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HONG KONG, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd. (“DirectBooking” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ZDAI), an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with core businesses in AI applications, digitalized wine distribution, transportation and construction engineering services, today announced that its 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “AGM”) was duly convened and all resolutions submitted for shareholder approval were passed.

The AGM was held at 9:00 a.m. on December 14, 2025 at Room 2912, 29/F, New Tech Plaza, 34 Tai Yau Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Upon consideration of the matters presented, shareholders approved the resolutions as summarized as follows:

Proposal 1: Approval of Share Capital Changes

Shareholders approved an ordinary resolution to amend authorised share capital of the Company in the following manner and sequence with immediate effect ("Share Capital Changes"):

(a)  increase the Company’s authorized share capital from US$50,000 divided into 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00005 each to US$250,000 divided into 5,000,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00005 per share;

(b)  4,000,000,000 authorised ordinary shares of par value US$0.00005 each (including all of the existing issued ordinary shares) in the Company be redesignated and re-classified as 4,000,000,000 class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.00005 each, where the rights of the existing ordinary shares shall be the same as such class A ordinary shares;

(c)  1,000,000,000 authorised but unissued ordinary shares of par value of US$0.00005 each in the Company be cancelled and a new class of shares comprising of 1,000,000,000 class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.00005 each, which will be entitled to fifty (50) votes per share, with the rights and privileges as set out in the Second Amended M&A (as defined below) be created,

such that the authorised share capital of the Company shall become US$250,000 divided into (i) 4,000,000,000 class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.00005 each and (ii) 1,000,000,000 class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.00005 each.

Proposal 2: Adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles

Shareholders approved, by special resolution, the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (the "Second Amended M&A") be adopted in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association with effect upon the Share Capital Changes taking effect.

Proposal 3: Approval of Share Consolidation

Shareholders approved an ordinary resolution following the Share Capital Changes and conditional upon the approval of the Board, on an effective date within one calendar year after the conclusion of the Meeting to be determined by the Board (the "Share Consolidation"):

(a)  every one thousand class A ordinary shares of US$0.00005 par value each, or such lesser whole number of shares of not being less than two as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, be consolidated into one class A ordinary share and every one thousand class B ordinary shares of US$0.00005 par value each, or such lesser whole number of shares of not being less than two as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, be consolidated into one class B ordinary share, where such consolidated Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares (as the case may be) shall rank pari passu in all respect with each other and have the same rights and are subject to the same restrictions (save as to nominal value) as the then existing class B ordinary shares of the Company as set out in the Second Amended M&A;

(b)  all fractional entitlements to the issued Consolidated Class A Ordinary Shares and Consolidated Class B Ordinary Shares as resulted from the Share Consolidation will not be issued to the Shareholders and instead, any fractional shares that would have resulted from the Share Consolidation will be rounded up to the next whole number; and

(c)  the Board be authorised and directed to do all such acts and things as it may consider necessary or desirable for the purpose of effectuating the Share Consolidation, including determining the definitive ratio of the Share Consolidation, the effective date of the Share Consolidation and any other changes to the Company’s authorised share capital in connection with and as necessary to effect the Share Consolidation.

Proposal 4: Technical Amendments to the Articles

Shareholders approved, by special resolution, subject to and immediately following the Share Consolidation being effected, the relevant provisions of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company then in effect be amended to reflect the Share Consolidation.

Company Statement

DirectBooking Technology Co., Ltd. stated that the approval of all four resolutions lays an important foundation for optimizing the Company’s future capital structure and enhancing corporate governance, and will support the Company in advancing its transformation plans and achieving its long‑term objective of empowering traditional industries through technology.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward‑Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward‑looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical or current fact are forward‑looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding matters to be considered at the AGM, the Company’s future business strategies, growth prospects, market opportunities, operating plans and financial condition. Forward‑looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions (whether or not identified in this press release) and reflect the Company management’s current expectations, and are not guarantees of actual performance.

The Company cannot assure you that the forward‑looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward‑looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). There may also be additional risks that the Company currently does not know or believes to be immaterial that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward‑looking statement. In light of these material uncertainties, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the results set forth in the forward‑looking statements will be achieved or that any of the expected results of such forward‑looking statements will be realized. The forward‑looking statements in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause these views to change. Although the Company may elect to update these forward‑looking statements at some point in the future, it has no current intention to do so, except as required by applicable law. Accordingly, you should not rely on these forward‑looking statements as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) (TASE: ESLT) ("Elbit Systems" or the "Company") announced today that it was notified that the Hellenic Parliament and KYSEA (Government Council for National Security) have approved a budget for the purchase of the Company's PULS rocket artillery system for the Hellenic Armed Forces. Considering the above, Elbit Systems anticipates receiving a contract in an amount that is material to the Company.

The anticipated contract award is contingent, among others, on completion of commercial negotiations with the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense. 

Elbit Systems' PULS provides a comprehensive and cost-effective solution capable of launching unguided rockets, precision-guided munitions, and missiles with various ranges. The PULS launcher is fully adaptable to existing wheeled and tracked platforms, enabling significant reductions in maintenance and training costs.

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems is a leading global defense technology company, delivering advanced solutions for a secure and safer world. Elbit Systems develops, manufactures, integrates and sustains a range of next-generation solutions across multiple domains.

Driven by its agile, collaborative culture, and leveraging Israel's technology ecosystem, Elbit Systems enables customers to address rapidly evolving battlefield challenges and overcome threats.

Elbit Systems employs approximately 20,000 people in dozens of countries across five continents. The Company reported $1,922 million in revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and an order backlog of $25.2 billion as of such date.

For additional information, visit: https://elbitsystems.com, follow us on X or visit our official Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn Channels.

Company Contact: 
Dr. Yaacov (Kobi) Kagan, Executive VP - CFO
Tel: +972-77-2946663
[email protected] 

Daniella Finn, VP, Investor Relations
Tel: +972-77-2948984
[email protected]

Dalia Bodinger, VP, Communications & Brand
Tel: 972-77-2947602+
[email protected]

This press release may contain forward–looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions about future events. Forward–looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company, which are difficult to predict, including projections of the Company's future financial results, its anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in its business. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward–looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; including the duration and scope of the war in Israel, and the potential impact on our operations; changes in global health and macro-economic conditions; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; changes in the competitive environment; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward–looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Elbit Systems Ltd., its logo, brand, product, service and process names appearing in this press release are the trademarks or service marks of Elbit Systems Ltd. or its affiliated companies. All other brand, product, service and process names appearing are the trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use of a product, service or process other than those of Elbit Systems Ltd. does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation or sponsorship of that product, service or process by Elbit Systems Ltd. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of Elbit Systems Ltd. or any third party, except as expressly granted herein.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2017806/Elbit_Systems_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Elbit Systems Ltd.

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Bitcoin's bearish turn deepens as 75 out of top 100 coins trade below key averages; Nasdaq resilientCrypto's bear grip squeezes tighter as 75 of top 100 coins trade below 50- and 200-day SMAs.Updated Dec 16, 2025, 7:56 a.m. Published Dec 16, 2025, 7:46 a.m.

The cryptocurrency market is flashing deep bearish signals as the year-end approaches.

As of writing, data from TradingView showed that 75 of the top 100 coins by market value traded below both their 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs), indicating across-the-board weakness in the digital asset market.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This indicates capital flight from the crypto market in the wake of industry leader bitcoin's BTC$86,254.37 slide to $87,000 from the record high of over $126,000 in early October.

The 50- and 100-day SMAs filter out day-to-day noise and smooth out price action to spot broader momentum shifts, and traders and investors widely track them. Think of these as guardrails: crossing below both signals underperformance against short- and long-term trends, often triggering intensified selling and accelerated declines.

In stark contrast, just 29 Nasdaq 100 stocks mirror this weakness, highlighting the still-bullish market breadth of technology stocks. Bitcoin is know to track Nasdaq moves closely, amplifying downside swings in bearish phases.

Bear grip tightensAmong the 75 trading below key averages are heavyweights like bitcoin, ether ETH$2,930.42, solana SOL$126.17, BNB BNB$859.12, and XRP$1.8833, which together command 78% of crypto's $3 trillion market cap.

In other words, the biggest coins are flashing red across the charts, dragging the entire sector down like an anchor on a sinking ship.

These are the most liquid and institutionally traded assets, powering products like CME futures and spot ETFs. A bearish signal from them signals caution, making investors far less willing to chase risk into smaller, illiquid alternative cryptocurrencies.

This kind of weaker market breadth has historically brought more pain.

Only 8 coins oversoldOnly eight of the top 100 coins qualify as oversold on the relative strength index (RSI) when filtering the 75 already trading under both their 50- and 200-day SMAs. These are PI, APT, ALGO, FLARE, VET, JUP, IP, KAIA.

This layered view sharpens the picture: the broad SMA breach shows widespread downtrends, but adding the RSI oversold filter, measuring exhausted selling momentum, narrows it to just 8. It means that most coins aren't hitting panic bottoms yet and have room to fall further.

Traders see this as bearish confirmation, pointing to more downside before any meaningful bull revival.

The 14-day RSI measures recent price momentum on a 0-100 scale. Below-30 readings are said to represent oversold conditions, a sign that the asset has fallen a little too fast and may consolidate or bounce. Meanwhile, readings above 80 represent overbought conditions.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Ripple, a blockchain-based infrastructure for global payments, has taken a major step to expand the use of its US dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD. On December 15, the company confirmed it is testing RLUSD on several Ethereum layer-2 networks, including Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. 

This move builds on its earlier launch and aims to create a more connected system while increasing real-world use for XRP.

Ripple RLUSD Stablecoin Goes MultichainAccording to recent updates shared by the Ripple community, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, which already has a market value of about $1.3 billion, has adopted Wormhole’s NTT standard. 

This upgrade allows RLUSD to move between blockchains as the original token, not as risky wrapped copies.

By using Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers system, RLUSD can shift smoothly across networks while staying secure and liquid. This setup also lets Ripple keep full control over how RLUSD operates on each supported blockchain.

How XRP Fits Into This Bigger PlanWhile RLUSD acts as the “digital cash” in Ripple’s system, XRP plays the role of the liquidity engine. At the same time as RLUSD expands, partners like Hex Trust are rolling out wrapped XRP (wXRP). 

This allows XRP to be used on networks like Solana and Ethereum, where it can serve as collateral, trading liquidity, or DeFi fuel.

Together, RLUSD handles stable payments, while XRP helps move value between blockchains. For XRP holders, this means XRP is no longer limited to one network and can now play a bigger role across the wider crypto ecosystem.

More Chains Planned in 2025Ripple is currently testing RLUSD on major Ethereum layer-2 networks like Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. A full launch is planned for next year, once regulators give approval.

Once live, RLUSD will work smoothly across different blockchains while staying fully regulated. With strong regulatory support and growing cross-chain use, Ripple is building RLUSD for the next stage of crypto adoption.

Institutional Adoption Strengthens Ripple CaseRipple’s progress is backed by strong regulatory approvals in New York and growing use in tokenized funds. BlackRock’s BUIDL platform already uses Wormhole for cross-chain activity, showing rising trust from large institutions.

While prices may not rise quickly in the short term, Ripple’s multichain approach increases XRP’s real use. Over time, this wider use can support long-term value.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

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Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced a 4% drop, falling below the $86,000 mark on Monday, as market speculation grows regarding the cryptocurrency’s future following the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) interest rate decision. 

In a recent poll conducted from December 2 to 9, an overwhelming 90% of economists—63 out of 70—predicted that the BOJ would increase short-term interest rates from 0.50% to 0.75% at this week’s planned meeting.

Experts Warn Of Impact From BOJ Rate Hikes
Experts on social media have noted a concerning trend: during the last three rate hikes by the BOJ, Bitcoin has typically dropped significantly. The statistics reveal the following declines: a 23% drop in March 2024, a 26% decline in July 2024, and a 31% dip in January of this year. 

Based on current prices just below $86,000, this would imply that if the cryptocurrency sees another 20% correction, it could drop all the way to 68,800. This would mean extending the gap compared to the all-time high of $126,000 by almost 46%. 

The daily chart shows the BTC price’s drop below $86,000 on Monday. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
The group of experts further highlighted that the dynamics at play in Japan significantly impact Bitcoin’s performance as Japan holds the largest amount of US debt of any nation. 

When Japanese interest rates rise, capital tends to flow back to Japan, leading to reduced liquidity in dollars. This decrease in dollar liquidity often results in the selling of riskier assets like Bitcoin.

On November 30, a foreboding sign of this potential downturn appeared when confirmation of Japan’s impending rate hike caused Bitcoin to dip to around $83,000, erasing approximately $200 billion from the overall cryptocurrency market.

However, the bearish sentiment affecting Bitcoin is not solely the result of Japan’s actions. Market analyst known as NoLimit recently pointed to another critical factor: China’s renewed crackdown on Bitcoin mining. 

China’s Mining Crackdown Spurs Bitcoin Sell-Off
The analyst recently asserted that China has tightened regulations, particularly affecting operations in Xinjiang, where a significant number of crypto mining setups were shut down in December. This led to the abrupt offline status of roughly 400,000 miners.

The repercussions of such a sudden shift in mining activity are already evident. The Bitcoin network hashrate has fallen by about 8%, indicating that fewer miners are actively contributing to the network. 

NoLimit suggests that this sudden reduction creates immediate revenue-loss for miners, who may need to liquidate Bitcoin to cover operational costs or to relocate their equipment. Consequently, this generates actual selling pressure on the market, contributing to the downward price trend seen on Monday.

Despite the short-term pain this creates, the analysts clarified that it does not indicate a long-term bearish outlook for Bitcoin. Instead, he views it as a temporary supply shock driven by regulatory decisions rather than a shift in demand. 

Historical patterns support this notion: when China has previously cracked down on miners, the cycle follows a familiar trajectory: miners are forced offline, hashrate dips occur, prices fluctuate, and eventually, the network adapts before Bitcoin moves forward again.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

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Ripple, the issuer of the fast-growing RLUSD stablecoin, has recently announced an ambitious multichain strategy aimed at enhancing its presence in the crypto space. 

This initiative will see RLUSD integrated into Layer-2 (L2) solutions on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain, facilitated by a partnership with Wormhole, one of the largest protocols for cross-chain interoperability.

Ripple Targets Broader Blockchain Integration
In a press release issued on Monday, Ripple and Wormhole detailed their plans to initiate testing on several notable L2 networks, including Optimism (OP), Base, Ink, and Unichain. 

The collaboration will leverage Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard, which is designed to ensure efficient movement of liquidity across various blockchain ecosystems while allowing Ripple to maintain native control over RLUSD.

Originally launched on both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum, RLUSD aims to enhance cross-chain functionalities and decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities. 

Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoin at Ripple, emphasized the significance of stablecoins in the DeFi landscape, stating:

Stablecoins are the gateway to DeFi and institutional adoption. RLUSD is designed from the ground up to be the trusted, liquid medium necessary for users to seamlessly enter, interact with, and exit the entire digital asset economy.

The executive also highlighted that by launching RLUSD as the first US Trust Regulated stablecoin on these L2 networks, Ripple is also setting a standard where compliance meets on-chain efficiency. Looking toward, Ripple plans to launch RLUSD on additional chains, pending final regulatory approval. 

RLUSD Becomes Third-Largest US-Regulated Stablecoin
Notably, RLUSD has achieved a market capitalization of $1.3 billion in less than a year, making it the third-largest stablecoin among US-regulated options, according to CoinGecko data. 

Positioned for compliance with the GENIUS Act, RLUSD’s circulating supply surged by 28% in November alone, crossing the billion-dollar threshold. It currently ranks behind only Circle’s USDC and PayPal’s PYUSD in the US-regulated dollar tokens. 

In a significant development in November of this year, Ripple also initiated a new pilot program with traditional finance giants Mastercard, WebBank, and crypto exchange Gemini aimed at facilitating credit card transaction settlements using RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. 

This partnership allows WebBank to send RLUSD over the XRPL for instant settlement of daily payment obligations with Mastercard, eliminating the traditional delays associated with bank ACH transfers.

Ripple’s president, Monica Long, described this pilot as a “meaningful step” toward demonstrating how regulated digital assets can expedite institutional payment processes. 

The daily chart shows XRP’s drop below the $2 floor on Monday. Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com
XRP, which is also associated with the company, is trading at $1.90. This represents a 5% drop over the past 24 hours, in line with the broader correction in the crypto market cap, which has seen Bitcoin (BTC) and other leading altcoins resume the downtrend witnessed over the past two months. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

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CME Group just launched spot-quoted XRP and Solana (SOL) futures, expanding its crypto offerings.

The Chicago-based derivatives marketplace says it introduced the new contracts to meet growing demand from traders.

The new futures are listed on CME and CBOT, complementing existing spot-quoted Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) products.

Investors can now hold positions in spot-market terms with longer expiries instead of having to repeatedly close and open new contracts to extend exposure.

These futures, providing flexibility for long-term views or quick trades.

Says Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, Giovanni Vicioso,

“Designed for the everyday trader, the size of these contracts – our smallest yet within our Crypto complex — will provide greater precision and market accessibility to clients, while also being quoted in terms they are already familiar with.”

Bitcoin and ETH futures have shown strong growth, with an average daily volume of 11,300 contracts launch-to-date, rising to 35,300 in December, with a record 60,700 on November 24th.

Bitcoin (BTC) is down 30% from its $126,200 peak, trading just above the $85,000 support and fueling concerns of a deeper pullback toward the $70,000 region. Still, onchain data showed institutions and high-net-worth individuals are accumulating BTC.

Key takeaways:

Bitcoin sharks accumulated aggressively at 2012-level speeds, signaling a dip-buying trend.

Heavy selling by long-term and OG whales continues to cap upside, keeping near-term downside risks elevated.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewMid-sized Bitcoin traders add 54,000 BTC in a week Bitcoin “sharks,” entities holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC, increased their collective holdings to about 3.575 million BTC from roughly 3.521 million BTC over the past seven days, absorbing around 54,000 BTC from smaller holders, according to Glassnode.

BTC shark net position change. Source: GlassnodeThe move marked the fastest pace of shark accumulation since 2012, suggesting strong bullish conviction among higher-net-worth individuals and institutional players despite BTC’s 30% drawdown.

In 2012, a comparable surge in Bitcoin accumulation preceded one of its earliest major rallies, with BTC climbing to above $100 from roughly $10 within a year, marking an approximately 900% increase.

BTC shark net position change. Source: GlassnodeA similar pattern played out in 2011, when aggressive accumulation by mid-sized holders followed Bitcoin’s 350% rise to over $14 from below $3.

A repetition of this historical fractal would favor further upside.

Bitcoin faces sell pressure from long-term holdersWhales with holdings over 10,000 BTC emerged as the major driver behind the sell-off over the past two months, highlighting that the buying power of sharks was insufficient.

BTC supply held by entities with a balance of over 10,000 tokens. Source: GlassnodeThat imbalance aligned with Capriole Investments’ assessment that record institutional buying has been met by equally historic long-term holder distribution.

Founder Charles Edwards wrote in a Tuesday post:

“While institutional buying on Coinbase has reached unprecedented levels (Z-score 15.7), it is being absorbed by 'OG' whales and long-term holders selling at rates not seen in years (Hodler Growth Rate at 0.6th percentile).” BTC/USD daily chart. Source: TradingView/Charles EdwardsThe price appreciation may be capped until the heavy distribution from older coins subsides, he added.

Adding to the downside outlook, veteran trader Peter Brandt highlighted Bitcoin’s recent breakdown below its parabolic support, a move that historically led prices down by around 80%. In other words, BTC price could reach as low as $25,000 if the fractal repeats.

BTC/USD weekly chart. Source: TradingView/Peter BrandtThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Bitcoin price is facing renewed pressure as broader markets kick off the final full trading week of 2025 in the red. The Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow all reversed early gains on Monday as AI-linked tech stocks dragged sentiment lower. That weakness has spilled into crypto, with Bitcoin price now trading near $86,000, down roughly 1.5% on the day. Let’s unpack what’s driving the move and what the chart tells us about what’s next.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Macro Headwinds Tighten Their GripInvestors are turning cautious again after the Federal Reserve’s latest rate cut reignited worries that the U.S. economy may be slowing faster than expected. The upcoming labor market report, delayed due to the recent government shutdown, is expected to show a sharp cooling in hiring — with just 50,000 jobs added in November and unemployment ticking up to 4.5%, the highest since 2021.

That data backdrop matters for Bitcoin price. A weakening job market erodes consumer risk appetite and raises fears of a recession. In risk-off environments, liquidity often shifts toward the U.S. dollar and Treasuries, pulling capital out of speculative assets like BTC. Although the U.S. dollar index remains subdued near 98.30, it could find support if unemployment spikes, adding further downside risk for Bitcoin in the short term.

Technical Breakdown: Bitcoin Price Prediction Under PressureBTC/USD Daily Chart- TradingViewThe daily BTC price shows a clear technical squeeze developing between the Bollinger Bands, signaling declining volatility before a potential breakout. Bitcoin price recent attempt to push above the 20-day moving average near $90,300 failed, and the price has now slipped below the middle band, indicating renewed bearish momentum.

Support lies around $85,800–$85,000, which has been tested multiple times since early December. A decisive close below this level could trigger a deeper correction toward $80,000, with the lower Bollinger Band and horizontal Fibonacci confluence offering the next major defense. On the upside, bulls would need to reclaim $90,000 to regain control, followed by a stronger push above $93,800 to confirm trend reversal.

The candles also show waning bullish conviction — the last few green sessions lacked follow-through, suggesting sellers are dominating rallies. Momentum indicators (not shown on this chart) would likely confirm a neutral-to-bearish bias, with RSI likely hovering near mid-range and trending lower.

Stock Market Weakness Adds Pressure on CryptoThe correlation between Bitcoin and tech stocks has tightened again. Monday’s drop in Broadcom (-6%), ServiceNow (-11%), and Oracle (-2.7%) dragged the Nasdaq lower by 0.6%, mirroring Bitcoin’s decline. As investors trim exposure to high-beta assets amid concerns of an AI valuation bubble, Bitcoin is caught in the crossfire.

At the same time, gold is quietly climbing — up 0.2% to $4,335, near its all-time high — showing investors are leaning toward safe havens rather than digital assets. Historically, such divergences have preceded short-term crypto pullbacks.

Prediction: December Could End Flat or LowerIf the jobs report confirms a hiring slowdown and unemployment rises above 4.5%, risk sentiment could deteriorate further, pushing Bitcoin price into a deeper consolidation phase between $80,000 and $88,000 for the rest of December.

However, the medium-term picture remains constructive. The Fed’s dovish stance — with three consecutive rate cuts — keeps liquidity conditions improving beneath the surface. Once macro fear peaks, Bitcoin could find its footing and set up for a rebound in Q1 2026, potentially retesting $95,000–$100,000 as traders price in easier policy and lower yields.

Bottom Line$BTC price short-term outlook is fragile. The $85K zone is the line in the sand — lose it, and the path toward $80K opens quickly. But if BTC price can hold above support through this week’s volatile macro data, it could mark a base for a recovery into early next year.

In simple terms: December favors caution, but 2026 could reward patience.

Grayscale specifically pointed to rising concerns over fiat debasement, stronger institutional demand, and a more supportive US regulatory environment as the basis for its prediction. The asset manager also expects 2026 to mark the end of Bitcoin’s traditional four-year cycle as regulation, stablecoin growth, tokenization, and DeFi adoption become more important drivers of the market. 

Grayscale Sees Bitcoin Reaching New HighsGrayscale believes the cryptocurrency market is entering a renewed growth phase that could push Bitcoin to a fresh all-time high in the first half of 2026, driven by rising macroeconomic demand and a more supportive regulatory environment in the United States. The outlook was shared in the asset manager’s 2026 forecast report that was published on Monday.

According to Grayscale, Bitcoin’s next major move higher will be fueled by concern over fiat currency debasement as governments grapple with mounting public debt and its long-term inflationary consequences. The firm argues that as these risks intensify, investors will allocate capital toward alternative stores of value, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

Some key takeaways from Grayscale’s report

In this context, Grayscale also expects 2026 to mark the end of the long-debated Bitcoin four-year cycle theory, which means that structural demand and institutional participation are now more important drivers than historical halving-based patterns.

Regulatory developments are another central pillar of Grayscale’s bullish thesis. The firm said the US regulatory stance toward crypto shifted meaningfully over the past several years, moving from enforcement-heavy actions toward clearer guidance and collaboration with the industry. 

It specifically mentioned the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded products, the dismissal of several high-profile enforcement cases, and the passage of the GENIUS Act on stablecoins as milestones that helped legitimize crypto in traditional finance. Looking ahead, Grayscale expects bipartisan crypto market structure legislation to be passed in 2026, which it believes will further entrench blockchain-based finance in US capital markets and encourage sustained institutional investment.

Beyond price action, Grayscale shared ten major investment themes it expects to define the crypto landscape in 2026. Central to these is the expansion of stablecoins, supported by regulatory clarity under the GENIUS Act. The firm anticipates stablecoins becoming deeply embedded in financial infrastructure, including cross-border payments, derivatives collateral, corporate balance sheets, and consumer payments as an alternative to credit cards. 

Asset tokenization is also expected to reach a critical inflection point, while decentralized finance is projected to see eleven more growth, particularly in lending markets, alongside staking becoming a default strategy for investors seeking yield.

At the same time, Grayscale downplayed two narratives that have attracted a lot of attention but are unlikely to materially impact markets in the near term. The firm said that while quantum computing is an area of ongoing research and long-term risk management, it does not expect it to influence crypto valuations in 2026. Similarly, despite increased media focus on digital asset treasuries, Grayscale does not see them as a major swing factor for market performance next year.

Strategy Buys $980 Million in BitcoinStrategy also seems confident in Bitcoin as it once again added to its holdings. The company shared on Monday that it bought 10,645 Bitcoin for approximately $980.3 million, paying an average price of $92,098 per coin. The latest acquisition brings Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 671,268 BTC.

The purchase happened as Bitcoin has struggled to maintain its recent highs, prompting many investors to turn cautious. Despite the broader downturn, Strategy continues to lean into its long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy. The company’s proprietary Bitcoin yield metric, which tracks the percentage change in its Bitcoin holdings relative to its fully diluted share count, currently stands at 24.9%. Strategy says this reflects the effectiveness of its approach even as market conditions weakened.

Strategy accelerated its buying pace over the past few weeks after a relatively subdued period earlier in the year. In early December alone, the company bought more than 10,600 Bitcoin. Overall, the firm steadily built its Bitcoin position over several years by allocating operating cash to the asset and, more recently, by tapping capital markets through equity issuance and debt offerings to fund additional purchases.

Strategy Bitcoin purchases (Source: SaylorTracker)

The company also took steps to shore up its financial position and reassure investors. Strategy announced the establishment of a $1.44 billion US dollar reserve that is designed to cover future dividend obligations during periods of market stress. The reserve is expected to fund at least 12 months of dividend payments, with plans to extend coverage to two years. Management said the move is intended to provide better financial flexibility and stability. Chief executive Phong Le said the decision was also aimed at countering “fear, uncertainty and doubt” that tends to emerge during sharp market swings.

The crypto market fell below $3 trillion after bitcoin dropped to $85,140, triggering broad altcoin losses, with XRP among the worst hit as it slid to $1.85 and erased nearly all gains since April. XRP's Price Woes and Liquidation Spike The crypto economy saw its total market capitalization drop below $3 trillion late on Dec.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Bitcoin treasury company Strategy has announced its latest purchase, taking its total investment in BTC beyond the $50 billion milestone.

Strategy Has Added 10,645 BTC With The Latest Acquisition
As announced by Strategy co-founder and chairman Michael Saylor in a new X post, the company has completed another big Bitcoin acquisition. With this new purchase, it has added 10,645 BTC to its reserves, spending $92,098 per token or $980.3 million in total.

The buy has come just a week after Strategy made another acquisition of a similar level. More specifically, the purchase last Monday saw 10,624 BTC entering the treasury company at a cost basis of $963 million. This buy was the firm’s largest since July, and the latest one is even bigger.

On the Monday coinciding with the start of December, Strategy only added a small amount of Bitcoin to its holdings (130 BTC) and a newly announced $1.44 billion USD reserve instead took the spotlight. Saylor noted that the reserve will better equip the company to navigate short-term market volatility.

The mega BTC buys in the two weeks that have followed since then suggest that despite the existence of the USD reserve, the cryptocurrency is still the priority for the treasury firm.

According to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the new 10,645 BTC acquisition occurred in the period between December 8th and 14th, and was funded using sales of Strategy’s STRF, STRK, STRD, and MSTR at-the-market stock offerings.

The treasury company now holds a total of 671,268 BTC, with an acquisition cost of $50.33 billion. At the current exchange rate, the firm’s holdings are worth $57.56 billion, putting it in a net profit of over 14%.

The new purchase means that 2025 has overtaken 2024 in terms of the USD amount invested by Strategy into Bitcoin, as the chart shared by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn showcases.

The BTC investments made by Saylor's firm during each year | Source: @JA_Maartun on X
From the graph, it’s visible that the difference between the two years isn’t much right now, but 2025 still has a couple of weeks to go. It only remains to be seen whether Strategy will buy more in the coming days and if so, whether the purchases will be similar in size to the latest two.

Despite the scale of the acquisition, Bitcoin has plummeted following Strategy’s new announcement, taking both this week’s and last week’s massive purchases into the red.

The latest decline in the cryptocurrency has also come despite the fact that the spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a net amount of inflows during the past week, according to data from SoSoValue.

How the weekly netflow related to the Bitcoin spot ETFs has changed during the last couple of years | Source: SoSoValue
BTC Price
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $86,000, down around 4.5% over the last seven days.

The trend in the BTC price over the last five days | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView
Featured image from Dall-E, SoSoValue.com, CryptoQuant.com, chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

The debut will enable instant swaps between SGD and USD on Solana, facilitating digital forex trading. Dec 16, 2025, 6:38 a.m.

Solana users could soon swap Singapore dollars (SGD) for U.S. dollars (USD) instantly online, marking the popular high speed blockchain's first access to digital tokens tied to one of the premier Asian currencies.

That's because, crypto infrastructure firm StraitX said Tuesday, that it's planning to launch its Singapore dollar stablecoin XSGD and U.S. dollar stablecoin XUSD on the Solana public blockchain, creating an easy to way to exchange these currencies.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The early 2026 debut, targeted in collaboration with the Solana Foundation, will enable instant swaps between Singapore dollars (SGD) and U.S. dollars (USD) on Solana, per a press release. Think digital forex, but on blockchain.

It positions StraitX's stablecoins for widespread adoption in smart AI tools and automated online economies on Solana. Solana offers a payment standard called x402 that lets computers and AI programs automatically transact tiny amounts (like apps talking to each other). The blockchain is know to offer faster and cheaper transaction speeds than its main rivals such as Ethereum.

"Stablecoin adoption is increasingly driven by users and businesses who expect payments to be instant, low-cost, and available everywhere," Tianwei Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of StraitsX, said.

"Launching XSGD and XUSD together on Solana will be game-changing. It unites CEX support, AMM liquidity, lending pools, and everyday payments on a single high-performance chain. It also brings us closer to a world where digital money moves across networks as easily as information does today,' Liu noted.

Stablecoins are digital tokens whose value is pegged to an external reference, such as a fiat currency. These tokens help investors bypass price volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies and are increasingly being used in remittances and cross-border transactions.

At press time, StraitX's XSGD and XUSD had a market cap of $13 million and $50 million, respectively, according to Coingecko. XSGD is already live on Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Zilliqa, Hedera, and XRPL, while XUSD is available on Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain.

StraitX said that the two stablecoins have processed over $18 billion in on-chain transaction volume.

Solana gets first-ever SGD stablecoinFor Solana, XSGD's arrival delivers its users the first digital version of the Singapore dollar. The blockchain already hosts $15.7 billion in stablecoins tied to currencies like the U.S. and Australian dollars, but has lacked an SGD option to date, per DefiLlama data.

"Welcoming both XSGD and XUSD to Solana expands the network's role as a top global payments chain and unlocks new opportunities for builders, institutions, and users, from instant cross-border settlements to DeFi applications like lending, borrowing, and yield generation," Lu Yin, head of APAC at The Solana Foundation, said.

"The addition of native SGD and USD liquidity further strengthens Solana's role as a core infrastructure layer for AI-and machine-driven on-chain transactions," added.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Circle is acquiring Interop Labs' team and intellectual property, excluding the AXL token and Axelar Network from the deal.Axelar's AXL token dropped 13% as the acquisition does not benefit tokenholders directly.The deal shows how crypto M&A focuses on teams and technology, not necessarily benefiting associated tokens.Read full story

Famous stock picker Jim Cramer recently took to the X social media network to opine that the price of Bitcoin is actually easy to prop up. 

He has seemingly suggested that it is being artificially inflated by manipulation, large holders, or specific entities (like Michael Saylor’s Strategy).

Amazing how easy it is to prop up Bitcoin, isn't it?

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— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) December 15, 2025 However, this comes after Strategy injected nearly $1 billion ($980.3 million) of pure buying pressure into the market between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14.

Despite this massive influx of cash, the price fell. They bought at an average of $92,124, but the price has since plunged to $85,000.

So, the market absorbed that $1 billion and still sold off. Hence, some commentators have noted that Cramer's logic is somehow flawed (unless his post is sarcastic). 

"Inverse Cramer"The reactions of the jaded cryptocurrency community are (unsurprisingly) dominated by the "Inverse Cramer" theory. 

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This is a long-standing internet meme/theory arguing that Cramer is so consistently wrong about market predictions that investors should do the exact opposite of what he says to make money.

Many users are celebrating his negativity because, according to the meme, his bearishness signals a market bottom. 

Bitcoin is currently changing hands at $86,411 after collapsing to an intraday low of $85,427. 

Monday, 15 December 2025 – Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) has reached $29.5 million in presale capital, driven by a strategy that addresses one of Bitcoin’s most persistent constraints without making any changes to Bitcoin itself.

With BTC dipping below $90,000, it’s becoming clearer that Bitcoin’s valuation has long been powered more by conviction than by real transactional use. That limitation is increasingly difficult to ignore. Bitcoin Hyper aims to remove that barrier by creating an environment where BTC can actually move, be used, and scale in real economic activity.

Rather than attempting to modify Bitcoin Hyper is built alongside it. Bitcoin remains unchanged as the ultimate settlement layer, while the functions it was never meant to handle are moved off-chain. Transaction execution takes place in a fast, flexible ecosystem, finally giving applications the space they need to operate efficiently.

This architecture is what’s driving investor interest in HYPER, the token positioned at the core of Bitcoin’s shift from a passive store of value into an active economic system.

That opportunity is still open for a limited time. HYPER is currently priced at $0.013425, but that price is only available for the next five hours before the following presale phase begins.

Six Figures Reveal Bitcoin’s Next Challenge
As 2025 approaches its end, the year is set to be remembered for the moment Bitcoin firmly crossed into six-figure price levels. However, the recent pullback has reignited a more uncomfortable debate: can Bitcoin’s role as a store of value alone continue to support further price growth?

That uncertainty is no longer limited to crypto circles and is beginning to appear in traditional financial markets. Strategy is facing mounting scrutiny as index providers review whether its substantial Bitcoin exposure still warrants inclusion in major benchmarks, including the MSCI indices.

Analysts at JPMorgan have cautioned that any potential removal could result in billions of dollars exiting through passive investment funds. Meanwhile, Strategy’s stock has declined significantly more than Bitcoin itself and is now trading much closer to the underlying value of its BTC holdings, rather than maintaining the premium that investors previously attributed to its treasury-focused approach.

MSCI $MSTR DE-LISTING FEAR MONGERING: THE $2.8 BILLION LIE

First: Strategy is at ZERO risk of being delisted from other indices. Second: J.P. Morgan says an MSCI delisting would trigger a $2.8 Billion forced sell off. They are banking on you not knowing the math.

I assessed… pic.twitter.com/NszHcnYt69

— Adrian (@_Adrian) November 25, 2025

Scarcity alone may no longer be sufficient to keep pushing Bitcoin’s price upward. For the market to reclaim and hold six-figure levels and eventually move beyond previous highs the network needs a new driver of demand.

Bitcoin’s base layer was deliberately engineered to be lean, cautious, and resistant to change. It functions as a neutral settlement layer, placing security and verifiability above every other consideration. That conservative design is exactly what has allowed Bitcoin to operate reliably for more than a decade.

However, this same philosophy also imposes a limitation. If Bitcoin must stay simple by design, then advanced execution and functionality must exist outside of it. There is effectively no alternative approach.

This is precisely the space Bitcoin Hyper is designed to occupy. Execution is handled in a separate ecosystem, while Bitcoin continues to serve as the ultimate source of settlement and truth.

Bitcoin’s Design Prioritized Simplicity by Choice
Bitcoin was built as a form of money that cannot be altered, diluted, or controlled by any government, corporation, or small group of actors. Achieving that goal required a system engineered to be resilient above all else, even if it meant giving up speed and adaptability.

This is why Bitcoin depends on the stark simplicity of SHA-256. It is a one-way cryptographic function that avoids complexity and specialization, yet performs its role with unmatched reliability. Verification is fast and straightforward, while reversal is effectively impossible and this imbalance is what underpins Bitcoin’s security model.

FUN FACT: Bitcoin runs on SHA256—a one-way cryptographic function.

It’s what secures your sats with trillions of hashes per second.

Want to see how unbreakable that really is?
Watch this 👇 pic.twitter.com/SQ6iPGu918

— Simply Bitcoin (@SimplyBitcoin) April 24, 2025

Think of Bitcoin as the foundation. You don’t drill into bedrock every time you want to expand a structure you build on top of it, because the strength underneath is what supports everything above.

From the beginning, Bitcoin’s base layer was deliberately kept simple and conservative. By minimizing moving parts, it reduced attack vectors, limited governance risk, and ensured the system could be verified by anyone without relying on complicated logic. That discipline is a key reason Bitcoin remains the most secure and decentralized network in the crypto space.

Still, bedrock isn’t meant to be lived in it’s meant to support what’s built above it. Advanced features were never intended to operate on Bitcoin’s base layer, and forcing them there would erode the very attributes that give Bitcoin its value.

This is exactly why Bitcoin Hyper exists. It adds a layer above Bitcoin where advanced functionality can operate without modifying the underlying chain.

That execution layer is powered by the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), pulling execution away from Bitcoin’s slower base layer and placing it into an environment optimized for speed and scalability. Transactions become fast and inexpensive, and complexity is no longer a limiting factor.

The result is more than simple “hybrid applications” it represents a deeper structural change. Bitcoin is no longer static. BTC moves through DeFi, gaming, and real economic use cases at Solana-level speeds, while final settlement still resolves back on Bitcoin. Fast at the top, immutable at the core.

The Infrastructure Play Powering Bitcoin’s Next Phase: HYPER
The Bitcoin Hyper framework is built around a single objective that Bitcoin itself has never achieved at scale: enabling BTC to function in everyday economic use. Within the Bitcoin Hyper environment, applications are designed to use Bitcoin directly as the means of exchange. Participation requires BTC, not a substitute or wrapper.

That is where the dynamic begins to change. When applications depend on BTC to operate, demand shifts away from pure speculation or macro-driven narratives and becomes embedded in actual usage. Bitcoin starts to resemble an active currency circulating through an ecosystem, rather than idle collateral sitting on the sidelines.

However, Bitcoin Hyper is doing more than expanding BTC’s utility. It also introduces an economic layer reminiscent of the early opportunities that first-generation Bitcoin supporters experienced. This execution layer requires energy to operate, and that role is fulfilled by HYPER.

The seat is optional.

Hyper carries the whole ecosystem anyway. ⚡️🔥https://t.co/VNG0P4GuDo pic.twitter.com/lNbiunomew

— Bitcoin Hyper (@BTC_Hyper2) December 10, 2025

HYPER functions as the network’s gas token, enabling transactions across the system, while also serving as the staking asset that contributes to network security and the governance token that guides its long-term direction. It is the mechanism through which growth at the execution layer is captured.

This is why the presale has already attracted more than $29.5 million, with investors positioning themselves early around the infrastructure they believe Bitcoin will need to sustain its next phase of growth.

At the current presale price of $0.013425, many see HYPER as reflecting early-stage development risk rather than the valuation of a fully operational ecosystem.

How to Purchase HYPER
To acquire HYPER, visit the official Bitcoin Hyper website and complete your purchase using SOL, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, or a credit card.

Bitcoin Hyper also recommends using Best Wallet, a widely used crypto and Bitcoin wallet. HYPER is already listed in Best Wallet’s Upcoming Tokens section, allowing users to buy, monitor, and later claim their tokens once the launch goes live.

You can also join the wider Bitcoin Hyper community by following the project on Telegram and X.

Dec 16, 2025, 7:28 a.m.

Axelar’s AXL token fell as much as 13% on Tuesday, according to CoinDesk market data, after stablecoin giant Circle said it had signed an agreement to acquire the team and proprietary intellectual property of Interop Labs, the initial and core developer behind the Axelar Network.

Loading...

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The deal explicitly excludes the AXL token and the network itself from the acquisition.

Interop Labs’ engineers and IP will instead join Circle, while Common Prefix, another long-time contributor, is set to assume a larger role in maintaining and developing the Axelar ecosystem.

Axelar is a crypto network designed to help different blockchains communicate and transfer assets with each other.

Markets reacted swiftly as traders sold AXL after it became clear that the acquisition does not create direct value accrual for tokenholders, despite validating the underlying interoperability technology.

The move suggests potential buyers may be interested in teams, intellectual property, and enterprise-facing infrastructure — but not the tokens associated with open networks.

In Axelar’s case, Circle gains engineering talent and interoperability expertise that can support its broader stablecoin and payments ambitions, while AXL holders are left with no formal link to the transaction’s economics.

The token does not receive any buy pressure, revenue sharing, or governance influence over the acquired assets.

Such a deal challenges the assumption that protocol success automatically benefits token prices, and the takeaway is increasingly clear: M&A activity in crypto may strengthen infrastructure and teams, but unless a token is structurally tied into the deal, it can just as easily become collateral damage.

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As artificial intelligence investment surpasses half a trillion dollars, crypto miners are increasingly repurposing their infrastructure to operate AI data centers, especially in North America and Western Europe. Web3 veteran and investor Rick Rose argues that developing markets—often overlooked due to perceived regulatory risk—offer a major advantage.

Costco and Dollar Tree are performing well in a challenging economy, but one has a stronger track record of success.

Consumers are looking for bargains today. That fact is highlighted by Dollar Tree (DLTR +1.00%), which is seeing more and more shoppers from higher income brackets. However, Costco (COST 2.70%) is also a leader in providing products at attractive prices. Which one is the better investment right now?

Very different business models
Costco is a club store, so consumers pay a yearly membership fee for the privilege of shopping in the retailer's warehouses. That fee makes up roughly half of the company's operating income. There is very little cost associated with memberships, so that income flows right into gross profit and earnings. However, this annuity-like income source also empowers the company to accept lower margins on the goods it sells. That allows Costco to offer prices so low that customers want to keep coming back, and paying their membership fees.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dollar Tree is really just a traditional retailer. It sells products at a low price point, which is the main draw for consumers. However, it has to lure customers into its stores based on its product offerings and price points. While Costco and Dollar Tree could both fall out of favor with consumers, Dollar Tree is more exposed to the risk of customers choosing to shop at a different store concept.

Both are doing well right now
Costco just reported strong fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings. Same-store sales rose 6.4%, with traffic up 3.1%. Dollar Tree's comparable quarter, which was the third quarter of 2025, saw same store sales jump 4.2%. During the earnings call, management highlighted that it was seeing an increasing number of higher-income shoppers.

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That's an important distinction between Costco and Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree benefits from consumers who trade down. In the quarter, the company estimated that three million new households shopped at a Dollar Tree, 60% of which earned more than $100,000. Those customers are likely coming from retailers like Target, which offers a more premium shopping experience. Target's same-store sales fell 2.7% in the third quarter of 2025.

The big takeaway here is that trade-down customers can, and likely will, trade back up to a more premium shopping experience when they are less worried about the economy. By contrast, shopping at Costco is a long-term commitment. Although the selection at Costco is highly curated, the products are generally of high quality. Dollar Tree's stores are filled with lower-quality products that are inexpensive to purchase, although the company is working to upgrade its product assortment. However, higher-quality products also come with higher price tags, which shifts the low-price proposition to which consumers have long been attracted.

If the economy strengthens, it seems more likely that Costco's business will continue to thrive. Dollar Tree, however, could find that it loses the wealthier customers who are currently benefiting its business.

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The valuation is high in both cases
In general, Costco's club store model appears to be better positioned for long-term success. Investors are well aware of this fact, bidding the stock up to the point where it has a price-to-earnings ratio of 47 times. Dollar Tree's P/E ratio is a far lower 24.5 times. However, Costco's five-year average P/E is roughly 44 times, and Dollar Tree's five-year average P/E is about 21 times. Both stocks look expensive relative to their own histories.

If you are a value-focused investor, you likely won't want to invest in either of these retailers. Target would likely be a better choice, with its P/E of roughly 12 times below its five-year average of around 16 times. Growth investors, meanwhile, should probably tread with caution when considering Dollar Tree given its business model. And only aggressive growth investors will likely want to risk the lofty valuation being afforded to Costco, even though its business model and financial results are quite attractive.

Put Costco on the wish list, tread carefully with Dollar Tree
There's one more wrinkle when comparing Costco and Dollar Tree. Costco's business approach has remained consistent for decades: offering good products at low prices and opening new stores. Dollar Tree's most recent move, to expand its product assortment to include higher-priced items, comes after the disastrous acquisition of Family Dollar. That effort at growth came to an end in 2025 as Dollar Tree sold the store concept for billions less than it paid.

With a business model that has a proven track record, Costco will likely appeal to more investors. That said, most investors should probably put it on the wish list given its lofty valuation. If you do buy it right now, be prepared to hold for the long term. Paying a premium and holding has worked out well for Costco shareholders so far, but the current 15% drawdown could have further to run based on the stock's trading history.

1 hour ago

Users can now buy, swap, send, and receive Bitcoin directly within the popular Ethereum-focused wallet, expanding its multichain reach.

Crypto wallet giant MetaMask has announced it has added support for Bitcoin, hinting that more blockchain integrations will be rolled out next year. 

MetaMask announced the rollout to social media on Monday, ten months after it first teased it in February, revealing that Bitcoin (BTC) has now joined the ranks of supported assets from the Ethereum, Solana, Monad and Sei blockchains. 

“Any Bitcoin transactions you make will appear in your asset list once confirmed. Remember: Bitcoin transactions are typically slower than those on EVM or Solana networks,” MetaMask said. 

The move enables users to buy BTC, swap to BTC, send and receive BTC, with users being incentivized to use the asset, with any swaps into BTC earning people MetaMask reward points.  

Source: MetaMask Prior to this, MetaMask users could only gain exposure to BTC via wrapped versions of the asset.  

The BTC integration was first discussed back in February, with MetaMask’s Dan Finlay suggesting it would go live in the third quarter of 2025.

MetaMask goes from just Ethereum to multichainInitially developed to support the Ethereum ecosystem and EVM-compatible networks, MetaMask has been gradually expanding beyond this in 2025.  

MetaMask kicked things off with the Solana integration in May and followed that up with Sei in August and Monad in November. The firm has kept its cards close to its chest, but has indicated that more networks will be added next year. 

“Bitcoin support marks the latest step in our multichain expansion, following the launch of Monad and Sei earlier this year, with more networks to come in 2026,” MetaMask said. 

Magazine: Big questions: Would Bitcoin survive a 10-year power outage?

End of Fed tightening, possible rate cuts, and rising liquidity could favor risk assets like Bitcoin in 2026.

Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering near $90,000, with traders weighing near-term macro pressure against growing conviction that early 2026 could mark a defining phase for the crypto market.

The focus is shifting from short-term volatility to whether easing U.S. monetary policy and political tailwinds could set the stage for an aggressive upside move that some analysts place as high as $600,000.

Macro Forces and Market Structure Come into Focus
In a post shared on X earlier today, pseudonymous analyst Wise Crypto told their over 380,000 followers that an end to the Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening, possible rate cuts, improving short-term liquidity through Treasury bill support, and the U.S. midterm election cycle could all lean in favor of risk assets.

The trader added that softer labor data may further tilt the Fed toward a more accommodative stance, a backdrop that some forecasters believe could push Bitcoin anywhere between $300,000 and $600,000 if conditions align.

That longer-term optimism contrasts with the current market happenings, which saw BTC slip below $88,000 during a familiar late-Sunday sell-off before rebounding to around $90,000 during Asia trading.

The move came ahead of a heavy U.S. data calendar, including CPI and Core PCE inflation prints, which analysts say will shape expectations for Fed policy heading into 2026.

Price action remains choppy rather than directional, with CoinGecko data showing Bitcoin down by about 0.4% in the last 24 hours and close to 2% during the week. The 30-day view shows a pullback of nearly 7%, but despite the weakness, the flagship cryptocurrency still commands close to 57% of total crypto market value.

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Sentiment, Technical Levels, and the 2026 Outlook
The discussion of a 2026 boom is occurring alongside a broader narrative of industry maturation. In commentary over the weekend, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng predicted the crypto industry will move “beyond hype and speculation” toward deeper integration into global finance by next year.

He pointed to the steady growth of Bitcoin held by public companies and ETFs, coupled with a drop in exchange balances, as signs of a shift toward long-term holding that could reduce volatility. Teng also expects corporate treasuries to diversify into major altcoins and anticipates more active engagement from governments on regulatory frameworks.

In the immediate term, traders are watching key technical levels, with analyst Michaël van de Poppe noting today that BTC is facing a crucial resistance zone near $90,000. According to him, a break above this area could open a path toward $92,000 to $94,000 and increase the chances of a move to $100,000. However, if resistance holds, a deeper correction is possible.

Community sentiment reflects that uncertainty. A poll posted by Titan of Crypto showed nearly 57% of respondents doubting that Bitcoin will reach $100,000 before 2026, while about 43% remain confident it will.

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Posted: December 16, 2025

Quantum computing has made some progress, but not to the extent that it could pose a threat to the Bitcoin network and related wallets.

According to Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and a cypherpunk who was once mistaken for Satoshi, quantum computers right now can’t crash BTC. 

He discredited a post that claimed that the only thing that could crash BTC by 99% from $87k to $3 is a quantum computer capable of cracking wallets and the entire network. 

Last month, Back said that quantum computers could only become stable and pose a threat to BTC in the next 20-40 years. 

Source: X

Still, the network could be secure by the time the risk becomes real. In fact, Blockstream researchers are already developing proposals for upgrading the Bitcoin network to a quantum-secure one. 

However, not everyone believes the threat is two decades away. 

Why quantum-secure BTC is urgent
Perhaps one of the most vocal investors about the risks of quantum computing is Charles Edwards, CEO of Capriole Investments. According to him, BTC has lagged behind gold in terms of price performance this year because of the risk. 

The best solution, he added, is to reach a consensus in 2026 and make the Bitcoin network quantum-resistant. 

Source: X

For perspective, quantum computers differ from current classical computers because they utilize the so-called qubits instead of typical solid-state chips that operate on 0 and 1. However, they are currently difficult to create, scale, and shield from errors (such as overheating). 

So far, IBM has a working prototype with about 1000 qubits, while Google and Microsoft have managed 50 and 8 qubits, respectively. Alas, the error rates have been extremely high. 

To crack the current Bitcoin cryptography, a quantum computer must have at least 2,500 logical and stable qubits that can operate for days without errors. That’s why experts like Adam Back view the threat as a long-term issue, rather than an immediate or mid-term risk. 

Bitcoin holders seek relative security
In fact, most of the top firms that are pushing for quantum computers will be at risk if they develop one without proper safeguards. Based on this premise, even Strategy founder Michael Saylor has downplayed the mid-term threats posed by quantum computers to Bitcoin. 

“Google and Microsoft won’t sell you a quantum computer that cracks modern cryptography because it’ll destroy them, the US government, and the banking system.”

In the meantime, some top holders are already migrating to more resistant Bitcoin addresses (Segwit, blue) from the latest format (taproot, purple).

According to BTC analyst Willy Woo, Segwit reduces “quantum long range attacks” if the address is not reused. 

The number of Segwit addresses has been increasing since 2024. 

Source: Glassnode

Final Thoughts

Cryptography experts believe that it could take decades for quantum computers to crack the Bitcoin network. 
Some investors have already migrated to relatively secure Segwit addresses. 

Stablecoin issuer Circle has acquired Interop Labs, the initial developer of the Axelar network.

This deal excludes the Axelar Network, Foundation, and AXL token, which will continue to operate independently. Common Prefix will take over development responsibilities.

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Circle to Bring Interop Labs Team and Technology In-HouseCircle, the company behind the second-largest stablecoin USDC, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Interop Labs’ team and proprietary technology.

The stablecoin issuer plans to integrate this team to accelerate progress on its Arc blockchain and Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). Circle said it expects the acquisition to close in early 2026.

“Our goal is to make blockchain connectivity seamless, and bringing the Interop Labs team into Circle will accelerate the Arc and CCTP roadmaps toward building the hub for multichain internet finance,” Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Circle, stated.

Meanwhile, both Circle and Interop Labs emphasized that the deal does not include the Axelar network.

“As the Interop Labs team transitions to Circle, the Axelar Network, Foundation and the AXL token will continue to operate independently under community governance and open source intellectual property will remain open source,” Circle added.

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Common Prefix, a long-time contributor to the Axelar Network, will now lead the network’s development. In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, the team outlined its main priorities for 2026.

The 2026 focus areas include expanding Axelar through new protocols and asset classes, reallocating away from underperforming chains, introducing co-staking of blue-chip assets to strengthen economic security, preparing the network for institutional use through improvements in privacy and compliance, and exploring gasless bridging to enable zero-fee transfers using idle gateway capital.

“Common Prefix is a team of scientists and engineers. Our scientists are post-docs, PhDs, and professors with strong academic backgrounds from renowned universities worldwide. We are an unapologetically multichain team, with deep expertise in Ethereum, XRP Ledger, Sui, Solana, Cosmos, and Bitcoin (having co-invented BitVM). We believe in a multichain world, where different chains can be used for different purposes. Axelar’s interoperability layer is an indispensable component that enables them to communicate,” the team stated.

Market Reaction and Community ConcernsThe market reacted quickly to the acquisition news. The AXL token’s price plunged, extending its broader downtrend. At the time of writing, the altcoin traded at $0.11. This represented a decline of nearly 13% over the past day.

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However, it’s worth noting that the decline is not isolated. Over the past day, the broader cryptocurrency market has declined by nearly 4%, with major assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum in the red.

Axelar (AXL) Price Performance. Source: TradingViewThe move has also caused concerns among some community members. Crypto commentator Nick described the deal as “very concerning” for AXL holders.

“Being an AXL holder/supporter myself, I can’t help but to feel used in a very predatory way here. It feels like they utilized AXL as a monetization tool with retail + VCs being the bread & butter to build the platform. Then at the end of the day sell the platform which is basically everything of value to Circle,” he noted.

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Furthermore, another analyst stressed that the situation highlights what they described as the “token versus equity problem” in the crypto industry.

“You funded the project. You took the risk. You have no claim on the exit. Tokens aren’t shares. They never were. ‘Remains independent and community-governed’ = the people who built it are leaving for greener pastures,” Steady Crypto posted.

The commentator also noted that although Common Prefix has stepped in as the network’s new lead developer, there is no obligation for any team to remain indefinitely.

“Until crypto solves this, every token is a bet that the team sticks around – with zero contractual obligation that they will,” the analyst commented.

While the announcement has clearly shaken confidence among AXL holders, the project’s future now hinges on whether Common Prefix can successfully execute its roadmap and rebuild trust in Axelar’s long-term value proposition.

A crypto crash is happening today, with Bitcoin and top altcoins like Dogecoin (DOGE), Pi Network (PI), Cardano (ADA), Aster (ASTER), and Ondo (ONDO) falling by over 5%. The market cap of all tokens dropped by over 4% in the last 24 hours to $2.93 trillion. This article explores why the crypto market crash is happening today.

Crypto market cap has crashed | Source: CMCCrypto crash is happening amid risk-off sentiment 
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One main reason why the crypto market is happening is that investors have embraced a risk-off sentiment as the artificial intelligence (AI) jitters continued.

These jitters explain why top indices like the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 continued to drop on Monday. The Dow Jones fell by 105 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 dropped by 40 and 20 basis points, respectively.

Top AI companies like Nvidia, Broadcom, CoreWeave, and Oracle continued their downtrend, which has now erased over $1.5 trillion in value in the past few weeks alone.

There are risks that the AI bubble is bursting, a move that would have an impact across other asset classes like cryptocurrencies and bonds because of the correlation that exists among them.

Jitters in the AI industry accelerated last week when Oracle published its results. While its revenue and RPO growth continued growing, its negative free cash flow and elevated debt levels raised concerns among investors.

Oracle’s credit profile continues to worsen. The company’s CDS spread (cost of insuring against default) has climbed to 151bps, its highest level since 2009 – a warning sign not just for Oracle but for the broader AI sector. Markets are now pricing in a probability of default of

US macro data ahead 
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The other main reason why the crypto market is crashing today is that investors are waiting for the upcoming macro data from the United States.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish the October non-farm payrolls (NFP) report later on Tuesday and the latest consumer price index (CPI) report on Thursday this week.

Economists expect the upcoming report to show that the economy added 55k jobs in October, much lower than the 110k it created in the previous month. The labor report will likely be affected by government employees who took Donald Trump’s voluntary retirement, which kicked off on September 30.

Meanwhile, data compiled by Trading Economics is expected to show that the headline and Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 3% in November. 

These numbers will come a week after the Federal Reserve delivered a 0.25% rate cut and hinted that it would cut once in 2026. The pace of cuts will depend on the upcoming data. For example, the bank may deliver more cuts in 2026 if inflation shows signs of coming down.

Bank of Japan interest rate decision 
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The crypto market crash is happening as investors wait for the upcoming Bank of Japan interest rate decision on Friday this week.

Economists polled by Reuters and Polymarket data shows that the bank will hike interest rates by 0.25% to a multi-decade high of 0.75%.

Bank of Japan is set to hike interest rates by 25bps on December 19
The last 3 times BoJ hiked rates, Bitcoin dumped by over 20%
March 2024 → -27%
July 2024 → -30%
January 2025 → -31%
We already saw a 7% dump last week as investors tried to front-run the dump.
However,

The bank’s goal for hiking interest rates is to combat the elevated consumer inflation, which has remained at 3% in the past few months. This inflation may continue rising in the coming months as the impact of the new stimulus package requested by Sanae Takaichi flows through the economy.

Data shows that cryptocurrencies normally drop when the BoJ hikes interest rates because of the perception that the Japanese borrowed cheaply and invested in assets. As rates rise, these investors do the opposite and sell these assets as part of their winding down of the carry trade.

Falling futures open interest 
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The crypto crash is happening as investors continue to reduce their leverage in the crypto industry, which soared during this year’s bull run.

CoinGlass data shows that the futures open interest has tumbled to $129 billion, down by 4% in the last 24 hours. It dropped from the October high of over $255 billion. A drop in open interest is risky for the crypto market as it reduces the demand.

Futures open interest | Source: CoinGlassMeanwhile, liquidations soared by 109% in the last 24 hours, with nearly 200k traders being liquidated. Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, and XRP positions worth over $233 million, $180 million, $37 million, and $15.6 million were liquidated in the last 24 hours.