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South Korea Stablecoin Bill Stalls on Issuer Rules
South Korea’s proposed stablecoin framework has been delayed as regulators disagree over which entities should be allowed to issue the tokens.
South Korea’s effort to introduce a comprehensive stablecoin framework has stalled due to disagreements between financial authorities over issuer eligibility. The proposed Digital Asset Basic Act would impose strict reserve management, custody, and disclosure requirements on stablecoin issuers to strengthen investor protection.
Under the draft rules, issuers would be required to fully back tokens with bank deposits or government bonds and entrust reserves to qualified custodians. The framework would also extend liability standards to digital asset service providers, holding them responsible for damages from hacks or system failures, regardless of fault.
Progress has slowed as the Bank of Korea and the Financial Services Commission remain divided on whether issuance should be limited to bank-led consortia. The dispute has pushed legislative timelines into next year, prompting lawmakers to explore alternative proposals. The outcome will shape South Korea’s approach to stablecoins as it balances financial stability, innovation, and monetary sovereignty.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Lighter Launches LIT Token, Details Allocation
Ethereum-based perps exchange Lighter has launched its native LIT token, allocating half of the supply to ecosystem growth and incentives.
Ethereum-based decentralized perpetuals exchange Lighter announced the launch of its native Lighter Infrastructure Token, or LIT, ahead of its token generation event. The token is designed to align incentives across users, developers, and infrastructure participants, according to the team.
Lighter said 50% of the total token supply is allocated to the ecosystem. This includes an airdrop tied to early participation points programs, future incentives, and partnerships. The remaining supply is split between the team and investors, with allocations subject to a one-year lockup followed by multi-year linear vesting.
The company said exchange revenues and proceeds from future products will be transparently tracked onchain, with funds directed toward growth initiatives and token buybacks. Lighter added that access to certain infrastructure features will depend on LIT staking, with increased decentralization planned over time.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Iran Protests Highlight Currency Risk, Bitcoin Debate
Protests in Tehran followed a sharp collapse in the rial, drawing renewed attention to Bitcoin as a potential hedge against currency instability, according to Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley.
Protests erupted in Iran’s capital after the rial fell to record lows against the US dollar, intensifying public anger over inflation and financial mismanagement. The unrest followed months of currency weakness that had eroded household purchasing power and strained confidence in the banking system.
Against this backdrop, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley said Bitcoin highlights an alternative store of value for individuals facing currency debasement. His comments echoed a broader view among some market participants that decentralized assets can offer protection where access to stable currencies is limited.
Iran’s financial pressures extend beyond currency markets. Sanctions have curtailed access to global banking networks, while several domestic banks face restructuring or dissolution. Although crypto trading is permitted, rules around self-custody and mining remain restrictive, limiting adoption. The situation underscores the complex intersection of macroeconomic stress, regulation, and the role of digital assets in sanctioned economies.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Polymarket Data Shows Heavy Profit Concentration among Top Traders
Blockchain data indicates most Polymarket traders lost money, with a small fraction capturing the majority of realized profits across the platform.
Roughly 70% of Polymarket’s 1.7 million trading addresses have recorded realized losses, while fewer than 30% generated profits, according to analysis by blockchain researcher DeFi Oasis. The data shows extreme concentration, with less than 0.04% of addresses capturing more than 70% of total realized gains, equivalent to about $3.7 billion.
Most profitable participants earned relatively small amounts, with nearly a quarter of all addresses making under $1,000 while accounting for less than 1% of total profits. By contrast, just 668 addresses reported profits above $1 million, representing the majority of aggregate gains. Losses were similarly widespread, with more than 1.1 million addresses recording modest negative returns.
The findings mirror patterns seen in traditional financial and derivatives markets, where sophisticated traders and automated strategies tend to outperform retail participants. Despite this imbalance, Polymarket activity continues to grow as prediction markets draw increased attention from regulators, exchanges, and institutional players.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Hyperliquid Prepares First HYPE Token Team Distribution
Hyperliquid Labs is set to distribute its first tranche of HYPE tokens to team members, with 1.2 million tokens scheduled to unlock in early January.
Hyperliquid Labs is preparing its first distribution of HYPE tokens to core contributors, with approximately 1.2 million tokens slated for release on January 6. The tokens, valued at roughly $31 million at current prices, were recently unstaked for allocation to team members, according to a message shared by the project on Discord.
HYPE was launched in November 2024 through a community airdrop, with nearly 24% of the total 1 billion token supply reserved for core contributors under a multi-year vesting structure. Roughly 238 million tokens are currently in circulation, leaving more than 60% of the supply locked. The contributor allocation is subject to a one-year cliff followed by a gradual release schedule.
The upcoming payout introduces new supply into the market as Hyperliquid maintains its position as the largest decentralized perpetuals exchange by cumulative volume. However, growing competition from rival platforms has begun to pressure its share of the onchain derivatives market.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
BlackRock BUIDL Reaches $100 Million in Onchain Payouts
BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund has distributed $100 million in dividends, marking a key milestone for blockchain-based financial products at institutional scale.
BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, known as BUIDL, has distributed $100 million in cumulative dividends since launching in March 2024, according to its tokenization partner Securitize. The payouts are derived from yields on short-term US Treasurys, repurchase agreements, and cash equivalents, and are delivered directly to investors onchain.
Initially issued on Ethereum, BUIDL has expanded to several additional blockchains, including Solana, Avalanche, Aptos, and Optimism. The fund allows institutional investors to hold dollar-pegged tokens while receiving income distributions through blockchain-based settlement, mirroring traditional money market fund mechanics in a digital format.
The milestone underscores how tokenized securities are moving beyond pilot programs into operational products with meaningful scale. While adoption continues to grow, regulators and industry bodies have flagged potential liquidity and operational risks as tokenized funds become more integrated into broader financial markets.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Nears Record as 2026 Nears
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty is approaching a record high heading into 2026, tightening margins for miners after a volatile year for the sector.
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty is edging closer to record territory as the network heads toward its first adjustment of 2026. Data shows difficulty reached roughly 148.2 trillion in late December and is projected to rise further in early January as block times remain slightly faster than the 10-minute target.
The increase follows a turbulent year for miners marked by rising energy costs, heavy capital requirements, and sharp market swings. Higher difficulty raises the computational effort required to earn block rewards, squeezing margins for operators already under pressure from volatile bitcoin prices and declining transaction fees.
Despite the strain, regular difficulty adjustments remain central to Bitcoin’s design, helping maintain network security and decentralization. The continued rise in difficulty highlights the growing amount of computing power securing the blockchain, even as competition intensifies and industry consolidation accelerates among less efficient miners.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Mirae Asset Weighs Majority Stake in Korbit
South Korea’s Mirae Asset is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in crypto exchange Korbit, marking a potential first move into digital assets for the financial group.
Mirae Asset, one of South Korea’s largest financial groups, is in discussions to acquire a 92% stake in local cryptocurrency exchange Korbit for up to 140 billion won, or about $97 million. If completed, the transaction would represent Mirae Asset’s first direct investment in a crypto-related business, according to local media reports citing industry officials.
Korbit is the fourth-largest of South Korea’s six licensed crypto exchanges by trading volume, trailing market leaders Upbit and Bithumb by a wide margin. Its relatively modest scale has limited its competitive positioning, but a deal with Mirae Asset could provide access to capital, operational expertise, and broader institutional distribution.
The potential acquisition reflects a gradual shift among traditional financial institutions in South Korea as regulators provide clearer oversight of digital asset markets. While competition remains intense, institutional ownership could reshape Korbit’s strategy and signal growing convergence between traditional finance and regulated crypto infrastructure in the region.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Trend Research Raises Ether Holdings to $1.8B after $35M Purchase
Hong Kong-based Trend Research added $35 million in Ether, lifting its total holdings to about $1.8 billion as it continues to position heavily in ETH despite near-term market caution.
Trend Research has increased its Ether exposure with a $35 million purchase, bringing total holdings to more than 601,000 ETH valued at roughly $1.8 billion. Blockchain data show the Hong Kong-based firm has financed part of its accumulation through stablecoin borrowing on decentralized lending protocols, reflecting a high-conviction strategy centered on Ethereum.
Founder Jack Yi said the firm remains committed to Ether accumulation, citing expectations of supportive regulatory developments, expanding on-chain finance, and broader adoption of stablecoins. Trend Research’s approach contrasts with more measured strategies used by other large corporate holders, as the firm has indicated it will continue buying regardless of short-term price volatility.
The move comes amid divergent institutional views on Ethereum’s near-term outlook. Some research firms have warned of potential drawdowns in early 2026, while data from blockchain analytics platforms show professional traders positioning cautiously. Trend Research’s continued buying highlights the growing divide between long-term strategic allocators and short-term market sentiment in crypto markets.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Bitcoin Consolidates as ETF Outflows Exceed $780M
Bitcoin traded near key technical levels as spot ETF outflows topped $780 million for the week, underscoring cautious institutional positioning despite short-term price stabilization.
Bitcoin stabilized near the $88,000 to $90,000 range after a volatile holiday period, even as US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded more than $780 million in net outflows over the past week. The outflows mark a continuation of December’s selling pressure following strong inflows earlier in the year that supported the rally to October highs.
Institutional sentiment has remained restrained as expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts faded and year-end liquidity thinned. ETF data shows more than $1 billion has exited spot Bitcoin funds so far this month, signaling reduced conviction among longer-term allocators amid shifting macro conditions and elevated derivatives positioning.
At the same time, derivatives markets showed renewed activity, with futures open interest and funding rates rising modestly. Analysts noted that recent price resilience has been driven largely by short-term traders rather than sustained institutional demand. The divergence between derivatives activity and ETF flows highlights ongoing uncertainty around Bitcoin’s near-term role within broader risk and macro portfolios.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
China to Allow Interest on Digital Yuan Holdings
China will allow commercial banks to pay interest on digital yuan holdings starting January 1, marking a shift in the central bank digital currency’s role within the financial system.
The People’s Bank of China will implement a new framework on January 1, allowing commercial banks to pay interest on digital yuan holdings, a move aimed at boosting adoption of the central bank digital currency. The change represents a structural shift in how the e-CNY functions within China’s financial system, according to state-linked disclosures.
Under the new framework, the digital yuan will transition from a digital cash substitute to a form of digital deposit money. This would align the e-CNY more closely with commercial bank liabilities, enabling it to function as a store of value alongside traditional deposit accounts. The framework is designed to operate under central bank oversight while remaining compatible with distributed ledger technology.
The plan also includes a proposal to establish an international digital yuan operations center in Shanghai, signaling China’s intent to expand the currency’s cross-border role. The move reflects broader institutional efforts to modernize payment infrastructure and strengthen monetary control through programmable digital money.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Trust Wallet to Reimburse Users after $7M Christmas Hack
Trust Wallet will cover roughly $7 million in user losses after a compromised browser extension led to a Christmas Day exploit affecting desktop users.
Trust Wallet said it will reimburse users for approximately $7 million lost in a Christmas Day exploit tied to a compromised browser extension. The incident affected desktop users running extension version 2.68, which the company has since urged users to replace with an updated release. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao confirmed the losses would be fully covered.
Cybersecurity firm SlowMist said the exploit appeared to have been planned weeks in advance and involved the insertion of backdoor code capable of exporting users’ personal information. Investigators noted that the attacker demonstrated deep familiarity with the extension’s source code, raising concerns about potential insider involvement.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges for self-custody wallets as adoption grows. Personal wallet compromises accounted for a significant share of crypto losses in 2025, underscoring institutional and regulatory focus on software supply chain risks and internal controls across the digital asset ecosystem.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Coinbase Named Top 2026 Fintech Pick by Clear Street
Clear Street named Coinbase a top fintech stock for 2026, citing stablecoin revenue, tokenization efforts, and expanding AI-driven products.
Coinbase was named one of Clear Street’s top three fintech stock picks for 2026, alongside Nasdaq and S&P Global, according to analyst Owen Lau. Lau reiterated a Buy rating on the crypto exchange with a $415 price target and cited its central role in the evolution of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
The analyst highlighted Coinbase’s growing diversification beyond spot trading, pointing to recurring revenue from subscriptions, stablecoin activity, and on-chain services. USDC remains a key contributor, with Coinbase receiving roughly half of Circle’s stablecoin revenue, while still trading at a relative valuation discount. Expansion into tokenization, payments, derivatives, and AI-driven financial tools further supports a more resilient business model.
Lau described 2026 as a transition year for crypto equities, as investor focus shifts from trading volumes to adoption and regulatory clarity. He noted that Coinbase’s balance sheet strength, global footprint, and broad product pipeline position it well for this shift.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
BNB Chain Schedules Fermi Hard Fork for January
BNB Chain will activate its Fermi hard fork on Jan. 14, cutting block times to 250 milliseconds as the network targets higher throughput and time-sensitive applications.
BNB Chain is set to activate its Fermi hard fork on mainnet on January 14, following a two-month testnet phase that began in November. The upgrade will reduce block times to 250 milliseconds from 750 milliseconds, a move aimed at supporting time-sensitive applications that require sub-second transaction confirmation.
The hard fork also introduces extended validator voting parameters to address communication delays created by faster block production. In addition, a new indexing mechanism will allow nodes to sync only relevant portions of the ledger, lowering hardware and storage requirements for certain users. These changes reflect a broader industry push to improve scalability and reduce operational friction on layer-1 networks.
The upgrade comes as blockchain protocols face growing pressure to close the performance gap with traditional financial infrastructure. Faster block times and higher throughput are increasingly viewed as critical for decentralized finance, payments, and emerging institutional use cases, particularly as competition among high-performance networks intensifies.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
NFT Market Slumps to 2025 Lows without Holiday Boost
NFT markets continued to weaken in December, with valuations, trading activity, and participation falling to their lowest levels of 2025.
The non-fungible token market extended its year-end downturn in December, with total sector valuation falling to roughly $2.5 billion. That marks a 72% decline from January’s peak and underscores the absence of a seasonal rebound as liquidity thinned into year-end.
Trading activity remained subdued throughout the month. Weekly NFT sales failed to exceed $70 million during the first three weeks of December, while participation metrics deteriorated further. The number of unique buyers and sellers dropped sharply, with seller counts falling below 100,000 for the first time since 2021, alongside a decline in total transactions.
Price performance among major collections mirrored the broader slowdown. Leading projects such as CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club posted double-digit floor price declines over 30 days, though select art-focused collections showed relative resilience. Overall, the data points to waning speculative interest and a more selective NFT market environment.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.