Cryptopolitan

On December 30, Bitwise increased its efforts to introduce more digital assets into regulated markets by submitting applications for 11 new cryptocurrency ETFs to the U.S. SEC. Key elements, such as fees and trading symbols, are still pending, but the proposed funds would obtain exposure through a combination of direct token ownership, crypto-linked ETPs, and derivatives.

The Securities and Exchange Commission stated that the primary goal of the Fund is to provide capital appreciation.

According to the filing documents, the ETFs focused on tokens include $AAVE, $CC, $ENA, $HYPE, $NEAR, $STRK, $SUI, $TAO, $TRX, $UNI, and $ZEC. The report revealed that the products are expected to take effect on March 16, 2026. 

Bitwise ETFs outline crypto allocation strategy

In terms of investment strategy, the aforementioned ETFs intend to allocate roughly 60% of their assets directly to the corresponding cryptocurrency. According to the SEC report, the remaining 40% would be invested in exchange-traded products (ETPs) that track the same asset, with potential additional exposure gained through derivative instruments.

The report revealed that Fund may invest in derivatives contracts that use an Applicable Token or an Applicable Token ETP as the reference asset, such as futures contracts and swap agreements (“Applicable Token Derivatives”). The report further stated that each Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings in an Applicable Token, Applicable Token ETPs, and Applicable Token Derivatives under typical market conditions. 

Additionally, Derivative contracts will be valued at their notional value to comply with this investment policy.

SEC noted that each Fund shall buy and sell an Applicable Token on digital asset trading platforms. The report revealed that the buying and selling of Applicable Token would also occur through over-the-counter transactions with specific, independent third-party trading counterparties (referred to as “Trading Counterparties”).

SEC scrutiny shapes Bitwise’s expanding crypto ETF push

The recent filing comes at a time when U.S. regulators are closely examining and gradually approving ETFs. In January 2024, the SEC approved eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs, setting a significant framework. The SEC had previously proposed that several cryptocurrencies could be classified as securities, extending beyond Bitcoin.

Earlier this year, the SEC granted fast-track approval for Bitwise’s spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). The fast-track approval drastically reduced the typical review period. Bypassing the customary 240-day process, approval was granted within 45 days of filing.

On January 30, 2025, the SEC accepted NYSE Arca’s 19b-4 filing, allowing Bitwise’s ETF to be listed and traded. According to the report, the Fund consisted of Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with cash reserves, allocating assets according to their respective market capitalizations.

The SEC claimed that the ETF qualified for rapid approval because it resembled previously authorized spot cryptocurrency ETFs. The Commission declared that it has good reason to adopt the proposal before the 30th day after the date on which the notice of Amendment No. 126 was published in the Federal Register.

This ruling followed the approval by the SEC in December 2024 of Hashdex and Franklin Templeton’s first-ever combined Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. 

On July 22, 2025, the SEC approved Bitwise’s attempt to convert its Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW) into a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). Notably, the approval was abruptly halted, creating new questions about the agency’s requirements for cryptocurrency ETFs.

In the same month, the SEC released a letter stating that “the Commission will review the delegated action,” which is the same message Grayscale received when its ETF was put on hold.

The SEC initially approved Grayscale’s Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC), a comparable product that tracks BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and ADA. However, the government then changed its mind and halted the launch of the fund.

In a statement, a Grayscale representative said that the SEC’s suspension “was unexpected” but “reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of the regulatory landscape surrounding a first-of-its-kind digital asset product like GDLC.”

The Grayscale’s 8-K filing stated that the company remains committed to listing the Fund on NYSE Arca and is working closely with key stakeholders to secure approval of the application.

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About 10% of banking jobs across Europe could disappear by 2030 as lenders lean harder on AI, with analysts saying that more than 200,000 roles are now exposed over the next five years.

The forecast comes from Morgan Stanley, which reviewed 35 banks employing around 2.12 million people combined. A straight 10% workforce reduction equals roughly 212,000 job cuts.

The expected job cuts focus on central services, meaning back-office roles, middle-office teams, risk management, and compliance units; basically the parts of banks where automation replaces repeat work fastest.

Banks are targeting central service jobs for AI replacement operations

Morgan Stanley said many lenders expect efficiency to increase by as much as 30% from AI and deeper digital use.

Banks have already started acting too, like in November, Dutch lender ABN Amro said it plans to cut about 20% of its full-time workforce by 2028. In March, Société Générale chief executive Slawomir Krupa warned that “nothing is sacred” as the French bank tries to shrink a stubborn cost base.

Morgan Stanley analysts said AI helps improve cost-to-income ratios, one of the most watched metrics by investors. These ratios remain high at many consumer-focused lenders, especially in France and Germany.

Branch networks remain expensive. Digital channels are cheaper. AI fits directly into that math. Across Europe, banks serving retail customers face the biggest shake-up as more services shift to apps and automated platforms.

The surge in AI use has also sparked fear well beyond banking. Several industries already face job losses as software replaces people. Financial services sit near the top of that list. Analysts warn that this wave will not stay limited to support teams. Over time, more functions could be affected as systems grow more capable.

Executives warn speed matters as training risks grow

At UBS, analysts say AI already changes how banks present themselves to clients. The firm has started turning analysts into digital avatars, sending recorded AI-generated videos to customers.

Jason Napier, head of European banks research at UBS, said banks have not yet delivered clear efficiency gains, as cost bases remain large and powerful tools are still early in deployment. Napier added that anyone doubting AI’s impact should spend time testing tools already available.

UBS also sent 250 senior leaders to Oxford University for an AI leadership summit in recent months. The goal was to prepare top executives for wider rollout decisions.

Still, caution exists. Conor Hillery, co-chief executive for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at JPMorgan Chase, warned banks not to move too fast. He said leaders must avoid losing sight of core skills while rushing toward automation.

JPMorgan aims to use AI to speed up basic work while still training junior staff in fundamentals like cash flow models and price-to-earnings ratios. Hillery said failing to balance both could create future problems.

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When investors are in demand for the next crypto to blow out of proportion, they often fail to realize that there is no screamer about it very often. Rather than hype, strong candidates generally tend to have consistent funding, definite product plans and increasing participation. 

With the debate on the most successful crypto to invest in today once more spreading the proliferation of conversations, the market analysts reckon that there are DeFi projects selling under $0.05 worth looking into. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is the name of one of such altcoins that received that attention.

Presale Momentum

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is now valued at $0.04, and it has clearly risen to the group of potential best cheap cryptos to buy at the early stage among many investors. The presale system is determined by stages, and every stage has a fixed number of tokens allocated at a predetermined price. With more demand, the phases will close more rapidly and the pricing also will rise.

Until now, Mutuum Finance has accumulated $19.5M, had 18,700 holders, and sold over 820M tokens. Out of the total 4B MUTM, 45.5% are distributed to the presale. This implies that much of it remains in distribution though pricing has already gone out.

The presale began at $0.01 in early 2025. Early investors have also already MUTM appreciation as the token is currently priced at $0.04. Its price at the time of official launch is formulated at $0.06 which most observers consider to be a major psychological point. 

To the investors, who are comparing the cannot be made the same prices of crypto today, there is a difference between the price at $0.04 and those nearer to the launch. A $2,000 entry now secures 50,000 MUTM. This would only purchase a lot fewer tokens in the launch pricing.

What Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is Creating

Mutuum Finance is developing a lending protocol which is decentralized. The protocol enables users to provide assets and or raise yield or borrow based on collateral in a designed manner. The system will have a gradual scaling structure, where the rules will be adjusted to the market demand, not predetermined incentive.

Assets are provided by users and they are rewarded with mtTokens. Such tokens are reflective of their status and increase in worth as borrowers pay up interest. This directly correlates protocol usage to user returns.

The system adopted by Mutuum Finance is also buy-and-distribute. MUTM bought on the open market is redistributed to users who post mtTokens in the safety module. This is binding token demand onto real activity rather than short-term trade. Other observers think such an arrangement will encourage more healthy pricing over the long term.

Security has been a priority. Mutuum Finance is rated at 90/100 CertiK Token Scan and the Halborn Security audit is complete, awaiting final update. Audits would also significantly help to weed out serious and risky projects to investors as they seek to know what crypto to invest in next.

Price Outlook and Design

The issue of comments revolves around stablecoins which form the basis of lending schemes since they make them less volatile and encourage a stable demand to borrow. Mutuum Finance is highly engaged in the use of stablecoins, which may fund the protocol even in the time when crypto charts may appear shaky.

The protocol is meant to be based on sound oracle infrastructure, and the plans consist of Chainlink price feeds, fallback options, and aggregated data sources. Pricing of liquidations and collateral management requires appropriate pricing. The protocols with good oracle systems are said to be more resilient when markets move fast, therefore, industry speculation.

On this basis, certain observers think that the progression of Mutuum Finance may be cautious to a bullish trend. In a measured case, the MUTM could protrude its initial launch price as the adoption increases. Under a bullish case, it is projected that in the long term of usage and revenue upsurge, a 10x to 15x improvement can be achieved.

Whale Interest and V1 Launch 

The timeline of Mutuum Finance development is another factor why it is becoming one of the top crypto companies to watch. The team is getting ready in the V1 of the lending protocol, and it is expected to run on the Sepolia testnet. This enables the community to experience such features as liquidity pools, mtTokens, and liquidation logic with ETH and USDT.

Phase 6 of the presale was quickly sold which channeled an evidence of an increasing demand. Large individual allocations have also been witnessed in recent updates on funding. Inclusion of whales is usually relevant since it implies trust in prolonged results instead of exchanges in the short-term.

The investor activity in the first quarter shows that there is a shift in capital flow between better-developed tokens and newer projects in DeFi that have noticeable achievements. This change is significant to the crypto beginner who wants to purchase a crypto that has the potential to grow over time. 

When a protocol shifts further in its life cycle past presale to live testing, the story shifts usually to performance. As MUTM continues to sell under $0.1, its presale continues, and a beta launch is on the cards, Mutuum Finance is gaining growing popularity as a next cryptocurrency. 

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

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

President Donald Trump has officially started gutting funding at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), killing off rules that were invented with a mission to stop Wall Street and other lenders from screwing over Main Street.

But now, under Trump’s second term, that protection is getting axed, as his budget director Russell Vought, who also runs the place, wants to shut it down completely.

Investigations are being pushed over to the Justice Department, which wasn’t built to chase credit card scams or payday loan schemes.

Trump, speaking about his decision at the White House, said, “It’s very important to get rid of the agency,” claiming that Senator Elizabeth Warren used it “as her little personal agency to go around and destroy people.”

Elizabeth, who helped create the CFPB in 2010, fired back almost immediately, saying that she will fight back because “this is about enforcing the law as it is written, so that billionaires and billionaire corporations don’t cheat American families.”

White House tries to fire workers and reroute enforcement

The Trump administration is trying to fire as many as 90% of CFPB employees and stop the agency from getting more money. Vought, in an October podcast appearance, said he has no plans to keep it running.

The Federal Reserve, which funds the CFPB, was told it needs to return to what the administration calls “profitability” before more money can be requested. That argument got tossed out by a federal judge this week, who called it legally baseless. But that hasn’t stopped the machine. In July, Congressional Republicans cut the CFPB’s max funding limit.

Since then, a decade of consumer finance rules have been dismantled. We’re talking protections around student loans, credit card fees, mortgages, and overdraft charges. Most of the watchdog’s pending actions have either been paused or dropped altogether.

Insiders are quitting. Oversight is crumbling. The agency has basically stopped checking in on the very industries it was made to watch.

People who rely on the CFPB have noticed. Reuters spoke to lawyers, counselors, and broke Americans who said they’re scared. The agency was their only help against creditors who play dirty. With it fading, people with medical bills, job losses, or bad luck say they’ll be left alone with financial predators.

Elizabeth Warren warns no other agency protects consumers first

Elizabeth, reflecting on her time as a bankruptcy law professor, said the system used to be chaos. “I was stunned by the number of people in financial trouble who had lost a job or got sick but who had also been cheated by one or more of their creditors,” she said.

She said no other agency put consumer protection first. Most agencies, she said, treated it as an afterthought, somewhere between fifth and tenth on the priority list.

With no CFPB, people getting scammed have no backup. The agency used to go after shady lenders and hold them accountable. Now, Trump’s team wants that job shifted elsewhere, which critics say means nowhere.

Meanwhile, over in China, the government is doing the exact opposite; pumping money into consumer protections. Xinhua, the country’s state media, reported that 62.5 billion yuan in long-term bond funds is being given to local governments to support a 2026 subsidy program.

The plan gives Chinese citizens cash back when they swap out old fridges, TVs, and even bikes or cars. The country launched this scheme in 2024 to fight sluggish demand. It’s now being expanded.

Li Chao, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission, said the money is already going out to support the Spring Festival and New Year holiday spending. Buyers get 15% back when they replace appliances like washing machines or smartphones, capped at 500 yuan per item.

If they trade in old cars, they can get 12% of the price of a new electric vehicle, up to 20,000 yuan. If they’re just upgrading to a newer clean vehicle, they still get 8%, maxing out at 15,000 yuan.

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Crypto investing is no longer about relying on an all-in-one platform. To truly reap the benefits of the market swings, most investors use a stack of specialized mobile apps. These are often designed for different needs. One can be for instant swaps, one for market data, another for DeFi wallet access and so on. The investor profile has shifted from simply buy and hold to users that now expect easy to use, secure tools that help them make the most of their assets, from portfolio tracking to advanced analysis. 

This article highlights the six must-have cryptocurrency applications that investors actually use, each excelling in its own distinct category. These apps were selected based on daily usability, strong mobile performance across operating systems, security, multi-chain support, speed/reliability and most importantly a clear use case for those managing or looking to gain exposure to digital assets. 

By using these crypto apps in combination, a crypto investor in 2026 can cover all the facets required to potentially build wealth in this space. 

ChangeNOW – Best Crypto App for Fast, Non-Custodial Crypto Swaps 

Why it ranks #1 

ChangeNOW is on the top of our list for quick and easy crypto swaps. It’s a non-custodial exchange platform with minimal onboarding steps. Users can swap coins directly from their wallet without depositing into a centralized exchange. This means no custody and fewer verifications for most basic swaps, unlike traditional crypto exchanges. Crypto swaps are near-instant and all carried out on a single terminal, making it extremely simple for those new to crypto swaps. For users looking to add or reduce exposure to a specific crypto on the go, the app is available on both Android and IOS. 

Key Strengths 

Despite its simplicity, ChangeNOW supports a huge number of crypto assets. This includes over 1,500 cryptocurrencies across 110+ blockchain networks and support for over 70 fiat currencies. Users can convert everything from Bitcoin to small cap altcoins or even gain more exposure to a specific crypto sector all in one place. With over 5 million users worldwide, ChangeNOW stands out for its clean and beginner friendly interface. It lowers the barrier for anyone looking to rebalance their portfolio or react to market moves on the go. 

Speed and transparency are the biggest strong points for the platform. Swaps are typically completed within 1-2 minutes. Transparency is also at its core with rates clearly mentioned on the terminal before any swaps are initiated. ChangeNOW aggregates rates from various exchange partners to offer the most competitive prices. In addition, users have access to 24/7 customer support. For investors, the platform essentially provides a very convenient way to do quick swaps without managing orders on a traditional exchange. 

Best for 

ChangeNOW is an ideal platform for users looking to quickly rebalance their portfolios with the help of fast swaps. The platform makes it extremely easy to rotate out of one token into another in just a matter of seconds and taps. 

As a non custodial service, it’s also great for those who value privacy and security. For those looking for convenience without the complexity of charts and trader heavy jargon, ChangeNOW is a platform that will appeal to this group. 

Limitations 

With its simplicity however comes its flipside. It is not a platform built for traders as there are no advanced trading features, order books or charting tools. The platform also does not provide you with a comprehensive overview to track your portfolio over time. 

In this sense, ChangeNOW should be considered as a specialist swapping tool in one’s arsenal but you will probably be better off combining this with the other apps mentioned on our list to create a well rounded investor toolkit. Overall, however, its speed, non-custodial swaps with broad asset support makes it a top utility app for crypto investors in 2026. 

CoinRabbit – Best Crypto App for Crypto Backed Loans and Passive Growth  

Why it’s essential

Launched in 2020, CoinRabbit started as a crypto lending and is now growing into an all-in-one crypto platform. It combines crypto loans with a wallet, exchange and savings tools in one place. While the platform continues to evolve, crypto lending remains at its core, allowing users to use crypto as collateral and receive stablecoin loans instantly. This way, they can access liquidity for any needs without having to sell their holdings . In terms of asset support, currently CoinRabbit lets people use over 350 cryptocurrencies as collateral with a loan-to-value (LTV) of up to 90%, depending on the asset. 

CoinRabbit also ensures a no rehypothecation policy, meaning your crypto stays untouched and is stored in cold wallets with multisig access. This gives full control and safety of your assets. 

Loans are usually issued in under 10 minutes without any credit checks and the platform offers 27/7 human support. The loan feature starts at amounts under $100 so the barrier to entry is not high for even small holders. 

For high net worth individuals or institutions managing $500,000 or more in digital assets, the platform has a dedicated Private Program. The perks in this exclusive service include a personal relationship manager, cross-collateralization, special loan, restoration options and personalized borrowing rates. 

Apart from instant loans, the platform is also known for its easy to use Earn feature. Users can deposit stablecoins like USDT and USDC or certain cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum generate yield in a passive manner. A compound interest of 5% APY can be expected from stablecoins across different networks and interest is paid on a daily basis. Users also have flexibility here as they can opt to withdraw the complete amount or partially at any time. 

Best For

CoinRabbit is a platform best suited for investors looking to unlock extra liquidity without having to sell their crypto assets. This is especially useful during volatile periods as the platform’s model allows investors to hold and not sell at a potentially inopportune time. Investors who are in crypto for the long term will also find this platform useful for its Earn feature. The ease of use along with high security standards allows long term holders to earn passive interest on their idle assets. 

MetaMask – Best App for Web3 & DeFi Access 

Why it’s included

Metamask has built a reputation as the best web3 wallet app. It is a must have for anyone looking to explore DeFi, interact with decentralized applications (dApps) or on-chain invest/trade. Launched in 2016, it’s an established self-custodial wallet, putting you in control of your private keys while providing a gateway to the world of decentralized web. 

Starting out as a browser extension, MetaMask later expanded to a full mobile app on both IOS and Android. With MetaMask, you can receive, store and send cryptocurrency, primarily Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens. Its real utility however comes from how easy it is to connect to dApps. The app has a web3 browser that lets you navigate to a decentralized exchange, NFT marketplace, DeFi lending and borrowing protocol etc and Metamask can directly connect and act as your wallet login. 

This way, MetaMask essentially becomes a users key that unlocks the word of web3. This simplicity has enabled MetaMask to acquire around 30 million monthly active users globally as of 2025. 

Another reason for its popularity is its strong ecosystem support and flexibility. MetaMask is not limited to Ethereum’s mainnet, it supports connecting to multiple Ethereum compatible networks like Polygon, BNB chain, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche and others. 

Best For

MetaMask is undoubtedly made for those looking to explore the world of dApps. It’s the go to crypto app for holding your crypto in a secure place with an option to use your crypto in the decentralized space. Long term holders can use MetaMask to store their assets while active traders can use it to link to a decentralized exchange or earn yield through lending protocols. 

TradingView – Best Crypto App for Charting & Technical Analysis 

TradingView is the ultimate platform for technical analysis and charting. This application is not limited to cryptocurrencies as it’s an established tool used in other traditional markets like stocks, commodities, forex etc as well. This support across various asset classes is actually a massive strength as users can analyze how crypto is performing against other assets from a macro perspective. 

The mobile application comes with almost all trading pairs and these can be overlaid with trendlines and technical indicators. It comes loaded with 100+ pre built technical indicators and 90+ drawing tools. It also comes with the flexibility of custom script support, meaning those who want to code their own indicators can do so. 

One of its stand out features is the ability to set alerts. You can set custom price alerts on a specific asset and TradingView will automatically push a notification when that condition is met. For a market like crypto that runs 24/7, this feature is especially useful. 

Multi device and account syncing is another strong feature of TradingView. Once you sign in and set up your charts, all the data, including trendlines, indicators and alerts are synced across devices. 

Apart from this, it can also be seen as a place to learn from other technical analysts. It has an active community wherein traders post their ideas with live charts enabling knowledge sharing.

Best for 

TradingView is best suited for technical traders and anyone looking for in-depth market analysis. During volatile periods, timing can become crucial. TradingView helps in strategizing your trades by providing the resources to identify market structures, trends and signals. 

Even long term investors can use TradingView to identify potential local bottoms or tops by keeping a longer timeframe on the charts. Crucially, TradingView is built for both beginners who just want to check real time prices and for pro traders who might build their own strategy using various indicators. 

CoinStats – Best Crypto App for Portfolio Tracking

Why Investors Use it 

For many crypto investors, tracking your balances across different exchanges and wallets becomes a challenging task. CoinStats is a platform that tackles this problem by creating a unified dashboard where investors can track all their balances from these different sources in one place. CoinStats is basically a complete view of your entire portfolio in one application. It does this by having access to 300+ exchanges and wallet services (portfolios are connected via API or public addresses), effectively aggregating your balances and transaction history automatically

Best for

CoinStats is best for crypto users who store their assets across different wallet addresses or between different networks. Whether you’re a long term holder or using hot wallets for shorter term trades, this platform gives you a birds eye view of your entire portfolio on any given day. 

Google Authenticator (or Authy) – Best Crypto App for Security 

Last but not least, strong account security is a must have for crypto traders and investors. As crypto scams get more sophisticated by the day, the use of two factor authentication (2FA) apps like Google Authenticator or Authy becomes non-negotiable. 

These authenticator apps generate time based 6 digit code that you must enter when loggin into your exchange or wallet that has 2FA. This basically adds another layer of safety beyond a password. 

This sort of security is especially important in crypto, as breaches to your wallet or exchange can mean irreversible loss when transferred. 

Best for

An authenticator app is best for everyone’s security. It’s essentially mandatory for account protection in 2026. It dramatically reduces risks when holding crypto and is a security practice that most exchanges and wallets require you to set up. 

Summary

AppCategoryPrimary UseChangeNOWSwapFast, non-custodial conversionsCoinRabbitLendingCrypto loans & passive incomeMetaMaskWalletWeb3 accessTradingViewAnalysisCharting & TACoinStatsPortfolioPerformance trackingAuthenticatorSecurityAccount protection 

FAQs

What is the most important crypto app in 2026?

Each app plays an important role. Using them together provides a balanced and secure way of approaching the crypto market.

Do investors need multiple crypto apps?

It’s not needed, but each app is designed for a specific function. Combining some on this list will provide a more well rounded approach to crypto 

Are crypto apps safe to use? 

Yes but only if used correctly. Stick to official websites, links, socials and enable 2FA 

Can beginners use these apps?

Definitely. These apps are designed with usability in mind and most offer guides to help new users get started

South Korea’s financial reports revealed that the country’s price growth declined at a slower rate, mainly due to a slight increase in food and general living costs. However, even with this finding, consumer inflation levels have remained above the Bank of Korea’s 2% target for the fourth consecutive month.

Consumer prices rose 2.3% in December from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, slowing slightly from November’s 2.4% pace. The figure was in line with economists’ forecasts, which had projected inflation at around 2.3% for the month.

South Korea’s consumer price surges as anticipated 

Core inflation, which eliminates the fluctuating prices of food and energy, increased at a rate of 2%, similar to the rate recorded in November. At this moment, analysts have discovered that both overall and core inflation rates remain near the Central Bank of South Korea’s target.

Following the release of this data, analysts anticipated that price pressures in the country were starting to decline. However, they noted that there is a high possibility that these figures may not be sufficient to influence the BOK to consider restarting its monetary easing cycle when its officials establish policy on January 15.

In the meantime, the current strength demonstrated in the property market sparks discussion in the industry regarding surging mortgage debt levels that could lead to financial problems, prompting the central bank to exercise caution about adding more stimulus.

Furthermore, sources highlighted a high likelihood that the cost of living will continue to increase. This assumption was made after officials in the country issued a warning, suggesting that high food prices could cause inflation levels to rise more than anticipated in 2026, despite basic price pressures remaining in check most of the time.

As uncertainties surrounding South Korea’s financial status intensify, a reliable source released a report this month noting that prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages have increased sharply by approximately 3.6% compared to last year. The costs of Housing and utilities, on the other hand, dropped drastically by 3%, while costs related to transportation soared by 3.2%.

Costs of telecommunications, alcoholic drinks, and tobacco products are reported to be the primary factor behind this decline. In response to this situation, policymakers acknowledged the weakness of the won. They vowed to closely examine the possible risks that could result from this weakness as they weigh suitable measures to address the issue. They warned that these risks could lead to price hikes for imported goods in the nation, which depends heavily on foreign food and energy supplies. 

Generally, consumer price rises were moderate in November, with the costs of education soaring by approximately  1.6% and recreation and culture increasing by about 1.2%, both slower than in the last month.

On the other hand, apartment prices in Seoul continued to rise for the 47th consecutive week as of December 22, according to data from the Korea Real Estate Board, thereby raising concerns among central bank officials who worried that lowering interest rates could lead to financial imbalances. 

The BOK opts to eliminate the possibility of further rate cuts in 2026

The BOK decided to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 2.5% in late November. At this point, the central bank opted to increase its growth and inflation predictions slightly. Its team also chose to eliminate a statement regarding continuing to think about rate cuts, prompting several economists to believe that the cycle of easing rates could be wrapped up.

To address this issue, officials have declared that they are exploring various possibilities. One suggested effective solution was noted after the bank announced that it would discard the possibility of further rate cuts next year as it focuses on financial stability threats from foreign exchange and housing markets. 

“We think CPI will stay high for a while because a weaker won raises import costs and keeps underlying pressures strong. This ongoing inflation situation supports our belief that the BOK will overlook the recent dip in factory production and maintain the policy rate at 2.5%,” said economist Hyosung Kwon. 

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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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