Cryptovka | News | CryptoMarket & Blockchain's avatar
Cryptovka | News | CryptoMarket & Blockchain
npub1kc6c...0vwv
CryptoMarket and Blockchain News
‍Institutions Withdraw Over $580M from Crypto ETFs Amid Volatility U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw their largest combined net outflow in over two weeks, totaling $582.4 million on Monday. This suggests institutional investors are reducing risk exposure due to renewed U.S. equity volatility and global monetary policy uncertainty. Bitcoin ETFs experienced $357.6 million in outflows, while Ethereum ETFs saw nearly $225 million withdrawn. Analysts note Bitcoin is increasingly correlating with the Nasdaq, acting as a derivative. Economic pressures, including inflation concerns and rising Treasury yields, contribute to this trend. Despite short-term de-risking, a cautiously optimistic long-term outlook persists, with factors like expanding global liquidity and institutional infrastructure supporting potential recovery.
‍Visa Rolls Out USDC Settlements on Solana for US Banks Payment industry leader Visa has launched USD Coin (USDC) settlement services for US financial institutions, utilizing the Solana blockchain. Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are the first participants. This initiative aims to modernize treasury operations with faster, programmable settlement options. Visa is also a design partner for Circle's new Arc blockchain. The company has established a Stablecoins Advisory Practice and expanded stablecoin services to Central/Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. A pilot program for businesses to send USDC payouts is underway, with wider availability expected in 2026.
‍Lucky Train Launches on TON with Gamified Staking Model Lucky Train has launched its Web3 gaming application on the TON blockchain, introducing a gamified staking-like model framed as a train journey. Accessible via a Telegram Mini App, the experience is fully on-chain. Users purchase a "ticket" (smart contract) to lock TrainCoin (TRN) tokens for a specified duration. Upon completion, tokens are unlocked with rewards. TRN has a fixed supply and a deflationary model, with tokens burned during ticket purchases and ride initiation. All operations are on-chain, ensuring transparency and user control of locked funds. The project has been audited by ToneBit and CertiK. Rewards are managed by smart contracts, funded by token supply and ticket sales.
‍Matador Technologies Amends Debt Deal, Buys $10.5M in Bitcoin Matador Technologies Inc. has revised its $100 million convertible debt agreement with ATW Partners. The initial $10.5 million tranche will be used exclusively for purchasing Bitcoin (BTC). The updated terms remove previous stipulations regarding future BTC holdings. The convertible notes will carry an 8% interest rate, decreasing to 5% if Matador uplists to Nasdaq or NYSE, and increasing to 18% in case of default. The initial conversion price is $0.529 per share. This move signals Matador's aggressive strategy to bolster its Bitcoin treasury.
‍US Government and Coinbase Launch "US Tech Force" Initiative The U.S. government has launched "US Tech Force," a two-year program to recruit approximately 1,000 tech specialists in AI, cybersecurity, and data analysis for federal agencies. Coinbase is a key partner alongside companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Participants will earn $150,000-$200,000 annually. The initiative highlights the growing importance of blockchain and digital assets in national strategy, potentially leading to more integrated regulatory frameworks and cross-sector innovation.
‍Ethereum Whale Secures $3.7M Profit, Still Facing Net Loss An influential Ethereum investor has realized a $3.7 million profit after selling 10,000 ETH for $29.15 million. This move follows a significant loss of $40 million earlier this year when the whale was forced to sell 30,894 ETH to avoid liquidation. Despite the recent gain, the investor still holds 40,600 ETH, representing an unrealized profit of $15 million. However, this paper gain has not yet fully offset the earlier substantial loss. The situation underscores the inherent risks of leveraged positions in the volatile cryptocurrency market.
‍Masters of Trivia ($MOT) Secures CoinMarketCap Listing and HundrED Global Award The educational quiz platform Masters of Trivia has achieved two significant milestones: its utility token, $MOT, is now listed on CoinMarketCap, and the project has been selected for the HundrED Global Collection 2026. The CoinMarketCap listing increases the $MOT token's global reach, while the HundrED award validates the platform's innovative approach to combining education with blockchain technology. Masters of Trivia utilizes a gamified learning model with short-form quizzes and rewards users with $MOT tokens for engagement, premium content access, and competitive gameplay. Upcoming features include multiplayer quiz tournaments, further enhancing $MOT token utility for entry fees and rewards. This dual recognition positions Masters of Trivia for substantial growth in the token-powered learning and competition space.
‍LBank Launches Pre-Market Trading for MetaMask's MASK Token Global cryptocurrency exchange LBank has initiated pre-market trading for the anticipated MetaMask (MASK) token, effective December 16th, 2025. This offering allows early access to the MASK token before its official public listing. To enhance investor security, LBank has also implemented a Pre-Market Trade Protection campaign. MetaMask, a leading non-custodial Web3 wallet developed by ConsenSys, serves as a critical gateway to the Ethereum ecosystem, boasting approximately 30 million monthly active users and over 5 billion transactions processed. This launch aligns with LBank's strategy to become a hub for next-generation crypto assets, reinforcing its commitment to a secure trading environment for its over 20 million users.
‍StraitsX to Launch XSGD and XUSD Stablecoins on Solana in Early 2026 Singapore-based StraitsX will launch its Singapore dollar-backed (XSGD) and US dollar-backed (XUSD) stablecoins on the Solana blockchain in early 2026. This integration aims to enhance Solana's capabilities for global payments and digital commerce, making it the first public blockchain to host both stablecoins. The move is expected to leverage Solana's high transaction speeds and low costs for real-time settlements. StraitsX stablecoins have processed over $18 billion in on-chain transactions. This collaboration will enable deep integration of SGD and USD stablecoins on a single chain, potentially unlocking new opportunities for on-chain foreign exchange, AMM pools, and lending markets. StraitsX and the Solana Foundation will collaborate to foster deeper liquidity within Solana's DeFi ecosystem, including DEXs and lending protocols. Major centralized exchanges are also anticipated to support the Solana-native stablecoins, increasing their accessibility.
‍PancakeSwap Launches Zero-Fee Prediction Market 'Probable' on BNB Chain PancakeSwap, in collaboration with YZi Labs, is launching Probable, a new on-chain prediction platform on BNB Chain. The platform aims to simplify prediction markets by removing high fees and complex interfaces. Probable will allow users to speculate on various events, including crypto price movements, global news, and sports. A key feature is seamless asset conversion to USDT for predictions. The platform will utilize UMA's Optimistic Oracle for secure and reliable event outcome verification, ensuring a fair environment. This collaboration seeks to enhance user engagement in the decentralized prediction space.
‍KuCoin Brand Film Wins Five Vega Digital Awards KuCoin's brand film, featuring golfer Adam Scott, has secured five awards at the 2025 Vega Digital Awards, including four Platinum and one Gold. The campaign highlights themes of precision, discipline, and trust, drawing parallels between elite sports and KuCoin's commitment to security. "This award is a reflection of KuCoin’s steady progress in building a compliant and trustworthy presence in global markets," stated BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. The win coincides with KuCoin's recent registration as a Digital Currency Exchange provider with AUSTRAC in Australia, reinforcing its dedication to the region.
‍Bitcoin Shows Resilience Amidst Broad Market Correction Over the past three months, Bitcoin (BTC) has demonstrated superior resilience compared to most altcoin sectors, despite its own recent downturn. Capital has continued to flow into BTC, reinforcing its role as a relative safe haven in the volatile crypto market. While Bitcoin saw a 26% decline, Ethereum (ETH) fell by approximately 36%. Other sectors experienced even steeper losses: AI tokens dropped by 48%, memecoins by 56%, RWA tokenization by 46%, and DeFi by 38%. This trend highlights a "flight to quality" toward the market's primary asset.
‍Ripple's RLUSD Stablecoin Expands to New Blockchains Ripple is piloting its US dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, on Ethereum Layer-2 networks Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain via a partnership with Wormhole. This move enhances multichain capabilities and aims to prevent liquidity fragmentation by using Wormhole's Native Token Transfers standard. RLUSD, launched in December 2024 and currently boasting a $1.3 billion market cap, is issued under a NYDFS Trust Company Charter. A full launch on additional chains is planned for next year, pending regulatory approval.
‍FCA Proposes Comprehensive Crypto Regulation, Amidst Declining Ownership The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation for a new crypto-asset regulatory framework, set to take full effect in October 2027. This initiative coincides with recent FCA data showing a significant drop in UK adults holding crypto, falling from 12% to 8% over the past year. The proposed rules aim to align crypto regulation with traditional finance, enhancing consumer protection and market integrity. Key areas include admissions and disclosures, a Market Abuse Regime (MARC), standards for trading platforms, and regulations for staking, lending, and borrowing services. Firms have until February 12, 2026, to provide feedback. David Geale of the FCA stated, "Our goal is to have a regime that protects consumers, supports innovation and promotes trust." The UK seeks to establish itself as a leader in digital assets with rules aligning more closely with the US than the EU's MiCA framework. This regulatory push seeks to rebuild consumer confidence in a market experiencing declining retail participation.
‍Bitcoin price correction impacts new investors, while short-term holders accumulate Bitcoin's recent dip to $85,800 has resulted in unrealized losses for new large-scale investors ("whales"), according to on-chain analysis. Short-term holders, however, are actively accumulating BTC, viewing the drop as a buying opportunity. Long-term holders have decreased their supply by 1.78 million BTC since July 2025, indicating profit-taking. Shivam Thakral, CEO of BuyUCoin, stated this shift is "a normal feature of late-cycle bull markets." Conversely, short-term holders have increased their holdings by approximately 1.8 million BTC, signaling confidence. Thakral noted this indicates a "classic wealth transfer phase" rather than a market top.
‍Grayscale Predicts New Bitcoin All-Time High in Early 2026 Grayscale anticipates Bitcoin could reach a new all-time high in the first half of 2026, driven by macroeconomic pressures and a maturing regulatory landscape. The firm's "2026 Digital Asset Outlook" report highlights concerns over rising public debt and potential inflation, which could drive investors toward scarce digital assets like Bitcoin. A clearer U.S. regulatory framework by 2026 is also expected to unlock further institutional investment. Grayscale identifies key themes including demand for currency alternatives, stablecoin expansion, privacy solutions, and AI integration with blockchain.
‍US Banks Gear Up for Multi-Year Blockchain Integration A Bank of America report suggests US banks are entering a significant transition towards blockchain technology integration. This shift is driven by developing regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and tokenized deposits, expected to move real-world assets and payment systems onto distributed ledgers. Key US regulatory bodies, including the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve, are actively establishing guidelines. The FDIC is expected to propose rules for payment stablecoins by July 2026, with an effective date in January 2027, as mandated by the GENIUS Act. This legislative push signals a move from theoretical discussions to concrete implementation, poised to reshape the financial landscape and accelerate blockchain adoption in banking.
‍Trump to Review Samourai Wallet Case, Sparking Pardon Hopes Former US President Donald Trump announced he will review the case of Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet. This has ignited discussions about a potential presidential pardon. Rodriguez and co-founder William Lonergan Hill were sentenced in November 2025 to five and four years in prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Prosecutors alleged their service facilitated over $237 million in illegal transactions. The case is seen by many as setting a dangerous precedent for software developers and financial privacy.
‍PayPal Seeks Utah Bank Charter to Enhance Crypto and Lending Payments giant PayPal has applied for a Utah-chartered industrial bank to bolster its lending capabilities and crypto services. If approved, PayPal Bank would allow the company to originate loans and hold deposits directly, providing a regulated framework for its growing digital asset operations, including the PYUSD stablecoin. PayPal CEO Alex Chriss stated the move aims to improve efficiency and support small businesses, noting PayPal has already provided over $30 billion in loans globally since 2013. This strategic initiative seeks to integrate digital assets more deeply into core payment flows and enhance the utility of PYUSD.
‍Bitcoinlib Targeted by Malicious Python Packages Security researchers have uncovered a supply chain attack targeting users of the `bitcoinlib` Python library. Malicious packages were uploaded to PyPI, disguised as fixes, with the aim of stealing database files and compromising cryptocurrency wallets. The malicious packages, `bitcoinlibdbfix` and `bitcoinlib-dev`, were promoted as solutions for user-encountered errors. The code overwrites a legitimate command-line interface command to exfiltrate sensitive database files containing private keys and seed phrases. Security firm ReversingLabs detected the threat, and both packages have been removed from PyPI. This incident highlights the growing threat of supply chain attacks in the cryptocurrency ecosystem and emphasizes the need for developers to verify third-party libraries and implement robust security practices.