The recent surge in gold prices isn't just a reaction to market jitters—it's a signal flare. Investors are flocking to safe havens, but there’s another asset riding this wave with a different kind of momentum: Bitcoin. Often dubbed “digital gold,” BTC is increasingly seen as both a refuge and a revolutionary financial instrument.

As gold crosses the $3,300 per ounce mark, and even hit a record $3,500 briefly in April, Bitcoin has been quietly staging a comeback of its own. It’s not just shadowing gold—it’s carving its own path, powered by a new generation of investors who see beyond tradition and into the future.

The Uncertain World Fuels the Rush

We’re living through another wave of economic turbulence. With global trade tensions escalating—especially after President Trump’s aggressive new tariffs on over 60 countries, including a staggering 245% on Chinese imports—the world feels like it's on edge. In return, China upped its own tariffs to 125%, triggering fears of an all-out trade war.

Naturally, investors turn to safety. Gold is the old guard: tangible, familiar, and stable. Bitcoin, meanwhile, is for those who believe the digital age requires digital solutions. Both assets are benefitting, but the why behind each is telling.

Gold ETFs saw $8 billion in net inflows just three weeks ago—a record. Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged 10% following Trump’s tariff announcement (dubbed “Liberation Day” by crypto fans), jumping from $85K to $97K before settling around $94K. That's still 13% below its all-time high, but the confidence is building.

A New Kind of Safe Haven

What’s striking is how Bitcoin and gold are starting to move in tandem. From April 7–21, gold rose 15%, and Bitcoin was right behind it at 12%. Analysts at Kobeissi called this a “flight to decentralized, inflation-protected assets”—a sign investors aren’t just seeking safety, they’re seeking sovereignty.

The Pearson correlation shows that Bitcoin and gold are aligning more, while distancing from major stock indices like the Nasdaq and S&P 500. That’s a strong indicator that Bitcoin is evolving into a legitimate store of value—not just a speculative bet.

Gold Is Old Money. Bitcoin Is Asymmetric Opportunity.

Gold’s market cap sits around $22 trillion. It's massive, mature, and stable, with demand from jewelry to industrial use. But that maturity comes with a ceiling—growth is slow, and supply can still increase with new mining operations.

Bitcoin? Entirely capped at 21 million coins. That built-in scarcity is rocket fuel for price potential. Its current market cap—around $1.8 trillion—is tiny by comparison, which means massive upside if adoption scales.

Big names are bullish. MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor sees BTC hitting $140K this cycle. ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood goes further—forecasting a $2.4 trillion valuation long-term if institutional adoption takes off and governments start treating BTC as a strategic reserve.

In Conclusion

Gold is doing what gold does best—providing stability in unstable times. But Bitcoin is doing something more: it's reframing the very definition of value in a digitized world. One is rooted in the past; the other is aligned with the future.

As global uncertainty continues to stir the pot, both assets are attracting attention—but for very different reasons. Gold offers reassurance. Bitcoin offers revolution. And if current trends hold, we may be witnessing not just a rally, but a rebalancing of how the world defines and defends wealth.

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Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

Jack Mallers is the fonder of Strike, (which to me has always seemed like the all-crypto version of Cash App) and now heads a 2nd venture as he has just been named CEO of a new company called Twenty One, and he’s not wasting any time setting the tone. His mission? Overtake Michael Saylor and Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) as the biggest corporate holder of bitcoin.

In a Bloomberg Technology interview, Mallers laid it out plain: Twenty One isn’t trying to be a fintech, a bank, or a crypto hedge fund. It’s a Bitcoin-first, Bitcoin-only company. Everything it does—from the products it builds to how it returns value to investors—is centered on one goal: stacking sats and scaling hard.

“We want to be the best vehicle for investors to gain exposure to bitcoin in the public markets,” Mallers said - making it clear they want to be seen as an official competitor to Michael Saylor and Strategy. 

The idea for Twenty One came after years of deep involvement in Bitcoin infrastructure—Mallers has worked alongside Tether and played a major role in Bitcoin adoption efforts in El Salvador. Now he’s aiming to do what no one else has done: build a public company from scratch that’s Bitcoin-native from day one. No pivoting from old-school industries. No legacy baggage.

On the other side of the ring is Michael Saylor, who’s basically become the poster child for corporate Bitcoin accumulation. With over 530,000 BTC in Strategy’s vaults, Saylor’s been rewriting the playbook for capital markets—raising billions via bitcoin-backed bonds and preferred stock to fuel the company’s ever-growing stack.

Mallers isn’t denying Saylor’s influence—in fact, he says Saylor was part of the inspiration. But where Saylor is evolving a decades-old company into a Bitcoin vehicle, Mallers is building the future from scratch. It’s new-school vs. old-school, and the battleground is Bitcoin.

Realistically, Twenty One's goal of catching up to Strategy is a long shot, at least when it comes to total Bitcoin held.  The company will launch with 43,000 BTC in hand which is a massive amount in any other circumstance, except comparing it with Strategy's 530,000 BTC.

Where they can make a name for themselves is becoming the company currently accumulating the most Bitcoin, while Saylor is unlikely to be dethroned as the one who currently holds the most Bitcoin.

Is This a Good Thing? 

It's easy to get caught up in the immediate effects of companies fighting over who can accumulate the most Bitcoin, as the immediate result is driving up the price. When it comes to supply and demand, whales with huge appetites obviously add a lot of momentum to the 'demand' end. 

But it's also putting the power to crash the entire market in the hands of a very small group of people. Of course, Saylor and really any investor with a basic understanding of the market would never dump 530K BTC onto the market at once, that obliterates their own profits as the market would have crashed long before even half of the coins were sold.

However, even a smaller portion like 10% for example - in the case of Strategy, that's still over $3 billion in BTC flooding the market, which would probably sent Bitcoin's price down by $10,000 to $15,000.  Then when you consider this may trigger another large holder to panic - it's not just about how many tokens one major holder sells, it's the total amount they sell + scare others in to selling when a sizeable red candle appears.

Then there's the obvious argument against companies trying to get as much Bitcoin as possible - remember, decentralization? It's easy to forget in a story about 2 companies who want it all.


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Author: Adam Lee
Asia News Desk 
Breaking Crypto News

GameStop used to be the ultimate meme-stock after the massive gains it made thanks to Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets.

But lately, it’s not making quite the same level of noise. While it’s still a name that sparks strong opinions, GME has drifted into the mid-$20 range for most of the past year, with only a short-lived stint in the $30s. 

On Tuesday after the bell, the company reported an earnings beat, posting 30 cents per share on $1.28 billion in revenue. For fans tracking its financial health, the real eye-opener might be GME’s free cash flow, which turned positive: $158.8 million this year compared with last year’s negative $18.7 million.

But the real big news...

GameStop’s board has unanimously approved a update to the company’s investment policy: The company can hold Bitcoin. Yep, that means GME is clearing a path to hold BTC on its balance sheet. Sure, buying in a few years ago might’ve been a jackpot move when Bitcoin was just a fraction of the price it is now? Still, better late than never, and hardcore Bitcoin maximalists will actually tell you that this is still early.

While we don't know how much they plan to buy, we do know they're sitting on about $4.7 billion in cash, which is a massive war chest for a company with an $11.35 billion market cap. The decision to diversify into Bitcoin signals that management is open to some of the new trends shaping modern finance.

By integrating Bitcoin into its treasury strategy, GME might attract a new wave of tech-savvy retail investors, the same crowd that invests in MicroStrategy, the company that owns more Bitcoin than any other business or person. That synergy between loyal shareholders and forward-thinking decisions could work in GameStop’s favor.

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Author: Mark Pippen
London Newsroom
GlobalCryptoPress | Breaking Crypto News

Today we're learning the story of a Bitcoin block that was mined just a couple days ago by a solo miner, surprising the crypto community by successfully mining block #887,212 with just a 480 GH/s Bitaxe rig.

For some perspective, these mini-miners earn about $3 per year - yes you're reading that correctly, per year - that is, unless it happens to be the one to mine a new block.  Running a small rig like this is often compared to buying a lotto ticket, except you only need to pay once and get to play every day.

The Odds...

This miner was using solo.ckpool, a popular choice among individual miners looking to strike digital gold without joining massive pools.

Pool developer Con Kolivas emphasized how remarkable this feat was, estimating that similar rigs have less than a one-in-a-million daily chance of solving a block. Statistically speaking, the average wait time for success with a rig this size is roughly 3,500 years.

To put this into perspective, industrial-scale Bitcoin miners commonly run setups about 2000% more powerful, so beating them with a rig this size is extremely rare.

Tiny Rig, Huge Payoff

This miner earned a reward of about $260,000 at the time, or 3.15 BTC plus an extra 0.025 BTC from transaction fees, according to mempool.space.

Adding to the surprise, the Bitaxe rig used in this incredible win was ultra-affordable, selling for around $90 on Ebay.

Solo Mining Faces Giants

Today, Bitcoin mining is dominated by major players like Foundry USA, whose massive hashrate primarily comes from publicly traded giants such as Cipher Mining, Bitfarms, and Hut 8. MARA Holdings, another heavy hitter, even operates its own dedicated MARA Pool.

Unlike commercial mining hardware that's typically proprietary, Bitaxe offers open-source solutions. Enthusiasts like Skot claim that open-source mining better reflects Bitcoin's core decentralized spirit—making this rare win even sweeter for Bitcoin purists.

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Author: Mark Pippen
London Newsroom
GlobalCryptoPress | Breaking Crypto News

ST. ASAPH, DENBIGHSHIRE, UK - February 24, 2025 - STGEnergy has announced the launch of its new cloud mining platform, designed to make cryptocurrency mining accessible to everyday users without requiring specialized equipment or technical expertise.

The UK-based company offers a solution that allows individuals to participate in cryptocurrency mining through a rental model, where users can purchase computing power contracts to mine popular cryptocurrencies including Dogecoin and Bitcoin.

"Cloud mining represents a significant democratization of cryptocurrency mining, removing traditional barriers to entry such as expensive hardware purchases and technical know-how," said a spokesperson for STGEnergy. "Our platform is designed to make this technology accessible to everyone."

According to industry analysts, cloud mining platforms like STGEnergy are gaining popularity as cryptocurrencies continue to mature as an asset class. The company claims its platform features efficient computing power allocation, robust security measures, and transparent pricing structures.

The service operates on a contract basis, with users selecting mining packages for specific durations. STGEnergy manages all technical aspects including hardware maintenance, electricity costs, and cooling systems. The company reports that earnings are calculated and settled every 24 hours, with the initial investment returned upon contract completion.

New users receive a $15 sign-up bonus and can choose from various contract options based on their investment goals. The platform includes a user dashboard for monitoring mining operations and earnings.

STGEnergy is based in St. Asaph, Denbighshire, UK and offers 24/7 customer support for platform users.

For more information about STGEnergy and its cloud mining services, visit their official website at STGEnergy.com

Follow on Twitter (X): @STG_Energy

About STGEnergy:
STGEnergy is a cloud mining platform based in the United Kingdom that provides cryptocurrency mining services to users worldwide. The company focuses on creating accessible mining solutions that don't require technical expertise or significant hardware investments.

Media Contact:
Amy Davis / support@stgenergy.com

By now you've probably heard of the staggering blow to crypto exchange Bybit, as they confirmed a massive $1.4 billion exploit, making it the largest crypto hack on record

We're now learning some additional details - according to Bybit CEO Ben Zhou, the attacker compromised one of the exchange’s Ethereum cold wallets, siphoning off huge quantities of ETH and stETH by manipulating a single transaction.

Bybit’s CEO says the hacker got hold of the private keys to a specific ETH cold wallet and transferred the funds to an unknown address. Top blockchain analytics groups like ZachXBT and Arkham Intelligence have verified these massive outflows, with Arkham noting that the stolen funds are now being split and sold through multiple addresses.

Is User Money Safe?

Zhou insists that other Bybit wallets weren’t impacted. The platform is still processing withdrawals—99% of user requests have reportedly gone through without a hitch. Bybit is maintaining they have enough liquidity to honor customer withdrawals in full.

Setting a New Record...

This new $1.4 billion hack officially takes the top spot for the largest theft in crypto history. It surpasses both the Ronin Network’s $625 million loss and the $611 million Poly Network exploit, both of which rocked the market in 2022.

Catching the Hacker...

The biggest hack is now offering the biggest reward, up to $140,000,000 (10% of total hacked funds) for anyone who can track down who is responsible.

This is bad news for the hacker, because unless we're looking at a government sponsored action (such as North Korea) you can be sure the hacker bragged about his accomplishment at least within a small circle of fellow hackers - if so, with a reward this size someone is bound to turn on them.

Blockchain researcher ZachXBT was among the first to flag the suspicious outflows. He reports the stolen ETH has been split across 39 different addresses—likely an attempt to hide the funds and evade tracking.

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Author: Adam Lee 
Asia News Desk / Breaking Crypto News

The race to integrate Bitcoin into state treasuries is heating up. So far, 20 U.S. states have introduced bills aiming to accumulate BTC as a financial asset—but Utah is pulling ahead with real legislative momentum.

A new bill, HB 230, just cleared a major hurdle. The “Digital Innovation and Blockchain Amendments” bill, which could allow the state treasurer to allocate public funds into Bitcoin, has now been formally introduced to the Utah Senate’s Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Back in January, the bill passed Utah’s House of Representatives with an 8-1 vote, and on February 7, it advanced to the Senate for its first reading. If enacted, up to 5% of Utah’s state funds could be invested in “qualified digital assets”—a category that, under the bill’s criteria, currently includes only one cryptocurrency: Bitcoin.

Utah's HB 230 isn’t just about buying Bitcoin...

It also lays the groundwork for regulatory oversight, custody protocols, and even permits the treasurer to engage in staking and lending of crypto assets under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill introduces new rules around stablecoin investments, reflecting the broader push to formalize crypto within government finance. The proposal is spearheaded by Utah Rep. Jordan Teuscher.

If it keeps gaining traction, the bill could take effect on May 7, 2025. And according to Dennis Porter, CEO of Satoshi Action Fund, Utah is positioned to be the first U.S. state with an official Bitcoin treasury, thanks to its tight 45-day legislative session.

This state-level push follows Donald Trump has floating the idea of a Federal Bitcoin Reserve - his 'crypto task force' is already exploring ways to make it happen. In an interview with Bloomberg President Trump says he believes that if the U.S. doesn’t move fast, rival nations will.

As Utah moves forward, all eyes are on whether this bill will set a precedent for other states looking to put Bitcoin on their balance sheets.

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Author: Ross Davis
Silicon Valley Newsroom
GCP | Breaking Crypto News

Bitcoin's wild price swings have long been both an opportunity and a challenge for investors. But what if there was a way to potentially  double  your investment gains without injecting more capital? Enter 2X leveraged Bitcoin ETFs  , a high-powered approach that allows investors to magnify their exposure to Bitcoin’s daily movements without directly buying more Bitcoin.

Investors looking to maximize their returns with a traditional brokerage account, these funds provide a unique way to enhance profits while managing risk effectively. Below, we dive into three of the top 2X leveraged Bitcoin ETFs available today.

Understanding 2X Leveraged Bitcoin ETFs

A leveraged ETF aims to amplify the daily returns of an underlying asset—in this case, Bitcoin. If Bitcoin rises 5% in a day, a 2X leveraged Bitcoin ETF could return 10%  . However, if Bitcoin drops by 5%, the ETF would fall 10% in value. This daily resetting nature makes these funds a powerful short-term trading tool but also introduces additional risks due to compounding effects over longer holding periods.

There's several options, and you may initially think - they're all 2X Bitcoin ETF, so they all perform the same - but that isn't the case. Each has small differences in how they operate, and thus, how they perform.  Here's the rundown:

BTCL – T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF  

How It Works: BTCL achieves 2X daily exposure to Bitcoin prices by investing in swap agreements with major financial institutions.

- Key Feature: Aims to provide 200% of the daily return of Bitcoin’s price movements.

- Who It’s For: Traders seeking an aggressive short-term position on Bitcoin’s price fluctuations.

- Risk Factor: Higher volatility due to the use of swap agreements, making it ideal for those who can actively manage their position.

BITU – ProShares 2X Bitcoin ETF  

How It Works: BITU delivers twice the daily performance of Bitcoin without requiring direct ownership of Bitcoin or dealing with leverage-related costs.

- Key Feature: It can be bought and sold through a traditional brokerage account  , making it highly accessible.

- Who It’s For: Investors looking for a simple way to gain leveraged Bitcoin exposure without complex futures contracts.

- Risk Factor: As with any 2X ETF, daily rebalancing means returns can diverge from expectations over longer periods due to compounding effects.

BITX – Volatility Shares 2X Bitcoin ETF  

How It Works: BITX tracks 200% of Bitcoin’s daily movement through futures contracts, adjusting daily to maintain leverage.

- Key Feature: Uses a rolling futures strategy to maintain exposure and accommodate investor inflows and outflows.

- Who It’s For: Investors familiar with futures trading who want a leveraged position in Bitcoin without direct futures contract management.

- Risk Factor: The reliance on rolling futures could lead to costs from  contango  (when futures prices exceed spot prices), impacting returns.

Is a 2X Bitcoin ETF Right for You?  

Leveraged Bitcoin ETFs are best suited for traders and investors who want to maximize gains on short-term Bitcoin movements without tying up extra capital. These funds are designed for those who understand the risks of amplified losses and are comfortable with market volatility.

Additionally, they require active monitoring and rebalancing to maintain optimal exposure. Investors who prefer to trade Bitcoin through a traditional brokerage account rather than directly purchasing and holding the cryptocurrency may find these ETFs a convenient alternative.

Final Thoughts: The Power of Smart Leverage  

2X leveraged Bitcoin ETFs offer a strategic way to potentially double their investment without adding more capital. However, they require active management  , a clear understanding of leveraged ETF mechanics, and a tolerance for volatility. By choosing the right ETF—BTCL, BITU, or BITX—investors can harness Bitcoin’s price movements for greater gains while navigating market risks intelligently.

Remember: Leverage works both ways, so while profits can double, losses can too. Approach with caution and a clear investment strategy.

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Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

In a move that would've seemed wild just a few years ago, over a dozen states are seriously considering holding Bitcoin reserves as part of their fiscal strategy.

It began when Trump, not yet elected and on the campaign trail, mentioned the idea as part of his plan to make the US the 'crypto capital of the world'.  Since taking office, one of the executive orders he signed on the first day created the committee to propose new regulations, and to look into the creation of a national cryptocurrency stockpile.

Looking to capitalize on the creation of a Federal Bitcoin Reserve, 15 states have either passed or introduced state-wide Bitcoin reserve bills, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Pennsylvania was the first to propose it, in a bill in November of last year. 

What Exactly is a Bitcoin reserve?

A Bitcoin reserve is basically a stash of Bitcoin owned and managed by a government, much like how many countries hold gold, silver, gems, or oil reserves.

The reasoning behind it - the most basic fundamental of investing; diversifying your investments. Like gold, Bitcoin has shown itself to be a hedge against inflation. When the dollar loses value, people look for alternative ways to store their wealth, ideally somewhere it isn't losing value.  In every major economic downturn, you'll see the charts for gold on the rise, and more recently, Bitcoin.  Earning the nickname 'digital gold' for this reason. 

How Exactly Would the State or Federal Government Acquire Bitcoin?

So far, proposals have included selling a portion of existing reserves, and using that to purchase Bitcoin. Other proposals involve changes to the State's annual budgets where they would reallocate funds, for example, lawmakers in Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have proposed that up to 10% of public funds on a temporary basis until a set goal is reached. 

Other states believe their residents who are crypto fans would be willing to donate some of theirs, just to show their support for the concept. 

Lastly, Texas has floated the idea of allowing residents to pay taxes and fees in Bitcoin, and these  payments would go directly into a state reserve, where it couldn't be touched for 5 years. 

How Would this Effect the Market Overall?  

All analysis seems to conclude that this would trigger a significant spike, with a combo of factors working together in a way that could only send the price up.  There is a record number of wallets owned by investors who buy Bitcoin and hold it, leaving it untouched no matter what the market is doing. Then there's the growing number of companies with Bitcoin on their balance sheet.

This means governments, companies, and individuals would be holding Bitcoin for the long haul, with no intent to sell anytime soon. Now factor in that there is only 20 million Bitcoins in circulation, and an estimated 6 million of those sit in wallets where the owner lost the key to access them (many from the early days when Bitcoin was worth a few cents, people didn't carefully backup the key to wallets holding thousands of Bitcoin)

Now imagine with this: Those who hold Bitcoin aren't looking to sell,  limited supply of Bitcoin available, dozens of countries follow the US's lead and begin creating Bitcoin reserves of their own. If those holding Bitcoin aren't willing to sell, there's only one option left - change their mind by offering more. Some are citing this as the path to a $1M Bitcoin price, and while I think that number may be unrealistically high, I do agree it's the path to set new record highs. 

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Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) just applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade the Grayscale XRP Trust as an exchange-traded fund (ETF). If approved, it would transform the existing trust into an ETF, opening the door for more investors—from curious retail traders to heavyweight institutions—to get in on the action.

This move could mark a pivotal moment for XRP, the cryptocurrency from Ripple Labs that’s been a hot topic for its ongoing legal showdown with the SEC. Approval would likely boost XRP’s reputation and adoption, weaving it more seamlessly into mainstream financial markets.

Converting the Grayscale XRP Trust into an ETF aims to make investment in XRP easier and more aligned with traditional financial systems. That means the ETF structure could potentially bring in both established and first-time crypto investors, turning a once-controversial asset into something more approachable and SEC-compliant.

It could be months until we find out if an XRP ETF will become a reality. Approval would very likely come with a nice boost to XRP's price, while a denial could go either way, largely depending on if investors increase their exposure to XRP anticipating approval. 

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Author: Justin Derbek
New York News Desk
Breaking Crypto News