Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 87,794.0 | +0.12% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,938.81 | -0.21% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETFs | -175.3M | Net Outflow |
| Ethereum Spot ETFs | -52.7M | Net Outflow |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 25,640.5 | +0.24% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,932.04 | +0.32% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,546.4 | +0.27% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 97.608 | +0.08% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 13.47 | -3.79% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.13375 | -0.82% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 62.468 | -0.14% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,477.81 | -0.12% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 71.752 | +0.63% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.43 am”
Today’s Key Events
- No Development in President Trump’s Schedule
- Markets Closed Due to Christmas Holiday
- XPL and PARTI Token Unlockings
US Ends Trade Investigation into Chinese Chips
The US government has officially announced the end of its trade investigation into Chinese-made chips. Although assessments emphasized that China’s semiconductor applications harm US interests, no additional customs duties will be imposed for at least 18 months. New tariffs are only expected to be introduced in 2027. According to Bloomberg, this postponement decision aims to strengthen the “truce” process between Washington and Beijing. The move is seen as a signal to stabilize trade relations between the two countries in the short term.
Signal of Interest Rate Hike from the Bank of Japan
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said interest rate hikes could continue if the economic and price outlook continues to improve. Ueda stated that a tighter monetary policy stance is possible if the baseline scenarios materialize. This statement is considered an important signal for Japan, which has been pursuing an ultra-loose policy for a long time. Markets believe that inflation and growth data will be decisive in the bank’s decisions.
84.5% Probability of the Fed Keeping Interest Rates Unchanged in January
According to CME FedWatch data, the probability of the Fed leaving interest rates unchanged in January stands at 84.5%. The probability of a 25 basis point rate cut during the same period is calculated at 15.5%. By March, the total probability of a 25 basis point cut rises to 42.2%. Markets expect the Fed to take more cautious steps in light of macroeconomic data.
WSJ: “Pardon Trading” Became a New Industry During the Trump Era
According to the Wall Street Journal, lobbying for presidential pardons became an industry in its own right during the Trump era. Sources close to Trump say that lobbying for a pardon costs about $1 million. Binance founder CZ is also alleged to be one of the names benefiting from this process. CZ’s lawyers, however, argue that the pardon has no connection to any commercial relationship. The issue has caused serious repercussions in Washington.
Musk: US Could See Double-Digit Growth Within 12–18 Months
Elon Musk suggested that the US economy could achieve double-digit growth in the next 12–18 months. He said that if artificial intelligence applications are accepted as a growth indicator, much higher rates are possible in the long term. This statement caught the attention of many investors, including the crypto community. Bitcoin investors, in particular, are closely monitoring macroeconomic growth and the impact of Fed policies on prices.
Russia’s Leading Exchanges Open to Crypto Trading
The Moscow Stock Exchange and the St. Petersburg Exchange have announced their support for the new crypto regulations. Following the legal framework’s entry into force, the launch of crypto trading services is planned. A limit of 300,000 rubles per year will apply to individual investors. For qualified investors, there will be no limit except for privacy-focused coins. The move is seen as an important milestone for the crypto market in Russia.
Nvidia Acquires Groq’s Assets in Historic Deal
Nvidia has acquired the assets of artificial intelligence chip startup Groq for approximately $20 billion. According to CNBC, this deal is the largest acquisition in Nvidia’s history. The company emphasized that it has not taken over Groq entirely and has integrated its low-latency processor architecture into its platform. Most of Groq’s management team will join Nvidia, but the company will continue to operate independently.
Security Breach at Polymarket: Some User Accounts Affected
Polymarket announced that it had detected a security breach originating from a third-party identity verification provider. This breach resulted in unauthorized access to a limited number of user accounts. It was stated that most of the affected accounts belonged to users who logged in via Magic Labs. The platform stated that the vulnerability has been fixed and there is no active risk. It was stated that affected users were contacted directly.
Vitalik: Prediction Markets Are Not as Risky as They Are Made Out to Be
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said that criticism of prediction markets is exaggerated. According to Buterin, the incentive problems in these markets already exist in traditional exchanges. He argued that prediction markets can provide more useful information compared to social media. Citing his own experiences, Vitalik noted that Polymarket data helped dispel panic. He believes these platforms reflect probabilities more realistically.
