Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin remained relatively stable above $73,000 after CME Group launched 24-hour, seven-day-a-week trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options products, marking another milestone in the institutional development of digital asset markets.

Key Highlights

CME Moves to Round-the-Clock Trading

CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange, now allows continuous trading of crypto futures and options through its Globex platform.

The offering covers:

Bitcoin (BTC)

Ethereum (ETH)

XRP

Solana (SOL)

Bitcoin's volatility has dropped dramatically over the past several years, falling from around 120 in 2017 to nearly 35 in 2026, according to long-time Bitcoin investor and Mayer Multiple creator Trace Mayer. While some market participants see the decline as a sign that Bitcoin is losing its appeal, Mayer argues the opposite: lower volatility reflects the cryptocurrency's growing maturity and institutional acceptance.

Institutional Investors Changing the Market

As cryptocurrencies continue their march toward mainstream adoption, Dogecoin (DOGE) faces a pivotal question: can a digital asset born as an internet joke remain relevant in an industry increasingly dominated by institutional investors, regulated products, and real-world blockchain applications?

Bitcoin and Ether closed the week lower even as global financial markets received a boost from easing geopolitical tensions and a strong rally in U.S. equities.

The S&P 500 registered its ninth straight weekly gain, marking its longest winning streak since 2023 and one of the most notable stretches in recent decades. The benchmark index has surged nearly 20% from its March lows, reflecting renewed confidence among investors amid improving market conditions.

Yet the positive backdrop did little to support the cryptocurrency market.

Institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies is accelerating as global banks, asset managers, and financial service providers expand their digital asset offerings. Once viewed as a speculative niche, cryptocurrencies are increasingly being integrated into mainstream investment strategies through custody services, trading platforms, tokenized products, and wealth management solutions. Improved regulatory clarity and rising client demand are encouraging traditional financial institutions to deepen their involvement in the sector.

Pepe Coin has emerged as one of the most recognizable meme-based cryptocurrencies in the digital asset market, driven largely by internet culture, speculative trading, and viral online momentum. In 2026, the token continues to attract retail investors seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities within the volatile crypto sector. Unlike infrastructure-focused blockchain projects, Pepe Coin’s market value is heavily influenced by social sentiment rather than technological utility. Its rapid rise highlights the growing power of online communities in shaping financial narratives.

SpaceX has disclosed Bitcoin holdings worth approximately US$1.45 billion, or nearly Rs. 12,000 crore, through its long-awaited public filing, underscoring the continued strategic importance of cryptocurrency within corporate treasury management. The company held 18,712 Bitcoin as of December 31, maintaining a position that places it among the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holders. The disclosure also highlights the long-term digital asset strategy associated with Elon Musk, whose companies have repeatedly influenced cryptocurrency markets.

KRWQ, a stablecoin pegged to the South Korean won, is expanding onto the Solana blockchain in a move aimed at strengthening Korean won liquidity within decentralized finance and crypto-native trading systems. Developed through a collaboration involving IQ and Frax Finance, the stablecoin seeks to address growing demand for non-US dollar digital trading pairs across derivatives, foreign exchange, and institutional crypto markets.

A major international cryptocurrency-linked financial network allegedly connected to terror financing, narcotics trafficking, and transnational smuggling operations has been dismantled by the Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence. Investigators uncovered a digital transaction chain involving approximately Rs. 226 crore routed through blockchain-based channels tied to dark web marketplaces and illicit global networks.

India’s cryptocurrency sector has entered a new phase of maturity, moving beyond questions of survival toward debates surrounding regulation, taxation, and long-term structural growth. Despite one of the world’s harshest digital asset tax frameworks — including a 30 percent tax on gains and 1 percent tax deducted at source on every transaction — millions of Indian users continue participating in crypto markets while developers and entrepreneurs actively build Web3 products with global ambitions.