Good Morning! 🌞 

Today, one of the things we are talking about today is the Bitcoin ETF (Exchange Traded Fund). This is a big deal in the world of finance, but you can read more about that down below.

One thing you may or may not know about Bitcoin, it goes up and down in price quite a lot compared to stocks or bonds. This means any reference to the “current price” in the article below is subject to change.

So if you want to check the current price of bitcoin, just go here or click on the block below.

Finance

Bitcoin ETF Approved

Bitcoin, the world's first and most popular cryptocurrency, recently received approval for several Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This long-awaited approval has led to significant changes in how both institutions and regular people can interact with largest cryptocurrency.

On January 11, 2024, the SEC approved 11 Bitcoin ETFs for trading. Within minutes of the Bitcoin ETFs going live, Bitcoin's price rose over 8%, reaching a new 22-month high. The trading volume for spot Bitcoin ETFs was remarkable, with the first 30 minutes of trading recording a $1.2 billion volume.

Early reporting suggests that it has easily broken the previous ETF first day trading flow/volume of all time, which was $2.1 billion. The leading ETF, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), recorded an impressive trading volume of $446 million in the initial minutes.

The approval of the Bitcoin ETF has made Bitcoin much more accessible to large institutions, such as hedge funds and financial institutions. These institutions can now invest in Bitcoin through a regulated and transparent platform, reducing the risk and complexity associated with direct investment in the cryptocurrency. This increased accessibility has the potential to drive further growth in the Bitcoin market as more institutional investors enter the space.

For individuals, the Bitcoin ETF has made it easier to invest in Bitcoin through traditional investment platforms. Investors can now access Bitcoin through their brokerage accounts, IRAs, and even company 401(k)s. This ease of access has the potential to attract a new wave of individual investors who may have been hesitant to invest in Bitcoin through more complex and less regulated channels.

World News

Arizona Teacher Reunites with Japanese Host Family After 22 Years

After Japan's 7.6 earthquake on January 1st, Anne Hanson, a veteran educator, urgently sought information about her former host family in Uozu, near the quake's epicenter. Unable to reach them through old email addresses, she filled out a form on Uozu City Hall's website.

Anne, recognizing the slim odds, hoped someone would be able to locate Akihiko Kiyokawa, her host from 22 years ago. She included her Fulbright Memorial Fund alumni status in her email’s subject line. Knowing the community's respect for American teachers from the program, hoping it might increase her chance of reaching her former host family.

Miraculously, within 24 hours, she received an email when friend of Akihiko, who spoke English happened to have seen Anne's message and forwarded it to her.

The Japanese woman and her relatives had lost their homes, but nevertheless reported good news from the disaster.

“Fortunately, there were no injuries and my life was saved,” she wrote. “Under these circumstances, I never expected to receive a message of sympathy from America. I believe this is a truly miraculous event that should make it onto the news. I would like to cherish it.” Akhiko said.

Culture

Asia's Young & Wealthy Art Collectors

There is an interesting shift in the art collection world. Wealthy young collectors in Asia, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are boosting the demand for art, notably through online channels.

High-net-worth millennials in Asia increased their spending on art, with notable contributions from mainland China, Singapore, and Taiwan. International auction houses, including Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, have seen a significant uptick in purchases by young Asian collectors. Millennials accounted for almost 40% of Christie’s buyers in Asia Pacific, with a 65% increase in Gen Z buyers in 2023. South Korea and Taiwan stood out as key contributors to the flourishing art market in 2023.

Young collectors are reshaping art preferences, favoring digital art and prints (Gen Z) and sculptures, installations, and film or video art (millennials), according to the Art Basel & UBS report. Millennials are drawn to figurative and surrealistic works, expressing a preference for emerging artists over blue-chip names .

In Asia, millennial buyers are embracing both contemporary and classical Asian art, reflecting a cultural connection. At Christie’s 2023 Hong Kong Autumn Auctions, 40% of new buyers acquiring Chinese ceramics, paintings, and artworks were millennials.

“We have increasingly millennials and younger collectors buying at Christie’s [and] starting to collect ... that we’ve been able to also engage much more with all our digital innovations,” Francis Belin, president of Asia Pacific at Christie’s said

Environment

Tiger and Cubs Spotted in Thailand After a Decade!

In the past decade, tiger conservation has seen notable success.
Across key tiger habitats in China, Russia, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and now Thailand, tiger populations are stable or increasing. Thailand, in particular, has seen a significant rise from 46 tigers in 2007 to a potential 190 today.

In the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, part of Thailand's extensive Western Forest Complex, a mother tiger and her cubs were recently spotted—a promising sign of successful conservation efforts. The sanctuary is within the larger Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, covering 2,400 square miles. This sighting indicates not only that tigers are breeding beyond core areas but also suggests an ample prey base, including sambar deer.

Rattapan Pattanarangsan, the conservation program manager at Panthera's Thai chapter, expressed excitement, stating, "This is big news for us. We can now produce tigers from our place, indicating it's safe with enough prey for mothers to eat and breed." Pattanarangsan highlighted successful anti-poaching strategies, such as collaborating with ranchers to install early warning cameras on forest trails.

Furthermore, reductions in commercial bamboo harvesting have mitigated human-tiger conflicts, setting the stage for continued tiger flourishing in the western rainforests of Thailand.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What starts with gas and is made from 10 letters?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
A Sponge!! 🧽 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.