Из жизни альткоинов

Ethereum was one of the best-performing cryptocurrencies in the market over the past week, with its price jumping mid-week to as high as $3,400. Interestingly, the “king of altcoins” is now barely hanging on to the psychological $3,000 price level.

On Friday, December 12, the crypto market felt a wave of bearish pressure, with most large-cap assets witnessing significant price corrections on the day. According to the latest on-chain data, the Ethereum market appears to be experiencing heavy selling pressure.

Ethereum Taker Volume Sees Notable Spike

In a new post on the X platform, crypto analyst Maartunn revealed that the Ethereum price has been a victim of heavy selling pressure in the past day. This observation was based on the Taker Sell Volume metric, which saw a significant increase on Friday.

This on-chain metric estimates the total volume of sell orders filled by takers in perpetual swaps of a particular cryptocurrency (Ethereum, in this case). In crypto trading, a taker refers to a market participant who fills an existing order in an exchange’s order book.

Maartunn highlighted that the Taker Sell Volume across all centralized exchanges saw a notable uptick on Friday. Data from CryptoQuant shows that the metric rose to as high as 124.2 million ETH on the day.

According to Maartunn, this significant spike in the Ethereum Taker Sell Volume is a clear sign of aggressive selling in the market. This level of selling activity put bearish pressure on the Ethereum price, explaining the latest correction to $3,000.

60,000 ETH Flows Into Centralized Exchanges

Another on-chain signal that supports the theory of increased selling in the Ethereum market is the exchange inflow metric. According to data shared by Ali Martinez, significant amounts of ETH tokens have found their way onto centralized exchanges in the past day.

Santiment data shows that 60,000 ETH tokens, worth approximately $200 million, flowed onto exchanges on Friday. As expected, this inflow activity led to a spike in the Ethereum supply on exchanges and the open market.

With no adequate demand to mop up this increasing supply, this rising exchange inflow only puts downward pressure on the Ethereum price. As of this writing, ETH is valued at around $3,080, reflecting an over 4% decline in the past 24 hours.

The XRP ecosystem is taking a major step forward with the launch of Wrapped XRP (wXRP) on the Solana and Ethereum blockchains. A crypto expert has provided a thorough breakdown of what this new development could mean for XRP, noting that it not only strengthens the cryptocurrency’s credibility among other blockchains but also significantly boosts its utility.  

A Look Into XRP’s Launch On Solana And Ethereum

XRP is expanding its presence beyond its native blockchain with the introduction of Wrapped XRP on Ethereum and Solana. Hex Trust, a regulated institutional digital asset custodian, has issued wXRP, a 1:1 backed representation of the native XRP, on LayerZero’s OFT standard to enable DeFi functionality across multiple blockchains.

This new move marks a significant step in increasing XRP’s utility outside the XRP Ledger (XRPL). According to a press release published on Hex Trust’s official site on December 12, wXRP will launch first on Solana before expanding to other chains, including Optimism, Ethereum, and HyperEVM. The tokenized coin will be available for trade alongside the RLSUD stablecoin on Ethereum and supported chains, further broadening its use cases.

Crypto expert ‘Mr Cauliman’ explained on X that this new development should not be mistaken for a formal partnership between Ripple and Solana. He added that it also does not mean XRP is leaving the XRP Ledger, which continues to operate as intended, or that the wXRP is replacing the native token. He emphasized that wrapped assets are not IOUs but simply a way to access liquidity in other ecosystems. 

Cauliman highlighted that the introduction of wXRP reflects the growing acknowledgment of XRP’s liquidity by other blockchain ecosystems, including Solana. Similar to how Ethereum and Bitcoin have been wrapped for use across multiple networks, XRP is now being made accessible to users outside its native chain. This expansion not only reflects strong demand for XRP in DeFi markets but could also encourage wider adoption across different blockchain networks. 

While wXRP’s launch is a significant milestone, Cauliman has warned that wrapped assets carry considerable risks. These include counterparty, bridge, and custodial risks. He stated that native XRP is free from these risks, remaining a fast, permissionless settlement layer. Despite this, demand for the cryptocurrency in DeFi continues to grow. 

wXRP Unlocks DeFi Rewards With Reliable Pricing

wXRP is set to debut with full support for authorized merchants to mint and redeem the token in a secure and compliant environment. Users will gain access to cross-chain applications, including swaps, liquidity provisioning, and supported DeFi rewards. All of these will be made available while the asset remains redeemable 1:1 for native XRP held in Hex Trust’s custody. 

Hex Trust has revealed that wXRP will launch with over $100 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), providing strong liquidity from day one. This foundation supports smoother trading, reliable pricing, and a healthier market. The wrapped XRP is also designed to serve institutional liquidity providers, DeFi protocols, DAOs, funds, and retail and merchant users.

Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager, enabled the trading of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other crypto-related products on its platform at the start of December. However, it appears that the firm’s overall view of crypto and the digital asset industry has not changed very much over time.

Hence, the reversal of its longstanding position on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies seems to be a purely business decision rather than a change in belief. This revelation came from one of the trillion-dollar company’s top executives at a Bloomberg conference on Thursday, December 11.

No Evidence BTC’s Technology Offers Economic Value: Vanguard’s Quant Head

According to a Bloomberg report, John Ameriks, Vanguard’s global head of quantitative equity, revealed that the asset management firm’s view of crypto remains unchanged despite recently offering its investors access to Bitcoin ETFs. The senior investment executive likened BTC to a speculative “digital Labubu”—a popular plush toy collectible.

Ameriks posited that Bitcoin could be seen as a speculative collectible rather than as a productive asset, as it lacks the income, compounding, and cash-flow properties Vanguard typically checks for in long-term investments. The global head of quant said there is no clear evidence that Bitcoin’s underlying technology delivers durable economic value.

It is for this not-so-optimistic view of cryptocurrencies that Vanguard has refrained from issuing its own crypto-linked exchange-traded funds. However, the asset management firm welcomed select crypto funds to its platform earlier this month after seeing the successful record of the US-based Bitcoin ETFs since their launch.

Ameriks said in a separate interview at the Bloomberg conference:

We allow people to hold and buy these ETFs on our platform if they wish to do so, but they do so with discretion. We’re going to not give them advice as to whether to buy or sell or which crypto tokens they ought to hold. That’s just not something we’re going to do at this point.

Nevertheless, the Vanguard global head of quantitative equity did admit that he sees Bitcoin potentially offering non-speculative value in certain contexts. The top executive listed high-inflation environments and periods of political instability as some of such scenarios.

Ameriks concluded:

If you can see reliable movement in the price in those circumstances, we can talk more sensibly about what the investment thesis might be and what role it could play in a portfolio. But you just don’t have that yet – you’ve still got too short of a history.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

The price of BTC has been in a sustained downtrend over the past few months, sitting nearly 30% away from its all-time high of $126,080. As of this writing, the premier cryptocurrency is valued at around $90,380, reflecting an over 2% decline in the past day.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted Ripple a conditional approval to become a national trust bank. Crypto pundit Stern Drew highlighted what this means for the crypto firm and also XRP, which it uses for its payment services. 

What The OCC Approval Means For Ripple And XRP

In an X post, Stern Drew stated that Ripple just broke the system following the OCC’s grant of a conditional approval to the crypto firm. He further noted that Ripple now has federal and regulatory oversight locked in with this approval. The pundit added that the RLUSD stablecoin has become the gold standard for compliant stablecoins, while XRP has stepped straight into the heart of the U.S. financial system.  

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also reacted to the OCC’s grant of a conditional approval, stating that it was huge news. He remarked that this was a massive step forward, mainly for the RLUSD stablecoin, which is setting the highest standard for stablecoin compliance with both federal and state oversight. 

In a press release, the firm also indicated how this development positions RLUSD and XRP by extension for greater adoption. The firm stated that as traditional finance firms continue to enter the crypto market, they will look to leverage stablecoins with the highest regulatory rigor and compliance, which offer the trust and reliability required for enterprise adoption. 

Meanwhile, the payment firm confirmed that its banking services will also extend the same regulatory rigor behind RLUSD into its broader payments and institutional service offerings, which utilize XRP. The firm further noted that utility is already driving adoption as its stablecoin has surpassed $1 billion in market cap in less than a year. The company added that the stablecoin is actively used in its payment solutions and as collateral by prime brokers, including its prime brokerage. 

An “XRP Wake Up Call”

Crypto pundit BarriC described the OCC’s grant of a conditional approval to Ripple as an XRP wake-up call for those who may still be skeptical of the altcoin. He stated that for those who said that banks would never use XRP or partner with Ripple, the crypto firm has now also been granted a banking license.

The pundit noted that this is significant as over half of Ripple’s transactions for its payment services go through XRP. The altcoin has also received a huge boost as Swiss bank AMINA bank has become the first European bank to integrate Ripple’s payment services. BarriC highlighted that the bank will ultimately use XRP through its integration with Ripple payments. Meanwhile, crypto analyst Dark Defender indicated that Ripple’s status as a Trust bank could be one of the catalysts that lead to higher prices for XRP. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading $2.01, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Hyperliquid (HYPE), one of the largest decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in the industry, has announced the pre-alpha launch of a portfolio margin system on its testnet, marking a significant advance for traders by unifying spot and perpetual (perps) trading to enhance capital efficiency. 

This system supports various trading strategies, such as carry trades, wherein spot balances can collateralize short perps. Additionally, idle assets will automatically earn yield, creating a more dynamic trading environment.

Hyperliquid’s New Upgrade

In this initial rollout, users can only borrow Circle’s USDC stablecoin, with the exchange’s native token HYPE designated as the sole collateral asset. However, Hyperliquid plans to introduce Native Market’s USDH and Bitcoin (BTC) before transitioning to the alpha version. 

The portfolio margin framework is designed to be applicable across all HIP-3 decentralized exchanges and is expected to extend to future asset classes under the HyperCore umbrella. 

An upcoming upgrade will provide smart contract access via CoreWriter, allowing developers to create on-chain strategies using ERC-20-based wrappers, which will further broaden the platform’s functionality.

Market expert Austin King recently articulated the importance of this launch in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting on the historical significance of portfolio margin, reflecting on its introduction in traditional finance (TradFi) that added an impressive $7.2 trillion to the derivatives market within a few years.

The Essential Role Of Portfolio Margin

The expert recalled that the government had introduced margin requirements in 1934 in response to excessive leverage during the 1929 crash. 

While well-intentioned, these regulations simplified the complex nature of liquidity and often exacerbated volatility in markets. The inability to run delta-neutral strategies efficiently meant that significant margin was required for each position, presenting a challenge for traders.

The introduction of portfolio margin by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) in 1988 transformed this landscape by reducing margin requirements through a comprehensive analysis of overall risk across combined positions. 

Yet it wasn’t until 2006 that retail customers gained access to these benefits, as they had been historically limited to broker-dealers and market makers.

So, what does this mean for Hyperliquid? According to King’s thesis, the introduction of portfolio margin is poised to significantly enhance liquidity growth on the platform. 

Increased Open Interest and trading volume can be expected for every dollar of margin in the system. Effectively, this will create a substantial liquidity multiplier for every new dollar that enters Hyperliquid. Moreover, portfolio margining serves as an essential tool for large-scale liquidity providers in the traditional financial sector. 

The expert asserted that without this capability, it would be economically challenging for significant TradFi players to participate in providing liquidity on Hyperliquid, as the returns per dollar of margin would be considerably lower compared to traditional exchanges that offer portfolio margin. King concluded the following:

There is more work to be done, but with this rollout one of the biggest issues I repeatedly heard cited will no longer be a blocker.

At the time of writing, HYPE was trading at $28.83, having recorded significant losses of 18% and 25% over the fourteen- and thirty-day time frames, respectively. However, it is one of the few tokens that remains in the green zone on a year-to-date basis, with gains of 60% recorded in this period.

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

As Tether (USDT), the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT, prepares for a significant fundraising effort aimed at entering the US market, the company is actively seeking ways to bolster liquidity for its investors. 

This initiative comes in the wake of Tether’s intervention to prevent some existing shareholders from offloading their stakes at a substantial discount.

Tether In Talks With Major Firms

According to Bloomberg, Tether is contemplating various strategies, including share buybacks and the tokenization of the company’s shares on a blockchain once the fundraising deal is complete. 

These discussions have been prompted by concerns that the sale of shares by certain investors could jeopardize Tether’s ambitious fundraising goals. 

In response to inquiries from Bloomberg News, Tether confirmed that it has successfully halted plans from at least one shareholder seeking to divest their stock, emphasizing that it would be “imprudent” for any investor to attempt to bypass the established processes managed by top-tier global investment banks. 

Tether’s management is actively managing these situations to ensure that the forthcoming fundraising effort remains robust. Reports indicate that the company aims to attract “strategic” investors as part of its capital raise and has held discussions with firms such as SoftBank Group Corp. and Ark Investment Management LLC. 

However, Tether has not provided a timeline for a potential initial public offering (IPO), suggesting that both new and existing investors may face delays before any liquidity events occur.

Juventus Acquisition Proposal

Tether also announced on Friday a binding cash proposal to acquire Exor’s entire stake in the Italian Football giant, Juventus Football Club. This proposal aims to secure Exor’s shareholding, which represents 65.4 percent of Juventus’ total issued share capital. 

The completion of this acquisition is contingent upon Exor’s acceptance, the signing of final agreements, and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

Tether intends to make a public tender offer for any remaining shares at the same price, fully backed by its own capital, reflecting a long-term commitment to Juventus. 

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, expressed a deep personal connection to the club, emphasizing that his experiences with Juventus have instilled values of commitment, resilience, and responsibility in him.

With plans to invest €1 billion in the club’s development and support, the firm’s proposal extends beyond mere ownership; it aims to forge a meaningful partnership that reinforces Juventus’ legacy and enhances its global brand, the firm disclosed.

Ardoino articulated his belief in the club’s importance, stating that Juventus is more than just a football team; it represents a cultural and sporting identity that has inspired loyalty among fans worldwide.

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

Платформа для просмотра, загрузки и обмена видео YouTube запустила опцию для американских создателей контента с возможностью получать доход от рекламы и монетизации в стейблкоинах PYUSD компании PayPal.

Диверсификация части инвестиционного портфеля в пользу цифровых активов, таких как биткоин, позволит клиентам банка защитить свои накопления от девальвации реала и снизить риски в условиях глобальной инфляции,  заявил один из крупнейших частных банков Бразилии Itaú Unibanco.

Криптовалютная биржа Bybit совместно с аналитической компанией DL Research выпустила ежегодный отчет World Crypto Rankings 2025, в котором представила рейтинг стран, лидирующих по уровню внедрения цифровых активов.

A cross-party group of UK lawmakers jointly expressed concerns about the Bank of England (BOE)’s proposal to limit stablecoin holdings in the country, urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to push back on the controversial policy.

UK Lawmakers Fight Stablecoin Cap Plans

On Thursday, a coalition of UK lawmakers sent a letter asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to oppose some of the Bank of England’s stablecoin-related policies that could undermine the government’s efforts to position the UK as one of the leading nations in the digital assets industry.

In the letter reviewed by Bloomberg, members of the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and peers highlighted how stablecoins are reshaping financial infrastructure by lowering costs, accelerating settlements, and promoting financial inclusion.

“Their rise is also enabling traditional institutions to connect with the digital asset ecosystem and modernise legacy infrastructure,” it noted, “Powerful tailwinds are rapidly driving a major shift across financial services as we know them.”

However, they argued that BOE’s proposal to cap stablecoin ownership could “risk preventing the UK from fully capitalising on these opportunities,” drive innovation offshore and investors to USD-pegged alternatives, while potentially positioning the UK “as a global outlier.”

“We are deeply concerned that the UK is drifting towards a fragmented and restrictive approach that will deter innovation, limit adoption, and push activity overseas,” the coalition wrote in the letter.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the BOE released a new consultation paper on its proposed regulatory framework for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins in November. The proposed rules, built on feedback received on the November 2023 Discussion Paper, addressed backing rules and holding limits.

Among the controversial policies, the Bank proposed to temporarily cap stablecoin ownership to “mitigate financial stability risks stemming from large and rapid outflows of deposits from the banking sector.”

The restriction would impose limits of £10,000 to £20,000 for individuals and £10 million for businesses, resembling its proposed approach to the digital pound, also aimed at addressing financial stability risks.

MPs Call BOE’s Policies ‘An Own Goal’

In a statement to Bloomberg, a Treasury spokesperson said that they “want the UK to be a global leader in digital assets, providing certainty for firms and boosting consumer confidence by bringing cryptoassets under regulation.”

“Our approach will be fair and proportionate, and we continue to work closely with the Bank of England on the UK approach to stablecoins,” the spokesperson affirmed, adding, “Their recent consultation provides an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders to provide views.”

Earlier this week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) stated that stablecoin payments will be a priority for the next year. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister on Tuesday, the regulatory agency pledged to “finalise digital assets rules and progress UK-issued sterling stablecoins” in 2026.

However, the report noted that the overall perception among lawmakers and market participants is that the UK is falling behind other jurisdictions, including the US, which introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoins in July.

It’s worth noting that the BOE suggested that systemic stablecoin issuers be required to hold at least 40% of the reserves backing the token as unremunerated deposits at the central bank to ensure “robust redemption and public confidence, even under stress.” Meanwhile, issuers would be allowed to hold up to 60% of backing assets in short-term UK government debt.

Lawmakers consider that requiring all reserves backing sterling-pegged tokens to be held in the UK is a “massive own goal” that will limit the relevance of the pound. “To remain globally competitive, the UK must ensure its stablecoin framework is benchmarked against leading international models,” the lawmakers concluded.

Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has issued “No Objection Certificates” (NOC) to Binance and HTX, allowing both platforms to begin formal steps to operate inside the country.

The clearances do not amount to full licenses. They instead permit preparatory work such as registering with the country’s anti-money-laundering system and setting up local units before full license applications are filed, reports disclosed.

Tokenization Deal And Local Ties

Based on reports, the finance ministry said the NOCs could cover government bonds, treasury bills and some commodity reserves. The move is aimed at creating new ways to raise liquidity and to open government assets to wider markets through blockchain-based tokens.

Pakistan takes a decisive step toward a regulated digital asset future.

Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has issued NOCs to Binance and HTX, launching a phased, FATF-aligned pathway toward full licensing. Strong governance, AML and CFT compliance remain… pic.twitter.com/jSk6JTqvFt

— Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (@PakistanVARA) December 12, 2025

A Shift Toward Formal Oversight

Officials from the virtual-assets authority said they examined governance, risk controls and compliance frameworks before granting the early approvals. These NOCs let the exchanges connect to Pakistan’s AML systems and coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission to set up regulated subsidiaries. That review was described as part of a phased licensing system meant to align local rules with global standards.

Partnerships And Local Players Move Fast

Local payments firms and government bodies are being brought into talks. One public statement from a Pakistan-based payments group said the aim is to study how regulated virtual-asset access could expand financial services for ordinary users, while keeping track of risks. Commercial ties like these could speed up customer access if full regulatory approval follows.

How Big Is Pakistan’s Crypto Scene?

Based on reports, Pakistan ranks third globally in retail crypto activity. That ranking has helped push the authorities to build a formal regime quickly.

Officials say the new framework will be backed by a Virtual Assets Act and other measures, including plans for a pilot central bank digital currency and closer work on stablecoins. The intent is to bring trading and payments under clearer oversight while attracting compliant investment.

What Comes Next

Binance and HTX must still meet full licensing conditions before they can offer trading to the public.

The NOCs are an opening move. Full permissions will depend on how well each firm satisfies the regulator’s detailed checks and how the proposed Virtual Assets Act is implemented.

Markets may react to progress on tokenization and any future licensing milestones, but for now the country has signaled a clear shift from informal activity to regulated market access.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

On-chain data shows the Unrealized Loss in the crypto market recently ballooned to $350 billion, with Bitcoin accounting for a significant part of it.

Unrealized Loss Has Spiked In The Crypto Sector After Bearish Price Action

In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has shared the data related to the Unrealized Loss in the crypto sector. This indicator measures, as its name suggests, the total amount of loss that investors are holding on their tokens right now.

The metric works by going through the transaction history of each token on a given network to find what price it was last moved at. If this last selling price of a token was less than the current spot price of the asset, then that particular coin is assumed to be underwater.

The exact amount of the loss involved with the token is equal to the difference between the two prices. The Unrealized Loss sums up this value for all coins being held at a loss.

Like the Unrealized Loss, there also exists the Unrealized Profit, keeping track of the supply of the opposite type. That is, it accounts for the coins with a cost basis lower than the latest spot price.

Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the Unrealized Loss for the combined crypto market and Bitcoin over the last few years:

As displayed in the above graph, the Unrealized Loss across the crypto market has surged following the downturn that the sector has gone through since October.

At its peak, the indicator hit a value of $350 billion for the entire market, with Bitcoin alone contributing about $85 billion. These are both elevated levels and showcase the degree of pain among the investors.

Glassnode explained:

With multiple on-chain indicators signalling shrinking liquidity across the board, the market is likely entering a high-volatility regime in the weeks ahead.

In some other news, Bitcoin and Ethereum have shown strong divergence in the Exchange Netflow trend this week, as institutional DeFi solutions provider Sentora has pointed out in an X post.

As is visible above, the Bitcoin Exchange Netflow registered a significant value of -$1.34 billion over the past week. The value being negative implies centralized exchanges faced net withdrawals.

In contrast, the same indicator has witnessed a sharp positive value of $1.03 billion for Ethereum instead. Usually, investors deposit to exchanges when they want to participate in one of the services that they provide, which can include selling. As such, large exchange net inflows can be bearish for the asset’s price.

BTC Price

Bitcoin has again failed to maintain its recovery above $92,000 as its price is back to $90,000.

Bitcoin has failed to reclaim higher prices, reinforcing the growing belief that the market may be entering a deeper bearish phase. After multiple attempts to push above key resistance levels, BTC continues to trade sideways with declining momentum, reflecting a clear shift in investor sentiment. Fear is rising across the market, and price action has yet to show any convincing signs of recovery.

According to new data shared by Axel Adler, several structural on-chain and market indicators now support a continuation of bearish conditions in the months ahead. Adler’s analysis points to weakening demand, persistent sell pressure, and deteriorating liquidity—factors that historically precede prolonged corrective periods.

While Bitcoin has held above critical support zones, its inability to establish higher highs or sustain rebounds suggests that buyers remain cautious and largely defensive.

Moreover, broader market conditions show similar fragility, with derivatives positioning, stablecoin flows, and long-term holder behavior all signaling reduced conviction. This confluence of factors strengthens the bearish thesis and implies that volatility could intensify before the market finds a meaningful bottom.

Bitcoin MVRV Spread Signals a Deep Bear Phase

Adler’s analysis highlights one of the clearest structural indicators pointing toward sustained bearish conditions: the Bitcoin MVRV Z-Score Bull vs. Bear Market model. Specifically, he notes that the 30-day to 365-day MVRV spread is deeply negative and continues to deteriorate.

This spread measures the difference in profitability between short-term and long-term holders, and when the short-term cohort is underperforming significantly, it traditionally signals risk aversion, exhaustion, and weakening demand.

A crossover—when the 30-day MVRV rises above the 365-day metric—has historically marked the transition from bear markets into new bullish phases. However, Adler stresses that such a crossover does not appear imminent under current conditions. The spread remains far below the threshold required for a structural reversal, reinforcing the view that Bitcoin is still entrenched in a deep bear phase within this model’s framework.

Cycle analogs further support this interpretation. Reviewing past market cycles, Adler estimates that the next likely window for a meaningful crossover sits in the second half of 2026. This implies that even if short-term rallies occur, they are more likely to be counter-trend bounces rather than the early stages of a sustainable bull market. Until the MVRV structure improves, broader sentiment may remain decisively bearish.

Price Struggles to Recover Momentum

Bitcoin continues to move sideways, reflecting a market that remains indecisive and structurally weak. The chart shows BTC trading near $92,000 after its sharp decline from the $120,000 region, with recent candles forming a tight consolidation range. This behavior typically signals a temporary stabilization phase rather than a confirmed reversal, especially given the broader bearish context highlighted by on-chain and macro indicators.

The 50-day moving average sits well above the current price, acting as dynamic resistance and indicating that short-term momentum remains firmly bearish. Likewise, the 100-day and 200-day moving averages trend downward, creating a compression zone that BTC has yet to challenge. Until Bitcoin can reclaim these levels with conviction, rallies may continue to be faded by sellers.

Despite the small rebound from sub-$90,000 levels, buying activity remains muted compared to the heavy sell volume that drove the initial breakdown. This suggests that demand is insufficient to absorb higher-timeframe selling pressure.

Structurally, Bitcoin is forming lower highs and lower lows across the daily timeframe, reinforcing a downtrend. A decisive break below $90,000 would expose deeper liquidity zones near $86,000–$84,000. Conversely, reclaiming $96,000 would be the first sign of strength—but current price action shows no such momentum yet.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin enters the week trapped in a tight consolidation range, reflecting a market caught between caution and expectation. Price action has stalled as traders wait for clearer direction after the recent Federal Reserve decision and ongoing macro uncertainty.

Yet beneath the surface, whale activity tells a very different story. According to Lookonchain, one of the most notable market participants—the famous BitcoinOG, known for accurately shorting the market during the sharp October 10 crash—is now aggressively expanding his long exposure across multiple assets.

His current positioning is substantial: 150,466 ETH valued at approximately $491 million, 1,000 BTC worth $92.6 million, and 212,907 SOL totaling $27.8 million. Rather than scaling out or reducing risk during this period of market hesitation, he continues to build, signaling strong conviction in a broader recovery across major cryptocurrencies.

While retail traders and smaller speculators wait for confirmation, this whale is positioning early, anticipating a potential shift in momentum. His actions add a new layer of intrigue to Bitcoin’s consolidation, raising the question of whether smart money is preparing for a trend reversal while the rest of the market hesitates.

Whale Positioning and Strategic Bids Ahead

Lookonchain reports, citing Hypurrscan data, that this whale isn’t just holding an already massive multi-asset long position—he is strategically preparing to increase exposure even further. According to the data, he has placed limit orders to add an additional 40,000 ETH in the $3,030–$3,258 price range and 50,000 SOL at $138.6. These levels are positioned just below current market prices, suggesting he expects—or is at least prepared for—a deeper pullback before the next major move.

This behavior is notable because it reflects a deliberate accumulation strategy rather than impulsive buying. By setting large bids at key support zones, he aims to capture liquidity during periods of volatility, effectively using market weakness to scale into long-term positions. Such an approach is typical of sophisticated traders who rely on structured entries rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations.

The scale of these pending orders also indicates that his conviction extends beyond his already massive exposure. If filled, these additions would significantly increase his leverage in the broader crypto market, particularly in Ethereum and Solana. For observers, this raises an important question: is this smart money positioning ahead of a potential macro-driven rebound, or is it a high-risk bet into an uncertain environment?

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Testing Support, Lacking Momentum

Bitcoin’s latest price action on the 3-day timeframe shows a market stuck between recovery attempts and lingering downside pressure. After the sharp November sell-off, BTC stabilized above the $90,000 zone, which is now acting as a short-term support area. Price briefly dipped below this level but was quickly bought back, suggesting that buyers are still defending the region. However, the rebound remains shallow, and the structure lacks the strong momentum typically seen during bullish reversals.

The chart shows BTC trading below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, both of which have now turned downward. This alignment reflects a shift toward medium-term bearish conditions. The 200-day moving average currently sits below the price and has become the most important dynamic support; BTC is hovering directly above it. Historically, when Bitcoin holds the 200-day MA after a major correction, a consolidation phase often follows before a decisive move.

Volume also reinforces the uncertainty. Despite multiple attempts to push higher, buying volume remains muted compared to previous rallies, indicating limited conviction from bulls. Until BTC breaks convincingly above the 50-day MA region near $100K, the market will likely remain in a cautious, range-bound state.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

SEC Chair Paul Atkins is leaning into a message that would’ve sounded borderline heretical in Washington not that long ago: the rails are changing, and crypto-native infrastructure is going to be part of it.

“As I told @MariaBartiromo last week, US financial markets are poised to move on-chain,” Atkins wrote on X late Thursday, adding that the SEC is “prioritizing innovation and embracing new technologies to enable this on-chain future, while continuing to protect investors.”

Crypto Will Put The Future Of Finance On-Chain

Atkins didn’t leave it at vibes. Earlier in the day, Atkins pointed to a staff no-action letter out of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets tied to the Depository Trust Company’s (DTC) voluntary tokenization effort — a pilot that effectively gives the plumbing of US securities settlement a carve-out to experiment without immediately tripping over parts of the Exchange Act rulebook.

“Today, the Division of Trading and Markets issued a no-action letter to the Depository Trust Company (DTC) regarding DTC’s voluntary securities tokenization pilot program. DTC’s initiative marks an important step towards on-chain capital markets,” Atkins shared via X.

The letter dated Dec. 11 describes a “pilot version” of what it calls DTCC Tokenization Services — a preliminary, time-limited program that lets DTC participants elect to have certain security entitlements recorded using distributed ledger tech instead of relying solely on DTC’s centralized ledger.

In plain English: eligible participants can tokenize positions, hold them in registered wallets on approved blockchains, and transfer those tokenized entitlements directly to another participant’s registered wallet — with DTC’s official records still serving as the system of record for what’s real.

Atkins added: “On-chain markets will bring greater predictability, transparency, and efficiency for investors. DTC’s participants will now be allowed to transfer tokenized securities directly to the registered wallets of other participants, which will be tracked by DTC’s official records.I’m excited to see the benefits of this program to our financial markets and will continue to encourage market participants to innovate as we move towards on-chain settlement.”

Notably, the no-action relief itself is narrowly scoped: it’s centered on how the pilot interacts with Reg SCI, Section 19(b)/Rule 19b-4, and certain clearing-agency standards — and it’s structured to sunset three years after launch of the preliminary version, with DTC required to notify staff when that launch happens. So this isn’t “tokenized stocks for everyone next week.” It’s closer to a supervised sandbox with reporting hooks.

Notably, Atkins is already pitching what comes next. “But this is just the beginning,” he wrote, saying he wants the SEC to consider an “innovation exemption” that would let market participants begin transitioning on-chain “without being burdened by cumbersome regulatory requirements.”

That line is doing a lot of work, and it’s also where the fight (or at least the lobbying) is likely to concentrate. What qualifies as “innovation”? Who gets exempted, and from which obligations? And what’s the gating factor — investor protection, market integrity, operational resilience, or just politics?

Crypto watchers noticed the tone shift immediately. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju summed it up in one sentence: “SEC Chairman: The future of finance is on-chain.”

For now, the tangible takeaway is the DTC pilot: a regulated core market utility experimenting with tokenized representations under staff comfort. The rest — the “on-chain future” language, and the exemption talk — is the part that could either become a framework or just another ambitious headline that runs into the realities of US market structure.

At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.1 trillion.

Cardano is about to end the week with a complex mix of technical pressure, token fallout, and shifting sentiment, as ADA struggles to break beyond its familiar resistance zone.

The market is attempting to digest a sharp correction triggered by wider macro moves, while internal ecosystem developments offer little support. For now, ADA’s direction continues to depend on how well it can hold established support, particularly as market mood turns more cautious.

NIGHT Token Crash Adds Pressure to ADA’s Decline

ADA’s 2% drop to around $0.42 arrived just as the broader market reacted to the recent Federal Reserve rate cut. The decline pushed Cardano below the $0.45 level, a zone it has struggled to reclaim, placing renewed focus on its next support levels.

A major driver of the negative sentiment was the steep decline of Midnight Network’s NIGHT token, which fell roughly 90% from an early surge to $1.50 before settling near $0.05. The sell-off was largely driven by airdrop recipients offloading their allocations immediately after launch.

Despite earlier expectations around Midnight’s debut, the rapid reversal highlighted the speculative nature of the event. Market data also shows that 54% of active positions are leaning short, signaling that traders expect further downside.

Key Support Levels Hold, but Momentum Remains Weak

Cardano’s ADA is now trading near the lower edge of its established range, testing support between $0.42 and $0.43.

Analysts note that this area aligns with a broader weekly support cluster that stretches toward the $0.38–$0.39 region. Technical readings reinforce a cautious outlook, the MACD continues to trend bearish, while the RSI sits near 40, approaching oversold territory.

Traders are watching to see if ADA can stabilize above $0.42. A breakdown could expose the next lower supports, while a reclaim of the $0.45 zone would be required to shift momentum toward $0.48–$0.50.

Despite a recent $750 million inflow to Binance, the market absorbed the volume with limited price reaction, suggesting demand remains modest.

Sentiment Softens as Cardano Repeatedly Fails at $0.45

Social sentiment across major crypto forums has turned noticeably cautious. Conversations remain active, but the tone reflects trader fatigue as ADA continues to struggle against the same resistance.

With no new updates from core Cardano development efforts, including Hydra scaling, Mithril upgrades, or governance milestones, market participants have shifted their focus to external forces, such as BTC’s price direction and overall risk appetite.

ADA trades around $0.41–$0.42 at the time of writing, holding its range but without clear signs of a breakout. Until a fresh catalyst emerges, Cardano is likely to remain in a consolidation phase, with sentiment triggered more by broader market trends than internal progress.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ADAUSD chart from Tradingview

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced on Dec. 11, 2025 that it has withdrawn its 2020 interpretive guidance on when a crypto trade counts as “actual delivery,” a move the agency said responds to major changes in crypto markets and trading practices.

According to the CFTC press release, Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham called the guidance “outdated and overly complex” and said removing it will help promote access to safer US markets.

Actual Delivery And The 28-Day Test

According to the 2020 rulebook and federal filings, the CFTC’s earlier guidance treated a retail crypto trade as excluded from futures-style rules if the asset reached the buyer’s control within 28 days of the transaction — a technical standard used to decide whether a deal was a spot sale or a regulated futures-style transaction.

That guidance included examples showing when transfer on a public ledger or control over a wallet would or would not count as actual delivery. The 28-day reference is rooted in the Commodity Exchange Act’s existing exceptions and was central to how many platforms structured retail offerings.

More news from the CFTC! It previously published guidance the interpretation of “actual delivery” in the context of retail commodity transactions in crypto. This is imp because if a trans qualifies as AD, it is NOT regulated as a futures contract. /1 https://t.co/L2U46VRbQl

— Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos (@kkirkbos) December 11, 2025

Industry Reaction And Risk

Reports have disclosed that many market participants greeted the withdrawal with relief, saying it gives exchanges more room to design products and operate without a narrow staff interpretation dictating settlement timing.

Some lawyers and platform staff argued the 2020 tests made it hard for venues to offer certain customer-facing services unless they met strict delivery steps.

At the same time, legal observers warned that pulling the guidance without a clear replacement leaves open questions about how regulators will treat similar trades going forward, and which platforms must register as futures venues.

How The Move Fits In Politically

Based on reports, the action was framed as part of policy priorities under US President Donald Trump’s administration to modernize rules that affect digital asset markets.

The CFTC said the change lines up with broader interagency efforts and public engagement initiatives the agency has been running this year. That framing has prompted renewed attention from exchanges, trading firms, and lawmakers who are watching for any follow-up steps.

The CFTC signaled it may seek public input and consider new materials to replace the withdrawn guidance, including FAQs or fresh interpretive notes.

Market operators will now weigh operational changes and legal advice as they decide whether to alter product design or customer terms.

Some firms are expected to adjust custody and transfer procedures, while others may wait for clearer written standards before making big changes.

Featured image from Quality Company Formations, chart from TradingView

Crypto expert Crypto Sensei has drawn attention to rumors that Amazon struck a 5 billion XRP deal with Ripple. The expert explained what the deal is really about and what Ripple’s end goal is using the altcoin. 

Expert Clarifies Rumors Of Amazon’s 5 Million XRP Deal With Ripple

In an X post, Crypto Sensei addressed whether rumors that Amazon struck a 5 million XRP deal with Ripple were true. The rumors surfaced as Kendra Hill claimed that Ripple’s endgame is to run the entire derivatives market using the altcoin and that the cross-border transactions are simply a test.  

Related Reading: XRP Rising Against All Odds: Ripple CEO Celebrates These Achievements

However, Crypto Sensei noted that there is no public evidence of Ripple’s 5 million XRP deal with Amazon and that there has been no public announcement from the crypto firm. As such, the expert remarked that this rumored deal remains pure community speculation.  

Meanwhile, he explained that Hill’s core claim was that cross-border payments are just a testing ground and that Ripple ultimately intends to use XRP to process 100% of the transactions on the global derivatives market. Notably, the global derivatives market is said to be a trillion-dollar industry, meaning this move could boost adoption significantly. 

Meanwhile, as to how a rumored Amazon relates to this, Crypto Sensei explained that a screenshot of an old Amazon partnership had resurfaced. Furthermore, Hill had allegedly claimed that another partnership between the two firms has yet to be revealed. Amazon’s AWS had, in 2020, revealed that it was integrating Ripple’s payment system for its rewards program. 

Crypto Sensei also mentioned that Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz, has stated that there is no evidence that Amazon owns this amount of XRP. There is also no evidence on the XRP Ledger that the company holds this amount in escrow.

Major Adoption News For The Token

In an X post, Hex Trust announced a partnership with LayerZero to launch wrapped XRP (wXRP) across multiple networks, starting with the Solana network. This is expected to boost the altcoin’s adoption as it gains new holders and new liquidity flows into it. Hex Trust noted that the wXRP is designed for DeFi use across these networks. 

Related Reading: Ripple Secures 4 Groundbreaking Wins That Mark An Exciting Phase For XRP

The firm has launched this Wrapped XRP with over $100 million in Total Value Locked (TVL). Hex Trust also explained that the wrapped token’s utility is that it makes it easy to trade XRP alongside Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin as a trading pair on supported chains. As such, the firm believes this move could expand liquidity and utility between XRP and RLUSD. Notably, there are also plans to launch this wrapped token on Ethereum soon. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.03, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Shiba Inu’s Layer-2 network, Shibarium, is facing a serious challenge after a prominent decentralized finance platform within its ecosystem publicly warned that it may abandon the chain entirely. K9 Finance DAO, a liquid staking protocol built on Shibarium, announced it has set a firm deadline to resolve outstanding issues linked to September’s bridge exploit.

The announcement, which was shared on the social media platform X, points to a breakdown in communication between ecosystem builders and the Shibarium development team. According to K9 Finance, private discussions that had been ongoing for months following the hack have now stalled, and this is why the DAO is addressing the matter publicly.

K9 Finance Brings Dispute Into the Open

In its statement, K9 Finance DAO said it had complied with every request made by the Shibarium team in the aftermath of the bridge exploit and had acted in good faith throughout the process. The DAO noted that it maintained several private communication channels with the Shib team in an effort to reach closure and ensure affected users were compensated.

That process has now reached a standstill. K9 Finance disclosed that it has received no further communication or guidance from the Shibarium team, leading it to move the discussion into the public timeline. However, this step was taken by the K9 Finance DAO to provide clarity to its holders and uphold responsible governance, not to provoke drama or controversy.

As part of its announcement, K9 Finance set January 6, 2026 as the final deadline for users impacted by the Shibarium bridge incident to be fully and verifiably made whole. If restitution is not completed by that date, the DAO says it will convene and vote on its future relationship with Shibarium, including whether continuing to operate on the chain makes sense for the long-term health of the K9 ecosystem.

K9 Finance is a decentralized finance protocol built on Shibarium that focuses on liquid staking within the Shiba Inu ecosystem. The platform operates as a decentralized autonomous organization, with governance decisions made by token holders through the K9 Finance DAO. 

K9 Finance is one of the most visible DeFi platforms on the Shibarium chain, and its stance could influence sentiment among other builders.

The Main Issue: September’s Bridge Hack

The dispute traces back to the Shibarium bridge exploit in September 2025, when attackers used a flash-loan-based strategy to drain assets from the bridge. The incident forced emergency pauses across parts of the network and security updates by the Shiba Inu team.

During that incident, roughly $4.1 million in assets, including ETH, SHIB, and other tokens, were taken, and around $717,000 worth of KNINE tokens were affected. However, the stolen KNINE tokens could not be sold from the attacker’s wallet because they were frozen by K9 Finance. 

Although the Shibarium team later restored network functionality and introduced additional security measures, the recent announcement shows that compensation discussions have continued behind the scenes without a final resolution.

As the market volatility heats up again, the price of Bitcoin witnessed a pullback, bringing it closer to the $90,000 threshold. While BTC’s price faces a pullback, key on-chain metrics are beginning to follow suit, reaching levels that could shape or determine the next trajectory of the market.

A Crucial Breakdown In Bitcoin Realized Loss

Given the bearish state of the market, on-chain indicators for Bitcoin are flashing a slight but crucial signal in its dynamics. BTC On-Chain Trader Realized Price and Profit/Loss Margin, one of the most important metrics, has now dropped below a crucial level as the market and BTC’s price fluctuate.

According to Ali Martinez, a seasoned crypto analyst and trader, this drop in the metric is offering a clue to the next potential path for the BTC market. Following weeks of increased capitulation-driven losses, the drop in realized losses indicates that market players are no longer selling coins at sharp discounts.

While the wave of panic selling that clouded recent market turbulence may finally be dissipating, this crucial indicator is providing traders with new grounds to reevaluate the short-term course of Bitcoin. This implies that sentiment is gradually stabilizing, pointing to an early shift from capitulation to accumulation.

In the post, Ali Martinez highlighted that the metric has fallen below the critical -37%, now located at -18%. The drop may appear increasingly negative, but it is hinting at a pivotal junction for the broader Bitcoin market.

Historically, this drop in the metric below this level has led to a rebound in investors’ confidence in the market. Martinez claims that some of the best buy-the-dip opportunities have emerged when Bitcoin on-chain traders’ realized loss falls below -37%.

BTC’s Rebound Requires Fresh Liquidity

Since the sharp pullback from its all-time high, Bitcoin has failed to bounce back strongly. Darkfost, a market and author at CryptoQuant, claims that one of the major reasons why BTC is currently struggling to recover is the absence of incoming liquidity. This is the biggest issue in the market now.

Liquidity here refers solely to stablecoins. According to Darkfost, monitoring these flows makes it easier to assess if new liquidity is poised to enter the market or if it is still lacking. Data shows that since August, stablecoin inflows into exchanges have steadily declined from 158 billion to around $76 billion. 

This sharp drop represents a 50% decrease in incoming liquidity. Additionally, the 90-day average has dropped, from $130 billion in stablecoin inflows to $118 billion. A drop in liquidity suggests that Bitcoin is battling with a decline in demand, which has not been strong enough to absorb the selling pressure impacting the market. 

Presently, the trend is still negative, and the minor rebounds observed are primarily a consequence of reduced selling pressure rather than more purchasing demand. For BTC to regain a genuine bullish trend, Darkfost stated that the key rests on new liquidity entering the market.