Monday, September 9, 2024

Stock Market Today 09/09/2024: Glowtime Unveiled — Apple’s Big Event Recap + OnlyFans — The Platform That Prints Money + Oracle’s Cloud-Driven Earnings

MARKETS 

  • After last week’s market bloodbath, U.S. stocks found some relief on Monday. The S&P 500 bounced back 1.2%, while the Dow Jones flexed with a 484-point surge, and the Nasdaq added more than 1%. Investors are now laser-focused on this week’s inflation data, hoping for clues that might influence the Fed’s rate cut decision.
  • Tech stocks, last week’s biggest losers, led Monday's rebound, with all 11 S&P sectors in the green. Wednesday’s consumer inflation report and Thursday’s producer-price numbers are the next big hurdles, as Wall Street bets on a dovish move from the Fed.

Winners & Losers

What’s up ðŸ“ˆ

  • Summit Therapeutics ($SMMT) skyrocketed 55.99% after announcing that its lung cancer drug candidate outperformed Merck’s Keytruda in phase three clinical trials.
  • Palantir ($PLTR) gained 14.08% following the announcement that it would join the S&P 500, replacing American Airlines, with the change taking effect on Sept. 23.
  • Nio ($NIO) rose 10.96%, continuing its positive momentum after its promising second-quarter earnings and subsequent analyst upgrades.
  • MicroStrategy ($MSTR) climbed 9.20% as Michael Saylor predicted Bitcoin could reach $13 million by 2045.
  • JetBlue Airways ($JBLU) surged 7.17% after Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora upgraded the firm to neutral from underperform, citing JetBlue’s “self-help initiatives” and early signs of revenue improvement.
  • Arm Holdings ($ARM) increased 7.03% after the Financial Times reported that Apple would use Arm’s next-gen chip design in the iPhone 16, set to debut on Monday.
  • Super Micro Computer ($SMCI) increased 6.06% after GlassHouse Research expressed long-term confidence in the stock via X.
  • Moderna ($MRNA) was up 5.10% after announcing its manufacturing facility in Laval, Quebec, received a Drug Establishment License from Health Canada, allowing it to produce drug substances.
  • Dell Technologies ($DELL) rose 3.81% after the news that it would join the S&P 500, replacing Etsy before the Sept. 23 market open.
  • United Airlines ($UAL) gained 5.96%.Paycom Software ($PAYC) rose 5.75%.Nvidia ($NVDA) increased 3.54%.

What’s down ðŸ“‰

  • Humana ($HUM) dropped 3.94% after Leerink Partners analysts, led by Whit Mayo, shared an early look at unpublished cut points that affect healthcare plans' Star ratings.
  • DocuSign ($DOCU) fell 5.32% despite beating fiscal second-quarter expectations, driven by strong subscription growth.
  • Enphase Energy ($ENPH) declined 5.16%.Lucid Group ($LCID) slid 3.08%.

Glowtime Unveiled — Apple’s Big Event Recap

Apple’s "It’s Glowtime" event has come and gone, leaving us with some shiny (slightly same) new toys to obsess over. The iPhone 16 lineup took the spotlight, with a slew of features that scream AI-powered future. Let’s dive into the highlights.

iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro Max: The iPhone 16 lineup stole the show, featuring generative AI capabilities and the new Camera Control button, which lets you snap photos, perform searches, and identify objects in real-time using Apple’s Visual Intelligence. The Pro models (6.3" and 6.9") come with bigger screens, thinner bezels, a faster A18 chip, and improved battery life. Both the Pro and Pro Max now let you shoot 4K video at 120 fps, ideal for cinematic slow-motion shots. The iPhone 16 models start at $799 and are available for pre-order starting Friday, with a September 20 launch.

AirPods 4 & AirPods Max: Apple introduced the AirPods 4 in two versions: a standard model at $129 and a higher-end version at $179 that includes active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode. The charging case is smaller and supports USB-C. Plus, there’s an updated AirPods Max, now with USB-C charging and some fresh colors. Both models aim for a more comfortable fit with refined contours and better sound quality.

Apple Watch Series 10: The 10th-generation Apple Watch is the thinnest and lightest yet, with a 40% brighter display and larger screen sizes (42mm and 46mm). It also comes packed with new features, including sleep apnea detection (pending FDA approval), and it can charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes. The Series 10 starts at $399 and is available for pre-order, with a release on September 20.

Faster MagSafe Charger: Apple revealed a new, more powerful 25W MagSafe charger compatible with all iPhones and Qi2 devices. Only the iPhone 16 models, however, support the full 25W charging rate, giving Apple an edge over competitors like Samsung and Google.

iOS 18: Launching next week, iOS 18 brings exciting updates like homescreen and lockscreen customizations, a redesigned Control Center, and satellite messaging. It also introduces a new password management app and revamped Photos and Mail apps.

Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event brought some cool updates, but it still left many consumers wanting more. While the iPhone 16 lineup added a flashy Camera Control button and a few AI tricks, the overall design and features feel like minor tweaks compared to last year’s models. Even the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 saw incremental upgrades, with the usual improvements in size, battery life, and sound. Sure, the new tech is nice, but nothing felt truly groundbreaking—leaving Apple fans wondering when the next big leap is coming.

Market Movements

  • "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" Sequel Earns $110M in U.S. Box Office: Warner Bros. Discovery ($WBD)’s Beetlejuice sequel earned $110M in ticket sales during its opening weekend, making it the second-highest September debut after 2017’s It.
  • Big Lots Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Big Lots ($BIG) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and secured $707.5M to continue operations as it prepares to sell its business to Nexus Capital.
  • Boeing Reaches Deal with Factory Workers Union: Boeing ($BA) has agreed to a deal with the union representing 33,000 workers in Seattle and Oregon, offering 25% raises over four years, along with health care and retirement benefit enhancements.
  • Dell and Palantir to Join S&P 500: Dell ($DELL) and Palantir ($PLTR) are set to join the S&P 500, replacing Etsy ($ETSY) and American Airlines ($AAL) in the index.
  • Indian News Agency Sues Netflix Over Hijacking Drama: India’s ANI has sued Netflix ($NFLX), demanding the removal of four episodes from a hijacking drama for allegedly using archival footage without permission.

OnlyFans — The Platform That Prints Money

OnlyFans—the platform you pretend to only vaguely know about—continues its rocket-ship trajectory with stunning financial figures revealed on Friday. Turns out, the adult content giant is still raking in big bucks post-pandemic.

Here’s the rundown:

  • Revenue Boom: OnlyFans saw a 20% increase in revenue for the fiscal year ending November 2023, pulling in a cool $1.3 billion. Pre-tax profits? Up 25% to $658 million, making it one of the most profitable digital platforms around.
  • User Growth: The platform added 4.1 million creators and 305 million users in 2023, each figure jumping by about 30%. Those users spent a whopping $6.6 billion on content, reinforcing OnlyFans' dominance in the creator economy.
  • Owner Payday: Leonid Radvinsky, the man behind the platform, pocketed $472 million in dividends last year, bringing his total take-home to over $1 billion since 2020. The company’s founder continues to cash in as the platform’s growth shows no signs of slowing down.

What’s driving all this? OnlyFans lets creators sell videos, photos, and private messages via subscriptions or one-time fees. The platform skims 20% off the top, making it a wildly lucrative model for both creators and the company. Non-subscription earnings are now the biggest revenue driver, thanks to tips and pay-per-view content.

And it's not just about adult content anymore. OnlyFans is branching out with fitness, music, and comedy, turning itself into a broader digital creator hub. With record user and creator numbers, the platform is solidifying itself as a cornerstone of the creator economy while making its owner very, very wealthy.

Oracle’s Cloud-Driven Earnings

Oracle had a big win this week, with shares surging 8.94% in after-hours trading on Monday after the company posted impressive quarterly results and announced a major new partnership. Thanks to its aggressive cloud expansion, Oracle is firmly in the game with cloud heavyweights like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.

By the Numbers:

  • Earnings per share: $1.39 (beating the expected $1.33)
  • Revenue: $13.3 billion (just ahead of the $13.2 billion forecast)
  • Cloud revenue: Up 21% to $5.6 billion
  • Cloud infrastructure growth: 45% jump to $2.2 billion
  • Remaining performance obligations (booked sales): $99 billion

Cloud Expansion Powers Growth

Oracle’s cloud business is firing on all cylinders, with its cloud infrastructure segment growing by a stunning 45% in the fiscal first quarter. Cloud services now make up the company's largest business, and demand is particularly strong for Oracle's generative AI solutions. The company has been signing up big-name customers like Elon Musk’s xAI and Reka, driving demand for AI-driven workloads.

Oracle isn’t stopping there. On Monday, it announced a major new agreement to bring its database services to Amazon Web Services (AWS), adding to previous partnerships with Microsoft and Google. Analysts view this move as a significant step in modernizing Oracle’s database business, which has traditionally been on-premise. CEO Safra Catz emphasized how these deals are helping Oracle solidify its place in the competitive cloud market.

Big Investments, Bigger Growth Ahead

Looking ahead, Safra Catz predicts even bigger growth, forecasting double-digit revenue increases for the fiscal year ending in May 2025. To support this growth, Oracle is doubling down on cloud infrastructure, with capital expenditureshitting $2.3 billion in the last quarter and plans to double that investment by next year to keep up with demand for cloud servers.

Oracle is also expanding its global footprint, with 162 data centers in operation or under construction worldwide. The company is racing to meet the growing need for cloud infrastructure, especially for AI workloads, and its investments in this space are expected to drive continued growth.

With Oracle’s stock already up 33% this year, the company’s aggressive cloud expansion and strategic partnerships position it for long-term success. Oracle is no longer just the database giant it once was—it’s becoming a key player in the cloud and AI revolution, competing with the biggest names in tech and setting itself up for sustained growth in the years ahead.

On The Horizon

Tomorrow

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index isn’t exactly the star of the financial show, and it doesn’t usually move markets. But with the economy under the microscope and the Fed on high alert for any slowdown signals, it’s worth keeping tabs on how small businesses—aka the backbone of the economy—are holding up.

On another note, tomorrow’s second presidential debate between former President Trump and VP Kamala Harris is likely to steal the spotlight. While it’s not market-specific, you can bet investors will be tuning in, hoping to catch a glimpse of the candidates’ economic game plans.

Earnings:

Tuesday: GameStop ($GME), Dave & Buster’s ($PLAY), Petco Health & Wellness ($WOOF)

After Market Close:

  • GameStop ($GME) always keeps things spicy, and with another earnings report on the horizon, expect the usual rollercoaster ride. Wall Street’s take? They say the stock’s overpriced, the business model’s outdated, and it’s best to steer clear of the chaos. But retail traders have their own ideas, and if the last few years taught us anything, it’s that fundamentals go out the window with this stock. The consensus? Expect a loss of $0.08 per share on $895.67 million in revenue.

This (clearly fake) email asserts I bought some Bitcoin through PayPal... anyone else?

https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1fd19xq

Gold (XAU/USD) and Its Key Role in the Financial Market: What Drives the Gold Price?

Hello Traders,

Gold has always held a unique position in global finance. Traded as XAU/USD, it’s not just a commodity but also a safe haven for investors during times of uncertainty and volatility. But what exactly influences gold prices, and what role does gold play in today’s financial system? Let’s break it down.

1. Gold as a Safe Haven

Gold has been regarded as a store of value for thousands of years, and it continues to play a vital role in the financial system. In times of crisis, investors flock to gold because it is seen as a safe haven. Unlike fiat currencies, which can be influenced by central bank policies, gold tends to maintain its value, making it a reliable hedge during inflationary or geopolitical uncertainty.

💡 Why do investors buy gold?
In times of financial crises, geopolitical conflicts, or high inflation, investors move away from riskier assets like stocks and invest in gold. This inflow into gold usually drives the XAU/USD price higher.

2. Factors That Influence the Gold Price

Several factors impact the price of gold, and as a trader, it’s essential to keep these in mind:

  • US Dollar Index (DXY): Since gold is traded in US dollars, the strength of the dollar has a major impact on the price of gold. A strong dollar tends to push the price of gold down, while a weaker dollar makes gold more attractive to buyers, pushing the price up.
  • Inflation: In times of rising inflation, investors seek gold as a hedge, believing it holds its value better than fiat currencies. As inflation expectations rise, so does the price of gold.
  • Interest Rates and Monetary Policy: Low-interest rates make gold more attractive since the opportunity cost of holding gold (which does not pay interest or dividends) is reduced. On the other hand, higher interest rates, like those being considered by the Federal Reserve, can weigh on gold as investors move to interest-bearing assets.
  • Geopolitical Tensions: Wars, political instability, or economic crises often lead to an increase in the price of gold. When tensions in the Middle East or East Asia escalate, for instance, gold is frequently bought as a risk hedge.

3. The Role of Gold in Today’s Financial System

Over the decades, gold has retained its role as the backbone of central bank reserves and a key store of value for investors. Despite the rise of digital assets like Bitcoin, gold remains a stable and liquid reserve for many nations and large investors.

  • Central Bank Purchases: Many central banks around the world hold significant gold reserves to back their currencies and provide stability in times of crisis. According to the World Gold Council, central banks have been increasing their gold reserves in recent years, which supports the gold price.
  • Hedge Against Uncertainty: For many institutional investors, gold is still seen as a hedge against systemic risks in the global financial system. Gold’s lack of direct ties to any particular state or institution makes it a favored asset during times of uncertainty.

4. Hidden Tips for Trading XAU/USD

💡 Tip 1: Watch for Federal Reserve meetings. Decisions on raising or lowering interest rates have a direct impact on the gold price. When the Fed signals an expansionary monetary policy, gold prices often rise.

💡 Tip 2: Keep an eye on the US Dollar Index (DXY). Since gold is dollar-denominated, movements in the DXY directly impact XAU/USD. A weaker dollar typically boosts gold prices.

💡 Tip 3: Use g**eopolitical events **to your advantage. When tensions rise globally or economic crises loom, gold often becomes the asset of choice for risk-averse investors, driving prices higher.

Conclusion: Gold Remains a Key Player in the Financial System

Gold continues to play a critical role in global finance as a safe haven, inflation hedge, and a crucial tool for central banks. As a trader, staying informed on the macroeconomic factors that drive gold prices is key to making profitable trades in the XAU/USD pair.

👉 Discussion: What do you think about the future of gold prices in the coming months? Do you have any XAU/USD trading strategies you’d like to share? Let’s discuss!


The Morning Market Report

Key Market Events, Sector Performance, and Trading Strategies
This report highlights essential market events, premarket moves, and potential trade signals to help traders make informed decisions.

Earnings Season Insights
Major Earnings Reports:
- Oracle (ORCL): Reports earnings after hours, with high expectations for continued cloud growth.
Signal: Anticipation of post-market volatility in tech and cloud sectors.

  • ABIVAX (ABVX): Positive premarket movement following a strong earnings report and clinical trial advancements.
    Signal: Positive sentiment in the biotech sector, lifting healthcare stocks.

Impact on Market Sentiment:
- ORCL: Market participants await the post-market reaction, likely to drive tech stocks, especially cloud-related companies.
- ABVX: Strength in biotech stocks is likely to improve overall healthcare sentiment.

Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision
Latest Decision:
- No rate changes expected until the Fed meeting on 9/18.
Signal: Neutral for interest-rate-sensitive sectors like housing (XHB) and banks (KRE).

Implications for Traders:
- Traders remain cautious. Defensive stocks (XLU) and bonds could offer safety.
Strategy: Focus on less rate-sensitive sectors like tech and consumer staples.

Inflation Data Release
Key Indicators:
- CPI release is expected this week. Traders are watching closely for inflation trends, which could sway sector performance.
Signal: Inflation data could impact consumer goods (XLY) and tech (XLK) in premarket trading.

Trading Strategies:
- Consider entering commodities or defensive stocks as inflation hedges.
Premarket Move: Evaluate opportunities in sectors sensitive to inflation.

Geopolitical Events
Significant Developments:
- Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia: This could affect energy markets (WTI) and defense stocks (XAR).
Signal: Increased volatility in global energy and defense sectors.

Sector Rotation
Performance Overview:
- Top Performers: XLK (Technology), XLE (Energy)
Signal: Premarket strength driven by earnings in tech and stable oil prices in energy.
- Underperformers: XLV (Healthcare), XLY (Consumer Discretionary)
Signal: Weakness from concerns over inflation impacting discretionary spending and healthcare uncertainty.

Sector Leaders & Laggards:
- Leaders: Semiconductors (SOXQ), Renewable energy (XLE), Select consumer tech like Apple (AAPL).
- Laggards: Airlines (JETS), Utilities (XLU).

Trading Strategies:
- Focus on strong tech stocks and dip-buy opportunities in energy.
Premarket Move: Long positions in outperforming sectors for sector rotation opportunities.

Sector Growth
Recommended Stocks:
- Apple (AAPL): The new iPhone release this week offers a potential upside as product cycle excitement builds.
Signal: Long-term growth in consumer tech driven by innovation.

  • Palantir (PLTR): Set to join the S&P 500, potentially increasing institutional buying.
    Signal: Positive sentiment surrounding index rebalancing.

    S&P 500 Support and Resistance Levels https://flic.kr/p/2qfgX85

Key Levels:
- Support: 5402
- Resistance: 5424

Technical Analysis:
- Pattern: Bullish Engulfing pattern indicates a potential for upward movement, suggesting market strength.

Market Volatility
VIX Index:
- Current level: 22.38
Signal: Elevated volatility points to potential caution, but also presents opportunities for trading volatility instruments.

Risk Management:
- Consider using volatility-based instruments like VXX or SPX puts to hedge against increased risk.

Best Sector Performance
Key Performers:
- Technology (XLK): Benefiting from strong earnings reports and product launches.
Signal: Expect premarket strength in tech stocks, particularly cloud and semiconductor names.

Semiconductor Industry Opportunities
Potential Dip Buys:
- Intel (INTC): Intel reducing its stake in Mobileye may present a dip-buy opportunity, with positive long-term growth potential in semiconductors.
Signal: Monitor for attractive entry points as the sector remains strong.

Banking Industry Opportunities
Potential Dip Buys:
- Wells Fargo (WFC): Pullbacks in banking could offer dip-buy opportunities.
Signal: Banks may recover once uncertainty around interest rates settles.

Key News Impacting Trading
- Roaring Kitty's Post: Renewed interest in GME and AMC could attract speculative retail activity, with potential sympathy moves in CHWY and WOOF. https://flic.kr/p/2qfeFZ4

https://flic.kr/p/2qffZ8N

Signal: Watch for sharp premarket movements in these stocks.

  • Japan’s Renewable Energy Bitcoin Mining: Japan's decision to mine Bitcoin using renewable energy could boost Bitcoin (GTBC) and renewable energy sectors.
    Signal: Watch for strength in crypto and renewable energy stocks.

  • BIG Bankruptcy: Potential bankruptcy signals weakness in retail, which could impact other retail-focused companies.
    Signal: Negative sentiment for companies in the retail sector.

    Conclusion
    Today’s premarket analysis reflects opportunities in tech and biotech, with anticipation surrounding Oracle’s after-hours earnings and ABVX’s premarket strength. Monitor sector rotations and geopolitical risks for potential trade signals. Elevated VIX levels suggest caution, though there are promising opportunities in tech and energy.


Have you heard of Tainted Cryptos?

Have you heard of Tainted Cryptos? Imagine you're on pancake swap or the built-in Swap feature in your crypto wallet app, trading your BTC for Ethereum, and unknowingly, you receive Ethereum from a Crypto Hacker's wallet. This hacker was involved in major crypto thefts around the world. And now because you received this "tainted" or flagged crypto, from the hacker, your wallet is also "tainted" now. Any exchange you interact with will assume that your crypto wallet is high-risk, because you interacted with the hacker, and your crypto was involved in crypto theft. The exchange really doesn't know, if you are the hacker, or the hacker's friend, or a mule - assisting the hacker in order to cash out the stolen crypto. This is why using Centralized Exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Uphold, etc.), is much safer. Although, some articles say that even central exchanges sometimes don't catch tainted cryptos and also trade them.

tainted crypto wallet

My recommendation is to use multiple wallets. Separate wallet for each exchange. And a separate wallet for any defi services like pancake swap, uniswap, etc. And don't mix crypto between these wallets. We know that there are many complaints of Crypto exchanges blocking/revoking access to people without giving them any explanation. The three main reasons I'm aware of, for your crypto account to be closed, are sending crypto to high risk companies (gambling sites, marijuana dispensaries, firearms dealers, etc.), using crypto mixers like tornado cash, and dealing with high risk/tainted wallets (that have crypto linked to a theft/hack). So, diversification is the best remedy in my opinion. If for some reason your wallet gets flagged, at least you will still have crypto in other wallets that you can use.

https://youtu.be/6ClaprOJ5F4

BitCoin’s Fatal FLAW That Nobody’s Talking About (Fungibility, Tainted Coins) - MHFIN - Jun 4, 2021

https://youtu.be/n0cpX0se6hI

Bitcoin's fundamental flaw - Coding Jesus - Feb 20, 2021

https://youtu.be/dJxnFle0HOk

Illegal activities in Crypto | What are tainted Coins? - Dr. Julian Hosp - Krypto, Investieren, Unternehmer - Jun 7, 2018

https://youtu.be/X5-oaC52uoA

Fungibility: Bitcoin vs Privacy Coins | Privacy Coin Report - Privacy Coin Report - Jul 13, 2023

https://youtu.be/BILcJ3WtdLQ

Bitcoin Q&A: Blacklists, Taint, and Wallet Fingerprinting - aantonop - Jun 13, 2019

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200167791A1/en

Crypto taint tracking

Abstract

A method for detecting and tracking tainted cryptographic wallets. The method measures a wallet's propensity to engage in criminal or suspicious activity. Naturally, transacting with a criminal is tantamount either to funding crime or laundering its proceeds, so it is in our collective interest to identify—and then monitor or quarantine—any wallet with criminal association. The method also automatically flags risky withdrawal requests in real-time for further review before committing them to the blockchain. In some embodiments, the exchange can quarantine wallets at a certain Walletscore.

*Here are a few articles on Tainted Cryptos:

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/14/spy-film-type-thing-alarm-grows-over-cook-islands-cryptocurrency-bill/

Here is a Tainted Crypto Law that might get passed in Cook Islands (part of New Zealand):

'Spy film type thing' - Alarm grows over Cook Islands cryptocurrency bill

By Barbara Dreaver, Pacific Correspondent

Sun, Apr 14

Alarm is growing over proposed Cook Islands legislation, drafted by a US-based company, which could validate hacking into any account or system in the world.

In an investigation, 1News has learned that Drumcliffe, a high-value debt collector specialising in international asset seizure, hired at least two Cook Islands-based lawyers to draft the Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023.

How does it work?

The Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill allows for "recovery agents" to use a variety of means including hacking to investigate and find cryptocurrency that may have been used for illegal means or is the proceeds of crime.

Suspected international assets would be seized and eventually turned into cash.

That cash would be put into a bank account in the Cook Islands and while there is little detail on where it would go from here, there would supposedly be some form of revenue stream and benefits to the Cook Islands economy.

The bill is so broadly written that anyone who is suspected of having or even suspected that they might have tainted cryptocurrency in the future can be hacked and spyware installed. Nijsse said he had never seen anything like it.

Given that the Cook Islands is a realm country of New Zealand, he said our Government should be very concerned as "it does have implications for New Zealand governance arrangements".

But a number of experts say seizing the supposedly tainted cryptocurrency is not an easy thing to do. Jeff Nijsse said any seizures, that have been seen, have been as a result of people cooperating with law enforcement to hand over passwords and private keys.

https://quantoz.com/publications/tainted-cryptocurrency-or-suspicious-transaction/

What is a tainted cryptocurrency?

The term tainted cryptocurrency implies that the cryptocurrency was used for illicit activities. Due to the nature of the blockchain technology and its electronic ledger, all transactions that ever have been made on the blockchain are traceable, forever. This might concern individuals that they hold cryptocurrencies that are ‘dirty’.

There are plenty of examples how cryptocurrencies could be tainted without any knowledge or blame to the holder of the crypto.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10207-023-00766-z

2.1 Taint analysis

Taint in cryptocurrency refers to the concept that certain coins can be deemed riskier or less acceptable because of their previous owners’ possible links to criminal activity. In this regard, taint analysis can inform us of how much of a coin comes from a given address and thus what percentage of a coin can possibly have illegal or uncertain origins associated with criminal activities.

https://randomoracle.wordpress.com/2022/12/28/the-myth-of-tainted-blockchain-addresses-part-i/

Once we decide one pool of funds are tainted by virtue of being associated with a bad actor or event—a scam, rug-pull or garden-variety theft—that association propagates unchecked and continues to taint funds belonging to innocent bystanders who were not in any way involved with the original crime.

That raises the question: are these unwitting recipients also in violation of OFAC sanctions? Are all funds in those wallets now permanently tainted because of an inbound transaction, a transaction they neither asked for or had any realistic means to prevent given the way blockchains operate?

https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/what-is-tainted-bitcoin/

Tainted Bitcoin is a concept of tagging bitcoin associated with the illicit activity as “dirty” and that the tagging will continue indefinitely on that bitcoin despite it being transferred and changing ownership.

If authorities do enforce these tainted blacklists, the concern is that individuals might unknowingly receive tainted bitcoin, through no fault of their own, and might have their funds seized and accounts blocked should they move it to a centralised authority where you give up custody like an exchange. Alternatively, selling the coins is subject to increased scrutiny before they can make a payment, with a merchant accepting bitcoin as payment

https://cryptoforensic.com/blog/tainted-bitcoin-isnt-what-you-think-it-is/

https://preview.redd.it/hlw0dz1mmrnd1.png?width=1572&format=png&auto=webp&s=a57036a9049dc93ea635499c7f68288c7126c160

Tainted Bitcoin Isn’t What You Think It Is

If I Can’t be Certain Whether or Not I Have Tainted Bitcoin, is it Something I Need to be Concerned About?

The vast majority of people do not hold any tainted Bitcoin. Just as importantly, though, the vast majority of cryptocurrency users need not have any concern about whether or not they have tainted Bitcoin. This is because most users only buy from major exchanges and services. If you’re the type of person that only buys from these exchanges and major services, you have effectively zero risks you obtained any Bitcoin that was tainted.

Also, check out my post on how government can freeze your crypto in your hardware wallet and make it unusable, if it doesn't like what you say or do: https://www.reddit.com/user/vman305/comments/196e1ic/did_you_know_the_government_can_freeze_your/


💡👨‍💻 According to a report, the number of crypto investors is not growing despite the market's rise.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that cryptocurrency ownership has not increased, despite rising market prices. The research showed that from January 2022 to January 2024, the percentage of cryptocurrency holders dropped from 24.6% to 15.4%, even with the market recovering. 📉

Even significant events, such as the rise in Bitcoin prices in March 2023 and its halving in April, did not lead to a substantial increase in crypto asset ownership. However, interest in future cryptocurrency purchases has grown: from 10.6% in 2022 to 21.8% in April 2024. 💼

The study was based on surveys of 5,000 respondents. Meanwhile, according to the Federal Reserve, about 18 million people in the U.S. own cryptocurrency, significantly fewer than Coinbase's estimate of 52 million owners. 📊

https://preview.redd.it/v3i8fghzeqnd1.jpg?width=1250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a572f7b27f35fe942d172d3c22180d11d4e53e8