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Cryptocurrency markets experienced a modest recovery this week, but spot Bitcoin ETFs extended a five-day losing streak amid thin year-end liquidity.
XRP’s chart is telling a two-speed story right now. While short-term price action remains heavy and key resistance levels are still capping upside, the broader structure continues to quietly mature beneath the surface. This tension between near-term pressure and a slowly building macro setup is what makes the current phase especially critical for what comes next. A Multi-Year Compression Is Reaching Its Endgame In a recent update, crypto analyst EGRAG CRYPTO emphasized that the XRP macro triangle is far more than just market noise; it is a definitive roadmap. Analyzing the asset on a 2-month timeframe, the analyst noted that this massive structural formation has been developing for years, serving as a primary indicator of where the price is headed in the long term. Related Reading: XRP Price To Surge: Analyst Shares ‘Interesting Chart’ That Has Previously Led To A Rally EGRAG was among the first to identify this specific breakout setup in its early stages. What the broader market might view as stagnation or random volatility is a multi-year triangle reaching its final apex on the macro chart, signaling that a major move is being prepared. The analyst stressed that this technical preparation is not based on “hopium,” but on a disciplined interpretation of long-term price action. Basically, this macro view provides a structured look at the market, stripping away the distractions of lower timeframes to reveal the significant accumulation and pressure building within the triangle’s boundaries. This tiered roadmap is designed to guide investors through the potential breakout phases, offering a strategic perspective on how XRP is expected to unfold as it finally exits this historic consolidation pattern. Double Bottom Falters As Buyers Struggle To Follow Through According to a post by Umair Crypto, the market is still showing signs of hesitation, with the double-bottom structure failing to gain meaningful traction. On the 4-hour chart, the recent bounce from the $1.84 area aligns closely with the golden pocket of the $1.772–$1.962 Fibonacci retracement, which helps explain the temporary reaction seen so far. Related Reading: Why The Current XRP Valuation Doesn’t Make Sense For momentum to shift, price needs to start closing above the $1.96 level. A move beyond that zone would allow the daily RSI trendlines to flip, marking the first real step toward regaining bullish momentum. The next and more critical hurdle sits at the $2.00 mark, where a breakout would also mean reclaiming the daily 50 SMA, a key signal that bullish structure is returning. Until those resistance crucial levels are recovered, the broader outlook remains bearish. Thus, the altcoin is vulnerable to further downside, and the risk of printing lower lows stays on the table as long as buyers fail to assert control above these key thresholds. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
The USX stablecoin briefly slipped below its dollar peg on Solana DEXs before recovering after its issuer injected liquidity into secondary markets.
Forced liquidations in the crypto derivatives market reached about $150 billion in 2025, according to CoinGlass data. On its face, the figure looks like a year of persistent crisis. For many retail traders, watching price feeds turn red became shorthand for chaos. In practice, it captured something more mundane and structural: the notional value of […]
The post How $150 billion was liquidated from crypto market in 2025 driving Bitcoin crash appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Regulatory clarity in the United States and the likelihood of falling interest rates will push the crypto ETF market higher in 2026.
Investor flows continue to favor traditional hedges and equities, as bitcoin ETFs extend outflows despite broader markets rising.
The privacy narrative is positioned for continued relevance into 2026, driven by practical adoption needs rather than speculative momentum.
The mainnet rollout follows the Fermi testnet activation in November, further reducing block times on the layer-1 blockchain network.
In an exclusive Cointelegraph interview, the crypto analyst pointed to macro headwinds, muted sentiment and cycle dynamics shaping Bitcoin’s path into 2026.
Banks have mostly stayed on the sidelines when it comes to holding XRP directly, even as interest in digital assets continues to increase. That hesitation has not been due to a lack of utility or demand but to strict regulatory capital rules that made holding XRP economically impractical for regulated institutions. However, a small adjustment in how XRP is treated under global banking rules could remove that barrier and change how banks interact with the cryptocurrency. Why Banks Can’t Hold XRP The main obstacle preventing banks from holding XRP has been its treatment under the global banking framework known as Basel III. Basel III is an international regulatory framework developed after the 2008 financial crisis that introduces higher quality and quantity of capital requirements in the international banking sector. Right now, XRP currently falls into the Type 2 crypto exposure under Basel III, which is set up with rules for assets that pose higher risks. Under these rules, most cryptocurrencies, including XRP, fall into a high-risk category that carries a punitive capital requirement. Banks are required to apply a 1,250% risk weight to such assets, implying they must set aside far more capital than the value of the XRP itself. This means that under the Basel III framework, for every $1 of XRP exposure, a bank must hold $12.50 in capital. This dynamic was recently explained by a crypto commentator with the name Stern Drew on the social media platform X. In a post on X, Drew explained that this capital inefficiency alone accounts for years of institutional hesitation. The issue has not been demand nor technology, but the regulatory capital treatment that made holding XRP irrational from a balance sheet perspective. The Regulatory Inflection Point The conversation around XRP’s regulatory status is becoming increasingly important to its long-term outlook. Interestingly, Drew’s analysis goes further by pointing to what he describes as an inflection point that markets may be overlooking. Now that legal and regulatory clarity surrounding cryptocurrencies is improving, XRP could be reclassified into a lower-risk category under Basel III. The endgame is that XRP is on a clear path to becoming a Tier-1 digital asset for global institutions, which is mostly for tokenized traditional assets and stablecoins with strong mechanisms. If that reclassification occurs, the economics will change immediately. XRP would become acceptable for direct balance sheet exposure, allowing banks to custody, deploy, and settle using the asset without the need of excessive capital. This is not a discussion about short-term price movements but about capital mechanics that determine whether large pools of institutional money can participate in holding XRP at all. In this case, liquidity provisioning of XRP by banks would change from off-balance-sheet usage to direct institutional ownership. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
The event underscores the risks of high leverage in crypto trading, where rapid price shifts can trigger cascading liquidations and market instability.
The post Bitcoin drops nearly $3,000 as over $70M in longs liquidated in past 4 hours appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Cryptocurrency prices moved lower as the broader market cooled, even though no major negative news triggered the drop. The total crypto market value slipped to about $2.94 trillion, down roughly 1.5% over the past day. Bitcoin Pulls Back After Recent Strength Bitcoin fell to around $87,100, giving up earlier gains. Trading data shows that Bitcoin …
Bitcoin and several major altcoins attempted to start a relief rally, but higher levels continue to attract strong selling by the bears.
Gold, silver, platinum and copper all surged to new records as metals — not bitcoin — attracted capital on the debasement trade and geopolitical tension.
Regulators are entering a second year of sweeping change under the Trump administration, with the SEC and CFTC set to have a busy 2026.
Beneath the Mediterranean, physicists at the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope Initiative built a cathedral of glass spheres that listens for cosmic whispers—and this year, it heard the most energetic neutrino humanity has ever recorded.
Diversification into AI and HPC infrastructure drove sharp outperformance for miners, while pure-play bitcoin miners lagged.
Tokens must demonstrate tangible value to remain competitive as the crypto market shifts towards business-driven fundamentals.
The post XRP and Cardano need to prove real utility or risk losing relevance, says Galaxy CEO appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has reignited debate around blockchain infrastructure after commenting on recent moves by traditional finance firms into tokenization. Responding to news around the Canton Network, Hoskinson said legacy finance is trying to recreate systems that XRP and Cardano-linked projects are already building, but at a much smaller scale. Hoskinson argued that platforms …
Crypto analyst Skipper has drawn attention to a significant development for XRP, even as it continues to trade below the psychological $2 level. Based on this development, the selling pressure could be easing for the altcoin, while ETFs continue to contribute to buying pressure as they maintain their inflow streak. Analyst Reveals XRP’s Stochastic RSI Has Hit 0.0 In an X post, Skipper revealed that XRP’s stochastic RSI has hit 0.0 for only the second time ever. This came as he noted that the altcoin has had a rough run, as it is down 35% in this quarter, 10% this year, marking its first yearly loss since 2022. The analyst added that XRP is also below the key $2 level. Related Reading: XRP Price Must Stay Above This Level Or Crash To $0.9 However, Skipper suggested that analyst Steph’s discovery about XRP’s Stoch RSI hitting 0.0 on the 3-week chart provides some optimism. He noted that this has only happened once before, which was in 2020, right before the altcoin bottomed at $0.28 during the Terra LUNA crash. Skipper also pointed to Steph’s statement that this could mean selling pressure is almost gone for XRP, though a quick bounce may not occur. The altcoin notably stayed flat for months in 2022 before it recovered. The analyst also mentioned that the drop in the stoch RSI marks cycle lows, not short-term trades. While the selling pressure looks to be cooling, XRP continues to see significant buying pressure from the XRP ETFs, which marks a positive for the altcoin. SoSo Value data shows that these funds have recorded daily net inflows since they launched. As a result, they hold net assets of $1.25 billion, which is almost 1% of XRP’s market cap. XRP Supercycle To Happen Next Year Self-acclaimed largest IQ holder YoungHoon Kim stated in an X post that the XRP supercycle will happen next year. Kim had earlier predicted that the altcoin could reach $10 or higher next year, which would mark new all-time highs (ATHs). This looks to be based on his belief that “all crypto will eventually connect with XRP.” Related Reading: Pundit Explains Why This Changes Everything For XRP In The Long Term In the meantime, crypto analyst Crypto King has stated that patience is key as XRP looks to reclaim key levels. The analyst noted that the price is holding just above the $1.85 critical support and that a strong bounce and a reclaim of $1.98 would signal a momentum shift. He added that if that price level breaks, the first upside target is the first resistance at $2.58. Meanwhile, there is also room for the altcoin to rally to as high as $3.66 next. At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.86, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
The crypto exchange’s tokenization, AI tools, and stablecoin revenue help it stand out in ‘transition year’ for crypto equities, said Clear Street's Owen Lau.
XRP is approaching a moment that could define its next market phase. The token is trading near a long-standing resistance level that, if cleared, would mean a renewed advance in the broader bull cycle. Chart experts say a sustained move above this zone could open the door to prices in the $7 to $10 range, …
Trust Wallet told users to disable its Chrome browser extension version 2.68 after the company acknowledged a security incident and pushed version 2.69 on Dec. 25, following reports of wallet drains tied to the Dec. 24 update. According to BleepingComputer, victims and researchers began flagging thefts soon after 2.68 rolled out. Early public tallies placed […]
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Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by 2026, according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, and his reasoning is based more on economics than excitement. The main idea is simple: Bitcoin’s supply is limited, while demand from large investors keeps growing. When demand rises and supply stays tight, prices usually move higher. Big institutions, corporations, and even some …
Hyperliquid's rapid growth in users and trading volume highlights the increasing demand and potential dominance of decentralized trading platforms.
The post Hyperliquid adds over 609K users, reaching $2.9T trading volume in 2025: ASXN Data appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Ripple had a busy 2025, highlighted by acquisitions, the end of a years-long court battle, and a burst to new heights for XRP.
The high tide of liquidity that has recently supported Bitcoin prices appears to be receding rapidly. The market is now grappling with significant net outflows, as data confirms that investment flows have turned decisively negative. This shift represents a stark turnaround in market dynamics, where selling pressure is currently overwhelming buying interest across major platforms. Why Markets Move Before Narratives Catch Up In an X post, a trader and investor in stocks and crypto, WealthManager, revealed that since December 8th, Bitcoin has recorded approximately $716 million in net outflows. Over the past two weeks, flows have been dominated almost entirely by outflows, reflecting a market that has lost momentum rather than conviction. Related Reading: New Bitcoin Crash Incoming? Twenty One Capital Moves 43,500 BTC Amid Major Losses Currently, the cryptocurrency market is not the preferred destination for momentum-driven capital. That momentum has rotated into gold, silver, and broader metals, but the rotations are temporary by nature. However, the opportunity remains in crypto, and the momentum will shift back into the sector at some point. “The lower BTC goes, the bigger the opportunity would become,” WealthManager noted. Analyst Cipher2X has offered an insight into why he is accumulating Bitcoin ahead of 2026. According to Cipher2X, BTC has never waited for perfect conditions to do its most important work. It builds its foundations when liquidity is tight and expectations are low. At this stage, price action is misleading, but the structure is not. On-chain data has shown that supply is increasingly locked up with long-term holders, while access to BTC through regulated channels is becoming routine rather than exceptional. At the same time, micro uncertainty continues to reinforce BTC’s role as a hedge against policy risk, not as a speculative bet on growth. This setup is the kind of environment where BTC intends to move sideways, frustrate the traders, and quietly shift ownership from impatient hands to committed ones. Cipher2X explains that the purpose of accumulating BTC isn’t a short-term catalyst, but because the next regime tends to reward those who have positioned early, not those who have reacted late. 2026 isn’t about the hype; it’s about who was already holding the asset. What Falling Volatility Says About Bitcoin’s Maturity The Bitcoin chart has shown the implied volatility on the BTC options over the past few years. A full-time crypto trader and investor, Daan Crypto Trades, pointed out that aside from a few short spikes of volatility, there’s a clear trend down on this part. BTC is maturing as its market cap is growing over time, and the market is becoming more institutionalized. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Long Game Is Winning, Even If The Short Term Looks Messy—CEO Daan concluded that the days of seeing multiple 10%+ candles in a row are behind us. Presently, if a single 10% move in one day happens, it would already be considered a big exception. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
As AI blurs the line between real and synthetic media, strategies for restoring user trust online are still taking shape as we enter 2026.
Japan’s FY2026 tax reform outline proposes reclassifying crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, cutting the tax rate on gains from up to 55% to a flat 20.315%. Spot, derivatives, and ETF profits would face separate taxation with up to a three-year loss carryforward, aligning with stocks. Staking, lending, and …