Remember the recent market correction?We analyzed the reasons and forecasts of analysts.So one of the triggers for the crypt collapse was the growing tension around the capabilities of Google's new Willow chip.How does this relate to cryptocurrency?Direct.A modern quantum processor can perform calculations in 5 minutes that would take the most powerful supercomputers 10 septillion years (that's a 1 followed by49 zeros).

This breakthrough raises an important question: Could quantum computing threaten Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? Willow has shown a reduction in errors when qubits are added to the 7x7 array and is capable of performing tasks that classical supercomputers could not accomplish even for the entire existence of the universe. The danger is that all cryptocurrencies are based on elliptic cryptography (ECC), which converts data at the expense of the computational complexity of solving certain onesmathematical problems.

In theory, with the help of quantum computers, it is theoretically possible to use Shor's algorithm to solve these problems much faster.However, to crack ECC you need a quantum computer with at least 1.5 million logical qubits.The Willow chip only has 105 qubits, which is far fromis away from the required amount.It will take decades to create a truly dangerous cryptographic encryption chip.

Although the quantum threat to Bitcoin is far away, the crypto community is already developing protection strategies. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing standards to protect digital assets from quantum attacks. Bitcoin developers are exploring the possibility of switching to quantum-resistant algorithms. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also spoke about studying protection against quantum attacks by studying quantum-resistant cryptographic onesAlgorithms.

Some coins, including the 1 million BTC said to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto, are stored in a form that exposes public keys. This earlier version of storage is more vulnerable to quantum attacks. Researchers suggest freezing coins or stopping the use of such transactions altogether.

At the close on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, Taiwan Weighted fell 0.11%.

The biggest gainers among Taiwan Weighted Index components in today's trading were Oceanic Beverages Co Inc (TW:1213), which rose 1.15 points (9.70%) to close at 13.00.Asia Optical Co Inc (TW:3019) rose 8.00 points (6.67%) to close at 128.00.Alchip Technologies Ltd(TW:3661) rose 155.00 points (5.65%) to close at 2,900.00.

The top performers were Arima Communications Corp (TW:8101), which fell 2.20 points (10.00%) to end the session at 19.80. AzureWave Technologies Inc (TW:3694) rose 5.35 points (9.93%) to close at 48.55, while Lead Data Inc (TW:2443).fell 0.39 points (9.85%) and closed at 3.57.

On the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the number of securities whose price fell (0) exceeded the number of securities that closed in positive territory (0).

WTI crude oil futures for January delivery fell 1.22% or 0.87 to $70.42 a barrel.In other commodities, Brent crude oil futures for February delivery fell 0.46% or 0.34 to trade at $74.15 a barrel.Gold futures for February delivery fell 0.15% or4.04 to $2,671.76 per troy ounce.

Meanwhile in the foreign exchange market, the USD/TWD pair fell 0.10% to 32.48, while TWD/CNY rates remained unchanged by 0.13% to reach 0.22.

USD index futures fell 0.16% to 106.51.

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• BlackRock analysts believe that the proportion of Bitcoin in a traditional investment portfolio should be between 1% and 2%.
• They compared the risk level of this allocation to the stocks of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” companies.
• BlackRock ETF and Index Products Investment Director Samara Cohen is confident that this move will maximize Bitcoin's potential as a diversifier.

• The share of the first cryptocurrency in traditional investment portfolios should be 1-2%. This is stated in the report BlackRock Investment Institute.

  Experts called this a "reasonable range" for a standard 60/40 portfolio with 60% stocks and 40% bonds. Such a distribution would put Bitcoin on par with the so-called Magnificent 7 companies, which include Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Tesla.

  The average market capitalization of the latter is almost 35% of the market capitalization of the S&P 500 index ($46 trillion).

  Note that, according to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin's capitalization exceeds $2 trillion at the time of writing. Over the past 12 months, the price of the cryptocurrency has increased by more than 130%, compared to a 32% increase in the S&P 500 index, asForbes.

  noted.

  However, the share of the first cryptocurrency should not exceed 2% in the portfolio - this would lead to increased risks, the report says.

  "We offer an allocation solution [for the portfolio] that strikes the right balance given the significant volatility of Bitcoin's price. This move will maximize its potential as a diversifier while minimizing its contribution to overall portfolio risk," said Samara Cohen, chief investment officer for ETFs and index products at BlackRock.

  Experts at the world's largest company in terms of assets under management suggested further changes in attitudes towards the first cryptocurrency due to a number of factors. In particular — global fragmentation of the financial system, growing geopolitical tensions, lack of trust in banks and growing deficits.

  "Bitcoin's value increases as its given supply meets increasing demand and demand changes due to investors' belief in Bitcoin's potential for broader use," the report says.

  Experts emphasized that the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies can promote their cross-border nature and decentralization.

  The BlackRock report also noted the first cryptocurrency's historically low correlation with traditional markets.

  According to Cohen, due to the events of the last two years, investors may have preferred cash and similar instruments in the portfolio that carry minimal risks. However, investors should rethink their strategy according to the new market conditions. In 2024, it is necessary to understand reinvestment risk, low interest rates and the need to shift to long-term asset allocation.

  Although BlackRock recommends most investors allocate a maximum of 2% to Bitcoin in a portfolio, future gains may be more difficult due to changes in return characteristics, the firm noted.

  Recall that the asset volume of the spot exchange-traded fund based on BlackRock's first cryptocurrency exceeded $50 billion.The company achieved this result in less than a year.

Analysts said most of the growth was driven by an increase in sanctions-related activity, including at the country level.Over the last 12 months, the volume of illegal digital assets in this segment increased by 694%.

"The share of these illegal transactions remains negligible compared to the broader crypto economy, which consists mainly of legal transactions. Our estimate of illegal transactions in the total volume of crypto transactions has increased slightly compared to 2024, but remains below 1%," the experts specified.

Chainalysis also noted the change in the types of assets used in crypto crimes.In 2025, stablecoins (84%) became the main instrument of the “black” economy, while five years ago it was Bitcoin.

"This reflects a broader trend in the ecosystem in which "stable coins" account for a significant and growing share of overall crypto activity due to their practical advantages - easy cross-border transfers, low volatility and broader application possibilities," the researchers added.

According to Chainalysis, a significant portion of illicit trade in 2025 was in suspected state-controlled structures.

Last year was the most successful for hackers from North Korea: They stole more than $2 billion.Most of this sum was stolen through an attack on the Bybit exchange.

The Russian Federation accounted for approximately $93.3 billion linked to transactions in ruble stablecoins to circumvent international restrictions.

Chinese money laundering networks have been described by analysts as a "dominant force" providing services and infrastructure to fraudsters, hackers and sanctioned individuals.

Iranian proxy networks of terrorist groups have carried out transactions on blockchains worth at least $2 billion.

"Many still imagine crypto crimes as something virtual, like faceless attackers behind their keyboards, rather than a real-world threat. In fact, we are seeing a growing connection between blockchain activity and violent crime. Digital assets are increasingly being used in human trafficking, and there has been a particularly worrying increase in cases of physical violence [against crypto investors],” Chainalysis summarized.

As a reminder, in 2025, crypto phishing losses fell by 83%, analysts at SlowMist said.

An investor with the address 3QB9kH completely sold his PUMP tokens at a loss of 62%. He bought coins on the Binance crypto exchange from September 12 to November 4 - a total of around 3.8 billion PUMP. The trader spent $19.53 million on the purchase, with an average price of $0.00513 perToken.

Last Friday, December 19, the whale transferred all PUMP tokens from his address to the FalconX platform for sale. As a result, he received around $7.3 million, which, according to analysts, represented a loss of over $12 million.

A similar situation occurred with another large investor. He bought ENA tokens and lost almost $15 million after liquidating his positions. From an address identified as 0x72F8, the whale transferred all of his 16.86 million ENA to the Coinbase Prime platform.

An investor purchased ENA about a year ago at a price of about $1.1 per token. The total value of the purchased tokens was about $18.53 million, but at current market prices the position was valued at only $3.51 million.

Both the price of PUMP and ENA tokens have fallen by more than 60% from their recent highs. Currently, Pump.fun coin is trading for $0.001759 with a market cap of $622.8 million, and Ethena is valued at $0.2010 with a market cap of $1.54 billionUS dollars.The withdrawal of large whales from positions in these altcoins comes amid a sustained decline in the crypto market that began on October 10.

Over the past two and a half months, the cryptocurrency market's total capitalization has fallen from $4.1 trillion to $2.97 trillion. Bitcoin led the decline, losing more than 30% from its record price of $126,080 reached on October 6.

Bitcoin is currently trading above $87,600.Ether also fell by about 30%, from $4,369 to $2,974.Bits.media spoke about the selling of cryptocurrencies by large holders, which became one of the reasons for the deep correction of the crypto market.

"They provide a reliable medium of exchange, a store of value, and a bridge between traditional finance and cryptocurrency. Stablecoins enable much of the activity in decentralized finance (DeFi), cryptocurrency exchanges, and cross-border payments," the report says.

Chainalysis identified the main areas where stablecoins emerged as the main use case in the crypto market.

DeFi

Stablecoins have become the basis for many decentralized finance applications, facilitating the lending process. The stability of their peg to a currency or asset's exchange rate makes them ideal for maintaining efficiency in such markets.

The stability of the exchange rate of such coins allows users in economically unstable regions to access financial products. For example, in some countries in Latin America and Africa, users use stablecoins as a tool to hedge against the inflation of their national currencies.

“In these regions, retail adoption will be driven by their practicality for low-cost transfers, the security of savings in regions with volatile currencies, and the availability of DeFi,” Chainalysis analysts wrote.

P2P transactions

According to analysts, stablecoins are increasingly being used for everyday payments and P2P transfers. Experts attribute this to the ability to process transactions quickly and inexpensively. And often with minimal fees compared to traditional banking systems.

P2P (peer-to-peer or person-to-person) transfers are money or other transfers from one user to another without the need to involve an intermediary, such as a bank. Thus, stablecoins have become an easy and secure way for people to exchange value.

“This is particularly valuable in regions with limited access to reliable banking systems,” the report says.

Money transfers

Stablecoins offer a faster and cheaper tool for money transfers compared to traditional options, which often come with high fees and slow processing times, Chainalysis wrote.

“Migrant workers, who are often unbanked or underbanked, are using stablecoins to send money home to their families, and companies are using them to pay international bills,” the report said.

Analysts also concluded that they simplify transactions for importers and exporters by creating a stable and transparent environment for international trade, especially in regions with limited access to foreign exchange. According to them, stablecoins bypass the inefficiencies of traditional banking systems and facilitate international integration.

Illegal operations

Due to global adoption, stablecoins have become one of the priority areas of the crypto market for regulators around the world. Governments and regulators are faced with the challenge of creating the conditions to support innovation while ensuring high-quality standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Although Chainalysis estimates that less than 1% of all transactions are illegal, they are still used for terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, theft and hacking, cybercrime and fraud.

“Their stability and global availability make them attractive tools for attackers seeking to circumvent financial controls and evade detection,” they wrote in the report.

Chainalysis believes that illegal use of stablecoins is a bad idea due to the transparency of the blockchain as a public ledger for cryptocurrency transactions. This architecture allows all participants to track cryptocurrency transactions and fund movements between wallets online and at any time.

In addition, many centralized stablecoins have tools for locking assets on a specific wallet at the blockchain level. Therefore, most centralized stablecoin issuers have the ability to freeze or permanently delete ("burn") cryptocurrencies in users' wallets. Stop illegal transactions and help recover stolen funds.

According to analysts, this entire set of features allows stablecoins to be viewed as an asset with the potential to transform the economy and the financial system: “Their continued development will play a central role in determining the future of cryptocurrencies and traditional finance.”

Investing in Bitcoin and Trump Appointments.Events of the week in the crypto market

14 years without Satoshi Nakamoto.Why the inventor of Bitcoin disappeared

The Bitcoin exchange rate has again exceeded the $100,000 mark.What happened in the crypto market

“Bitcoin is running out.” What is the actual supply of cryptocurrencies

CCSS is an industry security standard designed to provide high levels of security for cryptocurrency systems. It complements existing ICT security frameworks such as ISO 27001 and PCI DSS by introducing specific best practice guidelines for securing cryptocurrencies. The standard includes three levels of certification, with Level 3 being high and advanced security measures such as multi-signature wallets, access control, disaster recovery planning as well as strictPenetration testing and detailed audits of sensitive processes such as data awareness policies are required.

WhiteBIT's successful certification was obtained by Hacken, a leading cybersecurity company accredited by C4 to audit organizations against the CCSS standard. The auditor conducted a thorough review of WhiteBIT's security infrastructure after three years of preparation. The audit, which lasted 2.5 months, included an in-depth review of cold and hot wallets, dozens of hours of interviews with WhiteBIT employees, and the deployment of more than 100Artifacts detailing the exchange's policies, procedures and security protocols.The final 97-page report reflects extensive testing and hundreds of questions asked during the process, ensuring full compliance with the strict requirements of CCSS Level 3.

“This certification is a testament to our commitment to protecting the assets of exchange users,” says Vladimir Nosov, owner and CEO of WhiteBIT. “In an industry where trust has to be earned every day, we adhere to strict security protocols that set new standards of excellence. Our goal is not only to innovate, but also to ensure that these advances are based on a secure foundation.”The CCSS certification underscores our commitment to creating a safer experience for our global user base of more than 5.5 million.”

The CCSS certificate provides significant benefits to WhiteBIT users:

• Increased security. CCSS provides strong protection for users' funds and private keys and minimizes the risk of hacking or theft using advanced technologies such as multi-signature wallets;
• Reduce risks. The standard reduces the likelihood of human error and ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive systems, thereby protecting user resources.
• Emergency Preparedness. WhiteBIT has update systems to protect users' assets in unexpected events, creating safer trading

"We are proud of the successful completion of the CCSS audit for WhiteBIT!This project is an example of an effective combination of expertise, determination and the desire to reach new heights in Web3 security.This is not only a step forward for the company, but also a contribution to the future of the Web3 framework in the industry.Thank you for your trust in the importance of implementing modern security solutions!", said Dmitry Yasmanovich,Head of Service Compliance at Hacken.

Wintermute increased spot Bitcoin exposure ahead of the Fed PMI release, shifting focus to liquidity and near-term price action.

Bitcoin markets got tense today as large spot buying appeared ahead of a key Federal Reserve report.Analysts tracked unusual activity while liquidity signals and macro data were in focus.Attention increased as market makers adjusted their positions and volatility expectations rose ahead of scheduled economic releases in early global trading.

Wintermute Spot Bitcoin Buys Attract Market Attentionyourself

Blockchain data showed repeated spot Bitcoin purchases linked to Wintermute accounts ahead of the Fed report.The purchases occurred at frequent intervals and the volumes suggested several million dollars per cycle.

Market analysts monitored activity on major exchanges and liquidity markets.The timing closely aligned with expectations surrounding upcoming macro data.Additionally, analysts noted that Wintermute often provides liquidity during volatile periods.

However, the pace of accumulation appeared faster than routine market-making patterns.Observers linked the behavior to positioning against data-driven volatility.Still, no official statement confirmed the intent behind the trades.

Federal Reserve data timing shapes short-term positioning

The Federal Reserve plans to release S&P PMI data at 9:45 a.m.This publication is the first major United States economic report for 2026.

Market participants monitor PMI levels for growth signals and liquidity direction.Nevertheless, thresholds close to recent averages often guide short-term trading behavior.

A reading above 52.5 is widely viewed as supportive for risk assets.Values ​​between 51.5 and 52.5 are often considered to have already been priced in.A reading below 51.5 could put pressure on markets during early trading. Bitcoin often reacts alongside stocks during such releases.

Related articles: Wintermute calls on SEC to exclude network tokens from securities rules

Market volatility risks rise with Fed announcements

Bitcoin often experiences sharp price movements during major Federal Reserve announcements.Liquidity providers adjust their exposure and spreads can widen in minutes.Repeated spot buying before releases can impact short-term order book depth.

Traders often reduce leverage as announcements approach.Analysts continue to monitor whether buying continues after the data release.Sustained accumulation could signal longer-term positioning, while breaks could confirm short-term strategies.

Furthermore, the market structure remains sensitive to macro signals in early 2026.Therefore, trading conditions could remain unstable during the announcement window.

The post Wintermute pumps millions into Bitcoin spot ahead of Fed report release appeared first on Live Bitcoin News.

The cryptocurrency market is showing amazing momentum at the end of the year. Some little-known coins are poised for explosive growth. Investors are watching the potential of these assets with interest and expecting significant returns. The holidays can be the starting point for a sudden rise in prices. Which crypto assets can surprise the market?

XYZ: The first cryptocurrency to combine meme culture and sports

Profitability and Prospects

Project offers:

• A unique XYZVerse ecosystem, integrating memes and sports events.

• Planned listings on leading centralized and decentralized exchanges (CEX and DEX).

• Smart contract security and transparency.

Growing interest in meme tokens

Meme cryptocurrencies continue to show record results: in 2024 they occupied one of the key positions in the crypto industry.XYZ focuses on the sports audience, which makes the project stand out from its competitors.

Why do sports fans choose XYZ?

The project focuses on engaging the sports community through meme culture, which contributes to the organic growth of the audience. Ecosystem participants get the opportunity not only to invest, but also to participate in sports events, thereby making money from trends.

Advance sales open up opportunities for early entry

Current pre-sale phases offer favorable conditions for purchasing tokens. For investors, this is an opportunity to enter the market with minimal investment and high growth prospects.

Join the XYZ Project and be part of the new era of cryptocurrency for sports fans.

Golden Tiger Ava and AVA token (AVA)

Awa is a rare golden tiger from Thailand that is attracting global attention. Its unique golden fur is the result of recessive genes, and there are fewer than 100 such tigers in the world. Photos and videos of Ava are spreading quickly on the Internet, making her a new Internet phenomenon like Mudeng.

Simultaneously with Ava's rising popularity, AVA Token, a community-based cryptocurrency project inspired by the fame of Tigress, appeared. After the success of the MOODENG token, which has grown 1643% in the last three months, the AVA token is gaining attention in the crypto community. AVA Token is traded only on decentralized exchanges and offers interesting opportunities for those who follow technological developments and trends in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Starknet (STRK)

Starknet is a Layer 2 solution for Ethereum that uses the zk-STARK zero-knowledge protocol to enable fast and low-cost transactions. It allows you to process transactions outside of the main blockchain while maintaining the security and decentralization of the network. Starknet uses the unique Cairo programming language, which simplifies the development of decentralized applications. In February 2024, the native STRK token was launched, which is used to pay forfees, used to deploy and participate in network governance.

Starknet technology significantly improves the efficiency of Ethereum by merging transactions before they are recorded on the main blockchain. The STRK token not only facilitates transactions, but also plays an important role in community governance and plans to transition to Proof of Stake. With StarkWare Industries' experienced team and significant financial support, Starknet offers a promising solution for blockchain scaling. The STRK technology and token havethe potential to improve the Ethereum ecosystem by making transactions more accessible and efficient.

Popcat (POPCAT)

POPCAT is a meme coin based on a 2020 internet meme about a cat named Oatmeal. The meme features two images of a cat: one with its mouth closed and the other with its mouth machined into an "O" shape. The coin has no intrinsic value or financial expectations and is intended for entertainment purposes only.

The technology of meme coins like POPCAT is based on community and popularity on the Internet. Thanks to viral memes and active user support, they can quickly become famous. However, the lack of real utility and value makes them unpredictable. In the current market cycle, the attractiveness of POPCAT depends on user interest in the meme and the general trend of meme coins.

Quant (QNT)

Quant is one of the leading projects in the field of blockchain interoperability, offering a unique Overledger Network operating system. This technology makes it possible to connect blockchain networks and create multi-chain applications (MApps).

The QNT token will be used to work in the ecosystem and develop applications. Given the growing need for blockchain integration, the project has a high chance of success in the digital economy.

Output

Against the backdrop of growing interest in cryptocurrencies, investors are paying attention to projects with high returns. Notable among them is XYZVerse (XYZ), the first meme coin that combines sports and internet culture. A unique ecosystem, a target audience of football, basketball and e-sports fans, as well as a growth potential of 9900% make it one of the most promising assets of the season.