Bitcoin's dump continues, and today it has dropped below $80K, which is already a huge decline from $100K - more than 20% in less than a month. So, what do you expect to happen next? Will there be another massive drop that pushes the price below $70K?

In sports betting, looking at different markets makes things more complicated since you need to study them all. So I’m thinking, why not simplify it? Since some of you know I’m into NBA sports betting, I figured a way to make it easier, just focusing on betting on the underdog.

So I’d like to ask, is anyone here strictly betting on underdogs, moneyline? If you’re doing the same, or even if you’re not but have some thoughts on it, feel free to share your opinion.

Let’s be profitable in sports betting!

With the current bull run, one country has benefited significantly - El Salvador. They started accumulating Bitcoin well before this bull run, and as recently reported, they’ve already gained more than 100% on their investment.

Just imagine what that kind of profit could do to improve their country. I think other nations, especially developing ones, should start considering following El Salvador’s lead when it comes to Bitcoin investment. It could improve their economies, it should be a game- changer.

Look at the numbers.

Among those celebrating bitcoin’s ascendance past $100,000 is the country of El Salvador.

President Nayib Bukele on Thursday posted a screenshot of the country’s portfolio on X that showed a current year-to-date balance of $603,340,991, a gain of 117%, or $326,245,977.98, thanks to a bitcoin investment that began in 2021.

During the hack, the stolen Bitcoin was valued at $71 million, but by the time of the arrest, its value had skyrocketed to $4.5 billion according to report. That’s an insane amount of money... A significant portion of the stolen Bitcoin was seized by the U.S. government, marking the largest financial seizure in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice.

It’s crazy how much Bitcoin they managed to hack, but we know when the government gets involved, it’s tough to escape. Still, the sentence of just 5 years in prison seems pretty light. If that’s the case, some might see it as worth the risk, imagine hacking $100 million and spending only 5 years in jail. That’s like earning $20 million a year behind bars! 

You should check out the full story for all the details...

https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-man-sentenced-5-years-over-laundering-crypto-stolen-bitfinex-hack-2024-11-14/

According to the latest report from New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG), Bitcoin continues to stand out as the best-performing asset in 2024. Additionally, Q4 is expected to remain positive for Bitcoin’s price, despite facing various challenges.

https://beincrypto.com/bitcoin-best-performing-asset-2024/

With that information we see above, it shows that Bitcoin has had a very positive year, and the year isn’t even over yet. If it hits a new ATH by the end of the year, that percentage of profit will increase significantly. We should definitely believe in investing in Bitcoin since it's backed by data.

If there are people we want to convince to invest but who are still doubtful, we can point them to this thread. They can ask questions, and we’re ready to share facts with them.

[But here are the words that would make someone panic.]

Do you know people keep intimate pictures and videos on their phones, and they might not have enough idea about the kind of crypto scams going around online? Better tell them to read this - it's a warning, but someone might fall for it, especially if they’ve really got something to hide.

"This is utilizing, essentially publicly available imagery of your home, so if you go to, like, Google Maps, or Apple Maps you can actually see photographs of your home, type in your address and there it is."

He said scammers crop those photographs and send them to potential victims, as though they are outside their homes, to indicate they have compromised devices such as phones, laptops and desk tops.

He said they will say thing such as, "We have access to your intimate photographs, we have access to your pornographic website browsing,"[/b]

But here are the words that would make someone panic.

Another news  that would impact the price of bitcoin.. will this result to Bitcoin dropping below $60k, or even more?

The Supreme Court's decision allows the US to sell 69,370 seized Silk Road Bitcoin, setting up one of the largest Bitcoin auctions in history.

Key Takeaways
Supreme Court paves way for US to sell $4.4 billion in Silk Road Bitcoin.
Battle Born loses appeal as US preps for largest seized Bitcoin auction in history.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal regarding the ownership of 69,370 Bitcoin seized from the infamous Silk Road marketplace. This decision paves the way for the US government to move forward with selling the $4.4 billion worth of BTC.

The decision effectively upholds a 2022 ruling by the US District Court for the Northern District of California, which ordered the government to liquidate Bitcoin under existing laws.

The case, brought by Battle Born Investments, argued that the company had acquired rights to the Bitcoin through a bankruptcy estate connected to the Silk Road. Battle Born claimed that the Bitcoin was stolen by an individual known as “Individual X,” who allegedly took the funds from Silk Road.

Read in full --- https://cryptobriefing.com/supreme-court-silk-road-bitcoin/

Since I'm a sports bettor, I'll use sports betting as a reference. I’ve read many books about sports betting, learning how to spot trap games, and find value bets, but the most important aspect for me is bankroll management. You’ve probably heard the saying in gambling, "bet what you can afford to lose," which is all about managing your bankroll.

To set up a proper bankroll, it’s suggested to use only 1% to 5% of your monthly income. That means your bankroll is set for one month and should not be refilled until the next month comes around. The idea is to see some wins so you don’t have to top up again.

For example, if your monthly income is $2,000, your betting budget should be $200. And to make that bankroll last, proper budgeting is crucial, which is where bankroll management plays its role. In my case, I stake only 3% to 5% per bet. So, with a $200 bankroll, my maximum stake per game would be $10. Sticking to that strategy greatly increases the chance of enjoying gambling over the long term.

How about you? Are you using a similar method, or do you approach it differently?

Recently, there was news about the ICHCoin crypto scam, which has scammed around $30 million from users across the US. The scammers primarily use Facebook and Instagram to find potential victims, pretending to be crypto experts offering advice to lure them in. Eventually, they move to WhatsApp to finalize their pitch and convince the victims to invest.

This scam started back in December 2023 and has targeted around 600 individuals, with many losing large amounts of money -some even their entire savings. If we do a bit of math, that $30 million divided by 600 victims averages out to $50,000 each, showing just how effective and targeted their approach is. Scammers like this will likely continue to operate, but hopefully, we can see a decrease in these scams by educating ourselves and staying aware. Newbies should be especially cautious of these tactics.

Full story here.

https://cryptonews.com/news/fbi-investigates-ichcoin-crypto-scam-costing-victims-millions/

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a significant pump in the Bitcoin market, unlike in the past when pump-and-dump trends were common. If I recall correctly, any news involving government approval would cause a pump in price, while negative news, like China’s Bitcoin ban in the past, would trigger a dump, but these effects were usually temporary.

Recently, I’ve noticed something different, like with the ETF example. Before it was approved, traders and investors were highly optimistic that once it got the green light, Bitcoin would "go to the moon." The application process for a Bitcoin ETF started back in 2013, /with many applications eventually approved , but this recent one is the biggest.

When BlackRock announced their application for a spot Bitcoin ETF on June 15, 2023, it pumped Bitcoin’s price, and then there was another surge from the false report of approval.

So, to cut the story short, are we heading towards a more stable Bitcoin price now that institutional investors are entering the market? And if that’s the case, will the market become "boring," with less volatility as the pump-and-dump behavior fades? What are your thoughts on this?.....

[The emails include images that appear to be taken from online mapping applications, such as Google Maps, depicting the street or front yard of the targeted individuals.According to the authorities, the emails have a threatening tone and demand a bitcoin payment, typically in the amount of either $1,950 or $2,000.]

And interesting topic here;

Randolph police warn of new email scam demanding bitcoin

RANDOLPH — Police are alerting the community about a new scam involving threatening emails that demand bitcoin payments after victims received messages containing their personal information and photos of their homes.

The Randolph Police Department reported an increase in complaints from residents who have received emails, mostly from gmail.com accounts, that use the victims’ full names and addresses.

The emails include images that appear to be taken from online mapping applications, such as Google Maps, depicting the street or front yard of the targeted individuals.

According to the authorities, the emails have a threatening tone and demand a bitcoin payment, typically in the amount of either $1,950 or $2,000.

Scammers have included a QR code for the intended payment and falsely claim that Pegasus malware has been installed on the victim’s computer.

Police emphasized that recipients of such emails should not respond.

The recommended action is to immediately move the email to the spam folder and then delete it to avoid further risk.

The department urges anyone who receives a similar email or has questions to contact the Randolph Police Department at 781-963-1212 for assistance and support in dealing with the scam.

The scam attempt seems so simple, yet there are still people who fall for it. It’s a threat, though we don’t always know what kind, but for those who aren’t familiar with the technology, seeing an email where the scammer knows their address and even has a picture could really scare them, not realizing it just came from Google Maps. That’s why people need to be more educated about these kinds of scams and the technology behind them to help minimize cases like this.

I believe there are many gamblers here in the forum who regularly share their wins and losses. But I'm curious—has it ever crossed your mind to consider becoming a professional gambler, someone who makes a living out of it and enjoys a life of financial freedom?

I am interested to know your personal perspective and experience as well. I understand that as gamblers, we have different financial statuses in life. Some gamble for fun, while others are very serious about it. Can you relate to the question and answer it? How realistic is your target profit when gambling? Are you already happy with a 100% return, or do you want a 1000% return? Please use figures in your explanation so we can understand it better.

[How long have you been gambling, and have you already figured out how to win? If yes or no, please explain.]

It just came to my mind, and I hope users here will find this topic interesting. This might seem like a simple question, but hopefully it is interesting for some sports bettors, whether we are starting out or have been gambling for years. We will know what makes us continue gambling even if we aren't successful in making money yet, or if we stay because making money in sports betting is very easy.

So please answer this question:

How long have you been gambling, and have you already figured out how to win? If yes or no, please explain.

I know that as gamblers, everyone can relate to this question, as we have surely experienced it in real situations.

Suppose our bankroll is $100 and it has already grown to $500, would you quit or continue? Conversely, if with our bankroll, we are down to $10, would you still continue or save the remaining $10? I used specific amounts to make it easier to discuss this situation. I understand that we all gamble with different amounts based on our income, but consider this as an example. You can mention any amount you want based on your personal experience; it doesn't matter.

Gambling has been a part of our lives if you are an active gambler, and as this year is about to end, I would like to know your New Year's resolution.

Please share it with us here, and please don't make your new years resolution like you will not gamble again, that's against the rule of a gambler.

Also, I like to greet you all, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

This fight is only possible, if Casimero is going to sign with MP Promotion again. As stated in the article, MP promotion through SEAN Gibbons are willing to help Casimero to get a fight with Inoue. And according to the camp if Inoue, Champ's fight was already line up, and will start with Nery (as mandatory challenger) and Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Casimero is currently last in the list, but anything can happen as long as the negotiation is would result to in agreement of both parties.

Read, for more story here/
Gibbons willing to open door for potential Casimero fight with Inoue

[all the time]

Recently, I've had some issues with bankroll management. Although I've been gambling for years, sometimes I feel the urge to get more action because I'm not satisfied with my winnings. It's as if there's no tomorrow, and seizing the moment seems like the best option. However, whenever I become undisciplined, it usually doesn't end well. My realization is that no matter how good you are at choosing the right bets, without discipline in bankroll management, you'll still end up losing.

Could you please share some of your honest experiences here and how you became a disciplined gambler, particularly in managing your bankroll? What factors do you consider to be satisfied and to stick with the game plan all the time?

I stumbled upon a thread by Jet Cash, and it appears to be like a professor interacting with his students, rewarding them with merits for their answers. Honestly, I'm quite impressed with what he has done as it encourages posters to provide more valuable posts, especially those who want to receive merits. As we alll know, not all good posts are merited since some boards do not have as many merits as others.

This brings me to a suggestion for our merit sources out there. Maybe you can create a thread on an important topic for discussion and reward those who share their valuable insights. This way, it would be easier to determine if a thread contains valuable information, as it is initiated by the merit source itself. I hope you understand what I'm trying to emphasize.

I'm not suggesting that it should be compulsory for merit sources, but I wanted to share what I have observed. It's up to you guys to decide how you perceive it.


You can see the thread here ; [Merits again] Discuss the velocity of Bitcoin 

I haven't read the news yet, but it's been several days since the transaction fee has been very high. I checked on https://mempool.emzy.de/ and this is what I see now.



As a gambler, I'm a bit worried if this trend will continue because I have some fraction of bitcoin that I'd like to use for gambling, especially for the NBA playoffs. So for my fellow gamblers, or those who really need to transact with their bitcoin, what are the best things to do now in order to save from fees and avoid having our transactions stay unconfirmed for too long?