‍Russia Considers Broadening Crypto Access for Retail Investors The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) is reportedly evaluating a policy shift that could grant retail investors formal access to cryptocurrency markets, a departure from previous restrictions. As of December 2025, regulatory bodies are working on a framework to integrate Bitcoin and other virtual assets into the domestic financial landscape. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov indicated that authorities are reconsidering restricting crypto assets solely to "qualified investors." Discussions now focus on expanding market participation to include non-qualified retail investors, establishing a unified regulatory framework, and developing legal safeguards against high volatility. First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Vladimir Chistyukhin, confirmed that easing rules is being discussed to support economic activities of individuals and legal entities, particularly in the context of cross-border payment restrictions. This move aims to leverage decentralized finance (DeFi) tools to maintain liquidity and facilitate global trade.

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Russia Eyes Crypto Expansion: Central Bank to Ease Retail Access

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) is reportedly evaluating a significant policy shift that could grant retail investors formal acces...

‍Vince Zampella, Co-Creator of Call of Duty, Dies at 55 The gaming industry mourns the loss of Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty and founder of Respawn Entertainment, who passed away at 55. Zampella was a pivotal figure in the FPS genre, with titles like Modern Warfare and Apex Legends shaping competitive gaming and digital economies. His influence extends to Web3 and blockchain gaming, with his live-service models and cosmetic economies providing a blueprint for P2E ecosystems and NFT-integrated platforms. Zampella's innovative approach to gameplay and community engagement will continue to inspire developers.

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Vince Zampella Dies at 55: Remembering a Visionary of Modern Gaming

The global gaming community and the broader interactive entertainment industry are mourning the loss of Vince Zampella, a foundational figure in th...

‍Bybit to Exit Japanese Market Amidst Strict Regulations Bybit, the world's second-largest crypto exchange, will discontinue services for Japanese residents starting in 2026. This decision follows extensive discussions with the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). The exchange will gradually restrict accounts, with users receiving further communication. Bybit previously suspended new registrations in Japan in October 2024.

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Bybit to Discontinue Services in Japan Amid Tightening Regulations

Bybit, currently ranked as the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume, has announced its decision to phase out se...

‍HKGX Launches Asia's First Exchange-Backed Gold Token: $XGZ The Hong Kong Gold Exchange (HKGX) has unveiled $XGZ, Asia's first gold-backed cryptocurrency, through its digital asset initiative, GoldZip. Each $XGZ token is backed 1:1 by one gram of 999.9 fine physical gold, secured in audited vaults and approved by the Hong Kong government. Transactions are recorded on-chain for transparency. Available on Uniswap and MEXC, $XGZ aims to integrate traditional bullion markets with DeFi. The project targets a $300 million physical gold reserve by mid-2026, positioning itself among leading gold-backed tokens. GoldZip operates under Singapore's Ministry of Law (MinLaw) regulations.

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HKGX Unveils $XGZ: Asia’s First Gold Token Backed by an Official Exchange

On December 23, 2025, GoldZip, a digital asset initiative spearheaded by the Hong Kong Gold Exchange (HKGX), officially announced the launch of its...

‍BlackRock Names Spot Bitcoin ETF a Top Investment Theme for 2025 BlackRock has identified its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as a primary investment theme for 2025, placing it alongside U.S. Treasury bills and "Magnificent 7" tech stocks. Despite Bitcoin's price decline from its October peak, IBIT has seen over $25 billion in net inflows this year, ranking it sixth globally among ETFs. This strong performance highlights institutional conviction and signals growing integration of digital assets into mainstream portfolios.

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BlackRock Names Spot Bitcoin ETF a Top 2025 Investment Theme

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has identified its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as one of its three primary investment themes for 2...

‍Palmer Luckey’s Erebor Valued at $4.3B After $350M Funding Round Erebor, a digital banking venture co-founded by Palmer Luckey and backed by Peter Thiel, has achieved a $4.35 billion post-money valuation. This milestone follows a $350 million funding round led by Lux Capital. The company has secured preliminary conditional approval from the OCC and deposit insurance approval from the FDIC. Erebor aims to address the banking gaps exposed by the SVB collapse, offering stablecoin-friendly and AI-centric banking solutions for tech companies.

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Palmer Luckey’s Erebor Hits $4.3B Valuation Amid Regulatory Progress

Erebor, a digital banking venture co-founded by tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey and backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, has reached a post-money val...

‍ETHZilla Liquidates $74.5M in ETH to Settle Debt Crypto treasury firm ETHZilla has sold 24,291 ETH for $74.5 million to redeem convertible notes. This move follows the company's rebranding from 180 Life Sciences Corp and shift to an Ether-focused strategy. ETHZilla retains approximately 69,800 ETH. The company also acquired stakes in AI startup Karus and digital lender Zippy, diversifying its interests amidst market volatility.

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ETHZilla Liquidates $74.5M in Ether to Settle Convertible Debt

The crypto treasury firm ETHZilla has officially disclosed the liquidation of a significant portion of its Ethereum (ETH) holdings to address outst...

‍Arizona Senator Proposes Crypto Tax Exemptions Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers has introduced legislation to exempt virtual currencies from property taxes and prevent local governments from taxing blockchain nodes. SB 1044 and SCR 1003, which seek these property tax exemptions, would require a public vote in November 2026. SB 1045, prohibiting taxes on node operators, may be approved sooner. This initiative follows previous efforts to integrate Bitcoin into state reserves.

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Arizona Senator Proposes Legislation to End Taxes on Crypto and Nodes

Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers has introduced a series of legislative measures aimed at significantly altering the state

‍Complex Strategy Gaming May Slow Neural Aging by Seven Years New research suggests engaging in complex, real-time strategy activities, such as sophisticated video games or musical training, can significantly lower a person's biological "brain age." Studies indicate that demanding hobbies, particularly strategy games like StarCraft II, can make brains appear 4 to 7 years younger. This effect is linked to increased neural plasticity and cognitive load, mirroring the demands of learning new skills. For the Web3 and GameFi community, this highlights the potential long-term health value of immersive, strategy-focused digital environments beyond simple transaction-based mechanics.

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How Complex Strategy Gaming Could Slow Neural Aging by Seven Years

New scientific evidence suggests that engaging in complex, real-time strategy activities may serve as a potent defense against cognitive decline....

‍Binance Under Fire for Suspicious Post-Settlement Transactions Reports indicate that Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, has failed to prevent suspicious accounts from moving significant capital even after its $4.368 billion settlement with U.S. authorities. Leaked data reveals that $144 million in high-volume transactions linked to questionable profiles bypassed security filters post-settlement. The internal files highlight suspicious activities, including a Venezuelan user receiving over $177 million with numerous payment detail changes and the use of hundreds of bank accounts by a single profile. Some accounts showed impossible travel patterns and links to high-risk nations. Furthermore, these accounts received funds from wallets linked to terrorism financing. Binance states it has robust systems to flag and investigate suspicious transactions. However, these allegations raise questions about the effectiveness of their compliance framework during the ongoing five-year monitorship, potentially leading to an additional $150 million penalty if remedial obligations are not met.

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Binance Face Scrutiny Over $144M in Post-Settlement Suspicious Flows

The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, is facing renewed scrutiny following reports that it failed to prevent suspicious accounts ...

‍Cysic and Inference Labs Partner to Scale Verifiable AI Applications Inference Labs and Cysic have announced a strategic partnership to address performance and cost challenges in verifiable AI adoption. Their collaboration integrates Inference Labs’ verifiable AI stack with Cysic’s decentralized compute network to replace "black box" AI with a transparent, cryptographically secure infrastructure. This initiative aims to support autonomous agents and blockchain oracles by providing an auditable record for AI-generated outputs. The partnership seeks to make high-stakes use cases economically viable by leveraging Cysic's specialized hardware for zero-knowledge proof generation, a key bottleneck in the zkML sector. Cysic is positioning itself as a foundational layer for the ComputeFi economy, transforming compute power into a trustless on-chain resource. This collaboration represents a significant step toward a trustless digital future, providing a scalable framework for accountable and transparent decentralized intelligence.

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Cysic and Inference Labs Partner to Scale Verifiable AI Applications

On December 22, 2025, Inference Labs and Cysic announced a strategic partnership aimed at overcoming the performance and cost barriers currently hi...

‍Anna's Archive Leaks 86 Million Spotify Tracks The shadow library Anna's Archive has announced the scraping of 86 million audio files from Spotify, totaling 300 terabytes. The group claims to have backed up 99.6% of tracks consumed by listeners. Spotify condemned the move as a violation of Digital Rights Management (DRM). Anna's Archive is distributing the data via bulk torrents, utilizing peer-to-peer technology for censorship resistance. Metadata includes 186 million unique ISRCs. Popular tracks are in OGG Vorbis, less frequent ones in OGG Opus. The archive highlights that 70% of Spotify's tracks have a popularity score of zero.

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Anna’s Archive Scrapes 86 Million Spotify Songs in Massive Data Breach

The shadow library Anna’s Archive has announced a massive operation involving the scraping of 86 million audio files from Spotify, totaling nearl...

‍Pudgy Party Named 2025 Game of the Year The mobile battle royale title Pudgy Party, developed by Mythical Games, has been awarded GG’s 2025 Game of the Year. Since its September release, the game has achieved over 1 million downloads and maintained a 4.9-star rating. Pudgy Party features a casual battle royale format optimized for mobile, with up to 20 players competing in obstacle courses. An integrated abilities system adds strategic depth for veteran players. The game also allows players to earn and trade costume NFTs, with one legendary costume selling for $1,400. Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz aims for over 100 million downloads and a sustainable play-to-earn model.

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Pudgy Party Named 2025 Game of the Year Following 1 Million Installs

The mobile battle royale title Pudgy Party has been officially recognized as GG’s 2025 Game of the Year, marking a significant milestone for the ...

‍JPMorgan Weighs Crypto Trading Expansion for Institutional Investors JPMorgan Chase is reportedly evaluating the introduction of cryptocurrency trading services for its institutional clientele, according to a Bloomberg report. The firm is assessing potential products within its markets division to meet the rising demand for digital asset exposure, potentially incorporating spot and derivatives trading for major cryptocurrencies. This move reflects a strategic shift, influenced by institutional interest and evolving U.S. regulations like the GENIUS Act. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, previously critical of Bitcoin, now expresses belief in stablecoins and acknowledges blockchain's operational benefits. The expansion comes amid growing crypto initiatives from other global financial leaders like BPCE and BNY Mellon.

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JPMorgan Weighs Crypto Trading Expansion for Institutional Investors

Banking giant JPMorgan Chase is reportedly evaluating the introduction of cryptocurrency trading services for its institutional clientele....

‍Ethereum Reclaims $3,000 Amidst Whale Accumulation and Network Upgrades Ethereum (ETH) has surged past the $3,000 mark, marking a significant 16% rebound from recent lows. This recovery is fueled by substantial accumulation from "whale" investors and anticipated network scaling improvements in January 2025. Data indicates that wallets holding 10,000-100,000 ETH have acquired over 22 million tokens in six months, while exchange balances have fallen to a nine-year low of 10.2 million ETH. Analysts suggest this undervaluation precedes major rallies. Network activity is also robust, with a 22% increase in active addresses and 163,000 new wallets created daily in December. Upcoming upgrades aim to boost transaction throughput from 60 to 80 million. Technically, breaking the $3,200 resistance is key for a sustained uptrend, potentially targeting $4,000 and new all-time highs.

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Ethereum Analysts Predict Breakout as ETH Price Reclaims $3,000

The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), has successfully reclaimed the $3,000 level following a significant 16%...

‍Lithuania Mandates MiCA Licensing for Crypto Firms by Year-End 2025 Lithuania is set to enforce European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation by December 31, 2025. All crypto asset service providers (CASPs) operating in the country must obtain a license from the Bank of Lithuania. Entities failing to comply will cease operations, liquidate customer assets, and return funds. While Lithuania was previously a popular hub, the transition highlights a gap between registered entities and those meeting rigorous standards, suggesting some may exit or merge.

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Lithuania Mandates MiCA Licensing for Crypto Firms by Year-End 2025

The Lithuanian financial regulatory environment is approaching a major milestone as the December 31, 2025, deadline for crypto asset service provid...

‍SOS Limited transitions to digital infrastructure with Texas data center SOS Limited is strategically evolving from cryptocurrency mining to becoming a comprehensive digital infrastructure provider. The company is developing a next-generation Tier III modular data center at Longfellow Ranch in Fort Stockton, Texas. This move aims to capture a larger share of the high-performance computing market, focusing on enterprise and AI-driven solutions. The modular design is projected to reduce total project costs by nearly 50%. An initial 10 MW cluster will serve as a pilot for a rapid expansion to 100 MW within 18 months, targeting AI startups and large enterprises.

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SOS Limited Unveils Tier III Modular Data Center at Texas Longfellow Ranch

On December 22, 2025, SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) announced a strategic transition from a traditional cryptocurrency mining operator to a comprehensive...

‍Velo Integrates USD1 Stablecoin to Enhance PayFi in Asia The Velo PayFi infrastructure protocol has announced a strategic collaboration with World Liberty Financial (WLFI) to integrate the USD1 stablecoin into its ecosystem. This partnership aims to bolster Velo’s liquidity and settlement layers, facilitating a high-velocity, closed-loop financial network. By incorporating a regulated U.S. dollar-backed asset, Velo seeks to bridge traditional finance and Web3 technology for mass adoption in Asia. USD1 is backed 1:1 by reserves, primarily U.S. government money market funds and cash equivalents, ensuring institutional-grade security and compliance.

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Velo Integrates WLFI’s USD1 Stablecoin to Enhance PayFi in Asia

The Velo PayFi infrastructure protocol has officially announced a strategic collaboration with World Liberty Financial (WLFI) to integrate the USD1...

‍Bitcoin 2025: Strategic Reserves and Institutional Adoption Reshape the Market 2025 marked a transformative year for Bitcoin (BTC), witnessing significant institutional integration and shifts in geopolitical strategy. Despite price volatility, including a peak of $126,000 in October, Bitcoin's role in the global financial system has solidified. Key developments include the establishment of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and increased corporate treasury adoption, driving Bitcoin's market dominance to 57.6% of the $3 trillion crypto market cap by mid-December. The U.S. Government initiated a formal holding strategy, establishing a strategic reserve for its estimated 200,000 BTC. This move, alongside state-level adoption by Arizona, New Hampshire, and Texas, positions Bitcoin as a sovereign reserve asset. Wall Street saw 71 publicly traded companies add Bitcoin to their balance sheets, collectively holding over 961,000 BTC. However, strategies like those of MicroStrategy face scrutiny amid market fluctuations. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin community debated network utility and privacy with the introduction of Bitcoin Core v30. The sentencing of Samourai Wallet's co-founder also raised concerns for privacy advocates.

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Bitcoin 2025: Strategic Reserves and Institutional Adoption Reshape the Market

The year 2025 has been a transformative period for Bitcoin (BTC), marked by unprecedented institutional integration and a shift in geopolitical str...

‍Guavy Launches AI-Powered Sentiment App for Retail Traders Canadian firm Guavy has launched an iOS app providing AI-driven sentiment signals and market intelligence, previously exclusive to institutions. The app analyzes news, social media, and other data to generate sentiment scores and trading signals. "Individual traders can access the same intelligence institutions use

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Guavy Launches AI-Powered Sentiment App to Provide Retail Trading Edge

On December 22, 2025, Canadian digital asset intelligence firm Guavy announced the official launch of its mobile application on iOS....