Throughout 2025, Bitcoin’s performance measured against gold has been in a near-constant decline, even as the BTC/USD chart showed a volatile surge toward roughly $124,700 in late October followed by a drop into the mid-$80,000s in November. The BTC/XAU ratio has slid about 45% from its Jan. 12 weekly peak and has trended lower for 46 consecutive weeks, leaving Bitcoin roughly 10% down in dollar terms but significantly weaker versus gold as 2026 approaches. This divergence challenges Bitcoin’s store-of-value narrative for allocators who benchmark against hard assets rather than fiat currencies.

The Federal Reserve executed a $13.5 billion overnight repurchase agreement on December 1, marking a notable increase in short-term dollar funding operations. The spike signals temporary tightness in funding markets, where institutions exchange Treasury collateral for cash overnight. Bitcoin's price behavior now correlates with these liquidity shifts, as the asset has become integrated into the same risk-on/risk-off framework that governs traditional finance.

A CoinTab dataset shows 73% of publicly tracked Bitcoin-holding companies carry debt, with 39% owing more than their BTC is worth. When Bitcoin dropped from $122,000 to $107,000 on October 10, 84% of these firms saw share prices decline by an average of 27%. The data exposes structural vulnerabilities tied to leverage and volatile treasury assets among corporate BTC holders.

Grayscale has submitted an application to list a Zcash exchange-traded fund on NYSE Arca under ticker ZCSH. ZEC rose from approximately $30 at the start of 2025 to $699 by November, data show. The proposed structure relies on cash creations initially, with Coinbase Custody holding assets and BNY Mellon serving as administrator.

Japan's Financial Services Agency is drafting regulations to reclassify Bitcoin, Ethereum, and approximately 100 other digital tokens as financial products, local media reports show. The proposed framework would introduce a 20% flat tax rate on crypto gains, replacing the current system where rates can reach 55%. Implementation is targeted for 2026.

A malicious Chrome extension named "Safery: Ethereum Wallet" reached fourth place in Chrome Web Store search results for "Ethereum wallet" in November, according to Socket, a security firm specializing in open-source software supply chain analysis. The extension stole user seed phrases by encoding them into micro-transactions on the Sui blockchain. This method allowed attackers to drain wallets without triggering traditional security alerts.

No new companies have added Bitcoin to their balance sheets since September 18, when GD Culture Group became the last first-time adopter. Existing holders continue to dominate demand, with Strategy acquiring 8,665 BTC on November 17. Meanwhile, miners have adjusted their holdings amid operational pressures, with some pledging coins as collateral while others maintain steady accumulation.

Bitcoin dropped below $98,000 in a sharp liquidation wave that eliminated $655 million from long positions within 24 hours. The decline brought BTC within 2% of the $95,000 support level, where approximately 65% of all invested capital is concentrated. Spot ETFs recorded $961 million in net outflows through Nov. 12.

Chainlink has appeared on a Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation reference list, fueling speculation about a potential exchange-traded fund for the token. The DTCC listing signals operational infrastructure preparation but does not represent regulatory approval, following a pattern seen with Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Two sequential SEC approvals—exchange Rule 19b-4 authorization and issuer Form S-1 effectiveness—are required before any ETF can begin trading.