The anticipated crypto market structure bill, or namely the CLARITY Act, designed to provide essential regulatory clarity for digital assets in the United States, is approaching critical dates in the Senate. However, it faces significant complexities related to stablecoin yield, conflicts of interest, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Senate Divided On Crypto Market Structure Bill
Legal expert and Chief Legal Officer of Variant Jake Chervinsky, reports that the Senate is divided into two committees: Banking, which is handling the securities law aspect, and Agriculture, responsible for the commodities law portion.
Both committees have published drafts of their work this fall, with the next step being markup, a process where hearings will be held to vote on amendments before sending the bill to the Senate floor for a full vote.
However, both committees are cautious and are unlikely to proceed with markup until they resolve ongoing disputes. Among these, three significant issues stand out.
The first major concern involves stablecoin yield. In the GENIUS Act, banks lobbied for a prohibition on interest payments, meaning stablecoin issuers cannot offer holders any form of interest or yield.
While the current prohibition prevents direct yield payments to holders, it does not address non-yield rewards or yield provided by third parties. Banks consider this gap a “loophole” and are advocating for broader restrictions to be included in the market structure bill.
Conflicts Of Interest And DeFi Regulations Stall Progress
The second issue revolves around conflicts of interest. Some Democratic senators have indicated they would not support the market structure legislation unless it includes provisions that restrict the President’s family from conducting business in the crypto space.
The third and perhaps most crucial issue pertains to DeFi. It is important to note that market structure legislation primarily addresses centralized platforms that exercise custody over user funds and transactions.
Chervinsky believes the bill should primarily focus on protecting DeFi, but traditional finance (TradFi) stakeholders have been pushing Congress to categorize virtually all entities in the crypto sector—developers, validators, and others—as intermediaries.
The expert emphasized that the success of any market structure bill hinges on ensuring robust protections for developers since the viability of the crypto industry relies on their contributions.
Given the intricate nature of these issues and the swiftly approaching holiday break, Chervinsky noted that it is possible that discussions about market structure could extend into January.
Senate Markup Set For December 17-18
Market analyst MartyParty provided another update on December 4, indicating that the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Structure Bill is gaining significant momentum in Congress, with a markup session in the Senate Banking Committee tentatively scheduled for December 17-18, just before the holiday recess
If successfully passed, he states that the bill could establish clearer pathways for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and mitigate “debanking” risks, paving the way for compliant exchanges and potentially stimulating market volumes following the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approvals for spot crypto trading.
This “regulatory convergence” is seen as a catalyst that could drive liquidity and energize the next bull market, reinforcing President Trump’s vision for the US to emerge as the “crypto capital of the world.”
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Despite the Bitcoin price recovery above the crucial $90,000 threshold—a level that has historically served as a supportive floor for the cryptocurrency—the market is exhibiting signs that a further correction may be imminent.
Bitcoin Price Recovery At Risk?
Market expert Rekt Fencer recently shared insights on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, suggesting that the Bitcoin price might be forming what he calls a “massive bull trap.”
This term refers to a deceptive bullish signal in which the price briefly surpasses a resistance level, in this case, the $90,000 mark, only to reverse into a decline. Such movements can entrap investors who bought in during the peak, leading to significant losses.
Fencer pointed out a troubling pattern reminiscent of early 2022 when Bitcoin reclaimed its 50-week moving average (MA)—currently positioned above $102,300—before experiencing a severe decline of roughly 60%, plummeting below $20,000 by June of that year.
He indicated that the recent price recovery following major drops to $84,000 should not be interpreted as a signal of near-term success, especially since the Bitcoin price is currently trading under the 50-week MA.
If historical trends repeat, this could mean that Bitcoin might see a significant drop, potentially reaching around $36,200, which could potentially represent the low point of the bearish cycle for the cryptocurrency. On the other hand, there are analysts who retain a bullish outlook.
BTC Bottom In Sight?
Market researcher and analyst Miles Deutscher expressed a confident sentiment, stating he believes there is a 91.5% likelihood that the Bitcoin price has hit its bottom, based on his analysis of key developments.
He noted that recent weeks have been dominated by negative news stories, including concerns surrounding Tether (USDT) and the implications of China’s actions on crypto, which he asserts often mark local price bottoms.
Moreover, Deutscher pointed out a shift in market flows from predominantly bearish to bullish. He explained that the trading environment has recently seen a resurgence in buying momentum, with large investors, or “OG whales,” ceasing their selling. This change has been reflected in the order books, indicating a possible stabilization in market sentiment.
Additionally, the liquidity landscape appears to be shifting, with market conditions tightening in recent months. The potential appointment of a new Federal Reserve chair known for dovish policies, coupled with the official end of quantitative tightening (QT), could further influence market dynamics in favor of buyers.
Deutscher concluded by emphasizing that given the extreme levels of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) in the market, combined with improvements in trading flows, he believes that the odds favor the notion that the Bitcoin price has indeed reached its bottom.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Meta Platforms Inc. shares climbed after reports that the company is weighing deep reductions to the budget behind its metaverse projects. Investors pushed the stock higher as traders reacted to the possibility that one of the company’s most costly bets could be scaled back.
Metaverse Budget Faces A Major Trim
Based on reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, Meta is considering cuts of up to 30% to the unit that builds its virtual reality and metaverse products, a move tied to planning for the company’s 2026 budget. The change would mainly affect Reality Labs, the division that makes Quest headsets and Horizon virtual spaces.
Reality Labs Has Been Losing Billions
Reality Labs has posted heavy losses since 2020. Reports put the total at more than $60 billion and, by some counts, closer to $70 billion in cumulative losses over recent years. Those sums have kept pressure on management to rethink where the company puts its money.
Investors Reward A Smaller Bet
The market response was swift. Meta’s share price jumped roughly 4%, and some outlets calculated that the move added about $69 billion to the company’s market value as traders reacted positively to a pullback from costly metaverse spending. That reaction signals investors prefer money steered toward projects with clearer near-term returns.
Layoffs Could Follow Early Next Year
Reports have warned that the cuts could bring staff reductions inside Reality Labs, with layoffs possibly starting as early as January 2026. Company leaders reportedly discussed budget scenarios during recent planning meetings. Any job cuts would mark a sharp change after years of heavy investment in virtual reality and related software.
A Bigger Push Toward AI And Wearables
At the same time, Meta has been moving money into artificial intelligence and related hardware. The company finalized a multibillion-dollar deal this year to take a large stake in Scale AI — a pact reported at roughly $14 billion for a near-half ownership — and then hired talent from that startup to help run a new AI effort. That tradeoff shows where Meta’s priorities now lie.
What This Means For Users And Competitors
For people who own or use Meta’s VR gear, this does not mean every project will end. But several initiatives could see slower progress and smaller teams. For rivals and suppliers in the AR/VR space, the cut may reshape who wins short-term device and platform business.
Analysts say the move narrows one major uncertainty for Meta while opening another: how well the company can compete in AI after so many dollars flowed into virtual worlds.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Crypto research firm Delphi Digital argues that global dollar liquidity has quietly flipped from a structural headwind to a marginal tailwind for risk assets for the first time since early 2022 – with 2026 emerging as the key inflection point for digital assets.
In a macro thread on X, Delphi says “the Fed’s rate path heading into next year is the clearest it’s been in years.” Futures imply another 25-basis-point cut by December 2025, taking the federal funds rate to roughly 3.5–3.75%. “The forward curve prices at least 3 more cuts through 2026, putting us in the low 3s by year-end if the path holds,” the firm notes.
Short-term benchmarks have already adjusted. According to Delphi, “SOFR and fed funds have drifted toward the high 3% range. Real rates have rolled over from their 2023–2024 peaks. But nothing has collapsed. This is a controlled descent rather than a pivot.” The characterization is important: this is not a return to zero rates, but a gradual easing that removes pressure on duration and high-beta assets.
The more consequential shift is in the liquidity plumbing. “QT ends on December 1. The TGA is set to draw down rather than refill. The RRP has been fully depleted,” Delphi writes. “Together, these create the first net positive liquidity environment since early 2022.”
Crypto Bulls Can Rejoice As The Macro Regime Is Shifting
In a follow-up post, the firm is explicit: “The Fed’s liquidity buffer is gone. Reverse Repo Balances collapsed from over $2 trillion at the peak to practically zero.” In 2023, a swollen RRP allowed the Treasury to refill its General Account without directly draining bank reserves, because money-market funds could absorb issuance out of the RRP. “With the RRP now at the floor, that buffer no longer exists,” Delphi warns.
From here, “any future Treasury issuance or TGA rebuild has to come directly out of bank reserves.” That forces a policy choice. As Delphi puts it, “The Fed is left with two options: let reserves drift lower and risk another repo spike or expand the balance sheet to provide liquidity directly. Given how badly 2019 went, the second path is far more likely.”
In that scenario, the central bank would shift from shrinking its balance sheet to adding reserves, reversing a core dynamic of the past two years. “Combined with QT ending and the TGA set to draw down, marginal liquidity is turning net positive for the first time since early 2022,” Delphi concludes. “A key headwind for crypto could be fading.”
For the crypto market, the firm frames 2026 as the pivotal year: “2026 is the year policy stops being a headwind and becomes a mild tailwind. The kind that favors duration, large caps, gold, and digital assets with structural demand behind them.”
Rather than calling for an immediate price spike, Delphi’s thesis is that the macro regime is shifting toward a more supportive, liquidity-positive backdrop for Bitcoin and larger crypto assets as policy eases and the era of aggressive balance-sheet contraction comes to an end.
At press time, the total crypto market cap was at $3.1 trillion.
Bitcoin’s settlement layer remains dominant, but slow throughput, high fees, and limited programmability leave a gap for scalable, low‑cost transactional use cases.
Users increasingly want $BTC to do more than sit in cold storage, demanding native access to DeFi, payments, and gaming without fully leaving Bitcoin’s security model.
Bitcoin Hyper introduces a Bitcoin Layer 2 with SVM integration, targeting Solana‑level performance and bringing fast smart contracts and low‑fee wrapped $BTC payments.
The $HYPER presale raised over $29M so far and targets a 2026 price point of $0.20 for an ROI of 1,395%.
Bitcoin’s dominance narrative has shifted in 2025. You still have the most battle-tested asset in the market, but native yield, DeFi, and gaming are happening elsewhere, mostly on Solana and Ethereum rollups.
That leaves a huge gap between Bitcoin’s trillion‑dollar base and what you can actually do with your $BTC day to day.
At the same time, Bitcoin Layer 2 experiments are accelerating. From ordinals to various sidechains, everyone is trying to bolt programmability and low fees onto Bitcoin’s settlement layer. The problem: most solutions either compromise on speed, fragment liquidity, or feel like foreign chains with a Bitcoin logo glued on top.
This is the gap Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is aiming at. The project pitches a Bitcoin-native Layer 2 that integrates the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), bringing Solana-style throughput and sub-cent fees to $BTC holders.
Instead of watching other ecosystems farm yields and play on-chain games, you get a way to put your Bitcoin to work without abandoning its security umbrella.
That pitch is clearly resonating.
The Bitcoin Hyper presale has already pulled in over $29M, with tokens priced at $0.013375 and a lot of long-term potential.
Bitcoin Hyper Brings SVM Speed To Bitcoin’s Capital Base
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) positions itself as a Bitcoin Layer 2 engineered for one thing: turning idle BTC into a productive asset across payments, DeFi, NFTs, and gaming. By integrating SVM, it aims to deliver Solana‑style high‑throughput smart contracts directly on a Layer 2 anchored to Bitcoin’s settlement layer.
In practice, that means you could send wrapped $BTC payments with near‑instant confirmation and low fees, use $BTC as collateral in lending and staking protocols, or play high‑frequency on‑chain games without touching a separate EVM ecosystem.
In other words, you’re getting a faster, cheaper, and more scalable Bitcoin ecosystem with more appeal to institutional and retail investors.
For developers, Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) offers an SVM‑compatible environment with Rust‑based SDKs and APIs, plus support for modified SPL‑style tokens on the Layer 2. That gives you familiar Solana tooling while tapping into Bitcoin’s liquidity and brand trust.
The presale’s $29M haul suggests builders and users see serious demand for a Bitcoin‑secured, high‑performance execution layer.
As Bitcoin’s monetary narrative collides with users’ desire for real on‑chain utility, projects that bridge the gap between security and speed stand out.
Bitcoin Hyper is positioning itself as that bridge, aiming to channel Bitcoin’s capital into high‑throughput payments, DeFi, NFTs, and gaming without forcing you to abandon $BTC as your base asset.
If Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) captures 5% of the Bitcoin DeFi and utility market, $HYPER could see a strong post-launch pump.
A realistic price prediction for $HYPER considers a potential 2026 price point of $0.20 and an ROI of 1,395% if the market remains positive. Long-term, $HYPER could push to $1.50 by 2030 or higher, delivering a five-year return of 11,115%.
For you as a $BTC holder, the opportunity is straightforward: a chance to plug into a Bitcoin‑secured Layer 2 that actually feels fast enough for modern DeFi and gaming use cases.
As more apps launch on SVM and wrapped $BTC liquidity deepens, early exposure to $HYPER could be a leveraged bet on Bitcoin’s long‑awaited utility phase.
The presale is now at over $29M and targets a release window between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, so time isn’t your best friend; if you want in, the earlier, the better.
If you believe the next cycle rewards Bitcoin utility rather than just passive holding, it may be worth watching how this Layer 2 evolves as the presale finishes and mainnet activity begins.
Trump Jr.’s American Bitcoin buys 363 $BTC, increasing its reserves to 4,367 Bitcoins, while in the middle of a full bear market.
Large players like American Bitcoin stacking hundreds of $BTC despite volatility reinforce Bitcoin as long‑term collateral and encourage multi‑year investment horizons.
PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) uses a Virtual Mining System to turn complex, hardware‑heavy mining into a gamified, meme‑native experience with stronger early incentives.
The $PEPENODE presale has reached over $2.2M so far and shows potential for an end-2026 ROI of 511%.
American Bitcoin, the mining firm backed by Donald Trump Jr., just added another 363 $BTC to its treasury, even as its stock whipsaws on public markets.
That is not a casual bet. At current prices, it represents millions of dollars in fresh exposure and a clear vote for long‑term Bitcoin accumulation.
For you as a retail investor, this kind of high‑conviction stacking matters because it signals how serious players are positioning for the next phase of the cycle. Instead of trading every headline, they are quietly building reserves and the infrastructure that will survive multiple halvings and macro shocks.
That infrastructure trend does not stop at miners and ETFs. It flows into on‑chain rails where users actually interact with crypto – from DeFi to gaming to the next generation of meme coins. If miners are locking in supply, on‑chain projects are where speculative upside and user growth can still compound.
This is exactly where PEPENODE ($PEPENODE), a ‘mine‑to‑earn’ meme coin on Ethereum, comes in. As capital rotates from pure Bitcoin beta into higher‑upside plays, projects that feel fun but still plug into on‑chain infrastructure narratives are getting more attention.
In this context, on‑chain ecosystems that capture user engagement early could end up as leveraged beneficiaries alongside the blue‑chip coins.
PEPENODE’s virtual mining model aims to catch that rotation with a lower‑friction way to ‘mine’ meme coins.
Every time a publicly visible player like American Bitcoin absorbs another 363 $BTC, it tightens the available float and reinforces the idea that $BTC is long‑term strategic collateral, not just a trade.
That mindset encourages other investors to think in multi‑year cycles instead of chasing intraday volatility.
When investors internalize that longer timeline, they tend to split their exposure. One bucket is ‘hard money’ like Bitcoin, often parked in ETFs or custodial products. The other bucket seeks higher upside: altcoins, infrastructure tokens and experimental sectors like mine‑to‑earn gaming or narrative‑driven meme coins.
The mine‑to‑earn niche is still early and relatively uncongested. Several projects are experimenting with simulated hashing, NFT miners or game‑based rewards, but most either copy old proof‑of‑work metaphors or bury users in complexity.
PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) is positioning itself as one option that wraps the idea in a straight‑up meme coin format while keeping the economic incentives front and center.
How PEPENODE Turns Mining Into a Meme-Native Game
What makes PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) stand out is its status as the first mine‑to‑earn memecoin, built as an ERC‑20 on Ethereum.
Instead of requiring hardware, hash rate or serious electricity bills, it uses a Virtual Mining System where you buy and customize Miner Nodes that simulate production and feed rewards back into the ecosystem.
That addresses three long‑standing pain points: boring mining models that feel like background infrastructure, weak early incentives, and the technical barrier of real rigs.
Here, early adopters can grab more powerful nodes with higher in‑game returns, turning ‘being early’ into a visible, gamified advantage on the dashboard once post‑TGE gameplay activates.
The presale has already raised over $2.27M, with $PEPENODE sitting at $0.0011778 at the time of writing, suggesting there is appetite for an approachable mining‑style meme narrative.
Based on the presale performance, $PEPENODE shows great post-launch potential.
Our price prediction for $PEPENODE sets a potential end-2026 target of $0.0072, for an ROI of 511%. By 2030, the coin could reach $0.0244, delivering a return rate of 1,971% to early adopters.
If you believe the big money stacking Bitcoin today is a prelude to a broader on‑chain expansion, mine‑to‑earn meme coins like $PEPENODE offer a way to express that thesis at the edge of the risk curve, where user behavior and meme coins can still rewrite the rules.
Stay Ahead with Our Timely Insights of Today’s Next Crypto to Explode
Check out our Live Next Crypto to Explode Updates for December 5, 2025!
Crypto is so unthinkably huge at the moment, a nearly $4 trillion industry that’s aiming for world domination.
Recent headlines talk of Circle and Mastercard planning to add USDC to global payment systems, Ethereum and Bitcoin treasuries in the billions of dollars, and Google building its own blockchain.
Bitcoin has an all-time growth of over 180,000,000%, Dogecoin over 43,000%, and some of the newest presale coins often pump 10x, 100x, or even 1,000x on rare occasions.
Explosive potential is probably the single best description for what we’re seeing today in crypto.
If you’re looking for the most recent insights on the next crypto to explode, stay tuned. We update this page frequently throughout the day, as we get the latest and greatest insider insights for chart sniffers and traders looking for the next coin to explode.
Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk investment, and you may lose your capital. Our content is informational only, and it does not constitute financial advice. We may earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you.
Strategy’s Relentless Bitcoin Hoard Turns Bitcoin Hyper Into the Next Crypto to Explode
December 5, 2025 • 10:00 UTC
Strategy just reminded everyone how sticky corporate $BTC can be. The firm holds roughly $60B in $BTC, has $1.4B in cash, and no debt maturing until 2027, so it’s not being forced to dump coins after a 24.7% stock slide.
That’s what Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s CIO is saying, at least.
With $BTC trading around $92k, still about 24% above Strategy’s $74,4k cost basis, that stash behaves more like a long-term reserve than hot speculative supply.
When big treasuries treat $BTC as untouchable collateral, upside liquidity shifts to the surrounding ecosystem where throughput and fees actually matter.
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) leans into that gap as a Bitcoin Layer-2 built on the Solana Virtual Machine, using a bridge so you can lock native $BTC and interact with DeFi and NFTs in seconds. Its native token $HYPER powers fees and staking, with optional burn mechanics that let holders tighten supply.
With $29M already raised at $0.013375 per token, you’re stepping into a network that’s past the untested-idea stage but still early in its lifecycle.
As Twenty One Capital Hits the NYSE, Bitcoin Hyper Lines Up as the Next Crypto to Explode
December 5, 2025 • 10:00 UTC
On December 9, 2025, Twenty One Capital starts trading on the NYSE under ticker XXI as the exchange’s largest dedicated Bitcoin treasury firm.
The company is merging with Cantor Equity Partners and debuting with more than 43k $BTC on its balance sheet, roughly $4B at current prices, which makes it the third-largest public Bitcoin holder behind Marathon’s 52k $BTC and Strategy’s 650k-coin stack. This pushes Bitcoin deeper into traditional equity portfolios rather than just ETF wrappers.
When balance-sheet $BTC moves onto Wall Street, on-chain demand tends to lag unless there is infrastructure that turns idle coins into productive liquidity. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) targets that niche as the first Bitcoin Layer-2 built on the Solana Virtual Machine, with a bridge that wraps your $BTC for DeFi, NFTs, and payments.
Transaction fees are paid in $HYPER, and staking lets you share in network activity while burns can shrink circulating supply. With $29M already raised at a presale price of $0.013375, your risk is now mostly about adoption.
Twenty One Capital waits for its NYSE debut on December 9, with a $BTC treasury of 43.5K tokens, which ranks it third on the list of the largest Bitcoin treasuries, after Strategy and MARA.
Twenty One Capital’s NYSE debut underscores institutional Bitcoin demand, increasing the strategic relevance of scalable $BTC infrastructure like Bitcoin Hyper.
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) will use a modular Bitcoin Layer-1 + SVM Layer-2 design to bring sub‑second, low‑fee smart contracts to the Bitcoin ecosystem.
PEPENODE’s ($PEPENODE) mine‑to‑earn structure turns meme coin speculation into a gamified virtual mining experience with tiered node rewards.
Twenty One Capital’s NYSE debut, with more than 43.5K $BTC on its balance sheet, is a watershed moment for institutional Bitcoin exposure.
Once it hits the public sphere, Twenty One Capital will be the largest Bitcoin holder listed on the NYSE. Twenty One capital is the third-largest public $BTC treasury company globally, after MARA and Strategy, which are both listed on the Nasdaq.
The takeaway is clear: if regulated equity vehicles are racing to accumulate $BTC, the infrastructure that can actually make Bitcoin capital productive is where the asymmetric upside sits. Layer-2 scaling, yield infrastructure, and stable settlement rails suddenly matter a lot more.
Here are three assets that sit neatly in that flow of capital: Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) as a hyper‑performance Bitcoin Layer-2; PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) as a speculative mine‑to‑earn meme coin riding the risk curve; and USDC ($USDC) as the settlement backbone tying it all together.
1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – First Bitcoin Layer-2 With SVM
If listed treasuries are hoarding $BTC, the obvious next question is how to make that Bitcoin programmable. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) positions itself as one of the fastest Bitcoin Layer-2s with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration, aiming to deliver execution that outperforms Solana while anchoring security to the Bitcoin Layer-1.
Instead of trying to jam smart contracts into Bitcoin’s base layer, Bitcoin Hyper will use a modular design: the Bitcoin Layer-1 will handle settlement and finality, while a real‑time SVM‑powered Layer-2 executes transactions at extremely low latency and low cost.
That opens the door to sub‑second confirmation times and fee levels closer to Solana‑style micro‑payments rather than congested Layer-1 Bitcoin fees.
On the programmability side, SVM compatibility means developers can deploy Rust‑based smart contracts, supporting SPL‑style tokens modified for this Layer-2. That makes it far easier for existing Solana‑native teams to port DeFi primitives, NFT collections, or gaming dApps into the Bitcoin ecosystem without rewriting their entire stack.
The Canonical Bridge is in charge of creating the wrapped Bitcoins, once the Bitcoin Relay Program confirms incoming transactions in record time.
The live presale has already passed the $29M milestone, an indication that $HYPER is clearly drawing institutional‑style speculation ahead of launch.
Right now, $HYPER costs $0.013375 per token, with staking at 40% APY. The project targets a release window between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, so if you want to join the presale, read our guide to buying $HYPER before the clock runs out.
Based on the investor interest during the presale and the project’s utility proposition, we expect the token to experience a considerable post-launch surge once the initial dump settles.
Our price prediction for $HYPER puts the token at a potential $0.20 in 2026 for an ROI of 1,395%. 2030 could push it to $1.50 once the project starts seeing mainstream support with return rates of $11,115%.
If these predictions check, $HYPER could become one of the best crypto to buy in 2026 and beyond.
While Bitcoin Hyper targets infrastructure, PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) leans into speculation and gamification as the self‑proclaimed world’s first mine‑to‑earn memecoin.
Instead of traditional staking or liquidity mining, users participate in a virtual mining system where node ownership and activity determine reward tiers.
This ‘tiered node rewards’ model turns what would usually be passive holding into an interactive experience. Users scale up their node exposure to climb the rewards ladder, while a gamified dashboard visualizes mining progress, earnings, and competition with other participants.
It’s a meme coin, but with a pseudo‑operational layer of simulated infrastructure underneath.
From a capital‑flow perspective, PEPENODE offers a higher‑beta play that can benefit when Bitcoin strength and institutional headlines pull liquidity further out the risk curve.
The presale has already raised over $2.2M, leaving room for upside if the mine‑to‑earn mechanic gains traction with retail.
Currently at $0.0011778, the PEPENODE presale offers a dynamic staking APY of 570%. Our guide to buying $PEPENODE explains how to join the presale.
If the marriage between the coin’s meme value and its on-chain utility works, we could see it pump post launch. A fair price prediction for $PEPENODE hints at a potential target of $0.0072 in 2026. Make that $0.0244 by 2030, once the mainstream market starts taking notice.
In terms of profit, think ROIs of 511% and 1,971% respectively.
If you believe speculative capital will chase novel tokenomics as Bitcoin grinds higher on institutional demand, PEPENODE is a structured way to express that view.
If Twenty One Capital’s listing represents regulated $BTC exposure, USDC ($USDC) is the complementary rail for dollar liquidity. $USDC is a fully collateralized, US dollar‑pegged stablecoin designed to enable fast, transparent, and low‑cost digital dollar transactions across borders and platforms.
Each $USDC is backed by cash and short‑dated US.
Treasuries held in segregated accounts, making it a favorite among institutions and DeFi protocols that need predictable redemption and regulatory clarity. Crucially, $USDC is now available natively on more than 16 blockchains and supports Circle’s Cross‑Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), enabling seamless movement of liquidity between ecosystems without centralized exchange hops.
That multi‑chain footprint and composability have helped push $USDC’s market cap above $78B as of December 2025, cementing its position as the world’s second‑largest stablecoin by circulation.
It functions as base collateral in DeFi, settlement currency on major exchanges, and a bridge between banks, fintechs, and crypto‑native rails.
In a world where publicly listed firms are turning to Bitcoin and regulators scrutinize stablecoins, $USDC offers a relatively conservative way to sit in on‑chain dollars while moving quickly between trades.
If you’re rotating between $BTC, altcoin bets like $HYPER and $PEPENODE, and cash, $USDC is the liquidity layer that makes the strategy actually executable.
Recap: As Twenty One Capital’s NYSE debut channels more TradFi money into Bitcoin, Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), PEPENODE ($PEPENODE), and USDC ($USDC) map out a coherent stack: programmable $BTC yield, speculative upside, and stable settlement.
Disclaimer: This isn’t financial advice. DYOR before investing.
Kraken and Deutsche Börse has announced a strategic partnership that will integrate crypto with traditional market infrastructure.
Kraken And Deutsche Börse Have Partnered Up
As announced in a press release, US-based digital asset exchange Kraken has teamed up with Deutsche Börse Group to bridge crypto and traditional finance and deliver institutional investors access across asset classes.
Headquartered in Frankfurt, Deutsche Börse Group is one of the biggest financial market infrastructure providers in the world. It operates the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, which ranks the 12th largest in market cap globally.
In the first phase of the partnership, Kraken will integrate directly with 360T, a subsidiary of the German multinational corporation that provides foreign-exchange trading services. This integration will provide Kraken clients access to the latter’s foreign-exchange liquidity.
The partnership will go the other way, as well. Via Crypto Finance, another Deutsche Börse subsidiary, and Kraken, Deutsche Börse Group clients will be able to trade cryptocurrencies and derivatives.
The two firms also plan to leverage Kraken Embed, the crypto trading infrastructure solution created by Kraken, to provide institutions in Deutsche Börse Group’s network with digital asset access.
The press release noted:
Together, the companies will develop advanced white-label solutions enabling banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions to offer secure, compliant crypto trading and custody services to clients across Europe and the U.S.
Another thing Kraken and Deutsche Börse Group are collaborating on is integration of xStocks in the ecosystem of 360X, Deutsche Börse’s tokenized trading venue. xStocks is a stock tokenization standard that has been gaining adoption. Kraken announced the acquisition of Backed, the company behind xStocks, just this Tuesday.
Arjun Sethi, Kraken Co-CEO, said:
By linking traditional and digital markets across a wide range of asset classes, we’re building a holistic foundation for the next generation of financial innovation: defined by efficiency, openness, and client access.
The companies are also looking to make derivatives listed on Deutsche Börse Group’s Eurex, the largest futures and options marketplace in Europe, available on Kraken, if regulators provide the nod.
Stephan Leithner, Deutsche Börse CEO, noted:
This collaboration with Kraken is a great strategic fit for Deutsche Börse Group. It underscores our ongoing commitment to shaping the future of financial markets by combining the trust and resilience of our regulated infrastructure with the innovation of the digital asset ecosystem.
Back in October, the German organization also announced another crypto partnership, this one with USDC issuer Circle. The collaboration aimed to integrate the latter’s USD and EUR stablecoins in the former’s infrastructure to boost stablecoin adoption in Europe.
Bitcoin Price
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $92,500, up 1% over the last week.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan doesn’t believe that Strategy will sell any of its Bitcoins, saying that the company has ‘enough cash to cover interest payments for the foreseeable future.’
This reinforces the digital gold thesis and supports a longer-term, institution-led $BTC accumulation narrative.
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) aims to fuse Bitcoin settlement with SVM-based execution, targeting sub-second, low-fee smart contracts to overcome BTC’s speed, cost, and programmability limits
$HYPER just reached $29M in presale and targets a potential 1,395% post-launch ROI in 2026.
Institutional conviction in Bitcoin just got a fresh boost.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan has indicated that Strategy has no plans to dump its massive Bitcoin position, easing fears of a forced sell-off and reinforcing the idea that large, regulated players are thinking in halving cycles, not headlines.
For you as a Bitcoin holder, that matters. When big allocators telegraph ‘we’re not selling,’ it stabilizes expectations around future supply and dampens the tail risk of sudden institutional liquidation.
That macro backdrop is exactly why high-upside Bitcoin-adjacent plays are back in focus.
If core $BTC exposure is the conservative base layer, then infrastructure tied to Bitcoin’s success – especially Layer 2 networks – becomes the speculative frontier where upside can be multiples higher if adoption hits.
Positioned as ‘the fastest Bitcoin Layer 2 with SVM integration,’ $HYPER is pitching itself as a way to turn Bitcoin’s settlement layer into a high-throughput smart contract environment, effectively grafting Solana-grade performance onto BTC’s security model.
Why Institutions Are Forcing a Rethink of Bitcoin Infrastructure
Strategy’s public stance underscores a wider trend: institutional allocators are treating Bitcoin more like digital gold and less like a trade.
Long-term balance sheet positioning, ETF flows, and strategy mandates are tightening the ‘float,’ which is great for price stability but leaves a big question unanswered – what about utility and throughput?
Bitcoin’s base layer still clears roughly single-digit transactions per second, with on-chain fees spiking into tens of dollars during congestion. Lightning helps for simple payments, but it does not solve generalized programmability or DeFi-native use cases.
That gap is why you’re seeing a race among Layer 2 designs targeting Bitcoin: rollups, sidechains, and virtual machine bridges all battling for mindshare.
Projects like Stacks, Rootstock, and various rollup experiments each approach the problem differently, from separate smart contract layers anchored to $BTC to EVM-compatible sidechains.
As markets digest that the ‘digital gold’ thesis is intact, attention naturally shifts to which infrastructure can unlock yield, DeFi, and dApps on top of it – and that’s where Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is starting to enter the conversation alongside more established names.
Bitcoin Hyper’s SVM Layer 2 Pitch to Bitcoin Holders
Where Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) differentiates itself is in its technical bet: integrating the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) directly into a Bitcoin Layer 2.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, the project leans on an execution environment already proven to handle thousands of transactions per second with sub-second finality, aiming to exceed Solana’s own performance by optimizing specifically for L2.
The architecture is modular: Bitcoin Layer 1 handles settlement and security, while a real-time SVM Layer 2 processes execution.
A single trusted sequencer batches transactions and periodically anchors state to Bitcoin, while SPL-compatible tokens are adapted for the L2. The Canonical Bridge handles the wrapped $BTC, lowering confirmation times to seconds and improving the network’s scalability dramatically.
Investor interest is already material.
The Bitcoin Hyper presale has jumped over $29M recently, with the token priced at $0.013375, signaling that the market is willing to fund a serious attempt at Bitcoin-native high throughput.
Long-term, $HYPER positions itself as a potential slam dunk. Our price prediction for $HYPER, based on the project’s utility and investor support during the presale, hints at a 2026 target of $0.20. 2030 could push that number to $1.50 once the project breaches into the mainstream.
In terms of raw profit, think ROIs of 1,395% and 11,115% respectively.
For $BTC holders looking to stay within the Bitcoin orbit but earn on a more dynamic asset, that combination of yield, infrastructure exposure, and long-term profit-hunting potential could be compelling.
$HYPER is making an aggressive case that a Solana-grade execution environment, plugged into Bitcoin finality, is one of the more asymmetric ways to express that view. If that sounds appealing, read our guide on how to buy $HYPER today.
More importantly, do it soon, because Bitcoin Hyper has a targeted release window between Q4 2025, which is nearly over, and Q1 2026: time is not your friend.
A new player has emerged in the world of cryptocurrency banking, with a team of former executives from the collapsed Signature Bank at the helm. The establishment of N3XT comes nearly three years after Signature Bank’s downfall in March 2023, which significantly impacted the crypto industry.
Former Signature Bank Leaders Establish N3XT
According to a report by Reuters, the newly founded blockchain-based bank aims to facilitate instant US dollar payments around the clock, led by Scott Shay, who served as the founder and chairman of the Signature Bank. Jeffrey Wallis, the former director of digital assets at Signature, will take on the role of CEO at N3XT.
Per the report, N3XT will operate under a special-purpose bank charter in Wyoming and has decided to avoid typical lending activities, which were at the heart of the collapsed Signature Bank.
“Every dollar of deposits will be backed by cash or short-term U.S. Treasuries,” Wallis explained, noting that the bank will publish its reserve holdings daily.
This sets N3XT apart from its predecessor, Signature Bank, especially given that its reserves will be held with custodial partners, though Wallis did not disclose their names.
Importantly, N3XT will not be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) since Wyoming special-purpose banks are not required to obtain such insurance.
The collapse of Signature Bank, along with the failures of Silvergate Bank and Silicon Valley Bank, pointed to a troubling trend among banks with significant uninsured deposits and ties to the cryptocurrency sector. Rising interest rates and a loss of depositor confidence culminated in bank runs that led to their downfall.
Solutions For Crypto Clients
Addressing concerns about the safety of client assets, Wallis reassured potential customers in the crypto industry, stating, “We do not lend against our balance sheet, so clients always have confidence that their capital is available to them and is never at risk.”
He emphasized that the newly established bank is designed to offer a new and “unique banking structure,” ensuring that clients’ liquidity is readily accessible according to their economic needs.
Wallis further distinguished N3XT’s approach to risk management from that of Signature Bank, which was criticized for “poor management” and a focus on “rapid, unrestrained growth” with little attention to risk.
“We are not making any lending decisions with the balance sheet,” Wallis reiterated. “We are keeping our clients’ assets in full liquid form.” N3XT will reportedly focus on catering to crypto clients, many of whom Wallis mentioned are already in the onboarding process.
As of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC), the market’s leading crypto, is trading at $92,834. It has consolidated above the key $90,000 support level for the past few days, sparking new hopes for a potential recovery above $100,000 by the end of the year.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Amberdata says nearly $4B in Oct–Nov U.S. spot BTC ETF outflows mainly reflect basis-trade unwinds, not long-term investor capitulation.
ETF holdings remain around 1.43M $BTC and redemptions were concentrated in a few issuers, so the broader macro bull case for bitcoin stays intact.
Bitcoin Hyper brings SVM-style, low-latency smart-contract execution to Bitcoin, targeting DeFi, gaming, and payments on top of BTC settlement security.
PEPENODE launches a ‘mine-to-earn’ memecoin model where users run virtual nodes, progress through tiers, and earn gamified token rewards.
US spot Bitcoin ($BTC) ETFs just saw roughly $4B in outflows since it reached an ATH in October.
However, research suggests most of that was basis trades unwinding, not real capitulation. These were crowded arbitrage and carry trades shutting down as funding flipped, not long-term allocators fleeing Bitcoin for good.
That distinction matters. If institutions aren’t dumping spot exposure en masse, the core bull thesis around Bitcoin as a macro asset remains intact.
Structural demand from ETFs, corporates, and high-net-worth investors still underpins the market, even as leverage and short-term positioning reset in the background.
For you, that backdrop favors asymmetric upside rather than chasing large-cap beta. The ETF bid can support Bitcoin, while the most explosive gains tend to come from early-stage infrastructure, AI, and high-throughput plays quietly building into the next cycle.
Crypto presales are exactly where that risk/reward skew can be most extreme if you’re selective.
Below are three presales positioned at key narratives: Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) for Bitcoin scalability, PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) for mine-to-earn memes, and Ionix Chain ($IONX) for AI-powered blockchains.
They stand out in the current market as some of the best crypto presales to watch, alongside other leading early-stage plays.
1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – First SVM-Powered Bitcoin Layer 2
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) positions itself as the first true Bitcoin Layer 2 integrating the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), aiming to deliver execution that’s even faster than Solana while anchoring settlement to Bitcoin.
The modular design separates Bitcoin L1 for security and finality from a real-time SVM Layer 2 for high-throughput execution.
On the technical side, Bitcoin Hyper uses a single trusted sequencer that batches and orders transactions, then periodically anchors state commitments back to Bitcoin.
The core pitch is simple: bring fast, scalable smart contracts to Bitcoin without sacrificing its brand and security. That unlocks high-speed payments in wrapped $BTC with low fees, DeFi protocols for swaps, lending, and staking, plus NFT and gaming dApps.
Our ‘What is Bitcoin Hyper?’ guide covers everything you need to know about the project, from its tokenomics to community sentiment.
The market has responded positively to the project. The Bitcoin Hyper presale has already raised $29M, with tokens priced at $0.013375.
Whales are also scrambling to get their slice of the pie, including one that bought over $500K of tokens. That kind of early conviction can signal confidence in the tech and tokenomics.
Staking is a major part of the value proposition. You can stake yours immediately after purchasing so you can enjoy rewards that are currently at 40% APY.
2. PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) – First Mine-to-Earn Memecoin Infrastructure
If Bitcoin Hyper is a pure infrastructure bet, PEPENODE ($PEPENODE) leans into the speculative energy of memes, but with a twist. It brands itself as the world’s first ‘mine-to-earn’ memecoin, combining viral culture with a virtual mining and node system that gamifies participation.
Instead of relying solely on hype and social media, PEPENODE introduces a Virtual Mining System where you can deploy and upgrade nodes to earn token rewards.
A tiered node structure sets different earning bands, effectively creating a gamified yield ladder. A dedicated dashboard wraps all of this in a simple interface designed that’s easy to understand even if you’re a complete beginner.
This model turns what’s usually passive memecoin holding into something more interactive. If the narrative catches on, miners and speculators are incentivized to keep the system spinning.
On the numbers, the PEPENODE presale has raised over $2.2M so far, with tokens priced at $0.0011778. That leaves plenty of room for upside if the mine-to-earn meme gains traction across other traders.
You can also stake tokens to get dynamic rewards that are currently at a whopping 570% APY.
The project’s medium-term prospects look bright, as long as it ticks off all the items in its roadmap and attracts more participants. When that happens, the token’s value could reach a high of $0.0072 by the end of 2026, or a 511% increase from the current price.
Rounding out the list is Ionix Chain, an AI-powered Layer 1 targeting the intersection of high-performance smart contracts and machine learning.
It uses a hybrid Proof-of-Stake engine with Directed Acyclic Graph architecture combined with what it calls Quantum AI Consensus, designed to self-optimize throughput, latency, and security parameters in real time.
Ionix Chain’s performance targets are aggressive. The team claims up to 500K transactions per second with sub-second finality, positioning it squarely against high-throughput leaders rather than legacy L1s.
Its adaptive smart contracts use AI to optimize gas usage, routing, and resource allocation, aiming to help dApps scale predictably as volumes spike.
Cross-chain support is another core pillar. Ionix is building interoperability with Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, giving developers a way to bridge assets and deploy applications that can tap liquidity across multiple ecosystems.
That’s particularly relevant if multi-chain liquidity routing becomes standard for DeFi and AI-driven protocols.
At the moment, Ionix Chain is running a multi-stage token presale that has raised over $6.3M so far. Another stage is coming in about four days, which will increase the price up another notch, so it’s always best to get in early.
Early exchange partners have also been teased, positioning IONX as a notable AI-blockchain contender rather than a niche experiment. If you’re an investor betting on AI as a core crypto theme next cycle, Ionix offers direct infrastructure exposure.
With ETF outflows driven by basis trade unwinds rather than true capitulation, the broader Bitcoin bull case still stands.
Recap: Bitcoin Hyper, PEPENODE, and Ionix Chain each target major narratives: Bitcoin scalability, gamified memes, and AI L1s. If you’re looking for alternative bets in the current market atmosphere, the three are worth a look.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice; always do your own research.
Reports have disclosed a sharp rebound in crypto markets this week, with Bitcoin jumping 8% to trade above $93,000 after sliding from lows under $85,000 earlier in the week.
Traders are watching the Federal Reserve’s December actions closely as they try to gauge how much liquidity will return to markets. The move pushed bitcoin back within reach of a roughly $2 trillion market cap.
Sovereign Funds Building Longer Positions
According to BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink, several sovereign wealth funds have been quietly adding to positions as prices fell from a peak near $126,000.
“There are a number of sovereign funds that are standing by…. and they’re buying ‘incrementally’ as the Bitcoin price has retreated from its $126,000 peak,” Fink said.
He said these buyers are taking a gradual approach — adding over time rather than making quick bets — and treating holdings as multi-year positions.
Reports have disclosed that public funds in Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg have bought into BlackRock’s IBIT bitcoin fund in recent months.
Fink warned that markets remain skewed and that volatility will persist while many players remain highly leveraged.
Tokenization Seen As A Long-Term Story
Fink has been vocal about tokenization as a major theme for the coming years. Based on reports, he wrote in The Economist that tokenization could grow as quickly as the internet did in its early days, noting that Amazon had only $16 million in sales in 1996.
BlackRock, the $10 trillion asset manager he runs, has pushed the idea that a digital wallet could one day hold stocks, bonds and tokenized assets together.
Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong said some of the largest banks are already working with Coinbase on stablecoins, custody and trading services, though he did not name the banks.
On Ownership & Worry
According to remarks made at a DealBook event alongside Andrew Ross Sorkin and Brian Armstrong, Fink described bitcoin in emotional terms: ownership often reflects worries about physical safety or financial security.
He tied demand to concerns over the debasement of financial assets and rising deficits. Reports have also quoted him warning that the US risks falling behind other governments if it does not speed up adoption of tokenization and other digital tools.
US President Donald Trump has similarly warned about competition from China in crypto innovation.
Market Reaction And Risks Ahead
Traders are already pricing in a variety of scenarios. Some are betting on a major development in 2026 that could reshape demand; others remain focused on short-term policy moves from the Fed.
Bitcoin’s recent 8% gain was the largest daily jump since May, but it came after sharp swings that highlighted how quickly positions can reverse.
With significant capital now involved — and big names publicly backing tokenization — the market is likely to see more headline-driven moves.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
European exchange WhiteBIT announced the inclusion of its native token in major digital asset benchmarks by leading global provider of financial market indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices, marking a significant step for the platform and the region’s crypto infrastructure sector.
WhiteBIT Included In Major Crypto Indices
On Thursday, top crypto exchange WhiteBIT announced that its token, WBT, has been added to the S&P Cryptocurrency Broad Digital Market (BDM) Index, curated by S&P Dow Jones Indices (DJI).
The S&P BDM Index is designed to track the performance of crypto assets that meet strict institutional criteria, including liquidity, market capitalization, governance, transparency, and risk controls, and are listed on recognized open digital exchanges.
This marks an important milestone for both WhiteBIT and the broader fintech landscape in Central and Eastern Europe, the exchange noted, as it reinforces “the platform’s growing role in the global crypto economy” and highlights the industry’s move toward regulated, infrastructure-level players.
In a statement, Volodymyr Nosov, CEO of WhiteBIT, affirmed that “being recognized by S&P DJI is more than an index inclusion — it signals that crypto infrastructure from our region has reached global institutional standards.”
The announcement also revealed that WBT was added to the other four S&P Dow Jones digital-asset indices, including the S&P Cryptocurrency Broad Digital Asset (BDA) Index, S&P Cryptocurrency Financials Index, S&P Cryptocurrency LargeCap Ex-MegaCap Index, and the S&P Cryptocurrency LargeCap Index.
Notably, index providers have been expanding coverage beyond protocol-layer tokens as the industry matures, acknowledging the systemic role of exchanges and financial infrastructure platforms, positioning these companies within the global map of institutional-grade digital asset providers.
The exchange underscored that the classifications require a remarkable record of liquidity stability, transparent price formation, and consistent market cap behavior. “This is a turning point not only for our company but also for the evolution of compliant crypto services worldwide,” Nosov continued.
WhiteBIT’s Expansion And WBT’s Momentum
The S&P index inclusions follow a strong market performance from WBT, which rallied around 50% over the last three months, despite recent market volatility that sent many leading tokens to multi-month lows in the past few weeks.
In mid-November, the altcoin reached an all-time high (ATH) of $62.96, fueled by last month’s positive developments. As reported by Bitcoinist, WhiteBIT unveiled its entry into the Argentine and Brazilian markets, building on its expansion to Australia, Croatia, Italy, and Kazakhstan.
The move is expected to integrate local fiat providers and add support for local currencies, aiming to further enhance accessibility and convenience for domestic users in the two largest countries in South America.
Moreover, the exchange signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Durrah AlFodah Holding, represented by His Royal Highness Prince Naif Bin Abdullah Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to drive the Kingdom’s development in blockchain technology, digital finance, and data infrastructure.
Under the strategic agreement, WhiteBIT is set to provide technological expertise and infrastructure design. Meanwhile, Durrah AlFodah will facilitate the exchange’s market entry, regulatory engagement, and partnership development across Saudi Arabia.
Now, being part of S&P’s indices offers WBT a clear benchmark, the announcement added, facilitating its use in future financial products and long-term investment strategies.
This expanded representation marks an important shift for WBT: from a utility token into a component integrated into global benchmark structures used by investment firms, ETF/ETN designers, and quantitative research platforms. Its presence in multiple institutional models means that WBT is now incorporated into the analytical frameworks that guide long-term allocation strategies, diversified exposure construction, and risk-adjusted portfolio modelling.
In the late hours of December 3, WBT rallied to a new ATH of $63.05 before stabilizing around the $62 mark, according to CoinGecko data. This represents a 14.5% increase from the recent lows and a 9% surge in the weekly timeframe.
The tension between decentralized finance and traditional Wall Street players resurfaced this week after Uniswap founder Hayden Adams publicly accused Citadel Securities of influencing U.S. regulators to impose stricter rules on the DeFi sector.
Adams’ comments, shared across social media, sparked a wide-ranging debate over who should be considered a financial intermediary in blockchain-based markets, and whether the rules of traditional finance should apply to open-source developers.
Adams claimed that Citadel, led by CEO Ken Griffin, has been lobbying the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to classify DeFi developers, validators, liquidity providers and even front-end operators as broker-dealers.
Citadel’s Filing Raises Concerns Over Tokenized Markets
At the center of the dispute is Citadel’s December 2 filing to the SEC. The document argues that many blockchain-based systems effectively bring together buyers and sellers in ways that resemble traditional exchanges.
As such, Citadel says they should be regulated under the same standards, even if those systems operate through smart contracts rather than centralized infrastructure.
Citadel warned that tokenized U.S. equities trading on DeFi platforms could create a “shadow equity market” outside the national market system, reducing regulatory oversight and fragmenting liquidity.
The firm’s letter also rejects the idea that technology differences justify regulatory exemptions, insisting that “the same activity should face the same rules” regardless of whether it is powered by algorithms or legacy systems.
DeFi advocates counter that this perspective ignores the design of decentralized protocols, which can function without centralized control and often rely on open-source contributions rather than corporate governance.
Adams Pushes Back Against “Fair Access” Claims
Adams criticized Citadel’s assertion that DeFi systems cannot provide “fair access,” calling the argument inconsistent with how traditional market makers operate. He argued that open-source protocols can lower barriers to participation, unlike centralized trading venues where access is limited by intermediaries.
Developers and community members echoed this point, noting that the DeFi ecosystem encompasses a broad range of models, from fully permissionless exchanges to platforms that rely on more centralized components.
Some community voices added that regulatory conversations often lack clarity because “DeFi” itself encompasses many different structures.
Regulatory Pressure Builds as SEC Signals Broader Scrutiny
The exchange comes at a time when the SEC has repeatedly taken enforcement action against DeFi teams. The agency has emphasized that it assesses economic realities rather than decentralization labels, citing past cases such as the Rari Capital settlement in 2024.
If regulators adopt Citadel’s framing, entities involved in developing or maintaining DeFi protocols could face registration requirements designed for traditional broker-dealers.
Industry participants warn that such a shift could make open-source projects difficult to operate, raising questions about the future of permissionless finance in the United States.
As the debate continues, the clash highlights a deeper divide between emerging decentralized systems and established financial institutions, one that is increasingly shaping regulatory policy discussions in Washington.
Cover image from ChatGPT, UNIUSD chart from Tradingview
According to reports, the UK has put new law on the books that names cryptocurrencies as property under English law. The measure was approved and was given Royal Assent on December 2, 2025.
That move turns a long stretch of legal uncertainty into a clear rule about who owns what when it comes to Bitcoin, stablecoins and other tokenized assets.
UK Grants Property Status To Crypto
Based on reports, the bill — called the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025 — creates a new, third category of personal property for digital assets. The law covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
It does not make crypto money that must be accepted in shops, and it does not itself set new rules for exchanges or taxes. What it does do is give owners a firmer legal claim they can use in court.
Courts Had Set The Stage Years Earlier
Even before the law, judges were already treating crypto as property in some cases. For example, a High Court action in 2019 allowed a proprietary remedy over Bitcoin used in a ransom claim.
Reports show another key ruling came in 2023 when a judge found that the stablecoin USDT could attract property rights under English law.
Legal groups such as the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce had argued for years that crypto meets basic tests for property: it can be defined, found, transferred and held for a period of time. The new act simply puts that view into statute.
Both takes miss it a bit. UK courts have already treated crypto as property for years; this just codifies and tightens the framework, especially for insolvency/estate stuff. It is “true” in the sense that the statute now spells it out, but it is not the revolution CryptoUK is…
With property status written into law, people who hold crypto should find it easier to bring claims to recover stolen or lost assets. Creditors and insolvency practitioners will have clearer grounds to list digital assets in estates and bankruptcies.
Reports suggest the change will make freezing orders, seizure and restitution easier to obtain through UK courts than before. That matters for victims of hacks, customers of failed platforms, and anyone trying to settle an estate that includes crypto.
A Law, Not A Full Rulebook
The act is a legal recognition, not a full set of rules for how crypto is bought, sold or taxed. Regulators still control licensing, anti-money-laundering checks, and market conduct.
Tax authorities will keep defining how gains are assessed. Based on reports from legal commentators, the act acts as a foundation — it clarifies ownership first, and lawmakers or regulators can build more detailed rules on top of that later.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Recent bullish predictions for the XRP price have emerged, hinting at a potential for new all-time highs (ATHs) by March 2026 for one of the market’s leading altcoins.
XRP Price Projected To Reach New ATH By Q1 2026
According to projections from ChatGPT, XRP could reach approximately $4.40 by the first quarter of 2026, a notable increase of 120% from current levels around $2.
In contrast to the AI forecast, some analysts believe that the XRP price has the potential for a stronger rally. They suggest that structural changes could allow XRP to exceed $5 and potentially approach $6 by 2026.
Several factors support their optimistic view. For instance, key aspects of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) case against Ripple were resolved earlier this year, which they believe could encourage banks and payment providers to adopt XRP for cross-border transactions, fostering greater confidence in its utility.
Additionally, Ripple’s ecosystem is expanding well beyond XRP. In December 2024, the company launched a dollar-pegged stablecoin known as RLUSD, which has already achieved a market cap exceeding $1 billion.
While RLUSD itself may not directly boost XRP’s price, it has the potential to attract more participants to Ripple’s network, thereby creating secondary demand for XRP as a bridging asset.
Analysts posit that a steady pipeline of RLUSD adoption could enhance Ripple’s revenue growth, consequently driving the XRP price higher.
$2.60 Key For Momentum Shift
Moreover, analysts point to the upcoming Bitcoin (BTC) Halving, expected in 2028, as a potential catalyst for a broad crypto market rally. The analysts assert that the XRP price has historically benefited from such cycles.
From a technical standpoint, chart analysts see XRP setting up for a potential breakout. Price action has formed a base around the low $2 range, which could lay the groundwork for further recovery.
According to the analysts, if bullish momentum can push the token above significant resistance levels around $2.60, it could change momentum indicators to a positive stance. Moreover, a sustained rally into the mid-$3 territory might then pave the way for XRP to reach the $4 to $5 range.
When writing, the XRP price stands at $2.14, recording a 1.6% drop in the past 24 hours.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced on Thursday that spot crypto asset contracts will soon be available for trading on futures exchanges that are registered with the agency, aligning with the positive regulatory changes championed by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Crypto Sprint Progress
The CFTC disclosed that this recent decision follows recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and insights gathered from the CFTC’s Crypto Sprint initiative, as well as collaborative efforts with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham highlighted the importance of providing Americans with access to safe and regulated markets, stating, “Recent events on offshore exchanges have shown us how essential it is for Americans to have more choice and access to safe, regulated US markets.”
In addition to the introduction of spot trading, the Crypto Sprint initiative includes measures to enable tokenized collateral—such as stablecoins—within derivatives markets.
The CFTC also plans to implement regulatory updates to facilitate the use of blockchain technology in various operational areas, including collateral, margin, clearing, settlement, reporting, and recordkeeping.
Historic Shift In CFTC’s Digital Asset Trading Move
Market expert MartyParty on social media stated that this latest move is an historic decision that will empower retail and institutional traders to buy, sell, and leverage crypto assets directly on CFTC-registered exchanges. MartyParty further noted:
It’s the culmination of years of regulatory groundwork, including a joint SEC-CFTC statement clarifying that existing laws already permit such trading on registered venues.
Pham remarked on the collaborative efforts of the administration, stating that President Trump’s leadership has fostered a comprehensive plan for the US to reclaim its status as a global leader in digital asset markets. As she noted, “The CFTC has a central role to play” in this initiative.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Moonrock Capital founder Simon Dedic says the crypto industry is nearing a decisive transition from an early-adopter niche to a mainstream market, assigning a 75% probability that the sector will “finish crossing the chasm and enter the early-majority phase next year.”
Is The Crypto Market Crossing The Chasm?
Dedic frames his outlook using the classic technology adoption curve, which splits the market into innovators (2.5%), early adopters (13.5%), an early majority (34%), late majority (34%) and laggards (16%). The critical “chasm” lies between early adopters—“people who want newest things” and accept a minimum feature set—and the early majority, who demand a “whole product solution” and prioritize complete, convenient offerings.
In his base case, Dedic argues that crypto is now close to exiting that chasm. If so, he says, “the classic 4-year cycles are dead. The market will have matured and will increasingly correlate with macro cycles and industry fundamentals rather than self-fulfilling narratives.” Under this scenario, pricing would be governed less by reflexive narratives around halvings or “altseason” and more by the sector’s real economic role and its interaction with broader financial conditions.
He assigns a 20% probability to a less advanced stage of adoption in which the industry is “still in the early-adopter phase and only now beginning to cross the chasm.” In that case, he believes crypto could face “a 1-3 year bear market while the industry finds itself and pushes toward early-majority adoption.” Here, the established four-year pattern could remain intact, with another prolonged downturn before mainstream product-market fit is fully achieved.
The remaining 5% is reserved for a failure scenario in which the sector never secures such fit. “We get stuck in the chasm and never find true mainstream pmf,” Dedic writes, warning that crypto could then “turn into a zero sum game and we will just PvP trade money from one to the other.”
Dedic makes clear he views that outcome as unlikely. He cites “regulatory tailwinds, institutional adoption, and the accelerating fundamentals of our industry” as reasons to believe the market is already in scenario one, “standing right in front of the biggest adoption wave crypto has ever seen, and likely ever will see.”
He also argues that market structure and culture must evolve alongside adoption. “The 4 year cycles and simple narrative chasing are dead,” he says. While “the onchain online casino will always be part of our identity, it will shrink into a niche. It’s time for the industry to mature and start playing the serious game.”
For Dedic, that conviction is not theoretical. “An incredible decade lies ahead for those willing to evolve,” he concludes, adding that he is “betting basically all my money on the idea that this is only just getting started.”
At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.15 trillion.
Bitcoin (BTC) has continued its relief rally since the start of the week, successfully reclaiming the significant $93,000 mark on Wednesday afternoon. This uptick in the cryptocurrency’s price has sparked mixed sentiments among experts regarding its future direction.
Analysts Warn Of Resistance Ahead For Bitcoin
IG analyst Chris Beauchamp highlighted the cautious optimism among Bitcoin enthusiasts, who are wary after witnessing numerous false recoveries in recent months. He noted that there appears to be a shift in risk appetite within the stock market, which is gradually spilling over into the cryptocurrency space.
However, he pointed out that while last week’s bounce faltered at the $93,000 level, the recent climb above this threshold on Wednesday instills a sense of hope for a more sustained upward movement.
Despite this positivity, analysts warn that more resistance levels are likely to emerge as Bitcoin rallies. Jeff deGraaf from Renaissance Macro Research outlined two significant resistance points to watch: the psychological $100,000 threshold and the $107,000 mark, both amplified by descending moving averages.
Adding another layer to the Bitcoin discourse, market analyst CryptoBullet has suggested that the Bitcoin cycle top may already be in place, reached last month above $126,000.
Will Altcoins Bounce Back?
In a social media post, CryptoBullet pointed out that the performance of altcoins, measured against Bitcoin, indicates a bottoming out. This scenario, while concerning, is not unprecedented.
CryptoBullet recalled a similar situation in September 2019 when Bitcoin was consolidating about 30% below its top following an intense seven-month rally after a bear market low. At that time, altcoins also reached their cycle low.
In the current context, Bitcoin’s rally has lasted significantly longer—35 months compared to the previous seven-month span. Additionally, altcoins have been on a downward trajectory for over four years, effectively more than doubling the duration of their last bear market.
Looking ahead, CryptoBullet anticipates a challenging correction for Bitcoin in 2026, suggesting a bear market could be on the horizon. In the next two to three months, he predicts a potential bounce for altcoins, signaling a liquidity rotation and possibly a “mini altseason” during what he terms a “Dead Cat Bounce” for Bitcoin.
This mirrors the events of 2019-2020, when altcoins experienced a relief rally while Bitcoin was on a downward trend. CryptoBullet indicates that a significant altseason is expected in the next cycle, projected for 2027-2029.
At the time of writing, the price of BTC is trading just above $93,000, marking gains of 2% and 3% in the 24-hour and seven-day time frames, respectively.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
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