KLEA Crypto Daily: Sunday, December 21, 2025

Published: December 22, 2025 – 00:03 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from December 21, 2025.

Federal Reserve’s January Rate Cut Probability Assessed

According to PANews, CME’s “FedWatch” tool indicates a 21% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in January next year, with a 79% likelihood of maintaining the current rate. By March, the probability of a cumulative 25 basis point rate cut increases to 47.1%.

Tokenization’s Impact on Finance Expected to Surpass Digital Media Disruption

Keith Grossman, president of MoonPay, predicts that tokenization will revolutionize the financial industry faster than digital technology transformed traditional media. Real-world asset tokenization is expected to drive evolution and compel traditional financial institutions to adapt.

Coinbase Users Lose $16M in Phishing Scheme Run by 23-Year-Old New Yorker

A 23-year-old Brooklyn resident has been indicted on 31 criminal counts for allegedly stealing nearly $16 million in cryptocurrency from roughly 100 Coinbase users through a prolonged phishing operation. The defendant, Ronald Spektor of Sheepshead Bay, faces charges including first-degree grand larceny and money laundering.

Blackrock’s Ibit Defies Bitcoin Slump to Beat Gold in 2025 ETF Flows

BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted $25.4 billion in capital in 2025, securing the sixth spot on the US ETF leaderboard despite negative returns, outperforming traditional heavyweights like Invesco QQQ Trust and SPDR Gold Trust.

XRP Bulls Slam Into the $2 Wall—Momentum Wrecked at Resistance

XRP attempted to reach the $2.00 mark but faced resistance, trading at $1.91. The digital asset's short-term fate now depends on reclaiming key resistance levels.

South Korea Plans Second Phase of CBDC Testing

South Korea's central bank is moving forward with the second phase of testing for its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), focusing on distributing government subsidies in digital currency form to reduce administrative costs.

Bitcoin Price Movements Could Trigger Significant Liquidation on Major Exchanges

Data from Coinglass suggests that if Bitcoin surpasses $90,000, the cumulative liquidation intensity of short positions on major exchanges could reach $481 million, while falling below $87,000 could lead to long positions liquidating at $514 million. This data highlights the potential impact of Bitcoin's price movements on exchange positions.

Citigroup Updates Outlook on Digital Asset Stocks Amid Market Volatility

Citigroup has revised its outlook on digital asset stocks following significant downturns in the cryptocurrency market. Despite price fluctuations, the analyst team remains optimistic about the industry, maintaining a target price of $243 for Circle.

US Lawmakers Propose Tax Relief for Small Stablecoin Transactions

US lawmakers have introduced a draft proposal to reduce the tax burden on everyday cryptocurrency users. The proposal seeks to exempt small stablecoin transactions from capital gains taxes and offers a deferral option for staking and mining rewards, aiming to accommodate the increasing use of digital assets in payments.

Binance and Bitcoin Experience Minor Decreases in Value

Both BNB and Bitcoin have seen slight decreases in value, with BNB dropping below 850 USDT and Bitcoin falling below 88,000 USDT in the past 24 hours. These fluctuations reflect the ongoing volatility in the cryptocurrency market.

China Discovers 'Largest' Undersea Gold Deposit in Asia

China has announced the discovery of Asia's largest undersea gold deposit, signaling a significant development in the country's mining ambitions and domestic resource supply. This find underscores China's strategic focus on securing essential minerals and reshaping regional resource dynamics.

Source: KLEA News