Tesla Faces Probe, Intel Slides on Nvidia Reports, Bitcoin Falls – Top Trending Tickers December 2025

Market Domination host Josh Lipton highlighted three major trending tickers on Wednesday, December 24, 2025: Tesla (TSLA) amid a regulatory probe, Intel (INTC) declining on competitive Nvidia reports, and Bitcoin (BTC-USD) extending its recent pullback. These stories captured significant investor attention as year-end positioning intensified, blending corporate developments with broader tech and crypto market dynamics.

(Sources: X)

Tesla (TSLA) Under Probe – Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies

Tesla shares faced pressure following news of an ongoing investigation into its autonomous driving technology. Reports indicate U.S. regulators are examining potential safety and marketing issues related to Full Self-Driving (FSD) features, adding to prior NHTSA inquiries. This comes as Tesla pushes aggressive rollout timelines for robotaxi services, raising questions about compliance and execution risks.

• Probe Focus: Safety data, FSD claims, and incident reporting.
• Market Reaction: Shares dipped amid broader EV competition concerns.
• Context: Follows recalls and heightened scrutiny on autonomy promises.

Investors weighed innovation potential against regulatory hurdles in the high-stakes self-driving race.

Intel (INTC) Slides on Nvidia Dominance Reports

Intel stock declined sharply after reports underscored Nvidia’s continued lead in AI chip markets. Analysts noted Nvidia’s commanding data center GPU share and pricing power, contrasting with Intel’s challenges in catching up via new architectures. The slide reflects ongoing sector rotation favoring AI leaders.

• Trigger: Fresh data highlighting Nvidia’s market share gains.
• INTC Impact: Shares fell as investors questioned turnaround timeline.
• Broader Trend: AI infrastructure winners vs. legacy chipmakers.

This reinforced Nvidia’s dominance while pressuring traditional semiconductor plays.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) Falls Amid Year-End Volatility

Bitcoin dropped further, trading around $86,000–$87,000 after failing to hold $90,000 support. The decline aligned with profit-taking, macro caution from mixed jobs data, and reduced leverage following prior highs near $126,000.

• Daily Move: Down ~2–4% in line with risk-off flows.
• Drivers: Year-end tax harvesting, ETF rotation, liquidity positioning.
• Counter Signals: Corporate buys and institutional narratives provide underlying support.

Crypto markets remained sensitive to broader sentiment shifts.

In summary, Wednesday’s trending tickers—Tesla under probe, Intel sliding on Nvidia strength, and Bitcoin falling—captured key 2025 themes: regulatory challenges for autonomy, AI sector concentration, and crypto volatility amid institutional growth. As markets close the year, these stories reflect ongoing transitions in tech and digital assets. Stay tuned for updates on regulatory outcomes, earnings, and macro catalysts shaping early 2026 action.