Spot Gold Surges Above $4500 for the First Time

December 24th — Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano argues Bitcoin’s lack of a flashy year-end price rally could actually help it avoid a major crash in Q1 next year. Speaking to CNBC, Pompliano noted that given current volatility levels, a sharp Bitcoin drop is unlikely. “Even with volatility already compressed, a 70% or 80% Bitcoin plunge would be really surprising right now,” he said. He added that Bitcoin holders’ short-term disappointment over the asset missing its $250,000 annual target has overshadowed its strong long-term performance. “Let’s not forget: Bitcoin’s up 100% in two years, nearly 300% in three. It’s been compounding,” he said. “It’s been a monster in financial markets.” Pompliano also noted that while the market’s fixated on Bitcoin’s year-to-date price drop, the decline in its volatility has been mostly ignored. “We didn’t get that expected year-end rally in late Q3 or early Q4, but we also didn’t see the 80% crash people usually fear,” he said.

**Bitcoin Lags Gold, Nasdaq 100 in 2024—VanEck Sees 2026 Comeback** Dec. 24 (CoinDesk) — Bitcoin has disappointed investors this year, underperforming gold and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index despite expectations it would benefit from fiat currency debasement. Yet the world’s biggest cryptocurrency may be gearing up for a major rebound next year, according to a VanEck executive. David Schassler, head of Multi-Asset Solutions at VanEck, said in the firm’s newly released 2026 Outlook: “Bitcoin’s year-to-date performance trails the Nasdaq 100 by roughly 50%—a dislocation that positions it to be one of 2026’s top-performing assets.” Schassler noted that while this year’s weakness reflects reduced risk appetite and tighter liquidity, Bitcoin’s fundamentals remain solid. “Historically, Bitcoin has reacted strongly when fiat debasement accelerates and liquidity returns,” he added. “We’ve been buying.” Schassler’s broader thesis centers on the powerful mix of fiat debasement, te

On December 24, Cointelegraph reported that the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation to El Salvador confirmed the Salvadoran government is in talks to sell its Chivo Bitcoin wallet. Separately, the IMF released a statement Monday noting the Salvadoran government is continuing discussions with IMF officials on its Bitcoin initiative, with "smooth progress" in negotiations to sell the state-owned digital wallet Chivo. A spokesperson added the two sides are also holding separate talks related to Bitcoin purchases.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday, December 24, with major indices posting gains—including a new closing high for the S&P 500. - Dow Jones Industrial Average: +0.16% - Nasdaq Composite: +0.57% - S&P 500 Index: +0.45% (new closing high) Cryptocurrency-related stocks broadly declined, with the following moves: - Coinbase (COIN): -2.26% - Circle (CRCL): -4.91% - MicroStrategy (MSTR): -3.92% - Bullish (BLSH): -6.26% - Gemini (GEMI): -5.54% - Bit Digital (BTBT): -4.52% - SharpLink Gaming (SBET): -3.45% - ETHZilla (ETHZ): -15.08% - ALT5 Sigma (ALTS): -5.69% - American Bitcoin (ABTC): -4.62% *Note: Removed duplicate Bit Digital (BTBT) entry from the original list for clarity.*

On December 24th, LookOnChain monitoring data indicates that Tom Lee’s BitMine has once again purchased 67,886 ETH over the past 24 hours, with an approximate value of $201 million.