It’s been a turbulent and volatile fourth quarter for Bitcoin in 2025. BTC has endured a turbulent December, with prices dropping nearly 9% and volatility spiking to levels not seen since April 2025.

In its latest mid-December “ChainCheck” report, VanEck’s digital asset analysts painted a nuanced picture: while on-chain activity remains weak, liquidity conditions are improving, and speculative leverage appears to be resetting, offering cautious optimism for long-term holders.

The firm highlighted the contrasting behaviors between different investor groups. Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) have been actively buying the dip, accumulating 42,000 BTC — their largest addition since July — bringing aggregate holdings above one million BTC. 

This contrasts with Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) investors, who have reduced exposure, underscoring a shift toward corporate accumulation over retail-led speculation. 

Analysts at VanEck noted that some DATs are exploring alternative financing methods, including issuing preferred shares rather than common stock, to fund purchases and operations, reflecting a more strategic, long-term approach.

Onchain data also revealed a divergence between medium- and long-term holders. Tokens held for one to five years have seen significant movement, suggesting profit-taking or portfolio rotation, while coins held for more than five years remain largely untouched. 

VanEck interprets this as a signal that cyclical or shorter-term participants are offloading assets, whereas the oldest cohorts maintain conviction in Bitcoin’s future.

Bitcoin miners are facing a falling hashrate

Miners, meanwhile, have faced a particularly challenging environment. Network hash rates fell 4% in December, says VanEck — the sharpest decline since April 2024 — as high-capacity operations in regions such as Xinjiang reduced output amid regulatory pressures. Breakeven electricity costs for major mining rigs have also dropped, reflecting tighter profit margins. 

Historically, however, VanEck notes that falling hash rates can serve as a bullish contrarian indicator: periods of declining network power have often preceded positive 90- to 180-day forward returns.

The VanEck team frames its analysis within the GEO (Global Liquidity, Ecosystem Leverage, Onchain Activity) framework, designed to assess Bitcoin’s structural health beyond daily price fluctuations. 

Under this lens, improving liquidity and the accumulation by DATs provide a counterweight to softer on-chain metrics, including stagnating new addresses and declining transaction fees.

Broader macro trends add complexity to Bitcoin’s outlook. The U.S. dollar has weakened to near three-month lows, rallying precious metals, but Bitcoin and other crypto assets have remained under pressure. 

In parallel, the evolving financial ecosystem may offer new support. Market observers point to the rise of “everything exchanges,” platforms aiming to integrate stocks, crypto, and prediction markets, leveraging AI-driven trading and settlement systems. 

Just last week, Coinbase made an ‘everything exchange’ like move and launched an expansion of its platform, introducing stock trading, prediction markets, futures, and other features. Companies entering this space — ranging from traditional brokerages to crypto-native firms — are vying for market share, potentially increasing Bitcoin’s liquidity and utility over time, VanEck says. 

Bitcoin price volatility 

Despite this, volatility remains a defining feature. While Bitcoin has doubled in value over the past two years and nearly tripled over three, the absence of extreme blow-off tops or drawdowns has tempered expectations. Future bitcoin moves may be more measured, with midterm investors likely to see smaller cyclical peaks and troughs rather than the dramatic swings of prior cycles.

VanEck said the broader market is in correction. Short- to medium-term speculative activity is retreating, long-term holders are holding steady, and institutional accumulation is rising. Coupled with signs of miner capitulation, subdued volatility, and macroeconomic dynamics, the firm frames the current environment as one of structural recalibration. 

As 2025 draws to a close, Bitcoin may be in a period of consolidation that reflects broader market maturation, VanEck said. This may result in some strong positive price moves in the first quarter of next year.

This post Despite a Volatile December For Bitcoin, Bullish Signals Are Emerging: VanEck first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers has introduced a package of legislation aimed at reshaping how digital assets are treated under state and local tax law, renewing a broader push by some lawmakers to position Arizona as a jurisdiction with clearer and more favorable rules for cryptocurrencies and blockchain infrastructure.

In bills prefiled with the Arizona Senate, Rogers proposed amending state statutes to exempt virtual currency from taxation (SB 1044), prohibiting counties, cities and towns from taxing or fining entities that operate blockchain nodes (SB 1045), and advancing a constitutional amendment to clarify how digital assets fit into Arizona’s property tax framework (SCR 1003).

By contrast, SB 1044 and SCR 1003 are tied together and would ultimately require voter approval during the next general election in November 2026.

SCR 1003 proposes amending Arizona’s constitution to explicitly exclude virtual currency from property taxation. SB 1044 would mirror that change in state statutes, adding language that clarifies digital assets are not subject to property tax. Under Arizona law, changes to constitutional tax definitions must be approved by voters, making the ballot measure a central hurdle for the broader tax exemption effort.

SB 1045 addresses a narrower, but increasingly debated issue: the treatment of blockchain nodes at the local level. The bill would bar cities, towns and counties from imposing “a tax or fee on a person that runs a node on blockchain technology,” effectively preventing local governments from singling out node operators through taxes or penalties. 

Arizona is one of many states embracing bitcoin and crypto

Arizona’s legislative activity around digital assets builds on earlier efforts that have already placed the state among a small group with crypto-specific laws on the books. Arizona is one of the few U.S. states that allows the government to take custody of digital assets deemed abandoned after three years. 

That framework emerged from past attempts by crypto advocates to establish a state-level digital asset reserve and has since become part of a wider debate over how much authority states should have to hold or invest in cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.

Rogers was previously a co-sponsor of a bitcoin reserve bill that was vetoed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in May. Following the veto, Rogers criticized the decision and said she planned to refile similar legislation in a future session.

Arizona’s proposals arrive as states across the country experiment with different approaches to digital asset policy. New Hampshire and Texas have also enacted laws related to digital asset reserves, while other states have focused on narrower tax questions. 

Ohio lawmakers advanced a bill that would exempt cryptocurrency transactions under $200 from capital gains taxes, though it has stalled since June.

 In New York, a proposal to impose a 0.2% excise tax on digital asset transactions was referred to committee earlier this year and has not moved forward.

At the federal level, Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming introduced draft legislation proposing a de minimis exemption for digital asset transactions and capital gains of $300 or less. 

Lummis announced on Friday that she plans to retire from the U.S. Senate in January 2027.

Bitcoin is trading at $87,341, down 3% over the past 24 hours. Its 24-hour trading volume is $46 B. The price is 3% below its 7-day high of $90,031 and 1% above its 7-day low of $86,806.

With a circulating supply of 19,966,021 BTC (out of a maximum 21 million), Bitcoin’s market cap stands at approximately $1.74 T, reflecting a 3% drop in the last 24 hours.

This post Arizona Introduces Bill To Exempt Bitcoin and Crypto From Property Taxes  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

The bitcoin price briefly crossed the $90,000 mark earlier Monday, rallying from $88,000 during Asian trading hours to just above $90,000 in European and US afternoon trading. 

The surge didn’t last long as the bitcoin price dropped down near $88,000 by the end of afternoon. 

BTC has displayed a pattern in recent weeks of gaining momentum during Asian and European trading hours, only to see those advances fade once U.S. investors re-enter the market. 

Data from CoinGlass show that bitcoin futures open interest climbed earlier in the day toward $60 billion across major trading venues including Binance, CME, and Bybit. The increase suggests fresh leveraged positions are entering the market, rather than mere short-covering.

Rising open interest alongside higher prices does not necessarily signal immediate trouble. But it does heighten the stakes. If momentum stalls, crowded long positions could unwind rapidly, prompting steep pullbacks. 

Conversely, if the rally holds, leverage could amplify upside potential.

A sustained move and hold above $90,000 could signal a shift away from the pattern of sharp early-day sell-offs that has characterized much of December. A sustained hold above this level would suggest bullish momentum, while failing to do so may indicate the continuation of the market’s tendency toward lower highs and rapid pullbacks.

Bitcoin price technical levels

Support for the bitcoin price remains near $84,000, a level that has proven resilient in recent weeks. Immediate resistance lies at $91,400, with the next key level at $94,000. Beyond $94,000, analysts point to $98,000 and a zone between $101,000 and $108,000 as strong resistance.

Closing above $108,000 could challenge assumptions that bitcoin price’s 2025 peak marks a long-term top, according to Bitcoin Magazine analysis.

Despite the rally, the U.S. macroeconomic environment remains a key influence on bitcoin’s price trajectory. The Federal Reserve’s policy path is uncertain, in part due to delays in key inflation data caused by the recent government shutdown.

Gabriel Selby, head of research at CF Benchmark, told DLNews that until the Fed receives several months of uninterrupted inflation readings, market participants are unlikely to commit fully to risk assets like bitcoin.

Investors are also monitoring upcoming U.S. economic indicators. GDP figures for the third quarter are due tomorrow, with forecasts pointing to roughly 3.5% annualized growth, slightly below the second quarter’s 3.8% pace. Consumer confidence data and weekly jobless claims will provide additional insights into the labor market, potentially influencing risk appetite.

Potential ‘Santa Rally’

Historical seasonality offers some reason for optimism. The S&P 500 has often rallied during the final five trading days of December and the first two days of January, a pattern known as the “Santa Claus rally.” BTC’s correlation with equities via ETFs means a festive push in stocks could spill over into the crypto market.

Bitcoin’s Santa period performance has been mixed historically. Strong returns of 33% and 46% were recorded in 2011 and 2016, respectively, while other years saw declines. Overall, BTC has averaged a roughly 7.9% gain during the period since 2011.

Gold has been a more consistent performer, delivering a 95% cumulative return over the same window, and its recent record highs above $4,400 an ounce should strong sentiment. 

Bitcoin price outlook

For now, sellers remain in control near $89,000, roughly 30% below bitcoin’s October all-time high. Investors pulled nearly $500 million from spot bitcoin ETFs last week, signaling caution amid macro uncertainty.

However, per Bitcoin Magazine data, if bulls maintain support above $84,000 and manage to hold gains above $90,000 during U.S. hours, they may create a foundation for a year-end rally. 

The interplay between spot demand, futures leverage, and macroeconomic signals will likely dictate whether the bitcoin price can sustain its push toward the key $94,000 and $101,000 levels in the final weeks of 2025.

BTC was trading at $88,368 at press time, with a 24-hour trading volume of $40 billion. The cryptocurrency’s market capitalization stood at roughly $1.76 trillion, with 19.97 million coins in circulation and a maximum supply capped at 21 million.

This post Bitcoin Price Struggles at $90,000 as Christmas Trading Looms first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Interhash has acquired a controlling stake in Neopool, a Bitcoin mining pool. The deal was closed during the Bitcoin MENA 2025 conference.

Neopool, launched earlier this year, has entered the top 15 global mining pools and ranks first worldwide in Daily PPS efficiency, according to miningpoolstats.stream.

Alexander Lozben, CEO of Interhash, said the company sees strong potential in Neopool and views mining pools as an undervalued part of the Bitcoin ecosystem, in a note shared with Bitcoin Magazine.

Interhash develops solutions for crypto mining and high-performance computing, focusing on sustainable infrastructure.

Neopool CEO Andrei Kapeikin said the investment provides a strategic partner to support scaling and improve mining efficiency for operations ranging from private farms to industrial-scale facilities.

Neopool has a top-15 global ranking and the highest Daily PPS efficiency, built by a team with over 100 years of combined mining and IT experience.

Earlier this month, Neopool reported record payouts of 169 BTC (around $15 million) to its miners in November 2025, reflecting rapid growth since its launch earlier this year. Ranked by miningpoolstats.stream as the most efficient pool globally, Neopool credits its performance to proprietary optimization technology, low-latency global routing, and transparent FPPS payouts with daily settlements. 

CEO Andrei Kapeikin said that technical excellence and transparency, rather than just hash rate volume, drive miner value. 

This post Interhash Acquires Controlling Stake in Neopool first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Trump Media & Technology Group just beefed up its bitcoin portfolio, acquiring an additional 451 Bitcoin valued at roughly $40.3 million. 

The move brings the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to 11,542 coins, now worth more than $1 billion, according to analytics firm Arkham.

The latest purchase continues Trump Media’s broader crypto treasury strategy. Earlier in 2025, the company reported around $2 billion in Bitcoin and related digital assets as it increasingly positions itself as a crypto‑focused investment entity.

In July, Trump Media announced plans to launch the Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, with Crypto.com serving as the exclusive custodian, prime execution agent, staking, and liquidity provider. Yorkville America Digital, LLC was named as the fund’s sponsor. 

The ETF’s launch was contingent on SEC approval of a Form 19b-4 filing and the effectiveness of its registration statement.

The fund was structured as a Nevada business trust, issuing and redeeming shares in blocks of 10,000 through authorized participants, using cash for creation and redemption. While in-kind transactions were not initially offered, they could be implemented later pending regulatory approval. 

Trump Media said at the time that the shares could not be sold or purchased until the SEC registration statement became effective.

Trump Media stock surges

At the time of writing, shares of Trump Media & Technology Group ($DJT) are down nearly 10% on the day. That being said, the stock saw its stock surge dramatically last week following an unexpected all-stock merger announcement with TAE Technologies, valuing the combined entity at over $6 billion. 

Shares jumped roughly 42% on Thursday, adding more than half a billion dollars to the Trump family’s holdings, climbed another 8.3% on Friday, and rose 3.6% in Monday premarket trading. 

The merger pivoted TMTG from a social media play into a fusion energy venture, with plans to build nuclear fusion plants to power artificial intelligence operations.

Trump Media went public in 2024 via a SPAC merger and is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, with Devin Nunes as CEO.

TMTG focuses on social networking, streaming through Truth+, and financial services with a FinTech brand Truth.Fi.

It’s majority‑owned by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust.

Bitcoin is currently priced at $89,358, with a 24-hour trading volume of $38 B. Its price has risen 2% in the past 24 hours, sitting slightly below its 7-day high of $90,353 and above its 7-day low of $87,948.

The circulating supply is 19,965,603 BTC out of a maximum 21,000,000 BTC, giving Bitcoin a market cap of about $1.78 trillion, which reflects a 2% change over the past day.

This post Trump Media Adds 451 Bitcoin, Total BTC Holdings Surpass $1 Billion first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Gemini’s Director of Institutional, Patrick Liou, outlined five key predictions for the crypto market in 2026, following what he called a “historic” 2025 for digital assets.

His outlook highlights structural shifts in the market, increasing institutional adoption, and growing mainstream political acceptance, according to a note shared with Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitcoin breaks the four-year cycle narrative

Liou predicts that Bitcoin may end 2026 with a negative return, challenging the traditional four-year cycle that has historically guided investor expectations.

According to Liou, the market’s maturation — characterized by new participants, regulated investment vehicles, and deeper liquidity — has reduced volatility. He noted that recent pullbacks have been far smaller than in previous cycles, with Bitcoin down roughly 30% from its highs rather than the 75–90% declines seen historically. 

Structural changes, including lower implied volatility in options markets, signal a broader investor base and a more durable bull case for the asset.

Political embrace of crypto for midterms

Liou expects both major U.S. political parties to increasingly court the crypto community in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms. While Republicans were the first to engage crypto voters in 2024, Democrats are anticipated to follow suit. 

Liou highlighted the stalled Market Structure bill as a key legislative focus, predicting its passage in early 2026 with bipartisan support. Candidates in swing states such as Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Michigan are also expected to include crypto policy in their campaign agendas.

Crypto-backed prediction markets will gain traction

Prediction markets, which leverage crowd-sourced insights to forecast outcomes, are poised for growth, Liou said. Such platforms aim to reward informed forecasting while providing more accurate market intelligence.

Digital asset treasury companies will consolidate

After a wave of digital asset treasury (DAT) launches in 2025, Liou forecasts consolidation through mergers and acquisitions in 2026.

He noted that simply holding crypto will no longer suffice; DATs must demonstrate sophisticated financial management, including capital market engagement and balance sheet optimization, to maintain shareholder value.

Nation states may move gold into bitcoin reserves

Liou predicts that at least one nation will convert part of its gold reserves into Bitcoin next year. He cited Bitcoin’s advantages, such as instant transferability, on-chain verifiability, and fractionalization, as driving interest from sovereign investors. 

The U.S., with its strategic digital asset framework, could be a candidate, while other countries seeking diversification from the dollar or high gold-to-GDP ratios may also explore the shift.

This post Gemini Predicts Bitcoin Cycle Break and Nation-State Bitcoin Adoption in 2026 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

JPMorgan Chase is weighing whether to offer bitcoin trading services to institutional clients, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the matter.

The largest U.S. bank by assets is assessing potential products that could include spot bitcoin trading and derivatives within its markets division. The discussions remain preliminary, and no decision has been made to launch the services, the report said.

Any move would depend on several factors, including client demand, internal risk assessments, and whether the bank can structure offerings that fit within existing regulatory frameworks. JPMorgan has not commented publicly on the report.

The internal review reflects growing interest among large investors for access to digital asset markets through established financial institutions. Hedge funds, asset managers, and pension funds increasingly seek trading venues that align with their compliance, governance, and execution requirements. 

Institutional clients often prioritize balance sheet strength, operational resilience, and regulated market access when trading new asset classes. For some firms, those requirements narrow the range of acceptable counterparties, even as liquidity in crypto markets has expanded.

Scott Lucas, who leads digital assets for JPMorgan’s markets division, said in an interview earlier this year that the bank planned to pursue trading activities tied to digital assets but did not intend to provide custody services. That approach would mirror how some banks engage with commodities and other non-traditional assets.

JPMorgan analysts also recently said that bitcoin appears cheap relative to gold after a sharp October sell-off, with strategists pointing to upside potential toward $170,000.

JPMorgan is pivoting on bitcoin

The bank’s interest comes as regulatory conditions in the U.S. begin to shift. Market participants expect progress on federal digital asset legislation, while banking regulators have recently clarified that federally chartered banks may act as intermediaries in certain crypto-related activities. 

JPMorgan has expanded its engagement with blockchain technology over the past several years without embracing cryptocurrencies as a core asset class. The bank has worked on tokenization, on-chain settlement, and distributed ledger infrastructure. 

Earlier this year, it arranged the issuance and settlement of a short-term bond for Galaxy Digital using the Solana network.

The firm has also said it plans to allow institutional clients to use bitcoin and ether as collateral in lending arrangements, a step that acknowledges demand without committing to proprietary exposure.

A move into bitcoin trading would mark a further shift in tone for JPMorgan and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, who has long criticized bitcoin while maintaining that clients should be free to make their own investment decisions.

JPMorgan would not be alone among global banks reassessing crypto markets. Standard Chartered has launched spot trading for bitcoin and ether through its U.K. operations, while Goldman Sachs continues to operate a crypto derivatives desk. 

This post JPMorgan Weighs Bitcoin Trading for Institutional Clients first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Ghana has legalized bitcoin and crypto trading after parliament passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025, ending years of regulatory uncertainty around digital assets in the West African nation.

The law establishes a formal framework for licensing, supervising, and regulating crypto-related businesses, according to Bloomberg reporting.

 It also grants the Bank of Ghana authority to oversee the sector, with a focus on consumer protection, financial stability, and risk management.

Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama announced the development over the weekend in Accra, saying the legislation brings crypto activity “within clear, accountable, and well-governed boundaries.”

Under the new framework, individuals will no longer face arrest or legal risk for trading cryptocurrency. However, companies offering digital asset services must now obtain licenses, comply with reporting requirements, and submit to ongoing supervision, according to reports.

Operators that fail to meet standards may face sanctions or closure.

The central bank said the move responds to concerns about fraud, money laundering, and misuse of customer funds, while recognizing the scale of adoption in the country. 

Ghanaians are starting to use crypto 

Officials estimate that nearly 3 million Ghanaians — about 17% of the adult population — have engaged in cryptocurrency transactions.

Crypto transactions in Ghana reached roughly $3 billion in the year through June 2024, according to estimates by Web3 Africa Group. While smaller than Nigeria’s market, the figure highlights the growing role of digital assets in everyday commerce, remittances, and informal finance.

Asiama said regulation would also lower costs for banks, improve customer experience, and support small and medium-sized businesses. He added that a clear rulebook could attract responsible investors, exchanges, and fintech firms that previously avoided Ghana due to legal risk.

The Bank of Ghana said they plan to roll out licensing and supervisory rules in phases during 2026. Existing virtual asset service providers will be required to register and meet compliance standards to continue operating.

Officials said lessons from the 2022 global crypto market downturn influenced the legislation, particularly the need for safeguards against systemic risk and weak oversight.

Ghana joins a growing list of African countries moving toward formal crypto regulation as adoption accelerates across the continent.

Policymakers say the goal is not to ban digital assets, but to ensure their growth does not undermine monetary policy or financial stability.

This post Ghana Legalizes Bitcoin and Crypto Trading Under New Legal Framework first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Billionaire Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor’s company, Strategy Inc., increased its U.S. dollar reserves by $748 million last week, lifting total cash liquidity to $2.19 billion, according to a regulatory filing released today.

The update confirms that the company continues to hold 671,268 bitcoin, leaving its total BTC position unchanged during the reporting period from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21. 

Strategy remains the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, with an aggregate purchase price of roughly $50.33 billion.The increase in cash stems from sales conducted under the company’s at-the-market equity offering program. 

During the week, the company sold roughly 4.54 million shares of its Class A common stock, generating $747.8 million in net proceeds after commissions. No preferred stock was issued, despite multiple preferred share classes remaining available for sale.

As of Dec. 21, Strategy reported more than $41 billion in remaining capacity across its common and preferred stock ATM programs. 

The filing shows that the company did not purchase any bitcoin during the period. Its holdings remained steady at 671,268 BTC, acquired at an average price of $74,972 per coin, inclusive of fees and expenses. The lack of accumulation marks a pause following a large bitcoin purchase earlier in December.

Strategy has historically relied on equity and debt issuance to fund bitcoin acquisitions. The absence of new purchases suggests a tactical pause, rather than a change in long-term strategy.

Strategy’s dollar reserves

The company first disclosed the establishment of a dedicated U.S. dollar reserve on Dec. 1, when the balance stood at $1.44 billion. The reserve is intended to support preferred dividend payments, service debt obligations, and manage short-term volatility. 

The increase to $2.19 billion strengthens Strategy’s near-term financial flexibility.

Management did not specify how or when the cash will be deployed. In prior filings, Strategy has said capital raises are designed to support long-term bitcoin accumulation while maintaining sufficient liquidity to operate through market cycles.

The continued use of at-the-market offerings underscores Strategy’s active engagement with capital markets. 

While bitcoin holdings were unchanged during the week, the company reiterated its commitment to transparency by publishing regular updates through its investor dashboard and SEC filings.

MSCI and Strategy 

All this is happening while MSCI considers a rule change that could reshape how crypto-heavy companies are treated in global equity markets. MSCI is weighing whether to remove firms like Strategy from its major indexes if more than 50% of their assets are held in digital assets, arguing that these companies resemble investment funds rather than operating businesses. 

Under the proposal, firms classified as “Digital Asset Treasury” companies would be excluded to preserve benchmark integrity and limit volatility. Strategy, the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, sits at the center of the debate, but several other companies with similar balance-sheet strategies could also be affected. 

Strategy has formally pushed back, calling the 50% threshold arbitrary, discriminatory, and unworkable. The company argues it is an operating technology business building digital credit and financial infrastructure, not a passive crypto vehicle. 

Analysts and industry participants have also criticized the proposal, warning that exclusion could force index funds to sell billions of dollars’ worth of shares. 

Estimates suggest potential outflows of $2.8 billion to $9 billion for Strategy alone, and $10 billion to $15 billion across the sector. MSCI is expected to decide by January 15, 2026, ahead of a potential February index implementation.

The outcome of this decision could send shockwaves through the market and potentially impact Bitcoin price performance over the coming months.

Earlier today, ​​Citigroup cut its price target on MicroStrategy to $325 per share from $485. The bank maintained its buy rating on the stock. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $90,000.

This post Bitcoin-treasury Strategy Boosts Cash Reserve to $2.19 Billion, Pauses BTC Buying first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Hyundai Group evacuated employees from two major offices in Seoul today after receiving a bomb threat email demanding payment in bitcoin, police said. 

Authorities later confirmed the threat was a hoax, but the incident added to growing concern over a recent wave of extortion, crypto and non-crypto related, threats targeting South Korea’s largest companies.

According to local reports, a 112 emergency call was received at about 11:42 a.m. The caller relayed the contents of an email sent to Hyundai. The message said an explosive device would be detonated at Hyundai Group’s building in Yeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, at 11:30 a.m.

It added that a second bomb would be taken to Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, where Hyundai Motor Group maintains a major office.

The email demanded payment of 13 bitcoins. At current bitcoin prices, the amount is valued at about $1.1 million, or roughly 16.4 billion won.

According to reports, the caller said, “If you don’t give me 13 Bitcoins, I will blow up the Hyundai Group building at 11:30 a.m. and then take a bomb to Yangjae-dong and detonate it.”

Hyundai moved to evacuate staff from both locations. Police dispatched special forces units and bomb squads to conduct searches of the buildings. Officers sealed off parts of the surrounding areas while inspections were carried out. No explosive devices were found at either site.

After several hours, authorities concluded the scam threat lacked credibility. Operations at the buildings gradually returned to normal. Police said no payment was made and no injuries or property damage were reported.

South Korean corporate threats and bitcoin crime

The Hyundai incident comes amid a series of similar threats aimed at major South Korean corporations over the past several days. 

On Thursday, posts appeared on Kakao’s customer service bulletin board claiming explosives had been planted at Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, as well as at Kakao’s Pangyo offices and Naver facilities. Those messages also included demands for large cash payments, per reports. 

On December 17, another bomb threat was posted through KT’s online subscription application system. The message claimed an explosive device had been installed at KT’s office in Bundang, Seongnam. 

Police responded by clearing the building and conducting a search. No explosives were discovered in that case either.

Authorities believe the incidents are part of a pattern of digital extortion attempts that rely on fear rather than using real devices or bombs. Investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals behind the threats and trace the origins of the messages, per the local police. 

This post ‘Pay 13 Bitcoin or We Blow It Up’: Hyundai Bomb Threat Shakes South Korean Offices first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.