Competition in onchain perpetual trading is heating up after Hyperliquid listed LIT, the native token of rival exchange Lighter, on its pre-market contracts platform. The move enables traders to speculate on LIT ahead of its official launch, underscoring growing demand for early price discovery in crypto derivatives.

Erebor, the digital bank co-founded by Palmer Luckey and backed by Peter Thiel, has reportedly raised $350 million at a $4.35 billion post-money valuation led by Lux Capital. The company recently obtained conditional approval from the OCC and a 12‑month deposit insurance approval from the FDIC, moving it closer to full bank status with a focus on crypto, AI and stablecoin-related services.

Arizona state Senator Wendy Rogers has prefiled two bills and one constitutional resolution aiming to exempt virtual currency and blockchain node operators from certain state and local taxes. One bill targets property tax rules for digital assets, another would stop cities and counties from taxing blockchain nodes, and a resolution seeks to adjust the state constitution. The proposed crypto tax changes would require voter approval at the November 2026 general election, while the node-related bill may advance solely through the legislature.

Binance will introduce five new spot trading pairs on December 24, including ADA/USD1, ASTER/USD1, LUNA/USDC, LUNC/USDC and ZEC/USD1, and will activate Trading Bots for them. Users will benefit from discounted taker fees on all existing and new USDC spot and margin pairs, though residents in several restricted jurisdictions will not have access to the new services. Following the listing announcement, ADA, ASTER, LUNA, LUNC and ZEC all recorded price gains amid a broader crypto market rebound.

On Monday, options activity in the U.S. Treasury market surged as traders built large March positions tied to the 10-year note, with one structure carrying about $80 million in premium and open interest climbing 300% to 171,153 contracts. These trades target a move in the 10-year yield toward roughly 4%, while the 10-year benchmark closed near 4.171% and other Treasury maturities also inched higher as fresh auctions approached. Market volatility stayed subdued, with a key Treasury volatility gauge dropping to its lowest level in more than four years.

Italy's Competition Authority (AGCM) imposed a €98.6 million ($115 million) fine on Apple after a probe launched in May 2023, citing App Store policies tied to App Tracking Transparency. The 199-page ruling orders Apple to halt the conduct and report compliance within 90 days, while the company says it will appeal.

Venezuelan economist Asdrubal Oliveros said in a recent podcast that the country now collects roughly 80% of its crude oil export revenue in Tether's USDT and other stablecoins. PDVSA has required USDT payments for spot oil sales since March 2024, while Caracas struggles to convert growing stablecoin balances due to currency controls and sanctions. Despite these constraints and U.S. measures including a 25% tariff and tanker seizures, Venezuela's GDP reportedly increased from $102.38 billion in 2023 to $119.81 billion in 2024.

On December 22, 2025, Ghana’s parliament approved the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, effectively legalizing cryptocurrency-related activities under a new regulatory framework. The Bank of Ghana will license and oversee exchanges, wallets, and custody providers, while crypto remains non-legal tender and the cedi stays the only official currency. The move follows rapid growth in Ghana’s crypto usage and aligns the country with other Sub-Saharan African markets advancing formal regulation.