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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that five digital assets will be included in a new U.S. strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies, a move that spurred a significant surge in market values.
Following the announcement, Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, rose more than 11% to trade at approximately $94,164, while ether, the second-largest, increased by about 13% to around $2,516. Overall, the total cryptocurrency market experienced a roughly 10% uplift, translating to an increase of over $300 billion, according to data from CoinGecko.
Industry experts noted that the move could signal a shift toward more active U.S. participation in the crypto economy. Federico Brokate, head of U.S. business at 21Shares, stated that the decision may accelerate institutional adoption, provide clearer regulatory guidelines, and strengthen the U.S. leadership in digital asset innovation. However, James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares, expressed surprise at the inclusion of assets beyond bitcoin, suggesting that these additional currencies are more akin to tech investments.
Trump’s announcement comes amid broader policy moves favoring the crypto industry. The president, who received support from the sector during his 2024 campaign, is set to host the first White House Crypto Summit on Friday, and his family has recently launched its own digital coins. Under Trump’s administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission has eased its scrutiny by withdrawing investigations into several crypto companies and dropping a lawsuit against Coinbase, the nation’s largest crypto exchange. This marks a departure from the regulatory approach of the previous administration, which had imposed stricter measures to curb fraud and money laundering.
Analysts have noted that despite recent downturns in cryptocurrency prices, market momentum could build further if additional catalysts, such as anticipated interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve or a clearly articulated pro-crypto regulatory framework, emerge. Meanwhile, regulatory filings indicate that alongside hedge funds, banks and sovereign wealth funds have been increasing their allocations to crypto-related investments.
There is ongoing debate among legal experts and analysts over the best mechanism to establish the strategic reserve. Some argue that an act of Congress might be required, while others suggest that the U.S. Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund could be used to purchase or sell the selected digital assets. Additionally, Trump’s crypto group had previously explored the option of creating the reserve using cryptocurrencies seized in law enforcement operations.
The announcement has intensified discussions on the future role of digital currencies in national policy, with market watchers and industry participants closely monitoring developments as the Trump administration pursues its crypto-related policy objectives.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% following its two-day policy meeting, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December.
China has carried out a major test of a new “super wireless” rail convoy, a technology that could reshape the future of heavy-haul transport.
Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) has launched a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O). The escalation follows a high-stakes battle that had appeared to end last week when Netflix secured a $72 billion deal for the studio giant’s assets.
U.S. industrial production rose by 0.1% in September, rebounding after a decline in August, while capacity utilisation remained unchanged, according to Federal Reserve data on Wednesday.
Google’s YouTube has announced a “disappointing update” for millions of Australian users and creators, confirming it will comply with the country’s world-first ban on social media access for under-16s by locking affected users out of their accounts within days.
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