Ethereum price outlook: can bulls hold $3,000 as BitMine buys more ETH?

  • Ethereum price fell to lows of $3,034 as Bitcoin slumped below $88,000.
  • The ETH price holding above $3,000 came as BitMine announced the purchase of 102,259 ETH last week.
  • Bulls could ride the corporate sentiment to bounce higher.

Ethereum (ETH) price showed broader weakness as it fell to the $3,000 level on Monday, with this coming amid further corporate accumulation.

As Bitcoin’s dip below $88k reflects broader market weakness, the key question is whether Ethereum bulls can ride the confidence in the top altcoin’s long-term potential.

BitMine Immersion Technologies’ huge purchases of ETH point to this outlook.

BitMine buys another 102,259 ETH

BitMine Immersion Technologies has further expanded its dominant Ethereum position.

On December 15, 2025, the publicly-traded company announced the acquisition of an additional 102,259 ETH over the past week.

This purchase brings the company’s total holdings to 3,967,210 ETH, valued at approximately $12.2 billion at current prices.

Notably, the latest addition continues a pattern of consistent accumulation during periods of price stabilization.

Previously, on December 8, BitMine reported holdings exceeding 3.86 million ETH, implying the prior week’s purchase of around 138,452 tokens.

Earlier, in the week leading to December 1, the company added 96,798 ETH, pushing holdings to 3.73 million at that time.

The MicroStrategy of Ethereum

BitMine’s approach draws clear parallels to the pioneering Bitcoin treasury model popularised by Michael Saylor at Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy).

Like Strategy for BTC, Bitmine has amassed the world’s largest corporate Ethereum holdings.

BitMine’s total crypto, cash, and investment holdings now stand at $13.3 billion.

It includes $1 billion in unencumbered cash, a small Bitcoin position of 193 BTC, and a $38 million stake in Eightco Holdings.

The company operates mining facilities in low-cost energy regions such as Texas and Trinidad.

However, it has pivoted strongly toward long-term ETH accumulation, with this funded through capital raises and operational efficiency.

Thomas “Tom” Lee of Fundstrat, Chairman of BitMine, said:

2025 saw many positive developments in digital assets, including positive legislation passed by the US Congress and favorable regulations, and strengthened support from Wall Street. These strengthen our conviction that the best days for crypto are ahead and why we continue to accumulate ETH towards our ‘alchemy of 5%’ target.

Can ETH bulls hold $3,000 level?

BitMine’s strategic buys have been executed amid Ethereum’s price resilience, with robust support established near the $3,000 psychological level.

In the past 24 hours, the ETH price has hovered in the $3,175 and $3,034 range.

If prices dip below the $3k mark, ETH is likely to retest the $2,720 lows seen on Dec.1.

Analysts however note that ETH has shown resilience and a decent bounce above $3,100 could pave the way for a retest of higher resistance around $3,500. Network enhancements, easing monetary policy and corporate buys are likely bullish catalysts.

However, just like $90k is now a key resistance level for Bitcoin, the $3,200-$3,300 is key to ETH.

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Phantom integrates Kalshi prediction markets as crypto wallets expand into event trading

  • The new Phantom Prediction Markets feature supports tokenised event trading across multiple categories.
  • Crypto exchanges such as Gemini and Coinbase are also moving into US prediction markets.
  • Regulatory challenges persist, with recent legal action involving the state of Connecticut and Kalshi.

Crypto wallets are increasingly becoming gateways to real-world financial activity, and Phantom’s latest move highlights that shift.

The crypto wallet application has partnered with regulated prediction market Kalshi to embed event-based trading directly into its wallet interface.

The integration allows users to engage with outcome-driven markets without moving funds to external platforms.

It also reflects a broader push by crypto firms to blend onchain infrastructure with regulated financial products tied to real-world events, from elections to economic data and cultural moments.

The partnership, announced on Friday, introduces a new product inside the wallet called Phantom Prediction Markets.

The feature allows users to explore live events, monitor price movements, and trade tokenised positions linked to Kalshi’s markets, all within Phantom’s existing interface.

The move positions wallets not just as storage tools, but as active trading hubs.

How the Phantom Kalshi integration works

Phantom users will be able to discover trending event markets and track live odds directly inside the wallet.

The integration enables trading of tokenised positions that reference Kalshi’s regulated event contracts, covering categories such as politics, economics, sports, and culture.

Instead of navigating separate trading platforms, users can place and manage positions from the same wallet they already use for onchain activity.

The structure relies on tokenised representations tied to Kalshi’s markets, linking decentralised wallet infrastructure with regulated event trading.

Phantom described the product as a way to let users engage with topics they care about in real time, using crypto-native tools to interact with real-world outcomes.

The rollout adds to Phantom’s expanding feature set as competition intensifies among wallet providers.

Prediction markets draw crypto exchanges

Phantom’s announcement comes as crypto exchanges and affiliated entities move quickly to establish a presence in US prediction markets.

On Thursday, Gemini Titan, an affiliate of the crypto exchange Gemini, received a designated contract market licence from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Gemini said the licence would allow it to offer event contract trading through its web platform.

Following the announcement, Gemini shares rose by nearly 14% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor interest in the segment.

Prediction markets have gained traction as traders look for alternative ways to express views on macroeconomic indicators, elections, and other headline-driven events, often outside traditional derivatives markets.

Regulatory pressure shapes the landscape

Despite rising adoption, prediction markets continue to face regulatory scrutiny in the US.

On Dec. 4, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection sent cease and desist orders to Robinhood, Kalshi, and Crypto.com, alleging they were offering unlicensed online gambling services.

Kalshi responded the following day by filing a lawsuit against the state agency, arguing that its event contracts are permitted under federal law.

A Connecticut federal court judge later ordered the department to pause enforcement actions against Kalshi, temporarily blocking the cease and desist order.

The ruling provides short-term relief for Kalshi as legal questions around prediction markets remain unresolved.

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Mantle price breaks key resistance with 10% daily surge: can MNT target $1.50 next?

  • Mantle price jumped 10% to highs of $1.27 as bulls extended gains above the $1.20 mark.
  • Bulls will eye $2.00 next, but selling pressure may yet resurface.
  • Decentralized finance, tokenization, and ETFs could be key pillars for bulls.

Mantle (MNT) has surged past the $1.20 threshold with a +10% surge in the past 24 hours, signaling potential sustained momentum.

As of writing on December 12, 2025, MNT traded around $1.26. The recovery in the period follows recent consolidation, which mirrored the broader market.

A similar outlook surrounded most decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA)  focused tokens.

Mantle price rides bullish sentiment

Mantle’s price has gained in recent sessions as bulls capitalize on fresh positive market sentiment. After Bitcoin held above $90k, upbeat traders have helped propel several altcoins higher.

On December 12, 2025, Ethereum held above $3,200. On the other hand, MNT climbed by over 10% to decisively break above the $1.20 resistance level.

Bears had capped Mantle’s advances for much of the past fortnight.

This intraday surge, which saw the token peak at $1.27 before stabilizing around current prices, came amid a notable spike in daily trading volume.

Data from CoinMarketCap shows rising activity pushed trading volume to $170 million, up by 5% in the past 24 hours.

The move aligns with a broader crypto rally, where Ethereum-based assets.

A lot of this has to do with renewed institutional inflows and anticipation surrounding ETFs and regulatory clarity.

Mantle’s total value locked (TVL) has jumped from $385 million to above $430 million, helped by the Mantle and Bybit partnership.

On December 10, 2025, Bybit and Mantle announced a collaboration with Almanak, an AI-powered quantitative trading platform.

The alliance deploys Almanak’s token on the Mantle network, complete with a dedicated liquidity pool and seamless integration of its no-code, multi-agent AI strategy engine.

Mantle price forecast

While the market remains jittery, Mantle’s price trajectory appears poised for continued expansion.

The blockchain platform offers a modular architecture and combines optimistic rollups with innovative data availability solutions. DeFi, RWAs, and crypto ETFs could play a key role in solidifying the bulls’ stance.

Having tested $1.27, MNT could next target resistance near $1.50, and a breakout will bring $2.00 into play.

This outlook will strengthen if Bitcoin sees new upside momentum that spills over into altcoins.

Mantle Price Chart
Mantle price chart by CoinMarketCap

However, volatility persists, and a broader market correction tied to macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds may yet encourage bears.

If MNT’s price fails to break higher or stabilize above $1.20, a short-term bearish flip could bring lows of $0.9 into view.

As well as market conditions, bulls will watch out for overall network and partnership milestones. MNT price reached an all-time high of $2.85 in October 2025.

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Binance under scrutiny over response to South Korean police request in Upbit breach case

  • South Korean police asked Binance to freeze Solana tokens linked to the Upbit breach on Nov. 27.
  • Binance reportedly froze about $55,000 after a delay of roughly 15 hours.
  • The Upbit breach involved unauthorised Solana-based withdrawals worth about $36 million.

South Korean authorities are examining how overseas crypto platforms respond to urgent law enforcement requests after new details emerged about Binance’s handling of a police freeze request linked to a security breach at Upbit.

The case has become a reference point for how quickly stolen digital assets can be contained once they leave domestic exchanges and move across borders.

While cooperation between exchanges and regulators is often described as routine, the Upbit incident shows how verification processes and response times can shape the outcome of active investigations.

The situation has also renewed attention on whether existing cross-border coordination mechanisms are sufficient when hacks involve large sums and fast-moving assets.

Freeze request and delayed action

According to South Korean broadcaster KBS, police investigating the Upbit breach asked Binance to freeze Solana tokens worth about 470 million Korean won, or roughly $370,000, on Nov. 27.

Investigators believed the funds were linked to wallets connected to the incident at Upbit, one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

KBS reported that Binance ultimately froze around $55,000, equivalent to about 17% of the amount requested.

The freeze came after a delay of approximately 15 hours.

Binance reportedly told authorities that additional verification was required before it could act on the full request.

The gap between the amount requested and the amount frozen has become central to questions about enforcement speed.

Impact of the Upbit breach

The police request followed unauthorised withdrawals of Solana-based assets from Upbit valued at roughly $36 million.

The scale of the breach prompted a formal police probe and a broader effort by the exchange to trace and recover funds across multiple platforms.

As part of the response, Upbit has been tracking wallet movements and alerting major global exchanges to assets suspected of being linked to the breach.

The case illustrates how quickly stolen crypto can be distributed, making early intervention critical once an incident is detected.

Broader enforcement challenges

The incident has drawn attention to structural issues in global crypto enforcement.

KBS cited commentary highlighting that rapid initial freezes can limit losses in hacking cases, while delays can allow assets to be moved or laundered further.

Concerns have also been raised about exchanges citing legal or litigation risks when responding cautiously to foreign law enforcement requests.

The discussion has included proposals for tighter coordination, such as direct emergency communication channels between major exchanges with the authority to enact temporary freezes while verification is completed.

These ideas reflect ongoing debates about balancing due process with the need for swift containment.

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Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) crashes 10% in 24 hours as memecoin market weakens

  • Pudgy Penguins  (PENGU) price fell to lows of $0.010 as altcoins crashed on Thursday.
  • The token’s dip extends losses seen in the past months.
  • Bitcoin’s slip amid the AI market downturn impacted PENGU’s price.

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) has taken a significant price hit in the past 24 hours, with the memecoin token plummeting more than 10% to lead the top 100 losers on the day.

At the time of writing, PENGU price hovered around $0.01085. The token broke from under $0.0100 to touch highs of $0.013 earlier in the week.

However, with cryptocurrencies showing weakness, the token has erased all these gains.

Pudgy Penguins tanks 10% as altcoins slip

The Pudgy Penguins ecosystem, which boasts an NFT collection and burgeoning token utility, has had it rough in the past few months.

After surging to above $0.043 in July, a downward spiral saw PENGU slip to a low of $0.0097 on December 2, 2025.

While bulls masterminded a slight uptick to above $0.013, the PENGU token, which powers community initiatives like merchandise drops and digital collectibles, has once again shed gains.

By paring by more than 10% of its value within a single day, the token is now staring at 30% declines in the past month.

The token has one of the steepest declines among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in the past year. On December 11, Pudgy Penguins’ trading volume dropped 12% to $243 million.

Analysts see this as a signal of reduced selling pressure after the latest declines were accompanied by huge surges in volume.

PENGU price outlook

The PENGU price decline is emblematic of a wider bearish assault across cryptocurrencies.

As Bitcoin sees bearish pressure, altcoins have dropped to key support levels. Memecoins, which have failed to rally amid declines for Dogecoin and others, lead some of the sectors with huge losses.

Global equity markets also faltered after the previous session’s gains.

In this case, a lack of momentum after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates has dampened broader risk appetite. PENGU’s correlation with top alts and memecoins amplifies the potential for further declines.

Overleveraged positions from recent gains could catalyse an unfolding scenario of downward action. A drop below $0.010 will be bad news for bulls.

Sellers could even target $0.004, an area near all-time lows seen in April 2025.

However, catalysts such as upcoming ETF decisions and broader adoption suggest bulls may not be done yet.

Investors will eye these and other reversal cues. A path forward remains treacherous as the bear run rolls in, but price reclaiming $0.013 is key. PENGU’s bullish levels are above $0.04.

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