October saw Spirit Blockchain Capital’s CEO Lewis Bateman making waves on the conference circuit, showcasing the company’s vision at one of the world’s premier tech events. Lewis took center stage at Expand North Star during GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai, one of the largest and most influential tech exhibitions globally. A highlight of the event was his participation in a panel discussion alongside industry leaders Gaurav Dhar, Maisam Haider Baloch, and Gary Sheynkman, where they explored the real-world applications of blockchain technologies. The vibrant atmosphere in Dubai fostered innovation and collaboration among global tech leaders. Bateman’s involvement not only reinforced Spirit Blockchain Capital’s position at the forefront of tokenization and blockchain innovation but also opened doors for new opportunities and industry connections.
Next up, Lewis will be in New York City this November for Benzinga’s Future of Digital Assets, an exclusive one-day event that attracts top-tier digital asset innovators and industry leaders for high-level networking and discussions on the future of finance.In December, he will travel to Qatar for the MENA Fintech Festival, one of the most influential gatherings for fintech professionals in the Middle East and North Africa region. This event, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, brings together industry experts, investors, startups, and policymakers to shape the future of financial technology in the MENA region.
This Week in Crypto
As we close out October 2024, Bitcoin has demonstrated resilience and steady growth, marking a 14.2% gain for the month. BTC started October at $63,327 and closed at $72,300, showcasing its continued strength in the market. This performance aligns with the historical trend of “Uptober,” where Bitcoin often sees positive price movements. While not as dramatic as some previous years, this month’s gains reflect a maturing market and sustained investor confidence.
The broader cryptocurrency landscape has mirrored Bitcoin’s positive trajectory, with the total market capitalization maintaining its position well above $2 trillion. Ethereum and other major altcoins have also seen modest gains, contributing to the overall bullish sentiment in the crypto space.
Institutional interest continues to play a significant role in driving market dynamics, with major financial players increasing their crypto holdings and offerings. The recent Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September has further bolstered investor confidence in risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
This Week’s Headlines
1. Bitcoin Achieves 14.2% Gain in October, Marking Median-Level Performance
On-chain analysis reveals Bitcoin’s solid monthly performance, consistent with historical October trends.
3. US SEC gives green light for options listing for three spot bitcoin ETFs to NYSE – The U.S. securities regulator has granted “accelerated approval” to the New York Stock Exchange to list and trade options tied to three spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, according to a regulatory filing.
4. Institutional investments in Solana blockchain DApps up 54% in Q3: Institutional investments in Solana-based applications surged to $173 million in Q3 2024, marking a significant increase, according to a Messari report.
5. A memecoin market flipping could be underway: Solana memecoins are collectively at an all-time high. There are 57 memecoins with at least a $75 million market cap on CoinGecko. Sixteen of those are native to Solana, 18 are on Ethereum, and the remaining 40% are scattered across chains like Base, Bitcoin, Avalanche and Binance Chain.
6. Harris Odds Rise on Polymarket as ‘Election Fraud’ Allegations Ramp Up Trump Hedge Bets: The odds on Democrat candidate Kamala Harris winning next week’s U.S. presidential election are rising on betting platform Polymarket, with some observers suggesting the increase reflects hedging positions among traders who’ve also bet on a victory for her Republican rival, Donald Trump.
7. 14 Million ETH and Counting: The Growing Influence of Ethereum Liquid Staking Giants: One month ago, ethereum liquid staking derivatives (LSD) protocols collectively held 14.08 million ETH, crossing the 14 million milestone. Since then, these protocols have scooped up an additional 60,000 ETH.
8. SEC Goes After Another Crypto Firm, Slaps Immutable With Wells Notice: Web3 gaming firm Immutable has been issued a Wells Notice by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said in a statement on Friday.
9. Investors’ ‘fear of missing out’ drives gold demand to record high: Buyers clamour for gold-backed ETFs as central banks scale back purchases of the precious metal.
10. Hong Kong Unveils Regulation Roadmap, Hints at New Cryptocurrency Incentives: Hong Kong is poised to keep advancing as an Asian cryptocurrency hub, having recently made announcements seeking to cement the role of these as investments in the city. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Treasury, offered new information regarding regulation and crypto taxes at the Hong Kong Fintech Week.
