Cointelegraph.com
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Cointelegraph.com - 18:00 Dec 24, 2025
In 2025, non-fungible tokens were reshaped by falling volumes, cultural repositioning and a growing focus on real-world use cases. In 2021, a non-fungible token (NFT) by digital artist Beeple was sold for a staggering $69.3 million at a Christie's auction. Roughly a year later, blockchain entrepreneur Deepak Thapliyal bought a CryptoPunk NFT for $23.7 million in one of the most expensive digital art pieces ever sold. But those were the glory days of NFTs, when digital collectibles routinely commanded eight-figure prices and mainstream institutions rushed to legitimize the market. In 2025, the market has changed, with NFT trading volumes down sharply from their 2021 peaks and buyers placing greater emphasis on utility, community and long-term relevance rather than headline-grabbing prices. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 17:45 Dec 24, 2025
Offchain Labs increases its ARB holdings, signaling long-term conviction in Arbitrum as governance token prices slump and layer-2 competition intensifies. Offchain Labs, the primary developer behind Arbitrum, has purchased additional ARB tokens, signaling long-term conviction in the network at a time when sentiment across the sector has weakened, and governance token prices have faced sustained pressure. In a post on X this week, Offchain Labs said it remains “committed to growing the Arbitrum ecosystem in a meaningful way,” adding that it has increased its direct exposure to Arbitrum (ARB) under an approved purchase plan. The development company said the move reflects its intention to continue “doubling down on the development of Arbitrum in all respects.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 16:30 Dec 24, 2025
Bitcoin and several major altcoins turned down from their overhead resistance levels, signaling that the bears continue to sell on rallies. Key points: Bitcoin’s failure to sustain above $90,000 indicates a negative sentiment, where rallies are being sold into. Several major altcoins threaten to break below their recent lows. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:53 Dec 24, 2025
The former Alameda Research CEO, subject to intense public scrutiny for her role in FTX's collapse and association with Sam Bankman-Fried, will be released in January. Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the misuse of clients’ funds at cryptocurrency exchange FTX, will be released in a matter of weeks following an update from US federal authorities. As of Wednesday, Ellison’s release from federal custody will be Jan. 21, according to information provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The former Alameda CEO was transferred out of prison in October and relocated to a Residential Reentry Management field office in New York City, where she had been expected to remain until Feb. 20, her initially announced release date. The reason for the truncated four-week timeline for Ellison’s release was not publicly specified. However, many federal inmates are eligible for good-conduct credits and reentry programs. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:50 Dec 24, 2025
Whales have accumulated over $2 billion in Ether, as derivatives positioning skewed 70% net long with leverage at record highs. When will ETH price break out? Ether (ETH) has experienced renewed accumulation from large whales over the past few days, despite the price being compressed under $3,000. However, recent onchain and futures data indicate growing pressure for a potential breakout. Key takeaways: Large whales added over $2 billion worth of ETH in recent days despite muted price action. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:37 Dec 24, 2025
Discover the five governments that simplified crypto licensing in 2025, from the GENIUS Act in the US to the EU’s MiCA passporting regime. For years, the cryptocurrency industry has operated under a patchwork of conflicting regulations — at times banned outright, at others welcomed with arms wide open and often left uncomfortably in between. But 2025 marked a notable shift toward greater regulatory clarity in several major jurisdictions, as governments moved away from ambiguity and toward more structured cryptoasset frameworks. Five key jurisdictions recognized that clarity and accessibility in crypto licensing can coexist with consumer protection and financial integrity. The result has been a new generation of streamlined frameworks that balance innovation with oversight, making it easier for legitimate projects to launch and operate. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:03 Dec 24, 2025
XRP social sentiment hits extreme fear levels, a setup that has sparked sharp rebounds in the past, but XRP faces stiff resistance in its recovery path. Social sentiment toward XRP (XRP) has tanked into the “fear zone,” an occurrence that has preceded strong rallies in the past. Key takeaways: Social sentiment toward XRP has plunged into the "fear zone," levels that have historically preceded strong rallies. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 14:20 Dec 24, 2025
Companies that pivot to Bitcoin treasuries face crackdown in Asia, China doubles down on crypto ban. Asia Express 2025 in review. With the end of the year in sight, Asia Express looks back at some of the most significant developments for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in the region in 2025. The rise of Bitcoin treasury firms was a major development in Asia in 2024, after Japan-based Metaplanet adopted the blueprint popularized by Michael Saylor’s Strategy. In 2025, the model gained a formal label with the firms now known as digital asset treasury companies, or DATs. But for many DATs, the embrace of Bitcoin was really just a last-ditch attempt to revive moribund share prices. Several had little to do with crypto prior to their pivots, and DAT announcements often triggered short-lived stock rallies before prices normalized. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 14:00 Dec 24, 2025
Hong Kong’s FSTB and SFC will introduce licensing requirements for virtual asset dealing and custody firms, expanding the city’s policy push that already includes a stablecoin licensing blueprint and tokenization guidance. Hong Kong regulators will proceed with legislating licensing regimes for crypto dealers and custodians after wrapping up consultations, as part of a broader push to tighten oversight. In a Wednesday announcement, the city’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said that they had concluded consultations on proposed licensing regimes, which would require firms providing crypto dealings or custody services in Hong Kong to obtain licenses once the framework takes effect. The move adds to the city’s expanding crypto licensing framework. Earlier in 2025, Hong Kong brought its Stablecoin Ordinance into force, opening a new licensing regime for stablecoin issuers. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 14:00 Dec 24, 2025
Crypto enters 2026 with mature infrastructure; now DApps must prove real utility, win users without incentives and compete directly with Web2. As the crypto space headed into the last month of 2025, the mood was different from previous cycles. The year didn’t bring another decentralized finance (DeFi) summer or non-fungible token (NFT) euphoria, but instead ushered in a slow and sober pivot toward utility. Decentralized applications (DApps) are software programs that run on blockchain networks, rather than centralized servers. By using smart contracts, DApps allow users to interact directly with apps for payments, finance, gaming or social media while retaining greater control over identities and assets. Active builders held steady in 2025 but shifted their priorities to a longer-term outlook. According to Electric Capital’s Developer Report, the number of full-time crypto developers — defined as contributors committing code at least 10 days per month — rose 5% year-on-year, even as total developer counts di... -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:40 Dec 24, 2025
Aave founder Stani Kulechov is facing criticism after a $10 million AAVE purchase ahead of a key DAO vote, as critics raise concerns over voting power concentration. Aave founder Stani Kulechov is facing scrutiny over his recent $10 million purchase of AAVE tokens, with some in the crypto community claiming it was used to boost his voting power in a key governance proposal. In a Wednesday post on X, Robert Mullins, a decentralized finance (DeFi) strategist and liquidity specialist, argued that the purchase was meant to increase Kulechov’s “voting power in anticipation to vote for a proposal directly against the token holders best interests.” He added: “This is a clear example of tokens not being equipped to adequately disincentivize governance attacks.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:19 Dec 24, 2025
The USD1 stablecoin added $150 million to its market capitalization after Binance announced an incentive program offering up to 20% yield. The World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) stablecoin linked to the family of US President Donald Trump gained $150 million in market capitalization on Wednesday after Binance announced a yield program centered around the token. The stablecoin’s market capitalization climbed from $2.74 billion to $2.89 billion on Wednesday after Binance announced its “booster program,” offering up to 20% annual percentage rate (APR) on USD1 flexible products for deposits exceeding $50,000. The “first promotion” was designed to “help USD1 holders to maximize their rewards” and runs until Jan. 23, 2026, with passive yield for the bonus tiered APR distributed directly in Binance users’ earn accounts daily, according to the announcement. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:00 Dec 24, 2025
Four years ago, El Salvador started its ambitious Bitcoin adoption strategy. But in 2025, that plan came to a head with the International Monetary Fund. El Salvador, the first country in the world to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, was seen by many in the industry as a pioneer. In 2025, the small country’s Bitcoin ambitions met reality. The Central American country made waves in 2021 when the Legislative Assembly approved a bill that required all merchants, stores and places of business to accept Bitcoin (BTC) as a form of payment. Proponents believed it would set off a chain of Bitcoin adoption and be a boon for the country’s economy. Ambitious adoption plans, including the issuance of bonds to fund a “Bitcoin City,” met lukewarm adoption from Salvadorans. Adoption was further muddied by concerns from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 12:15 Dec 24, 2025
Bitcoin’s selling pressure may be easing as momentum stabilizes, miners capitulate and liquidity conditions turn supportive. Bitcoin (BTC) may establish a local bottom after dropping by over 35% from its record high of around $126,200 established two months ago, based on a mix of technical and on-chain indicators. Key takeaways: Momentum, miner capitulation and liquidity indicators point to fading selling pressure. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 11:47 Dec 24, 2025
Bitcoin price predictions include an initial $100,000 target after completion of the Boxing Day options expiry, worth a record $23.7 billion. Bitcoin (BTC) frustrated traders on Christmas Eve as rangebound BTC price action contrasted with record highs in gold and silver. Key points: Bitcoin plays a “waiting game” as bidders stay focused on precious metals. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 11:14 Dec 24, 2025
Kraken’s pending IPO and the wave of crypto companies seeking public listings may help the industry attract more TradFi capital. A potential initial public offering (IPO) next year by cryptocurrency exchange Kraken may attract fresh capital from traditional finance (TradFi) investors. Bitcoin recorded an all-time high price above $126,000 on Oct. 6, but hasn’t recovered from a $19 billion liquidation event that hit the industry a few days later. At the time of writing, the world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading at $87,015 per coin, down 6% in two weeks, according to CoinGecko. Still, Dan Tapiero, founder and CEO of 50T Funds, claimed that the Bitcoin (BTC) bull market is "still mid-stage.” He added that Kraken’s IPO and an increasing number of (M&As) may provide the necessary tailwinds to bring new capital from TradFi. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:25 Dec 24, 2025
Bitcoin holds near $87,000 as on-chain activity and exchange inflows fall, signalling tight liquidity and looming volatility. While Bitcoin (BTC) continues to hover near $87,000, onchain activity and exchange liquidity metrics suggest that the market is operating in a low-participation period, limiting its move above $90,000. Key takeaways: Bitcoin traded near $88,000 as network activity fell to yearly lows, alongside a reduction in sell pressure. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:22 Dec 24, 2025
Ondo plans to launch tokenized US stocks and ETFs on Solana in 2026, using custody-backed assets, onchain transfers and embedded compliance. Ondo plans an early 2026 rollout of tokenized US stocks and ETFs on Solana. The tokens are custody-backed. Underlying securities sit with US-registered broker-dealers, while onchain holders receive economic exposure rather than shareholder rights. Minting and redemption are designed to keep tokens anchored to real assets on a 24/5 basis, while transfers and trading can operate 24/7. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:11 Dec 24, 2025
Several VC-backed crypto projects now trade at market capitalizations well below the valuations assigned during their last private funding rounds. Several blockchain startups once valued near $1 billion now have market capitalizations that are only a fraction of those figures, as tighter liquidity forces valuation resets. This is evident across several high profile projects, according to data compiled by CryptoRank. Humanity Protocol, which carried a venture valuation of around $1 billion, now has a market capitalization of about $285 million. Fuel Network, also previously valued near $1 billion, is trading closer to $11 million, while Bubblemaps, once assigned a similar venture capital (VC) valuation, has a market cap of about $6 million. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:04 Dec 24, 2025
Philippine regulators are tightening control over crypto access, signaling that global exchanges must secure local licenses to operate. Internet service providers (ISPs) in the Philippines began blocking major crypto trading platforms as regulators moved to enforce local licensing rules on crypto service providers. Users reported that as of Tuesday, access to global cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini was unavailable in the Philippines. Cointelegraph independently confirmed that both platforms were inaccessible across multiple local ISPs. A report by the Manila Bulletin said the ISP blocks followed an order from the National Telecommunications Commission, which directed providers to restrict access to 50 online trading platforms flagged by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank, as operating without authorization. Read more
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