TGIT: Everything's Going Nuclear and other stories

The nuclear power stock up 3x in three months, the SEC's new sheriff, why memecoins are not funny, Bitcoin breaching $100K, buying bonds, backtesting, the end of the bull run and more. First time reading? Join other risk-takers, entrepreneurs, traders, investors, data geeks and alpha types.
Sign up for free here. 

TGI Trump! (12/5) At least that seems to be the consensus of the crypto chorus propelling bitcoin to new highs today.

In a significant shift for U.S. financial markets, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, signaling a potential sea change in cryptocurrency regulation. Atkins, a former SEC commissioner during the Bush administration and founder of Patomak Global Partners, is expected to dramatically reshape the agency's approach to digital assets.

The nomination marks a stark departure from Gary Gensler's tenure, which saw the SEC levy record-breaking fines totaling $8.2 billion and pursue aggressive enforcement actions against major cryptocurrency exchanges. Atkins, by contrast, is calling for a more accommodating regulatory framework and argues that excessive oversight has driven crypto innovation overseas. Moreover, the nomination aligns perfectly with Trump's crypto courtship, which includes a plan for a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile"—because Fort Knox apparently needs a digital makeover.

The market's immediate response underscored the significance of the appointment, with Bitcoin breaching $100,000 for the first time. Not surprisingly, Trump took a victory lap and noted bitcoin’s price is up more than 50% since the GOP trifecta on election day.

"CONGRATULATIONS BITCOINERS!!! $100,000!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!" Trump said this morning on Truth Social, his social media network.

The Atkins nomination aligns with Trump's broader crypto-friendly campaign promises, including plans to retain seized cryptocurrency assets instead of auctioning them off.

Atkins, who previously served in Trump's economic advisory group, has emphasized the importance of targeting individual wrongdoers instead of imposing corporate penalties that ultimately affect shareholders. (There’s the irony that the Atkins client roster included the now-infamous FTX.)

Tellingly, Atkins has been a vocal critic of the SEC's crypto crackdown, arguing that Gensler's rigid approach simply pushed digital asset trading toward Asia and Europe. "If the SEC were more accommodating," he mused last year, probably while watching crypto exchanges flee overseas, "it would be a lot better to have things happen here in the United States."

It looks like the Wild West is about to get a little wilder.

Stay lucky!

Editorial Director

Nuke plants and atomic research could become big winners in the Trump administration’s campaign to boost energy production. But how big? Chris Wright, his nominee for energy secretary, amassed a $40 million fortune in the fossil fuel business. We review recent statements from Wright and other players, assess their past performance and make our own predictions about what lies ahead. Read Full Story

In 2023, U.S. nuclear power plants generated enough electricity to power 72 million homes. Fission has supplied around 20% of the nation's power since the 1990s.

— U.S. Department of Energy

Nuclear technology startup Oklo (OKLO) has recently become a darling of the clean energy trade, with a valuation suggesting big potential. But with regulatory hurdles ahead and a new report criticizing the company’s prospects, there’s a sharp divide in the investment community over Oklo's near-term outlook. Our analyst unpacks why the stock could continue to soar—or stumble. Read Full Story

The Federal Reserve’s rate cuts and rising yields have made bonds anything but boring this year. But with Trump's anticipated fiscal policies, bonds are shaping up to become one of 2025's more compelling stories. Here's why the latest pullback in the bond market could be a gift for active investors. Read Full Story

In election years since 1950, the S&P 500 is up in December 83.3% of the time. But what does history tell us about Treasury notes, bonds, gold, crude oil, the euro and the VIX? Read Full Story

Backtest! Account holders have used the tastytrade SPX options back-testing tool more than 345,000 times since its introduction on Oct. 1! The tool enables traders to back test any options strategy before risking real capital. It draws upon 10+ years of data and tests everything from single options to multi-leg strategies. Users can also enter trade exit conditions with variables like a specific DTE, or after realizing a certain percentage of loss or profit. Learn more here.

Resident technician Tim Knight reviews the most actively traded tickers daily (Monday-Friday) on Trading Charts. The show kicks off at 3:15 p.m. EST on the tastylive network. This past Tuesday, Knight stepped back for a moment to address the big question above. Watch the YouTube video here.

The Dogecoin (DOGE) story captures the essence of digital-age innovation, cryptocurrencies and speculation. What began in 2013 as a satirical take on Bitcoin, featuring a smiling Shiba Inu dog, has morphed into a $62 billion testament to the power of internet culture and high-profile endorsements.

After Elon Musk began tweeting about Dogecoin in 2019, he sent the “joke” meme coin rocketing from a penny ($0.01) to $0.65. That's a mind-blowing 6,400% gain in just five months. Even after the crypto market cooled off, DOGE found a new groove at $0.07.

But Musk wasn't finished. After buying Twitter, he changed the platform's logo to the famous Doge meme, sending the coin soaring 30%. Now, with Trump's election victory and Musk's appointment to lead the cheekily named Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E), the crypto underdog has jumped another 150% to $0.42.

The rise of this former joke of a cryptocurrency has rewritten investment narratives, spawning an entire category of "memecoins" that trade as much on social momentum as technical fundamentals. Fast forward to today, and we've got a whole carnival of memecoins—from Shiba Inu (SHIB, the self-proclaimed "Doge killer") to Pepe (PEPE) and Dogwifhat (WIF).

Does this all still seem like gibberish? Here’s a solution: Bag Battles. This new video series, created by crypto expert Ryan Grace, is the ideal step-by-step introduction to memecoins. Each week, three panelists each invest $100 in a memecoin of their choosing, showcasing the functionality of a crypto wallet and embracing the mesmerizing world of memecoins. Catch the action Mondays at 11 a.m. CST, streaming live on the tastylive network and tastycrypto’s new YouTube channel. Here’s round one to get you started.

More Cowbell

RFK Jr.’s health positions (a bad link last week).

Fitness vs. fatness in forecasting mortality risk.

At $350B, it’s the most valuable private startup in the world. 

Musk sits atop the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. 

IG Group (N.A.) CEO JJ Kinahan cites Trump tailwinds.

Pomp thinks the bitcoin bull is just warming up.   
 Meanwhile, gold and silver appear to be topping out. 

These five currencies are vulnerable to Trump's tariffs.

Cherry-picking overseas ETFs, and two new trade ideas.

Oil prices are predicted to drop below $60 under Trump.

Take our annual investor survey! 

Share the Luckbox—forward to a friend.
Subscribe for free here.

Now go on, get lucky.

Luckbox Magazine is a product and service offered by tastylive, Inc. (“tastylive”). Luckbox Magazine content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any security, futures contract, digital asset, other product, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any person. Trading securities, futures products, and digital assets involves risk and may result in a loss greater than the original amount invested. The information provided in Luckbox Magazine may not be appropriate for all individuals, and is provided without respect to any individual’s financial sophistication, financial situation, investing time horizon or risk tolerance. Transaction costs (commissions and other fees) are important factors and should be considered when evaluating any securities, futures, or digital asset transaction or trade. For simplicity, the examples and illustrations in these articles may not include transaction costs. Nothing contained in this magazine constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, promotion or offer by Luckbox Magazine or tastylive, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or assigns. While Luckbox Magazine and tastylive believe that the information contained in Luckbox Magazine is reliable and make efforts to assure its accuracy, the publisher disclaims responsibility for opinions and representation of facts contained therein. Active investing is not easy, so be careful!