The crypto markets are at a critical stage from December 8 to 13, 2025, as six major events impact prices and sentiment. With several critical events condensing into a few days, the interplay of macroeconomic policy, technological milestones, legal proceedings, and regulatory actions creates a unique dynamic.
These forces are likely to affect the valuations of altcoins and shape investor confidence across the sector.
The FOMC interest rate decision sets the tone for Bitcoin.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET. According to the CME FedWatch tool, there is an 87.4% chance of a rate cut, a 12.6% probability of no change, and no expectations for a hike.
Markets expect easier financial conditions, which could increase demand for riskier assets like Bitcoin. However, the largest market movements are expected to occur during Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference at 2:30 PM ET, where key guidance on future monetary policy will be provided.
Solana Breakpoint Conference
The significant Solana Breakpoint conference kicks off on December 11 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Organizers say this will be the largest Breakpoint yet, lasting until December 13.
The event coincides with Abu Dhabi Finance Week and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, putting Solana in the financial and technological spotlight.
The panels will focus on institutional adoption, including sessions on investment infrastructure for Solana ETFs and network security.
Other events such as MEV Day, Block Zero, and Colosseum Breakpoint Arena address blockchain scalability and decentralized applications. Registration fees range from $100 for students to $700 for late registration, making the event accessible to a wide audience.
Industry leaders and institutional investors gather to discuss ways to generate revenue in the Solana ecosystem.
The conference's emphasis on strong infrastructure points to Solana's growing appeal to traditional finance participants seeking blockchain products.
Announcements made during the event could impact Solana's price, which was trading at $138.49 at the time of writing.
Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon is sentenced on December 11, 2025, before Judge Engelmayer in the Southern District of New York.
Kwon pleaded guilty in August 2025 to conspiracy to commit commodity fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud related to the Terra blockchain collapse in May 2022, which involved LUNA and the UST stablecoin.
This crash wiped out about $40 billion in market value and led to a widespread crypto crash, increasing scrutiny of algorithmic stablecoins.
Kwon could face a maximum of 25 years in prison, although the final sentence will depend on several factors, including cooperation and victim impact statements.
The ruling is a significant moment for accountability in crypto technology and could influence global regulatory attitudes towards stablecoins and algorithmic projects.
Many in the industry view this as a potential precedent for how regulators will approach crypto fraud in the future, which could affect confidence in emerging projects.
Developments in court may, however, affect LUNA's price sentiment, which has dropped nearly 20% in the last 24 hours.
Aster will initiate an accelerated Phase 4 buyback program on December 8, 2025, purchasing approximately $4 million worth of tokens daily for up to 10 days. The goal is to reduce volatility and support token holders through strategic liquidity management.
This approach anticipates liquidity to address concerns and demonstrates Aster's commitment to token economics. By focusing purchases on a short-term basis, the project aims to create price pressure and absorb excess selling.
The program is transparent, with set schedules and daily goals, which differs from the less structured methods used by other projects.
In token markets, buybacks can reduce supply, signal confidence, and align team incentives with holders. Aster's aggressive schedule indicates urgency regarding market conditions or upcoming announcements.
Bittensor's TAO halving
The first TAO halving of Bittensor will occur between December 12 and 15, 2025, according to block time. Daily token emissions will decrease from about 7,200 TAO to 3,600 TAO, mirroring Bitcoin's fixed supply model.
As nearly half of the 21 million tokens are already in circulation, this marks an important milestone for an AI-focused blockchain.
Grayscale Research notes that halving can increase scarcity and cause price speculation as the network attracts developers to build AI applications. The halving mechanism ensures predictable supply and rewards long-term validators.
Avalanche ETF decision
Meanwhile, December 12 is the next deadline for U.S. regulators to decide on the Avalanche ETF. The SEC has delayed decisions on VanEck's and Grayscale's applications since mid-2025.
Approval could open access to AVAX for institutions, while further delays may reinforce Bitcoin and Ethereum's lead among regulated crypto products.
The SEC's response will express views on investment products related to blockchains beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Approval could lead to more ETF applications, while further delays may reinforce the dominance of existing regulated assets.
