Key Takeaways:Crypto derivatives volume hits a record $85.7T in 2025, averaging $264.5B dailyBinance leads the market with $25.09 trillion, capturing 29.3% of global tradingReport shows geopolitical and policy uncertainties were critical market influencers in 2025 Record-breaking Trading Volume in 2025The crypto derivatives market experienced an explosive rise in 2025, reaching $85.7 trillion in total volume. The daily average trading volume surged to $264.5 billion, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of cryptocurrency as a mainstream financial asset class. The market structure has shifted from a retail-driven, high-leverage model to one characterized by institutional hedging and more diversified investment strategies. This transition was partly driven by the increasing popularity of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and compliant futures, which saw massive institutional participation.The volume surge in 2025 highlights the growing integration of crypto into traditional financial markets. For instance, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) saw its Bitcoin futures open interest surpass Binance for the first time in 2024, continuing its dominance into 2025. This reflects an industry-wide shift towards compliant infrastructure and decentralized technology, alongside more regulated pathways for institutional players. Binance Leads in CEX VolumeThe Coinglass report showed that Binance recorded $25.09 trillion in cumulative derivatives volume, which comes to 29.3% of the global market. This means that for every $100 traded, nearly $30 was transacted through Binance. The report also showed that based on daily average Open Interest data from major CEXs in 2025, the top ten centralized exchanges accounted for an aggregate daily average OI of approximately $108.3 billion. Binance secured a lead with a daily average OI of approximately $30 billion, capturing a market share of about 28%. Shift Toward Institutional Hedging and New ComplexitiesThe derivatives market in 2025 is not just bigger; it’s more complex. Traditional speculative trading is being replaced by more sophisticated institutional trading demands, including hedging, basis trading, and the use of ETFs for risk management.This complexity has introduced new challenges, including increased systemic tail risks and potential vulnerabilities in liquidation rules and cross-platform risk transmission. The year saw multiple stress tests of these mechanisms, especially during extreme market events like the Q4 deleveraging that erased $70 billion in positions. Despite this, the market rebounded, ending the year with $145.1 billion in open interest, still a 17% increase from the start of the year. Growing Role of Stablecoins and Tokenized AssetsA major shift in 2025 was the growth of stablecoins and tokenized assets. The total market capitalization of stablecoins exceeded $230 billion, while their on-chain settlement volume hit $1.5 trillion. This growth was driven by both institutional adoption and an evolving regulatory landscape, particularly in the United States, where new legislation like the GENIUS Act is helping legitimize digital assets and integrate them into traditional financial systems.Simultaneously, tokenization of Real World Assets (RWAs) bridged the gap between the crypto world and traditional finance. For instance, stock tokens saw a 2,695% growth in market cap, creating new opportunities for investors to access traditional assets on the blockchain. These innovations in tokenized assets are not just changing the way financial assets are traded but also setting the stage for future market expansions. On-chain access to real-world assets is expected to grow rapidly, potentially reaching $18.9 trillion by 2033. Outlook: The Future of Crypto DerivativesLooking ahead, the crypto derivatives market in 2026 will likely continue to be influenced by institutional interest and regulatory clarity. As stablecoins, tokenized assets, and DeFi derivatives gain traction, expect further evolution in the market structure. The regulatory landscape will play a crucial role in shaping the pace of these developments, especially as global financial institutions adapt to crypto-native infrastructures and explore new avenues for cross-border payments and asset tokenization.

null source: https://x.com/WatcherGuru/status/2004382440018612249

According to Foresight News, Bitcoin has exceeded the 89,000 USDT mark, currently trading at 89,020.21 USDT. The cryptocurrency has experienced a daily increase of 2.05%.

According to Foresight News, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons website indicates that Caroline Ellison, the former girlfriend of SBF, is expected to be released on January 21, 2026. Ellison previously testified as a key witness in the 2023 criminal trial of SBF. Despite her significant cooperation being acknowledged by the judge, she was still sentenced to prison.

On Dec 26, 2025, 02:23 AM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has crossed the 89,000 USDT benchmark and is now trading at 89,035.398438 USDT, with a narrowed 1.48% increase in 24 hours.

null source: https://x.com/CoinMarketCap/status/2004377146735681775

On December 26th, according to SoSoValue data, most sectors in the crypto market declined. The NFT sector, which performed well yesterday, fell 7.38% in the last 24 hours. Within the NFT sector, Audiera (BEAT) continued its downward trend, falling 40.02% after a slight rebound, while Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) and Apecoin (APE) fell 2.32% and 2.59% respectively. In contrast, the AI ​​and SocialFi sectors remained relatively resilient, rising 0.40% and 0.69% respectively in the last 24 hours. Within the AI ​​sector, Bittensor (TAO) rose 1.05%, and 0G (0G) rose 35.23%; within the SocialFi sector, Cheelee (CHEEL) surged 102.80%. In other sectors, the DeFi sector fell 0.54%, with Maple Finance (SYRUP) showing relative strength, rising 9.24%; the PayFi sector fell 0.71%, with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) rising 4.95%; the CeFi sector fell 0.86%, with Canton Network (CC) falling 4.25%; the Layer 2 sector fell 0.93%, but Merlin Chain (MERL) rose 4.85%; the Layer 1 sector fell 1.46%, with Algorand (ALGO) rising 2.30% intraday; and the Meme sector fell 2.93%, but PIPPIN (PIPPIN) bucked the trend, rising 4.56%. Crypto sector indices reflecting historical performance show that ssiSocialFi rose 0.26%, while the ssiMeme and ssiDeFi indices fell 3.23% and 0.74%, respectively.

On Dec 26, 2025, 02:15 AM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has crossed the 88,000 USDT benchmark and is now trading at 88,490 USDT, with a narrowed 0.86% increase in 24 hours.

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.

Justin Sun has lost around $60 million after World Liberty Financial blacklisted his wallet, freezing his WLFI tokens following a $9 million transfer. The freeze has left him unable to access or trade his holdings, while the token’s price has dropped over 40% since September.

Web 3.0, Payments: From Beginning to Abandonment - Why I Stopped Doing Web3 Payments. Golden Finance: Remove the filters and see the true nature of payments.

What crypto moves will traditional giants like BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, Visa, and Mastercard make in 2025?

Bybit will begin phasing out services for Japanese residents from 2026, as the country’s stringent regulatory framework continues to squeeze unregistered global crypto exchanges out of the market.