Global online interest in cryptocurrencies has fallen to its lowest levels as we approach the new year, with Google search data signaling a sharp pullback in retail attention as the market heads into 2026.

According to ChainCatcher, recent data reveals that 90% of the top 100 cryptocurrencies have shown negative returns over the past 90 days, indicating a significant market sell-off. Market observers caution that most tokens may never return to their previous highs. Only projects with sustainable revenue models and the ability to create substantial value for holders have the potential for recovery. The data indicates a range of declines, from SKY's -1.34% to TON's -43.61%, reflecting a structural adjustment in the overall market. Investors are advised to be more discerning in selecting projects with long-term value.

According to ChainCatcher, Flow's official account on the X platform has provided an update regarding the recent attack on its network. The network has decided against rolling back or restructuring, opting instead for an 'Isolation Recovery Plan.' Key points of the new strategy include: 1. No rollback or reorganization, preserving all legitimate user activities. 2. No need for partners to replay transactions. 3. Over 99.9% of accounts remain unaffected and will resume normal operations upon restart. 4. Temporary restrictions will be placed on accounts receiving illegally minted tokens during the restart. The network recovery will occur in phases: Phase one involves the launch of the Cadence environment, with temporary limitations on the EVM. Phase two will see Cadence repairs, expected to take approximately 24-48 hours. Phase three includes EVM repairs and a restart. Phase four will restore cross-chain bridges and exchanges, with the exact timing determined by operators after confirming stability.

According to ChainCatcher, Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor recently tweeted 'Back to Orange,' indicating a renewed interest in acquiring Bitcoin. This statement prompted a response from gold advocate and economist Peter Schiff, who questioned the source of Saylor's funding for additional Bitcoin purchases. Schiff speculated whether Saylor would use reserves created from recent stock sales or sell stocks at a discount below net asset value, potentially resulting in a negative Bitcoin yield.

According to PANews, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has announced plans to fully implement new banking capital regulations based on the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's crypto asset standards starting January 1, 2026. The Basel Committee defines crypto assets as private 'digital assets' primarily reliant on cryptography and distributed ledger technology or similar technologies. These 'digital assets' are characterized as digital representations of value that can be used for payment, investment, or acquiring goods or services. The definition encompasses not only cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum but also real-world assets (RWA) and stablecoins.

Following the global crypto sector's securing over $25 billion in venture capital funding in 2025, many investors believe 2026 will be a pivotal year for the industry, marking a shift from "narrative-driven" to "mature implementation." Several VCs from Coinbase Ventures, Galaxy Ventures, CV Labs, OKX Ventures, and Morningstar Ventures indicate that future investment will focus more on real demand, regulatory compatibility, and long-term infrastructure. Hoolie Tejwani, head of Coinbase Ventures, stated that perpetual contracts have evolved from simple price speculation tools into synthetic market vehicles for building real-world assets and macroeconomic signals. Coupled with clearer regulations, 2026 will be "more like a period of maturity than hype." Mike Giampapa, partner at Galaxy Ventures, believes that stablecoins and tokenized assets will continue to be the main drivers of long-term structural growth, with institutions replacing traditional financial tracks with blockchain. Francesca Conti of CV Labs points out that clear regulation is releasing institutional demand, and the penetration of blockchain in emerging markets and real-world industries still has room for expansion. Jeff Ren, founder of OKX Ventures, emphasized that capital will flow to projects deeply compatible with traditional finance, regulatory systems, and stablecoin payments, rather than short-term narratives. Petr Martynov, head of growth at Morningstar Ventures, added that opportunities in 2026 lie more in the application layer, especially in seamless DeFi consumer products and the role of blockchain in verification and settlement within AI and automation systems. Overall, many VCs agree that crypto investment in 2026 will be characterized by "less hype and more patience," shifting the focus from infrastructure races to sustainable applications, institutional collaboration, and real-world economic scenarios. (DL News)

Ethereum price started a decent upward move above $2,900. ETH is now showing positive signs and might eye more gains above $3,000. Ethereum started a recovery wave above the $2,920 zone. The price is trading above $2,950 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average source: https://www.newsbtc.com/analysis/eth/ethereum-price-targets-3k/

The Atlas memecoin, themed around US Vice President JD Vance’s pet dog, has nearly half of its supply controlled by 68 wallets showing signs of coordinated buying and potential insider activity. The token was heavily promoted by the influencer Whale Insider, raising concerns that retail investors could be at risk from price manipulation.

According to Odaily, UK Finance has recently reviewed the progress of the UK's crypto regulation for 2025 and outlined key policy directions for 2026. Over the past year, discussions in the UK have focused on stablecoins, crypto asset trading platforms (CATPs), and market manipulation prevention. The regulatory focus is shifting from 'unbacked crypto assets' to stablecoins supported by real-world assets. UK Finance notes that regulators are increasingly viewing stablecoins as tools with payment and monetary attributes rather than purely investment-type crypto assets. This classification will directly impact redemption timelines, KYC requirements, and compliance costs for issuers. They also caution that if the regulatory burden on pound sterling stablecoins is higher than that on non-pound sterling stablecoins issued overseas, it could lead to issuers relocating, weakening the UK's control over stablecoins and monetary policy. Furthermore, UK Finance highlights that the core challenge for 2026 will be balancing innovation encouragement, consumer protection, and financial system resilience. This includes systemic stablecoin redemption rules, multi-currency and multi-issuer structure designs, and the integration of stablecoins with traditional payment systems. As the UK's Financial Conduct Authority launches a regulatory sandbox for non-systemic stablecoins, the country is entering the policy implementation phase. Whether the final regulatory framework can balance innovation and competitiveness will determine if London can maintain its status as an international financial center.

Flow officially updated its update on the attack on the X platform, stating that it is abandoning network rollback and shifting to an "isolation recovery plan." Key points of the new plan include: 1. No rollback/reorganization, preserving all legitimate user activity; 2. No need for partner replay transactions; 3. Over 99.9% of accounts are unaffected, and normal operation resumes immediately after restart; 4. During restart, accounts receiving illegally minted tokens will be temporarily restricted. Furthermore, the network will be restored in phases: Phase 1, Cadence environment goes live, EVM is temporarily restricted; Phase 2, Cadence is repaired (approximately 24-48 hours); Phase 3, EVM is repaired and restarted; Phase 4, cross-chain bridges/exchanges resume operation. The specific recovery time will be determined by the operators after confirming stability based on the actual situation.

A recent report by UK financial institutions outlined the progress of UK crypto regulation in 2025 and provided a key policy outlook for 2026. UK Finance noted that the past year has seen intensive discussions in the UK regarding stablecoins, crypto asset trading platforms (CATPs), and the prevention of market manipulation. The regulatory focus is gradually shifting from "unanchored crypto assets" to stablecoins backed by real-world assets. UK Finance stated that regulators are increasingly viewing stablecoins as tools with payment and monetary attributes, rather than simply investment-type crypto assets. This classification will directly impact redemption timelines, KYC requirements, and issuer compliance costs. It also cautioned that if the regulatory burden on sterling stablecoins is higher than that on non-sterling stablecoins issued overseas, it could induce issuers to relocate, weakening the UK's control over stablecoins and monetary policy. Furthermore, UK Finance pointed out that the core challenge in 2026 lies in striking a balance between encouraging innovation, protecting consumers, and maintaining the resilience of the financial system. This includes systemic stablecoin redemption rules, multi-currency and multi-issuance structure design, and the integration of stablecoins with traditional payment methods in payment scenarios. With the UK Financial Conduct Authority launching a regulatory sandbox for non-systemic stablecoins, the UK is entering the policy implementation phase. Whether the final regulatory framework can balance innovation and competitiveness will determine whether London can maintain its status as an international financial center. (Crowdfund Insider)

Venture capital in crypto sees record investments amid clearer regulations and AI advancements, reshaping market landscapes in 2025. source: https://coincu.com/news/crypto-vc-funding-regulatory-ai/

Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot on X, has been praised by Vitalik Buterin for giving unpredictable responses that challenge users’ political biases and promote more truthful interactions.

A massive hack has struck Trust Wallet, one of the most widely used crypto wallets, resulting in estimated losses exceeding $6 million.

Italy’s competition authority has ordered Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp while investigating possible abuse of its dominant position. Meta plans to appeal, saying the policy protects its systems, but regulators worry it could limit competition and innovation in the AI market.

Nvidia has announced a $20 billion acquisition of Groq’s core assets, a landmark move that strengthens its already commanding position in the artificial intelligence chip market and reshapes the competitive landscape for AI infrastructure.

Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, began serving a five-year federal prison sentence and shared a personal account of his first days, describing the intake process and adjusting to prison life just before Christmas.

The Philippines has escalated its crackdown on unlicensed cryptocurrency platforms, with internet service providers beginning to block access to major global exchanges, signaling a decisive shift toward stricter enforcement of local crypto regulations.

Pudgy Penguins projected its animated characters on the Las Vegas Sphere for a week-long holiday campaign, promoting its physical products rather than NFTs. The display helped the crypto-born brand reach mainstream audiences, supporting merchandise sales and boosting recognition despite a struggling NFT market.

Kraken has officially launched the Krak Card, a Mastercard crypto debit card for residents living in the EU countries and the United Kingdom. The Krak card would allow users to spend more than 400 cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies seamlessly.