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Bitcoin Hits $100K—But Don’t Get Hawk Tuah’d

A historic milestone for Bitcoin, lessons from the Hawk Tuah memecoin crash, and what Paul Atkins at the SEC could mean for crypto.

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Today’s Narrative - 📈Bullish📈

Macros

  • Bitcoin at $100k sparks retail and institutional buzz. Powell labeled it “digital gold.”

  • Coinbase and other exchanges show massive spot activity.

  • TOTAL3 market cap nears its 2021 all-time high of $3.5 trillion, up 13%.

  • Fed Chair Powell’s Bitcoin comments and SEC chair nominee Paul Atkins (pro-crypto) boost market confidence.

  • US stocks hit record highs; December rate cut odds at 74.5%.

Crpytos

  • Bitcoin ($BTC):
    Bitcoin hits price discovery mode at $100k with no resistance ahead. Thin order books mean quick price swings. Powell called it “digital gold,” Putin weighed in, and big names like Elon Musk and El Salvador’s president are hyping it up. Retail and institutional interest is surging.

  • Altcoins:

    • $RENDER: Pumped after its Upbit listing, which often drives big trading.

    • $PUFFER & $SWELL: Riding similar waves with new exchange traction.

  • Hyperliquid ($HYPE):
    Backed by token buybacks and airdrop campaigns, with plans for AI integration. Hedging tools like perpetuals make it attractive to active traders.

  • Ethereum ($ETH):
    Strong breakout from its wedge pattern, signaling a bullish trend.

  • Other Highlights:

    • Magic Eden launches $ME airdrop checker (TGE Dec. 10).

    • Ripple delays $RLUSD stablecoin, awaiting regulatory green light.

    • Wormhole begins $W staking rewards with a 50M pool.

    • Synapse starts a 5M $SYN buyback and cuts emissions by 70%.

Our Stance

Bitcoin's historic move to $100k places it firmly in price discovery mode, with bullish momentum dominating the market. BTC dominance is signaling a shift that could favor altcoins, provided Bitcoin stabilizes or retraces. We note a liquidity cluster at the $101k level (BTC currently sitting at $102k), suggesting a potential pullback. As such, our strategy hinges on two key scenarios:

  1. If $BTC retraces: We’ll position ourselves with deeper entry points on key altcoins, allowing us to capitalize on dips while BTC recalibrates.

  2. If $BTC hovers and $ETH catches up: Momentum trading will be crucial. $ETH's beta would be good play and we’re eyeing $ENS.

Altcoin plays look promising, but flexibility and preparation will be essential as the market evolves.

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Bitcoin Breaks $100K: A Milestone Decades in the Making

Bitcoin just hit $100,000, a moment that felt like a distant dream when it first launched in 2009. For a little context, Bitcoin (BTC) started at fractions of a penny, created by an anonymous figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Its promise was simple but revolutionary: a decentralized digital currency free from government control. Over the years, Bitcoin has been called everything from a Ponzi scheme to “magic internet money,” yet it has steadily proven its skeptics wrong, surviving booms, busts, and regulatory crackdowns.

How Did We Get Here?

This milestone didn’t happen overnight. Bitcoin’s journey to $100K has been shaped by years of growing adoption, institutional interest, and shifting public perception:

  1. Early Days (2009–2013): Bitcoin was a niche project for tech enthusiasts, valued less than $1 for much of its early life. Its first big moment came in 2013 when it broke $1,000 for the first time, sparking wider interest.

  2. Mainstream Attention (2017): Bitcoin grabbed headlines when it skyrocketed to $20,000, driven by speculative mania and the rise of crypto exchanges.

  3. Institutional Adoption (2020–2021): Companies like Tesla and MicroStrategy began adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Institutional investors like BlackRock showed interest, pushing Bitcoin past $69,000.

  4. Regulatory Hurdles (2022): The crypto market hit turbulence with high-profile collapses like FTX, shaking confidence and driving Bitcoin down to $15,000.

  5. 2024 and Beyond: Bitcoin surged from those lows, buoyed by a mix of institutional inflows, SEC-approved Bitcoin ETFs, and political shifts. Today, at $102,000, it represents a massive 520% recovery from its 2022 bottom.

What’s Driving the $100K Surge?

Several key factors have propelled Bitcoin past this psychological milestone:

  • Regulatory Optimism: The nomination of Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto advocate, as SEC chair under President-elect Donald Trump has bolstered investor confidence.

  • Institutional Adoption: Bitcoin ETFs, particularly those backed by major players like BlackRock, have opened doors for traditional investors.

  • Global Sentiment Shift: Figures like Fed Chair Jerome Powell calling Bitcoin “digital gold” have legitimized its role as an asset class.

  • Retail Interest: El Salvador's Bitcoin-backed economic strategy and Elon Musk’s continued endorsements keep Bitcoin in the public eye.

A Moment for the History Books

Bitcoin at $100K isn’t just a number—it’s a symbol of how far digital assets have come. From being dismissed as a fringe experiment to becoming a trillion-dollar asset class, Bitcoin’s journey has reshaped the financial world. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a curious observer, one thing is clear: Bitcoin’s story is far from over.

📉Bearish📉

Hawk Tuah Girl’s Meme Coin Disaster

The internet’s favorite “Hawk Tuah Girl” went viral for her meme-worthy stunts, but her latest adventure—a cryptocurrency named $HAWK—has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. Launched on December 4, the memecoin initially soared to a $490 million market cap before crashing 91% in a matter of hours, leaving investors reeling.

What Happened?

When $HAWK hit the market, excitement was through the roof. Memecoins—cryptocurrencies based on internet jokes—often attract attention for their high risk, high reward potential. But the fun didn’t last long. Within hours, the token’s value plummeted, sparking accusations of a rug pull—a scam where creators cash out, leaving investors holding worthless tokens.

Haliey Welch, aka the Hawk Tuah Girl, denies these allegations, claiming neither she nor her team sold any tokens. She even pointed to measures they implemented, like high transaction fees, meant to deter opportunistic traders. But the damage was done, and complaints are already piling up with the SEC.

What Does This Mean?

Memecoins are often seen as a lottery ticket: fun if you win, disastrous if you don’t. The $HAWK crash is a stark reminder of the risks involved in investing in unregulated assets—especially ones based on fleeting internet fame. While Welch insists her intentions were pure, investors lost millions, and legal investigations are looming.

The Lesson?

If you’re tempted to jump on the next meme coin bandwagon, pause and ask yourself:

  • Do you fully understand the risks?

  • Is the team behind it credible?

  • Are you prepared to lose everything?

Because in the world of memecoins, it’s not all rocket emojis and moonshots. Sometimes, the joke is on you.

📈Bullish📈

Trump Taps Paul Atkins for SEC Chair

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), sparking excitement in the crypto world. Atkins is no stranger to the SEC—he served as commissioner from 2002 to 2008, where he gained a reputation for advocating lighter regulations to foster innovation. This could mark a major departure from outgoing Chair Gary Gensler’s stricter oversight, which has kept crypto players on edge.

Who Is Paul Atkins?

Paul Atkins is a long-time champion of streamlined financial regulations, often advocating for balancing oversight with growth. After his SEC tenure, he founded Patomak Global Partners, a consultancy that advises on regulatory compliance. Atkins has also been involved with blockchain initiatives, positioning himself as a crypto-friendly voice in financial circles.

During his time at the SEC, Atkins pushed back against excessive enforcement actions, arguing they stifled market innovation. This history makes his nomination significant for crypto enthusiasts, who view him as someone who could pave the way for clearer, more accommodating regulations.

Why This Matters for Crypto

Under Gary Gensler, the SEC has taken a tough stance on cryptocurrencies, labeling many tokens as securities and pursuing high-profile lawsuits against major players. In contrast, Atkins’s leadership could mean:

  • Faster ETF Approvals: More Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could hit the market, making crypto more accessible to mainstream investors.

  • Clarity for Entrepreneurs: With simpler, well-defined rules, crypto projects may flourish in the U.S. instead of moving overseas.

  • Institutional Adoption: A friendlier SEC could attract big players like asset managers and traditional banks into the crypto space.

The Road Ahead

While Atkins’s nomination is a positive signal, it’s not a done deal—he still needs Senate confirmation. If approved, this could mark a turning point for U.S. crypto regulation, potentially positioning the country as a global leader in digital assets. For now, the markets are optimistic, with Bitcoin soaring past $100K and other coins following suit.

Atkins’s history suggests he’s ready to usher in a new era for crypto—but the question remains: Can he balance innovation with investor protection? Time will tell, but for the crypto world, his nomination is a step in the right direction.

📚Education📚

What Is a Rug Pull, and How Can You Spot One?

In the world of cryptocurrency, where fortunes can be made overnight, scams like rug pulls are the dark side of the story. If you’ve been following news about the Hawk Tuah Girl’s memecoin collapse, you’ve seen how quickly things can go wrong. Let’s break down what rug pulls are and how you can avoid falling victim.

What Is a Rug Pull?

A rug pull is a scam where crypto developers launch a project, attract lots of investors with promises of high returns, and then disappear with the money. The value of the token crashes, leaving investors with nothing. It’s the digital version of someone yanking a rug out from under you.

How to Spot a Rug Pull

Here are five red flags to watch out for when considering a new crypto project:

  1. Too Good to Be True: If a project promises guaranteed riches or has insane marketing hype without substance, it’s time to be skeptical.

  2. Low Liquidity: Rug pulls often happen when developers can easily withdraw most of the funds. Always check the liquidity pool size.

  3. Anonymous Developers: If you can’t find any verifiable information about the team, proceed with caution. Legitimate projects have transparent, accountable creators.

  4. Unlocked Liquidity: Look for projects where liquidity is locked for a set period. This prevents creators from cashing out immediately.

  5. Echo Chamber Communities: Be wary of projects where the community seems too perfect—no dissent, no critiques. Genuine projects encourage discussion, not blind hype.

Learn from $HAWK

The Hawk Tuah Girl’s memecoin collapse is a perfect example. Investors flocked to the project because of her viral fame, but the token’s 91% crash wiped out millions in minutes. While the creators deny wrongdoing, the event highlights the risks of investing in unproven projects.

Stay Safe, Stay Smart

Crypto is exciting, but it’s also a space where scams thrive. Always do your research, and don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) cloud your judgment. Remember: skepticism is your best friend in the crypto world.

By being cautious and staying informed, you can avoid the pitfalls of rug pulls—and make smarter decisions in your crypto journey. 🛡️

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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, and you should only invest funds you can afford to lose. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not represent the opinions of any organizations or entities we may be affiliated with. We are not liable for any financial losses incurred from investment activities based on this content.

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