Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Metaplanet Inc., a Japan-based public Bitcoin treasury company, has launched a sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program to trade on the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) market under the ticker MPJPY, replacing prior unsponsored OTC trading under MTPLF. Trading begins 19 December 2025. The ADRs use a 1:1 ratio (one American Depositary Share = one ordinary share), settle in U.S. dollars through standard U.S. securities infrastructure, and are intended to improve brokerage access, lower trading costs, and standardise custody and regulatory compliance for U.S. retail and institutional investors. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the depositary and MUFG Bank (Japan) is the custodian of underlying shares. Metaplanet registered 200 million American Depositary Shares (ADS) with Deutsche Bank as depositary; the program is not a capital raise and will not dilute existing shareholders. Separately, the company has outlined capital-raising options — two new preferred classes with adjustable or fixed dividends and a Bitcoin-linked conversion feature — aimed at funding further Bitcoin accumulation. Metaplanet reports one of the largest public Bitcoin treasuries (roughly $2.7bn in Bitcoin), and following the ADR announcement its domestic shares rose. For traders: the ADR simplifies USD settlement and brokerage access to Metaplanet equity exposure to Bitcoin, may modestly increase U.S. liquidity in the stock, and should reduce frictions for investors who require ADRs for regulatory or custody reasons; it does not directly change the firm’s Bitcoin holdings or outstanding common share count.

GeeFi (GEE) presale has accelerated after selling out Phases 1 and 2, raising roughly $1.3–1.4M from 25 million tokens. Phase 3 opened at $0.13 with about 600,000 tokens claimed; organizers and analysts expect Phase 3 to sell out within days to two weeks amid listing rumors on major exchanges. The current presale price ($0.13) implies a potential 325% return versus a confirmed listing price of $0.40; earlier Phase 1 buyers reportedly saw up to ~1,200% ROI. GeeFi promotes an ecosystem of utility products — a non‑custodial GeeFi Wallet (Android live, iOS pending), a multi‑chain DEX across 14+ networks, an upcoming crypto debit card, and staking plans offering up to 55% APR for a 12‑month lock. A 5% referral bonus is active. The articles note wider market context: a shift in trader interest away from Dogecoin (DOGE), which reportedly dropped ~60% in 2025 with reduced on‑chain activity and TVL, while DOGE futures and whale flows saw episodic spikes. Both pieces are sponsored press releases and not investment advice.

GeeFi (GEE) presale shows rapid uptake across phases with organizers reporting over $1.6M raised, roughly 3,000 holders and more than 26–30 million tokens sold. The project markets a non-custodial wallet, a planned DEX, Visa/Mastercard-backed crypto cards and a deflationary token burn model. GeeFi moved into Phase 3 with a presale price reported at $0.13 and a claimed confirmed exchange listing price of $0.40 — a figure the promotion frames as a 325% immediate return. The earlier article cited lower presale pricing (Phase 2 at $0.06) and listed an implied confirmed listing price of $0.40 and analyst targets up to $2–$3, producing headline ROIs ranging from ~667% to ~3,233% depending on which presale price is used. The newer piece emphasizes updated presale totals, a Phase 3 price of $0.13, and analyst price calls of up to $3 (quoted as ~2,210% ROI from $0.13). GeeFi offers staking through its wallet with advertised yields: flexible ~10% APR, 1-month 15% APR, 3-month 22% APR and 12-month 55% APR, plus a 5% referral bonus. The campaign highlights Phase 1 investor gains (claimed ~1,200% ROI) and predicts a quick sell-out of Phase 3, citing momentum and rumored centralized exchange listings as catalysts. Separately, the articles note Ripple (XRP) has rebounded (around $1.87 in the reporting) after institutional flows and a $300m South Korean JV; this is presented as context but contrasted with GeeFi’s promotional narrative. Both pieces are sponsored press releases and include promotional links and standard disclaimers that they are not financial advice. Primary keywords: GeeFi, GEE presale, token listing, staking APR, XRP recovery.

Brazil’s main exchange B3 plans to roll out a tokenization platform in 2026 that will let traditional and tokenized assets trade within a single venue. B3 will issue a real‑pegged stablecoin to handle payments and settlement for token trades, aiming to reduce reliance on legacy cash systems and make tokenized assets indistinguishable from conventional listings. The project begins with equities and seeks to improve liquidity and shorten settlement times by making tokenized securities fully fungible across traditional and token markets. B3 also intends to add new crypto derivatives: weekly options on BTC, ETH and SOL and event‑style/prediction contracts, all under review by Brazil’s securities regulator (CVM). Infrastructure support will include development kits and protocols for market participants. Key figure: Luiz Masagão, B3 VP of products and clients. Primary keywords: B3, tokenization, stablecoin, crypto derivatives. Expected trader implications: faster settlement, broader investor access, potential inflows of new liquidity, and greater market depth as tokenized assets integrate with the exchange.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Trading and Markets Division has issued guidance clarifying how broker-dealers can custody tokenized securities—including tokenized stocks and bonds—under existing investor-protection rules. The guidance treats tokenized securities as traditional securities for custody purposes and explains how firms relying on Rule 15c3-3 can satisfy the ‘‘possession or control’’ requirement by maintaining exclusive control of the private keys needed to transfer tokens. Brokers must prevent customers or third parties from transferring tokens without broker approval and implement operational, security and governance safeguards tailored to blockchain risks such as 51% attacks, hard forks, airdrops and chain splits. The Division said it will not challenge broker-dealers that consider themselves custodians of crypto securities if they meet specified standards, but it did not create a new rule—rather it interprets how existing rules apply to tokenized regulated assets. Commissioner Hester Peirce noted remaining market-structure and disclosure questions for trading tokenized securities on exchanges and ATSs. The clarification reduces legal uncertainty, favors brokered custody over self-custody, and is likely to accelerate regulated product rollouts (exchanges and platforms exploring tokenized stock trading). For traders: expect stricter custody and compliance controls, potential improvements in institutional liquidity and regulated access to tokenized stocks and bonds, but also operational risks and phased product rollouts that may limit near-term liquidity.

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.

Aggregate BTC perpetual futures data across major exchanges shows a near-even split: longs 50.57% vs shorts 49.43%. Exchange breakdowns differ slightly between reports but remain tight — Binance around 50.3% longs, Bybit ~50.7% longs, while OKX shows a short-side edge in one update (~50.7% shorts). The narrow margin signals low conviction and a cautious market equilibrium that can precede sharp moves once a clear direction emerges. Traders should treat the long/short ratio as a sentiment gauge rather than a standalone signal: crowded longs increase squeeze risk while dominant shorts can indicate capitulation. Actionable guidance: monitor exchange-level divergences, watch for a decisive breakout (a suggested threshold is ~52% long or short), combine the ratio with price action, volume and on-chain metrics, and avoid trading solely on the ratio. Keywords: BTC perpetual futures, long/short ratio, market sentiment, Binance, OKX, Bybit.

Securitize, a securities tokenization firm, plans to launch fully compliant on‑chain tokenized public stocks as early as Q1 2026. The tokens will represent legally recognized share ownership recorded directly on issuers’ cap tables, with Securitize acting as an SEC‑registered transfer agent to maintain legal ownership records and enforce KYC/AML and transfer whitelisting. Unlike existing tokenized stock offerings that rely on offshore SPVs or provide only price exposure, these tokens are intended to convey real equity and investor protections. Trading will use a DeFi‑style, swap‑like interface enabling 24/7 on‑chain trading and smart‑contract compatibility so tokenized shares can interact with DeFi services without sacrificing regulatory recognition. The company positions the product as an upgrade to slow legacy equity infrastructure (nominee holdings, multi‑day settlement), aiming to bridge regulated markets and on‑chain liquidity while preserving compliance. Primary keywords: tokenized stocks, securities tokenization, DeFi, transfer agent, KYC/AML. Secondary keywords: on‑chain trading, programmable equity, SPV, cap table. This development may accelerate demand for compliant real‑world asset (RWA) tokens and expand tradable on‑chain liquidity for regulated equities — a structural shift traders should monitor for arbitrage, liquidity, and custody implications.

Bitcoin (BTC) is attempting to reclaim the $88,000 level amid elevated volatility as traders brace for a cluster of macroeconomic and political catalysts this week. Key drivers include a U.S. inflation report (CPI), Japan’s interest-rate decision, and high-profile U.S. political developments that could influence Federal Reserve leadership and risk appetite. Recent price action showed a low-volume pullback from local highs, followed by a modest bounce from the Fibonacci “golden zone” within the broader uptrend. Forecasters remain split: one model projects a renewed decline toward roughly $76,000 after the recent rebound, while analyst Mark Cullen highlights potential short-liquidation zones — a “clean-up” near $83,000 and squeezes above ~ $95,000 that could propel BTC toward ~$98,000. Traders should monitor short-liquidity clusters (circa $83k and $95k), Fibonacci support bands, and incoming macro releases that may trigger sharp intraday moves or deepen pullbacks. Given the confluence of macro data and political headlines, expect continued elevated volatility; use defined risk management for intraday and swing trades. This is not investment advice.

Gemini has launched Gemini Predictions, a CFTC‑approved prediction market now available across all 50 US states via its iOS app and website through affiliate Gemini Titan. The platform lets users take positions on real‑world events — including elections, economic data releases and market trends — with near‑instant execution and transparent settlement. Gemini is waiving trading fees for a limited time to attract early liquidity. The rollout comes after recent CFTC approval and follows broader industry momentum from rivals such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which together reported nearly $10 billion in combined volumes recently. Major exchanges and projects, including Coinbase and Binance‑linked initiatives, are also developing or integrating prediction products. Gemini’s move is part of a wider product expansion aimed at boosting trading volumes and user engagement; the firm has been expanding offerings (including token rewards, staking and tokenized equity) and reportedly considering additional US futures, options and perpetual products. The launch takes place in a comparatively friendlier US regulatory environment after earlier enforcement actions that had limited some platforms’ US services.

Ripple Labs has begun a multichain pilot for its US dollar‑backed stablecoin RLUSD, testing native-token transfers across Ethereum Layer‑2 networks including Optimism, Base, Ink (Kraken’s L2) and Unichain. The programme uses Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard to move RLUSD as a native asset between chains rather than as wrapped tokens, aiming to preserve liquidity and keep a single canonical token contract controlled by Ripple. RLUSD was issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum in December 2024 and has grown to roughly $1.3bn market capitalisation with retail integrations such as Transak and wallets including Xaman. The pilot targets scalability and cross‑chain usability for DeFi, payments and institutional settlement, and signals Ripple’s multichain stablecoin strategy. Wider rollouts to more chains are planned for 2026 but remain subject to US regulatory approvals (NYDFS authorisation for issuance and a pending federal charter application). The move reduces fragmented liquidity and complexity for traders and DeFi users and may increase RLUSD utility across L2 markets if the pilot and approvals proceed.

SBI Holdings has signed an MoU with blockchain firm Startale Group to develop a fully regulated, yen‑denominated stablecoin aimed at institutional use and global settlement, targeting a Q2 2026 launch. Shinsei Trust & Banking (an SBI/Shinsei unit) will manage issuance and redemption, while licensed exchange SBI VC Trade will handle circulation and trading. Startale will supply blockchain infrastructure, building on its Soneium work and its existing institutional USD stablecoin (Startale USD/USDSC). SBI presents the project as accelerating integration between traditional finance and tokenised markets, including planned 24/7 tokenised equities settlement. The move follows a supportive Japanese regulatory stance toward bank‑led stablecoin projects and complements USD stablecoins that dominate the market. No ticker or full regulatory specifics have been announced. Keywords: yen stablecoin, regulated stablecoin, SBI, Startale, institutional settlement.

Hex Trust, working with LayerZero and RippleX-related teams, has launched wrapped XRP (wXRP) as a 1:1 tokenized representation of native XRP across Solana at launch and plans deployments on Ethereum, Optimism, HyperEVM and additional chains. wXRP uses LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token standard to enable secure cross‑chain transfers without traditional unregulated bridges; minting and redemption are controlled by authorized merchants and a burn mechanism keeps parity with on‑chain XRP. Hex Trust says it will seed wXRP with over $100 million in total value locked (TVL) at launch and emphasizes institutional custody features — segregated holdings, auditability, insurance and KYC/AML compliance — to meet regulatory expectations. The wrapped token aims to expand XRP’s DeFi utility (swaps, liquidity provisioning, collateral, yield) and interoperate with Ripple products such as RLUSD. XRP traded near $2.00 at publication. Key keywords: wXRP, wrapped XRP, Hex Trust, LayerZero, Solana, Ethereum, TVL, RLUSD, DeFi.

Itaú Asset Management, the asset-management arm of Brazil’s Itaú Unibanco, recommends a 1%–3% allocation to Bitcoin within diversified multi-asset mandates in its year‑end note. Led by Responsible Investment Officer Renato Eid, the firm’s Beta strategy presents Bitcoin as a complementary, low‑correlation asset useful as a hedge against Brazilian real depreciation and global market volatility. The guidance stresses institutional controls: governance, rigorous risk assessment, liquidity discipline and alignment with investment objectives and time horizon. Itaú frames Bitcoin allocations as strategic diversification rather than speculative exposure. This advice aligns with recent institutional guidance from global firms advocating modest crypto allocations (e.g., Bank of America, BlackRock), underscoring growing mainstream acceptance of limited Bitcoin positions in portfolios. Traders should note the emphasis on liquidity and risk limits — factors that may temper rapid flows into Bitcoin — while institutional endorsement could support steady demand over the medium term.

Xiaomi has partnered with Sei Labs to preload a Sei blockchain wallet and discovery app on new Xiaomi smartphones sold outside mainland China and the U.S. The wallet will allow sign-in via Google or Xiaomi IDs, include an MPC (multiparty-computation) custody option, and surface popular decentralized apps and peer-to-peer and merchant payments. Rollout begins in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. Sei Labs will also launch a $5 million fund to support mobile blockchain projects. The partners plan pilots to enable stablecoin payments (for example USDC) across Xiaomi’s retail and online channels, aiming for early pilots in Hong Kong and the EU by mid-2026 with broader expansion afterward. The move is positioned to reduce onboarding friction by embedding wallet access into phones, potentially driving mainstream adoption of Sei’s ecosystem and stablecoin usage. For traders, this may increase on-chain activity, boost demand for stablecoins and raise retail exposure to Sei’s layer-1 network, while keeping regulatory and execution risks in focus.

21Shares has won CBOE BZX approval to list a spot XRP ETF (ticker TOXR), becoming the fifth U.S. spot XRP fund. The ETF provides regulated, brokerage-accessible exposure to XRP and removes the need for direct custody. 21Shares charges a competitive 0.3% annual sponsor fee (calculated daily and paid weekly in XRP) and references the CME CF XRP–USD Reference Rate (New York Variant) for pricing. The fund emphasises a multi-custodian security model and institutional-grade compliance to attract institutional investors. Although the S-1 still carries a routine delaying amendment pending final SEC administrative steps, the CBOE listing and repeated S-1 updates indicate the remaining process is largely procedural. Market reaction has been muted so far; XRP price action showed short-term weakness near $2.01 in one report. For traders, the approval strengthens XRP’s institutional legitimacy and could lift demand and liquidity if inflows materialise, but short-term momentum remains fragile. Key trading takeaways: monitor ETF inflows, fee competition among issuers, and technical support/resistance levels; expect increased liquidity over time but potential near-term volatility.

Kalshi obtained a federal temporary restraining order blocking Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection from enforcing state gambling rules against its event-derivatives markets while a court considers Kalshi’s motion for preliminary relief. U.S. District Judge Vernon Oliver ordered Connecticut to pause enforcement; state briefs are due 9 January 2026 with oral argument expected mid-February. Kalshi argues its 2020 CFTC Designated Contract Market (DCM) status preempts state gambling law. Separately, Gemini won CFTC approval to operate as a DCM for its new prediction-market product, Gemini Titan, allowing simple yes/no event contracts and laying groundwork for crypto futures and options. Market signals noted in reporting include a sharp reported rise in Kalshi pre-IPO share estimates and a large reported drop in Gemini’s GEMI token; Polymarket continues to pursue institutional integration backed by ICE. Together these developments create a federal–state regulatory showdown that will determine platform availability, product listings and competitive positioning among Kalshi, Gemini and Polymarket — all key for traders deciding market access, liquidity expectations and legal tail risk for event-contract trading.

Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) has launched TER, a sovereign gold-backed digital token issued on the Solana blockchain. TER is 1:1 backed by physical gold held in Bhutan’s reserves and will be custodied and distributed through state-regulated DK Bank. Matrixdock is the tokenization technology partner. GMC frames TER as an inflation hedge and part of Bhutan’s wider blockchain strategy, which includes hydro-powered Bitcoin mining since 2019 and an on‑reserve digital asset allocation reportedly holding BTC, ETH and BNB. Initial tokens will be held in bank custody; exact public rollout dates and secondary-market listing plans have not been disclosed. The token aims to simplify gold custody, enable faster cross-border gold transfers and broaden investor access to gold via a regulated on‑ramp. Key points for traders: TER is a gold-backed RWA token on Solana (SOL); custodian is DK Bank; tokenization partner is Matrixdock; timing and exchange listings remain unclear. Primary keywords: sovereign gold-backed token, TER, Solana, RWA tokenization, DK Bank.

Binance has secured full operational approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and its Financial Services Regulatory Authority, enabling the exchange to offer trading, clearing, custody and brokerage/OTC services through three licensed ADGM entities from January 2026. The structure consolidates Nest Exchange Services (trading), Nest Clearing and Custody (settlement and safekeeping) and Nest Trading (brokerage/OTC) under a single supervisory framework. The approval marks a strategic shift from Cayman Islands registration toward a stronger regulatory base in the UAE and supports Binance’s wider Middle East expansion under CEO Richard Teng and co-founder Yi He. Market data cited around the announcement shows BNB trading near $886 with a modest 24-hour decline (~1.25%) but a ~5% weekly gain. Technical indicators referenced include a neutral RSI and MACD slightly below its signal line; open interest in perpetuals was reported between $789M–$826M and funding rates were slightly positive (~0.0042), suggesting cautious bullish positioning among derivatives traders. For traders, the ADGM licence reduces jurisdictional and regulatory risk for Binance’s regional operations, may improve institutional access and custody confidence, and could encourage steadier inflows to BNB and Binance services. However, significant price moves will still depend on macro factors, product launches and liquidity dynamics, so the immediate price impact may be moderate while institutional adoption could support longer-term upside.

South Korean regulators are drafting legislation to impose a no-fault liability regime on cryptocurrency exchanges, requiring full reimbursement to users for losses from hacks or system failures unless the user is grossly negligent. The Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service want to extend protections similar to those for banks and electronic payment firms by amending the Electronic Financial Transactions Act to explicitly cover virtual asset service providers. Regulators cite 20 IT incidents at five major exchanges between 2023 and September 2025—affecting over 900 users—with a notable November 27 incident that saw Solana-based assets moved off-platform in under an hour. Proposed measures include stronger IT-security standards, regular audits, faster breach reporting, mandatory travel-rule data sharing, and fines (up to 3% of annual revenue). Legal experts say the no-fault model would be among the world’s strictest crypto consumer-protection frameworks. For traders, the proposal raises regulatory and operational costs for Korean centralized exchanges—potentially changing listing, custody and fee structures, and prompting higher insurance/reserve requirements—while improving custodial protections and reducing counterparty risk. Expect possible short-term volatility in affected exchange tokens and Korean trading pairs when enforcement steps or further incident reports are announced. The legislative timetable remains unspecified.

Western Union announced plans to issue its own stablecoin (USDPT) and launch a targeted “stable card” to protect remittance recipients in high‑inflation markets. The company says a proprietary stablecoin enables immediate, predictable settlement and reduces the cash liquidity Western Union must hold for legacy settlements. USDPT will be built on the Solana blockchain and distributed through partner exchanges; Western Union plans a phased rollout with a Digital Asset Network (DAN) to provide on‑ and off‑ramps via wallets and agent points. The DAN — developed with partners including Anchorage Digital Bank — is due to go live in H1 2025/H1 2026 (sources differ between announcements), with USDPT launch targeted for H1 2026. The “stable card” will function like a prepaid card that stores value in stablecoin to preserve purchasing power in corridors such as Argentina, which the firm cited for extreme inflation. Western Union prefers issuing its own stablecoin to retain control over economics, compliance and distribution rather than rely on existing stablecoins. Market context: total crypto market cap roughly $3.0T, stablecoins about $300B (≈10%). Key trader implications: faster settlement and lower liquidity drag for Western Union could increase fiat‑to‑stablecoin flow in remittance corridors, raise demand for Solana infrastructure (SOL), and spotlight regulatory and distribution risks around a large corporate‑issued stablecoin.

Kalshi has signed a multi‑year exclusive partnership to provide real‑time prediction‑market probabilities to CNBC across TV, digital and subscription platforms beginning in 2026. CNBC will feature Kalshi‑branded on‑screen tickers and integrate market‑implied odds into programs such as Squawk Box and Fast Money for events including Federal Reserve moves, elections and major economic releases. Kalshi will host a CNBC‑branded page on its trading platform with markets curated by CNBC so viewers can trade questions highlighted in coverage. The deal follows a recent similar newsroom partnership Kalshi announced with CNN and expands the mainstream visibility of prediction markets. As a CFTC‑regulated exchange offering event‑based binary contracts, Kalshi’s integration into CNBC aims to deliver faster dissemination of market‑implied probabilities, which may increase user engagement, trading volume and short‑term volatility around covered event windows. Primary keywords: Kalshi, prediction markets, CNBC, real‑time probabilities, market‑implied odds. Secondary keywords: prediction market data, Fed probabilities, election markets, financial media integration, trading platform.

Coinbase’s Layer‑2 network Base has launched an open‑source mainnet bridge connecting Base and Solana, secured by Chainlink’s Cross‑Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP). The bridge enables bidirectional transfers of SOL and Solana‑based tokens into and out of Base, allowing users to deposit SOL into Base apps and trade or interact with Solana assets inside Base‑native interfaces without switching wallets or using third‑party bridges. Initial integrations include Zora, Aerodrome, Flaunch, Virtuals and Relay. Base published developer tools and documentation to simplify adding Solana support. By linking Solana’s high throughput and liquidity (Solana TVL > $9B) with Base’s Ethereum compatibility and significant TVS (Base ~$12.98B per L2Beat / earlier reports cited ~$4.5B TVL), the bridge aims to increase cross‑chain liquidity and usability while reducing risks from mismatched network transfers. Coinbase and Chainlink emphasise security and usability. For traders, the bridge could expand arbitrage, liquidity routing and access to Solana assets from the Ethereum L2 ecosystem, and may shift some user activity back to Base/Solana‑linked markets.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said he was wrong about crypto and now describes Bitcoin as a “fear-driven” asset bought as protection amid security concerns, currency debasement and geopolitical tensions. He cited recent extreme volatility — a swing from roughly $125,000 to below $90,000 — and warned that trading BTC requires precise timing while long-only allocators (sovereign wealth funds, foundations) increasingly treat it as a multi-year hedge across wide price ranges. Institutional adoption has risen after BlackRock launched its spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT). IBIT’s options open interest reached about 7.9 million contracts within a year, placing it among top U.S. options products and reflecting growing derivatives activity. Fink also noted lingering structural fragility: leveraged participants still influence price dynamics despite normalization of spot ETF flows. He acknowledged his own evolution on crypto since 2017 and said engagement with proponents during the pandemic changed his view. For traders: expect continued volatility driven by macro events and derivatives flows; institutional accumulation provides longer-term bid support, but leverage can amplify short-term moves.

The Australian government has introduced the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 requiring digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). The bill defines two regulated categories: digital asset platforms that custody tokens for clients and tokenised custody platforms that issue single digital tokens representing underlying non-monetary assets. Licensed firms must meet conduct standards (efficiently, honestly and fairly), avoid misleading or unfair contract terms, disclose how customer assets are held, provide dispute resolution and compensation mechanisms, and follow settlement, custody and disclosure rules. Exemptions include platforms holding under AUD 5,000 per customer and processing less than AUD 10 million annually; non-custodial staking is excluded, while custodial staking falls under the regime. The government projects up to AUD 24 billion a year in productivity gains from digital finance and proposes an 18-month phased compliance window (12 months preparation + 6 months transition in earlier reports). Industry response is broadly positive — firms welcome clarity and regulatory alignment with financial services — but experts call for coordination among ASIC, AUSTRAC and the ATO and careful implementation to avoid compliance burdens on smaller operators. The bill also follows stronger ASIC enforcement against scams and phishing. For traders: the reform raises compliance costs for centralized custody/exchange providers, could reduce regulatory risk and scams over time, and may favour regulated platforms versus unregulated alternatives during the transition.

Sony Bank (part of Sony Financial Group) is developing a US dollar–pegged stablecoin and a Web3 payments network to integrate payments across Sony’s gaming, anime and digital services in the US. Targeting a 2026 launch, the stablecoin will operate alongside card and fiat rails to speed transactions and reduce card-network fees. Sony Bank applied for a US banking licence in October and is partnering with US stablecoin issuer Bastion; Sony’s venture arm also joined Bastion’s $14.6m funding round led by Coinbase Ventures. The project will be managed within a new Web3 unit, BlockBloom, which aims to connect NFTs, wallets, fiat and digital assets. The stablecoin will be backed by liquid dollar assets (eg, government bonds) to meet full-reserve expectations under recent US regulatory proposals. Sony Financial Group’s spin-off and Tokyo listing have given Sony Bank greater independence to pursue tokenised payment initiatives. For traders: this marks a large institutional consumer brand moving into tokenised payments for entertainment — potentially increasing stablecoin adoption, expanding on‑ramp/off‑ramp options, and creating new corporate–crypto partnerships that could influence demand for regulated dollar-pegged tokens and related ecosystem services.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes warned that newly launched layer‑1 blockchain Monad and its MON token face a severe downside risk — he estimated MON could collapse up to 99% if large vested allocations begin to sell. Hayes characterized MON as a typical high‑FDV, low‑circulating “VC coin”: Paradigm led a reported $225 million raise, Coinbase ran a public sale/airdrop, and much supply remains held by insiders and VCs, creating an illusion of liquidity. Hayes said token unlock schedules and concentrated holdings are the main near‑term price risks; large coordinated sell pressure following vesting could trigger deep dumps after the initial post‑listing pump (MON rose ~40% since listing). Monad co‑founder Keone Hon responded by pointing to technical features (MonadBFT consensus, async execution, JIT compilation, MonadDb, RaptorCast), an open‑source audited mainnet and ~170 global validators, and said the Coinbase sale broadened access. Hayes remains bullish on broader crypto narratives driven by monetary expansion and flagged privacy tech (zero‑knowledge systems and privacy coins) and a small set of layer‑1s (BTC, ETH, SOL, ZEC) as likely long‑term survivors. Traders should monitor MON token unlock timelines, on‑chain flows, whale movements, circulating supply changes and market‑maker liquidity — VC‑heavy launches often produce sharp short‑term downside if large holders sell, while long‑term price depends on real adoption and sustained on‑chain activity.

Switzerland will codify the OECD Crypto‑Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) into law on 1 January 2026 but has postponed actual cross‑border data exchanges until at least 2027. The Federal Council and parliamentary committees paused practical implementation after the National Council’s Economic and Taxation Committee (ETAC) suspended deliberations on partner jurisdictions and reciprocity. As a result, the crypto provisions of the Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOIA) and its ordinance will not be applied in 2026. Swiss authorities approved amendments to the AEOI ordinance that introduce domestic duties for crypto service providers — registration, customer due diligence, reporting, nexus rules and transitional provisions to ease migration to amended CRS and CARF regimes — and firms must prepare to meet these 2026 domestic obligations. A previously prepared list of 74 partner jurisdictions (including most EU states and the UK) was approved in mid‑2025, but major economies such as the US, China and Saudi Arabia are not yet in the initial exchange group because of missing CARF alignment or reciprocal agreements. The delay gives regulators time to review legal safeguards, technical setups and reciprocity before any Swiss data leaves national systems. For traders, the headline effects are timing uncertainty for Swiss exchanges and service providers, potential operational and compliance cost changes, and staggered global rollouts of crypto tax reporting that may influence listings, custody decisions and cross‑border business flows.

Uniswap’s UNIfication governance proposal passed decisively on 26 December 2025, with ~125 million UNI voting in favor and just 742 opposing. After a short timelock, the plan executes a one‑time 100 million UNI burn and enables protocol fees on Uniswap v2 and v3 pools on Ethereum, plus fee capture from Unichain activity. The change installs an ongoing fee-funded burn mechanism that shifts UNI’s tokenomics toward deflationary behavior and creates clearer revenue capture for the protocol. On-chain metrics confirm Uniswap remains the DEX leader with roughly $60.7 billion monthly volume and a >50% spot market share. Market reaction has been muted: despite stronger fundamentals, UNI’s price shows neutral-to-bearish technicals (weakened RSI, subdued MACD) and dense liquidity clusters near the reported $5.1 support that could amplify downside if macro sentiment weakens. For traders: monitor on-chain fee accrual, actual burn flow data, and liquidity cluster behavior around $5.1; expect an immediate supply shock from the 100M burn with potential long-term bullishness from recurring fee burns, but maintain caution for near-term technical risk and liquidation cascades.