Crypto
Sam Bankman-Fried’s dad helped market FTX’s in-house cryptocurrency and became a key legal advisor, report says
- Sam Bankman-Fried’s dad has been funding his son’s legal defense with a $10 million gift, lawyers say.
- But Joe Bankman has also been closely involved with FTX’s operations, Bloomberg reports.
- That includes developing marketing materials for FTT, the cryptocurrency that led to SBF’s downfall.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s dad helped advise FTX, including for the controversial cryptocurrency that led to its downfall, Bloomberg reported.
Joe Bankman, a law professor at Stanford, has been funding his son’s legal defense after SBF gifted him $10 million from company funds, according to a complaint filed by the company.
And a $16.4 million home in the Bahamas was registered under Bankman-Fried’s parents’ name, although the FTX founder said it was intended for company staff.
These occurrences have garnered him more attention, but Bankman also appears to have been more closely involved with FTX operations than was previously known.
This largely began when he made a cameo in FTX’s Super Bowl ad with Larry David, dressed as a founding father in a powdered wig. Bankman became an employee at his son’s company shortly afterwards, per Bloomberg.
Former staff from Alameda, FTX’s sister hedge-fund, told Bloomberg that Bankman also helped draft early legal documents.
And invoices from the company’s law firm list him as an attendee in meetings, showing he he was also involved in developing marketing materials for the crypto exchange’s own currency, FTT, Bloomberg reported.
That’s especially interesting because FTT played a major role in the crypto exchange’s collapse. When CoinDesk reported on a leaked balance sheet last November, it showed that much of Alameda’s $14.6 billion of assets were actually made up of the crypto invented by FTX.
Nine days later — after customers rushed to withdraw their deposits and the company couldn’t cover demand, partially due to FTX executives’ lavish spending — it filed for bankruptcy.
One former staffer also told Bloomberg that Bankman-Fried appeared to frequently consult his father. When there was any legal suggestion from an employee, SBF would say he needed to “call Joe” first, the person said.
Bankman did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment, sent outside US working hours.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase said Tuesday (Jan. 14) that it is investigating a problem with delayed sends of Ripple (XRP) on its platform.
“We are aware that some users may be experiencing delayed sends for Ripple (XRP),” Coinbase said in an incident report on its status page. “Buys, Sells and Fiat withdrawals/deposits are not affected. We are investigating this issue and will provide an update shortly.”
In an earlier, separate report on its status page, Coinbase said some users experienced delayed sends and receives for Stellar (XLM) on Friday (Jan. 10). That incident was resolved within 90 minutes.
On Thursday (Jan. 9), some users experienced latency or degraded performance with buys, sells, sends, Coinbase Onramp and Advanced Trade. That issue was resolved within two hours, according to the page.
In other, separate news about the company, it was reported Thursday (Jan. 9) that Coinbase told customers that it may have to share data demanded by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The regulator sent a subpoena to the firm that seeks information about Coinbase customers’ interactions with prediction market firm Polymarket, and Coinbase emailed some customers saying it may have to share that data with the CFTC.
“When we receive requests for information from a government, each request is carefully reviewed by a team of trained experts using established procedures to determine its legal sufficiency,” a Coinbase spokesperson told CoinDesk.
On Dec. 9, cryptocurrency payments solution firm Triple-A announced an integration with Coinbase that it said it designed to let Coinbase users make payments to select merchants in the Triple-A network.
“Triple-A’s integration with Coinbase Commerce will empower merchants to offer a Coinbase-specific payment option, enhancing the convenience for Coinbase users and allowing Coinbase to connect with a wider network of merchants, to drive the broader adoption of cryptocurrency payments,” the company said in a press release.
Coinbase upgraded its Coinbase One subscription program and launched a new tier called Coinbase One Premium on Dec. 4, saying that with these new offerings, “Coinbase One now truly benefits all types of traders.”
Coinbase One membership has reached 600,000 across 42 countries, the company added.
Stay Ahead of the Market:
An update from Axiom Capital Advisors, Inc. ( (TSE:WHIP) ) is now available.
Credissential Inc. announced a new Cryptocurrency Acquisition Policy aimed at enhancing shareholder value by purchasing digital assets like XRP and XLM. This move aligns with the company’s cryptocurrency initiatives and allows investors exposure to the growing digital asset market. The policy is also seen as a strategy to navigate inflationary pressures while diversifying the company’s treasury holdings, indicating a proactive approach to adapting to market trends and delivering long-term shareholder value.
More about Axiom Capital Advisors, Inc.
Credissential Inc. is a vertically integrated AI software development company focusing on advancing financial technology solutions. The company is committed to developing innovative products such as Antenna, a payment platform enhanced with AI and quantum encryption technologies, and DealerFlow, an AI-driven dealer management system designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
YTD Price Performance: -6.45%
Average Trading Volume: 298,973
Technical Sentiment Consensus Rating: Buy
Current Market Cap: C$6.17M
Find detailed analytics on WHIP stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.
Bitcoin’s
price (BTC) is making significant gains on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, adding
over $2,000 to its value. However, Monday saw the market shaken, with the price
briefly dropping to a two-month low below the critical $90,000 psychological
level.
In this
article, I review what triggered the sudden drop, why the Bitcoin price is
going up today, and how to interpret the bullish pin bar above the 50-day
exponential moving average—a potentially strong buy signal.
On Tuesday,
Bitcoin is trading above $97,000 on Binance, marking its highest value in a
week. The cryptocurrency is currently up 2.7%, with altcoins following suit.
Ethereum (ETH) has gained 4.9% over the past 24 hours, reaching
$3,200, while XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has
risen 7% to $2.56.
As shown in Bitcoin price is currently inside a consolidation. Source: Tradingview.com
the chart below, Bitcoin’s price remains in a consolidation phase that has been
in place since November, with the lower boundary near $92,000 and the upper
limit at its previous high of $98,000.
However,
Monday painted a less optimistic picture as
Bitcoin briefly dipped to just $89,398, causing significant panic and
confusion among retail investors.
The
temporary panic was also evident in the derivatives market: within four days,
investors pulled $1.6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs),
marking one of the longest selling streaks in recent times.
Over the Source: Coinglass.com
past 24 hours, both bulls and bears have incurred losses. Approximately $500
million in leveraged positions were liquidated across the market, with nearly
equal distribution between long and short positions. Bitcoin accounted for over
20% of this activity, with $44 million liquidated from long positions and $72
million from shorts.
Analysts
attribute the recent decline in Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market
to two primary factors: so-called “Trump Trade” and monetary policy.
Why Bitcoin Fell? Fed
Policy and Market Uncertainty Shake BTC Price
The
cryptocurrency market’s downturn is primarily driven by shifting expectations
about Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate policies. Strong economic indicators
have led investors to anticipate a longer period of higher interest rates. The
robust U.S. job market, with 256,000 new nonfarm payrolls and a 4.1%
unemployment rate, has particularly influenced this outlook.
According The chances that the Fed will lower rates this month are almost zero. Source: CME
to the CME’s FedWatch tool, the probability of a rate cut at the next meeting,
scheduled for January 29, is just 2.7%. The market is currently pricing in a
stronger likelihood (around 40%) of a cut to the 4.00–4.25% range in the second
half of the year. Earlier expectations were for a more aggressive path of rate
cuts, which was expected to fuel risk assets such as cryptocurrencies and
stocks.
Moreover, the
initial euphoria surrounding Trump’s pro-crypto stance has given way to more
cautious market sentiment. While Trump’s upcoming presidency promised to make
the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” investors are now
focusing on immediate economic realities rather than future policy promises.
The
cryptocurrency decline isn’t occurring in isolation. The selloff in Treasury
markets has created a ripple effect across various asset classes, affecting
both crypto and traditional markets. This broader market reaction demonstrates
Bitcoin’s increasing correlation with conventional risk assets.
Will Bitcoin Keep Going
Up? BTC Price Prediction and Technical Analysis
The
candlestick I want to highlight in the technical analysis of Bitcoin ‘s price
chart may seem modest and even barely noticeable. However, in my view, it
carries significant strength and buying potential. This is a bullish pin bar
(or doji candle) with an almost invisible body and a very long lower wick,
indicating that bears were in control but had to concede to bulls by the
session’s close.
What
does the chart show?
- The bullish
pin bar tested the 50 EMA and two critical support levels: $92,000 and $90,000. - All three
levels held, and the price responded with an immediate increase the following
day. - This strong
bullish signal confirmed the lower boundary of the consolidation range,
signaling that buyers are likely to actively defend the green-marked support
zone.
Bitcoin technical analysis: BTC price chart drew a bullish pin bar candle. Source: Tradingview.com
While
Bitcoin remains in consolidation, this reaction suggests, from a purely
technical standpoint, the potential for a move towards $103,000 (the 2025
highs) and ultimately $108,000, the all-time high (ATH) to date.
Bitcoin Price Key Support
and Resistance Levels
|
Support |
Resistance |
|
$90,000 – psychological round |
$100,000 – psychological round |
|
$92,000 – local lows tested in |
$103,000 – highs from 2025 |
|
50 EMA – currently at $94,482 |
$108,000 – current ATH |
Breaking
above the current all-time high is a necessary condition for considering
ambitious forecasts for 2025 and beyond. Some of these projections are
truly bold.
Bitcoin Price Prediction:
Will BTC Reach $1 Million?
Late last
year, I explored the question, “Will
Bitcoin hit $1 million?” According to Jeff Park, Head of Alpha
Strategies at Bitwise Asset Management, this could be possible if the U.S.
government were to adopt a Bitcoin reserve strategy. However, he currently
assigns only a 10% probability to this scenario.
Arthur
Hayes, the Founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, has frequently
mentioned such ambitious levels as $1 million. Last week, he appeared as a guest on
Tom Bilyeu’s show, where he discussed the current state of the
cryptocurrency market during a nearly two-hour interview. Hayes suggested that
Bitcoin is gradually heading toward seven-figure valuations and could
potentially reach them within the next five years.
“It’s the bull market. When the music is playing you gotta $DANCE.” ~ Arthur Hayes x Tom Bilyeu#crypto #dance #memecoin #solana #bullrun pic.twitter.com/g9MdkEtIZe
— DANCE MEMECOIN 🤩 (@dancememecoin) January 7, 2025
“Bitcoin
has already survived for 15 years. This makes investors start to believe that
it can last for decades to come.” – Hayes commented. “BTC will be here for
the next 15, 20, 100 years. I think it will be a store of value. I can use it
to pay for things I need, so I’m going to take 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10% of my
retirement income or savings and start buying that asset now.”
Other
experts, including VanEck analysts, predict more down to earth numbers. Month
ago, they
forecasted that Bitcoin price could reach $180,000 in 2025.
JUST IN: $118 billion VanEck predicts $180,000 #Bitcoin and the U.S. will embrace a Strategic BTC Reserve in 2025 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/s7lnNgkyhn
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) December 13, 2024
Bitcoin Price, FAQ
Why Is the Price of
Bitcoin Going Up?
Bitcoin’s
price is rising due to a strong bullish pin bar forming above critical support
levels, signaling strong buying activity. Market sentiment improved as Bitcoin
rebounded from a two-month low of $89,398 to trade above $97,000. This movement
reflects consolidation within the $92,000–$98,000 range, supported by technical
indicators and broader market optimism.
Will Bitcoin Rise Again?
Bitcoin’s
price is expected to rise further based on technical analysis. If it breaks
through key resistance at $103,000, it could test the all-time high of
$108,000. Long-term projections remain optimistic, with some experts predicting
significant gains by 2025, assuming market conditions remain favorable.
Why Is Bitcoin So Valuable
Today?
Bitcoin’s
value stems from its status as a decentralized digital asset with limited
supply, serving as a hedge against inflation and a potential store of value.
Its increasing adoption, network security, and potential as a global reserve
asset contribute to its high valuation.
Why Did Bitcoin Fall
Recently?
Bitcoin’s
recent decline was driven by market reactions to expectations of prolonged
higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve. Strong U.S. economic data
reduced the likelihood of rate cuts, pressuring risk assets like
cryptocurrencies. Additionally, shifting sentiment around pro-crypto policies
under the upcoming U.S. administration added to market uncertainty.
How Much Will Bitcoin Cost
in 2025?
Bitcoin’s
2025 price predictions vary widely. Analysts forecast potential highs ranging
from $180,000 (VanEck) to over $1 million (Arthur Hayes), depending on adoption
trends, macroeconomic conditions, and regulatory developments. A more
conservative estimate places Bitcoin at $180,000, reflecting steady growth
without speculative excess.
Bitcoin’s
price (BTC) is making significant gains on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, adding
over $2,000 to its value. However, Monday saw the market shaken, with the price
briefly dropping to a two-month low below the critical $90,000 psychological
level.
In this
article, I review what triggered the sudden drop, why the Bitcoin price is
going up today, and how to interpret the bullish pin bar above the 50-day
exponential moving average—a potentially strong buy signal.
On Tuesday,
Bitcoin is trading above $97,000 on Binance, marking its highest value in a
week. The cryptocurrency is currently up 2.7%, with altcoins following suit.
Ethereum (ETH) has gained 4.9% over the past 24 hours, reaching
$3,200, while XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has
risen 7% to $2.56.
As shown in Bitcoin price is currently inside a consolidation. Source: Tradingview.com
the chart below, Bitcoin’s price remains in a consolidation phase that has been
in place since November, with the lower boundary near $92,000 and the upper
limit at its previous high of $98,000.
However,
Monday painted a less optimistic picture as
Bitcoin briefly dipped to just $89,398, causing significant panic and
confusion among retail investors.
The
temporary panic was also evident in the derivatives market: within four days,
investors pulled $1.6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs),
marking one of the longest selling streaks in recent times.
Over the Source: Coinglass.com
past 24 hours, both bulls and bears have incurred losses. Approximately $500
million in leveraged positions were liquidated across the market, with nearly
equal distribution between long and short positions. Bitcoin accounted for over
20% of this activity, with $44 million liquidated from long positions and $72
million from shorts.
Analysts
attribute the recent decline in Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market
to two primary factors: so-called “Trump Trade” and monetary policy.
Why Bitcoin Fell? Fed
Policy and Market Uncertainty Shake BTC Price
The
cryptocurrency market’s downturn is primarily driven by shifting expectations
about Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate policies. Strong economic indicators
have led investors to anticipate a longer period of higher interest rates. The
robust U.S. job market, with 256,000 new nonfarm payrolls and a 4.1%
unemployment rate, has particularly influenced this outlook.
According
to the CME’s FedWatch tool, the probability of a rate cut at the next meeting,
scheduled for January 29, is just 2.7%. The market is currently pricing in a
stronger likelihood (around 40%) of a cut to the 4.00–4.25% range in the second
half of the year. Earlier expectations were for a more aggressive path of rate
cuts, which was expected to fuel risk assets such as cryptocurrencies and
stocks.
The chances that the Fed will lower rates this month are almost zero. Source: CME
Moreover, the
initial euphoria surrounding Trump’s pro-crypto stance has given way to more
cautious market sentiment. While Trump’s upcoming presidency promised to make
the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” investors are now
focusing on immediate economic realities rather than future policy promises.
The
cryptocurrency decline isn’t occurring in isolation. The selloff in Treasury
markets has created a ripple effect across various asset classes, affecting
both crypto and traditional markets. This broader market reaction demonstrates
Bitcoin’s increasing correlation with conventional risk assets.
Will Bitcoin Keep Going
Up? BTC Price Prediction and Technical Analysis
The
candlestick I want to highlight in the technical analysis of Bitcoin ‘s price
chart may seem modest and even barely noticeable. However, in my view, it
carries significant strength and buying potential. This is a bullish pin bar
(or doji candle) with an almost invisible body and a very long lower wick,
indicating that bears were in control but had to concede to bulls by the
session’s close.
What
does the chart show?
- The bullish
pin bar tested the 50 EMA and two critical support levels: $92,000 and $90,000. - All three
levels held, and the price responded with an immediate increase the following
day. - This strong
bullish signal confirmed the lower boundary of the consolidation range,
signaling that buyers are likely to actively defend the green-marked support
zone.
Bitcoin technical analysis: BTC price chart drew a bullish pin bar candle. Source: Tradingview.com
While
Bitcoin remains in consolidation, this reaction suggests, from a purely
technical standpoint, the potential for a move towards $103,000 (the 2025
highs) and ultimately $108,000, the all-time high (ATH) to date.
Bitcoin Price Key Support
and Resistance Levels
|
Support |
Resistance |
|
$90,000 – psychological round |
$100,000 – psychological round |
|
$92,000 – local lows tested in |
$103,000 – highs from 2025 |
|
50 EMA – currently at $94,482 |
$108,000 – current ATH |
Breaking
above the current all-time high is a necessary condition for considering
ambitious forecasts for 2025 and beyond. Some of these projections are
truly bold.
Bitcoin Price Prediction:
Will BTC Reach $1 Million?
Late last
year, I explored the question, “Will
Bitcoin hit $1 million?” According to Jeff Park, Head of Alpha
Strategies at Bitwise Asset Management, this could be possible if the U.S.
government were to adopt a Bitcoin reserve strategy. However, he currently
assigns only a 10% probability to this scenario.
Arthur
Hayes, the Founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, has frequently
mentioned such ambitious levels as $1 million. Last week, he appeared as a guest on
Tom Bilyeu’s show, where he discussed the current state of the
cryptocurrency market during a nearly two-hour interview. Hayes suggested that
Bitcoin is gradually heading toward seven-figure valuations and could
potentially reach them within the next five years.
“It’s the bull market. When the music is playing you gotta $DANCE.” ~ Arthur Hayes x Tom Bilyeu#crypto #dance #memecoin #solana #bullrun pic.twitter.com/g9MdkEtIZe
— DANCE MEMECOIN 🤩 (@dancememecoin) January 7, 2025
“Bitcoin
has already survived for 15 years. This makes investors start to believe that
it can last for decades to come.” – Hayes commented. “BTC will be here for
the next 15, 20, 100 years. I think it will be a store of value. I can use it
to pay for things I need, so I’m going to take 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10% of my
retirement income or savings and start buying that asset now.”
Other
experts, including VanEck analysts, predict more down to earth numbers. Month
ago, they
forecasted that Bitcoin price could reach $180,000 in 2025.
JUST IN: $118 billion VanEck predicts $180,000 #Bitcoin and the U.S. will embrace a Strategic BTC Reserve in 2025 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/s7lnNgkyhn
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) December 13, 2024
Bitcoin Price, FAQ
Why Is the Price of
Bitcoin Going Up?
Bitcoin’s
price is rising due to a strong bullish pin bar forming above critical support
levels, signaling strong buying activity. Market sentiment improved as Bitcoin
rebounded from a two-month low of $89,398 to trade above $97,000. This movement
reflects consolidation within the $92,000–$98,000 range, supported by technical
indicators and broader market optimism.
Will Bitcoin Rise Again?
Bitcoin’s
price is expected to rise further based on technical analysis. If it breaks
through key resistance at $103,000, it could test the all-time high of
$108,000. Long-term projections remain optimistic, with some experts predicting
significant gains by 2025, assuming market conditions remain favorable.
Why Is Bitcoin So Valuable
Today?
Bitcoin’s
value stems from its status as a decentralized digital asset with limited
supply, serving as a hedge against inflation and a potential store of value.
Its increasing adoption, network security, and potential as a global reserve
asset contribute to its high valuation.
Why Did Bitcoin Fall
Recently?
Bitcoin’s
recent decline was driven by market reactions to expectations of prolonged
higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve. Strong U.S. economic data
reduced the likelihood of rate cuts, pressuring risk assets like
cryptocurrencies. Additionally, shifting sentiment around pro-crypto policies
under the upcoming U.S. administration added to market uncertainty.
How Much Will Bitcoin Cost
in 2025?
Bitcoin’s
2025 price predictions vary widely. Analysts forecast potential highs ranging
from $180,000 (VanEck) to over $1 million (Arthur Hayes), depending on adoption
trends, macroeconomic conditions, and regulatory developments. A more
conservative estimate places Bitcoin at $180,000, reflecting steady growth
without speculative excess.
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