Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Flare Networks has launched earnXRP, an on‑chain, XRP‑denominated yield vault developed with Upshift.fi and overseen by Clearstar Labs for strategy and risk management. Users deposit FXRP (XRP wrapped for Flare) into a non‑custodial Upshift vault and receive earnXRP receipt tokens representing their share. The vault auto‑deploys pooled FXRP across strategies — stXRP staking, concentrated AMM liquidity provisioning, and carry‑trade style positions — with returns compounded and paid in XRP. Clearstar targets indicative yields around 7–10%, though yields may decline as the vault grows. The product includes a 5 million FXRP initial deployment threshold, no per‑user limits, and on‑chain redeemability of earnXRP for FXRP without long lockups; fees are waived for the first 30 days. All strategy actions are verifiable on‑chain, and Flare positions the product as an on‑chain alternative to centralized yield offerings that can expand XRPFi liquidity and increase XRP utility. The launch arrives amid active U.S. regulatory debate over crypto yields — a backdrop Flare cites as a reason for clarity — and signals renewed institutional and retail focus on on‑chain XRP yield opportunities. For traders, earnXRP offers simplified, transparent exposure to compounded XRP yield with professional oversight, which could increase on‑chain demand and liquidity for XRP while carrying smart‑contract and market‑risk considerations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said talks with US representatives covered joint management of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the possibility of using its electricity for crypto mining. Putin told Kommersant that Washington had expressed interest in establishing crypto-mining operations at Europe’s largest nuclear site and that supplying power from the plant to Ukraine was also discussed. He said Ukrainian staff still operate the facility but have taken Russian citizenship; Russia has controlled the plant since March 2022 and runs it via Rosatom. Kyiv rejects any deal that sidelines Ukrainian sovereignty and insists on restoring Ukrainian control and demilitarizing the site. The plant, once supplying over 20% of Ukraine’s electricity, remains fragile with safety warnings from the IAEA and recurring power disruptions. For crypto traders: claims that the US considered using Zaporizhzhia’s baseload nuclear power for Bitcoin mining are unconfirmed and politically sensitive. Any material development — including changes to power routing or governance at the plant — would be highly geopolitical, could affect industry power availability and miner operating costs, and might influence Bitcoin sentiment and energy-dependent mining equities or ETFs. Monitor confirmations from Washington, Ukrainian and IAEA statements, and any on-the-ground changes to the plant’s power output or access before positioning trades.

On‑chain trackers Arkham and Lookonchain report large Chainlink (LINK) withdrawals from Binance over the past 48–72 hours, indicating significant off‑exchange accumulation. Multiple newly created Ethereum addresses received bulk transfers: notable withdrawals include 469,437 LINK (~$5.8M) and 234,979 LINK (~$2.9M), with one address earlier in December moving roughly $10M in LINK across four transfers. In total, on‑chain monitors observed roughly 1.56 million LINK (~$19.8–$20M) withdrawn across several wallets, several of which now hold multimillion‑dollar LINK positions (two addresses > $2M, four > $1M, others $400k–$610k). Binance remains Chainlink’s most liquid market, accounting for more than 7% of LINK trading volume. Price context: LINK trades near $12.60–$12.70, below the 50‑day EMA and still down from the October crash that reached $7.90; RSI shows neutral momentum. Implications for traders: sustained large exchange outflows reduce on‑exchange sell liquidity and can be bullish if demand persists, but the price remains in a downtrend — verify ongoing Binance balance changes, wallet clustering, and price/volume reaction before positioning. Possible reasons for the withdrawals include long‑term accumulation, private custody, or OTC transfers.

Polygon (MATIC), a leading Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution, is being re-evaluated across multiple time horizons after roadmap updates and renewed analysis. Analysts place emphasis on Polygon 2.0, zkEVM/zK integrations, developer activity, and Ethereum demand as the primary growth drivers that could push MATIC toward — or above — $1. Short- to medium-term scenarios (2025–2027) present a wide range: conservative forecasts near $0.45–$0.80 and bullish cases reaching $1–$2 if Polygon 2.0 rollout and zk adoption succeed amid a broader crypto bull market. Longer-term (2028–2030) outlooks see $2.50–$4.00 as realistic with optimistic tails up to $5–$8 under strong enterprise adoption and interoperability gains. Key upside catalysts: successful Polygon 2.0 deployment, zkEVM uptake, stronger dApp and developer growth, enterprise partnerships, and overall market liquidity. Principal risks: competition from other Layer-2s (Arbitrum, Optimism, other zk-rollups), Ethereum’s own scaling roadmap (e.g., proto-danksharding), regulatory uncertainty around token classification, technical vulnerabilities, slower-than-expected adoption, and crypto market volatility. Actionable guidance for traders: consider dollar-cost averaging, position sizing and diversification, staking for yield, and close monitoring of on-chain metrics (daily transactions, active addresses, developer activity, treasury health) plus roadmap milestones. Use predefined entry/exit rules and risk limits; reaching $1 is plausible but contingent on execution and favorable market conditions. Always perform independent research and treat these scenarios as conditional, not guarantees.

SUI price remains below key moving averages and has held the $1.30 support since Nov 21 after multiple retests. Buyers briefly pushed toward the 21-day SMA on Dec 19 but were rejected, leaving price bars under downward-sloping moving averages and producing Doji candles that signal range-bound, indecisive action. If $1.30 holds, SUI is likely to stay range-bound between about $1.30 and $1.80. A decisive break below $1.30 would likely resume selling pressure, with analysts pointing to potential targets near previous lows around $0.61–$0.56. Key supply zones are noted at $4.00, $4.20 and $4.40, while demand zones sit around $3.00, $2.80 and $2.60. This technical assessment is time-sensitive and not investment advice.

Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will introduce a unified licensing regime for virtual-asset (VA) dealers, custodians, brokers and advisors, targeting legislation submission to the Legislative Council in 2026. The draft framework—reshaped by more than 190 consultation responses—aligns with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) and applies a “same business, same risk, same rule” principle to extend securities-style broker standards to crypto trading services. Key requirements will include strict custody safeguards for private key management and asset segregation, broker compliance obligations for OTC desks and trading intermediaries, and licensing of advisory and asset-management services (a separate one-month consultation is open). The SFC is already progressing related measures: consultations on OTC licence rules, reviews of derivatives and margin trading, approval of staking services under strict asset-control rules, and allowance of spot crypto ETFs since 2024. The unified 2026 regime aims to attract institutional capital by creating licensed, auditable market infrastructure, reducing counterparty and custody risk, and positioning Hong Kong competitively against regional hubs such as Singapore and the mainland’s restrictive stance. For traders: expect clearer market access for institutional flows, higher custody and compliance standards for counterparties, potential tightening of OTC and margin activities, and a platform for more complex products (tokenised securities, structured derivatives) that could increase liquidity and product sophistication over the medium term.

Moscow Exchange (MOEX) and St. Petersburg Exchange (SPB) say they will launch regulated crypto trading once the Bank of Russia finalizes a legal framework that opens the market to retail and professional investors. The draft regime would classify Bitcoin and stablecoins as monetary assets, keep crypto as a high‑risk class, ban crypto for domestic payments, and tighten rules for depositories, exchanges and custodians. Retail (non‑qualified) investors would be limited to 300,000 rubles per year and restricted to very liquid tokens traded through designated licensed intermediaries; qualified/professional investors would have no purchase caps but would be barred from anonymous/privacy coins. The timeline targets a pilot from March 2025, full implementation by July 1, 2026, and enforcement of intermediary‑related illegal activity provisions from July 1, 2027. MOEX and SPB say they already have trading, clearing, custody and settlement systems and that brokers and asset managers are testing custody and accounting systems while preparing products (spot crypto, stablecoins, trusts, funds). Market participants expect users to migrate from the gray market into licensed channels once rules take effect. Primary keywords: Russia crypto regulation, Moscow Exchange, retail crypto limit. Secondary keywords: crypto custody, spot crypto, stablecoins, trading infrastructure, regulatory timeline.

Sling Money, a Solana-based payments app from Avian Labs, has secured registration with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, authorising it to offer crypto services in the UK. The FCA registration requires compliance with UK Money Laundering Regulations, including AML and KYC obligations, but does not grant consumer protections such as the Financial Ombudsman or FSCS coverage. Sling Money already holds EU approval under MiCA via Dutch regulators and is registered as a Money Services Business in the United States. The app supports Paxos’ USDP and Circle’s euro-backed EURC stablecoins, routes transfers over the Solana (SOL) blockchain for low-cost, fast settlement, links users’ bank accounts for direct fund transfers alongside in-app custody, and is currently in closed beta in the UK. This expanded regulatory footprint in Europe underscores growing regulatory scrutiny and mainstream adoption of stablecoins for cross-border and real-time payments. Traders should note the emphasis on compliant onramps, support for USDP and EURC stablecoins, and continued use of Solana rails, all of which can affect liquidity, settlement speed and counterparty risk in stablecoin payment flows.

Bitwise Asset Management has filed an S-1 with the U.S. SEC to launch a spot SUI ETF that would hold SUI tokens directly, naming Coinbase Custody Company as the custodian. The filing does not disclose a ticker or fee; it follows other market entrants including Canary Capital (first filer) and 21Shares (which launched a 2x SUI product). SUI is the native token of the Sui Layer‑1 blockchain, spun out of Meta’s Diem team, and ranks near the top 30 by market cap. Bitwise previously added SUI to its 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW), signalling institutional interest in Move‑language chains. The SEC review process begins and could take months with potential amendments; approval remains uncertain amid evolving regulator guidance under Chair Paul Atkins. If approved, a spot SUI ETF would broaden regulated access to SUI for institutional and retail investors, likely increasing on‑chain liquidity, market depth and spot/derivatives flows. Traders should watch SEC feedback, custody arrangements (Coinbase Custody), ETF structure and potential effects on SUI liquidity, bid/ask spreads and derivatives pricing.

Ondo Finance announced plans to launch custody-backed tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs on the Solana blockchain, targeting an early‑2026 release. The tokens will be backed by underlying securities held with U.S.-registered broker‑dealers; on‑chain holders receive economic exposure (including dividend pass‑through) but not shareholder voting rights. Trading and transfers will be available 24/7 on Solana while minting and redemption will operate aligned with U.S. market hours (24/5) to maintain peg and liquidity. Chainlink will supply price and corporate‑action oracles (dividends, splits), and Ondo will use Solana Token Extensions — notably Transfer Hook — to embed jurisdictional eligibility checks and transfer restrictions within each token for compliance. Ondo currently has roughly $365 million in issued tokenized assets across chains and plans to expand its catalog from 100+ U.S. stocks and ETFs to “hundreds” on Solana. Key watchpoints for traders before launch include the initial asset list and liquidity, custody counterparties and operational controls, KYC/whitelisting and jurisdiction filters, mint/redemption mechanics and timings, and oracle reliability for corporate actions. For traders, benefits may include faster settlement, lower fees, wallet‑native exposure to equities and on‑chain composability; risks include dependencies on custodians and oracles, potential peg deviations during market stress, limited day‑one liquidity, and regulatory or operational constraints that could affect price tracking and tradability.

Ethereum spot ETFs recorded renewed outflows in late December, reflecting short-term rotation among products and modest demand for spot ETH exposure. According to SoSoValue, the latest report (Dec. 24 EST) shows a single-day net outflow of $52.70 million for Ethereum spot ETFs. Grayscale’s large ETHE led withdrawals with $33.78 million in outflows, while Grayscale’s mini Ethereum ETF (ETH) was the only product to post net inflows, receiving $3.33 million. Total assets under management for Ethereum spot ETFs fell to $17.863 billion, about 5.03% of Ethereum’s market capitalization, with cumulative net inflows since launch of $12.381 billion. Earlier reports (Dec. 16) showed larger single-day withdrawals ($224 million) led by BlackRock’s ETHA ($221 million) but left ETHA with substantial cumulative inflows ($12.87 billion) and the broader group with higher AUM ($18.172 billion). Taken together, the updates indicate ongoing short-term fund rotation across issuers rather than a broad, sustained withdrawal from spot-ETH products.

Spain will fully adopt the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and implement the DAC8 reporting directive, tightening licensing and transaction reporting for crypto platforms by 2026. From 1 July 2026, crypto service providers operating in Spain must hold full MiCA authorization from the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) or stop offering services; the CNMV already supervises more than 60 entities. Separately, DAC8 takes effect on 1 January 2026 and requires centralized platforms to report detailed transaction-level data — including user identities, wallet addresses and values — to the Spanish Tax Agency with no minimum thresholds. Major custodial exchanges (for example, Binance Spain and Kraken Ireland) must comply and are expected to deliver full user-data submissions by 2027, while self-custody wallets remain outside DAC8 reporting for now. Proposed Spanish tax-policy changes (including higher capital-gains rates and classifying digital assets as seizable) increase enforcement risk. Traders should expect higher compliance costs for centralized venues, likely market consolidation toward licensed providers, and greater on-chain and on-exchange transparency that may shift liquidity or user flows across jurisdictions. Key SEO keywords: MiCA, DAC8, Spain crypto regulation, crypto licensing, transaction reporting.

Bitcoin reached a nominal intraday high above $126,000 in October 2025, but Galaxy Digital research head Alex Thorn calculates the peak falls to about $99,848 when adjusted to 2020 US dollars using CPI — beneath the $100,000 real level. The analysis uses cumulative CPI inflation as a deflator and highlights that part of Bitcoin’s recent nominal gains reflect dollar depreciation rather than pure real appreciation. US CPI remained above the Fed’s 2% target (11-month annual rate ~2.7% in November) and the dollar lost purchasing power (~20% since 2020), with the US Dollar Index (DXY) down roughly 11% in 2025. These forces have pushed flows into scarce assets — Galaxy frames it as a “currency depreciation trade” that benefits Bitcoin and gold. Market participants noted a ~30% retracement after the October peak, with year-end trading in the $87k–$93k band in one earlier note; VanEck described recent pullbacks as healthy deleveraging and miner stress rather than structural crashes. Institutional accumulation—including corporate balance-sheet purchases—continued even as some exchange-traded product flows exited. Draft regulatory proposals in the US and Europe are adding short-term volatility; some analysts warn prices could revisit roughly $65,000 on regulatory or deleveraging shocks. Key datapoints: nominal peak > $126,000; inflation-adjusted peak ≈ $99,848; US CPI ~2.7% (Nov annualized); DXY ~97.8 (≈11% drop in 2025). For traders: prioritize monitoring CPI prints, Fed guidance, DXY moves and real (inflation-adjusted) price metrics alongside nominal charts; weigh position sizing against potential regulatory-driven volatility and periodic deleveraging.

Aptos native token APT slipped to $1.56 amid a broader market pullback and thin holiday trading. Over 24 hours the token traded between $1.62 and $1.56 (about 3.6% intraday volatility). Technical models identify immediate resistance near $1.58–$1.66 (with a tighter resistance band at $1.63–$1.66) and support at $1.56 and primary support at $1.52, where a recent double-bottom completed before a modest rebound. Volume signals were mixed: overall 24‑hour activity fell roughly 11%–29% versus the 30‑day average across the two reports (indicating trader fatigue), but both summaries note short-term spikes in intraday volume — one to ~4.69 million APT (about 71% above the 24‑hour average) and another brief peak of 5.7 million APT (about 102% above the 24‑hour average) that accompanied selling from session highs or a breakout attempt. CoinDesk models suggest the recent moves largely tracked broader market momentum rather than fresh token‑specific fundamentals. Key levels for traders: near‑term support $1.56 (break risks $1.52), resistance $1.58–$1.66 (immediate $1.58–$1.585, confluence $1.63–$1.655). The pattern implies consolidation with limited conviction; renewed buying on stronger volume would be needed to target the upside resistance confluence.

Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino said an AI-driven boom and possible bust in U.S. equities is the biggest market risk to Bitcoin in 2026 because BTC remains correlated with broader risk appetite. He warned heavy AI capital spending — data centres, power and GPUs — could reverse sentiment and trigger equity volatility that spills into crypto. Ardoino said recent institutional adoption (pension funds, governments, funds) and growing Bitcoin ETF flows, plus reduced post‑halving miner sell‑pressure, make deep 80%‑style drawdowns less likely. He cited CFTC approvals for spot Bitcoin products and rising tokenisation (via Bitfinex Securities) as liquidity and institutionalisation positives. Ardoino highlighted Tether Gold (XAUT) growth, including a $150m U.S. purchase, praised sustainable corporate Bitcoin treasuries and urged treasury teams to build operating businesses and use pragmatic education and hedging. He also criticised aspects of Europe’s MiCA regulation for stifling innovation and noted mining investment in the Middle East as a driver of further institutionalisation. Traders should monitor equity volatility — especially AI sector flows — as a near‑term BTC risk, while factoring in stronger institutional demand that dampens the likelihood of extreme historical crashes but not of shorter liquidity events or macro shocks.

Crypto.com has posted a job for a quant trader to run an internal market‑making desk for its sports prediction markets. The role will buy and sell contracts tied to sports outcomes, provide systematic liquidity, manage risk, and seek profit — effectively operating as an in‑house trading desk that can take the opposing side of customer bets. Crypto.com told Bloomberg the desk will not use proprietary customer order flow or data as a revenue source and said market makers get a brief technical advantage window (3 seconds) on sports markets. The move revives conflict‑of‑interest concerns — critics say exchanges trading against users can make prediction platforms resemble traditional sportsbooks rather than neutral exchanges. The decision mirrors scrutiny of other platforms (eg, Kalshi, Polymarket) and reflects a broader liquidity challenge in prediction markets; industry observers see internal market making as a practical response to thin order books. For traders, expect deeper institutionalised liquidity on Crypto.com’s prediction products but also higher scrutiny on transparency and fairness, which could affect user trust, order flow and platform volumes.

CoinAnk data shows crypto futures liquidations reached $276 million in the past 24 hours, driven predominantly by long positions. Long liquidations totaled roughly $246 million versus about $29.8 million in shorts. Bitcoin and Ethereum led the losses, accounting for approximately $102 million and $59.62 million respectively. Earlier reports showed a lower, near-even split of liquidations (~$95.5M total), indicating the situation escalated in later trading with concentrated long-side blowups across derivatives venues. The long-biased forced deleveraging signals heightened short-term volatility and increased margin stress for leveraged traders. Traders should monitor funding rates, open interest, order-book depth and exchange-level liquidations to assess residual directional bias, potential squeeze risks and short-term entry or exit points. This report is market data only and not investment advice.

Polkadot’s native token DOT slipped about 4.5% to $1.75 over 24 hours, underperforming the CoinDesk 20 index (down ~2.5%). Earlier reporting showed DOT trading flat near $1.85 inside a $1.72–$1.86 range with rising volume, but the later update indicates weakening price action and lower participation. Current trading volume for DOT is roughly 9% below its 30-day average, signaling thin liquidity and limited institutional flow. Technical models from CoinDesk Research point to range-bound consolidation with primary support around $1.76–$1.76 and resistance near $1.86–$1.87; downside risk is described as limited while upside is constrained by weak volume. CoinDesk’s on-chain model previously suggested institutional accumulation at higher prices, which can precede rallies if retail follows, but the latest report says clearer ecosystem catalysts will be needed before larger investors re-engage. Key takeaways for traders: DOT is consolidating in a defined range, watch support near $1.75–$1.76 and resistance near $1.86; low volume reduces conviction for breakouts, and lack of institutional participation limits near-term bullish potential.

Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) has designated USDT on the TRON blockchain as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token (AFRT). The approval allows FSRA‑licensed firms to custody, trade, settle and provide other regulated services using TRON‑based USDT within ADGM. This follows earlier AFRT approvals for USDT on Ethereum, Solana and Avalanche and complements ADGM’s stablecoin framework, which requires full reserves, transparency and AML controls and uniquely permits yield-bearing stablecoins. TRON’s USDT is noted for low fees and high throughput, and TRON currently hosts the largest circulating supply of USDT. Regulators and TRON DAO cited governance, security and regulatory cooperation as factors in the decision. For traders, the ruling lowers institutional regulatory uncertainty for TRON USDT, may increase institutional stablecoin flows through ADGM, and could improve settlement efficiency and liquidity for TRON‑based USDT pairs — particularly for Gulf‑region on‑ramps/off‑ramps. However, expect continued scrutiny on reserves, AML controls and compliance, which could affect operational practices for issuers and custodians.

Chainlink (LINK) whales accumulated roughly 1.57–1.62 million LINK (≈$19.8–$22M) over recent days as price consolidated around $12.6–$13.6. On-chain trackers (CryptoQuant, Onchain Lens, Lookonchain, Onchain Lens) show multiple consecutive days of large buy orders and several days of negative exchange netflows (reported totals between -151k and -384.9k LINK), signalling increased withdrawals from exchanges and reduced available sell-side supply. Notable transactions include a whale buying 360,551 LINK on Dec 22 and another purchase of ~1.62M LINK across Binance and Kraken in earlier reporting; combined whale holdings now total roughly 0.8–2.18M LINK for the identified wallets. Technical indicators differ across reports: short-term momentum showed bearish reads after a rejection at $14.90 in earlier coverage, but later updates show moving averages converging and a short-term MA9 crossover with bullish Stochastic readings. Analysts identify support near $12.60 (or $12.65) and resistance at $14.50–$14.90, with upside targets cited around $15–$16.70 if whale accumulation and exchange outflows continue. Key trader takeaways: shrinking exchange supply and concentrated whale buys are bullish short-to-medium-term catalysts, but confirmation requires sustained volume, continued net outflows, and price holding above $12.6; a breakdown below $12.6 could test $11.8 and negate the bullish case.

ETHZilla, the publicly listed crypto treasury firm that rebranded from 180 Life Sciences, disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold 24,291 ETH for $74.5 million (average ~$3,068.69 per ETH) to redeem senior secured convertible notes. After the disposal, the company holds roughly 69,800 ETH. The firm said it expects to use most or all proceeds to repay debt. ETHZilla has also pursued diversification through recent investments, acquiring stakes in Karus (20% fully diluted) and Zippy (15%). The sale reflects a wider trend among listed crypto treasuries trimming holdings amid price volatility to reduce leverage and shore up liquidity — similar moves have been made by other public firms such as FG Nexus and Sequans Communications. Traders should note the immediate incremental sell-side supply from the disclosed liquidation, the company’s intent to deleverage rather than exit crypto exposure, and the potential for improved market confidence if debt reduction stabilizes its balance sheet. Primary keywords: ETHZilla, Ether (ETH), ETH sale, convertible notes, crypto treasury, debt repayment.

MYX Finance (MYX) has shown renewed upside after a volatile sequence: an initial fakeout pushed price to $3.90 before a liquidity-driven reversal to $2.90, then MYX rallied ~12% in 24 hours to trade near $3.30 and reclaimed the $3 level. A 4‑hour break above $3.10 created an imbalance/demand zone at $2.93–$3.18 that is likely to be retested. Technicals on the daily chart remain bullish, supported by bullish MACD momentum, rising moving averages and on-chain capital inflows. Derivatives signals were mixed in earlier coverage: Open Interest had declined and funding turned deeply negative (suggesting short positioning and squeeze potential), while short/long ratios hovered near parity — indicating some short-hunting around $3.7–$3.9 in prior moves. Liquidation heatmaps identify magnetic zones at $3.87–$4.40 (lighter) and $2.49–$2.66 (denser). Macro sentiment is a limiting factor: Bitcoin failing to reclaim $94.5k keeps broader altcoin risk appetite muted and could cap upside. Trading guidance: traders can lean bullish while price holds the $2.93 demand zone, targeting a move toward $4.40, but manage risk for volatility and potential short squeezes; the bullish setup invalidates on a decisive break below $2.93. This is not financial advice.

Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs recorded combined net outflows of about $1.14 billion over the past week after an earlier single-day institutional-driven sell-off of roughly $582 million. The withdrawals concentrated in major U.S. spot BTC and ETH products and reflected short-term profit-taking, portfolio rebalancing, and increased macro caution. Trading volumes rose during the pullback as market makers and institutional desks supplied liquidity, while thinner ETF liquidity amplified intraday volatility. Analysts note flows were mixed across funds—some saw large redemptions while others had modest inflows—suggesting rotation between products rather than outright long-term demand destruction. For traders, the development raises short-term downside risk for BTC and ETH but could create buying opportunities if on-chain metrics, derivatives funding rates, and order-book depth stabilize. Monitor ETF flows, spot volumes, derivatives funding rates, on-chain whale movements, and macro headlines for trade timing and risk management.

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.

Ripple’s US dollar‑pegged stablecoin RLUSD reached roughly $1–1.3 billion market capitalization within its first year (launched 17 Dec 2024) and has climbed into the top five among US‑regulated USD stablecoins. Standard Custody CEO Jack McDonald ranks RLUSD third in the US‑regulated cohort behind USDC and PYUSD, while CoinMarketCap’s broader listing (including offshore issuers) places it lower. Adoption drivers include an OCC conditional approval tied to Ripple’s National Trust Bank charter, institutional custody with BNY Mellon, attestations by Deloitte, and regulatory recognition in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. RLUSD’s issuance has scaled with real usage: institutional flows such as tokenized fund off‑ramps from managers like BlackRock and VanEck, repo trades and money‑market integrations. Ripple is expanding RLUSD across multiple blockchains (Optimism, Base, Ink, Unichain via Wormhole/NFT bridges) and positions the token as a regulated dollar instrument complementary to XRP for settlement, liquidity management and treasury functions. Traders should note three practical implications: (1) regulatory and custody backing may boost on‑chain liquidity and institutional uptake, (2) rapid market‑cap growth increases competition with USDC and USDT for trade and treasury flows, and (3) multichain deployments and integrations with tokenized funds could raise short‑term volume and longer‑term stablecoin substitution risk. Keywords: RLUSD, stablecoin, Ripple, regulated stablecoins, institutional custody.

Poland’s lower house (Sejm) voted 241–183 to re-pass the Crypto-Asset Market Act — an unchanged version previously vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki — and has sent the bill to the Senate. The legislation aims to implement the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework domestically by creating a strict licensing and supervision regime under the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). Government officials frame the measures as national-security and anti–money-laundering steps. Critics, including MPs and industry groups, say the bill goes beyond MiCA’s baseline, concentrates power in the KNF, shortens transition periods ahead of the expected July 2026 MiCA deadline, raises compliance costs and risks pushing firms to relocate to more accommodating EU jurisdictions. The president has previously expressed pro-crypto sentiments but vetoed the earlier bill over concerns it threatened freedoms and stability; officials say a classified security briefing could affect his final decision. If the Senate approves the unchanged bill, it will return to the president and may become law or face another veto. For traders: the measure increases regulatory risk for Polish-based crypto firms and service users, could reduce domestic liquidity and onboarding, and may prompt relocation or operational changes by exchanges and custodians — factors that can affect regional liquidity and market access, though immediate global price effects are likely limited unless broader EU action follows.

Leading developers and analysts warn that advances in quantum computing pose a systemic threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography and market value unless a coordinated, network‑wide quantum‑resistant upgrade is completed within several years. Both pieces emphasize similar core risks: more than four million BTC are estimated to sit in legacy address types (eg, P2PKH) that could be exposed by future quantum attacks; if private keys are recovered, stolen coins returning to circulation would damage BTC’s scarcity and investor trust; and rapid institutional outflows could amplify a price decline. Charles Edwards of Capriole projects Bitcoin could fall below $50,000 by 2028 if vulnerable addresses remain unmitigated. Jameson Lopp highlights the slow, complex nature of upgrading a decentralized protocol and stresses the multi‑year coordination needed among developers, miners, exchanges and custodians. Short‑term safety remains reasonable given current quantum hardware limits, and interim mitigations can buy time; however, analysts urge starting development, testing and deployment of post‑quantum cryptography and coordinating a migration to quantum‑safe addresses (a process likely to span years). For traders, the story flags a non‑price, systemic technological risk that could drive heightened volatility, prompt defensive portfolio adjustments, and reduce institutional appetite for BTC products if confidence in network security erodes.

The U.S. Department of Justice sentenced Magdaleno Mendoza, a senior promoter for IcomTech, to 71 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal reentry. IcomTech, launched in mid‑2018, marketed supposed crypto mining and trading products promising “guaranteed” daily returns but operated as a multi‑level marketing Ponzi scheme. Promoters recruited largely Spanish‑speaking, working‑class investors via expos, community meetings and high‑profile events. Investors saw simulated online “profits,” were blocked from withdrawals and ultimately suffered losses when the scheme collapsed by late 2019. Mendoza collected cash at events, helped promote a worthless proprietary token called “Icoms,” and funneled investor funds to pay earlier participants and promoters’ personal expenses. Prosecutors say operators collected significant sums from roughly 190,000 individuals across the U.S. and other countries; earlier sentences include founder David Carmona (121 months) and former CEO Marco Ruiz Ochoa (60 months). Mendoza was ordered to pay approximately $790,000 in restitution and forfeit $1.5 million, including interest in a California property. For traders: this case underscores ongoing regulatory and law‑enforcement pressure on fraudulent crypto schemes, highlights the reputational risk of small, proprietary tokens (Icoms), and serves as a reminder to perform rigorous due diligence on yield promises and MLM‑style crypto offerings.

Indiana Republican Rep. Kyle Pierce introduced bipartisan-leaning legislation that would allow state-managed public funds — including teacher and public employee pensions and 529 education savings plans — to allocate assets to regulated crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The bill bars direct crypto holdings by those plans, limiting exposure to ETFs for greater transparency and oversight. It also contains broader crypto provisions: protections for miners (including proof-of-work operators and home miners), limits on local bans of crypto payments, prohibitions on special taxes for crypto use, clearer rules for mining operations, and expanded protections for self-custody of digital assets. The draft was developed with industry input (e.g., Satoshi Action Fund) and reflects growing federal momentum around stablecoin rules. Retirement officials signaled neutral support, citing low current member demand but accepting ETF access if accompanied by risk disclosures and suitability reviews. Supporters say ETF access could raise long-term institutional demand for major digital assets; critics warn about suitability for retirement plans and risks from newer tokens. For traders, the bill signals potential incremental institutional flows into spot-backed crypto ETFs and possible local mining activity growth if enacted — factors that could underpin demand for major PoW assets. SEO keywords: crypto ETFs, state crypto regulation, miners protection, institutional adoption, stablecoins.