On December 15, the crypto market shed nearly $150 billion as Bitcoin traded close to $85,000 and major tokens fell 4%–8% in a day. Reported mining shutdowns in China and $357.6 million in Bitcoin ETF outflows added pressure. By December 16, heavy leverage contributed to about $649.4 million in liquidations, including a $11.58 million BTC order on Binance.

The U.S. SEC has reduced crypto enforcement, dismissing or pausing nearly 60% of cases since January. Pullbacks include high-profile actions involving Ripple and Binance, while the agency says decisions reflect legal and policy considerations rather than politics. Leadership changes loom as Caroline Crenshaw prepares to depart and Paul Atkins is expected to remain chair.

U.S. spot XRP ETFs have notched 30 consecutive days of net inflows since launch, according to Coin Bureau, adding about $990.9 million and taking net assets to around $1.18 billion within a month. By contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have recently posted outflows, highlighting shifting investor preferences toward XRP's utility-focused exposure.

On 16 December 2025, Ethereum was still described as the main hub for DeFi, regulated stablecoins and high‑value onchain settlement, supported by the largest developer community and the deepest capital base. At the same time, more frequent transactions and consumer‑focused usage are shifting toward faster networks like Solana and TRON, while Ethereum’s revenue and value capture are pressured by lower rollup fees, liquidity fragmentation across layer-2s and the need for higher throughput upgrades.

During an Oval Office event on Monday, President Donald Trump said he is aware of the Samourai Wallet case and is willing to review a possible pardon for its CEO, Keonne Rodriguez, who recently received a five-year federal prison sentence. Rodriguez, accused of operating a Bitcoin mixing service allegedly used to launder $237 million and running an unlicensed money-transmitting business, responded that Trump's remarks are an important step as his prison term begins in four days. The crypto community has rallied behind Rodriguez with the #pardonsamourai hashtag and calls from industry figures to free him, citing previous presidential pardons in high-profile crypto-related cases.

MetaMask has introduced native Bitcoin support, enabling users to buy, swap, send, and receive BTC directly in the wallet after previously relying only on wrapped versions. The rollout, announced on Monday following initial hints in February, extends MetaMask's multichain strategy alongside assets like Ethereum, Solana, Monad, and Sei, with further network integrations and a Polymarket partnership also in the pipeline.

Over the past three months, Bitcoin declined about 26% but still held up better than most major crypto sectors, including Ether, AI tokens, memecoins and real-world asset tokens. Several analysts say the figures highlight a market where capital remains concentrated in BTC, which many investors currently treat as a relatively safer option within the crypto space.

Total crypto market capitalization fell by $140 billion to $3.02 trillion in late Monday trading, with Bitcoin dropping to $85,200 after losing $90,000 support. BTC hovered just below $86,000 during Tuesday’s Asian session amid heightened volatility. The decline marked the lowest level since the December 2 leverage flush.