COTI has published its 2026 roadmap, prioritizing multichain Privacy-on-Demand, private RWAs, and expanded DeFi/DEX presence. The project's loyalty program offered 12.5 million COTI tokens in Season 001, ended on November 11, 2025, and launched a second season with 15 million $COTI plus bonuses and high APY equivalents.

On December 22, 2025, Hyperliquid denied rumors of insider-trading tools and USDC insolvency, saying the contested HYPE short was opened by a former employee. The alleged insider position was $25,140 (1,000 HYPE), while platform data showed $1.25B open interest and whales 59% long.

On December 19, 2025, the Federal Reserve launched a public consultation on a proposed 'payment account' model offering limited access to its payment services. The accounts would not earn interest or provide credit, and the Fed is considering overnight balance caps of the lesser of $500 million or 10% of assets. The comment period runs 45 days after Federal Register publication.

Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority has issued an in-principle approval to French fintech Vancelian, registered in the UAE as Automata FZE, for management and investment, lending and borrowing, advisory, and crypto broker-dealer licenses. Vancelian manages 100 million Euros, has paid 7 million Euros in interest, and offers products such as a crypto basket, Bitcoin-backed loans with a 10% average fixed annual return, and real estate co-financing projects in Bali and Dubai.

Aave Labs advanced a proposal on control of Aave's brand assets to a Snapshot vote, drawing objections from its author and delegates over process. Voting opens Dec. 23, while founder Stani Kulechov said the decision follows extensive discussion. Critics warn the timing and escalation undermine consensus in the Aave DAO.

On 19 December 2025, the Council of the European Union agreed on a negotiating mandate for the digital euro that requires both online and offline payment options. The framework confirms the European Central Bank as issuer, introduces holding limits and basic free services, and outlines a path toward pilots in 2027 and potential issuance in 2029. The move diverges from earlier European Parliament ideas centered on offline-only use and opens inter‑institutional negotiations on the CBDC’s legal design.

U.S. lawmakers unveiled a discussion draft to exempt small stablecoin payments from capital gains reporting and defer taxation on staking and mining rewards. The plan sets a $200 threshold and allows up to five years of deferral, with safeguards such as price-band limits, exclusion of brokers and dealers, and Treasury oversight. It aims to align everyday digital asset use with established tax rules.

On December 22, Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) listed 29 licensed platforms, naming Indodax, Tokocrypto, Pintu and Upbit. The framework introduces approvals for trading, clearing via PT Bursa Komoditi Nusantara and PT Kliring Komoditi Indonesia, and stricter consumer verification and knowledge tests. Derivatives will require OJK clearance and margin rules.