‍VALR and Checkout.com Partner to Streamline Global Crypto Purchases VALR, Africa's largest crypto exchange, has partnered with Checkout.com to simplify international crypto purchases. This integration allows users outside South Africa to fund accounts and buy digital assets using credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay in over 150 fiat currencies. Funds are credited to VALR wallets in seconds as stablecoins like USDC or other chosen crypto assets, supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. This move aims to democratize crypto access and bridge traditional finance with the cryptocurrency world. VALR serves over 1.5 million retail users and 1,800 corporate clients globally.

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VALR & Checkout.com Partner to Streamline Global Crypto Purchases

VALR, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Africa by trading volume, has announced a significant partnership with global payment provider Checkou...

‍Bitcoin Tests $90K Amidst Macro Data and Technical Signals Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating below the $90,000 support level, with traders closely monitoring upcoming U.S. macroeconomic data and technical indicators. Key price levels to watch are $80,000 and $99,000, with significant liquidity noted between $95,000-$98,000. A bearish flag pattern suggests a potential drop to $76,000, though some analysts believe a reversal is possible. Critical U.S. data releases this week, including CPI and the Jobs Report, could inject volatility. On-chain data indicates speculative traders are capitulating, potentially signaling a market bottom.

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Bitcoin Struggles Below $90K; Key Macro Data and Bear Flag in Focus

As the year winds down, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading in a tight range, struggling to maintain its position above the critical $90,000 support level....

‍Analyst Luke Gromen Projects Bitcoin Dip to $40K Amid Macro Shifts Global macro analyst Luke Gromen has adopted a near-term bearish stance on Bitcoin, projecting a potential slide to the $40,000 range in 2026. This marks a shift from his previous championing of Bitcoin as a key asset in the "debasement trade" thesis. Gromen cites Bitcoin's failure to set new highs against gold and a break below key moving averages as technical indicators of weakness. He also highlights growing discussions around quantum computing as a potential risk to Bitcoin's cryptography. However, some in the crypto community, like on-chain analyst Checkmate, criticize Gromen's reasoning as narrative-driven rather than based on fundamental data. Market data shows stabilization in U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF flows, indicating persistent investor demand.

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Analyst Luke Gromen Foresees Bitcoin Dip to $40K Amid Macro Shifts

Global macro analyst Luke Gromen has adopted a near-term bearish stance on Bitcoin, projecting a potential slide to the $40,000 range in 2026....

‍Vantage APAC Gala in Vietnam Signals Major 2026 Expansion Plans Vantage, a multi-asset broker, hosted its APAC Gala Dinner 2025 in Vietnam, highlighting significant regional growth and outlining ambitious plans for 2026. The event celebrated achievements and reaffirmed the company's commitment to expanding its presence and offerings in the Asia-Pacific market. Awards were presented to outstanding partners, recognizing excellence in collaboration. Vantage also showcased its corporate social responsibility initiatives, underscoring its commitment to sustainable growth and community impact. The gala concluded with a preview of 2026 plans, emphasizing innovation and unified expansion for the broker and its network.

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Vantage APAC Gala in Vietnam Signals Major 2026 Expansion Plans

Vantage, a prominent multi-asset broker, successfully concluded its APAC Gala Dinner 2025 in Vietnam, signaling a strong focus on regional growth a...

‍Bitget Expands Futures Trading with RAVEUSDT Perpetual Contracts The global cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has listed RAVEUSDT perpetual futures, effective December 15, 2025. This addition allows traders to utilize a maximum leverage of 20x, with settlements in USDT. The new contract is integrated with Bitget's trading bots and is accessible via website and mobile app.

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Bitget Expands Futures Market with RAVEUSDT Perpetual Contracts

The global cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has announced the addition of RAVEUSDT perpetual futures to its trading platform, effective December 15, ...

‍Curve Founder Seeks $6.6M CRV Grant for 2026 Protocol Development Curve Finance founder Michael Egorov has proposed a grant of 17.45 million CRV tokens ($6.6 million) to fund research, development, and ecosystem growth for the lending protocol in 2026. The funds are requested by Swiss Stake AG, the development entity behind Curve. Key objectives for 2026 include scaling Llamalend, creating an on-chain foreign exchange mechanism, and improving the user interface. The grant will also support smart contract maintenance, cross-chain integrations, and DAO infrastructure. While Swiss Stake AG has generated some revenue, it has not yet achieved self-sustainability. If approved, bi-annual reports on fund usage will be provided.

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Curve Founder Seeks $6.6M CRV Grant for Protocol Development in 2026

Curve Finance founder, Michael Egorov, has put forward a significant proposal to the Curve DAO for a grant of 17....

‍Chinese Yuan Hits 14-Month High, Impacting Crypto The Chinese Yuan has strengthened significantly, reaching a 14-month high against the US dollar. This development, supported by the People's Bank of China's stabilization policies, could influence cryptocurrency markets. Historically, a weaker yuan has prompted Chinese investors to move capital into Bitcoin for hedging. A strengthening yuan might reduce this incentive, though Chinese investor interest in crypto remains substantial. China's continued development of its digital yuan (e-CNY) underscores its interest in digital economy infrastructure, despite strict regulations on decentralized cryptocurrencies. The interplay between major economies' monetary policies and digital asset flows remains a key factor for investors. The yuan's trajectory and China's blockchain ambitions will continue to shape the global crypto landscape.

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Chinese Yuan at 14-Month High: What Does It Mean for Crypto Markets?

The Chinese Yuan (RMB) has surged to a 14-month high against the US dollar, a development that is capturing the attention of the cryptocurrency mar...

‍Prysm Client Bug Causes Ethereum Network Disruption, Valued at 382 ETH A bug in the Prysm consensus client led to significant performance issues, missed blocks, and an estimated loss of 382 ETH in attestation rewards for validators on December 4th. The incident, occurring after the Fusaka network upgrade, caused resource exhaustion in Prysm nodes, leading to a drop in network participation. This event underscores the critical importance of client diversity on the Ethereum blockchain. While the disruption was considerable, the use of multiple consensus clients prevented a more catastrophic failure, such as a temporary loss of finality. The community is renewing its focus on decentralization, urging validators to adopt a wider range of clients.

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Prysm Client Bug Caused Ethereum Outage, Costing Validators 382 ETH

A bug in the Prysm consensus client, which had been dormant on testnets for a month, was identified as the cause of a significant disruption on the...

‍North Korean Hackers Steal $300M via Fake Zoom Meetings North Korean hackers have reportedly stolen over $300 million in cryptocurrency using a sophisticated scheme involving fake Zoom meetings. Victims were tricked into downloading malware disguised as an audio patch file to resolve purported technical issues during the calls. Security experts urge anyone who clicked a suspicious link to immediately disconnect and power down their device, transfer assets to a new secure wallet, and change all passwords, enabling 2FA. Vigilance against unsolicited links and file downloads is crucial.

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North Korean Hackers Steal $300M in Crypto via Fake Zoom Meetings

A sophisticated cyber-attack orchestrated by a North Korean hacking group has resulted in the theft of over $300 million in cryptocurrency....

‍TestMachine Secures $6.5 Million for AI-Powered On-Chain Security Platform TestMachine, an AI-driven blockchain security firm, has raised $6.5 million to expand its on-chain security platform, Predator. The funding round was co-led by BlockChange Ventures, New Form Capital, Decasonic, and Delphi Digital. Predator offers real-time security monitoring for digital assets and is integrated with Coinbase's CEX and DEX. The platform has demonstrated high accuracy in identifying token risks.

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TestMachine Raises $6.5M to Boost On-Chain AI Security Platform

The AI-powered blockchain security company, TestMachine, has successfully closed a $6.5 million funding round aimed at the global expansion of its...

‍Exor Rejects $1.1 Billion Takeover Bid for Juventus FC from Tether Exor, the Agnelli family's holding company, has rejected a $1.1 billion unsolicited takeover bid from stablecoin issuer Tether for Juventus Football Club. The offer, which included a 21% premium, was unanimously dismissed by Exor's board. Tether, already a significant shareholder, aimed to acquire Exor's 65.4% stake and inject an additional $1 billion for club development. However, Exor CEO John Elkann stated, "Juventus, our history and our values are not for sale," highlighting the family's 102-year commitment to the club.

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Exor Rejects Tether

Exor, the holding company of Italy

‍Satoshi's Bitcoin Stash: Quantum Threat Debate A recent discussion on social media explored the potential impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security, particularly concerning Satoshi Nakamoto's estimated 1 million BTC. Analyst Willy Woo suggests that a quantum-induced "flash crash" would be a buying opportunity for long-term holders. Older P2PK addresses, holding around 4 million BTC including Satoshi's, are theoretically vulnerable. However, newer wallet formats are more secure. Experts like Adam Back estimate quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption are decades away, providing ample time for Bitcoin to adopt post-quantum cryptography.

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Satoshi

A recent social media debate has reignited discussions about the potential impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin

‍Aave Governance Dispute: CoW Swap Fees in Question A significant governance clash has emerged within Aave. The Aave DAO is in conflict with Aave Labs, its primary development entity, over allegations that revenue from a CoW Swap integration is being diverted away from the DAO's treasury. A pseudonymous delegate, EzR3aL, presented on-chain analysis suggesting fees from CoW Swap swaps are flowing to a private Aave Labs address, potentially costing the DAO over $10 million annually. Aave Labs argues they have the right to monetize the interface they develop and fund, stating the switch to CoW Swap was for user benefit and MEV protection, not revenue. However, many community members contend that revenue from DAO-funded development should belong to the DAO. This dispute raises critical questions about revenue ownership and transparency in decentralized governance.

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Aave Governance Clash: Are CoW Swap Fees Diverted From the DAO?

A significant governance dispute has erupted within the Aave ecosystem, one of the largest decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocols....

‍Whale.io Launches $WHALE NFT Collection on Solana Ahead of Token Generation Event Whale.io has released its $WHALE NFT collection on the Solana blockchain. This initiative introduces a pre-market phase for the platform's native token, leading up to the Token Generation Event (TGE). Each $WHALE NFT is a tradable digital card backed 1:1 by $WHALE tokens locked on-chain, redeemable at any time. The NFTs can be minted at mintwhale.io and traded on secondary marketplaces like Magic Eden. The $WHALE token is used for gameplay, Battlepasses, and staking rewards on the Whale.io platform, with plans for further utility expansion post-TGE. The project also commits to regular token buybacks and burns to support long-term token value.

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Whale.io Launches $WHALE NFT Collection on Solana Before TGE

The online casino and sportsbook platform Whale. io has officially launched its $WHALE NFT collection on the Solana blockchain....

‍HashKey Group Pursues Landmark Hong Kong Crypto IPO HashKey Group is set to become the first fully crypto-native company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to raise up to $215 million. Trading is anticipated to begin on December 17, 2025. The company operates a comprehensive digital asset ecosystem including its SFC-licensed HashKey Exchange, HashKey Cloud (a major institutional staking service in Asia), and an asset management division. Despite significant revenue growth from $16.5 million in 2022 to $92.4 million in 2024, the firm has reported widening net losses due to investments in technology and compliance. Proceeds from the IPO will fund technology upgrades, market expansion, and operational strengthening, underscoring HashKey's ambition for global leadership in the digital asset infrastructure sector.

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HashKey Group Aims for Landmark Hong Kong Crypto IPO This December

HashKey Group is on the verge of making history with its planned Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, potentially becomin...

‍Bitcoin Cycle Evolution: From Halving to Macro Factors Markus Thielen of 10x Research suggests Bitcoin's market cycles are shifting from halving events to US election timelines, central bank policies, and global liquidity. Arthur Hayes concurs, emphasizing global liquidity as the primary driver. Analysts advise focusing on political events and monetary conditions rather than solely on Bitcoin's supply mechanics for future price movements.

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Bitcoin’s Cycle Shifts From Halving to Politics & Global Liquidity

The long-standing debate over Bitcoin’s four-year cycle has taken a new turn. According to Markus Thielen, head of research at 10x Research, the ...

‍Zoomex Lab Champions "User-First" Web3 Payments at Seoul Gala 2025 Global crypto trading platform Zoomex Lab is a leading sponsor of the Web3 Year-End Gala in Seoul on December 18. The event, hosted by GRID and supported by Tencent Cloud, will convene industry leaders to discuss the integration of Web3 into real-world payment systems with a "user-first" agenda for 2026. Key topics include regulatory opportunities and platform strategies for mainstream Web3 payment adoption. Zoomex Lab is expected to unveil its 2026 roadmap focused on user interaction.

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Zoomex Lab Champions "User-First" Web3 Payments at Seoul Gala 2025

The stage is set in Seoul for a glimpse into the future of digital finance, as global cryptocurrency trading platform Zoomex Lab takes a leading...

‍Chinese Firm Yuzhi Financial Accused of Crypto Ponzi Scheme Yuzhi Financial, a Chinese firm, is suspected of operating a Ponzi scheme via its HSEX virtual asset trading app. Investors were promised a fixed 1% daily profit on Bitcoin trades and recruitment bonuses, with advertised returns reaching 370.6% in 30 days. Users recently faced withdrawal freezes. The platform then imposed a 20% "self-proving margin" and increased withdrawal fees to 30%, indicating a potential "soft exit scam." This incident underscores the persistent fraud risks in the less-regulated digital asset market.

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Chinese Firm Yuzhi Financial Accused of a Crypto Ponzi Scheme

A Chinese financial company named Yuzhi Financial is under suspicion of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme disguised as a cryptocurrency trading operatio...

‍"Bitcoin Rodney" Faces 20 Years for $1.8B HyperFund Fraud Rodney Burton, known as "Bitcoin Rodney," faces up to 20 years in prison following an expanded indictment for his role in the alleged $1.8 billion HyperFund cryptocurrency fraud scheme. The superseding indictment includes 11 federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Prosecutors claim Burton and co-conspirators promoted HyperFund and its successor platforms, like HyperVerse, from June 2020 to May 2024, promising investors daily returns of 0.5% to 1%. These returns were purportedly from non-existent mining operations. The SEC has characterized HyperFund as a pyramid and Ponzi scheme. Burton allegedly used proceeds for luxury items, including a yacht. Co-founder Sam Lee also faces charges, while promoter Brenda Chunga has pleaded guilty. Burton maintains he was also deceived, and his trial is set for March 2026.

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"Bitcoin Rodney" Faces 20 Years in Prison for $1.8B HyperFund Scheme

Rodney Burton, a cryptocurrency promoter widely known as “Bitcoin Rodney”, is facing the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after a feder...

‍Bitcoin Price Under Pressure as Whales Utilize Covered Calls Long-term Bitcoin holders ("whales") are employing a covered call options strategy, creating sell-side pressure that is currently suppressing BTC's price despite strong demand from spot ETF investors. This derivatives market activity is contributing to choppy price action. The sale of call options allows whales to collect premiums, but necessitates hedging by market makers who sell spot Bitcoin, thereby pushing the price down. This cycle suggests the options market is dictating Bitcoin's trajectory in the short term. Additionally, Bitcoin has decoupled from stock market performance, and future price movements may heavily depend on U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy. Analysts remain divided on Bitcoin's outlook, with predictions ranging from further declines to potential rallies driven by macroeconomic factors.

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Bitcoin Price Held Down by Whales Selling Covered Call Options

The price of Bitcoin is facing significant downward pressure, largely due to a specific options trading strategy employed by long-term holders, oft...