Market report for traders
đź”® BTC, ETH, and Altcoins
Crypto markets saw slight relief from recent lows this week, with the total market cap bouncing 8.57% from the bottom set on November 22.\ Bitcoin fell 6.31% over seven days, Ethereum dipped 6.12%, while Solana edged down 2.38%. XRP slightly in the red only 0.51% down for the week.
Altcoins also saw mixed action, with gold-backed PAX Gold (PAXG) rising 2.25% following Paxos’ acquisition of wallet provider Fordefi. Smaller-cap movers stood out too, with Golem (GLM) jumping 9.73% on renewed interest in decentralised compute networks, and IOST gaining 9.65% in 24 hours amid a surge in trading activity.
🗞 What’s happening in the news?
a16z’s State of Crypto 2025 - The Big Trends, Simplified
Every year, a16z crypto drops its 2025 State of Crypto report report and this year’s edition paints a picture of an industry that’s maturing fast. Forget the hype cycles… crypto’s fundamentals are actually strengthening.
🔥 Crypto adoption is rising, quietly but quickly
The report shows global on-chain activity is up across nearly every category:
- More people are using stablecoins for payments.
- More devs are building apps.
- More transactions are happening on L2s than ever before.
Stablecoins alone processed trillions in on-chain payments last year beating PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App combined. (Yep, really.)\ We’re talking multi-trillion-dollar flow moving across blockchains annually.
🧱 Developers are still the heartbeat of crypto
Despite market volatility, long-term developer growth is rock-solid.\ There are now hundreds of thousands of active crypto developers, many building on L2 networks, app-chains, and tooling for real-world use.
The report highlights:
- More devs working with AI + crypto tools
- Surging interest in zero-knowledge tech
- Rising demand for wallet infrastructure and identity tools
And here’s the kicker: dev activity tends to lead market cycles meaning builders are signalling long-term conviction, whether price is up or down.
đź’¸ Blockchains are becoming cheaper and faster and users love it
One of the biggest shifts is the rise of Layer 2 networks, driving transaction costs down by over 90% compared to just a few years ago.
- Cheaper fees = more experimentation.
- More experimentation = more apps.
- More apps = more users.
And that’s exactly what we’re seeing: DeFi, gaming, creator apps, identity tools and payments all seeing growth month over month.
💰 Token demand is increasingly tied to “real usage,” not speculation
The report points out a major trend: Blockchains are evolving from purely speculative markets into utility-driven ecosystems.
Fees, staking, MEV rebates, and token-burning mechanisms mean many networks now have clearer economic models supported by actual demand.
For example, networks with high stablecoin velocity or active user bases are generating meaningful revenue , often millions to billions in annualised fees.
🤖 The AI + crypto crossover is exploding
One of the fastest-growing themes:\ AI models that run on-chain, or use crypto rails to operate.
This includes:
- Decentralised AI marketplaces
- On-chain compute networks
- Token incentives for model training
- AI-powered agents that transact autonomously
A16z calls this the “next major platform shift” and crypto is the trust layer AI desperately needs.
🌏 Real-world use cases are finally landing
Crypto is breaking out of the “just trading” box.\ The report highlights growing real-world traction in:
- Payments
- Digital identity
- Creator monetisation
- Gaming economies
- DePIN (decentralised physical infrastructure)
In fact, DePIN networks alone now support millions of real devices, from wireless hotspots to GPUs powering AI inference.
🧠So what does it all mean?
a16z’s conclusion is simple: Crypto’s foundation has never been stronger.
The teams are here.
The users are here.
The builders are here.
And the real-world use cases are scaling.
Market noise comes and goes but the underlying adoption curve is trending up and to the right.
📖 What we’ve been reading
New Zealand Introduces Mandatory Financial and Digital-Asset Education From 2026
New Zealand look to embed financial literacy into its national curriculum from 2026, with full implementation set for 2027. According to reports, students from Years 1 to 10 will learn core money skills, progressing from saving and budgeting to investments, tax, and insurance. The program may also cover modern payment systems, including digital assets, blockchain fundamentals, and tracking token prices. Educators may use hands-on activities such as classroom token systems and basic blockchain simulations to teach decentralisation, transactions, and digital wallets. The initiative follows research showing most students currently receive little to no financial education, prompting government partnerships to supply updated teaching resources.
UK Man Behind 2020 Twitter Bitcoin Scam Ordered to Forfeit A$8M in Crypto
A British man involved in the 2020 Twitter Bitcoin scam has been ordered to hand over $8 million in stolen crypto. Joseph O’Connor, known as “PlugwalkJoe,” hijacked more than 130 high-profile accounts including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Elon Musk after tricking Twitter employees into giving up internal login access. The group used the compromised accounts to promote a fake “send BTC, get double back” giveaway, receiving 12.86 BTC across 426 transfers. Authorities ultimately recovered 42 BTC and other assets linked to O’Connor following his conviction.
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Billionaire Goes All-In on NFT Culture
Billionaire collector Adam Weitsman is doubling down on NFT culture, securing 229 Meebits in one of the biggest private NFT deals of 2025. The Larva Labs created collection linked to the same team behind CryptoPunks which has long been a cultural pillar of early Web3, and Weitsman said Meebits were the project that first pulled him into the space. He completed the purchase on what he called “one of the reddest days of the market,” saying he collects for the art, the people, and the history, not for flipping. The haul includes culturally significant pieces like Skeleton #16803 and the ultra-rare Punk Tee #7063.
*Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial product advice. You should obtain independent advice from an Australian financial services licensee before making any financial decisions.*
