Cointelegraph.com
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Cointelegraph.com - 11:28 Dec 09, 2025
Polygon’s hard fork cuts consensus time to one second, supports Fusaka EIPs and lays the groundwork for stablecoin and RWA-focused scaling. Blockchain network Polygon rolled out its latest protocol upgrade, known as the Madhugiri hard fork, which aims to achieve a 33% increase in network throughput and reduce block consensus time to one second. Polygon core developer Krishang Shah said on X that the update includes support for three Fusaka Ethereum Improvement Proposals, specifically EIP-7823, EIP-7825 and EIP-7883. These EIPs make heavy mathematical operations more efficient and secure by limiting the amount of gas they consume. They also prevent single transactions from consuming excessive computing power, helping the network run more smoothly and predictably. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:46 Dec 09, 2025
HashKey opens IPO subscriptions as it seeks to raise $214.7 million, valuing Hong Kong’s biggest crypto exchange at about $2.5 billion. HashKey Group, operator of one of Hong Kong’s licensed crypto exchanges, has opened subscriptions for its initial public offering (IPO) ahead of an expected listing next week. HashKey is seeking to raise up to 1.67 billion Hong Kong dollars ($214.7 million) in an IPO that is scheduled to debut on Dec. 17, according to a prospectus filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on Tuesday. The company is offering 240.6 million shares at $0.76–$0.89 each, which would bring HashKey’s valuation to $2.46 billion at the top of the range. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 10:26 Dec 09, 2025
Bullish reversal signals and rising whale demand increase ZEC’s chances of hitting $500 in December, though some caution remains warranted. Zcash (ZEC) extended its recovery on Tuesday, rising 10.29% in the past 24 hours to over $425, or 41.50% up from the lows of around $300 a week ago. Key takeaways: ZEC eyes $500 as double-bottom signals and whale accumulation support the recovery. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 08:53 Dec 09, 2025
Circle has secured a license in Abu Dhabi, enabling it to operate as a licensed Money Services Provider as the UAE accelerates its rollout of crypto regulations. Stablecoin issuer Circle has secured regulatory approval to operate as a financial service provider in the Abu Dhabi International Financial Center, deepening its push into the United Arab Emirates. In an announcement Tuesday, Circle Internet Group said it received a Financial Services Permission license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre of Abu Dhabi. This allows the stablecoin issuer to operate as a Money Services Provider in the IFC. The USDC (USDC) issuer also appointed Saeeda Jaffar as its managing director for Circle Middle East and Africa. The new executive also serves as a senior vice president and group country manager for the Gulf Operation Council at Visa and will be tasked with developing the stablecoin issuer’s regional strategy and partnerships. Read... -
Cointelegraph.com - 08:08 Dec 09, 2025
NFT sales fell to $320 million in November — their lowest this year — with early December off to a weak start as top collections slide across the board. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have fallen to their lowest monthly sales volume this year, with digital collectibles declining by over 66% in market capitalization from their January highs. CryptoSlam data shows that NFT sales declined to $320 million in November, about half of the $629 million recorded in October. The drop pulled the monthly volumes back to levels not seen since September 2024, when digital collectible sales hit $312 million. The data also shows that from Dec. 1-7, NFTs generated $62 million in sales, marking the weakest weekly total of 2025. The slow start to December suggests that the downturn may persist through the month as NFT momentum slows. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 01:58 Dec 09, 2025
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Jonathan Gould says crypto companies should have a path to supervision in the banking system, which can evolve to embrace blockchain. Crypto companies seeking a US federal bank charter should be treated no differently than other financial institutions, says Jonathan Gould, the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Gould told a blockchain conference on Monday that some new charter applicants in the digital or fintech spaces could be seen as offering novel activities for a national trust bank, but noted “custody and safekeeping services have been happening electronically for decades.” “There is simply no justification for considering digital assets differently,” he added. “Additionally, it is important that we do not confine banks, including current national trust banks, to the technologies or businesses of the past.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 01:42 Dec 09, 2025
The pilot program allows futures commission merchants to accept Bitcoin, Ether and USDC for margin collateral, provided strict reporting criteria are followed. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued updated guidance for tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, paving the way for a pilot program to test how cryptocurrencies can be used as collateral in derivatives markets. Collateral in derivatives markets serves as a security deposit, acting as a guarantee to ensure that a trader can cover any potential losses. The digital asset pilot, announced by CFTC acting chairman Caroline Pham on Monday, will allow futures commission merchants (FCM) — a company that facilitates futures trades for clients — to accept Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Circle’s stablecoin USDC (USDC) for margin collateral. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 01:38 Dec 09, 2025
While crypto offers banks an opportunity to generate new sources of revenue, Fitch warns it could bring risks that could lead to rating revisions. International credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has warned that it may reassess US banks with “significant” cryptocurrency exposure negatively. In a report posted on Sunday, Fitch Ratings argued that while crypto integrations can boost fees, yields and efficiency, they also pose “reputational, liquidity, operational and compliance” risks for banks. “Stablecoin issuance, deposit tokenization and blockchain technology use give banks opportunities to improve customer service. They also let banks leverage blockchain speed and efficiency in areas such as payments and smart contracts,” Fitch said, adding: Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 23:16 Dec 08, 2025
Bitcoin's rejection at the short-term range highs is caused by macroeconomic uncertainty, liquidations and stagnant spot ETF flows. Will clearer signals from the US economy boost BTC volumes? Key takeaways: Economic uncertainty, a delayed jobs report and weakness in the housing market are causing traders to retreat from Bitcoin. Pro traders are incurring high costs to protect against Bitcoin price drops, while in China, stablecoins are being sold at a discount to exit the crypto market. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 22:03 Dec 08, 2025
Improving retail crypto and TradFi investor sentiment align with the recent uptick in Bitcoin price, but sell orders and short positions in the $93,000 range threaten to cap the rally. Over the past two weeks, Bitcoin price repeatedly revisited the $90,000 range as retail investor sentiment improved, fund managers restated their bullish expectations for a potential end-of-year rally, and Strategy announced a sizable BTC purchase. According to VanEck head of digital asset research, Matthew Sigel, Bernstein wrote that “the Bitcoin cycle has broken the 4-year pattern (cycle peaking every 4 years) and is now in an elongated bull-cycle with more sticky institutional buying offsetting any retail panic selling.” Bernstein’s comments follow BlackRock chair and CEO Larry Fink mentioning that sovereign wealth funds are “incrementally” buying Bitcoin as it “has fallen from its $126,000 peak.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 21:51 Dec 08, 2025
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, the Strategy CEO said nations could use Bitcoin reserves and tokenized credit markets to offer regulated accounts with higher yields. Michael Saylor, CEO of the world’s largest Bitcoin treasury holder, is pushing nation-states to develop Bitcoin-backed digital banking systems that offer high-yield, low-volatility accounts capable of attracting trillions of dollars in deposits. Speaking at the Bitcoin MENA event in Abu Dhabi, Saylor said countries could use overcollateralized Bitcoin (BTC) reserves and tokenized credit instruments to create regulated digital bank accounts that offer higher yields than traditional deposits. Saylor noted that bank deposits in Japan, Europe and Switzerland offer little to no yield, while euro money-market funds pay roughly 150 basis points, and US money-market rates are closer to 400 basis points. He said this explains why investors turn to the corporate bond market, which “wouldn’t exist if people weren’t so disgusted with their bank account.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 20:52 Dec 08, 2025
CoreWeave plans a $2 billion convertible note offering as it scales AI infrastructure, following a yearlong pursuit of Core Scientific for added power capacity. AI infrastructure provider CoreWeave (CRWV) plans to raise $2 billion through a private offering of convertible senior notes due 2031, with proceeds earmarked for general corporate purposes and for capped-call transactions that could reduce potential future shareholder dilution. The notes include an option for purchasers to buy an additional $300 million, the company said Monday. They can be settled in cash, shares or a combination of both at CoreWeave’s discretion. To limit dilution if the notes are ultimately converted into equity, CoreWeave is entering into capped-call transactions. This hedge increases the effective conversion price and provides a degree of protection for existing shareholders while preserving financial flexibility. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 20:16 Dec 08, 2025
The Terraform Labs co-founder could face up to 40 years in prison in South Korea, but a judge questioned whether the country would ignore his US sentence. With Do Kwon scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to two felony counts, a US federal judge is asking prosecutors and defense attorneys about the Terraform Labs co-founder’s legal troubles in his native country, South Korea, and Montenegro. In a Monday filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Paul Engelmayer asked Kwon’s lawyers and attorneys representing the US government about the charges and “maximum and minimum sentences” the Terraform co-founder could face in South Korea, where he is expected to be extradited after potentially serving prison time in the United States. Kwon pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud in August and is scheduled to be sentenced by Engelmayer on Thursday. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 19:53 Dec 08, 2025
The USDT-powered network launches with support from Bitfinex, Hack VC, Tether executives and other investors following a $28 million seed round. Tether-backed Stable protocol has launched its USDT-powered blockchain, StableChain, alongside a new governance foundation and a native token. According to the protocol, the new layer-1 network is designed for stablecoin transactions and relies on Tether’s USDt (USDT) for gas fees payments, removing the need for volatile assets to process payments. Alongside the mainnet debut, Stable introduced the Stable Foundation and the STABLE governance token on Monday, separating network security from payment flows settled in USDT. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 19:10 Dec 08, 2025
The Financial Conduct Authority asked for companies linked to digital assets to weigh in on policy proposals in February and March 2026. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the watchdog overseeing the country’s financial sector, has released proposals as part of its strategy to “boost UK investment culture,” and is asking for help from the crypto industry. In discussion and consultation papers released on Monday, the FCA asked crypto companies to provide feedback on proposals aimed at “expanding consumer access to investments” and amending rules for “client categorization and conflicts of interest.” The discussion paper noted that “virtually all of the underperformance on high [digital engagement practices] apps could be attributed to trading in cryptoassets and [contracts for difference.” The proposal highlighted potential risks for consumers using “cryptoasset proxies” without investment limits, warnings, or “appropriateness tests.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 18:40 Dec 08, 2025
Luke Judges highlights how XRP Ledger’s tech and developer tools could take cues from Solana to stay competitive among layer-1 networks. Luke Judges states that technical strength alone cannot guarantee long-term competitiveness, suggesting that XRP could benefit from Solana’s pragmatism and execution speed. Judges believes Solana’s market traction comes from practical engineering and a fast go-to-market strategy rather than protocol design alone. David Schwartz takes the opposite position, arguing that XRPL’s reliability and stability are more valuable than pursuing high-throughput chains. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 17:50 Dec 08, 2025
Grayscale argues Bitcoin’s market structure has evolved beyond the old four-year rhythm. Institutional flows and macro dynamics have reshaped BTC’s price behavior. The halving-driven Bitcoin pricing pattern that shaped Bitcoin’s early history is losing power. As more BTC enters circulation, each halving has a smaller relative impact. According to Grayscale, today’s Bitcoin market is shaped more by institutional capital than the retail speculation that defined earlier cycles. Unlike the explosive rallies of 2013 and 2017, Bitcoin’s recent price rise has been more controlled. Grayscale notes that the subsequent 30% drop resembles a typical bull-market correction. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 17:44 Dec 08, 2025
ADGM’s recognition of USDT as an accepted fiat-referenced token lets licensed companies offer regulated custody, marking a step for stablecoins in the UAE. Tether’s USDt, the largest stablecoin by circulation, has secured a regulatory milestone in Abu Dhabi’s international financial center, opening the door for licensed institutions to use the token in regulated services. Announced Monday, USDt (USDT) was formally recognized as an “accepted fiat-referenced token,” allowing regulated firms in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to offer trading, custody and other services involving the stablecoin. ADGM — an international financial center and free economic zone — has become a magnet for digital asset companies seeking clear rules and institutional access. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 17:00 Dec 08, 2025
Discover safe ways to give crypto in 2025. Learn about gift cards, exchanges, hardware wallets and essential security and tax guidance. With over 27 million cryptocurrencies available as of late 2025, choosing one can feel overwhelming. For a Christmas gift, especially for someone who barely uses crypto or has never held it before, the most reliable approach is to stick with established and well-known options. There is no universal “best” coin since cryptocurrencies differ in purpose, age and level of adoption. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and those rated highly on CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko typically have the longest track records, the largest communities and the highest visibility. They are also widely supported by crypto exchanges and wallet apps, which makes it easier for a new user to manage or use the funds later. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 16:53 Dec 08, 2025
The fund, if approved by the SEC, would give BlackRock investors indirect exposure to staked Ether — one of the industry’s first following the 2024 approval of spot Ether ETFs. US-based asset management company BlackRock has applied to list and trade shares of an investment vehicle tied to staked Ether, following its offering of other cryptocurrency products. In a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, BlackRock filed a Form S-1 registration statement for its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust exchange-traded fund. The filing is part of the SEC’s process for companies to list investment vehicles such as ETFs, but does not guarantee approval. Shares of the staked Ether (ETH) fund, which BlackRock intends to list and trade on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker ETHB, could be one of the first offerings tied to staked cryptocurrencies. Grayscale Investments added staking functionality to its previously approved spot ETH and mini ETH trusts in October. Read more
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