updatealert

The past 24 hours offered a clear view into where crypto stands heading into 2026: increasingly institutional, more regulated, yet still deeply cyclical.

On the balance-sheet side, Tether confirmed the purchase of 8,888.8888888 BTC in Q4 2025, reinforcing its long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy and signaling continued confidence from one of the ecosystem’s most influential liquidity providers.

In Washington, momentum is building. Senator Cynthia Lummis highlighted the Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2026, which would allow major U.S. banks to offer digital asset custody, staking, and payments under regulated supervision. At the same time, lawmakers are expected to advance broader crypto market structure legislation in early January—an important step toward regulatory clarity after years of uncertainty.

Regulatory leadership also saw movement as CFTC Chair Michael Selig appointed Amir Zaidi as Chief of Staff, citing his experience in launching CFTC-regulated Bitcoin futures during the Trump administration’s first term. The appointment underscores a renewed focus on derivatives oversight as institutional participation grows.

Market narratives remain contested. Tom Lee pointed to parabolic rallies in gold and silver as evidence that skepticism toward digital assets in 2026 may be misplaced, framing crypto as part of a broader macro rotation rather than an isolated risk asset.

Still, 2025 was a sobering year for wealth concentration. Crypto billionaires saw sharp declines, with Michael Saylor down $2.6B, CZ losing 5%, and the Winklevoss twins down 59%, according to Bloomberg. Bitcoin itself closed 2025 down 8% at $87,600, marking its first negative year since 2022—a reminder that adoption does not eliminate volatility.

On the infrastructure front, Trust Wallet temporarily disabled its browser extension due to a Chrome web bug, while security data offered a rare positive signal: crypto hack losses fell 60% in December, dropping to $76 million, per PeckShield.

ETF flows reflected selective risk appetite. SOL and XRP spot ETFs recorded net inflows on Dec. 31, while BTC and ETH ETFs saw outflows, suggesting rotation rather than broad risk-off behavior. XRP, despite major legal and ecosystem wins in 2025, still failed to reach its long-anticipated $5 target—placing renewed focus on whether 2026 delivers a true breakout.

Geographically, adoption expanded in less-expected regions. Turkmenistan officially legalized crypto mining and exchanges under central bank oversight, choosing regulation over prohibition and joining a growing list of states formalizing crypto within national frameworks.

Finally, at the protocol level, Hyperliquid founder Jeff reaffirmed a commitment to credible neutrality, emphasizing no private investors, no market-maker deals, and no protocol fees—a deliberate contrast to capital-heavy DeFi models.

Taken together, the last 24 hours paint a clear picture: crypto is maturing structurally, fragmenting narratively, and entering 2026 with stronger institutions—but fewer illusions.

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