Dexter became the largest daily facilitator for x402 transactions from December 11, according to data published by Hashed Official. The AI protocol has processed over 19.8 million total payments, 14 million fewer than Base. Charts indicate Dexter now handles roughly half of daily volume while Coinbase's share ranges from one-quarter to one-third.

As 2026 trading begins, Delphi Digital reports that crypto investors are grappling with a "token identity crisis" as assets increasingly resemble equity, governance tools, or customer acquisition incentives. Securitize's IPO plans, MetaDAO's ownership tokens, Uniswap's fee switch, and CAC-style distribution models such as Worldcoin illustrate this shift, while regulatory moves in the US and Europe aim to clarify rules for institutions. Around $2.2 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options are set to expire, with Bitcoin trading near $88,970 and option positioning suggesting expectations for a possible move back above $90,000.

On January 2, 2026, a dark web post alleged $1, read-only access to Kraken’s internal support panel, according to Dark Web Informer. The listing claims visibility into user profiles, transaction histories and KYC documents, with authentication codes expiring in February; the publication reported no independent confirmation and Kraken has not acknowledged a compromise.

In late December 2025, on-chain investigator ZachXBT reported that hundreds of EVM-compatible wallets on networks like Ethereum and BNB were being drained in small thefts of under $2,000 per victim, with over $107,000 stolen so far. Funds from nearly 20 blockchains have been traced to a single address, which analytics firms link to the Trust Wallet Chrome extension "Shai-Hulud" supply chain attack that began on Christmas Eve. The incident comes amid a record year for crypto-related cybercrime, with billions in digital assets reportedly stolen across major hacks and phishing campaigns.

Spain plans to fully apply EU crypto frameworks in 2026, targeting mid‑2026 for MiCA enforcement and January 1, 2026 for DAC8. The CNMV will supervise MiCA, and firms must secure authorization by July 1, 2026. DAC8 will require automatic reporting of transactions and balances and grant seizure powers to tax authorities.

On December 22, 2025, Galaxy Digital researcher Alex Thorn said Bitcoin’s nominal all-time high of $126,000 equates to $99,848 when adjusted using 2020 dollars, leaving it just under the $100,000 threshold. Over the same period, U.S. inflation data indicates the dollar’s purchasing power has fallen by about 20%, while gold and silver have hit fresh records and some analysts warn of potentially higher inflation ahead.

ZOOZ Strategy Ltd said on Monday it received a December 16 notice from Nasdaq's Listing Qualifications Department stating it no longer meets Rule 5550(a)(2)'s $1.00 bid minimum on the Capital Market. The company has until June 15, 2026 to achieve at least 10 straight sessions at or above $1 and is evaluating a reverse split. Google Finance shows the stock down over 84% in 12 months.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission plans a fact-finding investigation into AI-driven search services provided by companies including Google, Microsoft and Japan’s LY Corp., focusing on potential antimonopoly law violations related to the use of news content. The probe, described by an official as a move to better understand current practices, will also cover conversational AI operators such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI and will extend a 2023 investigation into online news distribution contracts. In parallel, European and UK regulators are tightening scrutiny of large US tech firms over generative AI training data, adtech practices and competition rules.

Crypto.com is recruiting quantitative traders to staff an internal market‑making desk that will trade sports‑linked prediction contracts directly against customers on its exchange. The role, described in a recent job posting, focuses on buying and selling event‑based financial contracts to boost liquidity and “maximize profits while carefully managing risks.” The move has intensified debate over potential conflicts of interest, as rivals Kalshi and Polymarket face lawsuits and criticism over similar in‑house trading operations.