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Bitcoin climbed back above $90,000 as traders positioned for the Federal Reserve’s final rate decision of the year and upcoming U.S. jobs data. The crypto asset has recovered from its early December dip near $85,000, though market sentiment remains fragile following October’s massive leverage wipe out and persistently thin liquidity. Funding markets are reacting quickly to shifting rate expectations, prompting trading desks to diversify liquidity across centralized and decentralized venues. Uneven progress on inflation, especially elevated shelter costs, has added uncertainty to the Fed’s policy path and kept Bitcoin more sensitive to macro headlines than traditional equities.
Low liquidity continues to weigh on price momentum as market makers remain cautious, while rising expectations for a spike in jobless claims could strengthen the case for a rate cut. Precious metals have surged in comparison, with gold and silver sharply outperforming Bitcoin as investors hedge against potential policy missteps and broader economic uncertainty. With quantitative tightening ending and normal data releases resuming, traders see a growing likelihood of a rate cut, which some believe could serve as a catalyst for a broader market rally. Source
CFTC approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading on registered US futures exchanges marks a major shift in how the two largest cryptocurrencies can grow, operate, and attract capital. The move places them under the same commodity framework that transformed gold in the 1970s, when regulated futures trading concentrated liquidity, enabled institutional participation, and helped fuel a multidecade price expansion of roughly 4,000 percent. For Bitcoin and Ethereum, this removes barriers created by SEC-style issuer rules, brings trading back onshore from offshore venues like Binance, and provides a regulated environment with deeper liquidity tools and standardized protections that US traders previously lacked.
The decision also opens the door to significantly broader institutional exposure as pension funds, banks, and hedge funds can now treat Bitcoin and Ethereum like other CFTC-recognized commodities with audited custody and supervised pricing. With most institutional investors already increasing their crypto allocations, regulated US access is likely to accelerate mainstream adoption. Historical precedents, such as the explosive growth of WTI oil futures after their launch, suggest that liquidity could expand rapidly as more traders and market makers enter the market. As order books deepen and volumes build on US soil, Bitcoin and Ethereum may experience reduced volatility and a more stable trading environment over time. Source
Tokenization can expand access to a wide range of assets, but Carlos Domingo argues that access alone is not enough unless those assets can be sold quickly and efficiently. He explains that digitizing an illiquid asset does not change its fundamental nature: a tokenized slice of real estate or a collectible still inherits the same constraints on resale and price stability as the underlying physical item. Early experiments proved that technology cannot magically create liquidity where none exists, which is why attention has shifted toward tokenizing assets that are already highly liquid, such as cash and U.S. Treasuries.
This shift is most visible in the rapid growth of stablecoins and tokenized government debt, which have far outpaced tokenized stocks and other illiquid markets. Stablecoins now represent a massive segment of the crypto ecosystem because they amplify liquidity rather than trying to manufacture it. As major financial institutions like BlackRock explore tokenization for money market funds and other products, the industry is beginning to focus on use cases where liquidity can scale naturally. Over time, technological improvements may help expand liquidity to more complex assets, but for now, tokenization is flourishing most where deep, existing markets already support fast, low-friction trading. Source
BPCE is preparing to let millions of retail customers buy and sell Bitcoin, Ether, Solana and USDC directly within its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne mobile apps, marking one of the first major moves by a traditional European bank into integrated crypto trading. The rollout begins with four regional banks, covering around 2 million users, before expanding to all 25 remaining regional entities through 2026. Trading will take place through a dedicated digital asset account managed by BPCE’s crypto subsidiary Hexarq, with a fixed monthly fee and per-trade commissions. Customers will be able to access digital assets without relying on external exchanges or third-party wallets, positioning BPCE competitively against fintechs like Revolut and Trade Republic as well as other European banks that have already launched similar services.
The expansion highlights how traditional institutions are responding to rising demand for regulated, in-app crypto access, while competition across Europe continues to grow. It also comes as France considers broader changes to its tax regime, with lawmakers proposing to classify certain digital assets as part of “unproductive wealth,” subjecting individuals with more than 2.3 million dollars in such holdings to a new 1 percent annual tax. The measure still requires Senate approval, but signals a shifting regulatory landscape for crypto holders in the country. Source
ZKsync is shutting down its original Lite network in 2026 as activity dwindles and development fully shifts to ZKsync Era and the ZK Stack. Originally launched in 2020 as an early zero-knowledge payment rollup, Lite served as a proof-of-concept that validated the ideas later used to build the current zkEVM systems. Matter Labs formally stopped engineering work on Lite in early 2023, and since Era introduced full EVM compatibility, developers, wallets, and apps have consolidated around the newer stack. With Lite limited to basic transfers, NFT minting, and simple swaps—and lacking smart contract support—its usage has fallen to fewer than 200 daily operations.
About 49 million dollars in bridged assets remain on Lite, all still withdrawable to Ethereum through its L1 contract, and ZKsync says withdrawals will continue to function throughout the deprecation phase. The team plans to publish a detailed shutdown timeline next year. The retirement comes after Matter Labs carried out layoffs in 2024 amid rising demand for ZK Chains, while confirming that all future engineering work will centre on zkEVM infrastructure and modular ZK Stack deployments. Source
South Korea is preparing rules that would require crypto exchanges to compensate users for losses from hacks or system failures, even when the platforms are not at fault. This shift follows a major breach at Upbit, where over 104 billion Solana-based tokens worth about 30.1 million dollars were moved to external wallets in under an hour. Regulators note that the country’s major exchanges have suffered 20 system failures since 2023, affecting more than 900 users and causing losses exceeding 5 billion won. The plan would bring exchanges in line with the liability standards applied to banks and electronic payment firms under existing financial rules.
Lawmakers are also considering tougher penalties, including fines of up to 3% of annual revenue for hacking incidents, far higher than the current ceiling for exchanges. The Upbit incident has intensified scrutiny due to delayed reporting, with some officials suggesting the exchange waited until after a corporate merger to alert regulators. Alongside these reforms, political pressure is mounting for the rapid introduction of a stablecoin bill, with legislators demanding a draft by December 10 and signalling they may move forward independently if regulators miss the deadline. Source
Indiana lawmaker Kyle Pierce has introduced House Bill 2014, aiming to expand access to cryptocurrency investments for public servants while limiting government restrictions on crypto use. The bill would require state-managed retirement and savings programs to offer exchange-traded funds that provide exposure to digital assets, giving residents more investment options. It also seeks to prevent local governments from creating rules that excessively limit crypto payments, mining operations, or individuals’ ability to safeguard their own digital assets.
The proposal includes a mandate for the state to study how cryptocurrencies could be used within government functions and allows for pilot programs to test such applications. It also protects both industrial and residential crypto mining activities from unreasonable local interference. The initiative differs from similar efforts in other states by focusing on expanding access for savers rather than enabling state-level crypto allocations. It emerges as part of a broader national trend, with multiple states exploring legislation connected to the strategic Bitcoin reserve concept introduced earlier this year. Source
Markethive positions its Swarm conference rooms as part of a broader mission to protect free expression and resist increasing digital censorship. Drawing on examples of high-profile tech leaders who advocate for privacy and open communication, the project emphasizes creating a decentralized ecosystem designed to withstand interference, cyberattacks, and data breaches. Its vision includes a resilient blockchain-backed infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale user activity, helping individuals maintain control over their communication, finances, and entrepreneurial activity in a world where many platforms face growing pressure from regulators and centralized authorities.
The Swarm conference rooms provide secure virtual spaces for meetings, collaboration, and community building, with features such as video conferencing, screen sharing, polls, shared calendars, and whiteboards. Upcoming subscription tiers will expand room capacity, and integrated tools support both small teams and large organizations, including those using multi-camera setups for broadcasting. Users can customize their profiles, manage access, and rely on meeting links that prioritize security. Markethive frames this system as part of its commitment to free speech, data protection, and fostering a strong online community where individuals and groups can interact, learn, and organize without fear of censorship or intrusion. Source
Bitcoin Cash has surged nearly 40 percent in 2025, outpacing every major Layer-1 network while many competitors remain deep in losses. Analysts attribute its strength to clean supply dynamics, with no token unlocks, no foundation treasury and no venture-capital selling pressure, allowing circulating supply to remain balanced against renewed investor demand. Its performance stands in contrast to BNB, Hyperliquid, Tron and XRP, which posted smaller gains, while Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Cardano and Polkadot continue to trade significantly lower for the year.
Broader market commentary highlights expectations for a temporary Bitcoin dip toward 87000 before a potential rebound toward 100000, supported by macro conditions such as easing quantitative tightening and anticipated rate cuts. Analysts also point to rising Bitcoin liveliness, indicating older coins are moving and underlying demand remains firm despite muted price action, a pattern historically aligned with continued bull cycles. Source
WisdomTree has introduced a tokenized digital fund called EPXC that brings a traditional cash-secured put-writing strategy onto blockchain rails, allowing investors to access equity-linked options income through an onchain structure. The fund tracks the Volos US Large Cap Target 2.5% PutWrite Index, which earns premium income by selling cash-secured put options on SPY. By making the vehicle available to both institutional and retail investors, including crypto-native users, WisdomTree aims to provide faster settlement and more flexible transfers while expanding investor choice in onchain investment strategies.
The launch builds on WisdomTree’s early push into tokenization, with the firm now operating 15 tokenized funds across Ethereum, Avalanche and Base. Its tokenized government money market fund has surpassed 730 million dollars in assets, and the company recently added a tokenized private credit fund that has drawn strong inflows. Broader financial institutions have been slower to adopt these models, though interest is rising as tokenized products emerge as potential alternatives to stablecoins, which increasingly function as cashlike instruments in digital markets. Source
Coinbase has resumed user registrations in India after more than two years, allowing customers to trade crypto-to-crypto and signaling a renewed focus on one of the world’s largest digital-asset markets. The company plans to launch a fiat on-ramp in 2026, enabling users to deposit rupees and buy crypto directly, a feature it had previously abandoned. This return follows Coinbase’s formal engagement with Indian regulators, including registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit, and a gradual early-access program that resumed limited onboarding in October before opening broadly this month.
The company is also deepening its presence in India through increased investment in CoinDCX, the country’s largest crypto exchange, valuing it at 2.45 billion dollars, while expanding its India workforce beyond 500 employees. Despite stringent tax rules and a complex regulatory environment that have reduced local trading volumes, Coinbase views India as a long-term growth market and a strategic gateway to broader expansion across South Asia and the Middle East. Source
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed an onchain futures market for gas fees, allowing users to lock in transaction costs for specific future periods and hedge against volatility as the network grows. The system would function similarly to traditional futures markets, offering contracts to buy or sell gas at set prices in the future. Buterin suggested that such a market would provide clearer signals for expected gas fees, helping traders, builders, applications and institutions plan for operational costs with greater certainty.
The proposal comes as Ethereum’s average gas fees have declined throughout 2025, with simple transactions costing around $0.01 and more complex operations ranging from $0.05 to $0.27. Despite this decline, fees have experienced significant spikes and dips, creating unpredictability for users. An onchain gas futures market could smooth these fluctuations, giving network participants a tool to prepay for gas and manage cost exposure more effectively. Source
Philippines digital bank GoTyme has introduced cryptocurrency services to its 6.5 million customers through a partnership with US fintech firm Alpaca. Users can now buy and store 11 crypto assets directly in the GoTyme banking app with automatic conversion from Philippine pesos to US dollars, including Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and Polkadot. The service emphasizes simplicity and ease of access, targeting users who want to invest in crypto without dealing with complex trading platforms or managing multiple applications. Launched in October 2022, GoTyme allows customers to set up bank accounts and debit cards in just five minutes, making crypto integration straightforward for new users.
GoTyme is planning to expand its digital banking and crypto offerings into Vietnam and Indonesia as it seeks to grow its presence in Southeast Asia. The bank is prioritizing rapid customer growth over immediate profitability, with plans to aim for profitability by 2027. The Philippines has a strong position in crypto adoption, ranking ninth on the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, and the government is considering creating a strategic reserve of 10,000 Bitcoin. Source
Robinhood is set to enter the Indonesian market through the acquisition of two licensed local firms: PT Buana Capital Sekuritas, a brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, a crypto trading platform. The deals are expected to close in the first half of 2026, although the company has not disclosed specific integration plans. Indonesia represents one of Asia’s fastest-growing retail markets, and Robinhood views the expansion as a key step in its mission to democratize finance. The country has seen rapid growth in digital financial services, with mobile payments and digital asset adoption rising sharply in recent years, supported by a broader expansion of formal financial account ownership.
The Indonesian government is tightening oversight of crypto trading and digital assets through new tax policies and regulations, including a higher levy on offshore crypto transactions and reclassification of digital assets as financial instruments under the supervision of Otoritas Jasa Keuangan. Despite these stricter rules, Indonesia remains a leading market in global crypto adoption, with the digital economy projected to reach around 99 billion dollars by 2025. Robinhood’s entry could help increase access to low-cost trading and investment services, although its impact will depend on adoption rates and regulatory enforcement. Source
Encrypted messaging is evolving beyond traditional end-to-end encryption, as apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal still rely on phone numbers, centralized servers, and metadata collection. Projects like Session aim to address these limitations by combining E2EE with decentralization. Session allows users to create accounts without phone numbers or email, routes messages through onion networks, and stores messages in small encrypted groups called swarms. Users can choose between Slow Mode for private background polling and Fast Mode for timely push notifications, though Fast Mode exposes IP addresses and push tokens. Governance has shifted to the Swiss-based Session Technology Foundation, which publishes transparency reports on law enforcement requests, highlighting how decentralization limits what data can be handed over while maintaining accountability.
Session is also preparing for future threats, including quantum computing, with Protocol v2 introducing hybrid post-quantum key exchanges and perfect forward secrecy. While calls are available via peer-to-peer WebRTC, they currently expose IP addresses, and fully onion-routed voice and video are still under development. Decentralization enhances metadata privacy and reduces reliance on central servers, but local storage, notification systems, and incomplete quantum protections mean users must still exercise caution. Secure messaging is increasingly about balancing E2EE with metadata minimization, decentralized infrastructure, and post-quantum security, and Session exemplifies both the potential and limits of this next generation of private communication. Source
Binance has received three licenses from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market, allowing it to operate its exchange, clearing house, and broker-dealer services under the ADGM regulatory framework. The approvals cover Nest Exchange Limited, Nest Clearing and Custody Limited, and Nest Trading Limited, providing regulatory clarity and legitimacy for Binance’s global operations. Co-CEO Richard Teng highlighted that the licenses give users confidence by ensuring the company operates under a recognized, gold-standard regulatory framework while continuing to leverage talent and innovation worldwide.
Operating within ADGM’s financial services regime also ensures additional consumer protections and end-to-end oversight of Binance’s international operations and liquidity. The company plans to start regulated activities from January 5, 2026, and this marks Binance as the first global exchange to secure such approval from a respected regulator. Binance already maintains a presence in the UAE with a virtual asset service provider license in Dubai and a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi-based MGX, further strengthening its position in the region. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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