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Best College Basketball Betting Sites in 2024 – Claim $5000+ at Top NCAAB Betting Sites

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This guide will select, review and list the best college basketball betting sites in the USA 2023, and explain the various NCAA betting options at your disposal, highlight some interesting betting systems, and provide tips on how to maximize your chances of securing a profit. Read on to become a college basketball betting expert.

College basketball betting can really ramp up the excitement you experience when watching a game unfold. This guide helps you find the world’s best online sportsbooks for college basketball betting.

Best College Basketball Betting Sites in 2024

Our experts have reviewed all the different online college basketball sites in exhaustive detail. They evaluated the quality of the college basketball betting lines, the breadth of wagering options, the strength of the user experience, withdrawal speeds, customer service, and other important considerations.

We were then able to boil it down to an elite group of NCAA basketball betting sites. These are the very best online sportsbooks in the business for college basketball sports betting:

  1. BetWhale – Best College basketball betting site overall
  2. EveryGame – Best of the NCAA betting sites for alternate spreads
  3. BetOnline – One of the best college basketball betting sites online
  4. MyBookie – Best site for crypto betting on NCAA
  5. XBet – Deep selection of betting markets for College Basketball
  6. Game – One of the best college betting sites for props
  7. BetUS – Rapid withdrawals and excellent live betting
  8. BUSR – Largest sports betting welcome bonuses
  9. BetNow – One of the best new offshore sportsbooks for college basketball
  10. JazzSports – Betting site with excellent college basketball lines

Best Online College Basketball Betting Sites Reviewed

The best online college basketball betting sites provide different odds, markets, bonuses, betting limits, features and payment methods. In the list below we have reviewed each NCAA betting site, allowing you to learn more about them and choose the ideal one for you.

1. BetWhale – Best College basketball betting site overall

BetWhale is one of the best college basketball betting sites and most trustworthy online sportsbooks in the world. It has a reputation for offering a great user experience, early lines, quick payouts, and very large bonuses.

BetWhale will give you a 50% free play welcome bonus worth up to $1,000 when you sign up for a new account and use our BetWhale code. You will earn a 100% welcome bonus if you use crypto for your initial deposit, and BetWhale will throw in an extra 5% if you use Bitcoin as opposed to an altcoin. Creating an account is a quick and simple process. You will also benefit from lots of reload bonuses and free bets.

The odds on offer are very competitive, and it caters to casual college basketball betting fans and high rollers alike. You will come up against a maximum bet amount, but you can then re-bet multiple times if you would like to place a large wager.

BetWhale is also a lot quicker to process payout requests than most rival college basketball betting sites. It excels in every important area, so we have made BetWhale our number one college basketball betting operator for 2024. It is one of the world’s best all-round gambling sites, as it also includes one of the most impressive online casinos on the market.

 >>>Join BetWhale Now<<<

2. EveryGame – Best of the NCAA betting sites for alternate spreads

EveryGame is an elite online sportsbook with a reputation for offering lots of props, a sophisticated user experience, strong customer service and lucrative bonuses. It offers a stronger user experience than the other sites on this page, apart from perhaps BetWhale.

The site is a pleasure to browse, and you will always be presented with lots of intriguing NCAA betting line options. Many of its rivals simply offer spreads and totals, but BetWhale goes way deeper, offering lots of intriguing prop bets.

The EveryGame bonus code entitles new customers to a 100% deposit match welcome bonus worth up to $750. Remember that you can sign up for accounts with multiple college basketball sites and claim a variety of welcome offers.

Everygame is typically quicker to release college basketball betting lines than most of its rivals. It is also quick to process and issue withdrawals, which tend to arrive in less than 24 hours if you opt for crypto. It even offers live streaming, so it really stands out as a great all-round sports betting site.

 >>>Join EveryGame Now<<<

3. BetOnline – One of the best college basketball betting sites online

With a Curacao license and just over 25 years of experience, BetOnline easily makes it as one of the most trustworthy NCAA Futures betting sites available to US bettors. With a decent selection of Betonline promo codes getting released regularly, the bookie surely doesn’t skimp on boosting customer bankrolls. The bonus section has a little something for just about every type of bettor.

BetOnline features a top-notch mobile betting site, allowing you to access its full range of NCAA markets on the move with a few finger swipes. Many US bettors prefer to create a web app and use the mobile website instead of the desktop platform.

While several payment methods are available, Bitcoin is an easy winner. It has the highest deposit and withdrawal limits and quickest transaction time frames. Other popular crypto banking methods like Tether and Ethereum aren’t available yet but we’ll likely see them soon as BetOnline expands its cashier section.

BetOnline has a decent customer support system going on, but the only challenge is you have to sign up to get the finer details on pretty much everything. You can contact the support team 24/7 via phone, live chat, and email.

 >>>Join BetOnline Now<<<

4. MyBookie – Best site for crypto betting on NCAA

MyBookie sportsbook might not offer the same level of optionality as some of the competition when it comes to game day and live-in-play betting, but MyBookie does broadcast generous odds for NCAA futures bets . Plus the markets tend to get real deep real fast during the NCAA offseason… it’s just that the site does take its sweet time getting NCAA betting lines to market.

We expect plenty more optionality at MyBookie once this current season comes to an end and are very prompt indeed, so there’s little shame in lagging slightly behind these two. Plus, MyBookie was one of the fastest of all sportsbooks to get its WNBA futures odds up on the site – which is good-going.

 >>>Join MyBookie Now<<<

5. XBet – Deep selection of betting markets for College Basketball

XBet rounds out our list of the top five college basketball betting sites in 2024. It is a no-nonsense online sportsbook that caters to serious NCAA basketball bettors with a simple interface, clear promotions and excellent customer support. The site launched in 2013, and it bills itself as “the last sportsbook you’ll ever join”.

The XBet promo code offer is a 100% welcome bonus worth up to $500. Once again, this is smaller than some of the other promos mentioned on this page, but it comes with a generous 7x rollover requirement. You can also claim a sports reload bonus worth up to $250 on subsequent deposits.

You will be able to bet on spreads, totals and moneylines at XBet, either on a full college basketball game or on a particular quarter. It offers a few props, but not as many as BetOnline or Bovada. XBet’s key selling points are its polished interface, its in-play betting options and its regular odds boosts.

 >>>Join Xbet Now<<<

How We Rate and Review College Basketball Betting Sites

The internet is crowded with sportsbooks so when it comes to online sportsbooks for gambling on college basketball, it’s tough to decide on which one to sign up to.

Here at Basketball Insiders, we have simplified the process for you.  Our experts have conducted extensive research and compiled a list of how we rank the best sites out there. This is the custom system we use when rating and reviewing basketball betting sites.

How To Bet On NCAA Basketball Games

College basketball is an appealing sport to bet on as there are so many games throughout the year and of course, you have one of the major sporting and sports betting events of the year in March Madness. If you are a first-time bettor we have you covered. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to bet on NCAA basketball games.

Step 1: Select a Betting Site

We have done the research and listed the top 10 sites on where to bet on college basketball. You can’t go wrong with any of the sites listed on this page and the best one for you depends on your needs. Overall we rate BetWhale as the best NCAA basketball betting site but if you are interested in prop bets, EveryGame is ideal.

Step 2: Register for the Betting Site

Once you have chosen the site that best suits your needs, go ahead and click the join button (usually top right) and sign up. It’s a quick and easy process to register.

You will need to input details such as name, address, phone number, etc. For most sites it generally takes less than 15 minutes to sign up. Keep in mind some sites need to confirm your identity with a driver’s license, however, BetWhale is not one of them.

Step 3: Fund Your Account

Deposit the funds to the betting site. You can deposit funds via credit cards on all the sites discussed on this page. Most also have crypto deposit options. Be sure to input the sites’ promo code to receive the bonus cash to boost your account balance.

Step 4: Place Your College Basketball Bets

Once you are set up and have funded the account, it’s time to select your college basketball bets. Be sure to research all the betting options including the point spreads, totals, and prop bets.

Once you’ve selected the bet or bets you want to place, enter how much you want to stake, check out your potential winnings then hit the Place Bet button and then sit back and enjoy the game and hopefully your win.

 >>>Join BetWhale Now<<<

NCAA Betting and College Basketball Betting Bonuses

There are lots of different online college basketball betting sites vying for your business. Most of them offer compelling bonuses in a bid to stand out. These are some of the bonuses you will receive:

Match Deposit Sign-Up Bonuses

You must deposit some of your own money, and the sportsbook will match it in the form of site credit. For example, if you claim a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $500, and you deposit $500 of your own money, you will unlock $500 in bonus credit. You then need to complete a rollover requirement before you can cash out any winnings.

The sign-up bonuses provided by the sportsbooks on this page are deposit match offers. They fall into two categories – cash bonuses and free play bonuses. A cash bonus is more attractive, because you get to keep your risk amount.

For example, if you get a $100 cash bonus and place a successful bet at -110, you will be returned $190.91. If you get a free play bonus worth $100 and place a winning bet at -110, you will be returned $90.91, as the stake is not included in your return.

However, you also need to factor in the rollover requirement when considering the general appeal of a bonus. A 100% deposit match free play bonus with a 6x rollover may actually be more appealing than a 100% deposit match cash bonus with a 6x rollover.

Bovada stands out for offering generous rollover requirements, while the flexibility available at EveryGame is very appealing in this regard.

Crypto Bonuses

The sportsbooks mentioned on this page are located in Central America. They like receiving funds via crypto, as it is quick, secure, and cost-effective. These college basketball betting sites therefore provide customers with incentives to use crypto when making deposits.

You will often receive a larger bonus if you choose crypto as opposed to an alternative method, such as a credit card or a wire transfer. If you are unsure about how to send a crypto transfer, sites like Bovada and BetWhale provide detailed guides on setting up a wallet, buying crypto and transferring it.

The crypto will immediately be converted to USD, so you can bet in fiat currency and you do not have to worry about fluctuations in the price of your chosen cryptocurrency.

Reload Bonuses

A reload bonus is similar to a sign-up bonus, but it is available on all subsequent deposits for existing customers. Reload bonuses follow a deposit match format. They tend to be smaller than welcome bonuses, but they have less onerous rollover requirements.

Risk-Free Bets

Some of the sites mentioned on this page will occasionally offer risk-free bets. In the past, BetWhale offered a risk-free live bet for new customers. Look out for risk-free bet offers around big events like March Madness.

Bracket Contests

Some of the top college basketball sites mentioned on this page will launch exciting bracket contests when March Madness rolls around each year. The customers that predict the most correct results can win large cash prizes.

Best College Basketball Betting in 2024

College basketball betting can be a fun and profitable pursuit if you follow the advice on this page. Stick to high-quality, reputable, secure college basketball betting sites that offer great bonuses and provide you with competitive odds.

We have explained the key NCAA betting options provided by each operator, so it is now time for you to sign up for an account with one of our top-rated college basketball betting sites, such as BetWhale, EveryGame, MyBookie, XBet , or BetOnline, and start placing betting on NCAA basketball games today!

How to Bet on March Madness 2024

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It’s March again, when the NCAA Tournament takes center stage on the USA sporting scene. On this page, you’ll get a crash course on how to bet on March Madness, the sites we recommend, why they stand out, and the best way to secure a valuable welcome bonus that can lead to winning real money fast.

March Madness attracts more betters than every sporting event in the country besides the Super Bowl and now, with so many online sportsbooks, there is never a better time to join the fun. Read on for more.

How to Gamble on March Madness: Step-by-Step Guide

When you’ve found your online sportsbook, it’s time to claim the bonus that’s right for you and start placing March Madness bets. It’s an easy process to get started. Here, we’ve compiled a checklist on how to gamble on March Madness:

Step 1: Join BetWhale

After finding the link to the sportsbook you’d like to bet on March Madness at, head to that sportsbook’s website to register for a new account.

Step 2: Complete the Registration Process

Generally, online casinos require your name, birth date, email address, a valid form of government identification, and an acceptable payment method.

Oftentimes, there is a spot where players can opt-in for the welcome bonus near the end of the registration process. Other times, there is a welcome bonus code that you must enter to receive the bonus offer.

Step 4: Fund Your Account

Now it’s time to deposit the funds to the betting site so you can get betting. You can deposit funds via credit cards on all the sites discussed on this page. Most also have crypto deposit options. Be sure to input the site’s promo code to receive bonus cash to boost your account balance.

Step 5: Place Your March Madness Bets

Once you are set up and have funded the account, it’s time to select your March Madness bets. Be sure to research all the March Madness betting lines and odds. Once you’ve selected the bet or bets you want to place, enter how much you want to stake, check out how much you stand to win then hit the Place Bet button.

 >>>Join BetWhale Now<<<

Ranking the Top 10 Betting Options for March Madness 2024

For your convenience, our team of experts ranked the Top 10 online sportsbooks for March Madness below:

  1. BetWhale – Best overall option for March Madness betting
  2. EveryGame – Well-respected industry leader in online sports betting
  3. BetOnline – Many markets, and March Madness prop bets
  4. MyBookie – Over 25 years of experience in online sportsbook
  5. XBet – Clean and extremely easy website to navigate
  6. Game – Featuring the fastest payouts in the industry
  7. BetUS – Biggest welcome bonus for March Madness
  8. BUSR – Competitive March Madness bonuses and promotions
  9. BetNow – New live betting compatibility is among the best in the industry
  10. Jazz Sports – Competitive odds and Bracket contest

Reviewing the Best Sites to Bet on The March Madness in 2024

Now that you know how to gamble on March Madness, our team of experts will review the Top 7 NCAA Tournament betting sites in the USA 2024. In these reviews, we point out what you need to know: Bonuses, bets, payment methods, and much more.

1. BetWhale – Best overall option for March Madness betting

One look at BetWhale shows what you’re getting: A professional online sportsbook with plenty of bets and options and years of experience. BetWhalehosts a $250,000 March Madness bracket challenge with a $25 entry fee.

At BetWhale, they really emphasize March Madness betting, with not only a full slate of bets and props but also March Madness Insurance. Here’s how it works: If your over/under bet is “under” at the end of a regulation NCAA Tournament game, BetWhale will refund the wager for the full amount, up to $100.

Also, the Bracket Buster Refund can be worthwhile: If you lose a point spread beat on a Top 3 seed in the first weekend, you can get refunded up to $100. To qualify for the Bracket Buster Refund, players must bet on the Top 3 seed to cover in both the first and second rounds.

By supporting most major payment methods and with their special attention paid to the NCAA Tournament, BetWhale is one of our best bets for March Madness betting!

 >>>Join BetWhale Now<<<

2. EveryGame – Well-respected industry leader in online sports betting

There’s a good chance you’ve heard about EveryGame. With years of experience in the online sportsbook industry, they are considered one of the leaders.

Taking a first look at the website, it’s easy to find where March Madness betting will happen: At their NCAA Tournament page, you’ll find a complete list of bets and props, including the fun and exciting “Bracket Challenge.”

In the EveryGame Bracket Challenge, they will pick a handful of celebrities and get them to fill out March Madness brackets. Players will then pick their favorite celebrity bracket and enter a sweepstakes. 50 winners will be selected at random and receive $100 cash vouchers for EveryGame.

One thing EveryGame could do better is offer bigger bonuses and promotions, but when you join EveryGame, you’ll know that you’re getting a very respected brand where you can be confident in betting.

 >>>Join EveryGame Now<<<

3. BetOnline – Many markets, and March Madness prop bets

BetOnline checks off all the boxes of an upper-echelon online sportsbook: A reputable name, tons of bets, and both online casino and sportsbook.

Particularly for March Madness, BetOnline stands out: They offer a wide range of prop bets and future bets for the NCAA Tournament and have created their niche with the prop-building feature, where bettors can find the most creative prop bets.

With quick customer service and deposit/withdrawal times, BetOnline is establishing itself as one of the go-to online sportsbooks in the USA.

 >>>Join BetOnline Now<<<

4. MyBookie – Over 25 years of experience in online sportsbook

As one of the newcomers to the USA online sportsbook block, MyBookie has made a strong industry impression in a short period of time. Despite their relative youth, they have become a very popular destination for bettors.

Focusing mainly on the American sports market, they offer a wide range of bets and props and we expect that to continue with this year’s March Madness: MyBookie has beefed up their coverage of the event with on-site analysis and predictions to help you make the best picks.

While MyBookie features a number of payment options, they also include cryptocurrency, which opens them up to new customers. Their customer service is top-notch, with a quick response time, so this is a site you should definitely check out.

 >>>Join MyBookie Now<<<

5. XBet – Clean and extremely easy website to navigate

For our money, XBet has the best welcome bonus offer in the industry: At sign-up, you can receive up to $3,125 in bonus funds. BetUS will match your first deposit by 125%, which counts as the highest around.

Bets-wise, XBet  has a wide range of March Madness bets, including live betting, moneyline, and point spreads for each game and props. Compared to other online sportsbooks, XBet  holds its own in this regard.

One thing that stands out for XBet  is its impressive user interface, which is clean and crisp, with easy-to-spot navigation so you can easily find your way from bet to bet and around your account.

At XBet , you can bet on all major sports, including the NCAA Tournament, and most importantly, they support a number of different payment methods so you can feel confident playing. They are also known for plenty of promotions, so keep your eyes peeled.

 >>>Join Xbet Now<<<

Different Types of March Madness Bets – How to Bet on March Madness

One of the reasons the NCAA Tournament is so popular for bettors is the many ways to gamble on March Madness. When you find the bonus or promotion that’s right for you, make sure it’s at an online sportsbook that features many different wagers, so you have many possibilities.

Here, our team of experts will break down the different types of March Madness bets:

Moneyline Bets on March Madness

The easiest way to bet on March Madness is with a moneyline bet. It’s simple, just pick which team you think will win the game.

Each sportsbook will determine the odds for each game. Unlike point spread bets, which we’ll get to in a second, there are no points involved in moneyline bets. If the team you picked wins that NCAA Tournament game, then you’ll receive winnings based on the odds.

Keep in mind that odds change so the moneyline bet is based on the odds at the time you place the bet.

When looking at moneyline bets, make sure you know the difference between favorites and underdogs: Favorites will be indicated by a negative number (-150, for example) and underdogs will be indicated by a positive number (+150, for example).

 >>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

Point Spread Bets on March Madness

The point spread bet is perhaps the most popular bet out there: It’s a single-game wager on a team to win or lose by a certain number of points.

Like moneyline bet odds, these point spreads will be determined by each online sportsbook and likely will vary, so make sure you find the best point spreads for your bet.

Point spread bets are most popular in football but they work the same in the NCAA Tournament: By taking the favorite (Duke -7.5, for example), you’re betting that Duke wins their game by more than 7.5 points. By taking an underdog (Villanova +5, for example), you’re betting that Villanova will win or lose by less than 5 points.

Generally speaking, the odds on point spread bets are -110, because the point spread equalizes the field quite a bit.

Totals Bets on March Madness

An interesting spin on March Madness betting is totals bets.

These bets are simple: Wager on a single game’s point total. Online sportsbooks will place over/under numbers for each game. Decide if you think that game’s final score–combined, between both teams–will go over or under the total.

The biggest difference in totals bets is that you’re not betting on a particular team to win. Also, many online sportsbooks include halftime totals, which is the same thing, except for the total points scored by both teams in either the first half or second half.

Halftime points totals can be a big boon for players who are in-tune with how certain teams play. And if you’re watching the first half of a game and see how the play is going, it might be the right bet to make for the second half.

Prop Bets on March Madness

How to gamble on March Madness in the most exciting way possible? Prop bets have become very popular over the years, mostly developing from the many bets available each Super Bowl Sunday. While there aren’t quite as many prop bets in March Madness, there are a lot of creative bets that you can place if you want to deviate from the normal bets offered.

For bettors who like to stay loyal to their bracket pools, this is the perfect betting complement. The majority of these bets revolve around certain statistics. It’s good to know exactly what types of bets are offered at USA online sportsbooks.

Live Betting on March Madness

With the rise in technology and many USA online sportsbooks embracing branded mobile applications and faster websites, a new, exciting form of March Madness has been gaining steam: Live betting.

Live betting is exactly how it sounds: You can bet on a March Madness game live, even after tip-off. Throughout the game, the odds change in real-time, which can provide bettors with an interesting advantage if they expect the outcome of the game to change.

For example, if a team struggles out of the gate, you should be able to find better odds if you think they’ll come back and win. Part of the beauty of the NCAA Tournament is that, with so many teams from different conferences playing, oftentimes the game is a bit of a crapshoot and it takes time for teams to adjust to the playing style of the other opponent.

While there are nuances with live betting, it’s certainly become more popular and figures to only increase as this year’s NCAA Tournament begins. Many believe it is the betting style of the future.

Parlay Bets on March Madness

Here’s where your March Madness bets get wild: With parlay bets.

Parlay bets are a group of at least two bets that are tied together to multiply odds and greatly increase the overall payout of bets. Winning parlay bets is also more difficult because bettors need to win every leg of the parlay bet for it to cash out. So, for example, if you have a six-team parlay and win five of those bets, you’re still out of luck: You need to win every one.

Parlay bets are the true home run swing of March Madness betting. With parlay bets, the odds are multiplied together to provide a massive payout, in the case of a winner. For example, if you bet a $100 three-team parlay of moneyline bets, (two favorites at -150 and one underdog at +200), then that $100 would result in a $733 win.

While parlay bets provide the best opportunity for players to win big, it’s best to get familiar with Mach Madness betting first, because a lot needs to go right–and a lot can go wrong–to end up ruining a player’s parlay!

 >>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

Futures Bets on March Madness

By now, the futures market has been hot for quite some time. Futures bets are a bet on a team to win the NCAA National Championship. Oftentimes, online sportsbooks begin accepting bets far away, even months before the season starts.

The opening lines for these teams may provide an opportunity to get great value on a team you feel is flying under the radar. Keep in mind that the odds for these bets will adjust frequently–so it may suit bettors to look for buy-low opportunities which will cash out the most money in the future.

How to Bet on March Madness – Conclusion

This guide explained to you all steps to bet on the March Madness events. Finding the best March Madness betting site is really a matter of preference. With so many online sportsbooks available, you’ll need to ask yourself what you’re looking for. Is it the best bonus? If so, then BetUS is your option. The most prop bets? BetWhale has you covered there.

After reading our reviews and complete guide, you’ll be well-versed on what you need to make your choice. Overall we recommend BetWhale but it comes down to what you’re looking for, but each of our Top 10 online sportsbooks offers a unique betting experience on March Madness. Good luck!

 >>>Claim Your Bonuses Now<<<

Bitcoin Dips Below The $63,000 Price, Sparks Widespread Selloff

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The price of Bitcoin has dipped to the $63,000 price, down from the record high of $73,000 price last week, sparking widespread selloff of crypto assets.

The sudden drop in price resulted in an 8% decline in total market capitalization within a 24-hour period as analyst point to a shift in investors sentiment as a potential catalyst.

The decline in the price of Bitcoin dragged other cryptocurrencies lower, as Ethereum lost more than 5% and is recently trading at $3,281 as at the time of writing this report, after hitting the $4,000 price list week for the first time since December 2021.

The price of Solana dropped below the $190 after extending higher than $200 on Tuesday. The Solana price slumped by 7.69%, settling at $187.16. On the contrary, SOL witnessed a 8.42% hike in trade volume to $11.60 billion in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Binance Coin (BNB) price was down by 6.69%, reaching $529.12. In contrast, its 24-hour trade volume gained by 12.36% to $4.09 billion. Whilst, the XP price continued dropped to the $0.60 level. The XRP price recorded a dip of 2.50%, reaching $0.6065. On the contrary, XRP’s trading volume spiked 85.67% to 3.32 billion.

Bitcoin price decline began last week as traders began taking profits after it had soared roughly 70% from the start of the year to its peak last Wednesday. Data from CryptoQuant shows a massive spike in investors selling their bitcoin at a profit on March 12.

Additionally, that profit-taking led to a spike in long liquidations of leveraged bitcoin positions. About $122 million in long liquidations occurred across centralized exchanges Monday, according to Coin Glass.

The successful introduction of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. earlier this year has been a key contributor to bitcoin’s rally, which began even before the ETFs were launched in anticipation of their regulatory approval. At the same time, interest from investors and higher demand for bitcoin has also led to increased leverage and heightened high-frequency volatility.

Meanwhile, data shows that Monday saw a significant outflow from the Grayscale Bitcoin ETF, a major investment vehicle for institutional investors. This outflow, coupled with lower-than usual inflows in other ETF products suggests a potential pullback from some investors. On-chain analysis from CryptoQuant observed increased selling pressure, possibly fueled by short-term Bitcoin holders causing out profits.

Looking ahead to 2024, despite the recent price fluctuations in the crypto market, several analysts maintain a bullish stance on Bitcoin’s prospects, anticipating a price recovery to the upside.

Investors and analysts have however cautioned traders to tread carefully in March, citing heightened volatility and increased trading volumes that may prompt pullbacks from Bitcoin’s long-term uptrend.

Nvidia Expands Collaborations with Chinese Carmakers to Drive Self-Driving and AI Technology Amidst US-China Tech Conflict

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Nvidia has announced deepening collaborations with major Chinese car manufacturers, including BYD, to advance self-driving vehicles and AI-driven infotainment technology, marking a significant development amidst the ongoing US-China tech conflict.

BYD, acclaimed for surpassing Tesla last year as the world’s foremost electric vehicle manufacturer, is set to harness Nvidia’s forthcoming generation of in-vehicle chips, dubbed Drive Thor, to augment autonomous driving capabilities and integrate advanced digital features.

“Drive Thor is going into BYD vehicles next year,” said Danny Shapiro, Nvidia’s vice president for automotive, during a conference call, underlining the imminent integration of Nvidia’s cutting-edge technology into BYD’s vehicle lineup.

In addition to enhancing autonomous driving functionalities, BYD is poised to optimize its production facilities and supply chain with Nvidia’s technology while embarking on the development of virtual showrooms.

Expanding beyond BYD, Nvidia’s partnerships extend to other prominent Chinese automakers such as Xpeng, GAC Aion’s Hyper brand, Zeekr (a subsidiary of Geely), and Li Auto, all of which have either announced or expanded collaborations with Nvidia during the GTC developer conference in San Jose.

Shapiro highlighted the significance of Chinese carmakers turning to Nvidia for technological advancements, citing their fervent pursuit of innovation amidst intense competition, particularly in expanding markets outside China and in competition with established Western brands like Tesla.

“There’s a massive number of Chinese carmakers,” remarked Shapiro. “They have a lot of incentives in place to innovate, a lot of regulation that’s favorable to developing increasing levels of automated driving.”

In addition to automotive partnerships, Nvidia’s collaborations extend to US software company Cerence, focusing on adapting large language model (LLM) artificial intelligence systems for in-car computing. Furthermore, Chinese computer giant Lenovo is engaged in a partnership with Nvidia to deploy LLM technology.

Nvidia’s collaboration with Soundhound aims to revolutionize in-vehicle interaction through the development of a voice command system, enabling vehicle owners to access information from a virtual owner’s manual using speech commands.

Despite these groundbreaking advancements, Nvidia refrained from referencing specific LLM developers like OpenAI in its announcements.

Nvidia’s strategic alliances are believed to underpin the growing convergence of automotive and AI technologies, signifying a concerted effort to usher in the era of autonomous driving and intelligent vehicles on a global scale.

However, the collaboration between Nvidia and prominent Chinese car manufacturers holds significant implications amidst the ongoing US-China tech conflict, particularly concerning the US chip ban on Chinese entities. Nvidia’s expansion of partnerships with Chinese automakers signifies a deepening integration of American semiconductor technology into China’s rapidly evolving automotive sector, potentially exacerbating tensions between the two economic giants.

However, Nvidia providing advanced in-vehicle chips to Chinese companies like BYD, Xpeng, and GAC Aion’s Hyper brand, underscores China’s reliance on American semiconductor technology for driving innovation in autonomous driving and AI-driven infotainment systems. This dependence on US chips amid escalating trade tensions raises concerns over potential vulnerabilities in China’s supply chain and national security, amid efforts by the Asian giant to develop sufficient semiconductor technology.

Furthermore, Nvidia’s collaborations with Chinese carmakers may complicate efforts by the US government to restrict the export of semiconductor technology to Chinese entities. The US chip ban, aimed at curbing China’s technological advancement and addressing national security concerns, could face challenges as American companies deepen their ties with Chinese partners, leveraging cutting-edge semiconductor technology for mutual benefit.

The integration of Nvidia’s Drive Thor chips into Chinese vehicles not only enhances the competitiveness of Chinese automakers in the global market but also underscores the intertwined nature of the global semiconductor supply chain. Any disruptions to this supply chain, whether through US-imposed sanctions or retaliatory measures from China, could have far-reaching implications for both countries and the global tech industry as a whole.

Saudi Aramco CEO Calls for Abandonment of “Fantasy” of Phasing Out Fossil Fuel

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Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser delivered a bold declaration challenging the widely discussed notion of phasing out fossil fuels during a panel interview at the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston, Texas.

Nasser criticized the current energy transition strategy, labeling it as a failing endeavor that clashes with the stark realities of global energy demand.

“In the real world, the current transition strategy is visibly failing on most fronts as it collides with five hard realities,” Nasser stated during the panel discussion.

He advocated for a reset in the transition strategy, proposing an abandonment of the “fantasy” of phasing out oil and gas in favor of realistic investment reflecting ongoing demand. Nasser’s proposition received applause from the audience, signaling resonance with some sectors of the energy industry.

Nasser countered the International Energy Agency’s forecast of peak oil, gas, and coal demand by 2030, asserting that demand is not likely to peak soon, especially when considering the developing world. He emphasized the need for the IEA to broaden its focus beyond the U.S. and Europe to encompass the burgeoning energy demands of developing nations.

“The transition strategy reset is urgently needed and my proposal is this: We should abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas and instead invest in them adequately reflecting realistic demand assumptions,” the CEO.

The CEO presented compelling statistics, highlighting the persistent dominance of hydrocarbons in the global energy mix despite substantial investments in alternative energy sources. He pointed out the limited scale of wind, solar, and electric vehicles, juxtaposing them against the continued growth of hydrocarbons.

“Alternative energy sources have been unable to displace hydrocarbons at scale, despite the world investing more than $9.5 trillion over the past two decades,” Nasser remarked. “Wind and solar currently supply less than 4% of the world’s energy, while total electric vehicle penetration is less than 3%.”

Moreover, Nasser stressed the pivotal role of gas in reducing carbon emissions, particularly through the transition from coal to gas. He challenged the prevailing narrative of fossil fuels’ declining significance, citing their indispensable role in ensuring energy security.

“This is hardly the future picture some have been painting,” Nasser noted. “Even they are starting to acknowledge the importance of oil and gas security.”

Addressing the United Nations COP28 climate talks in Dubai last December, Nasser’s sentiments echoed broader skepticism towards a swift phase-out of fossil fuels. While delegates hailed a historic climate deal, Nasser’s stance aligns with over 100 nations advocating against a complete phase-out, citing concerns over sustainable development.

Sultan al-Jaber, the COP28 President, echoed Nasser’s sentiments, asserting that no scientific evidence necessitates a fossil fuel phase-out to limit global heating to 1.5°C. Al Jaber cautioned against jeopardizing sustainable development, supporting the belief shared by oil-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, delegates at the United Nations COP28 climate talks in Dubai agreed to a deal that would, for the first time, push nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.

Al-Jaber hailed the deal, approved by almost 200 countries on Wednesday, as a “historic package” of measures that offers a “robust plan” to keep the target of capping global temperatures at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, within reach.

Although US climate envoy John Kerry said that both the United States and China intend to update their long-term climate strategies, hailing the agreement as one which “sends very strong messages to the world”, the deal doesn’t go so far as to seek a “phase-out” of fossil fuels, for which more than 100 nations had pleaded.

The transition would be structured to align with the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in accordance with the principles outlined by climate science.

While acknowledging the need to reduce emissions, Nasser advocates for a pragmatic approach that balances energy security with environmental sustainability.

Nasser’s challenge to the prevailing narrative of fossil fuel phase-out injects a crucial perspective into the ongoing discourse on energy transition and climate action, prompting critical reflection on the viability and implications of abrupt fossil fuel divestment.