Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Solana co‑founder Raj Gokal told attendees at the Breakpoint conference that the Solana ecosystem continues to show strong momentum driven by developer activity, hackathons and growing institutional engagement. He highlighted that numerous firms built on Solana recently reached $1 billion in revenue, and that Colosseum hackathons draw more than 1,700 teams per edition. Citing a faster‑than‑expected regulatory shift in the US and increased on‑chain asset issuance by jurisdictions and banks, Gokal said Solana could raise its long‑term on‑chain adoption target to roughly 25% and capture about 10% of the broader crypto market. The comments frame scalability and institutional issuance as key value drivers for Solana’s token ecosystem and suggest the project expects measured but material on‑chain growth over the next decade.

At the Solana Breakpoint conference, HumidiFi — a newly launched decentralized exchange (DEX) — was presented as offering near-zero-cost, high-throughput settlement on Solana, supporting tens of thousands of transactions per second via a seat-based permission model. A HumidiFi core member, Ben, said the platform produces tighter bid/ask spreads and price deltas at the basis-point level, and aims to democratize institutional-grade trading workflows for retail users through permissionless participation and membership tiers. HumidiFi’s team claimed the DEX accounts for roughly 60% of on-chain trading volume, signalling rapid adoption and momentum in on-chain trading. The announcement highlights potential improvements in on-chain execution quality for retail traders and suggests continued growth in Solana-based trading infrastructure.

Nes.lab, a Web3 information ecosystem, has partnered with decentralized exchange Lighter to simplify DEX access and reward traders. From now until December 31, users who trade on Lighter via Nes.lab’s Bitcoin World portal receive a 20% bonus in reward points. Lighter operates the points program ahead of a planned Token Generation Event (TGE), and points may convert to tokens or be used in future airdrops. The initiative aims to lower onboarding friction for traders unfamiliar with decentralized exchanges by combining Nes.lab’s educational resources and Bitcoin World interface with Lighter’s DEX infrastructure. Traders should verify platform security, understand points-to-token mechanics, watch for the Dec. 31 deadline, and consider trading fees and risks. The promotion targets increased DEX adoption and community building before Lighter’s TGE.

dYdX has launched SOL spot trading on its exchange and opened services to users in the United States, marking a strategic expansion from derivatives into spot markets. The rollout introduces Solana spot pairs, aims to deepen order books and increase on‑chain activity for SOL, and is accompanied by a US market reopening that broadens the platform’s addressable user base. To attract US traders, dYdX is waiving trading fees for December. The exchange highlights its long-term growth: over $1.5 trillion in cumulative volume since launch and a roadmap focused on market access, liquidity, and advanced trading tools while preserving decentralization and self‑custody. Market context matters: derivatives positioning on Solana shows heavy leverage clustered near the $147 resistance (Coinglass data: roughly $667M of leverage, with shorts >$1B and longs ≈$692M). A break above $147 could force a short squeeze toward ~$200, while downside support sits near $125 and the $100 psychological level. Traders should expect short‑term volatility as liquidity redistributes across venues and monitor leverage and order‑book depth; longer term, US availability and added spot liquidity may increase SOL trading volumes and market participation.

Coinbase-backed x402 released its V2 upgrade on Dec 11, 2025, standardizing a single HTTP 402 payment format that can span Base, Solana, stablecoins, ACH and card networks. The protocol — used for machine-to-machine and AI-agent payments — has processed over 100 million API payments since launch. Key V2 features include standardized network and asset IDs for multi-chain routing, wallet-based sessions for subscription-like repeated payments (reducing on-chain overhead for high-frequency LLM inference and automated API calls), and a Discovery extension plus plug-in SDK to let facilitators index services and developers add chains/assets modularly. Reference SDKs were rewritten with a plug-in architecture informed by early production deployments. Transactions typically settle in stablecoins on Layer-2s (e.g., Base). The x402 Foundation, formed in Sept 2025, lists members including Cloudflare, Google and Visa. Primary keywords: x402, AI payments, multi-chain payments, Base, Solana, stablecoins.

Major banks including Santander, Bank of America and Japan’s SBI Holdings are using or testing XRP-powered infrastructure to speed up cross-border payments, according to crypto asset manager 21Shares. The firm recently launched an XRP ETF (TOXR) and reports that over 100 financial institutions worldwide are now using or piloting XRP solutions. Banks aim to address slow, costly legacy systems (eg. SWIFT) by using XRP’s blockchain for near-instant settlement, lower fees and reduced liquidity needs. Santander has tested RippleNet and XRP corridors; Bank of America is evaluating XRP technology for modernising payments; SBI uses XRP via SBI Remit for fast, low-cost remittances to countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam. Traders should note this represents rising institutional interest in XRP adoption, which could increase transaction volume, liquidity and market attention for the XRP token. Key keywords: XRP, cross-border payments, Santander, Bank of America, SBI Holdings, RippleNet, remittances.

At the YGG Play Summit in the Philippines, LongHash Ventures’ Shi Khai Wei and Joe Josue (Ahensya) discussed the emerging role of AI agents in games and interactive worlds. Shi argued that AI agents are evolving beyond improved NPCs into autonomous entities that can act, plan, remember player interactions and even push back—creating emergent gameplay and genuine character. Examples cited include Parallel Colony, Virtuals Protocol, EVE Frontier and infrastructure work by Aethir. Use cases range from productivity or “sherpa” agents that assist and onboard players, to fully generative worlds populated by agentic characters. Shi stressed constraints (cost of running large models per player) force creative architectures rather than brute-force approaches. He also warned of intimacy and safety risks as AI companions grow more personal, and urged founders to focus on real experimentation rather than hype. The session framed AI agents as a structural shift in game design with implications for personalization, emergent narratives and scalable infrastructure.

LBank has launched ’Futures Earn’, a VIP-exclusive yield product that lets users allocate USDT earning assets to futures accounts to earn daily interest without interrupting trading. The feature is switchable and currently supports USDT only, with a tiered APR: positions up to 100,000 USDT earn 12% APR on the first 1,000 USDT and 3% on the remainder; positions above 100,000 USDT increase the first-1,000-USDT rate up to 25% APR while excess continues at 3%. LBank positions this as part of a diversified wealth-management suite (Locked, Futures Earn, Dual Investment) and says it has distributed over $46 million in earnings with peak annualized returns of 64.5%. The product aims to improve capital efficiency for futures traders, offer additional yield to high-net-worth users, and expand LBank’s tailored offerings for VIP clients.

XRP has traded around $2 recently as divided Federal Reserve policy views create macro uncertainty that may cap upside in early 2026. Fed officials differ on the pace and scale of rate cuts: some push for more easing to support growth, others warn against premature cuts that could reignite inflation. That split reduces clarity for risk assets and tends to lower volatility and directional conviction. Technically, XRP sits near $2.03 between $1.95 support and $2.25 resistance with narrowing Bollinger Bands signaling volatility compression. A break below $1.95 could target $1.80–$1.60; reclaiming $2.25 with volume could test $2.50–$2.80 and, if liquidity improves later, challenge $3.00. Economists expect a slow easing cycle in 2026 with GDP ~2.3%, inflation easing toward 2.5% and unemployment near 4.4%, implying limited aggressive liquidity that would restrain speculative upside. Without a decisive macro pivot or major Ripple adoption/ETF catalyst, XRP is likely to trade sideways and form an accumulation base between $1.80–$2.50, with a potential breakout later in 2026 once Fed direction or broader liquidity clarity emerges. Traders should watch Fed communications, volume on moves above $2.25, and key supports at $1.95–$1.80 for short-term risk management.

Binance has expanded support for USD1, the stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial (co‑founded by Donald Trump and his sons), by adding zero-fee trading pairs against major tokens including ETH, SOL, BNB and its earlier BTC/USD1 pair. The exchange also said it will convert all assets collateralising its native BUSD stablecoin into USD1 at a 1:1 ratio within a week, integrating USD1 into Binance’s collateral structure. USD1 launched in March on Ethereum and BNB Chain and is backed by US Treasury bills; it is now the seventh-largest stablecoin with roughly $2.7 billion market cap after peaking near $3 billion. Growth was supported by a $2 billion USD1 investment into Binance from Abu Dhabi-based MGX in May. The move increases USD1 liquidity and on-exchange utility, which may affect stablecoin flows, collateral composition, margining and short-term funding dynamics on Binance markets. Political context — World Liberty Financial’s founders and the recent pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — is noted but the market impact centers on increased USD1 availability and its new role as BUSD collateral replacement.

Do Kwon, founder of the collapsed Terra/Luna ecosystem, was officially sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty and showing cooperation and remorse. The sentence closes a major chapter of the 2022 Terra implosion but may not be final: South Korea could pursue additional charges. The case is compared with Sam Bankman‑Fried’s 25‑year sentence; commentators note differences in evidence and intent that likely influenced sentencing. Separately, YouTube now allows eligible US creators to receive payouts in PYUSD, PayPal’s dollar‑backed stablecoin issued by Paxos, joining other institutional adopters like Google Cloud and widening real‑world stablecoin utility. Marketwise, Bitcoin has stabilised above ~$92,000 after an FOMC‑linked pullback, with key support near $85,000 and initial breakout resistance around $95,000. Analysts point to neutral RSI and ongoing ETF/institutional accumulation (including BlackRock buying) as factors that could propel BTC higher, while broader market sentiment may be impacted by regulatory enforcement headlines. Primary keywords: Do Kwon, Terra, PYUSD, YouTube payouts, Bitcoin price. Secondary/semantic keywords: Terra implosion, stablecoin adoption, institutional accumulation, ETF inflows, market sentiment.

Russia’s Central Bank and federal agencies plan to introduce strict cryptocurrency regulations in 2026 that could prohibit new digital-asset purchases by most retail investors. First Deputy CBR Chairman Vladimir Chistyukhin said draft amendments to laws on digital financial assets, securities and banking will define how and through whom crypto transactions can occur — likely limited to existing licensed market participants and qualified entities. Authorities are stepping away from the earlier Experimental Legal Regime and considering allowing only qualified investors (after testing) to enter the market; roughly one million Russians qualify today. Existing holdings by unqualified investors can be kept, sold or converted with no exit limits, but new purchases would be restricted. Legislation could be passed in spring 2026, enacted by year-end, with liability for illegal operations taking effect mid-2027. Regulators cite international scrutiny (notably FATF) and aim to fast-track rules to prevent unauthorized activity and legitimize the sector. Key names: Vladimir Chistyukhin (CBR). Keywords: Russia crypto regulations, crypto ban retail purchases, digital financial assets, qualified investors, Central Bank of Russia.

BeinCrypto announced the results of its 2025 industry awards, naming Bitget as both “Best Brand of the Year” and “Best Centralized Exchange.” The judging panel evaluated global platforms on technical stability, asset transparency, market depth, user experience and industry contribution. Bitget’s performance across these metrics earned recognition for its brand influence, product innovation, security standards, user experience and market growth. The announcement underscores Bitget’s standing among centralized exchanges and highlights its competitive positioning in trading services and platform reliability. This news may be relevant to traders monitoring exchange trustworthiness, liquidity and platform risk when choosing trading venues.

Gate has launched the 15th phase of its VIP Super Friday promotion, running from Dec 12 15:00 to Dec 18 23:59 (UTC+8). The campaign guarantees prizes for participants: VIP 5+ users who sign up receive one free gacha (KYO draw) with a top prize of 2,000 KYO. Additional gacha entries can be earned by completing deposit, wealth-management, and trading tasks. The prize pool contains 2,433 KYO gacha items, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The promotion is marketed as 100% winning for participants meeting the VIP 5+ sign-up condition. No investment advice is provided.

A proposed class action settlement has been reached between former FTX customers and Silvergate Bank (and other defendants) over alleged participation with FTX, Alameda Research and Sam Bankman-Fried. Defendants deny wrongdoing. The settlement fund totals $10 million and will be distributed to eligible class members who submit valid claims after litigation costs and fees. Eligibility requires all five conditions: (1) depositing fiat into an FTX- or Alameda-related Silvergate Bank account between April 1, 2019 and November 11, 2022; (2) holding an FTX.com or FTX.us account on November 11, 2022; (3) that account contained crypto, fiat, or both; and (4) no prior employment or ownership in Silvergate, FTX, Alameda or related entities. Claims must be submitted online at www.FTXBankSettlement.com or by paper request (1-833-417-4936) and be postmarked or filed by January 30, 2026. Class members who opt out by the same date preserve litigation rights but forfeit settlement benefits; objections may also be filed by January 30, 2026. A fairness hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2026, where the court will consider approving the deal and plaintiff requests for up to $3.3 million in attorneys’ fees, $150,000 in expenses, and service awards up to $10,000 each for three plaintiffs. The notice emphasizes that the defendants deny liability and provides links and contact details for claim submission and more information.

Solana will list XRP on its network as wXRP, a 1:1 wrapped token custodied by Hex Trust and minted/redeemed through authorized merchants. Hex Trust will hold native XRP in segregated, regulated custody with auditability and insurance to back wXRP. The launch is supported by over $100 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) to provide initial liquidity and help stabilize pricing. Bringing XRP onto Solana aims to expand XRP’s DeFi utility — enabling cross-chain swaps, liquidity provision, lending, staking and decentralized trading — and may reduce circulating XRP supply while native XRP is locked in custody. The integration leverages Solana’s high throughput and low fees to unlock deeper XRP liquidity and broaden on-chain use cases. Traders should monitor wXRP liquidity, bridge flows, TVL and early DeFi adoption metrics after launch, since these will drive short-term price action and longer-term utility. While increased utility and tighter circulating supply can be bullish, they do not guarantee price appreciation; countervailing risks include custody and bridge centralization, redemption friction, and shifts in demand.

Bitcoin faced renewed downside risk after traders identified a potential bear flag on daily charts, prompting a price target of $76,000 and a longer-term scenario of a drop to $50,000. Analyst Roman argued bearish divergences in RSI and MACD, plus weak price action despite macro tailwinds (stocks and lower US rates), signal the current bull run is over and forecast a 17% decline from recent levels. Other traders, including Ted Pillows, noted similarities to 2022 price action — a possible pump to ~$100,000 followed by a sharp dump under $70,000. Short-term technical support exists in Bitcoin’s bull-market support band (21 SMA / 20 EMA); trader Luca said a sustained bounce above this band would restore a mid-term bullish outlook. The article highlights conflicting trader views: a dominant bearish technical setup versus a support band that could preserve a relief bounce. Key keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, bear flag, RSI divergence, bull market support band, $76K target, $50K target.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a no-action letter allowing the Depository Trust Company (DTC), a DTCC subsidiary, to operate a controlled tokenization service for DTC-custodied securities. The pilot — authorized for up to three years and aimed to launch in H2 2026 — covers highly liquid assets including Russell 1000 stocks, major index ETFs and U.S. Treasuries, and will run on pre-approved blockchains while preserving traditional ownership rights and investor protections. DTCC plans a controlled production environment; CEO Frank La Salla cited benefits for markets and traders such as 24/7 trading, improved collateral mobility, enhanced on-chain liquidity, programmable assets and new trading rails bridging TradFi and DeFi. The SEC’s no-action letter means the agency will not seek enforcement action provided DTC operates as described. The decision follows a recent series of SEC no-action letters and signals a softer regulatory stance toward tokenized securities — a step likely to accelerate institutional on-chain participation and the adoption of tokenized securities in U.S. markets. Keywords: DTCC, tokenized securities, SEC no-action letter, on-chain liquidity, TradFi-DeFi bridge.

YouTube now allows creators in the United States to receive payouts in PayPal’s USD‑pegged stablecoin PYUSD. Confirmed by PayPal crypto lead May Zabaneh and a Google spokesperson, the option is integrated through PayPal so YouTube itself does not custody crypto. PYUSD, launched in mid‑2023, has seen rapid growth — rising from roughly $500 million to about $3.9 billion in market value this year — as PayPal expands PYUSD across its wallet and Venmo apps and explores merchant and B2B use cases. The move extends PayPal and YouTube’s existing payments relationship and gives creators an alternative to traditional fiat payouts. For traders, this signals broader mainstream adoption of stablecoins for payouts and settlement, improved on‑ramps and liquidity for PYUSD, and the potential for increased transaction volume and merchant demand, which could support PYUSD’s market activity.

Anza, a core Solana development firm, has proposed SIMD-0389 to reduce Solana’s account rent-exempt minimum from 0.0015 SOL to 0.00015 SOL — a 90% cut. Brennan Watt, Anza’s VP of Core Engineering, says the change would lower the economic barrier for creating accounts, making it feasible to recover many small, dormant SOL balances that are currently uneconomical to reclaim. The proposal aims to improve capital efficiency, increase liquidity by returning stranded SOL to circulation, and reduce onboarding costs for developers and users. SIMD-0389 will undergo community review and validator discussion before any network upgrade implements the change. If adopted, wallets and tools would need to support the lower fee to enable recovery of old balances. Key keywords: Solana, account creation fees, SIMD-0389, Anza, dormant SOL, fee reduction.

The Bank of Japan is preparing for stepwise, data‑driven interest‑rate hikes, according to three sources cited by Kin Summit/COINOTAG. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has effectively signalled a move in December, and markets are pricing a policy rate rise from around 0.5% toward 0.75%. Officials plan to pace increases across multiple sessions, assessing lending and corporate financing responses after each step. The BOJ may update internal estimates of how far policy rates sit from a neutral level but will not make that metric its main communication tool. Sources stress Japan’s real interest rates remain very low, enabling gradual normalization. The report highlights cautious, conditional tightening rather than an aggressive, single‑move policy shift.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new decentralized lending protocol launched in early 2025, has seen rapid early token appreciation and strong presale demand. MUTM launched at $0.01 and recently traded near $0.035 (≈250% gain). Total supply is 4 billion MUTM; about 815–815.0 million tokens (~20% of supply) have been sold across presale stages, with roughly 45% tied to presale allocations. The project reports approximately $19.2–$19.25 million raised and around 18,400–18,500 holders. Phase 6 allocations are over 96% complete, leaving roughly 4% of tokens at the current price before Phase 7, which the team projects could lift price by about 20%. Phase 1 buyers are positioned for substantial upside versus a stated reference launch valuation. Product roadmap highlights a dual lending model (Peer-to-Contract with yield-bearing mtTokens and Peer-to-Peer lending), an announced USD-pegged lending stablecoin, and Layer-2 expansion to lower fees and increase throughput. Mutuum plans a V1 testnet for Q4 2025 covering lending pools, mtTokens, debt tracking and a liquidation engine; initial markets will support ETH and USDT. Security steps noted include a CertiK TokenScan score of 90/100, a Halborn smart-contract review, and a $50,000 bug bounty. Analysts cited in the releases present bullish scenario estimates of 5x–10x (and some 5x–12x or up to 15x in long-term scenarios) depending on adoption, L2 rollout, oracle integration and a stablecoin launch. Reported token buybacks, staking rewards for mtToken holders and protocol revenue distribution mechanics are positioned as drivers of supply compression and price support. Traders should note that price upside is contingent on product activation, borrowing volume, staking dynamics, token buybacks and distribution schedules tied to future phases. The articles are press releases and include standard due-diligence disclaimers.

The Federal Reserve resumed balance-sheet expansion while delivering another rate cut, a move that benefits equities, weakens the US dollar, and supports a sustained rise in gold and silver. BloFin Research argues that this macro backdrop does not automatically translate into a broad crypto rally. Because much of crypto trades as a dollar‑denominated, offshore, equity‑like asset class, precious metals and major stock indices are likely to attract investor risk capital ahead of most cryptocurrencies. Institutional investors see limited yield advantage in crypto: Bitcoin’s implied forward yield approaches T‑bond yields while Ether lags, reducing the incentive to increase long exposure. Recommendation: reduce outright crypto allocations, use far‑month put protection, and redeploy gains from strong equities (e.g., mega‑cap winners) to fund option premiums. Short‑term: the Fed’s liquidity support may provide episodic upside for top crypto names, but overall investor risk appetite and superior alternatives imply a muted, if any, Santa rally in crypto.

This article examines whether secondary market transactions in crypto—resales of tokens by investors—constitute sales of securities under U.S. law. It focuses on how courts and regulators apply the Howey test and related principles to post-distribution trades. Key points: issuers’ initial token offerings may be securities offerings, but resales can be analyzed separately; courts consider whether secondary sales involve an investment contract, relying on factors such as expectation of profits, efforts of others, and whether the market is sufficiently decentralized. The piece reviews precedent and enforcement trends, noting that regulatory scrutiny often centers on whether purchasers reasonably relied on issuer-promoted efforts or continued managerial control. It discusses practical indicators: active issuer marketing around resales, lockups, centralized trading venues, and issuer buyback/coordination increase the risk that secondary trades will be treated as securities transactions. Conversely, broad distribution, functional decentralization, and transferable tokens with mature secondary markets argue against securities characterization. For traders, the article highlights compliance and market risks: potential enforcement actions could affect listing availability, delistings, trading halts, and custody rules; brokers and exchanges may delist or restrict trading to avoid securities law exposure. The article recommends that traders monitor regulatory developments, issuer behavior, exchange policies, and court rulings to assess legal risk in token positions. Primary SEO keywords: secondary market, crypto securities, Howey test, token resale. Secondary keywords included naturally: decentralization, issuer control, delisting, regulatory enforcement, trading risk.

Sei Network clarified that its partnership with Xiaomi covers pre-installation of a Sei-built Web3 wallet and discovery app on upcoming Xiaomi phones sold outside mainland China and the U.S. The app will enable easier Web3 access (Google/Xiaomi quick sign-in, MPC-based security, curated dApp discovery, P2P transfers) and could eventually support basic consumer-to-business payments. Early reporting misinterpreted the announcement as Xiaomi launching its own crypto wallet or enabling stablecoin retail payments; Sei publicly corrected this on X (Dec 11, 2025). The press release noted potential future exploration of stablecoin payments across Xiaomi’s >20,000 retail stores with testing in markets like Hong Kong and the EU, but Sei stressed any payment features remain speculative and would depend on regulatory approval and development. Market reaction: SEI token spiked after the initial news but fell after the clarification; at press time SEI was quoted at $0.1339, down ~5.15% in 24 hours. Traders should note the partnership increases Sei’s user reach given Xiaomi’s large shipments (168 million phones in 2024) across Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa, but immediate commercial payment adoption is not confirmed. Key keywords: Sei, Xiaomi, SEI token, Web3 wallet, stablecoin payments, pre-installed app.

Ripple has completed a $200 million acquisition of Rail, a stablecoin payments specialist whose network processes roughly 10% of global B2B stablecoin payment volume. The deal integrates Rail’s API-driven payment rails and compliance-enabled flows into Ripple’s institutional stack, connecting stablecoin settlement with custody, treasury and prime-brokerage services. This purchase follows Ripple’s 2024 acquisitions—Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), GTreasury and Palisade—helping form a near full‑stack enterprise crypto offering. Rail’s platform supports always-on pay-ins, payouts and internal treasury movements without requiring clients to hold crypto on balance sheets, and is backed by 60+ financial licenses and 12+ banking integrations. Expected benefits for enterprises include lower friction and cost for digital-asset use, simplified cross-border pay-ins/payouts, and streamlined third‑party settlement. Key risks remain: U.S. regulatory uncertainty and the operational complexity of integrating multiple acquired businesses. For traders, the deal strengthens Ripple’s institutional infrastructure and could increase demand for Ripple’s settlement services over time, but direct short-term effects on XRP price are uncertain.

Fidelity Global Macro head Jurrien Timmer said on X that after excessive speculation retreated, market sentiment around cryptocurrencies has improved. With a potentially dovish Fed and calmer bond and FX markets, Bitcoin (BTC) could end 2025 on a relatively strong footing. Timmer noted that prior strategies like companies issuing shares to buy Bitcoin (to generate yield) may now act as a headwind and raise questions about whether the four‑year cycle has ended. He also pointed to Bitcoin’s mature network-cycle structure: since 2010 Bitcoin has seen five up‑waves, each smaller in percentage gains but longer in duration. Using this five‑wave framework, Timmer’s chart projects a potential peak for the fifth wave near $151,360. The commentary is presented as market information and not investment advice.

Folks Finance published a detailed roadmap through 2026 after its token generation event (TGE) and a sharp post‑launch price rise for $FOLKS. Key initiatives: 1) xChain V2 (H1 2026) — a cross‑chain upgrade supporting EVM and non‑EVM chains, introducing cross‑chain vault lending and integrated incentives: 1,000,000 FOLKS (~$15M) aimed at driving $1B cross‑chain TVL and integrating with the Folks Mobile app; 2) Folks Mobile — a VASP‑licensed mobile app entering early access (expected 2026) with 30,000+ waitlist registrations, enabling compliant on‑ and off‑ramp features and card‑based borrowing; 3) New EVM LST — a liquid staking token (LST) for an undisclosed EVM chain with one‑click strategy vaults, building on Folks’ gALGO/xALGO experience; 4) Folks Points Season 2 — expanded rewards and referral system after Season 1 distributed 1.5M FOLKS to 5,770 users. Post‑TGE metrics: $FOLKS listed on multiple top CEXs (including Bybit futures), price peaked near $17 (8× from $2 issuance), protocol active on eight chains with 220,000+ active users, staking live with up to 30% APY. Backing includes Coinbase Ventures, Jump Crypto, ParaFi and Borderless Capital. The roadmap ties product upgrades and marketing incentives to adoption targets, signaling aggressive user‑acquisition and TVL goals that traders should monitor for liquidity, listing activity and tokenomics shifts.

XRP is trading around $2 inside a tightening descending triangle after a month of losses, risking a bearish continuation if price breaks the $2 support. The token is about 14% down over the past month and roughly 45% below its July high of $3.65. Spot volume fell ~26% to $3.08bn, futures volume dropped ~25% to $4.16bn, and open interest eased slightly to $3.69bn—signals traders are reducing exposure. ETF flows into Ripple-linked products cooled, with ETF open interest down ~15% and funding rates turning negative, indicating increased short bias. Social sentiment has weakened and long positions are unusually low. A positive catalyst arrived on Dec. 11: Hex Trust launched wrapped XRP (wXRP) bridging native XRP to Solana, Ethereum, Optimism and HyperEVM via LayerZero, debuting with over $100m TVL and early demand on Solana DEXes. Technically, daily indicators (RSI ~42, MACD below zero, moving averages above price) favor the downside; a clean close below $2 would confirm the descending triangle and likely extend the downtrend, while a breakout above the upper trendline would invalidate the bearish pattern but currently has lower probability given momentum. Primary keywords: XRP price, descending triangle, XRP $2. Secondary/semantic keywords included: ETF flows, wrapped XRP, wXRP, volume, open interest, funding rates, LayerZero, Solana DEX. Traders should watch $2 support, the upper triangle trendline, volume and funding rates for trade signals.