Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

President Donald Trump urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates after U.S. Q3 2025 GDP unexpectedly rose 4.3% (consensus 3.3%). Trump argued stronger growth should prompt more accommodative monetary policy to sustain the expansion. Former White House NEC director Kevin Hassett publicly supported rapid cuts, citing AI-driven productivity gains and tariff-related trade improvements as evidence that inflationary pressures are easing. The debate comes as Fed leadership faces turnover: Jerome Powell’s term ends in May 2026 and the White House is expected to nominate a successor, raising the prospect that a Trump appointee could shift policy toward earlier cuts. Markets will watch Fed appointments, rate guidance and any move toward easing closely because earlier-than-expected rate cuts would likely increase liquidity and risk appetite, with potential implications for crypto and other risk assets. Key SEO keywords: Fed rate cuts, US GDP 4.3%, monetary policy, Fed leadership, crypto market liquidity.

Bitcoin is trading below its 2025 open and appears set for only the fourth annual decline in its history after a large October 10 liquidation event. The sudden ~10% intraday plunge — dubbed “Crashtober” — triggered massive long liquidations, erased significant value from BTC and exposed thin market liquidity. Analysts diverge on interpretation: some (Max Crypto, George Bodine, Scott Melker) see the episode as a structural blow that damaged market-maker risk appetite, reduced liquidity and psychological confidence, and left rallies fragile; others (CrediBULL Crypto) view it as a large but healthy deleveraging that lowered open interest and perp positioning, potentially making future rallies more sustainable if confidence returns. Current price action remains weak near the mid-$80,000s with muted altcoin rotation, suggesting capital may be leaving crypto rather than rotating between assets. Key trader indicators to monitor: aggregate open interest, perpetual funding rates, exchange order-book liquidity, and market-maker behaviour — shifts in these will signal renewed risk appetite or further deleveraging. Short term: expect heightened volatility, fragile rallies and lower leverage. Medium-to-long term: if liquidity and confidence recover, deleveraged markets could support steadier, more sustainable rallies; if not, further drawdowns remain possible.

China’s central bank (PBOC), together with eight government departments, issued guidance to accelerate financial support for the West Land‑Sea New Corridor and to promote international digital finance cooperation by expanding cross‑border use of the digital renminbi (e‑CNY/CBDC). The policy encourages provincial participation in multilateral CBDC bridge projects and explicit pilots for cross‑border e‑CNY payments with partners including Thailand, Hong Kong, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and exploratory trials with Singapore. The guidance highlights leveraging e‑CNY features — instant settlement, lower costs, programmability and smart contracts — to innovate payment settlement, financing and tax‑refund scenarios along trade corridors. It also promotes broader RMB internationalisation: bilateral currency cooperation with Southeast and Central Asia, RMB settlement pilots for trade and investment, RMB‑denominated pricing and enabling eligible regional banks to join cross‑border payment systems. The move follows wider e‑CNY pilot expansions such as Hong Kong’s 2024 top‑up allowance via Faster Payment System. For crypto traders: the announcement signals greater state-backed CBDC infrastructure rollout and cross‑border payment integration in Asia and the Middle East, increased technical experimentation with programmable e‑CNY use cases, and a potential medium‑term effect on FX and stablecoin flows as on‑ramp/off‑ramp dynamics evolve.

Spot XRP and SOL ETFs continued to draw inflows while spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs registered sizable net outflows around Dec 23. XRP ETFs posted a daily inflow of $8.19m (after $43.89m earlier in the week), extending a positive daily streak since the first product launched on Nov 13 and bringing cumulative XRP spot ETF inflows to about $1.13bn (SoSoValue). SOL spot ETFs have been net positive since Dec 3, adding over $130m in that run and totaling roughly $754m cumulative inflows; Bitwise’s BSOL leads with nearly $620m while 21Shares’ TSOL trails. By contrast, spot BTC ETFs saw $188.64m of outflows on Dec 23, reducing cumulative BTC spot ETF inflows from a peak near $62.77bn on Oct 9 to about $57.08bn; BlackRock’s IBIT has shown continuous net withdrawals. Spot ETH ETFs recorded $84.59m of inflows on Dec 22 but then $95.53m of outflows on Dec 23, slicing nearly $3bn off cumulative inflows since early October and leaving seven-day patterns of heavy ETH redemptions in prior reporting. Traders should note an apparent rotation from legacy BTC/ETH products toward newer altcoin ETFs (XRP, SOL), likely driven by product- and ecosystem-specific catalysts and institutional rebalancing — a dynamic that can increase short-term volatility for BTC and ETH while supporting selective altcoin demand.

VanEck, led by Matthew Sigel, expects 2026 to be a consolidation year for Bitcoin rather than a dramatic rally or crash. The firm highlights materially lower realized volatility (roughly half of the prior cycle) and a smaller likely cyclical drawdown (~40% vs ~80 previously). Its outlook is framed by three lenses: global liquidity (some support from prospective rate cuts but tighter US pockets due to AI-driven capex), a materially reset system leverage after deleveraging, and soft but improving on-chain activity. VanEck recommends a disciplined 1–3% BTC allocation built via dollar-cost averaging, adding opportunistically during leverage-driven dislocations and trimming into speculative excess. The firm identifies two thematic trade opportunities: (1) Bitcoin miners pivoting toward energy-backed compute and AI/HPC workloads — public miners plan to scale powered capacity from ~7 GW in early 2025 to ~16 GW in 2026 and ~20 GW in 2027, with 20–30% of capacity potentially repurposed for AI/HPC — and favors operators with cheap secured power, strong power economics, credible HPC economics and non-dilutive financing; and (2) selective fintech and e-commerce firms enabling stablecoin-based B2B payments and cross-border settlement, where operating companies are preferred over broad token exposure. VanEck also flags quantum security as an emerging governance topic that could prompt industry coordination debates. Key trader takeaways: expect range-bound Bitcoin price action in 2026, prioritize disciplined sizing and DCA, watch mining balance-sheet and power-economics dispersion for asymmetric opportunities, monitor stablecoin B2B adoption for selective upside, and track macro liquidity and credit signals for risk-on/risk-off shifts. SEO keywords: Bitcoin, Bitcoin consolidation 2026, miners AI/HPC, stablecoin B2B, BTC allocation.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio argued that central banks are unlikely to hold Bitcoin (BTC) as foreign-exchange reserves. Speaking on a podcast, Dalio said Bitcoin’s public ledger and traceability create control and regulatory risks — governments can monitor, restrict or disrupt peer-to-peer flows through exchange rules, wallet regulation or mining bans. He contrasted Bitcoin with gold, calling gold “the only asset that governments cannot touch or control,” and cited gold’s physical anonymity, long history, global recognition and relative price stability. Dalio flagged practical barriers to sovereign adoption: regulatory uncertainty, custody and technical challenges, digital-security risks (cyberattacks, infrastructure concentration, future tech like quantum computing), and Bitcoin’s volatility. He disclosed a modest personal allocation (around 1%) to Bitcoin, acknowledging its store-of-value and portfolio-diversifier narrative but remaining skeptical that conservative institutions will treat it as a core reserve without clearer regulation, reduced volatility and operational solutions. Traders should watch regulatory developments and institutional custody solutions; in the near term this view supports Bitcoin’s role as speculative store-of-value rather than a central-bank reserve asset.

Dogecoin (DOGE) dropped below the key $0.13 support during U.S. trading, slipping into a roughly $0.127–$0.129 range after heavy spot selling. Session volume peaked at about 639 million DOGE — roughly double average — and intraday volatility widened to about $0.0047 (~3.6%). Derivatives activity surged: BitMEX reported DOGE futures volume jumped sharply to ~$260 million (a ~53,000% spike), indicating traders are adding leveraged exposure and positioning for larger short-term swings. Technicals show $0.13 has flipped from support to resistance; reclaiming and holding above $0.13 could trigger short-covering toward ~$0.1320, while failure to recapture it may prompt tests of demand near $0.1285–$0.1280 and risk of further stop runs under $0.1290. The outsized futures turnover and the memecoin’s high beta increase the likelihood of rapid squeezes, amplified moves and sudden liquidity-driven price swings. Traders should monitor spot and futures volumes, open interest and stops around $0.1290–$0.13 for signs of a short-covering bounce or accelerated downside.

Binance will remove five spot trading pairs at 03:00 UTC on Dec 26: BIO/FDUSD, ENS/FDUSD, INJ/ETH, TREE/BNB and VTHO/TRY. This is a pair delisting, not necessarily a token delisting: the underlying tokens (BIO, ENS, INJ, TREE, VTHO) may remain tradeable against other pairs (for example BTC or USDT), be withdrawable, or remain in users’ spot wallets. Binance said the action follows routine market-quality reviews that consider liquidity, project health, network stability and strategic product focus. Traders should cancel open orders for the affected pairs before the deadline and choose to sell, convert to other pairs, withdraw, or hold tokens if alternative pairs exist. Binance will also terminate related trading-bot services for these pairs. Pair delistings often trigger short-term volatility as traders rebalance positions; longer-term price effects depend on each token’s fundamentals and availability on other exchanges. For official details and deadlines consult Binance’s announcements page.

XRP came under selling pressure after repeated rejections around $1.90, breaking short-term support and shifting the near-term focus toward $1.85. Intraday volume spikes — including a roughly 75.3 million‑token peak near a $1.906 rejection and a smaller ~2.7 million‑token burst during a drop from $1.867 to $1.865 — indicate larger sellers dominated recent flows. Over 24 hours the token fell from about $1.8942 to $1.8635 (≈1.6% decline) with a tight intraday range. The $1.8615–$1.8700 band, which acted as working support, cracked and price moved into a lower distribution range. Traders should watch $1.87 as a near‑term decision level: reclaiming it could reopen resistance at $1.90–$1.91, while failure would target $1.860–$1.855 and risk deeper declines. Year‑end thinning liquidity and split analyst views — rising‑wedge downside warnings versus bullish RSI divergence setups — have heightened short‑term risk. Tactical guidance for traders: sell rallies into ~$1.90, buy dips near $1.86–$1.85, and require convincing volume expansion to confirm any breakout direction.

Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a fourth consecutive day of net outflows on Dec. 23, with $189 million withdrawn, according to SoSoValue. BlackRock’s IBIT led the outflows with $157 million pulled, while Fidelity’s FBTC saw $15.2979 million leave. Earlier data (Dec. 22) showed a $142 million net outflow, with Bitwise’s BITB recording the largest single-fund redemption that day. Total assets under management for all spot BTC ETFs stand at about $114.289 billion (6.53% of Bitcoin’s market cap), down slightly from prior-day figures. Since their launch, cumulative net inflows to spot BTC ETFs remain $57.076 billion. Traders should note that concentrated outflows from flagship funds can increase short-term selling pressure on BTC and reduce liquidity around ETF-related venues. Monitor ETF flows, AUM trends and large fund-specific redemptions as potential indicators of near-term price moves.

Coinbase’s Bitcoin Premium Index has recorded a negative reading for ten consecutive sessions, most recently at -0.0648%. The index measures the price gap between BTC on Coinbase and a global reference price and is widely used as a proxy for U.S. capital inflows, institutional demand and USD liquidity. A sustained negative premium indicates weaker U.S. demand and selling pressure on Coinbase relative to other venues, signaling a risk-off tone in U.S. trading hours. Traders should treat the Coinbase premium as one of several liquidity and sentiment indicators — alongside order-book depth, funding rates and macro risk metrics — when sizing positions and managing intraday risk. Persistent negative readings can imply reduced institutional inflows and tighter USD liquidity, which may create near-term headwinds for BTC price action during U.S. hours; conversely a positive premium typically points to stronger institutional buying. Key data point: Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index = -0.0648% (10 consecutive days).

Solana (SOL) has held the $120 support amid a broader market pullback while institutional interest via Solana-linked exchange-traded funds has increased. Recent ETF inflows totaled roughly $7.4 million in the latest sessions, and an earlier report noted about $69 million of net weekly ETF inflows, indicating growing institutional accumulation. Network fundamentals are strong: protocol revenue for 2025 is cited at about $1.4 billion—well above Ethereum’s reported $522 million—reflecting heavy on‑chain usage driven by low fees and fast transactions. Price action is consolidating between $120 support and $130 resistance. Short-term technical indicators are mixed-to-bearish: RSI near 40 (approaching oversold), MACD has crossed below its signal line, the four-hour SuperTrend signals sell, and SOL trades below the 50‑period SMA. Immediate support sits near $120–$122, with lower support around $112–$118 if that zone fails. Key resistance to confirm a bullish turnaround would be sustained breakouts above $130 and then $140. For traders: the rising ETF inflows bolster the long-term narrative, but near-term downside risk remains until volume and momentum confirm a breakout; monitor volume, RSI, MACD, and the $120–$130 range for trade triggers.

Crypto commentator 24HrsCrypto reiterated a probability-based view that XRP (XRP) could reach $100 by 2030, arguing the thesis rests on structural liquidity formation, settlement demand and real-world tokenization rather than short-term market hype. The analyst emphasized that he provided no explicit numerical valuation model, instead tying the outlook to measurable growth in on-chain economic activity and sustained trading volume. He noted XRP underperformed in 2025 and fell below $2 heading into 2026, but said rising usage and structural market changes could support long-term appreciation. As a nearer-term scenario, 24HrsCrypto put a plausible target of about $20 for 2026 if adoption and trading activity expand materially. A key barometer cited is daily trading volume: sustained volume approaching or exceeding $200 billion per day would signal robust utility and capital flow into XRP (for context, BTC spot volume averages ~ $32 billion/day; XRP’s single-day peak was roughly $37 billion on 6 Apr 2021). The commentator defended past calls on Ripple partnerships, a stablecoin launch and regulatory positioning, and referenced Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse saying Ripple received conditional approval from the OCC to pursue a U.S. national trust bank charter. He framed the $100 target as contingent on structural change—settlement use cases and liquidity—rather than immediate market cycles. Disclaimer: these are opinions and not financial advice.

Bybit, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, will begin restricting services for Japanese residents in 2026 to comply with Japan’s stricter Financial Services Agency (FSA) rules. The company has not detailed which products or exact timelines will be affected but said impacted users will receive direct notifications as restrictions roll out. Japan’s regime requires exchanges to register with the FSA and meet stronger customer protection, asset segregation and anti-money-laundering standards; regulators are also considering mandatory reserve funds for local platforms to cover hacks and operational failures. The move follows Bybit’s recent resumption of U.K. operations after a regulatory-driven hiatus. Traders should note potential effects: reduced onshore access to Bybit liquidity and order flow for Japanese participants, migration of users to FSA-registered local platforms, and heightened compliance risk for offshore venues. Primary keywords: Bybit, Japan regulation, FSA compliance. Secondary/semantic keywords: exchange restrictions, reserve funds, AML, asset segregation, liquidity impact.

Ethena’s synthetic stablecoin USDe lost about $8.3 billion in market capitalization following the October 10 crypto crash, falling from a combined reference of roughly $14.7 billion on October 9 to about $6.4 billion by December. The decline reflects a broad investor retreat from leveraged, synthetic collateral models amid a large deleveraging wave that erased significant market value. During peak volatility USDe briefly depegged to about $0.65 on Binance due to an exchange oracle issue, though Ethena said minting and redemption mechanics continued to operate and roughly $2 billion of USDe was redeemed across DeFi platforms within 24 hours. The episode triggered large liquidations, a sharp drop in derivatives open interest and roughly $5 billion in net outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs since late October, contributing to halved trading volumes and contracted TVL for Ethena. Analysts and Ethena’s founder cited the oracle glitch and USDe’s synthetic, leveraged hedging model as sources of vulnerability compared with fiat-backed stablecoins (USDT/USDC). The peg has mostly recovered to near $0.9987, but rebuilding trust will likely require clearer stress testing, diversified collateral and greater transparency. Traders should monitor stablecoin reserve models, exchange liquidity and derivatives open interest as leading indicators of further deleveraging or stabilization.

Rocket, a crypto prediction-market startup, closed a $1.5 million pre-seed round led by Electric Capital with participation from Jsquare, Bodhi Ventures, Tangent, Amber Group and others. The protocol introduces a continuous revenue-sharing model that ties payouts to judgment accuracy, aiming to align user incentives with forecast correctness. Key design features include a non-binary staking framework, absence of a liquidation mechanism, protocol-level return caps, and the ability to redeploy the same capital across multiple concurrent predictions to improve liquidity efficiency. Investors cited the model’s potential to scale liquidity, reward accurate forecasting, and attract liquidity providers and traders seeking novel yield opportunities in prediction markets. For crypto traders, Rocket’s approach could create new tradable liquidity pools and accuracy-based yield strategies, while also changing how capital is allocated across prediction markets.

The IMF confirmed its delegation in El Salvador is holding advanced talks about the government-run Chivo bitcoin wallet, including potential sale terms, while separately discussing future bitcoin purchases. IMF statements emphasized macro-financial stability, governance and transparent asset management for state-backed crypto projects. No transaction amounts, timelines or concrete terms were disclosed. Traders should watch for disclosures on any Chivo sale or on-state BTC holdings: a sale or halt to sovereign purchases could reduce government demand but temporarily increase sell‑side pressure if holdings are liquidated, affecting on‑chain supply, fiscal liquidity and market sentiment. Key SEO keywords: El Salvador, Chivo wallet, IMF, Bitcoin, bitcoin sale, crypto policy.

Anthony Pompliano told CNBC that Bitcoin’s lack of a dramatic year-end rally and lower volatility reduce the probability of a severe 2026 drawdown. He cited Bitcoin’s multi‑year gains (about +100% over two years and ~+300% over three years) and the absence of a speculative blow‑off top as signs of market maturation and increasing institutional adoption. Pompliano argues that low volatility and fewer parabolic moves remove the historical conditions that preceded past 70–80% crashes, though normal corrections remain possible. He recommends traders reassess risk sizing, prioritize patience, and focus on fundamentals such as network security, adoption metrics and macro drivers. Contrasting views persist: veteran trader Peter Brandt warned of a potential drop toward $60k by mid‑2026, while Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer suggested 2026 could be a “year off” with prices near $65k. Key trader takeaways: monitor volatility indicators, open interest and liquidations for any regime shift; reduced tail‑risk may curb chance of catastrophic drawdowns but could also limit short‑term parabolic upside.

BitMine, a treasury firm linked to Tom Lee, expanded its Ethereum accumulation through large on‑chain purchases in late December. LookIntoChain, COINOTAG and other trackers report a 24‑hour buy of 67,886 ETH (~$201M) on Dec. 24, while earlier reports show heavy December accumulation including 138,452 ETH in the first week and two‑day buys of 42,874 ETH (~$128.7M) on Dec. 22–23. Lookonchain traced some transfers to custodians BitGo and Kraken. BitMine’s reported aggregate holdings now exceed ~4.06M ETH and the firm states total crypto and cash assets top $13.2B. U.S. spot ETH ETFs saw net inflows of $84.6M on Dec. 22 (led by Grayscale products), ending a streak of outflows. Despite sizable institutional buys, ETH price remained muted near $2,960 amid volatility. Traders should monitor on‑chain wallet clustering, transfer velocity, ETF flows, order‑book depth and exchange liquidity for potential short‑term liquidity shocks or sentiment shifts. Primary keywords: BitMine, ETH accumulation, Tom Lee, spot Ethereum ETF, institutional buying.

JPMorgan is reportedly evaluating a launch of institutional cryptocurrency trading services as U.S. regulatory clarity improves and client demand grows. Bank teams are assessing market infrastructure, custody, compliance, execution and capital implications needed to support hedge funds, asset managers and corporate treasuries. Internal work includes routing, custody arrangements and potential partnerships with crypto-native execution venues. Analysts say JPMorgan’s entry would likely increase institutional order flow and liquidity on spot and derivatives venues, boost demand for custody, lending and prime-brokerage services, and compress fees for low-touch spot trading. JPMorgan has not confirmed a launch and will weigh regulatory oversight, custody requirements and capital risk before proceeding. For traders: a potential JPMorgan entry signals greater institutional access to crypto venues, likely higher liquidity and trading volumes over time, but timing, scope and fee impacts remain uncertain pending regulatory and internal approvals.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint alleging a coordinated $14M fraud involving three purported crypto exchanges — Morocoin, Berge and Cirkor — and four affiliated investment clubs. Defendants used social-media ads to recruit retail investors into WhatsApp groups, posed as finance professionals, and promoted AI-driven trading tips and so-called “security token offerings.” Victims were directed to deposit funds into the fake platforms and tokens. The complaint alleges fabricated government licenses, falsified trading records and a withdrawal-fee scam that blocked redemptions unless victims paid up-front fees. The SEC says funds were siphoned overseas via a complex chain of bank accounts and crypto wallets. Regulators seek permanent injunctions, civil penalties and disgorgement. For traders: this case underscores persistent fraud risks in social-media marketing channels, increases enforcement focus on chat-based solicitations, and may raise due-diligence standards for platforms claiming AI trading signals or licensed status. Primary keywords: SEC, crypto fraud, fake exchanges, WhatsApp scam, AI trading.

Gemini’s prediction market poll, running since December 12, shows a growing user consensus that XRP will finish 2025 narrowly range‑bound between $1.50 and $2.00. Confidence in the $1.50–$2.00 band rose from 63% to 73% during the poll, while optimism for higher closes weakened (the $2.00–$2.50 probability fell from 38% to 28%). Tails for $2.50–$3.00 and >$3.00 remain around 4% each; downside bets below $1.50 are small (6–7%) after recent market pullbacks. Gemini will settle the market using Kaiko’s GRR-KAIKO_XRPUSD_8UTC index at 09:00 GMT+1 on December 31, 2025, with payouts planned the following day. At publication XRP traded near $1.87, oscillating in the $1.80–$2.00 range since mid‑December. Traders cited recent pullbacks, limited short‑term breakout expectations, and hopes for post‑year institutional flows and regulatory clarity as key drivers. This poll is informational and not investment advice.

A single crypto whale has built coordinated leveraged short positions across Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, bringing total notional exposure to about $243 million. The position breakdown: ~1,899 BTC short (~$168M) at ~10x leverage, ~18,527.53 ETH short (~$56M) at ~15x leverage, and ~151,209.08 SOL short (~$19M) at ~20x leverage. The whale earlier sold 255 BTC to help fund the trades. Activity occurred in derivatives markets (futures and perpetuals), pushing up open interest in BTC and ETH and briefly shifting funding rates in favor of shorts on some venues. Market reaction included short-term volatility while the positions were built, but no single-exchange liquidation cascade was reported. Traders should note the high leverage — especially on SOL — which raises liquidation risk and market sensitivity. Key trade signals to monitor: open interest, funding rates, large-wallet flows, order-book liquidity and on-chain liquidation data. Implications: elevated downside pressure for BTC and ETH while open interest remains high, potential for short squeezes if prices rally, and increased funding costs for longs. For short-term traders this creates both opportunities for downside continuation and risks of rapid rebalancing; risk management and close monitoring of funding/liq metrics are advised.

VanEck’s ChainCheck reports a roughly 4% decline in Bitcoin network hashrate (30-day MA), the largest pullback since April 2024, coinciding with a ~9% December price drop to about $87,000, 30-day volatility above 45% and lower perpetual-futures funding (≈5% annualized). VanEck attributes the hashrate fall to weaker prices, rising competition and miner shutdowns (notably reported outages in China’s Xinjiang that could remove ~10% of global hashpower). Miner economics have tightened: the breakeven electricity cost for older S19 XP miners fell from about $0.12/kWh to ~$0.08/kWh year‑over‑year, daily fee revenue is down month‑on‑month, and some miners are being forced offline. Institutional flows are divergent — spot Bitcoin ETP holdings fell ~120 bps month‑over‑month to ~1.308 million BTC, while corporate treasuries added roughly 42,000 BTC between mid‑Nov and mid‑Dec (the largest accumulation since July), driven by firms able to issue equity. On‑chain cohorts show short‑to‑medium term holders (1–5 years) trimming balances — notably a 12.5% drop in the 2–3 year cohort — while >5‑year holders remain mostly unchanged. Historically, VanEck finds periods when 90‑day hashrate growth turns negative have preceded positive 180‑day BTC returns 77% of the time (average ~72% gain); buying during such periods historically improved 180‑day returns by ~2,400 bps. For traders: monitor hashrate trends, funding rates, ETP flows and corporate accumulation. The near term looks fragile with elevated volatility and miner capitulation risk; the medium term may offer a contrarian buying opportunity if historical patterns repeat, potentially underpinning stronger returns into 2026.

Coinbase now supports direct deposits and withdrawals of SOL via the Base network using a Base↔Solana bridge that represents SOL on Base as an ERC‑20 token. Users can send and receive SOL between Solana and Base without relying on third‑party bridges by selecting SOL on Coinbase, choosing Base as the network, entering or copying the provided Base address and confirming the transfer; Coinbase credits balances after on‑chain confirmation. The update reduces friction for cross‑chain portfolio rebalancing, lowers reliance on external bridges, and enables traders and developers to deploy Solana liquidity into Base’s Ethereum L2 DeFi and dApp ecosystem. Regional restrictions apply — several jurisdictions including New York, Canada, the UK, Japan and numerous European and APAC countries are excluded — so traders must verify eligibility and network selection before moving funds. Overall, the change signals closer infrastructure alignment between Solana and Ethereum ecosystems and may affect SOL on‑chain flows and liquidity across both networks.

Leading crypto exchange Bitget increased its Bitcoin reserve to 34,055 BTC (just over $3 billion), a 114% year‑on‑year rise, according to on‑chain tracker Lookonchain. Reserve accumulation accelerated through 2025 — growing from about 28,022 BTC in August to 30,300 BTC by October and reaching 34,055 BTC in December — indicating larger inflows during periods of heightened trading activity and volatility. Bitget’s report also cited full reserve coverage for key assets (noted ratios for BTC, ETH, USDC and USDT), positioning the buildup as a move to strengthen its balance sheet and reassure users on custody transparency. For traders, the primary takeaways are: substantial spot accumulation on Bitget could deepen liquidity on its BTC markets and signal rising institutional or user demand; however, larger exchange reserves can also represent potential selling pressure that may cap price rallies. Bitcoin traded weaker in late 2025 (around $87,400 with intraday lows near $86,606), and market participants should monitor Bitget’s continued inflows and published reserve ratios for their potential impact on liquidity, order‑flow and short‑term volatility.

The Bank of Russia (CBR) has published a regulatory concept that would recognise cryptocurrencies (e.g., BTC) and stablecoins (e.g., USDT) as "currency assets" and permit trading by both qualified and non‑qualified investors through licensed Russian intermediaries. Retail investors would be restricted to the most liquid coins, must pass a risk-awareness test and face an annual purchase cap of 300,000 rubles (~$3,800) per intermediary. Qualified (professional) investors would have broader access with no purchase caps but would be barred from buying anonymous coins and would also undergo testing. Crypto would remain banned as a means of domestic payment. The CBR plans to channel activity through existing licensed infrastructure—banks, exchanges, brokers and trustees—while adding specialised requirements for crypto depositories and exchange platforms. The proposal allows digital financial assets (DFAs) and certain Russian digital rights to circulate on public blockchains to attract foreign capital, and permits residents to acquire crypto abroad and export previously held crypto via intermediaries with tax notification. Draft legislation is targeted by July 1, 2026, with liability rules for intermediaries over illegal services to take effect by July 1, 2027; both require government and parliamentary approval. The move marks a notable policy shift from prior restrictions and follows 2024–2025 steps such as legalising mining and limited foreign-trade crypto pilots. Key implications for traders: increased onshore market access could boost liquidity for major coins traded in Russia, but caps on retail purchases, continued payment bans, strict KYC/anti-anonymity rules and timelines for phased implementation limit immediate market disruption. Primary keywords: Bank of Russia, Russia crypto regulation, retail crypto access, stablecoins, digital financial assets.

BitGo has launched a dedicated Aptos staking service enabling institutional clients — including hedge funds, family offices, VCs and corporations — to stake APT through BitGo’s qualified custodial wallet. The offering leverages BitGo’s insured, multi-signature cold storage and compliance framework so institutions can earn staking rewards without running validators or managing delegation keys. The service reduces operational overhead and slashing risk while preserving custody under BitGo’s security model. This rollout targets institutional demand for compliant staking solutions and could channel more institutional capital into APT, supporting network security and decentralization. Traders should note benefits such as enhanced security, clearer regulatory pathways, and passive yield generation; institutions must consult BitGo for current APY, lock-up or unbonding periods and eligibility requirements. Primary keywords: Aptos staking, BitGo, APT, institutional staking, crypto custody. Secondary keywords: staking rewards, custody platform, layer-1 network, institutional crypto.

Dexsport is a crypto-native sportsbook focused on in-play (live) betting, prioritizing execution speed, competitive live odds and a streamlined user experience. Building on earlier claims of non-custodial, on-chain settlement, the platform uses crypto rails and stablecoins (notably USDT) to deliver rapid odds refreshes, fast bet confirmations and near-instant balance updates after settlement. Core live markets — match winners, totals, handicaps and event props — remain available through most match phases while avoiding excessive market clutter. UX improvements include clear navigation between live events, a predictable bet slip that highlights odds changes, and a mobile browser experience comparable to desktop (no forced app). The later review adds nuance: performance is strongest in esports, where rapid in-game events demand fast execution; however, there can be brief market pauses during major events and market depth varies across sports and tournaments. The platform also applies bonuses without restricting live betting access. For crypto traders and active in-play bettors, the key takeaways are faster execution, reduced reliance on banking rails, immediate fund control and predictable settlement rules — features that support rapid bet management and active strategies. Casual bettors are less likely to benefit. Primary keywords: in-play betting, crypto sportsbook, live odds, stablecoin deposits, esports betting.