CME FedWatch data show an 86.7% probability the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its January meeting, BlockBeats reports. The tool indicates a 13.3% chance of a 25-basis-point cut.

Crypto liquidations totaled $182 million on Dec. 25, with long positions accounting for $121 million and short positions $60.35 million, Coinglass data show. The figures cover the past 24 hours across the market.

The S&P 500 reached a new intraday all-time high on Dec. 24, rising 0.16%, market data cited by BlockBeats show. The benchmark U.S. equity index extended gains during the session as prices pushed into fresh record territory.

The European Union's DAC8 digital asset tax transparency regime will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, extending the bloc's administrative cooperation framework to crypto assets and service providers, CoinDesk reported on Dec. 24. Crypto service providers including exchanges and brokers must collect detailed user and transaction data and report it to domestic tax authorities, which will share the information across EU member states. DAC8 grants local regulators cross-border enforcement powers to act against suspected tax evasion with assistance from counterparts in other EU countries, including authority to freeze or confiscate crypto assets linked to unpaid taxes even when located outside the user's jurisdiction.

A swing trader realized $12.5 million in combined profit from a two-month Bitcoin short position as of Dec. 24, Arkham data show. The trade incurred $9.6 million in funding fees, and the trader holds BTCB worth $3.5 million on BNB Chain.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov purchased $10 million of AAVE tokens on Dec. 24, drawing criticism from community members, Cointelegraph reports. DeFi strategist Robert Mullins said the purchase aimed to increase Kulechov's voting power ahead of an upcoming vote on a proposal that could harm token holders' interests. Crypto commentator Sisyphus raised concerns that Kulechov may have sold millions of dollars worth of AAVE between 2021 and 2025, questioning the rationale for the buyback. The controversy unfolds as AAVE holders debate governance practices, with critics arguing that large token purchases can influence outcomes on contentious proposals.

Bitcoin traded between $85,000 and $90,000 on December 24, showing little sign of a rebound as it hovered around $87,000, Bloomberg reports. The world's largest cryptocurrency failed to mirror Wall Street's year-end rally despite seasonal optimism in traditional markets.

Funding rates across major centralized and decentralized exchanges signaled a broadly bearish market on Dec. 24, Coinglass data show. BlockBeats reports that rates above 0.01% imply bullish positioning, while levels below 0.005% signal bearish sentiment, with 0.01% serving as the baseline.