TerraPower, a nuclear energy startup founded by Bill Gates, struck a deal this week with one of the largest data center developers in the US to deploy advanced nuclear reactors. TerraPower and Sabey Data Centers (SDC) are working together on a plan to run existing and future facilities on nuclear energy from small reactors.

Tech companies are scrambling to determine where to get all the electricity they’ll need for energy-hungry AI data centers that are putting growing pressure on power grids. They’re increasingly turning to nuclear energy, including next-generation reactors that startups like TerraPower are developing.

“The energy sector is transforming at an unprecedented pace after decades of business as usual, and meaningful progress will require strategic collaboration across industries,” TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque said in a press release.

A memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies establishes a “strategic collaboration” that’ll initially look into the potential for new nuclear power plants in Texas and the Rocky Mountain region that would power SDC’s data centers.

There’s still a long road ahead before that can become a reality. The technology TerraPower and similar nuclear energy startups are developing still have to make it through regulatory hurdles and prove that they can be commercially viable.

Compared to older, larger nuclear power plants, the next generation of reactors are supposed to be smaller and easier to site. Nuclear energy is seen as an alternative to fossil fuels that are causing climate change. But it still faces opposition from some advocates concerned about the impact of uranium mining and storing radioactive waste near communities.

“I’m a big believer that nuclear energy can help us solve the climate problem, which is very, very important. There are designs that, in terms of their safety or fuel use or how they handle waste, I think, minimize those problems,” Gates told The Verge last year.

TerraPower’s reactor design for this collaboration, Natrium, is the only advanced technology of its kind with a construction permit application for a commercial reactor pending with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to the company. The company just broke ground on a demonstration project in Wyoming last year, and expects it to come online in 2030.

Microsoft made a deal in September to help restart a retired reactor at Three Mile Island. Both Google and Amazon, meanwhile, announced plans last year to support the development of advanced reactors to power their data centers.

While Meta lures TikTok creators to Instagram and Facebook with cash bonuses, its X competitor Instagram Threads is now making things easier for creators, brands, and others who need more professional tools to manage their presence on the app. On Thursday, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced a small handful of new features coming to Threads, including a way to schedule posts and view more metrics within Insights.

In a post on the social network, Mosseri shared that users would now be able to schedule posts on Threads and view the metrics for individual posts within the Insights dashboard which offers a way for Threads users to track trends including their views, number of followers and geographic demographics, number and type of interactions, and more, for a given time period.

In addition, he said that Threads is adding a new feature that allows users to “markup” a post they’re resharing so they include their own creative take. While Mosseri didn’t elaborate on what that means or share an example, earlier findings from tech enthusiast Chris Messina indicate that Threads will add a new icon next to the buttons for adding photos, GIFs, voice, hashtags, and more that provide access to this feature.

The squiggle icon, when clicked, takes users to a screen where they can choose between tools like a highlighter pen or arrow tool, that would allow them to draw directly on a Thread post. This feature was also spotted last week by Lindsey Gamble, who posted on Threads to show the feature in action.

It’s an odd sort of addition for Threads, given that users are more often sharing something clipped from the web, like a news article, where they’ve added a highlight or underline in a screenshot. There hasn’t been much consumer demand for a tool to mark up Threads’ posts directly.

However, the feature does offer Threads users something unique, when compared with social networking rivals like X, Bluesky, and Mastodon — and that could be the point.

Bitcoin and most altcoins have fallen this week even after Donald Trump’s inauguration to become the most crypto-friendly president in the US.

Bitcoin (BTC) price dropped to $101,000 on January 23rd, while popular meme coins like ai16z, Fartcoin, and Official Trump fell by over 20%. Other top laggards were coins like Lido DAO, Jupiter, Virtuals Protocol, and Hyperliquid. 

There are four possible reasons for the ongoing crypto retreat. First, economists expect the Bank of Japan to hike interest rates by 0.25% on Friday. This would bring the official cash rate to 0.50%, the highest level since 2008. 

The last BoJ rate hike occurred in August last year, leading to a sharp decline in cryptocurrencies and other assets. This was due to the unwinding of the Japanese yen carry trade. As such, another BoJ rate hike may trigger another drop, albeit at a smaller size.

Second, in line with this, Bitcoin and altcoins fell as traders waited for next week’s Federal Reserve interest rate decision. A hawkish tone may also lead to more weakness in the crypto industry since it would push government bond yields higher. 

Third, they have dropped because Donald Trump has not mentioned crypto since his inauguration. He has also not signed any executive order on cryptocurrency. This explains why the odds of him creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve have dropped to 40% on Polymarket.

The coins also dropped because of the popular practice of buying an asset ahead of a major event and then selling it when it occurs.

Risks of a Bitcoin price double top

Bitcoin has also formed the risky double-top chart pattern at $108,100.This pattern is made up of two peaks and a neckline and is usually a bearish reversal sign. The neckline in this case is at $89,305. By measuring the distance between the double-top and the neckline, the potential target for the coin is about $74,000.

Therefore, Bitcoin will remain on edge as long as it is below that double-top pattern. This will, in turn, affect other altcoins that often move in the same direction as Bitcoin.

Moving above the double-top point at $108,100 will invalidate the bearish view and point to more gains, potentially to the psychological level at $110,000.

[PRESS RELEASE – San Francisco, United States, January 22nd, 2025]

Boba Network has announced the integration of Nucleus, a protocol designed for blockchain networks. This collaboration enables users bridging ETH, Liquidity Staking Tokens (LSTs), or Liquidity Reward Tokens (LRTs) to the Boba Network to engage with Ethereum mainnet functionalities while accessing various DeFi protocols, gaming platforms, and NFT marketplaces

The partnership aligns with Boba Network’s focus on scalability and user-focused development. The integration of Nucleus expands Boba Network’s ecosystem offerings, highlighting advancements in cross-chain functionality and composable infrastructure.

Enhancing Results Through Cohesion

1. ETH, LSTs, or LRTs bridged to Boba Network are integrated into the network’s system, facilitating seamless interaction with decentralized applications. This approach aims to optimize user engagement without additional complexity.
2. This version removes promotional language and references to financial benefits, focusing solely on functionality.
3. Frictionless Cross-Chain Operations
4. Secure interchain messaging protocols connect Ethereum Mainnet and Boba Network, enabling efficient yield aggregation. The flow of assets and rewards benefits from streamlined coordination between chains.
5. Composable Infrastructure
6. Smart contracts empower cross-chain deposits, withdrawals, and liquidity management. This allows developers to build robust decentralized applications that incorporate Nucleus’s functionality without added complexity.

Boba Network as a Foundation for Innovation

Boba Network’s advanced capabilities support Nucleus’s goal of integrating core functionalities into blockchain ecosystems.

• HybridCompute™
• Off-chain data computation at scale lowers costs and boosts performance for yield-bearing protocols.
• Account Abstraction
• Simplified user interactions reduce onboarding barriers and enhance overall accessibility.
• Low Transaction Costs
• Lower fees support high-volume user participation and provide a cost-effective environment for dApp developers.

This synergy bolsters ecosystem capabilities, drives the adoption of decentralized technology, and sets the stage for new market opportunities.

Aligning with Nucleus’s Mission

By deploying on Boba Network, Nucleus aims to integrate core functionality across multiple crypto networks. This approach supports ecosystem participation by leveraging Boba Network’s features, including speed, cost-efficiency, and access to a range of decentralized applications.

What the Integration Brings

• For Users: Convenient access to a variety of applications within the Boba Network ecosystem.
• For Developers: Tools and resources for integrating advanced features into decentralized applications to support innovative product development.
• For Ecosystems: Increased network activity supported by integrated functionalities, contributing to the ongoing development of blockchain technology.

Setting a New Standard for Blockchain Networks

The collaboration between Nucleus and Boba Network aims to integrate advanced network functionalities as a core feature rather than an additional option. This integration seeks to enhance the accessibility and utility of blockchain technology, supporting broader adoption and facilitating advancements in decentralized finance and related fields.

Users can learn more about Nucleus on Boba Network and experience how this integration is redefining blockchain networks.

About Nucleus

Nucleus is a protocol designed to integrate core functionalities at the foundational layer of blockchain ecosystems. By streamlining cross-chain operations and providing developers with tools for integrating advanced features, Nucleus aims to enhance how users interact with Web3 technologies.

About Boba Network

Boba Network is a multichain Layer 2 solution designed for scalability, low transaction costs, and enhanced developer capabilities. Through innovations such as HybridCompute™ and account abstraction, Boba Network supports diverse dApps spanning DeFi, gaming, and NFTs, aiming to bring the next wave of users into the blockchain space.

Website: https://boba.network

Twitter: @bobanetwork

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bobanetwork/

Although Bitcoin price action is still holding above the $100,000 price level, the past 24 hours have been highlighted by a 2.5% decline. According to liquidation data from Coinglass, this decline has seen $65.47 million worth of positions liquidated, with the majority ($54.10 million) being long positions. 

Crypto analyst Kevin (Kev_Capital_TA) noted a significant range between $96,000 and $111,000, calling it the most pivotal zone on Bitcoin’s liquidation heatmap. This zone could determine the market’s next trajectory after months of back and forth movement trading between this range.

Bitcoin’s Liquidity Heatmap Highlights Key Levels

According to Kevin’s analysis, which he posted on social media platform X, large liquidity blocks dominate the range between $96,000 and $111,000, which has created an important zone for Bitcoin traders to keep an eye on.

Related Reading

Liquidity heatmaps visualize areas where buy and sell orders accumulate, often serving as potential reversal or breakout points. The presence of significant liquidity in this range suggests that the market could experience heightened volatility once Bitcoin approaches these levels, and inexperienced investors could be caught up in the price action.

The liquidity blocks within this range are highlighted in green in the Bitcoin price chart below. These green zones are high-activity zones that act as a magnet for price action. Notably, the largest liquidity cluster lies near $109,700, slightly above Bitcoin’s current all-time high of $108,786, achieved just three days ago. This proximity to this all-time high means that Bitcoin could undergo another strong price action once it reaches this level. There are many market participants with buy and sell orders here around $109,700.

Bitcoin Needs To Break Above its Prolonged Sideways Trading

Kevin also pointed out Bitcoin’s extended period of sideways trading, which has tested the patience of many investors. He noted that Bitcoin traded sideways for eight months at the end of 2024, followed by a brief surge in price, only to return to another three-month period of low volatility.

Related Reading

Since then, however, the strong bullish momentum has yet to repeat itself. Although long-term holders may still be in profit, short-term traders are feeling the most strain from the lack of any substantial upward price action.

The first step in repeating bullish momentum would be to break above the upper end of the liquidation zone at $110,000. 

If Bitcoin breaches this range, it could trigger a significant rally or sell-off depending on the prevailing sentiment and trading activity within the zone.

However, the lack of liquidity beyond these levels also poses risks, especially below the lower end of the zone. The thinner orders means there isn’t enough hold up liquidity to reject a price breakdown.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $102,200, down by 2.8% in the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview.com

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world

A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s executive order that denies US citizenship to children born in the country to unauthorised immigrants, dealing a blow to an immigration clampdown that is a top priority of his second presidency.

John Coughenour, a US district judge in the state of Washington, on Thursday called the policy “blatantly unconstitutional”, as he handed down a temporary restraining order halting the president’s ban, according to media reports.

The decision stems from a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by four Democratic state attorneys-general led by the state of Washington — one of several legal challenges that were swiftly mounted against the order that Trump signed on Monday, just hours after being sworn in as president.

Coughenour’s decision marks the first legal setback for Trump’s administration just three days after returning to the White House. The wave of executive orders the president signed many of them focused on immigration — has kicked off what are set to be fierce and drawn-out legal battles.

Other Democratic state attorneys-general as well as civil rights groups this week filed separate lawsuits to invalidate the birthright ban, all alleging similar violations of the Fourteenth Amendment, which says that all “persons born or naturalised in the US . . . are citizens of the United States”.

The office of Washington’s attorney-general said: “If allowed to stand, the unconstitutional and un-American order would cause thousands of newborns and children in Washington to lose their ability to fully and fairly participate in American society as citizens, despite the Constitution’s guarantee of their citizenship.”

Oregon, Arizona and Illinois joined the lawsuit.

Trump’s order instead argued the Fourteenth Amendment does not “extend citizenship universally to everyone born” in the US.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, it said the lawsuits were part of the “left’s resistance” and the administration would face them in court.

The Department of Justice said in a filing on Wednesday that the order was “an integral part of President Trump’s recent actions, pursuant to his significant authority in the immigration field, to address this nation’s broken immigration system and the ongoing crisis at the southern border”.