Cryptocurrency News 13 December 2025 – Bitcoin, Ethereum and Key Market Trends

Cryptocurrency News, Saturday, 13th December 2025: Market Seeking Balance After Fed Rate Cut, Ethereum Shows Modest Growth, Institutional Interest Persists, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies and Market Outlook

By the morning of 13th December 2025, the global cryptocurrency market had stabilised relatively after a volatile reaction to the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates. The market flagship, Bitcoin, briefly dipped below the psychological level of $90,000, but is now consolidating near this mark. Key altcoins demonstrate mixed dynamics: some are attempting to recover from recent losses, while others remain under pressure as investors take profits after the rally during the first half of the year. The total market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies holds around $3.2–3.3 trillion, with Bitcoin's dominance at about 59–60%. The Fear and Greed Index is currently in the "fear" zone, reflecting caution among market participants despite the theoretically positive move by the regulator for risk assets. However, fundamental factors evoke optimism: institutional investors continue to increase their presence, major economies are formulating clearer rules, and technological upgrades are enhancing blockchain infrastructure. In this overview, we will examine the latest trends and events in the industry: from the state of the top 10 coins to regulatory shifts, technological breakthroughs, institutional inflows, security issues, and future market prospects.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the largest cryptocurrency, accounting for approximately 58–60% of the entire market. In October, BTC reached a new all-time high (around $126,000); however, the subsequent correction has brought the price down to its current level of about $90,000. Despite the sharp volatility in recent months, Bitcoin remains the primary indicator of sentiment in the cryptocurrency market and is perceived by investors as “digital gold” — a protective asset with a limited supply (21 million coins) and increasing recognition in traditional finance.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the second-largest cryptocurrency and the leading platform for smart contracts. ETH trades at around ~$3,200, which is lower than the peak values seen in early autumn but indicates recovery after November's decline. The Ethereum blockchain underpins decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems and NFTs. Recently, a hard fork named Fusaka successfully launched, improving scalability and reducing fees — this strengthens Ethereum’s position in the market and lays the groundwork for further growth in usage.
3. Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT remains a key source of liquidity on cryptocurrency exchanges, enabling traders to weather periods of volatility by “parking” capital in a stable asset. The market capitalisation of Tether is estimated at approximately $180 billion, with the price consistently holding near $1.00, making it a sort of “digital dollar” for the global crypto economy.
4. XRP (Ripple Token) — a cryptocurrency aimed at instant global payments. XRP confidently maintains its position in the top 5, with a market capitalisation of around $120 billion and a price of about $2 per token. Interest in XRP significantly increased in 2025 following favourable legal developments: the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC in the US is nearing completion, restoring investor confidence and contributing to price increases. The token is actively used in banking blockchain solutions for cross-border payments and remains one of the most recognisable cryptocurrencies.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the primary asset of the BNB Chain network. BNB is widely used for paying trading fees, participating in Launchpad token sales, and executing smart contracts within the Binance ecosystem. The coin is currently trading near $850, with a market capitalisation of around $120 billion, keeping it among the market leaders. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance in several jurisdictions, the limited issuance of BNB and mechanisms like regular token burns support its value and maintain its place among the top cryptocurrencies.
6. USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin issued by Circle that is fully backed by US dollar reserves. USDC consistently trades at a rate of $1.00, with a market capitalisation estimated between $75–80 billion. This coin is often favoured by institutional investors and DeFi protocols due to its transparency and regular audits of reserves. Although USDC's market share slightly declined in 2025 in favour of the more popular USDT, this stablecoin continues to be regarded as one of the most reliable and regulated digital counterparts to the dollar.
7. Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain focused on scalability and minimal fees. The price of SOL is around $130 (with a capitalisation of over $70 billion), significantly higher than the levels at the beginning of the year, despite the recent pullback. In 2025, Solana substantially strengthened its infrastructure: a series of updates improved network stability significantly, reducing the number of failures experienced last year, and plans include implementing parallel transaction processing technologies to further increase throughput. The development of DeFi and GameFi projects based on Solana, as well as the anticipation of exchange-traded funds launching on this asset, fuel demand for SOL and help it rank among the leading cryptocurrencies.
8. Tron (TRX) — a blockchain platform known for its active use in entertainment and stablecoin issuance. TRX trades at around $0.28 with a market value of approximately $26 billion. The Tron network attracts users with low fees and high throughput, hence a significant portion of USDT issuance circulates on it. The project, led by Justin Sun, continues to evolve by supporting decentralised applications (including DeFi and gaming), allowing TRX to remain in the top 10 global cryptocurrency assets.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known meme coin, which started as a joke but has evolved into a cryptocurrency with a multi-billion-dollar market capitalisation (over $20 billion, with a price around $0.14). The popularity of DOGE is bolstered by its active community and periodic attention from celebrities (notably Elon Musk). The volatility of this coin remains traditionally high, but Dogecoin has demonstrated remarkable resilience in investor interest across several market cycles, remaining a "people's coin" and a constant participant in the top ten largest cryptocurrencies.
10. Cardano (ADA) — a large blockchain platform based on the Proof-of-Stake algorithm, developing with a focus on a research-driven approach. ADA trades around $0.40 (with a capitalisation of about $15 billion), significantly down from its historical highs. In 2025, the Cardano team continued with technical upgrades aimed at enhancing network scalability — for instance, solutions like Hydra for creating off-chain channels have been implemented, which should ultimately increase throughput. Despite strong competition in the smart contracts segment and relative price stagnation, Cardano maintains one of the most dedicated communities that believe in the project's long-term potential.

Global Market Overview

Overall, the global cryptocurrency capitalisation is now close to the levels observed at the peak of the autumn rally. However, the last few weeks have brought a notable correction. As of the morning of 13th December, the total value of the crypto market remains approximately 20% lower than this year's previous all-time high, and slightly down compared to the week prior. All the main coins in the top 10 have experienced declines in recent days amid the overall market retreat. Bitcoin, after a sharp spike followed by a pullback, is consolidating around $90,000 – investors are trying to decipher whether the recent rate cut by the Fed will be a catalyst for new growth or a signal for caution. Notably, traditional stock indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq) reacted positively to the Fed's decisions, while crypto assets, in contrast, partially lost value. Analysts note an increasing correlation between Bitcoin and high-tech stocks: in 2025, both markets experienced similar rises and declines linked to changing sentiments surrounding the prospects of artificial intelligence and monetary policy shifts.

Following an impressive rally early in the year (largely driven by capital inflows amid expectations of first approvals for spot Bitcoin ETFs and the arrival of a crypto-friendly administration in the White House), the cryptocurrency market faced a period of turbulence. The October decline, triggered by unexpected macroeconomic actions from the US (the introduction of new tariffs and heightened geopolitical tensions), led to a record wave of margin liquidation exceeding $19 billion. Since then, Bitcoin and several major altcoins have failed to return to recently reached peaks. November proved to be one of the worst months in years: the month-over-month price decline was the largest since 2021, considerably dampening some investors' optimism.

Nevertheless, when comparing current prices with the beginning of 2025, many crypto assets still show significant growth. Several altcoins (such as XRP or Solana), despite the current downturn, are trading substantially above the levels seen at the end of 2024 thanks to prior successes (regulatory clarity on XRP’s status, technological advancements by Solana, etc.). Bitcoin's share of the overall capitalisation fluctuates around 55–60%, indicating investors' inclination to hold a significant portion of their funds in the most reliable digital asset during times of market uncertainty. Current player sentiments can be characterised as cautious optimism: the cryptocurrency Fear and Greed Index has risen slightly after recent turmoil, but still signals the predominance of fear elements. Market participants are awaiting new signals — from macroeconomic data to progress in launching new investment products (such as forthcoming crypto ETFs or institutional services) — before a confident upward trend resumes.

Regulatory News

• USA: The regulatory landscape for the crypto industry has significantly clarified in 2025. After years of discussions, US authorities greenlit the first spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Bitcoin and Ethereum, marking an important milestone for the legitimisation of crypto assets. Additionally, financial regulators have officially allowed US banks to act as custodians of cryptocurrencies for clients, paving the way for pension and investment funds to invest safely in digital assets. Despite these advancements, regulatory bodies continue to monitor the market closely: the SEC still demands compliance with securities laws when issuing tokens, and Congress is discussing new rules for stablecoins and crypto exchanges, focusing on investor protection.
• Europe: In the European Union, a comprehensive regulatory framework known as MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) has come into effect, establishing unified rules for the cryptocurrency market within the EU. This means clearer requirements for token issuers, crypto exchanges, and wallet providers regarding areas such as registration, reserve adequacy, and anti-money laundering measures. European crypto firms generally welcomed MiCA, as uniform regulation simplifies their operations across all EU markets. Concurrently, authorities in individual EU countries continue initiatives to implement CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) and test blockchain solutions in the public sector.
• Asia and Other Regions: The Asia-Pacific region maintains a mixed approach to cryptocurrencies. On one hand, Hong Kong has launched regulated platforms for retail cryptocurrency trading in 2025, and Singapore has expanded licensing requirements while promoting blockchain innovation. On the other hand, mainland China continues to strictly limit cryptocurrency operations for the general public, focusing on its own digital yuan. In several other countries (such as the UAE and Switzerland), there is active development of crypto-friendly jurisdictions with clear business regulations, attracting blockchain startups and investment funds. Overall, by the end of 2025, regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions has significantly increased, reducing legal risks for the industry and boosting trust from traditional investors.

Blockchain Technological Updates

• Ethereum – Fusaka Hard Fork: In December, the Ethereum network successfully activated a major protocol upgrade codenamed Fusaka. This hard fork was the second significant upgrade of Ethereum in the year, aimed at increasing the blockchain's core throughput. The upgrade increased the gas limit per block, improved compatibility with layer two (L2) solutions, and added optimisations for smart contracts. These changes will help reduce transaction fees and speed up operations on the network, considering the growing load from DeFi applications. Ethereum continues to move forward on its roadmap, targeting further scalability (eventually implementing Danksharding) and strengthening network security.
• Bitcoin – Scalability and New Use Cases: No hard forks occurred on the main Bitcoin network in 2025; however, the ecosystem surrounding the first cryptocurrency evolved dynamically. The capacity of the Lightning Network (second layer, designed for fast micropayments) reached record levels in total channel capacity, expanding Bitcoin's practical applications in retail payments and transfers. At the same time, the Bitcoin community is actively discussing a series of improvement proposals (BIPs) aimed at increasing the network's privacy and functionality — for instance, mechanisms for partially signed transactions and so-called "covenants" for more flexible fund management. Additionally, cross-chain initiatives have developed: the emergence of Bitcoin Ordinals protocols and other solutions for issuing tokens based on BTC demonstrated that even conservative Bitcoin can support new use cases (such as issuing NFT collections, stablecoins on the Bitcoin blockchain, etc.) without altering the base consensus.
• Other Blockchain Projects: Among altcoins, 2025 saw several technological breakthroughs. Solana significantly improved its operational reliability after critical updates — network failures that had characterised the previous year have virtually become nonexistent. Solana developers are preparing to implement parallel transaction execution technologies (for example, through the Firedancer client-accelerator), which could exponentially increase network throughput. Cardano advanced in the implementation of scaling protocols: launching the Hydra solution for creating off-chain channels should increase the number of transactions per second without burdening the main network. Moreover, the rapid development of layer two (L2) networks for Ethereum, such as Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism, solidified their status as an integral part of the industry, offering cheap and fast transactions. The total value locked (TVL) on these L2 platforms has significantly grown over the year, reflecting the demand for solutions that relieve the main Ethereum network. New projects at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence promise synergistic opportunities (such as decentralised AI platforms), although they remain in their early stages of development. Overall, technological progress in the crypto industry shows no signs of slowing down: each update enhances the efficiency, security, and appeal of blockchains for businesses and users alike.

Institutional Investments

• Breakthrough with Crypto ETF Launch: The outgoing year marked a historic breakthrough for institutional integration, with spot ETFs for cryptocurrencies debuting on traditional exchanges for the first time. In the US, followed by several other countries, regulators approved exchange funds that directly invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum. Notable Wall Street firms (including investment giant BlackRock) became issuers of such funds. Since the launch of trading, they attracted significant capital: the cumulative inflow in the initial months is measured in billions of dollars. For instance, on one December day, American Bitcoin ETFs received over $200 million in investments. The emergence of accessible exchange instruments based on crypto assets has substantially increased trust from conservative players — pension funds, insurance companies, and banks that previously shied away from direct purchases of digital coins.
• Engagement of Banks and Payment Systems: Large banks and financial corporations expanded their presence in the crypto market in 2025. Many Wall Street banks launched custody services for cryptocurrency storage for affluent clients and established trading divisions for operations with digital assets. Global payment giants began integrating blockchain technologies into their products: for example, PayPal launched its own stablecoin (PYUSD) for facilitating digital transactions, while Visa implemented the capability to conduct cross-border payments using Solana's blockchain and the USDC stablecoin, significantly speeding up and reducing the cost of international transactions. Such steps taken by traditional financial institutions signal increasing institutional demand for cryptocurrencies and acknowledge them as a legitimate asset class.
• Corporate Treasuries and Venture Capital: Institutional acceptance of crypto assets is also evident in the corporate sector. An increasing number of S&P 500 companies are including Bitcoin in their treasury reserves or investing in blockchain startups. Noteworthy enthusiast Michael Saylor continued to build up BTC reserves on the balance sheet of his company, MicroStrategy (which has transformed into a holding company), although he warned after the autumn volatility about the possibility of another "crypto winter". Venture investments in the sector have also revived: large funds (Andreessen Horowitz, Binance Labs, etc.) announced the launch of new investment products targeting Web3 projects, decentralised finance, and blockchain + AI. The influx of institutional and venture capital in 2025 supported the market during downturns and provided funding for the development of infrastructure solutions.
• The Role of Sovereign Funds and Governments: An important trend has been the increasing participation of governmental structures in the crypto market. Sovereign wealth funds from Middle Eastern and Asian countries have made high-profile investments, ranging from acquiring stakes in global cryptocurrency exchanges to directly purchasing top cryptocurrencies for their portfolios. Some central banks – for instance, El Salvador, where Bitcoin has official legal tender status – have increased their cryptocurrency reserves amid dollar depreciation. In the US, regulators have finally legalised the ability for banks to serve clients wishing to invest in digital assets, facilitating access for pension and investment funds to cryptocurrencies through familiar financial intermediaries. These shifts indicate that institutional and even state actors have firmly entered the crypto market ecosystem, enhancing its liquidity and resilience.

Major Hacks and Scams

• Record-High Hacker Attacks: Despite the overall maturity of the industry, 2025 has become one of the most problematic years concerning the volume of assets stolen through hacks. In the first six months, criminals stole cryptocurrencies worth over $2 billion, and by year-end this figure approached historical lows. The most notable incident was the February attack on one of the leading exchanges, Bybit, where hackers withdrew around $1.5 billion in digital assets — an unprecedented amount for a single hack. Experts estimate that North Korean hacking groups, which became more active in 2025, are collectively responsible for approximately $2 billion of stolen funds. The stolen assets were subsequently laundered through complex transaction chains, mixers, and decentralised exchanges, complicating tracking efforts.
• Vulnerabilities in DeFi Protocols: Decentralised financial platforms also regularly became targets. Mid-year saw a wave of attacks on DeFi applications: for example, an exploit vulnerability on the popular decentralised exchange GMX resulted in losses of about $40 million, while an insider scheme at the Indian centralised exchange CoinDCX led to approximately $44 million being withdrawn. In total, the five largest hacks on DeFi platforms during July inflicted losses of over $130 million on users. These incidents highlight the persistent risks associated with smart contracts: coding errors, insufficient security audits, and sophisticated attack methods can lead to immediate loss of funds, requiring DeFi users to exercise heightened vigilance.
• Frauds and Legal Consequences: Law enforcement agencies worldwide intensified efforts to combat organisers of large crypto scams from previous years in 2025. In New York, the trial against Do Kwon, co-founder of the failed stablecoin project Terra/Luna, is nearing its conclusion: prosecutors demand over 10 years in prison for misleading investors by billions of dollars. Recall that the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in 2022 triggered a chain reaction of bankruptcies (including the notable collapse of the FTX exchange) and was one of the most instructive events for the industry. Additionally, international investigations into the activities of the creators of the OneCoin pyramid and several dubious DeFi projects suspected of defrauding investors continue. Regulators and police have markedly intensified the fight against fraudsters this year: dozens of arrests have been made worldwide, crypto assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been seized, and the first real sentences have been delivered to executives of bankrupt crypto companies. All this illustrates that the era of unchecked schemes is coming to an end. However, users should remain vigilant — schemes promising quick wealth, one-off projects (rug pulls), and phishing attacks continue to emerge, particularly around new tokens and NFT collections.

Conclusions and Outlook

As 2025 draws to a close, the cryptocurrency market presents a mixed picture. On one hand, the industry has achieved impressive successes: new price records were set in the first half of the year, digital assets became more deeply integrated into traditional finance (through the launch of ETFs and banking services), and technological progress has enhanced the reliability and scalability of blockchains. On the other hand, high volatility and a series of shocks (both external and internal) have reminded investors of the inherent risks of this asset class. In the near term, much will depend on the macroeconomic environment: further easing of monetary policy by major central banks could stimulate demand for risk assets; however, ongoing uncertainty in the global economy (including the potential formation of a “bubble” in the market for high-tech company stocks) will continue to influence sentiments in crypto as well.

Nevertheless, the underlying trends indicate further maturity and growth of the crypto industry. Increasing institutional participation brings greater liquidity and resilience to the market, while expanding regulatory clarity in key regions lowers barriers for new major players. Technological innovations are broadening use cases for cryptocurrencies — from payment services and decentralised finance to gaming platforms and metaverse projects. Investors are advised to maintain a balanced approach: diversify portfolios within major cryptocurrencies, stay informed on regulatory news and the adoption of crypto tools by major companies, and above all, not overlook cybersecurity principles when working with digital assets. As we enter 2026, the crypto market remains a dynamic and global phenomenon, capable of both surprising with rapid growth and testing resilience with unexpected challenges. It is under these circumstances that new opportunities are formed for those investors who are ready to think strategically and for the long term.