Tech

December, 2025

• 17 December

  HashKey Launches in Hong Kong, Market Response Muted by Volatility

  

  HashKey Holdings Ltd., operator of Hong Kong’s largest licensed cryptocurrency exchange, made its trading debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 17, 2025, with shares experiencing volatility reflective of broader market caution. The company raised approximately HK$1.6 billion ($206 million) in its initial public offering, pricing 240.6 million shares at HK$6.68 each—near the upper end of the HK$5.95–HK$6.95 …
• 17 December

  Russia Will Never Recognize Crypto as Official Currency, Lawmaker Says

  

  Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, has reiterated that cryptocurrencies will never be recognized as money or legal tender in Russia, emphasizing that all domestic payments must be conducted exclusively in rubles. Speaking at a TASS press conference on December 15, 2025, Aksakov stated: “It must be understood that cryptocurrencies will never become money within …
• 17 December

  Canada’s Central Bank Calls for Strong Reserve Backing for Stablecoins

  

  Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem emphasized the need for robust reserve backing and regulatory safeguards for stablecoins in a speech on December 16, 2025, as the country prepares to implement a new federal framework in 2026. Delivering remarks to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Macklem stated that stablecoins must be pegged one-to-one to a central bank currency—such …
• 17 December

  Exodus and MoonPay Launch Dollar-Backed Stablecoin for Everyday Payments

  

  Exodus Movement Inc., the company behind the popular self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet, has announced a partnership with MoonPay and stablecoin infrastructure provider M0 to introduce a fully reserved, USD-backed digital dollar stablecoin targeted at everyday payments. Revealed on December 16, 2025, the yet-to-be-named stablecoin will be issued and managed by MoonPay, leveraging M0’s open platform for custom, programmable stablecoins. It is …
• 17 December

  Marshall Islands Launches Universal Basic Income With Crypto Payments

  

  The Republic of the Marshall Islands has rolled out a groundbreaking universal basic income (UBI) program, becoming the first nation to offer citizens the option to receive quarterly payments via blockchain-delivered, US dollar-pegged digital tokens. Known locally as ENRA, the initiative provides every resident citizen with approximately $200 every three months—totaling $800 annually—to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and serve as a …
• 17 December

  Warren Presses DOJ and Treasury Over Potential DeFi Exchange Probe

  

  U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pamela Bondi inquiring whether their agencies are actively investigating national security risks associated with decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, specifically highlighting decentralized exchanges like PancakeSwap. Dated December 16, 2025, the letter expresses concerns that DeFi’s permissionless nature—lacking robust know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) …
• 17 December

  Gemini and PancakeSwap Launch Prediction Markets Amid Growing Crypto Trend

  

  Gemini has rolled out its long-awaited prediction markets platform across all 50 U.S. states, while decentralized exchange PancakeSwap announced support for Probable, a new on-chain prediction market set to launch on BNB Chain, highlighting the sector’s rapid expansion in late 2025. On December 15, 2025, Gemini introduced Gemini Predictions, offering regulated event contracts on real-world outcomes—from crypto prices and economic …
• 17 December

  Bhutan Pledges $1B in Bitcoin to Build ‘Mindfulness City,’ Won’t Sell Reserves

  

  The Kingdom of Bhutan has committed up to 10,000 Bitcoin—valued at approximately $1 billion—to support the long-term growth of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a visionary economic hub blending sustainability, innovation, and Buddhist-inspired principles. Announced by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during his National Day Address on December 17, 2025, the “Bitcoin Development Pledge” positions the cryptocurrency as a strategic national …
• 17 December

  Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Holds $87K as Stocks Edge Higher on Mixed U.S. Jobs Data

  

  Asian markets opened cautiously on December 17, 2025, with equities posting modest gains despite lingering concerns over a softening U.S. labor market. Bitcoin recovered to around $87,000 in early trading, rebounding from recent dips as traders assessed mixed macroeconomic signals. The latest U.S. jobs report, released on December 16, revealed a sharp slowdown: nonfarm payrolls added only 64,000 jobs in …
• 17 December

  U.S. Banks Get Green Light to Issue Stablecoins as FDIC Implements GENIUS Act

  

  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has taken a significant step toward implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act by approving a notice of proposed rulemaking on December 16, 2025. The proposal outlines an application process for FDIC-supervised banks to seek approval to issue payment stablecoins through dedicated subsidiaries. Signed into law by President Donald …