Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao outlined new wallet security proposals after an investor lost $50 million in USDT to an address poisoning scam in December 2024. He suggested blacklist checks, warning prompts and filtering of low-value transactions to block "poison" addresses and reduce phishing risks for blockchain users.

At the start of 2025, a hypothetical $1,000 split evenly across Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and Avalanche was aligned with Anthony Scaramucci's stated crypto preferences. As of December 25, that mix was worth roughly $680–$710, with BTC down around 6–8%, ETH off about 12%, SOL lower by approximately 36%, and AVAX down about 66%.

In 2025, the cryptocurrency sector recorded 267 deals worth about $8.6 billion, marking sharp growth from the prior year. Major transactions included Coinbase's $2.9 billion Deribit acquisition and $14.6 billion raised through 11 crypto-related IPOs. Analysts expect continued momentum in mergers, acquisitions, and stablecoin firms in 2026, supported by new crypto-friendly rules.

Caroline Ellison is now scheduled to leave federal custody on January 21, 2026, several weeks earlier than her previous release date after receiving a two-year sentence linked to the FTX collapse. Prison records show she moved to community-based supervision in New York in October 2025, and her extensive cooperation against Sam Bankman-Fried, who received 25 years, played a key role in shortening her custodial term. Despite the earlier release, she faces a 10-year ban from serving as an officer or director of any public company, including those in the crypto sector.

Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange have outlined plans to start regulated cryptocurrency trading once Russia's new legal framework is in force by July 1, 2026. Qualified investors will be able to trade without volume limits, while retail participants face knowledge tests and a yearly purchase cap of 300,000 rubles, alongside an ongoing ban on using crypto for domestic payments.

In 2025, the crypto sector saw mergers, acquisitions and listings reach a record total of $8.6 billion as a more permissive US regulatory climate encouraged renewed participation from investors and institutions. Major transactions by Coinbase, Kraken and Ripple, alongside a sharp rebound in crypto IPO fundraising to $14.6 billion, signaled growing confidence despite late-year price weakness in Bitcoin. Market participants and legal experts expect this consolidation trend to extend into 2026 as regulatory frameworks such as MiCA and anticipated US legislation continue to take shape.

On 25 December 2025, an article outlined ChatGPT's view that crypto is entering a selective phase where capital concentrates on networks with liquidity, real usage, and credibility. It highlights Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana as best placed for 2026, emphasizing institutional relevance, financial infrastructure strength, and user traction rather than broad speculative rallies.

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is calling for wallets to automatically block known poison addresses after a trader lost nearly $50 million in USDT in an address poisoning scam on December 20. He says wallet-level checks, shared blacklists and filtering spam micro‑transactions could eliminate this attack vector entirely.