Feed aggregator

Ethereum has retraced below the $3,200 level following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, a move that initially boosted risk assets but quickly shifted market sentiment into uncertainty. While the broader macro backdrop now leans toward looser monetary conditions, Ethereum’s reaction suggests that traders remain cautious, especially after the sharp rally from the $2,800 region earlier this month.

According to fresh data from CryptoQuant, Binance’s Ethereum Estimated Leverage Ratio has climbed to an all-time high of nearly 0.579. This signals that the ETH market has entered a highly sensitive and potentially unstable phase, as open leveraged positions have grown faster than the underlying spot holdings on the exchange. Such extreme leverage typically reflects heightened risk appetite—and often precedes periods of sharp volatility.

This dynamic implies that a large portion of Ethereum’s recent price action has been driven not by organic demand, but by leveraged speculation. With funding structures stretched and traders aggressively positioning for upside, even a modest price swing could trigger a cascade of liquidations, amplifying market movements in either direction. As Ethereum hovers near key support, the combination of elevated leverage and post-FED uncertainty sets the stage for a volatile and decisive period ahead.

Ethereum’s Leverage Structure Signals Growing Fragility

Arab Chain explains that Ethereum’s historically high leverage ratio indicates a structural imbalance in the market. When the volume of open contracts funded by leverage grows faster than the actual spot ETH held on the platform, the entire ecosystem becomes more sensitive to abrupt volatility.

In such conditions, traders face a heightened risk of liquidation from even moderate price swings—whether the move is upward or downward. Historically, peaks in this indicator have aligned with periods of intense price pressure, as excessive leverage magnifies the market’s reaction to relatively small shifts in demand or sentiment.

At the same time, Ethereum is currently trading near $3,300, creating a concerning confluence: rising prices supported not by strong inflows or genuine spot demand, but by leverage-driven speculation. This type of rally is inherently unstable. If leverage continues climbing at these extreme levels, the market becomes increasingly vulnerable to a sharp liquidation-driven sell-off should prices pull back.

However, there is an alternative path. If ETH’s price continues to build momentum while the leverage ratio cools slightly, the market could regain a healthier structure—providing a more durable foundation for a sustained upward trend. For now, the estimated leverage ratio remains one of the most critical indicators for evaluating Ethereum’s short-term direction.

ETH Price Action Details

Ethereum’s latest rejection near the $3,350–$3,400 zone highlights the challenges bulls face as the broader trend remains pressured. The chart shows ETH pulling back toward the $3,200 area after a sharp attempt to break above the 100-day moving average (red line). This level continues to act as a major dynamic resistance, repeatedly capping upside momentum throughout November and December.

Despite the recent recovery from sub-$2,900 lows, ETH has not yet reclaimed the 50-day moving average (blue line) with conviction. The inability to close decisively above it reinforces the idea that this bounce remains corrective rather than impulsive. Meanwhile, volume on the latest push upward has been modest, suggesting that buyers are not entering aggressively at these levels.

On the downside, the $3,050–$3,100 region is emerging as short-term support. A daily close below this zone could open a path back toward $2,900, especially if risk sentiment deteriorates post-FOMC. Conversely, reclaiming and holding above $3,350 would be the first sign of renewed bullish strength, potentially targeting $3,550 next.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

e& UAE, United Arab Emirates’ telecom giant, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Maryah Community Bank to trial AE Coin, a Central Bank-licensed stablecoin, as a payment option across the telco’s services.

According to company statements, the plan would let customers use an AED-backed token to pay for mobile and home-service bills, prepaid and postpaid recharges, and purchases on e& digital platforms.

Integration Across Consumer Touchpoints

Reports have disclosed that e& Group aims to plug AE Coin into its existing payment systems. The move would add the stablecoin as an alternative to cards and bank transfers on e&’s mobile apps and at smart self-service kiosks.

e& UAE’s CEO, Hatem Dowidar, said the partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank will allow “instant settlement, complete transparency, and frictionless access” — language that signals the operator expects quicker finality and clearer audit trails for transactions.

For many users, that could mean fewer delays and simpler proof of payment when calling or browsing for services.

What The Partners Say

Based on reports, Al Maryah Community Bank’s chief executive, Mohammed Wassim Khayata, said the collaboration widens real-world uses for licensed virtual assets and opens the door to faster, more secure options for everyday payments.

Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, described AE Coin as created to support regulated and transparent digital payments.

Those comments frame the trial as an attempt to move a regulated token from niche experiments into mass consumer use. The pilot will start within selected e& channels; no national rollout timetable has been disclosed.

Potential Impact On Users And The Market

Analysts and payments experts say a telecom of e&’s size could quickly expose millions of customers to stablecoin payments if the test succeeds.

According to the companies involved, integrating AE Coin would cover prepaid top-ups and postpaid billing, which are high-frequency transactions that could provide an immediate test bed for volume and reliability.

Observers note that real adoption will hinge on how easy customers find the process, how wallets are managed, and whether merchants accept the token beyond e&’s own services.

Alignment With National Goals

Reports indicate the trial fits into the UAE’s push for regulated blockchain payments and a less cash-dependent economy.

Regulators have been encouraging licensed solutions, and using a Central Bank-approved stablecoin inside a major consumer network sends a clear signal that authorities are open to controlled innovation.

If adopted more widely, the token could serve as another regulated payment choice alongside existing systems.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ethereum has retraced below the $3,200 level following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, a move that initially sparked volatility across the crypto market. While many expected a stronger reaction from Ethereum, the asset instead slipped lower as traders reassessed the macro environment and the implications of a potential shift toward stagflation. Despite this pullback, on-chain data suggests that the underlying market structure may be quietly improving.

According to new insights from CryptoQuant, Ethereum’s Net Taker Volume (30-day moving average) is showing a clear upward trend in its lows. This metric tracks the balance between aggressive buyers and sellers in the derivatives market. Although ETH remains under selling pressure, the data reveals that the intensity of aggressive selling has been weakening steadily over the past several weeks. Each subsequent negative low is forming higher than the previous one, signaling that sellers are losing dominance.

While the broader sentiment remains cautious, subtle improvements in Net Taker Volume suggest that ETH’s current weakness may be masking the early stage of a larger structural shift.

Net Taker Volume Signals a Potential Structural Shift

According to CryptoQuant’s CoinCare, Ethereum may once again be approaching a pivotal turning point. The report highlights that a similar Net Taker Volume structure appeared earlier this year. After forming a clear bottom in January 2025, the metric began to trend upward—even while remaining in the negative zone—indicating that aggressive sellers were gradually losing strength.

By April, Net Taker Volume flipped decisively into positive territory. From that exact moment, Ethereum entered one of its strongest rallies of the cycle, surging more than 3x and printing a new all-time high.

Current conditions echo that same pattern. Since the peak of selling pressure in September, the market has continuously absorbed sell flows for nearly three months. Each negative low in Net Taker Volume has formed higher than the previous one, revealing improving market resilience despite the broader downtrend. If this trajectory holds, CoinCare estimates that a positive flip in Net Taker Volume may be only about a month away.

Historically, this transition from negative to positive has marked the beginning of Ethereum’s most explosive breakout phases. A confirmed move into positive territory would represent a high-probability trigger for the next expansion toward new all-time highs, signaling that momentum is quietly rebuilding beneath the surface.

ETH Weekly Structure Attempts a Recovery

Ethereum’s weekly chart shows the market attempting to stabilize after several weeks of volatility, with price currently trading near $3,195 following a strong rebound from the $2,800 zone. This area acted as a key demand region in mid-2024 and has once again provided support, preventing a deeper breakdown. The recent weekly candle reflects renewed buying interest, closing firmly above the 50-week moving average, a level that often defines medium-term trend direction.

Despite this rebound, ETH still faces structural challenges. The 100-week moving average — now overhead — has acted as resistance throughout the current downtrend, and the price rejected it again on the latest push toward $3,447. Until Ethereum can reclaim this dynamic resistance with conviction, the broader trend remains neutral to slightly bearish.

Volume also shows a notable shift: sell-side activity has been declining over the past month, while buyers are beginning to step in more aggressively at key support levels. This aligns with the improvement in on-chain metrics, suggesting weakening selling pressure.

For bulls, the next major objective is a weekly close above $3,400, which would signal a potential trend reversal. A failure to break this level, however, risks another retest of $2,900–$2,800, where market sentiment would again be tested.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

SpaceX moved 1,021 Bitcoin worth about $94.48 million on December 10, according to on-chain alerts from blockchain trackers. The transfer was sent to wallets tied to Coinbase Prime, raising questions about whether the company is reshaping part of its treasury while attention grows around its potential public listing.

Ledger Shuffle Raises Questions

Reports have disclosed that this move is only the latest in a series of large bitcoin transfers involving wallets believed to be linked to SpaceX.

Analysts tracking the transactions say the pattern looks more like a shift into institutional custody rather than an immediate market sale, since Coinbase Prime is commonly used for storage and structured trades by large companies.

SpaceX is estimated to hold around 8,285 BTC, a stash worth roughly $770 million based on recent market prices. That amount places the company among the biggest private holders of bitcoin.

Records show the balance was once higher during 2022, though part of it has been reduced over time as transfers continued.

SpaceX(@SpaceX) just transferred out another 1,021 $BTC($94.48M), to possibly Coinbase Prime for custody.https://t.co/zW62EKM2RD pic.twitter.com/PwBIvD5RaR

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 10, 2025

SpaceX: IPO Talk Adds Pressure

At the same time, reports from major outlets say SpaceX is preparing for an initial public offering that could take place in 2026.

Coverage has suggested the fundraising round may target tens of billions of dollars, and estimates of the company’s possible valuation range from $800 billion to more than $1.5 trillion.

Elon Musk reacted on social media to one of the reports, saying the information was accurate, which added more weight to expectations that a listing is being planned.

Because companies often adjust their balance sheets ahead of a public offering, analysts say moving crypto into institutional platforms would not be unusual. It can be done for audits, custody needs, or overall treasury preparation before large financial transactions.

What The Move Might Signal

A transfer into Coinbase Prime does not automatically mean a bitcoin sale is underway. Institutional accounts can hold assets for long periods without sending them directly to the open market.

Traders watching the activity say that only an actual sale — not a custody transfer — would create immediate pressure on Bitcoin prices.

Still, the timing stands out. The latest 1,021 BTC move comes during a period where SpaceX’s on-chain activity has increased. More transfers may follow if the company continues preparing documents and financial disclosures linked to a potential public listing.

The main question now is whether the recent shift was routine treasury work or part of a larger strategy connected to the IPO.

SpaceX has not issued a public statement on the transaction, leaving analysts to rely on blockchain data and regulatory reporting to understand what comes next.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Elon Musk has confirmed that X’s long-promised payments layer, X Money, is already running inside the company — but Dogecoin, his on-again-off-again favorite meme coin, has barely twitched.

Replying to developer and X feature-watcher Nima Owji on December 10, Musk dropped a characteristically terse update: “It has been launched internally.” Within hours, promoter Mario Nawfal was broadcasting that “X MONEY IS LIVE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, PUBLIC LAUNCH NEXT,” describing the system as “quietly tested by employees and early users while the rest of the world waits for access.”

It has been launched internally

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2025

The market, however, did not exactly wait breathlessly. As of press time, Dogecoin traded around $0.137, down less than 0.1% on the day — essentially noise, given an intraday range between roughly $0.137 and $0.150. For a coin that once ripped 20–30% on a single Elon meme, this is… subdued.

Why Is The Dogecoin Price Not Reacting?

The contrast with earlier X Money headlines is stark. When Musk first framed the payments stack as part of a broader relaunch of XChat in mid-November, he boasted that X had “just rolled out an entire new communications stack with encrypted messages, audio/video calls and file transfer,” adding pointedly: “Money comes out soon… X will be the everything app.”

Dogecoin and other high-beta names squeezed higher on that story, if only briefly. Back in May, when Musk confirmed that a beta version of X Money was coming, DOGE jumped from about $0.08 to $0.09 on the announcement — a double-digit percentage move triggered by one more hint that the dog might be wired into X’s rails.

Today’s non-reaction lands against a deeper build-out of X Money in the background. According to a recent job posting, X Money is hiring a technical lead to design a payments platform “from the ground up” for more than 600 million monthly users, with an emphasis on distributed systems and secure transactions.

The description notably does not mention crypto or Dogecoin at all. Notably, X Money already announced a partnership with Visa earlier this year for an “X Money Account” that would fund wallets and peer-to-peer payments, while Solana figures — including ecosystem advisor Nikita Bier, now at X — have publicly signaled they are eager to help.

Crucially, Musk has not exactly gone quiet on Dogecoin in general. On November 3 he posted “It’s time” on X, reviving his old promise to “put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon” via a SpaceX mission, as reported by Bitcoinist.

In mid-October he waded into the “energy money” debate, backing Bitcoin as impossible to “fake” because it is grounded in energy and then replying with an approving emoji when a Dogecoin community account insisted that “Dogecoin is also based on energy” — his “first explicit nod toward DOGE in a while,” as reported on NewsBTC.

Even more recently, on October 11 and again on November 15, Musk posted Doge-coded content — a Shiba Inu mascot image, then a meme of a Shiba playing a banjo — that historically would have lit up DOGE order books. However, this time, Dogecoin’s response was muted to outright negative.

In other words, the last few times Musk has talked about or referenced Dogecoin on X, the market reaction has been steadily decaying. So when he now says X Money “has been launched internally,” the absence of a pump in DOGE looks less like a mystery and more like a trend.

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.13765.

Bitcoin (BTC) is once again moving within a narrow band, with price swings contained despite shifting macro signals and fresh debate over whether the cryptocurrency’s long-observed four-year cycle still applies.

Related Reading: Upcoming Crypto Market Structure Bill Markup Likely Pushed To Post-Holiday

As traders react to mixed Federal Reserve messaging, institutional flows, and rising caution across risk markets, analysts remain split on whether Bitcoin’s latest consolidation represents stability, or a deeper shift in how the asset behaves.

Analysts Question Whether the Cycle Has Ended

A growing number of major firms now argue that Bitcoin may be moving beyond its historic halving-driven rhythm. Investment firm Bernstein said in a recent note that the asset is in an “elongated bull cycle,” pointing to minimal ETF outflows despite a nearly 30% correction.

The firm has raised its 2026 price target to $150,000, projecting a potential cycle peak of $200,000 in 2027 and maintaining a $1 million long-term estimate for 2033.

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood echoed this view, saying that institutional adoption is reducing the likelihood of the steep 75–90% drawdowns seen in previous cycles. Grayscale has also suggested Bitcoin could break the four-year pattern, forecasting renewed strength in 2026.

Bitcoin is currently trading near $90,000–$93,000 depending on the venue, with recent intraday swings highlighting a lack of strong directional conviction.

Fed Signals Keep Markets Cautious

The Federal Reserve’s 25 bps rate cut initially lifted risk sentiment, but a shift toward cautious, data-dependent language quickly reversed momentum.

Bitcoin and Ethereum slipped after the announcement, with BTC falling below $90,000 at one point as traders reassessed the macro backdrop. Liquidity remains thin, contributing to choppy movements across major crypto assets.

Analysts note that Bitcoin’s inability to sustain gains, despite the weaker dollar and softer Fed stance, reflects persistent uncertainty. Several commentators say BTC must hold above $90,000 to avoid strengthening bearish pressure, while a break above $94,500 could reopen a path toward $100,000 if inflows improve.

Derivatives and On-Chain Data Flag Rising Bearish Sentiment

Options and on-chain indicators are also signaling caution. Traders have increased bearish option positions, with the put/call ratio turning positive ahead of a significant expiry window. More than $500 million in crypto liquidations occurred within 24 hours, reflecting heightened volatility.

On-chain data shows declining bullish momentum. The Bitcoin Bull Score Index has fallen back to zero, and realized losses suggest further downside could be possible. Analysts warn that despite past buy-the-dip patterns, current readings do not yet reflect the levels typically associated with market bottoms.

Related Reading: Cardano Founder Reacts As NIGHT Token Crashes From $150 To $0.02

As Bitcoin continues to trade in a tight range, the broader debate remains unresolved. Whether the four-year cycle is fading, or simply paused, may depend on how markets digest macro uncertainty, institutional flows, and the next wave of economic data.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTUSD chart from Tradingview

The legal saga surrounding Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has culminated in a significant ruling, with the crypto magnate sentenced to 15 years in prison this Thursday. 

This decision follows a tumultuous period marked by the collapse of two digital currencies created by the firm, which collectively erased an estimated $40 billion from the market in 2022, leading to widespread repercussions within the broader cryptocurrency industry.

Do Kwon’s 15-Year Sentence

During the sentencing hearing, US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer underscored the seriousness of Do Kwon’s actions, stating, “Your fraud was unusually serious. For four years you publicly lied to the market.” 

The judge emphasized that Kwon misrepresented TerraUSD as a stablecoin backed by a system designed to sustain its peg to the dollar, asserting that Kwon’s claims were ultimately fraudulent when the peg faltered.

Judge Engelmayer remarked that Do Kwon’s actions had devastating effects, contributing to the collapse of investments for “hundreds of thousands of investors.” He noted that a lighter sentence would be unacceptable, stating: 

“Five years would be so implausible it would require appellate reversal. Others must be deterred. People are watching this [live]. There will be future entrepreneurs. This case will serve as a reminder of breaking bad and what happens.” 

With that, the US District Judge imposed a 15-year sentence, factoring in time already served—17 months and eight days while in pre-extradition custody.

Judge Hints At Fort Dix Transfer

Interestingly, there were suggestions from both the judge and prosecutors that Kwon could be transferred to Fort Dix, a facility where some high-profile inmates are held. There’s also the possibility that part of his sentence could be served in South Korea, where he is facing additional legal challenges.

In January, Do Kwon was charged with nine criminal counts that included securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

Featured image from ABC, chart from TradingView.com 

Vincent Van Code, a well-known commentator on X, has outlined a projection that XRP could undergo a major shift in its pricing structure by March 2026. 

His view is built on three trends developing for the altcoin. These are the steady decline of XRP held on centralized exchanges, rising demand from institutional-grade Spot ETF products that move large volumes of the tokens into regulated custody, and the gradual rollout of more advanced arbitrage systems that link ETF pricing with exchange markets. 

Predicting Major Development For March 2026

Van Code’s prediction of a major XRP development coming up in March 2026 is based on the observable trend of reserves on major centralized exchanges dropping to multi-month lows, a pattern verified by recent on-chain data showing exchange balances contracting significantly as institutional vehicles accumulate tokens. This reduction in liquid supply has coincided with sustained inflows into multiple Spot XRP ETFs launched in 2025, which now hold hundreds of millions of the token under management.

This has led to a highly volatile price action for the token, as we’ve seen in recent days. The interplay of this supply squeeze and growing institutional appetite feeds into Van Code’s prediction about a change in price dynamics ahead of 2026.

According to Van Code, sophisticated arbitrage should come online sometime around March 2026, and this will be the game-changer for price movement. Once that framework is in place, ETF trades and institutional flows could begin anchoring the altcoin’s price across the broader market, leading to steadier movement as more of the circulating supply sits in the hands of large, long-term holders.

This means that by March 2026, institutional ETF pricing could begin to set the benchmark for valuations across order books on crypto exchanges, rather than retail markets. 

Spot XRP ETFs In The US

Since the launch of the first US-listed spot XRP exchange-traded fund by Canary Capital on November 13, these products have attracted substantial institutional demand, feeding a growing accumulation of the altcoin into regulated custody and moving tens of millions of tokens out of the trading pool on crypto exchanges. 

Spot XRP ETFs, those from Canary Capital, Franklin Templeton, Bitwise and Grayscale, are on track to collectively exceed $1 billion in assets under management in just a few weeks, with inflows now on a streak of 18 consecutive trading sessions. According to data from SoSoValue, these ETFs have now received a cumulative inflow of $954.33 million as of December 10. 

Interestingly, a new entrant is also preparing to join this growing lineup. Asset manager 21Shares is on the verge of finalizing its own Spot XRP ETF, which has been approved by the Cboe BZX Exchange and is going to trade under the ticker TOXR.

The Federal Reserve’s latest policy move was expected to calm financial markets. Instead, it set off one of the sharpest intraday reversals the crypto sector has seen this quarter.

After delivering a widely anticipated 25-basis-point rate cut, the Fed signaled a slower path ahead, and that shift in tone was enough to send major digital assets back. What looked like a supportive macro backdrop quickly turned into a trigger for risk-off positioning across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader altcoin market.

Mixed Fed Messaging Fuels Market Confusion

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the federal funds rate to a 3.5%–3.75% range, marking its third cut of the year. But internal disagreement, including two members opposing any cut and one pushing for a larger one, highlighted uncertainty within the Fed itself.

Chair Jerome Powell supported that ambiguity by saying the central bank remains “well-positioned to wait,” a phrase traders interpreted as a possible pause in January.

Economic projections added more caution. Officials expect only one additional cut in 2026, far fewer than markets had priced in. While the Fed also announced $40 billion in monthly Treasury bill purchases, seen by some as “QE-lite”, investors viewed the move more as an attempt to steady liquidity in a slowing economy.

The dollar weakened sharply after Powell ruled out a 2026 rate hike, but expectations for near-term easing also faded. Futures markets quickly shifted, showing a higher probability of no change in January.

Crypto Markets Reverse as Liquidity Concerns Rise

The crypto market reacted within minutes of the Fed’s press conference. Total market capitalization fell roughly 3% over the next 24 hours, with Bitcoin sliding below $90,000 after briefly testing highs near $94,000 earlier in the week.

Ethereum lost more than 3%, and altcoins posted deeper declines as investors moved toward lower-risk exposure.

Rising liquidations added pressure. More than $1 billion in leveraged positions were wiped out in the broader market over a 24-hour period, while Bitcoin dominance climbed to around 58%, reflecting a shift away from speculative assets.

Technical signals also turned bearish, with total crypto market cap slipping below the 200-day EMA and several major tokens failing to reclaim key resistance levels.

What Comes Next as Traders Await Fresh Data

Attention now turns to the upcoming PCE inflation report, the Fed’s preferred gauge. A stronger-than-expected reading could delay further easing and intensify volatility across risk assets. For crypto traders, key levels include Bitcoin’s support zone near $89,000 and ETF flow trends, which continue to influence market stability.

The latest Fed decision currently has left markets searching for clearer direction. Until that emerges, crypto appears set to navigate a period of tighter liquidity, cautious sentiment, and elevated sensitivity to macroeconomic signals.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

Leading XRP wallet founder, Wietse Wind, has issued a direct warning about a fast-moving impersonation scam targeting XRP users. The alert highlights an escalating threat vector already linked to material losses, with attackers posing as official support and attempting to harvest seed phrases by framing it as wallet assistance. Their operations are expanding in scope and speed, and the XRP community is now a primary target.

Coordinated Impersonation Playbooks Are Now Targeting XRP Users

The founder’s advisory highlights an operationally disciplined scam pattern designed to exploit trust at scale. Threat actors position themselves as recovery specialists, wallet engineers or ecosystem support staff. They approach users through direct messages, E-mails, cloned profiles and polished customer-service language to create a façade of legitimacy. Once initial rapport is established, they deploy scripted escalations — often framed as urgent account recovery needs — to extract seed phrases under the guise of technical troubleshooting.

The risk exposure is significant because XRP transactions are irreversible, and wallets secured with 12- or 24-word keys become instantly compromised once those keys are shared. The scam is engineered to bypass technical safeguards by attacking the human layer, and the founder’s message underscores the scale of user losses already reported across the community. 

XRP holders can mitigate this risk by operationalizing strict key-management discipline. Seed phrases must never be disclosed under any circumstance, regardless of how convincing a support agent appears. Platform teams never request private keys, and no legitimate recovery workflow requires the user to surrender control of their wallet. Users should validate identities through official channels, avoid engaging with unsolicited inbound messages and escalate any suspicious outreach to community security hubs. Maintaining a hardened posture is now mandatory as attackers increasingly weaponize user vulnerability and real-time monitoring of social platforms.

Community Reports Confirm The Escalating Threat Environment

Broader sentiment from ecosystem leaders indicates that this is not an isolated event but part of a growing pattern. A prominent developer highlighted a wave of phishing attempts circulating on X that leveraged deceptive links and direct messages to lure users into engagement, undermining trust and exploiting those seeking help.

Moreover, community members have documented multiple incidents in which attackers consistently target users seeking support. Another well-known community member reported a doubling-down scam, where victims were approached with offers to “assist” with account issues but were instead redirected to fraudulent sites and Telegram channels requesting sensitive information. In a separate case on Reddit, a fake “recovery agent” tricked an XRP holder into granting access, resulting in the theft of tokens, while a recent incident saw an XRP user lose $3,000,000 from a compromised cold wallet.

These examples reinforce the community’s assessment that attackers are systematically monitoring public discussions about wallet concerns, impersonating official support channels, and manipulating interactions to extract credentials. Together, they illustrate the scale and sophistication of the threat environment facing XRP users.

New reports reveal that XRP exchange balances have experienced an uncharacteristic decline in recent weeks, recording a brand new low since the cryptocurrency’s launch in June 2012. While XRP’s price action has posted notable losses this year, the decline in exchange-held tokens appears to be much greater.

XRP Supply On Exchanges Falls To Historic Lows

Crypto market expert Chad Steingraber drew attention this week to fresh data from Glassnode, highlighting an unusual divergence in XRP’s market behavior. The analytics firm shared a chart tracking the amount of XRP held on crypto exchanges alongside the asset’s market price. 

According to Steingraber, the chart’s readings show that exchange balances have fallen well below the XRP’s price structure for the first time since the cryptocurrency’s inception. Glassnode highlighted XRP’s exchange supply with a green line on the chart and its price with a black line. At the start of the year, the supply on exchanges was around 3.8-4 billion XRP. However, through the middle, reserves gradually trended downward but mostly stayed within the 3.2-3.6 billion range. 

Notably, a Glassnode chart shared by crypto analyst ChartNerd reveals that XRP exchange balances dropped sharply from around 3.95 billion XRP to 2.6 billion XRP from November to December 2025. About 1.35 billion XRP was removed from public order books recently, representing a staggering 45% decrease in under 60 days. 

Usually, exchange supply and price move together without significant divergence because the former tends to influence sell-side liquidity, which, in turn, can affect market movements. When more XRP is held on these crypto platforms, traders have a larger pool of tokens to sell, which can increase market pressure. 

Conversely, when reserves shrink, it often signals that investors are withdrawing their assets, either for long-term storage or profit-taking after recent price moves. While the vast gap between XRP’s exchange balances and its price action raises concerns, whales have reportedly been selling off their holdings amid ongoing market volatility and as prices struggle to stage a meaningful rebound.

Glassnode Reports Massive Collapse In Daily XRP Fees

In addition to the collapse in XRP exchange balances, Glassnode’s data shows a steep drop in the cryptocurrency’s network activity, with average total fees falling dramatically. Since early February, the 90-day SMA of daily fees paid has decreased from about 5,900 XRP to only 650 XRP. This marks an estimated 89% drop and brings activity to its lowest point since December 2020. 

The decline in daily fees suggests a cooling in on-chain demand for XRP transactions, even as the price has remained weak amid broader market uncertainty. The cryptocurrency is currently trading around $2.00, reflecting a 7.7% weekly decline and a much larger 18% crash over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap.

Despite recent fluctuations in the price of Ethereum, accumulation seems to be holding strong, which is observed in the Spot Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). With more ETH leaving exchanges and ETFs stacking ETH, the leading altcoin could be poised for a crucial shift in market dynamics, which may be good for its price trajectory.

Smart Money Moves Quietly Via Ethereum Spot ETFs

The broader cryptocurrency market is shifting towards a bullish state once again, and the Ethereum institutional story is subtly transitioning into a new chapter. While price action remains relatively subdued, on-chain and fund flow data show a strong undercurrent as Spot Ethereum ETFs are steadily stacking.

According to Everstake.eth, the head of the Ethereum segment at Everstake, the ETH spot ETFs have been quietly increasing, reaching unprecedented levels. This silent accumulation raises the possibility that major companies are positioning themselves well ahead of the competition, creating long-term exposure while retail attention is still dispersed.

Data shared by the expert reveals that spot Ethereum ETF on-chain holdings have now reached approximately 10.48 million ETH. Everstake added that this is one of the strongest, most consistent accumulation trends ever recorded since the launch of the funds about a year ago.

Given the substantial growth of the funds, the expert has declared that “the future is bullish, and the future is Ethereum.” As ETF holdings rise to previously unheard-of levels, the question now is not whether smart money is going in, but rather what they anticipate.

The steady growth is not observed among other metrics, like the Funding Rates. Currently, the derivatives market for ETH is starting to cool, and funding rates are clearly reflecting this change. However, this is not entirely a bad thing for the altcoin and its price trajectory.

As reported by Sina Estavi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bridge Capital, a declining ETH funding rate is not merely a sign of a cool market. Rather, it is the structure that typically appears on the chart prior to a sustained move.

When funding resets in the absence of aggressive shorting, it usually implies that leverage is not overcrowded, the rally is not overheated, and spot-driven demand can carry the price further. Should ETH register even a modest growth in demand, the market may have room to extend this bullish leg.

Institutional Demand For ETH Is Returning

Ethereum’s recent sideways price movements do not seem to have swayed institutions from acquiring the altcoin. Big firms such as Bitmine Immersion, a leading treasury company run by industry leader Tom Lee, are still scooping up ETH at a substantial rate and scale.

The report from Arkham shows that as of Tuesday, Bitmine has purchased over 138,452 ETH valued at approximately $431.97 million since last week. Following the purchase, the company’s crypto holdings now boost about $12.05 billion in ETH. Despite this massive holding of ETH, the firm still has $1 billion left to accumulate more of the altcoin.

Ripple, a crypto payments company, is edging closer to a milestone that could redefine its role and XRP’s position in the global finance industry and the US banking sector. New reports reveal that the national banking charter, which the crypto firm had applied for earlier this year, could be approved soon, potentially turning Ripple’s dream of establishing a US bank a reality.

Ripple Could Secure National Bank Charter Soon

Market expert ‘Steph is Crypto’ announced on X this Wednesday that Ripple’s long-awaited national bank license is “imminent,” implying an approval could be granted soon. The analyst described this possibility as bullish. His optimism about the banking charter raised the expectations of crypto community members under his post, most of whom also agreed that the potential approval could be bullish for XRP.

Ripple Labs first revealed plans to establish a National Trust Bank in July 2025 when CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed that an application had been submitted to the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). If approved, the proposed bank will reportedly be headquartered in New York and operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ripple. 

Typically, the OCC spends about 120 days reviewing a bank charter application. Based on Ripple’s submission timing, the US regulator’s decision on the crypto company’s banking license was expected around October 2025. However, the process was delayed, and an official approval or rejection has been postponed until further notice. 

At the time of writing, the OCC has not provided an official statement confirming the approval date of a Ripple banking license. Nevertheless, some members of the crypto community speculate that approval could be made by the end of this month, while others expect it within six months.  

If the OCC grants the license, Ripple would officially function as a national trust bank under direct federal oversight. This status would give the company the authority to offer custody and settlement services for both digital and traditional assets. Experts also believe it could allow the company to integrate the RLUSD stablecoin, potentially driving a significant rise in institutional use of XRP in US financial markets. 

New OCC Ruling Strengthens Ripple’s Bank Plans And XRP Utility

In a recent post on X, crypto analyst X Finance Bull highlighted a new ruling by the US OCC that clears the last major barrier keeping traditional banks hesitant to get involved in cryptocurrencies. According to the OCC’s official report, the new ruling allows US banks to use digital assets and currencies in their operations and to engage in riskless principal crypto transactions. 

This new guidance comes at a perfect time for Ripple’s regulatory plans. The company positioned itself firmly within the compliance perimeter by applying for an OCC-regulated national bank license. The ruling also makes it fully permissible for national banks to use XRP and RLUSD for settlement and payment activities. Although the OCC’s decision applies only to national banks, it represents a foundational step toward Ripple’s potential entry into the US banking system. 

Крипторынок демонстрирует сигналы, указывающие на осторожный оптимизм трейдеров и инвесторов, сообщили Bits.media аналитики биржи Bybit и компании Block Scholes.

The Dogecoin ETFs have continued to record low demand since they launched last month, indicating the lack of interest from institutional investors in the meme coin. Notably, DOGE has also seen the lowest demand through these ETFs among the top coins by market cap. 

Dogecoin ETFs Record Dwindling Volume And Inflows

SoSoValue data shows that the Dogecoin ETFs have continued to see their daily volume and inflows decline since they launched last month. On December 10, the Grayscale and Bitwise DOGE ETFs recorded a trading volume of $125,100. Meanwhile, these funds as a group saw a total net inflow of $171,920 on the day. 

Further data from SoSo Value shows that the Dogecoin ETFs trading volume has been on a decline since December 2, when they recorded a daily trading volume of $1.09 million. These funds have recorded only three 7-figure trading volume days out of 12 trading days since November 24, when Grayscale’s Dogecoin fund launched. 

This is relatively low and signifies little demand for the DOGE ETFs among institutional investors. For context, Grayscale’s Chainlink ETF, the only LINK fund at the moment, has outperformed the Dogecoin ETFs despite launching at the start of this month. Grayscale’s LINK ETF has a total net asset of $77.71 million, while the DOGE ETFs have total net assets of $6.01 million. 

The net flows also highlight the underperformance of these Dogecoin ETFs. Since launching, Bitwise’s DOGE fund has recorded a net outflow of $972,840. Meanwhile, Grayscale’s fund has taken in just over $3 million. The funds, as a group, have recorded net inflows on five of 12 trading days. 

Possible Reason For The Underperformance

Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas had warned before now that crypto ETFs like the Dogecoin ETFs would record fewer assets given their distance from Bitcoin in terms of market cap. “’The further away you get from BTC, the less asset there will be,’ he said. Notably, DOGE funds have the lowest net assets among the top 10 cryptos by market cap with ETF wrappers. 

The Solana and XRP ETFs, which also just launched last month, have outperformed the Dogecoin ETFs, although there are more funds offering SOL and XRP. Meanwhile, Balachunas’ theory hasn’t applied to the LINK ETF, as it has outperformed DOGE funds despite Chainlink having a lower market cap than Dogecoin. 

Furthermore, the Hedera and Litecoin ETFs also boast larger net assets than the Dogecoin ETFs, indicating that institutional investors are simply not bullish on DOGE, possibly due to its meme coin status and lack of utility. DOGE is, so far, the only meme coin with an ETF wrapper. 

At the time of writing, the DOGE price is trading at around $0.138, down over 6% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

CoinPoker представил возможность, ориентированную на аудиторию, предпочитающую мобильный формат игры: ежемесячный Mobile Freeroll с гарантированным призовым фондом $5,000. Турнир будет проходить в последнюю пятницу каждого месяца и открыт для всех новых пользователей, которые зарегистрируются с промокодом MOBILE и сыграют минимум 10 рейк-раздач.

Мобильный фриролл, который выделяется на фоне рынка

Фрироллы с крупными призовыми фондами встречаются редко, особенно в сегменте мобильного покера. Новый турнир от CoinPoker ориентирован на тех, кто хочет попробовать платформу без финансового риска, но при этом рассчитывает на реальный шанс выиграть значимую сумму.

Игроки, которые впервые знакомятся с CoinPoker, смогут не только оценить обновление мобильной версии, но и сразу получить доступ к турниру с призовым фондом.

ПЕРЕЙТИ НА САЙТ COINPOKER

Условия участия стали еще проще

Вход в турнир не требует выполнения сложных требований — достаточно всего двух действий:

• зарегистрироваться на Play.CoinPoker.com с бонус-кодом MOBILE;
• сыграть 10 рейк-раздач в любом формате — кэш, турниры, PLO или NLH.

После выполнения условий система автоматически добавляет игрока в список участников ближайшего ежемесячного мобильного фриролла.

Обновленная мобильная веб-версия CoinPoker: что нового

Интерфейс мобильного клиента переработан, теперь он функционирует прямо через браузеры iOS и Android. Приложение скачивать не нужно — вход возможен через Safari, Chrome, Firefox и другие популярные браузеры.

Основные улучшения мобильной веб-платформы:

• современный визуальный стиль;
• повышенная отзывчивость интерфейса;
• ускоренная обработка действий;
• более плавная и приятная анимация.

Функциональные возможности:

• мультитейблинг;
• заметки на оппонентов;
• PLO, PLO5 и NLH в кэш- и турнирном форматах;
• столы с живыми дилерами;
• генератор случайных чисел на блокчейне.

Почему новая акция вызывает интерес среди игроков

Для новичков — это возможность получить стартовый капитал без вложений.

Для опытных покеристов — ценный турнир, где можно протестировать обновленный мобильный клиент без каких-либо дополнительных инвестиций.

Кроме того, фриролл служит удобной точкой входа в другие активности CoinPoker: праздничные серии, круглосуточные кэш-столы.

О платформе CoinPoker

CoinPoker — один из ведущих покерных проектов, основанный на принципах прозрачности и инноваций.

Сайт использует генератор случайных чисел на основе блокчейна, а среди его амбассадоров — известные профессионалы Patrick Leonard, Bencb и Mario Mosböck.

Платформа также проводит крупные ежегодные мероприятия, такие как Cash Game World Championship (CGWC) и Coin Series of Poker (CSOP), а для игроков доступны специальные промо, включая:

• приветственный бонус 150% до $2,000;
• Fast and Furious с повышенными битаутами;
• Seven Deuce Game;

CoinMasters с общим фондом $250,000.

Bitcoin’s price is gradually picking up pace following a broader market recovery, allowing the largest cryptocurrency asset to revisit the $92,000 mark on Wednesday. Even though the price is showing strength, key investors are currently moving in the opposite direction of the trend, raising questions about the stability of the recent bounce.

Whales Slams The Brakes On Bullish Bitcoin Bets

Just as the price of Bitcoin staged a slight recovery, the derivatives market has shifted once again as investors make a sudden strategic retreat. On-chain metrics indicate that large BTC holders, also known as whale investors, are stepping back from their bullish positions, a clear sign of growing bearish sentiment.

After navigating the key Bitcoin whale vs. Retail Delta metric, Joao Wedson, an author and founder of the Alphractal analytics platform, disclosed that whales have closed their longs. This strategic pullback or shift in sentiment comes after a heavy positioning to the long side by the cohort.

While the retreat marks a notable change in market sentiment, it also suggests that large investors may be locking in profits or preparing for a potential deeper decline in BTC’s price. Wedson highlighted that while large players are currently starting to take some short positions again, retail investors are moving against them, indicating a clear disparity in sentiment between the two groups. 

Given that whale behavior has historically served as a leading indication for broader price action, this abrupt reversal raises further concerns about Bitcoin’s short-term trajectory. Following an exuberant surge, there are also concerns about whether the market is getting ready for a cooling phase.

The expert stated that the pattern of this metric against price actions looks somewhat similar to what was observed in February and April 2025. In other words, the price of BTC moving sideways longer than what most traders are anticipating is highly likely at this point.

Traders Calling For A BTC Rally

Overall, market sentiment appears to have recovered as Bitcoin traders become greedy, calling for more upward moves. According to a post from Santiment, a leading on-chain data analytics platform, BTC experienced a much-needed rebound back to the $94,600 price mark on Wednesday, which reinvigorated traders.

Interestingly, the brief bounce caused investors to Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) back in and look forward to the price of BTC going higher. Santiment’s social data, harvesting X, Reddit, Telegram, and other data, shows that calls for higher and above have increased dramatically.

High bars with blue shades indicate calls for lower or below, which is indicative of Fear Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD). It is worth noting that prices often rise as retailers offload their holdings. 

Meanwhile, high bars with red shades represent calls for higher or above, signaling FOMO. When calls for higher moves increase, prices usually correct as retailers attempt to acquire more BTC on the way up. During these kinds of occasions, it is crucial to know that markets move in the opposite direction to the behavior of small traders.

Основанием для блокировки доступа к сайтам иностранных криптобирж OKX, Bitget, BingX, Bybit, Weex и Gate в Беларуси стало решение Минского горисполкома. Столичные власти нашли на сайтах бирж «ненадлежащую рекламу», сообщило Министерство информации Беларуси.

Управление по финансовому надзору Великобритании (FCA) сообщило, что в 2026 году собирается разрешить местным компаниям экспериментировать с платежами в стейблкоинах.

MSCI has launched a consultation on whether companies with significant cryptocurrency or Bitcoin holdings should be excluded from some of its main indices, sending waves through markets that track those indexes.

According to reports, the consultation targets firms whose balance sheets are more than 50% invested in digital assets. Phong Le, CEO of Strategy, argued in interviews that the move is “like penalizing Chevron for oil,” saying that holding an asset should not disqualify an operating company from broad market indices.

Impact Estimates Suggest Billions Could Move

Based on reports from banks and analysts, the potential impact could be large. JPMorgan estimates show that MSCI-only adjustments might trigger forced selling of about $2.8 billion, while the figure could climb to $8.8 billion if other index providers follow suit.

Stocks of companies holding Bitcoin have already felt pressure. Strategy (ticker MSTR), the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, has been in direct talks with MSCI, seeking to clarify its position and prevent removal from key indexes.

Phong Le joined @SchwabNetwork to discuss the $60T digital credit opportunity and response to MSCI. Restricting passive index investment in bitcoin today would be like restricting investment in oil and oil rigs in the 1900s, spectrum and cell towers in the 1980s, or compute and… pic.twitter.com/3VcYnF5nE4

— Strategy (@Strategy) December 10, 2025

Who Could Be Affected And Why

The review focuses on so-called “digital-asset treasury” firms — companies that might behave more like investment vehicles if a large portion of their assets sits in cryptocurrency.

According to circulated consultation documents, the 50% threshold defines the most extreme cases. Some analysts warn the cutoff is blunt and could misclassify companies that run genuine businesses while using crypto as a treasury reserve.

Industry Groups Mobilize

A coalition of bitcoin-focused companies and trade associations has publicly opposed the move. They argue that excluding these firms would force passive funds tied to MSCI indexes to sell holdings mechanically, even when they are part of operational businesses.

Reports have disclosed letters, interviews, and lobbying efforts aimed at influencing MSCI’s final decision. Market participants say the pushback highlights the tension between traditional index rules and companies with unconventional asset allocations.

Decision Timeline Could Trigger Market Moves

The consultation window is expected to close around Dec. 31, 2025, with some reports suggesting MSCI could announce a decision by mid-Jan 2026.

If the exclusions are enforced, passive funds tracking MSCI indexes may need to rebalance, which could create mechanical selling pressures for affected stocks. However, feedback during the consultation could still alter the outcome before any final rules are adopted.

Bitcoin Investors Face Key Questions

Beyond short-term market moves, investors now face questions about which listed firms cross the 50% threshold, how indices should treat non-traditional assets, and whether other index providers will adopt similar rules.

The choices MSCI makes could affect billions of dollars in flows and reshape how publicly traded companies approach holding cryptocurrency.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView