Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stepped in to quash rumors of a romance swirling around his brief interaction with a female KOL at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.

The speculation traces back to December 4, when CZ faced off against gold advocate Peter Schiff in a much-anticipated debate. During the session, Tintin—a crypto influencer affiliated with the Aster project—walked onstage.

CZ Claps Back

She handed CZ a “magic box” containing a heavy gold item. This moment was captured on video and later amplified when Tintin tweeted that the box was “real f**king heavy.” The moment has since become the most replayed segment of the debate’s YouTube video.

What started as a lighthearted promotional stunt quickly morphed into gossip fodder across Chinese-speaking crypto communities. Some users began spinning tales of a romantic connection between the two.

还有瓜和我有关系？行情太淡，大家没事干了？🤣

看了一下，和Tintin所有的互动：发过3条信息来回，见面聊了10分钟。

和Peter辩论前，见了几个KOL，包括Tintin。刚好想有人递给我盒子更好。就临时决定的。之前没有安排。

大家关心其他人吧。听说那个谁和谁。。。 😂 https://t.co/Y4k9zqI1jC

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 14, 2025

CZ, never one to let rumors fester, addressed the speculation head-on in a post on X.

“There’s gossip about me now? The market must be really slow—everyone’s got nothing better to do,” he quipped.

He then laid out the facts: his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and meeting for about 10 minutes before the debate. The decision to have someone hand him the box onstage was made on the spot—there was no prior arrangement.

“Go pay attention to someone else. I heard somebody and somebody…” he added, deflecting with a hint of sarcasm.

Timing Raises Eyebrows

The rumors emerged just days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term partner and the mother of his three children, was elevated to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment, announced by CEO Richard Teng at Binance Blockchain Week, marked the exchange’s most significant leadership shake-up since CZ stepped down in 2023.

When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional roles, Yi He drew a clear boundary.

“My personal life is independent from my professional life,” she told reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are often overlooked with my personal life in question.”

Meanwhile, CZ Keeps Busy in Pakistan

Romance rumors aside, CZ has been focused on expanding Binance’s global footprint. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The visit coincided with a major regulatory milestone: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, clearing the path for the exchanges to pursue full licensing in the country.

In the car, my roaming didn’t work, so I borrowed Justin’s hotspot, bought an eSIM, PAID IN CRYPTO. He said he learned something new. https://t.co/DwYW8c5jRO

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 12, 2025

“A meaningful milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng said on X, noting that the exchange has obtained AML registration from PVARA. “Looking forward to building a safe, transparent, and future-ready digital-asset ecosystem together.”

CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, and the South Asian nation appears eager to position itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in the region.

As for the Tintin rumors? It seems CZ has already moved on—even if the crypto gossip mill hasn’t.

The post CZ Denies Romance Rumors With KOL: “3 Messages, 10 Minutes—That’s All” appeared first on BeInCrypto.

In response to the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent investor bulletin on crypto custody, BitGo CEO Mike Belshe has positioned his firm as the only provider offering all the custody options described by the SEC.

It comes only days after BitGo secured regulatory approval to operate as a bank, effectively expanding its institutional services.

BitGo Claims It Can Do What No Other Crypto Custodian Can

In a post on X (Twitter), Belshe emphasized that the BitGo exchange enables institutions to combine self-custody and third-party custody into a single hybrid strategy, creating custom risk profiles that no other provider can replicate.

“BitGo stands alone as the only provider delivering an institutional-grade platform for every option described by the SEC,” Belshe wrote. “Our clients no longer have to choose between security and control—they can have both.”

The SEC bulletin, released on December 12, 2025, outlined the basics of crypto custody for retail investors, defining two primary models:

• Self-custody, where investors hold their private keys, and
• Third-party custody, where a qualified custodian manages assets.

While most providers require clients to pick one model, BitGo allows institutions to utilize both simultaneously.

Under BitGo’s framework, 90% of client assets can be stored in BitGo Trust cold storage, meeting standards of regulatory compliance, insurance, and security.

The remaining 10% can reside in self-custody hot wallets, enabling real-time transactions and operational flexibility.

This hybrid approach mitigates single points of failure. If self-custody keys are lost, assets in the trust remain safe, while traditional exchanges would risk freezing all funds in the event of insolvency.

BitGo Bank & Trust, NA, a federally chartered national bank, underpins the platform’s third-party custody solution. Subject to regular SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 audits, the bank supports more than 1,400 coins and tokens under segregated accounts, backed by a $250 million insurance policy from Lloyd’s of London syndicates.

Curious about crypto wallets and how to store and access crypto assets? Check out our Crypto Asset Custody Basics Investor Bulletin.https://t.co/x4HMYMHLAe pic.twitter.com/bSbP25nzOc

— U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (@SECGov) December 13, 2025

According to Belshe, BitGo does not rehypothecate, lend, or commingle client assets, maintaining strict 1:1 custody standards.

For self-custody, BitGo provides wallets with 2-of-3 Multi-Sig or MPC threshold security. Clients retain two keys while BitGo holds one for co-signing, enabling policy controls without compromising autonomy.

Together with the third-party trust, these options are consolidated on a single dashboard, providing clients with full transparency, flexibility, and control across various custody models.

BitGo Aligns with SEC Questions While Offering Full Custody Flexibility

BitGo also addresses the seven questions the SEC recommends investors ask when selecting a custodian. These include:

• Background verification
• Asset coverage
• Storage protocols
• Use of assets
• Privacy protections, and
• Fee structures.

By answering these questions, BitGo demonstrates that institutions can manage their crypto assets securely, compliantly, and efficiently.

As regulators increasingly scrutinize crypto custody, BitGo’s model sets a new industry benchmark: one that combines compliance, operational control, and insurance coverage on a unified platform.

Belshe’s assertion highlights the growing demand from institutions seeking both the security of qualified custody and the autonomy of self-custody. Such a combination was previously unavailable in a single interface.

The assertions come only days after BitGo received a conditional approval to become a national trust bank. Others include Ripple, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos.

We're pleased to announce that BitGo has met the conditions for full approval and is now a federally chartered bank for digital assets.

Hear more from BitGo CEO @mikebelshe on Bloomberg News 👇 pic.twitter.com/jf4f9MzPAK

— BitGo (@BitGo) December 12, 2025

In a sector where asset security and regulatory compliance often conflict, BitGo’s hybrid model may represent the next evolution of institutional crypto custody.

The post Mike Belshe Claims BitGo Outsmarts the SEC’s Custody Rules appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Experts are increasingly signaling a potential crypto bull run in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, driven by a convergence of macroeconomic factors.

Analysts suggest Bitcoin could surge between $300,000 and $600,000 if these catalysts materialize.

Five Macro Trends Fueling a Potential Rally in Q1 2026

A combination of five key trends is creating what analysts describe as a “perfect storm” for digital assets.

1. Fed Balance Sheet Pause Removes Headwind

The Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening (QT), which drained liquidity throughout 2025, ended recently.

Simply halting the liquidity drain is historically bullish for risk assets. Data from previous cycles suggest Bitcoin can rally up to 40% when central banks stop contracting their balance sheets.

Analyst Benjamin Cowen indicated that early 2026 could be the time when markets begin to feel the impact of the Fed ending its QT.

In 2019, the Fed announced QT would end on August 1st.

The balance sheet of the Fed continued dropping in August despite QT having officially ended because the last round of treasury maturities did not settle until mid August.

Just because QT ends December 1st does not mean the…

— Benjamin Cowen (@intocryptoverse) December 1, 2025

2. Rate Cuts Could Return

The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates, with its commentary and Goldman Sachs forecasts indicating interest rate cuts could resume in 2026, potentially bringing rates down to 3–3.25%.

Goldman: "We expect another Fed cut in December, followed by two more moves in March and June 2026 that take the funds rate to 3-3.25%."

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 23, 2025

Lower rates typically increase liquidity and boost appetite for speculative assets such as cryptocurrencies.

3. Improved Short-End Liquidity

Increased Treasury bill purchases or other support at the short end of the yield curve could ease funding pressures and reduce short-term rates. The Fed says it will start technical buying of Treasury bills to manage market liquidity.

“[buying is] solely for the purpose of maintaining an ample supply of reserves over time, thus supporting effective control of our policy rate…these issues are separate from and have no implications for the stance of monetary policy,” said Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The Fed periodically comes in during short-term funding markets amid instances of liquidity imbalances. These imbalances manifest in the overnight repo market, where banks borrow cash in exchange for Treasuries.

Recently, multiple indicators point to a rising short-term funding pressure, including:

• Money market funds sitting on elevated levels of cash,
• T-bill issuance tightening as the Treasury shifted its borrowing mix, and
• Increasing seasonal demand for liquidity.

The Fed initiated a controlled purchase plan of Treasury bills to prevent short-term interest rates from deviating from the target Federal Funds Rate. These are the shortest-maturity government securities, typically ranging from a few weeks to one year in duration.

While not a classic QE move, this measure could still serve as a significant liquidity tailwind for crypto markets.

For Q1 2026, the broader implications for risk assets, such as crypto and equities, are generally positive but moderate, stemming from a shift in Fed policy toward maintaining or gradually expanding liquidity.

4. Political Incentives Favor Stability

With US midterm elections scheduled for November 2026, policymakers are likely to favor market stability over disruption.

This environment reduces the risk of sudden regulatory shocks and enhances investor confidence in risk assets.

“If the stock market in the USA falters before the midterm elections, the current US administration will be held accountable – hence they will do everything they can to keep things going in equities (and crypto,” wrote macro researcher Thorsten Froehlich.

5. The Employment “Paradox”

Weakening labor market data, such as soft employment or modest layoffs, often triggers dovish Fed responses.

Softer labor conditions increase pressure on the Fed to ease policy, indirectly creating more liquidity and favorable conditions for cryptocurrencies.

Expert Outlook Suggests Bullish Sentiment Growing

Industry observers are aligning with the macro view. Alice Liu, Head of Research at CoinMarketCap, forecasts a crypto market comeback in February and March 2026, citing a combination of positive macro indicators.

“We are going to see a market comeback in Q1 of 2026. February and March will be a bull market again, based on a combination of macro indicators,” Binance reported, citing said Alice Liu, Head of Research, CoinMarketCap

Some analysts are even more optimistic. Crypto commentator Vibes predicts Bitcoin could reach $300,000 to $600,000 in Q1 2026. This reflects extreme bullish sentiment amid improving liquidity and easing macro conditions.

CRYPTO IS ABOUT TO HAVE THE BIGGEST PUMP WE'VE EVER SEEN IN OUR LIVES

I'M EXPECTING ANYWHERE BETWEEN $300K AND $600K IN Q1 2026

— Vibes (@Vibesmetax) December 14, 2025

Currently, market participation remains muted. Bitcoin open interest has declined, reflecting cautious trader sentiment.

However, if these macroeconomic tailwinds materialize, consolidation could quickly give way to a significant surge, setting the stage for a historic start to 2026 in the crypto markets.

The post 5 Reasons Q1 2026 Could Spark the Biggest Crypto Bull Run Yet appeared first on BeInCrypto.

HBAR is running out of time. The token is down nearly 2% over the past 24 hours and close to 10% for the week. In the process, HBAR price has broken several short-term support levels and is now hovering near $0.12.

This level is critical. HBAR is barely 1% above a breakdown zone that could drag the price toward $0.10. That move would translate into a 12% to 13% decline from current levels. But one bullish signal is still holding the structure together. If it fails, the downside could accelerate.

Big Money Stepping Away Weakens the Setup

The main source of pressure comes from how large HBAR holders are behaving.

This is visible through the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which tracks whether big money is entering or exiting an asset by combining price movement with trading volume. When CMF is above zero, large buyers are active. When it falls below zero, the distribution is taking place.

For HBAR, CMF has deteriorated sharply. Since December 7, CMF has dropped by more than 400% and moved deep into negative territory. Earlier pullbacks still saw CMF stay positive, meaning buyers absorbed selling pressure. This time, that support is gone.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

There is also a clear bearish divergence. Between October 10 and December 14, the HBAR price formed higher lows, while the CMF formed lower lows. This shows that recent price stability was not backed by strong demand from large players.

In simple terms, price tried to hold up while big money quietly exited. That imbalance makes the HBAR price vulnerable.

One Bullish Signal Is Still Holding the Floor

Despite the weak big-money picture, one momentum indicator is still flashing a bullish sign.

That indicator is the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which measures the strength and speed of recent price moves. It helps identify when selling pressure may be getting exhausted. Readings near 30 usually suggest oversold conditions.

On HBAR’s daily chart, RSI has formed a bullish divergence. Between November 21 and December 14, the HBAR price made a lower low, while the RSI made a higher low. This is a classic bullish divergence and often appears as a trend reversal sign.

P.S. The HBAR price is in a clear downtrend, losing over 48% in the 3-month horizon.

This tells us sellers are still pushing prices lower, but with less force each time. The decline continues, but the seller-driven momentum behind it is weakening. At the moment, this RSI divergence is the only bullish play HBAR has left.

HBAR Price Breaks Down or Turns the Tide?

Price action defines the final outcome. HBAR is trading below a descending trend line that has capped every rally for weeks. At the same time, price is sitting on a trend-based Fibonacci support near $0.12. That line acts as the base of the descending triangle pattern, completed by the descending trendline.

This zone is the last line of defense.

If $0.12 breaks decisively, the next major support sits near $0.10. That move would confirm a 12% to 13% breakdown and extend the bearish trend.

To stabilize, the HBAR price must reclaim $0.13. That level lines up with a key Fibonacci retracement zone and would signal buyers stepping back in.

A stronger shift would only come above $0.13. That would place the price back above the descending trend line and reset the structure from bearish to neutral.

The post HBAR Has One Bullish Play Left — Is It Enough to Avoid a 13% Breakdown? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

North Korea cybercriminals have executed a strategic pivot in their social engineering campaigns. They have stolen more than $300 million by impersonating trusted industry figures in fake video meetings.

The warning, detailed by MetaMask security researcher Taylor Monahan (known as Tayvano), outlines a sophisticated “long-con” targeting crypto executives.

How North Korea’s Fake Meetings Are Draining Crypto Wallets

According to Monahan, the campaign departs from recent attacks that relied on AI deepfakes.

Instead, it uses a more straightforward approach built on hijacked Telegram accounts and looped footage from real interviews.

🚨 WARNING (AGAIN)

DPRK threat actors are still rekting way too many of you via their fake Zoom / fake Teams meets.

They're taking over your Telegrams -> using them to rekt all your friends.

They've stolen over $300m via this method already.

Read this. Stop the cycle. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tJTo9lkq0v

— Tay 💖 (@tayvano_) December 13, 2025

The attack typically starts after hackers seize control of a trusted Telegram account, often belonging to a venture capitalist or someone the victim previously met at a conference.

Then, the malicious attackers exploit prior chat history to appear legitimate, guiding the victim to a Zoom or Microsoft Teams video call via a disguised Calendly link.

Once the meeting starts, the victim sees what appears to be a live video feed of their contact. In reality, it is often a recycled recording from a podcast or public appearance.

The decisive moment typically follows a manufactured technical issue.

After citing audio or video problems, the attacker urges the victim to restore the connection by downloading a specific script or updating a software development kit, or SDK. The file delivered at that point contains the malicious payload.

Once installed, the malware—often a Remote Access Trojan (RAT)—grants the attacker total control.

It drains cryptocurrency wallets and exfiltrates sensitive data, including internal security protocols and Telegram session tokens, which are then used to target the next victim in the network.

Considering this, Monahan warned that this specific vector weaponizes professional courtesy.

The hackers rely on the psychological pressure of a “business meeting” to force a lapse in judgment, turning a routine troubleshooting request into a fatal security breach.

For industry participants, any request to download software during a call is now considered an active attack signal.

Meanwhile, this “fake meeting” strategy is part of a broader offensive by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) actors. They have stolen an estimated $2 billion from the sector over the past year, including the Bybit breach.

The post North Korea Hackers Steal $300 Million via Fake Zoom Meetings appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Ethereum price action looks quiet, but the entire formation is slowly turning bullish. Over the past 24 hours, ETH has traded almost flat, while the past seven days show a modest 2.6% gain. Price has remained above $3,100 for several sessions, suggesting strength rather than exhaustion.

This sideways move is not random. Ethereum is compressing near key levels, where breakouts often form. The next move depends on whether buyers, who are gradually returning, can turn this consolidation into a continuation.

Bull Flag Structure Holds as the Breakout Zone Appears

Ethereum appears to be breaking out after consolidating inside a bull flag. A bull flag forms when the price pauses after a strong upward move, then trades in a narrow range before the next leg higher. This pattern signals consolidation, not weakness.

The structure remains intact as long as ETH holds above $3,090. That means, unless there is a daily candle close below this level, the much-anticipated breakout might hold.

This level has acted as firm support, absorbing selling pressure during recent pullbacks. Price has repeatedly bounced from this zone, showing buyers are still defending it.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

A clean daily close above $3,130 would be the first confirmation that the flag is resolving higher. That move would signal that consolidation is ending and buyers are regaining control. Without that close, Ethereum remains in compression, but the bullish structure stays valid.

Selling Pressure Eases as Key Ethereum Price Levels Emerge

On-chain data support the price structure. Holder Net Position Change, which tracks whether long-term investors are adding or selling ETH, shows that selling pressure has eased compared to earlier sessions.

On December 12, Ethereum holders distributed roughly 958,771 ETH. By December 13, net selling dropped to around 877,958 ETH, marking a decline of roughly 8.4% in selling pressure within 24 hours.

That shift matters. Ethereum is still seeing net distribution, but the pace of selling is slowing as the price compresses near resistance. This behavior typically appears during late-stage consolidation, not during breakdowns.

When selling pressure eases near a key level without price slipping lower, it increases the odds that buyers step in once a breakout confirms. Ethereum is not seeing panic exits. Instead, holders appear more willing to wait.

If the Ethereum price secures a daily close above $3,130, the next resistance sits near $3,390. Clearing that zone would open the path toward the $4,000–$4,020 area, aligning with the measured move from the bull flag structure.

However, the bullish structure would weaken if the Ethereum price drops under $3,090 or even $2,910. Closing below the latter would break the pattern completely.

The post Ethereum Price Could Be Silently Nearing a Breakout, Here’s Why appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Markets are bracing for a potentially pivotal week for Bitcoin as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) heads into its December 18–19 policy meeting. Expectations point to a near-certain rate hike.

Prediction markets and macro analysts alike are converging on the same conclusion: Japan is poised to raise rates by 25 basis points. Such a move could reverberate far beyond its domestic bond market and into global risk assets, especially Bitcoin.

Bank of Japan Rate Hike Puts Bitcoin’s Liquidity Sensitivity Back in Focus

Polymarket is currently assigning a 98% probability of a BOJ hike, with a measly 2% wagering that policymakers will hold interest rates steady.

The general sentiment among crypto analysts is that this is not good for Bitcoin, with the pioneer crypto already trading below the $90,000 psychological level.

Polymarket is pricing in a 🇯🇵 BOJ rate hike with 98% certainty right now.

This is not good… 👀 pic.twitter.com/Huace8iTBk

— Mister Crypto (@misterrcrypto) December 14, 2025

If implemented, the move would take Japan’s policy rate to 75 basis points, a level not seen in nearly two decades. While modest by global standards, the shift is significant because Japan has long been the world’s primary source of inexpensive leverage.

For decades, institutions borrowed yen at ultra-low rates and deployed that capital into global equities, bonds, and crypto, a strategy known as the yen carry trade. That trade is now under threat.

“For decades, the Yen has been the #1 currency people would borrow & convert into other currencies & assets… That carry trade is diminishing now, as Japanese bond yields are rising rapidly,” wrote analyst Mister Crypto.

If yields continue to climb, leveraged positions funded in yen may be unwound, forcing investors to sell risk assets to repay debt.

Liquidity Fears Grow Amid Bitcoin’s BOJ Track Record

The historical backdrop is fueling anxiety in crypto markets. Bitcoin is currently trading at $88,956, down 1.16% in the last 24 hours.

However, traders are focused less on the current price and more on what has happened after previous BOJ hikes.

• In March 2024, the price of Bitcoin fell by roughly 23%.
• In July 2024, it dropped around 25%.
•  Following the January 2025 hike, BTC slid more than 30%.

Against this backdrop, several traders see a troubling pattern, urging investors to brace for volatility this week.

“Every time Japan hikes rates, Bitcoin dumps 20–25%. Next week, they will hike rates to 75 bps again. If the pattern holds, BTC will dump below $70,000 on December 19. Position accordingly,” cautioned analyst 0xNobler.

This week, therefore, analysts see the Bank of Japan as the biggest threat to the Bitcoin price, with a play to $70,000 now in the cards.

THE BANK OF JAPAN MIGHT BE BITCOIN’S BIGGEST ENEMY

Japan holds the most US debt.
Every time they hike, Bitcoin bleeds:

March 2024: -23%
July 2024: -30%
Jan 2025: -31%

Next hike: Dec 19
Next move: loading…

If the pattern repeats, $70K is in play. pic.twitter.com/R5916R702I

— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) December 14, 2025

Similar projections have been echoed across crypto-focused accounts, with repeated references to a potential drop below $70,000 if history rhymes. Such a move would constitute a 20% drop below current levels.

Regime Shift or Liquidity Shock? Why Traders Are Split on the BOJ–Fed Policy Mix

Yet not everyone agrees that a BOJ hike spells inevitable downside. A competing macro narrative argues that Japan’s tightening, when paired with US Federal Reserve rate cuts, could ultimately be bullish for the crypto market.

Macro analyst Quantum Ascend framed the situation as a regime shift rather than a liquidity shock.

Japan raising rates has a lot of people worried about the potential impact on the market. 🚨

Couple that with the Fed cutting rates, and it's seemingly a mixed picture.

But it's NOT.

This is EXTREMELY BULLISH for crypto‼️

Here's why ⬇️

— Quantum Ascend (@quantum_ascend) December 13, 2025

According to this view, Fed cuts would inject dollar liquidity and weaken the USD, while gradual BOJ hikes would strengthen the yen without meaningfully destroying global liquidity.

The result, Quantum Ascend argues, is capital rotation into risk assets with asymmetric upside, crypto’s “sweet spot.”

Still, near-term conditions remain fragile. The Great Martis cautioned that bond markets are already forcing the BOJ’s hand.

“This could trigger the carry trade unwind and cause havoc in equities,” the analyst warned.

The analyst also pointed to broadening tops in major stock indices and globally rising yields as signs of mounting stress.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s price action reflects the uncertainty. The pioneer crypto’s price has been largely flat through December, marking what analysts call a very choppy period into the end of the year.

Specifically, analyst Daan Crypto Trades cites low liquidity and limited conviction ahead of year-end holidays.

With equities flashing topping signals, yields breaking higher, and Bitcoin historically sensitive to Japan-driven liquidity shifts, the BOJ’s decision is shaping up to be one of the most consequential macro catalysts of the year.

Whether it triggers another sharp drawdown or sets the stage for a post-volatility crypto rally may depend less on the hike itself and more on how global liquidity responds in the weeks that follow.

The post Bank of Japan Rate Hike Could Trigger 20-30% Bitcoin Decline as Markets Price 98% Probability appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Cosmos Labs has opened an urgent search for external economists to redesign the ATOM token amid the digital asset’s price struggles.

According to the firm, the Cosmos SDK has become a widely used framework for launching blockchain networks. This includes projects tied to major enterprises and government initiatives often cited as evidence of “Fortune 500” interest.

Why Cosmos Wants to Overhaul ATOM’s Design

However, because the software is open source, those users can deploy independent, sovereign chains without paying fees or royalties to the Cosmos Hub.

As a result, these institutional builders can use the network’s core technology without holding or interacting with ATOM.

Request for Proposals: ATOM Tokenomics Research ⚛️

A tokenomics RFP invites qualified research firms to submit proposals to provide data-driven research supporting a redesign of ATOM’s economic model.

Applications are due January 15. Read more: https://t.co/96lGdAyCAI

— Cosmos Hub ⚛️ (@cosmoshub) December 12, 2025

The blockchain development firm wants to change this by promoting a new “revenue-driven model.” This approach would monetize both on-chain and off-chain usage.

“The goal of this research effort is not to design a new tokenomic model from first-principles, but rather to provide research and design support for a revenue-driven model that synergizes various sources of potential ATOM revenue with updates to ATOM’s supply dynamics and inflation schedule. Ultimately, ATOM’s utility will be driven by these fees, either in the form of ATOM buybacks, ATOM staking rewards, other mechanisms, or some combination thereof,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the initiative also marks a strategic pivot for the Cosmos ecosystem.

Cosmos Labs acknowledged that Interchain Security, the shared security framework once promoted as ATOM’s primary value driver, “failed to find product market fit.”

“Interchain Security is in the process of being deprecated, and the Hub’s economic architecture remains relatively detached from the broader activity of the Cosmos ecosystem. It lacks a comprehensive fee model today, outside of transaction fees occurring on the network,” the firm explained.

Consequently, this redesign effort points toward economic models closer to enterprise software norms, including consumption-based fees tied to usage rather than security rent.

However, implementing any proposal would face significant political constraints. Any material changes must be approved by the Cosmos Hub DAO, which has historically resisted measures viewed as centralizing.

Cosmos Labs referenced a previous proposal to reduce inflation that passed by a narrow 3% margin. The decision triggered a sharp withdrawal of staked assets, illustrating how sensitive token economics remain within the community.

Considering this, the firm stated that any successful proposal outlines potential revenue pathways, analyzes supply-side constraints, and offers practical guidance aligned with stakeholder interests. The RFP closes Jan. 15.

Meanwhile, this move comes as ATOM has fallen nearly 76% this year to a five-year low of around $2.1.

This price performance reflects a deep stress across the ecosystem, even as the Cosmos software stack has gained wider traction among blockchain developers and institutional pilots.

---

The post Cosmos Eyes ATOM Radical Redesign Amid Price Struggles appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Shiba Inu price has had a rough year. The token is down nearly 70% year-on-year and more than 90% from its all-time high. With meme coin interest fading, many now question whether SHIB is slowly dying.

That concern grew after CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said meme coins are “dead,” citing collapsing dominance and shrinking speculation. On the surface, Shiba Inu seems to fit that narrative. But on-chain data adds more layers to the story.

Meme Coin Weakness Is Real, and Shiba Inu Reflects It

The broader meme coin market has clearly weakened. CryptoQuant data shows meme coin dominance has fallen to early-2024 lows, signaling reduced speculative activity across altcoins.

Memecoin markets are dead. pic.twitter.com/6kymLWH4JX

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) December 11, 2025

Shiba Inu mirrors that trend. Price has stayed under long-term resistance, and rallies have failed to hold. Smart money wallets, which track experienced and active traders, have steadily reduced SHIB exposure throughout the year.

That suggests traders are not positioning for short-term rebounds. Simply put, informed traders are not relying on price surges, let alone rallies.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

A recent chunk of derivatives data reinforces this view. Over the past 30 days, most perpetual futures traders have cut exposure. Outside of the largest addresses, leverage remains light. This shows traders are cautious and not expecting a fast or explosive move.

In simple terms, speculation has dried up. That supports the idea that meme coins are no longer driving the market the way they once did. But speculation is only one side of the equation.

Whales and Holders Keep Adding as Coins Leave Exchanges

Despite weak price action, long-term behavior tells a different story.

Shiba Inu’s holder count, which tracks how many wallets hold SHIB, has continued to rise throughout the year. It started near 1.46 million and has grown to roughly 1.54 million. The growth has not been smooth, but the trend remains positive, even as prices fell sharply.

Whale data is more striking.

Over the past year, large holders have increased their SHIB balances by about 249%, per the image shared earlier. Mega-whale balances are up roughly 28.5%. At the same time, exchange balances, which show how many tokens sit on trading platforms, have dropped by nearly 22%. Fewer coins on exchanges usually mean less immediate selling pressure.

This trend accelerated recently. Over the past 30 days alone, whale balances rose more than 61%, while most of the exchange outflows happened during the same period.

That does not look like panic or abandonment. It looks like slow accumulation.

However, it is important to note that derivatives traders are not joining in. Outside of top addresses, leverage positioning remains muted. Whales appear early, but are not aggressive.

Shiba Inu Price Structure Still Weak, but a Reversal Setup Is Emerging

SHIB price action remains fragile, but it is not hopeless.

On the three-day chart, Shiba Inu is trading inside a long-term falling wedge, a pattern that often turns bullish if the price breaks upward. Recently, a key signal appeared.

Between December 3 and December 12, the Shiba Inu price made a lower low while the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator, made a higher low. This bullish divergence suggests selling pressure is weakening, raising the odds of a trend reversal.

Key levels now matter more than narratives.

The first resistance sits near $0.0000092. A clean break above this level would mark a breakout from the upper trendline that has capped the price since September. If confirmed, the next resistance zones lie near $0.000010, $0.000011, and $0.000014, which align with the last major swing high. Do note that only a level break beyond $0.0000092 could completely invalidate the “dead coin” claims.

On the downside, the structure weakens below $0.0000075. A sustained move under that level would invalidate the reversal setup and reopen downside risk.

Shiba Inu is not dead, but it is not strong either. Speculation is gone, traders remain cautious, and quick gains are unlikely. Still, rising holder counts, heavy whale accumulation, and falling exchange balances suggest the chain is far from abandoned.

If an altcoin cycle returns, Shiba Inu still has a path to revival. For now, it remains in survival mode, waiting for stronger confirmation.

The post Will Shiba Inu Die Out In 2026? On-Chain Data Hold the Answer appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Ethereum consensus client Prysm said validators missed out on 382 ETH, equivalent to more than $1 million, after a software bug triggered network disruptions shortly after the recent Fusaka upgrade.

The incident, detailed in a post-mortem titled “Fusaka Mainnet Prysm incident,” stemmed from a resource exhaustion event that affected nearly all Prysm nodes and led to missed blocks and attestations.

What Caused Prysm’s Outage?

According to Offchain Labs, the developer behind Prysm, the problem emerged on December 4 when a previously introduced bug caused delays in validator requests.

Those delays resulted in missed blocks and attestations across the network.

“Prysm beacon nodes received attestations from nodes that were possibly out of sync with the network. These attestations referenced a block root from the previous epoch,” the project explained.

The disruption led to 41 missed epochs, with 248 blocks missing out of 1,344 available slots. That represented an 18.5% missed slot rate and pushed overall network participation down to 75% during the incident.

Offchain Labs said the bug responsible for the behavior was introduced and deployed to testnets about a month earlier, before being triggered on mainnet following the Fusaka upgrade.

While a temporary mitigation reduced the immediate impact, Prysm said it has since implemented permanent changes to its attestation validation logic to prevent a recurrence.

Ethereum’s Client Diversity

Meanwhile, the outage has renewed scrutiny around Ethereum’s client concentration and the risks posed by software monocultures.

Offchain Labs said the outage could have had more severe consequences if Prysm had accounted for a larger share of Ethereum’s validator base. The firm pointed to Ethereum’s client diversity as a key factor in preventing a wider network failure.

“A client with more than 1/3rd of the network would have caused a temporary loss in finality and more missed blocks. A bug client with more than 2/3rd could finalize an invalid chain,” it stated.

Despite that mitigation, the incident has intensified calls for greater client diversity.

Data from Miga Labs show that Lighthouse remains the dominant Ethereum consensus client, accounting for 51.39% of validators. Prysm represents 19.06%, followed by Teku at 13.71% and Nimbus at 9.25%.

Lighthouse’s share places it roughly 15% points away from a threshold that some researchers view as a systemic risk.

As a result, developers and ecosystem participants have again urged validators to consider switching to alternative clients to reduce the likelihood that a single software flaw could disrupt the blockchain’s core operations.

The post Prysm Bug Cost Ethereum Validators Over $1 Million After Fusaka Upgrade appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin price looks stuck at first glance. Over the past 24 hours, the price has been nearly flat, down just 0.2%. Even on a weekly basis, Bitcoin has barely moved, up roughly 0.7%. The market feels quiet, and many traders are calling this range-bound action.

But under the surface, several signals suggest Bitcoin (BTC) is not as weak as it looks. Momentum is shifting slowly, sellers are losing conviction, and large holders continue to position quietly. Together, these factors explain why bullish Bitcoin price predictions made by experts like Tom Lee have not disappeared, even without a breakout yet.

Momentum And Volume Signals Are Quietly Improving

On the daily chart, the Bitcoin price continues to respect the $90,100 level. This zone has acted as a firm base during recent volatility, preventing deeper pullbacks even as the price failed to trend higher.

One of the clearest early signals comes from On-Balance Volume (OBV). OBV tracks whether volume is flowing into or out of an asset, helping identify hidden buying or selling pressure.

Between December 9 and December 11, the Bitcoin price made a lower high, while OBV made a higher high. This divergence shows that even as prices struggled, buyers were more active beneath the surface.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

That signal strengthened between December 10 and December 12. During this period, the Bitcoin price made a lower low, while OBV formed a higher low. This tells the same story from another angle. Sellers pushed the price lower, but with weaker volume support.

These two OBV divergences work together, not against each other. Combined, they show selling pressure is fading, not accelerating. This does not confirm a breakout, but it often appears before one.

Holders And Whales Are Positioning Despite the Flat Price

Momentum signals alone are not enough. On-chain data adds confirmation. Holder Net Position Change tracks whether long-term holders are adding or reducing Bitcoin positions. Negative values mean selling. Fewer negative values mean selling pressure is easing.

On December 10, long-term holders were distributing roughly 155,999 BTC. By December 13, that number dropped to around 150,614 BTC. That is a reduction of about 3.4% in selling pressure.

The change is not dramatic, but it is meaningful. Bitcoin is not seeing panic selling despite trading in a range. Instead, holders are selling less as the price stabilizes. This behavior typically appears during consolidation phases, not during breakdowns.

The strongest signal comes from whales. The number of entities holding at least 1,000 BTC remains near its six-month high. This metric often reflects large, long-term investors.

Since late October, the Bitcoin price has corrected and moved sideways. During the same period, whale entities continued to add. This creates a clear divergence. Price weakened, but large holders kept accumulating. And they usually do not add without any valid reason.

This behavior helps explain why bullish Bitcoin price predictions from analysts like Tom Lee remain in play.

JUST IN: Tom Lee says Bitcoin has likely bottomed and could break the 4 year cycle and hit $180,000 by the end of January. pic.twitter.com/NuFAltmFm8

— The ₿itcoin Therapist (@TheBTCTherapist) December 13, 2025

These forecasts are not based on short-term candles. They rely on reduced selling, improving volume structure, and steady whale accumulation. Still, the Bitcoin price must confirm the thesis.

Bitcoin Price Levels That Decide Whether Bulls Take Control

For Bitcoin to turn these signals into action, price confirmation is required.

The most important level remains $94,600. A daily close above this zone would mark roughly a 5% move from current levels and break above the upper boundary of the current compression structure. That would signal that buyers have regained short-term control.

If $94,600 breaks, the next resistance sits near $99,800. A sustained move above that level could open the path toward $107,500, if broader market conditions allow. That could be the first real catalyst to Tom Lee’s aggressive $180,000 outlook, as stated earlier.

On the downside, if the Bitcoin price loses $90,000, support lies near $89,200. Below that, $87,500 becomes the next key level. A break under these zones would invalidate the bullish setup, at least in the short term.

The post 3 Reasons Why Bullish Bitcoin Price Predictions Still Hold appeared first on BeInCrypto.