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The global cryptocurrency derivatives market underwent a structural transformation in 2025, shifting away from retail-driven speculation toward institutional capital and more complex risk dynamics

According to the CoinGlass 2025 Crypto Derivatives Market Annual Report the year represents a watershed moment in the maturation of crypto as a financial asset class.

In 2025 the total trading volume of the cryptocurrency derivatives market reached approximately $85.70 trillion with a daily average turnover of about $264.5 billion.

Institutional Capital Reshapes Market Leadership

One of the most important shifts in 2025 was the consolidation of institutional influence across derivatives venues. The end of year report states that demand for hedging, basis trading and risk-managed exposure has migrated toward regulated exchange-traded products, notes CoinGlass.

This has strengthened the role of the Chicago-based futures market with CME Group securing its leadership in Bitcoin futures after overtaking Binance in open interest in 2024.

By 2025 the CME also narrowed the gap with Binance in Ethereum derivatives showing growing institutional participation beyond Bitcoin. At the same time leading crypto-native exchanges such as OKX, Bybit, and Bitget retaining a substantial market share.

Merry Christmas!

CoinGlass 2025 Crypto Derivatives Market Annual Reporthttps://t.co/WJ6wUNU8Hc

— CoinGlass (@coinglass_com) December 25, 2025

Rising Complexity and Systemic Risk

CoinGlass notes that extreme market events in 2025 also stress-tested margin frameworks, liquidation mechanisms and cross-platform risk transmission pathways at an unprecedented scale.

Importantly these shocks no longer remained confined to individual assets or exchanges showing the growing interconnectedness of the derivatives ecosystem.

Fragility has prompted renewed scrutiny of risk controls, particularly given the concentration of open interest and user assets among a small number of dominant platforms.

Macro Liquidity and High-Beta Behavior

From a macro perspective CoinGlass says Bitcoin continued to behave less like an inflation hedge and more like a high-beta risk asset. During the 2024–2025 easing cycle BTC surged from roughly $40,000 to $126,000, largely reflecting leveraged exposure to global liquidity expansion rather than independent value discovery.

When liquidity expectations shifted in late 2025, the pullback reinforced Bitcoin’s sensitivity to central bank policy and geopolitical uncertainty.

These dynamics created fertile ground for derivatives trading, as volatility linked to U.S.–China trade tensions shifting Federal Reserve policy, and Japan’s monetary normalization generated sustained opportunities for hedging and speculative strategies.

On-Chain Derivatives and the Regulatory Backdrop

Another defining theme of 2025 was the transition of decentralized derivatives from experimentation to genuine market competition.

High-performance application chains and intent-centric architectures enabled on-chain platforms to rival centralized exchanges in specific niches, particularly censorship-resistant trading and composable strategies.

Regulation evolved in parallel. The United States moved toward legislative clarity as the European Union reinforced consumer protection under MiCA and MiFID while jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Singapore and the UAE positioned themselves as compliant hubs.

Together these developments point toward gradual convergence under the principle of “same activity, same risk, same regulation.”

A New Phase for Crypto Derivatives

Taken together, 2025 marked the point at which crypto derivatives became a central pillar of global digital finance rather than a peripheral speculative market.

Institutional dominance, regulatory integration and on-chain innovation are now reshaping how risk is priced, transferred and managed—setting the stage for an even more complex derivatives landscape ahead, reports CoinGlass.

The post Crypto Derivatives Enter Institutional Era in 2025 With CME Overtaking Binance: CoinGlass appeared first on Cryptonews.

A research with an IQ of 236 laid out a bullish XRP price prediction that sees the token reaching a price of $1,000 within the next 10 years.

YoungHoon Kim, whose X account is followed by more than 388,000 users, outlined the kind of scenario that must play out for this prediction to happen.

Update: In my view, #XRP could potentially approach $1,000 over the next 10 years. (NFA / DYOR) pic.twitter.com/fZaxmZaF1Q

— YoungHoon Kim, IQ 276 (@yhbryankimiq) December 22, 2025

He said that a large scale accumulation, a decline in the value of the dollar, and high inflation could boost the price of this altcoin.

Users on X argued that this would be almost impossible. The reason: Kim’s prediction would mean that XRP’s market capitalization would surpass that of gold. However, Kim emphasized that, if these pieces fall into place, “this scenario cannot be ruled out on a numerical basis”.

At the time of writing, XRP’s 2025 losses sit at 20% as bears are still in control of the market. It has been a tough year for cryptocurrencies as a whole. However, Ripple has kept making progress in growing its ecosystem.

XRP Price Prediction: This Is What Needs to Happen for XRP’s Bear Market to Be Over

The token’s daily price chart shows that a falling wedge has formed since October as XRP. Since then, it progressively declined from $3 to its current level.

This is typically a bullish price pattern, but it has not yet been confirmed. The price has entered a key area of liquidity from which it bounced in April and during the October 10 flash crash.

Source: TradingView

To fully reverse its downtrend, XRP needs to climb above the $2.2 level. This would break the token’s bearish price structure. This could set the stage for a strong recovery to $3 at least.

Although $1,000 seems impossible in the near term, the project’s long-term prospects are promising enough to justify a bullish price prediction despite the latest downturn.

Even though top altcoins have suffered significant losses this year, a promising crypto presale called Maxi Doge ($MAXI) has defied the market’s gravity as investors continue to pour millions into this meme coin.

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) Embraces Bull Market’s Natural Energy and Turn It Into a Meme Coin

By leveraging the popularity of the Doge meme, Maxi Doge ($MAXI) plans to rally traders together by launching a token with which ‘degens’ can easily identify.

Token holders can earn rewards and bragging rights by participating in fun competitions like Maxi Gains and Maxi Ripped.

Moreover, they get exclusive access to an idea hub through which they can share their wildest and most potentially profitable YOLO trades with the community to build a collective trading “hive mind”.

As the token’s popularity increases among retail traders, the price of $MAXI could explode.

To buy $MAXI, simply head to the official Maxi Doge website and link up a compatible wallet like Best Wallet.

You can either swap USDT or ETH for this token or use a bank card instead.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

The post XRP Price Prediction: Korean Researcher Says $1,000 XRP Is Possible – Could XRP Really Go Parabolic?  appeared first on Cryptonews.

The crypto market is slightly higher today, extending gains after recent downturn. Total cryptocurrency market capitalization has risen by around 0.7%, reaching approximately $3.04 trillion, while 24-hour trading volume stands at about $69.9 billion, according to market data.

TLDR:

The crypto market rose today, with total market capitalization up ~0.7% to $3.04T;

AI-related tokens remain under heavy pressure, down about 75% year over year;

Bitcoin optimism was briefly boosted by Elon Musk’s forecast of strong US economic growth in 2026;

BTC continues to consolidate below key resistance, with support around $86K–$87K;

ETH remains range-bound below $3,000, with muted volume and key support near $2,800–$2,700;

Market sentiment stays cautious, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index at 28 (fear);

US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $175.3M in net outflows;

US spot Ether ETFs also lost $52.7M;

Russia’s major exchanges confirmed readiness for regulated crypto trading.

Crypto Winners & Losers

At the time of writing, most major cryptocurrencies are trading in the green over the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin (BTC) is up 0.7%, changing hands at $87,414, holding firm near recent highs.

Ethereum (ETH) is flat on the day, trading at $2,924, but has gained 3.2% over the past week.

BNB (BNB) has climbed 0.5% to $840, while XRP (XRP) is up 0.6%, trading at $1.87.

Solana (SOL) added 0.3%, now priced at $121.76, though it remains down over the past seven days.

Dogecoin (DOGE) rose 0.2% to $0.127, continuing its gradual recovery.

Looking at stronger movers, Beefy (BIFI) led the market, surging 197% to $312.55, making it both the top gainer and one of the most actively trending assets. ZER0BASE followed with a 69.9% jump to $0.1533, while Minidoge gained 73.3%, trading at $0.878.

On the downside, losses among large-cap assets were limited. Cardano (ADA) slipped 0.7% to $0.357, while WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) fell 0.3% to $56.51. TRON (TRX) was down 1.1%, trading at $0.2796, marking the weakest performance among the top 10.

Meanwhile, after a breakout rally across 2023 and much of 2024, artificial intelligence–focused crypto tokens have swung sharply in the opposite direction.

A new report shows the sector has entered a deep correction, erasing tens of billions of dollars in value as investor appetite cooled and market conditions tightened.

AI-focused crypto tokens have lost about 75% of their value year over year, erasing roughly $53 billion from the market.#AI #Cryptohttps://t.co/5p2WxOJlvA

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 25, 2025

Data compiled by CryptoPresales.com shows AI tokens have lost roughly 75% of their combined value year over year, wiping out an estimated $53 billion from the market.

Elon Musk’s US Growth Call Sparks Bitcoin Optimism

Bitcoin traders are again focusing on macro signals after Elon Musk said the US economy could enter a phase of rapid growth from late 2026, with “double-digit” GDP expansion possible in the near term.

While Musk’s comments were not aimed at crypto, they were quickly picked up by investors searching for signs of improving liquidity and stronger risk appetite following Bitcoin’s recent pullback.

The outlook comes as US Federal Reserve rate cuts have pushed macroeconomic conditions back to the center of Bitcoin’s price narrative. Supporters such as Anthony Pompliano argue that faster economic growth could provide a favorable backdrop for scarce assets, while others say Musk’s forecasts, though controversial, often point to real technological shifts driven by artificial intelligence.

Double-digit growth is coming within 12 to 18 months.

If applied intelligence is proxy for economic growth, which it should be, triple-digit is possible in ~5 years.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2025

According to Linh Tran, market analyst at XS.com, Bitcoin’s recent price action underscores the market’s sensitivity to monetary policy expectations rather than headline economic data.

Last week, K33 also said Bitcoin’s prolonged sell-side pressure from long-term holders may be approaching its limits after years of steady distribution.

Levels & Events to Watch Next

At the time of writing on Wednesday, Bitcoin is trading around $87,366, slightly lower on the day after another choppy session. Over the past 24 hours, BTC has struggled to build momentum, repeatedly failing to hold above nearby resistance.

On a broader view, Bitcoin continues to trade well below its recent highs. The past several weeks show a clear downtrend from the October peak near $125,000, followed by a steep November correction and a slower consolidation phase in December. Buyers are now defending the $86,000–$87,000 zone, which has acted as short-term support.

If BTC manages to reclaim and hold above $88,000, it could open the door for a recovery toward $90,000 and potentially $92,000. On the downside, a clean break below $86,000 may expose the price to further weakness toward $84,000, with deeper support sitting closer to $82,000.

Ethereum is currently changing hands at approximately $2,921, down modestly on the day. Similar to Bitcoin, ETH has experienced uneven price action, with sellers stepping in on each attempt to move higher.

Over the past week, ETH has remained trapped in a relatively tight range, struggling to reclaim the psychologically important $3,000 level. Volume remains muted, suggesting traders are waiting for a clearer directional signal before committing to larger positions.

A sustained move above $2,980–$3,000 could shift near-term momentum in favor of bulls, with upside targets around $3,150. If selling pressure resumes, ETH may revisit support near $2,800, followed by a deeper pullback toward $2,700.

Meanwhile, crypto market sentiment remains cautious, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index sitting at 28, firmly in the fear zone. The reading is largely unchanged from 27 yesterday, signaling that investor sentiment has stabilized at low levels rather than improving meaningfully.

While the index has recovered from extreme fear levels seen last month (15), it still reflects hesitation across the market.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded another day of net outflows, with $175.29 million leaving the funds on Dec. 24, according to the latest data.

Outflows were broad-based across the major products. BlackRock’s IBIT led the declines with $91.37 million in net outflows, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC at $24.62 million and Fidelity’s FBTC, which saw $17.17 million leave the fund. Bitwise (BITB) and ARK 21Shares (ARKB) also posted smaller outflows.

US spot Ether ETFs also posted a net outflow of $52.7 million on Dec. 24, ending a brief inflow streak, according to the latest data.

Outflows were led by Grayscale’s ETHE, which saw $33.78 million exit the fund, followed by BlackRock’s ETHA with $22.25 million in net outflows. In contrast, Grayscale’s ETH trust (ETH) recorded a modest $3.33 million inflow, standing out as the only product to attract capital during the session.

Overall trading activity across US ETH ETFs reached $689.44 million, while total net assets stood at $17.86 billion, equivalent to about 5% of Ethereum’s market capitalization.

Meanwhile, Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange have confirmed readiness to launch regulated crypto trading once Russia’s legislative framework takes effect by mid-2026.

Russia's major stock exchanges confirm readiness for regulated crypto trading by mid-2026 as legislative framework approaches implementation deadline.#Russia #Cryptohttps://t.co/rZhcnzIhjn

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 25, 2025

According to local reports, the exchanges’ announcements came following the Bank of Russia’s December 23 release of a regulatory concept that sets July 1, 2026, as the deadline for developing comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation.

The post Why Is Crypto Up Today? – December 25, 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Layer 1 blockchain tokens suffered severe depreciation in 2025, with major assets losing up to 73% of their value despite sustained developer activity, according to the latest End-of-Year report from OAK Research.

While Bitcoin maintained relative strength throughout the year, alternative Layer 1 tokens experienced brutal sell-offs that exposed structural weaknesses in tokenomics and market positioning.

The report reveals a decisive shift from speculation to fundamental value creation, with the market punishing protocols unable to show genuine economic activity.

Source: OAK Research

User Reallocation Masks Market Stagnation

The year witnessed massive user redistribution rather than overall growth, with total Monthly Active Users declining 25.15% across major chains, according to the report’s blockchain metrics analysis.

Solana suffered the steepest decline, losing nearly 94 million users (a drop of more than 60%), while BNB Chain almost tripled its user base by capturing fleeing participants.

Layer 2 networks experienced similar divergence. Base demonstrated the strongest growth, with TVL rising 37.2% to $4.41 billion, according to the report, solidifying its position through Coinbase’s distribution advantage.

Meanwhile, Optimism saw TVL contract 63%, dropping from nearly $2 billion to $786 million as capital rotated toward more aggressive competitors.

Token Performance Reflects Brutal Reality

Price action told an unforgiving story. Among major Layer 1 tokens monitored since January, only two finished positive:

BNB gained 18.2%.

TRX rose 9.8%.

The remainder suffered catastrophic losses, with Solana dropping 35.9% and newer entrants like TON and AVAX falling over 67%.

Layer 2 tokens fared even worse despite technical progress.

Source: OAK Research

The report documents that Optimism and zkSync Era both posted declines exceeding 84%, while Polygon and Arbitrum fell by more than 73%.

Only Mantle managed a modest 8.3% gain, attributed to concentrated supply control rather than fundamental strength.

The report identifies several converging forces behind the decline. They can be summed up into three main reasons:

Overleveraged tokenomics with continuous unlock schedules.

Lack of credible value-capture mechanisms linking network usage to token demand.

Institutional preference for Bitcoin and Ethereum over smaller-cap alternatives.

Developer Activity Diverges From Price

Despite price carnage, developer activity remained robust across select ecosystems, according to data from Electric Capital cited in the report.

The EVM Stack maintained the largest developer base, with 17,473 total contributors (updated), including 5,405 full-time developers, representing over 32% of activity.

Bitcoin posted the strongest two-year growth in full-time developers among major ecosystems, rising 90.5% to 1,003 contributors.

Solana and the broader SVM Stack grew 75.8% over two years to 4,578 full-time developers, demonstrating sustained technical ambition despite brutal token performance.

Overall, the developer ecosystem is growing, but the disconnect between their activity and token prices revealed what the report terms as “market maturation.”

Teams continued building through down cycles, but speculative capital no longer rewarded infrastructure without clear paths to revenue generation.

Revenue Meta Emerges as Criterion

The fundamental lesson of 2025 became inescapable, according to the report’s economic analysis. The report asserts that protocols without credible revenue streams are at risk of extinction.

The industry pivoted decisively toward the “revenue meta,” where actual cash flows mattered more than narrative.

Stablecoin issuers dominated revenue generation, accounting for 76% of income among top protocols.

Tether and Circle combined generated $9.8 billion annually, while derivatives platforms like Hyperliquid added $1.1 billion through sustainable fee-based models.

The report also pointed out a harsh truth that generic Layer 1s and Layer 2s lacking differentiation could not compete.

Networks required 10x improvements in speed, cost, or security to justify independent existence.

Outlook Remains Challenging

Looking toward 2026, infrastructure tokens face continued headwinds despite regulatory clarity in key markets, the report concludes.

The combination of high inflation schedules, insufficient demand for governance rights, and concentration of value capture in base layers suggests further consolidation ahead.

The overall sentiment in the altcoin market heading into 2026 remains cautious, particularly as they’re experiencing a steep decline never seen before.

Protocols that generate meaningful revenue may stabilize, but they remain subject to Bitcoin’s volatility and persistent unlock pressure from early investors.

For existing Layer 1 tokens, the report asserts that survival depends on Ethereum and Solana, and that renewed institutional adoption might restore hope.

Without leadership from market majors, generic infrastructure tokens will continue to trend toward irrelevance as capital concentrates in protocols that show economic value rather than technological novelty alone.

The post L1 Tokens Crushed in 2025 as SOL, AVAX Drop Over 65%: Report appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin is trading near $87,400, up roughly 0.8% on the day, as investors reassess risk exposure amid a powerful rally in precious metals. With a market capitalization of $1.74 tn and daily trading volume near $21.7 bn, Bitcoin remains firmly positioned as the market’s dominant digital asset. While price has pulled back from December’s $94,600 high, the current pause looks more like consolidation than weakness.

Markets appear increasingly sensitive to signals of asset debasement and rising global debt levels. That narrative has helped sustain demand for hard assets and, by extension, reinforced Bitcoin’s role as a macro hedge rather than a speculative outlier.

Gold and Silver Break Records

Gold and silver have surged to fresh highs, reshaping cross-market sentiment. February gold futures settled near $4,506, after touching a record $4,530, while spot prices traded around $4,491.

Gold (XAU/USD) Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Silver delivered an even sharper move, with futures rising more than 4% and spot prices holding above $71, a level not seen before.

Key drivers behind the metals rally include:

Concerns over an AI-driven equity bubble

Uncertainty around future US monetary leadership

Growing fears of long-term currency debasement

Veteran investors argue the rally may not be finished. Some analysts see gold extending well beyond current levels if global debt trends continue unchecked, a backdrop that historically supports alternative stores of value, including Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Technical Picture Remains Constructive

On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin price prediction remains bearish as BTC continues to trade within a descending channel, reflecting controlled profit-taking rather than panic selling. Price is hovering near the $87,800 pivot zone, a level that has repeatedly acted as both support and resistance.

Although BTC remains below the 50-EMA ($87,980) and 100-EMA ($88,610), downside momentum has clearly slowed.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Candlestick structure shows spinning tops and doji formations, signalling indecision rather than continuation lower. The RSI near 46 is stabilising above oversold territory, hinting that bearish momentum is fading. Structurally, the pattern resembles a falling flag, a formation that often precedes a directional breakout.

Bitcoin Outlook: Consolidation Before Expansion

A sustained break above $88,600 would expose $90,500, followed by $92,650 and a potential retest of $94,600. Conversely, failure to reclaim key averages could see a retest of $86,300, with stronger demand expected near $83,800.

As long as Bitcoin holds above the lower channel boundary, the broader setup favors continuation rather than breakdown. If gold and silver continue to attract defensive capital, Bitcoin could be next in line as investors rotate toward scarce assets.

Maxi Doge: The Meme Coin Built for Maximum Hype

Maxi Doge is exploding in popularity as traders rush toward its high-energy meme identity and fast-growing presale. With over $4.36 million raised, it’s quickly becoming one of the standout meme tokens of the year.

The project mixes bold branding with real engagement features, from ROI contests to nonstop community events, giving it more personality and momentum than typical dog coins. Its shredded, leverage-obsessed mascot has already turned Maxi Doge into a recognizable culture coin.

Holders can also stake $MAXI for daily smart-contract rewards and unlock access to exclusive competitions and partner events. The staking utility adds a passive-earning layer that keeps users active and invested in the ecosystem.

With $MAXI priced at $0.0002750 and the next increase approaching, the presale continues to gain speed. If you’re looking for a meme coin built on hype, personality, and real community energy, Maxi Doge is shaping up to be one worth watching.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Gold and Silver Price Surge Could Send BTC Higher – Is a Crypto Bull Run Days Away?  appeared first on Cryptonews.

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded eight consecutive days of institutional selling, with total outflows reaching approximately $825 million as year-end tax strategies dominate market behavior.

According to analyst Alek, the sustained selling pressure stems primarily from tax loss harvesting.

He claimed it is a temporary phenomenon expected to conclude within the coming week, alongside de-risking ahead of Bitcoin’s quarterly options expiry.

Institutions have been selling $BTC for 8 straight days now.

Most of the selling is due to tax loss harvesting, which means it'll be over in a week.

Also, Bitcoin quarterly options expiry is set to happen this week, so a bit of de-risking is happening too.

This is temporary… pic.twitter.com/h6FO3UEGST

— Alek (@Alek_Carter) December 24, 2025

On December 24 alone, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs witnessed net outflows of $175 million, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the exodus at $91.37 million.

Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $52.70 million in outflows, while newer products showed resilience, with Solana ETFs attracting $1.48 million and XRP ETFs drawing $11.93 million in fresh capital.

Source: SosoValue

Regional Shift Creates New Market Dynamic

A notable geographic rotation has emerged in Bitcoin markets, with the United States becoming the dominant seller while Asian buyers step in as the primary accumulation force, as noted by analyst Ted Pillows.

Source: X/@TedPillows

This is quite notable as it is a reversal that’s quite different from traditional capital flow patterns that have historically characterized crypto trading.

Meanwhile, whale activity on Binance has contracted sharply, with large holder deposits plummeting nearly 50% from $7.9 billion to $3.9 billion.

CryptoQuant data reveals that monthly whale inflows dropped from approximately $7.88 billion to $3.86 billion in December, effectively halving in just weeks.

Source: CryptoQuant

Despite this broader slowdown, isolated spikes persist, with recent movements including $466 million across the 100 BTC to 10,000 BTC cohorts and over $435 million from the 1,000 to 10,000 BTC range.

The reduced whale deposit activity suggests diminished selling pressure, as fewer Bitcoin transfers to exchanges mechanically translate to less immediate liquidation risk.

However, Binance continues to capture the largest share of exchange flows.

Bitcoin Correlation Breakdown Signals Independence

Bitcoin’s market behavior has decoupled from traditional assets, with correlation to the Nasdaq approaching zero and turning negative against gold.

CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn noted that Bitcoin no longer trades like a tech stock or safe haven, instead “carving out its own market regime.”

Low Correlation Signal

Bitcoin is moving independently:
• Nasdaq correlation is near 0
• Gold correlation is negative

BTC is no longer trading like a tech stock or a safe haven. It’s carving out its own market regime. pic.twitter.com/VLibiQWYIb

— Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) December 25, 2025

This independence comes as gold and silver continue climbing while Bitcoin remains range-bound.

CryptoQuant analysis attributes the divergence to increased demand for traditional safe assets amid geopolitical uncertainty, expectations of lower real interest rates, and easier institutional allocation pathways to precious metals.

Source: CryptoQuant

Bitcoin is treated primarily as a high-beta risk asset rather than a pure safe haven, making it secondary during risk-off environments when capital first flows into gold and government bonds.

Bitcoin’s apparent demand recently turned negative, indicating stagnant new capital inflows despite elevated prices.

Short-Term Holder SOPR has also spent extended periods below 1, suggesting recent buyers are exiting at losses or breakeven, creating selling pressure on rebounds.

Gold trades above $4,500 per ounce while Bitcoin still struggles to break $90,000.

Source: CryptoQuant

Bear Market Scenario Gains Credibility

Notably, CryptoQuant’s Bitcoin Cycle Momentum Indicator (BCMI) has also fallen below equilibrium but remains above historical bottom zones of 0.25–0.35 seen during 2019 and 2023 cycle lows.

The current reading, according to analysts, suggests markets may be transitioning into a bear phase rather than experiencing a simple pullback.

Source: CryptoQuant

However, they emphasize this remains a scenario rather than a forecast that requires further confirmation.

Adding to the waning demand, Polymarket odds for Bitcoin reaching $100,000 by year-end have collapsed to just 3%, which shows the perfect near-term sentiment.

Despite current weakness, analyst Plan C maintains conviction that “Bitcoin will have its moment in the spotlight” in 2026, predicting mean reversion against gold and silver’s outperformance in the relatively near term.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $87,838, down nearly 30% from its October peak above $126,000.

The post “Tax Loss Harvesting” Drives $825M Outflow From Bitcoin ETFs This Week: Analyst appeared first on Cryptonews.

After a breakout rally across 2023 and much of 2024, artificial intelligence–focused crypto tokens have swung sharply in the opposite direction.

Key Takeaways:

AI-focused crypto tokens have lost about 75% of their value year over year, erasing roughly $53 billion from the market.

The selloff accelerated into year-end, with December alone accounting for nearly $10 billion in losses.

Fading hype, thinner liquidity and broader market pullbacks pushed AI tokens into a deep correction in 2025.

A new report shows the sector has entered a deep correction, erasing tens of billions of dollars in value as investor appetite cooled and market conditions tightened.

Data compiled by CryptoPresales.com shows AI tokens have lost roughly 75% of their combined value year over year, wiping out an estimated $53 billion from the market.

AI Token Selloff Accelerates as Year-End Losses Mount

The decline marks a reversal from the explosive gains seen during the height of the AI trade, when enthusiasm around machine learning, data infrastructure and blockchain-based compute solutions drove rapid inflows.

The selloff intensified toward the end of the year. December alone accounted for nearly $10 billion in losses, capping a volatile period that saw sentiment deteriorate just weeks before year-end.

At the time of writing, the combined market capitalization of AI and big data tokens stood at $16.8 billion, down sharply from levels seen a year earlier.

The sector’s rise and fall over the past two years has been dramatic. After reaching an all-time high of $44.9 billion in early 2024, AI tokens saw their market cap cut nearly in half by mid-August.

That decline coincided with expanded US export restrictions on AI chips to China, rising geopolitical tensions and widespread profit-taking.

in classic crypto fashion the market went nuts on vaporware AI tokens only to go bearish right as the real tech comes online

onchain economy = agentic economy https://t.co/jdoZXJ58za

— Stephen (@meta_hess) December 18, 2025

A rebound followed in the second half of 2024, driven by renewed interest in AI-powered blockchain applications and utility-focused projects.

By the end of last year, the sector’s market cap had surged 157% to $55.5 billion, following a staggering 1,873% jump in 2023.

That momentum did not carry into 2025. As the hype faded, traders began rotating out of smaller and higher-risk tokens.

Thinner liquidity and a steady stream of new token launches added to selling pressure, leaving AI and big data projects particularly vulnerable during broader market pullbacks.

CoinMarketCap data shows the sector lost 63% of its value, or about $44 billion, by April. While the second and third quarters brought a modest recovery, prices never returned to prior highs.

AI Token Losses Deepen in Q4 with $14B Wiped Out

Losses accelerated again in the fourth quarter amid a wider crypto market downturn. The AI token market shed roughly $4 billion in November, followed by a much steeper $10 billion drop in December.

The damage was widespread among leading projects. Eight of the ten largest AI and big data tokens by market capitalization posted losses exceeding 70% over the past year.

Artificial Superintelligence Alliance fell 84%, while Render and The Graph each dropped 82%.

Even last year’s standout performer, Virtuals Protocol, which surged more than 3,500% in 2024, has since given back 73%, alongside sharp declines in Injective, Filecoin, Internet Computer and NEAR Protocol.

The post AI Tokens Shed 75% in a Year, Wiping Out $53B in Market Value: Report appeared first on Cryptonews.

Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange have confirmed readiness to launch regulated crypto trading once Russia’s legislative framework takes effect by mid-2026.

According to local reports, the exchanges’ announcements came following the Bank of Russia’s December 23 release of a regulatory concept that sets July 1, 2026, as the deadline for developing comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation.

Moscow Exchange stated it is “actively working on solutions to service the cryptocurrency market,” while St. Petersburg Exchange emphasized it already possesses “the necessary technological infrastructure for trading and settlements.“

From Resistance to Regulated Markets

Russia’s path toward crypto regulation began gaining momentum in mid-2024, when the Ministry of Finance first proposed allowing qualified investors to trade digital currencies on licensed exchanges.

Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Financial Market Committee, said at the time that major exchanges were “already actively involved in developing the cryptocurrency market and organizing the necessary infrastructure.“

The regulatory framework divides market access between qualified and non-qualified investors under sharply different conditions.

Non-qualified investors will be limited to purchasing liquid cryptocurrencies from a defined list after passing mandatory knowledge tests, with annual purchases capped at 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,800) through a single intermediary.

Qualified investors face no volume restrictions but must demonstrate understanding of crypto risks through testing, though they will be barred from purchasing anonymous tokens that conceal transaction data.

Despite the forthcoming trading infrastructure, Russian authorities maintain their ban on using cryptocurrencies for domestic payments.

Russian lawmaker Anatoly Aksakov said that payments in Russia must only be conducted in rubles, dismissing crypto becoming legal tender.#RussiaCrypto #CryptoPayments #CryptoRegulationhttps://t.co/BLk0c4qHcQ

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 17, 2025

State Duma Committee Chairman Anatoly Aksakov reinforced this position on December 17, declaring that cryptocurrencies “will never become money within our country” and can only function as investment instruments, with all domestic payments required in rubles.

The Bank of Russia originally called for a total ban on crypto exchanges and token trading, but Western sanctions prompted a policy shift.

Mining Boom Drives Economic Integration

Russia’s crypto ecosystem has expanded dramatically beyond trading speculation.

The country recorded $376.3 billion in received crypto transactions between July 2024 and June 2025, surpassing the United Kingdom’s $273.2 billion and making Russia Europe’s largest crypto market by transaction volume, according to Chainalysis data.

Source: Chainalysis

Large-scale transfers exceeding $10 million grew 86% in Russia during this period, nearly double the 44% growth seen across the rest of Europe, while DeFi activity surged eightfold in early 2025 before stabilizing at three and a half times the mid-2023 baseline.

Much of this growth has been tied to A7A5, a ruble-pegged stablecoin that reached $500 million in market capitalization despite Western sanctions, becoming the world’s largest non-dollar stablecoin.

The mining sector has also become particularly significant for Russia’s economy.

Senior Kremlin official Maxim Oreshkin recently argued that crypto mining should be classified as export activity since mined assets effectively flow abroad even without crossing physical borders.

Industry estimates suggest Russia produces tens of thousands of Bitcoins annually, generating approximately 1 billion rubles in daily mining revenue, and that the country accounted for over 16% of global hashrate during the summer months.

In fact, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina also recently acknowledged that crypto mining contributes to the ruble’s strength.

Russia's Central Bank confirms crypto mining strengthens the ruble as Kremlin officials push for formal export classification amid persistent underground operations.#Russia #Crypto #Mininghttps://t.co/P0JGyFTYfp

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 22, 2025

However, she noted that quantifying its exact impact remains difficult, as much of the industry operates in gray areas, with illegal mining costing Russia billions of dollars annually through stolen electricity and unpaid taxes.

Russia legalized crypto mining on November 1, 2024, requiring legal entities to register with the Federal Tax Service.

Banks Enter Digital Assets Market

Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, has begun offering regulated crypto-linked investments totaling 1.5 billion rubles in structured bonds and digital financial assets tied to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and broader crypto portfolios.

Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov confirmed “active dialogue” with the Bank of Russia on integrating crypto services within regulated frameworks while building proprietary blockchain infrastructure.

As it stands now, the regulatory timeline calls for legislative frameworks to be completed by July 1, 2026, with liability for illegal crypto intermediary activities taking effect from July 1, 2027.

The post Russia’s Top Stock Exchanges Ready to Launch Crypto Trading by 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin witnessed a sudden flash crash to about $24,111 on the BTC/USD1 trading pair on Binance, before quickly rebounding to $87,000 in seconds.

Per the exchange data, the move appeared isolated to USD1, the stablecoin launched by Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial.

Source: Binance

This type of “flash wicks” occurs when liquidity thins and order books lose depth. The BTC/USDT trading pair has remained stable after resuming.

Bitcoin Flash Wicks and Quick Reversal

During non-peak trading hours, when market makers often pull back, large buy/sell orders could sweep through multiple empty levels. This scenario creates a dramatic spike that looks like a market breakout.

Further, the instant reversal of the wick shows that no broader market move supported the spike.

“Many spot investors find themselves in a similar position to where they were before the flash crash,” Nic Puckrin, crypto analyst and co-founder of The Coin Bureau, told Cryptonews.

“This is certainly an argument against excessive leverage in a market with fluctuating liquidity in such an uncertain geopolitical climate.”

Additionally, temporary pricing issues can also trigger such dislocations. These price fluctuations are often created by faulty quotes or reactions from trading bots.

Experts often emphasize that real rallies require sustained buying pressure and rising volume. In this case, trading volume remained low, and the price quickly returned to its previous level.

BTC Price Remains Bearish – What is the Next Directional Move?

Bitcoin rose 0.89% to $87,693.65 over the past 24 hours, outpacing the broader crypto market (+0.83%). The crypto is down sharply from its October peakabove $126,000. The largest digital asset is trading at $87,773 at press time, per CoinMarketCap data.

According to analysts, Bitcoin is currently consolidating within a descending “triangle pattern,” trading below the 21MA, which serves as a resistance barrier. A definitive breakout or breakdown would confirm the next directional move.

The post Bitcoin Triggers Sharp Flash Crash to $24K on Binance USD1 Pair appeared first on Cryptonews.

The crypto industry recorded a banner year for mergers, acquisitions and public listings in 2025, with dealmaking hitting a record $8.6 billion as a more accommodating regulatory stance in the United States encouraged investors and financial institutions to re-enter the sector.

Key Takeaways:

Crypto dealmaking hit a record $8.6 billion in 2025 as regulatory easing in the US revived investor and institutional interest.

Mega-acquisitions led by Coinbase, Kraken and Ripple drove a sharp rise in mergers and acquisitions.

Crypto IPO activity also rebounded strongly, with $14.6 billion raised globally.

According to a report by the Financial Times, 267 crypto-related deals were completed by Tuesday this year, marking an 18% increase from 2024.

Total deal value surged nearly 300% compared with last year’s $2.17 billion. Market participants expect momentum to carry into 2026 as regulatory clarity improves across major jurisdictions.

Coinbase’s $2.9B Deribit Deal Leads Record Year for Crypto M&A

The largest transaction of the year came from Coinbase, which agreed to acquire crypto options exchange Deribit for $2.9 billion, making it the biggest acquisition ever recorded in the digital asset sector.

Other notable deals included Kraken’s $1.5 billion purchase of futures trading platform NinjaTrader and Ripple’s $1.25 billion acquisition of crypto-friendly prime broker Hidden Road.

Industry executives have attributed the resurgence in dealmaking to policy shifts under President Donald Trump, whose administration rolled back enforcement actions and signaled a more permissive approach to digital assets.

The change in tone has reassured traditional finance firms that had previously stayed on the sidelines, opening the door for strategic investments and consolidation.

Crypto deals running at record pace with more expected in 2026 https://t.co/GelwXyhxlf

— Financial Times (@FT) December 24, 2025

Beyond mergers and acquisitions, 2025 also marked a strong year for crypto initial public offerings.

The Financial Times reported that 11 crypto IPOs raised a combined $14.6 billion globally, a dramatic increase from the $310 million raised through four listings in 2024.

Among the most closely watched debuts were Bullish, the exchange and parent company of CoinDesk, which raised $1.1 billion, stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group with more than $1 billion, and crypto exchange Gemini, which raised $425 million.

Regulatory Clarity and MiCA Compliance Fuel Crypto Dealmaking

Legal experts say regulatory alignment is a key driver behind many of these deals.

Diego Ballon Ossio, a partner at Clifford Chance, noted that both crypto-native firms and traditional finance players are actively acquiring companies for their licenses, particularly those compliant with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

He added that demand for stablecoin-related businesses is likely to persist into 2026 as new rules take shape in the US and UK.

Charles Kerrigan, a partner at CMS, told the Financial Times that firms are prepared to spend heavily to remain compliant, often using acquisitions to secure regulatory approvals more quickly.

He also expects forthcoming US crypto legislation to further draw in traditional financial institutions, reinforcing the current wave of consolidation.

The surge in corporate activity comes even as market prices cooled late in the year.

Bitcoin has fallen more than 30% from its early October peak above $126,000 and was trading just below $88,000 at the time of publication, according to market data.

The post Crypto Industry Logs Record $8.6B in Deals in 2025 Amid Trump-Era Optimism appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin investors are watching macro signals closely after billionaire Elon Musk said the US economy could enter a period of rapid expansion as soon as late 2026, reviving hopes of another leg higher for the cryptocurrency.

Key Takeaways:

Elon Musk’s US growth forecast has reignited Bitcoin optimism as traders look for signs of improving liquidity and risk appetite.

Fed rate cuts have put macroeconomic conditions back at the center of Bitcoin’s price outlook after its recent pullback.

Despite bullish reactions, several analysts remain cautious, warning Bitcoin could face renewed downside in 2026.

In a post on X this week, Musk predicted “double-digit growth” within the next 12 to 18 months, adding that US GDP could even see “triple-digit” expansion over the next five years if advances in applied artificial intelligence translate into real economic output.

While the comments were not tied directly to crypto, they were quickly picked up by Bitcoin traders searching for signs of improving liquidity and risk appetite.

Fed Rate Cuts Put Macro Focus Back on Bitcoin’s Next Move

Macro expectations have long played a role in Bitcoin price action. Investors often track growth forecasts, inflation trends and US Federal Reserve policy to gauge whether conditions favor risk assets.

Rate cuts by the Fed earlier this year have already fueled debate over whether easier financial conditions could support a recovery in Bitcoin after its recent pullback.

Several prominent figures in the crypto space backed Musk’s outlook. Bitcoin entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano noted that the world’s richest man is openly forecasting double-digit GDP growth, framing it as a potentially powerful backdrop for scarce assets like Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, real-world asset yield platform Oryon Finance said Musk’s projections tend to be “not random noise,” even if they are controversial.

Skepticism, however, remains. Some market watchers questioned Musk’s track record on long-term forecasts.

Elon, predictions that come true are not your strongest suit.

— Artem Russakovskii (@ArtemR) December 24, 2025

Analyst Artem Russakovskii said economic predictions are not Musk’s strongest area, urging caution in extrapolating the comments into market expectations.

Bearish views on Bitcoin’s medium-term outlook also persist. Market commentator Bariksis said that despite Musk’s optimism, he expects a Bitcoin bear market in 2026.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt and Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer have similarly suggested Bitcoin could revisit the $60,000 range next year.

At the time of publication, Bitcoin was trading at $87,709, down nearly 30% from its Oct. 5 peak of $125,100, according to CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin Remains Tied to Fed Policy as Inflation Eases Slowly, Analyst Says

According to Linh Tran, market analyst at XS.com, Bitcoin’s recent price action underscores the market’s sensitivity to monetary policy expectations rather than headline economic data.

While US inflation has eased from last year’s highs, the latest consumer price index reading of 2.7% suggests that the disinflation process remains slow and uneven, forcing “the Fed to maintain a cautious stance, making it difficult to pivot quickly toward an aggressive easing cycle,” Tran said in a note shared with Cryptonews.com.

Last week, K33 also said Bitcoin’s prolonged sell-side pressure from long-term holders may be approaching its limits after years of steady distribution.

The post Bitcoin Bulls Eye Rebound after Elon Musk Predicts US Economic Surge appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin is trading near $87,700, down sharply from its October peak, as investors reassess its role during a year defined by geopolitical stress and defensive positioning. While Bitcoin has long been pitched as “digital gold,” 2025 tells a different story. Spot gold has surged roughly 70% year to date, while Bitcoin is down about 6%.

That divergence matters.

In an environment of elevated geopolitical risk, tariff uncertainty, and persistent fiscal deficits, investors clearly preferred physical hedges over crypto exposure. The narrative of Bitcoin as a reliable store of value has weakened, at least for now.

Institutional Flows and Risk-Off Sentiment

Macro conditions have turned decisively less supportive for Bitcoin since October. From its peak near $126,272, Bitcoin has fallen roughly 30–31% to current levels around $87,760, while gold has gained about 15–16% over the same period, rising from roughly $3,860 to near $4,480.

The divergence highlights a clear rotation toward traditional hedges amid tightening liquidity and heightened macro uncertainty.

Gold (XAU/USD) Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

The move unfolded during thin year-end liquidity and renewed trade and policy risks, amplifying volatility as leveraged crypto positions were reduced. Institutional flow data cited by Deutsche Bank shows sustained outflows from Bitcoin-linked investment products through November and December, while gold-backed ETFs continued to attract inflows. Elevated US real yields have further pressured non-yielding risk assets, reinforcing the shift.

Importantly, on-chain data does not point to retail capitulation. Small-wallet distribution remains contained, suggesting the drawdown has been driven primarily by institutional rebalancing and derivatives positioning rather than panic selling.

Taken together, the data signals a macro-driven repricing, leaving Bitcoin increasingly dependent on liquidity and policy shifts rather than speculative momentum.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Technical Picture

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin price prediction remains bearish as it’s holding in a descending channel on the 2-hour chart, capped since the rejection near $94,600. Price continues to respect the $86,500–$86,700 support zone, suggesting stabilization rather than panic selling.

The 50-EMA ($87,750) is flattening, while the 100-EMA ($87,980) remains overhead resistance. This narrowing gap reflects balance rather than seller dominance. Candlestick structure shows spinning tops and small-bodied candles, reinforcing compression.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Momentum indicators support that view. The RSI near 52 has formed higher lows, creating a bullish divergence even as price remains range-bound. Structurally, the channel now resembles a falling wedge, a pattern that often resolves higher when selling pressure fades.

Outlook and What Traders Are Watching

A confirmed break above $88,800 would likely open a recovery toward $90,600, followed by $92,700. On the downside, a loss of $86,500 risks exposing $83,800, with deeper support near $81,600.

Bitcoin may no longer be the market’s preferred hedge, but technical compression suggests the next move could be decisive rather than gradual. Whether that move marks renewed confidence or further repricing will shape early 2026 sentiment.

PEPENODE: A Mine-to-Earn Meme Coin Nearing Presale Close

PEPENODE is gaining momentum as a next-generation meme coin that blends viral culture with interactive gameplay. With over $2.39 mn raised and the presale approaching its cap, interest is building fast as the countdown enters its final stretch.

What makes PEPENODE stand out is its mine-to-earn virtual ecosystem. Instead of passive holding, users can build digital server rooms using Miner Nodes and facilities, earning simulated rewards through a visual dashboard. The concept brings gamification and competition into the meme coin space, giving holders something to do before launch.

The project also offers presale staking, allowing early participants to earn boosted rewards ahead of the token generation event. Leaderboards and bonus incentives are planned post-launch to keep engagement high.

With 1 $PEPENODE priced at $0.0012112 and limited allocation remaining, the presale is entering its final opportunity window for early buyers.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Slips to $87,000 as Gold Wins 70% in 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov confirmed Wednesday that the national currency-backed stablecoin, dubbed ‘KGST,’ has been listed on the Binance exchange.

The project was developed and deployed on BNB Chain, which supports scalable and cost-effective blockchain infrastructure.

“I congratulate the KGSToken development team and all project participants on BNB Chain on a successful launch,” he wrote on X.

KGST has become the first stablecoin from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to be listed on a global crypto exchange platform, he added.

Greetings everyone!
Today I received important and truly landmark news — the Kyrgyz stablecoin KGST has been listed on the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance @binance. KGST @KGSToken is backed 1:1 by the national currency of the Kyrgyz Republic, the som.

I congratulate the… pic.twitter.com/U8dNPsKA6y

— Sadyr Zhaparov (@sadyrzhaparovkg) December 24, 2025

Furthermore, the stablecoin, linked to the Kyrgyzstan Som, will contribute to the country’s cross-border payments and deepen its presence in the global crypto space.

Binance CZ Says “Many More” Stablecoins to Come

In response to President Japarov’s post, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, stated that Binance would list “many more” nation-backed stablecoins.

KGST
First nation backed stablecoin
On @BNBCHAIN

Many more to come.

ps, that gold bar I had on stage with Peter, was real (to the best of my knowledge) from KG. Guess what’s coming next? https://t.co/9vqD7I1Djf

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) December 24, 2025

CZ also referred to a gold bar he used during a Bitcoin versus gold debate, adding that the bar came from Kyrgyzstan.

Zhao joined as an advisor to Kyrgyzstan on crypto and blockchain-related developments in April. He offers infrastructural, technological support, technical expertise, and consulting services on crypto, alongside implementing educational initiatives.

CZ has also “officially and unofficially” joined as an advisor to a few governments on their crypto regulatory frameworks.

The Central Asian nation has a total of over 126 licensed crypto firms as of late 2025. These companies have collectively reached a total turnover of $4.2 billion, marking a new record for the industry.

Further, a Statista report anticipates that the number of crypto users in Kyrgyzstan will amount to 484.06k by the year 2026.

Kyrgyzstan Launches USD-Pegged Stablecoin Backed by Gold

Additionally, the country has also launched a US dollar–pegged stablecoin backed by physical gold. The token – USDKG – was first deployed on the Tron network with a reported initial issuance of 50 million units. The country has plans to expand the stablecoin to the Ethereum blockchain.

In a separate announcement on Wednesday, Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev said at the Kyrgyz Parliament that the nation completed first issuance of the USDKG stablecoin.

A total of 50 million tokens have been released in this initial issuance, per the Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar. Kasymaliev also revealed that the development of KGST is underway.

Besides, the government also confirmed plans to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and establish a national crypto reserve.

The post Kyrgyz Som-Backed Stablecoin KGST is Now Live on Binance, President Confirms appeared first on Cryptonews.

The cryptocurrency market showed mixed and largely range-bound movement over the past 24 hours, with gains in AI, DeFi, and select Layer 1 tokens offset by mild declines in Layer 2 and PayFi sectors. Bitcoin edged up 0.19% to reclaim $87,000, while Ethereum slipped 0.39% but remained near $3,000, as investors rotated selectively into higher-beta tokens such as Canton Network, 0G, and Zcash amid subdued broader momentum. In contrast to traditional markets, the S&P 500 closed at record highs for a second straight session and gold also hit a fresh record as part of an end-of-year rally.

But what else is happening in crypto news today? Follow our up-to-date live coverage below.

The post [LIVE] Crypto News Today: Latest Updates for Dec. 25, 2025 – Crypto Market Moves Sideways as Bitcoin Reclaims $87K, Sector Rotation Continues appeared first on Cryptonews.

Boundless (ZKC) price surged 30% overnight after weeks of downward pressure. Today’s Boundless price prediction suggests this sudden rally represents more of a Christmas gift than a pump-and-dump setup.

Currently trading at a $27 million circulating market cap with over $90 million in trading volume, ZKC is demonstrating strong recovery signals after losing over 80% following its post-TGE decline.

Boundless (ZKC) against the downtrend$ZKC popped over 15% in the last 24 hours, even after a tough 60-day stretch with a ~61% drop.

The move comes as exchange issues get resolved and liquidity picks up.

Price sits around $0.118–$0.13 with a market cap of 26M and volume… pic.twitter.com/qi4dFNHXBq

— Web3 Parrot (@Web3_ParrotLabs) December 24, 2025

Boundless Rides the Universal Zero-Knowledge Compute Wave

With the privacy meta gaining traction and numerous large investors and corporate entities seeking to integrate crypto and blockchain technology while keeping transactions shielded yet maintaining DLT transparency, Boundless ZKC is becoming increasingly attractive.

Boundless (ZKC) operates as a universal zero-knowledge (ZK) compute protocol that delivers scalable, verifiable computation to any blockchain by delegating heavy computational tasks to a decentralized prover network.

The project secured approximately $52-54 million in funding from prominent investors, including Blockchain Capital, Bain Capital Crypto, and Delphi Ventures. Strategic partners include the Ethereum Foundation, Wormhole, and EigenLayer.

With a circulating market cap substantially below the $500 million valuation typical for projects of this caliber, the recent dip presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking utility tokens.

Boundless Price Prediction: ZKC Targets $0.15 Breakout

ZKC is attempting to stabilize following a prolonged downtrend, with price currently rebounding from recent lows near the $0.11 area and trading around $0.12. The broader structure still reflects bearish market conditions, but short-term price action reveals early indications of a relief move as selling pressure diminishes.

The 4-hour candles suggest a minor trend shift, with higher lows forming after the latest breakdown attempt failed to extend lower.

Immediate resistance sits just above the current price, while the psychologically significant $0.15 zone remains the first major barrier overhead. This level has repeatedly capped upside attempts and will likely attract sellers again.

Source: TradingView

A more meaningful transformation in market structure would only materialize if ZKC reclaims and maintains above the $0.20 region, which marks the prior range high and a clear bull-market reversal zone.

A successful breakout there would unlock pathways toward the $0.28 area initially, with potential to extend toward the $0.33 region if momentum accumulates.

RSI has rebounded sharply from oversold territory and now hovers in mid-range, indicating improving momentum without yet entering overbought conditions.

This suggests capacity for further upside in the short term, but the move remains corrective unless confirmed by a break above key resistance.

Overall, ZKC appears positioned for a continued bounce toward $0.15, with upside acceleration dependent on whether buyers can reclaim $0.20.

Failure at resistance would likely keep price range-bound or invite another retest of the $0.11 support.

Pepenode Raises $2.3M To Position for Privacy Meta Liquidity

If Boundless (ZKC) explodes past $0.20 and continues its bullish rally, meme coins like Pepenode (PEPENODE) would benefit from the liquidity surge that often follows these types of pumps.

Pepenode is a new crypto project that’s already raised over $2.3 million despite challenging market conditions. It’s a game where you can “mine” coins without needing expensive computer equipment.

You play the game in your web browser, set up virtual mining nodes, and upgrade your facilities to earn more tokens.

The project is replicating PEPE’s success strategy, which surged over 1,000x during the first privacy meta rally in 2023-24.

Now that more people have started buying Pepenode’s mining rigs, the token price is expected to rise quickly.

To join the presale before the price increases, go to the official Pepenode website and connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet.

You can buy tokens now for $0.0012112 each and pay with crypto coins like ETH, BNB, or USDT.

You can also use a regular credit or debit card to complete your purchase in just seconds.

Visit the Official Pepenode Website Here

The post Boundless Price Prediction: ZKC Price Spikes 30% Overnight, Is This a Christmas Gift or Pump Before Dump? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong is moving ahead with a major expansion of its crypto regulatory framework after regulators concluded consultations on new licensing regimes for virtual asset dealers and custodians, tightening oversight across a wider part of the digital asset market.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Securities and Futures Commission said on Dec. 24 that firms providing virtual asset dealing or custody services in Hong Kong will be required to obtain licenses once the new framework takes effect.

New Licensing Plan Brings Crypto Brokers and Custodians Into Oversight

The move follows months of consultation and comes as authorities seek to close regulatory gaps that emerged as crypto activity spread beyond licensed exchanges into over-the-counter trading, brokerage services, and third-party custody.

Regulators said the proposals received broad market support and will now move into the legislative phase, marking another step in building a comprehensive digital asset regime under the SFC’s ASPIRe roadmap.

According to the SFC release, all virtual asset dealers will be regulated in a way that closely mirrors existing rules for securities dealers.

Notably, the licensing requirement will cover a wide range of activities, including virtual asset-to-fiat and virtual asset-to-virtual asset conversions, brokerage services, block trading, and related advisory functions, whether conducted online or through physical outlets.

This brings OTC trading and broker-style services squarely within regulatory oversight for the first time.

Also, under the planned framework, custodians will also face a dedicated licensing regime focused on the safekeeping of client assets. Any entity holding or controlling private keys for client virtual assets in Hong Kong will need to be licensed or registered.

Regulators said the regime is designed to address risks around asset protection by requiring strict segregation of client assets, strong internal controls over key management, enhanced cybersecurity standards, and robust business continuity planning.

Dealers will be required to place client assets only with licensed or registered custodians operating in Hong Kong.

Both regimes will impose fit-and-proper requirements on applicants, alongside minimum financial resource thresholds.

Dealers are expected to meet capital requirements of around HK$5 million, while custodians will face higher thresholds, including HK$10 million in paid-up capital.

Hong Kong’s Crypto Framework Grows to Include Advisers and Managers

Alongside the dealer and custodian regimes, regulators launched a further consultation on extending licensing requirements to virtual asset advisory and management service providers.

The proposals would bring crypto advisers and asset managers under a similar regulatory structure to their traditional finance counterparts, giving the SFC powers to supervise, inspect, and sanction firms operating in this part of the market.

SFC Chief Executive Officer Julia Leung said the expanded framework is intended to support a secure and competitive digital asset ecosystem while maintaining strong investor protection.

Regulators are encouraging firms interested in the new regimes to engage early with the SFC through pre-application discussions to better prepare for compliance.

Source: SFC

The latest step builds on a series of regulatory developments over the past year. Hong Kong already requires crypto trading platforms to be licensed, with 11 exchanges approved so far under a mandatory regime that replaced an earlier opt-in framework.

Earlier in 2025, the city brought its Stablecoin Ordinance into force, creating a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers.

Stablecoin licensing frameworks are advancing globally as regulators in Hong Kong seek to manage new forms of digital settlement.#hongkong #stablecoinhttps://t.co/hHATckRvWQ

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 23, 2025

Authorities have also taken steps to expand market access, including allowing licensed exchanges to connect to global liquidity pools and easing certain token listing requirements.

The proposal, still subject to consultation, reflects a cautious approach that distinguishes between regulated stablecoins and more volatile crypto assets.

The post Hong Kong Crypto Licensing Expands: Dealers and Custodians Face Strict New Mandate appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hoskinson keeps repeating that NIGHT will not replace Cardano. What investors are seeing instead is ADA dropping below $0.35 for the first time in over a year.

“It’s built to expand ADA’s ecosystem, not replace it” is how Hoskinson describes the Midnight chain. However, this is crypto, and a new shiny thing always attracts attention, so it will definitely pull some volume.

$NIGHT is reviving Cardano DEX volume.

Liquidity is flowing back.
Trades are picking up.
On-chain activity is responding. pic.twitter.com/SeBTH1ZRkK

— TapTools (@TapTools) December 23, 2025

According to CoinMarketCap, the NIGHT token has done over $1.5B in volume over the last couple of days. That is nearly two times Cardano’s volume, which is sitting around $400M.

This does not define the full picture, but it does show there is an impact, at least in the short term.

Cardano Price Prediction: Can the ADA Price Break the $0.36 Resistance This Christmas?

Source: ADSUSD / TradingView

To confirm a bullish rebound, ADA needs to break and hold above the $0.36 level in the short term. If it does, the next clear resistance sits at $0.38, where price has already failed twice over the past week.

A move down toward the $0.30 zone is still possible if this level fails to break. The RSI is around 40 and not yet oversold, which leaves room for that scenario to play out.

As long as the previous low near $0.27 is not broken, the bullish setup remains possible heading into the new year.

If Night Replaced Cardano, Could ($HYPER) Replace Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was supposed to be slow, secure, and untouchable. But in 2025, speed and utility matter more than ever. That is where Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) comes in.

Bitcoin Hyper is a next generation Layer 2 built to unlock what Bitcoin has been missing: fast transactions, ultra low fees, and real on chain utility. Using Solana style high throughput architecture, Hyper lets BTC move at lightning speed while keeping Bitcoin’s security at the core.

Through the Hyper Bridge, users can move BTC onto the Hyper network and instantly receive a 1:1 representation with near instant finality. From there, Bitcoin holders can finally access DeFi, staking, payments, NFTs, and high yield opportunities without leaving the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The market is already paying attention. Bitcoin Hyper has raised over $29.7M so far, with early buyers locking in staking rewards currently offering up to 39% APY.

As Bitcoin consolidates and altcoins fight for attention, Bitcoin Hyper is positioning itself as the cleanest way to scale BTC without changing its base layer.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

The post Cardano Price Prediction: Can the ADA Price Break the $0.36 Resistance This Christmas? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov is facing renewed scrutiny from parts of the crypto community following a $10 million purchase of AAVE tokens made shortly before a closely watched governance vote.

Critics allege the move was intended to increase his voting power rather than signal long-term alignment with token holders.

The allegation surfaced publicly this week after Robert Mullins, a decentralized finance strategist and liquidity specialist, said on X that the purchase appeared timed to influence an upcoming vote.

I’m surprised that no one is talking about the fact that Stani bought $10M of AAVE, claimed it was bc he is aligned with the token yet in actual fact it was to increase his voting power in anticipation to vote for a proposal directly against the token holders best interests

This…

— Robert (@0xluude) December 23, 2025

Mullins argued that the transaction highlights structural weaknesses in token-based governance systems, where large holders can quickly accumulate influence without long-term commitments.

He questioned whether similar behavior would occur under governance models that require tokens to be locked for extended periods.

Aave Governance Turmoil Exposes Fault Lines Over Power and Transparency

Those concerns were echoed by prominent crypto user Sisyphus, who pointed to blockchain data suggesting Kulechov may have sold millions of dollars’ worth of AAVE between 2021 and 2025.

On AAVE:

I fail to understand why Stani, who must have dumped hundreds of millions of dollars of valueless governance tokens from 2021 to 2025, would rebuy $10 million dollars of tokens in order to try and take a <$10 million dollar revenue stream

— Sisyphus (@0xSisyphus) December 24, 2025

While no wrongdoing has been established, critics questioned the economic rationale of selling large amounts over several years before making a sizable purchase ahead of a contentious vote.

The debate has unfolded against a broader governance dispute within the Aave ecosystem over control of the protocol’s brand and associated assets.

On December 22, Aave Labs submitted a proposal to Snapshot concerning ownership of key brand assets, including the aave.com domain, social media accounts, GitHub organizations, and naming rights.

Aave Labs unilaterally pushed a brand ownership proposal to vote without author notification, escalating governance tensions over protocol asset control and value extraction.#Dao #Aavehttps://t.co/2uRM8QM6Jy

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 22, 2025

The proposal had been authored by Ernesto Boado, co-founder of BGD Labs, but Boado publicly rejected the decision to push it to a vote, saying he had not been notified and did not support the version submitted.

Boado said the move broke trust during what he described as a productive forum discussion and argued that the proposal was intended to transfer brand assets into a DAO-controlled legal wrapper with strong protections against capture.

Tensions Rise Around Aave Over Brand Use, Fee Flows, and Whale Voting

The initiative followed mounting concerns from contributors that brand assets were being used to support private products without the DAO being the main beneficiary.

Recent examples cited by critics include Aave Labs replacing Paraswap with CowSwap, a change estimated to redirect around $10 million per year in fees away from the DAO, and the Horizon market launch, which generated roughly $100,000 in revenue while using about $500,000 in DAO incentives.

Marc Zeller of the Aave Chan Initiative said the DAO had effectively paid multiple times for these assets through the original LEND token sale, dilution, liquidity mining programs, and service provider fees.

Kulechov defended the rushed vote, saying discussion had already taken place and that submitting proposals outside extended processes was not unprecedented. He said the issue should ultimately be resolved through voting.

Those who wonder, yes the vote is legitimate

– The discussion has been going over the past 5 days already with various of opinions and takes, a timeline set on the ARFC temp check (see more https://t.co/KovomHiB6H)
– The Snapshot is in compliance of the governance framework
-… https://t.co/nZoixZvbwl

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) December 22, 2025

However, several observers, including crypto educator Duo Nine, raised concerns about conflicts of interest when founders retain influence through private companies while also shaping DAO outcomes.

Voting data has further fueled the debate. Samuel McCulloch of USD.ai noted that a small number of large holders account for a significant share of voting power.

Snapshot data shows the top three voters control more than 58% of the vote, with the largest wallet holding over 27%.

Source: Aave DAO

The controversy comes shortly after regulatory pressure on Aave eased.

On December 16, Kulechov disclosed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had concluded its multi-year investigation into the protocol without recommending enforcement action, ending nearly four years of uncertainty.

Aave Labs has also secured MiCA authorization in Europe and is preparing for the launch of Aave V4.

The post Aave Founder Accused of ‘Governance Attack’ After $10M Buy Before Crucial Vote appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Midnight price prediction has taken a turn for the worse today, after the new privacy coin fell to $0.07326, a 3.5% drop in 24 hours.

Despite this fall, NIGHT remains up by 12% in a week and by 15.5% in the past fortnight, making it the highest-performing top-100 coin over this timeframe.

Even though the wider market has suffered as a result of negative sentiment and AI bubble-related fears, Midnight has been flying since launching on the Cardano network.

And while it has dipped in the past day or so, it still arguably remains in price discovery mode, and could rally strongly again in the final week of the year.

Midnight Price Prediction: As the NIGHT Price Continues to Slip, Is A Christmas Eve Miracle Possible?

If we look at Midnight’s chart today, we see that it has lost momentum in recent days, which may be a concern to investors.

However, there’s a strong case that it is merely correcting a little over the shorter term, and that it will rebound back up in the very near future.

For instance, its relative strength index (yellow) is very close to touch 30 and even falling lower, at which point logic dictates that a rebound will come.

Source: TradingView

We see something very similar with NIGHT’s MACD (orange, blue), which has turned negative today and could be very close to hitting bottom.

But perhaps most bullishly of all, its price has been trading within a pennant since launching earlier this month, and this pennant is about to converge.

As such, a big move could be just around the corner, and one catalyst for such a move could be more exchange listings.

Coinbase is yet to list NIGHT, as are numerous other major exchanges, such as Binance, Crypto.com and Bitstamp.

So if we do see new listings in the next few days, the Midnight price could rise much higher, resuming its bullishness of the past couple of weeks.

$NIGHT looks like its ready to pump!

Midnight feels like another small cap gem that could give great returns. I have a feeling that it will do what $JELLYJELLY did where we caught the bottom and pumped 3x.

I'm expecting the price to go to $0.065 zone and we see a bounce from… pic.twitter.com/HM7B87Ut0o

— D Future Money (@DFutureMoney) December 23, 2025

More fundamentally, Midnight looks to have a bright future ahead, seeing as how it’s one of the first platforms to allow for privacy-first programmable dapps and protocols.

So instead of simply being a privacy coin (such as Monero or Zcash), it will enable privacy smart contracts and applications.

This is why it has been doing so well since launching, and why the Midnight price prediction looks so good right now.

Once its current correction plays out, it could reach $0.10 by the end of the year, and then $0.20 by Q2 of 2026.

New Mining Token Raises ?? As It Prepares to Launch: Why PEPENODE Could Be a Big Winner in 2026

While Midnight does look like one of the most exciting new coins in the market right now, there are other high-potential new entrants that traders might also want to consider.

One of these is PEPENDOE ($PEPENODE), an Ethereum-based token that is planning to make mining more accessible to the average investor.

The PEPENODE presale is live.

Buy Nodes. Build Your Server Room. Combine Nodes For Huge Bonuses.

Do it all here https://t.co/d1JAronqiv pic.twitter.com/60uLhEoukP

— PEPENODE (@pepenode_io) September 10, 2025

It has been running its presale over the past couple of months, and has now raised in excess of $2.3 million, with the presale due to end in only 14 days.

This is a very encouraging figure for such a new token, and it suggests that PEPENODE has the potential to do very well when it lists in a couple of weeks.

What’s exciting about the token is that it’s planning to launch a mining platform that will enable investors to mine meme coins without having to buy and run expensive mining hardware.

Instead, users can build and operate their own virtual mining rigs, which they can grow by spending PEPENODE tokens on more virtual nodes.

More nodes result in greater rewards, while rewards can also be increased by upgrading nodes and combining them in novel ways.

This will incentivize the accumulation of PEPENODE tokens, which could result in the coin’s price rising steadily over time.

PEPENODE pays out mining rewards in the form of external tokens such as Fartcoin and Pepe, while holders can also stake the token for a passive income.

This potentially makes the new alt hugely profitable, with latecomers still able to join its sale by going to the official PEPENODE website.

The token is selling at its final presale price of $0.0012112, but it has every chance of rising much higher once it lists in the next two weeks.

Visit the Official Pepenode Website Here

The post Midnight Price Prediction: As the NIGHT Price Continues to Slip, Is A Christmas Eve Miracle Possible? appeared first on Cryptonews.

The cryptocurrency market has struggled to make any real headway this Christmas Eve, with its total capitalization sticking to the same $3.024 trillion level as yesterday.

This figure represents a 2% gain since Friday, yet the market as a whole has also plunged by 30% since reaching a record cap of $4.379 trillion on October 7, as jitters over an AI-related stock market bubble has turned investors off higher risk assets.

Given that prices haven’t substantially improved in over two months, the market is getting closer to an overdue rebound, with many major tokens continuing to boast attractive fundamentals.

And we’ve picked the best coin to buy this Christmas Eve that could 100x in 2026, with our pick – the Solana-based layer-two network Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – currently holding a hugely successful presale as it prepares to launch.

Best Coin To Buy This Christmas Eve That Could 100x in 2026 – 24 December 2025

In fact, Bitcoin Hyper has now raised an enviable $29.7 million, making its initial coin offering one of the biggest of 2025.

This figure is a testament to how much confidence Bitcoin Hyper is inspiring among investors, who have clearly taken a keen interest in its plans to launch a fully fledged layer-two network for Bitcoin.

As an L2 for Bitcoin, Bitcoin Hyper will provide investors with the chance to convert their BTC into corresponding amounts of HYPER tokens, and then to use the latter in the L2’s ecosystem of dapps.

Bitcoin Hyper will focus on providing BTC holders with DeFi platforms and protocols in which to put their BTC to work, enabling them to lend out their Bitcoin or, via HYPER, stake it for a regular income.

Given that Bitcoin now boasts a market cap of $1.7 trillion, this means that Bitcoin Hyper’s ecosystem could provide a means of tapping into enormous capital and wealth.

On a technical level, it will operate using Solana’s Virtual Machine, giving it state-of-the-art speed and scalability, and also making it compatible with Solana apps and platforms.

The platform will also harness zero-knowledge rollups, which will not only enhance its throughput, but also give transactions a high level of privacy and security.

Such features make Bitcoin Hyper one of the most advanced L2s in the crypto sector, which helps to explain not only why its presale has done so well, but also why it’s our best coin to buy this Christmas Eve.

Bitcoin Hyper Could Be the Biggest New Coin of 2026: How to Buy Early

As a token, HYPER will have a max supply of 21 billion tokens, meaning that it corresponds to Bitcoin’s supply at a 10:1 ratio.

This supply will have a broad allocation, with 25% going to its community treasury, 30% to development, 20% to marketing, 15% to staking and community rewards, and 10% to listings and liquidity.

While its presale is likely to close within the first few weeks of 2026, investors can still join by visiting the official Bitcoin Hyper website.

All of the pieces are coming together to create the greatest Bitcoin L2 ever made.

What more could you ask for this holiday season?!https://t.co/VNG0P4GuDo pic.twitter.com/Uq6y1kXwsT

— Bitcoin Hyper (@BTC_Hyper2) December 24, 2025

There, they can connect a compatible wallet (e.g. Best Wallet) and buy any amount of HYPER using SOL, ETH, USDT, BNB or fiat currency (via a credit card).

They’ll receive their tokens once the sale ends, with HYPER preparing to list on exchanges very soon after.

In view of its fundamentals, it has every chance of rallying strongly once it goes live on exchange, while a market-wide recovery and bull rally could see it rise even higher.

This is why it’s our best coin to buy this Christmas Eve, and why it could end up being one of the biggest new tokens of 2026.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

The post Best Coin To Buy This Christmas Eve That Could 100x in 2026 – 24 December 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews.