Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

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.

On-chain analytics show a newly created wallet deposited roughly $1.23 million USDC into HyperLiquid and opened a 2x leveraged short on Zcash (ZEC). The position is approximately 5,000 ZEC with an entry near $400 and a liquidation price around $615.37. The address still holds about $404,000 in on-chain assets, indicating the trader may continue to add funds or take further positions. Data from OnchainLens flagged the trade but did not identify the trader. This sizeable stablecoin-funded short increases downside exposure for ZEC and concentrates risk on HyperLiquid liquidity. Traders should monitor on-chain flows from the address, HyperLiquid orderbook and liquidity, and ZEC open interest for signs of added selling pressure or potential liquidations that could amplify price moves.

MicroStrategy (MSTR) retained its place in the Nasdaq-100 during the index’s annual reconstitution, despite criticism over its bitcoin-heavy balance sheet. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor reiterated the company’s long-term bitcoin accumulation strategy, saying “The Bitcoin hoarding will continue until the complaining stops.” The firm holds 660,624 BTC (about $59 billion), representing more than half of its market capitalization, and treats purchases as treasury management rather than trading. Nasdaq’s rules-based selection — focused on market cap and liquidity — allowed MSTR’s inclusion, though other index providers such as MSCI have warned they may exclude firms with concentrated crypto exposure from some benchmarks starting in 2026. Traders should note that MicroStrategy’s public, sizable BTC purchases act as a signal of continued institutional accumulation and can tighten BTC liquidity, linking MSTR equity performance closely to bitcoin price moves. Key trading implications: potential passive inflows while index-rule changes or regulatory shifts could trigger reweighting or exclusion risks; concentrated exposure increases MSTR stock’s correlation with BTC; and continued corporate purchasing may support bitcoin bids over the medium term. Keywords: MicroStrategy, Bitcoin, Nasdaq-100, BTC accumulation, institutional buying.

Mantra’s governance token OM plunged over 99% in April 2025 after allegations that large, concentrated accounts — reportedly linked to team or major holders — borrowed significant USDT using OM as collateral to inflate the token price. OKX’s risk team froze implicated accounts and liquidated OM positions, which triggered cascading sell-offs and an immediate ~80% drop after the freeze, wiping out earlier gains of around 600% from late 2024 to early 2025. OKX frames the actions as risk-management measures to protect users, citing unusually large concentrated holdings and USDT loans; Mantra CEO JP Mullin denies direct litigation between Mantra and OKX and says legal claims involve other large traders. At press time OM traded near $0.07 with bearish derivatives sentiment (over 70% shorts on CoinGlass) and roughly 36,000 holders remain. Separately, Mantra plans to migrate OM (ERC‑20) to a Layer‑1 MANTRA token, with migration completion targeted by 15 January 2026 — an operational risk that could affect exchanges and holders during the transition. Key implications for traders: elevated volatility and liquidity risk in OM, persistent negative futures positioning, concentrated on‑chain holder risk, potential for further exchange intervention or legal actions affecting withdrawals/listings, and migration-related operational risks. Traders should monitor on‑chain concentration, exchange custody actions, derivatives flows, and migration progress for signs of renewed selling pressure or temporary liquidity squeezes.

Matrixport-linked on‑chain analytics (wallet starting with 0x7BB8) withdrew 3,000,000 ASTER tokens (~$2.84M) from Binance, leaving the wallet with about 5,000,000 ASTER (~$4.71M). Lookonchain attributed the transfer to Matrixport. Large withdrawals from centralized exchanges to institutional wallets commonly indicate custody moves (cold storage), staking preparations, or long‑term holdings, which reduce exchange-available supply and can lower immediate selling pressure. Traders should monitor follow‑up on‑chain activity: further withdrawals, deposits back to exchanges, staking contract interactions, and ASTER balances on Binance and major exchanges using Etherscan and analytics platforms (Lookonchain, Nansen, Arkham). Key short‑term signals to watch are on‑exchange liquidity shifts, price and volume reactions, and any project or staking announcements. This institutional outflow is a notable on‑chain conviction signal for ASTER but does not guarantee a price rise; use it alongside market sentiment, volume, and fundamental updates when trading.

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) publicly confirmed a personal holding of 2,090,598.14 ASTER tokens and published a transaction screenshot showing an average acquisition price of $0.913 per token. His statement expands on an earlier hint in November and clarifies that his position exceeds prior suggestions that it was a fixed $2 million purchase. No additional details were provided about total cost, timing, or whether purchases were on- or off-exchange. Traders should note the explicit data points — token amount (2,090,598.14 ASTER) and average price ($0.913) — and treat CZ’s disclosure as a strong market signal likely to increase retail attention, liquidity and short-term volatility for ASTER. The announcement may improve perceived credibility and generate higher trading volume, but could also attract greater scrutiny of the project’s roadmap and on-chain metrics. This is informational and not financial advice; conduct independent research on ASTER’s fundamentals, team, tokenomics and liquidity before trading.

On-chain monitoring (HyperInsight, cited by COINOTAG) shows an address linked to prominent whale Huang Licheng opened and scaled a large ETH perpetual long using 25x leverage. The position currently stands at 2,515.2 ETH with notional exposure around $7.7 million and an unrealized loss near $330,000. Earlier reporting noted a similar large 25x ETH long scaled to roughly $12.2 million notional and carrying significant intraday unrealized losses — the newer update refines size and notional, and reports the whale trimmed 628.8 ETH within the last half hour, suggesting active risk management. HyperInsight estimates the liquidation price for the current leveraged long at approximately $3,025. Key takeaways for traders: monitor ETH price near the reported liquidation level (~$3,025–$3,056 in earlier reports); large concentrated leveraged longs can amplify short-term volatility and increase liquidation cascades; recent trimming may indicate de-risking or rebalancing by the whale. Traders should maintain strict position sizing, track on-chain wallet flows, leverage metrics and stop-out thresholds when following high-profile wallets.

Solana’s active validator count has dropped roughly 68% over two years to about 800 nodes, raising decentralization and security concerns for the network. The decline coincides with SOL’s sharp price weakness (around -37% this quarter) and on-chain capitulation signals: net realized losses have surged and long-term holder NUPL has returned to negative territory. Staking economics have worsened significantly — reported break-even stake per validator has roughly tripled, with operators facing an estimated ~$17 million stake threshold per node to cover costs. That worsening economics has driven widespread unstaking and validator exits, which can amplify sell pressure and reduce transaction finality if the trend continues. Upgrades such as Firedancer and some institutional interest aim to improve throughput and adoption, but fewer validators increase short-term centralization and security risk. Traders should watch SOL price action, active validator count, staking inflows/outflows, staking yields, net realized losses and NUPL metrics, and key technical support levels. A sustained price rebound or material network improvements would likely restore staking incentives; continued declines could deepen capitulation and liquidity-driven selling.

SEI Network has seen a sharp rise in on‑chain activity while spot price remains compressed under the EMA ribbon. DEX volumes topped $400 million over two weeks and perpetual futures (perp) volume surged roughly 19,527% over 90 days, with derivatives open interest reported above $150 million. Active addresses and daily transactions remain elevated (around 1.2 million) and SEI protocol TVL has stabilized at higher levels. Price action on the 4‑hour chart shows SEI trading near the lower bound of its range, capped by EMAs and vulnerable to a drop toward the weak low at $0.1216. Analysts say reclaiming the EMA ribbon with volume confirmation could target $0.18–$0.20 resistance; failing to hold $0.1216 risks further downside. For traders: the divergence between expanding DEX/perp flows and compressed spot suggests aggressive forward positioning rather than distribution. Key signals to monitor are EMA ribbon reclaim, perp funding and open interest dynamics, DEX flows, and the $0.1216 support for risk management and potential breakout entries toward $0.18–$0.20.

Bitcoin has consolidated tightly around $90,000 for 18 days, marking one of 2025’s longest narrow ranges. On-chain realized cap impulse has entered a historically supportive zone that, in past pullbacks, attracted demand and preceded rebounds. Derivative signals are mixed-to-cautiously-bullish: exchange open interest has fallen roughly 15% (a pattern often seen near local bottoms), funding rates remain slightly positive (~0.0044%), and the long/short ratio is near 1.02, indicating no extreme directional leverage. Orderbook liquidity clusters place resistance near $92,000 and bids around $88,000. A confirmed breakout above $92,000 on strong volume would validate bullish continuation; conversely, a sustained break below $88,000 could expose further on-chain means at ~$81,400 and a deeper downside target near $56,400. Momentum is fragile but mildly positive — traders should watch volume, OI, and funding for confirmation, size positions conservatively, and set stops near the liquidity clusters to limit risk.

OKX and the Mantra project are publicly disputing events around the OM token after OKX accused coordinated accounts of using large OM holdings as collateral to borrow USDT and drive the token price up and then trigger a sharp decline. OKX says its risk team flagged suspicious borrowing and leveraged positions, requested position adjustments, and — when accounts did not cooperate — intervened by taking control of implicated accounts and liquidating a limited amount of OM. OKX reports that these actions, plus external perpetual trading and cross-exchange dynamics, amplified a crash that previously wiped more than 90% of OM’s value in April (about $5 billion erased). Losses from related liquidations were absorbed by OKX’s Security Fund; the exchange says it has submitted evidence to regulators and that multiple litigations are underway. Mantra CEO JP (John Patrick) Mullin denies OKX’s characterization, has demanded transparency about how many OM tokens OKX holds on-exchange versus in its own balance sheet, and criticized what it says were misleading migration timelines published by OKX. Mantra confirmed the ERC-20 OM token will be deprecated on 15 January 2026 and that a protocol-level chain upgrade with a 1:4 token split is planned — a migration that requires no user action. The situation remains under investigation with legal and regulatory scrutiny. Primary keywords: OM token, OKX, Mantra, price manipulation, token migration. Secondary keywords: USDT loans, liquidation, Security Fund, token split, regulatory investigation.

Long-term Bitcoin holders ("OGs"/whales) are writing covered call options on their spot BTC to collect premium, a strategy that is creating sustained sell-side pressure on spot markets. When market makers buy those calls they hedge by selling spot BTC, producing net negative delta that can suppress upward momentum even amid strong institutional ETF inflows (e.g., IBIT). Reports show the BTC used as collateral for these calls has often been idle for years, meaning options activity is not adding fresh demand — rather, it increases implicit supply at key strikes and can cap rallies. Analysts link this dynamic to recent retreats from highs near $90,000; some traders warn of further downside toward ~$76,000 while others expect BTC to resume gains if the US Federal Reserve cuts rates and liquidity improves (CME FedWatch priced ~24.4% chance of a January cut). For traders, persistent covered-call selling implies increased resistance at strike levels, elevated options-implied supply, and potential short-term bearish pressure until covered-call flow eases or net institutional buying outpaces hedging flows. Key takeaways for trading: monitor options open interest and strike concentration, watch ETF and institutional flows versus options hedging, and track macro cues (Fed guidance and liquidity) that could flip the medium-term outlook.

Chainlink (LINK) exchange reserves have fallen to a one-year low after roughly 44.98 million LINK were withdrawn from exchanges over the past 12 months, signaling intensified on-chain accumulation by whales, institutions and retail holders. U.S. spot Chainlink ETFs, launched Dec. 2, have recorded steady inflows (SoSoValue), adding institutional demand. Despite these supply-side bullish signals, LINK’s market price dropped from near $29 to about $13.60 and traded around $13.65 (down ~2.25% 24h). Spot trading volume has contracted over 48% to about $295.6M, indicating weak market participation. Technicals show LINK range-bound between $13.19–$14.70 with ADX ~20.9, suggesting weak trend strength; a break below $13.20 could expose roughly 16% further downside due to limited visible support. Derivatives data (CoinGlass) indicate concentrated leveraged positions: about $2.01M in longs clustered near $13.45 and $3.04M in shorts near $13.99, reflecting near-term bearish positioning. For traders: exchange reserve depletion and ETF inflows point to medium-term accumulation and institutional interest (bullish supply dynamic), but low volume, weak trend, and dominant short leverage raise the risk of further short-term downside. Monitor $13.20 support, volume recovery, ETF flows and broader crypto sentiment for directional confirmation.

Interactive Brokers has begun a phased rollout allowing a subset of eligible U.S. retail clients to fund brokerage accounts with the USDC stablecoin. Clients access a “Fund with Stablecoin” option in the Client Portal and can send USDC over Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) or Base networks. Zerohash issues unique wallet addresses and QR codes; incoming USDC is converted instantly into U.S. dollars on arrival and credited to brokerage accounts. The feature bypasses traditional banking rails, offering faster, lower-cost, 24/7 funding compared with bank wires. The rollout is limited and cautious — initially available to KYC-verified U.S. retail customers only — with plans for phased expansion and published guides on the website and app. The move follows prior expansion of IBKR’s crypto services (including a 2024 UK rollout) and reflects a broader trend of brokerages integrating stablecoin funding and crypto-to-fiat conversion. For traders, the key implications are faster on‑ramps into dollars, reduced deposit friction, and increased utility for USDC across mainstream financial platforms.

Analysts are watching three tokens into 2026: Ethereum (ETH), Pepecoin (PEPE) and Mutuum Finance (MUTM). ETH remains the market leader but shows slowing momentum and faces higher resistance that requires larger capital inflows to drive rallies. PEPE’s meme-driven rally has cooled; demand and upside appear limited given its larger market cap. Mutuum Finance, a structured DeFi lending protocol, has moved from presale launch pricing (~$0.01 in early 2025) to trading near $0.035 after raising roughly $19.1–$19.3 million and accumulating about 18,300–18,400 holders. The project reports that Phase 6 of its presale is effectively nearly sold out (94–97%+ allocated), with ~810 million sold from a 4 billion token supply and significant allocation to early backers. Mutuum’s roadmap targets a V1 Sepolia testnet release in Q4 2025 supporting ETH and USDT, plus features including mtTokens for suppliers, debt tokens, LTV limits, a Liquidator Bot, Chainlink price feeds, a buy-and-distribute token model, and plans for a USD-pegged stablecoin and Layer-2 expansion. Security posture includes a CertiK token-scan score of 90/100, a Halborn review, and a $50,000 bug bounty; auditors and community incentives are highlighted. Analysts promoting MUTM point to low entry price, utility-focused design and near-complete presale as reasons some ETH and PEPE holders are reallocating small positions. Coverage is based on a sponsored press release and is not investment advice. Traders should note rapid stage transitions during presales, the concentrated supply sold to early backers, and the speculative nature of new DeFi tokens before V1 launch.

A blockchain monitor (Whale Alert) recorded a transfer of roughly 1,000,000,090 USDT (≈$1 billion) from centralized exchange HTX to the Aave lending protocol. The move likely reflects a large holder shifting capital off-exchange into DeFi to earn yield, use USDT as collateral for borrowing, or deploy capital across strategies that increase efficiency. Immediate on-chain effects include reduced USDT liquidity on HTX and an increased USDT supply within Aave, which may temporarily lower USDT lending rates. Key risks are smart-contract exposure on Aave, potential liquidity shocks if the funds are quickly redeployed or withdrawn, and heightened regulatory scrutiny of large stablecoin movements. For traders, the transaction underscores continued institutional-scale activity in decentralized finance and the role of stablecoins as the primary on-chain medium for big-value allocation. Watch Aave pool liquidity and borrowing rates, HTX exchange depth, and subsequent on-chain flows for trade signals. Primary keywords: USDT, Aave, HTX, whale transfer, DeFi. Secondary keywords: stablecoin liquidity, lending rates, yield generation, smart-contract risk, institutional adoption.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) missed a December 10 deadline to submit a regulatory bill for won‑pegged stablecoins after deciding to extend inter‑agency consultations rather than publish a draft hastily. The FSC says it needs more time to coordinate positions with the Bank of Korea and other relevant bodies and prefers to release the proposal when formally filed to the National Assembly. Earlier reporting highlighted substantive disputes — notably the central bank’s push for a bank‑led issuance model (a consortium holding at least 51% of an issuer) versus the FSC’s desire to include tech and non‑bank firms — and questions over whether interest can be paid on payment‑purpose stablecoins. The delay leaves timing and content uncertain: no resubmission timeline, bill text, or legislative impact has been disclosed. For crypto traders, regulatory uncertainty could prolong market fragmentation and custody/compliance ambiguity for won‑pegged stablecoins, potentially affecting liquidity, on‑chain flows and exchange listings. Traders should watch for renewed FSC–BOK negotiations, the FSC’s published draft and any rival legislative drafts advancing in the National Assembly to gauge when clearer rules — and their market effects — will arrive.

XRP is consolidating around the key $2 support after multiple failed rallies above $3 and weakening buying momentum. Price is trading in a narrow short-term range near $2.00–$2.10 with immediate resistance around $2.10–$2.20 and support between $1.80–$1.98. Analysts warn that a decisive break below $1.90–$2.00 could accelerate selling toward prior demand zones around $1.20–$1.50; conversely, sustained volume and a move above $2.20–$2.30 would signal renewed buyer conviction and target higher levels. No major on-chain or regulatory catalysts were cited; the move appears driven by technicals, order-flow and short-term positioning, and is correlated with broader crypto market action (notably BTC and ETH). Traders should watch volume spikes, stop-loss clusters and three-day chart compression for confirmation: increased selling volume and a breach of $2 would likely trigger short-term stop-loss cascades and higher volatility, while breakout with above-average volume would improve recovery odds. Key takeaways for traders: 1) $2 is a pivotal technical and psychological level; 2) repeated rejections above $3 earlier indicate seller dominance; 3) monitor volume and liquidity to validate any breakout or breakdown and adjust position sizing and risk management accordingly.

Vienna police are treating the late-November death of 21-year-old Danylo (Daniil) Kuzmin — son of Kharkiv deputy mayor Serhii Kuzmin — as a crypto-motivated homicide after investigators say attackers coerced him to reveal cryptocurrency wallet credentials and drained a large sum. Kuzmin’s body was found in a burned-out car in Donaustadt with blunt-force injuries and extensive burns; lack of soot in his lungs indicates he was likely dead or incapacitated before the car was set alight. Authorities report recovered cash of roughly $90,000 on one suspect and forensic traces and blockchain transactions show substantial transfers from the victim’s wallets. Two Ukrainian suspects have been detained: 19-year-old Bohdan Reinzhuk (a university peer and stepson of Ukraine’s ambassador to Bulgaria) and 45-year-old Oleksandr Agafiev (a former customs official). Austrian investigators are tracing cross-border transactions and forensic evidence to link the detainees to the theft; a wider international probe is ongoing. For crypto traders: the case underlines operational-security risks around private key and credential safety, the potential for targeted violent theft tied to high-value on-chain holdings, and the likelihood of increased law-enforcement scrutiny and forensic tracing of illicit transfers across European jurisdictions.

Bitcoin (BTC) faces elevated downside risk as markets price a likely Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hike. Prediction markets put the probability of a BoJ move at very high levels; analysts link prior BoJ tightenings (Mar 2024: –23%; Jul 2024: –26%; Jan 2025: –31%) to sharp BTC drawdowns, warning that a December increase could redirect capital away from crypto and trigger further selling. Technical indicators are weak: daily death cross, price below Ichimoku cloud and Supertrend, and a developing bearish flag. Short-term supports to watch are $88,000 and $80,500–$80,000; a decisive close below these could accelerate losses toward $76,000 and, in more severe scenarios, $70,000 or lower (some projections as low as $56,000). Macro divergence — BoJ tightening vs. a Fed signalling limited easing — raises the risk of carry-trade unwind funded by yen weakness, a dynamic that previously pressured BTC after BoJ hikes. Near-term volatility may also rise around upcoming US employment and inflation releases. Trading guidance: tighten stops, reduce leveraged exposure ahead of the BoJ decision, monitor yields and FX moves for signs of carry unwind, and be aware that short opportunities can attract short-squeezes during brief recoveries. This is not investment advice.

Brazil’s Federal Police launched Operation Kryptolaundry, dismantling a crypto-focused money‑laundering network active since 2021 and seizing roughly R$2.7 billion (~$500 million) in assets. Courts ordered the freezing of about R$685 million (~$128 million) in bank accounts and authorized seizure of farms, commercial properties and luxury real estate. Authorities executed 24 search‑and‑seizure warrants and nine preventive arrest warrants targeting 45 individuals and companies; six arrests were made in the Federal District and two suspects were detained in Spain. Investigators identified R$404 million (~$75.5 million) as illicit proceeds laundered via shell companies, social‑media investment promotions, in‑person meetups and crypto transfers — methods similar to those used by the convicted “Bitcoin Pharaoh.” Separately, an earlier probe named Deep Hunt dismantled a cybercrime ring that laundered about R$164 million (~$32 million) using cloned cards, fake devices and dark‑web services; that operation led to 32 arrests and around R$112 million (~$21 million) seized with assistance from TRM Labs and Binance’s investigation team. Key takeaways for traders: heightened AML enforcement in Brazil increases regulatory scrutiny on exchanges, brokers and OTC/P2P desks. Large asset freezes and arrests can spur short‑term on‑chain volatility, localized liquidity tightness and accelerated KYC/AML checks by platforms. Traders should expect potential downward pressure on locally traded volumes and temporary spikes in volatility for cryptocurrencies involved in peer‑to‑peer flows; maintain stricter counterparty due diligence and monitor compliance notices and on‑chain movements tied to seized wallets.

Cardano (ADA) has moved into a pronounced downtrend following the Midnight sidechain’s NIGHT token launch on December 8, 2025. ADA earlier rallied from about $0.37 to $0.484 but failed to clear $0.52 and subsequently reversed. The NIGHT token’s volatile debut — a sharp spike then an 80%+ plunge as airdrop recipients sold — amplified selling pressure on ADA. Over a recent three-day slide ADA fell from $0.482 to $0.409 (~15.5% loss) while open interest in ADA futures declined roughly $152M (from $846.5M to $694.2M per CoinGlass), indicating deleveraging or liquidations and reduced speculative demand. On-chain metrics show rising circulating ADA supply and capital outflows (CMF < -0.05). Technicals on the daily chart show a V-top reversal below the 20-day EMA, lower highs and lower lows, and bearish conviction backed by rising volume; the immediate pivot is $0.405 — a daily close below this level would likely accelerate downside toward $0.37 and the longer-term ascending support near $0.34. Liquidity is sparse between $0.40–$0.50, and clustered short liquidations above $0.48 may create re-test volatility. Bitcoin volatility has also increased selling pressure, hampering recoveries. Key trading considerations: monitor price at $0.405, open interest, volume, CMF and DMI for directional confirmation, and nearby liquidity pockets; use tight risk management given elevated volatility and outflows.

South Korea will bring its AI Framework Act into force on January 22, 2026, creating a national AI committee, requiring a basic three-year AI plan, and imposing safety and transparency rules including disclosure duties and mandatory watermarking for certain AI outputs. The law aims to balance innovation with ethical oversight and could position Korea among early adopters of a comprehensive AI regulatory regime. Startups and AI firms are broadly unprepared: a Startup Alliance survey found 98% of 101 local AI companies lack a compliance system, and roughly 48.5% are either unfamiliar with the law or insufficiently prepared. Industry groups warn the short lead time and late finalization of enforcement decrees may force rapid service changes, limit domestic launches or push firms to relocate operations overseas (Japan cited as an alternative). Key unresolved issues include practical implementation of mandatory labeling/watermarking and vague guidance from regulators. The Act aligns South Korea with international moves on AI governance and accompanies its participation in the Pax Silica declaration on trusted AI and semiconductor supply chains. For crypto traders, watch announcements from the Ministry of Science and ICT and forthcoming enforcement decrees: heightened compliance costs, potential migration of AI services, or shifts in sector sentiment could alter capital flows into AI-focused tech equities and AI-related tokens. Primary trading signals to monitor are startup funding and migration news, regulatory clarifications on labeling, and market sentiment around AI infrastructure providers.

Bitcoin’s correlation with U.S. equities fell to yearly lows in 2025, reaching about -0.299 with the S&P 500 and -0.24 with the Nasdaq, according to on-chain analytics and market observers. The divergence widened in Q4 amid U.S. trade-policy shifts and tariff concerns that weighed on risk assets. During the same period the S&P 500 gained roughly 2.06% in Q4 (16% YTD) and the Nasdaq 4.76% in Q4 (20.12% YTD), while Bitcoin suffered an approximately 36% drawdown and struggled to sustain a recovery. Correlations with gold and the U.S. dollar also weakened, while ties with U.S. Treasuries were relatively stronger. Over a longer horizon, Bitcoin’s five-year compound returns remain far above traditional equities (five-year cumulative gains cited as over 200%, implying roughly 47% annualized). Analysts interpret the negative short-term correlations as Bitcoin increasingly acting as a distinct asset class — at times a diversifier or hedge during equity declines rather than a high-beta stock proxy. For traders this implies heightened short-term volatility, potential opportunities for hedging and diversification, and a need to monitor BTC–S&P and BTC–Nasdaq correlation coefficients, U.S. trade-policy and tariff developments, Treasury yields, and volatility metrics when positioning during equity rallies that do not translate into crypto inflows.

Coinglass reported roughly $55.71 million in crypto liquidations within one hour, with longs accounting for about $55.03 million and shorts about $0.67 million — a pronounced skew toward long-position unwind. Earlier reports had a higher figure ($157M) for a comparable liquidation event, indicating either updated aggregation or timing differences across data snapshots. The large concentration of long liquidations signals elevated margin pressure, intraday leverage stress and clustered margin calls across major exchanges, which can compress liquidity and amplify short-term volatility. Traders should monitor real-time liquidation metrics (Coinglass), tighten collateral and risk controls, reduce position sizes, and consider rebalancing exposure during spikes to avoid forced exits. Primary keywords: liquidations, Bitcoin, margin, leverage, volatility. Secondary keywords: Coinglass, long liquidations, short liquidations, margin pressure, liquidity gaps.