1 hour ago
Senate Democrats Threaten Shutdown Over DHS Funding, Crypto Market Drops $100B
Senate Democrats blocked a funding bill including Department of Homeland Security money following a federal shooting in Minneapolis, triggering a $100B crypto market selloff. Bitcoin fell 3.4% and Ether dropped 5.3% as prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket surged shutdown odds to 78-80% by Jan. 31. Over $360M in leveraged positions liquidated, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index at 20/100 for six consecutive days.
4 hours ago
Bitcoin Mining Hashrate Drops 60% as Winter Storm Fern Cuts Power to 1M Americans
Foundry USA, operator of the world's largest Bitcoin mining pool with 23% of global hashrate, reduced output by nearly 200 exahashes per second since Friday. The curtailment, also affecting Luxor and other U.S. pools, slowed Bitcoin block production to 12 minutes as miners reduced energy consumption to stabilize grids strained by Winter Storm Fern across the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest.
5 hours ago
Saylor Warns Bitcoin Protocol Changes Pose 'Ambitious Opportunist' Risk
MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor said the biggest threat to Bitcoin is developers pushing protocol changes for non-monetary uses like NFTs and onchain images. His comments reignited debate between Bitcoin maximalists favoring protocol ossification and developers advocating expanded features, with disagreement over quantum computing risks and BIP-110 spam filtering proposals.
7 hours ago
Bitcoin Falls Below $88,000 as $60M in Leveraged Longs Liquidated Amid Macro Uncertainty
BTC/USD dropped 1.6% to $87,471 on Bitstamp as $250M in 24-hour crypto liquidations occurred, driven by concerns over a potential US government shutdown, Trump's threatened 100% Canada tariffs, and the Fed's Jan. 28 rate decision. Trader CrypNuevo projects Bitcoin could fall to the low $80s in coming weeks after losing mid-range support at $86,300, though analyst Michaël van de Poppe noted a potential bullish divergence against silver.
8 hours ago
Tezos Implements Tallinn Upgrade, Reducing Block Times to 6 Seconds
The layer-1 blockchain's 20th protocol upgrade launched Saturday without a network fork, cutting block times from previous levels to 6 seconds and reducing storage costs by a factor of 100 through address indexing. All validators can now attest to every block, improving network finality times and latency.
1 day ago
Bitcoin Payment Adoption Blocked by Tax Policy, Not Technology, Advocates Say
Tax treatment of crypto transactions is the primary barrier to Bitcoin adoption as payment, according to Strive board member Pierre Rochard. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced a July 2025 bill proposing a de minimis tax exemption for digital asset transactions under $300 with a $5,000 annual cap, but lawmakers are considering limiting exemptions to stablecoins, drawing criticism from Bitcoin advocates including Jack Dorsey.
1 day ago
White House Trump-Penguin Post Sends PENGUIN Memecoin Up 564% to $136M Market Cap
The Nietzschean Penguin (PENGUIN) token on Solana surged from $387K market cap following a viral White House X post of President Trump and a penguin. The token recorded $244M in 24-hour trading volume and reached $136M market cap at $0.13 per token, according to DEXScreener data.
1 day ago
Bitcoin Nodes Signal Support for BIP-110 to Cap Arbitrary Data at 2.38%
A temporary soft fork proposal limiting transaction data to combat spam gained support from 583 of 24,481 Bitcoin nodes. BIP-110 caps OP_RETURN data at 83 bytes and transaction outputs at 34 bytes for one year, reversing Bitcoin Core version 30's October 2025 removal of data limits that sparked community backlash over increased node storage costs and network centralization risks.
1 day ago
EU Considers Dumping US Debt as Leverage Against Trump, But Faces Major Obstacles
European policymakers floated offloading trillions in US assets held in Europe to counter US pressure over Greenland, with Deutsche Bank's George Saravelos noting the US holds $8 trillion in bonds and equities globally. However, experts say the strategy faces critical hurdles: most US debt in Europe is held by private entities like hedge funds rather than governments, alternative safe-haven assets are limited, and potential buyers—particularly China and Asian markets—lack capacity to absorb large sales without destabilizing global markets.
1 day ago
Netherlands Plans Tax on Unrealized Crypto Gains; SEC Dismisses Gemini Lawsuit; French Authorities Probe Waltio Breach
The Dutch parliament is moving toward taxing unrealized gains on cryptocurrencies, stocks and bonds annually, expected to generate €2.3 billion ($2.7B) in revenue despite capital flight warnings. The SEC dismissed its civil case against Gemini and Genesis with prejudice after Gemini agreed to contribute up to $40M toward full repayment of Earn investors' crypto assets through Genesis's bankruptcy settlement. French authorities are investigating a data breach at crypto tax platform Waltio affecting approximately 50,000 users, mostly France-based, after hackers demanded ransom.
1 day ago
CLARITY Act Stablecoin Yield Ban Could Push $Trillions to Unregulated Offshore Products, Experts Warn
Proposed restrictions prohibiting compliant stablecoins like USDC from offering yield would drive capital into synthetic dollars and offshore structures outside US regulatory oversight, according to Mega Matrix's Colin Butler and Falcon Finance's Andrei Grachev. The ban creates competitive disadvantage against China's interest-bearing digital yuan and unregulated synthetics like Ethena's USDe, which generate yield through delta-neutral strategies in regulatory gray areas.
1 day ago
Netherlands Plans Tax on Unrealized Crypto Gains, Sparking Capital Flight Warnings
Dutch parliament is moving toward taxing annual unrealized gains on stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies under a revised Box 3 asset tax regime, with lawmakers citing €2.3 billion ($2.7B) in annual revenue at stake. The proposal would require investors to pay taxes on paper gains even without selling assets. Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe called the plan "insane," warning it would accelerate emigration of residents and capital from the Netherlands.
1 day ago
Ethereum Foundation Commits $2M to Quantum-Resistant Cryptography, Launches Developer Sessions
The Ethereum Foundation established a dedicated Post Quantum team led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger to harden the network against quantum computing threats. The foundation allocated $1M for the Poseidon Prize and $1M for the Proximity Prize to advance post-quantum cryptography. Biweekly developer sessions on quantum-resistant transactions begin next month, led by researcher Antonio Sanso, with multi-client consensus networks already live and a dedicated post-quantum event scheduled for October.
1 day ago
GameStop Moves $422M Bitcoin Holdings to Coinbase, Signaling Potential Exit
The video game retailer transferred its entire 4,710 Bitcoin stash to Coinbase Prime on Friday, prompting speculation of an imminent sale. GameStop purchased the Bitcoin in May at an average price of $107,900; a sale at current $90,800 prices would realize approximately $76 million in losses. CEO Ryan Cohen initiated the Bitcoin treasury strategy after meeting with MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor in February.
1 day ago
Democratic Senators File Ethics Amendments to Crypto Bill, Target Trump's Industry Conflicts
Ahead of Tuesday's Senate Agriculture Committee markup on crypto market structure legislation, Democrats filed amendments including Senator Michael Bennet's Digital Asset Ethics Act to prevent US officials from profiting off crypto interests. The push targets President Trump's involvement in World Liberty Financial, which has increased his net worth by hundreds of millions. Senator Amy Klobuchar also filed an amendment to delay implementation until the CFTC has a full commissioner slate; currently only Chair Michael Selig is seated with no timeline for filling four remaining positions.
2 days ago
OCC Rejects Warren's Bid to Pause World Liberty Financial Bank Charter Review
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency denied Senator Elizabeth Warren's request to halt the review of World Liberty Financial's national trust bank charter application until President Trump divests his stake in the platform. OCC official Jonathan Gould stated the application will undergo standard regulatory review without political or personal financial considerations. WLF, founded by Trump and his sons, submitted its charter application Jan. 7 to enable in-house issuance and custody of its USD1 stablecoin, which has reached $4.2B market capitalization since March 2025.
2 days ago
SEC Dismisses Gemini Lawsuit After $40M Settlement Agreement
The SEC dropped its civil case against Gemini Trust Company over unregistered securities tied to its Earn lending program, following Gemini's agreement to contribute $40 million toward full recovery of Genesis bankruptcy losses. Genesis previously settled with the SEC for $21 million. The dismissal, pending judge approval, ends a lawsuit filed in January 2023 and reflects the Trump administration's shift toward crypto deregulation.
2 days ago
CertiK Eyes IPO as $2B Blockchain Security Firm Pursues Public Markets
CEO Ronghui Gu said at Davos that a public listing is a goal but lacks concrete plans, requiring additional investment and partnerships. The move would follow BitGO's Thursday NYSE debut at $2B+ valuation and Coinbase's 2021 public offering, marking continued crypto infrastructure maturation.
2 days ago
Binance Plans to Relaunch Tokenized Stocks After 2021 Halt
The exchange confirmed Friday it will explore offering digital versions of company shares, three years after ceasing stock token trading amid regulatory pressure from German and UK authorities. Coinbase is also exploring tokenized equities, while U.S. Senate committees debate digital asset legislation that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong warned would effectively ban the products.
2 days ago
Stablecoins Cut African Remittance Costs to 1-2% From 6%, UN Official Says
Vera Songwe, former UN under-secretary-general, told the World Economic Forum that stablecoins are replacing traditional money transfers in Africa by reducing fees from $6 per $100 sent and settling in minutes instead of days. Songwe cited inflation exceeding 20% in 12-15 African countries and noted highest adoption in Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa, driven primarily by small and medium-size enterprises seeking financial inclusion.
2 days ago
Bloomberg's McGlone Reverses Bitcoin Outlook, Warns to 'Sell the Rallies' in 2026
Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone shifted to bearish stance on Bitcoin, citing increased correlation with equities, excessive speculation, and ETF approvals as warning signs. McGlone argues Bitcoin has transitioned from anti-system hedge to crowded speculative asset vulnerable to macro forces, and warns investors to reduce risk exposure across assets in 2026.
2 days ago
Paradex Refunds $650K After Database Upgrade Triggers Unintended Liquidations
The onchain derivatives platform rolled back its chain after a race condition during Monday's maintenance window corrupted market data, causing liquidations across multiple markets affecting about 200 users. Paradex disabled platform access, canceled open orders, and implemented safeguards including enhanced data validation and revised restart procedures to prevent recurrence.
2 days ago
CLARITY Act Markup Delayed as DeFi Leaders Warn Bill Still Threatens Developers
Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott paused the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act markup following opposition from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and crypto venture firms Paradigm and Variant, who say proposed amendments could force DeFi developers to implement KYC requirements and register with financial regulators designed for centralized platforms. Separately, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin criticized most DAOs as inefficient token-voting treasuries, while DeFi protocol Pendle phased out its vePENDLE token for a new sPENDLE model with lower participation barriers and 14-day withdrawal periods.
2 days ago
BitGo Shares Fall 13.4% After NYSE Debut as Crypto IPO Enthusiasm Cools
Digital asset custodian BitGo priced its IPO at $18 per share Thursday, surging 25% on day one before reversing to trade below IPO price by Friday. The $2B valuation company, which holds $90B in assets under custody, reflects broader volatility in crypto equities amid tighter investor scrutiny of new listings.
2 days ago
Hacking Group Shiny Hunters Demands Ransom After Stealing Data From 50,000 Waltio Users
French authorities launched a preliminary investigation into the breach of cryptocurrency tax platform Waltio after hackers obtained personal data from approximately 50,000 users, mostly based in France. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office and National Cyber Unit warned that affected users face heightened risk of physical attacks and extortion targeting their crypto holdings, a tactic known as 'wrench attacks.' Shiny Hunters sent ransom demands following the attack.
2 days ago
Bitcoin Seen Below $100K Through June 2026 as Prediction Markets Price 6-7% Odds of Near-Term Rally
Polymarket and Kalshi bettors assign only 6-7% probability that Bitcoin will reclaim $100,000 before end of January, with 65% odds it won't reach that level until June or later. Traders expect BTC to drop to $80,000 first (65% odds on Polymarket) and potentially as low as $60,000 (42% odds on Kalshi). Bitcoin last traded above $100,000 on Nov. 13 and peaked at $97,900 on Jan. 14, 2026.
2 days ago
Grayscale Files for Spot BNB ETF, Expanding Beyond Bitcoin and Ether
The asset manager submitted a registration statement to the SEC Friday for a Grayscale BNB ETF (ticker: GBNB) to trade on Nasdaq, offering US investors regulated exposure to the $120.5B token without direct custody. VanEck has also filed for a competing BNB ETF (VBNB), further along in regulatory review. Grayscale's move follows the success of its Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, which together hold over $100B in assets under management.
2 days ago
BNB Chain Cuts Block Times to 0.45 Seconds With Fermi Hard Fork as RWA Assets Hit $2B
BNB Chain deployed the Fermi hard fork reducing block times from 0.75 to 0.45 seconds, part of infrastructure upgrades addressing production demand. Tokenized real-world assets surged from $3.7M to $2B in 2025 driven by BlackRock, Franklin Templeton and VanEck issuances. Network processed 31M daily transactions at peak with 4M daily active users and $6.6B in DeFi total value locked.
2 days ago
Bitcoin Stalls Below $90K as Gold Approaches $5,000, Analyst Forecasts $23K Gold Target
Bitcoin remained trapped below $90,000 Friday while gold reached $4,967 per ounce, nearing historic highs. Traders including Crypto Tony project BTC could decline to $70,000-$75,000 before revisiting $100,000, citing CME futures gaps. Charles Edwards of Capriole Investments forecasted gold could reach $12,000-$23,000 over 3-8 years, citing record central bank accumulation and China's 10x gold increase in two years.
2 days ago
Trump Pushes Crypto as Geopolitical Asset While Central Bankers Warn of Sovereignty Threat
At Davos 2026, President Trump signaled imminent passage of the CLARITY Act market structure bill, framing US crypto dominance as essential to counter China's influence. France's central bank governor François Villeroy de Galhau countered that private money and yield-bearing stablecoins threaten monetary sovereignty and financial stability, creating a stark divide between US crypto-as-competition strategy and European central bank concerns about surrendering democratic control of money.
2 days ago
UBS Explores Crypto Trading for Wealthiest Clients, Starting in Switzerland
The $4.7 trillion wealth manager is reportedly selecting partners to let select private banking clients trade Bitcoin and Ether, with potential expansion to Asia-Pacific and the U.S. UBS follows JPMorgan, BlackRock, Fidelity, and Vanguard in offering crypto access to institutional and high-net-worth clients.
2 days ago
Bitcoin Faces Pressure as Japan's Bond Yields Hit Record 3.92%, Widening US Yield Curve
Japan's 30-year bond yield surged to 3.92% this week, widening the gap with 2-year yields by 220-325 basis points—the largest US yield curve spread since 2021. David Roberts, head of fixed income at Nedgroup Investments, warned that sustained higher long-term yields will pressure equities and Bitcoin. The US 30-year yield tracks Japan's closely, suggesting further increases ahead. Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone noted gold's outperformance is simultaneously pulling capital from Bitcoin, making it harder for BTC to reclaim $100,000 levels.
2 days ago
Revolut Pursues US Banking License Through OCC, Abandoning Bank Acquisition Strategy
The UK fintech unicorn, valued at $75B after a November share sale, is applying for a de novo banking license with the Office for the Comptroller of the Currency rather than acquiring an existing US bank. The shift reflects confidence in faster approval under the Trump administration's crypto-friendly stance and avoids branch network obligations that would accompany an acquisition. Revolut CEO Sid Jajodia previously stated the company aims to become a US bank as part of its $13B five-year international expansion plan.
2 days ago
Restaking's $21B Market Lacks Real Yield, Concentrated Among Whales and VCs
Acre CEO Laura Wallendal argues restaking yields derive from token emissions and VC incentives rather than productive activity, creating leverage disguised as efficiency. The model concentrates power among large operators managing multiple protocols while compounding slashing risks across layers, similar to TradFi rehypothecation, with no proven product-market fit outside speculation.
2 days ago
Farcaster Acquired by Neynar, Plans $180M Capital Return to Investors
Decentralized social protocol Farcaster remains operational under infrastructure provider Neynar's ownership, with co-founder Dan Romero confirming the platform will return its full $180M in lifetime fundraising to investors. Farcaster reported 250,000 monthly active users and 100,000+ funded wallets in December. Neynar, which has built infrastructure on Farcaster since its early days, will assume protocol maintenance while Romero and team members transition to new projects.
2 days ago
Bitcoin's Net Realized Profit Turns Negative for First Time Since October 2023
Bitcoin dropped below $90,000, pushing onchain profitability metrics into negative territory as holders realized net losses for the first time in over two years, according to CryptoQuant data. Annual net realized profits fell to 2.5M BTC from 4.4M BTC in October, mirroring conditions that preceded the 2022 bear market. Key support levels sit at $89,000-$90,000, with $84,000 and $80,000 as secondary targets if current support breaks.
2 days ago
Kansas Proposes Bitcoin Reserve Funded by Unclaimed Crypto, Not State Purchases
Senate Bill 352, introduced by Senator Craig Bowser, would establish a state-managed Bitcoin and digital assets reserve funded through airdrops, staking rewards, and abandoned property rather than direct state purchases. The bill mirrors the Trump administration's approach to a federal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using forfeited assets. Kansas lawmakers also advanced SB 34 in January, allowing the state pension system to allocate up to 10% of assets to spot Bitcoin ETFs.
2 days ago
Binance Files for MiCA License in Greece as France Sets June 30 Compliance Deadline
Binance submitted an application to Greece's Hellenic Capital Market Commission for authorization under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation after France's financial regulator flagged the exchange as unlicensed on Jan. 13. France's AMF warned 90 crypto companies they must comply by June 30 or cease operations in July. Greece has issued zero MiCA licenses to date, while Germany leads the EU with 43 authorizations and the Netherlands has 22.
2 days ago
Vitalik Buterin Ditches Gmail, Google Maps for Encrypted, Open-Source Alternatives
Ethereum cofounder declared 2026 the 'year we take back lost ground in computing self-sovereignty,' switching to Fileverse for documents, Signal for messaging, Proton Mail for email, and OrganicMaps for navigation. He's also experimenting with locally hosted AI models to avoid sending data to third-party services, citing 'huge progress' in making local LLMs viable alternatives to cloud-based tools.
2 days ago
Ledger Plans $4B US IPO as Hardware Wallet Demand Surges on Crypto Theft
French hardware wallet maker Ledger is in talks with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and Barclays for a US listing, CEO Pascal Gauthier confirmed in November 2025. The move follows record 2025 revenue in triple-digit millions amid $3.4B in crypto theft that year, and comes one day after rival BitGo went public on NYSE at $22.40, up 24% from its $18 IPO price.
2 days ago
XRP Shorts at Levels That Preceded 50-100% Rallies in 2024-2025
Negative funding rates on Binance indicate crowded short positions in XRP, a pattern that preceded rebounds of roughly 50% in August-September 2024 and over 100% in April 2025, according on-chain analyst Darkfost. XRP must hold $1.80-$2.00 support and reclaim $2.22 resistance to maintain bullish momentum; loss of the $1.80-$2.00 zone would weaken the rebound thesis.
2 days ago
PwC: Crypto Adoption Accelerates Unevenly Globally as Institutions Embed Digital Assets Into Core Operations
PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Crypto Regulation Report 2026 finds crypto adoption varies by region due to economic conditions and financial infrastructure, creating a fragmented ecosystem. Institutional interest has reached an irreversible inflection point, with banks, asset managers, and corporates embedding digital assets into balance sheets and operations. Institutional funds accumulated 577,000 Bitcoin ($53B) over the past year, though some analysts question whether institutional demand alone will drive significant price appreciation without major catalysts.
2 days ago
Bitcoin Miners Prepare to Curtail Operations as Massive Winter Storm Threatens Southern US Grid
A winter storm spanning 1,800 miles from Texas to the mid-Atlantic could affect 60 million people this weekend. Bitcoin miners, including Bitdeer with 293,000 rigs, are prepared to voluntarily reduce operations to stabilize power grids, following precedent from 2022 when Texas miners curtailed activity during a major storm. The US controls 38% of global Bitcoin hashrate across 137+ mining facilities.
2 days ago
American Bankers Association Makes Blocking Stablecoin Yields Top 2026 Priority
The ABA is pushing Congress to prohibit stablecoins from paying interest or rewards, arguing yield-bearing products could redirect up to $6 trillion from traditional banks into crypto platforms. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan warned of deposit flight, while crypto executives including Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire contend yields improve user retention and don't pose systemic risks.
2 days ago
Justice Department Drops Case Against Former OpenSea Manager Chastain After Appeals Court Reversal
Prosecutors will not retry wire fraud and money laundering charges against Nathaniel Chastain following a July federal appeals court ruling that overturned his 2023 conviction. Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton cited Chastain's three-month prison sentence already served and agreed to forfeit 15.98 ETH ($47,330), with the case formally dismissed after a one-month deferred prosecution agreement. The appeals court ruled NFT homepage data lacks commercial value under federal wire fraud law, marking a significant setback for the first digital asset insider trading prosecution in U.S. history.
2 days ago
Capital One to Acquire Brex for $5.15B, Gaining Stablecoin Payments Platform
The $5.15B all-stock and cash deal, expected to close mid-2026, brings Brex's USDC stablecoin payment capabilities into Capital One's payments infrastructure. Brex launched native stablecoin support in October, becoming the first global corporate card provider to offer the feature. The acquisition reflects traditional finance's push into crypto as stablecoin market cap reached $314B following July 2025 GENIUS Act passage.
2 days ago
South Korea Loses $47.7M in Bitcoin to Phishing Attack During Asset Inspection
Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office discovered approximately 70 billion won worth of Bitcoin missing during routine inspection of seized criminal assets. A prosecutor's office worker accessed a phishing website, compromising the password to the wallet holding the funds. The office declined to disclose when the Bitcoin was seized or the exact timing of the theft, citing an ongoing investigation.
2 days ago
SEC Chair Atkins and CFTC Chair Selig to Discuss Crypto Regulatory Harmonization
The two agencies will hold an event Tuesday to align oversight as Senate committees advance competing crypto market structure bills. Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees are separately drafting legislation to define jurisdictional boundaries, with the Agriculture panel releasing its version Wednesday ahead of a scheduled markup.
2 days ago
Ethereum Mainnet Surpasses Layer-2s in Daily Active Addresses, But Poisoning Attacks Inflate Numbers
Ethereum mainnet reached 945,000 daily active addresses in January, exceeding Arbitrum One, Base Chain, and OP Mainnet combined, following December's Fusaka upgrade that slashed gas fees. Security researchers at Cyvers and analyst Andrey Sergeenkov attribute a material portion of the spike to address poisoning attacks—scams exploiting low fees to send fraudulent transactions mimicking legitimate wallets. Ethereum's on-chain assets total $400B, with 56% of all stablecoins and 66% of tokenized real-world assets running on the network.
2 days ago
Bitcoin Community Divided on Quantum Computing as Price Drag
Glassnode analyst James Check attributed Bitcoin's 6.33% decline in 2025 to heavy selling by long-term holders, not quantum computing fears, dismissing the narrative as unfounded. However, Castle Island Ventures' Nic Carter and Real Vision's Jamie Coutts argue quantum risk is the primary catalyst, with Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood removing Bitcoin from his portfolio citing quantum computing concerns.
3 days ago
Bitcoin Stuck Below $91K as Spot ETFs See $1.58B Outflows; Institutional Demand Key to $95K Recovery
Bitcoin has remained pinned below $91,000 since Tuesday despite strong U.S. economic data, with spot ETF outflows of $1.58 billion signaling a shift toward safe assets like gold. Funding rates for BTC perpetual futures sit at 7%, below the typical 6-12% neutral range, indicating bullish traders remain hesitant to increase leveraged positions. Top traders at Binance and OKX have modestly increased long exposure, but a return to $95,000 depends on institutional inflows materializing.
3 days ago
Circle CEO Says AI Agents Will Use Stablecoins for Daily Transactions Within 3 Years
Jeremy Allaire predicted billions of AI agents will conduct continuous economic activity using stablecoins for everyday payments within three to five years. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao echoed the view at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stating crypto is the 'native currency for AI agents.' Coinbase's x402 protocol and Google's competing Universal Commerce Protocol are already enabling automated transactions.
3 days ago
Nasdaq Eliminates 25,000-Contract Cap on Bitcoin and Ether ETF Options
The SEC-approved rule change, effective immediately, removes position limits on options for spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs from BlackRock, Fidelity, Bitwise, Grayscale, ARK/21Shares and VanEck. Nasdaq argues the move aligns crypto derivatives with commodity-based fund rules, eliminating unequal treatment while maintaining investor protections. The SEC retained authority to suspend the change within 60 days pending final determination by late February.
3 days ago
Trump Sues JPMorgan for $5B Over Account Closures, Citing Debanking
President Trump filed suit in Miami-Dade County state court against JPMorgan and CEO Jamie Dimon, alleging the bank terminated his accounts without warning after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Trump seeks $5B in damages for trade libel and breach of good faith; JPMorgan denies closing accounts for political reasons. The lawsuit follows Trump's August executive order directing regulators to investigate debanking practices in the financial sector.
3 days ago
Stablecoin Market Plateaus at $310B as Compliance Costs and Treasury Yields Curb Growth
Global stablecoin issuance has stalled after doubling from January 2024 to early 2025, with tighter U.S. and EU regulations forcing higher reserve requirements and compliance spending. Elevated Treasury yields have reduced incentives for speculative minting, while the October liquidity shock triggered $19B in forced deleveraging, shifting stablecoins' role from growth assets to payment infrastructure.
3 days ago
Kingsport, Tennessee Approves Zoning Rules for Crypto Mining Operations
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance permitting cryptocurrency mining and data centers in industrial zones, requiring facilities be in enclosed buildings 500+ feet from residential areas with maximum 60 dBA noise levels. The amendment requires a second vote for formal adoption and follows a December planning division recommendation.
3 days ago
Coinbase Forms Independent Advisory Board to Study Quantum Computing Threats to Bitcoin, Ethereum
The board of quantum computing and cryptography experts from academia and industry will publish papers assessing quantum risks to blockchain systems and issue developer guidance, with the first position paper due in early 2027. Coinbase is also updating Bitcoin address handling and key-management systems internally, though industry experts including Blockstream co-founder Adam Back dispute the near-term threat timeline.
3 days ago
Circle CEO Allaire Positions USDC as Neutral Infrastructure, Not Bank Competitor
Speaking at Davos, Jeremy Allaire said Circle views its $74.2B stablecoin as shared financial infrastructure with network effects rather than a competitor to Visa, Mastercard or banks. The positioning comes as Fidelity, Stripe and MoonPay launch rival dollar-pegged stablecoins, with total stablecoin market capitalization reaching $309B.
3 days ago
Bitwise Launches $BPRO ETF Blending Bitcoin, Gold and Mining Stocks for Currency Debasement Hedge
The actively managed fund, trading on NYSE, maintains a minimum 25% gold allocation and charges a 0.96% expense ratio. The product reflects institutional demand for multi-asset crypto exposure beyond single-token ETFs, though Bitcoin has recently underperformed gold as an inflation hedge despite its fixed supply.
3 days ago
Valeo and Natix Partner on Open-Source Self-Driving Camera Model
Automotive supplier Valeo and Solana-based DePIN provider Natix are building a World Foundation Model (WFM) for autonomous vehicles, with the first version expected in months. The multi-camera AI model will be open-sourced with datasets and training tools. Wayve is already testing WFMs, including a Las Vegas autonomous drive with no prior city training.
3 days ago
Bitcoin Fails to Hold $90K Rally as 16,653 BTC Flow to Exchanges
Bitcoin retreated from $90,000 after exchanges received 16,653 BTC over two days (9,867 on Tuesday, 6,786 on Wednesday), creating supply pressure near current levels. Short-term holders show 3.5% average losses at $87,500 lows, though spot market metrics from Binance and Coinbase suggest stabilizing selling pressure and potential bottoming conditions, with stablecoin ratios indicating faster market cap decline than liquidity withdrawal.
3 days ago
Former Binance CEO Zhao Advises Dozen Governments on Tokenizing State Assets
Changpeng Zhao told the World Economic Forum in Davos he is in talks with approximately a dozen unnamed governments about tokenizing their assets to help them realize financial gains and develop crypto industries. Zhao previously advised Kyrgyzstan on a som-pegged stablecoin, was named adviser to Pakistan's Crypto Council in March 2025, and discussed regulatory frameworks with Malaysian officials in January 2025.
3 days ago
Superstate Raises $82.5M Series B to Build Onchain Equity Issuance Platform
Bain Capital Crypto and Distributed Global led the round for the SEC-registered transfer agent, which manages $1.23B in tokenized assets. Superstate plans to expand its Opening Bell platform to enable SEC-registered companies to issue and trade shares directly on Ethereum and Solana blockchains, replacing traditional IPO and settlement processes.
3 days ago
Trump Rules Out Military Action on Greenland, Bitcoin Rallies $3,000 to $90,000
President Trump told world leaders at Davos he would not use force to acquire Greenland and scrapped planned 25% tariffs on opposing nations, easing geopolitical tensions that had pressured Bitcoin from $110,000 in November to $88,000 last week. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed the shift, though analysts warn uncertainty persists as trade agreements including the EU's 'Turnberry proposals' have already been cancelled amid escalating tariff rhetoric.
3 days ago
BingX Secures First Crypto Sponsorship Deal With Ferrari Formula One Team
The crypto exchange signed a multi-year partnership with Scuderia Ferrari, marking the Italian racing team's inaugural sponsorship agreement with a digital asset platform. BingX CPO Vivien Lin cited shared values around performance and transparency, positioning the deal as evidence of crypto industry maturation beyond speculation toward infrastructure and credibility.
3 days ago
Maple Launches syrupUSDC on Coinbase's Base Network With Aave Integration Pending
Onchain asset manager Maple is deploying its yield-bearing stablecoin syrupUSDC to Base, Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network, using Chainlink infrastructure for cross-chain interoperability. An Aave governance proposal is live to list syrupUSDC as collateral on Aave V3 Base Instance. The token uses overcollateralized loans with real-time collateral monitoring and defined liquidation thresholds to manage leverage risk.
3 days ago
Pantera Capital Predicts 'Brutal Pruning' of Corporate Crypto Treasuries in 2026
Large, well-capitalized players like MicroStrategy and BitMine are dominating Bitcoin and Ether accumulation while smaller treasury firms face acquisition or collapse. MicroStrategy acquired 22,306 BTC ($2.13B) last week, bringing holdings to 709,715 BTC. BitMine holds 4.2M ETH (3.48% of total supply) after buying 35,268 ETH ($104M) this week. Smaller players like ETHZilla are liquidating assets to repay debt, signaling financial strain.
3 days ago
Ruble-Backed A7A5 Stablecoin Processed $100B in Transactions Before Sanctions Curbed Growth
Elliptic found the A7A5 token, designed to help Russian entities evade Western sanctions, surged after launching in early 2025 before activity collapsed following US sanctions in August and EU designation in October. The stablecoin functioned as a bridge between rubles and USDT on Ethereum and Tron, with daily volumes falling from $1.5B peaks to $500M by mid-2025 after Uniswap delisted it and exchanges froze USDT deposits linked to A7A5 wallets.
3 days ago
Bitcoin Long-Term Holders Hit Record Sales in 2024-2025, Signaling Market Transition
CryptoQuant analysis shows dormant Bitcoin UTXOs held for 2+ years reached highest annual revival levels in history during 2024-2025, matching 2017 bull market distribution patterns. Long-term holders began reassessing positions above $40,000, with early 2026 data showing moderated but continued selling, suggesting potential shift in Bitcoin ownership structure beyond traditional price cycles.
3 days ago
Bitcoin's Quantum Vulnerability Affects 4M BTC as Timeline Accelerates, Deloitte Warns
Deloitte research shows 25% of Bitcoin's usable supply (4M BTC) sits in addresses vulnerable to quantum attacks via Shor's algorithm. IBM projects quantum advantage by 2026 and fault-tolerant systems by 2029, while Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin warned quantum computers could break elliptic-curve cryptography before 2028. Upgrading Bitcoin's signature scheme could require 75-300 days of downtime, creating technical and governance obstacles to migration.
3 days ago
Circle CEO Allaire Dismisses Bank-Run Fears From Stablecoin Yields at Davos
Jeremy Allaire argued stablecoin interest payments pose no systemic threat, citing $11 trillion in money market funds as historical precedent. He noted lending is already shifting to private credit and capital markets, and predicted AI agents will drive stablecoin adoption as the primary payment system for autonomous transactions.
3 days ago
Ethereum Faces Potential Drop to $1,850 as ETF Outflows Signal Weakening Demand
Ether briefly recovered to $3,000 but faces deeper correction risk due to heavy spot ETH ETF outflows and declining demand metrics. Capriole Investment's Ethereum Apparent Demand fell to -3,562 ETH on Jan. 16 from +92,000 ETH on Dec. 13, matching March 2025 levels that preceded a 25% price drop. Bear flag pattern targets $1,850 if support at $2,800-$3,000 breaks; key downside levels include $2,460 (200-day MA) and $2,000 psychological support.
3 days ago
F/m Investments Seeks SEC Approval to Tokenize $6B Treasury ETF on Permissioned Blockchain
The $18B asset manager filed Wednesday for exemptive relief to record ownership of its TBIL Treasury ETF shares on a permissioned blockchain while maintaining 1940 Act registration. The tokenized shares would carry identical CUSIP numbers, fees, voting rights and economic terms as traditional shares, positioning blockchain as an alternative record-keeping method rather than a new asset class. CEO Alex Morris said the move could simplify institutional transfers across platforms. The filing follows Franklin Templeton's public blockchain tokenization pilots and precedes NYSE's planned 24/7 onchain settlement venue.
3 days ago
Nomura's Laser Digital Launches Bitcoin Yield Fund Targeting Institutions
Laser Digital introduced the Bitcoin Diversified Yield Fund (BDYF) to offer institutional investors income-generating strategies alongside Bitcoin exposure, moving beyond traditional long-only funds. The actively managed product uses market-neutral strategies to target lower volatility and reduced correlation with broader crypto markets, with Kaio handling tokenization and Komainu providing custody.
3 days ago
Vietnam Opens Crypto Exchange Licensing Window With $380M Capital Requirement
Vietnam's State Securities Commission began accepting digital asset trading platform applications on Jan. 20, 2026, operationalizing a five-year pilot program. Applicants must be Vietnamese entities with 10 trillion dong ($380M) minimum capital, 65% institutional ownership, and foreign stakes capped at 49%. About 10 domestic banks and securities firms, including SSI Securities, VIX Securities, Military Bank and Techcombank, announced plans to apply, though no licenses have been issued yet.
3 days ago
Bitcoin Policy Institute, Fedi and Cornell Launch Two-Year Study on American Financial Privacy Attitudes
The research initiative will combine quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to examine how Americans view financial privacy and how regulation shapes behavior, with four semi-annual reports starting April 2026. The study comes as criminal cases against Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash developers raise concerns about whether publishing privacy-focused code could be treated as a crime, and as pending market structure legislation debates protections for open-source developers.
3 days ago
Bitcoin Faces Prolonged Consolidation as ETF Outflows Hit $708.7M in Single Day
Glassnode warned Bitcoin's onchain structure remains fragile, with BTC trapped between $81,100 and $98,400 support levels mirroring Q1 2022 consolidation patterns. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $708.7M in outflows Wednesday—the fifth-largest since January 2024 launch—led by BlackRock's IBIT ($356.6M) and Fidelity's FBTC ($287.7M), signaling institutional de-risking amid rejection at $90,000 resistance.
3 days ago
Strive Plans $150M Preferred Stock Offering to Pay Down Debt and Buy Bitcoin
Vivek Ramaswamy's asset manager will issue Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (SATA) with a 12.25% annual dividend, using proceeds to repay Semler Scientific convertible notes and Coinbase Credit borrowings, with remaining funds allocated to Bitcoin purchases. The offering may shrink through private debt-for-equity swaps with Semler note holders. Barclays and Cantor Fitzgerald are joint book-running managers.
3 days ago
Thailand's SEC Plans Crypto ETF and Futures Rules to Attract Institutional Investors
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission will issue crypto ETF guidelines early 2025 and enable futures trading on the Thailand Futures Exchange, treating digital assets as an official asset class with a 5% portfolio allocation limit. The regulator also suspended KuCoin Thailand in January after its capital fell below minimum requirements, though the exchange attributed the issue to a shareholder dispute rather than liquidity problems.
3 days ago
Saga Protocol Pauses After $7M Exploit, Stablecoin De-pegs to $0.75
Layer-1 blockchain Saga halted its SagaEVM chainlet Wednesday after attackers exploited contract vulnerabilities to mint $7M in unauthorized funds and convert them to Ether. Saga Dollar de-pegged to $0.75 from $1.00, while protocol TVL collapsed 55% to $16M in 24 hours. Team confirmed no validator compromise or consensus failure; investigation ongoing.
3 days ago
Institutional Investors Won't Drive Bitcoin Higher Without Major Catalyst, Says FFTT's Gromen
Macro researcher Luke Gromen told Coin Stories that institutional investors are unlikely to push Bitcoin from $89,880 to $150,000 without a significant market event like the US CLARITY Act or Fed rate cuts. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju countered that institutional demand remains strong, citing 577,000 Bitcoin ($53B) purchased by institutional funds over the past year.
3 days ago
Vitalik Buterin Proposes Native Distributed Validator Technology for Ethereum Staking
Ethereum co-founder pitched 'native DVT' to allow stakers to secure the network across multiple nodes instead of relying on a single validator, reducing penalty risks. The design would let validators create up to 16 virtual identities that act as one, requiring threshold signatures from a majority to execute actions. Buterin argued the approach simplifies current DVT implementations while improving security and decentralization for solo stakers.
3 days ago
NYSE Plans Blockchain Platform for 24/7 Stock and ETF Trading With Instant Settlement
The New York Stock Exchange and parent Intercontinental Exchange announced a blockchain-based post-trade system enabling round-the-clock trading and settlement of stocks and ETFs with multi-chain support and custody features. Columbia Business School professor Omid Malekan criticized the plan as "vaporware" lacking specifics on chain selection, token permissions, and fee structure, arguing NYSE's centralized model conflicts with tokenization's decentralized ethos. Industry supporters including Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo and Aptos Labs called the move bullish for on-chain equities.
3 days ago
Senate Republicans Release Crypto Market Structure Bill With DeFi Developer Protections
The Senate Agriculture Committee released a Republican draft bill Wednesday that creates regulatory framework for crypto markets under SEC and CFTC jurisdiction while shielding DeFi software developers from CFTC liability. Committee chair John Boozman said Democrats have not endorsed the draft ahead of a Jan. 27 markup, citing unresolved disagreements on fundamental policy issues. The bill excludes stablecoin yield regulation, which falls under Banking Committee authority.
3 days ago
Bitwise CIO Says Q4 2025 Marked End of Crypto Bear Market Despite Price Weakness
Matt Hougan cited strong fundamentals including Ethereum layer-2 transactions at all-time highs, stablecoin market cap exceeding $300B, and Uniswap processing more volume than Coinbase as signs of a market bottom similar to early 2023 before crypto rebounded from $16K to $98K. Analysts diverge on 2026 outlook: Fundstrat expects struggle through year-end while VanEck predicts Q1 2026 bullish momentum for risk assets.
3 days ago
ARK Invest Reaffirms Bitcoin Could Hit $950K-$1M by 2030 as Crypto Market Expands to $28T
Cathie Wood's asset manager projects crypto market will grow at 61% compound annual growth rate to $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin comprising 70% of that value. Bitcoin ETFs and corporate holders increased their share of total supply from 8.7% to 12% in 2025. ARK also predicts smart contract platforms like Ethereum and Solana will reach $6 trillion at 54% CAGR, while tokenized real-world assets hit $11 trillion by 2030.
3 days ago
X Launches Starterpacks Feature With 1,000+ Pre-Curated Account Lists
X head of product Nikita Bier announced the onboarding tool will launch in weeks, featuring over 1,000 pre-made account collections across interest categories including cryptocurrency and memecoin trading. The feature aims to address user engagement challenges, with Bitcoin-related posts on X declining 32% in 2025 according to data shared by cypherpunk Jameson Lopp.
3 days ago
S&P 500 Rises 1.16% as Trump Cancels European Tariffs; Bitcoin Gains 1.64%
President Trump announced he would not implement tariffs on eight European nations scheduled for Feb. 1 following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The S&P 500 closed up 1.16%, while Bitcoin rose to $90,010 (+1.64%), Ether gained 3.03%, and Solana climbed 2.36%. Crypto stocks showed mixed results: MicroStrategy up 2.23%, Coinbase down 0.35%, Riot Platforms down 4.70%, Marathon Holdings up 1.83%. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 20 (extreme fear) despite market gains.
3 days ago
Senate Banking Committee Delays Crypto Bill to March, Prioritizes Trump's Housing Ban
Legislation establishing SEC and CFTC oversight of cryptocurrency is being postponed from February to late February or March as the Banking Committee shifts focus to implementing Trump's executive order barring Wall Street from purchasing single-family homes. The delay marks another setback for the bill, which has already faced multiple postponements and lost support from Coinbase over stablecoins and decentralized platform provisions. White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt urged quick passage while deals remain possible, though acknowledged compromises are necessary for Senate passage.
4 days ago
ETH Faces Selling Pressure as $480M in Liquidations and Declining Network Fees Weigh on Sentiment
Ether dropped 13.8% to retest $2,900 support Wednesday after $480M in bullish leveraged positions liquidated over two days. Ethereum spot ETFs saw $230M in net outflows Friday, while network fees fell 20% week-over-week. Options skew hit 11% premium for downside protection, highest in seven weeks, signaling trader caution despite negative funding rates typically indicating buy signals.
4 days ago
Circle Issues UN Grant to Deploy Stablecoins for Humanitarian Aid Payments
The stablecoin issuer announced at Davos that digital financial infrastructure can reduce humanitarian aid delivery costs by 20%. The grant supports the UN's Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions, building on Circle's 2022 USDC payments for displaced Ukrainians. The $38B annual humanitarian aid sector currently relies on legacy systems.