Bitcoin briefly dipped below $100,000 on Tuesday for the first time since June, dropping more than 20% from its record high above $126,000 just a month ago.

The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned eight North Korean individuals and two banks accused of laundering millions in crypto to fund the country’s weapons programs.

Ripple has launched Ripple Prime, a U.S. prime brokerage platform offering institutional clients over-the-counter (OTC) spot trading for major digital assets including XRP and stablecoin RLUSD.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Bitcoin Falls Below $100K for First Time Since June
• U.S. Sanctions North Korean Bankers Over Crypto Laundering Tied to Cyberattacks
• Ripple Launches Prime Brokerage Platform for U.S. Institutional Crypto Trading

Bitcoin Falls Below $100K for First Time Since June

Bitcoin briefly dipped below $100,000 on Tuesday for the first time since June, dropping more than 20% from its record high above $126,000 just a month ago.

The slide comes as broader markets turn lower, with stocks and gold also falling. Investors reacted to signals from the Federal Reserve suggesting a rate cut may not come this year, undercutting demand for risk assets like crypto.

Bitcoin briefly fell to the mid-$99,000s on exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken before rebounding above $101,000. The drop also marks a new low following October’s flash crash, when bitcoin fell nearly $20,000 in a single day.

"Consensus would indicate we are in what could become a bear market aligning to bitcoin's much lauded 4-year cycle," said Paul Howard of trading firm Wincent. He noted that earlier demand from ETFs and digital asset treasuries has faded.

Still, some remain optimistic. Gary O’Shea of Hashdex said institutional interest remains strong and sees the long-term outlook for bitcoin as intact, despite short-term pressure.

U.S. Sanctions North Korean Bankers Over Crypto Laundering Tied to Cyberattacks

The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned eight North Korean individuals and two banks accused of laundering millions in crypto to fund the country’s weapons programs.

According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the network used shell companies, ransomware proceeds and fake IT jobs to move at least $5.3 million through sanctioned banks like First Credit Bank and Ryujong Credit Bank.

Jang Kuk Chol and Ho Jong Son allegedly oversaw crypto transfers tied to cybercrime groups, while another entity, KMCTC, used Chinese nationals to hide funds from overseas North Korean IT workers.

Blockchain firm Elliptic estimates DPRK hackers stole more than $2 billion in crypto in 2025, using malware, phishing and AI to scale attacks on exchanges.

The Treasury said the sanctions are part of efforts to choke off illicit funding channels for North Korea’s weapons and cyber operations.

Ripple Launches Prime Brokerage Platform for U.S. Institutional Crypto Trading

Ripple has launched Ripple Prime, a U.S. prime brokerage platform offering institutional clients over-the-counter (OTC) spot trading for major digital assets including XRP and stablecoin RLUSD.

The platform also supports swaps, derivatives and cross-margining with CME-listed futures, expanding Ripple’s reach into institutional trading services. 

It follows Ripple’s October acquisition of multi-asset broker Hidden Road, whose infrastructure now powers the offering.

Ripple Prime joins the firm’s custody and payments platforms, aiming to streamline crypto trading, settlement and storage for institutions.

State of the Crypto by Top Tier Exchange Volume

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