TRON (TRX) — Onchain News & Whale Tracking

Protect Developers or Weaken Oversight? Judiciary Committee Strongly Opposes Section 604 of the CLARITY Act

**January 17** Senate Judiciary Committee Republican Chair Chuck Grassley and top Democrat Dick Durbin are urging the Senate Banking Committee to exclude the "Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act" from cryptocurrency market structure legislation, arguing its provisions would weaken federal fund transfer rules. In a letter, the pair flagged Section 604 of the Banking Committee’s market structure bill—intended to shield software developers from criminal liability for third-party misuse of their products—as a threat to federal unlicensed money transmission laws. Notably, the Judiciary Committee (which oversees Title 18 of the U.S. Code) was neither consulted nor given advance substantive review of the proposed changes. The letter cites the Justice Department’s prosecution of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, noting the case underscores that existing regulations already enable holding parties accountable for unlicensed money transmission. The latest pushback complicates the Ban

MetaMask announces native support for the Tron network on its mobile and browser extension wallets

On January 15, MetaMask officially rolled out native support for the Tron network across its mobile app and browser extension — a collaboration with the Tron DAO to advance its multi-chain expansion strategy. Users can now directly manage TRON assets, interact with Tron native dApps, and swap assets between Tron, EVM-compatible networks, Solana, and Bitcoin all within MetaMask. The update also enables sending USDT on the Tron network and staking TRX. Currently, Tron’s daily stablecoin transfer volume exceeds $21 billion.

Prominent Analyst: BTC/Gold Technical Indicator Hits Historic Low, Strong Rebound Imminent

On January 15, prominent crypto analyst @IamCryptoWolf shared a post on X noting that the weekly RSI for the BTC/gold ratio currently sits at an oversold level of ~27.54. Historically, such low readings have preceded strong BTC outperformance relative to gold—with the ratio surging over 100% multiple times following key reversal points since 2013 (e.g., 2015, 2018). End-of-2025 market data shows the ratio hit a three-year low, and the analyst expects macroeconomic conditions to drive further BTC outperformance over gold in 2026. With 113,000 followers on X, @IamCryptoWolf first published analysis on TradingView in 2014. Notably, the analyst predicted in early November that Ethereum would correct that month, adding that a drop below $3,100 would signal the start of a bear market.

CZ: Understanding the Young P's Pain and Regret, Strongly Advises Against "Free Riding" on Others, Must Respect Their Choice

January 14, CZ responded to the **"Meme Coin HAPPY-SCI: $420k Donation Destroyed, ~$4M Market Cap Plummets to Near Zero"** (link: https://www.theblockbeats.info/flash/328062) by acknowledging the community and P-Gen’s frustration and distress. But every story has two sides, and he offered these clarifications: 1. You can’t force a "piggyback" on others. Trying is fine, but if others ignore you or the outcome isn’t what you expected, you have to accept it—after all, you’re the one seeking to piggyback. In a decentralized world, respecting others’ choices is non-negotiable. 2. Everyone has their own priorities. Not everyone wants their small charity project tied to an unknown meme token. This could sully the charity’s reputation: Is it truly charity, or a front for P-Gen’s get-rich-quick scheme? Are there personal vested interests? Is it genuine giving or false advertising? Words alone can’t clear this up—integrity matters more. 3. Circumstances vary. For companies/projects I

Tether Freezes 182 Million USDT from 5 Addresses on the Tron Network

On January 13, blockchain analytics platform Whale Alert reported that Tether froze 5 distinct addresses on the Tron network on January 11, totaling 182 million USDT. The affected addresses held between 12 million and 50 million USDT each. This action aligns with Tether’s wallet freeze protocol—rolled out in December 2023—to comply with sanctions requirements from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). As of mid-2025, Tether has cumulatively frozen over $3 billion in USDT and collaborated with more than 310 law enforcement agencies across 62 countries.

The "Strong Short ZEC" Trader Partially Closes ZEC Short Position for Profit, Current Unrealized Gain of $230,000

As of January 12, per monitoring from HyperInsight (https://t.me/HyperInsight), the trader behind address 0x7eb90 — dubbed “Strong Short ZEC” — reduced their ZEC short position and locked in a $288,300 profit. Currently, the trader still holds a 3,000 ZEC short position with 2x leverage (valued at ~$1.18 million), with an average entry price of $472.91 and $230,000 in unrealized profit. Prior to this trade, the address had executed 7 ZEC short positions (no long positions) and accumulated total losses of $508,000.

Analysis: Asian funds currently have a stronger influence on BTC price, while the market is eagerly awaiting funds from the US region to follow suit

On January 11, on-chain data analyst Murphy stated that the on-chain sentiment indicator RMMPC shows Asian market funds are currently exerting stronger influence over Bitcoin (BTC) prices. These funds began heavy inflows after December 19, 2025, driving BTC to rebound following a double retracement to $85,000. However, U.S. market funds have yet to actively enter (partly due to the Christmas and New Year holidays), limiting the rebound’s intensity. Prior to the March 2025 market rally, Asian funds led the way with inflows, followed by U.S. funds. Together, they ultimately provided strong momentum for the market and decisively shifted its direction.

CZ Retweet: BNB is the strongest golden shovel in the crypto circle, with a solo yield of $71.5 by 2025

Jan 11: Binance founder CZ retweeted a post noting 1 BNB’s projected 2025 yield is $71.5—calculated using a 10% dividend yield on BNB’s forecasted 2025 average price—calling it the crypto space’s strongest "golden shovel." BNB has far outperformed stock dividends and is the only token among BTC, ETH, BNB, and SOL to post a price gain in 2025. Binance Alpha has boosted retail investors’ earnings; even as it recently lowered airdrop reward caps to attract more new users, 1 in 25 people worldwide is now a Binance user.

Multi-chain wallet Zerion has integrated the TRON network

On January 10, Web3 wallet data platform Zerion announced it has strategically integrated the TRON network into its multi-chain wallet, per official sources. This update lets users securely self-custody, manage, track, and exchange digital assets directly on the TRON network via Zerion’s interface.

Hysteresis: Strong economic growth does not necessarily mean a significant increase in employment opportunities

Jan. 9 (Tuesday) — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett stated that productivity is soaring, economic growth is robust, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to a significant increase in employment.

Some Solana Ecosystem Tokens See Strong Rebound, AVICI Surges Over 47% in a Single Day

On January 9th, per market data from GMGN (via the link: https://t.me/gmgnaibot?start=i_m4TE56o8), several tokens in the Solana ecosystem have seen notable rebounds today, including: - AVICI surged over 47% in 24 hours, with a current market cap of $47.75 million; - ORE posted a 22.9% 24-hour gain, with a current market cap of $73.98 million; - Meme token PIPPIN jumped 40.7% in the past day, boasting a current market cap of $421 million; - GMT rose 27.6% over 24 hours, with a current market cap of $102 million. BlockBeats reminds users that prices of these related tokens are highly volatile, so investors should exercise caution.

Tether Mints Additional 1 Billion USDT on Tron Network

On January 9, Tether minted 1 billion USDT on the Tron network, per monitoring from Onchain Lens. This marks Tether’s first USDT minting of 2026.

Vitalik Supports Roman Storm: Strong Believer in Privacy and Actively Uses Privacy Tools

On January 9, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared a message stating: “From the start, I’ve supported Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm’s work—both because I believe privacy is important and because I actively use privacy tools, including those he built. Many people assume by default that personal privacy can be violated by the public, and that governments, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies should have access to everyone’s information to ensure security. I firmly reject this idea. In reality, government databases are often hacked, and the data frequently ends up in the hands of hostile foreign actors. I’ve personally used his software to make transactions, and when I buy software for personal use, I don’t want my name on the company’s records. His apps still run smoothly even years after development stopped.”

View: The SEC has now become a solid Republican stronghold and will accelerate pro-crypto regulatory policy formulation by 2026.

On January 8, following the departure of anti-crypto Democratic Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the agency now has an all-Republican lineup. The Trump administration is consolidating control over the executive branch in an unprecedented manner, and the SEC—set to be fully Republican by 2026—is expected to speed up the rollout of crypto-friendly regulatory policies, with no internal opposition remaining. The SEC’s three sitting Republican commissioners are Chair Paul Atkins, Hester Peirce (known as “Crypto Mom”), and Mark Uyeda. Two seats are currently vacant, marking the first time all sitting commissioners belong to a single party—a development U.S. economic policy experts have labeled “unprecedented.”

"The 'Strongly Short ZEC' Whale Further Increases ZEC Short Position, Currently Up $490,000 in Unrealized Gains"

January 8 – Per monitoring from HyperInsight, the "Firm Short ZEC" whale added to its ZEC short position today, now holding a 2x leveraged short of 5,000 ZEC (≈$2.01 million). The average entry price is $499.32, with an unrealized profit of $490,000. Previously, this address has executed seven ZEC short positions (no long positions) and accumulated a total loss of $508,000.

"The 'Strongly Short ZEC' Whale Further Increases ZEC Short Position, Current Unrealized Gain $490,000"

On January 8, monitoring from HyperInsight (via its Telegram channel @HyperInsight) shows the “Firm Short ZEC” whale has continued adding to its ZEC short positions today. Currently, the whale holds a 2x leveraged short position of 5,000 ZEC (valued at approximately $2.01 million), with an average entry price of $499.32 and an unrealized profit of $490,000. Previously, this address has executed seven ZEC short trades with no long positions, accumulating a total loss of $508,000.

Analysis: Bitcoin Sell-Off Returns, Short-Term Selling Pressure at Its Strongest Since December 23

**Jan 8: Bitcoin Net Taker Volume Hits -$19M (25hr MA) — Strongest Sell Pressure Since Dec 23** According to analyst Maartunn, Bitcoin’s 25-hour moving average Net Taker Volume has reached -$19 million, marking the strongest selling pressure seen since December 23. This signals sellers are in control of the short-term market. Note: Net Taker Volume calculates the gap between market order buy and sell volumes. A negative reading reflects aggressive selling activity, and the metric is widely used to gauge short-term market sentiment.

Insight: Bitcoin On-Chain Demand Still Weak, Stronger Demand Needed to Return to $100K

On January 7th, CryptoQuant analyst caueconomy noted in a post that while Bitcoin’s price has rebounded above $93,000, on-chain demand remains weak—requiring a stronger recovery to push it back to $100,000. Market sentiment is still mixed, and trading volumes are low; clear signs of improved on-chain activity have yet to materialize. That said, now that the holidays are over (a time when many investors scaled back trading), this could shift now.

Ripple Reiterates No IPO Plans, Says Company's Balance Sheet is Strong and Focused on Growth

On January 7th, Ripple CEO Monica Long announced the company has no current plans for an initial public offering (IPO), will remain privately held, and will prioritize growth via product development and acquisitions. She noted Ripple’s solid financial position means it does not need to access public capital markets for liquidity, and already has the capacity to continue investing in its development. Long’s comments follow Ripple’s ~$5 billion funding round in November 2025, which valued the firm at ~$40 billion. Investors include Fortress Investment Group, Citadel Securities, and several crypto funds. Regarding investor protection in the round’s terms, she only said the overall structure favors Ripple, without disclosing specific details. The report also notes Ripple completed multiple 2025 acquisitions: prime broker-dealer Hidden Road, stablecoin payment platform Rail, treasury management system GTreasury, and digital asset wallet/custody firm Palisade—totaling nearly $4 bill

"The 'Strongly Short ZEC' Whale Liquidated ZEC Short Position, Losing $293,000"

On January 6, HyperInsight monitoring reveals the "Strong Short ZEC" whale closed a $3.25 million ZEC short position (opened 17 days prior) with a $293,000 loss. Prior to this, the address had shorted ZEC six times without opening any long positions, racking up a total $215,000 loss.

Analyst: Q1 Expected to Maintain Range-Bound Trading with High Volatility, but Price Has Built a Stronger Support Foundation

On January 5, in response to the recent crypto market rebound, SynFutures COO Wenny Cai noted: “The notable jump in average Bitcoin inflows to Binance shows big holders are ramping up activity again. This is typically an early sign of fresh speculative activity—not just noise from retail investors. That said, the current market looks more like repositioning after weeks of quiet activity; traders are testing upside potential, not aggressively building positions. Bitcoin is expected to trade in a volatile range during Q1, with its next move hinging on ETF fund inflows and institutional strategies.” Cryptocurrency market maker Caladan’s Head of Research Derek Lim stated: “While the Venezuela event didn’t directly impact crypto prices, it’s increased geopolitical instability.” He warned the ripple effects of this development “could trigger a market panic.” Lim also pointed out that despite lingering caution, big holders are re-entering the market after a period of accumulation—si

Infinex adjusts Public Sale rules: Removes purchase limit, switches to bottom-up allocation, retains lock-up period, and Patron priority

On January 5, Infinex took to social media to acknowledge the team had "dropped the ball" on its public sale, releasing the following correction plan: - Remove the subscription cap: the $2,500 maximum limit will no longer apply. - Shift to bottom-up distribution: replacing random allocation with a "max-min fair distribution method." Allocations will increase in sync until the quota is exhausted or supply runs out. - Keep Patron priority: Patrons will still get priority allocation, but they’ll have to wait until the sale concludes. - Maintain the lock-up mechanism: the team strongly believes lock-ups create long-term alignment of interests for users who genuinely value the product.

Analyst: U.S. Dollar Strong Comeback, Geopolitical Risks Reshaping Forex Landscape

On January 5, the British pound slipped against the U.S. dollar but climbed to a two-and-a-half-month high versus the euro, following the U.S.’s removal of Venezuelan President Maduro. Analysts at Monex Europe noted in a report that safe-haven demand spurred by geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and Iran lifted the U.S. dollar. They added the euro is more sensitive to trade disruptions, pushing the pound higher against the single currency—though this trend could prove temporary. Looking ahead to 2026, the analysts said: “We expect the U.K.’s domestic political landscape to remain a headwind for economic growth and the pound.” By contrast, the euro may gain support from Eurozone fiscal policies aimed at stimulating growth. (Source: FX168)

Analysis: Market Reaction to Venezuelan Situation May Be Limited, Bitcoin Price Still Holding Strong

On January 4, Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin (BTC) held firm, stabilizing around $90,000, despite U.S.-Venezuela geopolitical tensions hitting a climax in the early hours of Saturday. The token briefly dipped below $90,000 that day but quickly rebounded above the level. Market analyst Micha?l van de Poppe noted that BTC is currently trading above its 21-day moving average. Holding above this short-term support level could signal further upside for the token in January. Notably, BTC has stayed stable amid recent geopolitical unrest—significant because risk assets like Bitcoin typically see sharp declines during geopolitical crises or macroeconomic headwinds. Jamie Cox, managing partner at Virginia-based Harris Financial Group, said the broader market’s reaction to the Venezuela situation is likely limited, and market-moving news could emerge from Sunday’s OPEC meeting.

Santiment: Retailer Sentiment Starts Year Strong, Potential FOMO If Bitcoin Quickly Rises to $92k

On January 3rd, blockchain analytics firm Santiment noted cryptocurrency market participants have shown strong social media sentiment early this year—but warned further upside hinges on retail investors staying rational. In a Saturday YouTube video, Santiment analyst Brian Quinlivan said: “We need retail investors to keep a degree of caution, pessimism, and impatience.” While other crypto sentiment gauges signal fear, Santiment’s social media data tells the opposite: “Sentiment is currently very positive.” Quinlivan added the positivity “normally would be somewhat worrying, but this time it may just be a normal rebound after the holidays.” He’s not overly concerned about a “flood of FOMO sentiment” yet—but noted if Bitcoin surges quickly to $92,000, that FOMO could take over. “When market excitement runs too high, crypto tends to move opposite to what most people expect.” A rapid rally to $92k would reveal retail’s “true reaction,” Quinlivan said: “If they start pouring money

Ethereum Maximalist: Based on the Short Squeeze Thesis and Bullish on the 2026 Mega Bull Run, Will Strongly Continue to Increase ETH Position

On January 1st, Jay Li, founder of Liquid Capital (formerly LD Capital), endorsed the short squeeze logic put forward in a related analysis in a social media post. He pledged to keep accumulating ETH—including positions with manageable leverage—and expressed optimism for a major bull market in 2026. Echoing his strategy and outlook from the first half of 2025, when ETH traded between $1,000 and $2,000, Li emphasized disregarding fluctuations of a few hundred dollars. He noted this is trend investing, where success fundamentally hinges on acting on future insights.

Tether Treasury Mints 1 Billion USDT on TRON Network

On December 30, per Whale Alert data, Tether Treasury minted 1 billion USDT on the TRON network.

「Strong Long」 Whale Liquidation: 40x Leverage, $13.18M Long Position on BTC

On December 30th, per HyperInsight monitoring (via https://t.me/HyperInsight), whale address 0x90924 — previously labeled "firmly bullish" — closed a 40x leveraged long position of 150 BTC (~$13.18 million) 10 minutes ago. The whale still holds an 8x leveraged long position worth ~$17.53 million across a basket of altcoins: ETH, SOL, SUI, AAVE, HYPE, PUMP, XPL, and ASTER, with an unrealized profit of $65,000.

US Stock TRON Surges 2.78% in Pre-market Trading, Market Cap Rises to $370 Million

December 29: US-listed TRON (TRX) rose 2.78% in pre-market trading, with a market capitalization of $370 million. Tron Inc. announced it has secured an $18 million strategic equity investment from Justin Sun, founder of the TRON blockchain. The investment comes via Black Anthem Limited subscribing to the company’s restricted common stock at $1.3775 per share.

Publicly traded company Tron Inc. receives $18 million strategic investment from Justin Sun

On December 29, Nasdaq-listed Tron Inc. (TRON) announced it has secured an $18 million strategic equity investment from Justin Sun, founder of the TRON blockchain. The investment was executed via Black Anthem Limited, which subscribed to the company’s restricted common stock at $1.3775 per share. Tron Inc. noted the funds will primarily be used to significantly expand its TRX treasury reserve, further solidifying its standing as one of the most prominent public companies in the TRON ecosystem and a leading global holder of TRX.

China's Supreme Court Controlled Journal Speaks Out: Digital Transactions, Electronic Currency, and Virtual Assets Included in Core Legal Topics

The 6th issue of 2025 (total issue 18) of *Digital Rule of Law*—an authoritative journal overseen by China’s Supreme People’s Court—has recently been published. This issue centers on digital transactions, electronic currency, virtual assets, generative AI, and data factor governance. Multiple articles tackle institutional foundational issues surrounding blockchain and crypto assets head-on, sending a clear signal to accelerate the refinement of digital asset rule of law. In the “Overseas Observation” section, one article systematically reviews the 2022 update to the U.S. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), zeroing in on debates around electronic contracting, electronic currency, distributed ledger-based virtual assets, and the new property right form known as “controllable electronic records.” The piece notes that the UCC’s institutional design for virtual currency—covering circulation, control, collateralization, and good-faith acquisition—holds significant reference value for China’

On-chain LIT Maxi Long remains bullish with a strong long bias above $4.1, Polymarket odds of "Market Cap Over $40B at Launch" increase by 9%

December 29 — HyperInsight monitoring reveals the largest on-chain long position address for LIT (0xdaa) has deployed a "pyramid" strategy: layered take-profit orders spanning the $4.12–$6 range, with the $4.12 level targeting just ~0.67% of the position’s closure. This address has held a 3x leveraged long since LIT’s pre-market contract launch on the 24th, consistently adding to its holdings. Current position size: ~$3.12 million, average entry price $3.82, with an unrealized loss of ~$14.3k (4.66%). On Hyperliquid, long/short forces are currently balanced. Since pre-market launch, 10 whales (positions >$1M) have entered the market — 5 long, 5 short. Two additional whales opened long positions today. Market sentiment (Polymarket data): - Probability Lighter’s token exceeds $4B FDV one day post-listing: up ~9% in 24h, now 30%. - Probability FDV remains above $3B: up ~10%, now 52%. LIT’s current pre-market price is ~$3.5, corresponding to a fully diluted valuation (FDV)

Insight: ETH Whales Remain Strong, $2700 Level Forms Consensus Support Zone

**ETH 2026 Outlook: Core Issue Tied to Underlying Fragmentation, $2700 Is Critical Support – On-Chain Analyst Murphy (Dec 29)** On December 29, on-chain data analyst Murphy released a report titled *Is ETH Still Worth Watching in 2026?* summarizing Ethereum’s year-end on-chain trends. The key takeaway: ETH’s current core challenge isn’t above-chain dynamics but its **underlying fragmented structure**. $2700 now acts as a critical consensus support level. A break below this zone would send ETH into a **vacuum with no price anchor**. Whale groups haven’t abandoned ETH but have grown more cautious—chip concentration is rising rapidly and becoming systematically aggregated. ### On-Chain Behavior - Around September 18, large funds built positions near $4500 and didn’t sell during the December 6 peak. As ETH slid lower, these positions began exiting gradually. - Significant **trapped volume** clusters near $3100: this stems from whales that accumulated between $2600–$2700 from M

Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China: In the future, the Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) will receive technical support and oversight from the central bank

**December 29 – Lü Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), stated in an article that the future digital yuan will receive central bank technical support to ensure implementation and regulation. It will carry commercial bank liability attributes, be account-based, and be compatible with distributed ledger technology (DLT) features.** **As a modern digital payment and circulation tool issued and circulated within the financial system, the digital yuan will function as a monetary unit of account, store of value, and support cross-border payments, he noted.** **Looking ahead, the selection of the digital yuan’s business and technical models will prioritize meeting real economy needs as its core starting point. The PBOC will take an inclusive and prudent approach to the development of both account-based and value-based digital currencies, aiming to enable the digital yuan to meet demands from different scenarios and business entities.** **(Source: Jinse)**

Winslow Strong deposited 1,900 ETH and 307 cbBTC to Coinbase

December 26th — Per Onchain Lens monitoring, crypto whale Winslow Strong deposited ~$47.22 million worth of digital assets to Coinbase 8 hours ago. The deposit includes 1,900 ETH (≈$5.59M), 307 cbBTC (≈$26.93M), and $14.7M in USDC.

Strategy CEO: Bitcoin Market Fundamentals Still Strong, Shouldn't Hyperfocus on Short-Term Performance

December 26 (Cointelegraph) — Strategy CEO Phong Le said that despite Bitcoin’s year-end price dip and muted market sentiment, the cryptocurrency’s 2025 fundamentals remain strong, and investors shouldn’t fixate too much on short-term swings. Le noted the U.S. government and banking sector are fully backing Bitcoin, which is why he’s “extremely bullish” on the 2026 market. He also mentioned he’ll be meeting with traditional banks in the U.S. and UAE alongside Michael Saylor, as those firms look to figure out how to keep pace with crypto’s evolution.

Tron's daily Perps Volume has topped $1B for two days straight, and 7-day Perps Volume reached $5.77B, up 176% WoW.

On-chain Perps Volume is cooling off during the market downturn — except on Tron. Tron's daily Perps Volume has topped $1B for two days straight, and 7-day Perps Volume reached $5.77B, up 176% WoW.

PlanB: Now is the buy-the-dip opportunity in the ETH bottom range, with 2026 expected to be a strong bull market.

On December 25, Daniel, founder of Liquid Capital (formerly LD Capital), posted on social media: “Paper losses are all short-term — the long-term trend is a bull market. Our moves this year — bottom-fishing early on, selling before 1011, and now bottom-fishing again — have all been transparent and consistent.” Separately, Liquid Capital isn’t blindly confident in large-scale bottom-fishing just because its past trades were correct. The team’s daily research and efforts all point to the current price range being a bottom, with a major bull market expected in 2026. “We don’t want to miss out on thousands of dollars in gains because of hundreds of dollars in volatility,” the firm noted, adding it’s prepared to continue buying ETH on dips with a $1 billion allocation. A report released today reveals Daniel’s Trend Research currently holds 645,000 ETH at an average price of $3,150, with an unrealized loss of $143 million.

Wintermute: Retail Rotation into Major Coins, Buyer Pressure Stronger than Seller

**December 23 – Wintermute Daily Market Report** Wintermute has released its latest daily market update, noting that as the holidays draw near, market structure remains narrow and Bitcoin’s dominance has climbed again. Key takeaways from the firm’s internal fund flow data: - Buy-side pressure outpaces sell-side pressure across major cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin’s buy-side dominance has held steady for longer; Ethereum shows stronger end-of-year buying momentum - Institutional capital flows have been a consistent buying force since summer - Retail investors are rotating back to major cryptos from altcoins - This retail shift aligns with market consensus: BTC needs to lead the rally first, with altcoins then rotating into focus

Swedish investment company Hilbert Group acquires high-frequency trading platform Enigma Nordic.

December 21 — Swedish investment firm Hilbert Group (HILB) has acquired high-frequency trading platform Enigma Nordic for $32 million, a move focused on cryptocurrency algorithmic trading. The firm noted it will leverage Enigma’s proprietary trading system to execute market-neutral strategies across global cryptocurrency exchanges.

Han Mu Xia: Japan's Interest Rate Hike Fully Priced In, Bitcoin $112,500 Seen as Strong Resistance

On December 19, Chinese crypto analyst Banmuxia released a video noting the market has fully priced in Japan’s recent interest rate hike, while the future path of rate increases still requires further observation. Banmuxia again emphasized two key premises for his bullish stance on Bitcoin: **the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet expansion and Bitcoin’s technical structure being in a sideways consolidation phase**. Through technical analysis, he identified Bitcoin’s key resistance range as $98,600 to $107,000, with $112,500 acting as a strong resistance level—though he noted the market will likely face high complexity during this period.

Coinbase CEO: Predicts the Market is a Substitute for Traditional Media, Stronger Than Traditional Polling Signals

On December 19th, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared his take on prediction markets in an interview, emphasizing they go far beyond sports or policy betting. “Prediction markets are actually an alternative to traditional media—one where people can glean real market signals,” he said. Policymakers can leverage them to identify optimal policies to implement and gauge outcomes if those policies are enacted, he noted. Armstrong added that prediction markets deliver stronger signals than traditional polls, explaining: “Telling the truth yields real incentives, while lying carries a steep economic penalty.”

Cryptocurrency wallet provider Exodus has partnered with MoonPay to launch a US dollar stablecoin, expected to go live in January 2026.

As of December 17, Coindesk reports that cryptocurrency wallet provider Exodus is officially entering the stablecoin market by launching a fully USD-backed stablecoin in partnership with fintech firm MoonPay. MoonPay, backed by stablecoin infrastructure provider M0, will oversee the stablecoin’s issuance and management. The token is set to launch in January 2026, with specific network and product details to be revealed at a later date. The Exodus Stablecoin will serve as the core of *Exodus Pay*—the company’s upcoming product designed to enable everyday cryptocurrency payments while preserving user self-custody.

Vitalik Buterin Bullishly HODLing Ethereum, Strong Belief in Its Fundamentals, Current Volatility Within Normal Range

On Dec. 16, Li Huayi, founder of Liquid Capital (formerly LD Capital), said in a social media post: “While Ethereum (ETH) fundamentals remain solid, market liquidity has dropped sharply since the Oct. 11 flash crash, with the futures market now dominating the spot market. Current volatility is within normal ranges, especially as we approach the 4-year cycle resonance and Christmas. For spot investors, however, it’s not about buying at the absolute bottom—but rather at the most appropriate investment price range. From a medium-to-long-term investment perspective, especially in the new era of on-chain finance, ETH is a core asset, with allocations to projects like WLFI as core holdings. Our investment and data logic remains consistent with our prior research reports.”

The current mainstream CEX, DEX funding rate display indicates that the market continues to maintain a strong bearish sentiment.

December 15th — Data from Coinglass shows current funding rates across major CEXs and DEXs indicate the market remains broadly bearish. Specific funding rates for leading cryptocurrencies are included in the attached image. BlockBeats Note: Funding rate is a fee set by crypto trading platforms to keep contract prices aligned with underlying asset prices, typically applicable to perpetual contracts. It’s a capital exchange mechanism between long and short traders; the trading platform does not collect this fee. It adjusts the cost or profit for traders holding contracts to maintain contract prices close to underlying asset prices. When the funding rate is 0.01%, it represents the base rate. Rates above 0.01% signal a generally bullish market, while rates below 0.005% indicate a broadly bearish market.

Base Founders Accused of Orchestrating Rug Pull for Rug Token, Prompting Strong Community Backlash

**Base Co-Founder Jesse Faces Backlash Over Soulja Boy RUG Token Support** On December 15, Base co-founder Jesse took to social media to launch a RUG token for notorious rapper Soulja Boy—tied to pump-and-dump schemes—and provide funding support, sparking fierce backlash from the crypto community. Crypto sleuth ZachXBT questioned: “Why give Soulja Boy a platform to scam new users?” Back in April 2023, ZachXBT revealed: “Soulja Boy is one of the most shameless promoters in the crypto space. My research found he’s participated in 73 promotions and 16 NFT project launches—many of which were scams.” Jesse has also called out several meme coins linked to pump-and-dump activity, including the token tied to the “Base is for everyone” event (which surged to a $20 million market cap before crashing 90%) and his personal token “jesse”—dubbed by the community as Base’s most failed fair launch to date. Tokens backed by Jesse typically see short-term speculative spikes but exhibit volat

Binance: Confirms ZEROBASE Frontend Hack, Strongly Advises Users to Check Authorization

On December 12, the Binance Wallet team released a security advisory confirming the ZEROBASE platform’s front end had been compromised—leading users to unintentionally authorize a malicious contract. To safeguard user assets, Binance Wallet has taken three emergency steps: blocking suspected malicious website domains, blacklisting associated malicious contracts, and committing to alerting potentially impacted users within 30 minutes. Earlier, ZEROBASE had disclosed that a phishing contract had surfaced on the BNB Chain, mimicking its official interface to trick users into approving USDT transactions. Binance strongly urges users to immediately open their wallet app, review authorization settings on the assets page, and revoke any suspicious approvals to avoid asset loss.

GSR: All Operations Normal, Business and Liquidity Situation Remain Strong

December 12 – Cryptocurrency market maker GSR announced today that all operations are normal, its business and liquidity conditions remain robust, and it will continue delivering industry-leading execution and services to clients and partners. The firm also looks forward to sustained strong growth in 2026.

RaveDAO Receives Double Boost from Aster and WLFI, RAVE/USD1 to Officially Launch on Aster on December 12th, Unveiling the Strongest Trading Incentive Plan Ever

**Aster to Launch RAVE/USD1 Spot Trading Pair, Unveil $200k Incentive Contest** Aster today announced it will officially launch the RAVE/USD1 spot trading pair at 12:00 UTC on December 12, introducing its highest-ever 1.5x trading points (Symbol Boost) bonus. WLFI (World Liberty Financial) will also offer point reward support for RAVE/USD1 traders—an industry first—signaling strong recognition of RaveDAO’s ecosystem potential and community foundation. Aster, a next-gen DEX backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs) and CZ, has quickly drawn global traders with its ultra-fast matching engine, institutional-grade security, innovative tools (including hidden orders and yield-bearing collateral), and “CEX trading experience + DeFi self-custody” design. This launch marks $RAVE’s DEX debut, featuring the platform’s exclusive RAVE/USD1 pair and highlighting its forward-thinking focus on cultural assets and the on-chain consumer economy. Simultaneously, Aster will launch **Rocket Laun

During the market pullback, some meme coins are still holding strong, with JELLYJELLY experiencing a counter-trend surge of 37%.