📈 Bitcoin's Weekend Surge: A Market Turnaround

💥 After flirting with the $88,000 mark, Bitcoin (BTC) made a significant rebound, reaching an intraday high of $91,767. This sudden rise not only surprised weekend traders but also triggered a massive liquidation event across the crypto market, as large buyers forced short positions to close.

📊 The weekend's price action was anything but subtle. Following a dip towards $87,000, Bitcoin quickly reversed course, displaying a series of green candles on multiple timeframes. This surge indicated that major buyers were stepping in after a period of market uncertainty. The 1-hour chart revealed a deep wick into the $87,744 region, which was met with strong buying pressure. This was not just typical retail activity; the spike in volume suggested a coordinated effort to absorb sell-side liquidity.

📈 On the 4-hour chart, the rebound was dramatic, marked by a large green candle accompanied by significantly higher volume than previous sessions. This shift put those heavily invested in short positions in a precarious situation. Earlier in the week, the market had hit a low of $80,537 before whales began purchasing at discounted prices, leading to a sharp recovery.

💔 The repercussions of this market movement were substantial. According to Coinglass, over $348.32 million in leveraged positions were liquidated within 24 hours. This included $229.46 million from long positions during the earlier downturn and $118.86 million from shorts as the price rebounded. Ethereum (ETH) experienced the most significant losses with $135.14 million liquidated, while Bitcoin accounted for an additional $78.48 million.

📉 The data highlighted a crucial lesson: overconfidence can lead to severe consequences. Many traders had been emboldened by the recent dip, only to be caught off guard when larger players re-entered the market and triggered a short squeeze.

🚀 Superstate Launches Direct Issuance Programs for SEC-Registered Companies

🌐 Superstate, a financial technology firm, has introduced its Direct Issuance Programs, enabling SEC-registered companies to raise capital directly on blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Solana using stablecoins. This innovative approach allows companies to issue tokenized shares instantly to KYC-verified investors, with real-time updates to the shareholder registry across both ecosystems.

It’s time for a reset that better serves investors and smaller issuers,

said Robert Leshner, CEO of Superstate. The platform aims to reduce financing costs, broaden global investor access, and create a more equitable environment for capital raising. The first issuer offerings are anticipated to launch in 2026.

💡 Key details about the program include:
- Supported blockchains: Solana and Ethereum, which together facilitate nearly $200B in the stablecoin economy.
- Eligibility: The method is available to SEC-registered public companies.
- Benefits: It offers instant settlement, lower costs, and global investor access.
- Launch timeline: The first offerings are expected to be available in 2026 through Superstate’s Opening Bell platform.

🪙 Mixed Performance in Crypto ETFs: Bitcoin and Ether See Outflows While Solana and XRP Attract Inflows

📉 On Thursday, December 11, the crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) market experienced a shift after two days of inflows. Bitcoin and ether funds saw capital withdrawals, while solana and XRP continued to draw in new investments. This mixed performance highlighted varying sentiments across different asset classes.

💸 Bitcoin ETFs faced significant outflows totaling $77.34 million, primarily due to large redemptions from Fidelity’s FBTC, which lost $103.55 million. Other notable exits included Vaneck’s HODL with $19.38 million and Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB shedding $16.38 million. Grayscale products also contributed to the outflows, with GBTC seeing $12.21 million leave and its Bitcoin Mini Trust losing $10.97 million. However, Blackrock’s IBIT managed to attract $76.71 million in inflows, and Bitwise’s BITB gained $8.44 million. Despite these inflows, the overall selling pressure was too strong to overcome.

📉 Ether ETFs also slipped into negative territory, experiencing outflows of $42.37 million. Grayscale’s ETHE led the decline with $31.22 million exiting, followed by its Ether Mini Trust which saw $10.03 million leave. Fidelity’s FETH contributed an additional $3.21 million in outflows. The only exception was 21Shares’ TETH, which brought in $2.08 million, but this was insufficient to offset the overall pullback.

📈 In contrast, solana ETFs continued their strong performance, attracting $11.02 million in inflows. Bitwise’s BSOL led with $4.44 million, followed by Fidelity’s FSOL with $3.56 million, Grayscale’s GSOL adding $2.59 million, and Vaneck’s VSOL contributing $437.5K. Trading activity remained robust at $32.42 million.

📊 XRP ETFs also closed the day positively with $16.42 million in inflows. Franklin’s XRPZ led the way with $9.87 million, followed by Bitwise’s fund with $4.98 million and Grayscale’s GXRP adding $1.57 million.

📉 Privacy Coins Diverge: Zcash Falls While Monero Rises

📈 The privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) has experienced a significant decline, dropping from a peak of just over $741 on November 15 to a low of $411 by December 16. In contrast, its competitor Monero (XMR) has seen an increase of more than 15% in the past week.

📉 ZEC has fallen 44.54% since its November high, with a slight decrease of 3.1% this week and a 1.4% drop in the last day. Despite this pullback, ZEC still boasts a remarkable 626% gain from its price level a year ago. The privacy coin sector as a whole has a combined valuation of $17.35 billion, with ZEC holding the second-largest market cap at $6.76 billion, representing 38.97% of the sector's total value. Monero has recently reclaimed the top spot by market cap.

✔️ Monero's market performance has been notably different, rising 3.2% today and posting a 15.4% gain over the past week. It reached a price of $437 per coin in November and is currently trading at $426. However, when comparing the past 12 months, ZEC still outperforms XMR with a 626% increase since December 16, 2024, compared to XMR's 102% rise.

❗️ Despite the overall downturn in the crypto market, XMR's price has remained relatively stable, sitting about 21% below its early 2018 peak of nearly $542. Another privacy coin, Beldex (BDX), has gained attention this week with a 5.9% increase over the past seven days.

⛔️ Most other top privacy coins have suffered significant losses, with DASH falling 14.4% this week, DCR dropping 18.8%, and MWC experiencing a sharp decline of 20.5%. Zano (ZANO) decreased by 10.5%, Horizen (ZEN) sank 18.8%, and Verge (XVG) is down 15.4% against the dollar over the past week.

🚀 Senate Confirms Michael Selig as CFTC Chairman, Paving the Way for Enhanced Crypto Oversight

⚠️ The U.S. Senate confirmed Michael Selig as the 15th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on December 18, signaling a significant shift in digital asset policy. This leadership change positions the CFTC for expanded oversight of cryptocurrencies and renewed momentum in digital asset regulation.

‼️ Following the confirmation, there was an immediate response from Capitol Hill highlighting the expectation for collaboration on digital asset policy. The House Financial Services Committee expressed their support on social media, stating,

Congrats to Mike Selig on his confirmation as CFTC Chair. The CFTC is a critical partner in our financial markets.

They emphasized their eagerness to work with Selig and the SEC to provide much-needed regulatory clarity for digital assets.

🔔 Selig's confirmation came after a closely divided vote of 53–43 and grants him a term that extends through April 2029. He takes over after a prolonged interim period following the departure of Rostin Behnam in January. During this time, Commissioner Caroline Pham served as acting chair before moving to the private sector.

⚖️ As Selig steps into his new role, he faces both structural and strategic challenges. His previous experience as chief counsel to the SEC's Crypto Task Force and as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher has set expectations for him as a pragmatic regulator. During his confirmation process, he expressed support for principles-based rules and emphasized the importance of enforcing against fraud and manipulation rather than minor technical violations.

⚠️ These priorities align with congressional efforts like the proposed CLARITY Act, which aims to expand the CFTC's authority into crypto spot markets and enhance its role compared to the SEC. However, the agency is currently short-staffed due to several resignations earlier this year, which may leave Selig as the only confirmed commissioner for the time being.

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🚨 Crypto Market Events to Watch This Week: Christmas Volatility or Santa Rally?

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📌 Venezuela's Oil Economy: The Rise of Stablecoins

💰 Asdrubal Oliveros, a local economist, has revealed that nearly 80% of Venezuela's crude oil sales are conducted using stablecoins, particularly USDT. He emphasized the significant role of cryptocurrency in the country's oil policy, despite the challenges faced in liquidating these funds.

📈 According to Oliveros, stablecoins have become integral to Venezuela's oil strategy amidst unilateral sanctions from the U.S. government. He noted that oil production has increased to over 1 million barrels per day, highlighting the sector's connection to the cryptocurrency economy.

Almost 80% of oil revenue is being collected in cryptocurrencies, in stablecoins,

Oliveros stated. However, he also pointed out that this reliance on digital assets has created issues for the Venezuelan administration.

This is causing a bottleneck in the foreign exchange market,

he explained,

and that puts pressure on demand, drives up the price.

🌍 The Venezuelan oil sector generates over $12 billion annually, with most exports going to China. The increasing use of stablecoin payments in such a large industry demonstrates the growing liquidity of these assets in international markets. It also highlights the potential of stablecoins as alternative settlement instruments in commodity markets when traditional payment methods are unavailable.

⚠️ If sanctions continue and the political conflict remains unresolved, Venezuela may see an even greater shift towards stablecoin payments for oil sales. This could position the country as an example of an economy driven by stablecoin income.

📈 Jim Rickards Predicts a Bullish 2026 for Gold and Silver

💬 Jim Rickards, a renowned economist and best-selling author, has shared his optimistic outlook for the metals market, particularly for gold and silver, predicting a significant surge in 2026. In a recent interview, he emphasized that the traditional drivers of the gold bull market, such as central bank demand and limited supply, will remain strong into 2026.

📊 Rickards pointed out that new factors are also emerging that could further elevate prices. He highlighted the growing demand from institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, as a potential catalyst for price increases. Additionally, he noted that geopolitical events, such as European attempts to take over Russian assets, might be influencing gold demand as countries seek to diversify away from seizable assets.

If you’re Saudi Arabia, or Japan, or Taiwan, or Brazil, or any large holder of US Treasury securities, you’re looking at that and saying, “Hey, what if the U.S. doesn’t like something I do? Um, maybe I ought to diversify into gold,”

Rickards explained.

📈 Regarding silver, Rickards noted that its price increase is linked to a market dynamic where paper silver significantly outweighs physical silver. He stated,

It would not surprise me, not even a little bit, to see $10,000 gold before the end of 2026. I think we will. Silver’s along for the ride. At that point, you’re looking at $200 an ounce.

📉 Recently, gold has surpassed the $4,500 mark, and silver has exceeded $70, marking a strong performance for both metals this year. Other metals like platinum and copper have also seen notable price increases.

🚨 USDC Supply Shrinks: USDC Treasury Burns 51M Tokens on Solana

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📉 Bitcoin's Current Market Status: Consolidation Amid Indecision

💰 Bitcoin is currently trading at $87,752, with a market cap of $1.75 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $15.69 billion. The price has fluctuated between $87,363 and $87,893 throughout the day, indicating a period of indecision rather than significant movement.

📊 The daily chart reveals a phase of consolidation. After a recent dip from its highs, Bitcoin is moving sideways between support at approximately $83,800—which has been tested twice—and resistance near $94,600. The volume suggests a distribution phase, with red candles indicating that bears are still active in the market.

If bitcoin retests the $83,800 level and posts a bullish reversal candlestick, the market might get its next catalyst.

🔍 On the 4-hour chart, the price recently bounced from around $86,363 after a lackluster breakdown from $90,070. Currently, it is experiencing a sideways movement between $86,300 and $88,000 with decreasing volume, which suggests indecision among traders. Those looking for a breakout above $88,000 should watch for strong candle formations and volume expansion.

📉 The 1-hour chart shows a tight range between $87,272 and $87,920 with tapering volume, indicating a lack of conviction among participants. A breakout above $87,920 with solid volume could lead to a run towards $88,500, but failing to hold above $87,200 might result in a quick drop to $86,500.

It’s a mean-reversion playground at the moment—dip buyers near $87,300 and nimble scalpers at the upper bounds, proceed with precision.

📌 The oscillators show a neutral market with the relative strength index (RSI) at 45, the Stochastic oscillator at 52, and the commodity channel index (CCI) at -41. The average directional index (ADX) is at 19, confirming the lack of a strong trend. However, the Awesome oscillator logs a mild -1,693, continuing the neutral sentiment.

📈 Seized, Mined, Stockpiled: How Governments Became Major Bitcoin Holders in 2025

📈 In 2025, the landscape of Bitcoin (BTC) ownership among nation-states shifted significantly. The United States emerged as the largest holder, with its stash increasing from 198,012 BTC in May to approximately 328,372 BTC by the end of the year. This surge was largely due to a major confiscation of 127,271 BTC linked to a wanted Chinese national.

‼️ Following the U.S. is the United Kingdom, which holds 61,245 BTC. This accumulation dates back to a 2018 police raid related to a £5 billion fraud case, where authorities seized devices containing over 61,000 BTC.

🌍 El Salvador ranks third with 7,509 BTC, maintaining its status as the only country where Bitcoin is legal tender. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed skepticism about the country's recent acquisitions, suggesting that some reported "purchases" may merely be internal transfers.

⛔️ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) comes next, holding 6,568 BTC sourced from mining operations through Citadel Mining, which is predominantly owned by the UAE Royal Group. The UAE has been positioning itself as a hub for crypto and blockchain technology.

👀 Bhutan rounds out the top five with 5,984 BTC, acquired primarily through mining and managed by the Royal Government via its sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holdings (DHI). Despite reducing its holdings in 2025, Bhutan aims for significant growth in its Bitcoin investments by 2035.

🔍 The methods by which these countries have amassed their Bitcoin vary: seizures, mining operations, and treasury strategies all play a role. As we look towards 2026, it is clear that Bitcoin ownership by governments is becoming increasingly mainstream and is now a critical aspect of financial policy discussions.

🔔 Argentina's Evolving Cryptocurrency Landscape in 2026

📈 As Argentina enters 2026, it boasts high levels of cryptocurrency adoption, being recognized as the leading country in Latin America for crypto usage. According to a recent report by Chainalysis, nearly 20% of Argentines—approximately 8.6 million people—are engaged with cryptocurrencies, positioning the nation among the top adopters globally.

💱 Initially, Argentines primarily used stablecoins to combat inflation and the devaluation of fiat currency. However, this trend is shifting. While stablecoins remain the preferred digital assets for many, users are increasingly seeking to earn yields on their holdings. Local analyst Rodrigo Mansilla noted,

Today, crypto usability, crypto dollar yields, and other attractive features have been significantly expanded. Almost no one wants their money sitting idle, not “working” for them.

🏦 This shift in usage has sparked intense competition among local crypto providers, who are offering higher yields to attract users. Additionally, the potential entry of banks into the cryptocurrency ecosystem could further intensify this competition. Reports suggest that the Argentine central bank is drafting a resolution to permit banks to offer digital asset services.

🔍 In summary, Argentina's cryptocurrency landscape is rapidly evolving as users adapt their strategies and new players enter the market. With high adoption rates and changing use cases, the country is set to remain a key player in the global crypto arena throughout 2026.

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🚀 Tether Launches Scudo Amid Rising Gold Prices

💰 Tether has recently launched Scudo, a new accounting unit for its gold-backed token XAUT, as gold prices reach historic highs. As of January 6, gold is trading at approximately $4,482 per troy ounce, attracting investors seeking protection from inflation and geopolitical tensions.

🔍 Scudo is designed to simplify the pricing and transfer of XAUT, representing one-thousandth of a troy ounce of gold or one-thousandth of an XAUT token. This means that at current gold prices, a Scudo would be valued at around $4.45. Tether aims to make transactions more intuitive by using smaller units, which can be easier to work with than long decimal strings.

While belief in gold’s value remains strong, usability has long been the sticking point,

Tether stated. The introduction of Scudo is intended to revive gold's historical role in everyday commerce by making it easier to use as a medium of exchange.

📊 XAUT is fully backed by physical gold stored in secure vaults, and the introduction of Scudo does not change this backing or the token's structure. It simply alters how value can be expressed and transferred.

📈 In the competitive market for tokenized gold, XAUT faces rivalry from PAXG, the gold-backed token issued by Paxos. PAXG has a market capitalization of about $1.68 billion, while XAUT leads with approximately $2.31 billion.

Gold continues to prove itself as a long-term store of value,

said Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO. He emphasized the importance of lowering barriers to ownership and transactions for tokenized assets to move beyond passive holding.

🌍 However, the appeal of gold has been driven more by macroeconomic factors than convenience. Central bank buying and persistent inflation concerns have fueled demand for gold, leaving digital tokens like XAUT and PAXG to ride this broader wave.

🔗 While Scudo may enhance the user experience, it does not change the fundamental economics of gold-backed tokens, which remain tied to gold's price and liquidity dynamics. If gold prices decline, enthusiasm for its tokenized counterparts may also wane.

📈 Clearer Regulatory Framework for Event-Based Derivatives

🚫 U.S. regulators are providing clearer guidelines for event-based derivatives, particularly through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). On January 8, 2026, the CFTC's Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk announced limited no-action relief for event contracts associated with Bitnomial Exchange LLC and Bitnomial Clearinghouse LLC.

The divisions will not recommend the CFTC initiate an enforcement action against either entity or their participants for failure to comply with certain swap-related recordkeeping requirements,

the announcement stated. This guidance addresses a request from Bitnomial seeking clarity on how existing swap rules apply to event contract transactions.

⚖️ The CFTC's position reflects enforcement discretion rather than a change in statutory or regulatory requirements. It applies only to specific circumstances and does not extend to activities outside those parameters. By limiting the scope of the relief, the commission staff aims to balance regulatory consistency with flexibility for newer contract structures.

🔄 This decision aligns with previous staff determinations issued to other designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations. It reinforces a uniform approach to event-based products across regulated venues, providing operational certainty for exchanges, clearinghouses, and participants while maintaining the commission’s ability to oversee risk, transparency, and market integrity.

❗️ The announcement also reflects ongoing engagement between regulators and market infrastructure providers as event contracts evolve within the U.S. derivatives framework. As innovation continues, staff-level guidance like this no-action relief offers defined parameters for compliance without altering underlying statutory or regulatory obligations.

📊 In summary, the CFTC's no-action relief for Bitnomial clarifies how certain swap reporting and recordkeeping rules apply to event-based contracts. This reduces regulatory uncertainty for participants trading on Bitnomial’s regulated exchange while preserving regulatory oversight and encouraging innovation in the market.