This is a weekly overview of key events in the crypto sphere for December 22–28, 2025: minor changes in major coin prices and several important updates from banks, exchanges, and investment funds. Bitcoin rose 0.09%, trading near $89,445, while Ether dropped 0.64%. Highlights include the first crypto-backed loan from Sberbank, the Bank of Russia's proposal for regulating cryptocurrency trading, and notable news from platforms and funds.
Cryptocurrency Price Changes
Over the week, most leading coins showed slight fluctuations, while some altcoins experienced significant volatility. Below are the main weekly price movements.
- Bitcoin (BTC) increased by 0.09%, trading near $89,445; see also Bitcoin price.
- Ether (ETH) decreased by 0.64%.
- BNB fell 0.64%, and XRP declined 1.15%.
- Canton (CC) surged 40.93% over the week.
- Mantle (MNT) lost 11.11% in the last seven days.
Updates from Sberbank and the Bank of Russia
Sberbank issued Russia's first crypto-backed loan, financing miner Intelion Data secured by mined bitcoins. This marks an example of applying traditional banking products to crypto asset operations; details of the deal can be found in the article about crypto-backed loans.
The Bank of Russia introduced a framework approach to legalize and regulate cryptocurrency trading for individuals and institutions. The document simultaneously softened rhetoric regarding trading, emphasized existing investment risks, and prohibited the use of digital currencies and stablecoins for domestic payments.
Incidents and Updates on Cryptocurrency Platforms
On the Flow layer, an attacker exploited a vulnerability in the execution layer and withdrew about $3.9 million outside the network before validators were halted; user balances were unaffected, the blockchain was paused and rolled back. This incident highlights risks related to infrastructure vulnerabilities in networks.
Platforms also announced important products and changes: Kraken is preparing to launch prediction markets, Uniswap approved the Unification proposal with 125,342,017 votes "for" versus 742 "against," and Bybit introduced two specialized insurance fund pools for USDT perpetual contracts. These steps concern both new products and risk management mechanisms on exchanges.
Investments and Regulatory Actions
Investment activity and regulatory initiatives continued to impact the market: HashKey Capital closed the first round of its Fund IV, raising $250 million in the initial phase, while the SEC charged three trading platforms and four investment clubs in an online scam causing over $14 million in losses. These events reflect both capital inflows and increased oversight.
Coinbase expanded network support by adding Base as a network for SOL deposits and withdrawals via the Base-Solana bridge and agreed to acquire The Clearing Company, operating in the prediction markets segment. Additionally, Kalshi launched Kalshi Research, providing experts access to platform data, and JPMorgan is exploring the possibility of launching crypto trading for institutional clients.
Why This Matters
For a farm owner or multiple ASIC operators, price stability and service availability are paramount: although Bitcoin showed minimal weekly change, announcements from banks and regulators may alter ways of handling and storing assets. The emergence of banking products backed by crypto assets and regulatory framework proposals signal that interaction with the traditional financial system is gradually expanding.
The Flow network incident and platform updates demonstrate that technological and operational risks persist, while exchanges and funds simultaneously develop new products and risk management tools. This means that when operating with wallets, bridges, and exchanges, caution is advised and platform notifications should be monitored.
What to Do?
- Check storage: keep backup keys in a secure place and use cold wallets for significant Bitcoin or Ether holdings.
- Follow platform updates: before transferring via bridges or during listings, review exchange releases and security news.
- Evaluate financial products: if considering crypto-backed loans, study terms and restrictions, including specifics of Bitcoin collateral.
- Manage trading risks: use position management tools and diversify instruments, especially when participating in new products like prediction markets or portfolio contracts.
For a detailed analysis of individual weekly topics, our news digest offers extended coverage and links to separate materials.