‍South Korean Police Bust Counterfeit Ring Targeting Crypto Traders Authorities in South Korea have dismantled a criminal organization that produced counterfeit 50,000-won notes, totaling approximately 459.4 million won ($330,000), to defraud cryptocurrency investors in over-the-counter (OTC) transactions. The scheme was thwarted by an alert trader, leading to several arrests and an Interpol red notice. This incident mirrors similar cases globally, highlighting the physical security risks associated with peer-to-peer crypto trading. Experts advise caution and the use of reputable escrow services.
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South Korean Police Bust Counterfeit Ring Targeting Crypto Traders
Authorities in South Korea
‍Pieverse Launches Agentic Neobank for AI-Managed Web3 Finance San Francisco-based Pieverse has launched its Agentic Neobank, a platform for AI agents to manage digital assets and execute transactions in Web3 finance. The neobank operates on a three-pillar model: Deposit, Delegate, and Earn. Users deposit digital assets, which are converted into pie-wrapped tokens. AI agents, granted scoped permissions, can then manage portfolios, rebalance assets, and participate in yield-generating strategies. Key features include programmable compliance via x402b-powered payments and on-chain timestamping, creating auditable trails for tax reporting and regulatory transparency. The system also enables gasless settlement and cross-chain efficiency. Future plans include a fiat gateway for traditional banking integration.
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Pieverse Launches Agentic Neobank for AI-Managed Web3 Finance
San Francisco-based Pieverse has officially announced the launch of its Agentic Neobank, a pioneering financial infrastructure designed to bridge t...
‍Fed Proposes New Payment Accounts for Fintech Firms The Federal Reserve has launched a public consultation for limited payment accounts, offering non-bank financial institutions and fintechs direct access to the central bank's payment infrastructure. This initiative, championed by Fed Governor Christopher Waller, aims to balance financial innovation with systemic stability. These accounts will not accrue interest, will have restricted access to credit facilities, and will feature balance limits. For the crypto and blockchain sectors, this could mean reduced counterparty risks and operational costs for firms currently relying on intermediary banks. While distinct from CBDCs, these accounts offer a regulated pathway for private innovators to interface with the Fed's systems. The public comment period extends until December 2025.
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Fed Proposes New Payment Accounts to Bridge Gap for Fintech Firms
The Federal Reserve has officially initiated a public consultation process regarding the creation of a new category of limited payment accounts....
‍Helios Launches $HLS Token on Major Exchanges Following $19M Funding Helios, a Layer-1 blockchain platform for automated, diversified, and multi-chain investment portfolios, has launched its native token, $HLS, on major centralized exchanges. The project has secured $19 million in funding to date. The $HLS token is initially available as an ERC-20 asset on Ethereum and Arbitrum. The Helios Mainnet is scheduled for launch in Q1 2026, followed by the Hyperion cross-chain bridge. Helios aims to facilitate on-chain ETFs and AI-driven portfolio strategies, supporting both digital currencies and RWAs.
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Helios ($HLS) Debuts on Major Exchanges Following $19 Million Funding
On December 19, 2025, Helios announced the successful launch of its native token, $HLS, across several Tier-1 centralized exchanges....
‍Bitcoin RSI Hits Oversold Levels, Recalling 2023 Bear Market Bitcoin's weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) has reached levels not seen since the 2023 bear market, indicating extreme market exhaustion following a significant price correction. Technical indicators suggest a deep undervaluation, with the RSI dropping to 35 after Bitcoin retraced 36% from its all-time high. On-chain metrics, such as the NVT Golden Cross, also point to structural undervaluation, comparable to the 2022 bear market bottom. While these oversold conditions historically precede price reversals, some analysts caution that further declines are possible before a definitive bottom is established.
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Bitcoin RSI Hits Oversold Levels Last Seen During 2023 Bear Market
The Bitcoin (BTC) market is currently showing signs of extreme exhaustion following a significant price correction from its record highs....
‍Josh Swihart Joins Cypherpunk Technologies as Strategic Advisor Josh Swihart, CEO of Electric Coin Company (ECC), has been appointed Strategic Advisor at Cypherpunk Technologies. This appointment underscores the deepening integration between Zcash protocol developers and Cypherpunk's treasury strategy, focusing on privacy-enhancing technologies. Swihart will guide protocol development and scaling for privacy tech, supporting the mission of self-sovereignty. He joins Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox on the advisory team. This move follows Cypherpunk's rebranding and a $58.88 million private placement led by Winklevoss Capital, alongside their acquisition of 233,644.56 ZEC.
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Josh Swihart Joins Cypherpunk Technologies as Strategic Advisor
Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPH) has officially announced the appointment of Josh Swihart, the Chief Executive Officer of Electric Coin ...
‍Bybit Launches Officially in the UK with 100 Spot Trading Pairs Global cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has officially entered the UK market on December 19, 2025. Serving approximately 8% of UK adults who own crypto, Bybit aims to bridge TradFi and DeFi with localized services. The platform offers 100 spot trading pairs, P2P services, and integrates global liquidity pools, adhering to strict AML and KYC protocols. Bybit's Senior Director of Policy, Mykolas Majauskas, stated, "The UK is home to one of the most sophisticated financial ecosystems... and its clear regulatory direction makes it an ideal environment for responsible innovation." All services comply with UK financial promotion requirements, with promotions approved by Archax. Bybit emphasizes that cryptoassets remain high-risk investments, and FSCS protections typically do not apply.
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Bybit Officially Launches in the UK Offering 100 Spot Trading Pairs
The global cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has officially announced its entry into the United Kingdom market on December 19, 2025....
‍Jump Trading Faces $4 Billion Lawsuit Over Terra Collapse Todd Snyder, Terraform Labs bankruptcy administrator, is suing Jump Trading and its executives for $4 billion, alleging they profited from and contributed to the $50 billion Terra ecosystem collapse in May 2022. The suit claims Jump Trading engaged in secret agreements, receiving LUNA tokens at heavily discounted prices in exchange for maintaining the UST stablecoin peg. Allegations also include the transfer of 50,000 BTC from the Luna Foundation Guard to Jump Trading without a formal agreement. This action follows a $123 million settlement by Jump's subsidiary with the SEC.
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Jump Trading Faces $4B Lawsuit Over Alleged Role in Terra Collapse
Todd Snyder, the administrator overseeing the Terraform Labs bankruptcy, has initiated a legal claim seeking $4 billion in damages from Jump Tradin...
‍Blockchain Fragmentation Drains $1.3B Annually From Tokenized Assets The lack of interoperability between blockchain networks creates significant economic inefficiencies for the real-world asset (RWA) sector, leading to an annual value drag of up to $1.3 billion. Price discrepancies of 1-3% for identical assets across different chains are common due to high fees, slippage, and timing risks during cross-chain transitions, resulting in average losses of 2-5% per reallocation. RWA.io emphasizes that fragmentation is the primary obstacle to the RWA market reaching its multi-trillion-dollar potential. If unresolved, annual losses could reach $30-75 billion by 2030. Despite these challenges, institutional adoption continues, with firms like Securitize and Coinbase launching services to bridge traditional finance and DeFi.
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Blockchain Fragmentation Drains $1.3B Annually From Tokenized Assets
The lack of interoperability between various blockchain networks is imposing a significant economic burden on the nascent real-world asset (RWA) se...
‍Metaplanet Launches ADRs on US OTC Market Through Deutsche Bank Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, known for its Bitcoin treasury strategy, has introduced American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) under the ticker MPJPY on the US Over-the-Counter (OTC) market. This move, facilitated by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, aims to provide easier access for US investors to the company's equity and its significant Bitcoin holdings. Metaplanet currently holds over 30,000 BTC. The ADR program follows a period of market volatility and aims to enhance shareholder value and liquidity, reflecting growing institutional interest in blockchain and digital assets.
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Metaplanet Debuts on US OTC Market via Deutsche Bank ADR Program
Metaplanet, a prominent Japanese investment firm known for its aggressive Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, has officially expanded its reach into t...