By the end of 2025, the crypto world enters a “stormy mode”: Bitcoin plummets, institutions increase their holdings against the trend, major breakthroughs in US regulation, Asian exchanges successfully go public, and even some countries begin using cryptocurrencies for nationwide income. This series of events has changed market expectations and also laid a huge foundation for the 2026 crypto market.
- Bitcoin falls below 90,000 USD: Market sentiment rapidly shifts to “panic”
In the past two weeks, Bitcoin has been declining to below $90,000, with investor sentiment deteriorating rapidly. Many traders believe the end of the year may continue to be sluggish, but several analysis institutions point out:
- This round of decline is not caused by an industry crisis
- Mainly due to a decline in global macro market risk appetite
- Large funds are still on the sidelines watching for low-price opportunities
Some institutions even predict: 2025 may become the fourth “annual decline” in BTC history.
- Institutions start “quietly buying in” at this time
The market crashes, but institutions are increasing their holdings.
Data shows:
- ARK Invest increased holdings in Coinbase, Circle, and other stocks
- Multiple funds are positioning in Bitcoin spot and related ETFs
- Some mining companies also show signs of being heavily bought
This is a typical “contrarian indicator”:
*Retail investors sell off, institutions buy inMarket panic is a signal for institutions to enter
Historically, before every major bull market, the bottom often coincides with similar actions.
- Breakthrough in US regulation: Crypto companies approved to establish “National Trust Banks”
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in the US announced:
Allowing crypto companies including Ripple, Circle, to obtain preliminary approval to establish “National Trust Banks”.
Significance:
- Crypto companies can enter the “US banking system”
- Able to participate in custody, clearing, compliance, and other key services
- Promoting further legalization and institutionalization of crypto assets
In short: a milestone for the crypto industry to move into the core of traditional finance.
- HashKey successfully goes public in Hong Kong: A new chapter in Asian crypto regulation
Hong Kong officially welcomes its first licensed digital asset exchanges → successfully listed on the capital market.
This means:
- Hong Kong’s Web3 strategy continues to strengthen
- Asian capital markets officially accept the crypto industry
- Signals that more compliant crypto companies can “go public and raise funds”
This event has a profound impact on the Asian market.
- Marshall Islands launches “the world’s first crypto-based universal basic income (UBI)”
The Marshall Islands announced:
Implementing a nationwide basic income (UBI) distributed via blockchain + stablecoins — the world’s first national-level crypto UBI project officially launched
Highlights:
- Transparent and traceable distribution process
- Costs far lower than traditional fiscal disbursements
- Crypto has truly entered the public welfare system for the first time
This could mark the beginning of global “digital welfare.”
- The crypto industry in 2026 will be driven by these three forces
To help readers understand, we have summarized recent events into three key trends:
Trend 1: From “speculative asset” to “institutionalized asset”
US + Hong Kong regulatory breakthroughs → Future crypto companies will be regulated like banks and brokerages.
Trend 2: Institutions continue accumulating at lows, the next bull market is brewing
Every major bull market is signaled by “panic sell-offs + institutional buy-ins” at the bottom.
Trend 3: Expansion of global application scenarios, emergence of country-level implementations
From remittances, payments, to now “nationwide income”—the application boundaries of cryptocurrencies are continuously expanding.
Conclusion: In the storm, a new cycle is being born
The market turbulence at the end of 2025 is not the end, but the beginning of a restructuring cycle:
- Price declines
- Institutions bottom-fishing
- Regulatory breakthroughs
- Innovative applications landing
These factors are jointly brewing a more mature, compliant, and internationalized new crypto cycle.
The next opportunity often quietly emerges during the most chaotic times.
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