OVERVIEW

Like A Cat Watching Five Laser Pointers, This Market Is Indecisive 😹

Before we dive in, here’s today’s crypto market heatmap:

And here’s a look at crypto’s total market cap chart:

NEWS IN THREE SENTENCES
Crypto News 📰

🚀 Venice AI Token Hits $1.6B in a Blink

Venice AI’s new token on Base soared past a $1.6B valuation within hours, thanks to Bitcoin maverick Erik Voorhees hooking it up with DeepSeek’s model. It claims to be “private and uncensored” AI, sidestepping any questionable data funneling to China. We’ll see if this hype keeps rolling or flops once everyone remembers how fleeting AI mania can be or how privacy and China just never work. Cointelegraph.

📝 Tuttle Files 10 Leveraged Crypto ETFs

Tuttle just lobbed in a bunch of 2x memecoin ETF proposals, including ones for Trump and Melania tokens. Analysts say they’re basically stress-testing the new administration’s crypto-friendly vibe. If the SEC shrugs and approves, get ready for an ETF free-for-all. TheBlock.

⚒️ CoinShares Eyes Litecoin ETF

Europe’s biggest digital asset investment firm wants LTC holders to ride the spot-ETF wave. Some optimists say it could pump LTC, but the price response is basically a bored shrug. It’s another wait-and-see situation while regulators mull it over. SEC.

📜 Cboe: Let’s Trade BTC & ETH ETFs In-Kind

They’re asking the SEC to allow swapping actual Bitcoin or Ether for shares instead of doing the cash shuffle. That can reduce costs, taxes, and random friction. If approved, expect other ETFs to jump on this bandwagon with enthusiastic gusto. The Crypto Basic.

🤝 CFTC Plans Crypto Regulation Chat Sessions

They’ll gather industry experts, public interest groups, and apparently talk about everything from affiliates to stablecoins. Acting Chair Caroline Pham just replaced Rostin Benham after Trump’s inauguration, so a policy pivot could be brewing. They’re also sniffing around sports betting futures and crypto exchanges. CFTC Press Release.

🇪🇺 Crypto.com & OKX Snag European MiCA Licenses

They can now passport their services across the entire EU, tapping into a massive user base. It’s a big step forward for regulated expansion in Europe, which aims to be progressive but not too relaxed. More licenses likely coming as MiCA sets the stage for a pan-European crypto surge. Crypto.com’s X.

🇫🇷 France Mulls Taxing Gains You Haven’t Cashed Out

They want to tax unrealized crypto profits, so holders might owe money on hypothetical gains. Supporters say it’s fairness, critics call it a nightmare that’ll chase away investment. Europe’s all about regulation, but this might be a step too far for those who prefer “No sale, no taxes.” CryptoDNES.

🏦 BlackRock’s BTC ETF May Let You Redeem Actual Bitcoin

A Nasdaq filing wants to let investors exchange their ETF shares for real BTC, trimming out the cash middleman. That’s supposed to cut costs and maybe calm volatility. If the SEC signs off, it might pull even more institutions into the Bitcoin clubhouse. NASDAQ.

PRESENTED BY STOCKTWITS
“Trends With Friends” And TWO Special Guests 🤩 

Howard, Phil, and Michael are joined by Danny Frenkel and Alex Dajani of Punchup.live. Today’s discussion ranged a variety of topics, including DeepSeek’s AI innovation and geopolitical challenges, how open-source AI changes the game for startups, reimagining content ownership in a post-social media era, how Punchup is empowering creators in the live entertainment space, and a lot more!