GM Builders. 🚧 

Welcome back to the BW3 newsletter! Hope your Monday was productive and all your memecoins hit at least a 5x 😂 

Here’s what is going on in the trenches today:

• WTF is going on this week in web3 🤔 

• Brian Armstrong 🤝 Trump + DJT 🤝 Bakkt?

• M & A Monday 🤑 

• Meme City 🌇 

WTF IS GOING ON THIS WEEK IN WEB3 🤔 

Alright, it's Monday, and the crypto calendar is screaming louder than a DeFi Twitter debate.

Here's a lil rundown of the key things to watch this week:

1️⃣ Macro Minute

From housing starts to Nvidia earnings, this week is packed with key economic data drops. The Kobeissi Letter gave us the lowdown:

• Tuesday: October “Housing Starts” data.(how many new home builds kickoff)

• Wednesday: Nvidia earnings (cue AI token hype 🚀).

• Thursday: Philly Fed Index + Existing Home Sales.

• Friday: PMI data (Manufacturing) & Michigan Consumer Sentiment.

Will Nvidia keep the market afloat, or are we about to see more red than a memecoin chart?

Watch closely. 👀 

2️⃣ Token Unlocks to Watch

Cliff Unlocks this week total $126.9M, and here's the top 3:

• MRS: $20.8M unlocking (11.8% of circulating supply).

• MURA: $16.3M unlocking (a jaw-dropping 34.9% of circulating supply).

• ROSE: $14.57M unlocking (2.6% of circulating supply ).

Translation: Holders may start sweating, and the markets might see some sell pressure.

Keep your eyes peeled like a banana on Mario Kart.

3️⃣ Bitcoin ETF Options Go Live

Options on Bitcoin ETFs are finally a thing, thanks to the CFTC greenlighting the OCC.

What does this mean?

• Institutional investors can now hedge positions or speculate on Bitcoin without holding it directly.

• This could pump liquidity and maybe (just maybe) make Bitcoin's market less volatile.

• Early buzz is optimistic, but skeptics say it's just "Wall Street-ing" crypto even further.

TL;DR:

The macro backdrop is dicey, token unlocks are causing jitters, and Bitcoin ETFs are going full Wall Street.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out!

BRIAN ARMSTRONG 🤝 TRUMP + DJT 🤝 BAKKT?

Crypto’s political power plays just leveled up, folks. 

President-elect Donald Trump is not just doubling down on his love for crypto; he’s coming in hot with acquisition talks and high-profile meetings that have the entire Web3 space absolutely yapping.

DJT’s Bakkt Bet

Trump Media & Technology (DJT) is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire crypto trading and brokerage firm Bakkt (BKKT). The deal, if finalized, would mark a bold move into the crypto infrastructure game.

• BKKT stock went parabolic, surging 162% to $29.71 on Monday.

• Trump Media stock jumped 17%, riding the wave of optimism around the acquisition.

• With Bakkt bringing in $53M revenue last year and a $401M market cap, this acquisition would push Trump Media’s $7.1B valuation even higher.

This isn’t just a flex; it’s a signal. Trump’s crypto playbook now spans from launching World Liberty Financial earlier this year to possibly owning a trading platform. And, let’s be real: if Bakkt gets the Trump seal of approval, it’s likely to see a hype train like no other.

Brian Armstrong Enters the Chat

As if Bakkt wasn’t enough, Trump also met with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on Monday.

• What’s on the agenda? Speculation is rife, but Trump’s plans for a Bitcoin and Crypto Advisory Council could be a hot topic.

• Armstrong’s pick for SEC Chair? Hester Peirce, aka "Crypto Mom," signaling a clear pivot toward a regulatory environment that could favor digital assets.

• Oh, and don’t forget: Coinbase pumped $100M+ into crypto-friendly PACs this election cycle, including Fairshake, which spent $40M targeting Congressional candidates.

The meeting between Trump and Armstrong could shape the future of crypto regulation, especially as Trump builds his cabinet. The message to crypto holders? Buckle up. Things are moving fast.

Market Reactions

The markets are eating this up:

• DJT stock rebounded nearly 17% Monday and is up 87% for the year.

• Bitcoin, after hitting an all-time high of $93,445 last week, eased slightly to $91,800 but remains up a jaw-dropping 119% in 2024.

TL;DR:

Trump isn’t just dabbling in crypto—he’s going all in, from acquisition talks with Bakkt to rubbing elbows with Coinbase’s top brass.

Whether you’re a fan or a skeptic, one thing’s clear: crypto is no longer a fringe topic—it’s at the heart of the political and financial conversation.

How’s that for “making crypto great again”? 🚫 🧢

M & A MONDAY 🤑 

Let’s dive into the top 5 latest deals from last 7 days in the crypto M&A world:

1. Fintek Securities Pty Ltd.

• Category: Finance/Banking, Trading

• Buyer: Crypto.com

Crypto.com takes another step in dominating the financial frontier by scooping up Fintek. It’s a play to tighten their grip on trading and banking services. Will they become the “too big to fail” of crypto? Watch this acquisition’s aftermath.

2. Hook Protocol

• Category: Derivatives, NFTs (Ethereum L3)

• Buyer: Caldera

Caldera is hooking into the high-stakes derivatives game with Hook Protocol. NFTs + derivatives on Ethereum’s Layer 3? Sounds niche, but niche is the new mainstream.

3. Utopia

• Category: Payments

• Buyer: Coinbase

Coinbase just bought Utopia. The dream? A seamless payment ecosystem where crypto meets the real world. The reality? A bold move to edge out the competition and bring crypto payments to every coffee shop near you.

4. Attestant

• Category: Staking & Ethereum Ecosystem

• Buyer: Bitwise

Bitwise wants in on Ethereum staking, and Attestant’s their golden ticket. With staking still growing post-Merge, this is Bitwise saying, “We’re betting big on ETH.”

5. Vinter

• Category: API

• Buyer: Kaiko

Data nerds, rejoice! Kaiko snaps up Vinter, fortifying its position as the go-to for blockchain data. Think API integrations that power the next-gen crypto analytics tools.

Takeaway:
This week’s M&A scene shows a clear focus—staking, payments, and trading are the bread and butter of crypto’s future.

Whether it’s Coinbase’s big bets or Crypto.com flexing its muscles, the consolidation race is heating up. 🥵 

MEME CITY 🏙️ 

Until Next Time Builders! 🏗️ 

Keep your powder dry and your water wet 🧠 

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