Hey there, PoI readers! 💫 

It's your favorite crypto connoisseur, Mochi, back with another serving of tantalizing tech and web3 news. Today, we're globetrotting through some fascinating developments: from the US Fed's $612 billion money printer and Thailand's tropical Bitcoin paradise to South Korea's corporate crypto evolution and Bhutan's mountainous crypto treasury! So grab your digital passport, and let's explore the ever-evolving world of crypto together! 🌐

Transform Your Excel Skills with 50 Pro Hacks (+ Free Templates)

Stop wrestling with spreadsheets. Our comprehensive Excel mastery pack includes everything you need to become a spreadsheet wizard in record time.

• Master 50 essential Excel tricks with step-by-step GIF tutorials

• Create stunning data visualizations using done-for-you graph templates

• Learn time-saving shortcuts the pros use daily

• Access game-changing formulas and functions explained simply

Ready to revolutionize your Excel workflow?

[Download Now]

INTEL BRIEF

🟧 Arthur Hayes predicts Bitcoin could see significant gains in Q1 2025 due to $612 billion in Fed liquidity, despite potential regulatory uncertainties under the incoming Trump administration.

🟧 Thailand announces plans to pilot Bitcoin payments in Phuket starting 2025, offering tourists a new way to make purchases while maintaining regulatory compliance.

🟧 South Korea's Financial Services Commission inches toward approving corporate crypto trading while emphasizing alignment with global regulations, amid domestic political turbulence.

🟧 Bhutan's new Gelephu Mindfulness City announces plans to establish a diverse cryptocurrency strategic reserve, building on the country's existing $1.1 billion Bitcoin holdings.

Trump Will Unleash $612B In FED Money And Bitcoin Bulls Are Ready

Hold onto your hardware wallets, because BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes is serving up some spicy predictions about Bitcoin's future. While our favorite digital coin recently took a dramatic tumble below the $100,000 mark, Hayes believes we might have a money-printing party to look forward to in Q1 2025. We're talking about a whopping $612 billion in new liquidity being injected into the US Treasury by March 2025.

But wait, there's a plot twist! While President-elect Trump's return to the White House on January 20th has many crypto bros pumped about potential pro-crypto policies, Hayes is playing the role of party pooper (respectfully, of course!). He's suggesting we might see a "vicious sell-off" once reality hits that Trump has limited time to enact any meaningful policy changes.

Meanwhile, some optimistic analysts are eyeing a juicy $150,000+ price target for late 2025. Their crystal ball shows a potential $20 trillion increase in global money supply, which could attract a cool $2 trillion into Bitcoin.

Speaking of optimism, KULR Technology Group is putting their money where their mouth is, scooping up Bitcoin at $97,000 and boldly predicting a $200,000 price tag in 2025. Either they know something we don't, or they've been drinking too much of that crypto Kool-Aid!

As Binance Research wisely points out, Bitcoin might dance above $100,000 again before Trump's inauguration, but keeping it there is like trying to balance a ledger on a unicycle - it needs just the right conditions!

$612 billion in new Fed liquidity is expected to hit markets in Q1 2025, potentially driving Bitcoin higher

Market might face a reality check after Trump's inauguration due to potential delays in crypto-friendly policies

Institutions remain bullish, with predictions ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 for Bitcoin in 2025

Bitcoin Beach 2.0 Launches As Thailand Transforms Phuket Into A Crypto Paradise

Thailand is taking a massive leap into the crypto future, and they've chosen the paradise island of Phuket as their testing ground. Starting in 2025, tourists will be able to say "sawadee-BTC" when paying for their beach massages and mango sticky rice! (Sorry, I couldn't resist that pun 😉)

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira dropped this announcement. But don't worry, they're keeping everything squeaky clean and legal - no underground crypto markets here! The process is pretty straightforward: tourists will need to register their Bitcoin through a Thai exchange, verify their identity (so maybe leave your anonymous crypto persona at home), and then they're good to go!

Here's where it gets interesting - they're setting up a clearinghouse to convert BTC to Thai baht, ensuring merchants don't need to worry about cryptocurrency volatility while they're busy serving up those delicious coconut smoothies. Talk about having your crypto and spending it too!

The inspiration for this program is actually quite touching - Pichai cited examples of refugees from the Russia-Ukraine war who could use BTC to purchase property in Thailand instead of wrestling with traditional currency exchanges. Now that's what I call crypto with a conscience!

This initiative isn't coming out of nowhere - former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been pushing for crypto experimentation, though he's more of a "study first, buy later" kind of guy. Meanwhile, Binance Thailand's CEO is practically doing backflips over the SEC's new regulations, seeing them as a step toward a "mature ecosystem" where traditional finance and digital assets can play nice together.

Phuket will accept Bitcoin payments from tourists starting 2025, with proper ID verification required

A clearinghouse system will handle BTC-to-baht conversions, protecting local businesses from crypto volatility

Thailand's regulatory approach aims to create a balanced ecosystem between traditional finance and digital assets

Korean Banks Finally Open Their Doors For Corporate Crypto Trading

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is finally making moves to let corporations join the crypto party through real name trading accounts. While there's technically no law against corporate crypto accounts, banks have been getting the governmental equivalent of a parent's disapproving head shake when it comes to issuing them.

Here's where it gets interesting (or frustrating, depending on your patience levels) - the FSC is taking the "slow and steady wins the race" approach. They're planning to chat it up with the Virtual Asset Committee (which only just had its first coffee meeting in November 2024) about how to roll this out.

Speaking of mixed messages, remember that December 2024 drama when the FSC pulled a "that's not what I meant" moment after reports claimed they were dropping a corporate crypto roadmap?

But wait, there's more! FSC Secretary-General Kwon Dae-young is pushing for South Korea to play nice with global crypto rules. They're talking about everything from listing standards to stablecoin regulations - basically trying to make sure they're not the odd one out at the global crypto party.

All this is happening while South Korea is dealing with some serious political drama involving President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over that whole martial law situation. Talk about trying to regulate crypto while the house is on fire!

FSC plans to gradually allow corporate crypto trading through real-name accounts

No specific timeline provided, but discussions are ongoing with the Virtual Asset Committee

South Korea aims to align with global crypto regulations while dealing with domestic political upheaval

Secret Bitcoin Billionaire Kingdom Bhutan Just Revealed Its Next Crypto Move

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) - which sounds more like a zen retreat than an economic powerhouse - is making waves in the crypto world with their latest announcement. This special administrative region isn't just dipping its toes in the crypto waters; it's diving in headfirst with plans to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve that would make even your most bullish crypto friend blush!

Unlike some other jurisdictions playing it safe with Bitcoin-only reserves (looking at you, El Salvador!), GMC is taking the "diversify your portfolio" approach to the next level. They're eyeing Bitcoin, Ether, and BNB - basically, the cool kids of crypto - for their strategic stash. But don't think they're just throwing darts at a list of cryptocurrencies; they're specifically looking for tokens with "large market capitalizations and deep liquidity"

Here's the kicker - Bhutan isn't exactly new to the crypto game. Through their royal government's commercial arm, Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), they're already sitting on a cool 11,688 BTC (that's $1.12 billion for those keeping score at home) and some ETH for good measure. Talk about having diamond hands since 2019!

The whole project is part of the 21-year GMC development plan, kicked off with a $100 million bond in November 2024. That's right - they're playing the long game here, kind of like those Bitcoin maximalists who refuse to sell until 2140!

And get this - they've been mining Bitcoin locally and even got tangled up with some crypto lending drama through BlockFi and Celsius. Who knew this Himalayan kingdom was such a crypto pioneer?

GMC plans to establish a diverse crypto reserve including Bitcoin, Ether, and other major cryptocurrencies

Bhutan already holds $1.12 billion in Bitcoin through its government investment arm

The project is part of a 21-year economic development plan to create a South Asian economic corridor

And that's a wrap, my lovely PoI readers! 🌟 From Trump's potential impact on Bitcoin to Phuket's groundbreaking pilot program, South Korea's careful crypto dance, and Bhutan's bold crypto reserve plans, we've covered quite the journey today!

Remember, the crypto world never sleeps, and neither does your favorite newsletter writer (just kidding, I definitely need my beauty rest! 😴). Until next time, this is Mochi, signing off with a virtual high-five! 🫸

P.S. Don't forget to share your thoughts, questions, and favorite crypto puns with us. very voice matters in the PoI community! 📣❤️ Share the newsletter

🍨📰 Catch you in the next issue! 📰🍨