Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

BONK, the Solana-based memecoin, moved from earlier intraday highs into a lower trading band as volatility and volume spiked near short-term resistance. Initial reports showed BONK trading in a tight range (~$0.00000980–$0.00001020) with failed breakout attempts; later updates recorded a deeper pullback to about $0.0000086–$0.0000088 after failing to hold higher levels and encountering heavier selling at roughly $0.0000090. Volume expanded sharply during tests of resistance, signalling active interest and battle between buyers and sellers, but faded on the close, preventing a sustained breakout. Technicals indicate consolidation below prior support-turned-resistance; upside bias requires a decisive move above $0.0000090 (or prior $0.00001020 in earlier reports) with renewed volume. Downside risk remains toward the range floor (near $0.00000950 in the earlier window and ~ $0.0000085–$0.0000090 in the later update). Traders should watch volume at resistance for a breakout signal and manage risk around the range floor while the token remains range-bound.

Internet Computer (ICP) weakened after an intraday rebound failed to hold, combining reports of two pullbacks that pushed price toward recent lows. Early action saw ICP test highs near $3.76 before slipping to ~$3.49 and breaking short-term support bands; a later update shows price moving from roughly $3.28 down to about $3.13, stabilizing near $3.05–$3.10 with only limited bounces. Both accounts note expanded selling volume during the declines, indicating active distribution and repositioning around the $3.20–$3.55 resistance zone. Technical structure is bearish-to-neutral: price sits below short-term moving averages, short-term highs are declining, and a sustained break below the $3.45 area (earlier report) or failure to reclaim $3.25–$3.30 (later report) would keep downside momentum available. For traders: watch volume and ability to reclaim and hold above the $3.25–$3.55 range for signs of momentum repair; a decisive break below the $3.05–$3.45 support cluster would open retests of deeper lows. Keywords: ICP, Internet Computer, ICP price, support break, intraday volatility, trading volume.

WPA Hash has launched a cloud-mining service offering daily Ethereum (ETH) and XRP rewards without requiring users to own hardware. The platform markets enterprise-grade data centers, automated mining contracts, real-time analytics, and security controls. New users receive a $15 registration bonus and plans start from $100 with tiered contracts showing projected net returns and daily payouts withdrawable to users’ wallets. WPA Hash emphasizes hands-off operation: 24/7 uptime-focused infrastructure (cooling, stable power, monitoring), automated profit-optimization, hardware maintenance and dashboards that display hash rates and profitability estimates. The provider positions the service as a long-term passive-income option for new and experienced crypto investors. Disclosure: content is sponsored; users should conduct their own research.

Ether (ETH) briefly slipped below the $3,000 psychological level on December 15, trading around $2,998 on OKX and recording an intra-day decline of roughly 2.8%. Both reports present market information only and do not cite any new fundamental catalyst or broader context; the move follows recent volatility across major crypto assets, including earlier weakness in Bitcoin. Traders should note the breach of the $3,000 support level — a key technical threshold — which may trigger increased short-term selling pressure and elevated liquidations in leveraged positions. Monitor orderbook depth, open interest and nearby support levels for potential bounce or further downside.

Bitwise amended its S‑1 to register a Hyperliquid ETF under ticker BHYP and disclosed an annual management fee of 0.67% (67 bps). The filing includes a Form 8‑A registration, a procedural step Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas and others view as commonly preceding an imminent ETF launch. Bitwise has been leading efforts to secure SEC approval for a fund tracking Hyperliquid’s HYPE token; rival manager 21Shares is pursuing a similar product. The update comes amid heightened crypto ETF activity, with managers rolling out funds tied to assets such as SOL, XRP, DOGE, LTC and HBAR as investor demand for regulated, diversified crypto exposure grows. No exact launch date was provided. Traders should watch for a trading kickoff and early flows into BHYP, as ETF listings and initial inflows can materially affect short‑term price discovery and liquidity in the underlying HYPE token.

Nvidia is planning a significant increase in production of its H200 Hopper AI accelerators after large preliminary orders from Chinese tech firms such as Alibaba and ByteDance, following U.S. approval for exports under new commercial terms. The H200—built on TSMC 4nm—outperforms China‑customized H20 variants and domestic accelerators for large‑language‑model training, prompting strong demand. Reuters reports Chinese firms are negotiating substantial purchases; however, China has not yet finalized import approvals and has held internal reviews. The U.S. export decision includes a 25% revenue‑sharing requirement, creating regulatory and geopolitical complexity and raising the risk of policy reversals. Production challenges persist: Nvidia faces TSMC 4nm capacity constraints, shifting internal production priorities, and global competition for advanced foundry slots, which may limit how fast shipments can scale. Market implications for traders: potential near‑term increases in Nvidia revenue and changes in global supply and pricing for high‑end GPUs, but also risks from Chinese import restrictions, a push for domestic chip self‑sufficiency, and sudden policy shifts that could disrupt supply chains and valuations. Traders should monitor confirmed order volumes and shipment notices from Alibaba/ByteDance, H200 vs H20 inventory and pricing trends, TSMC capacity signals, and any U.S. or Chinese policy updates that could rapidly affect semiconductor availability and market sentiment.

Spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs recorded roughly $500 million in combined net inflows between Dec 8–12, 2025, continuing a modest recovery after large November outflows. Bitcoin ETFs drew about $287M—led by BlackRock’s IBIT—while Ethereum ETFs added roughly $209M with inflows concentrated in BlackRock’s ETHA and Fidelity’s FETH. Total spot ETF assets remain sizable (Bitcoin ETFs ~ $118.3B AUM; Ethereum ETFs ~ $19.4B AUM). Despite steady capital entering ETFs, BTC and ETH prices were largely unchanged over the week (BTC near $89.6k, ETH around $3,127), which market participants attribute to a fully priced-in Fed rate cut, persistent resistance for BTC around $92k–$94k, and cautious risk sentiment. The flows signal improving investor sentiment and gradual, structural shifts toward long-term ETF allocation dominated by large asset managers—especially BlackRock—where ownership is quietly transferring into ETF wrappers. For traders, the key implications are that ETF inflows provide potential price support and indicate institutional accumulation, but muted price reaction suggests limited immediate bullish momentum; continued low volatility with steady inflows could set the stage for abrupt price moves if flows accelerate or liquidity tightens.

Geode Foundation has listed its native token GEODE on centralized exchange BitMart, marking the project’s first major exchange debut. Geode Chain is a volunteer-driven Layer 1 blockchain and app ecosystem that launched its MainNet in February 2023; the team reports 34 months of continuous MainNet uptime and uses a Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS) consensus which it says is far more energy-efficient than proof-of-work. The foundation operates as a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and says it is self-funded without venture capital. Geode reports more than 10,000 registered users, with roughly 40% actively contributing as ambassadors, testers or validators. Native apps include IP registration, social features, private messaging, a marketplace, cross-chain dApp discovery and a Life & Work app for on-chain resumes, endorsements and monetization. Founders Thomas and Dr. Kathryn Messegee lead the project and emphasise community governance, long-term tokenomics and a 50-year vision that includes AI-blockchain integration. The BitMart listing is positioned as a liquidity and adoption milestone intended to broaden access and cross-chain utility. Traders should note the listing may increase GEODE liquidity and visibility, while fundamentals remain tied to user growth, governance rollout and dApp adoption.

The New York Times reports that the Trump administration substantially rolled back, paused or dismissed a large share of crypto enforcement actions after taking office, disproportionately more than in other industries. Investigators found at least 14 of 23 Biden-era crypto cases were reversed or de-prioritized; more than half involved defendants who later formed political or business ties to the Trump family. High-profile examples cited include dismissals or reductions affecting Coinbase, Binance (and founder CZ), Ripple, Tron, Kraken, ConsenSys and Cumberland. The NYT alleges some firms or executives later engaged in business that financially benefited Trump-related interests, including involvement with a proposed USD stablecoin and large transactions tied to World Liberty Financial. The SEC offered limited public comment; some officials defended case closures as legally weak, while critics raised conflict-of-interest and political interference concerns. For traders, the report increases regulatory uncertainty: enforcement may be subject to political shifts, legal outcomes could be reversible only with difficulty (many dismissals were with prejudice), and reputational or litigation risks for named firms could drive volatility. Key SEO keywords: Trump, crypto regulation, SEC, Ripple, Binance, Coinbase, political ties. Main keyword (crypto regulation) appears multiple times to aid search relevance.

CoinDesk Indices reports the CoinDesk 20 index at 2,833.07, down 0.3% since the prior update. Ten of the 20 component assets are trading higher. Ethereum (ETH) led gains with a 2.0% rise and Aave (AAVE) also advanced 1.6%. The largest decliners were Hedera (HBAR) at -3.9% and Internet Computer (ICP) at -3.2%. Earlier data showed the index near 2,897.76 with mixed breadth (nine of 20 assets higher), indicating minor intraperiod variation but no decisive directional move. Key trader takeaways: index level (2,833.07), net change (-0.3%), short-term winners (ETH +2.0%, AAVE +1.6%) and laggards (HBAR -3.9%, ICP -3.2%). Market impact appears limited — the update is a routine daily snapshot of broad-based token performance across platforms and should be used for short-term positioning and monitoring of relative strength among major tokens.

Juventus (JVTSF) shares jumped about 13.5% after Exor NV, the Agnelli family investment vehicle and majority owner, publicly rejected an unsolicited takeover approach from crypto firm Tether Holdings. Exor reiterated it has no intention to sell the club, removing immediate takeover uncertainty and triggering the equity rally. The bidder is linked to the USDT stablecoin issuer Tether. Traders should note potential volatility in Juventus equity and possible short-term speculative spillover into crypto markets tied to Tether-related news, although Exor’s firm refusal reduces the near-term likelihood of an actual acquisition. Key facts: Juventus stock +13.5% intraday; bidder: Tether Holdings (USDT issuer); target: Exor-controlled Juventus; date: Dec. 15, 2025. Primary keywords: Juventus stock, Exor, Tether, takeover bid, stablecoin. Secondary/semantic keywords: football club acquisition, crypto firm acquisition, USDT issuer, equity reaction, market volatility.

Strategy purchased 10,645 BTC for about $980.3 million, paying an average of $92,098 per coin, the company said in an SEC filing. The acquisition was funded mainly through the firm’s ATM programme — largely proceeds from selling MicroStrategy (MSTR) common stock and additional sales of preferred share classes (STRF, STRD, STRK). After the buy, Strategy holds 671,268 BTC acquired at an average cost near $74,972 per coin (total cost ~ $50 billion). The filing also reports a BTC yield of 24.9% year-to-date 2025. This transaction updates and slightly increases prior reported figures (previously 10,624–10,645 BTC and ~660–671k total holdings), underscoring continued institutional accumulation of bitcoin and the recurring use of equity-for-crypto financing. For traders: the deal tightens available supply, signals sustained institutional demand and reaffirms the company’s treasury strategy — factors that can support Bitcoin price strength in the medium term. Primary keywords: Strategy Bitcoin purchase, BTC acquisition, institutional BTC accumulation, ATM share sales, MSTR funding.

Strategy increased its institutional Bitcoin accumulation through late 2025. An earlier disclosure showed the firm held 650,000 BTC as of Nov. 30, 2025 (average cost ≈ $74,436) after adding roughly 203,600 BTC year-to-date. A later filing reports a new purchase of 10,645 BTC for about $980.3 million at an average price near $92,098 per BTC. As of Dec. 14, 2025, Strategy’s total holdings stand at 671,268 BTC with an aggregate cost basis near $74,972 per coin (~$50.33 billion). The firm reports a year-to-date bitcoin return of 24.9% through early December. For traders, the disclosure confirms continued large-scale institutional accumulation, reveals the firm’s average cost basis versus current market prices, and signals sustained demand that can tighten supply on exchanges and support price levels in the medium term.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has opened a formal review of Nasdaq’s proposal to list and trade tokenized stocks and ETFs on the same order book and rights framework as traditional shares. Nasdaq proposes using blockchain to represent securities to improve trading efficiency while retaining clearing and settlement through the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). The SEC’s public consultation asks for comment on legal, operational and investor-protection risks, and whether tokenized and conventional securities can coexist without separate accounts. Industry responses are mixed: supporters highlight potential post-trade efficiency and cost benefits, while Ondo Finance and Cboe Global Markets have urged the SEC to delay approvals until the DTCC clarifies how settlement for tokenized securities will work. The review does not imply approval; its outcome will influence how quickly tokenization is adopted in mainstream equity markets and could shape regulatory, settlement and investor-protection frameworks for blockchain-based securities. Keywords: tokenized stocks, Nasdaq, SEC review, DTCC settlement, tokenization.

JPMorgan Chase launched a tokenized money-market mutual fund on the public Ethereum mainnet on December 15, 2025, seeding the vehicle with $100 million of internal capital. The fund is aimed at institutional treasury and high‑net‑worth clients seeking on‑chain cash instruments and near‑real‑time settlement to improve liquidity and operational efficiency. The product extends JPMorgan’s Kinexys tokenization strategy from permissioned ledgers to a public blockchain and follows prior deposit‑based token launches (JPMD on Base) and a recent $50 million commercial paper issuance on Solana. JPMorgan positions these deposit‑backed tokens as regulated alternatives to stablecoins and plans to expand access and add currencies pending regulatory approval. Industry data cited in the announcement show tokenized money‑market fund assets roughly doubled in 2025 (from about $4bn to $8.6bn), highlighting accelerating institutional adoption of public blockchains for regulated cash products. For traders, the move may increase on‑chain liquidity for cash equivalents, shorten settlement times for institutional flows, and raise demand for Ethereum (ETH) blockspace; it also signals growing competition between public chains (Ethereum, Solana, Base) for regulated tokenized cash instruments.

American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), the bitcoin mining and treasury firm co-founded by Eric Trump, added 261 BTC to its corporate treasury, bringing its total holdings to 5,044 BTC, per BitcoinTreasuries. The company combines mined output with market and OTC purchases as a strategic reserve policy. Earlier reporting noted ABTC bought 416 BTC on Dec. 10 (~$38M) and reported Q3 2025 results showing more than 3,000 BTC added that quarter through mining and purchases, with $64M revenue and $3.5M net income. ABTC’s Satoshis-per-Share metric has risen as the company accumulates. Analysts say mining firms’ and institutions’ treasury buys can tighten available supply, bolster price sentiment and serve as inflation hedges or financing tools ahead of long-term catalysts such as the next Bitcoin halving—while risks include market volatility, regulatory scrutiny and high mining costs. The latest purchase follows broader institutional accumulation (e.g., MicroStrategy and other corporate buyers) and comes amid mixed US spot BTC ETF flows, indicating continued institutional interest. For traders: continued corporate accumulation may reduce circulating supply and support bullish sentiment for BTC, but watch liquidity, ETF flows, miner selling pressure and regulatory developments for short-term volatility.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt says bitcoin’s long‑running parabolic uptrend on a logarithmic chart was breached after the post‑halving rally peaked in October. Brandt points out that BTC doubled to a reported $126,000 high in October before retreating below $90,000 and cutting through the fourth parabolic arc. He compares the cycle to prior post‑halving bull runs that delivered diminishing multiples (historically ~100x in early cycles, ~74x after 2016, ~8–10x after 2020) and were followed by deep bear-market pullbacks of roughly 70–80% from all‑time highs. From that pattern Brandt highlights a reference level — “20% of ATH = $25,240” — and argues the parabola breach opens the door to a severe decline toward the low‑$20,000s. The call is technical, based on log‑scale trend‑line support rather than on‑chain metrics or macro drivers. Traders should note the explicit downside target, the historical post‑halving decay thesis, and the parabolic support break when sizing positions, setting stops and managing risk.

The Agnelli family and Juventus rejected a reported $1 billion proposal from Tether — issuer of the USDT stablecoin — to buy a minority stake in the club as part of wider sponsorship and commercial talks. Juventus sources said no deal terms were agreed and no further negotiations have been confirmed. The refusal highlights sensitivity toward crypto-linked sports investments amid regulatory and reputational scrutiny. For traders, the decision reduces the chance of near-term crypto-related corporate activity tied to Juventus and limits potential short-term volatility for USDT or other crypto assets from association news.

Phantom, the Solana-focused crypto wallet, has rolled out a U.S. debit card that converts crypto to dollars at point of sale and integrates with the Phantom app for in‑app card management. Initially available to U.S. users, the card supports on‑chain payments, functions wherever debit cards are accepted, and offers up to 4% crypto rewards. The launch follows an industry trend of wallets and exchanges adding payment rails to boost real‑world utility and mainstream adoption. For traders, the move increases practical demand for Solana‑linked wallets and could modestly lift demand for SOL and tokens within the Solana ecosystem. Key items to watch: supported assets, conversion/fee mechanics, reward structure, and user growth — all of which can affect on‑chain liquidity, fiat conversion flows, and short‑term trading activity.

MEXC has launched the ETHFI Euphoria campaign (Dec 15, 2025–Jan 14, 2026) in partnership with ETHFI, offering a $1 million prize pool, zero-fee trading on multiple ETHFI spot and futures pairs, and tiered staking rewards that include an exclusive new-user weETH five-day stake with up to 200% APR. The promotion includes six main tracks: 1) zero trading fees on ETHFI spot pairs (ETHFI/USDT, ETHFI/USDC, ETHFI/USDE, ETHFI/USD1) and ETHFI futures; 2) a Mega Spin prize pool sharing 50,000 ETHFI and 100,000 USDT; 3) a new-user weETH stake (0.035–0.15 weETH per user, first-come, first-served) offering up to 200% APR; 4) deposit-and-spot-trade rewards that distribute 150,000 ETHFI (minimum 100 USDT deposit and 100 USDT ETHFI spot trade required; first 10,000 new users get 10 ETHFI, with additional pools for higher-volume traders); 5) futures incentives totaling 200,000 USDT (including a 50,000 USDT new-futures welcome pool and a 150,000 USDT leaderboard pool); and 6) ETHFI staking for users who complete Primary KYC to earn up to 25% APR with instant redeemability for trading. The campaign targets both new and existing users to boost ETHFI liquidity, spot and futures volumes, and staking participation. Traders should note participation limits, first-come-first-served caps, KYC requirements, regional availability variations, and stacking/exclusion rules when planning trades or liquidity provision. Main keyword: ETHFI (appears multiple times); secondary keywords: MEXC, zero-fee trading, staking rewards, prize pool.

Rapper Soulja Boy (DeAndre Cortez Way) issued a public apology after blockchain investigator ZachXBT published findings that the artist promoted at least 73 crypto tokens and 16 NFT projects between March 2021 and 2023. Many of those promotions later collapsed, were abandoned or were alleged rug pulls and scams. ZachXBT estimates Soulja Boy earned roughly $730,000 from paid endorsements during that period. Notable cases flagged include the RAPDOGE rug pull following a celebrity-driven pump on July 19, 2021; Orion and The Life Token, which allegedly exploited charitable claims before teams abandoned the projects; and Flokinomics, which falsely claimed ties to Elon Musk before liquidity was removed. Soulja Boy said he accepted paid promotions without fully understanding crypto at the time, accepted responsibility for insufficient due diligence and named a promoter called Sahil as arranging some payments. The reports add to ongoing regulatory scrutiny: the SEC previously sued Soulja Boy and other celebrities over undisclosed token promotions involving TRX and BTT. For traders: the revelations underscore heightened counterparty and reputational risk around celebrity-backed tokens and NFT drops, increase the odds of short-term sell pressure on affected tokens, and reinforce the need for stricter due diligence on influencer-led projects.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a DeFi lending protocol with a dual-market model (Peer-to-Contract liquidity pools issuing mtTokens and a Peer-to-Peer loan marketplace), is drawing renewed investor interest as its presale advances. The project has raised $19.3M and reports more than 18,400 holders. Phase 6 of the presale is reported to be heavily subscribed (around 85–97% allocated across reports) at a price near $0.035; 820M of 1.82B presale tokens have been sold from a total 4B supply. The team plans a V1 Sepolia testnet launch in Q4 2025 supporting ETH and USDT, featuring liquidity pools, mtToken mechanics, debt tokens and a liquidator bot. Security steps cited include a CertiK token-scan score of 90/100, an ongoing Halborn review of finalized contracts and a $50K bug bounty. Marketing and community incentives (leaderboards, daily $500 rewards, card payments) aim to accelerate adoption. For traders, rising presale momentum, limited phase allocation and visible product milestones can increase short-term buying pressure on MUTM; however, long-term value will depend on V1 adoption, on-chain activity and audit outcomes. Note: coverage originates from sponsored material and is not investment advice. (Keywords: Mutuum Finance, MUTM, presale, DeFi lending, mtToken)

Social sentiment for XRP has turned increasingly bullish while spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have posted persistent net inflows, recording over $20.1 million on Friday and marking a 19th consecutive day of positive flows. Santiment flagged this week among the most bullish for XRP commentary across Telegram, Discord, Reddit and X. CoinGecko shows XRP trading in a roughly $1.99–$2.17 range, last quoted near $2.03. SoSoValue reports cumulative ETF inflows approaching $974.5 million and assets under management near $1.18 billion; the largest single-day intake was about $243 million on November 14. Corporate and regulatory developments have likely supported demand: the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved national trust charters for Ripple and Circle and allowed custodians such as BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets and Paxos to convert state charters, while Ripple raised $500 million in November at an approximately $40 billion valuation and has been expanding into stablecoins, brokerage and treasury services. Market observers note ongoing Wall Street buying and institutional accumulation into XRP ETFs. For traders: sustained ETF inflows plus rising social bullishness increase the odds of further upside pressure around the $2 level, but price remains range-bound and vulnerable to profit-taking, macro volatility and any shifts in regulatory tone. Monitor ETF flow updates, on-chain accumulation metrics and news on Ripple’s regulatory and corporate moves for signs of durable institutional buying or a reversal in momentum.

A major South Korean centralized exchange suffered a hot-wallet compromise that released hundreds of rapid transactions within roughly 15 minutes, draining about ₩44.5B (~$33–35M) across dozens of tokens. The exchange paused withdrawals and managed to freeze roughly half the stolen funds (notably ≈₩23B in LAYER), but the remainder is unrecoverable. Chainalysis attributes the incident to a compromised hot-wallet signing flow rather than a smart-contract bug or user error. Key signals included multiple wallets being driven to zero, a jump from near-zero withdrawal activity to ~80 large withdrawals in 15 minutes, and burst transfers across many asset types. Attackers then used AMMs to swap stolen assets into harder-to-freeze tokens. Chainalysis highlights mitigation tools — Hexagate’s Wallet Compromise Detection Kit (real-time balance/burst/unknown-recipient detection and ML models) and GateSigner (pre-signature simulation and blocking/escalation) — that can flag anomalies in the earliest malicious transactions and block suspicious signing flows. The report warns that CEX and custodian breaches are rising as attackers target complex, multi-chain hot-wallet infrastructures; rapid detection, signature-pipeline controls and automated responses (withdrawal halts, cold-wallet evacuation, coordinated freezes) can limit losses and reduce systemic contagion. For traders: expect short-term volatility in affected tokens (especially those frozen or heavily swapped), renewed market scrutiny on exchange security, and potential regulatory or custodial changes that could affect liquidity and withdrawal protocols.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson praised the Midnight (NIGHT) token launch as a landmark for the Cardano ecosystem after NIGHT secured day-one listings on major centralized exchanges including Binance (Alpha), OKX and Kraken. The token briefly reached multi-dollar highs on some venues and had a reported fully diluted valuation near $1.5 billion, but then suffered extreme volatility — correcting about 96% from peak levels to roughly $0.06–$0.07. On-chain metrics showed unusually strong DEX activity for Cardano: Cardano DRep Jaromir Tesar reported roughly $6.7 million in 24‑hour DEX volume, a rare spike for Cardano liquidity, while centralized 24‑hour volume spiked above $1 billion at peak before cooling to around $534 million. Hoskinson defended the launch mechanics and distribution (Glacier Drop, retail-heavy allocation), calling 48–72 hours of severe volatility normal for such listings, and highlighted Midnight as a privacy-focused partner chain and a potential multi-billion-dollar ecosystem growth wedge for Cardano DApps. For traders: expect continued high volatility, rapid volume shifts between centralized exchanges and Cardano DEXs, and elevated execution and liquidity risk in the short term despite the event’s longer-term implications for Cardano ecosystem maturation.

Asian equities opened lower after a Wall Street sell-off led by weaker guidance from AI-linked tech names such as Broadcom and Oracle, prompting renewed doubts about the sustainability of the AI-driven rally. Chinese stocks underperformed amid fresh weak macro data — declines in industrial output and retail sales, slowing fixed-asset investment and continued contraction in new home prices — keeping focus on growth and property-sector risks. India saw rupee weakness on foreign capital outflows, delayed trade deals and inflation prints below the central bank’s lower tolerance, adding pressure to local bonds and equities. Global investors also trimmed positions ahead of major central bank decisions (including the Bank of Japan) and US jobs/inflation data, increasing short-term volatility. For crypto traders: heightened equity and FX volatility and risk-off flows can translate into temporary liquidity shifts into or out of major crypto assets, larger intraday price swings, and sensitivity to macro data and tech sector guidance; monitor USD strength, yields, and on-chain indicators for short-term trade signals.

Binance denies reports it delayed or only partially complied with South Korean requests to freeze funds after a late-November hack of Upbit’s Solana hot wallet. South Korean investigators say attackers stole roughly 44.5 billion won (~$30M) and rapidly moved funds through more than 1,000 wallets using chain hopping, bridges and token swaps; Upbit asked Binance to freeze about 470 million won (~$370k) in traced SOL, of which authorities report roughly 80 million won (~$75k), or ~17%, was frozen. Binance says its security and investigations teams identified the incident, worked with law enforcement and acted immediately, completing the freeze about 15 hours after the request. Investigators say much laundered value passed into third-party service wallets on Binance and that attackers converted a portion of stolen SOL into ETH. South Korean police opened an investigation and early reporting links the intrusion to North Korea‑linked Lazarus Group. Upbit moved nearly all customer assets into cold storage and raised its cold‑wallet ratio to 99% following the breach. The partial and delayed-freeze claims have drawn criticism from researchers and industry observers and have renewed calls for stronger cross-border exchange coordination, such as an emergency hotline or pre‑authorized freeze mechanism. Key keywords: Binance, Upbit hack, Solana, funds freeze, crypto laundering, Lazarus Group.

Kevin Hassett, a leading contender for Federal Reserve chair, reiterated Fed independence on CBS’s Face the Nation, saying presidential views matter only when supported by data and that rate decisions will be judged by the FOMC’s voting members. President Trump has narrowed his shortlist to two finalists — Hassett and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh — and suggested the next chair should consult with him on rate decisions. Prediction markets reacted: Hassett’s odds spiked earlier on Kalshi and Polymarket (around 85%) but fell after Trump praised Warsh; at reporting Polymarket showed Hassett ~52% vs Warsh ~39%. The Fed recently cut rates 25 basis points to a 3.50%–3.75% target range, while Chair Jerome Powell warned of upside inflation risks and downside employment risks. Economists view Hassett as dovish, preferring lower rates and more expansionary policy, which markets say could boost risk appetite. Crypto traders saw little immediate price reaction after the cut, remaining watchful for the Fed chair decision and potential further easing in 2026 that Trump supports. Key SEO keywords: Fed independence, Fed chair, Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, interest rate cut, prediction markets, Polymarket, Kalshi, FOMC vote, crypto market reaction.

Spanish police arrested five suspects and Danish authorities charged four more in a cross‑border criminal network that abducted a couple in Málaga in April to force access to their cryptocurrency wallets. Masked assailants shot the man while he tried to flee; he was later found dead with signs of violent assault. Investigators say attackers used physical coercion to obtain wallet credentials — so‑called “wrench attacks.” Spanish raids in Madrid and Málaga seized a real handgun, an imitation weapon, an extendable baton, balaclavas, blood‑stained clothing, mobile phones, documents and digital evidence. Danish charges include two suspects already serving sentences for similar offences. Prosecutors and police credited international cooperation, notably between Spain and Denmark, with dismantling an organised group targeting high‑value crypto holders. Chainalysis data cited in reporting show an increase in wrench attacks in 2025 (35 recorded by July) and that personal‑wallet assaults accounted for nearly a quarter of crypto losses this year. The case underlines growing physical threats to private key security and reinforces calls for traders and investors to adopt stronger custody and personal security measures — such as multisignature wallets, separation of access, hardware wallets and increased situational awareness.