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  • UK man looks to buy landfill site amid search for $784m lost Bitcoin

    UK man looks to buy landfill site amid search for $784m lost Bitcoin

    Bild von Bitcoins vor einem Mond
    • James Howells claims to have lost a hard drive with 8,000 BTC at a landfill site in 2013.
    • The man now wants to buy the landfill site as the search for the lost BTC worth over $784 million continues.

    James Howells, the man who has been in search of his lost bitcoin worth over $784 million since 2013 is seeking to buy a landfill.

    Howell claims to have mistakenly discarded a hard drive that contained 8,000 BTC and is seeking to buy the landfill site where he lost it in an attempt to recover his fortune.

    The man filed a lawsuit in a bid to have the Newport Council dig up the landfill to try and find the lost bitcoin.  In over 10 years Newport Council has made no attempts to try to recover the discarded bitcoin.

    The quest for lost BTC

    James Howells reported that his fiance discarded the hard drive containing cryptocurrency estimated to have a market value of $784 million in the landfill site in 2013. In an attempt to get his crypto assets back, Howells wants to buy the landfill site.

    BBC recently reported that Howells has approached various investors with a bid to potentially buy the whole landfill site.

    Since 2013, Howells claims that Newport city council have disregarded his plea to be allowed to search for his fortune. The city council has announced plans to have the landfill site converted to a solar farm. They have since acquired planning permission to establish a solar power firm on the site.

    Howells had filed a lawsuit against the council seeking legal grounds to hunt for the accidentally discarded bitcoin. In January, a high court judge made a ruling dismissing the case that required Newport council to forcefully allow Howells to search for his bitcoin.

    During the hearing, Howells noted that Newport council claimed that granting him a search warrant would have detrimental effects on the people around Newport. Plans to close the landfill were also underway, and that would be soon.

    After failed attempts to have the council retrieve the hard drive worth millions for him, Howells offered to buy the whole landfill.

    “I have discussed this option recently with investment partners and it is very much on the table,” he said, according to the BBC.

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  • Strategy spends $742m on BTC as Bitcoin Pepe presale commences tomorrow

    Strategy spends $742m on BTC as Bitcoin Pepe presale commences tomorrow

    Strategy buys over 7k bitcoins
    • Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has resumed its Bitcoin acquisitions with $742 million
    • The Bitcoin Pepe presale kicks off in 18 hours, with the project focusing on uniting all memes on a single blockchain

    Strategy purchases 7,633 BTC for $742m

    Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has resumed its weekly Bitcoin acquisition after spending over $400 million. On Monday, the company announced that it purchased another 7,633 BTC for approximately $742.4 million at an average price of $97,255 per Bitcoin.

    This latest acquisition follows the sale of 516,413 shares of Strategy’s class A common stock ($179 million) and 7,300,000 shares of its 8.00% Series A Perpetual Strike Preferred Stock ($563.4 million). Strategy now holds 478,740 BTC, worth over $46 billion.

    What is Bitcoin Pepe?

    Bitcoin is the world’s leading cryptocurrency by market cap, while Pepe is one of the most popular memecoins in the crypto ecosystem. However, Bitcoin Pepe is a unique project that is set to offer users utility within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

    Bitcoin Pepe is a layer-2 network building on the Bitcoin blockchain. It is a meme-specialized layer-2 solution built on top of Bitcoin, bringing Solana-style scalability to the Bitcoin network.

    Bitcoin Pepe aims to become ground zero for all memecoin trading and move all this economic activity to the BTC ecosystem. 

    In their whitepaper, the team said Bitcoin Pepe unlocks DeFi and meme trading on top of BTC. They described it as the perfect fusion between BTC’s security and the unstoppable force of memecoins.

    The project also prides itself on being the first-ever meme initial coin offering (ICO) on the Bitcoin blockchain. With this, BTC Maxis will be able to trade memes, and combining high levels of trust (BTC) with high levels of performance (SOL) will lead to high levels of retail mass adoption.

    What does Bitcoin Pepe offer to the Bitcoin ecosystem?

    Bitcoin is currently the oldest blockchain and home to exciting projects like Ordinals. However, Bitcoin Pepe plans to open up the blockchain further by allowing the launch of memecoins and other narratives on the network. 

    The project intends to usher in memes on BTC, turning crypto’s oldest chain into a home base for the crazy high-octane meme experience. The team believes the BTC bridge will unlock $2 trillion in dormant BTC capital and make it available for memecoin trading.

    As a layer-2 network, Bitcoin Pepe will provide the infrastructure for all memes to migrate to BTC, ensuring security and liquidity to investors and users. 

    Bitcoin Pepe presale to commence on February 11

    Bitcoin Pepe is launching a presale to allow investors to purchase its native tokens before listing on exchanges. $BPEP will power the Bitcoin Pepe layer-2 network and several other activities within the ecosystem.

    The presale launches in 17 hours, and users can purchase the tokens using a wide range of accepted payment options, including cryptocurrencies, debit, and credit cards. Solana’s SOL currently trades at $202 per coin. However, it was sold for $0.22 during its presale in 2020, an indication of how early investors benefit from partaking in presales.

    As a layer-2 network on the Bitcoin network, Bitcoin Pepe offers users security and liquidity. Furthermore, it is leveraging the recent growth of memecoins to launch as one while working to introduce more memecoins to the Bitcoin ecosystem. 

    With the right level of adoption, $BPEP could become one of the best performers in the crypto market in the medium to long term.

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  • Weekly price analysis: crypto prices reel from risk off sentiments

    Weekly price analysis: crypto prices reel from risk off sentiments

    • The crypto market trended lower last week as US tariffs rocked the market, causing investors to flee to safe-haven assets like Gold
    • Crypto prices, which recovered slightly on Monday and Tuesday, continued trending downward as uncertainty looms
    • Meanwhile, spot ETF inflows remained positive despite some days of outflows

    Bitcoin

    Bitcoin’s price trended lower over the last week following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Investors fled to safe-haven assets like gold while risky assets, like crypto, trended lower.

    However, the tariffs are a catalyst for faster price declines as price action shows that Bitcoin was already on a decline in its substructure after failing to swing higher than the $108,000 level three weeks ago.

    BTC/USD chart by TradingView

    BTC made two consecutive lower lows on the substructure over the last two weeks and traded into the daily demand zone early last week, logging a weekly low of $91,176.94.

    After buying from the demand zone, the price rose to an internal supply zone at $102,000, validated by the 50% Fibonacci level, and sold off that zone to end the week at $96,475.03.

    BTC/USD chart by TradingView

    On the CME, where Bitcoin Futures are traded the most, open interest fell last week as traders closed contracts due to uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs.

    Meanwhile, spot BTC ETFs logged a positive week as net flows printed $208.30 million despite two days of major outflows.

    Price Outlook

    Provided the price remains above the demand zone on the daily timeframe, then Bitcoin’s overall structure should remain bullish despite price declines on the substructure.

    However, a daily close below the demand zone, i.e., below the $90,000 level, may trigger a sell-off to support levels around $84,000 or lower.

     

    BTC trades at $97,624.73 as of publishing.

    Ethereum

    After failing to break above March 2024 highs, Ethereum’s price has been on a downtrend on its substructure since mid-December 2024.

    On the 4-hour time frame, the price logged consecutive lower lows with the most recent low of $2,148.00 reached early last week. Price has improved since then, closing last week at $2,632.16.

    Open interest on Binance, where Ethereum Futures are traded the most, shows a decline in the number of open contracts, which could be another catalyst for price declines.

    Meanwhile, spot ETH ETFs logged positive inflows on all days last week, aside from Friday when it logged no inflows (or outflows), totalling $420.20Mn for the week.

    Price Outlook

    The next probable zone for ETH’s price to fall is a major support zone around $2,200. With Trump planning to impose a 25% tariff on steel and Aluminum as well as a fresh round of retaliatory tariffs against trade partners, more uncertainty could push ETH’s price there soon.

    ETH trades at $2,640.05 as of publishing.

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  • BTC briefly touches $94k amid sentiment-driven dip

    BTC briefly touches $94k amid sentiment-driven dip

    • BTC fell below $95k as sellers intensified pressure.
    • As well as the sentiment, key events to watch out for this week include tariffs news, Fed chair Jerome Powells testimony and CPI data release.

    Bitcoin (BTC) has witnessed notable downside pressure since recoiling from the all-time high reached in 2024 amid Trump’s victory in the US election.

    The benchmark crypto asset has broken to year-to-date highs with bulls largely unfazed. However, the past few days have seen BTC struggle below the psychological $100k level.

    BTC chart by CoinMarketCap

    On Feb. 10, the price of BTC flipped negative to briefly touch lows of $94.7k. While it has bounced to above $97k at the time of writing, analysts at QCP Capital say the market is cautious.

    What next for Bitcoin, altcoins

    Notably, the dip that pushed Bitcoin price to lows of $94,745 appears to be more of sentiment-driven than a reflection of a fundamental shift in broader markets’ risk appetite. QCP analysts opine that volatility will remain skewed toward puts for the next couple months.

    Among key things to watch out for is also Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s testimony and the upcoming consumer price index data. Trump’s latest tariff move involving a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum could also fuel further uncertainty.

    “A feedback loop is emerging—Trump watches the markets, and the markets test his resolve. Will this embolden him further or force a pivot?” the analysts noted, pointing to the issue of tariffs and the market reaction.

    Despite the potential impact of a short term outlook, whales are strengthening to suggest long term confidence in Bitcoin performance.

    According to crypto analyst and YouTuber ‘CryptoJack’, 14,000 BTC have moved on-chain to suggest whales may be making moves amid an expected bull market.

    Bitcoin traded near $98k as of 11:30 am CET, with bulls likely to target $100k if positive vibes surge.

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  • Bitcoin hard drive containing $780m lost forever as UK landfill site is set to close

    Bitcoin hard drive containing $780m lost forever as UK landfill site is set to close

    metaplanet-buys-bitcoin
    • James Howells lost his court battle against Newport City Council in January
    • The judge ruled that there were “no reasonable grounds” for succeeding at a full trial
    • Today, Howells’ Bitcoin would be worth around $780 million

    A UK landfill site where a man lost his hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin is reportedly set to close in the 2025-26 financial year.

    The site, in Newport, Wales, “has been in exploitation since the early 2000s and is coming to the end of its life, therefore the council is working on a planned closure and capping of the site over the next two years,” said a council spokesperson.

    According to the BBC, a solar farm will be built on part of the site after it received planning permission last August.

    Lost battle

    In January, James Howells lost his court battle against Newport City Council to recover his lost hard drive. In 2013, his former partner mistakenly threw it out in a black bin bag.  Judge Keyser KC, the Circuit Commercial Judge for Wales, dismissed Howells’ case. At the time, Keyser stated there were no “reasonable grounds” for succeeding at a full trial.

    Over the last 12 years, Howells tried to engage with Newport City Council to recover his lost hard drive, but was “largely ignored.”

    At the time of his loss, his assets – that he mined in 2009 – were worth around $1.3 million. Today, they would be valued at over $780 million.

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  • BlackRock plans to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Europe

    BlackRock plans to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Europe

    BlackRock plans to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Europe
    • BlackRock is planning to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Switzerland.
    • This move follows the success of BlackRock’s US Bitcoin ETF.
    • The Bitcoin ETP could boost crypto adoption with the EU’s MiCA regulations.

    BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, is gearing up to launch a Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) in Europe, marking another significant step in the firm’s expansion into the cryptocurrency market. The new ETP product is set to be registered in Switzerland.

    This move follows the resounding success of BlackRock’s $58 billion US Bitcoin ETF. The success of BlackRock’s US Bitcoin ETF, which by early February 2025 had gathered $57.5 billion in net assets, speaks volumes about the investor appetite for such products.

    CEO Larry Fink’s remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos highlighted Bitcoin’s potential as a hedge against currency debasement, suggesting a broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies as an alternative store of value.

    This European venture is anticipated to attract both institutional and retail investors looking for exposure to Bitcoin without the complexities of direct cryptocurrency ownership.

    Switzerland is becoming a digital asset innovation in Europe

    The decision to domicile the ETP in Switzerland was strategic, leveraging the country’s reputation as a hub for digital asset innovation, particularly within its “Crypto Valley” in Zug.

    Switzerland’s progressive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies has made it an attractive location for BlackRock to extend its Bitcoin investment offerings beyond North American borders.

    The choice of Switzerland not only aligns with BlackRock’s aim to capitalize on crypto-friendly regulations but also positions the firm to lead in the European market.

    Notably, the plans to launch an ETP in Europe comes at a time when the European Union is navigating its own regulatory path through the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which was established in 2023.

    The MiCA framework aims to ensure consumer protection and market integrity, providing a stable environment for crypto investments.

    Despite the European crypto market capitalizing at $17.3 billion — far less than the US’s $116.4 billion — BlackRock’s move could significantly boost the sector.

    BlackRock’s entry into this market underscores the growing institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies, a trend that has been further propelled by the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024.

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  • MicroStrategy rebrands to Strategy, remains focused on Bitcoin

    MicroStrategy rebrands to Strategy, remains focused on Bitcoin

    • Strategy unveils a new Bitcoin logo and orange color scheme representing its Bitcoin strategy
    • Saylor is expected to discuss the rebrand during the company’s earnings call on Wednesday evening
    • Strategy currently has 471,107 Bitcoin in reserve worth $45.8 billion

    MicroStrategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, has announced it’s rebranded to Strategy and unveiled a new Bitcoin logo.

    In a post on X, Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy, simply said: “new brand, same strategy,” with an image of him in front of the company’s new logo.

    In an announcement released on February 5, Strategy said the rebrand was a “natural evolution of the company, reflecting its focus and broad appeal.” The stylized “B” in the new logo represents Strategy’s Bitcoin strategy while the orange color highlights “energy, intelligence, and Bitcoin,” according to the press release.

    Strategy’s stock ticket, MSTB, remains the same.

    The rebrand comes ahead of the company’s earnings call on Wednesday evening, during which Saylor is expected to discuss it.

    Bitcoin buying strategy

    Since 2020, Strategy has employed a Bitcoin buying strategy; however, over the past year, it has ramped up its efforts. In November, Saylor announced that the company was raising $21 billion from a stock sale so it could buy more Bitcoin.

    According to data from SaylorTracker, the company currently has 471,107 Bitcoin worth $45.8 billion.

    Claiming that Bitcoin represents digital capital, Saylor urged Microsoft to adopt Bitcoin, stating that “Bitcoin represents the greatest digital transformation of the 21st century.”

    Other companies following in Strategy’s Bitcoin buying footsteps include Metaplanet, which is aiming to increase its Bitcoin holdings to 10,000 in 2025.

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  • Neptune adds 20 BTC to Bitcoin strategy, also buys 1m DOGE

    Neptune adds 20 BTC to Bitcoin strategy, also buys 1m DOGE

    • Canadian blockchain firm Neptune Digital Assets announced it purchased 20 BTC worth almost $2 million.
    • The company also bought Dogecoin, scooping the meme coin on December 27, 2024 at the average price of $0.37 per DOGE.

    Neptune Digital Assets, a Canada-based blockchain firm, has announced it added 20 Bitcoin (BTC) to its holdings.

    The publicly-traded company, whose operations include Bitcoin mining, staking and blockchain nodes, revealed it acquired the 20 BTC as it expanded its Bitcoin strategy between January 26 and Feb. 3, 2025.

    Neptune also buys Dogecoin

    According to a press release, Neptune scooped the BTC at the average price of $99,833 per coin. This means the company spent nearly $2 million to buy more of the flagship digital asset. Neptune’s total BTC holdings rose to 376 BTC with this purchase.

    Neptune is one of over 60 public companies that can issue debt and use the proceeds to buy BTC. The biggest hodler among these is US-listed MicroStrategy.

    Dogecoin is the other cryptocurrency to attract the blockchain firm. Per the announcement on Feb 4, the company acquired 1 million DOGE on December 27, 2024 at the average price of $0.37 per token. Neptune said it bought the meme coin via a “strategic derivative purchase.”

    “As stated in previous news releases, Neptune will be acquiring additional assets, leveraging our enhanced purchasing power through the Sygnum credit line. With a strong focus on BTC, these initial acquisitions show Neptune’s commitment to its growth strategy while meticulously managing leverage risk and debt levels,” Cale Moodie, Neptune’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.

    Both Bitcoin and Dogecoin have experienced sharp volatility in the past few days, with BTC and DOGE plummeting on Monday amid tariffs-driven sell-off across risk assets.

    BTC fell to lows of $92k before bouncing to retest resistance above the psychological $100k level. Currently, the benchmark asset trades just above $99,400.

    Meanwhile, DOGE slumped to below $0.22 and currently hovers near $0.27.

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  • Bitcoin tumbles to $92k as geopolitical headwinds roil markets

    Bitcoin tumbles to $92k as geopolitical headwinds roil markets

    • Bitcoin fell 4.72% over the weekend and another 3.50% during Monday’s Asian session as tensions driven by Trump’s tariffs have investors de-risking their positions
    • Over the weekend, China responded to Trump’s tariffs by indicating interest in imposing tariffs on US goods, while Canada imposed a 25% tariff on CA$155 billion worth of US goods

    Bitcoin tumbled below $100,000 over the weekend, extending losses into today as threats of a possible trade war rock markets worldwide.

    Bitcoin price chart. Source: CoinMarketCap

    While most of Bitcoin’s price decline came this weekend, weakness began when its price failed to swing higher than the $108,000 level two weeks ago (January 20).

    BTC/USD chart. Source: TradingView

    A failure to swing higher can signify insufficient buy pressure to push prices higher. If that is the case, prices will seek the next major liquidity level, which could mean lower prices in the interim, as seen over the last two weeks.

    Scaling down to a lower time frame, Bitcoin’s price continued to break lower below $99,000. This was before retracing to an internal supply zone between the 50.00% and 61.80% Fibonacci levels (the golden zone for retracements) on Thursday, January 30.

    BTC/USD chart. Source: TradingView

    After being rejected by internal supply, the price broke down further on Friday, January 31, and over the weekend to settle at the next major demand level, between $92,000 and $96,000.

    BTC/USD chart. Source: TradingView

    Bitcoin’s price has found some support at $92,000 and is currently up 4.92% from Asian lows of $91,176.

    Wider trade wars stifle markets

    Meanwhile, the wider economic landscape faces uncertainty as a brewing trade war between the US and several of its trade partners, including Canada, Mexico, and China rocks various markets.

    The US tariffs on its largest trade partners, including a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, have sparked tensions between nations.

    In response, Canada imposed a 25% tariff on CA$155 billion worth of US goods, Mexico has announced tariffs on US goods, but has not provided details, while China also announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods.

    The result is uncertainty around the expansion of global trade and a de-risking of portfolios, with the crypto market being one of the first on the chopping block.

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  • The Runes marketplace and launchpad Odin.fun will replicate Pump.Fun

    The Runes marketplace and launchpad Odin.fun will replicate Pump.Fun

    The Runes marketplace and launchpad Odin.fun will replicate Pump.Fun
    • fun is set to replicate Pump.fun on Bitcoin.
    • fun aims to offer a 20-second finality for Rune trades.
    • The platform will be decentralized with no central control.

    The highly anticipated Runes marketplace and launchpad dubbed Odin.fun is set to revolutionize the Bitcoin ecosystem by emulating the success of Solana’s Pump.fun.

    Developed by the team behind the Bitcoin ordinals marketplace Bioniq, Odin.fun aims to provide a seamless experience for Bitcoin users interested in Runes, a new token standard on the Bitcoin blockchain.

    Direct integration with Bitcoin Runes

    Odin.fun stands out by directly working with the existing Runes meta-protocol, ensuring there’s no need for additional upgrades or programmability. This approach not only simplifies the user experience but also maintains the integrity of the Bitcoin network.

    Users can engage in buying, selling, creating, and swapping Runes with transactions finalized in just 20 seconds, offering the speed of Solana with the robustness of Bitcoin.

    Moreover, all bonded tokens can be withdrawn directly back to a user’s Bitcoin wallet at any time, with plans to expand support to BRC-20 tokens in the near future.

    The platform’s commitment to decentralization is evident through its use of a threshold signing setup (TSS) for securing Bitcoin and Runes deposits, mirroring the strategies used by other decentralized systems.

    By employing multisig smart contract control, Odin.fun eliminates the need for centralized custodians or control, thus providing a trustless environment for users to trade and interact with Runes.

    Redefining Layer 2 on Bitcoin

    Bob Bodily, co-founder and CEO of Bioniq, describes Odin.fun not as a traditional Layer 2 solution but as an appchain or an L2 in the broader sense of building seamless Bitcoin products.

    This innovative perspective allows Odin.fun to offer functionalities akin to Layer 2 solutions without the complexities often associated with them on Bitcoin. The underlying technology stack, named Valhalla, operates invisibly, supporting all current and future features of Odin.fun.

    Odin.fun’s capabilities are further enhanced through its integration with BLIFE, a platform designed to enrich user experiences across various blockchain applications. This integration means that BLIFE users receive exclusive benefits on Odin.fun, can complete Odin-related quests on the BLIFE platform, and their achievements on Odin.fun contribute to their BLIFE reputation.

    This synergy promises to not only boost user engagement but also foster a more interconnected blockchain ecosystem.

    When is Odin.fun launching?

    Currently, Odin.fun is in an early access beta, requiring an invite code for participation. However, this exclusivity will soon end as the platform prepares for a public launch on Monday, February 3, 2025, making it accessible to everyone interested in exploring the potential of Bitcoin Runes.

    The launch is anticipated to democratize access to the burgeoning Runes market, potentially replicating the meme coin frenzy seen with Pump.fun on the Solana network.

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