Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (December 22) as of 9:00 am UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$89,286.25, up by 2.3 percent over 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, December 22, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,026.40, up by 3.3 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.92, up by 1.4 percent over 24 hours.
Solana (SOL) was trading at US$126.14, up by 2.3 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
US crypto funds See US$952M outflow amid regulatory delays
Investors pulled US$952 million from U.S. crypto investment products last week, marking the first weekly outflow in a month, according to data from CoinShares.
The exodus was concentrated in the US totaling US$990 million, which was partially offset by modest inflows into Canadian and German products.
Analysts attributed the sell-off to continued delays in the US CLARITY Act, prolonging regulatory uncertainty, alongside concerns about large holders offloading positions.
Ethereum-based funds led the outflows with US$555 million, while Bitcoin products saw US$460 million leave.
Hong Kong moves to unlock insurance capital for crypto investments
Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority has proposed new rules that would allow licensed insurers to invest in cryptocurrencies and related infrastructure, potentially unlocking billions in capital.
According to a Bloomberg report, insurers under the proposed framework would face a 100 percent “risk charge” on direct crypto holdings, meaning a dollar of capital must be set aside for every dollar invested. Stablecoins pegged to fiat would attract lower risk charges.
The initiative aims to attract institutional investors while maintaining prudential safeguards against crypto volatility.
Public consultation on the draft rules is scheduled for February through April 2025, with formal legislative submissions expected later in the year.
Binance allowed high-risk accounts post-plea deal, FT reports
Binance reportedly continued to permit suspicious accounts to operate after its US$4.3 billion U.S. plea agreement in 2023, according to a Financial Times investigation.
Internal files reviewed by the FT showed accounts linked to terror financing networks, improbable login patterns, and failed identity checks remained active, moving billions of dollars in crypto.
One account from Venezuela moved US$93 million, with portions connected to networks tied to Iran and Hezbollah.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
