Today, in crypto, bettors on Polymaket and Kalshi expect 2025 to be a record year for cryptocurrency prices, the South Korean government sanctioned 15 North Korean bad actors for various cybercrimes, some involving cryptocurrencies, and a new study ranked Singapore as the world’s leading blockchain innovation hub.

Betting markets predict big year for Bitcoin, crypto

Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket suggest that the crypto bull market is only getting started, with 2025 set to be the biggest year yet for the industry.

Traders on both prediction platforms expect Bitcoin BTC $96,471 and Ether ETH $3,383.30 to hit new all-time highs next year.

On Kalshi, there’s a more than 60% likelihood that Bitcoin will reach at least $125,000 in 2025. Traders think there’s a roughly equal chance that Ether hits $5,000.

Meanwhile, betters on Polymarket say there’s a good chance that US regulators will green-light several crypto exchange-traded funds, including ones for XRP XRP $2.17 , Solana SOL $190.20 and Litecoin LTC $103.64 .

One of the boldest predictions comes from Kalshi, where traders see a 59% chance that President-elect Donald Trump will establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. 

Prediction markets rose to prominence ahead of the US presidential election in November, with more than $4 billion in trading volume tied to the presidential race alone. 

South Korea sanctions 15 North Koreans for crypto heists and cyber theft

South Korea sanctioned 15 North Korean IT organization members and one related group for allegedly helping finance Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program through various cybercrimes. North Korean hackers are being pursued by governments worldwide that blame them for more than half of the value of cryptocurrency stolen during 2024. 

The sanctioned agents have allegedly procured funds for North Korea’s nuclear missile development program and the DPRK’s Munitions Industry Department through “overseas foreign currency-earning activities,” according to a Dec. 26 news release by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The sanctions came after another big year for crypto hackers, who stole $2.3 billion worth of crypto in 2024, a 40% increase over the value stolen in 2023.

Singapore is the world’s most blockchain-friendly country: Research

A new research report ranked Singapore as the world’s leading blockchain innovation hub based on patents, industry jobs, and cryptocurrency exchanges.

ApeX Protocol’s study ranked the 10 most innovative blockchain hubs in the world—Singapore, Hong Kong, Estonia, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea, United Kingdom, and UAE. 

Singapore stood out for having 1,600 blockchain patents, 2,433 industry jobs, and crypto exchanges—despite only having a population of less than 6 million. 

Hong Kong ranked a close second thanks to its strong financial technology. Meanwhile, Estonia also punched above its weight, ranking third, thanks to a large number of blockchain patents and crypto exchanges relative to its population. 

The US ranked fifth, despite strong regulatory hurdles facing the country’s crypto industry. Executives and lawmakers are hopeful that the US could become the crypto capital of the world following the election of Donald Trump in November. 

So far, Trump has stuck to his promise of supporting the crypto industry, having recently appointed Paul Atkins as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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