Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Galaxy Research projects that dollar-pegged stablecoin onchain transfer volume could exceed US ACH (Automated Clearing House) volume by 2026. Analysts cite a 30–40% compound annual growth rate in stablecoin supply, onchain dollar transfer volumes already matching or exceeding some major card networks, and growing institutional and corporate adoption as drivers. Examples of new entrants and use cases include Western Union’s planned US Dollar Payment Token on Solana, Sony Bank’s proposed stablecoin for its US ecosystem (targeted 2026), and SoFi’s SoFiUSD on Ethereum. The stablecoin market cap is about $309 billion (DefiLlama), dominated by USDT and USDC. Expected regulatory clarity — notably frameworks such as the GENIUS Act and proposed bank-issued stablecoin rules — is cited as a key accelerator for mainstream payments, settlements and enterprise integration. Galaxy flags broader crypto momentum, offering a bullish multi-year outlook for Bitcoin (BTC) — a possible rise to $250,000 by end-2027 — while warning that 2026 could be “too chaotic to predict” for near-term price forecasts. For traders: anticipate increasing onchain dollar liquidity and transaction flow, potential consolidation around a few dominant stablecoins, faster adoption in remittances and settlement rails, and elevated stablecoin-related counterparty and regulatory risks that could alter market access and liquidity quickly.

Keonne Rodriguez, co‑founder of privacy‑focused Samourai Wallet, said he will report to prison on Friday to begin a five‑year term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Rodriguez and fellow Samourai executive William “Bill” Lonergan Hill were convicted in a case prosecutors say involved more than $2 billion in processed transactions; courts found compliance failures rather than direct victims. Rodriguez publicly appealed to former President Donald Trump for a pardon, calling the prosecution political and arguing it targets crypto privacy tools. He framed his plea for clemency alongside previous high‑profile crypto pardons and criticized the DOJ as “weaponized.” Legal experts say the case underscores tensions over applying laws such as the Bank Secrecy Act to privacy services (e.g., coin mixers and privacy wallets) and signals rising enforcement against privacy‑focused crypto tools. Key takeaways for traders: imminent incarceration of a high‑profile privacy wallet developer, an enforcement precedent against mixers/privacy wallets, the cited $2B in processed transactions, and renewed debate over regulatory clarity — all factors that could affect sentiment and liquidity around Bitcoin privacy services and related markets.

Coinbase Institutional’s 70-page outlook frames 2026 as a year of “cautious optimism” for crypto driven by clearer regulation, stablecoin expansion and growing institutional adoption. Analysts expect major U.S. crypto rules to progress by Q1 2026 (delays could push some measures into 2027). Key policy drivers include stablecoin-specific bills (eg, the GENIUS Act) and broader market-structure legislation that could raise compliance standards and unlock participation from banks and asset managers. Coinbase models the stablecoin market expanding substantially — projecting roughly $1.2 trillion by 2028 — as stablecoins scale in payments, settlement, payroll and cross-border remittances. The report calls its macro outlook “cautiously optimistic,” noting U.S. economic resilience but flagging persistent inflation risks and uncertain timing of Fed rate cuts (base case: two cuts in 2026). Political moves such as tariff and tax proposals are noted as potential disinflationary influences. On Bitcoin, the outlook highlights a maturing volatility profile: 90-day historical volatility fell from >60% in mid-2024 to about 35–40% by end-2025, reflecting ETF launches and rising institutional allocations. Major firms now commonly recommend 1–5% portfolio allocations (most under 3%). Coinbase says improved liquidity and lower-than-expected inflation could trigger sizable BTC inflows in 2026; avoiding a major Q1 drawdown might break the narrative of an inevitable four-year cycle crash and accelerate institutional adoption. The firm labels the macro view cautiously optimistic but stresses that timing of regulatory progress, liquidity recovery and inflation/outcome of Fed policy are key variables. (Not investment advice.)

A prominent Shiba Inu (SHIB) whale has transferred large amounts of SHIB to the centralized exchange OKX over consecutive days, prompting trader concern about potential sell pressure. On-chain analytics (Arkham Intelligence) and observer EmberCN flagged transfers including ~469 billion SHIB (~$3.64M), followed by further transfers of ~464.308 billion SHIB and several smaller splits. The wallet originally bought 1.03 trillion SHIB in 2020 for ~37.8 ETH (≈$13.7k then) — a position that once peaked near $9.1 billion in 2021 — and still controls roughly 96.2–96.7 trillion SHIB (about 16.4% of supply, ≈$707–$722M at current prices). Traders should note: large exchange inflows often precede selling and can increase short-term volatility; however, there is no on-chain proof the deposits have been executed as market sells yet. Key trader actions: monitor OKX order books and execution activity, watch on-chain outflows from the specific OKX-linked deposit address, and track subsequent whale movements for signs of coordinated selling versus liquidity management or gradual distribution. SHIB trades near $0.0000073–$0.00000742 and has been down recently. This is informational, not financial advice.

Three hardware firms — iRobot (Roomba), Luminar Technologies (LiDAR) and Rad Power Bikes (e‑bikes) — have filed for bankruptcy in a concentrated wave that highlights systemic risks for hardware startups and supply‑chain‑dependent businesses. Common drivers cited across the cases are fragile global supply chains, U.S.–China trade tensions and tariffs, component shortages, rising freight costs, inventory mismanagement and intense low‑cost overseas competition. Company‑specific triggers include iRobot’s failed acquisition by Amazon amid antitrust scrutiny and heightened competition; Luminar’s slower‑than‑expected LiDAR adoption in autos combined with heavy R&D spending and supply issues; and Rad Power’s cost pressures, inventory glut and aggressive low‑cost competitors. For crypto traders the events underline risks for tokenized hardware projects, mining/equipment suppliers and firms with heavy capital expenditure: consider counterparty and geographic concentration, recurring‑revenue or software moats, and runway management. Short‑term market effects may include risk‑off sentiment in tech and hardware‑adjacent equities and suppliers; long‑term consequences could reallocate investment away from capital‑intensive hardware startups toward software, hybrid hardware‑software models and geographically diversified manufacturing. Primary SEO keywords: hardware bankruptcies, iRobot bankruptcy, Luminar bankruptcy, Rad Power Bikes, supply chain vulnerability. Secondary/semantic keywords: trade tensions, tariffs, e‑bike market, LiDAR, autonomous vehicles, tech sector risk.

Citigroup analysts set a 12‑month base-case target for Bitcoin (BTC) at $143,000, citing renewed institutional demand from spot Bitcoin ETFs and supportive macro conditions. The report identifies $70,000 as a key support level and models three scenarios: a bear case of $78,500 driven by a global recession, a base case of $143,000 powered by revived ETF inflows and stronger equity markets, and a bull case of $189,000 if end‑investor demand accelerates. Analysts expect near‑term trading around $80,000–$90,000 and highlight potential U.S. digital-asset legislation (the Clarity Act) and broader adoption as catalysts for further fund flows. Key analysts named are Alex Saunders, Dirk Willer and Vinh Vo. For traders: monitor spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, macro equity performance, and the $70,000 support; these factors should drive short‑term price action and determine whether institutional capital pushes BTC toward Citi’s base or bull targets.

Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co‑founder, argues the Federal Reserve’s Reserve Management Purchases (RMP) functions as a form of stealth quantitative easing. The Fed’s RMP buys short‑term Treasury bills (about $40 billion initially) to maintain ample reserves, increasing fiat liquidity without changing headline policy rates and effectively recycling funds through money‑market plumbing. Hayes says this hidden liquidity expansion helps finance government spending, expands the money supply, and favors scarce assets such as Bitcoin, gold and precious‑metals miners. Market context: Bitcoin traded near $92,695 on Dec. 10 before slipping toward $87,300 at the later report; Polymarket probabilities pointed to a high chance of no Fed policy change in January. Key trader takeaways: treat RMP as stealth QE — monitor Fed communications and reserve/liquidity signals; expect continued upside pressure on BTC and other scarce assets if liquidity persists; non‑holders face purchasing‑power erosion, while asset holders may benefit. Primary keywords: Federal Reserve, Reserve Management Purchases, quantitative easing, Bitcoin, liquidity.

MANTRA and exchange OKX escalated a public dispute over the OM token migration before moving toward de‑escalation via formal letters. OKX said 158,539,335 OM on its platform require migration (34,097,848 user-held; 124,441,487 held by OKX) and set a Dec 20, 2025 deadline for MANTRA to confirm migration plans or face delisting. MANTRA CEO John Patrick Mullin replied with a conciliatory, safety‑focused proposal to manually migrate 100% of OM tokens under OKX control between Jan 3–5, 2026, requesting OKX provide destination addresses and outlining a tranche‑based process (~20 million OM per batch, ~15 minutes per batch). The exchange previously announced staged suspensions of trading, margin, futures and deposits/withdrawals across December; MANTRA had earlier said migration could only begin after the ERC‑20 deprecation deadline (Jan 15, 2026) and completion of technical reviews required by Governance Proposal 26. The dispute follows an April 2025 crash in which OM plunged over 90%, erasing more than $5 billion in market value. Key trader takeaways: monitor OKX’s response and any delisting notices, expect short‑term liquidity and price volatility for OM around migration windows, consider withdrawing OM from OKX if uncertain, and watch for technical confirmation and destination addresses before any on‑exchange conversion.

XRP has traded for roughly 66–84 days below its 50‑week simple moving average (50W SMA), a long‑term trend filter traders use to distinguish bearish compression from sustained bullish cycles. Historical precedents show that when XRP remained under the 50W SMA for roughly 50–84 days it often marked cycle lows followed by large rebounds: ~212% after ~70 days in 2018, ~68% after ~49 days in 2021, and an ~857% surge after an 84‑day below‑SMA stretch that led into a mid‑2025 peak near $3.66. Current technicals are mixed. Short‑term moving averages and momentum indicators recently leaned bearish and $2 support was lost, with some analysts noting possible double‑top setups. Offsetting that, weekly RSI is oversold, MACD shows signs of stabilization, and price compression around $1.80–$1.85 suggests selling exhaustion. Pro‑forma projections based on prior runs outline large upside targets (for example, an 857% move from a $1.81 floor to about $17.3 or a 428% move to $9.55 for half that run) but carry no guarantee. Traders should weigh the historical propensity for sizable reversals after extended periods below the 50W SMA against present macro headwinds, regulatory risk and bearish short‑term structure. This is market analysis and not financial advice.

XRP spot ETFs have accumulated over $1.14 billion in assets with no net outflow days, indicating steady institutional demand. Despite ETF buying, XRP formed lower highs and lower lows through December because large holders (100k–1M and 1M+ XRP) have been steadily transferring coins to exchanges—primarily Binance—per on-chain data from CryptoQuant and SoSoValue. These transfers are not one‑off dumps but a persistent ‘drip’ of supply that has outpaced ETF purchases, creating continuous sell-side pressure. Key technical supports to watch are $1.82–$1.87 (near-term) and $1.50–$1.66 (deeper). Traders should monitor large exchange inflows, cohort value bands shifting from accumulation to distribution, and spot-buyer demand; a sustained price recovery likely requires a marked reduction in whale deposits alongside stronger spot accumulation. Primary keywords: XRP, XRP ETF, whale selling, exchange inflows. Secondary/semantic keywords: Binance deposits, on-chain data, support levels, institutional demand.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson outlined Midnight, positioning it as a privacy‑first, cross‑chain application layer designed for mass use. Described variously as a “fourth generation cryptocurrency” and a “ChatGPT for privacy,” Midnight aims to enable selective disclosure, hybrid (public/private) dApps, private financial primitives (private DEXs, stablecoins, prediction markets) and capacity exchange across multiple blockchains including Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Binance and Bitcoin. The project emphasizes broad, fair token distribution (no ICO, no VC allocation) and cited early traction metrics — reported market caps and trading volume in the hundreds of millions to billions and roughly 1.5 million holders — as evidence of demand. Technical aims include multi‑resource consensus, dual tokenomics, zk‑tooling (zkSNARKs, rollups), post‑quantum‑ready zero‑knowledge schemes and phased rollouts: federated mainnet, incentivized testnet and “hybrid DApps,” with Cardano integrations first and wider cross‑chain support through 2026. Hoskinson framed Midnight as both a technical milestone and a response to regulatory pressure on privacy, urging developers and users to build on and join the project. At publication ADA traded in the $0.36–$0.46 range. Primary keywords: Cardano, Midnight, privacy, Charles Hoskinson, cross‑chain. Secondary keywords: zkSNARKs, rollups, hybrid applications, selective disclosure, token distribution, trading volume.

The Federal Reserve has proposed creating limited "payment accounts" that give innovation-focused and crypto banks streamlined access to Fed payment rails without full master-account privileges. The 45-day public comment proposal — informed by ideas from Governor Christopher Waller — would bar interest on balances, exclude discount-window credit, and may impose balance caps and other limits to reduce systemic risk. The move aims to speed fiat on/off‑ramps, improve settlement speed and reduce intermediaries for crypto custodians and fintech banks while maintaining safeguards against market volatility and contagion. Key operational benefits for crypto firms include faster settlements, lower operational costs and closer oversight; key constraints include no interest on reserves and restricted access to Fed credit, which limit changes to system liquidity. The proposal is open for stakeholder feedback and could materially alter banking relationships for crypto companies and indirectly influence market liquidity and trading flows depending on final rules.

Crypto commentator Finance Bull advised XRP holders against selling into the recent dip, citing Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s timeline that the U.S. CLARITY Act could advance in early 2026. Finance Bull argues the Act will force greater disclosure of Ripple’s escrow allocations (currently ~34–38 billion XRP) and that much of that supply is likely to be pre‑allocated to institutional use cases — bank settlement corridors, sovereign payment rails, cross‑border liquidity hubs and institutional custody — rather than dumped on open markets. This view implies regulatory clarity will convert perceived sell pressure into reserved, functional liquidity and prompt market repricing toward institutional absorption. The pundit also suggested large asset managers (e.g., BlackRock) could adopt XRP once legal certainty arrives. Separately, Ripple expanded its strategic partnership with TJM Investments to improve execution, clearing, capital and collateral efficiency via Ripple Prime and to support RLUSD and XRP utility. At publication XRP traded near $1.80, down ~4% over 24 hours. Traders should note this is opinion, not financial advice.

Klarna has partnered with Coinbase to let customers fund purchases via Klarna’s Pay Later and financing services using select stablecoins, including likely support for USDC. The integration lets users spend stablecoins directly at thousands of online merchants without manual on‑ramp or conversion steps, lowering friction, speeding settlement and easing cross‑border payments. Benefits cited include faster settlements, potentially lower transaction costs, broader merchant reach and improved utility for crypto holdings. Traders should watch USDC market flows, Coinbase wallet and treasury activity, and Klarna funding announcements that could affect on‑exchange stablecoin supply. Adoption will depend on the exact list of supported stablecoins, fees (network or conversion), regulatory and tax considerations, and issuer risk. The move signals deeper fintech–crypto integration and may prompt competitors to add similar options, increasing transactional demand for stablecoins in e‑commerce.

Fidelity analysts led by Jurrien Timmer warn Bitcoin may suffer an “off year” in 2026 tied to the four‑year halving cycle, with a potential pullback to $65,000–$75,000 if historical patterns repeat. Bitcoin is trading below its 2025 open (~$93,576) and has been range‑bound around $85,000–$93,000 amid sluggish momentum. On‑chain data (Glassnode) shows apparent accumulation in mid‑tier “shark” wallets largely reflects internal reshuffling and a net reduction of BTC (~30,000), implying weaker true demand. Institutional flows are mixed: Fidelity’s FBTC saw modest inflows (179 BTC this week) while BlackRock’s IBIT remains far larger (~$65.6B vs FBTC’s ~$16.7B in BTC holdings). Macro and regulatory developments — including divergent central‑bank signals, expected rate cuts in some regions, and rising Japanese bond yields — are keeping capital cautious and may keep volatility elevated. Analysts note rising correlation between crypto and traditional markets driven by ETFs and institutional participation, which could reduce crypto‑specific decoupling but increase sensitivity to global liquidity and rates. Key takeaways for traders: (1) downside risk to $65K–$75K if the halving cycle pattern holds; (2) monitor ETF flows and size disparities between products; (3) watch on‑chain signals closely for genuine accumulation vs. internal transfers; (4) factor macro rate moves and regulatory news into risk management and position sizing.

Tron DAO has integrated TRX with Base (Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2) using the LayerZero cross‑chain messaging protocol, allowing TRX to be bridged to Base as a wrapped token. The bridge enables TRX holders to access Base‑native DEXs, liquidity pools and trading pairs (for example Aerodrome), benefiting from Base’s low fees and fast transactions. Users bridge by connecting a Web3 wallet, selecting TRX on Tron as the source and Base as the destination, and paying Tron gas plus bridging fees; once on Base the wrapped TRX requires ETH for transaction gas on that network. The integration increases TRX cross‑chain accessibility and aims to boost liquidity and interoperability by connecting Tron’s user base and liquidity to Base’s low‑cost, high‑throughput environment. Traders should note smart‑contract and bridge counterparty risks, wrapped‑token custody models, and the need to verify official bridge interfaces before using the bridge. Expected practical effects include easier access to Base liquidity, potential upticks in TRX trading volume on Base DEXs, and improved on‑chain UX for traders and DeFi developers integrating TRX into multi‑chain strategies.

Helios has launched its $HLS token via a token generation event (TGE), issuing $HLS as an ERC‑20 on Ethereum and Arbitrum and listing it on tier‑1 centralized exchanges including KuCoin, BingX, MEXC, Weex and LBank to provide early liquidity. The project reports $19 million raised to date — a $15 million strategic commitment from Bolts Capital plus $4 million via launchpads. Helios is currently in Mainnet Beta; its Layer‑1 mainnet is scheduled for Q1 2026, when $HLS will become native to Helios and bridgeable via the project’s Hyperion cross‑chain modules. Near‑term priorities are operating Mainnet Beta with supervised validators, activating incentive programs to bootstrap usage, and continuing development toward a permissionless mainnet. Helios is also developing Forge, an app to create and mint on‑chain ETFs and automated, AI‑driven portfolio strategies. The launch aims to broaden participation and provide liquidity while mainnet development continues — a key signal for traders monitoring token availability, exchange listings and upcoming bridging events.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) ended 2025 with one of its weakest performances: the token lost value in 10 of 12 months, with only April and July closing positive. Q4 was especially severe, with declines of 15.2% in October, 16.2% in November and 11.6% in December. At the time of reporting SHIB traded around $0.0000075, up modestly on the day. Technical analysts highlight $0.00000678 as the critical support level — a clear break below it would likely confirm continuation of the 2025 downtrend and expose much lower supports. For bulls to regain momentum, SHIB needs to reclaim $0.000008 and then test supply near $0.000009. Historical volatility shows SHIB can produce sharp reversals (notably February–March 2024 and January 2023), so a rapid bounce in January remains possible but depends on broader crypto market direction and social sentiment. Traders should watch the $0.00000678 floor closely: holding above it could enable short-term rallies toward $0.000008–$0.000009, while failure to defend it increases the probability of extended downside into January 2026.

WPA Hash markets itself as a cloud-mining platform that delivers predictable daily crypto income through 24/7 high-performance servers, automated allocation and optimization algorithms, and energy-efficient infrastructure. The service stresses computing power and uptime over short-term coin-price bets, offering tiered, hands-free mining contracts (examples: $100 → +$6; $500 → +$30; $1,000 → +$156; $3,000 → +$756; $5,000 → +$1,705; $12,000 → +$6,936). Features include bank-level encryption, automated daily earning cycles, multilingual support across 120+ countries, a $15 new-user bonus, referral rewards up to 4.5%, real-time dashboards, and detailed performance reports. The platform highlights transparency, contract terms, and sustainability through energy-efficient components. The article is partner content and includes a disclosure advising users to perform their own research. Traders should note the product is promotional; verify payout proofs, contract details, uptime guarantees, fees and withdrawal terms before allocating capital.

The Bank of Japan raised its short-term policy rate to 0.75%, the first increase in 11 months and the highest BOJ policy rate in roughly three decades. Officials cited sustained inflation near the 2% target, firmer wage growth and broader price increases as reasons for the move. Governor Kazuo Ueda framed the hike as an adjustment to the degree of monetary support rather than a shift to restrictive policy, noting that real rates remain deeply negative and financial conditions are still accommodative. Markets treated the move as measured: the yen showed limited volatility while Japanese government bond yields rose modestly. The BOJ provided no new forward guidance or timetable and said future steps will be data‑dependent and gradual. For businesses and households, near‑term impacts should be limited though loan rates may edge up. Globally, Japan’s gradual normalization contrasts with some central banks that are easing or pausing, so investors — including crypto traders — will watch effects on the yen, capital flows and regional financial conditions. Main keyword: Bank of Japan rate hike. Secondary keywords: interest rate increase, policy rate, Japan inflation, monetary policy normalization.

$GRANT, the utility and governance token for AI-driven SocialFi platform GrantiX, has launched following a Token Generation Event and multiple sold-out IDOs (Finceptor, Spores Network, Red Kite, Huostarter). The token is now tradable as GRANT/USDT on BitMart and BingX, broadening market access. GrantiX is built on Arbitrum with multi-chain ambitions and integrates optional micro-donations into high-volume DeFi transactions, charging a 2% fee for distribution, verification and on-chain transparency. Since its MVP release the protocol has processed 20,000+ donations totaling over $250,000, distributed more than $80,000 in grants, onboarded 18,000+ organic users and raised $1.75M+ in funding. Smart contracts have completed CertiK audits. Founders include Dr. Konstantin Livshits and CEO Anton Yanushkevich. For traders, the listings on BitMart and BingX increase liquidity and access; monitor early-volume, order-book depth, and any unlock/vesting schedules from the IDOs to assess short-term price pressure and supply-side risk.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has completed technical preparations for a retail digital euro, confirming systems, privacy safeguards, cyber resilience and interoperability are in place and ready for pilots. ECB President Christine Lagarde and other officials say the ECB’s technical role is finished; issuance and launch now depend on political approval from the European Parliament and European Council and on legislation covering legal status, privacy and anti-money-laundering (AML) rules. The digital euro would be a state-backed CBDC carrying cash-equivalent legal status and available to euro-area users, intended to protect payment sovereignty, ensure broad access to central bank money, and provide a privacy-preserving, resilient alternative to private stablecoins. The ECB also noted that current stablecoins do not yet threaten euro-area financial stability. Traders should monitor EU legislative timelines and policy choices: approval could tighten rules on private stablecoins, alter demand for crypto payment tools and settlement tokens, and shift regulatory pressure across markets, affecting short-term flows and long-term structural demand for crypto assets used in payments.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) rallied sharply — roughly 12–15% across the latest updates — driven by a mix of increased retail buying after a softer-than-expected US CPI print (2.7%), larger long positions from high-level traders, and rising futures open interest. BCH traded near $594–$596 and reclaimed the $600 area, briefly becoming one of the top performers as market-wide strength (BTC > $92k, ETH ~ $3.2k) supported altcoins. Futures open interest rose to a six-month high (about $761.5m, up ~18.7%), and funding rates turned positive, signaling bullish positioning and that longs paid a premium. On technicals, 4-hour indicators showed bullish momentum — RSI above neutral (~59), MACD bullish, price above key moving averages — and price formed a double bottom around $530. Near-term resistance sits at $615 and $650, with a higher target near the 2024 high around $720; failure to sustain gains could trigger a retest of inducement liquidity near $550 or consolidation in the $600–$625 range. Trading takeaways: monitor BCH price action at $615–$650 for breakout confirmation, watch RSI/MACD and funding rates for momentum shifts, size positions with the broader bullish crypto backdrop in mind, and use stops below $550 to manage downside risk. Not investment advice.

A U.S. federal judge allowed plaintiffs to amend a class-action suit against memecoin launch platform Pump.fun and Solana-related parties by adding more than 5,000 internal chat logs as evidence alleging insider use of MEV (maximal extractable value). Plaintiffs, represented by Burwick Law, say the logs show Pump.fun staff, Solana engineers and Jito-linked personnel coordinating transaction ordering and preferential access that enabled front-running and advantaged buys ahead of public participants. Earlier defendants included Jito Labs — an MEV-infrastructure builder on Solana — which was later dismissed without prejudice. The addition of the logs could widen discovery, raise questions about legal liability for MEV tooling and neutral infrastructure, and set a U.S. precedent on responsibility for MEV-related harms. Crypto community observers have debated whether the new evidence is substantive or a litigation tactic and have questioned legal interpretations of routine MEV mechanics. For traders: monitor Solana ecosystem governance, regulatory scrutiny, reputational risk to projects named, and potential liquidity and volatility impacts for memecoins tied to Pump.fun; legal developments could change token flows and short-term price behavior.

Research from RWA.io finds blockchain fragmentation is imposing a measurable drag on the tokenized real‑world asset (RWA) market, costing an estimated $600 million–$1.3 billion annually today. The report, compiled with input from 17 firms including Coinbase, Franklin Templeton and Polygon, estimates over $36 billion in tokenized RWAs now in circulation and identifies two main frictions: price dispersion and cross‑chain transfer costs. Identical or economically equivalent tokenized assets commonly trade 1%–3% apart on different chains. Moving assets between chains typically incurs ~2%–5% loss per reallocation from exchange fees, slippage, gas, transfer delays and operational risk (model average ≈3.5%), making many arbitrage opportunities uneconomic. Ethereum holds roughly 52% of tokenized RWA value while Polygon accounts for a large share of tokenized bonds, underscoring a multi‑chain market with operational friction. RWA.io projects tokenized RWAs could expand to $16–$30 trillion by 2030; if fragmentation persists, annual value drag could scale to $30–$75 billion. RWA.io COO Marko Vidrih called fragmentation the main barrier to realizing the market’s multi‑trillion potential. Despite these inefficiencies, tokenization momentum continues — examples include Securitize’s on‑chain stock plans and Coinbase’s stock trading feature. For traders, fragmentation creates both arbitrage windows and heightened execution risk, higher transaction costs and lower effective returns on tokenized debt, private credit and commodity exposures.

Bitcoin (BTC) rallied about 2.5% and briefly neared $88,000 after the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to roughly 0.75%, a 30-year high. The surprise move ended Japan’s era of ultralow rates but—unexpectedly—risk assets including BTC and US equity futures moved higher as markets judged further tightening unlikely. Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes warned on X that Japan may aim for negative real rates, forecasting a much weaker yen (USD/JPY toward 200) and a very bullish long-term outlook for Bitcoin (BTC to $1,000,000). Research firm Temple 8 and other analysts counter that political and fiscal constraints (rising debt-service costs on stimulus) make additional BOJ hikes unlikely before 2027. On-chain analysts (Checkonchain) say Bitcoin is still forming a bottom, highlighting about $81,000 as a key US spot-BTC ETF cost-basis support; the market has not shown a decisive “capitulation.” Volatility rose after mixed US inflation data, briefly pushing BTC to a recent low near $84,390 before the rebound. Key takeaways for traders: short-term bullish momentum after the BOJ surprise, critical support in the $80k–$81k–$84k range tied to ETF cost basis and recent lows, macro uncertainty around future Japanese tightening, and continued risk of downside retests absent clear capitulation or sustained volume. No investment advice is provided.

Real Vision founder Raoul Pal says Zcash’s sharp 2025 rally appears driven mainly by capital rotation within crypto rather than a durable, structural bull trend. ZEC has surged roughly 700–745% year-to-date and saw its market cap jump from about $1 billion in August to over $7 billion by early November, helped by retail momentum, social-media attention (including comments from Arthur Hayes) and rising institutional interest such as a Grayscale filing to convert a Zcash-linked fund into a spot ETF. Momentum has since cooled: ZEC lost roughly 37% in the past month. Pal told the When Shift Happens podcast that traders should treat the move as rotation until ZEC forms a stable price base and can hold up when the broader market advances. He is unlikely to chase current levels and would consider buying on a pullback. Key trader takeaways: watch base formation, volume trends, ETF/institutional developments, and overall market direction; short-term reversals are possible if rotation unwinds.

On‑chain data show large XRP withdrawals from Binance have driven the exchange’s XRP reserves to multi‑month lows. Traders and holders are moving XRP off‑exchange into cold wallets and regulated custody, a behavior interpreted as reduced near‑term selling pressure and increased long‑term confidence. Recent developments indicate sustained daily outflows and notable purchases tied to spot XRP ETF accumulation, with ETFs acquiring hundreds of millions of XRP over recent weeks. Reduced exchange supply can amplify buying pressure: with fewer coins available to trade, steady or rising demand—including ETF and institutional flows—may trigger sharper price moves and supply squeezes. Past episodes of major exchange reserve declines preceded steep rallies in XRP, and technical resistance sits near $2.40–$2.50; a clean breakout could intensify institutional FOMO. Key SEO keywords: XRP supply shock, exchange reserves, XRP ETFs, Binance withdrawals, institutional demand.

Virtune, a Sweden-regulated digital asset manager, launched a spot Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) tracking Bittensor’s TAO token on Nasdaq Stockholm on December 19, 2025. The ETP (ticker VIRTAO) provides regulated, broker-accessible 1:1 physical exposure to TAO without direct custody or private-key management and trades in Swedish kronor. Virtune markets the product as low-fee, secure and convenient. The listing follows a staked Bittensor ETP introduced by Deutsche Digital Assets on Switzerland’s SIX in October, but Virtune’s offering is aimed at wider Nordic distribution and benefits from EU/EEA regulatory standing. At publication TAO traded around $228. The ETP carries issuer counterparty risk and mirrors TAO’s inherent volatility; it also has a management fee (reported previously at 1.95%). The launch increases institutional and retail access to an AI-focused crypto asset, which may boost TAO liquidity and mainstream recognition. For traders, the listing could cause short-term upward pressure from new demand but does not remove token volatility — risk management is advised.