🪑 Crypto Get A Seat at The Table

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NO BITCOIN OR ETHEREUM ETF STATS ON JAN 9 📉

Here’s the scoop: January 9th is a national day of mourning in the U.S. to honor former President Jimmy Carter. And with that, here’s what’s happening:

• The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ? Closed. No trading for U.S. stocks or options.

• Bond markets? They’re running, but with shortened hours.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• 🕯️ A Bitcoiner’s Perspective on Jimmy Carter’s Fu …

• 📊 Forecast of Fed Rate Cut 2025

• ⭐ Top Highlight in Crypto Today

• 🔗 BNB: From $0.15 To A Blockchain Giant

• 🤡 Meme Of The Day

🕯️ A Bitcoiner’s Perspective on Jimmy Carter’s Funeral

Funeral vibes are always a mix of solemnity and subtle drama, and Jimmy Carter’s farewell didn’t disappoint. Here’s what went down:

• Trump shakes hands with Mike Pence.

• Obama does not shake Trump or Melania's hand - but shakes everyone else's hands.

• Bush walks right past the Trump's, then slaps Obama in the stomach and shakes hands with everyone else.

• Obama and Trump having lots of laughs.

• The Clinton's walk in and ignore Bush, Obama and Trump.

Now, let’s crypto-spin this:

• Trump and Pence shaking hands? That’s Bitcoin and traditional finance awkwardly trying to find common ground.

• Obama snubbing Trump and Melania? Feels like Bitcoin’s love-hate saga with the SEC.

• Bush skipping Trump but buddying up with Obama? Picture financial institutions chasing Spot ETFs while leaving DeFi in the dust.

• The Clintons ghosting the room? That’s fiat refusing to acknowledge crypto’s growing dominance.

And while U.S. markets took a day off, Bitcoin did what Bitcoin always does—kept trading globally without a hiccup. That’s decentralization flexing its muscles. 💪

📊 Forecast of Fed Rate Cut 2025

The Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates have long been a critical factor influencing financial markets. Recently, predictions about potential rate cuts have shifted dramatically. Here's a breakdown:

The Fed’s Dilemma

The Fed finds itself in a tough spot. Inflation, although showing some signs of easing earlier this year, remains sticky. Unemployment concerns, coupled with a rising national debt, have left little room for maneuvering.

Despite earlier expectations that the Fed might implement two rate cuts in 2025, the markets now predict only a single cut. This cautious outlook reflects persistent inflation and the fear of reigniting price pressures.

If you look at the Fed Rate Monitor Tool, it shows no expectation of a rate cut from the Fed during their meetings between January 29, 2025, and May 7, 2025, with the highest rate projected to remain between 4.25% and 4.5%. It isn’t until June 18, 2025, that a potential rate cut to 4.0–4.25% begins to appear in projections. This rate is expected to hold steady through the end of the year.

Why the Fed Can’t Go Ham On Rate Cuts

1. Rising National Debt:

   U.S. interest payments on debt have soared past $1 trillion annually, making any reduction in rates fiscally challenging. Cutting rates too soon could weaken the dollar, increasing borrowing costs further.

2. Economic Pressure:

   The unemployment rate has not improved enough to justify rate cuts (about 4.2%). Additionally, the Fed’s dual mandate—to control inflation and maintain employment—restricts its ability to act without worsening one side of the equation.

3. Global Inflation Trends:

   Inflation isn’t a “just America” thing. The Eurozone’s been struggling with rising inflation for months. If everyone’s battling price hikes, how can the Fed afford to go soft?

Market Implications

Sure, investors are craving rate relief. But the Fed’s hesitation is leaving them anxious. High rates boost the dollar (check the DXY index), and when the dollar’s up, riskier assets like crypto and stocks feel the pain.

The bond market’s waving red flags, too. The 10-year Treasury yield is creeping toward 4.7%, and mortgage rates are flirting with 8%. Translation? Housing and economic growth are both feeling the squeeze.

What to Watch

Everything hinges on new data - especially around inflation and jobs. For now, the market’s bracing for higher rates to stick around. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a tiny rate cut later this year.

The bottom line: The Fed’s rate cut story has turned into a suspense thriller. With sticky inflation and global pressures, the market’s confidence in a smoother ride is wavering. Will the Fed surprise us, or are we buckling up for turbulence? Stay tuned.

⭐ Top Highlight in Crypto Today

• 🪑 Crypto Get A Seat at The Table: Eleanor Terrett from Fox Business just dropped a juicy tidbit: The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is thinking about creating its first-ever crypto subcommittee. And the kicker? Rumor has it Trump’s eyeing a pro-crypto pick for the next CFTC commissioner. Could this be the start of something big for crypto in D.C.?

• 💸 According to Arkham, Blackrock is selling, not buying BTC right now

• 🚨 Coinbase got hit with a CFTC subpoena tied to Polymarket, a crypto betting platform under investigation for potential manipulation. Big focus: user account info. Deadline? Jan. 15.

• ⚡ Thai police confiscated nearly 1,000 Bitcoin mining rigs in Chon Buri for stealing $3.2M in electricity using altered meters. Equipment confiscated, legal action underway.

• 📉 Bitcoin panic selling hits $92K. Short-term investors are selling Bitcoin at a loss as market sentiment turns bearish. Analysts say this could be a great “buy the dip” opportunity for smart investors.

🔗 BNB: From $0.15 To A Blockchain Giant

1. BNB’s History

Picture this: it’s 2017, and BNB launches as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum for $0.15. Binance raises $15 million in an ICO, fueling their dream of reshaping crypto.

Fast forward to April 2019: BNB migrates to Binance Chain. By September 2020, it levels up with Binance Smart Chain (BSC), bringing smart contracts and dApps into the fold.

Then comes February 2022: Binance Chain and BSC merge into BNB Chain, supercharging their ecosystem. This ain’t just a token anymore—it’s a whole damn blockchain powerhouse.

BNB’s market cap is now $100.52B, ranking 5th among the top cryptocurrencies.

2. The Rise and Fall of CZ: A Crypto Story for The Ages

When talking about BNB, we cannot forget the name Changpeng Zhao (CZ) – the father of BNB.

Hooked on Bitcoin

It all started in 2013 during a casual poker game in Shanghai. That’s when Changpeng Zhao (CZ) first heard about Bitcoin. The idea of a decentralized currency? Mind-blowing. CZ was all in. He quit his startup gig, joined a blockchain company, and quickly made a name for himself in the space.

The All-In Moment

In 2014, CZ did something most people wouldn’t dare. He sold every asset he had in Shanghai and poured it all into Bitcoin. The timing? Not great. Bitcoin tanked, aand the market was chaos. But CZ didn’t flinch. He believed in crypto, and he was betting big on it.

Binance Takes the World

By 2017, CZ wasn’t just betting on crypto—he was building the future of it. He launched Binance in Shanghai, and it became the world’s largest crypto exchange in record time. But then China pulled the rug out from under the industry, banning crypto trading. CZ? He packed up and moved Binance abroad, keeping the mission alive.

The Nomad Era

Regulators weren’t done. From the U.S. to the U.K. to Singapore, Binance kept running into walls. CZ responded like a true crypto degen: he went global. He moved Binance’s HQ to smaller, crypto-friendly countries like Malta and Bermuda, decentralized his team, and kept the company growing.

The Peak and the Crash

By 2021, CZ had made it. He was the richest man in China, and Binance was a crypto juggernaut. But in 2023, things came crashing down. The U.S. accused Binance of money laundering, violating sanctions, and even funding terrorism. The fallout? A $4.3 billion fine, CZ stepping down, and agreeing to cooperate to avoid a harsher fate.

The Final Chapter

Even after the settlement, CZ’s troubles weren’t over. He was barred from leaving the U.S. and hit with more charges. Eventually, he was sentenced to four months in prison. After his release, CZ announced he’d focus on education. Binance? Still running, but now heavily watched by U.S. regulators.

What We Learned

CZ’s journey is the ultimate crypto rollercoaster—sky-high wins and gut-punch losses. It’s proof that while decentralization is the dream, the real world is full of regulations and hard lessons.

3. BNB’s Ecosystems: Built Different

At the heart of the BNB ecosystem lies BNB Chain, powering DeFi apps like PancakeSwap, NFT platforms, and payment tools like Binance Pay. It’s a full-stack solution for crypto innovation, offering everything from decentralized governance to lightning-fast transactions with opBNB.

And for builders? BNB has your back with developer grants, dApp support, and integration with Binance Launchpad for token launches.

BNB isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving as the backbone of DeFi, NFTs, and Web3.

4. What’s next for 2025

BNB is stepping it up in 2025. Here’s what’s cooking:

• Binance Labs Rebrand: Binance Labs gets a glow-up, with CZ rolling up his sleeves to personally oversee investments. Translation: Binance is doubling down on its mission to dominate.

• Next-Gen Investments: The focus shifts to AI, blockchain, and biotech. If it’s cutting-edge and game-changing, Binance Labs is backing it.

• Binance Alpha: Think of it as Binance’s VIP club for Web3 stars. Only the most promising projects with massive community hype make the cut.

• Bigger Coin Lineups: More coins, more pairs, more chances to hit the jackpot. Binance’s listings are about to get even spicier.

• Faster, Stronger, Better: Expect lightning-fast transactions, bulletproof security, and upgrades that’ll make the platform even slicker for its growing user base.

• Global Power Moves: Binance is gunning for licenses worldwide, aiming to make regulators and users happy.

• Community Power: From crypto workshops to partnerships, Binance is making sure users aren’t just investors—they’re part of the movement.

Wrapping it up

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for BNB. With rebranding, cutting-edge investments, and ecosystem growth, Binance is doubling down on innovation. For users and investors, BNB continues to deliver unmatched utility in crypto’s ever-evolving landscape.

If you’re not paying attention to BNB in 2025, you’re sleeping on one of crypto’s biggest plays. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. 😉

🤡 Meme Of The Day

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The Crypto Fire Team