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# U.S. Labor Market Weakens, Bitcoin (BTC) May Benefit, Analysis Suggests Recent data indicates a softening U.S. labor market, potentially serving as a bullish catalyst for Bitcoin (BTC), according to analysts. On March 29, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that job openings fell to 7.2 million in March, the lowest in four years, and below expectations of 7.5 million. Additionally, the U.S. consumer confidence index for April dropped for the fifth straight month, reaching its lowest since January 2021. # Economic Downturn Historically Signals Bitcoin Price Recovery Economic pressures and decreasing confidence in traditional markets may precede Bitcoin's upward momentum, as noted by Cointelegraph. Historical patterns show a correlation between economic downturns and subsequent BTC price recoveries. From January to June 2024, job openings and consumer confidence significantly declined. Bitcoin remained stagnant for three months before surging past $100,000 in mid-October. Analysts attribute this to financial markets and corporate decisions reflecting future economic prospects rather than past trends. # Similar Trends Observed Before 2024 and During the COVID-19 Era These trends are not new. In early 2023, weakened U.S. employment metrics and consumer confidence saw Bitcoin drop to $25,000. It rebounded within 115 days, reaching $43,900 by late October. This pattern was also evident during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, when Bitcoin plummeted below $4,000 before rallying to close the year at $19,700. # Historical Averages Suggest Bitcoin Rebounds Within 130 Days Historically, Bitcoin rebounds within 105 to 130 days of economic indicators reaching their lowest points. If U.S. labor market conditions and consumer confidence improve, Bitcoin’s price could trend upward by mid-July. Analysts forecast that Bitcoin might reach at least $140,000 by October 2025, highlighting Bitcoin's positive response to signs of economic recovery and future financial optimism.

# Meta Introduces 'Meta AI' App, Elevating Personalized User Experiences Meta Platforms has launched its latest artificial intelligence (AI) application, "Meta AI," on the 29th (local time). This standalone app leverages Meta's cutting-edge large language model, "Llama 3," to deliver highly personalized user interactions. Previously, Meta AI was integrated across Meta's suite of apps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. Now, users can directly interact with the AI assistant through its dedicated app. # Integrating Social Features with AI Chat Meta AI features a chat interface similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT but enhances it with a social feature called "Discover." This feature allows users to explore conversation feeds and see how others interact with Meta AI. This social aspect promotes shared learning, creative exploration, and beta testing of AI tools, significantly enhancing the app’s user-centric capabilities. # Practical Tools and Versatility Meta designed the app with practicality in mind. Meta AI assists with tasks such as drafting emails, summarizing news, organizing travel itineraries, and composing poetry. It also includes image generation and search functionalities, broadening its utility. A standout feature of the app is its next-generation voice interaction, known as "Full Duplex." This technology allows seamless, simultaneous voice conversations between users and Meta AI, enabling more natural and fluid interactions. Currently, this feature is being tested in select markets, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with plans for a global rollout in the future. # Expanding AI Beyond the App Meta AI also integrates with Ray-Ban smart glasses, offering hands-free AI functionality. Users can ask their glasses questions about their surroundings or use the built-in camera for object identification, adding a layer of AI support to physical environments. In an Instagram video, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated, "Meta AI is your personal AI assistant, capable of engaging in conversations on any topic." ### Conclusion Meta AI marks a significant move by Meta into the expanding AI field, delivering personalized experiences and pioneering features like full-duplex voice interaction and seamless hardware integration. While currently available in limited markets, the app demonstrates Meta's ambition to redefine how users engage with technology in both personal and professional contexts.

Investors Predict U.S. Economic Downturn Amid Deteriorating Forecasts The U.S. economic outlook is increasingly bleak, with prediction platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi forecasting a slowdown in growth. Recent data from these platforms reveal a significant decline in U.S. GDP growth expectations. # Sharp Decline in U.S. Growth Forecasts On October 29, Kalshi, a derivatives exchange, adjusted the forecasted U.S. economic growth rate from 0.5% the previous day to -0.4%. Similarly, Polymarket estimated a 70% chance of economic contraction. Despite positive GDP growth every quarter since 2022, this could signal an impending recession. # Canadian Prime Minister’s Speech Raises Concerns This decline in forecasts follows a controversial announcement by Mark Carney, Canada's newly elected Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader. In his victory speech in Ottawa, Carney pledged a tough stance against the U.S. in ongoing trade disputes, sparking concerns about economic repercussions. “We will sit down with President Trump to discuss the future of economic and security relations between our two sovereign nations,” Carney said, adding, “The old relationship with the U.S. is now over. While we’ve overcome the shock of America’s betrayal, the lessons learned must not be forgotten.” # U.S. GDP Data in Focus Market participants are eagerly awaiting the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) GDP report, set for release on October 30. This report is anticipated to provide critical insights into the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s trade policies and could shape future forecasts. # Prediction Markets: Proven Accuracy Platforms like Polymarket operate by trading contracts tied to specific events, with prices varying based on outcomes. These prediction markets have emerged as reliable indicators of public opinion, often surpassing traditional polling methods. In 2020, these platforms accurately predicted President Trump’s re-election loss and Republican congressional victories. Investors and market watchers will closely monitor these platforms and forthcoming economic data as the U.S. faces increasing uncertainties on both economic and geopolitical fronts.

**Bitcoin (BTC) Holds Steady While Drift (DRIFT), Akash Network (AKT), ZetaChain (ZETA), and Others Soar on Upbit** Bitcoin (BTC) remains steady, while a wave of altcoins including Drift (DRIFT), Akash Network (AKT), ZetaChain (ZETA), Magic Eden (ME), Vana (VANA), and CARV (CARV) have caught the attention of investors, showing significant gains on Upbit. As of 10:15 a.m. on April 30, 2025, these tokens are among the top performers in terms of price increase and trading volume on the exchange. **Drift (DRIFT): Dominates with a 23.82% Surge** Drift (DRIFT) has surged by 23.82%, trading at 1,027 KRW with a trading volume of 9.85 billion KRW. Drift, a decentralized perpetual futures exchange on the Solana (SOL) blockchain, is gaining popularity due to its innovative features such as the Just-In-Time (JIT) matching mechanism and AMM backup system, which ensure fast order execution. The platform also supports limit orders, decentralized order books, and social login capabilities, positioning it as a strong contender in the DeFi market. **Akash Network (AKT): Gains on Cloud Computing Promise** Akash Network (AKT) rose 9.98% to 2,050 KRW, with a trading volume of 5.98 billion KRW. Akash, a blockchain-based marketplace for computing resources like CPU, GPU, and memory, operates on a Tendermint-based mainnet utilizing the Cosmos (ATOM) SDK. Its utility spans staking, transaction fees, and governance. With growing demand for computing resources, especially in AI industries, Akash’s potential is increasingly attracting investor attention. **ZetaChain (ZETA): Growing with Omnichain Smart Contracts** ZetaChain (ZETA) experienced a 7.00% increase, trading at 402.1 KRW and generating a trading volume of 7.27 billion KRW. ZetaChain, a Layer 1 network for omnichain smart contracts, facilitates seamless interoperability across various blockchains. TSS technology allows native assets from other chains to be utilized on ZetaChain. The ZETA token is used for transaction fees, staking, and network governance. **Magic Eden (ME): Continues to Grow as a Leading NFT Marketplace** Magic Eden (ME) posted a 4.62% increase to 1,496 KRW. As a multi-chain NFT marketplace, Magic Eden supports Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Bitcoin, enabling easy NFT exploration and trading. The platform’s token is crucial for governance, staking, and rewards. Magic Eden is expanding its ecosystem with features like a proprietary wallet and inscription tools. **Vana (VANA): Leading the AI Data Economy** Vana (VANA) rose by 4.39% to 8,844 KRW. Vana is developing a data DAO ecosystem where users can contribute data for AI training in exchange for rewards. It employs a Data Liquidity Pool (DLP) and TEE-based verification system to enhance data reliability and utility. The VANA token underpins the ecosystem, aiding various operations and functionalities. **CARV (CARV): Enhancing Gaming and AI Data Integration** CARV (CARV) increased by 4.30% to 547.9 KRW. CARV is a data layer protocol focused on gaming and AI sectors, integrating decentralized user data to create a cohesive ecosystem. Its application, "CARV Play," connects with various gaming platforms. The CARV token serves governance and utility roles within the ecosystem. The impressive performance of these altcoins indicates rising investor interest and recognition of their unique ecosystems. As the cryptocurrency market evolves, these tokens are establishing significant positions in their respective sectors.

# Stablecoins Outpace Visa in Transaction Volume as Financial Giants Embrace the Market Major financial firms are diving headfirst into the stablecoin market, achieving a new milestone by surpassing Visa in transaction volume. On April 29, digital asset analyst Crypto Rover reported that stablecoin transaction volumes for Q1 2025 reached an astounding $1.5 trillion, overtaking Visa’s $1.4 trillion. "WOWW ???? FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, STABLECOINS OUTPACED VISA IN VOLUME. INSANELY BULLISH ????" Crypto Rover (@rovercrc) tweeted excitedly on April 17, 2025, highlighting this significant achievement. # Key Financial Players Boosting Adoption Leading financial institutions like Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe are deeply involved in the stablecoin sector to leverage this growing industry. Visa introduced the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP) to support the issuance and management of stablecoins and tokenized deposits. Stripe has launched stablecoin payment programs to enhance dollar accessibility for businesses outside the U.S. and Europe. Mastercard now allows consumers to pay with stablecoins, enabling merchants worldwide to accept such payments. # Stablecoin Market Experiences Explosive Growth The stablecoin market continues its rapid expansion. According to CoinGecko, the total market capitalization of stablecoins as of April 28, 2025, stands at approximately $237.4 billion. Tether (USDT), the largest stablecoin by market cap, commands a valuation of about $148 billion, followed by USD Coin (USDC) at $62 billion and USDS at $7.6 billion. In 24-hour trading volume, Tether leads with $52.3 billion, while USDC follows with $6.3 billion. # Industry Leaders Forecast a Stablecoin Boom Chamath Palihapitiya, founder of Social Capital, predicted explosive growth for the stablecoin market by 2025. On April 28, 2025, he stated, “Dollar-based stablecoins will become the biggest beneficiaries. They are set to become a critical backbone of the global financial system.” Referring to Visa’s Tokenized Asset Platform and Stripe’s pilot initiatives, Palihapitiya underscored the promising future of stablecoin adoption in banking and payment systems. "Deep Dive: A Primer on Stablecoins Last year, Visa launched the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform to help banks issue and manage stablecoins and tokenized deposits. This week, Stripe began a stablecoin pilot to assist…" Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) shared on April 28, 2025. # The Future of Stablecoins As financial giants like Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe integrate stablecoin-powered systems, digital assets are poised for broader acceptance in traditional finance and global commerce. With leading financial players and significant transaction volumes backing the sector, stablecoins are well-positioned to become integral to the evolving financial ecosystem.

# Kospi Opens Lower by 0.17%, Kosdaq Marginally Down The South Korean stock market experienced a modest decline in early trading on the morning of October 30. The benchmark Kospi index began the session at 2,561.04, registering a drop of 4.38 points or 0.17% from the previous close of 2,565.42. Simultaneously, the Kosdaq index witnessed a slight downturn, opening at 726.19, marking a minor decrease of 0.27 points or 0.04% from its prior close of 726.46. Investors are expected to keep a close eye on global economic trends and corporate earnings reports, which could serve as significant catalysts for market movements as the day progresses.