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.

On 16 December 2025, Ripple outlined a shift in how it develops RLUSD, treating it as regulated settlement infrastructure that can operate across multiple blockchains rather than a single-chain stablecoin. Following its conditional approval to act as a U.S. trust bank, the company is focusing RLUSD on layer-2 environments, emphasizing regulatory compliance, issuer control, and interoperability with XRP, while rolling out deployments slowly and permissionedly.

On 15 December 2025, digital asset manager Hashdex released a market outlook arguing that crypto's next expansion phase will be led by stablecoins, tokenized securities, and AI-related projects. The firm expects stablecoin circulation to roughly double by 2026 and sees tokenized stocks, bonds, and government securities growing multiple times from current levels, while also projecting AI-crypto networks could reach about $10 billion in value by that year.

South Korea will activate its AI Framework Act on January 22, 2026, creating a nationwide governance system with safety, transparency and disclosure rules. According to a Startup Alliance survey, 98% of local AI firms lack a compliance response system, and founders warn mandatory content labeling and tight timelines could force product changes or offshore launches.

On December 12, Tether lodged a binding, all-cash offer for Exor's 65.4% stake in Juventus, with the intention to extend identical terms to remaining shareholders once approvals are secured. Sources close to Exor say the Agnelli family does not plan to sell, despite Tether's pledge to invest up to €1 billion if a takeover succeeds.

According to analysis by Joao Wedson and Alphractal on Dec 12, 2025, long‑term holders have produced four rare distribution signals and moved dormant coins back into circulation. Glassnode notes a 4.4% relative unrealized loss and fading volatility, while price sits roughly 30% below the early October all‑time high near $126,000 and fear readings reach cycle extremes.

On 12 December 2025, Bhutan announced TER, a sovereign digital token backed by the country's gold reserves and issued through Gelephu Mindfulness City. DK Bank will safeguard the physical gold while Matrixdock builds the tokenized asset on Solana, aligning with Bhutan's broader effort to expand its blockchain ecosystem and modernize national finance.

On 10 December 2025, Ethereum climbed back toward $3,400 after one of its toughest stretches since autumn, according to analysts. Bitcoin moved back above $90,000. Ethereum is developing its own constructive setup, with improving technical indicators and a potential long‑term reset rather than a failed trend. Traders are watching December price action to see whether this recovery can extend into a more durable uptrend.

On December 8, 2025, Ethereum‑associated projects were ranked by 30‑day commits, with Chainlink first and Status second, according to Santiment. A December 9 overview said developer attention is shifting from the base protocol toward middleware and applications. It suggested growth may be driven by oracles, liquidity, indexing, storage, and media layers rather than core scalability.