LATEST: CME’s Crypto Trading Volume Skyrockets by 180% in January

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group has hit a new milestone in cryptocurrency trading volume at the start of the year. January’s figures showed an average daily volume for crypto contracts of 198,000 equating to a notional value of $13.6 billion. This represents a 180% surge in volume year-over-year with micro bitcoin futures seeing a 255% increase.

Significant interest in smaller denominations has spurred growth. Micro contracts of bitcoin and ether allow traders more precise control over their trading strategies and risk management. These micro contracts represent just 0.1 of each cryptocurrency and have played a key role in the boost of trading activities.

Looking ahead the CME Group plans to launch options on Bitcoin Friday Futures starting February 24 pending regulatory approval. This move is set to further enhance the flexibility and range of strategies available to cryptocurrency traders in managing their portfolios.

Source

Is crypto headed for a wildly profitable crime season?

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Altcoin season might never return.

At least, not how you know them. It may be that the next altcoin season will be more of an altcoin glow-up. 

No more aping into random buzzy coins and turning a profit by the bull market top. Only a dozen or so high quality projects might give massive returns — coins with sensible tokenomics, realistic narratives and few enough vested interests that normal people stand to benefit early on.

How depressing.

I have an alternative theory: altcoin season is destined to return at size, purely because “crime season” is inevitable.

There’s been an…

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LATEST: Semler Scientific Acquires 871 BTC for $88.5 Million Investment

Semler Scientific has significantly expanded its bitcoin portfolio acquiring 871 bitcoins at an average price of $101,616 each. This strategic move involved an $88.5M investment sourced from its January 2025 senior convertible notes offering and partial monetization of its stake in Monarch Medical Technologies. The company’s proactive approach underscores its commitment to integrating cryptocurrency as a key component of its financial strategy.

As of early February Semler Scientific’s total bitcoin count stood at 3,192 valued at $280.4M. These assets were purchased at an average of $87,854 per bitcoin reflecting a savvy investment strategy by the healthcare technology firm. This considerable holding represents a bold bet on the future of digital currencies within the traditional financial landscape of corporate investments.

Highlighting the success of its bitcoin treasury strategy since mid-2024 Semler Scientific reported a BTC Yield of 152.2% over the past seven months. This outstanding performance not only demonstrates the potential of bitcoin as an investment vehicle but also positions Semler Scientific as a pioneer among its peers in the healthcare sector embracing the crypto revolution.