Bitcoin continues to trade at record levels.

According to checkonchain data, Wednesday’s $130 billion bitcoin (BTC) volume was one of the highest in its history. Trade volume has soared since President Trump won the U.S. election at the start of November, doubling from a daily average of $65 billion.

The futures market (the total traded in futures contracts) yesterday saw $110 billion worth of volume. This was the fifth-highest futures trade volume recorded, only bettered on a handful of days in November and December last year.

The spot market saw roughly $15 billion of traded volume, which is approaching an all-time high. Meanwhile, bitcoin ETFs saw around $5 billion worth of trade volume, which is around half the all-time high seen in March 2024.

It is worth noting that options volume has not been included in the $130 billion daily volume figure, but it too is growing rapidly. According to Glassnode data, the total amount of options contracts traded in the last 24 hours is more than $3 billion.

With bitcoin is vying to be a global settlement layer, the more volume and liquidity that can be generated, the greater the asset’s chance of onboarding institutions that want to settle in billions of dollars at a moment’s notice.

• Perplexity AI has released a mobile app for Android
• The Perplexity Assistant offers voice, text, and camera-based interactions for tasks such as booking rides and identifying objects
• The assistant integrates with apps and leverages real-time information and task automation

AI conversational search engine Perplexity is going mobile on the Google Play Store with a new Android app. Peeplexity’s app pitches itself as a kind of digital Swiss Army knife that can manage tasks for you, including making reservations and identifying objects through your phone’s camera. Best of all, the app is free and speaks 15 languages.

By leveraging Perplexity’s own search engine, the assistant can also tap into real-time web information, so it’s not just regurgitating pre-programmed answers. This should, in theory, make it smarter and more versatile than many of its competitors. To juggle all of those abilities, Perplexity can maintain context across multiple tasks. That means it won’t double-book you and will remember what you like and don’t like.

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Donald Trump has raised the pressure on Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell to cut borrowing costs, setting up a potential clash between the two men less than a week before the US central bank meets to set interest rates.

During an appearance in the Oval Office on Thursday to sign several new executive orders, Trump said he knew rates “much better” than the Fed, and he would like to see them come down “a lot”. 

The US central bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark rate between 4.25-4.5 per cent next week, marking a pause after three consecutive cuts since September.

The Fed has signalled a slower pace of cuts this year with some officials concerned that Trump’s plan to raise tariffs, slash taxes and crack down on immigration will hinder efforts to beat back inflation to 2 per cent. 

“The concerns [at the Fed] are not just about tariffs, but also a recognition that fiscal policy is not going to help bring inflation down,” said Mahmood Pradhan, economist at Amundi.  

But the Fed’s more cautious posture puts it on a collision course with the new US president.

Trump on Thursday said he expected the Fed to listen to his demands and would speak to Powell “at the right time”.

“I think I know interest rates much better than they do, and I think I know them certainly much better than the one who’s primarily in charge of making that decision,” Trump said. “If I disagree, I will let it be known.”

Trump elevated Powell to Fed chair during his first term in office, but was often critical of him, especially for not cutting rates quickly enough in 2019. The president indicated on the campaign trail last year that he would not try to remove Powell from his position before his term expires in 2026.

“If the Fed continue to keep rates where they are and he thinks that it would be great to get a boost out of lower rates, then there’s a real chance of conflict,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, a centre-right policy institute.

Some economists have said that if Trump’s policies push up prices it could compel the Fed to hold back from further cuts or even raise borrowing costs.

“If the administration do stuff that really starts to push up the rate of inflation, the Fed mandate is quite clear — they will push up rates. And they will get it in the neck [from Trump] if they do,” said Mark Blyth, economics professor at Brown University. 

Trump used a speech to executives in Davos earlier on Thursday to say he wanted rates to come down “all over the world” — and told the Opec cartel to bring down oil prices to make that happen.

He touched on the theme again in his Oval Office remarks to reporters a few hours later.

“I’d like to see oil prices come down, and when the energy comes down, that’s going to knock out a lot of the inflation. That’s going to automatically bring the interest rates down,” Trump said.

He also on Thursday raised new doubts about Washington’s commitment to Nato and called for more defence spending by the US’s allies in the treaty.

“They’re not protecting us,” he said of the Nato countries. “We’re protecting them. So I don’t think we should be spending, I’m not sure we should be spending anything, but we should certainly be helping them. But they should up their 2 per cent [of GDP on defence spending] to 5 per cent.”

Trump’s Nato comments came a day after newly sworn in secretary of state Marco Rubio “reaffirmed the US commitment” to the group, according to a record of his conversation with the alliance’s secretary-general Mark Rutte.

Among the other executive orders Trump signed on Thursday was one creating a national cryptocurrency stockpile and another to authorise the release of federal files on the assassinations of president John F Kennedy, ex-attorney-general Robert F Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

“The American people deserve transparency and truth” about the killings, said Trump. “A lot of people are waiting for this for years, for decades, and everything will be revealed.”

Netflix plans to offer couch co-op and party games that it will stream over the cloud to TVs, co-CEO Greg Peters said as part of the company’s Q4 2024 earnings announcements this week. The company has offered cloud gaming as a beta to a “subset” of subscribers since 2023, so this news from Peters indicates that the company is going to continue to invest in it.

Peters didn’t say exactly when the co-op and party games might be available. But he did say that “we think of this as a successor to family board game night or an evolution of what the game show on TV used to be.”

Netflix will also continue to focus on “more narrative games based on Netflix IP” — Peters says those games are “consistent fan favorites and we’ve got a lot in the library to work with there.”

BeerBear, a new low-cap meme coin, is looking to challenge Ethereum and Solana.

The crypto world is buzzing with talk of a low-cap meme coin that’s set to challenge giants like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL). With predictions of massive returns, speculators are flocking to this hidden gem in search of massive profits. The name making waves? BeerBear.

BeerBear: A unique crypto opportunity

Time is ticking, and the crypto world is buzzing about BeerBear, the token that looks to rewrite the rules of profit. With early presale discounts and high growth potential, BeerBear could be a chance to secure fast, substantial gains before the bull run hits full speed.

BeerBear’s presale started at $0.0001 per token and will ramp up to $0.0020 by the 20th stage. The math doesn’t lie – early adopters stand to rake in up to 1,900% returns in record time. 

BeerBear isn’t just another token – it’s an adrenaline-packed ecosystem designed to grow fast and reward its investors quickly:

• Presale growth: Opportunity to get in from the start and watch investments multiply with each stage.
• Gamified ecosystem: Prepare for BeerBear’s Bar Brawl Beat ‘Em Up Game, where rare items and rewards can be unlocked. Think Streets of Rage meets crypto dominance – play, earn, and collect exclusive perks.
• Massive rewards with Beer points: Every token purchase earns Beer points, unlocking additional bonuses like NFTs, airdrops, and premium game access. The bigger the purchase, the bigger the rewards.

Beer points reward system

Earn 6%-12% Beer points based on the size of token purchase:

• Small contributions ($10-$250) earn 6% in Beer points.
• Medium contributions ($1,000-$2,500) earn 9% in Beer points.
• Large contributions ($10,000+) unlock the maximum reward of 12% in Beer points.

Example: A $700 purchase earns 5,600 Beer points, boosting potential bonuses and rewards.

USDT-BSC multi-level referral program

• Earn up to 9% for direct referrals, with additional bonuses for referrals made by referees.
• Share the referral link and turn every connection into passive USDT income.
• Weekly payouts ensure rewards arrive fast — no waiting around.
• Start small or go big and watch referrals generate consistent profits.

Interested investors can join the BEAR presale.

Ethereum: King of smart contracts

Ethereum has dominated the blockchain space with its smart contract functionality and a massive developer ecosystem. Its role as the backbone of decentralized applications (dApps) and DeFi has cemented its place at the top of the crypto hierarchy. 

Despite its success, Ethereum’s scalability issues and high transaction fees have caused many traders to explore alternative investments for higher returns.

Solana: The high-speed contender

Solana has emerged as a top competitor to Ethereum, boasting lightning-fast transaction speeds and low fees. Its ability to handle thousands of transactions per second has made it a favorite for developers and traders alike.

With a growing ecosystem and strong backing, SOL has become a go-to choice for those seeking a high-performing blockchain. However, as Solana gains traction, speculators are turning their attention to the next big opportunity.

The meme coin set for massive gains

BeerBear is offering a fresh opportunity for traders chasing massive returns. Priced at $0.0002 during its presale, BeerBear provides a low entry point for those ready to ride the wave. With a multi-stage presale model that rewards early adopters, BeerBear is capturing the attention of whales and retail investors alike.

What sets BeerBear apart is its ability to generate hype and foster a community of degens who thrive on high-risk, high-reward plays. The buzz surrounding BeerBear is growing by the day.

Conclusion

Ethereum and Solana are proven leaders in the crypto space but BeerBear’s potential and low presale price make it a unique opportunity for speculators. With predictions of massive returns, BeerBear is a meme coin that could redefine portfolios in 2025.

For more information on BeerBear, visit their website, X, or Telegram.

OpenAI says that it might store chats and associated screenshots from customers who use Operator, the company’s AI “agent” tool, for up to 90 days — even after a user manually deletes them.

OpenAI has a similar deleted data retention policy for ChatGPT, its AI-powered chatbot platform. However, the retention period for ChatGPT is only 30 days, which is 60 days shorter than Operator’s.

OpenAI says its policies around data retention for Operator are designed to combat abuse. “As agents are a relatively new technology, we wanted to make sure our teams have the time to better understand and review potential abuse vectors,” an OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch. “This retention period allows us to enhance fraud monitoring and ensure the product remains safe from misuse, while still giving users control over their data.”

OpenAI announced Operator on Thursday and released it in a research preview for subscribers to the company’s $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan. Operator is a general-purpose AI agent with a built-in browser that can independently perform certain actions on websites.

OpenAI claims that Operator can automate tasks like booking travel accommodations, making restaurant reservations, and shopping online. There are several task categories users can choose from within the Operator interface, including shopping, delivery, dining, and travel.

Operator captures screenshots of its built-in browser to help it understand how and when to take actions in apps, like when to use buttons and which forms to complete. To be clear, Operator doesn’t capture screenshots when it gets “stuck,” like when the tool needs a password. OpenAI calls this “take over” mode.

Still, some users may be wary of volunteering screenshots of their online activities to a company that may keep them for upwards of three months. OpenAI notes that, as with ChatGPT, Operator data may be accessed by “a limited number of authorized OpenAI personnel” and “trusted service providers” for purposes like investigating abuse and handling legal matters.

Tired of juggling multiple different platforms to manage your crypto?

Best Wallet (BEST) has created an all-in-one solution – and its BEST token presale is going from strength to strength.

With nearly $8 million raised, could BEST live up to all the early hype?

Best Wallet – The New Wallet Aiming to Transform Crypto Management

Best Wallet is aiming to be the complete crypto hub, offering a wide range of features for both new and experienced traders.

Users can store assets, swap tokens, and even access exclusive presale projects in one easy-to-use platform.

One of Best Wallet’s standout features is its built-in DEX.

This DEX lets users buy, sell, and swap their favorite tokens without leaving the Best Wallet app.

Plus, the app’s staking protocol lets them stake BEST to earn APYs of 228%, which is far higher than the industry average.

If that wasn’t enough, Best Wallet’s team plans to launch “Best Card” – a debit card that lets investors spend their crypto as if it were cash.

But it’s not just about convenience since Best Wallet is designed with security in mind.

Best Wallet protects users’ assets with two-factor authentication and insurance through Fireblocks.

And let’s not forget about the BEST token itself.

Holding BEST unlocks several perks, including reduced trading fees, higher staking rewards, and a say in the platform’s future.

BEST Token Presale Nears $8M as Investor Demand Ramps Up

The BEST token presale is generating serious buzz right now.

With nearly $8 million raised and a daily funding rate exceeding $200,000, investors are clearly excited about Best Wallet’s potential.

That’s unsurprising, given that the wallet offers new features, a user-friendly app, and a strong development team.

The BEST token presale, which kicked off in mid-November, has seen steady demand.

This shows it’s not just a temporary fad – there’s real momentum behind it.

Early investors can now grab BEST tokens for $0.0237 each, but that price will increase as the presale progresses.

That means those who get in the earliest will receive a lower entry point.

Adding to the hype, Best Wallet has been audited by Coinsult, a well-known security firm, who found no issues.

The Best Wallet community is also growing fast, with Twitter and Telegram channels seeing an influx of members.

And to top it off, the project has even received shout-outs from some big names in the crypto world, like Austin Hilton and Borch Crypto.

Upcoming Tokens Feature Provides Early Access to the Next Crypto Gems

One of the big drivers behind Best Wallet’s presale success is the “Upcoming Tokens” feature.

This is where users can discover and invest in promising new projects before they hit exchanges.

Imagine getting in on the next Dogecoin early.

That’s the kind of opportunity that the Upcoming Tokens feature offers.

It’s simple to use: Users can browse ongoing presales, learn about the project’s details, and invest directly through the Best Wallet app.

They can even track their token balance and be notified about important events, such as when to claim their tokens.

Best Wallet users have already seen some incredible returns from this feature.

Pepe Unchained, for example, saw nearly 700% upside from its presale price to its post-launch high.

Catslap soared over 2,500% from its initial launch price.

And with Upcoming Tokens now featuring the Meme Index project, this might be the next big thing.

So, if you’re looking for a crypto wallet with a twist, Best Wallet is worth checking out.

It very well could be the future of digital asset management.

Visit Best Wallet Token Presale

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