Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (December 19) as of 9:00 am UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrencymarket news
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$88,073.99, down by 0.4 percent over 24 hours.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin price performance, December 19, 2025.
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,950.53, down by 0.4 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.87, down by 1.8 percent over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$125.13, down by 2.1 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
US Senate confirms Mike Selig as CFTC Chair
The US Senate has confirmed Mike Selig as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), bringing permanent leadership back to an agency that has operated for months in near-limbo.
Selig’s confirmation passed 53–43 as part of a broader package of federal appointments. The CFTC had been functioning with a single commissioner, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, after multiple resignations hollowed out the five-member panel.
While Pham kept the agency operational, the lack of a Senate-confirmed chair constrained long-term planning, staffing, and coordination with other regulators.
That gap was especially acute as lawmakers debated expanding the CFTC’s role in overseeing spot crypto markets.
CLARITY Act heads for Senate markup in January
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is set to enter Senate markup in January, according to White House crypto and AI adviser David Sacks, putting the bill on a formal path toward passage.
“We had a great call today with Chairmen @SenatorTimScott and @JohnBoozman who confirmed that a markup for Clarity is coming in January. Thanks to their leadership, as well as @RepFrenchHill and @CongressmanGT in the House, we are closer than ever to passing the landmark crypto market structure legislation that President Trump has called for,” Sacks posted on X. “We look forward to finishing the job in January!”
Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott and Agriculture Chair John Boozman have agreed on the timeline. The bill, which cleared the House earlier this year, aims to settle long-running jurisdiction disputes by spelling out when a token is a security versus a commodity.
Lawmakers are expected to focus amendments on asset classification tests, investor protection standards, and how quickly platforms must register under the new regime.
Another key issue will be how the SEC and CFTC coordinate oversight during the transition period.
If the schedule holds, Congress could finalize a reconciled version later during the year.
Bybit re-enters UK Market via FCA-approved promotion route
Crypto exchange Bybit has resumed operations in the UK after a two-year absence triggered by tighter rules on crypto marketing and promotions.
The platform has restarted spot trading with 100 pairs, using a compliance structure designed to meet the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) financial promotion standards.
Rather than holding its own UK authorization, Bybit is operating under an arrangement with London-based exchange Archax, which is licensed to approve crypto promotions for unauthorised firms.
This route has previously been used by other major exchanges seeking access to British users.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.