The price of Bitcoin was around $47,000 on December 19, 2023. The price of Ethereum was around $3,600.
The market capitalization of cryptocurrencies was $2.7 trillion on December 19, 2023.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the second Bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund (ETF). The ETF, called Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF, will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "BTF."
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had seized $3.6 billion worth of cryptocurrency from a suspected money laundering operation. The operation is alleged to have laundered proceeds from ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes.
Based on the crypto news that appeared on December 19, 2023, it seems that the crypto market is still bullish. The approval of two Bitcoin ETFs in the United States is a major milestone for the industry. The DOJ seizure, however, is a reminder that cryptocurrency can be used for illicit purposes.
Additional news:
The Central Bank of Russia announced that it is considering a ban on cryptocurrency mining. The bank is concerned about the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining and the potential for cryptocurrency to be used for illicit purposes.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom announced that it is launching a new task force to investigate the use of cryptocurrency by criminals. The task force will focus on the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.
The announcements from the Central Bank of Russia and the FCA are a reminder that governments are still concerned about the potential risks associated with cryptocurrency.