Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Eric Trump’s September prediction that Q4 would be “unbelievable” for crypto proved ironic as Bitcoin fell sharply into year-end. Since October’s peak (~$126,200), BTC declined roughly 32% to a Q4 low near $80,600 and trades around $88,000, marking one of the worst fourth-quarter showings since 2018. Market-wide pain included over $1 trillion wiped from total crypto market cap and altcoin market cap halved. October saw a major leverage unwind with about $19 billion liquidated; funding rates collapsed and the Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 10 in November. Prominent bullish forecasts (Tom Lee, Standard Chartered, Bernstein) projecting $150k–$200k for Q4 were pushed into 2026. Despite the rout, some analysts (Citibank, Bernstein) still outline bullish scenarios for 2026 with BTC targets between $150,000 and $189,000. Traders should note heightened liquidation risk, low market confidence, and potential for historical-pattern rebounds after weak Q4s, but near-term volatility and downside remain elevated.

Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, listed Tether Gold (XAUT) on 1 January 2025 and opened trading at 06:30 UTC across XAUT/BTC, XAUT/USDT and XAUT/KRW. Deposits and withdrawals were enabled several hours earlier. Upbit will initially use the Ethereum (ERC‑20) version of XAUT and operate spot trading under its existing security measures (cold storage, multi‑sig, address whitelisting and monitoring). Tether Gold is an asset‑backed token where each XAUT represents one troy ounce of physical gold held in Swiss vaults, with independent attestations of reserves and potential direct redemption for qualified holders. The listing follows clearer South Korean rules for asset‑backed tokens and Upbit’s compliance with the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, including AML/KYC and reserve/custody requirements. Market implications for traders include 24/7 access to gold exposure, fractional ownership, and potential inflows from conservative or fiat‑based traders. Initial trading is spot only; market makers have expressed interest—particularly for XAUT/KRW—so liquidity and price discovery will be key to near‑term performance. The long‑term success depends on sustained liquidity, market reception and ongoing regulatory compliance.

Trump Media and Technology Group (operator of Truth Social) announced plans to issue a non‑equity digital token, DJT, on Crypto.com’s Cronos blockchain and distribute one token per whole DJT share to existing shareholders. The token is described as utility/reward‑oriented — not tokenized stock — and will not confer shareholder rights, claims on company assets, or entitlement to future earnings. Company guidance says DJT will be non‑transferable for cash and used for periodic perks such as discounts and benefits across Trump Media products (Truth Social, Truth+, Truth Predict), supporting a branded circular economy to boost engagement. No firm launch date was provided; the company expects to release more details in 2026. Shares rose about 5% in early trading after the announcement. The move comes amid a more crypto‑friendly U.S. regulatory tone in 2025 and ongoing scrutiny of potential conflicts between President Trump’s public role and private crypto ventures. Market and legal observers warn tokenholders should not expect traditional shareholder privileges. SEO keywords: DJT token, shareholder token, Crypto.com Cronos, Truth Social token, non‑equity token.

Lighter DEX has launched its native token, LIT, and distributed a 25% airdrop to early users who earned activity-based loyalty points in 2025. The exchange is an Ethereum Layer-2 decentralized platform focused on perpetual contracts, offering lower fees and faster transactions compared with mainnet trading. Eligible users should already see LIT in their wallets; the token is tradable on launch. The move aims to decentralize initial token ownership, boost user engagement and drive adoption of Lighter’s perpetual-contract product. Market commentators note heightened community interest and potential price volatility as trading begins; the broader crypto market’s modest recent gains could support positive momentum. Key short-term considerations for traders include immediate liquidity and listings, expected post-airdrop volatility, and any large holder movements. Long-term outcomes depend on Lighter DEX’s ability to execute its roadmap, grow user activity in perpetual markets, and secure broader exchange listings.

US crypto executives warn that efforts by US banks and some lawmakers to extend a ban on interest or rewards for stablecoins risk handing a competitive advantage to China. Coinbase CPO Faryar Shirzad told Congress that banning stablecoin rewards would undermine the GENIUS Act’s goal of making US-regulated dollar stablecoins the dominant global settlement instrument. The People’s Bank of China plans to pay interest on its digital yuan (e-CNY) starting January 1, 2026, giving China a potential yield-bearing digital-payments edge. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Variant CLO Jake Chervinsky echoed concerns, calling the issue one of national security and dollar primacy. Banking associations have lobbied the Senate to expand the current prohibition (which targets issuers) to include exchanges, brokers and affiliates, arguing interest could distort markets and credit creation. Crypto advocates counter that an expanded ban would stifle competitiveness for USD-pegged tokens and could be circumvented. The dispute centers on market structure amendments to the GENIUS Act and could influence regulatory outcomes that shape stablecoin adoption, competition between US and non-US stablecoins, and the broader strategic positioning of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Tokyo-listed Metaplanet purchased 4,279 BTC on Dec. 30 for ¥69.855 billion, lifting its treasury to 35,102 BTC. The company reports an average acquisition cost of ¥15.95 million per BTC. With market BTC trading below that level, the purchase increases unrealized losses (over $500 million at current prices). Metaplanet funded the buy through two channels: issuing 23.61 million Class B preferred shares, raising ¥21.249 billion and pushing fully diluted shares to 1.459 billion, and drawing fully on Bitcoin-collateralized credit facilities (about $280 million outstanding). The mix raises shareholder dilution and balance-sheet sensitivity to BTC price moves because loans are collateralized by BTC and equity issuance spreads assets over more shares. Management cites internal metrics (BTC Yield, BTC Gain) to characterise accumulation but these exclude debt service costs and unrealized fair-value losses. For traders, key takeaways are heightened sensitivity of Metaplanet’s financial health to Bitcoin price swings, increased per-share BTC exposure and permanent dilution risk if BTC fails to recover above the company’s average cost — factors that could amplify volatility in company stock and complicate the interplay between corporate treasury sales/liquidations and spot BTC supply.

Legal expert Bill Morgan and XRPL validators say claims of an imminent XRP supply shock are overstated. Consolidated on-chain tracking shows about 15.4 billion XRP are held across 26 centralized exchanges — roughly 15% of the 100 billion fixed supply and about 25% of the ~60.7 billion circulating supply. Major exchange holdings include Upbit (~6.25B), Binance (~2.52B) and Bithumb (~1.82B). Morgan argues these on-exchange balances provide ample liquidity for large trades and that some retail-held, temporarily illiquid balances do not materially change the picture. He also notes spot XRP ETFs hold only ~679.14 million XRP (≈0.67% of total supply; NAV ≈ $1.27B), a scale far smaller than Bitcoin ETF inflows and insufficient to create a sustained removal of tradable XRP. XRPL validators add that XRP transfers to exchanges occur in seconds, enabling quick replenishment of exchange liquidity during volatility. Conclusion for traders: current data do not support a near-term, ETF-driven supply-induced price spike for XRP; liquidity appears deep enough that large orders can be accommodated without a structural shortage.

Alphabet shares rose ~65% in 2025, led by strong adoption of its Gemini AI app, strategic AI hires, a favorable U.S. court ruling, and accelerating Google Cloud revenue. Gemini’s viral features — notably the Nano Banana image-blending tool introduced under new app leadership — and the November launch of Gemini 3 helped drive rapid user engagement (Gemini processed over 5 billion images by September and rose to ~18% of generative‑AI traffic). Google also secured key engineers via a $2.4 billion licensing/compensation deal with Windsurf after acquisition talks with OpenAI failed. A September ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the Justice Department’s toughest remedies, preserving default‑search payments from Apple (while requiring some data sharing) and reducing near‑term antitrust tail risk. Google Cloud reported stronger enterprise deal momentum, with more billion‑dollar deals in the first three quarters of 2025 than in 2023–24 combined, supporting revenue growth forecasts and higher analyst price targets. Alphabet raised 2025 capital‑expenditure guidance, signaling heavier AI investment. Traders should watch: continued Gemini adoption and traffic share vs. competitors, cadence of large Google Cloud contracts, regulatory follow‑ups to the Mehta ruling, and execution on elevated capex — factors that could sustain momentum or trigger volatility if AI competition softens or regulatory pressure returns.

A roundup of the most memorable 2025 crypto policy milestones and their market implications, highlighting major regulatory actions, enforcement steps, and legislative advances. Key developments include heightened enforcement by U.S. regulators, clearer stablecoin rules, progress on EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) implementation, and notable policy moves in major jurisdictions (U.S., EU, U.K., Singapore). These shifts produced immediate volatility but also improved regulatory clarity for institutional participants. Primary figures and bodies involved: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), European Commission, national financial regulators, and central banks addressing stablecoin oversight. Critical statistics noted: spike in on-chain trading volumes and exchange flows around major announcements, accelerated institutional custody adoption, and a measurable decline in retail-focused speculative token listings as compliance costs rose. Traders should watch: regulatory timelines for stablecoin licensing, enforcement actions against token issuers, and updates to cross-border compliance frameworks. Market impacts: short-term volatility around enforcement news and rule releases; medium-to-long-term benefits from clearer rules that encourage institutional flows and reduce certain systemic risks. SEO keywords: 2025 crypto policy, crypto regulation 2025, MiCA, SEC enforcement, stablecoin rules, institutional crypto adoption.

US XRP spot ETFs recorded a combined net inflow of $5.58 million on December 31 (US ET), according to SoSoValue. Franklin’s Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) led the day with $3.95 million of inflows, taking its lifetime net inflows to $243 million. Bitwise’s Bitwise XRP ETF (XRP) added $1.63 million for lifetime net inflows of $265 million. Earlier reporting for December 24 showed a larger same-day inflow ($11.93 million) led by Franklin (XRPZ) and Canary (XRPC), indicating intra-week variability but continued investor interest in XRP spot products. As of the latest report, total assets under management across US XRP spot ETFs stood at approximately $1.24 billion, with an XRP net-asset ratio around 1.12% and cumulative historical inflows near $1.16 billion. Data are provided for market information and do not constitute investment advice. Traders should note steady, modest inflows into XRP spot ETFs, led by XRPZ and Bitwise, which can affect short-term liquidity and sentiment around XRP.

Solana (SOL) finished 2025 as the most active blockchain for decentralized exchange (DEX) trading, processing over $100 billion in DEX trades in December — more than double Ethereum’s roughly $48 billion and ahead of BNB Chain’s ~$58 billion. Solana sustained five months of leading DEX activity in the second half of 2025, with daily volumes often above $3 billion in December. Protocol revenue trackers estimate Solana’s 2025 network revenue at $1.3–$1.5 billion (gross fees). Key contributors to Solana’s throughput were PumpSwap (annualized fees ~ $584 million; December volume ~ $14.8 billion) and HumidiFi (reported > $30 billion in monthly volume, heavy on SOL/stablecoin pairs and dark-pool liquidity). Stablecoin issuance supported liquidity: Circle minted $7.75 billion USDC on Solana in December. Despite on-chain activity and revenue gains, SOL’s price lagged, ending December near $124, down ~35% in Q4 2025. Analysts note Ethereum’s on-chain DEX volumes were fragmented across Layer-2 rollups, lowering mainnet figures, while Ethereum still holds ~67% of total DeFi liquidity versus Solana’s ~6.13%.

Hedera (HBAR) spot ETF inflows have largely dried up after a concentrated surge following the fund’s late‑October launch. Cumulative inflows stand at about $83.7M and total net assets near $52M (≈1.1% of HBAR market cap). Most capital arrived in the launch week ($44.39M) and the following week ($26.66M); after early November weekly additions slowed to modest amounts ($1.78M, $762K, $899K in early December) and the final week of December recorded no net inflows. Weekly trading volume for the ETF has been low (~$1.24M), and flows appear driven by creations rather than secondary‑market trading. By contrast, larger spot ETFs such as Solana (SOL) and XRP (XRP) have drawn materially larger daily inflows and far higher trading volumes (SOL: ~$5.21M daily inflow, cumulative ≈$763.9M, assets ≈$950.7M; XRP: ~$15.55M daily inflow, cumulative ≈$1.16B, assets ≈$1.27B). Analysts attribute HBAR’s slowdown to the fund’s smaller scale and limited liquidity, meaning most demand was front‑loaded at launch rather than accruing through steady allocation. For traders: expect muted ETF‑driven liquidity for HBAR in the near term, concentrated price moves around occasional creations/redemptions, and comparatively less institutional allocation pressure versus larger assets like SOL or XRP.

Polymarket prediction markets show an 80% probability that Bitcoin (BTC) will again exceed $100,000 before the end of 2026, with 65% for $110,000 and 48% for $120,000. Simultaneously, the market assigns a 77% chance BTC will fall to $75,000 and a 57% chance it will touch $65,000 during 2026, implying elevated volatility and a possible “run-up then pullback” scenario. On Jan 1, BTC traded around $87,894 after a brief spike to $89,000 and a fall back to $87,000. The article notes Federal Reserve minutes showing internal disagreement about future rate moves; markets largely expect the Fed to hold rates at the late-Jan meeting, while some forecasts still see cuts mid-year. Analysts cited — including Unchained’s Timot Lamarre and Clear Street’s Owen Lau — argue that a Fed easing cycle would increase USD liquidity and likely act as a catalyst for crypto inflows, benefiting Bitcoin and other risk assets. Official Polymarket settlement rules are based on Binance BTC/USDT 1-minute candle lows. Key takeaways for traders: prepare for heightened price swings in 2026, manage risk around potential pullbacks to $75k–$65k, and monitor Fed signals since a pivot to easing could support a renewed BTC rally.

Solana (SOL) is set for two major protocol upgrades in 2026 that could materially increase network throughput, lower costs and boost on‑chain activity. The Alpenglow upgrade (expected H1 2026) replaces proof-of-history and Tower BFT with Votor and Rotor, moves validator voting off‑chain, eliminates vote transaction fees, and cuts transaction finality from ~12.8 seconds to 100–150 ms — enabling sub‑second finality suitable for real‑time DEXs, gaming and payments. The SIMD-0266 proposal (P-token standard, possible H2 2026) would replace the SPL token program, slash resource use by up to ~98%, free ~12% of block space, and improve token program performance while remaining backward compatible. Both upgrades were community-driven (Alpenglow passed with ~98% support) and aim to reduce barriers for smaller validators and improve cost efficiency. For traders, these changes could increase demand for SOL as native gas/utility and stimulate DeFi and dApp activity, potentially supporting upward price pressure over the medium to long term. Key keywords: Solana, SOL price, Alpenglow, P-token, SIMD-0266, throughput, sub-second finality, validator costs, DeFi.

Upbit has temporarily suspended deposits and withdrawals for the NKN (New Kind of Network) token after the NKN blockchain experienced confirmed delays in block creation. The exchange cited “delays in block generation” and enacted its security protocol to prevent unconfirmed deposits or failed withdrawals. Upbit will only resume services after the NKN core team and its engineers confirm stable and consistent block production and successful controlled tests. Spot trading on Upbit’s internal order book typically remains available during such halts, so internal KRW/BTC markets for NKN may continue, but external liquidity and arbitrage are reduced while deposits/withdrawals are blocked. No root-cause report has been published yet; potential causes include network congestion, consensus issues, software bugs, or node synchronization failures. Industry analysts view the pause as a standard custodial risk-management action to avoid chain reorganizations or double-spend losses. Traders should avoid attempting on-chain deposits during the suspension and monitor official Upbit and NKN channels and blockchain explorer data for updates. Similar past exchange halts (e.g., network upgrades or consensus issues across major exchanges) typically produce short-term price fragmentation and spreads across venues; resumption often restores liquidity but can produce volatility around reopening.

U.S. spot XRP ETFs have attracted steady institutional inflows since launching in mid‑November, recording no single‑day outflows in 2025 and cumulative net flows of roughly $1.16B with $1.27B in net assets. Standard Chartered set a bullish $8 price target for XRP, citing improved U.S. regulatory clarity and payment utility. At current prices (~$1.87), $8 implies a ~4.4x move. Historical on‑chain data (realized cap) shows XRP required roughly $4.2B of new realized capital per 1x price move during the late‑2024 rally; extrapolating suggests about $18.6–19B of new capital would be needed to reach $8. Current ETF inflows (~$1.1B) fall far short of that figure. Meanwhile, on‑chain metrics show whales became net sellers in recent months, which is dampening upside potential and may keep XRP below $2 in the near term. Key points for traders: growing institutional ETF demand is a positive structural catalyst, but realized‑cap estimates imply a very large capital requirement to hit an $8 target; renewed whale selling and weak market sentiment increase short‑term downside risk. Primary keywords: XRP, XRP ETF, realized cap, whale sell-off, Standard Chartered. Secondary/semantic keywords: institutional inflows, market cap, on‑chain metrics, price target, regulatory clarity.

San Francisco, March 2025 — A resurging cultural signal in Silicon Valley: founders who drop out of college are increasingly emphasizing that status when fundraising for AI startups. While studies from MIT and Stanford show roughly 85% of unicorn founders hold bachelor’s degrees (40% hold advanced degrees), the AI boom has renewed interest in the “dropout founder” narrative. Investors report more founders citing unfinished degrees during pitch events such as Y Combinator Demo Days to demonstrate conviction, risk tolerance, urgency and resourcefulness. VCs stress nuance: the context of the dropout (senior vs. early-year departure), demonstrable technical work, traction and networks matter more than the label alone. Named investors quoted include Katie Jacobs Stanton (Moxxie Ventures), Yuri Sagalov (General Catalyst), Kulveer Taggar (Phosphor Capital) and Wesley Chan (FPV Ventures). The article notes elite-school graduates still populate leading AI firms (examples: Cursor — MIT; Cognition — Harvard), and that international ecosystems (Europe, Asia) remain more credential-focused. Key takeaways for traders: this is primarily a cultural and fundraising signal rather than a direct market catalyst; funding flows may accelerate short-term AI startup formation and hiring, but established data shows successful founders typically retain formal education advantages — alumni networks, hiring pipelines and long-term stability. The dropout trend may influence venture allocation and startup velocity during the AI cycle, but VCs still prioritize technical ability, execution history, team composition and traction when allocating capital.

On-chain analytics firm Santiment reports that weekly trading volume for several major altcoins — including Dogecoin (DOGE) and Solana (SOL) — has dropped to less than half of the levels seen at the end of 2024. The dataset covers nine assets (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Cardano, Solana, BNB, XRP, Tron, Chainlink) and shows a sector-wide decline in weekly trading volume over recent weeks. Santiment and the article attribute the slowdown to subdued price action (sideways consolidation) and the holiday period, which historically lowers activity. Compared with the 2024 year-end holiday dip, Ethereum and many altcoins showed stronger movement then; in 2025 those altcoins now register markedly lower volumes. Lower trading volume normally correlates with muted price momentum and a higher likelihood that consolidation will persist until a volatility trigger (news or market event) re-engages participants. The piece notes DOGE briefly spiked to $0.128 before retreating to about $0.122 amid the low-volume environment.

Glassnode’s latest analysis finds that the 30-day moving average of net flows into Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs remains negative, signalling a continued lack of new demand through ETF channels. The firm calculates rolling averages to filter out daily noise and observes persistent outflows across major BTC and ETH ETF products. Glassnode cautions that negative ETF flows do not automatically predict price drops but do reflect reduced buying pressure via ETFs. Contributing factors cited include regulatory uncertainty, macroeconomic conditions, seasonal patterns, and regional differences in ETF adoption. The report recommends monitoring complementary indicators — on-chain accumulation, exchange balances, derivatives positioning, stablecoin supplies and miner flows — because ETF flows are only one demand channel. Historical comparisons show similar negative-flow periods before consolidation phases; however, Glassnode notes current flows are less severe proportionally than past bear markets, suggesting some underlying resilience. Traders should watch whether ETF flows persist or reverse and combine this metric with on-chain and derivatives data before adjusting positions.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 20, placing markets in the ’Extreme Fear’ zone. The index aggregates six inputs — Volatility (25%), Market Trading Volume (25%), Social Media Hype (15%), Market Surveys (15%), Bitcoin Dominance (10%), and Google Trends (10%) — and the recent decline was driven by rising Bitcoin dominance, a volatility spike after regulatory announcements, weaker trading volume, and negative social-media sentiment. Analysts warn this reading signals elevated investor anxiety and recommend traders tighten risk controls, reduce leverage, and selectively limit exposure to risky assets. Historically, extreme fear readings have coincided with consolidation or accumulation phases but have also preceded deeper sell-offs (e.g., COVID-19 2020, FTX 2022). The index is a directional, contrarian — and somewhat lagging — sentiment indicator; traders are advised to combine it with technical analysis, on-chain metrics (exchange flows, holder distribution), and macro signals. Practical implications: lower liquidity and higher asset correlation may increase slippage and volatility; whales may opportunistically accumulate, while negative media narratives can amplify downward pressure. Use the index to calibrate risk and position sizing rather than as a sole market-timing tool.

TON price climbed from a $1.45–$1.50 support zone to about $1.63 following Telegram’s launch of a self‑custodial wallet in the United States. The wallet allows US users to send, swap and store TON, USDT, NFTs and other TON‑ecosystem assets directly inside Telegram, potentially reducing user friction and widening mainstream adoption. Technical indicators show bullish signals — an improving RSI, a bullish MACD crossover and price testing the upper Bollinger Band — suggesting higher short‑term volatility and upside potential. On‑chain metrics (per DeFiLlama) remain moderate: TVL and transaction activity have room to grow, meaning sustained price gains will likely depend on increased network usage. Key implications for traders: watch for follow‑through above the $1.63 resistance, monitor RSI/MACD and Bollinger Band expansion for volatility, and track on‑chain metrics (TVL, transactions) and Telegram wallet adoption data for confirmation of longer‑term strength.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is set to mark up the Responsible Financial Innovation Act in mid-January, advancing efforts to clarify digital asset market structure and regulatory oversight. The draft seeks to expand Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) authority while promoting coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Progress had been delayed by Democratic concerns over decentralized finance (DeFi) and a recent federal shutdown, but the upcoming markup signals renewed momentum. The Senate Agriculture Committee is preparing a parallel draft that could be paired for a broader vote. The House previously passed a related market-structure bill (CLARITY). Industry stakeholders, including The Digital Chamber’s CEO, expect the markup may introduce more granular market-structure provisions. For traders, the move could reduce regulatory uncertainty by clarifying which agency oversees various digital-asset products and platforms, potentially affecting compliance costs, product listings, and institutional participation in crypto markets.

A US federal judge dismissed litigation claiming Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks caused investor losses by promoting Voyager Digital. Plaintiffs alleged Cuban’s October 2021 statement that he invested in Voyager and a Mavericks marketing post offering $100 in Bitcoin encouraged fans to use Voyager’s interest-bearing accounts before Voyager’s July 2022 Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The more recent ruling emphasized lack of personal jurisdiction in Florida, finding nationwide promotional activity did not amount to purposeful targeting of Florida residents; the case was dismissed without prejudice after jurisdictional discovery, allowing plaintiffs to refile elsewhere. Earlier related rulings had dismissed similar claims on merits in other jurisdictions, arguing general endorsements do not necessarily meet legal thresholds for securities liability. Traders should note the decision narrows one litigation pathway against celebrity promoters but does not remove regulatory scrutiny, reputational risk, or the possibility of suits in other courts — risks that can affect related tokens or platforms and market sentiment.

Executives from decentralized encrypted messenger Session warn that deep integration of artificial intelligence into devices, weak public awareness of data practices, and regulatory pressure are major threats to private messaging. Alex Linton (Session Technology Foundation president) said OS-level or higher AI could bypass app encryption, collect and store sensitive data, and feed it to opaque third-party systems, creating serious privacy and security risks. Co-founder Chris McCabe highlighted low user understanding of how big tech stores and monetizes data, citing recent incidents such as a third-party breach affecting OpenAI user data and exposed chat histories. Session is open-source, end-to-end encrypted, removes traditional identifiers and metadata, and runs without central servers; it received community funding partly supported by Vitalik Buterin. Session’s leaders call for greater public awareness, resistance to deep AI-device integration, and regulatory caution to protect cypherpunk values like privacy and self-sovereignty.

Toncoin (TON) rose nearly 10% over the past week after Telegram launched its self-custodial wallet in the U.S., allowing American users to send, swap and store crypto (including TON and USDT) inside the messaging app. Price recovered from the $1.45–$1.50 zone and pushed toward $1.63, with RSI improving, MACD turning bullish and price moving to the upper Bollinger Band — indicating increased volatility and bullish momentum. On-chain activity shows steady usage: stablecoin supply on TON is near $960 million and daily app revenue/fees are consistent, but DeFi total value locked (TVL) remains modest around $85 million, well below previous highs. The takeaway for traders: the Telegram wallet rollout removed UX friction and has driven retail interest and price upside, but capital depth and long-term liquidity on Toncoin are still limited. Expect elevated short-term volatility and potential follow-through if liquidity and TVL pick up; absence of significant capital inflows could produce pullbacks despite positive sentiment.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed Amir Zaidi as chief of staff, CFTC Chair Mike Selig announced. Zaidi previously served at the CFTC from 2010–2019 in multiple roles including head of market oversight, where he supervised the certification and deployment of the first CFTC-regulated Bitcoin futures contracts in December 2017. Before rejoining the agency he was global head of compliance at a large broker-dealer and introducing broker, bringing years of financial, legal and regulatory experience in New York and Washington. The appointment signals continuity and strengthened institutional expertise on crypto derivatives, market surveillance, risk assessment, compliance monitoring and policy development. For traders, Zaidi’s return increases the likelihood of sustained regulatory focus on crypto futures and options, clearer derivative guidance, and potentially firmer enforcement actions that could affect liquidity and product approvals. Key SEO keywords: CFTC, Amir Zaidi, Bitcoin futures, crypto derivatives, market oversight.

Amir Zaidi, the policy official who helped architect regulated Bitcoin futures in the US, has returned to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission as chief of staff after a six-year absence. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig announced Zaidi’s appointment, noting his prior role (2010–2019) including two years as director of the Division of Market Oversight when CFTC-regulated bitcoin futures launched on the CBOE in 2017. Zaidi most recently served as head of global compliance at TP ICAP. His return comes as Congress prepares to send digital-asset market-structure legislation to the president and as US regulators — including a crypto-friendly CFTC under Selig and a more accommodating SEC under Paul Atkins — signal greater regulatory clarity for crypto markets. The appointment is viewed as bolstering the CFTC’s expertise ahead of new rules for digital assets and may influence market structure, oversight, and institutional product approvals.

Bitcoin has reclaimed the $88,000 area but remains capped below the key $90,000 resistance, showing weak upside momentum and market indecision. On-chain analyst Axel Adler reports short-term holders (STHs, coins held <155 days) are trading underwater: the STH Realized Price has trended lower since mid-October, with weekly changes negative and recent local lows. This indicates weak incoming demand, ongoing redistribution by STHs at lower prices, and persistent overhead selling rather than forced capitulation. Price action: +0.9% week, +2.3% month, but −26.7% over 90 days. Technicals show BTC above rising 100-week and 200-week moving averages (long-term structure intact) while the flattened 50-week MA acts as immediate resistance inside a $90k–$95k supply zone. On Adler’s model, continued conditions imply roughly a 3% weekly downside. For traders, the key signals are: STH profitability needs to recover to relieve selling pressure; volume declining suggests reduced participation and potential for extended consolidation or a deeper corrective move; holding above the 100-week MA contains structural downside but failure to reclaim the 50-week MA keeps risk elevated. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, short-term holders, STH Realized Price, market stress, on-chain indicators.

Onchain monitoring (Onchain Lens, reported by Coinotag) shows a wallet linked to prominent trader Jez (@aerobatic) deposited $2.06 million USDC into HyperLiquid and opened 20x leveraged long positions across BTC, ETH and SOL. Earlier reports noted a separate address depositing $9M USDC to open 20x ETH and SOL longs after prior losses, but the verified latest update centers on the Jez-linked wallet and the $2.06M inflow. Key points for traders: a sizeable stablecoin inflow ($2.06M USDC) into HyperLiquid; concentrated, high-leverage long exposure primarily on BTC with accompanying ETH and SOL positions; elevated liquidation and margin-call risk due to 20x leverage; and potential short-term impacts on order books, funding rates and volatility for BTC, ETH and SOL. Traders should monitor HyperLiquid wallet activity, platform margin requirements and nearby support/resistance levels — large, concentrated leveraged longs can trigger cascades of liquidations and temporary price dislocations.