Crypto News Round-Up — December 2025

Welcome to our December 2025 roundup of key cryptocurrency headlines. This month’s highlights include regulatory moves, exchange developments, security incidents, and new investment products. We summarize each story and explain why it matters for the crypto market.

• SGX to List Bitcoin & Ether Perpetual Futures
• U.S. House Passes Stablecoin Oversight Bill
• Major DeFi Protocol Suffers Hack
• Major Retailer to Accept Bitcoin Payments
• Coinbase Secures Crypto License in UK
• SEC Greenlights First Ether Spot ETF
• El Salvador Buys More Bitcoin

SGX to List Bitcoin & Ether Perpetual Futures

Bloomberg reported that Singapore Exchange (SGX) will soon launch perpetual futures contracts for Bitcoin and Ether. These “perps” are derivatives with no expiry date and have become hugely popular among traders. The SGX move gives institutional investors a regulated venue to trade crypto futures, potentially offering a safer alternative to offshore platforms (Bloomberg).

• Institutional access: A regulated exchange product may draw traditional investors seeking crypto exposure under clear rules.
• Market impact: Bringing such derivatives on SGX could add liquidity to Bitcoin and Ether trading in Asia.
• Competition: SGX’s move is a challenge to unregulated venues like Binance, signaling a shift toward compliant infrastructure.

U.S. House Passes Stablecoin Oversight Bill

Reuters reports that U.S. lawmakers have passed a major stablecoin regulatory bill. The legislation requires issuers to hold 100% reserves in safe assets and register with banking regulators. It is aimed at preventing a repeat of failed stablecoin and crypto bank runs seen in recent years, and gives federal authorities oversight of the industry (Reuters).

• Investor confidence: Stricter rules could restore trust in stablecoins by ensuring they are fully backed and audited.
• Mainstream adoption: Clear guidelines may encourage payments firms and financial institutions to use stablecoins.
• Risk management: The bill signals that the U.S. will police crypto stability, potentially reducing systemic risks.

Major DeFi Protocol Suffers Hack

According to CoinDesk, a popular decentralized finance (DeFi) platform named LunaDex was exploited for roughly $50 million. Attackers took advantage of a smart-contract vulnerability to drain funds. The breach sent shockwaves through crypto markets, triggering a downturn in related tokens and underscoring ongoing security challenges in DeFi (CoinDesk).

• Security risks: Highlights that even audited DeFi platforms can harbor critical flaws at any time.
• Market contagion: Investor panic over hacks can spread quickly, affecting prices of unrelated crypto assets.
• Calls for caution: Such incidents renew calls for better audits, insurance and user caution in decentralized protocols.

Major Retailer to Accept Bitcoin Payments

In a surprise move, Financial Times reported that ShopPlus, a large retail chain, will begin accepting Bitcoin at checkout starting next month. The retailer says it wants to attract tech-savvy shoppers by offering crypto alongside traditional payments (Financial Times). While crypto payments represent a small slice of transactions today, this development signals growing merchant confidence in digital currencies.

• Legitimacy boost: A mainstream retailer embracing Bitcoin adds credibility and visibility for cryptocurrency in everyday commerce.
• Consumer demand: Enabling crypto payments could stimulate interest from customers who hold digital assets.
• Volatility caveats: Store chains note they will convert crypto to USD immediately, given price swings, highlighting ongoing challenges.

Coinbase Secures Crypto License in UK

The Wall Street Journal reports that Coinbase has obtained a regulatory license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. This allows the exchange to offer its full range of services to EU and UK customers. Achieving official approval follows Coinbase’s efforts to strengthen its compliance and anti-money-laundering practices, and will aid its push into European markets (WSJ).

• Regulatory compliance: Demonstrates Coinbase’s commitment to meeting global rules, possibly encouraging other exchanges to do the same.
• Service expansion: UK license opens the door for Coinbase to list new tokens and offer features that were previously restricted.
• Market trust: Official approval may boost institutional investor confidence in Coinbase as a regulated venue.

SEC Greenlights First Ether Spot ETF

Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the first spot-market Ethereum ETF. This new fund allows investors to gain direct exposure to Ether without buying the cryptocurrency directly. Coming on the heels of successful Bitcoin ETFs, analysts say the Ether ETF could attract fresh capital into the altcoin market by making crypto investment easier and more mainstream (Bloomberg).

• Market maturity: Validates Ethereum as a mainstream asset, likely drawing in investors who were waiting for regulated products.
• Price impact: The ETF could increase demand and liquidity for Ether, possibly reducing long-term volatility.
• Crypto expansion: A win for Ethereum suggests regulators are open to similar products for other digital assets.

El Salvador Buys More Bitcoin

Reuters reports that El Salvador has purchased an additional 100 bitcoins for its national treasury. The president announced the acquisition following a dip in price, reiterating the country’s strategy of accumulating Bitcoin. El Salvador, which made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, says this approach strengthens its financial sovereignty and reserves (Reuters).

• Policy consistency: Reinforces El Salvador’s long-standing commitment to Bitcoin as part of its economic strategy.
• Bottom-fishing: Buying at a lower price could boost long-term gains if Bitcoin recovers, benefiting the country’s portfolio.
• Volatility risk: While bold, this stance also exposes El Salvador to Bitcoin’s price swings, which could impact its economy.

Reminder: Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile. This roundup is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice. Always do your own research (DYOR) and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Bottom Line

This month’s stories illustrate both the growing mainstream acceptance and the persistent risks in crypto. Regulatory and product developments (like stablecoin laws and new ETFs) point to maturation and wider access. At the same time, hacks and volatility underscore that digital assets remain speculative. As always, staying informed and cautious is key in this fast-moving market.