• Citi forecasts Bitcoin at $143K and Ethereum at $4,304 in 12 months.
• Regulatory clarity and adoption drive institutional interest in crypto.
• Short-term risks, including bearish patterns, options expiry, and ETF outflows, still linger.

Citigroup has delivered one of the most upbeat outlooks from a major Wall Street institution on digital assets, forecasting strong upside for both Bitcoin and Ethereum over the next year.

The bank’s projections come at a time when crypto markets are navigating sharp short-term volatility while longer-term adoption trends continue to strengthen.

A bullish baseline with room to run

In a recent research note, Citigroup set a 12-month price target of $143,000 for Bitcoin, representing an upside of roughly 62% from levels near $88,000 at the time of the forecast.

The bank also gave Ethereum a favourable outlook, with a target price of $4,304, implying potential gains of about 46% from around $2,950.

The bank said its forecasts reflect improving market conditions after recent drawdowns, arguing that crypto prices are now closer to measures of value tied to actual user activity.

Citi framed its base case as a recovery scenario rather than an aggressive speculative call, noting that valuations have adjusted following the pullback from October highs.

Beyond its baseline projections, Citi also outlined a wide range of possible outcomes.

In a bullish scenario, the bank sees Bitcoin climbing as high as $189,000 and Ethereum reaching $5,132.

Under a bearish case, however, Bitcoin could slide to $78,000, while Ethereum may fall toward $1,270, underscoring the asset class’s persistent volatility.

Regulation shifts from risk to catalyst

Citi identified regulatory developments as the central driver behind its constructive stance.

The bank pointed to a noticeable shift by US authorities toward clearer, more tailored frameworks for digital assets, replacing years of regulatory uncertainty with defined rules.

Several enforcement actions and lawsuits against major crypto platforms have been dismissed, a change Citi believes could encourage institutional investors to re-engage with the sector.

The bank also highlighted President Donald Trump’s pro-digital-asset rhetoric, which has coincided with broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies within traditional finance.

According to Citi, these policy shifts have the potential to unlock renewed capital inflows, particularly from institutions that previously stayed on the sidelines.

The firm expects regulatory clarity to support adoption across spot markets, ETFs, and tokenised financial products over the coming year.

Volatility clouds the near-term forecasts

Despite the optimistic outlook, Citi acknowledged that recent market turbulence remains a significant headwind.

Bitcoin fell to multi-month lows in November as investors reduced exposure to risk assets amid concerns over elevated technology stock valuations.

Market sentiment has weakened further in December after Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy and the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, cut its 2025 earnings forecast.

Strategy cited Bitcoin’s prolonged weakness, drawing heightened attention given its outsized exposure to the cryptocurrency.

Short-term technical signals also suggest caution, seeing that Bitcoin has formed a bearish flag pattern on the daily chart and remains below key moving averages and the Supertrend indicator.

Analysts warn that the price could dip toward $87,341, or even $85,188.

The post BTC at $143K, ETH above $4000: Citi issues bullish price forecasts as crypto market continues to struggle appeared first on CoinJournal.

• The Hegota update will follow Glamsterdam in the Ethereum upgrade cycle.
• Hegota will merge execution and consensus upgrades to boost efficiency and scalability.
• Verkle Trees and state improvements aim to make Ethereum lighter for node operators.

Ethereum developers have unveiled the name of the network’s next major upgrade, offering the community an early look at what lies ahead for the blockchain in 2026.

Just weeks after the Fusaka update, developers confirmed that the post-Glamsterdam upgrade will be known as Hegota, continuing Ethereum’s steady path of technical refinement and long-term scalability planning.

The announcement, shared through developer discussions and highlighted by Wu Blockchain, places Hegota as the flagship upgrade slated for later in 2026.

It follows the network’s well-established twice-yearly upgrade cadence and signals Ethereum’s intent to keep improving core infrastructure rather than chasing short-term changes.

A name that reflects Ethereum’s core layers

The name Hegota is not symbolic by chance. It merges two internal upgrade concepts: Bogota and Heze.

Bogota represents the execution layer, where transactions are processed and smart contracts run.

Heze, on the other hand, refers to the consensus layer, which secures the network and ensures agreement across nodes.

By combining these two layers into a single upgrade identity, developers are emphasising coordination across Ethereum’s most critical components.

This approach reflects a growing focus on holistic improvements, rather than isolated changes that affect only one part of the system.

Hegota will come after the Glamsterdam upgrade, which is expected to roll out earlier in 2026.

Together, these updates form part of Ethereum’s long-term roadmap to support increased usage, more complex applications, and a broader base of node operators.

What developers are aiming to improve

While final specifications for Hegota are still under development, early discussions point to several clear priorities.

One major focus is state management, which governs how Ethereum tracks balances, smart contracts, and historical data over time.

As more users and applications interact with Ethereum, the amount of data that nodes must handle increases.

Another key area is execution-layer optimisation. Developers aim to make transactions and smart contracts faster and more efficient, which could translate into smoother user experiences and better performance for decentralised applications.

Verkle Trees are also expected to play a role in Hegota.

This technology is designed to reduce how much data nodes need to store, making it easier for individuals and smaller operators to run full nodes.

A lighter network strengthens decentralisation by lowering technical and hardware barriers.

Building on recent upgrades

Hegota builds on ideas introduced in earlier upgrades, including the Fusaka upgrade.

Ahead of Fusaka’s release, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin explained that the upgrade would leverage peer-to-peer Data Availability Sampling, known as PeerDAS, to manage growing data demands.

Some of the technologies introduced through Fusaka are still considered novel.

Developers have acknowledged that future upgrades, including Hegota, may refine or extend these ideas as real-world usage reveals areas for improvement.

This iterative approach has become a defining feature of Ethereum’s development philosophy.

Rather than attempting sweeping changes all at once, the network evolves through measured upgrades that prioritise stability and long-term health.

Market reaction

The announcement of Hegota comes as Ethereum continues to navigate a volatile market environment.

At the time of reporting, ETH was trading around $2,959, reflecting a modest daily decline.

Market analysts note that Ethereum needs to remain above $2,894 for any hopes of regaining $3,000.

While price movements remain uncertain, the reveal of Hegota reinforces Ethereum’s focus beyond short-term market fluctuations.

For developers and long-term holders alike, the upgrade signals continued investment in scalability, efficiency, and ease of operation.

The post Ethereum developers reveal the next upgrade, Hegota appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Bubblemaps flagged coordinated early Ava AI purchases as suspicious activity.
• 23 wallets, allegedly tied to the Ava AI deployer, bought 40% of tokens at launch.
• AVA price has fallen 96% from its January 2025 all-time high.

The Solana-based AI token Ava AI (AVA) has come under scrutiny after blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps revealed that nearly half of the token’s initial supply may have been acquired by a small cluster of wallets tied to the project’s deployer.

The findings suggest potential insider coordination during the token’s launch, raising questions about the fairness and decentralisation of its initial distribution.

Coordinated buying at launch

According to Bubblemaps, 23 wallets, including the deployer, were freshly funded just before AVA’s debut on the memecoin launch platform Pump.fun.

These wallets, funded through Bitget and Binance in tight time windows, received similar amounts of Solana (SOL) and showed no prior blockchain activity before acquiring AVA.

Bubblemaps described this as a classic example of “sniping,” where crypto trading bots purchase tokens immediately upon public release to gain a price advantage over ordinary investors.

Further analysis revealed that these wallets were connected to other accounts that also bought AVA early.

The similarity in funding sources, timing, and purchase amounts strongly suggests coordination across multiple wallet clusters.

Bubblemaps highlighted that much of this activity went unnoticed at the time, emphasising the need for ongoing monitoring of early token distribution to detect suspicious behaviour.

Implications for investors

The news of early wallet coordination has sparked discussions among investors and analysts.

Some, like the Twitter user ScoutOnchain, argue that speculative buying and FOMO are intrinsic to new crypto trends, while others emphasise the need for more accessible analytics tools to help investors detect suspicious activity.

The concentration of nearly 40% of AVA’s supply in a small number of wallets has significant implications for retail investors.

A large supply held by few entities can increase the risk of price manipulation or a rug pull, where insiders dump their holdings and cause the token’s value to collapse.

AVA’s price trajectory appears to reflect these risks.

After reaching an all-time high of $0.3318 on January 15, 2025, the token has fallen by approximately 96% from that peak, currently trading around $0.01062 with a market capitalisation of $10.6 million.

Its 24-hour trading range currently sits between $0.01043 and $0.01143, while the seven-day range has swung between $0.008029 and $0.01371.

And despite the decline from its peak, the token’s circulating supply remains nearly identical to its total supply of approximately 999 million AVA, with a maximum supply capped at 1 billion.

Bubblemaps has pledged to continue monitoring early token movements and provide insights to the community, signalling an ongoing effort to bring transparency to new launches.

The post Solana AI token Ava AI (AVA) allegedly bundled 40% at launch appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Coinbase argues the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive authority over event contracts.
• Earlier cases involving Kalshi show courts have yet to settle the issue decisively.
• The rulings could shape how prediction markets and related financial products develop nationwide.

Coinbase has taken its dispute with US regulators to court as it expands into prediction markets, filing lawsuits against authorities in Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan.

The legal challenge centres on a fundamental question facing financial markets in the United States: whether prediction markets should be regulated at the federal level as financial derivatives or treated by states as gambling products.

Coinbase argues that the answer has already been set out in federal law.

State regulators disagree, setting up a clash that could redefine oversight for event-based markets tied to finance, politics, and real-world outcomes.

A jurisdictional battle takes shape

The exchange’s case is built around the Commodity Exchange Act, which grants the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over derivatives, including event contracts.

Coinbase maintains that prediction markets listed on CFTC-supervised platforms fall squarely within this framework.

From the company’s perspective, state efforts to apply local gambling laws amount to regulatory overreach.

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, has positioned the lawsuits as a response to what the company sees as a direct conflict between federal authority and state enforcement.

Coinbase argues that allowing individual states to intervene risks creating a fragmented regulatory system that undermines national consistency. In that scenario, stricter jurisdictions could effectively block federally approved products across the country.

Gambling labels under scrutiny

A central issue in the lawsuits is how prediction markets are defined.

State regulators have moved to classify them alongside sports betting and casino-style gambling.

Coinbase rejects this comparison, arguing that the mechanics are fundamentally different.

Prediction markets operate as marketplaces that match buyers and sellers who take opposing views on future events.

Prices are set by market demand rather than by a house that manages odds.

Coinbase says this structure aligns prediction markets with derivatives trading, not wagering, and places them within the scope of federal commodities law rather than state gaming statutes.

Federal oversight and compliance claims

Coinbase has also pointed to the regulatory obligations attached to CFTC-supervised markets.

These include monitoring for manipulation, position limits, and ongoing compliance requirements designed to protect market integrity.

According to the exchange, these safeguards already address many of the consumer protection concerns cited by state regulators.

Ryan VanGrack, Coinbase’s Vice President of Legal, has argued that state-level intervention risks duplicating or conflicting with federal oversight.

The company maintains that pulling prediction markets under local gambling rules ignores how federally regulated derivatives markets operate and threatens uniform supervision.

The post Who regulates prediction markets? Coinbase forces a US legal test appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Terraform Lab’s liquidator alleges Jump secretly propped up UST while misleading markets.
• Court filings claim Jump gained billions through discounted Luna deals and early exits.
• Jump denies wrongdoing as US courts revisit accountability beyond Do Kwon.

Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy estate has filed a sweeping lawsuit against market-making giant Jump Trading, accusing it and its executives of secretly manipulating the Terra ecosystem and profiting while the project unravelled.

The administrator overseeing Terraform’s liquidation is seeking $4 billion in damages, arguing that responsibility for one of crypto’s most destructive failures extends well beyond founder Do Kwon.

A collapse that reshaped crypto

The lawsuit revisits the dramatic implosion of TerraUSD and its sister token, LUNA, in 2022.

Terraform Labs built TerraUSD as an algorithmic stablecoin designed to maintain a one-dollar peg through trading incentives, rather than relying on reserves.

When that mechanism failed, confidence evaporated almost overnight.

Within days, LUNA entered a death spiral and more than $40 billion in market value was erased, sending shockwaves through the digital asset industry.

The fallout contributed to subsequent failures at major cryptocurrency lenders and hedge funds, ultimately deepening a crisis of trust across the sector.

Terraform Labs filed for bankruptcy in early 2024 and later agreed to pay roughly $4.5 billion to settle civil charges brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Do Kwon, the company’s co-founder, who pleaded guilty to criminal charges, was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Secret deals behind the scenes

According to the bankruptcy estate, the story did not end with Kwon.

Todd Snyder, the court-appointed administrator managing Terraform’s liquidation, alleges that Jump Trading played a hidden and central role in propping up Terra long before its final collapse.

Court filings claim that Jump and Terraform entered undisclosed agreements as early as 2019.

Under those deals, Jump allegedly gained access to millions of Luna tokens at steep discounts.

One agreement cited in the complaint allowed the firm to buy LUNA for about $0.40 per token when the market price later exceeded $110.

The administrator claims these arrangements laid the groundwork for massive profits once Luna surged.

The lawsuit also points to an informal “gentlemen’s agreement” between Jump and Terraform.

According to Snyder, Jump secretly committed to supporting TerraUSD’s peg during periods of stress while Terraform publicly attributed any recovery to the strength of its algorithm.

The arrangement was allegedly concealed to avoid regulatory and market scrutiny.

The May 2021 warning signs

The lawsuit places particular emphasis on events in May 2021, when TerraUSD briefly lost its dollar peg.

At the time, Terraform said the stablecoin’s recovery proved the resilience of its design. The lawsuit now alleges a different reality.

Snyder claims that Jump intervened by purchasing large amounts of TerraUSD, masking fundamental weaknesses in the system.

Investors, he argues, were misled into believing the mechanism had worked as intended.

After that episode exposed flaws in Terra’s design, Jump allegedly negotiated to remove vesting and lockup provisions from its contracts.

Those changes allowed the firm to receive monthly Luna allocations and sell them immediately.

The administrator says this intensified selling pressure and positioned Jump to exit profitably as risks mounted.

Jump pushes back

Jump Trading has categorically rejected the allegations, and it intends to defend itself vigorously.

A company spokesperson has described the lawsuit as an attempt to shift blame away from Terraform Labs and Do Kwon.

Earlier in 2024, the SEC accused Jump’s crypto unit, Tai Mo Shan, of intervening during the May 2021 depeg and later profiting from unlocked LUNA sales.

Tai Mo Shan settled those claims for about $123 million without admitting wrongdoing.

During SEC questioning, both DiSomma and former Jump crypto president Kanav Kariya repeatedly invoked their Fifth Amendment rights.

For Snyder, the current lawsuit is about accountability. Even with Kwon behind bars, he argues that courts must still determine who knew what, who intervened, and who ultimately profited from Terra’s rise and fall.

The post Terraform Labs liquidator sues Jump Trading for $4B in damages appeared first on CoinJournal.

• The exchange restarted access on Thursday, including spot trading across 100 currency pairs.
• FCA financial promotion rules introduced in October 2023 led several crypto firms to end UK operations.
• The UK government has said it intends to establish a crypto rulebook by 2027.

Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, says it has restarted services in the UK, nearly two years after tougher rules on the promotion and marketing of crypto products pushed firms to pull back.

The company, which says it has around 80 million users globally, relaunched UK access on Thursday with a set of products that includes spot trading across 100 currency pairs, reports CoinDesk.

The move comes as the Financial Conduct Authority continues to scrutinise how crypto services are advertised to British residents, while the UK government has signalled it wants a fuller crypto rulebook in place by 2027.

Why Bybit left and what changed

The FCA tightened its financial promotion regime for crypto advertising in October 2023, triggering a wave of operational changes across the industry and prompting several firms to end UK activity.

According to CoinDesk, Bybit said its return is built around meeting FCA financial promotion standards, with an emphasis on clearer communications and transparency for UK users.

The company is not licensed in the UK, but says it is operating within a framework designed to comply with the FCA’s requirements for promotions.

That framework matters because, under the rules, crypto marketing aimed at UK consumers must be approved by an authorised firm unless an exemption applies.

What UK users can access now

Bybit said UK customers can again use its services, including spot trading across 100 currency pairs, notes CoinDesk.

The exchange described the restart as a reopening of UK services rather than a limited pilot, positioning it as a return to the market after the regulatory shift.

Bybit’s policy team framed the UK as a market with a sophisticated financial ecosystem and a clearer regulatory direction, saying the exchange intends to introduce products tailored for UK users while prioritising transparency and compliance.

How Archax is enabling compliant crypto promotion

To support its UK activity, Bybit will operate and market its services via London-based crypto exchange Archax.

Archax holds a specific FCA permission that allows it to approve financial promotions, a route that can enable unauthorised firms to legally market and provide services to UK consumers.

Archax said it is supporting Bybit’s compliant access to the UK market and pointed to prior work helping other large exchanges, states CoinDesk,  including Coinbase and OKX, reach UK users without needing their own authorisation.

What the 2027 crypto rulebook signal means

Alongside the FCA’s stricter approach to promotions, the UK government has said it intends to establish a crypto rulebook by 2027.

That announcement has fuelled expectations of a more defined operating environment for exchanges, even as marketing standards remain a key gatekeeper for consumer-facing activity in the near term.

Industry watchers see the arrangement as another test case for how large global crypto platforms re-enter the UK without holding direct regulatory authorisation under evolving financial promotion oversight regimes globally.

The post Bybit returns to UK crypto market after 2 years appeared first on CoinJournal.

• The proposed ETF would use Coinbase Custody and include staking and in-kind transactions.
• Several asset managers are now competing to bring SUI-based ETFs to the US market.
• Regulatory changes under the current SEC leadership are accelerating altcoin ETF activity.

Crypto asset manager Bitwise has formally filed a Form S-1 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, seeking approval to launch a spot exchange-traded fund linked to SUI.

The proposal adds fresh momentum to the fast-expanding crypto ETF landscape, where issuers are increasingly targeting altcoins beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Rather than focusing on short-term market moves, the filing highlights how fund structures, custody choices, and regulatory positioning are evolving as competition intensifies.

With multiple firms now pursuing similar products, SUI is quickly becoming a key test case for the next phase of crypto ETFs in the US.

The proposed product, named the Bitwise SUI ETF, is designed to track the spot price of SUI, the native token of the Sui Network.

If approved, it would give investors direct exposure to SUI without requiring them to hold the asset themselves, reflecting growing institutional interest in simplified crypto access.

How Bitwise is structuring the ETF

The filing shows that Coinbase Custody has been selected as the custodian for the fund, underlining a continued reliance on established US-based crypto infrastructure.

Bitwise has not yet revealed the ETF’s ticker symbol or intended listing exchange, but the structure clearly focuses on holding spot SUI rather than futures or other derivatives.

One notable element of the proposal is the inclusion of staking. The ETF would be able to stake its SUI holdings, allowing it to earn additional tokens over time.

This approach could potentially enhance returns compared with products that only hold assets passively, although it also introduces additional operational considerations.

The filing also details in-kind creations and redemptions.

This means authorised participants would be able to exchange SUI tokens directly for ETF shares and vice versa, instead of using cash.

This structure is increasingly favoured by issuers as it can improve efficiency and reduce tracking error.

Rising competition around SUI products

Bitwise is not alone in targeting SUI.

Grayscale, 21Shares, and Canary Capital have already submitted filings for similar spot SUI ETFs, signalling a crowded field forming around the asset.

The growing interest follows recent regulatory developments, including the SEC’s approval of a 2x leveraged SUI ETF from 21Shares.

Although no spot SUI ETF has yet launched in the US, these filings suggest that issuers see a clearer regulatory path emerging.

SUI itself launched in 2023 and has climbed into the top tier of digital assets by market capitalisation, currently ranked 31st with a value of about $5 billion.

Bitwise has also integrated SUI into its 10 Crypto Index ETF, reinforcing the firm’s broader commitment to the network.

Market response and regulatory context

SUI’s market price showed little immediate reaction to the filing, trading near $1.40 and remaining more than 12% lower over the past week.

Market participants generally view ETF filings as longer-term signals rather than short-term price drivers.

The timing of the application is significant. Under SEC Chair Paul Atkins, the regulator has moved toward clearer and more standardised ETF listing frameworks.

This shift has already helped products linked to assets such as XRP, DOGE, and SOL advance through the approval process.

As more issuers push forward with altcoin ETFs, SUI’s progress may offer early insight into how far and how fast the US crypto ETF market can broaden.

The post Bitwise files for spot SUI ETF as competition intensifies in crypto fund market appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Michael Selig is confirmed as CFTC chair, ending a long interim period at the US derivatives regulator.
• Selig signals a narrower enforcement focus as Congress weighs expanding the CFTC’s crypto authority.
• Leadership change comes as debate intensifies over digital assets and US market structure rules.

After nearly a year of temporary leadership, Michael Selig was confirmed by the US Senate on December 18 and will soon be sworn in as the 15th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

His appointment brings an end to an extended interim period at the derivatives market regulator and places a familiar figure back at the centre of US market oversight.

Selig’s confirmation comes as policymakers and market participants closely track how the CFTC will position itself amid ongoing debates over digital assets, market structure, and regulatory coordination.

With Congress weighing legislation that could significantly expand the agency’s authority, the timing of the leadership change is drawing heightened attention across traditional and crypto markets.

Return to a familiar regulator

Selig’s professional ties to the CFTC run deep.

He first joined the agency in 2014, serving as a law clerk to then-Commissioner Christopher Giancarlo, who later became chairman.

After leaving the agency, Selig moved into private practice, where he advised trading firms, exchanges, and digital asset companies on compliance with US securities and commodities laws.

Earlier this year, Selig returned to government service as chief counsel to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force.

In that role, he acted as a senior advisor to Chairman Paul Atkins and was involved in inter-agency discussions on supervising digital asset markets, placing him at the intersection of securities and commodities regulation.

Leadership transition at the CFTC

Selig will succeed Caroline Pham, who has served as acting chair for much of 2025.

For several months, Pham was also the CFTC’s only Senate-confirmed commissioner, a situation that underscored the agency’s leadership vacuum during a period of regulatory change.

Under Pham’s tenure, the CFTC continued to operate but with limited long-term direction, as major policy decisions awaited permanent leadership.

Selig’s confirmation restores a Senate-backed chair at a moment when the commission’s mandate could soon broaden.

Enforcement direction and priorities

During his confirmation hearing, Selig signalled support for a more targeted enforcement strategy.

He argued that focusing on minor technical violations can consume agency resources and encourage legitimate firms to move operations offshore, without materially improving market integrity.

At the same time, he emphasised that the CFTC must remain active in pursuing fraud, manipulation, and abusive conduct.

His stated approach aligns closely with policies advanced under Pham, where enforcement efforts were narrowed to prioritise complex fraud cases and retail harm rather than paperwork-based violations.

Over the past year, the CFTC also revised its investigation procedures to provide firms with greater transparency and additional time during enforcement processes, reflecting a shift in regulatory tone.

Crypto oversight and legislative backdrop

On digital assets, Selig is expected to continue efforts to bring crypto-related activity into regulated US markets.

The CFTC has already launched pilot initiatives covering tokenised collateral and listed spot crypto products on regulated exchanges.

Selig has previously supported clearer market structure rules and stronger coordination with the SEC, the Treasury Department, and banking regulators.

His confirmation coincides with congressional debate over bills that could grant the CFTC primary oversight of spot crypto commodity markets, potentially expanding the agency’s role at a critical stage in crypto regulation.

With a full agenda and limited transition time, Selig’s early decisions will be closely watched across financial markets.

The post Michael Selig confirmed as CFTC chair, ending interim leadership period appeared first on CoinJournal.

Key takeaways

• NEAR is up by less than 1% and is approaching $1.5.
• The positive performance comes despite the broader crypto market underperforming.

NEAR Intents integrates with Starknet

NEAR, the native coin of the Near Protocol, is trading at $1.48 per coin, up by less than 1% in the last 24 hours. Its positive performance comes despite the massive selloff in the broader cryptocurrency market. 

The coin bucked the trend thanks to Near Protocol’s NEAR Intents platform integration with Starknet, a ZK execution layer scaling Ethereum on Thursday. The integration effectively brings chain-abstracted, intent-based swaps into the ecosystem. 

It also allows users to seamlessly transition between Starknet and the broader cryptocurrency space without having to bridge or go through a complex multi-step process.

NEAR Intents is built on the NEAR layer-1 blockchain, allowing users to swap assets from approximately 25 supported blockchains directly into Starknet. Furthermore, users can also purchase Starknet (STRK) using over 100 tokens, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and more.

NEAR eyes $1.6 despite bearish market conditions

The NEAR/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as the coin has added roughly 1% to its value over the last 24 hours. At press time, NEAR is trading at $1.48 and could rally higher in the near term.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has increased to 36 on the 4-hour chart, confirming a short-term momentum. However, if the RSI remains within the bearish region, NEAR cannot sustain a rally towards the major resistance level at $1.80.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator is still bearish but could flash a buy signal once the upward trend continues. This signal manifests with the blue MACD line crossing above the red signal line, encouraging traders to increase their exposure in this market. 

However, if the recovery fails, NEAR could retest the $1.45 support level over the next few hours.

The post NEAR eyes $1.6 as NEAR Intents integrates with Starknet appeared first on CoinJournal.

Key takeaways

• ADA is down 4% in the last 24 hours and is now trading below $0.37.
• The bearish trend could see ADA decline below the $0.30 psychological level.

Cardano’s on-chain shows further bearish movement

Cardano’s ADA is down by 4% in the last 24 hours, making it one of the worst performers among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap. The bearish performance comes amid poor on-chain data.

According to Santiment’s Social Dominance metric for Cardano, the current outlook for the cryptocurrency remains bearish. The index measures the share of ADA-related discussions across the cryptocurrency media. 

This metric has consistently declined since mid-November, reaching an annual low of 0.032% on Thursday. This dip indicates fading market interest and weakening sentiment among Cardano investors.

As more traders move their coins from wallets to exchanges, ADA continues to face selling pressure as investors decrease their exposure to the market. 

On the derivatives aspect, data also supports a further bearish outlook for ADA. Coinglass’s OI-Weighted Funding Rate data show that the number of traders betting that the price of ADA will decrease as more traders expect a price decline in the near term. 

The OI-Weighted Funding Rate turned negative on Thursday, down 0.0019%, suggesting that shorts are paying longs. If this metric flips negative, ADA usually faces heavy selling pressure. 

ADA could retest $0.30 as bears remain in control

The ADA/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and inefficient as Cardano has underperformed over the past few days. The coin faced rejection from the upper trendline of the falling wedge pattern on December 9 and has lost 22% of its value since then.

At press time, ADA is trading at $0.36 and could dip lower in the near term. If ADA continues its downward trend, the bears could push the price towards the October 10 low of $0.27. 

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart reads 31, nearing oversold territory, indicating strong bearish momentum. Furthermore, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator showed a bearish crossover on Monday, further supporting the negative outlook.

If the bulls regain momentum, ADA could rally towards the 50-day EMA at $0.47 over the next few days.

The post ADA could slip below $0.30 as bearish momentum builds appeared first on CoinJournal.

Key takeaways

• BTC is up by less than 1% and is trading above $87k.
• The market is preparing for the CPI data release in a few hours. 

Bitcoin trades above $87k

The cryptocurrency market has been choppy since the start of the week, with most coins and tokens currently trading in the red. Bitcoin is trading at $87k after losing the $90k psychological level earlier this week.

The bearish performance comes ahead of the release of the CPI data in the United States later today. U.S. inflation data for November, expected to show a 3.1% increase in CPI, could influence Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.

With the October CPI absent due to the government shutdown, the November CPI will give investors a fresh look at price pressure.

Some analysts are optimistic that Bitcoin could experience a temporary relief in the near term. Nick Forster, Founder at the onchain options platform, Derive.xyz, stated that,

“BTC positioning remains decisively bearish. 30-day BTC volatility has climbed back toward 45%, while skew hovers around -5%. Longer-dated skew is also anchored around -5%, signalling that traders are pricing continued downside risk through Q1 and Q2, as ongoing sell pressure from previously inactive wallets weighs on spot prices.”

The analyst added that for BTC, the probability of reaching $100K sits near 30%, while the chance of reclaiming all-time highs remains around 10%.

BTC could risk a deeper correction

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Bitcoin has underperformed over the past few days. The bearish performance comes after Bitcoin’s price faced a rejection from a descending trendline on Friday and has lost 7% of its value since then.

The leading cryptocurrency retested the $85k support level on Wednesday but has bounced back and is now trading above $87k per coin. 

If the correction continues and Bitcoin closes the daily candle below the $85,569 support, Bitcoin could extend the decline toward the psychological $80,000 level.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart is at 41, below its neutral level of 50, indicating bearish momentum gaining traction. Moreover, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) lines are also within the bearish region. 

However, if BTC recovers and closes above $85,569, it could extend the rally towards the resistance level at $94,253.

The post Bitcoin eyes $90k ahead of CPI: Check forecast appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Uniswap price eyes gains above $5.20 after bouncing off lows of $4.87.
• Gains come as the Uniswap community prepares to vote on a key governance proposal.
• The vote could see 100 million UNI burned in the coming days.

Uniswap’s governance token has witnessed a slight price surge as traders position ahead of a potential network burn of 100 million UNI tokens.

This move, tied to the recently proposed “Unification” governance vote, seems to have sparked optimism among investors, with UNI seeing a notable spike in trading volume over the past 24 hours.

The gains for Uniswap come after a recent slump and amid broader market weakness that has altcoins mirroring Bitcoin’s struggles.

Uniswap price eyes gains above $5.20

At the time of writing on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Uniswap’s price hovered around $5.24.

Intraday gains stood at nearly 4% as bulls looked to bounce off lows of $4.87.

This uptick comes on the heels of a recent sell-off below $5.40, which came amid Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s selling of 1,400 UNI tokens.

Initial pressure on the token’s value pushed it to $4.99.

Bulls bounced to $5.30 as Bitcoin showed a sharp uptick earlier in the week.

However, the market appears to have shrugged off this uptick as selling pressure resumed and prices plunged to under $4.90.

Now UNI is eyeing a potential bounce as buying interest resurfaces.

The token’s ability to recover and eye gains above the $5.20 support level will likely strengthen as the community weighs a new governance vote on fees and the potential token burn.

Uniswap poised for 100 million UNI burn

As noted, one potential catalyst for UNI’s price gains lies in the “Unification” proposal.

Hayden Adams, Uniswap founder, submitted a governance proposal for voting on December 18, 2025.

As detailed in his X post, the voting period is scheduled to commence on December 19 at 10:30 PM EST and will conclude on December 25, allowing the Uniswap community to decide the protocol’s future.

If the proposal garners the required votes in favour, it will pass. There’s a two-day time lock period before Uniswap executes its token burn.

Specifically, the proposal looks at the removal of 100 million UNI out of circulation. The key is the flipping of the fee switches for v2 and v3 pools on the mainnet.

“v2 + v3 fee switches will flip on mainnet and begin burning UNI, along with Unichain fees,” Hayden noted.

As the community prepares to vote, the outcome of this proposal could mark a pivotal moment for the Uniswap price.

The token traded at highs of $7.70 in mid-November.

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• Dogecoin has extended its selloff, with bears targeting $0.10 as on-chain and derivatives data turn bearish.
• Large wallet holders are trimming DOGE positions, while short bets rise and retail interest fades.
• A hold above $0.12 could spark a relief rally toward $0.15–$0.18, but downside risks remain elevated.

Dogecoin (DOGE) fell 3% on Thursday after falling about 4% in the prior session.

The share of DOGE supply held at a profit has declined as large wallet holders reduce their positions.

Derivatives market data points to a rise in bearish bets alongside waning retail participation.

From a technical perspective, Dogecoin shows a bearish bias after slipping below its April low, with downside risk extending toward the $0.1000 level.

Dogecoin sees weak investor interest

Data from Santiment shows that wallets holding between 100 million and 1 billion DOGE now control 34.77 billion tokens, down from 36.14 billion on December 1.

This investor group offloaded more than 1 billion DOGE on December 10 and has since kept holdings broadly unchanged.

At the same time, the share of Dogecoin’s supply in profit has slipped to 50.70% from a December 3 peak of 53.95%, pointing to a gradual softening in demand.

In derivatives markets, Dogecoin has also lost momentum.

CoinGlass data shows that short positions in DOGE derivatives have risen to 53.91% from 52.59% on Wednesday.

The increase in bearish positioning signals growing sell-side pressure and coincides with the liquidation of more than $5 million in DOGE long positions over the past 24 hours.

Dogecoin price extends losses towards $0.12

Dogecoin has experienced a notable decline in recent sessions, slipping below key psychological levels and extending its losses into the $0.12 range.

As of writing, DOGE traded near $0.125, reflecting a roughly 10% drop over the past week and 19% down over the month.

The last 24 hours performance is a continuation of the downward momentum that began earlier in the month.

This pullback follows a brief period of consolidation above $0.14, where buyers attempted to defend higher ground.

However, increased selling volume and a breakdown across risk assets has seen Dogecoin dip below the $0.14 support level.

On-chain data reveals reduced supply in profit, with large wallet investors trimming positions.

Profit taking is contributing to the heightened volatility, with macroeconomic headwinds a notable factor.

“Crypto stays caught in the macro crosscurrents. Potential MSCI index exclusions for crypto-treasury firms could trigger up to $2.8bn in passive outflows, pressuring fragile positioning,” wrote QCP Group analysts.

The outlook is that crypto is facing an uneasy end to the year.

DOGE downside risk grows

Trading volumes have surged during downturns, indicating conviction among sellers.

The Relative Strength Index on daily charts has dipped toward oversold territory, signaling intense bearish pressure but also potential for a short-term rebound if buying interest emerges.

Nonetheless, the downside risk for Dogecoin appears to be escalating.

Analysts are increasingly targeting $0.10 as a plausible near-term support level if bears maintain control.

If DOGE sees a decisive close below the current support near $0.12, it could open the door to further declines.

On the flip side, a hold above $0.12 might stabilize the price and allow for a relief rally toward $0.15 and $0.18.

Investors should monitor key support levels closely, as a breach could confirm a deeper correction, whereas a bullish divergence in indicators might signal an impending turnaround.

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• Fidelity’s FBTC dominated inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT also posting strong demand.
• Cumulative net inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs have exceeded $57 billion.
• Shifting US rate expectations are shaping institutional ETF positioning.

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds listed in the US recorded a sharp revival in inflows on Wednesday, signalling renewed institutional engagement after weeks of uneven activity.

The move marked the strongest single-day intake in more than a month and coincided with shifting expectations around US monetary policy.

While Bitcoin’s price action remains constrained by heavy supply levels, ETF flows suggest investors are reassessing exposure through regulated products as macro conditions evolve.

Inflows rebound across major funds

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $457 million in net inflows on Wednesday, their highest daily total since mid-November.

Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund led the session, attracting roughly $391 million and accounting for the bulk of the inflows.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust followed with around $111 million, according to data from Farside Investors.

The latest intake pushed cumulative net inflows for US spot Bitcoin ETFs above $57 billion.

Total net assets climbed past $112 billion, equivalent to about 6.5% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalisation.

The figures underline the growing role ETFs play in shaping institutional access to Bitcoin exposure.

Shift after weeks of uneven flows

The inflow revival comes after a choppy period through November and early December, when ETF activity swung between modest inflows and sharp outflows.

That instability reflected cautious positioning amid uncertain price direction and tightening liquidity conditions.

The last time spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows above $450 million was on November 11, when funds drew roughly $524 million in a single day.

The renewed activity suggests investors may be positioning earlier in anticipation of changing macro conditions, rather than responding to short-term price momentum.

ETF flows have increasingly become a barometer for how institutions interpret broader financial signals.

US rate signals influence positioning

Macro expectations shifted further on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he plans to appoint a new Federal Reserve chair who strongly supports cutting interest rates.

Speaking during a national address marking the first year of his second term, Trump said he would announce a successor to current Fed Chair Jerome Powell early next year.

He added that all known finalists favour lower rates than current levels.

Lower interest rates are generally viewed as supportive for risk assets such as crypto, as they ease financial conditions and improve liquidity.

Against this backdrop, spot Bitcoin ETFs appear to be attracting capital as a relatively direct way to express macro-driven positioning.

Price pressure and fragile demand persist

Despite stronger ETF inflows, Bitcoin’s market structure remains under pressure.

The asset has returned to price levels last seen nearly a year ago, leaving a dense supply zone between $93,000 and $120,000 that continues to cap recovery attempts.

This has pushed the amount of Bitcoin held at a loss to around 6.7 million BTC, the highest level of the current cycle, according to Glassnode.

Glassnode data also points to fragile demand across both spot and derivatives markets.

Spot buying has been selective and short-lived, corporate treasury flows episodic, and futures positioning continues to de-risk rather than rebuild conviction.

Until sellers are absorbed above $95,000 or fresh liquidity enters the market, Bitcoin is likely to remain range-bound, with structural support forming near $81,000.

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• Coinbase has been an investor in CoinDCX since 2020 and disclosed the latest infusion in October.
• The approval follows Coinbase’s reopening of user registrations in India after a two-year hiatus.
• CoinDCX reported a $44.2 million wallet-related security breach in July without customer fund losses.

India’s competition regulator has cleared Coinbase’s plan to deepen its ties with CoinDCX, marking another step in the US-based exchange’s renewed engagement with the Indian crypto market.

The approval allows Coinbase to acquire a minority stake in DCX Global Limited, the parent company of CoinDCX, at a time when global exchanges are reassessing their exposure to high-growth but tightly regulated jurisdictions.

For India, the decision signals a willingness to permit foreign participation in the digital asset sector under formal regulatory scrutiny, even as policy uncertainty and elevated taxes continue to shape market behaviour.

The clearance was issued by the Competition Commission of India on Wednesday, following a review of the proposed transaction.

It comes shortly after Coinbase reopened user registrations in India, ending a two-year pause in local onboarding.

Together, the developments point to a cautious but deliberate attempt by Coinbase to rebuild its presence in one of the world’s largest potential crypto markets.

CCI clears Coinbase CoinDCX deal

The Competition Commission of India approved the transaction involving Coinbase Global Inc. and DCX Global Limited, enabling the acquisition of a minority shareholding.

The regulator confirmed the decision through an official disclosure shared on social media platform X, stating that the proposed combination had received approval.

Coinbase has been associated with CoinDCX since 2022, having invested in the Indian exchange during its earlier expansion phase.

The latest approval formalises an additional capital infusion that was disclosed by Coinbase in mid-October, but required regulatory sign-off before completion.

Coinbase India return strategy

The investment approval aligns with Coinbase’s broader effort to re-enter India after scaling back operations in 2023.

Last week, the exchange resumed onboarding Indian users, initially enabling crypto-to-crypto trading.

According to company plans, a rupee on-ramp is expected to follow in 2026, expanding access beyond token swaps and improving local usability.

This phased approach reflects the constraints of operating in India’s regulatory environment, where compliance requirements and payment restrictions have previously limited foreign exchanges.

By strengthening its stake in CoinDCX, Coinbase gains indirect exposure to local market infrastructure while maintaining regulatory distance from day-to-day operations.

CoinDCX security and market context

The approval also comes after a turbulent year for CoinDCX.

In July, the exchange disclosed a $44.2 million security breach involving one of its wallets.

The company said at the time that customer funds were not impacted, but the incident added pressure in an already cautious market environment.

India continues to pose challenges for crypto platforms due to high transaction taxes and unresolved regulatory frameworks.

Despite these hurdles, the competition watchdog’s decision suggests that authorities are prepared to accommodate global firms, provided investments are structured and subject to oversight.

For Coinbase, the clearance offers a regulated pathway back into India.

For the broader market, it highlights how foreign exchanges may increasingly rely on minority investments and partnerships to navigate complex local rules.

The post Coinbase gains India regulatory clearance for CoinDCX investment appeared first on CoinJournal.

• XRP price is down 5% to trade near $1.80.
• The altcoin’s losses come amid overall bearish market sentiment.
• Ripple token could dip to $1.50, but a bounce is also likely.

Ripple token XRP fell 5% as the cryptocurrency market saw fresh selling pressure in early trading on December 18, 2025.

With major altcoins extending recent declines, Ripple’s cryptocurrency dipped to lows of $1.81.

Amid this broader risk aversion, XRP, one of the top-performing assets earlier in the year, risks slipping further.

XRP bears push price towards $1.80

The XRP token traded around $1.83 at the time of writing.

After breaking lower on Tuesday, prices were down 5% in the past 24 hours as sellers rejected advances at $1.98.

It looked as though they could test bullish sentiment around the $1.80 support zone.

On Thursday, the altcoin touched lows of $1.81, declines that put prices at risk of downside acceleration.

As market data shows, falling price action is accompanied by elevated trading volumes.

Normally, this suggests active distribution rather than isolated panic selling.

This decline aligns with weakness across the altcoin sector, as Bitcoin hovered below the key threshold of $90,000.

Negative sentiment across traditional risk assets is contributing to the selling pressure. Headwinds include macroeconomic uncertainty.

Ripple price forecast

The breach of $1.90 flips the former support at $2.00 into potential overhead resistance.

XRP’s recent moves reinforce bearish control in the near term.

Technical indicators, including a downward-sloping 50-day exponential moving average and downsloping RSI readings, indicate waning momentum.

Meanwhile, derivatives markets have seen increased liquidations on long positions, further exacerbating the downside pressure.

Whale activity also remains mixed.

Despite some large holders accumulating during dips, overall on-chain metrics show heightened distribution from older cohorts.

This dynamic has contributed to the failure of recent rebound attempts, and the reason XRP bulls have found themselves pushed below the $2.00 psychological mark.

From a technical standpoint, the outlook for XRP means bears have an upper hand.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has issued a bearish warning for XRP, identifying a potential “double-top” reversal pattern on its price chart.

This technical setup suggests a possible trend reversal if the asset fails to breach established resistance levels.

Brandt’s caution highlights a growing divergence between technical indicators and Ripple’s strengthening fundamentals, which include recent stablecoin expansions and new institutional tools.

While acknowledging the pattern could fail, Brandt maintains that the current formation signals waning momentum.

Consequently, market focus shifts to XRP’s key support levels as investors weigh technical risks against the ecosystem’s long-term adoption efforts.

I know in advance that all you Riplosts $XRP will forever remind me of this post — ask me if I care
This is a potential double top. Sure, it may fail, and I will deal with this if it does
But for now this has bearish implications
Love it or not — you need to deal with it pic.twitter.com/yPGjzuqNN3

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) December 17, 2025

A sustained break below current levels could see bears targeting the next major support area at $1.70 and potentially $1.50.

However, counterfactors could provide relief for buyers.

Notably, spot XRP ETFs have maintained consistent inflows.

XRP ETFs saw $9.84 million worth of inflows on December 17 according to data by Coinglass.

Confidence in XRP’s long-term outlook means reclaiming $2.00 would open the door for a sentiment flip.

If there’s a rebound toward $2.30, further upside momentum potentially has $3.00 into play.

XRP continues to wait for a breach of the $4.00 mark.

The post XRP price loses $1.90 support as altcoins bleed further appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Analysts estimate forced outflows of up to $15 billion if passive funds are required to sell.
• Strategy accounts for nearly three-quarters of the impacted float-adjusted market capitalisation.
• MSCI’s final decision is due by Jan. 15, with possible implementation in February 2026.

Crypto treasury companies could face heavy selling pressure if MSCI proceeds with a proposal to exclude them from its equity indexes.

Campaigners and analysts warn that removal from widely tracked benchmarks could force passive funds to offload billions of dollars worth of crypto-linked exposure.

The debate has intensified as markets digest months of declining prices and as index providers reassess how to classify firms with large digital asset holdings.

With MSCI’s decision timeline now clear, companies and investors are closely watching what could become a defining moment for crypto’s place in mainstream equity benchmarks.

Potential selling pressure builds

BitcoinForCorporations, a group opposing the proposal, estimates that exclusions could trigger between $10 billion and $15 billion in passive outflows.

The calculation is based on a verified preliminary list of 39 companies with a combined float-adjusted market capitalisation of $113 billion.

Analysts reviewing the same universe put potential outflows at around $11.6 billion across all affected firms.

The largest exposure sits with Michael Saylor’s Strategy (previously known as Microstrategy), which represents 74.5% of the total impacted float-adjusted market cap.

JPMorgan’s analysis suggests that Strategy alone could see $2.8 billion in outflows if removed from MSCI indexes.

Such forced selling could add pressure to crypto markets that have already been trending lower for nearly three months.

Why MSCI rules matter

MSCI announced in October that it was consulting investors on whether companies holding the majority of their balance sheet in crypto should be excluded from its indexes.

These benchmarks are used by passive investment funds worldwide to decide which stocks they must hold.

As a result, inclusion or exclusion can directly affect a company’s access to capital and shareholder base.

For crypto treasury firms, index membership has become increasingly important as institutional ownership grows.

Any rule change that leads to exclusion would not be a technical adjustment but a structural shift in how these companies are treated by global asset managers.

Balance sheet debate intensifies

BitcoinForCorporations argues that using balance sheet composition as a deciding factor is flawed.

The group says a single metric does not capture whether a company operates a real business with customers, revenue, and ongoing operations.

Under the proposed approach, firms could be removed even if their core business model remains unchanged.

The group has urged MSCI to abandon the proposal and continue classifying companies based on business activity, financial performance, and operational characteristics rather than crypto exposure alone.

The concern is that the rule would effectively penalise companies for holding digital assets without assessing how those assets fit into broader corporate strategy.

MSCI is expected to publish its final conclusions by January 15.

If approved, implementation would be scheduled for the February 2026 Index Review, setting the stage for potential large-scale reallocations by passive funds.

The post MSCI index exclusion puts crypto treasury companies at risk of forced selling appeared first on CoinJournal.

Key takeaways 

• BTC is up 1.5% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $87k per coin.
• The performance comes despite the bearish sentiment in the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin recaptures $87k

The cryptocurrency market is bullish on Wednesday following a poor start to the week, with Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP currently in the green. The price action for the top three cryptocurrencies remains weak, but they could record temporary relief over the next few hours.  

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market cap, is trading above $87k per coin but could record further losses in the near term. In an email to Coinjournal, Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of the Coin Bureau, believes that the market could face further selling pressure over the next few days. Nic added that,

“Bitcoin is in the red once again – a chart that is becoming all too familiar as a disappointing Q4 draws to a close. Having fallen to around $86,000, BTC is now knocking on the door of its 100-week moving average – a strong support level that sits around $84,800. And, once again, AI bubble fears and concerns over future monetary policy appear to be to blame.” 

Bitcoin could extend its correction in the near term

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Bitcoin has underperformed since the start of the week. Bitcoin’s price faced rejection on Friday and has lost 7% of its value since then. 

BTC retested the $85,569 support level on Monday, with the level holding, allowing BTC to hit the $87,500 level on Wednesday. 

If the correction continues and the daily candle closes below the $85,569 support, Bitcoin could extend the decline toward the psychological $80,000 level.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart is at 38, below its neutral level of 50, indicating bearish momentum gaining traction. Moreover, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) lines have converged, adding a bearish narrative to the chart. 

However, if the bullish trend resumes, Bitcoin could rally towards the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $94,253.

The post Bitcoin price forecast: BTC above $87k but sentiment remains bearish appeared first on CoinJournal.

Key takeaways

• HYPE is up by less than 1% and is trading at $27 per coin.
• The coin could reclaim the $30 psychological level amid plans to burn the assistance fund

Hyperliquid looks to burn assistance funds

HYPE, the native coin of the Hyperliquid DEX, is up by less than 1% in the last 24 hours, making it one of the best performers among the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

The positive performance comes as Bitcoin, XRP, and Ether are all trading in the red. It also comes as the Hyperliquid Foundation announced plans to permanently remove 37.11 million HYPE tokens from circulation, representing 3.71% of the total supply.

The Hyper Foundation is proposing a validator vote to formally recognize the Assistance Fund HYPE as burned, removing the tokens permanently from the circulating and total supply.

For context, the Assistance Fund converts trading fees to HYPE in a fully automated manner as part…

— Hyper Foundation (@HyperFND) December 17, 2025

The tokens are stored in its assistance fund address, and they will automatically convert the trading fees collected by the perpetual-focused exchange to purchase its native token. 

According to the team, the absence of a private key meant that the assistance fund address was never controlled, and a hard fork was necessary to access the funds. With the voting currently ongoing, if the community approves the proposal, it will establish a social consensus that no protocol upgrades are to access this address. 

However, the derivatives data show that traders are becoming bullish on this cryptocurrency. CoinGlass data reveals that the Open Interest (OI) surged by 1.63% in the last 24 hours to $1.53 billion, indicating a rise in the notional value of active positions.

The increase of HYPE’s OI-weighted funding rate to 0.0839% also shows that there is a surge in buying pressure, adding more confluence to the bulls. 

HYPE could recapture $30 soon

The HYPE/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient after losing 4% of its value in the last seven days. At press time, HYPE is trading above the $26 support level.

The news of a potential burn hasn’t been priced in, and this could push HYPE’s price over the next few days. 

However, failure to close the daily candle fails to close above the $26 support, HYPE could extend its decline to the October 10 low near $20. 

The RSI of 40 is below the neutral 50 but shows a fading bearish momentum. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and the signal line extend the declining trend, suggesting that the bears haven’t given up yet. 

On the flip side, if the bulls continue the recovery and HYPE’s daily candle closes above $26, the coin could rally towards the $34 resistance level.

The post Hyperliquid price prediction: HYPE eyes the $30 resistance appeared first on CoinJournal.

• BitMine buys $140M in ETH, boosting its treasury to nearly 4M ETH.
• US Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw $582M in combined outflows.
• Ethereum trades near $2,950, capped by EMAs, with support at $2,900.

Ethereum price forecast remains cautiously optimistic as the cryptocurrency struggles to maintain momentum, trading near $2,950 after slipping roughly 12% over the past week.

While Ether has avoided a decisive breakdown, the broader market, including Bitcoin (BTC), shows signs of fatigue amid waning participation and cautious trading behaviour.

BitMine adds $140M ETH in the dip

As the price of Ethereum (ETH) fell below $3,000, Tom Lee’s Ethereum treasury firm, BitMine, reportedly acquired an additional $140 million worth of ETH on Monday, bringing its total holdings to nearly 3.97 million ETH, valued at approximately $11.6 billion.

This acquisition aligns with BitMine’s long-term goal of securing 5% of the circulating Ethereum supply, signalling strong confidence in the asset despite current market weakness.

The firm’s aggressive accumulation strategy has continued throughout the year, with notable purchases of over 240,000 ETH in early December alone.

Following the ETH purchase, BitMine stock closed higher on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism around its treasury strategy.

ETF outflows signal macro-driven caution

While BitMine strengthens its Ethereum holdings, institutional investors appear to be trimming risk elsewhere.

US-listed Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum ETFs experienced combined outflows of roughly $582 million on Monday, marking the largest daily redemptions in two weeks.

Bitcoin ETFs alone saw $357.6 million in net outflows, while Ethereum ETFs reported nearly $225 million.

Analysts suggest these withdrawals reflect macro-level de-risking tied to volatility in US equities and uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy rather than crypto-specific stress.

But despite these ETF flows, the structural foundation for Ethereum and Bitcoin remains robust, with long-term holders continuing to support the market, although short-term volatility has heightened as traders adjust exposure based on risk assets outside the crypto space.

Ethereum price prediction

BitMine’s purchases demonstrate corporate conviction in Ethereum’s long-term prospects, even as Ethereum ETFs show temporary withdrawals.

The juxtaposition of aggressive treasury accumulation and institutional caution underscores the mixed signals that traders must navigate.

From a technical standpoint, Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading in a late-stage corrective phase, with resistance defined by declining exponential moving averages (EMAs).

Price remains below the 20-day EMA near $3,075 and the 50-day EMA around $3,250, limiting the potential for a sustained rebound.

Spot outflows persist, totalling roughly $18.7 million, while open interest has declined to approximately $37 billion as leverage unwinds.

However, technical indicators, including the daily RSI, suggest weakening downside momentum but have yet to signal a bullish reversal.

The immediate support is found around $2,900 to $2,880 and a decisive break below this range could open the path to $2,700–$2,750, where deeper buying may emerge.

On the upside, reclaiming and holding above $3,075 would indicate diminishing selling pressure, while a move toward $3,250 would require a meaningful shift in volume and spot flows.

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