Australia’s government-funded national broadcaster, which has on average over 12 million people in its readership, released a report on Tuesday painting Bitcoin as a tool of criminals with no real use or purpose.

Trump hasn’t confirmed who he will have replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell with next year, but two recent hints, taken together, point to his crypto-friendly adviser.

This partnership could accelerate institutional adoption of crypto by aligning staking services with traditional finance standards and security.

The post Deutsche Bank-backed Taurus partners with Everstake to enhance institutional crypto staking appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tokenization's potential to revolutionize financial systems could reshape market dynamics and investment strategies, impacting global asset management.

The post BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Brian Armstrong to discuss tokenization at DealBook Summit appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The consensus is leaning heavily toward the Bitcoin price heading into another drawn-out bear market after hitting its $126,000 all-time high back in October. However, some analysts have shared that this will not happen in a straight line. But rather, there will be short relief rallies that send the price higher before moving into the next phase of the bear market. One of these analysts is TradingShot, who has shared what they refer to as ‘realistic’ price targets that the Bitcoin price can still hit before slipping fully into the bear market.

Bitcoin’s Tendency To Recover

TradingShot’s analysis does not go against the idea of a bear market, but rather points to the fact that Bitcoin is yet to enter a new Bull Cycle. The analysis focuses on the sell-offs that the cryptocurrency has suffered since hitting its all-time high, pushing it into a bearish leg. The analyst draws similarities between the current market structure and what was seen in the market decline between January 20 and April 7, showing that they are both part of a “Channel Up” formation.

Another interesting fact about the current trend is the fact that, just like the January-April trend, it has also completed a 1-Day MACD Bullish Cross. This was a formation that led to a brief recovery back in March, and the same could be the case this time around.

Such a rally, the analyst explains, is known as a counter-trend rally, and another one could be underway. If this is the case, then the Bitcoin price could be gearing up to retest the Lower Highs trendline, putting the contact points at significantly higher price levels than Bitcoin is currently trending at.

The Targets That Could Materialize

In the event that this Bitcoin price counter-trend rally does play out, TradingShot outlines two major targets that the cryptocurrency could hit. The first of these lies at $95,850, which coincides with the 0.382 Fibonacci level. This level is the rejection point for the April 2025 rally, making it an important play.

Above this first target lies the second and final target of $106,450. This target, interestingly, lies outside of the Lower Highs trendline, but remains a viable option. It would occur in a situation where the Bitcoin price makes contact with the 1D MA200. The analyst explains that “This is where the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level is, which was also Target 2 for the April fractal and where the second consolidation took place.”

Bitcoin has fallen back below the $90,000 level after another wave of selling pressure and leveraged long liquidations, signaling that the market remains firmly on the defensive. Each attempt to stabilize has failed, with sellers quickly overwhelming buyers and forcing price into lower ranges. Fear and uncertainty continue to dominate sentiment, and traders increasingly prepare for the possibility of a deeper continuation of the downtrend as volatility accelerates.

Amid this weakness, a new signal has started to attract the attention of analysts. According to Maartunn, one of the market’s most respected on-chain researchers, old coins are waking up again. Dormant Bitcoin—specifically coins held for 3 to 5 years—has begun to move on-chain in noticeable spikes. Historically, this type of activity often reflects structural shifts in holder behavior, appearing during periods of stress, capitulation, or preparation for major market pivots.

While the direction of these moves is not always immediately clear, rising activity among long-dormant coins adds another layer of complexity to an already fragile market. As Bitcoin continues to struggle below $90K, the behavior of these older coins could help determine whether the current decline deepens—or sets the stage for a larger transition ahead.

Old Coins Start Moving as Macro Fear Collides With Policy Shifts

Maartunn highlights a notable rise in activity from 3–5 year-old Bitcoin, a cohort that typically remains dormant unless underlying conditions begin to shift. The Spent Output Age Bands show a sharp increase, jumping from 2,030 BTC earlier today to 3,475 BTC now. These spikes rarely happen randomly. Maartunn believes that “something’s stirring beneath the surface,” suggesting that long-term holders may be reacting to mounting market stress—or positioning ahead of a potential macro inflection.

This awakening of older coins comes at a moment filled with conflicting signals. Fear around Tether’s reserves has resurfaced, sparking concerns over liquidity stability across exchanges. At the same time, renewed headlines about a supposed China Bitcoin ban have circulated again, despite offering no new policy information. These narratives have added yet another layer of anxiety to an already fragile market.

Yet the macro backdrop also contains reasons for cautious optimism. The Federal Reserve is expected to bring its quantitative tightening (QT) program to an end, and markets are increasingly pricing in a potential interest rate cut this December. Such shifts historically improve liquidity conditions and support risk assets.

As long-term coins begin to move and macro forces pull in opposite directions, Bitcoin enters a complex environment—one that could precede either deeper volatility or the early stages of a larger transition.

Bitcoin Struggles to Recover as Daily Trend Remains Firmly Bearish

Bitcoin’s 1-day chart continues to reveal a market trapped in a strong downtrend, with price failing to reclaim the key moving averages that define higher-timeframe momentum. After breaking down from the $115,000 region, BTC plunged directly through the 50 SMA, 100 SMA, and 200 SMA, creating a steep momentum shift that sellers still control.

The current price action around $86,000–$88,000 shows hesitation and a lack of follow-through from bulls, even after several attempts to rebound.

The 50 and 100 SMAs both slope sharply downward, confirming a bearish trend structure. Meanwhile, the 200 SMA has flattened and now sits far above price, highlighting just how aggressive and extended the selloff has been. BTC continues to print lower highs and lower lows, a clear signal that the market has not yet found a stable bottom.

Volume spikes on major red candles suggest a mix of forced liquidations and panic-driven exits, while green candles remain smaller and less convincing. The lack of strong buy volume shows that investors remain cautious despite the magnitude of the correction.

If Bitcoin fails to break back above $92,000–$95,000, the market risks another leg lower. The next major supports sit between $80,000 and $78,000, levels that align with previous consolidation zones. For now, the bears still control the daily trend.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin was launched fifteen years ago. The industry has ballooned into a nearly $4 trillion ecosystem, yet Satoshi’s vision of everyday payments remains largely unfulfilled. The hope for peer-to-peer payments has shifted to stablecoins. But rather than replacing banks, stablecoins risk becoming bank-like infrastructure. Stronger regulation in the U.S. and Europe may push them toward centralized rails rather than open money.

Regulation turning stablecoins into regulated payment networks

In America, the GENIUS Act established a federal framework for payments with stablecoins—who can issue them, how to back them up, and how they’re regulated. In Europe, MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) became applicable in 2024 and set strict requirements for stablecoins under categories like “e-money tokens” and “asset-referenced tokens.”

These regulations foster legitimacy and safety, but at the same time push stablecoin issuers into the world of banks. When issuers need to comply with reserve, audit, KYC, and redemption requirements, the structure and essence of stablecoins shift. They become centralized gateways rather than peer-to-peer money. Over 60% of corporate stablecoin usage is cross-border settlement, not consumer payments. Stablecoins are becoming more institutional tools and fewer tokens for individuals.

The danger: becoming the next SWIFT

What does it mean to “become the next SWIFT”? It means evolving into the go-to rail for institutions; efficient yet opaque, centralized yet indispensable. SWIFT transformed global banking by enabling messaging between banks; it did not democratize banking access. If stablecoins mirror that evolution, they’ll deliver faster rails for existing players rather than empowering the unbanked.

Crypto’s promise was programmable money—cash that moves with logic, autonomy, and user control. But when transactions require issuer permission, compliance tagging, and monitored addresses, the architecture changes. The network becomes compliant infrastructure, not money. That subtle but profound shift may make stablecoins less radical and more reactionary.

A better path to open rails with compliance baked in

The challenge is not regulation; it’s design. To uphold the promise of stablecoins while adhering to regulatory demands, developers and policymakers should embed compliance in the protocol layer, maintain composability across jurisdictions, and preserve non-custodial access. Back in the real world, initiatives like the Blockchain Payments Consortium provide a glimpse of hope that standardizing cross-chain payments is possible without sacrificing openness.

Stablecoins must work for individuals, not just institutions. If they serve only large players and regulated flows, they won’t disrupt—they’ll conform. The design must allow true peer-to-peer movement, selective privacy, and interoperability. Otherwise, the rails will lock us into old hierarchies, just faster.

Stablecoins still hold the potential to rewrite money. But if we allow them to become institutionalized rails built for banks rather than people, we will have replaced one central system with another. The question isn’t whether we regulate—stablecoins will be regulated. It’s whether we design for inclusion and autonomy, or lock in yesterday’s system behind digital wrappers. The future of money depends on which path we choose.

The following is a guest post and opinion from Joël Valenzuela, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Dash.

The post Stablecoins were built to replace banks but on course to becoming one appeared first on CryptoSlate.

XRP spot ETFs have posted one of the most consistent inflow streaks of this quarter, attracting roughly $756 million across eleven consecutive trading sessions since their Nov. 13 launch.

Yet the strength in the ETF demand contrasts with XRP’s price performance.

According to CryptoSlate’s data, the token has fallen about 20% over the same period and currently trades near $2.03.

This divergence has prompted CryptoSlate to examine how XRP’s ownership structure is shifting beneath the surface.

The strong ETF inflows alongside falling prices point to a market absorbing two opposing forces of steady institutional allocation on one side and a broader risk reduction on the other.

Essentially, this pattern reflects a more complex process in which new, regulated demand is entering the ecosystem as existing holders adjust their exposure.

XRP dominates crypto ETFs flow

The inflow profile of XRP products is statistically remarkable, particularly against a backdrop of net redemptions elsewhere.

During the reporting period, Bitcoin ETFs saw over $2 billion in outflows, and Ethereum products recorded nearly $1 billion in withdrawals.

Even high-flying competitors like Solana have managed only about $200 million in cumulative inflows. At the same time, other altcoin ETFs have drawn smaller totals, with Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Hedera products each holding between $2 million and $10 million.

In this context, XRP stands alone for its consistent accumulation, with the four products now holding about 0.6% of the token’s total market capitalization.

Considering this, market participants attribute the demand to the ETF’s operational efficiency. The four XRP funds offer institutional allocators a compliant, low-friction path into the asset, bypassing the custody headaches and exchange risks associated with direct token handling.

However, the fact that these inflows have not translated into upward price pressure suggests that other market segments may be reducing exposure or managing risk amid elevated macro and crypto-specific uncertainty.

This phenomenon is not unprecedented in crypto, but the scale here is distinct.

The selling pressure is likely originating from a combination of early adopters cashing out after years of volatility and potential treasury movements. The ETF boom has essentially created a liquidity bridge, allowing large-scale entities to offload positions without crashing the order book instantly.

Consolidation or centralization risk?

Meanwhile, the ownership data below the surface reinforces the view that the asset is undergoing a radical centralization.

Data from blockchain analysis firm Santiment indicates that the number of “whale” and “shark” wallets holding at least 100 million XRP has plummeted by 20.6% over the past eight weeks.

This pattern of fewer large wallets with more combined assets can be interpreted in different ways.

Some market observers have framed this as “consolidation,” arguing that supply is moving into “stronger hands.”

However, a risk-adjusted view suggests rising centralization risk.

With nearly half of the available supply concentrated in a shrinking cohort of entities, the market’s liquidity profile is becoming increasingly fragile.

This centralization of supply means that future price action is heavily dependent on the decisions of fewer than a few dozen entities. If this group decides to distribute, the resulting liquidity shock could be severe.

Simultaneously, spot exchange balances are thinning as tokens move into the regulated custody solutions required by ETF issuers.

While this theoretically reduces the “float” available for retail trading, it hasn’t triggered a supply shock. Instead, the transfer from exchange to custodian appears to be a one-way street for now, soaking up circulating supply sold by the shrinking whale cohort.

The benchmark race

The inflow streak has renewed discussion about which asset could emerge as the benchmark altcoin for institutional portfolios.

Historically, regulated crypto exposure has centered almost exclusively on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with other assets attracting minimal attention. XRP’s recent flow profile, which has significantly exceeded the cumulative inflows of other altcoin ETFs, has temporarily shifted that dynamic.

Part of the interest stems from developments around Ripple. The firm’s licensing expansion in Singapore and the significant adoption of RLUSD, its dollar-backed stablecoin, give institutions a broader ecosystem to evaluate.

At the same time, Ripple’s acquisitions across custody, brokerage, and treasury management have created a vertically integrated framework that resembles components of traditional financial infrastructure, offering a foundation for regulated participation.

Still, analysts caution that a short inflow streak does not establish a new long-term benchmark.

XRP will need to sustain demand across multiple market phases to maintain its position relative to peers such as Solana, which has gained attention for its growing tokenization activity, and to assets that may attract larger flows once new ETFs launch.

For now, XRP’s performance within the ETF complex reflects early momentum rather than structural dominance.

The flows highlight genuine institutional interest, but the asset’s price behavior reflects the broader challenges large-cap cryptocurrencies face amid macroeconomic uncertainty.

The post How XRP became the top crypto ETF trade despite price slides toward $2 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Rumors around Kevin Hassett intensified today after Donald Trump again hinted that he has “already decided” who will replace Jerome Powell in 2026. 

Hassett remains the strongest contender, according to recent reports and repeated references from the President. 

How is Kevin Hassett’s Fed Policy Different from Powell’s?

Hassett currently leads the National Economic Council and has become a central voice in Trump’s economic team. He is widely viewed as far more dovish than Powell. Investors see his appointment as a potential trigger for faster policy easing.

Powell’s term ends in May 2026. He has signaled plans to serve until the end of his mandate. 

However, growing political pressure and ongoing speculation have raised questions about how the transition will unfold.

Hassett has made clear that he favors lower rates based on current economic conditions. He has said he would cut rates now if he led the Fed. That stance contrasts with Powell’s slower and more cautious approach.

Powell has focused on inflation risks and long-term price stability. He has preferred measured steps, even as labor data and growth indicators cooled. This steady approach has kept markets anchored but limited the pace of easing.

Hassett’s background signals a different era. He has spent much of his career pushing pro-growth policies, tax cuts, and looser financial conditions. 

His close alignment with the administration has contributed to concerns over central-bank independence.

However, markets expect immediate consequences if Hassett takes charge. A dovish Fed would likely accelerate cuts in 2026 and weaken the US dollar. It would also lift liquidity across risk assets.

Is Kevin Hassett’s Appointment Good For Crypto Markets?

Crypto markets could feel the shift fastest. Bitcoin and Ethereum tend to rally when real yields fall and global liquidity expands. A weaker dollar also supports inflows into digital assets, especially during policy pivots.

Altcoins may benefit as well. Cheaper credit and higher risk appetite often increase capital rotation into DeFi, L2 ecosystems, and new token launches. Trading volumes usually rise when investors expect easier borrowing conditions.

If investors question the Fed’s independence, bond markets could react sharply. That instability can spill into crypto, especially during moments of policy uncertainty.

Even with these risks, most traders view a Hassett-led Fed as a net positive for digital assets. A rapid easing cycle would support higher valuations and increase institutional participation through ETFs and tokenized products.

Trump said the official nominee will be announced in early 2026. Until then, markets will continue to price the possibility of a pivot to a more aggressive pro-growth stance. 

The crypto market remains sensitive to that outcome, with expectations building ahead of a decisive leadership change at the Federal Reserve.

The post Kevin Hassett as Trump’s Fed Pick: How Will His Policy Impact Crypto In 2026? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

A six-year data review shows five large and mid-cap cryptocurrencies often gain during December. However, their “Santa rally” success is clustered in specific bull and recovery years, not every Christmas.

The analysis covers December performance from 2019 to 2024. It focuses on USD returns for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, Litecoin and Monero.

Bitcoin: Big December Moves in Bull Cycles

Bitcoin delivered its strongest December in 2020, rising about 48% from roughly $19,700 to $29,000. It posted another solid December gain in 2023, adding about 12% as ETF optimism returned.

By contrast, Bitcoin fell about 5% in December 2019 and nearly 19% in 2021. It slipped around 4% in 2022 and slightly over 3% in 2024.

The pattern is clear. Bitcoin’s December rallies appear mainly in strong bull or recovery phases, not during tightening or late-cycle stress.

Around Christmas, the biggest moves usually came after the holiday. In 2020 and 2023, the week after Christmas outperformed the week before.

Ethereum: Follows Bitcoin’s Cycle, With Strong 2020 and 2023

Ethereum showed a similar December profile to Bitcoin, with standout gains in 2020 and 2023. In December 2020, ETH climbed about 21%, from around $615 to $750.

During December 2023, Ethereum added roughly 11%, tracking the broader market recovery. Both rallies coincided with improving macro sentiment and stronger network activity.

Yet Ethereum fell sharply in bearish or late-cycle years. It dropped about 15% in December 2019, 20% in 2021 and around 8% in 2024, with a smaller 8% decline in 2022.

Overall, Ethereum tends to rally in December when liquidity is ample and risk appetite is high. When macro conditions tighten, its December performance turns negative quickly.

BNB: Explosive December Rallies in 2020 and 2023

The formerly labeled Binance Coin shows some of the most dramatic December gains in the dataset. BNB rose about 19% in December 2020 as Binance volumes surged late in the bull run.

Its biggest move came in December 2023, jumping roughly 37% from around $228 to $312. That rally followed improving clarity around Binance’s legal position and a rebound in spot volumes.

However, BNB also suffered heavy December drawdowns. It fell about 13% in 2019, 18% in 2021 and another 18% in 2022 during exchange-related FUD.

BNB’s December record is high beta. When sentiment swings positive, its rallies outpace Bitcoin, but its losses are deeper in stress periods.

Litecoin: Classic High-Beta December Play

Litecoin behaved like a leveraged bet on the market’s December mood. Its strongest month was December 2020, when LTC surged about 42%, from roughly $88 to $125.

That move tracked Bitcoin’s breakout and followed greater payment support, including PayPal’s crypto rollout. It cemented Litecoin’s role as a “digital silver” trade during bull-market holidays.

Litecoin then struggled in later years. It dropped about 13% in 2019, nearly 30% in 2021 and around 12% in 2022.

Even so, it posted modest gains of about 5% in December 2023 and an estimated 7% in 2024. These smaller rallies show Litecoin still benefits from late-year risk-on phases, especially around halving narratives.

Monero: Quiet but Consistent Holiday Strength

Monero stands out for its defensive but positive December pattern. It rose around 15% in December 2020 and roughly 9% in December 2022 while many coins fell.

Monero also gained about 10% in December 2023, moving from the mid-$160s toward $180. Its December drawdowns in other years were relatively mild compared with major altcoins.

This resilience likely reflects steady transactional demand and its privacy use case. Monero tends to act as a defensive crypto asset during periods of exchange or regulatory fear.

Across 2019–2024, Monero avoided extreme December crashes and often finished the month higher. That makes it one of the more consistent late-year performers among mid-cap coins.

Santa Rallies Are Selective, Not Guaranteed

The data shows these five coins have delivered multiple strong Decembers, especially in 2020 and 2023.

However, every coin also logged negative December returns in at least one year.

Rallies cluster in bullish macro environments and recovery phases. Meanwhile, bear-market Decembers reward more defensive assets like Monero and, at times, Litecoin.

For traders, the message is clear. Historical December strength exists, but each year’s macro backdrop and project-specific news still decide whether Christmas turns green.

The post Five Cryptocurrencies That Often Rally Around Christmas appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Authorities in Europe have shut down a large crypto mixing service and seized a major amount of Bitcoin, according to law enforcement statements and media reports. The operation took down a key domain, seized servers, and captured $29 million in Bitcoin that investigators say was tied to illicit flows.

Europol And Swiss Authorities Act

Based on reports, a joint action by Europol, Swiss, and German authorities took place between November 24 and November 28, 2025. During the operation, three servers located in Switzerland were seized, the domain Cryptomixer.io was disabled, and investigators recovered about 12 terabytes of data.

According to officials, the service had been used since 2016 and is linked to roughly €1.3 billion in laundered Bitcoin over that time. The cash figure seized in the takedown was reported at close to $30 million in Bitcoin.

How The Service Worked

Reports have disclosed that the site operated as a hybrid mixer. That means it accepted funds on the regular web and used techniques to pool, jumble, and redistribute coins so the origin of funds became hard to trace.

Criminals allegedly used the service to hide proceeds from activities such as drug sales, ransomware attacks, and fraud, according to investigators. By randomizing amounts and delaying payouts, mixers like this make the usual tracking tools much less effective.

Law enforcement officers say the 12 terabytes of material may hold leads that point to other illegal transfers and the people behind them. The data is now being examined, and it could make it easier to trace how money moved through the service.

It is not yet clear whether arrests have been made. Experts warn that even with seized material, tracing every tainted coin will be difficult because of how mixing services scramble transaction records.

Investigators argue the takedown is a major blow against online money laundering in Europe. Based on reports, crypto mixers of this size helped mask hundreds of millions, and in some cases billions, of dollars over years.

The removal of one large service may slow some criminal flows, but analysts caution that operators and users can migrate to other services or new tools. Criminals often adapt quickly, which means the broader problem may continue unless follow-up actions and legal steps are taken.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above $90,000. BTC is now testing the key barrier at $93,000 and might attempt an upside break.

• Bitcoin started a fresh increase above the $90,000 zone.
• The price is trading above $90,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
• There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $90,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair might continue to move up if it settles above the $93,000 zone.

Bitcoin Price Surges Over 5%

Bitcoin price managed to stay above the $84,000 zone and started a fresh increase. BTC gained strength for a move above the $88,000 and $90,000 levels.

There was a clear move above the $90,500 resistance. A high was formed at $92,912 and the price is now testing an important barrier. It is still above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $83,870 swing low to the $92,912 high.

Bitcoin is now trading above $92,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a bullish trend line forming with support at $90,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

If the bulls remain in action, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is near the $92,900 level. The first key resistance is near the $93,000 level. The next resistance could be $93,500. A close above the $93,500 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $95,000 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $96,500 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $97,200 and $98,000.

Another Drop In BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $93,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $90,800 level and the trend line. The first major support is near the $88,400 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $83,870 swing low to the $92,912 high.

The next support is now near the $87,350 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $86,000 support in the near term. The main support sits at $84,000, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $90,800, followed by $88,400.

Major Resistance Levels – $93,000 and $93,500.