Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
Bitcoin/Crypto Daily Podcast 01/01/2026
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Bitcoin got stuck after slumping 30% from its peak. Here’s why.
Bitcoin’s October flash crash re-priced BTC as a risk asset as institutional participation tied it more closely to macro conditions and Fed-driven liquidity, wiping out months of leveraged bullishness. ETF inflows flipped to outflows into year-end, and forecasts missed as cautious capital and weekend liquidity drove liquidation cascades. Still, analysts see slower, structurally driven upside into 2026 as regulatory clarity and institutional flows take the lead.
Bitwise files for 11 ‘strategy’ ETFs, tracking tokens including AAVE, ZEC, TAO
Bitwise filed for 11 strategy ETFs that can invest up to 60% directly in underlying tokens, with the rest in ETPs and derivatives, spanning assets like AAVE, UNI, ZEC, SUI, and TAO. The move underscores rapid expansion beyond bitcoin and ether and rising interest in themes such as decentralized AI, alongside Grayscale’s push to convert its Bittensor trust. If approved, these funds could broaden regulated access to long‑tail crypto assets.
Bitcoin, ether drop more than 22% in Q4 as December ‘Santa rally’ fizzles
The hoped‑for Santa rally fizzled, leaving bitcoin down roughly 22% in December and ether off about 28% for Q4 as thin holiday liquidity met fading risk appetite. Gold hit records while BTC traded like high‑beta risk, with U.S. hours seeing the heaviest selling as funds cut positions. All eyes turn to whether key supports hold into January—or if a deeper reset is ahead.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs snap 7-day outflow streak with $355M as liquidity improves
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs broke a seven‑day outflow streak with $355 million in net inflows, led by BlackRock, Ark 21Shares, and Fidelity, even as December remained net negative. Analysts including Arthur Hayes say global dollar liquidity likely bottomed in November and is ticking higher, a setup that could aid crypto. Ether ETFs also saw $67.8 million of inflows, while XRP ETFs notched a 30‑day streak.
BitMine bags $98M in ETH as year-end selling caps gains: Tom Lee
BitMine Immersion Technologies bought 32,938 ETH (~$97.6M), lifting holdings to 4.07 million ETH and continuing to stake aggressively despite year‑end market softness. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee cites tax‑loss selling and holiday‑thinned liquidity as near‑term drags, but BitMine has kept up weekly purchases above 40,000 ETH. The firm’s steady accumulation underscores ongoing institutional demand for yield‑bearing ETH exposure.
Winklevoss-backed Cypherpunk buys $28 million of zcash, now owns 1.7% of supply
Cypherpunk Technologies acquired $28 million of zcash, bringing its stash to 290,062 ZEC—about 1.76% of circulating supply—at an average cost near $334. The firm aims to reach 5% of the network as ZEC has surged over 1,200% since September amid renewed interest in privacy coins. The bet reflects a thesis that markets are repricing the value of financial privacy.
Bitcoin’s market got calmer in 2025 thanks to yield-hungry institutional investors
Implied volatility slid from roughly 70% to near 45% in 2025 as institutions overwrote calls on spot and ETF holdings, adding steady supply to options markets. Put skew across maturities points to ‘long but hedged’ positioning rather than outright bearishness. With more than 12.5% of mined BTC in ETFs and treasuries, covered‑call yield strategies became a dominant flow that tempered swings.
Korbit fined $1.9 million for anti money-laundering, customer verification breaches
South Korea’s FIU fined exchange Korbit 2.73 billion won (~$1.9M) for AML/KYC failures and issued executive sanctions, even as Mirae Asset weighs a majority‑stake acquisition. The action follows a $25 million penalty against Upbit’s operator in November, signaling a tougher enforcement regime. Regulators say stronger compliance is essential for building public trust in the virtual asset market.
Strategy accumulates over 22,000 Bitcoin, RWAs top $19 billion: December in Charts
Strategy added 22,628 BTC in December, lifting holdings to 672,497 BTC—around 3.3% of supply—even as bitcoin fell 4% on the month. Meanwhile, tokenized real‑world assets surpassed $19 billion in distributed value, overtaking DEXs by TVL as Treasurys and commodities lead the category. The juxtaposition highlights ongoing institutional accumulation and the rise of RWAs despite choppy prices.
The Bybit hack made Kim Jong Un crypto’s most influential in 2025
Bybit’s $1.4B breach—attributed to North Korean actors—proved pivotal in 2025, prompting tighter custody designs, real‑time incident response norms, and sharper FATF guidance. The episode exposed limits of cold storage and multisig without robust governance and behavioral controls, while accelerating cross‑jurisdictional enforcement. Bybit’s decision to keep withdrawals open and communicate live set a new crisis‑management template.
