Market Signal Briefing

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Peter Krauth, author of “The Great Silver Bull,” says silver's so-called “mania phase” is not far off.

Making its debut on 06/19/2006, smart beta exchange traded fund State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES - Free Report) provides investors broad exposure to the Energy ETFs category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Market cap weighted indexes were created to reflect the market, or a specific segment of the market, and the ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on this strategy.

Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.

But, there are some investors who would rather invest in smart beta funds; these funds track non-cap weighted strategies, and are a strong option for those who prefer choosing great stocks in order to beat the market.

These indexes attempt to select stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance, based on certain fundamental characteristics or a combination of such characteristics.

The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.

Fund Sponsor & IndexBecause the fund has amassed over $253.47 million, this makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Energy ETFs. XES is managed by State Street Investment Management. This particular fund seeks to match the performance of the S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Select Industry Index before fees and expenses.

The S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Select Industry Index represents the oil and gas equipment and services sub-industry portion of the S&P Total Markets Index. The S&P TMI tracks all the U.S. common stocks listed on the NYSE, AMEX,NASDAQ National Market and NASDAQ Small Cap exchanges. The Oil & Gas Equipment Index is a modified equal weight index.

Cost & Other ExpensesInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.35% for this ETF, which makes it one of the least expensive products in the space.

The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.70%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

XES's heaviest allocation is in the Energy sector, which is about 100% of the portfolio.

When you look at individual holdings, Liberty Energy Inc (LBRT) accounts for about 6.79% of the fund's total assets, followed by Helmerich + Payne (HP) and Transocean Ltd (RIG).

The top 10 holdings account for about 49.89% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskYear-to-date, the State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF has added about 4.69% so far, and it's up approximately 8.74% over the last 12 months (as of 12/26/2025). XES has traded between $52.84 $87.75 in this past 52-week period.

XES has a beta of 0.96 and standard deviation of 34.29% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a high risk choice in the space. With about 32 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers .

AlternativesState Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF is not a suitable option for investors seeking to outperform the Energy ETFs segment of the market. Instead, there are other ETFs in the space which investors should consider.

iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Oil Equipment & Services Index and the VanEck Oil Services ETF (OIH) tracks MVIS U.S. Listed Oil Services 25 Index. iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF has $133.58 million in assets, VanEck Oil Services ETF has $1.33 billion. IEZ has an expense ratio of 0.38% and OIH changes 0.35%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Energy ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the JPMorgan Diversified Return U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (JPSE - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on November 15, 2016.

The fund is sponsored by J.P. Morgan. It has amassed assets over $519.17 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Small Cap BlendSitting at a market capitalization below $2 billion, small cap companies tend to be high-potential stocks compared to its large and mid cap counterparts, but come with higher risk.

Blend ETFs usually hold a mix of growth and value stocks as well as stocks that exhibit both value and growth characteristics.

CostsWhen considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.29%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.58%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector -- about 12.8% of the portfolio. Industrials and Real Estate round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Globalstar Inc Common (GSAT) accounts for about 0.59% of total assets, followed by Hecla Mining Co Common (HL) and Jpmorgan U.s. Government (MGMXX).

The top 10 holdings account for about 4.98% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskJPSE seeks to match the performance of the Russell 2000 Diversified Factor Index before fees and expenses. The JP Morgan Diversified Factor US Small Cap Equity Index utilizes a rules-based approach that combines risk-based portfolio construction with multi-factor security selection, including value, quality and momentum factors.

The ETF has added about 11.03% so far this year and is up roughly 9.72% in the last one year (as of 12/26/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $38.20 and $52.27.

The ETF has a beta of 1.01 and standard deviation of 18.71% for the trailing three-year period. With about 547 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesJPMorgan Diversified Return U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, JPSE is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $76.39 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $90.22 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.

Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Small Cap Value segment of the US equity market? You should consider the iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (ISCV - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on June 28, 2004.

The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $588.37 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

Why Small Cap ValueWith more potential comes more risk, and small cap companies, with market capitalization below $2 billion, epitomizes this way of thinking.

Value stocks are known for their lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but investors should also note their lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Considering long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets; however, they are more likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.

CostsInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.06%, making it the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Financials sector -- about 24.4% of the portfolio. Consumer Discretionary and Industrials round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Sandisk Corp (SNDK) accounts for about 0.83% of total assets, followed by Rocket Companies Inc Class A (RKT) and Annaly Capital Management Reit Inc (NLY).

The top 10 holdings account for about 5.25% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskISCV seeks to match the performance of the MORNINGSTAR US SML CP BRD VLUE EXTD INDX before fees and expenses. The Morningstar US Small Cap Broad Value Extended Index comprises of small-capitalization U.S. equities that exhibit value characteristics.

The ETF has added roughly 12.01% so far this year and is up about 11.37% in the last one year (as of 12/26/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $51.37 and $70.82.

The ETF has a beta of 1.05 and standard deviation of 20.17% for the trailing three-year period. With about 1111 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesiShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, ISCV is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Value segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.

The iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF has $12.48 billion in assets, Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF has $32.50 billion. IWN has an expense ratio of 0.24% and VBR charges 0.07%.

Bottom-LineAn increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market? You should consider the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend ETF (DON - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on June 16, 2006.

The fund is sponsored by Wisdomtree. It has amassed assets over $3.77 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

Why Mid Cap ValueMid cap companies have market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion. They usually have higher growth prospects than large cap companies and are less volatile than small cap companies. These types of companies, then, have a good balance of stability and growth potential.

While value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, they also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in nearly all markets when you consider long-term performance, growth stocks are more likely to outpace value stocks in strong bull markets.

CostsSince cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.38%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.24%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Energy sector -- about -999900% of the portfolio. Industrials and Materials round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Us Dollar accounts for about 69.5% of total assets, followed by Dreyfus Trsy Oblig Cash Mgmt Cl Ins and Westar Energy Inc (WR).

The top 10 holdings account for about 108.33% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskDON seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend Index before fees and expenses. The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of the mid-capitalization segment of the US dividend-paying market.

The ETF return is roughly 5.26% so far this year and is up roughly 4.43% in the last one year (as of 12/26/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $43.28 and $53.28.

The ETF has a beta of 0.91 and standard deviation of 16.7% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 327 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesWisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, DON is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Value area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE) track a similar index. While iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF has $14.51 billion in assets, Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF has $19.91 billion. IWS has an expense ratio of 0.23% and VOE charges 0.07%.

Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market? You should consider the WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend ETF (DLN - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on June 16, 2006.

The fund is sponsored by Wisdomtree. It has amassed assets over $5.63 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

Why Large Cap ValueLarge cap companies usually have a market capitalization above $10 billion. They tend to be stable companies with predictable cash flows and are usually less volatile than mid and small cap companies.

While value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, they also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Looking at their long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets. They are however likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.

CostsInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.28%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.79%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Energy sector -- about -999900% of the portfolio. Industrials and Materials round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Us Dollar accounts for about 79.81% of total assets, followed by Dreyfus Trsy Oblig Cash Mgmt Cl Ins and Jpmorgan Chase & Co (JPM).

The top 10 holdings account for about 124.96% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskDLN seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Index before fees and expenses. The WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of the large-capitalization segment of the U.S. dividend-paying market.

The ETF has gained about 16.42% so far this year and was up about 14.81% in the last one year (as of 12/26/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $70.70 and $89.16.

The ETF has a beta of 0.79 and standard deviation of 11.83% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 307 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesWisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, DLN is an excellent option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $72.01 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $157.54 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.

Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

While the crypto community remained focused on the possibility of an altcoin season and fresh Bitcoin highs, a different narrative unfolded. By late 2025, what many analysts now describe as a “metal season” has taken shape.

Precious metals and even base metals have outperformed cryptocurrencies this year. With analysts expecting this momentum to extend into next year, a key question emerges: could copper offer a more compelling bet than crypto?

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BeInCrypto previously reported that precious metals have continued to trend upward, attracting investors amid persistent concerns about inflation, dollar debasement, and broader macroeconomic fragility. Gold, silver, and platinum have all reached record highs.

“Gold is now up +72% YTD, adding +$13.2 TRILLION in market cap this year. Silver has become the 3rd largest asset in the world, up +155% YTD, worth $4.2 trillion. The only other year that comes close to what we are seeing now is 1979, when CPI inflation was running at 11%+. Platinum? Up +159% and set for its biggest annual percentage gain ever recorded. 2025 will be a year that is referenced for decades to come,” The Kobeissi Letter posted.

Base metals were not excluded from the rally. Earlier this week, copper prices rose above $12,000 per ton for the first time. Today, Bloomberg reported that copper reached a record high in China, while also extending gains in the US.

The metal has even outperformed Bitcoin in year-to-date gains, rising over 40%. By contrast, Bitcoin is down approximately 6%. Many analysts have labeled this trend a “metal season” and expect the momentum to continue into next year.

“The rally in commodities is likely to expand further in 2026 with Bloomberg Commodities Index in fresh uptrend. Basically Hard Assets are devaluing the currency knowing fully well the only option for high debt of western countries is to inflate it away. Expect commodities run to continue in 2026,” Zafar Shaikh, an investor and trader, stated.

Against this backdrop, copper has emerged as a standout due to a growing imbalance between supply and demand, leading many to anticipate additional upside.

Analyst Otavio Costa noted that, despite prices hovering near record levels, production has not risen. He revealed that output in the world’s largest copper-producing country is currently at its weakest level in more than ten years.

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“Copper is one of the most critical macro assets for 2026 as we are likely to enter a true price discovery phase, in my view. This setup points to the potential for a highly explosive move from here,” Costa forecasted.

Bitcoin to Nickels: An Unconventional TradeMeanwhile, the industry’s outlook on Bitcoin remains divided. Key indicators suggest a challenging period could lie ahead for BTC in early 2026. Adding to the uncertainty, Jim Cramer has turned bearish on Bitcoin.

Galaxy Digital’s Head of Firmwide Research, Alex Thorn, described 2026 as “too chaotic to predict.” Still, some believe the world’s largest cryptocurrency could rally next year and set new all-time highs.

Amid these mixed signals, investor preferences appear to be shifting. For example, one trader sold all his Bitcoin to buy physical nickels, reflecting metal-backed arbitrage’s new appeal.

“I sold all my Bitcoin. I am putting it all into physical nickels. A nickel is worth 5 cents forever (legal tender). But the metal inside (copper/nickel) is worth 6.2 cents right now,” BarkMeta remarked.

In October, Jesse Colombo even described copper as a potential “shot at redemption” for investors who missed the early phases of gold and silver’s bull markets. Thus, as capital continues to rotate and macro risks intensify, copper is increasingly being viewed not just as an industrial input, but as a strategic macro asset.

Whether this “metal season” ultimately eclipses crypto’s appeal remains to be seen. However, the growing interest in copper suggests that, for now, parts of the market are seeking conviction not in digital narratives, but in physical scarcity.

This holiday season, deplay.fun says it has found a practical way to do it. The company announced that any of the more than 16 million tokens on Solana can now be bought by over one billion Telegram users. With a single tap, using Telegram Stars. No wallets to set up, no passwords to remember, and no crypto experience required.
The idea is simple. Turn access to Internet Capital Markets into something that feels as easy as sending a sticker in a chat.

How One Tap Investing Works Inside Telegram
Deplay.fun uses Telegram mini apps to hide the complexity of blockchain behind a familiar interface. Telegram Stars act as the unit users see and understand. Stars are Telegram’s in app currency, already used by millions of people for digital goods. With deplay.fun, Stars become the bridge to Solana tokens.

A user can open a mini app, choose a token, and buy it instantly with Stars. That token can also be gifted directly inside a Telegram chat, making crypto feel more like a social feature than a financial product. This removes the most common pain points. There are no seed phrases, which are the long recovery keys that often confuse new users. There is no sign up process and no need to connect an external wallet.

From now on any of the 16M+ tokens on Solana is available for purchase to 1B+ Telegram users in a one-tap using Telegram Stars ⭐️

The simplest way to onboard your friends into @Solana Internet Capital Markets this Holiday Season 🎉https://t.co/6Nu5aHl681

You can not only buy… https://t.co/WP1wDxIGxW pic.twitter.com/6Uu7iVTfUf

— deplay.fun (@deplaydotfun) December 24, 2025

All the blockchain activity runs quietly in the background through infrastructure partners like Jupiter Exchange for trading and Helius Labs for data and execution. Outcomes are shown in Stars, and users can claim value back into Stars at any time. Starter categories guide first time users, helping them explore without feeling lost.

Why This Matters for Mass Adoption
Telegram has more than one billion monthly users, according to public company statements. Solana, meanwhile, has become one of the most active blockchains by transaction count. Often processing tens of millions of transactions per day. So, the combination points to a growing trend. Crypto products are moving into apps people already use, instead of asking users to learn new tools.

Solana + Telegram 🤝

Crypto is no longer just on exchanges it’s inside the chat.

This changes the game.💜💚 https://t.co/Tcy7dvvKAy pic.twitter.com/86ORDxXh7V

— SolanaGuy (@SolanaGuy_) December 25, 2025

So, this approach follows a broader pattern seen across fintech. Ease of use beats complexity. Recent data from industry surveys shows that user experience is now one of the top reasons people try crypto for the first time.

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.

Changpeng Zhao lays out his 2025 focus on BNB Chain, stablecoin 2.0, prediction markets and AI agents in a post‑pardon, builder‑first reset.

Summary

Changpeng Zhao shifts from exchange operator to mentor‑investor, focusing on Giggle Academy, YZi Labs and BNB Chain builders.​
He pushes a “stablecoin 2.0” thesis: native, high‑liquidity, yield‑bearing assets on chains like BNB, beyond USDT’s 1.0 model.​
YZi Labs backs multiple prediction markets and RWA plays as BNB Chain scales throughput, users and native liquidity.

Changpeng Zhao’s 2025 could have been a quiet fade‑out. Instead, the pardoned Binance founder is spending his time scaling an education app, seeding early-stage projects through YZi Labs, and quietly lobbying governments from Dubai coffee shops. “Whether you call it freedom, closure, or finally ‘turning the page,’ at its core it’s the feeling of being able to move forward unburdened again,” he said, stressing that his day‑to‑day routine remains anchored at home—and in the gym—rather than on trading floors.

Changpeng Zhao doubles down on Binance
The four pillars of that new routine are now clear: Giggle Academy, YZi Labs, the BNB Chain ecosystem, and direct advisory work with policymakers from Pakistan to the UAE. Giggle Academy, a free education platform with “more than 90,000 kids already using it,” has grown into what Zhao calls a long‑term commitment, backed by a roughly 60‑person team iterating the product in weekly cycles.​

YZi Labs, meanwhile, functions as his main investing and mentoring vehicle. “I’m more of a mentor and coach—working with founders and developers, helping them grow,” Zhao said, noting that the firm evaluated over 1,000 projects in 2025 and completed close to 70 investments, many of them building directly on BNB Chain and feeding into its EASY Residency program. That builder‑first approach now includes a dedicated $1 billion Builder Fund targeted at DeFi, AI, real‑world assets, and biotech on BNB Chain—a pool that arrives just as the network pushes toward “CEX‑like” confirmation times and record user numbers.​

On‑chain, BNB (BNB) Chain has quietly shifted from “undervalued and overlooked” to one of the industry’s busiest settlement layers. Daily active addresses hover around 2 million, with previously published figures near 2.4 million, while on‑chain transaction volume grew by about 600% year‑on‑year, putting BNB Chain among the top networks by throughput. In parallel, BNB’s spot and derivatives markets have turned into a magnet for volatility traders: after an October crash wiped out nearly $19 billion in leveraged positions across the market, BNB only dropped around 10% before rebounding, later trading in a volatile $1,100–$1,340 range and printing new all‑time highs above $1,330. Order books on major exchanges now show thick resting bids clustering just below $1,100 and a stubborn sell wall in the $1,330–$1,370 band—a structure that tells you exactly where the next liquidation cascade or squeeze will start. If BNB loses that $1,100 shelf, this rally dies fast; a clean break above $1,370, by contrast, almost certainly drags in fresh momentum accounts aiming at $1,450–$1,600.​

Yet Zhao spends more time talking about stablecoins than price action. He is blunt: “What we’re seeing today is still mostly ‘stablecoin 1.0,’ and true 2.0 is only just beginning.” The legacy model—deposit dollars in a bank, issue tokens like Tether’s USDT on chain—remains dominant, with network effects keeping USDT in the lead even as it offers little in the way of yield. “USDT isn’t particularly competitive when it comes to yield, and that creates an opening for other stablecoins,” he said, pointing to newer designs like Ethena, where “yield mechanisms are built into the design” and where YZi Labs has taken a stake.​

BNB and YZi Labs, where do they go next?
On BNB Chain specifically, he frames stablecoin competition as an “open garden” rather than a horse race. USDT circulates on BNB Chain as a wrapped asset, but Zhao argues the real story is the arrival of genuinely native options: USD1 as a U.S.‑backed collateral model, earlier experiments like FUSD that stalled due to clunky issuance, and newer plays such as the $U project, which he says “has some potential as well.” The endgame, in his view, is simple but brutally hard to execute: a stablecoin that is easy to trade, widely listed, and still offers sustainable yield. Ignore any design that can’t hit all three.​

Prediction markets are the other narrative he refuses to dismiss as a fad. Zhao credits Kalshi and Polymarket with dragging the category into the mainstream during the last U.S. election cycle, where Polymarket saw more than $3.6 billion in betting volume and effectively front‑ran traditional polling with sharper odds. “In many cases, its outcomes were even more accurate than traditional polling, because participants are putting real money on the line,” he said. YZi Labs has backed multiple early‑stage prediction platforms, including BNB Chain‑based projects like Probable and the newly launched Opinion, where Zhao confirmed the firm is only a minority investor.​

Crucially, he insists this is not a winner‑takes‑all map. “This isn’t a ‘winner-takes-all race.’ In any market, multiple players usually coexist,” Zhao said, drawing a line from exchanges to stablecoins to prediction markets. That logic also underpins his skepticism toward subscription‑based AI trading agents; the more a profitable strategy is sold, the faster it breaks. Platform businesses—exchanges, prediction markets, even RWA tokenization rails—can scale on fees and spreads, but shared alpha is, in his words, a self‑extinguishing product.​

If there is a single through‑line in Zhao’s 2025 playbook, it is patience. “Success takes time,” he said, likening BNB Chain’s trajectory to Nvidia’s decades‑long climb and describing building as a “marathon mixed with a boxing match.” Mission‑driven founders, not tourists chasing the next memecoin meta, are the ones he wants to fund—and the ones he expects to still be standing in 2027 when today’s narratives have been repriced, recycled, or revealed as pure exit liquidity.

After weeks of declining sentiment, the global NFT market has posted a rare upswing in trading activity, signaling renewed resilience among leading blockchains and collections.

Summary

Global NFT market volume breaks three-week slideShift from speculative hype to utility-focused NFTsEthereum leads weekly NFT market blockchain rankingsBitcoin, Polygon and Mythos Chain show divergent trendsTop NFT collections by weekly salesBiggest individual NFT sales of the weekOutlook for the NFT market into 2026
Global NFT market volume breaks three-week slide
The global non-fungible token space continues to show resilience despite the prolonged crypto and NFT downturn, with many NFT collections still trading more than 60% below their January 2025 peaks. However, over the past seven days, on-chain data shows a clear rebound in activity.

According to figures compiled by CryptoSlam, a multi-chain market data aggregator, the crypto NFT market recorded $69 million in trading sales volume in the last week. That total represents a more than 10% increase week-over-week and ends a downtrend that had persisted for over three weeks.

The upswing arrives in the middle of an extended NFT winter that began in November and has pushed many floor prices below 5 ETH. Moreover, the latest data suggests sentiment is stabilizing even as overall valuations remain depressed compared to the last cycle.

Shift from speculative hype to utility-focused NFTs
Industry observers note that the current environment differs markedly from the speculative peaks of 2021 6. In 2025, the main motivation for buying NFTs has shifted from short-term flips to longer-term utility and more predictable ownership structures.

That said, the broader NFT art market has not disappeared. Instead, it is evolving into more sustainable ecosystems where gaming assets, tokenized real-world items and access passes coexist with digital art. This transition is a key pillar of ongoing nft market development and helps explain why volumes can rise even as prices stay far from previous highs.

Seen through this lens, the latest jump in global NFT trading sales volume highlights how user engagement and on-chain activity, rather than pure speculation, are increasingly driving the sector.

Ethereum leads weekly NFT market blockchain rankings
Ethereum, which still hosts the majority of NFT collections, remained the dominant chain by volume over the past week. Ethereum-based NFT series generated $27 million in trading sales, a 29% increase compared with the previous week and a sign of renewed interest in blue-chip collections and established marketplaces.

While Ethereum nft sales continue to set the benchmark, other ecosystems showed a mixed performance. BNB Chain, a high-performance network focused on low-cost, fast transactions, was the second most traded blockchain for NFTs during the period but moved in the opposite direction.

BNB Chain NFTs amassed $8.4 million in trading volume for the week, marking a 24% decline versus the prior seven days. However, BNB Chain still retained a strong position in the ranking, underlining the chain’s importance for cost-sensitive NFT users and emerging gaming projects.

Bitcoin, Polygon and Mythos Chain show divergent trends
Bitcoin, which underpins Runes, BRC-20 assets and Ordinal inscriptions, ranked as the third most traded NFT blockchain this past week. Bitcoin-based NFT series posted $9.1 million in trading sales volume, representing a 36% surge from the previous week and evidencing continued interest in Bitcoin ordinal NFTs.

Polygon, the popular Ethereum scaling solution, also demonstrated solid momentum. Over the past 30 days, Polygon NFT activity reached $5.1 million in trading sales, while weekly volume jumped 54% compared with the previous period. Moreover, part of that increase stems from growing adoption of Polygon RWA NFTs tied to real-world assets.

Mythos Chain, a Polkadot-based ecosystem geared toward Web3 gaming, rounded out the top five most traded NFT blockchains. Mythos Chain-based collections amassed $4.5 million in trading sales over the week, up 69% from the previous period. This strong performance underscores the role of Mythos Chain gaming assets in driving niche demand.

Top NFT collections by weekly sales
At the collection level, a familiar name topped the charts. DMarket, which represents in-game virtual items from several online titles, ranked as the number one series by weekly sales. It generated $4.4 million in trading volume, up 71% compared with the previous week, reinforcing the influence of gaming-linked assets.

Milady Maker came in second among the top NFT collections, posting $4.2 million in sales, a 40% week-over-week increase. Courtyard, a Polygon-based collection featuring randomly generated digital items, placed third with $4 million in trading sales, climbing 71.92% from the prior week.

Guild of Guardians Heroes, connected to the multiplayer mobile game Guild of Guardians, recorded $2.1 million in trading sales, up 11.29% on a weekly basis. However, not all collections advanced: Yes Bond, hosted on BNB Chain, notched $2 million in trading sales but slipped 2.59% from the previous week.

Biggest individual NFT sales of the week
Beyond aggregate volumes, several single collectibles also drew attention. Token Vesting Plans #4585 was the week’s top sale, changing hands for $671,387. The second-largest transaction involved gUSDC #534, which sold for $400,000 and highlighted continuing demand for high-value tokenized positions.

In third place, Wang.btc fetched $362,729, while Strike Perp Position recorded a sale of $37,867. These figures, although well below peak bull-market valuations, still signal that deep-pocketed buyers are active across select segments.

Such headline trades often influence short-term sentiment. However, analysts emphasize that broader liquidity and user growth remain more important indicators than isolated big-ticket deals when assessing the overall health of the NFT market.

Outlook for the NFT market into 2026
Despite the recent uptick, few analysts expect a rapid return to the frenzied heights seen in 2021 6. The NFT sector reached its lowest monthly trading sales volume of the year in November, when turnover dropped to $320 million, down 49% from October’s $629 million.

Even so, several market researchers suggest that the current consolidation could lay the groundwork for a more measured recovery. Some forecasts indicate that the sector may stage another hype phase before the end of Q1 2026, especially if macro conditions stabilize and new consumer applications emerge.

In summary, the latest data paints a picture of an industry in transition rather than collapse, with resilient volumes across multiple chains and use cases supporting a more mature, utility-driven future for NFTs.

Amelia Tomasicchiohttps://cryptonomist.ch

As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder of The Cryptonomist.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.

Residents can now pay Lugano taxes, fines and city invoices in Bitcoin or USDT, with instant conversion to Swiss francs.

Journalist

Posted: December 26, 2025

In 2025, Binance faced relentless scrutiny, from court cases to regulatory challenges.

Yet, on‑chain data reveals a different picture. According to new metrics from CryptoRank and TokenTerminal, BNB Chain has emerged as the most widely used blockchain this year, boasting the highest average daily active wallets across the industry.

Source: CryptoRank.io/X

This is a surprising twist, as even as critics pointed to the chain’s centralized structure and ongoing legal issues, real users continued to flock to it.

BNB Chain leads in Daily Active Users
While Ethereum [ETH] remains favored by institutions, Solana [SOL] is known for its high speed.

However, Binance [BNB] Chain has quietly captured the most retail activity, demonstrating that for everyday users, low fees and easy onboarding matter more than regulatory headlines.

The numbers make the picture even clearer.

Solana posted a strong 3.23 million daily wallets, and NEAR wasn’t far behind with 3.15 million, but both were still well below BNB Chain’s massive 4.32 million daily average.

This isn’t a small lead; it shows that BNB Chain is pulling ahead with a user base that stays active even when the market is shaky.

CZ praised this milestone
Needless to say, the crypto community quickly took note, with Changpeng Zhao (CZ) also celebrating the milestone on X, echoing his long-standing message, 

“Keep building. 2026 will awesome!”

However, while BNB Chain continues to capture the attention of regular crypto users, the larger financial side of the industry reached a major turning point in 2025.

CME Group overtakes Binance
The CoinGlass 2025 Crypto Derivatives Market Annual Report reveals that crypto derivatives have evolved significantly beyond their previous reputation as a venue for high-risk, high-leverage bets.

The market has expanded into an $85.70 trillion ecosystem, with $264.5 billion traded daily.

A major shift is unfolding in Chicago, where traditional finance and crypto are converging. The CME Group, renowned for its regulated Futures markets, has extended its lead over Binance in Bitcoin Futures and is rapidly closing the gap in Ethereum futures.

This trend signals that institutional investors are no longer testing the waters; they are actively shaping the market.

Meanwhile, crypto‑native exchanges like OKX, Bybit, and Bitget remain strong thanks to deep liquidity and regional dominance.

BNB’s dual leadership
All this comes at a time when BNB rose to $843.27, at press time, gaining 0.55% during a period when many other assets were struggling to move.

But the biggest signal for BNB’s future didn’t come from price action; it came from corporate leadership. Recently, in a major decision, Binance appointed co-founder Yi He as Co-CEO, joining Richard Teng at the top.

This marks a shift away from Binance’s old “grow at any cost” strategy and toward a more stable, compliance-focused approach.

Yi He, known for her strong focus on users, is now helping lead the company into a more mature phase.

All these combined efforts show that Binance is preparing for a regulated and professional future, not just trying to stay ahead in the race.

Final Thoughts

BNB’s stability in a flat market suggests that consistent usage is becoming a more important signal than price hype.
BNB Chain’s traction shows that ecosystems win when they prioritize experience, cost, and accessibility above all else.

The proposal, which transforms UNI into a value-accruing asset, received more than 125 million votes in support with just 742 dissenting. Dec 26, 2025, 11:01 a.m.

Uniswap Labs' and Uniswap Foundation's "UNIfication" proposal to activate protocol fees for the largest decentralized exchange in crypto and burn millions of UNI received overwhelming support from voters, transforming the token from a purely governance mechanism into a value-accruing asset.

The proposal received more than 125 million votes in support over the five days of voting with just 742 dissenting.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Uniswap sees an average of about $2 billion a day in trading volume and generates an annualized $600 million in fees, according to DeFillama data. Until now, it has routed all the fees to liquidity providers, leaving UNI as a governance-only token with no direct economic link to the platform’s activity.

Some of those fees will now be routed to an onchain mechanism designed to burn the tokens, directly linking protocol usage to token supply reduction and potentially boosting the market price. A full100 million UNI from the treasury — worth over $590 million at current rates — will be also burned in a retroactive move intended to reflect fees that could have accrued had protocol fees been active since Uniswap’s creation in 2018.

The UNI token has gained 2.5% in the past 24 hours to $5.92.

Read more: Uniswap Proposes Sweeping ‘UNIfication’ With UNI Burn and Protocol Fee Overhaul

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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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Trust Wallet users lose $7 million to hacked Chrome extension

1 hour ago

Changpeng Zhao, a co-founder of Binance, which owns the utility, said the losses will be reimbursed.

What to know:

Trust Wallet users lost about $7 million following an update to its Chrome extension. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao said the losses will be reimbursed.Users are advised to avoid version 2.68 of the extension and upgrade to version 2.69.Read full story

12h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Evans S.

Summarize this article with:

Hyperliquid progresses as a crypto desk that doesn’t want to waste time with slogans. No big speeches “DeFi for all.” Instead, two very concrete levers in pre-alpha: portfolio margin and BLP Earn vaults. Translation: more flexible risk management, and a yield and borrowing component directly connected to Hypercore. The kind of addition that makes no noise, until the day traders understand what it changes.

In brief

Hyperliquid launches in pre-alpha the portfolio margin and BLP Earn to strengthen capital efficiency on Hypercore.
Portfolio margin unifies spot and perpetuals with strict caps, while BLP Earn adds yield on stablecoins and borrowing against HYPE.
Despite HYPE’s decline, these additions strengthen the product narrative and revive discussion on possible supply reduction.

Hyperliquid and portfolio margin, controlled version of capital efficiency
The portfolio margin is a simple idea with deep consequences: unify spot and perpetuals to calculate margin at the portfolio level, not trade by trade. Expected result: more capital efficiency, especially for those who hedge, arbitrage, or stack positions that partially offset each other.

But Hyperliquid does not pretend to “democratize” access. The pre-alpha is gated: accounts beyond 5 million dollars of historical volume, and strict caps on borrowing, with a global cap and a cap per user. It’s a usage filter, not a speech. In short, if you haven’t already run the machine, you don’t get to press the red button.

The detail that matters on the risk side: HYPE as the only collateral at the start, USDC as the only borrowable asset, with announced extension. USDH will be added as a borrowable asset, and bitcoin as collateral in a future update. Hyperliquid doesn’t “promise”: it sequences. And this sequencing, in crypto, often counts more than an overly generous roadmap.

BLP Earn: yield, borrowing, and a well-placed incentive
The other novelty, BLP Earn, tackles a question many platforms postpone: how to give immediate financial utility to stablecoins and native collateral, without turning the experience into a complex machine.

In the announced version, the user can earn yield on stablecoins, or borrow against their HYPE to increase their buying power on the Hypercore DEX. In other words, a leverage ramp is offered, but integrated into the ecosystem, not outsourced through three protocols and a prayer.

It’s also a plumbing move: the more you facilitate earning and borrowing in the same place, the more you reduce friction, and the more you increase the likelihood that liquidity remains captive. In crypto, loyalty doesn’t really exist; there are only exit costs.

And again, the low-cap pre-alpha plays a role: it limits damage in case of poor parameter calibration, like rates, liquidation, or correlations. Hyperliquid seems to want a cautious ramp-up, almost old-school, as if the protocol remembered that risk doesn’t disappear just because it’s on-chain.

HYPE under pressure, but the product changes the reading
On the price side, nothing spectacular: HYPE declines in a market where BTC and ETH also slid during the session. Viewed in isolation, the drop tells little. The token went from $59 to $24, in a context where platforms must choose: marketing relaunch or truly credible features. Portfolio margin targets large portfolios and sophisticated strategies, while BLP Earn bets on retention and collateral utility.

Together, it looks less like a patch and more like a direction: Hyperliquid wants to become a complete trading infrastructure, not just a fast perpetuals app. And while the product side mechanics densify, another idea is gaining ground on the token: Hyperliquid could also drastically restrict its supply through an unprecedented measure, by reducing the amount of HYPE actually in circulation.

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Evans S.

Fascinated by Bitcoin since 2017, Evariste has continuously researched the subject. While his initial interest was in trading, he now actively seeks to understand all advances centered on cryptocurrencies. As an editor, he strives to consistently deliver high-quality work that reflects the state of the sector as a whole.

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.

Uniswap has entered a new chapter after its community overwhelmingly approved the long-awaited UNIfication proposal. The vote passed with near-unanimous backing, showing strong confidence in reshaping how value flows through the protocol. More than a governance tweak, the decision marks a shift toward tying Uniswap’s growth more directly to the UNI token itself.

At its core, the proposal reflects a belief that Uniswap has matured enough to move beyond experimentation and into a more sustainable, value-driven phase.

Fee Switch Goes Live, UNI Burn BeginsThe biggest change under UNIfication is the activation of Uniswap’s long-discussed protocol fee switch. Until now, trading fees on Uniswap flowed entirely to liquidity providers. Going forward, a portion of those fees will be routed to the protocol and used to burn UNI tokens.

This means Uniswap activity will now directly reduce UNI supply. As trading volume grows, more tokens are removed from circulation, reinforcing a long-term scarcity model. Net sequencer fees from Unichain will also be added to this burn mechanism, strengthening the link between protocol usage and token economics.

After a mandatory two-day timelock, Uniswap will execute a one-time burn of 100 million UNI, an estimate of what could have been burned if the fee switch had existed from the start.

Internal Restructuring Under Uniswap LabsBeyond token economics, UNIfication also simplifies Uniswap’s operations. Responsibilities previously split between the Uniswap Foundation and Uniswap Labs will now sit under a single roof. As part of the shift, Uniswap Labs will remove interface, wallet, and API fees, aiming to reduce friction for users and developers.

A recurring UNI-funded growth budget has also been created to support long-term development rather than short-term incentives, signaling a more structured approach to protocol expansion.

Reaction across crypto has been lively. Crypto user Alexander described the move as a major moment for DeFi, arguing it creates a more level playing field. He noted that liquidity providers unwilling to share a portion of yields now have alternatives like Velodrome and Aerodrome, increasing competition across DeFi.

Others were more skeptical. Another user pushed back on the excitement around token burns, arguing that uncirculated tokens have no real market value and burning them doesn’t meaningfully reduce dilution. In his view, the fee switch is the real story, not the burn headline.

Meanwhile, guto.eth welcomed the change, calling it a defining test for DeFi. He argued that if protocols like Uniswap and Aave can’t turn major upgrades into real value reflected in token prices, the sector risks losing credibility.

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Aave’s $140M‑revenue year is overshadowed by a failed brand‑control vote, a $10M AAVE buy, and a brutal governance rift hammering the token.

Summary

DAO revenue hit $140M this year, exceeding the prior three years combined, with AAVE holders controlling the funds.​
A brand‑asset transfer proposal failed with 55% against and 41% abstaining, deepening the rift between Aave Labs and the DAO.​
AAVE price has dropped about 20% amid criticism of Kulechov’s $10M+ token buy and concerns over governance “attacks” and fee routing.

Aave’s holiday governance drama has flipped into open confrontation, with founder Stani Kulechov now stressing that this year’s DAO revenue hit roughly $140 million — more than the previous three years combined — and insisting his multimillion-dollar AAVE (AAVE) buy was never used to sway the decisive brand-control vote that just failed.​

AAVE Dao versus AAVE Labs continues
On Christmas week, while most desks in Paris and London ran skeleton crews and DeFi volumes thinned out, Aave’s governance channels turned into a full‑blown street fight over who actually controls the protocol’s name, domains and soft IP. The clash culminated in the rejection of an Aave Request for Comment (ARFC) to transfer core brand assets from Aave Labs to the DAO, with more than 55% of votes against and over 41% of participants simply refusing to take a side.​

In a fresh statement on X, Aave founder and CEO Stani Kulechov tried to reset the narrative. “I am committed to clarifying the economic interests between Aave Labs and $AAVE token holders,” he wrote, conceding that “our explanations in this regard have not been sufficient, and we will strive to improve in the future.” He underscored what he called the missing context in the uproar: “The DAO has generated $140 million in revenue this year, surpassing the total revenue of the past three years, and $AAVE token holders have control over these funds.”​

The recent DAO vote has wrapped up, and it has raised important questions about the relationship between Aave Labs and $AAVE token holders. This is a productive discussion that’s essential for the long-term health of Aave.

While it's been a bit hectic, debate and disagreement…

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) December 26, 2025

That reminder landed in a market that has been busy pricing in governance risk. Over the past week, AAVE (AAVE) has dumped around 20%, sliding from the high $180s toward the mid‑$140s, with intraday ranges showing sharp $5–$7 wicks as liquidity thins out above $155 and aggressive sellers keep leaning on any bounce. One whale already moved more than 230,000 AAVE — roughly $37 million at the time — in a single sell program, pushing price down near $162 and leaving a very obvious supply overhang on the daily chart that traders are now treating as de facto resistance.​

At the heart of the dispute sits Kulechov’s recent purchase of roughly $10–15 million worth of AAVE tokens, executed into an order book that was already jittery and heavily skewed to perpetuals rather than spot. Critics called it a “governance attack,” arguing the timing effectively allowed the founder to bulk up his voting power right before a contentious series of votes on brand control and revenue routing went to Snapshot. Kulechov pushed back hard on that framing, stating bluntly that “these tokens were not used to vote on the recent proposal; that was never my intention,” and adding, “this is my lifelong career, and I support my beliefs with my own funds.”​

The ARFC on brand asset transfer, which would have moved Aave’s domains, trademarks and social channels into a DAO‑controlled legal wrapper, became a lightning rod. Governance stewards and large delegates blasted the holiday timing as a “hostile” move, noting the vote was pushed through a low‑participation window when many institutional token holders and protocol‑aligned market makers were effectively offline. The final tally — 994,800 votes against, just 63,000 in favor and a massive abstain bloc — exposed a deep split between Aave Labs and the DAO over how fast, and how far, the protocol should push decentralization of off‑chain assets.​

Under the surface, this is also about cash flows and interface economics, not just logos and Twitter handles. Community members have accused recent frontend changes of diverting swap‑related revenue away from the DAO, feeding a narrative that core development is quietly tightening its grip just as real‑world asset volumes and fee income start to scale. Against that backdrop, Kulechov’s emphasis on the DAO’s $140 million in annual revenue feels less like abstract accounting and more like a reminder that the on‑chain treasury — not the brand wrapper — is where the actual power sits right now.​

Markets are trading it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Funding has flipped negative on several AAVE perp pairs after Monday’s low was swept and failed to hold, with mid‑cap DeFi names catching a bid while AAVE itself stays pinned below prior local support, a classic “problem child” setup that desks in Paris and Zug have seen a hundred times in governance blow‑ups. Ignore the noise and you still get a blunt picture: this rally dies the second AAVE slips cleanly under the $140–$142 pocket where spot demand last showed up; below that, it is pure exit liquidity until governance settles or some bigger player decides the discount justifies stepping in.​

Kulechov, for his part, is now promising a clearer roadmap. “In the future, we will more clearly articulate how the products developed by Aave Labs create value for the DAO and $AAVE token holders,” he said, signaling that the next phase of communication will focus on tighter alignment between core development and tokenholder economics rather than rushed votes during holiday trading lulls. But still, after a week of accusations, failed proposals and a double‑digit drawdown, the burden of proof has shifted; Aave’s governance experiment is very much live‑fire now, and the market is watching the next Snapshot like a hawk.

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FUNToken, one of the most talked-about low-cap cryptos on the market with P2E undertones, has made its way to the MEXC exchange.The announcement of the listing was made by the FUNToken team recently, stating that the new FUN/USDC spot trading pair has gone live on MEXC on December 23, 2025, at 09:00 (UTC).

FUNToken Listing Part of MEXC’s Diversification Move
MEXC has earned renown as an exchange that gives a wide berth to unique cryptocurrency projects, while letting users have exposure to diverse assets. The exchange’s stablecoin-dominated ecosystem also gets balanced with this launch. To promote the listing even further, MEXC has also placed a zero-fee structure for the FUN/USDC spot pair.

Stability Through Stablecoin Thanks to FUN/USDC Pair
FUNToken is one of the few mid-cap assets to have gained constant attention of the intraday traders. The recent price action has also unveiled the token’s long-term potential thanks to multiple upswings in the price chart. However, with the addition of the FUN/USDC pair, traders can now have access to the token while it is being paired with USDC for added flexibility and stability.

Highlighting this factor, the FUNToken team stated, “This listing reflects the continued momentum behind FUNToken and the strong engagement from our community.” The team believes that introducing a USDC trading pair on MEXC with zero trading fees adds accessibility, liquidity, and a better trading experience for users worldwide.

FUNToken’s Price Action: Upward Triangle Pattern Forming
Following the MEXC listing, FUNToken experienced an immediate uptick in its price, recording a 5% price jump in four hours before a correction. Although profit takers arrived in droves, bulls have started to catch up. The token currently trades at $0.001683 and has experienced a surge of nearly 3% in the last two days.

An asymmetrical triangle pattern is forming, indicating a breakout could happen by December 27, 2025. However, whether the breakout would turn into an uptick or a breakdown will depend on whether the FUN price stays above the trendline shown in red.

Provided that the $FUN/USDC listing is reportedly part of FUNToken’s broader strategy to expand its presence on leading cryptocurrency exchanges, the intraday uptick could be a prelude to better things to come.

Final Thoughts
Thanks to its low-cap nature and high accessibility, FUNToken has been able to fly under the radar, mostly isolated from the market’s volatility while providing consistent upsides to short-term traders. However, now that the token has been listed on MEXC, perceptions may shift towards maintaining a long-term focus for the token.

It means long-term holders may also find the project more appealing. And if by any luck, the bull run comes back in Q1-2026, FUNToken could ride the surge wave and offer high ROI to those who invest today.

Journalist

Posted: December 26, 2025

Christmas has officially kicked off the holiday season.

Yet, investors still appear skeptical about “buying the dip.” Historically, the period from late December to early January is often a bullish window. Last cycle, for instance, saw nearly a $200 billion jump in TOTAL market cap.

This time, however, the cycle has started with a 0.82% dip, shedding nearly $30 billion. Still, given recent volatility, this outflow is relatively minor, suggesting that another Bitcoin [BTC] holiday rally isn’t off the table yet.

Source: TradingView (BTC/USD1)

This volatility, shown in the chart, has sparked a “manipulation” debate.

For context, on the 24th of December, the BTC/USD1 pair on Binance briefly dumped from an $87k open to $24k, marking a sharp 73% drawdown. Notably, the timing of this move only added fuel to the narrative. 

With holiday-thin liquidity and muted retail activity, attention turned to smart money driving prices in a short window. The question remains: Did this move derail the holiday rally, or did it reset Bitcoin for the next leg up?

Bitcoin continues to battle volatility this holiday season
BTC is clearly stuck in a tug-of-war, with $85k as its battlefield.

Sentiment-wise, the market is sitting in a “fear” zone, historically a strong accumulation phase. This shows that despite Binance’s manipulation moves, market FUD remained in control, creating a bullish divergence.

Supporting this move, BTC is showing a solid technical setup. With a 2.20% intraday gain, it is approaching the key $90k FOMO zone. Consequently, the short cluster is now at near-term risk of being wiped out.

Source: TradingView (BTC/USDT)

In short, Bitcoin’s resilience against FUD is reinforcing its bid wall.

In this context, the recent whale activity on Binance (a sudden 73% drop followed by a quick rebound to $85k) played out like a classic liquidation move, shaking out weak hands and testing market conviction.

As a result, with that volatility behind it, Bitcoin’s 2.2% intraday surge looks solid, showing that strong hands are in control and the holiday rally for BTC remains on track, with $85k acting as its launchpad.

Final Thoughts

Despite Binance whale-driven volatility, Bitcoin’s bid wall and bullish divergence signal accumulation and a healthy technical setup.
The 2.2% intraday surge reinforces $85K as a launchpad, keeping the BTC holiday rally on track.

Ritika Gupta is a Financial Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst at AMBCrypto, specializing in the critical intersection of world politics, economic policy, and the cryptocurrency markets. Her analysis is informed by her distinguished background, which includes professional experience at major news network.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology from Gargi College, University of Delhi. This academic training provides her with a sophisticated framework for dissecting complex issues such as international regulations, government fiscal policies, and the geopolitical forces that directly influence asset valuations.
At AMBCrypto, Ritika applies this expert lens to synthesize macroeconomic data and political developments, offering readers a deeper context for market movements. She excels at explaining not just what is happening in the market, but why it is happening. Her work is dedicated to providing strategic insights that empower readers to understand the complex relationship between global events and their digital assets.

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) failed to live up to its oft-repeated “digital gold” reputation in 2025, while cryptocurrencies linked to precious metals turned out to be the real store of value.

Physical gold-backed cryptocurrencies, such as Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT) and PAX Gold (CRYPTO: PAXG), have surged over 72% this year.

In fact, Tether Gold and Pax Gold were the sixth and seventh-largest gainers in 2025, dwarfing returns from coins with significantly larger market valuations.

The coins mirrored the gains of spot gold, which rallied to new highs in the year.

Note that these cryptocurrencies provide ownership on a 1:1 basis of one fine troy ounce of gold on a physical bar of gold.

AssetYTD Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 2:00 a.m. ET)Tether Gold +72.17%$4,513.28PAX Gold+72.11%$4,523.56Spot Gold+67.81%$4,512.46/OunceSpot Silver+152.42%$74.7115/OunceKinesis Silver+119%$75.75Bitcoin -6.40%$88,372.12Similarly, Kinesis Silver (KAG), a token backed by one ounce of investment-grade silver bullion, more than doubled in value in the year, aligning with spot silver’s rally.

See Also: Best Gold Trading Strategies

Tough Year For BitcoinThese gains contrasted with the sharp decline in Bitcoin’s value, which hit new highs earlier but derailed in the year’s final quarter.

The apex cryptocurrency erased all its gains, and currently trades 6.40% lower than it was at the start of the year.

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Gold Is Now 7x Bigger Than Nvidia — And Gundlach Says That Matters Trading Strategies
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Crypto analyst Cryptollica (@Cryptollica on X) is arguing that Dogecoin’s weekly chart is doing that familiar thing again: carving out a rounded base, bleeding off volatility, resetting momentum and quietly setting up what he frames as the “calm before the storm.”

Or, at least, that’s the pitch. In a Dec. 23 TradingView analysis titled “DOGE: The Cycle Repeats (1W Timeframe),” Cryptollica calls the current structure a “textbook fractal setup,” pointing to four prior “structural points (1, 2, 3, 4)” across DOGE’s longer-term history and claiming the market is now sitting at “Point 4.” The core claim is less about a single indicator and more about pattern recognition: “the structure is rhyming perfectly with the pre-bull run accumulation phases of the past.”

Will Dogecoin Repeat History?
Cryptollica frames Zones 1 and 2 as prior “boredom phases” — the type of long, dead-feeling stretches that, in hindsight, look like accumulation. “Zones 1 & 2: These were the ‘boredom phases’ where volatility died, and smart money accumulated,” the post reads.

DOGE: The Cycle Repeats (1W) Fractal | Source: TradingView.com
Zone 2, in particular, is described as “the launchpad for the massive 2021 parabolic run.” The current period, which the analyst labels Zone 4, is presented as a near-mirror: “We are seeing the exact same rounding bottom formation. The price is stabilizing, forming a heavy base just like it did before the previous explosions.”

That’s the structural argument. The momentum argument is RSI, and Cryptollica is unusually direct about how they’re treating it: “Look at the RSI indicator at the bottom. The red line (~32. level) acts as a historical floor.”

They add that “every single time the weekly RSI touched or hovered near this baseline (Points 1, 2, and 3), it marked a macro bottom.” Right now, in their read, “the RSI has reset back to this critical support level,” which they interpret as seller fatigue: “It indicates that the sellers are exhausted and the momentum is primed to flip.”

If you’ve been around crypto markets long enough, you’ve seen this exact rhetorical move: the past as a template, the present as a rhyme, the future as a pending punchline. Cryptollica tries to pre-empt the eye-roll by insisting the setup isn’t coincidence: “This isn’t just random noise; it’s a cyclical reset.” The post argues DOGE is sitting in what they call “the ‘Golden Pocket’ for accumulation,” and suggests that if the 2020-era analog holds “like it did in 2020 (Zone 2)” then today’s price action is basically quiet loading time.

The editorial machinery at TradingView itself leaned in. The platform responded publicly on Dec. 23 that the publication “has been selected as one of our Editor’s Picks and will be featured on the Home Page,” adding a line that reads like the house style for community encouragement: “Good trading plans are valuable, regardless of their outcomes, and particularly rewarding when they succeed.” Cryptollica replied in kind: “TradingView, thank you.”

Still, one of the more useful parts of this whole thread is a cautionary comment from another user, ZarinSyed, who essentially says: yes, the fractal is interesting, no, that doesn’t mean it’s fate. “The fractal analysis is compelling,” they wrote, “however, while the setup does resemble prior accumulation phases, it’s worth noting that fractals are not deterministic — macro conditions and liquidity flows can alter outcomes.” They put a practical marker on what “confirmation” would look like in their view: “Watching DOGE’s weekly close above the $0.15–$0.17 range could validate the bullish thesis.”

And they don’t let RSI off the hook, either. The ~32 level may signal exhaustion, they concede, but “momentum confirmation often requires a sustained move above the midline (50). Until then, the risk of prolonged sideways action remains.” They add a market-structure wrinkle that matters for 2026-style crypto narratives: “Unlike 2020, DOGE now trades in a more mature market with ETF-driven institutional flows. Retail-driven fractals may play out differently.”

So what does it mean, in plain trader terms, without pretending the chart is prophecy? Cryptollica is making a high-conviction, weekly-timeframe claim that DOGE is back in an accumulation “buy zone,” with RSI near a historical floor and a rounded base that resembles prior cycle setups.

ZarinSyed is basically saying: fine, now prove it, ideally with a breakout and follow-through, and keep an eye on relative metrics like DOGE/BTC dominance if you want to know whether this is a DOGE story or just another alt wobble.

At press time, DOGE traded at $

DOGE needs to overcome the red zone, 1-week chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Fri, 26/12/2025 - 9:18

Hoskinson just gave Midnight a compliance-first privacy twist with a major teaser and pointed to January workshops as the moment the "new ADA" stops being a slogan and turns into a 2026 plan.

Cover image via U.Today

Charles Hoskinson just gave Cardano’s privacy spinoff a major label, telling X that Midnight is set to become the "Manhattan Project" of privacy-enhanced transactions (PET), chain abstraction and smart compliance.

He is not framing this as a weekend brainstorm. According to Hoskinson, he is writing 80-100 pages a day of technical documents in preparation for internal workshops in January, fueled by coffee, remixed Eurodance and what he calls "some serious effort." Then came the punchline: "2026's body is not ready."

On CoinMarketCap, NIGHT is priced at $0.07676, marking a +19.57% increase over the week. It boasts a market cap of $1.27 billion, with a 24-hour trading volume of $589.1 million following a period of consolidation. 

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Writing between 80-100 pages a day of technical documents for Midnight, getting ready for internal January workshops. Coffee, Remixed Eurodance, and some serious effort.

Midnight is going to be the Manhattan Project of PET, Chain Abstraction, and Smart Compliance. 2026's body…

— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) December 25, 2025 The one-week chart reflects this: a rapid rise earlier in the week, a drop back into the $0.07 area and then sideways movement as traders decide whether the tweets are just narrative fuel or a sign of real delivery pressure.

January workshops as next checkpoint for "new ADA"The "smart compliance" wording is the giveaway. Privacy projects often market the rebel angle, but Hoskinson is selling a version that can coexist the with rules instead of fighting them. This is exactly the kind of framing that will get institutions and developers to at least open the documents.

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The Cardano creator does not only write specifications. In the replies, Hoskinson confirmed that he is also working on a nontechnical PET book called "The Land of PET," aimed at Midnight Ambassadors and the broader community. This seems to be narrative packaging for a bigger rollout.

If the January workshops result in a concrete roadmap, the “New ADA” concept could cease to be a mere idea and begin to resemble a 2026 development plan.

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The Kyrgyz stablecoin KGST is now listed on Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
For a country of just over seven million people, this move signals a big step into the global digital finance arena.

KGST Shows How Local Stablecoins Enter Global Crypto
KGST is a stablecoin, meaning its value is designed to stay steady. Each token is backed one to one by the Kyrgyz som, the national currency. In simple terms, one KGST should always equal one som. This backing is meant to reduce the wild price swings that scare many newcomers away from crypto. According to the president, KGST is also the first stablecoin from the CIS region to reach a major global exchange, which adds symbolic weight to the launch.

KGST brings this idea closer to home for Kyrgyz users. Instead of relying on the US dollar, people can now use a token tied directly to their own currency. This lowers the mental barrier. You do not need to think in foreign exchange rates. For investors, a local currency stablecoin can support new use cases like remittances, savings products, and on chain payments that reflect real economic activity.

Greetings everyone!

Today I received important and truly landmark news — the Kyrgyz stablecoin KGST has been listed on the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance @binance. KGST @KGSToken is backed 1:1 by the national currency of the Kyrgyz Republic, the som.

I congratulate the… pic.twitter.com/U8dNPsKA6y

— Sadyr Zhaparov (@sadyrzhaparovkg) December 24, 2025

The president also highlighted the role of BNB Chain and praised coordinated work led by CZ. This points to a broader trend. In recent years, more governments and public institutions have started to work with established crypto networks rather than building everything alone.

A Real World Use Case and a Growing Trend
Consider a simple example. A small exporter in Bishkek sells goods to a partner in Turkey. Today, cross border bank transfers can take days and charge high fees. With KGST on Binance, the exporter could convert som to KGST, send it instantly, and let the partner swap into their local currency. The process can take minutes instead of days.

Binance will list $KGST on Spot and enable Trading Bots services.

More information 👉 https://t.co/tVYhLkkl2p pic.twitter.com/yMsbu6pFK7

— Binance (@binance) December 22, 2025

This fits a wider trend. According to the Bank for International Settlements, cross border payments still cost around 6% on average. Stablecoins aim to cut that cost sharply. Several emerging markets are now testing local currency stablecoins to improve speed and access.

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.

SEC Chairman Signals Crypto Clarity Act & Market Structure Bill Are Heading to CongressThe U.S. cryptocurrency market may be on the brink of its most significant regulatory overhaul yet. 

According to remarks attributed to the SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the long-anticipated Crypto Clarity Act and the Market Structure Bill are now heading to Congress, a move that could dramatically reshape the digital asset landscape. 

If passed, these reforms are expected to reduce market manipulation by as much as 80%, restoring confidence to a sector long plagued by regulatory uncertainty.

At the heart of both bills is a push to clearly distinguish between digital assets that qualify as securities and those that function more like commodities or payment tokens.

For years, the lack of clear definitions has created confusion for crypto firms, investors, and regulators alike. The proposed legislation aims to allocate oversight responsibilities more precisely between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), reducing enforcement-by-litigation and replacing it with rule-based clarity.

Therefore, this clarity could be especially meaningful for XRP. Ripple’s token has been one of the most high-profile examples of regulatory ambiguity, spending years entangled in legal disputes over whether XRP should be classified as a security. 

While recent court rulings have already offered partial relief by differentiating between retail and institutional sales, comprehensive legislation could further solidify XRP’s regulatory status.

If the Crypto Clarity Act provides explicit criteria under which tokens like XRP are deemed non-securities when used for payments or network utility.

On the other hand, the Market Structure Bill could also benefit XRP by establishing standardized rules for trading venues, custody, and settlement. XRP’s use case as a bridge asset for cross-border payments aligns well with a regulated market structure that emphasizes transparency, compliance, and efficiency. 

Clear rules could accelerate partnerships between Ripple and traditional financial institutions, particularly banks seeking blockchain-based payment solutions that meet regulatory standards.

Beyond XRP specifically, these bills could boost overall market sentiment. Regulatory certainty tends to reduce risk premiums, attract institutional capital, and foster innovation. For XRP, which already has an established infrastructure and real-world utility, being on the right side of regulatory clarity could translate into renewed demand and long-term growth.

ConclusionThe SEC Chairman’s confirmation that the Crypto Clarity Act and Market Structure Bill are headed to Congress signals a pivotal shift for U.S. crypto regulation. By replacing long-standing uncertainty with clear, enforceable rules, the legislation could unlock stalled growth across the industry with XRP expected to be a major beneficiary. 

Clear statutory definitions for digital assets and market oversight could finally lift the regulatory overhang, opening the door to deeper liquidity, broader exchange support, and increased institutional participation. 

If passed, these bills could not only legitimize XRP’s status as a compliant, utility-focused asset but also position it at the forefront of a more transparent, mature, and innovation-friendly crypto market.

XRP price has formed a bullish reversal pattern as whales continued buying the token.

Summary

XRP price has fallen 15% so far in December.
Positive performance of XRP ETFs and renewed whale buying could improve market sentiment for the token.
A descending wedge pattern has formed on the 24-hour chart.

According to data from crypto.news, XRP (XRP) price has dropped by nearly 15% so far in December. Trading at $1.88 at press time, the losses extend to 47% from its yearly high on zooming out charts.

The fifth-largest crypto asset’s market cap dropped from its yearly high of $210.4 billion to $113.8 billion, while daily trading also slumped from $13.2 billion in July to just $1.8 billion at last check on Friday, Dec. 26, Asian time.

Despite its downtrend, several catalysts backing the project could potentially support a turnaround over the coming weeks.

Notably, whales have shown renewed interest in the token and have started accumulating it over the past week. Data from Santiment shows that the number of whales holding between 10,000 and 1 billion tokens has risen since Dec. 22. Such whale buying, if sustained, can improve investor sentiment and hence drive the token’s price higher in the short term.

Source: Santiment
Another catalyst is that American investors have been continuously accumulating the token. Data from SoSoValue shows that they have bought XRP ETFs worth $64 million this week, bringing the cumulative inflows to $1.14 billion. At press time, the funds held over $1.25 billion in assets, and together they have not seen a single net outflow day since their approval in November.

XRP price analysis
On the daily chart, XRP price has formed a descending wedge pattern as it entered a downtrend, marked by a series of lower lows and lower highs. Typically, such patterns have formed when downtrends come to an end. If the current demand persists, it could support an upside rally.

XRP price has formed a descending wedge pattern on the daily chart — Dec. 26 | Source: crypto.news
At press time, XRP price was also testing a breakout from the support and resistance levels at $1.90. 

A breakout from the level would also confirm the wedge pattern and could trigger a rally to the $2.58–$2.65 zone, which has been acting as a key resistance zone throughout this year. Based on current prices, the zone lies roughly 27% above.

Momentum indicators also show the shift underway, with the Aroon Down showing a drop in selling pressure, while the RSI stood near oversold levels and suggested a potential rebound could be underway.

Momentum indicators are also beginning to shift in favor of the bulls. Selling pressure is clearly drying up now that the Aroon Down has dropped to 50%, and with the RSI sitting right near oversold territory, it looks like a trend reversal could already be in motion.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.