Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Aave DAO and Aave Labs are locked in a public governance and legal dispute after on‑chain analysis showed swap fees from a CoW Swap integration were routed to a private Aave Labs wallet rather than the DAO. Delegates estimate redirected frontend revenue at roughly $10 million per year. In response, DAO members proposed aggressive governance measures to seize Aave Labs’ code, IP, domains, social accounts, GitHub/npm assets, past revenues and brand control, and to force Aave Labs to become a DAO‑owned subsidiary. Aave Labs and founder Stani Kulechov counter that frontend fees were voluntary interface monetization or donations, not protocol fees owed to the DAO, and stress the company provides hosting, security and frontend development. Tensions escalated after a rushed Snapshot vote over brand asset control during a holiday period, prompting some proposal authors to urge abstention. The dispute spotlights a broader DeFi governance question — who owns a protocol: the smart contracts, the frontend/brand, or both — and creates legal, governance and market uncertainty for AAVE holders. Traders should monitor on‑chain treasury flows, upcoming governance votes, snapshot results and any token‑holder actions that could affect AAVE sentiment, liquidity and short‑term volatility.

Asian equity indexes rose broadly after gains on Wall Street, with investor risk appetite supported by upbeat US market sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei lagged and slipped after a prior multi-session rally. Safe-haven precious metals surged: gold climbed to a fresh record above $4,480/oz and silver also rose, underpinned by expectations of looser US monetary policy and mounting geopolitical tensions. Regional currencies moved mixed — the offshore yuan and Australian dollar strengthened — while government bond yields, including Japanese and Australian 10-year yields, adjusted as markets digested central-bank signals and inflation risks. Key drivers for traders are Fed policy expectations, geopolitical risk boosting demand for gold, and country-specific policy and inflation developments that create dispersion across Asian markets. For crypto traders, these dynamics imply potential cross-asset flows (into safe havens like gold and into risk assets), heightened sensitivity to US monetary guidance and bond yield moves, and possible short-term volatility in risk-on crypto assets; monitor central-bank commentary, Japan-specific news and geopolitical headlines for trade triggers.

Mid-December reports said large-scale shutdowns in China’s Xinjiang region forced roughly 400,000–500,000 bitcoin mining rigs offline, cutting global Bitcoin hash rate by about 8% (≈100 EH/s). Industry sources (Nano Labs CEO Jack Kong, ex-Foundry staff) estimated up to ~2 GW of lost power. Social posts amplified the story; later pool-level data and reporting showed the impact was smaller and more complex: major short-term declines were also tied to North American power curtailments and cold-weather outages at large pools (Foundry, Luxor), while Chinese-origin pools (Antpool, F2Pool, ViaBTC, SpiderPool, Binance Pool) recorded a combined ~100 EH/s fall that could not be conclusively pinned to Xinjiang alone. By December 17 most large pools had largely recovered and total network hashrate settled roughly 20 EH/s below prior peaks; 7‑ and 30‑day averages remained near recent highs. Immediate technical effects included modest downward difficulty adjustments and slightly longer block times; trading impacts reportedly included selling pressure from affected operators and short-term price weakness. Analysts expect displaced capacity to migrate to miner-friendly jurisdictions (U.S., Kazakhstan, etc.), with eventual restoration of hash rate as rigs redeploy and upgrades continue—trends that reduce the systemic risk of localized disruptions as the network approaches ~1 ZH/s. For traders: monitor Bitcoin hash rate, hash price (mining profitability), regional regulatory signals from China, miner flows, and difficulty adjustments to assess short-term volatility and the pace of network recovery.

VanEck analysts report a roughly 4% decline in Bitcoin network hashrate over the past 30 days — the largest monthly fall since April 2024 — and flag this as a potential contrarian bullish signal tied to miner capitulation. Historical analysis by Matt Sigel and Patrick Bush shows that 30-day hashrate declines preceded positive 90-day BTC returns ~65% of the time (versus 54% after hashrate rises). Periods of negative 90-day hashrate growth preceded positive six‑month returns ~77% of the time with average gains near 72%, outperforming periods of hashrate growth. Recent drivers of the drop include shutdowns in China (about 1.3 GW in Xinjiang) and reports of mass machine losses (~400,000 units). VanEck also highlights miner margin stress: breakeven electricity cost for an S19 XP fell roughly 36% between Dec 2024 and mid‑December to about $0.077/kWh, and AI-related power shifts could remove further hashrate. On-chain context: BTC has fallen from its October all‑time high (~$88,400 in the summaries) by roughly 30% in earlier reporting; in the later update BTC fell ~9% over 30 days and touched ~$80,700 on Nov 22. Volatility rose (30‑day vol >45%), 30‑day RSI dipped (~32), daily fees fell 14%, active addresses slipped, and perpetual futures basis compressed. Buy‑side flows: large data aggregators increased accumulations by ~42k BTC (+4% m/m) to about 1.09M BTC, the largest monthly DAT buy since mid‑2025. VanEck frames miner capitulation as a possible near‑term bottom indicator but warns that if markets interpret miner weakness as systemic, it could trigger deeper selling. Trader takeaways: monitor hashrate trends, miner news (China inspections, outages), miner breakevens, volatility, perpetual basis, and large‑entity accumulation for signals of mean reversion or extended bearish stress.

Coinglass data reported by COINOTAG shows a 24-hour net outflow of 15,200 ETH from centralized exchanges (CEXs). Binance led withdrawals with about 26,300 ETH moved off the platform, followed by Bybit (≈2,616 ETH) and Gate (≈1,335 ETH). Kraken recorded the largest inflow at roughly 13,300 ETH, suggesting selective liquidity redistribution between exchanges. Earlier seven-day figures had shown a larger weekly inflow reversal, indicating volatility in exchange balances over different timeframes. Traders withdrawing ETH to self-custody or cold storage could tighten short-term on-exchange liquidity and reduce immediate sell pressure, potentially increasing short-term price sensitivity. Key stats: 24h net outflow 15,200 ETH; Binance −26,300 ETH; Kraken +13,300 ETH; Bybit −2,616.43 ETH; Gate −1,334.72 ETH. Primary keyword: ETH exchange outflows. Secondary keywords: Binance ETH outflow, Kraken ETH inflow, exchange liquidity. This snapshot is relevant for traders monitoring order-book depth, on-exchange liquidity and potential short-term price moves.

This combined analysis evaluates whether Avalanche (AVAX) can reach $100 between 2026 and 2030, integrating technical, on-chain and market forecasts from two complementary reports. It highlights Avalanche’s core strengths — the three-chain architecture (X-, C-, P-Chain), fast finality and its Avalanche consensus — plus tokenomics (720M max supply, staking, fee burning/governance). Analysts use price technicals (support/resistance, moving averages, volume, RSI), ecosystem metrics (TVL, daily transactions, active addresses, developer activity) and macro/institutional factors to build conservative, moderate and bullish price bands for each year. Short-term (2025–2026) forecasts are cautious: a 2025–early-2026 range centers below $100 (example bands: $45–$85 for near-term), with $100 possible only under exceptional conditions. Mid-term (2026–2028) scenarios raise the probability of $100 — conservative to bullish ranges expand (examples: $60–$150 for 2026; $75–$180 for 2027), and bullish projections place a realistic chance of AVAX exceeding $100 between late 2027 and early 2028. Long-term (2029–2030) optimistic cases project $150–$300, though such outcomes require strong adoption and favorable macro/regulatory environments. Key catalysts include institutional adoption, subnet expansion, DeFi growth, major partnerships, protocol upgrades and clearer regulation. Primary risks are competition from Ethereum, Solana and Cardano, security or scaling issues, regulatory setbacks, macro downturns and potential loss of developer interest. Trader guidance emphasizes risk management: diversification, position sizing, dollar-cost averaging, stop-losses, long time horizons, staking for yield and continuous research. Overall, AVAX is presented as having solid fundamentals and a credible path to $100, but reaching that level is conditional on execution, broader market cycles and favorable external catalysts; high volatility and uncertainty remain, so traders should plan for multiple scenarios.

The IMF and El Salvador are continuing negotiations after recent meetings in Washington to address fiscal, governance and regulatory risks arising from El Salvador’s 2021 adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender and the state-backed Chivo e-wallet. IMF staff have highlighted concerns about financial stability, anti-money-laundering controls, fiscal accounting and transparency of bitcoin-related reserves and flows. El Salvador’s government defends the policy on grounds of financial inclusion and technological innovation and continues buying roughly one BTC per day as part of its holdings. Talks also touch on the future or possible restructuring/sale of the Chivo wallet and efforts to shield public finances from crypto volatility. Separate data show sales of the physical Chivo debit card have slowed notably since rollout, raising questions about user adoption of government-backed payment infrastructure. Negotiations aim to resolve IMF concerns while allowing Salvadoran bitcoin initiatives to proceed where possible — a development traders should watch for effects on market confidence, sovereign bitcoin supply disclosures and any change in state-selling behavior.

XRP traded around $1.90 after two failed recovery attempts stalled below resistance in the $1.93–$1.98 area. Price action showed intraday peaks near $1.95–$1.98 then reversals, producing tight ranges and short-term stabilization around $1.88–$1.91. Volume was elevated in both reports — spikes roughly 68%–107% above daily averages — and coincided with rejections from resistance, suggesting active distribution rather than low-liquidity drift. Technical signals were mixed: momentum indicators showed emerging bullish divergences while price remained below key moving averages on higher timeframes. Key levels to watch: immediate support at $1.88–$1.89 (then $1.87 and $1.77) and resistance at $1.93–$1.98; a sustained reclaim of $1.93 on strong volume would improve short-term structure, whereas a clear break below $1.88–$1.89 would reopen downside risk. For traders, the session indicates consolidation with limited upside until moving averages are reclaimed; monitor volume on rallies for signs of continued distribution and watch price behavior around $1.88–$1.93 for entries, stops and risk management.

Dogecoin (DOGE) slipped in the short term after failing to hold key intraday support, moving from highs near $0.134 to about $0.132 and breaking below a short-term ascending channel. Trading volume spiked to roughly 721 million tokens — about 150% above the 24‑hour average — suggesting active repositioning and distribution rather than thin‑liquidity noise. Key technical levels: support/demand zone at $0.1280–$0.1290, near‑term support at $0.1287, and resistance at $0.1320–$0.1350 (notably $0.1330/$0.1350). Failure to reclaim $0.1320/$0.1330 would keep the bias toward consolidation or further downside, with a potential target zone of $0.12–$0.1250 on lower timeframe or multi‑day closes below resistances. Traders should watch volume‑backed breaks and the weekly/day candle closes for confirmation; short‑term setups favor dip‑buying in the $0.128–$0.129 demand zone or short positions on confirmed breaks below $0.1250. Primary keywords: Dogecoin, DOGE, support and resistance, trading volume, technical analysis.

Mike Selig has been sworn in as chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Confirmed after a Senate vote, Selig signals a shift from an “enforcement‑as‑regulation” approach toward principles‑based rulemaking intended to spur crypto innovation while preserving core consumer protections. He plans to advance the CLARITY Act to give the CFTC primary authority over spot digital‑commodity markets, finalize blockchain rules by August 2026, and expand initiatives such as tokenized‑collateral pilots and listed spot crypto trading. Selig aims to simplify approvals for exchanges and clearinghouses (DCMs and DCOs), restore Qualified Eligible Participant exemptions, and reduce compliance frictions for registered firms. He says enforcement will remain focused on fraud, manipulation and asset misappropriation but will favor targeted actions over broad fines. With several commissioner seats vacant, Selig briefly has greater latitude to set budgets, issue drafts and accelerate regulatory timelines. Traders should watch rule texts, pilot designs, and interagency coordination (SEC, banking regulators, Treasury), as Selig’s policy push could affect exchange operations, institutional participation, derivatives/spot integration and custody rules — all factors that influence liquidity, product listings and counterparty risk in the coming 12–18 months.

Grayscale forecasts a dramatic expansion of tokenized assets — potentially up to 1,000x current levels — as institutional capital increasingly moves on‑chain. The firm cites rising institutional interest in tokenized stocks, bonds, real estate and other securities driven by improved regulation, custody solutions, and more mature infrastructure that lower barriers for pension funds, endowments and asset managers. Macro factors such as fiscal pressure and demand for programmatic scarce assets also support the thesis. Grayscale expects on‑chain issuance, regulated trading of tokenized securities and broader institutional participation to boost liquidity, enable 24/7 settlement and fractional ownership, and shift markets from Bitcoin‑centric cycles toward multi‑sector growth. Smart‑contract platforms and middleware (for example ETH, BNB, SOL, AVAX and Chainlink) stand to gain from increased on‑chain activity. The report notes that clearer regulation — potentially bipartisan U.S. legislation in coming years — and better custody/infrastructure are critical catalysts. For traders, the key implications are higher liquidity and market caps for major crypto assets and tokenization platforms, new trading products and on‑ramps from tokenized securities, and a structural bullish case for tokenization over the long term; near‑term price action will still depend on adoption progress and regulatory clarity.

Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction market platform, has added Binance Coin (BNB) deposits and withdrawals, announced by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. The integration lets users fund and redeem Kalshi positions directly with BNB, removing conversion into fiat or other tokens and reducing steps and fees. For traders, BNB support streamlines access to event-driven markets (economics, politics, climate), may increase liquidity in Kalshi markets, and expands BNB’s utility beyond exchange fee discounts. Kalshi’s compliance-focused approach seeks to navigate U.S. regulatory complexities and could attract crypto-native users from the Binance ecosystem. Users should verify deposit addresses and account for BNB Chain network fees. This operational update provided no detailed timelines or deeper product integrations; however, it signals growing acceptance of major exchange tokens by regulated hybrid financial platforms and could prompt similar integrations elsewhere.

PEPE price has extended its bearish trend despite Bitcoin’s recent ~5% rebound. The memecoin fell about 2% in 24 hours and roughly 21% since December’s high. Open interest in PEPE derivatives dropped from $121.5M on Dec 20 to $114.5M, signalling waning trader conviction and reduced liquidity. Daily technicals show a bearish breakdown from the $0.000044–$0.000050 supply zone, RSI around 40, and a declining Accumulation/Distribution line — all indicating sustained selling pressure. 1-hour charts confirm continued bearish momentum. Key levels to watch: $0.0000420 (near-term resistance), and higher resistance at $0.0000452 and $0.0000476; failure to reclaim these suggests further downside. Traders should prioritise risk management: monitor open interest and volume for signs of liquidation or renewed buying, use protective stops, avoid aggressive long positions, and consider short or sell setups around identified resistance until indicators show a clear reversal.

Fold Holdings, a Bitcoin-focused fintech with a reported treasury exceeding ~1,500 BTC, has been added to the Russell 2000 index. Russell 2000 inclusion typically raises a small-cap company’s profile among institutional investors, fund managers and index-tracking funds, which can increase liquidity and attract passive inflows. Fold’s dual model—consumer fintech products combined with a significant Bitcoin treasury—positions it as a regulated equity route for investors seeking indirect BTC exposure. Traders should expect potential increases in Fold’s share trading volume and greater correlation between Fold stock and BTC price movements. Key risks include Bitcoin volatility, regulatory uncertainty for crypto firms, and small-cap equity risks. The news sits alongside an industry debate over index eligibility for companies holding substantial digital-asset treasuries (MSCI proposed rules in October to exclude firms with ≥50% digital-asset holdings), a decision that could drive reallocation and passive outflows for at-risk firms. For traders, Fold’s Russell inclusion is likely to improve market access and liquidity for its shares and may modestly amplify BTC-stock cross-asset flows, but broader implications for other crypto-treasury companies remain uncertain pending index-provider decisions.

Aave governance has erupted into a dispute over control of off‑chain brand assets — domains, website and social accounts — after BGD Labs co‑founder Ernesto Boado proposed that the Aave DAO formally own core brand assets to prevent concentration of control in third parties. The proposal emphasized ownership and licensing, not restricting Aave Labs’ product development. After several days of forum debate, Aave founder Stani Kulechov moved the proposal to a Snapshot vote; Boado said advancing to Snapshot was premature and opposed the move. The clash exposed a broader DeFi issue: DAOs can govern on‑chain contracts but struggle to assert collective control over off‑chain identity and user gateways. The dispute correlated with a significant market reaction — a whale sold 230,350 AAVE (~$37.6m), triggering an intraday price drop of roughly 8–11% into the mid‑$100s and broader token weakness. Traders should monitor the Snapshot vote outcome, turnout and any follow‑on proposals that define transfer mechanisms or legal frameworks for domains and social handles, as these will affect protocol risk perception, governance norms and short‑term AAVE sentiment. Primary keywords: Aave, AAVE, governance, brand ownership. Secondary keywords: Snapshot vote, DAO control, domains, social handles.

Bitcoin (BTC) faced another rejection near $90,000 on December 22, 2025, pulling back toward the $88,000 area as bullish momentum weakened. This marks the third near-$90K failure in December and has produced a tightening pattern of lower highs since early December. Short-term BTC correlation with gold on the 12-hour chart flipped to about -0.14 (from positive readings in late November), suggesting Bitcoin is decoupling from gold and behaving more like a high-beta risk asset than a safe haven. Key technical levels: immediate support is $86,000–$87,000 (a break opens liquidity toward ~$83,000); upside requires a clean close above $90,500 to invalidate the lower-high structure and restore bullish momentum. Traders should watch volume, macro indicators (interest rates, geopolitical risk) and order flow — the negative gold correlation may amplify short-term volatility. Historical precedents in 2022–2023 show similar negative gold correlations preceded corrections of up to ~20% before later recoveries, so risk management (position sizing, stop levels) is advised. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, gold correlation, $90K resistance, crypto volatility. Secondary keywords: support levels, TradingView analysis, risk-on behavior, portfolio diversification.

Commentator Vincent Scott warns that current market conditions are unusually harsh for XRP holders as large institutional investment firms are extracting retail liquidity to cover weak fourth-quarter results, increasing downward pressure on XRP prices and squeezing retail traders. Scott says institutions drive aggressive narratives, recycled bullish price forecasts and sudden sentiment swings that distort price discovery. He criticizes repeated optimistic predictions that fail without accountability and links the root cause to inconsistent regulation. Potential U.S. legislative changes such as a Clarity-style framework are cited as a longer-term corrective. Despite weak spot prices (XRP remaining below $2 amid volatility), XRP-linked spot ETFs continue to add assets, highlighting a disconnect between institutional flows and immediate retail relief. Reactions in the XRP community vary: some traders step back to avoid emotional decisions; others emphasize diversification and stricter risk management. Scott suggests retail may rationally reduce activity amid noise and recommends caution and independent research. Primary keywords: XRP, institutional liquidity, retail investors, regulation, price forecasts.

The EU Council has endorsed the European Central Bank’s digital euro design, approving a dual online/offline CBDC model that complements cash and existing payments. The offline mode uses central-bank-signed tokens stored in certified secure elements on devices (smartphones or smart cards) and transfers value peer-to-peer via NFC to preserve cash-like privacy while enabling AML controls. The European Data Protection Board warned of NFC relay attacks and that physical-proximity guarantees are imperfect; strong encryption, secure hardware and audits are needed. ECB President Christine Lagarde noted the endorsement advances the project but the European Parliament and Council must still finalise legislation. The ECB aims to complete the investigation phase by late 2025 with a potential pilot in 2026 if approvals proceed. Policy goals include protecting monetary sovereignty, offering a public alternative to private payment systems and stablecoins, promoting inclusion (notably for low-connectivity users), and limiting holdings to avoid bank disintermediation. Adoption remains years away; technical, legal and security challenges must be resolved. Key terms: digital euro, ECB, offline CBDC, NFC, privacy, AML.

Dogecoin (DOGE) has stabilized around a critical support at $0.13 after a three-month decline that erased roughly 57% of its value. The token recently traded near $0.134, up about 1.6% over 24 hours, while 24-hour trading volume jumped roughly 85% to ~$885 million, signaling renewed trader interest. Technical data from TradingView shows the Average Directional Index (ADX) at 26.28, indicating meaningful directional momentum, and weekly candles suggest a potential reversal pattern if $0.13 holds. Derivatives flows on CoinGlass reveal concentrated liquidation clusters near $0.1273 (large long liquidations) and $0.1345 (short liquidations), pointing to a bullish intraday bias and the potential for short squeezes should price rise. Key levels to monitor: $0.13 (critical pivot), downside target near $0.096 if daily/weekly close falls below $0.13, and liquidation bands at $0.1273 and $0.1345. Traders should watch price action around $0.13, accompanying volume, ADX strength, and liquidation clusters to manage position sizing and risk—short-term setups favour opportunistic long entries only if volume-backed support holds; failure to hold increases downside risk.

Strategy (MSTR) sold 4.535 million Class A shares via its at‑the‑market (ATM) program on Dec. 15–21, raising $747.8 million in net proceeds and increasing its USD reserve to $2.19 billion. The reserve, created in early December to cover preferred dividends and interest, was initially $1.44 billion; management said it aims to hold at least 12 months of dividends and eventually 24 months, with the size and terms remaining discretionary. As part of a rebalancing amid the crypto downturn, Strategy has paused Bitcoin purchases. The company holds 671,268 BTC on its balance sheet with an aggregate purchase cost of $50.33 billion and an average buy price of $74,972 per BTC; its most recent purchase was 10,645 BTC on Dec. 15 for $980.3 million (avg. $92,098). Strategy still has $11.8 billion of common stock capacity under its ATM program and multiple preferred‑stock issuance tranches available. Strategy’s common shares are down roughly 50% over the past 12 months. For traders: the pause in buys removes a steady, company‑sourced buyer from the market for now, while the larger USD reserve and available ATM capacity mean Strategy can resume purchases or issue stock again depending on market and liquidity needs—factors likely to influence BTC liquidity and sentiment in both short and longer terms.

Venezuelan oil exporters have shifted heavily to Tether’s USDT for crude payments, with local economist Asdrúbal Oliveros estimating roughly 80% of oil sales settled in USDT since 2024. The move follows intensified U.S. and international sanctions, tanker seizures and banking restrictions that disrupted traditional dollar settlement channels. Venezuela’s oil output reportedly rose toward 1 million barrels per day and GDP expanded in 2024, supporting increased export volumes. State-linked entities and private intermediaries route proceeds through crypto-friendly jurisdictions and on-chain USDT flows tied to Venezuelan counterparties have risen. Practical frictions remain: Caracas faces obstacles liquidating large USDT holdings due to controls on cashing out and FX conversion, creating foreign-exchange bottlenecks and pressure on the bolívar. Compliance actions are already visible — Tether froze 41 wallets linked to Venezuelan sanction-evasion probes in 2024 — and U.S. measures including tariffs and tanker seizures continue to target sanctioned oil trade. For crypto traders, the shift could increase transactional demand and liquidity needs for USDT on regional and peer-to-peer markets, amplify sensitivity to regulatory enforcement targeting sanctioned flows or stablecoin channels, and raise volatility risk around news of freezes, sanctions or liquidity squeezes. Key SEO keywords: USDT, Tether, Venezuela, oil trade, stablecoins, sanctions, FX bottleneck.

Shift4 Payments has launched a global stablecoin settlement platform that allows merchants to receive and move funds using stablecoins such as USDT, USDC and DAI. The company says the solution speeds settlement versus traditional rails, reduces banking constraints on cross-border and near-instant payouts, and can integrate with existing payment flows to convert stablecoins to fiat or hold digital cash balances. The announcement drove Shift4’s shares about 3.1% higher in afternoon trading. Shift4 positions the product for merchants seeking faster, lower‑friction settlement and digital-asset interoperability; the firm has not disclosed a detailed launch timeline, full list of supported tokens, or fee structure. Key themes for traders: stablecoin settlement, merchant payments, faster cross‑border transfers, fiat conversion options, and potential operational efficiency gains for payment processors.

Ronald Spektor, a Brooklyn resident using the Telegram alias “lolimfeelingevil,” has been indicted for a phishing and social‑engineering scheme that prosecutors say stole approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency from about 100 Coinbase users. Acting between April 2023 and December 2024, Spektor allegedly posed as a Coinbase representative to convince victims their accounts were at risk and persuaded them to transfer assets into wallets he controlled. After receiving funds, he reportedly laundered proceeds using crypto mixers, swaps and online gambling platforms and boasted about the thefts in a Telegram group called “Blockchain enemies.” A yearlong Brooklyn District Attorney investigation has led to a 31‑count indictment including first‑degree grand larceny, money laundering and scheme to defraud. Authorities say they seized about $105,000 in cash and nearly $400,000 in crypto so far, uncovered alleged plans to flee to Mexico, and set bail at $2.5 million. Coinbase’s legal team assisted investigators by identifying victims and tracing funds. For traders: this case highlights high‑value phishing targeting Coinbase users, the use of mixers and gambling sites to obfuscate flows, active law‑enforcement asset recovery, and potential for increased exchange scrutiny and compliance actions. Primary keywords: phishing, Coinbase, crypto theft; secondary keywords: money laundering, Telegram, mixers, asset recovery.

Ethereum underwent a major deleveraging in Q4 2025: open interest (OI) dropped by more than 50%—about a $35 billion leverage flush from a $70 billion peak—while Bitcoin’s OI fell roughly 38%. After ETH plunged to near $3,000 in mid‑November, key on‑chain metrics stabilized: total value locked (TVL) steadied around $70 billion after a Q4 contraction, and total value swapped (TVS) has remained above 36 million since November. The later report adds institutional context: Chainalysis cites a 25% YoY rise in institutional inflows in 2025 (supported by ETF approvals and staking yields), network upgrades in 2025 (including Dencun) improved Layer‑2 scalability and cut costs, and fee‑burn mechanics continue to reduce supply (around 2 million ETH burned since 2022). Analysts interpret the OI purge as a healthy removal of excess leverage that lowers near‑term downside risk and could set conditions for an ETH/BTC relative rally in Q1 2026 if risk appetite returns. Primary SEO keywords: ETH/BTC breakout, Ethereum deleveraging, ETH OI, TVL. Secondary/semantic keywords included: open interest, leverage flush, TVS, DeFi, institutional inflows, Dencun, fee burns.

CoinShares reported $952 million of outflows from digital asset investment products in the week to 22 December 2025 after delays to the US Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (Clarity Act) undermined investor confidence. Exchange-traded products (ETPs) were the main source of redemptions: Ethereum-linked funds saw $555 million withdrawn and Bitcoin-linked products $460 million. Total crypto ETP assets under management fell to $46.7 billion from $48.7 billion year‑on‑year. Outflows were concentrated in the United States (about $990 million), partially offset by inflows in Canada ($46 million) and Germany ($15.6 million). CoinShares’ head of research, James Butterfill, blamed prolonged regulatory uncertainty and concerns about large investor (whale) selling. The later article adds that the Clarity Act’s Senate markup has been delayed into January 2026, extending the timeline for regulatory clarity and keeping US-listed ETPs vulnerable to further outflows. On-chain data show differing positioning: “smart money” remained net long Ether with substantial leveraged long positions while Bitcoin saw net short exposure. Key takeaways for traders: expect heightened short-term volatility for ETH and BTC amid regulatory uncertainty; US-listed ETP liquidity may weaken as investors reduce exposure; divergence between institutional flows and on‑chain smart‑money positioning could create trade opportunities and rapid directional moves once clarity returns. Main keywords: crypto ETP outflows, Clarity Act, ETH ETP, BTC ETP, regulatory uncertainty.

BitMine (BMNR) shares have plunged roughly 80% from their yearly high to about $31.7 as investor appetite for digital-asset treasury firms faded. Two recent reports show the company continuing large-scale Ethereum accumulation (now >4.06 million ETH) and preparing to monetize holdings via a MAVAN staking product expected to launch in early 2026. Analysts cite four catalysts for a potential rebound: (1) Technical setup — BMNR displays falling-wedge and other bullish patterns that could propel price toward near-term resistance around $50–$64; (2) Heavy ETH exposure — with roughly 4+ million ETH in treasury, BMNR’s valuation is highly sensitive to ETH price moves, so institutional flows and lower exchange ETH supply support a bullish case; (3) MAVAN staking monetization — management and analysts estimate annualized staking revenue in the low hundreds of millions (roughly $330M–$400M depending on model), adding recurring yield to the treasury; (4) Balance-sheet strategy — BitMine reports no debt and is accumulating ETH via an at-the-market equity program, targeting up to 5% of ETH supply and planning to stop dilutive issuances once the target is met (potentially H1 2026). Key trading implications: monitor ETH price momentum (on-chain metrics, ETF flows, and exchange supply), MAVAN rollout and staking yield updates, and any further ATM share issuance which could dilute equity value. For traders seeking exposure to ETH, BMNR offers leveraged upside plus staking-derived yield but also amplifies downside if ETH corrects. Primary keywords: BitMine, BMNR, Ethereum, ETH, MAVAN, staking, ETH accumulation.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is advancing through its presale—now in Phase 6 and nearly sold out—with raised proceeds around $19–19.5 million and roughly 18.3–18.6k holders. Phase 6 price sits at $0.035 (≈3.5× the Phase 1 price of $0.01); Phase 7 will start at $0.04 and the planned public launch price is $0.06. The project has added gamified incentives (daily leaderboard rewards and a large giveaway) to boost participation and promotes a dual lending model combining peer-to-contract and peer-to-peer lending. Development milestones include an independent security audit in progress, lending/borrowing contracts in final review, and a planned V1 on Sepolia testnet supporting ETH and USDT with liquidity pools, mtTokens, debt tokens and a liquidator bot. Traders are being urged to buy at current presale prices before Phase 6 fills, though articles note this is promotional material and advise due diligence. By contrast, Cardano (ADA) has shown weakening price action: trading near $0.36 after recent drops, below its 50- and 200-day moving averages, with negative RSI/MACD and Chaikin Money Flow below zero. Analysts cited support levels around $0.438, $0.386 and $0.354, with a downside target near $0.29 if key support fails. The coverage frames MUTM as an early-stage, discounted altcoin offering potential short-term upside for speculators, while ADA’s deteriorating technicals and reduced on-chain momentum make it less attractive for traders seeking immediate gains.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) fell to multi-month lows (around $0.0000073) while on-chain metrics showed a sharp increase in token burns and continued exchange withdrawals. A 24-hour burn surge of 133% removed about 7.2 million SHIB, with more than 35 million burned over four days, trimming circulating supply to roughly 585 trillion. Exchange reserves have declined for months, suggesting accumulation into cold wallets. Technically, SHIB has formed a large falling wedge on the daily chart and the Percentage Price Oscillator shows bullish divergence, supporting a potential near-term rebound toward ~$0.000010, with that view invalidated below the year-to-date low at $0.0000069. However, off-chain fundamentals are mixed to weak: Shibarium’s TVL has plunged (~19% to $1.47M) with no notable protocol additions, 24h trading volume has cooled (~$96M), and futures open interest collapsed to about $77M from a YTD high near $550M. Earlier reporting noted an even larger burn spike (17,225%) tied to a ~30M token transfer to a burn address but pointed out the dollar value of that burn was tiny (~$250) versus SHIB’s multi-billion-dollar market cap. For traders: rising token scarcity and falling exchange supply are potential bullish supply-side factors, but weak ecosystem adoption, declining liquidity and derivatives activity, and bearish technical breakdowns (from the earlier report) argue for continued downside risk unless smart-money accumulation, meaningful Shibarium traction, or ETF-related demand re-emerge. Monitor burn rates, exchange balances, Shibarium TVL and developer activity, daily volume and open interest, and price action around $0.0000069 (bear invalidation) and $0.000010 (near-term target).

BNB rallied intraday after breaking the $860 resistance, briefly trading near $868 as the CoinDesk 20 index also climbed. Trading volume jumped sharply — roughly 192% above the daily average in the later report — with multiple distinct surges and a V-shaped hourly recovery that pushed intraday support to about $856–$858 and formed an ascending triangle around $864–$866, technical patterns often linked to bullish continuation. Earlier coverage showed BNB up about 1.7–2.5% over 24 hours with higher-than-average volume, higher lows and consolidation near intraday highs, holding above $850 support. However, the token is still about 32% below its all-time high, and exchange tokens such as KCS and LEO have outperformed on smaller drawdowns. Off-chain risk increased after a Financial Times report alleging Binance failed to stop hundreds of millions in suspicious crypto flows despite a $4.3 billion U.S. settlement, a development that could raise regulatory scrutiny and reputational risk. Key takeaways for traders: elevated volume and bullish intraday price structures support short-term upside and a possible test of $880–$900 if momentum holds, but ongoing regulatory pressure tied to Binance increases the risk of sharp volatility and could cap medium-term gains. Primary keywords: BNB, Binance, trading volume, resistance, support, regulatory scrutiny.