🏆 Nexo Partners with Tennis Australia: A Milestone for Crypto in Sports

🤝 Nexo has entered a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with Tennis Australia, becoming the Official Crypto Partner of the Australian Open and the Summer of Tennis. This agreement marks a significant milestone as it is the first time a digital asset platform has partnered with a Grand Slam event, highlighting the increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in mainstream sports.

📅 The partnership includes major tournaments such as the United Cup, Adelaide International, Brisbane International, and Hobart International. Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of Nexo, expressed pride in this collaboration:

We are honored to join Tennis Australia in elevating the sport while showcasing the value of intelligent digital tools to a global audience.

📢 As part of the deal, Nexo will have significant on-site visibility during the Australian Open. A key feature of this partnership is the Nexo Coaches Pod, which will display branding in on-court coaching areas. This placement emphasizes the strategic aspects of professional tennis, aligning with Nexo's focus on insight-driven decision-making.

🏅 This agreement adds to Nexo's growing portfolio of sports partnerships, which includes recent deals with the Acapulco Tennis Open and the Mifel Tennis Open. These collaborations reflect Nexo's strategy to enhance brand recognition beyond the crypto community by associating with prestigious sporting events.

🌍 By partnering with the Australian Open, Nexo strengthens its position at the intersection of elite sports, technology, and digital finance. This move signals Nexo's long-term ambition as the crypto industry continues to integrate with global institutions.

🛠 Swissborg's Vision: Radical Simplicity and Community Ownership in Fintech

🌍 In a landscape plagued by "fintech fatigue," Swissborg CEO Cyrus Fazel advocates for a model centered on simplicity and community involvement. His approach revolves around the Meta-Exchange, a liquidity aggregator that seamlessly connects centralized finance (CeFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), facilitating cross-chain trading.

📱 Fazel emphasizes the need for one intuitive app over multiple complex platforms. He states,

Most people do not want 10 apps, five wallets, multiple exchanges, and complex bridges. They want one app that just works. One tap. Best price. No headaches.

The Meta-Exchange links major CeFi exchanges and various decentralized networks like Solana and BNB Chain, offering what Fazel claims is the most powerful cross-chain liquidity layer available.

💰 Unlike traditional fintechs that focus on shareholder returns, Swissborg operates on a community-driven model centered around its native BORG token. This model encourages active participation through a rewards program that offers BORG cashback on trades. Token holders can influence the platform's direction by voting on listings and initiatives, and they can access benefits like zero fees by locking their BORG assets.

🤝 Fazel explains,

Community gives us values. Technology gives us power. Ease of use gives us the scale. This trifecta is what will allow Swissborg to outpace heavily capitalized competitors who lack the same level of user alignment.

🚫 In contrast to the typical venture capital route in fintech, Fazel champions a community-backed approach. He argues that

when you are raised by your community, you work for the people who actually use your product every single day.

This philosophy aligns with the rise of decentralized ecosystems where users are stakeholders, prioritizing long-term value over short-term gains.

⚖️ Regarding European regulations like MiCA, Fazel views them as a positive development that promotes transparency and trust in the industry. He asserts,

In the long run, trust always beats shortcuts. Offshore platforms may win the race for a few years. But regulated, transparent, community-powered platforms win the marathon.

📉 Bitcoin and Ether ETFs Face Outflows as XRP and Solana Attract Inflows

📉 Bitcoin ETFs experienced their fourth consecutive day of outflows, while ether ETFs slipped back into negative territory. XRP and Solana ETFs continued to see modest but steady inflows, indicating selective investor demand.

📉 As the holiday-shortened week approached, risk appetite in crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) further cooled. Investors withdrew more capital from bitcoin and ether while maintaining a cautious interest in XRP and Solana products.

📉 Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a net outflow of $188.64 million, extending their losing streak. The pressure was primarily on four funds, led by Blackrock’s IBIT, which alone shed $157.34 million. Fidelity’s FBTC followed with a $15.30 million outflow, while Grayscale’s GBTC saw $10.28 million exit. Despite these withdrawals, trading activity remained active at $3.16 billion, and total net assets were largely unchanged at $114.29 billion.

📉 Ether ETFs also reversed course, posting a net exit of $95.53 million. This was driven mainly by Grayscale’s ETHE, which lost $50.89 million. Blackrock’s ETHA added to the pressure with a $25.04 million outflow. Total value traded dipped to just under $1 billion, while net assets held steady at $18.02 billion.

📉 XRP ETFs continued their steady run, adding $8.19 million on the day, entirely driven by Franklin’s XRPZ. Trading volume came in at $12.41 million, with total net assets holding firm at $1.25 billion.

📉 Solana ETFs also stayed in positive territory, bringing in $4.20 million. Bitwise’s BSOL led with a $1.64 million inflow, followed by Grayscale’s GSOL at $1.46 million and Fidelity’s FSOL at $1.10 million. Trading activity reached $28.57 million, pushing total net assets up to $940.96 million.

📉 As markets prepare to close for the Christmas holiday, the year-end outlook for bitcoin and ether ETFs looks bleak with continued capital departure. In contrast, XRP and Solana appear to finish strong after their impressive debuts in 2025.

📉 Jurrien Timmer's Cautious Outlook on Bitcoin for 2026

🔮 Jurrien Timmer, the Director of Global Macro at Fidelity Investments, has expressed concerns about Bitcoin's performance in 2026. He suggests that Bitcoin may take a "year off" as part of its traditional 4-year cycle, despite the current positive trends in the crypto market. This perspective contrasts with the more optimistic views of crypto advocates like Tom Lee from Fundstrat and Michael Saylor from Strategy.

📊 Timmer acknowledges his enthusiasm for Bitcoin but emphasizes that 2026 could be a challenging year for the cryptocurrency. He believes that commodities might take center stage during that year, serving as a diversifier against stocks and bonds. He stated,

Bitcoin winters have lasted about a year, so my sense is that 2026 could be a "year off" (or "off year") for Bitcoin.

💰 The average cost to mine one Bitcoin is approximately $100,108. If Timmer's predictions hold true, the financial situation for Bitcoin miners could deteriorate further in 2026 due to a potential price decline. This could lead to Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT) selling their crypto holdings, creating additional selling pressure in the market.

📉 In summary, Jurrien Timmer's predictions suggest a cautious approach to Bitcoin in 2026. While he remains a supporter of the cryptocurrency, he foresees a possible setback before it regains momentum, with commodities potentially taking precedence in the investment landscape.

💰 Protests Erupt in Iran Amid Currency Collapse and Rising Inflation

🚨 Nationwide protests have erupted in Iran as the country's currency, the rial, plummets to a record low against the US dollar, leading to critical levels of inflation and the resignation of the Central Bank governor. Demonstrations took place in major cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, with traders and shopkeepers voicing their grievances.

📉 The rial has dramatically depreciated, now standing at 1.38 million to the dollar, a sharp decline from 32,000 rials per dollar in 2015. This economic crisis is characterized by severe inflation, with December's rate reaching 42.2% and significant increases in food prices (up 72%) and health items (up 50%) compared to the previous year. The situation has been exacerbated by international sanctions and regional tensions.

These are the largest protests in Iran since the 2022 demonstrations following Mahsa Jina Amini’s death.

📅 The current unrest marks the largest protests since those in 2022, highlighting the public's frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions. Factors contributing to the unrest include currency depreciation, high inflation rates, potential tax increases, and uncertainty from regional conflicts.

🪙 Iran's Revolutionary Step: Accepting Cryptocurrency for Military Equipment

💰 The Ministry of Defense Export Center of Iran, known as Mindex, has made a groundbreaking move by accepting cryptocurrency payments for advanced military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles. This marks the first instance of a country publicly accepting crypto for such transactions.

📄 According to a report by the Financial Times, Mindex will allow payments in digital currencies and barter arrangements for its products. This decision is significant as it facilitates payments to Iran's military industry, which is currently under U.S. unilateral sanctions that complicate traditional payment methods.

🌐 The ministry's website confirms this policy, stating that payments can be made "in the form of payment in the cryptocurrency agreed upon in the contract," including barter options. It features a marketplace for various military products, from ammunition to armored tanks.

📝 However, Mindex stipulates that buyers must make specific commitments regarding the use of the purchased products during warfare at the time of signing the supply contract. The institution emphasizes that due to Iran's history of circumventing sanctions, the delivery of these products is likely to occur swiftly after contract processing.

🚨Bitget’s 2025 Recap: Bitcoin and Gold Lead as ‘Safe Haven’ Assets as Dollar Posts Worst Yearly Loss

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🚫 New Legislation Aims to Prevent Insider Trading in Prediction Markets

📜 The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 is set to be introduced with the support of Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY). This bill seeks to prohibit federal officials, including elected representatives and Executive Branch employees, from engaging in prediction-market contracts when they possess or could access material nonpublic information through their official duties.

⚖️ The legislation specifically targets trades related to government policies and actions on platforms involved in interstate commerce. It aims to address concerns over insider trading allegations, particularly in light of a recent incident where a trader reportedly made a $400,000 profit in under 24 hours from a Polymarket bet regarding a leadership change in Venezuela.

What does the bill prohibit? It bans federal officials from transacting in prediction-market contracts when they have or could obtain insider information.

📍 The bill's introduction was prompted by a specific event: a newly created Polymarket account invested $30,000 in a contract predicting Maduro's exit. Following the U.S. detention of Maduro, the trader profited significantly within a short timeframe.

Where will the restrictions apply? To any prediction-market platform engaged in interstate commerce within the United States.

🔍 The proposed restrictions will apply to all prediction-market platforms operating within the United States that engage in interstate commerce. The legislation is deemed necessary to uphold market fairness and maintain public confidence by preventing abuses related to insider trading.

📉 Bitcoin ETFs Face Outflows as Ether, XRP, and Solana Show Resilience

🔄 On Tuesday, the crypto ETF landscape experienced a significant shift as bitcoin saw heavy outflows while ether continued its upward trend. XRP and Solana also gained momentum amidst a mixed trading session.

📉 Bitcoin ETFs reported a net outflow of $243.34 million, primarily due to Fidelity’s FBTC which alone lost $312.24 million. Grayscale’s GBTC followed with an exit of $83.07 million and other funds like Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB and Vaneck’s HODL also faced outflows. Blackrock’s IBIT was the exception, gaining $228.66 million.

📈 In contrast, ether ETFs saw a third consecutive session of recovery with an inflow of $114.74 million. Blackrock’s ETHA led this charge with a significant entry of $198.80 million. However, some funds like Grayscale’s ETHE and Fidelity’s FETH experienced exits.

📊 XRP ETFs recorded $19.12 million in inflows with Franklin’s XRPZ leading the way. Solana ETFs also remained positive, attracting $9.22 million primarily driven by Fidelity’s FSOL.

🔍 Overall, Tuesday's trading highlighted a clear divide in investor behavior. While bitcoin faced profit-taking after a recent surge, ether maintained its rebound and XRP and Solana continued to attract steady demand.

📈 American Banks Boost Coinbase's Stock Outlook

💬 Two major American banks have recently improved their outlook on Coinbase, the leading crypto exchange in the United States. Bank of America raised its price target for Coinbase's stock (COIN) to $340, a 41% increase from current levels. This decision was influenced by several key factors that could enhance COIN's value in the near future.

📊 The bank highlighted Coinbase's strategic move towards becoming an "everything exchange" by incorporating stock trading and prediction markets.

COIN detailed its expansion into stock/ETG trading and prediction markets for the first time. This supports its objective of becoming the everything exchange

said the bank. Bank of America also suggested that the anticipated launch of a native token for Base, Coinbase's Ethereum layer two chain, could serve as a bullish catalyst. Analysts noted that

a native token launch would incentivize builders, creators and early adopters

and could raise billions in cash for the company.

🔍 Goldman Sachs also upgraded COIN from neutral to "Buy," expressing increased optimism about the crypto market. The bank echoed Bank of America's views on Coinbase's expansion into new services beyond crypto trading. It emphasized the exchange's shift towards growing products like tokenization and prediction markets.

📉 Despite these upgrades, COIN was trading just above $240, down over 46% from its all-time high. However, both banks see Coinbase as a long-term leader in the crypto space and a trusted platform with the #1 market share in the U.S. as the world continues to adopt crypto technologies.

📈 Crypto ETFs Surge as Bitcoin Leads the Charge

📊 Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a significant boost, marking their second consecutive day of gains, driven by Bitcoin's strongest inflow of 2026. This resurgence in investor confidence also benefited Ether, XRP, and Solana funds.

💰 Bitcoin ETFs saw a remarkable net inflow of $753.73 million, the largest daily intake for this category in 2026. Fidelity’s FBTC led the way with $351.36 million, followed by Bitwise’s BITB at $159.42 million and Blackrock’s IBIT with $126.27 million. Other contributors included Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB ($84.88 million) and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust ($18.80 million). Notably, there were no outflows recorded across the complex.

📈 Ether ETFs also showed positive momentum with a $129.99 million inflow. Blackrock’s ETHA topped the list with $53.31 million, while Grayscale’s Ether Mini Trust attracted $35.42 million. Bitwise’s ETHW added $22.96 million, and Fidelity’s FETH brought in $14.38 million.

📊 XRP ETFs continued their positive trend with a $12.98 million inflow. Grayscale’s GXRP led with $7.86 million, followed by Canary’s XRPC and Bitwise’s XRP with additions of $2.73 million and $2.39 million, respectively.

🌱 Solana ETFs also posted gains with a $5.91 million inflow, driven entirely by Fidelity’s FSOL.

Bitcoin’s explosive inflow set the tone, ether confirmed follow-through demand, while XRP and solana ETFs continued to attract steady allocations.

📈 This synchronized performance across various crypto ETFs signals a significant rebound in investor confidence as we move deeper into January.

🌍 Ark Investment Management Predicts Digital Assets Could Reach $28 Trillion by 2030

📈 According to Ark Investment Management's recent report, Big Ideas 2026, the global digital asset market is projected to experience significant growth, potentially reaching $28 trillion by 2030. This forecast is driven by increased blockchain adoption, bitcoin dominance, and the expansion of smart contract platforms.

Digital assets could reach $28 trillion in market value in 2030,

Ark stated in its report. It outlines a base-case scenario where the total digital asset market capitalization rises from approximately $2 trillion in 2025 to around $28 trillion by 2030. This implies an estimated compound annual growth rate of about 61%.

The report further explains that the market for smart contract networks and pure-play digital currencies could grow at an annual rate of ~61% to $28 trillion in 2030. Ark believes that bitcoin could account for 70% of this market, with the remainder dominated by smart contract networks like Ethereum and Solana.

📊 Ark's projections indicate that cryptocurrencies could expand to roughly $22 trillion to $23 trillion by 2030, while smart contract platforms may grow to an estimated $5 trillion to $6 trillion. This upward trajectory highlights Ark's view that digital assets are entering a period of rapid adoption.

The analysis links this anticipated growth to structural shifts within the digital asset ecosystem. Bitcoin is expected to remain the dominant player in the cryptocurrency segment due to institutional investment and its role as a digital alternative to gold. Meanwhile, smart contract networks are projected to capture significant value through decentralized finance and tokenized real-world assets.

While Ark emphasizes that long-term projections carry uncertainty,

the data presented positions digital assets as a multi-tens-of-trillions-of-dollars market by 2030. This suggests that the sector could rival major traditional asset classes in scale.

🚨 Rising Odds of Government Shutdown Amidst Democratic Opposition to DHS Funding

📈 The likelihood of a government shutdown has surged on Polymarket following recent unrest in Minnesota, which has led Democrats to oppose a funding bill that would combine Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding with other federal agency budgets. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated he would vote no if the bill was presented in that way.

💰 On Saturday, Polymarket reported a 74% chance of a government shutdown occurring by January 31st, the highest odds recorded. This shift in the prediction market comes after a shooting incident involving Border Patrol agents in Minnesota, which has intensified Democrats' resistance to funding the DHS amidst concerns over ICE enforcement actions against U.S. citizens.

The DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no,

Schumer emphasized, adding that Senate Democrats would not support the appropriations bill if it included DHS funding. He called for the bill to be restructured and for more time to be allocated to address DHS funding issues.

⏳ If an agreement is not reached, the Trump administration could face its second government shutdown after experiencing the largest appropriations lapse in history on October 1st, which disrupted access to critical data and services.

🔍 In summary, the Polymarket prediction market indicates a significant possibility of a government shutdown due to Democratic opposition to DHS funding, with Chuck Schumer leading the call for a reevaluation of the appropriations bill.

🪙 Gold's Rise and the Dollar's Fate: Diverging Perspectives

🔍 As gold and silver prices reach historic highs in early 2026, two analysts present contrasting views on the implications for the U.S. dollar and global markets. Alexander Campbell, a former commodities head at Bridgewater Associates, argues that the rise in precious metals does not signal a decline of the dollar. He asserts that the global financial system remains dollar-centric, supported by U.S. capital markets and military backing.

📉 Campbell emphasizes that gold serves primarily as a portfolio hedge rather than a direct bet against the dollar. He states,

My gold and silver positions are implicitly short dollars. Every ounce I own was purchased by selling dollars.

He notes that recent dollar declines are modest historically and that narratives of collapse are disconnected from long-term price trends. Instead of focusing on currency speculation, Campbell highlights capital flows as a more significant indicator of dollar strength.

📊 In contrast, Peter Girnus, a senior threat researcher at Trend Micro, interprets recent dollar weakness as a result of intentional policy choices. He references a 2024 policy paper by Stephen Miran that advocates for strategic dollar devaluation to restructure global trade. Girnus points out that the U.S. Dollar Index has fallen to its lowest level since early 2022, which he views as a trend-driven development rather than a temporary fluctuation.

📈 He also highlights the surge in gold prices above $5,000 per ounce as being driven by central bank demand, particularly from emerging markets like China. Girnus argues that the loss of the dollar's purchasing power over the years and the end of gold convertibility in 1971 have created an environment where inflation and currency devaluation are preferred methods for managing federal debt.

🗣 Girnus states,

You don’t pay down 134% debt-to-GDP. You inflate it away. You devalue the currency it’s denominated in.

He raises concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve amidst growing alignment between fiscal and monetary objectives.

⚖️ The divergence in these perspectives underscores a broader debate in 2026 about the long-term resilience of reserve-currency status versus the potential for controlled adjustments over time. While both analysts agree that gold's rise reflects structural forces, they differ on the interpretation of dollar dynamics—with Campbell seeing dollar dominance as intact and Girnus viewing dollar depreciation as a deliberate policy outcome.

🚨 Breaking: Trump Nominates Pro-Bitcoin Kevin Warsh As Next Fed Chair

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