Before we dive in, here’s today’s crypto market heatmap:

And here’s a look at crypto’s total and altcoin market cap YTD:

🤯 Tether Takes a $775M Leap into Rumble

Tether is dumping a cool $775 million into Rumble, grabbing 103+ million shares at $7.50 each while leaving CEO Chris Pavlovski comfortably in the driver’s seat. Rumble plans to toss $250 million into its growth engine and the rest into a tender offer for up to 70 million shares, as Tether hints at future ads, cloud services, and crypto payments for the YouTube rebel. DailyHODL.

💥 HyperLiquid’s $60M Exodus: DPRK “Tests” Leave Everyone Shaken

Around $60 million in USDC just walked out of HyperLiquid after addresses linked to North Korean hackers ran what experts are calling “test trades.” One security researcher flagged the platform’s measly four validators as a glaring weak point, raising fears of a catastrophic 0-day exploit. If these wallets really belong to DPRK, this might just be a dress rehearsal before the main event. CryptoBriefing.

🇺🇸 Trump’s Supposed First-Day Crypto Bombshell

Whispers say President-elect Trump might roll out a pro-crypto executive order on day one, possibly building a U.S. Bitcoin stockpile or guaranteeing access to crypto banking. He’s already fired shots at outgoing SEC boss Gary Gensler, tapping Paul Atkins as a more hands-off replacement. If that plan materializes, the country could pivot from regulatory beatdowns to welcoming crypto with open arms—almost overnight. CryptoNews.

🪙 IRS to Stakers: ‘Pay Up Now, Sell Later’

The IRS is sticking to its guns, claiming staking rewards become taxable income the second they’re created. A Tennessee couple begs to differ, saying these freshly minted Tezos tokens are “new property” that shouldn’t be taxed until sold, and they’ve even rejected an IRS refund to keep the legal battle alive. If Uncle Sam wins, every proof-of-stake network in the U.S. might be stuck paying taxes on tokens still chilling in their wallets. TheStreet.

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