Glamsterdam and Hegota are expected to continue Ethereum's twice-a-year upgrade schedule in 2026 following Pectra and Fusaka.
Bitcoin prices swung sharply around the opening of U.S. markets this week, triggering large liquidations and renewing debate over the role of derivatives, liquidity and timing in the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin saw fast moves higher and lower within short time frames, leading to the forced closure of both bullish and bearish leveraged positions, according …
Concerns over quantum computing are weighing on Bitcoin’s price and slowing some investment flows, amid a sharp divide between developers and many investors. Related Reading: UK Crypto Ownership Takes Biggest Hit Since 2021, Regulator Says Developers Call Threat Distant According to Bitcoin developer Adam Back of Blockstream, quantum machines remain far from able to break Bitcoin’s protections. He said the tech is still “ridiculously early” and that research hurdles persist. Back expects no real threat within the next decade and argued that even if parts of Bitcoin’s cryptography were compromised, the network would not automatically be emptied. Security, he noted, does not rest solely on encryption in a way that would allow mass theft on the blockchain. i think the risks are short term NIL. this whole thing is decades away, it’s ridiculously early and they have massive R&D issues in every vector of the required applied physics research to even find out if it’s possible at useful scale. but it’s ok to be “quantum ready” and — Adam Back (@adam3us) December 18, 2025 The Risk That Keeps Some Awake Other voices in the community disagree. Jameson Lopp, a well-known Bitcoin engineer, has warned about the worst-case outcome if quantum advances allowed attackers to break the ECDSA signature scheme that secures many wallets. In that scenario, forged signatures could be used to move funds, and user confidence might erode quickly. That warning has been repeated as a technical possibility, not as something imminent. How should we treat quantum vulnerable coins in a future where quantum computing becomes a threat? This panel from the Presidio Quantum Bitcoin Summit features myself, @theblackmarble, and @cryptoquick.https://t.co/jhr6hjLXru — Jameson Lopp (@lopp) September 14, 2025 Investors Worry, Capital Shifts Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, told observers that it is “extremely bearish” when influential developers appear to dismiss any quantum risk outright. He said the gap between investor concern and developer assessment is large. Reports have disclosed that some capital is being held back while large holders consider spreading risk into other assets. Craig Warmke of the Bitcoin Policy Institute added that perceived quantum risk has already pushed some holders to reduce their Bitcoin positions. Quantum risk is stemming the flow of capital into bitcoin, and encouraging large holders to diversify out of bitcoin. When non-technical people express concerns, they sometimes use technically incorrect language. It’s frustrating to see technical people dismiss concerns with an… https://t.co/MtSNY7Ivg3 — Craig Warmke (@craigwarmke) December 18, 2025 Current Technology Falls Short Most cryptographers agree quantum computers today are not powerful enough to crack Bitcoin’s cryptography. That assessment is widely reported by analysts who follow both fields. Metaculus’s median date for when quantum computers will break modern cryptography is 2040:https://t.co/Li8ni8A9Ox Seemingly about a 20% chance it will be before end of 2030. — vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) August 27, 2025 Still, the timeline is debated. Based on reports from researchers and public comments from industry figures like Vitalik Buterin, there is a measurable chance — about ~20% — that a machine capable of breaking today’s crypto could exist by 2030. That estimate has prompted calls for proactive steps. Related Reading: Trump-Linked World Liberty Backs USD1 With Treasury-Fueled Expansion Calls For Preparedness Grow Financial institutions and national programs, the reports say, are investing heavily in quantum work, and tools like AI are accelerating research in the field. As a result, many in the crypto world argue contingency plans should be ready well before any practical threat appears. Suggestions include moving to quantum-resistant signature schemes and improving wallet practices so funds are not left exposed while upgrades take place. Some experts point out that banks and other big targets may face attacks earlier, which could give the crypto sector time to respond. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
BTC rose to $88,000 after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates. The increase, seen as a potential risk-off trigger, failed to spark a flight into the yen.
US institutional selling pressures Bitcoin, limiting upside momentum and signaling potential market caution and capital outflows.
The post Coinbase Premium Gap drops to -$57, signaling heavy US selling appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Something important is happening in India’s crypto market, and it’s not coming from retail traders chasing short-term moves. In 2025, institutional crypto investment in India is rising fast. Across major Indian exchanges including CoinDCX, CoinSwitch, ZebPay, and Mudrex, institutional participation has grown 30–50% year-on-year, now making up a meaningful share of total trading volumes. That …
Fidelity’s director of macro is predicting a Bitcoin bottom near $65,000 in 2026, but remains a “secular bull” despite predicting an end to the current four-year cycle.
Contrary to popular belief, quantum computers will not “crack” Bitcoin encryption; instead, any realistic threat would focus on exploiting digital signatures tied to exposed public keys. Quantum computers cannot decrypt Bitcoin because it stores no encrypted secrets on-chain. Ownership is enforced by digital signatures and hash-based commitments, not ciphertext. The quantum risk that matters is […]
The post Bitcoin encryption isn’t at risk from quantum computers for one simple reason: it doesn’t actually exist appeared first on CryptoSlate.
The deal is less about chasing returns and more about access to familiar market structures, regulated intermediaries and predictable settlement.
While Bitcoin and most altcoins are still testing key levels, Zcash has already delivered one of the strongest rallies of the year. But according to Real Vision CEO Raoul Pal, this explosive move may not signal the start of a lasting bull run. Instead, he believes Zcash’s surge looks more like capital rotating into niche …
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has openly criticized President Donald Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency, saying it created confusion, fear, and political damage for the industry at a critical time. While many crypto leaders stayed silent, Hoskinson says most are afraid to speak openly. Hoskinson Slams Trump’s Crypto Moves In a recent interview, Hoskinson described Trump’s crypto …
Terraform Labs sued Jump Trading and senior executives for $4 billion, alleging the firm manipulated Terra’s ecosystem and unlawfully profited from the crash, the WSJ reported.
Bybit is relaunching in the UK with a stripped‑back spot and P2P platform, reopening a market it exited after the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) 2023 crackdown.
The crypto exchange is taking legal action against Connecticut, Michigan and Illinois, Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal wrote on X.
Fidelity’s global macro director, Jurien Timmer, has called the end of the latest bitcoin bull run, while highlighting gold’s continued bull market strength.
Bitcoin’s options market has a new obsession: Christmas week. In a post Thursday, energy-sector managing partner David Eng argued the next eight days (December 19 through December 26) could define the near-term cycle for BTC, not because of a macro headline or some sudden ETF stampede, but because a large chunk of dealer gamma exposure is scheduled to roll off the board in two shots. At press time, bitcoin traded around $86,928, after swinging between roughly $84,461 and $89,230 intraday. Eng’s framing is blunt and very “options people”: the market is being mechanically pinned, and the pin has an expiry date The Hidden Force Holding Back Bitcoin Price? “The narrative isn’t just about tomorrow. We are staring down the barrel of a ‘Double-Barreled’ Liquidity Event that will wipe 67% of the entire derivatives board clean by December 26th,” Eng wrote. “Bitcoin is trading at $88,752, deep in the -25% Value Zone (Trend Value: $118k). The spring is coiled, but two massive structural weights are holding the lid down.” Related Reading: Bitcoin & Ethereum Diverge: Longs Dominate BTC, While ETH Shorts Rise Those “weights,” in his telling, are two expiries with meaningful gamma attached: roughly $128 million tied to Dec. 19 (21% of the total he tracks) and another $287 million at Dec. 26, which he calls the “boss level” ceiling. He labels the combined $415 million a coming “Gamma Flush,” arguing that once it clears, the hedging drag that’s been compressing spot price action should ease. The practical point is less mystical than it sounds. If dealers are sitting on meaningful gamma around a tight cluster of strikes, their delta-hedging can dampen volatility and keep spot gravitating around certain levels until that exposure decays or expires — the kind of “why does this tape feel glued?” frustration traders know too well. Eng’s map is built around very specific lines in the sand: $85k–$90k as the “mud” zone where hedging pressure keeps snapping price back, and $90,616 as the flip level he’s watching around the Dec. 19 expiry. “Stage 1: The Spark (Tomorrow, Dec 19) — $128 Million in Gamma expires tomorrow (21% of total). This is the ‘Appetizer.’ It removes the immediate suppression pinning us below $90k,” he wrote. “Watch the $90,616 flip level. If we clear this, the intraday shackles fall off.” But Eng is clearly more focused on the week after. “Stage 2: The Floodgate (Next Friday, Dec 26) — $287 Million in Gamma expires next week,” he continued. “A staggering 46.2% of all dealer gamma exposure sits on this single date… Dealers have a quarter-billion-dollar incentive to keep volatility crushed and price pinned near $85k-$90k through Christmas to harvest this premium.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Washout Points To $180,000 In 90 Days, GMI Says The claim, basically: pre-Dec. 26 is “thick mud,” post-Dec. 26 is the tape suddenly breathing again. “When you combine these two dates, $415,000,000 of gamma — two-thirds of the entire market structure — evaporates in the next 8 days,” Eng wrote. “Before Dec 26: The market is fighting through thick mud… After Dec 26: The mud dries up. The suppression mechanism is gone. The Power Law gravity ($118k) takes over without the dealer counter-flow.” He also tossed out a provocative ratio that’s been circulating in derivatives circles all year: dealer mechanics versus ETF demand. “Dealer Gamma forces are currently ~13x stronger than ETF Flows,” he wrote. “Dealer ~$507.6M, ETF ~$38M. This is why the market is obeying the technical gamma levels ($85k/$90k) and ignoring the ETF volume.” Dealer Gamma forces are currently ~13x stronger than ETF Flows Dealer ~$507.6M ETF ~$38M This is why the market is obeying the technical gamma levels ($85k/$90k) and ignoring the ETF volume. — David ???????? (@david_eng_mba) December 18, 2025 And when critics in the replies questioned whether “$287M” is even meaningful, Eng clarified what the figure is — and what it isn’t. “The $287M figure refers to dealer gamma exposure (GEX), not total options size,” he wrote. “GEX measures how much spot Bitcoin dealers may need to buy or sell to stay delta-neutral as price moves. It reflects hedging pressure, not notional value.” So the tradeable implication of Eng’s thesis is straightforward: expect the pinning games into Christmas, then watch whether a post-expiry regime shift actually shows up in realized volatility — and in price’s ability to stop bouncing off the same levels like it’s hitting invisible glass. At press time, Bitcoin traded at $87,953. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The U.S Senate has confirmed two regulators with openly pro-crypto views to lead key financial agencies, signaling a clear shift toward more constructive oversight. The confirmations passed as part of a broader package of nominations in a 53–43 Senate vote, marking a notable shift in the regulatory tone toward digital assets. Mike Selig has been …
New research models how crosschain price gaps and capital friction are eroding efficiency as tokenized markets scale across blockchains.
Metaplanet will debut US trading via American Depositary Receipts, aiming to broaden access for US investors without raising new capital.
The sponsored level I ADR listing strengthens U.S. investor access, settlement quality and market credibility, the company said.
Bitcoin remained under pressure after falling below $85,000, and the recent rebound above $87,700 suggests that the price has entered a cooling period. However, volatility has been elevated, and sharp intraday swings have shaken both long and short positions. Despite this, the BTC price continues to hold above key higher-timeframe demand zones. This combination suggests …
Magdaleno Mendoza, 56, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for his role in helping orchestrate a crypto Ponzi scheme in the U.S.
Solana (SOL) is currently one of the poorest performers among the top ten largest cryptocurrencies in the market, experiencing a sharp 13% decline over the past week. Bearish Patterns Emerge For Solana This downturn comes as the cryptocurrency has broken below the critical support level of $120, which had acted as a pivotal floor since the start of the month and previously prevented further drops. The situation appears even more dire for investors with bullish sentiments, as recent data from CoinGecko indicates that Solana has retraced nearly 60% from its all-time high of $293, reached back in January of this year. Year-to-date, the token has experienced a significant loss of 40%, which raises additional concerns among top analysts about its near-term stability. Related Reading: Optimism Grows In Crypto Market Structure Bill After Wednesday’s Senate Banking Meeting Experts are cautioning that unless conditions change, the Solana price may soon retest the $100 mark—an area not seen since April. Should this scenario materialize, it would imply an additional drop of approximately 15.9%. Some analysts, like market commentator EddieTradezz, have pointed to a bearish “head and shoulders” pattern formed in SOL’s daily chart, suggesting that Solana is on the brink of a substantial decline. He notes that it is now breaking through strong long-term resistance, with April’s lows around $95 potentially being a more realistic target than $100. Adding to the bearish sentiment, fellow expert ColdBloodShill has indicated that Solana may be heading toward a price point of $80, which would result in a drastic additional drop of 32%. However, as EddieTradezz mentioned, the possibility for recovery would largely depend on market-wide conditions and investor sentiment. Institutional Interest Grows As SOL ETFs See Major Inflows Despite the prevailing bearish indicators, there has been a noteworthy development on the institutional front. Recently approved Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US have seen impressive uptake, amassing $63.9 million in net inflows over the past week. This suggests that institutions are beginning to accumulate Solana, potentially viewing it as a long-term investment opportunity. However, this positive news has been overshadowed by heavy selling pressure in spot markets. Related Reading: Bitwise’s 2026 Crypto Forecast: Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Solana Poised For New Record Highs Increased volatility has led to a rise in liquidations for leveraged positions, dampening Solana’s price reaction to the overall positive developments in institutional interest. Ultimately, Solana’s future remains uncertain. While institutional interest may offer some hope, the immediate outlook is clouded by increased selling pressure and the inability to regain capital in the broader market, which has recently dropped below the $2.90 trillion mark in total market capitalization. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Bybit exited the U.K. in 2023 following a tightening of rules around the promotion and marketing of crypto services.
Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy estate has filed a $4 billion lawsuit against Jump Trading, accusing the high-frequency trading firm of secretly manipulating the Terra ecosystem and profiting from its collapse. Meanwhile, responding to the claims, Jump Trading has rejected the allegations and said it will fight the case in court. Terraform Labs Estate Accuses Jump Trading …
Coinbase sued regulators in Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan, arguing CFTC-regulated prediction markets fall under federal commodities law, not state gambling rules.
Bitcoin headed higher despite the Bank of Japan's interest-rate hike while reactions saw bullish risk-asset signals and no further policy tightening.
Bitcoin Cash, a cryptocurrency that is a fork of Bitcoin, has seen a sharp rise today, jumping nearly 12%, trading around $588, making it one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies. While Bitcoin and most other major coins are trading in the red, Bitcoin Cash’s sudden surge has surprised the market, raising questions about what’s driving the …
Binance has announced it will delist nine altcoins, $BUZZ, $DARK, $FROG, $GORK, $MIRAI, $PERRY, $RFC, $SNAI, and $TERMINUS, from its platform on December 19, 2025, at 07:00 (UTC). The tokens are being removed for not meeting Binance’s listing standards. While they will no longer be available for trading on the main Binance platform, users can …
A solo Bitcoin miner scored a huge win by mining block 928351 after renting under $100 of hashpower on NiceHash’s EasyMining service. The miner captured the full 3.152 BTC block reward, worth roughly $271,000, with Bitcoin trading around $86000. The score highlights how rented hashpower can still let small players compete with industrial farms, though …