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Bitcoin surged past $97,000 on Wednesday as the crypto finally caught up with a broader rally in equities and precious metals, with over $100 million in short positions liquidated in just one hour.

Source: TradingView

The breakout comes after weeks of Bitcoin lagging behind traditional assets, with QCP Capital noting that the digital asset has pushed through the $95,000 resistance level that capped rallies since November.

The move higher reflects a strengthening risk-on environment driven by stable U.S. inflation and a resilient job market, creating what QCP describes as a “Goldilocks environment” where investors are piling into everything from stocks to precious metals and now crypto.

Despite geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and Iran, markets have remained resilient, interpreting U.S. involvement as a reassertion of global leadership rather than a source of instability.

Trump’s Economic Agenda Fuels Market Confidence

QCP believes political calculations are driving the rally, arguing that President Trump is focused on achieving new equity market highs ahead of the midterm elections this year.

“The market is convinced that Trump will do anything to Make America Great Again, with his measure of success being new highs in equity markets,” QCP stated in its analysis.

The firm sees flush liquidity and renewed American leadership as Trump’s primary tools, naturally leading to U.S. outperformance and a global risk-on environment.

However, traditional markets showed cracks on Wednesday as Wall Street declined for a second straight session.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 182 points, weighed down by mixed bank earnings that disappointed investors.

Wells Fargo plunged 4.6% on weaker-than-expected revenue, while Bank of America declined 3.8% despite beating profit estimates, highlighting how elevated valuations have left little room for disappointment.

Meanwhile, precious metals continued their explosive start to the year, with gold, silver, copper, and tin all hitting record highs as investors embraced the so-called debasement trade.

Source: YahooFinance

Silver jumped 6.1% to top $92 per ounce, while gold notched another all-time peak above $4,620, capping a remarkable 65% gain in 2025.

“When gold moves first, it usually signals declining trust in fiat currencies,” Hao Hong, chief investment officer at Lotus Asset Management, told Bloomberg. “Everything is measured against gold, then most assets look cheap right now.“

Political Turmoil Amplifies Safe-Haven Demand

The precious metals rally accelerated after deadly protests in Iran killed over 500 people, with Tehran warning it could target U.S. military bases if President Trump intervenes.

Political uncertainty intensified when the Justice Department served Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with grand jury subpoenas over Senate testimony, pressuring the dollar and raising questions about central bank independence.

Fed Chair Powell accuses Trump administration of using criminal threats to pressure rate cuts after DOJ grand jury subpoenas over renovation testimony, triggering bipartisan backlash.#Fed #Trump #DOJhttps://t.co/nKiwflcFWg

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 12, 2026

Farzam Ehsani, CEO of crypto exchange VALR, warned that the situation creates a paradox for digital assets.

“On the one hand, weakening confidence in dollar policy traditionally increases interest in decentralized assets as a hedge against political and currency risk,” he said.

“On the other hand, abrupt political maneuvers and aggressive polarization within the government are increasing instability, triggering short-term outflows from risky assets.“

Ray Youssef, CEO of the crypto app NoOnes, also noted that capital rotation, rather than panic, appears to be driving market moves.

“The US market is slightly down, but this is more likely due to capital rotation, as investors are shifting capital from riskier to more predictable sectors,” he explained, adding that gold and Bitcoin are increasingly treated as refuges from macro chaos.

QCP sees Bitcoin’s recent underperformance relative to precious metals as creating opportunity, suggesting that “the relative cheapness of Bitcoin relative to precious metals at this point may spur a rotation to digital assets.”

The firm acknowledged risks remain, particularly around pending Supreme Court decisions on tariffs, which have also been postponed again, and potential escalation in Venezuela or Iran, but believes these concerns are already priced in.

BREAKING: The US Supreme Court decides to NOT issue a highly anticipated ruling on the legality of President Trump's tariffs today.

This marks the second-straight time the ruling was not released as expected.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 14, 2026

Youssef remained cautious, noting that the crypto market “continues to see active BTC selling during the U.S. trading session” and that “no compelling reason yet for the cryptocurrency’s rapid price growth.“

The post QCP Says Bitcoin’s Finally Waking Up After Lagging Stocks and Gold appeared first on Cryptonews.

Perpetual decentralized exchanges are moving from the edges of crypto trading toward the center of the market, as new data and commentary from Delphi Digital suggest these platforms could evolve into full-service financial venues that challenge the roles traditionally held by banks.

The move is due to the fact that traders are still attracted by blockchain-based infrastructures, which reduce intermediaries, lower costs, and operate around the clock, despite the fluctuating prices of tokens in the market.

Source: Delphi Digital

Perp DEXs allow users to trade perpetual futures contracts with leverage and no expiry date, a product that has historically been dominated by centralized exchanges and traditional derivatives desks.

Perp DEXs Gain Ground as DeFi Bundles Trading, Credit, and Custody

Delphi Digital’s 2026 outlook noted that this segment of decentralized finance is now positioned to take further market share from legacy financial products, driven by structural efficiencies that are difficult for traditional systems to replicate.

The research firm argued that legacy finance remains fragmented and expensive to operate, while decentralized infrastructure can bundle multiple financial functions into a single on-chain stack.

In a post shared on X, Delphi Digital pointed to Hyperliquid’s move toward native lending as a key signal of where the sector is heading.

https://t.co/m1EcOi3uNS

— Delphi Digital (@Delphi_Digital) January 13, 2026

Delphi noted that this opens the door for perp DEXs to operate as integrated financial platforms, handling trading, custody, clearing, and credit within a single on-chain system.

Competing platforms such as Aster, Lighter, and Paradex are now racing to develop similar capabilities.

This convergence reflects a broader trend in crypto, where trading venues are expanding beyond execution into lending, custody, and capital management.

The data shows that this transition is already well underway, as Perp DEXs have steadily taken revenue and volume share from centralized exchanges over the past three years.

CoinGecko data shows that perp DEXs accounted for just 2.1% of centralized exchange perpetuals volume in January 2023.

By November 2025, that figure had risen to a record 11.7% , meaning nearly one in every nine dollars traded in perpetual futures was executed on a decentralized platform.

Source: CoinGecko

For the full year, cumulative perp DEX volume tripled to $12.09 trillion, up from $4.1 trillion at the start of 2025.

About $7.9 trillion of that activity was generated during 2025 itself, highlighting how rapidly adoption accelerated over the past year.

The sector now holds more than $20 billion in total value locked, with monthly volumes frequently exceeding $1 trillion and open interest hovering around $20 billion.

Crypto derivatives trading accelerated sharply in 2025 as traders increasingly turned to onchain perpetual futures.#Crypto #Derivativeshttps://t.co/NRfJCBERpc

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 30, 2025

DEX Spot Trading Grows Sharply as the Gap With CEXs Narrows

Spot trading has followed a similar trajectory, though at a slower pace. Decentralized exchanges accounted for just 6.0% of spot trading volume relative to centralized exchanges in January 2021.

By November 2025, that ratio had climbed to 21.2%, with a peak of 37.4% reached in June 2025 during a surge in memecoin speculation and activity on PancakeSwap.

Source: CoinGecko

At the same time, the report and surrounding data highlight how far the sector still has to go.

The 12 trillion annual transaction volume that has been managed by perp DEXs is still low in comparison with the 846 trillion notional value of outstanding over-the-counter derivatives that could be reported by the Bank for International Settlement in mid-2025.

Traditional banks also retain advantages in regulatory clarity, fiat integration, and services such as uncollateralized lending and consumer protections.

Industry observers note that for perp DEXs to seriously challenge banks, they would need to continue expanding beyond derivatives into lending, payments, and tokenized real-world assets, while also addressing security, user experience, and compliance.

Many platforms are already experimenting with on-chain order books, zero-fee models, incentive programs, and high-throughput blockchains to improve performance and accessibility.

The post Delphi Digital: Perp DEXs Poised to Replace Banks as “All-In-One” Financial Giants appeared first on Cryptonews.

BONK just received its first vote of confidence from TradFi in a boost to bullish Bonk price predictions, under consideration for the Grayscale investment product suite.

The meme coin has been identified as a candidate in Grayscale’s Q1 2026 Assets Under Consideration update, placing it within reach of regulated U.S. TradFi market exposure.

Learn about the diverse digital assets we’re considering for future investment products and explore those already part of our offerings in our latest Assets Under Consideration update. Are we missing anything?

Read the full report: https://t.co/Tr5lU1CSSQ pic.twitter.com/k3I27r8tKc

— Grayscale (@Grayscale) January 12, 2026

It marks the digital asset manager’s second dip into meme coins following the launch of its spot Dogecoin ETF, GDOG, a testament to Bonk’s potential as an underdog pick for a spot ETF.

Approval would mark a major shift for a token that has so far relied almost entirely on retail-driven momentum, opening the door to institutional-grade demand.

GDOG has already demonstrated that meme coin appetite exists, kicking off the year with its strongest inflows after a prolonged period of stagnation.

Dogecoin spot ETF weekly netflows ($). Source: SoSoValue.

As social momentum drove capital rotation back into meme coins, institutions are exploring more speculative plays.

Still, BONK faces regulatory hurdles. It does not meet the SEC’s generic listing standards for fast-tracked ETF approval, leaving the more complex 19b-4 and S-1 filing process as the only viable route forward.

BONK Price Prediction: Is $1 Now in Sight?

ETF hype and a fresh touch point for demand could help fuel the breakout path of a 6-month descending channel, especially as momentum brings it into focus.

BONK / USDT 1-day chart, descending channel nears breakout. Source: TradingView.

The RSI is curling higher after cooling into more neutral territory from overbought conditions, forming a higher low that reinforces the strength of the uptrend.

The MACD supports this view, narrowly avoiding a death cross below the signal line as buyers retain control of the prevailing trend.

The key breakout level sits at the former demand zone around $0.0000115. If flipped back into support, a breakout move could extend 115% to $0.000024.

And as the bull market matures, a push into new price discovery could be in the cards, targeting all-time highs around $0.000042 for a 270% gain.

Though the $1 milestone remains a distant dream, these recent developments are positive for BONK and the meme coin sector.

Maxi Doge: Capital Rotation is Strongest Here

When capital rotates back into meme coins, momentum almost always circles back to one thing: Doge.

The pattern is hard to ignore. Dogecoin set the tone, Shiba Inu ran with it in 2021, followed by Floki, Bonk, Dogwifhat, and Neiro. Every bull cycle eventually crowns a new Doge-inspired frontrunner.

This time around, Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is tapping into those early Dogecoin vibes, creating a community built around sharing early alpha, trading ideas, and competitive engagement.

Participation is at its core. Weekly Maxi Ripped and Maxi Pump competitions reward top performers with leaderboard recognition, incentives, and bragging rights.

The hype is already showing in the numbers. The $MAXI presale has raised almost $4.5 million, while early backers are earning up to 70% APY through staking rewards.

For those who missed the Doge wave before, Maxi Doge could be the next chance to catch a meme coin breakout before it takes off.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

The post Bonk Price Prediction: Billion-Dollar Wall Street Firm Just Added BONK to Its Watchlist – Can Bonk Hit $1? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin open interest has plunged over 31% from its 2025 peak, now stabilizing around $10 billion as analysts identify this decline as a critical bottoming formation that could propel BTC toward a $105,000 breakout.

The deleveraging phase, triggered by massive liquidations, has pushed open interest below its 180-day moving average while trading activity continues surging with spot volume approaching $60 billion.

On-chain analysis from Darkorst characterized 2025 as a year of unprecedented speculation, with Binance futures trading volumes alone exceeding $25 trillion.

Deleveraging signal as BTC OI drops by 31%

“Historically, they have often marked significant bottoms, effectively resetting the market and creating a stronger base for a potential bullish recovery.” – By @Darkfost_Coc pic.twitter.com/JkYoKfg4Ql

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) January 14, 2026

Bitcoin’s open interest exploded to an all-time high above $15 billion on October 6, nearly tripling the $5.7 billion peak witnessed during the November 2021 bull run when Bitcoin reached its previous all-time high.

Market Reset Creates Foundation for Bullish Recovery

The October 10 market crash sparked a severe deleveraging event that purged excessive leverage from the system.

“This decline, amplified by massive liquidations, triggered a deleveraging phase, with OI falling below its 180-day moving average,” Darkorst explained.

Source: CryptoQuant

These deleveraging periods serve a vital function in market structure. “Historically, they have often marked significant bottoms, effectively resetting the market and creating a stronger base for a potential bullish recovery,” he noted.

Bitcoin has responded with a 3% rally over the past 24 hours, holding firmly above $95,000 while demonstrating renewed strength across both futures and spot markets.

The price action suggests the worst of the correction may be over.

Futures Positioning Signals First Major Shift Since October Peak

Macro analyst Axel identified a critical turning point in futures market positioning.

A composite index tracking open interest dynamics, funding rates, and long-short ratios across major exchanges shows the 30-day simple moving average climbing from 2.1 to 3.5, marking the first breakout above 3 since October 6, when Bitcoin rallied toward $125,000.

The daily positioning index surged to 24, entering bullish territory amid aggressive long accumulation.

Source: AdlerAM

Open interest grew 1.89% with positive taker delta and funding at 0.0045 as price jumped 4.58% to $95,358, pushing total open interest to $12.18 billion.

Market sentiment reached a local peak of 93.15% yesterday evening at $95,061 before cooling to 70%, still well above the neutral 50% threshold and the 30-day average of 62.9%.

This contrasts sharply with mid-December’s extreme bearish readings of 10-15% during the correction to $85,000, when positioning turned overwhelmingly negative.

Resistance Cluster at $105k Holds Key to ATH Attempt

Axel emphasized that sustained momentum requires the simple moving average to hold above 2 for one week, which would confirm the positioning shift and trigger a potential breakout above the psychological $100,000 barrier.

Crypto analyst Trader Mayne assessed the probability of a bullish recovery following Bitcoin’s breakout above two-month resistance at $94,000.

“If I had to handicap it, I’d say 70% chance of a lower high, 30% chance at new ATHs,” he stated.

However, he outlined a clear path forward if the bulls maintain control.

$BTC

Attempting to close through the range highs here.

I absolutely fumbled shorting the top and started longing a little too early on the way down.

That said, I got back in sync with things at the $80k low and am glad I stuck to my guns and didn't puke spot into the lows.… pic.twitter.com/CLu4NMLlDD

— Mayne (@Tradermayne) January 13, 2026

Holding comfortably above $94,000 would bring the next resistance cluster around $105,000 into focus, with a successful breach potentially launching Bitcoin back toward the $120,000 highs established earlier in the cycle.

Low Volatility Environment Points Toward Range Expansion

The Bitcoin Realized Volatility chart shows that the current market calm is approaching levels that historically precede significant price breakouts.

Current volatility readings sit near the lower distribution zones for this market cycle, comparable to compression periods that preceded major moves throughout Bitcoin’s trading history.

These compressed regimes rarely persist over extended timeframes. As supply-demand imbalances accumulate beneath the surface, markets characteristically break from consolidation into range expansion phases, aligning with analyst projections for a $105,000 breakout that could catalyze a strong start to the 2026 rally.

The post Bitcoin Open Interest Drops 31% as Analysts Call a Market Bottom and Eye $105k Breakout appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitnomial has launched the first-ever U.S.-regulated futures contracts tied to Aptos (APT) adding a regulated venue for institutional access to the Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem.

The contracts began trading on January 14 on Bitnomial Exchange offering both institutional and retail traders a regulated venue for price discovery and risk management.

A Regulated Market for APT Exposure

The new APT futures contracts feature monthly expirations and can be settled in either U.S. dollars or APT, depending on position direction.

Traders are able to post margin in crypto or USD through Bitnomial Clearinghouse, LLC, with contracts accessible via Bitnomial Exchange Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) clearing members.

Michael Dunn, president of Bitnomial Exchange, said the launch fills a critical gap in the U.S. derivatives landscape. He noted that a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto exchange-traded fund approvals under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s generic listing standards.

According to the firm with APT futures now live institutional participants can access Aptos exposure using the same regulated infrastructure they already rely on for Bitcoin and Ether derivatives including portfolio margining across positions.

Institutional Infrastructure Meets Aptos

Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to deliver sub-second finality and high transaction throughput. Built using the Move programming language and a parallel execution engine the network has attracted growing interest from institutions exploring scalable blockchain applications.

Solomon Tesfaye, chief business officer at Aptos Labs, said U.S.-regulated derivatives infrastructure is essential for institutional adoption. He adds that Bitnomial’s CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse provide the compliance, custody and risk management framework required by sophisticated market participants seeking exposure to Aptos.

Expanding the Crypto Complex

The introduction of APT futures further broadens Bitnomial’s Crypto Complex which provides U.S. market participants access to a wide range of digital asset derivatives.

Delivery-settled contracts listed on Bitnomial Exchange can be margined with digital assets, a structure the company says enhances capital efficiency compared with traditional cash-only margining.

This model allows traders to manage exposure across multiple crypto derivatives products more efficiently within a single regulated venue.

What Comes Next

APT futures are available for trading today for institutional clients. Retail access is expected in the coming weeks through Botanical, Bitnomial’s retail trading platform.

Looking ahead, Bitnomial said it plans to expand its Aptos-linked offerings with perpetual futures and options, further deepening the market for regulated APT derivatives in the U.S.

Bitnomial is headquartered in Chicago and operates a suite of CFTC-regulated exchange, clearinghouse and clearing brokerage entities.

The post Bitnomial Launches First U.S.-Regulated Aptos Futures appeared first on Cryptonews.

Britain’s government has abandoned its requirement for workers to register with a new digital ID system to prove their right to work, marking a significant retreat after public support collapsed and nearly three million people signed a petition opposing the scheme.

While digital right-to-work checks will still become mandatory by 2029, workers can now use alternative verification methods, including biometric passports and commercial apps, rather than enrolling in the government’s digital ID program, according to BBC.

The reversal follows months of mounting criticism since Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared in September that “you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer. | Source: The Nation

From Immigration Control to Public Services

Ministers are now repositioning digital ID as a convenience tool for accessing public services rather than primarily as an immigration enforcement measure.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized that the government remains “absolutely committed” to mandatory digital right-to-work checks, including biometric passports, but thatdigital ID will be optional for workers proving eligibility.

The shift addresses what officials described as concerns about “conspiracy nonsense about state control” while attempting to rebuild support for voluntary adoption.

Current right-to-work verification relies on employers checking paper documents with no central record-keeping, which the government argues enables fraud and illegal employment.

The reformed system will require digital verification against government databases, but workers can meet this requirement using existing documents rather than enrolling in the new ID program.

Commercial verification apps checked against Home Office data are also being explored as additional compliance methods.

Political Backlash Intensifies

Opposition parties seized on the policy retreat as evidence of governmental disarray.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it “another U-turn” and declared “good riddance” to what she termed a “terrible policy,” while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Smart quipped that “No 10 must be bulk ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate.“

The Prime Minister is 'turning the corner'…straight into another u-turn.

Good riddance. It was a terrible policy anyway. pic.twitter.com/cWGFhhD9gv

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) January 13, 2026

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed victory for “individual liberty against a ghastly, authoritarian government,” though his party had previously received £9 million in crypto donations, prompting separate Labour calls to ban digital currency political contributions.

The climbdown adds to mounting frustration among Labour MPs who had defended controversial policies only to see them reversed, with one parliamentarian calling the latest retreat “an absolute car crash” and complaining that leadership “marched the PLP up the hill only to bottle it.”

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who supported ID cards during his tenure, blamed poor strategic communication for allowing opposition to mobilize effectively against the proposal.

Civil liberties organizations, including Open Rights Group, warned throughout the debate about inevitable “mission creep” forcing expanded ID use across everyday life.

Their concerns drew from evidence of harms experienced by migrants already subject to digital verification through the eVisa system, where data errors and technical glitches have prevented people from proving residency status, leading to withdrawn job offers and housing denials.

Keir Starmer has abandoned plans for the Digital ID to be compulsory.

This is a victory for individual liberty against a ghastly, authoritarian government.

Reform UK would scrap it altogether.

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 13, 2026

The government maintains that the core reform remains intact despite removing mandatory registration.

A spokesperson insisted digital ID “will make everyday life easier for people” while delivering “more personal, joined-up, and effective” public services.

Details of how the system will function will be outlined in a public consultation launching shortly, with implementation still scheduled for 2029 using government-built platforms, including Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk Wallet.

UK Crypto Regulation Advances Amid Digital ID Controversy

The digital ID reversal comes as Britain separately moves forward with comprehensive crypto regulation, bringing digital assets under Financial Conduct Authority supervision from 2027.

The government introduced legislation in December requiring crypto firms to secure formal authorization by September 2026, ending the current registration-only system that has allowed lighter-touch oversight.

The rules apply transparency standards similar to traditional finance, with final requirements expected by end-2026 following industry feedback periods.

UK's FCA sets September 2026 application deadline for crypto licensing as new authorization regime launches in 2027, ending current registration-only system with no automatic conversion.#UK #Cryptohttps://t.co/LojvG0BvPd

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 9, 2026

Britain also formally recognized Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as legal property under new legislation, allowing digital assets to be owned, inherited, and recovered under property law protections.

The regulatory push follows data showing crypto ownership among UK adults dropped from 12% to 8% in 2025, though remaining holders have built larger portfolios concentrated in higher-value ranges.

The post UK Rolls Back Digital ID Plan for Work Checks Following Public Opposition appeared first on Cryptonews.

A draft crypto market structure bill in the U.S. Senate is drawing renewed concern from the digital asset industry, with Galaxy Digital warning it could give the Treasury Department sweeping surveillance and enforcement authority reminiscent of the USA Patriot Act.

The warning comes as lawmakers move to bridge House and Senate regulatory proposals amid ongoing market volatility and policy uncertainty.

Senate Crypto Bill Gives Treasury Broad New Powers, Galaxy Says

In a research note published Tuesday, Galaxy said the Senate Banking Committee’s draft goes well beyond the House-passed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, particularly in its treatment of illicit finance.

This week on Galaxy Grid — a weekly video series from@glxyresearch. @intangiblecoins, @TheThadP, @Uptodatenow, and @ZackPokorny_ unpack the stories shaping crypto — what happened, why it matters, and what’s next.

Episode 13 is live now pic.twitter.com/s7pgSvYUNI

— Galaxy Research (@glxyresearch) January 13, 2026

At the center of the firm’s concern is a new crypto-specific “special measures” authority that would allow Treasury to label foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions, or even entire categories of digital asset transactions as primary money-laundering concerns.

Once designated, Treasury could restrict or condition crypto fund transfers connected to those entities, a power Galaxy compared directly to authorities created under the Patriot Act after the September 11 attacks.

Galaxy argued that, while framed as a national security tool, the authority could be applied broadly across offshore trading venues and transaction rails, materially expanding the government’s reach into crypto markets.

It said that, taken together, the bill’s provisions would amount to the largest expansion of financial surveillance powers since the early 2000s, a period that remains controversial for its impact on civil liberties.

The draft legislation also introduces a formal framework for temporary transaction holds.

Under this mechanism, Treasury or other covered agencies could request that stablecoin issuers and digital asset service providers freeze transactions for up to 30 days, with the option to extend, without first obtaining a court order.

Galaxy flagged this as a significant departure from existing processes, noting the absence of immediate judicial oversight.

Another section of the bill explicitly brings crypto front ends into sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering compliance.

The text defines “distributed ledger application layers,” including web-hosted interfaces used to access blockchains and decentralized finance protocols.

It also directs Treasury to issue guidance requiring these tools to screen wallets, block sanctioned activity, and apply risk-based AML controls.

Stablecoin Rewards Face New Limits as Senate Crypto Debate Intensifies

Galaxy also pointed to language targeting so-called “DeFi in name only” protocols, which would allow regulators to impose Bank Secrecy Act obligations on teams or individuals who retain meaningful control over protocol functionality or user access.

The Senate proposal is moving forward alongside intense debate over stablecoin rewards.

A revised draft released ahead of the markup would prohibit digital asset service providers from paying yield simply for holding payment stablecoin balances.

Banking groups have backed the restriction, arguing that yield-bearing stablecoins resemble deposits without equivalent safeguards, while crypto firms say the issue was already settled under the GENIUS Act passed last year.

Industry responses have been mixed, with the Crypto Council for Innovation saying it views the Senate text as evidence of continued engagement on a critical policy priority but stressing that any final framework must preserve consumer choice and support competition.

Coinbase has warned it could withdraw support if reward programs are curtailed too aggressively, even as some executives signal a willingness to accept the current compromise.

The legislative path remains uncertain as the Senate Banking Committee is preparing for markup this week, while the Senate Agriculture Committee plans to release its own text by January 21, with a markup scheduled for January 27.

Senate sets January 27 crypto bill markup as banking lobby secures stablecoin yield limits and Democrats demand White House ethics guardrails.#Senate #Banking #CryptoBillhttps://t.co/iK8utlKRhr

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 14, 2026

Both versions would need to be reconciled before a full Senate vote, followed by negotiations with the House.

The post Senate Crypto Bill Hands Treasury “Patriot Act–Style” Surveillance Powers — Galaxy Sounds Alarm appeared first on Cryptonews.

November PPI data shows producer price inflation surging to 3.0% year-over-year, significantly above the 2.7% forecast and marking the highest reading since July 2025.

Bitcoin is holding around $92,000 as the upside surprise reinforces concerns about sticky inflation pressuring the Fed’s ability to cut rates aggressively in 2026.

Monthly PPI came in at 0.2% as expected, but the annual acceleration to 3.0% signals producer-level price pressures remain elevated and could eventually pass through to consumer prices.

The PPI surprise matters because producer prices are a leading indicator for consumer inflation—higher wholesale costs typically flow through to retail prices with a lag.

With yesterday’s December CPI already showing headline inflation stuck at 2.7% and core at 2.6%, both well above the Fed’s 2% target, today’s hot PPI reading suggests the inflation pipeline remains clogged.

The combination of elevated producer prices and stubborn consumer inflation creates the exact “higher for longer” scenario Powell warned about, where the Fed keeps rates at 3.50%-3.75% through at least Q1 2026 rather than delivering the aggressive easing crypto markets priced in earlier.

Bitcoin’s technical setup remains under pressure with support at $88,000-$90,000 and resistance at $98,000. As it stands now, traders digest whether the PPI shock forces the Fed to reconsider even its reduced two-cut guidance for 2026.

Any break below $88,000 support could trigger another leg down toward November’s $88,500 low, while a sustained hold above $92,000 suggests the market has fully priced in the Fed’s cautious stance.

PPI Shock: Producer Prices Hit 7-Month High – Bitcoin to Rally Next?

The post [LIVE] Bitcoin Price Alert: November PPI Surges to 3.0% vs 2.7% Expected — Highest Since July Pressures Fed appeared first on Cryptonews.

Crypto.com is beginning 2026 with the “SOL Airdrop Arena event”, where users can potentially earn Solana (SOL) rewards by staking CRO, the platform’s native token. This is a large campaign, with the exchange offering a $250,000 Solana prize pool, making it attractive to both CRO holders and Solana fans, it says.

The SOL Airdrop Arena takes place from January 1 to January 31, 2026, giving users a limited time to earn points and compete for a share of the $250,000 Solana prize.

What Is the Crypto.com SOL Airdrop Arena?

Per the exchange, the Crypto.com Airdrop Arena is a rewards program within the app where users lock up CRO to earn points that turn into crypto rewards. In the SOL Airdrop Arena, participants stake CRO and collect points to earn Solana tokens.

This feature complements Crypto.com’s other yield offerings (like the Crypto.com Earn interest program), providing another avenue for users to earn SOL with CRO, the team says. By requiring CRO for entry, Crypto.com adds utility to its token while enabling users to potentially gain SOL tokens in return.

Key Details of the SOL Airdrop Arena Event

The Crypto.com airdrop event offers a large reward pool and extra incentives for early and active users, with a total prize of $250,000 in SOL. The event began on January 1, 2026, and ends on January 31, 2026 (at 09:59 UTC).

Participants can receive a daily points boost of up to 120% if they buy at least 1,500 CRO and transfer it to the Airdrop Arena before joining the event.

How to Participate in the Solana Airdrop Arena

Getting started with the SOL Airdrop Arena is straightforward. Here are the steps for users to participate and start earning points:

Access Airdrop Arena: Open the Crypto.com App and navigate to Airdrop Arena. You can find it via the Account section, the Earn tab, or through the app’s main menu.

Allocate CRO tokens: Select the SOL Airdrop Arena event and stake the amount of CRO you want. For every 100 CRO, you get 1 point, and your participation starts right away.

Earn and boost points: After joining, you earn points every day while your CRO stays locked in the event. Use available boosters to increase your points. For example, being one of the first 10,000 participants or completing the CRO purchase task can raise your daily points.

Receive rewards and lockup: When the event ends, Crypto.com will total your points and determine your SOL reward. Solana rewards are airdropped within seven days after January 31, 2026. Your CRO stays locked for six months, after which you can withdraw it or let it roll over into future events.

CRO’s Role and Reward Mechanics

CRO is at the center of this Solana rewards event, serving as the staking currency. By making CRO required, Crypto.com boosts its token’s usefulness. The rewards are point-based: the more points you earn compared to others, the bigger your share of the $250,000 SOL prize, the team says.

You mainly earn points by allocating CRO, both at the start and daily. Special Point Boosters can greatly increase your points. For example, the Loot Locker lets you lock your earned SOL for another six months in exchange for a 200% daily points boost during the event.

Reward Distribution and Lockup Rules

The SOL Airdrop Arena has clear rules for rewards and lockup. After the event, Solana rewards are sent directly to participants’ Crypto.com Wallets within seven days. If you use the optional Loot Locker, you get your SOL after an extra six-month lockup, and you earn more points during the event.

CRO staked in the Airdrop Arena is locked for six months and can’t be withdrawn or used elsewhere during that time. After the lockup, you can withdraw your CRO or keep it allocated for automatic entry into future events. This setup encourages long-term participation while also providing options after the lockup period ends, Crypto.com says.

Why the Airdrop Arena Appeals to Users

According to the exchange, Airdrop Arena is made for users who want a passive way to earn crypto rewards. After you allocate CRO, points accumulate each day automatically with minimal effort. This is attractive for CRO holders who want Solana exposure without having to trade.

The program allows users to earn SOL without purchasing it directly, converting CRO holdings into rewards. Features like point boosters, leaderboards, and optional lockups make the experience more competitive and engaging than regular staking.

Crypto.com SOL Airdrop Arena in Crypto.com’s Broader Earn Strategy

Airdrop Arena is part of Crypto.com’s larger rewards system, along with Earn, staking, and liquidity programs. By focusing on CRO, the platform strengthens its native token as the core of its ecosystem.

With a $250,000 prize pool, daily point accumulation, and multiple booster options, the event offers users the opportunity to earn rewards by committing CRO for the lockup period, the team says.

The exchange concludes that participation requires comfort with a six-month CRO lockup and variable rewards based on ranking and market conditions.

Visit Crypto.com

The post Crypto.com Unveils SOL Airdrop Arena With $250,000 Solana Prize Pool appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin surged back into focus after US inflation data eased fears of persistent price pressures, reigniting demand for risk assets and pushing BTC firmly above the $95,000 mark. With CPI confirming cooling inflation and technical structures flipping bullish, Bitcoin appears less like a speculative rebound and more like a continuation of a broader institutional-led trend.

Core CPI at 2.6% Lifts Bitcoin Toward $95,000

Bitcoin is trading near the $95,000 level after gaining more than 3% over the past 24 hours, supported by softer inflation data and a modest pullback in the US dollar. The latest US Consumer Price Index report showed headline inflation holding steady at 2.7% year over year in December, in line with market expectations, while core inflation remained unchanged at 2.6%, its lowest level since 2021.

United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Source: Tradingeconomics

On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.3%, matching forecasts, with shelter costs accounting for much of the increase. Energy prices climbed 2.3%, while food prices rose 3.1%, underscoring that price pressures remain uneven rather than accelerating broadly. Crucially for markets, the absence of an upside surprise in core inflation eased concerns that the Federal Reserve may need to keep monetary policy restrictive for longer.

For Bitcoin, this environment matters. Stable inflation and a contained core reading reduce pressure on Treasury yields and the US dollar, allowing capital to rotate toward alternative stores of value. With real yields stabilizing, Bitcoin benefited alongside broader risk assets.

Japan’s finance minister and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared concerns about the weakening yen during a bilateral meeting as the currency edged toward a key threshold where authorities have intervened in the past https://t.co/el2QVQwBT1

— Bloomberg (@business) January 13, 2026

Currency markets echoed this shift. The Japanese yen slid to multi-month lows, while the euro and British pound traded with limited follow-through, highlighting continued unease around global monetary and fiscal conditions.

Against this landscape of fiat uncertainty and moderating US inflation, Bitcoin’s role as a policy-insensitive asset gained renewed attention from both institutional and macro-focused investors.

Fitch Warns on BTC-Backed Securities Risk

Fitch Ratings recently cautioned that Bitcoin-backed debt instruments carry elevated risk due to BTC’s price volatility, particularly where leverage and collateralized lending are involved. Crucially, the agency excluded spot BTC ETFs from this warning, noting that broader ETF adoption could help dampen long-term volatility rather than increase it.

Fitch Ratings warns of the risks of Bitcoin-backed securities

Fitch Ratings, one of the leading rating agencies, has warned that Bitcoin-backed securities carry high risks and speculative credit profiles.

The inherent volatility of BTC prices can quickly erode the value of… pic.twitter.com/B4kDhYp2kC

— Atlas21 (@Atlas21_eng) January 13, 2026

That distinction is significant for institutional investors. Exposure to Bitcoin is increasingly shifting toward regulated, transparent structures instead of speculative credit products. A clear example is the launch of 21Shares’ Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) on the London Stock Exchange, which allocates roughly two-thirds to gold and one-third to Bitcoin, positioning BTC alongside a traditional safe-haven asset

Together, expanding spot ETF access and hybrid products are reinforcing Bitcoin’s institutional appeal while reducing dependence on leverage-driven crypto credit models.

BTC and Gold Converge as 21Shares Launches BOLD ETP in the UK

21Shares has launched its Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) on the London Stock Exchange, giving UK investors access to a regulated product that combines gold and Bitcoin in a single structure. The fund allocates roughly two-thirds to gold and one-third to Bitcoin and trades in both US dollars (BOLU) and British pounds (BOLD).

Disclaimer: Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://t.co/d9gFbwImMu

Introducing the 21shares Bitcoin Gold ETP… pic.twitter.com/neRbphESOr

— 21shares (@21shares) January 13, 2026

BOLD is fully physically backed, holding real gold and Bitcoin, and was developed in partnership with ByteTree Asset Management. By pairing gold’s long-standing role as a safe haven with Bitcoin’s growing reputation as “digital gold,” the product targets inflation protection and macro volatility.

The listing strengthens Bitcoin’s institutional credibility and supports long-term demand through regulated investment channels.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Outlook: BTC Breaks Symmetrical Triangle as $95,000 Turns Into Support

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin price prediction seems bullish as BTC’s structure has turned decisively constructive. On the 2-hour chart, BTC has broken cleanly above a long-developing symmetrical triangle that constrained price action through early January. The breakout followed a clear sequence of higher lows pressing against descending resistance, a classic setup for directional expansion.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Former resistance between $94,500 and $95,000 has now flipped into support, creating a firm demand zone reinforced by shallow pullbacks and tight-bodied candles. The leading indicator, RSI, remains elevated near the upper-60s without showing bearish divergence, indicating momentum is strong but not overstretched.

If Bitcoin holds above $95,000, the technical roadmap points toward:

Initial resistance near $97,600

A higher extension toward $98,800–$99,000

A pullback toward $95,000–$94,500 would likely be viewed as constructive, with downside risk contained below $93,000. As long as BTC remains above broken triangle resistance, the broader trend favors continuation, keeping optimism alive for the next leg higher.

Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana?

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bringing a new phase to the Bitcoin ecosystem. While BTC remains the gold standard for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin.

Audited by Consult, the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $30.4 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013575 before the next increase.

As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: CPI Surprise Sends BTC Flying – Is Wall Street About to Go All-In Again? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Animoca Brands has moved to strengthen its position in digital collectibles after acquiring gaming and collectibles studio Somo, expanding its footprint in Web3-native entertainment.

Key Takeaways:

Animoca Brands acquired Somo to expand its Web3 collectibles strategy.

The deal aligns with a sharp early-2026 NFT market rebound.

Despite the recent surge, NFT valuations remain far below prior cycle highs.

The company said Wednesday that Somo will be integrated into Animoca’s broader Web3 ecosystem, adding a lineup of playable, streamable and tradable digital collectibles to its portfolio of blockchain-based platforms.

Animoca to Plug Somo Into Global Web3 Partner Network

Animoca plans to support the expansion through cross-promotion, shared infrastructure and access to its global network of partners across gaming, media and digital assets.

“SOMO is building the cultural operating system for collectibles, which complements our existing portfolio,” Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu said.

“By bringing SOMO into the Animoca Brands ecosystem, we aim to connect it to our global network of games, communities, and partners.”

The acquisition comes as the non-fungible token market recorded a sharp rebound at the start of 2026.

Data from CoinGecko shows the total NFT market capitalization climbed about 20% in the first two weeks of the year, rising from roughly $2.5 billion on Jan. 1 to more than $3 billion by mid-January.

The move marked one of the strongest short-term recoveries for NFTs in over a year, following a prolonged downturn that weighed on prices and trading activity throughout much of 2025.

Do you remember @playsomo and $SOMO?

They just got acquired by @animocabrands. We’ll see how this plays out.

I’ve yapped about it a lot, and I’ve been waiting almost two years for the presale. But I also have to be honest: around 90% of Animoca Brands portfolio hasn’t really… https://t.co/szroaFPJhW pic.twitter.com/6eaFLMjfbl

— Djani (@DjaniWhaleSkul) January 14, 2026

CoinGecko data indicates that a large share of the gains occurred in a single 24-hour window, when the market added around $300 million in value alongside an 18.7% jump in daily trading volume.

Market participants pointed to renewed interest in established NFT collections, a pickup in high-value sales and the release of new token-linked NFT drops as drivers behind the surge.

However, some community members questioned whether the rally signals the start of a new cycle or a short-lived bounce after months of compressed valuations.

Despite the recent uptick, the sector remains well below its previous highs.

As of now, the NFT market cap stands at approximately $7.3 billion, a decline of about 59% year over year.

Meta Plans Reality Labs Layoffs as Focus Shifts From Metaverse to AI

As reported, Meta is preparing to cut roughly 10% of staff from its Reality Labs division, a move that highlights the company’s growing pivot away from the metaverse and toward artificial intelligence.

The layoffs could affect around 1,500 employees and may be announced as soon as Tuesday, with the cuts expected to fall heavily on teams working on virtual reality hardware and metaverse platforms.

Reality Labs, which employs about 15,000 people, has been a major source of losses for Meta since its launch in 2020.

The unit has accumulated more than $70 billion in losses, including $4.4 billion in operating losses in the third quarter of 2025 alone.

Recent reports suggest Meta is also redirecting some funding from Reality Labs to its wearables business, as well as trimming overall metaverse spending while increasing investment in AI development.

The broader metaverse sector has struggled to meet early expectations, with engagement concentrated in gaming-focused platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite.

The post Animoca Brands Acquires Somo to Expand Web3 Collectibles Push appeared first on Cryptonews.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on federal banking regulators to pause their review of World Liberty Financial’s application for a national bank charter, arguing that the process should not move forward while President Donald Trump maintains direct financial ties to the crypto platform.

The request raises fresh questions about conflicts of interest at a moment when stablecoins are moving deeper into the US financial system and Washington is debating how far to go in regulating the sector.

Stablecoin Charter Puts OCC in Political Crosshairs, Warren Says

In a letter sent Tuesday to Jonathan Gould, the Comptroller of the Currency, Warren urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to delay consideration of World Liberty Financial’s bid until Trump divests from the company and removes what she described as “real and serious” financial conflicts involving himself and his family.

Source: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said the situation was no longer hypothetical after a World Liberty subsidiary formally applied on January 7, 2026, to operate a national trust bank designed to support stablecoin services.

World Liberty Financial was launched in 2024 and lists Trump and his sons Barron, Eric, and Donald Trump Jr. as co-founders.

Trump-backed World Liberty Financial has launched World Liberty Markets, a new crypto lending platform tied to its #USD1 stablecoin.#Stablecoins #DeFi #USD1 #CryptoNewshttps://t.co/vginSli5es

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 12, 2026

The platform has grown quickly, raising more than $550 million through token sales and launching a dollar-backed stablecoin, USD1, in March 2025.

USD1 has since expanded to an estimated $3.4 billion in market value and has been used in high-profile transactions, including a $2 billion Binance investment by a third-party firm using the token.

A World Liberty subsidiary, WLTC Holdings, filed for the charter that would allow it to issue, custody, and convert USD1 directly under federal supervision.

World Liberty Financial filed for a US national banking charter, seeking OCC oversight to bring its dollar-backed stablecoin USD1 fully inside the regulatory perimeter. @worldlibertyfi#WLFI #OCC https://t.co/kDgbVB1c25

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 8, 2026

Warren argued that the application places the OCC in an unprecedented position.

Under the National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, signed into law by Trump in July 2025, the OCC became the primary regulator for federally licensed stablecoin issuers.

That role includes approving charters, writing rules, supervising issuers, and enforcing violations.

Warren said that approving World Liberty’s application would effectively make the president responsible for overseeing a financial company from which he and his family benefit, while the regulator itself serves at the president’s pleasure.

Crypto Policy Debate Intensifies as Trump Family Ventures Expand

In a public report cited in Warren’s letter, Trump and his family have earned more than $1 billion from World Liberty Financial and other crypto ventures.

Beyond World Liberty, the Trump family controls entities tied to an official Trump-branded meme coin launched on Solana in early 2025, several NFT collections that have generated millions in licensing revenue, and a Bitcoin mining company established by Trump’s sons last year.

These ventures mark a sharp shift from Trump’s earlier skepticism of digital assets and have been accompanied by a policy agenda that has rolled back enforcement actions and positioned the US as a global crypto hub.

The charter filing comes as regulators have shown greater willingness to bring crypto firms under bank-style oversight.

In December, the OCC approved national trust bank charters for several digital asset companies, including BitGo, Circle, Paxos, Ripple, and others.

The OCC has conditionally approved five crypto firms, including @Circle and @Ripple, to launch national trust banks.#Ripple #Circlehttps://t.co/wCeTNrhOQZ

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 13, 2025

Trust banks cannot take deposits or make loans, but they can provide custody and settlement services, making them an attractive structure for stablecoin issuers seeking tighter integration with the traditional financial system.

Warren’s push also lands amid broader legislative friction. There are many efforts going on in Congress, including the Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act and the End Crypto Corruption Act, that aim to restrict elected officials and their families from owning or profiting from digital assets, but none have advanced into law.

The post Elizabeth Warren Urges Regulator to Freeze World Liberty Bank Bid Until Trump Cuts Crypto Ties appeared first on Cryptonews.

The crypto market is up today, with the cryptocurrency market capitalisation rising by 3.6% to $3.33 trillion. At the time of writing, 95 of the top 100 coins have posted increases over the past 24 hours. Also, the total crypto trading volume stands at $174 billion, back to the levels we’re used to seeing lately.

TLDR:

Crypto market cap is up 3.6% on Wednesday morning (UTC);

95 of the top 100 coins and all of the top 10 coins decreased today;

BTC increased by 3.4% to $91,271, and ETH is up 6.6% to $3,328;

In the short term, BTC should monitor the $91,031 level as key support;

In the long term, a decisive breakout above $109,000 may open doors towards a new ATH;

Standard Chartered has dubbed 2026 the ‘year of Ethereum’;

A repricing of confidence in the monetary policy framework itself is underway.

Russian lawmakers are preparing to open cryptocurrency market to retail participants;

US BTC and ETH spot ETFs posted inflows of $753.73 million and $129.99 million, respectively;

Financial advisors allocated to crypto in client accounts in 2025;

Advisors picked crypto equity ETFs as their top exposure for 2026;

Crypto market sentiment has seen a significant jumped.

Crypto Winners & Losers

All top 10 coins per market capitalisation have seen their prices rise over the past 24 hours, as of Wednesday morning (UTC).

Bitcoin (BTC) appreciated by 3.4% since this time yesterday, currently trading at $94,953.

Bitcoin (BTC)

24h7d30d1yAll time

Ethereum (ETH) increased by 6.6%, now trading at $3,328. This is the category’s second-best performer.

The category’s biggest gainer is Dogecoin (DOGE), having appreciated 7%, now standing at $0.1482.

ETH and Lido Staked Ether (STETH) follow, with XRP (XRP)’s 4.3% coming next and trading at $2.14.

Looking at the top 100 coins per market cap, 95 are up today. Five of these saw double-digit increases.

The category’s winner was Story (IP), with a rise of 28.3% in a day to the current price of $3.87.

Next up is Pepe (PEPE), recording a 14.4% jump to $0.000006683.

At the same time, two coins are down by more than 1% each. Provenance Blockchain (HASH) declined by 6.4% to the price of $0.02362.

MemeCore (M) fell 4%, currently trading at $1.62.

Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers are working to open the cryptocurrency market to retail participants. They are preparing legislation that would allow non-qualified investors limited access to digital assets.

Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the State Duma’s Financial Markets Committee, said a draft bill has already been finalised and is expected to be considered during the spring parliamentary session.

According to TASS, Russian State Duma Financial Market Committee chair Anatoly Aksakov said a bill is ready that would remove cryptocurrencies from “special financial regulation,” aiming to make their use more common in daily life. Speaking to Rossiya-24, Aksakov said upcoming…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 14, 2026

‘Repricing of Confidence in Monetary Policy Framework Itself’

According to Glassnode, the Long-Term Holder Supply Distribution Heatmap shows a cost-basis cluster between $93,000 and $109,000. It usually takes a decisive breakout above this range to open doors toward a new ATH.

The Long-Term Holder Supply Distribution Heatmap shows a dense cost-basis cluster between $93K and $109K, forming a substantial overhead supply zone.
Any sustained push higher must first absorb this supply, with a decisive breakout above this range typically required to reopen… https://t.co/m1oD2wiuxl pic.twitter.com/3nKtF7cMbD

— glassnode (@glassnode) January 13, 2026

Moreover, looking at the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis Distribution (CBD) Heatmap, Glassnode found that the recent $80,000–$95,000 consolidation “reflects a top-heavy cost-basis structure meeting renewed demand above $80,000.”

Using the newly launched Short-Term Holder Cost Basis Distribution (CBD) Heatmap, the recent $80K–$95K consolidation reflects a top-heavy cost-basis structure meeting renewed demand above $80K.
Overhead supply from recent buyers has absorbed bounce attempts, anchoring price… pic.twitter.com/iDe5CghDSe

— glassnode (@glassnode) January 13, 2026

Meanwhile, Bitunix analysts say that in the short term, BTC should monitor the $91,031 level as key support, with $97,237 acting as the primary resistance zone.

They note that on 14 January, US President Donald Trump launched an attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Powell has the support of several major central banks, including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, and the Bank of Canada.

“This episode is not merely a personnel dispute, but a repricing of confidence in the monetary policy framework itself,” the analysts say. “For the crypto market, the core macro variables remain the duration of elevated interest rates and the credibility of policy institutions.”

They continue: “If concerns over central bank independence continue to widen—driving volatility in the dollar and real yields—crypto asset volatility is likely to increase. Conversely, if markets regain confidence that the policy path is not being politically distorted, BTC may re-enter a bullish rhythm following a period of structural consolidation. Crypto markets should remain highly attentive to how shifts in the macro narrative cascade into changes in overall risk appetite.”

Levels & Events to Watch Next

At the time of writing on Wednesday morning, BTC stood at $94,953. The coin started the day at the lowest point of $91,820. It relatively gradually appreciated to the intraday high of $95,804, before slightly correcting to the current price.

BTC remains green in the 7-day timeframe as well, having appreciated 3% over a week. It has been trading in the $89,799–$95,724 range.

Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: TradingView

In the near term, BTC will likely continue to trade between $80,000 and $96,000. Yet, a break above $98,000 could lead to $100,000, and a decisive breakout above that could open doors toward the $116,000-$120,000 level. Should it go red, we could see levels below $80,000 and $70,000.

Moreover, Ethereum is currently changing hands at $3,328. For the majority of the past 24 hours, it traded between the intraday low of $3,119 and $3,210. However, it then jumped to the intraday high of $3,350.

Over the past 7 days, ETH has gone up 2.7%. It moved between $3,068 and $3,350.

Ethereum (ETH)

24h7d30d1yAll time

If ETH continues rising, it could see $3,450, after which the path may open for higher levels of $3,600 and $3,850. A firm breakout above this level could lead to ETH reclaiming the $4,000 zone. On the other hand, a drop could push the price back down towards $3,000, while stronger pressure would lead to the sub-$3,000 levels.

Notably, Standard Chartered has dubbed 2026 the “year of Ethereum”.

Standard Chartered: Ethereum will outperform the entire market in 2026.

New Targets:
• 2026: $7,500
• 2028: $22,000
• 2030: $40,000

"2026 will be the year of Ethereum, just like 2021 was." – Geoff Kendrick.

Institutional money is looking past the noise. Are you ? pic.twitter.com/rtv2t6qRWH

— NekoZ (@NekozTek) January 13, 2026

Moreover, the crypto market sentiment has finally reversed course and began increasing, away from the fear zone.

The crypto fear and greed index stands at 52 today, compared to 41 we’ve been seeing over the past few days.

Though still in the neutral territory, the metric no longer borders the fear zone and is approaching the greed zone, which it hasn’t seen since a brief spike in October 2025.

While the caution remains, it’s clear that optimism amongst market participants is increasing. It’s still unclear if this is a brief rise or a part of a longer-term trend.

ETFs Go Green

On Tuesday, the US BTC spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a second straight day of positive flows, adding $753.73 million in total, the highest level since October. With this, the total net inflow increased to $57.27 billion.

Seven of the twelve ETFs posted inflows, and none recorded outflows. Fidelity was at the top, taking in $351.36 million.

It’s followed by Bitwise and BlackRock with $159.42 million and $126.27 million, respectively.

Moreover, the US ETH ETFs posted positive flows on 13 January as well, totalling $129.99 million. This is a significant jump compared to the minor inflows of the day prior. The latest amount increased the total net inflow to $12.57 billion.

Of the nine funds, five saw inflows, and none saw outflows again. The highest among these is BlackRock’s $53.31 million.

Grayscale is next with inflows of $39.35 million recorded on the same day.

Meanwhile, a recent Bitwise and VettaFi survey found that 32% of financial advisors allocated to crypto in client accounts in 2025. This is up from 22% in 2024, setting an all-time high for the series.

Advisors picked crypto equity ETFs as their top exposure for 2026, while their next choice was spot crypto ETFs at 16%.

#10: CRYPTO EQUITY ETFS CONTINUE TO BE ADVISORS’ TOP CHOICE

When asked what crypto exposure they were most interested in allocating to in 2026, crypto equity ETFs were the favorite among advisors.

— Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) January 13, 2026

Quick FAQ

Did crypto move with stocks today?

The crypto market posted an increase over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the US stock market closed the Tuesday session lower. By the closing time on 13 January, the S&P 500 was down 0.19%, the Nasdaq-100 decreased by 0.18%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.8%. TradFi investors were digesting consumer inflation data and the news of a Justice Department probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Is this rally sustainable?

It is possible that we’ll watch crypto prices move in a relatively tight range for a while longer. Analysts are currently looking for signals that would confirm a potential longer-term upturn.

You may also like:

(LIVE) Crypto News Today: Latest Updates for January 14, 2026

Crypto markets staged a broad rebound over the past 24 hours, with most sectors posting gains of between 3% and 8% as risk appetite improved. Bitcoin rose 4.34% to reclaim the $95,000 level, while Ethereum jumped 7.4% to trade above $3,300. Strength was seen across meme, RWA, Layer 2, DeFi, and CeFi sectors, with several tokens recording double-digit gains. Market sentiment also improved, with the crypto fear and greed index climbing to 47 from 25 a day earlier, placing sentiment firmly in...

The post Why Is Crypto Up Today? – January 14, 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Ethereum has had its moment this cycle. In the summer of 2025, ETH finally pushed through its previous highs and printed a new all-time high near $4,900, driven by strong ETF flows, staking demand, and renewed interest from retail investors.

Since then, price action has cooled. Ethereum followed the broader market lower and retraced roughly 40%, bringing ETH back into a zone that many long-term investors now view as consolidation rather than weakness.

At the same time, since the bear market is ongoing, early-stage projects are starting to get attention. One of these is BMIC (BMIC).

While majors like Ethereum work through multi-year ranges, BMIC is still in its crypto presale phase, positioning itself around a structural theme that most of the market has not priced in yet: quantum-safe security for Web3, the team says.

Ethereum Price Outlook: What ETH Chart Is Signaling

Crypto Patel’s long-term Ethereum chart frames the current market structure as constructive rather than bearish. According to his analysis, the $1,800 to $2,900 range represents a long-term accumulation zone, where patient positioning tends to outperform reactive trading. On the chart, Ethereum remains inside a rising macro channel that has guided price action for nearly a decade.

Source: X/@CryptoPatel

Patel outlines a scenario where ETH gradually builds higher lows before breaking toward $10,000 during 2026, with extended upside toward $20,000–$30,000 over a longer horizon if adoption and liquidity conditions align. The projected path is not a straight line. The chart explicitly shows pauses, pullbacks, and consolidations, reinforcing the idea that timing and patience matter more than chasing short-term momentum.

This setup helps explain why Ethereum at $3,000 may deliver a 3x move over the next phase of the cycle. It also explains why some investors are looking beyond large caps for asymmetric opportunities elsewhere. While ETH’s upside now depends on trillions in incremental capital, early-stage infrastructure projects operate on a different curve entirely.

Why BMIC’s Utility Puts It in a Different Category

BMIC is not trying to compete with Ethereum or other layer-one networks. Instead, it says it is building a quantum-secure finance stack designed to sit underneath the broader Web3 ecosystem. The platform combines a wallet, staking system, and payment layer, all protected by post-quantum cryptography and signature-hiding smart accounts. This secures storage, yield, and spending in one unified architecture, according to the team.

A core differentiator is zero public-key exposure. Most wallets today expose public keys on-chain, creating a permanent attack surface once quantum computing matures. BMIC says it removes this risk through ERC-4337-style smart accounts, hybrid post-quantum signatures, and private routing. The system is quantum-native from day one, so no need for future migrations that legacy platforms are likely to face.

AI plays a defensive role. BMIC uses AI to monitor activity, detect threats early, and optimize cryptographic performance as conditions change. This security layer improves over time without requiring user intervention. For enterprises, BMIC offers Quantum Security-as-a-Service, allowing banks, fintechs, healthcare providers, and governments to integrate quantum-secure custody, identity protection, and encrypted communications without rebuilding infrastructure.

The roadmap also extends beyond wallets and payments. BMIC plans to introduce the Quantum Meta-Cloud, a decentralized framework for accessing quantum compute resources in a transparent and permissionless way. Combined with a deflationary token model tied to real services such as staking, APIs, compute access, and governance, BMIC says it positions itself for the upcoming bull cycles.

Why BMIC Is Emerging as One of the Best Crypto Projects

All in all, Ethereum’s upside is increasingly tied to macro conditions and incremental adoption, but BMIC is still in its earliest growth phase. BMIC’s crypto presale is structured across multiple tiers, starting at $0.048485 and rising to $0.058182, a 20% price increase between early and late participants. Listed prices are higher than presale tiers.

As security becomes a dominant narrative and quantum risk moves from theory toward reality, BMIC’s focus on structural protection rather than speculation stands out. For investors comparing a potential 3x in Ethereum with earlier-stage asymmetry, BMIC is framed as one of the most closely watched crypto projects right now.

With each presale phase pushing prices higher, the window for early entry is narrowing, and awareness is starting to build before the broader market fully catches on.

Discover the future of quantum-secure Web3 with BMIC:

Website: https://bmic.ai

X (Twitter): https://x.com/BMIC_ai

Telegram: https://t.me/+6d1dX_uwKKdhZDFk

The post Ethereum at $3,000 Might 3x – BMIC Targets Structural Security Adoption appeared first on Cryptonews.

A new report from cryptocurrency exchange CEX.IO shows that tokenized gold became one of the fastest-growing segments of the real-world asset (RWA) market in 2025.

Trading activity and market expansion outpaced many traditional gold investment products.

Tokenized Gold Accounts for a Quarter of RWA Growth

According to the report, tokenized gold recorded a 177% increase in market capitalization in 2025, expanding from roughly $1.6 billion to $4.4 billion. This added nearly $2.8 billion in net value accounting for around 25% of all net RWA growth over the year.

In contrast the broader DeFi market struggled to regain momentum with total value locked (TVL) rising by just 2% while RWAs grew by approximately 184% making them crypto’s standout performer.

CEX.IO notes that tokenized gold expanded 2.6 times faster than physical gold which itself saw a strong year amid inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty.

The category also registered a 198% increase in total holders, adding more than 115,000 new wallets—growth that outpaced tokenized U.S. Treasuries and other tokenized bonds.

Trading Volumes Rival Gold ETFs

Trading activity tells an even more striking story. Tokenized gold trading volume jumped 1,550% year-on-year, reaching $178 billion in total volume in 2025. In the fourth quarter alone volume exceeded $126 billion surpassing the combined trading volume of five major gold ETFs.

While SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) remained the single largest gold investment product by volume the report estimates that tokenized gold would rank as the second-largest gold investment vehicle globally by trading volume ahead of every ETF except GLD. This highlights a structural shift in where gold trading liquidity is forming increasingly moving on-chain.

A Highly Concentrated Market

Despite rapid growth, the market remains highly concentrated. The top three tokenized gold assets—Tether Gold (XAUT), Pax Gold (PAXG) and Kinesis Gold (KAU)—control roughly 97% of total market capitalization while the top four account for 99% of trading volume.

XAUT dominated trading activity in late 2025 representing 75% of total Q4 volume following a reserve attestation that appeared to boost market confidence.

CEX.IO also highlighted emerging products such as Matrixdock Gold (XAUM) which saw market cap growth of more than 1,000% after integration with the Plume ecosystem.

Complementing Not Replacing Stablecoins

The report explains that tokenized gold is not competing directly with stablecoins but instead acts as a tactical hedge. During periods of market stress, traders appear to rotate capital into tokenized gold as a middle ground between risk-on crypto assets and risk-off stablecoins.

Overall, CEX.IO concludes that 2025 marked a turning point for tokenized gold, transforming it from a niche RWA category into a large-scale, liquid gold investment vehicle.

While concentration risks remain the data suggests tokenized gold is now firmly established as a meaningful component of both the RWA and global gold investment landscape.

The post Tokenized Gold Accounts for 25% of RWA Growth as Trading Volume Overtakes Gold ETFs appeared first on Cryptonews.

Ripple has secured preliminary approval for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg’s financial regulator, marking another regulatory milestone as the firm expands its payments business across Europe.

Key Takeaways:

Ripple secured preliminary EMI approval in Luxembourg to expand regulated EU payments.

Back-to-back approvals in Luxembourg and the UK deepen Ripple’s European footprint.

The licenses support Ripple’s push to deliver payment infrastructure for banks and institutions.

The approval was granted by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and came in the form of a “green light letter,” Ripple said in a recent blog post.

While the authorization remains subject to final conditions, it positions the company to broaden its cross-border payments platform across the European Union, allowing financial institutions to move funds using stablecoins and other digital assets within a regulated framework.

Ripple Secures UK and Luxembourg Approvals to Deepen EU Presence

The Luxembourg decision follows closely on Ripple’s recent regulatory progress in the United Kingdom, where it received both an EMI license and cryptoasset registration from the Financial Conduct Authority.

Together, the approvals strengthen Ripple’s footprint in two key European markets as regional rules for digital assets continue to take shape.

Ripple President Monica Long said Europe’s regulatory approach has given financial institutions the confidence to move blockchain technology beyond pilot programs.

She added that expanding Ripple’s licensing portfolio allows the company to offer an end-to-end payments solution that combines stablecoins with onchain liquidity, helping institutions modernize legacy systems and operate around the clock.

Ripple Payments operates as a licensed, end-to-end cross-border payments platform, managing the flow of funds on behalf of clients while connecting them to a global network of payout partners.

By handling blockchain infrastructure and operational complexity internally, Ripple enables banks and payment providers to launch digital services without building or maintaining their own systems.

We’ve secured our preliminary Electronic Money Institution license approval from Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

This is a pivotal step toward scaling Ripple Payments across the EU, bringing institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure… pic.twitter.com/GW3c9gVhDs

— Ripple (@Ripple) January 14, 2026

According to the company, Ripple Payments has processed more than $95 billion in transaction volume to date and now reaches over 90% of daily foreign exchange markets.

The firm holds more than 75 licenses and registrations worldwide, placing it among the most heavily regulated companies in the digital asset sector.

Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s managing director for the UK and Europe, said Luxembourg’s supervisory framework offers the legal certainty needed for financial innovation.

She described the preliminary approval as a pivotal step toward delivering compliant blockchain infrastructure across the EU, noting Ripple’s focus on aligning its operations with Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime.

Ripple’s RLUSD Wins Regulatory Green Light in Abu Dhabi

As reported, Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD was cleared for institutional use in Abu Dhabi after receiving recognition as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token from the local regulator.

The approval allows licensed firms within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to use RLUSD for regulated financial activities inside the free-zone financial center.

The decision strengthens Ripple’s expansion across the UAE. In recent months, the company secured approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and onboarded partners including Zand Bank and Mamo.

As reported, Ripple is also weighing whether to bring staking to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a move that would push the decade-old blockchain deeper into the rapidly expanding world of decentralized finance.

The post Ripple Wins Luxembourg EMI Approval to Expand European Payments appeared first on Cryptonews.

Uganda’s government imposed a nationwide internet blackout on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s presidential election, triggering a surge in downloads of Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app that operates offline.

The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile providers to suspend public internet access from 6 p.m. local time, citing concerns over misinformation and electoral fraud as 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni seeks his seventh term against opposition challenger Bobi Wine.

Bitchat developer Calle reported the app became Uganda’s most downloaded application as citizens prepared for the shutdown.

The peer-to-peer messenger uses Bluetooth to relay encrypted messages between nearby devices, creating mesh networks that function independently of traditional internet infrastructure and do not require phone numbers or account registration.

Bitchat has become the most downloaded app in Uganda amid a government-ordered nationwide internet shutdown. pic.twitter.com/b6EII1sVOY

— calle (@callebtc) January 14, 2026

Internet Blackout Mirrors 2021 Election Crackdown

According to Vanguard, the Uganda Communications Commission justified the suspension as necessary to prevent “online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks” that could undermine national security during the election period.

The directive applies to all access technologies, including mobile broadband, fiber-optic services, and satellite internet, with violators facing fines and possible license suspensions.

NetBlocks confirmed “nation-scale disruption to internet connectivity” shortly after the 3 p.m. GMT implementation deadline.

Confirmed: Live network data show a nation-scale disruption to internet connectivity in #Uganda; the measure comes days ahead of general elections and corresponds to a shutdown notice from the Uganda Communications Commission "to mitigate the rapid spread of misinformation" pic.twitter.com/01ZGYVRSuG

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 13, 2026

Voice calls and basic SMS services remained operational, while essential state services received exemptions through secure whitelisted systems restricted to authorized personnel.

The government had repeatedly promised internet access would remain available, stating on January 5 that “claims suggesting otherwise are false, misleading, and intended to cause unnecessary fear and tension among the public.“

Uganda previously cut internet access during its 2021 election, which international observers described as marred by widespread allegations of rigging and state violence against opposition supporters.

Opposition Faces Intensified Repression Ahead of Vote

United Nations Human Rights Office reported that police and military forces used live ammunition to disperse peaceful rallies, conducted arbitrary detentions, and abducted opposition supporters in the election run-up.

Security forces detained hundreds of opposition supporters while repeatedly firing tear gas at campaign events supporting Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi.

The government on Tuesday ordered two local rights groups (Chapter Four Uganda and Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda) to immediately cease operations.

The state-run National Bureau for NGOs accused the organizations of activities “prejudicial” to Uganda’s security.

Both groups had documented alleged arbitrary detention and torture of opposition supporters and journalists covering the election campaign.

Another opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who challenged Museveni in four previous elections, remains jailed on treason charges after being kidnapped in Kenya in 2024 and returned to Uganda for military trial.

Decentralized App Provides Communication Alternative

Bitchat entered beta testing in July and requires no accounts, phone numbers, or central infrastructure.

The app fragments messages into 500-byte chunks that hop between devices within 30 meters, with up to 7 relay points enabling transmission during connectivity blackouts.

Store-and-forward systems cache messages for offline users up to 12 hours, ensuring delivery when direct connections are unavailable.

Wine encouraged supporters to download the application during his final Monday rally, where heavy security deployment established a perimeter that deterred attendance.

Bobi Wine during the party’s final campaign rally in Kampala on Monday. | Source: NYT

Soldiers chased down and beat at least one person for waving Uganda’s national flag, a symbol of Wine’s campaign that authorities have banned.

Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo warned regulators could disable Bitchat if needed, stating, “Don’t be excited by Bitchat, it’s a small thing.“

Calle rejected that assessment, citing internal data showing over 400,000 Ugandan downloads while declaring, “You can’t stop Bitchat. You can’t stop us.“

Museveni came to power in 1986 after leading a five-year rebellion and is Africa’s third-longest serving head of state. He has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits.

His campaign slogan “Protecting the Gains” contrasts sharply with Wine’s “Protest Vote” message, emphasizing generational change for Uganda’s population, where more than one in four citizens are between 18 and 30 years old.

Notably, Uganda’s adoption follows similar patterns during recent civil unrest across multiple countries.

Dorsey's Bitchat explodes in Madagascar as protesters adopt censorship-resistant messaging during violent protests over infrastructure failures.#BitChat #Madagascarhttps://t.co/oZS9WNukd2

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) September 29, 2025

Nepal recorded 48,781 downloads in September during youth-led protests against government corruption that left 22 dead and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation, while Madagascar saw searches spike from zero to 100 during violent demonstrations over water and electricity shortages that prompted government curfews across the capital.

The post Bitchat Downloads Spike in Uganda as Government Prepares Internet Shutdown for Election appeared first on Cryptonews.

Visa has tapped BVNK to power stablecoin payments across the Visa Direct network adding to its broader push to integrate digital assets into global payments infrastructure.

Exciting news: we're powering stablecoin payments for @Visa Direct

Starting this year with pilot programs, BVNK will provide stablecoin infrastructure for @VISADIRECT's $1.7 trillion real-time payments network, enabling faster, more flexible global money movement. pic.twitter.com/0SxgIRrhof

— BVNK (@BVNKFinance) January 14, 2026

The partnership will allow Visa Direct customers to unlock new options for cross-border payments by using stablecoins alongside traditional fiat rails and expanding flexibility for businesses and end users alike.

Expanding Visa Direct with Stablecoins

Visa Direct is a real-time money network that processes around $1.7 trillion in volume annually allowing payouts to cards, bank accounts and digital wallets.

Under the new partnership BVNK will provide the stablecoin infrastructure that allows some business customers to pre-fund Visa Direct payouts using stablecoins rather than relying solely on fiat currencies.

The integration will also support payouts to end recipients directly in stablecoins placing digital dollars into users’ wallets. This opens the door to faster settlement 24/7 availability and reduced reliance on traditional banking hours especially for cross-border and treasury use cases.

BVNK said it processes more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments annually and will initially support Visa Direct’s stablecoin services in approved markets with strong demand for digital asset-based payments.

Building on an Existing Relationship

The announcement represents the next phase of a deepening relationship between Visa and BVNK. Visa Ventures invested in BVNK in May 2025.

The firm said the partnership is part of Visa’s broader strategy to explore how stablecoins can modernise money movement complementing existing rails rather than replacing them.

Stablecoins as a Payments Infrastructure Layer

Mark Nelsen, Global Head of Product for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions at Visa, said stablecoins present an opportunity to reduce friction in global payments and expand access to faster and more efficient settlement.

He highlights their usefulness during weekends, holidays and periods when traditional banks are closed, positioning stablecoins as a practical enhancement to existing payment networks.

BVNK chief executive Jesse Hemson-Struthers describes stablecoins not just as a new payment method but as a foundational layer of modern payments infrastructure.

By integrating stablecoins directly into Visa’s network the partnership aims to give businesses and consumers more control over how and when funds are sent and received.

Phased Rollout and Global Ambitions

The rollout will begin in select markets where demand for digital asset payments is already strong, with plans to expand more broadly based on customer needs and regulatory considerations.

For businesses the integration promises greater choice in treasury management, cross-border payouts and liquidity options, while maintaining the reliability and trust associated with Visa’s global network.

The post Visa Partners with BVNK to Bring Stablecoin Payments to Visa Direct appeared first on Cryptonews.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman announced the legislative text for crypto market structure legislation will be released by the close of business on Wednesday, January 21, with a committee markup scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, at 3 p.m.

The timeline follows parallel action by the Senate Banking Committee, where senators submitted 137 amendments to the CLARITY Act ahead of Thursday’s markup, according to sources who viewed the submission list.

“This schedule ensures transparency and allows for thorough review as the committee moves forward with legislation to provide clarity and certainty for crypto markets,” Boozman said in a statement.

The chairman thanked Senator Cory Booker for continued partnership on the legislation designed to provide regulatory frameworks for digital asset markets.

NEW: After scrambling to meet the 5 PM deadline, Senators on the Banking Committee have submitted 137 amendments to last night’s text, according to multiple sources who have seen the list. Some of these will be debated during Thursday’s markup.

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) January 14, 2026

Banking Lobby Secures Restrictions on Stablecoin Yield

The latest Senate Banking Committee draft prohibits digital asset service providers from paying interest solely for holding payment stablecoin balances, marking a significant win for traditional banking groups.

The provision allows rewards tied to specific activities, including transactions, wallet usage, loyalty programs, liquidity provision, collateral deposits, and participation in network governance.

“Banks may have won this round on stablecoin yield,” Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett wrote, noting the draft states companies cannot pay interest just for holding balances.

The language emerged after intense lobbying from banking groups who warned that yield-bearing stablecoins could drain deposits from community institutions.

Coinbase told the crypto industry to “stand down on opposing the stablecoin yield language for now,” according to Decrypt Senior Writer Sander Lutz, citing a source with direct knowledge.

The exchange characterized the provisions as “the least favorable language they’d still support,” with Lutz noting the company believes “the loopholes are decent enough for yield on stablecoin activity/loyalty programs.“

Key update: Coinbase is telling the crypto industry to stand down on opposing the stablecoin yield language for now, a source with direct knowledge tells me. Saying it's a win for the banks but it's basically the least favorable language they'd still support. If it gets worse–if… https://t.co/6DgoEz0a1W

— Sander Lutz (@s_lutz95) January 13, 2026

JPMorgan CFO Jeremy Barnum told analysts the creation of “a parallel banking system that includes something that looks a lot like a deposit that pays interest, without the associated safeguards, is an obviously dangerous and undesirable thing.”

The bank recently reported $25 billion in net interest income last quarter, prompting crypto advocates to argue that banks oppose stablecoin yield to protect profit margins rather than consumer interests.

Democratic Opposition Threatens Bipartisan Consensus

Key Senate Democrats are demanding ethics guardrails that prohibit public officials, including the president, from profiting off crypto business ties, creating a potential deal-breaker for the legislation.

Senator Adam Schiff said ethics controls covering the White House were essential, stating “that needs to be applied to everyone.”

Senator Ruben Gallego went further, calling it “a red line” and warning, “They need to get it right, or they’re not going to have enough votes to pass this.”

Three Democratic senators sent a letter demanding a full hearing before Thursday’s markup, criticizing the release of legislative text “just two days before the markup.“

Industry sources told Lutz that current vibes on the bill’s chances are “NGMI” due to ongoing disagreement over ethics language between Senate Democrats and the White House.

If Democrats kill landmark legislation that would cement U.S. leadership in fintech- simply to score political points- they’ll have to explain that choice to voters in November. https://t.co/Q1F7jYEWDo

— Bo Hines (@BoHines) January 13, 2026

Bo Hines of the Bitcoin Policy Institute warned that “if Democrats kill landmark legislation that would cement U.S. leadership in fintech simply to score political points, they’ll have to explain that choice to voters in November.“

Industry Split on DeFi and Self-Custody Protections

The Banking Committee added a massive new section on decentralized finance that the crypto lobby wasn’t expecting, prompting industry sources to express concern over definitions and murky language.

Attorney Zack Shapiro’s detailed analysis noted the bill protects software developers while establishing compliance pressure on web-based user interfaces.

“The bill explicitly protects software developers and preserves the right to self-custody digital assets,” according to the Senate Banking Committee GOP’s myth-versus-fact release.

1/23 Here's my full walk-through of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (HR 3633 substitute). Market structure is the headline, but the provisions that matter most for DeFi, privacy, self-custody, and developers live in Title III (illicit finance) and Title VI (software +…

— Zack Shapiro (@zackbshapiro) January 13, 2026

Section 605 states federal agencies may not “prohibit, restrict, or otherwise impair” a US individual’s ability to self-custody digital assets for lawful purposes.

Consensys attorney Bill Hughes characterized the moment as potentially “the best deal you could ever hope to get,” arguing critics should “hold your nose and accept” the compromise.

Paradigm VP Alexander Grieve also warned Congress might “squander progress” by restricting stablecoin rewards to merchant transactions, calling it “a government-mandated windfall for financial intermediaries at the expense of individual Americans.“

As it stands now, the bill is progressing and Senator Cynthia Lummis has emphasized bipartisan contributions, stating, “every section includes bipartisan input and I look forward to working with my Democratic colleagues to deliver a bill that secures America’s financial future.“

Proud of the bipartisan work that went into the Clarity Act. When we put politics aside and focus on what’s best for America’s economic future, we can achieve real progress. This bill proves that common ground exists, and it’s time to make it the law.

— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) January 14, 2026

The post Senate Crypto Bill Markup Moved to January 27 Amid Legislative Push appeared first on Cryptonews.

Pakistan reportedly has partnered with the Trump family-linked World Liberty Financial affiliate to explore stablecoin payment rails, Reuters reported Wednesday.

A source involved with the deal told the publication that both parties have signed an agreement, marking the first publicly announced deal between a sovereign state and a crypto project.

Sources did not provide further details regarding Pakistan’s deal with SC Financial Technologies, a World Liberty-linked company. Further details are expected to be released by Pakistan on Wednesday following World Liberty CEO ‍Zach Witkoff’s visit to Islamabad.

Today, World Liberty Financial signed an MoU with the Ministry of Finance to explore innovation in digital finance, particularly the use of stablecoins for cross-border transactions, signalling growing global interest in Pakistan as a key market for digital assets. pic.twitter.com/rYzbfHYysd

— Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (@PakistanVARA) January 14, 2026

Pakistan Eyes USD1 Stablecoin Integration

Per the agreement, WLF and Pakistan’s central bank will work to integrate the USD1 stablecoin into a digital payments structure. The stablecoin will operate alongside Pakistan’s crypto infrastructure.

WLFI and the Pakistan Crypto Council signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in April last year to promote blockchain adoption and boost DeFi growth. The partnership targeted expanding stablecoin use for remittances and trade.

The current agreement comes at a time when USD1 stablecoin has surged past $3.5 billion in circulating supply. The stablecoin maintains a $1 peg and is deployed across multiple blockchains, with the largest share on BNB Smart Chain.

Source: defillama

Besides, the World Liberty project saw a sharp increase in revenue for the Trump Organization in the first half of 2025. It has now filed for a US national banking charter in a move to bring its dollar-linked stablecoin deeper inside the regulatory perimeter.

Additionally, Pakistan has also accelerated efforts to formalize its digital asset ecosystem over the past year. The nation established Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, allowing major exchanges like Binance and HTX to operate locally. Besides, it signalled plans to build a Bitcoin reserve.

The post Pakistan, Trump-Linked WLFI Firm Sign Agreement to Explore Cross-Border Payments – Reuters appeared first on Cryptonews.