XRP has seen a notable shift in investor behavior, with large holders accumulating approximately 330 million tokens valued at around $642 million over the past 48 hours. This accumulation comes as XRP's price struggles to maintain momentum, failing to break through key resistance levels. The on-chain data indicates that addresses holding between 100 million and 1 billion XRP are increasing their exposure, suggesting that these whales view current prices as an attractive entry point. Despite the overall market hesitance, this behavior signals renewed demand from significant investors.
Hilbert Group has acquired the high-frequency trading platform Enigma Nordic for $32 million, aiming to enhance its algorithmic cryptocurrency trading capabilities. Enigma reported a trading volume of $5.4 billion, with a Sharpe ratio exceeding 3.0, indicating strong performance metrics. The deal includes performance-based earn-outs tied to Enigma's net income, requiring $40 million to unlock the full earn-out potential. This acquisition positions Hilbert to leverage Enigma's market-neutral strategies, which are designed to capitalize on short-term price inefficiencies in the crypto markets.
Fundstrat has advised clients to prepare for a significant Bitcoin correction to the $60,000-$65,000 range by the first half of 2026. This forecast aligns with macro indicators suggesting potential bear-market bottoms, as Bitcoin's price remains under pressure below $100,000. Additionally, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have reportedly become net sellers in Q4 2025, with holdings decreasing by 24,000 BTC. This decline in institutional demand reflects a broader trend of diminishing interest, further complicating Bitcoin's price recovery prospects.
XRP's price is currently attempting to stabilize around $1.94 after a sharp sell-off, with critical support identified between $1.82 and $1.87. Analysts suggest that if inflows continue, XRP could face further declines toward the $1.50-$1.66 range, indicating a bearish sentiment prevailing in the market. The ongoing pressure on XRP is compounded by macroeconomic factors and a broader rotation away from higher-beta crypto assets. Despite this, XRP's fundamentals, including its role in cross-border payments, continue to attract institutional interest, hinting at a potential long-term recovery.
The market cap of bitcoin mining stocks climbed 9.43% on Friday, finishing the session with every one of the top ten publicly traded miners by market value in the green, including three names that logged double-digit advances.
A coalition of over 125 cryptocurrency companies and advocacy groups, including major players like Coinbase, Gemini, and Kraken, has mobilized against U.S. banking lobbyists. This initiative arises from concerns over the GENIUS Act, which prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying dividends. Currently, a loophole allows third-party platforms to pass stablecoin yields to users, prompting traditional banks to lobby for its closure, arguing it leads to regulatory arbitrage.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has begun utilizing digital assets for its universal basic income program. Last month, citizens received USDM1, a token based on the Stellar blockchain, as part of this initiative. This move reflects a shift towards digital financial solutions as the nation seeks to enhance access to financial services, moving away from reliance on physical cash.
Euro stablecoins have achieved a significant milestone, surpassing $1 billion in market capitalization. This growth has been attributed to record highs in USDC cross-chain transfers, indicating a transaction-driven expansion within the stablecoin sector. The overall stablecoin market is currently valued at approximately $288 billion, highlighting the increasing importance of stablecoins in the broader cryptocurrency landscape.
A crypto user lost nearly $50 million in USDT to an address poisoning scam after copying a fraudulent wallet address from their transaction history, according to blockchain security firm SlowMist. The victim transferred 49,999,950 USDT to an attacker-controlled address that closely mimicked their intended destination, with matching first three and last four characters. The stolen funds were quickly converted to ETH, distributed across multiple wallets, and partially funneled through Tornado Cash mixer. The victim’s wallet had been active for approximately 2 years and was primarily used for USDT transfers, with the compromised funds withdrawn from Binance shortly before the poisoned transfer.
The incident occurred amid a broader security crisis in the cryptocurrency industry, which has now lost nearly $90 billion to hacks and exploits since its inception. November alone saw over $276 million stolen, pushing 2025 losses beyond $9.1 billion, meaning roughly 10% of all historical crypto losses have occurred within the past 12 months.
A 23-year-old Brooklyn resident has been charged with stealing roughly $16 million in cryptocurrency from around 100 Coinbase users through an alleged phishing and social engineering scheme, prosecutors said. Ronald Spektor posed as a Coinbase representative and contacted victims under the pretense that their digital assets were at immediate risk, pressuring users into transferring cryptocurrency to wallets under his control. Prosecutors stated that Spektor operated online under the alias “lolimfeelingevil” and relied on classic social engineering tactics rather than technical exploits. Authorities seized approximately $105,000 in cash and about $400,000 in digital assets as part of the investigation, which followed a year-long probe by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
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