If Senator Ted Cruz of Texas gets his way, he wants the state to be the “oasis of Bitcoin.” For Cruz, the primary hurdle to full Bitcoin adoption is the federal government itself, particularly its left-leaning policies.

The state of Texas, he says, can soon become a cryptocurrency hub with its decentralized environment and business-friendly policies.

Ted Cruz’s statement comes as Bitcoin broke the $98,000 level for the first time, and there’s growing regulatory clarity. Incoming US President Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent for Treasury, and SEC’s Gary Gensler has announced that he’s stepping down on January 20th, 2025.

Senator Cruz emphasized that the leading digital asset represents freedom and stated that Texas could become a haven for its innovation and development.

I am one of the leading defenders of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in the U.S. Senate.

I want Texas to be an oasis for Bitcoin, and we are seeing many companies come to Texas to create new jobs in the cryptocurrency industry. pic.twitter.com/ayVzxQIIi9

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 23, 2024

Texas As Global Hub For Bitcoin

Ted Cruz posted on Twitter/X his thoughts immediately after the airing on Fox Business News. In a post shared November 24th, Cruz argued that he’s a strong advocate for cryptocurrencies in the Senate. He added that his goal is to make his state a Bitcoin hub and shared that several companies are now relocating to the “Lone Star” state and creating jobs along the way.

Cruz sees a perfect match between Bitcoin and the state of Texas. The state’s independent spirit perfectly complements the blockchain’s principles of decentralization and freedom.

Texas Can Provide Support To Bitcoin’s Innovation

In the Fox Business interview, the lawmaker explained that Bitcoin represents freedom, free from control. He said that Texas is the perfect hub for the growing technology since its people embrace freedom and welcome Bitcoin bulls.

A bitcoin mining facility in Texas. Source: Eli Durst/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine

The Texas senator further explained that the state can lead the cryptocurrency revolution. He says Texas has abundant natural resources and crypto-friendly policies, making it a perfect center for Bitcoin mining. Cruz has publicly acknowledged that he operates at least three crypto mining rigs in West Texas, a testament to his commitment to the technology.

Senator Talks About Other Issues About Bitcoin

Cruz also discussed the many challenges Bitcoin faces now, including those faced by regulators and some policymakers. He criticized Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren for her stance against Bitcoin, comparing it to China’s ban on crypto.

He argued that it’s time to create friendly cryptocurrency regulations to promote growth and innovation. By focusing on a favorable regulatory environment, Texas can position itself as a global leader in the cryptocurrency sector.

He says Bitcoin’s decentralization will make it impossible for bad actors to hijack financial systems. Finally, he briefly touched on the asset’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism, which helps secure the network.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView

Crypto investment inflows registered a record-breaking weekly inflow of $3.12 billion last week. This surge brings the year-to-date inflows to an unprecedented $37 billion, highlighting Bitcoin’s growing dominance and renewed interest in digital asset investment products.

It comes as Bitcoin (BTC) continues to show potential for new record highs, with the peak price now standing at $99,588 on Binance.

Bitcoin Dominates Amid Crypto Inflows’ Record Highs

Bitcoin led the pack with $3.078 billion in inflows last week, marking its strongest performance to date. Despite reaching all-time price highs, the surge in interest extended to short-Bitcoin investment products, which recorded $10 million in weekly inflows. Notably, these short-Bitcoin inflows reached $58 million for the month — the highest since August 2022.

The recent $3.12 billion inflow is a sharp increase from previous weeks, continuing a strong upward trend. For context, the week prior saw $2.2 billion in inflows, buoyed by Republican electoral momentum and Federal Reserve dovishness.

The week before that brought $1.98 billion in post-election momentum. These successive inflows highlight the market’s resilience and growing confidence among investors despite broader economic uncertainties.

However, the growing adoption of Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds), which are attracting significant institutional interest, is driving Bitcoin’s rise. According to data on SoSoValue, the cumulative total net inflow for Bitcoin ETFs reached $30.84 billion as of November 22, when markets closed on Friday.

While all eyes were on MSTR, ETFs quietly ingested more than 10x the amount of BTC mined last week. Pac-Man mode activated,” quipped Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence.

Amid the growing optimism, Balchunas recently noted that US spot ETFs are 98% to passing Satoshi as the world’s biggest BTC holder. Similarly, analysts predict Bitcoin’s upward trajectory could extend to $115,000 this holiday season. Whale activity and long-term holders capitalizing on the current rally bolster the enthusiasm.

MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, a vocal Bitcoin advocate, hinted at expanding the company’s Bitcoin holdings, further solidifying institutional confidence in the asset.

Solana (SOL) emerged as a strong contender among altcoins, recording $16 million in inflows last week. This significantly outpaced Ethereum’s $2.8 million. However, on a year-to-date basis, Solana still trails Ethereum, which remains the dominant altcoin with substantially higher total inflows.

Solana’s recent success can be attributed to increasing optimism surrounding Solana-based ETFs. With multiple filings from VanEck, 21Shares, and Bitwise, among others, investor confidence in Solana’s ecosystem has surged.

These ETFs are expected to broaden access to Solana’s technology for retail and institutional investors alike, pending SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) approvals.

As Bitcoin and broader crypto markets continue their ascent, optimism remains tempered with caution. Market watchers like CryptoQuant caution against over-exuberance, warning of a possible price correction after Bitcoin’s recent climb. Other skeptics, including Justin Bons of Cyber Capital, raised concerns over the cryptocurrency’s vulnerability to liquidity risks.

On the one hand, analysts predict sustained growth driven by ETFs, institutional adoption, and strong market sentiment. On the other hand, warnings of over-leveraged positions and liquidity risks suggest that a pullback could follow this bullish phase. How long this momentum will persist depends on regulatory developments, market sentiment, and macroeconomic factors.

This week, three US economic events will be on crypto traders’ and investors’ watchlists. The interest comes amid the continued influence of US macroeconomic data on Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto prices in 2024, after drying up last year.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin remains just shy of the $100,000 psychological level, hovering above $98,000 after retracting to the $95,000 range over the weekend.

Minutes of Fed’s November FOMC Meeting

All eyes will be on the Federal Reserve (Fed) on Tuesday, November 26, for the minutes of the November 6 FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting. Traders and investors will be watching to see if the FOMC minutes shed some more light on how the policymakers assessed the economy leading up to the November meeting.

The minutes may also show at least some discussion about possible economic implications following the US election outcome. They will come after policymakers voted to cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps), following an initial 50 bps reduction in September. Investors will be looking for any clues on whether the pace of rate cuts could drop from here.

Meanwhile, data continues to suggest the US economy is holding up well. Still, fears abound that President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies may be inflationary, potentially reducing the need for lower rates.

“Experts say Donald Trump’s election victory could shift interest rate policy in the US as his promised policies risk higher inflation…Tradition tells us that that increase in tariffs will increase inflation in the US,” The Canadian Press reported, citing Sheila Block, an economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

One way the FOMC minutes could affect Bitcoin and crypto is through their impact on the overall market sentiment. Any dovish or hawkish tones in the minutes can influence market expectations and lead to changes in investor behavior.

Initial Jobless Claims

Another key US economic event this week is the release of initial jobless claims on Wednesday, November 27. Labor market weakness was a concern through the summer and fall, with rising jobless claims, an increased unemployment rate, and slower monthly job gains. This data influenced the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point in September.

However, since then, labor market data has come in better than expected, with the unemployment rate falling from a peak of 4.3% to 4.1%. The previous initial jobless claims data came in at 213,000 for the week ending November 16, below the estimate of 220,000, which was a good sign.

“US initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 213,000 last week, the lowest since April. The labor market is strong,” the publisher of the Lead-Lag Report noted.

Weekly unemployment claims have been steadily decreasing after reaching a peak in over a year this past October. While initial jobless claims are falling, the rise in continuing claims indicates that employers are striving to retain workers. However, those who lose their jobs are facing challenges in securing new employment.

“Initial jobless claims remain very slow but continuing claims hit a three-year high. This reinforces that employers aren’t actively laying workers off, but they aren’t hiring, either,” Sevens Report commented.

For now, things appear to be okay on the labor side of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. If the trend continues, it would suggest that economic hardship is reversing and that the labor market is gaining strength. This could lead to increased consumer spending and investment in traditional assets like Bitcoin and crypto.

US PCE Inflation

Crypto market participants will also watch Wednesday’s October US PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) inflation data, as this is the Fed’s preferred gauge. The November PCE index on Wednesday is also a good watch. The data will show whether inflation continued to slow in November. 

“Expectations: Monthly PCE expected to rise by 0.2% Annual PCE expected at 2.3% Core PCE monthly increase at 0.3% Core PCE annual increase at 2.8%,” data on MarketWatch shows.

Rising PCE figures often raise concerns about higher inflation levels in the economy. If PCE inflation exceeds expectations, it could weaken the US dollar as investors anticipate potential monetary policy actions, such as interest rate hikes. A weaker dollar tends to benefit Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which often show an inverse correlation with the USD.

In such scenarios, investors may turn to alternative assets like Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Cryptocurrencies are frequently seen as a store of value, similar to gold, during periods of inflationary pressure.

Currently, the Federal Reserve remains optimistic that inflation is nearing its 2% target. Policymakers have maintained interest rates at historically high levels to combat the inflation surges of the past two years. In this context, traders and investors are closely monitoring price data for positive signs that could prompt the Fed to begin easing interest rates.