Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 88,078.0 | +2.81% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,949.59 | +4.35% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETFs | -161.3M | Net Outflow |
| Ethereum Spot ETFs | -96.6M | Net Outflow |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 25,103.4 | +0.50% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,774.75 | +0.79% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,510.7 | +0.10% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 98.304 | +0.25% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 16.87 | -4.26% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.11578 | -0.81% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 59.711 | -0.38% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,321.81 | -0.24% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 65.533 | +0.33% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.58 am”
Today’s Key Events
- No Developments on US President Trump’s Schedule Today
- US University of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index
- US Existing Home Sales (November)
- Germany PPI Data
- Eurozone Current Account Balance
- Moore Chain, Next-Generation GPU Architecture and Roadmap
BOJ Continues Interest Rate Hikes
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the second time in 2025, increasing the policy rate to 0.75%. Following a 25 basis point increase on January 24, another 25 basis point increase came on December 12. This brought interest rates in Japan to their highest level in 30 years. The decision was supported by stronger wage growth and an improving economic outlook. Markets assess that the BoJ is proceeding cautiously but decisively in its normalization process.
BoJ Governor Ueda: Neutral Interest Rate Level Still Uncertain
BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that there is still a wide range of uncertainty in estimates regarding the neutral interest rate. He emphasized that monetary policy steps will be shaped by the economic outlook, inflation, and financial conditions. He stated that US tariffs are not creating a general pressure on the Japanese economy. Ueda said that downside risks to the economy have diminished and that private consumption in the US remains strong. He added that the effects of interest rate hikes will be closely monitored.
Fed Member Goolsbee Sends Cautious Message on Interest Rate Cuts
Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee stated that caution should be exercised in bringing forward interest rate cuts. While acknowledging improvement in inflation, Goolsbee said he was against easing without seeing sustained progress toward the 2% target. He stated that the labor market was experiencing a controlled cooling. He added that he did not expect the leadership change to create conflict within the Fed. The statements showed that differences of opinion persist within the Fed.
Trump Takes the Pulse for New Fed Chair
Donald Trump said he was evaluating several strong candidates for the Fed chairmanship and would announce his decision in the coming weeks. Praising Waller and Bowman, Trump reiterated that the new chair should support “big interest rate cuts.” In his holiday address, he also touched on expansionary fiscal measures such as direct cash payments to soldiers and health insurance subsidies. These statements pointed to looser monetary and fiscal policies. Markets interpreted Trump’s remarks as supportive for risky assets.
Geopolitical Tension on the US–China–Venezuela Front
The US announced a record $11 billion arms package for Taiwan. China reacted to the decision, arguing that this step undermines regional stability. At the same time, China stated in its talks with Venezuela that it opposes unilateral sanctions but did not give clear support. Venezuela, meanwhile, began sending two large tankers to China after the US seized its oil. These developments have brought energy and geopolitical risks back to the forefront.
State Street: US–Japan Interest Rate Spread May Narrow
State Street Investment Management expects US and Japanese interest rates to converge more rapidly in the coming period. The BoJ raising its interest rate to 0.75% is seen as an important step supporting this process. Japan is expected to enter 2026 with strong macroeconomic tailwinds. At the same time, the Fed is likely to move towards interest rate cuts. This scenario points to a possible easing of pressure on the yen.
US Senate Confirms CFTC and FDIC Appointments
The US Senate confirmed Mike Selig, nominated by Trump, as CFTC Chairman. Travis Hill’s appointment as FDIC Chairman was also made official. Selig is expected to pursue a more active policy on cryptocurrency regulation. These appointments are considered an important turning point for crypto regulations in the US. The market believes that regulatory uncertainty may decrease.
ECB Targets Digital Euro in Second Half of 2026
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde announced that technical preparations for the digital euro have been completed. The launch is targeted for the second half of 2026. The ECB positions the digital euro as a strategic financial stability tool. Lagarde called on EU institutions to swiftly complete the legal regulations. The digital euro could create a significant transformation in Europe’s payment systems.
CLARITY Act Coming to Senate Agenda in January
White House Crypto and AI Advisor David Sacks announced that the CLARITY Act is expected to be taken up by the Senate in January. The bill aims to clarify the structure of the crypto market. The bill, which is said to have bipartisan support, aims to reduce regulatory uncertainty. The Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees are closely monitoring the process. The market views the bill as a critical step for the US crypto ecosystem.
Fetch.ai to Launch Smart Payment System for AI Agents in 2026
Fetch.ai plans to launch a smart payment system specifically for AI agents in January 2026. The system, operating through the ASI:One platform, will enable AI agents to independently process payments even when users are offline. The infrastructure supports Visa, $USDC, and on-chain $FET transactions. The company aims to integrate new payment methods into the system in the future. This step could accelerate the commercial use of autonomous AI agents.
Lido Focuses on Stablecoin Yield with $60 Million Expansion Plan
Lido has proposed a $60 million investment plan in its 2026 budget proposal to increase product diversity. The protocol aims to develop products targeting stablecoin yield and different asset classes, targeting institutional clients. This strategy aims to create new revenue streams and increase long-term resilience. According to Dune data, Lido holds a 28% share of the Ethereum staking market. The platform manages over $9.80 million in $ETH.
BitMine Increases Weekly ETH Purchases to $229 Million
According to Arkham data, BitMine withdrew $88.73 million worth of $ETH through two new wallets via FalconX. This transaction appears consistent with the company’s previous purchasing behavior. With this latest addition, BitMine’s total weekly ETH purchases are estimated to have exceeded $229 million. The company’s aggressive ETH accumulation strategy is noteworthy. This indicates that institutional demand for Ethereum continues.
DeepBook AI Raises $2 Million for AI-Powered Crypto Browser
DeepBook AI has secured $2 million in funding for its AI-powered crypto browser. Castrum Capital, BD Ventures, Alpha Capital, and BlockPulse participated in the round. The platform combines AI-based discovery tools with on-chain navigation and DeFi integration. The goal is to help users discover dApps and protocols more effectively. This product aims to simplify the Web3 user experience.
Aptos Proposes Making Quantum-Resistant Signatures Optional
Aptos plans to offer quantum-resistant signatures as an optional account signature type with its AIP-137 proposal. The proposal includes a hybrid-based signature scheme called SLH-DSA, which complies with the FIPS 205 standard. The goal is to take precautions against security risks that powerful quantum computers may pose in the future. Existing accounts will not be affected by this change. If approved, Aptos will become one of the first networks to natively support quantum-resistant accounts.
Forward Industries’ Tokenized Stock Begins Trading on Solana
Forward Industries’ shares, traded on NASDAQ, have been listed on Solana as an SPL token. The tokenized $FWDI, offered through Superstate’s Opening Bell platform, became the first example of a SEC-registered stock being directly usable in DeFi. This development is seen as an important step in the integration of traditional finance and DeFi. The token will work in conjunction with the Solana DeFi ecosystem. It could increase interest in corporate asset tokenization.
Cardano Founder Hoskinson Criticizes Trump’s Crypto Policies
Charles Hoskinson said Trump’s personal meme coin issuance is detrimental to the crypto sector. He noted that this move has dragged crypto into a partisan debate and weakened bipartisan support in Congress. He also opposed the idea of a national strategic crypto reserve, arguing that the state should not pick winners in the market. Hoskinson revealed that he was removed from a planned private dinner with Trump due to these criticisms. The statements have reignited discussions about political interference in the sector.
