Let’s go back to 2009 when Bitcoin first appeared, shaking up the traditional financial world with its idea of digital freedom.
Today, there are over 295 million cryptocurrency users worldwide, the cryptocurrency world is still evolving, with many different coins for many other purposes. They’re changing how we invest, trade, and buy things daily. The future looks bright for cryptocurrencies.
As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, we should prepare for an exciting ride, because a lot is happening in the world and for the world of cryptocurrency. This article is like your special ticket to the 2024 Cryptocurrency Extravaganza. You’ll learn about the events and updates that will change the future of Cryptocurrency.
List of Cryptocurrency Events in 2024
ETHDenver 2024 just concluded but don’t worry, the cryptocurrency world constantly evolves with new developments. Here are some of the latest news and updates from 2024:
Bitcoin 2024 conference – Nashville
The Bitcoin 2024 conference is a huge deal for people in cryptocurrencies. It’s all set to take place in Nashville from July 25th to 27th, 2024, right at the Music City Center in Tennessee. More than 20,000 people, including experts, fans, and businesses, are expected to join in. Big names like Tim Draper, Cathie Wood, and Michael Saylor will share their thoughts at the event.
Different sessions will cover various aspects of Bitcoin, like finance, mining, art & culture, and open-source development. Plus, there will be special areas where you can meet and chat with others who are interested in the future of Bitcoin.
You’ll also get to check out the latest Bitcoin tech and services at the expo hall. And don’t miss the Bitcoin Art Gallery, where you’ll see how Bitcoin connects with art and culture.
If you’re into open source stuff, there’s a space for you too to meet and join special sessions. And there are different ticket options available depending on what you want to do.
Overall, the conference is all about helping people understand and use Bitcoin better, especially with the big Bitcoin halving event happening in 2024. It’s a chance for everyone in the Bitcoin community to come together and shape what happens next.
Bitcoin ETF Approval
The Bitcoin ETF Approval in 2024 was a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency industry. Based on the company’s research, they believe that within five years, exchange traded Funds (ETFs) could grab 1% of the $7.2 trillion U.S. ETF market, which would be about $72 billion.
Some key points:
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the first U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) i.e. Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) to track Bitcoin.
- This approval allowed for the creation of 11 ETFs for Bitcoin, allowing investors to invest in Bitcoin without the complexities of buying and storing the cryptocurrency directly.
- ETFs are investment vehicles that can be traded on stock exchanges, similar to stocks, and they track the value of an underlying asset—in this case, Bitcoin.
The approval caused the price of Bitcoin to shoot up because it showed that a big official group was okay with cryptocurrency. This made lots of new people feel safe about investing in it, even if they weren’t sure before because they thought it was risky or hard to understand. Famous companies like BlackRock and Fidelity Investments managed the ETFs, making them even more trustworthy.
After they got approved, lots more people started trading Bitcoin ETFs. These ETFs made it easier for both big companies and regular people to get involved with Bitcoin, which could mean that more people start using cryptocurrencies.
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs was a really big deal because it brought together old-school finance and the new world of cryptocurrencies. This could open the door for more amazing stuff and ways to invest in digital money in the future.
Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Cuts
The Federal Reserve started lowering interest rates in March 2024, and this has a big effect on how appealing cryptocurrencies are as different kinds of assets. Here’s why:
- Lower Interest Rates: When the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, regular ways of saving or investing money, like putting it in a bank or buying bonds, don’t give back as much money. So, people might look for other things that could make them more money.
- More Risky Choices: Since the regular ways of making money don’t pay off as well, some people might be willing to try more risky stuff that could give them bigger rewards. Cryptocurrencies, which have a lot of volatility, start to look more interesting to these people.
- Protecting Against Inflation: When interest rates are low, prices for things can go up faster, which is called inflation. Cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, are seen as a way to keep your money safe from losing value when inflation happens.
- Borrowing Gets Cheaper: Lower interest rates mean it’s cheaper to borrow money. This can make more money available in the market and could mean more people decide to invest in risky stuff like cryptocurrencies.
- Boosting the Economy: When interest rates are cut, it’s usually to help the economy grow. And when the economy is doing well, more people start thinking about putting their money into different things, including cryptocurrencies.
So, when the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, some people might start thinking about putting their money into cryptocurrencies instead of the usual low-paying options.
The #Bitcoin halving has historically served as a catalyst for price appreciation. 2024 is the first time that Bitcoin has surpassed an all-time high before a halving.
— BitGo (@BitGo) April 1, 2024
There are ~3100 blocks remaining. 👀 pic.twitter.com/DWn1eHboEm
The 4th Bitcoin Halving which happened in April 2024, is a big deal in the world of cryptocurrencies. Here’s what it’s all about:
What’s Bitcoin Halving?
It’s when the rate at which new bitcoins are made gets cut in half, and the reward that miners get for adding transactions to the blockchain goes down too. This happens about every four years, or after every 210,000 blocks are mined.
Expected effects of 4th Bitcoin Halving:
- Less Reward: Miners will get half as many bitcoins for adding new transactions to the blockchain—from 6.25 to 3.125 bitcoins.
- Control Over Supply: It’s part of Bitcoin’s plan to make sure there aren’t too many Bitcoins floating around. The goal is to never have more than 21 million bitcoins.
- Historical Trend: In the past, when halving happened, the price of Bitcoin went up because fewer new Bitcoins were being made.
- Long-Term Plan: Halving will keep happening until around 2140, when there won’t be any more new bitcoins to mine.
- Market Buzz: Before halving, people might start buying and selling bitcoins more, which could make the price jump up and down.
- Changes in Mining: Some miners might stop because it’s not worth it anymore, which could slow down how fast new transactions get added to the blockchain.
- More Interest: People pay attention to halving, and it might make more people want to invest in Bitcoin.
So, the 4th Bitcoin Halving is a big moment that shows how Bitcoin’s system works and why it’s a popular digital asset with a limited supply.
Markets in Crypto-assets Law (MiCA)
MiCA is a big set of rules made for the EU to make sure that crypto-assets follow the same standards in all the member countries. It covers crypto-assets that didn’t have rules before, making sure everyone knows what’s going on and that someone is watching over things.
These rules will be put in place gradually. Starting from June 30, 2024, stablecoin issuers will have to follow the rules, and by December 30, 2024, everyone else will need to follow them too.
What it Means:
- Making Markets Safer: MiCA will make sure that when companies offer crypto-assets to the public, they’re doing it fairly and stably.
- Protecting People: It’s all about making sure regular folks know the risks involved with crypto-assets and are better protected.
- Working Together: ESMA, a supervisory group, is helping countries work together to make sure everyone follows the rules during the changeover period.
Crypto and green hydrogen form a ‘dynamic duo’
The study from Cornell Engineering suggests that combining cryptocurrency mining, which uses a lot of fossil fuels, with green hydrogen technology could help boost the use of renewable energy like solar and wind power.
Using clean energy sources for cryptocurrency mining and producing green hydrogen, could lead to more wind and solar power being generated across the country.
Currently, cryptocurrency mining in the U.S. uses a huge amount of carbon-based energy, similar to the entire country of Argentina. However, the researchers believe that by using cryptocurrencies alongside green hydrogen, we can turn this environmental challenge into a way to fight climate change.
The researchers also looked at different U.S. states and found that supporting cryptocurrency could help build more energy infrastructure and create more solar and wind power. For example, mining one Bitcoin in New Mexico could potentially generate 78.4 megawatt hours of solar power, while in Wyoming, it could create 265.8 megawatt hours of wind power.
Overall, the study suggests that by combining cryptocurrency with green hydrogen, we could create a more sustainable future for both energy and digital currency.
@X Payment Implementation
@X, which used to be called Twitter, is getting ready to launch a new way for people to send money to each other directly, kind of like Venmo or PayPal. This is part of @X’s plan to become an “everything app,” where you can do lots of different things like social media, payments, and more.
What it Means for You:
- Making Life Easier: This new service is meant to make your life easier and give you more ways to buy and sell things or just send money to friends.
- More People Using Cryptocurrency: When @X starts offering this service, it might encourage more people to start using cryptocurrencies for everyday things like paying for stuff online or splitting bills with friends.
Some Additional Events
- US Elections: The upcoming U.S. elections in November 2024 might change how cryptocurrencies are regulated. People in the crypto community are paying attention to what candidates think about crypto when deciding who to vote for. Depending on who gets elected, we might see clearer rules for cryptocurrencies and friendlier policies towards them.
- New Crypto Launches: Analysts have reviewed several new crypto coin launches that show strong long-term potential and provide proven benefits to investors. Detailed guidance on discovering new crypto opportunities is also provided
Conclusion
The world of cryptocurrency in 2024 is experiencing important changes and events that are shaping its future. Big conferences like Bitcoin 2024 in Nashville, the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, and the influence of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts are all showing that more people are accepting cryptocurrencies.
The 4th Bitcoin Halving will have a lasting impact, and new laws like MiCA are working to make sure things are regulated properly. Also, combining crypto with green hydrogen could be a great way to help the environment. With @X payments on the horizon, the journey toward widespread use of cryptocurrencies is still changing, bringing both new opportunities and challenges.
