Canton’s CC token emerged as the top gainer in the crypto market on Christmas Eve, rising more than 25% in 24 hours despite thin holiday liquidity and broadly bearish sentiment. The rally pushed CC ahead of major assets and privacy coins.

The move was not driven by retail hype or seasonal speculation. Instead, it reflected a growing institutional narrative around real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and regulatory clarity—two themes that have gained traction into year-end.

Institutional Tokenization Fuels Canton Token Rally

At the center of the rally is Canton Network, a privacy-enabled Layer-1 blockchain designed specifically for regulated financial institutions. 

Unlike public DeFi chains, Canton allows institutions to transact on-chain while keeping sensitive data private. This is a key requirement for banks, clearing houses, and asset managers.

Canton’s utility token, CC, is used for transaction fees, network security, and validator incentives. Its value is tied less to retail activity and more to institutional usage. 

That’s why price moves are highly sensitive to infrastructure-level developments.

Momentum accelerated after DTCC (Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation) confirmed progress on tokenizing DTC-custodied US Treasury securities on the Canton Network. 

Minting and using U.S. Treasuries on Canton is coming in 2026, enabling tokenized USTs to be exchanged in near-real-time with stablecoins and other digital assets – all with the privacy and controls regulated markets demand.

A major unlock for global collateral mobility to… pic.twitter.com/XnvdprRq7X

— Canton Network (@CantonNetwork) December 17, 2025

The initiative follows a regulatory green light from the US SEC, which issued a non-action letter allowing DTCC to proceed with live tokenization infrastructure.

That development marked one of the clearest regulatory endorsements yet for on-chain Treasuries. 

As a result, markets began repricing Canton as core infrastructure rather than a speculative blockchain project.

Earlier in December, Canton also deepened its RWA stack through a partnership with RedStone, which became its primary oracle provider. 

The integration enables real-time, compliant price feeds for tokenized assets, bridging institutional markets with DeFi without compromising privacy.

Together, these developments position Canton as a settlement layer for trillions of dollars in traditional financial assets. 

Industry estimates place more than $300 billion in daily transaction volume already flowing through applications built on the network.

Importantly, the rally came during a low-liquidity holiday session. That context amplified the move but also highlighted where capital is concentrating ahead of 2026: compliant tokenization infrastructure.

While broader crypto markets remain cautious, CC’s performance underscored a growing divergence. 

I’ve come to realize $CC is useless. Also it seems to be inflationary with never ending supply.

Is what I’m hearing often in comments. Let’s clarify.@CantonNetwork has implemented something called BME (Burn-Mint-Equilibrium).

1) Equilibrium in Practice:
• Annual target:… https://t.co/kMAuMCAh7q

— Heslin Kim (@HeslinKim) December 24, 2025

Investors are increasingly differentiating between speculative tokens and protocols tied directly to regulated financial adoption.

On Christmas Eve, Canton sat firmly in the latter camp—and the market reacted accordingly.

The post Canton’s CC Token Jumps on Christmas Eve as Institutions Drive the Privacy Narrative appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Americans are feeling the pressure of higher living costs, but they are not stepping away from crypto. 

A new holiday spending survey from Visa Inc. shows a growing appetite for digital assets as gifts, even as inflation continues to limit disposable income and keep consumers cautious. The contrast highlights a deeper shift in how households adapt when money feels tight.

Inflation Is Cooling, but Budgets Still Feel Tight

Inflation has eased from its post-pandemic peak, but prices remain elevated across essentials such as housing, food, insurance, and utilities. 

Wages have broadly kept pace with inflation, preventing a sharp drop in purchasing power. Still, the margin is thin. 

After covering necessities, many households have less flexibility for investing or discretionary spending than they did before 2022.

US energy inflation is accelerating:

CPI energy prices jumped +4.2% YoY in November, the fastest pace since February 2023.

This marks the 2nd-consecutive acceleration, following a +2.8% YoY increase in September.

The surge was driven by fuel oil, electricity, and utility gas… pic.twitter.com/nXS30Km6fI

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 23, 2025

This environment has not stopped spending outright. Instead, it has changed behavior. Consumers shop earlier, compare prices more aggressively, and rely on technology to stretch each dollar further. 

Financial confidence remains fragile, but economic participation continues. That caution shows up clearly in how people spend—and what they choose to buy.

Crypto Emerges as a “Lean Budget” Gift

Visa’s December survey reveals that 28% of Americans would be excited to receive crypto as a holiday or Christmas gift, a figure that jumps to 45% among Gen Z. 

The appeal is not about luxury. It reflects a preference for assets that feel flexible, digital-first, and potentially long-term in value.

At the same time, 47% of US shoppers reported using AI tools to assist with holiday purchases, primarily to find gift ideas and compare prices. This signals a consumer mindset focused on optimization rather than excess.

Could crypto replace holiday cash? More than one-in-four US adults, and nearly half of Gen-Z adults, say they would be excited to receive cryptocurrency as a gift, according to a survey from Visa and Morning Consult https://t.co/xhU2SfJpch pic.twitter.com/RUtS7aKSMP

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 5, 2025

Younger shoppers lead the shift. Gen Z respondents show higher adoption of crypto payments, digital wallets, biometric authentication, and cross-border shopping than any other age group. 

For them, crypto fits naturally into a broader digital financial identity.

The data suggests crypto gifting is not crowding out essentials. Instead, it replaces traditional discretionary items at a time when consumers remain selective.

What This Says About the US Economy

The combination of easing inflation and persistent budget pressure points to a cautious but stable economy. 

Americans are not retreating, but they are adapting. Spending continues, yet it leans toward tools and assets that promise efficiency, optionality, or future upside.

Crypto’s growing acceptance as a gift—despite tighter disposable income—signals cultural normalization rather than speculative exuberance. 

It also helps explain why digital assets continue to attract interest even during periods of economic restraint.

For markets, the message is clear. Inflation may be cooling, but confidence has not fully returned. 

In that gap, technology and alternative assets are filling a role that traditional consumption no longer does.

Americans may feel stretched, but they are still betting—carefully—on the future.

The post Americans Want Crypto for Christmas—Even as Inflation Squeezes Budgets appeared first on BeInCrypto.

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out coordinated raids at 21 locations across Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi as part of a widening probe into a large-scale crypto scam that allegedly operated for nearly a decade.

The searches were conducted on December 18 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It targeted residential and office premises linked to 4th Bloc Consultants and its associates. 

India’s Largest Crypto Bust Yet?

Authorities say the group ran fake crypto investment platforms that duped both Indian and foreign investors by promising unusually high returns.

According to the ED, the case originated from a police FIR and intelligence inputs from the Karnataka State Police. 

Investigators allege the accused created professional-looking websites that closely mimicked legitimate global crypto trading platforms, complete with dashboards, account balances, and transaction histories.

BREAKING: 🇮🇳 ED raids 21 locations across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi in a major crypto investment fraud case.

• Movable and immovable properties in India and abroad identified

• Multiple crypto wallet addresses identified

• Investigation ongoing pic.twitter.com/WoDyxfO7A1

— Crypto India (@CryptooIndia) December 23, 2025

However, these platforms were largely a façade. Officials say there was little or no real trading activity. 

Instead, the crypto scammers recycled investors’ funds in a structure resembling a classic Ponzi or multi-level marketing scheme.

To build credibility, the operators allegedly misused photographs of well-known crypto commentators and public figures without consent. 

Early investors were paid small returns to gain trust. Later, they were encouraged to invest larger sums and recruit new participants through referral bonuses.

As the scheme expanded, promoters relied heavily on social media platforms. This included Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram to attract victims. 

The ED believes the network targeted investors in India and overseas.

Investigators say the proceeds of crime were laundered through a complex web of crypto wallets, undisclosed foreign bank accounts, shell companies, and hawala channels. 

Scammers also moved the funds via peer-to-peer crypto transfers before being converted into cash or parked in bank accounts.

During the raids, the ED identified several crypto wallet addresses allegedly controlled by the accused, along with movable and immovable assets acquired in India and abroad using illicit funds.

Authorities also flagged multiple foreign entities used to conceal the money trail.

Notably, officials believe the operation dates back to at least 2015. The scammers evolved over time to evade detection as scrutiny of crypto markets increased.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The post Indian Authorities Bust Multi-State Crypto Scam Running for 10 Years appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Jim Cramer’s latest Bitcoin stance has flipped to 100% bearish, according to sentiment-tracking data from Unbias. 

The shift immediately caught the attention of crypto traders, not because Cramer commands Bitcoin’s direction, but because his calls have become an informal sentiment indicator inside the market.

Inverse Cramer Narrative In Full Flow?

Data shows that Cramer’s last three Bitcoin predictions were all bearish, pushing his near-term outlook into what Unbias categorizes as “perma-bear” territory. 

Historically, such moments tend to spark discussion across crypto social channels, where Cramer’s commentary often triggers the well-known “Inverse Cramer” narrative.

This latest turn comes as Bitcoin trades in the mid-$80,000 range.

Since the October 10 crash, price action has remained choppy and defensive. 

Analysts broadly describe the market as range-bound, with resistance near $90,000–$93,000 and structural support closer to $81,000–$85,000. 

The failure to reclaim higher levels before year-end has weighed on short-term sentiment.

All Signs Point to a Bitcoin Bear Market?

Market indicators reinforce that cautious tone. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index recently slipped into “Extreme Fear”, reflecting risk aversion rather than panic buying. 

At the same time, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded consecutive daily outflows into the Christmas week, signaling reduced institutional appetite as investors lock in profits and rebalance portfolios ahead of year-end.

Against that backdrop, Cramer’s bearish shift fits the prevailing mood — but it also explains why his views remain so visible in Bitcoin circles. 

As the long-time host of Mad Money, Jim Cramer has become a cultural reference point for crypto traders. 

His emphatic, short-term calls often clash with Bitcoin’s cycle-driven nature, turning his commentary into a meme-driven contrarian signal rather than conventional analysis.

BREAKING: Jim Cramer is 100% bearish on Bitcoin.

Merry Christmas 🎄 pic.twitter.com/qDr2Yx2U8X

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) December 24, 2025

That dynamic has persisted through multiple market cycles. When Cramer grows confident in one direction, crypto traders often treat it as a sentiment extreme rather than a forecast.

Looking ahead to the New Year’s week, analysts expect thin liquidity and heightened volatility. Bitcoin’s direction may hinge on whether ETF flows stabilize and whether price can reclaim the $90,000 level after options-related positioning clears. 

Until then, Cramer’s 100% bearish read may say less about Bitcoin’s fundamentals — and more about how cautious the market feels heading into 2026.

The post Jim Cramer Turns Fully Bearish on Bitcoin and Traders are Watching Closely appeared first on BeInCrypto.