Weekly Crypto & Tech Roundup
26 Dec 2025
Merry Christmas all! As we head into the final days of 2025, the markets are winding down with holiday vibes, but that hasn’t stopped some big moves in our favourite names. This week’s newsletter rounds up the key updates from Tesla (TSLA), Strategy Inc. (MSTR), Bitcoin (BTC), Circle Internet Group (CRCL), and Solana (SOL). From court wins to price dips and strategic shifts, here’s what you need to know to stay ahead. Let’s dive in—bullish as ever on the future of innovation.
Tesla (TSLA): Musk Scores a Massive Win on Pay Package
Tesla closed out the week with some fireworks, as Elon Musk won a major court appeal to restore his record-breaking $56 billion compensation package. On December 19, a Delaware appeals court reversed a lower court’s decision that had voided the 2018 deal, calling it “unfathomable.” This clears the path for Musk to reclaim the massive options grant, which could supercharge his focus on Tesla’s AI and robotics ambitions. The stock dipped slightly on Friday, closing down 0.45% at $481.20, but the overall sentiment? Bullish— this removes a big overhang and reinforces Musk’s long-term commitment. With Cybercab prototypes ramping up tests and Optimus Gen 3 hitting factories, 2026 is shaping up to be explosive. TSLA remains a core hold for the AI-driven future.
Strategy Inc. (MSTR): Cash Build-Up and Index Drama
Michael Saylor’s Strategy Inc. made headlines this week with a strategic pivot: boosting its cash reserves to a whopping $2.19 billion as of December 21, up from $1.44 billion earlier in the month, while pausing Bitcoin purchases. The company raised $747.8 million through stock sales last week alone, signalling prep for potential big moves amid market volatility. However, there’s a cloud: Analysts warn of wider exclusion from major stock indexes like MSCI, which could trigger up to $8.8 billion in outflows if Strategy gets the boot. Saylor’s pushing a new narrative that Strategy “goes beyond Bitcoin exposure,” but with shares down over 45% YTD, this cash hoard could fuel more aggressive BTC buys in 2026. Despite the dip, their unrelenting accumulation strategy keeps me optimistic—dips are opportunities.
Bitcoin (BTC): Holiday Volatility as Prices Slip
Bitcoin had a choppy week, giving up early gains and sliding below $88,000 by Monday, December 22, amid broader market slips and bracing for a $28.5 billion Deribit expiry. After a brief pop to near $90,000 following low US inflation data on December 18, BTC tumbled back, closing around $87,350—down 0.8% in 24 hours. The rollercoaster continues, with analysts noting 2025 could end on a low note despite earlier highs. Miners like Riot Platforms felt the heat, dropping 7% for the week amid transition headwinds. Still, with institutional adoption humming and potential policy tailwinds, I’m viewing this as a consolidation phase before the next leg up. BTC’s resilience shines through—hodl strong.
Circle Internet Group (CRCL): Shares Surge Amid Options Buzz
Circle, the stablecoin powerhouse behind USDC, saw its stock heat up this week, climbing about 15% over the past seven days and 22% for the month, closing up 2.23% at $82.80 on high volume. Unusual options activity spiked, hinting at investor bets on further upside. With USDC’s market cap steady and recent partnerships driving adoption, CRCL is facing a key test heading into year-end—but the momentum suggests undervalued potential. As stablecoins bridge tradfi and crypto, Circle’s growth trajectory looks solid, especially with Arc blockchain innovations on deck. This quiet rally could be the start of something big.
1,100+ Circle Alliance Program members
Solana (SOL): Coinbase Boost and Price Resilience
Solana kept the momentum going with a major win: Coinbase launched full Solana DEX trading access directly in its app, opening up seamless token swaps to its 100 million users. Announced at Solana Breakpoint 2025, this integration could supercharge SOL’s DeFi ecosystem and drive mainstream adoption. Price-wise, SOL rose nearly 1% on December 19, trading near resistance levels with potential to test $130 if the bounce holds. Amid holiday patterns and broader crypto dips, Solana’s high-speed network continues to attract builders—keep an eye on this one for 2026 breakouts.
That’s a wrap for this week’s highlights! Markets are thin with holidays, but the underlying trends in AI, crypto adoption, and treasury strategies point to an exciting start to 2026.
What are you most bullish on for 2026?
JP
Hey, great read as always. This update on Tesla and Musk's pay definitely made me blink, what a holiday gift! Remember when you wrote about the push for more AI talent a few weeks back? Seeing this linked to Tesla's AI ambitions is quite the full circle moment for sure. Keep up the briliant insights!