Scenius Sync (Issue # 185)

HNY2026! Crypto ETFs brace for a crowded 2026, China to let banks pay interest on digital yuan, Iran accepts crypto payments in weapon sales, Lighter native token LIT launch, & Upbit XAUT Listing

Scenius: The intelligence and the intuition of a whole cultural scene. The communal form of the concept of genius.

Welcome to The Scenius Sync.

Our mission with this concise publication is twofold:

1. Share the essential stories driving the crypto industry and markets.

2. Highlight innovative applications and mainstream adoption of crypto and blockchain technology.

If you find this newsletter valuable, please subscribe and share The Scenius Sync with your network 💪

---

---

Essential News 🗞

1. Crypto ETFs head into 2026 with regulatory tailwinds as issuers brace for a crowded year ahead

   • Crypto exchange-traded funds are entering 2026 with faster approval timelines, a pipeline of new products, and growing institutional attention despite a bit of late-year market weakness. BTC and ether ETFs continued to dominate flows in 2025, while a wave of altcoin-linked products expanded investor choice without materially shifting where assets are concentrated.

     That gap between approvals and assets is now shaping expectations for rapid growth and eventual consolidation in the year ahead. Industry expectations are diverging on scale vs. survival, as bullish forecasts for ETF-led demand growth clash with warnings that many products may struggle to attract lasting assets.

2. Crypto Crystal Ball 2026: Are We Headed for Bitcoin and Crypto Winter?

   • Analysts agree 2026 is unlikely to bring a crypto winter. Short-term volatility is likely, but Bitcoin is expected to remain strong and reach new all-time highs.

     Altcoins and Ethereum may hinge more on regulatory developments, especially the fate of a U.S. crypto market structure bill. The difference in outlook between the analysts comes down to what they think is driving the current crypto bull run. Greg Magadini, director of derivatives at Amberdata, for instance, thinks crypto prices are now tied firmly to macroeconomic sentiment, which he anticipates will dip due to a credit crunch in the first third of 2026, before rebounding after central banks respond to the challenge.

3. China to let banks pay interest on digital yuan to drive adoption

   • China’s central bank announced a major overhaul of its digital yuan framework on Monday, revealing that commercial banks will soon begin paying interest on digital yuan holdings starting, marking a significant shift in the decade-long state project to promote adoption of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). Lu Lei, a deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, wrote in an article published by state newspaper Financial News that the digital yuan, also known as the e-CNY, will transition from functioning as digital cash to operating as “digital deposit currency” under a new framework set to take effective on Jan. 1, 2026. The digital yuan has struggled to gain widespread traction as it faces stiff competition from entrenched mobile payment platforms such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, which dominate the country’s cashless transaction landscape.

4. Grayscale files for spot Bittensor ETF following network’s first halving event

   • Grayscale filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Grayscale Bittensor Trust (TAO). The filing marks the first attempt to launch a U.S spot ETF offering direct exposure to Bittensor. Grayscale’s Bittensor ETF will trade on NYSE Arca, under the ticker symbol GTAO. Coinbase Custody Trust Company LLC and BitGo Trust Company, Inc., would be the custodians, according to Tuesday’s filing. TAO is the native token of Bittensor, a decentralized, AI-focused network built on a hub-and-spoke blockchain architecture that supports application-specific subnets. Participants earn TAO by contributing computing resources that help improve and support these AI-driven networks.

   • Similarly, Grayscale Investments Focuses on Decentralized AI with Bittensor Trust ETF Filing

5. Turkmenistan legalizes crypto mining and trading under new framework

   • Turkmenistan has officially legalized domestic cryptocurrency mining and trading as a new law regulating digital assets came into full effect on Thursday. In late November, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov signed the law that brings digital asset exchanges and crypto mining companies under a licensing regime overseen by its central bank. It also defines the legal and economic status of cryptocurrencies, Reuters previously reported. While crypto mining and trading are now permitted, cryptocurrencies will not be recognized as a means of payment in the Central Asian country. Internet access also remains tightly regulated and controlled by the government.

---

Innovation & Adoption 💡📈

1. Iran moves to accept crypto payments in weapon sales to evade sanctions: FT

   • Iran is looking to accept crypto payments in its sale of ballistic missiles, warships, and other advanced weapons, The Financial Times reported Thursday. The Ministry of Defence Export Center (Mindex) reportedly stated it is prepared to negotiate military contracts allowing payment in digital currencies, as well as through barter arrangements and Iranian rials. Mindex, as a state-run overseas defense seller, reportedly holds client relationships with 35 countries. Its official website showcases a variety of products, including missiles, rockets, ammunition, and hovercrafts.

2. Upbit XAUT Listing: Strategic Expansion Brings Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency to South Korea’s Thriving Market

   • South Korea’s premier cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, announced a groundbreaking expansion of its digital asset offerings on January 1, 2025, revealing plans to list Tether Gold (XAUT) with multiple trading pairs. This strategic move positions Upbit as the first major South Korean exchange to integrate a physically-backed gold cryptocurrency, providing investors with novel exposure to precious metals through blockchain technology. The listing, scheduled for 6:30 a.m. UTC, introduces XAUT trading against Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), and the Korean won (KRW), significantly broadening the exchange’s product portfolio during a period of increasing institutional interest in tokenized commodities.

3. Lighter launches native token LIT, allocates half to ecosystem growth

   • According to the announcement, 50% of the token supply will be dedicated to the ecosystem. This includes an immediate airdrop to participants in the first two points seasons of 2025, representing 25% of the fully diluted value. The remaining ecosystem allocation is set to fund future incentive programs and strategic partnerships, the team said. The Lighter team will have 26% of the supply while its investors will be allocated 24%, both subject to a one-year lock and three-year linear vesting schedule.

4. Modulr Testnet Launches for Robotics and AI DePIN

   • Modulr Testnet launches as the project moves toward building a decentralized network for robotics, AI, data, and compute. The release marks the final testing phase ahead of mainnet, with a strong focus on community-driven stress testing. Modulr Robotics aims to build an open, global network for robotics and AI powered by blockchain. The project sits at the intersection of decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN), real-time robotics, and AI compute. Modulr’s design allows users to remotely operate robots, deploy AI models, and share compute resources through a peer-to-peer marketplace.

     By tokenizing access to physical automation, the protocol seeks to lower barriers for industries such as logistics, manufacturing, and remote operations. The testnet launch represents a critical step toward validating this vision at scale.

5. This new MVNO wants to let users pay with crypto - but security scrutiny may mean it never sees the light of day

   • Phreeli, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), has launched a cellular service that prioritizes privacy in ways most carriers ignore. The service offers unlimited talk, text, and data, including hotspot access, while emphasizing user privacy and optional anonymity. It also supports payments with cryptocurrency, adding a level of anonymity that is uncommon in standard smartphone services. The network separates all interactions into three distinct services to reduce exposure: data service, user service, and mixer service.