BNB News Today: BNB Chain Surpasses Rivals in Daily Active Users, Bolstered by Kalshi Pact

BNB Chain has emerged as the most active Layer 1 blockchain in terms of daily active users, according to a new report from Cryptorank released on December 25, 2025. The 2025 L1 Blockchain Daily Active Users Ranking places BNB Chain at the top, signaling the platform's growing influence in the decentralized ecosystem. This follows a strategic partnership with prediction market platform Kalshi, which aims to enhance BNB Chain's utility for real-time trading.

The report highlights a broader shift in the blockchain space, where user activity and transaction volumes are becoming key indicators of a chain's success. BNB Chain's dominance is attributed to its strong developer community, low transaction fees, and expanding use cases, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The integration with Kalshi further solidifies its role as a go-to platform for developers and traders.

Meanwhile, the global crypto market is undergoing structural transformation, with derivatives trading volumes surging to over $85.7 trillion in 2025. Institutional investors are increasingly favoring regulated exchanges like the CME Group, which now leads in open interest for Bitcoin and Ethereum derivatives. This trend marks a shift from retail-driven speculation to a more sophisticated, institutional-grade market.

Institutional Adoption and Market Maturation

The rise of institutional participation has reshaped the dynamics of the derivatives market, with traditional financial players entering the crypto space through regulated avenues. CoinGlass's annual report highlights that CME Group overtook Binance in Bitcoin futures open interest in 2024 and is now closing the gap in Ethereum derivatives. This shift reflects growing confidence in the asset class and a preference for risk-managed exposure.

As institutional players gain more influence, the market has seen a reduction in retail-driven volatility and an increase in more stable, long-term investment strategies. This has also led to a reevaluation of Bitcoin's role in the global financial system, with the asset behaving more like a high-beta risk asset rather than an inflation hedge during the 2024–2025 liquidity cycle.

Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Expansion

BNB Chain's partnership with Kalshi is one of several strategic moves aimed at broadening its user base and expanding its ecosystem. The integration allows users to trade on real-world events using BNB and stablecoins, without the need for cross-chain transactions. This is expected to attract a wider range of traders, particularly those in the prediction market space according to reports.

Other major players in the crypto space are also expanding their offerings. NBCOIN has launched an RWA Connector and marketplace infrastructure to facilitate the tokenization of real-world assets, drawing significant attention at global blockchain events. The company's focus on compliance, scalability, and AI integration has positioned it as a potential leader in the next phase of blockchain adoption.

In contrast, some firms are facing challenges as they attempt to pivot. Core Scientific, for example, reported a decline in Bitcoin mining output as it shifts focus to AI infrastructure. The company's Q1 2025 results showed a drop in revenue and negative adjusted EBITDA, raising questions about the execution of its long-term strategy.

Market Volatility and Regulatory Developments

Despite the growing institutional interest, the crypto market remains susceptible to volatility. Bitcoin, for instance, has seen significant price swings in 2025, dropping more than 30% from its peak in early October to trade around $88,000 as of December 22. This volatility has led to a reevaluation of risk management strategies, particularly as more institutions enter the space.

Regulatory developments are also shaping the landscape. In Poland, for example, the lower house of parliament recently overrode a presidential veto to align its crypto regulations with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. This move is expected to encourage more cross-border investment and standardize compliance across jurisdictions.

For investors, these developments highlight the importance of staying informed about both market fundamentals and regulatory changes. The interplay between institutional adoption, technological innovation, and regulatory clarity will likely continue to define the crypto market's trajectory in the coming year.