Cointelegraph

The US banking industry has been pushing “myths” about stablecoin yields to protect itself, and Congress should prioritize consumers rather than highly profitable banks, argues crypto lecturer and author Omid Malekan. 

“I am disappointed that market structure legislation seems to be held up by the stablecoin yield issue. Most of the concerns bouncing around Washington are based on unsubstantiated myths,” said Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Omid Malekan, on Monday. 

He stated that the passage of crypto market structure legislation in Washington “now seems to partially depend on the question of whether stablecoin issuers should be able to share their economics with third parties.”

The primary conflict is a “yield bottleneck” regarding who gets to profit from the interest on stablecoin reserves.

The banking lobbies have labeled this a “loophole” that they want closed. They fear that if users can passively earn around 5% risk-free yields on stablecoins, customers will withdraw billions from low-interest bank accounts in a “deposit flight,” destabilizing community banks, explained technologist Paul Barron on Saturday. 

However, there are several counterarguments to these banking industry concerns, said Malekan. 

Stablecoin growth doesn’t hurt bank deposits

The idea that stablecoin growth can only lead to shrinking bank deposits is false, he argued. 

Stablecoins may actually increase bank deposits since most stablecoin demand comes from abroad. As issuers must hold reserves in Treasury bills and bank deposits, this wuld create more banking activity overall.

Secondly, stablecoin competition won’t hurt lending, just bank profits, said Malekan. Banks can compete by paying higher interest rates to depositors. Currently, the national average savings account yield is a paltry 0.62%, according to BankRate.

Related: US community banks join campaign to shut a GENIUS Act ‘loophole’

Thirdly, banks are not the dominant credit source since they provide only about 20% of US credit. Most lending comes from non-bank sources like money market funds and private credit, which could benefit from stablecoin adoption through cheaper payments and lower Treasury rates, he argued. 

Savers deserve consideration in addition to borrowers

It’s also a myth that community and regional banks are particularly vulnerable to stablecoin adoption. 

“It’s the large ‘money center’ banks that are more vulnerable,” the author said.

“The only reason this myth persists is because it’s pushed by an unholy alliance of large banks trying to protect their profits and crypto startups trying to sell smaller banks their services.”

Malekan said savers deserve consideration in addition to borrowers. Preventing stablecoin issuers from sharing yields with users essentially protects bank profits at savers’ expense, when both savers and borrowers matter for a healthy economy.

Prioritize consumers over bank profits 

The academic concluded that Congress should prioritize innovation and consumers rather than protecting highly profitable big banks. 

“Most of the concerns raised by the banking industry on this topic are unproven and unsubstantiated. Congress has done a great job of putting American progress ahead of corporate interests so far; it shouldn't stop now.”

Lawyer and Senate candidate John Deaton reminded his X followers on Monday that senators are being pressured by the Banking Lobby to not allow third-party platforms like Coinbase to pay yield on stablecoins. 

“The banks are not your friends. And neither are career politicians [...] who support them,” he said. 

Coinbase has reportedly threatened to withdraw support for the CLARITY Act if it restricts stablecoin rewards beyond disclosure requirements. 

John Deaton recommends a book by G. Edward Griffin that critiques the Federal Reserve System, suggesting it was created in secrecy by powerful individuals. Source: John E Deaton

Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’

Eric Adams has made his first major public move since leaving the New York City Mayor’s Office, launching a New York City–themed crypto token aimed at addressing anti-semitism and “anti-Americanism.”

In a post to X on Monday, Adams announced the launch of the “NYC Token, with a link to a website that says it also aims to inspire the next wave of innovation in NYC.

“I always say there are two types of Americans, those who live in New York and those who wish they could,” Adams said in a video, adding that “We’re about to change the game.”

“If you can't make it to New York, we're going to bring New York to you,” Adams said, suggesting that the NYC-themed token was poised to “take off like crazy.”

Proud to launch @buynyctoken, a new token built to fight the rapid spread of antisemitism and anti-Americanism across this country and now in New York City.

Now live at https://t.co/zowY9Ri3aK pic.twitter.com/qBMzV88Tmj

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) January 12, 2026

In an interview with FOX Business, Adams explained that proceeds from the NYC Token would provide funding to non-profits to raise awareness about antisemitism and anti-Americanism through education programs. It will also be used to fund education about blockchain and crypto and support scholarships for NYC students in underserved communities.

“[There’s a] wave of anti-Americanism that is sweeping not only on Ivy League college campuses but in the cities, so the goal is how do we use blockchain technology with this token, and a substantial amount of money raised from this token is going to fight those initiatives.”

NYC Token plunges soon after launch

Adam’s new memecoin, however, saw a rocky launch.

DEXScreener data shows that the Solana-based token fell from $0.47 to the $0.10 roughly 30 minutes after launching, with the market cap falling from near $500 million to less than $110 million at the time of writing.

There are also unverified accusations that the team behind the token has intentionally removed liquidity, with crypto analyst Rune citing blockchain data suggesting investors have been scammed out of more than $3.4 million.

Cointelegraph reached out to Adams for comment but didn’t receive an immediate response.

Questions remain over what’s next for the NYC token

The NYC Token website provides little information on the project’s direction. The website’s “Buy NYC Token” and “Read Whitepaper” buttons also currently don’t work.

However, information on its tokenomics states that 40% of the NYC tokens are allocated to community rewards, 25% to liquidity, 15% to development, and the remaining 20% split between marketing and the team.

The website also suggests that Adams may pursue more than a token launch, stating: “We’re creating a decentralized financial ecosystem that's as ambitious as the city itself.”

NYC has taken a change in direction

Adams was officially replaced by Zohran Mamdani on Jan. 1 following Mamdani’s victory over crypto advocate and former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, on Nov. 4.

Related: Crypto custody company BitGo seeks up to $201 million in US IPO 

Adams was one of the most pro-crypto mayors in the US when leading the mayor’s office and was well-known for converting some of his earliest paychecks into crypto.

Mamdani, however, adopts a far more anti-capitalist stance, a position that has drawn criticism from many in the crypto industry, with some warning that his leadership could drive tech talent out of the city.

Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’

US President Donald Trump has pledged to make major tech companies “pick up the tab” for their power usage to prevent everyday Americans from paying more for electricity.

“I never want Americans to pay higher electricity bills because of data centers,” said Donald Trump on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday.

He blamed the Democrats for surging household electricity bills and vowed to work with major American tech giants to “secure their commitment to the American People,” with an announcement in the coming weeks.

The average price of electricity per kilowatt-hour in the average US city has increased around 40% over the past five years, according to the St. Louis Fed. 

The POTUS said that Microsoft, with whom his team has been working, will make major changes beginning this week “to ensure that Americans don’t ‘pick up the tab’ for their power consumption, in the form of paying higher utility bills.”

“We are the ‘hottest’ country in the world, and number one in AI. Data centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans free and secure, but the big technology companies who build them must ‘pay their own way’.” 

Data center power demand surging 

In 2025, US data center demand accounted for 5.2% of America’s total power usage, or 224 terawatt hours (TWh), up 21% from the previous year, according to Visual Capitalist.

By 2030, McKinsey & Company projected that electricity consumption from US data centers could top 600 TWh, or 11.7% of all American power.

Related: Bitcoin is now 56.7% green: Here’s how it could get even cleaner

Cooling accounts for 30% to 40% of total facility energy use, while servers and IT equipment consume approximately 40% to 60% of total facility power, according to Network Installers.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency estimates that AI-focused data center electricity demand is growing at around 30% annually, compared to 9% for conventional server workloads.

US data center power consumption is set to surge 3 times by 2030. Source: Visual Capitalist

Bitcoin mining power usage

Bitcoin mining is also a power-hungry operation that relies on huge data centers to crunch the numbers in search of the next block. 

However, last week, ESG expert Daniel Batten compared the national rise in US utility bills between 2021 and 2024 to the part of the country where there was an anomalously high concentration of Bitcoin mining, Texas, finding that they were very similar.  

“Neither in the data nor in peer-reviewed studies is there evidence to support the claim that Bitcoin mining increases power bills for consumers,” he concluded. 

Bitcoin mining also has several other documented environmental benefits, such as removing bottlenecks to on-grid renewables, funding green energy research and development, and eliminating harmful methane emissions. 

Magazine: 9 weirdest AI stories from 2025: AI Eye

Meta is reportedly set to lay off around 10% of staff from its metaverse arm Reality Labs this week, as the firm focuses its resources on artificial intelligence. 

According to a report from the New York Times (NYT) on Monday, citing sources close to the matter, Meta could announce the cuts to the division as soon as Tuesday. 

Reality Labs has around 15,000 staff members. The division focuses on virtual reality (VR) gear such as headsets, as well as operating the firm’s metaverse platforms Horizon Worlds and Horizon Workrooms. 

The cuts are expected to hit around 10%, equating to 1,500 people.   

Cointelegraph reached out to Meta for comment.  

Meta cutting metaverse budget

Meta has been making gradual cuts to its metaverse budget over the past year as the firm ramped up its focus on artificial intelligence (AI). 

In early December, Meta’s shares spiked after reports emerged that the firm was potentially slashing 30% from its metaverse budget and reallocating the funds to AI.   

The NYT report also states that Meta plans to reallocate some of its money from Reality Labs to increase the budget of its wearables division, which focuses on smart glasses and wrist-worn devices such as the Meta Neural Band. 

Boxing in Meta’s metaverse. Source: Meta

The firm, formerly known as Facebook, changed its name to Meta in October 2021 as part of a major pivot from social media to the metaverse, VR and augmented reality.  

Meta has lost over $70 billion on Reality Labs since the unit was launched in August 2020, with the arm posting $4.4 billion worth of operation losses in Meta’s last financial earnings report from Q3 2025.  

Related: CFTC forms innovation committee to help shape rules for crypto, AI

At the time, the metaverse was one of the most trending sectors in crypto and traditional tech, user adoption has failed to hit mainstream levels. 

Currently, gaming-oriented metaverse platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite dominate the market, with hundreds of millions of active daily users. However, these platforms are outliers, with the rest of the sector having minuscule usage metrics in comparison. 

Meanwhile, big-name blockchain metaverses such as The Sandbox saw just 776 unique active wallets engage with the platform over the past 30 days, per data from DappRadar. Some have even claimed Meta’s Horizon Worlds sees less than 900 daily active users.   

While Meta may be cooling down on the metaverse, CEO Mark Zuckerberg appears to still be bullish on the growth potential of the metaverse, once calling 2025 a “pivotal year” for the industry.

Magazine: Bitget’s Gracy Chen is looking for ‘entrepreneurs, not wantrepreneurs’

The US Senate Agriculture Committee has pushed its markup of the crypto market structure bill to the end of January, saying it needs more time to garner support for the legislation.

Committee Chairman John Boozman said on Monday that he wanted to advance a bipartisan-supported bill and has “made meaningful progress and had constructive discussions as we work toward this goal.”

“To finalize the remaining details and ensure the broad support this legislation requires, additional time is needed before moving to markup,” he added. “The committee will mark up this legislation during the last week of January.”

The crypto industry is highly anticipating the bill as it would define how the country’s market regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, would police crypto.

Source: Senate Ag Committee Republicans

The Senate Agriculture Committee oversees the CFTC and initially slated a markup for the bill on Thursday to coincide with a markup of the same bill by the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees the SEC, and is still to go ahead.

The market structure bill under consideration in the Senate is separate from the House’s CLARITY Act, which it passed in July, due to procedural rules.

Requests for ethics, stablecoin yield changes

Some of the changes that lawmakers and lobbyists are pushing to include are a ban on all stablecoin yield payments and provisions for ethics laws.

A number of Democratic Senators are pushing for conflict-of-interest guardrails in the bill, with provisions to prohibit public officials, including President Donald Trump, from profiting from any connections to crypto companies.

Bank lobbyists have also pushed for a ban on third-party platforms, such as crypto exchanges, from offering stablecoin yields after the GENIUS Act prohibited issuers from doing so.

Crypto lobby groups and companies have pressed for lawmakers to exclude software developers and non-custodial platforms from being classified as intermediaries, and therefore subject to finance rules.

Investment bank TD Cowen said earlier this month that the midterms could diminish the support needed to pass the bill, and it was more likely to pass in 2027, with its final implementation in 2029.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

US Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden have introduced standalone legislation to ensure that blockchain developers and service providers who don’t directly handle user funds are exempt from money transmitter regulations.

The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), introduced by Lummis and Wyden on Monday, aims to clarify that writing software or maintaining networks doesn’t trigger federal or state money-transfer requirements.

There have been mounting concerns among crypto developers about being held criminally liable for the way people choose to use their software. 

Last year, Tornado Cash co-founders Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev were found guilty of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in connection with the mixing protocol.

Lummis said in a statement that the bill aims to provide developers with the clarity needed to “build the future of digital finance without fear of prosecution for activities that pose no money laundering risk,” as regulatory uncertainty under the current law has “driven innovation offshore and subjected them to conflicting state regulations.”

“Blockchain developers who have simply written code and maintain open-source infrastructure have lived under threat of being classified as money transmitters for far too long.”

“This designation makes no sense when they never touch, control, or have access to user funds, and unnecessarily limits innovation,” Lummis said, adding that it's time to stop treating developers as banks simply for writing code. 

Source: Cynthia Lummis

Crypto market structure bill has similar protections

Similar protections are included in the crypto market structure bill, which is headed for a markup with the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. 

Provisions in a draft bill aren’t guaranteed, and they can be amended, watered down, or stripped during markup before it's voted to become law.

The other panel that needs to approve the market structure effort, the Senate Agriculture Committee, has delayed its hearing until the last week of January, according to a statement from Chairman John Boozman.

Related: Crypto reps fly to US Capitol this week to address market structure bill

Industry gives tick of approval

Several groups in the crypto industry have already voiced approval for the BRCA. 

Crypto lobby group, the DeFi Education Fund, said in an X post on Monday that the bill “provides critical protections for software developers of non-custodial, decentralized technologies.”

“The BRCA must be included in market structure legislation, and we encourage all Congressional leaders to join Senators Lummis and Wyden in prioritizing clarity and protections for software developers building our financial future.”

Non-profit crypto advocacy organization, the Blockchain Association, said “Clear rules are essential for innovation to thrive in the US,” and it's “critical that the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act remains in market structure legislation.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Grieve, the vice president of government affairs for investment firm Paradigm, said the BRCA is “crucial legislation to support US blockchain development.”

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

OKX user’s desperate plea

An OKX user trying to get around restrictions on Chinese users has become desperate after the crypto exchange froze funds saying the money was needed to cover urgent family medical expenses.

The user, who shared a lengthy personal appeal on X, said about $40,000 in crypto became inaccessible after OKXs risk controls locked multiple accounts linked to identity violations. The user admitted the accounts were acquired from third parties to access promotions that were unavailable to mainland China users.

In the post, the user said all funds transferred into them originated from their verified personal account. They described the funds as life-saving money needed for a family members surgery.

OKX founder Star Xu responded, and said that the exchange cannot transfer control of accounts or release assets based on personal claims, even when the claimant admits wrongdoing. Further handling is possible only if the registered account holder steps in to provide verifiable documents.

Buying and selling accounts violates the terms of service of most crypto exchanges. (Star Xu)

The user later apologized to OKX and said he would attempt to contact the accounts KYC-registered owner to seek a resolution. They added that loans from friends helped address the immediate medical emergency.

Hong Kong cautious on gold-backed stablecoins

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has downplayed calls for gold-backed stablecoins.

Chan was responding to an audience member who suggested the city explore stablecoins backed by gold, at a Saturday forum on the citys upcoming budget.

He said Hong Kong would take a step-by-step approach to stablecoin development and stressed the need for prudence, adding that proposals to link stablecoins to gold or other assets could be examined after regulatory groundwork is completed.

Paul Chan answered an audience members call for gold-backed stablecoins on Saturday. (RTHK)

Hong Kongs stablecoin rules took effect on Aug. 1 and have since attracted a long line of applicants hoping to capitalize on the worlds largest offshore yuan market. However, Chan has said only a select few will be approved, warning that most applicants are likely to be disappointed.

Stablecoin adoption has accelerated since US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, prompting regulators worldwide to reassess their own stablecoin frameworks. 

Gold-linked stablecoins have also gained traction. Tether, the issuer of the worlds largest stablecoin USDT, has continued expanding its gold-backed offering. 

In October, Tethers XAUt market cap rose by about $500 million, lifting the gold-pegged stablecoins market capitalization to $1.5 billion, CoinMarketCap data shows. Since then, its market capitalization has climbed further to about $1.87 billion at the time of writing, as gold prices surged to record highs.

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Features Bitcoin payday? Crypto to revolutionize job wages… or not

Crypto first movers risk are becoming TradFi casualties in South Korea

A South Korean startup has accused financial regulators of favoring established institutions and sidelining a crypto pioneer as the country moves to formalize its tokenized securities market.

Lucentblocks SOU app lets users invest in fractional ownership of real estate through tokenized investment products. (Lucentblock)

Lucentblock, a blockchain-based fractional investment firm founded in 2018, said it faces possible closure after being excluded from the shortlist for South Koreas planned over-the-counter exchange for security token offerings (STOs).

In October, three groups of applicants the Korea Exchange (KRX), Nextrade (NXT) and Lucentblock submitted applications to the Financial Services Commission for preliminary approval to operate a fractional investment over-the-counter exchange.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is expected to finalize licenses by Wednesday. If the reported shortlist is confirmed, Lucentblock would be excluded from South Koreas first officially sanctioned STO trading infrastructure.

Lucentblock CEO Huh Se-young called for an emergency press conference on Monday, and said that the company was being pushed out of the market despite operating for seven years under South Koreas regulatory sandbox.

This is an existing business being institutionalized in a way that excludes the very companies that built the market, Huh said.

The dispute has raised broader concerns over how regulatory sandboxes transition into permanent market structures. Critics argue that startups invited to experiment often lack protection once formal licensing frameworks are introduced, allowing larger players to enter late and dominate the market.

Read also

Features Building blocks: Gen Y can use tokens to get on the property ladder

Columns 3 reasons Ethereum could turn a corner: Kain Warwick, X Hall of Flame

Vietnam to license pilot crypto exchanges by Thursday

Vietnam will license companies to participate in a pilot digital asset exchange program before Thursday as part of a regulatory sandbox aimed at bringing the local crypto market under formal oversight, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.

The instruction was issued at a national conference on Jan. 6 reviewing the finance sectors performance in 2025 and setting priorities for 2026. 

According to a government summary of the conference, the licensing deadline was included among eight priority task groups assigned to the finance sector for the year. Five companies are reportedly expected to join the pilot.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed crypto licenses for the nations sandbox be handed out this week. (Thng tin Chnh ph)

Government communications described the sandbox as a mechanism for controlled crypto experimentation while managing risks related to investor protection and Anti-Money Laundering.

Vietnams crypto market has long operated in a legal grey area, until Jan. 1, when the Law on Digital Technology Industry came into force. The law provides a legal foundation for crypto that allows for regulatory sandboxes.

Just last week, authorities in Da Nang city reportedly approved a pilot program for stablecoin conversion to and from the Vietnamese dong.

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Ethereum needs to get to a point where its value proposition remains even if developers stop active work on the protocol, according to its co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

“We must get to a place where Ethereum's value proposition does not strictly depend on any features that are not in the protocol already,” said Buterin in a post to X on Monday.

He said Ethereum protocols should aspire to be like hammers: once purchased, they remain usable, unlike services that lose functionality when a vendor walks away.

Source: Gabriel Shapiro

While Ethereum has a long technical roadmap ahead, the network needs to reach a point where its core features are fully in place, and builders can ossify if they choose, Buterin said.

“Being able to say ‘Ethereum's protocol, as it stands today, is cryptographically safe for a hundred years’ is something we should strive to get to as soon as possible,” he added.

Vitalik Buterin’s seven areas of improvement

To achieve this, Buterin called for a full quantum-resistance solution to secure Ethereum against future cryptographic threats, while a scalable architecture, including Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVM) and Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), would enable Ethereum to handle thousands of transactions per second. 

Buterin added a general-purpose account model for signature validation, a robust gas schedule free of security vulnerabilities, and a block-building model that can resist centralization and censorship pressures, will also crucial to ensure Ethereum stands the test of time.

“Every year, we should tick off at least one of these boxes, and ideally multiple,” in order to “maximize Ethereum's technological and social robustness for the long term,” he said.

Last week, Buterin said implementing ZK-EVM validation and PeerDAS solutions would give Ethereum greater decentralization, consensus, and high bandwidth — better positioning it to solve the blockchain trilemma that has long forced projects to sacrifice one for the others.

The Splurge part of the Ethereum technical roadmap seeks to implement cryptography solutions that make the network resistant to quantum attacks. No solution has been fully rolled out yet, however.

“Ideally, we do the hard work over the next few years, to get to a point where in the future almost all future innovation can happen through client optimization, and get reflected in the protocol through parameter changes,” said Buterin. 

Ethereum needs better decentralized stablecoins

On Sunday, Buterin also argued that Ethereum needs better decentralized stablecoins to give people greater independence from the traditional finance system.

He suggested a stablecoin backed by a diversified basket of assets and currencies, rather than relying solely on one, like the US dollar, so its stability isn’t dependent on a single nation.

Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’

Key takeaways:

Institutional investors selling Bitcoin is visible through the Bitcoin ETFs recording $1.38 billion in net outflows across four trading sessions. 

BTC futures data shows a neutral 5% basis rate, well below the 10% level that typically defines a true bullish breakout.

Bitcoin (BTC) price briefly jumped above $92,000 on Monday after US federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Despite the odd outcome, Bitcoin traders remain skeptical due to exchange-traded fund outflows and weak demand for bullish leveraged BTC positions.

Bitcoin/USD vs. gold and silver. Source: TradingView

Despite the recent rebound, Bitcoin is still down 23% since October 2025, while gold and silver reached all-time highs in 2026. This divergence has led traders to question whether the digital store-of-value narrative is losing strength. As a result, even if Bitcoin rallies another 14% toward $105,000, investors may hesitate to turn bullish, particularly as analysts grow less confident that the US will deliver further economic stimulus in the near term.

Goldman Sachs no longer expects an interest rate cut in March, citing sticky inflation and resilient labor market data despite temporary slowdowns. US President Donald Trump has openly criticized the Fed for keeping interest rates elevated, even as inflation remained above the 2% target throughout the second half of 2025. Powell’s time as Fed chair ends in April, opening the door for a successor potentially more inclined toward looser monetary policy.

Powell is being investigated over the Fed’s building renovation project, prompting analysts to question whether central bank independence could be at risk—a scenario that could favor alternative scarce assets such as Bitcoin. Powell said the action should be viewed within the broader context of the Trump administration’s threats. 

Bitcoin fails to hold $94,000 despite major corporate buying

Even as Bitcoin reclaimed $91,000 on Monday, traders showed little interest in turning bullish, according to BTC derivatives data.

BTC 2-month futures basis rate. Source: Laevitas.ch

Bitcoin’s risk profile appears largely unchanged by the power struggle between the Fed and the Trump administration, as the BTC futures annualized premium, or basis rate, remained near a neutral-to-bearish 5%. Periods of bullish sentiment are typically characterized by BTC futures trading at a 10% premium or more relative to spot markets.

More importantly, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $1.38 billion in net outflows across four consecutive trading days. Even more concerning, Bitcoin has been unable to sustain levels above $94,000 over the past month, despite Strategy (MSTR US) adding $1.25 billion worth of BTC. The company led by Michael Saylor announced on Monday its largest Bitcoin purchase since July 2025.

Related: Bitcoin to hit $2.9M by 2050 as it muscles into global trade–VanEck

While Bitcoin may function as an alternative hedge to the traditional financial system, there is little evidence that a confidence crisis in the US dollar is unfolding. Despite the $601 billion fiscal deficit recorded in the final three months of 2025, the US government debt has retained its investment-grade status. Meanwhile, yields on the 5-year Treasury have remained below 3.8% over the past couple of months.

US Dollar Strength Index (left) vs. US 5-year Treasury Yield. Source: TradingView

If traders were bracing for an imminent economic downturn, the US dollar would likely have weakened against a basket of foreign currencies, as measured by the DXY index. Instead, the US Dollar Strength Index rebounded to 99 from a 96.7 low in late November 2025. As a result, there is currently no clear evidence of a debasement trade, despite the strong rally in precious metals.

Ultimately, the appeal of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies remains subdued, as reflected in ETF flows and muted demand for leveraged BTC positions, suggesting relatively low odds of a surprise rally toward $105,000 in the near term.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as, legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

US Commodity Futures Trading Commission chair Mike Selig has unveiled the agency’s new innovation committee, aimed at guiding the regulation of emerging technologies like blockchain and AI, which are transforming financial markets.

The Innovation Advisory Committee replaces the Technology Advisory Committee and is looking to bring top crypto voices into the CFTC’s process to shape practical, forward-looking market regulations, Selig said on Monday.

The new committee will advise the CFTC on the “commercial, economic, and practical considerations of emerging products, platforms, and business models in the financial markets so that it can develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets,” Selig said.

“Innovators are harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing to modernize legacy financial systems and build entirely new ones.”

Blockchain is changing finance by enabling faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions in markets that can run 24/7/365, while AI more efficiently analyzes data sets to optimize trading and risk management, among other things.

Source: Mike Selig

The CFTC’s latest move follows in the footsteps of the Securities and Exchange Commission by adopting a more tech-friendly approach to regulation to attract innovators. 

Industry leaders to shape the views of CFTC

Selig will sponsor the new committee and intends to nominate the 12 CEO Innovation Council participants as its charter members. 

Among them are top crypto executives, including Gemini CEO Tyler Winklevoss, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour, Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek and Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi.

From the traditional financial firms, executives, including Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher, Cboe Global Markets CEO Craig Donohue, and Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, are also part of the list.

Selig is also seeking nominations for additional IAC membership, with applications open until Jan. 31, 2026.

The CFTC stated that it would also consider the viewpoints of regulatory bodies, academia, and public interest groups.

US government, private sector must share common goal: A16z

Tech-focused venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) said last Friday that crypto innovation will be critical to securing America’s future and winning the next century.

Related: Crypto custody company BitGo seeks up to $201 million in US IPO 

A16z said alignment between the US government and the private sector is crucial to defend American interests, warning that failure could cost the country its dominance:

“If America fails to win technologically, it will lose economically, militarily, geopolitically, and culturally. And the entire world will lose as well.”

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

Paul Atkins, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), didn’t rule out the possibility of authorities seizing Venezuela’s reported Bitcoin holdings after US forces unseated and captured the country’s president.

In a Monday interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, Atkins responded to reports claiming that Venezuela holds up to $60 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC), though several analysts said they were unable to verify these claims. The SEC chair said it “remains to be seen” what action, if any, the US would take if it had the opportunity to seize the reported 600,000 BTC. 

“I leave that to others in the administration to deal with — I’m not involved in that,” said Atkins in response to a question on whether the US would “take those Bitcoin off ‘em.”

Reports of Venezuela’s Bitcoin holdings surfaced after US forces, at the direction of President Donald Trump, captured then-President Nicolás Maduro last week and removed him to the United States to face criminal charges in New York. 

As of the time of publication, blockchain analysts and intelligence platforms had not confirmed the reported $60 billion in crypto, but the Maduro regime had previously been involved with aspects of the industry. For example, the country launched an oil-backed digital currency in 2018.

Senate to hold market structure markup on Thursday

Atkins’ remarks came a few days before the US Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a markup on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or CLARITY.

House of Representatives lawmakers passed the bill in July, and it has been under review in the Senate for months, likely slowed by a 43-day government shutdown in October and November.

Banks and some crypto companies have also expressed concerns about provisions dealing with stablecoin rewards within the draft bill, and many Democrats are reportedly calling for stronger ethics guardrails and clarification on decentralized finance.

The bill could be delayed amid campaigning for the 2026 midterm elections and another potential government shutdown at the end of January. However, early drafts of the legislation showed lawmakers were attempting to give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission more authority to regulate digital assets.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

Credit rating company Fitch Ratings has flagged a high degree of risk associated with Bitcoin-backed securities, a warning that could complicate the expansion of crypto-linked credit products among institutional investors.

In a Monday assessment, Fitch said Bitcoin-backed securities, financial instruments typically structured by pooling Bitcoin (BTC) or Bitcoin-linked assets and issuing debt against that collateral, carry “heightened risks” that “are consistent with speculative-grade credit profiles.”

The agency said such characteristics could place the products in speculative-grade territory, a designation associated with weaker credit quality and a higher likelihood of losses.

As one of the three major US credit rating companies, Fitch’s evaluations play an influential role in how banks, asset managers and other institutions assess emerging financial instruments, particularly those tied to volatile asset classes.

Fitch pointed to the “inherent” price volatility of Bitcoin as well as counterparty risks embedded in these structures.

The agency also referenced the wave of crypto lender failures during the 2022–2023 downturn, likely a reference to BlockFi and Celsius, as cautionary examples of how quickly collateral-backed models can unravel during periods of market stress.

Source: DustyBC Crypto

“Bitcoin’s price volatility is a main risk consideration,” Fitch said, warning that breaches of coverage levels could rapidly erode collateral value and crystallize losses. 

Coverage levels refer to the ratio of Bitcoin collateral to the amount of debt issued against it. Sharp price declines can cause that ratio to fall below required thresholds, triggering margin calls and forced liquidations.

The latest assessment follows an earlier warning from Fitch last month, when the agency cautioned US banks about elevated risks tied to significant digital asset exposure. At the time, Fitch cited potential reputational, liquidity and compliance risks for banks that are actively engaged in crypto-related activities.

Bitcoin’s growing role in corporate credit, and where Fitch draws the line

Bitcoin has increasingly become central to the credit profiles of public companies with large digital asset holdings, particularly those issuing convertible notes or secured debt.

A prominent example is Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, which has amassed nearly 688,000 Bitcoin.

The company has financed this strategy through repeated capital raises, including convertible notes, secured debt and equity issuances, to expand its Bitcoin exposure. As a result, Strategy’s balance sheet and credit profile are now correlated with movements in Bitcoin’s market price.

Fitch’s warning, however, appears to focus more narrowly on credit and securitized instruments where repayment is directly dependent on the value of underlying collateral. The assessment does not reference spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which are structured as equity-like investment vehicles rather than credit products.

In fact, Fitch noted that ETF adoption could contribute to “a more diverse holder base,” a development that may “potentially dampen” Bitcoin’s price volatility during periods of market stress.

The strengths and weaknesses of BTC-backed securities. Source: Fitch Ratings

Bitmine Immersion Technologies expanded its Ether holdings over the past week as its chairman urged shareholders to approve a proposal that would allow the company to further build its crypto treasury and staking operations.

The company said it purchased 24,266 Ether (ETH) over the past week, lifting its total crypto holdings to about 4.17 million ETH, or 3.4% of the token’s circulating supply.

According to Monday’s announcement, the company reported about $14 billion in combined crypto and cash holdings, including $988 million in cash. In addition to ETH, it holds 193 Bitcoin (BTC) and a $23 million stake in Eightco Holdings.

Bitmine also expanded its staking activity, with about 1.26 million ETH currently staked, up 596,864 ETH from the prior week. Staking involves locking cryptocurrency to help run a blockchain network in return for yield. Bitmine is working on its own staking platform, with plans to deploy it in early 2026.

The update also brought renewed calls from Tom Lee for shareholder approval of an increase in authorized shares, which the company says is needed to support its strategy, ahead of its annual meeting scheduled for Thursday in Las Vegas.

Lee said the company’s charter requires approval from a majority of outstanding shares and warned that without additional authorization, Bitmine’s ability to continue acquiring Ether could be limited.

Bitmine shares were up 3% in early trading, according to Yahoo Finance data, while Ether (ETH) was trading near $3,100, down 3.3% over the past seven days.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Bitmine, Strategy dominate digital asset treasury companies

2025 saw a wave of digital asset treasury companies emerge, as entities adopted strategies centered on holding Bitcoin, Ether and other cryptocurrencies on their balance sheets. While hundreds of companies have entered the space with varying approaches, treasury holdings have become highly concentrated.

According to data from CoinGecko, Bitmine has established itself as the largest Ether treasury company by a wide margin, holding 4,167,768 ETH valued at nearly $13 billion, compared with Sharplink, the second-largest holder, which reports 864,840 ETH and The Ether Machine, which holds just under 500,000 ETH.

Top five Ether treasury companies. Source: CoinGecko

On the Bitcoin side, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, continues to dwarf other corporate holders after pioneering the Bitcoin treasury model in 2020. The company holds 687,410 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET, far ahead of Mara Holdings Inc. with 53,250 BTC and Twenty One Capital with 43,514 BTC.

Top five Bitcoin treasury companies. BitcoinTreasuries.NET

Neither company has shown any signs of slowing down. Last week, Strategy added 13,627 BTC to its balance sheet at a cost of $1.25 billion, marking its largest Bitcoin purchase since July. Bitmine has said it is targeting ownership of 5% of Ether’s total supply, or about 6 million ETH.

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Ether’s (ETH) futures and spot markets are sending mixed signals as futures positioning builds, but the altcoin’s price fails to make new highs. Data suggested that ETH traders are adding to their exposure even as spot buying underpins the recovery.

Key takeaways:

Ether’s estimated leverage ratio fell from an all-time high of 0.79 on Jan. 2 to 0.67 by Jan. 11, despite rising open interest.

Aggregate spot CVD increased with the rally, indicating spot-led demand with a bullish positioning bias.

Ether open interest rebounds, but the price lags

Aggregated open interest (OI) for Ether futures has returned to levels seen before its 38% drawdown in Q4 2025, while ETH still trades roughly 27% below its October 10, 2025, opening price. This divergence suggests traders are rebuilding exposure.

Ether open interest and price. Source: X

Supporting this view, Ether’s estimated leverage ratio peaked at 0.79 on Jan. 2 before falling to 0.67 by Jan. 11. While OI continues to rise, the decline in leverage pointed to healthier positioning and a lower risk of cascading liquidations.

Meanwhile, the latest rally has been driven by rising spot cumulative volume delta (CVD), rather than the futures CVD. This indicates net market buying in the spot market, which is typically associated with more durable price moves. The long/short accounts ratio holding near 2.66 reflects a bullish skew, without signs of traders aggressively jumping into the market.

ETH price, spot CVD, futures CVD, and long/short ratio. Source: Coinalyze

Related: Standard Chartered said to plan crypto brokerage, trims ETH forecast

ETH Staking flows, and macro signals add tailwinds

Onchain data shows growing long-term conviction. Lookonchain reported that BitMine staked 110,000 ETH worth $340 million on Jan. 12, bringing its three-week total to roughly $3.7 billion. At a 2.8% yield, this could generate nearly $95 million in ETH annually for the company. 

From a market structure point of view, Max, CEO of BecauseBitcoin, noted that the Russell 2000 has historically led ETH into price discovery. With the index hitting a new all-time high at 2,664, conditions may favor expansion for ETH in the coming weeks.

Russell 2000 and ETH historical price comparison. Source: Max/X

Echoing that view, crypto investor Jelle said Ether turning a major weekly resistance into support “feels pretty big,” adding that a strong higher low after last year’s crash leaves $4,000 as the key hurdle. Above it, ETH “could finally have its moment,” noted the investor. 

Related: Bank of Italy models Ethereum risks if ETH value collapsed

Cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Bakkt Holdings announced an agreement to purchase Distributed Technologies Research, a stablecoin and fiat payments infrastructure provider.

In a Monday notice, Bakkt said the agreement will have the company issue more than nine million shares of its Class A common stock to Distributed Technologies Research shareholders. At the time of publication, the price of shares of Bakkt Holdings (BKKT) on the New York Stock Exchange was $19.54, having surged more than 20% in the previous 24 hours, which would would make the deal worth more than $178 million. 

“The acquisition will allow Bakkt to consolidate a critical piece of its stablecoin settlement infrastructure and prepares the company to launch its neobanking strategy with multiple distribution partners in the coming months,” said Mike Alfred, the director and member of the special committee of Bakkt’s board.

Source: Bakkt

Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange and a 31% shareholder of Bakkt’s Class A common stock, will vote in favor of the deal. Akshay Naheta, who founded Distributed Technologies Research in 2022, will remain CEO of Bakkt following the merger.

According to Bakkt, the merger was part of a strategy to form a “unified financial infrastructure platform” and expand its payment and banking use cases in 2026. The company said the deal was subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.

Crypto deals, acquisitions hit record high in 2025

According to a December Financial Times report, the crypto and blockchain industry saw $8.6 billion worth of deals in 2025. Among the most significant of the acquisitions included crypto exchange Coinbase buying options trading platform Deribit for $2.9 billion, Kraken buying Ninjatrader for $1.5 billion, and Ripple Labs acquiring Hidden Road for $1.2 billion.

Two weeks into 2026, other crypto companies have made similar moves. Fireblocks acquired crypto accounting platform TRES for $130 million and Coincheck purchased digital asset manager 3iQ for $112 million. The latter deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

Bitcoin (BTC) onchain data shows BTC whales are active as the price attempts to extend its breakout from the $90,000 level.

Key takeaways

Bitcoin whale spending surged to $286 million, the largest spike since early November.

Momentum indicators are bullish, but volatility is likely this week. 

Data from Capriole Investments indicated that OG Whale spent value, i.e., Bitcoin moved after remaining dormant for more than seven years, jumped to roughly $286 million on Jan. 10. This marked the strongest resurgence in old-coin activity since November 3, 2025, when the metric spiked near $570 million and coincided with BTC’s market correction. 

BTC OG Whale Spent Value. Source: Capriole Investments

While such movements often raise fears of distribution, the OG whale activity reflects strategic profit-taking rather than panic selling. 

Despite this, onchain data suggested Bitcoin remained in a better position to absorb this supply. According to Glassnode, long-term holder distribution has decelerated sharply with net outflows rolling over from previously extreme levels, signaling that much of the overhead supply from older coins may already be worked through.

A recent report from Cointelegraph also highlighted multiple signals pointing to a slowdown in long-term selling pressure, which could lead to price expansion. Likewise, accumulator addresses, wallets that consistently buy without distributing, have continued to add BTC in 2026, amassing nearly 136,000 BTC in just 11 days this month.

Bitcoin accumulator addresses demand. Source: CryptoQuant

Related: Fed rate cuts under fire: 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week

Bullish signals flash for BTC, but volatility remains in play

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin’s momentum structure continues to improve. BTC’s 5-day MACD has flipped bullish, a setup last seen near the 2022 bear market bottom. Previously, this signal preceded a rally of more than 430%, noted by crypto commentator Myles G.

BTC’s 5-day MACD bullish reversal analysis. Source: X/Myles G

However, traders cautioned that near-term pullbacks remain part of Bitcoin’s price action. BTC trader Killa noted that for seven consecutive months, BTC has averaged a 5% dip below the 14th weekly open candle, a pattern that could briefly drag price toward the $86,000 to $87,000 zone.

Meanwhile, crypto analyst OSHO highlighted improving order book dynamics. Aggregated liquidity data shows buyers gaining the upper hand, with bid-side liquidity outweighing asks across spot and futures markets. Liquidity is also clustering between $89,200 and $89,700, setting a critical pivot after the New York session.

Bitcoin liquidity levels. Source: X

If demand holds, Bitcoin’s ability to absorb OG whale supply could still fuel a push toward the $100,000 psychological level. That move may first require a liquidity sweep below $89,000, with price acceptance in the $89,000 to $87,000 range acting as the key signal.

Bitcoin four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

A strong rebound from that zone would indicate passive bids have been filled, opening the door to a $100,000 test as early as next week. Failure to do so increases the risk of a deeper pullback toward $86,000, with external liquidity near $84,000 as the longer-term target.

Related: Strategy makes biggest Bitcoin purchase since July 2025, adds $1.25B in BTC

VelaFi, a stablecoin-based financial infrastructure company under Galactic Holdings, has raised $20 million in a Series B round to support the expansion of its enterprise payments and settlement services across Latin America, the United States and Asia.

According to Monday’s announcement, the round was led by XVC and Ikuyo, and brings the company’s total funding to more than $40 million.

Founded in 2020, VelaFi provides payments infrastructure that connects local banking systems, global transfer networks and stablecoin protocols. Its services include fiat on- and off-ramps, cross-border payments, foreign exchange workflows and multi-currency treasury operations, which are offered through its platform and via APIs.

The company said the new funding will be used to support geographic expansion and licensing efforts, as well as to further develop its payments and settlement infrastructure for cross-border business use.

Founded in 2020, VelaFi built its early operations in Latin America before expanding into the United States and Asia.

In October, the company entered the Japanese market and announced it will participate as a co-organizer of the Stablecoin Settlement Association, an initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s trade finance infrastructure.

Inflation and remittances drive stablecoin adoption in Latin America

While VelaFi focuses on enterprise stablecoin payments, retail use of stablecoins has also expanded across Latin America, driven by persistent inflation and the region’s reliance on remittances.

According to a Chainalysis report, stablecoin purchases accounted for more than half of all exchange purchases involving the Colombian peso, Argentine peso and Brazilian real from July 2024 to the end of June 2025.

Central Bank of Brazil President Gabriel Galipolo said in February 2025 that stablecoins dominate domestic crypto activity, estimating that roughly 90% of crypto transactions are tied to dollar-pegged tokens.

At the same time, institutional interest in the region has continued to build. In November, Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, invested in Parfin, a London- and Rio de Janeiro–based company, in a move to expand USDt’s (USDT) role in Latin America’s institutional digital asset market.

Despite rising stablecoin adoption across the region, some central banks have voiced caution. Mexico’s central bank recently said that stablecoins could pose risks to financial stability, pointing to their rapid growth, increasing links to the traditional financial system and regulatory gaps that could enable arbitrage and amplify market stress.

Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’

Key points:

Bitcoin could reach the $94,789 level, where the bears are expected to step in.

Select major altcoins are showing strength, indicating that the recovery may continue for some more time.

Bitcoin (BTC) bulls have pushed the price above $92,000, but higher levels may attract sellers. The net outflows of $1.37 billion from BTC exchange-traded funds from Tuesday to Friday last week, according to SoSoValue data, show that institutional investors remain cautious.   

Fidelity Investments director of global macro Jurrien Timmer said in a post on X that BTC is “following the internet S-curve a lot closer now than the power law curve.” He added that if BTC consolidates for the next year, then the $65,000 level “could become a do-or-die line in the sand” for BTC.

Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView

Irrespective of the near-term uncertainty, the world’s largest corporate BTC holder, Strategy, added 13,627 BTC to its balance sheet last week at an average price of $91,519 per coin. That boosts the company’s holdings to 687,410 BTC, acquired at an average price of $75,353 per coin.

Could BTC and the major altcoins break above their overhead resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out. 

S&P 500 Index price prediction

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rallied to a new all-time high on Friday, signaling the resumption of the uptrend.

SPX daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The upsloping moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) in the positive territory indicate an advantage to buyers. There is resistance at the 7,000 level, but it is likely to be crossed. The index could then surge to 7,290.

Time is running out for the bears. They will have to yank the price below the 50-day simple moving average (6,819) to weaken the bullish momentum. The index could then drop to the 6,720 level.

US Dollar Index price prediction

The US Dollar Index (DXY) cleared the 50-day SMA (99.06) on Friday, but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels.

DXY daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The index has slipped to the 20-day exponential moving average (98.60), which is likely to act as support. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA, it increases the possibility of a rally to the overhead resistance at 100.54. A close above the 100.54 level signals the start of a new up move.

Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to pull the price below the 20-day EMA. If they do that, the index could slide to the solid support at 97.74. That suggests the index may remain inside the 96.21 to 100.54 range for some more time.  

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC’s pullback from the $94,789 resistance took support at the moving averages, indicating buying on dips. 

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bulls will try to strengthen their position by pushing the Bitcoin price above the $94,789 level. If they succeed, the BTC/USDT pair could surge to the $100,000 level and then to $107,500. Such a move suggests the corrective phase may be over.

On the contrary, if the price turns down from $94,789 and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that the bears remain active at higher levels. That could keep the pair stuck inside the $84,000 to $94,789 range for some more time.

Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) has turned up from the 20-day EMA ($3,088), indicating that the bulls are attempting to seize control.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

A close above the resistance line tilts the advantage in favor of the buyers. The ETH/USDT pair could rally to $3,569 and later to $4,000.

On the other hand, if the price turns down from the resistance line and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may remain inside the triangle for a few more days. The bears will gain the upper hand on a break below the support line. The Ether price could then collapse to $2,623.

XRP price prediction

Buyers are attempting to maintain XRP (XRP) above the moving averages, but the bears have kept up the pressure.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price dives below the moving averages, it suggests that the XRP/USDT pair may remain inside the descending channel pattern for a while longer. The $1.61 level is the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. A break and close below the $1.61 level increases the risk of a drop to the Oct. 10 low of $1.25. 

Buyers will have to propel the XRP price above the downtrend line to signal a short-term trend change. The pair could soar to $2.70 and subsequently to $3.10.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) has been trading inside a narrow range between the moving averages and the $928 overhead resistance. 

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($887) and the RSI in the positive zone increase the likelihood of an upside breakout. If that happens, the BNB/USDT pair will complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern. The BNB price could then rally to the target objective of $1,066.

On the contrary, if the price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the bears are fiercely defending the $928 level. That could pull the pair down to the uptrend line and then to the $790 support.

Solana price prediction

Solana (SOL) turned up from the moving averages and has reached the $147 level, where the bears are expected to step in.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($134) and the RSI above the 64 level suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside. A close above the $147 resistance could start a new up move to $172.

Instead, if the Solana price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it indicates that the SOL/USDT pair could extend its stay inside the $117 to $147 range for a while longer.

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears at the moving averages.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flattish moving averages and the RSI near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. If the price slumps below the moving averages, the DOGE/USDT pair could descend to $0.13 and then to $0.12. 

On the upside, a break and close above the $0.16 resistance signals that the market has rejected the break below the $0.13 support. The Dogecoin price could rally to $0.19 and thereafter to $0.22.

Cardano price prediction

Buyers are attempting to maintain Cardano (ADA) above the moving averages, but the weak bounce heightens the risk of a breakdown.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price skids below the moving averages, the ADA/USDT pair could drop to $0.37 and then to $0.33. Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $0.33 level, as a break below it could sink the pair to the Oct. 10 low of $0.27.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above $0.44. The Cardano price could then rally to the breakdown level of $0.50, which is a critical resistance to watch out for. Buyers will have to pierce the $0.50 level to signal a comeback.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Buyers attempted to push Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the $670 resistance on Sunday, but the bears held their ground.

BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bears are attempting to strengthen their position by pulling the Bitcoin Cash price below the 20-day EMA ($619). If they do that, the BCH/USDT pair could tumble to the 50-day SMA ($586). Buyers are expected to defend the 50-day SMA, as a close below it suggests that the breakout above $631 may have been a bull trap. The pair may then plummet to $518.

Contrarily, if the price turns up from the moving averages and breaks above $670, it signals that buyers remain in charge. The pair could then ascend to $720, which is expected to act as a solid resistance.

Despite a weak finish to 2025 for digital asset markets, the sector appears to be undergoing a structural shift, moving away from retail-led momentum trading toward one increasingly shaped by institutional capital flows and long-term strategic positioning.

That was a key takeaway from a recent macro weekly report by Binance Research, which pointed to a “structural pivot” underway across digital asset markets. The report highlighted potential drivers including sovereign accumulation in emerging markets and legislative efforts in the United States to establish a strategic digital asset reserve.

Following the approval of US spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds in early 2024, the market has now entered what Binance Research described as a “second round” of institutional adoption, characterized by deeper engagement from traditional financial institutions.

As evidence of this shift, Binance cited recent S-1 registrations by Morgan Stanley for Bitcoin and Solana (SOL) ETFs. The move suggests that leading Wall Street companies are beginning to act not only as distribution channels, but also as product originators in digital asset markets.

Binance Research said this early positioning could pressure rivals such as Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan to follow suit to avoid falling behind in an emerging asset management segment.

Another development highlighted in the report involved digital asset treasury (DAT) companies, which faced the risk of exclusion from the MSCI Index, a scenario that could have triggered $10 billion in forced selling across the sector.

That risk eased last week after MSCI said it would not remove DAT companies from its market index, at least for now.

Source: Dylan LeClair

Related: Wall Street’s crypto debate is over as banks go all-in on BTC, stablecoins, tokenized cash

Macro forces, rotation could support digital asset markets in 2026

Binance Research also pointed to the broader macro backdrop as a supportive factor, noting that diversification away from concentrated exposure to large-cap technology stocks could create tailwinds for digital assets to play a larger role in diversified investment portfolios.

The rationale is partly rooted in last year’s elevated valuations among the so-called Magnificent Seven technology stocks, where enthusiasm around artificial intelligence drove a sharp concentration of returns. 

In 2025, the 10 largest companies in the S&P 500 accounted for about 53% of the index’s total gains, underscoring growing concerns about crowding risk in traditional equity markets.

This level of concentration could encourage investors to seek diversification beyond mega-cap equities, with digital assets potentially benefiting from incremental accumulation. 

Meanwhile, participants continue to debate Bitcoin’s trajectory relative to its four-year cycle, with some saying the rally didn’t end at its October peak of $126,000. 

Source: Hunter Horsley

Related: Crypto’s 2026 investment playbook: Bitcoin, stablecoin infrastructure, tokenized assets

Bitcoin (BTC) is looking like the loser versus gold as precious metals top new all-time highs Monday.

Key points:

Bitcoin is not the debasement trade after years of loses against gold, analysis concludes.

As precious metals hit all-time highs, BTC price action fails to rebound.

Gold starts grilling the S&P 500, potentially shifting a years-old narrative if it continues to gain.

BTC debasement trade: “The narrative is broken”

New analysis from Karel Mercx, an investment specialist at Dutch investment advisory Beleggers Belangen, says Bitcoin has failed as the "debasement trade.”

Bitcoin slipped below 20 ounces in gold terms to start 2026, and is now circling two-year lows, per data from TradingView. 

As markets react to US government action against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, gold and silver continue to enjoy price discovery while Bitcoin flounders.

While bulls hope that BTC/USD will soon catch up, for Mercx, the writing has long been on the wall.

“The verdict is in: the debasement trade is Gold & Silver, not Bitcoin,” he told X followers in a post Monday. 

“A frontal attack on the FED sends metals to fresh ATHs while BTC sits 20% below its peak.”

BTC/XAU one-week chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Mercx took issue with the idea that Bitcoin is an attractive destination for investors seeking shelter from fiat currency supply dilution — also known as the “debasement trade.”

Despite how Bitcoin stacks up as “digital gold” versus bullion, actual capital flows point to demand for the latter.

“The narrative is broken,” he continued. 

“Investors are choosing the original hard money over the digital experiment. Book closed.”

Bitcoin price cycle obituaries mount

Among crypto proponents, a sense of urgency continues to build.

Addressing the topic, crypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe acknowledged that time may be running out on a market rebound.

Times are starting to get interesting for anyone involved in the #Crypto markets.

Gold has made a new all-time high.
Silver has made a new all-time high.

My concern: it really needs to accelerate with this breakout, or we'll start to tumble back down, and the bearish… pic.twitter.com/55VsW2UyuT

— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) January 12, 2026

Turning to stocks, crypto market commentator Benjamin Cowen called gold’s performance against the S&P 500 “one of the most important charts right now.”

“If SPX breaks down against Gold, the environment we have found ourselves in for the last decade will completely change,” he argued about the monthly chart.

S&P 500 vs. gold one-month chart. Source: Benjamin Cowen/X

Last September, meanwhile, Mercx declared Bitcoin’s four-year price cycle “dead” — a narrative that has continued to gain popularity since.

“$BTC priced in gold shows each cycle weaker then the last one, and now the first 4-year loss,” he wrote at the time.