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)

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.

According to BlockBeats, the stablecoin market capitalization has exceeded $310 billion, marking a significant milestone with a 70% increase within a year. This growth is not merely another indicator of a cryptocurrency bubble but signifies a fundamental shift in the global use of digital assets. The report highlights several key drivers behind the rapid expansion of stablecoins, including the widespread adoption of global payment applications, institutional demand, and the development of decentralized finance (DeFi). Additionally, various industry analysis models predict that, with broader integration of stablecoins by major financial institutions, the supply could reach $2 trillion by 2028. These forecasts are based on the expectation that stablecoins will evolve from transaction-focused tools to a more general digital cash layer, applicable in areas such as e-commerce, inter-company payments, and embedded finance.

According to Odaily, crypto data analyst CyrilXBT shared on the X platform that Grayscale's Bitcoin (BTC) holdings have been decreasing following the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. This decline is attributed to outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) as investors are taking profits or reallocating their portfolios, causing BTC prices to fluctuate under supply pressure. In contrast, Grayscale's Ethereum (ETH) holdings have remained more stable in recent weeks, with significantly less selling pressure compared to BTC. This indicates stronger market confidence in holding ETH, possibly driven by expectations of an ETH ETF, staking rewards, and lower urgency to sell. Currently, BTC is in a distribution and rotation phase, while ETH is in a phase of patient waiting and positioning. During the period of BTC's selling pressure, Grayscale is viewing ETH as the next asymmetric investment opportunity.

@joshyote, a Solana ecosystem builder, posted on the X platform that in November 2025, Solana ecosystem DEXs surpassed Binance for the first time in SOL-USD spot trading volume. According to Blockworks data, in the past three weeks, HumidiFi's SOL-USD spot trading volume has exceeded the combined volume of Binance and all CEXs, and its spreads are narrower than centralized exchanges. He believes that, at this stage, the Solana network is the best channel for purchasing SOL.

null source: https://x.com/cointelegraph/status/2004447245467320524

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) extended their losing streak into the Christmas holiday period, with U.S. investors emerging as the largest net sellers of Bitcoin amid tax-driven selling and derivatives expiry pressure.Data shows that institutional outflows remain heavy, even as analysts argue the move is seasonal rather than structural, keeping hopes alive for a post-holiday rebound.Bitcoin ETF Outflows Continue on Christmas EveAccording to data from Farside Investors, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $175.3 million in net outflows on Christmas Eve, despite the shortened U.S. trading session.That marked the fifth consecutive losing session, bringing total ETF outflows over the past five trading days to $825.7 million.Since Dec. 15, only one trading day — Dec. 17 — posted positive flows, when ETFs recorded $457.3 million in net inflows. Every other session has closed in the red.U.S. Investors Lead Selling PressureThe sustained ETF selling has coincided with persistent weakness during U.S. trading hours, reinforcing the narrative that American institutions are currently driving the sell-side.This trend is visible in the Coinbase Premium Index, which measures the price difference between BTC/USD on Coinbase and BTC/USDT on Binance. The index has remained negative for most of December, signaling weaker demand from U.S.-based investors.“U.S. is now the biggest seller of Bitcoin. Asia is now the biggest buyer,” said crypto analyst Ted Pillows, pointing to session-by-session return data showing stronger performance during Asian trading hours.Tax Loss Harvesting and Options Expiry BlamedMarket participants largely attribute the ETF drawdown to year-end tax loss harvesting and the impact of a major quarterly options expiry.“Most of the selling is due to tax loss harvesting, which means it’ll be over in a week,” trader Alek wrote on X, adding that Friday’s record options expiry likely dampened institutional risk appetite.He noted that these pressures are temporary, predicting that institutional buyers will return once seasonal distortions fade.Bitcoin and Ether ETF Flows Still WeakThe weakness has not been limited to Bitcoin alone. Spot Ether ETFs have also struggled to attract consistent inflows, with both asset classes showing negative 30-day moving average netflows since early November.Despite this, traders caution against interpreting ETF outflows as a definitive market top.“Price stabilizes first, flows turn neutral, and only then do inflows return,” said trader BitBull, referring to both Bitcoin and Ether ETF behavior.“For now, the data suggests liquidity is inactive, not destroyed.”Institutions Expected to Return After HolidaysWhile near-term sentiment remains cautious, analysts broadly agree that ETF outflows reflect timing and positioning, not a collapse in institutional conviction.With tax considerations largely behind the market and derivatives pressure easing, ETF flows are expected to normalize in early 2026 — potentially setting the stage for renewed institutional demand.As Bitcoin continues to consolidate, investors will be watching closely for ETF netflows to turn positive, a signal many see as a prerequisite for the next sustained price move.

Did Lido’s recent breakout mark a turning point where fundamentals finally reclaimed investor attention? source: https://ambcrypto.com/how-lidos-690-dev-growth-is-reshaping-ldo-price-action/

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.

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.