As geopolitical uncertainties escalate, much of the cryptocurrency market has responded by turning red, including Shiba Inu (SHIB), but artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms suggest the meme dog digital asset might still recover and start the next year on a bullish note.

Indeed, the AI-driven price forecast algorithms used by the crypto analytics platform CoinCodex predict that Shiba Inu will trade at the price of $0.000007629 by January 1, 2024, which suggests an increase of 11.03% compared to its current price as of October 10, 2023.

As things currently stand, SHIB was at press time changing hands at the price of $0.0000068712, which represents a loss of 0.63% in the last 24 hours, in addition to being down 5.59% across the previous seven days, adding up to the drop of 7.11% in the past month, as the latest charts show.

Meanwhile, the meme dog cryptocurrency has recorded a massive influx to large holders crypto wallets increasing by over 1,500% from 169 billion SHIB on October 7 to 2.98 trillion SHIB on October 8, as data from market intelligence platform IntoTheBlock suggests.

At the same time, the price increase predicted by AI could factor in updates like Shiba Inus lead developer, Shytoshi Kusama, detailing the careful approach to Shibarium validator integration and increase in staking rewards, as well as hinting at the future acceleration of the SHIB burning mechanism.

Disclaimer: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk.

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AI forecasts SHIB price for the start of 2024 - Finbold - Finance in Bold

The Israel-Hamas conflict, an enduring and deeply entrenched geopolitical issue, has captured global attention for years. However, one area that seems remarkably impervious to the ebbs and flows of this contentious conflict is the cryptocurrency sector. While the conflict affects the lives of many, cryptocurrency remains largely detached from its influence.

The conflict escalated significantly as Gaza militants launched a surprise attack early Saturday, leading to at least 300 deaths and thousands of injuries in Israel, with ongoing fighting and rocket attacks in Tel Aviv and other areas, reports said.

In Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry reported at least 232 Palestinian casualties and over 1,600 injuries due to Israeli air strikes and ground clashes with Hamas fighters. Additionally, Hamas has claimed to have captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers, which has been confirmed by Israels military.

The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides experiencing casualties and ongoing hostilities. The conflict has raised significant concerns about the escalating violence and its humanitarian impact on civilians in the region.

Here, we explore why the cryptocurrency sector remains resilient and unaffected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

One of the key reasons behind the cryptocurrency sectors immunity to regional conflicts like the Israel-Hamas dispute is its core principle of decentralization. Cryptocurrencies are not controlled by any single government or entity, rendering them indifferent to the political turmoil in any particular region. They function on a global scale, with their value and utility determined by a complex interplay of factors beyond the scope of regional geopolitics.

Cryptocurrencies are global assets, transcending borders and political boundaries. Their value is determined by factors such as supply and demand dynamics, adoption rates, and market sentiment from around the world. Thus, a regional conflict in the Middle East does not exert direct influence on the broader cryptocurrency market, which is distributed across various countries and continents.

(At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $27,935. Despite its measly 0.1% loss in the last 24 hours, the crypto was still able to sustain a decent 3.5% in the last week, data from crypto market tracker Coingecko shows. Total market cap of cryptocurrencies, according to TradingView, reached $1.06 trillion)

Some investors view cryptocurrencies as a means to diversify their investment portfolios. During times of political instability or economic uncertainty, cryptocurrencies may be considered a hedge against traditional financial markets. Consequently, demand for cryptocurrencies may rise during such periods, positively impacting their value.

The adoption of cryptocurrencies has witnessed a remarkable and sustained surge on a global scale. This burgeoning interest has not been limited to individuals alone; it encompasses a diverse range of participants, including businesses and institutions, who have recognized the potential of cryptocurrencies. This collective embrace of digital assets reflects a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate and mainstream asset class.

One significant factor contributing to this adoption is the increasing recognition of cryptocurrencies utility beyond mere speculation. Beyond serving as investment vehicles, cryptocurrencies are being integrated into the everyday operations of businesses and institutions. They offer a borderless and efficient means of conducting transactions, facilitating cross-border trade, and enabling secure and transparent record-keeping through blockchain technology.

In conclusion, the Israel-Hamas conflict, like many other regional conflicts, has limited direct impact on the cryptocurrency sector. Cryptocurrencies inherent qualities, such as decentralization, global reach, and increasing adoption, insulate them from the effects of regional geopolitical events.

While cryptocurrencies remain resilient in the face of such conflicts, it is vital to remember that they are not without their own risks and uncertainties, including regulatory changes and market volatility. As with any investment, individuals should exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and consider their risk tolerance before participating in the cryptocurrency market.

Featured image from PBS

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The Israel-Hamas Conflict And The Resilience Of Cryptocurrency - Bitcoinist

The cryptocurrency ecosystem endured another tough go in Q3 as fundraising in the space fell to a three-year low, blockchain intelligence firm Messari pointed out in a research report this past week.

Indeed, the amount raised by crypto-focused firms in Q3 fell to just under $2.1B across 297 deals, down 36% in both categories from Q2 and the lowest since Q4 2020, the report said.

Fundraising hit a peak of almost $17.5B across more than 900 deals in Q1 2022, but an industry-wide downturn created by the collapse of the Terra ecosystem emerged shortly thereafter.

In terms of the overall funding amounts and deal counts, returns last year fell sharply in the Q2-Q3 period, when the demise of stablecoin TerraUSD (UST-USD) and sister token Luna (LUNA-USD) wiped out tens of billions of dollars in market capitalization within a week and contributed to the collapse of several other key players like Sam Bankman-Frieds multibillion-dollar empire.

While up handsomely on the year, prices of major digital tokens posted losses for Q3 2023, as investors came to the understanding that interest rates likely will stay higher for longer with inflation still too high for the Federal Reserves liking. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) and ethereum (ETH-USD), the two largest cryptos by market value, retreated 8.6% and 10.6%, respectively, during the quarter. The S&P 500, by comparison, logged a 3.8% loss.

Messari noted the bulk of deals in Q3 were concentrated in early-stage rounds, with seed funding accounting for the largest stage total with $488M raised over 98 rounds. Trends in deal counts show a significant shift away from later stage projects and into early stage projects over the last three years, it said.

Scanning across sectors, chain infrastructure saw the largest share of funding at 18%, while decentralized finance (DeFi) dominated in terms of the number of deals funded with 67. Gaming also scored another robust quarter, attracting nearly $250M.

Interestingly, Binance Labs, the venture capital division of embattled crypto exchange Binance, was by far the most active investor during the quarter, Messari said. Its 23 deals, focused on projects relating to DeFi and gaming sectors, were more than double the next biggest investor, Robot Ventures. The dominance in venture funding comes as Changpeng Zhao-led Binance is embroiled by regulatory woes, with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission both alleging the platform failed to register with U.S. regulators and sold illegal securities.

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Cryptocurrency fundraising falls to lowest in three years - report - Seeking Alpha

It is crucial investors be able to answer the question "What is cryptocurrency?" before jumping into the high-risk space.

At the height of the cryptocurrency wave in 2021, investors couldn't get enough of the trendy investment and the adjacent blockchain technologies, with many jumping in before they could even answer the question "What is cryptocurrency?".

The leader was and still is Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency. It hit an all-time high near $68,000 in November 2021. Over the next year, it shed 75% of its value as investors lost confidence in high-risk assets due to the Federal Reserve's use of rising interest rates to slow inflation.

All cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, were hit especially hard by the changing investment climate.

Nearly a year later, some sanity has returned to the digital currency market, which makes it an excellent time for Kiplinger to provide a primer for investors unfamiliar with cryptocurrency and the industry behind it.

Vanguard is one of the most prominent asset managers in the world. Its website's "How to Invest" section provides a good definition of cryptocurrency.

"A cryptocurrency is a digital asset stored on blockchain technology that serves as a type of currency or store of value. Unlike traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies aren't backed by major governments or developed economies," states the Vanguard website.

There's that word "blockchain" again. What does blockchain technology have to do with cryptocurrencies?

Blockchain technology enables cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to view and verify transactions between two parties through a decentralized network of users known as nodes. These nodes validate and record these transactions rather than through a single authority or middleman.

The Bitcoin blockchain, for example, contains every Bitcoin transaction that's ever taken place, divided into blocks. When stacked on each other, these blocks create a chain of blocks, or a blockchain.

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"Finding and publishing new blocks is what Bitcoin miners do to earn bitcoins," states a Coinbase help page explaining the Bitcoin blockchain. "Whenever a new block is broadcast, approximately every 10 minutes, a quantity of bitcoins is received by the miner who solved that block. Bitcoin miners keep the network secure, and this is how they are rewarded. This system ensures that all transactions are valid, and keeps the bitcoin network secure from fraud."

Investors have been asking themselves "Why own cryptocurrency?" ever since Bitcoin was created in 2009.

Proponents of the digital asset argue that decentralized finance takes the power of money creation away from central banks and bankers, democratizing the global financial system.

Cryptocurrencies are especially effective for transferring funds across borders quickly and efficiently to people living in countries with volatile currencies or significant cross-border restrictions, etc.

The other reason to own cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin is as an investment. There is a school of thought that cryptos provide a hedge against inflation.

To be such a beast, they must provide a store of value into the future, meaning they are worth the same or more with time. Further, they must be exchangeable for things like gold, U.S. dollars, etc. Lastly, they must have limited supply increases over time.

Bitcoin, for example, has a capped limit of 21 million. There are currently around 20 million Bitcoins. Every 10 minutes, approximately 6.25 bitcoins are mined and put into circulation. The limit is not expected to be reached until 2140.

This scarcity may make Bitcoin more expensive as the limit draws closer, but that's purely hypothetical.

Three of the most significant advantages of cryptocurrency are accessibility, faster transactions and transparency.

Cryptocurrency markets operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you're in your living room at three in the morning in the U.S. or traveling overseas, you can buy and sell digital assets without any concern your crypto exchange will be closed. It's always open.

The benefits of this accessibility to crypto beginners are debatable. However, cryptocurrencies have always been about democratizing finance. Anyone, anywhere, at any time can make a trade. That's what makes it appealing to investors.

Market participants have always been interested in faster and, where humanly possible, cheaper transactions. In the case of cryptocurrencies, faster transaction speeds are critical because they influence the overall adoption of cryptocurrencies.

"For example, if it takes 10 minutes for a Bitcoin transaction to be confirmed, it may not be practical for buying a cup of coffee," wrote The Baltic Times in an April 2023 article about cryptocurrency scalability and transaction speeds.

Transparency is a critical benefit of cryptocurrencies too. Their open-source code provides real-time, accurate results for auditors. That's essential for regulators seizing cryptocurrency used in criminal activities.

"According to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), seizure rates of illicit funds within the traditional financial system are around 0.1% meaning regulators have recaptured about one-thousandth of the funds known to have been used for criminal activity. The seizure rate for crypto: 27%, according to [Uniswap Legal Chief Salman] Banaei," Consensus magazine deputy managing director Daniel Kuhn wrote in April 2023.

As a result of this move to decentralize finance, countries such as the U.S. have looked to regulate cryptocurrencies further. In early June 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance and Coinbase Global (COIN), the world's two largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

The SEC's lawsuit against Binance accused the company of knowingly operating an unregistered exchange, as well as offering and selling unregistered securities. The complaint against Binance included 12 cryptocurrencies, such as Solana and Polygon.

The separate SEC lawsuit against Coinbase claims that it, too, operated an unregistered exchange, offering and selling unregistered securities.

"We allege that Coinbase, despite being subject to the securities laws, commingled and unlawfully offered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse functions," the SEC said in a statement.

If you are new to cryptocurrency, it is crucial to understand that the industry remains in transition. There remain many regulatory challenges from agencies such as the SEC.

This makes any investment including in diversified crypto ETFs potentially volatile and possessing above-average risk.

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What Is Cryptocurrency? - Yahoo Finance

The rapidly evolving nature of the cryptocurrency market has presented significant challenges for regulators worldwide. Understanding the underlying technology and developing informed policies has proven to be a complex task. However, there has been a noticeable shift from isolation to collaboration in global regulation, driven by the need for oversight in this growing industry.

One of the primary challenges in regulating cryptocurrencies is determining their legal classification. Various countries have grappled with whether to categorize them as currencies, securities, or to create a new classification tailored to their unique nature. This classification is essential for applying traditional financial regulatory structures effectively.

Another challenge lies in comprehending the underlying technology behind cryptocurrencies: blockchain. Regulators need to develop a deep understanding of this complex, decentralized, and distributed ledger technology to craft effective regulations. Failing to do so could result in stifling innovation or overlooking potential risks.

Taxation presents a further challenge. The quasi-anonymity of cryptocurrencies makes it difficult to monitor and tax transactions effectively, posing a significant hurdle for policymakers. Balancing the potential revenue from cryptocurrency taxation with the risk of tax evasion is crucial.

Consumer protection is also a concern, particularly with the rise of initial coin offerings (ICOs) and decentralized finance platforms. Regulators must establish safeguards to protect consumers from potential scams and fraudulent activities associated with these new financial technologies.

An outdated mindset among regulators, applying traditional financial services regulatory approaches to the cryptocurrency market, is another challenge. The unique nature of cryptocurrencies demands a fresh and unique approach to regulation.

Furthermore, the self-interest of individual countries and financial institutions poses a significant obstacle to creating a fair playing field. The focus should be on establishing smart regulations that encourage competition and innovation while ensuring responsible growth.

International cooperation and common standards are crucial in addressing these challenges. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) recommend comprehensive regulations and targeted restrictions instead of blanket bans. They emphasize the need for cross-border coordination due to the global nature of cryptocurrencies.

The shift towards collaboration in the cryptocurrency regulatory landscape indicates industry maturation. The future of cryptocurrency regulation should prioritize increased international cooperation, the establishment of global standards, and a balanced approach that promotes innovation while ensuring responsible growth.

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Regulatory Challenges and the Case for International Cooperation ... - Clayton County Register