Bank of Russia Targets 2026 for Strict Crypto Regulation Framework and New Penalties

Perpetual futures open interest for Bitcoin increased from 304,000 BTC to 310,000 BTC on Monday as the cryptocurrency's price briefly touched $90,000, signaling renewed interest in leveraged long positions ahead of year-end trading according to blockchain analytics firm Glassnode. This 2% increase in open interest accompanying price appreciation suggests fresh capital entering leveraged positions rather than mere price-driven expansion, potentially contradicting earlier narratives about muted year-end activity while raising questions about whether building leverage creates vulnerability for the exact Q1 2026 crash scenarios that Anthony Pompliano suggested Bitcoin might avoid.

Palmer Luckey has raised $350 million for Erebor, valuing the digital bank at approximately $4.3 billion as it moves toward launch with FDIC approval, according to Axios. The Oculus founder and defense tech entrepreneur's entry into fintech represents remarkable valuation for pre-launch bank and raises questions about whether investors are backing genuinely innovative banking model or simply betting on Luckey's track record of building billion-dollar companies, while the timing amid regional banking stress and cryptocurrency integration ambitions creates both opportunity and scrutiny.

Bitcoin is declining as a record $28 billion Boxing Day options expiry becomes a key volatility driver, with analysts highlighting the massive December 26th contract settlement as critical factor influencing near-term price action. This extraordinary options expiry volume—representing approximately 280,000 BTC at current prices around $100,000—creates mechanical market dynamics where positioning, max pain levels, and dealer hedging flows can override fundamental factors, potentially explaining recent price weakness and raising questions about whether post-expiry relief or continued volatility awaits cryptocurrency markets.