Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a resounding success
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a resounding success, with critics praising its silly fun, impressive visuals, and hilarious performances, particularly from Jim Carrey in his dual role as Doctor Robotnik and Professor Gerald.¹ The movie has been touted as the best in the franchise yet, with many considering it a fan-favourite tale reimagined.²
*Key Highlights:*
- _Improved Writing and Directing_: The film's pacing has been streamlined, making it a fun and engaging watch.
- _Impressive Visuals_: The movie's CGI and action sequences are top-notch, with Shadow's introduction being a particular highlight.
- _Faithful to the Source Material_: While not a completely faithful adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, the movie stays true to the spirit of the game.
*Criticisms:*
- _Some Rough Edges_: A few critics felt that the movie's tone could be inconsistent at times, veering wildly from humorous to dark.
- _Underutilized Human Characters_: Some critics felt that the human side characters were underutilized and wasted in the movie.
Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a must-watch for fans of the franchise and a great addition to the series.
3 Reasons Bitcoin Is a Must-Buy for Long-Term Investors
Bitcoin (BTC -0.20%) has had a phenomenal year, winning over investors from individuals all the way to institutions and even the incoming president. The top crypto has surged 122% in 2024 (as of Dec. 30), as it once again crushed the performance of the stock market.
As we set our sights on 2025 and beyond, you are probably wondering if adding this digital asset to your portfolio is smart, particularly as it trades 12% off its peak from mid-December. I think it's worthwhile to remain bullish.
Here are three reasons Bitcoin is a must-buy for long-term investors.
1. It's legitimate
It's very hard to argue against the view that Bitcoin has become a legitimate financial asset now. This is the first factor that should compel investors to buy it.
As of this writing, the cryptocurrency's market cap sits at a notable $1.9 trillion. This is a far cry from its start in 2009, when it was viewed as a silly form of internet money that only caught the attention of cypherpunks interested in prioritizing privacy and challenging financial institutions. Its current value rivals some of the world's most dominant tech enterprises.
In January 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time. This created a convenient, liquid, and regulatory-compliant method for larger pools of capital to start buying. And it essentially gave the crypto recognition from policymakers in Washington and asset managers on Wall Street.
President-elect Donald Trump has also publicly voiced his support. He was the keynote speaker at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in July. During his speech, he said he would like to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the U.S.
The digital token has gotten to a point where it can no longer be ignored. It has bounced back from major drawdowns only to become stronger than before. And it appears it isn't going anywhere.
2. It's digital
Another reason Bitcoin makes sense as a portfolio addition for long-term investors is that it's digital in nature. At a high level, it is simply a massive decentralized database and communications protocol. Being digital means that it transcends borders. It's portable, divisible, and transactable, particularly when compared to physical gold.
In the past two decades, the world has become increasingly digital. The rise of the internet, smartphones, and various applications is a trend too hard to ignore that has shaped our economy.
As we look to the future, it's almost impossible to believe that the world won't continue on this path, becoming even more digital, tech-enabled, and data-driven. This is especially true if you think artificial intelligence (AI) is going to play a bigger part in our lives.
"The internet will have a native currency; it's just a matter of time," Block CEO Jack Dorsey wrote in his company's first-quarter 2024 shareholder letter. "Artificial Intelligence systems and agents will have to transact, and the most efficient way to do so will be a common protocol for money movement."
Against this backdrop, it makes sense that Bitcoin, as a fully decentralized and digital method of transferring value to others, should continue rising in value.
3. It's scarce
The final and perhaps more important reason long-term investors should buy Bitcoin is because of its scarcity. Thanks to the blockchain network's halving schedule and set inflation rate, there will only ever be 21 million coins in circulation.
This contrasts greatly with the current monetary system, in which massive debt burdens, excessive money printing, and ongoing inflation have become normalized. As citizens worldwide see their countries' fiat currencies constantly being debased, it's not surprising to realize that they would want to own something that is absolutely scarce like Bitcoin, an asset that isn't controlled by a single entity.
Bitcoin has had a tremendous run in the past 15 or so years. While future returns certainly won't resemble historical gains, the returns can still be game-changing. Long-term investors should still consider buying the world's top cryptocurrency.$BTC
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2024/12/27 10:59
Some crypto traders suggest that altcoins may be a better pick than Bitcoin
Some crypto traders suggest that altcoins may be a better pick than Bitcoin “at this juncture," though not everyone agrees.
With Bitcoin dominance creeping back up to nearly 60% amid a price stall in the last few days of 2024, there’s a growing belief among traders it could be time to switch their accumulation strategy toward altcoins.
“Altcoins, at this juncture, offer a far more optimal R/R [Risk Reward] profile than Bitcoin does,” pseudonymous crypto trader Dyme said in a Dec. 27 X post, adding:
“Time to DCA Bitcoin is over for another 1.5+ years.”
Around 83.5% of crypto investors have used the dollar-cost-averaging (DCA) strategy, and 59% still use it as their primary way to buy crypto, according to a survey published by Kraken on Oct. 7.
The DCA strategy is investing a certain amount of money in an asset at a fixed, regular time, to capture the highs and the lows, resulting in one average purchase price.
Bitcoin dominance is sitting at 58.35% at the time of publication. Source: TradingView
Dyme said to their 64,400 X followers that the altcoin market in 2025 will be “silly af” and said there could be higher risk/reward opportunities in assets from Dogecoin to Solana or a wider range of memecoins.
However, Dyme said existing Bitcoin holders should “stay the course and ride it up.” “Assuming, of course, the cycles continue,” he said.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Soap Capital CEO Tyler Durdan said in a Dec. 26 X post that the “next leg up will be glorious.” Durdan added:
“I’m toying with the idea that it may be the final legs and cycles are, in fact, still a thing.”
Cinnaeamhain Ventures partner Adam Cochran also appears to agree, saying that he believes a US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve has “low odds with current Congress” which would make it hard to see Bitcoin outperforming the rest of the market in the short term.
“Other assets will benefit from regulatory clarity, new launches, new ICO eras etc., and that will suck a lot of liquidity out of the room for BTC,” Cochran said in a Dec. 26 X post.
Change in attitude to Bitcoin “from the top” in the US
However, some observers, including Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith, say the Bitcoin momentum is far from over, and there is still upside potential for newer investors even at this stage of the cycle.
In a Dec. 26 interview with CNBC, Smith said that Bitcoin will reach $200,000 before any likelihood of $50,000. This represents around a 108% increase from Bitcoin’s current price, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Bitcoin is trading at $95,720 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCap
Bitcoin is currently trading at $95,720, and CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost recently said that $95,000 is a “favorable zone for implementing a DCA strategy.”
Smith added that the incoming Trump Administration, along with a shift in attitude “from the top” in the US and more financial advisers getting on board, will trigger a new wave of money flowing into Bitcoin.
“As more and more retail financial advisers are advising their clients to do this, I think we’re going to see more people come into Bitcoin,” Smith said.
“People are holding to look for more Bitcoin, not less,” she added.
Source: Cointelegraph
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