The crash wasn’t caused by manipulation or panic. It revealed something more troubling: Bitcoin had already become the very thing it promised to destroy.This wasn’t random. Coinbase serves Wall Street institutions. Binance serves global retail. When the premium goes deeply negative for 21 consecutive days (its worst streak in a year) it means one thing: America’s biggest money was selling into offshore bids.Meanwhile, hedge funds quietly closed their favorite Bitcoin bet, the basis trade that once paid 17% ...

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) just fell to a 52-week low, surpassing the slump that came during the peak of the tariff-induced market sell-off in April 2025. The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ: IBIT), which is the largest Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) by net assets, is also just touched a 52-week low. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Here's what you need to know about b ...

These comments back up the Cantor analyst’s stance, as he names three crypto stocks to buy in today’s market. Let’s give them a closer look and find out just what makes them stand out. And with some assistance from the TipRanks database , we can also gauge general Street sentiment toward these names.El-Assal goes on to lay out where opportunities in the industry are likely to open up: “We believe the primary value accrual in the crypto/blockchain ecosystem is likely to shift away from private projects and d ...

Core Perspective - The CEO of Replit, Amjad Masad, believes that the true promise of capitalism is the potential for anyone with ideas to achieve wealth [1][2]. Vision For Democratized Wealth Creation - Masad emphasizes that capitalism's strength lies in enabling individuals with ideas, determination, and ethical standards to create wealth, asserting that this is the essence of capitalism [2]. Decentralization Over Corporate Control - He contrasts his optimistic view of capitalism with a dystopian scenario where corporations exert excessive control, advocating for decentralized power that allows individuals to engage with the global economy [3]. Real-World Enterprise Validation - Masad cites an example from Replit where an employee developed a routing algorithm for a real estate marketplace, generating tens of millions to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for the business, leading to the employee's promotions and involvement in AI strategy at the board level [4]. Future of Work and AI - He believes that AI agents will automate standardized tasks, enabling workers to become more entrepreneurial and creative, moving away from traditional corporate structures that often isolate individuals [5].

Core Viewpoint - The discussion at the World Economic Forum highlighted the contrasting views on Bitcoin between Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and the Governor of the Bank of France, François Villeroy de Galhau, focusing on the nature of Bitcoin as a decentralized asset versus government-issued currencies [1][5]. Group 1: Bitcoin's Nature and Competition - Armstrong emphasized that Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol with no issuer, making it more independent than central banks [2][3]. - He framed the relationship between Bitcoin and government currencies as healthy competition, allowing individuals to choose which they trust more, thus serving as a check on government overspending [4]. - Armstrong noted Bitcoin's fixed supply and lack of a money printer, comparing its appeal during uncertainty to that of gold [4]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment and Future Plans - Armstrong arrived at Davos to engage with bank leaders and policymakers to promote a U.S. crypto market structure bill, following Coinbase's withdrawal of support from a Senate crypto regulation bill due to concerns over interest payment limitations [6]. - He indicated that the White House has been cooperative, suggesting a revised version of the legislation could be expected within weeks [7]. - Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted the panel's agreement that innovation and regulation can coexist, indicating a collaborative approach to the evolving crypto landscape [5].

Group 1: Bitcoin Market Overview - Bitcoin has experienced significant volatility in the past year, leading to a period of stabilization after a strong multiyear rally [1] - The investment case for Bitcoin is being revisited as it transitions from an alternative asset class to a necessary portfolio allocation alongside traditional assets like stocks and bonds [2] Group 2: Bitcoin ETFs - There are nearly a dozen Bitcoin ETFs available, all primarily investing in spot Bitcoin, with cost being the main differentiator among them [3] - The iShares Bitcoin Trust is the most popular ETF with over $70 billion in assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.25% [4] - The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust is highlighted as a preferable option due to its lowest expense ratio of 0.15% and sufficient liquidity for trading [4] - Although not the most popular, the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust is expected to yield the best long-term returns [6]

Core Insights - Ripple launched a stablecoin called Ripple USD in 2024, which is designed for payments with virtually zero volatility, contrasting with the significant price fluctuations of XRP [1] - XRP ended 2025 in a negative position due to structural issues, as banks can utilize Ripple Payments without needing to use XRP, limiting the token's value growth [2] - XRP had a strong year in 2025, with the U.S. SEC settling its legal battle against Ripple and the approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds, leading to a record high for the token [3] Ripple and XRP Overview - Ripple operates the Ripple Payments network, enabling global banks to conduct instant cross-border transactions, using XRP to standardize transactions and reduce foreign exchange fees [4] - The total cryptocurrency market value was $3.1 trillion at the start of 2026, down 28% from its all-time high, indicating a challenging environment for cryptocurrencies including XRP [5][6] Comparative Analysis of Cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, XRP, and Dogecoin all faced losses in 2025, with Bitcoin holding a market cap of $1.8 trillion, representing over half of the total cryptocurrency market [10] - Bitcoin is viewed as a digital version of gold, with attributes such as decentralization, capped supply, and a secure blockchain system contributing to its perception as a store of value [11][12] - Predictions suggest Bitcoin could appreciate significantly, with estimates of reaching $21 million per coin by 2045, although current usage as a payment mechanism is limited [13][15] Future Outlook - Bitcoin is considered to have the best potential for positive returns in 2026, while XRP and Dogecoin face ongoing structural challenges that may hinder their value [14] - The Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team has identified other stocks as better investment opportunities compared to XRP, indicating a cautious outlook for the token [16][18]

Ethereum is charging into 2026 with a manifesto — not a roadmap. That message comes directly from co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who said that Ethereum is the “rebellion” against “centralised overlords.” “We’re building decentralised applications,” Buterin said on X. “Applications that run without fraud, censorship or third-party interference.” The $365 billion blockchain network aims to be “civilisational infrastructure” that can resist censorship, service intermediaries, and corporate dominance, he said ...

Core Insights - Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, expressed concerns about corporations like Microsoft gaining control over personal computers, suggesting this could lead to a radical shift in public sentiment towards ownership and corporate power [1][2]. Group 1: Corporate Control and Ownership - Buterin highlighted the risk of corporations ending personal computer ownership, which he believes could push individuals towards more extreme political ideologies [2]. - He described his experience with Microsoft's setup process as "dystopian," emphasizing the mandatory internet connection and Microsoft account for Windows 11 setups starting October 2025 [4]. Group 2: Technological Centralization - Buterin reiterated his concerns regarding unchecked technological advancements and centralization, advocating for decentralized ecosystems rather than reliance on a few conglomerates [6]. - He previously criticized OpenAI's plans for superintelligent AI, labeling them as "very risky" and promoting open models on consumer hardware [6]. Group 3: Market Performance - Microsoft shares closed at $487.71, reflecting a 0.06% increase, with a year-to-date gain of 15.71% [7]. - The company's quality ranking stands at 77.04 out of 100, indicating strong performance in that category [7].

Core Insights - User participation and trader engagement on the Tron network have increased, with total accounts reaching a new all-time high of 355.4 million in December 2025, marking a 26.3% growth since the beginning of the year [2][6] - Despite the growth in network adoption, TRX price has declined over 16% this quarter, indicating a divergence between fundamentals and price performance [6][8] - TRON's derivatives trading activity has surged, with perpetual trading volume hitting $1.1 billion on December 23, suggesting increased interest in leveraged trading [3][4] User Engagement and Network Growth - The Tron network has seen a significant increase in user accounts, with over 240,000 new accounts created daily [2] - Active addresses on the network have remained steady despite a broader market slowdown, indicating resilience in user engagement [2] Market Position and Stablecoin Issuance - TRON holds a prominent position in the stablecoin market, accounting for 26% of the total market with a capitalization of $80.842 billion [4] - This strong presence in stablecoin issuance positions TRON as a key player in the global digital dollar movement [4] Price Performance and Technical Analysis - TRX has experienced a 16.2% decline since October, marking its worst fourth-quarter performance since 2017 [6] - Some analysts suggest a potential recovery, noting a confirmed upside breakout from a falling wedge pattern, which is often associated with bullish reversals [8] Decentralization Concerns - There are concerns regarding TRON's decentralization, as reports indicate that Justin Sun controls over 60% of TRX tokens, raising questions about the network's claims of decentralization [9] - Comparisons have been made between TRX's performance and other tokens within Sun's ecosystem, highlighting significant losses in those linked coins [10]