Elon Musk argued that Bitcoin derives value from energy consumption, making it harder to manipulate than fiat currencies, according to a resurfaced interview with Nikhil Kamath. Peter Schiff countered that Bitcoin lacks inherent value and criticized MicroStrategy's business model. Derivatives data shows more than $7.8 billion in short positions could be liquidated if Bitcoin breaks above $100,000, according to CoinGlass and Whale Insider.

Uzbekistan will introduce retail stablecoins through licensed financial institutions starting January 2026. Each stablecoin will be backed 1:1 by a wholesale central bank digital currency held by banks and fintech firms. The framework creates a two-tier structure where citizens use stablecoins for transactions while institutions settle with the CBDC. This approach differs from other jurisdictions that have positioned CBDCs as stablecoin replacements or embraced stablecoins without developing central bank digital currencies.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes projects Bitcoin could reach $500,000 by the end of 2026, driven by anticipated quantitative easing policies. He identifies the November decline to $81,000 as the cycle's probable bottom rather than structural weakness. Hayes argues the strongest rally phase has not yet begun, contingent on Federal Reserve policy shifts including potential leadership changes.

Large Bitcoin holders have reversed their market stance, with one whale closing a 1,000 BTC short position at a $1.6 million loss before opening a 3× leveraged long. Another wallet entered a 20× long position totaling 563.68 BTC worth over $51 million. Analysts identify $84,570 as critical support and $112,340 as the next resistance level that could shape Bitcoin's near-term trajectory.

Prediction market Polymarket puts the probability of Bitcoin returning to $100,000 before year-end at exactly 50%. Bitcoin currently trades at $91,431 after posting a 5% weekly gain. Macro analysts expect weakening U.S. dollar conditions could support cryptocurrency prices.

XRP reserves on Binance have dropped to approximately 2.7 billion tokens, the lowest level in months and down sharply from early October levels. U.S. spot XRP ETFs recorded over $21 million in net inflows on Wednesday, data show. Analyst EGRAG CRYPTO places a 55% probability on a full breakout based on current chart structure.

Robinhood and Susquehanna International Group secured controlling ownership of LedgerX, a federally licensed derivatives clearinghouse. The acquisition provides Robinhood immediate regulatory approval to operate futures and event-based contracts. The move positions the platform to compete directly with Kalshi, Polymarket, and Coinbase in the expanding prediction markets sector.

Bitcoin fell below its 730-day simple moving average near $81,250, marking the first breach of this multi-cycle support level in the current cycle. Market strategist Ali Martinez noted that this metric historically separates bull markets from bear phases. The $85,000–$86,000 range now represents critical resistance that will determine whether the asset recovers or extends losses toward the high-$70,000s.

Citi and Swift have successfully tested a Payment-versus-Payment model that settles fiat currency and blockchain assets simultaneously. The trial used smart contracts to enhance Swift's existing network rather than replacing traditional banking infrastructure. The breakthrough addresses a key bottleneck in institutional digital asset adoption by eliminating settlement risk between traditional and on-chain transactions.