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TOP 5 DEFI LENDING PLATFORMS BY REVENUE

The top DeFi lending platforms by revenue this year are Sky Ecosystem ($270M), Aave ($68.2M), Venus Protocol ($22.11M), Compound ($10.55M), and Radiant Capital ($7.25M).

US TREASURY COMPARES BITCOIN TO DIGITAL GOLD

The U.S. Treasury has compared Bitcoin to digital gold amidst the rapid growth of digital assets.

22 COUNTRIES HAVE NO CAPITAL GAINS TAXES ON CRYPTO

22 countries, including Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland have no capital gains tax on crypto, arguably enabling innovation and wealth.

KEY UPCOMING CRYPTO EVENTS

Key crypto events to watch this week include Microsoft's shareholder vote on buying BTC on December 10, Frax Finance's upcoming token upgrade and roadmap announcement, Polygon's Agglayer v0.2 testnet release on December 9, Treasure DAO's major gaming ecosystem announcement on December 11, and the $165M Aptos token unlock on December 11.

BITCOIN FUTURES PREMIUM HITS 8-MONTH HIGH — WILL THE BTC RALLY CONTINUE?

Bitcoin has surged past $100,000, marking a new all-time high after a 9.4% rally between December 4-5. Though the price has corrected downward since then, futures markets are showing an 8-month high premium of 20% annualized. Options market data reveals sustained bullish sentiment will call options maintaining a 48% lead over puts, though analysts caution that Bitcoin remains correlated with traditional markets amid broader economic concerns.

PANTERA BITCOIN FUND HITS 1,000X

Pantera's Bitcoin Fund has returned 1,000x since its inception in 2013 at Bitcoin's then-price of $65. The firm maintains its bullish opinion, citing only 5% current institutional adoption, and projects a potential BTC price of $740,000 by 2028 driven by regulatory clarity and ETF approvals. The fund, which initially purchased 2% of all Bitcoin during 2013-2015, has maintained an 88% compound annual growth rate over its eleven-year history.

INTRODUCING ELIP-001: REWARDS V2

EigenLayer's new governance framework has revealed its first EigenLayer Improvement Proposal (ELIP) – an upgraded rewards system designed to enhance AVS reward flexibility and onchain attribution. It gives AVSs expanded tooling for operator-directed rewards management and implementation improvements.

ZK COMMITMENTS OVER TLS: THE DISTEFANO PROTOCOL

The Brave Browser's DiStefano is a new protocol that enables zero-knowledge attestations and commitments over TLS. The protocol allows users to prove statements about encrypted data without revealing the underlying information. It aims to improve upon existing solutions by adding full TLS 1.3 support, implementing enhanced privacy guarantees through ZK proofs of valid signatures and improving the commitment scheme. It enables applications like privacy-preserving age verification and anti-fraud systems and is viable for widespread deployment.

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HOW TO TAKE PROFITS ON MEMECOINS USING CONCENTRATED LIQUIDITY

This guide outlines strategies for profit-taking on memecoins by using concentrated liquidity pools, which enable traders to earn yield while exiting positions with minimal price impact, especially for coins with high volume, low liquidity, and high market attention. It emphasizes active management, understanding price bounds, and careful execution to balance risks like impermanent loss against potential APRs, offering a customizable approach for experienced traders to optimize returns.

THE ROLE OF CRYPTO IN AN AGENTIC ECONOMY

The rise of AI agents as key economic participants will transition human-to-agent and agent-to-agent commerce toward a more autonomous, efficient, and decentralized ecosystem, where crypto rails like blockchains and stablecoins are positioned to play a more crucial role because of their programmability, global accessibility, and cost advantages over traditional systems. This evolution will create value for infrastructure layers like ID verification, settlement blockchains, and stablecoin issuers, while reshaping competition to focus on performance over branding, ultimately benefiting end-users with more optimized services.

DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS IN AI

The effectiveness of AI agents is determined by the quality of contextual data they access, support for plugins, ability to fully leverage underlying LLMs, and integration into products. Contextual data drives relevance, plugins expand capabilities, and product integration paves the way for broader utility, including potential SaaS replacement.

CORPORATE BITCOIN TREASURIES ARE ALL THE RAGE. NOW XRP?

Nasdaq-listed Worksport has announced plans to allocate up to 10% of its $5 million cash reserves into both Bitcoin and XRP, marking a departure from the traditional corporate Bitcoin treasury strategy popularized by MicroStrategy. The CEO cites inflation protection and transaction efficiency as key motivators, while acknowledging that the decision comes as the company's stock has declined 65% over five years.

BASE REACHES ANOTHER ALL-TIME HIGH WITH 8.8 MILLION DAILY TRANSACTIONS ON ITS NETWORK

Base achieved a record-breaking 8.8M daily transactions and $766K in network fees on November 28 driven by rising interest in AI agent protocols like Virtuals and innovative L2 developments.

L1 DEPOSITS TO BASE EXCEED $5B

Base has passed $5B in L1 deposits, marking a 10x increase this year and reinforcing its potential as the "Asset Hub" of the Optimism Superchain.

ZK PROOFS AREN'T JUST FOR SCALING

Zero-knowledge proofs are not just used for scaling solutions like zk rollups, but also crucial for enabling privacy and off-chain computation to trigger on-chain actions.

INTRODUCING BLINKS IN BACKPACK

Backpack has integrated Dialect's Blinks, enabling seamless on-chain experiences directly in its mobile app without redirections.

FED CHAIR POWELL SAYS BITCOIN IS LIKE DIGITAL GOLD

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell compared Bitcoin to digital gold during The New York Times' DealBook Summit, noting its volatility and lack of use as a payment method, positioning it as a speculative asset rather than a competitor to USD. He acknowledged Bitcoin's “staying power” and highlighted its role as an alternative to gold while emphasizing the Fed's cautious approach to crypto's interaction with the banking system.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAPS CRYPTO-FRIENDLY FORMER REGULATOR PAUL ATKINS TO LEAD THE US SEC

Donald Trump has nominated crypto-friendly former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins to lead the SEC, noting Atkins' commitment to balanced regulations that foster innovation and digital assets. Atkins' appointment, pending Senate confirmation, has been welcomed by lawmakers and crypto executives as a step toward regulatory clarity and support for the digital asset ecosystem.

PANCAKESWAP LAUNCHES SPRINGBOARD

PancakeSwap's SpringBoard is a no-code platform for creating and launching tokens on the BNB Chain. It offers features like automatic liquidity pool integration, multi-token pairings, and fair launch mechanisms. The platform focuses on ease of use and community engagement while also providing optional Farm Program boosts and liquidity support through CAKE.

VANA: POWERING THE FUTURE OF USER-OWNED AI

Vana, an open protocol for AI data sovereignty, allows users to pool and monetize their personal data through DataDAOs (data collectives) while maintaining cryptographic control through encrypted personal storage. It uses a two-layer architecture where data ownership records and permissions exist on-chain while actual data remains privately encrypted, with DataDAOs issuing tokens based on contribution quality. The platform aims to challenge Big Tech's data monopolies by creating a market where AI companies can purchase training data directly from user collectives. The VANA token facilitates transactions and governance while ensuring value flows back to data contributors through a burn mechanism.

AGENTS VS MEMECOINS

While agents can actively generate content and build direct user relationships, memecoins rely solely on external attention for value. This fundamental difference in distribution - where agents create self-sustaining user relationships through social media followings versus memecoins' dependence on continuous external promotion - suggests greater durability for agent tokens. This more stable distribution model, combined with growth potential, makes AI tokens more attractive to institutional investors than traditional memecoins.

A16Z BIG IDEAS IN TECH 2025 (CRYPTO)

The article explores the future of crypto, blockchain, and AI, focusing on how these technologies are poised to reshape industries and society. Key themes include AI autonomy through crypto wallets, decentralized autonomous chatbots, stablecoin adoption by enterprises, proof-of-personhood systems, tokenization of unconventional assets, onchain government bonds, and improved governance through liquid democracy and DAOs. Emphasis is placed on usability, with predictions of simplified blockchain experiences driving mass adoption and expanding applications for active crypto participation.

WHY AGENTS WILL REACH OVER $100B MARKET CAP

AI agent projects have a $6 billion market cap, with apps ranging from automated market analysis to asset management and UX enhancement. The tech is primarily being developed on Base and Solana, with agents capable of autonomous decision-making, asset ownership, and onchain interactions. Projects like Virtuals.io lead the development of interconnected AI communities, with future developments like more complex interactions, better analysis, and practical use cases coming soon.

DOUBLEZERO: A FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE PERMISSIONLESS NETWORKS

DoubleZero has introduced a new category of blockchain infrastructure called N1 (Network 1) designed to create a high-performance decentralized physical network layer optimized for distributed systems. The protocol enables permissionless contribution of fiber links while providing built-in verification services, aiming to eliminate communication bottlenecks for existing L1 and L2 blockchains through increased bandwidth and reduced latency. Created by former Solana team members, the project represents an attempt to build a new internet infrastructure specifically optimized for modern distributed systems and blockchain networks.

BITCOIN HITS $100K

Bitcoin reaching $100K is a large marketing milestone that will dominate global financial headlines, signaling a renewed wave of interest in crypto.

YOUTUBE VIEWS OF CRYPTO INFLUENCER CONTENT HITS 12-MONTH HIGH

YouTube views of crypto influencer content hit a 12-month high of ~4.72 million in late November, reflecting renewed retail interest as crypto apps climb app store rankings, though engagement remains below previous cycle peaks.

REP. FRENCH HILL PLEDGES TO INVESTIGATE DEBANKING FOLLOWING CRYPTO EXECUTIVES' COMPLAINTS

Rep. French Hill has vowed to scrutinize alleged debanking practices targeting crypto companies following reports of government pressure on banks to sever ties with certain industries.

VIRTUALS PROTOCOL

Virtuals.io stands out with its modular AI agents, integrating specialized modules for onchain operations, content generation, and long-term memory.

BITCOIN AND XRP PRICES PLUNGE IN SOUTH KOREA AS PRESIDENT DECLARES MARTIAL LAW

Bitcoin and XRP prices plunged on South Korean exchanges after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law amidst political tensions, triggering extreme volatility and a temporary inverse "Kimchi Premium" (refers to higher prices for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on Korean exchanges). Upbit, the country's largest crypto exchange, saw Bitcoin and XRP prices drop by 33% and 52% respectively before partial recoveries.

SILK ROAD BITCOIN WORTH NEARLY $2B MOVED TO COINBASE PRIME

The US government transferred 19,800 BTC, worth almost $2 billion, to Coinbase Prime, likely with the intent to sell following recent court approval for liquidation. The assets come from the Silk Road seizure. The move caused Bitcoin to dip below $96,000, though the market reaction was notably muted compared to previous government sales. The move, executed through the US Marshals Service's partnership with Coinbase Prime, represents a significant portion of confiscated assets. The government still holds approximately $18 billion in seized crypto assets.

SONIC LABS SAYS ITS LAYER-1 BLOCKCHAIN WILL GO PUBLIC ‘SOON'

Sonic Labs has announced that its speed-focused, EVM-compatible L1 blockchain, Sonic, will launch publicly soon. Positioned as a successor to the Fantom Opera network, Sonic offers low-latency, reduced transaction fees, and developer incentives. Sonic Labs plans to airdrop 200M “S” tokens to users and enable staking on its proof-of-stake mechanism.

DERIVE INTEGRATES INTO ETHENA

Derive has partnered with Ethena, a leading DeFi protocol with $4B in TVL, to integrate Ethena's USDe and sUSDe assets into Derive's derivatives ecosystem to unlock new liquidity, trading volume, and yield opportunities. This collaboration combines Derive's onchain derivatives expertise with Ethena's innovative DeFi solutions to deliver enhanced products, capital efficiency, and aligned incentives for their respective communities.

VITALIK ON WHAT HE'D LIKE TO SEE IN A WALLET

This in-depth post outlines the features and innovations that could define an ideal Ethereum wallet, focusing on enhancing security, privacy, and user experience. From cross-chain transactions and advanced account recovery mechanisms to privacy-preserving transfers and the future integration of AI, the post's author envisions a transformative roadmap for wallet technology.

TOP 8 INTERESTING NON-PERSONALITY AGENT ECOSYSTEM PROJECTS

A new wave of utility-focused AI agent projects is emerging, with established projects like Olas offering autonomous DeFi services and ARC developing gaming-focused agents. The ecosystem spans various applications, including quantitative trading (Almanak), multi-agent orchestration (Questflow), onchain infrastructure (Talus Network), and machine learning protocols (Allora Network). Most platforms focus on specific utilities like automated trading, yield farming, or gaming rather than personality-based interactions, marking a shift toward practical blockchain AI applications.

MAKE ETHEREUM GREAT AGAIN / ETHEREUM'S NORTH STAR (1 HOUR READ)

This post explores whether Ethereum lacks a clear "North Star" amid growing competition from Bitcoin, Solana, and Celestia, which excel in distinct niches like sound money and high-performance platforms. It examines Ethereum's coordination challenges and the evolving roles of its ecosystem and native asset, ETH, and highlights the need for clarity on Ethereum's priorities and direction.

BASE SEASON

Base's recent metrics indicate comparable inflows to Solana and increasing transaction volumes driven by emerging AI agents and social platforms like Farcaster. The network is gaining momentum through reduced friction via new wallet integrations (Phantom), institutional backing from Coinbase, and growing developer activity. The speculative nature of the current market highlights the importance of risk management.

BLACKROCK'S SPOT ETF SURPASSES 500,000 BITCOIN IN ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT

BlackRock's IBIT spot BTC ETF has surpassed 500K BTC ($48B) in assets under management within its first year, accounting for ~2.4% of Bitcoin's total supply.

COINBASE WILL DROP LAW FIRMS WHO HIRE ANTI-CRYPTO FORMER SEC STAFF — CEO

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced that the exchange will no longer work with law firms hiring individuals, like former SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal, who he claims were involved in anti-crypto actions during their government tenure.

LAUNCHING A TWITTER AI AGENT AS A GTM STRATEGY

Launching a Twitter agent as an official ambassador for a project could drive engagement, educate the community, and amplify narratives.

POLYMARKET RETAINS LOYAL USER BASE A MONTH AFTER ELECTION, DATA SHOWS

Polymarket has maintained significant user engagement post-U.S. election, with open interest rebounding to $115 million after a drop from its $475 million election peak.

MICROSTRATEGY ACQUIRES ANOTHER 15,400 BITCOIN FOR $1.5 BILLION, TAKING HOLDINGS TO 402,100 BTC

MicroStrategy has acquired an additional 15.4K BTC for $1.5B, bringing its total holdings to 402.1K BTC valued at over $38B. This purchase is part of the company's strategy to use equity and fixed-income offerings to raise $42B for further bitcoin acquisitions while maintaining shareholder benefits through its “Bitcoin Yield” metric.

GLOBAL ETHEREUM INVESTMENT PRODUCTS HIT $2.2 BILLION ANNUAL INFLOW RECORD AMID US ETF SURGE

Ethereum-based investment products reached a record $2.2B in annual net inflows, driven by $634M in weekly inflows, mainly from U.S. spot ETFs. Meanwhile, XRP funds saw a record $95M in weekly inflows amid rising prices, while Bitcoin products faced $457M in outflows as investors shift their focus to altcoins.

CHROMIA: THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SMARTER AI AGENTS AT SCALE

Chromia is developing infrastructure for more sophisticated AI agents by introducing onchain memory storage and a transparent decision-making process. The platform has plans to support real-time verification of agent decisions and onchain data storage.

UNIFIED LIQUIDITY LAYER FOR ALL VMS

Mizu, launched by Movement Labs, is a Unified Liquidity Layer designed to connect all virtual machines (VMs) on-chain, offering seamless, interoperable liquidity for decentralized ecosystems. The platform aims to redefine how liquidity is managed and accessed in blockchain networks.

MARC ANDREESSEN AND THE CFPB: DEBUNKING THE DEBANKING DEBUNKERS

This article details the systematic debanking of crypto companies and founders under “Operation Choke Point 2.0,” alleging that regulators, particularly the FDIC, imposed a secret 15% deposit cap on banks for crypto-related firms and pressured banks to stop serving the industry. Multiple high-profile crypto executives, including leaders from Kraken and Gemini, have corroborated experiences of banking restrictions. Marc Andreessen claims that over 30 founders in his portfolio faced debanking. Despite no formal legislation or rulemaking process, the practice continues to impact the industry through unofficial regulations.

DEEP DIVE INTO CHAINLINK

Chainlink is actively collaborating with major financial institutions, including Swift, DTCC, and central banks like Banco Central do Brasil, to integrate blockchain into global finance by enabling tokenization, cross-chain settlements, and on-chain NAV data, among other innovations. Its partnerships and solutions position it as the leading infrastructure provider bridging traditional finance and blockchain ecosystems.

ZATOSHI AND ZETHEREUM

A proposal from Balaji suggests implementing privacy features on Ethereum through a smart contract created by an anonymous developer (“Zatoshi”), leveraging the recent Tornado Cash ruling, which established legal precedent for privacy-preserving smart contracts. The proposed “Zethereum” would use zero-knowledge proofs to ensure optional privacy at the smart contract level rather than the base layer, which would manage legal risk.

CRYPTOPUNKS LEAD NOVEMBER NFT RALLY WITH 47% FLOOR PRICE INCREASE

The floor price of CryptoPunks, largely considered a blue-chip NFT collection, has reached 37.68 ETH, its highest level since May and a 47% increase. The general NFT market has seen an uptick in prices, with CryptoPunks leading the charge. Punks have had high liquidity and volume throughout the bear market, making them a leader in the sector.