Business

December, 2025

• 23 December

  Stablecoins, RWAs and AI Set to Power Crypto Growth in 2026: Mudrex CEO Edul Patel

  

  As cryptocurrency enters 2026, the sector is poised for a shift from speculation to scalable, real-world financial infrastructure, driven by stablecoins, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, according to Edul Patel, CEO and Co-founder of Mudrex. In his December 22 outlook, Patel highlights how 2025 marked progress in tokenizing assets, stablecoin adoption for global trade, and regulatory …
• 23 December

  Bitcoin Hashrate Slides 4% in December—VanEck Sees Signs of a Bullish Turn

  

  Bitcoin’s network hashrate declined approximately 4% in the 30 days through mid-December 2025—the steepest drop since April 2024—amid tightening miner margins and regional shutdowns, according to a new report from asset manager VanEck. Rather than a bearish omen, analysts view this as a potential contrarian bullish indicator signaling miner capitulation. Hashrate, the total computational power securing the Bitcoin network, serves …
• 23 December

  Pro-Crypto Leader Michael Selig Takes Charge at CFTC as Caroline Pham Steps Down

  

  The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) welcomed a new era on December 22, 2025, as Michael Selig was sworn in as Chairman, succeeding Acting Chairman Caroline Pham, who stepped down after nearly four years at the agency. Selig, confirmed by the Senate on December 18, brings a strong pro-crypto perspective. Previously chief counsel for the SEC’s Crypto Task Force …
• 22 December

  Hyperliquid Links $HYPE Shorting Address to Former Employee Fired in 2024

  

  Decentralized perpetuals exchange Hyperliquid addressed community concerns on December 21-22, 2025, confirming that a wallet accused of heavily shorting its native token **$HYPE** belongs to a former employee terminated in **Q1 2024**. The team stated via Discord: “This individual is no longer associated with Hyperliquid Labs, and their actions do not reflect our team’s standards or values.” The clarification followed …
• 22 December

  US Lawmakers Push IRS to Revisit Crypto Staking Tax Rules Before 2026

  

  A bipartisan group of 18 US House lawmakers, led by Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), sent a letter on December 19, 2025, to IRS acting commissioner Scott Bessent urging a review of current staking rewards taxation. They argue the 2023 IRS guidance—treating rewards as taxable income upon receipt—creates “double taxation” (income tax at receipt, capital gains at sale) and burdensome compliance, …
• 22 December

  Vitalik Buterin: Prediction Markets Outperform Social Media in Finding Truth

  

  Ethereum co-founder **Vitalik Buterin** argued on December 20-21, 2025, in a series of posts on the decentralized platform Farcaster that **prediction markets** offer stronger incentives for truth-seeking than social media or traditional media. He positioned them as an “antidote” to exaggerated or unaccountable claims on emotionally charged topics. Buterin contrasted prediction markets—where financial stakes penalize inaccurate bets—with social media, where …
• 22 December

  Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Holds $88K, Asian Stocks Rise as Risk Appetite Returns

  

  Asian markets opened higher on December 22, 2025, reflecting renewed risk appetite following Wall Street’s tech-driven gains and hopes for a year-end rally. Major indices advanced, with South Korea’s Kospi up ~1.8%, Japan’s Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gaining, and India’s Sensex climbing ~0.6% to around 85,400 amid foreign inflows. Bitcoin traded steadily around **$88,500-$89,000**, showing resilience after dipping …
• 22 December

  Billionaire Ray Dalio Says Bitcoin Unlikely to Become Central Bank Reserve

  

  Billionaire investor **Ray Dalio**, founder of Bridgewater Associates, reiterated in a December 20, 2025, podcast interview with Nikhil Kamath that Bitcoin, despite its limited supply and perception as a store of wealth, is unlikely to be held significantly by central banks. Dalio acknowledged Bitcoin as “a form of money” but highlighted key barriers: – **Transparency and traceability** — Public blockchain …
• 22 December

  Northern Data Offloads Peak Mining to Tether-Linked Firms in $200M Deal

  

  German AI and data center firm **Northern Data AG**, majority-owned by stablecoin issuer Tether, sold its Bitcoin mining subsidiary **Peak Mining** in November 2025 for up to $200 million. U.S. and Canadian filings revealed buyers as companies controlled by Tether co-founder Giancarlo Devasini and CEO Paolo Ardoino: Highland Group Mining Inc., Appalachian Energy LLC, and 2750418 Alberta ULC. Northern Data …
• 21 December

  Bitcoin May Not Have Hit Bottom Yet Despite Low Social Media Fear, Says Analyst

  

  Bitcoin (BTC) may face further downside despite broader market indicators showing “Extreme Fear,” as social media sentiment lacks the deep pessimism typically marking true bottoms, warns Santiment founder Maksim Balashevich. Trading around $88,350 after recent volatility, BTC risks sliding toward $75,000—a ~15% drop—if traders remain overly optimistic. Balashevich noted persistent bullish chatter online, with crowds expecting quick rebounds rather than …