On December 26, 2025, BlackRock transferred 1,044 BTC valued at $91.9 million and 7,557 ETH valued at $22.41 million to Coinbase, for a combined crypto deposit of about $114.31 million, according to Onchain Lens. The large on-chain movements are being viewed as part of a broader strategic approach to managing BlackRock's digital asset positions and may hint at portfolio rebalancing activity.

USD1, issued by World Liberty Financial, has surpassed a $3 billion market value and now stands at $3.12 billion, ranking sixth among stablecoins and 32nd among cryptocurrencies. Binance has boosted adoption with a 20% APR 'Booster Program' and a 1:1 swap of BUSD-collateral into USD1. WLFI positions USD1 as a payment-first asset, with partnerships spanning Coinbase, FalconX, and Solana-based projects.

Analysts expect crypto exchange-traded funds to expand sharply in 2026, with more than 100 new filings and net inflows of about $15 billion, potentially rising to $40 billion if conditions improve, according to Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas. Potential US policy moves, including the CLARITY Act, could broaden products beyond BTC and ETH and spur institutional allocations.

According to data from the Treasury International Capital System for October, Brazil, China and India jointly reduced their US Treasury holdings by $28.8 billion, with India cutting $12 billion, China $11.8 billion and Brazil $5 billion. Between October 2024 and October 2025, the three BRICS members offloaded a combined $183.2 billion in US debt, while J.P.Morgan's forex team projects a net bearish outlook for the US dollar in 2026.

Bitcoin hovered near $87,200 on Friday, about 6.5% below its 2025 opening level and well under its October peak above $126,000, even as U.S. equities and precious metals set fresh records. Derivatives positioning around a reported $28 billion options expiry and reduced holiday liquidity have coincided with roughly $500 million in weekly outflows from spot bitcoin ETFs and about $4.3 billion pulled over the final two months of the year. Gold climbed beyond $4,580 per troy ounce and silver surpassed $75, while the S&P 500 and Dow closed their Christmas Eve session at all-time highs and the Nasdaq gained more than 20% in 2025.

At the end of December 2025, the US dollar is heading for its steepest weekly decline since June, with the DXY Index down 0.8% and the currency on track for an 8% annual drop. Investors are positioning for further Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026 while 10-year Treasury yields hover near 4.12%. Equities have rallied in parallel, with the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq all posting gains, as a seasonal Santa Claus rally and expectations of lower borrowing costs support risk assets.

The SEC and CFTC outlined a coordinated approach to U.S. crypto oversight, advancing joint efforts including a Token Classification Framework, Project Crypto and work on crypto ETFs under the leadership of Paul Atkins and Michael Selig. The plan seeks clearer rules around crypto commodities and spot markets while promoting innovation and competition across digital asset venues.

CoinShares reports that the digital asset market delivered a standout performance in 2025, with Bitcoin setting new all‑time highs and crypto returning to mainstream institutional and media attention. The firm argues that the next phase of the sector will be driven less by price swings and more by real-world utility, adoption and integration into traditional finance, including the growth of spot Bitcoin ETFs, prediction markets, stablecoins and tokenised products. Looking into 2026, CoinShares expects structural changes such as app-based savings and broader stablecoin settlement to matter more than macro catalysts, with regulation seen as a prerequisite for scaling innovation.