US Investors Show Strong Bitcoin Demand as Coinbase Premium Widens

🇺🇸 Americans Are Buying Different Bitcoin

By CoinDesk
Dec 9, 2024, 5:51 PM

Bitcoin prices on Coinbase are trading at a $300 premium compared to Binance, indicating substantial demand from US investors.​ This trend aligns with several key developments:

  • Bitcoin holdings on exchanges have hit a 4-year low
  • Wall Street banks report continued BTC accumulation by wealth management clients
  • Mining operations are becoming targets for M&A activity

The persistent Coinbase premium, coupled with institutional involvement, suggests growing mainstream adoption in the American market.​

Key context: Major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley have reported increased bitcoin trading activity through spot ETFs in Q3 2024.​

Sources
Read more about CoinDesk

S&P Global Ratings Assigns First-Ever DeFi Protocol Rating

S&P Global Ratings has assigned Sky Protocol a B- rating with a stable outlook, marking a historic moment as the first credit assessment of a DeFi protocol. This follows a similar rating given to Compound Treasury in 2024, which was the first institutional DeFi offering to receive such an evaluation. The rating indicates: - Growing mainstream acceptance of DeFi platforms - Traditional financial institutions beginning to evaluate crypto risks - Progress in crypto industry maturity This development suggests increasing integration between traditional finance and DeFi sectors, though ratings agencies maintain conservative assessments due to regulatory uncertainty and risk factors.

Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Announces $1.5B Deal with ALT5 Sigma

World Liberty Financial, backed by the Trump family, has announced a significant move in the crypto-traditional finance merger space: - $1.5 billion share sale agreement with Nasdaq-listed ALT5 Sigma - Integration of WLFI token into ALT5 Sigma's balance sheet - Structured as registered direct offering and private placement This marks one of the largest crypto-traditional finance integrations to date, potentially setting a precedent for future institutional adoption of digital assets. *Deal combines traditional market compliance with crypto treasury strategy*

Broker Maintains Bullish Stance on Coinbase with $510 Target

A major broker continues its optimistic outlook on Coinbase (COIN), maintaining an **outperform rating** with a price target of $510. This follows their previous bullish stance from June when they raised the target from $301 to $421. The consistent upward revisions reflect growing confidence in the crypto exchange's market position. - Current target: $510 - Previous target: $421 - Earlier target: $301 - Rating: Outperform *The steady increase in price targets over recent months suggests strengthening institutional confidence in Coinbase's business model.*

Circle Increases IPO Price Range to $32-33 Per Share

Circle has revised its IPO pricing strategy, announcing a new range of $32-33 per share, up from the previous $28-31 range. The company maintains its plan to offer 30 million shares. Key points: - New price range represents a potential valuation increase from the previous $4.2B estimate - Share quantity remains steady at 30M, down from initial 32M plan in June - Price adjustment suggests strong institutional investor interest This marks Circle's latest adjustment to its public offering strategy since its initial announcement in June 2025.

Major Institution Plans Massive ETH Acquisition

A significant market player has announced plans to accumulate 5% of Ethereum's total supply, representing approximately $25 billion at current valuations. This development follows earlier predictions from October 2023, when analysts suggested ETH could see a 5x price increase over three years, driven by: - Gaming industry adoption - Asset tokenization growth - Expanding network utility The scale of this proposed acquisition could have substantial implications for ETH's circulating supply and market dynamics. *Note: Market predictions and investment plans should not be considered financial advice.*