Specialists told Cointelegraph on Dec. 25 that quantum computing poses a largely theoretical rather than imminent threat to cryptocurrencies in 2026, with Argentum AI's Clark Alexander expecting extremely limited commercial quantum use by then and Coin Bureau co-founder Nic Puckrin estimating at least another decade before machines can break current cryptography. Bitcoin and other blockchains rely on public-key cryptography with potential vulnerabilities, as Boosty Labs' Sofiia Kireieva cited the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm as the weakest link compared with SHA-256, while O Foundation founder Ahmad Shadid warned that address reuse sharply increases exposure, with about 25% to 30% of BTC—roughly 4 million coins—already held in addresses whose public keys are visible and thus more susceptible to future quantum attacks. Sahara AI co-founder Sean Ren cautioned that the realistic 2026 risk is adversaries harvesting encrypted data for later decryption, a "collect now, decrypt later" approach described by Cysic co-founder Leo Fan, and the market has begun responding, as Qastle said in November it plans to upgrade cryptography to offer quantum-grade protection for hot wallets, while experts recommend avoiding address reuse and moving funds to quantum-resistant wallets once available.

The Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange have stated they are prepared to launch cryptocurrency trading once Russia finalizes relevant regulations, according to Wu Blockchain. Under the reported framework, retail investors would be limited to purchasing digital assets worth up to 300,000 rubles per year, while qualified investors would face no such cap, excluding privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. The exchanges’ positions, as cited by Wu Blockchain, indicate ongoing regulatory work to incorporate digital assets into Russia’s traditional financial markets.

Pantera's Mason Nystrom, Hash3's Hootie Rashidifard and Variant's Alana Levin identified stablecoins, prediction markets and incumbent firms as 2025's winners on Dec. 25, BlockBeats reports. They highlighted faster execution by companies like Robinhood under clearer regulatory frameworks and surging stablecoin volumes, with Rashidifard noting Tether ranks among top per-capita earners and Levin citing ICE's $2 billion investment in Polymarket. Levin named Do Kwon a personal loser following his 15-year sentence in December related to the Terra collapse, while Rashidifard called the Biden-era SEC an institutional loser and said policy shifted with Gensler's departure, the GENIUS stablecoin bill and market-structure legislation.

The European Union's DAC8 digital asset tax transparency regime will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, extending the bloc's administrative cooperation framework to crypto assets and service providers, CoinDesk reported on Dec. 24. Crypto service providers including exchanges and brokers must collect detailed user and transaction data and report it to domestic tax authorities, which will share the information across EU member states. DAC8 grants local regulators cross-border enforcement powers to act against suspected tax evasion with assistance from counterparts in other EU countries, including authority to freeze or confiscate crypto assets linked to unpaid taxes even when located outside the user's jurisdiction.

Internet service providers in the Philippines have blocked access to Coinbase and Gemini following a National Telecommunications Commission order, Cointelegraph reports on Dec. 24. The order instructed ISPs to restrict access to 50 online trading platforms identified by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as operating without authorization. Users across multiple domestic ISPs reported being unable to access the two global exchanges.

Hong Kong's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) jointly released consultation conclusions on December 24 to advance a licensing framework for virtual asset trading and custody service providers. The initiative aims to strengthen oversight and support sustainable market development. The consultation also announced a one-month public consultation on service providers offering virtual asset management and advisory services, with the regime expected to align with traditional securities market regulation and define regulated activities under different virtual asset licensing frameworks.

TRM Labs said 2025 was "a watershed year for U.S. crypto policy," with stablecoins dominating regulatory agendas globally. On Dec. 24, TRM policy team members Ari Redbord and Angela Ang, working with EMEA compliance advisor Luke Dufour, reviewed Q4 2025 crypto policy across 30 jurisdictions and found over 70% advanced stablecoin regulation, crowdfundinsider reports. Around 80% of jurisdictions' financial institutions announced new digital asset initiatives, aided by clearer rules, while Virtual Asset Service Providers—the most regulated segment—showed significantly lower illicit activity rates than the broader ecosystem. TRM said Q4 underscored policy momentum "no longer just bills moving through Congress," as regulators increasingly rely on guidance, supervision, and enforcement.

The Bank of Russia has proposed a framework that would allow investors to purchase Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies under strict conditions, with a focus on regulating access for non-qualified investors, CoinGape reported. The proposal follows the central bank’s previously restrictive position on cryptocurrency trading in the country, according to the report.