Proof-of-reserves shows that a custodian controlled specific onchain assets at a single moment, but it does not by itself confirm solvency, liquidity or the quality of internal controls. An exchange can "pass" PoR while still carrying hidden liabilities, using encumbered assets or facing liquidity gaps, and many PoR exercises resemble limited agreed-upon procedures rather than full audits. A more reliable trust framework combines PoR with comprehensive liability proofs, governance and control assessments, and clearer disclosures around liquidity and encumbrances.

BTQ Technologies launched a Bitcoin-like Quantum testnet on Jan. 12, 2026 to evaluate post‑quantum signatures such as ML‑DSA. The network lifts the block cap to 64 mebibytes (MiB) to accommodate signatures roughly 38–72 times larger than ECDSA. It highlights risk concentration in legacy output types and address reuse.

In January 2025, French authorities released Ledger co-founder David Balland after kidnappers allegedly demanded a significant cryptocurrency ransom, highlighting how digital assets can fuel coercive, real-world crimes. Wrench attacks, where criminals use threats or violence to force victims to unlock wallets or authorize transfers, appear to be rising alongside total crypto market capitalization and the growth of visible on-chain wealth. Public-facing founders, influencers and OTC or P2P traders in regions such as Western Europe and parts of Asia-Pacific are described as especially exposed, prompting calls to reduce personal visibility, limit instantly accessible balances and treat data leaks and support impersonation as part of the same threat landscape.

Vitalik Buterin's "walkaway test" frames Ethereum's long-term credibility as its ability to remain secure and useful even if protocol upgrades largely stop. Within this vision, the network must be able to "ossify if we want to" while still handling quantum-era cryptographic threats through account abstraction and flexible signature schemes. The roadmap aims at full quantum resistance, higher scalability, durable state architecture and resilient proof-of-stake economics so Ethereum can adjust its security assumptions without relying on emergency coordination.

South Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act has been delayed as the Bank of Korea and the Financial Services Commission disagree over who should be allowed to issue won-pegged stablecoins. The central bank favors bank-led consortia with at least 51% bank ownership, while regulators and lawmakers warn this could constrain competition and innovation. With the dispute expected to push the bill into 2026, banks, fintech platforms and crypto firms are already preparing to launch or distribute local stablecoins once a framework is finalized.

Onchain investigator ZachXBT said a Coinbase support impersonation operation stole roughly $2 million in crypto, traced through onchain activity and social media artifacts. The FBI reported more than $16 billion in internet crime losses in 2024, underscoring the role of social engineering; Coinbase reiterates it never requests passwords, 2FA, seed phrases, or transfers to a safe address.

Strategy acquired 10,645 BTC for $980.3 million at a $92,098 average between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14, 2025, lifting holdings to 671,268 BTC. It financed the buys largely through ATM common‑stock sales and preferred issuances, and maintains a $1.44‑billion USD reserve to service dividends and interest during extended drawdowns.

Global macro analyst Luke Gromen reiterated in December 2025 that he remains bullish on currency debasement but is reducing near‑term Bitcoin risk. He told RiskReversal a move toward the $40,000 range in 2026 is possible, pointing to BTC’s underperformance versus gold, breaks below key moving averages, and market chatter around quantum computing.

Ondo Finance plans to expand its Global Markets product to Solana in early 2026, offering tokenized US stocks and ETFs that are backed by securities held with US-registered broker-dealers. The structure is designed so that holders receive economic exposure, including dividend effects, while compliance is enforced via Solana Token Extensions such as Transfer Hooks. Minting and redemption are expected to run 24 hours a day, five days a week, with transfers and trading available around the clock on Solana.