Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

PIPPIN memecoin jumped 20.27% from below $0.40 to a local high of $0.48 after aggressive buying across futures and spot markets. Futures open interest rose about 24.3% to $150.73m and net futures inflow surged 136.7% to $3.09m, signalling buyer dominance. Derivatives volume fell 16% to $551m while futures inflows slightly exceeded sell flows ($168.44m vs $165.35m). On spot, 24‑hour volume and liquidity dropped (≈$3m vs 14‑day MA $24.64m), but buy-side trades accounted for roughly 98% of spot activity (≈811k buy vs 70k sell). Market cap recovered from about $308m to $443m. Technical indicators turned bullish: RSI ~72 and Stochastic RSI crossing bullish at ~51. Traders should watch $0.50 as the next resistance and $0.40 as key support — continued accumulation and rising open interest could push PIPPIN to new highs, while profit‑taking or renewed sell pressure may trigger a pullback toward the $0.40 zone. Key SEO keywords: PIPPIN, memecoin, futures inflows, open interest, RSI, spot buy dominance.

A U.S. federal court approved an expanded class-action against Pump.fun, its executives and affiliates (including the Solana Foundation and Jito Labs) after a whistleblower released roughly 5,000 internal chat messages alleging insider trading and market manipulation. The filings allege 98.6% of memecoins launched on Pump.fun collapsed to zero and claim retail losses of $4–$5.5 billion. The news intensified selling pressure on the native PUMP token, which dropped about 39.3% from $0.0032 to $0.00196 since Dec. 9, 2025. On-chain and technical data signal continued downside. PUMP breached long-term support at $0.0025. Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is below -0.05 and Money Flow Index (MFI) sits near 40, indicating seller dominance. CoinGlass shows a ~4% rise in futures open interest despite price weakness, concentrating leverage near $0.00193 and $0.00207—levels that could trigger cascade liquidations and short-term volatility. Fibonacci retracements point to potential bounces toward $0.0025–$0.0026, but short-term supply/resistance zones at $0.00207 and $0.0023–$0.0025 remain pivotal for any recovery. Trader guidance: maintain a bearish bias on PUMP. Consider short entries on retests of $0.00207–$0.0021 with tight stops (invalidate above $0.0021), or wait for a technical bounce toward $0.0026 to trim positions. Monitor liquidation clusters ($0.00193–$0.00207), open interest, and legal developments—ongoing litigation raises tail risk and may deter fresh capital until clarity emerges. Primary keywords: Pump.fun, PUMP token, class-action lawsuit, memecoin, market manipulation. Secondary keywords: Solana, Jito Labs, Fibonacci, open interest, liquidation map. Disclaimer: informational only; not financial advice.

A PG&E substation fire triggered a major San Francisco blackout that left roughly 120,000–130,000 customers without power and stranded numerous Waymo robotaxis at intersections. As outages persisted, about 21,000 homes and businesses remained without power in areas including the Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park and parts of downtown. Waymo paused its fully driverless service in the Bay Area while coordinating with city officials; no collisions have been reported and the company gave no restart time. The outage disrupted traffic signals, degraded cellular networks and street lighting—conditions that Waymo’s safety systems could not safely navigate. Experts urged retaining human backup systems and clearer regulatory limits on driverless fleets. The incident drew public and regulatory scrutiny, and commentary from Elon Musk noting Tesla’s robotaxis were “unaffected,” which prompted criticism given Tesla runs supervised FSD rides in San Francisco and lacks driverless permits in California. For crypto traders, the event is a reminder that even highly automated, decentralized technologies remain vulnerable to centralized infrastructure failures: outages can cascade into operational risk for services that depend on external systems (power, cellular, mapping). Traders should factor such systemic infrastructure risk into operational and counterparty assessments for blockchain services, oracle providers and smart-contract systems that rely on real-world data feeds or centralized gateways.

Ethereum has underperformed price-wise in 2025, trading about 12% down year-to-date as capital rotated into traditional assets such as gold and equities. Despite weak price action, on-chain data show the Ethereum Mainnet remains the dominant settlement layer for dollar-denominated stablecoins, processing roughly $90–100 billion in transfers daily (primarily USDT and USDC). Analytics from OnChainHQ and Chainalysis indicate Ethereum handles over 70% of stablecoin transfer value, favored for finality and security in large payments and treasury operations. Updated on-chain metrics (e.g., Glassnode) also show continued accumulation by large holders and long-term addresses: inflows to accumulation wallets have increased around realized-price levels even as whale profits compress toward zero. Together, sustained high stablecoin settlement volume and rising whale accumulation suggest persistent liquidity demand and reduced immediate selling pressure on ETH. Key takeaways for traders: monitor stablecoin flow and accumulation-address inflows as leading liquidity indicators; short-term price may remain pressured by macro capital rotation, but robust settlement utility and whale buying point to a cautiously bullish medium- to long-term outlook for ETH.

Gem Wallet has launched native cross-chain USDT support across multiple blockchains, combining in-app swaps, bridges and built-in scam protections to simplify stablecoin flows for traders. The update lets users hold and exchange USDT on chains such as Ethereum, Tron, Solana, BNB Chain and TON without leaving the wallet, consolidating balances and reducing manual token management. Swap routing automatically seeks lower-cost, best-execution paths via integrations with 10+ DEXs and aggregators (eg. Uniswap, THORChain, Near Intents, Across Protocol), while bridge options expose transparent fee comparisons. Security features include address‑poisoning alerts, phishing/scam detection prompts and biometric mobile authentication, aimed at reducing losses from fraudulent contracts and poisoned addresses. Fiat on/off‑ramp partners (MoonPay, Paybis, Transak) support purchases in 120+ countries and 30+ payment methods. The release emphasizes self‑custody (user‑controlled private keys) and open‑source transparency (code on GitHub). For traders, the main benefits are faster cross‑chain transfers, consolidated USDT liquidity across networks, improved swap execution and reduced operational friction for arbitrage and liquidity management — potential time and fee savings when moving or trading USDT across chains.

Memento Research tracked 118 Token Generation Events (TGEs) in 2025 and found 84.7% (100/118) now trade below their launch valuations. The median token’s fully diluted valuation (FDV) is down 71% and market cap down 67% since launch. High-profile losses include Syndicate (SYND) -93.6%, Animecoin (ANIME) -93.6%, Berachain (BERA) -93.2%, Bio Protocol (BIO) -93.1%, Xterio (XTER) -92.9% and Lit Protocol (LITKEY) -92.1%. Venture-backed projects also suffered steep drawdowns (e.g., Mira -91.1%, Venice Token -90.8%, Plasma -89.9%). Memento highlights several drivers: heavy pre-TGE venture allocations and large VC rounds (billions raised in 2025) that left retail buying at inflated, fully diluted valuations; oversupply of new tokens and fragmented liquidity; brief post-launch volume spikes followed by 50–70% falls within weeks; market-wide correction events (notably the Oct 10–11 crash) and increased regulatory caution. The data covers both H1 and H2 2025. For traders the takeaway is clear: buying at TGE no longer reliably yields upside for retail investors. Recommended tactics include strict position sizing, thorough due diligence on vesting schedules and liquidity, prioritising established projects, and waiting for sustained on-chain liquidity and secondary-market depth before entering new listings.

An email bomb threat demanded 13 BTC (about $1.1M) from Hyundai, prompting evacuations of two Seoul sites — Hyundai Group’s Yeonji-dong headquarters (Jongno-gu) and Hyundai Motor Group’s Yangjae-dong tower (Seocho-gu) — on 20 December 2025. Bomb squads swept both buildings and found no explosives. Authorities report no traced Bitcoin transfers and say Hyundai did not pay the ransom. Investigators are collecting digital evidence, reviewing CCTV and access logs, and working with cybercrime units to trace the email origin. Officials treat the incident as part of a recent wave of crypto-linked extortion attempts targeting major South Korean firms including Samsung, KT, Kakao and Naver. Analysts note attackers favour cryptocurrencies for cross-border ransom payments, prompting law enforcement to combine physical security sweeps with blockchain tracing when possible. Immediate market impact: heightened security and investigative activity, with no confirmed financial loss. Primary keywords: Bitcoin extortion, Hyundai, 13 BTC. Secondary/semantic keywords: bomb threat, crypto ransom, Seoul evacuation, blockchain tracing.

Galaxy Digital strategist Alex Thorn maintains a long-term bullish outlook for Bitcoin (BTC), projecting a potential rise to $250,000 by the end of 2027 while warning of pronounced uncertainty through 2026. Options-market data shows wide mid-term dispersion: approximately equal implied odds of roughly $70K or $130K by mid-2026, and plausible end-2026 outcomes spanning $50K to $250K. Galaxy notes the market remains in a bear phase and downside risk persists until Bitcoin can convincingly hold $100K–$105K. Short-term momentum is muted by macro pressures and a cautious risk-on/risk-off environment, but rising institutional participation, reduced volatility, and easing monetary policy are cited as forces that could reinforce Bitcoin’s role as a non-dollar hedge alongside gold. Traders should prepare for continued short-term volatility and a broad range of price scenarios, while recognizing that accelerated institutional adoption and macro easing would support the long-term bullish thesis for BTC. This commentary is market analysis and not investment advice.

Chainlink (LINK) is consolidating around $12.5 after breaking out of a falling-wedge pattern but failing to attract sustained follow-through buying. Large whale withdrawals from Binance totaled 445,779 LINK (≈$5.57M) in late December, contributing to an ongoing decline in exchange LINK balances — a behavior that historically preceded major rallies. On-chain metrics are mixed: Total Value Secured (TVS) rose 2.43% month-on-month to $46.03 billion, signaling steady network usage despite muted retail participation. Technical indicators urge caution: the daily MACD formed a bearish (death) cross and the RSI shows buyer fatigue. Key levels for traders are support at $12–$12.5 (failure risks a drop to $9–$10) and resistance at $27 (a decisive breakout could target prior range highs). Trading implications: monitor exchange flows and TVS for accumulation signals; rising TVS and sustained exchange outflows are constructive for medium-to-long-term upside, but bearish momentum and low retail volume increase short-term downside risk. For active traders, a confirmed break below $12 would likely trigger deeper selling, while a clean move above $27 would open higher-range targets.

Canton Network (CC) jumped sharply after the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) received a non‑action letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission clearing the way for tokenized U.S. Treasury infrastructure on Canton. CC rose ~36% intraday and has gained 54.3% since Dec 18; daily volume spiked about 307%. On‑chain and market indicators — a 12‑hour structure break, flipped resistance at $0.079–$0.082 into support, and rising On‑Balance Volume (OBV) — signal a bullish trend shift, though a short‑term bearish momentum divergence warns of a possible pullback. Traders are watching technical levels: a bullish invalidation near $0.095, potential accumulation/support near $0.01 on deeper dips, and retests of the new $0.079–$0.082 support. Key drivers include the DTCC regulatory nod, planned DTCC–Canton integration, partnership momentum (including RedStone oracle), and heavy volume. Risks remain from volatility and weekend liquidity; monitor Bitcoin performance as a potential catalyst. This is not financial advice.

The Bank of Korea has moved to a second round of central bank digital currency (CBDC) testing and has sent formal documents to major banks outlining the next phase. Officials say methodology and timing remain under discussion. The new pilot may test using a retail CBDC to distribute portions of government subsidies to curb misuse and lower administrative costs. The central bank previously ran a three‑month pilot in April with seven participating banks but paused after participants flagged limited practical benefits and several billion won in implementation costs. The renewed testing signals renewed institutional focus on targeted payment use cases for a retail CBDC while the Bank of Korea seeks to address prior cost and usefulness concerns; bank participation and final implementation details remain uncertain.

VanEck updated its proposed spot Avalanche ETF (ticker: VAVX) filing to add staking rewards alongside price exposure. The amended S-1 allows the fund to stake up to 70% of its AVAX holdings. Coinbase Crypto Services is named as the primary staking provider and will charge a 4% fee on staking rewards; those rewards will accrue to the fund and be reflected in the ETF’s NAV. Custody is planned with regulated custodians Anchorage Digital and Coinbase Custody using cold storage. The ETF will not use leverage or derivatives and will track the MarketVector Avalanche Benchmark Rate. The filing noted AVAX trading around $12.21 at the time. VanEck’s move follows similar yield-focused revisions by competitors (for example, Bitwise), indicating intensified competition among issuers to combine spot exposure with protocol-level yield. Regulators remain focused on disclosure and operational risk: staking introduces validator risk, slashing possibilities and added custody/governance complexity. If approved, VAVX could set a precedent for spot crypto ETFs that also capture staking income, potentially attracting investors seeking yield to offset crypto volatility.

Solana has surged past Ethereum in annual on‑chain revenue, reaching an estimated $2.5 billion year‑to‑date in 2025 versus Ethereum’s roughly $1.4 billion. Earlier reporting showed Solana accelerating from about $28 million in 2021 to $1.4 billion in a previous estimate; the latest data (CryptosRUs, verified by DeFi Development Corp) updates that figure to $2.5 billion, driven by very low fees (average tx < $0.01), high throughput (2,000+ TPS), meme‑coin trading, DeFi activity, DEX volume and AI app usage. Monthly revenue averaged near $240 million from Oct 2024–Sep 2025, with a peak month above $616 million (Jan 2025). Network metrics cited include 1.2–1.5 million daily active addresses and a 372% increase in RWA capital. Institutional adoption accelerated after U.S. Solana ETF launches (Bitwise listed Oct 28, 2025, with $57M first‑day volume; other issuers followed), and nearly $700M of inflows were reported to Solana ETFs across sources. The coverage contrasts Solana’s revenue growth with Ethereum’s declining on‑chain revenue (from multi‑billion highs to about $1.4B), attributing part of Ethereum’s fall to value capture shifting to L2s, sequencers and staking services. Traders should monitor SOL and ETH fee/revenue metrics, ETF flows, institutional announcements, and on‑chain activity (DEX volume, NFT/meme‑coin trading, RWA inflows) for potential volatility and longer‑term reallocation toward low‑cost L1s.

On-chain data show large XRP holders (whales) have been transferring substantial amounts to exchanges—notably Binance—around the time of U.S. spot XRP ETF approvals. CryptoQuant inflow metrics indicate most exchange deposits come from wallets holding 100k–1M XRP and 1M+ XRP, signalling institutional/whale activity rather than retail movement. Whales likely accumulated ahead of ETF approvals and have been converting positions to liquidity, increasing exchange-available supply and creating persistent sell-side pressure that has repeatedly capped price near $1.95–$2.00. Price currently trades around $1.90–$1.93. Technical support zones cited are $1.82–$1.87 (primary) and $1.50–$1.66 (secondary); continued large inflows could drive deeper corrections. Meanwhile, U.S. spot XRP ETFs have shown strong demand—roughly $1.2b+ in net assets with notable first-day volume—yet ETF inflows have not fully absorbed the increased exchange supply. The near-term direction for XRP will likely be driven by whale behaviour and exchange inflows; unless inflows subside, downside risk remains for traders. Key keywords: XRP, whales, ETF inflows, exchange inflows, selling pressure, support levels.

CryptoQuant data show Bitcoin demand has weakened since October 2025, marking the start of a potential bear market. The analytics firm says three major spot-demand waves that drove 2025’s rally — heavy U.S. spot ETF inflows, corporate treasury buying and election-driven optimism — have rolled over. In Q4 2025 U.S. spot ETFs became net sellers, trimming roughly 24,000 BTC (~$2.12bn) of holdings. On-chain signs of waning demand include slower accumulation among large wallets (100–1,000 BTC), sharply reduced corporate treasury purchases, falling open interest and funding rates at their lowest since December 2023. Technical structure has weakened: BTC slipped below its 365‑day moving average, trading near $88,000 in late December, roughly 30% below October peaks. CryptoQuant flags realized-price support near $56,000 and sets intermediate support around $70,000 — implying a potential ~50–55% drawdown from recent highs if selling persists. For traders: expect reduced institutional bid, lower derivatives risk appetite, elevated volatility and cautious positioning. Key levels to watch are the 365‑day MA, $70k interim support and the realized-price floor (~$56k).

The Ethereum Foundation announced a strategic shift prioritizing security over raw speed for zkEVM development. It will require zkEVM implementations to meet a minimum 128-bit cryptographic strength by 2026 and emphasize formal verification, advanced security audits, attack-resilience and risk management. The Foundation warned that some high-performance zkEVM schemes depend on mathematical assumptions that lack full formal verification and could theoretically allow on-chain state forgery. To address this, it will offer security review and assessment tools and make security criteria central to institutional adoption. The move may slow certain aggressive scaling optimizations in the short term but aims to strengthen long-term resilience and institutional trust — factors likely to attract higher-value applications and capital. Keywords: Ethereum Foundation, zkEVM, 128-bit, formal verification, cryptographic security.

Tether is developing an AI-powered, self-custodial mobile crypto wallet focused on privacy, on-chain automation and native Bitcoin and USDT support. CEO Paolo Ardoino said the wallet will be built on the open-source WDK self-custodial wallet framework and Tether’s decentralized AI runtime QVAC, with AI features running locally (P2P) to avoid centralized APIs. The company is recruiting senior engineering talent to accelerate delivery. Tether’s AI division (Tether Data) is already building related tools — an AI Translate, AI Voice Assistant and an AI Bitcoin Wallet Assistant that can display balances and execute transactions by voice or text. The project prioritises user-controlled private keys, native on-chain payments, and autonomous AI agents that help manage transactions while keeping user authorization for execution. Roadmap targets 2025 for broader platform rollouts. For traders, key implications include deeper USDT and BTC integration in consumer wallets, potential privacy gains from local P2P AI processing, and the possibility of increased on-chain activity for USDT and BTC if adoption grows. Watch hiring notices, developer releases, GitHub/WKD updates and any wallet integrations or mainnet tooling that could drive on-chain volume for USDT and BTC.

A single investor wallet has deposited a cumulative 31.28 million ETHFI to Binance following token unlocks, according to on-chain monitoring and reports on December 21, 2025. The latest observed transfer from the same wallet moved 900,000 ETHFI (about $738,000). The total transfers equal roughly $36.58 million in ETHFI. Movements from a concentrated holder to a major centralized exchange increase exchange-level supply and signal potential selling pressure. Traders should monitor order books and short-term liquidity: concentrated deposits on Binance can heighten volatility and negative price pressure for ETHFI in the short term, though long-term impact depends on whether the tokens are sold or simply custody-shifted. Key points: total deposits 31.28M ETHFI (~$36.58M), latest transfer 900k ETHFI (~$738k), destination Binance, source a single wallet tracked since token unlocks.

Hilbert Group (HILB), a Swedish investment firm, has acquired high-frequency trading platform Enigma Nordic for $32 million to accelerate market‑neutral, algorithmic cryptocurrency trading across global venues. The purchase gives Hilbert Enigma’s proprietary HFT engine and execution stack, enabling cross‑exchange, data‑driven arbitrage and systematic strategies across spot and derivatives markets. Hilbert plans to integrate Enigma’s market‑neutral strategies into its hedge‑fund products to offer institutional investors scalable, systematic crypto strategies, improve liquidity provision and reduce execution slippage while maintaining strict risk controls and governance. Enigma’s quant strategies are reported to have strong risk‑adjusted performance and substantial cumulative trading volume, underscoring the capability play to capture real‑time inefficiencies in digital‑asset markets. The deal reflects growing institutional demand for scalable algorithmic trading tools and diversified crypto revenue streams, though actual deployment and expansion may face regulatory scrutiny and require ongoing risk management.

Coinbase disclosed that a former customer service contractor has been arrested in India in connection with a data breach earlier in 2025. The breach involved hackers bribing customer-support staff or contractors to access sensitive user data. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the arrest by Hyderabad police and said further arrests are expected. The incident prompted layoffs at TaskUs, an outsourcing firm, and Coinbase estimated the breach could cost up to $400 million. The episode followed a wider year of security failures across crypto in 2025 — over $3.4 billion in hacks and exploits — and specific social-engineering losses exceeding $65 million in a two-month window. Coinbase said it will continue cooperating with law enforcement and stressed zero tolerance for bad actors as it seeks to restore platform security going into 2026.

Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR) have significantly outperformed Bitcoin in 2025 as Europe’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) framework moves into full enforcement. Zcash has surged over 700% year-to-date, while Monero has remained resilient with limited downside and rising trading volumes. Data from market trackers including CoinMarketCap and Artemis show privacy coins climbing market‑cap and volume rankings as investors rotate capital away from more transparent chains. MiCA’s licensing, AML and cybersecurity requirements have prompted exchanges and firms to delist or restrict non‑compliant tokens and stablecoins, increasing demand for assets that prioritise transaction confidentiality. Analysts cited in the report say privacy features — zero‑knowledge proofs, ring signatures and other anonymity tech — are drawing capital amid tighter regulatory scrutiny. Key points: ZEC up 700%+, XMR resilient; heightened EU regulation (MiCA) accelerating capital rotation; trading volumes and market‑cap rankings for privacy coins rising per Artemis and CoinMarketCap. Traders should monitor liquidity, exchange listing changes, and regulatory updates in Europe, as momentum in privacy coins could produce both sharp short‑term moves and longer‑term shifts in capital allocation.

Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis praised a Federal Reserve proposal by Governor Christopher Waller to offer “skinny” master accounts to crypto firms and fintech startups. The accounts would mirror bank master accounts but with restrictions, giving payment-focused crypto companies direct access to Fed accounts. Lummis said the framework would end what critics call “Operation Chokepoint 2.0” — coordinated debanking of crypto businesses — and enable faster payments, lower costs and better security. The article notes ongoing debanking complaints despite a U.S. executive order banning unjustified account closures; examples include Strike CEO Jack Mallers and startups BlindPay and Kontigo experiencing account freezes or closures. The proposal signals a regulatory shift in the U.S. toward accommodating crypto and payment innovation as part of the future payments system.

Banks are lobbying to reopen the GENIUS Act to restrict stablecoin issuers from enabling yields to customers, arguing safety concerns and risks to community bank deposits. The GENIUS Act had previously compromised by banning stablecoin issuers from directly paying interest to holders while permitting platforms and third parties to offer rewards and yields. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong calls any attempt to reopen those provisions a “red line issue,” saying banks are protecting profit margins and blocking competition while offering consumers near-zero savings rates. Crypto groups including the Blockchain Association, Stand With Crypto, and the North American Blockchain Association joined Coinbase in opposing the lobbying. Critics note independent research shows no unusual deposit outflows from community banks and warn that banning third-party rewards would effectively close the existing yield-sharing pathway, chilling fintech competition and deterring entrants. Armstrong predicted banks may later seek the ability to pay stablecoin yields once they see the market opportunity, calling current lobbying efforts “wasted” and “unethical.”

Pension funds are increasingly allocating modest stakes (typically 1–2%) to crypto via regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs as infrastructure, custody and regulation mature. In 2025, BTC and ETH ETFs saw roughly $30 billion in net inflows, driven by large asset managers and improved custody solutions (eg, BlackRock-style products). Funds adopt small allocations to gain long-term diversification while limiting volatility and fiduciary risk. Risks persist: Bitcoin’s 2025 slide from near $120,000 to $80,000 highlights potential short-term losses that challenge pension fund risk tolerances. Institutional adoption brings benefits — deeper liquidity, stronger governance and higher custody standards — which historically correlate with reduced market extremes. Key points for traders: ETF inflows and pension allocations can provide steady, patient capital; small but broad institutional demand may lower short-term sell pressure and increase resilience; regulatory and custody progress is a major catalyst for further flows. Monitor ETF flow data, pension allocation guidance, and custody/regulatory developments for signs of sustained institutional engagement.

A large Chainlink (LINK) holder moved 366,364 LINK — roughly $4.5 million — out of Binance over a two-day period. On-chain trackers identified multiple withdrawals that aggregated to the total sum; funds were sent to external addresses rather than other exchanges. The activity drew attention because large exchange outflows by whales can signal intentions to hold in cold storage, prepare for OTC trades, or reposition assets. No linked announcements from Chainlink or Binance were reported. Traders should note the size and pattern: concentrated, rapid withdrawals across two days, which may temporarily reduce exchange liquidity of LINK and could increase short-term price sensitivity to buy or sell pressure. However, without accompanying on-chain movement toward known OTC, staking, or protocol addresses, the motive remains unclear.

Uniswap has permanently burned 100 million UNI tokens — roughly 10% of the protocol’s original 1 billion supply — in a single on-chain transfer valued at about $592 million. The transaction, tracked by Whale Alert and executed from a wallet tied to the Uniswap treasury, sent tokens to a provable burn address (e.g., 0x...dEaD), ensuring they cannot be recovered. The one-off burn is larger than typical scheduled burns and immediately reduces UNI’s maximum supply, creating deflationary pressure. Short-term market volatility followed the announcement; longer-term effects include increased token scarcity, possible value accrual for remaining holders, and a shift in governance voting power since burned tokens can no longer vote. Analysts view the move as a strategic treasury-management decision, comparable in intent to buybacks in traditional markets and aligned with broader DeFi trends of supply optimisation. The burn may prompt scrutiny of other protocol treasuries and attract regulatory attention around market effects and governance. Key facts: 100,000,000 UNI burned; ≈10% of 1,000,000,000 initial supply; ≈$592 million valuation at the time; transaction publicly verifiable on Ethereum.

China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress approved a revised Foreign Trade Law on December 27; the law takes effect March 1, 2026. The update expands legal powers to protect national sovereignty, security and development, and adds 11 chapters and 83 articles covering trade reform, digital trade, green trade, intellectual property protection and formal countermeasures for trade disputes. The law elevates measures such as negative-list management for cross-border services, support for new foreign-trade models including digital trade, and a legal push to align with — and help shape — high-standard international economic rules. Officials are now empowered to impose stronger legal responsibilities and countermeasures in trade conflicts. The revision comes amid a weakening industrial backdrop: China’s industrial profits fell 13.1% year-on-year in November 2025 (after a 5.5% drop in October), with overall 11-month profits up only 0.1%. Policymakers cite global rule shifts and the need to sustain foreign trade order and high-quality opening-up. Implications for markets include heightened regulatory tools for trade retaliation and a clearer legal framework for digital and green trade, which could influence supply chains, export-dependent sectors and geopolitical risk pricing.

Bitcoin briefly registered a deep wick to roughly $24,000 on Binance’s BTC/USD1 pair during Christmas, but the move was isolated to a thin, illiquid order book rather than a market-wide crash. Analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera reported the BTC USD1 pair plunged ~72% for about three seconds while BTC/USDT remained above $86,400; arbitrage quickly closed the gap. Perera linked the event to low sell-side liquidity after a Binance promotion (20% APY on USD1 deposits) drove traders from USDT into USD1, and warned of liquidity risks in newly listed stablecoin pairs. Separately, analyst PlanB highlighted Bitcoin trading near $87,500 — substantially below levels implied by historical correlations with U.S. stocks and gold. His regressions suggest fair-value analogues near $6,900 (stocks) and $4,500 (gold), marking an unusually wide model gap. PlanB noted a similar divergence before past multi‑fold rallies but cautioned that historical correlations may not reassert on a set timetable. Key takeaways for traders: the $24K wick appears exchange-pair specific and driven by thin liquidity and promotional flows, so on-chain and cross-exchange prices showed no systemic crash; the widening gap versus stock/gold models signals either dislocated correlations (possible upside if reversion occurs) or a changed regime (risk that historical signals no longer apply).

By late 2025 the crypto market is showing signs of structural maturation driven by institutional inflows, user growth and expanding utility of stablecoins. Market cap held above $3 trillion in mid-December, with Bitcoin spot ETFs attracting $22.66 billion in year-to-date net inflows and Ethereum ETFs $10.43 billion. Corporate treasuries now hold over 1.087 million BTC. Binance reported over 300 million users and onboarding of roughly 180,000 new users per day. Stablecoins accounted for about 30% of on-chain transaction volume and settled more than $4 trillion between January and July 2025; the stablecoin sector market cap reached $313.89 billion (up ~50% YTD). Tokenized real-world assets (RWA) grew to $18.61 billion (up 235% YTD). Industry leaders at Binance Blockchain Week 2025 highlighted regulatory clarity, ETFs, regulated custody and stablecoins as foundational rails for cross-border settlement and liquidity. The piece frames crypto’s evolution as a shift from speculation to integration with traditional finance, where Bitcoin is increasingly treated as institutional allocation and stablecoins serve as operational plumbing for payments, remittances and on-chain settlement.