Cryptopolitan

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has gone out of her way to back the bipartisan digital asset market structure legislation that she has played an active role supporting and shaping of throughout the year.  

Her recent post from December 30, 2025 reiterates that: “Our market structure legislation enables public-private partnerships to combat illicit finance. With our bill, we can protect Americans and foster innovation.” 

The effort ultimately aims to draft clear regulatory rules for cryptocurrency while encouraging innovation and safety for customers. 

Senator Cynthia Lummis worked with others on the guiding principles for market structure and has shared statements supporting what they come up with to combat illicit finance 

Senator Cynthia Lummis doubles down on market structure legislation 

Senator Cynthia Lummis worked with Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) on the guiding principles for market structure legislation. 

Those principles lay emphasis on pro-innovation rules, consumer protections, as well as the recognition of tokenization as an efficiency-enhancing evolution in finance. 

A core element of those principles explicitly addresses illicit finance with a draft including compliance requirements for centralized intermediaries, deliberate measures to curb money laundering and encouragement of public-private partnerships to increase detection rates. 

Lummis has repeatedly highlighted that the legislation mainly targets people with nefarious purposes and poses no risk to innovation. 

Her recent post from December 30, 2025 reiterates that. She shared the post via her official X page, and wrote: “Our market structure legislation enables public-private partnerships to combat illicit finance. With our bill, we can protect Americans and foster innovation.” 

At the time of this publication, the bill is stuck amid bipartisan negotiations. Many had been anticipating a markup in late 2025, but that has been postponed until early 2026. 

Lummis’ time at the Senate ends in January 2027, and she is determined to make sure the bill passes by the time she has to leave, viewing it as critical to keeping the growth of America’s digital assets domestic rather than offshore. 

Lummis has revealed she will not seek reelection

Cynthia Lummis is currently the chair of the Senate Banking Committee’s crypto subpanel and a reliable ally for the crypto industry. She is currently handling negotiations as part of an industry-backed push for the broader regulation of cryptocurrency. 

However, when her tenure ends in 2027, the popular administrator has revealed she will not be seeking reelection, triggering contemplation among those who have dubbed her the cryptocurrency industry’s fiercest advocate on Capitol Hill. 

Lummis cited the “difficult, exhausting” final weeks of this year’s Congress as the main reason she chose to withdraw her reelection bid, saying she’s “come to accept that I do not have six more years in me.”

Crypto interests have bemoaned her retirement, but it sets up a primary for her seat in Wyoming in 2026. 

“Senator Lummis has been a great ally on crypto — very sorry to see her go!” said David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, in a post to X. 

Conner Brown, the head of strategy and the Bitcoin Policy Institute, echoed similar sentiments, calling Lummis “the Senate’s first and finest bitcoiner.”

“We are incredibly lucky to have had her leadership at so many critical moments for bitcoin policy over these critical years,” Brown said.

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The DeFi Education Fund had sought to submit an amicus brief, but the US government has opposed the request. The move comes as the court reviews a potential retrial for two brothers accused of exploiting the Ethereum blockchain to obtain $25 million.

In a filing dated Tuesday, December 30, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton wrote to Jessica Clarke, a United States district judge in New York requesting her to decline the DeFi Education Fund’s (DEF) brief while the court evaluates a motion to withdraw the allegations raised against Anton and James Peraire-Bueno. 

US Attorney Clayton raised concerns about DEF’s amicus brief

In a statement, US Attorney Clayton argued that DEF’s amicus brief, which is disconnected from the trial record, restates some legal claims that the court has already rejected.

He further explained, “Since the Court has already made decisions on the legal matters discussed in the amicus brief and DEF does not provide any new information relevant to the current motion, their submission is unlikely to help the Court in considering these specific issues [related to a motion for acquittal].” 

Considering the intense nature of the situation, reports dated November noted that Judge Clarke declared a mistrial just after jurors found it difficult to decide whether the two brothers should be pronounced guilty or not guilty. 

Regarding the case raised against the brothers, sources close to the situation claimed that they were accused of inappropriately utilizing automated maximal extractable value (MEV) bots for their own benefit. Later in the week, the US government requested that the court consider setting a retrial date for either late February or early March 2026. 

At this point, a draft representing the DEF brief, issued on December 19, illustrated that the organization supported the motion to clear or withdraw the claims against the two brothers. According to them, the case presented significant consequences for the industry.

DEF further commented on the matter, stating that, “[P]rosecutions like this one create confusion and fear among software developers, discouraging involvement in DeFi and pushing participants to other countries”. They added, “The DOJ should not rush into indictments based on misinterpretations of current laws, as this will hinder growth by creating uncertainty about the rules.” 

Uncertainties surrounding the two brothers’ fate raise controversy in the ecosystem 

The announcement regarding the US government’s opposition to the Defi Education Fund’s brief prompted several reporters to reach out to the organization for comment on the situation. However, it declined to respond.

Even with this decline, analysts noted that several individuals in the crypto industry are still paying close attention to the possibility of how this case could impact MEV-related activities. The individual adopted this move at a time when uncertainties surrounding the fate of the Peraire-Bueno brothers grew intense.

Meanwhile, reports unveiled that Coin Center, a leading non-profit research and advocacy center focused on crypto-related matters, issued an amicus brief during the criminal trial. Sources claimed that this brief opposed the US government’s outlook. As a result, prosecutors requested the court to discard the brief.

On the other hand, another reliable source disclosed that the two brothers initially encountered allegations including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering activities, and conspiracy to acquire stolen property. With these claims in place, they noted that if, by any chance, the brothers undergo a retrial on these similar allegations and are found guilty, they could be subjected to a prison sentence of up to 20 years for each count.

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Bitcoin faces a difficult start to 2026 after giving back most of its earlier gains in the past 3 months, as Cryptopolitan has been extensively reporting.

The OG crypto had gone on a monster rally earlier this year making one all-time high after another, mostly thanks to Trump taking back the White House.

But recent uncertainties and intense leverage have dragged Bitcoin down enough to end 2025 in the red.

Bitcoin’s price last traded at $88,242, leaving Bitcoin down about 6% for the year and roughly 30% below its record high of nearly $126,000, which was reached in early October, according to data from CoinGecko.

ETFs and regulation drive rebound expectations

Some analysts still expect Bitcoin to rebound in early 2026, even if the recovery does not last.Citi Research’s says near-term support could come from the expansion of crypto exchange-traded funds, which continue to bring better access for both retail and institutional investors.

In a note written Dec. 18, Citi analyst Alex Saunders said Bitcoin predictions assume adoption continues and ETF inflows reach $15 billion, but that level can only rally prices in the short term.

Citi has reportedly set a base-case target of $143,000 over the next 12 months for Bitcoin. The bank also shared a bull-case target of $189,000 and a bear-case level of $78,000 for the same period.

Meanwhile, attention remains on Strategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, as another signal for price direction. In a Dec. 3 note, JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou pointed to the company’s enterprise-value-to-holdings ratio, which remains above 1.0, a level that reassures markets that the company can avoid selling its holdings during stress.

“If this ratio stays above 1.0 and MicroStrategy can eventually avoid selling bitcoins, markets will likely be reassured and the worst for bitcoin prices will likely be behind us,” Nikolaos wrote.

“We also find encouraging MicroStrategy’s creation of a $1.4bn reserve fund for future dividend and interest payments,” Nikolaos added, saying that it reduces the risk of forced sales.

Though according to Cryptoquant, Bitcoin’s long-term holders continue to focus on the traditional four-year cycle that has historically determined prices.

Jaime Leverton, chief executive officer of ReserveOne, said on CNBC’s Squawk Box that the old cycle is fading as the industry gains stronger support in the United States. “I actually think we’ll see a new Bitcoin all-time high next year, which would really be the final nail in the coffin for the historical cycle,” Jaime said.

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Today in cryptocurrency news, the spotlight is on Mutuum Finance  once again following the amazing performance at presale. Mutuum Finance has now entered Phase 7 after a very quick sellout in Phase 6. With many people currently looking to know what cryptocurrency to buy now, MUTM is quickly becoming one of the best cryptocurrency to buy because of the very low market price and the rapidly increasing demand. Currently, the token remains below $0.05. 

The Launch of Phase 7 Amidst High Demand

Mutuum Finance is currently in Presale phase 7, and the response has not diminished. In fact, phase 7 is already filling up fast, and it is thought to be the final opportunity to acquire MUTM at the rate of $0.04. Mutuum Finance has accumulated $19,500,000 in sales of their token, MUTM. Since the presale started, and the number of MUTM holders now stands at 18560, indicative of massive support. In phase 7, the token is currently being sold at the price of $0.04, an implication of a 300% rise compared to the previous phase of $0.01 in phase 1.

Why Buyers Feel the Rush

There is great pressure for investors to make their moves now. Phase 7 is selling out quickly. Once it is closed, Phase 8 will open at $0.045. This is near a 20% increase. Waiting even for a short while will result in higher costs for the same token. The MUTM launch price is at $0.06. This will give those who are already buying an expected 410% ROI. This increasing difference between the present and future costs is why MUTM is one of the best cryptocurrencies to buy for the short term.

Designed for Use, Not just Hype

Mutuum Finance is unique in that it was designed for actual use in the world of DeFi. The purpose of Mutuum Finance is to provide a means for lending and borrowing, driving demand for the token. The MUTM token has actual use within its own network. It is more than just a cheap crypto token in this regard. It also has an ongoing audit by Halborn Security specifically for its contracts related to lending & borrowing.

Strong Progress on Development

There has been transparency about the development process from the team. In one such announcement, the team revealed that the launch of the V1 protocol is scheduled on the Sepolia testnet for Q4 2025. This is expected to be followed by the development of the first operational product. This will be the first hard development milestone because the company has particular goals that must be achieved.

New Tools Keep Users Busy

Mutuum Finance has introduced a dashboard and a leaderboard for the top 50 holders. In its interior, there is a daily 24-Hour Leaderboard. It resets daily at 00:00 UTC. Each day, the highest-ranked user gets a $500 MUTM reward if they’ve made a transaction. It acts as a motivation to users to ensure that the network stays busy.

Given the speed at which Phase 7 has rolled in, the high funding numbers, as well as the progress being made with development, Mutuum Finance has made significant inroads concerning the next crypto that should be considered. For those investors who ask which cheap crypto to invest in, MUTM makes the grade as the best crypto to buy.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:
Website: https://mutuum.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

China’s electric vehicle market is no longer exploding, it’s tightening. The gold rush is fading, and automakers are being dragged into a brutal fight to survive.

In 2025, both Tesla and BYD posted lower sales, with Tesla down 7.4% and BYD falling 5.1% from the year before.

The drop got uglier in November, when BYD’s numbers collapsed by 26.5%. And while they stumbled, the flashy newcomers, including cars backed by Huawei and Xiaomi, took off with sales growth above 90%.

But the old darlings aren’t the only ones sweating. Those early U.S.-listed names (Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto) didn’t even crack the top 10 sellers, even though they’ve been improving monthly delivery numbers. It didn’t matter. This is no longer a market where every player wins just by showing up.

Chinese market gets more crowded as discounts explode

There’s no more room for small talk. The market is now concentrated at the top. Xiao Feng, co-head of China Industrial Research at Citic CLSA, said the top ten makers now hold 95% of the new energy vehicle space, compared to just 60% to 70% a few years ago. And that space includes both hybrids and battery electrics.

Autohome, a local car listing platform, is showing huge markdowns, with 432,000 yuan off the Mercedes-Benz EQS EV and 147,000 yuan sliced off the Volvo XC70.

Paul Gong, who heads China autos research at UBS, said this knife fight isn’t ending soon. “The price war could last for years,” he said.

And just when you think things can’t get worse, Beijing shows up with new tax policies. Purchase tax is coming back. Trade-in subsidies are getting cut. UBS says the EV sales growth rate will likely fall by half next year, from around 20% in 2025.

The market’s stuffed to the brim already. New energy vehicles made up 59.4% of new passenger car sales in November, according to the China Passenger Car Association. That’s a warning light, not a trophy.

Chinese EV makers are pushing overseas as home market turns cold

With fewer buyers at home, China’s EV makers are rushing abroad.Geely, based in Hangzhou, said its electric car exports quadrupled in the first half of the year. It shipped 184,000 vehicles, launched in six new countries, and now has a footprint in around 90 markets.

Geely also opened factories in Egypt, the Middle East, and Indonesia. Right now, it’s second only to BYD in local EV sales.

BYD is stretching out, too. The company exported over 131,000 cars in November, and its Hungary factory is expected to ramp up by 2026.

Tu Le, managing director at Sino Auto, said Chinese companies and battery makers will “firmly stake their claims in Europe.” They’re not stopping at Berlin. They’re eyeing Detroit, too.

Foreign automakers aren’t walking away from China either.

Volkswagen is going all in.It set up joint ventures with Xpeng and Horizon Robotics, and its biggest R&D center outside Germany is now in Hefei, China.

Last month, it confirmed it can now develop and approve cars locally, end to end. That speeds up everything, and the company plans new models for 2026.

In the first three quarters of 2025, Volkswagen delivered 1.9 million cars in China, down 4%, which is less than the 2.4 million it pushed in Western Europe.

Still, it’s not over for the Americans either. “It’s not lost for the U.S. automakers,” said Le. General Motors still pushes nearly 2 million cars a year in China. Both GM and Ford are using China for exports, but Le says only GM is anywhere close to building competitive local models.

But no one’s safe.

“In China, you could be on top one month, and by next quarter, you’re playing catch-up and wonder what happened,” said Le. No one’s crowned yet, and no one is safe.

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The EIA delayed its Weekly Petroleum Status Report by several hours on Monday, leaving oil traders without expected data during active market hours.

The report covers U.S. crude oil and refined product inventories for the week ended Dec. 19, and it was scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time.

But early that morning, the agency said the report would not be released as planned, and no new time was given.

Hours later, the EIA popped back out and said the report would be published at 5 p.m., after markets had closed. The delay followed staffing reductions inside the agency after President Donald Trump ordered changes to the federal workforce.

The delay came after the report had already been shifted from its normal Wednesday release to Monday because Trump signed an executive order that gave federal employees additional days off on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26.

The agency said the calendar change exposed internal problems that affected how the report was produced and formatted for publication.

Staff cuts disrupted systems behind the petroleum report

The EIA said the publication date changed to match the holiday schedule, but the internal code used to generate the report was not updated at the same time. The agency said this mismatch slowed the creation of tables and files used to publish the report.

The agency said the issue did not affect the accuracy of the data and said the problem would not happen again.

The staffing reductions came from buyouts and restructuring tied to a government efficiency push that was previously associated with Elon Musk. The EIA lost more than 100 employees this year from a workforce of about 350 people.

Several of those who left had worked directly on systems used to build the petroleum report. The report relies on multiple surveys and software systems, and the loss of staff reduced the number of people who understood how those systems connect.

Tristan Abbey, the EIA Administrator, said the agency needs faster progress to fix its aging technology.“Without decisive acceleration, we’re going to have much bigger problems than delayed data tables,” Tristan said in a statement.

He said staff are working to rebuild critical products that are written in outdated programming languages and said the work is continuing at full speed.

Delays like this are rare for the petroleum report. During the recent government shutdown, the figures were still released on time. The report includes weekly data on U.S. oil inventories, which are widely followed by energy traders, refiners, and analysts.

Oil prices held steady as geopolitics drove trading

Despite the delay, the oil market showed little reaction. Traders focused more on global political events than on U.S. inventory levels. Scott Shelton, an energy specialist at TP ICAP Group Plc, said traders showed little concern about the missing data.

“There is a general indifference to it other than rolling their eyes on how inefficient and unpredictable data has become from the US government, post the shutdown,” Scott said.

Oil prices were steady on Tuesday after a volatile session. Brent crude for February delivery, which expires Tuesday, slipped 2 cents, settling at $61.92 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 13 cents, closing at $57.95 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had risen more than 2% on Monday after Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against Yemen. Prices also moved higher after Moscow accused Kyiv of targeting a Russian presidential residence.

The accusation hurt expectations for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv rejected the claim, saying it was baseless and aimed at disrupting negotiations.

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A $2.9 billion deal with Tesla and L&F Co. has collapsed into just $7,386 on paper, a 99% plunge that has blown a massive hole in the company’s value and crushing the fortune of the family that own it by over $660 million.

Hur Jae-hong, chairman and CEO of L&F, watched his listed holdings fall from $800 million to $134 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The contract, once hailed as game-changing, has officially been downgraded to almost nothing. Tesla’s Cybertruck delays and weak customer demand choked the order before it could deliver.

Tesla’s Cybertruck delay kills a key EV battery deal

L&F builds high-nickel cathodes for electric vehicle batteries. These were supposed to go straight to Tesla for the Cybertruck. But that model ran into constant delays, and buyers just didn’t bite.

No one’s seen much of the angular truck, and L&F’s order quietly died behind the scenes. The company confirmed this week that the massive order is now worth less than $10,000.

The stock market didn’t wait for the news. L&F shares have been dropping since their 2023 peak, when the Tesla contract was first announced. They’ve now plunged more than 70%, dragged down by the collapse of the order and a general slump in EV demand worldwide.

It didn’t help that L&F was leaning heavily on LG Energy Solution Ltd., its top customer, and investor confidence began to crack long before Monday’s shock filing. Still, analysts say this isn’t a full break-up between L&F and Elon Musk’s company.

“L&F had probably already stopped supplying cathodes to Tesla since last year,” said Changmin Lee, an analyst at KB Securities. The materials were only meant for some Cybertruck models, and with that project stalling, the deliveries never picked up. Lee added that the recent filing “will likely be extremely limited” in terms of market impact, since the contract had already been factored out of forecasts.

L&F’s long-term partnerships now under pressure

Even though the Cybertruck plan crashed, L&F’s business with Tesla still supplies Model Y components indirectly through LG Energy Solution, which accounts for around 80% of its total sales. That pipeline is running without disruption for now.

But the loss of the direct Tesla order smashed L&F’s diversification strategy.In 2021, the company inked a deal with Redwood Materials, the US battery recycler run by Tesla’s ex-CTO, JB Straubel.

That partnership was supposed to help L&F lower its dependence on LG Energy Solution to 50% by 2025. That goal now looks shaky.

There might still be a way out. Anna Lee, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea, said L&F is expected to begin production for Rivian in 2026, after securing a deal back in March. They’re also sending mid-nickel cathodes to SK On Co., used in Hyundai Motor’s EV batteries. That means they’ve still got irons in the fire.

“A short-term damper in investor sentiment is inevitable,” said Anna. “But there is an increasing possibility that the sector will regain attention in 2026, specifically centering on energy storage systems for AI data centers.”

Still, none of that changes the fact that a $2.9 billion Tesla contract just evaporated into dust, and L&F’s billionaire dreams were smashed into seven thousand bucks.

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Earnings in the materials sector are expected to climb about 20% in 2026, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

That would make it the best performance in five years for the group, second only to tech. Companies from Nucor to Sherwin-Williams, and packaging giants like Smurfit WestRock and Ball Corp., are in the spotlight.

The rise is tied directly to trade protections and a sharp shift in consumer goods demand. Metals and packaging stocks will lead the charge, both forecast to post over 30% profit growth. Steel prices are up, and companies selling boxes and cans are seeing more orders as food brands push volume using discounts.

Steelmakers prepare for backlog boost as tariffs drive prices

Richard Bourke from Bloomberg Intelligence said tariffs on imported steel are giving U.S. producers more control over pricing.

“U.S. mills should continue to displace imports as long as 50% Section 232 tariffs remain in place,” he wrote. These are the same Trump-era levies still shaping trade today.

Nucor, which Bourke called the U.S. mill with the widest product range and some extra capacity, reported a strong order book for 2026. It pointed to projects in energy, infrastructure, data centers, and manufacturing as key drivers.

In a December update, the company said existing policy should lead to “continued gradual improvement in business conditions.”

Steel Dynamics also flagged a larger backlog.

The company expects lower interest rates to help push up infrastructure spending and bring more production back to the U.S. Bourke explained that many of the orders in play are lag contracts, meaning the money won’t show up until next year.

The packaging sector isn’t having the same smooth ride. Tariffs here are more of a burden, but some companies are getting help from their clients. General Mills and PepsiCo have been promoting products more aggressively, which means higher volume. Truist’s Michael Roxland said this trend has boosted Amcor and similar suppliers.

Jefferies analysts believe easier year-over-year comparisons and a slow return of consumer confidence could help the sector in the second half of the year.

But right now, it’s tight. RBC’s Matthew McKellar said mills in North America are already near full capacity, which could support a price hike.

Packaging, chemicals, and construction firms shift strategy for growth

Packaging companies are reacting with internal changes. Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said the company plans to meet its 2026 targets using synergies, not economic improvement. The company sees adjusted profit growth of 12% to 17%, its best in five years.

Still, the overall picture in packaging is messy. Growth from food producers hasn’t extended to other customers, so firms are turning to cost cuts and plant closures to manage softer demand and economic drag. International Paper, which had four years of declining profits, now expects a turnaround.

But the company isn’t upbeat. Executives told an industry event in December that demand is still weak. They blamed inflation, trade pressure, and the sluggish housing market.

“In North America, we still feel very tight from a supply-demand perspective,” said CFO Lance Loeffler. “All we need is a little bit of spark on the demand side, and I think it would be really good for business.”

Outside packaging and metals, the remaining materials sub-sectors are hoping for a rate-cut lifeline. Chemicals are forecast to finally grow after three rough years. The same goes for construction materials, which dropped in 2025 but are set to rebound.

Sherwin-Williams is ready to benefit if home sales pick up, said Citigroup’s Patrick Cunningham. Albemarle is also expected to gain ground thanks to higher lithium prices from rising demand in energy storage.

For construction stocks, like CRH, falling interest rates could lower borrowing costs and push more projects forward. BI analyst Sonia Baldeira said this could help unlock residential and commercial construction deals stuck in limbo.

Every piece of this puzzle points to a rare winning streak for the materials sector, one fueled by tariffs, backlogs, tighter supply, and cost cuts.

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SoftBank has officially wrapped up its monster $40 billion investment in OpenAI, finishing things off with a final payment of around $22 billion, according to a report from CNBC.

Allegedly, the last tranche may have even been closer to $22.5 billion, but either way, it’s done.

The Japanese conglomerate now holds over 10% ownership in the Sam Altman-led AI powerhouse because apparently, a few billion here and there just wasn’t enough, and the final payment was transferred last week, with a deal that’s been in the works since early 2024. SoftBank had initially invested $8 billion directly into the ChatGPT creator, then brought in a crew of co-investors to syndicate another $10 billion.

OpenAI is preparing for IPO and massive infrastructure plans

The SoftBank-OpenAI deal was originally priced at a $260 billion pre-money valuation, and SoftBank was expected to drip out the funds across 12 to 24 months, with some of the capital earmarked for OpenAI’s wild Stargate venture with Oracle and the White House, among others.

Just a few weeks ago, SoftBank dumped its entire $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia. People close to the matter have allegedly said the Nvidia sale, plus other liquidity moves, were aimed at fueling the OpenAI mega-deal. And now that it’s finalized, there’s no ambiguity about where that money went.

Over the next few years, OpenAI is planning to throw more than $1.4 trillion into infrastructure. That’s trillion with a T. The spending spree includes deep collaborations with Nvidia (again), AMD, and Broadcom. Everyone’s cashing in on the AI boom—and SoftBank wants a front-row seat.

The startup isn’t just collecting checks from Tokyo, either. Microsoft has been backing it for years. Amazon is reportedly exploring a $10 billion investment, and even Disney slid in recently with a $1 billion deal, letting Sora, OpenAI’s video generator, use its roster of characters. Mickey Mouse in AI content? Yep, that’s where this is headed.

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The crypto market today reveals that Ripple is finally getting some much-needed relief. Back in the early months of this year, the SEC abandoned its case against Ripple, thereby unloading a huge legal concern for this crypto company. 

Nonetheless, this action by the SEC boosted confidence in XRP, thereby giving many investors a glimmer of hope. Currently, XRP is being traded at $1.90 as another cheap crypto emerges as a leading challenger for 2026 gains.

Big Promises Around XRP Payments

Ripple has XRP to make money fast and inexpensive across borders. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of the company, thinks the XRP money transfer system can handle payment volumes of 14% of what SWIFT handles in the next five years.

Another positive factor for XRP was the approval by the SEC of multiple spot XRP ETFs. These new funds allow simple investments in XRP by individual investors or institutional investors rather than requiring purchases on crypto exchanges. This could spark a relief rally in XRP, similar event. Prognoses show XRP might hit $3 by 2026, 58% higher than now.

Despite the positives, XRP has still not made much progress this year and remains in a downward trend. This is a confirmation that, despite developments being in a positive direction, progression in overall demand is still not satisfactory, and thus it is not advisable to invest in this crypto asset at present.

A Cheap Crypto Takes The Lead

Though XRP is performing slowly, Mutuum Finance is gaining immense attraction because of being an affordable crypto with rapid growth. Currently, MUTM is in Phase 7 after the completion of Phase 6, which was quickly sold out. Additionally, the coin is set at a price of $0.04, earning it the title of best crypto to invest in among prospective buyers.

Phase 7 is already filling up quickly. This is the final opportunity to purchase MUTM tokens at $0.04 pricing that will soon rise to Phase 8 pricing at $0.045. This represents nearly a 20% increase. Mutuum Finance has secured a total of $19,500,000 since the onset of the presale. Total holders have reached 18560 since the onset of the presale. The token is already up 300% from the Phase 1 pricing of $0.01.

Why Buyers Are Rushing In

Many of the buyers just can’t wait. This is because phase 7 is currently selling out fast, and buyers who miss it shall be forced to pay more in a very short while. MUTM has fixed the launch price at $0.06, in which investors can earn an estimated 395% ROI. This explains why MUTM is one of the best cryptocurrencies to buy right now rather than the larger ones.

Mutuum Finance concentrates on lending and borrowing, which provides utility to the token. This will keep the demand constant. An independent audit is being performed. Halborn Security is currently auditing the lending and borrowing smart contracts of Mutuum. The team has also created a dashboard that features a Top 50 holders leaderboard. There is a 24-Hour Leaderboard that renews at 00:00 UTC each day. Daily, the top buyer will win a $500 MUTM reward if he or she transacts once. Mutuum also has a giveaway of $100,000, where ten people will win $10,000 in MUTM.

XRP may witness a short-term relief rally based on legal victories and ETFs. Nevertheless, Mutuum Finance is one of the cheap cryptos with superior growth speed, demand, and pricing momentum. Investors currently asking about the crypto to invest in will soon realize that the best crypto to invest in before the prices advance is MUTM.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Federal Reserve policymakers can’t seem to agree on when they’ll cut borrowing costs again. Most say further cuts could happen if prices keep cooling, but several officials think rates need to stay put for a while. That’s according to meeting records released Tuesday.

The minutes from the Fed’s December 9-10 gathering showed ongoing disagreements among central bank leaders. While the majority backed another rate reduction last month, the decision wasn’t easy for everyone.

The Fed voted 9-3 to trim its key rate by a quarter point in December. That’s the third cut in a row, bringing the rate down to between 3.5% and 3.75% as previously reported by Cryptopolitan.

“A few of those who supported lowering the policy rate at this meeting indicated that the decision was finely balanced or that they could have supported keeping the target range unchanged,” the minutes stated.

Officials adjusted their statement after the meeting in a way that showed less certainty about the timing for future cuts. Their median forecast had just one quarter-point reduction coming in 2026, though individual predictions were all over the map. Market watchers are betting on at least two cuts next year.

The vote exposed clear rifts

Governor Stephen Miran broke ranks by pushing for a bigger half-point cut. Meanwhile, Austan Goolsbee from the Chicago Fed and Jeff Schmid from Kansas City voted against any reduction. They wanted to leave rates alone.

Things got messier when looking at rate forecasts for 2025. Six out of 19 policymakers showed their opposition to December’s cut by saying rates should end this year at 3.75% to 4%. That’s exactly where they stood before the meeting.

Central bankers are dealing with competing worries about inflation versus jobs. Most officials noted that moving toward lower rates would help prevent serious damage to the job market, according to the minutes.

But others had concerns about prices. Several officials warned that cutting rates while inflation stays high could send the wrong message. People might think the Fed isn’t serious about reaching its 2% inflation target.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters after the meeting that officials had cut rates enough to protect jobs while keeping them high enough to control prices.

Making decisions proved harder than usual because policymakers didn’t have the typical economic data. A government shutdown ran through October and nearly half of November, which meant less information was available. Officials noted that data coming in over the next few weeks would help guide their choices.

The minutes said some officials who wanted to hold rates steady thought the large amount of job and inflation data coming before the next meeting would be “helpful in making judgments on whether a rate reduction was warranted.”

New information since December hasn’t settled the debate

Unemployment climbed to 4.6% in November, the highest since 2021. Consumer prices rose less than forecasters expected. Both figures support the case for lower rates.

But there’s a catch. The economy expanded at a 4.3% annual pace in the third quarter, the strongest growth in two years. That probably reinforced concerns among officials worried about inflation.

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A healthcare business backed by David Beckham that began purchasing Bitcoin this year has pulled back from that plan as cryptocurrency values drop.

Prenetics announced Tuesday it stopped acquiring Bitcoin on Dec. 4. The company will now concentrate its efforts on IM8, a vitamin and supplement line created with former England soccer star David Beckham. Beckham also holds an investment stake in Prenetics, the company’s website shows.

“We are making disciplined strategic decisions that reflect our experience as operators and our commitment to maximizing long-term shareholder value,” said Danny Yeung, who leads Prenetics as chief executive officer.

The company started its Bitcoin buying program in June. It followed an approach created by Michael Saylor’s Strategy Inc. These businesses, called digital asset treasury firms, collect money to purchase cryptocurrencies.

Company keeps remaining Bitcoin holdings

This plan gained popularity in early 2025 when prices climbed higher, but interest dropped after the crypto market fell in October. Many company leaders shifted their approach as Bitcoin prices declined and their stock values tumbled.

When Prenetics revealed its Bitcoin plan in June, Yeung expressed enthusiasm about the “convergence we’re witnessing between healthcare innovation and blockchain technology,” describing it as “the dawn of a new era.”

The company plans to keep its existing 510 Bitcoin, valued at $44.8 million on Tuesday.

The Bitcoin treasury approach appears to be struggling

Companies built to stockpile digital currencies have faced one setback after another in recent months. Their stock values dropped below the worth of the cryptocurrencies they own. Several firms started buying back their own shares, with some even selling their digital tokens to pay for those purchases.

The troubles have attracted activist investors, including Paul Glazer, known in financial circles as the “True King of SPACs.”

What started as a force pushing crypto prices higher has turned into something dragging them down. Even Strategy, the company that pioneered this approach, faces mounting challenges. Bitcoin’s sharp drop in November created stress for the preferred stock that Strategy sold to finance its purchases.

The price advantages these companies once enjoyed have nearly disappeared, according to data from Artemis. In the past, investors paid extra to buy shares in these firms compared to the value of their actual crypto holdings. That premium has now evaporated.

Investors and crypto traders are now trying to figure out what happens next, especially since these companies have become important indicators of market mood.

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Digital currency holders are trying one more time to turn around losses before the year closes as Bitcoin climbed toward the $90,000 mark for the second day in a row on Tuesday before the increase stopped.

The largest cryptocurrency has been moving between roughly $85,000 and $95,000 after a drop in October that could result in its first yearly decline in three years. Since last December, the currency has fallen about 5%. Earlier in the year, it had risen around 30% and reached a record high in early October.

BTC/USDT 4-hour price chart. Source: TradingView

Jasper De Maere, who works as a desk strategist at Wintermute, said traders should expect big swings on low trading volume through New Year’s. He wrote on Tuesday that people should not read too much into very short-term patterns until normal market activity returns.

Trump policies shake crypto markets

The currency started 2024 with gains as people felt positive about the Trump administration’s support for digital currencies. However, concerns about President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which shook worldwide markets, hurt Bitcoin’s value. While other risky investments like American stocks bounced back, Bitcoin stayed down after Oct. 10, when a record amount of borrowed positions were cleared out.

Exchange-traded funds focused on Bitcoin have seen money flowing out, putting pressure on prices. These funds lost $6 billion in the final three months of the year as Bitcoin stayed under $90,000, based on Bloomberg Intelligence numbers.

Open interest surges despite low trading

As reported by Cryptopolitan previously, despite a 40% drop in trading during December, Open Interest in digital currencies jumped $2.4 billion in the same month. Data shows Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts grew from $35 billion to $38 billion, a 7% rise in borrowed trading.

Bitcoin Open Interest climbed from $22 billion to $23 billion this month. Ethereum’s Open Interest added $1.4 billion, going from $13 billion to $15 billion. CryptoQuant analysts pointed out that this happened with Bitcoin near $88,000 and the Fear Index at 37.

Big exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Bybit kept building positions through December. CryptoQuant says this shows traders are staying optimistic instead of throwing in the towel.

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After a six-month ban, X restored the accounts of Shaw Walters and that of his agentic AI platform, ElizaOS, and it has set off a chain reaction in the token price, which has risen by over 150% within the past 24 hours.

The account of Walters, who operates under the handle @shawmakesmagic, was restored alongside growing questions about platform power over emerging technology companies. The token’s market capitalization has hit $48 million following the news, though it remains significantly below its November peak, when it traded at nearly $0.039.

ElizaOS is an open-source framework for building autonomous AI agents that operate across blockchains.

Why is ElizaOS surging?

ElizaOS went through major restructuring in November 2025, migrating from the AI16Z token at a one-to-six ratio and increasing total supply to 11 billion tokens.

Upon return, the Walters posted on X, “SO MUCH HAPPENED. We finished Eliza framework and migrated from ai16z to elizaOS. It was really really hard without X. We almost died. But now we’re back, and we’ve got some things built that I think people will be excited by. Can’t wait to show you.”

However, the recent token surge, which was around 175%, has failed to match that November high. The token currently trades at around $0.0064, which is an 83.17% decline from that all-time high.

Does this set a precedent for AI regulation?

While some industry participants call for stricter regulation of AI-generated content to maintain platform integrity, others view aggressive enforcement actions as potentially anticompetitive behavior that could stifle innovation.

The clash between ElizaOS and X touches on the application of AI on the social media platform, which also has its own agentic AI platform, Grok, embedded on it, raising eyebrows about fair play and antitrust violations.

The restoration of Walters’ account may also mean that the legal tussle between both parties has been resolved; however, neither Walters nor X has made any announcement that hints at that. It could also mean that X’s approach may have relaxed regarding some applications of AI on its platform.

The ban of Walters’ and ElizaOS accounts, for what X called a violation of its terms of service, brought to light ongoing tensions in the AI race and the usage of a social media platform to ward off competition.

ElizaOS and X have a history

In an August filing at a federal court in San Francisco, Eliza Labs and its founder, Shaw Walters, accused X of launching copycat AI products after being exposed to key technical information from Eliza. The lawsuit also claims that X removed the company from its platform.

“This case involves X Corp wielding its incredible monopoly power with perceived immunity from suit to deplatform users with the intent to restrain competition for launching AI Agents on the X Corp platform,” the lawsuit documents read.

In their argument, the plaintiffs said that X suspended Eliza Labs’ account and got rid of Walters without warning or legitimate justification.

This came after X reached out to Eliza last year to discuss AI agents operating on X’s platform. Eliza. During those meetings, Shaw Walters said they shared extensive details about the company’s development roadmap and vision for AI agents.

Eliza claims that X said it would need up to $50,000 per month for an enterprise license to continue operating on the platform. The lawsuit suggested X was forcing developers to pay “exorbitant” prices if they wanted to remain on the site, but Eliza claims it had declined to pay for such services.

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The artificial intelligence investment game is changing. While tech giants spent 2025 pouring money into new data centers, a different set of companies ended up stealing the show, the ones making the basic equipment these facilities need to operate.

Storage companies grabbed the top spots on the S&P 500 Index this year. Sandisk Corp. shot up nearly 580%, taking first place. Western Digital Corp. came in second, and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc landed in fourth. Companies providing power and connectivity, Amphenol Corp., Corning Inc., NRG Energy Inc., and GE Vernova Inc., made it into the top 25 according to Bloomberg’s data.

This is different from the past few years. Nvidia Corp., the original pick-and-shovel name in AI, used to dominate the index’s best performers. The chipmaker went up 40 percent in 2025 but ended up ranked 71st among the benchmark’s top stocks. The big cloud companies, Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc., still drive things because they’re huge, but their percentage gains have cooled off.

Jake Seltz manages portfolios at Allspring Global Investments. “When the benchmarks are fairly concentrated, it’s important to look for themes that are gonna drive sales and earnings growth,” he said. “AI is kind of one of those dominant themes right now, that’s nothing new. So we’re just looking, broadening our horizons beyond tech.”

Finding value beyond tech giants

There’s room to grow and better prices if you invest in companies set to benefit from the billions hyperscalers are spending on building data centers.

Matt Sallee manages portfolios at Tortoise Capital Advisors. His firm doesn’t own any hyperscaler shares. “What we are focused on are the picks and shovels of where that money is being spent,” he said. “The chips to a degree, but more so some of the names that you haven’t really heard of.”

Some people on Wall Street worry the spending could slow down, which would reverse the gains in AI-related stocks. It’s kind of like what happened during the pandemic with basic health supplies.

“Covid hit and this world needed way more face masks, hand sanitizer, all those things,” said Jed Ellerbroek, Argent Capital Management portfolio manager. But within six to 12 months, there was too much of everything, and “those businesses that supplied those things went from the best times ever to the absolute worst times ever.”

But investors are staying bullish on the AI trade since the hyperscalers keep saying they’ll spend. Here’s what people are buying right now.

Wall Street thinks storage will stay hot in 2026 after Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate surged this year. But the good times for 2025’s winners might be wrapping up. Analysts see Sandisk hitting $264 in 2026, which is only about 8 percent higher than where it sits now at around $244.

Pure Storage Inc. looks like it has more upside. It’s trading at $68, but analysts think it’ll reach $94 in 2026—a 38 percent jump. Other digital storage names tied to AI include NetApp Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc.

A bunch of stocks connected to building and powering data centers should keep running. Sallee from Tortoise Capital likes Quanta Services Inc., which does specialized work for utilities and telecommunications companies. Other contractors include MYR Group Inc., Primoris Services Corp., and MasTec Inc.

Wiring companies are getting attention, too. Amphenol designs and makes high-speed fiber and copper connections used in data centers. Emcor Group Inc. does mechanical and electrical construction. Other power infrastructure names include Vistra Corp., Constellation Energy Corp., GE Vernova, and Generac Holdings Inc., which makes backup generators.

Bitcoin miners making the pivot to AI

Bitcoin miners represent a “total revaluation story”, as previously reported by Cryptopolitan, as they pivot from mining cryptocurrency to powering data centers. “They have the electricity already, they’ve had it for five-plus years to produce Bitcoin,” Sallee said. “They’re going to redirect that electricity to higher-value, long-term contracts for high-performance computing hosting.”

Companies here include Bitdeer Technologies Group. Its shares jumped in October after the company said it would move further into AI. Shares of IREN Ltd., Cipher Mining Inc., Riot Platforms Inc., and WhiteFiber Inc. have gotten a boost from plans to convert to high-performance computing data centers.

Data centers need specialized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Vertiv Holdings Co. provides power systems and cooling solutions for data centers. It’s up 46 percent in 2025 and worth watching. Eaton Corp. is another power management firm that overlaps with Vertiv but isn’t as focused, according to Seltz.

Other names include Comfort Systems USA Inc., which installs and maintains HVAC systems. Water providers include Xylem Inc., Ecolab Inc., and American Water Works Co.

Some investors with longer views are watching software companies as future AI beneficiaries as language models get better and more applications get built.

Melissa Otto heads technology, media, and telecommunications research at Visible Alpha. “Investors are, I think, naturally inclined to look for companies that have cheaper valuations with terrific magnitude of growth that are potentially gonna really benefit from the application of AI,” she said.

Software stocks haven’t done as well this year. The S&P 500 Software Industry Index is up 12 percent in 2025 compared with a 17 percent gain in the overall benchmark. But that’s made the valuations look better.

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Bitcoin news today includes a warning that many Bitcoin fans would rather not hear. An experienced crypto trader has offered a cycle graph, foretelling that Bitcoin might go down in price dramatically during the next market correction. 

Bitcoin currently trades at around $88,887, but the past shows that dramatic downward movements always follow large positive cycles. In this regard, many people are trying to determine which crypto to invest in in order to make profits in the future, especially in 2026.

Bitcoin’s Cycle History Creates Worrisome Scenes

A recognized Bitcoin analyst with over eight years of experience predicts that Bitcoin can potentially drop to around $25,000 in 2026. His predictions are based on data that shows that after every significant peak in the Bitcoin graph, it went down by either 70% or 80%. 

Previously, Bitcoin went down by 79% in 2012, 81% in 2017, and 75% in 2021. Each time took several years. This makes most Bitcoin maximalists think twice about putting all their faith in Bitcoin in the coming cycle.

Why Some Investors Are Looking Beyond BTC

Despite Bitcoin being the most prominent cryptocurrency, market capitalization might limit drastic growth. A changeover from $88,000 to much higher levels would require significant capital. Bitcoin could fall to the $25,000 mark, at which point many people might choose to stay on the sidelines. This further leads to growing interest in finding the best crypto to buy now that has a higher growth prospect than Bitcoin in the coming years, including 2026. 

A $0.04 Token Sparks Interest

Though Bitcoin has cycle risks, Mutuum Finance is gaining popularity as a likely early-tier investment. The cost of the MUTM token in Phase 7 of the presale is $0.04. This is quite cheap compared to other larger cryptos. Phase 7 of the presale is almost sold out, and many people see this as the last chance to invest at this cost level.

Mutuum Finance has managed to raise $19,500,000 from the time the presale began. The total number of MUTM holders from the time the presale began is 18,560. The current price of Phase 7 is at $0.04. It has increased by 300% from the initial price of Phase 1 of $0.01. Phase 7 is filling up quickly. Phase 8 will begin at $0.045. It approximates an increase of 12.5%. The price of MUTM at launch is at $0.06. It means there shall be an estimated 405% ROI.

Why FOMO Is Growing Fast

Many buyers feel they can’t wait any further. The consequence of missing Phase 7 would be adding cost in Phase 8, in addition to forgoing any advantages accrued so far in MUTM’s current development stage. The possibility of missing out is increasing by the day, considering how fast tokens sell out. For now, MUTM is much better than waiting for the trough years in order to buy Bitcoin in the future for long-term and short-term investors alike.

Mutuum Finance is more than a cost-effective token. It has a lending and borrowing mechanism. This instigates a demand that isn’t just based on hype. An audit process is currently underway. Halborn Security is auditing the lending and borrowing contracts offered by Mutuum. This instigates investor confidence. 

The MUTM team has developed a dashboard that highlights a leaderboard for the top 50 holders, as well as the daily 24-Hour Leaderboard that resets at 00:00 UTC. Every day, the top individual is credited with a bonus worth $500 MUTM if they complete one transaction. This approach ensures that user interaction is encouraged. 

Though Bitcoin seems set for further success in the long run, the risks occurring within the cycles are also still a reality. 

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance 

Erden Timur, former Galatasaray vice chairman and real estate developer worth $550 million, has been formally arrested on money laundering charges linked to Turkey’s illegal betting investigation.

Erden Timur’s real estate company, NEF, is believed to have engaged in suspicious transactions involving cryptocurrency platforms.

The arrest is part of a broader investigation that has already led to the arrests of Turkish players, referees, and club executives and caused Galatasaray’s shares to plummet over 20% in two months.

Why was Galatasaray’s former vice chairman arrested?

Turkish authorities have formally arrested Erden Timur, a popular real estate developer and former executive of the Galatasaray football club, on money laundering charges.

Erden Timur, 44, served as vice chairman of the Istanbul-based club until last year, when he stepped down from the board. He was detained last week and formally arrested by an Istanbul court on Tuesday.

Turkey’s state-run news agency, Anadolu, reports that prosecutors believe Timur’s main real estate company, NEF (formally known as Timur Gayrimenkul Gelistirme Yapi ve Yatirim AS), was involved in suspicious financial transactions with other suspects in an illegal betting investigation. These transactions occasionally involved cryptocurrency platforms.

The case is now being handled by judicial units that specifically oversee terror financing and money laundering cases. Timur denied any wrongdoing during his testimony and stated that the transfers being investigated were simply payments made by customers purchasing houses from his firm.

Forbes estimates Timur’s personal wealth at more than $550 million.

On Tuesday, NEF canceled the sale of 250 million lira ($8.5 million) worth of short-term debt, citing “market conditions and recent developments” as the reason. However, the company’s communications agency confirmed that NEF made a 320 million lira payment to investors on a previous debt issue that matured earlier.

Observers consider it the first sign of the immediate financial consequences of his arrest.

In a statement following Timur’s detention, NEF requested that all parties respect the presumption of innocence and the ongoing judicial process. The company has attempted to maintain its business operations despite the legal troubles facing its founder, but the debt sale cancellation suggests the strategy is not going well.

Turkey is cracking down on illegal betting

Turkish authorities have arrested several top Turkish players, referees, and club executives as part of their ongoing illegal betting investigations.

Galatasaray’s shares have slumped more than 20% over the last two months since the betting scandal began to unfold. The club’s rival Fenerbahce has also seen its shares drop approximately 8% during the same period, even without direct links to the investigation.

Meanwhile, the benchmark Turkish index BIST 100 was up 2% during the same timeframe.

Even though the involvement of cryptocurrency platforms in the money laundering allegations against Timur is relatively obscure at the moment, it is pouring fuel to the fire of international concern about the potential misuse of crypto for illegal financial activities.

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The crypto news today revolves around two events. Cardano is under pressure because the price of ADA has dropped. The other event is that of the new crypto coin that has prices lower than $0.05 and has received massive attention in a short span of time. The reason is that it has sold out presales Phase 6. It seems that investors are able to distinguish between the major cryptos that move at a slow pace and the ones that expand rapidly.

ADA Price Stuck While Sellers Stay Active

Although there was some positive news for Cardano, it did not help the price to rise. The fact is, people began selling their ADA when they heard the news, causing prices to lower. This has already caused a 20% loss in just one month.

However, one thing that went well for Cardano was that the investors in the network decided to give more power to a special committee. This is a huge leap to let the community make their own decisions. However, this positive development has done little to aid the price, as trading activities are very sluggish.

Other challenges are also being faced by ADA. The regulations for cryptocurrencies in the US are unclear. This is intimidating some large investors away, thus affecting all other altcoins, including ADA. Due to this reason, ADA is facing difficulties in finding solid support.

MUTM Presale Momentum Takes Center Stage

Compared to ADA, which is going sideways, Mutuum Finance is moving ahead full throttle. Currently, the project has already sold out Phase 6 of its presale, which was a record time, but now the demand has increased because Phase 7 is also open. This new crypto, which is currently valued at under $0.05, is classified under the DeFi crypto category, has already gone up to $0.04, but Phase 7 is quickly filling up.

Strong numbers are confidence-boosters

Mutuum Finance has already accumulated $19,500,000 since the presale began. The total number of MUTM token holders since the presale began is now 18560. The market value for Phase 7 is priced at $0.04. It shows a tremendous 300% increase since Phase 1, which was priced at $0.01. 

Phase 7 is selling like hotcakes. It means that soon you will not have a chance to join through this phase. It will be followed by Phase 8, which costs $0.045 in nearly a 20% increase. Lastly, the final launch for MUTM is priced at $0.06. It means that there might be a return on investment for MUTM to existing customers, which is 380% ROI.

Furthermore, the system architecture of Mutuum Finance includes lending and borrowing, which guarantees a use for the token from the very start. This not only attracts use but will also be a motivational tool to sustain the same. Furthermore, the platform has introduced a leaderboard of the top 50 holders, as well as a leaderboard measured per 24 hours. Additionally, the top user of the day receives a bonus of $500 in MUTM if they have made at least one trade.

Given the fast pace of Phase 7, investors feel as if there is not enough time. Failure to participate in Phase 7 means investors have to invest money in the next phase at a price higher. The relatively slower process of ADA makes MUTM the most preferred cryptocurrency to invest in, considering the factors of speed, demand, and the initial cost.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Grayscale, a crypto asset manager, has revealed its 2026 crypto market outlook today on what is poised to drive the next wave of crypto markets. According to Grayscale, clearer rules and regulations could accelerate institutional crypto adoption and increase on-chain activity. 

Grayscale’s analysts have projected that the U.S. will pass a bipartisan crypto asset framework in 2026. The bill will apply traditional financial rules to digital asset classes, including registration, disclosure requirements, asset classifications, and insider trading protections. The asset manager believes a clearer regulatory framework could push the next wave of crypto adoption, led by institutional traders. 

Grayscale says quantum computing poses no real risk to crypto so far

Quantum computing risks remain legitimate from the asset manager’s perspective. Grayscale’s analysts believe quantum risks are still overstated heading into 2026, with no real or sufficiently powerful quantum computer having been developed that could undermine the current cryptographic encryption standards. 

Grayscale analysts believe that quantum computing has not yet developed a material influence on price action across the crypto landscape. So far, based on a recent Cryptopolitan report, the major quantum computing achievement is IBM’s 12-qubit system, which was achieved in October this year. Based on the ‘Cats: Entanglement in 120 Qubits and Beyond’, IBM  researchers outlined that they were able to entangle 120 quantum bits into a single coherent system. This represented the largest and most stable multipartite quantum state ever recorded. 

The crypto asset manager analysts view one of these debates as the key driver shaping crypto markets in the near term, and another as shaping the longer-term crypto landscape. Based on Grayscale’s 2026 outlook report, a comprehensive set of crypto regulations harmonized with traditional rules could influence crypto adoption across the U.S. and other major economies worldwide. Grayscale’s analysts forecast that large institutions, including banks and hedge funds, may become more comfortable handling digital assets and their holding abilities. 

Regulations across the crypto landscape could offer a more balanced and stable liquidity across the crypto market as opposed to the retail speculative nature across the market. The 2026 outlook noted that regulated assets will encourage regulated institutions to transact directly with blockchains. The report further argued that this will mark only the beginning of a more institutional era for crypto markets. 

Grayscale urges blockchains to prepare for a post-quantum crypto market

Grayscale analysis revealed, however, that quantum computing will prompt most blockchains and the broader digital economy to adapt to a post-quantum cryptocurrency, utilizing more sophisticated quantum cryptographic standards. The firm believes that, although the risks are distant for now, they are legitimate and require blockchain preparation. 

The asset manager projects that more asset classes will emerge next year via exchange-traded funds. The report estimated that approximately $87 billion was raised in 2025 as ETF proceeds globally since its launch in 2024. As of now, based on SoSoValue, U.S. spot ETFs hold roughly $113 billion in BTC, $17 billion in ETH, and $1.24 billion in XRP. The rest of the spot ETFs in the U.S. include SOL, DOGE, and LINK, with a combined net assets of $1 billion, and many more have been released recently. Grayscale manages $18.4 billion and $4.74 billion across BTC and ETH spot ETFs. 

Grayscale’s 2026 crypto market outlook outlined ten crypto investing themes for 2026, which included the Dollar Dibasement Risk expected to drive crypto adoption. Grayscale analysts expect the risk of debasement, alongside high public debt and inflation risks, to influence demand for crypto assets and drive prices to new all-time highs.

The GENIUS Act, which paved the way for stablecoins in 2025, is expected to drive growth in 2026 with the passage of the bipartisan crypto asset framework. The report reiterated that quantum computing risks and digital asset treasuries (DATs) do not pose a real danger to crypto markets in 2026 despite their media attention. 

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