Initial Jobless Claims in the US Exceeded Expectations
Initial jobless claims in the US for the week ending December 6 were announced at 236,000, exceeding market expectations of 220,000. The data, along with a revision of the previous week’s figure from 191,000 to 192,000, points to a slight weakening in the labor market. Despite the increase, the employment side continues to appear resilient overall.
U.S. Commerce Secretary: We Were Expecting a Bigger Cut from the Fed
U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo said the Fed’s interest rate cut was not as large as she had previously hoped. The secretary said she believed economic conditions could support a more aggressive cut. However, she added that the Fed’s cautious approach was understandable for overall economic stability.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent Proposes Reforms to the Financial Stability Oversight Council
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent proposed comprehensive structural reforms to the Financial Stability Oversight Council. These reforms are intended to strengthen financial oversight and manage systemic risks more effectively. The Treasury believes the new regulations could enhance overall market stability. The proposal is considered to cover shadow banking and digital asset risks in particular.
Investment Banks: Fed’s Cautious Stance for 2026 Remains Unchanged
Following the Fed’s 25 basis point cut, major investment banks maintained their forecasts that the institution would make two interest rate cuts in 2026. Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Barclays anticipate cuts in March and June, Citi in January and March, and Morgan Stanley in January and April. JPMorgan expects only one cut in January, while Standard Chartered argues there will be no cuts next year. These differing views indicate that the Fed’s forward path remains uncertain.
Economist Winograd: Fed’s Balance Sheet Expansion Only Affects the Short End of the Yield Curve
Economist Eric Winograd said the Fed’s decision to expand its balance sheet by increasing short-term bond purchases will only affect the short end of the yield curve. It was noted that the Fed aims to purchase approximately $40 billion in Treasury bonds monthly in the initial phase. According to Winograd, long-term bond yields will not be significantly affected by these steps. The economist added that the balance sheet expansion was an expected move, but its timing surprised some markets.
Caliber Stakes 75,000 LINK on the Chainlink Network
Nasdaq-listed Caliber announced that it has staked 75,000 LINK from its treasury in a Chainlink node operator. The company stated that this step aims to support network security as well as generate staking returns. Caliber indicated that it may increase the staking amount in the future. This move demonstrates the growing participation of traditional financial institutions in blockchain infrastructure.
Crypto-Focused Kidnapping and Murder in Spain
A man was kidnapped, shot, and killed in Málaga, Spain, targeting his crypto assets. The incident came to light when his wife escaped and notified the police. Five people were arrested in Spain and four in Denmark. The suspects’ criminal records reveal that organized groups have developed professional methods targeting crypto investors. This incident once again shows that crypto asset owners are at greater risk of physical threats.
Do Kwon Faces 12 Years in Prison
Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon is awaiting the verdict in his Manhattan trial. Prosecutors have requested a 12-year prison sentence for Do Kwon, stating that one of the main reasons for this is his admission of guilt. The verdict is expected to be announced by US District Judge Paul Engelmayer. The process shows that the legal consequences of the Terra collapse are still ongoing.
Reserve Rights Proposes Burning 30 billion RSR Tokens
Reserve Rights published a reform proposal (RFC-1269) that includes burning approximately 30 billion RSR tokens. The proposal aims to strengthen the token economy by reducing the total supply. It also plans to introduce a new vRSR mechanism to increase governance weight. This step aims to make the ecosystem more sustainable by increasing community participation.
Circle Gateway Launches on Solana
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire announced that Circle Gateway will soon be launched on Solana. This integration will allow users to instantly access their unified USDC balance across multiple chains. Circle stated that Solana’s speed and low-cost advantages will increase the system’s efficiency. The initiative strongly supports USDC’s multi-chain expansion.
Poland Resubmits Vetoed Crypto Bill
The Polish parliament has resubmitted a crypto asset bill to the legislature, unchanged from the version previously vetoed by the president. The bill aims to empower the Financial Supervision Authority as the country’s primary crypto regulator. The government argues that the law is critical for compliance with EU regulations. The resubmitted bill could accelerate the regulatory process for the crypto sector in Poland.
Belarus Bans Crypto Trading on Foreign Exchanges
Belarusian President Lukashenko has approved a new regulation banning individuals from trading crypto through foreign exchanges or brokers. All crypto transactions must now be conducted on licensed platforms within the country. Authorities argue that this step will strengthen the fight against money laundering and tax evasion. The regulation severely restricts crypto freedom in the country.
Jupiter Acquires RainFi to Expand Solana Credit Market
Jupiter Exchange announced its acquisition of RainFi to expand the credit market within the Solana ecosystem. This acquisition is seen as a strategic move to accelerate the development of on-chain credit products. RainFi’s Droplets users will receive JUP rewards in early 2026. This move will significantly contribute to the expansion of Solana’s DeFi infrastructure.
Vitalik Buterin Criticizes X Platform
Vitalik Buterin said that the X platform, under Elon Musk’s management, has become open to hate speech and extremism. Buterin argued that the relaxation of moderation policies has transformed the platform into a structure that amplifies extremist content. He also noted that Musk’s centralized control undermines the principle of “trusted neutrality.” The criticism has reignited discussions about the centralization issue and content control on social media platforms.
