Yellow Media

Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary says the debate over whether Bitcoin has intrinsic value is already over for institutional investors.

In an interview with Yellow.com, he argued that 16–17 years of non-zero performance and the ability to generate yield have pushed BTC into the same category as other long-term portfolio components, regardless of what skeptics like Peter Schiff continue to claim.

Bitcoin’s Critics 'Are Just Noise,' O’Leary Says

O’Leary dismissed the idea that opponents such as Schiff still shape the asset’s long-term trajectory.

“There are people that will never own it,” he said, noting that some investors still believe quantum computing could break the chain. “But that to me is not the signal, it’s just noise.”

He emphasized that portfolio construction, not ideology, determines how institutions will treat digital assets.

If critics insist Bitcoin will go to zero, O’Leary says the solution is simple diversification.

“Even if it goes to zero, it doesn’t wipe you out.”

His own BTC position sits under 5%, similar to long-held allocations he uses for gold.

Why Institutions Will Still Buy BTC Despite Skeptics

O’Leary argues that 17 years of data matter far more than personal belief. “It was never zero,” he said.

Also Read: UK Crypto Regulation Accelerates As FCA Seeks Input On Listings, Abuse Rules And Staking

Instead, Bitcoin now resembles an early-stage commodity with a track record long enough for institutional analysis.

He expects that once regulation such as the Clarity Act is finalized, allocators will treat BTC and ETH like any other portfolio components, judged on liquidity, volatility bands, and yield potential.

O’Leary further said that wrapped BTC and ETH already offer modest yield, making them more attractive than gold in some cases.

He added that his broader crypto infrastructure portfolio, including exchanges and power companies, is currently outperforming Bitcoin itself due to AI-linked growth in data-center demand.

Diversification, Not Maximalism

O’Leary rejected both the “zero-value” view and the idea that investors should go all-in. His core point: institutions only care about compliant diversification.

“Your mantra is preservation of capital with yield,” he said. “There’s only so many things you can do without taking inordinate risk.”

Asked whether he would debate Schiff directly, O’Leary didn’t rule it out but said the conversation would ultimately be about portfolio theory, not ideology. “People should listen to him,” he said of Schiff. “But so far he’s been wrong.”

He added that listening to critics is part of the process, it’s why he limits BTC and ETH to low single-digit weights.

But he stressed that for institutions, the question is no longer whether Bitcoin is real, but where it fits.

Read Next: Hyperscale Data Says Its Bitcoin Treasury Now Equals 97.5% Of Its Market Cap

Solana network is absorbing a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS) that has reached approximately 6 terabytes per second, yet the blockchain remains operational while SOL price tests critical support at $126. The assault marks one of the largest recorded DDoS attempts against a major cryptocurrency network, though validators have maintained transaction processing without confirmed outages.

What Happened: Network Under Attack

Solana's infrastructure is weathering a DDoS attack that FXStreet reports has generated roughly 6 Tbps of traffic and billions of packets per second. The network has continued processing transactions despite the volume, contrasting with congestion issues that plagued the chain in earlier cycles.

Price action tells a different story than network performance. SOL closed three consecutive red days and traded near $126 on Tuesday with approximately 1% daily losses.

CoinGlass derivatives data shows futures open interest dropped about 3.6% in 24 hours to roughly $7.04 billion. Funding rates flipped negative to around -0.0078%, indicating short sellers are paying to maintain positions.

Technical indicators point toward further downside pressure. The daily Relative Strength Index sits near 37 and continues falling toward oversold territory, while the MACD approaches a bearish crossover with red histogram bars building below zero.

Also Read: Visa Brings Circle's USDC Stablecoin Settlement to U.S. After $3.5B Pilot

Why It Matters: Resilience Test

The attack functions as a stress test for a network that AInvest reports has processed up to 93.5 million daily transactions and handled bursts of roughly 500,000 transactions per second in 2025.

Solana has operated without outages for over 18 months, according to a mid-year ecosystem report from QuickNode.

The network's ability to maintain operations under assault supports its positioning against competitors like BNB Chain, Avalanche and Near.

CryptoNewsRadar data shows Solana's DeFi total value locked surpassed $11.5 billion in Q3 2025, driven by platforms including Kamino and Jupiter.

The $126 level has caught several pullbacks since November and aligns with local support from late June. A confirmed daily close below this zone could open a path toward $107, then the psychological $100 level, according to FXStreet's technical analysis. Accelerated selling could push prices toward the S2 pivot support near $80.

Risk extends beyond immediate price action.

Leveraged long positions face liquidation if $126 fails, potentially amplifying downside moves as bears already pay negative funding to maintain shorts. AInvest data showing over 22 million active addresses recently, combined with ETF demand and DeFi growth, could attract buyers if prices revisit $100 or below.

The gap between network performance and price action highlights how derivatives positioning and macro liquidity can drive cryptocurrency valuations independent of infrastructure stability.

Repeated attack narratives may deter retail participation even if validators continue processing transactions without interruption.

Read Next: Visa Launches Global Stablecoin Advisory Practice For Banks And Fintechs

Stablecoin giant Tether (USDT) ]led an $8 million funding round for Speed, a payments infrastructure company blending Bitcoin's (BTC) Lightning Network with stablecoin settlement.

Speed processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payment volume across consumers, creators, platforms and enterprise merchants.

The platform serves approximately 1.2 million users and businesses through its Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant products.

Ego Death Capital co-led the strategic investment round announced Tuesday.

What Happened

Speed routes payments over the Lightning Network for speed while enabling settlement in USDT for price stability.

The platform offers instant payments with native Bitcoin and USDT settlement options.

Users and businesses can choose between cryptocurrency exposure or stable digital dollar settlement depending on their needs.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the investment demonstrates how Lightning networks can power real commerce when paired with stable digital currency.

"Speed is showing what Lightning can achieve when paired with a stable, liquid digital dollar like USDT," Ardoino said in a statement.

Speed CEO Niraj Patel said the platform moves cryptocurrency beyond speculation into functional global payments.

"Lightning gives us speed; stablecoins give us universal access; our infrastructure brings it all together for consumers, creators, and merchants," Patel said.

The funding will support product development and continued global expansion.

Read also: BlackRock Moves 47,500 ETH To Coinbase As Ethereum Slides Below $3,000

Why It Matters

The investment reflects Tether's strategy to strengthen Bitcoin-aligned financial infrastructure while expanding USDT utility beyond trading.

Tether reported more than $10 billion in profit during the first nine months of 2025.

Revenue stems primarily from interest earned on $135 billion in U.S. Treasury holdings backing USDT.

The company has aggressively deployed profits across diverse investments including agricultural firm Adecoagro, privacy-focused health platform QVAC Health, and video-sharing platform Rumble.

Speed's hybrid approach addresses key friction points in cross-border payments and merchant settlement.

The architecture combines low fees and global reach with compliance-focused design for mainstream commerce.

Lightning Network integration enables instant low-cost transactions while stablecoin settlement provides predictability for businesses requiring price stability.

The investment positions Speed to capture growing demand for practical cryptocurrency payment infrastructure in regions where traditional banking systems remain costly or inefficient.

Read next: Visa Brings Circle's USDC Stablecoin Settlement to U.S. After $3.5B Pilot

BlackRock transferred roughly 47,500 Ethereum ETH worth $140 million to Coinbase Prime on Monday.

Ethereum was trading at $2,954 at press time, down more than 6% in 24 hours.

The digital asset dipped below $3,000 on Monday amid broader market selloff.

What Happened

The transfer coincides with heavy outflows from BlackRock's Ethereum ETF.

Data from Farside Investors shows ETHA recorded $139 million in net outflows yesterday.

U.S.-listed Ethereum ETFs saw $225 million pulled overall.

As of December 12, ETHA held approximately 3.7 million Ethereum worth more than $11 billion.

BlackRock now trails BitMine Immersion, which expanded holdings to nearly 4 million ETH.

BitMine holds 3.97 million Ethereum, representing over 3.2% of the total supply.

Read also: Visa Brings Circle's USDC Stablecoin Settlement to U.S. After $3.5B Pilot

Why It Matters

The timing suggests BlackRock may be facilitating ETF redemptions following investor outflows.

Transfers to Coinbase Prime typically indicate institutional trading or custody operations.

Bitcoin fell below $86,000 during the same period, dragging sentiment across major cryptocurrencies.

BitMine's rapid accumulation demonstrates growing institutional competition for Ethereum holdings.

The firm added 102,000 ETH in the past week despite market volatility.

Chairman Thomas Lee remains bullish, projecting Ethereum could reach $7,000 by early 2026.

Read next: LitVM to Open Testnet in Q1 2026 as Litecoin Transaction Volume Surges

Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary believes the next phase of crypto adoption rests entirely on the U.S. Clarity Act, which he says will unlock institutional allocation but only for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

In an interview with Yellow.com, he argued that compliance constraints leave no room for broader diversification once the doors open.

And when they do, he believes the outcome is already predetermined.

“When large institutions run the data, they’re going to arrive at the same conclusion we did, you capture the overwhelming majority of crypto’s long-term returns with Bitcoin and Ethereum,” he said. “There’s no incentive for them to hold anything else.”

The Clarity Act is a bipartisan proposal in Congress aimed at finally defining when digital assets are treated as securities or commodities, ending the ambiguity that keeps institutions on the sidelines.

A Consolidation Toward Two Assets

O’Leary said his own team analyzed more than two dozen tokens and found that over 97% of the portfolio’s historical performance could be replicated by a 50/50 mix of BTC and ETH.

Based on that, he exited every other position, including Solana (SOL).

The implication, in his view, is that institutional portfolios will treat cryptocurrencies no differently from other asset classes and they will allocate to the most liquid, deepest markets, and ignore the rest.

O’Leary believes this consolidation began during the recent drawdown, where many smaller tokens suffered permanent losses while BTC and ETH regained relative strength.

He framed this shift not as a judgment on technology, but a reflection of how real asset allocators operate. Institutions, he said, require liquidity, transparent pricing, and regulatory clarity, conditions that only Bitcoin and Ethereum currently meet at scale.

Stablecoins Are Already Transforming Payments

While Bitcoin and Ethereum will absorb future investment flows, O’Leary argued that stablecoins are the biggest practical breakthrough in the market today.

He said the GENIUS Act and similar frameworks abroad have made it possible for regulated institutions to use stablecoins for cross-border transfers, making them a legitimate alternative to traditional payment rails.

O’Leary said his companies have already replaced many international wires with stablecoin transactions, citing speed, cost efficiency, and legal clarity.

Also Read: Hyperscale Data Says Its Bitcoin Treasury Now Equals 97.5% Of Its Market Cap

“It’s now completely compliant to move capital between jurisdictions using stablecoins and settle back into local currency on the other side,” he said.

He expects stablecoin adoption to accelerate before most other forms of blockchain-based finance, largely because it fits within existing compliance structures.

Mining And Infrastructure Become the Institutional Play

O’Leary also highlighted the shift toward infrastructure as the more durable investment theme, particularly power providers, data-center operators, and miners with ultra-low electricity costs.

He said the economics of Bitcoin mining only work below six cents per kilowatt-hour, making power access the real competitive advantage.

His investment in Bitzero, he noted, was based on its ability to secure long-term contracts below that threshold.

He positioned this sector as a crossover point for two industries evolving in parallel, that is, AI compute and digital assets. Operators that control power, land, and fiber now sit at the intersection of both.

No Major Market Breakout Until Regulation Arrives

Despite long-term optimism, O’Leary said he does not expect a major price dislocation in the near term.

With the market waiting on regulatory clarity, he believes Bitcoin will trade within a defined range until institutions gain formal approval to allocate.

The catalyst, in his view, remains singular.

“The Clarity Act is the turning point. That’s when the meaningful capital comes in.”

Read Next: UK Crypto Regulation Accelerates As FCA Seeks Input On Listings, Abuse Rules And Staking

Payment giant Visa has launched USDC stablecoin settlement in the United States.

The move allows U.S. issuer and acquirer partners to settle obligations in Circle's dollar-pegged stablecoin for the first time.

The launch marks the U.S. phase of a stablecoin settlement program that has reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of November 30.

Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are the initial participants, settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain.

Visa announced Tuesday it expects to extend access to more U.S. partners through 2026.

What Happened

Visa's new USDC settlement option enables near-instant funds movement with seven-day-a-week availability.

The system offers enhanced operational resilience across weekends and holidays without changing the consumer card experience.

"Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it – they're preparing to use it," said Rubail Birwadker, Visa's global head of growth products and strategic partnerships.

The payment network is deepening its relationship with Circle by serving as a lead design partner for Arc.

Arc is Circle's new Layer 1 blockchain currently in public testnet.

Visa plans to utilize Arc for USDC settlement within its network and operate a validator node once the chain goes live.

The company first experimented with USDC settlement in 2021.

Visa became one of the first major payment networks to settle transactions in a stablecoin in 2023.

Since then, the network has added support for multiple blockchains and stablecoins in its pilot program.

Nikhil Chandhok, Circle's Chief Product and Technology Officer, called the U.S. launch "a milestone for internet native money moving at the speed of software."

Read also: Visa Launches Global Stablecoin Advisory Practice For Banks And Fintechs

Why It Matters

The launch represents a significant step toward mainstream stablecoin adoption in traditional finance.

Visa's stablecoin settlement framework offers seven-day settlement windows and modernized liquidity management.

The system provides interoperability between traditional payment rails and blockchain infrastructure.

Financial institutions can benefit from faster funds movement, reduced settlement times, and improved treasury operations.

The move addresses growing demand from banks and fintechs seeking to modernize settlement flows.

Early banking partners highlighted benefits including clearer liquidity timing and API-driven settlement experiences.

Gilles Gade, founder and CEO of Cross River, emphasized the importance of unified platforms supporting both stablecoins and traditional payment networks.

"A unified platform that natively supports both stablecoins and traditional payment networks is the foundation for how value will move globally," Gade said.

Read also: XRP Drops Below $2 as Whales Dump $783M Despite $1B ETF Inflows

Litecoin's LTC first EVM-compatible Layer 2 LitVM is preparing to launch its testnet in the first quarter of 2026.

This comes as Litecoin surpassed 360 million lifetime transactions in November, with 60 million processed in 2025 alone.

Lunar Digital Assets, the development studio behind LitVM, declared 2025 the year of "Litecoin Meta" following institutional adoption and network growth.

The announcement follows Canary Capital's [aunch of the first U.S. spot Litecoin ETF in late October.

Litecoin ETF activity before had ground to a halt, recording zero net inflows for five consecutive trading days through November 25, though.

LitVM was first unveiled at the Litecoin Summit in Las Vegas in May 2025.

Read also: XRP Drops Below $2 as Whales Dump $783M Despite $1B ETF Inflows

What Happened

LitVM will enable EVM-compatible smart contracts and zero-knowledge rollups on Litecoin.

The Layer 2 is built using Polygon's Chain Development Kit and BitcoinOS technology.

"Looking ahead to 2026, LitVM is laser-focused on delivering key milestones: launching our Testnet, closing our raise, opening the network to the public alongside our Token Generation Event, and spinning up our Mainnet activation," said Aztec Amaya, Chief Strategy Officer at Lunar Digital Assets.

The platform aims to center its ecosystem around Litecoin-native yield opportunities, LTC-backed real-world assets, and AI integrations.

Litecoin processed over 60 million transactions in 2025, representing more than 16% of its total historical volume since launching in October 2011.

The network reached new hashrate highs in 2025, reinforcing its proof-of-work security.

Corporate adoption increased with Luxxfolio Holdings holding over 20,000 LTC and MEI Pharma allocating $100 million to a Litecoin treasury.

Canary Capital's spot Litecoin ETF began trading on Nasdaq under ticker LTCC on October 28.

The Litecoin Foundation formally endorsed the LitVM initiative following community requests for programmable functionality.

Why It Matters

LitVM represents Litecoin's first major push into decentralized finance and Web3 applications.

The Layer 2 will allow developers to deploy smart contracts while maintaining Litecoin's base layer security.

"2025 proved that the market is ready for a more capable Litecoin," said Charlie Lee, Creator of Litecoin.

"The growth of the network, institutional commitments, and the community's appetite for programmability signal that Litecoin's next evolution is inevitable."

The testnet launch will enable developers to experiment with zero-knowledge applications and scalable rollup architectures.

LitVM provides cross-chain interoperability through Polygon's AggLayer, connecting to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other blockchains.

The platform aims to transform Litecoin from a payment network into a programmable Web3 ecosystem.

The upcoming testnet will mark the beginning of developer onboarding for the Litecoin Layer 2 ecosystem.

Read next: Gold Nears All-Time High at $4,305 While Bitcoin Drops 30% From October Peak

XRP has fallen below $2 for the second time since November amid heavy whale selling.

The token dropped around 6% in 24 hours to approximately $1.86, extending a decline that has tracked broader weakness in cryptocurrency markets.

The price decline comes despite spot XRP exchange-traded funds recording over $1 billion in inflows.

The funds have posted 21 consecutive days of positive net inflows since launching in mid-November.

Whales holding between 1 million and 100 million tokens sold approximately $783 million worth of XRP over the past week.

What Happened

Large XRP holders have been actively selling despite institutional demand through ETF products.

Wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP offloaded more than 390 million tokens worth over $783 million at current prices.

The selling has persisted even as U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs attracted $1.01 billion in cumulative net inflows.

Canary Capital's XRPC ETF led with $376.5 million in net inflows.

Grayscale's GXRP ETF contributed $219.76 million, while Bitwise's XRP ETF saw $212.58 million in inflows.

The XRP ETF products reached the $1 billion milestone faster than Ethereum ETFs, which took 96 days to hit the same mark.

Only Bitcoin ETFs reached $1 billion in net inflows faster, achieving the milestone in just four days.

XRP now trades around $1.86, testing a crucial support zone that analysts warn could break lower.

The next significant support sits at $1.78, where approximately 1.85 billion XRP were previously acquired.

Read also: UK Crypto Regulation Accelerates As FCA Seeks Input On Listings, Abuse Rules And Staking

Why It Matters

The disconnect between ETF demand and price action reveals a market dominated by early holders taking profits.

Long-term holders have been selling into institutional buying, preventing price appreciation despite strong inflows.

On-chain data from Glassnode shows realized profit has surged roughly 240% since September.

Daily realized profit has climbed from approximately $65 million to nearly $220 million.

This selling pressure has overshadowed significant regulatory and business milestones for Ripple.

Ripple recently secured conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for banking operations.

Swiss-regulated AMINA Bank launched Ripple's licensed payments product for cross-border transfers.

Ripple's $1.3 billion RLUSD stablecoin expanded to Ethereum Layer-2 networks including Optimism, Base, and Kraken's Ink.

The token's decline has also coincided with reduced leverage in derivatives markets.

Binance's Estimated Leverage Ratio for XRP has fallen to around 0.18, one of the lowest readings in months.

Lower leverage reduces the probability of cascade liquidations but also indicates less speculative fuel for price gains.

If XRP breaks below $1.78, analysts project a potential drop toward $1.61 or even $1.40, the 200-week exponential moving average.

Read next: Gold Nears All-Time High at $4,305 While Bitcoin Drops 30% From October Peak

Gold prices climbed to around $4,310 per ounce on Monday, approaching its all-time high.

The rally reflects a flight to safety as investors navigate uncertain monetary policy.

Gold reached a record $4,379.22 on October 17, according to LiteFinance data.

The precious metal has surged more than 25% year-to-date, marking one of its strongest annual performances.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) remains around $87,000 after a sharp selloff triggered $200 million in long liquidations on Monday.

What Happened

Gold continues to benefit from strong central bank purchases and robust ETF inflows.

Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded funds have risen every month this year except May.

Federal Reserve rate cuts, persistent central bank buying, and steady institutional demand fueled the rally.

The U.S. dollar near a two-month low during the Asian session provided additional tailwinds for bullion.

As rates decline, the opportunity cost of holding gold falls compared to interest-bearing investments.

Bitcoin has fallen approximately 30% from its October peak of $126,272.

The leading cryptocurrency hit its all-time high on October 6 before entering a correction.

While gold acts as a safe-haven asset in turbulent times, Bitcoin often trades like a risk asset.

The digital currency suffers outflows when investors seek stability amid market uncertainty.

Crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe noted that Bitcoin's performance against gold has weakened significantly.

Technical analyst misterrcrypto shows the BTC/Gold pair has been testing a long-term ascending support line.

The Z-Score sits at -1.76 in oversold territory, according to his analysis.

Read also: StraitsX to Launch Singapore Dollar Stablecoin on Solana in Early 2026

Why It Matters

The widening gap between gold and Bitcoin highlights contrasting investor sentiment.

Gold's rally reflects demand for traditional safe-haven assets during economic uncertainty.

Markets are closely watching this week's U.S. economic data for monetary policy clues.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released combined employment reports for October and November on Tuesday.

However, key details including October's unemployment rate are missing.

This creates the first-ever gap in that critical data series due to a six-week government shutdown.

Technical patterns suggest Bitcoin may be oversold relative to gold.

Prior touches of the long-term support line have led to substantial rallies in the BTC/Gold ratio.

Still, technical indicators do not guarantee future moves.

The current macroeconomic environment differs from previous cycles.

Inflation remains elevated and geopolitical risks continue to support demand for gold.

The extent to which investors rotate from gold to Bitcoin remains uncertain.

Markets assign high probability that the Fed will adjust interest rates in upcoming meetings.

Gold-backed ETFs have seen sustained inflows as investors hedge against inflation.

Bitcoin ETFs have experienced mixed flows amid the cryptocurrency's recent volatility.

Read next: BNB Chain Expands Prediction Market Push With PancakeSwap-Backed Probable Launch

UK financial regulators have opened a sweeping consultation on cryptocurrency asset listings, staking services, DeFi activity and trading platforms, marking one of the most comprehensive steps yet toward establishing a unified regulatory framework for the country’s digital asset market.

The review, announced Monday by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), forms a central part of the UK’s path toward full crypto regulation, which the finance ministry confirmed will take effect in October 2027.

What Happened

The FCA’s consultation seeks public feedback on proposed rules covering crypto admissions and disclosures, market abuse, exchange standards, intermediaries, lending and borrowing, prudential safeguards, and critically, how staking and decentralized finance should be regulated.

The regulator said it intends to apply principles broadly consistent with traditional financial markets, that is, clear investor information, proportionate obligations for firms, and enough flexibility to allow innovation to continue.

“Regulation is coming and we want to get it right,” said David Geale, the FCA’s executive director for payments and digital finance.

He added that the proposals aim to protect consumers while enabling sustainable market growth.

The consultation opens as the UK government sets a firm timeline for crypto regulation.

The finance ministry announced earlier in the day that legislation, expected to be introduced to Parliament imminently, will extend existing financial rules to cryptocurrency companies starting in 2027.

The approach aligns Britain more closely with the United States rather than the European Union, which adopted purpose-built crypto rules in 2024.

Also Read: Hyperscale Data Says Its Bitcoin Treasury Now Equals 97.5% Of Its Market Cap

Finance minister Rachel Reeves said the framework will strengthen consumer protections and help exclude bad actors from the market. Legal experts, including Travers Smith partner Natalie Lewis, noted that earlier drafts contained technical challenges that they hope the final bill will resolve.

The UK’s crypto regulatory architecture is being developed through several parallel efforts.

Alongside the FCA consultation, the Bank of England is finalizing its own regime for stablecoins used in everyday payments. Both regulators intend to complete their rulebooks by the end of 2026.

Despite regulatory progress, officials continue to warn that cryptoassets remain largely unregulated for now. The FCA reminded consumers that investing in digital assets still carries a risk of total loss. Firms, meanwhile, say the consultation finally gives them a clearer path to begin preparing for compliance.

Responses to the FCA’s consultation will remain open until 12 February 2026.

Read Next: Historic Pattern Points To $25K Bitcoin, Says Veteran Analyst Peter Brandt

Hyperscale Data (GPUS) on Tuesday reported that its Bitcoin (BTC) treasury, including BTC held by its subsidiary Sentinum and cash set aside for future purchases, reached approximately $75.5 million as of December 14, a total equal to 97.5% of the company’s market capitalization.

The company said the figure marks its highest ratio to date as it pursues a stated goal of holding Bitcoin equal to 100% of its market value.

What Happened

According to the disclosure, Sentinum held 498.4633 BTC as of December 14.

That total includes 69.6764 BTC mined in-house and 428.7868 BTC accumulated via open-market purchases, with 41.31 BTC added in the most recent week.

Using Bitcoin’s December 14 closing price of $88,175, the company’s BTC holdings were valued at roughly $44 million.

Also Read: Historic Pattern Points To $25K Bitcoin, Says Veteran Analyst Peter Brandt

In addition to its existing Bitcoin balance, Hyperscale has allocated $31.5 million in cash specifically for future purchases under its digital asset treasury (DAT) program.

Why It Matters

The company said these funds will be deployed gradually through a dollar-cost averaging strategy, with weekly and daily buying targets subject to change depending on market conditions.

Executive Chairman Milton “Todd” Ault III called the 97.5% mark “a significant milestone,” adding that the company intends to continue accumulating BTC, particularly during periods of price weakness.

Hyperscale reiterated its commitment to reaching a $100 million digital asset treasury through a combination of mining output and ongoing open-market acquisition.

The firm said both sources of Bitcoin, self-mined and purchased, remain central to expanding its DAT position.

Hyperscale will continue publishing weekly reports on its treasury progress, typically released each Tuesday, as it works toward its full allocation target.

Read Next: Bitcoin Under Pressure: Data Shows Market More Fragile Than Price Suggests

Singapore-based StraitsX plans to launch its Singapore dollar and U.S. dollar stablecoins on Solana (SOL) by early 2026.

The move marks the first Singapore dollar-pegged stablecoin on the high-speed blockchain.

StraitsX announced the expansion in collaboration with the Solana Foundation on Tuesday.

The rollout will enable instant foreign exchange between SGD and USD on Solana's network.

"Launching XSGD and XUSD together on Solana will be game-changing," said Tianwei Liu, co-founder and CEO of StraitsX.

What Happened

StraitsX will bring its XSGD and XUSD stablecoins to Solana's blockchain infrastructure.

The integration will leverage Solana's high-speed, low-cost network for real-time settlement.

Major centralized exchanges are already in the pipeline to support the Solana-native stablecoins.

StraitsX is working with decentralized exchanges to establish liquidity pools and lending markets.

XSGD currently operates on Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Zilliqa, Hedera, and XRP Ledger.

XUSD is available on Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain.

The two stablecoins have processed more than $18 billion in combined on-chain transaction volume.

XSGD has a market capitalization of $13 million with 16.7 million tokens in circulation.

XUSD has a market capitalization of $52 million.

Both stablecoins natively support the x402 interoperability standard.

This functionality will enable automated machine-to-machine and AI-agent micropayments on Solana.

Read also: BNB Chain Expands Prediction Market Push With PancakeSwap-Backed Probable Launch

Why It Matters

The expansion targets growing demand from AI-native applications and digital commerce platforms.

Solana has increasingly been used for x402-based payments, an emerging standard for automated transactions.

"The addition of native SGD and USD liquidity further strengthens Solana's role as a core infrastructure layer for AI-and machine-driven on-chain transactions," said Lu Yin, head of APAC at the Solana Foundation.

StraitsX operates as a licensed Major Payment Institution under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's stablecoin framework.

Both XSGD and XUSD have been acknowledged by MAS as compliant with Singapore's upcoming stablecoin regulatory framework.

The launch will enable on-chain foreign exchange between Singapore dollars and U.S. dollars on a single blockchain.

Last month, Grab, Southeast Asia's largest super-app, signed an exploratory memorandum of understanding with StraitsX.

The partnership aims to build a Web3-enabled settlement layer integrating stablecoin payments into everyday consumer transactions.

If approved by regulators, Grab users across Southeast Asia could hold and spend XSGD and XUSD directly within the app.

Read next: Bitcoin Exchange Reserves Drop to Historic Lows Yet Price Falls To $86,500

PancakeSwap has unveiled a new prediction market platform called Probable, marking the decentralized exchange's expansion into event-based trading.

The zero-fee platform will launch exclusively on BNB Chain in the coming weeks.

Probable represents the latest entrant in a rapidly growing prediction market sector that generated nearly $10 billion in combined monthly volume across Kalshi and Polymarket during November 2025.

What Happened

PancakeSwap announced Probable's incubation Monday alongside YZi Labs, formerly known as Binance Labs.

The platform will host markets on cryptocurrency price movements, sports outcomes, political events, and global macro developments.

Users can deposit any cryptocurrency, which will automatically convert to USDT on BNB Chain without requiring manual swaps or bridges.

Probable will use UMA's Optimistic Oracle for market resolution, the same system employed by Polymarket.

The platform will launch with zero trading fees, removing a key cost barrier that affects competing platforms.

PancakeSwap described Probable as built "for anyone who wants a simple, transparent, and fast way to predict crypto movements, global events, sports outcomes, and unique regional markets."

The project operates independently despite institutional backing from PancakeSwap and YZi Labs.

BNB Chain already hosts multiple prediction platforms including Opinion Labs, which launched its mainnet October 23 with backing from YZi Labs.

Changpeng Zhao previously highlighted Predict.fun in early December, another BNB Chain prediction market with 12,000 users and $300,000 in volume.

Read also: Bitcoin Exchange Reserves Drop to Historic Lows Yet Price Falls To $86,500

Why It Matters

The prediction market sector has exploded in 2025 amid regulatory clarity and mainstream adoption.

Kalshi closed a $1 billion financing round at an $11 billion valuation December 2, while Polymarket is in talks for funding at valuations between $12 billion and $15 billion.

Kalshi captured 78% market share with $1.8 billion in weekly volume as of December 8, while Polymarket recorded $511 million.

BNB Chain's push into prediction markets leverages the network's large user base and low transaction costs.

Opinion Labs reported 1.6 million active users and more than $300 million in trading volume since its March testnet debut.

The competition comes as established platforms face regulatory scrutiny while simultaneously gaining institutional backing.

Polymarket received CFTC approval for intermediated trading in November, clearing the path for U.S. brokerages to list its contracts.

Kalshi's volume surge followed partnerships with Robinhood, which traded 2.5 billion prediction market contracts in October alone.

Probable's zero-fee structure and seamless token conversion address key friction points that have limited prediction market adoption.

The platform's success will depend on attracting sufficient liquidity to compete with established players that benefit from network effects.

YZi Labs manages over $10 billion in assets and has invested in more than 300 projects, providing Probable with significant ecosystem support.

Read next: Dogecoin Falls Below $0.1300 As Technical Indicators Signal Further Weakness

Bitcoin exchange reserves dropped to record lows this month, yet the cryptocurrency's price fell from above $126,000 to around $86,500. The decline in coins held on trading platforms typically signals bullish accumulation, but weakened liquidity and concentrated capital flows are undermining that traditional market indicator.

What Happened: Record Low Reserves

CryptoQuant data shows exchange reserves have declined steadily throughout 2025, with accelerated withdrawals since September. Approximately 2.751 million Bitcoin are currently held on exchanges, marking a new all-time low.

The Inter-Exchange Flow Pulse—which measures Bitcoin movement between trading platforms—has weakened significantly.

"When IFP is high, arbitrage and liquidity provision function smoothly. Order books stay thick, and price movements tend to be more stable," analyst XWIN Research Japan explained. "When IFP declines, market 'blood flow' weakens. Prices become more sensitive to relatively small trades."

Most exchanges recently showed Bitcoin accumulation through negative flow metrics.

However, Binance—the platform with the largest liquidity share—recorded substantial inflows while other exchanges saw outflows.

Also Read: Dogecoin Falls Below $0.1300 As Technical Indicators Signal Further Weakness

Why It Matters: Liquidity Crisis

"This matters because Binance is the largest Bitcoin liquidity hub," analyst Crazzyblockk said. "User and whale behavior there often has an outsized impact on short-term price action."

Capital concentration on Binance weakens broader market momentum and offsets accumulation signals from other platforms.

Thinner order books make the market vulnerable to sharp price swings from modest selling pressure.

A potential Bank of Japan rate hike also threatens global liquidity conditions. Traders de-risked positions ahead of monetary policy changes that could affect the yen carry trade.

Read Next: Bitcoin Faces Potential 20% Decline Before Japan's Rate Decision

Dogecoin traded below $0.1300 on Dec. 16, declining through multiple support levels after failing to hold above $0.1380. The cryptocurrency formed a low near $0.1266 and now faces resistance at $0.1340, with technical indicators suggesting further downside risk if current levels break.

What Happened: Price Decline

Dogecoin began a fresh decline after closing below $0.1380, mirroring broader weakness in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price dropped through $0.1350 and $0.1340 support levels, reaching a session low near $0.1266.

The cryptocurrency now trades below its 100-hourly simple moving average and the $0.1300 threshold. It is consolidating below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level of the downward move from the $0.1530 swing high to the $0.1266 low.

A key bearish trend line has formed with resistance at $0.1340 on the hourly chart.

If a recovery develops, immediate resistance sits near $0.1325, with major resistance at $0.1340.

The next significant resistance level is $0.1400, coinciding with the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the recent decline. A close above this level could push the price toward $0.1450, with further gains potentially reaching $0.1500 or $0.1550.

Also Read: Bitcoin Faces Potential 20% Decline Before Japan's Rate Decision

Why It Matters: Support Levels

Failure to reclaim $0.1350 could trigger additional losses. Initial support on the downside sits at $0.1280, followed by $0.1250.

The main support level is $0.120. A break below this threshold could accelerate the decline toward $0.1050 or $0.10 in the near term, according to technical analysis.

The hourly MACD is gaining momentum in bearish territory, while the Relative Strength Index remains above 50. Major support levels are $0.1280 and $0.1250, with resistance at $0.1340 and $0.1350.

Read Next: XRP ETFs Record $975 Million During 19-Day Inflow Streak

Bitcoin dropped 4% below $86,000 on Monday as markets braced for the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision this week. Economists predict another rate hike could trigger a 20% decline in the cryptocurrency, extending losses to $68,800 based on historical patterns from previous BOJ policy shifts.

What Happened: Rate Hike Predictions

An overwhelming 90% of economists—63 out of 70—surveyed between Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 forecast the BOJ will raise short-term interest rates from 0.50% to 0.75% at this week's meeting.

Historical data shows Bitcoin declined 23% following the BOJ's March 2024 rate hike, 26% after the July 2024 increase, and 31% following January's policy change. A similar 20% correction from current levels would push Bitcoin to $68,800, creating a 46% gap from its $126,000 all-time high.

Market analysts noted Japan's status as the largest holder of U.S. debt amplifies the cryptocurrency's sensitivity to BOJ policy.

Rising Japanese interest rates pull capital back to Japan, reducing dollar liquidity and triggering sales of riskier assets like Bitcoin.

On Nov. 30, confirmation of Japan's impending rate hike pushed Bitcoin to $83,000, erasing approximately $200 billion from the overall cryptocurrency market.

Also Read: XRP ETFs Record $975 Million During 19-Day Inflow Streak

Why It Matters: Multiple Pressures

Market analyst NoLimit identified China's renewed mining crackdown as an additional pressure point, with Xinjiang operations shutting down roughly 400,000 miners in December.

The Bitcoin network hashrate fell approximately 8%, forcing miners to liquidate holdings to cover operational costs or equipment relocation.

NoLimit characterized the situation as a temporary supply shock driven by regulatory decisions rather than demand shifts, noting historical patterns show the network typically adapts before Bitcoin recovers from similar crackdowns.

Read Next: Visa Launches Global Stablecoin Advisory Practice For Banks And Fintechs

Grayscale released its 2026 outlook report identifying 10 investment themes expected to shape digital asset markets as institutional capital increasingly drives cryptocurrency adoption. The Digital Asset Outlook report projects the year ahead as the "Dawn of the Institutional Era" for the crypto industry, with structural shifts in investing patterns driven by macro demand for alternative stores of value and improving regulatory frameworks.

What Happened: Institutional Investment Trends

The asset management firm's annual report outlines specific investment themes and corresponding digital assets positioned to benefit from market developments in 2026.

Grayscale expects accelerated adoption among advised wealth and institutional investors as public blockchains integrate further into mainstream financial infrastructure.

The report notes a fundamental change in cryptocurrency price performance compared to previous market cycles. Prior bull markets saw Bitcoin prices increase by at least 1,000% over one-year periods, while the current cycle's maximum year-over-year increase reached approximately 240% through Mar. 2024.

"With crypto increasingly driven by institutional capital inflows, the nature of price performance has changed," the report stated. "We think the difference reflects steadier institutional buying recently compared to retail momentum chasing in past cycles."

The firm identified dollar debasement risk as the first major theme, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Zcash serving as primary hedges against fiat currency risks. Rising US debt levels could place long-term pressure on the dollar's role as a store of value, according to the analysis.

Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21 million coins through programmatic issuance.

Zcash, described as a smaller decentralized digital currency with privacy features, may also suit portfolios positioning for dollar debasement, the firm stated.

Regulatory clarity emerges as the second theme, with Grayscale expecting bipartisan market structure legislation to pass in 2026. The report warned that a breakdown of bipartisan legislative processes in Congress should be considered a downside risk.

Stablecoin growth represents the third theme following President Donald Trump's signing of the GENIUS Act.

The report projects practical outcomes including integration into cross-border payment services, use as collateral on derivatives exchanges, and growing adoption on corporate balance sheets.

"Higher stablecoin volumes should benefit the blockchains that record these transactions (e.g., ETH, TRX, BNB, and SOL, among many others), as well as a variety of supporting infrastructure (e.g., LINK) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications," according to the report.

Real-world asset tokenization comprises the fourth theme.

While the sector remains small, continued infrastructure development and regulatory progress could support significant expansion.

"By 2030, it would not be surprising to see tokenized assets grow by ~1,000x, in our view," the team stated. Infrastructure and smart contract platforms including Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and BNB Chain are positioned to capture value as tokenization adoption evolves, along with interoperability providers like Chainlink.

Privacy-focused technologies form the fifth theme, with projects such as Zcash, Aztec, and Railgun potentially benefiting from growing investor attention.

The report notes rising adoption of confidential transactions on leading smart contract platforms like Ethereum and Solana.

Blockchain's role in countering artificial intelligence centralization represents the sixth theme.

Decentralized networks including Bittensor, Story Protocol, Near, and Worldcoin provide alternatives for secure, verifiable compute and data management as AI development becomes increasingly centralized.

Accelerating decentralized finance activity comprises the seventh theme, with lending protocols such as Aave, Morpho, and Maple Finance experiencing significant growth. Decentralized perpetual futures exchanges like Hyperliquid also show increasing activity.

"The growing liquidity, interoperability, and real-world price connections across these platforms position DeFi as a credible alternative for users who want to conduct finance directly on-chain," the report stated.

New-generation blockchain infrastructure designed for mass adoption forms the eighth theme.

Projects including Sui, Monad, MegaETH, and Near could attract interest as they address scalability, performance, and user experience challenges.

"Superior technology doesn't guarantee adoption, but the architectures of these next-gen networks make them uniquely suited for emerging categories such as AI micropayments, real-time gaming loops, high-frequency on-chain trading, and intent-based systems," according to the firm.

Sustainable revenue focus represents the ninth theme, with institutional investors increasingly considering on-chain revenue and fee generation when evaluating blockchains and applications.

Smart contract platforms with relatively high revenue include Tron, Ethereum, Solana, and BNB, while HYPE and PUMP rank among application-layer assets with strong revenue.

Staking as a default investment feature comprises the tenth theme.

Greater regulatory clarity around staking could benefit liquid staking providers such as Lido and Jito, with crypto exchange-traded products increasingly able to stake, likely making this the default structure for holding Proof of Stake token positions.

Also Read: U.S. Senate Postpones Crypto Legislation, Triggering $140 Billion Market Selloff

Why It Matters: Market Evolution

The report identifies two topics unlikely to meaningfully impact markets in 2026: potential cryptographic vulnerabilities related to quantum computing and the evolution of digital asset treasuries.

"Research on quantum risk and community preparedness efforts will likely accelerate in 2026, but this theme is unlikely to move prices, in our view," the asset manager stated.

Digital asset treasuries are likely to remain a permanent feature of the crypto investing landscape but are unlikely to represent a major source of new token demand or selling pressure in 2026.

The outlook highlights a shift toward a more institutionally driven cryptocurrency market where adoption, regulation, and sustainable revenue models increasingly shape performance.

Read Next: Bitcoin Could Reach $600,000 In 2026 If Fed Policy Shifts, Analyst Projects

Bitcoin plunged below $86,000 on Monday as cryptocurrency markets shed $140 billion in total capitalization within hours, driven primarily by delays in key U.S. regulatory legislation. The sell-off pushed total digital asset market capitalization to a three-week low of $3.02 trillion.

What Happened: Legislative Setback

A U.S. Senate Banking Committee spokesperson confirmed Monday that planned crypto market structure legislation will not advance this year, pushing the bipartisan bill into early 2026.

"The Committee is continuing to negotiate and looks forward to a markup in early 2026," the spokesperson stated.

The proposed legislation would grant the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over spot cryptocurrency markets, a development the industry had anticipated before year-end.

Bitcoin dropped from $90,000 to $85,200 during Monday's late trading session, marking its lowest level since a Dec. 2 leverage liquidation event. The asset traded near $86,000 during Tuesday's Asian session.

Also Read: UK Regulator Sets February Deadline For Industry Input On Digital Asset Framework

Why It Matters: Market Stress

James Check, a cryptocurrency analyst, noted that "Bitcoin market stress is now the highest we've seen since the 2022 bear." He cited $100 billion in unrealized losses, declining hash rates, 60% of exchange-traded fund inflows trading underwater, and treasury stocks below net asset values.

Analyst Sykodelic attributed the decline to derivatives market dynamics, specifically elevated open interest levels.

"Basically, it is becoming extremely accepted to be bearish with everyone really feeling the pinch of the downtrending market," Sykodelic said. "Its creating the environment where traders are chasing every drop with shorts, and short liquidity building up over and over."

At press time, $2 billion in open interest sits at the $85,000 strike price.

Short sellers typically hedge by selling spot or futures contracts as prices approach their strike levels, amplifying downward momentum.

Read Next: Bitcoin Could Reach $600,000 In 2026 If Fed Policy Shifts, Analyst Projects

The Financial Conduct Authority opened a public consultation Tuesday on proposed cryptocurrency regulations, unveiling standards that would govern digital asset trading, lending and platform operations when enforcement begins in October 2027. The British regulator released the framework one day after the government announced the implementation timeline.

What Happened: Regulatory Framework

The FCA outlined rules covering crypto asset listings, insider trading prohibitions, market manipulation controls, trading platform standards and broker requirements.

The consultation arrives as UK adult cryptocurrency ownership declined to 8% from 12% over the past year, according to FCA research published alongside the proposals.

The agency is also seeking input on prudential standards for firms, disclosure requirements for staking products, protections for lending and borrowing services, and financial safeguards to manage institutional risks.

David Geale, executive director for payments and digital finance at the regulator, said the agency aims to establish "a regime that protects consumers, supports innovation and promotes trust."

Also Read: Bitcoin Could Reach $600,000 In 2026 If Fed Policy Shifts, Analyst Projects

Why It Matters: International Alignment

Britain is pursuing cryptocurrency regulation that aligns with United States approaches rather than European Union standards, as regulators worldwide develop frameworks for the digital asset industry.

The FCA set a Feb. 12, 2026, deadline for public feedback and committed to finalizing rules by year-end 2026.

The consultation represents a significant shift in how major financial centers approach cryptocurrency oversight, with the timing and scope designed to balance market development against investor protection concerns.

Read Next: Mixed Technical Signals Emerge as Ethereum Trades Below $3,000

Bitcoin trades near $90,000 as analysts weigh near-term macroeconomic headwinds against projections that early 2026 could deliver substantial price gains. Some forecasts place the cryptocurrency's potential value as high as $600,000 if monetary policy and political conditions align.

What Happened: Analyst Projects Six-Figure Bitcoin

Pseudonymous analyst Wise Crypto told over 380,000 followers on X that the Federal Reserve's anticipated end to quantitative tightening, possible rate cuts, improved short-term liquidity through Treasury bill support and the U.S. midterm election cycle could favor risk assets.

The trader said softer labor data may push the Fed toward a more accommodative stance, creating conditions that could drive Bitcoin between $300,000 and $600,000.

Bitcoin dropped below $88,000 during late-Sunday trading before recovering to approximately $90,000 in Asian markets.

The move preceded key U.S. data releases including CPI and Core PCE inflation figures that will shape Federal Reserve policy expectations heading into 2026.

Data shows Bitcoin down 0.4% over 24 hours and nearly 2% for the week. The 30-day period reflects a pullback of almost 7%, though the cryptocurrency maintains close to 57% of total crypto market value.

Also Read: Mixed Technical Signals Emerge as Ethereum Trades Below $3,000

Why It Matters: Industry Maturation

Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said the crypto industry will move "beyond hype and speculation" toward deeper integration into global finance by 2026.

He cited steady growth of Bitcoin holdings by public companies and ETFs, coupled with declining exchange balances, as evidence of a shift toward long-term holding patterns that could reduce volatility.

Analyst Michaël van de Poppe identified a crucial resistance zone near $90,000, stating a break above could open a path toward $92,000 to $94,000 and increase chances of reaching $100,000.

Read Next: XRP ETFs Record $975 Million During 19-Day Inflow Streak