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Bitcoin ETF Frenzy: Google Searches Skyrocket

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The anticipation for the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the US SEC has reached a fever pitch, as evidenced by a surge in Google searches related to this topic. In the past week, Google searches for spot Bitcoin ETFs hit an all-time high as the crypto community eagerly awaited the green light from the regulatory body, expected to come in early 2024. The data, analyzed over a five-year period, revealed that retail investors in the United States are particularly interested in utilizing BTC through potential spot ETFs.

Bitcoin

According to Google data, the search phrase “bitcoin ETF” reached a value of 39, the highest since ProShares’ futures-based ETF was introduced two years ago. This surge in interest indicates a growing curiosity among mainstream individuals about these investment funds and their potential impact on the market capitalization of Bitcoin, which is already the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Historically, a search value of 100 has coincided with bull market tops in BTC and Solana.

The recent trend suggests a positive shift in the adoption of cryptocurrencies as more people seek information about these innovative investment options. The market’s optimism has been further fueled by the SEC’s failure to meet the deadline to appeal a court ruling related to Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) conversion to an ETF. This situation has bolstered confidence that spot ETF approval is imminent in early 2024.

Ark Invest Modify Bitcoin ETF Application

Additionally, prominent asset management firms such as BlackRock and Ark Invest are actively competing for top positions in ETF approval. Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has made strategic modifications to its applications, including agreements with Coinbase that emphasize the segregation of the trust’s assets from the custodian. The SEC had previously raised concerns about spot Bitcoin ETF applications lacking robust surveillance-sharing agreements.

These encouraging developments have not only led to a surge in Bitcoin’s price to touch $30k briefly but have also spiked the age consumption metric, indicating the movement of previously dormant BTC to different wallets. A recent analysis by Santiment highlighted that this scale of movement has not been observed since July 27, suggesting renewed interest among traders and revitalization in overall network activity.

XRP’s Declining Public Interest: A Hidden Buying Opportunity?

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In recent months, XRP, the digital currency associated with Ripple, has seen its public interest dwindle. Google Trends data reveals a sharp decline in search interest, both globally and in the United States, since its peak on July 13. The decline in public interest coincides with a mixed ruling by the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, which created uncertainties around XRP’s regulatory status.

Following the court ruling, the token initially surged to over $0.80, giving hope to investors and enthusiasts. However, it has since retraced to approximately $0.505287, according to CoinGecko data. For some, this drop in price and search interest might seem like a red flag.

XRP’s Reduced Search Interest: A Valuation Indicator

Market analysts suggest that the reduced search interest in XRP may indicate a more reasonable valuation for the digital asset. The absence of “excessive exuberance” often associated with cryptocurrencies in their peak phases could mean that the token is trading at a fairer price point. It’s a classic principle in investing: “Buy when it’s boring, sell when it’s not.” Many voices on social media echo this sentiment.

Despite the rollercoaster ride in price and interest, XRP now boasts a unique advantage: regulatory clarity in the United States. Ripple CTO David Schwartz highlighted this during a recent industry event, stating that “Other than Bitcoin, the altcoin is now the only digital asset with regulatory clarity in the United States.”

This regulatory clarity is a crucial development for XRP, as it distinguishes the token from many others in the market. It implies that the token can operate within the confines of U.S. law, providing a more stable and secure environment for long-term investors. Such regulatory certainty is often a significant factor in the future price trajectory of cryptocurrencies.

XRP’s current market cap stands at $26.8 billion, a far cry from its previous heights. However, this may be an opportunity for investors who are looking for an entry point into a cryptocurrency with regulatory clarity and a potentially realistic valuation. While market sentiment can be fickle and unpredictable, the fundamentals of XRP remain intact.

In conclusion, the decline in public interest in XRP might be seen as a buying opportunity by some market experts. Regulatory clarity in the United States sets it apart from many other digital assets, providing a potential anchor for its long-term growth. Whether or not XRP can bounce back from its recent setbacks remains to be seen, but for those willing to bet on its future potential, the current lull in excitement might just be the perfect time to get in on the action.

Bitcoin Lightning Home: Google, Amazon’s Tech Dome

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Bitcoin has reached a pivotal juncture in the realm of cryptocurrency, as the revelation unfolds that industry giants Amazon and Google are currently responsible for hosting a considerable segment of the nodes within the Bitcoin Lightning Network. This collaboration stands as a crucial landmark in the progression of blockchain technology, effectively reinforcing the widespread embrace of digital currencies.

According to recent data from local media, Amazon and Google collectively host a staggering 49% of the Bitcoin Lightning Network nodes. This surge in adoption by two of the most influential companies in the tech industry speaks volumes about the growing confidence in cryptocurrencies as a legitimate and viable financial asset.

Source: MemPool Space

The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a second-layer scaling solution that aims to alleviate the scalability issues faced by the original Bitcoin network. It facilitates faster and cheaper transactions by enabling off-chain transactions through payment channels. This network’s exponential growth is partly attributed to its capability to handle a higher volume of transactions efficiently.

Bitcoin Integration: Amazon and Google’s Strategic Move

Amazon and Google’s foray into hosting Bitcoin Lightning Network nodes is not only a significant stride for the cryptocurrency community but also a strategic move for these tech giants. With their robust cloud infrastructure, they possess the scalability and reliability required to host and manage such nodes effectively. This partnership not only benefits the cryptocurrency ecosystem but also demonstrates the adaptability of blockchain technology in diverse sectors.

This development could potentially have far-reaching consequences. The involvement of Amazon and Google lends a level of credibility to the cryptocurrency space that was previously elusive. It may pave the way for more institutional and corporate interest in cryptocurrencies, eventually leading to greater adoption and integration of digital assets into mainstream financial systems.

However, as with any technological advancement, challenges remain. The centralization concerns that have haunted the cryptocurrency space are not entirely alleviated with this partnership. While Amazon and Google’s involvement streamlines processes and enhances efficiency, it also raises questions about the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies.

Nonetheless, the collaboration between these tech behemoths and the cryptocurrency sphere emphasizes the growing synergy between traditional tech infrastructure and the disruptive potential of blockchain technology. As more major players recognize and participate in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the path to mass adoption becomes clearer.

Furthermore, the revelation that Amazon and Google are now hosting a significant proportion of the Bitcoin Lightning Network nodes underscores the maturation of the cryptocurrency industry. This alliance between two tech giants not only accelerates the efficiency of the Bitcoin network but also bridges the gap between conventional tech and blockchain innovation. While challenges persist, this partnership sets the stage for a more integrated and recognized future for cryptocurrencies.

New Google Authenticator Update Puts Your Bitcoin At Risk

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Google Authenticator makes exchange accounts more secure by requiring a second verification step during login. Users must now input a password and a six-digit number produced by the Google Authenticator app on their phone in addition to the password.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the most important security precautions Bitcoin and cryptocurrency owners may adopt to secure their exchange accounts and other assets from hackers. Google Authenticator is the most popular 2FA option; few crypto users are likely unaware of the program.

New Google Authenticator Update Poses A Significant Risk For Crypto Users

Google announced the release of version 4.0 for iOS and Android yesterday. Cloud syncing is now available in the latest version.

As a result, cryptocurrency users can synchronize authentication codes issued by Authenticator with all of their Google accounts and devices and retrieve verification codes whenever a device is lost. In other words, the one-time codes are no longer device-specific and are now saved in the user’s Google account.

This is meant to simplify using Google Authenticator, which was introduced in 2012. According to Google, one of the main complaints from consumers over the years was that managing lost or stolen devices that had Google Authenticator installed was too complicated.

Crypto users who have set up 2FA for any services with Authenticator were first unable to log in after losing a device. The only way to restore all login codes to a new Google Authenticator app running on a new device is with a backup code generated when the app was installed.

Google gives a more straightforward remedy to this issue with the 4.0 update: “With this update, we’re releasing a fix for the issue, making one-time codes more resilient by securely keeping them in users’ Google Accounts. Users are now better protected against lockout, and services can now depend on users maintaining access, improving ease and security.

Although this easier handling carries higher risk, blockchain security company SlowMist notes in a tweet that it is also more dangerous. According to SlowMist, all access secured by Google Authenticator is in danger if users lose access to their email clients, for instance, due to a breach.

Using this backup technique puts the mailbox at risk. The 2FA verification is required when the mailbox authorization is lost.

Conversely, the blockchain security firm SlowMist highlights in a tweet that this easy management comes with increased danger. All-access secured by Google Authenticator is in jeopardy if users lose access to their email clients, for instance, due to a hack, according to SlowMist

If you use this backup method, the mailbox will be at risk. Once the mailbox permission is lost, the 2FA verification code may be stolen, which will bring huge risks. Please pay attention to the relevant risks.

Crypto owners should therefore reconsider whether to activate the new option or remain with the previous backup solution.

Related Reading: | Solana (SOL) Market Cap Surges 118.1% QoQ Despite 15% Weekly Dip |

Source: Tradingview.com

BNB Chain Partners up With Google Cloud To Elevate Web3 Developments

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Google and Binance (BNB chain) are collaborating. To make cloud computing services more accessible to companies, Google Cloud and Binance’s BNB Chain have teamed up.

Cooperation between BNB Chain and Google Cloud has been established to support the growth of Web3 and blockchain firms, according to a press statement released on September 14.

In particular, the collaboration would see Binance’s BNB Chain grant paid access to the Google for Startups Cloud Program to some of its backed blockchain companies.

BNB Chain and Google to provide two years of cloud computing

This program offers Google’s cloud computing service two years’ worth of credits. As part of the cooperation, Google Cloud will pay access costs as well as offer mentorship and improved technical assistance to projects on BNB Chain.

Projects may also use on-demand data analysis and encryption services by using Google Cloud.

Projects on BNB Chain “may now build on Google Cloud’s open, scalable, developer-friendly, secure, and sustainable cloud infrastructure,” according to the statement. The sustainability pledge stems from Google Cloud’s goal to have all of its data centers run fully on carbon-free electricity by the year 2030.

“Google Cloud is a very good Web2 player and has really done a lot of Web3 stuff. It’s important for us to just work with big players who have big visions, and we share the same DNA and same visions.”

Gwendolyn Regina, investment director of Binance Chain.

According to a press release, projects built on the BNB Chain may now utilize Google Cloud infrastructure, including the capacity to study on-chain data and encrypt data using Google Cloud. An accelerator program will also grant 150 businesses “expedited access” to Google Cloud’s startup assistance program.

This most recent partnership with Binance Chain comes in the wake of Google’s quickening entry into the Web3 space. Google Cloud introduced its own dedicated Digital Assets Team earlier this year and expanded its crypto mining malware threat detection service.

Google Adds Ethereum Merge Countdown as the Merge Nears

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The Ethereum merge is set to go live in a few days. The tech behemoth Google has added a new countdown timer to mark the remaining time until the up-and-coming Ethereum Merge as a show of support.

A countdown ticker with the expected time left until the merge based on the current difficulty, merge difficulty, and hash rate is displayed when you type any variation of “Ethereum Merge” or “The Merge” into the search engine.

A cartoon of two joyful pandas running toward one another with outstretched hands is displayed off to the side; it is implied that they will get closer as the merge date approaches.

Google’s support for Ethereum for years of work

In a tweet on September 9, Google Cloud developer Sam Padilla said the timer was “a fun little surprise” and a manner to acknowledge “the work which has been going into this for years.”

Although he acknowledged that the work was completed by the Google search and labs team, he claimed to have put up the idea and subsequent discussion that resulted in the timer’s implementation.

The countdown is updated in real-time thanks to a direct connection between the timer and the blockchain, as Padilla explained in the same post.

Additionally, he made a joking statement that pandas are getting closer as the Merge date draws near, saying: “But you didn’t hear that from me.”

Google established a Web3 team under Google Cloud on May 6, signaling the company’s growing interest in the cryptocurrency sector.

But others besides Google developers are paying close attention to the Merge.  According to recent Google search data, searches for the term “Ethereum Merge” produced a score above 50 on multiple occasions over the past 30 days, peaking at 100 on September 3.

A score of 100 indicates the term is at its “peak popularity,” while a score of 50 indicates the term is “half as popular.” A score of 0 indicates that the day’s data was insufficient.

Ethereum Merge: Google Hops On To The Trend With A ‘Surprise’ Doodle

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The Ethereum merge has raked up quite an attention and the latest to join the bandwagon is the world’s most widely used site Google. Search results with Ethereum display a count down timer, the difficulty, the hash rate, and a cartoon of two happy bears reaching out for an embrace.

The two bears likely represented the execution and the consensus layers and will move closer as the time approaches the merge date. The action reflects the growing interest in crypto among big businesses.

Google Cloud’s web3 engineer Sam Padilla who led the development of the merge integration into the search engine giant, first dropped the news in a tweet addressing Eth founder Vitalik Beuterin, and researcher Justin drake.

Hey Vitalik Buterin, drakefjustin & other ethereum folks, go google “the merge” for a fun little surprise & appreciation. Everyone is so excited about what is coming and appreciative of the work that has been going into this for years.

In response to Sassal, Padilla explained that he initiated the idea in a company-wide Web3 community talk and the “search and labs team internally” built out the search feature.

The developer also revealed the data is being pulled in real-time directly from Ethereum’s network using some of the nodes hosted by Google.

According to Padilla, the concept was developed by Google engineers just a few weeks ago who wanted to make “some amazing easter eggs” in preparation for Ethereum’s impending switch from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake.

At the time of writing, the Merge is expected to go live in exactly 2 days 20 hrs. 

Meanwhile, opportunistic crypto scammers are seeking to take advantage of the excitement around the event.

Scammers Exploit Ethereum Merge Hype

A recent Ethereum [ETH] giveaway hoax was promoted using the official Twitter account of KMFM, a radio station based in the South East England county of Kent. Vitalik Buterin was used as the imposter.

Several additional verified Twitter accounts have been hacked in the last week with a focus on the Ethereum community. In mid-august, Buterin issued a warning saying that Instagram has been flooded by scammers with fake profiles under his name and face.

Users are advised to exercise caution and avoid falling for traps as there would be no such giveaways or airdrops in conjunction with the upgrade.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, complained earlier this month about Twitter bots pretending to be Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, in order to deceive unsuspecting consumers.

Google Aims To Become The Numero Uno Choice For Blockchain Developers

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Aiming to lead the Web3 space, Google’s cloud division has announced its new team that would be offering services for developers running blockchain applications. This was revealed by Amit Zavery, vice president at Google Cloud, on 6th May adding that “the idea is to make the Google Cloud Platform the first choice for developers in the field”.

“While the world is still early in its embrace of Web3, it is a market that is already demonstrating tremendous potential with many customers asking us to increase our support for Web3 and Crypto-related technologies,” he wrote in an email.

“We’re not trying to be part of that cryptocurrency wave directly,” Zavery told CNBC in an interview. “We’re providing technologies for companies to use and take advantage of the distributed nature of Web3 in their current businesses and enterprises.

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Moving forward, the tech firm is planning to build a system for companies that are looking to incorporate blockchain data easy for people to explore while simplifying the process of building and running blockchain nodes for validating and recording transactions, Zavery said.

He also said that Google’s tools can work in other computing environments, such as Amazon Web Services.

While investors look for a lesser volatile option like cryptocurrencies, enthusiasm surrounding other blockchain-based projects is on the rise.

According to Zavery, these crypto applications have made their way into the mainstream and have increasing relevance in industries such as financial services and retail.

Google might have a competitive advantage?

As the global tech giant fight for market share against fierce rivals like Alibaba, Amazon, and Microsoft, Google intends to provide offer “back-end services to developers interested in composing their own Web3 software.”

In January this year, Google’s cloud unit unveiled a plan for a Digital Assets Team to tap into the NFT market. The firm said it was looking at how customers could make payments with cryptocurrencies.

The search engine giant along with Amazon and Microsoft forms the big 3 cloud providers. Amazon AWS might be leading the pack but the business is growing faster than its core advertising unit.

Google cloud platform Alphabet’s CFO Ruth Porat said last week that the fastest growth in headcount is inside the cloud division.

Bakkt inks partnership with Google: More Details

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Google has announced joining hands with the digital exchange marketplace Bakkt to facilitate crypto-asset transactions into its network. The partnership will enable Bakkt consumers to integrate their digital cards with Google Pay for purchasing goods both online and in stores, as well as on any Google Pay-accepted platform. To process the payment, crypto-assets such as Bitcoin [BTC] will be converted into their respective fiat currencies.

According to the official blog post, Bakkt will utilize Google Cloud’s services to expand its reach across institutions and retailers in the United States as well as boost the usability of digital assets to cater to the growing and evolving consumer demand and preferences.

CEO of Bakkt, Gavin Michael said,

“This partnership is a testament to Bakkt’s strong position in the digital asset marketplace, to empower consumers to enjoy their digital assets in a real-time, secure, reliable manner. Additionally, partnering with Google Cloud will enable us to continue to build a best-in-class, innovative platform that can undoubtedly scale to meet the needs of millions of users.”

After the partnership announcement, Google Cloud President Kirstein Kliphouse noted that the move will utilize the natural synergy between the two companies in terms of scalability and technology. Furthermore, Bakkt in addition to Artificial Intelligence [AI], Machine learning [ML], and geolocation function, aims to develop a new analytics tool to gain location-specific key business information powered by the Google cloud. The aforementioned information will provide crucial business insights into their consumer’s psychology and help curate user-specific loyalty redemption packages.

Bakkt to go public ideally this month

Bakkt was founded in 2018 by Intercontinental Exchange, a subsidiary of the New York Stock Exchange [NYSE] as a cold storage provider of Bitcoin. The main purpose of its inception was to allow institutional players and market participants to purchase, sell, store as well as spend cryptocurrency and digital assets in a regulated environment.

Earlier in September this year, Bakkt foundation and VPC Impact Acquisition holdings had broken the news to merge and become a single public traded company. On September 18, this year US security and Exchange Commission [SEC] approved the merger and paved the way to operate as a publicly owned firm.

TronWeekly had also reported about the firm managing to fetch the 26th BitLicense from New York in March 2021. The development was significant as the state of NY has been known to be not precisely crypto-friendly.

Google Overturns Ban On Crypto Wallet And Exchange Ads

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The cryptocurrency industry has gained tremendous credibility and legitimacy in recent times. Google is all set to allow advertisements related to cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges. The search engine giant has reversed its ban on cryptocurrency-related business and services that it had imposed in 2018.

The official press release by Google stated that from the 3rd of August 2021, advertisers of the industry targeting the United States may advertise those products and services if they meet certain requirements and are certified by the platform.

Google closes door to certain institutions while giving green signal to a few.

It outlined that the advertisers need to be duly registered at Financial Crimes Enforcement Network [FinCEN] as a Money Services Business and with at least one state as a money transmitter, or a federal or state-chartered bank entity.

In addition, the advertisers should also comply with relevant legal requirements, which encompasses any local legal conditions, whether at a state or federal level. These entities will also have their ads and landing pages follow all Google Ads policies.

Google also notified that all previous crypto exchange certifications will be revoked on the 3rd of August this year. This would mean that the advertisers must apply for new ‘Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Wallets’ certification with the company. The application form for the same will be published on the 8th of July 8, 2021.

However, the company prohibited ads for initial coin offerings [ICO], decentralized finance [DeFi] trading protocols, or any kind of promotion related to buying, selling, or trading of cryptocurrencies or related products.

Some of the examples include ICO pre-sales or public offerings, crypto-asset loans, initial DEX offerings, token liquidity pools, celebrity crypto promotions, and endorsements, unhosted wallets, “unregulated” decentralized applications [DApps].

Ad destinations that aggregate or compare issuers of cryptocurrencies or related products are also banned from posting on Google. These include trading signals of cryptocurrency, investment advice, aggregators, or affiliate websites comprising of associated content or broker reviews.