JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has rejected claims that the bank engages in politically motivated “debanking,” saying the firm does not target customers based on their political views and only acts under strict legal and regulatory obligations.

His remarks come as fresh accusations from political and crypto figures keep the debate over bank account closures at the center of U.S. financial and political scrutiny.

Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Debate Flares as Dimon Defends JPMorgan

Dimon addressed the issue during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” where host Maria Bartiromo asked him about allegations from Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media Group.

Nunes previously claimed that Trump Media’s bank records were subpoenaed during the federal investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and suggested the company was effectively debanked.

Dimon rejected the political framing of the claim, saying JPMorgan follows government subpoenas when required but does not close accounts based on political affiliation.

He emphasized that the bank’s actions are guided by federal law and regulatory expectations, not ideology.

The comments arrive against the backdrop of wider political tension over access to banking services, especially for crypto firms, conservative figures, and controversial industries.

The debate intensified in November after Strike CEO Jack Mallers said JPMorgan abruptly closed his personal accounts without explanation.

Mallers said the bank cited “concerning activity” under the Bank Secrecy Act while refusing to provide specific details.

Mallers’ disclosure reignited concern over what the crypto industry calls “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” an alleged extension of the Obama-era initiative that discouraged banks from serving high-risk sectors.

Crypto executives and Republican lawmakers argue that the modern version has been used to quietly restrict crypto firms’ access to the U.S. banking system.

Democrats and regulators have repeatedly denied that such a coordinated campaign exists, saying enforcement actions are driven by anti-money-laundering and fraud risks.

Trump Allies, Lawmakers Clash With Banks as Debanking Probes Continue

The issue took on new political weight after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August intended to prevent financial institutions from denying services solely on the basis of crypto-related activity.

After Mallers went public, Bo Hines, a former adviser to Trump’s digital assets council and now a strategic adviser to Tether, publicly criticized JPMorgan, suggesting that the end of Operation Chokepoint had not translated into meaningful change on the ground.

Trump has previously said he was personally affected by debanking due to his politics, while his son Eric Trump has also claimed that several major banks cut ties with the family at the end of Trump’s first term.

Other conservative figures, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and several religious and nonprofit groups, have made similar claims.

At the same time, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns that some account closures disproportionately affect Muslim Americans and minority communities due to broad “de-risking” policies.

Regulators and banks continue to maintain that these decisions are based on compliance demands.

Under U.S. law, banks are required to monitor customer activity, report suspicious transactions, and comply with subpoenas under frameworks such as the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering rules.

Banks argue that failure to do so exposes them to severe penalties.

Dimon, during the same Fox News appearance, also addressed broader economic and national security issues, including JPMorgan’s newly launched $1.5 trillion security and resiliency investment initiative and the bank’s cautious approach to China-related business.

However, his comments on debanking drew the most immediate political attention. The controversy continues as congressional investigations remain active.

Republican lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee previously released a report alleging that dozens of crypto firms and individuals lost banking access under regulatory pressure.

Federal agencies have pushed back, saying supervision is risk-based, not political.

The post JPMorgan CEO Drops Debanking Bombshell: “We Cut Republicans and Democrats” – No One’s Safe appeared first on Cryptonews.

Tensions between blockchain platform Mantra and the crypto exchange OKX escalated sharply this week after Mantra CEO John Patrick Mullin accused the exchange of publishing “incorrect and misleading” information about the project’s upcoming token migration.

In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Mullin urged OM holders on the exchange to withdraw their tokens immediately and complete migration independently through official Mantra channels.

Mantra Accuses OKX of Publishing “False” OM Migration Dates

The conflict surfaced on Monday after OKX released an announcement outlining its support for the OM migration, including a detailed schedule that placed the conversion window between December 22 and December 25, 2025.

The exchange said it planned to delist OM spot pairs, halt deposits and withdrawals, conduct an account snapshot, and process the conversion at a 1:4 ratio in line with what it described as Mantra’s Proposal 17 and Proposal 26.

OKX also said it would suspend futures, margin trading, and related services ahead of the migration.

Mullin disputed nearly every part of OKX’s timeline. He said the exchange had published dates that were “technically impossible.

He added that official governance documents state the migration can only begin after the ERC-20 OM token is fully deprecated on January 15, 2026.

According to him, this makes any December 2025 migration window unworkable.

He also argued that the exchange had rearranged the intended process by placing the token split ahead of deprecation, reversing the sequence outlined in Proposal 26.

He described the exchange’s timeline as “arbitrary,” noting that no final launch date has been announced because it depends on a pending technical review.

The CEO said the publication of what he called “demonstrably false information” raises concerns about negligence or possible malicious intent.

He added that OKX has not communicated with Mantra since April 13, the date of OM’s extreme market collapse that saw the token fall more than 90% in a single day.

He argued that the communication breakdown has now resulted in market confusion during a period in which other exchanges have coordinated closely with Mantra on migration details.

After $6B Collapse, OM Holders Face New Uncertainty Amid Exchange Frictions

The April collapse, which erased more than $6 billion from OM’s market capitalization within 24 hours, continues to cast a long shadow over the project.

Some traders described the crash as a rug pull, though Mantra denied wrongdoing and blamed the event on sudden liquidations during low-liquidity weekend trading.

A later post-mortem attributed the crash partly to aggressive leverage policies on centralized exchanges and said the incident exposed wider structural risks in the industry.

In its response at the time, the project pledged more transparency, reduced internal validator control, and a 150 million OM token burn by Mullin himself.

Since then, several exchanges have taken action around the token. INDODAX delisted OM during the initial shift away from ERC-20.

Meanwhile, Binance temporarily suspended OM deposits and withdrawals during network upgrades before relisting the redenominated MANTRA token.

Other platforms paused trading as part of broader migration adjustments.

In the same period, OKX removed multiple unrelated assets, such as BAL, PERP, FLM, PSTAKE, CLV, and RACA, because of low activity or listing-criteria issues, a trend that has raised wider questions about the exchange’s handling of assets undergoing structural changes.

The current dispute has left many OM holders trying to determine the safest migration path.

Mullin called on users to avoid depending on OKX during this phase and to maintain direct custody to ensure they do not act on incorrect timelines.

He said Mantra will continue coordinating with all other major exchanges and will support retail holders through the transition.

OKX, for its part, has indicated that its schedule may face delays due to coordination requirements, but it has not publicly addressed Mullin’s accusations or clarified its interpretation of the governance proposals.

The post Mantra CEO Issues Urgent Warning: “Withdraw Your OM From OKX Now” – Migration Crisis Escalates appeared first on Cryptonews.

Scaramucci's endorsement highlights growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin, potentially accelerating its adoption as a mainstream asset.

The post Anthony Scaramucci praises Strategy’s new Bitcoin investment as ‘smart stuff’ appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Polymarket integrated Monad for native deposits, enabling faster MON and USDC transactions and improving multi-chain access for users.

The post Polymarket integrates Monad for native deposit support appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The outlook for XRP is becoming increasingly polarized as traders, analysts, and industry critics weigh in on its price trajectory, governance model, and growing institutional interest.

Recent market activity reflects a complex environment where both technical signals and structural concerns are shaping sentiment. As whale sell-offs, ETF inflows, and a revived decentralization debate collide, XRP finds itself at a critical moment that is testing assumptions about its long-term viability.

New Participation Models and Market Volatility

A wave of alternative yield platforms, including BlackchainMining, has entered the market offering “XRP mining” rewards, despite XRP not being a mineable asset. These models rely on token lock-ups rather than computational work, with platforms distributing returns from liquidity operations or other investment strategies.

While they appeal to holders seeking passive income, they introduce counterparty and operational risks, especially given their reliance on centralized management rather than transparent network mechanics.

At the same time, XRP’s spot price continues to react to whale activity. Recent sell-offs pushed the token toward the $2 level before stabilizing, reflecting short-term volatility driven by large holders. In contrast, long-term investors appear unfazed, maintaining positions that help steady the circulating supply.

Institutional demand through XRP ETFs adds yet another dimension. U.S.-listed funds have seen nearly $900 million in inflows, indicating that larger players are continuing to build exposure despite market turbulence.

Analysts tracking XRP’s long-term chart structure note parallels with the 2017 bull cycle. A multi-year symmetrical triangle forming between 2018 and 2025 has created expectations of a breakout, with some projecting potential upside should historical patterns repeat.

The current price action around $2.05 reflects a tightening consolidation, and a 16% move in either direction is considered possible after the pattern resolves.

However, derivatives markets present a contrasting picture. Coinglass data shows that XRP is the most aggressively shorted major asset, with roughly 96% of open interest positioned against it.

Despite this, XRP has held modest gains, supported by sustained ETF inflows. Analysts warn that such extreme positioning increases the likelihood of a short squeeze if even minor catalysts shift sentiment.

Beyond price action, structural criticism has resurfaced following sharp commentary from analyst Justin Bons, who argues that XRP is “centralized in every way,” citing validator distribution and governance limitations.

Supporters counter that XRP’s model is designed for institutional settlement rather than maximal decentralization, but the debate highlights a longstanding divide between crypto-native expectations and enterprise-focused blockchain design.

Whether XRP evolves through technical breakouts, institutional adoption, or renewed scrutiny over its governance will determine how the asset is perceived moving forward. Currently, the market remains divided, with both opportunity and uncertainty moulding the path ahead.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

Robinhood Markets moved into Indonesia this week by signing deals to buy two local firms, a step that gives it instant access to a big pool of investors.

The plan covers both a licensed brokerage and a regulated crypto trader, and the company says it will use those platforms to begin offering its services to Indonesian users. According to reports, the transactions are set to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Robinhood Targets Large Local Investor Base

Based on reports, Robinhood will acquire PT Buana Capital Sekuritas and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, two Indonesian companies that already operate under local licenses.

This gives Robinhood the chance to start operating without waiting out a long licensing process, although final approval from Indonesia’s financial watchdog is still required. The firm did not disclose the price it will pay.

We’re expanding globally. Robinhood has entered into agreements to acquire Buana Capital, an Indonesian brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, a licensed Indonesian digital financial asset trader–marking our entry into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

More…

— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) December 8, 2025

Market Size And Recent Activity

Indonesia is home to a deep and growing retail market. Reports place close to 20 million people participating in capital markets, while about 17 million are active crypto traders — numbers that underline why global platforms are looking closely at the country.

Transaction values in 2024 reached roughly 650 trillion rupiah, which is nearly $40 billion, showing how much activity already flows through local platforms.

According to the company’s announcement, the deals are meant to let Robinhood offer its own brokerage and crypto products over time, potentially including access to US equities and global cryptocurrencies for Indonesian users.

Pieter Tanuri, who is the majority owner of the acquired businesses, is expected to serve as a strategic adviser after the closing, reports say. This local guidance could help with day-to-day operations and regulatory interactions.

The greenlighting by Otoritas Jasa Keuangan or OJK and other Indonesian regulators remains a continuing condition.

Against this, the wider policy backdrop has not stayed constant: tax rules and oversight for crypto tightened up in 2025; regulators have moved parts of crypto oversight under different agencies, making compliance more complex for entrants.

Local rivals are already well established, meaning Robinhood will face a crowded field even if it is granted regulatory clearance.

For Indonesian traders, the move could bring more choices and access to new products, including cross-border trading options that, until now, are limited on many local applications.

It’s part of a broader expansion push at Robinhood after a strong year that saw big gains in its stock price.

The company still has the practical work of integrating systems, meeting local rules, and convincing users to switch platforms.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin Magazine

Strategy’s Michael Saylor Met With Middle East Sovereign Wealth Funds to Pitch Bitcoin-Backed Credit

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor said today that he has met with “every sovereign wealth fund in the Middle East,” as he continues to promote Bitcoin-backed financial structures to some of the world’s largest pools of capital.

“I’ve been meeting with sovereign wealth funds, banks, fund managers, regulators—about 50 to 100 investors across every jurisdiction,” Saylor said.  

Saylor said his message was simple: Bitcoin is digital capital, or digital gold, and digital credit builds on it by stripping out volatility to generate yield—offering cash flow now instead of waiting decades for capital to appreciate.

Speaking at the Bitcoin MENA conference, the Strategy founder outlined a framework designed to convert digital capital into credit, arguing that Bitcoin can underpin yield-generating products that outperform traditional fixed income while reducing volatility. 

“There is a strategy that exists to convert capital into credit,” Saylor said, describing instruments that could deliver returns well above government bonds or bank deposits.

Saylor framed the approach as a multi-layered allocation strategy, ranging from direct exposure to Bitcoin, to Bitcoin-backed credit, and ultimately equity in treasury-focused companies. 

He argued that investors uncomfortable with Bitcoin’s price swings could still achieve “two to four times” the yield of traditional credit markets through digital credit products, while more risk-tolerant investors could seek amplified exposure through equity.

Saylor: Banks can custody Bitcoin

Beyond investment products, Saylor emphasized the role banks could play by custodying Bitcoin and extending credit on top of it. 

He said integrating digital capital into regulated banking systems could attract trillions of dollars in global capital, particularly as many major banks still do not support Bitcoin custody or lending.

Saylor also pointed to low-yield environments in Japan and Europe as prime targets for adoption. 

“I think this is something the Japanese market will really, really like,” he said, referencing demand for assets that “have a stable price and pay yield that is far higher than they’re used to seeing.”

He argued that dissatisfaction with near-zero bank yields is already pushing investors into corporate bonds and private credit, creating an opening for Bitcoin-backed alternatives.

The long-term opportunity lies in creating regulated digital bank accounts powered by Bitcoin-backed credit, which he believes could reposition early adopters as global financial hubs. 

He suggested that jurisdictions willing to embrace the model could become the “Switzerland of the 21st century” by attracting vast amounts of international capital.

Earlier today, Strategy announced it purchased 10,624 bitcoin for about $963 million, raising its total holdings to 660,624 BTC, worth roughly $60.5 billion at current prices near $91,500. 

The purchase, funded primarily through equity sales, marks the company’s largest weekly bitcoin acquisition since July and signals renewed access to capital. 

Saylor has pointed to the firm’s BTC Yield metric of 24.7% in 2025 and defended Strategy as an operating company, not a fund, amid MSCI index concerns. 

This post Strategy’s Michael Saylor Met With Middle East Sovereign Wealth Funds to Pitch Bitcoin-Backed Credit first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

The Terraform Labs co-founder could face up to 40 years in prison in South Korea, but a judge questioned whether the country would ignore his US sentence.

The USDT-powered network launches with support from Bitfinex, Hack VC, Tether executives and other investors following a $28 million seed round.

Bernstein, the global research and brokerage firm managing over $790 billion in assets, has declared the end of the traditional 4-year crypto cycle.

The firm’s latest Bitcoin price prediction sets a $150,000 target by 2026 in what analysts describe as an “elongated bull market.”

End of 4-Year Cycle and Fed Policy Could Ignite a Major Rally

According to Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Asset Research at VanEck, Bernstein stated that following the recent market correction, “we believe the Bitcoin cycle has broken the 4-year pattern and is now in an elongated bull-cycle with more sticky institutional buying offsetting any retail panic selling.”

Despite Bitcoin’s approximately 30% correction that began in early October, the asset manager observed only about 5% outflows via ETFs, a striking indicator of institutional conviction.

Bernstein expects Bitcoin to resume its bull run soon with a 2026 target of $150,000 and a potential cycle peak in 2027 at $200,000.

“Our long-term 2033 Bitcoin price target remains approximately $1,000,000,” Bernstein added.

Analysts at the London Crypto Club suggest a liquidity boost from the Fed on Wednesday may serve as a powerful catalyst, potentially driving the world’s largest cryptocurrency “sharply higher.”

In their latest analysis, Cryptonews revealed that David Brickell and Chris Mills present that the central bank is positioned to deliver a “dovish surprise”.

“We’re moving into a continued rate-cutting cycle accompanied by balance sheet expansion as the Fed effectively turns on the money printers to monetize the deficit,” they wrote.

“That’s a powerful, structural tide to be swimming against in the new year.”

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Technical Structure Remains Bullish Above $78K

The weekly chart shows Bitcoin holding above the critical $78,000 support level, which separates a deeper bear-market breakdown from the continuation of the macro uptrend.

Price recently dipped sharply but has stabilized near the 20-week SMA, while the 50-week SMA continues to slope upward, indicating that the long-term trend remains intact despite the correction.

RSI momentum has cooled significantly to the mid-40s, reflecting a reset from overbought conditions without reaching the extreme oversold levels seen at major cycle bottoms.

As long as Bitcoin maintains the $78,000 region, the structure suggests consolidation within a larger bull cycle.

Recovery above $102,000 would demonstrate renewed strength, while clearing the $108,000 resistance zone would confirm extension into new highs.

Pepenode Presale Capitalizes on Meme Coin Momentum

If Bitcoin returns to bullish territory and breaks the 4-year cycle as Bernstein projects, meme coins like Pepenode (PEPENODE) could experience explosive rallies.

This gamified mine-to-earn meme coin presale on Ethereum has already raised over $2.3million despite challenging market conditions.

Pepenode offers virtual mining nodes and facility upgrades through a browser-based game requiring no hardware.

The project is capturing the community-driven momentum that propelled PEPE to over 1,000x gains during the 2023-24 run.

As adoption of the platform grows, interest in the PEPENODE token is expected to skyrocket.

To secure Pepenode at the current presale price of $0.0011873, head over to the official Pepenode website and connect an Ethereum-compatible wallet such as Best Wallet.

You can complete your purchase in seconds by swapping ETH, BNB, USDT, or simply using a credit or debit card.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Bernstein Says 4-Year Cycle Is Broken as Institutions Drive an ‘Elongated Bull Market,’ Raises 2026 Target to $150K appeared first on Cryptonews.

Michael Saylor’s company, Strategy, has just confirmed the purchase of 10,624 BTC for approximately $962.7 million at an average price of $90,615 per coin.

This brings Strategy’s total holdings to 660,624 BTC, acquired for $49.35 billion at an average price of $74,696.

With a 24.7% Bitcoin yield so far in 2025, this latest move could signal renewed institutional conviction in BTC and may be pivotal for Bitcoin price prediction outlooks going into 2026.

This announcement may once again hint that the smart money is preparing for the next leg up.

Michael Saylor Pitches Bitcoin to 100+ Investors

Saylor recently shared at the ongoing Bitcoin MENA Conference in Dubai that he’s been meeting with sovereign wealth funds and over 100 different investors, including hedge funds, banks, and their owners, who all want Bitcoin exposure.

UAE National Security’s Mohammed Al Shamsi declared that “Bitcoin has become the key pillar in the future of financing.”

With Bitcoin up 3.26% in the last 24 hours to reclaim the $92,000 mark, traders are now going long, flipping their bias from the previous bearish stance.

Over the past two hours, the Lookonchain tracker revealed that a whale with over $9.6 million in total profits opened a $32 million long position on Bitcoin.

However, analyst Ted Pillows believes that with the Fed rate cut decision coming between tomorrow and Wednesday, the BTC CME gap between $89,400 and $89,800 would likely be filled before any significant move into six-figure territory.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Technical Analysis Points to $85k CME Gap Fill

The 4-hour chart shows Bitcoin trading just below the key $94,000 resistance, which remains the critical level the market must reclaim to confirm a clean bullish reversal.

Price is currently hovering around the 9-period SMA, suggesting short-term momentum is stabilizing after the recent pullback.

The RSI sits near 60 with multiple bullish divergence signals earlier in the structure, indicating underlying buyer strength remains present.

A notable feature is the CME gap around $85,000, which has yet to be filled.

If price retests the $85,000–$86,000 zone and holds it as support, the structure favors a continuation rally back toward $94,000.

A breakout above that resistance would likely open the door to the first upside target around $101,000, with continued momentum potentially extending the rally toward $106,000.

Maxi Doge Presale Surpasses $4.3M as Hype Builds for the Next Big Meme Coin

With bullish momentum brewing across the market, investors are rushing to secure early exposure to high-upside tokens and Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

Tapping into the same degen-fueled energy that helped Dogecoin explode in 2021, Maxi Doge has already raised over $4.3 million from early backers since launching in July.

Inside the Maxi Doge community, members share early trading setups, alpha leaks, and access opportunities that most only find too late.

The project also reinvests up to 25% of presale funds into high-potential plays, using the profits to promote $MAXI even further.

Early buyers can currently lock in the presale price of $0.000272 and access 72% APY staking rewards but prices are set to increase soon.

To join before the next price tier, visit the official Maxi Doge website and connect a compatible wallet, such as Best Wallet.

You can swap existing crypto or use a bank card to make your $MAXI purchase in seconds.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Billionaire Michael Saylor Just Purchased More BTC – Does He Know Something? appeared first on Cryptonews.

The US government has approved Nvidia exports of H200 AI chips to China following updates to export policy.

The post US government to permit NVIDIA H200 chip exports to China appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

XRP spot ETF inflows approach $1 billion, marking rapid institutional adoption and strong investor demand for regulated crypto exposure.

The post XRP spot ETFs near $1B AUM amid sustained institutional demand appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The discussions could shape the US's global leadership in crypto, impacting regulatory clarity and market stability for digital assets.

The post Citi, BofA, and Wells Fargo CEOs to discuss crypto market rules with senators: Report appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Active Bitcoin addresses have declined since spot ETF launches as investors shift exposure to ETF products.

The post Decline in active Bitcoin addresses since 2024 ETF launches indicates institutional shift appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

After breaking below $90,000 again, the next direction of the Bitcoin price is being hotly debated once again. This comes with the added burden of a number of major events coming around this week, as well as investor sentiment being stuck in the negative territory for an extended period of time. Crypto analyst, MarcPMarkets, shares his thoughts on the current state of the market and what investors should be looking out for as the next direction is determined.

The Bearish And Bullish Scenarios

In the analysis shared on the TradingView website, MarcPMarkets highlights the different scenarios that could determine where the Bitcoin price could be headed next. Cautioning investors to watch out for confirmation, the first level that the analyst highlights is the $93,500 area, where the Bitcoin price had failed to reclaim a high.

Since the price fell below $90,000 over the weekend, the next major level now lies at $88,000, and it is where bulls must protect their support. In the event that bulls lose this support and the price breaks decisively below this point, the crypto analyst warns investors to expect the Bitcoin price to crash another $10,000. Next would be the $78,000 area, where the cryptocurrency is likely to secure its next support.

On the flip side, where the Bitcoin price could turn bullish once again, the crypto analyst points to the $95,000 resistance. Investors are to pay attention to this resistance, because if broken, then it would mean that strength is building back up, completely canceling out the bearish scenario highlighted above.

The major targets in the case of a bullish takeover would first be $105,581. Above this lies the next major level of $113,213, and then finally, the $120,850 target that would be the final hit before momentum fizzles out.

Developments That Could Affect The Bitcoin Price

Beyond the price action, some events that could affect Bitcoin’s trajectory are expected to unfold this week. The FOMC meeting is drawing closer, with the Fed expected to announce its stance on the financial markets going forward.

If, at the completion of the press conference, the Fed takes on a dovish stance, then the crypto analyst expects that prices will begin to move upward again. Additionally, quantitative tightening ended at the start of December, ushering the markets into an era of quantitative easing, which has always been bullish for risk assets as new liquidity is pumped into the market.

Binance (BNB), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has initiated an investigation following allegations of insider trading involving one of its employees. 

Binance Uncovers Alleged Misuse Of Insider Information

On December 7, Binance’s internal audit team received a report claiming that an employee had exploited insider information to make posts on official social media, thereby gaining personal profits. 

In a recent communication shared on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), Binance outlined the immediate steps taken in response to these allegations.

The preliminary findings of the investigation revealed that the employee in question had connections to a token that was issued on-chain on December 7. Less than a minute later, they allegedly used details, including text and images relating to this token, in a tweet published by the Binance Futures account. The exchange noted:

These actions constitute abuse of their position for personal gain and violate our policies and code of professional conduct.

Whistleblower Bounty Of $100,000 Announced

In light of these findings, the employee whose name was not disclosed in the information provided by the exchange has been suspended immediately pending further disciplinary action. 

Furthermore, Binance has communicated its intent to engage with relevant authorities in the employee’s jurisdiction, pledging full cooperation and pursuing appropriate legal action in line with applicable laws.

While emphasizing its commitment to transparency, fairness, and user welfare, the exchange has also announced a total bounty reward of $100,000, which will be equally distributed among the earliest valid whistleblowers. 

The exchange’s native token, Binance Coin (BNB), is trading at $896.50 when writing. This means BNB is down over 34% from the all-time high of $1,369 reached earlier this year. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Ethereum saw a bounce back above the $3,000 price market, with bullish sentiment gaining momentum among investors, especially those on centralized exchanges. Even with the market experiencing sideways movements, the overall supply of ETH on crypto exchanges has fallen sharply, hitting unprecedented levels.

Lowest Supply Of Ethereum On Exchanges

Recent signals from on-chain metrics indicate that the Ethereum market environment is undergoing a quiet yet significant transformation. This unfolding trend is due to the sharp drop in the supply of ETH available on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Related Reading: Ethereum Network Fatigue? Monthly On-Chain Transactions Drops As Activity Slows Down

As reported by Coin Bureau on the social media platform X, ETH supply on centralized exchanges has hit levels not seen in years. With more holders choosing long-term storage, staking, and self-custody over keeping their assets available for trade, this significant supply drain indicates a change in investor behavior.

Data from the ETH Percent Balance on Exchanges metric shows a total of 8.7% of Ethereum supply available on exchanges, marking the lowest level since ETH’s launch in 2015. 

As exchange reserves decrease, the structural pressure on ETH’s circulating supply is increasing, which could create a scenario for a more explosive price environment. Coin Bureau stated that several crypto analysts are currently warning that tightening liquidity might trigger a robust rally when demand recovers.

Mid-Size Whale Holders Are Still Existing In The Market

Despite a sharp withdrawal of ETH from exchanges, selling pressure still remains in the market as indicated by the Ethereum Accumulation Heatmap. After examining the metric, Alphractal, an advanced investment and on-chain data analytics platform, uncovered that wallet addresses holding 1,000 ETH to 10,000 ETH, or mid-size whales, are offloading their holdings, signaling weakening sentiment among the group due to ongoing market fluctuations.

According to the metric, these investors carried out heavy distribution just near the price top. The cohort was the one who took advantage of the euphoria to secure profits while others were celebrating at the all-time high.

What’s interesting is that these investors are still selling, mounting heavy bearish pressure on the market, which is likely fueling the current bearish wave. Meanwhile, wallet addresses holding at least 10,000 ETH or mega whale holders continue to be considerably more neutral, with relatively light distribution, demonstrating no panic, no aggressive buying, at least not yet.

Such a trend suggests that supply behavior is not completely aligned with the euphoria of retail investors. These accumulation and distribution patterns are vital to gauge those who are actually driving ETH’s price moves. It also determines those who are quietly heading for the exit, while others are still entering.

At the time of writing, the price of ETH was trading at $3,135, demonstrating a more than 3% rise in the last 24 hours. Bullish sentiment seems to be returning strongly, as evidenced by an over 142% increase in trading volume over the past day.