Potential rate hikes by the Bank of Japan threaten global liquidity by unwinding the yen carry trade. When Japanese borrowing costs rise, institutions often reduce risk exposure worldwide. That can pressure crypto markets alongside equities and credit—adding another headwind in early 2026.

Yes—but with trade-offs. A cooling labor market gives the Fed room to cut interest rates, which can lift asset prices through liquidity. For crypto, that means rallies may occur even as retail demand weakens, but they’re more sensitive to macro shocks and policy shifts.

Altcoins depend heavily on retail investors chasing higher returns. When households tighten spending, capital exits smaller tokens first. Bitcoin, by contrast, benefits from institutional demand, ETFs, and deeper liquidity, giving it stronger downside protection during economic slowdowns.

Not necessarily. Lower income growth creates a demand slowdown, not a structural collapse. Prices can still rise if liquidity improves, such as through interest rate cuts. However, rallies driven by liquidity tend to be more fragile than those driven by strong retail participation.

US Job Growth Over the Years. Source: X/Jed Kolko

US labor data signals how much disposable income households have. When job growth slows and wages weaken, people have less surplus cash to invest. Since retail investors often fund crypto purchases with discretionary income, softer labor data can reduce demand—especially for volatile assets.

While crypto leaders disagree on when quantum computers will threaten blockchains, Solana isn’t waiting. By deploying post-quantum cryptography on testnet, the network is taking proactive steps as some experts warn risks could emerge sooner than expected. The move signals a broader industry shift toward future-proof blockchain security.

Solana is joining Ethereum and Cardano in addressing potential quantum computing risks. After consulting with Project Eleven, the foundation tested an end-to-end quantum-resistant signature system, covering validators, wallets, and core infrastructure. Solana executives say the goal is long-term resilience, ensuring the network remains secure decades into the future.

The Solana Foundation has launched post-quantum digital signatures on a Solana testnet, marking a major step toward quantum-resistant blockchain security. The move follows a risk assessment by cryptography firm Project Eleven and shows that quantum-safe transactions are already viable using today’s technology—even before quantum computers become a real-world threat.

Lightning Labs has rolled out Taproot Assets v0.7, introducing reusable addresses, auditable asset supply, and support for larger transactions. The upgrade strengthens Bitcoin’s potential as a multi-asset network, allowing stablecoins to move instantly and cheaply on Lightning—while retaining Bitcoin’s security and transparency.

Large crypto exchanges are driving the Lightning Network’s latest capacity surge. According to Amboss, platforms like Binance and OKX have been adding significant amounts of Bitcoin to Lightning channels this month. The increase suggests deeper institutional adoption, even if overall user activity hasn’t risen at the same pace.

Bitcoin’s Lightning Network has reached a new all-time high, with capacity surpassing 5,600 BTC, valued at roughly $490 million. The milestone follows a strong rebound in November and December after a year of declines, signaling renewed confidence in faster, low-fee Bitcoin transactions—even as node and channel counts remain below 2022 peaks.

Even though Solana ETFs are regulated, they still carry crypto market risk:
• Solana’s price can be volatile
• ETF performance may not perfectly match the token’s price
• Fees may apply
Investors should understand both crypto and ETF risks before investing.

Solana ETFs may be appealing because they offer:
• Regulated exposure to SOL
• Ease of trading via stock markets
• No need for self-custody or wallet management
This makes Solana exposure more accessible to institutional and traditional investors.

A Solana ETF holds SOL tokens or derivative instruments tied to SOL and tracks their price performance.
When you buy ETF shares, you’re essentially buying a piece of a portfolio that reflects Solana’s market value, but traded through traditional brokerage accounts.

A Solana ETF is an exchange-traded fund that lets investors gain exposure to Solana’s SOL token through a regulated financial product.
Instead of buying SOL directly on a crypto exchange, you buy ETF shares on a stock exchange — similar to how Bitcoin or gold ETFs work.

In late 2025, Bitcoin began diverging from tech stocks, falling back toward the $90,000 level while equities pushed higher. Analysts are now split on what comes next.

Some expect BTC to rally once the Federal Reserve resumes rate cuts and liquidity returns, while others warn of a deeper pullback toward $76,000. For now, whale-driven options activity may keep Bitcoin range-bound until a stronger macro catalyst emerges.

Bitcoin’s price is increasingly being influenced by the derivatives market rather than direct spot buying. Park’s analysis suggests that sustained call selling by whales is steering price movements, overwhelming inflows from traditional ETF investors.

As long as large holders continue extracting yield through options, Bitcoin may struggle to break out — even with strong long-term fundamentals and rising adoption.

The volatility skews of BlackRock’s IBIT ETF versus native Bitcoin options, like those found on crypto derivatives exchange Deribit. Source: Jeff Park

Covered calls may sound harmless, but at scale they matter. Jeff Park explains that when OG Bitcoin holders sell calls against coins they’ve held for years, they become “net sellers of delta,” tilting market momentum downward.

Market makers on the other side of these trades hedge by offloading spot BTC, which dampens price rallies. The result: choppy price action despite growing institutional interest through spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Long-term Bitcoin whales are increasingly selling covered calls — an options strategy that generates premium income but adds sell-side pressure to the market. According to analyst Jeff Park, this behavior is suppressing Bitcoin’s spot price even as ETF demand remains strong.

When whales sell covered calls, market makers hedge by selling spot BTC, pushing prices lower. Because the Bitcoin used in these strategies is long-held inventory, it doesn’t introduce new demand — only fresh downside pressure.

A leaked list circulating online claims to reveal Epic Games Store’s upcoming free mystery games — and if true, the lineup would be massive. The list includes titles like Jurassic World Evolution 2, Terraria, Detroit: Become Human, Mortal Kombat 11, and even Red Dead Redemption 2 as the final giveaway of the year.

While Epic has not confirmed any future titles, fans are skeptical. Several games on the list aren’t currently available on the Epic Games Store, and the absence of any January 2026 freebies raises red flags. Still, past mystery game lineups have leaked early before. All eyes are now on December 18 — if Jurassic World Evolution 2 appears next, the leak may suddenly look a lot more credible.