Cryptos, Fintech, Comms, Mining, All That Glitters - Pop Culture, News
April 24, 2025
Sydney, Australia
The Rapid Assault on Crypto
Market Picture
The cryptocurrency market capitalisation surged by 6.4% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.95 trillion — its highest level in seven weeks and a confident return to a key round figure. Global financial markets underpinned this rally. However, it’s worth noting that the market was already gaining ground on Monday, in defiance of declining stock indices.
Sentiment in the cryptocurrency space has swiftly shifted towards greed and is now steps away from extreme greed, with the relevant index climbing to 72, the highest since late January.
Bitcoin is nearing the $94,000 mark, which it briefly surpassed in early March. Sustained trading above this level was last observed in late February, before the most recent sell-off began. The market has signalled a clear bullish trend, initiating a sharp rise from the 50-day moving average and breaking through the 200-day with determination. In recent days, the price has also exceeded the downward resistance that had been in place since late January. The next target seems to be the $96,000 region, but the broader picture suggests a rally gaining momentum with the potential to challenge all-time highs near $110,000.
News Background
Last week, MicroStrategy acquired an additional 6,556 BTC for $555.8 million at an average price of $84,785 per coin. The company now holds 538,200 BTC, accumulated at an average cost of $67,766. The total investment is estimated at $36.47 billion.
Shares of consumer goods producer Upexi skyrocketed more than sixfold after the company announced that Solana would be adopted as a reserve asset. The company plans to bolster its position in SOL and stake the tokens it possesses.
According to Lookonchain, Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital has exchanged $105 million worth of Ethereum for Solana over the past fortnight.
Paul Atkins has officially been sworn in as the new Chair of the US SEC. He has stated that developing a clear and comprehensible regulatory framework for digital assets is a top priority.
According to Politico, the ECB is concerned that President Trump’s backing of the crypto industry could trigger “financial contagion” and adversely impact the European economy. The regulator is particularly apprehensive about the escalating influence of US dollar-backed stablecoins. (FxPro)
News
Cryptos Today:
Bitcoin $93,462.51 USD 0.36%
Ethereum $1,793.04 USD 2.35%
Tether $1.00 USD 0.18%
XRP $2.22 USD -0.49%
BNB $606.23 USD -0.68%
Solana $150.92 USD 2.35%
USD Coin $0.999 USD -0.01%
Dogecoin $0.1784 USD 0.43%
Cardano $0.6953 USD 3.18%
News
Markets
Australian Dollar: $0.6360 USD (down $0.0010 USD)
Iron Ore May Spot Price (SGX): $100.30 USD (up $1.65 USD)
Oil (WTI): $62.28 USD (down $1.92 USD)
Gold: $3,288.36 USD (down $93.17 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.8320 USD (down $0.0160 USD)
Bitcoin: $93,814.01 USD (up 2.41% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 39,606.57 (up 419.59 points)
News
Cryptocurrency News Today
Bitcoin (BTC) Surge: Bitcoin has climbed above $91,000, with a 5% increase reported on April 22, driven by optimism over U.S.-China trade relations and a decoupling from tech stock volatility. Analysts suggest resistance at $88,000, with predictions for 2025 ranging from a low of $71,827 to a high of $167,598. Some experts forecast BTC could hit $100,000 in Q2 2025, fueled by institutional inflows and whale activity.
Ethereum (ETH) Rally: Ethereum gained 10% on April 22, reaching above $1,700, following a decline in short positions on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This rally aligns with broader market recovery and reduced tariff concerns.
Altcoin Performance: Altcoins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Sui (SUI) saw gains of 8.6% and 11.7%, respectively, while the CoinDesk 20 Index rose 5.2%. XRP, however, remains under scrutiny, with a crypto founder warning that holding less than 10,000 XRP could be a long-term mistake.
Mantra (OM) Struggles: Mantra (OM) continues to face challenges after a 90% crash earlier in April, with Binance attributing the drop to liquidations and increased token supply. Technical patterns suggest further declines.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) Outlook: A panel of 26 experts predicts SHIB could reach $0.0000399 by the end of 2025, an 84.3% increase from early 2025 prices, driven by community support and development.
Trump Media's Crypto Pivot: Trump Media & Technology Group announced plans to launch crypto products and ETFs, aligning with "America First" policies, in partnership with
Crypto.com and Yorkville Advisors.
Regulatory Developments: New York introduced a bill to accept cryptocurrencies as payment, and Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott announced crypto legislation could pass by August, signaling a push for market structure reforms.
Market Sentiment: Posts on X highlight bullish sentiment, with significant BTC accumulation (48,000 BTC worth $3.6B moved to addresses on April 9) and Binance emerging as a preferred trading platform.
For real-time updates, checking platforms like CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, or X posts is recommended, as crypto markets are highly dynamic. Always verify claims, as sentiment on X can be speculative.
News
Australian
'Minerals for mates': PM digs in
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the federal government's proposed strategic reserve of critical minerals and rare earths will make Australia "stronger and safer" in a time of global uncertainty. Albanese will announce details of the proposed national stockpile today; it will aim to ensure that such minerals are available to both local manufacturers and key allies, such as Japan, South Korea and the US. The government is expected to use the strategic reserve as a bargaining chip to negotiate an exemption from the Trump administration's tariffs regime. The strategic reserve is also aimed at reducing China's market dominance in the global supply of rare earths and critical minerals. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Europe’s Growth Stalls Again as the Euro Enters Correction Mode
The Flash PMI estimates for the Eurozone show the complexity of the situation. Due to falling orders and falling business confidence, the composite index for the Eurozone was at 50.1 in April, struggling to cling to growth (above 50), down from 50.9 in March.
The Manufacturing PMI at 48.7 remains in contractionary territory, although its reading is the highest since January 2023 and notably above the expected 47.4. However, this upward move is threatened by the intensification of tariff wars since the start of April, which could cause a shock to the indices in the coming months.
The Service PMI also retreated below the waterline to 49.7 from 51.0 a month earlier, missing economists' expectations of an average decline to 50.4.
In terms of volatility potential for the euro, preliminary PMIs are the second strongest market event after ECB decisions. However, this time, the single currency faltered a bit before we saw the disappointment in the latest data. EURUSD added almost 7.5% in April to 1.1570 (a 3.5-year high) at the start of the week before it stalled and started to correct. Even before this news, the pair was approaching 1.1300, stabilising near 1.1400 at the time of writing.
Recent fluctuations in the pair have been hard to miss. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we see the dollar attempting to strengthen following Powell's easing pressure and Trump's invitation to China for trade talks.
Historically, EURUSD has a positive correlation with stock indices, but in April, bad news for the S&P500 and Nasdaq-100 pushed up the value of gold and the euro exchange rate. This historical direct correlation is supporting EURUSD intraday on Wednesday.
The main obstacle to growth appears to be the pair's local overbought condition at the start of the week, which has shown maximum RSI values on weekly timeframes since 2018. At such levels, there are high chances of rather painful pullbacks for short-term traders. (FxPro)
News
Landman: TV Series
Landman is a TV drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by the 2019 Texas Monthly article “The Great American Fracking Boom” by Wallace. It premiered on Paramount on November 17, 2024, and is set in the oilfields of West Texas, exploring the modern-day oil boom through the lens of roughnecks, landmen, and billionaires. The show blends high-stakes drama, workplace dynamics, and socio-economic commentary, reflecting Sheridan’s signature gritty storytelling seen in Yellowstone and Mayor of Kingstown.
Key Details:
Genre: Drama
Seasons: 1 (10 episodes, renewed for Season 2)
Episode Runtime: Approximately 40–60 minutes
Rating: TV-MA (mature audiences, contains strong language, violence, and adult themes)
Cast:
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, a seasoned landman navigating crises for an oil company
Demi Moore as Cami Miller, Tommy’s ex-wife and a key figure in the oil industry
Ali Larter as Angela Norris, Tommy’s ex-wife
Jon Hamm as Monty Miller, a powerful oil titan and Cami’s husband
Supporting cast: Jacob Lofland (Cooper Norris), Kayla Wallace (Rebecca Savage), James Jordan (Dale Bradley), Mark Collie (Sheriff Joeberg), and others
Creators: Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
Executive Producers: Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Christian Wallace, Billy Bob Thornton, and others
Production Companies: MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions
Filming Locations: Fort Worth, Weatherford, and other Texas locations
Plot Summary:
Set in the fictional town of Midland, Texas, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an oil company. His job involves securing land leases, negotiating with landowners, and managing chaotic oilfield operations while balancing personal struggles, including a strained relationship with his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland), who joins the roughneck crew. The series dives into the high-stakes world of oil speculation, exploring themes of greed, family, ambition, and the environmental and social impacts of the oil industry. It portrays the gritty lives of roughnecks and the opulent world of oil tycoons, with Tommy caught between both.
Streaming and Availability:
Primary Platform: Paramount (exclusive streaming in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other regions)
Premiere: November 17, 2024 (US), November 18, 2024 (UK, Australia)
Release Schedule: First two episodes dropped on premiere, followed by weekly releases (finale on January 12, 2025)
Subscription: Starts at $7.99/month (US, Essential with ads), £6.99/month (UK), CA$6.99/month (Canada), $6.99/month (Australia). Offers a 7-day free trial.
Other Platforms:
Purchase options: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango At Home, Sky Store (UK), Fetch TV (Australia)
Available via Paramount integrations (e.g., Amazon Channel, Roku, Apple TV Channel)
International Access: Use a VPN (e.g., NordVPN) to access Paramount from unsupported regions.
Free Options: No free streaming options; use Paramount ’s 7-day trial for temporary access.
Reception:
Critical Response: Mixed to positive reviews. Critics praise Thornton’s charismatic performance and Sheridan’s authentic depiction of the oil industry but note the show’s dense jargon and sprawling narrative can feel overwhelming. It holds a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of April 2025) based on critic reviews, with an average audience score of 85%.
Viewership: Strong streaming numbers on Paramount , reportedly among the platform’s top-performing originals in 2024, contributing to the Season 2 renewal.
Notable Praise: Thornton’s nuanced portrayal and the show’s cinematic visuals are highlights, though some find the pacing uneven compared to Sheridan’s other works.
Season 2 and Future:
Renewal: Paramount renewed Landman for Season 2 in December 2024, with production slated to begin in early 2025.
Expected Release: Likely late 2025 or early 2026, based on typical production timelines.
Story Direction: While specifics are under wraps, Season 2 is expected to deepen Tommy’s personal and professional conflicts, potentially exploring new oilfield challenges and character arcs for Cooper and Cami.
Where to Watch (as of April 24, 2025):
Paramount : Full Season 1 available (all 10 episodes). Best option for streaming.
Purchase: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango At Home for digital ownership.
Not Available: Netflix, Hulu, Disney , or Hotstar.
Additional Notes:
Content Warning: Contains explicit language, violence, and mature themes (e.g., drug use, workplace accidents), unsuitable for younger viewers.
Cultural Impact: The series has sparked discussions on X about the oil industry’s environmental and economic effects, with some praising its realism and others critiquing its portrayal of industry ethics.
Merchandise/Related Media: No official merchandise yet, but the original Texas Monthly article is available online for deeper context. (Grok)
News
Gold: Movie
Gold (2016) is a crime drama inspired by the 1990s Bre-X mining scandal. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a prospector who partners with geologist Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) to find gold in Indonesia. After striking it rich, their success unravels amid fraud and betrayal. Directed by Stephen Gaghan, the film explores greed and ambition but received mixed reviews for its uneven tone and pacing. It grossed $14.8 million against a $20 million budget. Available on platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime (check current listings). (Grok)
News/Profile
Gold (1974)
Gold (1974) is a British thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, based on Wilbur Smith's novel Gold Mine. Set in South Africa, it follows Rod Slater (Roger Moore), a mining engineer, who uncovers a conspiracy to flood a gold mine to manipulate global gold prices. The plot involves corporate greed, sabotage, and high-stakes action, with Slater racing to stop the scheme.
Cast: Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, Bradford Dillman.
Key Details: 120 min, rated PG, released August 1974 (UK). Filmed on location in Johannesburg, featuring intense mining scenes.
Reception: Mixed reviews; praised for action and Moore’s charisma, criticized for pacing and dated elements. IMDb rating: 5.7/10.
Availability: Limited streaming; available for rent/purchase on platforms like Amazon or on DVD.
News
Bitcoin Movies Streaming
Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery (2024, HBO)
A documentary by Cullen Hoback exploring Bitcoin’s origins and the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. It’s a thrilling investigation into Bitcoin’s rise and its potential impact on global finance.
Streaming: Available on HBO’s streaming platform, Max. Check JustWatch for additional services or free options like Apple TV trials.
Bitconned (2024, Netflix)
A true-crime documentary about three individuals who scammed millions in the unregulated crypto market to fund lavish lifestyles.
Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix.
Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
A popular documentary diving into Bitcoin’s impact, its challenge to centralized banking, and its early history. It’s a great pick for understanding Bitcoin’s ethos.
Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime Video (free for subscribers), Fandango at Home, and for purchase/rent on Amazon, YouTube Primetime, or Apple TV.
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows programmer Daniel Mross and early Bitcoin adopters, offering insights into Bitcoin’s volatile early days. Ideal for beginners.
Streaming: Available on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.
Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
A concise documentary tracing the history of money and Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt fiat systems. Features experts like Andreas Antonopoulos.
Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Fandango at Home. Free on YouTube in some regions (e.g., Ulterior States).
Notes on Streaming with Bitcoin:
Major platforms like Netflix and HBO Max don’t directly accept Bitcoin payments. However, you can use crypto via gift cards purchased from platforms like Bitrefill, Coinsbee, or eGifter, which offer cards for services like Amazon, Fandango, or Rakuten, usable for streaming or movie tickets.
For example, Bitrefill sells Showtime or Rakuten gift cards (for US, Spain, Portugal, Italy) payable with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin.
Crypto debit cards from providers like
Crypto.com or Coinbase can also convert Bitcoin to fiat for subscriptions or purchases at non-crypto-accepting platforms.
Additional Tips:
Check platforms like JustWatch or IMDb for real-time streaming availability, as services change frequently.
Some older documentaries, like Ulterior States (2014), are freely available on YouTube, offering ideological perspectives on Bitcoin’s early days.
Be cautious with free streaming sites; some, like Openload or Streamango, have been linked to crypto-jacking schemes that mine Monero using your device’s CPU. (Grok)
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