Wintermute Offloads Large Crypto Holdings as Year-End Market Volatility Intensifies
Quick Breakdown
Major market maker Wintermute has initiated a significant sell-off of its digital asset holdings.
The aggressive distribution follows a catastrophic “Crypto Black Friday” in October.
While critics raise concerns about potential market manipulation, Wintermute’s leadership maintains that its trading activity is standard.
Digital asset market maker Wintermute has significantly reduced its exposure to the cryptocurrency market, offloading more than half of its primary holdings over the past three months. On-chain data and market reports released on December 23, 2025, indicate that the firm has been consistently transferring large volumes of Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ethereum ($ETH) to major exchanges like Binance. This sudden influx of liquidity led Bitcoin to drop below $85,000, erasing over $100 billion in market capitalization within a few days.
https://t.co/UJMxdXZtHa
— Wintermute (@wintermute_t) December 23, 2025
Strategic rebalancing amid macroeconomic shifts
Wintermute’s latest market report attributes much of the recent selling pressure to a sharp decline in investor expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December. As risk-off sentiment intensifies, institutional desks have begun “shading” their odds, leading to an indiscriminate pullback across the digital asset sector. Analysts at the firm noted that while the broader macro picture remains constructive for the long term, short-term capital is increasingly concentrated in liquid assets as the holiday season approaches.
The firm’s recent movements also follow a period of heightened scrutiny. In late 2025, Wintermute was forced to deny rumours of potential legal action against Binance following the “Crypto Black Friday” crash on October 10. CEO Evgeny Gaevoy dismissed these claims as “complete bullshit,” clarifying that the firm remained unaffected by the liquidation wave that wiped out $19.5 billion in leveraged positions.
Liquidity provision versus market manipulation
Despite accusations from some market participants that the firm is deliberately suppressing prices, Wintermute continues to operate as a primary liquidity provider for exchanges like Coinbase and Binance. On-chain trackers observed a transfer of 15.4 million Arbitrum ($ARB) tokens valued at approximately $2.91 million from Wintermute to an anonymous address on December 24, 2025. Such high-frequency transactions are often linked to balancing options positions or providing depth during periods of thin liquidity, rather than pure asset liquidation.
Meanwhile, Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy publiclyall “complete bullshit” rumours that the firm planned to sue Binance following the October 10 market crash. The CEO clarified that Wintermute never had, and sees no future reason for, legal action, dismissing claims originating from an unverified X account on November 4, 2025.
If you would like to read more articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”

As the crypto market heads into 2026, the shift toward institutional adoption and Layer-2 scalability is creating a "quality-first" bull market. On Bitget Insights, where precision and analysis matter most, here is a look at the top 8 altcoins positioned for potentially massive gains in 2026.
🚀 Top 8 Altcoins to Watch for 2026
* Ethereum (ETH) 💎
With the "Fusaka" upgrade and the maturity of "Blob Space," ETH is evolving from just an asset into the world’s primary settlement layer. Predictions place it between $8,000 – $15,000 by 2026.
* Solana (SOL) 🔥
The "Retail King." With Firedancer increasing throughput and massive DePIN growth, SOL remains the top competitor to Ethereum's dominance.
* XRP (XRP) 🏦
Regulatory clarity in the US and integration into global payment corridors make XRP a strong contender for institutional utility.
* Binance Coin (BNB) 🛡️
As the backbone of the BNB Chain and the primary utility for the world’s largest exchange ecosystem, its deflationary burn mechanism remains a long-term price driver.
* Chainlink (LINK) 🔗
The bridge between TradFi and DeFi. As Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization explodes in 2026, LINK’s CCIP protocol will be the industry standard.
* Avalanche (AVAX) ❄️
Its "Subnet" architecture is winning over institutional partners who want customizable, private-yet-connected blockchains.
* Artificial Superintelligence (FET) 🤖
AI is the narrative of 2026. As the merger of Fetch.ai, Ocean, and SingularityNET matures, FET is the primary bet on decentralized AI.
* Arbitrum (ARB) 🏗️
Currently the leader in Ethereum L2 TVL. As Ethereum scales, the ecosystem that provides the best developer experience—Arbitrum—will likely see the highest value capture.
📈 Market Sentiment
Analysts expect 2026 to be the "Dawn of the Institutional Era," where Bitcoin potentially hits $150k+, paving the way for altcoins to reach new All-Time Highs (ATHs).
📑 Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) before investing.
#Bitget #Altcoins2026 #CryptoPredictions #CryptoGains #Ethereum
Would you like me to analyze the specific price targets for any of these coins in more detail?$ETH $LINK $XRP
3 Oversold Cryptos Setting Up for a Powerful Bull Cycle Comeback
SEI: Trades near long-term support, with strong recovery potential as market liquidity returns.
ARB: Undervalued leader among layer-twos, sitting at support with historical rebound patterns.
ALGO: Active development and partnerships position the network for strong gains in a bull cycle.
The crypto market often sells first and asks questions later. Strong projects frequently suffer during broad market pullbacks. Prices drop faster than fundamentals change. Fear pushes investors to exit positions quickly. Quality networks then fall into deep oversold territory. Such conditions often appear before major trend reversals. As liquidity slowly returns, strong assets tend to recover first. Several altcoins now trade near historical support zones. Three projects stand out for recovery potential during the next bull cycle.
Sei Network (SEI)
Source: Trading View
Sei Network focuses on high-speed trading infrastructure. The blockchain targets decentralized exchanges and DeFi platforms. During mid-2024, Sei Network gained strong market attention. Trading activity increased rapidly across the ecosystem. Price followed upward momentum for several months. A sharp correction followed as market conditions weakened. Widespread liquidations affected most altcoins.
The decline reflected macro pressure rather than project weakness. Network development continued throughout the pullback. User interest remained stable across trading platforms. SEI now trades near long-term support levels. Such zones often attract strategic buyers. Price compression signals reduced selling pressure. A shift in sentiment could drive rapid upside. Analysts see room for a potential price doubling.
Arbitrum (ARB)
Source: Trading View
Arbitrum remains the most active Ethereum layer-two solution. Total value locked stays ahead of competitors. Developer adoption continues across DeFi protocols. Capital inflows show confidence in network usage. Transaction volume remains consistently high. Despite strong fundamentals, ARB trades near cycle lows. Market pricing fails to reflect network dominance. Long-term support currently holds firm.
Historical data shows strong reversals from similar levels. Two to three times gains followed past tests. Buying momentum has slowly increased. On-chain activity supports price recovery potential. Market rotation often favors undervalued leaders. Ethereum scaling demand continues to rise. Arbitrum stands well-positioned for renewed attention. A broader altcoin rally could lift ARB significantly.
Algorand (ALGO)
Source: Trading View
Algorand continues active development during market weakness. The network releases frequent upgrades and improvements. Ecosystem partnerships continue expanding across industries. Recent collaboration with Google strengthened credibility. The AP2 Aentic Payments Protocol marked a major step forward. Leadership changes also signal renewed focus. A new CTO now drives technical innovation.
Developer tools continue improving. Network performance remains stable and efficient. Community engagement remains strong across social channels. Price action tells a different story. ALGO trades far below previous highs. Historical cycles show strong rebounds during bullish phases. Past rallies delivered gains of up to five times. Risk-on market conditions often favor such assets. Strong fundamentals support long-term upside potential.
Market corrections often hide future opportunities. Sei Network, Arbitrum, and Algorand show strong fundamentals. Each trades near key support zones. A bull cycle return could unlock meaningful upside for all three.Would you like a shorter version, SEO keyword integration, or a Google Discover headline rewrite?
Tags:
Algorand (ALGO)
Altcoin
Crypto market
cryptocurrency
Sei (SEI)
How Arbitrum adoption in 2025 turned the L2 into a global institutional and DeFi hub
In 2025, a pivotal year for digital markets, Arbitrum adoption emerged as a key driver of the convergence between traditional finance and onchain infrastructure.
Summary
Arbitrum at the center of institutional onchain finance
Network market share and transaction growth
Ecosystem expansion and developer activity
Arbitrum: institutional adoption and tokenisation momentum
DeFi, stablecoins and financial infrastructure
Financial strength and DAO reinvestment
Looking ahead to 2026
Arbitrum at the center of institutional onchain finance
The year 2025 marked a decisive shift in blockchain infrastructure as institutional finance moved from experimentation to execution.
Tokenisation left pilot mode and entered full production, while TradFi and onchain finance began to merge into a single operating model centered on Arbitrum.
From powering the world’s largest retail trading platform to settling tokenised funds for some of the world’s biggest asset managers, Arbitrum One established itself as the venue of choice for major global institutions throughout 2025.
“2025 was the year that crypto captivated institutional finance and that megatrend will continue to accelerate across the landscape as capital allocators now act with conviction,” said Brendan Ma, Head of Investment Strategy at the Arbitrum Foundation.
He added that Arbitrum is “uniquely positioned to drive the momentum in 2026 by supporting institutional adoption, helping and growing talented teams, and reinvesting for long-term growth.” That conviction, Ma argued, is now visible across the ecosystem.
Network market share and transaction growth
Arbitrum One crossed 2.1 billion+ lifetime transactions in 2025. However, the pace of activity has accelerated sharply: while it took roughly three years to reach the first billion transactions, the network added the second billion in less than 12 months.
Moreover, Arbitrum maintained its position as the leading L2 by market share, reaching a $20 billion+ Total Value Secured in 2025. This consolidation underscores strong user demand and deep liquidity relative to other layer 2 networks.
Ecosystem expansion and developer activity
The broader Arbitrum ecosystem expanded rapidly in 2025, with 100+ chains live or in development. Notable launches included the Ethereal Perps DEX, privacy-focused Zama, and consumer-facing Blackbird, reflecting growing diversity in use cases.
Today, more than 1,000 projects are powered by Arbitrum, making it a top 3 chain globally by number of protocols. This breadth of activity signals robust builder interest and reinforces its status as a leading smart contract platform.
At the same time, the network generated over $600M in ecosystem GDP in 2025, a 30%+ year-on-year increase based on fees produced by applications on Arbitrum One. This combination of developer traction and revenue growth highlights improving economic sustainability.
Arbitrum: institutional adoption and tokenisation momentum
As real-world assets (RWAs) adoption went mainstream, Arbitrum became a preferred venue for institutions bringing traditional financial products onchain. It welcomed partners including Robinhood, Franklin Templeton, Blackrock, Spiko and others that are shaping the next generation of market infrastructure.
In June 2025, Robinhood announced tokenized US stocks and ETFs for EU customers on Arbitrum. In just six months, that offering expanded to almost 2,000 tokenized equities on Arbitrum One, demonstrating strong early product-market fit.
Moreover, Robinhood plans to continue this momentum in 2026 with a dedicated blockchain built using the Arbitrum stack, signaling a deeper technological alignment with the ecosystem.
On the governance side, ArbitrumDAO‘s STEP 2.0 initiative allocated 35M ARB toward RWA initiatives, including tokenized US Treasury products and support for WisdomTree’s WTGXX, Spiko’s USTBL, and Franklin Templeton’s BENJI. In less than 12 months from launch, Spiko reached $200M+ in AUM on Arbitrum.
DeFi, stablecoins and financial infrastructure
Arbitrum strengthened its position as a liquidity anchor for decentralized finance in 2025. Stablecoins and tokenised real-world assets both saw breakout adoption on the network, reinforcing its role as a core DeFi settlement layer.
Stablecoin supply grew 82% YoY, reaching roughly $8 billion+ in market capitalization. However, growth was not limited to size: the network also became the deepest venue for onchain dollars among L2s and one of the most diverse across USDC, USDT and newer assets like USDai, thBILL and syrupUSDC.
Ecosystem initiatives such as the DRIP program helped drive 229%+ growth in stablecoins on Arbitrum since its launch in September 2025. This rapid expansion of dollar liquidity is a key pillar of broader arbitrum adoption.
Likewise, RWA tokenization on Arbitrum reached $1.1B+ in October 2025, representing an 18X increase from the same period in 2024. That surge coincided with scaled activity across DeFi verticals.
Arbitrum hosted the largest deployments of Aave and Uniswap outside Ethereum, with active loans climbing 109% to $1.5B. At the same time, new lending products from teams like Fluid expanded volumes by over 460%, and the DRIP program welcomed Morpho, Euler and Maple Finance into the ecosystem.
Financial strength and DAO reinvestment
Arbitrum’s financial profile evolved significantly in 2025. As an L2, it is positioned for high and sustainable margins, enabling the DAO to reinvest into a compounding flywheel aimed at long-term ecosystem growth.
The Arbitrum ecosystem is set to end 2025 with 90%+ gross margins across four distinct revenue streams, up from just two in the previous year. Timeboost, launched in 2025, generated more than $5M in revenue in its first seven months of operation.
Moreover, ArbitrumDAO is on track to close Q4 2025 with roughly $6.5M in gross profit, or about $26M annualized, alongside more than 50%+ period-on-period growth. These figures underscore a robust and scaling business model.
The DAO also strengthened its balance sheet, holding over $150M in non-native assets, including cash equivalents and ETH. That financial buffer positions the ecosystem for sustained, strategic expansion even under volatile market conditions.
Looking ahead to 2026
The story of 2025 was one of synchronized growth across major verticals and asset classes. From global institutions to retail platforms, consumer applications to stablecoins, the Arbitrum ecosystem showed it can support financial activity at global scale.
As the industry moves into 2026, the objective is clear. Together, builders, institutions and the DAO aim to deepen the rails of open programmable finance wherever they can create lasting value.
That said, the work ahead remains significant. However, the momentum built in 2025 suggests the ecosystem is ready for its next chapter and for Arbitrum Everywhere to become a defining theme of the coming cycle.
In summary, 2025 established Arbitrum as a leading institutional, DeFi and RWA hub, laying strong foundations for continued expansion and innovation in 2026.