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Reuters: Cryptocurrency Market Sees Investor Caution After Pullback, New Strategies Gain Favor

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Dec 17 (Reuters) — A sharp recent pullback in cryptocurrency markets has left investors more cautious, with high-leverage, high-valuation sectors hit hardest—pushing active risk management strategies into the spotlight. As investment tools proliferate, investors can tap the market via multiple avenues: direct holdings, spot ETFs, options/futures, mining firms, “Bitcoin reserve companies” (like Strategy), exchanges, and infrastructure players. But risk exposure varies drastically by approach, notes John D’Agostino, Coinbase’s Head of Institutional Strategy. The key, he says, is how investors use leverage and whether they hedge their positions. Bitcoin has dropped 36% since hitting a $126,223 high on Oct 6, and is now ~30% off its peak. Bitcoin reserve firms led by Strategy have seen steeper declines: Strategy’s stock is down 54% from Bitcoin’s October peak and 63% from mid-July. Japan’s Metaplanet and its peers are also under pressure. Lyn Alden points out these sectors previously formed a “local bubble,” with investors now reassessing premium risks. Mining firms like IREN, CleanSpark, Riot, and MARA face hurdles transitioning to AI data centers. Matthew Sigel, manager of the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF, says these companies previously benefited from the “crypto + AI” dual theme—but amid macro shifts, high debt levels, and ongoing financing needs, their profitability is being questioned, weighing on share prices.
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Moon Pursuit Capital Launches $100M Crypto Fund

On December 17, cryptocurrency investment firm Moon Pursuit Capital announced the launch of its second fund—a $100 million market-neutral crypto fund focused on delivering stable, risk-adjusted returns across all crypto market cycles. The fund uses an algorithmic trading strategy to maintain market neutrality, capturing alpha returns without taking directional bets on crypto prices. Two key enhancements support this core approach: 1) Allocating to Bitcoin when the firm identifies perceived cycle bottoms; 2) Short-term altcoin trading during high-momentum phases to boost overall returns and preserve a higher Sharpe ratio through market drawdowns. The launch is backed by the strong performance of Moon Pursuit’s first fund. To date, the inaugural fund has returned over 52% year-to-date (YTD) and nearly 170% since its April 2024 launch, with current assets under management (AUM) at approximately $30 million and continuing to expand.

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ETHGas Completes $12 Million Token Seed Funding Round, Led by Polychain Capital

**ETHGas Closes $12M Token Funding Round, Secures $800M in Block Space Support** On December 17, ETHGas—the Ethereum block space futures platform—announced it has closed a $12 million token funding round. The round was led by Polychain Capital, with participation from Stake Capital, BlueYard Capital, Lafayette Macro Advisors, SIG DT, and Amber Group. The project previously secured an undisclosed ~$5 million pre-seed round in 2024. This latest financing, launched in July and closed last month, was structured as a token round via Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFT)—aligning with its 2024 pre-seed. Separately, Ethereum validators, block builders, and relayers have committed ~$800 million in support for ETHGas’s market and product development. Crucially, this is not cash investment but liquidity in the form of Ethereum block space: participants will supply block space to the ETHGas market in exchange for higher, more predictable returns. ETHGas operates a futures market f

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Arthur Hayes' address has received a total of 32.42 million USDC from CEX and OTC platforms in the past two days.

On December 17, Lookonchain data shows Arthur Hayes’ crypto address has received a total of $32.42 million worth of USDC over the past two days from Binance, Galaxy Digital, Wintermute and several other platforms.

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Fed Survey: Tariffs Continue to Plague Businesses, Expect 4% Inflation Next Year

On December 17, a joint survey by the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business revealed that U.S. corporate chief financial officers (CFOs) still rank tariffs as a top concern, with an average expectation of a roughly 4% price increase next year. This finding could amplify the Federal Reserve’s worries about current price pressures—pressures that may hinder its ability to quickly hit the 2% inflation target. Fielded between November 11 and December 1, the survey included 548 CFO respondents. Results showed diminished confidence in both their own companies and the broader U.S. economy: the U.S. overall economic optimism index dropped from 62.9 (out of 100) in the third quarter to 60.2, falling below the recent peak of 66 reached at the end of 2024 following President Trump’s re-election. Overall, respondents project moderate growth for employment and the economy in 2026: the median forecast for 2026 job growth is 1.7% (consistent

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CZ: Any information claiming to assist with listings is a scam. Recently, a certain national president's inquiry was also rejected.

On December 17, Binance founder CZ said in a post: "Anyone claiming they can help you get listed on Binance is a scammer. If you encounter anyone—including so-called middlemen, advisors, former or current employees—making such claims, please report them immediately. Those involved will be blacklisted, and in some cases, publicly named." He added further: "Recently, even a national president asked if I could help with getting listed, and I clearly told them: I can't."

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Analysis: November CPI Report May Just Be a 'Sideshow,' with a Very High Market-Impact Threshold

December 17 — For most of the past three years, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) report has been a top data point U.S. stock traders watched closely. Now, investors aren’t on edge—instead, they’re waiting for Thursday’s November inflation data release with a sense of detachment. Options traders are betting the S&P 500 will move less than 0.7% daily—well below the 1% average actual volatility seen in the 12 CPI reports through September this year. The shift in market sentiment makes sense. The Fed has lately focused more on labor market weakness signals than minor inflation fluctuations. Tuesday’s data showed the job market’s still sluggish, leaving room for rate cuts next year. “The market’s priced in that this data is either irrelevant, or its quality is questionable from a data collection standpoint—so it won’t get overly scrutinized,” said Alexander Altmann, Barclays’ Global Equity Tactical Strategy Director. The report also won’t likely change the outcome of th

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