Cryptopolitan

PENGU gained, as the rest of the cryptocurrency market continued to drop deeper into the red. The strategy occurred after Pudgy Penguins surprised investors with a visit to the Las Vegas Sphere, a world-renowned venue for cultural events and entertainment. 

Some market watchers said it was an outlier in the broader sell-off. Despite investors abandoning cryptocurrencies, no-coiners came to PENGU due to branding momentum, rather than technical progress. 

PENGU gets noticed after the Vegas Sphere appearance

At the time of publication, PENGU was trading on CoinMarketCap, with a 1.8% increase to $0.00906 over the last 24 hours. Those gains represented a marked improvement over the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most other major cryptocurrencies, which saw their respective values decline over a similar period. 

Pudgy Penguins reported the activation of the brand in Las Vegas in its X post. The team announced in a subsequent post that the brand had gone live through the Exosphere of Sphere Vegas, the world’s largest digital exhibition space. 

Also, the penguin figure covered the giant dome at night. The Sphere is well-known for being one of the most advanced digital display venues in the world, visible to millions of people, whether in person or on screen, both within its walls and beyond. Crypto projects do not receive such exposure. Analysts said the show helped Pudgy Penguins break out of its niche crypto world and reach a wider audience. 

The heightened visibility has reignited interest in the PENGU token, despite the overall slow market. It is not the only token performing well under these conditions. Earlier, PENGU also gained during a market slowdown linked to a profile-picture trend on Coinbase, which boosted its popularity on social media. Recently, it has become one of the most popular memecoins on the Solana blockchain, thereby increasing its liquidity in that market.

Brand-led campaigns lift tokens despite weak crypto markets

Protocol upgrades, governance changes, or tokenomics updates did not drive the latest price move. Instead, analysts said brand exposure and social engagement were the main reasons behind the gains.

Pudgy Penguins has always been about building its brand, not trying to gain clout overnight. The Las Vegas Sphere activation aligns with this tactic. The project has also evolved beyond collectibles and into products made for daily consumption.

One of their initial successes was Pudgy Party, which garnered more than 750k downloads in its first week. That adoption has been so strong that some are eyeing the continued user growth of PENGU as a potential cost for pricing up in a few years.

The moves came as the balance of power on the cryptocurrency exchange was beginning to shift, with the relatively low overall total market cap becoming less relevant for many — most cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap have seen a decline in their capitalizations.

Other, much larger tokens — such as Solana and XRP — were also lower on the day. The CMC20 Index dropped 0.6%, a sign of the broader decline that has been endured. The Fear and Greed Index was at 27, signaling that there was little fear, meaning investors had a limited appetite for risk. However, in the present case, PENGU’s ascendant strength is integral to the rise of popular branding in crypto markets.

Prices haven’t moved that much, but the Vegas glitz showed that cultural clout can trump bearish market fundamentals. Any further sustained rally would still rely on a significant market recovery and continued user engagement, analysts said.

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Crypto markets often shift before it becomes obvious on charts. When large assets slow down, capital does not leave the market. It moves sideways and then rotates. This pattern has repeated across many cycles. Bitcoin stalls, Ethereum consolidates, and attention begins drifting toward smaller assets with higher upside potential.

That setup is forming again. Ethereum has struggled to move cleanly above the $3,000 zone. While long term conviction remains strong, short term momentum has faded. For many ETH holders, this creates a familiar question. Where does capital go next when upside feels capped?

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum remains one of the most important blockchains in crypto. Its market cap sits in the hundreds of billions, making it a core holding for institutions and long term investors. That scale also creates limits.

To double from current levels, Ethereum would need massive new capital inflows. A 2x move would require hundreds of billions in fresh demand. For a 3x or 4x, the numbers become even larger. This does not mean ETH cannot rise, but it does mean growth is slower and more incremental.

Resistance around $3,000 has become a psychological and technical barrier. Price has tested this area multiple times, yet follow through has been weak. Some analysts now model a modest upside scenario for ETH, often in the 1.3x to 1.6x range over the medium term. For investors seeking higher % returns, this pushes attention toward smaller crypto assets..

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

Mutuum Finance is designed as a structured lending and borrowing protocol. Users can supply assets to earn yield, while borrowers lock collateral to access liquidity. Interest rates are defined. Collateral rules are clear. Liquidation logic is built around risk control.

The protocol uses dual lending markets, allowing flexibility for different asset types. Borrowers interact with predictable loan terms. Lenders receive yield through protocol usage rather than inflation.

According to official updates on X, Mutuum Finance is preparing its V1 launch on the Sepolia testnet in Q4. Core features include liquidity pools, mtTokens, debt tokens, and an automated liquidator bot. ETH and USDT are expected to be initial supported assets. For many ETH investors, this matters. It signals that MUTM is not a concept token. It is moving toward live usage.

Presale Progress and Participation Trends

Mutuum Finance has seen steady growth over time rather than sharp spikes. The presale began in early 2025. Since Phase 1, MUTM has surged 250%. The current Phase 6 price is $0.035.

More than $19.4M has been raised, and the holder count has grown beyond 18,600 wallets. Out of the 4B total token supply, 45.5% is allocated to the presale, equal to 1.82B tokens. A large share of this allocation has already been distributed.

The 24 hour leaderboard highlights consistent activity instead of one time buys. This structure rewards ongoing participation and engagement. Card payments are also available, lowering friction for new entrants. These patterns often appeal to ETH investors who are used to protocols growing through usage rather than hype.

Why mtTokens Matter for Long Term Holders

One of the key mechanics inside Mutuum Finance is mtTokens. When users would supply assets, they would receive mtTokens that increase in value as interest accrues. These tokens are tied directly to protocol performance.

mtTokens are not designed for fast flipping. They encourage longer holding periods. Yield grows through borrowing demand, not speculation. This creates a base of holders aligned with protocol health.

Alongside mtTokens, Mutuum uses a buy and distribute model. A portion of protocol revenue can be used to buy MUTM from the market and distribute it to mtToken holders. This creates a feedback loop between usage and token demand.

Stablecoin and Oracle Infrastructure

Mutuum Finance also plans to introduce a protocol backed stablecoin. This stablecoin is designed to be supported by borrower interest rather than external minting alone. Stablecoins often increase daily usage and liquidity depth inside DeFi systems.

Oracle infrastructure plays a critical role as well. Accurate price feeds are essential for lending protocols. Mutuum plans to rely on robust oracle systems, with Chainlink style data feeds and fallback mechanisms to reduce risk during volatile periods. These elements help reduce downside uncertainty, which is important for ETH investors rotating into smaller assets.

Security remains one of the main concerns in DeFi crypto. Mutuum Finance has addressed this through multiple layers. A CertiK audit resulted in a 90/100 token scan score. An independent Halborn Security audit is in progress. A $50k bug bounty has also been launched to identify vulnerabilities.

Risk controls inside the protocol include defined loan to value ratios, liquidation thresholds, and reserve factors based on asset volatility. These measures aim to protect lenders and maintain protocol solvency.

Why ETH Investors Are Watching MUTM

Ethereum holders are familiar with slow accumulation phases. Many remember ETH trading sideways for long periods before major repricing events. Similar behavior often appears in smaller protocols before broader discovery.

MUTM’s current stage offers a different risk profile than ETH. It sits earlier in its lifecycle. Supply is still tightening. Usage has not gone live yet, but infrastructure is nearly ready.

Some analysts outline long term scenarios where MUTM could see a 9x move if lending demand scales after V1. This is not framed as a promise. It reflects how smaller assets behave when moving from development into active usage.

For ETH investors facing capped upside in the near term, Mutuum Finance represents a new crypto with asymmetric potential. As Ethereum consolidates, rotation into early stage DeFi may continue.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The EU told President Donald Trump it would spend $750 billion on American energy over the next three years. That commitment was made loud and clear when both sides reached a deal back in August.

But since then, nothing about the numbers says that promise is being kept. From September through December, the EU actually spent 7% less on oil and gas from the U.S. compared to the same four-month stretch last year. This is despite the fact that the EU has taken in more U.S. liquefied natural gas during that time.

This decline in spending is about prices. U.S. oil and gas prices fell, which pushed down the total value of imports. $29.6 billion. That’s how much the EU spent between September and December, based on numbers shared by Kpler, a consultancy that tracks energy shipments. And Kpler’s senior director Gillian Boccara had this explanation:

“Commodity purchases were negotiated bilaterally and driven by economics, including freight costs and margins, rather than political pledges.”

When asked if the $750 billion target was realistic, Gillian said, “We just can’t see the math working out.”

Current levels of spending and infrastructure don’t match the deal

For all of 2025 so far, EU energy imports from the U.S. are sitting at $73.7 billion. That’s not even a third of what’s needed each year to hit the $750 billion goal by 2028.

Even if the EU swapped out every molecule of Russian gas with American LNG, it still wouldn’t get close. Argus Media, a firm that tracks global prices, said that would only boost annual imports to about $29 billion, or just 23% of what’s required.

And to somehow reach the full target, gas prices would need to shoot up to $37.3 per mmbtu by 2028. That’s four times higher than where futures are trading now, which is around $8.2 per mmbtu, and nearly quadruple the current spot price of about $10.

The last time prices hit $37.3 was in December 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered an energy crisis and forced the EU to scramble for alternatives.

Even then, Gillian doesn’t think that level of value is within reach. “Even if the EU were to replace all Russian gas with U.S. supplies, it would still not be enough to triple the import value,” she said.

The way she sees it, the deal looks like a way to score tariff relief, not an actual energy commitment.

Long-term purchases and bottlenecks raise more questions

Markets aren’t buying the dream either. With the U.S., Qatar, and Canada all expected to raise output, supply is likely to grow faster than demand. That means prices could keep dropping. There’s also growing talk about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, which has helped cool the market even more.

Martin Senior, an analyst at Argus, pointed to physical limitations as another barrier. He said the EU would need to boost its import capacity by more than 50% to handle more American energy.

On the U.S. side, export infrastructure would have to more than double to keep up with that level of commitment. That means new regasification terminals, more tanks, and additional pipelines, none of which can be built overnight.

So what’s the real story here? A former member of the EU Parliament who worked on energy issues said the entire agreement looked like a delay tactic. “The hour of reckoning must be postponed. And maybe the war [will be] over when the hour of reckoning comes,” said the ex-MEP.

According to them, this might be less about gas and more about politics. Just stalling until Trump finishes his second term in January 2029.

The European Commission claimed that it had spent €200 billion ($236 billion) on U.S. energy goods in the first 11 months of 2025.

They said purchases of LNG and oil were growing, especially from the U.S., and expected total LNG imports from the U.S. to hit 70 billion cubic meters in 2025, up from 45bcm the year before.

A Commission spokesperson said, “This trend will continue in the future, with at least nine new long-term contracts for U.S. LNG signed by EU buyers this year.”

But no one’s quite sure how much of those future orders were already baked into the €200 billion figure. And the number also includes a separate deal with Poland, €42 billion to buy three nuclear reactors from Westinghouse for a new power plant.

Nuclear fuel like uranium is technically part of the energy trade agreement, but it only makes up less than 1% of all EU imports from the U.S.

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The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, has announced the introduction of a new stablecoin linked to the Kyrgyzstani som, the country’s fiat currency, on Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

This news was made public after Japarov shared an X post dated Wednesday, December 24, noting that Kyrgyzstan’s KGST stablecoin, which is linked to the som, will enable the country to enhance cross-border payments and boost its relationship with the crypto industry.

CZ claims that several more stablecoins are anticipated to be listed on the exchange 

Following Japarov’s statement, the crypto community sparked excitement as the move marked a significant milestone in the industry. Responding to this enthusiasm in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, popularly known as “CZ”, commented on a social media platform that several more stablecoins backed by governments are anticipated to be listed on the exchange.

Regarding Kyrgyzstan’s KGST stablecoin, sources close to the situation noted that Zhao initially began offering advice to Kyrgyzstan in April of this year. Notably, this move was part of a deal for technical backing and consulting services. 

After careful consideration, the Asian country decided to adopt CZ’s advice. This response indicated that Kyrgyzstan, with a population of approximately seven million individuals, is gradually shifting its attitude towards cryptocurrency, adopting a positive outlook on digital assets.

To demonstrate its heightened interest in the industry, reports dated September mentioned that Kyrgyzstan developed regulations aimed at establishing a state cryptocurrency reserve. Additionally, the nation expanded its digital asset sector.

Meanwhile, apart from Kyrgyzstan’s KGST stablecoin, it was confirmed that the nation also launched USDKG, a 1:1 USD-pegged, gold-backed stablecoin. Reports indicate that this token was made available on the Tron network, with an initial supply of approximately 50 million units. 

This upgrade drew the attention of several reports that sought an interview with officials from Kyrgyzstan. Respondingly, they hinted at their intentions to expand the stablecoin’s presence to the Ethereum blockchain. 

Several analysts also weighed in on the topic of discussion. They highlighted that although USD‑denominated stablecoins such as USDT, Tether’s stablecoin, and USDC, Circle’s stablecoin, contribute the highest market’s total value, several countries and economic teams have either introduced their stablecoins backed by their currencies or intend to do so.

To support this claim, sources noted that JPYC, a Japanese fintech firm, reportedly launched Japan’s first legally recognized stablecoin, pegged to the yen, in October. Moreover, it introduced a platform meant to provide this token.

This stablecoin, widely known as the JPYC stablecoin, is backed by bank deposits and Japanese government bonds. Its goal is to maintain a value equivalent to that of the yen.

Several companies demonstrate a commitment to establishing stablecoins 

SBI Holdings and the Startale Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in December of this year, aiming to establish a regulated stablecoin pegged to the yen. Sources close to the situation mentioned that this stablecoin will be provided and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking. Notably, it is set to be launched in the second quarter of 2026.

Interestingly, another group of ten European banks emerged the same month and announced their plans to develop a euro-pegged stablecoin in the second half of 2026 via Qivalis, an Amsterdam-based firm. 

BNP Paribas alleged that this stablecoin would receive approval from the Dutch Central Bank and be created to comply with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulations. 

In addition, the UAE telecom group e& signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Maryah Community Bank to explore the use of a dirham-pegged stablecoin specifically for consumer payments. This move was part of the UAE’s focus on regulated digital finance. 

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Developers who prioritize security can expect bug-free coding to become achievable in the 2030s, according to Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin. 

After Gnosis Chain’s controversial hard fork to recover $9.4 million from the Balancer hack Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the belief that “bugs are inevitable, you can’t make bug-free code” will stop being true in the 2030s.

What did Vitalik Buterin say about coding? 

Vitalik Buterin has made a prediction that bug-free code will become a thing in the 2030s through an interaction on the social media platform, X. 

The discussion began when Gnosis Chain announced that it executed a hard fork on December 22, as reported by Cryptopolitan. The hard fork recovered $9.4 million stolen during the November 2024 Balancer exploit, which drained over $128 million across multiple blockchains. The recovery required most validators to adopt new software, and those who failed to update are facing penalties.

This, of course, was met with some resistance from blockchain supporters who criticized the move because it goes against the principle of immutability. An X user with the moniker ‘colluding node’ said the real problem is how blockchain applications are built. They argued that using smart contracts in programmable virtual machines is the wrong approach. 

“There are only 7 contracts worth writing, and they should just be enshrined in the base layer and get security from client diversity,” the user wrote. 

Buterin then responded by clarifying that formally verified does not equal provably bug-free. He went further to suggest that provably bug-free code may not even be possible.

“I’d even go so far as to say that ‘provably bug free’ is not possible, because ‘bug-free’ means ‘no gap between intention and code execution’, and our intention is an extremely complex object we have only limited access to.” 

Formal verification uses mathematical methods to check whether safety-critical systems perform correctly. The technique has been used since the 1960s in fields like aerospace engineering. 

When used in smart contracts, formal verification can prove that a contract’s business logic meets a predefined specification; however, despite the fact that Balancer contracts were audited 11 times, conducted by four separate security firms, a critical flaw still slipped through. 

Is a bug-free code future possible? 

Buterin proposed that the solution is multiple layers of redundancy to filter out gaps between intention and execution. He pointed to type systems as one form of redundancy, and formally verifying specific claims about code as another layer.

Formal verification can detect issues such as integer underflows and overflow, re-entrancy, and poor gas optimizations that may slip past auditors and testers. Meanwhile, traditional testing can only check for the presence of errors rather than their absence.

Buterin noted that some software will continue having bugs because functionality gains matter more than perfection in certain cases. But developers who prioritize security will have the tools to achieve truly bug-free code.

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America’s six biggest banks have gained $600 billion in value this year, in a full-scale financial rally sparked by President Trump’s deregulation agenda and a clear comeback in investment banking.

According to S&P Global, the combined market cap of JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley now stands at $2.37 trillion, up from $1.77 trillion at the end of 2024. That’s a jump of more than a third, just in under 12 months.

Meanwhile, Europe’s top six banks are worth just $1 trillion together. That gap didn’t just show up out of nowhere. It’s the result of years of uneven rules.

But now, with Trump rolling back post-crisis regulation, US banks are finally shaking off the chains put on after 2008. And they’re sprinting past the broader S&P 500 for the second straight year.

Trump loosens rules while banks load up on excess capital

Back in 2008, the financial crisis brought rules that cut deep into profits.More capital, tighter lending, and stress tests made banks boring for investors. Not anymore.

Trump’s regulators have already started to allow higher leverage for the largest lenders. They’ve changed the annual stress test system that decides how much capital banks must hold. They’ve also scrapped guidance that limited risky lending.

“You cannot underestimate how important this regulatory change has been to the stock prices,” said Gerard Cassidy, banking analyst at RBC. “The profitability of the industry was severely reduced because of the financial crisis because the banks had to bring on much more capital, deservedly so.”

But with those rules now being scaled back, things are shifting. And the biggest players are ready. They already piled up cash expecting tougher rules under the Biden plan from 2023. Those rules, called the Basel III Endgame, are now expected to land much softer than first feared.

“They’re all sitting on excess capital because they already built it up based on the other proposal,” Cassidy added.

That capital is more than just safety net. It can now be used for buybacks, dividends, and growth. Banks don’t just want to hold capital anymore. They want to use it.

Shares explode as investment banking and trading surge back

Citigroup’s stock is up nearly 70% in 2025, the best performer of the six. The reason? A massive internal restructuring, with years of cost-cutting and simplification finally working. For the first time since 2018, Citi is now trading above the sum of its parts.

Goldman Sachs isn’t far behind, with a 60% stock gain this year. The return of big investment banking deals is helping. So is a massive trading boom. Goldman hit record highs in 2025. And many expect things to speed up in 2026.

Data from Crisil Coalition Greenwich shows banks are pulling in serious revenue. Equities trading is forecast to hit $92 billion, while fixed income trading could reach $163 billion, both numbers smashing past previous records.

Still, not everyone is sold on the current wave of deregulation. Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about how far the changes go and what risks banks may take on next. But investors aren’t showing fear.

“It’s a risk that may come up down the line,” said Saul Martinez, head of US financials equity research at HSBC. “But given how little bank balance sheets have grown, there’s the sense that there is room to take more risk.”

Martinez also added, “It almost feels a little too good to be true right now. The fundamental backdrop is good. I think the question is how much of it is priced in.”

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The crypto market is moving through another rotation phase. Many large altcoins that once delivered explosive gains are now facing slower price action, higher liquidity demands, and weaker momentum. Investors are still active, but capital is becoming more selective.

In these moments, attention often shifts away from saturated assets and toward new crypto projects that show early growth signals without carrying heavy market caps. This is where comparisons to early Shiba Inu and Dogecoin begin to surface. A new DeFi crypto called Mutuum Finance, selling at $0.035 in its current stage, is increasingly mentioned in discussions about where the next structural upside could form.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) 

Shiba Inu became one of the most well known meme coins during its early run. At the time, SHIB traded at extremely low prices and benefited from strong community momentum. Early investors were drawn in by the possibility of large % gains from a small starting valuation.

Today, SHIB is a very different asset. It carries a massive market cap and requires significant liquidity to move its price in a meaningful way. This creates a structural challenge. Even with strong trading volume, upside becomes harder to sustain once size grows too large.

Price charts also reflect this shift. Breakout attempts tend to stall, and price movement has slowed compared to its early phase. This does not make SHIB irrelevant, but it limits the type of growth it can realistically deliver going forward. For investors looking for asymmetric upside, liquidity weight becomes a real constraint.

Dogecoin (DOGE)

Dogecoin followed a different path, but it now faces a similar ceiling. DOGE rose from a joke asset into one of the most recognized cryptocurrencies in the world. Early hype, social momentum, and celebrity attention helped push its price far beyond what fundamentals alone would suggest.

Over time, that narrative weakened. Community excitement faded, and DOGE struggled to find new catalysts that could support another sustained rally. Adoption stalled, and price trends became less convincing.

From a market perspective, Dogecoin now sits in a zone where expectations are capped. Without clear protocol development or new use cases, its price outlook remains limited. This creates a narrative gap that investors often try to fill by rotating into assets with clearer growth paths.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) 

Mutuum Finance enters this picture from a very different angle. Instead of relying on hype or viral demand, MUTM is designed as an Ethereum based DeFi crypto focused on lending and borrowing.

The protocol uses a dual market structure where users supply assets to earn yield and borrowers access liquidity by locking collateral. Lending rules are defined, interest flows are predictable, and collateral requirements are clear. This creates a framework where value is generated through usage rather than attention.

Unlike SHIB or DOGE, MUTM does not require massive liquidity to move. Its current scale allows price to respond more directly to changes in participation. Growth is also not tied to social cycles. It is tied to protocol activity.

In its current presale Phase 6, MUTM is priced at $0.035. Since Phase 1, the token has surged 2.5x. More than $19.4M has been raised, and the holder count has grown past 18,600 wallets. Out of the 4B total supply, 45.5% is allocated to the presale, equal to 1.82B tokens, with a large portion already distributed. These figures reflect steady accumulation rather than sudden spikes.

Core Mechanics That Support Long-Term Value

Several mechanics help explain why MUTM is being compared to early growth assets, but with a different foundation. mtTokens play a central role. When users supply assets, they receive mtTokens that increase in value as interest accrues. This encourages holding and participation rather than fast trading.

The buy and distribute model adds another layer. Protocol revenue can be used to buy MUTM from the market and distribute it to mtToken holders. This links token demand directly to protocol usage.

Oracle systems support accurate pricing and risk management, which is critical for lending markets. Together, these elements connect price performance to real activity. This is something SHIB and DOGE were never designed to do.

From a price analysis perspective, some analysts outline a long term scenario where MUTM could reach a 10X increase if usage scales after launch. This is not framed as a guarantee, but as a structural comparison. Smaller supply, active revenue flow, and growing participation create conditions where larger % moves are mathematically possible.

Roadmap Catalysts and Why Timing Matters

Several upcoming milestones add context to this analysis. The V1 testnet is targeted for Q4, marking the transition from development into live usage. This is often a key moment for DeFi crypto repricing.

Security is another major factor. Mutuum Finance completed a CertiK audit with a 90/100 score, is undergoing a Halborn review, and launched a $50k bug bounty. These steps reduce protocol risk and tend to attract more serious capital. Beyond V1, the roadmap includes a protocol backed stablecoin and Layer 2 expansion. These features aim to lower fees, increase speed, and expand the addressable user base.

Phase 6 is now over 99%, and allocation is tightening. Whale inflows have already appeared, and the 24 hour leaderboard continues to reward consistent engagement rather than one time activity. Card payment access further lowers entry barriers.

A Different Kind of Comparison

The comparison to early SHIB or DOGE is not about copying their hype driven spikes. It is about recognizing how early stage assets behave before size becomes a limitation.

Shiba Inu faced a liquidity problem as it grew too large. Dogecoin faced a narrative problem as attention faded. Mutuum Finance positions itself as a structural alternative. Its growth path is tied to lending demand, yield participation, and predictable mechanics.

For investors watching top crypto opportunities and new cryptocurrency trends, MUTM represents a different type of setup. One where upside potential is not driven by viral cycles, but by usage scaling over time.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Crypto markets often move in repeating cycles. Capital flows into a trend, prices surge, then attention fades as upside becomes limited. Many investors remember how Pepecoin delivered explosive gains early, only for momentum to slow once size and saturation set in.

Today, some market watchers believe a similar early phase may be forming elsewhere. A new DeFi crypto selling at $0.035 has already climbed 2.5x from its earliest stage, yet remains far smaller than meme coins like PEPE. This contrast is driving renewed discussion about where the next sustained upside could come from.

Pepecoin (PEPE) Early Surge and Its Current Limits

Pepecoin became one of the most visible meme coins during its breakout phase. Early buyers benefited from rapid price expansion driven by social momentum and viral attention. At its peak, PEPE delivered gains that exceeded 800%, turning it into a reference point for fast moving altcoin rallies.

However, that early phase has passed. Pepecoin now carries a large market cap, which makes repeating those same gains difficult. Price movement has slowed, and upside depends heavily on renewed hype rather than new fundamentals.

Many analysts now describe PEPE as a mature meme asset. While it still trades actively, its ability to deliver another multi hundred % run is limited by size, liquidity needs, and the lack of protocol level utility. This is often the point where capital starts rotating elsewhere.

What Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Is Building 

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), is positioned very differently. Instead of relying on social narratives, it is building an Ethereum based lending and borrowing protocol designed around structured usage.

At a high level, users supply assets to earn yield, while borrowers access liquidity by locking collateral. Interest rates, collateral rules, and liquidation logic are clearly defined. This structure creates predictable value flows, which long term capital tends to favor.

The protocol is preparing for its V1 launch, according to official updates. Development milestones are complete, and Halborn Security has been reviewing the lending and borrowing contracts. This places MUTM closer to execution than concept, which often shifts how markets value a new crypto.

Presale Progress and Payment Access

Mutuum Finance is currently in Phase 6, priced at $0.035. Since Phase 1, the token has surged 250%, reflecting steady accumulation rather than sudden spikes. More than $19.4M has been raised, and the holder base has grown beyond 18,600 wallets.

Out of the total 4B MUTM supply, 45.5% is allocated to the presale, equal to 1.82B tokens. A large portion of this allocation has already been distributed, which tightens available supply as later phases progress.

Activity indicators also matter. The 24 hour leaderboard rewards consistent participation instead of one time purchases. This encourages longer holding behavior and repeated engagement. Card payment support further lowers friction, making access easier for a wider range of participants. These signals often appear before broader market attention arrives.

Why Investors See a Different Upside Profile

The comparison between MUTM and PEPE highlights how different growth models behave over time. Pepecoin’s early run was driven by viral demand. Once that demand cooled, price expansion slowed.

Mutuum Finance operates on a different curve. It does not need massive liquidity to move. As a smaller asset, even moderate inflows can have a meaningful impact on price. This gives it higher price elasticity than large meme coins.

Utility is another key difference. MUTM is developing around lending markets, mtTokens, and a buy and distribute model that links protocol revenue to token demand. This creates ongoing reasons to hold the token beyond speculation.

Timing also plays a role. MUTM is approaching its first live usage phase. Historically, many DeFi crypto projects experience repricing as they move from development into execution. PEPE, by contrast, is already well past its discovery phase.

Whale Activity and Phase 6

Recent on chain data has drawn attention to larger allocations. A $115k whale purchase during Phase 6 highlights growing confidence among higher value participants. Whales tend to position earlier when they believe the risk to reward profile is favorable.

Phase 6 represents one of the later stages of distribution. As supply tightens, price behavior often changes. Fewer tokens are available, and demand shifts from early access to longer term positioning.

Security also supports this phase. Alongside Halborn’s review, MUTM completed a CertiK audit with a 90/100 score and launched a $50k bug bounty. These layers reduce protocol risk, which is often a requirement for larger capital participation.

Why Some See MUTM as the Next Rotation Target

Many early PEPE investors are now experienced enough to recognize cycle shifts. When meme driven upside fades, attention often turns to new crypto with utility and room to grow.

Mutuum Finance fits that profile. It is still early relative to its roadmap, yet far enough along to reduce uncertainty. The combination of structured lending, growing participation, tightening supply, and upcoming V1 activation creates a setup that looks very different from meme coin cycles.

While PEPE’s early surge is now part of history, MUTM appears to be entering the stage where long term positioning begins. For investors focused on token appreciation driven by structure rather than hype, that difference is becoming harder to ignore.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has, on Wednesday, opened a defect investigation into the Tesla Model 3’s emergency door system, according to a notice posted on its website that said the lever on these doors may be “hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency.”

The review covers 179,071 Model 3 sedans from the 2022 model year, and comes after a petition filed by Kevin Clouse, a Tesla owner in Georgia, who said he was trapped inside his car when it caught fire in 2023.

“I was forced to climb to the back seat and break the rear passenger window with my legs to escape while the interior was burning,” said Kevin.

Source: NHTSA

NHTSA expands ongoing investigation into Tesla’s mountain of door issues

Just last September, the NHTSA opened a separate case into the Tesla Model Y after several reports of children getting stuck when the 12-volt battery died, since that makes the electric handles stop working.

The Model 3 and Model Y are the company’s best-selling cars, so these cases could impact a large group of drivers.

A Bloomberg investigation found that at least 15 people have died in the past decade in situations where Tesla doors didn’t open after a crash. Some of the deaths allegedly involved first responders unable to open the doors fast enough when the cars caught fire.

During the design phase for the Model 3, engineers flagged concerns about electric handles not working in an emergency. As previously reported by Cryptopolitan, those concerns were brought directly to Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who still chose to go with the same design, as long as a manual release was included.

Musk faced concerns years ago, but pushed ahead

The issue goes back to how Tesla builds its cars. The Model S, which launched in 2012, was the first model the company built from scratch. It came with flush door handles that slide out when touched. The design helped reduce wind drag and noise, but it also added complexity. If the power is cut, those electric handles don’t function.

Elon Musk admitted there were problems with these door sensors as early as 2013. “We’ve got quite a fancy door handle, and occasionally the sensor would malfunction,” he told analysts during a quarterly earnings call. “So you’d pull on the door handle, and it wouldn’t open. Obviously, it’s quite vexing for a customer.”

In 2021, Elon told analysts that the issue had been resolved. “Essentially, the door-handle incidents have gone to virtually zero.” But that’s not what Clouse and others are reporting in 2025.

After Clouse filed his petition last month, NHTSA started reviewing whether to launch a full recall. The agency hasn’t made a final decision yet, but the investigation is live. Bloomberg also confirmed details of Clouse’s 2023 fire incident, including the fact that he had to kick through a window to get out while the cabin filled with smoke.

Tesla shares dropped 0.7% at the close of the market on Christmas Eve, following a shortened session. The company has not issued a public response to the investigation. Clouse, meanwhile, is still waiting for answers.

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Metaplanet is now officially aiming for 210,000 BTC in its treasury by the end of 2027, worth around $18.5 billion as of current prices.

The Japanese Bitcoin treasury company’s board just passed a vote at an extraordinary shareholder meeting, according to a post on X by strategy director Dylan LeClair, who confirmed that shareholders unanimously backed the equity moves.

These will allow Metaplanet to use financing tools to buy more Bitcoin without instantly cutting the value of shares held by current investors. So, dilution is delayed, not dodged.

5/5 Proposals Approved at the @Metaplanet Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting

1) Approve shift of capital stock and capital reserve to capital surplus to increase capacity for preferred share dividends & potential share buybacks. ✅

2) Increase the total number of authorized…

— Dylan LeClair (@DylanLeClair) December 22, 2025

Metaplanet expands share structure to raise more Bitcoin capital

To make this work, Metaplanet is issuing new shares; Class A, which is more expensive but gives voting rights, and Class B, which is cheaper, has no votes, but more flexibility for smaller investors.

These shares come loaded with features, like floating rates, meaning interest that changes over time with the market, so that investors pay less upfront but take on changing returns. Also, they’ll pay quarterly dividends. That’s four payments a year. Not bad, considering most Bitcoin-focused firms don’t even touch dividends.

With the Class B preferred shares, investors will get a 10-year, 130% “issuer call”. In plain English? The company can buy back the shares after 10 years for 130% of what they originally cost. There’s also a put right feature.

If Metaplanet doesn’t go public within a year, investors can force the company to buy back the shares at a pre-set price. This gives some safety to buyers worried about liquidity or exit options.

Crypto winter or not, Japan-based digital asset treasuries are still spending. Two other DATs on the Tokyo Stock Exchange have recently bought around $2.6 million worth of Bitcoin. Both plan to keep buying more in 2026.

This is happening while most crypto treasuries globally are taking heavy hits or trading below their asset value. But that hasn’t stopped Metaplanet.

Hermes Lux, an analyst who follows Bitcoin treasuries, said the company’s stock could jump 1,500% by the end of 2027, assuming Bitcoin grows 40% a year and Metaplanet hits its goal of 100,000 BTC by 2026 and 210,000 BTC by 2027. For 2026 alone, Lux expects a 402% upside on the stock. Again, that’s if Bitcoin performs and the firm keeps buying.

Source: Hermes Lux/X

Right now, Metaplanet has three stocks in the wild. MPJPY is the new one, backed and trading in the U.S. OTC markets. MTPLF was the first U.S. listing, but it’s unbacked. Then there’s the original: stock 3350, which trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

All three have bounced back over the past month. Gains range between 6% and 28%, even as Bitcoin itself only managed under 1%. Strategy’s MSTR, by comparison, dropped 12% in the same period. That gap has started to catch attention, and not in a subtle way.

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Crypto markets often move in cycles that are not driven by headlines, but by capital rotation. Late in a cycle, large caps tend to slow. Price action becomes tighter, and upside looks limited. At the same time, attention and liquidity start moving toward smaller assets with room to expand.

This rotation pattern has played out many times before. Capital exits crowded trades and looks for early stage DeFi crypto with developing fundamentals. Right now, Mutuum Finance is increasingly viewed as one of those rotation targets, even before its full utility goes live.

Why Capital Is Rotating Away From Large Cap Crypto

Large cap assets like Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana already carry high market caps. This size brings stability, but it also limits upside. Moving these assets requires massive inflows of new capital.

As markets mature, returns compress. A 2x move becomes harder. A 5x move becomes unlikely. Investors looking for long-term growth often start searching for smaller tokens where price discovery is still forming.

This does not mean large caps lose relevance. It means their role changes. They become core holdings, while growth focused capital rotates toward new crypto with lower valuations and expanding narratives.

Where Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Fits in the Rotation Cycle

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), sits at a point in the cycle that often attracts rotation capital. It is not an early concept anymore. Development is advanced, audits are complete, and the roadmap is active. At the same time, full protocol usage has not started yet.

This combination matters. MUTM is visible enough to reduce uncertainty, but early enough to offer price elasticity. The token is currently priced at $0.035 in Phase 6, after a 250% rise since Phase 1.

Presale growth supports this rotation narrative. More than $19.4M has been raised, and the holder base has grown to over 18,600 wallets. This expansion happened steadily, which often signals capital rotation rather than short term speculation.

Relative Valuation Model 

Relative valuation is a common way to assess early stage DeFi crypto. Instead of asking what a token is worth in isolation, investors compare it to similar protocols at comparable stages.

Early lending platforms often traded at much higher valuations once basic infrastructure was live and usage began. MUTM is still valued as a developing protocol, not as an active one.

A conservative model assumes MUTM only captures a small share of the valuation seen in established DeFi lending platforms. Under that view, a 3x to 4x move from current levels becomes reasonable as capital rotation continues and visibility increases. This scenario does not rely on hype. It relies on capital flowing from slower large caps into assets where valuation gaps still exist.

Usage Expansion 

The second scenario focuses on what happens after V1 goes live. Once lending and borrowing activity begins, valuation drivers change.

Mutuum Finance is designed around structured lending markets. Users supply assets and receive mtTokens that grow as interest accrues. Borrowers lock collateral and pay interest based on clear rules.

As usage expands, lending volume and borrowing demand become measurable. This data often attracts a different type of capital, focused on fundamentals rather than narratives. If post V1 activity grows steadily, a 5x range from current pricing becomes a realistic scenario over time. This assumes moderate adoption, not explosive growth.

Why Analysts See Rotation Continuing

The case for continued rotation into MUTM rests on timing. Large caps are stable but slow. Their upside is capped by size. Meanwhile, Mutuum Finance is still forming its market position.

Security has already been addressed. The protocol completed a CertiK audit with a 90/100 score and underwent additional Halborn Security reviews. A $50k bug bounty adds another layer of protection.

Phase 6 allocation is nearing completion (over 99% allocated), which tightens supply further. Activity indicators like the 24 hour leaderboard show consistent engagement, not one time spikes.

Taken together, these factors explain why some analysts view MUTM as a long-term rotation play rather than a short-term trade. The upside case is driven by capital movement, usage growth, and structural design, not hype.

As markets continue to rotate away from crowded large caps, early stage DeFi crypto with developing fundamentals often become the next focus. Mutuum Finance appears to be entering that window.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Ether is as high as $3,000, having earlier gone down to $2,620, a recovery of approximately 16%. Large investors are purchasing additional ETH and the smaller ones are selling them as the price increases. Although ETH has recovered, it is yet to hit important levels of resistance and several investors are not sure whether to expect short-term returns. Ethereum is keeping everyone waiting, so many are looking at an alternative that is now seen as the best crypto to invest in now, and this is Mutuum Finance, with 99% of presale Phase 6 sold out.

Ethereum Recovers $3,000 but the momentum declines

The significant purchases and the decreased exchange balances support the return of Ethereum above the level of $3,000. Confidence in big players is demonstrated by 10,000 to 100,000 ETH big wallets having over 22 million tokens. Meanwhile, ETH in exchanges is at a nine-year low, and the pressure is taken off selling. The traffic of the network is increasing and addresses are becoming more active and more new wallets are being generated day by day.

Nevertheless, the price is reluctant. ETH has failed to cross the resistance area of $3,100 to $3,200 that analysts believe is important in order to initiate a higher move. Many investors are about to see slow upside until that level is cleared. The uncertainty arises, prompting some to stock up on one of the cryptos out there rather than wait around until the large caps see a follow through. As such, the money is shifting towards newer entries with lower entry values and higher growth rates.

Strong FOMO in Mutuum Finance Phase 6

The presale phase 6 of Mutuum Finance is almost fully subscribed. Since the presale started, it has accumulated $19.5M and has recorded 18,550 holders. Despite the price having increased by 250% from the Phase 1 price of just $0.01, the demand continues to rise. Investors recognize the growth potential found in investing in Mutuum Finance early enough.

Phase 6 gets sold out quickly. Upon its rematuration, Phase 7 starts with about 20% increase in price to $0.04. Thus, the current stage is considered as the last chance for purchasing at a lower price. Given that MUTM is set to arrive at a market with a value of $0.06, at the moment of its launch, those who acquire it are expected to gain a potential 380% increase in value. It is for these reasons cited above that most people regard Mutuum as the best crypto investment at present.

There is also the aspect of security and progress. The audit is being carried out by an independent audit company named Halborn Security. This instills trust among investors. Those who invest realize they are getting into a secure crypto platform. There is also a giveaway of $100,000 by Mutuum to enable early adoption. Every winner among the 10 will receive $10,000 worth of MUTM. This is in addition to the rush of Phase 6 because the Phase is reaching full capacity.

Ethereum is moving close to resistance, as Mutuum is nearing a sellout, so the timing is of the essence. With Phase 6 vanishing, analysts say now is the time to invest in the best crypto to buy now as the price will rise again. Mutuum Finance is expected to lead the next bull run. 

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Television networks and publishing houses across Europe are staring down a rough 2026. New technology is changing everything, and advertising money is drying up.

The numbers don’t look good. Media and entertainment companies are expected to grow earnings by 6.9% next year. The broader market? Projected to hit 10% growth.

Tom Ward at Bloomberg Intelligence says advertising problems and artificial intelligence uncertainty aren’t going anywhere. Stock prices in the sector already took a beating in 2025.

Trade disputes and political mess have made European businesses nervous. Advertising budgets get cut first when companies worry about the future. Media firms that depend on ad revenue are feeling the squeeze.

There’s a direct link between ad spending and economic confidence, Ward says. When things look bad, businesses pull back on campaigns.

The damage is real. In October, advertising giant WPP Plc slashed its outlook. It has seen a 60% drop this year, as reported by Cryptopolitan previously. Clients were leaving, and demand evaporated. A month later, British broadcaster ITV Plc said anxiety over the UK budget crushed advertising demand. The company needs to find £35 million ($47 million) in savings to offset lost revenue.

TV networks saw ad sales drop by mid-single-digit percentages on average last year, according to Ward’s calculations. When will it turn around? Nobody knows.

Advertising troubles are just part of the story

Artificial intelligence has become another big worry. Silvia Cuneo from Deutsche Bank AG says AI emerged as a new threat right when trade issues seemed to be settling down.

Companies like Informa Plc and online platforms Rightmove Plc and Scout24 SE are caught in the middle. AI could make their tools more efficient and create new revenue. But it could also replace their main products and wipe out entire parts of their business.

Some areas face more risk. John Davies at Bloomberg Intelligence points to Pearson Plc’s digital college courses as particularly vulnerable. Academic publishers like Springer Nature AG & Co KGaA have another problem. Cuts to US research funding hurt them because they make significant money from academic journals.

Not everyone thinks AI is such a big threat. Daniel Kerven and Lara Simpson at JPMorgan Chase & Co. say the fears are overblown. They expect a “more nuanced” market response this year.

Companies that don’t adapt will struggle

The situation is still changing, Cuneo notes. It could take years to understand AI’s real impact across different sectors. Companies that started early will win. The ones treating AI as both opportunity and risk.

Scout24, a German property website, is doing it right. The company built AI tools for real estate agents to create listings and improve photos. These features let Scout24 charge more for business services, says Doyinsola Sanyaolu at Citigroup Inc. The company’s data also creates partnership possibilities with AI language model providers. Sanyaolu calls Scout24 “among the most innovative” in the space.

Investor confidence will probably stay low this year while everyone watches how AI plays out for these companies. Economic conditions remain weak, Cuneo says, and AI disruption keeps dominating the conversation.

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Intel’s INTC stock plunged by 2.5% on Wednesday after Reuters alleged that Nvidia had paused testing of the 18A chip manufacturing process, the most advanced production node Intel is trying to bring to market.

Reportedly, Nvidia had tested the 18A process and chose not to move forward, dealing a smack at Intel during a very sensitive moment as it continues trying so hard to prove it can manufacture leading-edge chips inside the United States while rebuilding credibility after years of lost ground.

An Intel spokesperson allegedly responded to the Reuters report and said the company’s 18A manufacturing technologies are “progressing well.”

The development followed the recent opening of Fab 52 at Intel’s Ocotillo site in Arizona. The facility is the first Intel factory to enter mass production using the 18A technique. The company has said the technology represents the most advanced production process ever developed and deployed in the United States.

Intel’s domestic manufacturing push is meant to challenge Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the global leader in contract chip production. The effort also aims to restore US leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing after years of reliance on overseas facilities.

In September, Nvidia agreed to invest $5 billion into Intel after the US government decided to take roughly a 10% stake in the chipmaker. The investment drew attention because Nvidia is the world’s most valuable chip company and a key supplier to the artificial intelligence boom. The deal did not include any commitment for Intel to manufacture Nvidia chips, a detail that remains unchanged after the halted test.

Intel’s 18A technology underpins Panther Lake as losses continue

In October, Intel introduced two major changes to chip construction, with the first one focusing on transistors, the tiny switches that power modern processors. This is reportedly because typically, chips have tens of billions of transistors packed into small spaces, meaning convenient on and off control is critical for performance and power use.

Intel has long said that chips made with 18A will be the first to use gate-all-around transistor technology, which allows tighter control over electrical flow. The approach supports higher transistor density, stronger data handling, and lower energy consumption.

The second change involves how power is delivered across the chip, with the goal of allowing more transistors without sacrificing efficiency.

In October, Intel said its Panther Lake processors had entered full production and are scheduled to go on sale in laptops early next year, all built using the 18A process that the company vows improves on earlier generations and better balances heavy workloads like AI software with battery life.

Sadly, though, despite all that, Intel remains in its second straight year of losses, and analysts do not expect a return to profitability before 2027, as Cryptopolitan previously reported during Q3 earnings season.

Revenue has fallen as Intel lost market share and failed to benefit from the surge in data center demand tied to artificial intelligence. Nvidia moved faster in that market and now dominates it.

At the same time, Intel is carrying the heavy cost of factory upgrades. Fab 52 alone required more steel than the Eiffel Tower and houses machines that cost hundreds of millions of dollars each.

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One of Russia’s largest banks is now offering tokens based on regular unleaded fuel, of the kind sold at gas stations across the country.

When the instrument matures, investors can either collect their money with accrued interest or receive a fuel card and use it to top up their tanks.

Russia’s Alfa-Bank issues digital financial asset on fuel

Alfa-Bank, Russia’s biggest private banking institution, has announced the launch of a digital financial asset (DFA) offering a choice between making a profit on the investment and receiving a physical product in return.

EuroTrans, a major Russian fuel operator that controls the Trassa network of gas stations, is the company behind the initiative, which utilizes the proprietary A-Token platform developed by Alfa-Bank.

The hybrid instrument certifies a monetary claim or the right to receive a specified amount of fuel, the business news outlet RBC noted in a report.

At maturity, between March 1 and 15 next year, holders will have to pick – either get the face value back, along with the due part of the 20% fixed annual yield, or be issued a fuel voucher for 100 liters of regular 95.

Investors will be able to compare the current price of the most common grade of gasoline with the other terms of the investment product and select the more favorable option. A press release explained:

“The digital financial assets for fuel combine the characteristics of a financial instrument and a real consumer asset. Investors have the opportunity to invest in a liquid and transparent protective asset, as well as the option to use the income to pay for fuel, which is a key expense.”

The nominal value of one token is 6,650 rubles (a little less than $85), equivalent to the fixed price of the fuel underpinning it.

The pilot issue is limited to 50 million rubles (almost $635,000) and is available at present only in the Russian capital and the adjacent Moscow Region.

The DFA can be purchased between December 23 and 26 by anyone who wants to invest in it, without restrictions, a spokesperson for Alfa-Bank emphasized.

According to the representative, the product is aimed at a broad audience and demonstrates the practical application of digital assets, including as a funding source and marketing tool, as is the case with Trassa’s token.

Alfa’s launch coincides with Russia’s push to legalize crypto investment

As defined by the law “On Digital Financial Assets” from 2021, Russian DFAs represent real assets tokenized using distributed ledger technology.

Unlike decentralized digital assets, they are based on private rather than public blockchains, differing from cryptocurrencies and digital tokens traded on crypto exchanges.

They are also currently issued only via platforms licensed by the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), such as A-Token, Atomize, Masterchain, and Sber, among others.

With the exception of an “experimental legal regime” providing limited investor access to crypto, the DFA law is the only Russian piece of legislation that partially regulates digital asset investment.

This is likely to change in the coming months, however. On Tuesday, the Bank of Russia released key points of a plan to legalize and comprehensively regulate all transactions involving digital coins and related products in 2026.

The monetary authority’s new regulatory concept recognizes cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “currency assets” and aims to expand investor access to them, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

The new legal framework will also affect Russia’s market for digital financial assets, currently offering instruments such as tokenized securities and digital rights.

The central bank intends to allow Russian DFAs to circulate on open networks, too, with the aim of helping Russian companies attract foreign investment.

Alfa-Bank was among the financial institutions that launched DFAs based on major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) after the CBR authorized the offering of crypto derivatives in May.

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In crypto, some of the strongest moves come from projects that spend long periods out of the spotlight. These are not the tokens that trend every week. They are the ones that build quietly, attract steady participation, and only gain wider attention once the foundation is complete.

This pattern is starting to surface again. A new DeFi crypto that spent most of its early life outside mainstream discussion is now drawing stronger interest. Analysts note that visibility is beginning to catch up with progress. Mutuum Finance appears to be entering that phase where quiet growth becomes visible growth.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

Mutuum Finance is an Ethereum based DeFi crypto designed around lending and borrowing. At its core, the protocol allows users to supply assets to earn yield while borrowers access liquidity by locking collateral. The system is built around structure rather than speed.

Dual lending markets allow the protocol to handle different asset profiles. Borrowing terms are defined upfront. Collateral requirements are clear. Interest flows follow predictable rules. This matters for long term capital because it reduces uncertainty around how value is created.

For most of its early lifecycle, this work happened with limited exposure. Development milestones were met, but without aggressive promotion. According to official updates, the upcoming V1 launch is the point where this quiet work becomes public. Once lending markets go live, usage replaces speculation as the main driver of attention.

Growth That Happened Before the Crowd Noticed

One of the reasons analysts are paying attention now is how participation has grown. Mutuum Finance did not experience sudden spikes driven by hype. Instead, funding and holder numbers increased steadily over time.

More than $19.4M has been raised, and the holder base has expanded to over 18,600 wallets. This type of growth pattern is often described as accumulation. Capital enters gradually, and participants tend to hold rather than flip quickly.

This behavior matters. It suggests that early participants are positioning around long term usage, not short term price swings. In DeFi, this often appears before wider market discovery.

Token Economics and Why Supply Is Now in Focus

Mutuum Finance is currently in Phase 6, with the token priced at $0.035. From Phase 1 to now, MUTM has surged 250%. This move happened while the project remained relatively under the radar.

The total supply is capped at 4B tokens. Of this, 45.5% or 1.82B tokens were allocated for early distribution. A large portion of this allocation has already been sold. As phases progress, available supply tightens.

When supply tightens at the same time visibility increases, behavior often changes. Buyers become more selective. Holding periods extend. Late participants face higher entry prices. Analysts view this stage as a transition point rather than an early experiment.

System Level Demand

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) develops mtTokens as a core mechanic. When users supply assets, they receive mtTokens that grow in value as interest accrues. These tokens reflect real protocol activity. They are designed to reward patience rather than fast trading.

Another layer is the buy and distribute model. A portion of protocol revenue can be used to buy MUTM from the market and distribute it to mtToken holders. This links demand to usage instead of attention.

Oracles play help ensure pricing accuracy. Reliable data feeds are critical for lending protocols. Accurate pricing reduces liquidation risk and supports stable borrowing conditions. Together, these elements create system level demand rather than narrative driven demand.

Security is often the last box serious users wait to see checked. Mutuum Finance has completed a CertiK token scan with a 90/100 score. A Halborn Security review is also part of the security framework. In addition, a $50k bug bounty is active to identify potential issues.

Why This Moment Feels Different

Phase 6 is nearing full allocation (over 99% completed). Whale sized allocations have appeared, including recent six figure entries. The 24 hour leaderboard highlights ongoing engagement rather than one time buys. Card payment options lower barriers for new participants.

All of these signals tend to cluster near visibility shifts. The project is no longer an early concept, but not yet fully live. Infrastructure is built. Supply is tightening. Usage is about to begin.

Analysts often describe this stage as the moment where perception catches up to reality. For Mutuum Finance, that moment appears to be forming now, positioning it as one of the new crypto projects closely watched heading into 2026.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

U.S. jobless claims fell to 214,000 in the week ending Dec. 20, dropping by 10,000 from the prior period and coming in below market expectations, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

The data showed fewer Americans filing for unemployment support at a moment when economic nerves remain high.

Seasonal hiring and temporary layoffs around Christmas have pushed claims up and down for weeks, as early December saw a surge after claims touched a three-year low around Thanksgiving.

The latest BLS reading then showed that filings were cooling again, fitting the usual year-end pattern.

The Labor Department data was released during a period of persistent uncertainty, as inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s target, hiring has slowed, and the unemployment rate has edged higher. Still, the flow of new jobless applications has stayed relatively contained through 2025, even as businesses face higher costs and tighter financial conditions, according to the Labor Department.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board reported its consumer confidence index fell to 89.1 in December from 92.9 in November, a fifth straight monthly decline, matching the longest losing streak since 2008.

The report explained that concerns about the labor market and business conditions are seriously weighing on households.

The gauge tracking current conditions dropped to 116.8, the lowest reading since February 2021. Expectations for the next six months held steady, showing no improvement. The Conference Board said, “The impact of high prices and concerns about the labor market have weighed on consumers all year.” That pressure has kept confidence near levels last seen during the pandemic period.

U.S. consumer confidence is at its lowest level since April

Economists had expected sentiment to recover after the record-long government shutdown ended. Instead, worries about inflation, tariffs, and politics lingered. Job growth remained slow. Unemployment continued to rise. Price pressures stayed elevated. Economists projected hiring would remain soft next year, with little relief on the unemployment front. Wage growth is also expected to cool further in 2026, widening spending gaps between income groups.

More respondents said jobs were hard to find, while fewer said jobs were plentiful. The gap between those views narrowed to its lowest level since early 2021, a key signal economists track closely, which dragged down assessments of household finances.

For the first time in nearly four years, families described their current financial situation as negative, the report said. Views on the future were slightly better, but still cautious.

Spending plans weakened across the board. Fewer consumers planned to buy major appliances, homes, or cars. Vacation plans also slipped. The Conference Board’s index focuses heavily on employment conditions.

A separate sentiment gauge from the University of Michigan, which leans more toward personal finances and living costs, showed a similar trend. Both measures remain depressed in December.

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The sentiment associated with the XRP token has been weakening rapidly as the prices have been falling to levels around $1.88, which is down by more than 50% against the previous highest price of $3.81. As per the data provided by Santiment, bearish sentiments for Ripple have been increasing by as much as 20-30% more than the normal levels for the current month of November. 

Moreover, due to the rising levels of fear, investors holding the token have been slowly diversifying their investments into different projects which are in the initial stages of development.

In this regard, Mutuum Finance has been highlighted as one of the tokens to watch, with the Presale Phase 6 having already reached 99% subscription. Nevertheless, against the background of hot trending topics in the world of crypto, the spotlight has shifted to what has been highlighted as the next crypto to explode.

Ripple XRP Sentiment Goes Defensive

The extremely outspoken Ripple community has now gone into a very defensive mode after more than two and a half months of straight market depreciation. There are growing doubts in the social discussions about the relevance of threats of centrality, Ripple’s relevance, and its profitability in the short term. The market sentiment is in the fear region, according to Santiment, which was last seen in October.

From an historic point of view, this is also the trend that has emerged before market reversals, and most likely before the uncertainty of the SEC within the years of 2020 and 2021, which led to the start of the rally after some years. However, the present slump of approximately 45% from the peak of November is also testing the patience of investors. Some XRP holders have actually rolled their money over to another crypto.

Mutuum Finance Presale Gets Momentum

Amidst the reevaluation exercised by XRP investors, Mutuum Finance is cashing in on the confusion in other projects by instilling a sense of FOMO amongst its audience. The ongoing presale phase, which is in Phase 6, is already 99% full, and this is the last chance for investors to buy MUTM for $0.035 as prices are set to increase to $0.04 in presale Phase 7. A total of $19,500,000 has been raised so far.

The price already reflects a 250% surge since the initial Phase price of $0.01, and the demand keeps escalating, considering that Phase 6 is selling out fast. Given the launch price of $0.06, buyers can expect a surge of 420% post-launch, thereby emphasizing an even more profound reason why individuals view MUTM as the best crypto to buy now & the best DeFi crypto. 

Apart from the pricing, some other positive dynamics can be seen in the implementation of the Mutuum project. Just recently, the project launched a dashboard featuring a leaderboard comprising the top 50 holders. Additionally, the presale features a 24-Hour Leaderboard, an activity wherein the highest-ranked wallet qualifies for an award of 500 MUTM if at least one transaction is made in a day, resetting at 00:00 UTC. This reward program is geared towards active members rather than passive members.

Confidence is, furthermore, strengthened by the security milestones created. There is a process of independent audit, in which Halborn Security reviews lending and borrowing contracts for Mutuum. Code is complete, and there is ongoing static analysis, which is a great concern in defi. Additionally, Mutuum posted an official X post that the launch of the V1 protocol will happen on the Sepolia testnet during Q4 of 2025. The testnet will introduce features like the Liquidity Pool, mtToken, Debt Token, and the Liquidator Bot, and will begin with the use of ETH and USDT assets.

There has been an improvement in accessibility too. MUTM can be purchased card in hand and with no limits to buying, an initiative that has eased accessibility, according to the team. To ensure higher participation in the early levels, there is a Mutuum $100,000 giveaway in which $10,000 is won by ten different individuals, thus establishing why this particular project is considered to be the next crypto to explode and the best crypto to buy now.

Given that the XRP market sentiment is trapped in the fear region and MUTM’s Phase 6 nearing completion, the factor of time also applies to this process. With this opportune time elapsing, those people who opt out at this current time will probably forgo the leading-edge cryptocurrency to buy at present before market pricing changes.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Lip-Bu Tan didn’t shake any hands in D.C. when he became CEO of Intel in March. The man had never met President Donald Trump. He wasn’t part of the tech leaders parade that flew in to make nice with the White House.

But none of that mattered by August. Trump woke up angry, opened Truth Social, and posted: “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately.”

The attack came at 4:39 AM Washington time, and the target was a man with more than 600 investments in China, some allegedly tied to the military.

Within weeks, Lip-Bu was in the Oval Office, flipping that insult into a $5.7 billion deal. The U.S. would become Intel’s largest shareholder. “Make Intel great again,” he said after the meeting, repeating Trump’s signature line, on camera no less. What happened in those 40 minutes changed everything for Intel.

Tan used connections to flip the narrative

Born in Muar, Malaysia, and raised by a newspaper editor dad and university warden mom, Lip-Bu built his life with a weird mix of physics, nuclear engineering, and venture capital, not exactly the usual recipe for leading one of America’s most broken chipmakers.

Before his big sit-down with Trump, Lip-Bu called in favors. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang spoke to Trump or his aides to vouch for him.

Reuters alleges Lip-Bu also huddled with his team to craft a strategy: show his American loyalty, explain his Malaysian-Chinese roots, walk through his U.S. education, and address his China ties head-on.

A spokesperson from Celesta Capital, one of Lip-Bu’s companies, confirmed it had made one China investment, exited in 2020. But Walden International and Walden Catalyst, his other firms, stayed silent. Intel’s own spokesperson claimed Lip-Bu had always engaged with Washington: “Lip-Bu Tan has a long, and well-established history of engagement in Washington, both before and after joining Intel.”

Still, he had left Intel’s top government affairs role unfilled for months. The previous policy lead, a Democrat, had quit.

Inside the Oval Office, Trump wasn’t alone. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined the meeting. Trump grilled Lip-Bu about Intel’s turnaround plan. A person familiar with the meeting alleged that Lip-Bu told them he didn’t want cash handouts from the CHIPS Act, even though Intel qualified for billions.

Instead, when Trump floated the idea of the government getting equity in exchange for CHIPS Act money, Lip-Bu agreed. That turned into a $5.7 billion investment and a nearly 10% stake.

Howard later said in a video, “Equity made the exchange fair.” Trump posted a fake image of himself watching Intel’s stock climb and wrote that the U.S. stake had already jumped 50% after the Nvidia partnership was announced.

Inside Intel, Tan is cutting hard and fast

Lip-Bu is not trying to be popular inside Intel. According to filings, he’s cutting 15% of Intel staff, mostly managers. He bypassed middle layers to speak directly with engineers. He made Pushkar Ranade, a long-time Intel engineer, his chief of staff and then interim CTO.

Lip-Bu also kept one foot in his investment world. He still checks with his venture teams when Intel’s venture arm looks at deals, according to one former employee.

Intel’s board clashed with him over one recent deal because of conflicts tied to his portfolio, Reuters reported. Intel updated his contract to require only “such time as is necessary,” unlike his predecessor’s full-time clause. Celesta Capital says his time with them is now “minimal.”

Lip-Bu joined Intel’s board in 2022. When he took over as CEO, the company had about 100,000 workers and was bleeding money to build chip factories. That buildout had started under Pat Gelsinger, the previous CEO. Intel needed more than $20 billion to stay competitive in chip manufacturing.

Sources allegedly said Lip-Bu called Amazon and Google to ask what kind of chips they needed. He even floated buying SambaNova, a startup that makes specialized AI chips, but some execs pushed back, saying the market favored general-purpose chips.

Still, Intel says Lip-Bu is deep in the tech. “Lip-Bu is deeply involved in technical decisions, including product roadmaps,” the company said. “He’s helping to restore speed, accountability, and create an engineering-centric, customer-focused culture.”

The U.S. bet gives Intel new leverage in the chip war

The U.S. investment turned Intel into a political chip. Trump’s administration said, “The deal with Intel is one of many initiatives to reshore semiconductor and other critical manufacturing back to the United States.”

That might not comfort foreign chipmakers who fear the U.S. will pressure buyers to work with Intel. Howard now picks up every call about Intel, and he believes that Americans “have skin in the game” for Intel’s foundry deals to succeed.

Intel got more than just the White House check. In the same week, SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son, announced a $2 billion investment. Lip-Bu had previously sat on SoftBank’s board.

Intel’s 18A process, a next-gen manufacturing tech, still isn’t working well enough. Nvidia tested it but didn’t move forward, two sources said. “We are focused on collaborations,” Lip-Bu told reporters during the announcement of the Nvidia deal.

Intel claims its next node, 14A, is on track and getting attention from customers. But Intel needs more than attention. It needs orders.

Uncle Sam’s bet on Intel is both industrial policy and political gamble. But for now, it’s working: Intel’s stock is up 80% since Lip-Bu stepped in, outpacing the S&P 500 and even Nvidia.