On December 31, 2025, the cryptocurrency market reached its year-end peak. Despite global stock market volatility, the correlation between cryptocurrencies and stocks was evident: crypto asset prices rose by over 2% overall, driven by ETF inflows and the altcoin boom, with Bitcoin and other mainstream cryptocurrencies leading the gains. Meanwhile, frequent token unlocking events raised potential supply pressures in the market; on the regulatory front, many countries are pushing for the integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial frameworks. This article summarizes today's key developments, including the upcoming Binance Alpha airdrop, major unlocking information, and the trend of cryptocurrency-stock interaction.
1. Binance Alpha Airdrop Coming Soon: First Come, First Served
Binance will officially launch its Alpha airdrop event today at 15:00. Users need to hold at least 240 Binance Alpha Points to participate. The event operates on a first-come, first-served basis until the airdrop pool is depleted or the event ends. Details regarding the specific token to be airdropped will be announced through official Binance channels. This airdrop has a low entry barrier and may attract a large number of retail investors, boosting short-term market activity. Based on recent trends, similar airdrop events often coincide with token listings, stimulating secondary market trading volume.
2. Token Unlocking Surge: December's unlocking scale exceeds $5 billion, supply shock should be watched out for.
December, the last month of 2025, saw a peak in token unlocks, with a total unlock amount exceeding $5 billion, involving several popular projects. Jito (JTO) unlocked approximately $498 million, Sui (SUI) unlocked $221 million, and Aptos (APT) unlocked $113 million. Furthermore, the second week saw unlocks totaling $237 million, covering multiple altcoins. In the second half of the month, high-impact unlocks included HYPE, XPL, and JUP, totaling over $566 million; these events could exacerbate market volatility. Investors should be aware of post-unlock selling pressure, especially given the lower liquidity at the year-end. WuBlockChain's Top 10 Project News of 2025 also mentioned the WLFI token unlock proposal, allocating up to 5% of the unlocked funds for new expenditures.
3. Enhanced linkage between cryptocurrencies and stocks: Coinbase expands stock trading and tokenized assets.
The correlation between cryptocurrencies and stocks has been a recent hot topic in the crypto industry. Coinbase announced business expansion, including the launch of prediction markets, stock trading tools, stablecoins, and new features for businesses and developers. Furthermore, the platform plans to introduce tokenized stocks and prediction market products, innovations that will deeply integrate crypto with the traditional stock market. This move reflects the trend of the crypto market penetrating mainstream finance; the unlocking of altcoins like SUI and APT may also affect the performance of related stocks. Year-end market data shows that the surge in crypto prices was partly driven by anticipated altcoin price increases, with the top five altcoins expected to rebound in December. This correlation may pave the way for a bull market in 2026.
4. Global Regulatory Dynamics: Accelerated Integration of Crypto into Traditional Frameworks
Regulatory news dominates Toutiao (a Chinese news aggregator), with multiple countries promoting the standardization of crypto assets.
- The UK plans to include cryptocurrencies in financial services by October 2027, moving towards structured regulation. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation, with final rules expected in 2026. The new framework shifts from anti-money laundering registration to a detailed licensing regime and introduces scrutiny of foreign financial interference, potentially restricting the use of cryptocurrencies for political donations.
- Russia : The Ministry of Justice has proposed a draft amendment to the Criminal Code, which would impose fines of up to 1.5 million rubles (approximately $19,000) and two years of forced labor on unregistered cryptocurrency miners. Large-scale illegal mining could result in up to five years in prison. Currently, only 30% of miners are legally registered, and this move aims to crack down on underground mining.
- China : The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) announced that, starting January 1, 2026, interest on the balance in their digital yuan (CNY) real-name wallets will be paid at the current deposit rate, consistent with the rules for current deposits. This policy enhances the attractiveness of the digital yuan and promotes its integration with the traditional banking system.
- Florida Representative Joe Gruters introduced SB 1038 and SB 1040, proposing the establishment of a strategic cryptocurrency reserve and trust fund, funded by the state budget. The bills, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, mark an exploration of a state-level cryptocurrency reserve.
- Hong Kong : Delin Holdings (01709.HK) subsidiary Delin Securities has received approval from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission to provide virtual asset trading services, upgrading its Type 1 license. The company is also working on upgrading to a Type 4 license, which is expected to be approved soon. This move strengthens Hong Kong's position as a crypto hub.
While these regulatory developments may increase compliance costs in the short term, they are beneficial to the industry's maturation in the long run, especially given the correlation between cryptocurrencies and stocks, and will help attract institutional funds.
5. Market Outlook: Opportunities and Risks Coexist at the End of the Year
As 2025 draws to a close, Alpha airdrops, token unlocks, and token-equity expansions offer short-term trading opportunities, but tightening regulations and supply pressures warrant caution. Investors are advised to monitor Coinbase's new product launches and the price performance of SUI, APT, and other tokens after unlocking. Looking ahead to 2026, the integration of crypto and traditional finance will deepen further.
(Note: This article is based on publicly available information and does not constitute investment advice.)
