Market Signal Briefing

Darius Baruo
Dec 19, 2025 10:48

ETH price prediction suggests a potential move to $3,400-$3,500 by January 2026, despite current bearish MACD signals. Critical resistance at $3,319 holds the key.

Ethereum continues to navigate turbulent waters as it trades at $2,953.57, showing resilience with a 3.31% daily gain despite underlying bearish momentum indicators. Our comprehensive ETH price prediction analysis reveals a complex technical picture that could determine whether Ethereum breaks toward $3,500 or retests crucial support levels.

ETH Price Prediction Summary
• ETH short-term target (1 week): $3,100-$3,200 (+4.9% to +8.3%)
• Ethereum medium-term forecast (1 month): $3,400-$3,500 range (+15.1% to +18.5%)
• Key level to break for bullish continuation: $3,319 (immediate resistance)
• Critical support if bearish: $2,716 (-8.0% downside risk)

Recent Ethereum Price Predictions from Analysts
The analyst community shows a clear divergence in their Ethereum forecast, with short-term predictions remaining cautious while long-term outlooks turn increasingly bullish. CoinCodex presents the most conservative ETH price prediction with a target of $3,218.80, citing bearish sentiment and key resistance at $2,952.25 - a level Ethereum has already surpassed in today's trading.

Medium-term forecasts from technical analysts like Luisa Crawford and Ted Hisokawa cluster around the $3,400-$3,537 range, supported by improving MACD momentum despite current negative readings. This ETH price target aligns with our technical analysis showing potential for a 15-18% upside move once key resistance levels are cleared.

Long-term predictions become significantly more optimistic, with Standard Chartered maintaining their ambitious $7,500 ETH price target based on institutional demand. InvestingHaven and OpenAI's ChatGPT-5 provide more moderate long-term forecasts in the $4,000-$6,500 range, driven by ETF inflows and network upgrades.

ETH Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Consolidation Break
Current Ethereum technical analysis reveals a cryptocurrency caught between conflicting signals. The MACD histogram at -15.7039 indicates persistent bearish momentum, while the RSI at 44.45 sits in neutral territory, suggesting neither oversold nor overbought conditions.

Ethereum's position within the Bollinger Bands at 0.33 indicates the price is trading in the lower portion of its recent range, with room for upward movement toward the upper band at $3,338.11. The daily ATR of $185.19 suggests elevated volatility that could facilitate significant price moves in either direction.

Volume analysis from Binance shows robust $2.22 billion in 24-hour trading, indicating strong market participation that could support any directional breakout. The key pattern emerging is a potential consolidation phase that may resolve with a move toward analyst consensus targets.

Ethereum Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for ETH
The bullish ETH price prediction scenario hinges on breaking above the immediate resistance at $3,447.44, which would open the path toward the $3,500-$3,800 range identified by multiple analysts. This Ethereum forecast aligns with the improving MACD momentum noted by several technical analysts despite current negative readings.

Should Ethereum successfully reclaim the $3,500 level, the next significant ETH price target would be $4,000, representing the lower end of long-term institutional forecasts. This scenario requires sustained buying pressure and broader crypto market recovery to materialize.

Bearish Risk for Ethereum
The bearish case for our ETH price prediction centers around a failure to hold above the pivot point at $2,908.72. A break below this level would target immediate support at $2,716.04, representing an 8% decline from current levels.

More concerning would be a breakdown below strong support at $2,623.57, which would invalidate the current Ethereum forecast and potentially trigger a retest of yearly lows. This scenario becomes more likely if Bitcoin weakness pressures the broader altcoin market.

Should You Buy ETH Now? Entry Strategy
Based on current technical levels, the question of whether to buy or sell ETH depends on risk tolerance and timeframe. Conservative traders should wait for a clear break above $3,319 resistance before establishing long positions, with initial ETH price targets at $3,400-$3,500.

Aggressive traders might consider accumulating near current levels with tight stop-losses below $2,900. Position sizing should remain conservative given the conflicting technical signals and bearish MACD momentum.

The optimal entry strategy involves scaling into positions on any dip toward $2,850-$2,900 support, while maintaining stops below $2,716 to limit downside risk.

ETH Price Prediction Conclusion
Our comprehensive Ethereum technical analysis points to a cautiously optimistic ETH price prediction with medium-term targets of $3,400-$3,500 by January 2026. This Ethereum forecast carries medium confidence given the mixed technical signals but is supported by analyst consensus and improving momentum indicators.

Key levels to monitor for prediction confirmation include a break above $3,319 resistance for bullish continuation or a failure below $2,900 support that would invalidate the upside scenario. The timeline for this ETH price target to materialize extends through Q1 2026, with intermediate resistance levels providing stepping stones for the anticipated recovery.

Traders should remain flexible as Ethereum navigates between these critical levels, ready to adjust positions based on how the cryptocurrency responds to key technical thresholds in the coming weeks.

Image source: Shutterstock

eth price analysis
eth price prediction

If you follow crypto, you’ve probably seen SUI pop up a lot this year. It’s a fast layer-1 blockchain built for apps and DeFi, and it tries to keep fees low while handling a huge number of transactions.

As of mid December 2025, SUI trades around $1.50. The coin hit an all-time high near $5.35 in January, then dropped hard. Over the last month it fell around 20%, had about half its days in the green, and trades in a market that sits on the edge of extreme fear on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.

So where could SUI go by 2026, 2028, or 2030? In this guide, I’ll give a clear breakdown of:

Price prediction ranges
The forces that can push SUI up or down
Whether it makes sense to slowly accumulate at current levels

Let’s get started!

What is SUI and why are investors watching it?
SUI sits in the same broad camp as Solana or Aptos. It’s a base layer chain that other apps build on. Instead of trying to bolt speed on top of something slow, SUI was designed from day one to process many transactions at once.

That design choice matters a lot for price over time. If SUI can handle the traffic for games, DeFi, and consumer apps without choking, then more developers can ship products on it. More products can mean more users, more fees, and more demand for the SUI token.

Quick SUI overview in plain English
SUI is a layer-1 blockchain. That means it’s the core chain where transactions are recorded, not a side network.

A few simple points:

It aims for high speed and low fees. It means many transactions per second, with tiny costs.
It uses an object-centric model. Instead of treating every token as a line in one big spreadsheet, SUI tracks objects. This makes it easier to process many actions in parallel.
It targets gaming, DeFi, and consumer apps. The goal is to support things like NFT games, trading platforms, and mobile apps where users do lots of small actions.

You do not need to know the deep math. What matters is that SUI is built to stay fast even when things get busy.

Current SUI price and recent performance
Right now, SUI trades around $1.50 at the time of writing. Over the past month, the price dropped about 18%, with a 10% plunge in the last week alone.

SUI Price Chart (coincarp.com)

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index is at 16, which counts as extreme fear. In plain terms, many traders feel scared and bearish. That kind of mood can bring more downside if panic selling continues. It can also create better entry prices for long-term buyers who believe SUI will recover.

What makes SUI different from other layer-1 coins?
SUI often gets compared to Solana and Aptos.

All three chains push for speed and low fees. The main things that stand out for SUI:

Very high throughput with parallel execution.
Strong focus on consumer-style apps like games, NFTs, and social experiences.
A major performance upgrade called Mysticeti that is already live.

The Mysticeti v2 upgrade, active since November 2025, combines steps in the validation process so transactions get confirmed faster. It cuts latency by up to around 35%, helps SUI reach near 100,000 transactions per second, and lowers the load on nodes.

That said, speed alone doesn’t win. SUI still needs real adoption, sticky apps, and a strong developer base to stand out from bigger chains with more users and more total value locked.

SUI price predictions for 2026 – 2030
Price targets for SUI vary a lot. Some models are cautious, others are very optimistic.

Here is a simple way to read them.

How to read SUI price forecasts without getting misled
Different websites use different methods. Some pull from chart patterns, some from on-chain data, others from simple growth curves. That’s why you see such wide spreads.

Every forecast is a best guess based on current info. New rules, hacks, upgrades, or a fresh bull market can break any model.

Treat these numbers as planning tools, not as promises.

SUI price prediction for 2026 and 2027
For 2026, public forecasts cluster in a wide band:

Low side around $1.07
Average near $3.00
High side up to about $9.10

Cautious sources like CoinCodex and big exchanges see SUI in the low single digits. CoinCodex’s SUI price prediction sees it in the $1 to $1.20 range for the first half of the year, with a more bullish end of 2026, where they see SUI reaching potentially over $4.

SUI Prediction for 2026 (source: coincodex.com)

CoinCheckup’s analysis of SUI shows a mostly neutral technical setup. The 14-day RSI sits around 52, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions, while most momentum indicators like MACD, ADX, and stochastic signals remain neutral.

From a price structure view, CoinCheckup highlights support near $1.41–$1.25 and resistance around $1.57–$1.72. It reinforces the idea that SUI is currently range-bound rather than in a clear trend.

SUI simple moving average chart (source: coincheckup.com)

Very bullish sites think SUI could triple or more from current prices if things go right.

What would need to happen for the higher band?

A clear crypto bull market, with Bitcoin and top alts breaking old highs.
Strong SUI app growth, especially in games and DeFi.
Proof that Mysticeti and future upgrades keep the chain smooth under heavy load.

For 2027, data is thinner. Some conservative paths put SUI around $1.80 to $2.00, which is only slightly above the current spot price.

The downside risk is real. If the market stays weak, or if SUI loses share to Solana, Aptos, or something new, price could sit near the low end, or even drop under it. High forecasts always assume SUI survives and wins attention, which is not guaranteed.

SUI price prediction for 2028 and 2029
By 2028, forecasts stretch into mid-range targets:

Low around $1.90
Average near $4.60
High around $5.90

For 2029, the band widens again:

Low about $1.99
Average near $5.50
High around $8.66

These years cover what many traders call a full crypto market cycle. If SUI is still here, still shipping upgrades, and still attracting users, it could ride at least one more bull run.

By then, real-world adoption should matter more than hype (at least that’s the hope). Investors will look at:

Daily active users
On-chain volume and fees
Total value locked in DeFi
The quality of top apps

Even with a long time frame, disappointment is possible. A chain can look great on paper, yet get overshadowed by a rival with a deeper community or stronger branding.

Long term SUI price prediction for 2030
For 2030, the views spread out even more:

Low around $1.59
Average close to $6.00
High up to about $14.40

Bullish analysts think SUI can trade above $10 this decade if it:

Breaks key price resistance levels on charts
Keeps adding users and developers
Becomes a common choice for consumer apps
Attracts institutional interest, such as funds or structured products

On the conservative side, some see SUI more in the $2 to $3 range if growth is slow or mostly flat.

You can picture two broad paths:

Bull case: Strong ecosystem, smooth upgrades, SUI holds a special niche in gaming or consumer apps. Price has room to push into high single digits, maybe more.
Bear case: Regulation hits hard, upgrades fail or cause outages, or a rival chain grabs most of the users. In that world, SUI could stay cheap for years.

The real outcome will likely sit somewhere between those two extremes.

Here is a quick summary table to keep the ranges in view:

Year
Conservative low
Mid-range estimate
Bullish high

2026
$1.07
~$3.00
$9.10

2027
~$1.80
~$2.00
Higher if adoption jumps

2028
$1.90
~$4.60
$5.90

2029
$1.99
~$5.50
$8.66

2030
$1.59
~$6.00
$14.40

These are estimates, not targets to “hit”.

Key factors that could make or break SUI price by 2030
Forecasts only make sense if you know what could change them. For SUI, there are a few main rivers.

Real adoption: apps, users, and on-chain activity
Price talk often drowns out the boring stuff. The thing is, the boring stuff is what actually matters.

For SUI, the important questions are:

How many active users are on-chain each day?
Are developers still choosing SUI for new projects?
Do apps on SUI solve real problems or create fun, sticky games?

If SUI supports hit games, large DeFi protocols, or popular consumer apps, you will see:

Higher on-chain transaction volume
More fees paid in SUI
Higher demand for the token

That kind of organic use can support a stronger long-term valuation than short pump cycles. Without it, price spikes may fade as fast as they appear.

Technology roadmap and upgrades like Mysticeti
Upgrades shape trust.

Mysticeti v2, which is live now, speeds up transaction finality and cuts the work validators must do. In simple terms, SUI can:

Confirm transactions faster
Handle more activity at once
Run more smoothly during busy periods

If future upgrades keep this trend going, large projects gain more confidence to build on SUI. Smooth, boring reliability is a feature here.

On the flip side, repeated bugs, long outages, or broken upgrades would hurt trust. Teams might pause deployments or move to other chains. That would hit both sentiment and price.

Overall crypto market cycles and investor sentiment
Even the best tech gets dragged around by market cycles.

If Bitcoin and major layer-1 coins go into a new bull run, smaller chains like SUI often follow. Money flows from large caps into mid caps once traders start chasing higher returns.

Right now, the Fear & Greed Index at 16 shows heavy fear. That kind of mood tends to cap rallies and can pull even strong coins down.

SUI’s path to 2030 will depend heavily on where we sit in the wider cycle:

Bull market, money is flowing into risk and growth
Sideways market, small projects fight for limited attention
Bear market, people flee to cash or to Bitcoin only

Price models that ignore these cycles miss a big piece of the story.

Competition from Solana, Aptos, and other fast chains
SUI is not alone.

Solana still leads in activity and liquidity. Aptos pushes hard on safety and use in finance. New chains also appear every cycle.

For SUI to keep up, it has to offer:

A clean, fast user experience
Predictable low fees
A strong library of apps you cannot get elsewhere

If Solana or another chain ends up with most high-value apps, SUI could lag even if the tech is strong. If SUI claims a clear niche, for example as the best home for certain game types, it can still grow its own slice of the market.

Is now a good time to accumulate SUI?
Let’s pull this together and talk strategy instead of hype.

Pros and cons of buying SUI at current prices
At around $1.50, SUI sits far below its early 2025 high and far below the most bullish 2030 targets.

Potential positives:

Price is well under the high forecasts for 2030, which gives upside if those scenarios play out.
SUI has a strong tech story, with Mysticeti and other upgrades focused on performance.
The chain targets high-activity apps, where a fast, cheap base layer matters a lot.
The market shows extreme fear, which often lines up with better long-term entry points.

Key risks:

SUI is still a high-risk altcoin. It could lose most of its value.
Competition from Solana, Aptos, and others is intense.
Regulation, security issues, or failed upgrades could hurt demand.
Every forecast discussed here can be completely wrong.

If you buy SUI, you are betting that the chain grows in real usage and dodges the worst case paths.

Smart ways to build a position if you decide to buy
If you choose to buy SUI, treat it like a high-risk tech stock, not a sure thing.

A few simple habits help:

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA): Instead of buying all at once, you buy small amounts over time. For example, a fixed sum each week or month. This smooths out price swings.
Set a hard limit: Decide the total dollar amount you can afford to lose. Stick to it. If that number is gone, your life should not change.
Do not go all in: SUI should be only a slice of a wider, diversified portfolio. Mix it with other coins, or with non-crypto assets.
Watch adoption, not just price: Track new apps, updates on upgrades, and any changes in active users or volume. Sites like DeFiLlama and analytics dashboards can help.

The bottom line
SUI today sits around $1.50, in a nervous market that’s fearful. Forecasts for 2026 to 2030 stretch from lows near $1.50 to highs in the double digits, with many paths in between.

What actually happens will depend on a few big forces: real user adoption, the success of upgrades like Mysticeti, the wider crypto cycle, and how well SUI competes with Solana, Aptos, and yet-to-launch chains. Price can move in shocking ways in both directions, even when the tech story looks solid.

If you are thinking about accumulating, focus less on exact targets and more on process: slow buying, strict risk limits, and close attention to whether SUI’s ecosystem is really growing. Pair that with your own research, time horizon, and comfort with risk.

Disclaimer: The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily represent those of Crypto Reporter. Crypto Reporter is not responsible for the trustworthiness, quality, accuracy of any materials in this article. This article is provided for educational purposes only. Crypto Reporter is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Do your research and invest at your own risk.

Published
52 minutes ago on
December 19, 2025

As Bitcoin continues to fall or chop sideways it is still respecting a major ascending trendline in play since October 2023. At the same time, the downtrend is still intact and is forcing the $BTC price lower. As these trendlines converge will Bitcoin break up or down?

$BTC price squeezing into a tightening space

Source: TradingView

The 4-hour picture above tells the story that the $BTC price is managing to stay within the confines of a bear flag, and that the bottom of the bear flag is sitting slightly below the major ascending trendline - two trendlines helping to keep the price up. 

However, the price is approaching the downtrend line that has been respected since the $126,000 all-time high. Add to this a decent horizontal resistance at $88,000, and you have an ever decreasing space into which the price is being squeezed.

If the price continues to the apex of the two trendlines this will take a maximum of five more days, after which the price will either break the downtrend, or fall under the major ascending trendline.

200-day SMA inclining downwards 

Source: TradingView

The daily time frame reveals that the 100-day SMA has also dropped below the 200-day SMA. This follows the 50-day SMA doing the same thing previously, whereby it formed the ‘death cross’. 

One thing that really does have to be noted though is that the 200-day SMA is now starting to show a more pronounced inclination towards the downside. This is the first time this has happened during this bull market, apart from a slight downward inclination during the 8-month bull flag. This can be taken as just one more sign that the coming battle of the trendlines could be crucial to the continuance of the bull market.

A drop to the previous bull market high is a possibility

Source: TradingView

In the weekly chart yet another support lends its weight to the bull case in the form of the 100-day SMA. The chart illustrates that this moving average has risen to just below the bottom of the bear flag.

Putting the bull case aside, and assuming that the price will end up falling through trendlines and moving average, the band of support below, from $74,000 down to $69,000 is an incredibly strong base, and is arguably the strongest horizontal support in Bitcoin’s history. If the $BTC price did get down to it, and held, this could be an amazing level from which to make the fightback.

At the bottom of the chart the Stochastic RSI indicators are posturing to turn back down. If they do so, this could signal the possibility of a drop down to the major horizontal support. Are we already in a bear market, or do the bulls have one more throw of the dice?

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

Bitcoin’s options market has a new obsession: Christmas week. In a post Thursday, energy-sector managing partner David Eng argued the next eight days (December 19 through December 26) could define the near-term cycle for BTC, not because of a macro headline or some sudden ETF stampede, but because a large chunk of dealer gamma exposure is scheduled to roll off the board in two shots.

At press time, bitcoin traded around $86,928, after swinging between roughly $84,461 and $89,230 intraday. Eng’s framing is blunt and very “options people”: the market is being mechanically pinned, and the pin has an expiry date

The Hidden Force Holding Back Bitcoin Price?
“The narrative isn’t just about tomorrow. We are staring down the barrel of a ‘Double-Barreled’ Liquidity Event that will wipe 67% of the entire derivatives board clean by December 26th,” Eng wrote. “Bitcoin is trading at $88,752, deep in the -25% Value Zone (Trend Value: $118k). The spring is coiled, but two massive structural weights are holding the lid down.”

Those “weights,” in his telling, are two expiries with meaningful gamma attached: roughly $128 million tied to Dec. 19 (21% of the total he tracks) and another $287 million at Dec. 26, which he calls the “boss level” ceiling. He labels the combined $415 million a coming “Gamma Flush,” arguing that once it clears, the hedging drag that’s been compressing spot price action should ease.

The practical point is less mystical than it sounds. If dealers are sitting on meaningful gamma around a tight cluster of strikes, their delta-hedging can dampen volatility and keep spot gravitating around certain levels until that exposure decays or expires — the kind of “why does this tape feel glued?” frustration traders know too well.

Eng’s map is built around very specific lines in the sand: $85k–$90k as the “mud” zone where hedging pressure keeps snapping price back, and $90,616 as the flip level he’s watching around the Dec. 19 expiry.

“Stage 1: The Spark (Tomorrow, Dec 19) — $128 Million in Gamma expires tomorrow (21% of total). This is the ‘Appetizer.’ It removes the immediate suppression pinning us below $90k,” he wrote. “Watch the $90,616 flip level. If we clear this, the intraday shackles fall off.”

But Eng is clearly more focused on the week after. “Stage 2: The Floodgate (Next Friday, Dec 26) — $287 Million in Gamma expires next week,” he continued. “A staggering 46.2% of all dealer gamma exposure sits on this single date… Dealers have a quarter-billion-dollar incentive to keep volatility crushed and price pinned near $85k-$90k through Christmas to harvest this premium.”

The claim, basically: pre-Dec. 26 is “thick mud,” post-Dec. 26 is the tape suddenly breathing again. “When you combine these two dates, $415,000,000 of gamma — two-thirds of the entire market structure — evaporates in the next 8 days,” Eng wrote. “Before Dec 26: The market is fighting through thick mud… After Dec 26: The mud dries up. The suppression mechanism is gone. The Power Law gravity ($118k) takes over without the dealer counter-flow.”

He also tossed out a provocative ratio that’s been circulating in derivatives circles all year: dealer mechanics versus ETF demand. “Dealer Gamma forces are currently ~13x stronger than ETF Flows,” he wrote. “Dealer ~$507.6M, ETF ~$38M. This is why the market is obeying the technical gamma levels ($85k/$90k) and ignoring the ETF volume.”

Dealer Gamma forces are currently ~13x stronger than ETF Flows

Dealer ~$507.6M

ETF ~$38M

This is why the market is obeying the technical gamma levels ($85k/$90k) and ignoring the ETF volume.

— David 🇺🇸 (@david_eng_mba) December 18, 2025

And when critics in the replies questioned whether “$287M” is even meaningful, Eng clarified what the figure is — and what it isn’t. “The $287M figure refers to dealer gamma exposure (GEX), not total options size,” he wrote. “GEX measures how much spot Bitcoin dealers may need to buy or sell to stay delta-neutral as price moves. It reflects hedging pressure, not notional value.”

So the tradeable implication of Eng’s thesis is straightforward: expect the pinning games into Christmas, then watch whether a post-expiry regime shift actually shows up in realized volatility — and in price’s ability to stop bouncing off the same levels like it’s hitting invisible glass.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $87,953.

Bitcoin still hovers between the 0.618 and 0.786 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Raoul Pal, the Co-Founder and CEO of Real Vision, known for its macro and crypto insights, a financial media and education platform, says that the recent surge in the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash, a decentralized, privacy-focused cryptocurrency that enables confidential transactions through advanced cryptography, was likely driven by capital rotation rather than a long-held bullish trend.

Pal speculated investors put money into Zcash not because they have strong support for the token’s future prospects, but as part of a more extensive portfolio rotation in the crypto market.

During his conversation with Kevin Follonier, the host of the “When Shift Happens” podcast held on Thursday, December 18, Pal claimed that he does not actually require that many assets, like Zcash, to declare that he was among the first.

Pal raises concerns about Zcash’s latest significant growth
This year, news about Zcash’s significant growth has made headlines, drawing the interest of several reports seeking to interview the executives behind the cryptocurrency. Crypto investors, on the other hand, were amused by such a move, demonstrating a heightened desire to make a major investment in Zcash.

Nonetheless, even with this excitement in the crypto industry, Pal cautioned that it was too early to conclude whether such a rise marked the beginning of a substantial uptrend. He further elaborated that, “We can’t confirm that until the entire market rises and it keeps trending up instead of just shifting around.” At this particular moment, the CEO still held firm to his earlier argument that this growth backs the concept of a rotation.

Regarding Zcash’s significant rise, reports highlighted that it is currently valued at $411.08, illustrating a growth of 744.9% since January 1, 2025, according to data from CoinMarketCap. However, sources have pointed out that Zcash’s momentum has decreased in recent weeks, with its price declining by approximately 37% over the past month.

Following the release of this information, Pal commented that a key indicator at the moment is whether Zcash will be able to establish a solid base price after its latest rise. He explained this argument, noting that he seeks to understand if it will acquire backing and then begin to increase again.

Pal also pointed out that he was unwilling to purchase the cryptocurrency at its current price. He argued that he was not sure if he was ready to chase it at the moment. This did not mean he could not consider buying it later. To support this claim, the Real Vision CEO hinted at the possibility of him purchasing Zcash at its next downturn.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the cryptocurrency experienced a surge in price despite the entire crypto market dropping sharply. Its market capitalization increased from a low of $1 billion in August to more than $7 billion by early November. 

Arthur Hayes’s move plays a significant role in Zcash’s notable surge
Sources with knowledge of Zcash’s latest growth claimed that this notable surge occurred after a tip from Arthur Hayes, the co-founder and former CEO of BitMEX.

This announcement indicated that an increasing number of individuals are shifting their focus towards privacy, which has drawn attention to privacy tokens, according to an analysis from XT Exchange released on November 9.

Following this evidence, reports noted that Zcash surged 30% in a day in a month earlier, particularly on October 26. This rise followed the submission of a proposal by prominent American entrepreneur Hayes, which suggested that the token might finally reach an all-time high of approximately $10,000.

Consequently, institutions demonstrated heightened interest in this cryptocurrency at the same time. To support this claim, reports dated November 27 pointed out that Grayscale Investments submitted a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting to change its Zcash fund into a spot ETF. 

This decision followed the major digital currency asset management company’s move to launch additional spot ETFs linked to cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Dogecoin, and XRP. 

Sign up to Bybit and start trading with $30,050 in welcome gifts

Key NotesOn December 19, Shibburn data shows that the SHIB burn rate spiked by 3,915,071.74%.This led to the removal of 21,611,748 SHIB from the ecosystem.SHIB price is 1.5% down, failing to complement the mild supply shock.
In an unexpected twist, Shiba Inu

SHIB
$0.000007

24h volatility:
2.0%

Market cap:
$4.35 B

Vol. 24h:
$220.65 M

has recorded a massive spike in burn rate within the last 24 hours. According to Shibburn, the dedicated burn tracker for the memecoin, a 3915071.74% surge in SHIB burn rate has been recorded. This is equivalent to the permanent removal of 21,611,748 SHIB from the ecosystem. 

What Next for SHIB Price?
With a burn rate of this magnitude, Shiba Inu has mildly reduced its circulating supply and provided an avenue for a potential price rebound. 

So far, it has destroyed a total of 410,753,929,644,556 SHIB from the initial supply of the token. This leaves the ecosystem with about 585,277,528,786,334 SHIB in circulation. 

HOURLY SHIB UPDATE$SHIB Price: $0.00000739 (1hr 0.36% ▲ | 24hr -1.44% ▼ )
Market Cap: $4,354,628,517 (-1.38% ▼)
Total Supply: 589,246,070,355,443

TOKENS BURNT
Past 24Hrs: 21,611,748 (3915071.74% ▲)
Past 7 Days: 23,574,657 (-62.99% ▼)

— Shibburn (@shibburn) December 19, 2025

However, the price of the token has not shown as much rebound from the supply shock. In other words, the current outlook of SHIB does not complement the burn, nor does it follow the principle of reduced supply and price. 

According to CoinMarketCap, Shiba Inu is currently trading at $0.000007377. This price level follows a 1.5% drawdown within the last 24 hours.

It is worth noting that the Shiba Inu ecosystem has seen several events, including the recent altcoin rebound, that could catalyze a price uptick but failed to respond accordingly. About a week ago, it witnessed a sharp surge in whale activity, with on-chain data showing that over 1 trillion SHIB tokens moved to exchanges within 24 hours. 

Even the incident with the Shibarium exploit was not strong enough to discourage these investors.

The MAXI DOGE Presale in Spotlight
There is still optimism that the SHIB price will improve significantly, but until then, many investors have their attention on Maxi Doge (MAXI), a canine-themed crypto asset.

By all means, this token is gaining traction and enjoying the limelight, and has successfully entered the league of the best crypto presales of 2025. Investors have seen this new project gather positive momentum, which has now caused it to grow significantly in such a short time. 

So far, its ongoing project presale has raised a total of $4,345,544.45, underscoring its strong traction. This is an indication that investors perceive its long-term potential and are willing to invest their funds.

The official presale website indicates that the token’s price is set to be adjusted in about 2 days and 17 hours. Purchases can be completed using credit or debit cards, as well as cryptocurrency.

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.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) News, Market News

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalist who relishes writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desire to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain media and sites.

Godfrey Benjamin on X

While Bitcoin and most altcoins are still testing key levels, Zcash has already delivered one of the strongest rallies of the year. But according to Real Vision CEO Raoul Pal, this explosive move may not signal the start of a lasting bull run. Instead, he believes Zcash’s surge looks more like capital rotating into niche narratives rather than a true structural breakout.

He adds that Zcash still has something to prove. A real bull trend only becomes clear when an asset continues to perform well as the broader market moves higher. For now, Zcash appears to be benefiting from short-term positioning rather than long-term conviction.

ZEC Price Rally But, Not a Confirmed BreakoutZcash surged nearly 700% year-to-date, grabbing attention even as the wider crypto market struggled with volatility. However, that momentum has cooled quickly. Over the past month, ZEC has pulled back sharply, a sign that early buyers may already be locking in profits.

Pal sees this as a classic example of capital rotation. When Bitcoin stalls, traders often move funds into smaller narratives like privacy coins. That doesn’t automatically mean a long-term uptrend is underway. According to Pal, the real signal to watch is whether Zcash can build a stable base and then resume climbing once the overall market regains strength.

For now, he’s staying patient and has made it clear he’s not interested in chasing prices at current levels.

What Fueled Zcash’s Sudden Spotlight?Zcash’s rally didn’t come out of nowhere. Growing interest in privacy-focused assets has played a big role, especially as concerns around surveillance and financial transparency continue to rise. The move was further amplified after Arthur Hayes made headlines with a bold $10,000 price call, triggering a sharp short-term spike.

That wave of attention pushed Zcash’s market cap from under $1 billion in August to more than $7 billion at its peak in early November. Even in a choppy market, ZEC managed to outperform, making it one of the standout stories of the year.

Institutional Interest Is Growing — SlowlyBeyond retail speculation, institutional attention is also starting to build. Grayscale recently filed to convert its Zcash trust into a spot ETF, a move that signals increasing acceptance of privacy coins within traditional finance. Still, Pal believes timing matters. Without a broader market reset or a clear base forming, Zcash remains more of a watchlist asset than a buy.

Overall, Zcash’s rally has been impressive, but Raoul Pal sees caution ahead. Until ZEC proves it can stay strong during a wider market recovery, its move looks more rotational than structural. For now, patience may matter more than hype.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQsWhat is the ZEC price prediction for 2026?

ZEC could range between $426 and $840 in 2026, depending on adoption of privacy tech and broader crypto market trends.

What factors influence ZEC’s price growth?

ZEC’s price depends on zk-technology adoption, protocol upgrades, market demand, and global interest in privacy-focused crypto.

How much will Zcash be worth in 2030?

Zcash could reach between $2353 and $7060 by 2030, depending on adoption, network upgrades, and market trends.

Is Zcash a good investment?

Zcash can be a good investment for those seeking privacy-focused crypto, but consider market volatility and technology adoption before investing.

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

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Raoul Pal says Zcash’s surge still looks like short-term rotation, with the real test coming as the privacy coin tries to build a durable base after its spike.​

Summary

Zcash has been one of this year’s strongest large-cap performers but has started to give back gains after a sharp speculative rally.​
Raoul Pal argues the move still fits a capital-rotation pattern and wants to see ZEC build a stable base before treating it as a structural bull trend.​
Institutional interest is rising, with Grayscale seeking to convert its Zcash trust into a spot ETF even as price momentum shows signs of cooling.

The recent surge in privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) may reflect short-term capital rotation rather than the start of a durable bull market, according to Real Vision founder and macro investor Raoul Pal.

Speaking on the When Shift Happens podcast with Kevin Follonier, Pal stated that Zcash’s rally has yet to prove it represents a structural trend rather than speculative repositioning within the broader crypto market.

Zcash and the broader crypto market
“Do I need that asset to say I was in earliest? I don’t really,” Pal said, suggesting that recent price action alone is not enough to justify long-term conviction.

Zcash has posted some of the strongest gains among major cryptocurrencies this year, though momentum has faded in recent weeks, with the token pulling back over the past month, according to market data.

“We can’t prove it until the whole market goes up and it continues to trend and not a rotation,” Pal said. “Right now it’s confirming the rotation thesis.”

The next key test for Zcash will be whether it can establish a stable base after its sharp move higher, Pal stated. Sustained support at lower levels would indicate that buyers are stepping in with longer-term conviction, rather than exiting after a rapid run-up.

“What you want to see is whether it finds a base and then starts pulling up again,” he said.

Despite the strong year-to-date performance, Pal said he is not inclined to chase the asset at current levels. “I’m not sure I’m going to chase it, but I might buy it in the next down cycle,” he added.

Zcash’s rally has stood out in a broader market that has struggled to maintain upward momentum. Part of that surge followed comments from crypto entrepreneur Arthur Hayes, who said in late October that Zcash could eventually reach a much higher price, triggering a sharp short-term price reaction.

Interest in privacy-focused assets has increased amid growing concerns around surveillance, censorship, and regulatory scrutiny, according to market observers. XT Exchange reported that anonymity-focused tokens were gaining renewed attention as traders reassessed the role of privacy in digital assets.

Institutional interest has begun to follow. Grayscale Investments filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to convert its Zcash trust into a spot ETF, signaling a potential pathway for broader investor exposure.

Ethereum price dropped nearly 18% over the past week as U.S. Ether ETFs logged six straight days of outflows that seem to be weighing on investor sentiment. A bearish reversal pattern on the daily chart now flags the risk of more losses ahead.

Summary

ETH price dropped nearly 18% over the past week.
U.S. Ether ETFs recorded $630 million in outflows over a six-day outflow streak.
Multiple bearish patterns have formed on the daily chart.

According to data from crypto.news, Ethereum (ETH) price dropped to an intraday low of $2,781 on Friday, Dec. 19, down 18% from last week’s high of $3,390 and 39% below its yearly peak. 

Ethereum price dropped amid waning demand for its spot ETFs among institutional investors. According to data from SoSoValue, U.S. spot Ether ETFs experienced net outflows for six consecutive days, totaling $630 million shed by the funds. Such continuous outflows from these institutional products tend to dampen investor appetite and often instill more selling pressure on the asset.

Broader macroeconomic factors, including the Fed’s recent hawkish tone surrounding lesser rate cuts in early 2026 and the Bank of Japan’s decision to increase interest rates by 0.25% to 0.75%, its highest in 30 years, have also kept investors at bay from crypto assets, including Ethereum.

ETH price is also facing pressure from the liquidation of highly leveraged traders in its derivatives market. Data from CoinGlass shows that nearly $158 million worth of positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, adding further downward pressure on price.

ETH price analysis
Ethereum price has formed an ascending broadening wedge pattern for over four weeks, marked by higher highs and higher lows, with bears starting to reassert pressure. A breakdown from such a pattern is typically seen as a signal for a bearish trend reversal in the days ahead.

ETH price has formed multiple bearish patterns on the daily chart — Dec. 19 | Source: crypto.news
At press time, ETH was close to a breakdown below the lower trendline of the pattern. If this trendline breaks, it could lead its price to fall below $2,629, a level that acts as the neckline of an inverse cup and handle pattern. It is a larger bearish structure formed over multiple months and implies the downtrend may continue.

Technical indicators are also flashing bearish signs. For instance, the MACD lines were trending downwards, a sign that the downtrend has not yet lost momentum. Meanwhile, with the Aroon Down surging to 92.86% and the Aroon Up languishing at 35.71%, technical data confirms that downward momentum continues to dictate market direction.

For now, $2,629 is the key level to watch. Failure to hold this could lead ETH price to drop to $2,400 next. The said level has acted as a strong floor for ETH throughout this year, and losing it may open the door to further downside.

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

The new stablecoin is designed to enhance liquidity across diverse market segments, encompassing both tokenized and traditional financial offerings. B3 authorities indicated that the tokenized product could potentially serve as an alternative to drex, Brazil's CBDC, which has recently been scaled back in its initial implementation.

Contrary to popular belief, quantum computers will not “crack” Bitcoin encryption; instead, any realistic threat would focus on exploiting digital signatures tied to exposed public keys.

Quantum computers cannot decrypt Bitcoin because it stores no encrypted secrets on-chain.

Ownership is enforced by digital signatures and hash-based commitments, not ciphertext.

The quantum risk that matters is the risk of authorization forgery.

If a cryptographically relevant quantum computer can run Shor’s algorithm against Bitcoin’s elliptic-curve cryptography, it could derive a private key from an on-chain public key and then produce a valid signature for a competing spend.

Much of the “quantum breaks Bitcoin encryption” framing is a terminology error. Adam Back, longtime Bitcoin developer and Hashcash inventor, summed it up on X:

“pro-tip for quantum FUD promoters. bitcoin does not use encryption. get your basics right or it's a tell.”

A separate post made the same distinction more explicitly, noting that a quantum attacker would not “decrypt” anything, but would instead use Shor’s algorithm to derive a private key from an exposed public key:

“Encryption refers to the act of hiding information so only those with a key can read it. Bitcoin doesn't do this. The blockchain is a public ledger; so anyone can see every transaction, every amount, and every address. Nothing is encrypted.”

Why public-key exposure, not encryption, is Bitcoin’s real security bottleneckBitcoin’s signature systems, ECDSA and Schnorr, are used to prove control over a keypair.

In that model, coins are taken by producing a signature that the network will accept.

That is why public-key exposure is the pivot.

Whether an output is exposed depends on what appears on-chain.

Many address formats commit to a hash of a public key, so the raw public key is not revealed until the transaction is spent.

That narrows the window for an attacker to compute a private key and publish a conflicting transaction.

Other script types expose a public key earlier, and address reuse can turn a one-time reveal into a persistent target.

Project Eleven’s open-source “Bitcoin Risq List” query defines exposure at the script and reuse level.

It maps where a public key is already available to a would-be Shor attacker.

Why quantum risk is measurable today, even if it isn’t imminentTaproot changes the exposure pattern in a way that matters only if large fault-tolerant machines arrive.

Taproot outputs (P2TR) include a 32-byte tweaked public key in the output program, rather than a pubkey hash, as described in BIP 341.

Project Eleven’s query documentation includes P2TR alongside pay-to-pubkey and some multisig forms as categories where public keys are visible in outputs.

That does not create a new vulnerability today.

However, it changes what becomes exposed by default if key recovery becomes feasible.

Because exposure is measurable, the vulnerable pool can be tracked today without pinning down a quantum timeline.

Project Eleven says it runs an automated weekly scan and publishes a “Bitcoin Risq List” concept intended to cover every quantum-vulnerable address and its balance, detailed in its methodology post.

Its public tracker shows a headline figure of about 6.7 million BTC that meet its exposure criteria.

QuantityOrder of magnitudeSourceBTC in “quantum-vulnerable” addresses (public key exposed)~6.7M BTCProject ElevenLogical qubits for 256-bit prime-field ECC discrete log (upper bound)~2,330 logical qubitsRoetteler et al.Physical-qubit scale example tied to a 10-minute key-recovery setup~6.9M physical qubitsLitinskiPhysical-qubit scale reference tied to a 1-day key-recovery setup~13M physical qubitsSchneier on SecurityOn the computational side, the key distinction is between logical qubits and physical qubits.

In the paper “Quantum resource estimates for computing elliptic curve discrete logarithms,” Roetteler and co-authors give an upper bound of at most 9n + 2⌈log2(n)⌉ + 10 logical qubits to compute an elliptic-curve discrete logarithm over an n-bit prime field.

For n = 256, that works out to about 2,330 logical qubits.

Converting that into an error-corrected machine that can run a deep circuit at low failure rates is where physical-qubit overhead and timing dominate.

Architecture choices then set a wide range of runtimesLitinski’s 2023 estimate puts a 256-bit elliptic-curve private-key computation at about 50 million Toffoli gates.

Under its assumptions, a modular approach could compute one key in about 10 minutes using about 6.9 million physical qubits.

In a Schneier on Security summary of related work, estimates cluster around 13 million physical qubits to break within one day.

The same line of estimates also cites about 317 million physical qubits to target a one-hour window, depending on timing and error-rate assumptions.

For Bitcoin operations, the nearer levers are behavioral and protocol-level.

Address reuse raises exposure, and wallet design can reduce it.

Project Eleven’s wallet analysis notes that once a public key is on-chain, future receipts back to that same address remain exposed.

If key recovery ever fit inside a block interval, an attacker would be racing spends from exposed outputs, not rewriting consensus history.

Hashing is often bundled into the narrative, but the quantum lever there is Grover’s algorithm.

Grover provides a square-root speedup for brute-force search rather than the discrete-log break Shor provides.

NIST research on the practical cost of Grover-style attacks stresses that overhead and error correction shape system-level cost.

In the idealized model, for SHA-256 preimages, the target remains on the order of 2^128 work after Grover.

That is not comparable to an ECC discrete-log break.

That leaves signature migration, where the constraints are bandwidth, storage, fees, and coordination.

Post-quantum signatures are often kilobytes rather than the tens of bytes users are accustomed to.

That changes transaction weight economics and wallet UX.

Why quantum risk is a migration challenge, not an immediate threatOutside Bitcoin, NIST has standardized post-quantum primitives such as ML-KEM (FIPS 203) as part of broader migration planning.

Inside Bitcoin, BIP 360 proposes a “Pay to Quantum Resistant Hash” output type.

Meanwhile, qbip.org argues for a legacy-signature sunset to force migration incentives and reduce the long tail of exposed keys.

Recent corporate roadmaps add context for why the topic is framed as infrastructure rather than an emergency.

In a recent Reuters report, IBM discussed progress on error-correction components and reiterated a path toward a fault-tolerant system around 2029.

Reuters also covered IBM’s claim that a key quantum error-correction algorithm can run on conventional AMD chips, in a separate report.

In that framing, “quantum breaks Bitcoin encryption” fails on terminology and on mechanics.

The measurable items are how much of the UTXO set has exposed public keys, how wallet behavior changes in response to that exposure, and how quickly the network can adopt quantum-resistant spending paths while keeping validation and fee-market constraints intact.

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Terraform Labs is suing Jump Trading for $4B over alleged market manipulation and hidden deals tied to Terra’s downfall.

Terraform Labs’ court-appointed administrator has sued Jump Trading for secretly supporting the TerraUSD stablecoin, misrepresenting its stability, and profiting from the ecosystem’s collapse.

As a result, Todd Snyder is seeking $4 billion in damages from the firm’s co-founder, William DiSomma, and Kanav Kariya, a former intern who later became president of its crypto-trading business.

Details From The Case
A Wall Street Journal report reveals that the case was filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The lawsuit accuses Jump of unlawfully profiting from its relationship with Terraform while investors suffered losses.

The SEC has previously stated in court filings that the company made approximately $1 billion in gains by selling Luna, Terraform’s sister token. Snyder said Jump “actively exploited the Terraform Labs ecosystem through manipulation, concealment, and self-dealing,” calling the lawsuit a necessary step toward accountability for what he described as the largest collapse in crypto history.

The complaint details that as early as 2019, the two firms entered into secret agreements that allowed Jump to purchase millions of Luna tokens at prices far below market value. In one deal, it allegedly bought the cryptocurrency for 40 cents per coin, later selling when prices exceeded $110.

The trading company is also accused of entering into a confidential “gentlemen’s agreement” to help maintain TerraUSD’s dollar peg, an arrangement the lawsuit says was concealed to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

In May 2021, TerraUSD briefly slipped below its $1 peg before recovering after Jump allegedly intervened by purchasing the stablecoin, while publicly crediting the rebound to Terraform’s algorithm. In the aftermath, the case says the company also renegotiated its contracts to remove vesting requirements, which allowed it to receive and sell Luna tokens freely on the open market.

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Terraform’s Do Kwon Pleads Guilty to Its Collapse

After the formation of the Luna Foundation Guard, the complaint further claims that nearly 50,000 Bitcoin were transferred to Jump during the May 2022 crisis without any written agreement. It also alleges that DiSomma contacted other trading firms in search of bailout funding, actions that are said to have fast-tracked Terraform’s collapse.

Jump Denies Accusations
Jump has since denied the allegations. “This is a desperate attempt by Terraform Labs to shift blame and financial responsibility away from the crimes that Do Kwon committed,” a company spokeswoman said, adding that it plans to defend itself against the ‘baseless claims.’

Terraform collapsed in 2022 after its stablecoin lost its dollar peg, which sent Luna to near zero and wiped out roughly $40 billion in value. The firm later filed for bankruptcy in January 2024 and agreed to pay about $4.5 billion to settle with the SEC, while founder Do Kwon was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal charges.

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Investors may soon gain regulated access to Sui via a new spot ETF as Bitwise moves to expand its crypto fund lineup in the United States.

Summary

Bitwise submits S-1 for new ETF spot on SuiStructure, exposure and role of Coinbase CustodyMarket context: leveraged products and rising ETF competitionPrice reaction and long-term implicationsKey details from the filing of the new SUI ETF spotFrequently asked questions on the proposed fund
Bitwise submits S-1 for new ETF spot on Sui
Bitwise has filed a Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) referencing SUI, the native token of the Sui Network. The proposed vehicle would hold actual SUI tokens and track their spot price, giving investors direct exposure without needing to buy or self-custody the asset.

This latest SUI ETF filing places Bitwise alongside other issuers seeking approvals for similar products tied to alternative layer-1 networks. Moreover, it positions SUI as a growing altcoin candidate for potential ETF adoption at a time when regulators are slowly clarifying their stance on digital asset funds.

Structure, exposure and role of Coinbase Custody
According to the SEC registration statement, Coinbase Custody has been named as the ETF’s custodian, offering institutional-grade storage and security standards. However, the document does not yet specify the fund’s ticker symbol or the exchange where it will list, leaving those details to be confirmed at a later stage.

The structure of the strategy is designed to provide 100% spot exposure to SUI, rather than using futures-based or synthetic instruments. That said, the filing notes that all portfolio holdings will consist of SUI tokens, ensuring that the fund’s performance mirrors the underlying market price as closely as possible.

In addition, Bitwise plans to include staking capabilities in the product. This means the ETF could stake some of its SUI holdings on the network and generate additional tokens over time, potentially improving returns. Moreover, the filing highlights in-kind creations and redemptions, allowing Bitwise to transact directly in SUI tokens instead of relying solely on cash mechanisms.

Market context: leveraged products and rising ETF competition
Interest in Sui-related exchange-traded products has accelerated following the SEC’s recent approval of a 2x leveraged SUI ETF from 21Shares. This decision signaled a willingness to consider new structures around the asset, even as regulators maintain scrutiny of the broader crypto sector.

Launched in 2023, SUI has quickly climbed into the group of larger cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Furthermore, Bitwise recently added SUI to its 10 Crypto Index ETF, a move that underscored the network’s perceived long-term potential and broadened its presence in traditional investment vehicles.

With these developments, the crypto ETF race is intensifying beyond bitcoin and ethereum. The bitwise sui filing for a dedicated spot fund indicates that issuers see growing demand for diversified exposure to newer layer-1 ecosystems, particularly those with active DeFi and application growth.

Price reaction and long-term implications
Despite the latest SUI ETF news, SUI’s market price remained relatively flat after the filing. The token traded near recent levels and was still down on the week, suggesting that traders did not immediately reprice the asset on the announcement alone.

Analysts generally view the spot SUI ETF proposal as a longer-term catalyst rather than an instant price driver. However, they argue that if approved, such a fund could deepen liquidity, increase institutional participation and make SUI more accessible to traditional portfolios over time.

As Bitwise continues to broaden its crypto ETF range and U.S. regulators work toward clearer frameworks for spot crypto ETF structures, the timeline for a live SUI product will remain in focus. Moreover, the combination of staking features and direct token exposure could make any eventual sui staking etf style structure particularly notable among digital asset funds.

Key details from the filing of the new SUI ETF spot
The registration document, submitted in 2024, outlines several operational points. First, Coinbase Custody will handle safekeeping of all SUI held by the fund, removing the need for investors to manage private keys or on-chain transactions themselves.

Second, the use of in-kind creations and redemptions would allow authorized participants to deliver or receive SUI directly, which can reduce friction versus cash-only models. Furthermore, this approach may help keep the ETF’s trading price closer to its net asset value by enabling more efficient arbitrage.

Third, the staking component could see the fund participate in Sui Network consensus or validation through service providers, subject to risk controls. However, the filing emphasizes that any rewards earned in SUI would belong to the fund and, indirectly, to its shareholders, with tax and operational details to be set out in future disclosures.

Frequently asked questions on the proposed fund
Under the current proposal, the ETF would hold actual SUI tokens in custody and aim to mirror their spot market price. This allows investors to gain exposure through a brokerage account instead of using crypto exchanges or wallets. However, leverage and derivatives are not part of the core design.

Bitwise has not yet launched the fund. The S-1 filing opens a review process with the SEC, and no official listing date or ticker has been announced. Moreover, approval is not guaranteed, and the regulator could request amendments or impose conditions before any launch.

For now, the filing primarily serves as a signal of demand for regulated Sui access. If the application advances, it could mark another step in the evolution of spot crypto ETF products in U.S. markets, broadening investor options beyond the most established digital assets.

Bitwise’s move to register a spot vehicle around SUI highlights growing institutional interest in new layer-1 networks, even as prices react cautiously. The outcome of the SEC’s review will determine whether this altcoin joins the expanding roster of listed crypto funds available to mainstream investors.

Amelia Tomasicchiohttps://cryptonomist.ch

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

In a major move for on-chain real-world assets, Robinhood tokenized stocks expanded rapidly on Arbitrum with a new wave of equity contracts.

Summary

Robinhood pushes 500 tokenized stock contracts in 24 hoursFactory-style contract system keeps costs near $0.03Total on-chain stock tokens near 2,000 on ArbitrumBackend phase: infrastructure live, liquidity still dormantArbitrum emerging as a settlement layer for tokenized equities
Robinhood pushes 500 tokenized stock contracts in 24 hours
On December 17, on-chain data shows a single Robinhood-linked deployer address launched 500 new tokenized stock contracts on the Arbitrum network within 24 hours. This marks the largest single-day stock token deployment recorded on Arbitrum to date.

Arbiscan labels the address as “Robinhood: Deployer”, a known wallet tied to Robinhood-related infrastructure. By the end of the day, its cumulative total reached 1,997 tokenized stock contracts, confirming a structured, large-scale rollout rather than a one-off experiment.

Moreover, an update from Wu reiterated that, according to the Arbiscan browser, Robinhood: Deployer pushed 500 stock tokens on Arbitrum on December 17, the highest single-day deployment so far.

The same wallet has now cumulatively deployed 1,997 stock tokens, underscoring a sustained strategy.

Factory-style contract system keeps costs near $0.03
Transaction data reveals hundreds of consecutive contract-creation calls originating from the same deployer address in a tight time window.

Each transaction deployed a new token contract with zero ETH transferred, aligning with standardized smart contract issuance rather than end-user trading activity.

Each contract pointed to a single, shared destination address, indicating a factory-style system for token creation. However, the standout detail is efficiency: every contract was deployed for roughly $0.03, showing how templated infrastructure can scale equity token issuance cheaply on Arbitrum.

Historically, tokenized equity launches have appeared gradually over weeks. In contrast, the same deployer compressed hundreds of onchain stock deployments into a single day. That said, the pace suggests infrastructure readiness and confidence in the template design, not mere testing.

Total on-chain stock tokens near 2,000 on Arbitrum
With the latest batch included, Robinhood-linked contracts on Arbitrum now total 1,997 tokenized stocks. This volume helps position Arbitrum among the largest venues worldwide for on-chain equity representations when measured by contract count.

Moreover, the near-2,000 contract figure implies broad market coverage. It likely spans major U.S. equities, ETFs and potentially some international listings, pointing to a full-catalog approach instead of a narrow, selective set of symbols.

The team has not yet publicly indexed individual token metadata, so detailed asset mappings remain opaque for now.

However, the scale of this tokenized equities rollout indicates Robinhood is building comprehensive stock token infrastructure ahead of opening access to retail or institutional users.

Backend phase: infrastructure live, liquidity still dormant
So far, there is no visible liquidity activation connected to these contracts. No large transfers, major mint events, or exchange deposit flows have followed the deployments. This pattern points to a backend preparation phase where contracts are deployed first, then integrated into user-facing products later.

Despite the size of the rollout, Arbitrum gas metrics and on-chain volumes stayed stable during the push. There was no spike in network congestion, transaction fees, or MEV activity tied to the deployer wallet, reinforcing the interpretation of a controlled, non-speculative rollout.

But the absence of immediate trading does not diminish the signal. The presence of nearly 2,000 stock contracts shows that the asset layer for real world asset tokens is already in place, even if order books and user interfaces are not yet live.

Arbitrum emerging as a settlement layer for tokenized equities
Tokenized equity products require strict compliance checks, custody arrangements and front-end integration before launch. On-chain evidence now indicates that these preparatory steps are converging, with the contracts themselves already instantiated on Arbitrum.

Robinhood has not issued any public announcement specifically tied to this deployment wave. Nevertheless, the on-chain pattern leaves little doubt that the company is positioning Arbitrum as a core settlement layer for stock tokens on Robinhood, with infrastructure designed to support 24/5 trading of U.S. blue-chip shares.

In addition, the scale and speed of robinhood tokenized stocks on Arbitrum demonstrate a clear intent to compete in the tokenized equities market. If and when liquidity and UI integration follow, these 1,997 contracts could quickly evolve into one of the largest live catalogs of tokenized stocks globally.

So, Robinhood’s December 17 deployment of 500 new contracts, lifting its total to 1,997 on Arbitrum, signals that large-scale tokenized stock infrastructure is no longer theoretical but actively being put in place.

Francesco Antonio Russo

Web 3.0 entrepreneur for over 4 years, expert in Cryptocurrencies and Artificial Intelligence.
He uses his cross-functional skills for functional and trend-following Social Media Management.

Virtune is expanding its Nordic crypto product lineup with a new Bittensor ETP, giving investors regulated access to artificial intelligence-linked digital assets.

Summary

Virtune brings Bittensor exposure to Nasdaq StockholmKey features of the Virtune Bittensor productHow Bittensor connects AI and cryptoVirtune’s Nordic expansion strategyAccess, information and investor outreach
Virtune brings Bittensor exposure to Nasdaq Stockholm
On Friday 19th of December 2025, Swedish digital asset manager Virtune will list its new Virtune Bittensor ETP on Nasdaq Stockholm, the largest stock exchange in the Nordic region.

The physically backed vehicle is designed to provide a secure and straightforward way to access the Bittensor (TAO) ecosystem through a traditional brokerage account.

The new product is a crypto ETP that offers 1:1 exposure to Bittensor. Moreover, it uses an on-chain, fully collateralized structure that holds the underlying TAO tokens.

According to Virtune, this setup combines transparency with institutional-level security, aiming to meet the requirements of both professional allocators and private investors.

Key features of the Virtune Bittensor product
The Virtune Bittensor ETP is 100% physically backed by TAO, meaning each unit of the product is supported by an equivalent amount of the underlying asset.

However, investors trade the instrument like any other listed security on Nasdaq Stockholm, without needing to manage wallets or self-custody. The product offers 1:1 exposure to Bittensor, tracking the value of TAO as closely as possible within its structure.

Virtune has set an annual management fee of 1.95% for the ETP. The full name of the product is Virtune Bittensor ETP, while the short name on the exchange will be Virtune Bittensor. Its trading ticker is VIRTAO, the trading currency is SEK, and the ISIN is SE0027098484. That said, all these details position the vehicle in line with other regulated exchange-traded crypto products available in Europe.

How Bittensor connects AI and crypto
Bittensor is a decentralized network focused on the development of artificial intelligence via an open marketplace for intelligence. Participants contribute models, data, or compute power to the protocol. In return, they receive TAO rewards that are tied to the measurable value their contributions provide to the network. This incentive-driven design aims to foster a competitive and collaborative AI ecosystem.

Because the network rewards verifiable utility, supporters argue that Bittensor creates a more efficient environment for machine learning innovation. Moreover, the link between rewards and contribution quality is intended to drive continual improvements in AI models and infrastructure. Through the listing of this exchange-traded product on Nasdaq Stockholm, Virtune is effectively bridging traditional capital markets and this emerging AI-centric protocol.

Virtune’s Nordic expansion strategy
Virtune describes this listing as part of a broader effort to expand its regulated digital asset lineup in the Nordic region. With the launch of the bittensor etp, the company closes 2025 with its 21st product. According to Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune, the ETP offers both institutional and retail investors a secure, cost-effective, and straightforward channel to gain exposure to Bittensor (TAO). Furthermore, it reinforces Virtune’s positioning as an active issuer in the European crypto ETP market.

The firm highlights that the product is targeted at investors seeking diversified exposure to digital assets via traditional investment infrastructure. However, as with other single-asset crypto products, the performance of Virtune Bittensor will remain closely tied to the market dynamics of TAO. Investors are therefore likely to evaluate it within the broader context of their risk tolerance and digital asset strategies.

Access, information and investor outreach
Virtune is actively engaging with institutional investors interested in how its ETPs can be integrated into asset management mandates.

Moreover, Virtune emphasizes its role as a regulated digital asset manager, aiming to provide infrastructure that meets compliance and governance standards required by professional investors.

Virtune appears committed to broadening investor education and transparency as it adds new crypto-linked exchange-traded products to its range.

So, the Virtune Bittensor ETP listing on Nasdaq Stockholm introduces a regulated, physically backed way to access TAO, aligning institutional security standards with growing investor interest in AI-focused digital assets.

Francesco Antonio Russo

Web 3.0 entrepreneur for over 4 years, expert in Cryptocurrencies and Artificial Intelligence.
He uses his cross-functional skills for functional and trend-following Social Media Management.

XRP is below a crucial support following a 13% monthly decline.

Ripple’s cross-border token, alongside most of the cryptocurrency market, has fallen hard over the past several months, dropping by more than 40% since its July all-time high of $3.65.

However, a popular analyst known for backing the token has outlined several reasons why investors should remain strong during this ongoing correction and refrain from selling XRP.

#XRP – Why Selling Now Makes NO Sense:

If you truly believe we’ve entered a bear market, then selling here is actually the worst possible timing.

Bear markets do not move straight down. They almost always deliver one more relief move first.

1️⃣ This Is an Emotional Sell Zone

2️⃣… pic.twitter.com/VgkcV6NB9l

— EGRAG CRYPTO (@egragcrypto) December 19, 2025

Don’t Sell
ERGAG CRYPTO noted that even if investors believe the bear market has started, they should retain possession of their XRP tokens. The analyst justified his call by outlining that this is an emotional sell zone and not a fundamental one.

They added that smart money sells into strength and urged people to maintain their positions even if fear is the predominant emotion, as “historical XRP cycles always gave a relief move.”

Although the analyst admitted that this could indeed be the beginning of a bear market, they noted that the current structure shows a reset, not a collapse. And, if this is just another correction, then selling now would be “fatal.”

“Both Bull and Bear Scenarios Say ‘Don’t Sell Here,'” ERGAG CRYPTO concluded.

So, Who Is Selling?
Before we answer that question, let’s emphasize who is not selling – investors getting XRP exposure through the five spot ETFs in the United States. The financial vehicles’ impressive streak of only green days continues ever since the first such product, Canary Capital’s XRPC, hit Wall Street on November 13. The total net inflows have risen to $1.060 billion, with more than $30 million entering the funds on Thursday.

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Ripple (XRP) ETFs Continue to Outperform BTC, ETH Funds Despite Cooling Inflows

Not Journalism: Ripple CEO Slams NYT Over ‘Crypto Hit Piece’

Ripple (XRP) Whales Step Up as Taker Demand Flips Bullish

And now, back to the original question, and perhaps the most obvious and painful answer is whales. As Ali Martinez updated earlier this week, these large investors had disposed of almost 1.2 million tokens in just a month. Before that, they had sold off another batch of more than 1.5 million.

It’s worth noting that their selling spree began right around the time it became known that XRP will have its own exchange-traded funds tracking its performance. And, its price has tumbled by more than 25% since XRPC’s debut day, even though the ETFs have joined the billion-dollar club.

XPR currently trades below $1.90, which has been categorized as a key support in determining its upcoming moves. If it fails to overcome it soon, then analysts believe it could plunge all the way down to $1.00.

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Cardano simply doesn't have the features of these two coins.

Despite its crowd of very persistent holders, Cardano (ADA +0.53%) only has a market cap of $13.8 billion, making it a lot smaller than even Dogecoin, (DOGE +2.20%) with $20 billion, as well as larger chains like Solana, (SOL +0.85%) which has a cap of $71.3 billion. Perhaps surprisingly, I predict that this state of affairs will remain largely the same through the end of 2026, with both Dogecoin and Solana continuing to maintain or even dramatically expand their lead over Cardano.

Let's talk about why these contenders are likely to keep standing in roughly the same places on a relative basis through 2026.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dogecoin could stay above Cardano without being a buy
For some investors, Dogecoin's edge over Cardano may seem strange. After all, it's just a meme coin, and Cardano is an entire smart contract blockchain with its own (limited) decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and community of application developers. But the dog-themed coin has a couple of benefits the more serious asset lacks, at least for now.

In particular, as of late November, Dogecoin now has U.S.-listed spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that let people buy exposure through ordinary brokerage accounts. While some spot Cardano ETFs are being considered for approval, presently Cardano doesn't have any active ones, so it can't get capital inflows from the same sources, thereby limiting its size.

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ETFs can make capital a bit stickier than you would expect for a meme coin, because it lowers onboarding friction and turns buying into a quick button press instead of a complicated system of setting up crypto wallets and funding them. And Cardano can build more and ship more, and still lose that particular fight if investors keep preferring the easiest path for exposure.

But none of this adds up to a reason to invest in Dogecoin, and there isn't really an investment thesis for holding it in general.

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Solana's lead over Cardano could increase
Whereas Dogecoin's advantage over Cardano is in its distribution, Solana's is in having better distribution, plus more capital and more efficient technology.

In crypto, the chains that host the most usable liquidity (capital) tend to keep winning, because liquidity attracts developers, and when developers make apps that people want to use, they then attract more liquidity. Solana has about $8.7 billion in DeFi total value locked (TVL), and about $15.7 billion in stablecoins parked on the chain. Cardano only has $180 million in DeFi TVL, and about $38 million in stablecoins outstanding -- a negligible sum that isn't sufficient to support any big expansions of its ecosystem activity. So even if Cardano were to suddenly become the home of a killer decentralized application (dApp) that led its DeFi TVL and stablecoin base to increase 10 times overnight, which certainly will not occur, it would still be trailing very far behind Solana.

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Speed and cost advantages held by Solana are more likely to reinforce that situation rather than lead to it equalizing over time. On Dec. 15, Solana was handling about 1,155 transactions per second (TPS) on its chain, versus around 0.7 TPS for Cardano, with average transaction fees near $0.0075 for Solana versus about $0.134 for Cardano, and block processing times of about 0.4 seconds versus about 20 seconds with Cardano. So Solana's throughput is vastly higher, its costs are much lower, and it's dramatically faster than Cardano, too. That's far too many huge gaps for the smaller network to overcome before the end of 2026, or even 2028.

Cardano could keep improving, and there is a chance it closes some of the technical gap over the long run -- if it continues to limp along. The harder part is closing the capital gap, because liquidity is social as much as it is technical, and it takes time to persuade users to relocate. And right now, the only real relocation is capital and users flowing from Cardano to Solana.

Journalist

Posted: December 19, 2025

If history is any guide, the crypto market may be staring at a major bearish catalyst. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has officially hiked interest rates by 75 bps, making it its largest increase in over 30 years.

As AMBCrypto noted, BOJ rate hikes have historically led to double-digit drawdowns in Bitcoin [BTC], as rising leverage costs push foreign investors to de-risk and unwind BTC positions, fueling short-term FUD.

So far, this cycle is playing out similarly. An analyst flagged a major BTC dump ahead of the BOJ meeting. Notably, the selling came from large players, totaling 24k BTC. That’s over $2 billion in selling pressure.

Source: X

The on-chain data reflects it too.

Notably, Bitcoin’s key metrics are still in the red, showing real-time losses being realized. In particular, STHs with a cost basis near $101k are now roughly 16% underwater, reinforcing ongoing capitulation pressure.

Against this setup, the recent BOJ rate hike stacks a major macro headwind. 

In this context, both historical patterns and on-chain signals suggest that investors are actively reshuffling, anticipating a potential repeat flush. Naturally, the question arises: Is Bitcoin’s break below $80k imminent?

Bitcoin liquidation frenzy flips into structural support
Q4 is shaping up as a cycle defined by mass crypto manipulation.

On shorter timeframes, Bitcoin has been extremely volatile, largely due to whale-driven liquidations. For instance, on the 30-minute chart on the 18th of December, BTC fell by $3k, wiping out about $140 million in longs.

The same trend shows up on the macro level. Long liquidations are running 2–3x higher than shorts, trapping BTC in a loop around $90k. In short, whales are “deliberately” preventing the market from running too hot.

Source: TradingView (BTC/USDT)

This shows up clearly in the data. 

At press time, Bitcoin’s Open Interest (OI) is still about 30% below the highly leveraged levels seen before the October crash, indicating that traders are staying cautious rather than chasing risky, short-term gains.

With that in mind, a similar breakdown (despite BOJ-related FUD) looks less likely. Once the fear fades and investors rebalance, the $85k level could instead act as a strong base for Bitcoin’s next move.

Final Thoughts

BOJ’s 75 bps rate hike triggers Bitcoin deleveraging, reviving fears of a sub-$80k flush.
Despite liquidation volatility, low leverage, and falling OI suggest $85k could form a strong BTC base.

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

Fri, 19/12/2025 - 9:22

Ripple just invested in regulated broker TJM, with digital-asset coverage confirmed in the coming months, and of course, the crypto market's first question is what this all means to XRP.

Cover image via U.Today

Ripple just announced an investment in TJM (a FINRA-registered broker-dealer) and TJM Institutional Services (an NFA-registered introducing broker), while keeping Ripple Prime as the infrastructure layer supporting TJM’s execution and clearing services.

Improved capital and collateral efficiency, enhanced clearing stability, and added balance-sheet support tied to Ripple Prime’s prime-brokerage stack: this is what this partnership-investment brings to the table. 

As TJM representatives stated, the point is to scale the order flow it executes for counterparts and to be ready as more institutions push for digital-asset exposure.

HOT Stories

More news from @Ripple 🚀

Building on a long-standing relationship, Ripple is providing the infrastructure to support TJM’s premier execution and clearing services as they expand into digital assets.

By combining Ripple Prime’s capabilities with TJM’s institutional expertise,…

— Reece Merrick (@reece_merrick) December 19, 2025 The part that drags XRP into the headlines is not a promise from TJM but what Ripple Prime already advertises it can do. In early November, Ripple announced a U.S. digital-asset spot prime brokerage offering OTC trading across major digital assets, explicitly including XRP and RLUSD stablecoin.

XRP angleNow connecting the dots without pretending it is confirmed, TJM said it expects to expand coverage into digital assets in the coming months, leveraging Ripple Prime’s digital-market capabilities for clients such as hedge funds, family offices, asset managers and global investors.

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If the rails they are leaning on already list XRP as a supported OTC asset on the Ripple side, then XRP is a logical candidate to appear early once TJM starts naming what it will actually cover.

It will be interesting to see the initial supported-asset list that TJM publishes, especially if Ripple Prime references TJM in its U.S. spot offering rollouts. And, of course, the venue and financing details will be crucial in turning this from "investment news" into "flow news" for XRP.

Related articles

Bitcoin remained under pressure after falling below $85,000, and the recent rebound above $87,700 suggests that the price has entered a cooling period. However, volatility has been elevated, and sharp intraday swings have shaken both long and short positions. Despite this, the BTC price continues to hold above key higher-timeframe demand zones. This combination suggests the market is transitioning, not collapsing. 

Will the current price action, which indicates absorption, where selling is met by steady demand with no emotional buying, help the BTC price reach $100K?

Liquidations Are Cooling—And That MattersRecent liquidation data shows a sharp decline in forced selling compared to the initial breakdown. Earlier moves saw clusters of long liquidations as the price swept liquidity below local structure. Since then, liquidation intensity has faded, even as Bitcoin continues to trade heavily.

This shift is critical. Forced selling creates disorder and momentum. When it slows, it signals that weak hands have largely exited, leaving price to be governed by spot demand and patient positioning rather than leverage stress. In simple terms, sellers are still present, but they are no longer in control.

Funding Rates Point to a Reset, Not PanicFunding across major exchanges has normalised after briefly flipping negative. This indicates leverage has been reduced and the late longs have been flushed out. Importantly, funding is not aggressively positive either—a sign the market is no longer chasing upside prematurely.

Historically, sustainable moves emerge after funding resets, not while it is overheated. The current environment reflects hesitation and balance, which often precedes expansion once the price accepts a direction.

BTC Price Analysis: Structure Holds the Final ClueOn the 4H chart, Bitcoin continues to defend a well-defined demand zone and the ascending trend line, despite multiple tests. Each dip below intraday support has been met with responsive buying, suggesting real interest rather than short covering.

For traders, the message is clear:

Acceptance above this demand zone keeps recovery scenarios aliveFailure to hold would open the door to another liquidity sweep lowerUntil either occurs, Bitcoin remains in a range-bound compression phase, not a confirmed downtrend.

Wrapping it Up- How Can Bitcoin Price Reach $100K?Bitcoin (BTC) price is likely to trade in a tight range this weekend, with the price stabilizing above key support as the market digests the recent volatility rather than making a decisive move. As far as the $100K is concerned, that level remains out of reach for now, as the current price action reflects consolidation and absorption, not the kind of momentum or volume expansion required for a breakout of that magnitude

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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Crypto Journalist

Anas Hassan

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Anas is a crypto native journalist and SEO writer with over five years of writing experience covering blockchain, crypto, DeFi, and emerging tech.

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December 19, 2025

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to 0.75% on December 19, marking the highest borrowing costs in three decades and triggering immediate speculation about implications for global crypto markets.

Bitcoin climbed 2.5% to approach $88,000 following the decision, which came as policymakers balanced inflation concerns against mounting fiscal pressures from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s $117 billion stimulus package.

Source: TradingViewThe central bank voted unanimously to lift short-term rates from 0.5%, stating that “real interest rates are expected to remain significantly negative,” and that “accommodative financial conditions will continue to firmly support economic activity.“

Governor Kazuo Ueda emphasized the bank would “continue to raise the policy interest rate and adjust the degree of monetary accommodation” if the economic outlook materializes as projected.

Historic Move Confronts Deepening Fiscal ChallengesThe rate increase represents Japan’s most aggressive monetary tightening since 1995, though borrowing costs remain far below those in other major economies.

The decision arrives as Takaichi’s government pushes through expansive fiscal policies funded largely by issuing more bonds.

More than half of the stimulus spending will come from additional debt issuance, raising concerns about Japan’s already massive public debt, more than twice the size of its economy.

Speaking to The New York Times, George Goncalves, head strategist at MUFG, noted the “volatile mix of growing debt, higher interest rates, aggressive fiscal spending and tariffs make the path forward for Japan’s economy difficult to predict.”

Market reactions were mixed, with the yen initially strengthening before giving up those gains as investors digested the statement’s implications.

Christopher Wong, currency strategist at OCBC, speaking with Reuters, added that “the yen initially strengthened but quickly surrendered those gains, in part reflecting thin market liquidity that amplified short-term price action rather than a reassessment of fundamentals.“

Divergent Policy Paths Signal Volatility AheadThe rate hike comes amid broader regulatory shifts in Japan’s crypto landscape.

The Financial Services Agency recently proposed requiring exchanges to hold dedicated reserves against customer losses, extending a framework long used in traditional securities markets.

The move follows major breaches, including Bybit’s February 2025 hack, which resulted in roughly $1.46 billion in losses.

Japan is also simultaneously preparing its most sweeping overhaul of crypto oversight in almost a decade, planning to move digital assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

The transition would impose stricter disclosure requirements and explicit insider-trading rules covering token listings, major system breaches, and large-scale issuer sales.

Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, reacted bullishly to the decision on social media. “Don’t fight the BOJ: -ve real rates is the explicit policy,” Hayes wrote. “$JPY to 200, and $BTC to a milly.“

Speaking with Cryptonews, Ignacio Aguirre, CMO at Bitget, offered measured optimism despite near-term uncertainty.

“However, the BOJ’s tightening stands in contrast to widely expected Fed rate cuts in early 2026, setting up a period of heightened volatility that often creates attractive accumulation windows for long-term investors,” Aguirre said.

He projected Bitcoin could retest the $95,000–$100,000 range by early 2026.

Market Analysts Split on Bitcoin’s Near-Term TrajectoryTrader Michael van de Poppe downplayed the hike’s lasting impact on crypto markets.

“Markets knew this beforehand, so the actual impact of this rate hike is firstly, going to have less impact the more those will take places as the marginal impact for the Carry Trade is getting less and less,” van de Poppe said.

He argued markets had “overpriced this to the downside prior to the event expecting a big crash to occur,” adding that given the soft inflation outlook, “it’s time to get back to the fair price for Bitcoin.“

Bitcoin initially dipped below $86,000 following the announcement due to yen carry trade unwinds, but quickly rebounded above $87,000 as pre-event downside fears proved overblown.

CryptoMichNL noted the hike’s reduced marginal impact on carry trades from prior adjustments, with markets having priced in a severe crash that didn’t materialize.

Meanwhile, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee also reaffirmed his prediction that Bitcoin will reach $200,000 by late January 2026 in a recent CNBC interview, implying a near-doubling from current levels around $85,500 amid post-election consolidation.

Lee’s forecast draws on surging spot ETF inflows exceeding $30 billion year-to-date and anticipated regulatory easing under the Trump administration, aligning with his accurate 2024 call for Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 during the halving cycle.

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Bitcoin (BTC) aimed for $88,000 on Friday after Japan’s central bank raised interest rates to 30-year highs.

Key points:

Bitcoin joins US stocks futures heading higher in a curiously bullish reaction to Japan’s interest-rate hike.

Commentators argue that no further hikes will happen due to economic forces.

Bitcoin continues to hammer out a bottom on longer timeframes.

Arthur Hayes eyes BTC price, yen surgeData from Cointelegraph Markets and TradingView showed 2.5% BTC price gains versus the daily open.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
In line with expectations, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) hiked rates to around 0.75% on the day, marking their highest levels in three decades and ending the country’s latest period of “cheap” money.

Against a backdrop of global central-bank policy easing, Japan’s move stood out. While the hike was notionally a headwind for crypto and risk assets, reactions were optimistic.

“Don’t fight the BOJ: -ve real rates is the explicit policy,” Arthur Hayes, former CEO of crypto exchange BitMEX, told X followers. 

“$JPY to 200, and $BTC to a milly.” Source: Bank of Japan
Hayes was one of several commentators who saw the hike as ultimately bullish for asset holders.

Continuing, the research project Temple 8 Research flagged an emerging standoff between market expectations and economic reality in Japan.

“The market sees a hawkish pivot. We see a political ceiling,” it summarized in a blog post last week.

Temple 8 predicted that rates would not rise again before 2027 to protect the yen and avoid increased interest payments on Japan’s latest $140 billion stimulus package.

“You cannot floor the gas (Fiscal Stimulus) while slamming the brakes (Rate Hikes),” the post added. 

“If rates go to 1.5%, interest payments on this new debt explode.” USD/JPY one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
Bitcoin lacks “true capitulation event”Bitcoin thus joined US stocks futures heading higher ahead of Friday’s Wall Street open. 

At the time of writing, Nasdaq 100 futures were up 1.5%, while the S&P 500 sought a rebound after flat performance.

Nasdaq 100 futures one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView“With participation remaining strong some measures of investor sentiment shifting back to showing fear, that’s a positive backdrop to see a rally in the final weeks of the year,” trading resource Mosaic Asset Company forecast in a blog post Thursday.

“While the S&P 500 is trading weak recently, the second half of December tends to be positive from a historical seasonal standpoint.” Equal weight S&P 500 chart. Source: Mosaic Asset Company
At the same time, BTC/USD hit a low of $84,390 amid volatility following the surprise US inflation data.

Traders remained highly cautious, with calls for further support retests commonplace on social media.

Possible quick test of 80K underway. $BTCUSD pic.twitter.com/KGL61fKOwD

— Aksel Kibar, CMT (@TechCharts) December 18, 2025
“Bitcoin is currently hammering out a bottom, but the process is far from over,” onchain analytics platform Checkonchain warned on the day.

Checkonchain singled out $81,000, the cost basis for the US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as a key line in the sand.

It added that the market was yet to witness a “true capitulation event.”

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

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

There is no doubt that 2025 is not ending well for crypto markets despite all of the positive fundamentals. 

Crypto markets are currently around 13% lower than they were at the beginning of this year, and Bitcoin is down approximately 8%. Total market capitalization is now at its lowest level since April after falling below $3 trillion this week, but it’s not all that bad, say analysts and experts.

“I get that this year is a drag, but consider Bitcoin was up 468% in the two years prior to this year,” observed Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on Thursday. He added that this was an annual return of 138%, which is eight times more than US stocks.

“That is sooo much excess return beyond normalcy,” he said before adding, “all that happened this year is you gave back a tiny bit of the excess.”

“It’s like your ice cream sundae now has 55 cherries instead of 60. You’re Fine!”

Feels Worse Than Covid Crash
Futures trader ‘Toni’ replied, stating that the long-term gain and current pullback mean that “reversion is doing its job, not a bear market.”

“The ETF inflows created the spike, now we’re just settling back to the long-term BTC growth curve. This is healthy consolidation.”

The comments came in response to analyst ‘Ash Crypto,’ who said that markets made this year feel worse than the COVID crash, FTX meltdown, LUNA crash, SEC and Gary Gensler’s lawsuit spree, Celsius and BlockFi bankruptcies, and the 3AC collapse.

He listed several bullish fundamentals that have emerged this year, including pro-crypto policy in the US, all-time highs for stocks and commodities, institutional adoption, and expansion of the global money supply.

“Market rallies don’t start when hope is high, it’s when people are tired, frustrated, and ready to give up.”

2025 has been brutal, “it was front-loaded pain in every single way possible, from tariffs to geopolitical tensions to policy mayhem and everything in between,” said crypto investor Jesse Eckel.

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China’s Mining Crackdown Drives Bitcoin Hashrate to Three-Month Low

Bitcoin RSI Nears Oversold Levels That Historically Triggered Major Rallies

Bitcoin (BTC) Has Entered a Bearish Phase, Structural Indicators Confirm

However, he also debunked the four-year cycle theory, stating that 2026 is structurally the opposite.

“They want an economic boom and are pouring as much gasoline on the fire as they can. It’s not even 2026, and we’ve already received three rate cuts, QT is over, balance sheet expansion is underway, and tariff reductions,” he added before adding that it will be a five-year cycle.

Don’t Panic And Zoom Out
Looking at the Bitcoin chart from a yearly perspective shows that it is still in a strong uptrend. BTC is still double the price it was trading at on this day two years ago and more than 400% higher than it was in December 2022.

Nevertheless, the asset continues to weaken in the short term and was trading around $87,000 at the time of writing, 31% down from its all-time high, but up 2.3% after the Bank of Japan raised rates on Friday morning.

✅Institutions buying #Bitcoin

✅Strategy buying #BTC

✅Liquidity coming

✅Interest rate cut

✅QE, FED prints $40B

✅M2 Money Supply, stable

✅Global liquidity +10 weeks, up

✅Global liquidity +/- arbitrary figure, up

✅Bitcoin Top Signal Indicators, up

🔥Bitcoin down $46,000… pic.twitter.com/trFRiNejst

— Jason Pizzino 🌞 (@jasonpizzino) December 18, 2025

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On-chain data shows the distribution of the underwater Bitcoin supply has been shifting recently with the share of long-term holders rising.

23.7% Of Bitcoin Supply Is Currently Being Held At A Loss
In its latest weekly report, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has discussed about the latest trend in the Bitcoin Total Supply in Loss. This metric measures, as its name suggests, the total amount of the cryptocurrency’s supply that’s currently carrying a net unrealized loss.

The indicator works by going through the transaction history of each token in circulation to see what price it was last moved at. If this previous transaction price was lower than the latest spot price for any token, then that particular coin is assumed to be underwater right now.

The Total Supply in Loss adds up all coins of this type to produce a net situation for the network. A counterpart metric called the Total Supply in Profit accounts for the tokens of the opposite type.

Now, here is the chart shared by the analytics firm that shows the trend in the 7-day moving average (MA) of the Total Supply in Loss over the last few years:

The value of the metric seems to have been high in recent days | Source: Glassnode's The Week Onchain - Week 50, 2025
As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Total Supply in Loss witnessed a sharp surge as the asset’s price crashed in November. Since then, the metric has stayed inside the 6 to 7 million BTC range, with its current value being 6.7 million BTC. This phase corresponds to the highest degree of loss on the network since 2023.

Glassnode explained:

Persisting within the 6–7 million BTC range since mid-November, this pattern closely mirrors early transitional phases of prior cycles, where mounting investor frustration preceded a shift toward more pronounced bearish conditions and intensified capitulation at lower prices.

The report has also shed light on how this loss supply is distributed between the two main divisions of the Bitcoin investors based on holding time: short-term holders (STHs) and long-term holders (LTHs). The cutoff between the two groups is 155 days, with investors who purchased inside this window falling in the STHs and those with a longer holding time in LTHs.

As the below chart shows, the Bitcoin loss supply spike last month was initially dominated by STHs.

The breakdown of the loss supply between STHs and LTHs | Source: Glassnode's The Week Onchain - Week 50, 2025
With the cryptocurrency ranging low since then, the distribution of the loss supply has seen a shift between the two cohorts: LTHs have gained some notable share.

Of the 23.7% Bitcoin supply in circulation that’s underwater right now, 13.5% is held by STHs and 10.2% by LTHs. “This distribution suggests that, much like in prior cycle transitions into deeper bearish regimes, loss-bearing supply accumulated by recent buyers is gradually maturing into the long-term holder cohort,” noted the analytics firm.

BTC Price
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $85,400, down more than 5.5% over the last week.

Looks like the price of the coin has plunged | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView
Featured image from Dall-E, Glassnode.com, chart from TradingView.com

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Keshav is a Physics graduate who has been employed as a writer with Bitcoinist since June 2021. He is passionate about writing and through the years, he has gained experience working in a variety of niches.
Keshav holds an active interest in the cryptocurrency market, with on-chain analysis being an area he particularly likes to research and write about.

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Evans S.

Summarize this article with:

The topic of “bitcoin versus quantum” comes up in waves. This week, it is no longer just a debate among researchers. Part of the ecosystem is pushing to accelerate a concrete update. And another is resisting strongly, considering the alert premature.

In brief

BIP-360 revives the debate on bitcoin’s quantum resistance.
Some want to accelerate from 2026, others consider the threat still distant.
The real battle will be address migration, more political than technical.

BIP-360, the post-quantum option shaking up bitcoin
BIP-360 proposes adding a new type of address to bitcoin capable of using so-called “post-quantum” signatures. The idea is to offer an escape route before more powerful machines make some current signatures fragile.

Technically, the proposal is often summarized as a “pay-to-quantum-resistant-hash.” It mainly targets bitcoins that could become exposed if, one day, a quantum computer can derive a private key from a public key. BIP-360 therefore tries to anticipate a future where this scenario is no longer science fiction.

But the most important thing is not the formula. It is the political signal. For bitcoin, any serious evolution requires rare coordination: hardware wallets, nodes, miners, exchanges, integrators. A good idea without alignment remains a PDF on the Internet.

Urgency or Excess Caution: the Bitcoiner Split
Supporters of accelerated action speak of a market risk even before a technical risk. Charles Edwards (Capriole) insists on a tight schedule and mentions a 2026 window to finalize and deploy. He goes further. According to him, coins that do not migrate to BIP-360 should even be “burned” by 2028. This radicalism shocked, but it also awakened the conversation.

Opposite, very respected profiles remind us that panic can be a bad advisor. Adam Back emphasizes that bitcoin does not “do encryption” in the sense many understand it, and that short-term break scenarios mostly come from FUD. He considers the threat significantly distant, over decades.

Samson Mow, meanwhile, chooses sarcasm to deflate the bubble. His argument is almost pedagogical: if quantum is still at modest demonstrations, why imagine it will swallow bitcoin tomorrow morning? The mockery mainly targets the idea of a “panic sale” triggered by a misunderstood fear.

Taproot Retreats: technical signal or psychological symptom?
An element has added fuel to the fire: the use of Taproot is declining. According to Willy Woo, the share of transactions using Taproot has dropped from about 42% in 2024 to around 20% recently. He says he has “never seen” the newest format lose adoption in bitcoin.

It’s tempting to see this as a vote by users. Taproot is associated with Schnorr signatures, therefore with a cryptographic family that quantum could theoretically threaten via Shor’s algorithm. In this reading, less Taproot would mean “less attack surface.” And the idea is virally simple, so it spreads quickly.

Except that the reality is more nuanced. The vulnerability mainly depends on a precise point: when the public key is revealed on-chain, and how long it remains exploitable. Many formats reveal the public key at the time of spending. Taproot is not magically “the only” concerned, even if its public perception can become so. And, on a market, perception often ends up weighing as much as cryptography.

2026-2028: the real challenge is migration
Even if everyone agreed tomorrow, the hardest part would then begin. A post-quantum transition is a mass migration. It must be compatible, gradual, and understandable by non-specialists. Otherwise, it creates a new risk: user errors, losses, or stuck funds.

This is also why alternatives are circulating. On the Blockstream Research side and discussions on the bitcoindev mailing list, one explored path is “hash-based” signatures. The appeal is clear: security would mainly rely on hash function assumptions, a terrain already familiar to bitcoin.

At heart, the BIP-360 debate goes beyond technique. It touches bitcoin’s DNA: move slowly, but survive everything. The “impatient” fear a confidence shock before the real attack. The “patients” fear a rushed update, more dangerous than the threat. Between them, the network advances as it always does: through frictions, trials, and consensus… when it eventually emerges. And regarding the price, Tom Lee sees a strong signal.

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Evans S.

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

DISCLAIMER

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