Bitcoin [BTC] has been trading within the range of $62,000 to $64,000 for the past several days without any significant triggers to impact the markets.
A similar trend of stable prices was observed for Ethereum [ETH] and Solana [SOL], which maintained levels around $2600 and $150 respectively.
However, upcoming events like the U.S. GDP report, statements from Chair Jerome Powell, and the release of U.S. inflation data could introduce some fluctuations in the market.
Kamala Harris Advocates for U.S. Supremacy in ‘AI and Blockchain’
Vice President Kamala Harris has addressed blockchain and digital assets for the first time, emphasizing the importance of the U.S. maintaining a leading position in emerging technologies of the future.
Speaking at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, Harris highlighted the necessity for the U.S. to excel in AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and other evolving technologies that are expected to shape the upcoming era.
“We will … continue to lead in AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and other emergent technologies.”
While the crypto community applauded her endorsement of digital assets, some are urging for more concrete actions.
Kristin Smith, the CEO of Blockchain Association, a collective advocate for the industry, has called for a change in leadership at the SEC by replacing Chair Gary Gensler and putting an end to Operation Choke Point 2.0, a banking restriction faced by crypto firms, regardless of the U.S. election results.
This proposed move could prove advantageous for the industry, particularly with the competition between Harris and Trump in the U.S. elections currently showing a close margin. Predictions from Polymarket indicate that Harris is leading Trump by just one point.
PayPal Introduces Crypto Support for U.S. Businesses
U.S. merchants now have the option to engage in buying, holding, or selling cryptocurrencies through their PayPal business accounts, marking a significant step towards wider crypto adoption and usage.
In response to this development, Jose Fernandez da Ponte, the blockchain vice president at PayPal, revealed that the demand for such services came from merchants themselves.
“Business owners have shown an increasing interest in having the same cryptocurrency capabilities as consumers. We are thrilled to meet this demand by offering a new service that enables them to easily interact with digital currencies.”
PayPal joins the expanding group of service providers facilitating cryptocurrency payment options for U.S. businesses, including Coinbase Commerce and BitPay.
What lies ahead for HMSTR post-airdrop and listing?
The Telegram-based gaming platform, Hamster Combat, has initiated the distribution of 131 million HMSTR tokens to over 300 million users.
According to Ton blockchain, the underlying network supporting the token, this airdrop marked the largest of its kind in the crypto sphere, serving as a substantial stress test for the platform.
Despite the airdrop, there were concerns raised within the community about lower than expected token distributions during the campaign.
With the token now listed on major exchanges and the existence of user concerns, Ryan Lee, an analyst at Bitget Research, informed CryptoCrypto that HMSTR could witness significant price fluctuations.
“In the short run, HMSTR’s value is likely to undergo substantial volatility due to speculative trading and market exuberance. However, post profit-taking by speculators, a correction could occur.”
Lee further remarked,
“The medium to long-term price trajectory will depend on the project’s actual advancement and the trust instilled by users.”
As the game unveils its roadmap for 2025, which includes integrations with desktop games and the introduction of new gaming titles, its ability to regain momentum post-airdrop-related concerns remains uncertain.