U.S. Embraces Bitcoin ETFs: A New Chapter
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently made history by approving the country's first Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). This landmark decision includes an ETF from Brazilian firm Hashdex. This follows years of SEC rejections of Bitcoin ETF applications. BlackRock's proposal earlier in 2023 marked a turning point, generating widespread interest due to their market influence. Standard Chartered Bank predicts these ETFs could attract up to $100 billion in the first year.
Marcelo Sampaio, CEO of Hashdex, views the launch as a significant regulatory step in the U.S. and a victory for digital assets. Despite the approval, SEC Chair Gary Gensler cautions investors, clarifying that the SEC doesn't endorse Bitcoin. To lure investors, companies like BlackRock are cutting administration fees, with some even offering zero fees.
The anticipation of ETF approvals has already boosted Bitcoin's value significantly, with a more than 160% increase over the past year. However, after the announcement, Bitcoin's value momentarily dipped. Analysts predict the ETFs could drive Bitcoin's value to new heights, potentially reaching $50,000 soon and possibly its all-time high later in the year. They also anticipate a favorable impact from the upcoming Bitcoin halving event, which reduces its inflation rate. But there is caution about potential profit-taking once it reaches certain levels.
Nicole Dyskant from Fireblocks notes that the SEC's decision influences more than just market liquidity. It could transform the broader financial and capital markets. The days leading up to the ETF launch saw cybersecurity incidents and criticism. The SEC's Twitter account was hacked, falsely announcing the ETF approvals, which the SEC later denied and began investigating. Gensler has also warned about risks in the crypto market, emphasizing the importance of understanding risks and legal compliance.
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Police in Winona Minnesota are stunned after every single one of their Flock cameras were suddenly removed in a single night.
According to the police department, all 8 of the town's cameras were cut down and hauled away.
Police are asking for the public's help to identify the individual, but the public has been responding with comments such as:
"The Flock cameras tore themselves down"
"Whoever did it, was fishing with me"
"Whoever it was, was at Bible study with me"
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Nearly 20,000 people are publicly vouching for a man accused of cutting down Flock cameras in a small West Virginia town.
People commented:
"He was saving my neighbor's dog from a fire all day, couldn't be him."
"This man is innocent. I saw him serving at a soup kitchen."
-"Couldn't be him. He was helping me replace the roof on a homeless shelter."
The man, Wesley Jackson, has pleaded Not Guilty.
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US diesel crack surpasses $100 a barrel for the first time on supply disruptions
... and the supply of refined fuels is already nearly exhausted. A hard landing is visible ahead, for farmers, for trucking, and ... well, for everything that requires food (people) and energy (the entire economy).
These are very likely the final days of relative normalcy during which to prepare. Get ready.
🌾 🌍 🚜 JPMorgan warns a massive global food supply crisis could begin next year as fertilizer shortages tighten agricultural supply.
JPMorgan is the latest institutional research desk to warn that the next global food crisis may already be taking shape, driven by what its analysts describe as the "Five Ws": War, Weather, Warehousing, Water, and Waste.
In a new report titled Food Security Is National Security: A Compounding Storm, a team led by London-based senior global economist Nora Szentivanyi warned that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and the emergence of a potentially historic El Niño could weaken crop yields, constrain agricultural production, and keep food inflation elevated through the first half of 2027.
"Successive shocks since COVID have compounded, eroding food production capacity and keeping food price pressures elevated into 2027," Szentivanyi said, warning that "this is not a short-lived shock; it has reduced the likelihood of near-term disinflation, and the food ...