Bitcoin is currently priced at $93,739, Bitcoin is down -1.64% in the past 24 hours, while Ethereum trades at $3,356, down -1.41%. The Fear and Greed Index decreased to 65 (Greed) today, still reflecting bullish market sentiment. Ethereum’s NFT trading volume surged to $186 million last week, representing a 67% increase from $111 million the previous week and achieving a three-month high. Blockchain-powered AI project ai16z reached a $1.5 billion market cap on Saturday before stabilizing at $1.3 billion on Sunday, marking the first Solana Token Extension to cross the $1 billion milestone. Simultaneously, MicroStrategy continues its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, adding 5,200 Bitcoin at an average price of $106,000 per coin and proposing to increase Class A common stock from 330 million shares to 10.3 billion shares.
What’s Trending in the Crypto Community?
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Michael Saylor from MicroStrategy shared Bitcoin Tracker information for the eighth consecutive week, possibly hinting at further BTC accumulation. The CEO stated that over 600,000 BTC are held by 60 companies.
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Azuki founder announced that Animecoin-related updates will be released soon, with no TGE before year-end and the token to launch before the mainnet.
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Bitcoin mining difficulty increased by 1.16% this morning to 109.78 T, setting a new record high.
Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me
Trending Tokens of the Day
Top 24-Hour Performers
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24H Change |
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+4.42% |
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+3.38% |
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+2.94% |
Ethereum NFT Volume Hits $186 Million Weekly High, Driven by PENGU Token Launch
Ethereum's NFT trading volume soared to $186 million last week, marking a 67% jump from $111 million the prior week. This increase set a three-month high, showcasing Ethereum's dominance in the NFT market. By comparison, Bitcoin, the second-largest NFT ecosystem, recorded a modest $33 million in weekly volume, further solidifying Ethereum's position as the leader in NFT activity.
The key driver of this surge was the launch of the $PENGU token by the Pudgy Penguins collection. The collection accounted for $108 million in trading volume. Some individual Pudgy Penguins traded for over 29 ETH before prices dropped sharply following the token’s issuance. The token distribution was not limited to Pudgy Penguins asset holders. It included wallets from Ethereum and Solana, broadening the impact and appeal of the launch across multiple blockchain ecosystems.
Source: The Block
Read more: Top Solana NFT Projects to Keep an Eye On
Ripple Effect Across NFT Collections
Source: DexScreener
The $PENGU token launch sparked speculative trading activity in other prominent NFT collections. Azuki recorded $23 million in weekly trading volume, while Doodles reached $17 million. These increases suggest a growing market expectation for tokenization strategies among major NFT projects. This trend highlights how innovation in one collection can influence broader market dynamics.
Ethereum's concentration of trading volume underscores its continued dominance as the preferred platform for high-value NFT transactions and innovative developments. While alternative chains have developed NFT ecosystems, Ethereum consistently outpaces them in trading volumes and market impact.
Blockchain-Powered AI Agent 'ai16z' Reaches $1.5 Billion Market Cap
Source: KuCoin
AI-powered blockchain project ai16z reached a $1.5 billion market cap on Saturday December 28, 2024, briefly retreating to $1.3 billion on Sunday December 29, 2024. This marks the first Solana Token Extension to surpass the $1 billion milestone. Token Extensions, also known as Token 2022, enhance Solana's token standards with added functionality.
Ai16z is a cryptocurrency token operating on the Solana blockchain. It represents a venture capital firm managed by AI agents, aiming to shape the future of artificial intelligence. The AI16Z team connects AI entrepreneurs, investors, and experts to foster growth in the rapidly growing AI ecosystem.
The live price of ai16z is $1.24 as of the press time, with a total trading volume of $ 3.09M in the last 24 hours. The price of ai16z changed by -1.66% in the past day, and its USD value has increased by +32.38% over the last week. With a circulating supply of 1.10B AI16Z, the market cap of ai16z is currently $1.36B.
Since its launch two months ago, ai16z's value has increased tenfold. Retail and institutional investors have driven this growth amid heightened interest in AI-agent blockchain projects. The project was already listed on the major exchanges like KuCoin. Whale activity, tracked by blockchain analysis firm Lookonchain, indicates growing interest, with significant purchases boosting the token's value.
The project offers the Eliza development framework, enabling developers to create AI agents. This framework has drawn attention from investors and institutions alike. Eliza Labs, the team behind ai16z, recently announced a partnership with Stanford University to study autonomous blockchain-based AI integration into the digital asset economy. Despite internal volatility and evolving narratives around AI, ai16z remains a focal point of innovation in the blockchain space.
Read more: Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) research report
MicroStrategy Eyes More Bitcoin
Source: Michael Saylor
MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor recently hinted at another Bitcoin acquisition. The company completed its purchase of 5,200 Bitcoin at an average price of $106,000 per coin. Saylor shared a chart from SaylorTracker on X, fueling speculation about future acquisitions.
MicroStrategy has scheduled a special shareholders meeting in December 2024 to propose increasing the limit of Class A common stock from 330 million shares to 10.3 billion shares. The company also plans to raise the number of preferred stock from 5 million shares to over 1 billion. These moves aim to secure additional funding for Bitcoin purchases, drawing mixed reactions from the investment community.
Conclusion
From Ethereum’s NFT surge driven by $PENGU tokenization to ai16z’s meteoric rise in the blockchain AI space, innovation continues to redefine market dynamics. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy's bold Bitcoin strategy demonstrates unwavering confidence in cryptocurrency as a store of value. These developments illustrate the evolving intersections of blockchain, AI, and digital assets, capturing the imagination of investors and reshaping the landscape. Though Bitcoin experienced a slight dip recently, all eyes are on its performance leading up to Trump’s inauguration day on January 20, 2025, with high anticipation in the air.
Read more: Top Crypto Milestones and Insights to Know in the 2024-25 Bitcoin Bull Run
