Market
FRIEND Token Surges 40% After Friend.tech Addresses Backlash
Crypto social finance (SocialFi) platform Friend.tech remains in the spotlight after its team decided to relinquish control over its smart contracts, aiming to prevent future modifications. This decision had a negative impact on the platform’s native token, FRIEND, causing its value to plummet.
Following community backlash, the team addressed the concerns in a post early Tuesday, aiming to clarify the situation and calm tensions.
Friend.tech Team Deny Shut Down Concerns
The team denied any plans to shut down the Friend.tech web app. They said they were only sealing the doors for any future smart contract changes on matters fees by transferring the admin and ownership rights of the protocol’s code to a null address.
“We have no plans to shutter or discontinue the Friend.tech web app. The actions below guarantee that no future changes can be made to smart contracts deployed on Base which would raise or create new fees. These actions do not affect the current functionality of the Friend.tech web app in any way. Everything you know and use remains the same,” the team wrote.
Following this announcement, Friend.tech’s powering token, FRIEND, surged over 40% to trade for $0.094 as of writing.
Read more: What is Friend.Tech? A Deep Dive Into The Web3 Social Media App
The platform, which merges social media with decentralized finance (DeFi) principles, operates on Ethereum’s Layer-2 Base. Users can profit from content creation and monetize it through tradable tokenized shares known as “keys.”
The decision to relinquish control over its smart contract led to widespread speculation, with many seeing it as either “the final nails in the coffin or ribbons on a present.” This uncertainty caused FRIEND to drop over 42% on Monday, hitting an all-time low. The sell-off occurred as token holders realized that while the protocol still technically exists, surrendering control of the smart contract essentially signals the end of the project.
“Because the team has no interest in developing the platform, the best-case scenario for users was an acquisition. By removing the potential to generate revenue you have taken away this possibility. Abandoning the project but keeping the servers on is no better than shutting it down,” one user wrote.
As BeInCrypto reported, the team’s exit follows a significant collapse in revenue. Deposits plummeted from $52 million to just $4 million, while both revenue and daily user engagement dropped to single digits.
DefiLlama data reveals that daily generated fees have spiraled down to just $10,000, compared to a previous peak of $2 million. Data from Dune also shows a plateau in protocol fees and inflow metrics, further reflecting the platform’s decline.
Read more: DeFi Community Building: A Step-by-Step Guide
Meanwhile, analytics platform Arkham shows that the wallet linked to Friend.tech’s development team currently holds around $195,500 in various tokens. Since January, this wallet has deposited approximately $36 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) to Coinbase.
BeInCrypto was unable to reach Friend.tech’s pseudonymous co-founders, Racer and Shrimp. Racer’s X account appears to be either deleted or temporarily offline, while Shrimp has made their Twitter account private.
Despite the uncertainty, this may not mark the end for Friend.tech. In the crypto space, abandoned projects have been revived by new teams in the past. One notable example is Aerodrome, built on Base L2, which relaunched Andre Cronje’s abandoned protocol, Solidly.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Bitcoin ETFs Could Overtake Gold ETFs by End of The Year
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US are nearing a major milestone. They are set to become the biggest BTC holders in the world, even surpassing the amount held by Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Additionally, they are catching up to gold ETFs in total net assets.
Bitcoin ETFs on The Verge of Surpassing Satoshi Nakamoto’s BTC Stash
Since their launch in January, US spot Bitcoin ETFs have grown significantly. According to crypto analyst HODL15Capital, these funds now hold about 1.081 million Bitcoin, just below Nakamoto’s estimated 1.1 million.
Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, is believed to own approximately 5.68% of the total Bitcoin supply. These holdings, valued at over $100 billion, place Nakamoto among the world’s wealthiest individuals — if they are alive and a single person.
However, Bloomberg’s Senior ETF Analyst, Eric Balchunas, pointed out that ETFs are now 98% of the way to overtaking Nakamoto. He predicted that if the current pace of inflows continues, this could happen by Thanksgiving.
“US spot ETFs now 98% of way there to passing Satoshi as world’s biggest holder. My over/under date of Thanksgiving looking good. If next 3 days are like the past 3 days flow-wise it’s a done deal,” Balchunas stated.
SoSoValue data shows inflows into these ETFs grew by around 97% week-on-week to $3.3 billion over the last five trading days, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) contributing $2 billion. This surge coincides with the introduction of options trading for these products, which many believe is attracting more institutional investors.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs are also narrowing the gap with gold ETFs, which currently hold $120 billion in assets under management (AUM). According to Balchunas, Bitcoin ETFs manage $107 billion and could overtake gold ETFs by Christmas.
These bullish predictions reflect Bitcoin’s exceptional performance in 2024. The top cryptocurrency has surged nearly 160% since January, trading near the $100,000 landmark. In addition, its $1.91 trillion market capitalization now exceeds that of silver and major corporations like the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco.
However, BTC still lags behind gold, which remains the world’s largest asset with a market capitalization of more than $18 billion.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Why Ethereum Price May Fall Under $3,000
Ethereum (ETH) is currently facing significant downward pressure, with its price declining by 3% over the past 24 hours. This bearish trend could push ETH’s price below the critical $3,000 price level.
This analysis examines the factors contributing to this likelihood.
Ethereum Sellers Re-Emerge
An assessment of the ETH/USD one-day chart has revealed that the coin’s moving average convergence divergence (MACD) indicator is forming a potential death cross. As of this writing, the coin’s MACD line (blue) is attempting to fall below its signal line (orange).
This indicator measures an asset’s price trends and momentum and identifies its potential buy or sell signals. A MACD death cross occurs when the MACD line (the shorter-term moving average) crosses below the signal line (the longer-term moving average), indicating a bearish trend or momentum reversal. This signal suggests that selling pressure is increasing, and the asset’s price could decline further.
ETH’s rising Aroon Down Line confirms this strengthening bearish pressure. It currently sits at 78.57%, confirming that the decline in ETH’s price is gaining momentum.
The Aroon Indicator evaluates the strength of an asset’s price trend through two components: the Aroon Up line, which reflects the strength of an uptrend, and the Aroon Down line, which reflects the strength of a downtrend. A rising Aroon Down line indicates that recent lows are occurring more frequently, signaling growing bearish momentum or the start of a downtrend.
ETH Price Prediction: Key Support Level To Watch
ETH currently trades at $3,333, resting above the support formed at $3,203. This level is crucial because a decline below it will cause ETH to exchange hands under $3000. According to readings from the coin’s Fibonacci Retracement tool, the Ethereum price will drop to $2,970 if this happens.
However, a resurgence in the demand for the leading altcoin will invalidate this bearish thesis. If this occurs, Ethereum will rally toward $3,500.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Cantor Fitzgerald Deepens Tether Ties With 5% Stake Acquisition
Cantor Fitzgerald, a prominent US financial services firm, is expanding its alliance with Tether, a key player in the digital asset industry and the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin.
According to reports, the firm has agreed to acquire a 5% stake in Tether as part of a broader collaboration that includes Bitcoin-backed lending initiatives.
Tether Mints $13 Billion USDT as Cantor Fitzgerald Deepens Tie
The acquisition talks, reportedly finalized in 2023, valued the 5% stake at approximately $600 million. This partnership positions Tether to gain strategic advantages, particularly as Cantor Fitzgerald’s CEO, Howard Lutnick, takes on his new role as Secretary of Commerce under President-elect Donald Trump.
Market observers suggest that the nomination raises the possibility of enhanced regulatory support for Tether, which has faced scrutiny over potential violations of sanctions and anti-money laundering regulations—a claim the company has denied. However, Lutnick has promised to step down from his positions at Cantor Senate confirmation.
Beyond the ownership stake, Tether is expected to support Cantor Fitzgerald’s Bitcoin lending program, a multi-billion-dollar initiative. The program aims to offer loans backed by Bitcoin, initially funded with $2 billion, with plans for significant future expansion.
Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald is already a critical partner for Tether, reportedly holding a significant portion of the stablecoin issuer’s $134 billion reserves in US Treasury bills.
As Cantor Fitzgerald deepens its involvement with Tether, the firm has continued its aggressive token minting. On November 24, blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain reported that stablecoin company minted an additional $3 billion USDT, bringing the total minted since November 8 to $13 billion. This expansion has pushed the total supply of USDT to approximately $132 billion.
The increased USDT supply may reflect the growing demand for stablecoins, often used to hedge market positions or facilitate crypto transactions without converting to fiat. This liquidity influx could reduce volatility and enhance price stability across the digital asset market.
This surge in USDT supply coincides with a broader market rally led by Bitcoin and other assets such as Dogecoin and Solana, signaling renewed investor confidence in the crypto ecosystem.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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