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Bitcoin's price surged past $45,000 for the first time in almost two years, reaching levels higher than any in 2023. The rapid climb, exceeding 6% in the last 24 hours and 170% over the past year, is attributed to anticipation of a potential approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by the SEC. The last time Bitcoin surpassed $45,000 was in April 2022. Analysts, like Gabor Gurbacs of VanEck, foresee the early days of a spot Bitcoin ETF as potentially underwhelming but anticipate significant inflows in the coming years, potentially reaching trillions of dollars. (Source: Coinmarketcap)

Monday Canada, a global AI technology leader, is using AI solutions to tackle staffing shortages in its healthcare sector. Montreal and Canadian universities are driving AI innovation, supported by a $230 million government investment. The integration of AI in healthcare, from diagnostics to administration, aims to ease the burden on professionals and enhance patient care. While AI adoption presents challenges and ethical concerns, companies like Decisio Health are leading the way in streamlining healthcare processes. AI's growing role in healthcare signals a transformative shift, offering resilience and adaptability to overcome staffing constraints. (Source: Canadian Government's AI Investment)

Chief Justice John Roberts expressed caution about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in federal courts, citing it as the "latest technological frontier" in his annual report. While acknowledging potential benefits, Roberts emphasized the need for caution and humility, particularly in light of recent incidents involving AI-generated fake legal citations. The Chief Justice highlighted the nuanced and interpretative nature of judicial decisions, expressing skepticism about widespread AI adoption in the judiciary. As federal courts navigate technology integration, Roberts' cautionary perspective prompts reflection on the delicate balance between AI precision and human judgment in legal proceedings. (Source: Chief Justice Roberts' Annual Report)

Argentina's political landscape is buzzing with President Javier Milei's ambitious legislative agenda, encompassed in the "Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines." The comprehensive bill seeks libertarian reforms across diverse sectors, granting the president legislative powers through executive orders in specified emergency areas. The bill proposes declaring a national emergency until December 2025, with the potential for extension, allowing Milei to issue executive orders. A notable provision introduces asset regulation, allowing individuals to declare ownership of assets, including cryptocurrencies, with a proposed tax of up to 15% on excess amounts. However, challenges arise as the bill faces skepticism, legal scrutiny, and opposition from major workers' groups, such as the CGT, leading to a scheduled general strike on January 24. The fate of Milei's reform agenda remains uncertain as the bill progresses through Congress, highlighting the complexities of...

Tesla has surprised the tech and automotive communities by releasing Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta V12.1 just 14 days after Elon Musk's announcement. This rapid deployment highlights Tesla's commitment to pushing the boundaries of self-driving technology. FSD Beta V12.1 marks a significant transition as Tesla replaces 300,000 lines of C++ code with neural networks to control the software entirely. The video demonstration of the software in action reveals smoother steering and enhanced safety features, showcasing improved confidence and responsiveness. While there are positive strides, the video also highlights ongoing challenges, particularly in recognizing speed bumps, emphasizing Tesla's dedication to continuous improvement. (Source: Cryptopolitan)

According to sources and wide speculations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may permit the trading of Bitcoin Spot ETFs on Tuesday or Wednesday of the week following approval, expected on January 10. Valkyrie, Ark, 21Shares, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, and Invesco are among the asset management firms seeking approval for Bitcoin Spot ETFs. Valkyrie plans to charge a 0.80% management fee if approved. Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund has the lowest fee at 0.39%, while Invesco aims for a 0.59% fee, which may be waived for six months on the first $5 billion in assets attracted. First week of 2024will be exciting for Crypto traders. (Source: Bitcoinsistemi)

A United States federal judge has sided with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a case against Terraform Labs and its former CEO, Do Kwon. The court granted summary judgment in favor of the SEC, which alleged that Terraform Labs and Kwon offered and sold two unregistered securities, LUNA and Mirror Protocol tokens. The court cited a previous statement from Kwon, indicating that LUNA holders could "[s]it back and watch [him] kick ass," as evidence that LUNA satisfied the Howey test. The ruling highlights the SEC's ongoing efforts to regulate the digital asset space and enforce securities laws, emphasizing the importance of compliance with registration requirements. (Source: Cointelegraph)

In an unexpected move, BlackRock announced JPMorgan as its Authorized Participant (AP) in their updated ETF filing. This development is surprising given that JPMorgan's CEO is known for his critical view of Bitcoin. The involvement of a major bank, traditionally skeptical of cryptocurrencies, adds credibility to the Bitcoin ETF and reflects the evolving relationship between traditional finance and the crypto world. Other Bitcoin ETF applicants, such as Valkyrie, Fidelity, and Invesco Galaxy, also submitted final S-1 amendments, revealing details about authorized participants and fees. The countdown to the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETF for the US market is now down to days. This development marks a significant shift in JPMorgan’s stance towards cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and the irony in JPMorgan’s new role, given Dimon’s past criticism of digital currencies.(Source: Coinjournal)

2023’S Crypto global regulation perspective : The UK Law Commission considers digital assets as falling within the existing property framework, and it sees smart contracts as operating similarly to traditional contracts, suggesting that English law can accommodate their use without reform. In the US, regulators apply existing derivative rules to crypto derivatives, with restrictions on those falling outside the current framework. The EU introduced the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill in May 2023, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets to foster innovation while ensuring market stability and investor confidence. In contrast, China has taken a strict approach, banning all crypto transactions since September 2021, making cryptocurrency derivatives inaccessible to Chinese investors. Other offshore countries like British Vigin Islands, Dubai and Cayman islands come out with detailed Virtual Asset service providers regulations bringing the activities of...

Mathew McDermott, Head of Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs, is optimistic about the potential approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs by the SEC as a pivotal development that will broaden liquidity and attract institutional interest for significant growth in the digital assets space in 2024. McDermott highlights the growing acceptance of digital assets by traditional financial institutions, driven by regulatory clarity and the recognition of blockchain technology's potential to create efficiencies. He anticipates further developments in digital asset marketplaces, especially among buy-side investors, in the coming year. As traditional financial institutions increasingly embrace digital assets and regulatory clarity improves, the crypto market is expected to undergo transformative changes throughout the year. (Source: Cryptopolitan)

In a filing on December 29, U.S. prosecutors announced that they will not pursue a second trial for additional charges against former FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). SBF was convicted on November 3 of seven charges of fraud. The prosecutors noted that the charge for unlawful political contributions was part of the original indictment. However, the unlawful donations charge, along with those brought by the superseding indictment, were included after SBF was extradited to the U.S. from The Bahamas in December 2022. The prosecutors believe that proceeding with the sentencing is in the public's interest, outweighing the need for a second trial, as it will likely include orders of forfeiture and restitution for the victims. The decision to drop the unlawful donations charge may impact FTX's efforts to recoup the contributions. (Source: Cryptoslate)

Indonesian police authorities have closed down 10 Bitcoin mining operations, accusing organizers of electricity theft amounting to nearly $1 million. The North Sumatra Police Force confiscated 1,134 Bitcoin mining machines, 11 meters of electrical cable, and computer equipment in the multi-site operation. The authorities claim the mining operations engaged in unauthorized access to electricity. (Source: Cointelegraph)