Yi He, who was named Binance co-CEO on Wednesday, offered blunt advice for women navigating the corporate world: drop the soft-skill crutches and build undeniable expertise.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai just hours after her appointment was announced at Binance Blockchain Week, Yi He reflected on what it takes for women to succeed in male-dominated industries.

Professional Excellence Over Gender Advantages

Her message cut against conventional wisdom about leveraging “feminine” strengths—and resonated with a career that took her from a rural village in Sichuan province to the top of the world’s largest crypto exchange.

“The biggest barrier for women isn’t which industry they’re in—it’s the mental ceiling they set for themselves,” Yi He said.

She cautioned against over-relying on perceived gender advantages such as communication skills or likability.

“When you lean on these soft skills, people respect your charm rather than your expertise. That ultimately undermines your professional credibility.”

Her message was unequivocal: in business competition, being female earns no leniency.

“It’s white knife in, red knife out,” she said, using a Chinese idiom for brutal competition. “Nobody slows down because you’re a woman. If anything, the attacks can be harsher.”

The key, she emphasized, is to become the absolute best in your field—whether in marketing, growth, or content—so that colleagues and competitors alike respect your professional capability above all else.

A Consistent Message on Female Leadership

Yi He’s remarks echo views she has expressed before. In a 2023 interview, she urged women to “forget your gender” and focus instead on becoming good business leaders. “Don’t focus on the fact that you’re a woman in a man’s world,” she said. “Never set a limit on yourself.”

Later that year, in another interview, she attributed the underrepresentation of women in leadership to societal expectations that discourage them from pursuing top positions. “Many women do not speak out or pursue leadership positions because they were not encouraged to do so by their families, schools, or friends,” she said at the time.

何一谈女性职业发展：商业竞争中从无“性别让步”可言

2025 年 12 月 3 日，币安联合创始人何一成为新的币安联席 CEO 后，在迪拜举办的 2025 币安区块链周上接受媒体群访，接受 Blockbeats… pic.twitter.com/1utwcYc7tz

— 吴说区块链 (@wublockchain12) December 5, 2025

Her advice then, as now, centered on seizing opportunities proactively. “Women in tech or other new industries can be bolder and take more risks,” she noted. “They will never know what they can do unless they jump into it.”

Dual Leadership for Binance’s Next Chapter

Yi He’s appointment as co-CEO was announced by Richard Teng during his keynote at Binance Blockchain Week, where the co-CEOs outlined an ambitious roadmap for the exchange. The dual leadership structure pairs Yi He’s product innovation expertise with Teng’s background in regulated financial markets.

Teng called her promotion “a natural progression,” highlighting her role in shaping Binance’s user-first culture since its 2017 founding. The exchange now approaches 300 million users and has set a target of one billion.

When asked about the potential influence of the founder and her partner in a long-term relationship, Changpeng Zhao, Yi He drew a clear line:

“My personal life is independent from my professional life. My achievements and capabilities as cofounder are often overlooked with my personal life in question. Binance has nearly 300 million users who trust us for upholding our core values—looking after their interests, protections, and 1:1 backing for every user asset.”

The exchange now approaches 300 million users and has set a long-term target of one billion. Teng said Binance aims to become a “Super App” bridging centralized and decentralized finance. The company is also deepening partnerships with major institutions, including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton. On the compliance front, Binance blocked nearly $7 billion in potential scams in 2025. It continues to pursue regulatory approvals worldwide.

The post Yi He to Women: “No One Goes Easy on You in Business” appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin mining profitability plunged to record lows in late 2025 as the hash rate dropped below $35 per petahash per second, while production costs rose to $44.8 per petahash. This forced miners into payback periods over 1,200 days and drove a major industry shift, with 70% of top mining companies now earning revenue from artificial intelligence infrastructure.

November 2025 marked a turning point for the global Bitcoin mining industry. A confluence of collapsing margins, regulatory pressure, and strategic pivots reshaped the sector’s landscape. Here are the five key trends that defined the month.

Profitability Hits Historic Lows

Network hashrate surged to a record 1.1 ZH/s in October, intensifying competition. Meanwhile, Bitcoin prices dropped to around $81,000, crushing margins across the industry. Machine payback periods have stretched beyond 1,200 days.

MARA CEO Fred Thiel issued a stark warning about the industry’s future. After the 2028 halving reduces block rewards to roughly 1.5 BTC, most business models will collapse. Only miners with access to cheap energy or successful AI pivots will survive, he said.

Financing costs continue to rise as traditional mining revenue shrinks. Even companies transitioning to AI cannot yet offset the decline in Bitcoin income. The squeeze is forcing urgent strategic decisions across the sector.

AI Pivot Accelerates

Seven of the top ten mining companies now generate revenue from artificial intelligence. AI hosting yields already exceed traditional mining returns by roughly 50% per megawatt. The shift is reshaping how the industry measures success.

Bitfarms announced it will phase out Bitcoin mining entirely within two years. Its Washington State facility will be converted into an HPC data center by December 2026. CEO Ben Gagnon said potential returns could surpass all previous mining income.

IREN secured a landmark $9.7 billion, five-year GPU cloud computing agreement with Microsoft. The deal includes a 20% upfront payment. IREN will deploy NVIDIA GB300 GPUs at its Texas facility starting in 2026.

Hut 8 sold four Canadian natural gas power plants totaling 310 MW to TransAlta. The move aligns with its strategic shift toward Bitcoin mining plus HPC infrastructure. CleanSpark aims to become a comprehensive compute platform serving both AI and BTC.

Massive Capital Restructuring

A wave of convertible note issuances is sweeping the industry. CleanSpark raised $1.15 billion at 0% interest. TeraWulf completed a $1.025 billion offering, also at zero percent.

Cipher Mining issued $1.4 billion in senior secured notes at 7.125% yield. IREN plans to raise $2 billion through two separate convertible bond offerings. Bitfarms completed a $588 million convertible debt issuance.

Equipment commitments are equally massive. IREN signed a $5.8 billion agreement with Dell to procure NVIDIA GB300 GPUs. Cipher expanded its Fluidstack agreement, with Google providing $1.73 billion in guarantees.

Canaan secured a $72 million strategic investment from BH Digital, Galaxy Digital, and Weiss Asset Management. The funds will support high-performance computing and the development of energy infrastructure. The company aims to reduce future financing dilution.

Regulatory Polarization

Malaysia has uncovered approximately 14,000 illegal mining operations over the past five years. Stolen electricity has caused roughly $1.1 billion in damage to the state utility TNB. A government task force was established in November to intensify crackdowns.

Russia is deploying AI technology to combat illegal mining. State grid operator Rosseti embeds AI analytics into smart meters to detect power anomalies. One recent bust involved $1.5 million in stolen electricity.

Yet some governments are embracing mining. Japan launched its first government-linked project through a major regional utility. Canaan will deploy water-cooled Avalon miners for grid load balancing by year-end.

Belarusian President Lukashenko declared cryptocurrency mining a national priority for electricity usage. He suggested that crypto could serve as an alternative to reliance on the dollar. About 60% of Russian miners remain unregistered, prompting discussions of an amnesty.

Strategic BTC Accumulation

Leading miners are stockpiling Bitcoin rather than selling into the market. MARA holds 53,250 BTC valued at approximately $5.6 billion. The company ranks second globally in public Bitcoin reserves.

CleanSpark reported total holdings of 13,054 BTC as of November 30. Monthly production reached 587 BTC in November alone—year-to-date mining output totals 7,124 BTC.

Cango holds 6,412 BTC with an explicit commitment to long-term holding. Bitdeer increased its reserves to 2,233 BTC after mining 511 BTC in October. Canaan reached a record 1,610 BTC and 3,950 ETH.

The accumulation strategy signals confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value. Miners are betting that surviving the current profitability crisis will prove rewarding. Those who hold through the squeeze may emerge as the biggest winners.

The post November Profit Crisis: 70% of Top Miners Pivot to $20B AI Market appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Central banks purchased a net 53 tonnes of gold in October 2025, a 36% month-over-month surge that brought the monthly total to the highest of the year.

This aggressive gold accumulation reflects growing concerns over macroeconomic uncertainty and a strategic shift away from traditional dollar-denominated assets.

Record Gold Purchases Signal Strategic Shift

According to World Gold Council data, central banks purchased a net 53 tonnes of gold in October alone—the highest monthly demand this year—led by Poland, Brazil, and emerging market economies.

Central banks acquired 254 tonnes year-to-date through October, making 2025 the fourth-highest year for gold accumulation this century. This trend highlights concerns about economic stability and currency diversification.

The National Bank of Poland led the activity, buying 16 tonnes in October. This brought Poland’s reserves to a record 531 tonnes, or about 26% of its total foreign exchange reserves. Brazil also bought 16 tonnes, while Uzbekistan added 9 tonnes and Indonesia acquired 4 tonnes. Turkey, the Czech Republic, and the Kyrgyz Republic expanded by 2 to 3 tonnes each. Meanwhile, Ghana, China, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines increased holdings, and Russia reduced its reserves by 3 tonnes to 2,327 tonnes.

Central banks are ramping up gold purchases:

Global central banks purchased +53 tonnes of gold in October, the most since November 2024.

This marks a +194% jump compared to July, and the 3rd-straight monthly acceleration.

In the first 10 months of the year, central banks have… pic.twitter.com/7pZWyEjjvf

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 4, 2025

95% of surveyed central banks expect reserves to climb next year. Serbia plans to nearly double its gold reserves to 100 tonnes by 2030, while Madagascar and South Korea are considering similar expansion. The sustained demand remains despite high gold prices, emphasizing gold’s strategic importance in uncertain times.

United States Establishes Bitcoin as National Reserve Asset

The trend is now spilling over into digital assets. As sovereign institutions diversify their reserves, Bitcoin is increasingly entering the conversation as a potential complement to gold.

In the United States, Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that funding for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve “can start anytime,” citing President Trump’s executive order designating Bitcoin as a national reserve asset. The Treasury currently manages approximately 200,000 BTC—worth roughly $17 billion—under a budget-neutral framework using seized assets.

The House’s 2026 appropriations bill requires a 90-day Treasury study on custody, standards, and AI for sanctions enforcement. It also bans funds for a central bank digital currency. No further Bitcoin purchases are mandated beyond seized assets, leaving future reserve growth open for debate.

VanEck’s economic modeling projects that acquiring one million Bitcoin by 2029 could offset about 18% of the US national debt by 2049. CoinShares analysts suggest the reserve could strengthen technological leadership and offer inflation protection. Chainalysis economists, however, warn that simultaneous accumulation by many nations could affect market stability.

States and Nations Race to Build Bitcoin Reserves

Texas has already taken action. On November 20, it became the first US state to purchase Bitcoin for its treasury, acquiring $10 million through BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF when prices briefly dipped to $87,000. The move signals a growing appetite among state governments to treat Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

The momentum is not limited to America. Taiwan’s legislature has urged the government to audit its Bitcoin holdings and consider adding cryptocurrency to its strategic reserves, with Premier Cho Jung-tai pledging a detailed report by year-end. Lawmakers cited concerns about the island’s heavy reliance on U.S. dollar assets, which account for over 90% of its $602.94 billion in foreign reserves.

Deutsche Bank analysts project that Bitcoin could appear on central bank balance sheets by 2030, coexisting with gold as a complementary hedge against inflation and geopolitical risk. As nations race to secure both traditional and digital safe-haven assets, the global reserve landscape may be on the verge of a historic transformation.

The post Central Banks Are Stockpiling Gold: Bitcoin Could Be Next appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Ethereum has successfully activated the Fusaka upgrade on mainnet, marking its second major network enhancement in 2025.

With PeerDAS now live, ETH has surged past the critical $3,200 resistance zone, and traders are watching whether the rally can sustain and even extend further.

Fusaka Goes Live

Ethereum confirmed the Fusaka mainnet activation on December 3 at 22:04 UTC. The upgrade introduces PeerDAS technology, which unlocks up to 8x data throughput for rollups, raises the gas limit from 45 million to 60 million units, and adds R1 curve support for improved user experience. Currently, Ethereum processes between 1.3 and 1.8 million transactions daily and holds over $73 billion in value locked in DeFi.

For L2 and Layer 2 rollups, Fusaka is even more relevant. PeerDAS increases the available space for blobs and prepares gradual capacity increases in future forks focused solely on data. The goal is clear: to maintain very low fees on networks like Arbitrum, Base, or Optimism, even if demand continues to grow.

Community members will monitor the network for issues over the next 24 hours.

Fusaka is live on Ethereum mainnet!

– PeerDAS now unlocks 8x data throughput for rollups
– UX improvements via the R1 curve & pre-confirmatons
– Prep for scaling the L1 with gas limit increase & more

Community members will continue to monitor for issues over the next 24 hrs.

— Ethereum (@ethereum) December 3, 2025

ETH Breaks $3,200 Resistance

ETH is trading at $3,231, up 7.38% over the last 24 hours. The price has cleared the $3,154-$3,200 supply cluster that marked strong resistance, a move that traders see as a bullish signal.

The pattern echoes the pre-Pectra phase in May 2025, when Ethereum surged 56% in just seven days following that upgrade. Technical charts show a classic bullish divergence: while price marked a lower low between November 4 and December 1, RSI printed a higher low—a setup that often signals weakening selling pressure.

On-chain data supports the bullish case. Addresses holding at least $1 million in ETH have increased from 13,322 to 13,945, representing roughly $623 million in additional accumulation by large holders.

Key Levels to Watch

With the $3,200 zone now cleared, the next target sits at $3,653. If the rally extends 56% from Pectra, a move toward $4,262 comes into view.

The squeeze is on.$ETH surges above $3,200 and is now up +17% off Monday’s low. pic.twitter.com/YsdnzsSI7Q

— Noble Investing (@NobleInvesting) December 4, 2025

On the downside, $3,200 now serves as the first support to hold. A break below $2,996 would weaken the bullish structure, exposing $2,873 and potentially $2,618.

For now, sustaining above $3,200 will determine whether Fusaka marks the beginning of a new bullish phase.

The post Fusaka Pushes Ethereum Above $3,200: It Will Reach $4,262 If This Happens appeared first on BeInCrypto.

From Nov. 24 to Dec. 2, 2025, JPMorgan launched leveraged notes tied to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, Vanguard reversed its crypto ban, and Nasdaq quadrupled IBIT options limits. Three moves in nine days created one outcome: Bitcoin’s absorption into traditional finance and institutions.

Analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera describes that this rapid convergence marked a foundational change in how institutional capital accesses digital assets. Leading banks and asset managers expanded crypto offerings, distribution channels, and regulatory frameworks, redefining Bitcoin’s role in global finance.

The November Convergence: Coordinated Infrastructure Expansion

Traditional finance long observed Bitcoin from a distance. By late 2025, however, digital asset infrastructure reached a tipping point. The transformation began with SEC approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, offering a regulated path for institutional investment.

JPMorgan’s Nov. 24 filing detailed leveraged structured notes providing up to 1.5x returns on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF through 2028. These securities targeted sophisticated investors seeking amplified exposure while retaining legal protections. Notably, the notes exposed investors to significant downside, risking principal loss if IBIT declined by roughly 40 percent or more.

That same week, Nasdaq announced on Nov. 26 that it would raise IBIT options position limits from 250,000 to 1,000,000 contracts. This acknowledged the growth in both market capitalization and volume, supporting the need for volatility-hedged products for institutional portfolios. As Perera’s structural analysis noted, broader options infrastructure allowed institutions to manage Bitcoin volatility, aligning digital assets with standard risk controls.

On Dec. 2, Vanguard completed the picture. The world’s second-largest asset manager reversed its long-standing opposition and opened Bitcoin and crypto ETFs to clients holding around $11 trillion in assets. Vanguard’s move, made during a market correction, signaled strategic timing rather than speculative chasing.

Retail Capitulation Meets Institutions’ Allocation

This turning point coincided with a wave of retail exits. Bitcoin ETF redemptions soared as individual investors sold amid price drops. Meanwhile, institutional capital took the other side. Abu Dhabi Investment Council and similar sovereign entities increased their Bitcoin allocations as retail sentiment reversed.

Bank of America authorized 15,000 financial advisers to allocate Bitcoin to wealth clients starting Jan. 5, 2026. Advisers recommended a 1 to 4 percent exposure for clients able to stomach volatility, highlighting four ETFs: the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust, and the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust. This guidance marked a significant shift for an institution with $2.67 trillion in assets across more than 3,600 branches.

“2024: Vanguard CEO says they will not offer Bitcoin ETFs 2025: Vanguard offers Bitcoin ETFs to 50 million clients Vanguard and JPMorgan have bent the knee,” eOffshoreNomad posted.

Similarly, BlackRock recommended allocating up to 2 percent of portfolios to Bitcoin, citing risk levels comparable to those of the “Magnificent 7” technology stocks. The unified approach across institutions suggested coordinated messaging, if not formal cooperation. Advisers received consistent direction on allocations, risk communication, and client selection from competing firms.

Goldman Sachs took a different approach by acquiring Innovator Capital Management for about $2 billion. This gave Goldman instant distribution and compliance pathways for crypto products, saving years of internal development and providing an established network.

MSCI Index Exclusion: Eliminating Competing Models

While financial institutions expanded ETF infrastructure, other models faced obstacles. On Oct. 10, 2025, MSCI announced a consultation to exclude firms with substantial digital asset treasury holdings from major indices. The preliminary list included Strategy Inc., Metaplanet, and similar companies that pioneered corporate treasury Bitcoin adoption.

The proposal targeted companies in which Bitcoin or other digital assets accounted for an outsized share of the balance sheet. Removal from the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices would force these firms out of passive investment funds and major benchmark-tracking ETFs. The consultation is open until Dec. 31, 2025, with final decisions coming by Jan. 15, 2026.

The timing was notable. Strategy Inc., for example, attracted those wanting Bitcoin exposure without financial intermediaries or ETF fees. But, as MSCI proposed exclusion, major banks introduced new fee-generating ETF options. This created pressure on alternative exposure approaches.

Regulatory clarity accelerated institutional adoption through 2025. Laws such as the GENIUS Act and related orders defined the treatment of digital assets and reduced legal risks for large financial firms. These rules aligned digital assets with existing securities compliance, encouraging institutional entry.

Fee-Based Capture and the End of Alternative Exposure

The nine-day convergence was about more than new products. It firmly established Bitcoin as a fee-earning asset class for traditional finance. Leveraged notes, options, and ETF allocations each bring recurring revenue, while direct treasury and self-custody models now face obstacles such as index exclusions and higher regulatory requirements.

With expanded options, institutions can now manage volatility, making Bitcoin suitable for risk-parity portfolios and mandates with strict limits. The infrastructure shift means Bitcoin now acts as a portfolio component, not just a speculative asset. Yet, this shifts price discovery to derivatives, not spot trading.

The institutional system mirrors other asset classes. Allocations and risk disclosures are harmonized. Licensed advisers guide clients, and products feature standardized fees and messaging. Bitcoin, initially meant to circumvent the system, is now absorbed into the very architecture it once challenged.

The post How Nine Days Redefined Bitcoin Ownership: Absorbed by Institutions appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Precious metals rally to multi-week and all-time highs as Fed easing expectations climb, but crypto markets tell a different story amid ETF outflows and macro headwinds.

Gold prices touched a six-week high on Monday while silver struck a record, buoyed by growing expectations of US interest rate cuts and a weakening dollar.

Silver Shines on Supply Squeeze

Spot gold climbed to $4,241 per ounce, its highest level since late October, while silver soared to a record $58.83 before retreating slightly. The white metal has more than doubled in value this year, far outpacing gold’s impressive 60% gain.

The primary driver behind this rally is growing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. According to CME FedWatch data, traders are now pricing in an 87.6% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s December 10 meeting, with only a 12.4% chance of rates remaining unchanged.

Beyond monetary policy expectations, silver is benefiting from acute supply constraints. A historic squeeze in London during October drew record amounts of the metal into the trading hub, subsequently draining inventories elsewhere. Shanghai Futures Exchange-linked warehouses recently hit their lowest levels in nearly a decade, while one-month borrowing costs for silver remain elevated.

The dollar’s slide to a two-week low has further enhanced the appeal of precious metals for holders of other currencies. Dovish remarks from Fed officials, including Governor Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams, have reinforced expectations for continued monetary easing.

Bitcoin Bucks the Trend

Yet Bitcoin, often touted as “digital gold,” has moved in the opposite direction. The leading cryptocurrency plunged to around $86,000, down roughly 30% from its October all-time high near $126,000.

Several factors explain this divergence. US-listed Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $3.4 billion in net outflows in November, reversing earlier inflows. A $9 million Yearn Finance hack on December 1 rattled DeFi sentiment, while Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda’s hints at a potential rate hike sparked fears of global carry trade unwinding. Additionally, over $1 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated during the recent selloff.

Those who said that the bitcoin chart will follow gold in the future.

sorry, it seems that it is not as expected 😬 pic.twitter.com/7ai1FnNq3e

— DOMBA.eth 🐺 (@DombaEth27) December 1, 2025

Although gold, silver, and Bitcoin are all non-yielding assets, precious metals are benefiting from independent bullish drivers—namely, physical supply shortages. Bitcoin, by contrast, remains far more sensitive to ETF fund flows and leverage liquidations.

While rate-cut expectations should be favorable for Bitcoin over the medium to long term, short-term headwinds are currently exerting greater influence.

The post 88% Chance of Rate Cut: Why Is Bitcoin Crashing While Silver Soars? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

China’s yuan is on track for its strongest annual performance in five years, gaining nearly 4% against the dollar in 2025.

While the rally has captured headlines in traditional finance, its implications for cryptocurrency markets are complicated by Beijing’s increasingly hawkish regulatory stance.

Reduced Capital Flight, Tighter Enforcement

Several factors are driving the yuan’s appreciation: the People’s Bank of China’s supportive daily fixing, renewed inflows into Chinese equities, and a roughly 7% decline in the dollar index. Central investment banks remain bullish, with Goldman Sachs projecting the currency could reach 6.85 per dollar within a year.

For crypto investors, yuan strength is not inherently bullish. Historically, periods of yuan weakness—such as 2018-2019—prompted Chinese capital to seek refuge in Bitcoin as a hedge against currency depreciation. A stronger yuan reverses this dynamic, reducing capital flight incentives and making dollar-denominated assets, including Bitcoin, relatively less attractive to Chinese investors.

Adding to the bearish undertone for China-linked crypto flows, the PBOC last week reaffirmed its crackdown on virtual currencies. At a regulatory coordination meeting on November 29, the central bank warned that crypto speculation has recently resurged, presenting new challenges for risk control. It reiterated that virtual currency-related business activities remain “illegal financial activities” in China.

The PBOC also flagged specific concerns about stablecoins, citing failures to meet customer identification and anti-money-laundering requirements. Authorities warned that stablecoins risk facilitating money laundering, fraud, and unauthorized cross-border fund transfers—signaling that Beijing views dollar-pegged tokens as potential loopholes for capital flight even as the yuan strengthens.

Macro Tailwinds Persist for Yuan

Yet the broader macro backdrop remains supportive for crypto. The same forces driving yuan appreciation—dollar weakness, anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts, and improving global risk sentiment—are traditionally favorable for risk assets. Bitcoin’s rally since August has coincided with the yuan’s rebound, suggesting both are responding to the same liquidity-driven tailwinds.

While a stronger yuan and tighter Chinese enforcement may reduce one historical source of Bitcoin demand, global liquidity conditions and dollar weakness continue to serve as more significant drivers for crypto market direction.

The post Chinese Yuan’s Best Year Since 2020: What It Means for Crypto Markets appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Japan’s 2-year government bond yield surged to 1% on December 1, its highest since 2008. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled a possible interest rate hike at the December 18-19 monetary policy meeting, sending ripples through global financial markets.

This development could mark the end of three decades of ultra-low interest rates that fueled the yen carry trade. As borrowing costs rise and the yen strengthens, global markets now brace for significant deleveraging across asset classes.

Bond Yields Climb as Rate Hike Expectations Grow

Japan’s bond market moved sharply following Ueda’s recent statements. The 2-year note yield rose by one basis point to 1%. Longer-dated bonds also saw gains: five-year yields rose about four basis points to 1.35%, and 10-year yields climbed to 1.845%, according to Bloomberg data.

During trading, 10-year government bond yields reached 1.850%, their highest level since June 2008. This 17-year high highlights market belief that the BOJ will tighten policy soon. The shift in yields underscores the rapid change in investor sentiment on the central bank’s next move.

Markets responded quickly. The yen gained as much as 0.4% against the dollar, trading at 155.49 on December 1. This reversal from November’s levels reflects growing expectations of higher Japanese interest rates, which are making yen assets newly attractive.

At a business meeting in Nagoya, Ueda stated that reduced uncertainty around the US economy and tariffs bolstered confidence in Japan’s economic and price outlook. He reaffirmed that timely rate changes are key for financial stability and meeting the 2% inflation target.

Inflation and Fiscal Policy Drive Shift Toward Tightening

The government’s expansionary fiscal policy has added to inflation pressures, building a case for monetary tightening. Yen depreciation has lifted import prices, fueling consumer inflation and raising questions about the sustainability of price stability. Governor Ueda highlighted the growing impact of a weaker yen on import costs and warned that expectations could affect core inflation.

Market forecasts now suggest the BOJ’s policy rate could reach 1.4% following three 25-basis-point hikes from the current 0.5% rate. Based on Overnight Indexed Swap rates and 1-year forward rates, expectations are clearly rising. Katsutoshi Inatome of Mitsui Sumitomo Trust said that a hike in December would push future rate estimates even higher.

The BOJ faces a careful balance. While lifting rates tackles inflation and supports the currency, it could disrupt financial flows that have relied on cheap Japanese funding. Ueda emphasized that any hike would be measured in an accommodative manner, not as a sharp break. He added that Japanese policy has revived a system where both wages and prices can rise moderately.

Global Markets React as Yen Carry Trade Nears End

The possible unwinding of the yen carry trade marks a significant change for global finance. For 30 years, investors borrowed yen at low rates to seek higher returns elsewhere, supporting asset prices from US stocks to emerging market bonds. This provided leverage that fueled many market rallies.

As Japanese rates climb, the economics of the carry trade shift. Borrowers who locked in 1% funding with a stable yen now face repayment at 3% and a currency that has appreciated by 10%. This raises the effective borrowing cost to around 13%, making such trades far less attractive. The August 2024 flash crash previewed the turmoil that can occur when carry trade positions unwind quickly.

“For 30 years, the Yen Carry Trade subsidized global arrogance — zero rates… free leverage… fake growth… entire economies built on borrowed time and borrowed money. Now Japan has reversed the switch. Rates climbed. Yen strengthened. And the world’s favourite ATM just turned into a debt-collector.” – AlgoBoffin

The Nikkei 225 fell 1.88% as deleveraging began, and analysts warn that this could start a cycle of forced asset sales. When cheap yen financing vanishes, markets must rely on fundamental strength instead of leverage. The ripples stretch beyond Japan, impacting financial hubs like Wall Street and Shanghai that benefited from yen-driven liquidity.

Cryptocurrency markets are especially vulnerable to tighter global liquidity. Bitcoin and other digital assets respond sharply to changes in funding. Typically, risk assets absorb the first wave of volatility when liquidity dries up, potentially causing swings in crypto valuations.

These **three charts together (Japan 10Y + Silver + Bitcoin)** are telling one of the **clearest macro stories of our lifetime**.

## **1️⃣ Japan 10-Year Yield (The Beginning of the End of “Free Money”)**

For 30+ years, Japan kept interest rates near **zero**.
This created the… pic.twitter.com/JBIOu3SrwS

— ajay patel (@ajaycan) December 1, 2025

Some analysts argue that this transition exposes underlying market dynamics that have been masked by years of loose monetary policy. As liquidity tightens and rates normalize, asset prices may be judged more on intrinsic value than on cheap financing. This shift could benefit some commodities and hard assets, but challenge growth sectors that flourished with ultra-low rates.

The coming weeks are pivotal as the BOJ considers its December decision. Markets are set for tightening, but the exact pace is unknown. Whether Japan chooses gradual or sharper rate increases will shape how quickly and severely global deleveraging unfolds. The era of free Japanese money seems to be ending, ushering in a period of higher volatility and greater scrutiny of market fundamentals worldwide.

The post Yen Carry Crypto Trading Over? Japan Signals Rate Hike appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin briefly plunged below $87,000, wiping out a week’s gains in one session.

The fast selloff triggered $400 million in liquidations within just 60 minutes and pushed the global crypto market capitalization down 4% to $3.04 trillion. Trading activity surged as both retail and institutional investors reacted swiftly to price pressure.

Market Turmoil Sparks Massive Liquidations

Liquidations surged across leveraged positions, reflecting the speed of the downturn. Market data noted $400 million liquidated in just one hour. This rapid wave of losses highlights the risks for traders during sharp price moves.

BREAKING: Bitcoin falls -$4,000 in 2 hours as mass liquidations return.

$400 million worth of levered longs have been liquidated over the last 60 minutes. pic.twitter.com/qKB7MYJapu

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 1, 2025

Trading volume spiked to over $110 billion as investors adjusted their holdings. Bitcoin’s dominance stood at 57.1%, while Ethereum held 11.3%, according to CoinGecko data.

The Kobeissi Letter attributed the crash to thin weekend liquidity and record-high leverage, saying, “This crypto bear market is still structural in nature. We do NOT view this as a fundamental decline.” The analyst noted that Bitcoin fell $4,000 in minutes with no news. This triggered a domino-effect selloff amplified by mass liquidations of leveraged positions.

Other analysts have warned that Bitcoin’s price pattern resembles earlier bearish cycles. Following a recovery above $90,000 after a drop on November 20, Bitcoin hovered around $91,208.85 on November 28 and maintained support at $90,000 for six days.

Korbot Labs describes that the current price action echoes April 2024, when Bitcoin bounced back above $70,000 only to drop to $57,000 by May and later to $67,000 by June. This pattern suggests that further sideways movement or another correction is possible.

Another analyst cautioned about the risk of deeper losses, noting that a “wipe out” could occur if Bitcoin falls through the $80,000 support level.

“Bitcoin not a good open to start the week! Much closer to becoming 2-1-2d as a measured move. This tends to cause a ‘wipe out’ type move if we successfully break through 80.00. Could see as low as 48k if we see the sellers stick around into the end of this year.”

Technical analysis also points to crucial support zones. Should selling persist, prices could slip much further. A drop to $48,000 would mark a dramatic 45% decline from current levels, but such a move would likely require sustained bearish sentiment.

Asset Rotation Narrative Shapes Sentiment

Some analysts see Bitcoin’s selloff as part of a broader shift in asset allocation. The move came as traditional safe-haven assets like precious metals outperformed. This suggests some investors are reconsidering their risk exposure.

This argument states that capital is flowing from digital assets to “hard money” alternatives. Silver, for example, surged even as Bitcoin fell. Some analysts see this as a sign of changing investor preferences.

“While #Bitcoin just erased most of the last week gain in a single candle, #Silver is breaking out vertically like there’s no tomorrow. Money is choosing real assets over speculative assets. The rotation is screaming loud: Paper wealth → Hard money, Digital risk → Monetary metals” – Macrobysunil

This theory remains hotly debated. Bitcoin has repeatedly rebounded from steep selloffs. Its 57.1% market dominance shows it still attracts most digital asset flows, despite volatility.

Meanwhile, on the first day of December, Bitcoin briefly dipped below $87,000 before quickly recovering. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading in the $87,200–$87,400 range, with market participants closely watching whether the $87,000 support level will hold.

The post Bitcoin Dips Below $87K: One Week’s Gains Gone in One Candle appeared first on BeInCrypto.

MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor’s cryptic post, “What if we start adding green dots?” to his well-known Bitcoin accumulation chart, has fueled widespread speculation across crypto circles.

The signal emerges just as CEO Phong Le publicly acknowledged, for the first time, that the company may sell Bitcoin under certain stress conditions. This dual narrative could mark a turning point for the corporate world’s most aggressive Bitcoin treasury strategy.

Decoding the Green Dots Mystery

Saylor’s Sunday post on X displayed the company’s Bitcoin portfolio chart. It outlined 87 purchase events totaling 649,870 BTC, valued at $59.45 billion, with an average cost of $74,433 per Bitcoin. Orange dots mark each acquisition since August 2020, while a dashed green line shows the average purchase price.

What if we start adding green dots? pic.twitter.com/a19bD33KzD

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) November 30, 2025

The crypto community quickly interpreted the green dots as a signal for accelerated Bitcoin purchases. One analyst summarized the bullish case, noting MicroStrategy has capital, conviction, substantial net asset value, and cash flow to support continued acquisitions. However, some offered alternative theories, including the possibility of stock buybacks or asset restructuring.

This ambiguity reflects Saylor’s history of cryptic messages. Supporters view his posts as deliberate signals of strategy, while skeptics question if they are merely for engagement. Still, the timing of this signal, along with financial disclosures, points to more than mere commentary.

First Admission: Bitcoin Sales Remain an Option

In a significant shift from MicroStrategy’s “never sell” philosophy, CEO Phong Le publicly admitted the company may sell Bitcoin if certain crisis conditions arise. MicroStrategy would consider a sale only if two triggers occur: the stock trades below 1x modified Net Asset Value (mNAV) and the company cannot raise new capital through equity or debt.

People don’t realize how big this is:

1. Strategy has capital

2. conviction is unchanged

3. NAV is strong

4. cash flow supports buys

5. demand could spike

"A Saylor signal is never random."

— George (@ScrewiexD) November 30, 2025

Modified Net Asset Value measures the company’s enterprise value divided by its Bitcoin holdings. As of November 30, 2025, the mNAV was near 0.95, close to the threshold. If it drops below 0.9, MicroStrategy could be pressured to liquidate Bitcoin to meet its $750 to $800 million annual preferred share dividend obligations.

The company issued perpetual preferred stock throughout 2025 to fund Bitcoin acquisitions. According to official press releases, the 8.00% Series A Perpetual Strike Preferred Stock requires quarterly dividends starting on March 31, 2025. These ongoing obligations add new liquidity pressure, especially as equity markets become less receptive to new issuances.

This policy change introduces a measurable risk threshold. Analysts now consider MicroStrategy much like a leveraged Bitcoin ETF: benefiting from appreciation in bull markets, but exposed to amplified risks when liquidity tightens.

Bitcoin Price Movement and Strategic Implications

Bitcoin’s recent price movement adds essential context to both Saylor’s message and Le’s admission.

MicroStrategy’s portfolio showed a 22.91% gain ($11.08 billion) as of November 30, 2025, bringing its valuation to $59.45 billion. However, its stock declined by more than 60% from recent highs, revealing a gap between Bitcoin gains and shareholder returns. This gap impacts the mNAV calculation and raises questions about the strategy’s sustainability.

green dots = more btc acquisitions. microstrategy proved treasury strategy works in bull markets. real test is holding through -80% drawdowns without forced liquidation. conviction has a price denominated in shareholder patience

— João Alcantara (@joaonalcantara) November 30, 2025

Some community members acknowledge this tension. One observer commented on X that green dots may suggest more Bitcoin acquisitions, but the key issue is whether MicroStrategy can hold through deep drawdowns without forced liquidation. This underscores the strategy’s challenge: strong in bull markets but unproven in downturns.

According to the company’s third-quarter 2025 financial results, it held roughly 640,808 bitcoins as of October 26, 2025, with an original cost basis of $47.4 billion. The subsequent growth to 649,870 BTC by November 30 highlights ongoing accumulation despite volatility.

The post What Do Saylor’s Green Dots Mean? Secret Trigger? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

A South Korean expert has suggested that the recent Upbit breach may have originated from a high-level mathematical exploit targeting flaws in the exchange’s signature or random-number generation system.

Rather than a conventional wallet compromise, the attack appears to have leveraged subtle nonce-bias patterns embedded in millions of Solana transactions—an approach requiring advanced cryptographic expertise and significant computational resources.

Technical Analysis of the Breach

On Friday, Upbit operator Dunamu’s CEO Kyoungsuk Oh issued a public apology regarding the Upbit incident, acknowledging that the company had discovered a security flaw that allowed an attacker to infer private keys by analyzing a large number of Upbit wallet transactions exposed on the blockchain. His statement, however, raised immediate questions about how private keys could be stolen through transaction data.

The next day, Professor Jaewoo Cho of Hansung University provided insight into the breach, linking it to biased or predictable nonces within Upbit’s internal signing system. Rather than typical ECDSA nonce-reuse flaws, this method exploited subtle statistical patterns in the platform’s cryptography. Cho explained that attackers could examine millions of leaked signatures, infer bias patterns, and ultimately recover private keys.

This perspective aligns with recent studies showing that affinely related ECDSA nonces create a significant risk. A 2025 study on arXiv demonstrated that just two signatures with such related nonces can expose private keys. As a result, private key extraction becomes far easier for attackers who can gather large datasets from exchanges.

The level of technical sophistication suggests an organized group with advanced cryptographic skills conducted this exploit. According to Cho, identifying minimal bias across millions of signatures requires not only mathematical expertise but also extensive computational resources.

In response to the incident, Upbit moved all remaining assets to secure cold wallets and halted digital asset deposits and withdrawals. The exchange has also pledged to restore any losses from its reserves, ensuring immediate damage control.

Extent and Security Implications

Evidence from a Korean researcher indicates that hackers gained access not only to the exchange’s hot wallet but also to individual deposit wallets. This may point to the compromise of sweep-authority keys—or even the private keys themselves—signaling a grave security breach.

Another researcher points out that, if private keys were exposed, Upbit could be forced to comprehensively overhaul its security systems, including its hardware security modules (HSM), multi-party computation (MPC), and wallet structures. This scenario raises questions about internal controls, indicating possible insider involvement and placing Upbit’s reputation at risk. The extent of the attack highlights the need for robust security protocols and strict access controls across major exchanges.

The incident illustrates that even highly engineered systems can conceal mathematical weaknesses. Effective nonce generation must ensure randomness and unpredictability. Detectable bias creates vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Organized attackers are increasingly capable of identifying and leveraging these flaws.

Research into ECDSA safeguards stresses that faulty randomness in nonce creation can leak key information. The Upbit case shows how theoretical vulnerabilities can translate into major real-world losses when attackers have the expertise and motivation to exploit them.

Timing and Industry Impact

The attack’s timing has fueled community speculation. It occurred exactly six years after a comparable Upbit breach in 2019, which was attributed to North Korean hackers. Furthermore, the hack coincided with the announcement of a major merger involving Naver Financial and Dunamu, Upbit’s parent company.

Online, some conspiracy theories about coordination or insider knowledge, while others suggest the attack could mask other motives, such as internal embezzlement. Although the clear technical evidence of a complex mathematical exploit points to a highly advanced attack by cybercriminals, critics say the pattern still mirrors longstanding concerns about Korean exchanges:

“Everyone knows these exchanges massacre retail traders by listing questionable tokens and letting them die with no liquidity,” one user wrote. Others noted, “Two overseas altcoin exchanges recently pulled the same stunt and disappeared,” while another accused the company directly: “Is this just internal embezzlement and plugging the hole with company funds?”

The 2019 Upbit case showed that North Korea-aligned entities had previously targeted major exchanges to evade sanctions through cyber theft. Although it’s unclear if the current incident involved state-sponsored actors, the advanced nature of the attack remains concerning.

The post Upbit Hack Stemmed From High-Level Mathematical Exploit, Says Local Expert appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Soneium, a Layer-2 blockchain platform by Sony Block Solutions Labs, announced a partnership with IRC APP, the official app for one of Japan’s largest idol and fashion festivals, Idol Runway Collection (IRC).

The collaboration will bring the IRC onto Soneium’s AI-powered IPFi infrastructure to transform global fan engagement through measurable, rewarding on-chain contributions. Asia’s entertainment industry has become a trailblazer in fan participation, a trend that is now taking hold in Western markets.

Sony’s Blockchain Infrastructure for Entertainment

The IRC, Japan’s largest idol and fashion hybrid festival, is hosted by YOAKE entertainment and has expanded its scale through a collaboration with Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC). IRC has already established itself as a success, attracting approximately 11,800 attendees and 107 idol groups to its 2025 event. 

The core goal of the partnership is redefining fan engagement by valuing and rewarding measurable on-chain contributions across the J-Pop fandom. This collaboration will unlock the creative community’s economic potential, starting with the world’s second-largest music market.

The core of fan engagement is within the IRC mobile app. This AI-powered app evaluates positive, consistent, supportive posts made by fans on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter). The measured engagement is converted into “IRC Score,” which is automatically claimed to fans’ on-chain wallets without gas fees.

This accumulated score determines a user’s Membership rank—Regular, Bronze, Silver, or Gold—with each tier offering progressively enhanced real-world benefits for IRC 2026, scheduled for March 15, 2026, in Tokyo, including early ticket access, priority entry, and premium venue invitations. It also enables the on-chain Fan Vote, which directly shapes tangible aspects of the IRC 2026 event. This measurable fandom contribution system will expand beyond idol culture into new creative frontiers such as anime and fashion.

Sony launched its Soneium blockchain mainnet on January 14, 2025, setting a new standard for production-grade Web3 services focused on entertainment, gaming, and intellectual property protection. This public Layer-2 network uses Ethereum’s OP Stack, inheriting its security while offering lower transaction fees and higher throughput. Sony Block Solutions Labs designed Soneium to support scalable applications for digital communities and creative industries.

Asian Entertainment Companies Pioneer Fan Ownership Models

This is not the first time Asian entertainment companies have tried Web3-related projects. In Korea, girl group tripleS has made blockchain a core source of revenue. Produced by Modhaus and formed as a 24-member group, tripleS lets fans use NFTs and utility tokens to influence unit composition and song selection. Fans purchase NFT objects to gain Komos token voting power in the COSMO app, creating a system of transparent, participatory governance.

This model enabled tripleS to generate revenue even before its debut, providing members with compensation comparable to that of large companies. Production exceeded 10 billion KRW ($6.8 million), and early NFT sales helped cash flow, offering a fairer distribution than typical idol group contracts. TripleS stands out as a case where blockchain drives fan co-creation and transparent value sharing in entertainment.

China’s entertainment platforms are rapidly adopting superfan-driven community models that resemble Web3 economics even without blockchain. HYBE’s expansion through Tencent Music and Alibaba shows how direct messaging, authenticated merchandise, and integrated fan services strengthen ownership-like engagement. This environment naturally supports large-scale Web3-style participation economies.

Tencent Music’s superfan ecosystem illustrates this shift with Bubble surpassing 2.3 million paying subscribers. G-DRAGON’s Macau shows drew 36,000 attendees and 7 million simultaneous online viewers, proving the power of hybrid fan engagement. Merchandise, tiered subscriptions, and the expansion of long-form audio show China building a multi-channel superfan economy aligned with Web3 principles.

Lessons From Failed Web3 Entertainment Experiments

Failures have existed, too. Momentrica, an NFT platform by Dunamu and HYBE, closed on July 2, 2025, after posting an operating loss of 13 billion KRW ($8.88 million USD)and a net loss of 12.3 billion KRW in the last reported year. Although HYBE artists’ digital collectibles sparked initial interest, Momentrica struggled due to a lack of long-term utility or sustained fan participation amid the broader NFT market downturn. Precisely, the platform only offered NFTs as static digital goods, not as engagement tools.

The contrast between Momentrica and tripleS highlights a key difference in Web3 entertainment. Momentrica provided digital collectibles without voting rights, participation, or ongoing utility. In contrast, tripleS used blockchain at its core, granting fans voting rights and engagement options. The lesson is clear: successful Web3 in entertainment requires participation architectures, not just digital merchandise.

Sony’s Soneium appears poised to avoid Momentrica’s pitfalls by supporting high-volume, participation-based applications. Its scalable Layer-2 network is built for voting, reward distribution, and community engagement. Whether entertainment companies create effective participation models on this infrastructure will determine if Sony’s blockchain strategy succeeds where others have failed.

The post Sony Takes the Baton in Asia’s Entertainment–Web3 Convergence appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin’s sharp correction from $110,000 to around $80,000 is linked to heavy selling by early whales with cost bases near $16,000. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju notes that on-chain metrics indicate Bitcoin is now in the “shoulder” phase of its cycle, suggesting limited short-term upside potential.

This selling is overwhelming institutional demand from ETFs and MicroStrategy, shaping the cryptocurrency’s 2025 outlook. In an interview with Upbit’s Upbitcare, Ju provides a data-driven look at the shifting landscape for Bitcoin investors and the forces affecting its current market structure.

Early Bitcoin Whales Fuel Selling Pressure

Ki Young Ju explains that today’s market is shaped by a contest between two main whale groups. Legacy whales, holding Bitcoin with an average cost basis near $16,000, have begun to realize hefty profits, selling at a rate measured in hundreds of millions of USD each day. This persistent selling has exerted intense downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price.

At the same time, institutional whales via spot Bitcoin ETFs and MicroStrategy have accumulated significant positions. Yet, their buying power has not matched the scale of early whales’ sell-offs. According to Ju, wallets holding over 10,000 BTC for more than 155 days typically have an average cost basis of around $38,000. Binance traders entered positions around $50,000, so many market participants are in profit and can sell if needed.

The CryptoQuant CEO points out that spot ETF and MicroStrategy inflows had boosted the market earlier in 2025. However, those flows have now declined. Outflows have started to dominate the market landscape. For example, data from Farside Investors showed Bitcoin ETFs recorded $42.8 million in net inflows on November 26, 2025, lifting cumulative inflows to $62.68 billion. Despite these figures, the sustained selling from early whales outweighs institutional accumulation.

Market Cycle Analysis Signals Limited Upside

On-chain profit-and-loss metrics offer crucial insights into market cycles. Ju’s analysis using the PnL index with a 365-day moving average reveals that the market has entered a “shoulder” phase. This late-cycle status indicates constrained growth potential and increased risk of a correction.

The valuation multiplier reflects a neutral-to-flat outlook. In previous cycles, each new dollar drove amplified market-cap growth. Now, that multiplier effect has faded. This suggests market leverage is less efficient, and the structure does not support significant gains.

Ju does not expect a dramatic 70-80% crash. Still, he considers corrections up to 30% reasonable. A drop from $100,000 could mean Bitcoin falling to about $70,000. He uses data from OKX futures long-short ratios, exchange leverage ratios, and buy-sell flow patterns to support this view.

Ju underscores the importance of a data-driven approach. In a recent post, he urged traders to use metrics for conviction, not speculation. His focus remains on interpreting on-chain data, exchange activity, and market structure.

Never trade without data. pic.twitter.com/JnAtLwpdGa

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) November 27, 2025

This comprehensive analysis provides a grounded assessment based on on-chain evidence. As early Bitcoin whales continue to sell at profits, institutions face a harsh climate. With high leverage ratios, neutral valuation multipliers, and a late-cycle stance, the market has limited potential for a major rally in the near future.

The post Bitcoin Downtrend Driven by Early Whale Selling, Says Ki Young Ju appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Story Protocol’s native token soared 21.48% to $2.98 in 24 hours as the blockchain introduced its first prediction markets and launched Confidential Data Rails. This privacy-focused upgrade secures encrypted data on-chain.

The surge mirrors multiple feature rollouts and rising institutional attention, positioning the Layer 1 blockchain as a critical driver in the growing $80 trillion intellectual property economy.

Price Jumps with New Features and Market Momentum

As of 2:00 am UTC on Wednesday, Story Protocol’s IP token traded at $2.98—a 21.48% increase over the previous day. The token saw $145.63 million in trading volume across leading exchanges. Its market cap reached $975.42 million, placing it #104 among global cryptocurrencies.

Story hit an all-time high of $14.78 on Sept. 21, 2025, and has traded between $1.00 and $14.78 since. Institutional confidence is rising as publicly traded IP Strategy (Nasdaq: IPST) holds 53 million tokens on its balance sheet. These tokens are valued at about $731 million.

The price rally arrived alongside three major launches: Story’s first prediction markets, integration with Dune Analytics for on-chain data, and a technical paper outlining Confidential Data Rails. These updates expand Story’s capabilities beyond IP registration, demonstrating it can support a broader range of decentralized applications.

Story Protocol Debuts On-Chain Prediction Markets

Story Protocol unveiled its first prediction markets with MusicByVirtuals, allowing users to trade on outcomes linked to cultural and financial events. These markets enable bets on topics like K-pop chart positions and cryptocurrency prices, with settlements processed on Story’s blockchain.

The first prediction markets on Story are live.@MusicByVirtuals is betting that culture is as tradable as price, and now there’s a platform to prove it.

Zcash price. Kpop charts. Predictions settled on Story.

Details ↴ pic.twitter.com/3TQQP3YDmI

— Story (@StoryProtocol) November 25, 2025

These markets highlight how cultural trends and financial predictions can be tokenized and traded on-chain, showcasing Story’s versatility beyond IP management. It underscores Story’s aim to capture both IP ownership and the speculation surrounding cultural assets.

Confidential Data Rails: Privacy Upgrade for On-Chain Assets

Last Thursday, Story Protocol released its technical paper on Confidential Data Rails (CDR). This upgrade transforms encrypted data into programmable on-chain assets. The technology enables secure storage and automated management of sensitive assets within Story’s IP vaults. These assets include AI datasets, biomedical records, and API keys.

The official Story Foundation announcement describes CDR as a cryptographic foundation that combines confidentiality, automation, and programmability. Decentralized trusted execution environments (TEEs) and smart contracts on the Story chain enforce permissions. This system allows data owners to control confidential assets without exposing sensitive details.

Programmable confidentiality is here.

Confidential Data Rails (CDR) turns encrypted data into onchain building blocks, paving the way for new privacy use-cases on Story and beyond.

Technical Paper out now ↓ pic.twitter.com/pp96CAaCr9

— Story (@StoryProtocol) November 20, 2025

CDR helps solve a persistent blockchain challenge: ensuring privacy while maintaining transparency. Public blockchains are excellent for auditability but lack strong data protection. CDR lets creators and enterprises tokenize sensitive IP while maintaining strict access controls—a feature essential for sectors such as pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and AI, where confidential information must remain protected even as rights are managed on-chain.

Meanwhile, Story Protocol’s partnership with Dune Analytics enables real-time visualization of on-chain IP data, covering registrations, licenses, royalties, and derivative chains. Andrea Muttoni, President and Chief Product Officer, noted that the integration fosters transparency and deeper analytics in on-chain IP. The collaboration grants developers and institutions SQL access to Story’s data, promoting research into IP tokenization and licensing trends.

Creator Incentives Lead Platform Growth

Chase Chaisun Chang, Head of Korea at PIP Labs—the operator of Story Protocol—stressed at a South Korean conference on Tuesday that creator incentives are vital for consistent, high-quality content.

He explained how one dance video can generate 100,000 remixes within 24 hours, making traditional licensing impossible. AI consumes this content and endlessly produces secondary creations, while the boundary between creators and consumers has completely blurred.

Chang emphasized that, following the principle “garbage in, garbage out,” AI requires high-quality training data to function correctly. Proper attribution and ownership tracking are essential to combat misinformation and verify the authenticity of AI-generated content.

He concluded that digital transformation means individuals will increasingly own more intangible assets. Everyone is becoming both creator and consumer simultaneously in this new era. Better IP infrastructure is crucial to protect everyone’s digital assets in this rapidly evolving landscape.

The combination of price strength, feature launches, and institutional support positions Story Protocol as crucial infrastructure for decentralized IP management. Still, the token trades 80% below its all-time high. Ongoing adoption of CDR, prediction markets, and Dune-powered analytics will be decisive in whether the protocol can capture significant market share. As Story expands, the key question is whether creators and enterprises will move IP operations on-chain at a scale that justifies the protocol’s ambition.

The post Story Protocol Surges 21% on New Prediction Markets and Privacy Upgrade appeared first on BeInCrypto.

SanDisk Corp. will join the S&P 500 on Friday, November 28, 2024, replacing Interpublic Group of Companies Inc., according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. After the announcement on Monday, shares of the computer storage maker surged by more than 9% in after-hours trading.

This milestone signals SanDisk’s rapid rise, while Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) faces another setback, remaining excluded from the S&P 500 despite holding more than 640,000 Bitcoin.

SanDisk’s Rapid Ascent to the S&P 500

SanDisk’s move from the S&P SmallCap 600 to the S&P 500 reflects its strong market performance over the past few months. Driven by demand from artificial intelligence applications, the company’s market capitalization has reached approximately $33 billion. This surpassed typical small-cap index thresholds, making the switch to the S&P 500 a logical step.

The announcement arrived just before the Thanksgiving holiday trading session, highlighting the urgency of the rebalancing. The replacement is occurring outside the usual quarterly rebalance, suggesting strong market momentum. The stock closed up 13.33% on the day of the announcement before the after-hours surge.

Joining the S&P 500 usually attracts significant passive inflows, as index-tracking funds buy shares to maintain their weightings. This change boosts SanDisk’s institutional investment appeal and liquidity. It also raises the company’s profile among investors focused on large-cap equities in the index.

SanDisk’s rise is fueled by optimism around AI infrastructure. As businesses use more advanced machine learning models, storage solutions are increasingly critical—driving investor enthusiasm and boosting SanDisk’s valuation over the past year.

Strategy’s Continued S&P 500 Challenge

While SanDisk celebrates, Strategy remains on the outside looking in, even after meeting several technical requirements. The company, led by executive chairman Michael Saylor, holds 640,808 BTC, valued at around $72.3 billion, making it the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. However, this asset concentration is seen as a liability by index decision makers.

Strategy was not included in the S&P 500’s September reshuffle, which selected Robinhood, AppLovin, and Emcor. Analysts put the company’s chances of inclusion in December at 70% following strong Q3 results. The firm reported $3.8 billion in Q3 earnings, showing profitability tied to Bitcoin’s price movements.

Yet, earnings volatility remains the main hurdle. Strategy’s results fluctuate each quarter with Bitcoin’s price, creating inconsistency with S&P 500 requirements. For instance, Q2 2024 delivered $10 billion in revenue and $14 billion in unrealized gains, while Q1 saw a $4.2 billion loss. The index requires four straight quarters of positive earnings—a threshold that has eluded Strategy due to its Bitcoin-heavy approach.

S&P Dow Jones Indices gave Strategy a ‘B-‘ credit rating, citing high Bitcoin exposure, low USD liquidity, and a narrow business model. These contribute to traditional finance skepticism about digital asset treasury companies. The rating shows the committee sees Bitcoin-based volatility as incompatible with the stability expected in S&P 500 members.

Even if Strategy meets the criteria for market capitalization and liquidity, the committee also considers business model diversity, financial stability, and sector representation. While some advocate for evolving index methodologies to include innovative treasury approaches, traditionalists insist on consistent, proven earnings, especially for benchmarks like the S&P 500.

Traditional Finance Meets Digital Asset Reality

The paths of SanDisk and Strategy highlight a broader divide between traditional finance and digital asset business models. Some crypto-exposed companies like Robinhood have entered the S&P 500, yet Strategy’s concentrated Bitcoin position poses unique challenges. The company’s stock is down 35% from its July high of $434, reflecting disappointment over exclusion and credit rating concerns.

Nasdaq’s scrutiny of digital asset treasury firms adds further obstacles for Strategy. As industry analysis notes, traditional finance’s skepticism extends beyond earnings volatility to concerns about long-term business models and regulatory compliance. This unease endures, even as Strategy has occasionally outperformed both Bitcoin and the S&P 500, as Saylor has highlighted.

On the other hand, MSCI’s recent consultation that Strategy could be removed from its key equity indices has sharpened investor focus on whether similar pressure might eventually extend to the S&P 500. While the company’s inclusion in MSCI USA and MSCI World has long funneled billions in passive capital into the stock, analysts now argue that its increasingly bitcoin-centric profile may no longer fit traditional index methodologies.

This has raised questions in the broader market about whether the valuation premium tied to expected index stability is at risk — and whether Strategy’s future index eligibility, including any long-shot hopes of S&P 500 admission, could be further complicated by the growing scrutiny.

The post Strategy Fails to Join the S&P 500 Once Again appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Crypto mining stocks jumped as much as 20% led by BitMine and Cipher Mining, after Amazon unveiled plans to invest up to $50 billion in AI infrastructure for U.S. government agencies.

This shift comes as Bitcoin miners face declining profitability following the 2024 halving event. Meanwhile, demand for AI compute capacity is soaring. Tech giants now view miners’ established power infrastructure as key to rapid data center growth.

Mining Stocks Post Double-Digit Gains as Focus Shifts to Infrastructure

The crypto mining sector saw a broad rally on Monday, notching a 13.84% sector-wide gain according to SoSoValue data. BitMine soared nearly 20%, while Cipher Mining rose more than 18%.

The rally followed Amazon’s announcement of an investment of up to $50 billion in AI infrastructure for US government agencies. The plan will add 1.3 gigawatts across multiple data centers, with construction set for 2026. Agencies will gain access to AWS tools, Anthropic’s Claude AI, Nvidia chips, and Trainium chips developed by Amazon.

Amazon also announced a $15 billion investment in Northern Indiana for new data center campuses, supporting 1,100 high-skilled jobs and 2.4 gigawatts of data capacity. This expansion underscores the scale of infrastructure required for AI workloads.

Meta has intensified its AI infrastructure efforts, seeking federal approval to trade electricity alongside Microsoft for long-term energy supply. Meta’s Louisiana campus alone is expected to require three new gas-fired plants.

Bitcoin Miners Evolve Into AI Power Players

The substantial stock gains reveal how bitcoin miners are transforming operations. Declining profits after Bitcoin’s April 2024 halving prompted miners to seek new revenue streams. AI data center developers, who now face electricity shortages, see miners’ grid-integrated facilities as strategic partners.

IREN, formerly Iris Energy, signed a $9.7 billion data center deal with Microsoft, granting the tech giant early access to Nvidia GPUs. IREN’s stock has shot up 580% this year since its rebrand. Other miners showed strong performance: Riot Platforms gained 100%, TeraWulf 160%, and Cipher Mining 360%.

The combined 14 gigawatts of power capacity among US miners has become key for tech firms seeking rapid scale. Favorable US policies, including Nvidia export restrictions to China, give domestic miners a competitive edge. In contrast, Chinese miners face more regulation and import barriers.

AI data center developers are now targeting bitcoin miners. These teams are approaching mining operations already running high-capacity, grid-integrated sites. Locations like Childress, Texas, have become major hubs for combined data and mining infrastructure.

Tech Leaders Accelerate Infrastructure Investments

Global tech firms are raising around $100 billion in bond offerings to fuel new AI and cloud capabilities. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and Meta could spend $400 billion this year on AI and data center investments. According to Deutsche Bank, total AI-related investment could reach $4 trillion by 2030.

The move signifies a shift from cash reserves to debt financing. Meta has launched its largest-ever bond sale, totaling $30 billion, for AI infrastructure. Amazon issued a $15 billion US bond, its first in three years, attracting $80 billion in demand. Amazon holds $69.29 billion in debt and $66.92 billion in cash.

Alphabet issued a $17.5 billion US bond and a €6.5 billion European bond, bringing its total debt to $48.78 billion. The aggressive borrowing reflects the immense capital needs for AI infrastructure.

The need for energy to power AI, however, surpasses grid expansion. With slow grid development, tech companies are securing direct energy sources. Apple already has federal approval to trade electricity wholesale, reflecting a trend of tech firms managing their own energy for AI infrastructure.

The merging of crypto mining infrastructure with AI compute demand signals a major strategic shift for both sectors. As bitcoin miners pivot to AI compute, their built-in power capacity and grid-ready sites enable tech giants to deploy quickly and compete in the fast-evolving AI landscape.

The post Mining Stocks Jump 20% as Amazon’s $50B AI Push Boosts Demand for Power appeared first on BeInCrypto.

XRP jumped more than 9% to $2.27 after Franklin Templeton and Grayscale launched their spot XRP ETF on Monday. The $1.69 trillion asset manager joined Bitwise, Grayscale, and Canary Capital in offering regulated XRP investment products, calling XRP “foundational” for global settlement infrastructure.

This wave of ETF launches marks a turning point for XRP. After regulatory uncertainty faded with Ripple’s SEC settlement earlier in 2025, institutional interest is surging.

Wave of Institutional ETF Launches Signals Market Maturity

Franklin Templeton debuted the Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) on NYSE Arca, offering regulated XRP exposure through a grantor trust. The fund tracks the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate and uses Coinbase Custody as custodian, with BNY Mellon as administrator. According to Franklin Templeton’s announcement, the ETF allows investors to follow XRP’s performance transparently, without buying the cryptocurrency directly.

“XRPZ offers investors a convenient and regulated way to access a digital asset that plays a critical role in the global settlement infrastructure,” stated David Mann, director of ETF products and capital markets at Franklin Templeton.

Grayscale has also launched its XRP Trust ETF (GXRP) with a zero-fee introductory period, highlighting XRP’s strong market position.

Introducing Grayscale XRP Trust ETF (Ticker: $GXRP), now trading with 0% fees¹ from Grayscale, the world's largest crypto-focused asset manager².

Gain exposure to $XRP, the world’s 3rd largest digital asset³, driving innovation in global payments. Available in your brokerage… pic.twitter.com/rAzGrm0M6P

— Grayscale (@Grayscale) November 24, 2025

Bitwise, which launched its XRP ETF a week earlier, reported $100 million in initial inflows. The clustering of ETF launches signals that asset managers were prepared for regulatory clarity, which arrived from the SEC in 2025.

Regulatory Resolution Paves Way for Wall Street Entry

Ripple’s $125 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May 2025 ended years of uncertainty. SEC statements confirm that Ripple resolved all claims without admitting wrongdoing, paid $50 million directly to the agency, and had the rest released from escrow. This resolution gave large financial institutions the assurance needed to pursue spot ETFs.

Franklin Templeton’s participation is notable for its size, lending credibility to XRP’s story as a payment utility. Investors can now access XRP through regulated products managed by well-known custodians and with clear transparency.

Still, prospectuses caution that risks remain, including XRP’s volatility, limited diversification, and regulatory uncertainty abroad. The ETF holds only XRP and cash, making it unsuitable as a standalone investment.

XRP’s Technical Advantages Drive Institutional Interest

XRP runs on the decentralized XRP Ledger (XRPL), designed for rapid payment settlement. XRPL documentation highlights near-instant, low-fee transactions and notes that over 3.3 billion transfers have been processed on the network.

XRPL’s consensus system is said to be energy efficient, settling transactions in three to five seconds. These features attract institutions seeking alternatives to SWIFT and traditional cross-border systems.

Franklin Templeton’s prospectus and Grayscale Research both stress XRP’s usefulness as a currency bridge and for efficient, scalable transfers. With these characteristics, XRP sets itself apart from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which mainly serve as a store of value.

The current rally coincides with rising open interest in XRP futures, pointing to growing involvement from institutional and retail traders and suggesting sustained market activity.

Geopolitical Dimensions and China Exposure Speculation

Some analysts believe XRP could play a role in new cross-border payment corridors, including those in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Black Swan Capitalist has argued that China has indirect exposure to XRP through the BRICS New Development Bank and leading Japanese fintech SBI Holdings. However, direct adoption remains limited by Chinese policies.

China already has indirect exposure to XRP through the BRICS New Development Bank, SBI, and the cross-border payment corridors linking Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The rails don’t stop at the Great Wall, despite what some on Twitter might think.

— Black Swan Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) November 21, 2025

BRICS business council recommendations from April 2025 urged support for cross-border digital settlements — a theme in line with XRP’s core design, despite no explicit mention of the cryptocurrency. The recommendations highlight a growing need for efficient digital payment systems.

The European Central Bank is also examining cross-border payment infrastructure. Project Nexus was discussed during an April 2025 speech about linking payment systems in Asia and Europe. These trends echo the global relevance of the XRP Ledger’s use cases.

The post XRP Jumps 9% as Franklin Templeton and Grayscale Launch Spot ETFs appeared first on BeInCrypto.

South Korea’s top payment platform and largest cryptocurrency exchange are set to merge, with board approvals expected on Wednesday and a public announcement planned for the next day.

This agreement will combine Naver Financial and Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, to form a powerful player that bridges traditional finance and digital assets in one of Asia’s largest economies.

Merger Timeline and Structure

The boards of both companies plan to meet on November 26 to approve the merger. After that, a joint announcement is expected on November 27. According to local media reports, top executives will attend a press conference at Naver’s campus.

The transaction will involve a complete stock exchange, making Dunamu a wholly owned subsidiary of Naver Financial. Current estimates value Naver Financial at about KRW 5 trillion and Dunamu at KRW 15 trillion. This difference suggests a 1:3 share exchange ratio.

Dunamu’s shareholders will exchange their stakes for shares in Naver Financial, and its principal holders are likely to take nearly 30% of the combined company. At the same time, Naver’s stake will decline from 69% to 17%, but operational control is expected to stay with Naver, one of South Korea’s top tech giants.

To comply with the country’s fair trade laws, Dunamu may assign over half of its voting rights to Naver. This step intends to address market concentration concerns while preserving the strategic advantages of the deal.

Strategic Outlook for the Combined Entity

This merger unites two complementary leaders in South Korea’s financial sector. Naver Financial runs the country’s most popular payment platform with strong ties to Naver’s e-commerce, search, and communication services. Dunamu dominates cryptocurrency trading through Upbit, processing billions in daily trading volume and serving millions of users.

The combined company seeks to create a comprehensive financial ecosystem that erases boundaries between traditional payments and digital assets. Their leaders expect to stress plans to compete with global tech giants. This strategy highlights the need for Korean fintech firms to scale and remain competitive beyond their home market.

Naver’s large user base and strong technology platform could accelerate the adoption of crypto among mainstream consumers. In return, Dunamu’s blockchain experience and regulatory know-how may boost Naver Financial’s edge in new financial technologies.

Regulatory Review and Future Impact

The proposed merger is under scrutiny by regulators. South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service and Fair Trade Commission must both review the deal. The FSS will assess financial risk, especially the impact of combining a licensed payment platform with a virtual asset exchange. Regulators have long separated these sectors to prevent systemic risk.

Shareholder protection is another primary concern. With Naver’s stake falling below 20%, questions arise about governance and minority rights. Regulators will likely examine whether the agreement protects existing investors in both firms.

Competition authorities face a complex decision. While executives claim the merger is needed to compete globally, the Fair Trade Commission must determine whether it unfairly concentrates control over South Korea’s payment network and its largest cryptocurrency exchange. The review will focus on possible effects on market competition and consumer choice.

Approval will take months. Both companies must show that the merger’s benefits outweigh any risks to financial stability or fair competition. The decision could set a precedent for how traditional finance and digital assets may merge in South Korea and across Asia in the future.

The post Upbit Operator to Announce Merger with Korean Tech Giant Naver This Week appeared first on BeInCrypto.

FG Nexus sold $32.7 million in Ethereum to fund share buybacks after its stock fell 94% in four months, highlighting the deepening net asset value (NAV) crisis among digital asset treasury companies.

The sale follows ETHZilla’s $40 million ETH offload in October, underlining mounting pressures throughout a sector managing over $42.7 billion in cryptocurrency assets. This wave of forced selling underscores vulnerabilities in the corporate crypto treasury model, as companies wrestle with stocks trading below the value of their underlying asset holdings.

Treasury Companies Resort to Asset Sales Amid Stock Collapse

FG Nexus disclosed selling 10,922 ETH in October to support a $200 million share buyback. The company began repurchasing shares after its stock fell steeply below NAV, a measure of per-share underlying crypto value. FG Nexus retained 40,005 ETH and $37 million in cash, with total debt rising to $11.9 million, as of Wednesday.

The firm bought back 3.4 million shares at about $3.45 each, representing 8% of its outstanding shares. Management stressed that shares were purchased at a discount to NAV, which reached $3.94 per share by mid-November. This strategy, however, required roughly $10 million in debt and a liquidation of 21% of ETH reserves compared to September levels.

FG Nexus Sold $32.7M in $ETH: Treasury Companies Are Starting to Sell

🔹 FG Nexus sold $32.7M in ETH (10922 ETH)
🔹 Now holds around 40,005 ETH
🔹 Other DAT companies are also reducing their ETH positions
🔹 $FGNX Stock down -94% in 4 months

Their stock is also down 94% in the… pic.twitter.com/A0hXYQaKk3

— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) November 20, 2025

FG Nexus is one of several digital asset treasury companies pursuing crypto sales. ETHZilla announced an approximate $40 million ETH sale to facilitate stock repurchases in late October. The company bought 600,000 shares for nearly $12 million since October 24, seeking relief from a persistent 30% discount to NAV.

When a DAT company’s shares trade at a discount to the value of its crypto holdings (mNAV below 1.0), shareholders push management to realize that hidden value. The most effective way to do this is through a stock buyback, but securing the funds necessary to repurchase shares requires cash. If the company lacks sufficient cash reserves, it must sell some of its crypto assets to finance the buyback.

The mNAV of Metaplanet, a DAT company that accumulates Bitcoin, dropped to 0.99 before recovering to 1.03. Its shares have lost 70% since their June highs, signaling sector-wide stress. The use of perpetual preferred equity, which blends fixed dividends with crypto exposure, further complicates capital structures already under pressure from current market conditions.

Leveraged Structures Amplify Market Pressure

DAT companies deployed $42.7 billion in crypto during 2025, with $22.6 billion accumulated in Q3 alone. This expansion accelerated as Bitcoin rallied above $126,000 in October, fueling positive feedback loops and rising valuations. However, subsequent reversals exposed weaknesses in capital structures built on leverage and capital market access.

Treasury companies account for only 0.83% of total crypto market capitalization. Their concentration of holdings, however, amplifies their impact during downturns. Leverage via convertible notes, PIPE deals, and perpetual preferred equity increases selling pressure when prices fall or NAV discounts widen.

Market liquidity deteriorated sharply as asset prices dropped. Bitcoin’s order book depth at the 1% band fell from $20 million to $14 million—a 33% decrease that heightens price sensitivity to any selling. Analysts estimate forced treasury company sales could reach $4 billion to $6 billion if 10% to 15% of positions are liquidated, potentially surpassing November’s $2.33 billion in ETF outflows.

Systemic Risks Mount as Buying Halts

Corporate crypto buying has stalled due to waning confidence and reduced capital deployment. Companies that once offered steady demand are now selling, reversing earlier positive cycles. MicroStrategy’s stock fell 60% amid Bitcoin volatility, showing the risk of correlation between crypto prices and equity values even for companies with solid balance sheets.

Smaller treasury firms are under increased stress, especially those holding less liquid assets. Several firms exposed to Solana experienced 40% NAV drawdowns as concentrated bets deepened losses. Limited diversification and thin trading volumes in alternative cryptocurrencies add to broader sector vulnerabilities.

Oof. BitMine is down $3.7 BILLION on its massive $ETH bet.

That's the risk of being a Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) company!

Question: Will we see more firms try this, or is this a flashing red warning for corporate crypto treasuries? $ETH ETFs are looming… pic.twitter.com/emOvzQQQTD

— DrBullZeus (@DrBullZeus) November 20, 2025

Retail investors also contributed to selling by exiting positions in advance, reducing market demand as institutional holders began liquidating. In November, $4 billion in ETF outflows and reduced market-maker activity intensified volatility. These conditions resemble leverage-fueled market crashes seen in other asset classes, such as the 2008 mortgage REIT crisis.

This growing crisis challenges the resilience of the digital asset treasury model in prolonged downturns. Rigorous risk management and regulatory oversight could be necessary to prevent self-reinforcing selloffs from destabilizing the broader market. In the weeks ahead, these companies’ ability to maintain their crypto holdings without further forced liquidation will determine whether the sector survives intact or undergoes fundamental restructuring.

The post DAT Firms Sell Crypto to Save Their Stocks: Is This Sustainable? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin’s recent price decline has revealed a sharp split in trading, with US sessions driving sell-offs while Asian traders steadily buy the dip. Data shows American sessions have become the weakest period for Bitcoin prices.

This divergence highlights contrasting risk appetites and sparks debate about whether Bitcoin is experiencing a healthy correction or facing deeper structural issues.

US Trading Drives Bitcoin Sell-Offs, Asia Absorbs Supply

This week’s price activity reflects a clear trend: US trading hours show persistent losses, with European sessions experiencing smaller declines. In contrast, Asian-Pacific markets remain comparatively stable and often support price recoveries. Data snapshots underline the US trading window’s central role in recent market drops.

An X user commented, “Every single America session consists of relentless selling for hours. Then the Asians wake up and buy it all back until the Americans wake up. Like literal clockwork”. This interplay has become a regular feature of current trading dynamics.

The split may stem from differing risk sentiment across regions. US selling is likely due to caution over macroeconomic signals, policy changes, or liquidity. By contrast, many Asian traders view dips as buying opportunities, either because of confidence in Bitcoin’s outlook or because of varied investment approaches.

Liquidity and market depth factor in, too. US trading brings high volume, so broad selling can strongly affect global price moves. When American traders favor selling, global prices drop until Asian buyers step in and restore balance.

It’s also notable that retail investors are generally bearish, while whales are bullish and US institutions are bearish. The Coinbase Premium Index, which reflects US institutional sentiment, has remained in negative territory for almost the entire month of November.

Institutional Players Alter Traditional Bitcoin Cycles

On-chain analyst Ki Young Ju offers a detailed view of today’s market landscape. He notes that Bitcoin’s bull cycle technically ended earlier in 2024 after reaching $100,000. Traditional cycle theory would suggest prices drop toward $56,000 to set a new cycle low.

If you are not trading futures and only holding Bitcoin spot, this looks like a reasonable long-term accumulation zone.

To be fair, from an on-chain cycle perspective, the bull cycle technically ended earlier this year when Bitcoin touched around $100K.

In classic cycle…

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) November 20, 2025

Such institutional absorption creates a virtual price floor, since major holders with steady conviction are unlikely to sell during downturns. Traditional models assumed most participants might capitulate in a bear phase, but strategic corporate treasuries challenge that assumption.

Yet, some warn that concentration creates fresh risks. If institutions face financial stress or change strategies, any large sale could disrupt the market. So far, however, they remain committed to holding and accumulating Bitcoin.

Experts See Healthy Correction in Ongoing Bull Market

Chris Kuiper, vice president of research at Fidelity Digital Assets, sees the recent correction in a positive light. He describes the drawdown as a standard adjustment in a larger bull market, not a sign that the cycle is over.

Kuiper’s analysis uses on-chain signals, such as the MVRV ratio for short-term holders. These stats indicate that the current price tests recent buyers’ conviction, echoing prior corrections that preceded further rallies. It shows that those who bought recently face unrealized losses before the market resets and trends higher.

Lack of negative headline events supports his interpretation. No significant regulatory action, exchange failures, or macro shocks have triggered the pullback. Instead, profit-taking and leverage liquidations after Bitcoin’s rally toward $100,000 appear to be the main causes.

Is this a local bottom for #bitcoin and other digital assets?

I as well as anyone never knows for sure, but one chart I do like to use to help gauge the probabilities is the short-term holder MVRV chart along with their cost basis (first chart).

Note that if this indeed is a… pic.twitter.com/B66onRgEgl

— Chris Kuiper, CFA (@ChrisJKuiper) November 19, 2025

Traders now weigh two scenarios. The split between optimistic Asian buyers and cautious US sellers could be resolved if American sentiment improves or persists if global market structures shift further. Broader macro trends—such as government liquidity measures and regulatory changes—are likely to determine which path the market takes in the coming months.

The post Why Does Asia Keep Buying Bitcoin While Americans Are Selling? appeared first on BeInCrypto.