‍Arthur Hayes: Fed's RMP Program is 'Hidden Money Printing' Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, argues the Federal Reserve's new Reserve Management Purchases (RMP) program is a rebranded form of quantitative easing. Announced December 10, 2024, alongside a 25 basis point rate cut, the RMP involves purchasing ~$40B in short-term Treasuries. While the Fed states RMP aims to maintain ample reserves, Hayes believes it's a way to finance government spending and inject liquidity, potentially benefiting assets like Bitcoin. He warns such policies can devalue currency and hinder economic output. Bitcoin traded around $92,695 on the announcement day, but has since seen a correction. Market sentiment, via Polymarket, suggests a 77% probability of unchanged interest rates in January 2025. The future Fed leadership, with Jerome Powell's term ending May 2026, could also influence monetary policy.

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Arthur Hayes Claims Fed’s New RMP Tool is Hidden Money Printing

Arthur Hayes, the co-founder and former CEO of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, has raised concerns regarding the Federal Reserve

‍South Korean Police Bust Counterfeit Ring Targeting Crypto Traders Authorities in South Korea have dismantled a criminal organization that produced counterfeit 50,000-won notes, totaling approximately 459.4 million won ($330,000), to defraud cryptocurrency investors in over-the-counter (OTC) transactions. The scheme was thwarted by an alert trader, leading to several arrests and an Interpol red notice. This incident mirrors similar cases globally, highlighting the physical security risks associated with peer-to-peer crypto trading. Experts advise caution and the use of reputable escrow services.

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South Korean Police Bust Counterfeit Ring Targeting Crypto Traders

Authorities in South Korea

‍Pieverse Launches Agentic Neobank for AI-Managed Web3 Finance San Francisco-based Pieverse has launched its Agentic Neobank, a platform for AI agents to manage digital assets and execute transactions in Web3 finance. The neobank operates on a three-pillar model: Deposit, Delegate, and Earn. Users deposit digital assets, which are converted into pie-wrapped tokens. AI agents, granted scoped permissions, can then manage portfolios, rebalance assets, and participate in yield-generating strategies. Key features include programmable compliance via x402b-powered payments and on-chain timestamping, creating auditable trails for tax reporting and regulatory transparency. The system also enables gasless settlement and cross-chain efficiency. Future plans include a fiat gateway for traditional banking integration.

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Pieverse Launches Agentic Neobank for AI-Managed Web3 Finance

San Francisco-based Pieverse has officially announced the launch of its Agentic Neobank, a pioneering financial infrastructure designed to bridge t...

‍Fed Proposes New Payment Accounts for Fintech Firms The Federal Reserve has launched a public consultation for limited payment accounts, offering non-bank financial institutions and fintechs direct access to the central bank's payment infrastructure. This initiative, championed by Fed Governor Christopher Waller, aims to balance financial innovation with systemic stability. These accounts will not accrue interest, will have restricted access to credit facilities, and will feature balance limits. For the crypto and blockchain sectors, this could mean reduced counterparty risks and operational costs for firms currently relying on intermediary banks. While distinct from CBDCs, these accounts offer a regulated pathway for private innovators to interface with the Fed's systems. The public comment period extends until December 2025.

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Fed Proposes New Payment Accounts to Bridge Gap for Fintech Firms

The Federal Reserve has officially initiated a public consultation process regarding the creation of a new category of limited payment accounts....

‍Helios Launches $HLS Token on Major Exchanges Following $19M Funding Helios, a Layer-1 blockchain platform for automated, diversified, and multi-chain investment portfolios, has launched its native token, $HLS, on major centralized exchanges. The project has secured $19 million in funding to date. The $HLS token is initially available as an ERC-20 asset on Ethereum and Arbitrum. The Helios Mainnet is scheduled for launch in Q1 2026, followed by the Hyperion cross-chain bridge. Helios aims to facilitate on-chain ETFs and AI-driven portfolio strategies, supporting both digital currencies and RWAs.

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Helios ($HLS) Debuts on Major Exchanges Following $19 Million Funding

On December 19, 2025, Helios announced the successful launch of its native token, $HLS, across several Tier-1 centralized exchanges....

‍Bitcoin RSI Hits Oversold Levels, Recalling 2023 Bear Market Bitcoin's weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) has reached levels not seen since the 2023 bear market, indicating extreme market exhaustion following a significant price correction. Technical indicators suggest a deep undervaluation, with the RSI dropping to 35 after Bitcoin retraced 36% from its all-time high. On-chain metrics, such as the NVT Golden Cross, also point to structural undervaluation, comparable to the 2022 bear market bottom. While these oversold conditions historically precede price reversals, some analysts caution that further declines are possible before a definitive bottom is established.

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Bitcoin RSI Hits Oversold Levels Last Seen During 2023 Bear Market

The Bitcoin (BTC) market is currently showing signs of extreme exhaustion following a significant price correction from its record highs....

‍Josh Swihart Joins Cypherpunk Technologies as Strategic Advisor Josh Swihart, CEO of Electric Coin Company (ECC), has been appointed Strategic Advisor at Cypherpunk Technologies. This appointment underscores the deepening integration between Zcash protocol developers and Cypherpunk's treasury strategy, focusing on privacy-enhancing technologies. Swihart will guide protocol development and scaling for privacy tech, supporting the mission of self-sovereignty. He joins Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox on the advisory team. This move follows Cypherpunk's rebranding and a $58.88 million private placement led by Winklevoss Capital, alongside their acquisition of 233,644.56 ZEC.

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Josh Swihart Joins Cypherpunk Technologies as Strategic Advisor

Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPH) has officially announced the appointment of Josh Swihart, the Chief Executive Officer of Electric Coin ...

‍Bybit Launches Officially in the UK with 100 Spot Trading Pairs Global cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has officially entered the UK market on December 19, 2025. Serving approximately 8% of UK adults who own crypto, Bybit aims to bridge TradFi and DeFi with localized services. The platform offers 100 spot trading pairs, P2P services, and integrates global liquidity pools, adhering to strict AML and KYC protocols. Bybit's Senior Director of Policy, Mykolas Majauskas, stated, "The UK is home to one of the most sophisticated financial ecosystems... and its clear regulatory direction makes it an ideal environment for responsible innovation." All services comply with UK financial promotion requirements, with promotions approved by Archax. Bybit emphasizes that cryptoassets remain high-risk investments, and FSCS protections typically do not apply.

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Bybit Officially Launches in the UK Offering 100 Spot Trading Pairs

The global cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has officially announced its entry into the United Kingdom market on December 19, 2025....

‍Jump Trading Faces $4 Billion Lawsuit Over Terra Collapse Todd Snyder, Terraform Labs bankruptcy administrator, is suing Jump Trading and its executives for $4 billion, alleging they profited from and contributed to the $50 billion Terra ecosystem collapse in May 2022. The suit claims Jump Trading engaged in secret agreements, receiving LUNA tokens at heavily discounted prices in exchange for maintaining the UST stablecoin peg. Allegations also include the transfer of 50,000 BTC from the Luna Foundation Guard to Jump Trading without a formal agreement. This action follows a $123 million settlement by Jump's subsidiary with the SEC.

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Jump Trading Faces $4B Lawsuit Over Alleged Role in Terra Collapse

Todd Snyder, the administrator overseeing the Terraform Labs bankruptcy, has initiated a legal claim seeking $4 billion in damages from Jump Tradin...

‍Blockchain Fragmentation Drains $1.3B Annually From Tokenized Assets The lack of interoperability between blockchain networks creates significant economic inefficiencies for the real-world asset (RWA) sector, leading to an annual value drag of up to $1.3 billion. Price discrepancies of 1-3% for identical assets across different chains are common due to high fees, slippage, and timing risks during cross-chain transitions, resulting in average losses of 2-5% per reallocation. RWA.io emphasizes that fragmentation is the primary obstacle to the RWA market reaching its multi-trillion-dollar potential. If unresolved, annual losses could reach $30-75 billion by 2030. Despite these challenges, institutional adoption continues, with firms like Securitize and Coinbase launching services to bridge traditional finance and DeFi.

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Blockchain Fragmentation Drains $1.3B Annually From Tokenized Assets

The lack of interoperability between various blockchain networks is imposing a significant economic burden on the nascent real-world asset (RWA) se...

‍Metaplanet Launches ADRs on US OTC Market Through Deutsche Bank Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, known for its Bitcoin treasury strategy, has introduced American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) under the ticker MPJPY on the US Over-the-Counter (OTC) market. This move, facilitated by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, aims to provide easier access for US investors to the company's equity and its significant Bitcoin holdings. Metaplanet currently holds over 30,000 BTC. The ADR program follows a period of market volatility and aims to enhance shareholder value and liquidity, reflecting growing institutional interest in blockchain and digital assets.

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Metaplanet Debuts on US OTC Market via Deutsche Bank ADR Program

Metaplanet, a prominent Japanese investment firm known for its aggressive Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, has officially expanded its reach into t...

‍Hong Kong Youths Sentenced for $256,000 USDT Fraud Two 18-year-olds in Hong Kong have been sentenced to a correctional institution for their involvement in a $2 million HKD (approx. $256,000 USD) Tether (USDT) fraud. The incident occurred in November 2024 in Tsim Sha Tsui, where the defendants attempted to steal USDT from a victim at an OTC currency exchange. The court deemed their participation crucial to the pre-planned theft, despite their young age. The sentencing aims for rehabilitation while upholding financial system integrity.

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Hong Kong Youths Sentenced in 2 Million HKD Tether (USDT) Fraud Case

Two 18-year-old individuals in Hong Kong have been sentenced to a correctional institution after being convicted of fraud related to a 2 million Ho...

‍Bitcoin Surges Past $88,000 on Bank of Japan Rate Hike Bitcoin (BTC) has shown strong resilience, nearing $88,000 following the Bank of Japan's decision to raise interest rates to 0.75%, ending an era of loose monetary policy. Despite typical concerns over higher rates affecting risk assets, BTC and U.S. stock futures reacted positively. Arthur Hayes views the policy as bullish for hard assets, noting that real rates remain negative. Temple 8 Research highlights a conflict between Japan's fiscal stimulus and monetary tightening, suggesting further rate hikes are unlikely soon. Analysts are monitoring the $81,000 level, the cost basis for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, as a key support. The Nasdaq 100 futures also climbed alongside Bitcoin. This dynamic between the Japanese Yen and the U.S. Dollar, with Bitcoin acting as a hedge, points to a volatile and potentially opportunistic end to 2025.

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Bitcoin Hits $88,000 as Japan Rate Hike Sparks Bullish Sentiment

Bitcoin (BTC) demonstrated significant resilience on Friday, December 19, 2025, as it targeted the $88,000 mark following a landmark decision by th...

‍Bitcoin Valuation Reset: NVT Golden Cross Signals Return to Fundamentals The Bitcoin market is entering a new phase where price aligns with network activity, moving away from speculation towards on-chain economics. The NVT Golden Cross, a metric comparing market cap to transaction volume, indicates Bitcoin may be exiting a period of undervaluation. Historically, when the NVT Golden Cross shows a significant divergence below its long-term trend, it signals a structural discount. Currently recovering from a cycle low, this suggests a narrowing "valuation gap" and a move towards more sustainable levels based on actual network usage, rather than short-term sentiment.

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Bitcoin Valuation Reset: NVT Golden Cross Signals Return to Fundamentals

The Bitcoin (BTC) market is currently undergoing a significant structural valuation reset as price action begins to align more closely with underly...

‍Hong Kong to Host Global Web3 Summit in 2026 Hong Kong is set to become the hub for digital asset innovation with the Global Web3 Ecosystem Innovation and Application Summit on January 5, 2026, at Hong Kong Cyberport. Co-hosted by Mega Matrix Inc. (NASDAQ: MPU) and CoinQ Exchange, the event highlights the growing convergence of traditional finance and the Web3 space. The summit will feature over ten Web3 institutions and aim to foster discussions on blockchain technology, regulatory compliance, and practical applications of decentralized solutions. It is expected to draw representatives from global regulatory bodies, traditional finance leaders, and over 500 Web3 professionals, underscoring Hong Kong's commitment to advancing its crypto infrastructure.

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Hong Kong to Host Global Web3 Summit for Ecosystem Innovation in 2026

Hong Kong continues to solidify its position as a premier digital asset hub with the announcement of the Global Web3 Ecosystem Innovation and Appli...

‍IcomTech Promoter Sentenced to 71 Months for Multi-Million Crypto Ponzi Magdaleno Mendoza has received a 71-month sentence for his role in the IcomTech Ponzi scheme, which defrauded working-class Spanish-speaking investors between 2018 and 2019. Promoters promised guaranteed daily returns from nonexistent crypto mining and trading activities. Mendoza was ordered to pay over $789,000 in restitution and forfeit $1.5 million. The scheme exploited affinity fraud tactics, targeting specific communities. Courts are focusing on traditional fraud factors, with sentences reflecting victim harm and the perpetrator's leadership role. Mendoza also faces charges for illegal reentry and has promoted other schemes.

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IcomTech Promoter Sentenced to 71 Months for Multi-Million Crypto Ponzi

A senior promoter of the fraudulent cryptocurrency platform IcomTech has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a...

‍Raoul Pal Analyzes Zcash Surge: Rotation vs. Bull Trend Macro investor Raoul Pal suggests Zcash's significant price appreciation may stem from capital rotation, not a sustainable bull trend. Despite a ~699% year-to-date increase, ZEC has seen a 37% decline over the past 30 days, trading around $385.81. Factors driving Zcash's market cap growth from under $1B to over $7B include Grayscale's filing for a spot ETF, endorsements projecting $10,000 targets, and growing demand for privacy. ZEC's performance will indicate whether this is a temporary spike or sustained institutional accumulation.

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Raoul Pal Analyzes Zcash Surge: Capital Rotation vs. Bull Trend

The recent volatility in the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) has sparked a debate among macro investors regarding the sustainability of ...

‍SEC Classifies Bitcoin Mining Hosting as Securities in $48M VBit Case The SEC has filed a lawsuit against VBit Technologies and its founder, Danh Vo, alleging that their Bitcoin mining hosting services constitute unregistered securities. The regulator claims VBit misappropriated approximately $48 million in investor funds between 2018 and 2022 through a fraudulent scheme. The SEC applied the Howey test, arguing that "Hosting Agreements" met the criteria for investment contracts due to investors' expectation of profit, reliance on VBit's efforts, and a common enterprise. Industry experts suggest VBit's decision to pool all hashrate under company control was a key factor in the SEC's aggressive stance. This case could significantly impact how mining-as-a-service providers structure their operations.

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SEC Labels Bitcoin Mining Hosting as Securities Amid $48M VBit Case

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified its oversight of the cryptocurrency mining sector by filing a lawsuit ag...

‍Charles Hoskinson Warns Trump's Crypto Ventures Risk Industry Progress Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, has voiced concerns over Donald Trump's involvement in personal cryptocurrency ventures. He argues that a Trump-themed meme coin and the World Liberty Financial project have politicized digital assets, transforming them from a bipartisan policy issue into a partisan liability. This shift could impact the industry's long-term prospects ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Hoskinson stated that the launch of a "Trump coin" changed the political discourse, providing critics with ammunition to frame crypto as a partisan issue. He also opposes the administration's proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, particularly its expansion to include altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano, arguing the state should not "pick winners and losers." Hoskinson believes a robust regulatory framework should precede such high-profile political crypto ventures.

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Charles Hoskinson Warns Trump’s Crypto Ventures Risk Industry Progress

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano (ADA), has expressed significant concerns regarding the involvement of President Donald Trump in personal...

‍Federal Reserve Study: Dollar Dominance is Cyclical, Stablecoins Bolster Demand A recent Federal Reserve paper reveals that the U.S. dollar's global dominance in bond markets has historically moved in cycles, not linear decline. Despite challenges, the dollar remains resilient, partly due to the growing stablecoin market. Issuers like Tether and Circle, holding billions in U.S. Treasury debt, are reinforcing the dollar's role in the digital economy. The study identified three "dollarization waves" since the 1960s, with the dollar reclaiming share post-2008. Emerging markets rely heavily on USD, and China's Renminbi has seen only modest gains. The burgeoning stablecoin market, now ~ $310 billion (85% USD-pegged), positions issuers as major holders of U.S. Treasurys. This trend prompts regulatory attention, with Europe planning a euro-pegged stablecoin by mid-2026.

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Fed Study: Dollar Dominance Cycles and the Rise of Stablecoins

A recent discussion paper released by the United States Federal Reserve indicates that the U.S. dollar’s prominence in global bond markets has fl...