In December 2024, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) passed $100,000 for the first time. This surge, driven by optimism over a pro-crypto US administration, marked a historic moment. Yet, despite the excitement, it also highlighted an ongoing problem—cryptocurrencies still aren’t ready for everyday use.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become popular as investments, similar to stocks or as some experts call it—Bitcoin is the ‘digital gold.’ But when it comes to being used as real money, they fall short. High fees, slow transactions, and often overcomplicated systems keep crypto from being practical for most people. If the industry wants to see mass adoption, it needs to fix these problems and focus on making crypto easy to use and accessible to everyone.

Old blockchain systems are holding crypto back

When Bitcoin launched, its decentralized design was groundbreaking. It showed the world a new way to secure and transfer money without relying on banks that are prone to external factors such as inflation and geopolitical constraints. Yet, over a decade later, its original system is struggling to keep up.

Bitcoin’s block creation process, which happens every 10 minutes, limits how many transactions it can handle. During busy times, fees go up, and transactions take longer to confirm. This makes using Bitcoin for small, everyday payments inconvenient and expensive.

L2 solutions like the Lightning Network try to make Bitcoin faster and cheaper, but such solutions still depend on the same slow base layer. This means the core problem remains unsolved. As a result, Bitcoin is mostly used as a store of value or an investment rather than as a way to pay for everyday commodities. For crypto to be widely adopted, it needs to move beyond this basic limitation.

Crypto needs to scale for everyday use

If cryptocurrencies are to work as money for everyone, they need to scale up in a big way. Today’s leading flagships like Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) can’t handle the volume of transactions that a global payment system requires. Congestion and high fees make them impractical for daily use.

Traditional payment systems like Visa and Mastercard, on the other hand, process millions of transactions every day with ease. For crypto to compete, it must match or exceed this level of performance. Small improvements aren’t enough. The industry needs bold new designs for blockchains that can handle massive transaction volumes without breaking a sweat.

Without this kind of scalability, crypto will stay stuck as a niche tool – good for speculation but not for replacing traditional financial systems.

The case for hybrid models and stablecoins

One way forward might be through hybrid systems that combine crypto’s strengths with the stability of fiat money. Stablecoins, which are tied to fiat currencies like the US dollar, already show promise. They provide the speed and privacy of crypto while avoiding the price swings of coins like Bitcoin.

Stablecoins are gaining traction in countries where local currencies are unstable, offering people a safe and practical way to store and transfer value. However, they’re only part of the solution. The industry needs a seamless system that integrates stablecoins, traditional cryptocurrencies, and even digital fiat currencies.

Such a system would give users the flexibility to choose what works best for them while keeping the key benefits of decentralization, speed, and security.

Changing how people see crypto

Another big hurdle to crypto adoption is how people view it. Bitcoin is often called ‘digital gold,’ which makes people think of it as an investment to hold onto rather than spend. While this idea has helped Bitcoin grow in value, it has also hurt its potential to be fully integrated into everyday transactions for lesser commodities.

For crypto to succeed as money, this perception needs to change. People should see it as a tool for everyday transactions, whether they’re buying coffee or sending money abroad. This requires not just better technology but also better communication and transparency from the industry. The message should be clear—crypto is simple, reliable, and ready to use in the real world.

The path ahead

We should, of course, consider that the industry keeps focusing on speculation and addressing crypto as a stock market while playing around with price gains, in that case, the industry and crypto will fail to reach their full potential and remain as a niche tool. But if the priorities were to shift into practical solutions, crypto could truly become the money of the future. 

The road ahead isn’t easy, but the goal is worth it. Crypto doesn’t just need new technology—it needs a new mindset. The question isn’t whether crypto can change the world. The question is whether we’re ready to make it happen. 

[PRESS RELEASE – Tortola, British Virgin Islands, January 23rd, 2025]

Nibiru, a secure and high-performance blockchain, has reached successful code completion for its upcoming Nibiru EVM (Nibiru V2) upgrade.

“This milestone marks a key step in the evolution of Nibiru. Smoothly launching an initiative like this is about doing small things right to make a big difference. Nibiru places a heavy emphasis on security for users and their digital assets. The audits and resulting mitigation changes help ensure that the new generation of apps on Nibiru will deploy in a secure and efficient environment, stated Unique Divine, Co-founder of Nibiru and CEO of Nibi, Inc.”

These security audits of Nibiru focused on the core L1 logic. The team started with a consultative security audit in October 2024 by Zenith, where Code4rena assembled a curated team of auditors tailored to the project’s specific codebase and needs. After addressing potential security findings from this audit, the team sponsored a competitive Code4rena audit in November 2024. This second audit expanded its scope to include Nibiru’s Ethereum JSON-RPC, in addition to the core L1 and the Nibiru EVM.

What is Nibiru EVM (Nibiru V2)?

The Nibiru EVM Upgrade, also called Nibiru V2, is a “purely additive” enhancement to Nibiru that makes it an EVM-equivalent execution engine. This allows Ethereum-based application development teams to more easily build on Nibiru and take advantage of widely used tools like MetaMask and Coinbase Wallet.

The team’s Jan 2025 Ecosystem Update also mentions the launch of several products on top of Nibiru V2, including a Uniswap V3 deployment by Oku, Astrovault’s cross-chain value capture DEX, tokenized private credit and T-bills, and Bridged USDC.

Nibiru Lagrange Point: A Glimpse into the Future

Building upon the progress of the Nibiru EVM upgrade, Nibiru is unveiling the initial stages of its ambitious “Nibiru Lagrange Point” roadmap. This roadmap outlines a series of innovative advancements designed to further enhance the scalability, decentralization, and user experience on Nibiru.

Nibiru Lagrange Point combines:

• FunToken Mechanism, a unification of EVM and non-EVM tokens that don’t rely on third-party bridges
• Pipeline-Aware Reordered Execution (PARE) for higher throughput
• Optimized validator dynamics in NibiruBFT, including Boneh–Lynn–Shacham (BLS) Signatures and novel grouping algorithms to reduce overhead and speed up block times.
• Mempool Lanes for orderly transaction flow

These design innovations are meant to “address bottlenecks across every layer of the stack, paving the way for advanced DeFi, real-world assets (RWAs), AI-driven bots, and high-traffic cultural projects—all running seamlessly on a single platform”, according to Harvey Liu, Research Engineer at Nibi, Inc.

About Nibiru

Nibiru is a high-performance MultiVM blockchain that achieves fast finality, a block time of less than 1.8 seconds, and robust security. Backed by $20.5 million in funding from NGC Ventures, HashKey Capital, Kraken Ventures, and Tribe Capital, Nibiru enables developers to build and deploy smart contract applications interoperable across multiple virtual machines, such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and WebAssembly (Wasm).

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• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 2 launches on January 28
• It adds loads of new Zombies content, including new map The Tomb
• This is in addition to a new Wonder Weapon, fresh GobbleGums, and more

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 2 launches on January 28 and brings a wealth of new content for Multiplayer. Black Ops 6 Zombies is also receiving some love, with plenty of big new additions.

The most significant is a whole new Zombies map, The Tomb. Set after the events of the Citadelle des Morts map, The Tomb sees protagonists Weaver, Maya, Carver, and Grey venture into a mysterious lost catacomb in the ongoing fight against the Dark Aether.

The outlook for bitcoin (BTC), the world’s largest cryptocurrency, is positive, and its price is expected to remain elevated in 2025, German lender Deutsche Bank (DB) said in a report Wednesday.

A more favorable regulatory and political backdrop in the U.S., growing institutional adoption, and looser Federal Reserve monetary policy, are all expected to support the cryptocurrency’s price, the report said.

The Trump administration’s support for crypto means the market’s current bull run should continue, and ongoing presidential backing is key for the “continuation of crypto’s golden era,” analyst Marion Laboure wrote.

While President Trump didn’t sign any crypto-related executive orders on his first day in office, the announcement that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) will develop a regulatory framework for digital assets is a first step towards an overhaul of the industry, the report said.

The appointment of Paul Atkins as SEC chair is also indicative of a “shift towards an innovation-friendly approach,” Deutsche Bank noted.

With the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation coming into force in the EU in December, the European crypto market now enjoys increased legitimacy and security, the report added.

More clarity about the potential establishment of a U.S. bitcoin reserve could be forthcoming in the first quarter, the bank said.

Read more: Bitcoin No Longer a Niche Investment as Institutional Adoption Takes Off: WisdomTree

Over the weekend, I went to DC to meet with all of the right-wing influencers and content creators who made President Donald Trump’s 2024 win possible. They were everywhere.

The 2024 election was the influencer election and inauguration was no different: There were dozens of pre- and post-inaugural parties and balls this weekend, as well as the big event itself. Theo Von sat in front of Jake and Logan Paul under the Capitol rotunda (well, until the podcaster’s chair collapsed). Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Brett Cooper walked the Turning Point USA red carpet and posed for selfies with fans. Jessic Reed Kraus, writer of the HouseInhabit newsletter, hung out with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Make America Healthy Again ball Monday night.

In August, I published a guide on the Republican and Democratic influencers shaping the 2024 election. The influencers and content creators still matter, and they will be communicating and guiding policy decisions for years to come.

Welcome to Trump 2.0, where these creators have the ears not only of their audiences but of the president as well. Here are some of the ones to keep an eye on over the next four years.

The Podcasters and Streamers

The 2024 election was the breakout cycle for podcasters in politics. Most of the shows Trump went on catered to the manosphere, a loose network of creators who push misogynistic, racist, and pro-male ideology online. This includes people like Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, the Paul brothers, and Adin Ross, who shared their Trump interviews with millions and millions of their fans. There’s a second branch too, made up of creators who have branded themselves as the intellectual wing of the modern Republican party, like Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, and Lex Fridman. Fridman’s YouTube podcast reaches millions of viewers every week. Shapiro’s show is one of the most popular ones on Spotify.

These podcasters have amplified Trump and his agenda with very little, if any, pushback. They will likely be key in rallying support for Trump administration decisions.

I spoke briefly with Shapiro on Sunday night, asking what comes next for the GOP and podcasting. “The power continues to grow,” he said. “Legacy media’s completely blown itself out. We’re focused on expanding, not only our brand, but there’s so many other brands that need expansion, I think that it’s gonna be a very rich time for the podcast industry.”

The Meme Pages

DC Draino, the Typical Liberal, RagingAmericans, and Snowflaketears are some of the largest pro-MAGA meme pages on Instagram. Combined, these accounts have over 6 million followers. They act as conduit between GOP leadership priorities and platforms like X and Instagram.

Think of their accounts as news aggregators for people who otherwise may not be consuming it.

The Organizers

While the Democrats worked with influencers over the last election cycle too, no PAC or campaign organized them as effectively and efficiently as the right. Because of Turning Point USA and its leader, Charlie Kirk, many of the GOP’s most popular creators see each other at least a few times a year at the organization’s summits and trainings. According to interviews with some of the right’s top organizers, that infrastructure is only going to grow over the next four years. The organizers themselves have also become influencers to watch.

I wrote about an influencer party (and victory lap) hosted over Inauguration weekend that was put on by CJ Pearson and Raquel Debono. Pearson, a conservative creator with more than 500,000 X followers, cochairs the Republican National Committee’s youth advisory council. He’s played a key role in the party’s adoption of influencers and is planning additional trainings with organizations like the Heritage Foundation.

Part-owners of Chelsea and Manchester United football clubs are among a quartet of finalists vying to buy a big stake in London Spirit, the most prestigious franchise in English cricket’s Hundred competition.

Sky News has learnt that a vehicle controlled by Todd Boehly, a shareholder in Chelsea, and members of the Manchester United-owning Glazer family have been shortlisted to acquire 49% of the Lord’s-based team from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The other two shortlisted bidders are a consortium of technology company owners and financiers which includes the bosses of Google and Microsoft; and RPSG Group, the owner of the Indian Premier League team Lucknow Super Giants.

Money latest: TV chef points finger over hospitality troubles

People close to the process said on Thursday that the four bidders would be asked to submit sealed bids for the ECB stake next week, with the highest bidder expected to be chosen by the ECB.

The London Spirit franchise is expected to be valued at about £140m, meaning the proceeds to be received and distributed by the ECB would be approximately £70m, the insiders added.

The identities of the shortlisted parties means that India’s Ambani family, owner of the Mumbai Indians IPL team, is not in the running to buy the Lord’s-based outfit.

Instead, the Mumbai Indians’ owners are pursuing bids for the Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals teams, according to insiders.

Shortlists for some of the eight Hundred franchises are said to number fewer than four bidders, although the process has been complicated by the presence of some parties in several processes.

The Lucknow Super Giants owners, for example, are said to have been in pursuit of four of the eight teams.

In total, the ECB has indicated that it could receive in the region of £350m for its 49% stakes in the eight teams.

The host counties are also allowed to sell their 51% shareholdings, although some have said they do not intend to do so.

The MCC, which controls the London Spirit franchise, does not intend to offload any of its stake at this point, according to cricket insiders.

Sky News revealed earlier this month that the consortium of tech company chiefs was also bidding for the Oval Invincibles, with them also expected to be shortlisted in that process.

CVC Capital Partners, the buyout firm which has made a swathe of sports investments, has also tabled an offer for the Oval-based team.

Investors will only be allowed to own a stake in one of the eight teams, which also include Welsh Fire, Southern Brave and the Northern Superchargers.

A bigger-than-expected windfall from the process could offer a financial lifeline to a number of cash-strapped counties, with part of the proceeds likely to be used to pay down debt.

Concerns have been raised, however, that windfalls from the Hundred auction will not deliver a meaningful improvement in counties’ long-term financial sustainability.

The outcome of the Hundred auction is also likely to intensify other searching questions about the future of cricket, as the Test format of the game struggles for international commercial relevance against shorter-length competition.

The Hundred auction is being handled by bankers at Raine Group, the same firm which oversaw the sale of large stakes in both Manchester United and Chelsea in recent years.

An MCC spokesman declined to comment, while none of the bidders contacted by Sky News would comment.