Jour : 29 décembre 2024

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As markets fluctuate unpredictably, securing investments becomes a top priority. Certain cryptocurrencies emerge as pillars of stability amid the chaos. This article examines five digital assets that can shield finances during volatile times. Discover which cryptos have the potential to minimize losses and act as a hedge against market swings. Delve in to learn how to fortify a portfolio with these strategic choices.
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Bitcoin (BTC) emerged in 2009 as the first cryptocurrency, introducing the world to blockchain technology. Created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was designed to be a decentralized digital currency, enabling peer-to-peer transactions without the need for banks or central authorities. Instead of physical coins, Bitcoin operates on a distributed ledger across many network nodes. Miners verify transactions by solving complex puzzles in a process called mining, earning new bitcoins as a reward. This system not only facilitates secure transactions but also aims to prevent fraud.
As of October 2023, Bitcoin remains a dominant force in the cryptocurrency market. Its limited supply of 21 million coins and the halving event, which reduces miners’ rewards by half every four years, contribute to its scarcity. This can affect mining profitability but also adds to Bitcoin’s appeal as a deflationary asset. In the current market cycle, Bitcoin continues to attract interest amid global economic uncertainties. Compared to newer coins, it is often seen as a store of value, like digital gold. While the market is volatile, Bitcoin’s pioneering technology and widespread adoption keep it at the forefront of the crypto world.
Ethereum, introduced by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and launched in 2015, has been a trailblazer in the blockchain world. Pioneering the use of smart contracts, it has fostered a vast ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps) and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Ethereum’s network enables the creation of ERC-20 tokens, widely used for governance, utility, and value storage across various applications. The transition to a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism with the Merge in 2022 marked a significant milestone, enhancing energy efficiency and paving the way for future scalability solutions like sharding. These developments aim to increase transaction speeds and reduce costs, reinforcing Ethereum’s commitment to decentralization and technological advancement.
Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum, remains central to the network’s functionality. It facilitates transactions, rewards stakers, and serves as a tradable asset and collateral within the ecosystem. Based on historical price movements and Bitcoin halving cycles, some predictions estimate that Ethereum’s price could reach a yearly low of $2,700.31 in 2025 and potentially climb to $6,580.53 next year. While these figures offer insights into possible trends, the cryptocurrency market is known for its volatility. Ethereum’s continuous innovation and key role in DeFi make it a noteworthy contender in the current market cycle. As the blockchain landscape evolves, Ethereum’s focus on scalability and efficiency may enhance its appeal compared to other cryptocurrencies.
XRP is a digital currency aiming to revolutionize how we transfer money. Supported by the XRP Ledger, it offers fast, low-cost, and secure transactions without the need for a bank account. Created by Jed McCaleb, Arthur Britto, and David Schwartz, XRP began with 100 billion coins. Ripple, the company that champions XRP’s development, was gifted 80 billion of these coins. They use XRP to enhance liquidity and support the growing ecosystem. The name XRP comes from “ripple credits,” highlighting its mission to enable seamless payments across different currencies.
In today’s market, XRP’s potential is drawing attention. Its technology allows for quick and affordable cross-border transactions, setting it apart from other cryptocurrencies. While Bitcoin and Ethereum have their strengths, XRP’s focus on speedy settlements and low fees makes it attractive for everyday use. Market trends show a growing demand for practical digital currencies that solve real-world problems. With its partnerships with financial institutions and commitment to improving global payments, XRP is positioned as a strong contender in the evolving landscape of digital finance.
Dogecoin started as a lighthearted joke in 2013, featuring a Shiba Inu dog from a popular internet meme. Created by Billy Marcus and Jackson Palmer, it was meant to be a fun alternative to traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a limited supply, Dogecoin has no maximum limit, and 10,000 new coins are mined every minute. This makes it plentiful and easily accessible.
In 2021, Dogecoin’s value skyrocketed, reaching over $50 billion in market cap and joining the top ten cryptocurrencies. This surge was driven by social media buzz and high-profile endorsements, especially from Elon Musk. Dogecoin’s rise shows the power of community and how online trends can impact financial markets. While it started as a meme, its growing popularity suggests it could play a bigger role in the crypto world. Compared to other coins, Dogecoin’s abundant supply and active community make it unique. In the current market cycle, its potential depends on continued support and interest from users and influencers.
In the current bull run, BTC, ETH, XRP, and DOGE remain solid, but XYZVerse (XYZ) offers a unique, high-growth opportunity by combining sports and meme culture in a community-driven ecosystem.
You can find more information about XYZVersus (XYZ) here:
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As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take over the White House next year, expectation surrounding David Sacks’ role as the United States’ crypto czar grows in the cryptocurrency sector. In a conversation with BeInCrypto, industry leaders Ryan Chow of Solv Protocol and Kadan Stadelmann of Komodo expressed their optimism about Sacks’ appointment, expecting favorable changes toward a more industry-friendly regulatory environment.
Earlier this month, Trump appointed Sacks, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with over two decades of Silicon Valley experience, as the White House cryptocurrency and AI czar.Sacks brings extensive experience to this role, having served as PayPal’s founding COO and a fellow member of the PayPal Mafia. He later founded Yammer, an enterprise software platform that Microsoft subsequently acquired for $1.2 billion.The crypto community holds high expectations for Sacks and expects him to guide the development of a unified national approach to policymaking and positioning the United States as a leader in emerging technologies.
“Sacks is expected to advocate for clearer guidelines that would benefit blockchain firms, potentially reducing compliance burdens and encouraging investment in digital assets,” Brian Chow, CEO of Solv Protocol, told BeInCrypto.
As an early and vocal proponent of cryptocurrency, Sacks approved of Trump’s efforts to engage with leaders in the sector. After his appointment, he expressed excitement in an X post over the possibility of advancing American competitiveness in emerging technologies.
“One of Sacks’ primary responsibilities will be to establish a legal framework for cryptocurrency that provides much-needed clarity to an industry often plagued by regulatory uncertainty. His appointment may signal that the Trump administration aims to implement business-friendly regulations that could foster innovation in the blockchain sector. This aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to position the US as a leader in technology and cryptocurrency,” Chow added.
Given his long-standing enthusiasm for cryptocurrency, Sacks now has the opportunity to influence the development of industry-friendly regulations.
The incoming ‘crypto czar’ is also known in part for his vocal contempt toward current Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Gary Gensler’s regulatory approach to digital assets.
Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC adopted an aggressive regulatory approach, targeting major crypto firms and exchanges. While aiming to protect investors, these actions generated friction within the industry, with stakeholders arguing that they hindered innovation and created regulatory uncertainty.
The United States currently lags behind countries like the UAE and Singapore in providing clear regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency industry.
According to Chow, as Trump’s crypto czar, Sacks can effectively influence the development of clear regulatory guidelines for digital assets.
“Sacks is expected to advocate for clearer guidelines that would benefit blockchain firms, potentially reducing compliance burdens and encouraging investment in digital assets,” Chow shared.
Sacks is now tasked with deciding whether the United States will be a leader in blockchain innovation or risk creating further regulatory uncertainty within the crypto industry.
Though Sacks promises a crypto agenda, the responsibilities of a ‘crypto czar’ remain uncertain.
“The ambiguity surrounding Sacks’ role — being part-time and not requiring Senate confirmation — raises questions about his capacity to enact significant policy changes,” Chow said.
Despite this ambiguity, Trump’s appointment of pro-crypto individuals to key seats of his incumbent administration will more easily foster a regulatory environment conducive to digital innovation.
“The choice of Sacks, alongside Paul Atkins as SEC Chair, indicates a move away from the enforcement-heavy policies seen during the Biden administration,” Chow noted.
In addition to Atkins, Trump picked Stephen Miran, a former Treasury official during his first administration, to chair the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA). As the name suggests, the Council serves as an advisory body to the President on economic matters. Miran is a vocal advocate for cryptocurrency who has previously called for regulatory reforms in the United States. As CEA chair, he will analyze economic trends, develop economic growth strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies.Meanwhile, Trump appointed Bo Hines, a former congressional candidate, Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. Hines will collaborate with Sacks to develop a regulatory framework that balances innovation and consumer protection. Nonetheless, the crypto industry expects Sacks to leverage decision-making.
“Although Sacks’ role is advisory and part-time, his close relationship with Trump positions him to influence key policy decisions affecting both AI and cryptocurrencies,” Chow added.
In a conversation with BeInCrypto, Komodo Platform CTO Kadan Stadelmann, expressed that, at the end of the day, Trump himself will be able to wield the most power over crypto policies. 
“By giving the crypto industry his blessing, Donald Trump himself can do plenty to help the US catch up with countries where regulatory clarity is already the order of the day. Sacks can certainly advise, and perhaps help nudge other branches of government to get in line with the President’s vision,” Stadelmann said.
While Sacks is a good addition, his appointment isn’t indispensable in shaping regulations, according to Stadelmann.
“Donald Trump’s re-election could be grounds for companies to return to the US, especially as he promises 15 percent tax rates for corporations. Sacks’ appointment is an afterthought,” he added.
The crypto industry will see various policy changes alongside the appointment of a new SEC chair. This includes executive orders that would facilitate greater access to banking services for crypto firms, the appointment of crypto-friendly individuals to key government positions, and even the establishment of a possible strategic Bitcoin reserve.
The conversation surrounding a more friendly approach to digital assets also leads to the topic of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Central banks issue and regulate CBDCs, which are digital forms of money. Unlike cryptocurrencies, CBDCs are intended to coexist with physical currency, rather than replace it.
Recognizing the digitization of money and payments, central banks worldwide have increasingly explored the development of CBDCs to ensure their continued relevance in a changing virtual financial world.
“While Sacks is not explicitly tasked with developing a CBDC, his influence on crypto policy could shape discussions around it. A CBDC could be seen as a government response to the rise of private digital currencies, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and regulation of these assets,” Chow told BeInCrypto.
Given that the Trump administration has to comply with a long list of crypto-friendly policies, CBDCs may not be at the top.
“Sacks’ preference for deregulation might slow down or complicate any moves toward establishing a CBDC, as he may prioritize enhancing the existing crypto ecosystem over introducing government alternatives,” Chow added.
How much control Sacks has over creating US-back digital currency remains a question.
“Critics argue that his ability to influence major decisions regarding CBDCs or private cryptocurrencies could be limited without formal authority or oversight. It’s likely that CBDC will be brought up for discussion during his tenure, but in the end, well-regulated digital assets may still be the preferred choice,” Chow said.
Whether Trump wants to create a digital dollar is another obstacle for hopeful CBDC enthusiasts. In January, Trump delivered a speech in New Hampshire pledging that as President, he “would never allow the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency,” referring to it as “very dangerous” and a form of “government tyranny.”Only time will tell if Trump’s stance will remain the same.
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Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.
To the editor: After watching the Buckeyes rip apart Tennessee in the wake of losing to a subpar Michigan team, a couple of things occurred to me. Each has to do with Buckeye behavior during The Game week.
First, Ohio State students engage in two distinct activities.  One — the blood donation “battle” with Michigan students — is most admirable. The other involves fanning out across campus with rolls of masking tape to cover up every “M” in sight. It’s just kids having some fun, and that’s fine. But why not instead consider devoting that time to another charitable endeavor? Something along the lines of raising awareness for student mental health issues or raising money to help support an elementary school in the university district.
And second, NO ONE in Buckeye land is permitted to say the word “Michigan” during the week. It’s That Team Up North. Or it’s “our rival.” This has included one head coach after another. It’s a “tradition” that strikes me as a tacit admission that our fiercest opponent has become a worm that’s burrowed its way much too deeply into our collective cranium. It seems to me that simply referring to this team by its name might actually free us — in particular our coaches and players — to simply focus on smart game planning and coaching and then laying the lumber as they all did against the Volunteers.
Please understand — I was born and raised in Columbus. I’m a lifelong Buckeye diehard and a proud OSU alum. Geez, I was a senior and in Ann Arbor in 1969 when the Wolverines and Bo bushwhacked the Buckeyes and Woody. The drive home that afternoon was agonizing.  
But I just think it might make sense for those most closely involved to consider a different approach in the run-up to The Game. At this point, what could it hurt?
John Meyer, Worthington
To Brian: The Rose Bowl concluding the 1968 season was only the 10th game for Ohio State that season. With teams now playing so many more games, I say cut conference championship games and just move everything up a week so only a national championship game is left to be played shortly after New Year’s Day. Oh, but I forgot, the money. Gotta have the money, don’t they? And while they should still have the top five conference champions qualify, I’m guessing they’ll just go by rankings to seed teams next year.   
Dennis Singleton, Dayton
To Dennis: I like the 12-team playoff, but I think this year’s bracket was a mess. My guess is that the CFP changes the format next year so that the lower-ranked teams, even though they are conference champs, are seeded properly. I’m also still trying to figure out how Penn State landed on such a sweet path through the bracket.
To the editor: Thank goodness we have coach Day. I have never witnessed another individual who can bounce back from bitter disappointment as well as coach Day. He always comes back. He’s an example I use for my kids and grandkids:
In any football game where you lose the turnover battle and your kicker and your quarterback have their worst performances of the year, you are most likely going to lose. He has had exceptionally bad luck in every game we have lost. The semifinal game against Clemson with all the extremely questionable calls. The Alabama loss in the finals where Justin Fields was a shell of himself because of the Clemson cheap shot and losing our star running back the first play of the game. That last drive against Georgia, where we did not have Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cade Stover. Not to mention Smith-Njigba being out. The Oregon game, where if any of the calls on the last three plays would’ve gone our way we would have had an excellent chance for a field goal and a win. I’m not even going to mention the last three years against the team up north. If you’ve ever played football, you know it’s almost impossible to win a football game where the other team knows exactly what you’re running every play.
Most knowledgeable fans still adore coach Day. He runs a clean program, a program that we can be proud of. He is a winner. The majority of the negative comments are on social media. People who don’t know football trying to gain hits. I am more than a little tired of the OSU fan base characterized as anti-Day. I can imagine the other programs licking their chops to get coach Day. Can you imagine him going to the school up north? Alan Ward, Circleville
Dear Brian: The new playoff system gives major college football a system similar to the annual basketball tournament. But so far, few seem to realize it. So we lost to Michigan (again). We can win a national title, and our rival isn’t in the dance.
When North Carolina and Duke play men’s basketball, the losers don’t hang their heads and call the whole season a bust. They go out with renewed life into the madness and embrace it. It is called resilience. We need a lot of that, fans and players alike.
And we have the right head coach. Thanks for your efforts, coach Day. Go get ’em next time.
Doug Shoemaker, Westerville
To Mr. White: While I truly appreciate the recognition that is given to high school athletes by the Dispatch, I was very disappointed with the selection of the All-Metro football team. All of the athletes recognized are very deserving, but in the process an entire group was almost completely left out. 24 players were designated as first team, which is reasonably close to the reality of 22 positions. Of those 24, six were running backs, five were quarterbacks and seven were defensive backs. Last I checked, teams usually play one quarterback and most play one running back and defensive backs usually number, at most, five. The problem is with the offensive line. One single offensive lineman was recognized. By rule, there must be five offensive linemen on every play. I cannot believe there was only one offensive lineman deserving of recognition in all of central Ohio.
60 athletes in total were recognized, which amounts to almost three full teams. That would require 15 offensive linemen. The Dispatch recognized a total of four. I believe that this reflects a general lack of effort by the individuals who were responsible for the selection of the All-Metro team.
It is probably obvious that I am an old offensive line coach and therefore have a built-in bias. It is a fact, though, that there has never been a single great football team that did not have a good offensive line. The lack of recognition for the young men who play these positions is an accepted truth. The Dispatch does not need to compound this by almost completely ignoring them. 
Barry S. Fox
To the editor: Monday night, I went to see the Blue Jackets play Montreal at Nationwide Arena. It was a miserable experience. Not the hockey. That was a pretty good game and the Jackets are more competitive than the last two years. The crowd was good and into it. The issue was the sound system. It was far, far too loud. When not only my seat but also my body is vibrating from the noise, it is too loud. They “turned it up to 11.” My ears hurt and are still ringing this morning. I had to have my fingers in my ears throughout the second intermission as well as parts of the game. It was difficult to even talk with my friends next to me. I almost walked out before the third period because it was so bad.
I’m baffled by this. It seems to be the norm now at many arenas and stadia. The Crew often suffer from this, and my brother, a lifelong Penn State fan, has sworn to never return to Beaver Stadium for that reason. Nationwide now has a “sensory package.” But couldn’t they just turn the volume down, just a little? Please?
Ken Gilbert, Columbus
To Brian: For all its glory, the NFL is really stupid. It continues allowing quarterbacks to be vulnerable to injury.
Maybe 2024 is a down year. Good. The trend is upward (from 2012). A 17-game schedule doesn’t help. Some quarterbacks are running more and throwing less, taking a risk outside the pocket. And a few injuries are freakish. What’s the cost of losing the most pivotal of positions due to game-ending hits? Much: TV revenue, tickets, apparel and discouraged fans. 
Why isn’t quarterback protection a higher priority? I’d be interested to know what each starter thinks. The NFL seems inept at confronting this crucial issue. Solutions must be tried to minimize injury when he’s in the pocket. Modern stadiums with all the extras and private seating can only go so far to enhance a fan’s experience. It’s the QBs who give their tickets greater value. And value is the whole ballgame. Are you listening, NFL? 
Larry Cheek, Dublin
To Larry: Perhaps all quarterbacks should wear red Mahomes jerseys, because he has greater protection than Putin.
Too-serious Ohio State football fans need to find something that brings them joy
Do Ohio State football, Ryan Day need to ‘chill’ when it comes to Michigan?
Ohio State football fans still trying to figure out ‘genius’ play-calling
Would Ohio State football’s Jim Tressel, Earle Bruce have taken a knee?
Noon Ohio State football games don’t seem so bad from the West Coast
OSU proves Dispatch writers to be wrong with win at Penn State
Reader says Ohio State football fans shouldn’t be told when to cheer
Ohio State football lost, and readers are unhappy
Did soft schedule lead to Ohio State football ‘hype train’ being derailed?
Is it time to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame?

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Top sweepstakes casinos are offering free Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins, and free spins this week
You can play slots, table games, and live casino games using free social casino bonuses
Stake.us is offering $55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback with promo code SPORTSGRID

It’s not a boring week on the social gaming space as top sweepstakes casinos are generously offering free entries. From Stake.us’s unique welcome bonus to Clubs Casino’s free spins, there’s plenty of social casino bonuses to claim this week.
To help you claim the best sweepstakes casino bonuses this week, I’ve done some digging and compiled the 10 best on any social casino. In this guide, you’ll learn about the best sweepstakes casinos giving out free bonuses this week and the best free games to play with those free Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins, and free spins.
There’s never a shortage of sweepstakes casinos with excellent free bonuses. Here are our 10 top picks to check out for unbeatable free coin offers this week:
Stake.us offers one of the most competitive welcome bonuses from any social casino: $55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback when you sign up with promo code SPORTSGRID to play any of the site’s games. Claiming the bonus is a piece of cake: open the website, complete the registration while entering code SPORTSGRID, and claim the bonus for free; no strings attached.
Once you claim the bonus you can spend it on any of the social casino games on the sweepstakes casino, which is a lot. Stake.us features an impressive variety of games: slots, table games, live dealer games, you name it. During my Stake.us review, I played the Gods of Rock and Gates of Olympus slots, while making a stop on the site’s unique Stake.us Poker game, an in-house exclusive poker title you can play with the free entries from Stake.us’s welcome bonus.
The 250,000 WOW Coins + 5 Sweepstakes Coins bonus isn’t as generous as Stake.us’s, but it’s also better than you’ll see on most social casinos. Unlike with Stake.us, you can claim the bonus without sweepstakes casino promo codes—simply sign up, get the bonus, and start playing WOW Vegas’s wide variety of Vegas-style casino games.
Speaking of games, WOW Vegas is undoubtedly one of the industry leaders, featuring over 1,000 slot games alone from leading social casino game providers like NetGaming, Pragmatic Play, and Evoplay. The site also has a handful of live dealer games, mostly comprising Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat titles. For my review, I tried the Diamond Explosion 777 and Samba Claus slots, and I kept returning for more.
Zula Casino describes itself as the “hottest new social casino in the US,” and with its unique yet generous welcome bonus of 120,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweepstakes Coins, I’m inclined to agree with that self-description. With over 1,200 games currently featured on the site and growing, there are just so many reasons to play at Zula Casino this week.
Zula Casino falls a bit short on game variety, offering only casino slots and fish games to all users. Bored of social casino games, I stuck to playing fish games like Giant Octopus and Giant Fishhunter on Zula Casino, and I was glad I did. You get no table games or live dealer games, but if that’s not a dealbreaker for you, the social casino’s excellent welcome bonus makes up for that shortcoming.
RealPrize offers more than one way to get free Sweepstakes Coins this week, from its competitive 100,000 Gold Coins + 2 Sweepstakes Coins welcome bonus to the daily login bonuses and periodic giveaways on Facebook, Instagram, and X for free coin giveaways. Depending on the time of the year, you can occasionally find special slot games with Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins rewards for playing them extensively.
RealPrize, like Stake.us and WOW Vegas, features slots and live dealer games, so I played Buffalo King Megaways and Holly Jolly Cash Pig to test out the games. While RealPrize doesn’t offer the same level of bonuses you’ll find on more established counterparts like WOW Vegas, it’s certainly one of the best social casinos in terms of bonuses overall.
I’ve always adored the simplicity of McLuck’s welcome bonus: you simply get 7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins after signing up, and no social casino promo codes or extra steps are required. The sweepstakes casino also throws in a sweet little 150% extra coins offer when you buy your first Gold Coins bundle, although you don’t have to make an initial purchase to play games on McLuck.
Speaking of games, I played the Gold Party slot and tried the Live Roulette game in the live casino section, and neither experience was disappointing. Those aren’t all the games available on McLuck, as you get different slot varieties and live dealer games after signing up. While I found no conventional table games on McLuck, it wasn’t much of a bother since it has superior live games anyway.
This list has featured tons of sweepstakes casinos with generous bonuses. Still, we’re yet to see one with generous bonuses and a fully functional sportsbook, and that’s what Sportzino uniquely offers. It has a pretty competitive signup bonus: 170,000 Gold Coins + 7 Sweepstakes Coins once you complete your registration, and you can use the free coins on the social casino and the sportsbook.
On the social casino side, Sportzino features many games from numerous providers in diverse categories, including slots, table games, bingo, scratch, and crash games. As hinted earlier, the social casino also has a sportsbook section that lets you spend your free coins on sports selections in all major leagues and the UFC, among many others.
MegaBonanza’s bonuses are pretty similar to what you get on McLuck. For one, it’s the same standard 7,500 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins for the free welcome bonus, a similar 150% first GC purchase promo, and you also get a daily login bonus to keep the experience ongoing. While the bonuses are good, I was understandably more concerned with the quality of the available games, and I was impressed, to say the least.
It features slots of all varieties: Megaways, Jackpot Play, Cascading, Hold and Win, you name it. MegaBonanza also has a social live casino section featuring titles like Live Roulette, Gravity Blackjack, and Sic Bo. I played Elemental Gems Megaways and Vikings Crusade to test the smoothness of games on MegaBonanza, and it worked exactly as I hoped.
Spree doesn’t hold back on welcome bonuses, offering a uniquely generous 1 million Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins in its welcome package. You can claim more free coins with its 3x first-purchase bonus, offering an extra 20,000 Gold Coins + 20 free Sweepstakes Coins when you buy the $9.99 Gold Coin bundle. I also got a free sweepstakes casino log in bonus of 2,000 Gold Coins + 0.4 Sweepstakes Coins, but you can only claim them once every 24 hours.
With all of these bonuses, it goes without saying that coins are never an issue at Spree, but the games are equally as impressive. I found a decent selection of slots, live dealer games, and Spree exclusives, and I tried Big Bass Bonanza 3 Reeler and the exclusive Spree Gold slot for my review. It’s not the same experience you’ll get on a site like Stake.us, but this sweepstakes casino is excellent in its own right.
Despite what the name seems to imply, The Money Factory isn’t a real money casino, as there are no free online casinos to win real money. However, the site starts you off with a standard 15,000 Gold Coins + 3 Sweepstakes Coins, which is pretty standard for a social casino. What isn’t standard, however, is its 425% extra on your first Gold Coin bundle purchase + free SC bonuses—it’s the single largest I’ve seen on any social casino, period.
You don’t get all the coins for nothing, however, as The Money Factory features a diverse yet interesting selection of excellent Vegas-style casino games. I found slots, table games, instant win games, scratch cards, and live dealer games on the social casino, making it one of the best game libraries of any site on this list. I tried the Oasis Poker Classic and Shrine of Olympus slot myself, and I’d certainly do it again.
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Leftists often hate religion but love what religious people do. But what religious people do cannot be replaced
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On that fateful Friday when Ottawa was gearing up for the following Monday’s fall economic statement, all attention was on the finance minister, who, we discovered later, had been fired that very day by the prime minister via Zoom. Justin Trudeau had set something of a time-delayed explosive, not to take effect until after Chrystia Freeland delivered Monday’s statement. But instead she blew up the government. Understandably so.
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Also understandable, little attention that fraught Friday was paid to the public advice given to the finance minister that same day. The standing committee on finance released its “Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget,” tabling it in the House of Commons. They did it in person, not via Zoom.

The committee holds many hearings during the fall, inviting various experts, advocates and rent-seekers to make their case that the government should do this or that thing. This fall’s parade was impressive, ranging from the Convenience Industry Council of Canada — arguing that convenience stores should be able to sell nicotine patches — to the École de technologie supérieure, arguing that the government ought to fund the research of, not surprisingly, École de technologie supérieure. It’s that kind of process.

The committee bundles it all up, decides what recommendations to adopt, and then reports it all to the House. Supposedly, the minister finance takes all of this into account when drafting her budget.

It’s not a careful exercise in policy analysis. The recommendations are a few lines at best, and there were a whopping 462 of them.
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The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois have a majority on the committee and so approved the long list, which included this, for example, at recommendation 339: “Create a fund dedicated to improving tourism infrastructure vis-a-vis electric vehicle charging stations in rural areas enabling Canada to meet its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.”

Peter Fonseca, MP for Mississauga East-Cooksville and the chair of the committee, wants to spend federal money to provide vehicle chargers in the forest for his constituents who go camping in Algonquin Park. It’s the kind of thing urban liberals think that rural conservatives need.

But what possibly prompted Fonseca to rally his Liberal-NDP-Bloc members in favour of this massive change to Canada’s charitable sector, just days before Christmas?

“Recommendation 429: No longer provide charitable status to anti-abortion organizations.”

“Recommendation 430: Amend the Income Tax Act to provide a definition of a charity which would remove the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose.”

As to the first, it is a relatively small amount of money, but makes a significant difference in the lives of those who need charitable assistance in difficult circumstances. It is not very pro-choice for Fonseca & Co. to extend charitable tax treatment to agencies that assist women in having abortions, but not to organizations who help them keep their babies.

We have been down this Liberal road before, when the Trudeau government required applicants for the Canada Summer Jobs Program to attest that they shared the government pro-abortion views. A policy that government benefits are only available to those who take the government line is illiberal in the extreme but true to form.

The second recommendation would be absolutely cataclysmic in its impact. Almost 40 per cent of Canada’s registered charities advance religion. The finance committee proposes to deny two out of every five charities their tax status. That would include the Salvation Army, which some of the committee MPs no doubt praise on their way in and out of supermarkets this season.

The committee proposes the obliteration of the charitable sector.

My colleagues at Cardus, keenly sensing that this absurdity was in the air, released a report last month on the socio-economic contribution of religious congregations. They have been measuring this for years.

Cardus calls it the “Halo Effect,” the dollar value of a congregation’s socio-economic contribution. For 64 Christian congregations in Canada, Cardus calculated that their Halo Effect is more than 10 times the value of the tax exemptions and credits, on average. The net-positive socio-economic contribution — Halo Effect, minus the value of tax exemptions and credits — of all religious congregations in Canada is an estimated $16.5 billion.

Even a high-spending government like the current one would find it difficult to find $16.5 billion per year to make up for lost social services, poverty alleviation and community-building.

Leftists often hate religion but love what religious people do. But what religious people do cannot be replaced. Sally Ann doesn’t stand for Secularist Atheists.

Fonseca’s proposal is not only counterproductive, but foolish. Religious Canadians, with their vast array of good works, are often political progressives, too; the social gospel is not a left-right matter. The finance committee should not be trying to make it such.

Fonseca and his colleagues may think that they are using the state to punish conservatives, which is unworthy of their office. But they are also punishing their own civic-minded and service-providing religious voters. Fonseca added his own Friday foolishness to the Zoom call from Trudeau to Freeland.

One expects that Dominic LeBlanc, should he still be finance minister at budget time, will reject the invitation to eviscerate Canada’s charitable sector. But voters ought to remember what Fonseca and his colleagues were up to, despite it all being forgotten that Freeland Friday.

National Post

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Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced on Friday that the state will soon implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, which has remained dormant for decades.
The Chief Minister’s commitment to reviving the Act marks a significant shift in policy and governance in Arunachal Pradesh, where religious conversions have been a contentious issue. Khandu emphasized that implementing these rules will not target any specific religion but protect all faiths from forced conversions.
This announcement follows a recent directive from the Gauhati High Court, which mandated the state government to finalize the necessary rules under the Act within six months. The court’s ruling came in response to a public interest litigation filed by advocate Tambo Tamin, who argued that the state had neglected its duty to establish rules for the Act since its enactment 45 years ago.
Khandu’s announcement has sparked mixed reactions across different communities within Arunachal Pradesh. While some groups, like the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), support the revival of the Act as a means of protecting indigenous beliefs, others, particularly from Christian communities, have expressed concerns about potential discrimination and restrictions on religious freedoms.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, received presidential assent on October 25, 1978. It specifically prohibits conversions by force or inducement and mandates that any conversion must be reported to local authorities. The law was intended to safeguard indigenous religions and prevent perceived threats to cultural identity. The Act is part of a broader context in India, where several states have enacted similar laws regulating religious conversions.
However, successive governments have largely ignored its provisions, leaving it ineffective and unimplemented.  Despite its clear intentions to protect religious freedoms, it has faced criticism for being potentially restrictive. The recent court ruling and Khandu’s announcement reflect ongoing tensions surrounding religious identity and freedom in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the delicate balance between protecting indigenous cultures and ensuring individual rights to religious expression.
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On December 29, 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state to join the United States of America when US President James K. Polk signed the Ordinance of Annexation. Texas had a complicated path to statehood because it had formerly been part of Mexico and then an independent republic. The US Congress passed the Annexation of the Republic of Texas Joint Resolution on March 1, 1845. Voters in Texas then approved the Ordinance of Annexation in October, before it was approved by the US Congress and signed into law by President Polk on this day in 1845. The US Supreme Court later ruled in Texas v. White that, despite its unique path to statehood, Texas did not have the right to secede from the union.

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