Ethereum’s price may be hampered by selling pressure, but the leading network continues to experience heavy utilization from developers and users. After robust interaction from the participants,  the blockchain giant emerged once again as the leader in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) lending.

DeFi Lending Still Pays Best On The Ethereum Network

A recent report has underscored Ethereum’s growing dominance within the blockchain sector. The network is solidifying its position as the financial foundation for decentralized finance lending, and the data is starting to present a convincing picture.

A look at the data shared by Leon Waidmann, a market expert and the head of research at On-Chain Foundation, shows that ETH is now the revenue center of DeFi lending. This implies that most of the revenue flowed through the ETH ecosystem, outpacing other major chains like Base, Plasma, and Arbitrum. 

From borrowing fees to interest paid by active users, the ETH network continues to be the key settlement layer where value is persistently created. ETH is at the center of the revenue outlines the network’s usage in addition to its ongoing dominance as the fundamental infrastructure driving DeFi’s most lucrative lending activity.

As seen on the chart, Ethereum mainnet steadily secured over 80% to 90% of all DeFi lending revenue and activity, reinforcing its increasing role in the financial landscape. Interestingly, this share has remained a dominant force even with the vigorous expansion of the Layer 2 and alt-Layer 1 chains.

Data shows that usage may be fragmented, but fees do not. Meanwhile, at the protocol layer, Waidmann highlighted that concentration is quite stronger. Amid this rising DeFi revenue lending, Aave is the core revenue engine on the Ethereum mainnet, attracting more than 50% of the total lending funds. 

This part of the network was also responsible for over 60% of all active loans on ETH. In the end, the project generated approximately $885 million in fees in 2025 alone, reflecting the significant usage of the network.

While Ethereum mainnet secures balance sheets and profits, layer 2s are optimizing execution and User Experience (UX). Waidmann noted that where confidence and liquidity are greatest, DeFi credit markets converge. “Ethereum Mainnet is not being disrupted, but is being reinforced,” the expert added.

Active ETH Addresses Targeting Its Peak

Another instance of robust engagement across the Ethereum network is a spike in active wallet addresses. Joseph Young, a crypto enthusiast, previously highlighted that the active users on the network are drawing close to its all-time high. Such a rise in active addresses suggests a resurgence of interest and conviction among larger and retail investors.

At the time of the post, about 2.4 million wallet addresses were actively interacting with the network every week. This is an indication that tokenization, stablecoins, and privacy infrastructure are all converging on Ethereum. Currently, Young stated ETH is dominating the big three metas, while expressing his conviction in the network’s prospects.

According to David Sacks, the White House’s artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto Czar, the long-awaited crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, which aims to define how regulatory bodies will oversee cryptocurrency markets, is reportedly closer to passing. 

Markups For Crypto Market Structure Bill Set For January

In a recent post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sacks shared insights from a fresh meeting with Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, indicating that a markup for the CLARITY Act is slated for January. 

The CLARITY Act is designed with a core framework that classifies digital assets into three categories: digital commodities, overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); investment contract assets, regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and permitted stablecoins. 

This structure aims to establish distinct regulatory roles for the CFTC and SEC, require registration for cryptocurrency exchanges, define Qualified Digital Asset Custodians (QDACs) with strict key management protocols, and introduce anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules.

However, the bill has faced delays over recent months, primarily due to an extended US government shutdown and ongoing negotiations between Democratic and Republican lawmakers. 

As recent reports by Bitcoinist have indicated, Democrats are advocating for additional time to discuss various crucial issues, including market integrity, financial stability, and ethical considerations surrounding President Trump’s family’s business dealings in the crypto space.

Despite these hurdles, a spokesperson for Chair Scott emphasized the significant progress made by the Senate Banking Committee in creating a robust regulatory framework. 

Meanwhile, the crypto industry is also striving to address concerns regarding the recently passed GENIUS Act, which includes provisions that could exert further limits on stablecoins. 

Contention Grows Over GENIUS Act 

A letter led by the Blockchain Association, signed by over 125 industry players, criticized attempts to reinterpret and expand the existing prohibition on interest linked to stablecoins within the GENIUS Act.

Signed into law by President Trump in July, the GENIUS Act aims to establish a regulatory framework for dollar-backed digital tokens, which are widely known as stablecoins. The act contains a provision that prevents stablecoin issuers from offering “any form of interest or yield.” 

This aspect has ignited a contentious debate between the crypto and banking sectors regarding the extent of the interest prohibition and whether adjustments are necessary.

Banking representatives argue that the prohibition on interest should extend to other entities that provide rewards to stablecoin holders, labeling any attempt to exclude them a “loophole” that contradicts the law’s original intent. They also lobbying Congress to revise the GENIUS provisions as part of the crypto market structure bill.

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

Taiwan has taken custody of about 210.45 BTC. According to official responses shared with lawmakers, the coins were seized during criminal probes into fraud, money laundering and other illegal activity.

The holdings were listed in a government inventory dated October 31, 2025, and the figure was made public amid questions from lawmaker Ko Ju-Chun.

Seized Crypto Under Judicial Control

Reports have disclosed that the Bitcoin is held under judicial custody, not as a national reserve. Court procedures determine what happens next.

Some assets may be returned to victims, some kept for evidence, and some could be forfeited or auctioned after legal review. No formal plan to convert the holdings into state reserves or investments has been announced.

The seized portfolio includes more than just Bitcoin. Officials recorded 2,429.97 ETH and sizable sums of stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. Based on reported totals, the combined value of these crypto assets exceeded NT$1.3 billion.

BREAKING: The Ministry of Justice has just revealed that Taiwan now holds 210.45 Bitcoin in seized assets.

Another nation-state holding Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/bp6VJ90rDM

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) December 18, 2025

That amount converts to millions of US dollars at current exchange rates. At recent market levels, the 210.45 BTC alone is worth roughly $18 million, a figure that will move with Bitcoin’s price.

Value And Composition Of Holdings

According to public documents and reporting, Taiwan’s stockpile places it among several jurisdictions that hold cryptocurrency through law enforcement action.

Rankings that track seized or government-held crypto put Taiwan near other countries that have accumulated coins via criminal investigations.

Law enforcement seized these assets during a string of investigations into digital asset fraud and illicit exchanges. Some cases involved networks that used crypto to hide proceeds.

Other seizures came from raids tied to financial crime. Officials say the assets remain linked to ongoing legal processes, and ownership claims must be resolved before any transfer or sale can occur.

Implications For Policy And Enforcement

Based on reports, this disclosure highlights practical issues for authorities handling crypto. Keeping digital coins secure, establishing chain-of-custody records, calculating market value for legal decisions, and managing potential auctions are all new operational tasks for judicial agencies.

Transparency demands have increased as lawmakers press for clearer rules about how seized crypto should be treated.

Market watchers and legal experts say the public accounting of seized crypto may spur debate in Taiwan about regulations and asset management. Some will argue for clearer rules on disposition.

Others will push for victim compensation procedures that account for volatile values. Whatever comes next, these tokens are currently pieces of evidence tied to court rulings rather than line items in a sovereign treasury.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

A coalition of leading cryptocurrency firms is urging lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee to reject specific provisions concerning stablecoins outlined in the recently passed GENIUS Act. 

This push, coordinated by the Blockchain Association, comes as more than 125 participants from the crypto industry voice their opposition to a proposed reinterpretation of an existing prohibition on stablecoin interest.

Among the organizations backing this letter are the Bitcoin Policy Institute, the Crypto Council for Innovation, the DeFi Education Fund, the Solana Policy Institute, the Digital Chamber, as well as major players like a16z Crypto, Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, and Ripple.

Stablecoin Law Sparks Conflict

The GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Trump in July, is designed to set a regulatory framework for dollar-backed digital tokens, commonly known as stablecoins. A key element of this legislation is a provision that prevents stablecoin issuers from offering “any form of interest or yield.” 

However, this provision has ignited a contentious debate between the crypto and banking sectors regarding its extent and the necessity for any amendments.

Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, addressed these concerns in comments to The Hill. “Reopening the issue before we have even started rulemaking just doesn’t make sense,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining legislative certainty. 

She argued that if Congress can revisit a bill immediately after it has been enacted, it raises questions about the law’s reliability for the marketplace.

The banking industry contends that the prohibition on interest should also apply to other entities that provide rewards to holders of stablecoins. They describe this stance as a crucial measure to address what they view as a “loophole,” asserting that it undermines the original intent aimed at stabilizing the financial ecosystem.

In contrast, the cryptocurrency sector maintains that the existing law strikes a careful balance that enables stablecoins to remain competitive in the payment services market. The letter from industry leaders outlines this perspective, stating: 

Congress prohibited stablecoin issuers from paying interest or yield to those holding stablecoins while intentionally preserving the ability of platforms, intermediaries, and other third parties to offer lawful rewards or incentives to consumers. 

Crypto Industry Challenges Banking Sector Claims

At the heart of the debate are concerns from banks about potential deposit outflows. Financial institutions fear that allowing rewards could incentivize individuals to shift funds into stablecoins, thereby reducing the amount of capital available for lending.

In response to these concerns, the crypto industry has cited an analysis from Charles River Associates, which found no significant correlation between the adoption of stablecoins and levels of deposits at community banks.

Furthermore, they pointed out that it seems contradictory to claim that banks are truly constrained by deposits when approximately $2.9 trillion in bank reserves are currently earning interest at the Federal Reserve (Fed) rather than being utilized for loans.

The industry’s letter challenges the banking sector’s position, stating, “Opposition to stablecoin rewards reflects protection of incumbent revenue models, not safety and soundness concerns.”

Democrats believe that it is possible to find a balanced approach, stating, “Congress can find solutions to this issue that protect the banking system while still permitting rewards and incentives.”

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

The Shiba Inu ecosystem’s long-running tension between “official messaging” and meme-coin marketing resurfaced this week after Oscar (@oscar_shibainu) published a public break with the @Shibtoken X account, accusing it of drifting into promotional behavior that benefits individuals rather than the broader SHIB community.

In a statement posted on X, Oscar said it had previously defended the Shiba Inu account “in good faith,” but now considers that effort misplaced.

OSCAR Blasts Shiba Inu Account

“For a long time, we believed that something positive could emerge from the SHIB account,” the Oscar team wrote. “We defended it in good faith, even at a high personal cost, trusting that past mistakes had been left behind and that something constructive could flow from that platform. Unfortunately, we were wrong. Nothing changed. For that, we sincerely apologize.”

The group then drew a hard line: “The OSCAR community — the same community that has consistently stood up for SHIB and, in many cases, personally financed initiatives to defend both SHIB and this specific account — no longer supports this account,” the statement said. “It does not represent Ryoshi’s vision, it is not aligned with the interests of the SHIB Army, and it has become a stage for personal financial interests. This is not SHIB. It never was.”

The immediate catalyst was a Dec. 17 post from the official @Shibtoken account amplifying a separate token, Hachiko (HACHI), with messaging that some Shiba Inu holders interpreted as promotional. The post read: “$HACHI X95 $SHIB 0X95,” referencing a superficial similarity between contract/address prefixes highlighted by the Hachiko account: “Only $HACHI contract created on November 2nd: … Starting X95 … $SHIB starts 0x95.”

@Shibtoken included a disclaimer underneath: “Friendly heads-up: This post is from a partner project, not an official Shib token. Always DYOR, frens.”

Even with that caveat, the reaction in the comment section was sharply negative, with several users arguing the account has increasingly functioned as a marketing channel rather than a source of official ecosystem updates.

“Very irritating to the Shib community,” one user wrote. “The reason I followed @shibtoken account many years ago because it stated it was the official account. I would be able to get official updates. Now it appears that it is marketing other projects. (for a while) Go back to your roots.”

Another commenter urged holders to ignore promoted projects altogether: “I encourage all #SHIBARMY to don’t buy anything that the @Shibtoken account promotes. Just give up on that account.”

Oscar’s statement attempted to separate the dispute from Shibarium-related efforts, saying it will continue building support infrastructure while distancing itself from the main account’s messaging strategy.

“That said, we want to make it clear that we will continue to support Shibarium through our charity portal, as we have done since day one,” the Oscar team wrote. “The SHIB community will always be welcome within our ecosystem. However, the time has come for us to follow our own path and focus on the interests and values of our own community.”

At press time, there was no visible public response from the official @Shibtoken account addressing the allegations, and no reaction from any Shiba Inu developer or marketing lead. SHIB traded at $0.00000726.

On-chain data shows the distribution of the underwater Bitcoin supply has been shifting recently with the share of long-term holders rising.

23.7% Of Bitcoin Supply Is Currently Being Held At A Loss

In its latest weekly report, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has discussed about the latest trend in the Bitcoin Total Supply in Loss. This metric measures, as its name suggests, the total amount of the cryptocurrency’s supply that’s currently carrying a net unrealized loss.

The indicator works by going through the transaction history of each token in circulation to see what price it was last moved at. If this previous transaction price was lower than the latest spot price for any token, then that particular coin is assumed to be underwater right now.

The Total Supply in Loss adds up all coins of this type to produce a net situation for the network. A counterpart metric called the Total Supply in Profit accounts for the tokens of the opposite type.

Now, here is the chart shared by the analytics firm that shows the trend in the 7-day moving average (MA) of the Total Supply in Loss over the last few years:

As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Total Supply in Loss witnessed a sharp surge as the asset’s price crashed in November. Since then, the metric has stayed inside the 6 to 7 million BTC range, with its current value being 6.7 million BTC. This phase corresponds to the highest degree of loss on the network since 2023.

Glassnode explained:

Persisting within the 6–7 million BTC range since mid-November, this pattern closely mirrors early transitional phases of prior cycles, where mounting investor frustration preceded a shift toward more pronounced bearish conditions and intensified capitulation at lower prices.

The report has also shed light on how this loss supply is distributed between the two main divisions of the Bitcoin investors based on holding time: short-term holders (STHs) and long-term holders (LTHs). The cutoff between the two groups is 155 days, with investors who purchased inside this window falling in the STHs and those with a longer holding time in LTHs.

As the below chart shows, the Bitcoin loss supply spike last month was initially dominated by STHs.

With the cryptocurrency ranging low since then, the distribution of the loss supply has seen a shift between the two cohorts: LTHs have gained some notable share.

Of the 23.7% Bitcoin supply in circulation that’s underwater right now, 13.5% is held by STHs and 10.2% by LTHs. “This distribution suggests that, much like in prior cycle transitions into deeper bearish regimes, loss-bearing supply accumulated by recent buyers is gradually maturing into the long-term holder cohort,” noted the analytics firm.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $85,400, down more than 5.5% over the last week.

In its latest effort to provide clearer regulatory clarity, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published detailed guidelines for broker-dealers on the custody of crypto assets.

SEC Clarifies Crypto Custody Standards For Broker-Dealers

On Wednesday, the SEC’s staff of the Division of Trading and Markets issued a statement addressed its views on the application of paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 15c3-3 to crypto assets that are considered securities, including tokenized versions of an equity or debt security.

Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 15c3-3 requires any broker-dealer to “promptly obtain and thereafter maintain physical possession or control of all fully paid and excess margin securities it carries for the account of customers.”

The new guidelines clarify how “any broker-dealer that carries crypto asset securities for customers, including broker-dealers that conduct a traditional securities business” can maintain compliance with this rule despite tokens being on the blockchain.

According to the SEC’s statement, a broker-dealer can consider itself to have “physical possession” of the crypto assets if it has direct access to the asset and the capability to transfer it on the associated distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Broker-dealers must also conduct and document an throughout assessment “of the distributed ledger technology and the associated network where transfers of ownership of a crypto asset security are recorded prior to undertaking to maintain possession of the crypto asset security, and at reasonable intervals thereafter.”

In additions, they must establish, maintain, and enforce “reasonably designed written policies and procedures” to ensure the assets’ security, the protection of private keys, they have adequate plans to address unexpected disruptions to its possession of the crypto assets, including theft, unauthorized used, network attacks, and hard forks.

This circumstance emphasizes that a broker-dealer has policies, procedures, and controls reasonably designed to help ensure that no other person, including the broker-dealer’s customer or a third-party (including the broker-dealer’s affiliate), has access to the relevant private keys and the ability to transfer the asset without the authorization of the broker-dealer.

Meanwhile, the agency explained that “a broker-dealer does not deem itself to possess a crypto asset security if the broker-dealer is aware of any material security or operational problems or weaknesses with the distributed ledger technology and associated network used to access and transfer the crypto asset security or is aware of other material risks posed to the broker-dealer’s business by custodying the crypto asset security.”

SEC’s Path To Clearer Rules

The SEC affirmed that the statement is part of its efforts to provide greater clarity on the application of federal securities laws to crypto assets. Notably, the regulatory agency recently published guidelines to help educate retail investors about the ways they can hold crypto assets and is pushing to modernize its rules to facilitate an positive market environment.

Earlier this month, the US regulator revealed it is evaluating tokenization to modernize the issuance, trading, and settlement of public equities. SEC chairman Paul Atkins asserted that “Distributed ledger technology and the tokenization of financial assets, including securities, have the potential to transform our capital markets.”

Moreover, Atkins recently stated that the Commission could issue innovation exemption rules for crypto firms in early 2026.  The agency has been considering the rule exemption since July to “permit novel ways of trading and more narrowly tailored forms of relief to facilitate the building of other components of a tokenized securities ecosystem.”

The change would allow crypto firms to quickly launch products without having to comply with “burdensome prescriptive regulatory requirements that hinder productive economic activity.” Instead, they would “be able to comply with certain principles-based conditions designed to achieve the core policy aims of the federal securities laws.”

In a recent crypto crime report, blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis has uncovered a troubling trend in crypto theft. As of now, over $3.4 billion worth of digital assets has been stolen, surpassing the total amount reported in the previous year. Notably, North Korean hackers have been implicated in the majority of these thefts.

Crypto Theft Escalates

The report, published on Thursday, highlights significant alterations in how these thefts are occurring. One alarming statistic shows that compromises of personal wallets have surged, escalating from just 7.3% of the overall stolen value in 2022 to a staggering 44% in 2024. 

Even if the Bybit attack hadn’t dramatically skewed the figures, the share for 2025 would still stand at 37%. Meanwhile, centralized services are facing increasing losses due to private key compromises.

Although such compromises are comparatively infrequent, their scale often accounts for a vast majority of stolen volumes. In fact, private key compromises were responsible for an overwhelming 88% of losses in the first quarter of the year.

Chainalysis also noted a stark escalation in the scale of these attacks, with the ratio between the largest hack and the median of all incidents exceeding 1,000 times for the first time in 2025. 

This implies that funds taken in the largest hacks are now 1,000 times greater than those stolen in typical incidents—a worrying trend that eclipsed even the peak activity during the 2021 bull market.

Record-Breaking Year For DPRK Theft

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues to be the most formidable nation-state threat to cryptocurrency security, claiming a record year for digital asset theft despite a substantial decrease in the reported frequency of attacks. 

In 2025, North Korean hackers reportedly stole at least $2.02 billion in cryptocurrency, signifying a 51% increase from the previous year. This is the highest value ever recorded for DPRK-related crypto theft, with these attacks contributing to a record 76% of all service compromises.

The rise in stolen funds can be attributed in part to the DPRK’s tactics. Cybercriminals linked to the regime have increasingly embedded IT workers within cryptocurrency services, allowing them privileged access to high-impact compromises. 

However, a notable evolution in strategy has emerged: DPRK operatives are now impersonating recruiters for well-known Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI) firms. 

This approach involves orchestrating fake hiring processes, which culminate in technical screenings intended to harvest sensitive credentials, source code, and access to systems at current employers.

158,000 Cases Logged In 2025

In a significant finding, the report indicates that personal wallet compromises in 2025 accounted for 20% of the total value stolen. This marks a decline from 44% in 2024, reflecting an evolution in the types and scales of attacks. 

The number of theft incidents skyrocketed to 158,000 in 2025, a threefold increase from the 54,000 recorded in 2022, while unique victims surged from 40,000 to at least 80,000 in the same timeframe. 

Despite this increase in incidents and victims, the total value stolen from individual victims has decreased from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $713 million in 2025. This suggests a shift in focus, where attackers target a larger number of users but steal smaller amounts per person.

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

Senior researcher at on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has explained how the recent Bitcoin shark “accumulation” is not a sign of organic buying.

Bitcoin Shark-Sized Entities Have Been Growing Recently

In a new post on X, Glassnode senior researcher CryptoVizArt.₿ has talked about the recent growth in the supply attached to the Bitcoin sharks. “Sharks” are defined as the entities carrying between 100 and 1,000 BTC.

At the current exchange rate, the range of this cohort converts to $8.7 million at the lower end and $87 million at the upper one. Due to the significant size involved, sharks are considered as a investor group, although they are less influential than the whales (1,000+ BTC).

Lately, the supply of the sharks has been following a rapid upward trajectory, as the chart shared by CryptoVizArt.₿ shows.

Since November 16th, the Bitcoin sharks have seen their combined balance change from 3.33 million BTC to 3.60 million BTC, reflecting a significant rise of 270,000 tokens. “The key question, however, is whether this reflects genuine net accumulation, or merely internal reshuffling across cohorts, a distinction only deeper on-chain analysis can resolve,” said the Glassnode researcher.

By “reshuffling,” CryptoVizArt.₿ is referring to the merging or splitting of holdings that investors sometimes take part in. For example, a whale deciding to break their balance across multiple wallets can register as a decrease in the whale supply, and an increase in the supply of whatever bracket the smaller holdings fall inside.

Signs point to something similar being a factor behind the recent Bitcoin shark supply increase. Below is another chart shared by the analyst, this one comparing the trend in the supply of the 100,000+ BTC entities against that of the sharks.

The 100,000+ BTC cohort corresponds to the largest of entities on the blockchain, including exchanges, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and custodial services. From the graph, it’s apparent that the holdings of this group have been declining recently.

Interestingly, the amount distributed by the cohort in this drawdown is 300,000 BTC, which is roughly equal to that accumulated by the sharks (270,000 BTC). “This pattern strongly points to wallet reshuffling, not organic accumulation,” noted CryptoVizArt.₿.

Since the 100,000+ BTC bracket also includes exchanges, reshuffling out of these platforms (that is, withdrawals) can still point toward positive accumulation. It turns out, however, that the nature of the reshuffling is truly likely to be internal, as Coinbase made internal wallet transfers amounting to a massive 640,000 BTC alongside this trend.

Based on the data, the analyst has concluded:

The key takeaway is that >90% of the apparent “shark accumulation” is likely driven by internal reshuffling by large custodial entities, rather than net buying by new 100–1K BTC holders.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $87,300, down over 3% in the last seven days.

Ethereum is increasingly struggling to maintain a convincing bullish narrative as market sentiment continues to deteriorate. Price action remains fragile, and a growing number of analysts are openly discussing the possibility that Ethereum is transitioning into a broader bear market phase.

Repeated failures to sustain upside momentum have weakened confidence, while risk appetite across the crypto market continues to fade. As volatility persists and capital rotates defensively, ETH finds itself at the center of a debate between structural weakness in price and resilience beneath the surface.

According to a recent CryptoQuant report, Ethereum’s current state reflects a notable shift in supply behavior across exchanges. The Exchange Supply Ratio (ESR), which tracks the proportion of ETH held on centralized trading platforms, has been steadily declining across all major exchanges.

This trend signals that a smaller share of the circulating supply is readily available for immediate sale, a critical factor when evaluating supply-and-demand dynamics.

Historically, declining exchange balances suggest reduced selling pressure, as investors move assets into self-custody or long-term storage rather than preparing to liquidate. In the current environment, this structural change adds nuance to the bearish narrative.

Exchange Supply Declines Signal Structural Shift

The report highlights a pronounced decline in Ethereum’s Exchange Supply Ratio (ESR), reinforcing the view that supply dynamics are quietly shifting beneath the surface. Across all platforms, the ESR has fallen to approximately 0.137, one of its lowest readings since 2016.

This sustained drop reflects a steady outflow of ETH from exchanges into external wallets, signaling a reduced inclination toward immediate selling and a growing preference for long-term holding. Historically, similar patterns have emerged during re-accumulation phases or in transitional periods that follow extended volatility, often preceding more stable price behavior.

The trend is even more evident on Binance, where the ESR has declined to roughly 0.0325. As the exchange with the deepest liquidity, Binance’s balances serve as a key barometer for short-term supply conditions. The ongoing withdrawal of ETH from its wallets suggests a meaningful reduction in spot-side sellable supply, pointing to increased trader caution rather than aggressive distribution.

At the same time, Ethereum is trading near $2,960, a mid-range level that reflects a temporary equilibrium between buyers and sellers. The combination of falling exchange supply and relatively stable pricing indicates that the market is not under heavy selling pressure.

Instead, it appears to be entering a phase of liquidity absorption and strategic repositioning, where participants reduce exposure to short-term trades while preparing for a potential shift in market structure.

Ethereum Price Struggles Below Key Trend Levels

The daily ETH chart highlights a market that remains structurally fragile despite short-term stabilization. After failing to hold above the $3,200–$3,300 region, Ethereum has continued to print lower highs, confirming a loss of bullish momentum since late October. Price is currently trading around the $2,850–$2,900 area, a zone that has acted as a short-term demand pocket but lacks strong follow-through from buyers.

From a trend perspective, ETH remains below its short- and medium-term moving averages. The 50-day moving average has rolled over and is now acting as dynamic resistance, while the 100-day moving average is also trending lower.

The 200-day moving average sits higher, reinforcing the idea that Ethereum has shifted from a trending market into a corrective or distribution phase. As long as price remains capped below these levels, rallies are likely to be sold into rather than extended.

Volume dynamics reinforce this view. Recent rebounds have occurred on relatively muted volume compared to the heavy selling seen during prior breakdowns, suggesting reactive short covering rather than fresh demand.

Structurally, ETH needs to reclaim and hold above the $3,100–$3,200 range to rebuild a bullish case. Failure to do so keeps the risk tilted toward continued consolidation or a deeper corrective leg toward lower support levels.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

According to Bitwise, Bitcoin’s price swings are getting smaller, and that change is already showing up when compared with a fast-moving chip stock like Nvidia.

From an April low of $75,000 to an early October high of $126,000, Bitcoin moved about 68%. Nvidia, by contrast, swung roughly 120% from a low near $94 in April to $207 in late October. Those numbers show a clear gap in how rough the ride has been this year.

Volatility Comparison Shows Shift

Based on reports from Bitwise, Bitcoin will likely be calmer than Nvidia in 2026. “BTC already less volatile than Nvidia in 2025 … thanks to institutional inflows & ETFs,” Bitwise said in an X post.

That change is linked to more traditional money coming in through products such as spot ETFs and other institutional channels. In short: more big, steady investors are in the mix now, and that tends to smooth out wild swings.

Bitcoin maturing fast!

Bitwise : BTC already less volatile than Nvidia in 2025 (68% vs 120% price swing) thanks to institutional inflows & ETFs.

Volatility to stay lower in 2026 + new all-time high ahead as crypto stocks outperform tech! #Bitcoin #BTC #Crypto… pic.twitter.com/TEyzoZQrYv

— ChartSage (@CryptoChartSage) December 18, 2025

Institutional Entry And The Bull Case

Bitwise also put forward a bullish view for next year. It expects a new all-time high and a break from the old four-year cycle. The firm listed several reasons: the halving, shifts in interest-rate cycles, and weaker boom-and-bust forces than in past runs.

The company named big institutions — Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch — as potential new entrants, and it said allocations to spot crypto ETFs should rise. Bitwise added that onchain work could speed up too, and that crypto equities might beat tech stocks in returns.

Long-Time Holders Are Selling

Reports have disclosed heavy selling from long-term holders, a trend that complicates the bullish story. K33 Research found about 1.6 million coins that had been idle for at least two years moved since early 2023.

That amount is worth roughly $140 billion. In 2025 alone, nearly $300 billion of coins that had been dormant for over one year returned to the market, according to K33 and CryptoQuant data.

CryptoQuant also flagged one of the heaviest long-term holder distributions seen in more than five years in the past 30 days.

Chris Newhouse, director of research at Ergonia, described the flow as a “slow bleed” caused by steady selling into thin bids, which can create a long, grinding fall that is not easy to reverse.

Market Divergence And Near-Term Pressure

The split with equities is clear. Nvidia shares are up about 27% year-to-date. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is down roughly 8% so far this year and has dropped nearly 30% from its record above $126,000.

That gap shows crypto is not always moving with big tech. Selling by long-term holders is one reason prices are under pressure even while some investors push for fresh gains.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ethereum is struggling to maintain a convincing bullish narrative as market conditions continue to deteriorate and a growing number of analysts begin to call for a broader bear market. After months of heightened volatility and repeated corrective phases, price action alone has failed to restore confidence, leaving participants increasingly cautious.

This hesitation is now being reflected clearly in on-chain data, reinforcing the idea that the current weakness is not purely technical, but structural.

According to a recent CryptoQuant report, Ethereum’s network activity has dropped to levels that strongly suggest a withdrawal of retail participation. Active sending addresses have fallen toward the 170,000 mark, a threshold historically associated with reduced engagement from smaller investors. In past cycles, retail activity typically expands during bullish phases as new participants enter the market, then contracts sharply once confidence fades and price momentum weakens.

Prolonged volatility and corrective price action have likely eroded Ethereum’s short-term conviction, pushing retail participants either to the sidelines or out of the market entirely. This absence matters. Retail flow often plays a critical role in sustaining momentum during recoveries, and without it, upside moves tend to stall quickly.

On-Chain Signals Point to Exhaustion, Not Capitulation

According to CryptoOnchain’s analysis, Ethereum’s sharply depressed on-chain activity aligns with a classic phase of seller exhaustion rather than active capitulation. In this regime, selling pressure gradually diminishes as participants willing to exit have largely done so, yet fresh demand has not meaningfully returned. The result is a fragile equilibrium where price may stabilize, but upside remains limited in the absence of new buyers.

The lack of retail participation plays a central role in this dynamic. Retail flow typically provides the initial momentum during early rebounds, amplifying price moves once confidence begins to recover. With active sending addresses at one-year lows, that catalyst is currently missing, which helps explain why upside attempts have been shallow and short-lived.

However, this same environment has historically attracted larger, long-term participants. Institutional and high-conviction holders often accumulate during periods of low activity, when liquidity is thin, and sentiment is decisively negative.

Importantly, a credible recovery signal would not emerge from price action alone. CryptoOnchain emphasizes that a sustainable shift would require a gradual rebound in active sending addresses alongside price stabilization.

That combination would point to returning demand and improving network utilization. Conversely, continued stagnation or further declines in address activity would increase the risk of Ethereum entering a deeper consolidation or even a demand-destruction phase.

While current conditions highlight clear short-term weakness and retail disengagement, similar on-chain setups have historically formed near structural bottoms, creating the potential for medium-term trend shifts if activity begins to recover.

Ethereum Price Struggles at Key Structural Support

Ethereum’s price action on the 3-day chart reflects a market caught between structural support and persistent bearish pressure. After failing to hold above the $3,200–$3,300 region, ETH has rolled over and is now consolidating near the $2,850 area, a zone that aligns closely with the 200-day moving average. This level has historically acted as a medium-term inflection point, making it critical for bulls to defend in order to avoid a deeper trend shift.

The recent rejection from the $4,000–$4,800 highs marks a clear lower high within the broader structure, reinforcing the idea that momentum has weakened since late 2025. While price briefly reclaimed the 100-day moving average during the mid-year rebound, it failed to sustain acceptance above it, and ETH has since slipped back below the shorter-term averages. This suggests that rallies are still being sold into rather than accumulated aggressively.

Price action aligns with a market transitioning into consolidation rather than immediate capitulation. If ETH loses the $2,800–$2,750 support zone decisively, downside risk opens toward the $2,400 region, where the long-term trend support converges.

Conversely, any bullish recovery would require ETH to stabilize above the 200-day moving average and reclaim the $3,200 level with expanding volume. Until then, the chart favors a cautious, range-bound outlook with downside risks still present.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price action has entered a conflicted phase, with renewed institutional inflows clashing against clear signs of market stress. After peaking above $126,000 earlier this year, the world’s largest crypto has retreated sharply and is now trading more than 30% below its all-time high.

Related Reading: Bipartisan SAFE Crypto Act Unveiled: New Task Force To Combat Digital Asset Scams

While some capital has returned through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), broader market signals suggest that selling pressure and weak participation continue to weigh on sentiment. Consequently, recent weeks have shown that Bitcoin’s recovery attempts remain fragile.

Long-Term Holders Drive Persistent Supply Pressure

A major source of downside pressure has been sustained selling by long-term holders. Data from K33 Research shows that roughly 1.6 million BTC that had been dormant for at least two years has been sold since early 2023. In 2025 alone, more than $300 billion worth of long-held Bitcoin has re-entered circulation.

Analysts note that this type of distribution creates gradual, grinding declines rather than sharp capitulation events. With fewer active buyers in the market, the reactivated supply has proven difficult to absorb.

Blockchain data indicates that the past month marked one of the heaviest long-term holder sell-offs in over five years, reinforcing the idea that structural selling remains unresolved.

ETF Inflows Return, But Demand Remains Uneven

Institutional demand has shown brief signs of recovery. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly $457 million in net inflows on December 17, snapping a multi-day outflow streak. Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund accounted for the majority of the inflows, with BlackRock also posting gains.

Despite this rebound, ETF activity has been inconsistent. December inflows remain modest compared with earlier in the year, following nearly $3.5 billion in ETF outflows in November.

Market observers say these inflows, while supportive, have not yet been large or sustained enough to offset ongoing sell-side pressure from long-term holders and cautious retail participation.

Technical Signals and Market Structure Favor Bears

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin continues to flash bearish signals. The price has traded within a broad $82,000–$95,000 range for over a month, forming patterns such as an inverse cup and handle on the daily chart. Bitcoin has also slipped below key moving averages, while momentum indicators suggest sellers remain in control.

Recent liquidation events have reinforced this weakness. Around $152 million in Bitcoin positions were liquidated in a single day, and derivatives open interest has declined since the October market crash tied to macroeconomic shocks and tariff-related concerns.

Related Reading: XRP Ledger Adds Military-Grade Security Via Payments Engine Standard

Bitcoin remains caught between sporadic institutional inflows and persistent structural pressure. Until selling from long-term holders eases and liquidity improves, downside risks are likely to remain part of the market’s near-term outlook.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have secured a place in Coinbase’s latest product expansion, a notable moment for meme coins within the regulated crypto derivatives market. Coinbase confirmed the launch of US perpetual-style futures trading in an announcement on X for a range of altcoins on Coinbase Derivatives, available around the clock.

Coinbase Expands Derivatives Access With Meme Coins Included

According to a recent announcement on X, US Perpetual-Style Futures are now live on Coinbase Derivatives. Among a lineup dominated by established layer-one networks and infrastructure tokens, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu stood out as the only meme-based assets included, showing how these tokens are being positioned within institutional-grade trading environments.

The new product rollout allows both retail and institutional traders to access US-regulated perpetual-style futures through approved Futures Commission Merchants. Coinbase is effectively placing both meme coins alongside assets such as Cardano, Chainlink, and Polkadot in its derivatives ecosystem with its extension of this offering to Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. In the case of Shiba Inu, the newly listed futures contract comes with a 1,000x multiplier.

This means that demand for structured exposure to these leading meme coins has grown beyond spot trading, with traders increasingly seeking hedging and leverage tools tied to them.

What This Means For DOGE And SHIB Moving Forward

Recent price action for both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu has offered little encouragement. Both cryptocurrencies are currently locked in an extended declining price action and low whale activity, except for a spike in whale activity witnessed by Shiba Inu earlier in the month. This occurred in tandem with a +1.06 trillion net change to the amount of SHIB on exchanges, which is also another sign of the intense selling pressure surrounding the meme coin.

However, behind the scenes, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu might be working towards a bullish momentum in their fundamentals. For one, the availability of perpetual-style futures for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu could add to how traders interact with these assets. Futures markets often attract higher trading volumes and more sophisticated participants, which can influence price discovery and volatility patterns. 

As the largest crypto exchange in the United States, Coinbase provides the best regulated gateway for institutional traders. Therefore, this development may increase institutional visibility for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu in the US market while also providing traders with new ways to manage risk.

At the time of writing, Shiba Inu is trading at $0.000007523, down by 3% in the past 24 hours. Notably, the meme coin is currently trading at its lowest price point in over a year. 

Dogecoin is also trading at its lowest price point in over a year. The king of meme coins is currently trading at $0.1256, down by 3.2% in the past 24 hours.

XRP is closing out 2025 caught between two opposing forces. On one side, price action has weakened, technical indicators are flashing caution, and liquidity has thinned as the holidays approach.

On the other hand, analysts continue to publish ambitious upside targets, while fresh narratives around utility, adoption, and yield generation keep the token in focus. The result is a market struggling to reconcile near-term pressure with longer-term expectations.

After spending much of the year underperforming other large-cap cryptocurrencies, XRP has slipped below the closely watched $2 level. That breakdown has sharpened debate over whether the market is entering a deeper correction or simply extending a prolonged consolidation phase.

XRP Price Structure Shows Growing Strain

Technical analysts point to mounting downside risks. XRP has formed what some describe as a higher-timeframe double-top near the $3.30–$3.40 region, with momentum indicators rolling over.

The $1.85–$1.90 zone is now acting as a critical support area. A confirmed break below that range could expose XRP to a deeper pullback toward the $1.60–$1.65 region, aligning with key Fibonacci retracement levels.

Additional on-chain metrics add to the cautious tone. XRP continues to trade well above its realized price, a condition that in previous cycles has preceded mean-reversion pullbacks.

Meanwhile, moving averages and momentum indicators, such as the MACD, remain tilted to the downside, reinforcing the view that sellers retain control in the short term.

Analysts Split Between Caution and Optimism

Despite the weak chart structure, some analysts argue that the broader narrative has not changed materially. Vincent Van Code has noted that while XRP’s price performance disappointed in 2025, there has been no clear fundamental shock to explain the decline.

Legal clarity around Ripple, ongoing institutional interest, and XRPL development remain intact, suggesting the disconnect may be driven more by market structure and liquidity than by fundamentals.

Others are more explicit with upside targets. Analyst Dark Defender, who previously identified the $1.88 support zone, argues that XRP has completed a corrective phase under Elliott Wave analysis.

From that perspective, targets around $5.85 remain possible in the next major advance, though timing depends heavily on broader market conditions.

Utility Narratives and Speculation Add Noise

Beyond price charts, new narratives are complicating sentiment. Reports highlighting XRP-based yield strategies, including mining-related platforms, have circulated widely; however, these claims vary in transparency and risk, and are not directly tied to XRP’s core protocol.

Separately, unconfirmed rumors suggesting that EA Sports may explore XRP for in-game payments have briefly reignited discussion around mass adoption, even as no official confirmation has emerged.

XRP currently sits at an uncomfortable crossroads. Technical pressure is real, downside risks remain, and patience is being tested. At the same time, bold analyst targets and recurring adoption stories ensure the token remains one of the most closely watched assets heading into early 2026.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

Analysts have calculated that passive funds could pull as much as $11.6 billion from companies that treat large crypto holdings as corporate treasuries if MSCI removes them from its indexes, a move that would force index-tracking vehicles to sell shares.

Reports say that number comes from adding direct MSCI-tracked outflows to possible follow-on selling by other index providers.

Estimated Outflows Range

The figure sits inside a wider band of estimates. Some analysts and press pieces put the possible damage anywhere between $10 billion and $15 billion, depending on whether other major index providers copy MSCI’s decision and how much passive money is forced to move.

The analysis that produced these numbers looked at roughly 39 listed companies that meet MSCI’s proposed definition of a digital-asset treasury firm.

MSCI’s Proposal And The Mechanics

According to MSCI’s own consultation documents, the index provider is reviewing a rule that would treat companies holding more than 50% of their assets in digital assets as non-constituents of its broad equity indexes.

MSCI extended the consultation through December and said it expects to announce conclusions by January 15, 2026, with any changes applied in the February 2026 index review. If a firm is removed, funds that track MSCI benchmarks typically must reduce or sell their stakes automatically.

We spell out the potential implications of MSCI’s proposed 50% DAT exclusion rule: https://t.co/ceJZU0dRTP pic.twitter.com/5CixFrEYVR

— George Mekhail (@gmekhail) December 17, 2025

Strategy Stands Out

JPMorgan’s work has been singled out in multiple reports. According to that note, Strategy alone could face about $2.8 billion in passive outflows if removed from MSCI indexes, and larger losses if other index families follow.

Analysts say Strategy’s unique position — with a very high share of its balance sheet in Bitcoin — makes it the single biggest driver of the total outflow math.

Risk To Crypto Holdings

Some sectors warn that, beyond stock selling, the companies themselves might liquidate crypto positions to meet margin or liquidity needs, which could push crypto asset sales toward a figure as high as $15 billion in the worst scenarios. That would add direct selling pressure to both the equities and crypto markets.

Industry Pushback

Based on reports, a group named Bitcoin For Corporations, along with several affected firms, pushed back, saying the MSCI test relies on a single balance-sheet threshold that doesn’t reflect how these companies actually operate.

The campaign has drawn public comments and petitions; several reports put the signature count at about 1,200 to 1,300. Companies have filed feedback with MSCI and have argued for an operations-based classification instead of a holdings-based cut-off.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

💾

A long-dormant Shiba Inu wallet that on-chain watchers have tracked since the meme coin’s early days just pinged the market again — this time by sending a chunky clip of SHIB to an exchange.

According to posts from on-chain analyst 余烬 (@EmberCN), the address moved roughly 469 billion SHIB (about $3.64 million) into OKX roughly nine hours before the post hit X on Dec. 18, 2025.

Mega Whale Stuns Shiba Inu Community

In 2020, the “top whale” who bought 1.03 trillion $SHIB (17.4% of the total supply) using only 37.8 ETH ($13.7K), transferred 469 billion SHIB ($3.64 million) into #OKX 9 hours ago,” EmberCN wrote.

That “top whale” label is doing a lot of work here. The wallet is known for an almost absurd entry: buying roughly 103 trillion SHIB back in 2020 for just 37.8 ETH. Then the 2021 mania happened. At the cycle peak, that stake would have been worth around $9.1 billion. And the whale, famously, didn’t cash most of it.

EmberCN says the address still controls about 96.684 trillion SHIB, or roughly 16.4% of total supply, valued around $722–$726 million depending on the price snapshot used. “At the 2021 price peak, his 1.03 trillion SHIB was worth $9.1 billion. He has not sold the vast majority of these coins yet, and currently still holds up to 96.684 trillion SHIB (16.4% of the total supply), worth $726 million,” @EmberCN explained.

The reason traders care about “to OKX” is obvious: deposits to exchanges can be a prelude to selling, collateralizing, or rotating into something else. Still, a deposit is not a sale. Overall, it’s unclear whether the SHIB has been dumped yet.

Zoom out and it’s not the first time the wallet has stirred. EmberCN previously flagged activity in July 2023, describing transfers of 1.5 trillion SHIB split across three addresses (500 billion each) after a long dormant stretch.

On July 12, already alerted the Shiba Inu community when he posted: “After being dormant for 610 days, he made another move: 4 hours ago, he transferred 1.5 trillion SHIB to 3 addresses, with 500 billion SHIB ($3.75M) to each address. He bought 1.03 quadrillion $SHIB, and only sold 1.9 trillion SHIB ($18.79M) in 2021 at a price of 0.0000098. The remaining 1.01 quadrillion (17.2% of the total SHIB supply) is distributed across 17 addresses and held to this day, with a current total value of $760 million.”

So, is this “the” sell signal? Maybe. Maybe not. But when an entity sitting on 16.4% of supply starts routing size toward an exchange again, the market tends to stop scrolling.

At press time, SHIB was down 3.9% over the past 24 hours, more or less tracking the broader market wide pullback in the same window. On the chart, it’s not pretty: the current weekly candle has broken below a key support zone around $0.00000790.

That puts the Oct. 10 low at $0.00000680 back in play as the next obvious downside check. If that level gives way, traders will likely start eyeing the June 2023 low near $0.00000543 as the next major reference point.

A crypto analyst has issued a stark warning to the SOL community, predicting that the Solana price could crash below $5. The expert’s bearish thesis is based on an extensive review of US federal court documents, suggesting that ongoing legal challenges and potential flaws in the Solana blockchain could lead to the end of the cryptocurrency. 

Analyst Predicts Solana Price Crash And Annihilation

A crypto analyst who calls himself ‘NoLimit’ on X has released a report that has sent shockwaves through the Solana community. He shared court documents suggesting SOL could be nearing its end, with a potential price drop below $5 over the next two years. Currently trading at $122, this would represent a staggering 95.9% decline. 

In his post, NoLimit revealed that he had spent more than 12 hours analyzing court documents, claiming that the findings are highly concerning to Solana. The report highlights recent developments in a US federal court where a second amended class action complaint has been allowed to proceed. 

The analyst noted that the lawsuit involved Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and several other entities linked to the Solana ecosystem. He stated that the court’s decision to proceed shows there is enough evidence to pursue legal actions, putting SOL’s operations under significant scrutiny. 

The allegations focus on insiders seemingly gaining unfair advantages during meme coin launches. According to NoLimit, Plaintiffs claimed that Solana’s validator system and transaction-priority tools allowed certain players to buy tokens faster and cheaper. At the same time, retail investors were left at a disadvantage as prices exploded and collapsed minutes or seconds later. The analyst notes that many investors had experienced this same issue on Pump.fun. 

NoLimit disclosed that the lawsuit contends these outcomes, in which insiders sell for profit and retail loses everything, were not accidental but rather a result of the system. The complaint directly ties the alleged insider behavior to SOL, not just to the apps built on the blockchain. If this argument gains legal traction, the analyst notes that it could position the crypto network as a platform for risky coin launches, a host for bad actors, and a contributor to potential market manipulation. 

NoLimit also warns that if regulators or courts determine that these meme coin launches operate like unregistered securities or that Solana’s infrastructure enabled unfair access, the chain’s core narrative of being fast, cheap, and permissionless could become a liability. Such a development could scare off institutional investors and large-scale funds, possibly leading to the end of Solana. 

Solana Legal Troubles Put Market Trust At Risk

NoLimit warns that the most alarming part of Solana’s present legal issues is the potential impact on institutional confidence. According to him, nearly half of SOL’s circulating supply is controlled by ecosystem-linked institutions, insiders, early investors, VCs, and foundations. He emphasized that a mass sell-off from these holders could trigger a severe market reaction. 

The analyst highlighted that the key concern is what could happen if trust in SOL collapses. He stated that in crypto markets, trust drives prices, not fundamentals, and when it breaks, crashes can be substantial. Past cases like FTX, Luna, and Celsius show how quickly liquidity can disappear and valuations can plummet. 

The Federal Reserve announced on April 24, 2025, that it is pulling back previous rules for banks handling crypto and dollar tokens. From now on, banks will be supervised the usual way, instead of through separate crypto-focused requirements.

Banks Can Now Move Faster With Crypto

The rules being withdrawn included a 2022 letter that told state member banks to notify the Fed before dealing with crypto, and a 2023 letter that required approval before handling dollar tokens. These rules had kept some smaller banks, especially uninsured crypto-focused ones, from accessing Fed accounts or payment systems.

Other regulators moved at the same time. The FDIC and the OCC also withdrew two 2023 statements about crypto risks. Those statements had flagged issues like liquidity and governance risks in crypto banking. By pulling them back, banks now face fewer formal roadblocks when offering crypto services.

WOWZERS–the Fed rescinded guidance it enacted in Jan 2023 simultaneously with the @custodiabank denials + the Biden White House anti-crypto statement. Thank you, VCS Bowman & Gov Waller! The Fed broke the law by citing this very guidance in the Custodia denial, even tho…

— Caitlin Long (@CaitlinLong_) December 17, 2025

Fed’s New Guidance

On Dec. 17, 2025, the Fed introduced new guidance to give both insured and uninsured state member banks a clear path to explore activities like cryptocurrencies, as long as they meet the Fed’s risk-management standards, the central bank said.

@federalreserve withdraws 2023 policy statement and issues new policy statement regarding the treatment of certain Board-supervised banks that facilitates responsible innovation: https://t.co/5s1I9LO9EF

— Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) December 17, 2025

Supervision Now Part Of Normal Oversight

The Fed said it will continue watching banks’ crypto work, but through regular supervisory processes. Banks don’t need to send extra notifications or get prior approval for crypto activities anymore. That includes things like custody, trading, or settlement of digital assets. There aren’t new rules being added — it’s just now part of normal oversight.

Key Dates And Actions

The important date is April 24, 2025. On this day, the Fed withdrew letters from 2022 and 2023, along with the two joint interagency statements from 2023. These had previously told banks how to report and get approval for crypto work. The withdrawal simply moves crypto activities into regular bank supervision.

What This Means For Banks And Markets

Banks have more leeway to provide crypto services because they no longer have to follow the old regulations. They’ve gained the ability to quickly develop, test, and manage digital assets. However, the Fed continues to keep an eye on how banks manage their risks.

While this change does not eliminate all regulatory requirements, it eliminates much of the extra duplication of paperwork and approvals that acted as barriers and impeded progress in the past.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin experienced a sharp bounce above the $90,000 price mark, but this rise was brief and was cut short by the prevailing volatile market environment. With the persistent waning price action observed over the past few weeks, the once lucrative BTC on-chain moves are no longer paying off as profits have dropped sharply.

Profits From Bitcoin On-Chain Flows Falls

The current Bitcoin market is entering a noticeably different phase, and the evidence is starting to show it. A key on-chain metric indicates that the once-reliable rewards from transferring coins throughout the network are diminishing, suggesting that it is becoming increasingly difficult to profit from rapid price fluctuations.

With volatility decreases and participant behavior changes, BTC may be moving away from a trader-driven ecosystem. This development is spotted in the Bitcoin Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR) Trend Signal metric. Bitcoin SOPR Trend Signal is a powerful metric that spots price regions where BTC has been moved at significant profit or loss.

In the past, this crucial indicator has produced precise signals for local highs and lows. As reported by Alphractal, an advanced investment and on-chain data analytics platform, the metric is currently experiencing a steady decline. A decline in the SOPR Trend Signal hints at BTC being moved with progressively lower profits or moving toward loss-making transfers.

Furthermore, Alphractal highlighted that a continued drop in this metric is typical of a bear market phase. However, a true bottom of the price could occur only when green signals appear on the chart. Currently, all indications on the chart suggest that it will take several months for this trend to be validated.

Joao Wedson, the founder of Alphractal, shared his insight on the decline, noting that it is part of the longstanding Bitcoin fractal cycle. Given that the factors influencing its market behavior have expanded, many believe that BTC’s cycles have changed and that this time it is different.

However, on-chain analysis offers a clear view of BTC continuously following its fractal cycle just as it did before. After his analysis of the trend, Wedson claims that nothing in the Bitcoin market cycle has changed so far.

According to the expert, BTC has been one of the most predictable investment assets in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency sector. Meanwhile, many continue to maintain that it must adhere to traditional markets, even though statistics do not support this.

BTC Unrealized Loss At 10%

After the pullback in price, Bitcoin’s unrealized losses are at a level that signals resilience rather than widespread distress. CryptoRank, a leading data analytics platform and crypto industry researcher, revealed that unrealized losses now make up 10% of market capitalization.

Despite the recent drop in Bitcoin prices, this implies that the vast majority of holders are still in profit, potentially contributing to hesitation toward further upside in BTC’s price. Interestingly, this lessens panic-driven selling pressure and signals that the market has already absorbed most of its negative risk.