Ethereum

Ethereum developers are advancing a zero-knowledge protocol to strengthen privacy in blockchain transactions. The initiative features a Secret Santa matching system using zero-knowledge proofs and transaction relayers to preserve user anonymity while preventing Sybil attacks, according to research shared via an Ethereum community forum.

Vanguard has enabled US clients to trade regulated cryptocurrency ETFs on its brokerage platform, including funds linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana. The policy shift follows the appointment of CEO Salim Ramji, former global head of ETFs at BlackRock. XRP ETFs have recorded $756 million in net inflows across 11 trading days with no outflows, according to available data.

Distributed Lab has released a zero-knowledge Secret Santa protocol enabling private transactions on Ethereum without exposing participant identities. The system uses cryptographic proofs and relayers to address blockchain transparency challenges. The development advances enterprise-grade privacy as global regulatory frameworks demand stricter data-sharing compliance.

Coinbase Institutional has expanded its COIN50 Index to include six digital assets: Hedera, Mantle, VeChain, Flare, Sei, and Immutable X. The additions reflect institutional interest in utility-focused blockchain projects and infrastructure platforms. The benchmark tracks the most investable assets available on Coinbase Exchange.

Vanguard Group began offering cryptocurrency ETF trading on its brokerage platform on December 2, 2025, granting more than 50 million clients access to Bitcoin and Ether funds from BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale. The firm, which manages approximately $11 trillion in assets, excludes memecoin, leveraged, inverse, and futures-based crypto products from its platform.

AI research firm Anthropic disclosed that automated AI agents successfully exploited 17 of 34 smart contracts in a simulated blockchain environment, extracting $4.5 million in test funds. The models tested included Claude Opus 4.5 and Claude Sonnet 4.5 against contracts deployed after March 2025. The AI agents also identified two previously unknown vulnerabilities in recently launched contracts.

Vanguard Group will enable crypto ETF trading for its brokerage customers starting December 2, 2025, granting access to over 50 million investors. The platform will support Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana ETFs. The asset manager cited matured administrative processes and evolving investor preferences as reasons for the policy shift.

Anthropic tested AI agents on 405 real-world smart contracts and simulated $550.1 million in stolen cryptocurrency. Newer models exploited 34 contracts deployed after March 2025 for up to $4.6 million, with Opus 4.5 leading at $4.5 million. The agents also discovered two previously unknown zero-day vulnerabilities in live contracts worth $3,694 in test revenue.

BitMine Immersion Technologies purchased approximately $70 million worth of Ether across a three-day period during recent market weakness. The firm acquired 7,080 ETH for around $19.8 million on December 2, 2025, following a weekend buy of 16,693 ETH valued at roughly $50.1 million, blockchain data show.

Ethereum futures open interest increased by $653 million following a sharp decline that pushed ETH to approximately $2,800. The asset dropped 8% over 24 hours, with trading volume reaching $23.8 billion during the period. Technical indicators suggest the asset may be entering oversold territory as it tests critical support levels.