Gary Gensler’s last act: leaving the SEC

GM. Let’s shake the crypto tree together – because the juiciest fruit is always the hardest to reach.

👋 Gary Gensler is stepping down as SEC Chair.

🍊 News drops: Apple warns about a security flaw that could threaten your crypto, TradFi CEO says he feels “silly” for not investing in crypto + more

🍍 Market flavor today

Time to crank up the excitement levels because crypto’s on fire 🔥 The Fear and Greed Index has shot up to 94 – levels of extreme greed we haven’t seen since 2021. Checking Bitcoin’s chart right now feels exactly like waiting for that DVD logo to hit the corner of the screen – it keeps teasing us as it gets closer to $100K. So close, yet not quite there.

One of the big driving forces behind this rally is the wave of institutional money flowing in. Bitcoin ETFs saw $1B in inflows – this brings them just $17.65B away from overtaking gold ETFs in net assets. To put it into perspective, they’ve been around for just about 11 months, while gold ETFs have been doing their thing for 20 years.

And let’s not forget Bitcoin’s biggest cheerleader, Michael Saylor. MicroStrategy completed a $3B debt offering. You know what that likely means – another massive Bitcoin buying spree could be right around the corner.

Historically, a big Bitcoin rally has been the opening act for the alt season, and it looks like the band’s tuning up again:

But before we start planning our retirement parties, let’s take a moment to breathe – ’cause what comes after $100K is still anyone’s guess.

Some folks are arguing that we’re in uncharted territory this time around, as the market dynamics have changed: a nearly $100K Bitcoin has become too expensive for the average retail investor. This means the power is now in the hands of corporations and nation-states, adding a whole new level of unpredictability. So, while the charts look bullish, volatility is the one thing you can always count on.

Overall, whether you’re HODLing, trading, or just sitting back with some popcorn – enjoy the show, but don’t forget to keep your wits about you 🍿

🕺 Bye bye bye

January’s that weird month that nobody really vibes with (no shade to January babies, stay strong ❤️) – everyone recovers from the holiday hype, and then what? Hit the gym like you promised yourself while being drunk on New Year’s?.. 😐…

Well, the real ones know that if you wanna keep the excitement going, you gotta get into crypto – it’s never a boring moment out here. For example, last January, Bitcoin ETFs got approved.

And, y’all, this year, on January 20, to be precise, we’ll finally get to say goodbye to arguably the most hated person in crypto: SEC Chair Gary Gensler.

We’ve already talked about Donald Trump’s promise to kick Gensler out anyway – but let’s be real, that promise had about as much weight as your drunk NYE resolutions. The president can’t fire SEC commissioners.

So, the fact that Gensler’s voluntarily walking away? That’s huge. Honestly, it might be the most helpful thing he’s ever done for crypto (other than approving a couple of crypto ETFs).

Under Gensler, the SEC went wild, filing over 100 lawsuits against crypto companies in the name of enforcing securities laws. Some of these cases are still dragging on, but there are people who think they’ll quietly settle once he’s out.

So, what’s next? Hopefully, a better regulatory environment for crypto to thrive in. While Gensler’s replacement is still TBD, Trump’s been hyping himself as pro-crypto, so there’s a decent chance we’ll get someone who treats the industry fairly.

And, of course, what is crypto without memes and good ol’ hatin’? You bet your a** Gensler was sent off in style. Here’s how the community took the news:

Ah… from Gary Gensler to Gary Gonesler 🥹 You won’t be missed, but all the memes about you? Those will live on forever.

🍋 News drops

📝 Donald Trump’s media company filed a new trademark application for something called TruthFi. They’re talking about software for managing digital wallets and handling payments in both crypto and fiat.

🍎 Apple dropped a warning about a security flaw in its devices. Apparently, malicious code can sneak in remotely through web-based JavaScript, which hackers could use to go after your crypto. The fix? Update your JavaScriptCore and WebKit ASAP.

🚀 Rick Wurster, who’s about to be the CEO of Charles Schwab, said he feels “silly” for not investing in crypto. He also hinted that the company is ready to offer direct access to crypto, saying they’ve been holding off for clearer regulations.

🤝 Mastercard and JPMorgan are collabing to shake up the way businesses handle international payments through blockchain. Their new platform aims to cut out the hassle – no more wrestling with time zones, delays, or unclear transactions.

🍌 Juicy memes