Cryptocurrency News December 12, 2025: Bitcoin, Altcoins, Regulations, Institutions

Current Cryptocurrency News as of December 12, 2025: Market Trends, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies, Regulatory Changes, Blockchain Technology Updates, Institutional Investments, and Key Industry Events

The global cryptocurrency market continues to exhibit high volatility amid changes in the macroeconomic landscape. By the end of the week, the market leader Bitcoin fell below the psychologically important mark of $90,000, reacting to the decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. Simultaneously, the majority of altcoins are under pressure as investors take profits following the vigorous rally in the first half of the year, while also factoring in new risks. Nonetheless, the industry is showing positive signals: institutional investors are increasing their presence, regulators in key jurisdictions are establishing clearer rules, and technological upgrades continue to enhance blockchain infrastructure. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the latest trends and news in the world of cryptocurrencies, from the dynamics of the top 10 coins to regulatory initiatives, technological breakthroughs, institutional inflows, and security concerns.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC): The largest cryptocurrency, accounting for approximately 58% of the total market. This year, Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of over $120,000 in October, but the subsequent correction brought the price down to the current ~\$90,000. Despite its volatility, Bitcoin remains a key indicator of market sentiment and is viewed as "digital gold" by investors.
2. Ethereum (ETH): The second-largest coin by market capitalization and the leading smart contract platform. Ethereum is trading around \$3,200, down from its September peaks. The Ethereum network serves as the foundation for the DeFi and NFT sectors, and the recently completed Fusaka upgrade improved scalability and reduced fees, strengthening ETH's position in the market.
3. Tether (USDT): The largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. With a market capitalization of approximately \$180 billion, USDT remains a key source of liquidity on exchanges, allowing traders to park funds in a stable asset during periods of heightened volatility.
4. XRP (Ripple Token): A cryptocurrency focused on fast global payments. XRP remains in the top 5 with a market capitalization of around \$120 billion, trading at about \$2 per token. In 2025, interest in XRP surged following favorable legal news: legal disputes in the U.S. progressed towards resolution, restoring investor confidence and contributing to price growth.
5. Binance Coin (BNB): The native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. BNB is used to pay fees and participate in the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem. Despite regulatory pressures on Binance in various countries, BNB has seen significant price growth this year (trading near \$850), with its market cap (~\$120 billion) maintaining its position among market leaders.
6. USD Coin (USDC): The second-largest stablecoin, issued by Circle, with a market capitalization of approximately \$75–80 billion. USDC is positioned as a more regulated and transparent stablecoin, widely used by institutional investors and on DeFi platforms, although its market share has somewhat diminished in favor of USDT.
7. Solana (SOL): A high-performance blockchain targeting scalability and low fees. SOL rebounded from a downturn in 2022 and re-entered the top 10 coins (market cap ~$73 billion, price around \$130). The Solana ecosystem attracts developers of dApps and traders due to its fast transactions, supporting demand for SOL.
8. Tron (TRX): A blockchain platform known for its wide use in stablecoins and decentralized entertainment. TRX is trading around $0.28 with a market cap of ~$26 billion. The Tron project is actively developing under Justin Sun's leadership, demonstrating steady transaction growth, partly due to the issuance of stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT's supply operates on Tron).
9. Dogecoin (DOGE): The most well-known "meme coin," which transformed from a joke project into a cryptocurrency with a market cap exceeding \$20 billion. DOGE is trading around $0.14. Interest in Dogecoin is sustained by its community and media attention (for instance, popularized by Elon Musk), but the price remains highly volatile, responding to internet trends and speculative demand.
10. Cardano (ADA): A major blockchain platform based on a Proof-of-Stake algorithm, evolving with a focus on scientific rigor. ADA is trading around ~$0.40 (market cap ~\$15 billion). In 2025, the Cardano network continued its technical upgrades (such as Hydra scaling solutions), but the ADA price remains far from historic highs, reflecting fierce competition in the smart contract sector.

Global Market Overview

Overall, the global cryptocurrency capitalization is holding around $3 trillion, close to record levels achieved earlier in the autumn. However, the market has been correcting in recent weeks: as of the morning of December 12, the total capitalization decreased by approximately 3% over the day, with all top 10 coins showing declines. Bitcoin is consolidating around \$90,000 after a sharp spike and subsequent pullback – investors are assessing whether the new Fed rate cut will be a stimulus for growth or a signal for caution. Notably, traditional stock indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq) reacted positively to the Fed's decision, while crypto assets, on the contrary, partially lost value. Analysts indicate an increased correlation between Bitcoin and high-tech stocks: in 2025, both markets have experienced similar rises and falls linked to shifts in sentiment surrounding artificial intelligence and monetary policy.

Following the record rally at the beginning of the year (largely driven by capital influx on expectations of Bitcoin ETF approval and a shift to a more crypto-friendly U.S. administration), the market faced a period of turbulence. The October decline, triggered by unexpected external economic actions from the U.S. (new tariffs and geopolitical tensions), led to the largest liquidation of positions in history, amounting to over \$19 billion. Since then, Bitcoin and a number of altcoins have struggled to return to peak levels. November marked the most significant monthly decline in prices since 2021, cooling the optimism of some investors.

Nevertheless, the dynamics compared to the beginning of the year remain positive for many crypto assets. Many altcoins, such as XRP or Solana, despite the current pullback, are trading significantly above levels seen at the end of 2024 due to earlier successes (legal clarity for XRP, technological achievements for Solana, etc.). Bitcoin's dominance fluctuates around 55–60%, indicating investors' desire to retain a significant portion of capital in the most reliable digital asset amidst market risks. Current market sentiment is characterized by cautious optimism: the "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies remains in the moderate fear zone, signaling that participants are waiting for further signals – from macroeconomic data to progress on new product launches (ETFs, institutional services) – before resuming a confident upward trend.

Regulatory News

The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 has substantially clarified, impacting the global perception of the industry:

• United States: With the change in administration, regulators are easing their approach to the crypto industry. In December, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved the launch of exchange-traded spot crypto products for the first time, marking an important step for integrating cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system. The new SEC chair expressed a desire to "modernize" the regulatory framework for digital assets, moving away from the previous enforcement-led strategy. Additionally, bills regulating stablecoins and protecting investors in the crypto market are advancing in Congress, although final passage is still pending.
• Europe: In the European Union, the comprehensive regulation MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is coming into force. From June 2024, requirements for stablecoin issuers are introduced, and from December 2024, rules for crypto exchanges and custodians will take effect. In 2025, European companies are actively obtaining licenses under the new rules, creating a clear operational framework for the crypto business across EU countries. EU regulators are also monitoring risks associated with crypto assets and collaborating with global organizations to develop standards (e.g., recommendations from the Financial Stability Board – FSB on crypto asset regulation).
• Asia: Major financial centers in the region continue to implement cryptocurrency initiatives. Hong Kong has allowed retail cryptocurrency trading on licensed platforms since 2024, attracting exchanges and funds that have refocused from other markets. Singapore strengthens its status as a crypto hub through clear licensing and taxation requirements while closely monitoring money laundering activities. In China, the situation remains unchanged: direct cryptocurrency trading is prohibited, but the country is leading in the development of its central bank digital currency (CNY CBDC), which by the end of 2025 has reached hundreds of millions of users domestically.
• Other Regions: Many countries are updating their legislation to either attract crypto investors or shield their economies from risks. For instance, Gulf countries (UAE, Bahrain) have special regimes for the crypto business with low taxes, spurring the relocation of companies. In contrast, some countries (Turkey, Argentina, Nigeria) have introduced stricter controls over crypto transactions amid currency crises, requiring platforms to register and report large operations. Globally, regulators are increasingly coordinating efforts: law enforcement agencies in different countries have formed joint task forces to track illegal operations involving crypto, while central banks are discussing unified approaches to supervising stablecoins and crypto exchanges.

Blockchain Technology Updates

• Ethereum – Fusaka Update: In early December, the Ethereum network successfully activated the Fusaka hard fork, marking the second major upgrade in 2025. This update increased the blockchain's base throughput (gas limit per block), improved interoperability with layer two solutions, and added new features for optimizing smart contracts. These changes aim to reduce fees and increase transaction speed, which is particularly important given the increasing load from DeFi applications. Ethereum continues to follow its roadmap, focusing on scaling (with plans for sharding in the future) and enhancing network security.
• Bitcoin and Scaling: Although the Bitcoin network did not experience major hard forks in 2025, the ecosystem surrounding it has actively evolved. The capacity of the Lightning Network – a layer two solution for fast micropayments – reached new all-time highs, expanding Bitcoin's practical use in retail payments. Moreover, the Bitcoin community is discussing several improvement proposals (BIPs) aimed at enhancing privacy and functionality (for example, implementing agreements for partially signed transactions and covenant technologies). Concurrently, cross-chain solutions have developed: so-called Bitcoin Ordinals and protocols for issuing tokens based on Bitcoin have shown that even a conservative network can support new use cases (collectible NFTs, stablecoins on Bitcoin, etc.) without altering the underlying protocol.
• Other Blockchain Projects: Significant technological breakthroughs continue within the altcoin sector. Solana, following its updates, has substantially improved its network stability, reducing the number of failures, and is preparing to implement solutions for parallel transaction execution. Cardano is implementing scaling protocols (e.g., Hydra for off-chain channels), gradually increasing throughput. Polygon and other layer two projects for Ethereum (Arbitrum, Optimism) have established themselves as integral components of the ecosystem, providing cheaper and faster transactions – their total value locked (TVL) in DeFi has significantly increased over the year. Additionally, in 2025, new protocols combining blockchain and artificial intelligence emerged, although they are still in early stages. Overall, technological development is not slowing down: each update enhances the efficiency and attractiveness of the crypto network for business solutions.

Institutional Investments

• Launch of Cryptocurrency ETFs: The year 2025 marked a breakthrough in traditional exchanges – spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs began trading for the first time in the U.S. and several other countries. Regulatory approvals (including those from the renowned BlackRock fund and other management companies) have been a signal for large investors. In the initial months of trading, these funds attracted billions of dollars – for example, capital inflow into U.S. Bitcoin ETFs exceeded \$200 million on one day in December. The emergence of accessible exchange-traded instruments based on cryptocurrencies has increased trust from pension funds, insurance companies, and other conservative players that had previously avoided direct purchases of digital assets.
• Involvement of Banks and Fintech Companies: Major Wall Street banks and international financial corporations are expanding their presence in the crypto sector. Many banks launched cryptocurrency custody services for clients, trading platforms for digital assets, and analytics divisions researching blockchain in 2025. Payment giants PayPal and Visa have integrated stablecoins: PayPal launched its own USD stablecoin to facilitate payments, while Visa began facilitating cross-border payments directly using the Solana network and USDC. These moves by traditional financial institutions signify increasing institutional demand and recognition of cryptocurrencies as an asset class.
• Corporate and Venture Investments: Institutional adoption is also evidenced in the corporate sector. Companies from the S&P 500 are increasingly including Bitcoin in their treasury reserves or investing in blockchain startups. Michael Saylor, through his firm MicroStrategy (transformed into the holding Stratégie), continues to accumulate Bitcoin reserves on its balance sheet, although he has warned investors about a potential "crypto winter" following October’s volatility. Venture capital activity also revived in 2025: major funds (Andreessen Horowitz, Binance Labs, etc.) launched new investment products targeting Web3, DeFi, and AI crypto projects. As a result, the inflow of institutional money has supported the market during downturns and provided resources for infrastructure development.
• The Role of Macro Players and States: Investments from sovereign entities deserve special attention. Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East and Asia made headline-grabbing acquisitions throughout the year, from stakes in crypto exchanges to direct purchases of top 10 tokens. Some central banks (like El Salvador, which already uses Bitcoin as its official currency) have increased their cryptocurrency reserves. In the U.S., regulators have officially allowed banks to act as custodians of crypto assets for clients, paving the way for pension and investment funds to invest more freely in digital assets through authorized banking intermediaries. These shifts indicate that institutional and even state participants are now integral to the crypto market.

Major Hacks and Scams

• Record Hacker Attacks: Despite the industry's increasing maturity, 2025 has unfortunately been notorious for the volume of stolen funds. In the first six months alone, criminals absconded with more than \$2 billion in cryptocurrency, and by the end of the year, this figure approached historical highs. The largest incident occurred in February, when the exchange Bybit was attacked, resulting in approximately \$1.5 billion in digital assets being siphoned off – an unprecedented sum for a single hack. Experts believe that this attack may be attributed to North Korean hacker groups, which intensified their activities in 2025 and are collectively responsible for stealing over \$2 billion (the stolen funds were then laundered through complex transaction chains and mixers).
• DeFi Vulnerabilities: Decentralized finance platforms have also regularly been targeted. Mid-year saw a series of hacks on DeFi protocols: for instance, an exploit on the popular trading platform GMX led to losses of around \$40 million, while the Indian exchange CoinDCX reported a leak of \$44 million due to insider vulnerability. In July, the total damage from the five largest DeFi hacks exceeded \$130 million. These events underscore the ongoing risks associated with smart contracts: coding errors and insufficient security audits can lead to immediate loss of user funds.
• Frauds and Legal Outcomes: Law enforcement continues to hold the creators of the largest crypto pyramid schemes and fraudulent schemes from previous years accountable. In December, a New York court sentenced Do Kwon, co-founder of the failed Terra/Luna project, to 12 years in prison for defrauding investors of approximately \$40 billion – the collapse of Terra in 2022 triggered a chain reaction of bankruptcies (including the FTX exchange collapse) and became one of the key lessons for the industry. Additionally, a global investigation continues into the activities of the creators of the OneCoin pyramid scheme and several DeFi projects suspected of siphoning funds. In 2025, regulators and police from different countries have notably intensified efforts against fraudsters: dozens of arrests, confiscation of crypto assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and the first sentences for top executives of bankrupt crypto firms have made it clear to the market that the era of unregulated schemes is coming to an end. Nevertheless, users should remain vigilant – schemes like rug pulls and phishing attacks are still prevalent, especially around new tokens and NFT collections.

Conclusions and Outlook

The cryptocurrency market at the end of 2025 presents a mixed picture. On one hand, impressive successes have been achieved: new price records at the beginning of the year, integration of digital assets into traditional finance through ETFs and banking services, as well as technological advancements enhancing the reliability and scalability of blockchains. On the other hand, high volatility and a series of upheavals (both external and internal) have reminded investors of the risks associated with this asset class. In the near future, much will depend on external factors: a loosening of monetary policy may sustain demand for risk assets, but ongoing uncertainty surrounding the economy (including the potential "bubble" in the AI stock market) will continue to influence sentiment in crypto.

Nonetheless, fundamental trends indicate further maturation of the industry. Institutional involvement provides the market with greater liquidity and stability, while regulatory clarity in key regions lowers barriers for new participants. Technological innovations are expanding the range of cryptocurrency applications – from payments and decentralized finance to gaming and metaverse projects. Investors should maintain a balanced approach: diversify their portfolios among leading cryptocurrencies, stay updated on regulatory news and major integrations, and most importantly, adhere to cybersecurity principles. As we enter 2026, the crypto market remains a dynamic and global phenomenon, capable of both surprising with rapid growth and presenting serious challenges – but it is precisely in such conditions that new opportunities are formed for those ready for a long-term strategy.