Payment processor Shift4 now lets hundreds of thousands of merchants settle via stablecoins on Polygon, a shift that could support Polygon price and reduce banking frictions.
Summary
Shift4 added stablecoin settlement for its merchant base, enabling payouts over Polygon, Ethereum, Solana,

BlackRock has identified its spot Bitcoin ETF as a key investment theme for 2025, pairing it with cash-like Treasuries and top U.S. stocks, reflecting confidence in Bitcoin's role in diversified portfolios despite current underperformance.

Aave Labs and the Aave DAO battle over CoW Swap fee flows, with delegates pushing to move all Aave IP, brand and frontend assets under direct tokenholder control.
Summary

CoW Swap fees on the Aave frontend flowed to an Aave Labs wallet, prompting accusations of "stealth privatization" and an

Hong Kong's insurance regulator drafts first Asian framework letting insurers hold crypto under a 100% risk charge while stablecoins track fiat-based capital rules.
Summary
Draft rules let Hong Kong insurers invest in crypto with a 100% capital charge, forcing them to reserve full exposure

El Salvador and the International Monetary Fund have made notable progress in their ongoing negotiations over Bitcoin policy and economic reforms, as the country looks to access a $1.4 billion loan package.
Summary
El Salvador and the IMF say negotiations over the sale of the state-run Chivo

The world's largest corporate holder of Ethereum, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, now holds over 4 million ETH after its latest buy.
Summary
Bitmine now holds 4,066,062 ETH worth over $12 billion, acquired at an average price of $2,991.
Recent acquisitions included a 13,412 ETH purchase on

MetaMask has integrated native Bitcoin support, allowing users to buy, transfer, and swap BTC with EVM and Solana assets. This multichain expansion aligns with Consensys's IPO plans and includes rewards for users engaging with Bitcoin.

Curve Finance has moved back into the spotlight, not because of hype, but due to where users are actually paying fees on Ethereum.
Summary
Curve captured about 44% of Ethereum decentralized exchange fees over the past 30 days, up from \~1.6% a year ago
Growth is driven by crvUSD trading and de

Bitcoin's hashrate fell 4%, signaling miner stress amid price decline. Despite short-term pressures and ETP reduction, corporate treasuries bought 42,000 BTC, emphasizing long-term conviction. Historically, hashrate drops lead to positive price gains.

Upshift, Clearstar, and Flare have launched earnXRP, an onchain yield vault for XRP holders to earn compounded returns without complex strategies. Users deposit FXRP, receiving earnXRP tokens, with profits automatically compounded and managed by the vault’s infrastructure.

Neo's "Grouchy, Grinchy, Grumpy AI Christmas" game challenges players to identify a stolen gift by questioning a rude AI. Players use their wallet activity to determine question limits and can win from a growing prize pool by solving the mystery by December 30.

Senator Cynthia Lummis announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, citing a lack of energy for another term. She plans to focus on advancing key cryptocurrency legislation before her departure, maintaining her pro-crypto stance.