Core Insights - The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a quieter Christmas compared to previous years, with Bitcoin (BTC) fluctuating between $85,000 and $90,000, and Ethereum (ETH) showing a decline from its previous highs [2][3] - A survey conducted over a month gathered insights from various participants in the crypto community, focusing on their investment experiences and reflections on the past year [3][4] Group 1: Survey Demographics - Over 60% of survey respondents have been in the crypto space for more than three years, indicating a predominance of experienced investors [5] - Newer investors, defined as those with less than three years of experience, make up approximately 38% of the respondents, suggesting a decline in new market entrants [6] Group 2: Investment Performance - More than 57% of respondents reported making a profit, with 17.2% achieving over 50% gains and 39.7% seeing gains between 0-50% [8] - Approximately 27% of participants experienced losses, with 12.1% facing significant losses of over 50% [8] Group 3: Profitability by Sector - Meme coins remain a popular and profitable investment, with about 34% of respondents indicating they earned profits primarily from this sector [10] - Mainstream cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, BNB, and SOL accounted for profits for around 26% of investors, reflecting their performance during the year [10] - DeFi projects attracted about 16% of respondents as a source of profit, while 12% reported earnings from airdrop interactions [10] Group 4: Losses by Sector - Approximately 28% of investors reported significant losses in meme coins and altcoins, highlighting their high-risk nature [14][15] - Contract trading resulted in losses for about 26% of participants, which is lower than expected given the volatility of the market [14] - NFT and GameFi projects were also significant sources of losses, with around 22% of respondents indicating they suffered due to these investments [14] Group 5: Reflections on Losses - About one-third of respondents attributed their losses to not cutting losses in time, a common issue among crypto investors [16] - Over 45% of participants cited slow reactions, conservative trading, or following market trends as reasons for their losses [16] Group 6: Future Outlook - The most promising sectors for 2026 include Real World Assets (RWA), AI, and meme coins, with RWA being mentioned by 31% of respondents [22][23] - Many participants advocate for a dollar-cost averaging strategy, particularly in BTC, as a sound investment approach [24]

Core Viewpoint - Figure, a blockchain lending platform, successfully went public on Nasdaq, closing its first day up 24.44% at $31.11, indicating strong market interest in crypto IPOs [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Figure's IPO raised $787.5 million, with a market valuation of approximately $6.6 billion, surpassing its previous valuation of $3.2 billion from a 2021 funding round [1] - The company was founded in 2018 by Mike Cagney and utilizes blockchain technology to streamline loan processes, including home equity loans [1][2] - Figure has issued over $16 billion in loans through blockchain channels [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - For the six months ending June 30, the company reported a net profit of $29.1 million and revenue of $190.6 million, compared to a net loss of $15.6 million and revenue of $156 million in the same period the previous year [2] Group 3: Market Context - This week is noted as one of the busiest for IPOs in the U.S. this year, with Gemini Space Station, a cryptocurrency exchange, also set to go public [1] - Figure's IPO attracted over 25 times the subscription volume, indicating strong investor interest [2]