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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson criticized the Trump administration's cryptocurrency policy as more damaging than Biden's. He highlighted the launch of memecoins by Trump and the first lady as a key event that derailed bipartisan crypto regulatory reform efforts in early 2025. Hoskinson believes that without this event, important legislation like the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act would have passed by now.

A Federal Reserve official, Williams, has forecasted that the U.S. economy is expected to grow between 2.5% and 2.75% annually by 2026. This optimistic projection indicates sustained moderate growth in the coming years. The report was cited by ChainCatcher, highlighting future economic expectations.

Federal Reserve official Williams emphasized the importance of reducing inflation while avoiding significant risks to employment. He acknowledged the delicate balance the Fed must maintain. This statement suggests continued careful policy measures to tackle inflation without triggering job losses.

Stake.com transferred 2000 ETH to an anonymous Ethereum address starting with 0x77eA, as reported by ChainCatcher using Arkham data. The transaction occurred at 06:57 without any publicly disclosed purpose. This movement highlights notable activity from a major crypto gambling platform, raising questions about potential operational or liquidity strategies.

Meta Platforms is planning layoffs in its Reality Labs division, targeting 10% to 30% of staff primarily working on metaverse and VR projects. The company aims to reallocate resources towards its AR glasses initiative, which has exceeded sales expectations since its 2021 partnership with Ray-Ban. Meta is reconsidering its investment strategy in the metaverse, signaling a strategic pivot from VR-heavy projects to augmented reality technologies.

Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, has publicly criticized former President Donald Trump's cryptocurrency policy, labeling it 'extractive' and blaming it for politicizing the crypto industry. He argues that Trump's approach has alienated a significant portion of the American public, potentially impacting the industry's growth and adoption. Hoskinson warns that such politicization could have negative repercussions for the broader crypto ecosystem.

Meta Platforms shares fell by nearly 2% after unveiling its 'Meta Compute' initiative focused on building AI infrastructure and expanding data centers. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans for massive investments in AI-related data centers and energy capacity while appointing senior leadership to spearhead this effort. Despite the stock dip and mixed initial reactions, most analysts maintain optimistic ratings with price targets well above the current trading levels.

A Bank of Italy research paper highlights a potential 'death spiral' in Ethereum where a collapse in ETH's price may incapacitate transaction settlements, freezing over $800 billion in tokenized assets. The report warns that validator economics tied to ETH price could trigger mass validator exits, undermining network security and enabling malicious attacks. This scenario threatens both crypto-native and traditional financial assets on Ethereum, posing regulatory and systemic risk challenges.

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has delayed the markup of the CLARITY Act, a bill focused on crypto market regulation, from January 15 to the last week of January. This postponement aims to allow additional time to foster bipartisan consensus on the proposed legislation. The delay reflects ongoing efforts to carefully shape the regulatory framework surrounding the crypto market structure.

The White House, via Press Secretary Levitt, emphasized that U.S. President Trump prefers diplomacy in addressing the current Iran situation. Trump noted ongoing negotiations following Iranian officials' outreach but affirmed that military action remains a possible option if necessary. Iranian officials have expressed willingness to negotiate on a basis of mutual respect while also preparing for potential conflict.

The White House is evaluating Iran's latest diplomatic proposal to restrict its nuclear program despite President Trump's leaning towards military action. Senior advisors, including Vice President Pence, recommend prioritizing diplomacy before considering force. This deliberation comes amid ongoing unrest related to Iran's activities.

The White House Press Secretary Levitt stated that airstrikes on Iran remain one of several options considered by the U.S. government. This statement highlights ongoing tensions and a range of potential responses in diplomatic and military policy. The remarks could increase geopolitical uncertainty affecting global markets, including cryptocurrencies.

U.S. President Trump has declared that any country conducting business with Iran will face a 25% tariff imposed by the United States. This tariff applies to all commercial activities and takes effect immediately. The decision is presented as final and decisive, signaling increased economic tensions.

German Foreign Minister John Wadefull expressed hope for a compromise with the US over Greenland security matters. Discussions focus on involving the US in a new NATO mission in the Arctic to ensure Greenland's security. Germany is committed to contributing to these efforts alongside US and NATO partners.

Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's Acting President, publicly rejected claims of U.S. influence over Venezuelan governance. Her statement counters former U.S. President Trump's assertion as 'self-proclaimed Acting President of Venezuela.' Rodriguez affirmed the Venezuelan government's commitment to sovereignty and international relations based on respect and law.

Meta Platforms is planning layoffs within its metaverse-focused Reality Labs division, potentially cutting 10% to 30% of staff involved in VR headset and VR social networking development. The company intends to shift resources from the metaverse to prioritize its AR glasses project, which has outperformed internal sales expectations. This strategic shift reflects Meta's reassessment of metaverse investments in favor of wearable AR devices.

Rick Rieder, BlackRock's Chief Investment Officer and a potential Federal Reserve Chair candidate, expressed his belief that Federal Reserve seats operate independently. He emphasizes the autonomy of Fed officials from political influence in their decision-making processes. This statement provides insight amid ongoing discussions about monetary policy and leadership at the Fed.