Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Senator Cynthia Lummis, joined by Senator Ron Wyden, introduced a standalone bill—reviving the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act—to clarify that non‑custodial blockchain developers, miners, validators and infrastructure providers who do not control user funds or hold private keys should not be classed as money transmitters. The move precedes a Senate Banking Committee markup of broader crypto legislation, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, scheduled for Thursday. The standalone proposal underscores the ‘‘code is not custody’’ principle and aims to limit regulatory liability to entities that control customer assets. Negotiations over the wider Clarity Act remain tense: a leaked draft restricts paying interest solely on stablecoin balances, allowing rewards only for activity such as trading, staking, providing liquidity or governance—language that could favor banks. Senators have 48 hours to file amendments before the markup. Markets reacted mutedly: Bitcoin traded near $92,000 with little immediate impact across broader crypto markets. The bill could materially affect DeFi developer legal exposure and the U.S. regulatory environment, influencing long‑term DeFi innovation and institutional participation depending on whether developer protections survive in the final market‑structure package.

VanEck forecasts a potential risk-on environment for traditional assets in Q1 driven by clearer U.S. fiscal and Federal Reserve guidance, but recommends a cautious stance on Bitcoin for the next three to six months. The firm argues Bitcoin’s short-term outlook is clouded by the breakdown of the historical four-year halving cycle—after the 2024 halving failed to produce the expected parabolic rally—record forced liquidations in October 2024 that created a selling overhang, and a weakening correlation with both risk assets (e.g., Nasdaq) and safe-haven assets (e.g., gold). VanEck notes that spot Bitcoin ETF flows remain an important but volatile price-support variable. The report frames Bitcoin’s market evolution as a shift from cycle-based narratives to fundamentals-driven valuation—sensitivity to global liquidity, real rates and dollar strength—while other crypto segments (DeFi, growth-focused layer‑1s) could benefit if capital rotates. VanEck’s guidance: prioritize data-driven analysis over historical halving-based timing models during the medium-term (3–6 months) uncertainty.

Story (IP) has surged past $3 despite weak on-chain fundamentals, driven largely by concentrated trading on South Korea’s Upbit. CoinGecko shows daily trading volumes topping $300 million during the rally, while on-chain metrics tell a different story: active accounts have plunged from ~10,000 to under 500 (≈‑95%), and new daily users are below 100. Upbit accounts for roughly 47% of Story’s trading volume, creating localized demand that may be inflating the global price. Network indicators — transaction counts, smart‑contract interactions and TVL — are stagnant or declining, suggesting limited real adoption or utility. Analysts warn this mirrors past exchange-driven pumps (e.g., 2021 altcoin spikes) where price detached from fundamentals and later corrected. For traders, the key signals are high exchange concentration, massive trading volume without correlated network growth, and elevated speculative risk. Monitor on‑chain metrics for convergence with price, watch for sudden volume withdrawal from Upbit, and consider tight risk controls: reduced position sizes, stop losses, and readiness for rapid mean reversion.

HTX has launched Round 2 of the SunPump Ecosystem Trading Competition, running from 10:00 UTC on January 5 to 10:00 UTC on January 18, 2026. The event offers a total 10,000 USDT prize pool split evenly between spot (5,000 USDT) and futures (5,000 USDT) tracks, plus an additional 1,000 USDT allocation in $HTX tokens for qualifying first-time futures traders. Eligible spot tokens include TRX, SUN, BTT, JST, STEEM, WIN, NFT, SUNDOG and SUNCAT; eligible USDT-margined perpetual futures cover TRX, SUN, BTT, JST, STEEM, WIN and SUNDOG. Traders are ranked by trading volume; margin trading volumes for designated tokens count triple toward the spot leaderboard. The futures track features a leaderboard for high-volume traders and instant $HTX token rewards for new futures users who complete an eligible trade. HTX says the competition aims to boost liquidity and engagement within the SunPump ecosystem and deepen HTX’s collaboration with related projects. The announcement reiterates HTX’s positioning as a global Web3 gateway and includes standard disclaimers that the information is not trading advice.

This combined analysis evaluates XRP’s price prospects for 2026–2030, highlighting regulatory clarity (notably the SEC case), institutional adoption via RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), and real-world utility as the primary drivers. Both pieces project 2026 as a potential stabilization year if U.S. regulatory overhang eases and payment providers increase ODL use. Longer-term upside (2027–2030) depends on Ripple capturing cross-border payment volume, CBDC interoperability, tokenization use cases, and continued ledger upgrades (DEX, NFT support, Hooks) that improve utility and efficiency. Market-research scenarios show a wide range of outcomes (example forecasts: 2027 roughly $1.2–$2.5; 2030 roughly $2.0–$6.0+). Reaching $5 by 2030 is mathematically possible but would require a market-cap on the order of $200–250bn (given ~45B circulating XRP), broad banking or payment-provider adoption, favorable regulation, and overall crypto-market expansion. Key risks are unresolved SEC litigation, competition from CBDCs and rival payment tokens, monthly escrow releases (1B XRP), and general crypto-market volatility. Traders should monitor on-chain and adoption metrics (ODL volumes, active addresses, large transfers), derivatives positioning and flows, institutional partnerships, and regulatory milestones. Recommended approach: use scenario-based risk management, watch leading indicators rather than single-price targets, and prioritize fundamentals for position sizing and diversification.

OKX will list FOGO/USDT as a spot pair on Jan 15, with deposits and withdrawal windows scheduled around the launch and a phased rollout inclusive of compatibility testing, liquidity preparation and user notification. Within three hours after spot trading opens, OKX will convert existing FOGO pre-market futures contracts into standard perpetual contracts to preserve continuity of existing positions. FOGO is a recently launched Layer‑1/DeFi-focused chain (PoS) whose mainnet went live in late 2024; it targets ultra-low-latency on‑chain trading and tokenized-asset use cases. OKX cites technical security, regulatory compliance and market demand as listing criteria and offers standard order types, advanced charting, cold storage, multi‑sig wallets, real‑time monitoring and an insurance fund. Traders should expect an initial spike in liquidity and volatility for FOGO/USDT and heightened activity among desks focused on HFT or tokenized-asset strategies; KYC is required and only FOGO/USDT is confirmed initially. This listing fits OKX’s broader push into DeFi and specialized tokens amid clearer regulation and rising institutional interest.

BitGo, a leading US crypto custody and infrastructure provider founded in 2013, has filed for a US initial public offering seeking a valuation up to $1.96 billion and plans to raise about $201 million by offering roughly 11.8 million shares at $15–$17 each. The company intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker BTGO, with Goldman Sachs as lead book-running manager and Citi among other underwriters. BitGo reported substantial growth in recent reported periods — revenue and net income rose year-over-year and assets under custody expanded into the tens of billions, supporting over 1,550 digital assets. The firm is also among five crypto companies approved for national trust charter applications by the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a regulatory credential that may improve its ability to manage client assets and speed settlements. The IPO comes amid mixed market conditions: renewed investor interest in regulated crypto firms and several successful 2025 crypto listings support demand for custody services, while earlier market volatility and weak token prices have made some investors cautious. Analysts describe a “flight to quality” toward regulated custody providers, which could make BitGo attractive to risk-sensitive institutional investors, even though broader market pressures and recent mixed performances of crypto-related IPOs may limit immediate enthusiasm. Key SEO keywords: BitGo IPO, crypto custody, BTGO, national trust charter, valuation.

A recent analysis of U.S. debanking cases finds that government pressure — including law enforcement and regulatory requests — is the primary driver behind most account closures and service denials. The report highlights that banks frequently act on government signals or formal requests to cut ties with customers perceived as high-risk, particularly in sectors like crypto, international payments, and politically sensitive industries. Key points: government requests and investigations account for the majority of reported debanking incidents; crypto-related businesses and high-risk cross-border payment firms are disproportionately affected; banks cite compliance and risk management concerns when terminating relationships; affected parties report limited transparency and difficulty appealing decisions. The trend has raised concerns among crypto firms and civil liberties advocates about due process, financial inclusion, and the concentration of gatekeeping power within banks. Traders should note the operational risks to crypto businesses that depend on banking rails and fiat on/off-ramps, potential liquidity disruptions for affected tokens or firms, and the regulatory attention that could lead to policy changes. Primary keywords: debanking, government requests, crypto banking, compliance risk. Secondary keywords: account closures, banking compliance, fiat on/off-ramp, financial exclusion.

VanEck’s Q1 2026 outlook sees a clearer macro backdrop—improving U.S. fiscal metrics and more anchored long-term rates—that should lift investor risk appetite and support risk assets including tech, AI stocks and crypto. The firm expects lower tail risks as the U.S. deficit-to-GDP has fallen from pandemic peaks, helping stabilize rates and foster a more favorable environment for equities and risky assets. However, VanEck warns Bitcoin’s typical four-year cycle “broke in 2025,” creating divergence from stocks and gold and complicating short-term technical signals; the firm adopts a cautious 3–6 month stance on BTC. Market commentators cited (Arctic Digital, HashKey Group, Will Clemente, Michaël van de Poppe) generally view H1 2026 as constructive for risk assets—pointing to lower leverage, oversold BTC indicators, and potential fiscal stimulus around U.S. midterms—but emphasize uncertainty in Bitcoin’s correlation with equities and the need to watch key technical levels near $92k–$100k for breakout confirmation. Key takeaways for traders: a broadly bullish macro backdrop that favors risk-on positioning, heightened short-term uncertainty for BTC after the 2025 cycle break, and specific BTC levels to monitor for momentum confirmation.

Security firm PeckShield reports 2025 set a new record for crypto thefts, with total losses exceeding $4.04 billion — a roughly 34.2% increase from $3.01 billion in 2024. Losses from hacks reached $2.67 billion (up ~24.2% year‑over‑year), while scams accounted for $1.37 billion (up ~64.2%). Approximately $334.9 million of the stolen assets have been recovered or frozen in 2025, down from $488.5 million in 2024. PeckShield attributes the spike to systemic vulnerabilities in centralized infrastructure and a strategic shift by attackers toward targeted social‑engineering operations. This data underscores elevated operational and counterparty risk for traders, highlighting the importance of custody practices, due diligence on centralized platforms, and heightened vigilance against phishing and targeted scams.

Fitch Ratings has judged bitcoin-backed securities (BBS) to carry high market-value risk and characteristics similar to speculative-grade credit products. The agency cited bitcoin’s extreme price volatility, elevated counterparty risk in custodians, exchanges and lending platforms, and structural weaknesses revealed by 2022–2023 failures (BlockFi, Celsius, FTX) as primary concerns. Sharp BTC price drops can rapidly erode collateral coverage, trigger margin calls and forced liquidations, amplifying contagion across securitized credit structures. Fitch contrasted BBS with spot BTC ETFs, which behave more like equity products and may broaden holder bases, potentially reducing volatility. The report recommends conservative collateral haircuts, robust stress testing, dynamic overcollateralization, multi-asset collateral pools, insurance wrappers and liquidity reserves. Market implications: investment‑grade mandates may exclude BBS, limiting demand to risk-tolerant investors and potentially creating bifurcated markets; wider institutional adoption without stronger protections could increase contagion risk during sharp BTC moves. Traders should expect continued product innovation but persistent speculative-grade ratings until volatility or structural safeguards materially improve. Key keywords: bitcoin-backed securities, BTC volatility, collateral coverage, securitization, institutional risk.

VelaFi, a Galactic Holdings-backed stablecoin payments infrastructure provider founded in 2020, closed a $20 million Series B led by XVC and Ikuyo, bringing total funding to more than $40 million. The company offers APIs and settlement rails that link local banks, global transfer networks and stablecoin protocols to provide fiat on/off ramps, cross-border corporate payments, FX workflows and multi-currency treasury services. Proceeds will fund geographic expansion across Latin America, the United States and Asia, licensing efforts and further development of enterprise settlement rails. VelaFi launched in Latin America, expanded into Japan in October and is a co-founder of a Stablecoin Settlement Association aimed at modernizing trade finance. The coverage highlights rising retail stablecoin adoption in Latin America—driven by high inflation and remittances—with Chainalysis reporting stablecoins accounted for over half of transactions denominated in Colombian peso, Argentine peso and Brazilian real between July 2024 and June 2025. Regional central banks are cautious: Brazil’s central bank governor estimates roughly 90% of domestic crypto activity involves dollar‑pegged stablecoins, and Mexico warned of financial‑stability risks from rapid stablecoin growth and regulatory gaps. Key SEO keywords: VelaFi, stablecoin, cross-border payments, Series B funding, LATAM expansion, settlement rails, USDT.

Polygon (MATIC) faces a decisive multi-year period (2026–2030) in which network adoption, technical upgrades and macro conditions will determine whether MATIC can reach and sustain $1. Polygon — launched as Matic Network in 2017 — is a leading Ethereum layer‑2 with utility for fees, staking and governance. Key fundamentals cited include high user and developer activity, TVL consistently above $1 billion, roughly 200M monthly transactions and low fees (~$0.01–$0.05). Major growth drivers are the rollout of zkEVM and the broader Polygon 2.0 architecture, enterprise onboarding, DeFi and NFT expansion, staking dynamics, and clearer regulation. Analysts note deflationary mechanics (token burns and controlled issuance) could support price under heavy usage, but warn of model risk and uncertainty beyond three years. Scenarios span conservative to aggressive: conservative models project sub‑$1 outcomes (e.g., 2026 $0.45–$0.70), while bullish paths (successful upgrades, sustained dApp adoption and favorable macro conditions) make $1+ plausible by 2026–2030 (and potentially $2+ by 2030). Major risks include competition from other L2s (Arbitrum, Optimism), technological obsolescence, regulatory headwinds, security exploits and prolonged crypto bear markets. For traders, short‑term MATIC moves will likely track broader crypto cycles and newsflow; long‑term upside depends on execution of Polygon 2.0 and zk‑rollup adoption and sustained on‑chain activity. Recommended trader approach: monitor daily active addresses, TVL, transaction volume, Polygon 2.0 milestones and developer metrics; use diversified positions and prioritize fundamentals over pure price speculation. This is analysis, not investment advice.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan argued that recent volatility metrics weaken the case against including Bitcoin in retirement plans. In an interview with Investopedia, Hougan cited 30-day volatility of roughly 45% for Bitcoin versus about 55% for NVIDIA (NVDA), and 90-day figures of ~60% for Bitcoin and ~65% for NVIDIA. He and Bitwise use these comparisons to challenge the perception that Bitcoin is categorically too volatile for 401(k) and pension allocations. The debate follows an executive order enabling retirement funds to consider crypto holdings and opposition from lawmakers such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, who warned of investor protection risks. The article outlines drivers behind growing institutional adoption — improved custody, regulatory guidance, academic research on diversification, and new crypto investment products — and notes that some plan providers and international pension funds are piloting limited allocations. Regulators (including the US Department of Labor) emphasize fiduciary due diligence, custody, valuation, and participant education. For traders, the piece highlights evolving policy risk, potential inflows into BTC from retirement channels, and comparative volatility data that may affect relative risk assessments versus high-volatility tech stocks.

BNB is trading near a key technical breakout after Binance published strong 2025 metrics that could boost token utility and demand. The BNB price held around $909 and sits roughly 2% below the ascending-triangle resistance at $923; a successful breakout could target about $1,019. On-chain and exchange data from Binance’s year-end report show $34 trillion total platform volume in 2025, with spot trading contributing over $7.1 trillion and average daily volume rising 18% year‑over‑year. Binance reported more than 300 million registered users, $162.8 billion in assets under user accounts (proof of reserves), widened futures and spot listings (584 futures coins; 490 spot coins; 1,889 pairs), and institutional activity up 21%. New products and features—Binance Alpha 2.0 (1 trillion cumulative volume, 17 million users), Binance Pay (+30% users), and Earn payouts of $1.2 billion—along with strong security measures and ADGM regulatory approval, are cited as drivers that reduce effective supply and increase utility for BNB. Technical indicators show RSI near 59%, and BNB remains above key EMAs (20/50/200). Traders should watch $923 for breakout confirmation; rejection could keep BNB consolidating inside the ascending triangle or trigger a bearish leg. This is informational and not investment advice.

Pi Network’s Pi Coin remains speculative as the project shifts from a closed mainnet toward a potential open mainnet and broader market integration. With over 47 million registered users, Pi’s mobile-first distribution aims for accessibility over traditional mining. The combined reporting highlights the following trader-focused points: mainnet progress and successful open-mainnet deployment; external liquidity from exchange listings; regulatory clarity for mobile-mined tokens; community retention and selling pressure; and technical challenges in scaling a Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) federation to support tens of millions of users while preserving security and decentralization. Analysts outline three 2026–2030 price scenarios: optimistic (wide adoption), moderate (open mainnet plus listings), and conservative (slow adoption and limited liquidity). Until open mainnet deployment and exchange listings create real external liquidity, Pi Coin’s valuation will remain highly speculative. Traders should monitor milestone catalysts (mainnet updates, exchange listing announcements, regulatory guidance, on-chain usage and dApp activity), focus on development execution rather than daily price noise, diversify positions, and set clear entry/exit rules tied to verified project milestones. Primary keywords: Pi Network, Pi Coin, mainnet launch, exchange listings. Secondary keywords: mobile mining, SCP federation, user adoption, regulatory compliance, token utility.

OKX froze a total of 40,000 USDT (10,000 USDT in each of four accounts) after detecting account-control and KYC irregularities. An X user (captain0bunny) admitted buying four third-party, KYC-verified accounts in late 2023 and depositing funds in November 2025 to claim a promotion. Withdrawal attempts triggered facial-recognition checks that failed because the buyer was not the verified identity, activating OKX’s risk controls and leading to the freezes. OKX CEO Star Xu said on X that buying or transferring KYC-verified accounts violates the exchange’s service agreement, undermines AML protections and user security, and that only the real-name KYC holders can operate the accounts. OKX support reiterated that actions must be authenticated by registered holders. Xu set three conditions for releasing the funds: (1) the original KYC account holders must explicitly disclaim ownership of the assets; (2) accounts must not be subject to judicial freezes or law enforcement investigations; and (3) claimants must provide verifiable, regulatory-grade proof of funds and identity. Community reaction largely supported OKX’s stance, warning that permitting account transfers would enable fraud. The affected user blamed liquidity tied up in on-chain staking, said he plans legal action, and pledged to donate half the recovered funds to charity if successful. Implications for traders: exchanges are actively enforcing KYC and facial-recognition AML controls, so account purchases or third-party control attempts risk asset freezes and legal hurdles; traders should avoid account sharing/transfers and expect continued strict compliance measures from regulated platforms.

LISA, a Solana-based AI token, crashed roughly 76% within 24 hours after a wallet linked to the project deposited about 10 million LISA (≈ $1.65M) into Binance Alpha. On-chain trackers identified the deposit from a safe-proxy address (0x358…eC57c) at ~01:50 UTC, with large sell orders hitting the market 25–30 minutes later and aggressive trades executing in seconds, flooding shallow order books and sending price as low as $0.01 in peak volatility. Low liquidity and Binance Alpha’s 4x trading rewards drew point-farming limit orders that concealed true supply, exacerbating panic selling. The community labeled the incident a potential rug pull as the AgentaLISA team remained silent. The event mirrors earlier Binance Alpha crashes (e.g., AB, SOMI) where low-liquidity listings and insider dumps produced rapid, severe losses. Primary keywords: LISA crash, Binance Alpha, token dump. Secondary/semantic keywords: low liquidity, rug pull, Solana, on-chain tracking, trading volume. Traders should note high volatility and execution risk for newly listed, low-liquidity tokens on Binance Alpha; insider-linked deposits can trigger violent sell-offs and rapid loss of capital.

Bitcoin may be underpricing the odds of a Federal Reserve rate cut in January. Market-implied rates and some macro indicators suggest a higher probability of easing than currently reflected in Bitcoin prices and options markets. Traders are watching Fed communications, CPI and PCE inflation prints, and payrolls for signals that could prompt a dovish pivot. If markets begin to price in an earlier-than-expected cut, crypto risk assets — led by BTC — could rally as yields drop and dollar strength eases. Conversely, resilient inflation or hawkish Fed guidance would reaffirm current pricing and keep pressure on risk assets. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, Fed rate cut, January rate cut. Secondary/semantic keywords: inflation data, CPI, PCE, Fed policy, market-implied rates, dollar, yields, crypto risk-on, options markets. Implications for traders: monitor US inflation releases and Fed speakers for shifts in policy expectations; watch dollar index and Treasury yields for correlated moves; use options and futures to hedge around potential volatility if cut odds shift rapidly. Short-term trading may see heightened volatility around key macro releases; longer-term positioning should consider potential upside for BTC if rate-cut expectations firm up.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said he expects the bipartisan crypto market-structure bill to reach President Trump’s desk this year. Speaking on Fox Business, Atkins praised the 2025 GENIUS Act for creating regulatory clarity and said the new bill would be the next major step to remove crypto from a regulatory "gray zone." He argued that clear legislation would provide market certainty and help make the U.S. a global crypto center. The Senate Agriculture Committee delayed a final amendment vote until late January to settle details and build support; the Senate Banking Committee’s markup remains scheduled. Atkins warned a potential U.S. government shutdown if spending bills aren’t passed by Jan. 30 could delay the timetable. He also said bipartisan market-structure legislation would allocate primary oversight between the SEC and CFTC and help guard against aggressive enforcement, aligning with the administration’s aim to bolster the U.S. crypto industry.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said it remains uncertain whether the United States will confiscate bitcoin reportedly belonging to Venezuela, after media reports tied to U.S. military actions against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Atkins, speaking to Fox Business, also expressed confidence that a bipartisan crypto market structure bill will reach the president this year and praised the 2025 GENIUS law for providing regulatory clarity. Blockchain analysts have not been able to verify reports that Venezuela holds about $60 billion in crypto, though the Maduro government has previously issued a state-backed digital currency (the 2018 oil-backed petro). The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to review the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY), which the House passed in July; progress may be delayed by midterm election campaigning and potential government shutdowns. Industry concerns persist over stablecoin reward provisions and DeFi language; early drafts seek expanded CFTC authority over certain digital-asset matters. Key points: reported $60 billion Venezuelan bitcoin holdings unverified; SEC chair cautious on seizure; bipartisan market-structure bill likely this year; Senate to review CLARITY; regulatory and industry disputes over stablecoin and DeFi rules.

Japan will draft legislation to allow local governments to issue tokenized (digital) bonds, with the national government targeting submission of a bill to the 2026 Ordinary Diet session. Led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and prompted by local requests, the plan aims to improve liquidity, enable fractional ownership and broaden investor access — particularly retail investors who have avoided illiquid municipal debt. Tokenized bonds would support easier secondary trading, greater transparency and potential link-ups with stablecoins or local-utility tokens. The government begins stakeholder consultations this month and will seek public comment in the following months. Private-sector security token issuance in Japan has already reached about JPY194 billion (~$1.3bn) as of August, mainly in tokenized real estate. Major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka could account for large issuance volumes, while smaller municipalities may gain most from access to wider investor pools. Japan’s move aligns it with jurisdictions like Switzerland, Luxembourg and Hong Kong that have promoted digital bond frameworks. Key implications for traders: expansion of on‑chain, real-world‑backed debt could create a new liquid asset class, increase demand for infrastructure and stablecoin integrations, and shift municipal funding dynamics — but regulatory design, cybersecurity and adoption risks will determine market impact.

A U.S. Senate banking subcommittee has released draft legislation that would permit banks and other regulated entities to offer interest and reward programs denominated in stablecoins. The proposal aims to integrate stablecoins into the regulated banking framework by allowing deposits and certain customer rewards to be paid in fiat-backed stablecoins issued by supervised institutions. Provisions include compliance requirements for issuers, consumer protections, and oversight measures intended to reduce risks tied to reserve management and redemption. Lawmakers say the measure seeks to foster innovation in payments while maintaining financial stability and protecting consumers. The draft is expected to undergo revision and debate before any formal vote; market participants and crypto firms are likely to engage with regulators and legislators during the bill’s refinement.

A token promoted by a former New York mayor, launched as “NYC Token,” crashed roughly 80% within minutes of its public listing. The project drew immediate attention because of its high-profile association, heavy initial marketing, and rapid liquidity events on decentralized exchanges. Early trading showed extreme volatility—large sell pressure and probable rug-pull dynamics as token prices plummeted and liquidity providers withdrew funds. On-chain data indicated sharp spikes in transaction volume and token transfers to exchanges soon after launch, consistent with sell-offs by early holders or insiders. The incident underscores the risks of celebrity-backed token launches: market manipulation, poor liquidity management, and limited investor protections. Traders should treat similar celebrity-associated launches with caution, monitor on-chain liquidity and holder concentration, set tight risk limits, and prefer established projects with transparent tokenomics and audited smart contracts.

This analysis examines NEAR Protocol’s price drivers and possible trajectories for 2026–2030, focusing on network adoption, on‑chain metrics, competitive position, tokenomics and roadmap execution. Key factors highlighted: daily active accounts, smart contract deployments, transaction volume and TVL as primary demand drivers; developer activity (GitHub commits) and token velocity as on‑chain indicators; staking ratio and inflation as supply dynamics. NEAR’s technical strengths — Nightshade sharding and human‑readable accounts — are noted alongside competition from Ethereum, Solana and Avalanche. Scenarios presented include baseline (steady adoption), optimistic (capture of a high‑growth vertical) and conservative (heightened competition or prolonged bear market). The analysis stresses that price outcomes depend on tangible adoption, successful sharding upgrades, strategic partnerships and macro conditions (interest rates, regulation). Risks cited: roadmap delays, intense L1 competition, adverse regulations and extended market downturns. Traders should treat the piece as a fundamentals‑focused briefing, not financial advice. Primary keywords: NEAR, NEAR price prediction, Near Protocol, staking, tokenomics, layer‑1 scalability.

Bitcoin (BTC) surged past $92,000, trading around $92,050 on Binance USDT in early March 2025, clearing a key psychological and technical level. The breakout is supported by elevated 24‑hour volume, negative exchange netflows (withdrawals to custody), rising open interest with neutral funding rates, and accumulation by long‑term holders. On‑chain metrics show reduced on‑exchange supply and a stronger network hash rate. Structural demand from spot Bitcoin ETFs and institutional custody — including pension and sovereign allocations — is cited as a major driver, producing 17 consecutive weeks of positive ETF net inflows in earlier coverage and continued net inflows in later reports. Other supportive factors include clearer regulation in major jurisdictions, greater payment-network adoption, and the upcoming halving that tightens future supply. Short‑term technical levels to monitor are support near $88,000 and resistance toward the $100,000 psychological/ATH area; on‑chain short‑term holder cost basis sits near $85,000. Derivatives metrics (rising open interest, dominant call buying but neutral funding) suggest momentum without excessive leverage. Risks that could reverse gains include macro tightening, regulatory actions, exchange security incidents, whale concentration, and equity‑crypto correlation. Traders should watch ETF and institutional flows, exchange netflows, 24‑hour volume, funding rates, OI, and order‑book depth for confirmation, and manage position sizing around the $88,000–$95,000 consolidation range.

The Graph (GRT) remains a core Web3 indexing protocol with the token used for query fees, delegation and curation. Since mainnet in 2020, adoption has expanded across Ethereum, Polygon and Arbitrum and into major dApps (for example Uniswap and Aave), and subgraph counts and network activity have grown. Analysts evaluate GRT using query volume, active subgraphs, indexing rewards, indexer/curator/delegator participation and token supply (max 10 billion). Technical indicators cited include the 200‑day moving average, RSI, volume and Fibonacci retracements. Recent coverage adds consolidated scenario ranges for 2026–2027 (2026: $0.25–$1.20; 2027: $0.35–$1.80) under conservative, baseline and bullish cases. Longer‑term (2028–2030) upside depends on Web3 adoption, cross‑chain interoperability, protocol upgrades and enterprise use; downside risks include competition from centralized or alternative indexing solutions, regulatory uncertainty, macro conditions and execution or security issues. Trading guidance for crypto traders: monitor on‑chain metrics (query volume, active subgraphs, indexer/delegator counts), track integrations and roadmap milestones, use risk management (DCA, position sizing, profit targets), and diversify exposure across Web3 infrastructure tokens. Overall fundamentals are solid but GRT price remains sensitive to broader crypto cycles and execution risks.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan criticized efforts to block Bitcoin from 401(k) retirement plans as “ridiculous,” arguing Bitcoin’s volatility is comparable to or lower than some equities (he cited a 65% BTC swing Apr–Oct vs. Nvidia’s 120% swing). His comments follow a 2023 executive order by former President Trump directing the Labor Department to reassess restrictions on alternative assets in defined-contribution plans and a 2025 Department of Labor statement adopting a neutral stance on crypto in 401(k)s. Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent an open letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins demanding answers on how the SEC will mitigate risks if retirement plans invest in crypto. Warren highlighted concerns about crypto volatility, higher fees, potential market manipulation, and the potential for large losses for retirement savers. She requested SEC responses by Jan. 27 on valuation, volatility treatment, market manipulation assessment, and plans for investor education. Bitwise expects slow institutional adoption but predicts crypto-in-401(k)s will eventually normalize. Key names: Matt Hougan (Bitwise CIO), Sen. Elizabeth Warren, SEC Chair Paul Atkins. Key keywords: Bitcoin, 401(k), SEC, volatility, retirement, Department of Labor, Matt Hougan, Elizabeth Warren.

On-chain monitoring shows a whale holding a short position on LIT deposited 10 million USDC to the Lighter platform as a hedge. The trader opened a 5x leveraged short on LIT and concurrently bought 1,059,000 LIT at an average spot price of $2.08, spending approximately $2.2 million. After these transactions the whale still holds about 2.788 million USDC on the platform, indicating potential for further spot purchases. The move comes amid continued LIT price declines and appears aimed at balancing margin risk from the leveraged short. Key facts: 10,000,000 USDC deposited; 5x leveraged LIT short; ~1,059,000 LIT bought at $2.08 (~$2.2M); remaining ~2,788,000 USDC on Lighter. This activity may influence LIT spot liquidity and derivatives positioning in the short term.