Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the company behind the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), is negotiating an investment in crypto payments firm MoonPay as part of a funding round that could value the company at approximately $5 billion, according to a recent Bloomberg report.

The potential valuation marks a 47% increase from MoonPay’s previous $3.4 billion valuation, which comes just a month after the company secured approval from the New York Department of Financial Services to position it alongside Coinbase and PayPal.

ICE Expands Digital Asset Portfolio with Strategic Bets

ICE’s potential investment reflects an aggressive expansion into emerging financial technologies.

The exchange operator already manages Bakkt, its proprietary crypto platform, and recently deployed $2 billion into Polymarket, the prediction market platform that gained prominence during the 2024 election cycle.

Beyond direct investments, ICE forged a technical partnership with Chainlink in August to deliver foreign exchange and precious metals rates onchain through Chainlink Data Streams.

The integration leverages ICE’s Consolidated Feed, which aggregates real-time pricing data from over 300 exchanges and marketplaces worldwide, contributing to Chainlink’s derived FX and metals datasets used across decentralized finance protocols.

The latest NYSE-backed investment talks emerge as MoonPay transitions from a simple cryptocurrency on-ramp provider into a full-service digital asset custodian capable of holding client assets and executing institutional-level trades.

The Limited Purpose Trust Charter complements MoonPay’s existing BitLicense, allowing the company to expand custody and other crypto services throughout New York.

This regulatory milestone places MoonPay in direct competition with established players operating under New York’s strict digital asset licensing requirements, which include comprehensive anti-money laundering protocols and consumer protection standards.

Moonpay High-Profile Leadership Hire Signals Regulatory Focus

MoonPay announced Wednesday that Caroline Pham, the acting chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will join as chief legal officer following her departure from the agency.

Pham will depart once the Senate confirms Mike Selig, Trump’s choice to chair the CFTC permanently.

She showed her readiness for the handover on X, writing: “I’m looking forward to a successful confirmation of Mike Selig as the CFTC’s next chairman and a smooth transition once he is sworn in. The future is bright. Onward and upward.”

Her background spans both Wall Street and Washington.

She previously led market structure for strategic initiatives as a Managing Director at Citigroup. She used her CFTC role to push forward innovation policies that supported President Trump’s pro-crypto objectives.

The leadership addition arrives as MoonPay expands its product offerings.

The same day, digital asset platform Exodus partnered with MoonPay to launch a US dollar-backed stablecoin aimed at mainstream adoption.

According to JP Richardson, co-founder and CEO of Exodus, “Stablecoins are quickly becoming the simplest way for people to hold and move dollars onchain, but the experience still needs to meet the expectations set by today’s consumer apps.”

Building a Regulated Footprint

MoonPay has steadily expanded its regulatory credentials throughout the year.

The company secured a Money Transmitter License from Wisconsin’s Department of Financial Institutions in March, strengthening its nationwide compliance framework.

Ivan Soto-Wright, MoonPay’s co-founder and CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of regulatory credentials at the time.

“Earning our Wisconsin MTL strengthens our position in the market as a fully-regulated platform, and further solidifies our commitment to iron-clad compliance,” he said.

The company has simultaneously pursued partnerships that extend its infrastructure beyond traditional crypto trading.

In late October, Rumble announced an exclusive collaboration with MoonPay to launch Rumble Wallet, enabling content creators to manage earnings outside conventional banking systems and execute trades in Bitcoin and other digital assets directly through the video platform.

The post NYSE Owner ICE in Talks to Invest in MoonPay at Nearly $5 Billion Valuation appeared first on Cryptonews.

Nearly half of younger US investors now hold crypto as traditional wealth-building paths grow increasingly out of reach, according to new data from Coinbase.

The findings show that 45% of younger investors already own crypto, compared to just 18% of older generations, and that three-quarters believe their generation faces harder odds of building wealth through conventional means than previous cohorts did.

The State of Crypto Q4 2025 report, compiled from a survey of 4,350 US adults, including 2,005 active investors, found younger generations allocating 25% of their portfolios to non-traditional assets, triple the 8% allocation among older investors.

Beyond the allocation gap, younger investors demonstrate markedly different attitudes toward digital assets, with four in five viewing crypto as creating financial opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist for their generation.

A Generation Betting Against the Old Playbook

Despite reporting greater optimism about broader economic conditions, younger investors don’t believe traditional wealth-building mechanisms work in their favor.

The cohort has watched housing affordability deteriorate while student debt mounted and wage growth lagged, driving 73% to conclude that their generation faces steeper wealth-building challenges than 57% of older adults.

This perception translates directly into portfolio decisions. While stock ownership rates remain similar across age groups, younger investors add substantially more alternative exposure, actively seeking reward mechanisms beyond conventional stock dividends.

The strategy reflects deliberate pursuit of tools and markets that might help close generational wealth gaps rather than passive investment approaches.

The crypto allocation isn’t treated as speculative positioning but as a central strategy. Nearly half of younger investors (47%) want access to new crypto assets before general market availability, compared with just 16% of older investors.

Four in five younger adults believe cryptocurrency will play a significantly larger role in future financial systems, dropping to three in five among older investors.

Risk Appetite Extends Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum

The willingness to embrace emerging opportunities doesn’t stop at spot crypto holdings.

Four in five younger investors say they’re willing to try new investment opportunities before others, compared with under half of older adults.

Interest spans crypto derivatives, prediction markets, round-the-clock stock trading, early-stage token sales, altcoins, and decentralized finance lending products.

This pattern marks a clear departure from recent data showing cooling crypto enthusiasm across broader investor populations.

A December FINRA Foundation study found crypto consideration among US investors dropped from 33% to 26% between 2021 and 2024, while those viewing digital assets as extremely or very risky rose from 58% to 66%.

Yet that pullback appears concentrated among older demographics rather than the younger cohort driving current adoption.

The generational divide extends to trading behavior and information sourcing.

Younger investors trade more frequently, take more calculated risks to chase higher returns, and push platforms toward always-on operations that support a wider asset range.

Notably, social media “finfluencers” now guide investment decisions for 61% of investors under 35, with YouTube serving as the dominant platform, and word-of-mouth from friends and family surpassing financial professional recommendations.

The Infrastructure for a New Investment Generation

The shift toward non-traditional assets among younger investors aligns with separate findings showing institutional adoption bolstering confidence.

A November Zerohash survey found that 35% of wealthy young Americans had already moved money away from advisers who did not offer crypto exposure, with more than four-fifths reporting increased confidence as major institutions like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley embraced digital assets.

Portfolio concentration in volatile assets raises legitimate concerns about long-term financial stability.

However, the trend appears durable rather than speculative, with median allocations to non-traditional assets reaching meaningful levels, and younger investors consistently describing crypto as essential to wealth-building strategy rather than an opportunistic position.

Coinbase is responding by building what it calls the Everything Exchange, designed to support trading across asset types at any time while maintaining security, compliance, and responsible innovation standards.

The approach recognizes that younger investors expect platforms native to an internet-first generation rather than traditional market structures built around limited trading hours and narrow asset selection.

The post 45% of Young Investors Own Crypto as Housing Dreams Fade: Survey appeared first on Cryptonews.

MSCI’s proposal to exclude digital asset treasury companies from its Global Investable Market Indexes has triggered mounting opposition from industry leaders, with analysts warning the move could trigger selling pressure of $10 billion to $15 billion across 39 companies holding $113 billion in combined float-adjusted market capitalization.

The consultation closes December 31, with a final decision expected January 15, 2026, targeting firms whose digital asset holdings exceed 50% of total assets, with implementation scheduled for February’s Index Review.

Strategy Inc. formally challenged the proposal in a December 10 letter, signed by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor and CEO Phong Le, calling the move “misguided” and “profoundly harmful consequences” to capital markets and U.S. digital asset leadership.

The company argued that the proposal conflicts with the current administration’s pro-innovation digital asset agenda, including initiatives such as a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and efforts to expand retirement plan access to digital assets.

Operating Companies Face Investment Fund Classification

Strategy’s core argument centers on distinguishing operating businesses from passive investment vehicles.

The company emphasized that it runs a Bitcoin-backed corporate treasury and capital markets program, issuing equity and fixed-income instruments with varying levels of Bitcoin exposure.

BitcoinForCorporations’ technical analysis demonstrates MSCI’s proposal violates core benchmark principles of representativeness, neutrality, and stability under IOSCO and BMR standards.

The group notes that MSCI has historically included REITs despite their 75% real estate concentration, Berkshire Hathaway, with its large investment portfolio, and mining companies holding substantial gold reserves.

Yet, it has never excluded operating companies based on their treasury asset composition.

Strategy warned MSCI’s 50% threshold is arbitrary, noting crypto volatility and divergent accounting standards could cause companies to “whipsaw on and off” indices as valuations fluctuate.

Industry Coalition Challenges Methodology

Strive Asset Management also submitted opposition on December 6, with CEO Matt Cole arguing that the proposal misunderstands the role of Bitcoin-focused firms in AI infrastructure.

Miners, including MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, and Hut 8, are retooling data centers for high-intensity AI workloads. “Many analysts argue that the AI race is increasingly limited by access to power, not semiconductors,” Cole wrote.

Strive proposed a parallel “ex-digital asset treasury” index version, allowing selective avoidance while maintaining full market exposure for others.

For now, BitcoinForCorporations’ petition opposing the exclusion has gathered over 1,000 signatures, while Bitwise Asset Management has also voiced its support for the strategy, arguing “the power of a great index lies in its neutrality.”

Financial Impact Analysis Reveals Concentrated Risk

Before now, JPMorgan analysts have previously estimated that Strategy alone could face $2.8 billion in outflows, with $9 billion of its market capitalization held by passive funds.

BitcoinForCorporations’ analysis projects total forced selling between $10 billion and $15 billion, with tracking error ranging from 15 to 150 basis points, depending on volatility, particularly harmful to institutional mandates with 20 to 50 basis point tracking tolerances.

The preliminary list includes 18 current constituents representing $98 billion in float-adjusted market capitalization facing immediate removal, accounting for 87% of total capital impact.

An additional 21 non-constituents, worth $15 billion, face permanent exclusion, representing massive pre-emptive blocking in MSCI’s methodology. Strategy accounts for 74.5% of the total impacted market cap at $84.1 billion.

Implementation costs are estimated between $50 million and $225 million across index families, with turnover costs ranging from 5 to 25 basis points. The MSCI ACWI faces the highest estimated impact, ranging from $55 million to $225 million.

Speaking with Cryptonews, Farzam Ehsani, Co-founder and CEO of VALR, explained that markets are pricing in potential forced flows.

“The market is assessing not only the likelihood of a decline in stock prices of companies whose balance sheets are tied to Bitcoin’s movements, but also potential chain reactions within funds using these indices as benchmarks,” Ehsani said.

Affected companies collectively hold over $137 billion in digital assets.

The industry awaits MSCI’s January 15 decision. Strategy urged MSCI to reject the proposal, stating “the wiser course is for MSCI to remain neutral and let the markets decide the course of DATs.“

The post MSCI Index Changes Could Force $15B Crypto Treasury Selloff appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Federal Reserve withdrew its 2023 policy statement that effectively barred banks from crypto activities and denied Custodia Bank’s master account application.

The move comes as Wyoming-chartered Custodia pursues a full-court appeal of its master account denial, while regulatory agencies expose widespread debanking practices that systematically excluded crypto firms from traditional banking services between 2020 and 2023.

Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the policy shift creates pathways for responsible innovation while maintaining safety standards.

“New technologies offer efficiencies to banks and improved products and services to bank customers,” she said.

The original 2023 guidance had limited state member banks to activities permitted under other federal banking regulations, but evolving financial systems and improved regulatory understanding rendered those restrictions obsolete.

Custodia Escalates Legal Battle After Years of Regulatory Roadblocks

Custodia filed a petition with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 15, requesting en banc review of the Fed’s denial of its master account after a three-judge panel upheld the rejection in October.

The bank argues the decision violates the Monetary Control Act’s mandate that payment services “shall be available” to eligible depository institutions, creating unconstitutional veto power over state banking charters.

Without master account access, Custodia cannot use Federal Reserve wire transfers or automated clearinghouse systems despite meeting all statutory requirements under Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institution framework, which requires 100% reserve backing and prohibits lending to reduce risk.

The petition raises federalism concerns about federal regulators effectively overriding Wyoming’s 2020 charter decision, which was designed to attract digital asset companies within stringent safety parameters.

Back in November, Judge Timothy Tymkovich’s dissent highlighted that granting unreviewable discretion to regional Reserve Bank presidents raises constitutional questions, since those officials are selected by private bank directors rather than appropriately appointed as federal officers.

The dissent created a 2-2 split among circuit judges on whether the Monetary Control Act mandates master account access, with Tymkovich writing that the Fed’s interpretation grants unreviewable discretion while contradicting the statute’s plain language.

The Kansas City Fed denied Custodia’s application in January 2023 after 27 months, citing crypto-asset risks despite internal documents showing staff deemed the bank’s capital adequate and its executive team impressive.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has since acknowledged the Fed possesses sufficient tools to manage risks through tailored account structures without resorting to blanket denials.

His October remarks undermined the necessity argument that regulators used to justify rejecting Custodia’s application, while broader investigations revealed systematic exclusionary practices across major banks.

Banking Giants Exposed for Inappropriate Crypto Restrictions

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released findings showing all nine largest national banks imposed inappropriate restrictions on lawful businesses, including digital asset companies, between 2020 and 2023.

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC, TD Bank, and BMO maintained internal policies requiring escalated approvals or blanket restrictions on sectors conflicting with institutional values.

The review examined thousands of debanking complaints after President Trump signed an August executive order intended to prevent account closures based solely on crypto activity.

OCC Comptroller Jonathan Gould said the practices were widespread and represented improper use of national bank charters.

Some users claimed their accounts were abruptly closed under vague references to concerning activity, fueling allegations of coordinated exclusion similar to Operation Chokepoint.

Banks insisted they did not discriminate, but many restrictive policies were publicly visible throughout the investigation period.

The regulatory shift extends beyond debanking investigations.

The OCC conditionally approved five crypto firms, including Circle and Ripple, to launch national trust banks in December, giving digital asset companies access to federal banking charters with single-rulebook oversight instead of navigating state-by-state regulations.

Paxos received federal supervision to issue stablecoins, while Ripple’s charter excludes RLUSD issuance but allows custody and settlement services without deposit-taking or lending activities.

The approved firms have 18 months to raise capital, assemble staff, and build compliant infrastructure before facing final OCC examination.

The post Fed Scraps 2023 Crypto Banking Ban That Blocked Crypto Bank Custodia appeared first on Cryptonews.

Coinbase has received regulatory approval from India’s Competition Commission to acquire a minority stake in CoinDCX valued at $2.45 billion, marking a crucial milestone in the US exchange’s expansion into one of Asia’s fastest-growing crypto markets.

The clearance follows months of regulatory review and deepens Coinbase’s partnership with India’s largest digital asset platform.

Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal called the approval an “important regulatory milestone” that strengthens Coinbase’s long-term commitment to CoinDCX, which now serves over 20.4 million users across India and the UAE with more than $1.2 billion in assets under custody.

The investment builds on Coinbase’s initial backing of CoinDCX in 2020 and comes after the Indian exchange faced significant security challenges earlier this year.

Recovery Following $44 Million Security Breach

The approval arrives seven months after CoinDCX suffered a major hack that compromised $44 million from an internal liquidity account.

Cybersecurity firm Cyvers linked the July incident to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, noting the attack followed the same pattern as the $234 million WazirX breach that occurred exactly one year earlier.

Hackers executed the theft in just five minutes across seven rapid transactions, siphoning funds after conducting test transactions days earlier.

Indian police later arrested a CoinDCX software engineer whose compromised credentials allegedly enabled the breach.

However, the employee claimed that hackers exploited his system while he worked as a freelancer using company equipment.

CoinDCX CEO Sumit Gupta confirmed customer funds remained secure throughout the incident and launched a recovery bounty program offering up to 25% of retrieved assets, potentially worth $11 million.

Coinbase explicitly referenced the breach in its investment statement, writing that CoinDCX’s response to challenges “only strengthened our conviction in their team and platform.“

Strategic Positioning in Key Growth Markets

The investment reinforces Coinbase’s presence in India and the Middle East, following CoinDCX’s acquisition of Dubai-based BitOasis last year.

Coinbase described both regions as “top regions for crypto growth” driven by high adoption rates, supportive regulation, and substantial economic potential.

Gupta said the fresh capital would accelerate new product launches across the Web3 ecosystem while enabling market expansion and enhanced security infrastructure.

He called the investment “more than just capital,” adding that “it’s a deep vote of confidence in our mission, approach, and team.“

The funding comes as Coinbase simultaneously reopened direct operations in India following a two-year hiatus, now offering crypto-to-crypto trading with plans to integrate rupee deposits by 2026.

The company’s return required full regulatory compliance after suspending services in 2023, when payment processors blocked its access to the Unified Payments Interface.

John O’Loghlen, Coinbase’s Asia-Pacific director, explained that forcing existing customers to close their accounts ran counter to typical business strategy but established a clean regulatory slate.

Coinbase subsequently secured Financial Intelligence Unit registration alongside competitors, including Binance, KuCoin, and Bybit, all of which faced similar regulatory obstacles before paying penalties and resuming operations.

Broader Strategic Expansion Beyond India

The CoinDCX deal strengthens Coinbase’s foothold in a market where citizens hold approximately $4.5 billion in digital assets, despite restrictive tax policies, including a 30% profit levy and a mandatory 1% transaction tax.

India consistently ranks among the top countries in global crypto adoption indices, though the Reserve Bank continues to oppose cryptocurrencies due to financial stability concerns.

Coinbase now employs over 500 people across India while continuing to hire for both domestic and international operations.

Grewal recently joined the US-India Business Council board to strengthen bilateral commercial relationships.

The CoinDCX investment aligns with Coinbase’s broader expansion into new product categories and markets.

The exchange recently launched prediction markets through a partnership with Kalshi, introduced stock trading capabilities, and announced Solana integration at its San Francisco product showcase, where CEO Brian Armstrong declared that “Coinbase is now the best place to trade every asset, not just crypto.“

The company also filed with US regulators for a National Trust Company Charter to offer payments and financial services without relying on third-party banks. It also recently relocated its corporate registration from Delaware to Texas to improve regulatory efficiency and flexibility.

The post Coinbase Wins India Approval for $2.45B CoinDCX Stake appeared first on Cryptonews.

On-chain data reveals that the number of active Bitcoin wallets has declined to 2023 lows, indicating that even as prices fluctuate, fewer market participants are conducting transactions.

Bitcoin price prediction metrics suggest that the price must reclaim the $100,000 psychological threshold to prevent a deep bear market decline.

Fear Index Hits Extreme Territory as Year-End Approaches

Bitcoin’s Fear & Greed Index has plummeted to 11, signaling Extreme Fear.

According to a Japanese analyst at XWIN Research, fresh capital inflows into Bitcoin are beginning to diminish, and as year-end nears, both participation and capital typically become less active, further reducing market liquidity.

“In such an environment, price action tends to become more volatile due to thin liquidity. At the same time, reduced noise allows the underlying supply and demand dynamics to become clearer,” the analysts explained.

Crypto analyst Moreno also observed that Bitcoin sits at a level carrying more significance than appearances suggest.

The current $86,000 price rests above the True Market Mean Price (TMMP), which represents the average on-chain acquisition price of investors, excluding miners.

Moreno projects that if Bitcoin maintains above the TMMP ($81,500), the bull trend would be well alive.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Weekly Chart Shows Critical $81K Defense Zone

Bitcoin’s weekly chart displays a clear transition from expansion to correction following repeated failures above the $100,000 psychological resistance.

Price has definitively lost the $100,000 level and now trades below key moving averages, which have begun rolling over and functioning as dynamic resistance around the $103,000–$108,000 zone.

The most crucial structural level on the downside sits at $81,000, marked as the average cost basis support.

Price currently hovers just above this zone, making it a critical inflection point for the broader market.

The MACD remains firmly bearish with expanding negative histogram bars, signaling downside momentum still dominates despite the recent slowdown in selling pressure.

Moreover, a sustained weekly close below $81,000 would expose the final bull-market defense near $74,000, where stronger long-term buyers are expected to emerge.

Conversely, reclaiming $100,000 and maintaining above it would be necessary to invalidate bearish momentum and reopen pathways for advancement back toward the $105,000–$110,000 range.

Pepenode Raises $2.3M Ahead of Bitcoin Post-Breakout Rally

If Bitcoin finally breaks the $100,000 resistance and initiates the 2026 bull run, meme coins like Pepenode (PEPENODE) would experience increased demand.

Pepenode is a new crypto project that’s already raised over $2.3 million despite the crypto market losing over 30% of its value since October.

It’s a game where you can mine coins without needing expensive hardware setups.

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

Now that more people are investing in Pepenode’s mining rigs, the presale price is advancing rapidly.

To join the presale before the ongoing round sells out, go to the official Pepenode website, and connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet.

You can then buy PEPENODE tokens for $0.0012016 and pay with crypto using ETH or USDT, or use a bank card for fast payment.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Active Wallets Drop to 2023 Lows as Liquidity Thins — Can BTC Reclaim $100K and Invalidate the Bears? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Tether unveiled PearPass, a peer-to-peer password manager that eliminates the need for cloud storage and centralized servers, amid major breaches that have exposed billions of credentials.

The stablecoin giant announced that its free application synchronizes encrypted passwords directly between user devices via a peer-to-peer architecture, removing traditional cloud infrastructure vulnerabilities that have plagued competitors.

PearPass addresses escalating cybersecurity threats as cloud-based password managers face persistent attacks from sophisticated hackers targeting centralized databases.

The application stores credentials exclusively on user devices while enabling encrypted synchronization across platforms without intermediaries, giving users complete control over digital security through locally stored data.

Decentralized Architecture Removes Single Point of Failure

The password manager eliminates server dependencies through peer-to-peer synchronization, unlike traditional cloud-based competitors that store millions of credentials on centralized infrastructure.

PearPass employs end-to-end encryption powered by open-source cryptographic libraries, allowing users to recover their accounts using personal keys rather than relying on external systems that are vulnerable to breaches.

“Every major breach proves the same point: if your secrets live in the cloud, they’re not really yours,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.

“PearPass removes the single point of failure. No servers, no intermediaries, no back doors. Recovery and synchronization across users’ devices happens peer-to-peer, with your keys, under your control, without gatekeepers.“

The application underwent independent security auditing by Secfault Security, a specialist in offensive security and cryptographic analysis, to ensure resilience against real-world threats.

PearPass includes built-in password generation and continues to function during outages or in high-threat environments, maintaining operability when centralized systems fail.

The fully open-source code allows community auditing, enabling developers to review security implementations independently.

Growing Demand for Privacy-First Communication Tools

PearPass represents Tether’s first fully open-source application developed on the Pears ecosystem, which builds decentralized solutions for sovereignty, efficiency, privacy, and security.

The launch follows growing adoption of peer-to-peer technologies as users seek alternatives to centralized platforms facing regulatory pressure and surveillance concerns.

Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat messaging app recorded over 360,00 downloads since launch, with 48,781 downloads in Nepal during September protests against government corruption and social media bans.

The Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network application operates without an internet connection, enabling encrypted communication between devices within 30 meters during network shutdowns.

Madagascar experienced similar adoption spikes during violent protests over utility shortages, with Google Trends showing searches spiking from zero to 100 in Antananarivo as demonstrators sought censorship-resistant communication.

The peer-to-peer app recorded over 21,000 downloads within 24 hours during civil unrest that prompted government curfews across the capital.

Elon Musk also announced XChat, a development for the X platform featuring Bitcoin-style encryption, promising cross-platform communication without phone number requirements.

“WhatsApp knows enough about what you’re texting to know what ads to show you,” Musk alleged during a recent podcast interview. “That’s a massive security vulnerability.”

The messaging service is expected to launch within months as part of Musk’s broader “everything app” ambitions.

Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies Across Jurisdictions

Privacy-focused platforms face mounting regulatory pressure as governments demand access to encrypted communications for law enforcement purposes.

The European Union is advancing Chat Control regulations requiring messaging apps to scan content before encryption, with 15 countries currently supporting the controversial proposal despite privacy advocates warning of mass-surveillance implications.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov remains out on bail of €5 million following a French arrest under warrants related to the encrypted messaging platform.

The 40-year-old billionaire criticized charges as “legally and logically absurd” while avoiding infrastructure deployment in jurisdictions with aggressive surveillance demands.

Despite this tightening of regulations across Europe, Worldcoin also introduced World Chat in March, integrating encrypted messaging with World ID verification and distinguishing verified users with blue chat bubbles.

The feature enables crypto transfers within conversations while supporting over 100 Mini Apps that launched more than 250 million times in early 2025.

For this new privacy app, Tether emphasized that PearPass represents technology designed to withstand future centralization pressures from governments, corporations, and intermediaries seeking to control data.

The company plans additional ecosystem applications restoring internet control to individual users through decentralized infrastructure resilient against external seizure or compromise.

The post Tether Launches PearPass, a Peer-to-Peer Password Manager Without Cloud Storage appeared first on Cryptonews.

HashKey Holdings saw its shares slip 3% on Wednesday during its Hong Kong trading debut, closing at HK$6.51 after pricing near the top of its marketed range at HK$6.68, according to CNBC.

The crypto exchange raised $206 million in its initial public offering, marking the first public listing by a digital asset company in the city, even as bitcoin tumbled 36% from its October all-time high above $126,000.

The underwhelming performance came despite robust investor demand, with the institutional tranche drawing subscriptions 5.5 times the available stock and retail investors oversubscribing by nearly 394 times.

Cornerstone investors, including Fidelity, UBS, CDH Investments, and Cithara Fund, participated in the offering, while JPMorgan and Guotai Haitong served as joint bookrunners.

Hong Kong’s Crypto Hub Ambitions Face Market Headwinds

Founded in 2018, HashKey operates the city’s largest licensed virtual asset trading platform and secured one of the earliest approvals under Hong Kong’s 2022 digital asset regime.

The company holds more than 75% of Hong Kong’s onshore digital asset trading volume, providing exchange services alongside over-the-counter trading, staking, tokenization, and asset management solutions for institutional and retail clients.

Speaking with Reuters, CEO Xiao Feng emphasized his long-term confidence despite near-term volatility.

“My confidence is only growing stronger and I am more optimistic than 10 years ago because there’s more regulation and compliance guidelines for us to follow which will allow the industry to grow further,” he said at the listing ceremony.

The exchange facilitated HK$1.7 trillion in trading volume through September 2025, though first-half revenue fell 26% year over year to HK$284 million.

HashKey posted a HK$506.7 million loss during that period, narrowing from HK$772.6 million the previous year as the company invested heavily in compliance infrastructure and market expansion.

Mainland Ban Contrasts With Hong Kong’s Digital Asset Push

Hong Kong’s embrace of cryptocurrencies stands in sharp contrast to mainland China, which banned crypto trading in 2021 and recently renewed warnings about virtual assets.

The city launched a stablecoin licensing system this year and is considering allowing exchanges to connect local platforms with global operations, positioning itself as a testing ground for regulated digital asset adoption.

Xiao distinguished Hong Kong’s approach from Beijing’s crackdown, noting mainland measures targeted pyramid schemes and stablecoin fraud.

“Hong Kong continues to promote policies regarding digital assets and we have benefited from that,” he said. “We should firmly adhere to ‘one country’, but wisely take advantage of ‘two systems.’“

CFO Eric Zhu expressed confidence that the Asian market would catch up with U.S. crypto penetration rates.

“We are confident that the penetration rate in Hong Kong, in the Asian market, is going to catch up with what happens in the U.S,” he told CNBC.

The company plans to deploy IPO proceeds toward technology infrastructure upgrades, market expansion partnerships, and enhanced risk management systems.

HashKey will prioritize cash flow over profitability in the near term while continuing investments as the sector develops, according to Xiao.

The listing arrived during a challenging period for global crypto equities.

As reported earlier by Cryptonews, stablecoin provider Circle lost 70% of its value since peaking in June, while exchanges Bullish and Gemini declined over 30% and 60% respectively, since their summer debuts.

Bitcoin has fallen roughly 30% from October highs amid concerns about geopolitical tensions and broader market jitters.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan attended the listing ceremony, which shows the city’s official support for its digital asset initiatives.

The debut contributed to Hong Kong’s strongest IPO year since 2021, with over $34 billion raised from new listings through December, according to data obtained by Reuters, reclaiming the top global ranking from U.S. exchanges for the first time since 2019.

The post HashKey Shares Drop 3% in Disappointing Hong Kong Debut Despite $200M Raise appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin price prediction indicates BTC is positioned to push above $95,000 before December’s end as American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC) accumulated another 54 bitcoin in anticipation of a Santa rally.

Eric Trump’s Firm Joins Top 20 Bitcoin Treasury Companies

The Nasdaq-listed firm, co-founded by Eric Trump, revealed Tuesday that recent acquisitions have expanded the company’s Bitcoin holdings beyond 5,000 BTC, placing it among the top 20 publicly traded bitcoin treasury firms, according to bitcointreasuries.net.

The company has achieved a 96.5% bitcoin yield since its Nasdaq debut, alongside 533 satoshis per share as of December 14.

Glassnode data reveals whales are aggressively buying the dip.

In the last 30 days alone, whales accumulated 269,822 BTC worth $23.3 billion, the largest monthly purchase in the last 13 years.

Analysts view this as a significant boost for Bitcoin price prediction as December progresses, with markets anticipating a bounce from the current $85,000-$87,000 level toward $95,000, with potential extension into six figures before year-end.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Daily Chart Shows Compression Pattern Before Breakout

Bitcoin’s daily chart displays price compressing into a tightening structure following an extended downtrend, with the market now trading between a descending trendline from the cycle high and a rising base around the $85,000 support zone.

This price action suggests sellers are exhausting momentum, as each downward push is absorbed near the same demand area, forming a higher-low structure against the broader downtrend line.

The $85,000 level represents the most crucial near-term support and must hold to preserve the developing reversal setup.

On the upside, the descending trendline and the $95,000 region act as confluence resistance, and a decisive daily close above this zone would confirm a bullish breakout from the compression pattern.

Volume has diminished during consolidation, typical behavior preceding a directional move, while the RSI remains below 50 but has stabilized and is attempting to curl higher, signaling fading bearish momentum rather than strong selling pressure.

Provided Bitcoin maintains above $85,000, the bias favors a continuation higher toward $95,000, with a successful breakout opening the door to a return to the upper-$90,000 region.

A breakdown below $85,000 would invalidate the bullish setup and redirect focus toward deeper support levels, preserving the broader corrective trend.

Maxi Doge Offers Investors Early Access Before Bull Market Returns

If Bitcoin finally breaks the $95,000 resistance and sets the stage for a 2026 bull run, presale projects like Maxi Doge ($MAXI) would benefit from the market revival.

Maxi Doge is an early-stage memecoin following the Dogecoin playbook, generating over 100x gains during the last bull run.

The MAXI presale has raised over $4.3 million and offers 72% annual staking rewards for those entering early at the current $0.000273 price before it increases.

The project has also established an alpha channel where traders exchange insider tips, share early trade ideas, and discover hidden opportunities to capitalize on the upcoming bull run.

To buy early, visit the official Maxi Doge website and connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet.

You can pay with existing crypto like USDT and ETH, or use a bank card to complete your purchase immediately.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Can the BTC Price Push Above $95,000 in December? American Bitcoin Stacks Up in Anticipation appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bhutan unveiled a national Bitcoin Development Pledge on Tuesday, committing up to 10,000 BTC, worth approximately $1 billion, to fund construction of Gelephu Mindfulness City without liquidating its sovereign digital asset reserves.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced the allocation during his National Day Address, framing the commitment as a generational investment in youth employment and national prosperity tied to a new economic hub in southern Bhutan.

The pledge channels Bitcoin holdings into GMC development through mechanisms including collateralized lending, risk-managed yield strategies, and long-term holding approaches designed to preserve capital while financing infrastructure.

This development became possible due to a multi-year commitment to leverage Bitcoin’s compounding value over time, rather than converting reserves to cash.

Officials said the final implementation details are expected in the coming months, under governance frameworks that emphasize capital preservation, appropriate oversight, and transparency.

Sovereign Mining and Clean Energy Foundation

Bhutan ranks as the world’s fifth-largest government Bitcoin holder, having mined 13,011 BTC since 2021 using surplus hydroelectric power from Himalayan rivers.

The renewable energy-powered mining operation converts excess national grid capacity into digital assets without additional environmental impact, with crypto holdings now exceeding 11,286 BTC, valued at $1.28 billion, according to Bitbo data.

The Kingdom’s hydroelectric resources at times exceed domestic demand, enabling clean energy to be converted into long-term national assets through the national power generation utility.

This mining strategy accounts for over 25% of Bhutan’s GDP while maintaining environmental sustainability commitments central to the nation’s development philosophy, which balances economic progress with ecological stewardship.

The Kingdom established Green Digital Ltd through GMC to develop blockchain infrastructure and, recently, partnered with Cumberland DRW on digital asset trading frameworks, sustainable mining expansion, AI compute facilities, and national stablecoin development.

Gelay Jamtsho, Green Digital chairman, said the collaboration connects Bhutan’s renewable energy infrastructure with institutional-grade liquidity to support the country’s diversification agenda beyond traditional economic sectors.

Blockchain Integration Across National Systems

Beyond mining, Bhutan has deployed blockchain-based national identity systems serving 800,000 citizens on Ethereum after migrating from Polygon, with the transition completed in October, enabling Verifiable Credentials and digital signing capabilities.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said leveraging Ethereum’s globally distributed network strengthens the security, transparency, and resilience of digital infrastructure serving nearly the entire population.

Back in May, the Kingdom enabled crypto payments across tourism merchants through partnerships with DK Bank and Binance Pay, allowing visitors to use over 100 cryptocurrencies for everything from airline tickets and hotel stays to roadside fruit stalls.

Over 100 local merchants now accept digital assets, with Damcho Rinzin, tourism director, describing the system as advancing innovation and inclusion while supporting sustainable development goals.

Most recently, Bhutan launched TER, a Solana-based token backed by physical gold reserves distributed through DK Bank, positioning the nation among the few experimenting with state-backed tokenized assets.

Mindfulness City as Economic Catalyst

Gelephu Mindfulness City operates as a Special Administrative Region designed to attract international capital through regulatory clarity and modern financial connectivity while preserving cultural values.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck framed GMC as a shared national enterprise in which citizens function as stakeholders, with new land policies ensuring that Bhutanese from all regions benefit from development proceeds, since most acreage remains state-owned.

“As your King, I must ensure that every Bhutanese is a custodian, stakeholder, and beneficiary of GMC,” the monarch said. “Think of GMC as a company and landowners as its shareholders.“

Market Outlook Supports Strategic Holding

Bitcoin traded at $87,274 today, up 1.9% in Asian hours as exchange reserves hit record lows and traders awaited US inflation data.

Major asset managers, including Bitwise and Grayscale, project that Bitcoin will exceed its previous all-time highs in 2026, despite traditional cycle theory predicting corrections, as institutional capital inflows through platforms like Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo accelerate adoption.

Bhutan’s pledge aligns with the growing sovereign and corporate adoption of digital assets, as global crypto ETPs have attracted $87 billion in net inflows since US products launched in January 2024.

The post Bhutan Pledges $1 Billion in Bitcoin to Build ‘Mindfulness City’ Without Selling Reserves appeared first on Cryptonews.

Caroline Ellison has been transferred from federal prison to community confinement after serving approximately 11 months of her two-year sentence for her role in the $11 billion FTX fraud scheme.

The former Alameda Research CEO was moved from Danbury Federal Correctional Institution in Connecticut to either home confinement or a halfway house on October 16, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records obtained by Business Insider.

Ellison’s projected release date is now February 20, 2026, nearly 9 months ahead of the completion of her original sentence.

The 31-year-old former Alameda executive, who served as a star witness against her ex-boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried, during his criminal trial, began her sentence at the low-security Connecticut facility in early November 2024 after receiving a two-year prison term from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Cooperation Earns Leniency Despite Serious Fraud Charges

Judge Kaplan praised Ellison’s “substantial” cooperation during Bankman-Fried’s prosecution while maintaining that the case’s severity still warranted incarceration.

Ellison had pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, and commodities fraud, offenses carrying a potential maximum sentence of 110 years in prison.

During her September 2024 sentencing hearing, Ellison expressed deep remorse while holding back tears.

“On some level, my brain doesn’t even comprehend all the people I harmed,” she told the court. “That doesn’t mean I don’t try.”

Her attorneys had requested no prison time, but Kaplan rejected what he termed a “literal get-out-of-jail-free card” despite acknowledging her unprecedented cooperation.

Federal prosecutors emphasized Ellison’s critical testimony in their September 17 letter recommending leniency.

“The ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the crimes, as well as the ‘why,’ would have been difficult to prove without Ellison’s testimony,” they wrote, noting she endured extraordinary public attention and harassment for her cooperation.

During Bankman-Fried’s month-long October 2023 trial, Ellison testified for three days, painting the FTX founder as an image-conscious and power-hungry figure who orchestrated the fraudulent scheme.

Ellison revealed that Bankman-Fried instructed her and other executives to use Alameda Research to invest billions of dollars in customer assets that had been secretly siphoned from FTX.

She described feeling like an “unequal partner” in their romantic relationship due to his position of power.

“I would always ultimately defer to Sam,” Ellison testified, explaining concerns about the intersection of their personal and professional relationship.

FTX Associates Face Divergent Legal Outcomes

Ellison’s early community placement follows contrasting fates for other FTX executives involved in the collapse.

Former FTX CTO Gary Wang and engineering director Nishad Singh both received time-served sentences with supervised release after testifying against Bankman-Fried, avoiding additional prison time entirely.

Both testified that Bankman-Fried directed them to create an “allow negative” feature on Alameda’s FTX-linked account, granting access to nearly unlimited customer funds.

Meanwhile, former FTX Digital Markets CEO Ryan Salame serves a seven-year sentence at a Maryland federal facility after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and operating an unlicensed money transmitter.

Salame refused to cooperate with prosecutors and has vocally criticized the disparate treatment, claiming authorities offered “get out of jail free cards” to witnesses supporting their narrative.

“The government hands get out of jail free cards if you parrot the narrative they want and everyone who would provide any counterpoint is frightened,” Salame told journalist Tucker Carlson.

Bankman-Fried remains incarcerated at a California federal prison serving his 25-year sentence following conviction on all seven fraud and conspiracy counts.

The FTX founder’s appeal hearing was scheduled for November 4, as his legal team argues he was “presumed guilty” and denied a fair trial.

His family has called for presidential clemency while he continues to contest that FTX was never truly insolvent, claiming the exchange always had sufficient assets to repay customers in full.

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Randilee Giamusso declined to specify Ellison’s exact location or conditions within community confinement, citing privacy and security protocols.

Ellison’s attorneys have not commented on her early transfer to supervised community placement, as FTX creditors continue to receive bankruptcy distributions exceeding $16 billion in recovered funds.

The post SBF’s Ex-Girlfriend Caroline Ellison Transferred to Early Community Confinement appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin billionaire and MicroStrategy executive Michael Saylor contends that, contrary to widespread fears, quantum computing won’t destroy Bitcoin but will instead “harden it.”

Analysts view this as a significant boost for the Bitcoin price prediction heading into 2026, as many had dismissed next year’s bull run prospects due to quantum threats.

Saylor Says Network Upgrades Will Strengthen Bitcoin

In a December 16 X post, Saylor explained the Bitcoin network would upgrade following a quantum breakthrough, with active coins migrating while lost coins remain frozen.

He concluded, “Security goes up. Supply comes down. Bitcoin grows stronger.”

This statement counters numerous fearmongering predictions claiming Bitcoin encryption faces quantum hacking risks that could trigger network collapse.

However, when Cryptonews interviewed David Carvalho, CEO and chief scientist of Naoris’ post-quantum protocol, about quantum threats to traditional cryptography, the former ethical hacker predicted that 30% of all circulating BTC could face theft risk when “Q-Day” arrives.

Nevertheless, he stressed that “the timeline for such breakthroughs remains uncertain, and exchanges are unlikely to allow compromised coins to circulate freely.”

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Monthly Chart Mirrors 2022 Bottoming Pattern

Bitcoin’s monthly chart shows price consolidating below the critical $108,000–$110,000 resistance zone, which has capped upside and must be reclaimed to confirm continuation of the 2026 upward leg.

This level sits above recent cycle highs and aligns with historical areas where previous bull markets paused before accelerating.

Structurally, the chart highlights strong similarities to the 2022 bottoming phase.

After a deep drawdown marked by consecutive red monthly candles, Bitcoin formed a base and delivered a near-2x rally from lows, followed by consolidation before the next expansion.

The current market appears to be repeating that sequence since October, with price holding well above long-term support and forming higher monthly closes despite recent volatility.

The RSI remains above the neutral 50 level, suggesting the long-term trend stays bullish.

Provided Bitcoin maintains above the mid-$80,000 region, the probability favors this consolidation resolving upward.

A decisive monthly close above $108,000 would likely open pathways to a renewed 2026 bull run rally toward the $140,000–$150,000 region.

Pepenode Raises $2.3M To Position for 2026 Meme Coin Season

If Bitcoin finally breaks the $108,000 resistance and begins the 2026 bull run, meme coins like Pepenode (PEPENODE) would see increased demand.

Pepenode is a new crypto project that’s already raised over $2.3 million despite the crypto market losing over $1.2 trillion of its value this Q4.

It’s a game where you can mine coins without needing expensive hardware setups. You play the game in your web browser, set up virtual mining rigs, and upgrade your facilities to earn PEPENODE tokens.

The project is copying PEPE’s success strategy, which contributed to its 1,000x rally during the 2023-24 run when Bitcoin broke out from bear market lows.

Now that more people are buying Pepenode’s mining rigs, the presale price is going up very fast.

To join the presale before the ongoing round sells out:

• Go to the official Pepenode website.
• Connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet, and buy PEPENODE tokens for $0.0011968.
• Then pay with crypto using ETH or USDT, or use a bank card in just a few clicks.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Saylor Says Quantum Computing Will ‘Harden’ Bitcoin — Is the 2026 Bull Run Locked In? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Cathie Wood, founder of ARK Invest, believes the post-October 10 crash bottom for Bitcoin may already be established as prices stabilize around $86,000.

Bitcoin price prediction metrics indicate institutions are positioned to lead the next bull cycle heading into 2026.

Institutions Now Hold Nearly 30% of Bitcoin Supply

Wood emphasized that Bitcoin represents a revolutionary global monetary system and asset class, functioning as institutions’ preferred gateway into cryptocurrency and deserving frontline status in institutional portfolios.

Glassnode data reveals institutions now control 29.8% of the total Bitcoin circulating supply. Public companies alone custody over 1 million BTC, U.S. spot ETFs hold 1.31 million, and exchanges maintain nearly 3 million BTC.

Despite Bitcoin trading beneath the Short-Term Holders’ realized price of $104,000, placing recent market participants under sustained loss pressure, institutions continue accumulating.

Just yesterday, Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy doubled down on its conviction, announcing another massive Bitcoin purchase worth nearly $1 billion.

In a Form 8-K filing dated December 15, MicroStrategy disclosed acquiring 10,645 BTC between December 8 and December 14, spending $980.3 million at an average price of $92,098 per coin.

Additionally, Eric Trump’s World Liberty Financial recently purchased 416 Bitcoin worth $38 million, expanding the company’s holdings to 5,000 BTC.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Daily Chart Shows Early Stabilization Signs

Bitcoin’s daily chart displays price attempting recovery after a sharp corrective downtrend, with the market recently breaking above a short-term descending trendline.

This movement signals potential transition from bearish control to early stabilization, particularly as price maintains above the highlighted demand zone in the low-$80,000 region, which previously absorbed substantial selling pressure.

The most crucial overhead level sits at the short-term holders’ realized price near $104,000, aligning with prior range support turned resistance.

While Bitcoin trades below this zone, upside attempts will likely encounter supply from trapped buyers, restricting follow-through.

The RSI has risen from oversold conditions but stays below the 50 midpoint, suggesting improving momentum without a complete bullish reset.

This favors a scenario where price can advance toward the $92,000–$98,000 region near term, but a sustained bull run remains unlikely unless Bitcoin reclaims and maintains above $100,000–$104,000 on strong volume.

Maxi Doge Offers Investors 72% APY Ahead of Institutional Rally

Increased institutional buying could drive Bitcoin above $100,000 soon, and when this occurs, presale projects like Maxi Doge ($MAXI) would benefit from the massive demand surge.

Maxi Doge is an early-stage meme coin following the Dogecoin playbook that generated over 1000x gains in the years since its launch.

The MAXI presale has raised over $4.3 million and offers 72% annual staking rewards for those entering early at the current price of $0.000273 per token.

The project offers an alpha channel where traders exchange insider tips, share early trade ideas, and discover hidden opportunities to capitalize on the upcoming bull run.

To buy early, visit the official Maxi Doge website and connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet.

You can pay with existing crypto like USDT and ETH, or use a bank card to complete your purchase in seconds.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Cathie Wood Says the Bottom Might Be In – Are Institutions About to Trigger the Next Bull Run? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Major asset managers are forecasting that Bitcoin will shatter its traditional four-year cycle and reach new all-time highs in 2026, driven by massive institutional capital inflows and regulatory clarity.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan and Grayscale Research both project BTC will exceed its previous peak despite conventional wisdom suggesting 2026 should be a pullback year.

Bitcoin has historically followed a four-year cycle tied to halving events, with three significant up years followed by sharp corrections.

Since the most recent halving occurred in April 2024, more than 18 months ago, traditional cycle theory would predict 2026 as a down year.

However, Hougan argues that the forces driving previous cycles have weakened substantially, while new structural dynamics are taking hold.

“We believe the wave of institutional capital that began entering the space with the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in 2024 will accelerate in 2026, as platforms like Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch begin allocating,” Hougan wrote in Bitwise’s annual predictions report.

He expects Bitcoin to reach new all-time highs, relegating the four-year cycle to the dustbin of history.

Institutional Era Replaces Retail-Driven Volatility

Grayscale’s 2026 outlook echoes this transformation, projecting Bitcoin will set fresh records in the first half of next year as the market transitions into what it calls the institutional era.

The asset manager identifies two pillars supporting this view:

• Macro demand for alternative stores of value amid rising public debt
• Fiat currency risks, plus improving regulatory clarity that deepens blockchain integration with traditional finance.

The changing market structure has already altered Bitcoin’s price behavior. Previous bull markets saw gains exceeding 1,000% in a single year, while this cycle’s maximum year-over-year increase reached only 240% through March 2024.

Grayscale attributes this moderation to steadier institutional buying rather than retail momentum chasing, arguing the probability of deep, prolonged drawdowns has declined significantly.

Grayscale expects rising valuations in the crypto sector in 2026, and as a result, Bitcoin could exceed its previous high in the first half of the year.

Bitwise’s analysis also highlights how Bitcoin volatility has steadily decreased over the past decade, with BTC now less volatile than Nvidia throughout 2025.

Hougan predicts Bitcoin’s correlation with stocks will fall in 2026 as crypto-specific factors like regulatory progress and institutional adoption power the asset higher even if equities struggle.

Regulatory Clarity and Monetary Policy Alignment

Katherine Dowling, president of Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, recently forecast that Bitcoin would reach $150,000 by the end of 2026, citing “the trifecta of a positive regulatory environment, quantitative easing, and institutional inflows.”

President Trump recently signed the GENIUS Act, establishing stablecoin regulatory framework, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency permitted national banks to offer crypto brokerage services.

Just this month, Bank of America now allows its financial advisers to recommend Bitcoin ETFs, potentially channeling portions of the bank’s $3.5 trillion in client assets into digital assets.

The Federal Reserve cut rates three times in 2025 and expects to continue easing next year.

Notably, Grayscale expects bipartisan crypto market structure legislation to become US law in 2026, which will solidify blockchain-based finance in capital markets.

Since US Bitcoin ETPs launched in January 2024, global crypto ETPs have attracted $87 billion in net inflows, yet less than 0.5% of US advised wealth is allocated to crypto.

On the technical level, according to a CryptoQuant analyst, on-chain data shows long-term holders distributing coins at one of the largest 30-day rates in the past 5 years, typically indicating late-cycle behavior.

However, CryptoQuant data also shows short-term holders are facing pressure, as Bitcoin has traded below their $104,000 cost basis since October 30, resulting in unrealized losses averaging 12.6%.

As reported by Cryptonews today, Bitcoin dropped nearly 4% to approximately $85,940 amid investor risk reduction ahead of crucial US economic data.

Despite near-term volatility, like other major players, Bitfinex maintains that the groundwork is being laid for BTC to regain all-time highs in 2026, supported by looser monetary policy and steady adoption by ETFs, corporates, and sovereign entities that are absorbing multiples of the yearly mined supply.

The post Bitwise Chief: Bitcoin to Hit Fresh Records in 2026 and Break Four-Year Cycle appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Financial Conduct Authority launched a public consultation on comprehensive crypto regulations designed to establish clear standards across trading, staking, lending, and decentralized finance while protecting consumers and supporting innovation.

The proposals, published across three consultation papers, seek feedback until February 12, 2026, as Britain positions itself as a global hub for digital assets ahead of the regime’s 2027 implementation.

The regulatory framework applies similar principles to crypto as traditional finance, requiring transparency for consumers, proportionate requirements for firms, and flexibility for innovation.

David Geale, executive director for payments and digital finance at the FCA, said: “Regulation is coming – and we want to get it right. We’ve listened to feedback, and now we’re setting out our proposals for the UK’s crypto regime.“

Comprehensive Framework Covers Eight Core Areas

The consultation addresses admissions and disclosures, requiring firms to provide clear information before investors commit capital to cryptoassets.

Market abuse measures target insider trading and manipulation to ensure fair markets, while trading platform standards aim to keep exchanges safe and reliable.

Intermediary requirements establish responsibilities for brokers and middlemen handling crypto transactions.

Staking services must clearly disclose risks when offering yield-generating products that lock up customer assets.

Lending and borrowing rules protect both crypto lenders and borrowers through standardized safeguards.

The proposals extend to decentralized finance, questioning whether traditional finance rules should apply to protocols enabling trading and lending without intermediaries.

Prudential requirements establish financial safeguards that help firms better manage operational risks.

The framework builds on earlier feedback and new research published alongside the consultation, aligning with government legislation introduced on December 15.

Government Legislation Backs Regulatory Expansion

The Treasury introduced the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025, bringing new crypto activities under FCA supervision from 2027.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said, “Bringing crypto into the regulatory perimeter is a crucial step in securing the UK’s position as a world-leading financial centre in the digital age.“

Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby also added that “We want the UK to be at the top of the list for cryptoassets firms looking to grow and these new rules will give firms the clarity and consistency they need to plan for the long term.”

The legislation places crypto firms under the same supervision as traditional financial products, including transparency standards.

Britain’s approach follows the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, while the US is developing its own framework.

The UK established the Transatlantic Taskforce with America to coordinate crypto standards. Around 12% of UK adults now hold cryptocurrency, according to FCA data.

Regulatory Progress Follows Market Development

The consultation caps significant regulatory evolution since Britain formally recognized Bitcoin and crypto assets as legal property under the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill.

The law confirmed digital assets can be owned, inherited, and recovered under property law protections previously limited to traditional assets.

Parliament’s approval resolved legal ambiguity around ownership disputes, stolen funds, and inheritance cases.

CryptoUK called the property law “a massive step forward,” noting it provides a clearer legal footing for proving ownership and recovering tokens after fraud.

In September, the FCA accelerated crypto application reviews, cutting approval times from 17 months to 5 months while raising acceptance rates from 15% to 45%.

BlackRock and Standard Chartered secured registrations since April as the regulator improved processes through pre-approval meetings and industry roundtables.

The Bank of England separately proposed stablecoin regulations last month, with both institutions promising final rules by the end of 2026.

The government also appointed a “digital markets champion” to coordinate the development of blockchain-based financial infrastructure, including tokenized securities and digital gilts, under the DIGIT framework.

Last month, the Treasury also advanced DeFi tax reforms, backing a “no gain, no loss” model deferring capital gains until users withdraw tokens rather than taxing every deposit.

The changes follow two years of consultations with industry participants, including Aave, Binance, and major accounting firms, to align tax events with actual economic outcomes.

The post FCA Opens Consultation on UK’s First Comprehensive Crypto Rulebook appeared first on Cryptonews.

Wyoming-chartered crypto bank Custodia has filed a petition with the full Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking reconsideration of the Federal Reserve’s denial of its master account application, escalating a five-year legal battle.

The bank argues that the October panel decision misinterpreted federal law and raises constitutional concerns about the Fed’s authority.

The petition, filed on December 15, requests en banc review, asking all active circuit judges to examine whether regional Federal Reserve Banks can exercise unreviewable discretion over master account access for legally eligible institutions.

Custodia contends the three-judge panel’s 2-1 ruling conflicts with the Monetary Control Act’s mandate that payment services “shall be available” to nonmember depository institutions, creating what it describes as an unconstitutional veto power over state banking charters.

State Banking Authority Under Threat

The filing raises federalism concerns about the Fed effectively overriding Wyoming’s 2020 decision to charter Custodia as a Special Purpose Depository Institution.

Without master account access, the bank cannot utilize core Federal Reserve payment services, including wire transfers and automated clearinghouse systems, rendering its state-issued charter largely meaningless despite meeting all statutory eligibility requirements.

“When the Fed denies a master account to a state-chartered financial institution, it effectively vetoes a bank charter that State regulators have approved,” the petition states.

Wyoming created its SPDI framework specifically to attract digital asset companies, requiring 100% reserve backing and prohibiting lending to reduce risk.

Custodia argues the Fed’s rejection undermines this carefully crafted state regulatory regime designed to foster blockchain innovation within stringent safety parameters.

The constitutional implications extend beyond federalism.

Custodia’s legal team contends that if regional Reserve Bank presidents hold unreviewable discretion over master accounts, they effectively become “Officers of the United States” wielding significant executive authority without proper constitutional appointment.

Federal Reserve Bank presidents are selected by private bank directors and approved by the Board of Governors, a process Custodia argues violates the Appointments Clause if those officials exercise the discretionary power the majority opinion affirmed.

Deep Judicial Split Emerges

The petition highlights growing disagreement among Tenth Circuit judges on statutory interpretation.

Judge Timothy Tymkovich’s dissent joined Judge Bacharach’s 2017 opinion in Fourth Corner Credit Union v. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, creating a 2-2 split among circuit judges on whether the Monetary Control Act mandates master account access.

Tymkovich wrote that the Fed’s interpretation grants “unreviewable discretion” that raises “thorny questions” under Article II while contradicting the MCA’s plain language, which requires services to be “available to nonmember depository institutions.“

The Kansas City Fed denied Custodia’s application in January 2023 after 27 months of review, citing risks from its “crypto-asset activities” despite initially telling the bank there were “no showstoppers” with its application.

Internal Fed documents revealed that staff deemed Custodia’s capital “adequate” and praised its “impressive” executive team, only for Board of Governors officials to intervene.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has since acknowledged publicly that the Fed possesses sufficient tools to manage risks without denying master accounts entirely.

In an October interview, Waller suggested the Fed can “tailor” account structures to match individual bank risk profiles, undermining the necessity argument for blanket denials.

OCC Exposes Systematic Crypto Debanking

Custodia’s legal fight unfolds as federal regulators confront widespread debanking practices targeting crypto firms.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released findings in December showing all nine largest national banks imposed “inappropriate” restrictions on lawful businesses, including digital asset companies, between 2020 and 2023.

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and others maintained internal policies requiring escalated approvals or imposing blanket restrictions on sectors deemed to conflict with institutional values.

The review examined thousands of complaints about political and religious debanking, as well as crypto exclusions.

Banks insisted they did not discriminate, but the OCC found many restrictive policies were publicly visible.

In fact, Strike CEO Jack Mallers recently claimed his accounts were abruptly closed under vague references to “concerning activity,” fueling allegations of coordinated exclusion despite regulatory denials.

The controversy intensified after President Trump signed an executive order in August intended to prevent banks from debanking customers solely for crypto-related activity.

The post Wyoming Crypto Bank Files Petition Demanding Full Court Review of Fed Account Denial appeared first on Cryptonews.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council has removed crypto from its list of systemic financial threats in its 2025 annual report. This is a dramatic regulatory shift attributable to the transformation happening under the Trump administration.

The 86-page document, approved December 11, eliminates the dire warnings about digital assets that dominated previous years, instead emphasizing responsible growth and regulatory clarity for the sector.

The FSOC’s latest assessment contrasts sharply with its 2024 report, which warned that stablecoins represented an acute vulnerability to runs absent appropriate risk-management standards.

This year’s report acknowledges crypto’s role in innovation and economic development, while noting that recent legislative progress has addressed many of the concerns that previously existed.

The council now describes digital assets as facilitating secure, efficient transactions through distributed ledger technology rather than framing them as destabilizing forces.

Legislative Progress and Banking Access Reforms

The transformation stems largely from the passage of the GENIUS Act in July, which established America’s first comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoins.

The legislation requires licensed issuers to maintain reserves in highly liquid assets, such as U.S. Treasuries, and prohibits rehypothecation except for limited purposes.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted in the report that continued use of dollar-denominated stablecoins supports the dollar’s role in international finance.

Beyond stablecoins, federal agencies have systematically withdrawn restrictive guidance that previously discouraged banks from engaging with crypto firms.

The SEC eliminated prior-notification requirements for offering digital asset custody services, while banking regulators rescinded joint statements that effectively pushed crypto activity outside traditional finance.

The Federal Reserve ended its novel activities supervision program, returning oversight to normal supervisory processes.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released preliminary findings showing all nine largest national banks imposed inappropriate restrictions on lawful crypto businesses between 2020 and 2023.

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and others maintained internal policies requiring escalated approvals or blanket limitations on digital asset companies, alongside sectors such as firearms and adult entertainment.

Comptroller Jonathan Gould described the practices as “harmful to lawful enterprises” and an inappropriate use of national bank charters.

The findings build on President Trump’s August executive order guaranteeing fair banking access and state-level fair access laws in Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee, designed to prevent ideological account closures.

Market Structure Legislation Races Senate Deadline

Last week, Senator Cynthia Lummis pushed for immediate Senate Banking Committee markup of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act before the holiday recess, warning negotiations cannot drift into February without risking election-year paralysis.

She told the Blockchain Association Policy Summit that bipartisan drafts have been rewritten repeatedly, exhausting staff members as lawmakers struggle to reconcile the House and Senate approaches to defining which tokens fall outside securities classification.

The House passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July, giving the CFTC primary oversight of digital commodities while preserving SEC authority over fundraising.

The Senate version uses the term “ancillary assets” and faces tension over decentralized finance regulation.

Senator Thom Tillis warned that missing the December window could freeze the bill for the rest of 2026.

However, Senator Mark Warner also suggested completing everything before the holiday recess would be difficult, noting the White House still hadn’t provided final language on quorum and ethics rules.

Traditional Finance Embraces Tokenized Products

JPMorgan Chase demonstrated the sector’s mainstreaming by launching its first tokenized money-market fund on the Ethereum network.

The My OnChain Net Yield Fund begins with $100 million of the bank’s capital before opening to qualified investors with minimum investments of $1 million.

The MONY fund accepts subscriptions in cash or USDC, demonstrating institutional adoption of crypto-native payment rails for settlement alongside traditional cash.

The launch follows the GENIUS Act’s regulatory clarity, with Wall Street accelerating tokenization efforts across equities, bonds, and real-world assets.

John Donohue, JPMorgan’s global liquidity head, cited a “massive amount of interest from clients around tokenization” and the bank’s intention to lead the space with product lineups that match traditional money-market fund choices on the blockchain.

The integration of blockchain into core financial products, once considered distant from crypto, indicates the technology is progressing from experimental to infrastructure-grade status within traditional finance.

The post US Financial Watchdog No Longer Sees Crypto as Systemic Threat: Report appeared first on Cryptonews.

Today’s Bitcoin liquidation is approaching $400 million and has pushed prices toward a critical 2-year support level maintained since 2023.

Bitcoin price prediction now points to a potential sweep of the $80,000 lows before a bullish reversal toward $100,000.

On-Chain Data Shows $81K as Critical Support

Data from Glassnode reveals Bitcoin’s True Market Mean, the average on-chain purchase price held by active market participants, stands near $81,000, serving as strong support during today’s 3.6% decline that sent prices below $86,000.

Crypto analyst Darkfost observed that inflows to Binance from “wholecoiners” (transactions exceeding 1 BTC) are collapsing compared to previous years.

The yearly average now sits around 6,500 BTC, a level not seen since 2018.

“What is particularly interesting is the trend these inflows have followed during this cycle compared to past ones.

Instead of increasing as they did previously, wholecoiner inflows to Binance have steadily declined, even as Bitcoin continued pushing higher,” Darkfost explained.

BTC demand on spot orderbooks currently sits at elevated levels, from $85,000 down to $80,000, suggesting continued downward pressure on the asset.

However, analyst Ted Pillows reveals that defending the $81,000 support could enable Bitcoin to target the next major resistance zone around $92,000-$94,000.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Weekly Chart Shows Bearish Momentum Cooling

Bitcoin’s weekly chart displays clear momentum deterioration after failing to maintain above the $100,000 psychological resistance, which now represents the key threshold required to resume a sustained uptrend.

Price has since reversed and trades in the mid-$80,000 region, with sellers driving it toward a critical support band around $81,000.

The RSI has dropped into the mid-30s, indicating growing bearish pressure, but approaches levels where downside momentum typically begins slowing.

If the $81,000 support maintains, the chart favors a short-term relief rally toward the $90,000–$95,000 region, with a larger move back toward $100,000 only probable if buyers reclaim that level on strong volume.

However, a decisive weekly close below $81,000 would bring the final bull-market structure support near $76,000 into focus, and losing that level would significantly increase the risk of a deeper corrective phase.

Pepenode Offers Investors 553% APY Ahead of 2026 Bull Run

If Bitcoin finally breaks the $100,000 level and starts climbing again, meme coins like Pepenode (PEPENODE) could see another explosive rally.

Pepenode is a new crypto project that’s already raised over $2.3million despite tough market conditions.

It’s a game where you can mine coins without needing expensive hardware setups.

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

The project is copying PEPE’s success strategy, which surged over 1,000x during the 2023-24 run when Bitcoin entered “up only” mode.

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

To join the presale before the price increases:

• Go to the official Pepenode website.
• Connect a crypto wallet like Best Wallet.
• Then buy PEPENODE tokens for $0.0011968 and pay with crypto, using ETH, or USDT, or use a bank card in just a few clicks.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Nears a Break Below Key 2-Year Support at $81K — Can a Low Sweep Spark a Rally Back to $100K? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Solana captured 26.79% of global interest in blockchain-specific narratives throughout 2025, securing its position as the most popular crypto ecosystem for the second consecutive year despite facing mounting competition and declining market share.

Base and Ethereum rounded out the top three positions while newer entrants like Sui and BNB Chain surged into prominence, according to CoinGecko’s latest blockchain ecosystem analysis.

The layer-1 network’s market share dropped 12.0 percentage points from 38.79% in 2024, due to struggles to expand beyond meme-coin speculation even as institutional adoption accelerated through U.S. ETF launches.

The decline pushed Solana out of the top five most popular crypto narratives ranking after being overtaken by AI agents and Made in USA themes.

Base and Ethereum Hold Ground

Coinbase’s Base ecosystem maintained second place with 13.94% of investor interest, down 2.9 percentage points from 16.81% in 2024.

The smaller decline came despite major developments, including the Coinbase Wallet rebrand into the Base app, Shopify’s USDC payment integration, and x402 facilitation rollout.

Ethereum secured third position with 13.43% mindshare, posting a 2.7 percentage point year-over-year increase that narrowed its gap with Base.

The growth occurred while investors remained critical about ETH price performance and the blockchain’s competitive positioning amid intensifying rivalry from faster networks.

However, Ethereum’s scaling layer faces severe consolidation pressure, as Base, Arbitrum, and Optimism now process nearly 90% of all L2 transactions, with Base alone accounting for over 60%.

According to 21Shares, most of the 50-plus competing L2s are unlikely to survive through 2026 as smaller rollups have seen activity plunge 61% since June, creating what analysts call ‘zombie chains’ with minimal usage and evaporating liquidity.

Sui and BNB Chain Double Their Market Presence

Sui and BNB Chain emerged as the year’s biggest gainers, after more than doubling their market share to claim fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Sui recorded the largest growth, with a 6.9 percentage-point jump to 11.77%, positioning itself close behind Ethereum and establishing credibility as a serious competitor in chain-specific narratives.

BNB Chain captured 9.05% mindshare following a 4.9 percentage point increase, driven by Binance Alpha’s May launch that propelled the network to lead onchain trading volumes.

The ecosystem also benefited from founder CZ’s renewed involvement and resilient BNB price action throughout the year.

Solana’s momentum continued to build through major platform integrations, as Coinbase activated native DEX trading for Solana tokens in its mobile application in early December, allowing users to swap assets on-chain for the first time.

The exchange separately announced plans to acquire Vector, a Solana-native trading platform, in a deal expected to close by year-end.

New Entrants Reshape Competitive Landscape

XRP Ledger and Bittensor led new additions to the top rankings, with XRP securing sixth place at 4.68% mindshare and the AI-focused Bittensor capturing 1.91% for ninth position.

Berachain and Abstract also broke into the top 20 among new ecosystems tracked this year.

Hyperliquid delivered the most dramatic rise after increasing from 0.01% mindshare in 2024 to 1.57% this year, climbing 44 positions in the rankings.

The perpetuals-focused platform marked a key stablecoin milestone with its USDH launch while building robust DEX infrastructure and community engagement that demonstrated scalability beyond single-product offerings.

Meanwhile, the TON ecosystem saw its ranking slide following a 5.0 percentage-point year-over-year decline in mindshare, contrasting sharply with Sui’s ascent as a serious contender for a chain-specific narrative.

Notably, Jupiter reinforced Solana’s ecosystem depth by announcing seven coordinated upgrades at Breakpoint, headlined by JupUSD stablecoin developed with Ethena.

The Solana DEX, which processed $1.08 trillion in combined spot and perpetual volume year-to-date while maintaining $2.7 billion in total value locked, also exited beta for Jupiter Lend after reaching $1 billion in supply within eight days.

Bhutan further validated Solana’s institutional appeal by launching TER, a gold-backed digital token running on the network and distributed through DK Bank.

The sovereign-backed initiative positions Bhutan among nations experimenting with state-issued tokenized assets while leveraging Solana’s speed and efficiency.

The post Solana Dominates Crypto Attention for Second Straight Year: Analysis appeared first on Cryptonews.

Japan’s central bank is scheduled to hold its Monetary Policy Meeting (MPM) on December 18–19, 2025, with markets anticipating a possible rate hike to 0.75% from 0.5%, a move that could flip the global risk trade and significantly impact the Bitcoin price prediction outlook.

Japan’s Rate Hike Is Risky For Bitcoin

Analysts view the potential rate hike as ending the “Carry Trade” era.

Higher rates make yen assets more appealing, prompting investors to pull capital from overseas holdings like crypto.

This strengthens the yen, raises borrowing costs worldwide, and dampens Bitcoin speculation, historically causing 20-30% price drops.

Macro investor Afsheen Jafry explained that while markets focus on Powell and the Fed, the BOJ actually controls something more fundamental: global liquidity flows.

“When the BOJ tightens, capital floods back to Japan. When they ease, it floods out, and crypto is always first in line to catch that overflow,” she noted.

She cited July 2024 when the BOJ’s rate increase triggered a massive selloff, crushing Bitcoin from $73,000 to $53,000.

“That wasn’t random. That was carry trade unwinding on a massive scale.”

The BOJ also holds roughly ¥83 trillion ($534 billion) in ETFs accumulated since 2010, representing 7-8% of Japan’s ETF market.

Reports indicate officials plan gradual sales of these ETFs starting in January 2026.

These sales would reverse years of liquidity injections, potentially pressuring Japanese stocks and reducing global risk appetite.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Defending $80K Support Critical for Price Recovery

Bitcoin is holding firm above the $80,000 level after November’s sharp drop, showing buyers are defending this key support that has held since late 2024.

The recent push toward the upper $80,000s hints at early signs of recovery, but BTC remains trapped below the critical $100,000 to $109,000 resistance zone.

Breaking through this range could flip momentum and confirm a true reversal. Otherwise, this bounce may fade.

RSI has climbed from oversold levels into the mid-40s, signaling that selling pressure is cooling, though upside momentum is not yet convincing.

If Bitcoin keeps holding $80,000, a retest of $100,000 is likely, with $109,000 as the next target. On the flip side, a breakdown could send BTC sliding toward the $62,000 to $71,000 demand zone.

As Bitcoin prepares for its next move, traders are pouring millions of dollars into presales, investing in meme coins before they list on exchanges.

Don’t Miss Out on One of the Hottest Meme Presales Right Now

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) has quickly become one of the most talked‑about presales in crypto, gathering millions in early support and standing out in a crowded meme coin market.

This is not just another token, it’s a high‑energy community‑driven play built for traders who want early exposure before listings hit major exchanges.

The MAXI presale has established an alpha channel where traders exchange tips, early trade ideas, and hidden opportunities to capitalize on the upcoming bull run.

Traders are already comparing $MAXI’s momentum to Dogecoin’s early days, with strong social engagement and visibility rising fast.

To get involved before the next price increase:

• Visit the official Maxi Doge presale site
• Connect any compatible wallet, or download Best Wallet if you need one
• Buy using crypto like USDT or ETH, or use a bank card in just a few clicks

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Japan’s Next Rate Hike Could Flip the Global Risk Trade – Is Bitcoin the Big Winner? appeared first on Cryptonews.