Market
Will Starbucks’ New CEO Revive Crypto Strategy?

Starbucks has announced Brian Niccol as its new CEO, effective September 9, 2024. Consequently, crypto enthusiasts speculate about the potential impact.
Niccol, who currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Chipotle, has spearheaded remarkable transformation at the company since 2018. He prioritized digital innovation and growth.
Can the New CEO Revive Starbucks’s Crypto Strategy?
Under Niccol’s leadership, Chipotle experienced a dramatic increase in revenue and profits. The company’s revenue nearly doubled, and profits surged by almost sevenfold.
His strategy included a strong digital engagement plan, exemplified by the introduction of Chipotle lanes. Moreover, during his tenure, the company executed various crypto promotions, such as the “Burritos or Bitcoin” event. This initiative effectively showcased his capacity to weave contemporary digital trends into traditional business models.
Conversely, Starbucks has previously taken a more cautious stance in the crypto sector. In March 2023, the company launched its first series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of the Starbucks Odyssey experience. However, this initiative was short-lived, as the program concluded by March 2024 without much clarity.
Read more: 7 Best NFT Marketplaces You Should Know in 2024
This outcome has led to speculation about Starbucks’s direction under Niccol’s guidance, considering his past successes in digital transformations at Chipotle.
Although Niccol has not publicly endorsed cryptocurrency, his prior initiatives at Chipotle indicate a willingness to explore how these technologies can enhance traditional business operations. Notably, the “Buy the Dip” game, launched by Chipotle in July 2022, involved giving away over $200,000 in free crypto. Moreover, Chipotle enabled payments through 98 crypto tokens, highlighting his approach to digital currencies.
The question now is whether Starbucks, under Niccol’s guidance, will adopt a similar approach. Given the mixed results from their initial NFT endeavors, there may be caution and opportunity as the company evaluates its next steps in the digital and crypto arenas. For Starbucks, much will depend on how Niccol balances traditional business practices with emerging cryptocurrencies.
Nonetheless, Niccol’s appointment has sparked optimism for Starbucks investors. The company has been facing a decline in quarterly revenue and reduced customer traffic.
Niccol’s track record suggests he could leverage digital innovation to reverse these trends. Following the announcement of his new role, Starbucks shares soared nearly 22%, reflecting the high expectations of his leadership capabilities.
“Our board believes he will be a transformative leader for our company, our people, and everyone we serve around the world,” Mellody Hobson, Starbucks board chair, said.
Read more: Crypto vs. Stocks: Where To Invest Your Money in 2024

Additionally, Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, voiced her confidence in Niccol’s abilities.
“Brian Niccol just worked magic at Chipotle … he did all the right things and really drove the company using Chipotle lanes, through the use of digitization,” Tengler said, reflecting investors’ sentiments.
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
South Carolina Could Spend 10% of Funds on Bitcoin Reserve

Representative Jordan Pace introduced legislation to create a Bitcoin Reserve for South Carolina, joining a nationwide effort. Currently, nearly half of all US states have an active bill to create a similar Reserve.
However, the talking point that this bill “allows 10% of state funds” in Bitcoin investments is taking off like wildfire. It may scare off fiscal conservatives, which contributed to recent failures.
South Carolina Joins the Bitcoin Reserve Race
Since President Trump announced his intention to create a US Bitcoin Reserve, many state governments have attempted to create smaller models.
In the last month, these efforts have been intensifying, with more and more states joining the effort. Today, South Carolina filed its own Bitcoin Reserve bill, allowing the state to make substantial purchases:
“The State Treasurer may invest in digital assets including, but not limited to, Bitcoin with money that is unexpended, unencumbered, or uncommitted. The amount of money that the State Treasurer may invest in digital assets from a fund specified in this section may not exceed ten precent of the total funds under management,” it reads.
State Representative Jordan Pace proposed South Carolina’s Bitcoin Reserve legislation. He claimed that this bill “gives the Treasurer new tools to protect taxpayer dollars from inflation,” one of crypto’s most well-known use cases. Pace is currently the bill’s only sponsor, and it’s unclear what chances it has of passing.
Still, there may be challenges ahead. Similar proposals in other Republican-led states—like Montana and Wyoming—have already failed. This was largely due to concerns over using public funds to buy cryptocurrency.
Even though Trump backs the idea on a national level, not all GOP lawmakers are convinced at the state level.
That said, there are some signs of progress elsewhere. For example, Texas has advanced its Bitcoin Reserve bill, achieving bipartisan support. A key reason for its success is that the bill doesn’t require the state to make crypto purchases; it simply allows them at the Treasurer’s discretion.
Likewise, South Carolina’s bill wouldn’t force the state to invest 10% of its funds into Bitcoin. It just opens the door for that possibility, giving the state financial flexibility rather than a mandate.
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
FDIC and CFTC Rescind Old Crypto Guidelines

The FDIC and CFTC have both been working to change previous crypto guidelines. As federal regulators reconcile with the industry, they are removing old rules that specifically target crypto.
The former institution is removing the requirement that banks report crypto business, while the latter holds crypto to the same standards as other industries.
FDIC and CFTC Change Crypto Policies
The FDIC is one of the top financial regulators in the US, and it’s turning over a new leaf. After being one of the principal architects of Operation Choke Point 2.0, it recently began declassifying documents and changing rules that allowed crypto debanking.
Today, the agency is revoking a 2022 directive that impacted banks’ interactions with crypto:
“With today’s action, the FDIC is turning the page on the flawed approach of the past three years. I expect this to be one of several steps the FDIC will take to lay out a new approach for how banks can engage in crypto- and blockchain-related activities in accordance with safety and soundness standards,” said FDIC Acting Chairman Travis Hill.
Specifically, it rescinded a rule that mandated that all banks and institutions under its supervision notify the FDIC of any crypto involvement. The new guideline claims that banks “may engage in permissible crypto-related activities without receiving prior FDIC approval” without enacting any other policies.
Since Gary Gensler left the SEC, all the top US financial regulators have been trying to rework their relationship with crypto. In an apparent coincidence, the CFTC made a very similar move to the FDIC by rescinding two crypto guidelines.
Both of these actions did not establish a new policy; they merely removed the old ones.
Essentially, both of the CFTC’s rule changes are set to ensure that crypto-related derivatives are subject to the same requirements as non-crypto ones. This is somewhat surprising, considering that the industry has typically tried to insist that it necessitates specific regulations.
However, this is largely beside the point. The FDIC and CFTC are both working to remove previous guidelines that opposed the crypto industry.
These institutions will undoubtedly be amenable to creating new ones in the spirit of cooperation. In the meantime, this olive branch can help build a lot of goodwill.
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
Pi Network (PI) Drops Further Despite Telegram Wallet Deal

Pi Network (PI) has been under heavy selling pressure, with its price down more than 61% over the last 30 days. Despite a recent partnership with the Telegram Crypto Wallet, PI has struggled to regain momentum, as technical indicators remain mostly bearish.
Its BBTrend has been negative for 12 consecutive days, and although the RSI has recovered slightly from oversold levels, it still sits below the neutral 50 mark. With the downtrend firmly intact and critical support levels approaching, PI’s next move will likely depend on whether buyers can step in and reverse the current trajectory.
PI BBTrend Has Been Negative For 12 Days
Pi Network (PI) continues to face bearish pressure, as reflected in its BBTrend indicator, which remains deep in negative territory at -22.34.
This is despite recent headlines about the Telegram Crypto Wallet integrating Pi Network, news that has yet to translate into sustained upward momentum.
The BBTrend hit a recent low of -41 on March 21 and has stayed negative since March 16, marking twelve consecutive days of bearish trend signals. This prolonged weakness highlights the ongoing struggle for buyers to regain control of the market.

BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend, is a momentum-based indicator that helps gauge the strength and direction of a trend. Positive BBTrend values indicate bullish momentum, while negative values point to bearish sentiment—the further from zero, the stronger the trend.
With PI’s BBTrend sitting at -22.34, the market remains firmly under bearish influence, even if the worst of the recent downtrend may be easing slightly from its extreme lows.
Unless this trend flips back into positive territory soon, PI’s price could remain under pressure, with buyers staying cautious despite the recent integration news.
Pi Network RSI Has Recovered From Oversold But Still Lacks Bullish Momentum
Pi Network is showing early signs of recovery in momentum, with its Relative Strength Index (RSI) rising to 40.45 after hitting 23.8 just two days ago.
While this rebound suggests a reduction in overselling pressure, PI’s RSI hasn’t crossed above the neutral 50 mark in the past two weeks—highlighting ongoing weakness in bullish conviction.
Despite the slight uptick, the market has yet to see enough strength to shift sentiment meaningfully in favor of buyers. This cautious climb could either lead to a breakout or stall into continued consolidation.

The RSI, or Relative Strength Index, is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements. It ranges from 0 to 100, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and those below 30 suggesting the asset is oversold.
With PI’s RSI currently at 40.45, it’s in a neutral-to-bearish zone—no longer extremely oversold but still lacking strong buying pressure.
For a clearer trend reversal, the RSI would likely need to break above 50, which hasn’t happened in two weeks. Thus, the current move is more of a potential bottoming attempt rather than a confirmed shift.
Will PI Continue Its Correction?
PI price is currently trading within a well-established downtrend, as indicated by the alignment of its EMA (Exponential Moving Average) lines—where shorter-term EMAs remain firmly below longer-term ones.
This setup reflects persistent selling pressure, and if the correction continues, PI could revisit key support levels at $0.718, with a potential drop to $0.62 if that floor fails to hold.

However, recent signs of life in the RSI hint that a short-term rebound might be brewing, offering some hope for a recovery.
If bullish momentum builds, PI could challenge resistance at $1.05 in the near term. A breakout above that level would shift sentiment and open the door for further gains, with $1.23 and even $1.79 as potential targets if the uptrend strengthens.
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.
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