In 2025, UK adult crypto ownership fell to about 8%, down from 12% in 2024, even though Bitcoin briefly reached $126,251 in early October. According to the Financial Conduct Authority, overall awareness stayed at 91% and the share of holders with £1,001–£5,000 in crypto grew, while small accounts under £100 declined. Lawmakers are increasingly engaging with the sector as the FCA consults on a broad rulebook that would introduce licensing from 2026 and full regulations in 2027.

On December 16, 2025, Nasdaq said it will submit an SEC filing to enable 23-hour, five-day trading with new day and night sessions, targeting a second-half 2026 launch. The exchange cites $17 trillion in foreign holdings and rising overnight demand; DTCC’s nonstop clearing is required by end-2026.

Chinese battery and power‑equipment stocks have rallied in 2025 as AI data centers ramp up procurement. CATL shares are up 45% and Sungrow has climbed 130%, while Shenzhen's CSI New Energy index has gained 38%. Export demand and pricing power are lifting profits as domestic competition keeps margins thin.

On December 15 2025, Circle announced an agreement to acquire the entire Interop Labs team along with its proprietary technology, with the transaction expected to close in early 2026. The company plans to use this acquisition to expand its Arc enterprise L1 chain and CCTP cross-chain transfer protocol so that digital assets can move efficiently across more than 100 blockchains. Axelar Network, the Axelar Foundation, the AXL token and their community-led governance will remain independent, while Common Prefix will assume Interop Labs' previous Axelar responsibilities.

On December 15 2025, Tesla's market capitalization climbed to about $1.5 trillion after adding roughly $900 billion in value since April 2025, with TSLA rising around 4% and trading just below its prior $488.54 high. The rally followed viral footage of Robotaxi trials in Austin without a safety driver and renewed optimism from analysts about Cybercab production in 2026 and wider rollout of Tesla's autonomous services. Strong reviews of the latest FSD release further supported expectations for an AI-driven revaluation of the company.

On December 15, 2025, OpenAI was selected as Yahoo Finance's Company of the Year even as it carried the largest losses ever recorded, tied to $1.4 trillion in spending plans. The firm shifted into a for-profit structure, struck massive deals with Microsoft, Oracle, AMD, Nvidia and others, and now reports 800 million weekly active users, $13 billion in 2025 revenue, and a private valuation of $500 billion. HSBC projects a $207 billion funding gap by 2030, while analysts warn that ambitious chip and data center investments have rattled partners and heightened competitive and financial risks.

Bitcoin dropped from the low $92,000 area to around $87,000 over the weekend as trading liquidity remained extremely thin. The move unfolded during slow Sunday hours while traders stayed cautious ahead of key economic data, and major altcoins also extended their double-digit monthly losses on muted volumes.

HashKey Holdings Ltd. raised HK$1.6 billion, roughly $206 million, by pricing its Hong Kong initial public offering at HK$6.68 per share, close to the top of the HK$5.95–HK$6.95 marketing range. The company sold 240.6 million shares amid strong demand, while its debut comes during a busy December for Hong Kong listings and a volatile period for the broader crypto market.

Tesla's long-serving directors realized more than $3 billion from legacy option awards as shares surged. The board halted new stock grants in 2020 and froze compensation in 2021 amid litigation. Reported pay from 2018–2024 remained far above peers, while a spokesperson said directors attended 58 meetings in 2024.