Finance Police

Bitcoin (BTC) and the cryptocurrency market retreated on Fri as gold, silver, platinum, and copper surged to record highs, indicating that metals are attracting capital on the debasement trade and geopolitical tensions.

BTC briefly crossed $89,000 on Friday but failed to sustain momentum and dropped to $87,296. The flagship cryptocurrency is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $87,472. 

Bitcoin’s price action has come under intense pressure following $23.6 billion worth of Bitcoin options expiring on December 26. 

Authorities Make Arrests Linked To Coinbase Breach In India 

Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong has confirmed that authorities arrested a former customer service agent in India. The arrest comes months after attackers bribed customer support executives to gain access to sensitive customer information. Coinbase had stated that hackers had paid contractors based outside the US to gain access to customer data before attempting to extort the company for $20 million. According to the exchange, the security breach could have cost $400 million to remediate, making it one of the most expensive security breaches in the crypto industry. 

A spokesperson confirmed the arrest, conducted in cooperation with US law enforcement. The security incident highlights a persistent vulnerability facing crypto platforms. While crypto platforms have invested heavily in technical safeguards, hackers have started targeting customer support channels, particularly those based overseas. 

We have zero tolerance for bad behavior and will continue to work with law enforcement to bring bad actors to justice. Thanks to the Hyderabad Police in India, an ex-Coinbase customer service agent was just arrested. Another one down and more still to come.

Jan3 Founder Makes Bold Bitcoin Prediction 

Jan3 founder Samson Mao believes Bitcoin could be entering a decade-long bull market after a bear market over the past year. Mao stated in a post on X that “2025 was the bear market.” Bitcoin analyst PlanC echoed a similar sentiment, stating, 

If you made it through 2025, you made it through the bear market. Bitcoin has never had two red yearly candles in a row.

However, not all analysts agreed, arguing that Bitcoin’s all-time high of $125,100 was the cycle high, and the flagship cryptocurrency could be entering a bear market in 2026. Bitcoin is also well below bold predictions by BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes and BitMine Chair Tom Lee, who predicted in October that the price could reach $250,000 by the end of the year. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) is struggling to build momentum thanks to low liquidity levels over the holiday week. The flagship cryptocurrency’s price action has been relatively muted this week, with significant movement recorded only on Friday when it briefly crossed the $89,000 mark to $89,496. However, it lost momentum and settled at $87,296, ultimately registering a marginal increase. The price is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $87,431. 

Bitcoin has traded between support at $86,000 and resistance at $90,000. Prices fall gradually, followed by a rebound lacking strong upside momentum. Some analysts believe the price action is a deliberate attempt by large players to keep prices lower. According to one analysis that studied transactions worth $20 million or more, large transactions moved to exchange hot wallets between October and mid-December. The analysis states that 65% of BTC across whales and institutions was sent to exchanges. Such moves, analysts believe, are generally a preparatory step before selling rather than immediate selling. 

Outflows peaked in November across Bitcoin whales, BlackRock-linked wallets, and Wintermute, coinciding with price weakness as the flagship cryptocurrency slipped below $85,000. 

BTC’s sluggish price action comes as gold, silver, and other metals continue to soar, posting record highs on Friday. The record surge suggests metals, not Bitcoin, are attracting capital on the global debasement trade. Crypto stocks, including Coinbase (COIN), Gemini (GEMI), Bullish (BLSH), and Galaxy Digital (GLXY), are trading in the red. 

BTC started the previous week in bearish territory, dropping 1.99% to $86,417. However, it recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to reclaim $87,000 and settle at $87,854. The price reached an intraday high of $90,336 on Wednesday but lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $86,209. Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to breach the $90,000 ceiling as the flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447. However, selling pressure at upper levels forced BTC into a retreat as it settled at $85,460, down almost 1%. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092.

Source: TradingView

Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday, settling at $88,639. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $90,541 on Monday. However, it lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $88,556, ultimately registering a marginal decline. Selling pressure persisted on Tuesday as the price fell by over 1% to $87,429. BTC registered a marginal increase on Wednesday but lost momentum on Thursday, dropping 0.50% to $87,171. The flagship cryptocurrency briefly crossed $89,000 on Friday, reaching an intraday high of $89,496 before settling at $87,296. The price is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $87,411.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Bitcoin (BTC) overcame an early Boxing Day scare to reclaim $89,000 despite thin trading levels, thanks to the Christmas and New Year week. The flagship cryptocurrency traded above $88,000 on Christmas but dipped to a low of $86,897 early on Boxing Day.

However, it rebounded from this level to reclaim $89,000. However, it could not sustain momentum and moved to $88,654, up 1.50%. 

Meanwhile, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $175 million in outflows on Wednesday, dampening market sentiment. However, Bitcoin has remained stable despite two consecutive days of ETF outflows, although it remains unclear whether price action will be bullish or bearish. 

Bitcoin OG Whale Sitting On $41.8M Unrealized Loss 

A Bitcoin “OG Insider Whale” has paid nearly $3 million in funding fees while holding several long positions across BTC, ETH, and SOL. According to data from HyperInsight, the OG whale’s total exposure sits at $755.5 million as of December 26. The whale has a combined unrealized loss of $41.8 million, primarily due to a $35.6 million floating loss on its ETH long position.

Investors Position Themselves For Year-End Risk Bid 

Bitcoin (BTC) briefly crossed $89,000 early on Boxing Day, giving investors hope it could reclaim $90,000 once liquidity returns. Several Asia Pacific exchanges remain closed for the holiday, forcing investors to look for cues from the last full session. According to Gabriel Selby, head of research at CF Benchmarks, Bitcoin remains under key levels as markets enter the seasonal lull. Selby stated, 

Bitcoin has struggled to break above the $90k level during a busy schedule of macroeconomic data releases, and price action appears to be forming a bearish wedge with downside risk. As we head into the holiday period, trading volumes are following their usual seasonal lull, which typically reinforces the choppy, high-resistance environment currently observed.

The Dow Jones and the S&P 500 reached record levels on Wednesday, rising 0.60% and 0.32% respectively during a short holiday session. Meanwhile, Silver pushed deeper into uncharted waters, crossing $74 thanks to rising industrial demand and a growing supply gap. Analysts believe the heavy use of solar panels, electric vehicles, and data centers is driving demand as supply struggles to keep up. 

Trust Wallet Browser Extension Compromised 

Trust Wallet’s browser extension has been compromised, leading to losses of around $6 million. Trust Wallet confirmed the breach, with reports claiming importing seed phrases into the wallet extension resulted in funds being drained. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT flagged the issue after multiple Trust Wallet users reported unauthorized outflows. ZachXBT identified that all the impacted users had installed the new Trust Wallet browser extension. Trust Wallet stated on X that the security incident impacted only version 2.68, and urged users to upgrade to version 2.69. 

We’ve identified a security incident affecting Trust Wallet Browser Extension version 2.68 only. Users with Browser Extension 2.68 should disable and upgrade to 2.69.

Users have criticized the wallet service for its lack of transparency and for failing to provide a detailed post-mortem of the incident. However, Changpeng Zhao, former CEO of Binance, the entity that owns Trust Wallet, confirmed all affected users will be compensated. Many users have speculated that the incident could have been an inside job. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) returned to positive territory on Boxing Day after registering a small, albeit noticeable decline on Christmas. The flagship cryptocurrency registered a marginal increase on Wednesday but lost momentum on Thursday, dropping 0.50% to $87,171. However, momentum returned on Friday as the price briefly reclaimed $89,000 before moving to its current level. 

Despite the Boxing Day recovery, market sentiment remains cautious, with the Fear & Greed Index at 27, putting it firmly in “Fear” territory. Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index sits at 16, indicating that Bitcoin Season still dominates the market. Bitcoin’s support levels continue to show strength, drawing buyers every time they are tested. The strong support at lower levels has kept Bitcoin above $86,000 and reinforced market confidence. However, recent spot Bitcoin ETF outflows have dampened investor sentiment. According to data from Coinglass, spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded five consecutive days of outflows. 

The investment products registered $142 million in outflows on Monday, followed by another $188 million on Tuesday. Christmas Eve saw spot Bitcoin ETFs register another $175 million in outflows, continuing to exert pressure on BTC’s price action. 

Despite the outflows, Bitcoin’s technical structure is intact as the price stays above its short-term support, keeping expectations of a move past $90,000 alive. However, the flagship cryptocurrency must decisively clear $90,000 to regain bullish momentum. If BTC breaks above this level, it could target $95,000. However, if sellers push the price below $86,000, it could retreat and trade between $82,000 and $84,000. However, analysts expect BTC to remain between $86,000 and $90,000 until the new year. 

BTC started the previous week in bearish territory, dropping 1.99% to $86,417. However, it recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to reclaim $87,000 and settle at $87,854. The price reached an intraday high of $90,336 on Wednesday but lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $86,209. Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to breach the $90,000 ceiling as the flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447. However, selling pressure at upper levels forced BTC into a retreat as it settled at $85,460, down almost 1%. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092.

Source: TradingView

Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday, settling at $88,639. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $90,541 on Monday. However, it lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $88,556, ultimately registering a marginal decline. Selling pressure persisted on Tuesday as the price fell by over 1% to $87,429. BTC registered a marginal increase on Wednesday but lost momentum on Thursday, dropping 0.50% to $87,171. The price is up almost 2% during the ongoing session, trading around $88,692.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The insurance industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by AI-powered predictive systems. As of late 2025, AI enables real-time, individualized risk assessment, automates operations, prevents losses proactively, and unlocks new revenue opportunities—shifting the sector from reactive “detect and repair” to proactive “predict and prevent.” This evolution, powered by machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI, delivers granular insights and efficiencies unattainable with traditional methods, making predictive software adoption a critical factor for long-term investor returns.

The Renaissance of Risk: From Static to Dynamic, Hyper-Personalized Assessment

Traditional risk models rely on imprecise proxies such as credit scores, age, location, and marital status, leading to generalizations, pricing inefficiencies, and adverse selection. AI changes this by processing vast, unstructured datasets from IoT devices, telematics, wearables, satellite imagery, and external sources in near real-time.

This creates high-resolution risk models that enable hyper-segmentation—a “segment of one” approach. For auto insurance, AI evaluates braking patterns, acceleration, cornering speed, and time-of-day driving behavior instead of broad demographics. In property and commercial lines, algorithms integrate climate data and sensor feeds to forecast risks like natural disasters or equipment failures.

The result is dynamic pricing and continuous underwriting cycles. Risk scores update instantly as new data emerges—e.g., a facility installing safety sensors triggers immediate premium adjustments. This precision attracts lower-risk customers at competitive rates, stabilizes loss ratios, and leaves competitors with riskier portfolios, directly boosting profitability and investor appeal.

Industry reports indicate that by 2025, AI improves underwriting accuracy by up to 40%, with the global AI in insurance market projected to grow from around $10-20 billion in 2025 to over $80-140 billion by 2030, at CAGRs exceeding 30-35%.

Revolutionizing Underwriting and Claims: Automation for Efficiency and Profitability

AI drives operational excellence by automating underwriting and claims, reducing labor-intensive processes prone to error. Straight-Through Processing (STP) allows instant application analysis using external data validation, issuing binding decisions in seconds. This scalability supports portfolio growth without proportional headcount increases, lowering expense ratios and improving the combined ratio—a key profitability metric.

In claims management, computer vision analyzes damage photos or videos to assess severity, estimate costs, and flag inconsistencies rapidly. This accelerates settlements, enhances customer satisfaction, and controls expenses.

Algorithmic fraud detection provides quick ROI. Traditional methods are reactive, but AI uses anomaly detection, network analysis, and behavioral patterns to identify synthetic identities or fraud rings proactively. With fraud costing billions annually, even modest reductions significantly enhance margins and often cover AI implementation costs.

The Shift to “Predict and Prevent”: The Greatest Long-Term Value Driver

The most impactful transformation is moving from reactive indemnity to proactive protection. AI not only predicts loss events but intervenes to avert them. In commercial insurance, predictive models forecast equipment failures weeks ahead, alerting clients for maintenance to avoid shutdowns and business-interruption claims. In property, smart-home integrations detect micro-leaks and auto-shut water supplies, converting potential major losses into minor or zero-cost preventions.

This model redefines insurers as essential partners rather than commodity providers. Customers reliant on proactive risk management show higher retention, as they value continuity over minor premium savings. It also creates cross-selling opportunities—predictive signals like home purchases or business expansions enable timely offers of life, umbrella, or specialty coverage.

Rich behavioral data from prevention efforts further refines models, building a competitive moat for early adopters. Leading carriers and insurtechs are already realizing these benefits, with examples including AI-driven alerts from telematics reducing accidents and IoT sensors minimizing property damage.

From an investor perspective, this shift blends traditional insurance stability with software-like growth potential. Companies excelling in AI adoption offer durable advantages in efficiency, customer loyalty, and revenue diversification amid a rapidly expanding market.

The adoption of AI-powered prediction software represents a defining moment for insurance. As the divide widens between innovative leaders and legacy players, predictive capabilities will increasingly determine competitive positioning and investment potential. Investors focused on the sector should prioritize firms demonstrating strong AI integration for sustained outperformance. Always perform independent due diligence, as risks including data privacy, regulatory changes, and implementation challenges remain.

Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) has established itself as one of the premier pure-play beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence revolution. The company designs and sells high-performance, software-driven networking solutions built specifically for large-scale cloud data centers, hyperscale operators, cloud service providers, and increasingly, large enterprises adopting AI workloads at scale.

Explosive Revenue Growth Fueled by AI Demand

Arista continues to deliver exceptional financial results. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported record revenue of $2.31 billion, representing a robust 27.5% year-over-year increase. This marked the company’s 19th consecutive quarter of record revenue, underscoring the durability of its growth trajectory.

Management has provided strong forward guidance, projecting full-year 2025 revenue around $8.87 billion (26–27% growth) and targeting approximately $10.65 billion in 2026, implying roughly 20% year-over-year expansion. A significant portion of this acceleration is driven by Arista’s rapidly growing AI-related networking business, which the company expects to contribute at least $1.5 billion in 2025 and climb to $2.75 billion or more in 2026.

The total addressable market (TAM) for data center networking is expanding dramatically, with industry forecasts pointing to a TAM exceeding $105 billion by 2029. Arista holds a commanding leadership position in the high-speed Ethernet switching segment, particularly in the fastest-growing 800GbE and next-generation platforms that power the most demanding AI training and inference clusters.

Core Competitive Advantages

Several key differentiators set Arista apart in a highly competitive industry:

Extensible Operating System (EOS) — Arista’s single, unified, Linux-based network operating system provides consistent programmability, automation, and feature parity across the entire product portfolio. This software-centric approach dramatically simplifies operations, reduces complexity, and accelerates deployment for massive cloud and AI environments.

Performance leadership — Arista systems deliver industry-leading low latency, high throughput, and power efficiency, critical requirements for the scale-out AI clusters used by the largest hyperscalers.

Open standards and interoperability — Unlike legacy vendors with more proprietary architectures, Arista embraces open networking principles, allowing customers to avoid vendor lock-in and integrate seamlessly with multi-vendor ecosystems.

Scalability and reliability — Designed from the ground up for hyperscale deployments, Arista platforms support hundreds of thousands of ports with exceptional uptime and simplified management.

These advantages have enabled Arista to steadily gain market share, particularly in the high-end data center switching market where it has surpassed legacy players like Cisco in key segments.

Customer Base and Market Momentum

Arista’s primary customers include the world’s largest cloud providers and hyperscalers — companies such as Microsoft, Meta, and others building out next-generation AI infrastructure. The company is also expanding its footprint into additional verticals, including campus networking, secure AI fabrics through strategic partnerships, and enterprise AI adoption.

Investor sentiment remains positive. According to hedge fund tracking data, 92 institutional investors held positions in Arista Networks at the end of Q3 2025, up from 81 in the prior quarter, reflecting continued confidence in the company’s long-term prospects despite periodic volatility driven by supply-chain dynamics, customer mix shifts, and margin commentary.

Why ANET Stands Out in the AI Investment Landscape

While the broader technology sector offers many ways to play the AI megatrend, Arista provides unique exposure to the critical networking layer — the high-speed, reliable, low-latency plumbing that connects thousands of GPUs and accelerators in modern AI factories. Without robust, scalable networking infrastructure, the performance of even the most advanced AI models would be severely constrained.

Arista combines best-in-class technology, proven execution, a rapidly expanding addressable market, and accelerating AI-driven revenue streams. These factors position the company as one of the highest-conviction growth stories in the cloud and AI infrastructure space for the coming years.

As always, investors should conduct their own thorough research and consider their risk tolerance before making investment decisions. Networking remains a highly competitive field, and customer concentration, macroeconomic factors, and execution risks are important considerations.

The Nomani cryptocurrency and investment scam — a ruthless “pig butchering” scheme whose name cynically hints at leaving victims with “no money” — recorded a dramatic 62% year-over-year increase in detections throughout 2025, according to ESET’s latest H2 2025 Threat Report.

First exposed by ESET researchers in December 2024, Nomani has rapidly evolved into one of the most aggressive and technically sophisticated social-media investment fraud operations of the decade, heavily relying on generative AI and hyper-realistic deepfake videos to deceive victims worldwide.

Core Mechanics of the Nomani Scam

Scammers flood platforms (primarily Facebook, Instagram, and increasingly YouTube) with short-lived malicious advertisements that typically run for only a few hours to avoid detection systems.

Typical bait includes:

AI-generated deepfake videos featuring celebrities, influencers, or fabricated “successful investors” promising guaranteed high returns (often 200–500% in weeks/months)

Professionally branded fake company posts mimicking legitimate investment firms

Localized fake news articles claiming government agencies, celebrities, or major corporations are secretly profiting from the same “exclusive” crypto platform

Once users click, they are directed to:

In-platform forms/surveys (abusing legitimate Meta/Google ad tools)

Cloaked phishing pages that only show malicious content to targeted victims

Fake trading dashboards displaying fabricated profits

The classic follow-up trap:

When victims attempt to withdraw “earnings,” they are hit with endless demands for “taxes,” “withdrawal fees,” “compliance deposits,” or additional personal/banking information

In many documented cases, victims are then re-targeted with fake Europol, INTERPOL, or “recovery specialist” offers promising to retrieve lost funds — for yet another fee

Major Technical Upgrades Observed in 2025

ESET analysts documented significant improvements that make Nomani scams far harder to detect:

Deepfake video quality leap — higher resolution, dramatically reduced unnatural facial movements, breathing artifacts, blinking inconsistencies, and vastly improved audio-video synchronization (lip-sync)

Contextual relevance — content frequently ties into current news cycles, trending personalities, or regional events to appear more credible (e.g., fabricated articles claiming Czech government agencies made huge crypto gains)

Cloaking & evasion — non-targeted users or security crawlers see innocent landing pages

In-platform data harvesting — increasing abuse of built-in Facebook/Instagram forms instead of external phishing sites

AI-generated phishing templates — HTML source code shows signs of AI assistance (e.g., auto-generated checkbox comments); many templates originate from GitHub repositories linked to Russian and Ukrainian actors

Over 64,000 unique malicious URLs associated with Nomani were blocked by ESET in 2025, with the heaviest concentration of detections in Czechia, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, and Poland.

Mixed Signals: Hope Amid the Surge

While overall detections rose sharply compared to 2024, the second half of 2025 showed encouraging progress:

→ 37% decrease in detections compared to H1 2025

This decline likely reflects:

Faster platform takedowns

Improved AI scam detection by social networks

Intensified global law enforcement operations targeting large-scale investment fraud rings

Broader Context: Scale of the Social-Media Ad Problem

The Nomani surge coincides with explosive investigative reporting by Reuters revealing the massive role of scam-enabling advertisements on major platforms:

In one year alone, roughly 19% of Meta’s $18 billion ad revenue from China reportedly came from scam, illegal gambling, and other prohibited content

Estimates suggest scam-related ads (including those tied to Nomani-style operations) may have contributed to around 10% of Meta’s entire global revenue in 2024 (~$16 billion)

Essential Protection Tips Against AI-Powered Investment Scams

Treat any unsolicited investment opportunity seen on social media as highly suspicious

Verify claims independently — never use links or contact details provided in ads

Be extremely skeptical of “guaranteed returns,” celebrity endorsements, or urgent “limited time” offers

Enable two-factor authentication everywhere and never share banking/identity details with unknown parties

Use browser extensions and security software with strong real-time phishing and malicious URL protection

Report suspicious ads immediately to the platform (Meta, YouTube, etc.)

Remember the golden rule: If the promised returns sound too good to be true, they almost always are

As generative AI tools become cheaper, faster, and more accessible, scams like Nomani demonstrate how quickly fraudsters can weaponize the technology to target millions — making vigilance and skepticism more important than ever in 2025 and beyond.

Nitin Tandon, Global Chief Information Officer at Vanguard, is spearheading the investment giant’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence to deliver hyper-personalized financial guidance to more than 50 million clients.

With nearly $12 trillion in assets under management and only ~20,000 employees, Tandon sees AI as the only realistic way to close the massive advisor-to-client ratio gap.

Why AI Is Essential for Vanguard’s Future

If you want to offer advice to 50 million clients today, there simply aren’t enough human advisors in the world,

Tandon explains.

He believes advanced AI can:

Dramatically improve operational efficiency

Enable true hyper-personalization at massive scale

Eventually evolve into a trusted, voice-activated digital financial advisor (think Alexa-style conversations about your portfolio, retirement goals, and more)

Current AI Initiatives at Vanguard (2025)

Vanguard is actively testing and rolling out multiple generative AI capabilities:

Internal AI chatbot piloted with ~2,000 employees that answers natural-language questions (“What’s my account balance?”, “How is my portfolio performing?”) while maintaining strict guardrails to prevent hallucinations and unauthorized financial advice

Generative AI-powered client summaries that allow financial advisors to automatically customize language and complexity to match each investor’s financial literacy

Enterprise-wide adoption of tools including Microsoft Copilot, AI coding assistants, content creation platforms for marketers, and automatic meeting transcription/summarization

97% of Vanguard employees now use AI tools regularly — 75% weekly, 50% daily.

Strategic AI Focus Areas

Tandon’s roadmap prioritizes four key pillars:

Superior client experience

Creation of a full-scale digital advisor

Enhanced fraud detection & cybersecurity

Maximum productivity gains for the three roles that benefit most: financial advisors, sales assistants, and software developers

Measuring Real ROI From AI

While exact dollar-for-dollar returns are still difficult to harvest, Tandon is confident in the value.

Productivity improvements are already being quantified through A/B testing (AI users vs. non-AI users), especially for:

Marketers creating content faster

Developers writing code more efficiently

His guiding principle:

As long as AI makes employees more productive, improves client experience, and drives better client outcomes — that’s the win. The productivity gains will follow.

Tandon’s Track Record & Strategic Moves

Since joining Vanguard as CTO in 2019 (promoted to global CIO in 2021), Tandon has led:

An 86% complete enterprise-wide technology modernization

Full migration to public cloud infrastructure

Complete redesign of Vanguard’s website and mobile app

Centralization of previously fragmented data & analytics teams under Chief Data Analytics Officer Ryann Swann

Vanguard has also made strategic investments in generative AI startup Writer and compliance-focused AI company Norm Ai — both tools are already in daily internal use.

The Big Picture

By deeply embedding AI across operations — not through rigid top-down mandates, but by empowering every team with powerful tools and training — Tandon aims to fundamentally reimagine how Vanguard delivers low-cost, high-quality, personalized investing advice to tens of millions of people.

In an era of skyrocketing demand for financial guidance, Vanguard’s AI-first strategy positions it to lead the next generation of digital wealth management and robo-advisory innovation.

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped below $87,000 on Wednesday as hopes of a big move before the new year appeared slim. US stocks opened higher after market data showed the US economy grew at its fastest pace in two years. The S&P 500 also closed at a record level on Tuesday after a revision to third-quarter numbers revealed a 4.3% annualized growth. 

Meanwhile, Bitcoin entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano believes the flagship cryptocurrency’s muted price action towards the end of the year could help prevent a significant crash in Q1 2026. 

Peter Schiff Warns Of Downside Risk 

Bitcoin critic and gold advocate Peter Schiff has warned that Bitcoin (BTC) is losing its bullish narrative. Schiff argued that the asset failed to rally alongside tech stocks and precious metals, adding that it has little upside left. The Bitcoin critic added that if the price cannot rise alongside other assets, it can only fall, and that long-term holders should hope the asset does not face a prolonged decline. 

If Bitcoin won’t go up when tech stocks rise, and it won’t go up when gold and silver rise, when will it go up? The answer is: it won’t. The Bitcoin trade is over. The suckers are all in. If Bitcoin won’t go up, it can only go down. If HODLers are lucky, it won’t be a slow death.

ETF Outflows Could Indicate Liquidity Contraction 

Glassnode believes the sustained ETF outflows could be indicative of liquidity contraction in the crypto market. The analytics platform highlighted that the 30-day moving average of net inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs has been negative since November, indicating a sustained pullback in institutional interest and participation. According to Glassnode, sustained outflows mean institutions are withdrawing capital, leading to an overall contraction in liquidity across the crypto market. 

Since early November, the 30D-SMA of net flows into both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs has turned negative and remained so. This persistence suggests a phase of muted participation and partial disengagement from institutional allocators, reinforcing the broader liquidity contraction across the crypto market.

U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs registered $188.6 million in net outflows on December 23. BlackRock’s IBIT led the outflows with $157 million, while Grayscale’s GBTC registered $10.3 million in outflows. Spot Ethereum ETFs also registered substantial outflows of $95.53 million, with Grayscale’s ETHE accounting for $50 million. 

Is Bitcoin Dominance Increasing? 

Meanwhile, a Wintermute report stated that, despite the notable downside pressure on the crypto market last week, sentiment was stabilizing as Bitcoin’s dominance continued to rise. Altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH), have remained under pressure due to token unlocking schedules and supply overhangs. The platform noted that despite short-term volatility, institutional and retail capital are concentrating in BTC and ETH as the broader market lacks macroeconomic and policy catalysts to trigger a sustained rally. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) extended its downtrend for a third consecutive day as it slipped below $87,000 on Wednesday. The flagship cryptocurrency briefly crossed $90,000 on Monday but failed to sustain momentum, dropping to $88,556. Selling pressure persisted on Tuesday as BTC fell 1.27% to $87,429. The price is down nearly 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $86,898. 

Meanwhile, hopes of a year-end rally are fading as price action remains muted. However, Bitcoin entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano believes this could be a good thing and keep price action stable during the first quarter of 2026. Pompliano stated during an interview, 

Given where the volatility is right now, it would be very surprising that Bitcoin’s volatility has drastically compressed and yet still could get a 70% or 80% drawdown.

Pompliano believes that the short-term failure to reach $250,000 this year has led holders to overlook BTC’s stellar performance so far. He called the flagship cryptocurrency a market monster, stating, 

We have to remember that Bitcoin is up 100% in two years. It’s up almost 300% in three years. It has been compounding. This thing has been a monster in financial markets.

Pompliano added that Bitcoin holders had also failed to notice the decline in Bitcoin price volatility, stating, 

We didn’t get a blowoff top that I think people expected at the end of Q3, or beginning of Q4, but we haven’t seen the big 80% drawdown that people normally expect as well.

Some Bitcoin advocates, including Tom Lee and Arthur Hayes, had predicted the flagship cryptocurrency could reach $250,000 this year. However, not everyone shares the same optimism. Veteran trader Peter Brandt has predicted a drop to $60,000 for the flagship cryptocurrency in Q3 2026. Meanwhile, Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer believes 2026 could be an off year for Bitcoin. 

BTC started the previous week in bearish territory, dropping 1.99% to $86,417. However, it recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to reclaim $87,000 and settle at $87,854. The price reached an intraday high of $90,336 on Wednesday but lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $86,209. Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to breach the $90,000 ceiling as the flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447. However, selling pressure at upper levels forced BTC into a retreat as it settled at $85,460, down almost 1%.

Source: TradingView

Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday, settling at $88,639. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $90,541 on Monday. However, it lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $88,556, ultimately registering a marginal decline. Selling pressure persisted on Tuesday as the price fell over 1% to $87,429. BTC is down nearly 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $96,966.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Russia’s Bank of Russia has introduced a groundbreaking proposal to significantly expand cryptocurrency access for everyday citizens, marking a notable shift from previous restrictive policies. Announced on December 23, 2025, the framework would permit both qualified and non-qualified (retail) investors to buy and sell digital assets through regulated channels, while maintaining strong safeguards.

Here are visuals showing Russian rubles alongside cryptocurrency symbols, illustrating the blending of traditional and digital finance:

Key Details of the Proposed Framework

Crypto and stablecoins would be classified as foreign currency-like assets — tradable and holdable, but strictly prohibited for domestic payments to protect the ruble’s sovereignty.

Non-Qualified (Retail) Investors — Everyday Russians must pass a mandatory risk awareness/knowledge test before trading. Access is restricted to the most liquid cryptocurrencies (specific list to be defined later). Annual purchases are capped at 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,800–$3,846, depending on exchange rates) per licensed intermediary.

Qualified Investors — Those meeting higher criteria (based on experience, income, or assets) face no investment limits but must also pass the risk test. They can trade most cryptocurrencies, except privacy coins using smart contracts that hide transaction details.

The Bank of Russia building in Moscow, the institution driving these changes:

Russians can continue purchasing crypto on overseas exchanges using foreign accounts or transfer holdings internationally via licensed domestic intermediaries — all transactions must be reported to tax authorities.

The proposal builds on prior experimental regimes for qualified participants and aims to enhance market transparency, set service standards, and curb unlicensed operations. Penalties for unauthorized intermediaries are slated to begin in July 2027, with full legislative changes targeted by July 1, 2026.

Parallel Push: Digital Ruble (CBDC) Launch

This crypto initiative aligns with Russia’s ongoing central bank digital currency project. The digital ruble is set for nationwide rollout starting September 1, 2026, with phased merchant adoption:

Large firms (revenue >120 million rubles) must accept it from September 2026

Mid-sized by 2027

All others by 2028

Concept visuals of the digital ruble CBDC in action:

The move reflects Russia’s evolving strategy amid global sanctions — treating crypto as a potential export tool and international settlement option while prioritizing ruble dominance domestically.

Examples of crypto trading interfaces that could incorporate ruble-based limits and warnings under the new rules:

This proposal signals a more pragmatic approach to digital assets in Russia. Investors should monitor official updates from the Bank of Russia for final details and remain cautious of high volatility and regulatory risks. Stay informed on the latest crypto policy developments!

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken decisive action against a sophisticated crypto investment scam that allegedly defrauded American retail investors of over $14 million. Announced on December 22, 2025, the charges highlight the growing dangers of social media-driven fraud in the cryptocurrency space, particularly schemes exploiting WhatsApp group chats and AI-generated signals.

How the Alleged Scam Operated

The operation, which reportedly spanned from January 2024 to January 2025, began with targeted advertisements on popular social media platforms. These ads lured users into joining exclusive “investment clubs” — in reality, coordinated WhatsApp groups where fraudsters impersonated experienced financial professionals.

Here are some common visual examples of how such WhatsApp-based investment scams often appear to victims:

Inside these groups, participants received supposedly AI-powered trading tips and “signals” designed to demonstrate consistent profits and build trust. Victims were then directed to deposit funds into accounts on three purported crypto trading platforms: Morocoin Tech Corp., Berge Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd., and Cirkor Inc..

These platforms falsely claimed to hold legitimate government licenses, but according to the SEC complaint, no actual trading occurred — the sites were entirely fabricated. Funds were misappropriated and transferred overseas through networks of bank accounts and crypto wallets.

The scheme escalated further with promotions of nonexistent security token offerings (STOs) and demands for advance fees when investors attempted withdrawals, resulting in even greater losses. Some individual victims reportedly wired hundreds of thousands to accounts in locations like China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

The named defendants include the three platforms above, plus four investment clubs: AI Wealth Inc., Lane Wealth Inc., AI Investment Education Foundation Ltd., and Zenith Asset Tech Foundation.

SEC’s Strong Response and Warnings

Laura D’Allaird, Chief of the SEC’s Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit, emphasized:

This matter highlights an all-too-common form of investment scam… Our complaint alleges a multi-step fraud that attracted victims with ads on social media, built victims’ trust in group chats… then convinced victims to put their money into fake crypto asset trading platforms where it was misappropriated.

The SEC filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, alleging violations of anti-fraud provisions under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The agency seeks permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and disgorgement with interest from the platforms.

Alongside the charges, the SEC released an investor alert titled “Group Chats as a Gateway to Investment Scams”, cautioning against relying on unsolicited advice from unknown participants in social media or messaging app groups.

SEC logo and crypto scam warnings — stay vigilant:

Key Protection Tips from the SEC

Never trust investment advice from strangers in group chats.

Verify any promoter or platform through official channels like Investor.gov.

Be suspicious of promises of guaranteed profits, especially involving crypto or AI tools.

Avoid sending funds to unverified platforms or paying advance fees for withdrawals.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks in unregulated crypto investments, particularly those promoted via social media and messaging apps. Always conduct independent research and consult licensed professionals before investing. For the latest updates, check the official SEC press release. Stay safe in the digital asset space!

George Town, Cayman Islands, December 23rd, 2025, Chainwire

First-of-its-kind DEX eliminates wrapped tokens and centralized exchanges, enabling direct native asset swaps across multiple blockchains

THORChain announced today the public beta launch of swap.thorchain.org, a dedicated DeFi swap interface designed to serve as the protocol’s primary front-end for seamless cross-chain cryptocurrency trading. The platform enables users to swap native digital assets directly across blockchain networks without relying on wrapped tokens, bridges, or centralized exchanges.

Built as infrastructure for the decentralized finance community, the new interface represents THORChain’s commitment to making trustless cross-chain swaps accessible to both newcomers and experienced traders alike.

With this interface, we’re providing the community with a dedicated home base – a place where THORChain is prioritized above all else.

Key Features of the Beta Release

The swap interface introduces several innovative capabilities:

Universal Wallet Compatibility: Users can swap BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, TRX, DOGE, BCH, LTC, AVAX, and ATOM with any self custody wallet.

Optional Wallet Connection: Users are not required to connect their wallet to the website to place a swap.

True Native Asset Swaps: Direct trading between blockchains, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Avalanche, and Cosmos, without bridging wrapped tokens.

Open Source Architecture: Built with transparency for the entire ecosystem

Streamlined User Experience: Clean, intuitive interface designed to minimize friction

The platform is designed to drive transaction volume directly to THORChain while giving the development team control over user experience and routing logic – enabling active protocol growth aligned with community values.

Roadmap and Official Launch

The current beta release allows early users to test the platform and provide feedback ahead of the official launch planned for Q1 2026.

Planned enhancements include:

Expanded support for thousands of additional tokens across multiple chains

Enhanced user interface with improved onboarding and routing visibility

Integration of additional THORChain protocol features, including bonding and liquidity providing

Community-driven iterations based on user feedback

Availability

The THORChain swap interface is available now at swap.thorchain.org and accessible via any standard web browser.

This release marks a beta version of the platform, which is expected to undergo further development ahead of the planned Q1 2026 launch. Community feedback is being collected to inform ongoing improvements.

About THORChain

THORChain is a decentralized exchange protocol that enables native cross-chain asset swaps without wrapped tokens or centralized intermediaries. As trustless infrastructure, THORChain powers swaps for wallets, aggregators, and exchanges across the cryptocurrency ecosystem, facilitating seamless interoperability between blockchain networks.

For more information, users can visit thorchain.org.

Media Contact:

THORChain Community

[email protected]

Contact

THORChain
[email protected]

Bitcoin (BTC) stumbled at the $90,000 mark yet again, losing momentum after reaching an intraday high of $90,541 on Monday before settling at $88,556. The flagship cryptocurrency is down over 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $87,475.

Meanwhile, perpetual open interest (OI) has registered a sharp jump as traders anticipate a year-end rally. Perpetual open interest rose from 304,000 to 310,000 Bitcoin, while funding rates also doubled. 

Gold Hits Another Record High 

Gold surged over 2% on Monday, reaching a record high of $4,475 per ounce. The jump, part of a larger rally in precious metals, has left Bitcoin (BTC) reeling, as it struggles to gain momentum. Investor capital flowed towards safe-haven assets and equities, while Bitcoin briefly crossed $90,000 before retreating to $88,000, in what is becoming an all-too-familiar story. The current divergence is testing Bitcoin’s digital gold narrative as gold surges to record levels. Silver also reached a record high of $70 per ounce, with analysts noting that the metal’s recent performance rivalled Bitcoin’s returns over the long term. Analysts from ByteTree noted, 

</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bitcoiners can’t ignore the bull market in precious metals, which continues to roar. I suspect that when the rally runs out of steam, Bitcoin will step in.

Investors are also pumping capital into AI-linked tokens and infrastructure. Alphabet recently announced the acquisition of energy infrastructure firm Intersect, highlighting rising demand for data center capacity. 

Congress Delays Crypto Legislation, Triggers $1 Billion In Outflows 

Crypto investment products registered nearly $1 billion in outflows last week. CoinShares attributed the outflows to regulatory uncertainty caused by delays in passing the CLARITY Act. US-based crypto ETPs registered $990 million in outflows, some of which were offset by inflows recorded by German and Canadian crypto ETPs. Ethereum products registered $555 million in outflows, followed by Bitcoin with $460 million. 

The CLARITY Act will regulate cryptocurrencies and crypto assets under a clear regime, allowing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to clearly distinguish their regulatory responsibilities. The US House of Representatives passed the bill in July. However, White House crypto and AI czar, David Sacks, has said the bill’s markup has been delayed to January. 

Miner Capitulation Suggests Bottom Is Near: VanEck 

VanEck analysts believe Bitcoin’s hashrate falling to 4% could be a positive development for its price as miner capitulation has historically been a “bullish contrarian signal.” VanEck crypto research lead Matt Sigel and senior investment analyst Patrick Bush stated in a report, 

When hash rate compression persists over longer periods, positive forward returns tend to occur more often and with greater magnitude.

The analysts stated that since 2014, the flagship cryptocurrency’s 90-day forward returns have been positive 65% of the time whenever the network’s hashrate has declined, compared to 54% when the hashrate rose. The pattern held over longer periods as well, with a negative 90-day hashrate growth followed by a 77% positive return over the next 180 days and an average gain of 72%, comfortably outperforming the 61% positive returns when the hashrate increased over the same period. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) failed to reclaim $90,000 on Monday despite reaching an intraday high of $90,541. The flagship cryptocurrency lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $88,556. The price is down over 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $87,580. 

However, Glassnode has reported that perpetual open interest is rising as traders anticipate a big move before the end of the year. According to Glassnode, perpetual open interest rose from 304,000 to 310,000 Bitcoin as the flagship cryptocurrency briefly encountered $90,000 before retreating. The funding rate has also risen from 0.04% to 0.09%, suggesting derivatives traders expect a big move by the end of the year. 

With the price back above $90K, perpetual open interest has risen from 304K to 310K </span></i><a href="https://coinstats.app/coins/bitcoin/"><b><i>BTC</i></b></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (~2% increase), while the funding rate has heated up from 0.04% to 0.09%. This combination signals a renewed buildup in leveraged long positioning, as perpetual traders position for a potential year-end move.

Bitcoin perpetuals are futures contracts that can be held indefinitely and track Bitcoin’s spot price through the funding rate, a periodic payment between traders holding long and short positions. When the funding rate rises, it means perpetual prices are rising above spot prices, and traders are bullish, willing to pay premiums to hold long positions. Alternatively, it can also indicate overheating as high finding rates could indicate overleveraged longs and a possible correction. 

BTC started the previous week in bearish territory, dropping 1.99% to $86,417. However, it recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to reclaim $87,000 and settle at $87,854. The price reached an intraday high of $90,336 on Wednesday but lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $86,209. Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to breach the $90,000 ceiling as the flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447. However, selling pressure at upper levels forced BTC into a retreat as it settled at $85,460, down almost 1%.

Source: TradingView

Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday, settling at $88,639. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $90,541 on Monday. However, it lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $88,556, ultimately registering a marginal decline. The price is down over 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $87,552.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Pocket Option stands out as a popular platform for binary options and short-term trading, attracting millions with its intuitive interface, diverse assets, and advanced features like social copy trading and built-in AI assistance.

Many users enjoy casual trades on volatile price movements, while others pursue steady growth or even use passive options for idle funds. Questions often arise about whether reliable monthly gains are truly achievable amid all the advanced support available.

This guide separates widespread misconceptions from evidence-based truths, drawing on core trading principles, platform capabilities, and realistic outcomes.

Myth 1: Reliable Monthly Gains Are Impossible on Pocket Option

Reality: Structured discipline makes ongoing success attainable.

Results hinge on personal execution, not just platform features. Numerous active users demonstrate positive track records through transparent profile stats, leaderboards, and copy trading options.

Successful participants typically share these habits:

Commitment to one proven approach without constant switches

Patience to avoid unfavorable conditions

Defined criteria for entering and closing positions

Controlled position sizes to protect capital

Regular review of past performance for ongoing improvement

Platform tools make it simple to verify these patterns by examining real trader histories.

Key takeaway: Sustainable results demand a methodical system rather than luck.

Myth 2: Price Movements on the Platform Are Purely Random

Reality: Markets exhibit recognizable patterns driven by real factors.

While sudden shifts can occur due to liquidity or sentiment changes, prices respond to technical structures, economic releases, and session dynamics.

Pocket Option sources data from live feeds, allowing analysis via support/resistance zones, retracement tools, chart formations, and indicators.

A slight edge (around 53-55% accuracy) combined with favorable risk-reward ratios can yield positive expectancy over time. Trends often persist, volatility rises during events, and key levels frequently hold significance.

Professional traders across markets have built wealth by exploiting these elements — the same logic applies here.

Key takeaway: Informed analysis based on observable patterns outperforms random speculation.

Myth 3: Quick Trading Mode Relies Solely on Chance

Reality: Built-in resources reduce uncertainty and support informed choices.

This fast-paced mode benefits from enhancements like:

AI-generated suggestions for direction and timing

Filters to minimize misleading alerts during high-impact news

Extensive technical indicators for confirmation

Ability to follow and learn from top performers via copy trading

Built-in risk controls (e.g., order types)

These features guide decisions without guaranteeing wins, but they promote more calculated entries compared to pure intuition.

Key takeaway: Leveraging platform resources enhances short-term predictability.

Myth 4: Variable Returns on Assets Prevent Long-Term Success

Reality: Flexibility and smart selection maintain an advantage.

Payout rates (often up to 92% on many assets, depending on conditions) adjust with market dynamics. Experienced traders adapt by:

Focusing on pairs that match their system

Sidestepping extreme volatility periods

Prioritizing high-probability setups with strong indicator alignment

Long-term stability comes from consistent positive expectancy, not perfect win rates or fixed returns.

Key takeaway: Adapting to changing conditions is essential for sustained performance.

Myth 5: Developing a Dependable Trading System Is Unrealistic

Reality: Effective approaches are straightforward and repeatable.

Top performers rely on basic, high-conviction setups like trend following, range-bound plays, or clear breakouts. They avoid emotional reversals on losing positions and focus on quality over quantity.

Many apply these daily with success, emphasizing risk management and pattern recognition over complexity.

Key takeaway: Simple, rule-based systems deliver reliability when followed consistently.

Final Thoughts on Pocket Option Profitability in 2025

Achieving steady results on Pocket Option is realistic for those who prioritize discipline, education, and risk control over quick wins. Features like AI assistance, social trading, and demo practice support skill-building.

Trading always involves risk — only use funds you can afford to lose. Start with demo testing, develop a tested plan, and focus on long-term edge.

Have you encountered any of these misconceptions? Share your experiences or suggest other topics to explore!

Beacon Bay, East London, South Africa, December 23rd, 2025, FinanceWire

Headway NOVA, a platform for tokenized investment in the real estate market, has announced it has received two major industry awards:

1st Most Trusted Financial Company – Community Choice 2025

by TrustFinance and Real Estate Investment Firm of the Year by Corporate LiveWire.

This dual recognition from both the public and industry experts not only shows the prominence and importance of the emerging real-world asset tokenization market but also proves Headway NOVA’s success in building a secure, transparent, and accessible platform for tokenized real estate investing. The platform’s approach has attracted user interest, reflecting ongoing demand for technology aimed at broadening access to traditionally limited investment opportunities. The awards recognize the company’s efforts in increasing accessibility within this market.

Prestigious recognition

Headway NOVA has earned two significant honors that validate its market position. One award, “1st Most Trusted Financial Company – Community Choice 2025” is based entirely on investor feedback from an independent global review platform, highlighting the trust the company has built through its secure and user-friendly platform. Following this, Headway NOVA was named “Real Estate Investment Firm of the Year” at the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025, recognizing the company’s strategic approach and industry impact. This recognition reflects a rigorous evaluation process and demonstrates the company’s ability to meet the highest industry standards.

The judging panel highlighted Headway NOVA’s development of strategic partnerships with real estate professionals, which facilitate the selection of high-performing properties for tokenization. This approach enables access to select real estate markets, including regions such as the UAE, where the sector has shown continued growth.

Through innovation to success

Headway NOVA’s growth is driven by three distinct platform features designed to broaden access to real estate investment. The platform provides global availability, enabling users worldwide to engage with premium real estate markets with entry points starting at $25. Additionally, an installment option allows purchases to be divided into four payments over a three-month period without interest or additional fees, aimed at enhancing financial accessibility.

The launch of NOVA 2.0 represents a major technological advancement where all properties launch directly in Active status, meaning investors start earning rental dividends immediately upon purchase. All legal arrangements and tenant agreements are finalized before tokens become available, ensuring income flows from day one. The upgraded platform delivers enhanced liquidity through a secondary market for token trading, transparent payout schedules, and a refined user interface. These innovations combine blockchain security with user-friendly accessibility, positioning Headway NOVA at the forefront of the real-world asset tokenization market.

Going strong into 2026

As of late 2025, Headway NOVA provides access to tokenized real estate investment opportunities across three Dubai districts: Jumeirah Village Circle, MBR City, and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The platform lists tokens priced between $25 and $67, with recent company estimates indicating potential annual returns of up to 20%, depending on property performance. Investors receive rental distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis, and token valuations reflect changes in underlying property market prices. According to the company, the platform has registered participation from over 70,000 users across more than 130 countries.

About Headway NOVA

Headway NOVA is a global investment platform that offers fractional digital shares in real estate with rental potential. Investors can start with as little as $25 and gain access to rental dividends and potential property appreciation through a secure, mobile-first platform.

The company holds an investment license from the FSCA, South Africa, enabling Headway NOVA to operate within regulated frameworks and serve investors worldwide.

To learn more about Headway NOVA and see the full selection of its investment projects, users can visit hwnova.site or download the app from Google Play or App Store.

Contact

PR manager
Niki Miller
Headway Nova
[email protected]

In a groundbreaking development for Asia’s digital asset landscape, Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority (IA) has unveiled draft guidelines that would permit the city’s insurance firms to direct funds toward cryptocurrencies and regulated stablecoins. This initiative positions Hong Kong as the leading Asian hub pioneering clear pathways for institutional involvement in blockchain-based assets.

The proposed regulatory updates, detailed in a recent presentation reviewed by major financial outlets, introduce structured capital requirements designed to balance innovation with financial stability. Digital assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies would face a full 100% capital risk weighting, meaning insurers must hold reserves equal to their entire exposure. This prudent measure acknowledges the inherent price volatility while explicitly endorsing such investments as permissible.

In contrast, investments in Hong Kong-regulated stablecoins would benefit from lower risk weightings aligned with the credit profile of their underlying fiat reserves, making them a more attractive entry point for risk-averse institutions seeking exposure to digital finance.

Hong Kong’s vibrant insurance industry, comprising 158 licensed entities, generated HK$635.2 billion (approximately $82 billion) in total premiums during 2024. Analysts suggest that even modest portfolio allocations—potentially 1-5%—from this substantial pool could inject billions in fresh institutional capital into the cryptocurrency ecosystem, enhancing market depth and liquidity.

This forward-thinking approach aligns with Hong Kong’s broader strategy to solidify its role as a premier international center for virtual assets. The city has already pioneered retail-accessible spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and established a comprehensive licensing system for crypto trading platforms. Additionally, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) implemented a dedicated stablecoin issuer framework in August 2025, with initial licenses anticipated in early 2026.

The draft also incorporates incentives for insurers to fund key infrastructure initiatives, including developments in the Northern Metropolis area bordering mainland China. This dual focus on digital assets and strategic projects underscores efforts to leverage private sector funds for economic growth.

How Hong Kong’s Crypto Regulations Compare Across Asia in 2025

Hong Kong’s progressive stance creates a clear contrast with neighboring financial powerhouses:

Singapore: Emphasizes stringent consumer safeguards, including bans on credit-financed crypto purchases and mandatory risk assessments for individual traders, while maintaining restrictions on promotional activities.

South Korea: Continues phased relaxation of prior restrictions, permitting certain nonprofits and public companies to engage in trading by late 2025, but sustains prohibitions on direct holdings by banking and insurance sectors.

Japan: Presently classifies cryptocurrencies outside standard eligible assets for insurers, though ongoing reviews could lead to limited institutional access starting in 2026.

By offering dedicated institutional channels, Hong Kong distinguishes itself as the region’s preferred conduit for large-scale cryptocurrency inflows.

Timeline and Industry Input

Stakeholders can expect a formal industry feedback phase followed by an open public consultation spanning February to April 2026. This window will enable discussions on critical aspects such as secure custody arrangements, accurate asset valuation methodologies, and comprehensive risk mitigation strategies. Following feedback integration, the refined guidelines will advance to legislative review.

Industry experts anticipate active participation, with some firms advocating for adjustments to risk weightings or expanded qualifying asset classes. The outcome could influence not only local adoption but also serve as a benchmark for emerging frameworks elsewhere in Asia.

Implications for Cryptocurrency Adoption and Institutional Investment

This regulatory evolution represents a pivotal step toward mainstream integration of digital assets in traditional finance. By providing a supervised avenue for insurers—one of the most conservative investor classes—to participate, Hong Kong aims to drive sustained growth in cryptocurrency markets while upholding robust safeguards.

As global interest in blockchain technology intensifies, these developments reinforce Hong Kong’s competitive edge in attracting crypto-related businesses and capital. Market observers will track the consultation outcomes closely, as final implementation could accelerate broader institutional engagement across the region.

Cryptocurrency markets continue to exhibit significant price swings, even as adoption grows. Bitcoin reached an all-time high above $126,000 in October 2025 before correcting sharply, now trading around $89,000 as of late December. This inherent unpredictability underscores the need for careful risk management when allocating to digital assets.

Experts emphasize treating cryptocurrencies like any other high-growth category: limit exposure, spread holdings, and apply proven tactics to smooth returns. With the rapid expansion of crypto-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) throughout 2025—including spot products for Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and others—investors now have more tools to build resilient positions.

Determine Suitable Allocation Levels for Digital Assets

Start by assessing how much of your overall investments should go toward cryptocurrencies. Factors like age, financial goals, and tolerance for fluctuations play a key role. Many professionals recommend capping crypto at 5% or less in a diversified lineup, with some opting for 1-3% to keep impacts manageable.

To offset potential sharp moves in crypto, consider balancing the rest of your holdings toward more stable options, such as fixed-income securities or defensively positioned equities.

Spread Exposure Across Multiple Digital Assets

While Bitcoin dominates by market value, incorporating other established coins like Ethereum and Solana can help capture broader blockchain developments. These alternatives often serve distinct purposes—Ethereum for smart contracts, Solana for high-speed transactions—potentially enhancing overall performance when adjusted for risk.

Note that most altcoins tend to move in tandem with Bitcoin during major trends, limiting perfect uncorrelated benefits. Some newer tokens may behave more like high-growth technology shares, influenced by speculative sentiment rather than long-term value storage.

Leverage Expanding Crypto ETF Options for Broader Access

The ETF ecosystem exploded in 2025, with approvals for spot funds tracking Solana, XRP, Litecoin, Hedera, and multi-asset baskets. This growth allows easier entry into varied coins without direct custody challenges.

Index-style products provide built-in spreading:

Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF (GDLC) follows the top five liquid assets by capitalization, with automatic quarterly adjustments.

Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW) includes ten major tokens, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and others, rebalanced monthly for evolving market leadership.

These funds heavily favor leading coins but offer convenient, regulated vehicles for multi-coin strategies.

Implement Systematic Buying and Periodic Adjustments

Mitigate timing risks by investing fixed amounts at regular intervals, averaging entry points across market cycles. This approach helps navigate ups and downs without trying to predict peaks or bottoms.

Routine reviews ensure no single holding dominates due to outsized gains. Selling portions of outperformers and redirecting to underperformers maintains target weights, a discipline often overlooked in fast-moving markets but essential for long-term stability.

Partner with Knowledgeable Professionals

Advisors experienced in digital assets can guide balanced integration, including using crypto as an inflation offset alongside traditional elements. As mainstream acceptance rises, more planners incorporate these tools, viewing them as complements to extended equity holdings in modern retirement planning.

Some products now mimic fixed-income roles, generating yields through options strategies or structured payouts.

Explore Protected Structures for Controlled Exposure

For those seeking participation with built-in safeguards, consider ETFs offering buffered outcomes. Calamos provides a series like the Bitcoin Structured Alt Protection ETFs (e.g., CBOJ for full principal safeguard over annual periods), capping upside in exchange for defined loss limits (100%, 90%, or 80% protection levels).

These come with associated costs but appeal to cautious entrants prioritizing capital preservation amid uncertainty.

By combining limited sizing, multi-asset ETFs, disciplined habits, and protective options, investors can pursue cryptocurrency opportunities while addressing its core challenges in 2025 and beyond.

Bitcoin (BTC) has reclaimed $89,000 after starting the week in positive territory. The flagship cryptocurrency is up over 1%, trading around $89,030 as it looks to retest the $90,000 mark. 

Investors hope a break above $90,000 could ignite a rally, driving the price towards $100,000. However, such a move appears unlikely in the short term. 

Market indicators suggest traders remain hesitant following a breakdown early in the month. However, broader fundamentals indicate Bitcoin is consolidating rather than declining. 

Gold Surges To New Highs 

Bitcoin (BTC) crossed $89,000 early on Monday as markets opened in positive territory. Traders are positioning themselves across equities, commodities, and crypto, as liquidity thins out over the holiday week. The crypto markets held steady over the weekend, with the market cap up almost 1% at $3.01 trillion. 

Meanwhile, US stock futures also pushed higher, building on a 0.9% increase by the S&P 500 on Friday. Oil prices rose as tensions between the US and Venezuela continued escalating, as President Trump intensified action against Venezuelan tanker flows. Meanwhile, gold jumped to a new record of $4,383.73 per ounce, as expectations of rate cuts in 2026 grew. Rising demand for safe-haven assets and a softer dollar have also boosted gold prices. Meanwhile, 10X Research stated the market is quietly de-risking, adding, 

Futures positioning, ETF flows, and option markets are sending a coordinated signal about how traders are de-risking into year-end.

Hong Kong Could Allow Insurers To Invest In Crypto 

Hong Kong is mulling a new law that could allow insurance firms to invest in cryptocurrencies. According to reports, the move will be the first time its insurance regulator outlines how insurance firms could add crypto to their balance sheets. The draft framework states that crypto assets will be subject to a 100$ risk charge, meaning insurance firms must hold capital equal to their crypto exposure. This makes crypto investments possible, but at a very high cost. Meanwhile, risk charges for stablecoins will be linked to the fiat currency they are pegged to if the issuer is regulated in Hong Kong. 

The proposal comes as Hong Kong continues building its digital asset framework. It recently approved a stablecoin licensing regime, requiring issuers to hold at least HK$25 million in paid-up capital and back tokens with liquid assets. As of June 2025, Hong Kong has 58 authorized insurers, with the industry generating $82 billion in gross premiums in 2024. 

Tom Lee Addresses Recent Controversy 

Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee has responded to a recent post on X, which flagged conflicting outlooks over Bitcoin’s price action between Fundstrat’s Sean Farrell and Lee. The controversy began after an X user shared screenshots highlighting conflicting outlooks from the Fundstrat leadership. It highlighted a comment by Fundstrat’s head of digital asset strategy, Sean Farrell. Farrell outlined a base case in which Bitcoin could drop to $60,000 in 2026. Another comment highlighted Lee’s public comments, which suggested the flagship cryptocurrency could surge to new all-time highs in early 2026. The comments gained significant traction online and drew a response from a user claiming to be a Fundstrat client. 

The user explained that Fundstrat’s senior management works with different mandates, distinguishing between technical analysis, portfolio-level risk management, and long-term macro views. The post added that Farrell’s comments reflected a defensive positioning that focused on drawdown risk, flows, and cost bases. On the other hand, Lee’s role focused on macro liquidity cycles and structural shifts, including the idea that institutional adoption is changing Bitcoin’s four-year cycle. Lee acknowledged and responded to the post, a move interpreted as an agreement with the explanation. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $89,500 as it inches towards the $90,000 mark. The flagship cryptocurrency registered a sharp increase on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered a marginal increase and settled at $88,639. The price crossed $89,000 on Monday, up over 1% at $89,500. 

Bitcoin is being supported by expectations of inflation easing and a shifting rate cut outlook. The latest CPI data has reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could initiate more rate cuts in 2026. Additionally, institutional interest remains steady, with spot Bitcoin ETFs registering consistent inflows. The investment products registered $457 million in inflows on Wednesday. However, Thursday registered $161 million in outflows, and $158 million on Friday. Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus, commented on Bitcoin’s current price structure and near-term prospects, stating, 

Dense liquidity around this level is turning it into a trading resistance, with buyers waiting for confirmation and sellers using strength to hedge […] Altcoins reflect this caution, with strength appearing only in pockets rather than as a broad rotation […] Treat this as a consolidation phase. Avoid chasing moves near $90,000, watch the $86,000-$87,000 support zone closely, and add exposure only if Bitcoin can sustain a break above $92,000 with improving volumes.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan’s move to hike interest rates failed to support the yen, which crashed to record lows. Authorities have hinted at intervening if the decline continues. 

BTC started the previous week in bearish territory, dropping 1.99% to $86,417. However, it recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to reclaim $87,000 and settle at $87,854. The price reached an intraday high of $90,336 on Wednesday but lost momentum after reaching this level and settled at $86,209. Bitcoin bulls made another attempt to breach the $90,000 ceiling as the flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447. However, selling pressure at upper levels forced BTC into a retreat as it settled at $85,460, down almost 1%.

Source: TradingView

Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC registered marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday, settling at $88,639. The price is up over 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $89,500 as buyers look to reclaim $90,000. If BTC reclaims $90,000, it could retest the $94,000 level. A break above this level could drive it towards $100,000. However, if selling pressure returns, the price could see a deeper correction to $80,000.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The cryptocurrency market edged higher over the weekend as Bitcoin (BTC) held its position above $88,000. The flagship cryptocurrency briefly dipped to a low of $87,870 early on Sunday before rebounding and moving to $88,606, up almost 1% over the past 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, Fundstrat has warned of a massive Bitcoin correction to $60,000 by mid-2026, citing weakening demand indicators. 

Arthur Hayes Believes Bitcoin (BTC) Will Reclaim $124,000 

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has said the Federal Reserve’s Reserve Management Purchases (RMP) program is “QE in disguise” and predicted that liquidity could drive Bitcoin higher. Hayes believes the flagship cryptocurrency will trade between $80,000 and $100,000 in the near term, before reclaiming $124,000 and potentially crossing $200,000. According to Hayes’s accounting analysis, the RMP purchases short-term Treasury bills from money market funds, redeploying the proceeds into repo markets or longer-dated Treasuries. Hayes stated,

 

While RMP purchases are technically smaller in absolute magnitude than past QE programs ($40 billion monthly), the structural mechanism creates equivalent monetary expansion.

Speaking about Bitcoin, Hayes predicted price action will remain between $80,000 and $100,000 in the near term. However, the BitMEX co-founder expects a significant jump once the market fully understands RMP’s quantitative easing nature. Hayes predicts Bitcoin will reclaim $124,000 and possibly move towards $200,000 by mid-2026. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) remains in positive territory over the weekend, looking to retest the $90,000 ceiling. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,365 on Friday before settling at $88,092. Price action remained positive on Saturday with BTC rising to $88,324. The flagship cryptocurrency is up 0.30% during the ongoing session, trading around $88,571. 

While Hayes is optimistic about Bitcoin, Fundstrat has advised clients to prepare for a major Bitcoin price correction to $60,000 in the first half of 2026. Fundstrat Head of Digital Asset Strategy, Sean Farrell, outlined a base case for a 2026 correction, predicting a drop to $60,000 for Bitcoin. Fundstrat had previously predicted that Q4 2025 would be bullish, setting a price target of $150,000 for BTC. However, the flagship cryptocurrency has remained below $90,000, indicating demand is fading, and bearish signals are growing. Wu Blockchain noted in a post on X, 

According to Kuai Dong, Tom Lee’s fund, Fundstrat, stated in its latest 2026 cryptocurrency strategy advice to internal clients that a significant correction is expected in the first half of the year, completely contradicting Tom Lee’s public statements. The internal report sets target prices at </span></i><a href="https://coinstats.app/coins/bitcoin/"><b><i>BTC</i></b></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> $60,000-$65,000.

Farrell made a similar prediction for Ethereum, stating it could slip below $2,000. The crypto sleuth highlighted that the prediction contradicts Fundstrat founder Tom Lee’s public statements. Lee said last week that Ethereum at $3,000 was severely undervalued, and has predicted a move to $15,000 for the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency. Wu stated, 

This comes just moments after Tom Lee stated at Binance Week that Ethereum at $3,000 is severely undervalued. He previously predicted Ethereum would reach $15,000 by the end of 2025.

BTC started the previous week in positive territory, rising 0.28% to $90,653. Buyers retained control as the price reached an intraday high of $94,640 before settling at $92,690, ultimately increasing 2.25%. However, it lost momentum on Wednesday, dropping 0.71% to $92,035. The price fell to an intraday low of $89,257 on Thursday as selling pressure intensified. However, it rebounded from this level to reclaim $90,000 and settle at $92,542. The price returned to bearish territory on Friday, dropping 2.45% to $90,278.

Source: TradingView

Price action remained bearish over the weekend with BTC registering a marginal drop on Saturday and 2.31% on Sunday, slipping below $90,000 to $88,171. Sellers retained control on Monday as the price fell 1.99% to $86,417. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to $87,854. The price briefly crossed $90,000 on Wednesday and settled at $90,336. However, it failed to stay at this level and settled at $86,209. BTC reached an intraday high of $89,447 on Thursday before losing momentum and settling at $85,460. The price recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. Price action has remained positive over the weekend, with BTC registering marginal increases on Saturday and Sunday and settling at $88,684.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Bitcoin (BTC) bulls are battling to break above the $89,000-$90,000 price ceiling. However, bears continue to sell on rallies, thwarting a move higher. 

The flagship cryptocurrency battled selling pressure to reach an intraday high of $89,365 on Friday before settling at $88,092. Bulls are trying to break the sell pressure at $90,000 and start a recovery. 

Meanwhile, US equities are showing momentum and boosting crypto-related stocks like Galaxy and BitMine. 

Blockstream CEO Pushes Back Against Bitcoin Quantum Threat 

Blockstream CEO Adam Back has criticized claims that Bitcoin (BTC) is facing an imminent quantum threat. Back criticized Carter Island Ventures founding partner Nic Carter for amplifying the claims after the latter explained why his company had invested in Project Eleven, a startup developing defenses against quantum attacks on Bitcoin and other crypto networks. Back accused Carter of creating unnecessary fear, stating, 

You make uninformed noise and try to move the market or something. You’re not helping.

Back stated that the Bitcoin ecosystem is not ignoring the quantum threat, adding that developers are working on counteracting the threat without making it into a public spectacle. However, Carter countered Back’s argument, stating that the Bitcoin developer community is unwilling to confront the threat, claiming they were in “total denial” about the possibility of powerful quantum machines undermining Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundations. 

CLARITY Act Unlikely To Have Significant Impact On Bitcoin: Brandt 

Veteran trader Peter Brandt believes the CLARITY Act won’t have a significant impact on Bitcoin (BTC) price action. Market experts believe the legislation could pass Congress as early as January. Brandt stated in an interview, 

Is it a world-shaking macro development? Nope. Needed for sure, but not something that should redefine value. Having an asset regulated, particularly an asset for which die-hard investors never wanted to be regulated, is not an earth-shattering event.

Solo Bitcoin Miner Wins $271,000 Block Reward 

A solo Bitcoin miner beat overwhelming odds to mine an entire Bitcoin block, renting hashpower from the NiceHash marketplace. The solo miner discovered block 928,351, winning the standard block subsidy and transaction fee for a total payout of $271,000 from an initial investment of $86. The block was mined outside a major mining pool, allowing the miner to claim the entire reward. 

Bitcoin’s network hashrate is dominated by large industrial mining operations using specialized hardware. This is why the odds of a solo miner mining a block are extremely low. Most miners pool their resources into mining pools to improve their chances of mining a block and earning rewards. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) is struggling to reclaim $90,000 as bulls struggle to maintain momentum. The flagship cryptocurrency crossed $89,000 on Friday and reached an intraday high of $89,365. However, momentum fizzled out, and it settled at $88,092. The price is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $88,114. 

BTC’s brief push above $89,000 comes despite the Bank of Japan hiking interest rates to 0.75% on Friday. While a Bank of Japan rate hike is considered bearish for risk assets, BitMEX co-founder Alex Hayes was optimistic and asked followers not to “fight the BOJ.” 

Don’t fight the BOJ: -ve real rates is the explicit policy. JPY to 200, and $</span></i><a href="https://coinstats.app/coins/bitcoin/"><b><i>BTC</i></b></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to a milly.

Meanwhile, Temple 8 Research flagged a standoff between market expectations and economic reality, stating, 

The market sees a hawkish pivot. We see a political ceiling. You cannot floor the gas (Fiscal Stimulus) while slamming the brakes (Rate Hikes). If rates go to 1.5%, interest payments on this new debt explode.

BTC started the previous week in positive territory, rising 0.28% to $90,653. Buyers retained control as the price reached an intraday high of $94,640 before settling at $92,690, ultimately increasing 2.25%. However, it lost momentum on Wednesday, dropping 0.71% to $92,035. The price fell to an intraday low of $89,257 on Thursday as selling pressure intensified. However, it rebounded from this level to reclaim $90,000 and settle at $92,542. The price returned to bearish territory on Friday, dropping 2.45% to $90,278.

Source: TradingView

Price action remained bearish over the weekend as BTC registered a marginal drop on Saturday and 2.31% on Sunday, slipping below $90,000 to $88,171. Sellers retained control on Monday as the price fell 1.99% to $86,417. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to $87,854. The price briefly crossed $90,000 on Wednesday and settled at $90,336. However, it failed to stay at this level and settled at $86,209. BTC reached an intraday high of $89,447 on Thursday before losing momentum and settling at $85,460. The price recovered on Friday, rising over 3% to $88,092. The flagship cryptocurrency is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $88,120.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Bitcoin (BTC) is attempting a push towards $90,000 after recovering from an intraday low of $84,460. The flagship cryptocurrency lost momentum late on Thursday but bounced back to reclaim $85,000, moving to its current level of $87,869. 

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, the highest level in almost 30 years. However, the Japanese Yen weakened against the US Dollar, while the market reaction to the hike was muted as the hike was already priced in, with traders holding long positions. 

Bank Of Japan Hikes Rates 

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) hiked interest rates by 25 basis points, taking them to the highest level in almost 30 years. The BOJ acknowledged inflation was above the 2% target primarily due to rising import costs and domestic price dynamics. However, policymakers clarified that interest rates adjusted for inflation remain negative. Despite the hike, the Japanese yen weakened against the US Dollar, while Bitcoin (BTC) reclaimed $87,000 after a drop to $84,460. The muted reaction is along expected lines because investors knew the hike was coming. Speculators also held long positions on the yen, preventing volatile market movements following the hike. 

Analysts were worried the rate hike could trigger the unwinding of yen carry trades, initiating risk-off sentiment. Japan’s low interest rates have made the yen the go-to instrument for carry trades. Investors borrow in yen and invest in high-yielding assets like US tech stocks, Treasury Notes, and emerging market bonds, increasing liquidity and risk appetite. The carry trade strategy works as long as Japan maintains interest rates close to zero, turning its currency into a facilitator of leverage and risk across global markets. 

Senate Confirms Mike Selig As CFTC Chair 

The United States Senate has confirmed Mike Selig as the new Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair. It has also tapped Travis Hill to lead the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). The confirmations were among 100 other nominees selected by the Trump administration to fill roles across the government. The nominations passed the Senate in a 53-43 vote. Selig has worked with the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and promised to make crypto a top priority when he was nominated in October. On the other hand, Hill is already the acting chair of the FDIC. 

Selig’s term as CFTC Chair will expire in April 2029. Caroline Pham, the acting CFTC Chair, will leave her post once Selig takes over and join crypto infrastructure provider MoonPay. However, Selig will be the sole commissioner of the CFTC following a spate of resignations earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Hill will lead the FDIC until 2030. Former FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg resigned in January. 

Crypto Market Cap Drops To 8-Month Low 

The crypto market capitalization fell to an eight-month low of $2.94 trillion on Thursday, wiping out nearly all of this year’s gains. The market declined 33% from its all-time high of $4.4 trillion, and is down 14% since the beginning of the year, with several analysts stating a bear market is beginning. Analyst Michael van de Poppe believes markets will continue trending lower, with Bitcoin struggling to break above $90,000. 

It’s very likely that the trend keeps going down until the BoJ comes out with the news. Wouldn’t be surprised if </span></i><a href="https://coinstats.app/coins/bitcoin/"><b><i>BTC</i></b></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> continues to cascade and gets itself into a form of capitulation in the next 24 hours, as the trend clearly is down.

According to Nick Ruck, Director of LVG Research, the recent market decline is part of a broader market correction driven by macroeconomic pressures and reduced risk appetite among investors. 

While short-term volatility persists, this pullback presents potential accumulation opportunities in fundamentally strong projects as the sector continues to mature and attract institutional capital.

Meanwhile, crypto analytics platform Santiment reported sentiment was slipping back into “fear” territory on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index. Social media commentary has also largely been bearish as prices fluctuated between $85,000 and $90,000. 

Commentary is mainly showing fear after Bitcoin bounced to $90.2K yesterday, and then quickly retraced to $84.8K. Prices move opposite to the crowd’s expectations, so this volatility, being marked by fear, is a good signal for those who are patient enough to ride this out.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis 

Bitcoin (BTC) fell to a low of $84,400 after yet another failed attempt to cross $90,000 on Thursday. The flagship cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of $89,447 on Thursday, but lost momentum as selling pressure around $90,000 overwhelmed buyers. As a result, the price dropped nearly 1% to $85,460.

According to analyst Ali Martinez, Bitcoin is stuck between $85,000 and resistance around $90,000. A breakdown below $85,000 could result in a substantially deeper correction, while a break past $90,000 could start a push higher. However, whether BTC could retain momentum after breaking past resistance remains to be seen. Crypto trader Daan Crypto Trades highlighted historical patterns in monthly trading ranges to argue for a large price move this month. 

The distance between Bitcoin’s monthly lows and highs currently sits at 12%, significantly lower than usual. However, monthly candles show significantly wider price swings, indicating potential for price movements between now and the end of the year. 

The current monthly low to high is still relatively small (~12%). Monthly candles generally see a bigger displacement than that. This happens in 92.3% of months. With that, the current second pivot (P2) is set on the 9th of December, when the current high was set. It would also be pretty unlikely that both the current high and low stand from a time perspective. The monthly low AND high set on or before the 9th of the month only happens in 4.3% of months.

BTC started the previous week in positive territory, rising 0.28% to $90,653. Buyers retained control as the price reached an intraday high of $94,640 before settling at $92,690, ultimately increasing 2.25%. However, it lost momentum on Wednesday, dropping 0.71% to $92,035. The price fell to an intraday low of $89,257 on Thursday as selling pressure intensified. However, it rebounded from this level to reclaim $90,000 and settle at $92,542. The price returned to bearish territory on Friday, dropping 2.45% to $90,278.

Source: TradingView

Price action remained bearish over the weekend as BTC registered a marginal drop on Saturday and 2.31% on Sunday, slipping below $90,000 to $88,171. Sellers retained control on Monday as the price fell 1.99% to $86,417. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, BTC recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.66% to $87,854. The price briefly crossed $90,000 on Wednesday and settled at $90,336. However, it failed to stay at this level and settled at $86,209. BTC reached an intraday high of $89,447 on Thursday before losing momentum and settling at $85m460. The flagship cryptocurrency has rebounded during the ongoing session, up over 3% at $88,183.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.