Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

An on-chain whale or institutional account has been executing repeated BTC→ETH swaps via THORChain, signaling strategic cross-chain rebalancing rather than one-off arbitrage. The latest reported tranche converted 317 BTC into 9,105 ETH (≈$28.15M). Since Nov. 25 the same actor has swapped a cumulative 2,289 BTC for 67,253 ETH (≈$204M), giving an average entry near $3,036 per ETH. Monitoring groups (e.g., EmberCN) flagged earlier tranches and cost-basis estimates; the activity underscores fragmentation of cross-chain liquidity and the growing use of decentralized bridges like THORChain for capital deployment and risk management. For traders, this represents notable ETH accumulation funded by BTC — a flow that can create directional pressure on ETH price and suggest reallocation of BTC reserves. Key signals to monitor: continued tranche size and cadence, on-chain custody changes, THORChain liquidity and slippage, and broader market reaction to large ETH accumulation.

Bitcoin fell sharply below the $88,000 mark, trading around $87,985 on Binance USDT markets, after a sudden sell-off. The decline followed recent profit-taking, thin liquidity on some exchanges, technical selling near resistance levels and macroeconomic worries including interest-rate concerns. Analysts described the move as a likely healthy correction rather than a structural breakdown, but warned it could increase short-term volatility and drag correlated altcoins lower. Traders are advised to manage risk: review strategies, consider dollar-cost averaging for accumulation, set clear stop-loss and take-profit orders, diversify portfolios and monitor key support levels. The reports also note Bitcoin’s strong fundamentals — growing institutional adoption, robust network security and its store-of-value narrative — but stress that outcomes depend on evolving liquidity, institutional flows and macro/regulatory developments.

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to around 0.75% at the Dec. 18–19 meeting — the highest level since 1995. Crypto traders view the announcement as a near-term catalyst because BOJ hikes since 2024 have coincided with sharp Bitcoin corrections (roughly -23% in Mar 2024, -26% in Jul 2024 and >-30% in Jan 2025). Analysts note a repeating pattern: higher Japanese rates can strengthen the yen, increase Japanese bond yields, unwind yen-funded carry trades and reduce capital flows into global risk assets, pressuring liquidity and crypto prices. Some traders and analysts (e.g., 0xNobler, AndrewBTC) flag a potential downside target near $70,000 if the pattern repeats. Offsetting views point to technical support: Bitcoin is trading near the monthly EMA-21, a level that has historically provided support, and some analysts (e.g., Ted Pillows) forecast a possible short-term move toward $100,000–$105,000 before any renewed sell-off. Market context includes already-risen JGB yields and a weaker dollar after recent Fed easing, which could blunt an abrupt carry unwind. For traders, key signals to monitor are USD/JPY and yen strength, JGB yields, carry-trade flows, equities volatility, and Bitcoin’s monthly EMA-21 and $90k/$70k price levels. Expect elevated volatility around the BOJ decision; manage position sizing and stop levels accordingly.

Yo Labs closed a $10 million Series A on Dec 13, 2025, led by Foundation Capital with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures and Launchpad Capital, bringing total funding to $24 million after a Paradigm-led seed. Proceeds will accelerate Yo Protocol, a cross‑chain yield optimization platform that uses isolated “embassy” vaults (eg. yoETH, yoUSD) to keep native assets on each chain and reduce bridge risk. The protocol integrates third‑party risk scoring from Exponential.fi and a DeFi Graph that maps dependencies up to five levels to automate safety actions and limit contagion. Yo emphasizes conservative, risk‑optimized strategies that avoid high‑risk DeFi primitives while seeking higher yields across multiple chains. The raise signals continued VC interest in scalable DeFi yield infrastructure and may drive developer momentum and integrations for Yo Protocol, with implications for liquidity flows and yield products in the multi‑chain DeFi ecosystem.

A blockchain monitor (Whale Alert) recorded a transfer of roughly 1,000,000,090 USDT (≈$1 billion) from centralized exchange HTX to the Aave lending protocol. The move likely reflects a large holder shifting capital off-exchange into DeFi to earn yield, use USDT as collateral for borrowing, or deploy capital across strategies that increase efficiency. Immediate on-chain effects include reduced USDT liquidity on HTX and an increased USDT supply within Aave, which may temporarily lower USDT lending rates. Key risks are smart-contract exposure on Aave, potential liquidity shocks if the funds are quickly redeployed or withdrawn, and heightened regulatory scrutiny of large stablecoin movements. For traders, the transaction underscores continued institutional-scale activity in decentralized finance and the role of stablecoins as the primary on-chain medium for big-value allocation. Watch Aave pool liquidity and borrowing rates, HTX exchange depth, and subsequent on-chain flows for trade signals. Primary keywords: USDT, Aave, HTX, whale transfer, DeFi. Secondary keywords: stablecoin liquidity, lending rates, yield generation, smart-contract risk, institutional adoption.

Bitcoin (BTC) weakened after losing hourly support around $90,000 and traded near $89,300–$90,180 across the two reports. Short-term technicals show downside risk: a daily close below the $90,000 zone risks a test of $88,000–$89,000, and a confirmed breach of roughly $89,269 could accelerate a move to $88,000. The later report adds that BTC previously produced a false breakout above $94,172 and has shown no higher-timeframe bullish confirmation, leaving midterm bias tilted lower. Analysts and price action suggest a potential correction extending toward $80,000–$85,000 over the coming week if bearish pressure continues. Market breadth is dominated by bears and traders should monitor intraday reactions around $90,000 for short-term entries and watch $94,172 as the key level for midterm trend bias.

Bittensor (TAO) is set to undergo its first protocol halving around Dec 14–15, triggered automatically when total supply reaches ~10.5 million TAO. The halving will cut block rewards from 1 TAO to 0.5 TAO, reducing daily issuance from roughly 7,200 TAO to about 3,600 TAO and reinforcing the token’s 21 million max supply. Bittensor’s halving is supply-threshold driven rather than strictly block-height based, producing an effective cadence similar to Bitcoin’s four-year cycle. Recent price action shows TAO trading near key support around $276–$290 and testing resistance in the $317–$330 zone; technicals on short timeframes show bullish momentum (4-hour RSI ~62, bullish MACD) while daily indicators point to a nascent trend shift (daily RSI ~47, MACD turning bullish). Historical moves after tests of the support area have seen rallies into the $369–$477 range and occasional breaks above $500. The halving should reduce inflationary pressure and may create upward price pressure and higher volatility, but gains are not guaranteed. Traders should watch support near $276, immediate resistance ~$330, and upside targets at ~$360, $400–$420 and long-term expansion zones near $520. Note also reported institutional interest (e.g., Grayscale) as a potential supportive factor. This is not investment advice.

Binance Coin (BNB) has overtaken Ripple (XRP) in market capitalization, rising above $120 billion to become the third-largest cryptocurrency. BNB is up about 27% year-to-date and roughly 30% above its Q3 open, outperforming many large-cap peers amid broader market weakness. On-chain metrics show Binance Smart Chain (BSC) remains resilient: BSC total value locked (TVL) fell only ~9% to about $6.86 billion, while DeFi TVL on the XRP Ledger dropped roughly 30% to about $68 million. The XRP/BNB ratio has declined about 8.5% over the past month, indicating capital rotation toward BNB. Analysts attribute BNB’s relative strength to sustained DeFi activity on BSC, lower fees, Ethereum interoperability, and Binance-led integrations (staking, NFTs). Traders should monitor the XRP/BNB ratio, BSC TVL trends and BNB technicals when sizing exposure. If on-chain flows and capital rotation persist, the market-cap flip may hold into 2026, suggesting potential stronger relative returns for BNB versus XRP.

Solana-focused ETFs have recorded seven consecutive days of net inflows totaling about $674 million, despite SOL tumbling roughly 55% from its January peak. Farside Investors reported a daily high of about $16.6 million during the streak. Major new US-listed products — including REX-Osprey’s staked SOL ETF and Bitwise’s BSOL — launched in 2025 and are attracting institutional and traditional finance demand by offering regulated, custody-safe exposure to SOL. On-chain metrics show weaker fundamentals: Solana’s market cap slipped over 2% in the past week, TVL has fallen amid broader market weakness, and SOL has traded below its 365-day moving average since November. Price faces resistance in the $140–$145 range. Over $447 million in open interest in SOL perpetual futures and observed accumulation by large holders on-chain indicate continued trader engagement and institutional accumulation beneath key resistance. Separate developments include Kazakhstan’s national Solana-centred blockchain strategy (economic special zone, Tenge stablecoin, developer training and tokenized IPOs) and experiments by institutions such as JPMorgan and Franklin Templeton with on-chain issuance and investments on Solana. The divergence between steady ETF inflows and a weak spot price suggests institutional demand is being routed through ETFs, increasing liquidity and lowering custody risk for traditional investors — a dynamic that can support accumulation but also preserve volatility as ETFs channel more capital into SOL exposure.

Ozak AI (OZ) has raised about $4.9 million in its ongoing presale and entered Phase 7, with the token priced at $0.014. The project positions itself as an AI–DePIN infrastructure layer for Web3, combining autonomous AI agents, decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN), cross‑chain connectivity and predictive analytics to automate market alerts, trading actions, data flows and risk checks. Tokenomics allocate a significant share of supply to community incentives — staking, liquidity, ecosystem development and governance — aimed at encouraging long‑term participation rather than short‑term flips. Reported strategic partners include SINT, Hive Intel, Weblume, Pyth Network and Dex3, supporting automation, on‑chain analytics, no‑code dashboards, price feeds and distributed compute. The presale has sold roughly 1.016 billion OZ and raised about $4.83–$4.9 million to date. Community narratives and analyst scenarios cited in coverage project large hypothetical upside (some claims up to 700× or higher in bull scenarios), linked to expected exchange listings and rising demand for AI/DePIN infrastructure tokens; such projections are speculative. The project also cites a Sherlock DeFi audit with no outstanding issues. This coverage was sponsored and should not be taken as investment advice. Traders should note presale price, token allocation, partnership signals and liquidity/listing risk when assessing short‑term trading or position sizing in OZ.

Ethereum (ETH) is trading near $3,100 at the lower edge of a descending channel and sits above the 9‑day moving average. Recent momentum improvements — including ETH briefly moving above the 200‑day EMA in earlier reporting and stronger ETH/BTC performance — have traders watching a decisive break above the channel to test resistance in the $3,300–$3,400 zone. Analysts say sustained support around $3,000 could open a path toward $3,500–$3,700 in the near term; failure to hold would risk a return to earlier support levels. Volumes rose with a short squeeze that reportedly unwound roughly $260M in shorts in earlier action. Separately, Mutuum Finance (MUTM), an ETH‑based DeFi token, is in a late presale phase. Phase 6 price is $0.035 (about +250% from an initial $0.01); Phase 6 is ~98% sold and Phase 7 is planned at $0.04. The presale has reportedly raised about $19.3M with ~18,450 holder accounts. Mutuum unveiled a top‑50 holders dashboard and a daily buyer leaderboard (daily top buyer prize: 500 MUTM). The team plans a V1 protocol testnet on Sepolia in Q4 2025 including a liquidity pool, mtToken, debt token and liquidator bot; ETH and USDT will be initial collateral/loan assets. Halborn Security has begun an independent smart‑contract audit. The coverage is derived from press releases and analysts’ technical reads; readers are advised to perform their own due diligence. Primary keywords: Ethereum, ETH technical analysis, MUTM presale, Mutuum Finance. Secondary keywords: breakout, descending channel, 200‑day EMA, short squeeze, presale phase, DeFi token, Halborn audit.

Grayscale Research says Bitcoin (BTC) could reach a new all‑time high in 2026, challenging the traditional halving‑driven four‑year cycle thesis. The firm argues the recent ~32% drawdown from November peak is a normal mid‑bull correction and not indicative of a trend reversal. Grayscale cites three drivers supporting further upside into 2026: (1) this cycle has lacked the parabolic retail‑led price phase seen in prior cycles; (2) structural change as spot ETFs and corporate crypto treasuries bring steady institutional inflows beyond retail exchange deposits; and (3) supportive macro conditions, notably the prospect of U.S. rate cuts and progress on bipartisan crypto legislation. The report also notes divergence between on‑chain fundamentals and price action. A later perspective in the coverage echoes Grayscale and adds that some market participants (eg, Tom Lee/BitMine) expect a new BTC high by early 2026 while highlighting concurrent large ETH accumulation by some firms. Traders should weigh renewed institutional demand and macro tailwinds against typical bull‑market volatility when sizing positions and setting risk parameters.

XRP remains pinned near $2.02 despite continued strong inflows to U.S. spot XRP ETFs — about $20.17M on Dec. 12 and the nineteenth straight day of positive flows. Major beneficiaries included Franklin (≈$8.7M) and Bitwise (≈$7.85M), lifting total spot ETF net assets to roughly $1.18B and cumulative inflows toward $975M. Price action shows compression inside an ascending triangle and a rising channel, with RSI around 42 and MACD compressed — technicals point to consolidation and absorption rather than immediate breakout. Fundamentals strengthened: Ripple completed its Rail acquisition, broadened custody, treasury intelligence and prime brokerage services, and announced AMINA Bank’s adoption of Ripple Payments in Europe. Near-term decision zone is $2.00–$2.06; a decisive move above that area could target ~$2.15, while a sustained break below the channel floor would increase downside risk. For traders, key signals are continued ETF flow trends, volume spikes, volatility expansion from the compressed range, MACD crossovers, and a confirmed ascending-triangle breakout. Persistent inflows and improving real-world utility raise the probability of a delayed bullish breakout, but immediate price follow-through remains uncertain.

K9 Finance, an official Shibarium partner and liquid-staking platform, has issued a public ultimatum to the Shiba Inu team: fully compensate victims of a September Shibarium bridge exploit by January 6, 2026 or face review and potential severing of the partnership. The attacker used a flash loan to gain validator voting power, submit a fraudulent Merkle root and drain assets. K9 reports losses exceeding $700,000 in KNINE tokens plus stolen ETH, SHIB, LEASH, ROAR and TREAT. According to later reporting, the Shiba Inu team allegedly offered the attacker 50 ETH and immunity from prosecution to avoid returning funds; K9 countered with a 5 ETH bounty to recover frozen tokens. K9 says it followed recovery protocols and engaged privately with the Shiba Inu team, but communications later stopped, prompting the DAO’s public deadline. The exploit triggered significant SHIB volatility — the token fell as much as 36% — though subsequent burn activity and reduced exchange supply have been cited as partial fundamental support. Traders should monitor the January deadline, unresolved restitution mechanics, DAO governance actions and any on-chain recovery activity; these factors could drive short-term volatility across Shibarium-linked tokens, affect staking and liquidity on the chain, and influence SHIB price dynamics.

Bitcoin mining hash price has fallen below the commonly cited breakeven of ~$40/PH/s/day (Hashrate Index reports ~USD 38.6), driven by a ~40% BTC price drop in late November, the post‑halving 3.125 BTC block reward and rising network difficulty (≈156T, +6.3%). Network hashrate remains at historic highs (≈1 ZH/s), squeezing miner margins and pushing ROI for new ASICs toward ~1,000 days. In response, major operators are accelerating shifts to low‑cost and flexible renewable power and, where necessary, reducing machine uptime or selectively idling rigs. Notable projects and vendor moves: Sangha Renewables with TotalEnergies brought a 20 MW solar site online in Ector County, Texas; Phoenix Group launched a 30 MW hydroelectric project in Ethiopia; Canaan and Soluna deployed a wind‑powered site in Briscoe County, Texas and Canaan is developing AI‑driven rigs to optimize energy use. Industry data cited include Hashrate Index and CryptoQuant. For traders: monitor hash price, network hashrate and difficulty, miner uptime metrics, ASIC ROI and miner balance‑sheet signals (asset sales, equity raises), plus regional energy cost and demand‑response developments (e.g., Texas). Miner capitulation or asset sales can increase BTC supply-side pressure and be bearish in the near term; wider adoption of renewables and flexible contracts can reduce operating cost volatility and stabilise miner behaviour over time.

JPMorgan arranged a tokenized commercial paper (USCP) issuance for Galaxy Digital on the Solana public blockchain, with end-to-end settlement executed in USDC. Institutional participants included Coinbase (custody, wallet and USDC on/off-ramp) and Franklin Templeton as a buyer. JPMorgan used a Galaxy subsidiary to facilitate the deal and highlighted USDC settlement as a way to reduce counterparty and operational risk and dramatically shorten settlement times through atomic on-chain issuance, trading and redemption. Key terms — including issuance size and maturity — were not disclosed. Analysts noted benefits such as programmability, faster settlement and increased institutional credibility for Solana (SOL), while flagging unresolved regulatory, disclosure and smart-contract risks for tokenized real-world assets (RWA). Industry data cited a rapid rise in tokenized Treasury volumes, underscoring growing institutional interest; forecasts suggest tokenized assets could scale substantially by 2030. For traders, the event signals rising institutional adoption of on-chain debt markets, potential positive sentiment pressure on SOL and increased on-chain USDC flow, though near-term price impact may be limited until larger, more transparent issuances and clearer regulatory guidance emerge.

Hex Trust has launched wXRP, a fully collateralized 1:1 wrapped XRP token built to bring XRP liquidity and DeFi access across multiple chains. wXRP is initially live on Ethereum and uses LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard for cross‑chain transfers; support for Solana, Optimism and HyperEVM is planned or imminent. Hex Trust says wXRP is backed by institutional‑grade custody of native XRP with KYC/AML controls, reporting over 50 million XRP in reserves and an initial TVL above $100 million to bootstrap liquidity. The wrapper enables standard DeFi use cases — trading pairs, lending, yields and direct interactions with Ripple‑adjacent assets such as RLUSD — while avoiding unregulated bridge designs. Ripple executives welcomed the product as expanding XRP utility while keeping the XRP Ledger as the anchor. Early circulation is mainly on Ethereum (~50M wXRP), with limited activity yet on Optimism and HyperEVM. The launch follows broader industry moves to increase XRP interoperability (e.g., Flare, Axelar integrations) and signals a step toward greater XRP participation in multi‑chain DeFi markets. Traders should watch liquidity migration, on‑chain volumes and any regulatory signals that could affect redemption flows between wXRP and native XRP.

Nexo has acquired Buenos Aires–based crypto exchange Buenbit in a strategic push to expand across Latin America. The deal grants Nexo local infrastructure, regulatory footholds and a user base in Argentina and Peru, giving the firm fiat on‑ramps and compliance groundwork for regional growth. Buenbit customers will gain access to Nexo’s products — including crypto‑backed loans, high‑yield savings accounts and trading tools — while Nexo plans to establish its Latin America headquarters in Buenos Aires and pursue further expansion into Mexico and Peru. The acquisition follows consolidation trends in the crypto sector as firms seek geographic diversification and regulatory resilience. For traders, the move signals heightened competition among centralized exchanges in LatAm, potential boosts to local liquidity and faster peso‑crypto flows, plus likely promotional activity (welcome offers, fee reductions) during integration. Risks include regulatory uncertainty in Latin America, operational integration challenges and possible short‑term volatility around announcements. Overall, the transaction is a strategic growth play aimed at scaling Nexo’s lending and savings products and strengthening on‑the‑ground capabilities in Latin America.

Vanguard has updated its policy to allow its 50+ million U.S. brokerage clients to buy and hold regulated spot Bitcoin ETFs (and other highly liquid third‑party crypto ETFs) on its platform. The move follows SEC approvals for spot crypto ETFs and similar product rollouts by BlackRock and State Street. Vanguard emphasises access to third‑party, regulated ETFs rather than direct crypto custody and says it will not give investment advice on crypto products. John Ameriks, Vanguard’s global head of quantitative equity, described Bitcoin as largely speculative but acknowledged limited utility in extreme fiat inflation or political instability. Bitcoin ETFs have already attracted significant inflows since 2024 (tens of billions of dollars), and Vanguard’s market access could channel conservative retail and retirement capital into crypto without wallets or exchanges. For traders, expected effects include higher ETF volumes, improved liquidity, tighter spreads and potential price support for BTC (and to a lesser extent ETH) if Vanguard clients allocate even small portfolio percentages. Risks remain from macro volatility and regulatory changes. Keywords: Bitcoin ETF, Vanguard, spot ETF, ETF inflows, BTC.

Ripple closed a $500 million financing round that valued the company at about $40 billion, attracting institutional backers including Citadel Securities, Fortress, Brevan Howard–linked funds, Pantera Capital and Galaxy Digital. The deal includes downside protection: investors can sell shares back after three to four years with a guaranteed ~10% annualized return, while Ripple retains a repurchase option that effectively yields ~25% annualized for investors during the same window. Participants cited Ripple’s shift from its SEC litigation to product expansion — custody, treasury and prime-brokerage services — and its stablecoin strategy as drivers of upside. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has surpassed $1 billion market capitalization. The raise is presented alongside broader institutional crypto productization: WisdomTree launched a tokenized options-income fund (EPXC/WTPIX), Bitwise’s 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW) moved to NYSE Arca, and Twenty One Capital (XXI) listed on the NYSE after building a large BTC treasury. For traders: institutional endorsement reduces regulatory overhang for XRP and may improve sentiment and liquidity; downside-protected financing signals risk-managed institutional entry rather than speculative demand; and RLUSD’s growth highlights Ripple’s expanding stablecoin footprint — all factors that could affect XRP price dynamics and market depth in both the near and medium term.

Bybit has launched BYUSDT, a 1:1 token that converts USDT held in the exchange’s Flexible Easy Earn staking product into a tradeable token for margin collateral while preserving yield. Available to VIP account holders, BYUSDT can be swapped with Flexible Easy Earn USDT instantly and without manual-swap fees; rewards accrue hourly and are paid daily. The product lets staked USDT remain yield-bearing yet usable as margin, addressing the liquidity-versus-yield trade-off and improving capital efficiency for high-value accounts. The launch follows Bybit’s broader stablecoin push, including a recent Circle partnership to deepen USDC integration across services. Comparable offerings among centralized exchanges are rare, with only partial parallels in Kraken Rewards and Deribit. Primary keywords: BYUSDT, Bybit, USDT, margin trading, stablecoin utility.

Analyst Chad Steingraber predicts XRP could stage a multi‑fold rally — potentially reaching near $10 and higher — driven by sustained inflows into newly launched spot XRP ETFs. Since November 2025 several XRP ETFs (Canary Capital, Bitwise, Grayscale, Franklin) have registered steady net inflows, with 21Shares and WisdomTree expected to join. Combined ETF accumulation is approaching about $944–$976 million (roughly 0.7–0.8% of circulating supply), while Bitwise’s broader Crypto 10 ETF also holds XRP. Steingraber and others note much of the buying has occurred OTC, muting immediate exchange-driven price impact; the risk of a visible supply squeeze rises if ETFs begin sourcing XRP directly from exchanges. He draws parallels to Bitcoin’s post‑ETF performance and projects a substantial upside into 2026 if ETF demand persists. Technicals cited include a breakout from a multi‑month symmetrical triangle on the two‑week chart and a bullish flag, with measured targets ranging from near‑term psychological levels around $10 up toward $14–$15 (some analyses point even higher). Key trader takeaways: accelerating ETF demand is removing available supply; short‑term catalysts are continued ETF net inflows and confirmation of chart breakouts; manage risk — this is informational, not investment advice.

Tether is exploring a potential $20 billion equity raise that would imply a company valuation near $500 billion, according to Bloomberg. Management is weighing options to provide controlled secondary liquidity — including traditional buybacks and issuing tokenized equity via its Hadron tokenization platform — rather than a conventional public listing. The company reportedly blocked at least one heavily discounted secondary stake sale that would have implied a roughly $280 billion valuation, signaling strict control over pricing and distribution. Discussions have included talks with large strategic investors such as SoftBank and Ark Invest. Tether issues USDT, the largest stablecoin by supply, and projects roughly $15 billion in profit this year. Hadron, launched in November 2024, supports tokenized real-world assets (RWA) and has partnerships with KraneShares and Bitfinex Securities to push tokenized ETFs and global stocks. Tokenizing Tether’s own equity would be a landmark real-world-asset tokenization use case and could force market and regulatory scrutiny of onchain equity mechanics. No final decision has been made.

BTCC, the longest-running crypto exchange (founded 2011), won the Community Choice award for Best Centralized Exchange at the BeInCrypto 100 Awards 2025, announced 10 December 2025. The award, decided by community vote, follows a year of strong operational performance: 10+ million users, 460+ spot pairs, 400+ futures pairs and a combined Q3 2025 spot and futures trading volume of $1.15 trillion (20% QoQ growth). BTCC highlights a 14-year record with no reported security breaches and additional 2025 recognitions from FXEmpire. To mark the win the exchange will run a flagship trading competition with a 10 million USDT prize pool and a community giveaway of 1,000 USDT to 10 winners; campaign details will appear on BTCC’s X account. The firm also says it will expand spot and futures listings and add platform features in 2026. Key keywords: BTCC, centralized exchange, BeInCrypto 100, trading volume, USDT giveaway.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says up to 40% of taxpayers using digital-asset platforms are either evading taxes or at high risk of non-compliance. A specialist 35-person CRA crypto-audit team reviewed more than 230 files over three years and identified roughly CAD$54–100 million in reassessments or unpaid taxes. By May 2024 the CRA had about 400 ongoing crypto audits and reassessed CAD$54 million for suspected undeclared crypto taxes in 2023–24. The CRA has increasingly used Federal Court orders to compel platforms to hand over user records. Following a 2020 disclosure order against Coinsquare, the CRA in a later case obtained a court order requiring Vancouver-based Dapper Labs to disclose data for about 2,500 accounts (after originally seeking 18,000). Coinsquare previously provided data on accounts above CAD$20,000 for 2014–2020. Civil recoveries from enforcement efforts total tens of millions of Canadian dollars, but criminal prosecutions have been rare since 2020 due to evidentiary and legal hurdles in proving willful tax evasion. In 2024 Canada joined the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). That alignment with international automatic exchange and reporting standards is expected to prompt more data requests of exchanges and platforms and increase enforcement pressure on users who kept poor records or relied on assumed anonymity. Implications for traders: prioritize robust trade and wallet records, set aside tax provisions for crypto gains, review exposure to Canadian platforms or counterparties that could be subject to data requests, and consider voluntary disclosure or corrective filings if past reporting is incomplete. Primary keywords: Canada crypto tax, CRA, tax evasion. Secondary keywords: Dapper Labs, Coinsquare, CARF, crypto audits.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), led by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, has withdrawn its March 2020 guidance that defined when "actual delivery" of crypto occurs in commodity transactions. The agency said the guidance had become outdated after five years of market and custody developments and acted following recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets. Industry and legal figures welcomed the move: StarkWare GC Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos said the guidance constrained exchanges from offering margin or leverage unless delivery occurred within 28 days, and its removal restores operational flexibility. aifinyo AG strategist Garry Krugljakow said the change signals clearer CFTC jurisdictional boundaries and a regulatory path more suited to scaling. Critics—including Roosevelt Institute researcher Todd Phillips—noted the withdrawal creates short-term legal uncertainty because no replacement definition was provided, leaving unclear which trading venues must register with the CFTC. The action is procedural guidance withdrawal, not new law, and future leadership could reverse it. For traders: the removal reduces a regulatory constraint on margin and leveraged crypto products, potentially enabling more margin offerings and product innovation, but it also increases near-term uncertainty around platform registration and compliance. Primary keywords: CFTC, actual delivery, crypto guidance, exchanges, margin trading. Secondary keywords: leverage, custody, regulatory clarity, platform registration.

dYdX has launched SOL spot trading on its exchange and opened services to users in the United States, marking a strategic expansion from derivatives into spot markets. The rollout introduces Solana spot pairs, aims to deepen order books and increase on‑chain activity for SOL, and is accompanied by a US market reopening that broadens the platform’s addressable user base. To attract US traders, dYdX is waiving trading fees for December. The exchange highlights its long-term growth: over $1.5 trillion in cumulative volume since launch and a roadmap focused on market access, liquidity, and advanced trading tools while preserving decentralization and self‑custody. Market context matters: derivatives positioning on Solana shows heavy leverage clustered near the $147 resistance (Coinglass data: roughly $667M of leverage, with shorts >$1B and longs ≈$692M). A break above $147 could force a short squeeze toward ~$200, while downside support sits near $125 and the $100 psychological level. Traders should expect short‑term volatility as liquidity redistributes across venues and monitor leverage and order‑book depth; longer term, US availability and added spot liquidity may increase SOL trading volumes and market participation.

Solana will list XRP on its network as wXRP, a 1:1 wrapped token custodied by Hex Trust and minted/redeemed through authorized merchants. Hex Trust will hold native XRP in segregated, regulated custody with auditability and insurance to back wXRP. The launch is supported by over $100 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) to provide initial liquidity and help stabilize pricing. Bringing XRP onto Solana aims to expand XRP’s DeFi utility — enabling cross-chain swaps, liquidity provision, lending, staking and decentralized trading — and may reduce circulating XRP supply while native XRP is locked in custody. The integration leverages Solana’s high throughput and low fees to unlock deeper XRP liquidity and broaden on-chain use cases. Traders should monitor wXRP liquidity, bridge flows, TVL and early DeFi adoption metrics after launch, since these will drive short-term price action and longer-term utility. While increased utility and tighter circulating supply can be bullish, they do not guarantee price appreciation; countervailing risks include custody and bridge centralization, redemption friction, and shifts in demand.

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has formally asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise rules so cryptocurrencies can be evaluated and offered as optional alternative investments within 401(k) retirement plans. Lawmakers cited a prior executive order directing regulators to expand access to alternative assets, and urged the SEC to treat certain digital assets similarly to other alternatives, update the accredited investor definition, and coordinate with the Department of Labor on fiduciary safeguards, disclosure and custody standards. Supporters argue crypto inclusion would broaden investor choice, attract younger savers and improve portfolio diversification. Critics warn of extreme volatility, custody/security challenges, regulatory uncertainty and heightened fiduciary risk for plan sponsors. SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ “Project Crypto” indicates a softer stance—seeking clearer token classifications and suggesting many traded tokens may not be securities—but formal rule changes or guidance could still take months or years. If adopted, crypto options would be voluntary for plan providers and require participant opt-in; traders should view this as a structural development that could expand long-term demand but also raise short-term volatility and regulatory news risk.