Bitcoin moved toward the $85,000 area during Monday’s global session and hovered near $87,000 after a 3.6% daily decline. Altcoins fell harder, with ASTER down about 12%, ENA 9%, SUI 8%, and HYPE 7%. Social chatter spiked, yet classic capitulation signals remain limited, keeping traders watchful rather than fearful.

On 16 Dec 2025, the US Senate Banking Committee postponed markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, known as the CLARITY Act, pushing any decision on federal crypto market structure rules into early 2026. The House had already passed H.R.3633 in July 2025, so the Senate delay leaves trading platforms, token issuers and financial institutions without a unified national framework for digital asset trading and custody.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority has published new proposals for regulating crypto assets and opened them for public consultation until 12 February 2026. The draft rules cover asset issuance, disclosure standards, platform governance, staking and lending protections, and how they may apply to DeFi arrangements. Ethereum has seen sharp price swings and a multi‑month drawdown as these UK regulatory moves unfold alongside broader market volatility.

On Wednesday, Gemini Titan received a designated contract market license from the CFTC. On Monday, Gemini said via X that its Gemini Predictions platform is now available in all 50 US states. The product lets users trade on real-world outcomes and is part of the exchange’s push toward a super-app spanning crypto trading, staking, rewards, tokenized stocks, and prediction markets.

On December 16, 2025, Nasdaq said it will submit an SEC filing to enable 23-hour, five-day trading with new day and night sessions, targeting a second-half 2026 launch. The exchange cites $17 trillion in foreign holdings and rising overnight demand; DTCC’s nonstop clearing is required by end-2026.

Digital Euro from 2027: EU Council Pushes for Launch. ECB Plans Tests, Banks Warn of Costs – Stablecoins and MiCAR Increase Pressure.

Chinese battery and power‑equipment stocks have rallied in 2025 as AI data centers ramp up procurement. CATL shares are up 45% and Sungrow has climbed 130%, while Shenzhen's CSI New Energy index has gained 38%. Export demand and pricing power are lifting profits as domestic competition keeps margins thin.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority has opened a consultation on a new set of cryptocurrency regulations, alongside a government decision that industry rules will take effect in October 2027. The package targets market integrity, consumer protection and prudential standards, with feedback accepted until February 12, 2026 and final measures expected by the end of 2026. UK crypto ownership has fallen from 12% to 8% in a year, while Bitcoin is priced at $86,504.74 with 58.59% market dominance and pronounced recent volatility.