According to ChainCatcher, Bitcoin's fourth block reward halving is set to occur on April 20, 2024, at block height 840,000. This event will see the block reward decrease from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC, following the predetermined issuance mechanism in the Bitcoin protocol, which triggers a halving every 210,000 blocks. This supply adjustment is automatically executed by Bitcoin's consensus rules, requiring no governance votes or human intervention, reinforcing the certainty, transparency, and immutability of Bitcoin's monetary policy. Post-halving, Bitcoin's daily issuance will mathematically reduce from approximately 900 BTC per day to about 450 BTC per day, based on the fixed 3.125 BTC block reward and an average block time of 10 minutes. Annually, the issuance will decrease from around 328,500 BTC to approximately 164,250 BTC, marking a permanent supply contraction independent of market demand, miner behavior, or macroeconomic conditions. As a direct result of the April 2024 halving, Bitcoin's annual supply inflation rate will drop to about 0.83%, calculated based on the circulating supply and the post-halving issuance rate. In comparison, gold's annual supply growth rate is typically estimated between 1% and 2%, while fiat currency expansion depends on central bank policies rather than fixed rules. By the end of 2024, Bitcoin's circulating supply is expected to be around 19.7 million BTC, leaving less than 1.3 million BTC to be mined before reaching the protocol's maximum supply cap of 21 million BTC. At this stage, over 93.8% of Bitcoin will have been issued, meaning future halvings will have a diminishing impact on absolute supply but remain significant in proportional terms. The halving will alter miners' income structure, halving block subsidy income overnight and increasing the relative share of transaction fees in total miner revenue. In the months following the halving, transaction fees are expected to constitute a larger portion of miner income, aligning with Bitcoin's long-term design to transition network security from block subsidies to a transaction fee-driven economic model. Unlike traditional financial systems where monetary policy can be adjusted based on economic conditions, Bitcoin's supply change post-April 2024 halving is final and irreversible, with no mechanism to accelerate issuance during demand surges or slow it during market downturns. By the end of 2024, the market will face a low issuance baseline that will persist until the next halving, anticipated around 2028, when block rewards will further decrease to 1.5625 BTC. With the fourth halving fully implemented, Bitcoin's low issuance rate becomes a long-term foundational condition, reshaping its supply structure in a transparent, predictable manner that can be independently verified by any full node operator. This change is embedded in Bitcoin's code and enforced by network consensus, making the post-halving supply mechanism one of the few mathematically precise variables in the global financial system.

Pudgy Penguins projected its animated characters on the Las Vegas Sphere for a week-long holiday campaign, promoting its physical products rather than NFTs. The display helped the crypto-born brand reach mainstream audiences, supporting merchandise sales and boosting recognition despite a struggling NFT market.

Data shows that the stablecoin market reached $310 billion on December 12, 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 70%. USDT and USDC together accounted for about 80% of market activity. Multiple studies indicate that institutional use of stablecoins is shifting from speculation to practical operational scenarios, primarily for cross-border settlements and corporate payments. Industry analysts predict that if large financial institutions further consolidate their holdings, the stablecoin supply could reach $2 trillion by 2028. (Cointelegraph)

According to Onchain Lens, cryptocurrency investment firm QCP Capital deposited 400 bitcoins, worth approximately $35.7 million, into Binance about 5 hours ago.

Records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons show that Caroline Ellison, former co-CEO of Alameda Research, will be released from federal supervision on January 21, 2026. Ellison was sentenced to two years in prison and forfeiture of $11 billion in September 2024, but due to her good behavior and cooperation in the investigation of the FTX case, she will be released approximately 10 months ahead of her original sentence. Earlier this month, she also agreed to a 10-year ban from serving as an executive of publicly traded companies or cryptocurrency exchanges. Meanwhile, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is actively seeking a U.S. presidential pardon and is expected to be released in September 2044. (The Block)

Changpeng Zhao said Trust Wallet will reimburse users affected by the malicious browser extension exploit, reinforcing the project’s commitment to user security. source: https://btcusa.com/cz-confirms-trust-wallet-will-compensate-users-after-extension-malware-incident/

Trust Wallet, a cryptocurrency wallet owned by Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, said on Thursday it had identified a security breach. source: https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/12/49590860/changpeng-zhao-owned-trust-wallet-to-cover-7-million-user-losses-after-security-breach?utm_source=cryptopanic.com&utm_campaign=partner_feed&utm_medium=referral

null source: https://x.com/cointelegraph/status/2004449755384979816

Earlier this month, Ellison agreed to a 10-year ban on serving as an officer of public firms of crypto exchanges. source: https://www.theblock.co/post/383754/caroline-ellison-prison-release-ftx?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Elon Musk’s wealth hit $645B after a $1T Tesla pay deal and SpaceX’s $800B valuation. source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/tech-billionaires-see-500b-ai-wealth-surge/

Global crypto derivatives trading surged to record levels in 2025, underscoring the market’s rapid institutionalization and growing complexity. Total derivatives volume reached $85.7 trillion, averaging $265 billion per day, according to new data from CoinGlass.The report highlights Binance’s continued dominance, the rising role of institutional hedging, and heightened systemic risks exposed by major liquidation events.Binance Captures Nearly 30% of Global Derivatives VolumeBinance remained the clear leader in crypto derivatives trading, processing $25.09 trillion in cumulative volume during 2025 — roughly 29.3% of all global derivatives activity.In practical terms, nearly $30 out of every $100 traded worldwide flowed through Binance, reinforcing its position as the industry’s primary liquidity hub.Each recorded between $8.2 trillion and $10.8 trillion in annual derivatives volume. Combined, these four platforms accounted for 62.3% of total global market share, illustrating a high level of concentration among top venues.Institutional Channels Drive Structural GrowthCoinGlass noted that derivatives growth in 2025 was increasingly driven by institutional pathways, including:Spot crypto ETFsOptions marketsCompliant futures productsThis shift helped accelerate activity on Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), which had already overtaken Binance in Bitcoin futures open interest in 2024 and further solidified its role in 2025.The derivatives market has steadily moved away from a purely retail-driven, high-leverage boom-and-bust model toward a more sophisticated mix of hedging, basis trading, and ETF-linked strategies.Open Interest Swings Reveal Rising Systemic RiskDespite explosive trading volumes, derivatives positioning remained volatile throughout the year.Global open interest fell to a 2025 low of ~$87 billion after Q1 deleveragingIt then surged to an all-time high of $235.9 billion on Oct. 7A sharp reset in early Q4 erased over $70 billion, roughly one-third of total open interest, in a rapid deleveraging eventEven after that shakeout, year-end open interest stood at $145.1 billion, still 17% higher than at the start of the year, highlighting the market’s growing scale despite repeated stress events.October Liquidation Shock Exposes Market “Plumbing” RisksThe most severe stress test arrived in early October. CoinGlass estimates total forced liquidations in 2025 at approximately $150 billion, with a significant portion concentrated over just two days.On Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, liquidations exceeded $19 billion, with 85%–90% coming from long positions, as traders betting on higher prices were rapidly wiped out.CoinGlass linked the crash to heightened macro risk following trade policy headlines, including Donald Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, which pushed markets into a sharp “risk-off” regime.Derivatives Market Grows More Complex — and More FragileCoinGlass warned that while derivatives markets have matured, they have also become more interconnected and fragile.“Extreme events that erupted during 2025 imposed stress tests of unprecedented scale on existing margin mechanisms, liquidation rules, and cross-platform risk transmission pathways,” the report stated.Deeper leverage chains, tighter correlations, and faster cross-exchange contagion mean that while liquidity has expanded, tail risks have grown alongside it.Outlook: Bigger Market, Higher Stakes in 2026The $86 trillion surge in crypto derivatives volume marks a milestone for the industry, reflecting its evolution into a global financial market with institutional depth. At the same time, repeated liquidation shocks underscore the need for improved risk controls as leverage, complexity, and capital continue to scale.As crypto heads into 2026, derivatives will remain central to price discovery — but also the primary channel through which volatility and systemic stress propagate.

Kraken has officially launched the Krak Card, a Mastercard crypto debit card for residents living in the EU countries and the United Kingdom. The Krak card would allow users to spend more than 400 cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies seamlessly.

Trust Wallet confirmed a security incident affecting version 2.68 of its Chrome extension after users reported unauthorised wallet drains following a recent update. The company told users to disable the extension and upgrade immediately, saying its mobile app and other versions were not affected while the investigation continues.

Kyrgyzstan has taken another step toward embedding digital assets into its financial system after cryptocurrency exchange Binance listed the country’s first som-pegged stablecoin, a move that signals growing state-level confidence in blockchain-based payments and infrastructure.

A 23-year-old Brooklyn resident, Ronald Spektor, stands accused of orchestrating a sophisticated phishing scheme that drained $16 million from Coinbase users. Prosecutors say Spektor, using the online alias “lolimfeelingevil,” targeted unsuspecting victims by posing as an official Coinbase support agent, warning them that their crypto holdings were at risk of theft.

A Brazilian music project will turn real-time Bitcoin price changes into live orchestral performances using an algorithm to guide the instruments. The initiative has received government approval and funding through Brazil’s tax incentive programme to bring the concept to life in Brasília.

Ethena’s synthetic stablecoin USDe has suffered a sharp contraction since the Oct. 10 market crash, with roughly $8.3 billion exiting the protocol as investors reassessed the risks tied to leveraged and synthetic-backed designs.

Seven companies ran fake crypto platforms and WhatsApp investment clubs, tricking US investors out of over $14 million with false trading claims and AI-driven tips. Victims were pressured to pay extra fees to withdraw funds, and the stolen money was sent through overseas bank accounts and crypto wallets.

A South Korean man’s attempt to secure a lighter punishment for laundering funds through cryptocurrency has backfired dramatically, with an appeals court overturning his suspended sentence and sending him to prison for four years.

Trump Media & Technology Group bought 451 more Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 11,542 coins worth over $1 billion. The company is using Bitcoin as a long-term reserve and is expanding into crypto investments and related financial services.