Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily gives up the $88,000 level
Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily gives up the $88,000 level. BTC is trading at $87,919.82, up 1.12% from the previous day on the Binance Tether (USDT) market as of 02:01 on the 19th.
December 18General
JH Kim
reporter1@bloomingbit.ioHi, I'm a Bloomingbit reporter, bringing you the latest cryptocurrency news.
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ECB officials "Rate-cut cycle is nearly over"
Remarks have emerged within the European Central Bank (ECB) that the current rate-cut cycle has entered its final stage. It is suggested that the monetary policy easing phase is likely to be limited rather than prolonged. On the 18th (local time), according to breaking economic news account Walter Bloomberg, ECB officials said in recent remarks that "the rate-cut cycle is almost over." This is interpreted as a signal that there is little room for further cuts. The ECB has been gradually lowering its policy rate as it confirmed a slowdown in inflation. However, considering whether the price stability target will be achieved, service prices, wage growth, and so on, assessments say the policy space is limited. Markets are paying attention to the possibility that the ECB will switch to a phase of holding rates at upcoming meetings to assess policy effects. Even if there are additional cuts, the prevailing view is that the pace and scope may be limited.
December 18GeneralTether CEO "AI bubble the biggest risk to Bitcoin (BTC)…80% plunge unlikely"
Paolo Ardoino, Tether's chief executive officer (CEO), warned that an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble in 2026 could be the greatest risk to Bitcoin (BTC) prices. He explained that Bitcoin still has a high correlation with capital markets and can be affected by stock market volatility. On the 18th (local time), according to cryptocurrency-focused media Cointelegraph, Ardoino said, "Bitcoin still has a high correlation with capital markets," and "a stock market bubble that is thought to be forming amid the current AI boom could affect Bitcoin." He said that aside from the risks related to an AI bubble, there are limited other risk factors likely to significantly affect Bitcoin's price in 2026, citing increased Bitcoin purchases by pension funds and governments. Ardoino viewed the possibility of a crash like those in the past as low. He said, "A major crash on the order of 80% like we saw in 2022 or early 2018 seems unlikely to happen anymore." Meanwhile, Ardoino also mentioned prospects for tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). He predicted that security tokens and commodity tokenization will grow on a large scale in the future.
December 18GeneralBitcoin (BTC) briefly recovered to the 89,000-dollar level
Bitcoin (BTC) briefly recovered to the 89,000-dollar level. BTC is trading at 89,123.42 dollars, up 0.55% from the previous day based on the Binance Tether (USDT) market at 00:45 on the 19th.
December 18GeneralPumpdotfun developer who embezzled $2 million in Solana (SOL) sentenced to 6 years in the UK
A developer who siphoned off $2 million worth of Solana (SOL) from Pumpdotfun was sentenced to prison by a UK court. It was also reported that after the embezzlement the funds were transferred to multiple addresses in a dispersed manner and there were signs he publicly admitted the crime. According to crypto news outlet Decrypt on the 18th (local time), Pumpdotfun developer Jarett Dunn was sentenced to 6 years in prison in the UK. Dunn had been on trial on charges of embezzling SOL worth $2 million from funds related to Pumpdotfun. According to the outlet, Dunn did not store the embezzled funds in a personal wallet but divided them and sent them to thousands of random addresses, then confessed to the crime via social media. Circumstantial evidence suggested an attempt to complicate the flow of funds in the process. Some argued from the fact that Dunn dispersed the funds to random addresses that there might have been a specific intent, but the court treated the case as embezzlement and handed down a prison sentence. The case is classified as an instance of fund misappropriation involving an insider of a crypto asset project. Observers say this ruling could again highlight trust issues surrounding Pumpdotfun. The industry also raised the need to strengthen control mechanisms over project operation and development authority and fund management systems.
December 18GeneralU.S. SEC charges VBit CEO in Bitcoin (BTC) mining firm case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged the CEO of Bitcoin (BTC) mining firm VBit with embezzlement and the sale of unregistered securities. The main allegations are that investor funds were used improperly and the business structure was misrepresented. On the 18th (local time), crypto-focused media The Block reported that the SEC has charged VBit CEO Danh C. Vo with approximately $48.5 million in embezzlement and the sale of unregistered securities. The SEC pointed out that there was a significant gap between the mining business structure presented to investors and the actual operating practices. According to the SEC, VBit raised more than $95.6 million from about 6,400 investors. However, it is alleged that the company provided false or misleading explanations about how the Bitcoin mining business was operated and how investor funds would be used, thereby deceiving investors. The SEC reports that a substantial portion of the raised funds was used for purposes other than expanding or operating actual mining infrastructure. It says investors were led to believe they would receive steady mining returns. VBit ceased operations after being acquired by Advanced Mining Group in 2022. Through this lawsuit, the SEC seeks to recover investor losses and to serve as a warning against similar unregistered crypto asset investment products.
December 18GeneralNew York stock market turns higher… Nasdaq up 1.34%
The three major U.S. stock indices are trading higher. The Nasdaq Composite was trading at 22,996.34 points at 00:08 on the 19th, up 1.34% from the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.71% at 48,226.04 points, and the S&P 500 index was up 1% at 6,788.78 points.
December 18GeneralNew York stock market closes lower… Nasdaq 1.81%↓
The three major U.S. stock indices closed lower. The Nasdaq Composite recorded 22,693.32 points on the 18th, down 1.81% from the previous day. The Dow Jones fell 0.47% to 47,886.16 points, and the S&P 500 fell 1.22% to 6,717.58 points at the close.
December 17GeneralU.S. Acting CFTC Chair to Join MoonPay as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer
Caroline Pham, acting chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is expected to join virtual asset (cryptocurrency) payments firm MoonPay. She will serve as MoonPay's chief legal and administrative officer (CLAO) and oversee policy and regulatory strategy. On the 17th (local time), according to crypto-focused media Crypto Briefing, Acting Pham is expected to lead external policy responses and the formulation of regulatory strategy through joining MoonPay. MoonPay is a firm that provides virtual asset payment infrastructure, and the move is interpreted as an effort to strengthen its capacity to respond to future changes in the regulatory environment. This personnel change coincides with the schedule for replacing the head of the CFTC. The U.S. Senate plans to hold a confirmation vote this week for CFTC chair nominee Michael Selig. The outlet said that if Selig's confirmation process proceeds, Acting Pham's term will also end. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the CFTC's leadership vacancy will be resolved at the same time MoonPay strengthens its regulatory·policy line.
December 17GeneralB3, Brazil's stock exchange, plans to launch a tokenization platform and a Brazilian real-denominated stablecoin next year
B3, Brazil's stock exchange, is reportedly pursuing plans to launch a tokenization platform and its own stablecoin next year. It presented a structure aimed at supporting the settlement and clearing of tokenized assets and sharing liquidity with existing financial markets. On the 17th (local time), crypto asset (cryptocurrency) specialist media CoinDesk reported that B3 intends to design the tokenization platform so that traditional financial market liquidity is also connected to on-chain asset management to improve efficiency. The platform is being considered to serve as infrastructure that covers not only the issuance and trading of tokenized assets but also post-trade processing. B3 is also reportedly planning to issue a Brazilian real-backed stablecoin to support the settlement and clearing of tokenized assets. The purpose is to standardize the means of payment in tokenized asset transactions to increase processing speed and operational convenience. Expansion plans for crypto-asset-related products in the derivatives sector were also mentioned. It was reported that new derivatives are being developed, including options on Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL), as well as contracts linked to crypto asset price movements.
December 17General"Bitcoin (BTC), heading toward cycle demand-wave low"
On the 17th (local time), CryptoQuant chief analyst Julio Moreno said on his X(formerly Twitter) that "the debate over Bitcoin's 4-year cycle continues," and that "the key is not the halving or price performance but the wave of increasing demand." He mentioned that he had written about the same topic before last year's halving. At that time, he also presented the view that the standard for interpreting cycles should be placed on demand flows rather than events or price fluctuations. Regarding the current phase, Moreno said, "I think we have already passed the cycle peak and are heading down toward the low." However, he did not provide specific timing or demand indicator figures. BTC is trading at 86,477.28 dollars, down 1.06% from the previous day, based on the Binance Tether(USDT) market at 03:27 on the 18th.
December 17GeneralFTX victims can apply for compensation from Silvergate's US$10 million settlement
Investors harmed by the collapse of FTX can apply for separate compensation under a class-action settlement related to Silvergate Bank. The settlement amount is US$10 million. On the 17th (local time), crypto-focused media Cointelegraph reported that the class-action settlement related to Silvergate reached a US$10 million agreement, allowing customers who had used FTX and Alameda Research accounts to file claims. About 46,000 people are eligible, and they must apply through the official settlement website by January 30, 2026. This settlement is an additional remedy paid separately from compensation received through the FTX bankruptcy process. The lawsuit was pursued to resolve the question of whether Silvergate aided and abetted FTX's fraudulent conduct. Regulators, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have alleged that Silvergate failed to properly operate anti-money laundering (AML) systems and therefore did not detect approximately US$9 billion in suspicious transactions related to FTX.
December 17GeneralRestraining AI transition emerges as the biggest challenge for the Bitcoin (BTC) mining industry in 2026
Bitcoin (BTC) miners balancing the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) businesses and their core mining operations has emerged as a key issue for 2026. With Bitcoin prices down 30% from their peak, pressure on mining profitability is increasing, prompting moves to readjust business directions. On the 17th (local time), according to virtual asset (cryptocurrency) specialist media DL News, Luxor mining pool CEO and co-founder Nick Hansen said, "Suppressing the desire to transition to AI will be the biggest challenge for Bitcoin miners in 2026." He explained that balancing between mining and high-performance computing (HPC) remains difficult. He meant that multiple variables — facility operations, contract structures, revenue volatility, and so on — act simultaneously in the process of converting mining infrastructure into AI computing services. DL News reported that miners are facing difficulties due to the drop in Bitcoin prices. Accordingly, many listed mining companies are responding by concentrating resources on the more profitable area between mining and AI computing services, even if they do not completely stop mining operations. Hansen also mentioned a trend of some companies marketing themselves as computing or digital infrastructure firms. He described it as an attempt to move away from a mining-centric business model and secure new revenue sources based on power and data center capabilities. He added that if the Federal Reserve (Fed) proceeds with a rate-cutting cycle in 2026, there is a high possibility that Bitcoin prices and mining yields will improve.
December 17General"Bitcoin (BTC) could fall further to $60,000"
Bitcoin (BTC) may trade sideways or undergo additional correction in the short term. Some argue that a drop to $70,000 or $60,000 cannot be ruled out. On the 17th (local time), according to virtual asset (cryptocurrency) specialized media DL News, Georgi Berbitski, founder of virtual asset investment platform TYMIO, said that Bitcoin's price is likely to trade sideways or correct in the short term. He said that a further drop to $70,000 or $60,000 could not be ruled out. Berbitski emphasized that at this time risk management is more important than chasing short-term upward trends. He said a conservative approach is necessary until the market confirms its direction. He also mentioned that systematic risk management and patient responses are required. He warned against aggressively increasing positions in periods where short-term volatility may expand.
December 17GeneralVirtual asset industry to discuss market-structure bill with U.S. senators
On the 17th (local time), according to virtual-asset specialist media CoinDesk, virtual asset industry officials will meet with U.S. senators to continue discussions on the market-structure bill. The industry views this meeting as the last opportunity this year to organize and submit its position. On the 17th (local time), according to CoinDesk, key figures in the virtual asset industry are scheduled to hold meetings with key senators that day to discuss the market-structure bill. The bill is said to enter renegotiation procedures in January next year. The outlet said the meeting will be attended by virtual asset firms such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Chainlink, and industry groups including the Blockchain Association and the DeFi Education Fund. Traditional finance attendees are also reported to include representatives from Goldman Sachs and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). The core of the market-structure bill is to set out a regulatory framework for the virtual asset industry as a whole, with the delineation of roles between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) cited as a key issue. Ahead of the resumption of bill discussions in January next year, coordination of views between the industry and policymakers is expected to continue.
December 17PiCKPolygon Labs makes strategic investment in Boys Club
Polygon Labs has made a strategic investment in content- and community-based media company Boys Club (Boys Club). It is an action aimed at strengthening storytelling and communication capabilities within the virtual asset (cryptocurrency) ecosystem. According to foreign media on the 17th (local time), Polygon Labs injected funds into Boys Club to strengthen discourse in the technology and virtual asset fields. The specific size of the investment was not disclosed. Boys Club is a tech media company that operates mainly through newsletters and podcasts, producing content on virtual assets and Web3 culture. Community-based events and offline meetups are also major business areas. To date, Boys Club has collaborated with virtual asset companies such as a16z Crypto, Coinbase, Kraken, and Polymarket to host various events. It is characterized by having expanded its network and influence across the industry. This investment is seen as a strategy for Polygon Labs to strengthen messaging across developers, users, and institutions, and to broaden the cultural and community foundations in the process of ecosystem expansion.
December 17GeneralBitcoin (BTC) temporarily relinquished the $87,000 level
Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily relinquished the $87,000 level. BTC is trading at $86,864.15 on the Binance Tether (USDT) market as of 01:17 on the 18th, down 0.83% from the previous day.
December 17GeneralBitcoin (BTC) temporarily relinquished the $88,000 level
Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily relinquished the $88,000 level. BTC is trading at $87,180.06, down 0.77% from the previous day as of 00:58 on the 18th on the Binance Tether (USDT) market.
December 17GeneralBitcoin (BTC) temporarily surrendered 89,000 dollars
Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily surrendered 89,000 dollars. BTC is trading at 88,620.03 dollars, up 1.59% from the previous day, on the Binance Tether (USDT) market as of 00:44 on the 18th.
December 17GeneralNew York stock market turns mixed… Nasdaq 0.27%↓
Three major U.S. stock market indices are showing mixed trends. The Nasdaq Composite was trading at 23,050.20 points at 00:20 on the 18th, down 0.27% from the previous day. The Dow Jones was at 48,303.93 points, up 0.39%, and the S&P 500 was at 6,790.71 points, down 0.14%.
December 17GeneralNew York stock market closes mixed… Nasdaq 0.23%↑
The three major U.S. stock indexes closed mixed. The Nasdaq Composite index on the 17th rose 0.23% from the previous day to 23,111.46 points. The Dow Jones index fell 0.62% to 48,114.26 points, and the S&P 500 index fell 0.34% to 6,793.31 points.
December 16GeneralK33 "Bitcoin (BTC) weak due to year-end portfolio rebalancing… room to expand allocation next year"
Bitcoin (BTC) showed weakness compared with the securities market due to asset managers' year-end portfolio rebalancing, and an analysis suggested it could turn bullish from next year. K33 Research analyst Vetle Lunde said in an interview with Cointelegraph on the 16th (local time), "Each asset manager has a pre-set portfolio allocation, and they can adjust weights for the coming period to allocate funds to Bitcoin." He said that even if Bitcoin's price shows a relatively stable trend, market participants may be reluctant to take on immediate risk. Lunde explained, "Even though Bitcoin's price is stabilizing, market participants are hesitant to accept risk." If this weakness is temporary pressure caused by year-end supply-and-demand factors, there is also a view that Bitcoin's weighting could increase in the early part of the year during asset allocation adjustments by managers. However, the actual scale and timing of fund inflows could vary depending on each manager's allocation criteria and market volatility.
December 16GeneralTrump to Interview Christopher Waller as Fed Chair Candidate
U.S. President Donald Trump is reported to be planning to interview Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Christopher Waller as a candidate for the next Fed chair. On the 16th (local time), economic news channel Walter Bloomberg, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), reported, "President Trump has recently included Governor Waller among the candidates for the next Fed chair and is arranging an interview." Waller is currently a member of the Fed's Board and participates in the monetary policy decision-making process. WSJ said President Trump also interviewed former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as a candidate for the next chair last week. Warsh previously served as a Fed governor and was involved in monetary policy decisions during the financial crisis. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the monetary policy stance of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell and is reportedly considering someone more inclined toward rate cuts as the next chair. As President Trump's actions regarding the selection of the next Fed chair take shape, market interest in the future direction of U.S. monetary policy is increasing.
December 16PiCKMichael Saylor "Quantum computing will strengthen, not collapse, Bitcoin (BTC)"
Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy (MSTR), said that quantum computing could act to strengthen the network security and structure of Bitcoin (BTC) rather than threaten it. On the 16th (local time), Saylor said on X (formerly Twitter), "Quantum computing will not collapse BTC but will rather strengthen it," adding, "The network will be upgraded, active supply will migrate, and lost supply will be frozen." He added, "Security will be strengthened and selling volume will decrease. BTC will become stronger." His point was that, amid concerns that advances in quantum computing could pose potential risks to existing cryptographic systems, it is possible to respond through network-level upgrades and asset movements. Earlier, in June, Saylor also said that claims that quantum computers would threaten BTC were exaggerated.
December 16GeneralRussian Financial Markets Committee Chairman: "Virtual assets cannot be used for payments... Payments must be made only in rubles"
The chairman of the Financial Markets Committee of the Russian parliament (Duma) has expressed opposition to payments using virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) within Russia. He emphasized that virtual assets cannot be a means of payment and that payments must be made only in rubles. According to crypto-asset-focused media DL News on the 16th (local time), Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the State Duma's Financial Markets Committee, said, "Virtual assets can never be money in Russia" and "All payments must be made only in rubles." Aksakov also stated that the use of virtual assets should be limited to investment instruments. He stressed that virtual assets can be used only for investment purposes, not for payments. The remarks came amid ongoing discussions in Russia over the scope of virtual asset use. Russia has been exploring the possibility of using virtual assets in some areas, but policy stances have differed over whether to recognize them as a means of payment.
December 16GeneralU.S. senator calls for investigation into PancakeSwap-WLFI connection
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren argued that the relationship between the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform PancakeSwap and World Liberty Financial (WLFI), led by President Donald Trump's family, should be investigated. Warren pointed out allegations that PancakeSwap attempted to inflate the price of coins related to WLFI. On the 16th (local time), according to crypto-focused media CoinDesk, Warren sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Attorney General saying, "We should investigate whether PancakeSwap is associated with inappropriate political influence exerted by the Trump administration." Warren raised suspicions that PancakeSwap may have attempted to inflate the price of coins issued by WLFI, and emphasized the need to examine related transaction structures and conflicts of interest. She also argued that WLFI, being a virtual asset (cryptocurrency) project led by the Trump family, could give rise to conflicts of interest. Warren also criticized DeFi platforms in general for processing hundreds of millions of dollars in daily transactions while not requiring know-your-customer (KYC) verification. She reiterated concerns that regulatory gaps could be exploited for money laundering, fraud, and other illegal activities. The letter came amid ongoing political disputes over virtual asset businesses linked to the Trump family. Attention is focused on whether and how the Treasury Department and the Justice Department will respond, including whether they will launch investigations.
December 16GeneralBrazilian stock exchange to list Solana (SOL) ETP
An exchange-traded product (ETP) backed by Solana (SOL) is scheduled to be listed on the Brazilian stock exchange. This will be the first time a Solana-based ETP is officially traded in the Brazilian market. On the 16th (local time), crypto-focused media Cointelegraph reported that Valour, a subsidiary of ETP issuer DeFi Technologies, received approval to launch a Solana ETP in Brazil. The product's ticker is VSOL. VSOL is scheduled to be listed on the Brazilian stock exchange B3 on Wednesday. Investors will be able to indirectly invest in a product linked to Solana's price through their securities accounts. Valour has launched various crypto ETPs, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Polygon, mainly in Europe. This listing in Brazil signifies business expansion into the Latin American market. Market participants note that, amid steadily increasing demand for crypto investments in Latin America including Brazil, accessibility to regulated financial product forms is expanding.
December 16GeneralU.S. FDIC proposes first stablecoin regulation under the GENIUS Act
The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has put forward the first stablecoin-related rule proposal under the GENIUS Act, a bill to regulate stablecoins. The core of the proposal is to establish an application procedure that would allow depository institutions supervised by the FDIC to form stablecoin-issuing subsidiaries. On the 16th (local time), crypto-focused media CoinDesk reported that the FDIC announced an official stablecoin rule proposal under the GENIUS Act framework. This proposal focuses on setting out the procedures by which banks and others supervised by the FDIC would establish stablecoin-issuing subsidiaries. If finalized, depository institutions supervised by the FDIC would be able to pursue the formation of stablecoin-issuing subsidiaries following the specified application procedure. The proposal is described as largely outlining the approval flow and submission requirements during the subsidiary formation process. Travis Hill, Acting FDIC Chairman, said, "Following these application procedure rules, more substantive rules setting capital, liquidity, and risk-management requirements for stablecoin-issuing subsidiaries will be released within a few months." The market views this proposal as an initial step toward handling bank-issued stablecoins within the regulatory framework. If capital, liquidity, and risk-management standards are later clarified, the structure for bank-subsidiary-issued stablecoins is likely to be formally organized.
December 16PiCKOKX supports Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) spot margin trading in Europe
The global virtual asset (cryptocurrency) exchange OKX is supporting Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) spot margin trading in the European region. It is expanding trading products for European users. On the 16th (local time), according to crypto-focused media The Block, OKX launched spot margin trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum in Europe. The supported trading pairs are BTC/USDC and ETH/USDC. The maximum leverage offered in this spot margin trading is 10x. Users can buy or sell Bitcoin and Ethereum using USDC as collateral. OKX plans to strengthen competitiveness in derivatives and spot-linked products in the European market through this measure. It continues to expand product offerings tailored to the European regulatory environment. Europe has recently emerged as a strategic core market for major global exchanges as virtual asset regulatory frameworks become more concrete. OKX is also continuing to roll out products on the premise of regulatory compliance.
December 16GeneralBitcoin (BTC), temporarily recovers to $88,000
Bitcoin (BTC) temporarily recovered to the $88,000 level. As of 00:57 on the 17th, based on the Binance Tether (USDT) market, BTC is trading at $88,129.96, up 1.38% from the previous day.
December 16General