KLEA Crypto Daily: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Published: December 19, 2025 – 00:03 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from December 18, 2025.

Coinbase Rolls Out Stocks, Prediction Markets in ‘Everything Exchange’ Push

Coinbase announces a major expansion, introducing stocks, prediction markets, Solana DEX access, derivatives, and stablecoin tools to its platform in a significant move towards becoming an all-encompassing exchange.

Google is secretly bankrolling a $5 billion Bitcoin pivot using a shadow credit mechanism

Google is revealed to be backing Bitcoin miners' AI projects with at least $5 billion in credit support, reshaping the mining industry dynamics and positioning these miners as infrastructure sponsors rather than just commodity producers.

ICE Explores Investment in Crypto Payments Firm MoonPay Amid Growing Wall Street Interest

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), is reportedly in discussions to invest in the crypto payments company MoonPay. This potential investment is part of MoonPay’s latest funding round, aiming to raise funds at a valuation of $5 billion.

Pump.fun Faces Renewed Legal Scrutiny as Court Accepts New MEV Evidence

A US federal court has granted permission to amend and refile a class-action lawsuit tied to the memecoin launch platform Pump.fun, reopening judicial scrutiny of maximal extractable value (MEV) practices on Solana. The decision allows plaintiffs to introduce a new body of evidence that sheds light on coordination between Pump.fun, Solana Labs, Jito Labs, and other parties involved in the Solana ecosystem.

Bitcoin Whipsaws From $89,000 To $85,000, Liquidates $120M: What’s Driving Volatility

Bitcoin remains trapped in a volatile $85,000 to $90,000 range, struggling to sustain upside even after softer-than-expected inflation data. The spike in volatility is attributed to a massive $23 billion options expiry next week, with markets leaning bearish.

ECB’s Lagarde Pressures European Lawmakers to Adopt CBDC

The European Central Bank's Christine Lagarde has urged European lawmakers to adopt a central bank digital currency (CBDC), indicating that technical and preparatory work for the launch of digital euros is complete. This push towards a CBDC signals a significant development in the realm of digital currencies.

Coinbase: Analyst Slashes Price Target, Says Investors ‘Miss The Big Picture’

Coinbase Global Inc hosted a System Update event, announcing the launch of equities trading and prediction markets. Analyst Brett Knoblauch reduced the price target from $459 to $320, emphasizing the company's evolution beyond just a cryptocurrency exchange.

FBI Seizes Crypto Exchange Allegedly Used to Launder $70M From Ransomware Attacks

U.S. prosecutors say virtual currency service E-Note moved more than $70 million tied to cybercrime since 2017.

Fed Rolls Back 2023 Crypto Rules, Shifting How Banks Assess Digital Asset Exposure

The Federal Reserve has scrapped crypto-specific bank rules, replacing them with a principles-based framework that eases regulatory friction and reopens pathways for crypto custody, payments, and tokenization. This move marks a significant shift in how banks assess digital asset exposure.

A New ‘Bitcoin City’? Bhutan to Use $885m Crypto Stash to Fund ‘Mindfulness’ City

Following in the footsteps of El Salvador, Bhutan plans to use its $885 million cryptocurrency stash to develop a "mindfulness city" called Gelephu Mindfulness City. This move aims to create a world-class economic hub in southern Bhutan, utilizing 10,000 Bitcoins for funding.

Bitfinex Sets Maker and Taker Trading Fees to 0

Bitfinex, a cryptocurrency exchange linked with Tether, has officially established Maker and Taker trading fees at 0 for various trading activities. This zero-fee policy is not a temporary promotion but a permanent change across spot, margin, derivatives, and other trading options on the platform.

Ethereum Surpasses 2,900 USDT with a Narrowed 0.87% Decrease in 24 Hours

On December 18, 2025, Ethereum crossed the 2,900 USDT benchmark and is now trading at 2,904.159912 USDT, with a narrowed 0.87% decrease in 24 hours.

How North Korea Pulled Off $2 Billion in Crypto Theft in 2025

A new report from Chainalysis reveals that North Korea-linked hackers were responsible for stealing over $2 billion in digital assets in 2025, marking a significant increase in cryptocurrency theft.

Federal Reserve Revises Policy to Encourage Innovation in Banking

The Federal Reserve has withdrawn a restrictive policy statement issued in 2023 and introduced a new policy statement, allowing state member banks to engage in innovative activities related to cryptocurrency services. This move aims to enhance efficiency for banks and offer better products and services to customers.

Bitcoin Defends $87,000 While Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Slide Ahead Of Japan Interest Rate Decision

Bitcoin remains steady near $87,000 as traders await the Bank of Japan interest rate decision, with Bitcoin ETFs seeing significant inflows. Traders are cautious ahead of the event, with a break above $88,000 signaling renewed bullish momentum.

Major Investor Increases SOL Holdings Following Market Fluctuation

A prominent investor has increased their SOL holdings by 51,612.85 tokens, bringing their total to 301,612.8 SOL valued at $37.36 million. Despite an unrealized loss of $3.42 million, the investor's portfolio now exceeds $700 million.

Canton Leads Privacy Coin Rally As Midnight, Zcash, Monero Tick Up

Privacy coins like Midnight, Zcash, and Monero have seen an uptick in price following the announcement that the DTCC will adopt the Canton Network for tokenized securities issuance, leading to a rally in the privacy coin sector.

Source: KLEA News