Wallet

Kraken said Thursday that xStocks, a tokenized securities platform it backs, is now live on TON Wallet, the self-custodial wallet integrated with Telegram. At launch, the service will be accessible in nearly all markets where TON Wallet operates, but not in the U.S., the European Union, or Australia, according to Egor Danilov.

On December 18, 2025, PeckShield reported a crypto whale’s 1-of-1 multisignature wallet was compromised and about $27.3 million was stolen. Etherscan data showed the drainer moving 4,100 ETH in 100 ETH batches through Tornado Cash, and PeckShield said roughly $2 million in liquid assets remained under the attacker’s control.

Vitalik Buterin argues that Ethereum must simplify its protocol so more people can fully understand how the blockchain works, which he views as key to genuine trustlessness. He says Ethereum should sometimes sacrifice features to make the system clearer, while projects like privacy-focused layer 2 INTMAX echo that complex designs merely shift who users must trust. Ethereum’s roadmap already targets easier node operation, smart contract wallets and a Web2-like user experience to lower barriers for everyday users.

On December 18, 2025, PeckShield reported that a whale's multisig wallet was emptied of about $27.3M following a private key compromise. The drainer pushed roughly $12.6M (4,100 ETH) through Tornado Cash, retained about $2M in liquid assets, and controls a wallet that holds a leveraged Aave position with around $25M in ETH against roughly $12.3M in DAI debt.

This explainer outlines the core terms new creators should learn before minting NFTs, covering wallets, smart contracts, royalties, gas fees, and token standards. It clarifies marketplace concepts like listings and floor price, plus safety topics such as phishing and rug pulls. Understanding this vocabulary helps first-time projects avoid costly missteps and launch with confidence.

The Marshall Islands introduced a nationwide UBI that pays roughly $200 per quarter (about $800 a year), with residents choosing bank transfers, checks, or a government-backed blockchain wallet. First disbursements occurred in late November, and officials say the program uses a US dollar–pegged stablecoin; early uptake of the digital wallet has been limited.

On December 16, 2025, Exodus unveiled plans for a fully reserved, USD-backed stablecoin with MoonPay, targeting a January 2026 launch. MoonPay will issue and manage the asset with M0 supporting the infrastructure, and access will roll out based on regulatory approvals to power self-custodial payments through Exodus Pay.

Lightning Network capacity climbed to new highs as major exchanges funded channels, with 5,606 BTC on Monday and 5,637 BTC (about $490 million) on Tuesday. Lightning Labs updated Taproot Assets to v0.7, adding reusable addresses, an auditable supply, and larger transactions, while Tether led an $8 million round to enable stablecoin payments on LN.

On December 16, 2025, MetaMask announced native Bitcoin (BTC) support in its wallet. Users updating to the latest version automatically receive a BTC address via multichain accounts and can buy, swap, send and manage BTC alongside ETH, SOL and SEI; SegWit is supported at launch, with Taproot planned. The company said local‑currency purchases are available and BTC confirmations typically take longer.

During the holiday period, scammers intensify phishing, fake wallet apps, bogus presales and romance schemes to exploit distracted crypto users and the irreversibility of blockchain transfers. They also run impersonation, recovery and holiday-themed token scams, sometimes aided by AI voice cloning and malicious SDKs that steal wallet phrases. Users can reduce risk by relying on official apps and links, protecting keys, using strong security tools and carefully verifying offers, charities and giveaways.