Business

December, 2025

• 16 December

  PayPal Moves to Secure State-Chartered Bank License for PYUSD

  

  PayPal Holdings Inc. announced on December 15, 2025, that it has applied for a Utah state-chartered industrial bank license to establish **PayPal Bank**, aiming to expand small-business lending and offer interest-bearing savings accounts while reducing reliance on third-party partners. The applications, filed with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), would allow PayPal to …
• 16 December

  Texas Goes Full Crypto: Bitcoin ATM Operator Plans 200 New Machines

  

  Bitcoin Bancorp (OTC: BCBC), a publicly traded Bitcoin ATM operator and holder of foundational patents for the technology, announced plans on December 15, 2025, to deploy up to 200 licensed Bitcoin ATMs across Texas starting in the first quarter of 2026. This expansion targets one of the most crypto-friendly U.S. states, leveraging Texas’ clear regulatory framework under the Money Services …
• 16 December

  SEC Dropped Nearly 60% of Crypto Cases During Trump Era: Report

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has paused, dropped, or eased enforcement in over 60% of ongoing cryptocurrency cases since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to a New York Times investigation published December 14. The probe, analyzing thousands of documents and court records across recent administrations, found this retreat unprecedented for a single industry. …
• 15 December

  Bitcoin Edges Lower Amid Clouded Tech Outlook in Asian Markets

  

  Bitcoin edged lower during Monday’s Asian session, trading around **$88,000–$89,000**, as broader risk sentiment weakened amid mounting doubts over the sustainability of technology stocks’ valuations and aggressive AI spending. The modest decline reflects thinned year-end liquidity and fading demand following recent macroeconomic signals, with Bitcoin retreating from levels above $90,000 seen last week. Market Performance Bitcoin dipped during the Asian …
• 15 December

  Crypto Crime Crackdown: Five Arrested in Spain Over Kidnapping Case

  

  Spanish National Police have arrested **five individuals** in connection with the April 2025 kidnapping and murder of a man in Mijas, Málaga, targeted for his **cryptocurrency holdings**. Four additional suspects have been charged in Denmark, highlighting a cross-border criminal network. Details of the Crime The incident began when attackers ambushed a couple, shooting the man in the leg as he …
• 15 December

  $300M Stolen: North Korean Hackers Exploit ‘Fake Zoom’ to Drain Crypto Wallets

  

  Curve Finance founder Michael Egorov has submitted a governance proposal to the Curve DAO requesting **17.45 million CRV tokens**, valued at approximately **$6.6 million** at current prices, to support ongoing development through 2026. The grant would be allocated to **Swiss Stake AG**, the Zug-based company responsible for building and maintaining Curve’s core infrastructure. This follows a similar funding round approved …
• 15 December

  $6.6M CRV Grant Proposed by Curve Founder to Strengthen Platform Development

  

  Cybersecurity experts have issued fresh warnings about a sophisticated campaign by North Korean-linked hackers, who have stolen over **$300 million** in cryptocurrency through deceptive video calls on platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The alerts, highlighted by MetaMask security researcher **Taylor Monahan** and the nonprofit Security Alliance (SEAL), describe an ongoing “long-con” social engineering attack primarily targeting crypto executives, developers, …
• 15 December

  Hex Trust Pumps $100M into Wrapped XRP, Sparks Bridge Exploit Concerns

  

  Hex Trust, a leading regulated digital asset custodian, has launched Wrapped XRP (wXRP), injecting over $100 million in initial Total Value Locked (TVL) to bring XRP into multi-chain DeFi. The move expands utility but reignites debates over cross-chain security vulnerabilities. The Launch Details Announced December 11-12, 2025, wXRP is a 1:1-backed representation of native XRP, issued and custodied by Hex …
• 15 December

  Crypto Controversy Continues: Do Kwon Could Face Another Trial in Korea

  

  Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, responsible for the 2022 TerraUSD and Luna collapse that wiped out $40 billion in investor funds, was sentenced to 15 years in U.S. federal prison on December 11, 2025. The saga continues, as South Korean authorities prepare for a separate trial upon his possible return. US Sentencing Details In Manhattan federal court, Judge Paul Engelmayer …
• 15 December

  HashKey Aims High: Targets Upper-End Pricing for Hong Kong IPO

  

  HashKey Holdings Ltd., operator of Hong Kong’s largest licensed cryptocurrency exchange, has priced its initial public offering (IPO) toward the upper end of the range, raising HK$1.6 billion (~$206 million). The pricing signals robust investor demand and bolsters Hong Kong’s ambitions as a regulated digital asset hub. IPO Details On December 15, 2025, sources confirmed HashKey sold 240.6 million shares …