Bitmine Acquires Additional 32,938 ETH, Worth Around $97.6 Million

Dec 31 — LookOnChain monitoring data shows Arthur Hayes’ address once again boosted its DeFi token holdings 20 minutes ago. Over the past two weeks, the address sold 1,871 ETH (≈$5.53 million) and subsequently purchased: - 961,113 PENDLE (≈$1.75 million) - 2.3 million LDO (≈$1.29 million) - 6.05 million ENA (≈$1.24 million) - 491,401 ETHFI (≈$343,000) Overall, this marks a clear asset reallocation from ETH to the DeFi sector.

On December 31, privacy computing project Zama Protocol officially launched on the Ethereum mainnet, completing the first transfer of cUSDT—an FHE (Fully Homomorphic Encryption)-based privacy stablecoin. This marks the first confidential ERC-20 transfer on Ethereum’s Layer 1, with each transaction costing approximately $0.13. The solution enables on-chain private transfers for any token via “asset wrapping,” allowing transaction amounts and wallet balances to remain confidential on the blockchain. This milestone advances FHE from theory to real-world production and may lay the groundwork for the privacy narrative in 2026.

Bloomberg — As of Dec 31, U.S.-listed BitMine, a major Ethereum holder, remains one of the most favored overseas stocks among South Korean investors this year despite an over 80% drop from its July peak. In 2025, BitMine ranks second in popularity among overseas stocks held by South Korean investors, trailing only Alphabet. Backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, the firm is led by Tom Lee, a renowned Wall Street strategist. The market’s bet on its “Ethereum accumulation thesis” remains unshaken. As of Dec 29, South Korean retail investors have poured $1.4 billion into BitMine in 2025. They’ve also allocated $566 million to T-Rex’s 2x leveraged BitMine ETF, which has plunged ~86% from its September high.

On December 31st, blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that three whale addresses deposited 9.98 million USDC into the Lighter platform to acquire LIT tokens. To date, the whales have spent 8.67 million USDC purchasing 3.44 million LIT, with a current average entry price of roughly $2.52. They still hold 1.35 million USDC unused on the platform.

**Dec 31 Update: Fed’s 2025 Rate Cuts Leave Rates at 18-Year High; 2026 Path Uncertain** The Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2025, pushing its benchmark rate to 3.5%-3.75%—still an 18-year high. Latest dot plot data shows officials deeply divided on 2026 policy: Views on zero, one, or two rate cuts are nearly evenly split, stoking rising market uncertainty. CME figures put January rate cut odds at just 20%, climbing to 45% in March. Most forecasts point to a 2026 cut (or only one). Analysts note: - If employment weakens and inflation stays controlled, 1-2 cuts could hit this year—benefiting risk assets. - If inflation rebounds, cuts paired with liquidity support (or a pause) would pressure stocks and crypto. Also critical for 2026 crypto: Powell steps down in May, with a potential dovish new Fed chair a key variable.