SnapShot 187

Solana futures ETFs filed, Crypto.com x DIB, and weekly NFT trading volume on Ethereum reached nearly $200M

Hello SnapShotters,

Happy New Year! As we move into 2025 after an eventful 2024, we celebrate Bitcoin’s year of milestones, the arrival of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and increase in crypto adoption. Trading volume for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) reached new highs, as well, and Spanish artist Sergi is dropping another ‘Puppetz’ NFT collection.

We look forward to what 2025 may bring, and wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe New Year. Thank you for your continued support, #CROFam.

Market Spotlight

Note: Market prices captured in USD at the time of sending. Explore more on Crypto‌.com/Price. 
Want more? Get weekly Market and DeFi Updates from Crypto.‌com’s Research Team.

News Snaps

📊 First Solana Futures ETF Filed

Asset manager Volatility Shares applied for ETFs based on Solana futures contracts. The issue? Such contracts do not exist, yet. The pre-emptive application reveals bullish sentiments that Solana may be the next in line for a potential spot ETF.

📈 Ethereum ETFs Inflow Doubles for December

According to data from Farside Investors, around US$2.05 billion had been invested in Ethereum ETFs for December (at the time of writing), which is almost double that of November’s $1.05 billion inflow.

₿ 2024 Was Bitcoin’s Time to Shine

Bitcoin achieved a number of milestones in 2024, including the latest Bitcoin halving event, its recent crossing of the $100,000 threshold, and the first approval of Bitcoin ETFs. The euphoria around the asset isn’t done yet, with more companies incorporating bitcoins into their treasury.

🖼️ Ethereum NFT Trading Reached a New High

The weekly trading volume of Ethereum non-fungible tokens (NFTs) reached $198.5 million in mid-December, achieving a new high for 2024. The sudden surge is mostly attributed to the Pudgy Penguins’s PENGU token launch, leading to a wave of trading activity for its NFTs.

🏦 Crypto.com Inks Partnership With Dubai Islamic Bank 

Crypto.com signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) to bring rewards and cryptocurrency payments to DIB’s customers while making the Crypto.com App and Card accessible to a wider audience in the Gulf region.

🇰🇷 30% of South Koreans Own Crypto 

For the first time, the Bank of Korea released a report with crypto asset statistics. Notably, it highlighted that 15.5 million citizens now own crypto, with total holdings reaching ₩102.6 trillion (~US$69 billion) at the end of November — nearly double from the previous month. 

What’s Ahead

🐕 Floki ETP Set to Launch in Europe

Floki DAO has approved the movement of liquidity to an upcoming FLOKI exchange-traded product (ETP), with a majority voting in favor of the proposal. The team is working with an asset manager to finalize the details, and the European ETP is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025.

Number of the Week

Chart of the Week

The global trend toward establishing Bitcoin reserves is gaining momentum, with more countries reportedly considering this option. It is commonly suggested that increased state ownership is likely to stabilize overall Bitcoin prices and may even drive them higher.

Research & Insights

Monthly Feature Article | Tokenized BTC

This report provides a comparative overview of tokenized BTC, examining the key benefits and challenges associated with different models, as well as the disruptive impact of new market entrants like CDCBTC.

Read the report.

Crypto Trivia

What is a bear trap in the crypto market?

A) A situation where prices appear to decline, prompting traders to sell short, but then reverse upward unexpectedly
B) A sharp and prolonged price decline in the market
C) A sudden price surge that traps buyers in overvalued positions

Find the correct answer at the end of this newsletter.

NFT Spotlight

Welcome to the Puppetz Club, the private club “for those who dare to live in freedom.” Spanish artist Sergi’s latest collection in the NFT series — ‘Puppetz Peasants 1.0’, which drops on Wednesday, January 8, is “a pioneering set of 2,000 unique Puppetz,” fully prepared for Web3 dapps. Each Puppet is a unique 1/1 handcrafted art.

Sergi specializes in different variants of art, including surrealism and concept art. His goal is to capture raw emotions and true feelings through his work, and to “challenge the norm and break down the barriers of what’s possible between design and imagination.”

Join the Puppetz Club and become part of the movement. Embrace the underground vibe.

Product Updates

The 2024 Year in Review Giveaway Is Ending Soon!

Get your recap of personalized highlights, top market trends, Missions achievements, and more. Check out your stories now. To celebrate our best moments, we’re giving away tickets to various sporting events from our partners to 33 eligible lucky users. Until January 8, 2025, share your Year in Review stories on social media for a chance to win. For more details on how to participate and the applicable terms and conditions, visit the blog. 

Win From a Prize Pool of US$5,000 of $CRO in the Mane City New Year Showdown

The Loaded Lions Mane City New Year Showdown is a three-day competitive event starting from January 3, 2025, 13:00 UTC to January 6, 2025, 13:00 UTC. 100% of the total Diamond spend will be added to future prize pools. Start playing for free on your desktop now https://app.mane.city.

New Token Listing

Tevaera (TEVA)

Tevaera Protocol is a decentralized gaming platform that simplifies launching and playing multi-genre games. 

This is informational content only and should not be considered as an investment recommendation. Some Crypto.com products may not be available in some jurisdictions.

Crypto Learn

How Interest Rates Can Influence Your Portfolio

The first Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of 2025 will provide insight into the monetary policies needed for sustainable economic growth, with interest rates likely to be a key topic given their potential impact on the crypto market.

Here are a few ways interest rates could shape a more favorable outlook for crypto:

Fund Flow: Falling interest rates make crypto assets more appealing than traditional investments.

Risk Appetite: Lower rates boost risk-taking, prompting larger crypto allocations in portfolios.

Liquidity: Lower interest rates make borrowing cheaper, facilitating crypto investments.

Inflation: Interest rate hikes may signal higher inflation, during which some may use crypto to hedge against currency devaluation.

Read how interest rates influence the market before planning your 2025 crypto strategy.

CryptoIRL

Happy holidays from @misterdoc137 and the Crypto.com Icy White Card. Here’s to a prosperous 2025, #CROFam!

Hashtag #CryptoIRL with your Crypto.‌com Card on your social profiles to get featured! Your 15 minutes of fame in the #CROFam awaits you!

Security Tips

Offline Phishing at Paris Crypto Event

During a crypto meetup, an attendee grew suspicious of a new exchange, Lainchain. He quickly recognized the platform’s unusual design and its request for wallet seed phrases — rather than standard security protocols — as clear red flags. A subsequent investigation by blockchain forensics firm AMLBot confirmed that Lainchain was a sophisticated phishing scam, leveraging fake identities and social engineering tactics to steal users’ personal and wallet information.

Here’s how to stay safe:

1. Avoid platforms that ask for private keys or seed phrases.
2. Always verify the legitimacy of any crypto-related website or service before interacting with it to protect your personal data and assets.
3. Do thorough research about the key members of new crypto projects before investing or using their products.

Crypto Trivia Answer

A) A bear trap is a situation where prices appear to decline, prompting traders to sell short, but then reverse upward unexpectedly.

That’s it for this week’s SnapShot. Want more? Find out what’s trending in the crypto world.