Cryptocurrency News December 13, 2025 - Bitcoin, Ethereum and Major Market Trends

Cryptocurrency News, Saturday, December 13, 2025: Market Searches for Balance After Fed Rate Cut, Ethereum Shows Modest Growth, Institutional Interest Persists, Top-10 Cryptocurrencies and Market Prospects

As of the morning of December 13, 2025, the global cryptocurrency market has relatively stabilized following a volatile reaction to the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to lower interest rates. The market leader, Bitcoin, briefly dipped below the psychological level of $90,000 but is currently consolidating around that mark. Key altcoins display mixed dynamics: some are trying to recover recent losses, while others are under pressure from profit-taking by investors after the rally in the first half of the year. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization hovers around $3.2–3.3 trillion, with Bitcoin dominance at about 59–60%. The Fear and Greed Index is situated in the "fear" zone, reflecting market participants' caution, despite the theoretically positive step by the regulator for risky assets. However, fundamental factors instill optimism: institutional investors continue to increase their presence, major economies are establishing clearer rules of the game, and technological updates are improving blockchain infrastructure. In this review, we will examine the latest trends and events in the industry: from the state of the top-10 coins to regulatory shifts, technological breakthroughs, institutional inflows, security issues, and future market prospects.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the largest cryptocurrency, accounting for about 58–60% of the entire market. In October, BTC reached a new all-time high (around $126,000), but the subsequent correction brought the price down to the current ~$90,000. Despite the sharp volatility in recent months, Bitcoin still serves as the primary indicator of sentiment in the cryptocurrency market and is viewed by investors as "digital gold" — a safe-haven asset with limited issuance (21 million coins) and growing recognition in traditional finance.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the second-largest coin by capitalization and the leading platform for smart contracts. ETH trades around ~$3,200, which is lower than the peak values of early autumn but indicates recovery after the November decline. The Ethereum blockchain serves as the foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFT ecosystems. Recently, the network successfully underwent a hard fork called Fusaka, which improved scalability and reduced fees — strengthening Ether’s market position and laying the groundwork for further growth in usage.
3. Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT remains a key source of liquidity on cryptocurrency exchanges, allowing traders to ride out periods of volatility by "parking" capital in a stable asset. The market capitalization of Tether is estimated at around $180 billion, with its price consistently hovering near $1.00, making it a sort of "digital dollar" for the global crypto economy.
4. XRP (Ripple token) — a cryptocurrency focused on instant global payments. XRP confidently maintains its position in the top-5 with a market capitalization of approximately $120 billion, trading at around $2 per token. Interest in XRP has noticeably increased in 2025 following favorable legal developments: the court standoff between Ripple and the SEC in the U.S. is nearing conclusion, restoring investor confidence and driving up quotes. The token is actively utilized in banking blockchain solutions for cross-border transfers and remains one of the most recognizable cryptocurrencies.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and a core asset of the BNB Chain. BNB is widely used for paying trading fees, participating in Launchpad token sales, and executing smart contracts within the Binance ecosystem. The coin currently trades near $850, with a market capitalization of about $120 billion, keeping it among the market leaders. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance in several jurisdictions, BNB’s limited issuance and mechanisms like regular token burns maintain its value and place in the top ten cryptocurrency assets.
6. USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin, issued by Circle, fully backed by U.S. dollar reserves. USDC trades steadily at a rate of $1.00, with a market capitalization estimated at $75–80 billion. This coin is often preferred by institutional investors and DeFi protocols due to its transparency and regular audits of reserves. Although in 2025, USDC's market share decreased somewhat in favor of the more popular USDT, this stablecoin continues to be recognized as one of the most reliable and regulated digital equivalents of the dollar.
7. Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain focused on scalability and low fees. SOL's price is around $130 (market capitalization about $70+ billion), significantly above the levels at the beginning of the year despite a recent retreat. In 2025, Solana substantially strengthened its infrastructure: a series of updates have improved network stability (dramatically reducing the number of failures seen last year), and plans include implementing technologies for parallel transaction processing to further increase throughput. The development of DeFi and GameFi projects based on Solana, along with expectations for the launch of exchange-traded funds on this asset, boost demand for SOL and help it enter the ranks of leading cryptocurrencies.
8. Tron (TRX) — a blockchain platform known for its active use in the entertainment sector and for issuing stablecoins. TRX trades at around $0.28 with a market value of ~$26 billion. The Tron network attracts users with low fees and high throughput, leading to a significant circulation of USDT issuance on its platform. The project, led by Justin Sun, continues to evolve by supporting decentralized applications (including DeFi and gaming), allowing TRX to maintain its place in the top 10 global crypto assets.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most recognized meme coin, which started as a joke but has since turned into a cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of over $20 billion (at a price of ~$0.14). DOGE's popularity is bolstered by an active community and periodic attention from high-profile figures (notably Elon Musk). The volatility of this coin is traditionally high, but Dogecoin has demonstrated an astonishing resilience in attracting investor interest across multiple market cycles, remaining the "people's coin" and a constant fixture in the top ten cryptocurrencies.
10. Cardano (ADA) — a large blockchain platform using a Proof-of-Stake algorithm, developing with a focus on a research-driven approach. ADA trades around $0.40 (market capitalization approximately $15 billion), significantly retreating from its historical highs. In 2025, the Cardano team continued technical updates aimed at improving network scalability — for instance, solutions like Hydra for establishing off-chain channels have been implemented, which should increase transaction capacity in the long term. Despite intense competition in the smart contracts segment and relative price stagnation, Cardano maintains one of the most devoted communities that believes in the project's long-term potential.

Global Market Overview

Overall, the global cryptocurrency capitalization is now close to the levels seen at the peak of the autumn rally. However, recent weeks have brought significant corrections. As of the morning of December 13, the total value of the crypto market remains about 20% lower than the all-time high recorded earlier this year and slightly below last week’s levels. All major coins in the top 10 experienced declines in the last few days during the overall market pullback. After a sharp jump and subsequent retreat, Bitcoin is consolidating around $90,000, with investors trying to determine whether the recent Fed rate cut will serve as a catalyst for new growth or a signal for caution. Notably, traditional stock indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq) reacted to the Fed's decision with increases, while crypto assets, conversely, partially lost value. Analysts note an increasing correlation between Bitcoin and high-tech stocks: in 2025, both markets have experienced similar surges and drops related to the shifting sentiment around the prospects for artificial intelligence and changes in monetary policy.

Following an impressive rally in early 2025 (largely driven by a capital influx amid anticipation of the approval of the first Bitcoin spot ETFs and the arrival of a more crypto-friendly administration in the White House), the cryptocurrency market faced a period of turbulence. The October drop, triggered by unexpected external economic measures from the U.S. (introduction of new trade tariffs and heightened geopolitical tensions), led to a record wave of margin position liquidations totaling over $19 billion. Since then, Bitcoin and several large altcoins have struggled to return to recently reached peaks. November was one of the worst months in years: the month-over-month price plunge was the largest since 2021, significantly cooling the optimism of some investors.

However, comparing current prices to the beginning of 2025, many crypto assets still demonstrate significant growth. Several altcoins (such as XRP or Solana) are trading substantially above the late 2024 levels despite the present decline, thanks to previous successes (regulatory clarity regarding XRP's status, technological advances by Solana, etc.). Bitcoin's market share hovers around 55–60%, indicating a willingness among investors to hold a significant portion of their funds in the most reliable digital asset during times of market uncertainty. Current player sentiment can be characterized as cautious optimism: the "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies, although rising slightly after recent turmoil, still signals dominant elements of fear. Market participants are looking for new signals — from macroeconomic data to progress in launching new investment products (such as upcoming crypto-ETFs or institutional services) — before resuming a confident upward trend.

Regulatory News

• U.S.: In 2025, the regulatory landscape of the crypto industry became significantly clearer. After years of discussions, U.S. authorities greenlit the first Bitcoin and Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking an important milestone for the legitimization of crypto assets. Additionally, financial regulators officially allowed U.S. banks to act as custodial guardians of cryptocurrencies for clients, paving the way for pension and investment funds to safely invest in digital assets. Despite these achievements, oversight bodies continue to monitor the market closely: the SEC still mandates compliance with securities laws when issuing tokens, and Congress is discussing new rules for stablecoins and crypto exchanges with a focus on investor protection.
• Europe: In the European Union, a comprehensive regulatory framework known as MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) came into effect, establishing uniform rules for the cryptocurrency market across the EU. This means clearer requirements for token issuers, crypto exchanges, and wallet providers in areas such as registration, reserve adequacy, and anti-money laundering measures. European crypto firms have generally received MiCA positively, as uniform regulation simplifies their operations across all member markets. Concurrently, individual EU countries continue initiatives to introduce CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) and test blockchain solutions within the public sector.
• Asia and Other Regions: The Asia-Pacific region maintains a mixed approach to cryptocurrencies. On one hand, the financial center Hong Kong launched regulated platforms for retail trading of crypto assets in 2025, while Singapore expanded its licensing requirements while simultaneously encouraging blockchain innovation. On the other hand, mainland China continues to impose strict restrictions on cryptocurrency operations for its population, focusing on its own digital yuan. In several other countries (such as the UAE and Switzerland), efforts to develop crypto-friendly jurisdictions with clear rules for businesses are attracting blockchain startups and investment funds. Overall, by the end of 2025, regulatory certainty in key jurisdictions has significantly increased, reducing legal risks for the industry and boosting confidence among traditional investors.

Blockchain Technological Updates

• Ethereum – Fusaka Hard Fork: In December, the Ethereum network successfully activated a major protocol upgrade codenamed Fusaka. This hard fork became the second significant upgrade of Ethereum in a year and focused on enhancing the blockchain's base throughput. The update increased the gas limit per block, improved compatibility with Layer 2 solutions, and added optimizations for smart contracts. These changes will help reduce transaction fees and speed up operations in the network, in light of the growing load from DeFi applications. Ethereum continues its roadmap aimed at further scaling (eventually implementing Danksharding) and strengthening network security.
• Bitcoin – Scalability and New Use Cases: In 2025, no hard forks occurred in the Bitcoin mainnet; however, the ecosystem surrounding the first cryptocurrency has continued to develop dynamically. The capacity of the Lightning Network (a second-level solution for fast micropayments) reached record heights in overall channel capacity, expanding Bitcoin's practical application in retail payments and transfers. At the same time, the Bitcoin community actively discusses several improvement proposals (BIPs) aimed at increasing the network's privacy and functionality — for example, mechanisms for partially signed transactions and so-called "covenants" for more flexible fund management. Additionally, cross-chain initiatives have developed: the emergence of Bitcoin Ordinals protocols and other solutions for issuing tokens based on BTC showed that even the conservative Bitcoin can support new use cases (NFT collections issuance, stablecoins on Bitcoin's blockchain, etc.) without altering the fundamental consensus.
• Other Blockchain Projects: Among the altcoins, 2025 marked several technological breakthroughs. The Solana platform, after critical updates, significantly improved reliability; the network outages that marked the previous year have practically ceased. Solana developers are preparing to implement parallel transaction execution technologies (for example, through the Firedancer client accelerator), which could exponentially increase the network's throughput. Cardano made progress in implementing scaling protocols: the launch of the Hydra solution for creating off-chain channels is expected to increase transaction throughput without overloading the main network. The rapid development of Layer 2 networks for Ethereum, such as Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism, has firmly established them as an essential part of the industry, providing cheap and fast transactions. The total value locked (TVL) on these L2 platforms has significantly increased over the year, reflecting demand for solutions to ease the load on the Ethereum mainnet. New projects at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence showing promising synergies (such as decentralized AI platforms) have also emerged, although they remain in the early stages of development. Overall, technological progress in the crypto industry shows no signs of slowing down: every update enhances the effectiveness, security, and attractiveness of blockchains for businesses and users.

Institutional Investments

• Breakthrough with Crypto-ETFs Launch: The outgoing year has marked a historic breakthrough for institutional integration — for the first time, spot ETFs for cryptocurrencies have appeared on traditional exchanges. In the U.S., followed by several other countries, regulators approved ETFs that directly invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum. Renowned Wall Street companies (including investment giant BlackRock) have become issuers of such funds. Since the commencement of trading, they have attracted significant funds: the total capital influx in the first few months amounts to billions of dollars. For example, on one December day, U.S. Bitcoin ETFs received over $200 million in investments. The emergence of accessible exchange-traded instruments based on crypto assets has significantly increased confidence among conservative players — pension funds, insurance companies, and banks that previously avoided direct purchases of digital coins.
• Involvement of Banks and Payment Systems: In 2025, major banks and financial corporations expanded their presence in the crypto market. Many Wall Street banks launched custodial cryptocurrency storage services for high-net-worth clients and also established trading divisions for transactions with digital assets. Global payment giants have begun integrating blockchain technologies into their products: for example, PayPal released its own stablecoin (PYUSD) to facilitate digital transactions, while Visa implemented the ability to conduct cross-border payments using the Solana blockchain and USDC stablecoin, significantly accelerating and reducing the cost of international transactions. Such steps from traditional financial institutions indicate a strengthening institutional demand for cryptocurrencies and recognition of their status as a full-fledged asset class.
• Corporate Treasuries and Venture Capital: Institutional acceptance of crypto assets has also manifested in the corporate sector. An increasing number of S&P 500 companies are including Bitcoin in their treasury reserves or investing in blockchain startups. Notable enthusiast Michael Saylor, through his company MicroStrategy (which has transformed into a holding firm), continued to accumulate BTC reserves on its balance sheet, although after the autumn volatility, he warned of the possibility of another "crypto winter." Venture investments in the industry have also revived: major funds (Andreessen Horowitz, Binance Labs, etc.) announced new investment products targeting Web3 projects, decentralized finance, and blockchain + AI. The influx of institutional and venture capital in 2025 supported the market during downturns and provided funding for the development of infrastructural solutions.
• The Role of Sovereign Funds and States: An important trend has been the increasing involvement of government structures in the crypto market. Sovereign wealth funds from Middle Eastern and Asian countries made significant investments: from buying stakes in global crypto exchanges to directly acquiring top cryptocurrencies for their portfolios. Some central banks — for instance, El Salvador, where Bitcoin has official legal tender status — have increased their cryptocurrency reserves amid a depreciating dollar. In the U.S., regulators have ultimately legalized the possibility for banks to serve clients wishing to invest in digital assets, making it easier for pension and investment funds to access cryptocurrencies through familiar financial intermediaries. These shifts indicate that institutional and even governmental players have firmly entered the cryptocurrency ecosystem, enhancing its liquidity and resilience.

Major Hacks and Scams

• Record Hacker Attacks: Despite the overall maturation of the industry, 2025 became one of the most problematic years regarding the volume of funds stolen in hacks. In the first six months, attackers stole cryptocurrencies amounting to over $2 billion, and by the end of the year, this figure approached historical lows. The most prominent incident was the February attack on one of the leading exchanges, Bybit, where hackers withdrew approximately $1.5 billion in digital assets — an unprecedented amount for a single hack. Experts estimate that North Korean hacker groups backed this attack, which became active in 2025 and were involved in about $2 billion of stolen funds. The stolen assets were subsequently laundered through complex transaction chains, mixers, and decentralized exchanges, complicating tracking efforts.
• Vulnerabilities in DeFi Protocols: Decentralized finance platforms also regularly became targets. Mid-year witnessed a wave of attacks on DeFi applications: for example, an exploit on the popular decentralized exchange GMX resulted in losses of around $40 million, while an insider scheme at the Indian centralized exchange CoinDCX led to about $44 million being siphoned off. In total, the five largest hacks of DeFi platforms in July inflicted losses of over $130 million on users. These incidents highlight the ongoing risks associated with smart contracts: errors in coding, insufficient security audits, and sophisticated attack methods lead to immediate losses of funds, forcing DeFi users to remain particularly vigilant.
• Fraud and Legal Consequences: Law enforcement agencies in different countries intensified their campaigns against the organizers of large crypto scams from previous years in 2025. In New York, a trial against Do Kwon, co-founder of the collapsed stablecoin project Terra/Luna, is nearing its conclusion: prosecutors are seeking more than 10 years in prison for him for defrauding investors of billions of dollars. Recall that the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in 2022 triggered a chain reaction of bankruptcies (including the notorious fall of the FTX exchange) and became one of the most instructive events for the industry. Moreover, an international investigation continues into the activities of the creators of the OneCoin pyramid and several dubious DeFi projects suspected of misappropriating investors' funds. In the past year, regulators and police significantly escalated their fight against scammers: dozens of arrests have been made worldwide, crypto assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been confiscated, and the first real sentences have been handed down to top executives of bankrupt crypto firms. All this demonstrates that the era of unregulated schemes is nearing its end. Nevertheless, users should remain vigilant — schemes for quick riches, "rug pull" projects, and phishing attacks continue to emerge, especially around new tokens and NFT collections.

Conclusions and Prospects

As 2025 draws to a close, the cryptocurrency market presents a mixed picture. On one hand, the industry has made impressive strides: new price records were set in the first half of the year, digital assets became more deeply integrated into traditional finance (thanks to ETF launches and banking services), and technological progress has enhanced blockchain reliability and scalability. On the other hand, high volatility and a series of shocks (both external and internal) have reminded investors of the inherent risks associated with this asset class. In the near future, much will depend on the macroeconomic environment: further easing of monetary policy by major central banks may stimulate demand for risky assets, but ongoing uncertainty in the global economy (including the potential formation of a "bubble" in the high-tech stock market) will continue to influence sentiment in crypto as well.

Nevertheless, fundamental trends indicate continued maturation and growth within the crypto industry. Increased institutional participation brings greater liquidity and stability to the market, while expanding regulatory certainty in key regions lowers barriers for new major players. Technological innovations broaden the application areas of cryptocurrencies — from payment services and decentralized finance to gaming platforms and metaverse projects. Investors are advised to maintain a balanced approach: diversify their portfolios across primary cryptocurrencies, carefully monitor regulatory news and the adoption of crypto instruments by large companies, and, above all, not to neglect cybersecurity principles when dealing with digital assets. As we enter 2026, the crypto market remains a dynamic and global phenomenon, capable of surprising with swift growth as well as testing resilience with unexpected challenges. It is in such conditions that new opportunities arise for those investors willing to think strategically and for the long term.