Is there still a chance for mining? The line between reality and scams
Entering 2025, discussions around Bitcoin mining continue to heat up. As the fourth halving event of 2024 concludes, global hash rate competition intensifies, and energy policies tighten, many are asking: can individuals still earn BTC through mining?
The answer is: yes, but definitely not "free."
The early days of "making money with a computer" are over. Today, mining has evolved into a professional competition that requires investment in hardware, electricity, and learning. For ordinary people, the key is to understand the actual current returns from mining and the hidden traps.
The essence of Bitcoin mining: bookkeeping for the network, earning rewards
Before understanding mining, clarify the basic logic:
Mining = Miners use mining machines to keep records for the Bitcoin network, and the system rewards BTC
Here are the three key roles:
- Miner: owns mining machines, participates in network maintenance

The Australian dollar, as the fifth largest trading currency globally, ranks just behind the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen, and British pound in trading activity. This position should make the AUD attractive to investors, but the reality is quite the opposite—over the past decade, the Australian dollar has performed persistently poorly, depreciating over 35% from the 1.05 level in early 2013 to its current level. So, will the AUD continue to fall? What is the underlying logic?
Why has the AUD fallen into a long-term decline? Three fundamental reasons
The suppression by a strong dollar cycle
This is not an issue unique to the AUD. During the same period, the euro, Japanese yen, and Canadian dollar also depreciated against the US dollar, while the US dollar index (DXY) rose by 28.35%. This indicates that the AUD's weakness stems from a comprehensive US dollar appreciation cycle. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the AUD/USD fell by 9.2%, and by 2025, it even touched a five-year low of 0.5933, with market concerns about the AUD intensifying.
The double-edged sword of commodity currency attributes

The Bank of Japan's interest rate decision on December 19 has become a recent focal point, with the market generally expecting the rate hike to be settled. According to multiple forecasts, this rate increase could reach 25 bps, pushing the interest rate to 0.75%, a new high in thirty years.
The rate hike expectations have been priced in, and attention has shifted to the policy direction
It is worth noting that the BOJ's decision to raise rates has already been fully absorbed by the market. The real focus is on Governor Ueda Kazuo's attitude towards the future rate hike path. Institutional analysts generally believe that the BOJ may raise its lower bound estimate of the neutral interest rate range from the current 1.0% upward.
From the perspective of terminal rate pricing, the market expects rates to further rise to 1.0% before September 2026. However, Nomura Securities has raised objections, believing that such expectations are overly hawkish and should be re-evaluated.
Exchange rate outlook presents two scenarios
The BOJ's attitude towards rate hikes

U.S. stocks received major news after Wednesday's session—Oracle (ORCL.US) announced its Q4 FY2025 (ending May 31) earnings report, and the stock price immediately turned from decline to rise, closing the after-hours session up 7.58%. What factors are driving this strong rebound?
Key financial data exceeded expectations
From a numerical perspective, Oracle's performance this quarter was indeed impressive. Revenue reached $15.90 billion, an 11% year-over-year increase, surpassing analyst forecasts; non-GAAP earnings per share were $1.70, exceeding expectations; and the board announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50.
Looking at the business segments, revenue from core cloud services and license support was $11.70 billion, up 14% year-over-year, remaining the main contributor to total revenue. Cloud license and on-premises license revenue were $2.01 billion, a 9% increase year-over-year. Notably, overall cloud revenue (IaaS plus Sa

Bank of Japan's rate hike lands, signals a turning point for RMB-JPY exchange rate
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, bringing the rate to 0.75%, the highest since 1995. However, Governor Ueda Kazuo did not provide the strongly hawkish guidance the market anticipated, resulting in a negative impact on the yen. As of press time, USD/JPY rose by 1.05% to 157.09, indicating that the RMB-JPY exchange rate is also facing a new volatility pattern. The market had originally bet on more aggressive rate hike expectations, but the central bank's "dovish" stance caused traders to directly sell off the yen.
The monster worth $7.1 trillion is coming: Will the "Triple Witch" really cause an earthquake?
Today marks the most shocking "Triple Witch" day in the market—the expiration of options, futures, and index futures all on the same day. According to Goldman Sachs data, over $7.1 trillion in notional value of options contracts are about to expire, with approximately $5 trillion linked to the S&P 500 index, the largest in history.

Macroeconomic data is the compass for investment decisions. Among various indicators, GDP ranking best reflects changes in the global economic landscape. What investment opportunities are hidden behind these GDP figures? Why do some countries' stock markets move in the opposite direction despite similar economic growth? This article provides an in-depth analysis.
Global Economic Map: Who Is Rising, Who Is Falling?
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total economic output of a country or region within a specific period and is the most intuitive indicator of economic strength. Countries with high GDP rankings often hold the dominant voice in the global economy and can exert greater influence in international trade, investment, and industrial competition.
According to the latest publicly available data from the IMF, the global economic landscape in 2022 shows a clear divergence:
| Rank | Country | Total GDP | Growth Rate | GDP per Capita |
|------|---------|-----------|--------------|----------------|

The RMB has appreciated significantly recently, with the USD to RMB exchange rate falling to a one-year low. The main reasons include the Federal Reserve's rate cuts releasing room and the People's Bank of China's guidance to strengthen the exchange rate. Experts point out that this appreciation reflects a change in policy stance, enhances support for RMB internationalization, and Goldman Sachs predicts the exchange rate will reach 7 yuan by the end of the year and rise to 6.85 yuan by 2026, indicating a long-term strategic intention.

After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, Powell relaxed his stance on inflation during the press conference and mentioned risks in the labor market, emphasizing a "wait-and-see" approach. This led to a sharp decline in the US dollar and a surge in gold prices. Analysts believe that Powell's dovish stance has stimulated the market, and gold is expected to challenge the target of $4,300 per ounce.

Recently, the RMB has performed strongly against the US dollar, hitting new lows, mainly influenced by the Federal Reserve's rate cuts and the People's Bank of China's guidance. The RMB exchange rate has been steadily rising, demonstrating international credibility, which helps accelerate the internationalization process, with a significant increase in daily trading volume. Goldman Sachs predicts that the RMB will reach 7 yuan by the end of the year, with a noticeable improvement in future international competitiveness.

December 19, the global market risk sentiment heats up, with US tech stocks like Nvidia and Tesla leading the rally. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates but did not signal a hawkish stance, leading to a depreciation of the yen. Today is options expiration day, and market volatility has increased. The cryptocurrency and precious metals markets are showing divergence, with funds flowing into platinum and palladium.

After the Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, the yen depreciated. The market lacks clear guidance on future rate hikes, and the central bank governor's ambiguous statements have been interpreted by investors as dovish signals, leading to insufficient capital inflows. Analysts believe that a clear policy stance and strong verbal guidance are crucial for supporting the yen.

The Japanese Yen continues to weaken against the US dollar, affected by weak Japanese economic data and expectations of the central bank's interest rate hikes. At the same time, escalating political tensions between China and Japan have caused volatility in the currency market. The Federal Reserve's policy adjustments also support the US dollar, and investors should closely monitor upcoming economic data and policy developments.

In the investment market, there is an ancient saying: "Yin and Yang are the way." This phrase perfectly explains the essence of the financial market—since there is an upward trend, there must be a downward trend; since some make money from rising prices, others profit from falling prices.
Many novice investors only understand part of the picture; they only look for opportunities to buy during an uptrend but fail to realize how smart traders profit through opposite strategies during market adjustments. In fact, going long means buying and holding with confidence in the future market, while going short involves selling in advance when expecting a decline. Mastering these two strategies allows you to respond effectively in any market environment.
Short Selling and Going Long: The Dual Sides of Profit Logic
What exactly is short selling?
Simply put, short selling is a "sell first, buy later" trading method. When an investor judges that the price of an asset will decline in the future, they can borrow the asset from a broker, sell it at the current price, and wait for the price to fall before repurchasing it at a lower price.

The Bank of Japan is about to announce its interest rate decision, and market expectations for a rate hike are generally optimistic, with the rate expected to rise to 0.75%. Although the market has already priced in the rate hike expectations, the governor's remarks and the subsequent rate hike path will have a significant impact on the market, and major institutions' forecasts for future exchange rate trends are also notably divergent. This decision will influence global carry trade and investor decisions.

The NT dollar to Japanese Yen has surged to 4.85, an 8.7% increase from 4.46 at the beginning of the year. Whether you're a traveler heading to Japan at the end of the year or looking to hedge your assets against NT dollar depreciation, now is a great time to re-evaluate the Japanese Yen. This article will help you understand the four most common currency exchange channels in Taiwan, their cost differences, and how to make the Yen continue to work for you after exchanging.
Why exchange Yen now? Three main reasons
Travel and consumption demand increase
Tourist flows to Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa are picking up again. Japan remains the top choice for Taiwanese travelers. Additionally, cash usage in Japan still accounts for 40% (with credit card penetration at only 60%), so whether for shopping, purchasing on behalf of others, studying abroad, or working part-time, the demand for Yen cash remains stable.
Yen is one of the three safe-haven assets globally
Alongside the US dollar and Swiss franc, the Yen is considered a safe asset due to Japan's stable economy and low government debt. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the Yen appreciated by 8% in a week, effectively hedging against stock market declines. For Taiwan

Australia's economic fundamentals continue to improve, rewriting market expectations for the country's monetary policy. The latest household expenditure data reveals the underlying driving forces behind this shift.
Domestic demand data exceeds expectations, and inflationary pressures remain.
In October, household spending increased by 1.3% month-on-month, far surpassing the market forecast of 0.6%; year-on-year growth also reached 5.6%, exceeding the expected 4.6%. This set of data sends a clear signal: Australian consumer spending remains strong, and domestic demand momentum has not waned. Correspondingly, Australia's October Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.8% year-on-year, again exceeding expectations, indicating that inflationary pressures still persist.
Abhijit Surya, an economist at Capital Economics, commented that this expenditure data "confirms that the Reserve Bank of Australia will not continue easing," and even hints that the risk of policy shift has already emerged.
Market pricing reversal, expectations for rate hikes have risen sharply
After the data release,

In recent years, a remarkable phenomenon has emerged in the crypto market—the rise of Meme Coins. Although these assets originated from internet culture jokes, they have generated stories of returns multiplying by dozens or even hundreds of times. According to on-chain data, the total market capitalization of the entire meme coin sector has surpassed $50 billion, with the most outstanding performers far exceeding Bitcoin and Ethereum in gains.
Bitcoin has decreased by -7.68% over the past year, and Ethereum has fallen by -13.96%, while the top performers among meme coins are defying the trend—DOGE (Dogecoin) has a circulating market cap of $21.156 billion, with a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $21.78 million. What underlying logic is hidden behind this?
What exactly are Meme Coins?
Meme, translated as "meme" or "meme," was originally proposed by biologist Richard Dawkins in the 1970s for the purpose of...

In just two days, the Taiwanese dollar has surged by 10%, a reverse fluctuation amid the backdrop of a strengthening US dollar.
Recently, the New Taiwan dollar has staged a jaw-dropping appreciation show. Against the global backdrop of a rising US dollar, the TWD has defied the trend and soared sharply, accumulating nearly 10% gains over just two trading days, a rare phenomenon among Asian currencies.
On May 2nd, the New Taiwan dollar against the US dollar jumped 5% in a single day, rewriting the largest single-day gain in 40 years, closing at 31.064, reaching a 15-month high. The following week on May 5th, the TWD's rally continued, rising another 4.92%, and during the trading session, it broke through the psychological barrier of 30, with a high of 29.59. This astonishing appreciation speed triggered the third-highest trading volume in the history of the foreign exchange market.
Compared to other Asian currencies, the Singapore dollar appreciated by 1.41%, the Japanese yen by 1.5%, and the Korean won by a significant 3.8%, but these gains are far less than the TWD's rapid surge.

WTI crude oil recently dropped sharply to $54.98 per barrel, and Brent crude also fell below the $60 mark to $58.72 per barrel. This is a rare low since 2021, reflecting market pessimism about supply prospects. Since 2025, WTI has declined nearly 25%, and Brent's decline has also exceeded 20%.
Geopolitical expectations shift accelerates the decline
News of a potential easing of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has become the latest catalyst. Recent statements from U.S. leaders indicate that the two countries are close to reaching a peace agreement, prompting the market to reassess the geopolitical premium. Once a ceasefire agreement is formed, the market expects U.S. export restrictions on Russian oil to be quickly relaxed, and Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure to come to an end.
Rystad Energy's analysis suggests that this will lead to a large influx of Russian oil back into the international market, further exacerbating the global oversupply situation.