Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A recent study finds that playing strategy video games can improve cognitive function and may act as a preventive tool against age-related mental decline. Researchers tested older adults with a structured training program using strategy games and observed gains in memory, problem-solving and attention compared with control groups. Improvements persisted for weeks after training, suggesting potential lasting benefits. The study highlights game-based cognitive training as an accessible, low-cost intervention and notes implications for care of aging populations and digital health products. Primary keywords: strategy video games, cognitive health, brain training. Secondary/semantic keywords: memory improvement, attention, aging, digital therapy, neuroplasticity.

Bitcoin slipped below the key $89,000 level after a recent rally, trading around $88,900 on Binance USDT pairs. Analysts cite profit-taking by short-term holders and large whales, overbought technical signals on shorter timeframes, and broader macroeconomic uncertainty—notably interest-rate concerns—that have tightened risk appetite. The break of near-term support likely triggered automated sell orders; traders are watching support zones at roughly $88,000, $85,000 and $82,000, while a recovery above $90,000 would suggest renewed buying pressure. Recommended trader actions include reviewing portfolio allocation, applying dollar-cost averaging for long-term accumulation, and setting stop-losses for active positions. On-chain indicators — exchange flows, whale activity and market dominance — and trading volume should be monitored to gauge conviction. The move is presented as a common market correction in a volatile asset class rather than proof the broader bull market has ended. This update integrates earlier reporting of a drop below $88,000 and later confirmation of continued selling pressure and technical overextension on short timeframes.

BlackRock has elevated Bitcoin and its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to core 2025 investment themes, citing rising institutional adoption and macro trends that support crypto allocations. The firm highlights IBIT — a regulated, custody-backed spot Bitcoin ETF product — as a channel for investors seeking compliant BTC exposure. BlackRock noted sovereign wealth funds and other long-term institutions accumulating Bitcoin, indicating a shift toward purpose-driven, large-scale allocations. The firm positions Bitcoin as a portfolio diversifier and potential inflation hedge amid uncertain macro conditions. While no new funds beyond IBIT were announced, BlackRock’s public endorsement and IBIT’s substantial inflows (making it the largest U.S. spot BTC ETF) signal possible continued institutional demand. Traders should expect greater liquidity and narrower spreads from large inflows, increased ETF-related trading flows, and higher correlation between BTC and broader financial markets as conservative institutions allocate to crypto.

Mike (Michael) Selig was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18 as the 16th chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). A long‑time derivatives regulator and former SEC Crypto Task Force chief counsel, Selig favors principles‑based, innovation‑friendly regulation and a “minimum effective dose” approach. His confirmation follows heightened CFTC activity (the agency’s “Crypto Sprint”), including a pilot allowing futures commission merchants to accept BTC, ETH and USDC as collateral for derivatives margin, guidance on tokenizing traditional assets, and withdrawal of 2020 “actual delivery” rules — measures that ease spot crypto trading on CFTC‑regulated venues. Selig inherits jurisdictional debates with the SEC and has signaled support for clearer market rules, stronger surveillance of derivatives and spot markets, and closer interagency coordination. Industry figures (notably David Sacks) have praised the appointment as likely to bring clearer, innovation‑friendly rules. For traders, expect potential expansion of derivative products, shifts in margin and collateral practices, possible changes to custody and exchange oversight, and an increased chance of active CFTC rulemaking and enforcement on market manipulation, clearing standards and transparency. Near term, market volatility may spike around major policy announcements; medium‑term effects include broader institutional participation and altered liquidity profiles as rules and product approvals evolve.

OpenAI has rolled out “Your Year with ChatGPT,” a Spotify Wrapped–inspired year-end review that summarizes users’ interactions with ChatGPT. The feature, available in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, is accessible to free, Plus and Pro users who enable ’reference saved memories’ and ’reference chat history’ and meet minimum activity thresholds; Enterprise and Education accounts are excluded. The review generates personalized awards (e.g., “Creative Debugger”), AI-generated poems and images, and usage insights. OpenAI says the feature is lightweight, privacy-forward and user-controlled — it will be promoted on the ChatGPT home screen but not forced open. Users can access it via the web app, iOS/Android apps or by asking ChatGPT directly. The rollout signals trends toward deeper personalization, reflective AI features and potential social sharing of AI usage patterns. No direct crypto or market data is included; the announcement primarily affects user experience and AI engagement rather than financial markets.

Ghana’s parliament passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill on 22 December 2025, effectively legalising cryptocurrency trading and related services while keeping the Ghanaian cedi as the sole legal tender. The law names the Bank of Ghana (BoG) as the primary regulator with authority to license and supervise exchanges, wallets and custody providers; the Securities and Exchange Commission may share oversight in certain areas. The move responds to central-bank concerns about largely unregulated crypto activity — estimated by Web3 Africa Group at about $3 billion in transactions and some 3 million users through June 2024 — and aims to curb fraud and money laundering, improve consumer protection, lower banking costs for crypto businesses, and increase financial inclusion. Chainalysis data places Ghana among the top five Sub‑Saharan African countries by crypto value received (July 2024–June 2025). Regulators expect clearer rules and alignment with international frameworks to attract greater inflows, raise transparency and boost investor confidence. The law does not make crypto legal tender; it focuses on licensing VASPs to bring trading into regulated, accountable channels. Traders should watch for licensing timelines, KYC/AML requirements, potential changes in fiat on‑ramps and banking relationships, and any guidance from the BoG or SEC that could affect liquidity and exchange access.

Binance, Solana and Coinbase used recent events to outline shared priorities shaping crypto markets through 2026. Stablecoins emerged as the central theme: Binance’s CEO Richard Teng emphasized stablecoins’ growing role in payments and institutional settlement; Solana added dollar-linked assets (jupUSD, USDGO, USD+) to boost on-chain commerce and treasury use; Coinbase unveiled custom enterprise stablecoins. Tokenization is shifting from theory to execution — Keel launched a $500m Solana-backed tokenization program, Bhutan issued a sovereign-backed gold token (TER), and JPMorgan settled a short-term bond on Solana; Coinbase plans a Coinbase Tokenize platform. Regulation and institutional readiness are focal points: Binance and Solana highlighted TradFi partnerships, while Coinbase stresses compliance-first product design. AI and new market formats featured as differentiators: Binance announced AI trading and risk tools for 2026, Solflare introduced Magic AI for conversational on-chain actions, and Coinbase rolled out Coinbase Advisor; prediction markets integrations (Kalshi) and user growth initiatives (Binance Junior, Solana DEX integration into Coinbase) underline a shift toward accessibility and real-world utility. Overall, the industry priority is sustainable, compliance-oriented growth driven by stablecoins, tokenization, AI tooling and institutional productization rather than speculative cycles.

Bitcoin Munari (BTCM) has accelerated its launch timetable and entered a final presale window at a fixed price of $0.015 per token, closing permanently on December 23. Public trading is scheduled to begin on December 28, with a $6 reference benchmark cited. The project issues 21 million BTCM total; 11,130,000 (53%) are allocated to the public presale and will convert at launch into transferable balances with no staged unlocks. Initial market liquidity is supported by a dedicated 1,680,000 BTCM liquidity allocation. Validator and staking economics include 6,090,000 BTCM in rewards distributed over 10 years with declining emissions; staking thresholds are 10,000 BTCM for full validators, 1,000 BTCM for mobile validators and 100 BTCM minimum for delegation. Year-one staking yields are projected at roughly 18–25% APY to incentivize lockups and reduce circulating supply. BTCM will first be issued as a Solana SPL token (SOL infrastructure) and aims to migrate via a 1:1 bridge to its own EVM‑compatible, DPoS Layer‑1 in 2027 with privacy features. The team completed third‑party checks during the presale, including Solidproof and Spy Wolf audits and KYC for the team; no changes were made to supply or allocation despite the accelerated schedule. Key trader considerations: the fixed presale price and full unlock at launch can sharply increase circulating supply immediately; a short gap between presale close and exchange trading may increase early volatility; however, the dedicated liquidity pool and strong staking incentives could absorb selling pressure if validator adoption is high. Remaining risks are executional (validator onboarding, testnet stability, migration readiness) rather than tokenomics or hidden issuance.

Shift4 Payments has launched a global stablecoin settlement platform that allows merchants to receive and move funds using stablecoins such as USDT, USDC and DAI. The company says the solution speeds settlement versus traditional rails, reduces banking constraints on cross-border and near-instant payouts, and can integrate with existing payment flows to convert stablecoins to fiat or hold digital cash balances. The announcement drove Shift4’s shares about 3.1% higher in afternoon trading. Shift4 positions the product for merchants seeking faster, lower‑friction settlement and digital-asset interoperability; the firm has not disclosed a detailed launch timeline, full list of supported tokens, or fee structure. Key themes for traders: stablecoin settlement, merchant payments, faster cross‑border transfers, fiat conversion options, and potential operational efficiency gains for payment processors.

Investors are grappling with unprecedented trillion-dollar and near–trillion-dollar valuations across tech and AI firms. There are now 11 public companies worth over $1 trillion; private markets show even larger figures with reports of SpaceX raising at an $800B valuation (targeting a $1.5T IPO), OpenAI seeking around $100B, and Anthropic eyeing a $300B IPO. Analyst Aswath Damodaran’s reverse DCF highlights the scale: Tesla would need roughly $2.2 trillion in annual revenue by 2030 to justify its current valuation, while Nvidia would need about $590 billion — a “possible and plausible” but still massive target. The rise of centicorns and massive seed rounds (e.g., a $2B seed for Thinking Machines) reflects the rapid expansion of capital into AI and tech. Key stats: 712 US unicorns worth $2.9T collectively; 80 founded in 2025 alone. The piece raises macro questions about whether collective future revenues and near-infinite demand for intelligence will materialize to validate these valuations. For traders: such valuation extremes increase tail risk and volatility around AI and mega-cap tech stocks and may shift capital flows across markets (e.g., bond yields, regional investment patterns).

Ronald Spektor, a Brooklyn resident using the Telegram alias “lolimfeelingevil,” has been indicted for a phishing and social‑engineering scheme that prosecutors say stole approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency from about 100 Coinbase users. Acting between April 2023 and December 2024, Spektor allegedly posed as a Coinbase representative to convince victims their accounts were at risk and persuaded them to transfer assets into wallets he controlled. After receiving funds, he reportedly laundered proceeds using crypto mixers, swaps and online gambling platforms and boasted about the thefts in a Telegram group called “Blockchain enemies.” A yearlong Brooklyn District Attorney investigation has led to a 31‑count indictment including first‑degree grand larceny, money laundering and scheme to defraud. Authorities say they seized about $105,000 in cash and nearly $400,000 in crypto so far, uncovered alleged plans to flee to Mexico, and set bail at $2.5 million. Coinbase’s legal team assisted investigators by identifying victims and tracing funds. For traders: this case highlights high‑value phishing targeting Coinbase users, the use of mixers and gambling sites to obfuscate flows, active law‑enforcement asset recovery, and potential for increased exchange scrutiny and compliance actions. Primary keywords: phishing, Coinbase, crypto theft; secondary keywords: money laundering, Telegram, mixers, asset recovery.

Mercado Bitcoin’s 2025 investor report (Raio‑X do Investidor em Ativos Digitais 2025) shows a 43% year‑on‑year increase in crypto trading activity on its platform in Brazil and an average investment per user of about BRL 5,700 (just over $1,000). Retail behaviour is shifting from short‑term speculation toward diversification and longer‑term planning: 18% of users now hold multiple cryptocurrencies and younger investors (≤24) increased allocations by 56%. Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) remained the top traded assets. Demand for lower‑risk crypto products surged — stablecoin trading tripled year‑over‑year and Mercado Bitcoin’s “Renda Fixa Digital” (digital fixed‑income, RFD) grew 108%, with the exchange allocating roughly $325 million to RFDs in 2025. Geographic participation expanded beyond Brazil’s southeast and south into the central‑west and northeast, and institutional and high‑net‑worth interest is rising. Key takeaways for traders: larger average ticket sizes and broader retail diversification, increasing allocations to yield and fixed‑income crypto products, continued BTC/USDT/ETH dominance in volume, and growing on‑ramp and product demand that may shift local liquidity and order‑book depth. Primary SEO keywords: Brazil crypto, Mercado Bitcoin report, Bitcoin, USDT, stablecoin, digital fixed income. Secondary keywords: trading volume growth, portfolio diversification, Renda Fixa Digital, retail investor trends.

Hyperliquid Labs denied claims that its team was shorting HYPE, stating the sell-off came from an ex-employee. The project enforces a policy banning team members and contractors from leveraged trading on HYPE, with violations leading to immediate termination. Separately, validators approved burning tokens acquired via automated buybacks: Hyperliquid has repurchased 27.4 million HYPE (about 11% of circulating supply, valued at roughly $942 million) and will burn all acquired and future buybacks, initiating a deflationary mechanism. HYPE has faced downward pressure from a broad market correction and ongoing monthly unlocks through late 2027; speculative open interest fell about 50% in late 2025 (from ~$2B to ~$1B), reflecting bearish futures sentiment. After the burn proposal passed, HYPE rose ~4% in 24 hours, testing $25; a decisive reclaim of $28 is cited as confirmation for a bullish reversal. Analysts note the current price has revisited the average buyback cost basis (~$13), a level that preceded a strong uptrend in Q1 2025. Traders should watch broader market sentiment and Bitcoin moves, as continued BTC weakness and upcoming monthly unlocks could limit HYPE upside despite deflationary tokenomics.

Four major AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Grok, Google’s Gemini and Perplexity) were asked which meme coin is best positioned to be the top performer in 2026. Three of the models (ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini) identified PEPE as the likeliest leader, citing its strong community, brand recognition, and resilience after surviving an earlier boom‑and‑bust cycle. ChatGPT also ranked BONK second, conditional on a strong year for Solana (SOL). Grok added WIF, BONK, FLOKI and BRETT as other contenders. Perplexity highlighted DOGE’s liquidity, large community and historical bull‑market performance, projecting a potential rise to $1.70, while calling PEPE a risky pick due to weaker whale interest and bearish technicals. The AIs noted that the eventual top performer could also be a currently quiet or as‑yet‑unknown token. Primary keywords: meme coin, PEPE, DOGE, BONK, Solana. Secondary keywords: meme-coin performance 2026, AI predictions, community strength, liquidity. This brief helps traders gauge which meme assets AIs consider strong candidates for percentage gains next year, and highlights factors — community resilience, liquidity, ecosystem health (Solana) and whale activity — that could influence outcomes.

Ethereum underwent a major deleveraging in Q4 2025: open interest (OI) dropped by more than 50%—about a $35 billion leverage flush from a $70 billion peak—while Bitcoin’s OI fell roughly 38%. After ETH plunged to near $3,000 in mid‑November, key on‑chain metrics stabilized: total value locked (TVL) steadied around $70 billion after a Q4 contraction, and total value swapped (TVS) has remained above 36 million since November. The later report adds institutional context: Chainalysis cites a 25% YoY rise in institutional inflows in 2025 (supported by ETF approvals and staking yields), network upgrades in 2025 (including Dencun) improved Layer‑2 scalability and cut costs, and fee‑burn mechanics continue to reduce supply (around 2 million ETH burned since 2022). Analysts interpret the OI purge as a healthy removal of excess leverage that lowers near‑term downside risk and could set conditions for an ETH/BTC relative rally in Q1 2026 if risk appetite returns. Primary SEO keywords: ETH/BTC breakout, Ethereum deleveraging, ETH OI, TVL. Secondary/semantic keywords included: open interest, leverage flush, TVS, DeFi, institutional inflows, Dencun, fee burns.

Analyst STEPH IS CRYPTO highlighted a rare multi-timeframe technical signal on XRP’s three-week stochastic RSI, which has entered deeply oversold territory. Historically, similar higher-timeframe readings for XRP preceded multi-year upside expansions rather than further declines. The analyst compared the current structure to the 2022 bear-market bottom and outlined a multi-year thesis that could lead to substantial gains (a projected +1100% case), contingent on momentum confirmation, volume expansion, and broader market alignment. Contributing fundamentals include reduced regulatory overhang around Ripple, ongoing institutional interest in tokenized assets, and XRP’s continued use-case in cross-border settlement. Risks cited are macro liquidity trends, Bitcoin-led cycles, possible prolonged consolidation, and the need for confirmation via price structure and volume. The piece frames the 2026 window as a potential inflection point for XRP if higher-timeframe momentum continues to reset from extreme levels. This article is informational and not financial advice.

Fleet Mining has launched a limited-time Christmas cloud mining promotion offering a two-tier cashback system to boost user mining value. The program combines a deposit cashback tier (2%–20% depending on deposit size, with 20% for deposits ≥ $100,000) and contract cashback for purchases of high-value cloud mining contracts (up to and above $50,000). Fleet Mining claims a global infrastructure spanning wind and solar-powered farms across 97 countries, over 3 million active mining machines, AI-driven hash-rate allocation, and daily automated payouts. Supported assets include BTC, ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDT, USDC and BCH. The promotion also features a referral commission of 4.5% with no referral cap. Fleet Mining positions the offer as an easy entry for new users and an opportunity for existing users to increase effective mining power during the Christmas period. The company warns users to start with moderate deposits and includes a standard press-release disclaimer advising due diligence.

Regulatory pressure from Senator Elizabeth Warren focusing on decentralized exchanges—most recently singling out PancakeSwap—has heightened uncertainty across crypto markets. Traders are reacting by shifting capital from large, regulation-sensitive assets into early-stage projects that offer controlled entry. Apeing has emerged as a prominent example: its presale model emphasizes whitelisting and limited early supply, with Stage 1 entry reportedly near $0.0001 and projected listing targets near $0.001, offering an early nominal 10x framework before market momentum. Whitelisting is promoted as a way to secure lower entry prices and reduce exposure to volatility. Meanwhile, Hyperliquid (HYPE) has shown short-term momentum—HYPEUSD crossing $25 with daily gains near 11.9%—attracting momentum traders. Stellar (XLM) trades near support around $0.22, with technicals suggesting possible reversal toward $0.30 if support holds, but consensus remains cautious. The article frames the current cycle as one where regulatory ambiguity suppresses large-cap moves and concentrates flows into asymmetric, early-access opportunities. Traders should weigh higher execution risk and the usual early-stage hazards; this was a sponsored press release and not investment advice.

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped below the $89,000 mark on OKX across two intraday reports, trading between $87,979 and $88,976 at the respective times of reporting. The earlier update showed BTC at $87,979 (−1.98% intraday) while the later check recorded $88,976 (−0.84% intraday). Both notes cite market data only and do not offer investment advice. No specific market drivers or other cryptocurrencies were highlighted. For traders, the modest pullback from very high price levels appears consistent with short-term profit-taking or minor rotation rather than a clear trend reversal. Key points for trading: short-term volatility may increase as stop-losses and liquidations trigger near high leverage positions; position sizing and risk management are advisable until clearer directional signals and volume confirmation emerge. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, OKX; secondary keywords: intraday drop, crypto market, profit-taking, liquidations.

Apollo Global Management, a $908 billion private equity and credit firm, is positioning for market turbulence in 2026 by raising cash, cutting leverage and selling riskier assets, according to the Financial Times. CEO Marc Rowan warned that asset prices are high, long-term interest rates are unlikely to fall sharply, and geopolitical risks are elevated. Concurrently, safe-haven assets have surged: gold hit a record $4,438 and silver reached $68.50, while the Swiss franc strengthened about 16% year-to-date and the 30-year US bond yield climbed to 4.84% despite recent Fed rate cuts. Technicals on Bitcoin also point to potential downside. Weekly charts show BTC formed a large rising wedge and recently moved below its lower boundary; a bearish pennant is forming, with an initial downside target near the April low around $74,120. Bitcoin has fallen from an October high near $126,200 to roughly $89,300. The combination of institutional de-risking, rising safe-haven flows (gold, CHF, long-term yields) and bearish Bitcoin patterns suggests elevated downside risk for crypto in early 2026. Key points for traders: Apollo’s shift to cash signals institutional risk aversion; gold and the Swiss franc gains indicate flight-to-safety flows; bond yields and macro rates remain a risk factor; Bitcoin technical patterns signal probable further declines with a near-term support target ~ $74k. Traders should consider tighter risk management, watch institutional flows and macro indicators, and monitor Bitcoin price action around the $74k support and wedge/pennant levels.

Crypto analysts identify a developing double-bottom chart pattern for XRP that may signal an end to the token’s recent downtrend and a potential upside to $2.3–$2.5. Analyst Niels posted technical analysis highlighting two strong bounces from the same demand zone, an RSI that has bottomed out, and a fakeout below key support followed by a swift reclaim. He projects a rally to $2.3–$2.5 in the coming weeks if momentum and market conditions remain supportive. Independent analyst Broke Doomer concurs that seller momentum is weakening, support levels are holding, and XRP could first retake $2.20 then test $2.60 — with a possible extension to ~$3 if $2.60 is decisively cleared. At the time of reporting XRP traded around $1.91–$1.92, roughly 50% below its all-time high. Key keywords: XRP, double bottom, RSI, technical analysis, resistance, support, breakout.

The article lists the five largest crypto airdrops expected in 2025, summarising eligibility, timelines, and likely token distributions that traders should monitor. Key airdrops include major layer-1 and layer-2 projects, prominent DAOs, and a cross-chain protocol launch. The piece highlights eligibility criteria (wallet activity, prior token holdings, staking, bridge usage), snapshot windows, claim mechanics, and potential vesting schedules. It warns traders about token unlocks that could increase sell pressure, taxable events on receipt of tokens in many jurisdictions, and the risk of phishing scams around claim processes. Primary trading takeaways: prepare positions ahead of snapshots, monitor on-chain signals for eligibility, avoid impulsive sells at listing, and watch vesting timelines to model future supply dilution. The article also recommends verifying official channels before claiming and using hardware wallets or reputable custodians. Relevant keywords: crypto airdrops, token distribution, airdrop eligibility, vesting schedule, snapshot. The main keyword "crypto airdrops" appears multiple times and the summary emphasises short-term listing volatility and longer-term dilution risks that can affect trader strategies.

Tether-backed QVAC (Tether Data’s AI research arm) released Genesis II, a major expansion of its open-source synthetic dataset for AI pre‑training. Genesis II adds 107 billion tokens, bringing the full dataset to 148 billion tokens across 19 education-focused domains. New subject areas include computer science, statistics and machine learning. The release also introduces an “Option-Level Reasoning” method (teaching models to reason across multiple-choice options), building on the failure-analysis approach from Genesis I. Independent evaluations cited by QVAC indicate improved reasoning accuracy and clearer answers for models trained on Genesis II versus prior synthetic datasets. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the project as advancing AI from fluency toward structured understanding. The dataset is available under a Creative Commons license via QVAC’s blog and Hugging Face, aimed at supporting open research and local model development outside centralized AI platforms. Key keywords: QVAC, Genesis II, synthetic dataset, AI pre-training, Tether, Option-Level Reasoning, Hugging Face.

Decentralized exchange Aster launched Stage 5 of its ASTER buyback program on December 23, 2025, allocating up to 80% of daily platform fees to repurchases. The program splits fees into two on‑chain mechanisms: 40% for automatic daily market buybacks and 20–40% held in a strategic reserve for targeted purchases triggered by market conditions. Both mechanisms are fully on‑chain, publicly verifiable and managed via dedicated wallets. The announcement coincided with a near‑term ASTER price uptick of about 3% to $0.725 after a week in which the token fell roughly 20% due to selling pressure. The token previously spiked more than 30% in November following disclosure of a >$2.5M holding by Binance co‑founder CZ. A pseudonymous analyst flagged ASTER trading near the bottom of its channel and projected a corrective rebound to $0.88–$0.90, noting a decisive break above $0.90 would be required to confirm a stronger trend reversal. Key SEO keywords: ASTER buybacks, on‑chain buyback, Aster exchange fees, token repurchase, ASTER price action.

Wells Fargo has launched Bitcoin-backed loans and credit lines for institutional and high-net-worth clients, accepting BTC and approved spot Bitcoin ETFs as collateral. The program, reported in Q4 2025, lets clients obtain liquidity without selling holdings, with typical loan-to-value (LTV) ranges cited around 50–70%. The move follows regulatory adjustments under Basel III that improved banks’ capital treatment of Bitcoin, enabling greater flexibility for BTC-collateralized lending. Industry reports estimate over $50 billion in new Bitcoin-backed credit extended by major U.S. banks since September 2025. Major financial institutions named as active participants include JPMorgan, Citi, BNY Mellon, Bank of America, Charles Schwab and Goldman Sachs. Advocates like Michael Saylor have highlighted the rapid shift among banks toward crypto-integrated services. Wells Fargo’s offering is restricted to institutional and wealth-management clients (not retail) and reflects broader trends: expanding custody services, tighter collateral monitoring, and increasing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin as a lendable asset. Traders should note the potential for increased institutional demand for BTC as collateral, implications for spot liquidity, and sensitivity to regulatory shifts and custody operational risks.

Russia’s Urals crude has collapsed to roughly $34 a barrel after new U.S. sanctions, widening discounts versus global benchmarks and squeezing Moscow’s oil revenues. Baltic-load barrels traded near $34.82 and Black Sea cargoes at $33.17, while Dated Brent held around $61 — leaving Urals at an average export markdown of about $27 per barrel. By the time cargoes reach Indian refiners the gap narrows to roughly $7.50, but it remains unclear how much of the discount is absorbed by producers versus intermediaries. The sanctions, announced in October, have made trading Russian cargoes harder despite shipments continuing. Oil and gas produce about one-quarter of Russia’s federal budget, so sustained low prices threaten public finances and military funding. Price weakness could entice sanction‑evasive buyers and refiners to take legal or logistical risks, but tighter enforcement and shipping scrutiny have so far slowed a rebound. Separately, physical risks to oil infrastructure are rising: a drone strike near Rostov set an oil tanker ablaze, killing two crew and injuring three, and Ukraine has been targeting Black Sea and Caspian energy assets. The report underscores increased market fragmentation for Russian crude, elevated geopolitical risk for energy supply routes, and potential fiscal pressure on Russia — factors traders should watch for volatility in energy and risk-on assets.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), an Ethereum-based DeFi lending and borrowing protocol, is approaching full presale allocation as it prepares to launch V1 on the Sepolia testnet in Q4 2025. The token is trading in presale around $0.035, roughly 250% above the Phase 1 price of $0.01. Tokenomics: 4 billion max supply with ~45–45.5% allocated to presale; about 820 million MUTM (~20% of supply) reportedly sold to date, leaving limited remaining presale supply. Protocol mechanics include pooled markets that issue mtTokens to liquidity providers and dynamic interest, collateral and liquidation controls for borrowers. A buy‑and‑distribute mechanism channels market‑bought MUTM to users in the safety module, linking token demand to protocol revenue. Security posture: CertiK token scan score 90/100, an ongoing Halborn review of lending/borrowing contracts, and a $50,000 bug bounty. Engagement features cited include a 24‑hour leaderboard and card payment onboarding. Analysts referenced in communications suggest MUTM could reprice higher after the V1 launch; however the coverage is a press release and not investment advice. Traders should note the high presale allocation, rapid prelaunch appreciation, demand mechanisms tied to protocol revenue, limited remaining supply, and dependence on V1 execution and security audits when assessing short‑term momentum and longer‑term fundamentals.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) drew approximately $25.4 billion of net inflows in 2025 but still posted a 9.59% year-to-date loss after Bitcoin weakened in Q4. IBIT ranked among the top Bitcoin spot ETFs by capital inflows yet underperformed due to late-year price pressure. Overall Bitcoin spot ETF assets fell from a $150 billion peak to $114 billion following about $36 billion of net outflows in November–December. Market indicators, including a mostly negative Coinbase Premium Index and CryptoQuant data, signalled reduced U.S. institutional buying in Q4. Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas flagged IBIT as the only Flow Leaderboard ETF with a negative yearly return, underscoring the timing mismatch between inflows and price moves. Analysts view the slowdown as cyclical — tactical de-risking amid regulatory and macro uncertainty rather than a structural institutional exit. IBIT’s advantages (large inflows, low expense ratio, BlackRock backing) suggest persistent institutional interest and potential for recovery if Bitcoin stabilizes. Traders should monitor ETF flows, the Coinbase premium, and spot BTC price for short-term volatility cues; sustained inflows with stabilizing price would be a bullish signal, while continued outflows and a negative premium would raise downside risk.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) rally has been stalled by heavy on-exchange supply: roughly 81.5 trillion SHIB remain on exchanges, creating persistent sell pressure that limits upside despite modest net outflows (~500 billion SHIB removed over 12 months). Price action shows repeated distribution — rebounds lack follow-through and selling volume spikes on declines. Separately, Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD executed an on-chain burn on Dec. 19, sending 500,000 RLUSD to Ethereum’s null address (about $500,000), reducing circulating supply against an approximate 1.33 billion RLUSD supply and ~$1.33B market cap. The burn is auditable and notable given RLUSD’s active early trading (CoinMarketCap shows ~$107M 24h volume and a top-10 stablecoin ranking). Finally, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson highlighted NIGHT, the native token of the privacy-focused Midnight network, which launched Dec. 8. CoinGecko reports a reported 24h trading volume surge (claimed here as roughly $4 billion), and NIGHT has out-traded XRP and SOL by volume in the short term. Hoskinson projects sharp increases in TVL and MAUs for Midnight, citing demand for private DeFi primitives. Key trading implications: SHIB faces strong structural sell-side resistance that may cap rallies and favor short-term bearishness; RLUSD’s burn is a modest but positive supply signal for that stablecoin; NIGHT’s explosive debut can drive short-term speculative flows into Cardano ecosystem tokens and peripheral markets.