Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

XRP traded around $2.08 following the liquidation of significant high‑leverage short positions, resulting in a 0.9% intraday rise and a compressed 24‑hour range. Price has been confined between a firm support level at $2.05 and resistance at $2.17, with liquidity clusters at the range boundaries driving most intraday moves. Short liquidations reduced short interest and temporarily stabilized downside risk, but repeated rejections at $2.17 have capped upside. Market structure points to a tight, range‑bound environment in the short term; traders are advised to watch volume and liquidity heatmaps for a decisive breakout or breakdown before committing directional positions. Primary keywords: XRP price, short liquidations, support and resistance. Secondary/semantic keywords: liquidity clusters, range bound, trading range, intraday volatility.

Galaxy Digital transferred 700 BTC (≈$64.8 million) to an anonymous bech32 address that has been receiving batches from the firm since December 9. Onchain Lens spotted the transfers; the destination wallet now holds about 1,900 BTC (≈$176 million). Analysts say the pattern suggests coordinated accumulation rather than a single offload. Possible reasons include enhanced custody/security measures, internal treasury reallocation, preparation for OTC trades or collateralization, or migration to a new custody provider. The move is publicly visible on the Bitcoin blockchain but the wallet owner remains unknown. Market implications are primarily psychological: visible large transfers from an institutional name can trigger short-term volatility if misread as selling, but may be interpreted as institutional accumulation and thus be bullish longer term. Traders should monitor further on-chain flows, whether coins move to exchanges, and related alerts from analytics platforms (e.g., Arkham, Onchain Lens) to discern intent. This is operational rather than definitive selling pressure; treat it as a signal to watch liquidity and order-book depth rather than an immediate market catalyst.

Google unveiled Gemini Deep Research, an autonomous research agent built on Gemini 3 Pro, on the same day OpenAI released GPT-5.2 (codenamed Garlic). Designed for deep, multi-step reasoning, Gemini Deep Research ingests large-context prompts to produce structured research outputs and is offered to developers via a new Interactions API. Google highlights improved factuality to reduce AI hallucinations, targeting enterprise and high-stakes use cases such as financial due diligence, drug research, and crypto analytics. Google published new benchmarks (DeepSearchQA and Humanity’s Last Exam) showing Gemini leading on those tests, while OpenAI claims GPT-5.2 leads on other standard benchmarks. Google plans integrations across Search, Finance, the Gemini app, and NotebookLM. For crypto traders and builders, the agent promises automated due diligence, real-time sentiment synthesis, and on-chain monitoring tools, but reliability and model bias remain key concerns. The release intensifies competition for developer mindshare and could accelerate tools for tokenomics research and automated trading analysis.

CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index remains at 17, signalling continued Bitcoin dominance across the top 100 cryptocurrencies (excluding stablecoins and wrapped tokens) over the past 90 days. The reading is far below the 75 threshold that defines an ‘altcoin season,’ indicating most altcoins have underperformed BTC. Analysts point to macro uncertainty, rate and inflation concerns, and significant inflows into spot Bitcoin products as drivers concentrating capital in BTC. For traders, the index suggests a risk-off environment: maintain a core Bitcoin position, avoid indiscriminate altcoin chasing, prioritise fundamentals when selecting altcoins, and consider dollar-cost averaging for high-conviction names. Set alerts for a sustained index rise (notably above 50–75) as a signal that rotation into altcoins may be starting. The index updates daily and reflects a rolling 90-day comparison versus Bitcoin; it is a market-structure diagnostic tool rather than standalone trading advice. Potential triggers for a shift include a stabilising Bitcoin rally that rotates capital into altcoins, sector breakthroughs (DeFi, NFTs), or easing macro pressures.

Blockstream Capital Partners (BCP), the investment arm of Blockstream, will acquire Corbiere Capital Management, a Jersey-based equity hedge fund founded by Rodrigo Rodriguez in 2023. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal brings equities and event-driven strategies into BCP’s bitcoin-focused product suite and establishes a new asset manager, Blockstream Capital Management, with Rodriguez as Chief Investment Officer. Komainu — a custodian in which BCP invests — will provide custody, exchange connectivity and off-exchange collateral management through its Komainu Connect platform. The acquisition aims to combine traditional securities expertise with bitcoin-referenced exposures to deliver more diversified, institutional-grade portfolios and to scale BCP’s institutional offerings. For traders, the move signals Blockstream’s push to broaden institutional access to bitcoin-linked instruments via multi-strategy products, potentially supporting institutional demand for BTC and for listed companies with bitcoin exposure.

Onchain Lens tracked a large address depositing approximately 4.59 million USDC into Hyperliquid and opening a 20x leveraged long position on Ethereum (ETH). Earlier reports indicated a similar whale move of about 5.18M USDC and a 25x leveraged ETH long; the latest tracked transaction revises the figure to ~4.59M USDC at 20x leverage and does not identify the counterparty. The deposit concentrates substantial stablecoin liquidity on Hyperliquid and establishes a high-leverage bullish exposure to ETH. For traders, key implications are: elevated leveraged ETH exposure within a single protocol, a greater risk of rapid price swings if the position faces liquidation, and potential short-term volatility in ETH and margin markets. Monitor Hyperliquid orderbook depth, funding rates, and on-chain liquidation alerts; adjust position sizing and stop-losses accordingly. This is market information only and not investment advice.

Coinbase has integrated decentralized exchange (DEX) routing for the Solana network, enabling users to trade native Solana (SOL) tokens through on‑chain DEX liquidity without undergoing Coinbase’s traditional listing review. Announced by Coinbase protocol specialist Andrew Allen, the integration will surface native Solana assets in the Coinbase app and allow projects with sufficient liquidity to reach Coinbase users without a formal listing. This follows Coinbase’s earlier DEX integration for Base and is part of a broader plan to extend DEX rails to more chains. The move mirrors a wider CeFi–DeFi convergence: centralized exchanges such as Binance and OKX have rolled similar features, acting as front ends to on‑chain liquidity to improve UX while leveraging growing DEX volumes. The development coincides with rapid growth in Solana’s DeFi ecosystem — including Ellipsis Labs’ Solana perpetuals DEX (private beta) and Redstone’s 2025 Solana lending report citing large single‑day DEX volumes — suggesting deeper liquidity is becoming available on‑chain. For traders, the integration lowers barriers to access new Solana tokens but raises practical considerations: verify liquidity depth, expected slippage, routing fees and smart‑contract or counterparty risk when executing DEX trades via a centralized interface. Overall, this increases on‑chain accessibility for SOL and Solana tokens and may raise trading volumes on Solana while shifting some execution risk profiles to users.

Do Kwon, co‑founder of Terraform Labs, was sentenced to 15 years in U.S. federal prison for fraud linked to the May 2022 collapse of the TerraUSD (UST) algorithmic stablecoin, which wiped out about $50 billion in market value and helped spark the 2022 crypto downturn. Kwon pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to commit commodities, securities and wire fraud and a separate wire fraud count, reducing nine original charges to two under a plea deal that capped exposure. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer imposed a term above prosecutors’ 12‑year recommendation and far beyond Kwon’s requested five years. Victim testimony and court filings documented widespread investor losses and market contagion, which the judge cited in sentencing and in concerns over any early release via transfer. Under federal rules, Kwon must serve at least half the sentence (about 7.5 years) in U.S. custody before prosecutors may support international transfer; separate charges still await him in South Korea. The case signals tougher enforcement of crypto executives, highlights the structural risks of algorithmic stablecoins like UST, and is likely to prompt closer regulatory scrutiny and higher disclosure standards across the industry. For traders: expect renewed attention on stablecoin design risk, potential regulatory proposals targeting algorithmic stablecoins, and cautious positioning in related assets while policy and legal developments unfold.

21Shares has won CBOE BZX approval to list a spot XRP ETF (ticker TOXR), becoming the fifth U.S. spot XRP fund. The ETF provides regulated, brokerage-accessible exposure to XRP and removes the need for direct custody. 21Shares charges a competitive 0.3% annual sponsor fee (calculated daily and paid weekly in XRP) and references the CME CF XRP–USD Reference Rate (New York Variant) for pricing. The fund emphasises a multi-custodian security model and institutional-grade compliance to attract institutional investors. Although the S-1 still carries a routine delaying amendment pending final SEC administrative steps, the CBOE listing and repeated S-1 updates indicate the remaining process is largely procedural. Market reaction has been muted so far; XRP price action showed short-term weakness near $2.01 in one report. For traders, the approval strengthens XRP’s institutional legitimacy and could lift demand and liquidity if inflows materialise, but short-term momentum remains fragile. Key trading takeaways: monitor ETF inflows, fee competition among issuers, and technical support/resistance levels; expect increased liquidity over time but potential near-term volatility.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, now chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), said Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets should form the foundation of a new national financial rail to drive growth for the country’s 240 million people. Saqib framed crypto and blockchain as core infrastructure rather than speculative instruments, citing rapid adoption among a young population and Pakistan’s rise to third place in Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index. The government has announced plans that include creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve, opening federal licensing to international crypto firms, and allocating 2,000 MW of power to support Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. Regulators are fast‑tracking rules to formalise previously unregulated markets and attract foreign investment, remittance efficiencies via blockchain, and high‑tech jobs. For traders: expect increased on‑chain flows, potential local liquidity shifts from large‑scale mining and institutional activity, and heightened regulatory clarity that could spur demand for BTC. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin, crypto regulation, PVARA, Bitcoin mining, Pakistan crypto policy.

JPMorgan has completed a landmark proof-of-concept demonstrating bank-led transactions over public blockchain rails. The initiative tested interoperability and settlement flows using public networks rather than private or permissioned ledgers, showcasing how traditional banks can route payments and custody instructions on public chains while retaining compliance controls. The trial involved JPMorgan’s payments and custody teams and highlights growing institutional experimentation with public blockchains for settlement, liquidity management and cross-border payments. JPMorgan framed the work as research and a step toward practical integration, not an immediate product launch. Key takeaways for traders: this signals increased institutional engagement with public blockchain infrastructure, potential future demand for on-chain settlement rails and tokenized assets, and greater likelihood of regulatory scrutiny and infrastructure upgrades among large banks.

The U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) omitted digital assets from its 2025 list of risks to the U.S. financial system and dropped prior specific policy recommendations on crypto. Under Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the shorter report shifts framing away from recurring “vulnerabilities” and records that U.S. regulators with crypto authority have adjusted prior positions. The FSOC no longer labels crypto an explicit systemic risk and does not call for new congressional measures on stablecoins or spot-market oversight. It still highlights illicit-finance risks—noting stablecoins could be misused to facilitate illegal transactions—but projects that U.S. dollar–denominated stablecoins may reinforce the dollar’s international role over the next decade. No immediate regulatory actions or market interventions were announced. For traders: the report signals a softer regulatory tone that may reduce regulatory tail-risk premium for crypto assets, while persistent illicit‑finance language keeps compliance and stablecoin oversight on watch. Keywords: FSOC, digital assets, stablecoins, US financial regulation, crypto regulation.

On Dec. 12 on-chain data shows FTX/Alameda unstaked roughly 194,800 SOL (≈$25.5M) and within four hours split the tokens across 26 addresses, with many recipients subsequently moving funds to major centralized exchanges such as Coinbase and Binance. This action follows a pattern since Nov. 2023: combined staking-address redemptions now total about 9,562,000 SOL (≈$1.298B) at an average exit price near $135.80 per SOL. Approximately 4,070,000 SOL (≈$555M) remain staked in those addresses. Compared with an earlier report of a 193,800 SOL withdrawal and distribution to 28 addresses, the Dec. 12 movement confirms continued, concentrated offloading and consolidation of Solana holdings toward exchanges. For traders: the flow increases supply on centralized venues, signalling near-term sell-side pressure on SOL prices and heightened liquidity on exchanges — factors that may amplify short-term volatility and affect order-book depth. Key keywords: SOL, Solana, FTX, Alameda, staking withdrawals, exchange inflows.

Elon Musk confirmed on December 10 that X’s long‑promised payments layer, “X Money,” is already running internally. The announcement came in a brief reply to a developer and was followed by reports that X is quietly testing the system with employees and early users ahead of a public launch. Despite the news and prior hints that Dogecoin (DOGE) might be integrated with X’s payments rails, DOGE barely moved — trading around $0.137 and down less than 0.1% on the day, within a normal intraday range. X is hiring engineers to build a large‑scale payments platform for its ~600 million monthly users and has partnerships and ecosystem ties (including a Visa partnership and Solana figures joining X). Recent Musk references to Dogecoin have produced diminishing market responses, suggesting the market is increasingly desensitized to Musk‑linked DOGE promos. Key points for traders: X Money’s internal rollout signals advancing payments infrastructure at X, but the lack of a DOGE price reaction implies limited immediate spillover to meme‑coin momentum. Monitor job postings, partnership disclosures, and any explicit technical integration or wallet support announcements to reassess DOGE’s potential upside.

CoinJar has added Travel Rule support to its Address Book, letting users save required sender and recipient identity details (names, addresses, account information) alongside saved crypto addresses. The Travel Rule is a UK anti–money laundering and counter‑terrorist financing requirement that obliges exchanges to collect, verify and transmit counterparty information for transfers. With the update, users who store Travel Rule data in an Address Book entry typically will not need to complete the travel‑rule form again when sending to that saved address, reducing friction for repeat outbound transfers. Receiving crypto still requires completing the Travel Rule form each time. Users must update the CoinJar app and can add or edit Travel Rule details via More > Address Book; support is available for questions. This streamlines compliance steps, may speed repeat withdrawals, and keeps CoinJar aligned with UK regulatory obligations.

Microsoft consumer AI chief Mustafa Suleyman said the company will stop developing advanced AI and superintelligence if systems pose a risk of running out of control or threatening human safety. Suleyman framed Microsoft’s strategy as prioritising human-aligned superintelligence over raw compute, and reiterated safety-first commitments for product development. An October rework of Microsoft’s deal with OpenAI restored Microsoft’s rights to pursue AGI and superintelligence after prior contractual limits; OpenAI has since diversified infrastructure partners (including SoftBank and Oracle), enabling Microsoft to build its own advanced systems and research techniques that could exceed human performance across tasks. Suleyman cautioned that consumer tools such as Copilot remain experimental and imperfect, and said Microsoft would halt development if models show potential to “run away.” For crypto traders: this is primarily a technology and policy development that affects long-term AI leadership and platform competition (Microsoft vs. OpenAI and other cloud partners), not an immediate driver of crypto prices. Relevant keywords: Microsoft AI, AI safety, superintelligence, OpenAI partnership, Copilot, AGI, infrastructure deals.

SHIB: Shiba Inu (SHIB) shows weakening momentum despite not being "dead" — price trades well below the 50-, 100- and 200-day EMAs, with repeated rejections near $0.0000090 and thinning volume. A break below the $0.0000080–$0.0000083 support could push SHIB toward mid-$0.0000070s. A sustained breakout would require higher volume and a retest of the 50-day EMA. ETH: Ethereum (ETH) produced a classic fakeout — an attempted breakout into a cluster of resistance defined by a falling structural trendline and the 50/100-day EMAs, followed by sharp rejection and declining volume. The pattern historically precedes deeper retracement or prolonged consolidation while ETH remains below stacked EMAs. Positive scenario: if ETH holds $3,050–$3,150 and regains the 50/100 EMAs with stronger volume, targets near $3,500 become possible. BTC: Bitcoin (BTC) maintains a rising local support line beneath current price, suggesting buyers step in on dips. BTC trades under a dense cluster of moving averages (50/100/200 EMA) but has avoided a breakdown, indicating base-building/accumulation rather than distribution. Neutral RSI and steady volume support the possibility of another push toward $95k and ultimately $100k if overhead resistance is cleared. Trading takeaways for traders: SHIB — increased downside risk if $0.0000080 support fails; avoid chasing run-ups without volume confirmation. ETH — treat recent spike as a failed breakout; watch $3,050–$3,150 as key support and monitor volume for a credible breakout above 50/100 EMA. BTC — keep an eye on the rising support trendline; bullish scenario remains intact while that line holds, but clearing stacked EMAs is required for a decisive move to $100k. Overall sentiment: mixed/neutral-to-bearish for many altcoins, cautiously constructive for BTC if accumulation persists.

JPMorgan arranged the issuance, distribution and on‑chain settlement of $50 million in commercial paper for Galaxy Digital on the Solana public blockchain. The notes were purchased by institutional buyers including Coinbase and Franklin Templeton. All payments and maturity redemptions will be settled in the regulated stablecoin USDC. JPMorgan’s blockchain/digital‑assets arm (Kinexys/Markets Digital Assets) created the tokenized debt instrument, organized the issuance, and managed on‑chain settlement; Solana Foundation provided the public‑chain infrastructure. JPMorgan described the deal as a “real‑money test case” and plans to expand the model to other investor groups, issuance types and security classes. The transaction is framed by industry forecasts of rapid growth in real‑world asset (RWA) tokenization and is seen as a milestone for institutional tokenized issuance, custody workflows and public‑chain settlement practices. Traders should note the deal’s emphasis on USDC settlement, Solana rails, and the potential for tokenized commercial paper to increase collateral efficiency and liquidity in institutional funding markets.

Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss publicly thanked former President Donald Trump after Gemini received a designated contract market (DCM) license from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The license clears a major regulatory hurdle for Gemini, allowing the exchange to list and offer regulated derivatives products in the U.S. Winklevoss framed the decision as a reversal of what he described as the Biden administration’s “war on crypto,” crediting Trump’s regulatory stance for the change. The CFTC’s approval provides Gemini greater legal certainty and could accelerate product launches and institutional engagement. Market participants may view the license as a sign of improving regulatory clarity in U.S. crypto markets, potentially boosting confidence among institutional traders and derivatives desks. Key figures: Tyler Winklevoss (Gemini co-founder); Donald Trump (credited by Winklevoss). Primary developments: Gemini obtains DCM license from the CFTC; public political commentary linking the approval to a shift in federal policy. Implications: cleared regulatory pathway for U.S. crypto derivatives on Gemini, potential for increased institutional activity and product expansion.

Bitcoin rewards app Lolli has enabled withdrawals over the Bitcoin Lightning Network after integrating with Lightspark’s open-source Layer-2 protocol Spark. The Spark SDK will allow users to cash out Bitcoin rewards on Lolli via instant, low‑cost, self-custodial Lightning transfers. The integration follows Lolli’s acquisition by Thesis in July, which led to user complaints after Lolli temporarily suspended reward transfers to migrate backend infrastructure and integrated a Mezo layer before enabling on‑chain or Lightning transfers. The move aims to restore faster, cheaper withdrawal options and could address user frustration over prior service disruptions. Key entities: Lolli, Thesis (acquirer), Lightspark (developer of Spark). Main keywords: Lolli, Lightning Network, Spark, Bitcoin rewards, withdrawals.

Coinbase will debut on‑chain prediction markets and a suite of internally issued tokenized stocks on Dec. 17, expanding beyond traditional crypto trading into two fast‑growing on‑chain finance categories. Prediction markets will let users speculate on future events via blockchain‑based markets, while tokenized equities are blockchain representations of shares that Coinbase will issue itself rather than using white‑label partners. Leaked UI screenshots have surfaced, hinting at functionality. The products aim to boost on‑platform trading activity, custody services and fee revenue, and give Coinbase tighter control over product economics and distribution. Key operational details — including jurisdictions, token mechanics, listing eligibility, custody model and regulatory clearance — have not been disclosed. The rollout comes amid heightened U.S. regulatory scrutiny of crypto firms, making timing, compliance approach and legal exposure major variables for traders to watch.

Local Philippine exchange PDAX has joined Tempo’s public testnet — a payments-focused blockchain developed by Stripe and Paradigm — to help deliver faster, low-cost, enterprise-grade financial services to Filipino users. Tempo, launched to developers and partners on December 9, targets remittances, payroll, global payouts, embedded finance and microtransactions by offering dedicated payment lanes, stablecoin-native gas, a built-in stable-asset DEX, payments metadata for reconciliation, deterministic ~0.6s settlement finality, and modern programmable wallets. PDAX joins global partners including Visa, Shopify, OpenAI, Revolut and Deutsche Bank. Tempo plans to expand validator participation and progress toward a permissionless mainnet. Key SEO keywords: PDAX, Tempo testnet, Stripe, low-cost payments, stablecoin-native gas, remittances.

U.S. lawmakers have formally urged SEC Chair Paul Atkins to implement President Trump’s August 2025 executive order allowing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as 401(k) investment options. Congress says revising Department of Labor and SEC rules would give ordinary savers access to the same alternative investments used by large pension funds. U.S. retirement plans hold roughly $12.5 trillion in 401(k) assets (and $43.4 trillion total retirement assets as of March 31, 2025). Analysts cited in the report estimate that modest allocations of 1–3% from these retirement pools could inject tens of billions of dollars of buying pressure into Bitcoin, potentially supporting new all-time highs. Technically, BTC recently pulled back from the $100k–$108k resistance zone and trades around $90k, above long-term weekly support near $76k. Momentum indicators (MACD) show bearish readings but signs of flattening, implying downside pressure may be easing. If BTC reclaims $100k–$108k and clears a pivot near $116k, chart structure points to a potential continuation toward roughly $131k. The article highlights potential market flow implications for institutional and retail allocations but also notes regulatory implementation uncertainty and execution risks.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott said there is “real progress” toward passing comprehensive U.S. cryptocurrency legislation after separate bipartisan meetings with Bank of America, Citi and Wells Fargo CEOs. Lawmakers are negotiating competing drafts from the Banking and Agriculture Committees that would clarify regulatory authority between the SEC and the CFTC, create a new “ancillary assets” category for tokens that are not securities, and tighten anti‑money‑laundering (AML) rules for DeFi. The negotiations also revisit gaps in last summer’s GENIUS Act, including limits on interest paid to stablecoin holders that banks and industry groups say are weak and easily circumvented by exchanges or affiliates. The House previously passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act; senators must reconcile that approach with the Senate drafts before floor action. Banking CEOs and senators discussed yield mechanics, DeFi compliance costs, AML concerns and market access. Timing to pass a final bill before year‑end is uncertain. For traders: the bill aims to reduce regulatory ambiguity—potentially lowering legal risk for listings and institutional adoption—while provisions on stablecoin interest, yield treatment and DeFi AML compliance could influence stablecoin yields, liquidity and costs for DeFi projects and exchanges.

Analysts and commentators have renewed debate over whether 1,000 XRP could one day be worth $1 million — which requires XRP to reach $1,000 per coin. At current prices near $2, buying 1,000 XRP costs roughly $2,000, so a $1,000 target implies gains of ~49,900%. Proponents (including commentators like BarriC, JackTheRippler and analyst Matthew Brienen of CryptoGuard) argue that large-scale adoption for settlement, institutional liquidity channels and tokenized value transfer could drive XRP toward four-figure prices; Brienen models a possible rise to $1,000 by 2035. Data-driven forecasts cited are more conservative: Changelly projects ~ $115 by 2033–2034 and Telegaon ~ $285 by 2050. Major obstacles include XRP’s near-100 billion max supply — a $1,000 price implies a market cap near $100 trillion, far exceeding historical crypto market caps — and regulatory and adoption uncertainties. The article frames these scenarios as speculative, noting the wide divergence among models and warning that projections are not financial advice. Key keywords: XRP, XRP price, price prediction, market cap, adoption, regulatory risk.

A study by crypto custody firm Zodia finds stablecoins are increasingly integrated into Australia’s financial and crypto infrastructure. Zodia reports stablecoins power liquidity pools, payment rails and institutional crypto services, serving as a bridge between fiat and digital asset markets. The report highlights growing institutional adoption, regulatory engagement, and uses in settlements, cross-border transfers and DeFi liquidity provisioning. It also notes operational risks (custody, peg management), regulatory uncertainty, and the need for clearer frameworks to ensure market stability. Key takeaways for traders: rising stablecoin utility may boost on‑chain trading volumes and shorten settlement times, but regulatory or peg stresses could trigger rapid liquidity shifts. Primary takeaways: institutional adoption, payment/settlement use cases, regulatory focus, and operational risk drivers.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a non-action letter permitting the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to custody and recognize tokenized stocks and other real-world assets (RWA) on approved blockchains for a three-year pilot. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce described the pilot as an important step toward on-chain migration despite operational limits. DTCC plans to extend its recordkeeping to blockchain and expects to launch the tokenization service in the second half of next year. As the central clearing and settlement hub for U.S. markets, DTCC’s move could accelerate institutional adoption of tokenized securities and RWA, affecting liquidity and settlement processes across equities and fixed-income markets.

Two Bitcoin wallets linked by analysts to Silk Road-era activity moved roughly 3,421 BTC in May, with additional consolidation activity observed on Dec. 10. Forensic trackers show the funds originated from addresses created in July 2013 and dormant for about 11–12 years. The May activity included a 2,343 BTC transfer (block 895,421) and consolidation of 31 outputs into new SegWit P2WPKH addresses — a pattern forensic firms say more closely matches internal re-keying or custody consolidation than an immediate exchange sale. On Dec. 10, further consolidations from 300+ wallets labeled as Silk Road–connected were reported. Market observers note that whether funds are sent to labeled exchanges (notably Coinbase Prime) matters for short-term liquidity: flows to prime-broker venues are treated as potential near-term supply. Analysts estimate probabilities for motives as internal custody management (40–55%), OTC distribution via prime brokers (25–35%), and government-driven de-risking transfers (10–20%). U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to absorb large weekly liquidity, reducing the likelihood that Silk Road-related sales alone would trigger major market moves absent another catalyst. Traders should watch for tagged receipts at exchanges (especially Coinbase Prime) as the key signal that these coins could enter short-term sellable supply.

Belarusian authorities have blocked access to several major cryptocurrency exchange websites, citing “inappropriate advertising” that allegedly targets Belarusian residents. The move follows complaints from the country’s financial regulator about marketing practices by foreign crypto platforms. Specific exchanges were not named in the report, but the action reflects tighter scrutiny of crypto advertising and cross-border promotion. Officials framed the blocks as consumer-protection measures and part of broader efforts to regulate online financial offers. The development adds regulatory risk for crypto firms operating in or marketing to Belarus and may disrupt user access to trading services for residents. Traders should watch for follow-up enforcement, potential naming of targeted platforms, and whether other jurisdictions adopt similar restrictions.