Crypto winter looms in 2026, but Cantor sees institutional growth and onchain shifts

Strategy has once again increased its holdings of Bitcoin, purchasing 1229 BTC at a total cost of $109 million. （CoinDesk）

[South Korean CEX Employee Sentenced to 4 Years for Accepting Bitcoin Bribes to Turn Military Officer] On December 30, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that an employee of a cryptocurrency exchange platform was sentenced to four years in prison for accepting approximately $487,000 worth of Bitcoin from North Korean hackers to turn a South Korean military officer into selling military secrets. The individual is also banned from engaging in financial-related industries for four years. The involved Army captain received approximately $33,500 worth of Bitcoin and has already been sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $35,000 for violating the Military Secrets Protection Act. The case revealed that the individuals involved contacted the officer via Telegram and provided concealed cameras disguised as watches and USB devices in an attempt to steal login information for the Korea-U.S. Joint Command and Control System.

[Lighter Withdraws 32.05 Million USDC to Treasury Address, Partial Funds Flow to LLP] On December 30, Lighter withdrew 32.05 million USDC from the platform to the treasury address, of which approximately $7.5 million entered LLP and around $8.6 million was redeposited back into Lighter since October 16. The remaining approximately $21.9 million USDC was transferred to a Coinbase custody address. Currently, the platform's fee wallet still holds about $100,000. Lighter disclosed that the treasury address is hardcoded into the contract as account 0, responsible for receiving platform fees, and can be replaced through contract mechanisms.

[Gold Prices Retreat from Highs to $4,300, Market Expects Fed to Ease Policy Next Year] After reaching a historic high last weekend, gold prices plummeted on Monday, with international spot gold prices briefly retreating to around $4,300 per ounce. Analysts pointed out that thin liquidity ahead of the year-end holidays intensified profit-taking, while a moderate rebound in the U.S. dollar also pressured gold prices. Despite the short-term correction, the market still expects the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy next year. Concerns over U.S. political developments and central bank independence continue to sustain an environment of uncertainty for safe-haven assets.

[BUIDL under BlackRock reaches $100 million in cumulative dividends] Securitize posted on Platform X stating that BUIDL under BlackRock has become the first tokenized treasury project to pay $100 million in cumulative dividends.