CoinTalk

SMA stands for Simple Moving Average, the most basic type of moving average. It’s calculated by summing the closing prices over a set number of days and dividing by that number. For example, a 5-day SMA averages the last 5 closing prices equally NerdWallet.

How Do Traders Use Moving Averages?

1. Identifying Trends

• Uptrend: When the stock price is above its moving average, it often indicates a bullish or upward trend.
• Downtrend: When the price is below the moving average, it usually signals a bearish or downward trend.

2. Support and Resistance Levels

Moving averages can act as dynamic support or resistance. For example, in an uptrend, the price may bounce off the 50-day SMA, using it as support. In a downtrend, the moving average can act as resistance, preventing price advances.

3. Moving Average Crossovers

Traders often watch for crossovers between short-term and long-term moving averages:

• Golden Cross: When a short-term MA (e.g., 50-day) crosses above a long-term MA (e.g., 200-day), it’s considered a bullish signal indicating potential upward momentum.
• Death Cross: When a short-term MA crosses below a long-term MA, it signals bearish momentum.

Real-World Example: Apple (AAPL) Moving Averages

Consider Apple’s stock price chart showing:

• 50-day SMA in orange
• 200-day SMA in blue

In June 2024, Apple’s 50-day SMA crossed above its 200-day SMA—a golden cross. Following this crossover, Apple’s stock price rose significantly, confirming the bullish signal.

Conversely, in March 2024, the 50-day SMA crossed below the 200-day SMA—a death cross—which was followed by a brief price downturn.

Summary: Moving Averages Help You See the Forest for the Trees

Moving averages, especially the simple moving average (SMA), are essential tools for filtering out noise and identifying trends in stock prices. By calculating the average price over a set period, they provide insight into momentum, potential support/resistance, and key trading signals like golden and death crosses.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned trader, understanding and using moving averages can improve your timing and decision-making in the markets.

Ready to learn more about trading strategies and crypto safety? Check out BYDFi for beginner tutorials, expert insights .

The question on everyone’s mind: Does BlackRock own Bitcoin, and if so, how much? The answer is staggering. As of June 2025, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF holds approximately 685,584 BTC, representing 3.25% of the total Bitcoin supply in circulation. This figure, reported by Arkham Intelligence and Cointelegraph, underscores BlackRock’s aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy. To put it in perspective, BlackRock’s Bitcoin holdings are worth over $72 billion, dwarfing many corporate treasuries and even rivaling some government reserves.

Key Stats on BlackRock’s Bitcoin Holdings:

• Total BTC Held: 685,584 (as of June 25, 2025)
• Market Share: 54.7% of the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market
• Asset Value: Over $72.3 billion
• Recent Accumulation: BlackRock added $1.4 billion worth of Bitcoin in a six-day streak in June 2025

This massive accumulation isn’t just numbers on a screen—it’s a signal that institutional investors are betting big on Bitcoin’s future. But why is BlackRock, once a crypto skeptic, diving in so aggressively?

BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink: From Skeptic to Bitcoin Bull

BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, has undergone a dramatic transformation in his stance on Bitcoin. Once dismissing it as speculative, Fink now calls Bitcoin a “legitimate” asset class, a shift that has sent shockwaves through Wall Street. His endorsement, reported by Coinfomania, signals to pension funds, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds that Bitcoin is no longer a fringe investment. This pivot has fueled BlackRock’s Bitcoin holdings and positioned IBIT as the go-to vehicle for institutional crypto exposure.

Fink’s change of heart reflects broader market trends. With Bitcoin surpassing $104,000 in 2025 and institutional interest surging, BlackRock’s move is less about speculation and more about strategic positioning. As Fink himself noted, Bitcoin offers portfolio diversification and resilience, especially in uncertain economic climates.

How to Buy BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT)

For investors asking, “How do I buy BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF?”, the process is simpler than you might think. Unlike direct Bitcoin ownership, which involves wallets, private keys, and security concerns, IBIT offers a regulated, user-friendly way to gain Bitcoin exposure through traditional brokerage accounts. Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored to investors in the U.S., Europe, or elsewhere:

Step-by-Step Guide to Buying IBIT:

1. Choose a Brokerage Platform: Platforms like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Interactive Brokers (available in the U.S. and many international markets) offer access to IBIT. Ensure your brokerage supports NASDAQ-listed ETFs.
2. Search for IBIT: Use the ticker symbol IBIT to locate BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.
3. Fund Your Account: Deposit funds in your local currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.). Most platforms support bank transfers or credit/debit card funding.
4. Place Your Order: Decide how many shares to buy. IBIT’s low expense ratio of 0.25% makes it cost-effective for long-term investors.
5. Monitor Your Investment: Track IBIT’s performance alongside Bitcoin’s price movements. As of June 2025, IBIT shares trade at around $61.77, reflecting Bitcoin’s $110,000 price point.

Why Invest in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF?

Investing in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF offers several advantages over direct Bitcoin ownership, especially for those concerned about security, taxes, or regulatory compliance. Here’s why IBIT is a game-changer:

• Low Costs: With a 0.25% expense ratio, IBIT is cheaper than many crypto exchanges’ trading fees.
• Regulatory Legitimacy: Listed on NASDAQ and backed by BlackRock’s $11 trillion reputation, IBIT attracts conservative institutional capital.
• Tax Efficiency: Trading IBIT shares simplifies capital gains reporting compared to direct Bitcoin ownership.
• Diversification: Bitcoin’s low correlation with stocks and bonds makes IBIT a hedge against market volatility.
• Institutional Backing: BlackRock’s dominance, holding over half the U.S. Bitcoin ETF market, signals strong investor confidence.

However, Bitcoin’s volatility—evidenced by an 80% crash in 2022—means IBIT isn’t risk-free. Regulatory shifts and global market dynamics could also impact returns.

The Bigger Picture: BlackRock’s Bitcoin Accumulation and Market Impact

BlackRock’s aggressive Bitcoin accumulation isn’t happening in a vacuum. The firm’s IBIT ETF has led inflows with $44.25 billion year-to-date as of June 2025, closing the gap with traditional ETFs like Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF (VOO). Billionaire Michael Saylor, a prominent Bitcoin advocate, predicts IBIT could lead all ETF inflows by year-end 2025, driven by institutional demand.

This institutional rush, coupled with a decline in short-term Bitcoin holders (down 800,000 BTC since May 2025), suggests a shift toward long-term investment. On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows that OTC-fueled ETF flows are stabilizing Bitcoin’s price, preventing spikes despite massive inflows.

What This Means for You:

Price Potential: Saylor’s audacious $13 million Bitcoin price prediction by 2045 implies a 12,770% upside for IBIT. While speculative, it highlights Bitcoin’s long-term potential.

Market Trends: Institutional players like BlackRock, Fidelity, and even corporations like Strategy are reshaping Bitcoin’s market structure, reducing retail dominance.

Global Impact: From the U.S. to Japan and Europe, institutional adoption is driving Bitcoin’s legitimacy, making IBIT a gateway for global investors.

Ready to Join the Bitcoin ETF Revolution?

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is more than an ETF—it’s a gateway to Bitcoin’s decade-long bull run. With 685,584 BTC in its portfolio and a $72 billion valuation, BlackRock is leading the charge in institutional crypto adoption. Whether you’re exploring how much Bitcoin BlackRock owns or how to buy BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, IBIT offers a regulated, low-cost, and tax-efficient way to ride the crypto wave.

Don’t miss the crypto revolution! Sign up on BYDFi  now and access seamless Bitcoin trading with low fees and top security.

For those who want a simple, out-of-the-box experience, several companies sell pre-built node solutions with user-friendly software pre-installed (like Umbrel or Start9).

• Total Estimated Cost for Pre-Built: $300 - $600+

The Ongoing Costs

These are the recurring expenses you need to factor in.

The Bottom Line

For most people, building a Raspberry Pi node is the sweet spot of cost, efficiency, and performance. While it's not free, the cost of running a full Bitcoin node is a relatively small, one-time price to pay for participating in the network at the highest level. It's an investment in your own financial sovereignty.

Running a node is an advanced step for those deeply committed to the technology. The foundational step for everyone is acquiring the asset in a secure and cost-effective environment.

BYDFi provides a professional-grade platform for you to start your Bitcoin journey. With deep liquidity and top-tier security, you can build your core position with confidence.

DEGEN (DEGEN) is an Ethereum utility and meme token that was originally created as a reward mechanism on decentralized social protocol Farcaster. Originally launched in early 2024, DEGEN quickly emerged as a staple currency in Farcaster's /degen channel , a community of crypto builders, content creators, and meme insiders, where it was used for tipping, rewarding contributions, and spurring community activity.

Unlike traditional meme coins, the function of DEGEN is to combine humor with true utility  providing both creative proof-of-concepts and real decentralized finance (DeFi) applications in existence by being in emerging ecosystems.

As it evolved, the use of DEGEN was pulled into the greater Ethereum and Layer 3 (L3) blockchain ecosystem, particularly with the launch of the DEGEN Chain, a fast, low-cost, and app-optimized L3 built with Arbitrum Orbit technology.

DEGEN's community-centric spirit is supported by the involvement of prominent builders in the Farcaster and DeFi spaces, with a philosophy emphasizing open experimentation, mutual participation, and meme-driven innovation.

Now, DEGEN is a symbol of the disruptive shift towards social-fi (social finance), capturing the spirit of creativity and

what does degen mean in crypto?

In the cryptocurrency world, a degen is someone who makes high-risk, high-reward investments, often with little research and lots of hype.  Think of the person who apes into a new degen coin minutes after launch, based on a tweet or meme, hoping for a 100x return before it crashes.

How to Use DEGEN

To interact with DEGEN:

- Acquire DEGEN: Purchase on exchanges like BYDFi , Crypto.com, or DEXs on Ethereum/Base/Degen Chain.

- Store DEGEN: Use Ethereum-compatible wallets (e.g., MetaMask) to hold and manage tokens.

- Participate in Farcaster: Join the /degen channel to tip, earn rewards, or engage with the community.

- Explore DeFi: Stake, farm, or provide liquidity on Degen Chain dApps to earn yields.

- Monitor Risks: Conduct due diligence, as DEGEN’s volatility and experimental nature require careful risk management.

Degen (DEGEN) Tokenomics

A transparent and equitable approach to tokenomics has been a cornerstone of DEGEN’s community credibility.

-  Total Supply: 36.9 billion DEGEN

-  Circulating Supply: 14.17 billion DEGEN

-  Maximum Supply: 36.9 billion DEGEN (fixed, with no plans for inflationary increases)

Token Distribution:

-  Community Airdrops: A significant percentage was allocated to early Farcaster contributors and active community members, ensuring a broad and fair initial distribution.

-  Ecosystem Development: Tokens are reserved for ongoing community incentives, development grants, and partnerships to sustain growth.

-  Team and Advisors: Vesting schedules for core contributors ensure long-term alignment, but with no outsized founder allocation.

-  Liquidity and Listings: A portion of tokens is reserved for providing decentralized exchange (DEX) and centralized exchange (CEX) liquidity.

How Degen (DEGEN) Works

At its core, the DEGEN token is an ERC-20 asset on Ethereum, making it compatible with the most widely used wallets and decentralized exchanges.  Its initial use was as a micro-reward for valuable interactions within Farcaster, but as the DEGEN community grew, the token’s functionality expanded into several areas:

-  Social Incentivization: DEGEN is used to tip or reward users for content creation, community moderation, and contributing code or memes in various social and developer channels.  This model helps foster more organic, engaging crypto communities.

-  DeFi Use Cases: Through DeFi protocols built on the DEGEN Chain and partnered L3s, users can provide liquidity, farm yields, or stake tokens to earn passive income, much like established platforms on Ethereum and Arbitrum.

-  Low-Cost Transactions: The DEGEN Chain, powered by Arbitrum Orbit, provides high throughput and near-zero fees, enabling a scalable environment for microtransactions , essential for user-driven social and gaming applications.

-  Creator Tools & NFT Integration: Developers are exploring NFT drops, DAO governance, and creator engagement mechanisms that use DEGEN as a payment and rewards layer. DEGEN’s unique blend of meme appeal, practical on-chain use, and community engagement has differentiated it from typical meme coins, positioning it as a foundational currency within web3 social ecosystems.

Conclusion

Degen (DEGEN) works as a community-driven token that blends meme coin appeal with practical utility in social-fi and DeFi.  By leveraging Farcaster’s decentralized social platform and the Degen Chain’s low-cost infrastructure, DEGEN incentivizes engagement, rewards creativity, and supports innovative blockchain applications.

However, its high volatility, experimental status, and reliance on community adoption make it a risky investment. For those interested in DEGEN, participating in its ecosystem requires balancing enthusiasm with caution, aligning with the “degen” ethos of embracing uncertainty for potential rewards.

Final Thought
In the ever-evolving world of crypto, being a degen isn't just about reckless bets, it's about daring to explore the edge of innovation, where memes meet markets and communities build value from creativity.  DEGEN represents more than a token; it’s a cultural movement fueled by experimentation, humor, and decentralized collaboration.

Whether you're here for the fun or the future of financejust remember: in the land of degens, fortune favors the bold—but only the wise survive.

Ready to learn more about trading strategies and crypto fundamentals? Check out BYDFi for expert guidance on navigating the world of digital assets.