Bitcoin was up over 20% year to date Thursday morning.

Data suggests that the recent price rise is being driven by U.S. investors buying bitcoin on spot and derivatives exchanges. Meanwhile, there are now more "whales" swimming in this global sea than since mid-2019. And bitcoin custodial startups are reporting an uptick in users.

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It's suspected much of this activity is driven by the impending halving event, which for some sober minds, is nothing more than an act of arithmetic. Here's the story:

Top Shelf

American BuyersData indicatesAmerican buyers are fueling bitcoins rally.On U.S. exchanges, spot premiums are showing stronger buy-side pressure relative to other markets. Further, exchanges licensed to offer bitcoin futures to American investors are rallying while their unlicensed competitors are not. Su Zhu, CEO of Three Arrows Capital, said American investors should give us a strong base given that U.S. tax policy means nobody sells spot for small profits.

Call Me Ishmael, Is That A Whale?The number of Bitcoin addresses holding more than 10,000 coins rose tothe highest level since mid-2019.These 111 so-called whales contribute to the bullish narrative surrounding the top crypto by marketcap. Some of these addresses may belong to high-net-worth individuals or groups, who are diversifying into bitcoin amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and ahead of the mining reward halving, said Wayne Chen, CEO of Interlapse Technologies.

Custody During COVIDBitcoin wallet startups are reporting anuptick in users and profitsamid the market disruption caused by COVID-19. An event like that [pandemic] makes people think about how they are storing their bitcoin,"Will Cole, Unchaineds chief product officer, said.

Parental HelpIntercontinental Exchange, theparent company to Bakkt, spent close to $300 millionhelping the bitcoin warehouse acquire loyalty rewards provider Bridge2 Solutions. Bakkt announced it would acquire Bridge2 in February, while simultaneously raising a $300 million Series B funding round with participation from Microsoft's M12, PayU, Boston Consulting Group, Goldfinch Partners, CMT Digital and Pantera Capital.

Mining MoneyArgo Blockchain, a bitcoin mining firm listed on the London Stock Exchange, reported an11-fold increase in revenuesfrom the year before. The company attributed its success to cutting off its consumer-facing arm and focusing on mining some 1,330 bitcoin last year.

Validating TopazTop-five mining pool OKEx Pool will trial Ethereum 2.0s new testnet. Collaborating with Prysmatic Labs, the mining pool dedicated to proof-of-work consensus models will become a validator for the experimental proof-of-stake Topaz testnet. (Decrypt)

Static EtherEthereans are hodling. Data firm Glassnodes has found more than 77% the outstanding ETH supply has not moved in six months. (The Block)

Open to OperateSan Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchangeOKCoin is now cleared to operate in Japan,a nation known for its tight licensing requirements. The exchange began the arduous process of applying for regulatory approval in 2017. CoinDesk's Nathan DiCamillo breaks down why they went through the ringer.

Blockchain for UBIA Zurich-based startup has built a proof-of-personhood protocol to disseminate universal basic income (UBI) to the unbanked. Encointer, backed by the Web3 Foundation, plans to distribute a cryptocurrency for use within a designated locality among willing participants. (Decrypt)

Is Bitcoin Boring?Despite the enthusiasm leading into Bitcoins third halving event, expected in less than two weeks, on a technical level nothing really changes. The BlocksMike Orcuttdigs into the cultural significance of this mundane happening, when Bitcoins code automatically splits its mining subsidy.

Class ActionA district court judge has granted preliminary approval to a$25 class-action claimmade against Tezos. Litigants are suing Tezos alleging its initial coin offering violated U.S. securities laws. (Paywalled)

On FireBlockchain startup Fireblocks reported $30 billion in digital asset transfers using its services. Launched less than a year ago, the company will also open new offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. (Forbes)

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Whales and American Buyers Drive Bitcoin Rally - CoinDesk