issue 240 - week of 5-16-25
curating the good stuff for the casual bitcoin enthusiast each week
summary podcast
Listen below for an succinct overview in podcast format of all items contained in this issue of the newsletter.
news
I used Google NotebookLM and ChatGPT to summarize the information in this week’s news links:
Bitcoin's market outlook is increasingly optimistic, with analysts suggesting a potential departure from the traditional four-year cycle due to heightened institutional adoption and a shifting macroeconomic landscape. On-chain analyses, such as those by PlanB, indicate a building bull market, with projections of Bitcoin reaching $150,000 to $400,000 within the next 12-18 months, driven by historical patterns and metrics like the stock-to-flow model, which underscores Bitcoin’s scarcity relative to gold. Long-term holders exhibit strong conviction, and while euphoric price surges remain unpredictable, the consensus leans toward significant upside potential, tempered by Bitcoin’s inherent volatility and the possibility of macro-driven liquidity shocks.
Institutional and sovereign adoption is accelerating, with vehicles like Spot Bitcoin ETFs—such as BlackRock’s IBIT, backed by investments like Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala—drawing substantial inflows. Corporate strategies, notably MicroStrategy’s, leverage financial engineering to amass Bitcoin, using stock issuance at a premium to acquire more BTC, a tactic dubbed the “infinite money glitch.” This approach, while innovative, hinges on sustained Bitcoin price growth and a high market-to-net-asset-value premium, introducing risks if prices falter. Emerging players like Twenty One Capital are also building Bitcoin-native financial services, such as lending platforms, signaling a maturing ecosystem that could reduce volatility over time as institutional involvement deepens.
The broader macro environment, marked by rising sovereign debt and eroding global trust, positions Bitcoin as a neutral reserve asset alongside gold. Analysts like Lyn Alden and Checkmate highlight the unraveling of the post-World War monetary regime, with trade tensions and currency debasement driving interest in trust-minimized assets. Meanwhile, debates within the Bitcoin community over embedding arbitrary data via op return or inscriptions reflect competing visions of Bitcoin as primarily money versus a platform for broader technological applications. Despite risks like Black Swan events or regulatory hurdles, Bitcoin’s role as a store of value and potential medium of exchange continues to gain traction, supported by its growing utility and the strategic moves of corporate adopters.
JPMorgan Just Flipped On Bitcoin—Issues Huge New 2025 Price Prediction.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/05/17/jpmorgan-just-flipped-on-bitcoin-issues-huge-new-2025-price-prediction/
Bitcoin to $250K in 2025 “totally possible” — crypto analyst Scott Melker.
https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:2dda935d9094b:0-bitcoin-to-250k-in-2025-totally-possible-crypto-analyst-scott-melker/
Coinbase shares jump on addition to S&P 500 index in watershed for crypto market.
https://www.reuters.com/business/coinbase-shares-jump-addition-sp-500-index-2025-05-13/
Is a Bitcoin Supercycle Imminent?
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/is-a-bitcoin-supercycle-imminent
Over $5B Pouring into Bitcoin ETFs – Thanks to Bold Directional Bets.
https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/05/17/over-usd5b-pouring-into-bitcoin-etfs-thanks-to-bold-directional-bets
Michael Saylor has a new Bitcoin prediction and it’s not $13M.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-saylor-bitcoin-prediction-not-201353632.html
Strategy Acquires 13,390 BTC and Now Holds 568,840 BTC.
https://www.strategy.com/press/strategy-acquires-13390-btc-and-now-holds-568840-btc_may-12-2025
Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Reveals $408 Million Investment In BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/abu-dhabis-sovereign-wealth-fund-reveals-408-million-investment-in-blackrocks-bitcoin-etf
Steak ‘n Shake Now Accepting Bitcoin via Lightning Network Across U.S. Locations.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/steak-n-shake-now-accepting-bitcoin-via-lightning-network-across-u-s-locations
Texas’ Bitcoin reserve bill heads to key reading before final floor vote.
https://www.tradingview.com/news/cryptobriefing:c2e400f55094b:0-texas-bitcoin-reserve-bill-heads-to-key-reading-before-final-floor-vote/
Dubai government to accept crypto payments through Crypto.com partnership.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/dubai-government-to-accept-crypto-through-cryptocom-partnership.html
media
Podcast. Coin Stories: Jack Mallers on Borrowing Against Bitcoin, Full Scoop on Twenty One Capital, & Emerging World Order.
Podcast. What Bitcoin Did: $100K Bitcoin: Is the Cycle Breaking? W/ Checkmate.
Podcast. The Investor’s Podcast: Bitcoin Torque: Saylor's Playbook w/ Andy Edstrom (BTC234).
Podcast. What Bitcoin Did: THE TRUE COST OF THE DOLLAR EMPIRE w/ Lyn Alden.
CNBC. Bitcoin tops $103k: What’s driving the rally and what’s next.
Podcast. TLDR: This Will Send Bitcoin To $250k In 2025 | Scott Melker.
Financial Times. Michael Saylor's $40bn bitcoin bet | FT Film.
Plan B. PlanB Bitcoin Prediction May 2025.
tweets
(Substack blocking direct Twitter links at the moment)
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1921917663040676103
https://x.com/bleighky/status/1921877487811719668
https://x.com/BitcoinForCorps/status/1921948610788221323
https://x.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1921988612809220340
https://x.com/brian_armstrong/status/1922051880068305111
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1922063842487533823
https://x.com/GertvanLagen/status/1922154813707411902
https://x.com/BitcoinMagPro/status/1922260780185006387
https://x.com/Andre_Dragosch/status/1922219593252102549
https://x.com/real_vijay/status/1922147287863574668
https://x.com/ColinTCrypto/status/1922333849637269626
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1922410927497806260
https://x.com/woonomic/status/1922413891537051648
https://x.com/BTC_Archive/status/1922403492506861649
https://x.com/TheBitcoinLayer/status/1922114497826766924
https://x.com/TheBTCTherapist/status/1922462605580378589
https://x.com/glassnode/status/1922668226837647409
https://x.com/DiscoverCrypto_/status/1922800762087682432
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1923059709155619067
https://x.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1923092721490698470
https://x.com/thomas_fahrer/status/1923334945449136343
https://x.com/DigitalAssets/status/1923370307496108057
https://x.com/River/status/1923373657373426098
https://x.com/BTC_Archive/status/1923407485584408820
https://x.com/JoeConsorti/status/1923432205541310620
https://x.com/GaryCardone/status/1923425321677721969
https://x.com/rovercrc/status/1923738038506524974
https://x.com/FrankAFetter/status/1923849884194505215
https://x.com/DocumentingBTC/status/1923867077313491430
https://x.com/apsk32/status/1923601208629211260
https://x.com/Vivek4real_/status/1923852464022810771
https://x.com/Giovann35084111/status/1923707130177257625
https://x.com/woonomic/status/1924035000703283310
If you think we’ve missed something important, please send it to us and we’ll be sure to add it to next week’s newsletter… And please share!
