Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced consecutive daily net outflows over the period covered by the two reports, with a notable shift in which funds were affected. Earlier reporting showed $158.41m of net withdrawals driven largely by BlackRock’s IBIT redeeming $173.74m, while Fidelity’s FBTC was the sole fund drawing $15.33m. A later update recorded $142.09m of net outflows on Dec. 22, distributed across major issuers: Bitwise (BITB) $34.96m, VanEck (HODL) $33.64m, Grayscale GBTC $28.99m, Grayscale Mini BTC $25.40m, and Ark Invest (ARKB) $21.36m — with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) the only fund to post a net inflow of $6.1m. Market participants attribute the withdrawals to profit-taking after recent Bitcoin gains, year-end institutional rebalancing, and short-term volatility rather than structural problems with ETF products. The divergent flows — broad outflows from several issuers alongside persistent or returning inflows into BlackRock — suggest a flight-to-quality toward the largest, most trusted asset manager rather than a uniform retreat from regulated Bitcoin exposure. For traders: monitor daily ETF flow trackers (e.g., Farside Investors, Trader T), watch Bitcoin price sensitivity to ETF selling pressure, track IBIT flows as a gauge of institutional consolidation, consider ETF diversification and dollar-cost averaging, and view these daily moves as short-term liquidity dynamics rather than definitive long-term demand signals. Primary keywords: spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin ETF flows, BlackRock IBIT. Secondary keywords: ETF outflows, GBTC conversion, year-end rebalancing, profit-taking.

Terraform Labs’ court-appointed bankruptcy administrator has filed a $4 billion lawsuit against proprietary trading firm Jump Trading, alleging coordinated trading, market manipulation and self-dealing tied to the May 2022 TerraUSD (UST) depeg and the subsequent LUNA collapse. The complaint, brought to recover value for creditors and token holders, seeks disgorgement of profits and damages related to trades around the stablecoin’s depeg and the LUNA meltdown. The filing reiterates earlier scrutiny of trading firms’ roles during the Terra crisis and follows ongoing legal actions connected to Terraform’s collapse, including the sentencing of co‑founder Do Kwon. Key specifics — such as the exact trades, timing, alleged mechanisms and Jump’s detailed response — were not disclosed in the available excerpts. For traders, the suit signals prolonged legal uncertainty for legacy Terra assets (notably LUNC) and could prompt renewed regulatory and market scrutiny of centralized trading desks’ conduct during stress events. Monitor LUNC liquidity and on‑chain/OTC flow, possible legal developments, and any exchange delistings or compliance actions that could intensify volatility or affect recovery prospects for creditors.

Solana Foundation partnered with Project Eleven, a Google‑led research initiative, to assess and prototype post‑quantum (quantum‑resistant) digital signatures for the Solana blockchain. Project Eleven completed a comprehensive quantum‑threat assessment covering validator identities, wallets and “harvest now, decrypt later” risks, then deployed a production‑like Solana testnet running post‑quantum signatures. The prototype showed the scheme is viable with current technology and reported no major performance trade‑offs despite higher computational demands. Solana’s VP of Technology, Matt Sorg, and Project Eleven CEO, Alex Pruden, framed the work as proactive preparation for future quantum threats. The announcement aligns with wider industry moves—Bitcoin developers are testing NIST post‑quantum standards and hybrid signatures, while the Ethereum community is prioritizing quantum defenses—though experts disagree on the immediacy of the risk. For traders: this signals Solana’s emphasis on long‑term cryptographic resilience without disrupting near‑term network performance, which may improve institutional confidence but is unlikely to create immediate price volatility.

The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued a No‑Action Letter (NAL) permitting the Depository Trust Company (DTC), a DTCC subsidiary, to run a tightly controlled tokenization pilot for custodial U.S. securities. The NAL waives certain procedural filing requirements under Exchange Act Section 19(b) for the pilot but does not change securities law or broadly authorize on‑chain issuance or trading. Under the pilot DTC will mint tokens that map to existing DTC‑custodied securities (an “ownership mapping”) and restrict transfers to DTC‑approved registered wallets. All token movements must be monitored off‑chain by DTC’s LedgerScan; tokens are segregated from core clearing systems and can be forcibly transferred or destroyed by DTC in defined scenarios. Eligible assets are limited to a pre‑approved list of highly liquid instruments (e.g., Russell 1000 constituents, major index ETFs, U.S. Treasuries) and only approved blockchains may be used. DTCC expects phased roll‑out beginning in H2 2026. Regulators and DTCC frame the NAL as a cautious, symbolic step to enable back‑office efficiency experiments and to preserve legal ownership and market structure while exploring blockchain benefits such as faster reconciliation and potential 24/7 access. The decision highlights two converging tokenization paths in the U.S.: institution‑led, custody‑centric pilots focused on settlement efficiency (DTCC/DTC) and platform/broker‑led retail token initiatives. For crypto traders: this narrows the scope of immediate market impact — the NAL signals growing regulatory openness but maintains strong controls that limit broad retail trading and systemic disruption in the near term.

The US Senate confirmed Mike Selig as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Travis Hill as chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in a 53–43 vote. Selig, a lawyer with prior experience at the CFTC and SEC, pledged to prioritize cryptocurrency regulation; his term runs through April 2029 and he will initially serve as the CFTC’s sole commissioner. Hill, elevated from acting chair to a confirmed term through 2030, has criticized the debanking of crypto firms and signaled support for clearer bank access for digital-asset businesses. Industry groups including Coinbase and the Digital Chamber welcomed both confirmations as likely to improve regulatory clarity and fairness. Concurrently, the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) is scheduled for a Senate markup in January to define which digital assets are securities versus commodities and to clarify the roles of the SEC, CFTC and other regulators. The bill’s progress slowed late in 2025 due to a government shutdown, but sponsors expect renewed debate and possible amendments at the markup. For traders: watch for increased regulatory clarity if the CFTC gains formal spot-market authority and if the FDIC issues clearer banking guidance for crypto firms. Expect short-term volatility around rule proposals, confirmations and the CLARITY Act markup; longer-term, pro-crypto regulatory leadership could support broader institutional participation, product innovation and reduced compliance risk. Key SEO keywords: CFTC chair, FDIC chair, CLARITY Act, crypto regulation, digital asset oversight.

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a combined $457.3 million in net inflows on Wednesday, the largest single-day intake since Nov. 11. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) led with about $391.5 million and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) added roughly $111.2 million (Farside data). The inflows coincided with heightened intraday volatility as Bitcoin rallied toward $90,000 before retreating to around $87,000. BTC dominance climbed to about 60%, its highest in roughly a month, while market-implied volatility (BVIV) sits just below 50, indicating relatively muted options pricing despite price swings. Macroeconomic events — a likely 25 bps BOE cut, the ECB holding rates steady, and upcoming U.S. and Japan inflation prints — could amplify short-term volatility. For traders: sustained ETF demand signals continued institutional allocation into spot BTC, supporting price resilience and liquidity, but price remains capped near a dense supply zone and demand looks fragile. Watch whether sellers are absorbed above ~$95k or fresh buying appears; absent that, BTC may remain range-bound with nearer-term structural support around ~$81k. Manage position size and risk given elevated intraday moves and imminent macro releases.

Coinglass-derived cluster data reported by COINOTAG (Dec 17) highlights concentrated Ethereum (ETH) liquidation risk on major centralized exchanges. Two critical thresholds emerge: if ETH falls below $2,800, roughly $1.022 billion of long positions could face liquidation; if ETH rises above $3,000, about $843 million of shorts could be liquidated. COINOTAG stresses the visualization shows relative liquidation cluster sizes and potential cascade effects, not exact contract counts or precise dollar-for-dollar outcomes. The data implies dense liquidity around $2,800–$3,000 and the potential for rapid, leveraged-driven price moves if those levels are breached. Traders should monitor ETH order-book depth, open interest, funding rates and CEX liquidity near these thresholds, and adjust risk management—reduce leverage, tighten position sizing, set stops or use hedges—to guard against abrupt directional moves. Primary keywords: Ethereum, liquidation, Coinglass, CEX, leverage risk.

Visa has launched USDC stablecoin settlement for U.S. issuer and acquirer banks, beginning pilot settlements on the Solana blockchain with Cross River Bank and Lead Bank. The initiative lets eligible banks settle VisaNet obligations in Circle’s USDC, offering faster and more predictable liquidity, seven‑day availability (including weekends and holidays), and continuous treasury flows while leaving cardholder experiences unchanged. Visa reported its international stablecoin settlement program had annualized over $3.5 billion as of Nov. 30 and plans to expand U.S. access to more banks through 2026. Visa is also partnering with Circle on the Arc public testnet as a design partner and intends to run a validator node on Arc when it goes live. Additionally, Visa Consulting & Analytics launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to help banks, retailers and fintechs design and integrate stablecoin-based payments and treasury services. Key executives quoted include Rubail Birwadker (Visa Global Head of Growth Products), Cuy Sheffield (Visa Head of Crypto) and Cross River CEO Gilles Gade. Primary keywords: Visa stablecoin settlement, USDC, Solana, Cross River, Lead Bank, Circle, Arc blockchain.

BitMine acquired roughly $140 million of Ethereum (ETH) during a market dip, with blockchain trackers noting a 48,049 ETH transfer from a FalconX hot wallet that market observers attribute to the firm. The company’s disclosure earlier showed holdings of 3,967,210 ETH at an average cost of $3,074 per ETH; after the latest purchase its stake is about 3.97–4.00 million ETH, valued near $11.6 billion at current prices. BitMine substantially accelerated buys in 2025 — adding 240,711 ETH in early December alone — and says it aims to control roughly 5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply. The buy coincided with ETH sliding below $3,000 (trading near $2,926) and a roughly 12% weekly decline. Tom Lee, BitMine’s chairman, pointed to regulatory progress in Washington and rising Wall Street interest as positive drivers for crypto. BitMine’s NYSE American-listed stock (BMNR) rose modestly on the day, closing at $31.39, up 1.42% and roughly 551% over six months. For traders: the purchase signals continued institutional accumulation of ETH, increases BitMine’s influence over circulating supply, and may provide a supportive bid under price during dips — but consider concentration risks, execution/confirmation uncertainty for the specific transfer, and broader macro/regulatory factors when sizing positions. Disclaimer: not investment advice.

Bitcoin is attempting to reclaim and hold the $88,000 level as a series of near-term macroeconomic and political events loom that traders see as risk drivers. Key catalysts include a high-profile speech by former President Donald Trump linked to potential Fed leadership discussion, an MSCI reclassification affecting crypto reserve firms, upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Japan’s imminent interest-rate decision and fresh U.S. inflation data. Analysts cited conflicting short-term technical views: one expects a rebound followed by a decline toward $76,000, while others warn that clearing short liquidity around $95,000 could trigger an $8,000 short squeeze (pushing spot above $98,000) or smaller clears near $83,000 that spur upward moves. Overall, the consensus is for elevated volatility and downside pressure ahead of U.S. inflation and Japan’s rate decision, which dampens altcoin appetite but leaves asymmetric upside risk if large liquidity bands are cleared. Traders should prepare for heightened intraday swings, potential short squeezes if liquidity nodes are breached, and increased tail-risk from macro surprises. This is not investment advice.

Two former Theta Labs employees filed a fraud lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging CEO Mitchell Liu orchestrated speculative actions to inflate the value and visibility of Theta-related products, including reported high-profile partnerships with Hollywood studios and celebrities such as Katy Perry. Plaintiffs say the conduct could draw more witnesses and increase legal pressure on Theta Labs, escalating reputation and regulatory risk. The filing coincided with Theta announcing its EdgeCloud infrastructure upgrade featuring NVIDIA H200 GPUs (141 GB VRAM) offered at H100 pricing and claiming 2.5x faster AI training and inference. Theta said the upgrade is supported by enterprise validators, including Sony Europe. Market reaction has been muted so far: THETA traded near $0.317 on the day, well below 2024–2025 peaks around $1.03 and far under prior highs near $3. Analysts warn that intensified legal fallout or sustained selling could push THETA toward longer-term supports near $0.118 (levels last seen in 2020). Traders should monitor court filings, on-chain flows, exchange order books and news momentum, while watching for short-term volatility that could produce trading opportunities or deeper drawdowns.

Exor N.V., the Agnelli family’s holding company and majority owner of Juventus, has rejected a proposed acquisition offer from Tether — issuer of the USDT stablecoin — valued at about €1.1 billion (roughly $1.2–1.3 billion in initial reports). Exor said the bid was insufficient or strategically misaligned and confirmed it will not sell control of the club. Tether acquired an 11.5% stake in Juventus earlier in 2025 and holds a board seat; the approach was publicly associated with Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, who has positioned himself as a long-time Juventus supporter. Following Exor’s rejection, Juventus’ Milan-listed stock climbed sharply as investors reacted positively to the confirmation that Exor will retain control. For crypto traders, the episode highlights growing interest from crypto capital in real-world assets, potential reputational and regulatory scrutiny for crypto firms pursuing high-profile acquisitions, and how takeover rumours or rejections can quickly move equities linked to major consumer brands. Primary keywords: Tether, Juventus, Exor, USDT, takeover bid. Secondary/semantic keywords: stablecoin issuer, shareholder stake, board seat, acquisition premium, stock surge.

This paid roundup evaluates five leading crypto casinos for December 2025 — JACKBIT, BetWhale, BitStarz, Bets.io and 7Bit Casino — focusing on security, supported tokens, payout speed and current welcome offers. All five hold gambling licenses (mainly Curaçao or Anjouan), support major cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH and USDT, and advertise fast withdrawals (instant to around 10 minutes). Key promotions: JACKBIT — 100 free spins and 30% rakeback with strict no‑KYC emphasis; BetWhale — up to 250% match (max $2,500) and 15‑minute withdrawals targeting US players; BitStarz — multi‑deposit welcome package equivalent to up to 5 BTC and 180 free spins, plus provably fair games; Bets.io — 225% match, 225 spins and free crypto withdrawals; 7Bit — up to 325% (up to 5.25 BTC) plus 250 spins and VIP perks. Evaluation criteria include licensing, community feedback, game fairness (RNG/provably fair), banking and support, and encryption standards (SSL/TLS, AES‑256, SHA‑256). The article lists popular deposit coins (BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT/USDC, SOL, DOGE, XRP, BNB, DASH) and game types (slots, table/live dealer, crash/plinko/dice, provably fair titles). User advice covers choosing higher RTP games (>96%), checking wagering requirements, using demo mode, setting loss/wager limits and practicing responsible play. The piece is paid content and carries a disclaimer that it is not financial advice.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued Interpretive Letter 1188 (Dec. 9, 2025) clarifying that national banks may act as riskless principals in crypto-asset transactions — buying crypto from one customer and simultaneously selling to another without warehousing inventory on their balance sheets. The guidance reiterates existing statutory authority and requires banks to immediately offset exposure and maintain robust legal, AML/BSA, trading‑book, and third‑party risk controls. It follows other 2025 regulatory changes (Fed and FDIC rescinding pre-clearance regimes and prior OCC permissions for small token holdings for gas, custody via qualified third parties, and participation in tokenized settlement rails), together widening regulated distribution channels. For traders, key implications include potential increases in bank-mediated on-chain liquidity, narrower spot spreads, faster settlement via tokenized rails, and expanded institutional access to spot flows — all of which may reduce trading friction and influence short-term liquidity and volatility while supporting longer-term institutional adoption. The letter is nonbinding; banks must confirm charter authority and implement strong compliance and risk-management frameworks before scaling services.

The UK has passed the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025, receiving Royal Assent on 2 December 2025 and coming into force immediately. The law establishes cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin and stablecoins) as a distinct third category of personal property under English law for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It does not make crypto legal tender and does not change tax, exchange licensing or AML rules — regulators and tax authorities retain those powers. The act codifies prior common-law rulings that treated crypto as property and provides a clearer statutory basis for courts to grant remedies such as freezing orders, seizures and restitution in cases of theft, fraud, platform failure, bankruptcy or estate division. For traders, the law improves legal clarity on custody, recovery and creditor claims, which may reduce legal uncertainty around asset ownership and support tokenisation use-cases. However, it may also increase creditor and insolvency access to on-chain and custodial holdings. Overall, the Act strengthens property rights for digital assets and sets a firmer legal foundation for future regulatory and commercial developments in the UK crypto market.

Bank of America (BofA) has updated its wealth-management guidance to allow eligible clients at Merrill, Merrill Edge and Bank of America Private Bank a recommended 1%–4% allocation to Bitcoin (BTC). The 1% floor targets conservative investors; the 4% upper bound is for those comfortable with higher volatility. From January 2026, BofA strategists will begin formal coverage of four spot Bitcoin ETFs — BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) — enabling more than 15,000 advisers to proactively recommend regulated crypto products rather than only responding to client requests. Bank of America frames the change as focused on regulated vehicles, measured allocation and risk awareness, citing rising demand from high-net-worth clients. The move aligns BofA with peers such as Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and Fidelity that have opened ETF access or suggested modest BTC allocations. Traders should note this is an institutional adoption signal that increases potential long-term demand for Bitcoin but does not remove its high volatility and downside risk.

Kalshi has launched CFTC‑regulated tokenized prediction markets on the Solana blockchain, combining regulated event betting (elections, economic indicators, sports) with DeFi efficiency. The integration leverages Solana’s high throughput and sub‑cent fees to offer fast, transparent on‑chain settlement using smart contracts. Kalshi is offering more than $2 million in builder grants to attract developers and liquidity providers and has partnered with liquidity and routing platforms such as Jupiter Exchange and DFlow to improve accessibility via atomic swaps and automated market making. The rollout aims to boost trading volumes and market depth; Kalshi is also evaluating expansion to EVM‑compatible chains to unify cross‑chain liquidity. Traders should watch liquidity metrics, on‑chain volume, spreads and fee levels; regulatory oversight (CFTC) reduces certain compliance risks but keeps regulatory scrutiny relevant. Expected near‑term effects include volatile volume spikes and potential 25–40% early volume uplift from improved access and incentives; longer‑term outcomes depend on sustained liquidity provision, developer adoption, and any regulatory developments. Keywords: Kalshi, Solana, tokenized predictions, CFTC, builder grants, liquidity, Jupiter Exchange, DFlow.

Binance co-founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has called for industry-wide adoption of shared blacklists and wallet-level defenses after a December incident in which a single user lost nearly $50 million in USDT to an "address poisoning" phishing attack. CZ urged wallet vendors, exchanges and other platforms to implement automated on-chain checks that detect and block known malicious receiving addresses, share real-time blacklists, filter out tiny "dust" or poison transactions from UI copy-paste flows, and warn or block transfers to suspicious addresses. Binance already uses internal address-flagging and visual-similarity warnings and its security team’s algorithm has identified roughly 15 million poisoning addresses. Independent trackers reported thousands of phishing victims and millions in losses (Scam Sniffer recorded 6,344 victims in November with over $7.7 million lost), and analysts expect fallout to rise after the high-profile theft. Experts say blockchain transparency and wallet UI filters make blacklist systems technically feasible, but CZ argued isolated protections are insufficient and called for coordinated security standards and intelligence sharing to limit user error-driven losses, restore trust, and reduce regulatory scrutiny.

The Bank of Russia published a draft crypto framework on 24 December 2025 that formalises a controlled legal route for cryptocurrency trading and tokenisation. Key measures: non‑qualified (retail) investors may buy up to 300,000 RUB (~USD 3,800) per year on licensed platforms after passing a mandatory risk/knowledge test; qualified investors can trade without volume limits after a knowledge assessment. Privacy coins will be banned to ensure traceability. Residents may transfer crypto bought abroad into domestic compliant platforms subject to tax reporting. Existing licensed financial institutions (exchanges, brokers, asset managers, major banks and the national payment system) can provide trading, custody and settlement, creating a closed-loop domestic ecosystem; specialised crypto depositories will face new rules. The proposal expands the Digital Financial Asset (DFA) framework to support tokenised fundraising and potentially state-backed tokens aimed at cross‑border use to mitigate sanctions. The government intends to finalise rules by 1 July 2026 with compliance required by 1 July 2027; non‑compliance could trigger severe penalties, including criminal liability for brokers. Motivations include stemming capital flight, securing tax revenue, and building sanctioned-resistant payment rails. For traders: expect greater onshore liquidity and faster institutional product development, clearer custody and settlement paths, and more transparent on‑chain flows concentrated among qualified investors and institutions; retail secondary flows will be constrained by testing and the 300,000 RUB cap. Geopolitical and sanction risks remain material and could affect cross‑border volumes, listings (privacy coins delisted) and access to certain assets.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) token burn activity has collapsed: recent data show daily burns plunging from millions/billions to under one million SHIB, with the largest single burn around ~699,000 SHIB. A prior spike in percentage terms reflected a low baseline rather than sustained deflationary pressure. Ecosystem mechanisms — ShibaSwap, Shiba Eternity, the burn portal and Shibarium’s fee-burn model — have removed only modest amounts; total circulating supply remains extremely large at about 589.24 trillion SHIB, despite roughly 410.75 trillion previously sent to dead wallets (notably Vitalik Buterin’s donation). Weekly and multi-day burn momentum has weakened sharply, undermining a key scarcity narrative that many traders viewed as a medium-to-long-term bullish driver. Price action has been weak recently (SHIB trading near multi-week lows), and traders should treat headline burn-percentage gains with caution — absolute burn volumes are small and unlikely to produce immediate bullish price shocks. Key trader takeaways: monitor exchange flows, Shibarium and portal burn updates, and support levels (near the ~$0.000007 area); the dwindling burn momentum reduces a potential supply-side catalyst, suggesting lower probability of sustained bullish moves unless burn volumes or demand materially increase.

Five US-listed spot XRP ETFs from Canary, 21Shares, Grayscale, Bitwise and Franklin Templeton have recorded uninterrupted daily net inflows since their November 13 launch, amassing about $1.13 billion in cumulative inflows and roughly $1.125 billion in combined assets as of Dec 23. Franklin Templeton’s fund is a major holder (≈101.55M XRP, ~ $193m). The inflow streak reached 33 trading days and included a $43.9m single-day intake on Dec 22 — the largest daily inflow in the period. Despite steady institutional accumulation, XRP’s spot price has lagged, trading around $1.84 (≈1.7% 24h decline; ~10.6% month-to-date drop). Social metrics (Santiment) show unusually high negative sentiment toward XRP; historically, extreme retail FUD has sometimes preceded sharp rallies. Analysts note a rotation of capital from some BTC/ETH ETFs into XRP ETFs, suggesting shifting institutional interest, but also warn of weak short-term price action and technical risks (e.g., double-top patterns). For traders: persistent institutional inflows supply a bullish underpinning for XRP’s longer-term outlook, but the current negative price momentum and elevated retail pessimism increase short-term volatility and downside risk. Watch ETF flow data, on-chain transfers into/out of custody, short interest, and key technical levels for trade signals.

This combined analysis projects Bitcoin (BTC) price scenarios for 2026–2030, centred on halving-driven supply shocks, institutional ETF inflows and macro/regulatory conditions. Near-term (post‑2024 halving) consensus scenarios point to a 2025–2026 range of roughly $150,000–$250,000 if ETF inflows, corporate treasury adoption and favourable regulation continue. The 2028 halving (block reward → ~1.5625 BTC) is expected to create another supply shock that could support further appreciation. Longer-term estimates diverge widely: conservative models suggest $250,000–$500,000+ by the late 2020s under steady adoption, while more optimistic or hyperbitcoinization cases place BTC between $500,000 and $1,000,000+ by 2029–2030. Key bullish drivers to monitor are ETF and institutional inflows, corporate/sovereign treasury adoption, Layer‑2 scaling (e.g., Lightning), and persistent macro inflation or looser monetary policy. Primary risks include restrictive regulation or ETF denials, exchange or liquidity failures, miner economics stress after reward cuts, competition from alternative chains, and low‑probability technological threats (eg, future quantum developments). For traders the practical guidance is: allocate sizeably but conservatively (many advisers suggest 1–5% of portfolio for conservative investors), use dollar‑cost averaging for long exposure, prioritise custody/security, and maintain strict risk management and stop rules. Combine quantitative models (eg, Stock‑to‑Flow) with fundamentals; models have limits and should not be used alone. This outlook is informational, not investment advice.

Upexi filed a U.S. shelf registration to raise up to $1 billion via common or preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units, with proceeds for general corporate purposes. The filing signals the company may resume expanding its Solana (SOL) treasury after more than five months without purchases. CoinGecko data shows Upexi holds about 2.1 million SOL (~$262.3m), making it the fourth-largest corporate Solana holder; the position peaked near $525m in mid‑September and now shows an unrealized loss of roughly 19%. The announcement prompted a 7.54% intraday drop in Upexi shares (closed $1.84) with a modest after-hours recovery to $1.92. Market context: Solana’s price is down about 57.5% from its January 19, 2025 all‑time high to ~$123.75. For traders, the shelf filing raises two main vectors of impact — the potential for renewed SOL accumulation or staking by Upexi (which could be supportive for SOL demand) and the risk of share dilution or renewed selling pressure if securities are issued into the market. Key watch points: details and timing of any offering, whether proceeds are earmarked for SOL purchases or staking, changes in Upexi’s SOL accumulation, and SOL price action. Primary keywords: Upexi, Solana, SOL, shelf registration, treasury. Secondary keywords: SEC filing, staking, corporate crypto treasury, share dilution.

Whale Alert reported a 250 million USDC mint at the USDC treasury, adding $250M of fresh stablecoin liquidity to markets. USDC mints occur when dollars are deposited with Circle and equivalent USDC are issued. Large issuances often signal institutional activity — preparing capital for exchange trades, market-making, corporate treasury moves, or DeFi deployment. Traders should monitor on-chain flows after the mint: transfers to exchanges can presage buy pressure on BTC, ETH or major alt pairs, while movements into DeFi pools or lending protocols suggest yield-seeking or collateral use. Given recent stablecoin supply contraction and rising institutional interest, this mint ranks among the quarter’s larger events. Actionable steps: watch Whale Alert and Etherscan for follow-up transfers; track exchange inflows and order books on major pairs; monitor DeFi stablecoin pools, lending platforms, and large wallet activity. While the mint itself maintains the USDC peg and is not a direct price driver, it is a liquidity signal that is typically neutral-to-bullish if funds flow to exchanges and are executed as buys. Combine this on-chain signal with technical analysis and market sentiment before trading.

US spot Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds registered a net inflow of $84.59 million on December 22, reversing a seven-day streak of outflows. Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE) led the inflow with $53.7 million, and Grayscale’s Mini ETH added $30.89 million; other spot ETH ETFs showed no net activity that day. This single-day reversal signals concentrated demand for Grayscale structures and could provide short-term buy-side support for ETH, though it is not yet a confirmed trend. Earlier in the month (Dec. 9), spot ETH ETFs collectively recorded $175.27 million of net inflows, led by Fidelity (FETH, $51.47M), Grayscale’s Mini ETH ($45.19M) and BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA, $32.93M). Analysts attribute these inflows to renewed institutional interest, easier access via regulated products, and optimism around Ethereum’s roadmap and DeFi adoption. Traders should watch subsequent daily ETF flows, Grayscale activity, Bitcoin moves and macro developments to judge sustainability. Key SEO terms: ETH ETF, spot Ethereum ETF, Grayscale ETHE, ETF flows, institutional adoption.

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

A large USDT holder lost about $50 million after an address-poisoning scam. The attacker generated a visually similar wallet, sent a tiny “dust” transfer so that the lookalike address appeared in the victim’s recent-transaction history, and exploited address-copying UX. The victim first completed a 50 USDT test transfer to the correct address, then copied the poisoned address from history and sent 49,999,950 USDT to the attacker. On-chain analysts report the thief quickly swapped the stolen USDT into ETH, distributed funds across multiple wallets and began routing amounts through the mixer Tornado Cash. The victim publicly demanded 98% return within 48 hours and threatened civil, criminal and international law-enforcement action. The case underlines persistent UX and address-verification risks (address similarity, history-based copying and dust attacks) and reinforces best practices for large transfers: confirm full addresses manually, use address whitelists/hardware wallets, small test transfers, and out-of-band verification. Market-relevant points: rapid conversion of large USDT balances into ETH and use of mixers can create short-term sell pressure on ETH and increases counterparty risk for large stablecoin movements; traders should watch associated wallet flows and DEX/OTC liquidity for potential price impact.

Bitcoin (BTC) surged past $89,000, trading around $89,009–89,024 on the BTC/USDT pair on Binance at the time of reporting. The rally is linked to rising institutional adoption and macroeconomic concerns—especially inflation—that bolster demand for Bitcoin as a scarce store of value. Breaching the psychological $89,000 level and technical resistance can attract retail FOMO, algorithmic breakout strategies and increased media attention, potentially pushing price toward higher resistance levels. Traders should monitor trading volume behind the move, support and resistance near the new price, on-chain signals (active addresses, exchange reserves), and the possibility of profit-taking that could trigger short-term pullbacks. The reports caution that volatility and corrections are common; recommended risk-management steps include dollar-cost averaging, secure custody, and independent research. This is not investment advice.

Bhutan announced a Bitcoin Development Pledge to allocate 10,000 BTC (about $1 billion) to support long-term development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a new special economic zone focused on sustainability, mindfulness and innovation. The pledge, revealed by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is described as a long‑term reserve commitment intended to back city growth rather than immediate liquidation. The government will evaluate reserve-management options — including collateralization, yield strategies, custodial preservation or other stewardship models — with an emphasis on prudence, transparency and capital preservation. Bhutan also signed a multi‑year memorandum with market maker Cumberland DRW to build digital-asset infrastructure, explore reserve management, pilot a national stablecoin and develop renewable-energy bitcoin mining inside the SEZ. GMC aims to attract regulated digital-asset firms by offering regulatory clarity, crypto payment options, financial connectivity and green-energy mining; Bhutan already mines Bitcoin with clean energy since 2017 and has launched a sovereign token (TER) backed by gold. Analysts note this is among the larger sovereign-level uses of BTC for development and flag governance, transparency and price-volatility risks — the BTC allocation could finance major infrastructure but requires tight oversight to avoid exposing public finances to crypto drawdowns. For traders, the announcement increases sovereign demand signalling and long-term BTC narrative support, but immediate market impact may be muted unless the reserve is liquidated or actively deployed for yield strategies that increase selling pressure.