Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (December 17) as of 12 noon UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$86,981, down by 1 percent over 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, December 17, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,927.84, down by 2.6 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.91, down by 1.7 percent over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$127.60, down by 3.5 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Hut 8 stock jumps after securing Google-backed AI deal
Bitcoin miner Hut 8 (TSX:HUT) is leaning harder into artificial intelligence infrastructure after locking in a 15-year, US$7 billion lease tied to its River Bend campus in Louisiana.
The agreement covers 245 megawatts of IT capacity and includes a financial backstop from Google, which guarantees lease payments for the duration of the base term.
While Google will not operate the facility or run workloads on-site, its backing significantly lowers counterparty risk and boosted investor confidence. Hut 8 shares rose nearly 4 percent in regular trading before surging more than 21 percent in premarket action, extending year-to-date gains to roughly 79 percent.
The deal ranks among the largest AI infrastructure commitments ever secured by a publicly listed Bitcoin miner.
US senators push new task force as crypto scams cost Americans US$9.3B
A bipartisan pair of US senators has introduced legislation aimed at tightening the federal response to cryptocurrency-related fraud after reported losses surged last year.
The SAFE Crypto Act would require the Treasury Department to form a dedicated task force focused on detecting and preventing crypto scams.
Lawmakers cited FBI data showing Americans lost about US$9.3 billion to crypto investment fraud in 2024, a 66 percent jump from the previous year. Older investors accounted for a disproportionate share of those losses, according to federal officials.
The proposed task force would bring together agencies including the Treasury, DOJ, FinCEN, and the Secret Service, alongside state and local law enforcement.
Russian regions back expanded crypto mining bans
Energy officials in parts of eastern Russia are welcoming plans to extend seasonal crypto mining bans into year-round prohibitions, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.
Authorities are expected to block all mining activity in southern Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai starting in 2026, citing chronic strain on local power grids.
Regional officials said electricity shortages across several Siberian regions have approached 3,000 megawatts, making mining restrictions a necessary stabilizing measure. The move would also expand an existing winter-only ban that runs from mid-November through mid-March.
The decision marks a reversal from earlier government signals that no additional mining bans were planned.
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.