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Merry Christmas Bitcoiners!

What a week it has been!

MicroStrategy Doubles Down on Bitcoin: 📈 MicroStrategy seeks shareholder approval to expand its stock, paving the way for even more Bitcoin purchases.

Russia Challenges the Dollar: 🇷🇺🚀 Russia is leveraging Bitcoin for international trade, signalling a potential shift in global financial power.

Canadian Company Bets Big on Bitcoin: 🇨🇦 Matador Technologies adds $4.5M in Bitcoin to its treasury, demonstrating growing corporate adoption.

French Banking Giant Turns Bitcoin : 🇫🇷🚀 BPCE to offer Bitcoin and crypto services to its customers, marking a significant step for traditional finance.

Japan’s Metaplanet Goes All In - Again! ₿ Japanese investment firm Metaplanet makes another massive Bitcoin purchase, acquiring $60 million worth of BTC.

"Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins": 🔑 Explore the importance of Bitcoin self-custody, from hardware wallets to advanced multi-sig solutions.

🇸🇻 El Salvador Using IMF Loan To Stack More Bitcoin!? 🚀 Despite agreeing to scale back some crypto policies under a $1.4B IMF loan deal, the government is buying Bitcoin more aggressively than ever.

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🚀 Bitcoin Hovers In the $90k - $100k USD Range As ETF Inflows See Some Christmas Weakness 💼

Bitcoin consolidates around the $100,000 USD milestone 💎🌕. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs continue to see robust inflows 📈

🚀 MicroStrategy Seeking Shareholder Approval Expanding Class A Stock To 10 Billion Shares - To Buy More Bitcoin

Michael Saylor, Chairman of MicroStrategy, is making waves again 🌊. The company is pushing for shareholder approval to increase its authorized shares from 330 million to a whopping 10.33 billion!

🧮 While that might sound extraordinary, let’s put it into perspective: giants like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft already operate with billions of shares outstanding.

📈 This move is nothing unusual—it’s about preparing for bold growth.

🛠 Why the Big Move?

MicroStrategy is doubling down on its mission to dominate the Bitcoin market. Saylor’s long-term vision?

A $3 trillion company capturing just 1% of the global fixed-income market. 🏦 By raising capital through shares, they’re positioning to acquire more Bitcoin and cement their status as corporate Bitcoin pioneers. 💎

💡 Why It Matters

This isn’t just about issuing shares—it’s about creating flexibility to scale, just like Apple and Amazon do regularly. Saylor sees Bitcoin as the gold or oil of our era, with unmatched growth potential.

🌍 With 439,000 BTC already on the books (over 2% of the total supply), MicroStrategy is playing to win. 🏆

🗳 What’s Next?

Shareholders will vote on this proposal in 2025. If approved, it could supercharge MicroStrategy’s ability to raise funds and continue its Bitcoin-focused strategy.

Think game theory meets exponential growth. 🎮📊

Russia Using Bitcoin for Foreign Trade – Cracks Appearing In The U.S Dominated Global Financial System? 🇷🇺🚀

Sanctions Squeeze: 🚫 Facing mounting Western sanctions, Russia is turning to Bitcoin ₿ for international trade.

📈 This strategic shift aims to bypass traditional financial systems and build new economic alliances.

Breaking Free: ⛓️ Bypassing SWIFT and dollar dominance, Russia is forging new trade partnerships with key allies like China and Turkey.

🇨🇳🇹🇷 This move challenges the existing global financial order and could inspire other nations to explore alternative currencies.

Mining Might: 💪 Russia is leveraging its vast energy resources to become a major player in the global Bitcoin mining landscape.

⛏️ This positions the country as a key player in the evolving cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Putin's Vision: 🇷🇺 President Putin sees Bitcoin as a weapon against the dollar's dominance, declaring it "unstoppable."

💥 This bold vision signals a significant shift in Russia's foreign policy and its approach to global finance.

A New Era: 🌐 This shift signals a potential crack in the global financial system, with more nations likely to follow suit.

🌍 The rise of Bitcoin could usher in a new era of decentralized finance, challenging the dominance of traditional currencies and institutions.

Matador Technologies Buys $4.5M in Bitcoin ₿ - A Bold Move for Canadian Business 🇨🇦

Matador Technologies Inc. is making waves in the corporate world by adding $4.5 million worth of Bitcoin ₿ to its corporate treasury.

💰 This move further solidifies the growing trend among forward-thinking companies seeking to diversify their assets and embrace the transformative effects of Bitcoin

• Hedging Against Inflation: 📈 Facing concerns about the devaluation of the Canadian dollar, Matador seeks to protect its wealth from the eroding effects of inflation. Bitcoin ₿, with its limited supply and growing global demand, offers a compelling alternative to traditional investments like bonds and stocks.

• Digital Gold Vision: 🥇 Matador plans to leverage Bitcoin ₿ as the foundation for its innovative digital gold platform. 🏦 This platform will allow users to own and trade digital representations of physical gold, revolutionizing the way precious metals are stored and accessed.

• Building Trust: 🤝 Matador's decision to choose Bitcoin ₿ underscores its confidence in the security, transparency, and long-term value of this groundbreaking technology.

French Banking Giant BPCE Enters the Crypto Fray: A Landmark Moment for Traditional Finance 🇫🇷🚀

The French banking landscape is about to undergo a seismic shift.

💥 BPCE, one of the country's largest financial institutions, is poised to enter the Bitcoin market in a big way.

📈 Through its subsidiary Hexarq, BPCE will begin offering Bitcoin and other crypto investment services to its vast customer base in 2025.

This move marks a significant milestone for traditional finance.

🏦 By embracing digital assets, BPCE is not only responding to the growing demand from its customers but also positioning itself at the forefront of the evolving financial landscape.

Hexarq Receives Crucial Regulatory Approval

The foundation for BPCE's crypto ambitions was laid with Hexarq recently securing a crucial PSAN (Prestataire de Services sur Actifs Numériques) authorization from the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers), France's esteemed financial markets regulator.

✅ This authorization empowers Hexarq to operate legally as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) within the French digital asset market.

This regulatory green light is a major step forward.

✅ Hexarq now joins a select group of companies, including SG Forge, in obtaining this coveted license.

🏆 With this authorization in hand, Hexarq is now equipped to offer a comprehensive suite of crypto services, including buying, selling, holding, and exchanging digital assets.

France: A Beacon of Crypto Regulation

France has emerged as a leader in crypto regulation within the European Union.

🇫🇷 The country proactively began accepting applications for crypto service provider licenses on July 1, 2024, well ahead of the full implementation of the landmark Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation on December 30, 2024.

This forward-thinking approach has established France as a hub for crypto innovation and regulatory clarity within the EU.

💡 Recent moves by global crypto players, such as Gemini's expansion into the French market, further solidify the country's growing prominence in the digital asset ecosystem.

Bitcoin Self-Custody: Your Keys, Your Coins 🔑

Taking control of your Bitcoin is paramount.

₿ This guide explores the importance of self-custody, compares holding on exchanges, to self storage in hardware wallets and advanced multi-sig solutions, and introduces you to top providers that can help with collaborative custody solutions.

"Not your keys, not your coins": Truly own your Bitcoin. 🔐

Why Self-Custody Matters:

• Sovereignty: Be your own bank. 🏦

• Security: Protect your Bitcoin from hacks and exchange failures. 🛡️

• Peace of Mind: Access your funds anytime, anywhere. 🌎

Beyond Single Wallets: Embrace Multi-Sig:

• Enhanced Security: Multiple keys for added protection. 🔒

• Inheritance Planning: Ensure your Bitcoin is passed on securely. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

• Collaborative Custody: Ideal for businesses and shared ownership. 🤝

Contact Bitcoin on Balance today to learn more and start your self-custody journey! 📩 

🔑Metaplanet Goes All In - Again - $60M Bitcoin Buy-Up! ₿

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet just made a splash, scooping up a whopping 620 Bitcoin ₿ in its biggest-ever purchase!

💰 This $60 million investment comes as BTC trades below $100,000, making it a bold move.

• Asia's MicroStrategy: Metaplanet is quickly becoming known for its Bitcoin-buying spree, mirroring the strategy of the renowned US firm.

• BTC Yield Soars: The company reported a 310% BTC Yield from October to December, showcasing the potential of its Bitcoin strategy. 🚀

• Beyond Holding: Metaplanet plans to expand its Bitcoin initiatives, exploring loans, equity, and other financial instruments related to the cryptocurrency. 📈

This aggressive move solidifies Metaplanet's position as a major player in the corporate Bitcoin space as it continues to aggressively buy Bitcoin to reach its target of 10,000 Bitcoin by end of 2025. 💥

₿🚀 El Salvador Doubles Down on Bitcoin After IMF Loan 💸

El Salvador is back in the spotlight! 🌎 Despite agreeing to reforms as part of a $1.4 billion loan deal with the IMF, the country is going harder than ever on Bitcoin. Here’s the scoop:

👉 Accelerating Bitcoin Purchases: El Salvador is adding to its Bitcoin reserves at record speed! The government now holds 5,968 BTC (~$632M) and plans to supercharge its buying spree.

👉 Speculation is Buzzing: Could the IMF loan be indirectly funding these Bitcoin purchases? 🤔 While unconfirmed, the timing has raised eyebrows.

👉 IMF Reforms in Play: Taxes must now be paid in USD, and Bitcoin acceptance for businesses is voluntary. But don’t worry, El Salvador’s Bitcoin status isn’t going anywhere.

Despite IMF concerns about Bitcoin’s volatility, El Salvador is standing firm. Bukele’s administration sees Bitcoin as more than just an asset—it’s a long-term strategy for innovation and sovereignty.

Tweet of The Week

Podcast of The Week

💼 Semler Scientific Is On the Bitcoin Standard 🚀

In this interview, Semler Scientific Chairman Eric Semler chats with Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard, about his company’s move to adopt a Bitcoin standard—using Bitcoin as a reserve cash asset. 🎯

If you have questions about how Bitcoin could help you or your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a free 30-minute consultation 🕒. We're here to help you navigate the future of Bitcoin 💡

Thanks for reading! We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition and look forward to seeing you next week! 👋

For more stories and updates, visit Bitcoin on Balance.

Daniel 

for Bitcoin on Balance

32 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

https://www.bitcoinonbalance.com/