Crypto Market Update: UK Moves To Place Crypto Firms Under FCA Regulation

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$89,794.92, up by 0.2 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, December 15, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Bitcoin entered the new week on a cautious footing after a bruising bout of weekend volatility pushed prices back below the US$90,000 level.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency slid roughly 3 percent over the weekend, touching a two-week low near US$87,500 amid thin liquidity before buyers emerged early Monday to lift prices toward the US$89,500–89,700 range. While the rebound helped stabilize sentiment, Bitcoin has so far struggled to reclaim USD 90,000, which has emerged as a key psychological and technical barrier following last week’s pullback.

Going into the week, attention now turns to a packed economic calendar. In the US, non-farm payrolls data due Tuesday and inflation figures scheduled for Thursday are expected to influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next policy steps.

MN Capital founder Michaël van de Poppe highlighted the emerging CME futures gap at approximately as a focal point for short-term price action, noting on X that ‘the sweep is already happening on $BTC. It’s great that it’s happening on Sunday, so then Monday will be positive.”

He also pointed to the CME gap as a potential magnet for liquidity and a reference level for rebound scenarios, but cautioned, however, that outcomes are not guaranteed and the current structure does not yet resemble setups associated with extended bearish weeks.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,140.16, up by 1.5 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.99, down by 1.7 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$132.39, up by 1.2 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

UK moves to place crypto firms under full regulation

UK officials are preparing legislation that would move crypto companies fully inside the country’s financial regulatory framework.

According to The Guardian, the plan involves putting crypto service providers under regulation like other financial firms, subject to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules on consumer protection, governance, transparency, and market conduct.

Treasury officials say the shift is meant to close long-standing gaps as crypto activity becomes more entwined with mainstream finance rather than operating at the regulatory edges.

Legislation is expected by October 2027 to give firms time to adjust to the more demanding compliance environment.

If enacted, the move would mark a structural change for UK-based crypto startups, which until now have largely operated without full product-level regulation.

HashKey prices Hong Kong IPO at top end with US$206 Million

HashKey Holdings, Hong Kong’s largest licensed crypto exchange, is set to raise about US$206 million after pricing its initial public offering near the top of its marketed range, according to a source familiar with the deal.

The company priced shares at HK$6.68, valuing the exchange operator as it prepares to debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 17. HashKey operates across trading, asset management, brokerage, and tokenization, and runs the city’s biggest regulated crypto exchange.

While mainland China continues to warn against crypto speculation, Hong Kong has taken the opposite approach, positioning itself as a regulated gateway for digital finance.

North Korean hackers drain wallets using ‘Fake Zoom’ meetings

North Korean cybercrime groups are using fake Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings to steal crypto, draining more than $300 million through the tactic so far, according to security researchers.

According to CryptoNews, the scam typically starts with a message from a compromised Telegram account that appears to belong to someone the victim already knows.

Victims are then invited to what looks like a legitimate video call, complete with convincing video feeds that are actually pre-recorded footage.

During the call, attackers claim there is an audio problem and send a supposed software “patch” that installs malware instead. Once installed, the malware can extract passwords, private keys, and internal security data, allowing attackers to empty crypto wallets.

Global crypto thefts have already surpassed US$2 billion this year, with North Korean-linked groups remaining among the most active and sophisticated actors in the space.