Unregistered Bitcoin Mining In Russia May Soon Come With Up To Two Years Of Forced Labor

Russia is preparing to escalate its crackdown on unregistered cryptocurrency mining, proposing criminal penalties that include forced labor and prison sentences, little more than a year after formally legalizing the industry.

The Ministry of Justice on Monday published draft amendments to the Criminal Code that would reclassify many forms of illegal crypto mining from an administrative offense into a criminal one. 

The proposal comes amid widespread noncompliance with the regulatory framework that took effect in 2024, following President Vladimir Putin’s signing of mining legislation last summer.

Although mining was legalized to bring the fast-growing sector out of the shadows,…

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Riot Opens $500M Stock Offering As Bitcoin Production Falls

Riot Platforms opened a new $500 million at-the-market equity offering this week as the bitcoin miner reported lower November production and continued to sell a large portion of its monthly output to fund operations and expansion.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Riot said it entered into a definitive sales agreement allowing it to issue and sell up to $500 million of common stock at prevailing market prices through the Nasdaq Capital Market. 

The facility replaces a prior at-the-market program established in August 2024, which Riot terminated effective Tuesday.

Under the new agreement, Riot retains discretion over the timing and volume…

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Bitcoin, Ethereum On Track For First Down Year Since 2022, But Cantor Sees Long-Term Bull Case

Asset management firm Cantor describes 2025 as a pivotal year for crypto regulation, institutional adoption and innovation, even as the market enters its first meaningful downturn since 2022.

What Happened: Cantor said in its 2026 outlook that despite stronger fundamentals and improving policy clarity, fears surrounding Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO: BTC) four-year cycle and a tougher macroeconomic backdrop are weighing on prices.

The firm said current conditions resemble the early stages of a crypto winter.

Bitcoin remains structurally bullish over the long term, but Cantor expects short-term pressure to persist. If historical patterns hold, the downturn may still be in its early phase, leaving room…

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What’s Going On With Nano Labs Stock Wednesday? – Nano Labs (NASDAQ:NA)

Nano Labs Ltd (NASDAQ:NA) is reshaping its capital strategy as it leans further into digital assets and shareholder returns amid a volatile year for the stock.

The stock gained on Wednesday after it said it is advancing its Web3-focused capital strategy by expanding its BNB reserve and launching a previously approved share buyback program.

The company completed another round of BNB (CRYPTO: BNB) purchases, lifting its total holdings to more than 130,000 BNB, valued at ~$112 million.

Also Read: Nano Labs Stock Jumps After Investing in Crypto-Focused CEA Industries and Boosting BNB Strategy

Nano Labs said the additions strengthen its long-term strategic reserve tied to the Binance… Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin To Bottom Out At $55,000 Before $350,000 Surge? Analysts Have This To Say On BTC’s 2026 Prospects

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is poised to end 2025 lower, reversing what was an optimistic start to the year. But as 2026 dawns on us, focus has shifted to new possibilities and narratives that will define its journey.

Will 2026 Be A Year Of Reckoning?

Michael Terpin, CEO of Transform Ventures and author of the book “Bitcoin Supercycle,” predicted Bitcoin’s capitulation to around $55,000 – $65,000 in 2026, driven by “plenty” of panic selling by short-term holders.

“The Bitcoin halving cycle is still quite relevant in 2026. Every four years, the Bitcoin bubble popped and it generally took about a year to fully remove the froth of the prior bull market,” Terpin said in a note…

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Crypto Momentum Stalled In Q4, But The Next Quarter Will Be Better: Grayscale

According to a new Grayscale report, crypto market momentum cooled in the fourth quarter of 2025 as investors digested earlier gains and positioned for the year ahead. 

What Happened: In its latest Crypto Sector Quarterly report, Grayscale points out that all major crypto sectors posted negative returns in Q4 as investor caution increased amid regulatory uncertainty and evolving technology risks.

Defensive positioning emerged during the quarter, with the currencies sector outperforming others, driven largely by privacy-focused tokens.

Application-layer assets underperformed, while the AI crypto sector recorded the weakest performance, reflecting higher risk sensitivity and the early-stage…

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Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Gain As 2026 Looms: Analyst Expects ‘Nice Little Surprise’ On New Year’s Day If BTC Does This – Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) (ARCA:BTC)

Leading cryptocurrencies rose on Tuesday, while the stock market slipped as the Federal Reserve released minutes from its December meeting.

CryptocurrencyGains +/-Price (Recorded at 8:35 p.m. ET)Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)+1.78%$88,600.81Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)               +1.88%$2,978.98XRP (CRYPTO: XRP)                         +1.78%$1.88Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)                         +2.39%$125.71Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE)                         +0.76%$0.1235Bitcoin, Ethereum On Track For Worst Q4 Since 2018

Bitcoin rose but failed to break past the $89,000 barrier, while trading volume for the apex…

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