In December 2025, centralized exchanges experienced a sharp slowdown across spot and derivatives, with spot volumes falling 32% versus November. Reported trading activity ranged between $990M and $1.13B, according to different accounts. DEX volumes improved late in the year and remained higher than January levels, though still below October's peak.

TSMC shares rose 2.74% in premarket trading to $312.25 at 7:16 AM EST on January 2, 2026, after the U.S. Department of Commerce granted an annual license to import chipmaking equipment for its Nanjing facility. The decision follows the expiration of TSMC's validated end-user status on December 31, 2025 and ensures continued operations.

At 13:04 London time on Friday, the FTSE 100 crossed 10,000, touching 10,046.25 after a 1.2% intraday rise. The UK benchmark climbed 22% in 2025, its strongest annual performance since 2009, led by banks and miners, and it outpaced the Stoxx 600 and the S&P 500. European indices started 2026 higher, while sterling traded near $1.3447.

Tesla’s European performance deteriorated in December 2025, with France deliveries at 1,942 (-66%) and Sweden down 71%. Norway bucked the trend with 5,679 registrations, up nearly 90%, while analysts see Q4 global deliveries declining 11–15%. Across the first eleven months, battery‑electric registrations rose 27% as Tesla’s fell 28%.

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.

Turkmenistan has legalized cryptocurrency mining and trading under a licensing regime, with exchanges and miners supervised by the central bank. The legislation was signed in late November and came into force this week, while cryptocurrencies remain excluded as legal tender. The policy aims to diversify the gas‑dependent economy without loosening state control.

On 2 January 2026, dozens of countries began gathering detailed crypto transaction records ahead of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework's planned data exchanges in 2027. Platforms in 48 jurisdictions must now log wallet activity, trades, and transfers under new tax transparency rules, with the UK enforcing particularly strict reporting duties. A further group of countries is expected to join from 2028, signaling a shift toward cross-border visibility of crypto holdings and gains.

Coinbase plans to emphasize stablecoins, Base and an 'everything exchange' through 2026, per CEO Brian Armstrong. In a New Year's post he reaffirmed the vision, and in December the firm launched stock trading and prediction markets while rebranding its wallet as an 'everything app'.