Shiba Inu Drops Urgent Security Warning to Users on Critical Risk as 2025 Ends

Eowyn Chen, the CEO of Trust Wallet, a Binance ecosystem self-custody crypto wallet that had its Google Chrome extension compromised yesterday, shares the first details of its reimbursement road map. Meanwhile, it is still unknown how the attackers managed to inject malicious code into the plugin release.

Trust Wallet started reimbursement program, CEO Eowyn Chen says

All Trust Wallet users who lost their funds as a result of the Dec. 24-26 Google Chrome extension hack can claim a refund via a purpose-made domain. Such a statement was posted by Trust Wallet CEO Eowyn Chen on her X account.

As per the statement, affected users should only apply for the compensation via the official dashboard. The procedure will be conducted with the minimum volume of details to fill.

Users interested in reimbursement should specify their email addresses, compromised wallet addresses, the hacker's addresses and wallet-draining transaction hashes.

In the description field of the request, users should share the current reimbursement sum and the address of the new wallet for compensation. Chen recommended to create a new wallet specially for the reimbursement procedure.

$7 million Trust Wallet hack: What we know so far

Also, data about the residence of victims is collected for further criminal proceedings against the malefactors.

The Trust Wallet team stresses that users should stay aware about potential impersonation scams with fake compensation programs. The legitimate initiative does not ask for passwords, personal data and seed phrases.

As covered by U.Today previously, attackers injected malicious JavaScript code into the v2.68 release of the Google Chrome plugin of Trust Wallet. All users who logged in between the release (Dec. 24) and the attack's discovery (Dec. 26) have had their seed phrases intercepted by thieves.

It is highly likely that the attack became possible due to a leak of API keys involved in the process of publishing Trust Wallet upgrades in Google Chrome's plugin marketplace.

After multiple days of strong performance, the XRP ETF ecosystem is gradually beginning to see fading momentum as its long streak of steady inflows has eventually taken a break, according to data from SoSoValue.

While the XRP funds were expected to maintain momentum till the end of the year, they have seen no performance from investors for the first time since their emergence, sparking hot discussions across the crypto community.

XRP ETFs remain strong despite $0 net inflow

On Friday, Dec. 26, the XRP spot ETF market recorded zero net inflow, ending a streak of consistent capital intake that had fueled strong growth across all XRP funds since their launch.

Despite recording a total net inflow of $0.00 during its last trading session, the cumulative inflows remained impressive at $1.14 billion.

The XRP ETF ecosystem also boasts total net assets of about $1.24 billion, suggesting that long-term investor confidence in XRP remains intact despite the unexpected break.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that trading activity remained healthy even as its daily inflows saw a temporary pause, with its total trading volume reaching $16.61 million for the day.

Amid the mixed price action, XRP itself traded around $1.85 on the same day, signaling price stability during the consolidation phase as institutional investors remain confident about the asset’s long-term prospects.

Canary leads with highest net asset

Following the muted activity witnessed on Friday, all XRP spot ETFs recorded flat daily inflows, however, their impressive net assets remain intact.

Data provided by the source further showed that XRPC Canary led the pack, holding $325.93 million in net assets and gaining 0.41% over the last day.

21Shares followed next, managing $250.68 million with a slight 0.02% dip. Bitwise, Grayscale and Franklin Templeton also followed with $227.15 million, $225.11 million and $206.90 million in net assets, respectively.

Notably, most products finished the session in positive territory despite the absence of new inflows, a sign that investors continue to show conviction rather than retreat.

According to reports, Bitcoin’s outlook for 2026 is sharply divided as traders close the year. The coin was trading at $87,520 at the time of publication and is down 8% since Jan. 1, year to date. Market mood has been weak. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 20 on Dec. 26, marking a stretch of two weeks labeled “extreme fear.”

Analysts Split On Market Direction

According to posts on X, Jan3 founder Samson Mow contend that 2025 was the bear market and that Bitcoin could be entering a bull run that lasts into 2035.

PlanC, another well-known analyst, posted that Bitcoin has never had two red yearly candles in a row and suggested that surviving 2025 meant surviving the bear phase. Those comments have been picked up across industry pages and sparked fresh debate.

Since Bitcoin hit an all-time high (ATH) of $126,000 in October 2025, the price of the flagship cryptocurrency coin has declined. The long period of downward volatility has shaken the confidence of a few top Bitcoin analysts, who are now bearish as to the future outlook.

Analyst sentiment shifts as Bitcoin consolidation drags on

As highlighted by CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju, there has been a general shift in sentiment as top Bitcoin analysts' outlook "turns red." This suggests that the long, drawn-out period of stagnation, which some consider price consolidation, has triggered concerns.

Young Ju also noted that with this shift in sentiment, he too now feels isolated in being optimistic about a rebound for Bitcoin. "My favorite analysts turned bearish. I feel lonely," he wrote.

With many analysts anticipating further price weakness rather than growth, those still optimistic about BTC’s recovery appear to be on a decline.

Recently, entrepreneur and renowned author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" Robert Kiyosaki signaled his loss of confidence in the flagship crypto asset. Kiyosaki, who has always advocated buying Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation, stunned the community when he sold off part of his portfolio to invest in other ventures.

More concerning was Kiyosaki’s silence about Bitcoin on his social media page, X. Unlike in previous bull rallies when the author constantly shared his opinion on the asset, there has been nothing but silence from him.

Despite the bearish outlook in the Bitcoin market, Ki Young Ju appears not convinced by the bearish consensus among analysts. While he did not explicitly say Bitcoin will climb or when, Young Ju is remaining bullish on the coin.

Some optimists in the community are also not giving up on Bitcoin’s rebound. In fact, they opine that the current decline affords investors an opportunity to accumulate the asset. The bearish consensus is seen as a normal occurrence that precedes rallies, as per historical data.

Bitcoin's technical risks mount despite long-term optimism

As of this writing, Bitcoin is changing hands at $87,448.61, which represents a 1.36% decline in the last 24 hours. The coin has shed over $2,000 within this period, as volume is also down by 16.9% at $27.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s technical chart shows that the coin risks plunging lower to $67,000 as a death cross looks set to emerge.

However, the decline will not be sharp as BTC still has some support between its current market price and the projected depth. Notably, these are the $80,600 and $74,111 price levels, respectively.

Under the President Donald Trump Administration, the U.S. government has taken a markedly different approach toward cryptocurrency. Instead of treating the sector as a regulatory problem or speculative threat, Washington is now moving to integrate crypto directly into the existing financial system. 

According to @tiger_research, the U.S. strategy is not to replace traditional finance with crypto, but to make crypto operate under familiar financial rules and structures.

U.S. SEC Signals New Era of Crypto Regulation

A major shift has occurred at the U.S. SEC. Under former Chair Gary Gensler, crypto regulation relied heavily on enforcement actions against companies like Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance. Clear rules were often missing, with lawsuits taking priority over guidance.

After Gensler’s exit, this approach changed. Under new leadership, the SEC introduced Project Crypto, aiming to clearly define which digital tokens qualify as securities. According to tiger_research, this signals a move away from regulation through lawsuits toward a structured regulatory framework, an important step for the crypto industry’s long-term growth.

CFTC Embraces Crypto as Collateral

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also expanded its role. It formally recognized Bitcoin and Ethereum as commodities and approved them, alongside USDC, for use as collateral in derivatives markets.

Through its Digital Asset Collateral Pilot Program, the CFTC applied traditional risk controls like haircuts, treating crypto assets similarly to conventional financial collateral. This signals a deeper level of institutional trust and positions crypto as functional financial infrastructure, not just speculative assets.

OCC Opens the Banking Door

Perhaps the most structural shift came from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Previously, crypto firms were locked out of federal banking oversight and forced to navigate state-by-state licensing.

That changed in late 2025, when the OCC conditionally approved national trust bank charters for firms such as Circle and Ripple. This move puts major crypto companies on equal footing with traditional banks, allowing nationwide operations and direct settlement without intermediary banks.

Stablecoins Get Legal Clarity

Congress also delivered long-awaited clarity through the GENIUS Act, which set strict rules for stablecoin issuers. The law mandates 100% reserve backing, bans rehypothecation, and assigns federal oversight. As the analyst notes, this effectively transforms stablecoins into legally recognized digital dollars.

Why This Matters for Crypto

This past year shows the U.S. is not banning crypto, nor fully deregulating it. Instead, it is absorbing crypto into its financial core. Regulatory debates still exist, especially around privacy tools like Tornado Cash, but those tensions reflect institutional checks rather than policy reversal.

For crypto markets, Bitcoin’s 2025 run under Trump was volatile but constructive. BTC surged above $109,000 early in the year on pro-crypto optimism and regulatory clarity, then sold off sharply after Trump’s tariff announcements hit risk markets. 

Despite the pullback, adoption kept rising through state reserves and corporate Bitcoin treasuries, helping BTC recover and rally again. After the Fed cut rates in September, Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high near $125,800 in October, with bullish macro conditions reviving upside expectations.

FAQs

A clear regulatory framework reduces legal uncertainty, encouraging institutional investment and enabling startups to innovate without fearing unexpected lawsuits.

National trust bank charters allow firms like Circle and Ripple to operate nationwide, speeding up transactions and integrating crypto more closely with traditional finance.

Treating crypto like traditional financial collateral allows derivatives and lending markets to expand, increasing liquidity and encouraging broader institutional adoption.

Ethereum is trading near a crucial price zone, leaving traders cautious as the market looks for its next direction. After weeks of volatile moves, ETH has entered a slower phase, hovering close to a key support area. The current price action suggests the market is at a decision point, where a strong move in either direction could soon follow.

Ethereum Price Analysis

Looking at the chart, some traders believe Ethereum may be forming a Head & Shoulders structure. ETH moved into the $3,200–$3,250 range in early December, which could mark the left shoulder. This was followed by a stronger rally above $3,400, forming the head. The most recent rebound stalled lower, around $3,100–$3,150, which may represent the right shoulder.