Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A cryptocurrency trader turned a $2,000 investment in Pepe, a memecoin, into over $43 million, later securing a $10 million profit by selling at its peak. Despite Pepe dropping 74% from its peak, the trader achieved a 4,700-fold return. Now, the same trader is heavily investing in a new viral cryptocurrency, showcasing a strategic shift and indicating growing market interest and potential volatility in emerging crypto assets. This move underscores possible opportunities for traders seeking short-term gains. The article discusses the trader’s decision rationale and its implications on the broader crypto market, including the shift in capital from traditional altcoins like Solana to more volatile memecoins and emerging tokens.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has completed its investigation into Immutable, an Australian crypto company, without filing any charges. Immutable had previously received a Wells notice, generally indicating potential securities violations, but the SEC has decided not to pursue legal action. This clearance is a significant positive for Immutable, reinforcing confidence in its operations and regulatory compliance. During the investigation, Immutable maintained its focus on product development, expanded subscriptions, and formed new partnerships in the Web3 gaming sector. The investigation’s conclusion suggests a possible shift in the SEC’s regulatory approach toward cryptos, benefiting Web3 gaming companies by reducing market uncertainty. This development may stabilize the cryptocurrency market, offering a fresh start for Immutable to further its Web3 gaming initiatives.

A new media outlet has emerged as a prominent player in the cryptocurrency journalism sector, setting itself apart through a focus on detailed analysis, transparency, and unbiased reporting. Initially, it emphasized strategies for future success in the crypto media space by leveraging blockchain and adapting to market trends. It now aims to fill existing gaps in coverage by offering exclusive interviews with industry leaders, and deep dives into blockchain technology’s technical implications. With its commitment to providing factual, data-driven content, the outlet aspires to be a comprehensive and trusted source for crypto traders and investors, empowering them with the necessary information to make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving crypto market.

Aleksei Andriunin, the founder of Gotbit, has pled guilty to charges related to crypto fraud and market manipulation. He was involved in wash trading to inflate token prices, aiding in their listings on major exchanges. Extradited from Portugal, Andriunin faced a maximum of 25 years for conspiracy and wire fraud. However, under a plea agreement with US authorities, he will serve a potential two-year prison sentence and forfeit $23 million. This case sheds light on regulatory efforts to combat crypto fraud, affecting other individuals and companies linked to similar illegal activities. The incident underlines growing scrutiny on crypto markets and the legal actions being taken to ensure market integrity.

As the elections approach, there’s speculation that Trump Coin could experience a surge in value due to increased political activity and public interest. However, traders are advised to exercise caution due to concerns over the project’s long-term viability, potential regulatory scrutiny, limited adoption, and market volatility. Despite initial hype, the fundamental analysis does not support a strong investment case for $TRUMP. It is crucial for traders to conduct thorough research before considering an investment, paying attention to both political dynamics and broader crypto market conditions.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently affirmed that Bitcoin mining and other proof-of-work (PoW) operations are not considered securities transactions. This announcement clarifies that miners do not require SEC registration, confirming that PoW activities do not meet the criteria of an investment contract under the Howey Test. The SEC’s declaration marks a significant regulatory shift, contrasting with former Chair Gary Gensler’s stringent stance. This news has been warmly received by the industry, as it paves the way for increased investment in PoW mining, exemplified by positive reactions from companies like Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms. Under Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, the SEC aims to implement Bitcoin-friendly policies that encourage innovation and provide clearer regulatory pathways. The decision, coupled with the SEC’s more cooperative approach, such as dropping past lawsuits, appears to foster a supportive environment for the crypto industry, suggesting potential growth in institutional investments within the Bitcoin mining sector.

By 2025, both Cardano (ADA) and DTX Exchange are expected to experience substantial institutional inflows as per predictions based on their technological advancements and increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies. Cardano’s robust blockchain and smart contract capabilities make it attractive to financial giants, while DTX Exchange’s innovative approach in integrating DeFi and cross-chain functionalities is drawing significant investor attention. The expected institutional integration of these platforms into the mainstream financial system could lead to their increased value and adoption, marking a significant shift in market dynamics.

Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko issued an apology for a controversial advertisement containing politically sensitive content, which sparked backlash from the crypto community. Despite the controversy, SOL’s price rose by approximately 2.5%, indicating strong market resilience. The advertisement was criticized for potentially marginalizing certain groups, an issue Yakovenko acknowledged. The incident coincides with the launch of two futures ETFs by Volatility Shares LLC, viewed positively in the U.S. crypto sector, likely bolstering SOL’s bullish momentum. This situation underscores Solana’s focus on decentralized technology development, steering clear of cultural debates.

In the wake of the significant Bybit security breach, Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier has been vocal about the persistent security risks facing crypto exchanges and the growing interest among institutions to mitigate these risks as they enter the crypto market. Gauthier stresses the importance of robust security measures and advocates for self-custody or regulated custodians to ensure liquidity access. With institutions focusing on advanced security solutions, Ledger positions itself as a key partner by offering enterprise-grade hardware and comprehensive encryption protocols to de-risk investments. This represents a shift from relying on retail-grade products to more robust, governance-layered solutions, reflecting a maturing dialogue on crypto safety. The emphasis remains on enhancing security standards to protect investors, aligning with the industry’s need for stronger security protocols after the significant vulnerabilities exposed by the Bybit hack.

The ETH Denver conference has become a focal point for criticism in the crypto community, highlighting issues of commercialization over genuine community engagement. Participants have expressed dissatisfaction with the focus on commercial interests rather than true community representation, echoing a broader industry trend. At the same time, the enthusiasm for memecoins is diminishing, with launches like PWEASE failing to gain traction, suggesting a weakening market interest. Additionally, discussions about the establishment of a digital asset strategic reserve in the US have raised controversies, particularly with the proposed inclusion of Ripple (XRP) and Cardano (ADA), both facing legal and market challenges. This situation reveals a significant misalignment between political decisions and the crypto community’s expectations. The news encapsulates a complex scenario, where shifts in industry priorities, regulatory factors, and investor sentiment are influencing market dynamics. For traders, these developments signal potential market volatility and invite a reassessment of strategic positions.

The U.S. SEC has acknowledged Nasdaq’s proposal to list and trade shares of the Grayscale Hedera Trust, marking a significant step towards offering regulated exposure to Hedera Network’s native token, HBAR. This announcement opens a 21-day public comment period, allowing industry feedback. The proposed commodity-based trust, which does not permit direct redemptions, could trade at a premium or discount to the asset’s value. Administration will be handled by BNY Mellon, with CSC Delaware as trustee and Coinbase Custody managing assets. This filing is part of a broader wave following recent political and administrative changes, indicating a shift in the SEC’s stance on crypto investment products, highlighted by recent approvals of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. However, decisions on other altcoin ETFs, such as Grayscale’s XRP ETF, have been postponed. Grayscale and Canary Capital are major players in the launch of HBAR-focused ETFs, while Bitwise has revealed a new Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF.

The discussion centers around three affordable cryptocurrencies—ZACRO, Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Dogecoin (DOGE)—with promising potential for significant growth by 2025. ZACRO, priced at $0.01, is capitalizing on its airdrop program and community engagement, anticipating a price increase to $0.02. SHIB is benefiting from whale accumulation driving growth, currently trading at $0.00001349 with a market cap of $7.95 billion. DOGE continues to be impacted by Elon Musk’s public endorsements, trading at $0.2041 with a market cap of $30.28 billion. Investors are drawn to these cryptocurrencies as they offer inexpensive yet potentially lucrative avenues for diversification in crypto portfolios, underscored by active community support and project development.

DeepSeek’s release of the DeepSeek R1 model, known for its powerful performance and low training costs under an open-source MIT license, has stirred the AI industry. This development poses a challenge to established players like NVIDIA, as R1 offers a cost-effective alternative that is shaking up market dynamics. The model was developed at a significantly lower cost than those by companies like OpenAI. The disruption caused by R1 has implications not only for major tech companies but could also lead to a diversified AI ecosystem paralleling the open-source software movement. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s AI sector is facing challenges like unclear government policies and a ban on using DeepSeek R1 in public agencies. The local AI industry struggles due to limited data resources, insufficient funding, and restrictive copyright laws, leaving Taiwan lagging behind global AI advancements and risking its competitive edge. These conflicting developments underline the global shift towards open AI, bringing new considerations for infrastructure, talent attraction, and balancing AI capabilities with human-centric approaches.

Solana has recently faced a significant price drop, raising questions about whether this is a temporary market setback or the start of a new cycle. Initial concerns stemmed from the broader market downturn linked to global economic factors, including U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico, affecting both traditional and cryptocurrency markets. Despite this volatility, analysts maintain a long-term positive outlook for Solana and similar crypto assets. The potential launch of a Solana ETF is a key development highlighting its growing recognition. Meanwhile, there is a notable rise of meme coins like TrumpCoin within the Solana ecosystem, experiencing dramatic fluctuations due to speculative activities. The introduction of new financial instruments and increased interest in decentralized liquidity platforms like Raydium further suggest a transformative period for Solana. While short-term market turbulence continues, optimism prevails among crypto enthusiasts regarding Solana’s recovery potential and upcoming projects.

Recently, a false claim emerged stating that Donald Trump pardoned Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO of FTX, who is serving a sentence for financial misconduct. An X account, masquerading as SBF, exploited this rumor to announce a phony presidential pardon and launch a meme token named $SBF. This misleading act led to confusion among investors and temporarily inflated FTT’s price, demonstrating the sensitive nature of crypto markets to high-profile news. Subsequent investigations revealed that an unknown person impersonated SBF, and the account was briefly verified as a government agency before being revoked. Crypto traders are advised to be cautious and verify information sources, especially involving new tokens or claims related to SBF. These events underscore the potential for market manipulation and the need for diligence in trading activities.

The combined article highlights the strategic developments surrounding Binance Coin (BNB) and 1Fuel. BNB is focusing on expanding its role in traditional financial products, with ongoing efforts to burn half of its supply as part of its tokenomics strategy. This move aims to enhance its integration with traditional finance services like stocks and ETFs, drawing interest from investors. Simultaneously, the 1Fuel project is conducting a presale, offering significant bonuses and targeting to raise $3 million. It boasts innovative solutions including AI-driven trading tools and crypto debit cards, which are set to improve trading efficiency and security. Early investors are encouraged through tiered bonus offerings. The presale has piqued interest from major investors, including those from other crypto communities looking for more stable investments amidst market volatility. Both BNB’s strategic positioning and 1Fuel’s presale strategies point towards potential lucrative rewards for investors, underlining a bullish sentiment.

The unified news focuses on BeerBear, a low-cap cryptocurrency offering a combination of play-to-earn gaming and decentralized incentives. The project distinguishes itself from other speculative tokens with its blockchain-based arcade game ’Bar Brawl,’ where players earn in-game tokens and NFTs for ecosystem rewards. Starting at a presale price of $0.0004 and moving towards $0.0020, it seeks to reward early adopters and encourage sustainable growth. Key factors in its growth include the rising popularity of blockchain gaming and the community-driven engagement fostered by its decentralized governance model. BeerBear’s credibility is reinforced by three independent security audits. Challenges the project faces involve market volatility, heightened competition in the gaming industry, and potential regulatory changes. This analysis indicates significant future growth potential, appealing to investors interested in innovative crypto ventures.

LIBRA meme coin traders have suffered tremendous losses, with 86% losing over $1,000 each, aggregating to $251 million. Despite some traders securing $180 million, notable figures like Dave Portnoy faced losses of $6.3 million but managed to recover $5 million. Concurrently, the U.S. seized $1 billion of Sam Bankman-Fried’s assets including Robinhood shares and cryptocurrencies. Amid these developments, Hong Kong’s SFC plans to launch ASPIRe, aimed at enhancing market safety and accessibility. The SEC’s shift in approach to cryptocurrency regulation suggests potentially more lenient negotiations, impacting companies like Ripple and Coinbase. These events indicate volatility in the meme coin market and ongoing regulatory evolution in the crypto space.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has indicated potential interest rate cuts in response to inflationary pressures, which are heightened by US President Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on semiconductors, cars, and pharmaceuticals. While inflation remains persistently high, lower interest rates could diminish returns on traditional assets, prompting investors to shift towards high-risk assets like cryptocurrencies. This scenario could catalyze a bullish trend in the crypto market. In anticipation, presale events like Meme Index ($MEMEX) have gained attention for combining traditional risk management with the crypto sector, having raised $3.7 million to date. If tariffs lead to earlier-than-expected rate cuts, increased investor interest may boost altcoins and meme coins.

World Liberty Financial (WLF), a crypto project linked to Donald Trump, is pushing for the revival of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Co-founder Zak Folkman and Justin Sun, founder of Tron, emphasized the importance of fair regulations to promote the mainstream adoption of decentralized finance and address challenges faced by memecoins. Despite controversies surrounding memecoins, Sun remains hopeful about their future with structured launches. Folkman criticized venture capital practices, suggesting that restoring ICOs’ inclusivity is crucial for rebuilding investor trust, particularly in projects like WLF. The open participation once allowed by ICOs is now overshadowed by unequal access. Calls for regulation consistency echo the challenges memecoins face in regaining investor trust. Sun highlighted Dogecoin’s success, advocating for well-structured launches to protect investors. This discussion underscores the tension between traditional investment methods and crypto’s decentralized principles.

Elon Musk has presented a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, adding complexity to Sam Altman’s plans for raising capital and restructuring. The bid, significantly lower than OpenAI’s last valuation, raises questions about the non-profit vs. for-profit tensions within the AI sector. Concurrently, the SEC has acknowledged a novel application for an XRP ETF by NYSE and Grayscale, marking a pivotal shift in SEC’s stance on crypto ETFs and potentially altering the regulatory landscape. Analysts estimate a 65% chance of XRP ETF approval by 2025, which could notably influence XRP’s market dynamics.

Ethereum (ETH) is currently showing potential for a bullish breakout, priced at $3,191.70 with a hopeful triple-bottom pattern. In contrast, Ripple (XRP) faces legal battles with the SEC, leading to uncertainty and causing its price to hover around $3.12. Solana (SOL), while offering fast transactions and low fees, is hindered by frequent network outages, impacting reliability, and is currently trading at $239.58. Amid these developments, Rexas Finance (RXS) has attracted significant attention with a successful presale raising over $44.5 million at $0.20 per token. Investors are optimistic due to its focus on asset tokenization, making high-value assets accessible through fractional ownership. Rexas’ tools like QuickMint Bot and Token Builder further simplify these processes. The project’s credibility is enhanced by listings on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, a Certik audit, and planned listings on major exchanges in 2025. As Ethereum continues its bullish trajectory, and considering its infrastructure leveraging RXS, Rexas Finance positions itself as a promising and safer alternative amidst market volatility.

Alexey Pertsev, the developer behind Tornado Cash, has been released from a Dutch prison after three years in pretrial detention. This marks a significant development for privacy advocates and the #FreeAlexey movement. Pertsev was imprisoned following his conviction for facilitating money laundering through Tornado Cash, sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 for allegedly laundering billions, including funds linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Although released, Pertsev remains under electronic monitoring as he continues to appeal his conviction, which could set a precedent for the liability of privacy-focused crypto developers. This case highlights ongoing debates about open-source development and financial privacy tools, with concerns over potential chilling effects on innovation. Privacy coins like Monero and Zcash experienced fluctuations following the Tornado Cash crackdown. The broader implications for privacy technology scrutiny in crypto could shape U.S. policy, potentially softening toward privacy tools, despite regulatory uncertainties. Privacy advocates caution that continued legal threats could stifle innovation, driving decentralized privacy technology development underground.

Joseph Lubin, CEO of Ethereum software firm ConsenSys, revealed that the company faced banking challenges due to Operation Chokepoint 2.0, a regulatory initiative pushing banks to cut ties with crypto firms. Allegedly involving Wells Fargo, ConsenSys managed to navigate these pressures by relying on redundant backup accounts. This situation underscores the tensions between financial regulators and the crypto industry, with significant discourse emerging among industry leaders and in Congress regarding the equitable treatment of digital asset firms. These developments have prompted discussions on countering regulatory policies impacting the crypto market.

Solana (SOL) has experienced significant attention following a tweet by Barron Trump, saying ’hi Solana,’ which he later deleted. This incident attracted retail traders’ speculation about its impact on Solana’s market position, amid a 3.8% price decline to around $240. Despite the volatility, Solana continues to show resilience due to developer activity and NFT adoption. The removal of the tweet led to further speculation about avoiding market manipulation or legal scrutiny. Solana faces challenges such as network outages and competition from Ethereum Layer-2 solutions but gains interest from high-profile mentions. Technically, SOL is caught in a bearish ’rising wedge pattern’ suggesting a potential drop to $81, marking a 66% retracement if the bearish trend persists. However, a rally above resistance levels at $252 and $277 could reverse this trend. The RSI remains neutral, pointing to market uncertainty. This news reflects the influence of high-profile figures on crypto markets and underscores the importance of vigilance in trading.

MicroStrategy has increased its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing an additional 1,070 BTC for about $101 million, accumulating a total of 447,470 BTC at an average acquisition cost of $62,503 each. This reflects MicroStrategy’s strategy to strengthen its reserves with Bitcoin, emphasizing its role as a long-term corporate treasury asset. Simultaneously, Bitcoin prices have surged past the $100,000 mark, driven by investor sentiment favoring Bitcoin and gold as inflation hedges. Meanwhile, semiconductor stocks, including TSMC and NVIDIA, have also recorded significant gains due to Foxconn’s record-high Q4 revenue. JPMorgan foresees this trend of Bitcoin’s structural role in investment portfolios continuing through 2025, highlighting its potential importance in corporate finance and treasury management amid global economic shifts.

MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, continued its buy-the-dip strategy, purchasing 1,229 BTC between Dec. 22–28, 2025, for about $108.8 million at an average price of $88,568 per coin, according to an SEC filing. The acquisition was funded by selling 663,450 shares of MSTR stock; net proceeds matched the bitcoin outlay. The purchase brings MicroStrategy’s total holdings to 672,497 BTC acquired for $50.44 billion, giving an average cost basis near $74,997 per BTC. Earlier in December the firm executed larger buys (10,624 BTC and 14,620 BTC), meaning nearly 19,244 BTC were added in month-end activity, totaling roughly $1.94 billion in earlier purchases. At the time of reporting, bitcoin was trading around $87,000–$90,000 and was down about 7% YTD in 2025; MSTR shares were down roughly 47% YTD. Critics have questioned the returns on MicroStrategy’s multi-year accumulation despite modest paper gains. For traders: MicroStrategy remains an active corporate buyer, funds purchases via equity sales (raising potential dilution), holds a large reserve (672,497 BTC), and has an average cost basis (~$74,997) that may influence selling behavior if prices approach that level.

Nasdaq-listed miner Bitdeer reported its bitcoin holdings were 1,998.3 BTC as of Dec. 26. The company mined 146.2 BTC during the week and sold 144.7 BTC, producing a net increase of 1.5 BTC versus the prior week. This follows an earlier November disclosure when Bitdeer’s holdings were higher (2,084.7 BTC) after net selling activity. The latest update shows Bitdeer’s weekly sales were nearly equal to production, signalling that miner liquidity actions are currently neutralizing fresh supply. For traders, the key takeaways are: miner production remains steady, short-term sell pressure from Bitdeer is limited since weekly sales roughly match mining output, and continued monitoring of miner balance sheets is warranted because larger or sustained sell-offs could add downward pressure to BTC prices. Primary keywords: Bitdeer, BTC holdings, bitcoin mining, miner sell-offs, market supply.

Ozak AI (OZ) has sold over 1 billion tokens and raised about $4.9 million in its presale, while Bitcoin has seen a recent pullback. The presale price moved from $0.001 to $0.014 (≈14×). The project markets an AI + DePIN narrative with features such as AI agents, real-time analytics feeds, staking and governance utility, decentralized storage, and the November-launched x402 Protocol that bills users only for compute consumed — a cost-saving claim that supports autonomous agents. Analysts cited in coverage project aggressive upside for OZ, with scenarios ranging up to $5 by 2028 (implying as much as ~420× from current presale levels) and other earlier reports suggesting targets like $10 by 2029. The piece is sponsored content and not investment advice. Key takeaways for traders: measurable presale traction (~$4.9M), clear product and token-utility narrative (staking, governance, liquidity), strong short-term buying interest driven by speculative ROI models, and typical presale execution and liquidity risks. Monitor token unlock schedules, on-chain distribution, roadmap execution (including x402 adoption), and broader market risk appetite — all will materially affect OZ’s short- and long-term price performance.