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BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who previously expressed skepticism about Bitcoin, has apparently changed his stance. This shift is indicated by BlackRock's current involvement in the cryptocurrency space, specifically their application for a Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). The article suggests that Fink's change of heart validates Bitcoin's legitimacy as an asset class.

Ripple's CEO has publicly predicted that Bitcoin's price will reach $180,000 by the end of 2026. This projection suggests a significant increase in Bitcoin's value over the next two years, according to a key figure in the cryptocurrency industry.

XRP's price has declined significantly, despite positive inflows into XRP ETFs. Large holders of XRP, known as whales, have been selling off substantial amounts of the token, contributing to the downward pressure. Demand for the XRP ETFs is also decreasing, with inflows dropping from highs of $243 million in mid-November to $12.84 million on December 4. This price drop and reduced ETF demand has increased negative sentiment around XRP on social media. XRP is currently down almost 10% year-to-date.

Base, a Layer 2 network, now allows users to send USDC without paying gas fees, thanks to a solution powered by x402. This enables faster and cheaper payments since users don't need ETH in their wallets. Users can send USDC to platforms using ENS, BaseName, or Farcaster usernames, simplifying transfers by linking human-readable names to crypto wallets. In 2025, daily USDC transfers on Ethereum Layer 2s exceeded 3.5 million transactions. Aave, a lending protocol in DeFi with over $5.8 billion in USDC deposits, integrates USDC and EURC to provide credit across decentralized markets and is among the first to bring USYC into on-chain collateral markets through Horizon.

Ethereum's price has recovered above $3,200 after dropping below $2,700 in November, improving market sentiment. The recent Fuska upgrade has made the network faster and cheaper, boosting activity. Tom Lee of Fundstrat believes Ethereum has completed its correction and is poised for a strong move, potentially reaching $7,000 in a conservative scenario or even $62,000 in the long term if Ethereum becomes a major force in global finance. Fundstrat resumed accumulating ETH after technical indicators improved, suggesting they believe Ethereum has hit its cycle low. Lee also notes that most institutional investors still have little to no crypto exposure, implying significant growth potential for the crypto market.

Turkish digital asset platform Paribu has acquired CoinMENA, a regulated crypto exchange operating in Bahrain and the UAE, for a valuation of up to $240 million. CoinMENA, founded in 2020, serves over 1.5 million users across 45 countries, offering access to more than 50 cryptocurrencies and supporting various local currencies in the MENA region. This acquisition marks Turkey's largest fintech transaction to date and Paribu's expansion into the Middle East and North Africa. Paribu aims to utilize CoinMENA's licenses in the UAE and Bahrain to operate in those regions. According to Chainalysis reports, Turkey has become a leading crypto market in the MENA region, handling approximately $200 billion in transactions.

SpaceX, Elon Musk's space exploration company, has reportedly moved $100 million worth of its Bitcoin holdings. The specific reason for this movement is not stated in the article. This follows previous reports of SpaceX writing down the value of its Bitcoin holdings, which impacted the cryptocurrency market at the time. This recent transaction suggests a potential shift in SpaceX's Bitcoin strategy or portfolio management.

N3XT has launched a U.S.-based narrow bank with a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution charter to facilitate B2B transactions using blockchain technology. The bank will focus on customer deposits and payment services, investing only in low-risk, liquid assets, and claims every dollar of deposit will be backed by cash or short-term U.S. treasuries in a one-to-one ratio. The platform will integrate stablecoins, utility tokens, and other cryptocurrencies to offer a range of digital assets for its customers, aiming to provide 24/7 international crypto payment scheduling and address challenges in global business transactions. N3XT has secured funding from several investors, including Potenza Capital and Winklevoss Capital. Other financial institutions are also exploring blockchain technology; for example, ten European banks are partnering to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin in 2026, and Japan's largest banks are jointly developing stablecoins. Token Terminal data indicates that the total stablecoin supply is at an all-time high of $294.868 billion across major networks.

A crypto analyst known as Dark Defender, who typically expresses optimism about XRP, stated that many investors will only buy XRP if its price begins to rapidly increase to new peak levels. This prediction comes as XRP is currently experiencing difficulties along with the overall cryptocurrency market.

Polymarket, a prediction market platform, is creating an in-house trading team that will trade against its own users. This means Polymarket's employees will be taking positions on the opposite side of bets made by customers. The primary risk associated with this is potential conflicts of interest and concerns about fairness, as the in-house team could have access to privileged information or manipulate the market to their advantage against regular users.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced that it will now allow CFTC-registered futures exchanges to list spot crypto products, which means that Americans can now trade cryptocurrencies under U.S. regulations. This move aims to provide safer trading options and prevent fraud by applying rules similar to those used in traditional commodities markets. Previously, most spot crypto trading occurred on offshore platforms with less strict oversight. The CFTC's decision follows recommendations from the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and input from the CFTC's Crypto Sprint. The agency is also updating rules on margin, settlement, and recordkeeping to integrate blockchain technology into traditional financial systems.

Pi Network's PI cryptocurrency has decreased in value and may fall below $0.22. Over the last 24 hours, PI has dropped 2%. There has been a notable increase in PI deposits into cryptocurrency exchanges, exceeding withdrawals, indicating that investors may be selling their holdings. Currently trading around $0.2267, PI faces bearish technical indicators, suggesting further price declines are possible. If the downward trend continues, PI could reach lows of $0.2204 and potentially $0.1919. A recovery is possible if buyers step in, targeting $0.2841 and eventually $0.3220. However, current market conditions point toward continued underperformance in the short term.

Crypto YouTuber Austin Hilton has publicly stated he is maintaining his position in Cardano (ADA) and has not sold any of his holdings. Hilton emphasized his continued belief in the cryptocurrency's future prospects and in Charles Hoskinson, the project's founder, despite the current unstable conditions in the cryptocurrency market.

The decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol USPD suffered a security breach resulting in the loss of approximately $1 million. The attack, dubbed a CPIMP attack, involved the attacker gaining administrative rights during the project's initial deployment on September 16th. The attacker concealed a malicious version of the contract while making it appear that the legitimate, audited code was running. Months later, the attacker exploited the vulnerability, minting 98 million USPD tokens and withdrawing 232 stETH tokens, draining nearly $1 million in liquidity. The attacker used two addresses, an Infector address (0x7C919d83) and a Drainer address (0x08833215A). USPD is working with law enforcement and white-hat researchers and is offering a 10% bounty if the attacker returns 90% of the stolen funds. Users are advised to revoke token approvals to the USDP contract.

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, stating that Artificial Superintelligence will far surpass human intelligence and emphasized the need to adapt to this reality. Simultaneously, SoftBank's Arm Holdings and South Korea's industry ministry signed an agreement to bolster the country's semiconductor and AI programs, including establishing a chip design school to train 1,400 designers. This aligns with South Korea's broader initiative to become a leading AI power, following meetings with OpenAI and Nvidia, and existing deals for memory chip supply with Samsung and SK Hynix, as well as Nvidia's AI chip shipments to the country. Son anticipates significant chip demand due to AI growth, highlighting South Korea's importance in the semiconductor supply chain. In related news, Son is progressing with a large-scale project in the U.S. involving the construction of industrial parks for AI infrastructure, potentially starting in 2026, utilizing Japanese technology and funding, with ownership transferring to the U.S. federal government.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong predicts the entire financial system will eventually operate on blockchain networks, driven by factors like increased regulatory burdens making it harder for companies to go public. Armstrong believes tokenization, the process of representing assets on a blockchain, will revolutionize capital markets similar to how crypto revolutionized payments. Coinbase, which already manages roughly half a trillion dollars in assets, plans to distribute tokenized funds and securities to its customers. Armstrong highlighted Ethereum, Solana, and Coinbase's Base network as key blockchains for tokenization. Coinbase currently powers over 80 percent of crypto ETF custody and trading and aims to partner with traditional financial institutions to bring tokenized assets to the market.

Michael Gayed, a portfolio manager who manages ETFs including FMKT and ATACX, suggested he may invest in XRP. He posted a tweet on Thursday hinting at this possible involvement. His comment has drawn attention within the XRP community.

British cybercriminal Danny Khan, also known as Danish Zulfiqar or Meech, has reportedly been arrested in Dubai, with approximately $18.6 million in cryptocurrency seized. The funds were tracked to a specific Ethereum wallet. Khan is allegedly linked to a $243 million theft from a Genesis creditor in August 2024, involving social engineering and the impersonation of Google and Gemini support to steal cryptocurrency. He is also connected to the Kroll SIM swap in August 2023, which compromised the personal information of BlockFi, Genesis, and FTX creditors, leading to reported losses of over $300 million through social engineering. Several other individuals were also reportedly arrested during the operation and people close to Khan have been unresponsive to communications for the past several days.

Bitcoin is currently trading around $91982, struggling to break above the $92500 resistance level. Key support lies at $90000, and if that breaks, further support is at $89000. Resistance levels are at $92500 and $93000. The market sentiment is leaning bearish, but the Stochastic RSI indicates oversold conditions, suggesting a potential price bounce. Traders should consider setting stop-loss orders below $89000 to manage risk. A long-term target of $140088 is being eyed. The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is at $92500 and the 100-day EMA sits at $90000.

A buyback wallet associated with the Aster cryptocurrency has burned 77.86 million ASTER tokens. The value of these burned tokens is approximately $79.81 million.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a warning about the potential risks of rapidly growing stablecoins, especially those pegged to the US dollar. The IMF's report suggests that the increased use of these digital currencies could undermine the ability of countries to manage their own monetary policy. This is particularly concerning for nations that are already dealing with issues like high inflation or a lack of trust in their own financial systems and government.

Donald Trump Jr.'s company, American Bitcoin, has purchased an additional 363 Bitcoin, bringing their total holdings to 4,367 Bitcoin. This purchase signals a long-term investment strategy in Bitcoin. Meanwhile, a new meme coin called PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) is gaining attention with its virtual mining system, allowing users to earn rewards without the need for expensive hardware. The $PEPENODE presale has already raised over $2.2 million. The article suggests that projects like PEPENODE, which combine gaming and meme culture with on-chain infrastructure, could see significant growth alongside established cryptocurrencies. The article provides a potential end-2026 price target for $PEPENODE at $0.0072, which would represent a 511% ROI.

Dogwifhat (WIF) is currently trading around $0.40, showing signs of price stabilization after a recent sharp decline. Its market capitalization is $402.23 million, with a 24-hour trading volume of $159.30 million. While down 91.62% from its all-time high, the coin exhibits high liquidity due to its substantial token supply of 998.93 million. Recent trading has been confined between $0.39 and $0.41, indicating reduced volatility. Open interest (OI) initially dropped during the price breakdown but has since stabilized around 76.53 million, suggesting traders are awaiting a clear directional signal. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has turned positive, indicating renewed interest and capital inflow, while the MACD remains neutral, showing weak bearish momentum.

Ripple has finalized its $1 billion acquisition of GTreasury, a treasury management firm that works with over 800 corporations across 160 countries and processes $12.5 trillion in payments annually. This move aims to integrate Ripple's digital asset infrastructure with GTreasury's existing corporate clients, providing them with real-time settlements and on-demand liquidity. By acquiring GTreasury, Ripple is expanding its reach into traditional finance and simplifying access to digital asset solutions for large companies, removing the complexities of managing crypto wallets and understanding blockchain technology. XRP's price has decreased to $2.2245, about 42% below its yearly peak.

The potential appointment of Kevin Hassett as Federal Reserve Chair under President Trump, alongside Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, is generating significant attention in financial markets. This pairing is seen as a major shift in U.S. monetary policy, potentially favoring economic growth and riskier assets like Bitcoin over traditional concerns about inflation and the value of the dollar. Bessent projects GDP growth exceeding 4% in early 2026, while Hassett is considered very positive on both stocks and Bitcoin. Some analysts warn of possible short-term liquidity issues that could temporarily slow down any immediate market rally. The new administration is expected to pursue policies aimed at weakening the dollar to boost exports and domestic production, which could further benefit Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Overall, this policy direction could lead to a major rally in various asset classes in 2026, although savers and bondholders may face challenges.

According to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, several on-chain indicators suggest Bitcoin may be entering a bear market, pointing to similarities with early 2022. These indicators include MVRV (market value to realized value), SOPR (spent output profit ratio), RHODL (realized cap HODL) waves, miner flows, and stablecoin liquidity. The MVRV is off euphoric highs and the SOPR has dropped below 1.0, indicating short-term holders are realizing losses. Also, long-term holder supply has been declining and miner reserves have been decreasing since October. However, other analysts believe this could just be a deep correction within a bull market, noting that MVRV Z-Score is not in oversold territory and whale accumulation around $90,000 indicates a possible inflection point. The key factor is global liquidity; if it continues to contract, a bear market is more likely, but if it stabilizes or rebounds, the bull market reset could continue. Bitcoin appears to be at a turning point and not a confirmed top.

A market analyst indicates that XRP's performance is still weak, even with recent price increases. XRP is struggling near the lower $2 price point and overall market confidence is low.

Baidu's chip-making company, Kunlunxin, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong stock exchange, aiming to raise around $3 billion. The company, valued at approximately $2.97 billion after a recent funding round, develops AI chips and aims to complete the IPO by early 2027, with paperwork potentially filed as early as the first quarter of 2026. This move aligns with China's push to develop its domestic chip industry amid U.S. restrictions on exporting advanced chips. Kunlunxin expects revenue to exceed $490 million this year and become profitable, with over half of its revenue coming from external customers. Baidu's stock price in Hong Kong saw a significant increase following the announcement of the listing plans.

HBAR experienced a temporary price drop to around $0.146 due to liquidations, but quickly recovered to about $0.15. This recovery stabilized the market and reduced excessive trading leverage. Trading volume has remained steady at $69.11M in the last 24 hours, and the current market capitalization is $5.39B. Technical indicators such as MACD and CMF are showing neutral signals, indicating a balance between buying and selling pressure. Overall, HBAR is currently trading within a stable range, supported by consistent buying activity around the $0.148-$0.149 level.

This article from December 5, 2025, discusses potential cryptocurrencies with explosive growth potential. It highlights Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), Maxi Doge ($MAXI), and PepeNode ($PEPENODE) as coins to watch, noting that these are available via presale. The article emphasizes Bitcoin Hyper as a Layer-2 solution for Bitcoin scaling, built on the Solana Virtual Machine. It mentions that MicroStrategy holds approximately $60 billion in Bitcoin and has no debt maturing until 2027, suggesting they are unlikely to sell their Bitcoin holdings. Twenty One Capital is set to list on the NYSE under the ticker XXI on December 9, 2025, with over 43,000 Bitcoin on its balance sheet. Bitcoin Hyper has already raised $29 million at $0.013375 per token. The article advises readers that crypto investments are high-risk and the content is for informational purposes only, not financial advice, and that the authors may earn affiliate commissions.

The article discusses the reasons behind a decrease in the cryptocurrency market on December 5th. However, the article content is missing, so a detailed summary of specific reasons cannot be provided. Without the article content, it is impossible to accurately state the factors contributing to the market downturn or any related data.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved spot crypto trading on regulated U.S. exchanges for the first time. This means that certain crypto products can now be traded on exchanges that are federally regulated by the CFTC. CFTC-registered futures exchanges can now list spot crypto products. Bitnomial, a regulated exchange, will be the first to launch a leveraged retail spot crypto exchange under these new CFTC rules, offering both retail and institutional traders the ability to participate in spot crypto markets. The approval is intended to provide Americans with safe and regulated access to crypto markets and to help the U.S. become a leader in the global crypto market by establishing a regulatory environment for digital assets.

American Bitcoin (ABTC), a company with ties to the Trump family, acquired 363 Bitcoin on December 4th. This occurred after the company's stock price dropped nearly 40% following the expiration of a lockup period, which allowed early investors to sell their shares. The stock price fell from $3.58 to $1.80 as these investors sold large volumes of shares. While the stock showed a slight recovery, stabilizing around $2.4, analysts suggest that further Bitcoin purchases may increase financial risk rather than stabilize the stock price. The drop was caused by early investors cashing out after large gains, concerns about the company's finances, and a general downturn in the crypto market, particularly for assets associated with the Trump brand. The company's strategy of buying more Bitcoin to support the stock price is being questioned, with analysts suggesting that focusing on financial stability and clear communication would be more effective.

XRP is currently trading around $2.12, consolidating after a 15% increase over the past month. It's trading in a narrow range between $2.10 and $2.17. A key resistance level to watch is around $2.28, and if the price breaks above that, it could potentially rise towards $2.75. The upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is expected to be a significant catalyst, as interest rate decisions can impact the demand for riskier assets like XRP. Technical analysis shows a descending wedge pattern, suggesting a possible strong directional move. Institutional buying and potential developments related to XRP-based ETFs are likely to influence its price in the mid- to long-term.

Dogecoin is currently priced around $0.15, with analysts suggesting it could potentially reach $1.30 based on positive market indicators. One indicator, the Mayer Multiple, suggests Dogecoin isn't overvalued compared to previous market peaks. Also, the number of days coins have been held at a loss has decreased, resembling early phases that preceded price increases. Recent on-chain data shows a spike in Dogecoin network activity, with active addresses jumping to 71,589, the highest since September. Furthermore, large holders (whales) have bought 480 million Dogecoin in a short period. A significant resistance level is identified at $0.20, where a large amount of Dogecoin (11.72 billion) was accumulated, which could act as a price barrier.

A market indicator that uses crowd sentiment, identified by Santiment, has reappeared for XRP. The last time this indicator was present, XRP's price rose by 22% within three days. This occurrence has led to speculation that XRP's price may increase again.

Malaysian authorities are cracking down on illegal Bitcoin mining operations due to significant electricity theft. Utility companies have lost roughly $1.1 billion between 2020 and August 2025 because of miners tapping into the power grid without paying. The government has seized around 14,000 mining rigs across the country. A special task force is using drones and on-the-ground raids to find and shut down these illegal operations. While Bitcoin mining itself isn't banned in Malaysia, stealing electricity is illegal, and officials are considering stricter regulations, including potential licensing and monitoring, to address the issue and prevent further losses and grid instability.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is raising concerns about the growing use of stablecoins, digital currencies pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar. The IMF reports that stablecoin transactions across borders have surpassed those of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The total value of stablecoins issued is over $300 billion, with Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) dominating the market. These stablecoins are increasingly used in countries with high inflation, potentially weakening the control those countries have over their own money. The IMF warns that this rapid growth of stablecoins, if not properly regulated, could make financial systems unstable, particularly in emerging markets. They are planning to release guidelines next year to address these risks, focusing on transparency, supervision, and capital standards. Regulators are trying to establish global rules before stablecoins become the primary way people transfer value internationally. They believe this is important because the market caps often lead crypto market cycles.

White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett anticipates the Federal Reserve will likely cut interest rates by 0.25% at its upcoming meeting next week. This expectation is based on recent comments from Fed officials. A Reuters poll indicates that 82% of economists also predict a rate cut of 0.25%, and FedWatch estimates the probability at 87.2%. While some FOMC members oppose the cut due to inflation concerns, a rate cut could impact Asian currencies like the rupee, won, rupiah, and peso. The decision next week will be significant, especially with Hassett potentially becoming the next Fed Chair. The meeting's outcome will shape market conditions for 2026.

Midnight has launched on the Cardano blockchain, and the Midnight Foundation has announced when people can start claiming their NIGHT tokens. The launch marks the beginning of the redemption period for 4.5 billion NIGHT tokens that are available to eligible participants.

HumidiFi's WET token sale was quickly dominated by a bot farm, preventing fair distribution to intended users. The bot farm used specially funded wallets to instantly buy up the entire supply of tokens, raising $1.39M USDC and valuing the project at $69M. The team will discontinue the current WET token and launch a new one with a new smart contract to allow legitimate Solana DeFi users to claim the new asset. The initial presale used Jupiter's platform, which lacked sufficient bot defenses. The situation led to a drop in the token's pre-market trading price after an initial rally and will likely delay the token generation event, originally scheduled for December 9. HumidiFi is a Solana DEX offering access to dark liquidity pools, aiming to prevent sniping and front-running.

XRP's price has fallen to $2.06, a drop of about 7% over the past week, and is approaching a crucial support level of $2.04. Trading volume is still high, exceeding $3.1 billion in the last 24 hours. Whether XRP can hold above $2.04 is important for determining its next direction. If it stays above this level and breaks through the $2.41 resistance, it could rally towards $2.65 and potentially higher. However, if it falls below $2.04, it could drop further to $1.64. The next few trading sessions will be critical to determine XRP's direction.

Ophelia Snyder, co-founder of 21Shares, believes Bitcoin is unlikely to repeat its early 2025 price performance in 2026 due to ongoing market volatility and low market sentiment. Bitcoin saw a peak of $125,100 in October 2025 before a $19 billion market liquidation led to a price downtrend. While January often brings renewed investment into Bitcoin ETFs, Snyder is uncertain if this will be enough to drive prices up significantly. Despite short-term uncertainty, Snyder remains optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term potential, citing increasing adoption of Bitcoin ETFs and potential government adoption. Some risks remain, like a strong performance by gold or a continued risk-off sentiment in financial markets.

Twenty One Capital, a company with 43,500 Bitcoins, is set to list on the NYSE on December 9th. This makes it the third-largest public Bitcoin holder after Strategy and MARA, both listed on the Nasdaq. The article suggests that increased institutional interest in Bitcoin makes supporting infrastructure more important and highlights three crypto assets: Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), which aims to be a fast Bitcoin Layer-2 solution; PEPENODE ($PEPENODE), a meme coin with a "minetoearn" system; and USDC ($USDC), a stablecoin used for settlements. Bitcoin Hyper's presale has already raised over $29 million, with the token priced at $0.013375 and staking APY at 40%. Projections estimate a potential price of $0.20 in 2026 and $1.50 in 2030. The PEPENODE presale has raised over $2.2 million, priced at $0.0011778, with a staking APY of 570%, predicting potential price targets of $0.0072 in 2026 and $0.0244 by 2030. USDC has a market cap above $78 billion as of December 2025 and is priced around $0.9999.

The article focuses on the upcoming release of the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation data and its potential impact on the crypto market. Wall Street is making estimates about what the PCE number will be, and experts are sharing their thoughts. The key takeaway is that the PCE data, which measures price changes for goods and services purchased by consumers, is a significant indicator for the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. Because the Federal Reserve uses interest rates to try and keep inflation under control, the PCE data can have a direct impact on investment decisions. If the PCE is higher than expected, it can signal higher interest rates, which can negatively impact the crypto market. If the PCE is lower than expected, it can signal lower interest rates, which can positively impact the crypto market.

Versan Aljarrah, the founder of Black Swan Capitalist and a figure in the XRP community, stated that he no longer monitors the XRP price chart. He is now focusing on what he considers to be a more significant indicator, as the XRP price continues to experience difficulty.

Changpeng Zhao, founder of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, intends to expand Binance's operations in the United States and help make it a global crypto hub after receiving a pardon from former President Trump. Zhao expressed gratitude for the pardon, viewing it as an opportunity to reverse Binance's previous scaling back in the U.S. market. Despite regulatory challenges, including a lawsuit from the SEC and loss of banking services for Binance US, Zhao believes the U.S. is crucial due to its technology and blockchain professionals. He highlighted the importance of clearer regulations, citing the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act as positive steps for crypto growth. Zhao served four months in prison for violating US money laundering laws, but he maintained no harm was caused to users or the broader crypto community. He remains committed to Binance's growth, particularly in the U.S.

Aster, a decentralized exchange (DEX) project, is seeing increased market attention. A trader has predicted a potential price target of $2.43 for the ASTER token, especially with the upcoming launch of Aster's own Layer-1 blockchain. Currently, the key resistance level for ASTER is $1.59, and breaking through this could open the door for further price increases, with targets at $2.27 and $2.43. In related news, Aster announced the burning of approximately 77.8 million ASTER tokens through its buyback program, which aims to reduce the token supply. Furthermore, the project is planning to launch its Layer-1 network and introduce features like fiat on/off ramps, a development toolkit, and staking/governance mechanisms in the first half of 2026.

Japan's plan to inject $137 billion into its economy faced significant challenges in the bond market. On November 17th, Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki showed Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae a chart revealing heavy selling of government bonds, which raised borrowing costs as she planned to fund her stimulus through new debt. This development threatened the yen and investor confidence, jeopardizing the financing of "Sanaenomics." Japan's 10-year government bond yield reached its highest level since 2007, increasing by 25.5 basis points in four weeks, impacting global markets. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated there would be no Truss shock, and promised to limit new borrowing to try and calm the markets. Following these events, the Nikkei stock market index fell 1.05%. Currency traders reacted, with USD/SGD decreasing by 0.054% to 1.295, USD/CNY decreasing by 0.018% to 7.07, AUD/USD rising 0.3% to 0.663, USD/INR increasing 0.257% to 90.039, NZD/USD moving 0.278% higher to 0.578, USD/JPY dipping 0.2% to 154.77, USD/HKD adding 0.023% to 7.784, and EUR/JPY slipping 0.061% to 180.45.

Ripple's CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, predicts Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by the end of 2026, driven by improved regulatory clarity, especially the CLARITY Act, and institutional investment. This outlook favors infrastructure projects built on Bitcoin. One such project, Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), is a Layer 2 solution designed to improve Bitcoin's functionality by enabling high-speed transactions and smart contracts. Bitcoin Hyper aims to solve Bitcoins base-layer capacity limitations by providing a means for higher throughput through Layer 2 scaling. The $HYPER presale has already raised over $29 million. The project anticipates launching between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, and projects a price of $0.20 by 2026, which would represent a significant increase from its presale price. It targets to solve Bitcoin's scaling limitations by providing a Layer 2 to execute smart contracts. Bitcoin Hyper uses Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) for faster and cheaper transactions.

Italy's financial regulator, Consob, is requiring all Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to either become fully compliant with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCAR) regulation or cease operations in the country by December 30, 2025. VASPs must apply for Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) certification in Italy or another EU member state by December 30, 2025, to continue operating while their application is processed. Full MiCAR compliance is required by June 30, 2026. Investors are advised to check if their service providers plan to adhere to MiCAR and to verify their regulatory status. If a VASP doesn't apply or fails to get approved, it must stop operating in Italy after December 30, 2025, and customers can withdraw their assets.

Aptos (APT) has seen its price drop by 90% from its peak, but major investors are sticking around. The price decline is attributed to its tokenomics, specifically a large token supply of 1.18 billion APT and continuous monthly unlocks of 11.3 million tokens which creates constant selling pressure. A large percentage of tokens are staked (~80%), further compounding liquidity issues. While Aptos possesses solid technology, it lacks a clear identity or a standout application compared to competitors like Solana and Sui. Despite the challenges, institutional investors remain due to Aptos' involvement in real-world asset infrastructure, rising app revenue, and underlying fundamentals. Potential recovery strategies include tokenomic restructuring, launching a popular consumer application, and focusing on institutional-grade RWAs and AI tooling. A recovery to the $5-$6 range is possible with successful execution.

Kraken, a US-based digital asset exchange, is partnering with Deutsche Börse Group, a major financial market infrastructure provider that operates the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The partnership aims to connect crypto with traditional finance, giving institutional investors access to both asset classes. Initially, Kraken will integrate with 360T, a Deutsche Börse subsidiary for foreign-exchange trading, providing Kraken clients access to foreign-exchange liquidity. Conversely, Deutsche Börse Group clients will gain access to cryptocurrency and derivatives trading through Crypto Finance, another Deutsche Börse subsidiary, and Kraken. The companies also plan to offer white-label solutions that enable banks and fintechs to provide crypto trading and custody services across Europe and the U.S. They will also integrate xStocks, a stock tokenization standard, into Deutsche Börse's tokenized trading venue, 360X. Furthermore, the companies are exploring the possibility of making derivatives listed on Deutsche Börse's Eurex available on Kraken, pending regulatory approval. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $92,500, up 1% over the last week.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved allowing spot Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to be traded on federally registered exchanges in the US, effective December 4, 2025. This move permits exchanges registered with the CFTC to list spot crypto contracts, subjecting them to existing oversight and surveillance standards. Bitnomial, a Chicago-based derivatives exchange, is expected to be the first to offer these products, including both leveraged and non-leveraged spot trading. This regulatory change aims to bring crypto trading under established market protections, potentially attracting institutional investors and shifting activity from unregulated offshore platforms. While it increases transparency and safety, it does not eliminate the inherent price volatility risks associated with cryptocurrencies. The move affects only exchanges that register with the CFTC. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may respond on related issues such as token classification and custody rules. The CFTC has been working on this initiative since August and is designed to bring spot crypto trading into a more trusted regulatory environment. The approval is part of a broader administration effort to clarify digital asset regulations.

A recent study by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation shows that U.S. investors are becoming more cautious with their money. Fewer investors are willing to take substantial risks, with the percentage dropping from 12% in 2021 to 8% currently. This trend is even more pronounced among younger investors under 35. While crypto ownership remains steady at 27%, fewer people are considering buying digital currencies, with interest declining from 33% to 26%. The number of new investors entering the market has also slowed significantly. Younger investors still engage in higher-risk activities like options trading and buying on margin, often influenced by social media and 'finfluencers.' Concerns about investment fraud have increased, but basic investing knowledge remains low, with many investors unable to answer fundamental questions about financial concepts. The makeup of investors has also shifted with young adults, men and people of color making up a smaller piece of the pie.

A trader on Polymarket, identified by the wallet address 0xafEe, has made nearly $1 million by making highly accurate predictions on Google's 2025 Year in Search rankings. This has led to speculation about potential insider trading, with some suggesting the trader may have access to privileged information. The trader correctly predicted nearly all outcomes, including an unlikely bet on a relatively unknown singer. This occurred shortly after the trader deposited $3 million into Polymarket. The controversy comes as Polymarket relaunched in the U.S. and is planning to launch its own token in 2026. Polymarket had a trading volume of over $3.7 billion in November 2025 and is currently valued at approximately $9 billion, seeking additional funding.

Dogecoin's price has fallen to yearly lows around $0.13, despite recent listings of Dogecoin ETFs by Grayscale and Bitwise and an updated ETF filing by 21Shares. 21Shares is proposing a 0.50% sponsor fee for its Dogecoin ETF (TDOG), placing it near the average cost for crypto ETFs. Grayscale's Dogecoin Trust (GDOG) and Bitwise's GWOW have roughly $6.92 million in assets with $2.8 million in combined inflows but have seen periods of zero net flows recently. Broader Dogecoin ETF market, including futures products, shows varied performance; REX-Osprey DOGE ETF (DOJE) having $23.4 million, Bitwise's BWOW having $2.4 million, Grayscale's GDOG having $1.6 million, and 21Shares' TXXD having $856,900 in assets. While Dogecoin's on-chain activity, measured by active wallet addresses, increased in November, institutional selling pressure has pushed the price down. In a single day, Dogecoin fell by 3% with high trading volume, indicating significant selling to prevent price increases.

XRP ETFs are gaining popularity with institutional investors, attracting close to $1 billion in inflows shortly after launch, surpassing the initial pace of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. This surge has locked up over 400 million XRP tokens. Specific ETFs like Franklin Templeton's XRPZ and Bitwise XRP ETF are seeing substantial inflows and trading volumes. Canary Capital's early launch of an XRP ETF drove significant volume and inflows, followed by major firms like Bitwise and Franklin Templeton. 21Shares received SEC approval for its spot XRP ETF, and leveraged XRP ETFs are now available, providing traders with more options. Investors are moving funds into XRP ETFs, driven by the potential of Ripple's regulated stablecoin and institutional adoption, even though XRP's price has decreased recently. Franklin Templeton has included XRP in its multi-coin ETF.

The article discusses the possibility of a Bitcoin price increase based on historical patterns related to USDT (Tether) dominance and increased liquidity in the financial markets. Historically, peaks in USDT dominance, indicating traders moving into stablecoins during uncertain times, have been followed by a decrease in USDT dominance and a subsequent rally in Bitcoin's price. The article notes that a similar pattern is currently forming. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury's debt buyback program is injecting liquidity into the market, which has historically supported the prices of riskier assets like Bitcoin. The combination of these factors - a potential peak in USDT dominance and increased market liquidity - has led analysts to speculate about a potential Bitcoin price pump.

The BitHide team describes how businesses can protect sensitive information when using blockchain technology. Public blockchains expose transaction details, making it essential for companies to carefully manage their crypto operations. Common privacy tools like privacy coins and mixers are often unsuitable for business use because they don't fully anonymize transactions and can even raise suspicion. BitHide offers a business crypto wallet that combines data protection with features like mass payouts and AML checks. BitHide uses technologies like Dark Wing, which hides IP addresses, and Safety Levels, which provide different tiers of protection including transit addresses, AML checks, and crypto swaps. The company emphasizes that blockchain privacy for businesses is becoming increasingly important for AML compliance.

Aster burned 77.86 million of its ASTER tokens, equivalent to $79.81 million, after completing its S3 buyback program, where it repurchased a total of 155.7 million ASTER. Half of the repurchased tokens were burned to reduce supply, while the other half were locked to fund ecosystem incentives like user rewards and development grants. Despite the burn, the price of ASTER decreased by 2.7% in the last 24 hours. The token is currently trading between $0.95 and $1.05, facing resistance around $1.09. Aster also announced its H1 2026 roadmap, which includes the launch of the Aster Chain testnet and features like fiat on/off-ramps and on-chain governance. The Double Harvest Phase 3 campaign is ongoing, requiring traders to meet daily volume and order requirements to be eligible for rewards.

The article explains the differences between seed funding and Series A funding rounds for startups. Seed funding is the initial capital raised, typically from angel investors or venture capital firms, used to get a business off the ground. The amounts are relatively smaller and used for initial product development and market research. Series A funding is a larger round of investment, often led by institutional investors, to scale the business, expand operations, and increase revenue. Companies pursuing Series A funding usually have a proven business model, demonstrated revenue growth, and a clear path to profitability. Essentially, seed funding is about proving the concept, while Series A is about scaling a proven concept.

The article discusses Bitcoin investment strategies, referencing BlackRock's suggestion of a 1% to 2% crypto allocation in portfolios. It suggests varying crypto portfolio percentages based on age, from 4-5% for younger individuals to 0-1% for those 65 and older. The article also presents data on average US net worth and portfolio assets by age range, calculating corresponding Bitcoin investment amounts based on the recommended percentages. For example, a person in the 35-44 age range with $50,000 in portfolio assets might consider investing $1,500 (3%) in Bitcoin, equating to roughly 0.01622 BTC. The piece highlights that owning even a small amount of Bitcoin can be significant due to limited overall supply and discusses the concept of exclusive Bitcoin ownership clubs, such as being in the top 1% of Bitcoin holders, which requires approximately 0.28 BTC. It advises Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) into Bitcoin, especially during price dips, with potential accumulation zones identified between $50,000 and $70,000. The article estimates that if Bitcoin reaches $1 million, owning 0.28 BTC would be worth $280,000.

Ethereum is showing signs of a potential recovery after a period of decline. A key technical indicator, the MACD, has signaled a bullish crossover for the first time since September, suggesting renewed upward momentum. Ethereum's price has rebounded from a support zone between $2,700 and $2,900, indicating continued buying interest. Traders are now watching the $3,900 resistance level, which, if broken, could confirm a full trend reversal. Additionally, the Taker Buy/Sell Ratio, which reflects futures market activity, is nearing 1.0 after the Fusaka upgrade, indicating aggressive buying in the futures market. This suggests traders are anticipating further price increases, with potential targets around $3,500 and $4,000. Overall, Ethereum is stabilizing, and traders are closely monitoring key technical and futures data to determine its next direction.

Italy's financial regulator, Consob, is reminding crypto businesses and investors that the deadline to comply with the European Union's new crypto regulations (MiCAR) is December 30, 2025. After this date, crypto service providers in Italy must be fully authorized as Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) and operate under strict supervision, unlike the current, less stringent rules where they only need to register with the OAM. Companies applying for CASP authorization by the deadline may continue operations until June 30, 2026, while their application is reviewed. Those who don't apply will have to shut down immediately. Investors are advised to check if their crypto platforms are transitioning to comply with MiCAR and verify their status on official registers. Platforms not authorized after the deadline must cease operations and return customer funds. Crypto firms that don't plan to become CASPs must wind down operations, return assets, and stop providing crypto services.

Zcash (ZEC) is experiencing a potential recovery due to a large number of traders who bet against it being forced to close their positions, pushing the price up. Over $7.39 million in short positions were liquidated in 24 hours, suggesting a possible shift towards positive momentum. Technical indicators, such as increased buying volume and a recovery in the Relative Strength Index, point towards a bullish reversal. The immediate challenge for ZEC is to reclaim a critical support level, which, if successful, could lead to further price increases. Traders should watch the price action over the next couple of days to confirm whether this recovery will last, as the market still needs more validation to confirm a trend reversal.

Despite Ripple's significant investments of $4 billion in acquisitions to enhance its payment and digital asset services, and regulatory approvals in Singapore and the UAE, the price of XRP has declined by 31% over the past two months. Ripple's acquisitions include GTreasury, Rail, Palisade, and Ripple Prime, aimed at creating a unified platform for businesses to manage money in real-time. The approvals in Singapore and the UAE relate to expanded payment operations and stablecoin use, respectively. Market data indicates increased trading activity and short positions, particularly among Korean investors, contributing to selling pressure. Analysts suggest the XRP price may retest recent lows if selling continues, and some observers recommend focusing on adoption and infrastructure development rather than price charts. XRP is currently trading around $2.09, down almost 4% in the last 24 hours.

Ethereum is leaving cryptocurrency exchanges at a faster rate than Bitcoin, with only 8.84% of the total Ethereum supply currently held on exchanges compared to Bitcoin's 14.8%. This is largely attributed to staking, where Ethereum is locked up in contracts, and its use in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Ethereum holders are also more active in moving, selling, and spending their coins compared to Bitcoin holders, as Ethereum functions as a utility token powering various crypto applications, whereas Bitcoin is often treated as digital gold and held for longer periods. Approximately 25% of all Ethereum is locked in ETFs and native staking, showcasing its utility and store-of-value characteristics, while its turnover rate is twice that of Bitcoin. A significant portion of Ethereum is used within DeFi for lending and liquidity pools. Ethereum's exchange balances are decreasing due to ETF adoption and accumulation in Decentralized Autonomous Trading (DAT) platforms, with ETFs holding 5.24% of the Ethereum supply and DATs holding around 4.9%.

A recent study by FINRA indicates a cooling trend in the U.S. investment market, particularly in crypto. While crypto ownership has remained relatively stable, interest in new crypto investments has declined from 33% in 2021 to 26% in 2024. Overall risk appetite among investors has decreased significantly, with only 8% of investors willing to take substantial risks, down from 12% in 2021. The number of new investors entering the market has also slowed considerably, dropping from 21% in 2021 to just 8% recently. Younger investors are increasingly relying on social media influencers for investment advice, with 61% using YouTube and finfluencers as primary sources. Concerns about investment fraud are also on the rise, with 37% of investors expressing worry, up from 31% in 2021. Despite these concerns, 89% do not believe they have been personally targeted by scams. Many investors, especially those using margin, lack a full understanding of advanced investment concepts, highlighting the need for improved financial education.

Negative sentiment surrounding XRP on social media has reached levels not seen since October. Despite XRP's price decline of approximately 31% over the past two months, this extreme pessimism has historically preceded short-term price increases for the token. Social analytics data indicates a potential market turning point. This negative sentiment contrasts with positive on-chain signals, such as a yearly high in the XRP Ledger's Velocity metric, indicating increased network activity and liquidity. Additionally, U.S. spot XRP ETFs have experienced net inflows for 13 consecutive trading days, attracting nearly $900 million since their mid-November launch, outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. A key resistance level around $2.28 is being watched, with a potential move towards $2.75 if breached. XRP is currently trading around $2.09. Some analysts see similarities between the current market setup and patterns before XRP's 2016-2017 bull run.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes Strategy, which holds 650,000 Bitcoins valued at over $74 billion, will not sell its Bitcoin holdings due to sufficient cash reserves to cover interest payments. This solidifies Bitcoin's position as digital gold and encourages institutional accumulation. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), a Layer 2 network aiming to improve Bitcoin's transaction speed and smart contract capabilities, has raised $29 million in its presale. Bitcoin Hyper aims to integrate Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) into a Bitcoin Layer 2. The Bitcoin Hyper presale token price is $0.013375, and projections suggest a potential price of $0.20 by 2026 and $1.50 by 2030. The project targets a release window between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026.

The European Commission has proposed giving the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) direct oversight of crypto asset service providers across the EU, similar to how the SEC operates in the US. This would replace the current system where national regulators handle supervision. ESMA would be able to directly authorize crypto firms operating across the EU and oversee major trading venues. The goal is to create a more unified and efficient regulatory environment and address risks from inconsistent national approaches. While countries like France and Germany support this move, others like Luxembourg and Malta have concerns about bureaucracy and hindering competitiveness. Industry groups worry about disrupting the existing Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The European Parliament and Council must approve the proposals, with expectations for a legislative framework position by May 2026 and agreement by the end of the year. New data-sharing rules for crypto firms will also take effect in January 2026, and the Transfer of Funds Regulation, requiring identification of transaction participants, starts in December.

Investors are shifting their focus in the Asian AI technology sector from larger companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and SK Hynix, whose stock growth is slowing, to smaller companies such as MediaTek and Zhongji Innolight. This change is driven by concerns about overvalued stocks and a shift in the industry towards practical AI applications and cost reduction. While major players in AI components are expected to recover, companies like MediaTek and IsuPetasys, which partner with firms like Alphabet, are seeing gains. SoftBank Group, linked to OpenAI, experienced a significant stock drop. Despite competition between the US and China in AI, their supply chains remain connected. TSMC remains a leading chipmaker, and SK Hynix and Samsung dominate the high-bandwidth memory market. Investors are continuously seeking new opportunities within the evolving AI supply chain, particularly in areas related to physical infrastructure.

A new cryptocurrency bank called N3XT is launching in the United States, founded by former executives from Signature Bank, which collapsed in March 2023. N3XT aims to provide instant US dollar payments around the clock and will operate under a special-purpose bank charter in Wyoming. Unlike Signature Bank, N3XT will not engage in lending activities, and every dollar of deposits will be backed by cash or short-term U.S. Treasuries, with daily reserve holdings published. The bank will cater to crypto clients and will not be FDIC insured, as Wyoming special-purpose banks are not required to have this insurance. N3XT emphasizes that client assets will be held in full liquid form, ensuring accessibility and avoiding the risk management issues that plagued Signature Bank.

Bitcoin traders are concerned about a potential price drop similar to what happened in July 2024. This concern stems from the expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve might loosen its monetary policy around December 9-10, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is considering tightening its policy around December 18-19. This situation could destabilize the yen carry trade, where large institutions borrow yen at low interest rates and invest in higher-yielding assets in the U.S. If the yen's value rises or U.S. assets fall, these institutions might sell their U.S. holdings and convert back to yen, leading to a sell-off in assets like Bitcoin. The current environment, with the Fed's inflation measure and FOMC meeting soon, followed by a crucial BOJ press conference, intensifies these fears. Bitcoin is currently trading at $92,235.

Hedera's HBAR price is currently trading sideways, stuck between $0.130 and $0.150. However, there are signs that selling pressure is decreasing, indicated by an increasing Chaikin Money Flow (CMF). If the CMF crosses above zero, it could signal renewed investor confidence and potentially push the price higher, initially targeting $0.150 and then $0.162. Importantly, HBAR is showing a declining correlation with Bitcoin, suggesting it may begin to move independently. A break below the $0.130 support level could lead to a price drop towards $0.125.

Solana's price could potentially reach $250 by the end of the year, driven by ongoing network upgrades and increased activity. Several planned upgrades, including Alpenglow, aim to improve the network's functionality and address past issues, attracting developer interest and user engagement. These upgrades are designed to solve the issues that have affected the chain over time. The Alpenglow upgrade, in particular, is viewed as a significant step, incorporating research-based changes to enhance network stability. Historical December trading patterns, which often see higher trading volumes, also contribute to this positive outlook. Currently, Solana is trading around $139, showing mixed but steady technical signals, with the next resistance level being the 50-day simple moving average at $160.38. Industry observers suggest that continued upgrades and robust trading volume will be key factors in determining whether Solana can reach the $250 target.

Despite Bitcoin ETF outflows of roughly $4 billion since October, analysts believe this is due to unwinding basis trades rather than long-term investors selling off. This suggests the fundamental positive outlook for Bitcoin remains intact. The article highlights three crypto presales: Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), which aims to improve Bitcoin's scalability with faster smart contracts, having raised $29 million with tokens priced at $0.013375; PEPENODE ($PEPENODE), a mine-to-earn memecoin project using a virtual node system for rewards, having raised over $2.2 million with tokens priced at $0.0011778; and Ionix Chain ($IONX), an AI-powered blockchain focusing on high-performance smart contracts, having raised over $6.3 million in its presale. Staking rewards are offered at 40% APY for $HYPER and 570% APY for $PEPENODE. The article suggests these presales could offer high potential returns.

Twenty One Capital, a Bitcoin treasury company, is launching on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) next week with 43,514 Bitcoin on its balance sheet. The company, started in April 2025, aims to accumulate Bitcoin through partnerships and is backed by firms like Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether, and SoftBank, as well as Jack Mallers, the CEO of Strike. Mallers' leadership and these backers connect the company to significant financial, political, and tech networks. The NYSE listing is a sign of growing institutional interest in companies holding Bitcoin as a treasury asset, and the company's development may be affected by future crypto regulation, like the CLARITY Act.

Kalshi, a prediction market platform, has expanded its reach by having its market data featured on CNBC and CNN. This development positions Kalshi ahead of its competitor, Polymarket, in terms of mainstream media visibility. The partnership allows real-time data from Kalshi's prediction markets to be displayed to a wider audience, potentially increasing awareness and participation in the platform's event-based contracts.

Chinese crypto investors are moving away from using dollar-backed stablecoins like USDT due to the rising value of the Chinese Yuan (RMB) against the US dollar. This means that holding USDT results in a loss when converting back to RMB. For example, someone who converted 100,000 yuan to USDT in April would now only get about 95,400 yuan back. The dollar has weakened this year, while the yuan has strengthened due to factors like China's stock market growth and increased trade in RMB. Additionally, Chinese regulators are increasingly concerned about stablecoins and their potential for illegal activities. Because of these factors, Chinese investors are now looking into tokenized real-world assets like US stocks and gold as alternatives to USDT. They see these assets as a way to maintain dollar exposure while potentially earning returns to offset currency losses.

Woori Bank in South Korea has become the first commercial bank in the country to display Bitcoin prices within its main trading room, treating it as an important market indicator alongside traditional financial data. This move signals the growing importance of digital assets in global finance and reflects Korean banks' increasing involvement in the digital asset sector. Hana Financial Group also partnered with Upbit exchange operator Dunamu to integrate blockchain technology into various services. Furthermore, South Korean regulators are considering regulations that could make major banks key players in the stablecoin market and are also expanding cryptocurrency financial crime regulations, lowering the threshold for identity checks on crypto transactions and introducing powers to freeze suspicious accounts.

Apple is experiencing a significant departure of senior leaders, including its general counsel, head of policy, and a leading designer who joined Meta Platforms. This follows the earlier exits of the chief operating officer and a change in the chief financial officer's role. Several Apple workers have also moved to OpenAI and Meta. Competitors like Meta, OpenAI, and potentially X (formerly Twitter) are actively recruiting Apple talent to bolster their AI and hardware development efforts. These companies are aiming to challenge Apple's dominance in digital devices, particularly the iPhone, by developing AI applications and new hardware. Apple CEO Tim Cook remains in his position, and the company faces the challenge of developing a clear AI strategy to retain talent and compete with rivals.

Bitcoin's supply on exchanges is nearing a 5-year low after over $2.15 billion worth (23,385 BTC) was withdrawn in the past week. This suggests that investors are holding onto their Bitcoin, potentially reducing selling pressure. Bitcoin is currently trading around $92,047, struggling to break above a month-long downtrend. While smaller investors are actively accumulating Bitcoin, larger institutional investors are hesitant, which could limit Bitcoin's ability to rally significantly. A break above $95,000 is needed to invalidate the downtrend and aim for $100,000, while failure to hold the $91,521 support level could push Bitcoin lower towards $86,822.

Italy's financial regulator, Consob, is requiring all crypto providers operating in the country to either become authorized under Europe's new MiCAR regulations by December 30, 2025, or cease operations in Italy. Crypto firms that apply for authorization by the deadline, either in Italy or another EU country, can continue serving customers while their application is reviewed until June 30, 2026, at the latest. After December 30, 2025, firms must demonstrate concrete steps toward MiCAR compliance to continue operating. Investors are urged to confirm their provider's plans and legitimacy by checking the OAM or ESMA registers. Those not seeking authorization must stop all Italian activities by the deadline, close contracts, and return funds and crypto assets to customers. Providers must also inform clients about their plans, whether seeking a license or exiting the market.

Kraken has introduced a new VIP program specifically designed for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. This program aims to offer a more personalized and comprehensive service to its wealthiest clients, providing them with tailored support and resources. The details of the specific benefits and requirements for the program were not disclosed, but the launch signifies Kraken's strategy to attract and retain large-scale investors by offering enhanced services.

XRP has faced price declines recently, but there are signals suggesting a potential recovery. Despite high levels of negative sentiment, data indicates that large XRP holders, known as whales, are accumulating XRP at levels not seen in seven years. While the number of these whale wallets has decreased, the remaining whales hold a significant amount of XRP. This accumulation trend is viewed as a sign of long-term confidence in XRP. XRP recently broke a support level but is holding above the $2 mark, with analysts suggesting a possible rebound. Institutional investment in XRP through ETFs is also growing. Whether the price goes up will depend on if the whales keep buying.

Tom Lee predicts Ethereum could reach $20,000 by 2026, driven by a boom in tokenizing real-world assets. He believes Bitcoin will hit $300,000 around the same time, mirroring the S&P 500's performance, and that Ethereum is currently undervalued. Lee highlights Ethereum's dominance in the real-world asset tokenization market and its recent breakout after a period of stagnation. BitMine has been actively purchasing Ethereum, spending over $350 million this week. Another analyst, Sykodelic, sees potential for Ethereum to rise to $4,300 based on technical indicators. Currently, Ethereum is trading around $3,170, having increased by 13% in the last two weeks.

Meta is reducing its investments in the metaverse and shifting resources towards developing AI-powered glasses and wearable devices. This change in strategy comes after Meta has spent billions of dollars on the metaverse, including its VR platform Horizon Worlds, which has not gained the expected user base. The company is now focusing on smart glasses with AI capabilities, which have seen stronger demand. Bloomberg reported that Meta may cut metaverse spending by up to 30%. Investors have also rejected a proposal to add Bitcoin to Meta's treasury, with only a small fraction of votes in favor.

Terra Classic (LUNC) experienced a significant price increase of approximately 22% in the last 24 hours, reaching around $0.00003420. This surge is attributed to a 370% spike in LUNC trading volume, reaching nearly $46 million across major exchanges. Increased staking activity, reducing the number of available tokens, and positive market sentiment also contributed to the price rise. The LUNC community's token burning mechanism has destroyed 426.79 billion tokens since May 2022, representing about 8% of the total supply. Binance announced support for the Terra (LUNA) network upgrade scheduled for December 8, 2025, which added further momentum. While deposits and withdrawals will be paused during the upgrade, trading will continue. LUNC broke out of a falling wedge pattern and analysts suggest potential resistance levels at $0.000048, $0.00009, and a psychological level of $0.000125. Despite this recent gain, LUNC remains down nearly 80% for the year.

Zcash (ZEC) experienced an 11% price increase, reaching around $398.86, while the overall crypto market declined by 1.14%, reducing the total market capitalization to $3.13 trillion. Zcash's trading volume decreased by over 15% to $1.19 billion. Technical indicators present a mixed outlook: the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) suggests a potential bullish shift, while the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicates slightly bearish money flow. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is neutral to slightly bullish. Zcash faces potential support at $390.37 and resistance at $406.87. A $7.08 million liquidation of Zcash occurred in the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin experienced a significant rebound, increasing 8% to over $93,000 after falling below $85,000. This increase brings Bitcoin's market capitalization closer to $2 trillion. BlackRock's CEO, Larry Fink, indicated that several sovereign wealth funds have been gradually purchasing Bitcoin as the price declined from a peak of around $126,000, viewing it as a long-term investment. Public funds in Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg have reportedly invested in BlackRock's IBIT bitcoin fund. Fink also emphasized the importance of tokenization, suggesting it could grow rapidly and highlighting BlackRock's vision for digital wallets containing various tokenized assets. Coinbase's CEO, Brian Armstrong, mentioned that major banks are collaborating with Coinbase on stablecoins and other services. Fink connected Bitcoin demand to concerns about financial security and asset devaluation. The market is anticipating developments in 2026 and closely monitoring the Federal Reserve's policy moves, while acknowledging the potential for volatility due to high leverage.

CertiK's U.S. Digital Asset Policy Report indicates that 2025 has brought significant clarification to crypto regulation in the United States through new federal actions. These actions, including the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act, and the SEC's withdrawal of Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, establish a clearer framework for digital asset operations. The updated rules provide guidelines for stablecoin backing and redemption, define digital token types, and set standards for crypto custody services offered by institutions. States are also developing their own digital asset rules, focusing on licensing, cybersecurity, and anti-money-laundering. Traditional financial institutions are increasingly interested in Permissioned Digital Assets, which are designed to operate within regulatory standards. Companies that can comply with different regulatory frameworks in various regions, such as the U.S. and Europe, are expected to have a competitive advantage.

JPMorgan analysts believe that MicroStrategy's strong financial position is more important for Bitcoin's stability than the recent increase in Bitcoin selling by miners. Despite challenges faced by miners, including a drop in hashrate and increased operational pressure, MicroStrategy's balance sheet provides reassurance to the market. MicroStrategy has established a $1.44 billion U.S. dollar reserve to cover interest on its debt and dividend payments, reducing the likelihood of forced Bitcoin sales during market downturns. MicroStrategy currently owns 650,000 Bitcoins, purchased at an average price of $87,000 per Bitcoin.

The U.S. Senate's attempt to pass a comprehensive crypto market structure bill by the end of the year is facing significant roadblocks, potentially delaying it into 2025. Three main issues are causing the holdup. First, banks are pushing to broaden a ban on stablecoin yield (rewards) to close perceived loopholes, arguing that any form of yield on stablecoins threatens their deposit base. Second, some senators are demanding conflict-of-interest provisions related to presidential family involvement in crypto businesses. Most importantly, there's a major disagreement on how to regulate DeFi (decentralized finance). Traditional finance firms want DeFi developers and validators to be treated as regulated intermediaries, which the crypto industry strongly opposes. They argue that holding developers liable for open-source code would stifle innovation and that no bill is better than one that does this. Because of these unresolved disputes, it is now unlikely the bill will pass in December and negotiations may continue into January.

XRP's price decreased by 4% to $2.08 despite positive developments within the Ripple ecosystem. The decline is attributed to the expiry of $5.94 million in XRP options, with the price closing below the $2.15 "max pain" level, prompting selling. A decrease in the total crypto market capitalization and an increase in Bitcoin's dominance also contributed as money moved away from altcoins like XRP. Despite the price drop, XRP's fundamentals remain strong, highlighted by the launch of the Canary XRPC ETF, which accumulated $248 million in assets under management after a $58 million debut. Ripple's stablecoin, RLUSD, has also surpassed $1 billion in market capitalization, and total institutional ETF holdings of XRP have reached $906.46 million. Analysts suggest that $2.04 is a critical support level; holding above it could lead to a rise towards $2.41 and potentially $2.65, but breaking below could trigger a fall to $1.64.

Approximately 37,000 Bitcoin options contracts, worth around $3.4 billion, are expiring today. Experts don't anticipate this expiry having a major impact on the Bitcoin market. The options market shows longs and shorts nearly evenly matched, with the highest open interest at the $100,000 strike price on Deribit. Bitcoin options volume has increased significantly this year, driven by growing institutional participation. In addition to Bitcoin, around 210,000 Ethereum options contracts, valued at $667 million, are also expiring today. Overall, crypto markets have slightly decreased, with Bitcoin failing to break the $93,000 resistance level.

Former executives from Signature Bank, which closed in 2023, have launched a new blockchain-based bank called N3XT. This bank aims to provide 24/7 payment services for institutional clients using a private blockchain and smart contracts. N3XT will operate under Wyoming's regulatory framework for digital asset custody and will not offer lending services, ensuring all deposits are fully backed by cash or short-term U.S. Treasurys. The company has received funding from Winklevoss Capital, Paradigm, and HACK VC. In related news, ten major European banks, including BNP Paribas and ING, are forming a consortium called Qivalis to launch a euro-backed stablecoin by mid-2026. This initiative aims to compete with the dominance of U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins. Qivalis has applied for an electronic money institution license in the Netherlands and is led by former executives from Coinbase Germany and ING.

Investor sentiment towards XRP has become very negative, reaching levels not seen since October. This negativity coincides with XRP's price declining by over 30% in the last two months and being down 9% for the year. Social media analysis indicates increased fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding XRP, in contrast to Bitcoin's improving sentiment. Despite some bullish periods in the recent past, XRP's price fell close to $1.92, triggering a negative market reaction. While Ripple, the company behind XRP, has had a successful year, including settling with the SEC and acquiring Hidden Road, XRP's price performance has lagged. Institutional investment in XRP has increased, with nearly $1 billion in assets accumulated in new exchange-traded funds. Analysts suggest that holding above $2.12 could lead to a potential return to $2.30, and moving past $2.28 could trigger a breakout towards $2.75.

Aster, a trading platform, has announced its roadmap for 2026. In December 2025, they plan to launch Shield Mode for private trading and TWAP orders for better pricing. The platform will also upgrade its stock perpetual markets. A test version of the Aster Chain is expected at the end of December. In the first quarter of 2026, Aster intends to launch its own blockchain called Aster Chain, along with developer tools and a way to convert regular money into crypto and back. By the second quarter of 2026, ASTER token holders will be able to stake their tokens for rewards and vote on platform decisions. Aster also plans to introduce a feature called Aster Smart Money, enabling users to copy leading traders. The company says these changes aim to create a more connected network for users and developers.

China has reaffirmed its ban on all cryptocurrency-related activities, explicitly including stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USDC, labeling them as illegal due to concerns about monetary sovereignty, financial order, lack of customer identification and anti-money laundering safeguards. This renewed crackdown follows increased underground crypto trading in mainland China despite the initial 2021 ban, leading officials to step up coordination, information sharing, and law enforcement. The Chinese government views crypto as a threat to its control over monetary policy and is pushing its own digital currency, the e-CNY, to replace cash and popular payment systems, providing increased visibility into financial transactions. While other regions explore stablecoins, China aims to suppress them to maintain financial stability and prevent challenges to Communist Party control, focusing on the e-CNY as a tool for international trade.