Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Former President Donald Trump responded to a stronger-than-expected U.S. GDP print of 4.2% by calling for market stability, pro-growth fiscal policy and measured Federal Reserve rate cuts. The piece notes macro momentum as the primary driver for digital assets, with traders reassessing interest-rate trajectories and the yield curve after the GDP beat. Bitcoin and Ethereum — along with broader crypto exposure — are highlighted as sensitive to policy signals. The article advises traders to monitor Fed communications, inflation data and regulatory clarity. It also warns that improved macro conditions could support longer-duration crypto holdings, while a resurgence of inflation fears or tighter-than-expected policy may trigger short-term risk-off moves. Key takeaways include the 4.2% GDP figure, elevated focus on Fed policy and the recommendation for sound risk management amid evolving liquidity and volatility conditions.

A new on-chain address withdrew 40,975 ETH (≈$121.05 million) from Binance and routed the funds into the decentralized lending protocol Aave V3. After the transfer, the same address borrowed about $63 million in USDT on Aave V3, indicating active collateral management and liquidity deployment within DeFi. The move highlights continued interaction between centralized exchanges and permissionless lending markets as traders and liquidity managers shift large ETH balances from custodial wallets to DeFi to obtain leverage or yield. Primary keywords: ETH withdrawal, Binance, Aave V3, USDT borrowing, DeFi. Secondary/semantic keywords: cross-exchange flows, on-chain transfer, collateral management, liquidity routing, decentralized lending. Relevant metrics: 40,975 ETH (~$121.05M) withdrawn, ~$63M USDT borrowed. Implications for traders include increased DeFi borrowing demand, potential short-term ETH sell pressure if borrowed funds are swapped, and greater capital efficiency in DeFi markets.

RootstockLabs has listed its native token RIF on Korbit, a leading South Korean exchange, expanding access to Bitcoin Layer‑2 DeFi for Korbit users. The listing is accompanied by multiple promotional events: a Shinhan Bank-linked airdrop, quiz rewards for the first 2,500 correct participants, a deposit-and-trade bonus (first 300 users depositing >900 RIF and trading receive 667 RIF each), and a weekly trading competition distributing 700,000 RIF among the top 100 traders by volume. RootstockLabs says its strategic focus for the coming year targets institutional partnerships in East Asia (notably South Korea and Japan), leveraging a Bitcoin collateral vault to attract institutional BTC or USD deposits for DeFi products. For traders, the Korbit listing may increase RIF liquidity and short-term volume due to incentives, while supporting broader adoption of Bitcoin-based DeFi solutions. Note: Korbit promotions likely require local KYC (domestic phone number and bank account), so many events primarily target South Korean users. This is not trading advice.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index from Alternative.me remains at 24, firmly in the “Extreme Fear” zone and indicating sustained market pessimism. The index (0–100) weights volatility (25%), market volume (25%), social media sentiment (15%), surveys (15%), Bitcoin dominance (10%) and Google Trends (10%). A 24 reading signals sharp price swings, elevated selling volume, negative social sentiment and rising Bitcoin dominance — a clear risk-off environment across crypto markets. For traders, extreme fear can present contrarian buying opportunities but is not a standalone buy signal. Recommended actions: avoid panic selling, set predefined entry and exit levels, reassess portfolio allocation and project fundamentals, use disciplined position sizing, and consider dollar-cost averaging (DCA) for long-term exposure. The index is updated daily and is better suited to inform medium- to long-term strategy than intraday trades. Key takeaways: sentiment is deeply negative; further downside remains possible; disciplined, risk-aware strategies are advised; monitor macro drivers and Bitcoin dominance for trend confirmation.

JPMorgan is reportedly evaluating a launch of institutional cryptocurrency trading services as U.S. regulatory clarity improves and client demand grows. Bank teams are assessing market infrastructure, custody, compliance, execution and capital implications needed to support hedge funds, asset managers and corporate treasuries. Internal work includes routing, custody arrangements and potential partnerships with crypto-native execution venues. Analysts say JPMorgan’s entry would likely increase institutional order flow and liquidity on spot and derivatives venues, boost demand for custody, lending and prime-brokerage services, and compress fees for low-touch spot trading. JPMorgan has not confirmed a launch and will weigh regulatory oversight, custody requirements and capital risk before proceeding. For traders: a potential JPMorgan entry signals greater institutional access to crypto venues, likely higher liquidity and trading volumes over time, but timing, scope and fee impacts remain uncertain pending regulatory and internal approvals.

US equity markets closed slightly higher on Tuesday. The S&P 500 rose 0.45% to register a new closing high. The Nasdaq gained 0.57% while the Dow Jones rose about 0.16%. Notable movers included Nvidia (NVDA) which climbed roughly 3%, Circle (CRCL) which fell nearly 5%, MicroStrategy (MSTR) down about 3.92%, and Coinbase (COIN) which slipped about 2.26%. The report is for market information only and does not constitute investment advice.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media praising Q3 GDP growth of 4.2% versus a 2.5% expectation, and criticized what he called an abnormal market reaction where positive economic news no longer lifts stocks. He blamed Wall Street’s fear that good data prompts immediate Fed rate hikes to preempt inflation, arguing that strong markets do not cause inflation — poor policy does. Trump said he wants a Fed chair who would cut rates when markets are strong rather than ‘‘needlessly suppress’’ rallies, and warned that those who disagree with him should not be appointed Fed chair. He added that inflation will resolve naturally and that rate hikes should be used only when necessary, not to stifle upward momentum. The comments are framed as political pressure on Fed policy and reflect tension between pro-market sentiment and central-bank tightening concerns. This development may influence market sentiment and policy debate ahead of future Fed leadership decisions.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint alleging a coordinated $14M fraud involving three purported crypto exchanges — Morocoin, Berge and Cirkor — and four affiliated investment clubs. Defendants used social-media ads to recruit retail investors into WhatsApp groups, posed as finance professionals, and promoted AI-driven trading tips and so-called “security token offerings.” Victims were directed to deposit funds into the fake platforms and tokens. The complaint alleges fabricated government licenses, falsified trading records and a withdrawal-fee scam that blocked redemptions unless victims paid up-front fees. The SEC says funds were siphoned overseas via a complex chain of bank accounts and crypto wallets. Regulators seek permanent injunctions, civil penalties and disgorgement. For traders: this case underscores persistent fraud risks in social-media marketing channels, increases enforcement focus on chat-based solicitations, and may raise due-diligence standards for platforms claiming AI trading signals or licensed status. Primary keywords: SEC, crypto fraud, fake exchanges, WhatsApp scam, AI trading.

Anthony Pompliano says Bitcoin’s lack of a dramatic year-end rally — and compressed volatility — reduces the likelihood of a severe drawdown in early 2026. Speaking on CNBC, Pompliano noted Bitcoin is up ~100% over two years and ~300% over three years, and that investors’ disappointment over missed $250,000 price targets overlooks the broader trend. He argued that because there was no blow-off top, an 80% crash is unlikely if volatility remains low. Bitcoin trades near $87k and is down about 7% year-to-date. Other analysts disagree: veteran trader Peter Brandt forecast a potential fall to $60k by mid-2026, while Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer suggested 2026 could be a “year off” with prices as low as $65k. Key points for traders: reduced volatility can lower tail-risk but may curb upside momentum; monitor volatility metrics, open interest and liquidations for signs of regime change; heed differing analyst scenarios when sizing risk.

Matador Technologies won Ontario Securities Commission approval to issue up to C$80 million (≈US$58.4M) of securities over 25 months. The company, which converted into a Bitcoin treasury firm in December 2024, plans to use proceeds primarily to grow its Bitcoin holdings from about 175 BTC (≈US$15.3M) toward a 1,000 BTC target by end-2026. Management said the shelf prospectus gives flexibility to raise capital when conditions are favorable and to time deployments amid market volatility; some proceeds could also be allocated to other corporate needs depending on markets and regulatory limits. Matador previously signaled longer-term ambitions — a 6,000 BTC target by end-2027 and an eventual goal near 1% of Bitcoin supply (~210,000 BTC). CEO Deven Soni emphasized a focus on increasing Bitcoin-per-share. Shares (MATA) fell roughly 3.6% on the announcement. The move adds to the trend of public companies building Bitcoin treasuries after US spot-Bitcoin ETF launches, although some corporate holders have trimmed reserves during market weakness and balance-sheet pressures.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov acquired 84,033 AAVE tokens worth about $12.6 million over the past week, including a single notable purchase of 32,660 AAVE for $5.15 million (avg. $158/token). On-chain analytics (Lookonchain, Arkham Intelligence) show Kulechov used CoW Protocol for WETH-to-AAVE swaps to minimise slippage and costs, executing trades in sizes from roughly $15,000 up to $150,000. His on-chain portfolio is concentrated — roughly $12.81 million in crypto assets, nearly all in AAVE, with small positions in ETH, USDT, USDC and minor altcoins. The buys occurred amid AAVE’s recent pullback after a strong YTD gain; Aave’s multi-chain TVL remains above $10 billion (DeFiLlama). Analysts say founder accumulation can stabilise sentiment and signal confidence in governance and long-term protocol fundamentals. Traders should note execution technique (CoW Protocol), portfolio concentration, and timing during a market dip — factors relevant for liquidity, short-term price support and potential longer-term upside tied to Aave governance and cross-chain developments.

Gemini’s prediction market poll, running since December 12, shows a growing user consensus that XRP will finish 2025 narrowly range‑bound between $1.50 and $2.00. Confidence in the $1.50–$2.00 band rose from 63% to 73% during the poll, while optimism for higher closes weakened (the $2.00–$2.50 probability fell from 38% to 28%). Tails for $2.50–$3.00 and >$3.00 remain around 4% each; downside bets below $1.50 are small (6–7%) after recent market pullbacks. Gemini will settle the market using Kaiko’s GRR-KAIKO_XRPUSD_8UTC index at 09:00 GMT+1 on December 31, 2025, with payouts planned the following day. At publication XRP traded near $1.87, oscillating in the $1.80–$2.00 range since mid‑December. Traders cited recent pullbacks, limited short‑term breakout expectations, and hopes for post‑year institutional flows and regulatory clarity as key drivers. This poll is informational and not investment advice.

SHIB: Shiba Inu’s prolonged corrective downtrend, which erased roughly 50% from local highs, shows signs of exhaustion. Price remains below major moving averages but recent declines are shallower, selling volume has faded, and momentum indicators (RSI) are stabilizing — suggesting supply is drying up and a base or rapid retrace is possible. ETH: Ethereum formed a short-term “mini” death cross on the daily chart (short moving average below a longer one), but the signal lacks typical bearish confirmation: no surge in sell volume, RSI not deeply oversold, and price compressing between a falling MA and rising local trendline. The cross likely reflects prior distribution rather than a fresh start of a major bear trend. BTC: Bitcoin’s pullback toward the $80,000 area followed a rollover from $100k–$105k and leveraged liquidations. However, downside follow-through has weakened — initial volume spikes were front-loaded and subsequent drops show lower participation. The $80k–$82k zone aligns with past demand pockets; staying above it and forming higher lows could shift the narrative from breakdown to reset and open a path back to ~$90k. Trading takeaways: SHIB may offer mean-reversion or base-formation trades if buyers return; watch for rising volume on bounces. ETH’s mini-death cross should not be treated as a strong sell signal—monitor support trendline and any spike in sell volume for confirmation. BTC’s behavior around $80k is critical: maintain risk controls; a sustained hold above $80–82k favors recovery, while a decisive break lower would be bearish. Keywords: Shiba Inu, SHIB, Ethereum, ETH, Bitcoin, BTC, death cross, oversold, volume, RSI, $80,000.

The Bank of Russia has proposed a phased regulatory framework to allow regulated testing of crypto purchases by retail and qualified investors, with implementation steps stretching to 2027. Under the draft, crypto assets and stablecoins would be classified as "currency assets": they could be bought and sold but would remain barred from domestic payment systems. The proposal includes caps and guardrails aimed at limiting retail exposure and mitigating volatility and sanction-related risks. Officials emphasised that crypto assets are neither issued nor guaranteed by any jurisdiction and warned of significant loss potential. The move represents a cautious shift toward formalising crypto access in Russia — expanding institutional and investor access while preserving existing payment rails and signalling heightened compliance scrutiny.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against three crypto exchanges and four investment clubs over a coordinated fraud scheme that allegedly stole more than $14 million from U.S. retail investors. The defendants named in the complaint are Morocoin Tech Corp., Berge Blockchain Technology Co. Ltd., Cirkor Inc., and investment groups AI Wealth Inc., Lane Wealth Inc., AI Investment Education Foundation Limited, and Zenith Asset Technology Foundation. According to the complaint, the operation ran from January 2024 through January 2025 and used targeted social media advertising, private messaging apps, and counterfeit trading dashboards to create the appearance of legitimate crypto trading platforms and lure investors. Regulators say these tactics funneled investor funds into fraudulent crypto channels. The case underscores growing regulatory scrutiny of social-media-driven crypto marketing and the use of fake interfaces to mislead retail traders.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson told the Discover Crypto podcast that Midnight (NIGHT), a newly airdropped privacy-focused token, is designed to extend Cardano’s functionality — not replace ADA. He described Midnight as a “ChatGPT of privacy,” an infrastructure module that brings privacy features to Cardano-native apps and can help smaller projects compete with larger DeFi incumbents. Hoskinson argued Midnight will enable privacy-preserving yield and credit, potentially drawing Bitcoin-linked capital into Cardano DeFi because both Bitcoin and Cardano use the UTXO model. He emphasized that ADA holders received preferential access in the NIGHT distribution and that Cardano secures Midnight, tying ADA holders to the new network. On price, Hoskinson avoided targets but suggested a structural path for capital “leakage” from Bitcoin into other ecosystems via Bitcoin DeFi rather than spot rotations. At publication ADA traded at $0.36. Key SEO keywords: Cardano, ADA, Midnight, NIGHT token, privacy DeFi, Bitcoin DeFi, airdrop.

Spot gold climbed above $4,500 per ounce for the first time, marking an annual gain of more than $1,870. The move reflects continued safe-haven demand and investor interest amid market uncertainty. The report, published by PANews on December 24, notes the milestone price but does not provide additional drivers, trading volumes, or commentary from market participants. This price breakout may influence macro-sensitive assets and trading flows across commodities and crypto markets as traders reassess risk allocations.

Ghana has enacted the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) law, legalising cryptocurrency trading and removing years of legal uncertainty. The law (passed 19–22 Dec 2025) establishes a licensing and supervision regime shared between the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both regulators will license and oversee VASPs — including exchanges and wallet providers — and enforce consumer protection, reporting, anti-money‑laundering (AML) and counter‑terrorism financing (CTF) rules. Licensed firms must meet capital, risk‑control and transparency requirements. The framework aims to curb fraud, money‑laundering and systemic risk while enabling innovation. Regulators signalled follow‑on work: detailed regulatory instruments are expected in early 2026 to guide compliance timelines and operational rules. The law also opens the door to national digital settlement projects, including feasibility work on gold‑backed stablecoins using Ghana’s reserves for payments, trade finance and cross‑border settlement. For traders, the law reduces legal risk for on‑shore VASPs, likely increases local liquidity and exchange listings over time, but will raise compliance costs and may temporarily constrain risky products until licenses and rules are implemented.

The Bank of Russia has proposed a regulatory framework to open crypto access to both non‑qualified (retail) and qualified investors via licensed infrastructure. Non‑qualified investors would be limited to a list of liquid, eligible tokens, must pass a mandatory knowledge test, and face an annual purchase cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary (~US$3,834). Qualified investors would also take a knowledge test but would have no volume caps and could trade most cryptocurrencies except anonymous privacy coins. The draft allows Russians to buy crypto using foreign platforms and payment accounts and to transfer assets through Russian intermediaries abroad, subject to tax notification requirements. The proposal strengthens licensing and oversight for exchanges, brokers, custodians and specialised depositories; illegal crypto operations face penalties comparable to illegal banking from July 1, 2027, and legislative steps continue through July 1, 2026. The move aims to expand the regulated digital financial asset market, improve transparency under sanctions, attract foreign capital and balance market access with investor protection. For traders: expect limited retail demand from capped purchases, clearer on‑shore trading rails and tighter compliance for counterparties, which may shift volumes to licensed venues and affect liquidity and spreads for eligible tokens.

Crypto.com formally objected to MSCI’s proposed index methodology that would remove companies from major MSCI stock indexes if digital assets constitute 50% or more of total assets and the firm is deemed to be running a “digital asset treasury.” Justin Wales, Head of Legal for the Americas at Crypto.com, argued the rule unfairly singles out crypto as a treasury asset, misclassifies operating firms as funds, and risks forced selling and market distortions. The proposal — introduced in October 2025 — identified 39 companies potentially affected, with combined market value above $113 billion. Strategy (MicroStrategy), the largest corporate Bitcoin holder with 671,268 BTC, faces direct exposure; its executives Michael Saylor and Phong Le called the 50% threshold “discriminatory, arbitrary, and unworkable.” Advocacy groups and analysts warn index exclusions could trigger $10–15 billion in forced selling across affected firms, with JPMorgan estimating about $2.8 billion in passive fund sales for Strategy alone. Crypto.com and industry backers argue MSCI should apply neutral, economically grounded criteria rather than blunt balance-sheet thresholds to avoid raising capital costs and chilling corporate crypto adoption.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains trapped in a downward channel after failing to sustain recent rallies, leaving $90,000 as a critical pivot level for bulls and bears. Price action shows repeated rejections near local resistance while support near the lower channel boundary is being tested. On-chain metrics and trading volumes have cooled, suggesting reduced conviction among buyers. Analysts warn that a decisive break above the channel and a close above $90K would signal renewed bullish momentum and could target higher resistance levels; conversely, a breakdown below the channel and key support would increase the probability of deeper downside and range-bound trading. Traders should monitor channel boundaries, $90K pivot, volume spikes, and derivatives indicators (funding rates and open interest) for short-term entries and risk management.

Fasanara Capital purchased 6,569 ETH (≈$19.72M) over two days and deposited the coins into the Morpho DeFi lending protocol. The firm then borrowed about $13 million in USDC against that position and used the stablecoin to buy additional ETH, effectively levering its exposure to Ethereum. The transactions were visible on-chain and reported by Lookonchain. By increasing ETH deposits on Morpho and converting borrowed USDC into more ETH, Fasanara both boosts available collateral in that protocol and creates further buying pressure in ETH markets. Traders should monitor ETH/USDC volumes, Morpho liquidity and funding rates; leveraged positions amplify both upside and liquidation risk. Primary keywords: Fasanara Capital, ETH, USDC, Morpho, DeFi, institutional buying.

The Trump administration’s U.S. Tech Force program has drawn more than 25,000 applicants for 1,000 two‑year federal engineering posts, the Office of Personnel Management said. Target roles include software engineers, data scientists, AI specialists and cybersecurity experts; annual pay is stated at $150,000–$200,000 plus benefits. The program accepts nontraditional backgrounds—no specific degree or minimum experience required—but applicants must demonstrate technical skills through work, projects or certifications. The administration aims to complete first‑round hiring by March 31, 2026. Major tech firms (Apple, Google, Nvidia, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Oracle, Palantir, xAI) have pledged to consider alumni for private‑sector roles after service and may nominate their employees for temporary government assignments. The initiative responds to a reported federal tech staffing shortfall following large voluntary departures and past program closures; OPM estimates substantial civilian workforce reductions this year. The program is coordinated across multiple agencies including Defense, Homeland Security, IRS and Veterans Affairs and focuses on accelerating AI implementation and government modernization.

The S&P 500 reached new all-time highs in 2025, advancing to about 6,900 as resilient corporate earnings and policy stability sustained equity momentum. By contrast, the global crypto market capitalization remains stuck near $2.9 trillion, failing to reclaim the $3 trillion threshold. TradingView-based technicals show the S&P 500’s RSI around 59 (healthy), while the crypto market cap RSI is near 43 (cooling), indicating weaker buying pressure in digital assets. Analysts attribute the divergence to thinner crypto liquidity, subdued institutional participation and spot ETF outflows, which have capped upside for digital-assets despite occasional rallies. The split could prompt capital rotation toward equities until ETF inflows or macro catalysts revive crypto participation. Key takeaways for traders: monitor ETF flows, macro policy signals and liquidity indicators; expect higher relative stability and momentum in equities versus constrained upside and higher volatility in crypto until demand conditions improve.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has fallen more than 66% year‑over‑year as of late 2025, triggering panic among holders and traders. Technicals show SHIB completed its first-ever weekly death cross, with the short-term moving average crossing below the long-term average — a classic bearish signal. Price is trading near $0.00000706 and has breached a key horizontal support that held since early 2023. Momentum oscillators sit in weak ranges (around 31–37), indicating low buying pressure and limited bounce potential. Analyst Nebraskangooner warned SHIB is “dead unless it reclaims $0.00000135,” a critical level for any recovery. Market sentiment has tilted fearful; absent a clear fundamental catalyst or strong volume to push price back above broken support, the technical path points to further downside into 2026. The article also notes traders shifting interest to new memecoins such as Pepenode (PEPENODE), which is in presale and markets itself with browser-based mining/game mechanics. Key takeaways for traders: (1) SHIB’s weekly death cross and loss of multi-year support imply elevated downside risk; (2) momentum indicators suggest limited short‑term recovery odds without heavy buying; (3) watch $0.00000135 as a pivotal level — reclaiming it on volume would be necessary to reverse the bearish bias; (4) some capital may rotate into nascent memecoins, increasing volatility across the meme token space.

Japanese analyst Angorou says XRP could reach 1,000 yen (~$6.41) in 2026 if regulatory clarity and continued institutional demand persist. XRP traded near $1.99 (~300 yen) when Angorou published the view, down about 45% from a July 2025 peak of 542 yen. He traces XRP’s rise from ~75 yen in late 2024 — driven by US election-driven hopes of Ripple legal respite — through volatile 2025 moves. On-chain data show whale addresses (≥1M XRP) rose from 2,111 (Nov 6, 2024) to a 2,758 peak in Oct 2025, then fell to ~2,011 as prices declined, indicating shifting large-holder sentiment and weaker retail participation. Countering that, institutional demand appears strong: the first US spot XRP ETF launched in November 2025, followed by four more; XRP ETFs have recorded consistent daily inflows, totaling roughly $1.07 billion (~169 billion yen) and 25 consecutive inflow days since mid-November. Angorou highlights proposed US legislation to separate securities and commodities — if XRP is classed as a commodity and banks can use Ripple’s infrastructure, adoption and valuation could rise. Using historical XRP/BTC ratios (average 0.169, peaks 0.48), he models scenarios where XRP reaches ~780 yen without major Bitcoin moves, or surpasses 1,000 yen if Bitcoin rises above ¥20 million and reform occurs. Disclaimer: this is analysis, not financial advice.

Ozak AI’s token presale has entered its final phase, drawing increased investor attention and fueling exchange-listing expectations. Analysts cited by CryptoDaily project the token could reach $10 by 2027 — implying potential returns of up to 700× for early presale buyers — though these projections are speculative and contingent on market conditions and a successful listing. Ozak AI is building a decentralized AI predictive platform for financial markets that combines machine learning with DePIN-style infrastructure. Core features include the Ozak Streaming Network for aggregating on-chain and off-chain data, AI-powered Prediction Agents, and the Eon dashboard for visualization and queries. The protocol intends to enable autonomous agents to execute micropayments for data and services. The project has announced partnerships with Meganet (distributed computing nodes) and Openledger (model training and dataset preservation). The presale uses phased pricing that increases over time; specific fundraising totals were not disclosed. Traders should note that price targets are highly speculative and dependent on exchange performance, broader crypto market conditions, and execution of the platform roadmap.

Stablecoins are exiting centralized exchanges at the fastest rate of the current cycle as traders prioritize liquidity preservation and yield over active market exposure. December saw the steepest decline in ERC‑20 stablecoin reserves on major exchanges; Binance reversed inflows and recorded about $1.9 billion in net stablecoin outflows over 30 days. Open interest has fallen more than 40% as traders deleverage during a roughly 36% Bitcoin correction since October. Total stablecoin supply still rose by about $509 million last week, driven by network migration flows: TON recorded the largest weekly inflow (~$500M), followed by Ethereum and Polygon, while trading-focused chains such as Solana and Tron showed sizable outflows. Major stablecoins remain largely backed by U.S. Treasuries and short-term government assets, providing low-risk yield (~4–5% annual), which encourages holding rather than deploying capital. On‑chain analytics show funds shifting from high‑activity trading chains to perceived safer or less congested networks, and DeFi staking activity has increased as holders idle stablecoins productively. Regulatory scrutiny and public commentary from institutions are also nudging investors toward self‑custody and cross‑chain diversification. For traders: the trend reduces on‑exchange liquidity and may compress short‑term market depth and volatility; monitor exchange stablecoin reserves, on‑chain flows to TON/Ethereum/Polygon, DeFi staking metrics and leverage (open interest) to time re‑entry when exchange balances normalize.

Veteran market strategist David Rosenberg warns that credit stress will extend into 2026, boosting demand for hard assets such as gold, commodities and real assets. He points to rising borrowing costs, tightening credit conditions and a wave of corporate and consumer balance-sheet strain as key drivers that will push investors toward inflation hedges and tangible stores of value. Rosenberg expects cyclical sectors to face pressure while precious metals and commodity-linked assets may outperform. He also highlights the potential for credit spreads to widen, bank lending standards to tighten further, and risk assets to see increased volatility. For traders, the strategist recommends positioning for higher real-asset exposure, monitoring credit spreads and bank indicators, and preparing for greater market dispersion between cyclical equities and inflation-protected instruments.