently, in December 2021, the RBI was still pushing for a complete ban as it believed partial restrictions would not work. Therefore, although today’s announcement from the Ministry of Finance comes somewhat out of the blue it just goes to show the growth and strength of this nascent asset class is practically unstoppable.

## Indian CBDC less than a year away?

While many countries continue to explore the issuance of a CBDC few seem to have made as much progress as India. As you may imagine China lead the pack with South Korea, Canada, and the European Union all still deep in the developmental phase. 

In a press release from April 2021, The Bank of England announced plans of a ‘CBDC Taskforce’ to explore the possibility of creating its own CBDC, a statement in the following November however indicated that any plans to release ‘Britcoin’ to the general public may not come to fruition until 2025. India is well ahead in the development and release of its CBDC and while this may sound impressive it is worth remembering that every nation has a different economic framework with associated requirements. 

Speaking of CBDC’s specifically Sitharaman said that digital currencies would be “issued using blockchain and ‘other technologies’ by the RBI starting 2022-23. This will give a big boost to the economy." 

While there was no mention of crypto per se, the Minister preferred to use the term ‘Virtual Digital Asset.’ Additionally, many crypto proponents believe that ‘other technologies’ may be a nod towards third generation consensus protocols which technically don’t use a blockchain. With such a short timeline until launch India will be sure to experience a mass scramble for legitimate and up to date information, digital and hardware wallets and as can be expected the endless search for new opportunities for revenue. Watch this space.


India to Tax All Crypto Trade by 30%

All eyes were on Ark Investment Management today after the release of a report claiming [Ethereum](/coins/eth) could reach $180,000 by 2030.

Famed crypto investment fund Ark Investment Management released details today claiming that the market value of Ethereum could reach $20 trillion by 2030. Such a massive market cap would mean an individual Ethereum price of anywhere between $170,000 and $180,000.

The new report from the investment fund supports the claims, by stating that it all depends on the amount of market share Ethereum manages to capture from traditional finance through DeFi.

## $1 million [Bitcoin](/coins/btc)?
---------------------------------------------------------

Decentralised Finance, or DeFi for short, is the area of cryptocurrency that is currently creating more efficient, more transparent, and more reliable applications which aim to disrupt the legacy financial system. The total value of the DeFi market today is $108.5 billion and growing, with the Ethereum network currently accounting for around 70% of all DeFi transactions. If Ethereum can maintain or increase this market share in the next 8 years while traditional financial systems wake up to the cost benefits of DeFi protocols, then anything is possible.

The report also suggested that if Bitcoin can continue to ‘scale as nation states adopt as legal tender then the price of one Bitcoin could exceed $1 million by 2030.’ These are bold claims from Ark Invest, but as we all know are not unheard of in the cryptocurrency space. Only last month Michael Saylor, CEO of Microstrategy, made the claim that Bitcoin would hit $1 million in the next 10 years. Microstrategy backed up their confidence with another purchase of Bitcoin taking their total holdings to 121,044 which at current prices is worth $4.4 billion.

## Ark 21 Shares ETF
-----------------

Ark Investment Management were in the news again yesterday, as the US based [SEC](https://www.sec.gov/) stated that any decision on a futures Bitcoin ETF would be delayed an extra 60 days from the beginning of February. Ark Invest together with 21 Shares had made the application to launch a futures backed Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) back in June 2021. 

The ruling from the SEC pushes the decision deadline back to April 3rd stating that it was ‘appropriate to designate a longer period’ as a proposed rule change regarding Bitcoin ETFs would impact their decision. Ark and 21 Shares will be relieved to know that April 3rd will be the final date for a decision, as the SEC will be unable to deliberate any further from this date.

## A Step in The Right Direction

With more and more investment funds looking to create Bitcoin ETF’s it can only be a positive for the continuing legitimacy and development of the cryptocurrency market. Although not quite a physically backed Bitcoin ETF, futures-based investment funds are a step in the right direction. If cryptocurrencies can continue to gain mainstream exposure and financial legitimacy, then Ark Investment’s claim of a $1 million Bitcoin by 2030 may not seem so far away.

Ark Invest Holdings: Ethereum Prediction

A sense of optimism hung in the crypto air this morning as [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and other major cryptocurrencies bounced strongly after a week of heavy losses.

At the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin stood at $36,460 representing an increase of 8.10% in the last 24 hours while Ethereum gained 8.23% reaching a price of $2,423. The total market cap of crypto currently stands at $1.65 trillion, an increase of 7.71%. After a week of absolute carnage, it appears that investors have indeed bought the dip demonstrating continued strength in the cryptocurrency market.

## Increasing correlation to traditional markets

Bitcoin began its bounce on Monday as US east coast traders returned to their desks after lunch. Interestingly the US equity market also saw a strong surge during the same time indicating Bitcoin’s increased correlation with traditional markets. With many eyes on today’s meeting of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) which is anticipated to discuss interest rate rises and continued asset purchases, this week could be very interesting indeed.

The Relative Strength Index continues to indicate Bitcoin is heavily oversold which would suggest a turnaround is imminent as buyers seek to take advantage of the discounted prices. As we have mentioned before, historically Bitcoin often begins strong rallies after precipitous falls. Could this be the start of a rally to new all-time highs?

## Alt season on hold?

Mike McGlone, Chief Commodity Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence however was not so optimistic for altcoins going on record to say, “Price reversion in crypto is likely to spread in 2022 after the assets were a poster child of speculative inflationary excess in 2021, but Bitcoin stands to come out ahead.”

However, as we can see above many of the major altcoins demonstrated as much resilience in Bitcoin with equally strong bounces. Solana, Polkadot, Atom, and Avalanche all posted 24-hour gains ranging between 12% and 17% respectively. The crypto market may be down, but it is certainly not out.

## ‘I'm loving it’

Finally, in a candidate for tweet of the year already the official Twitter account of McDonald’s Restaurants asked “[how are you doing people who run crypto twitter accounts?](https://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/1485726032967704582)” Demonstrating the humour and camaraderie that has come to be associated with what is known as ‘crypto Twitter’ McDonald’s are clearly getting their own back on all those crypto tweeters who see a job at McDonald’s as the last resort in a prolonged bear market. However, I and many others have a feeling that McDonald’s will soon be eating their own words, with extra fries.

Bitcoin and Crypto Rebound After Week of Loss

[Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) traders woke to yet more shock Monday morning as the price of the asset tumbled to further localised lows.

At time of press, the price of the world’s number one digital asset sat at $33,728 – a fall of 5.52% in the last 24 hours. However, with the price of Bitcoin bottoming at $33,243 at 11:09 UTC this morning the current price shows that there are buyers at this level but as you may well imagine traders and investors are treading with extreme caution. 

Bitcoin wasn’t the only crypto to experience a devastating fall in value. The entire market also dropped sharply and currently stands at $1.54 trillion representing a fall of 7.01% in the last 24 hours.

## Outside factors

With market and network fundamentals at their strongest in years many investors are looking for outside factors as the reason behind the latest market crash. Tensions between Russia and NATO led allies continue to simmer over a Russian military build up at the Ukrainian border and while Russia insists it has no plans to invade, the USA and the UK have already told their embassy staff to begin making plans to leave the country. In contrast, the EU have no plans to fly diplomats out of Ukraine and is at a loss to explain why the USA and UK have given the green light adding ‘the US has not given any clear justification for its decision’.

As we reported on Friday, cryptocurrency and digital assets are still seen by many as risk-on investments which in times of uncertainty are often the first to be sacrificed, regardless of market strength.

However, there are other angles at play in this situation which many in the crypto community believe are having an impact on market activity. The US have threatened Russia with economic sanctions which will ‘bring the country to its knees’ should the country decide to stage an invasion of Ukraine. In practical terms this means deactivating Russia from the SWIFT network which has been used by every nation state to transfer capital around the world since 1972.

## ‘Alternative rails of finance’

In retaliation to the threat from Joe Biden, Russia have spoken of using ‘alternative rails of finance’ which many people believe is a nod toward distributed and decentralised networks able to move large amounts of capital such as Ripplenet or Stellar Lumens. However, with both of these firms originating in the US it is hard to believe Russia would choose to adopt their services. That being said the nature of many cryptocurrency networks is borderless and the vision they hold for the future is one of harmonious trade with drastically reduced friction in terms of policy, regulation and cost.

The last thing the world needs right now is yet another conflict and personally speaking I don’t think that is going to happen. I do believe however that a movement away from out of date and weighted legacy payment systems such as SWIFT towards the large scale use of decentralised and distributed networks that enable a fairer and balanced global economic environment is only a matter of time. However what time frame this financial transformation occurs on is anybody's guess.


Crypto Price Down as Ukraine Crisis Hits

The price of [Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) suffered further crash losses today as the value of the world’s foremost digital currency dropped below $40,000 usd for the first time in six months. While recovering slightly since a precipitous fall to $38,250 in the early hours of this morning, the price of Bitcoin is currently trading at $39,022 usd leaving many investors to speculate what caused the drop.

The Bitcoin network has never been stronger with the hash rate at all time highs. The hash rate is the metric which illustrates the computing power needed to mine Bitcoin. A higher hash rate demonstrates confidence in the network and its long term growth. After dipping in mid 2021 the hash rate has recently rebounded to record highs.

## External influences

It is often said that positive price action usually follows higher hash rates however looking at the current market performance this is clearly not the case. As we know the cost of mining is closely tied to the price of Bitcoin. For large scale mining farms to be profitable miners need to know their break even point and calculations based on the current hash rate indicate this to be around $34,000 usd.

With the network in good health it is pertinent to look for outside factors which may have caused investors to sell off.

## $600 million ways to fry

Many people are pointing towards Friday’s options expiry of some $600 million in open interest contracts as a major factor in the price crash of Bitcoin. After almost two weeks of sideways action many investors believed that $40,000 usd represented a solid price floor. However, with speculators gambling on the value of Bitcoin through futures based ETF’s the price of an unregulated asset such as Bitcoin is always going to be open to manipulation. When you add in the fact that leveraged Bitcoin liquidations across trading platforms account for $292 million the picture of market manipulation becomes clear. Regulation has never been more needed in an industry desperate to break into the mainstream.

## Ukraine crisis

History shows us investors do not like uncertainty and when anxiety is in the air capital is often pulled from high risk assets into safe havens. Although Bitcoin is more frequently viewed as a risk free hedge to rising rates of inflation it is still considered by many to be a risk-on investment. Therefore, with the crisis in Ukraine bringing increased uncertainty to worldwide markets it is prudent to believe that a degree of long term profit is banked as significant capital leaves the market. The difficult question any serious investor should be asking right now is what and  how long will it take before Bitcoin inevitably bounces back?


Bitcoin below $40,000 for first time in 6 months

[Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) price action remains stable but is a value surge just around the corner?

The price of Bitcoin has been steadily declining since 8th November leaving many to speculate the bull run is finally over. With a retracement close to 40% it is easy to see why this is a popular narrative. However, there are many people who believe Bitcoin has one and possibly two more bull runs left in the tank. What are the factors behind this optimism and when could this occur?

## Price volatility at record low

The current price of Bitcoin stands at $41,876 representing a fall of 2% in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin has been range bound between roughly $41,000 and $43,000 since 6th January which in the volatile land of unregulated cryptocurrency is something of a rarity. Clearly retail investors have been spooked and institutional investors are buying their time.

This price stability is reflected in the volatility, which according to the Bitcoin Volatility Index is at its lowest point since November 2021 at 2.63%. Low volatility might not be attractive to traders but from an institutional adoption angle it represents maturity and stability which in turn generates interest. Therefore the ‘boring’ price action of Bitcoin may be just what is needed to encourage more large-scale investors to the crypto table.

## Bitcoin fear and greed index

As mentioned above, the price of Bitcoin has seen a sharp pull back from record highs of November 2021. In turn, retail investment has practically disappeared as many people fear getting burnt or worse. This market sentiment is measured by the handy Fear and Greed Index which uses a handful of factors to assess how traders are likely to react given the current price. The current Fear & Greed Index score is 24% representing Extreme Fear which to the bold investor is the perfect time to buy.

## China Bitcoin ban

Many people believe the price decline of Bitcoin since November 2021 could be related to yet another Chinese Bitcoin mining and trading ban as investors in the far east sell off and take profits. This would explain the 40% drawback as a large proportion of Bitcoin mining occurred in China before the ban. The USA now accounts for the highest percentage of hashpower in the world.

Historically speaking, Bitcoin has a habit of launching a price surge just when everyone thinks the asset is dead and it is headed for zero. This could easily be the case here. The development of the Bitcoin network has come too far in the last 24 months for it to crash and burn and the adoption of nation states such as Venezuela, El Salvador and lately Tonga show just how much credibility Bitcoin still has in the tank.

## Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency

The real question is why isn't anyone buying Bitcoin, and other crypto for that matter, in large enough quantities to move the market which was evident at time throughout 2021. This could be due to many factors. As we have discussed before the market is in dire need of regulation and its absence deters many traditional investors looking to enter the space. 

Later this week US Congress is due to host a hearing of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee entitles “Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency: The energy impacts of blockchain” which is sure to make recommendations which will impact the development of the market. So, is circa $40,000 the new floor? Will it hold? And once we have regulatory clarity will investors return to the table in record numbers? Only time will tell.



Is the Bitcoin price stagnant or stable?

The largest city in Brazil is planning to invest 1% of the city’s financial reserves into [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) it was revealed yesterday.

In an attempt to rebrand the city as ‘Crypto Rio’ mayor of Rio de Janiero, Eduardo Paes, recently announced that “We are going to launch Crypto Rio and invest 1% of the treasury in cryptocurrency – the government has a role to play”.

## Property Tax Discount

The announcement came during Rio Innovation Week and was released through news agency O Globo. The revelation came as Mr Paes discussed Rio’s cryptocurrency future as he shared a stage with the mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez. The discussion also included plans to consider a 10% discount on all property tax which is paid in Bitcoin. Rio de Janeiro city Finance Secretary Pedro Paulo commented “Let us study the legal framework to do this”.

In a move that closely follows neighbours El Salvador, the Brazillian government is clearly warming to the idea of integrating cryptocurrency payments. In November last year Federal Deputy Luizão Goulart proposed a bill to legalise crypto as a payment method for both public and private sector workers in the country.

The following month leading crypto payment firm in Brazil, MercadoPago, enabled all Brazilian residents access to buy, sell and hold all major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Clearly Brazil is waking up to the economic advantages of adopting a digital framework throughout their economy.

## Inflation hedge

With inflation around the world continuing to rise, cryptocurrencies represent some of the best ways to reduce costs and increase network security and efficiency. In addition many people see Bitcoin itself as an alternative to gold and the perfect hedge against the weakening of fiat currencies.

The price of Bitcoin remains in the low $40,000’s with the price at time of press standing at $42,359 a fall of 3.72% in the last 24 hours. The overall market cap sits at $2.02 trillion, a pull back of 3.16%. Bitcoin market dominance is 39.7% which shows it is still the worlds best known and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. How long this remains the case is anyone’s guess however with major cities like Rio de Janeiro announcing their intention to invest in Bitcoin, the message to undecided or cautious investors is clear. [Buy Bitcoin](/trade).


Rio de Janeiro to invest 1% of city wealth into Bitcoin

There was fresh hope for the cryptocurrency market today as the [Bitcoin](/crypto coin news/bitcoin news) price registered the first positive action in three days.

The cryptocurrency market has been taking a hit recently with prices tumbling since many all time highs were reached in early November 2021. However, the last 7 days have seen prices stabilise in what many experts believe is the bottom of the recent price dip.

## Bitcoin price movement

At time of press, Bitcoin is currently trading at $42,029 with a 24 hour high of $42,663. Could this be the reversal that many people are hoping for? Bitcoin fell below $40,000 for the first time in 3 months yesterday (January 10th) when the price touched $39,816 across exchanges. The price bounced sharply showing strong buying support around and under $40,000. However, with global macro economic uncertainty Bitcoin is still considered by many as a speculative investment and high risk assets are often first to be sold in times of uncertainty.

## Wise decisions needed

The question cryptocurrency investors need to ask themselves at this point is what is considered high or medium risk? The future of cryptocurrency has never been so bright as many of the well established networks begin to come online and offer tangible cost and efficiency benefits to their loyal customers. However in a market saturated with meme coins, ponzi projects and rug pulls the savvy investor must choose wisely.

## Hedge against financial catastrophe

Legendary investor, Bill Miller, recently announced he has allocated 50% of his net worth into Bitcoin as an “insurance policy against financial catastrophe”. Does he know something the rest of us don’t? With over 40 years in the investment business it would be naïve to think Mt Miller is taking a speculative gamble on Bitcoin especially since he purchased his first Bitcoin in 2014. Mr Miller went on to say “the average investors should ask themselves what do they have in their portfolio which has Bitcoins track record – 1, is very, very under penetrated, 2, can provide as a hedge against financial catastrophe, 3, can increase in value 10 – 50x – the answer is nothing”.

## Market shake down

Clearly Mr Miller is very bullish on the future of Bitcoin which is a great help to counteract the negative feeling currently surrounding Bitcoin and the rest of the cryptocurrency market. Distributed networks and blockchain technology have the power to radically change the way we do business and make for a fairer and more balanced global community. 

However, there may be many more rough seas to cross before we reach the calm economic waters we all crave. I think the key is to invest wisely and stick to medium to large cap crypto with a working product, strong customer base and a clear road map for the future. The entire cryptocurrency market is long overdue a radical shake out which will leave behind only the strongest contenders. Choose wisely and make sure you are on the right side of history.



Is Bitcoin Price Back on the Up?

[Bitcoin](/coins/btc) traders and investors continued to hold their breath today as the price of the world’s number one digital asset continued to fall.

At time of press, Bitcoin is trading at $42,406 representing a drop of 1.11% in the last 24 hours. The total market cap for the entire crypto industry stands at just over $2 trillion, a fall of just 0.85% over the previous day. Is this anything to worry about? What has caused this drawback? Lets take a closer look.

**November Bitcoin Highs**
--------------------------

To many, the cryptocurrency market has never been healthier. Many large scale companies such as Tesla have Bitcoin investments on their balances sheets while 2021 finally saw the emergence of a Bitcoin futures ETF. Rumour has it that there are many institutions poised to make significant crypto investment through 2022 yet the prices of the major cryptocurrencies have been falling since the highs of November 2021.

As the charts and figures clearly show the price of Bitcoin peaked on November 10th with a price of $68,385. Since then the price has been in free fall however many commentators believed that there was significant buying support around $50,000. Therefore the shock when Bitcoin fell firstly to $45,000 and then more recently this week to $42,000 was audible. However, on a macro scale there doesn’t appear to be anything to worry about.

**Strong Fundamentals**
-----------------------

The understanding and concept of digital assets and distributed ledger networks has never been clearer or stronger than it is going into 2022. With other digital currencies such as Ethereum, Hedera Hashgraph and Link all scheduling upgrades and developments in the first part of the year the industry has never been stronger. However, there is a large percentage of the digital asset market  cap which is made up from speculative investors more familiar with the stock market.

These kind of investors still view cryptocurrencies and digital assets as risk on investments compared to other more stable parts of their portfolio. Therefore, when there are concerning macro economic winds whipping across the financial landscape cryptocurrencies are one of the first assets to be sacrificed. The news of the Federal Reserve plans to tighten monetary policy this week provided the catalysts for much profit taking across both crypto and stocks. 

**Local Bottom for Bitcoin Price?**
-----------------------------------

The question many people are asking is where is the local bottom for Bitcoin? There are some market experts saying that Bitcoin could fall as low as $30,000 although the general consensus is that $40,000 looks like a safe bet.  As we mentioned above the fundamentals for both Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general have never been stronger so a fall into the $30,000 region seems unlikely. However as we all know anything is possible in this unregulated and burgeoning market place.



Bitcoin Price Feels the Wind of Change

A new year often means a fresh start but is this the case in the cryptocurrency industry? Lets take a closer look.

At the time of press, the cryptocurrency industry is currently worth $2.23 trillion and shows a 0.79% decrease over the last 24 hour period. In contrast the total amount of crypto traded (volume) in the last 24 hours has risen by 42.06% to $108.48 billion indicating sellers have marginal control over the market.

For extra detail DeFi makes up 21.38% of the total crypto market volume at $23.20 billion whilst stable coins represent 61.47% of the last 24 hour trading volume at $66.69 billion. This data shows the cryptocurrency market is relatively stable going in to 2022 and could be viewed as a ‘bottom’ with prices anticipated to rise in the near term.

## Bitcoin price stability
---------------------------

At the time of press the price of [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) is $46,607, a [decrease of 1.00% in the last 24 hours](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/), whilst market dominance continues to fall and currently stands at 39.60%, a drop of 0.08% over the last day.  On Monday, January 3rd Bitcoin celebrated its 13th birthday and shows no signs of slowing down or letting other coins take the number one spot.

Although Bitcoin may never be used to buy a simple cup of coffee, many people are beginning to see Bitcoin as alternative rival to gold as a store of wealth and a solid hedge against rising inflation. Indeed, Grayscale Investment Management recorded returns of 62.2% for its Bitcoin Trust in the last 12 months easily eclipsing the 2% offered by Gold.

## $55 billion Grayscale AUM
-----------------------------

Grayscale are firm believers in the transformational power of cryptocurrencies and describe themselves as ‘the leading partner to investors who wish to navigate and deploy capital into this new asset class’. At time of press, Grayscale is the worlds largest digital currency asset manager with $55 billion worth of assets under management. However, all that being said Grayscale have actually reduced their cryptocurrency exposure in the last couple of months as prices have failed to ignite.

In early November Grayscale AUM were sitting at a comfortably $61 billion but the lack of price action since then has seen the company sell off 30% and 22% of their Bitcoin and [Ethereum](/news/category/ethereum-news-today) trusts respectively. However, recent data shows that since December 31st 2021 Grayscale have purchased $11.4 billion worth of cryptocurrency demonstrating once more their confidence in the cryptocurrency and digital asset market moving in to the new year. Long may this continue.


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