Crypto thefts topped $2.2 billion in 2025, on par with last year’s total, as attackers exploited a range of blockchain vulnerabilities.
South Korea’s top money-laundering watchdog has slapped crypto exchange Korbit with a fine worth about ₩2.73 billion, or roughly $1.90 million, after finding widespread lapses in its compliance controls. Related Reading: Crypto Headed For A $10 Trillion Future? Hoskinson Says RWA Is The Key According to regulator statements and multiple news reports, the move follows an on-site inspection that uncovered thousands of rule breaches and several risky transfers abroad. Regulatory Findings And Scope Of The Inspection The Financial Intelligence Unit said inspectors found nearly 22,000 breaches related to AML and KYC rules. The FIU said the inspection, carried out from October 16 to 29, 2024, exposed serious gaps in how Korbit verified customer identities and handled transactions. Reports have disclosed that the exchange allowed some customers to trade before full verification was completed and accepted unclear or incomplete identity documents in many cases. The regulator also flagged 19 overseas transfers involving three unregistered foreign virtual asset service providers, a practice that is restricted under Korean law. The FIU highlighted the failure to carry out required risk checks for certain services, including some nonfungible token activities. In total, 655 cases were cited where mandatory risk assessments were not completed, according to the findings. Corporate responsibility measures were taken as well: the CEO received a formal caution and the compliance officer was reprimanded. An institutional warning was issued alongside the monetary penalty. Transaction Failures And Enforcement Details The inspection report described multiple instances where trading or withdrawals proceeded despite incomplete KYC steps. Such lapses raise the chance that illicit funds could move through the platform without timely detection. The FIU’s action is part of a broader push by South Korean authorities to tighten oversight of exchanges and bring them into closer alignment with international anti-money-laundering standards. Market sources indicate Korbit has been in discussions with Mirae Asset Group about a potential deal, with the exchange’s valuation reported at around ₩140 billion — roughly $97–$98 million. That interest comes even as regulators step up scrutiny, showing that traditional finance remains curious about crypto assets despite compliance headaches. Related Reading: Crypto ETFs Defy The Pullback With $32 Billion In Fresh Investor Cash What The Penalty Means For The Industry Other exchanges have also faced tougher checks in recent years as authorities press platforms to shore up controls. The Korbit case is likely to prompt more internal reviews across the sector and could speed up changes in procedures, staffing and technology meant to prevent repeat failures. Some measures will be public, while others may be handled behind closed doors. Korbit declined to comment directly to some outlets, while the FIU confirmed the sanction on December 31, 2025. The exchange will now need to demonstrate fixes or face possible further action. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
After a volatile 2025, investors are rethinking crypto cycles. Here are three investment themes that will shape the market’s next phase in 2026.
The class-action suit, filed against Cuban and others in August 2022 shortly after Voyager filed for bankruptcy, alleged “false representations and other deceptive conduct.“
B HODL's increased Bitcoin holdings highlight a strategic commitment to leveraging cryptocurrency for long-term financial growth and network utility.
The post UK Bitcoin treasury B HODL acquires additional Bitcoin, total holdings top 158 BTC appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
On the last trading days of the year, the kind of chart that almost nobody outside finance ever looks at started yelling again. Banks piled into the Fed’s Standing Repo Facility, borrowing a record $74.6 billion on Dec. 31 for 2025. Overnight funding rates popped, the benchmark SOFR briefly hit 3.77%, the general collateral repo […]
The post Shock $74B emergency bank loan on NYE just revived the dark “COVID cover-up” secret bailout theory appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Iran has reportedly announced plans to sell advanced weapons systems using cryptocurrency, executing its international trade amid heavy economic pressure. The announcements come as Iran struggles with high inflation and a sharply weakening national currency, following years of sanctions and restricted access to global banking. By turning to crypto for high-value transactions, Iranian officials seem …
The Trust Wallet update includes a feature to help victims of the $7 million Christmas hack submit reimbursement claims for lost funds.
A major institutional player in global finance has made its position on XRP clear, placing the cryptocurrency at the center of its digital asset strategy. Franklin Templeton, an asset management firm handling over $1.6 trillion worth of assets, used a recent post on the social media platform X to explain why it is going deep into XRP as an asset, while also drawing attention to its Spot exchange-traded product, XRPZ. This interesting comment is part of a growing institutional confidence in XRP and the XRP Ledger. Franklin Templeton’s Strategic Entry With A Spot XRP ETF Franklin Templeton’s arrival in the XRP ETF space is one of the most significant endorsements of the token from a legacy financial institution. The firm launched the Franklin XRP Trust, trading under ticker XRPZ on the NYSE Arca in late November, offering investors regulated exposure to the digital asset without the operational complexity of holding the token directly. Related Reading: Can Dogecoin Price Reach $1 In 2026? Analysts Reveal What To Expect The fund is structured as a grantor trust that holds XRP and calculates its net asset value daily based on established reference rates, with custody provided by Coinbase Custody Trust Company and administration by BNY Mellon. Recent comments from leading voices at the fund manager reveal that the decision to launch a Spot XRP ETF is due to their strong belief in XRP and the XRP Ledger. Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, highlighted the XRP Ledger’s designed capability for real-time, low-cost settlement and efficient cross-border payments. Furthermore, he noted that the altcoin’s market capitalization and role in global value transfer make it an important component worth regulated exposure for investors with a broad portfolio. The firm’s broader digital asset suite already includes Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, and XRP was the latest to join this year. Franklin Templeton traces its roots back to 1947 and has built a reputation of trillions in equity, fixed income, and multi-asset investments in markets all around the world. Its move into crypto ETFs, now encompassing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP exposure, is part of many established asset managers now actively engaging in the crypto industry. Performance And Market Reception Of XRPZ Since Launch Several issuers received clearance for Spot XRP ETFs in 2025, making it possible for institutions and everyday investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrencies through regulated means. Since their debut in November, the Spot ETFs, including XRPZ, have attracted meaningful capital flows. Related Reading: What Happens If The Bitcoin Price Closes 2025 In The Red? Analyst Answers Collectively, these products have drawn more than $1.16 billion in net inflows, maintaining consecutive days of inflows that stand in contrast to recent days of outflows in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ itself has grown its holdings past 100 million XRP, with a cumulative inflow of about $242 million at the time of writing. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
After major technical gains in 2025, Buterin says the network must double down on usability and decentralization to meet its original goals.
Bullish forecasts for ETF-led demand growth clash with warnings that many products may struggle to attract lasting assets.
2025 delivered at least four distinct “crypto is dead” episodes: a January AI-induced flash crash, the October tariff liquidation that erased $19 billion in leveraged positions, months of altcoin carnage, and a fourth quarter slump that wiped out the year's price gains. Mainstream outlets dusted off “crypto winter” language each time. Bitcoin logged more obituaries […]
The post Bitcoin “died” four times in 2025, but a hidden infrastructure boom proves the skeptics completely wrong appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Bitmine's increased Ethereum staking could significantly impact the crypto market, enhancing network security and influencing staking dynamics.
The post Bitmine reaches 461,504 staked Ethereum worth nearly $1.4B: On-chain data appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Dogecoin’s pullback is starting to look like a setup, not a breakdown, at least according to crypto analyst Cantonese Cat (@cantonmeow), who says the meme coin is behaving the way AMD did before its turn higher last year. Can Dogecoin Replicate The AMD Rally? In a X post on Dec. 31, the analyst argued that slipping prices on weakening volume and growing public reluctance to be bullish is exactly what improves the trade’s risk/reward. “I said that about AMD last year. I’m saying that about DOGE right now,” Cantonese Cat wrote. “The lower price goes down on low volume. The more worried influencers are to publicly be bullish on it. The less people care about this. The better risk-reward ratio there is.” The Dec. 31 chart is built around Fibonacci retracement levels mapped from DOGE’s prior move, with key bands marked at roughly $0.373 (0.886), $0.297 (0.786), $0.202 (0.618), $0.154 (0.5), $0.118 (0.382), $0.084 (0.236) and a lower reference near $0.049 (0). In that view, DOGE is shown sliding into the 0.382 region (around $0.118), a level many technicians watch as a make-or-break area for whether a pullback remains corrective or risks turning into a deeper unwind. Related Reading: Dogecoin Near $0.11–$0.12 Offers ‘Incredible Risk/Reward,’ Says Analyst Below price, Cantonese Cat’s volume bars are annotated with downward arrows, reinforcing the point made in the accompanying commentary: as DOGE moved lower, participation appeared to fade. For the analyst, that combination: declining price paired with softer volume and a more reluctant public tape fits a pattern where marginal sellers can exhaust without attracting aggressive new supply. Long-Term Dogecoin Price Targets Cantonese Cat’s earlier Dec. 20 post sets the broader roadmap, describing the preceding stretch as a prolonged downcycle and positioning the current phase as a corrective structure rather than a fresh trend. “We’ve already had a 13 month bear market for DOGE, with my working hypothesis of this being likely a wave 2 correction prior to wave 3 explosion,” the analyst wrote. “The entire reason why this may play out is that it doesn’t feel likely right now, and you want me to stop posting.” Related Reading: Dogecoin Chart Mirrors Silver’s Breakout, Analyst Flags $9+ Scenario That Dec. 20 chart also projects upside targets using Fibonacci extensions, with levels plotted well above the prior range. The marked extension ladder includes roughly $0.90 (1.272), $1.25 (1.414), and $1.99 (1.618), with more aggressive levels further out near $4.78 (2.0) and $8.91 (2.272). The thesis is not that those levels are imminent, but that the convexity of a potential “wave 3” is what makes the current pullback, if it holds the corrective framing, attractive from a risk/reward standpoint. Notably, the AMD comparison is not the only cross-market framing Cantonese Cat has used recently. The analyst has also drawn parallels between Dogecoin and silver, according to our recent coverage, extending the same core idea across different assets: periods that feel uninteresting or unpopular can be precisely when the setup becomes more asymmetric. At press time, DOGE traded at $0.12. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Crypto markets started 2026 with a strong attention on Solana, even though the SOL price has been consolidating below $130 for weeks. According to recent on-chain data, whales accumulating Solana-related tokens was the most discussed trend in the market. Additionally, SOL’s network usage and transaction volume dominate despite low price action. This suggests smart money …
Jupiter's V3 mobile terminal could revolutionize decentralized trading by reducing costs and enhancing user experience, potentially increasing adoption.
The post Jupiter introduces V3 mobile trading terminal with enhanced features appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
XRP scored every major win in 2025 with the SEC case resolved and spot ETFs launched, yet the price crashed 50%, with the $5 target remaining elusive.
Base’s push into creator coins is facing mounting criticism from traders and builders after Nick Shirley’s token on Zora spiked to about a $9 million valuation and then promptly slumped.
Crypto privacy is approaching an inflection point as relevant lawsuits near their conclusions and developers pivot toward designs that ensure privacy while appeasing regulators.
A veteran market analyst has flagged a technical pattern that could signal a turning point for Bitcoin after months of underperformance versus gold. The move comes as traders weigh whether the long run of gains for the yellow metal has exposed limits in Bitcoin’s safe-haven story. Related Reading: Gold And Stocks Ran Ahead, But Bitcoin May Close The Gap In 2026 Bitcoin Versus Gold Ratio Down The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio has plunged. It fell from 32 on Oct. 5 to about 20 today, a drop of more than 37%. According to the data, that means one Bitcoin bought roughly 32 ounces of gold in early October but now buys about 20. The ratio’s slide has accelerated since gold’s rally took hold and Bitcoin’s price slipped below key levels. Daily readings point to a possible change in momentum. On Nov. 21 the BTC/GOLD pair hit a low of 20 and the RSI stood at 21.30. A lower low near Dec. 1 came with a higher RSI low of 26.83. Then another trough at 19 on Dec. 26 coincided with a higher RSI low of 32.21. That’s a valid bullish divergence on the daily timeframe for BTCUSD vs. Gold. Interested to see where that leads us into 2026. pic.twitter.com/D6ei8HsIDy — Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) December 31, 2025 Based on reports, Michaël van de Poppe called this pattern a “strong” bullish divergence on the daily chart, a setup traders watch because it can show selling pressure easing even as prices make new lows. Technical Signals Show Cooling Selling Pressure On the weekly chart the picture adds weight to the signal. The weekly RSI for the BTC/GOLD pair has sunk to about 31.85 at press time. That level was last seen during the November 2022 sell-off tied to the FTX collapse, a point that marked a bottom in that cycle. Reports also link similar RSI lows to the bottoms seen in 2015 and 2018. Taken together, the daily divergence and the low weekly RSI make a stronger case that the downtrend may be losing steam, though nothing is guaranteed. Market Sentiment Splits Investors Gold’s rally has been dramatic. Reports show gold surged by over 70% in 2025 while Bitcoin fell by 7% over the year in some measures. At press time Bitcoin trades at $87,750, down 4.8% year-to-date. The breakdown in the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio and Bitcoin’s continued weakness below $100,000 have prompted fresh questions about the “digital gold” story as bullion posts historic gains. Short-term money appears to favor gold for capital protection. Many traders are treating the metal as a shelter while it climbs to new highs. Long-term holders, however, still point to Bitcoin’s potential for big upside once risk appetite returns. Related Reading: Crypto Headed For A $10 Trillion Future? Hoskinson Says RWA Is The Key According to market watchers, the near-term outlook hinges on whether the BTC/GOLD ratio and price action deliver follow-through above key levels. Until that happens, signals will remain tentative. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Whale accumulation across Solana tokens is headlining crypto-related social buzz as 2026 begins, according to data from Santiment.
Millions of long-inactive users still hold crypto at Bithumb, highlighting how early retail capital can remain untouched for years.
The new crypto tax reporting rules could significantly reduce tax evasion, increasing transparency and compliance across global markets.
The post Crypto tax reporting rules taking effect in UK and 40+ countries appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Glassnode data shows that XRP's exchange balances hit their lowest level since 2018 in late December, sparking the usual wave of accumulation phase speculation and “tight supply = moon” commentary. While the eight-year low encompasses the entire exchange ecosystem, CryptoQuant data for Binance offers a recent window into whether these troughs actually precede rallies. Binance's […]
The post XRP on exchanges hits 8 year low, but historical data exposes a brutal flaw in the popular “moon” narrative appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Asia laid the groundwork for non-USD stablecoins in 2025, as regulators and crypto firms pushed local-currency stablecoin initiatives.
Solana’s bid to move beyond memecoins will depend on whether its upgrades can deliver predictable execution for serious onchain finance.
Crypto analyst Chris Millas has highlighted an unusually persistent slump in Strategy shares, breaking with past drawdown patterns even as the firm continued accumulating bitcoin.
El Salvador's focus on Bitcoin and AI could position it as a tech leader, potentially reshaping global economic dynamics and innovation trends.
The post El Salvador doubles down on Bitcoin and AI in 2026, challenging ‘boomer economies’ appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Talk of XRP reaching $100 began gaining momentum this cycle, following the resolution of the legal battle involving Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Interestingly, the attention in recent months has been toward XRP’s role in global finance and how this might have an effect on its price action. That trend has led to different interpretations of how the XRP price can trade at $100 in the near future. A notable interpretation was recently articulated by analysts at Bayberry Capital, who proposed on the social media platform X that $100 should be seen as a liquidity event number, not a price target tied to timing. Why XRP At $100 Is A Liquidity Event Bayberry Capital’s outlook on XRP price shooting up to $100 is based on how markets reprice assets once their function becomes essential. According to the private digital asset investment firm, infrastructure assets do not typically rise in smooth, incremental moves. They tend to be re-rated when the market recognizes that their utility has changed from optional to necessary. Related Reading: XRP Price To Rally 690% To $15 In Unexpected ‘Measured Move’ Most digital assets rely on attention and continuous inflows of new buyers. However, XRP was designed differently as a liquidity instrument built to move value efficiently across systems. When demand is dictated by settlement and transactional use, price dynamics change. In that setting, value can be pulled upward by usage itself, not just by sentiment. A liquidity event is a moment when an asset’s ability to be converted, transferred, or absorbed by the market changes materially and permanently. From this perspective, $100 is a natural price level for XRP to be at that point. Another element of the view by Bayberry Capital is the absence of a deadline for this to happen. The liquidity event where the XRP price is priced at $100 is not defined by a specific year. Instead, it depends on direction. If global finance keeps moving toward faster settlement and digital liquidity rails, assets built for that purpose will undoubtedly be repriced accordingly. How This View Connects To Other $100 XRP Predictions Bayberry Capital’s commentary exists alongside a broader set of long-term views that started after XRP’s legal clarity, its push to new all-time highs in mid-2025, and the different partnerships and acquisitions made by Ripple to increase the utility of XRP. Related Reading: XRP Sees 80% Spike In Major Metric, Why This Matters For Price Appreciation Since then, several analysts and commentators have discussed scenarios where XRP could eventually trade at $100, with the proposed factors often tied to use in global settlement and institutional demand. Figures such as Zach Rector, crypto commentator 24hrscrypto, world’s highest IQ claimant Young Hoon Kim, and BarriC have all been linked to $100 XRP price scenarios over the coming years. These views are always debated by critics, particularly on market cap considerations, but they share a common assumption that XRP would need to function as a global payments infrastructure in order for this to happen. Featured image from Peakpx, chart from Tradingview.com
Digital asset treasuries, altcoin ETFs and bitcoin’s famed year‑end seasonality were meant to supercharge prices. What came instead was the worst drawdown since 2022's crypto winter.