#crypto drama 2024

[viraltrendsspot]

Haliey Welch - Hawk Tuah Crypto Drama With $HAWK Coin - Did She Rug Pull?

Haliey created a new digital coin called $HAWK that quickly became super popular, reaching a value of almost $500 million right after it launched. But just hours later, its value dropped by a shocking 95%, leaving many investors upset and confused. Hailey Welch denies any wrongdoing.

[lawbyrhys]

The Logan Paul v. Coffeezilla Lawsuit: Part One

Here's a situation I never thought I'd be talking about, but here we are! Let's dive on in to Logan Paul's huge defamation suit against Coffeezilla.

This post is going to be Part 1 of the story; I will cover the background information and set the scene for what led up the the suit being filed, then cover the actual suit in another post.

Part 1 does not contain any of the actual lawsuit itself; this is just everything that led up to it. That said, though, I think it's important to offer something of an opening statement before we get into the real meat of the situation. That said, though, I'll keep this to a brief summary.

Check back for updates as the case goes on; I will publish them when I have time to write them. Let's get into the events that led to this crazy ass lawsuit.

If you don't know—lucky you—Logan Paul is an infamous internet personality, getting his start on Vine before moving on over to YouTube. Stephen Findeisen, better known as Coffezilla, is a fellow creator in the YouTube space, though to my knowledge, he's not nearly as infamous. Now that the players in this case have been identified, let's get into what I'm here for: breaking down this mess of a case. Essentially, Paul promised CryptoZoo, his online gaming crypto-NFT business, would make users hard cash without actually having to lift more than a finger. Findeisen has been on Paul's trail for the better part of two years now; he's been tracking Paul's rise in income, his fans loss thereof, and the fall of CryptoZoo as a whole—calling it out for the scam he saw it is. That's where Paul comes in and slaps Findeisen with this defamation case, citing the latter "maliciously and repeated published false statements about [the former], accusing him of being a scammer," and these claims have "hurt [Paul's] reputation and caused him significant emotional distress."

You know, the standard defamation lawsuit shit.

What exactly is CryptoZoo, anyway? In short, the game was Pokemon-inspired and required users to buy coins to breed digital animals; the rarer of these animals would then earn the user cold, hard cash. Naturallt, the allure was there, and Paul's fans ended up spending over $2.5M on the game. This was excellent news to Paul since he claimed his team was out $1M on the project, and this led ro Paul gaining legitimacy on the crypto market, valued at nearly $2B for his so- called Zoo coin.

That was three years ago, though; as of 2024, the game is not playable, and all the money spent on it was essentially wasted. Just a month after launch, the development team behind the game jumped ship, alleging Paul and his team stole coins from its investors and lied to the world that he'd paid them their $1M back. Paul really had nothing to say, though, until Coffeezilla started talking about the alleged scam in 2022, and that's why we're here now.

What came between then and now was a series of Paul and his team pointing fingers at one another, casting blame for why the project failed and trying to dodge any and all accountability for where all of his fans' hard-earned money is. There is more frivalous drama to the story here, but I have a lot on my plate, so I'm skipping over the filler detail. The gist of it is Findeisen called out Paul enough times that the latter got pissed and sued him. Now, to the actual lawsuit!

[starseedfxofficial]

Bitcoin Breaks $107K: Is This the Calm Before the Next Surge? Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $107K: What Traders Need to Know In the fast-paced world of trading, Bitcoin holding steady above the $107K mark might seem as exciting as watching paint dry. But seasoned traders know that in markets like these, calm waters often hide unseen currents—the kind that can pull in profit-hungry traders or toss them overboard. Let’s decode what’s happening under the surface and spot the hidden opportunities the crowd is missing. A $107K Threshold: The New Psychological Battlefield? First, let’s state the obvious—Bitcoin holding its ground above $107K matters. Why? Because round numbers in trading act like invisible lines in the sand. They’re psychological anchors for traders everywhere, from crypto newbies buying their first digital coin to big-time institutional players with fat wallets. Imagine this: You’re eyeing a brand-new Ferrari. It costs $107,000. That number doesn’t just represent a price—it signals status, a mental checkpoint that says, “This is worth it.” In trading, Bitcoin’s price level works the same way. Translation: If Bitcoin can hold steady above $107K, it signals strength—not just technically, but psychologically. Break below it, and traders panic-sell like they spotted a spider in their portfolio. But here’s where the real magic happens... What’s Driving the Calm? Key Trends Traders Can’t Ignore - Spot ETF Whisperings: While the Bitcoin crowd loves drama, the steady price action could reflect traders quietly hedging bets in anticipation of upcoming spot ETF approvals. If regulators give a green light, institutional money might flood the market faster than you can say, “moonshot.” - Halving Anticipation: Bitcoin’s next halving event is set for 2024, reducing mining rewards—a textbook supply squeeze. Historically, halvings have kicked off significant price rallies. Traders with one eye on the charts and another on history books know this could be the early innings of a longer bull run. - Liquidity Craters in the Market: Post-Fed decisions, many traders pulled capital back, leaving liquidity thin. Thin liquidity often magnifies moves—both up and down. If whales make a splash, don’t be surprised if we see Bitcoin push to $110K before the average trader can react. The Opportunity: Hidden Strategies for Savvy Traders Alright, you didn’t come here to be told the obvious. Let’s talk game-changing tactics for traders ready to capitalize on the current calm: - Bracket Trading for Breakouts - Set two orders: one above $108K and one below $106K. If Bitcoin breaks higher or dips lower, you ride the momentum either way. - Why it works: Calm markets create pent-up energy. A breakout move becomes sharp and quick—ideal for momentum traders. - Leveraging On-Chain Data - Check whale wallet movements. Tools like Glassnode or CryptoQuant show when large holders are buying or transferring Bitcoin. An uptick in activity can signal a breakout is coming. - Insider tip: Look for spikes in inflows to major exchanges. Big deposits often mean someone’s getting ready to sell. - Contrarian Sentiment Trading - When everyone gets comfortable (a stable price = boring), it’s time to pay attention. Use tools like the Fear and Greed Index or sentiment data. A sharp move is often around the corner when traders least expect it. But What If Bitcoin Falls? Managing the Risk Like a Pro Trading without a plan is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Here’s how to stay in control if Bitcoin tumbles: - Stop-Loss Mastery: Set your stop-loss levels below $105K to avoid getting wiped out by fake breakouts. - Scaling In: Instead of going all-in at one price, break your position into smaller entries. This reduces risk if Bitcoin dips before rallying. - Focus on the Long Game: Bitcoin has survived bigger drops than most traders care to admit. If you’re holding for halving-related moves, short-term dips might just be buying opportunities in disguise. Why This Matters: The Big Picture for Bitcoin Traders The steady $107K price level isn’t boring—it’s strategic. It’s a quiet pause where smart money positions itself for the next big move. Whether you’re riding momentum, hedging with options, or accumulating for the long haul, the calm before the breakout offers opportunities traders ignore at their peril. Here’s the key takeaway: Don’t mistake quiet for insignificant. Markets reward the traders who can see the invisible signals. The $107K level? It’s not just a number. It’s a checkpoint that could set the stage for Bitcoin’s next chapter. Need Exclusive Analysis and Game-Changing Strategies? - Stay ahead of the curve with real-time economic indicators and cutting-edge analysis at StarseedFX News. - Master little-known tactics with in-depth Forex education here. - Join the StarseedFX Community for elite tips, live analysis, and insights from seasoned traders: Sign up here. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[broadcast2worldtv]

20 Best Animated Blockchain Explainer Videos to Watch in 2025

Check out the Best Blockchain Explainer Videos in our compilation below:

Curious to explore the charm of these videos in much more detail? Keep reading on…

The world of crypto has been through wild ups and downs worthy of more than one Netflix drama, from boom-and-bust cycles and success stories to bankruptcies and even arrests.

While it’s no doubt a fascinating, exciting (and some would say, chaotic) world, all of this means that even after so many years, it still remains a challenge to explain blockchain tech to outsiders and win their trust.

So in this ever-evolving landscape, clarity is key. As blockchain continues to revolutionize industries, the demand for effective communication about its complex processes grows.

Enter blockchain explainer videos — powerful tools that break down intricate concepts into easily digestible, engaging narratives.

In 2024, as blockchain adoption accelerates, these videos have become more crucial than ever for businesses looking to educate, inform, and inspire their audiences.

So whether you’re a seasoned blockchain enthusiast or just starting to explore this technology, these 20 blockchain explainer videos are must-watches for the year.

Read more…

[blockinsider]

Mt. Gox Transfers $2B Worth of Bitcoin: Potential Impact on BTC Value

Key Points

Defunct exchange Mt. Gox moved over $2 billion in Bitcoin to two addresses on November 10.

The large-scale transfer has led to market speculation on its impact on Bitcoin’s price trajectory.

The now-closed exchange Mt. Gox transferred over $2 billion to two distinct addresses on November 10. This substantial transfer is one of the most significant movements from Mt. Gox’s remaining assets, adding a new dimension to the decade-long restitution process for the exchange’s numerous creditors.

According to data by Arkham Intelligence, a Mt. Gox wallet identified as “1FG2C…Rveoy” moved approximately 27,871 BTC (valued at $2.24 billion) to a new wallet. Concurrently, another transfer of 2,500 BTC (valued at $200 million) was sent to a Mt. Gox cold wallet.

Recent Movements and Speculations

It is worth noting that Mt. Gox still holds an additional 44,378 BTC. The exchange’s wallet activities, which had been inactive for over a month, started showing movement at the end of October. Earlier this month, the exchange transferred a smaller amount of 500 BTC to unknown addresses.

As Bitcoin prices remain near all-time highs, these transfers have led to market observers pondering the possible effects on Bitcoin’s price direction.

The Mt. Gox saga, which started with a security breach in 2014 and subsequent bankruptcy filing, has been one of the most intricate legal and financial dramas in the crypto world. The collapse of the exchange resulted in the loss of 850,000 BTC.

It’s unclear if the recent transfer is directly related to repayments to creditors, but the timing and size of these transactions have sparked speculation. Historical evidence suggests that Mt. Gox’s remaining assets might be directed towards creditor distributions through centralized exchanges such as Bitstamp and Kraken, although this remains unconfirmed.

Delayed Repayments and Market Predictions

The delay in repayment to creditors continues. Last month, Mt. Gox’s trustee extended the repayment deadline by another year, moving it from October 31, 2024, to October 31, 2025. The delay was attributed to several unresolved issues: incomplete repayment procedures on the part of some creditors and an unexpected “system issue” that reportedly caused duplicate deposits for some recipients.

The trustee has contacted affected creditors, asking for the return of any mistakenly distributed funds.

As Bitcoin’s value surges to unprecedented highs, Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, has issued a cautious outlook. He stated that Bitcoin might end the year below $59,000 due to what he described as an overheated futures market.

Bitcoin is currently trading around $80,995, up by over 2.5% in the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency has also seen a significant increase in its market cap in the past few days, currently sitting around $1.6 trillion.

Ju’s prediction highlights the tension between Bitcoin’s current bullish momentum and the potential for a significant correction. Mt. Gox’s substantial asset movements could heighten volatility in an already sensitive market, with the potential for increased selling pressure if creditor payouts flood the market.

[truthblockchain]

Africas Rising Focus On Blockchain Technology

The rise of Web 3.0 marks a major shift in the digital landscape. Built on the foundation of decentralization, Web 3.0 aims to give users more control over their data by eliminating intermediaries, which is made possible by blockchain technology. Blockchain, created to ensure transparent, secure, and decentralized record-keeping, has been essential in powering digital currencies like Bitcoin and has transformed industries by offering security and autonomy over digital assets. Initially, countries like the United States, China, and Japan led the way in adopting blockchain, especially within the financial sector. However, its influence soon spread to industries such as healthcare, supply chain management, and beyond. Now, Africa, with Ethiopia at the forefront, is becoming a focus for blockchain technology due to its untapped potential and favorable conditions for growth.

https://addisinsight.net/2024/09/from-binances-legal-drama-to-ethiopias-crypto-surge-exploring-africas-new-blockchain-hub/#google_vignette

[clarkswansonblogpost]

Clark Swanson as an Expert is Quoted in Cointelegraph

Will the Bitcoin halving bring more institutional investors into crypto?

The Bitcoin ETFs appear to have opened many institutions’ eyes to Bitcoin as an alternate asset. Will the April halving accelerate the trend?

Much remains unknown about Bitcoin’s (BTC) quadrennial halving event, which reduces the block rewards earned by Bitcoin miners by 50%, who play a critical role in validating BTC transactions and securing the system.

Will miners go bankrupt or flee the network? Will the hash rate collapse? Will the price of Bitcoin rise and then fall? Will the halving spur further crypto adoption? And so on.

But this much is certain: Every four years, miners’ block rewards are cut in half — this is pre-coded into the network — and at some point in April 2024, once the 210,000th block is validated, miners’ rewards will fall from 6.25 BTC per block to 3.125.

All halvings are both similar and different, but this year’s could be unique because of the new spot market Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), launched in January, which have helped drive the price of Bitcoin to all-time highs, bringing the crypto sector as a whole close to a $3 trillion market capitalization.

This raises yet another question: Given that the Bitcoin ETFs appear to have opened many institutions’ eyes to Bitcoin as an alternate asset, will the April halving accelerate the trend?

Some think so. “Institutions are still learning about this asset class, but understanding the monetary policy of Bitcoin will only drive more interest,” Dante Cook, Swan Bitcoin’s head of business, told Cointelegraph.

The halving is an important demonstration that “Bitcoin security can continue despite a lower ‘security budget,’” Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at Luxor Technology Corporation, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“We expect there to be continued institutional interest in both the underlying commodity and also the companies operating in the space, such as miners.”

For institutions that want to buy the coin itself, cutting the block reward in half is arguably an enticement, added Joe Nardini, senior managing director at B. Riley Securities. It’s more evidence that the BTC supply is not going to balloon, which is a “net positive” for many prospective institutional investors, Nardini told Cointelegraph.

However, not all agree that the halving alone will bring large corporations or financial institutions contemplating crypto into the Bitcoin fold.

“The halving shouldn’t have an impact on whether large corporations/institutional investors will invest in Bitcoin for the first time,” Ruben Sahakyan, director of investment banking at Stifel Financial, told Cointelegraph.

Investors have clearly embraced the spot market Bitcoin ETFs — as seen by the net inflows — and further regulatory clarity will help to drive industry adoption and investor base, continued Sahakyan. “However, some investors are on the sidelines when it comes to investing in mining stocks as they await what impact the halving has on miners’ profitability and volatility is reduced.”

Others suggested that halvings may not be quite as they used to be, i.e., fraught with drama.

“The halving is likely not as big an event as the industry is well prepared and has been deleveraging in anticipation of the potentially reduced economics,” Taras Kulyk, founder and CEO of SunnySide Digital, an infrastructure provider, told Cointelegraph. “Additionally, the massive growth of L2 technologies on top of the Bitcoin Network has increased transaction fees — blunting the impact of the halving even more.”

A “halving-induced” upswing?

Historically, Bitcoin has risen in price in the months leading up to a halving, which is happening again in 2024. Indeed, a JPMorgan analyst referred at the end of February to a “Bitcoin-halving-induced euphoria” gripping the crypto market. But is that really the case?

“There are two major narratives and drivers for Bitcoin currently,” Chris Kuiper, director of research at Fidelity Digital Assets (FDA), told Cointelegraph. The first is the recent approval of spot Bitcoin ETPs [exchange-traded products], which was a major milestone in Bitcoin’s history and a continued road to adoption.”

The second, Kuiper continued, is the upcoming halving. “As in the past, it’s expected that there will be little effect on the Bitcoin network itself. We may see an initial fall in hash rate, but it will likely only be a matter of time before it recovers to its previous levels and once again moves higher, which wouldn’t affect the operation of the network.”

Recent: Can the digital euro actually find traction in Europe?

Which of these two events is more impactful? We don’t know if the price surge results from the halving or the spot market Bitcoin ETF approvals, B. Riley Securities’ Nardini said, but it’s more likely “ETF induced,” in his opinion.

The JPMorgan analyst also warned the price of Bitcoin could drop to $42,000 after the halving. That, too, would follow the script of past halvings. Hash rate — the overall computing power of the network — is what makes the Bitcoin network more secure. In the past three halvings (2020, 2016, and 2012), the hash rate fell initially but quickly recovered within six to 31 days.

“What is different today from historical halvings are the ETFs, which have dramatically changed the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Clark Swanson, entrepreneur and former CEO of Bitcoin mining firm Blockcap, told Cointelegraph.

The new ETFs have created a “demand shock to Bitcoin’s limited supply,” said Swanson. This will “drive prices even higher and blunt some of the market forces that have traditionally posed challenges for miners.”

“Post halving, there is going to be exactly 50% less Bitcoin produced — or available for sale — while ETF demand seems to remain, which should continue to drive volatility,” agreed Sahakyan. “Some of the miners have again started building up BTC balance sheets, which further reduces the available supply of Bitcoin.”

Others, however, anticipate some surprises. Aki Balogh, co-founder and CEO of DLC.Link, told Cointelegraph that “the supply shock that will come from reduced mining revenues is real and will play some effect.”

Some of that has already been priced in, “but there are unknown second and third-derivative effects that will only come out after the halving has happened,” continued Balogh. Still, “I think scarcity will push the price up somewhat.”

In the longer term, history suggests the hash rate will recover, and the price of Bitcoin continue its ascent to new heights. The halving is a unique situation where the block reward periodically decreases, and in this way, “the inflation rate of the network is pre-coded,” said Vera. “Historically, we have noticed that the decrease in new Bitcoin issuance has a positive impact on price.”

Wherefore BTC proxies?

What about traditional BTC proxies like MicroStrategy and some of the larger BTC mining firms? Will they fare better or worse when the dust settles on the 2024 Bitcoin halving?

Economically speaking, halvings primarily influence BTC supply, said Balogh, whereas “the ETFs, MicroStrategy’s well-publicized purchases, and even El Salvador’s daily purchases of BTC impact the demand side.” The spot market ETFs are likely to affect Bitcoin proxies like MicroStrategy more than the halving. Added Balogh:

“Will MicroStrategy continue to serve as a proxy for BTC, given that one can buy BTC outright in an ETF? Probably slightly less so than before. It’s cleaner to buy an ETF versus a stock that is controlled by a Board of Directors with unknown objectives.”

On the other hand, MicroStrategy recently rebranded itself as a Bitcoin development company, he continued, while the new ETFs “are capital-inefficient in the sense that the BTC just sits there. Investors may prefer Michael Saylor’s more active management strategy versus the ETFs.”

Cook, for his part, foresaw no diminution in MicroStrategy’s role as a BTC proxy post-halving. “MicroStrategy’s stock is up nearly 450% over the past year and over 250% over the last six months. It’s one of the ways institutions will seek to gain exposure to the asset class of Bitcoin,” he told Cointelegraph.

How will miners fare?

What about miners’ prospects? They’re most directly affected, after all.

“Each mining rig has its own profitability price point,” Fidelity’s Daniel Gray noted in a recent blog. “Every operation will be going into this event assuming they have enough reserves on hand to withstand the negative pressure of the halving.”

Maybe the global BTC mining sector today is larger and more stable than in past years.

“The mining sector overall has matured since the last halving and is significantly better positioned, but some will struggle unless the [BTC market] price continues to rise as the network difficulty continues to increase amid outstanding machine orders,” said Stifel’s Sahakyan.

“It appears miners are in better shape overall in terms of lower levels of debt and potentially better control over their costs, such as electricity,” added Kuiper. “What’s also helping miners this cycle is the price appreciation before the halving — something that also hasn’t been seen in previous cycles.”

However, “for smaller miners, it will be tough,” predicted Nardini. They may need to raise capital. Publicly held mining firms, by comparison, will generally have an easier time raising capital.

Since the beginning of 2024, Bitcoin miners with one peta hash of mining equipment can count on earning roughly $115 a day, Vera told Cointelegraph, which is “a significant improvement since the beginning of the year given the recent price movement,” but still:

“With the halving coming up and a relentless growth of network hash rate certain miners are going to be at risk of negative profitability post-halving.”

Many miners see the writing on the wall — lower and lower block rewards — and are looking more at supplemental revenue opportunities. “Transaction fees on the Bitcoin network are crucial for miners long term,” said Vera, “and we are seeing many start investing time and capital into developing the ecosystem of applications being built on Bitcoin.”

As important as ETFs?

If one compares the introduction of the spot Bitcoin ETFs in January with the quadrennial Bitcoin halving in April, which will posterity deem more consequential?

Few this past week were willing to say the halving. The halving is “second in importance to the ETFs,” said Nardini flatly.

Still, halvings are unique to Bitcoin and represent a sort of advertisement for what is good and enduring about the cryptocurrency (e.g., it’s “hard money”), as well as some of the attendant risks like falling hash rate.

Recent: How will the Bitcoin halving affect ETH price?

From an adoption standpoint, it’s important for people to see that Bitcoin’s “monetary policy” once again is performing as programmed and expected, Kuiper said, “and it may once again reinforce to investors that Bitcoin, as an asset, is one that’s increasingly becoming scarcer as compared to other financial assets, commodities, or currencies.”

Or, as Swanson noted:

“It is the finite supply and the halving of Bitcoin, which are characteristics that help make Bitcoin the hardest money ever created.”

For this reason, he added, “It also may be the first man-made money to survive more than 200 years.”

[bitcoincables]

Bitcoin and Crypto Market Braces for Potential Financial Crisis and Paradigm Shift

Bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices have bounced back from their 2022 price crash, and there are expectations of a "paradigm shift" in the US dollar that could impact the financial system. The bitcoin price has increased by approximately 80% over the past year, and JPMorgan has recently made a surprising bitcoin price prediction. Interestingly, Donald Trump has shown support for bitcoin and crypto in a quiet manner, and it is anticipated that the US Federal Reserve might end its funding support for banks, potentially leading to a financial crisis.

The upcoming historical halving of bitcoin is also expected to cause price fluctuations in the crypto market. Arthur Hayes, the founder of Bitmex, has made a short-term bitcoin price prediction, projecting it to be between $30,000 to $35,000 before bouncing back later in the year. Hayes believes that the Fed will have to resort to measures like rate cuts, tapering of quantitative tightening, or resumption of money printing via quantitative easing to deal with the financial crisis. In contrast, Hayes argues that bitcoin's price action indicates that he is correct and the Fed is wrong, as the Fed is reportedly afraid of inflation.

The Fed has confirmed that it will end its $160 billion bank term funding program in March, which was created to address the banking crisis caused by the Fed's interest rate hikes and inflation. Hayes predicts that banks will continue to struggle until rates are lowered and that they cannot survive without government support through the bank term funding program. On the other hand, bitcoin and crypto traders, who have been closely following the Wall Street bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) drama, are now shifting their focus away from tracking bitcoin ETF flows. They believe that despite potential disappointments in bitcoin ETF inflows, the macro environment will remain supportive in 2024, particularly due to the constructive fiscal response expected during the US election cycle.

[Read More]

Hashtags: bitcoin, cryptocurrency, financialcrisis, donaldtrump

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2024.01.01

Monday, January 1st: ~ Happy New Year ~

(exclusive): Fool Me Once (netflix, limited series thriller, all 8 eps), "Bitconned" (netflix, crypto-currency true-crime documentary, ~95mins), "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment" (netflix, docuseries, all 4 parts), "Changemakers" (Para+, communities docuseries, all 8 eps), Mrs. Brown's Boys (BritBox, season 5 Christmas special), HGTV Dream Home 2024 (MAX, special, midday)

(streaming weekly): Marry My Husband (APrime, Korean drama series opener)

(broadcast specials): 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (ABC, highlights, 3hrs), "MAS*H: The Comedy That Changed Television" (FOX, cast reunion, 2hrs), "Taking on Taylor Swift" (CNN special report)

(hour 1): Kids Baking Championship (FOOD, season 12 opener, 2hrs), AGT: Fantasy League (NBC, "America's Got Talent" spinoff premiere, 2hrs)

(hour 2): Kids Baking Championship (FOOD, contd), AGT: Fantasy League (NBC, contd)

(hour 3): Ancient Aliens ("Extraterrestrial Pyramids")

(hour 4 - latenight): Barmageddon (USA)

[cryptonstocks]

Ash and Booker’s Take on the Crypto Roller Coaster and the Stock Market Hoedown!

Ash & Booker back with our take on the crypto & stock market rodeo! 🤠📈 Bear market's endin', but the real gold's in family & friends. 🌟💖 Gov't drama, Bitcoin ETFs, & a hopeful 2024 bull run. 🐂💥 Stay tuned, y'all! #CryptoButtheads #BullishOn2024 https://cryptobutthead.com/ash-and-bookers-take-on-the-crypto-roller-coaster-and-the-stock-market-hoedown/

[metamoonshots]

[ad_1] In a world the place digital property and cryptocurrencies are gaining traction quickly, buyers are continually searching for reassurance and steerage to navigate the unstable waters of the crypto market. The European Union (EU), a pioneering jurisdiction in crypto regulation, just lately issued a stern warning.The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) cautioned buyers in regards to the lack of safety till 2024. It emphasised the danger of dropping all their invested capital, no matter new laws.The EU made headlines when it gave a thumbs-up to a complete set of crypto laws often known as MiCA. These guidelines acquired the inexperienced gentle in June, however don’t get away the champagne simply but — they gained’t be totally in motion till December 2024.This cautious timeline comes sizzling on the heels of latest crypto drama, together with the FTX trade collapse and Bitcoin’s rollercoaster trip.Earlier than MiCA, the EU’s crypto realm was the wild west of the monetary world. With MiCA within the image, ESMA needs you to know that there’s no such factor as a ‘secure’ cryptoasset, even as soon as the laws are in full swing.These digital property carry distinctive dangers to the get together, from operational quirks to safety issues. So, because the saying goes, don’t put all of your eggs in a single crypto-basket and be prepared for the sudden.ESMA’s warning about delayed regulatory and supervisory safeguards is sort of a siren within the evening, and crypto fanatics want to concentrate. Till December 2024, the crypto world within the EU gained’t be below the protecting umbrella of strong laws.WithoutThese laws are essential for buyers to have a structured framework for coping with potential points. There gained’t be any predefined guidelines, and also you is perhaps in uncharted territory.No laws, no recourse mechanisms. [ad_2]

[ailtrahq]

The legal dispute between blockchain company Ripple and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to capture significant attention as the parties involved put forth various scenarios for the case’s resolution. Following Ripple’s partial victory, in which the court ruled that XRP tokens were not securities, the cryptocurrency community closely monitors the unfolding developments and speculates on the final outcome. Notably, John Deaton, a prominent lawyer advocating for XRP, has cast doubt on the likelihood of a trial in this case. During an interview with Thinking Crypto on October 5, he expressed skepticism about the SEC’s prospects if it chooses to pursue the high-profile case, highlighting the numerous complexities the regulatory agency would face. Deaton believes two alternative paths could be taken while predicting that the SEC might lose a trial, with his skepticism rooted in the potential risks and uncertainties associated with a trial, including the public spectacle it would create. “I don’t think a trial is going to happen. They’re going to lose. Do they really want all that Hinman stuff and the drama of a trial? It’s going to be a big, long, lengthy, very expensive trial,” he said.  Impact of SEC’s other crypto cases Deaton emphasized the financial burden a protracted legal battle would impose on both parties. This sentiment is particularly relevant considering the SEC’s ongoing enforcement actions against cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase and Binance and its involvement in other legal matters within the cryptocurrency industry. “And if your chances are slim to none, why do that right now? If they weren’t fighting Coinbase and Binance and doing all the other things, maybe it’s worth it. But don’t you need those resources to fight the other cases? So that’s what I mean, is that I don’t think there’ll be a trial,” he added.  The attorney concluded his remarks with a caveat, acknowledging that his assessment might not necessarily reflect the SEC’s actual strategy, highlighting the inherent unpredictability of legal proceedings. The discussion surrounding the possibility of a settlement has intensified following Ripple’s recent legal victory. Specifically, on October 3, Judge Analisa Torres rejected the SEC’s motion for an interlocutory appeal. In her order, she also raised the prospect of a potential resolution between the two parties before the April 23, 2024 trial date. Meanwhile, despite the ongoing legal challenges that have cast a shadow on the value of XRP, Ripple is actively pursuing partnerships to enhance the network’s utility. Ripple was recently unveiled as a member of the task force initiated by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) with the goal of advancing cross-border payment interoperability and expansion. BIS has been engaged in blockchain experimentation aimed at achieving streamlined interoperability and cross-border payments for some time. In addition to Ripple, BIS has enlisted the participation of other entities, including Mastercard (NYSE: MA), in its task force. XRP price analysis By press time, XRP was valued at $0.52 with daily losses of about 0.66%. On the weekly chart, XRP is down almost 0.2%.  XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold In a technical analysis based on one-day data obtained from TradingView, XRP currently exhibits a state of neutrality. The summary, moving averages, and oscillators all indicate a ‘neutral’ sentiment, with respective readings of 9, 1, and 8. XRP technical analysis. Source: TradingView All factors considered, the prospects of XRP greatly remain hinged on the outcome of the SEC case. 

[akaraboonline]

Market Slumps as Bitcoin and Ethereum Drop Over 10%

This week's crypto gain was limited because the market is still pricing in the impact of another likely Fed interest rate hike. These signals boosted the dollar, but they interrupted the previous week's crypto gain, which was fueled by Ethereum's "Shapella" upgrade. Market Slumps as Bitcoin and Ethereum Drop Over 10%

Market Slumps as Bitcoin and Ethereum Drop Over 10% This week's news was a veritable feast of regulatory stories in both the United States and the European Union, with the drama in Washington centered on the SEC's ongoing crackdown on cryptocurrency businesses—1,500 to date, according to a tweet on Monday by chair Gary Gensler, who is celebrating his second year as the top U.S. securities regulator. This week, both Bitcoin and Ethereum plummeted. Bitcoin maintained its head above the $30K threshold at times but eventually began to collapse on Wednesday, falling to its current level of $27,340, a 10.3% decline from last week. Ethereum followed a similar path, briefly rising beyond $2,100 before plummeting to $1,851, an 11.7% loss in seven days. Many of the top thirty cryptocurrencies by market cap have lost a little more than 10% of their value, including XRP, which is worth $0.456866, Cardano (ADA), Dogecoin (DOGE), Polygon (MATIC), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), Litecoin (LTC), Avalanche (AVAX), Uniswap (UNI), Cosmos HUB (ATOM), and Stellar (XLM).  

U.S. regulators crack down, EU regulators legislate

The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) crackdown on crypto firms made news again on Monday, when the agency sued Seattle-based exchange Bittrex for alleged failure to comply with securities rules. The SEC designated six cryptocurrencies as unregistered securities in its lawsuit: OMG Network (OMG), Dash (DASH), Monolith (TKN), Naga (NGC), Real Estate Protocol (IHT), and Algorand (ALGO). The debate proceeded on crypto Twitter, when a video of Gensler praising Algorand went viral. It's from a talk Gensler gave at the MIT Sloan Idea Exchange in 2019, when he was a professor of global economics and management at the school. On Tuesday, many Republican congressmen condemned the SEC's regulation-by-enforcement policy in a letter to the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Tom Emmer attacked Gensler throughout the session, saying, "You've been an incompetent cop on the beat," before accusing the SEC chair of driving American corporations into the "hands of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)." The Committee shifted its focus to stablecoins on Wednesday. Republicans and Democrats sparred over a planned bill known as the "To be Added Act of 2023." Democrat Maxine Waters stated that she never completed negotiations with Republican Patrick McHenry and that lawmakers are now starting over. Some of the proposed legislation was also questioned by Democrat Stephen Lynch. On Friday, the Texas legislature delivered good news. The Texas House of Representatives passed legislation mandating local cryptocurrency exchanges to keep sufficient reserves to meet all client obligations. This week, the most progress was achieved with crypto legislation in the European Union. At a meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday, the European Parliament passed the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill with 517 votes in favor, 38 against, and 18 abstentions. The measure means that the EU's 27 member nations will now take a uniform stance on cryptocurrency. Companies have a year and a half to become acquainted with the rules. The stablecoin legislation will not take effect until July 2024, while the remainder of the legislation will not take effect until January 25.   Read the full article

[dear-ao3]

welcome back to saphs silly season monstrosity post. i asked and y'all voted that i should keep it going so here we are. if you DONT WANT TO SEE THIS POST EVER AGAIN then block the tag #saph explains silly season 2024

today is february 9, 2024 and without further ado we have this weeks drama:

we've got stake, we've got alpine, we've got the distinct lack of painted cars, we've got the singapore race, we've got charles's spotify account, we've got alex albon and hm what am i missing???

ah yes. christian horner.

strap yourselves in folks!

first up is stake f1 team kick sauber. aside from having a ridiculous name they also now have legal problems. which, incidentally, have to do with the name. allow me to explain:

stake is a crypto betting casino esque company. they have sponsored the team before (when it was called alpha romeo) but now they are the Title Sponsor. this presented a few problems initially because betting is not legal in all the countries where the races are, so they legally can't be called stake all the time at all the races. thats why they're also called kick sauber. kick is the name of another one of their sponsors (its a streaming platform actually owned by stake), not the title one, but still a prominent one. they have removed the stake sponsor from the car in previous years at races where gambling promotion is not allowed.

well well well if only it were that easy.

you see. casinos, even crypto casinos, need to be licensed. and stake is apparently not licensed in switzerland. now why on earth does this matter? well. sauber is a swiss team. and sauber took on stake as their title sponsor. they're being sponsored by a company that is technically not legal in their country.

you would think that this would have all been caught before they launched the car and rebranded themselves, but alas.

and, according to sports illustrated, "The Federal Casino Commission in Switzerland has initiated proceedings against Sauber due to the unlicensed status of Stake, potentially resulting in a substantial fine."

yes. you read that one correctly.

now apparently this wasnt a problem when stake was a lesser sponsor but now that its the main sponsor, this is bad news for stake f1 team kick sauber.

apparently tho the team isn't super concerned and is confident in the original plan to run under two names depending on the country. they have tho removed the name stake from their website. which is an interesting choice for people who are confident they're doing nothing wrong.

two car launches happened this week, the first was alpine. the alpine car looks a lot like every other car this year: a lot of plain black carbon fiber and very minimal paint. everyone has been shitting on this because not too long ago all the cars were pretty painted, but then merc decided to run an all black car to save weight because the paint weighs more and now everyone is copying them and the internet is memeing the shit out of it:

(via the instagram account f1troll)

the alpine instagram admins even shitted on themselves with this video of them pointing at the car and going "carbon fiber" over and over

then the visa cashapp racing bulls showed up in an actual painted car and saved the day:

is that technically silly season drama? no but its fucking hilarious.

its also not really part of the silly season that charles leclercs spotify account keeps getting hacked and someone keeps posting their own song onto it, but its objectively hilarious. he keeps having to post on his instagram story that "guyssss this isnttt meeee"

now back to the silly season drama.

shape of the singapore race, form of suspected corruption.

now tbh i dont really get this one too much so ill do me damndest but it might behoove you to just google it yourself if youre curious.

one of the races on the f1 calendar is the singapore grand prix. its a street track (as opposed to a track track) and if you recall, it was the only race last year won by a non red bull driver (carlos sainz). singapore has a contract to be an f1 track until 2028. (yes tracks have contracts just like the drivers, remember its a stupid bonkers sport)

well apparently its currently being reviewed by the local government to see if it can/should still happen for 2024. why? well someone got arrested.

the someone in question was the transport minister, s. iswaran. he stepped down following several charges of corruption. he was in charge of tourism and started around the time when the singapore gp began several years ago. according to the bbc, he was accused of taking more than 100k USD worth of flights, hotels and f1 tickets "in exchange for advancing property tycoon Ong Beng Seng's business interests" and ong beng seng was involved in bringing the grand prix to singapore in the first place (according to sports illustrated). (its also worth pointing out that singapore rarely ever gets involved in political scandals)

now because s. iswaran was involved in the original f1 singapore track contract, the contract is being investigated to make sure that the race actually benefits the country (i think). and they are still gearing up for the 2024 race and so far nothing has been found that would suggest that there was corruption in the race contract, but its still a possibility.

so in short, the singapore race could be off the calendar.

and now with that we are back at alex albon. it would seem as though he is signed for 2025 with williams but now red bull want him for potentially 2026 on a three year contract.

now as we know, alex has said that if williams is performing then he is willing to stay with the team. as we also know, alex has also already driven for red bull and they tossed him aside for checo in 2021. checo has since kinda started fucking shit up for red bull and if theyre looking back to rehire alex albon, over danny rics and yuki tsunoda, then this is probably pretty dire of a situation for them.

also. red bull do Not like admitting they made mistakes in their driver contracts. notably, they never took pierre gasley back even when it was wildly speculated that they regretted swapping him in 2019.

red bull is also in the shit for entirely different reasons right now but well get to that later.

but regardless, red bull have supposedly expressed interest in having first refusal of alex when his williams contract expires in 2025. meaning, they are the first to claim him potentially (i think). again, this says more about the red bull team than it says about alex albon. red bull have not one, not two, but three drivers lined up for a red bull seat (danny rics, yuki tsunoda and liam lawson). and if they are overlooking All Three of them for someone they have previously ixed, then that may present a problem for the current racing bulls drivers (danny rics and yuki) who are likely only driving there with the hopes of getting promoted up to red bull.

and lastly. we have christian horner.

he had his first hearing today about the allegations. it reportedly lasted 8 hours with breaks and no conclusion was reached.

again, he is being investigated for "inappropriate behavior," but it is also being called "controlling behavior" and it may have included "inappropriate photos," depending on what report of the events you are reading. regardless, the accusations were made by a female employee.

several news outlets, not just racing news outlets, have reported on this, but ive gotten most of my information from sky sports.

originally, red bull wanted to have all of this squared away before they release their car next week, but that clearly is not happening. (honestly it will probably extend into the start of the season) mostly because this is now a legal case and there is stupidly long legal proceedings that now have to take place because it is a legal case.

in any case, christian has still denied the accusations and though hes been advised to vacate his position, he still has not. red bull is worried about their image with the whole ordeal and him being in his position still but, no one has forcibly removed him and unless someone does i dont see him leaving. there are people who are reportedly on the inside who think that he will not survive his position.

also, hes not only the team principal of red bull, hes also the red bull racing ceo.

and as christian horner once famously said on drive to survive. red bull is an energy drinks company. the f1 team was created to advertise their product and they will only have the team as long as they are benefitting from it. so will this scandal make red bull change their mind. we dont know.

also, again, max verstappen is only basically at red bull as long as they are winning. and if they lose max verstappen, they're kinda completely fucked. and if christian has to leave his position and the new leadership isn't as good, this could be possible.

now theres also a whole lot of red bull drama with the various higher ups that i really dont get and its very confusing but all you need to know now is that christian horner has a feud going with some of the other management (helmut marko) and should the investigation happen in a way that isn't good for christian this could be very very interesting for the red bull management.

also lets get a reminder here that THE SEASON HASNT EVEN STARTED YET.

stay tuned kids.

Sorry i tried to scroll past but, i know nothing about f1 other than max verstappen is fast, my dad doesnt like lewis hamilton, fast car goes in a loop and sometimes expodes. Could you give me a crash course in f1 drama? Im very intrigued. Whats the tea as it were?

a terribly loaded question, but i will do my best. i’ve talked about some of the drama before like the red bull second seat and the chronicles of haas but allow me to briefly try my hand at explaining the nightmare that is the upcoming silly season

under the cut we go

silly season is when the drivers go through contract renewals, extensions and switches. usually it’s confined to the first half of the season (march-july) but it has been known to extend all the way to the last race of the season and they like to switch people around at random sometimes. driver contracts are complex, there’s a lot of money involved and basically You Are The Face Of The Team so if you have a shit season then you make the team look bad. but at the same time you could have a shit season because you have a shit car. it’s sticky stuff.

so. there are only twenty seats in formula 1. 10 teams. each team gets two drivers. (there’s also reserve drivers but we’re not going to get into that). who ends up with a contract is largely up to the teams, they can pull the contract out from under people they can also cut you mid season. they’ve done it before.

of the 20 drivers on the grid, 14 of them have contracts expiring at the end of the year. yes. 14. you see how this could get complicated.

so let’s meet the teams.

red bull racing. they came first this year (and last year) in the championship. like aggressively first. like they won the championship by over 350 points. they are definitely the team to beat. but if you end up with a seat at red bull, you do have to deal with max verstappen being your teammate and he won all but three of the races last year. he’s the golden boy. red bull are also notoriously silly when it comes to contracts and famously swap people mid season who aren’t performing.

mercedes. merc is home to 7 time world champion lewis hamilton and they have won the championship a great many times, though not since 2021. they are kind of in their flop arc and their car the last 2 years has been pretty garbage, but they have still made it work because they were able to come in second last year.

ferrari. god help the poor little meow meows with a ferrari contract. ferrari is a notoriously great team and they’re trying to get back to the top again but their strategy every single time has fallen short. to the point where their drivers are the ones doing the strategy in their cars while driving. they came in third last year and have been decently consistent at getting first in qualifying and then getting beat by max verstappen on race day.

mclaren. they’ve definitely worked their way up over recent years. they ended fourth last year and have had some championship wins before but not nearly as many as say merc and ferrari. their team ceo (owner? director?) is a little interesting and their car started out a pile of flaming hot garbage at the beginning of the year but they did manage to get their shit together.

aston martin. they are owned by canadian billionaire lawrence stroll, father of lance stroll (one of the drivers for the team). they’ve undergone several name changes over the recent years (force india, racing point, etc). they positively slayed at the start of the season and then one day they sucked. they finished fifth in the championship.

alpine. the frenchest french team. they’re (i think?) still partially owned by the french government. both of their drivers are french. (their drivers also hate eachother but we’ll get to that. just know they’re in the middle of a modern french civil war). they had the opportunity to have a good rookie driver (oscar piastri) this past year but in a thrilling twitter battle, he publically flamed the shit out of them and went to mclaren instead (and slayed). they're usually solidly middle of the pack. they ended sixth in the championship.

williams. williams has been one of the back of the grid teams for the last many years but they have finally started to get their shit together and don’t quite suck as much as they used to. all of the points this year were scored by only one driver though (except one but we’ll get there). they came in seventh.

alpha tauri. they are the sister team of red bull. so technically redbull owns both teams (meaning they can swap drivers between teams. they like doing this.) they’ve just kind of been There for awhile but they did slay towards the end of the season when one of their drivers led the race for several laps. basically tho, this team is the gateway to redbull. they came in eighth.

alpha romeo. recently renamed to stake f1 team (but sometimes they are going to be called kick sauber. this is a whole other drama post and i’m not getting into it). they’re also just kind of there. generally unproblematic. seems that really great drivers who get ixed out of a contract for a younger driver end up here or young drivers who are in their early years are here before they go to a better team. they ended ninth this year.

haas. oh haas. goofy team. they suck. point blank they suck. they keep loosing sponsors because they suck, they don’t win ever (one time they came first in qualifying last year). they cursed themselves in australia in 2018 by not tightening their tires and its been downhill ever since. they came 10th. their team principle got let go (fired?) who’s to say today.

so those are the teams. it is important to note that:

-there is a cost cap. each team is allowed to spend no more than 135m per year.

-not all cars are equal. some things are standard. they all undergo the same testing. but the cars are all very different. so you can be a good driver but stuck in a shitty car. which makes it impressive if you are doing well in a shitty car.

let’s meet our drivers!!!

starting with the guys who’s contract is not ending in 2024:

max verstappen. 3 time world champion. 26 years old. general beast on the track. he dominated the whole season. he’s currently racing for red bull and has a contract with them through 2028.

lewis hamilton. 7 time world champion. 39 years old. he drives for mercedes. he will not leave mercedes until he retires. he really really wants to win an 8th world championship and is willing to stick it out a few more years as long as merc still believes in him. his contract expires in 2025.

george russell. the other merc driver. 26 years old. hes aggressively british and says thinks like blimey unironically. walking meme. got his merc seat in 2022 right when they entered their flop arc by getting his tractor of a williams to finish second in qualifying in the middle of a rainstorm. his contract expires in 2025.

lando norris. mclaren driver. 24 years old. he has notably never won a race in his five years of formula one (mostly because right when his car finally was good enough max verstappen was 20 seconds ahead of anyone) but he is regarded as Very Good. he has only ever driven for mclaren. and even though there is another year left on his contract there is mass speculation that he will not renew his contract with mclaren after it expires and he may move up to one of the top teams (red bull, merc, ferrari) (tho i think he doesnt hate himself quite enough to go to ferrari). his contract expires in 2025.

oscar piastri. the other mclaren driver. 22 years old. this was his rookie season and he positively slayed. like people compared his rookie season to lewis hamiltons rookie season. he also had the positively funniest start to his rookie year because alpine announced that he would be driving for them (he had been their reserve driver and in the alpine academy) and he posted a tweet that basically said yeah thats false i never singed anything with you and im going to race with mclaren instead (he dodged a bullet) and then alpine tried and failed to sue him for $4m USD. he signed a contract extension with mclaren this year and his contract expires in 2026.

lance stroll. aston martin driver and son of the aston martin owner. hes doing ok, tho there was conspiracy that he wanted to quit and have a tennis career awhile ago. but basically since his dad owns the team it seems that hes guaranteed a seat for as long as he wants one.

so now. moving onto the good shit. the people who have contracts expiring in 2024. hold onto your hats people.

charles leclerc. (everyones favorite slutty little soup can). 26 years old. he is currently at ferrari and he has been since 2019. notably, he was given the longest contract in the history of ferrari after a stellar rookie season at sauber (renamed to alpha romeo, renamed to stake f1) where he got the tractor of a car consistently into the points. having the longest contract in the history of ferrari was a flex at the time, but now its likely how he will introduce himself at therapy sessions. ferrari have fucked this man left right and center up the ass with a plastic lunchroom spork. hes talented, he can drive, and he can drive well. but the strategy that ferrari has absolutely sucks. either something is wrong with the car (see him blowing out his gear box on the formation lap in monaco, his car completely crapping out and spinning into the barrier in brazil before the race even started) or they fuck up his pit stops or put him on the wrong tires and honestly its just frustrating. but will he leave??? likely not. you'd have to pry ferrari out of his cold dead hands and at this rate that might be where this is headed though there has been some minor speculation of him going to another team like merc or red bull, but merc doesnt have any open seats and red bull is a whole other dumpster fire of drama. ferrari are going to have to pay him a boatload of money to make him stay.

carlos sainz. the smooth operator. 29 years old. ferrari driver. previously carlos was at toro rosso (renamed to alpha tauri), renault (renamed to alpine), and mclaren before signing with ferrari. he has been at ferrari since 2021 and has voiced that he would like to stay with them for however long he can. there is speculation that lando might replace him at ferrari (but landos contract is not up until 2025) and there is also some speculation that alex albon might replace him. while charles is clearly the golden boy at ferrari, carlos is slightly slower but also definitely consistent. he was THE ONLY non red bull driver to win a race this past year, in Singapore after max verstappedn was knocked out of qualifying by alpha tauri reserve driver liam lawson (more on him later) and because he basically came up with his own strategy in the car while he was driving.

sergio perez. aka checo. red bull driver. 33 years old. and oh boy here's where we open the can of worms. checo was previously at racing point (renamed aston martin) and it was very near the end of the 2020 (?) season and he was out of a contract. he had a bonkers race where he was knocked to the back of the grid and then overtook everyone and somehow ended up winning (there is more to that story but just trust me) and christian horner, red bull team principle, mr ginger spice and definite disney villain called him and said congrats sir you have a seat at red bull! well. fast forward. hes been causing problems. problems as in crashing a lot, generally not doing great and pissing the crap out of red bull. it is basically guaranteed at this point that he will not be getting a contract extension. there was actually talk this year of him losing his seat mid season to one of the alpha tauri drivers, because remember, red bull owns both teams and they can switch them whenever they want to (and they have!) but ultimately this did not happen. even though checo has a seat at red bull until the end of 2024, its mass speculated that he is going to get switched with an alpha tauri driver, probably daniel ricciardo (more on him shortly) mid season because there is a speculated clause in daniels contract that says that if checo isn't performing well in the first few races daniel is getting his seat.

daniel ricciardo. 34 years old. alpha tauri driver. man oh man what a guy. outside of being the prankster of the paddock, he has one of the most batshit careers of anyone currently on the grid. he started out at red bull and was showing real talent and skill and was on track to win things (and was!) and was there until the end of 2018 when max verstappen (his teammate) started getting preferential treatment and also red bull started having a lot of problems with their engines (which were being outsourced from Renault (now alpine) and another team on the grid) and well very very long story short he made the surprise move of the century and decided to sign with Renault (which makes no sense they're the one with the engine problems) and was there for 2 years before moving again to mclaren where he was reportedly not treated very well and had a hard time driving the car so they mutually ended his contract with them early and he basically retired at the end of the 2022 season and became a red bull reserve driver. then halfway through the 2023 season alpha tauri ixed one of their drivers, nyck de vries, because he wasnt doing well and promoted daniel back up to a full time driver at alpha tauri (which we know is only a step down from red bull) but then he broke his hand in a crash in zanvort (?) and then he was replaced for a few races by formula 2 driver liam lawson (who we will also talk about) and then he came back to finish out the season in alpha tauri after he was cleared. daniel has admitted openly that he never should have left red bull and he was given bad advice to do so. hes towards the end of his career at this point and its well known that he Really Really wants to finish out his career at red bull again. he and max have already been teammates before and they do work well together and daniel is great driver (see his comeback in texas (or maybe it was brazil?) this year). so. Pretty Sure that daniels going to get either an extension at alpha tauri or go up to red bull. thats what we all want. get this man in a red bull we need him there biblically.

liam lawson. now technically liam is not actually a formula 1 driver. hes a formula 2 driver, but he was daniels replacement for five races and there has been some speculation and some confirmed news about him so hes getting included. when he was racing for f1 he was at alpha tauri. hes 21 and looks like he belongs in the movie grease. no one was expecting him to slay in formula 1 and he positively knocked everyones socks off. the scene: Singapore. which, if you'll recall, is the one race that a not red bull driver won. this was largely because liam lawson slayed the absolute game in qualifying. the qualifying part of racing determines what order the cars start in on the grid for the race and theres three parts, the first two parts the bottom 5 drivers each time get knocked out and then the top 10 complete for the last 10 spots. liam lawson knocked BOTH max verstappen and checo perez out of qualifying in the second round by going very slightly faster than them, effectively fucking up red bulls race and allowing carlos to win. and he also scored points in that race, which no one was expecting. now thats all fine and dandy, but here's the speculation: hemlut marko (im pretty sure) (who is somehow decently involved in the decision making at red bull though i couldn't tell you how) said that he thinks that liam lawson will be in an f1 seat no later than 2025. meaning that he will probably get offered a contract this year. and hes already raced for alpha tauri. red bull have sunk a good amount of money into him. they clearly want him. so if he gets offered an alpha tauri seat in 2025, that means theres a good chance danny rics is going to red bull. do you SEE how the plot here is THICKENED

yuki tsunoda. age 23. currently at alpha tauri. and fun fact, the only alpha tauri driver to race there the whole year. he had three separate team mates. he is slaying and hes often slept on. he has a bit of a temper and likes to shout on the radio and also hates working out (they had to force him to move to italy or something to work out, long story) but hes been kinda killing it. he led several laps in the abu dhabi race this year and hes decently consistent. people think theres possibility that he could get moved up to red bull on account of the fact that he is younger than daniel and clearly has more years in him,, but there is also possibility that he might not because red bull like to make stupid decisions. and if he doesnt get moved up to rebel, will he stay with alpha tauri? we don't know.

alex albon. age 27. currently a williams driver. alex albon is another one with a batshit career. he started out his rookie year in 2019 at alpha tauri then got moved up to red bull halfway through the year when red bull decided that pierre gasley wasnt doing a good enough job (more on him later) and stayed with red bull for a solid year and a half until he lost his seat in 2021 to checo. he has been with williams for the last two years and is basically carrying the team. like. williams as a team scored 28 points this year. and alex albon scored 27 of those 28 points. and as we know, williams is still kind of in their shit arc (though they are doing much better. they didnt score any points for a solid 2 (?) years. so this is an improvement.) and if you can get a shit car to perform you catch the eye of bigger teams. now, alex has already been a red bull driver. and he was on the cusp of podiuming two separate times when lewis hamilton ran into him. this (among a few other things) basically killed his chances at getting resigned at red bull because he wasnt ""performing"" and red bull are bitches who love to win. but some people think that red bull should give him another shot. like daniel, hes already been max's teammate and he can definitely drive. but theres also talk he might go to ferrari because ferrari think that he might compliment charles's driving style (or something). but going to ferrari at this point is kind of suicide. so.

logan sergeant. age 23. the only american on the grid. the other williams driver. he just finished his rookie year. he scored a grand total of one single point this season, in texas, and it was because charles leclerc and lewis hamilton both got disqualified because the floor of their car had more wear (by literally less than millimeters) than it was allowed to, bumping him up from 12th to 10th. he has never done better than alex albon. he was also the very last driver to get a contract for 2024, with williams waiting until i think december of 2023 to announce his contract extension. clearly, hes on thin ice. but people have also said that he needs time to get used to formula 1 (other people have pointed out that oscar piastri slayed his rookie season this year and this statement about needing time is largely false). where logan ends up next year though will largely depend on how well the 2024 season goes for him.

fernando alonso. 42 years old. many people like to point out that oscar piastri is actually younger than fernando's racing career. he won tiktok creator of the year (somehow) and is also a 2 time world champion. he retired a few years ago, just to show back up again and slay. during the first half of the season when aston martin had a zoom zoom car he killed it, and then they had problems on top of problems and he didnt do well. except for that one race in brazil where he came in third, beating checo by literally .05 seconds. he hasn't really made any hints about retiring a second time and he is kind of carrying aston Martin right now (he scored 205 points this season, coming in 4th and tying in points with charles leclerc, lance stroll only scored 74 points this year.) and they did have their best year yet this year. (though they are relatively new).

pierre gasley. 27 years old. french. drives for alpine. the french team. previously he raced with toro rosso (now alpha tauri), then got promoted to a red bull driver in 2019, then halfway through the season they decided he wasnt doing a good enough job and he got demoted back down to alpha tauri. then he won a race with alpha tauri just to stick it to red bull. after the great oscar piastri contract twitter war, he was signed as alpines second driver, with Esteban ocon being the other driver (more on him soon). estie bestie and pierre (both french) were childhood friends and now hate each other for unknown reasons and basically feuded on the track for most of the season. french civil war at alpine. he scored 62 points in 2023 and came in 11th. not really sure where he will end up, it is possible that he will stick it out at alpine.

esteban ocon. 27 years old. also french. currently driving for alpine. another one with a silly bonkers career. he started out at force india and had a baller few seasons there but his teammate at the time was checo, and checo didnt really cooperate with him too much and caused some drama that cost estie bestie some places and some points. max verstappen also beat him up in the garage once. thats not really relevant but it did happen. anyway, after the owner of force india was arrested for .... i don't remember what maybe it was embezzlement or bankruptcy or something money related, the team was backed by lawrence stroll and became racing point. but all of that happened mid season and lawrence was basically like look ill back you guys for now but next year my son gets a seat (lance) so one of you two (checo and estie bestie) have to go. and ultimately they let estie bestie go even though he was more consistent because checo had more sponsors and they needed money. so he was out of formula 1 for a few years (but was a merc reserve driver) and then went to Renault, which then became alpine. he did come in 12th though overall this season, just behind pierre. so. will alpine keep both him and pierre and keep the civil war going? whos to say.

nico hulkenberg. 36 years old. haas driver. in his 200+ f1 races he has never been on the podium and he really really wants to be on the podium. unfortunately this will never happen in a haas because haas fucking sucks. and everyone knows it. he is getting towards the end of his career though. though! stake f1 will become the mario Andretti and audi team in 2026 (don't question it) and they have supposedly voiced interest in nico. so we will see if he hangs on that long to end up at audi. for now tough, hes definitely hating it at haas. though, haas are going to have a different team principle next year so maybe that will change things. i have a sneaky feeling through that haas will probably end up with another 2 rookie drivers because everyone else is smart enough to not race for them.

kevin magnussen. 31 years old. haas driver. hes another deeply interesting character. he has had one podium. in his rookie season. in his first race. and none since. kevin started at haas in 2017 and then left at then end of 2020 when he basically got kicked off because the team needed money and they wanted to bring in drivers with more sponsorships. these drivers were mick schumacher and nikita mazepin. so kevin basically was forced to retire after the 2020 season. this went decently well for haas. until russia invaded ukraine right before the start of the 2022 season and, well, nikita was Russian and it was never distinctly proven that his dads company (who was sponsoring the team) wasnt also funding the invasion. so nikita got fired and they were literally like 2 weeks out from the start of the season, down a driver. who are you gonna call? kevin magnussen! and hes been back ever since. but hes clearly getting annoyed with haas. there was one great clip from this year where his car caught on fire and he kind of just stared into to, clearly hoping it would burn for a long time. so the likelihood of him extending his contract is looking slim.

valtteri bottas. 34 years old. currently a driver for stake f1 (alpha romeo, kick sauber, whatever you wanna call it). previously, he was a mercedes driver and notoriously helped lewis hamilton win a great many championships, until he lost his seat to george russell in 2022. there was a rather awkward part of the 2021 season where valtteri knew that he was out of a merc seat the following year and kind of just chose violence. he slayed. then he went to alpha romeo, grew a mullet and made a calendar of his ass. quite the glow up if you ask me. hes also very interested in cycling. honestly though, i have my own personal speculation that hes going to retire at the end of this year.

zhou guanyu. 24 years old. driver for stake f1 (alpha romeo/kick sauber, etc etc). hes doing alright. he just finished his second season, in his first season he was majorly out qualified by valtteri but this past season he managed to out qualify him a good 6 times. which is decently good for the tractor of a car hes driving. its possible that he could get a contract extension, but like logan, its probably going to depend on how the 2024 season goes for him.

and thats all the drivers. theres also a few others i didnt talk about, like some other f2 drivers who want seats and mick schumacher, who is currently a merc reserve driver, all of which could be contenders for f1 seats. but one things for sure. this is going to be the silliest fucking silly season.

feel free to add on and peer review me