In this episode of the Crypto Market Report by Fere AI, hosts Erik and Emilie break down the top stories from the crypto world for the weekend of October 18-19, 2024. Bitcoin’s surge past $69,000, driven by spot Bitcoin ETF approvals and significant institutional investments from BlackRock, dominates the market conversation. While excitement is high, the duo reminds listeners of the ongoing regulatory debate around Bitcoin’s classification. Emilie highlights BlackRock’s discussions to use its BUIDL token as collateral on major exchanges, signaling deeper integration between traditional finance and DeFi. Globally, crypto adoption is growing, with BRICS nations announcing the use of cryptocurrencies for investments. On the regulatory front, the SEC continues its scrutiny with charges against Thorchain’s co-founder, and a hacking incident involving the SEC’s Twitter account showcases the increasing importance of security in the space. Key project updates include deBridge’s airdrop of its governance token to over 491,000 wallets and zkPass raising $12.5 million to support its zero-knowledge data verification protocol. Binance Labs also made a strategic investment in Lombard Finance, further highlighting the ongoing interest in crypto staking solutions. In the Degen Alpha section, Erik and Emilie dive into meme coins, featuring $WETF, a utility token rewarding holders with ETH, and $MOTHERLODE, a nostalgic token inspired by the Sims. They also discuss upcoming projects like $GAIA, $UP, $MEN, and $GOLDN, which are gaining traction among traders. As the market continues to evolve, Erik and Emilie emphasize the importance of security, especially in light of recent DeFi hacks, and predict that altcoins like Solana and XRP could see significant growth following ETF approvals. Stay tuned to Fere AI for all your crypto updates!