A recent survey by CryptoQuant reveals that a significant portion of the cryptocurrency market is made up of younger, well-educated investors, with over 60% of participants aged between 25 and 44. The survey also highlighted that nearly half of crypto investors hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and most invest less than $10,000 annually, showing that retail investors are the dominant force in the market.
Binance emerged as the preferred exchange for 53% of respondents, with the platform also being the most profitable for many, with 51% of users reporting their largest gains through it. Other platforms like Bybit and OKX were popular among full-time traders, while Coinbase and Kraken were favoured by part-time investors. Regionally, Binance leads in Asia, Africa, and South America, while Coinbase remains the top choice in North America.
Bitcoin continues to be the most sought-after cryptocurrency, followed by Ethereum and other assets like Solana and XRP. The survey underscores the growing confidence in blue-chip cryptocurrencies, with investors focusing on established projects to limit risk.
Arweave, a decentralised data storage company, has sent its ‘Genesis Block’ to the moon in collaboration with Iridia and LifeShup. The mission, announced on 15 January, involved launching encrypted data and cryptocurrencies aboard a space capsule using Iridia’s synthetic DNA-based storage technology and LifeShup’s lunar landing craft. The groundbreaking venture highlights the potential of permissionless networks like Arweave in pioneering new storage innovations.
Founded in 2017, Arweave aims to provide affordable permanent storage for global knowledge and history. The moon mission, which also included Artificial Super Intelligence Alliance tokens, is a step toward safeguarding digital assets and knowledge for future generations. The stable environment of the moon and advancements in nanotechnology will help preserve this data for millennia, according to the companies involved.
Sam Williams, Arweave’s CEO, expressed excitement about the collaboration, which underscores the growing capabilities of decentralised storage networks, while Iridia’s VP, Buck Watia, highlighted the mission’s significance in preserving information beyond time and space.
Brazilian neobank Nubank has introduced a fixed 4% annual return for users holding the USDC stablecoin in their crypto wallets. The largest digital bank in Latin America, which serves over 85 million customers across Brazil and 6 million in Mexico and Colombia, launched the feature after testing it with a select group of users.
To qualify for the return, customers need to hold a minimum of 10 USDC in their wallets, with returns credited daily. The feature can be activated or deactivated at any time through the Nubank app, and users can access their funds instantly. The neobank chose USDC for its growing popularity, with the stablecoin making up 30% of crypto users’ portfolios and more than half of new Nubank Crypto users selecting it as their first digital asset.
Nubank continues to expand its crypto offerings, including a recent addition of a crypto swap tool for trading popular digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Uniswap for USDC. However, not all of the bank’s crypto initiatives have gone smoothly, as seen with the abrupt halt of its Nucoin token trading in September 2024 to protect users from market volatility.
Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest bank, has made headlines by purchasing 11 Bitcoins for €1 million, marking a significant step in the nation’s financial history. The investment makes it the first Italian bank to directly acquire cryptocurrency, setting a potential precedent for others in the country’s financial sector.
Confirmation of the purchase came after an internal email from the bank was leaked online, reportedly signed by Niccolò Bardoscia, head of its Trading and Investment division for Digital Assets. However, the bank has refrained from commenting on its motivations or whether this move signals a broader strategy involving digital assets.
This investment aligns with the bank’s ongoing exploration of blockchain technologies. Intesa Sanpaolo previously underwrote a €25 million blockchain bond in July 2024 and introduced cryptocurrency spot trading last November. As global institutions increasingly embrace Bitcoin, this move solidifies the bank’s role as a leader in digital asset adoption within Europe.
Tether, the leading stablecoin issuer, has announced plans to establish its headquarters in El Salvador, making it the company’s first physical base. CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed that he, along with the company’s cofounders, will also move their residences to the Central American nation. This decision follows Tether’s licensing as a digital asset service provider in the country.
While most of Tether’s staff will remain remote, the firm aims to hire 100 Salvadorans over the next few years. El Salvador has positioned itself as a hub for cryptocurrency innovation since adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021. President Nayib Bukele welcomed Tether’s decision, further cementing the nation’s role in global crypto adoption.
Tether’s USDT stablecoin accounts for two-thirds of the $212 billion stablecoin market, but regulatory scrutiny around stablecoins remains high. The company claims its reserves are primarily held with Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, as questions about transparency persist. Tether’s move to El Salvador signals its confidence in the country’s supportive crypto ecosystem amid growing global interest in digital assets.
Ming Shing Group, a construction firm based in Hong Kong, has made a $47 million investment in Bitcoin, purchasing 500 BTC at an average price of $94,375 per coin. The investment, made through its subsidiary Lead Benefit, is intended as a short-term strategy to enhance liquidity and asset value using idle company reserves.
Wenjin Li, director of Ming Shing, stated that the firm sees the Bitcoin market as highly liquid, allowing for quick asset disposal if needed for operational purposes. The announcement boosted Ming Shing’s Nasdaq-listed shares by 10%, closing at $7.91.
The move aligns with Hong Kong‘s growing interest in cryptocurrency adoption. Legislator Wu Jiexhuang recently suggested incorporating Bitcoin into the region’s national reserves to enhance financial security, further underscoring the city’s commitment to exploring digital asset opportunities.
The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has unveiled a Transatlantic Regulatory Exchange programme, fostering collaboration with the Bank of England to advance oversight of digital assets and emerging payment systems. This initiative will facilitate a six-month staff exchange starting February, aiming to enhance regulatory alignment and share expertise.
NYDFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris, who has led the regulator since 2022, emphasised the importance of the programme for global harmonisation in digital asset regulation. The department, renowned for its 2015 BitLicense scheme, views this partnership as a step towards strengthening crypto oversight.
The UK and US differ significantly in their approaches to digital currencies. The Bank of England continues exploring a central bank digital currency, while the US administration resists a government-backed digital dollar. With such exchanges, both regulators hope to gain deeper insights into navigating the challenges of the crypto landscape.
MicroStrategy Inc. has bolstered its position as a Bitcoin powerhouse, purchasing $243 million worth of the cryptocurrency in its 10th consecutive weekly acquisition. The company, based in Virginia, now controls over 2% of Bitcoin’s finite supply, continuing a strategy initiated by co-founder and Chairman Michael Saylor in 2020.
The firm acquired 2,530 Bitcoin between 6 and 12 January at an average price of $95,972 per token, according to a regulatory filing. With plans to raise $42 billion in capital by 2027 through stock sales and debt offerings, MicroStrategy intends to invest heavily in Bitcoin. It has already reached two-thirds of its equity-raising goals in just a few months and could potentially purchase an additional $6.5 billion in Bitcoin.
MicroStrategy’s shares have risen 13% this year, closing at $327.91 last week, while Bitcoin itself has experienced a slight dip, losing 3% in value after a 120% surge in 2024. The firm’s approach has drawn attention from hedge funds employing convertible arbitrage strategies, betting on the volatility of MicroStrategy’s stock as the company advances plans to expand its equity offerings.
Authorities in Thailand have confiscated 996 Bitcoin mining rigs in Chon Buri province, accusing operators of illegally tapping into the power grid. The raid, conducted on 8 January in the Phanat Nikhom district, targeted JIT Co., a digital asset trading firm that allegedly tampered with power meters to avoid electricity charges. Losses to local providers are estimated in the hundreds of millions of baht.
Despite solar panels being present on the site, investigators revealed they were not connected to the equipment, which relies on immense computing power to mine Bitcoin. Thai officials highlighted the heavy energy demands of mining, which can cost hundreds of thousands of baht per Bitcoin, compared to the typical household electricity bill of 750 baht.
The case underscores the growing global challenge of managing crypto mining’s resource demands. Thai regulators reiterated the need to safeguard public utilities as they continue investigating the scheme and identifying additional parties involved.
South Korea is preparing to lift its ban on institutional cryptocurrency trading, signalling a significant shift in the country’s crypto market. The Financial Services Commission (FSC), South Korea’s top financial regulator, announced plans to collaborate with the Digital Asset Committee to phase in institutional trading, beginning with non-profits. Until now, only individual traders with verified accounts have been allowed to trade cryptocurrencies, as banks have been restricted from enabling institutional accounts.
The country is also eyeing broader modernisation of its digital asset landscape. Speaking at the Securities and Derivatives Market Opening Ceremony, Korea Exchange Chairman Jeong Eun-bo revealed plans to consider cryptocurrency spot ETFs by 2025, taking cues from global examples. He emphasised the exchange’s goal of expanding opportunities within the capital market.
Additionally, South Korea’s FSC is working on measures to enhance security in crypto investments. The introduction of the Virtual Asset Investor Protection Act last year demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding traders and enabling innovative tools like security token offerings.
