Binance Alpha will list TradeTide (TTD) and open airdrop registration

On December 18th, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said during a year-end Q&A session: “I think it’s still too early to tell which features will end up prevailing, and I don’t have that kind of sharp predictive power. But I do believe usability, capital efficiency, fees, security, and to some degree profitability, are all critical for users. That said, this is still a relatively new space. I remember Polymarket saw solid trading volumes during the last election cycle. The next highly anticipated event should be next year’s U.S. presidential election (and midterms, right?); I think the team that can stay on high alert 24/7 and stay unwavering will likely come out on top, at least in the short term. It’s going to be a really interesting phase that demands the team’s full dedication. But real success comes from long-term competition. So, sorry I can’t dive into a more detailed analysis here. At the end of the day, it really boils down to the team’s execution capabilities, plus

On December 18, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said during a year-end Q&A event: “Here’s how I evaluate early-stage projects: First, is the product solid? But more crucially, I use the product to gauge the team’s execution skills. Put simply—can they build a good product that meets current needs? And if requirements shift tomorrow? If they need to add new features or switch systems, can they deliver fast? To me, that matters more than the features they have right now. And let me be clear: All prediction market projects will eventually learn from one another.”

On December 18, the European Central Bank (ECB) held its deposit facility rate steady at 2%, matching market expectations—marking the fourth straight meeting with no policy changes. Its main refinancing rate and marginal lending rate were also kept unchanged at 2.15% and 2.40%, respectively. (FXStreet)

**Binance Founder CZ on BNB Chain: Prioritize Value, Execution Over Rankings** On December 18, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) shared his vision for BNB Chain during a year-end Q&A session: “My take on BNB Chain is simple: keep creating value for builders. Spend most of your time building—occasionally check the competitive landscape and industry trends to stay on track, but focus on execution. Rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) don’t matter; the key is to keep doing what you do best: consistent value creation. Looking ahead, the BNB ecosystem’s size should outpace any single business within it—including centralized exchanges and various protocols. That said, the ecosystem’s foundational layer could also be smaller than a specific token, much like how many Nasdaq-listed companies have market caps far bigger than the Nasdaq exchange itself. All outcomes are possible. BNB Chain already aligned product and market long ago. My message to builders? Adopt a long-term marathon mindset—bu

**CoinDesk: SoFi Launches U.S. Dollar Stablecoin SoFiUSD** December 18 — U.S.-listed fintech firm SoFi Technologies (SOFI) has launched the U.S. dollar stablecoin SoFiUSD, targeting faster, lower-cost fund transfers for banks, fintechs and enterprise platforms, per CoinDesk. Issued by SoFi Bank—an FDIC-insured U.S. national bank—the stablecoin marks the first time a U.S. national bank has opened stablecoin infrastructure to external parties. Initially restricted to internal use, SoFiUSD is set to roll out to a broader base of SoFi users in the coming months. Unlike stablecoins from native crypto companies, SoFiUSD is fully backed 1:1 by cash held at the Federal Reserve, enabling instant redemptions with no credit or liquidity risk. Deployed on a public blockchain, the stablecoin facilitates near-real-time, 24/7 fund movement at low cost.

On December 18, official sources confirmed that Fuse Energy—a decentralized finance (DeFi) project built on the Solana blockchain—has closed a $70 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Balderton Capital, valuing the company at $5 billion.