Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways CVX loaded cargoes on Searuby and Minerva Astra, with one shipment set to export 1 million barrels.CVX operates under a U.S. license and says its Venezuela exports comply fully with U.S. sanctions frameworks.CVX operates as Venezuela's output fell to 860,000 bpd in November amid sanctions and aging infrastructure.
Chevron Corporation (CVX - Free Report) , one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, has remained resilient in its operations in Venezuela, despite escalating geopolitical tensions and ongoing U.S. sanctions. Recently, the company completed loading its cargo onto the vessel Searuby and is currently loading another shipment onto the Minerva Astra, which is set to export a substantial 1 million barrels of crude oil, according to Bloomberg. This move comes just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to finance illegal activities, including drug trafficking and terrorism.

Chevron’s Strategic Oil Export From VenezuelaCVX’s decision to continue its oil export operations from Venezuela is a significant development in the global oil and energy industry. The company holds a U.S. license that permits it to extract and export crude from Venezuela, which is home to some of the largest oil reserves in the world. Despite the challenges posed by the political landscape and the activation of a naval blockade by the Trump administration, CVX has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining operations without disruption.

While Venezuela’s oil output has been experiencing a steady decline, CVX’s operations continue to function smoothly. According to Bloomberg tanker tracking, the company is actively transporting Venezuelan crude, indicating its ability to circumvent the growing challenges posed by U.S. sanctions and the blockade. Chevron has made it clear that all its operations are in full compliance with U.S. regulations and sanction frameworks.

Venezuela’s Declining Crude Production

The International Energy Agency (“IEA”) has recently reported a sharp decline in Venezuela's crude production, estimating output at just 860,000 barrels per day in November, a significant drop from over 1 million barrels per day in September. This decrease can be attributed to several factors, including the tightening of U.S. sanctions and the country’s continued struggles with its oil infrastructure and financing. Venezuela’s oil industry, once a global powerhouse, has struggled to maintain production levels due to aging infrastructure, financial difficulties and a lack of sufficient foreign investment.

The U.S. sanctions, which aim to limit Venezuela’s ability to sell oil on the international market, have contributed significantly to the drop in production. The blockade imposed by the United States has made it more difficult for Venezuela to export oil, as sanctions prevent companies from engaging in transactions that benefit the Venezuelan government.

CVX’s Compliance With U.S. Sanctions and Legal FrameworksChevron has made it clear that its operations in Venezuela are fully compliant with U.S. laws and the sanction frameworks designed to limit Venezuelan oil exports. In an official statement, the company emphasized that its activities are in strict accordance with both U.S. regulations and international laws. This has allowed CVX to continue operating in Venezuela without facing legal repercussions or sanctions.

One key aspect of CVX’s strategy has been its ability to cross the complex web of international regulations while ensuring that it remains within the limits of legal compliance. By adhering to these frameworks, CVX has been able to maintain a foothold in Venezuela’s oil industry, despite the restrictions placed on the country’s other oil companies.

Impact of U.S. Naval Blockade on Venezuela’s Oil ExportsThe activation of a U.S. naval blockade has been a game-changer in the geopolitical landscape surrounding Venezuela’s oil exports. The Trump administration’s decision to block sanctioned vessels from entering and leaving Venezuelan ports has added significant pressure to the country’s already strained oil sector.

Following the interception of the supertanker Skipper, the United States has ramped up its efforts to prevent Venezuela from conducting oil transactions with foreign nations. Since the blockade was enforced, multiple tankers have been forced to turn away from Venezuelan waters, highlighting the challenges that oil companies face in attempting to navigate the region. These ghost ships, which are vessels avoiding detection by U.S. authorities, add to the growing uncertainty surrounding Venezuela’s oil exports.

However, CVX’s vessels are not subject to the same sanctions as those operated by other oil companies. This distinction allows CVX to continue its shipments of Venezuelan crude without facing the same level of scrutiny or disruption that other companies have experienced. As a result, CVX has been able to maintain a steady flow of crude oil out of the country, despite the challenges posed by the blockade and U.S. sanctions.

The Role of Russian Naphtha in Venezuela’s Oil ProductionAn additional layer of complexity is introduced by the shortage of Russian naphtha, a key ingredient used by Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, to dilute its heavy crude oil. Naphtha is critical for transforming Venezuela’s tar-like heavy crude into a more easily transportable product. However, the ongoing political tensions and sanctions have made it more difficult for PDVSA to obtain naphtha from its usual suppliers, including Russia.

The shortage of naphtha has caused disruptions in Venezuela’s oil production, as it has become increasingly difficult for PDVSA to process its crude oil. At least one tanker carrying Russian naphtha recently turned away from Venezuela due to the naval blockade, further exacerbating the country's production issues. As a result, Venezuela’s oil industry confronts a twofold challenge, with declining production caused by internal factors and external limitations, including insufficient access to necessary resources, compounding the crisis.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Venezuela’s Oil IndustryDespite the ongoing challenges, the future of Venezuela’s oil industry remains uncertain but full of potential. As CVX continues to operate in the country, its ability to cross the complex geopolitical environment may serve as a model for other companies looking to engage with Venezuela’s oil industry.

Venezuela’s vast oil reserves offer significant opportunities for exploration and extraction. However, the country must overcome the hurdles of declining production, inadequate infrastructure and the impact of U.S. sanctions. In the short term, the nation’s oil output is expected to continue its decline, but in the long term, there may be opportunities for recovery if Venezuela can attract international investment and find ways to circumvent the sanctions that have plagued its oil sector for years.

CVX’s strategic approach to operating in Venezuela, while navigating the legal and political complexities, positions the company as a key player in the future of the country’s oil industry. However, the evolving geopolitical landscape will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of both Venezuela’s oil production and CVX’s continued involvement in the country.

CVX's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, CVX has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like USA Compression Partners (USAC - Free Report) and Oceaneering International (OII - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, and Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN - Free Report) , which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

USA Compression Partners is valued at $2.78 billion. The company is a leading provider of natural gas compression services in the United States. USA Compression Partners specializes in the design, operation and maintenance of compression equipment for the energy sector, focusing on helping customers optimize their natural gas infrastructure.

Oceaneering International is valued at $2.36 billion. The company is a global provider of engineered services and products to the offshore energy, aerospace and defense industries. OII specializes in underwater robotics, remotely operated vehicles and subsea engineering solutions for offshore oil and gas exploration and production.

Patterson-UTI Energy is valued at $2.21 billion. The company is a leading provider of drilling and pressure pumping services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in North America. Patterson-UTI Energy offers a wide range of services, including land-based drilling rigs, pressure pumping and other energy-related solutions, primarily focused on the U.S. shale oil and gas markets.

Key Takeaways Labcorp is emerging as the stronger investment based on valuation, price performance and analyst targets.Hologic is supported by diagnostics and breast health innovation, but macro headwinds remain.Labcorp trades at a lower forward P/S than Hologic while outperforming over the past 12 months.
Hologic (HOLX - Free Report) and Labcorp (LH - Free Report) are two established MedTech players with a history of collaboration, though each brings distinct strengths. With a market capitalization of $16.71 billion, Hologic specializes in diagnostic products, medical imaging systems and surgical products aimed at women’s health and well-being through early detection and treatment. Labcorp, valued at $20.89 billion, provides comprehensive laboratory services to doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients by leveraging its diagnostics and drug development capabilities.

Let’s take a closer look at which one of these two appears to be the better investment now. 

The Case for HologicDiagnostics is Hologic’s largest revenue-generating segment, with growth mainly driven by the Molecular Diagnostics unit. The growing utilization of the legacy automated Panther platform and the constantly expanding menu have supported demand. Since its 2019 launch, the BV, CV/ TV assay has quickly become the major driver for U.S. Molecular Diagnostics performance, now ranking as the company’s second largest worldwide. Hologic continues to address its vast U.S. vaginitis market opportunity by driving awareness and securing reimbursement for this test. 

Meanwhile, the Panther Fusion add-on module is gaining traction with customers adopting more menus. A key feature is the platform’s Open Access functionality, which allows labs to run their laboratory-developed tests. The new FDA and CE-IVDR-approved Panther Fusion Gastrointestinal Bacterial and Expanded Bacterial Assays mark the planned diversification of the menu beyond respiratory testing. Additionally, the expanded CE marking for the Genius Digital Diagnostics System with digital pathology represents another solid step in Hologic’s innovation pipeline.

On the M&A front, the Biotheranostics acquisition in 2021 accelerated its entry into the oncology adjacency. In Breast Health, Endomagnetics broadened the interventional portfolio with wire-free breast surgery localization and lymphatic tracing solutions. The company’s AI-powered mammography solutions, including the Genius AI Detection, are seeing a lot of clinical momentum of late.

In 2025, Gynesonics enhanced the GYN Surgical product lineup with the Sonata System technology. Internationally, Myosure is gaining more market share than in the United States, underscoring the significant unmet demand for minimally invasive options, while NovaSure has consistently delivered growth abroad. That said, macroeconomic impacts, including tariffs and federal funding cuts, are likely to stay as headwinds for the company. 

The Case for LabcorpLabcorp is benefitting from the solid execution of its strategy, including its focus on being the partner of choice for health systems and regional/local laboratories. The company’s string of strong strategic relationships in recent years, including with Invitae, Inspira Health and Ballad Health, has bolstered its presence in important markets while increasing access to its broad test menu. More recently, Labcorp completed the acquisition of select outreach laboratory assets of Community Health Systems.

The company is also experiencing strong growth in businesses across high-growth specialty areas, such as oncology, women's health, neurology and autoimmune diseases, where science, clinical need, the use of genetic testing and innovation are seeing rapid momentum.

Notable capabilities introduced include the addition of HRD testing, IVDR CE-marked PGDx elio tissue complete for comprehensive solid tumor profiling, the first FDA-cleared blood-based test for Alzheimer's disease in specialty care settings and the Labcorp Plasma Complete liquid biopsy test. Labcorp also has a digital health platform called Labcorp OnDemand, through which it offers more than 50 health and wellness tests, and is also experiencing strong momentum.

Science and technology also play a crucial role in Labcorp’s strategy. Within its core laboratory operations, the company is investing in digital and AI capabilities to improve in areas such as pathology, cytology and microbiology. In terms of operational efficiency, it continues to focus on driving about $100-$125 million in annual savings under the LaunchPad initiative. The company is also bringing forward new tools to drive margin improvement, such as the Labcorp Diagnostic Assistant, eClaim Assist and Labcorp Test Finder.

HOLX and LH Price PerformanceWhile both companies have lagged the S&P 500 composite in the past 12 months, Labcorp has held up better.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

A Look Into HOLX and LH’s ValuationHologic trades at a forward one-year price-to-sales (P/S) of 3.86X, higher than its median. In contrast, Labcorp’s forward one-year 1 year P/S of 1.43X favorably compares both with its median as well as with Hologic.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Targets for HOLX and LHBased on short-term price targets by 13 analysts, the average price target for Hologic comes to $76.92, implying a 2.6% increase from the last close. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Based on short-term price targets by 17 analysts, Labcorp’s average price target of $300.71 implies a 19.3% upside from the last close. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionBoth Hologic and Labcorp presently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Hologic’s underlying strength in Diagnostics and Breast Health and contributions from M&A continue to support its performance. Labcorp’s ongoing efforts to be the preferred partner, expanding in high-growth therapeutic areas, and using science and technology, are positively impacting its results. However, based on 12-month price performance, valuation and analyst price targets, Labcorp is positioned to be a stronger investment option now over Hologic. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) ETFs now hold more than 1.3 million coins, representing roughly 6% of all mined BTC. This institutional demand has taken supply off exchanges, and investors are asking what happens if another million coins get locked in ETFs. A further 5% reduction in circulating supply echoes past halving events—when cutting block rewards in half sparked triple-digit percentage returns.

With AI-driven models, analysts can run thousands of simulations to estimate price trajectories under the Bitcoin ETF scenario. Many of these projections cluster around $150,000, but some show peaks near $250,000 if momentum accelerates and liquidity dries up.

Let’s take a deeper look at how machine learning interprets a potential supply shock, compares bullish and conservative forecasts, and weighs them against historical patterns.

How Close Are Bitcoin ETFs to Holding 1 Million More BTC?

The idea of a massive Bitcoin ETF scenario has captivated investors since U.S. regulators approved spot funds in early 2024. By the end of 2025, those ETFs held more than 1.31 million BTC, representing approximately 6% of all coins in circulation.

The lion’s share sits in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which alone has amassed about 777,000 BTC—around 4% of total supply. Grayscale’s converted spot trust still holds substantial positions, while ARK 21Shares controls tens of thousands of BTC. Institutional investors collectively own almost a third of all mined Bitcoin, and the ETF model makes that stake more transparent.

To reach the hypothetical milestone of 1 million additional BTC added to current ETF holdings, net inflows would need to roughly double from present levels. At first glance, this seems ambitious, yet there are plausible pathways. First, international funds are still rolling out. If European or Asian regulators green-light similar products, they could attract fresh institutional capital from pension funds and sovereign wealth funds that can’t currently access U.S. ETFs.

Second, corporate treasury allocations and high-net-worth investors who currently hold coins on exchanges might find custodial ETFs more convenient. No custody headaches, regulatory clarity, and institutional-grade security could drive migration from self-custody or exchange wallets into ETF shares.

Third, the macro backdrop of persistent inflation and uncertain monetary policy continues to push institutional allocators toward hard-asset hedges. If those forces converge, an additional 1 million coins could migrate into Bitcoin ETFs by the end of 2026.

What a 5% BTC Supply Shock Means for the Bitcoin Price

Removing an additional 1 million BTC from liquid markets would reduce the available supply by another 5%. This kind of Bitcoin supply shock isn’t unprecedented. After previous halvings—when miners’ rewards were cut in half—supply growth slowed and prices surged.

Past halving events show that the 2012 halving preceded a 987% rally over the following 300 days. The 2016 halving yielded 135.9% over the same period. Even the most recent 2020 halving generated gains of 492.2% within 300 days. These historical comparisons matter because they show how supply constriction creates outsized price moves.

The Bitcoin supply shock from a 1-million-BTC ETF inflow carries similar magnitude. Existing ETFs already hold a significant fraction of circulating coins. If a second tranche of equal size were locked away, more than 12% of all coins would reside in custody accounts that rarely trade.

Bitcoin’s supply cap is fixed at 21 million, and about 19.5 million have already been mined. If ETFs lock up another million, the free float—coins actively trading on exchanges—would shrink to roughly 7-8 million coins. By comparison, the total new coins mined in 2026 will account for less than 1% of supply. The resulting imbalance between shrinking float and growing demand could set the stage for another Bitcoin supply shock.

AI Bitcoin Prediction if 1 Million BTC Enters ETF: Monte Carlo Analysis

To gauge what a second wave of ETF inflows might mean for price, analysts ran an AI Bitcoin prediction using a Monte Carlo framework—a statistical method that runs thousands of simulations to estimate a range of possible outcomes. The model simulated 10,000 end-of-2026 prices using historical volatility and a baseline annual return of approximately 10%.

Two scenarios were tested: one without a major supply shock and one in which an additional 1 million BTC is locked in ETFs.

The baseline median price across all simulations was approximately $63,600, implying modest gains relative to current levels. When the supply shock was introduced, the median jumped to about $82,650. The mean price rose to $99,100, reflecting a right-skewed distribution—meaning a small number of very high outcomes pulled the average up.

The AI Bitcoin prediction also shows a meaningful probability range. In the supply-shock scenario, 60% of outcomes fell between roughly $55,500 and $123,800, defining the most likely corridor for year-end 2026.

At the extremes, about 10% of simulations produced prices below $38,500, signaling downside risk if demand falters or macro conditions deteriorate. Conversely, approximately 10% of runs generated prices above $178,000, showing scenarios in which capital inflows or regulatory conditions amplify scarcity.

Importantly, none of the statistical runs produced a definitive $250K Bitcoin without further adjustments, so analysts explored what additional factors could push the upper tail higher.

Why 10,000 Simulations Beat Single Predictions: Watch to Watch for 2026
In a market as volatile as Bitcoin, a single price prediction conveys false precision. The AI Bitcoin prediction used Monte Carlo methods—running 10,000 different scenarios with varying assumptions—to illustrate a spectrum of outcomes. By running thousands of simulations, the model captures fat tails and asymmetrical risks that a single deterministic prediction misses.

It also shows that price is a probability distribution, not a single number. For example, while the median result under the Bitcoin supply shock scenario was around $82,650, the mean was higher at $99,100 due to a small number of very high outcomes. This skew is typical in crypto markets and highlights why risk management matters.

Think of it this way: if you flip a coin once, you get heads or tails. Flip it 10,000 times, and you see the actual probability (50/50) emerge clearly. Monte Carlo simulations do the same for Bitcoin price—they show the full range of what could happen, not just one possibility.

Monte Carlo approaches also align with how institutional investors think about digital assets. They evaluate scenarios, estimate ranges, and assign probabilities rather than pinning everything on a single price target. The analysis shows that even with a second 1 million BTC ETF inflow, the market doesn’t automatically jump to $250K Bitcoin.

Instead, investors should focus on the likely range—roughly $55K to $123K—and adjust their expectations based on current conditions. An important lesson from past halving is that prices can surge dramatically, but they can also retrace if macro liquidity dries up or enthusiasm wanes.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - December 22, 2025) - National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PC advises shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD) ("Warner Bros." or the "Company") regarding an investigation into Warner Bros.' Board of Directors (the "Board") for potential breaches of fiduciary duties to the Company and its shareholders, and other violations of state law, in connection with the proposed sale of the Company or certain parts of the Company.

Shareholders of WARNER BROS. may learn more about this investigation by contacting Berger Montague: Radha Raghavan at [email protected] or (215) 875-4698, or Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015 or by CLICKING HERE.

Warner Bros., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational mass-media and entertainment conglomerate, operating in film and TV studios, streaming services, and cable/linear networks.

Berger Montague is investigating whether the Board breached its fiduciary duties and engaged in other unlawful activities in overseeing the Company's sales process. This investigation is focused on, among other things, whether the Board failed to maximize shareholder value by fully and fairly evaluating proposals to acquire the Company or certain businesses within the Company.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.4 billion in 2025 post-trial judgments alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.

For more information, please contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278765

Source: Berger Montague

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Key Takeaways PBR will supply rising naphtha volumes and long-term ethane, propane and hydrogen to support expansion.Duque de Caxias expansion boosts Brazil's domestic petrochemical capacity and competitiveness.Collaboration highlights growing state influence over Brazil's petrochemical industry.
Petrobras (PBR - Free Report) , Brazil's state-controlled oil and gas company, and Braskem (BAK - Free Report) , the country's largest petrochemical company in Latin America, have entered into a groundbreaking set of long-term feedstock supply contracts valued at $17.8 billion. Announced in late 2025, the deals end years of negotiation between the two companies and lay the foundation for future expansion and modernization within the Brazilian petrochemical industry.

These new contracts represent a strategic move by Braskem as the company pivots from using naphtha, a traditionally relied-upon feedstock, to more competitive natural gas liquids (NGLs) like ethane. The objective is to set Brazil as a key player in global petrochemical production while ensuring a steady, reliable supply of raw materials to Braskem’s plants across the country.

Overview of the AgreementsAt the heart of the agreements are two major contracts: one worth $11.3 billion for the supply of petrochemical naphtha, and another worth $5.6 billion, covering the delivery of NGLs, such as ethane, propane and hydrogen. These long-term deals span multiple years, with the initial contracts expected to commence in January 2026.

Naphtha Supply Deal: Strengthening Key Petrochemical OperationsThe first and largest portion of the deal, valued at $11.3 billion, focuses on the supply of petrochemical naphtha to Braskem’s facilities in São Paulo, Bahia, and Rio Grande do Sul, including the flagship Triunfo complex in Rio Grande do Sul. The deal spans five years and will be anchored to international naphtha benchmarks, providing a competitive pricing structure that allows Braskem to continue operating effectively in global markets.

Under this deal, Petrobras will supply a total of 4.116 million tons of naphtha in 2026, with the volume increasing to 4.316 million tons by 2030. The contract includes a minimum monthly offtake volume, ensuring that Braskem receives the required amount of feedstock for its operations. This stable supply will significantly enhance Braskem's ability to meet the demand for its products, including polyethylene and polypropylene resins, critical to the global manufacturing sector.

Ethane and Propane Supply: A Key Step Toward ExpansionThe second major contract, worth $5.6 billion, is pivotal for Braskem’s planned expansion of its Duque de Caxias facilities in Rio de Janeiro. This deal encompasses the supply of ethane, propane, and hydrogen, crucial feedstocks for Braskem’s petrochemical processes. Scheduled to take effect in 2026, the contract will run for 11 years and is expected to provide the raw materials needed for the company to significantly increase its production capacity.

Historically, Braskem has sought to secure a more competitive and reliable feedstock supply to support the expansion of its operations at Duque de Caxias. With Petrobras, the dominant player in Brazil’s oil and gas sector, now supplying the required natural gas liquids (NGLs), the two companies are well positioned to advance the modernization of the Duque de Caxias facilities. According to Braskem, the collaboration could unlock nearly $800 million in investments, helping to drive the facility’s growth over the next decade.

Ethylene Supply Commitment: Strengthening Long-Term OperationsFrom 2026 to 2028, the new agreement will secure an annual supply of 580,000 tons of ethylene equivalent from Petrobras’ Duque de Caxias refinery, locally known as Reduc. Beginning in 2029, this volume will rise significantly to 725,000 tons per year, supporting Braskem’s ambitious expansion plans. In addition, the expansion will be supported by feedstock from Petrobras’ Boaventura complex, ensuring a reliable and flexible supply of raw materials as demand for Braskem’s petrochemical products continues to grow.

The new feedstock supply agreements are vital for Braskem’s long-term strategy, enabling the company to position itself more effectively within the competitive global petrochemical industry. As demand for polyethylene and polypropylene rises, securing a reliable supply of ethane and propane will ensure that Braskem is well positioned to meet market needs.

Petrobras Takes Strategic Steps to Shape Braskem’s FutureIn addition to securing feedstock supplies, Petrobras has taken steps to solidify its influence within Braskem. While Petrobras has long been a major shareholder in Braskem, the company has shown increased interest in gaining more control over Braskem’s operations as Novonor, Braskem’s largest shareholder, plans to divest its stake.

Petrobras' strategic involvement in this partnership is indicative of a broader trend in Brazil's energy and petrochemical sectors, where state-controlled entities are playing a larger role in shaping the industry’s future. By securing these feedstock supply agreements, Petrobras ensures that it maintains its position as a critical player in Brazil’s energy and petrochemical value chains.

Propylene Supply Agreements Strengthen Braskem’s Diverse OperationsIn addition to the ethylene and NGLs agreements, Petrobras signed propylene supply contracts with Braskem. Valued at approximately $940 million over five years, these contracts, which will begin in May 2026, will help support Braskem’s diverse petrochemical production lines.

Under these agreements, Petrobras will supply up to 140,000 tons of propylene annually from the Recap refinery, with additional deliveries from the Reduc and Refap refineries. This supply chain flexibility will ensure Braskem has access to the necessary feedstocks to maintain its competitive edge in the production of polypropylene, a versatile material used in various industries, such as automotive, packaging and textiles.

A Bright Outlook for Braskem and PetrobrasThe signing of these significant feedstock supply contracts marks a new chapter for both Petrobras and Braskem. For Braskem, the agreements provide a stable foundation for growth and expansion, with access to competitive and secure feedstocks for its operations. Increasing the supply of ethane and propane supports the company’s long-term strategy to reduce naphtha dependence and improve cost efficiency.

For Petrobras, the deal strengthens its role in Brazil’s energy and petrochemical sectors, while ensuring that its investments in upstream and downstream operations continue to provide long-term value. With an increasing global demand for petrochemical products, Petrobras’ ability to secure and supply feedstocks to major players like Braskem ensures its continued relevance in the global energy landscape.

As both companies advance their growth plans, this partnership signals a promising future for the Brazilian petrochemical industry, with potential for additional investments and technological advancements. With billions of dollars at stake, the collaboration between Petrobras and Braskem is poised to reshape the trajectory of Brazil’s petrochemical sector for years to come.

PBR & BAK's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, PBR and BAK have a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each.

Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like USA Compression Partners (USAC - Free Report) and Oceaneering International (OII - Free Report) , which sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

USA Compression Partners is valued at $2.78 billion. The company is a leading provider of natural gas compression services in the United States. USA Compression Partners specializes in the design, operation and maintenance of compression equipment for the energy sector, focusing on helping customers optimize their natural gas infrastructure.

Oceaneering International is valued at $2.36 billion. The company is a global provider of engineered services and products to the offshore energy, aerospace and defense industries. Oceaneering International specializes in underwater robotics, remotely operated vehicles and subsea engineering solutions for offshore oil and gas exploration and production.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

The YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA:AMDY) has captured investor attention with its extraordinary 101.88% distribution rate as of December 17, 2025. This isn’t a traditional dividend ETF – AMDY generates income by selling weekly call options on Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) stock, collecting premiums from traders betting on AMD’s price movements.

How AMDY Generates Its Extreme Yield
AMDY employs a covered call strategy, selling short-term call options against synthetic AMD exposure. The fund’s 101.88% distribution rate means investors theoretically receive more than their initial investment back annually through distributions. However, this assumes the most recent weekly distribution remains constant—a significant assumption given variable options premiums.

The fund’s income depends entirely on AMD’s volatility. With a beta of 1.93, AMD moves nearly twice as much as the broader market, creating rich options premiums. AMD’s 52-week range of $76.48 to $267.08 illustrates this volatility—a 249% spread generating substantial options income. In 2025, AMD surged 76.7% through mid-December, significantly outperforming the S&P 500’s 16.13% gain. This explosive performance drove elevated options premiums enabling AMDY’s triple-digit distribution rate.

The Critical Tradeoff: Income Versus Upside
AMDY’s strategy caps upside participation. While AMD gained 76.7% in 2025, AMDY delivered a 53.9% price return—capturing approximately 70% of AMD’s appreciation. The fund sacrificed 23 percentage points of capital gains for its high distribution yield.

More concerning is downside risk. AMD currently trades at $213.43, down 20% from its 52-week high of $267.08. During this decline, options premiums compress, reducing AMDY’s distribution potential. The fund offers no downside protection—if AMD falls 30%, AMDY’s net asset value falls approximately 30%, and declining volatility simultaneously reduces income generation.

This infographic details the YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF (AMDY), explaining its covered call strategy, suitable use cases, and the associated pros and cons for investors.

Evaluating AMD’s Fundamental Strength
AMD’s business fundamentals support the bullish case underlying AMDY’s strategy. Third quarter 2025 revenue reached $9.25 billion, up 35.6% year-over-year, with operating cash flow of $2.16 billion. The company maintains $4.81 billion in cash against $3.87 billion in debt. Management recently announced a multiyear partnership with OpenAI expected to generate over $100 billion in revenue.

However, AMD’s valuation leaves little room for disappointment. The stock trades at 112x trailing earnings, despite a more reasonable 35x forward multiple. Analysts maintain a consensus $282.82 price target, implying 32% upside—gains that AMDY holders would largely miss due to capped call positions. AMD pays no dividend, meaning AMDY’s distributions come entirely from options premiums.

Distribution Sustainability Assessment
AMDY’s 101.88% distribution rate is not sustainable in its current form. This figure represents an annualized rate based on a single week’s distribution during elevated AMD volatility. As AMD’s price stabilizes or declines, options premiums will compress, reducing weekly distributions significantly. The fund’s 30-day SEC yield of just 1.15% provides a more conservative baseline.

Investors should expect substantial distribution variability. During periods when AMD trades sideways or declines, weekly distributions may fall 50% or more from current levels.

Alternative: NVDY for Diversified Tech Exposure
Investors seeking similar options-based income with different underlying exposure should consider the YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA:NVDY). This fund applies the same covered call strategy to NVIDIA stock. NVDY offers exposure to a different segment of the AI semiconductor market, currently yielding approximately 80% through its options premium strategy. Like AMDY, NVDY caps upside potential while maintaining full downside exposure.

About Emily Jarvie
Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

About the publisher
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WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $ONTO--Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE: ONTO) today announced the Company has received the “Excellent Production Support” award from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd (TSMC) as part of its initiative recognizing the outstanding contributions of its global suppliers. Onto Innovation achieves ongoing success in integrating machine learning and predictive analytics into its metrology and inspection systems, which increases productivity for its customers. TSMC salu.

Key Takeaways EyePoint's late-stage retinal programs and upcoming data readouts position it for momentum beyond 2025.ANI Pharmaceuticals' rare disease franchise is scaling fast, led by surging Cortrophin Gel sales.Tango Therapeutics is advancing precision oncology with promising PRMT5 inhibitors
The biotech sector has put up a strong recovery in 2025. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index has risen 33.1% so far this year. The index bottomed out in April 2025 on potential imposition of steep tariffs, which weighed heavily on the broader pharma and biotech sector. Nonetheless, the recovery thereafter has been stupendous.

New drug approvals, positive pipeline and regulatory updates, and a surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity have propelled the rally. The FDA has approved more than 42 drugs year to date.

The year has also witnessed a surge in M&A activity, fueled by the changing landscape and the spotlight on AI-driven drug discovery. Quite a few of the large pharmaceutical and biotechnology bigwigs are looking to expand/diversify their product portfolios through strategic collaborations and acquisitions to adapt their business models amid rising generic competition for key drugs.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration recently signed agreements with major pharma/biotech bigwigs like Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Merck and Novartis, among others, to lower prescription drug prices for Americans. These agreements primarily aim to lower the cost of drugs for chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B and C, HIV, and certain cancers, among others.

Concurrently, these companies will invest at least $150  billion on a colllective basis in domestic production in the near term.

Given the continuous need for innovative medical treatments (regardless of the state of the economy), the dynamic biotech industry will continue to capture investors’ interest going forward.

Here, we discuss three biotech stocks that put up a robust show in 2025 and are likely to maintain the same in 2026 on the back of a solid portfolio and a promising pipeline. These are EyePoint, Inc. (EYPT - Free Report) , ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP - Free Report) and Tango Therapeutics (TNGX - Free Report) .

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

EyePoint

EYPT is focused on developing innovative therapeutics for serious retinal disease. Duravyu, EYPT’s lead pipeline candidate, is an investigational sustained delivery treatment for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediated retinal diseases combining vorolanib, a selective and patent-protected tyrosine kinase inhibitor with bioerodible Durasert.

The candidate is being evaluated in late-stage studies (LUGANO and LUCIA) for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Data readout from these studies will begin in mid-2026. Last month, the independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee recommended that both the LUGANO and LUCIA trials continue as planned, with no modifications to the protocol.

Additional phase III studies (COMO and CAPRI) in diabetic macular edema (DME) are expected to dose patients in the first quarter of 2026. Other candidates in EyePoint’s pipeline include EYPT-2301, a TIE-2 agonist, and razuprotafib, formulated using the Durasert E technology to potentially improve outcomes in serious retinal diseases.

EYPT has put up a stellar performance in 2025, with shares skyrocketing 140.5%. Positive data readouts and good pipeline progress should help the stock gain further. The current average target price of $34.18 for EYPT represents an upside of 100.35%. Of the total recommendations used to derive the current average brokerage rating, 84.62% are Strong Buy recommendations.

EYPT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

ANI Pharmaceuticals

ANIP is a diversified biopharmaceutical company with two focal areas — rare diseases and generics. The company’s rare disease franchise became a key growth driver in 2025, fueled by the strong performance of its ACTH-based injection Cortrophin Gel.

Cortrophin Gel sales jumped 70% year over year to $236 million in the first nine months of 2025, witnessing broad-based growth across all targeted specialties, supported by an expanded sales force in neurology, rheumatology, and nephrology, as well as synergies from the integrated ophthalmology sales team.

This strong momentum in Cortrophin Gel should continue next year as well, supported by new clinical studies (including a phase IV study in acute gouty arthritis) and ongoing efforts to deepen specialty penetration.

The acquisition of Alimera Sciences, Inc., in 2024 added a growing and durable franchise, Iluvien for (diabetic macular edema) and Yutiq (for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye) to its portfolio.

The company has a presence in the generics market as well.

ANIP’s shares have gained 52.9% in a year. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The current average target price of $109.25 for ANIP represents an upside of 31.9%. Of the total recommendations deriving the current average brokerage recommendation, 88.9% have strong buy recommendations for the stock.

Tango Therapeutics

Tango Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is focused on the next generation of precision medicine for the treatment of cancer. The company is leveraging the principle of synthetic lethality to develop treatments that directly aim specific tumors.

Pipeline candidates include two MTAP-deleted selective PRMT5 inhibitors — vopimetostat (TNG462) for non- central nervous system (CNS) cancers, including pancreatic and lung cancer, and TNG456, a next-generation, brain-penetrant PRMT5 inhibitor, for CNS cancers, including glioblastoma (GBM).

The pipeline progress has been encouraging. In October 2025, the company reported positive data from the ongoing phase I/II study of vopimetostat in patients with MTAP-deleted selective cancers, demonstrating clinical activity across multiple cancer types with a favorable safety and tolerability profile to date.

TNG456 is a potent, highly MTAP selective brain-penetrant PRMT5 inhibitor in development for glioblastoma, currently enrolling patients in a phase I/II study. In October, the FDA granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to TNG456 for the treatment of malignant glioma.

Another candidate in the pipeline is TNG260, a first-in-class, highly selective CoREST complex inhibitor. The candidate is currently being evaluated with Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in a phase I/II study in STK11 mutant/KRAS wild type NSCLC.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 company have surged 163.8% in a year. The current average target price of $13.22 for TNGX represents an upside of 56.26%. Of the total recommendations deriving the current average brokerage recommendation, 83.33% are strong buy recommendations.

Digital asset exchange-traded products (ETPs) experienced significant net outflows last week, with the latest report showing over $952 million in weekly outflows across crypto ETPs.

This follows a week marked by renewed price downturn, with Bitcoin falling to support below $85,000 and Ethereum under $2,700.

While BTC and ETH products saw capital exits, Solana and XRP bucked the trend, attracting notable inflows amid broader market pressures.

CoinShares shared the market insight via its Digital Asset Fund Flows Weekly report on Monday, December 22, 2025.

Crypto sees $952 million in weekly fund outflows
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According to CoinShares, digital asset investment products recorded outflows of $952 million for the week ending December 19, 2025.

The redemptions marked the first negative flows in four weeks for crypto asset investment products. 

CoinShares attributed this reversal primarily to delays in passing the US Clarity Act, which has prolonged regulatory uncertainty in the world’s largest cryptocurrency market.

Additionally, concerns over continued selling by large holders contributed to investor jitters, exacerbating the negative sentiment.

Macroeconomic headwinds, as CoinShares pointed out via X, added to this outlook.

A central bank–heavy week kept pressure on crypto markets.
@Bitcoin fell ~2% as US jobs data stayed mixed and inflation, while cooling, remains above target. Rate cuts look less imminent, keeping liquidity tight.
The bright spot: a third straight week of inflows (+$864M) and

The outflows were led by Ethereum, which saw $555 million in redemptions.

Investors showed jitters as prices fell and as heightened concerns around potential regulatory changes under the proposed Clarity Act cascaded across cryptocurrencies. 

Ethereum’s year-to-date inflows remain strong at $12.7 billion, but the weekly figure highlighted short-term caution.

Bitcoin followed closely with $460 million in outflows. Given recent inflow streaks, this flip signals a pause in the enthusiasm that had driven earlier price gains.

Year-to-date, Bitcoin has attracted $27.2 billion in inflows, which significantly trails the $41.6 billion recorded in 2024.

Regionally, the outflows this past week were heavily concentrated in the US.

Data shows investors pulled over $990 million from US-based products as BTC and ETH plummeted to under $85,000 and $2,700, respectively.

However, inflows into Canada-based products, accounting for $46.2 million, and Germany, with $15.6 million, offset the exits slightly. 

Overall assets under management stood at $46.7 billion, down from $48.7 billion in the prior year.

This suggests that 2025 may not surpass last year’s record inflows.

Solana and XRP see $49M and $63M in inflows
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Amid the prevailing outflows, Solana and XRP showed resilience.

SOL products across the market drew $48.5 million over the week, while XRP attracted $62.9 million in inflows, respectively. 

Inflows come amid a streak of inflows into spot Solana and spot XRP ETFs, indicating sustained institutional interest in the top altcoins.

For instance, between December 15 and December 19, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw cumulative outflows of $497 million.

Ethereum spot ETFs saw $644 million in capital exits.

In contrast, XRP spot ETFs attracted a weekly net inflow of over $82 million, and Solana spot ETFs posted over $66 million in weekly net inflows.

Notably, while Bitcoin and Ethereum remain dominant assets, investor optimism surrounding SOL and XRP utility is significant.

That’s despite Solana’s price falling below key levels in recent weeks. XRP price is also below $2.00.

A dispute over who controls Aave’s brand and online assets has moved to a vote, sending the token sharply lower.Updated Dec 22, 2025, 12:35 p.m. Published Dec 22, 2025, 12:12 p.m.

A dispute over who controls the brand and online presence of Aave, a decentralized lending platform, has spilled into governance and procedures, knocking the AAVE token sharply lower, down 11% in the past 24 hours.

The flashpoint is a governance discussion post from BGD Labs co-founder Ernesto Boado that argues AAVE holders should take formal control of Aave’s “brand assets” such as domains, social handles, naming rights and other gateways. BGD Labs is a group founded by three members of the community that surfaced in 2022.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Leaving those assets in any third party’s hands creates a structural imbalance, according to Boado. Even if a contributor is acting in good faith today, unilateral control over aave.com and the main social media accounts can be used to steer narratives, product distribution and monetization in ways the DAO cannot meaningfully check, Boado said.

Boado’s proposal is framed as an ownership issue first and a product debate second. It does not say Aave Labs should not build the interface or ship products. It argues that the DAO should own the core identity and access points, then decide how those assets can be used, including whether any party gets permission to run them under enforceable terms.

The debate quickly turned into procedural drama.

After several days of discussion, Aave founder Stani Kulechov moved the proposal to a Snapshot vote.

Boado objected, saying the proposal was not being advanced in the spirit he intended. He said Aave Labs had rushed it to a vote, put his name on it and did so without notifying him. In his words, it broke trust and cut short a discussion that was producing meaningful new points.

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Kulechov responded saying the process followed established governance norms.

In a post on X, Kulechov said the proposal had been discussed for roughly five days — claiming it to be a typical window before moving to a Snapshot vote — and complied with Aave’s governance framework.

He added that the DAO has previously brought proposals to a vote even when the original authors were third parties.

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The outcome of the vote will not just settle an Aave argument. It will test a broader DeFi tension of whether DAOs can own smart contracts onchain, but control over brands and interfaces still tends to sit offchain, where governance is slower, rights are murkier and incentives can diverge.

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Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Nov 14, 2025

What to know:

As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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Crypto Markets Today: Gold tokens shine as bitcoin rises to $89,000

1 hour ago

What to know:

Gold-backed tokens like Tether Gold (XAUT) have reached record highs, reflecting the surge in gold prices.Bitcoin rose to $89,800 as the dollar index dropped and technology stocks rose.Curve DAO rejected a proposal to allocate 17.45 million CRV tokens for development, citing concerns over transparency.Read full story

Your day-ahead look for Dec. 22, 2025
Dec 22, 2025, 12:15 p.m.

(Mathias Reding/Unsplash modified by CoinDesk )

What to know: You are viewing Crypto Daybook Americas, your morning briefing on what happened in the crypto markets overnight and what's expected during the coming day. Crypto Daybook Americas will kickstart your morning with comprehensive insights. If you're not already subscribed to the email, click here. You won't want to start your day without it.

By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

The week is off to a positive start with bitcoin BTC$90,116.10 up more than 1% at $89,800, approaching the upper end of the recent week-long range play between $85,000 and $90,000. Overhead supply between $92,000 and $95,000 remains a key hurdle to beat for the bulls, according to BRN.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

This week’s U.S. economic calendar is light but relevant, with third-quarter U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and consumer confidence reports on Tuesday, followed by jobless claims on Wednesday.

These figures could influence investors' risk sentiment, although year-end holidays could keep market liquidity thin, leading to erratic price moves. On Friday, BTC and ETH options worth $27 billion are set to expire on Deribit, with positioning leaning bullish ahead of the event.

Some analysts remain cautious despite the price bounce.

"The short-term positive momentum may be misleading, and the broader picture of disappointment compared to hopes at the start of the year should not be overlooked," Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at the FxPro said in an email.

"Bitcoin is 30% below its peak and trading at a level lower than it was at the beginning of 2025. Attempts to bring YTD momentum to zero are little consolation in this context," he added. The largest cryptocurrency started the year around $93,400, CoinDesk data show.

In the broader market, tokens like HYPE, KAS, SKY and NIGHT have gained 4% to 6% in 24 hours while major altcoins such as XRP, ETH, and SOL are trading mixed. The CoinDesk 20 and CoinDesk 80 indexes are little changed.

Uniswap's UNI token is down over 1% as voting starts on a proposal to activate the protocol fee switch and turn the token into a value-accruing instrument. Voting has been overwhelming in support of the protocol.

In traditional markets, gold hit a record high $4,420 as longer dated bond yields in Japan continued to rise, highlighting fiscal concerns. The dollar index fell back slightly to $98.48, erasing Friday's gain. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today's activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today

What to WatchFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

CryptoDec.22, 11 p.m.: SAHARA$0.02684 end-of-year AMA on X.MacroDec.22, 8:30 a.m.: Canada Nov. PPI YoY (Prev. 6%), MoM Est. 0.3%.Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)Nothing scheduled.Token EventsFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Governance votes & callsBNB Chain is voting to reduce the number of consecutive blocks a validator produces from 16 to 8. This adjustment aims to prevent large chain reorganizations and prioritize network stability. Voting ends Dec. 22.Axie Infinity is voting to stake the Community Treasury's idle assets to earn compounding protocol rewards. Voting ends Dec. 22.Moonwell DAO is voting to switch the rETH oracle on Base and OP Mainnet to a stable exchange-rate feed and use 2.6 ETH from reserves to repay bad debt. Voting ends Dec. 22.CoW DAO is voting to renew its grants program for 2026. The proposal aims to improve capital efficiency via quarterly fund releases and focuses on developer onboarding, ecosystem alignment, and novel protocol applications. Voting ends Dec. 22.UnlocksNo major unlocks.Token LaunchesDec. 22: River’s S2 Airdrop claim period ends.Dec. 22: Solstice’s presale of SLX starts.ConferencesFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Nothing scheduled.Market MovementsBTC is up 1.73% from 4 p.m. ET Sunday at $89,806.03 (24hrs: 1.39%)ETH is up 1.79% at $3,043.84 (24hrs: 1.62%)CoinDesk 20 is up 1.31% at 2,773.68 (24hrs: +0.76%)Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is down 1 bps at 2.809%BTC funding rate is at 0.0082% (9.0173% annualized) on BinanceDXY is down 0.12% at 98.48Gold futures are up 1.24% at $4,441.80Silver futures are up 2.22% at $68.99Nikkei 225 closed up 1.81% at 50,402.39Hang Seng closed up 0.43% at 25,801.77FTSE is down 0.37% at 9,860.97Euro Stoxx 50 is down 0.17% at 5,750.28DJIA closed on Friday up 0.38% at 48,134.89S&P 500 closed up 0.88% at 6,834.50Nasdaq Composite closed up 1.31% at 23,307.62S&P/TSX Composite closed up 1.00% at 31,755.77S&P 40 Latin America closed down 0.19% at 3,087.72U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is up 1.8 bps at 4.169%E-mini S&P 500 futures are up 0.36% at 6,912.00E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are up 0.53% at 25,709.75E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average Index futures are up 0.09% at 48,509.00Bitcoin StatsBTC Dominance: 59.77% (0.27%)Ether to bitcoin ratio: 0.03388 (unchanged)Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 1,045 EH/sHashprice (spot): $38.24Total Fees: 1.88 BTC / $165,900CME Futures Open Interest: 119,605 BTCBTC priced in gold: 21.3 ozBTC vs gold market cap: 6.01%Technical Analysis

BTC is looking to retake the bullish trendline from Nov. 21 lows. (TradingView)

The chart shows bitcoin's hourly price swings in candlestick format. BTC has broken out of a mini-descending channel, confirming seller exhaustion and opening doors for more gains ahead. A clean break above the rising trendline off Nov. 21 lows would cement the immediate bullish outlook, exposing the supply zone of $92,000-$95,000. Crypto EquitiesCoinbase Global (COIN): closed on Friday at $245.12 (+2.47%), pre-market up 1.87% to $249.71Circle Internet (CRCL): closed at $86.13 (+6.35%), +1.73% at $87.66Galaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $24 (+6.62%), +3.37% at $24.81Bullish (BLSH): closed at $44.60 (+4.01%), +1.84% at $45.42MARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $10.18 (+5.06%), +1.67% at $10.35Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $14.5 (+8.37%), +1.86% at $14.77Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $15.6 (+7.14%), +1.79% at $15.88CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $12.03 (+7.41%), +2.83% at $12.37CoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI): closed at $41.1 (+9.63%), +4.33% at $42.88Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $15.51 (+1.97%), -0.45% at $15.44Crypto Treasury Companies

Strategy (MSTR): closed at $164.82 (+4.16%), +2.32% at $168.65Semler Scientific (SMLR): closed at $17.93 (+4.79%), +3.07% at $18.48.SharpLink Gaming (SBET): closed at $9.81 (+8.76%), +2.45% at $10.05Upexi (UPXI): closed at $2.08 (+10.64%), +1.92% at $2.12Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.43 (+5.93%), +2.1% at $1.46ETF FlowsSpot BTC ETFs

Daily net flows: -$158.3 millionCumulative net flows: $57.39 billionTotal BTC holdings ~1.31 million
Spot ETH ETFs

Daily net flows: -$75.9 millionCumulative net flows: $12.46 billionTotal ETH holdings ~6.09 millionSource: Farside Investors

While You Were SleepingBoxing Day bonanza: $27 billion in bitcoin, ether options set for year-end reset (CoinDesk): The expiration involves over 50% of Deribit's total open interest, with a bullish bias indicated by call options outnumbering puts by almost 3-to-1.Binance opens up ways for users to generate income using ETH options (CoinDesk): A new feature enables everyday traders to earn premiums by employing a strategy previously reserved for professional traders, with safeguards in place and temporary fee discounts.Hong Kong Plans New Crypto, Infrastructure Rules for Insurers (Bloomberg): The Hong Kong Insurance Authority would require insurers to fully back non-stablecoin digital token holdings with capital, classifying them as high risk under proposed investment rules.Gold and silver hit record highs on geopolitical tensions (Financial Times): Investors have piled into the two precious metals amid U.S. pressure on Venezuela, easing rate expectations and lingering tariff uncertainty, reflecting broader anxiety over fiat debasement.More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Nov 14, 2025

What to know:

As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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Bitcoin gains as yen surprisingly tumbles after BOJ rate hike: Crypto Daybook Americas

Dec 19, 2025

Your day-ahead look for Dec. 19, 2025

What to know:

You are viewing Crypto Daybook Americas, your morning briefing on what happened in the crypto markets overnight and what's expected during the coming day. Crypto Daybook Americas will kickstart your morning with comprehensive insights. If you're not already subscribed to the email, click here. You won't want to start your day without it.

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Key NotesBitget partnered with UNICEF to support digital education for girls in Cambodia.The initiative is part of UNICEF’s Game Changers Coalition.Bitget CMO Ignacio Aguirre visited Cambodia and met students.
Bitget has partnered with UNICEF to support digital education programs in Cambodia. The duo will focus on equipping adolescent girls with practical technology skills through video game development.

According to a press release, the initiative is part of the Game Changers Coalition, developed by UNICEF’s Office of Innovation to help young people gain hands-on experience in coding, design, storytelling, and basic financial literacy.

The program targets structural gaps that continue to limit girls’ participation in the digital economy across Southeast Asia.

Building Digital Skills Through Game Development
The program uses video game creation as an entry point into technology education. Students learn how to write code, design characters, develop narratives, and solve problems collaboratively.

With support from Bitget, the Global Video Games Coalition, and the Micron Foundation, UNICEF is scaling youth-focused digital learning programs designed to build long-term economic resilience.

During a visit to Cambodia, Bitget Chief Marketing Officer Ignacio Aguirre met with students and teachers involved in the initiative, and said:

“I am inspired by the determination and talent I have seen from the young people in Cambodia. At Bitget, we believe that everyone should be equipped to take part in the digital world, from coding and design to emerging fields like blockchain.”

The visit also included a session with one of Cambodia’s winning teams from the first global UNICEF Game Jam, a virtual hackathon that brought together participants from eight countries.

Cambodian teams stood out in the competition, winning four out of seven global award categories.

More than 600 students aged 10 to 18 participated in the National Game Jam held in Phnom Penh, co-hosted by UNICEF and the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Over 65% of participants were girls, representing 14 schools across 11 provinces.

Projects presented during the event tackled local challenges and community experiences.

Bitget Expands Access to Digital Finance
Meanwhile, Bitget Wallet introduced a zero-fee USDC on-ramp in partnership with Alchemy Pay, allowing users to purchase USDC with no transaction or network fees.

You can just buy USDC with 0 fees*.

0 fees means that when you buy USDC via @AlchemyPay, you get more USDC.

Deposit → Just select "Alchemy Pay" at checkout.

0 fees in collaboration with @coinbase
*Period: Dec 22 – Jan 22, 12:00 UTC+8 pic.twitter.com/rxwTUHNdyv

— Bitget Wallet 🩵 (@BitgetWallet) December 22, 2025

The feature supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mastercard, Visa, and local bank transfers, and is available across Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. Smaller purchases settle instantly, which makes stablecoins easier to use for everyday transactions.

The on-ramp is supported through Alchemy Pay’s stablecoin subsidy program, backed by Coinbase, and is accessible directly through Bitget Wallet’s Buy Crypto portal.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, News

A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

Parth Dubey on LinkedIn

Chainlink price has remained steady around $12.50 as the broader crypto market experienced muted volatility.

After a slight recovery from the $11.77 support level, LINK is showing resilience, trading at $12.65 with a modest 0.1% gain over the past 24 hours, though it is still down roughly 8.5% over the past week.

The current price action reflects cautious optimism amid ongoing whale accumulation and institutional activity.

Whale activity signals confidence
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A major Chainlink whale, identified as wallet 0xf44…b1cc4, recently withdrew $5.57 million worth of LINK from Binance, totalling approximately 445,779 tokens.

The whale has further withdrawn 246,259 $LINK, worth $3.08M, from #Binance.
Now, the wallet holds 445,775 $LINK, valued at $5.57M.
Address: 0xf440838830cc265db72c81bfba240e5a4ceb1cc4

This significant outflow highlights a clear accumulation trend as the whale moved 199,520 LINK, followed by another 246,259 LINK.

Analysts suggest that such large-scale withdrawals generally indicate long-term holding strategies rather than short-term trading, reducing potential sell-side pressure and signalling confidence in the token’s future.

CryptoQuant data further supports this observation, showing a steady decline in LINK supply on exchanges.

Historically, similar exchange outflows have preceded periods of price appreciation, as seen in the 2019–2020 and 2022–2023 phases.

These outflows suggest that whales are positioning strategically, with a focus on accumulation rather than liquidation.

Institutional adoption strengthens the ecosystem
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The Chainlink ecosystem is also benefiting from institutional engagement.

Grayscale recently launched its Chainlink ETF (GLNK), attracting $37 million in initial inflows and providing traditional investors with a regulated route to access LINK.

The growing presence of institutional participants, combined with large whale accumulations, reinforces price stability and investor confidence.

Chainlink’s integration with over 30 banks through SWIFT to support tokenized assets and its continued development of the Chainlink CCIP further highlight its increasing adoption in financial infrastructure.

This surge in institutional involvement coincides with Chainlink’s ongoing dominance in the Solana network.

According to recent development activity metrics, LINK holds a leading score of 263.9 over Solana’s 97.47 within the past 30 days.

Such activity demonstrates strong ecosystem growth and sustained developer engagement, which supports long-term value creation for LINK holders.

Technical analysis suggests cautious consolidation
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Technically, Chainlink’s price has been consolidating after a breakout from a falling wedge pattern.

While the MACD shows a death cross and the RSI indicates short-term bearish divergence, the $12–$12.5 support zone has held firm, preventing a slide toward lower demand levels of $9–$10.

Chainlink price chart | Source: TradingViewResistance remains near $27, and a decisive move above this level could open the door to broader upside.

With the current consolidation around $12.5, eyes are on both whale activity and on-chain flows for signs of momentum.

Notably, the wallet outflows from Binance and Coinbase wrapped assets suggest that strategic holders are accumulating LINK in anticipation of long-term gains.

If the support holds, then the Chainlink price could stage a bullish breakout, bolstered by ETF inflows, institutional participation, and the ongoing expansion of the Chainlink CCIP network.

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December 22, 2025

The Uniswap community is on the verge of approving one of the most consequential governance decisions in the protocol’s history, with a vote to activate the long-debated fee switch and burn a large portion of UNI tokens set to pass later this week.

The proposal, known as “UNIfication,” has already crossed the required quorum, is backed by overwhelming support, and is set to go live following a short time-lock period.

Notably, this will set the stage for changes that would directly tie Uniswap’s protocol activity to the UNI token’s supply dynamics for the first time since launch.

Uniswap Vote Nears Finish With Overwhelming SupportAs of early Monday, more than 69 million UNI tokens had been used to vote in favor of the proposal, far above the 40 million required for approval.

Voting opened on Dec. 20 and runs through Christmas Day, though opposition has been negligible. Only around 740 votes, roughly 0.001% of those cast, were against the proposal, while about 1.5 million UNI were marked as abstentions.

Source: UniswapMore than 6,000 addresses have participated, with support hovering near 100% among active voters.

Uniswap Labs CEO, Hayden Adams said once the vote formally closes, the changes will be subject to a two-day time lock before implementation.

Just submitted the Unification proposal for final governance vote

Voting starts on 12/19 at 10.30pm EST and ends on 12/25

If it passes, after a 2 day timelock period:

🔥 100m UNI will be burned

🦄 v2 + v3 fee switches will flip on mainnet and begin burning UNI, along with…

— Hayden Adams 🦄 (@haydenzadams) December 18, 2025
The proposal also authorizes the immediate burning of 100 million UNI from the Uniswap Foundation’s treasury.

The governance package also introduces a Protocol Fee Discount Auctions system designed to improve returns for liquidity providers while aligning Uniswap Labs, the Uniswap Foundation, and on-chain governance under a single legal structure using Wyoming’s DUNA framework.

Several influential figures in decentralized finance backed the UNIfication proposal, including Variant founder Jesse Waldren, Synthetix and Infinex founder Kain Warwick, and former Uniswap Labs engineer Ian Lapham, all of whom hold substantial voting power.

Can the Fee Switch Finally Give UNI Holders a Direct Payoff?The vote comes amid wider debate across DeFi about sustainable token economics and long-term value capture.

Many protocols have struggled to translate heavy usage into tangible benefits for token holders, a criticism that has followed Uniswap for years despite its dominant market position.

Uniswap remains the largest decentralized exchange by volume, having processed more than $4 trillion in trades since launching in 2018, yet UNI holders have historically had limited direct exposure to protocol revenue.

Supporters of the fee switch argue that tying protocol revenue more directly to UNI supply dynamics could reshape that narrative.

The market reaction has been swift. UNI has gained roughly 25% since voting began, trading near $6.08 after recovering from a month-long slump that pushed the token to a seven-month low of $4.88.

Source: CoinGeckoEarlier signs of the proposal in November sparked an even sharper move, with UNI climbing close to 40% in a matter of days and briefly touching $9.70 on Nov. 11 before broader market weakness set in.

Can UNI Reach $10 Before the Year End?According to CoinGecko data, UNI is currently the 38th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, valued at around $3.8 billion.

From a technical perspective, UNI’s price action has drawn renewed attention as the governance process nears completion.

The token recently bounced from the lower boundary of a multi-year ascending channel that has guided its recovery since the post-2021 drawdown.

Source: CAI soren/XAnalysts tracking the structure note that this zone has historically acted as strong demand, with each retest followed by higher reaction highs.

In the near term, UNI faces resistance around the $6.80 to $7.20 range, with heavier supply clustered closer to $9 and above.

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After the rebound from the local lows below $85,000, the Bitcoin bulls have been gaining significant strength. The price has now surged above $90,000, following a consolidated weekend, hinting towards a sustained ascending trend for the rest of the week. The volume has been raised gradually since the early trading hours, pushing the BTC price higher from the local lows close to $87,600. The recent reversal could seem like a healthy reversal, but in the long run, it could be yet another short-term bounce, resulting in a deeper correction. 

Bitcoin (BTC) has pushed back above $90,000, reclaiming a psychologically important level after a sharp sell-off earlier this month. Price is up nearly 2% on the day, but the broader structure still reflects caution rather than confirmation. Despite the rebound, Bitcoin remains well below its recent highs and is trading inside a compressed range. For traders, the key focus is whether this move signals renewed strength—or just another pause before volatility returns.

On the daily chart, Bitcoin is consolidating inside a symmetrical triangle, formed after the breakdown from the $100K–$103K support zone. This pattern reflects indecision following heavy distribution, with lower highs capped beneath descending resistance. OBV remains weak, suggesting accumulation has not yet resumed convincingly. A breakout above $92K–$94K could open the door toward $98K, while failure to hold current levels risks another move toward the $85K–$82K demand zone. Direction hinges on the next expansion in volume.

Is Bitcoin Price Heading Below $40,000?A widely shared quarterly chart of Bitcoin by analyst Ali is drawing attention for what it suggests about long-term market structure rather than short-term price direction. By zooming out to multi-year candles, the chart highlights how Bitcoin’s biggest rallies have historically been followed by deep, extended corrections. With BTC recently trading above $90,000, the chart has reignited debate around whether sharp pullbacks are still part of Bitcoin’s natural cycle—even at much higher price levels.

The quarterly chart illustrates a recurring pattern: after each major bull cycle, Bitcoin has experienced drawdowns of roughly 70–85% before establishing a higher long-term base. Previous cycles saw declines near –84% (2018) and –77% (2022), while the projected scenario highlights a potential –70% correction from a future peak, pointing toward the $35,000–$40,000 zone. Importantly, this is not a timing forecast. It’s a macro framework showing that deep corrections have historically coexisted with Bitcoin’s long-term upward trend.

What’s Next for the BTC Price Rally?In the short term, the daily chart shows Bitcoin (BTC) price compressing inside a triangle just above $90,000, signalling indecision and the likelihood of a volatility expansion rather than a clean trend continuation. In the long term, the quarterly chart reminds traders that even powerful bull cycles have historically included deep corrective phases without breaking Bitcoin’s broader uptrend. The key takeaway is that short-term structure may resolve either way, but long-term risk management must still account for large drawdowns as part of Bitcoin’s macro behaviour.

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

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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The team unveiled its Stage 5 Buyback Program, a plan designed to strengthen the $ASTER token economy and create long term value.
Starting December 23, 2025, up to 80% of daily platform fees will be used to buy back $ASTER tokens on the open market.

How the Daily and Strategic Buybacks Work
Every step of the process will happen on chain and be publicly visible. A buyback means a project uses its revenue to purchase its own token. When supply is reduced or supported by steady demand, the remaining tokens can become more valuable if usage holds or grows.

The program is split into two parts. First is an automatic daily buyback that uses 40% of platform fees. These purchases happen every day without manual input. The goal is consistency. By buying tokens daily, Aster creates predictable demand and a gradual reduction in circulating supply. This can help smooth out price swings and build confidence among holders.

Stage 5 Buyback Program: Structured Support for $ASTER

We’re implementing a systematic buyback program designed to strengthen $ASTER tokenomics and create sustainable value for our community.

Starting December 23, 2025, Aster will allocate up to 80% of daily platform fees…

— Aster (@Aster_DEX) December 22, 2025

The second part is a strategic buyback reserve that uses between 20 and 40% of fees. This pool gives the team flexibility. During periods of high volatility or low liquidity, the team can deploy the reserve to support the market more aggressively. This means the team can adjust the project schedule when conditions change.

The team records all transactions fully on chain and shares public wallets so anyone can track them. This matters because trust remains a key issue in crypto. On chain data lets anyone verify that the team uses fees exactly as promised.

More About Aster
Aster announced that $LIGHT, $ZKP, and $IR are now live on Aster Perpetual, offering traders the ability to use up to 5 times leverage. To encourage activity, the platform is running a limited time promotion, giving a 1.2 times symbol boost for all trades on these tokens until 23:59 UTC on December 28.

New listings alert 🚨$LIGHT, $ZKP, and $IR are live on Aster Perpetual with up to 5x leverage.

Trade now to enjoy a 1.2x symbol boost until 23:59 UTC 28 Dec.

🔸 $LIGHT ( @BitlightLabs ): https://t.co/0f4bBc2uLj

🔸 $ZKP ( @zkPass ): https://t.co/M1Xv0XC3ti

🔸 $IR (… pic.twitter.com/qIwKDlCSez

— Aster (@Aster_DEX) December 21, 2025

This move allows both beginners and experienced traders to explore new positions while benefiting from enhanced potential returns within a clearly defined timeframe.

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.

Quantum computers are unlikely to pose a threat to Bitcoin anytime soon, according to developer and crypto custody company Casa’s co-founder Jameson Lopp.

The remarks come as debate intensifies over whether progress in quantum computing is approaching a level that could endanger the cryptographic systems securing blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

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Experts Split On When Quantum Computers Could Threaten BitcoinIn a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Lopp said that quantum computers will not break Bitcoin soon.

“No, quantum computers won’t break Bitcoin in the near future. We’ll keep observing their evolution…..We should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” Lopp posted.

Lopp’s timeline outlook aligns with many experts, who assert that quantum computers pose no immediate threat to the network. Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, recently commented that the short-term risks are “nil.”

“This whole thing is decades away, it’s ridiculously early and they have massive R&D issues in every vector of the required applied physics research to even find out if it’s possible at useful scale. but it’s ok to be ‘quantum ready’ and,” Back said.

Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, took a similar stance. He argued that current quantum threats to blockchain are overstated and not urgent at present. Hoskinson also noted that while blockchains could transition to quantum-resistant cryptography, doing so would come with significant efficiency costs.

However, other experts believe the timeline is tightening. David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, has warned that quantum computers could compromise Bitcoin’s security within the next 2 to 3 years.

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Separately, Michele Mosca, a researcher at the University of Waterloo, forecasted a 1-in-7 probability that fundamental public-key cryptography could be broken as early as 2026.

On Metaculus, the timeline for quantum computers’ ability to factor one of the RSA numbers has also shortened. It has moved down from 2052 to 2034.

The Quantum Doomsday Clock project is even more urgent. It projects that quantum computers will crack Bitcoin’s encryption by March 8, 2028.

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Why Quantum-Proofing Bitcoin Is HardWhile experts disagree on the timeline, many agree on one point. If quantum-resistant upgrades ever become necessary, implementing them would take time. Lopp mentioned that migration to post-quantum standards could take 5 to 10 years.

When asked why discussions around quantum computing risks tend to focus on Bitcoin rather than traditional financial institutions like banks, Lopp pointed to a fundamental difference in how quickly systems can be upgraded.

“Because they can upgrade their systems orders of magnitude faster than the Bitcoin ecosystem,” he said.

Meanwhile, another market watcher detailed why transitioning blockchain networks to quantum-resistant cryptography is significantly more complex than in centralized systems.

“For the banking sector and the internet, the migration is comparatively straightforward. When cryptographic standards change, they can roll out new algorithms through coordinated updates, revoke old keys, reissue credentials, and even forcibly migrate users,” he stated.

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Bitcoin, by contrast, lacks a central authority capable of mandating such changes. Any shift to post-quantum signatures would require broad social consensus, extensive technical coordination, and voluntary user participation.

The analyst noted that lost, abandoned, or inactive Bitcoins and wallets cannot be migrated. As a result, part of the supply will remain permanently vulnerable once quantum attacks become viable. Technical constraints further complicate the process.

“Most post-quantum signature schemes have much larger key sizes and signatures than ECDSA. In a system already constrained by block size limits and global replication, this is not a trivial change. What is a manageable overhead for a bank server or a web connection becomes a consensus-level scalability concern in a blockchain,” the post read.

Thus, the same decentralization that underpins Bitcoin’s security and resilience also makes cryptographic adaptation slower, more complex, and harder to execute than in centralized systems.

Bitcoin

Cryptocurrency

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Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

Part of the Team Since

Sep 2022

About Author

Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis...

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We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Last updated: 

December 22, 2025

Bitcoin price prediction
Bitcoin is trading just below $90,000 as markets settle into year-end positioning, with price near $90,260, up 1.65% on the day and about $28.4 bn in 24-hour volume. After weeks of controlled downside, price action has narrowed, pointing to consolidation rather than renewed selling pressure.

Bitcoin remains the market’s anchor asset, ranked #1 with a market capitalisation of roughly $1.80 tn and 19.97 mn BTC in circulation. Total crypto market value stands near $3.04 tn, signalling active participation without signs of speculative excess.

Macro Conditions Shape Bitcoin’s BaseFundamentally, Bitcoin is benefitting from a steadier macro backdrop. Expectations for US monetary policy have stabilised, with markets largely pricing a prolonged Federal Reserve pause rather than renewed tightening. That shift has eased pressure on the US dollar and reduced volatility across risk assets.

Institutional participation remains a defining feature of this phase. While spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have cooled from earlier peaks, there has been no meaningful reversal. Holdings remain sticky, pointing to portfolio allocation rather than short-term positioning.

At the same time, miner selling has moderated as profitability conditions stabilise, removing a persistent source of supply that weighed on price earlier in the quarter.

Sentiment and Leverage Signal Caution, Not StressMarket psychology remains guarded. The Fear and Greed Index sits at 29, firmly in fear territory, reflecting cautious positioning rather than optimism. Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index at 16/100 confirms capital concentration in Bitcoin, with little appetite for broad risk rotation.

Derivatives data reinforces this stabilisation narrative. Open interest across major exchanges has declined from recent highs, signalling a reset in leverage rather than disorderly liquidation. Lower leverage reduces the risk of sharp, forced selloffs and allows price to respond more directly to spot demand.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Structure Signals CompressionFrom a technical perspective, Bitcoin price prediction seems bullish amid breakout of descending channel on the 4-hour chart. Price has formed higher lows since the mid-December bottom near $84,500, pointing to improving dip demand.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: TradingviewBitcoin is now pressing into a pivot zone between $89,500 and $90,500, where the 50-EMA near $88,400 and 100-EMA around $89,050 are converging. RSI has climbed into the mid-60s, showing strengthening momentum without excess.

Bitcoin Price Forecast and OutlookThe upper boundary of the descending channel sits near $91,500–$92,000. Acceptance above this area would open a path toward $94,200, followed by $98,000. Failure to hold $89,000 would bring $84,500 back into focus.

As Bitcoin compresses near $90,000, the market appears less concerned with immediacy and more focused on confirmation, a setup that often precedes a broader directional move.

PEPENODE: A Mine-to-Earn Meme Coin Nearing Presale ClosePEPENODE is gaining momentum as a next-generation meme coin that blends viral culture with interactive gameplay. With over $2.38 mn raised and the presale approaching its cap, interest is building fast as the countdown enters its final stretch.

What makes PEPENODE stand out is its mine-to-earn virtual ecosystem. Instead of passive holding, users can build digital server rooms using Miner Nodes and facilities, earning simulated rewards through a visual dashboard. The concept brings gamification and competition into the meme coin space, giving holders something to do before launch.

The project also offers presale staking, allowing early participants to earn boosted rewards ahead of the token generation event. Leaderboards and bonus incentives are planned post-launch to keep engagement high.

With 1 $PEPENODE priced at $0.0012064 and limited allocation remaining, the presale is entering its final opportunity window for early buyers.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

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NIGHT is on the run again, while CC has dumped hard over the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin’s price has finally shown more sustainable signs of a minor recovery as the asset neared $90,000 for the first time since the pump-and-dump last Wednesday.

Most larger-cap altcoins have charted small gains as well, with ETH reclaiming the coveted $3,000 line, while BNB has remained firm above $860.

BTC Eyes $90K Rebound
The previous business week didn’t disappoint those who anticipated a volatile trading period, as BTC dumped by several grand on Monday from $90,000 to under $85,500. It skyrocketed on Wednesday back to just over $90,000, where it was immediately rejected and driven south to under $85,500 once again.

More fluctuations came on Thursday when the US CPI numbers came out. As they were much better than expected, BTC jumped immediately but was stopped at $89,500, and the subsequent rejection was quite painful. The asset plunged to $84,500 to mark a multi-week low.

The bulls finally stepped up at this point and helped BTC recover to $88,000, where it spent most of the next few days. The weekend was quite uneventful as well, and bitcoin started to climb gradually on Monday morning, nearing $90,000 for the first time in several days.

Its market capitalization has risen to almost $1.8 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts has increased to 57.5%.

BTCUSD Dec 22. Source: TradingView
ETH Above $3K
Ethereum dumped to $2,800 during the most recent correction last week, but it reacted well and quickly reclaimed the $2,900 mark. After a few unsuccessful attempts to surge past $3,000, it managed to do so earlier today.

Binance Coin has increased by a similar percentage since yesterday and sits well above $860. SOL, TRX, DOGE, LINK, and ZEC are also slightly in the green, while HYPE has jumped by 4%. NIGHT continues its run and has soared by 13% to $0.10.

AAVE and CC have dumped the most over the past 24 hours. The former has slumped by 11%, while the latter is down by 21%.

The total crypto market cap has risen by $30 billion in a day and is up to $3.120 trillion on CG.

Cryptocurrency Market Overview Dec 22 Daily. Source: QuantifyCrypto

That is why recent comments from Governor Elvira Nabiullina caught the market’s attention. Speaking about Bitcoin mining, she said it may be contributing to a stronger ruble, even if the effect is hard to measure.
Mining activity often sits in a gray area, she noted, but it has become an added support factor for the economy. The remark signals a shift. Crypto is no longer treated only as a risk. In some cases, it is now seen as part of the financial backdrop.

How Bitcoin Mining Can Support a National Currency
Bitcoin mining is the process of using computers to secure the network and earn new coins. In Russia, miners benefit from relatively low electricity costs in regions with excess energy. When miners earn Bitcoin and sell part of it for rubles, they create steady demand for the local currency.

A real world example helps clarify this. In Siberia, industrial mining farms operate near hydroelectric plants that once had unused capacity. By converting cheap power into digital assets, these operations generate export style revenue. That income often flows back into rubles to pay wages, taxes, and utilities. Over time, this can add pressure in favor of the local currency.

Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said Bitcoin mining may be contributing to a stronger ruble, though its impact is hard to quantify due to gray-area activity. She added that mining has become an additional support factor. Meanwhile, the central bank is discussing…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 22, 2025

Credible data shows why the impact matters. According to estimates from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Russia has ranked among the top three countries for Bitcoin mining hash rate share in recent years. Hash rate refers to the computing power securing the network. A large share means more coins are earned locally, even if exact figures are difficult to track.

Nabiullina was careful to add context. Because some mining operates informally, the central bank cannot precisely measure its effect. Still, she described mining as an additional support factor, not a core driver, for the ruble.

More About Bitcoin Mining
HIVE Digital Technologies is running its Bitcoin mining operations in Paraguay using 100 percent hydroelectric power, tapping into the country’s abundant renewable energy from large dam systems. This clean energy helps power thousands of mining machines without relying on fossil fuels, lowering both costs and environmental impact.

INSIGHT: $BTC | Sustainable $BTC mining is both possible and efficient.

For instance, @HIVEDigitalTech is using 100% hydro power to fuel its $BTC mining operations in Paraguay. 🇵🇾

Not just this, but water is then used to cool the rigs as well. 🌊💡 pic.twitter.com/lvfG2WFcXq

— crypto.news (@cryptodotnews) December 18, 2025

Beyond electricity, water also plays a key role in the setup. The same water resources are used to cool the mining rigs, keeping equipment at safe temperatures and improving efficiency. This approach shows how Bitcoin mining can pair with renewable energy and smart cooling to create a more sustainable operation.

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.

Several altcoins face heightened liquidation risks during Christmas week 2026. Liquidation heatmaps show clear imbalances, while Open Interest has surged sharply.

Which altcoins are at risk, and which drivers should investors watch when holding Long or Short positions? The following analysis explains the details.

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1. Ethereum (ETH)The 7-day ETH liquidation heatmap indicates that potential Long liquidations far exceed short liquidations.

If ETH drops to the $2,660 zone during Christmas week, total Long liquidations could exceed $4 billion. In contrast, total Short liquidations could reach $1.65 billion if ETH rises to $3,370.

ETH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: CoinglassFactors Long traders should monitor to reduce risk:

Arthur Hayes recently transferred 508.6 ETH (approximately $1.5 million) to Galaxy Digital. This move has fueled speculation that he may be reducing exposure to Ethereum.
The Ethereum Coinbase Premium Index turned negative in the third week of December. If selling pressure from Coinbase intensifies, ETH prices could decline further in the coming days.
ETH ETF outflows reached $643.9 million last week. This trend reflects broader selling pressure across the market.
If these factors strengthen, they could trigger a sharp bearish scenario. Such a move may lead to large-scale liquidations among Long traders.

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2. Midnight (NIGHT)Midnight (NIGHT) has recently attracted significant trader attention. Open Interest surged from $15 million to over $90 million within two weeks.

Liquidation data suggests traders broadly expect NIGHT prices to keep rising. As a result, traders betting on bullish scenarios may face heavier losses due to increased capital and leverage usage.

NIGHT Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: CoinglassCardanians, a company operating Cardano stake pools, reported that NIGHT now records daily trading volume of $6.8 billion. This figure exceeds the combined volumes of SOL, XRP, and BNB. Despite the surge in volume, NIGHT posted its first red daily candle today after seven consecutive days of gains. This signals growing selling pressure.

In addition, investor Plutus, citing DexHunter data, stated that 100% of current NIGHT holders who bought on the market are in profit. These holders may take profits at any time.

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These signals serve as a warning that profit-taking pressure on NIGHT could intensify this week.

Liquidation heatmaps show that if NIGHT falls to $0.077, cumulative Long liquidations could reach $15 million.

3. Audiera (BEAT)A recent BeInCrypto report revealed that BEAT has surged more than 5,000% since its launch in November. The token reached an all-time high of $4.99.

However, many traders appear unsatisfied and continue to expect further upside. This sentiment seems in the liquidation data, where potential Long liquidations significantly outweigh Short liquidations.

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BEAT Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: CoinglassSome traders have raised concerns about possible price manipulation. These concerns draw parallels to the 75% collapse of Bitlight (LIGHT). Supporting observations include:

BEAT dropped 30% within one hour, then rebounded 50% in just one minute. Sudden price fluctuations could be the result of manipulation by large wallets.
Audiera’s official website remains inaccessible. The project’s official X account shows no updates beyond posts announcing BEAT as a top gainer.
Market data platform CoinAnk has issued warnings about the risk of liquidation.

“In a negative funding rate environment, although the cost of holding short positions remains low, extreme volatility in $BEAT can easily trigger cascading liquidations—affecting both long and short positions,” CoinAnk stated.

If BEAT falls below $3, total Long liquidations could reach $10 million.

Cardano continues to lag the broader crypto market, trading near $0.36–0.37 after a prolonged decline, while an extended sell-off has kept the price locked inside a descending structure. Despite a modest intraday bounce, ADA remains well below key resistance zones, leaving traders focused on whether this move marks early base-building or just another pause within a broader downtrend. With the demand fading off and the technicals pointing towards a recovery, can the ADA price rise above $0.4?

Current ADA Price ActionAt the time of writing, ADA is trading around $0.36, with a market capitalisation of roughly $13–14 billion, keeping it among the top large-cap altcoins.

24-hour volume: approximately $250–350 million, modest compared to earlier cyclesRecent price change: ADA is down around 2–4% on the week, with only shallow reboundsTrend context: Price remains range-bound but biased lower, reflecting weak participation from momentum buyersVolume remains muted, suggesting traders are cautious rather than aggressively positioning.

Short-Term Cardano Price Analysis On the 4-hour chart, Cardano (ADA) remains trapped inside a descending broadening wedge, reflecting persistent lower highs and controlled selling pressure. Price is currently hovering around $0.36–0.37, after bouncing from the lower boundary of the channel. Presently, the price is attempting to break the resistance, and if it succeeds, a rise from $0.39 to $0.41 could be imminent. 

Momentum indicators hint at early stabilisation, but not a confirmed reversal. RSI has lifted modestly from oversold territory, while MACD is attempting a bullish crossover near the zero line. Bollinger Bands have started to compress, suggesting volatility is contracting—often a precursor to a directional move.

For any short-term recovery to gain traction, ADA must break and hold above $0.38–0.40, which aligns with prior horizontal resistance and the channel’s upper boundary. Failure to do so keeps the bias neutral-to-bearish.

Long-Term Cardano Price Analysis From a weekly perspective, ADA remains firmly in a broader corrective phase. Price continues to trend lower within a well-defined descending parallel channel that has been in place for several months, following the rejection from the $0.80–$1.00 region earlier in the year.

The current price zone near $0.36 sits just above a key long-term demand area, where buyers have previously stepped in to slow declines. However, momentum on the weekly chart remains weak, with MACD still below the signal line and OBV rolling over—indicating limited accumulation so far.

Structurally, ADA needs a weekly close above $0.45–0.50 to signal a meaningful shift in trend. Until that happens, the broader setup suggests consolidation or further downside risk toward the $0.30–0.32 support band remains possible.

ConclusionThe current setup suggests that Cardano price can rise above $0.40, but only if buyers show follow-through rather than short-covering. A move above this level would signal that selling pressure is easing and could trigger a relief rally toward higher resistance zones. However, without sustained volume and acceptance above $0.40, any bounce risks fading quickly. Until that confirmation appears, ADA remains in a recovery attempt rather than a confirmed trend reversal, keeping both upside and downside scenarios firmly in play.

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

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) have emerged as the two most prominent competing smart contract networks in the cryptocurrency space, often framed as rivals representing different design philosophies and growth paths.

Now, as the market looks ahead to 2026, ChatGPT has weighed that competition and identified its best pick for next year between the two decentralized finance (DeFi) assets.

The model’s selection was based on projected value capture, institutional alignment, and evolving network economics rather than headline transaction activity.

The case for Ethereum 
According to ChatGPT, Ethereum is likely to emerge on top in the coming year. In this view, the case for Ethereum centers on how its economic model is positioned to strengthen after a deliberately weak revenue year in 2025.

Notably, Ethereum reduced base-layer fee generation as it scaled through rollups following the Dencun upgrade, temporarily dampening its fee-burn narrative. That dynamic is expected to reverse in 2026 as rollups mature and demand for blob space accelerates.

Ethereum outlook for 2026. Source: ChatGPT
Fees paid by rollups are becoming more recurring and predictable, positioning ETH as the settlement and data-availability rent asset for the broader rollup ecosystem.

By contrast, Solana’s 2025 revenue growth was driven mainly by retail activity such as memecoins and speculative DeFi, which ChatGPT views as cyclical.

Institutional impact 
ChatGPT also sees a widening institutional gap, with tokenized Treasuries, real-world assets, funds, and settlement pilots concentrated on Ethereum and its layer-2 networks. These users favor legal finality and mature tooling, reinforcing Ethereum’s role as core financial infrastructure, while Solana has yet to show comparable settlement-driven adoption.

Ethereum outlook for 2026. Source: ChatGPT
Layer-2 growth is another advantage identified by ChatGPT. In 2025, many argued rollups diluted Ethereum’s value capture, but ChatGPT sees the opposite taking shape. Higher layer-2 activity increases blob usage, lifting demand for ETH, which uniquely secures settlement, data availability, and finality across major rollups. Solana’s single execution layer lacks a comparable mechanism that feeds ecosystem growth back into sustained token demand.

Supply dynamics favor Ethereum, with constrained post-merge issuance and the potential for renewed fee burn to push ETH back toward net deflation. Solana, by contrast, has a higher inflation profile and weaker links between activity and token scarcity.

Market positioning 
Market positioning further shaped ChatGPT’s 2026 outlook. After Solana’s strong narrative momentum and Ethereum’s underperformance, ChatGPT expects a rotation toward assets with cash-flow-like traits and stronger institutional credibility, a profile that Ethereum fits more closely.

Notably, year-to-date, ETH has plunged almost 9%, trading at $3,040 as of press time. Over the same period, SOL has plunged 33%, trading at $126

ETH and SOL YTD price chart. Source: Finbold
However, the AI model noted that this view would shift if Solana shows sustained institutional settlement or if Ethereum fails to translate layer-2 growth into higher blob fees and ETH burn. Absent that, ChatGPT sees Ethereum entering 2026 with a stronger position.

Featured image via Shutterstock

Hyperliquid is pushing back after a wave of claims questioned its solvency, transparency, and internal controls. In a detailed public response, the perpetuals trading platform said several accusations circulating online were based on incorrect or misunderstood information.

“Hyperliquid is built on a foundation of onchain transparency,” the team wrote, addressing the claims one by one.

The response comes as traders across the crypto market demand clearer proof of reserves and stronger governance from major exchanges.

Why the Solvency Claim Came Down to USDCOne of the most serious accusations claimed Hyperliquid was undercollateralized by $362 million. According to Hyperliquid, this conclusion came from leaving out native HyperEVM USDC balances.

“Every dollar is accounted for; the author failed to count native HyperEVM USDC,” the platform stated.

Hyperliquid explained that when both the Arbitrum bridge USDC and native HyperEVM USDC are included, total balances amount to $4.351 billion, matching user balances on HyperCore. The team emphasized that this verification is fully onchain and independently checkable.

Testnet Functions Sparked ConfusionAnother claim suggested Hyperliquid could retroactively manipulate trading volume. The platform said this was based on testnet-only code that cannot be executed on mainnet.

“Testnet functions are exactly that – testnet only for testing,” Hyperliquid said, adding that these features are used to test complex fee and volume mechanics before deployment.

According to the team, every trade and volume figure on mainnet can be verified by anyone running a node.

No Special Privileges or Hidden ControlsHyperliquid also rejected claims that certain users receive fee exemptions or that insiders could influence the HYPE airdrop.

“There are no such mechanisms to distort fees,” the platform stated, noting that fees, trades, and the full HYPE genesis distribution are all available onchain.

Addressing concerns around governance and control, Hyperliquid clarified that chain freezes only occur during planned network upgrades, similar to hard forks on other blockchains.

Internal Rules Aim to Strengthen TrustAlongside its technical rebuttal, Hyperliquid pointed to steps taken to improve trust. The platform has banned employees, contractors, and team members from trading $HYPE to avoid conflicts of interest, following reports of a former employee shorting the token.

Hyperliquid Reaffirms Strict HYPE Trading Rules@HyperliquidX team members stated on Discord that all personnel affiliated with Hyperliquid Labs, including employees and contractors, are subject to strict conduct policies regarding the $HYPE. These include a complete ban on… pic.twitter.com/0GAy6SG9pM

— ME (@MetaEraHK) December 22, 2025 Hyperliquid also confirmed that Assistance Fund tokens – around 11% of circulating supply – have been formally recognized as permanently burned through validator consensus, removing long-standing supply concerns.

Hyperliquid is leaning heavily on one message: its entire state is onchain, visible, and verifiable by anyone who wants to look.

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