Market Movement:

  • Bitcoin reclaimed the $92,000 level, climbing 2.49% in the past 24 hours, while Ethereum rallied 6.21%, briefly pushing past $3,300.
  • Bitcoin was recently trading above $94,400, marking the highest price since mid-November, with a 5% increase over the past 24 hours.

Key Events:

  • Strive Asset Management announced a $500 million preferred stock offering, with proceeds earmarked for Bitcoin acquisition.

Trading Signals:

  • Solana ETFs saw $20 million in inflows over the past week, with the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF holding $660 million in assets under management.
  • Trading volumes for Solana remain low at $4 billion, accounting for less than 6% of the asset’s circulating market cap.

Narrative Shifts:

  • Bitcoin's dominance is holding steady at 59.11% of total crypto market capitalization among the top 125 cryptocurrencies.
  • The Fear and Greed Index rose to 26 from 22, indicating a shift from "extreme fear" to a more stable market sentiment.

Risk Alerts:

  • Upbit's decision to reduce hot wallet exposure to effectively 0% comes after a significant security breach, highlighting ongoing risks in the crypto exchange landscape.
  • The recent surge in Bitcoin and Ethereum has led to a growing pile of short positions getting liquidated, indicating increased market volatility.

Opportunities:

  • The Solana price prediction suggests a bullish breakout above $160 could lead to a new uptrend, with potential targets around $200.
  • AI-linked tokens surged by 4.46%, driven by strong performances from FET (+9.6%), Worldcoin (+6.5%), and Virtuals Protocol (+5.5%).

Flows & Positioning

Bitcoin Reclaims $92K Amid $2 Billion Liquidation Event

Bitcoin has successfully reclaimed the $92,000 level, overcoming a significant $2 billion in liquidations. This price recovery reflects a growing preference among traders for established cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty. Currently, Bitcoin's market dominance stands at 59.11% among the top 125 cryptocurrencies, indicating a consolidation phase in the market. As traders shift focus to major assets, both BTC and ETH dominance remain elevated.

This trend suggests a limited appetite for leverage, with many market participants opting for safer investments in the current climate. The ongoing consolidation is marked by compressed basis rates and declining open interest, further emphasizing the cautious approach of investors.

Institutional Activity: Strive Asset Management's $500M Bitcoin Acquisition

Strive Asset Management has announced a $500 million preferred stock offering aimed at acquiring more Bitcoin. Currently, Strive holds 7,525 BTC, valued at approximately $695.93 million, making it the 14th largest corporate Bitcoin holder. The firm plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Bitcoin and related products. This strategic move aligns with a broader trend of institutional interest in Bitcoin, as companies like Strive continue to build their crypto treasuries.

The asset manager's approach echoes that of other corporate entities, emphasizing the growing acceptance of Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class.

Whale Movements and Price Levels: Solana Faces Selling Pressure

Solana is experiencing significant selling pressure, with a whale recently offloading 100,000 SOL worth approximately $13.57 million. This move adds to the ongoing liquidity challenges facing the asset, which has seen its 30-day profit/loss ratio remain below one since mid-November. Such a trend indicates that more losses are being realized than profits, reflecting deteriorating market sentiment. Additionally, Solana's price has been fluctuating between $120 and $160, with analysts noting that a breakout above the $160 level could signal a shift in momentum.

However, the current environment remains fragile, and further declines could lead to increased volatility in the near term.

Market Implications: Institutional Interest and ETF Flows

The recent surge in institutional interest, particularly in Bitcoin and Ethereum, is reshaping market dynamics. Bitcoin's price movements are closely tied to ETF inflows, which have seen significant fluctuations. Analysts are watching closely as the Federal Reserve's upcoming rate decision could further influence market sentiment and trading behavior. As institutional players continue to accumulate major cryptocurrencies, the overall market outlook remains cautiously optimistic.

However, the potential for increased volatility exists, particularly if liquidity conditions do not improve in the coming weeks.

Bitmex Enhances User Access with Fiat Integration

Bitmex has taken a significant step in expanding its user base by launching a crypto-to-fiat on-ramp in collaboration with Mercuryo, a global payment provider. This integration enables users from eligible jurisdictions to purchase cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) using over 30 different fiat currencies. This move aims to simplify the fiat-to-crypto conversion process, potentially increasing trading volume and user engagement on the platform.

SUI Ecosystem Gains Utility Amid Mixed Market Signals

The SUI altcoin is currently experiencing a cooling period following a notable drop in spot trading volume. However, the recent integration with ZenLedger is expected to provide a boost in utility for the SUI ecosystem. This partnership could enhance user experience by facilitating better tracking and management of crypto assets, which may help stabilize and potentially grow SUI's market presence despite the current mixed signals.

Corporate & Capital Markets

Strive Launches $500 Million Preferred Stock Offering for Bitcoin Acquisition

Strive, co-founded in 2022 by American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, launched a $500 million preferred stock offering to acquire more Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related products.

Octra Plans $20 Million Public Token Sale at $200 Million Valuation

Privacy-focused blockchain project Octra announced a $20 million public token sale on Sonar at a $200 million valuation. The sale allocation could increase if demand is high, and any unsold tokens will be burned.

Luxor Expands Hardware Business to Support Bitcoin Miners

Luxor is extending its procurement, logistics, and financing capabilities to help Bitcoin miners rapidly deploy accelerated compute capacity as they diversify into AI.

On-Chain & Network

Launch of Tempo Public Testnet Following $500 Million Funding Round

The payments-focused blockchain Tempo, which is compatible with Ethereum, has launched its public testnet. This follows a significant funding achievement in October, where it raised $500 million in a Series A round, resulting in a company valuation of $5 billion. This financial backing is expected to enhance Tempo's infrastructure and development capabilities as it seeks to establish itself in the blockchain payments space.

Silk Road Wallets Reactivate, Transferring $3.14 Million in Bitcoin

In a notable event, several wallets linked to the Silk Road have been reactivated after a decade of inactivity, transferring a total of $3.14 million worth of Bitcoin to an unknown address. This movement raises questions about the potential implications for market liquidity and the security of dormant assets within the crypto ecosystem.

Octra Plans $20 Million Token Sale with Potential for Increased Allocation

Privacy-focused blockchain project Octra is set to conduct a public token sale valued at $200 million. The project has indicated that the sale allocation may increase if demand is high, and any unsold tokens will be burned. This approach could enhance scarcity and potentially drive demand for the tokens post-sale.

Macro & Policy

U.S. Banks Authorized to Broker Major Cryptocurrencies

On December 10, 2025, a letter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) officially permitted U.S. banks to broker trades in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana. This regulatory development enables banks to compete directly with cryptocurrency exchanges, potentially reshaping the market landscape for digital asset trading in the U.S.

PNC Bank Launches Bitcoin Trading via Coinbase Integration

PNC Bank has introduced a Bitcoin trading feature for its Private Bank customers, utilizing Coinbase's "Crypto-as-a-Service" model. This initiative marks PNC as the first major U.S. bank to offer spot Bitcoin trading directly on its platform, enhancing accessibility for high-net-worth clients. The rollout follows a strategic partnership announced in July 2025.

Proposed CBDC Ban in National Defense Authorization Act

Representative Keith Self has submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act aiming to prohibit the Federal Reserve from developing or implementing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). This amendment comes amid ongoing negotiations in Congress, with previous efforts to include such language reportedly faltering.

Concerns Over Crypto Market Structure Bill from Teachers Union

The American Federation of Teachers has urged Senate leaders to abandon the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, claiming it would weaken investor protections and expose pensions to risks associated with unregulated tokenized stocks. The union's warning highlights growing concerns about the bill's potential to erode safeguards for traditional securities.

Security & Incidents

Hacker Compromises Yi He’s WeChat Account to Execute Mubarakah Token Pump and Dump

A hacker hijacked the WeChat account of Binance co-founder Yi He to carry out a pump-and-dump scheme involving the Mubarakah token, generating roughly $55,000 in profits. This breach highlights rising concerns about the manipulation of cryptocurrency markets through compromised social media accounts. Security analysts swiftly tracked the hacker’s transactions, uncovering the details of the fraudulent operation. The hacker accessed Yi He’s WeChat account and reportedly forwarded an article about the Mubarakah token.

For context, WeChat is a widely used messaging and payment application with a massive user base, particularly in China and across East and Southeast Asia.

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