Unreal Engine 5-based MMORPG, with sophisticated tokenomics using blockchain technology Pre-registration open until official launch in March, abundant rewards include rare-grade Mount and Glider Presenting demo version at Taipei Game Show 2024, opening on January 25th SEOUL, South Korea–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#CROWtoken–Global pre-registration for ‘NIGHT CROWS’, a game published by Wemade and developed by MADNGINE, began on January 11th. NIGHT CROWS is an MMORPG based on Unreal Engine 5 that supports cross-play between mobile and PC platforms. Realistic light source illumination and high-quality graphics, 4 classes and 8 sub-classes that amplify user choice and effort, Dynamic combat encompassing ground and air using Gliders, Large-scale war from 1,000 players in realistic and vast fields in ”Battlefront” content, and more are included in the game. After its release in the Republic of Korea in April 2023, the game reached No. 1 in most downloads and top sales charts in major mobile app markets. Pre-registration will be open until the official launch in March on the official website, Google Play, and Apple App Store. Abundant pre-registration rewards include a rare-grade Mount, Glider, and more. Wemade has utilized blockchain technology to implement multi-tokenomics with the tokenization of core in-game items in NIGHT CROWS. The in-game economy will also be interconnected with Character NFTs, each NFT created through the compression of the character and user’s game data. As the game will be connected with WEMIX3.0 at the center following an omnichain network strategy, users of other blockchain networks will be able to easily utilize the tokenomics as well. Also implemented will be the “SSS (Streamer Supporting System).” SSS is a transparent support system in which users of Wemade games, Streamers who create content related to Wemade games, and Supporters who support Streamers can co-exist. Pre-registration rewards for SSS Streamers include a rare-grade Glider with special looks. Additionally, the NFT Collection ‘The Night is Coming’ will be sold in celebration of pre-registration on the WEMIX3.0-based DAO & NFT platform ‘NILE’ (NFT Is Life Evolution) starting today. The NFTs may be exchanged with ‘CROW,’ the key token of NIGHT CROWS, from April 1st. At Taipei Game Show 2024, Wemade will be presenting the demo version of NIGHT CROWS. The show will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from January 25th to 28th. Information on NIGHT CROWS can be found on the official website. Website references NIGHT CROWS Official website: https://nightcrows.com/preregister NEITH NFT ‘The Night is Coming’ Preview: https://medium.com/nile-official/neith-nft-the-night-is-coming-preview-bd75718daa08 Contacts Wemade Co., Ltd. (112040: KOSDAQ) Jennifer Jung, PR Manager [email protected]

VICTORIA, Seychelles–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#blockchain–KuCoin Research, the dedicated research arm of KuCoin, a top 5 global cryptocurrency exchange, has released its monthly report for January 2024, providing in-depth insights into the latest developments in the cryptocurrency market. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic factors, stablecoins, public chains, Layer2 trends, inscriptions, investment projects, and regulatory policies. The cryptocurrency market showcased an optimistic atmosphere around the end of 2023, fueled by factors such as the Federal Reserve’s dovish turn, record highs in the US stock market, and increased positions in the Bitcoin options market. Net long positions of asset management institutions, and large holders remained high, indicating strong performance amid global macroeconomic changes. Stablecoin issuance continues to rise, driven by the growing issuance of USDT, while USDC stabilizes. The Bitcoin and inscription ecosystems have risen unexpectedly, triggering a wealth effect from the BRC20 tokens, which led to an influx of CEX, crypto veterans, and VCs into the inscription market. High-speed public chains like Solana and Avalanche exhibited a strong rebound, propelling uptrends in sectors such as MEME, DePIN, and GameFi, resulting in inscription markets across various ecosystems to flourish. Layer2 trends, particularly in ETH Layer2, show a rebound in Total Value Locked (TVL) after a slowdown. Projects like Metis and Manta set historical highs in TVL, benefiting from expectations surrounding the Cancun upgrade in Q1 2024. Overall, public chain ecosystems, including Solana, Avalanche, and Cardano, demonstrate impressive TVL growth. Despite the number of investment projects remaining high, seed rounds and strategic financing remained primary, with a notable increase in projects with financing exceeding $10 million. In contrast to the November cryptocurrency investment and financing market, the proportion of projects with financing below 10 million tokens decreased from 85% to 68.25% and the proportion of projects with financing between $10 million and $100 million increased to 22.22%. Sectors like Infrastructure, NFT, and Gaming attract the most attention, establishing a tripartite dominance alongside the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystem. These changes in the proportion of projects and financing amounts reflect the resurgence of investment and financing in the Web3 market as well as the potential shifts in investor behavior. The KuCoin Research January 2024 Monthly Report provides a thorough analysis of these key trends, offering valuable insights for investors, traders, and enthusiasts in the cryptocurrency space. For the full report, please visit KuCoin Blog. About KuCoin Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community action reach, it offers over 800 digital assets and currently provides Spot trading, Margin trading, P2P Fiat trading, Futures trading, Staking, and Lending to its 30 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin is currently one of the top 5 crypto exchanges according to CoinMarketCap. In 2023, KuCoin was named one of the Best Crypto Exchanges by Forbes and recognized as a highly commended global exchange in Finder’s 2023 Global Cryptocurrency Trading Platform Awards. Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com/. About KuCoin Research KuCoin Research is a leading provider of research and analysis in the cryptocurrency industry. With a team of experienced analysts and researchers, KuCoin Research aims to deliver high-quality insights and reports to empower investors and industry professionals. Contacts For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Victoria, Seychelles, January 11th, 2024, Chainwire Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released a study analyzing the latest trends in the blockchain startup funding landscape and their influence on gender-based disparity in investment patterns. The study encompassed two years and relied on both qualitative and quantitative data to give a clear overview of the gap in funding received by male and female-led startups. The purpose of this research was to highlight existing issues with gender inequality in the industry and give insights into its potential solutions. Key takeaways: Overall, fundraising by blockchain startups fell by 70.1% per quarter between Q1 2022 and Q3 2023. During the study period, blockchain startups raised $27.85 billion, with female-led blockchain startups securing only 6.34% of the overall funding. The number of female-led blockchain startups has fallen by 45.2% since the beginning of 2022 but is already showing a recovery. The share of female-led startups has seen a slight increase from 8.3% in 2022 to 8.6% by Q3 of 2023. Female-led blockchain project funding is more sensitive to negative changes but less sensitive to bullish trends There is a strong need for incubators capable of nurturing female-founded startups and fostering a more inclusive and encouraging environment for their development. The report delved into the key reasons for the ongoing disparity, identifying that female-led blockchain startup funding is influenced by general trends in investing in startups, the overall crypto market situation, investor sentiment, and investor bias. The latter factor is construed as the result of over 90% of the funding going to male-led projects. The Bitget team based their research approach on the period from 2022 to the first three quarters of 2023 to receive up-to-date insights into the current market’s principles of evaluation and gain insights into potential trends. Among the trends most affecting funding availability is the prevalent bearish sentiment, which has seen the number of deals drop by 61.6% in 2022, resulting in smaller investment volumes, with the lowest recorded figure being $1.97 billion, constituting 29.1% of the peak seen in early 2022. Gender bias has been proven to have a determining effect on investments, as the statistics indicate that male-led startups attracted $27.85 billion, while female-led blockchain startups raised $1.77 billion, or only 6.34% of the overall amount. The share of female-led startups has, however, seen a small increase from 8.3% in 2022 to 8.6% by Q3 of 2023. The study conducted by Bitget shows a clear correlation between founder gender and investment volumes, raising questions regarding the predominance of bias in the crypto industry. Considering the inclusive and global nature of the blockchain-based economy, having gender bias play a determining role in limiting engagement and opportunities is an unacceptable phenomenon that has to be addressed. Gracy Chen, the Managing Director of Bitget, commented on the report: The report also sheds light on some important dynamics in the industry, underscoring the impact of investor sentiment on startup potential and viability based on the gender of the founder under the influence of market conditions. About Bitget Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 20 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and official eSports events organizer PGL. For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet Contact Rachel Cheung [email protected]

The US SEC approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock and Ark Investments. The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has surged to $47,647, reaching a two-year high. Today, the global cryptocurrency market displayed green candles as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally granted approval for spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This long-awaited decision propelled Bitcoin (BTC) to reach a peak of $47,647 earlier in the morning. Interestingly, Bitcoin had initially spiked to $47,893 on Tuesday following a fake announcement of SEC approval, causing a temporary surge in value. However, the crypto king Bitcoin struggled to break above the $48,000 resistance and faced support around the $45,800 and $45,400 levels. Also, bears remained active near the $46,300 range. Additionally, Ethereum (ETH), the leading altcoin, surged by more than 9.2% to reach $2,629, marking its highest level in 18 months since May 2022. The next significant development in the crypto market is the potential launch of Ethereum Spot ETFs. Will Bitcoin (BTC) Reach $48K? Despite the subsequent correction, Bitcoin managed to maintain a range above the $45,800 support level. At the time of writing, BTC traded at $46,106 with a market cap of $899 billion. Bitcoin (BTC) Price Chart (TradingView) According to the 24-hour price analysis, the price of BTC is now trading above the 100 hourly simple moving average. On the upside, the immediate resistance lies around the $46,300 level, with the first major resistance at $46,800. A clear breakthrough above $46,800 could potentially drive the price towards the $47,200 resistance and further beyond, with a significant rally at $47,900, which would result in a peak of around $48,600. However, if Bitcoin fails to surpass the $46,300 resistance zone, it might trigger a fresh decline. Immediate support on the downside is observed near the $45,750 level, followed by more substantial support at $45,500. A breach below $45,450 could instigate bearish momentum, potentially leading the price toward the critical $45,000 support in the near term.

The price of Ethereum (ETH) skyrocketed beyond $2,600 levels post the approval. The SEC will begin making judgments on spot applications for an Ethereum ETF in May. A historic decision has been made by the United States SEC, which has approved the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the nation. The decision is the culmination of months of waiting and a contentious legal struggle. This roundups an eventful 24 hours in which hackers momentarily took over the SEC’s Twitter account, causing price fluctuations in bitcoin due to their bogus claims that the applications had already been granted. All Eyes Now on Spot Ethereum ETF Following the U.S SEC’s approval of Bitcoin ETFs, allowing direct investment in the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin momentarily surpassed $47,000 in a sluggish advance. After the ETF approval, cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH) saw maximum increases, but Bitcoin’s gains remained restricted. The price of Ethereum (ETH) skyrocketed beyond $2,600 levels shortly following the announcement of Bitcoin ETF authorization. Several industry watchers have already forecasted that, in the first quarter of 2024, Ethereum will likely trump Bitcoin. The good energy that ETH’s meteoric rise brought to the Ethereum ecosystem quickly spread to the other cryptocurrencies related to it. There was a remarkable 11% spike for Uniswap, a 9.54% gain for Chain Link, and a 10.12% boost for Polygon in the last 24 hours as per data from CoinMarketCap. Moreover, altcoins like Cardano gained 14.24% in the last 24 hours. Traders’ attention has shifted from Bitcoin to Ethereum in anticipation of the next development about an Ethereum ETF, thanks to the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. Looking forward, in May, the SEC will begin making judgments on spot applications for an Ethereum ETF. Companies including Grayscale, BlackRock, Invesco, Ark, and VanEck are all eyeing an ETH ETF. Ethereum (ETH) has surged by more than 10% in the last 24 hours, and is currently trading around the $2600 mark. Highlighted Crypto News Today: BitGo Secures In-Principle Approval for MPI License by Singapore’s MAS

Similarly, Meta deactivated support for NFT profile pics on Instagram and Facebook in March. Twitter officially introduced NFT profile images with a verification system on January 20, 2022. Social media behemoth X (Twitter) has disabled support for NFTs on its premium membership section. Earlier, according to the support page, Premium subscribers have the option to create and personalize their profile pictures so that they may display the NFTs they possess in a hexadecimal profile photo. After the user established a temporary link to their cryptocurrency wallet, they were able to put an NFT as their profile image. Once done, the digital asset will appear in a unique hexagonal form, indicating that it is owned by the user. The premium support section on twitter had already deleted NFTs option at the time this was published. Twitter officially introduced NFT profile images with a verification system on January 20, 2022. A unique hexagonal border was applied to the avatars of paid users who used NFTs as their user profile. Similar Move by Meta Meta deactivated support for NFT profile images on Instagram and Facebook on March 15, 2023, a mere ten months after the announcement of integration. Stephane Kasriel, head of commerce and financial technologies at Meta, said that it was ceasing NFT support “to focus on other ways to support creators, people, and businesses.” However, no particular rationale was provided for the withdrawal. In September 2022, only a few months after the crypto bear market started, NFT trade volume had dropped by more than 98%. The precipitous decline in NFT sales in 2023 was staggering. Sales peaked at 18,939 on January 5 and plummeted to 1,796 by December 20, according to NonFungible.com. Highlighted Crypto News Today: Spot Bitcoin ETFs Approval Ignites Ethereum and Altcoin Rally

Recall 2021? The crypto market was buzzing with rocket emojis and diamond hands, with Dogecoin (DOGE) reigning supreme in the world of memes. Thanks to Elon Musk’s tweets and a passionate online community, DOGE skyrocketed from a modest value to an impressive 73 cents, turning Dogecoin dreams into reality for some. However, like all hype, the meme party had to come to an end. As the crypto winter set in, Dogecoin’s value slipped back to single digits. So, what’s a Doge fan to do when the promised moon landing feels more like a trip to the corner store? For many, the solution involves a strategic shift and the diversification of meme-fueled aspirations. This is where Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Retik Finance (RETIK) come into play—two emerging stars in the crypto space that are catching the attention of disappointed Dogecoin enthusiasts, especially the one waiting for Dogecoin (DOGE) to get to $1. Dogecoin(DOGE): A Tale of Hype and Unfulfilled Promises Dogecoin’s (DOGE) meteoric rise in 2021 was a textbook case of market madness. Its price lacked fundamental backing, instead relying on the fickle whims of social media and the endorsement of a tech billionaire with a penchant for dog-themed jokes. The community, strong and vocal, fueled the fire with memes, hype, and a contagious “to the moon!” spirit. But like any pyramid scheme built on speculation, DOGE’s house of cards eventually toppled. As the initial frenzy subsided and reality set in, the lack of real-world utility and the ever-inflating supply (unlike Retik Finance’s capped 1 billion) became glaring weaknesses. The price tumbled, leaving many early adopters holding the leash of a deflated dream. Shiba Inu (SHIB): A New Hope for Meme Coin Mania? SHIB, the self-proclaimed “Dogecoin killer,” emerged from the ashes of DOGE’s decline. Launched in 2020, SHIB rode the wave of meme coin popularity, boasting a larger and more engaged community than its predecessor. But unlike Dogecoin (DOGE), SHIB boasts a burn mechanism, permanently removing a portion of tokens from circulation, theoretically leading to price appreciation. However, even though the DOGE investor is currently buying Shiba Inu (SHIB), its reliance on the same hype-driven model as Dogecoin raises concerns. Its price, though experiencing some recent surges, remains highly volatile, susceptible to the whims of social media and influencer endorsements. While its community is passionate, it can also be prone to infighting and FOMO-fueled panic selling. This Dogecoin Investor Sees Retik Finance (RETIK) as the Best Token for Better Returns: Why? Frustrated by the unfulfilled promises of “to the moon” with little substance behind Dogecoin (DOGE), the cryptocurrency investor sees Retik Finance (RETIK) as the best token that provides a welcome departure from the meme coin echo chamber. Its foundation is built on real-world applications and a yield-generating DeFi platform, enabling users to generate passive income on their cryptocurrency holdings and real-life spending. This is not just about speculation and viral marketing; it is about real-world utility and tangible returns. Gone are the days of blindly following the whims of meme coin sovereigns. Retik Finance (RETIK) empowers its token holders with a unique governance structure. This means, as a RETIK investor, you’re not just along for the ride; you have a say in the project’s direction. You get to vote on proposals, influence development decisions, and be a part of shaping Retik Finance’s future. This stands in stark contrast to the centralized control of most meme coins, where the fate of your investment rests solely in the hands of a select few. The Dogecoin investor is likely to be interested in the project’s ongoing presale, which offers a price of just $0.07 in stage 5 before listing on two of the five largest exchanges in a few months. This is seen as a calculated risk and an opportunity to diversify his portfolio with a project that offers more than just empty promises. It’s a bet on the future of DeFi, a coin with a purpose, and the power of active community participation. Conclusion “Diamond hands” and “to the moon” are no longer the mantras of this Dogecoin (DOGE) investor. Though battered by the meme coin’s decline, he has abandoned the hype train and boarded the Retik Finance (RETIK) Express. Why? Because for this savvy investor, it is no longer about viral tweets and Shiba Inu (SHIB) memes. Instead, it is about utility, innovation, and the promise of real, sustainable returns. Visit the links below for more information about Retik Finance (RETIK): Website: https://retik.com Whitepaper: https://retik.com/retik-whitepaper.pdf Linktree: https://linktr.ee/retikfinance

Ethereum (ETH) continued its upward trajectory Wednesday, clocking a 10% gain in 24 hours to breach past the vaunted $2,600 mark. Market watchers attribute this surge to a confluence of factors, primarily fueled by anticipation of a forthcoming Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the wake of the expected approval for a Bitcoin ETF in the US. In a historic move that cryptocurrency aficionados hope will bring more individual and institutional investors into the market, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the first spot bitcoin exchange traded funds on Thursday. Ethereum ETF Buzz Sparks Strategic Moves “There’s a noticeable trend towards frontrunning the ether ETF,” noted Alex Onufriychuk, CEO of Kaminari, in a Telegram message. This sentiment aligns with the prevailing belief that Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, would be the next candidate for an ETF after Bitcoin. Adding fuel to the fire, a prominent investor, dubbed a “whale” in the crypto universe, made a strategic move by transferring 9,705 ETH (nearly $23 million) from Binance to Compound. This was followed by a 12 million Tether (USDT) loan, seemingly used to further accumulate ETH. The whale subsequently executed three profitable ETH transactions, netting roughly $5 million. This decisive action signaled two things: confidence in Ethereum’s future and the potential for profit-taking, which could introduce short-term volatility. Despite the risk, the whale’s activity bolstered positive market sentiment. Further validating this optimism, Ethereum’s network metrics experienced a surge. Both network growth and token velocity saw increases, indicating heightened interest from new addresses and more token movement. These on-chain metrics paint a promising picture for ETH’s future. ETH Futures Surge Amid ETF Optimism Also adding to the bullish case, Open Interest for ETH futures contracts jumped 15% in recent days, reaching $4.57 billion at the time of writing. This signifies more traders entering the market and anticipating significant price gains following a potential ETF approval. According to reports, crypto traders expect Ethereum’s price to rise after a favorable ETF judgment, even though Bitcoin is getting more attention in the media. If this situation plays out, the price of ETH could soon go beyond $2,600. However, it’s crucial to remember that the cryptocurrency market remains volatile, and unforeseen factors could still impact prices. The timeline for an Ethereum ETF approval is uncertain, and regulatory hurdles could create delays. Additionally, broader market conditions and news on Ethereum development could also play a role. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions, particularly in the dynamic and unpredictable world of cryptocurrencies. Featured image from Medium

As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, the search for the next big token is always on. Ethereum (ETH) has long been a giant in the space, renowned for its smart contract capabilities and massive ecosystem.However, with the market constantly expanding, several emerging tokens priced under $5 are making waves as potential alternatives to Ethereum. In 2024, these tokens are not just expected to grow; they’re poised to explode in terms of adoption, utility, and value. Polygon (MATIC) Polygon, formerly known as Matic Network, has emerged as a robust Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. It’s designed to address some of the key challenges faced by the Ethereum network, including high gas fees and network congestion, by offering a more scalable and efficient framework. Why Polygon Could Explode in 2024: Scaling Ethereum: As Ethereum continues to grow, the demand for scalable solutions like Polygon will likely increase. Polygon’s ability to provide faster and cheaper transactions makes it an attractive platform for both developers and users. Growing Ecosystem: Polygon has been successful in attracting a range of decentralized applications (dApps). Its expanding ecosystem suggests a bright future, with potential for significant growth in 2024 as more projects and users continue to onboard. Technical Developments: Continuous improvements and upgrades to its infrastructure could further cement Polygon’s position as a leading scalability solution, potentially leading to a surge in its market value. Retik Finance (RETIK) Retik Finance is a relatively new player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, aiming to provide innovative solutions to bridge the gap between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies. With a focus on user-friendly DeFi products and services, Retik Finance is well-positioned to capture a significant market share. Why Retik Finance Could Be a Game-Changer: Innovative DeFi Solutions: Retik Finance is not just another DeFi project. Its offerings, including DeFi debit cards and multi-chain wallets, make it stand out in the crowded crypto space. Accessibility and Security: Focusing on making DeFi accessible and secure for the average user could drive widespread adoption, making RETIK a potentially explosive investment in 2024. Market Trends: As the DeFi sector continues to grow, platforms like Retik Finance that offer unique and user-friendly solutions are likely to see increased demand and valuation. Algorand (ALGO) Algorand is a blockchain platform that aims to solve the blockchain trilemma: achieving scalability, security, and decentralization simultaneously. It’s known for its speed and efficiency and has been gaining traction as a platform for various financial products and services. Potential for Algorand’s Growth: Advanced Consensus Mechanism: Algorand’s Pure Proof-of-Stake (PPoS) consensus mechanism offers a high level of security and scalability, making it an attractive alternative to Ethereum for developers and businesses. Financial Industry Adoption: With its focus on creating a borderless economy, Algorand has the potential to become a preferred blockchain for financial applications, possibly leading to significant growth in its token value. Sustainability and Development: Algorand’s commitment to being carbon-neutral and its ongoing developments in blockchain technology could make it a popular choice among environmentally-conscious investors and users, contributing to its explosive growth potential. Comparing These Alternatives to Ethereum While Ethereum remains a powerhouse in the blockchain space, these alternatives offer unique attributes that could see them explode in popularity and value in 2024: Polygon: Offers scalability solutions to Ethereum’s existing challenges. Retik Finance: Introduces innovative and accessible DeFi products, potentially opening up the market to a broader audience. Algorand: Balances scalability, security, and decentralization, with a strong focus on financial applications. Risks and Considerations Investors should note that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and unpredictable. While these tokens show great potential, they are subject to market trends, technological developments, and regulatory changes. Therefore, thorough research and cautious investment strategies are advisable. Conclusion: A Promising Future Ahead In summary, Polygon, Retik Finance, and Algorand represent exciting investment opportunities in the crypto space. Each brings something unique to the table and has the potential to explode in 2024, offering viable alternatives to Ethereum. ‘For investors looking to diversify their portfolios or those seeking the next big crypto asset, these three tokens under $5 are worth watching. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, these platforms could play significant roles in shaping the future of blockchain technology and decentralized finance. Visit the links below for more information about Retik Finance (RETIK): Website: https://retik.com Whitepaper: https://retik.com/retik-whitepaper.pdf Linktree: https://linktr.ee/retikfinance

The crypto space witnessed a historic moment yesterday with the approval of 11 spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), a development that’s been eagerly anticipated since the Winklevoss twins filed for the first proposed Bitcoin ETF back on July 1, 2013. This pivotal event coincides with the 15th anniversary of Hal Finney’s tweet “Running Bitcoin,” marking a symbolic milestone in the digital currency’s journey. Despite the monumental approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bitcoin’s price reaction was muted, maintaining stability around the $46,000 mark. This suggests that the approval had already been factored into the market price. However, the landscape could shift dramatically with today’s commencement of trading for these ETFs. Spot ETFs, as opposed to future ETFs, necessitate the acquisition of physical Bitcoins by the issuers, thereby exerting direct buying pressure on the market. This aspect, combined with the high conviction among long-term investors (“hodlers”) and the historic low Bitcoin reserves on crypto exchanges, sets the stage for potentially volatile price movements. Staggering Bitcoin Inflow Projections For Day 1 Projections for ETF inflows are staggering. Bloomberg anticipates a record-breaking $4 billion inflow on the first trading day for spot Bitcoin ETFs, with issuers collectively contributing $312.8 million in Bitcoin seeding. BlackRock’s ETF is particularly notable, with an expected $2 billion in inflows, as per Bloomberg Intelligence. Standard Chartered recently projected that 2024 could see $50-100 billion in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, with a potential Bitcoin price reaching $200,000 by the end of 2025. Mike Alfred, a Bitcoin expert, commented on the potential scale of these inflows: Tuur Demeester of Adamant Research highlighted the significance of the ongoing fee war among issuers, suggesting that the intense competition reflects expectations of substantial capital inflows. “The intensity of this Bitcoin ETF bidding war is telling me the issuers believe that the winner’s low fees will be compensated by HUGE $$ inflows,” he remarked. Alistair Milne from Altana Digital echoed these sentiments, anticipating record-breaking inflows and a resultant surge in global interest in Bitcoin. “Tune in tomorrow when we’ll try to break the record for first day ETF inflows, create global FOMO and initiate the Bitcoin supercycle,” Milne wrote via X. Meanwhile, on-chain analyst Axel Adler Jr. may have found a reason for Bitcoin’s lagging performance so far. He pointed out that “miners have decided to take advantage of the cash inflow into the market.” Next Target $50,000? Raghu Yarlagadda, CEO of FalconX, in an interview with Bloomberg Technology, emphasized the crucial impact of net inflows on BTC’s price in the coming week: British HODL, a known analyst on X, provided a deeper insight into the current market dynamics, explaining the lack of immediate price movement post-ETF approval and outlining scenarios for significant price changes depending on the inflows after the ETFs start trading. “For anyone wondering, Bitcoin price has not moved because: Leverage was wiped out yesterday, everyone who wanted in before the ETF, seems to be in. Only after 9.30am tomorrow can the ETFs actually start accepting capital and thus start acquiring Bitcoin,” he stated and added that if Bloomberg is right with $4 billion coming in on the first day, “we *could* see a price of $50k-$57k by close of trading on Friday. The buying pressure has not even STARTED yet.” At press time, BTC continued its sideways trend and traded at $46,267.

Tenderize Labs proudly announces the launch of Tenderize v2 Mainnet, a significant advancement in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and liquid staking landscape. This platform is the culmination of two years of dedicated research and development, signifying a major leap in the DeFi and Liquid Staking ecosystem. The launch of Tenderize v2 marks a new era in liquid staking, known as ‘Liquid Staking 2.0’, introducing a groundbreaking model with validator-specific liquid staked tokens (LSTs) and a shared liquidity pool. Tenderize v2: Ushering in Liquid Staking 2.0 With the backing of industry giants like Figment, Eden Block, and TRGC, Tenderize introduces ‘Liquid Staking 2.0‘, an innovative approach featuring unique validator-specific liquid staked tokens (LSTs) and a shared liquidity pool model. This new standard ensures non-custodial, permissionless access for all validators and delegators, thereby maintaining the decentralization and censorship resistance of the underlying networks. Barriers To Entry In Liquid Staking 1.0 To service demand for liquid staking, without centralizing the underlying validator set, a totally permissionless liquid staking protocol must exist. Such a system allows more validators to participate in the liquid staking ecosystem, re-decentralizing the underlying crypto network. The question at hand is, why aren’t more validators and solo-stakers using the liquid staking protocols of today? Validator Whitelists: Popular protocols today only work with select validator sets, requiring new validators to go through a rigorous interview process. This results in a massive stake being managed by a cartel of selected validators. Socialized Risk: Companies running validator businesses have to control risk. When LST protocols use a shared token, the yield of that token depends on the group of validators. If one of the many validators is slashed, all users are punished. Expensive, Fragmented, On-Chain Liquidity: Projects have successfully launched new liquid staked tokens in the past, such as cbETH and stETH. The liquidity of these assets often runs thin due to the value of incentive tokens decreasing, especially in bear markets. The thin liquidity causes problems during the borrowing and lending process. Addressing the Challenges in Liquid Staking Historically, liquid staking faced several barriers that hindered its widespread adoption and threatened the decentralization of blockchain networks. One major issue was the reliance on select validator sets, which led to a centralization of control and massive stakes being managed by a cartel of selected validators. Additionally, the shared token model in existing LST protocols meant that all users bore the risks associated with any one validator’s performance. This centralized risk and the fragmented, often expensive on-chain liquidity have been critical concerns, especially in bear markets. The Cookout: Kickstarting the Tenderize v2 Experience The launch of Tenderize v2 unfolds in two distinct phases, with the first phase, “The Cookout,” set to commence at the end of January 2024. This phase is focused on enhancing the Total Value Locked (TVL) of tTokens and bolstering TenderSwap liquidity. Users can participate by staking or providing liquidity for MATIC, LPT, and GRT, earning unique rewards and points on top of their native staking yields. The Feast: WAGYU Token Generation Event Following “The Cookout ” is “The Feast,” which marks the Token Generation Event (TGE) for WAGYU, the native governance and utility token of Tenderize. WAGYU will be distributed to users based on their accumulated points, a novel approach in the realm of token distribution. Significance for the DeFi Community This launch is particularly significant for those keen on the evolution of DeFi and Liquid Staking. Tenderize v2 offers a unique platform that allows for greater interaction and benefits from Liquid Staking, fostering a more decentralized network environment. By covering this story, media outlets can provide their audiences with invaluable insights into the future of Liquid Staking and Validator Decentralization. Maximizing Participation in The Cookout To ensure users get the most out of “The Cookout,” a variety of activities are available, including an onboarding quest, a Tenderize V1 airdrop, the creation of invite codes, and opportunities for token staking. This engagement prepares users for the Mainnet Launch on the Arbitrum and Ethereum networks, where they can stake their tokens and earn rewards in a novel and efficient manner. Empowering Users with WAGYU The conclusion of “The Cookout” leads to “The Feast” and the exciting WAGYU TGE, a pivotal event where users transition into key stakeholders within the Tenderize ecosystem. WAGYU serves as a crucial element in aligning the interests of validators, delegators, and token holders, ensuring a cohesive and mutually beneficial ecosystem. Invitation to Join The Cookout Journey We extend an invitation to all to share and engage with this groundbreaking development in DeFi and Liquid Staking. By doing so, you are not only keeping your audience informed about the latest developments but also helping them understand the vast opportunities that Tenderize v2 presents. For further information and updates on Tenderize v2, please explore the comprehensive Whitepaper , visit the Website, and follow Tenderize v2 on Twitter for real-time updates. Contact Information Name: Nicholas Resendez Email: [email protected] Organization: Tenderize Labs Phone: (310) 935-1854 Website

In the cryptocurrency market, investors are constantly on the lookout for the next big opportunity. One token that has been gaining significant attention is Retik (RTK), a contender positioned as a formidable rival to Solana (SOL). Priced at a mere $0.07 during its presale stage 5, Retik Finance has not only cleared previous presales swiftly but is also gaining momentum daily, hinting at a potential surge that experts believe could reach an astonishing 20x by 2024. Comparative Analysis: Solana vs. Retik While Solana (SOL) has been a prominent player in the blockchain space, recent challenges and a shifting market landscape have opened doors for potential competitors. Retik Finance positions itself as a viable alternative, aiming to address some of the issues faced by established players like Solana. Price Disparity and Growth Potential One of the most striking aspects is the significant difference in price between SOL and Retik. Solana, once positioned as a high-speed and cost-effective Ethereum competitor, is currently navigating through a challenging phase. In contrast, Retik’s modest initial price of $0.070 and the projected 20x surge present an appealing opportunity for investors seeking substantial growth potential. Competitive Edge and Market Appeal Solana’s challenges stem from a perceived dwindling competitive edge. As Retik Finance solidifies its dominance, Retik Finance is gaining momentum through its presale success and unique utilities. The increasing confidence in Retik’s ecosystem suggests a shift in investor sentiment towards a promising alternative. Fundamental Shifts in Capital Flow Fundamentally, there’s a discernible shift as capital moves away from Solana towards the perceived stability and potential of Retik Finance and its next-generation utilities. Retik Finance’s ability to capture this capital shift and position itself as a bridge between traditional financial systems and the growing cryptocurrency space adds a layer of strategic advantage. Presale Success and Momentum Buildup Retik Finance’s journey has been nothing short of impressive, especially in its presale stages. Priced at an initial $0.070, Retik has garnered attention and investment, surpassing expectations in previous presales. The token’s success in quickly clearing these stages is indicative of a growing interest in its unique utilities and real-life applications. As the presale progresses, Retik’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down. According to the roadmap, the token is set to be listed in Q3 2024, and with the observed increase in momentum during the presale, experts predict a substantial surge that could catapult Retik’s price to surpass the $1.4 mark. Utility Backed by Real-Life Applications Unlike the speculative nature of many cryptocurrency projects, Retik Finance stands out due to its solid foundation in real-life applications. The token is positioned as a utility token, meaning its value is backed by the tangible use cases it offers rather than relying on speculative trading or market sentiment alone. This utility-centric approach provides a sense of stability and long-term growth potential, distinguishing Retik from the plethora of meme coins that flood the market. Experts emphasise that Retik’s utility-backed model is a key factor driving its projected surge. In an industry often characterised by volatility and hype-driven price movements, having a token grounded in real-world applications adds a layer of credibility and sustainability. Presale Performance and Future Predictions As of the latest presale stage, Retik is priced at $0.070. The rapid clearance of previous presales, coupled with the anticipation surrounding its listing in Q3 2024, has fueled optimistic projections from experts. The predicted 20x surge in 2024 is a testament to the market’s confidence in Retik’s potential. The Future of Retik Finance Retik Finance’s journey is not just about challenging existing players; it’s about shaping the future of decentralized finance. The comprehensive capabilities of Retik Finance’s decentralized payment network are designed to facilitate the integration of cryptocurrency into the global payment macroeconomy. From open and scalable consensus protocols to lightning-fast transactions, Retik Finance offers a range of features that cater to the demand for speed, convenience, safety, and security. Its commitment to compliance and anti-money laundering programs further positions it as a leader in constructing a bridge between the traditional fiat currency realm and the emerging cryptocurrency world. As blockchain protocols continue to evolve and offer novel ways to incentivize, gain consensus, and ensure transparent rule implementation, Retik Finance stands at the forefront of these transformative developments. The token’s self-evolving communities and open ecosystems encourage innovation, enabling technology companies to contribute to industry-wide public chain development. Visit the links below for more information about Retik Finance (RETIK): Website: https://retik.com Whitepaper: https://retik.com/retik-whitepaper.pdf Linktree: https://linktr.ee/retikfinance

SEC approves first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs after a decade-long effort. Trading is set to begin with major exchanges and liquidity support. In a landmark decision, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light to the country’s first regulated spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The approval, granted just a day after a false announcement briefly sent markets into disarray, marks the end of a challenging decade-long journey for proponents of spot Bitcoin ETFs. On January 10, the SEC approved the 19b-4 applications from industry giants including ARK 21Shares, Invesco Galaxy, VanEck, WisdomTree, Fidelity, Valkyrie, BlackRock, Grayscale, Bitwise, Hashdex, and Franklin Templeton. This crucial regulatory nod paves the way for the listing and trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs on major U.S. exchanges such as NYSE, Cboe Global Markets, and Nasdaq. Trading, eagerly anticipated by market participants, could commence as early as 4 a.m. ET, coincides with the opening of U.S. stock exchanges, with major trading firms poised to provide liquidity for these groundbreaking products. First Day Of Bitcoin ETFs Approval The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs marks a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency market, with global implications. The journey to regulatory acceptance has been long, but with the SEC‘s green light, a new era in crypto investment has begun. The crypto community celebrated the historic approval of spot ETFs. There are tens of thousands of crypto users flooding platforms like X with celebratory messages under the trending hashtag #BitcoinETF. Justin Sun, founder of Tron, expressed his views on this development, stating With 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs now available, some having attracted billions of dollars in assets before launch, market participants eagerly anticipated the commencement of trading. Bitcoin’s spot market, futures markets, and futures ETFs are expected to contribute to the liquidity of spot ETFs on the first day. Amidst this, Bitcoin showcased a modest surge of 0.42%, trading at $46,128. Meanwhile, altcoins like Ethereum, Avalanche, and Dogecoin experienced exponential growth. However, the analysts predict that the upcoming days will see BTC hitting new all-time highs.

HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WSPN, a leading global digital payments company, proudly announces a strategic collaboration with Fireblocks, an enterprise platform to manage digital asset operations and build innovative businesses on the blockchain, to expand global digitals payment adoption and propel financial inclusion. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for WSPN in its commitment to reshape the future of digital payments worldwide. The strategic alliance between WSPN and Fireblocks signifies a convergence of expertise and innovation, combining WSPN’s extensive footprint in digital payments with Fireblocks’ enterprise-grade digital assets infrastructure. The integration will see WSPN issuing a USD-backed stablecoin, WUSD (“World USD”), via Fireblocks’ Tokenisation Studio, as well as leveraging Fireblocks’ Wallets-as-a-Service to ensure the secure custodying of WUSD and to facilitate asset transfers. By integrating Fireblocks’ state-of-the-art technology, WSPN aims to elevate its payments ecosystem, providing customers with an unparalleled level of security and efficiency in managing digital assets. “We believe that digital payments enable financial inclusion,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN, “We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Fireblocks providing its battle-tested digital asset custody technology for our digital payment products, such as our innovative 1:1 USD-pegged stablecoin, WUSD. This collaboration perfectly aligns with our vision of establishing a robust, resilient and efficient payments infrastructure, ensuring transparency and the highest levels of compliance. Stephen Richardson, Head of APAC and Managing Director, Financial Markets at Fireblocks, said, “We are delighted to be working with WSPN to provide a seamless digital payment solution via their stablecoin product, WUSD. With stablecoins offering greater transparency and speed via reduced intermediation and 24/7 availability of the blockchain, this will inevitably lead to a more accessible and efficient global financial system and we look forward to supporting WSPN in enabling the future of finance.” The WSPN and Fireblocks collaboration aims to redefine industry standards, empowering businesses and individuals with enhanced capabilities and unparalleled security in handling digital assets. About WSPN WSPN is a global digital payments company that provides transparent, fast, and efficient digital payment solutions leveraging the latest technological advancements of Distributed Ledger Technology (“DLT”). We are dedicated to shaping seamless digital payment solutions for our global partners worldwide at the frontier of future digital payments and financial inclusion. Learn more: www.wspn.io About Fireblocks Fireblocks is an enterprise-grade platform delivering a secure infrastructure for moving, storing, and issuing digital assets. Fireblocks enables exchanges, lending desks, custodians, banks, trading desks, and hedge funds to securely scale digital asset operations through the Fireblocks Network and MPC-based Wallet Infrastructure. Fireblocks serves thousands of financial institutions, has secured the transfer of over $4 trillion in digital assets, and has a unique insurance policy that covers assets in storage and transit. Some of the biggest trading desks have switched to Fireblocks because it’s the only solution that CISOs and Ops Teams both love. For more information, please visit www.fireblocks.com Contacts [email protected]

Polkadot (DOT) is gaining pace above the $7.50 resistance against the US Dollar. The price is up nearly 15% and might rise further toward $10.00. DOT is showing heavy bullish signs from the $6.65 support against the US Dollar. The price is trading above the $8.00 zone and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance near $7.80 on the 4-hour chart of the DOT/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could continue to rally unless the bears are able to defend the $8.88 resistance zone. Polkadot Price Restarts Rally After a steady decline, DOT price found support near the $6.65 zone. A low was formed at $6.64 and Polkadot recently started a fresh increase. The price was able to clear the $6.85 and $7.00 resistance levels to move into a positive zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance near $7.80 on the 4-hour chart of the DOT/USD pair. The pair even surpassed the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $9.58 swing high to the $6.64 low. DOT is now trading above the $8.00 zone and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). Immediate resistance is near the $8.45 level. The next major resistance is near $8.88 or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $9.58 swing high to the $6.64 low. Source: DOTUSD on TradingView.com A successful break above $8.88 could start another strong rally. In the stated case, the price could easily rally toward $9.50 in the near term. The next major resistance is seen near the $10.00 zone. Are Dips Supported in DOT? If DOT price fails to start a fresh increase above $8.45, it could start a fresh decline. The first key support is near the $7.80 level and the same trend line. The next major support is near the $7.50 level, below which the price might decline to $7.00. Any more losses may perhaps open the doors for a move toward the $6.65 support zone. Technical Indicators 4-Hours MACD – The MACD for DOT/USD is now gaining momentum in the bullish zone. 4-Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOT/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $7.80, $7.500 and $7.00. Major Resistance Levels – $8.45, $8.88, and $9.50.

Ethereum price climbed higher above the $2,450 resistance. ETH outpaced Bitcoin and seems to be setting up for a larger increase toward $2,880. Ethereum is gaining pace above the $2,450 resistance level. The price is trading above $2,500 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break above a key rising channel with resistance near $2,440 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair is already up over 5% and might rise further above the $2,650 resistance. Ethereum Price Gains Strength Ethereum price started a decent increase above the $2,350 resistance. Recently, BTC’s spot ETFs were approved. However, there was no major increase in Bitcoin, but ETH gained bullish momentum. There was a break above a key rising channel with resistance near $2,440 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The pair surged over 5% and even cleared the $2,500 resistance zone. There was a spike above the $2,600 resistance zone. A new multi-week high was formed near $2,642 and the price is now consolidating gains. There was a minor decline below $2,600, but Ethereum stayed above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent rally from the $2,346 swing low to the $2,642 high. Ethereum is now trading above $2,500 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh increase, the price might face resistance near the $2,650 level. The next major resistance is now near $2,720. A clear move above the $2,720 level might send ETH toward $2,780. A close above the $2,780 resistance could push the price further into a bullish zone. Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com The next key resistance is near $2,840. If the bulls push Ethereum above $2,840, there could be a rally toward $2,920. Any more gains might send the price toward the $3,000 zone. Are Dips Limited in ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,650 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,580 level. The first key support could be the $2,500 zone or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent rally from the $2,346 swing low to the $2,642 high. A downside break and a close below $2,500 might send the price further lower. In the stated case, Ether could test the $2,440 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,350 level. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Level – $2,500 Major Resistance Level – $2,650

Bitcoin price remained in a range above the $45,000 support. BTC failed to climb higher above the $48,000 resistance despite approval of spot ETF. Bitcoin is still struggling to clear the $47,800 and $48,000 resistance levels. The price is trading above $45,600 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There was a break above a major contracting triangle with resistance near $46,550 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could start a fresh decline if the bears continue to protect the $48,000 resistance. Bitcoin Price Upsides Capped Bitcoin price remained stable above the $45,500 resistance zone. Finally, the SEC approved all 11 spot ETF. BTC did climb higher above the $46,500 and $46,600 resistance levels after the news. There was a break above a major contracting triangle with resistance near $46,550 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. However, the bears were still active near the $47,350 and $47,800 levels. A high was formed near $47,699 and the price is now showing a few bearish signs. There was a minor decline below the $47,000 level. Bitcoin declined below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $44,333 swing low to the $47,699 high. The price is now trading above $45,600 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $47,000 level. The first major resistance is $47,350. A clear move above the $47,350 resistance could send the price toward the $47,800 resistance. Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com The next resistance is now forming near the $48,000 level. A close above the $48,000 level could send the price further higher. The next major resistance sits at $49,250. Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $47,350 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $46,550 level. The next major support is $46,000 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $44,333 swing low to the $47,699 high. If there is a move below $46,000, the price could gain bearish momentum. In the stated case, the price could drop toward the $45,150 support in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $46,500, followed by $46,000. Major Resistance Levels – $47,000, $47,350, and $47,800.

Surprisingly, bankrupt crypto lender Celsius Network customers are now facing legal action from bankruptcy managers after making substantial withdrawals within 90 days before the company’s bankruptcy declaration. The bankruptcy managers have demanded that affected customers return some of their funds or potentially face further legal consequences. Customers Face Celsius Network’s Settlement Demands The filing, published on Tuesday, revealed that customers who withdrew over $100,000 within the specified 90-day period before July 12, 2022, find themselves at the center of the legal dispute. These customers have been notified through an official filing outlining the procedures for settling their withdrawal preference exposure. Withdrawal preference exposure noted in the notice refers to the aggregate value of assets withdrawn by customers from the Celsius Network platform during the specified period, minus any subsequent deposits made after the first withdrawal. The bankruptcy managers have determined that customers with withdrawal preference exposure greater than $100,000 must settle their claims or obtain a court order ruling to avoid potential liability. The bankruptcy plan, known as the Modified Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Celsius Network LLC and Its Debtor Affiliates, offers an Account Holder Avoidance Action Settlement. Under this settlement, the Debtors will release avoidance actions against account holders meeting certain criteria, including accepting the plan on all claims and providing a payment equal to 27.5% of their withdrawal preference exposure. The distribution agent is not obligated to make distributions to account holders with unresolved withdrawal preference exposure until their claims are settled, a court rules in their favor, or the withdrawal preference exposure is resolved with the litigation administrator after the plan’s effective date. Settle Now Or Face Consequences Celsius Network, in collaboration with the committee, has extended the payment deadline to allow affected customers to settle their withdrawal preference exposure and receive a release of all avoidance actions. The plan’s effective date is anticipated to occur around January 31, 2024. Customers wishing to make the settlement payment must also submit the election form by January 25, 2024. The Debtors will start accepting completed election forms on January 17, 2024. Failure to submit the form may result in the rejection of the settlement payment. It is important to note that failure to settle withdrawal preference exposure by January 31, 2024, may lead to further correspondence or actions by the litigation administrator after the plan’s effective date. As customers grapple with the unexpected legal action, the crypto community awaits further developments in this ongoing bankruptcy case. The Account Holder Avoidance Action Settlement outcome will shed light on resolving withdrawal preference exposure claims and the subsequent distribution of funds. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

WisdomTree unlocks Bitcoin exposure within the ETF wrapper in the U.S., in line with the firm’s leadership in “Responsible DeFi” NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE: WT), a global financial innovator, today announced that the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The historic leading wave of spot Bitcoin ETFs marks the first time U.S. investors have access to exposure to the price of spot bitcoin within the ETF wrapper. “Core to our heritage of innovation, WisdomTree is passionate about exploring new avenues for potential value creation for investors – our role in disrupting financial services with the ETF wrapper speaks exactly to that. Now, after years of experience meeting investors’ demand for a Bitcoin ETP in Europe, we could not be more thrilled to be at the helm of the movement to accelerate access to digital assets in the United States after years of engagement with U.S. regulators,” said Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree Founder and CEO. “While potential investors must carefully consider if the risk profile of a digital asset such as bitcoin has a place in their portfolio, we see this effectiveness as a major step in the industry evolution that we’re leading – where the blockchain is redefining the way we see finance today.” The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) will be listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange with an expense ratio of 0.30%, although for a six-month period commencing January 11, 2024, the entire 0.30% will be waived (which represents the sponsor’s fee) for the first $1.0 billion of the Fund’s assets. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund’s investment objective is to gain exposure to the price of bitcoin, less expenses and liabilities of the Fund’s operations. WisdomTree currently offers eight crypto ETPs in Europe, and concurrent with seeking to launch BTCW, has launched 13 blockchain-enabled Digital Funds in the U.S., which offer exposure to mainstream traditional asset classes with secondary recordkeeping on a blockchain. “BTCW being declared effective by the SEC offers the nascent opportunity for investors to access bitcoin through an ETF, one of the most impactful financial innovations of our time. For investors that are willing and have the financial condition to accept more risk, but only seek to engage with this digital asset through regulated and traditional channels, this is a long-awaited opportunity in the U.S. finally coming to fruition,” said Jeremy Schwartz, WisdomTree Global Chief Investment Officer. “It cannot be denied that financial services are undergoing a major transformation; how fast we get there depends on key moments like today. WisdomTree is proud to be a part of this historic moment.” Engagement with regulators is at the center of WisdomTree’s “responsible DeFi” ethos, which prioritizes innovation and exploration within the digital assets ecosystem while upholding the foundational principles of transparency, integrity and protection of customer assets. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund is not endorsed, indemnified or guaranteed by any regulatory agency. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting the fund detail page. Alternatively, the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll free at 1-866-909-9473. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. You should read the prospectus before investing. Bitcoin and, accordingly, the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund which holds bitcoin, are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk, including the potential for loss of the entire investment. An investment in the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund involves significant risks (including the potential for quick, large losses) and may not be suitable for all shareholders. You should carefully consider whether your financial condition permits you to invest in the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund and you should be willing to accept more risk than may be involved with other exchange traded products or ETFs that do not hold bitcoin. Extreme volatility of trading prices that many digital assets, including bitcoin, have experienced in recent periods and may continue to experience, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value. The value of the Shares is dependent on the acceptance of digital assets, such as bitcoin, which represent a new and rapidly evolving industry. Digital assets such as bitcoin were only introduced within the past two decades, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies and to the fundamental investment characteristics of digital assets. Regulatory changes or actions may affect the value of the Shares or restrict the use of Bitcoin, mining activity or the operation of the Bitcoin Network or the Digital Asset Markets in a manner that adversely affects the value of the Shares. Digital Asset Markets may experience fraud, business failures, security failures or operational problems, which may adversely affect the value of Bitcoin and, consequently, the value of the Shares. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund is not a fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), and is not subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, unlike most exchange traded products or ETFs. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund is also not a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended, and the sponsor is not subject to regulations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor. The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund’s shares are neither interests in nor obligations of the sponsor or the trustee or any of their affiliates. About WisdomTree WisdomTree is a global financial innovator, offering a well-diversified suite of exchange-traded products (ETPs), models, solutions and products leveraging blockchain-enabled technology. We empower investors and consumers to shape their future and support financial professionals to better serve their clients and grow their businesses. WisdomTree is leveraging the latest financial infrastructure to create products that provide access, transparency and an enhanced user experience. As of January 10, 2024, WisdomTree currently has approximately $99.5 billion in assets under management globally. For more information about WisdomTree, visit: https://www.wisdomtree.com. Please visit us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @WisdomTreeNews. WisdomTree® is the marketing name for WisdomTree, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide. Important Information Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Funds before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other important information, please visit https://www.wisdomtree.com/investments. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, serves as the marketing agent for the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW). WisdomTree Digital Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, is not affiliated with WisdomTree. Each WisdomTree Digital Fund (each, a “Digital Fund”) invests in fixed income securities, equity securities or other assets as further described in each Digital Fund’s prospectus. Reference to “blockchain-enabled” is meant to reflect the fact that each Digital Fund uses blockchain technology. The Digital Funds will not invest in any digital assets, such as bitcoin. Category: Business Update Contacts Media Relations WisdomTree, Inc. Jessica Zaloom +1.917.267.3735 [email protected] / [email protected] Investor Relations WisdomTree, Inc. Jeremy Campbell +1.646.522.2602 [email protected]

For the first time, BITB will offer U.S. investors low-cost access to bitcoin through a traditional, regulated ETF. SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bitwise Asset Management, the largest crypto index fund manager in America, announced today that the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), the firm’s first spot bitcoin ETF, intends to begin trading on January 11. With the much-anticipated launch, BITB will join Bitwise’s comprehensive suite of 18 crypto investment products, which currently includes five other crypto ETFs. The Bitwise Bitcoin ETF will trade on NYSE Arca under the ticker BITB. The management fee will be the lowest among approved spot bitcoin ETFs at 0.20%,1 with the fee set to 0% for the first six months on the first $1 billion in assets. The fund will hold bitcoin directly with the world’s largest regulated digital asset custodian, Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC. BITB’s auditor is KPMG, the administrator is Bank of New York Mellon, and the sponsor is Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC. ANTICIPATED DEMAND “We expect significant demand for bitcoin ETFs like BITB,” said Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley. “Every year for the past six years, financial advisors have identified ETFs as their preferred way to help clients access bitcoin. Last year, 64% of financial advisors preferred a spot bitcoin ETF over existing vehicles.2 Across our existing client base of thousands of investment professionals, we hear the same thing. Now, at long last, a spot bitcoin ETF is arriving.” WATERSHED MOMENT FOR BITCOIN The fund’s launch marks a critical turning point for the industry, said Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan. “It’s hard to fully capture how big today is for bitcoin,” said Hougan, “but ‘game-changer,’ ‘sea change,’ or ‘turning point’ get closest. For more than a decade, investors who wanted to access the world’s largest crypto asset had to wrestle with how to own it. For many mainstream investors, that hurdle is now gone. We’re excited to see bitcoin take its seat at the table alongside other formerly fringe, now mainstream assets like private equity, private credit, and even gold.” SUPPORTING OPEN-SOURCE DEVELOPERS In conjunction with the launch, Bitwise announced that the firm will donate 10% of BITB’s profits to three non-profit organizations that fund Bitcoin open-source development: Brink, OpenSats, and the Human Rights Foundation’s Bitcoin Development Fund. These organizations fund open-source developers who play a critical role in improving the security, scalability, and usability of the Bitcoin network. The donations will be made annually for at least the next 10 years to further support the health and advancement of the Bitcoin ecosystem. “Bitcoin is fundamentally open-source software,” said Bitwise Chief Technology Officer Hong Kim. “Both Bitwise and our clients have a vested interest in its ongoing development, and supporting these organizations is a direct way to contribute to that.” A LEADING CRYPTO SPECIALIST Founded in 2017, Bitwise is currently a partner to more than 1,800 advisor teams, RIAs, family offices, and institutions. This number has doubled in the last two years. As a leading crypto specialist, Bitwise is known for its six-year track record, broad suite of crypto investment solutions, and leading research insights, including its quarterly reports, white papers, and Expert Portal for investment professionals, which features the Bitwise Bitcoin Library and the firm’s Weekly CIO Memo. Since its founding, Bitwise has maintained a deep commitment to client relationships, with a nationwide team of client-facing crypto experts. ADDING DEPTH TO A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE At BITB’s launch, Bitwise’s lineup of 19 products includes five additional ETFs: Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (ticker: BITQ) Bitwise Bitcoin Strategy Optimum Roll ETF (ticker: BITC) Bitwise Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (ticker: BTOP) Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (ticker: AETH) Bitwise Web3 ETF (ticker: BWEB). Bitwise’s other product offerings include the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (ticker: BITW), private funds, multi-strategy solutions, and separately managed account (SMA) strategies. More information can be found at www.bitwiseinvestments.com. For more information on BITB, and to read the fund’s prospectus, visit BITBetf.com/welcome. About Bitwise Asset Management Bitwise Asset Management is the largest crypto index fund manager in America. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors partner with Bitwise to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. For six years, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETFs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies. Bitwise is known for providing unparalleled client support through expert research and commentary, its nationwide client team of crypto specialists, and its deep access to the crypto ecosystem. The Bitwise team of more than 60 professionals combines expertise in technology and asset management with backgrounds including BlackRock, Millennium, ETF.com, Meta, Google, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bitwise is backed by leading institutional investors and has been profiled in Institutional Investor, Barron’s, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. It has offices in San Francisco and New York. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com. Risks and Important Information This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. To obtain a current prospectus visit BITBetf.com/welcome. The Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) (the “Fund”) is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and is not subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (the “CEA”). As a result, shareholders of BITB do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or the protections afforded by the CEA. Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. The NAV may not always correspond to the market price of bitcoin and, as a result, Creation Units may be created or redeemed at a value that is different from the market price of the Shares. Authorized Participants’ buying and selling activity associated with the creation and redemption of Creation Units may adversely affect an investment in the Shares. The amount of bitcoin represented by a Share will continue to be reduced during the life of the Fund due to the transfer of the Fund’s bitcoin to pay for the Sponsor’s management fee, and to pay for litigation expenses or other extraordinary expenses. This dynamic will occur irrespective of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of bitcoin. There is no guarantee or assurance that the Fund’s methodology will result in the Fund achieving positive investment returns or outperforming other investment products. Investors may choose to use the Fund as a means of investing indirectly in bitcoin. Because the value of the Shares is correlated with the value of the bitcoin held by the Fund, it is important to understand the investment attributes of, and the market for, bitcoin. Bitcoin Risk. There are significant risks and hazards inherent in the bitcoin market that may cause the price of bitcoin to fluctuate widely. The Fund’s bitcoin may be subject to loss, damage, theft or restriction on access. Investors considering a purchase of Shares should carefully consider how much of their total assets should be exposed to the bitcoin market, and should fully understand, be willing to assume, and have the financial resources necessary to withstand, the risks involved in the Fund’s investment strategy. Liquidity Risk. The market for bitcoin is still developing and may be subject to periods of illiquidity. During such times it may be difficult or impossible to buy or sell a position at the desired price. Possible illiquid markets may exacerbate losses or increase the variability between the Fund’s NAV and its market price. The lack of active trading markets for the Shares may result in losses on investors’ investments at the time of disposition of Shares. Regulatory Risk. Future and current regulations by a U.S. or foreign government or quasi-governmental agency could have an adverse effect on an investment in the Fund. Blockchain Technology Risk. Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to the risks associated with investing in blockchain technology. The risks associated with blockchain technology may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. Blockchain systems could be vulnerable to fraud, particularly if a significant minority of participants colluded to defraud the rest. Because blockchain technology systems may operate across many national boundaries and regulatory jurisdictions, it is possible that blockchain technology may be subject to widespread and inconsistent regulation. Nondiversification Risk. The Fund is nondiversified and may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other products. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. Recency Risk. The Fund is recently organized, giving prospective investors a limited track record on which to base their investment decision. If the Fund is not profitable, the Fund may terminate and liquidate at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders. Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC serves as the sponsor of the Fund. Foreside Fund Services, LLC serves as the Marketing Agent for BITB, and is not affiliated with Bitwise Investment Advisers, LLC, Bitwise, or any of its affiliates. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses of the Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (BITQ) before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund’s full or summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting bitqetf.com/materials. Investors should read it carefully before investing. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment advisor of the Fund. The Fund is distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO), which is not affiliated with Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, Bitwise, or any of its affiliates. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses of the Bitwise Bitcoin Strategy Optimum Roll ETF (BITC), the Bitwise Web3 ETF (BWEB), the Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH), and the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (BTOP) before investing. This and additional information can be found in each Fund’s full or summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting: for BITC, bitcetf.com/materials; for BWEB, bwebetf.com/materials; for AETH, aethetf.com/materials; for BTOP, btopetf.com/materials. Investors should read this information carefully before investing. Investing in securities involves risk and there is no guarantee of principal. The BITC, BWEB, AETH, and BTOP ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, which is not affiliated with Bitwise or any of its affiliates. ______________________ 1 Based on SEC filings as of January 9, 2024. 2 “The Bitwise/VettaFi 2024 Benchmark Survey of Financial Advisor Attitudes Toward Crypto Assets,” published in January 2024, is available at https://bitwiseinvestments.com/crypto-market-insights/the-bitwise-vettafi-2024-benchmark-survey. Contacts Frank Taylor/Ryan Dicovitsky Dukas Linden Public Relations [email protected]