TikTok: Prohibited to package and release illegal financial content under the guise of blockchain, digital assets, and other concepts

**December 19** Federal Reserve Governor Waller and former President Trump held a "productive interview" Wednesday regarding the Federal Reserve Chair role. Per Polymarket odds: - 14% chance Waller becomes the next Fed Chair - Waller’s nomination probability has fallen to 21% - Kevin Hassett’s nomination odds have risen to 56% Previously reported: Senior administration officials said the pair discussed the labor market and strategies to boost job growth. The interview took place at the presidential residence and concluded just before Trump’s national economic address Wednesday night. Attendees included U.S. Treasury Secretary Besent, White House Chief of Staff Wells, and Deputy Chief of Staff Scavino. Officials added BlackRock’s Rick Rieder will be interviewed at Mar-a-Lago in the final week of this year.

On Friday, December 19, New York Fed President William said some "technical factors" may have distorted November’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, pushing it below actual levels. Williams noted: "There are special real-world factors tied to difficulty collecting data in October and the first half of November. As a result, I believe certain category data has been distorted, which may have depressed the CPI by roughly 0.1 percentage point." He also stated the U.S. economy is currently in "solid shape" and hinted he expects to eventually see a rate cut. However, he stressed he’s not rushing to adjust monetary policy. (FXStreet)

On December 19, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire posted: "Who wants to predict stablecoin development trends for 2026? I think 'BOOM' sums it up best."

On December 19, Federal Reserve’s William stated that the Fed has not yet implemented quantitative easing through asset purchases. (FXStreet)

On December 19, Federal Reserve’s Williams stated the Fed’s current policy is in a good place, allowing for more information gathering. Employment data aligns with a gradual cooling in the labor market, and there’s no sense of urgency for further action right now. His personal view is the neutral real interest rate is slightly below 1%. (Source: FXStreet)

**Glassnode: Bitcoin Set for Largest-Ever Options Expiry ($23.58B) on Dec 26** On December 19, crypto analytics firm Glassnode issued a statement noting Bitcoin is poised for the biggest options expiry in its history: roughly $23.58 billion worth of Bitcoin options will expire on December 26, while the spot price remains locked in its recent trading range. Over the past month, Bitcoin options trading activity has cooled, with fund flows dropping sharply—typically a sign of fading market confidence in upside potential—though demand for downside protection via put options still holds. The implied volatility (IV) curve has seen broad declines, signaling reduced recent demand for hedging and upside leverage as the market absorbs more controlled price moves. Currently, at-the-money (ATM) IV across all maturities hovers around 44%, down more than 10 volatility points from recent highs. The 25% skew (put IV minus call IV) remains positive, meaning put options are still priced higher