Bitcoin Network Faces Hash Rate Shock as Price Slips Below $90K

Bitcoin (BTC) began the week trading below the $90,000 mark, as market sentiment reacted to growing expectations of an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan.

But the pressure on Bitcoin this week hasn’t been limited to price movement alone.

The Bitcoin network itself experienced a sudden and notable disruption.

Data shows that the total network hash rate dropped by roughly 100 exahashes per second (EH/s) in a very short period, raising concerns across the mining community.

Kong Jianping, former co-chairman of major mining hardware company Canaan and now the head of Nano Labs, highlighted the issue publicly. According to him, the hash rate decline happened within a single day — an unusually sharp move for a network of Bitcoin’s scale.
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This is not any financial advice.

Bitcoin Closes the Week Lower as Markets Eye Japan’s Rate Decision

Bitcoin ended the week on a softer note, giving back earlier gains as global markets turned cautious ahead of a key monetary policy decision from Japan.

The digital asset began the week trading above $90,000, but gradual selling pressure pushed prices down to just under $89,000 by the weekend.

Market participants appear to be positioning defensively ahead of the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) interest rate announcement scheduled for December 19.

Historically, shifts in Japanese monetary policy—particularly rate hikes—have coincided with periods of reduced liquidity, which can weigh on risk-sensitive assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Some analysts point out that previous BOJ tightening cycles were followed by notable pullbacks in bitcoin’s price.

Recent price behavior, including weakness observed around December 14, suggests that traders may already be factoring in potential policy-driven volatility.

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This is not any financial advice.

Vivopower Explores XRP-Related Exposure Through Ripple Labs Equity Partnership

Vivopower International has announced a new strategic move aimed at increasing its indirect exposure to Ripple and the XRP ecosystem—without taking on direct balance-sheet risk.

The company revealed that it has entered into a joint venture designed to acquire and hold private equity shares in Ripple Labs, potentially totaling up to $300 million.

According to the announcement made on December 12, Vivopower has partnered with Lean Ventures, a South Korea–based investment firm, to structure the initiative.

Under the arrangement, Lean Ventures will establish a dedicated investment vehicle focused on Ripple Labs equity, while Vivopower’s digital asset arm, Vivo Federation, will be responsible for sourcing and facilitating access to the shares.

Vivopower confirmed that it has received formal approval from Ripple Labs to purchase an initial portion of preferred shares.

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This is not any financial advice.

South Korean Police Investigate Counterfeit Cash Scheme Targeting Crypto Traders

Authorities in South Chungcheong Province are investigating a criminal group accused of using counterfeit cash to scam cryptocurrency traders during in-person transactions.

According to a report by Chosun Ilbo, the suspects allegedly produced fake 50,000-won banknotes using standard color printers.

Investigators say the group then contacted crypto holders online and arranged face-to-face meetings to exchange the counterfeit cash for digital assets.

Police revealed that more than 9,000 fake banknotes were recovered during the investigation, with a total face value of roughly 459 million won (about $330,000).

The operation reportedly took place last year and focused on private, offline crypto trades where verification is more difficult.

The scheme began to unravel when a potential victim noticed the poor print quality of the cash during a meeting in Asan City.

*This is not any financial advice

Cardano has outlined plans to adjust its long-term roadmap, signaling a move away from a primarily research-driven approach toward a strategy that places more emphasis on real-world adoption and measurable outcomes.

The network indicated that upcoming changes will focus on refining its governance structure and improving scalability, two areas often cited as important for broader enterprise use.

Rather than prioritizing experimental development alone, Cardano’s updated direction highlights performance indicators that are commonly used in commercial and institutional environments.

As part of its 2030 strategy, the project aims to track metrics such as revenue generation and capital efficiency — benchmarks that large organizations and institutional participants typically consider when evaluating blockchain platforms.

*This is not any financial advice

XRP Holds the Largest Share Among U.S.-Based Cryptocurrencies

XRP has taken a leading position among cryptocurrencies associated with the United States, standing out for its significant share of the sector’s total market value.

Recent data shows that the combined market capitalization of U.S.-linked cryptocurrencies is approximately $380.42 billion.

Of that amount, XRP represents about $115.62 billion, giving it a share of roughly 30.39%, based on publicly available figures from CoinGecko.

In practical terms, this means that close to one-third of the total value held in cryptocurrencies connected to the U.S. market is concentrated in XRP alone.

This level of dominance places XRP well ahead of other assets in the same category and highlights its strong presence within this segment of the crypto ecosystem.


*This is not any financial advice.

Autumn Pressure on the Crypto Market: Temporary Pullback or Structural Shift?

As autumn progresses, the cryptocurrency market is undergoing a noticeable period of pressure.

For the second month in a row, overall market values have moved lower, prompting discussion about whether this phase represents a routine correction or signals a broader change in market behavior.

Since early October, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization has declined by close to 30%, translating to an estimated $1.2 trillion reduction in value.

While such figures may appear alarming at first glance, they do not automatically point to a systemic breakdown

Market corrections of this scale are not unusual when compared to traditional financial markets, where pullbacks can be equally sharp or even deeper without triggering long-term instability.

*This is not any financial advice.

A Controversial Federal Reserve Voice Shares Views on Crypto and Stablecoins

Stephen Miran, a member of the Federal Reserve appointed during the Trump administration, has recently shared his perspective on cryptocurrencies, with particular attention on the potential role of stablecoins in the global financial system.

Speaking during an appearance on the “Making Money” program, Miran suggested that stablecoins could contribute to a new wave of global savings over time.

According to his view, this trend might place downward pressure on U.S. interest rates in the long run, depending on how widely these digital assets are adopted.

Miran referenced a speech he delivered roughly a month earlier, where he drew parallels between stablecoins and the idea of a

global savings glut.

*This is not any financial advice.

Cango Reports Strong Weekly Bitcoin Mining Output

Cango, a Bitcoin mining company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has announced that it mined 125.8 Bitcoin in a single week, highlighting the scale of its current mining operations.

The update reflects the company’s expanding infrastructure and its ability to remain competitive in a demanding and resource-intensive industry.

Weekly production figures like this are often used as a snapshot of operational performance

Mining over 125 BTC in such a short time frame requires substantial computing capacity, stable energy access, and efficient system management.

As mining difficulty continues to adjust across the Bitcoin network, maintaining consistent output has become increasingly challenging for many operators.

At current market prices, this level of production represents a sizeable weekly revenue figure.

However, mining results alone do not provide a complete picture

*This is not any financial advice.

Japan Raises Rates Again as Markets Remain Calm

Global financial markets paid close attention this week as the Bank of Japan moved to tighten monetary policy once more.

The central bank increased its key short-term interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to 0.75%, a level not seen since the mid-1990s.

Policymakers also indicated that additional rate increases could follow if economic growth and inflation continue to align with their outlook.

Despite the significance of the move, market reactions were relatively muted.

This suggests that investors had largely anticipated the decision and may have already factored it into asset prices.

A Longstanding Global Dynamic Begins to Change

Japan’s interest rate policy has played a unique role in global finance for decades. Ultra-low and, at times, negative rates positioned the country as one of the world’s most affordable sources of capital.

*This is not any financial advice.