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Grayscale and Tom Lee turn bullish, forecasting new Bitcoin all-time highs despite recent volatility, while Ethereum developers push advanced privacy tools using zero-knowledge technology.
Japan approves a major tax overhaul with a flat 20% crypto tax starting 2027, as Ripple secures Singapore’s top-tier MPI license and XRP ETFs record $41 million in daily trades.
Bitcoin spot ETFs see $8.48 million in inflows, and Vanguard opens access to crypto ETFs for 50M customers, marking a major shift in traditional finance adoption.
The cryptocurrency market witnessed three major events today, including legislative reforms and large corporations accepting institutional investors through the use of zero-knowledge protocols. These events are evident in the news about Japan's tax reform, Ripple's expansion into Singapore, and Grayscale's bold prediction of Bitcoin prices above $50,000 by 2026. The rapid growth of Digital Asset investments has changed how people think about the cryptocurrency Industry.
Grayscale Research released a report stating it projects new all-time highs for Bitcoin by 2026 because Bitcoin does not need to adhere to the four-year cycle created by the ‘halving effects.’
The firm said Bitcoin’s current correction after dropping 32% from early October highs is not indicative of a long-term downturn. BTC briefly fell toward $84,000 before rebounding to $86,909 early Tuesday.
Grayscale argued that the traditional four-year cycle "will prove incorrect," citing several reasons:
The current cycle lacks the parabolic retail-driven rally typically seen before a major reversal.
Institutional participation dominates through ETFs and corporate treasuries.
Macro tailwinds, rate-cut expectations, and bipartisan US crypto legislation remain supportive.
Tom Lee echoed this sentiment, saying fundamentals like wallets, fees, and on-chain activity continue improving even as prices lag.
Ethereum developers are working on a zero-knowledge protocol that aims to offer greater privacy protection for on-chain interactions.
The developers are using a ‘Secret Santa’ style matching mechanism as a way for users to coordinate and interact with each other without disclosing their identities.
Artem Chystiakov, a Solidity developer, proposed the idea of a ‘Privacy Preserving Voting System’ to overcome major blockchain challenges involving transparency, randomness, and Sybil resistance from blockchain systems.
This system is proposed to enable anonymous voting, privacy-preserving DAO governance, whistleblower systems, and enable confidential distribution of tokens without revealing the identity of recipients.
Japan is getting ready to change its crypto tax rules, and the government is also backing a flat 20% tax on crypto profits, similar to how stock market profits are taxed.
This marks a significant shift from the existing system, where crypto income is classified as “miscellaneous income” and can be taxed as high as 55% for top earners.
The Financial Services Agency's proposal to simplify tax reporting for crypto investors in Japan and reduce the amount of tax owed will be included in a 2026 bill.
This is viewed as a significant victory by the Japan Blockchain Association, which believes the current tax laws restrict Web3 innovation and drive traders offshore.
Ripple expanded its global regulatory footprint after getting a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Ripple will be able to provide both institutional and retail payment services more effectively. Additionally, it solidifies Ripple's position in the Asia-Pacific region.
With the MPI license, Ripple has a regulatory approval from one of Singapore’s premier regulatory agencies, which can help accelerate the adoption of its XRP and RLUSD stablecoin in cross-border payments.
In addition, XRP exchange-traded funds had record volume, with almost $41 million traded in one day. Bitwise led trading activity with $11.69 million, followed by Franklin Templeton with $9.10 million.
Also Read: XRP News Today: XRP Derivatives Shift as Open Interest and Funding Change
Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $8.48 million in net inflows, according to Sosovalue data. Fidelity’s FBTC led with a $67.02 million inflow.
ARK Invest and 21Shares’ ARKB followed with a $7.38 million inflow. BlackRock’s IBIT fund saw a $65.92 million outflow.
Collectively, Bitcoin spot ETFs now hold $111.94 billion in assets, representing 6.56% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.
Also Read: Bitcoin Price Today at $86,978 Amid Global Economic Uncertainty
Vanguard announced it will allow clients to trade crypto ETFs and mutual funds on its brokerage platform. The move gives more than 50 million customers access to regulated crypto investment vehicles, including those offered by competitors such as BlackRock and Fidelity.
Vanguard said crypto ETFs have demonstrated resilience during periods of market volatility and that investor preferences continue to evolve.
While the company has no immediate plans to launch its own crypto products, the decision represents a major step in mainstreaming digital asset exposure for traditional investors.
1. Why does Grayscale believe Bitcoin will hit new highs in 2026?
Because of institutional demand, macro support, and the absence of a parabolic retail rally make a prolonged downturn is unlikely.
2. What is the purpose of Ethereum’s zero-knowledge Secret Santa protocol?
It enables anonymous on-chain matching and could evolve into broader tools for private voting, DAO governance, and confidential token distribution.
3. Why is Japan switching to a flat 20% crypto tax?
To simplify taxation, reduce the burden on investors, and encourage domestic Web3 growth.
4. What does Ripple’s MPI license allow?
It permits Ripple to provide regulated payment services and expand XRP and RLUSD adoption across Asia-Pacific.
5. Why did XRP ETFs hit record trading volume?
Institutional interest surged, pushing daily trades to $41 million across major issuers like Bitwise and Franklin Templeton.
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