KLEA Crypto Daily: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Published: December 18, 2025 – 00:04 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from December 17, 2025.

Bitcoin Experiences Extreme Volatility, Surging and Reversing in Hours

Bitcoin saw a dramatic surge of over $3,000 in under an hour on December 17, followed by a sharp reversal back towards $86,000. This volatility was driven by leverage, positioning, and fragile liquidity conditions, resulting in a short squeeze and liquidation of approximately $120 million in short positions.

Bitcoin Capitulation Signal Points to Potential Rally to $180,000

Bitcoin's recent capitulation signal, as indicated by the 14-day RSI falling below 30, historically precedes a significant rally, with projections suggesting a potential surge to $180,000 in the next 90 days. This signal, if realized, could result in a 105% gain for Bitcoin.

Coinbase Announces Availability of Stock Trading

Coinbase has announced that stock trading is now available on its platform. This move marks a significant expansion of services for the popular cryptocurrency exchange, offering users the opportunity to engage in stock trading alongside crypto assets.

Major Web3 Investor Shima Capital Shuts Down Following SEC Fraud Claims

Shima Capital is shutting down after the Securities and Exchange Commission accused founder Yida Gao of inflating his track record to defraud investors. The closure marks the end of a prominent player in the Web3 investment space.

Bhutan Commits 10,000 Bitcoin to Fund Development of Planned “Mindfulness City”

Bhutan's pledge of up to 10,000 Bitcoin, valued at about $1 billion, to build Gelephu Mindfulness City signifies a significant shift towards incorporating Bitcoin into economic development plans. The project emphasizes using Bitcoin reserves for city benefits and long-term growth, rather than short-term gains.

The Daily: US Senators Introduce Crypto Fraud Bill

US senators have introduced a bill targeting crypto fraud, aiming to address fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency space. This move reflects increasing regulatory scrutiny on digital assets.

Bank of Canada Outlines Tough Stablecoin Requirements Ahead of 2026 Rollout

The Bank of Canada has set strict rules for stablecoin issuers, requiring full reserves backed by high-quality liquid assets and robust risk management. These regulations aim to safeguard consumers and maintain currency stability in the evolving crypto landscape.

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Federal Crypto Scam Taskforce

The introduction of a bipartisan bill by senators aims to create a federal taskforce dedicated to combating crypto fraud, with a mandate to issue a strategy report within a year of formation. This move highlights the increasing focus on addressing fraudulent activities within the cryptocurrency space.

New York Judge Allows Expanded Claims in Pump.fun and Solana Class-Action Case

A New York judge has granted permission for plaintiffs to expand their class-action lawsuit against Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and other entities, allowing new allegations related to alleged insider advantages in token launches to proceed. This development signifies a potential escalation in legal actions targeting crypto projects.

Bitcoin Miner Hut 8’s Stock Soars After Inking $7 Billion Google-Backed AI Deal

Publicly traded Bitcoin miner Hut 8 inked a $7 billion data center deal with Google’s financial backing, sending shares soaring Wednesday.

Bitcoin Rallies Back Over $90,000 as Alts See Modest Gains

Bitcoin surged back above $90,000 on Dec. 17, 2025, while Ethereum also saw gains, crossing the $3,000 mark. The market experienced a positive trend with altcoins showing modest increases.

Jito Labs CEO Announces Core Operations Move Back to the U.S.

Jito Labs CEO Buffalu__ has revealed that the core operations of Jito Foundation will relocate back to the U.S., marking a significant shift for the organization.

Federal Reserve Governor Highlights Weakness in Job Market

Federal Reserve Governor Waller expresses concerns about the weak state of the job market, noting that employment growth is falling short of expectations.

Bitcoin Price at ‘Critical’ Point as Whale Moves $348M BTC to Exchanges

A whale moving 4,000 Bitcoin to Binance has sparked concerns of a deeper BTC price drop if the $81,500 support level is breached.

Coinbase: Why AI Will ‘Revolutionise’ Crypto Markets in 2026 Amidst $565M Startup Boom

Coinbase predicts that artificial intelligence will drive an economic boom in 2026, propelling crypto markets to new highs unlike previous cycles, with AI x crypto convergence offering more transparent and democratised systems.

Monad (MON) Staking Now Live on Bybit On-Chain Earn

Bybit has integrated Monad (MON) staking into its On-Chain Earn platform, allowing users to stake MON with competitive APR rates directly within the Bybit app. Monad is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain compatible with Ethereum, with MON serving as the native token for gas fees, security, and protocol growth.

Fhenix Launches Fhenix402, Bringing Private Micropayments to Base’s x402 Standard

Fhenix has introduced Fhenix402, a private version of Base’s x402 payment protocol, showcasing how encrypted transactions can enable private, composable micropayments on-chain without revealing amounts. This release underscores the growing importance of privacy standards in Web3 infrastructure as the industry transitions towards advanced cryptography for real-world applications.

Source: KLEA News