Gold Soars Past Crypto as Markets Navigate Year-End Turbulence

Today's episode covers the dramatic divergence between traditional and digital assets as the year comes to a close. The European Union backs the digital euro with strict holding limits to prevent bank runs, while Russia unveils comprehensive crypto regulations for 2026. Bitcoin struggles near eighty-seven thousand dollars as gold surges to record highs above forty-five hundred dollars per ounce, raising questions about crypto's safe-haven narrative. We also examine JPMorgan's entry into crypto trading, massive options expiry events, and the governance crisis at Aave that threatens to reshape DeFi's largest lending protocol.