HashKey, described as Hong Kong’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, began trading on the HKEX main board on Wednesday after completing a $206 million IPO. The deal was sharply oversubscribed across retail and international tranches, but the first trading session saw the share price briefly rise before slipping below the IPO level. The offering, which sold 240 million shares and attracted nine cornerstone investors, is seen as part of a broader lineup of crypto firms targeting public listings in 2025.

On Dec. 17, Aave founder Stani Kulechov outlined a 2026 roadmap featuring the V4 upgrade, Horizon's tokenised real‑world asset lending, and a mobile app push. Horizon deposits are around $550 million after surpassing $50 million by Sept. 1, with a goal above $1 billion. The plan follows the SEC ending its investigation.

Bhutan plans to channel up to 10,000 Bitcoin from its national reserves into the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region launched in 2024. The country holds about 11,286 Bitcoin in total, ranking fifth among national holders, and aims to build the city in phases over 20 years with executive autonomy and legal independence. The project is intended to serve as an economic hub that supports sectors such as finance, tourism, green energy, and technology.

Singapore-based StraitsX plans to extend its XSGD and XUSD stablecoins to Solana by early 2026. The move targets automated payments and onchain SGD–USD exchange, with the pair having processed over $18 billion in onchain transactions. StraitsX operates under MAS oversight and is exploring a consumer pilot with Grab.

According to an SEC filing, the agency has begun reviewing Nasdaq's proposed rule to list and trade tokenized securities alongside traditional shares on the same order book. Settlement would still run through DTCC systems, with blockchain used for operational efficiency, and industry feedback is split as regulators weigh legal and operational risks.

Security researchers report a surge in social‑engineering scams using fake Zoom or Teams meetings to install malware that siphons data and drains crypto wallets. Attackers impersonate known contacts via Telegram, use pre‑recorded video, and push a bogus audio or SDK patch during calls. Losses have topped $300m, with attempts observed on a daily basis across the sector.

On 9 December, a dormant WeChat account linked to Binance co-CEO Yi He was taken over and used to promote the little-known MUBARA token on BNB Chain. The token’s price jumped from about $0.001 to $0.008, briefly valuing the project near $8 million before plunging more than 60% as two attacker wallets sold into the rally, securing an estimated $55,000 profit, according to on-chain data. The episode shows how abandoned web2 accounts can still trigger sharp moves in thinly traded micro-cap crypto markets when they are associated with high-profile industry figures.

A 65-year-old retired engineer from Miyapur lost ₹1.28 crore (about $130,000) between November 4 and December 5 to a fake trading app posing as DBS and promoted via a WhatsApp investment group, according to Cyberabad cybercrime police. The fraudsters allegedly used cloned app interfaces, staged returns and social messaging channels to build trust before blocking withdrawals. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Authorities are urging investors to verify platforms, check regulatory approvals and report suspicious apps, links and chat groups.

The United Kingdom enacted legislation formally recognizing cryptocurrencies as personal property. The Property Digital Assets Act establishes statutory guidelines for ownership disputes and asset recovery in digital holdings. The framework addresses classification gaps as crypto adoption reaches 12% of UK adults.