Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin closed the year with the mining difficulty level of 148.2 trillion, an increase of 35% from the same period last year.
The level of difficulty reached 156.0 trillion in November and is forecasted to increase in early 2026.
The increase in difficulties indicates better security of the network, even under the effect of halving in 2025 and price pressure.

The Bitcoin network closed out the year 2025 with a mining difficulty of 148.2 trillion, which was the final difficulty adjustment for that year and reflected continued growth.

“The figure illustrates the 35% increase from the 109.8 trillion that existed at the beginning of the year on January 1st, 2025,” which symbolical of the year of growth in spite of the fluctuations that occurred in the marketplace, as well as the Bitcoin halving that took place in 2025. Mining difficulty is one such metric that indicates the difficulty level in the discovery of a novel block, which is accomplished through Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin adjusts automatically every two weeks as per the difficulty level, regardless of any changes in hashrate or computing power.

This means that the higher the level of difficulty, the more miners in addition to increased powers working to secure the blockchain database.

A Year of Rising Difficulty
During 2025, Bitcoin’s mining difficulty has been steadily increasing due to the ongoing improvement in mining equipment. According to data from CoinWarz, the network reached its highest difficulty of the year at 156.0 trillion on November 11.

The trough in the final quarter was experienced towards the end of October, when difficulty saw a short drop to 146.7 trillion. Even so, the difficulty still showed considerable increases from the levels witnessed at the beginning of the year, which showed that miners managed to remain operational.

Based on the final adjustment, the level of difficulty stands about 5% lower than the November level, but this could be indicative of a weak slowing rather than a systemic trend away from mining.

Outlook for Early 2026
It is forecasted that when the next difficulty adjustment, which is anticipated to occur on January 8, 2026, happens, mining will rise due to a mining difficulty of about 149.3 trillion. This is a sign that the trend of increasing Bitcoin network security is on the right path

The projection indicates miners are still very confident in the long-term fundamentals of Bitcoin, thus willing to continue investing in infrastructure, even as block rewards were reduced after the 2025 halving.

Price and Difficulty Dynamics
The relationship between Bitcoin’s price and mining difficulty varied throughout the year. When difficulty reached its annual high in November, Bitcoin was trading near elevated levels. However, during earlier price highs, difficulty was notably lower, showing that hashrate growth does not always move in lockstep with price movements.

The relationship between the price of Bitcoin and mining difficulty has been variable this year. When difficulty was at its yearly high in November, Bitcoin was trading near highs. During earlier highs in price, however, difficulty was decidedly lower, which shows hash rate growth does not always correlate with price movements.

As of the end of 2025, Bitcoin is trading approximately 4% below its price at the start of the year. Despite this, mining difficulty continued to rise, reflecting miners’ ability to adapt through improved efficiency and lower operating costs.

Resilience After the Halving
A rising level of difficulty after a halvening incident is truly impressive. Traditionally, halvings have contributed to a rise in difficulty levels, thus pressuring miners by reducing block rewards. This led to inefficient miners withdrawing from the competition in 2025, while those that continued to operate remained.

As Bitcoin enters 2026 and difficulty values approach records, the system has never been more secure and competitive, making it the leading proof-of-work chain in the world.

Highlighted Crypto News Today
BitMine to Launch MAVAN Backed by $12B Ethereum Treasury

Strategy has accumulated 1,229 BTC for approximately $108.8 million.
BTC was last seen trading at $87,129.73.
Bitcoin price is estimated to record a new ATH in 2026.

Bitcoin price has slipped way below the $90k mark, hovering around $87k with little possibility to reclaim the high level by year-end. However, Strategy has kept the crypto community’s interest alive by accumulating BTC. The development triggers anticipation for a bull cycle in 2026, considering two whale wallets recently accumulated 1,600 Bitcoin tokens.

Momentum for BTC Price
BTC seems to have lost its momentum after slipping to $87,129.73. The token briefly teased a trading value of over $90,000, hinting at reclaiming more highs before the beginning of the next year. The value is now down by 3.11% over the last 24 hours, and the market cap has lost almost 3.1% of its value.

Overall sentiments around BTC are neutral despite a few indicators showing a slowdown. Its 24-hour trading volume has surged by 44.21% and volatility is now medium at 2.13%. The 14-Day RSI is neutral with 44.94 points.

Strategy Acquires Bitcoin Tokens
Strategy, in an X post, announced acquiring 1,229 BTC at the collective price of approximately $108.8 million. This brings their individual value to around $88,568. Strategy added that it has achieved a yield of 23.2% YTD 2025.

The Bitcoin Treasure company confirmed that it now holds 672,497 tokens as of December 28, 2025, at an individual value of around $74,997 and the collective value of approximately $50.44 billion. That said, MSTR (NASDAQ) has tripped by 2.15% to $155.39.

Bitcoin Price in 2026
The move by Strategy comes after two whale wallets accumulated 1,600 BTC for a total of around $143.65 million. While the move was partly attributed to holiday liquidity, it managed to trigger anticipation about possible upticks in Bitcoin price in 2026.

The token is first estimated to jump by 4% in the next 1 month. It could reach $90,764. This could then pave the way for a surge of 18.07% in the next 3 months from this moment. Thereby taking the token to around $103,037 amid 24 points for the FGI. BTC price prediction further sees the token surpass its ATH of $126,198.07, which was last noted on October 07, 2025.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) Struggles at $4: Could a Dip Toward Former Lows Be Imminent?

Curious by nature, Ankur's core topic is Web3, but he's a versatile writer who can cover many more subjects. If you catch up with him in his free time, you'll find discussions often center around different movies and TV series. He's an easy person to talk to—you can literally chat with him about anything.

Bitcoin 2026 Outlook discussions are up again, even after many big institutions missed the mark in previous cycles. Analysts and executives are still laying out scenarios to help investors understand what could happen next.
At the same time, the Bitcoin 2026 Outlook is no longer about one single price target. Instead, it’s about ranges, probabilities, and risks.

Forecasts Are Taking A Backseat Now
After what many called a “collective miss” in earlier Bitcoin predictions, confidence in precise price targets has dropped. Most institutions now frame forecasts as scenario analysis, not promises. Bitcoin’s future depends on institutional flows, macro policy, and market structure.

Source: X

The Bullish Camp
Some of the most famous voices remain optimistic about Bitcoin in the 2026 Outlook.

Tom Lee believes Bitcoin can reach $200,000-250,000 due to ETF inflows and rising institutional allocation. He believes institutional capital changes the traditional cycle structure.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse believes Bitcoin will surpass $180,000. Lily Liu, the President of Solana Foundation expects it to stay above $100,000.
JPMorgan pegs the theoretical fair value at around $170,000, based on a volatility-adjusted comparison of Bitcoin to gold.
Standard Chartered aims to achieve $150,000 in 2026.
Katherine Dowling, President of Bernstein and BSTR, mentioned a target of $150,000. She based this on regulatory clarity, ETF adoption, and institutional demand.
Citigroup gives a base case of $143,000 and a bullish case of $189,000.

All these perceptions show that ETFs, Wall Street adoption and regulations are supportive structures.

🚨𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐩𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐞𝐭” — 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧, 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 & 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 💥

During today’s @Binance Blockchain… pic.twitter.com/W9977rIBoy

— Diana (@InvestWithD) December 3, 2025

The Cautious and Bearish Scenarios
Not everyone expects a smooth ride.

Fundstrat analysts warn of a possible early-2026 pullback toward $60,000–$65,000 before any major rally.
According to Citigroup’s bearish case, Bitcoin will be close to $78,500, and the important level is approximately $70,000.
A few technical and macro factors persist, indicating extreme stress cases as low as $25,000 or even $10,000. These are tail risk, not base cases.

The takeaway is that downside risk hasn’t disappeared.

2/n TLDR: Fundstrat is home to several analysts with independent frameworks and time horizons, designed to serve different client objectives. My work is geared toward crypto-heavy portfolios and a more active approach to the market.

— Sean Farrell (@SeanMFarrell) December 20, 2025

Across nearly every Bitcoin 2026 Outlook, institutions are not sending more transactions. They are sending bigger ones. ETF flows, monetary easing, and regulatory transparency matter more now. Hype cycles and retail speculation matter less.

Conclusion
The Bitcoin 2026 Outlook is bullish, but far from guaranteed. Upside targets are between 150,000 and 250,000; downside targets serve as a wake-up call to investors that volatility remains the order of the day.

Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. It is intended solely for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not liable for any losses you may incur from investments related to the information given. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, conduct thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

contributor

Posted: December 30, 2025

Ethereum [ETH] is closing out 2025 with indicators that go beyond just price movement.

Developer activity reached historic levels, while on-chain economic value remained closely aligned with ETH’s market capitalization. Institutional accumulation also continued at a notable pace.

These combined signals suggested Ethereum’s network fundamentals strengthened, even as broader market conditions remained cautious.

But what did this convergence of data actually reveal about Ethereum’s positioning?

Developer activity surged as builders shipped
ETH recorded its highest developer activity ever during Q4 2025. Data showed 8.7 million smart contracts were deployed during the quarter.

Source: Token terminal

The increase reflected sustained builder engagement rather than short-term speculative behavior. Higher contract deployment is historically aligned with application growth and infrastructure expansion.

The activity pointed to continued development across decentralized finance, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

On-chain economic value underscores ETH’s central role
On-chain data showed roughly $330 billion in economic activity anchored to Ethereum. During the same period, ETH traded near a $350 B market capitalization.

This implied Ethereum was valued at a 1.06x premium to the economy it already supported. The pricing suggested the market largely reflected current utility rather than aggressive growth assumptions.

Source: Milk Road on X

According to Milk Road, Ethereum remained at the center of the on-chain economy, anchoring liquidity and supporting the largest protocols. The comparison highlighted Ethereum’s scale beyond crypto-native benchmarks.

Milk Road also noted that the altcoin’s on-chain economy already exceeded the GDPs of Qatar, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico, placing it alongside nation-sized economic systems.

Institutional accumulation persisted despite market uncertainty
Institutional interest in ETH remains evident through steady accumulation.

On the 29th of December 2025, Trend Research, one of the most active institutional buyers, purchased $63.28 million worth of Ethereum. Since November, the firm has accumulated roughly $1.8 billion in ETH.

These purchases coincided with rising network activity, rather than short-term price moves, highlighting a focus on Ethereum’s long-term structural role rather than near-term volatility.

Source: X

Is Ethereum being priced as a settlement layer heading into 2026? Ethereum continued to anchor liquidity and host the largest on-chain applications.

With economic activity nearly matching market capitalization, pricing appeared conservative. The data suggested Ethereum was valued primarily for current utility, not future expansion.

Final Thoughts

Ethereum closed 2025 with record developer activity, strong on-chain economic alignment, and sustained institutional interest.
Together, these signals suggested Ethereum quietly reinforced its role as a foundational settlement layer heading into 2026.

Institutions are increasingly using bitcoin options strategies on altcoins to manage price volatility and enhance returns, STS Digital told CoinDesk.Updated Dec 30, 2025, 8:54 a.m. Published Dec 30, 2025, 8:18 a.m.

Institutions are increasingly using proven bitcoin BTC$87,951.26 options techniques on alternative cryptocurrencies to protect against price swings and earn extra returns, STS Digital, a principal trader specializing in digital assets derivatives, told CoinDesk.

"Our client base includes token projects and foundations, investors with large holdings, and asset management firms managing exposure ahead of liquidity events," Maxime Seiler, co-founder and CEO of STS Digital, said. "Increasingly, we’re also seeing these participants apply option strategies that were historically used in Bitcoin to the altcoin space."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Options are derivative contracts that give the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price at a later date. A call option represents a bullish bet, giving the purchaser the right to buy the asset at a specified price at a later date. A put option represents a bearish bet, protecting the buyer from a price decline.

The option seller is essentially writing insurance against bullish/bearish moves in return for an upfront compensation, called a premium.

Institutions holding bitcoin tend to sell options, writing BTC calls at levels above the going market price, and collecting the premium. This premium represents additional income on top of their spot BTC holdings.

This so-called covered call strategy has been one of the most popular institutional plays since the early 2020 crash. Institutions have also pursued other methods, such as writing bitcoin puts to boost income during price rallies, buying puts as downside hedges, and buying call options to participate in the bull run.

Now, institutions and other entities, such as project founders holding large amounts of altcoins, foundations, venture capital firms and private players, are using the same playbook in other cryptocurrencies, or altcoins.

The Oct. 10 crash, which saw exchanges forcefully close even profit-making bets (auto-deleveraging) to socialize losses, further stressed the need for risk management in altcoins.

"Beyond covered calls, institutions are actively using put selling for yield, downside hedging, and call buying to gain upside with defined risk. These strategies are increasingly being applied to altcoins as investors look to manage exposure without taking forced liquidations risk (ADL) that drove the October 10 crash," Seiler said.

"It’s a clear example of why options are a more robust way to express risk in volatile markets," he added.

STS Digital is a regulated digital asset trading firm that acts as a principal dealer for institutional investors, providing liquidity and quoting options, spot trades and structured products across over 400 cryptocurrencies.

The breadth of its offering lets the firm cater to rising demand for altcoin options, while centralized platforms like Deribit focus on derivatives for major ones like ETH, XRP and SOL.

The firm settles billions in altcoin options volume annually through bilateral trades. All transactions occur directly between STS and clients, with STS taking the other side of the deal to provide liquidity and instant execution.

Seiler expects continued growth of options tied to bitcoin and other tokens over the coming years.

"Looking ahead, we see strong and sustained institutional adoption continuing to drive demand for options as the preferred way to manage digital asset exposure. With adoption having accelerated relentlessly over the past year, periods of consolidation and low volatility are increasingly viewed as attractive entry points ahead of the next wave of market catalysts," he said.

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Dec 19, 2025

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.

What to know:

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

View Full Report

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Traders split over whether Lighter’s LIT clears $3 billion FDV after launch

13 minutes ago

Prediction markets show traders clustering around a $2 billion–$3 billion range, with odds for $4 billion and $6 billion outcomes falling steadily after October's crash.

What to know:

Lighter's LIT token has not yet begun open trading, but its premarket valuation is already sparking debate, with estimates ranging from $2 billion to over $3 billion.The fully diluted valuation (FDV) of LIT is a contentious topic, as it reflects potential market value based on maximum token supply, which can be misleading without considering liquidity.Premarket trading suggests a valuation above $3 billion, but prediction markets show uncertainty, with traders on Polymarket giving even odds for LIT exceeding this figure.Read full story

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

On Monday, December 29, 2025, Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) announced its latest Bitcoin purchase. The company had acquired over $100 million worth of the digital asset again, keeping in line with its consistent buying over the years. While Strategy’s large Bitcoin buys have often been a cause for celebration in the crypto community, not everyone believes that this is a good strategy. Mainly, world-renowned economist Peter Schiff has blasted the move, highlighting its profits so far as subpar.

Strategy’s Bitcoin Move Would Have Been Better With Any Other Asset
Schiff’s comments come hot on the heels of the Strategy announcement, showing a total of 1,229 BTC was bought at approximately $109 million. The average purchase price for the coins came out to around $88,568 once the purchase was done, adding to the already considerable Bitcoin holdings of the publicly-held company.

Less than 30 minutes after Strategy’s announcement, Peter Schiff took to the X (formerly Twitter) platform to share his thoughts on the move. Mainly, the economist is not impressed with how the company’s Bitcoin bet has played out so far, despite sinking over $50 billion into the digital asset.

Schiff points out that despite aggressively buying BTC over the last five years, Strategy’s profits sit at only 16%. Breaking this down over the number of years that the company has been buying Bitcoin, it averages out to around a 3% annual profit on the investment.

Given this, the economist believes that the company would’ve been better off if it had accumulated any other asset besides Bitcoin. Interestingly, the prices of other assets such as gold and silver have hit new all-time highs this year, while BTC has continued to struggle.

Breaking Down Strategy’s BTC Holdings
Presently, Strategy retains its title as the publicly-traded company with the highest amount of Bitcoin holdings. According to data from the data aggregation website, CoinGecko, Strategy currently holds 672,497 BTC, which accounts for 3.202% of the total Bitcoin supply.

Source: CoinGecko

The entire stack has cost the company a whopping $50.44 billion to accumulate, with an average price of $74,997 at the time of the last purchase. At a 16% profit margin so far, Strategy is currently sitting on over $8 billion in unrealized profits, down from its all-time high of $22 billion in profits when the Bitcoin price crossed $126,000 back in October.

BTC price struggles to recover | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA prices dropped as the broader crypto market decreased by 2.66%. Bitcoin traded around $87,300, Ethereum remained under $3,000, while XRP and ADA also posted losses. 

Light year-end trade, low liquidity, and more selling pressure struck market sentiment.

The shortage of new catalysts and reserved investor attitude contributed to the decline. Cryptocurrency derivatives liquidation and regulatory issues were also mentioned as factors by analysts.

As the majority of large-cap tokens move to the downside and the U.S. market share is small, the crypto market is under pressure in the last days of the year.

Bitcoin Price Slides to $87K Amid ETF Outflows, But Metaplanet Adds 4,279 BTC
Bitcoin price declined 2.63% to $87,317 but is still holding above its ascending support trendline. Spot Bitcoin ETFs registered outflows in the seventh consecutive session, indicating institutional selling is still going on. The open interest of CME futures reduced to an 18-month low.

The liquidations attacked long-leveraged positions with macro uncertainty, causing investor sentiment. The Fear and Greed Index declined to 2,9, indicating the shift towards fear. Nevertheless, Metaplanet bought 4,279 BTC at a price of 451 million.

Its total holdings have reached 35,102 BTC, and this confirms that there is institutional demand in the current time of consolidation.

🚨 METAPLANET BUYS 4,279 $BTC

Metaplanet just purchased 4,279 BTC (~$451M), bringing its total holdings to 35,102 BTC.

Institutional accumulation continues. 🟧🚀 pic.twitter.com/b5BX2fgHrS

— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) December 30, 2025

ETH Drops Below $3K as Tom Lee Buys $130M Amid Retail Sell-Off
Ethereum price dropped 2.96% in the last 24 hours, trading below the $3,000 mark amid sustained bearish pressure. Analysts also caution that a further fall may drag ETH to the $2,800-$2,700 level.

In the meantime, Ethereum spot ETFs reported a net outflow of $9.6 million yesterday, which shows low institutional demand.

💥BREAKING

WHILE RETAIL SOLD TOM LEE BOUGHT ANOTHER $130MILLION WORTH OF ETHEREUM LAST WEEK.

HE IS BUYING BILLIONS WORTH OF $ETH . pic.twitter.com/XIhKJhaRBE

— Bitcoin professor (@Bitcoinprof0637) December 29, 2025

Tom Lee is also said to have bought another 130 million dollars of Ethereum last week despite retail selling. 

His ongoing acquisition is an indication of long-term trust, and overall, the number of shares in ETH has now reached billions of dollars. The momentum would resume the bullish reversal of ETH above the $3,000 mark.

XRP Falls Below $1.88, ADA Risks Breach Below $0.30
Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA Extend Losses as Bearish Momentum Builds. XRP price declined by 1.78% in the last 24 hours, pushing its weekly and monthly losses to 1.33% and 15%, respectively. 

The ADA was unable to sustain the key level of Fibonacci support, which was $1.88, leading to additional downward movement. 

Whales were more active this week since more than 40 million XRP was sold, exchange inflows indicate that they might be under pressure to sell.

However, despite institutional accumulation interest, the recent on-chain data shows less accumulation. According to Geoffrey Kendrick of Standard Chartered, the XRP might increase to $8 in 2026. Cardano (ADA) also saw a decrease of 6.2% to at $0.3512.

🔥 LATEST: STANDARD CHARTERED PREDICTS 330% PRICE SURGE FOR $XRP

Geoffrey Kendrick at Standard Chartered Bank estimates $XRP will reach $8 in 2026. 📈

The bullish forecast is based on increased regulatory clarity and the recent approval of spot $XRP ETFs boosting adoption.… pic.twitter.com/M78b42JFfT

— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) December 29, 2025

A decline below its Fibonacci support of below $0.35 makes its chances of falling to below $0.30 more probable should the bearish mood continue.

What’s Next for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA Prices?
Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA are still under pressure at the end of 2025. Further losses may be unleashed by continued withdrawals of ETFs and negative momentum. Nonetheless, the recovery may still come in January in case liquidity comes back and the market mood prevails.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Prices dropped due to ETF outflows, weak liquidity, and increased selling pressure across major tokens

Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded seven straight days of outflows, indicating continued institutional selling pressure.

Metaplanet’s Bitcoin treasury strategy appears back in motion after a notable Q4 lull.

Metaplanet Inc., the Tokyo-listed investment firm, announced on December 30, 2025, that it has resumed its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, adding 4,279 BTC in the fourth quarter.

This purchase ends a notable pause in buying activity that began after the company’s last major public purchase alongside Strategy in late September.

The new acquisition, valued at over $450 million and executed at an average price near $105,412 per Bitcoin, brings Metaplanet’s total holdings to 35,102 BTC. The company’s director, Simon Gerovich, confirmed the purchase on social media, stating the total portfolio cost approximately $3.78 billion, averaging $107,606 per BTC.+

A key metric for the company is “BTC Yield,” which measures the change in Bitcoin held per share. Metaplanet reported a yield of 11.9% for the quarter and an impressive 568.2% for the year to date in 2025, indicating its strategy has significantly increased Bitcoin exposure per share even as it issued more stock.

This move signals a restart of the firm’s dedicated “Bitcoin Treasury Operations,” which had been publicly quiet since a coordinated buying period with industry leader Strategy.

That previous activity occurred on September 22, 2025, when both companies announced large purchases. At the time, Strategy added 850 BTC, while Metaplanet executed a massive $630 million purchase of 5,419 BTC, a move that briefly saw it outperform its larger U.S. counterpart in scale relative to its size. It followed this transaction up a couple of weeks later with a $615 million buy of another 5,268 BTC to bring its stash to 30,823 BTC. Since that flurry, Metaplanet had not reported any new market purchases until this week’s announcement.

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About the author

Wayne is a dynamic part-time trader with an impressive eye for detail. His passion for understanding financial systems has led to an intriguing interest in blockchain technology, and he enjoys exploring and writing about cryptocurrencies. Possessing a keen intellect and diligent work ethic, he stays up-to-date on the latest industry trends, regularly sharing his insights in articles and professional presentations.

Metaplanet's bitcoin income generation business generated about $55 million in annual revenue for 2024. Dec 30, 2025, 9:03 a.m.

Metaplanet (3350), a Tokyo-listed investment and operating company focused on bitcoin treasury management, bought another 4,279 bitcoin BTC$87,963.88 in the fourth quarter, spending a total of $451 million, it said in a post on X.

The purchase, at an average price of $105,412, took its total to 35,102 BTC, the fourth largest of any publicly traded company. It has a target of owning 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Metaplanet has now spent some $3.78 billion, at an average purchase price of $107,607, according to the company's dashboard. The company's shares rose 8% this year, to close at 405 yen ($2.60). Still, they're down 80% from the all-time high they touched in June.

The company has also built a bitcoin income generation business that uses derivatives to produce recurring revenue while supporting long-term bitcoin holdings. The company said it expects the unit to generate around $55 million in revenue for the full fiscal year.

The firm's multiple to net asset value (mNAV), a metric that measures a company's enterprise value relative to its bitcoin net asset value, calculated as market capitalization plus total debt divided by bitcoin NAV hovers just above 1.

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State of the Blockchain 2025

Dec 19, 2025

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.

What to know:

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

View Full Report

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Traders split over whether Lighter’s LIT clears $3 billion FDV after launch

12 minutes ago

Prediction markets show traders clustering around a $2 billion–$3 billion range, with odds for $4 billion and $6 billion outcomes falling steadily after October's crash.

What to know:

Lighter's LIT token has not yet begun open trading, but its premarket valuation is already sparking debate, with estimates ranging from $2 billion to over $3 billion.The fully diluted valuation (FDV) of LIT is a contentious topic, as it reflects potential market value based on maximum token supply, which can be misleading without considering liquidity.Premarket trading suggests a valuation above $3 billion, but prediction markets show uncertainty, with traders on Polymarket giving even odds for LIT exceeding this figure.Read full story

10h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Eddy S.

Summarize this article with:

On December 27, 2025, Uniswap marked a turning point by burning 100 million UNI tokens. Yet, against all expectations, the token price dropped by 6%. A paradox that raises a crucial question: is this long-awaited mechanism really the solution to support UNI’s value, or just a one-time stunt with no future? Analysis of an event shaking the crypto world.

In brief

Uniswap activates its “fee switch” and burns 100 million UNI, or 0.5% of the total supply.
Despite the burning of Uniswap, UNI’s price falls by 6%, revealing a skeptical crypto market.
UNI’s future will depend on its ability to scale its revenues and convince crypto investors of its long-term viability.

A Historic Burn: 100 Million UNI Tokens Reduced to Ashes
On December 27, 2025, Uniswap activated its “fee switch”, a mechanism that burns a portion of trading fees to reduce the UNI supply. This first burn involved 100 million tokens, about 0.5% of the total supply. A decision awaited for years, following a crypto community vote approving the “UNIfication” proposal.

This mechanism aims to create artificial scarcity, theoretically beneficial for the token’s price. Hayden Adams, Uniswap’s founder, tempered expectations, noting it’s still too early to measure the impact. Fees collected are burned in small batches, and the process is still in the testing phase. This burn is part of a broader strategy to reinforce UNI’s value. Yet, despite its size, it was insufficient to reassure investors, as evidenced by the market’s immediate reaction.

The Unexpected Flop: UNI Crypto Drops 6% Despite the Burn
Despite the burning of 100 million tokens, UNI’s price dropped 6% on December 29, surprising observers. The 24-hour trading volume reached $1.3 billion, confirming investor interest but also their skepticism. Analysts point to insufficient revenue generated by the fee switch, estimated at only $30,000 per day.

A trivial amount for a protocol the size of Uniswap, which accumulated over $1 billion in fees in one year. Hayden Adams criticized the hasty analyses, calling them misleading. According to him, Uniswap’s budget is meant to finance future developments, not to reimburse liquidity providers. A statement that did not suffice to calm UNI holders’ fears.

Crypto: UNI, a Burn Foretelling a Bright Future?
Is burning 100 million UNI tokens the prelude to a golden age for the crypto? It will all depend on Uniswap’s ability to scale its revenue and optimize its fee switch. If the mechanism manages to generate significant revenue, it could reduce UNI’s supply and support its price long-term. However, challenges are many. Competition with other DEXs like PancakeSwap or Trader Joe is fierce.

Moreover, adoption of the fee switch must be massive to have a tangible impact. Examples from BNB or ETH post-London Upgrade show that patience is key. If Uniswap manages to convince crypto investors of its mechanism’s viability, UNI could indeed enter a new era. Conversely, if revenues stagnate, the token may remain under pressure, leading to disappointment.

Burning 100 million UNI tokens was a historic event, but the 6% price drop reminds us that promises alone are not enough. Uniswap’s fee switch is a promise, not yet a revolution. The success of this burn will depend on its ability to generate sustainable revenue and convince crypto investors. Will Uniswap manage to turn this innovation into a lasting competitive advantage? 

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Eddy S.

The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

The U.S. dollar’s recent retreat has started to ripple through global markets, and cryptocurrencies like Ethereum are positioned to benefit. With the Federal Reserve easing rates and the dollar’s decade-long strength beginning to fade, investors are reassessing where real growth and returns could come from. Ethereum price, currently trading near $2,955, sits at the intersection of this shift — quietly coiling for what could be a decisive move in early 2026.

Why Dollar Weakness Matters for Ethereum Price Prediction?

A weaker dollar tends to lift risk assets, from tech stocks to cryptocurrencies, as global investors search for alternatives that can outperform depreciating U.S. holdings. The dollar index fell about 10% in 2025, marking its first sustained decline in years. Analysts at Deutsche Bank and TD Securities expect that trend to continue into 2026 as the Fed maintains a dovish stance and global growth remains resilient.

For Ethereum price, that macro backdrop is critical. When the dollar weakens, demand often rises for scarce, globally traded digital assets like ETH price. Investors holding non-U.S. currencies find crypto cheaper to buy, while U.S. investors hedge against the dollar’s loss of purchasing power. This dynamic historically drives inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum — a pattern seen during previous rate-cut cycles.

Ethereum Price Prediction: Compression Before ExpansionETH/USD Daily Chart- TradingViewEthereum price daily chart shows tight consolidation between $2,900 and $3,000, following months of gradual decline since mid-October. The Bollinger Bands have narrowed significantly, a classic signal of declining volatility that often precedes a breakout. The lower band near $2,801 is acting as key support, while the upper band near $3,176 defines resistance.

Volume has been muted, but candles over the past two weeks hint at accumulation — small-bodied candles with long wicks at lower levels show buyers stepping in around $2,900. If Ethereum can close convincingly above $3,000, the next psychological target sits around $3,200, followed by the Fib retracement levels at $3,350 (0.382) and $3,550 (0.5). Failure to hold $2,800, on the other hand, opens downside risk toward $2,500, where the 0.618 retracement and prior December lows align.

The Macro Chain Reaction: Rate Cuts, Risk Appetite, and ETH DemandFed rate cuts directly reduce yields on U.S. Treasuries, making them less appealing compared to growth assets like equities and crypto. As institutional investors rotate capital, ETH price stands to gain not only as a speculative play but also as a yield-generating asset via staking — a crucial differentiator in a lower-yield world.

Meanwhile, the weakening dollar makes Ethereum-denominated DeFi ecosystems more attractive globally. Transactions, liquidity pools, and yield opportunities priced in ETH become relatively cheaper for international participants, encouraging cross-border capital flow into Ethereum’s on-chain economy.

Investor Sentiment: Fear Easing, Accumulation RisingDespite price stagnation, on-chain metrics show improving sentiment. Active addresses have stabilized, and exchange reserves continue to decline — a sign that holders are moving ETH into cold storage or staking rather than selling. That behavior often precedes medium-term rallies.

The dollar’s decline also has a psychological effect: it reignites the inflation hedge narrative that powered crypto’s earlier bull runs. Even if true de-dollarization remains exaggerated, perception alone can fuel speculative demand — and Ethereum price often benefits first when macro tailwinds shift.

Early 2026 Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Price Could Retest $3,500 if Dollar Weakness PersistsIf the Fed maintains its easing path through Q1 2026 and the dollar continues sliding, Ethereum price has a clear path to reclaim higher levels. The most probable scenario is a gradual climb toward $3,500 by March, followed by potential consolidation before a larger breakout later in the year.

However, if the Fed pauses cuts sooner or the dollar rebounds, Ethereum price may remain range-bound near $2,800–$3,000. For now, technical compression and supportive macro tailwinds both point to accumulation, not capitulation.

The dollar’s weakening isn’t just a macro footnote — it’s a potential catalyst for Ethereum’s next major move. The combination of lower U.S. yields, persistent global demand for decentralized assets, and Ethereum’s improving on-chain strength could create the conditions for a renewed rally in early 2026.

As the saying goes, bull markets don’t start with headlines — they start with quiet accumulation. Right now, $ETH looks like it’s in exactly that phase.

These two longtime crypto winners are must-adds for your portfolio in 2026.

Heading into 2026, crypto investors have an important decision to make: Should they go with recent winners in the crypto market, or stick to high-quality names that have established track records dating back a decade or longer?

Given the historic volatility of crypto, the better pick is to stick with the longtime winners that have shown the ability to weather the tough times. With that in mind, here are two cryptocurrencies that should be on your investment radar in 2026.

1. Bitcoin
The top pick is Bitcoin (BTC 0.42%), which stands head and shoulders above all other cryptocurrencies in terms of historical performance. In the period from August 2017 to November 2025, Bitcoin gained at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44%.

And if you go back even further in time, Bitcoin's performance becomes all the more impressive. In the period from 2012 to 2024, Bitcoin was the top-performing asset in the world in 10 of those 12 years. That includes seven years in which Bitcoin turned in triple-digit percentage returns.

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Quite simply, it's hard to go wrong with a digital asset that has been doubling in value with astonishing regularity. For good reason, Bitcoin has skyrocketed in value from a price of $100 in 2013 to a price of nearly $90,000 today. How many other assets can boast 1,000-fold gains during the past decade?

Image source: Getty Images.

The only problem, of course, is that Bitcoin is also prone to stunning collapses every few years. In 2014, 2018, and 2022, Bitcoin lost 57% or more of its value before eventually recovering.

From this perspective, Bitcoin's downturn this year -- in which it has lost almost 8% of its value -- is nothing out of the ordinary. If history is any guide, Bitcoin will soon recover and soar to a new all-time high. That has been the pattern after its three previous market collapses.

In fact, J.P. Morgan still thinks Bitcoin could double in value next year to hit a price of $170,000. Looking even longer term, investors and strategists think Bitcoin could eventually soar to a price of $1 million or higher by the year 2030.

If you're willing to buy and hold Bitcoin for decades, you might see even more impressive returns. Michael Saylor, founder and executive chairman of Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, thinks Bitcoin is headed to a price of $21 million within the next two decades.

2. Ethereum
The other cryptocurrency with a stellar historical track record dating back more than a decade is Ethereum (ETH +0.66%). From August 2017 to November 2025, Ethereum posted a CAGR of 29%. As a result, Ethereum has soared in value since its launch in July 2015. Earlier this year, Ethereum hit a new all-time high near $5,000.

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What makes Ethereum particularly attractive is its highly diversified blockchain ecosystem that includes everything from blockchain gaming to decentralized finance (DeFi). More than a decade after its launch, Ethereum is still a blockchain juggernaut. For example, when it comes to DeFi, Ethereum has a dominant 64% market share.

As a result, Ethereum has become the preferred blockchain of Wall Street. As traditional finance continues to intersect with blockchain finance in the coming years, Ethereum stands to be the biggest beneficiary. In areas ranging from stablecoins to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, Ethereum has the early first-mover advantage over competing blockchains. This should help to push up the price of Ethereum for years to come.

However, Ethereum -- just like Bitcoin -- is also a highly volatile asset prone to severe market declines. In 2022, for example, Ethereum tumbled by 68%. And in 2018, Ethereum fell by a stunning 82%. So it's understandable why crypto investors are having second thoughts about Ethereum this year, given that it's down more than 12% for 2025.

No guarantees for crypto investors
As a result, investors should keep in mind that historical performance is no guarantee of future results. In other words, just because Bitcoin and Ethereum have soared in value during the past decade doesn't mean that they will turn in encore performances during the next decade as well.

Still, it's hard not to feel confident about the long-term prospects for both Bitcoin and Ethereum. Together, they still account for an incredible 70% of the total value of the crypto market, and both have impressive long-term growth prospects. If you're looking to ramp up your exposure to crypto in 2026, both are must-adds for your portfolio.

Political scandal, Bitcoin accumulation, silver volatility, and creator coins collide as narratives—not fundamentals—drive short-term crypto sentiment and volatility.

Summary

Santiment flagged four hot narratives: Nick Shirley’s Minnesota daycare fraud probe, Strategy’s fresh Bitcoin buy, gold–silver volatility, and Base creator coins.​
Strategy boosted BTC holdings via stock-funded purchases as silver’s spike-and-dump and gold weakness reopened the safe-haven fight between metals and Bitcoin.​
Shirley’s creator coin on Base via Zora and looming token unlocks underscored how politics, social media, and speculative microcaps now shape crypto market structure.

Cryptocurrency analytics firm Santiment reported that political controversy, Bitcoin accumulation, precious metals volatility, and creator-coin speculation dominated social media discussion across multiple platforms at the start of the week, according to a company analysis.

The conversation spanned several parallel narratives reflecting tensions between traditional finance, cryptocurrency adoption, and political trust, the firm stated.

Investigative journalist Nick Shirley emerged as a focal point after claiming to have uncovered large-scale fraud involving Somali-owned daycare centers in Minnesota. The allegations assert that state leadership ignored prior warnings, according to Shirley’s reporting. Federal authorities, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have reportedly been drawn into the matter.

Daycare fraud allegations
A token associated with Shirley’s coverage surged amid social engagement, spilling the controversy into cryptocurrency markets. The story also sparked debate around wealth taxes, government oversight, and capital flight, themes that resonate within the cryptocurrency community, Santiment noted.

Strategy announced its latest Bitcoin accumulation, with CEO Phong Le confirming the purchase of Bitcoin funded through common stock issuance, pushing total holdings higher. The acquisition occurred as gold and silver prices declined sharply. Market participants interpreted the move as a statement of conviction that Bitcoin will outperform traditional safe havens over the long term, according to market observers.

Gold and silver captured attention following a brief silver surge that triggered heavy profit-taking and a sharp pullback, raising questions about market exhaustion. The sell-off intensified debate between metals advocates and cryptocurrency supporters, particularly as altcoins continued to outperform. Traders are monitoring macro catalysts including Federal Reserve minutes and potential changes to China’s silver export policies, which could trigger renewed volatility.

Renewed interest in creator coins gained traction after Nick Shirley launched a creator token on Base via Zora. Support from Coinbase figures helped fuel interest, positioning creator coins as a potential frontier for content monetization, according to market participants.

Santiment highlighted growing concern around significant upcoming token unlocks and large allocations from several projects, a setup that could amplify short-term price swings.

Allegations of coordinated market manipulation surfaced after repeated Bitcoin mining posts appeared and disappeared during U.S. overnight trading sessions. The claims coincided with erratic silver price movements and renewed debate over environmental narratives, supply constraints, and trader psychology.

Santiment’s analysis indicated a market driven by narrative shifts and sentiment changes alongside fundamentals, with cryptocurrency increasingly positioned at the intersection of politics, macroeconomic trends, and digital culture.

Iran’s rial hit a record low against the US dollar, sparking protests on the streets across the capital and other major cities.

This economic crisis has revived the debate over Bitcoin’s potential as a safe haven. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley suggested that the largest cryptocurrency could serve as a form of protection against financial turmoil.

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Protests Erupt Across Iran as Rial Crash Sparks UnrestAccording to the Financial Times, the currency has lost over 40% of its value since Iran’s conflict with Israel in June 2025. Notably, the rial’s drop from 32,000 per dollar in 2015 to over 1.4 million represents a nearly 44-fold depreciation in ten years. This swift decline has intensified Iran’s economic crisis.

“The official rate in the early 1980s was 70 per dollar,” Alex Gladstein stated.

Inflation reached 42.2% in December, marking an increase from the same period last year and rising 1.8% compared with November. This has put Iranian families under severe strain. Food prices surged 72% in December 2025 compared to one year prior, while medical goods rose 50%.

Shops in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shut in protest, and demonstrations spread to Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad. The Associated Press reported these were the largest street protests since 2022.

The Iranian rial tumbled to 1.43–1.45 million per USD, plunging 7% amid fresh U.S. sanctions, soaring inflation, and scarce foreign inflows. Footage from Tehran’s bazaars shows shopkeepers closing stores in protest, chanting “Don’t be afraid, we are all together” and “Shut it… pic.twitter.com/ky0tqGY5zW

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 29, 2025
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The crisis is accelerated by falling oil revenue due to US sanctions, deep-seated issues in the banking sector, political chaos, and structural corruption. Amid this, the Central Bank Governor, Mohammad Reza Farzin, has resigned.

Government efforts, such as food vouchers and subsidies, have aimed to ease public frustration. Yet, they offer limited relief amid persistent inflation.

Meanwhile, traditional safe havens like gold have soared. Gold coins, a classic store of wealth in Iran, reached 1.7 billion rials each on December 28, more than double their value in June.

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Bitcoin’s Role as a Store of ValueWhile gold has long been established as a traditional safe-haven asset, many are also pointing to Bitcoin as a potential alternative. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley echoed this view in a recent post.

“Economic mismanagement – The story of the past, present, and future. Bitcoin is a new way for the people to protect themselves,” Horsley stated.

The concept of Bitcoin as a hedge is being increasingly applied across multiple economies. In the US, rising inflation and recession fears have led many investors to position Bitcoin as a tool to protect purchasing power. Previously, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink also advocated for Bitcoin.

“If you’re frightened of the debasement of your currency, or… of the economic or political stability of your country, you can have an internationally based instrument called Bitcoin that will overcome those local fears,” Fink said.

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Worldwide data support the increased use of cryptocurrency to fight inflation. According to a September 2025 MEXC report, 46% of crypto users cited digital assets as a means to hedge against inflation.

Argentina offers a clear example of this trend in practice. As the peso collapsed and inflation accelerated, Argentines increasingly turned to Bitcoin and stablecoins to preserve their value.

While the collapse of Iran’s rial has reignited the narrative of Bitcoin as a hedge against currency debasement, the reality is more nuanced. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and independence from domestic monetary policy make it an appealing alternative in environments marked by chronic inflation, capital controls, and political instability.

In such contexts, it increasingly serves as a tool for preserving value when confidence in national currencies erodes. However, it is equally important to acknowledge that Bitcoin remains quite volatile. Furthermore, government bans and restrictions can also hinder access and usability.

Ethereum whales added millions of ETH in 2025 as retail sold, while developer activity hit record highs and key price levels remain in focus.

Large holders are increasingly showing interest in Ethereum, and small investors are decreasing their exposure. Recent on-chain data shows whales accumulating ETH through 2025, as retail investors continue to exit.

Concurrently, network activity has hit a fresh high, which indicates greater demand by the builders and long-term holders.

Whales Increase Holdings as Retail Exits
The latest data shows a clear divergence between large and small investors. Wallets holding large amounts of ETH have grown their balances from around 14 million to over 22.2 million tokens throughout 2025. Meanwhile, retail wallets have declined from 11 million ETH to 8.3 million.

Crypto analyst Mister Crypto commented,

“Whales are accumulating Ethereum while retail is dumping their bags.”

His chart illustrates the change clearly. While retail holdings dropped throughout the year, large investors steadily added to their positions.

Supporting this view, a recent CryptoPotato report noted that wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH now hold over 21 million tokens combined. Exchange reserves are also down more than 4 million ETH this year, suggesting fewer coins are available for trading.

Developer Activity Hits All-Time High
Ethereum is also seeing record levels of activity from developers. On-chain metrics show that 8.7 million smart contracts were deployed in Q4 2025, marking the highest quarter ever. BMNRBullz stated, “This isn’t speculation, it’s builders shipping,” pointing to growing use of the Ethereum network beyond price speculation.

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More smart contracts suggest increased use of applications, infrastructure, and real-world assets. This rise in on-chain usage is being tracked closely by institutions looking beyond price trends.

Market Levels to Watch
Ethereum is trading near $2,940, down 3% over the last day and 1% for the week. The asset has ranged between $2,900 and $3,050 in the last 24 hours. Analysts are watching key levels near $2,880 for support and $3,060 for resistance.

CRYPTOWZRD said,

“A rejection after a retest of the $2,880 support would offer further upside.”

They added that a move above $3,060 may trigger a fresh long opportunity. The intraday structure remains tied to Bitcoin’s movement, but ETH is holding above key levels.

On the weekly chart, Ethereum continues to form a large structure that may act as a bull flag. Bitcoinsensus shared a chart showing a series of higher lows and lower highs since 2022. A recent failed breakout attempt was followed by more consolidation. If ETH breaks out from the upper range, the technical target is set near $7,000.

Other traders are watching monthly charts for a possible double bottom setup. Trader Tardigrade called attention to a possible breakout pattern forming, while Ted flagged liquidity near $2,900 and $3,100 as key zones traders are watching in the short term.

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The chairman of the company, Lee, proposed MAVAN in the upcoming step, shifting BitMine from culminating to monetisation via validator operations. 
He also reassured that this will be the ‘best-in-class’ solution, providing a safe staking environment, and will be rolled out in early 2026.

A pioneering digital asset platform, BitMine has planned to initiate its Made in America Validator Network in the early months of the next year. The company has taken this initiative, focusing on earning staking yield from a $12 billion Ethereum hoard. 

On December 29, the company revealed that it has accumulated around 4,110,525 Ether, accounting for around $12 billion. The numbers have taken the company to a position at the largest publicly disclosed Ethereum treasury and one of the biggest crypto balance sheets in the industry. 

The chairman of the company, Thomas Tom Lee, proposed MAVAN in the upcoming step, shifting BitMine from culminating to monetisation via validator operations. He further mentioned that he is going to continue making progress on their solution, widely known as the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN). 

He also reassured that this will be the ‘best-in-class’ solution, providing a safe staking environment, and will be rolled out in early 2026. Validator economics is at the core, and rewards are paid in ether, formulated by network activity, validator uptime and the yield environment that also adds MEV-associated revenue. 

Checks Before Rollout
Lee also informed us that when ETH of the company is completely staked by MAVAN and its staking partners, the staking fee of ETH is $374 million annually, or over $1 million per day. The number is revised on a stack of assumptions, adding staking most of the treasury, keeping up high validator performance with minimum penalties and looking for yields and prices that stay supportive enough to have dollar returns appraised. 

Currently, BitMine is not in complete control. The company mentioned that 408,627 Ether has so far been staked with third-party providers as it checks MAVAN before a wider launch aimed for early 2026. BitMine has also been continuously buying. 

The company has added 44,463 Ether in the last week, positioning itself as the biggest fresh money purchaser of Ether, and it put its accumulated crypto, cash and “moonshots” holding at $13.2 billion, adding $1.0 billion in cash. 

The stock angle has also been added in the story, as liquidity matters when a treasury strategy seems like a leveraged proxy for Ether. BitMine revealed BMNR traded around $980 million in a single day on a five-day average, being 47th among US-listed stocks as of last Friday. 

Highlighted Crypto News Today: 

Russia Proposes New Rules Allowing Retail Crypto Trading With Strict Limits

A passionate journalist with a strong foundation in content writing and an experience in the crypto industry. With a commitment to self-growth, Sharmistha aims to make a meaningful impact in the media and communications landscape.

Bitcoin's (BTC) tape over the past 24 hours looked engineered for crypto investors, as BTC surpassed the $90,000 threshold in the early hours of Dec. 29, only to give back those gains less than 12 hours later.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / December 30, 2025 / Empire Metals Limited (AIM:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF), the AIM-quoted and OTCQX-traded exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement for its 75% interest in the Eclipse Mining Lease ("Eclipse ML" or the "Project"), a non-core gold asset located near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The agreement includes a three-month exclusivity and due diligence period, during which the proposed purchaser will complete technical and commercial due diligence on the Project.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR UNITED STATES PERSONS

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questerre Energy Corporation (“Questerre” or the “Company”) (TSX,OSE:QEC) is pleased to announce it has closed the acquisition of Red Leaf Resources Inc. (“Red Leaf”) through the exchange of Red Leaf common shares for Class “A” Common voting shares (“Questerre Common Shares”).

Michael Binnion, President and Chief Executive Officer of Questerre, commented, “The closing of the Red Leaf acquisition is another step forward in our strategy to commercialize oil shale as a globally competitive resource. Red Leaf hold rights to over several hundred million barrels of oil share resource in Utah. In Jordan, we are negotiating an extension to our exclusive rights to the Isfir-Jafr project with over several billion barrels of oil shale resource. The recently acquired PX Energy has existing oil shale reserves and resources and is currently producing over 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent using the Petrosix technology developed by a Brazilian supermajor. We believe Red Leaf’s HCCO® technology represents a significant improvement in efficiency and economics to unlock these oil shale resources globally.”

The Company issued a total of 17.25 million Questerre Common Shares to acquire just over 50% of the outstanding common share capital of Red Leaf from the selling shareholders. Including the nearly 40% currently held by Questerre, Questerre now owns over 90% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Red Leaf. Pursuant to the Red Leaf stockholders agreement, the selling shareholders have exercised the ‘drag along’ provisions requiring the remaining common shareholders to accept the offer on the same terms. Subject to applicable securities regulations, it is anticipated that up to an additional 3.1 million Questerre Common Shares or equivalent consideration will be issued to acquire this remaining interest.

The Company also reported that the majority of the preferred shareholders of Red Leaf, including the Chief Executive Officer of Questerre, have agreed to sell their preferred shares for the face value plus accrued dividends. Excluding the 16% of the preferred share capital held by Questerre, the Company will pay approximately US$1.6 million to acquire these preferred shares.

Red Leaf is a private US-based technology company whose principal assets include its patented HCCO® oil-shale processing technology and mineral leases in the State of Utah. Its other assets include mineral leases in the state of Utah for oil shale, a permit for a wax processing facility and title to over 7,000 acres in the Uintah Basin and cash and investments of US$9 million.

Questerre is an energy technology and innovation company. It is leveraging its expertise gained through early exposure to low permeability reservoirs to acquire significant high-quality resources. We believe we can successfully transition our energy portfolio.

Questerre is a believer that the future success of the oil and gas industry depends on a balance of economics, environment, and society. We are committed to being transparent and are respectful that the public must be part of making the important choices for our energy future.

Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information (“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada. Any statements about Questerre’s expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, targets, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions and results of operations or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates”, “aims”, “strives”, “seeks”, “believes”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “predicts”, “potential”, “should”, “will”, “estimates”, “plans”, “mileposts”, “projects”, “continuing”, “ongoing”, “expects”, “intends” and similar words or phrases suggesting future outcomes. Forward-looking information in this news release includes but is not limited to the Company’s strategy to commercialize oil shale resources globally, the Company’s plans to extend the exclusive rights to its project in Jordan, the Company’s views on the Red Leaf HCCO technology and the acquisition of the Red Leaf preferred shares.

Although Questerre believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Questerre can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information.

Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation: the following risk factors: additional funding requirements; exploration, development, and production risks; volatility in the oil and gas industry; prices, markets, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas; liquidity and the company’s substantial capital requirements; prices, markets, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas; political uncertainty; non-government organizations; changing investor sentiment; global financial market volatility; adverse economic conditions; alternatives to and changing demand for petroleum products; environmental risks; regulatory risks; inability of management to execute its business plan; competition from other issuers; expiration of licenses and leases; Indigenous claims; possible failure to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions; and reputational risks.

Additional information regarding some of these risks, expectations or assumptions and other risk factors may be found in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents available on the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Questerre undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

In October 2016, Questerre commissioned an independent assessment of its oil shale resources in Jordan (the “Millcreek Report”). The Millcreek Report was conducted by Millcreek Mining Group, an independent qualified reserves evaluator, as defined by NI 51-101 with an effective date of September 30, 2016. The assessment was prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook. The assessment indicated a best estimate of discovered petroleum initially in place of between 7.8 billion barrels to 12.2 billion barrels. Given the preliminary nature of the Millcreek Report, it does not contain any estimates regarding the timing or cost to obtain commercial development nor has Questerre finalized the specific technology to be used. For more information, please refer to Questerre’s press release dated October 27, 2016 and Questerre’s Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2017 available on its website at www.questerre.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

This news release is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. This news release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of US persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")), absent registration or an exemption from registration. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and, therefore, may not be offered for sale in the United States, except in transactions exempt from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Jamie Ashcroft
Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development.
As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

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Ares Capital appears poised to continue delivering for shareholders over the next three years.

Ares Capital (ARCC 0.15%) is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC). It makes debt and equity investments in middle market companies (those with $100 million to $1 billion in annual revenue). These investments generate interest and dividend income to support the company's 9.5%-yielding dividend.

Here's a look at where the BDC appears to be heading over the next three years.

Image source: Getty Images.

Ares will continue to grow and diversify its portfolio
Ares Capital currently has $28.7 billion of capital invested across 587 portfolio companies, with the bulk of its portfolio (61%) being first lien senior secured loans. That's up from $21.3 billion invested across 458 portfolio companies in late 2022 (45% first lien senior secured loans).

One of the company's hallmarks is its diversification. Ares Capital currently invests capital in portfolio companies across 35 separate industries. That's more diversification than its peers, which invest capital in companies across an average of 27 industries. Ares also has much lower portfolio concentration. Its largest holding is 1.5% of its investment portfolio compared to 4.8% for the average BDC. Meanwhile, its top 10 holdings comprise 11.5% of its investment portfolio compared to 25.2% on average for its peer group.

Ares Capital is likely to continue growing and diversifying its portfolio in the future. The company made $3.9 billion of investment commitments during the third quarter across 35 new and 45 existing portfolio companies. It funded those investments by recycling capital from exited investments ($2.6 billion in the quarter) and raising $1 billion of additional debt capital. Ares has excellent relationships with banks and institutional capital providers, which should allow it to continue raising funds to grow its portfolio.

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Ares will continue to move up the middle market
Middle-market companies are an underserved market. They're too large for many banks and too small for investment banks. That has enabled BDCs like Ares Capital to provide these companies with the capital they need to fund their operations and grow their businesses. The company estimates that there's a $3 trillion opportunity to provide loans to middle market companies.

Meanwhile, companies are remaining private for longer. As a result, more companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue are relying on non-traditional capital providers like BDCs for their funding needs. This market segment represents another $2.4 trillion opportunity for Ares Capital.

The BDC has been increasingly focusing on providing capital to larger companies. A decade ago, Ares' average portfolio company generated $48 million in annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), with a weighted average across its portfolio of $59 million. Today, the average is $177 million, and the weighted average is $305 million. This number is likely to continue rising in the future as Ares increasingly leverages its considerable scale to provide capital to larger companies.

Ares should continue to pay a sustainable dividend
Ares Capital has now delivered 16 years of stable to increasing quarterly dividends. The BDC has maintained its current quarterly rate of $0.48 per share since late 2022. Its payout is below its GAAP net income per share ($0.57 in the third quarter) and core earnings per share ($0.50). That has continued the company's long-standing trend of delivering strong dividend coverage.

The BDC is currently carrying forward $1.26 per share of excess taxable income from last year. That gives Ares plenty of cushion to maintain its dividend level if it experiences a short-term decline in earnings in the future.

Meanwhile, the company's continued investments to grow its portfolio should increase its earnings in the future. While lower interest rates will act as a headwind, as new investments will likely have a lower yield compared to exited investments, the interest rate on its debt should also decline. This positions Ares to maintain, if not grow, its dividend in the coming years.

Ares Capital should be a bigger company in three years
Ares Capital has been steadily expanding and diversifying its portfolio over the years, including increasingly investing in larger companies. These trends appear likely to continue over the next three years. That puts Ares in a strong position to continue paying a stable to growing dividend in the future.

Gold Faces Limited Gains Amid Strong US Data and Holiday-Thin Trading
On the other hand, strong US economic data has limited Gold’s upside. The US Pending Home Sales Index increased by 3.3% month-on-month in November, after a revised 2.4% rise in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. This was much higher than the expected 1.0% and marked the highest level since February 2023. Stronger housing data shows that the US economy is holding up well. This can support the US Dollar and make it harder for Gold prices to move sharply higher.

On the other hand, strong US economic data has limited Gold’s upside. The US Pending Home Sales Index increased by 3.3% month-on-month in November, after a revised 2.4% rise in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. This was much higher than the expected 1.0% and marked the highest level since February 2023. Stronger housing data shows that the US economy is holding up well. This can support the US Dollar and make it harder for Gold prices to move sharply higher.

Additionally, trading volumes are expected to stay low as the markets approach the New Year holidays. This means Gold price movements may remain unpredictable, but without strong momentum in either direction.

Looking ahead, traders will keep an eye on the FOMC Minutes, expectations for Fed rate cuts, and global geopolitical events. As a result, Gold is likely to remain sensitive to changes in the interest rate outlook or rising global tensions, keeping overall support near the $4,360 level.

Gold Prices Forecast: Technical Analysis

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SummaryIndexes for US equity real estate investment trusts increased during the week of Christmas.The Dow Jones Equity All REIT index climbed 1.14% over the recent week, roughly in line with the 1.40% gain for the S&P 500 and 1.20% increase for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.Multifamily REIT Aimco recorded the largest share-price increase for the week among all US REITs with at least $200 million in market capitalization, up 6.76%. Getty Images

Indexes for US equity real estate investment trusts increased during the week of Christmas.

The Dow Jones Equity All REIT index climbed 1.14% over the recent week, roughly in line with the 1.40% gain for the S&P 500 and 1.20% increase

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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