Home Blog Page 990

Marathon Digital Acquires 4,144 Bitcoins With $300M Convertible Note Offering

0


Bitcoin miner Marathon Digital (NASDAQ: MARA) has revealed that it has purchased a total of 4,144 Bitcoins with $249 million in cash. The purchase of BTC happened within two days after the convertible notes were oversubscribed earlier this week.

Marathon Digital’s $300 Million Convertible Notes

The total value of the notes sold in the offering is $300 million which includes an additional $50 million in notes purchased by the initial buyers with the option of under an option within 13 days of the first issue date. Marathon exercised the option fully on August 13, while completing the purchase on August 14.

As per the press release, Marathon Digital purchased 4,144 Bitcoins during the period between August 12, 2024 and August 14, 2024, at an average price of $59,500 per BTC. The Bitcoin miner said that its $300 million convertible notes are unsecured, senior obligations that bear an interest rate of 2.125% per annum with semi-annual arrears payable from March 1, 2025. The maturity of the convertible notes will happen on September 1, 2031. In an official announcement, the Bitcoin miner said:

“Our new initiative with the convertible notes issuance positions us to take advantage of favorable market conditions and enhance our operational capabilities, aligning with our long-term financial goals and reinforcing our belief in Bitcoin’s potential as a highly accretive asset”.

This is not the first time that Marathon has been making strategic BTC acquisitions. Back in 2021, MARA invested a total of $150 million in Bitcoins that still remain on the company’s balance sheet. Recently this year, they also purchased $100 million in BTC from the open market making it the second-largest corporate holder of BTC after MicroStrategy. Considering all the Bitcoins mined together, Marathon Digital holds a total of 25,000 BTC on its balance sheet.

The Bitcoin price has come under selling pressure despite the cooling of US CPI inflation. As of press time, BTC is trading 4.35% down at $58,447.00 with a market cap of $1.153 trillion. However, market analysts expect the BTC price rally to continue following the expected Fed rate cuts in September. On the other hand, the MARA stock also dropped by 2.26% to $15.14 as of Wednesday’s closing hours.

Bitcoin Miner Eyes New Market Opportunities

Bitcoin Miner MARA said that the current BTC purchase plans as the company eyes new market opportunities while planning for debt reduction to strengthen its balance sheet. The company said that one step in this direction was the acquisition of three key Bitcoin mining sites last year in Nebraska and Texas while securing 690 operational megawatts (MWs) before this year’s Bitcoin halving.

With this acquisition, MARA expanded its directly owned and operated Bitcoin mining portfolio from 3% to 45%, while reducing the operational costs at these sites by 20%.

“Our new initiative with the convertible notes issuance positions us to take advantage of favorable market conditions and enhance our operational capabilities, aligning with our long-term financial goals and reinforcing our belief in Bitcoin’s potential as a highly accretive asset,” said the Bitcoin Miner.

✓ Share:

Bhushan Akolkar

Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





Source link

Why Has the Bitcoin Price Become Too Volatile? Here’s When It May Hold the Support at $60,000 & Thrive

0


Ever since the Bitcoin price dropped heavily in the first few days of the month, the volatility rate has jumped extensively. With every minor jump, the markets are experiencing massive pullbacks, bringing the levels back to their initial positions. With the latest drop, the possibility of a sustained recovery may have been paused for a while. However, from a wider perspective, the BTC may be considered a golden opportunity to accumulate at discounted prices. 

In an interesting update, the U.S. government has reportedly transferred nearly 10,000 BTC worth $591 million to the Coinbase exchange. These are suspected to have been procured from the confiscated Silk Road. This may have triggered the sellers, who have been mounting acute selling pressure since the previous trading day.  

Besides, the fresh CPI rates emerged lower than the expected rates of around 2.9% YoY, which is the lowest since 2021. The decline in rates has increased the possibility of Fed rate cuts in the coming days. The historical pattern appears to have been altered since the beginning of the year with the launch of the spot BTC ETF and the inclusion of institutions into the crypto space, which has changed the market dynamics. 

 What to Expect from the Markets in the Coming Days?

The markets have become largely dependent on the institutions and the whales or the larger wallet holders. Any movement within the wallets held by them has highly impacted the BTC price rally and the entire crypto market. As per the latest on-chain data shared by Glassnode, these large wallet holders have begun to accumulate yet again. 

The previous time these wallets accumulated BTC was when the price marked a new ATH above $73,750. Since then, the price has faced acute distribution, which has kept up the selling pressure over the crypto. However, with the resurgence of the accumulation, the hopes of a new ATH have been revived. It has to be noted that these large wallets have often been linked to ETFs, which are showing signs of reversing back to accumulation. 

The pullbacks are usually considered short-term price action, which may offer a good opportunity to accumulate. Hence, the Bitcoin (BTC) price may receive the required bullish push in the coming days, but only after the prevailing accumulation reaches its end. 



Source link

Bitcoin and Ethereum top client interest with 'very little' demand for other crypto ETFs: BlackRock Head of Digital Assets

0


Key Takeaways

  • BlackRock’s Mitchnick highlighted that their client base is predominantly interested in Bitcoin, with some interest in Ethereum.
  • BlackRock considers Bitcoin and Ethereum as complementary assets with distinct roles.

Share this article

The SEC’s greenlight for spot Ethereum ETFs has sparked optimism about the future of other crypto ETFs, with some anticipating that Solana funds will be next in line. However, BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets Robert Mitchnick thinks this is unlikely since their customers show “very little” demand for other cryptos beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

“I would say that our client base today, their interest overwhelmingly is in Bitcoin first, and then somewhat in ETH… and there’s very little interest today beyond those two,” said Mitchnick, speaking at the Bitcoin 2024 convention in Nashville yesterday.

“I don’t think we’re gonna see a long list of crypto ETFs,” Mitchnick noted.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) went live in January. The fund’s holdings have exceeded $22 billion worth of Bitcoin, becoming the world’s largest Bitcoin ETF, according to updated data.

Following IBIT’s debut, BlackRock entered the Ethereum ETF market earlier this week. Its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) just ended its third trading day with almost $71 million in daily inflows, as reported by Crypto Briefing.

BlackRock may see limited client interest in other crypto ETFs, but some of its competitors may not.

On June 27, asset manager VanEck filed for the first Solana Trust in the US. Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, said the firm believes SOL is a commodity.

Just one day after VanEck’s application, 21Shares followed with a filing to launch “21Shares Core Solana ETF,” an ETF seeking to give direct exposure to Solana. The firm said the filing was a necessary step.

Another major fund manager, Franklin Templeton, also touted Solana in an X post which came on the debut day of its spot Ethereum ETF.

Not all fund managers disagree with BlackRock. ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood said in a February interview with WSJ that the SEC is unlikely to accept spot products for any other crypto besides Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Wood’s ARK Invest, however, opted out its spot Ethereum ETF pursue following listing approval on May 23.

Bitcoin and Ethereum as complementary assets

Blackrock views Bitcoin and Ethereum as complementary assets with distinct roles, rather than “competitors” or “substitutes,” said Mitchnick.

“Bitcoin is trying to be as a global monetary alternative, as a potential global payment system,” while “ETH is trying to do a bunch of different applications that for the most part, Bitcoin is not trying to do,” the executive explained.

Mitchnick predicts investors will allocate approximately 20% of their crypto holdings to Ethereum and the remaining 80% to Bitcoin.

Previously, Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income, told WSJ BlackRock may add more Bitcoin to its portfolio if investors become more comfortable with it.

BlackRock’s IBIT is one of the most successful ETFs. The fund has outperformed the Nasdaq ETF in terms of inflows this year, ranking fourth among over 3,000 US ETFs, as reported by Crypto Briefing.

Share this article



Source link

Crypto-Sec: Evolve Bank suffers data breach, Turbo Toad enthusiast loses $3.6K

0


This week’s cybersecurity news from around the crypto space covers bug fixes, phishing scams, crypto exchange hacks and more.



Source link

China-Russia International Trade Payments Situation Worsens: Crypto and Barter Rise as Alternatives – Economics Bitcoin News

0



Chinese Banks Are Refusing Payments From Russia: Crypto and Even Barter Rise as OptionsChinese regional banks, which were once used as bridges to process payments from Russia to China, have begun rejecting these payments for fear of secondary sanctions. To facilitate these transactions, cryptocurrency and even barter schemes have emerged as options to continue trading outside the dollar-dominated financial system. Crypto Considered for Settling Trade Transactions Between China […]



Source link

U.S. Crypto Bill Can Happen This Year, Senate's Schumer Tells Crypto Backers of Harris

0



Still, Schumer said twice that his goal was to have a bill passed out of the Senate and signed into law by the end of the year. He mentioned the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), a House-passed bill spearheaded by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), as well as a yet-to-be-introduced bill being developed in the Senate Agriculture Committee, though he stopped short of explicitly endorsing either product.



Source link

Bitcoin To Hit $1 Mln Post US Fed Rate Cuts, Predicts Fred Krueger

0


In a recent X post, Fred Krueger predicts Bitcoin price to hit $1 million, gaining market attention. He predicts that the potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve along with a spike in inflation could aid the flagship crypto to record such growth. Besides, Krueger also reveals the potential timeline for the crypto to hit the $1 million mark, which has sparked discussions in the broader digital assets space.

Fred Krueger Made Bitcoin Bold Prediction

Fred Krueger recently shared his thoughts on the X platform, revealing a bullish trajectory for Bitcoin’s potential. He likened the crypto to a “giant call option on inflation”. He suggests that if the US economy can maintain stability with minimal inflation for the next four years, the crypto’s price could settle between $150K and $300K.

However, he also pointed out that if the US Federal Reserve starts cutting rates, which could potentially bump up the inflation, BTC could skyrocket. He said that the crypto could hit $1 million within the next US Presidential cycle if the condition holds true.

Meanwhile, Krueger’s prediction has sparked discussions in the crypto market. It also aligns with the broader belief that BTC could benefit from the economic uncertainties and act as a hedge against inflation. In addition, the Fed’s rate cut speculations are already piqued, especially after the recent US CPI data showed that inflation has eased more than the market expectations.

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is a 63% chance that the US Fed will reduce interest rates by 25 bps points in September. Notably, the other 37% are betting over a 50 basis point cut at the Fed’s upcoming meeting.

BTC Price Drops Despite Cooling Inflation Figures

Despite Krueger’s optimistic outlook and the easing inflationary pressures, Bitcoin price experienced a 3% drop, falling below $59,000 following the release of the inflation data. This decline, however, has not dampened the enthusiasm among BTC supporters who view the potential rate cuts as a catalyst for significant price growth.

Meanwhile, the anticipation of rate cuts and the subsequent impact on the crypto has led to increased speculation in the market. Investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s actions, as any move to lower rates could drive more interest in BTC as an inflation hedge.

Krueger’s prediction adds to the growing narrative that the crypto could serve as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty. While the path to $1 million remains uncertain, Krueger’s forecast has undoubtedly stirred excitement and debate within the digital assets sector.

✓ Share:

Rupam Roy

Rupam, a seasoned professional with 3 years in the financial market, has honed his skills as a meticulous research analyst and insightful journalist. He finds joy in exploring the dynamic nuances of the financial landscape. Currently working as a sub-editor at Coingape, Rupam’s expertise goes beyond conventional boundaries. His contributions encompass breaking stories, delving into AI-related developments, providing real-time crypto market updates, and presenting insightful economic news. Rupam’s journey is marked by a passion for unraveling the intricacies of finance and delivering impactful stories that resonate with a diverse audience.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





Source link

Artists sue SEC over confusing security status of NFTs

0


Attorneys representing the artists drew parallels to Taylor Swift concert tickets, which are often sold on the secondary market.



Source link

Ethereum's funding rates and price decline point to bearish shift

0


Onchain Highlights

DEFINITION:The average funding rate (in %) set by exchanges for perpetual futures contracts. When the rate is positive, long positions periodically pay short positions. Conversely, when the rate is negative, short positions periodically pay long positions.

Ethereum’s perpetual futures funding rate has recently dipped off its bullish premium. This trend is evident in both short-term and long-term views, reflecting increasing bearish sentiment among traders.

Historically, negative funding rates indicate that short positions are paying long positions, suggesting a prevalence of bearish bets. The charts highlight that despite Ethereum’s price volatility since the start of 2024, funding rates have often been positive, signaling bullish expectations. However, the recent decline in both funding rates and prices below the $2,700 level highlights a shift in market sentiment.

Ethereum Futures Perpetual Funding Rate: (Source: Glassnode)
Ethereum Futures Perpetual Funding Rate: (Source: Glassnode)

Over the past few years, Ethereum’s perpetual futures funding rate has exhibited significant fluctuations, closely mirroring broader market trends. In periods of strong market optimism, such as during the 2021 bull run, funding rates surged into positive territory, indicating a dominance of long positions as traders bet on continued price increases.

However, during market downturns, notably in mid-2022 and at several points in 2023, funding rates turned negative, reflecting a shift toward bearish sentiment. These oscillations highlight how funding rates have historically served as a barometer for trader sentiment, often foreshadowing major price movements in the underlying asset.

Ethereum Futures Perpetual Funding Rate: (Source: Glassnode)
Ethereum Futures Perpetual Funding Rate: (Source: Glassnode)

The post Ethereum’s funding rates and price decline point to bearish shift appeared first on CryptoSlate.



Source link

Declarative Blockchain Developer Essential Secures $11M Series A Round – News Bytes Bitcoin News

0



Essential has successfully secured $11 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Archetype, with contributions from IOSG, Spartan, Mirana, Amber Group, Maven 11, Bodhi Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Heartcore Capital, Selini, DCLM, and Propeller Heads, and others. This funding will accelerate the development of Essential’s blockchain, which aims to revolutionize web3 by […]



Source link