Weekly Digital Asset News: Strategy remains committed to Nasdaq 100 stocks; Moonbirds to issue BIRB tokens in early 2026

News Highlights

1. Next week’s US economic data releases may mark a turning point in the market: unemployment rate and CPI statistics are awaited, potentially weakening dollar support
2. SEC issues guidelines on digital asset custody methods
3. Nasdaq 100 rebalancing conducted: 6 stocks removed, 3 added, Strategy (MicroStrategy) remains in the index
4. Exor management unanimously rejects Juventus FC stock acquisition proposal
5. Moonbirds project plans to launch BIRB (Barb) tokens in early Q1 next year
6. This week, 16 blockchain-related startups raised $170 million; annual investment is expected to exceed $25 billion

Macro Economic Focus

Next week is a concentrated week for US economic indicators

Amid the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates and adopting a dovish stance, the market shows complex movements due to challenges in the real economy within the artificial intelligence sector. Next week, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release key data such as the unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted employment statistics, and retail sales, which will help gauge the economic reality.

Major economic indicators schedule:

• Monday 21:30: December New York Manufacturing Index
• Monday 22:30: Speech by Federal Reserve Board member
• Monday 23:30: Economic outlook by New York Fed President (FOMC voting member)
• Tuesday 21:30: November Unemployment Rate, Nonfarm Payrolls for November, October Retail Sales MoM
• Tuesday 22:05: Opening speech at foreign exchange market structure conference hosted by New York Fed
• Thursday 1:30: Speech on economic outlook by Atlanta Fed President (FOMC voting member for 2027)
• Thursday 21:30: November Consumer Price Index (total and core YoY), seasonally adjusted CPI MoM, initial jobless claims, December Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index

CPI as a Market Dividing Line

Next week’s consumer price data will be a critical turning point for the dollar. With the latest CPI growth rate at 3.0%, exceeding the Fed’s 2.0% target, if the statistics come in below expectations, a rate cut cycle could be justified, putting further downward pressure on the dollar. Conversely, if inflation exceeds expectations, the trend could reverse.

US Senate’s Crypto Asset Legislation Review Likely Delayed

Reports indicate that bipartisan senators held additional discussions on the Crypto Asset Market Structure Act. After the session, Senator Warner stated that the bill’s review next week would be “significantly difficult,” and other senators implied agreement. The Senate Banking Committee is increasingly likely to postpone review until the new year.

Japan’s Rate Hike May Not Significantly Risk Crypto Markets

Japan’s previous rate hike led to yen buying and a rapid risk-off move, causing Bitcoin to fall from about $65,000 to $50,000. However, future rate hikes are unlikely to trigger significant risk aversion in the crypto market for two reasons:

1. Speculators currently hold net long positions against the yen, making rapid reactions less likely
2. Japanese government bond yields are rising throughout the year, reaching levels not seen in decades for both short and long-term bonds

Therefore, future rate hikes are expected to be in line with market movements of the official discount rate. Meanwhile, the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points this week, reaching a three-year low, and implemented liquidity adjustments. These combined factors suggest that a significant unwinding of yen carry trades and risk aversion toward the end of the year are unlikely.

Security & Regulatory Trends

SEC Publishes Best Practices for Digital Asset Custody

The US Securities and Exchange Commission released information for investors, explaining risks and best practices related to wallets and custody services.

While listing the pros and cons of self-custody versus third-party custody, it emphasizes that investors should understand the policies of custodians when choosing third-party services. Particular attention is recommended to whether assets are rehypothecated and whether customer assets are managed individually or pooled.

Project & Company News

Strategy Continues in Nasdaq 100

In the Nasdaq 100 rebalancing, 6 stocks are removed and 3 added, but Bitcoin holder Strategy has decided to remain in the index. This change takes effect on December 22.

Originally a business software company, Strategy shifted its focus in 2020 to Bitcoin accumulation as its core strategy. The company currently holds approximately 66,624 BTC (worth about $5.955 billion) and was added to the index last December. Its Bitcoin holding strategy has faced criticism from analysts and index providers.

Moonbirds to Launch BIRB Tokens in Early 2026

According to Spencer, CEO of Orange Cap Games, the Moonbirds project plans to release BIRB tokens in early Q1 2026. He positions Moonbirds as a “Pop Mart” in the Web3 space. The issuance of BIRB tokens is expected to formalize the project’s economic ecosystem.

0G Foundation Loses 520,000 0G Tokens in Reward Smart Contract Attack

On December 11, 0G Foundation announced that its reward distribution smart contract was compromised in a targeted attack. The attacker exploited the affiliate reward distribution function, stealing:

• 520,010 0G tokens
• 9.93 ETH
• $4,200 worth of USDT

The stolen funds were subsequently mixed through a bridge and mixer functions. The attack is believed to have exploited a critical vulnerability in Next.js (CVE-2025-66478) disclosed on December 5. The impact on main chain infrastructure and user funds is said to be unaffected.

Berachain Ecosystem’s Infrared to Conduct IR Token TGE on December 17

Infrared, Berachain’s liquidity staking protocol, will officially announce the IR token on December 17. Airdrops target ongoing users of the point program, pre-deposit participants, and active community members on Discord and testnet.

IR token functions:

• Staking sIR for governance voting rights
• Participating in revenue sharing via buyback
• Managing issuance for protocol optimization

Key Dates:

• December 13 20:00 (UTC+8): CEX pre-deposit window opens
• December 16 01:00 (UTC+8): CEX pre-deposit window closes
• December 17 16:00 (UTC+8): Official announcement
• January 12, 2026 08:00 (UTC+8): Application deadline

Tether’s Juventus Acquisition Proposal Rejected

Exor’s management unanimously rejected Tether’s proposal to acquire all shares of Juventus FC. Exor reaffirmed that it has no intention to sell club shares to third parties, including Tether. The Agnelli family retains control of the club and has no plans to sell.

Aevo Loses About $2.7 Million Due to Vulnerability in Old Vault

Aevo reported that a vulnerability during smart contract updates led to an attack on the old Ribbon vault (predecessor to Aevo), resulting in a loss of approximately $2.7 million.

While about 32% of the total vault assets were lost, the team recommends users withdraw only 19% of their positions at the time of attack. The claim period runs from December 12 to June 12, after which the DAO will liquidate remaining assets and distribute to early withdrawers.

Market Data & Investment Trends

NFT Market Weekly Trading Volume Down 10.18%

NFT market statistics for the past week show a trading volume of $66.71 million, down 10.18% from the previous week. Buyer numbers decreased by 66.91% (165,759 people), sellers by 70.44% (120,912 people), and total transactions by 13.88%, indicating overall subdued activity.

By network, Ethereum traded $24.93 million (down 3.02%), BNB Chain $10.83 million (up 45.64%), and Solana $5.65 million (up 48.27%).

High-Value Transactions:

• CryptoPunks #6615: $153,356.75
• CryptoPunks #309: $134,530.52
• CryptoPunks #4566: $123,808.45

Crypto Asset Startup Investments Exceed $25 Billion Annually

This week, 16 blockchain companies raised $170 million, with projected annual investments surpassing $25 billion in 2024. This is more than double last year’s amount and significantly exceeds analyst expectations. Leading VCs like Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and DCG continue investing, indicating strong capital inflow into the market.

Institutional Holdings

American Bitcoin (ABTC) Buys an Additional 623 BTC in Past 7 Days

Trump-aligned mining firm ABTC increased its Bitcoin holdings by approximately 623 BTC over the past week. About 80 BTC came from mining revenues, and approximately 542 BTC from strategic purchases on the open market. ABTC’s current total holdings are 4,941 BTC, valued at about $450 million.