Daily Crypto Briefing – December 27, 2025

Holiday trading continues to shape crypto markets as 2025 draws to a close, with security incidents, regulatory developments, and institutional moves dominating the news cycle.

Top Stories

Flow Blockchain Security Incident Triggers 40% Token Drop

The Block reports that Flow blockchain is investigating a security incident that caused FLOW tokens to plunge over 40%. An onchain analyst speculated that a private key compromise may have allowed an attacker to mint millions of FLOW tokens, highlighting ongoing security vulnerabilities in blockchain networks.

Coinbase CEO Announces First India Arrest in Data Breach Case

The Block confirms that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced the first arrest in India related to an insider data breach. This comes one week after a Brooklyn man was indicted on 31 counts for allegedly stealing $16 million from Coinbase customers in a separate scheme.

Emerging Markets to Lead RWA Tokenization in 2026

Cointelegraph reports that developing economies lacking entrenched financial market infrastructure are expected to adopt tokenized real-world assets before developed countries. This shift could reshape global financial markets as emerging economies leapfrog traditional banking systems.

Bitcoin Whales Emerge from Long-Term Dormancy

Decrypt reveals that Bitcoin whales emerged from their slumber in 2025, some after a decade or more of inactivity, moving billions in BTC and cashing in as Bitcoin surged to new highs. This whale activity suggests major shifts in long-term holder behavior.

Security & Compliance

Browser Extension Vulnerabilities Cost $713M in 2025

CryptoSlate investigates how browser extensions exposed crypto users to fatal design flaws, resulting in $713 million in losses throughout 2025. Trust Wallet's Chrome extension shipped a malicious update in December, exfiltrating wallet data and draining roughly $7 million from hundreds of accounts.

JPMorgan Freezes Stablecoin Startup Accounts

Cointelegraph reports that JPMorgan has frozen accounts linked to Y Combinator-backed stablecoin startups BlindPay and Kontigo after flagging exposure to sanctioned jurisdictions. The move highlights ongoing compliance challenges for crypto startups working with traditional banks.

Markets & Trading

Holiday Liquidity Dampens Memecoin Activity

CoinDesk notes that dog memecoins Dogecoin and Shiba Inu showed muted price action amid thin holiday liquidity. The market remains technical, with movements reflecting broader risk sentiment and liquidity conditions.

Bitcoin Struggles Below $90K Resistance

Multiple sources indicate Bitcoin continues to face resistance at the $90,000 level, with Cointelegraph reporting that BTC futures open interest has hit an 8-month low. Despite resilient basis rates and options data suggesting limited downside, Bitcoin awaits a catalyst to reclaim higher levels.

Technology & Development

BNB Smart Chain Prepares Fermi Hard Fork

CoinJournal reports that BNB Smart Chain's Fermi hard fork is scheduled to launch in January 2026. The upgrade will cut block times to 250ms, enabling faster DeFi applications and real-time use cases, while introducing extended voting and partial indexing features.

Ethereum Staking Activity Increases

Cointelegraph confirms that Ethereum treasury firm Bitmine has begun staking Ether after depositing nearly $219 million worth of ETH into Ethereum's proof-of-stake system, indicating growing institutional participation in Ethereum staking.

Regulation & Policy

Coinbase CEO Warns Against GENIUS Act Changes

Cointelegraph reports that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong warned that reopening the GENIUS Act would cross a "red line," accusing banks of lobbying Congress to block stablecoin regulations. The statement highlights ongoing tensions between crypto companies and traditional financial institutions.

Quick Hits

• Crypto IPO Year: Decrypt highlights 2025 as a "bellwether year" for crypto IPOs, with Circle, Bullish, and eToro going public
• Solana Stablecoin Depeg: USX stablecoin plummeted to $0.10 in one of 2025's sharpest depegs before liquidity was restored
• Uniswap Fee Switch: The Uniswap DAO voted to implement the "UNIfication" fee switch proposal, funneling protocol fees to buyback and burn UNI tokens
• XRP ETF Assets: XRP ETF assets reached $1.25 billion despite the token slipping to $1.86
• Mining Equipment: Bitmain is slashing ASIC prices across older and newer models amid weak mining economics

What to Watch

• Flow Investigation Results: Monitor developments in the Flow blockchain security incident and potential recovery measures
• Bitcoin $90K Resistance: Watch for volume and catalyst that could push BTC above the psychological $90,000 level
• Emerging Market RWA Adoption: Track real-world asset tokenization initiatives in developing economies throughout 2026
• Regulatory Clarity: Follow GENIUS Act developments and broader stablecoin regulation discussions in Congress
• Year-End Positioning: Observe institutional and whale movements as 2025 concludes and new year positioning begins