Core Viewpoint - OBOOK Holdings Inc. has entered the execution phase of a share repurchase program of up to $10 million, reflecting confidence in the company's fundamentals and long-term strategy [1][5]. Group 1: Share Repurchase Program - The company may repurchase shares of its Class A common stock based on market conditions and Board of Directors' authorization [2]. - The repurchase program is part of the company's capital allocation strategy announced on November 26, 2025, aimed at optimizing capital structure and enhancing long-term shareholder value [2]. - Repurchases will comply with securities laws and will be conducted under the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18 [3]. Group 2: Trading Plan and Execution - The company plans to implement a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to enhance the consistency and predictability of the repurchase process [4]. - The timing and details of the trading plan will be announced after completing relevant procedures [4]. Group 3: Management Statements - The CEO emphasized the company's strong fundamentals and commitment to balancing growth with capital efficiency [5]. - The CFO noted that the repurchase program demonstrates the company's ability to invest in future growth while optimizing capital structure [5]. Group 4: Company Overview - OBOOK Holdings Inc. operates as the OwlTing Group, focusing on blockchain technology with a diversified ecosystem across payments, hospitality, and e-commerce [6]. - The company is headquartered in Taiwan and has subsidiaries in multiple countries, ranking among the top 2 global players in the "Enterprise & B2B" category according to CB Insights [6].

Core Viewpoint - The article identifies three cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Bittensor—as the best investment opportunities for 2026, emphasizing their potential for significant upside while providing downside protection. Group 1: Bitcoin - Bitcoin remains the market leader, accounting for 60% of the total crypto market value, making it a bellwether for the industry [3][4]. - The current price of Bitcoin is $87,831, with a market cap of $1.8 trillion and a trading volume of $16 billion [4][5]. - Institutional adoption of Bitcoin is increasing, with corporations adding it to their balance sheets and the U.S. government establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve [5][6]. - The potential for government intervention to support Bitcoin prices could lead to a significant increase in value if sovereign nations follow suit [6]. Group 2: Ethereum - Ethereum is highlighted for its diversified blockchain ecosystem, particularly its dominance in decentralized finance (DeFi) [7][8]. - The current price of Ethereum is $2,948.16, with a market cap of $356 billion and a trading volume of $9 billion [9]. - Two major trends that could benefit Ethereum in 2026 are the growth of stablecoins and the tokenization of real-world assets, positioning it as a key player in these emerging markets [10][11]. Group 3: Bittensor - Bittensor is noted as the highest market cap AI coin in 2025, representing an intersection of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence [12]. - Bittensor has a maximum supply of 21 million coins, similar to Bitcoin, which supports the scarcity argument for investment [14]. - Despite a 50% decline in 2025, Bittensor's unique features make it a speculative but potentially rewarding investment [12][14].

Core Viewpoint - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. is collaborating with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to implement Proof of Human technologies, including World ID, across Japan, aiming to enhance trust in digital interactions and create new revenue streams for the company [2][3][4]. Group 1: Collaboration Details - MEDIROM has signed a Master Service Agreement with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to manage Proof of Human verification locations in Japan, leveraging its network of approximately 300 physical locations [3][5]. - A dedicated task force, the "MEDIROM World Proof of Human Task Force," will be established to facilitate the nationwide rollout of this technology [3][5]. Group 2: Background and Purpose - The collaboration addresses the challenge of distinguishing between humans and AI online, which has become increasingly difficult due to advancements in generative AI [4]. - The World project aims to provide a blockchain-based mechanism for individuals to prove their humanity without revealing their identity, thereby fostering trust in digital environments [4][5]. Group 3: Key Initiatives - MEDIROM plans to expand its reach by establishing flagship locations and pop-up stores for Proof of Human verification services, enhancing accessibility for users [7][9]. - The company will utilize advanced camera technology, known as Orbs, to verify humanness at approximately 300 Re.Ra.Ku Group locations [9]. Group 4: Leadership Comments - Koji Eguchi, President and CEO of MEDIROM, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of establishing a social infrastructure for proving one's humanity in the digital age [6]. - Tomoe Makino, General Manager of Tools for Humanity Japan, highlighted Japan's leadership in adopting technology and the potential of Proof of Human as essential digital infrastructure [11].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the transaction process and fee mechanisms in blockchain wallets for new users, highlighting common issues such as transfer delays and high fees [1][6]. Transaction Process - The transaction process in blockchain wallets consists of four main steps: signing, broadcasting, confirmation, and recording, ensuring security and trust through the blockchain network [3]. - The first step involves initiating a transaction where the user inputs the recipient's address and amount, followed by signing the transaction with a private key to create a unique digital signature [3]. - The second step is broadcasting the signed transaction to the blockchain network, where nodes verify the signature and temporarily store the transaction in a "transaction pool" [3]. - The third step involves miners or validators selecting transactions from the pool to package into a new block, with the transaction being recorded on the blockchain once confirmed [3]. - The final step is the transaction completion, where the recipient's wallet reflects the received amount, and users can track transaction details via a unique transaction hash [4]. Transaction Fees - Transaction fees, also known as Gas fees, are payments made to miners or validators to incentivize them to process transactions and maintain network operations [4]. - The fee calculation varies by blockchain, with Ethereum using a model of "base fee + variable fee," where the fee is determined by Gas price and limit [4]. - Factors influencing fee levels include network congestion, where higher fees may be required during peak times, and transaction complexity, with more complex operations incurring higher fees [5]. Tips for New Users - New users can optimize their transaction experience by setting reasonable fees, choosing appropriate times to transact, and carefully verifying transaction details to avoid errors [5]. - Users are advised to select fee options based on urgency and to avoid peak congestion periods to minimize costs and enhance transaction speed [5]. Future Outlook - The article suggests that advancements in technologies such as Layer 2 scaling solutions and zero-knowledge proofs may lead to reduced transaction fees and improved transfer speeds in the future [6].

Core Insights - The multilateral central bank digital currency bridge project is being advanced by eight departments, accelerating the application of blockchain technology in cross-border finance [1] - Blockchain's distributed architecture is reshaping the cross-border payment landscape, with transaction processing times reduced to 6-9 seconds, achieving over a thousand times efficiency improvement compared to traditional methods [1] - As of December 25, 2025, China has registered 74,600 blockchain-related enterprises, surpassing the total for 2023 and marking a record high in the past five years [4][7] Registration Data - The number of registered blockchain-related enterprises in China has been increasing annually since 2020, reaching a peak of 63,200 in 2023 [4] - In the first eleven months of 2025, 68,000 new enterprises were registered, representing a 36.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [4] Regional Distribution - Among the newly registered 74,600 blockchain-related enterprises in 2025, over 30% are from South China, accounting for 32.5%, followed by East China at 27.0%, while the Northwest region has the least representation at 3.9% [7] Enterprise Stock - The stock of blockchain-related enterprises in China has been steadily increasing over the past decade, with a significant acceleration in growth starting in 2019, surpassing 200,000 for the first time in 2023, reaching 207,600 [11] - As of December 25, 2025, there are currently 289,400 blockchain-related enterprises in China [11]

Core Insights - The efficiency and low-cost nature of blockchain technology are expected to drive massive adoption and utility for companies and end users over the long term [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - The surging adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) projects is anticipated to lead to significant growth in the sector [3] - Identifying crypto projects with real-world use cases is viewed as a strategy for delivering above-average returns for investors [3] Group 2: Company Analysis - Hyperliquid - Hyperliquid is positioned as a leader in decentralized perpetual futures trading, offering sub-second finality and a capacity of 200,000 transactions per second [4][7] - The project has rapidly ascended to the top-25 in crypto market cap rankings, addressing key pain points such as high costs and slow settlements [5] - Hyperliquid has successfully channeled around 99% of its revenue from trading fees back into token buybacks, which is expected to enhance its tokenomics and drive price appreciation [5] - The business model of Hyperliquid is considered one of the best in the crypto space, with millions in daily trading volume and minimal staffing [6]

Core Viewpoint - Greenridge Capital has initiated coverage on Cango Inc. with a buy rating and a target price of US$4.00, indicating that the company is undervalued in the market due to its leading position in Bitcoin mining and asset-light model for high-performance computing [1] Group 1: Financial Position and Valuation - Cango is trading below the value of its assets, which include over US$600 million in Bitcoin held under a strict HODL strategy, a 50 EH/s globally distributed mining portfolio, and a 50MW data center in Georgia [1] - Greenridge Capital's US$4.00 price target is based on a blended valuation approach using an EV/Adjusted EBITDA multiple of 7x applied to a 2026 adjusted EBITDA estimate of US$335.4 million, and a P/E multiple of 15x applied to a 2026 diluted EPS estimate of US$0.34 [3] - The valuation does not yet account for Cango's developing energy infrastructure projects, which could unlock significant future value [3] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Cango's strategy to diversify revenue includes securing control over its own power supply, which is crucial for future AI data center or Bitcoin mining operations [2] - The "Energy + HPC" plan targets expansion into flexible energy and data infrastructure projects with higher margin opportunities, supported by pilot projects in Oman and Indonesia [2] Group 3: Company Overview - Cango Inc. is primarily engaged in Bitcoin mining, with operations across North America, the Middle East, South America, and East Africa, and also operates an online international used car export business [4]

Today, Bitcoin falls following the release of new economic data that came in well above expectations. The digital asset community reacts to key crypto ally Senator Cynthia Lumis announcing her retirement. And former CFTC acting chair Caroline Fam discusses what she hopes to achieve in her new roles at Moon.Welcome to CNBC's Crypto World. I'm Talia Kaplan. Major cryptocurrencies in the red despite the release of new economic data that came in well above expectations.As of noon Eastern, Bitcoin slid to the $8 ...

Market Trends & Volatility - Bitcoin experienced significant volatility throughout 2025, with highs of $125,000 per coin but currently trading well below $90,000, showing signs of stability entering the year's final days [2] - 30-day volatility for Bitcoin peaked just above 45% in early December [3] - Prediction markets are gaining traction, with companies like FanDuel and Coinbase entering the space [2] Institutional Involvement in Crypto - J P Morgan is considering offering crypto trading to its institutional clients, signaling a potential reversal of previous skepticism [4] - Other financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and PNC are also showing increased interest in crypto offerings for clients [5] - J P Morgan has been actively involved in blockchain technology for about a decade [9] Digital Asset Treasury Companies - Ethzilla, a Peter Thiel-backed firm, sold over $74 million of Ether tokens to pay down debt [10] - Many digital asset treasury companies lack differentiating strategies and face competition, leading to prolonged asset decline [13] - Strive, a Bitcoin treasury company, claims to have outperformed Bitcoin by 34% since announcing its strategy on May 6, with a current outperformance of 123% [20] - Industry consolidation is expected among digital asset treasury companies due to a lack of differentiation [22] Prediction Markets - DraftKings and FanDuel are launching their own prediction markets products [51][52] - Coinbase is acquiring a derivative clearinghouse to become an "everything exchange" [52][53] - Robinhood is expanding its prediction market offerings beyond politics to include sports, world affairs, economics, culture, and weather [48] Blockchain Infrastructure & Stablecoins - Zerohash provides infrastructure for traditional finance companies expanding into crypto, powering major players in brokerage and payment spaces [35] - Zerohash partnered with Morgan Stanley for crypto trading on E-Trade [38] - Stablecoins are expected to become a crucial payment rail, with increased adoption of account movements globally [44][45]

Group 1 - Bitmine has purchased $421 million worth of Ethereum, increasing its holdings to over $12 billion, representing 3.4% of Ethereum's total supply [1] - The purchase occurs amid a significant decline in the digital asset treasury market, with many companies under pressure to demonstrate their viability [3] - Bitmine's share price has decreased by 50% since September, yet the company's CEO remains optimistic about Ethereum's future [3] Group 2 - Over 200 companies have started adding cryptocurrencies to their treasuries, similar to the strategy adopted by some firms in 2020 [3] - Cathie Wood of ARK Invest recently purchased an additional $17 million in Bitmine shares, indicating continued interest from prominent investors [4] - Other companies, such as Eole and ANAP Holdings, have also increased their Bitcoin holdings, reflecting a trend among digital asset trusts (DATs) [5]