Monero is back in the spotlight as traders react to a fresh pullback, keeping Monero news active across the market. The recent drop came after a strong weekly jump, and many now watch to see if spot buyers step in again. At the same time, analysts are reviewing the XLM Stellar price, which shows slow but steady movement as the project focuses on long-term payment utility. However, smart traders are shifting toward the Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) presale auction to secure a spot to lock in bigger profits. Not many people know about ZKP yet, and that is why early buyers are rushing in before prices rise. This growing interest is also placing ZKP among the most popular cryptocurrency choices in today’s presale market. Monero News: Market Pullback Raises Questions Monero is seeing a mild pullback, and many traders are watching the charts closely to understand the shift. The recent drop follows a strong weekly rise, where XMR gained more than 20% in a short period. Much of that move came from futures activity, not spot buying. This makes the rally easier to unwind, which explains the quick correction. These signs keep Monero news relevant as traders watch for signs of stable demand. The broader market also cooled, with privacy coins dropping slightly and Bitcoin holding near key levels. Spot volume remains calm, and open interest shows that leverage played a big role in the earlier surge. Analysts say this type of reset is common after fast upward moves. These conditions keep Monero news focused on whether spot buyers return soon.  XLM Stellar Price Outlook: Analysts Weigh Growth and Risks Stellar is seeing steady interest as traders look at long-term trends instead of short price spikes. The project focuses on fast and low-cost payments, which keeps it relevant for banks and remittance platforms.  Recent movement shows slow but stable action on the charts. This keeps the XLM Stellar price in regular discussions as analysts review its chances of holding support and forming a recovery. Some expect a possible range between $0.35 and $0.75 in 2025, depending on market strength. Predictions stay mixed because the crypto market remains volatile. Competing payment networks also add pressure, and regulation can affect adoption. These risks keep XLM Stellar price grounded, even with improving technology. As adoption grows, analysts watch how the XLM Stellar price reacts to new partnerships and real-world usage. How Early Buyers Can Profit with Zero Knowledge Proof Presale Auction   The most-awaited presale auction is now live, and it is already drawing huge attention from traders. Zero Knowledge Proof has finally opened its presale auction doors, and many smart buyers are trying to enter as early as they can. With the presale auction running in real time, a big question keeps coming up: how do people actually make money in this system? The answer is simple. You buy at early prices, and the listing happens at a higher price. That gap becomes your profit. ZKP starts with lower entry prices because fewer people join on the first days. As more traders notice the project, each new auction day usually becomes more competitive. That pushes the price up step by step.  Early prices stay cheap only for a short period. This model is why many are calling ZKP the most popular cryptocurrency right now. It gives everyone a fair start, and early joiners often get the biggest upside. Early entry creates strong returns for buyers. How? When the listing later lands near the higher end, early buyers can make several times their initial amount. That is why people are rushing to join before daily demand pushes prices higher. With the presale auction now live, everyone has the chance to check the current price directly from the website. Prices rise as days pass, so early entries usually get the biggest rewards.  Many traders are already hurrying to lock in their position before these early-profit windows disappear. If the trend continues, entering sooner rather than later may make a real difference. Which is the Most Popular Cryptocurrency? All these updates reveal contrasting details. Monero news reflects a normal market reset rather than major weakness, whereas the XLM Stellar price also moves cautiously, with mixed signals and no strong breakout yet.  But the real excitement is around the Zero Knowledge Proof presale auction. The ZKP coin is becoming the hottest crypto of 2025 as smart traders join the presale auction early for bigger profit chances. Its simple auction model and strong momentum are the reasons why many now see it as the most popular cryptocurrency and a promising early-entry opportunity. Join Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) Whitelist: Website: Zkp.com

At the LONGTITUDE event, Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of SkyBridge Capital, said cryptocurrencies have a bright future. He said that there will be an "exponential opportunity" in 2026. He said that regulatory advancements and growing institutional interest in 2025 created strong tailwinds that positioned digital assets for explosive growth beyond their current values. Scaramucci said the sector is "cruising on tailwinds," referring to milestones such as more ETFs and corporate balance-sheet integrations that have already put billions into Bitcoin and other altcoins. What Will Make Growth Happen in 2026 Institutional momentum is a significant factor, with pension funds, sovereign wealth managers, and major Wall Street firms allocating some of their holdings to crypto. Scaramucci said that even 1% to 2% of these huge companies' investments may significantly increase market capitalisation, similar to how stocks surged in the early days of the internet.  Regulatory clarity, especially given the Trump administration's pro-innovation stance, has removed long-standing barriers, boosting confidence and allowing companies like JPMorgan to offer products such as Bitcoin-backed treasuries.  He thought 30–50% pullbacks would happen soon and saw them as healthy corrections that have preceded significant rises.  "Exponential demand will push Bitcoin to new heights," Scaramucci said, agreeing with his long-held belief that prices will rise to $500,000 because of halving-induced scarcity and constant buying pressure. At Longitude, his 2025 summary focused on Solana's rise as a scalable competitor, which showed that savvy investors should look beyond Bitcoin for investment opportunities. Market Maturation and Analyst Views The speakers at the event backed Scaramucci's view. Ric Edelman said that Bitcoin would reach $180,000 by 2026, saying that institutional flows and scarcity dynamics were two forces that couldn't be stopped. Analysts from TradingView and elsewhere agreed with the positive outlook, pointing to changes in global legislation that make crypto a legitimate store-of-value asset on par with gold at multi-trillion levels.  Scaramucci said to stick it out through the ups and downs, saying that 2026 will be the year that virtual assets become a permanent part of mainstream banking. Pakistan's recent licensing actions for exchanges like Binance are another example of worldwide regulatory convergence, which is being pushed by the U.S. SkyBridge's move to crypto since 2020 backs up this trend, as Scaramucci's firm has been able to make money throughout market downturns.  People at Longitude applauded his balancing realism, which recognised concerns like overleveraging while also supporting foundations. This Longitude address shows that crypto has gone from being a niche investment to an essential asset class. With the right conditions in place, 2026 will be a year of huge returns for those who are ready. Scaramucci's roadmap shows how to get from volatility to long-term value creation.

Deriv has announced a major expansion of its stock CFD offering on Deriv MT5, adding 400 new global stocks and introducing extended hours trading for 21 leading US equities. The update significantly broadens the range of instruments available to traders using the MT5 platform, while also extending the time window during which selected US stock CFDs can be traded. The rollout is now live, giving clients immediate access to the expanded universe of stocks. The enhancements come in two parts. First, Deriv MT5 users can now trade 400 additional global stock CFDs across multiple regions and sectors during regular market sessions. This expansion is designed to support more diversified portfolios by giving traders exposure to a wider set of companies beyond traditional, narrowly focused stock lists. Second, extended hours trading has been introduced for 21 major US stocks on weekdays, subject to a daily 30-minute maintenance break. The launch aligns with Deriv’s stated mission to make trading accessible “for anyone, anywhere and at any time,” by removing constraints related to both market coverage and trading hours. By expanding the number of available stocks and extending trading availability beyond standard US market sessions, Deriv is addressing long-standing trader demand for broader access and greater flexibility within a familiar MT5 environment. Why Extended Hours Trading Matters for Stock CFD Traders Extended hours trading on US stock CFDs allows traders to react to market-moving events that often occur outside traditional market sessions, such as earnings announcements, macroeconomic releases, or geopolitical developments. For global traders operating across different time zones, these extended hours can be particularly valuable, enabling participation without being constrained by US market opening times. Aggelos Armenatzoglou, Head of Dealing at Deriv, said the update directly responds to years of feedback from traders. “Traders have been saying the same thing for years. Coverage is too narrow and access is too tied to the clock. Our answer is to widen the opportunity set by offering extended trading hours for selected popular stocks.” He added that the enhancement allows clients to respond more flexibly to after-hours price movements, particularly around earnings-related volatility. Armenatzoglou also highlighted the strategic rationale behind combining broader stock access with longer trading hours. “With this release, we are integrating broader stock access and around-the-clock trading flexibility into the familiar MT5 experience. By extending trading hours, our clients gain the ability to take positions at times that suit them best, rather than being limited to standard market hours.” The focus on flexibility reflects a broader industry trend toward accommodating globally distributed retail trading activity. Takeaway: By adding 400 global stock CFDs and extending US trading hours on MT5, Deriv is giving traders more markets and more flexibility to react to events beyond traditional session boundaries. How the Expansion Fits Into Deriv’s Broader Platform Strategy The stock CFD expansion reflects Deriv’s longer-term approach of increasing market access without adding complexity for users. On Deriv MT5, traders continue to benefit from advanced charting, fast execution, comprehensive order types, and multilingual support, all within a single trading account. Importantly, Deriv confirmed that pricing and account structures remain unchanged for the newly added stock instruments, lowering the barrier to adoption. By keeping the MT5 interface consistent while expanding the available instruments and trading hours, Deriv aims to appeal to both active traders and those seeking diversified exposure through stock CFDs. The move also positions Deriv more competitively against brokers that offer extended-hours trading or broader equity coverage as separate, premium features. Instead, Deriv is integrating both enhancements directly into its core MT5 offering. Looking ahead, the expansion signals Deriv’s intention to continue building a more flexible, globally relevant trading environment. As Armenatzoglou noted, “We’re building for what comes next. More markets, more hours, and more ways to participate, so traders can pursue opportunities on their own terms.” For traders, the update underscores a shift toward platforms that prioritise accessibility, time-zone neutrality, and breadth of choice alongside established trading technology.

Interactive Brokers announced that eligible clients outside Brazil can now trade equities listed on B3, the country’s main stock exchange and one of Latin America’s most active markets. This expansion gives global investors another gateway to participate in emerging market opportunities and strengthens IBKR’s position as one of the broadest-access brokers in the electronic trading landscape. The initiative aligns with growing investor interest in regions offering diversification, sector variety, and macroeconomic growth potential. The B3 exchange has long been a central venue for trading across Latin America, with deep liquidity across major Brazilian corporates, banks, and commodity-linked issuers. By adding direct connectivity, Interactive Brokers is expanding the menu of markets available through a single account, eliminating layers of operational friction that traditionally complicate emerging market participation. This unified infrastructure approach differentiates IBKR from regional brokers and legacy platforms with siloed access points. Interactive Brokers CEO Milan Galik said the expansion reflects increasing global demand for seamless, cost-effective cross-border trading. “Global investors need seamless access to diverse markets to stay competitive,” he said. “By adding Brazil’s B3 Exchange, we’re giving our clients efficient, low-cost access to one of the world’s most dynamic emerging economies through our unified global platform.” His emphasis on efficiency and cost aligns with the firm’s long-standing strategy of appealing to sophisticated investors, institutions, and active traders seeking liquidity and competitive pricing. What the Addition of B3 Means for Global Investors For traders and portfolio managers, access to B3 expands the range of sectors, currency exposures, and macro themes available on the Interactive Brokers platform. Brazil remains a key global player in commodities, agriculture, mining, and financial services, making its equities attractive for diversification and thematic investing. Incorporating these securities into a single system creates opportunities for more dynamic portfolio construction, including multi-asset hedging and cross-market arbitrage strategies. This move also reinforces IBKR’s reputation for offering extensive global market coverage. The firm already provides access to over 160 markets and supports funding and trading in up to 28 currencies. Adding B3 strengthens its footprint in Latin America and complements existing access to equity, derivatives, FX, and bond markets across Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. As investors increasingly seek global, multi-asset capability under one provider, IBKR’s platform becomes more compelling relative to competitors with regional limitations. However, access restrictions remain in place for residents of Brazil, who cannot trade B3 products through Interactive Brokers. This aligns with regional regulatory requirements and mirrors similar country-specific rules applied across certain exchanges worldwide. Despite this limitation, the addition stands to benefit a wide range of professionals — including international wealth managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, and retail investors based outside Brazil — who prioritise unified execution and transparent pricing. Takeaway: By adding Brazil’s B3 Exchange, Interactive Brokers deepens its emerging-market reach and expands global diversification tools for clients, reinforcing its strategy of delivering broad, low-cost access across 160+ markets. Why B3 Integration Strengthens IBKR’s Competitive Position The addition of B3 enhances Interactive Brokers’ competitive differentiation in several key areas: geographic breadth, asset-class depth, and cost efficiency. As brokers worldwide face increased pressure to offer integrated global platforms, IBKR’s ability to support equities, options, futures, FX, bonds, and funds across numerous regions allows it to capture flows from traders seeking a consolidated system rather than juggling multiple intermediaries. The inclusion of Brazil — a top-10 global economy — adds weight to this strategy. From an industry standpoint, expanding into Brazil is also a strategic response to rising institutional demand for emerging market exposure within diversified portfolios. Volatility, shifting monetary cycles, and sector cyclicality have made Latin American equities increasingly relevant for macro, quant, and long-only investors seeking uncorrelated returns. A well-regarded exchange like B3 provides the liquidity and transparency necessary to execute sophisticated global strategies, making the integration particularly valuable for IBKR’s professional user base. Interactive Brokers’ reputation for competitive fees and advanced trading tools further strengthens the significance of this move. With investors continuing to prioritise low-cost execution, real-time data, and cross-market analytics, integrating B3 enhances IBKR’s ability to serve global traders looking for an efficient, institution-grade solution without the premium pricing typical of traditional brokerage models. The firm’s latest expansion underscores its long-standing mission: provide broad, transparent, and frictionless access to global opportunities.    

At the start of December, we identified a downward channel on the XBR/USD chart and pointed out that the bearish trend had been fuelled by easing geopolitical tensions. Hopes for a potential resolution to the conflict in Ukraine—and speculation that this could eventually lead to a relaxation of sanctions on Russia—acted as a drag on oil prices. Further pressure came from the International Energy Agency, which reiterated expectations of a substantial supply glut and noted that global crude inventories have climbed to their highest level in four years. These developments, combined with signs of weakening economic activity in China, pushed Brent crude down to a seven-week low at point A. Today, however, the chart shows a shift in sentiment, with a bullish reversal gaining momentum—again rooted in geopolitical news: → The United States seized a sanctioned Venezuelan tanker, prompting Caracas to accuse Washington of “piracy”. → Ukraine carried out another strike on a vessel from the so-called “shadow fleet”, which plays a role in Russia’s clandestine oil logistics. Technical Outlook for XBR/USD Bearish arguments: → the $62.60 zone—where the blue trendline gave way—remains a key resistance level; → buyers were unable to protect the gains from the A–B move, and the price slid further to the C lows; → initial resistance is expected around the $61.70 area. Bullish considerations: → the lower boundary of the channel may continue to provide support; → Brent mounted a strong recovery after a failed bearish breakout below the November low, a price action pattern consistent with a liquidity grab—often a sign that “smart money” is accumulating. Taking all of this into account, a rise in geopolitical tensions could provide additional upside pressure, potentially sending XBR/USD back towards the midpoint of the current descending channel. FXOpen offers spreads from 0.0 pips and commissions from $1.50 per lot. Enjoy trading on MT4, MT5, TickTrader or TradingView trading platforms! The FXOpen App is a dedicated mobile application designed to give traders full control of their accounts anytime, anywhere. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.  

Exness has officially opened a new regional office in Cape Town, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa at a time when fintech innovation is accelerating across the continent. The move reflects Exness’ strategic view that South Africa represents a natural gateway for regional expansion, supported by its sophisticated financial infrastructure, deep talent pool, and growing culture of digital finance adoption. As more traders across Africa seek global market access, the broker is positioning itself closer to its client base. Cape Town has increasingly emerged as one of Africa’s leading fintech hubs, supported by a mature regulatory framework and a vibrant ecosystem of technology start-ups, financial institutions, and skilled professionals. For Exness, establishing a physical presence in the city enables closer collaboration with local partners and regulators while anchoring its broader SSA operations in a globally connected financial centre. This approach aligns with industry trends that favour regional hubs over purely remote service models. Petr Valov, Exness co-founder and CEO, framed the launch as a milestone in the company’s regional growth journey. “The opening of our Cape Town office marks a new chapter for Exness, one that involves innovation and regional growth. We see immense potential in SSA and our investment here reflects our confidence in the region’s growth and in the incredible talent driving it.” His comments underline Exness’ belief that Africa’s next phase of trading growth will be driven by a combination of infrastructure investment and local expertise. How the New Hub Supports Traders Across Sub-Saharan Africa The new office will serve as the operational centre for Exness’ activities in South Africa and across the wider Sub-Saharan Africa region. Staffed by local professionals, the hub is designed to deliver regional insights while maintaining global service standards. This model allows Exness to adapt its offering to local market dynamics, trading behaviour, and regulatory expectations, while still leveraging its global technology stack and liquidity access. Local presence is increasingly important in emerging markets, where trust, education, and support play a critical role in trader engagement. By embedding teams on the ground, Exness aims to enhance client support, build closer relationships with partners, and respond more effectively to regional needs. The hub is expected to contribute to both client-facing functions and broader regional strategy, reinforcing Exness’ role as a long-term participant in Africa’s financial markets. Paul Margarites, Exness Regional Commercial Director, highlighted the symbolic and practical importance of the move. “By building a strong local presence, we are bringing our global expertise closer to our traders. This office is more than a space; it’s a reflection of our long-term commitment to traders in the region.” His remarks reflect a broader shift among global brokers toward investing in physical infrastructure to complement digital trading platforms. Takeaway: Exness’ new Cape Town hub strengthens its ability to serve Sub-Saharan African traders with local expertise backed by global infrastructure, positioning the broker for sustained regional growth. What the Expansion Signals for Africa’s Fintech Ecosystem The opening of the Cape Town office comes amid growing momentum in Africa’s fintech sector, where digital trading, payments, and financial inclusion initiatives are reshaping access to global markets. Exness’ expansion signals confidence in the region’s regulatory and economic trajectory, particularly as more retail and professional traders seek transparent, well-regulated platforms. The company’s presence adds weight to South Africa’s standing as a continental fintech anchor. Exness’ Sub-Saharan Africa operations are supported by its Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) licence in South Africa and its Capital Markets Authority (CMA) licence in Kenya. These regulatory foundations reinforce the broker’s focus on compliance, transparency, and responsible market participation. In a region where regulatory clarity is increasingly valued, such credentials can be a decisive factor for traders evaluating international brokers. Beyond the office launch, Exness marked the milestone with a series of events bringing together executives, partners, media, and creators, reflecting its brand-led approach to regional engagement. As Africa’s trading ecosystem continues to mature, investments that blend local talent, regulatory alignment, and global infrastructure are likely to shape the next stage of market development. Exness’ Cape Town hub positions the company to play an influential role in that evolution.    

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent approval for the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to tokenize traditional assets starting in the second half of 2026 is poised to fundamentally restructure the digital assets landscape, creating a massive competitive challenge for both crypto-native firms like Coinbase and established exchange operators like Nasdaq. As the entity responsible for clearing and settling nearly all U.S. securities transactions, the DTCC’s move legitimizes and institutionalizes the Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization sector, forcing all other players to rapidly adjust their strategies. DTCC’s Competitive Edge: Trust and Scale The primary competitive advantage for the DTCC is its unchallenged role as the central market infrastructure. By receiving a No-Action Letter from the SEC to tokenize highly liquid assets—including Russell 1000 equities, major ETFs, and U.S. Treasuries—the DTCC instantly provides a trust and compliance layer that no crypto exchange or alternative trading system (ATS) can match. For traditional financial institutions (TradFi), the prospect of buying a tokenized Treasury bill directly from a DTCC-approved service, maintaining all established investor protections, removes the regulatory and counterparty risk that has been a major barrier to adoption. This positions the DTCC to capture the vast majority of institutional tokenization flows, relegating other platforms to a secondary role for their tokenized RWAs. The DTCC's initiative aims to create a unified pool of liquidity across the TradFi and DeFi ecosystems, which is a game-changer that sets the standard for market efficiency. Direct Challenge to Nasdaq and Coinbase For Nasdaq and Coinbase, the DTCC’s entry presents a direct and immediate challenge to their digital asset ambitions. Nasdaq has been actively developing its digital asset strategy, including the launch of tokenized securities in partnership with other technology providers and its investment in the Canton Network. The exchange’s goal has been to use tokenization to enable 24/7 trading and faster settlement. However, the DTCC’s move effectively takes control of the underlying clearing and settlement infrastructure for tokenized core assets. Nasdaq will now likely need to deeply integrate with the DTCC’s system, potentially shifting from being a primary driver of the RWA trend to an exchange layer that simply leverages DTCC’s tokenized assets. Meanwhile, Coinbase is preparing to launch its own tokenized stocks on December 17, a strategy where it reportedly intends to issue and manage the digital shares entirely in-house. While this grants Coinbase control, it subjects the products to the complex and fragmented regulatory environment for digital securities. The DTCC's SEC-approved service, offering the same underlying asset with significantly reduced regulatory uncertainty for institutional buyers, creates an immediate headwind for Coinbase’s tokenization efforts aimed at TradFi. Coinbase's approach will likely appeal more to the crypto-native retail audience, whereas the DTCC will dominate the massive institutional RWA market, essentially splitting the focus of the burgeoning tokenization sector. The DTCC’s regulatory clearance has effectively established the ground rules for tokenizing U.S. securities, forcing everyone else to integrate or innovate around a centralized, yet blockchain-enabled, infrastructure.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a significant round of No-Action Letters to four major operators in the derivatives and prediction market space: Polymarket, Gemini, PredictIt, and LedgerX/MIAX. Issued on Thursday, December 11, 2025, these letters provide targeted regulatory relief from certain swap-related recordkeeping and data reporting requirements, signaling the CFTC's increasingly flexible and supportive approach to bringing innovative crypto-native products under a regulated federal framework. The action is a major boost particularly for the burgeoning prediction market sector, offering key regulatory clarity to operators like Polymarket and Gemini just as competition in the space is set to intensify. The Significance of the Regulatory Relief A No-Action Letter is a formal statement from the regulator that staff will not recommend enforcement action against a company for non-compliance with a specific rule, provided the company adheres to alternative, specified requirements. In this instance, the relief pertains to certain swap-related recordkeeping requirements and the failure to report data to swap data repositories (SDRs), which are standard, often complex, mandates for derivatives trading platforms. The CFTC stated that this relief is designed to be comparable to no-action letters issued for other similarly situated Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) and Derivatives Clearing Organizations (DCOs). This move recognizes that the nature of fully-collateralized crypto derivatives and prediction contracts differs significantly from traditional interest rate or credit swaps. However, the regulatory relief is strictly conditional, requiring the recipients to ensure that their contracts are fully collateralized at all times, meaning participants must post the entire required margin upfront. Furthermore, all clearing must be conducted internally through their designated platform, without reliance on external clearing members, and all data tied to the contracts must be publicly published on their platforms after execution, ensuring full transparency to market participants. This action allows these platforms to operate their event contracts and derivatives markets within a regulated environment while avoiding compliance with certain older, potentially unwieldy data reporting rules that were designed for traditional, high-volume, non-fully-collateralized swaps, ultimately lowering the operational cost of compliance. Fueling the Prediction Market Gold Rush The No-Action Letters are particularly crucial for the rapidly growing prediction market sector, where three of the four recipients—Polymarket, Gemini, and PredictIt—are primary players. The decision comes just after Gemini secured its official Designated Contract Market (DCM) license, allowing it to formally launch its prediction market platform, Gemini Titan. Polymarket, which acquired a CFTC-licensed exchange earlier this year and was previously fined and banned from the U.S. market, now has further regulatory clearance to operate event contracts for U.S. customers under a fully regulated model. PredictIt, which has been in a protracted legal dispute with the CFTC regarding the terms of its original relief, gains greater certainty on its operational requirements for its political event contracts. By providing clear guardrails and exemptions, the CFTC, under Acting Chair Caroline D. Pham, continues to position itself as a pro-innovation regulator, seeking to bring crypto-related derivatives activity onshore and under federal supervision. This regulatory clarity is expected to further accelerate the "gold rush" among platforms like Coinbase, DraftKings, and others who are actively angling for a piece of the lucrative U.S. prediction market business, promising to dramatically reshape the landscape of digital asset derivatives in the coming year.

Crypto Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) recorded a return to positive overall net flows on Thursday, December 11, 2025, as institutional investors utilized the sharp price correction—which saw Bitcoin briefly dip below the $90,000 mark—as a renewed buying opportunity. The activity signals a resilience in institutional demand, contrasting sharply with the bearish sentiment and long-liquidation events that dominated the spot market in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s "hawkish cut." This strategic re-entry by large players confirms the "buy the dip" mentality that often characterizes institutional engagement following sudden macro-driven market shocks. Bitcoin Spot ETFs See Inflows After a period of consolidation and mixed signals, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a positive daily net inflow of over $220 million. This inflow came at a critical time for the market, which was experiencing significant price pressure following the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and a broader "risk-off" mood that impacted tech stocks and other speculative assets. This demand was highly concentrated, suggesting a targeted "buy the dip" strategy from one or two major institutional players rather than broad market participation. BlackRock's IBIT was reported to have absorbed nearly all of the daily net capital, indicating a clear preference for the most liquid and trusted funds in the sector. GBTC, while not explicitly quantified in the latest reports, is generally facing continued pressure as investors rotate out of the older structure and into the more efficient spot ETFs, leading to a fragmented flow profile that is currently characteristic of the Bitcoin ETF market. The overall positive flow for the day suggests that while many retail traders were forced to liquidate positions as the price dropped, sophisticated institutional capital viewed the pullback to the low-$90,000 range as an attractive entry point, betting on a quick recovery. Altcoin Products Maintain Momentum While Bitcoin's stabilization was the main story, altcoin ETPs continued to demonstrate selective strength, especially those focused on assets with clearer regulatory or utility narratives. Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) ETPs saw sustained positive flows, albeit at a slower pace than the massive influx recorded on the previous day (December 10th). This continued demand reinforces the narrative of institutional rotation from saturated large-cap exposure toward mid-cap, high-growth alternatives. Most notably, XRP Spot ETFs remained a standout performer, experiencing their 19th consecutive day of net positive inflows. This sustained demand, which had seen total inflows nearing $1 billion as of December 10th, continues to highlight institutional confidence in XRP's regulatory clarity and long-term utility, even as the broader crypto market faces volatility. The flow data confirms that the institutional digital asset market is becoming increasingly nuanced. While macro uncertainty and price dips trigger high volatility in the spot market, the flow into regulated ETPs reveals an underlying, sustained institutional strategy of accumulating assets during periods of weakness, particularly in products that offer a high degree of regulatory compliance and liquidity.

Coinbase has announced the launch of x402 V2, the next major version of its open-source, stablecoin-based payment protocol for AI agents and decentralized applications. Released on Thursday, December 11, 2025, the V2 upgrade significantly expands the protocol's capabilities beyond simple, single-call micropayments, transforming x402 into a more flexible and robust economic layer designed for the complex, autonomous transactions of the emerging machine economy. This evolution is crucial for enabling continuous, high-frequency interactions between AI services without the friction and cost of traditional payment systems. Key Innovations in the V2 Upgrade The x402 protocol, which activates the long-dormant HTTP 402 "Payment Required" status code to embed crypto payments directly into web requests, has been running in production for six months, processing over 100 million transactions. The V2 upgrade incorporates these real-world learnings, focusing on three core areas. Firstly, the V2 protocol introduces support for wallet-controlled identity, moving beyond a model where payment is required for every single API call. This foundation allows for the creation of reusable sessions and subscription-like models where an AI agent or application only needs to perform an on-chain interaction for the initial payment or sign-in. For subsequent, repeated access, the client can skip the full payment flow, drastically improving efficiency, reducing latency, and lowering transaction costs, particularly in high-frequency scenarios like continuous AI data consumption. Secondly, the V2 upgrade enhances the protocol through a Universal Payment Interface and Modularity. V2 standardizes how networks and assets are identified, creating a single, flexible payment format that aims to work seamlessly across different blockchains and even potentially with legacy payment rails. The architecture is now fully modular and plug-in-driven, separating the core protocol from its implementation and facilitator services. This crucial change allows developers to easily add support for new chains (like Solana or alternative EVM networks), new facilitators, and custom payment schemes (like prepaid or usage-based billing) without needing to modify the underlying protocol specification, making x402 future-proof and broadly compatible. Thirdly, the upgrade provides a significantly Enhanced Developer Experience. It includes a completely overhauled, modular paywall package, @x402/paywall, with built-in support for multiple chains, making it easier to integrate payment functionality into applications. Furthermore, a new Discovery extension is introduced, allowing x402-enabled services to expose structured metadata that facilitators and AI agents can automatically crawl, enabling automatic API discovery and simplifying multi-facilitator support and complex payment routing. The Future of AI Commerce Coinbase views x402 V2 as a crucial step in fulfilling the vision of autonomous, machine-to-machine commerce. By providing a low-cost, high-speed, and secure payment rail that allows AI agents to autonomously buy data, compute power, and access APIs without human intervention, the protocol enables entirely new models for digital monetization. The core strength remains the use of stablecoins like USDC for near-instant settlement and microtransactions with fees as low as fractions of a cent on fast L2 chains like Base. The V2 upgrade solidifies x402’s position as a leading standard in the rapidly accelerating AI payment revolution, addressing the critical infrastructure needs of a Web3 and AI-integrated economy.

In a major development marrying technology and social policy, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has announced a strategic partnership with the government of El Salvador to launch the world's first nationwide AI-powered education program. Announced by President Nayib Bukele on Thursday, December 11, 2025, the two-year initiative will see xAI's flagship Grok model deployed as a personalized tutor to over one million students across more than 5,000 public schools throughout the country. This groundbreaking agreement positions El Salvador as a global pioneer in integrating advanced AI directly into its national education curriculum. Pioneering AI-Driven Education and Social Change The primary goal of the collaboration is to utilize xAI's advanced AI capabilities to address educational inequalities and accelerate learning across El Salvador's public school system. President Bukele, who previously made history by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, is now positioning the country to "pioneer AI-driven education." The core of the program involves deploying the Grok chatbot to deliver personalized learning experiences. The AI tutor will adjust its instruction to each student’s individual pace, preferences, and mastery level, ensuring consistent, high-quality education from urban centers to remote rural communities. xAI emphasized that the initiative will tailor curricula by providing adaptive, curriculum-aligned tutoring in core subjects like math, science, and English. Furthermore, it will empower thousands of teachers as collaborative partners in the learning process, using AI tools to assist with lesson design, grading, and reducing administrative work. The partnership is also expected to co-develop new methodologies, datasets, and frameworks for the responsible, safe, and human-centered use of AI in classrooms globally. Musk commented on the partnership, stating that they are "putting the most advanced AI directly in the hands of an entire generation," highlighting El Salvador's ambition to "leapfrog directly to the top through bold policy and strategic vision." A New Model for Digital Transformation and Global Scrutiny This partnership is viewed as a pivotal milestone for both parties. For xAI, the collaboration serves as a massive, real-world stress test of its Grok model at a national scale, cementing its capacity to support system-wide digital transformation in resource-constrained environments. For El Salvador, it continues President Bukele's strategy of using disruptive technology—following the Bitcoin adoption—to drive social and economic change, transforming the nation from merely a technology adopter into a technology architect. While concerns regarding the ethical use of AI in education, data privacy, and the previous controversies surrounding Grok's output have been noted, xAI has committed to developing safety standards tailored to the local context. The success of the two-year program hinges on overcoming local infrastructure hurdles, such as inconsistent internet access in rural areas. xAI is reportedly planning support for offline-capable modes and device distribution to mitigate these challenges. The initiative is being hailed as the first nationwide effort of its kind, and its outcomes in terms of student performance and safe AI deployment will be closely watched by education systems worldwide, particularly those in developing nations looking for scalable solutions.

The Walt Disney Company has announced a landmark $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI alongside a groundbreaking three-year licensing agreement. This move, announced on Thursday, December 11, 2025, marks a dramatic shift in Hollywood's stance toward generative artificial intelligence and positions Disney as the first major content licensing partner for OpenAI’s text-to-video model, Sora. The decision comes even as Disney simultaneously sent cease-and-desist letters to other tech giants, including Google, for the unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters for AI training. The Core of the Agreement: Character Licensing with Guardrails The centerpiece of the partnership is the licensing deal that grants OpenAI the rights to use over 200 iconic Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters in its generative AI tools, primarily Sora and ChatGPT Images. Starting in early 2026, fans will be able to create and share short, user-prompted videos and images featuring beloved figures like Mickey Mouse, Iron Man, and Darth Vader. This arrangement explicitly includes costumes, props, vehicles, and environments from these franchises. Importantly, the agreement features strict guardrails, including the explicit exclusion of actor likenesses and voices, a key concession meant to protect performers amid industry labor concerns over AI replication. Furthermore, Disney and OpenAI are committing to safety measures, including content moderation and new filters to prevent the generation of content involving violence, political themes, or other inappropriate contexts for Disney's family-oriented characters. This move comes as a stunning reversal for Disney, which had previously been one of the most aggressive companies challenging the unlicensed use of its copyrighted content by AI firms. CEO Bob Iger stated the collaboration will "thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," positioning the deal as a model for how major content owners can proactively monetize their intellectual property in the age of generative AI. A Two-Track Strategic Partnership Beyond the licensing and the substantial $1 billion equity investment (which includes warrants for additional shares), the partnership establishes Disney as a major customer of OpenAI. This forms a dual strategic pillar for the collaboration. Firstly, Disney will deploy ChatGPT across its workforce for tasks ranging from research to marketing, and will use OpenAI's APIs to build new products and tools, including for its Disney+ streaming service, aiming to increase internal efficiency and support creative processes. Secondly, in a first for a major streaming service, a curated selection of the user-generated, Sora-created videos featuring Disney characters will be made available for streaming on Disney+. This creates a new official avenue for fan engagement and content discovery, transforming user-generated content from a legal liability into a structured, monetizable asset. The deal, which is subject to final board approvals and closing conditions, sets a new commercial blueprint for how Hollywood and Silicon Valley can cooperate on generative AI, potentially charting a course for other major intellectual property holders to monetize their vast content libraries.

Indian financial regulators are actively focusing on and facilitating the integration of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), commonly known as blockchain, to unlock transformative use cases centered on asset tokenization, digital programmability, and enhanced market efficiency. This measured but progressive approach, spearheaded by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), emphasizes using permissioned blockchain systems within regulated environments to ensure compliance and systemic stability. This strategy aims to modernize India's financial infrastructure while maintaining rigorous oversight. Tokenization: Digitizing Real-World and Financial Assets Tokenization is emerging as the most significant area of regulatory exploration. Regulators view the digitization of assets as a key driver for financial inclusion, transparency, and market liquidity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is leveraging its wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (e₹-W) as the foundation for its asset tokenization pilots. Early results from the issuance of Certificates of Deposit (CDs) through this mechanism have been encouraging, showing potential for improving market efficiency. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra explicitly stated that the Unified Markets Interface (UMI) is being conceptualized as a next-generation financial market infrastructure with the capability to tokenize financial assets and settlements using wholesale CBDC. Separately, the RBI has also conducted pilots on tokenized bank deposits, aiming to reduce settlement risk and enable seamless cross-system transfers. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is exploring regulated platforms for fractional ownership of tokenized assets, including mutual funds and corporate debt securities, making high-value investments accessible to small-ticket retail investors. SEBI has already mandated the use of DLT for the security and covenant monitoring of non-convertible securities to enhance transparency and prevent asset duplication since April 2022. Fintech platforms, often operating within regulatory sandboxes, are pioneering the tokenization of commercial real estate and carbon credits, creating new liquidity avenues for these traditionally illiquid assets. Programmability and New Use Cases The concept of programmability, where code (smart contracts) is embedded into digital assets or digital currency to automate processes, is central to the regulatory vision for DLT. This feature promises to generate significant operational cost savings and greater capital efficiency. The RBI's CBDC framework emphasizes programmability for purpose-driven direct benefit transfers, subsidies, and targeted lending, enabling money to be automatically used only for intended purposes. In the financial markets, programmability would enable automated functions like interest calculation and coupon payments for tokenized fixed-income products. Beyond finance, the government's National Blockchain Framework (NBF), led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), provides a secure, permissioned, and indigenous platform for deploying blockchain solutions across sectors. Notable use cases include using DLT for tamper-proof land records management, known as the 'Property Chain,' and for end-to-end tracking of SMS messages in the telecom sector to combat spam. Both the RBI and SEBI continue to operate regulatory sandboxes to allow startups and established financial institutions to test innovative blockchain-based solutions in a controlled environment. India's strategy is one of cautious yet clear support for DLT innovation, aiming to leverage its benefits for financial market infrastructure and governance while maintaining rigorous systemic safeguards.

Do Hyeong Kwon, the co-founder and former CEO of Terraform Labs, was sentenced to 15 years in U.S. federal prison on Thursday, December 11, 2025, for his role in orchestrating a massive fraud that led to the $40 billion collapse of the TerraUSD (UST) stablecoin and its sister token Luna in May 2022. The sentencing in a Manhattan federal court concludes the U.S. legal proceedings against Kwon, who had pleaded guilty to two fraud-related counts in August. A Sentence Exceeding Prosecutor's Request U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer imposed the 15-year sentence, which was significantly longer than the 12 years requested by federal prosecutors and the mere five years sought by Kwon's defense team. Judge Engelmayer sternly rejected the defense's argument that Kwon's conduct stemmed from "hubris and desperation" rather than greed, stating that the offense caused "real people to lose $40 billion in real money" and describing the crime as a "fraud on an epic, generational scale." Victims, many of whom had lost their life savings, testified in person and through letters, detailing the emotional and financial wreckage caused by the collapse. Prosecutors highlighted that the total loss incurred by victims in the Terraform fraud exceeded the combined losses from the high-profile cases involving FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and OneCoin co-founder Karl Sebastian Greenwood. The Illusion of a Stablecoin The charges against Kwon, to which he pleaded guilty, centered on wire fraud and conspiracy to commit securities, commodities, and wire fraud. Prosecutors detailed how Kwon created an "illusion of resilience" around UST, an algorithmic stablecoin whose dollar peg was meant to be maintained by a complex arbitrage mechanism involving Luna. Kwon misled investors by claiming the system was functioning successfully on its own, when in reality, he was secretly propping up the UST peg with external cash infusions during periods of stress, such as a drop in May 2021. This deception allowed him to continue attracting billions in investments until the expanded market and inevitable systemic failure in May 2022 led to the collapse. Kwon, who was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 while traveling on a false passport, was extradited to the U.S. earlier this year. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to forfeit over $19 million in ill-gotten proceeds. He will be credited for the 17 months he spent in custody in Montenegro, but Judge Engelmayer rejected his request to serve his full sentence in his native South Korea, where he still faces separate fraud charges and potential prosecution. This sentencing serves as a powerful statement from U.S. authorities regarding accountability in the cryptocurrency space, underscoring the legal consequences for entrepreneurs who violate investor trust through deception and manipulation.

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, is reportedly set to announce the launch of two major new product lines—prediction markets and tokenized stocks—at a showcase event scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2025. This move signifies a significant expansion beyond traditional crypto spot trading, positioning Coinbase as an "everything app" for digital finance and intensifying competition with rivals who are also diversifying their offerings. The Race for Prediction Markets Heats Up The introduction of prediction markets is a direct competitive response to other major financial players who have recently entered the space. Just days ago, its competitor, Gemini, announced it had received a Designated Contract Market (DCM) license from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a critical regulatory step enabling it to launch regulated prediction markets. Coinbase has been a vocal supporter of the prediction market ecosystem and is a founding member of the Coalition for Prediction Markets (CPM), a new trade group advocating for federal oversight. Coinbase's product is expected to offer "event contracts" allowing users to speculate on the outcomes of sports, elections, economic trends, and other news-driven events. While the exact regulatory pathway for Coinbase's prediction market products has not been explicitly confirmed, the move underscores the growing demand for these alternative financial tools, which have shown monthly transfer volumes rising by over 32% across the market recently. The exchange's leadership has previously hinted at such a move, with circulating screenshots on social media fueling speculation for weeks about the upcoming functionality. Tokenized Stocks: In-House Infrastructure Perhaps the most significant aspect of the forthcoming launch is the exchange’s plan to offer tokenized stocks. Unlike competitors that often rely on external partners or third-party platforms to issue tokenized representations of traditional equity securities, reports suggest that Coinbase intends to issue these digital stocks entirely in-house. This strategic choice gives Coinbase greater control over the product's distribution, compliance, and underlying market functionality. The tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) sector is one of the fastest-growing niches in digital finance, with monthly transfer volumes of blockchain-linked stocks recently reaching $1.45 billion. By directly tokenizing U.S. stocks, Coinbase aims to unlock global liquidity and allow for 24/7 trading of conventional assets on a blockchain rails, potentially attracting a massive audience looking for more streamlined and efficient access to these assets. Executives have declined to provide specific details ahead of the launch but have encouraged the public to "Tune in to our Dec. 17 livestream to see the new products we're launching," confirming that a major product roll-out is imminent.

YouTube has quietly launched a major new financial feature, allowing creators in the United States to opt to receive their earnings in a dollar-backed stablecoin directly through their PayPal accounts. This move marks a significant step for one of the world's largest creator platforms, leveraging the existing payout infrastructure of PayPal to integrate cryptocurrency rails without having to manage the complexities of digital assets directly. The service, currently limited to US-based users who are part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), immediately grants millions of content creators access to the benefits of borderless, digital-native currency for their professional income. Leveraging PayPal’s PYUSD Infrastructure The integration utilizes PayPal USD (PYUSD), the dollar-pegged stablecoin launched by PayPal in 2023. The mechanism is designed to be seamless, compliant, and relies entirely on PayPal's established crypto-as-a-service capabilities. YouTube continues its existing relationship with PayPal by sending fiat payments (U.S. dollars) for creator earnings. When a U.S. creator opts in to the stablecoin payout option through their YouTube Studio settings, PayPal intercepts the payment and performs the conversion into PYUSD on the backend before crediting the stablecoin balance to the creator's PayPal digital wallet. This "back-end conversion" process significantly reduces the technical and regulatory burden for YouTube and its parent company, Google, allowing them to offer a crypto option without redesigning their core financial systems or taking on the burden of managing crypto custody. Enhancing Creator Flexibility and Global Payments For creators, the primary benefits of receiving payments in stablecoins are increased speed, reduced foreign exchange fees for those operating globally, and greater control over their funds. Traditional bank transfers for creator earnings often involve delays, particularly for international payments, and are subject to bank operating hours and international settlement times. By receiving PYUSD, creators gain near-immediate access to a digital dollar that can be used for instant peer-to-peer transfers or easily converted into other cryptocurrencies or fiat on demand within PayPal's ecosystem. PayPal's crypto head, May Zabaneh, confirmed that this feature is part of a broader push to empower the gig economy and the massive creator space, where fast, efficient, and borderless money movement is crucial for business operations. For creators who frequently deal with international teams, vendors, or collaborators, using PYUSD allows them to bypass traditional financial bottlenecks and operate more efficiently in the global digital economy. This development solidifies the trend of "Big Tech" leaning further into tokenized money solutions, recognizing stablecoins as a crucial bridge between traditional fiat systems and the decentralized Web3 economy. The implementation provides a massive, real-world utility case that extends far beyond speculative crypto trading, integrating digital currency into the fundamental business model of one of the internet's largest content providers. While the current offering is limited to PYUSD and US creators, the underlying infrastructure makes it technologically feasible for YouTube to expand this payout option to other regulated stablecoins and to creators in other jurisdictions as global regulations permit. This integration is seen as a major validation for the stablecoin sector, demonstrating that these assets are ready to handle the high volume and stringent compliance needs of the world's most demanding digital platforms.

What Happened in the Courtroom? Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday in the Southern District of New York, bringing a major chapter of the 2022 Terra collapse to a close. The term exceeds the 12-year sentence federal prosecutors requested, marking one of the harshest rulings connected to a crypto failure. According to Inner City Press, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer told Kwon he “chose to lie” and “chose poorly,” pointing to decisions he argued contributed to the collapse of TerraUSD (UST) and the related Luna token. The implosion erased roughly $40 billion in market value and set off a chain reaction that toppled lenders, trading firms and hedge funds across the sector. Kwon’s lawyers pushed for a five-year sentence, citing academic research and analyses from Chainalysis suggesting that coordinated trading from outside parties may have exploited weaknesses in Terra’s design. Prosecutors countered that the fraud centered on Kwon’s own statements about the system’s stability and the concealment of key risks. Investor Takeaway The 15-year sentence reinforces how courts are now treating major crypto failures: not as market accidents, but as fraud cases when misleading statements are involved. This may shape how future token projects disclose risk. Why Prosecutors Said the Sentence Should Be Harsh Kwon was charged in March 2023 with wire fraud, commodities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and market manipulation, and money laundering. The charges stemmed from TerraUSD, an algorithmic stablecoin designed to maintain a $1 price through on-chain incentives and its relationship with Luna. The mechanism broke in May 2022 when volatility overwhelmed the model, triggering a downward cycle that the system could not correct. U.S. authorities said Kwon misled investors about how the mechanism worked, its risks and its likelihood of holding its peg under stress. He later pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud. Without that plea deal, he faced a possible 135-year sentence if convicted on all nine charges. Even after the agreement, the maximum penalty was 25 years. Prosecutors also sought a $19 million forfeiture. In court filings, the government cited the scale of the losses and Kwon’s actions before the collapse. The case became a proxy for broader scrutiny of token models that blend algorithmic price maintenance with aggressive marketing. How Terra’s Collapse Triggered a Wider Breakdown TerraUSD’s crash became one of the defining events of the 2022 crypto market downturn. The stablecoin’s break from its peg quickly cascaded into the Luna token, which spiraled to near-zero. Several firms heavily exposed to Terra lost funding lines, collateral or liquidity, contributing to the failures of Celsius, Voyager and multiple trading desks. Regulators across the U.S., Europe and Asia cited the incident as evidence that certain stablecoin structures posed systemic risks when scaled without robust safeguards. The case also renewed debate over algorithmic stablecoins and whether they can reliably function during market stress. Investor Takeaway Terra’s collapse reshaped how lawmakers view stablecoins. Algorithmic models now face tighter scrutiny, and future projects will likely need stronger transparency to avoid similar fallout. What Comes Next for Do Kwon? Kwon’s legal saga spans multiple jurisdictions. He was arrested in Montenegro in March 2024 for traveling with forged documents after months of evading authorities. Both the U.S. and South Korea sought his extradition, leading to a prolonged dispute over which country would prosecute him first. He was eventually extradited to the U.S. in December 2024. Additional proceedings may follow. According to CoinDesk, Kwon must serve at least half of his U.S. sentence before he can request a transfer to South Korea. He will also receive credit for the 17 months he spent in a Montenegrin prison. The civil cases attached to the collapse, including actions filed by investors and regulatory agencies, continue in parallel. Terraform Labs remains in bankruptcy, and multiple related entities are still under investigation for their roles in the crash. The ruling brings some closure to a collapse that reshaped the digital asset landscape, though the broader regulatory and market consequences continue to unfold. For policymakers and courts, Terra became the example they return to when assessing how failures in token design and disclosure can ripple far beyond a single project.

What Did Binance Change in Its Futures API? Binance has added a new endpoint to its USDⓈ-M futures API — a move that points toward internal preparations for stock-linked perpetual futures. A Dec. 11 update to the exchange’s derivatives documentation introduced a REST endpoint, POST /fapi/v1/stock/contract, created for users to sign a “TradFi-Perps agreement contract.” This type of agreement is commonly required before trading perpetual products tied to traditional finance assets. No product announcement has been issued, and Binance has not provided details about any stock perpetual markets at the time of writing. Still, the presence of a dedicated contract-signing endpoint indicates that technical groundwork is being built quietly in the background. The Block contacted Binance for comment. Investor Takeaway The new endpoint suggests Binance is preparing infrastructure for equity-linked perpetual futures. Even without a launch date, the code update points to a possible expansion of the exchange’s derivatives catalogue. Why Would Stock Perpetuals Matter for Crypto Traders? Stock perpetual contracts apply the crypto-native perpetual futures model to traditional equities. Instead of trading during standard market hours, users can take long or short positions on stocks at any time, with settlement often handled in stablecoins such as USDT. These instruments replicate equity exposure without touching the regulated stock market or conventional brokers. For traders active in crypto markets, the appeal is clear: 24/7 access, no account requirements with traditional intermediaries, and the ability to express macro views or hedge portfolios directly on crypto platforms. For exchanges, equities represent a large asset class that can widen their user base and strengthen derivatives volumes. The market remains small, in part because regulatory boundaries are not fully defined. Still, the infrastructure is slowly expanding as tokenized assets and synthetic equity markets gain speed across both centralized and decentralized venues. How Does Binance’s Move Fit Into Industry Momentum? The API update arrives amid rising activity around real-world-asset derivatives. Bybit and Kraken have already introduced tokenized stock products through partners such as Backed Finance. These offerings allow users to trade blockchain representations of equities within existing crypto market structures. Coinbase has taken a different route, expanding its U.S. derivatives arm this year with CFTC-regulated nano futures for bitcoin and ether. While these products are not linked to equities, Coinbase executives have said the build-out could support a more complete derivatives lineup in the future. Several decentralized venues are attempting to capture the same opportunity. Ostium — supported by General Catalyst and Jump Crypto — operates as an RWA-perpetuals platform offering 24/7 markets tied to equities, metals and energy. Since 2023, the protocol has raised nearly $27.8 million, with growth driven by interest in synthetic markets that mirror traditional assets. Other DeFi platforms, including Hyperliquid and Lighter, have pushed into synthetic stock trading as well. According to data from The Block, decentralized derivatives activity surged through 2025, with volume exceeding $1 trillion across October and November. Offshore exchanges have also leaned into tokenized equities as users look for round-the-clock market access. Investor Takeaway Stock perpetuals could give crypto venues a new high-volume category, blending equity trading with crypto’s 24/7 model. Binance’s API update shows the technical pieces are starting to appear. Is a Launch Coming Soon? There is no timeline for the release of any stock-linked perpetual futures on Binance, and the exchange has provided no public explanation for the added endpoint. API updates often precede product rollouts, but they can also reflect internal testing or features that never reach final release. What is clear is that the competitive environment around synthetic equity markets is tightening. Exchanges are searching for new categories that can drive activity beyond bitcoin and ether derivatives, and tokenized stock exposure has quickly become one of the more active areas of experimentation. Binance’s API addition puts it alongside peers already exploring the intersection of digital assets and equity-style trading. If Binance decides to move ahead, stock perpetual contracts would expand its derivatives suite into an asset class that operates around the clock only in crypto. Whether the endpoint signals an imminent launch or a longer-term internal build, the update confirms the exchange is working on infrastructure that aligns with where the market’s interest is moving.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Ondo Finance bridges TradFi and DeFi via tokenized Treasuries and cash funds. Partnerships with State Street and Galaxy Digital validate Ondo’s institutional relevance. ONDO token value depends on protocol adoption, AUM growth, and multi-chain integration. SWEEP fund rollout could structurally support long-term token demand. Price is highly sensitive to market cycles, news, and regulatory developments. Long-term potential ranges from $0.45 to $6, depending on adoption, execution, and macro trends.   Ondo Finance has rapidly emerged as one of the most prominent players in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Its latest partnerships, most notably with State Street and Galaxy Digital, mark a major step toward institutionalizing on-chain liquidity. These collaborations significantly strengthen Ondo’s long-term positioning, even though they do not guarantee a direct or immediate rise in the ONDO token price. What they do represent is a structural shift: Ondo is increasingly becoming the central liquidity layer for tokenized cash and Treasury-backed products. If adoption, assets under management (AUM), and revenue continue to expand, the ONDO token could benefit meaningfully in the coming market cycle. Understanding Ondo Finance: The Core Business Model Ondo Finance operates at the intersection of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), with a business model built around tokenizing safe-yield assets such as U.S. Treasuries and money-market-style funds. Its flagship product, OUSG, is a tokenized version of a short-term U.S. Treasury fund, offering a stable yield while maintaining fast mint and redemption cycles on public blockchains. This structure appeals to institutions, stablecoin issuers, onchain treasuries, and advanced DeFi users looking for secure, transparent yield without the constraints of traditional banking hours. The ONDO token serves as: A governance asset for protocol decisions An incentives layer that rewards ecosystem participation A value proxy for the protocol’s AUM, integrations, and adoption As Ondo scales its network of tokenized assets and integrates across chains such as Ethereum and Solana, the ONDO token’s relevance and potential utility increase. The more institutional liquidity flows into Ondo’s ecosystem, the stronger the long-term fundamentals for ONDO become. Inside the State Street & Galaxy SWEEP Partnership A major development came with the announcement of the State Street Galaxy Onchain Liquidity Sweep Fund (SWEEP), a tokenized liquidity fund designed for 24/7 cash management. SWEEP allows qualified institutional purchasers to move capital in and out of the fund using PYUSD, PayPal’s regulated stablecoin. The structure is notable for several reasons: State Street Bank and Trust acts as a custodian, bringing a globally recognized financial institution into tokenized liquidity. Galaxy Asset Management provides the tokenization and operational infrastructure. Ondo Finance is expected to seed the fund with roughly $200 million through its own tokenized Treasury offerings. This seed capital connects SWEEP directly to Ondo’s liquidity network, positioning Ondo as the backbone of early fund activity. In effect, Ondo becomes: A liquidity provider, A bridge between TradFi institutions and onchain capital, and A distribution network for tokenized cash products. This creates a reinforcing loop: SWEEP expands institutional access to onchain liquidity, while Ondo channels more Treasury-backed capital into the ecosystem, strengthening the network’s usefulness, visibility, and asset depth. Why This Matters for ONDO’s Long-Term Value While partnerships alone do not guarantee price appreciation, they reshape the long-term outlook for the ONDO token in several meaningful ways. 1. Institutional Validation Having State Street, a $40+ trillion custodial giant, and Galaxy Digital select Ondo as a core tokenization partner gives the protocol credibility unmatched by most DeFi projects. Institutional partnership signals are a critical driver of RWA adoption. 2. Expanded Market Visibility ONDO’s price previously traded above $0.50 before a short-term retracement, reflecting increased attention. As more institutions engage with tokenized cash products, awareness and perceived legitimacy of the ONDO ecosystem strengthen. 3. Potential AUM Growth Higher AUM in OUSG and related products means: more fee generation stronger liquidity deeper integration in institutional flows Greater governance importance for ONDO holders If SWEEP grows into a major onchain cash management vehicle, Ondo stands to benefit directly from inflows. 4. Reinforced Network Effects Ondo acts as a hub connecting banks, issuers, asset managers, and stablecoins. As tokenized cash becomes more widely adopted, this network effect increases the protocol’s gravity, potentially boosting ONDO’s long-term valuation. ONDO Price Prediction: 2025–2030 Outlook ONDO’s price outlook depends heavily on the success of tokenized cash products, the scale of institutional adoption, and the broader performance of the RWA sector. While the token benefits from major catalysts like the SWEEP partnership with State Street and Galaxy, its future valuation will ultimately track measurable growth in Ondo’s onchain AUM and the durability of its institutional network. Based on current momentum, ONDO is likely to remain volatile in the near term but is positioned for structural appreciation if tokenized funds expand as expected. Over 2025–2030, a reasonable projection range places ONDO between $0.45 and $6.00, depending on execution and market conditions. In the short term (2025–2026), ONDO is expected to trade between $0.45 and $1.20, with upside tied to SWEEP’s early adoption and broader crypto market strength. The token has already shown sensitivity to news cycles, rallying on partnership announcements and retracing shortly after, typical behavior for mid-cap RWA tokens. By the mid-term (2027–2028), price potential expands meaningfully if OUSG, SWEEP, and related funds attract sustained institutional flows. Should Ondo’s products achieve multi-chain reach and meaningful AUM growth, ONDO could find support between $1.20 and $2.80, reflecting more mature fundamentals rather than narrative-driven speculation. Over the long term (2029–2030), ONDO’s trajectory depends on whether tokenized funds become a mainstream financial instrument. If global adoption accelerates and Ondo secures a lasting role as a leading tokenization platform, a valuation between $3.00 and $6.00 becomes plausible. However, slower adoption, competitive pressure from traditional asset managers, or regulatory setbacks could anchor prices closer to the lower end of projections. Overall, ONDO has one of the strongest institutional narratives among RWA tokens, but its price path will mirror actual demand for tokenized cash, not headline partnerships alone. Sustained AUM growth, successful SWEEP rollout, and clear regulatory frameworks will determine whether ONDO realizes its long-term potential. Key Catalysts That Could Drive Long-Term Growth To evaluate ONDO’s true long-term potential, investors should watch for measurable progress rather than market hype. The following factors are especially important: 1. Growth in OUSG and Other Tokenized Funds If OUSG and Ondo’s liquidity funds see sustained AUM increases, it would signal genuine institutional interest and adoption, not just speculation. 2. SWEEP Fund Adoption The number of institutions participating in SWEEP, the volume of swept assets, and the stability of liquidity within the fund will be crucial indicators of long-term success. 3. Multi-Chain Integration SWEEP is expected to launch on Solana first, with compatibility across other chains enabled by partners like Chainlink. Broad multi-chain exposure increases Ondo’s utility and competitiveness. 4. Regulatory Momentum As regulators formalize frameworks around tokenized funds, RWAs, and stablecoins, early players like Ondo may gain a durable advantage. Clear regulations often accelerate institutional involvement. If these catalysts converge during a favorable crypto market cycle, ONDO could experience strong long-term appreciation compared to smaller RWA tokens with limited institutional backing. Risks Investors Should Not Ignore Even with compelling institutional partnerships, ONDO remains a high-risk asset. 1. Execution Risk Launching SWEEP, coordinating cross-chain integration, and scaling institutional adoption are all complex tasks. Delays or technical issues could weaken growth momentum. 2. Regulatory Uncertainty Tokenized securities, stablecoins, and RWA funds are high on regulators’ agendas. Any unfavorable rulings could slow or reverse capital inflows. 3. Market Narrative Concentration If tokenized Treasuries fall out of favor due to changing interest rates or new yield opportunities, Ondo’s value proposition may face pressure. 4. Competition Major financial institutions and blockchain teams are racing to dominate the RWA space. Competing platforms backed by deep-pocketed asset managers could compress fees or fragment liquidity. 5. Token Utility Risk ONDO’s long-term value depends on functional utility tied to protocol usage, not just speculation. If AUM grows but token incentives or governance fail to capture value, price appreciation may lag ecosystem adoption. Navigating Opportunity and Risk in Ondo’s Institutional Growth Ondo’s partnerships with State Street and Galaxy Digital represent one of the strongest institutional validations in the RWA sector to date. They significantly enhance Ondo’s strategic importance in tokenized liquidity and potentially set the stage for long-term value creation. However, ONDO’s price trajectory will ultimately depend on measurable growth in tokenized AUM, the successful rollout and adoption of SWEEP, expanding cross-chain integrations, and a supportive regulatory environment. The narrative is strong, perhaps one of the strongest in the RWA space, but long-term price appreciation will only follow if institutional inflows and protocol revenues scale sustainably over the coming years. FAQs What is Ondo Finance? A platform that tokenizes real-world assets like U.S. Treasuries and provides onchain cash management solutions. How do the State Street and Galaxy partnerships affect ONDO? They strengthen institutional adoption and liquidity for Ondo’s tokenized products, indirectly supporting ONDO’s long-term value. What drives ONDO’s price? ONDO price is tied to AUM growth, token utility, adoption of tokenized cash products, and regulatory clarity. Is ONDO a stable investment? No. It remains a high-risk digital asset with volatility influenced by market cycles and execution risks. What are the key catalysts to watch? Key factors include the growth of AUM in OUSG and related Ondo funds, adoption of the SWEEP fund by institutional clients, expansion across multiple chains, and regulatory developments that impact tokenized securities and cash management products. References Yahoo Finance: Ondo, State Street, Galaxy Digital to Debut SWEEP Liquidity Fund in 2026 Coinspeaker: Ondo, State Street, Galaxy Digital to Debut SWEEP Liquidity Fund in 2026 Blockchainreporter: Ondo, State Street, and Galaxy Launch SWEEP to Bring Cash Management Fully OnChain

KEY TAKEAWAYS Ethereum remains the core execution layer powering most dApps and cross-chain smart contract activity in Web3. Arbitrum leads Layer-2 scaling with efficient optimistic rollups and a fast-growing ecosystem. EigenLayer introduces a new shared-security model through ETH restaking, lowering startup costs for new networks. zkSync uses zero-knowledge proofs to deliver high-performance, privacy-preserving scalability for next-gen applications. IPFS provides decentralized storage for NFTs, dApp frontends, and global content distribution. These five projects work together to solve the blockchain trilemma across scalability, security, and decentralization. Their combined innovations set the foundation for mass Web3 adoption in 2025 and beyond.   The rapid evolution of Web3 has shifted the focus from hype-driven tokens to real infrastructure projects that improve scalability, decentralization, security, and data availability. As blockchains expand into financial applications, social networks, gaming ecosystems, and AI-driven systems, the demand for more advanced infrastructure grows. Five projects stand out for their transformative impact on Web3 in 2025: Ethereum, Arbitrum, EigenLayer, zkSync, and IPFS. These initiatives address long-standing bottlenecks, high fees, slow throughput, fragile interoperability, and centralized storage. Their innovations allow developers to build fast, secure, censorship-resistant applications that can onboard millions of users. Collectively, they represent the backbone of next-generation Web3. 1. Ethereum: The Execution Layer of Web3 Ethereum continues to serve as the foundation of decentralized applications. As the first smart-contract platform to gain global adoption, it now powers thousands of dApps across DeFi, NFTs, social platforms, and gaming. Post-Merge improvements, especially the shift to proof-of-stake, have drastically cut energy usage and improved network efficiency. The introduction of proto-danksharding (EIP-4844) has reduced data costs for Layer-2s and boosted throughput, laying the groundwork for full sharding. Developers also enjoy a mature toolkit, including Truffle, Hardhat, Foundry, and a vast open-source ecosystem that accelerates experimentation and deployment. Ethereum’s EVM compatibility remains a major advantage. The EVM functions as a universal standard: dozens of chains support it, and developers can deploy smart contracts across chains with minimal changes. This interoperability ensures consistency in tooling, security audits, and user experience. Even with competition from alternative L1s, Ethereum still secures the majority of value in Web3. Its role as the settlement layer backed by billions in staked ETH cements its dominance. The network processes the highest-value transactions and remains the base for leading DeFi protocols like Aave, Uniswap, Maker, and Lido. 2. Arbitrum: Scaling Ethereum for Mass Adoption Layer-2 technologies are essential to scaling Ethereum without sacrificing decentralization. Among them, Arbitrum has emerged as the leading L2 by transaction volume, developer activity, and total value locked. Arbitrum’s core innovation lies in optimistic rollups, which batch thousands of off-chain transactions and settle them on Ethereum. This process reduces gas fees by 10×: 100× while maintaining Ethereum-level security. Over time, upgrades like Arbitrum Nitro have improved execution speed, lowered latency, and enhanced compression. What sets Arbitrum apart is its emphasis on flexibility. Arbitrum Orbit allows teams to launch custom L3 chains with specific configurations for DeFi, gaming, or enterprise applications. This approach unlocks specialized scaling without fragmenting liquidity. The ecosystem has become a magnet for developers, helped by grants and support programs, attracting hundreds of projects. Arbitrum now powers large SocialFi and GameFi communities, offering high throughput with EVM equivalence, meaning developers can migrate from Ethereum seamlessly. As Web3 apps demand millions of daily transactions, Arbitrum has positioned itself as a key infrastructure layer for cost-efficient and secure scaling. 3. EigenLayer: A New Security Marketplace for Web3 Security has always been one of Web3’s most expensive bottlenecks. New chains and protocols traditionally needed their own validator networks and tokenomics to secure operations. EigenLayer disrupts this model through restaking a mechanism that lets users reuse staked ETH to secure additional networks and services. This creates a shared security marketplace. Instead of building from scratch, new protocols can rely on the massive economic weight of Ethereum’s stakers. These external modules, called Actively Validated Services (AVS), include decentralized sequencers, oracles, bridges, data availability layers, and other middleware. The benefits are substantial: Lower bootstrapping costs for new projects Higher yields for stakers through stacked rewards Greater security via Ethereum’s validator set Faster innovation due to modularity  By early 2025, EigenLayer had accumulated more than $12 billion in restaked ETH, making it one of the fastest-growing projects in Web3 infrastructure. The long-term vision is to transform Ethereum’s validator network into a global, programmable security hub. If successful, EigenLayer could redefine how decentralized networks secure themselves and interact with one another. 4. zkSync: Zero-Knowledge Rollups for High-Performance Web3 As Web3 applications become more complex, especially in payments, gaming, and privacy-sensitive finance, developers need faster settlement, lower fees, and stronger cryptographic guarantees. zkSync delivers this through zero-knowledge rollups, which compress thousands of transactions and generate zk-proofs verified directly on Ethereum. The benefits of ZK technology are profound: Speed: Sub-second confirmation times Lower Costs: Dramatically cheaper than L1 Privacy: data can be validated without being revealed Security: proofs ensure correctness by default  zkSync Era is notable for its zkEVM compatibility, enabling developers to port Solidity contracts without rewriting code. The system also supports native account abstraction, allowing user-friendly features like gasless transactions, biometric wallet recovery, and flexible multisig authentication key components for mainstream onboarding. The introduction of hyperchains gives projects the ability to deploy custom ZK-powered chains tailored to AI applications, high-frequency trading, gaming, and enterprise workloads. With the increased focus on ZK technologies across Web3, zkSync sits at the forefront of scalability and privacy breakthroughs. 5. IPFS: The Decentralized Data Layer of Web3 While blockchains secure transactions, Web3 still requires decentralized systems to store data, assets, metadata, and application front-ends. This is where IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) plays a foundational role. Instead of relying on centralized servers or cloud platforms, IPFS uses content-addressed storage, where files are referenced by their unique cryptographic hash. This enables: Permanent, tamper-resistant data storage Censorship resistance through distributed nodes Global content delivery without central points of failure Interoperability with chains via pinned data IPFS is widely used for NFT metadata, decentralized websites, and distributed archives. When paired with storage incentives through networks like Filecoin or Arweave, IPFS becomes the backbone of permanent and censorship-resistant Web3 storage. Platforms like OpenSea, Farcaster, Lens Protocol, and numerous DAOs rely on IPFS to ensure that assets and front-ends remain accessible even if central servers fail. In a Web3 world that prioritizes transparency and permanence, IPFS is irreplaceable. How These Projects Reshape the Web3 Landscape Together, these five projects tackle the blockchain trilemma by specializing in different infrastructure layers: Ethereum: Computation & settlement Arbitrum: Scalability & affordability EigenLayer: Security & trust minimization zkSync: Privacy-preserving high performance IPFS: Decentralized storage  This layered model mirrors the design of the traditional internet, with different tools working together rather than one chain doing everything. Driving Mass Adoption Several trends amplify the importance of these projects: Rising demand for enterprise solutions Increasing complexity of decentralized applications Accelerating AI-Web3 convergence Global movement toward self-custody and censorship resistance  The synergy between L1s, L2s, shared-security layers, and decentralized storage is unlocking trillion-dollar opportunities across finance, gaming, identity, and decentralized social networks. Ongoing Challenges Despite progress, Web3 infrastructure faces hurdles: Quantum computing threats will require post-quantum cryptography. Regulatory uncertainty could shape L2 operations or restaking rules. Interoperability remains fragmented across chains. Data availability is an ongoing challenge for large-scale dApps.  Yet the open-source culture of Web3 continues to drive rapid iteration. New appchains, modular blockchains, and data networks continue to emerge, expanding the possibilities for developers and users alike. The Infrastructure Powerhouses Shaping the Future of Web3 In 2025, Web3 is undergoing a structural transformation. Rather than competing to be “the one chain to rule them all,” leading projects now cooperate through layered architectures. Ethereum provides the secure execution foundation; Arbitrum and zkSync scale its throughput; EigenLayer distributes its economic security; and IPFS stores its data. These five projects collectively enable a more scalable, secure, resilient, and user-friendly Web3. As adoption grows, this infrastructure-first approach will define which networks and applications succeed in the next decade. FAQs Why are infrastructure projects so important for Web3? Infrastructure determines how scalable, secure, and decentralized applications can be. Without strong underlying layers, dApps face high fees, slow transactions, and centralized bottlenecks. Is Ethereum still the dominant platform for Web3 development? Yes. Ethereum remains the leading smart-contract platform due to its developer tools, security, and massive ecosystem. Most L2s, including Arbitrum and zkSync, rely on it for settlement. How does EigenLayer’s restaking change network security? Restaking allows staked ETH to secure additional protocols, creating a shared security model. New projects can launch without building their own validator network from scratch. What makes zkSync different from other Layer-2 solutions? zkSync uses zero-knowledge proofs for near-instant finality, strong security guarantees, and privacy benefits, making it ideal for high-throughput or regulated applications. Why is IPFS essential for Web3 apps? Blockchains cannot store large files. IPFS provides decentralized, content-addressed storage for data, NFTs, frontends, and archives, ensuring permanence and censorship resistance. References Cherryserver: 11 Best Web3 Infrastructure Providers [2025] Metana: 10 Ultimate Open-Source Web3 Projects 2025