Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC) has rapidly climbed corporate Bitcoin rankings since its NASDAQ listing 4 months and 22 days ago, accumulating over 5,800 BTC and moving into 18th place among publicly known corporate holders. The company overtook names such as DeFi Technologies, Capital B, Bitcoin Group SE, GameStop, ProCap Financial and Nakamoto Inc. ABTC says its strategy focuses on building U.S. Bitcoin infrastructure and using public-market access to fund aggressive operational growth rather than only holding BTC. The firm currently sits just below Galaxy Digital Holdings on the corporate holdings leaderboard, and continued accumulation could push it higher in coming months. This development highlights a fast-moving corporate treasurer actively increasing BTC exposure and expanding infrastructure ambitions.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is preparing next steps for its cryptoasset regime, focusing on clarifying scope, timing and compliance expectations for firms. Key areas under review include which cryptoassets will be regulated, how consumer protections and anti-money-laundering (AML) rules will apply, and transition timelines for exchanges, custodians and service providers. The FCA plans targeted guidance on asset classification (token types and whether they meet the definition of ‘specified investments’), registration and fit-and-proper tests for senior managers, and ongoing reporting and capital requirements. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing with industry consultations expected before final rules are published. For traders, the most relevant outcomes will be: clearer listing delist criteria, stricter onboarding/KYC requirements that may slow new user flows, potential custody and insurance standards that could raise costs for smaller platforms, and registration demands that may reduce the number of regulated trading venues in the UK. Market access for UK users could tighten short-term, while improved regulatory certainty may support institutional participation over the medium term. Primary keywords: UK FCA cryptoasset regime, crypto regulation UK. Secondary/semantic keywords used naturally: asset classification, AML, KYC, exchanges, custodians, listing criteria, market access. (Main keyword “UK FCA cryptoasset regime” appears multiple times.)

Asset manager 21Shares published its 2026 price scenarios for Solana (SOL), forecasting a base case of $150 (≈+21% from current levels), a bull case of $197 (≈+59%) and a bear case of $95 (≈–23%). The firm highlighted that while Solana leads layer‑1 networks in raw on‑chain activity — processing roughly 2.2 billion transactions weekly, second only to Internet Computer — price appreciation will depend on durable value capture rather than throughput alone. 21Shares noted rising USD payments and institutional experimentation on Solana but expressed skepticism that network performance will automatically translate into SOL token value. Short‑term technicals show SOL trading near $123, with support around $95 and resistance near $131; a break above moving averages could keep SOL rangebound between $117–$147. The report underscores that scaling metrics are strong, but economic value capture remains the key determinant for traders and investors.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell sharply in January to 84.5 (down 9.7 points). The Present Situation Index declined to 113.7 and the Expectations Index dropped to 65.1, well below the 80-point recession signal. All five subcomponents worsened; consumers cited prices, inflation, energy, food costs, tariffs, politics, jobs, healthcare and war in written responses. The report follows a revised December reading of 94.2. Analysts note weak confidence amid mixed employment and growth data. The article links this fallout to U.S. political and monetary developments: potential fiscal stimulus or relief measures from the administration ahead of midterms, and the pending Fed chair announcement that could influence interest-rate expectations. For crypto traders, a Fed-chair decision or fiscal stimulus signal could trigger bullish moves in cryptocurrencies, while sustained weak consumer sentiment and slower growth may keep markets volatile. The piece cautions that crypto remains high-risk and advises traders to do their own research.

AVAX One, a digital-asset treasury advised by SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci, saw its stock fall about 32% after filing an SEC registration to make roughly 74 million insider-held shares available for resale. The filing does not state if or when insiders will sell, but registration enables resale on public markets and triggered investor fears of dilution. AVAX One holds AVAX tokens and Avalanche-related assets; the share-sale registration comes despite a recent plan to buy back up to $40 million of its own stock to support market value if net asset value falls below market capitalization. Traders reacted sharply because share overhangs can compress prices, especially in thinly traded crypto-native stocks that often trade below the net asset value of their token holdings. The move echoes pressures faced by other digital-asset treasury firms that use buybacks and token holdings to manage value but remain vulnerable to insider sell-offs and liquidity shocks. Key facts: ~74 million shares registered, ~32% intraday share decline, $40 million buyback program previously announced, adviser: Anthony Scaramucci. Primary keywords: AVAX One, share registration, dilution. Secondary/semantic keywords: insider sales, buyback, net asset value, digital-asset treasury, Avalanche, AVAX.

Hyperliquid says its trading venue now rivals top exchanges for crypto price discovery, citing deeper order books and strong perpetual (perp) activity under its HIP-3 infrastructure. HIP-3 equity and commodity perpetuals posted heavy flows: daily perp volume recently topped $1bn and open interest (OI) approached record highs (near $790M–$800M), with commodity-linked markets driving much of the increase. The update prompted HYPE to rally roughly 23–24% to about $28. Analysts flagged a short-term supply band at $28–$30; a decisive break above $30 could clear the way toward $35. On-chain data show large transfers and whale behavior: a $10.32M OTC move of 465,000 HYPE (Galaxy-related) and ongoing withdrawal of supply from exchanges. Monthly token unlocks (9.92M HYPE) produced limited sell pressure (~10% sold over two months), while top buyers accumulated nearly $200M HYPE in 30 days. Many long leveraged positions were liquidated, producing a cleaner leverage profile. Exchange volume and OI rose substantially (exchange volumes and Coinglass data point to a notable uptick), but Hyperliquid’s revenue remains muted — analysts say sustained price recovery likely requires stronger platform revenue, token buybacks/burns or treasury support. Key trader signals: HIP-3 open interest and order-book depth (vs. Binance), HYPE unlock schedule and team/treasury flows, whale accumulation or selling, exchange supply trends, and whether HYPE holds the $25–$26 reclaim zone or clears the $28–$30 resistance.

Ether-focused exchange-traded funds drove a renewed inflow into crypto ETFs, attracting about $117 million on the day and helping reverse prior net outflows across crypto exchange-traded products. Spot ETH ETFs and related products outperformed Bitcoin ETFs for net new capital as traders rotated into Ethereum exposure amid modest gains in major digital assets and clearer regulatory signals around ETH futures-linked products. Market participants flagged ETF flows as a key short-term driver of liquidity and price momentum; ETH and BTC were the primary beneficiaries of the shift. Key takeaways for traders: monitor daily ETF flow data as a near-term liquidity and price catalyst for ETH, watch for rotation between ETH and BTC that can affect short-term order flow, and consider ETF demand when sizing positions around anticipated volatility.

Elon Musk’s AI, Grok, produced a refreshed multi‑month outlook for XRP, projecting a potential rise from roughly $1.89–$1.91 to a range of $2.50–$5 by July 2026. The analysis blends technical and fundamental drivers: technical patterns cited include symmetrical‑triangle breakouts, bullish moving‑average alignment and oversold monthly readings that could precede sharp rebounds; key short‑term support sits near $1.85 with resistance around $2.00–$2.50. Fundamental catalysts highlighted are regulatory clarity around XRP, possible approval of new XRP ETFs, renewed institutional inflows, and Ripple’s expanding bank partnerships and On‑Demand Liquidity (ODL) use cases. The forecasts also factor macro crypto cycles — Bitcoin trends and altcoin rotations — as amplifiers of momentum. Earlier, a separate Grok output suggested a quicker near‑term target near $4 within two months based on similar technical signals; the later, longer‑range projection expands that view to $2.50–$5 over six months. Traders should note these are AI‑generated scenarios that can influence retail sentiment and buying behavior; manage position sizing and stop levels given crypto volatility and execution risk. Keywords: XRP, Grok, XRP ETF, Ripple ODL, price prediction.

SharpLink reported receiving 465 ETH in Ethereum staking rewards last week, bringing cumulative rewards from its ETH vault to 12,079 ETH since the vault launched on June 2, 2025. The firm framed the disclosure as routine market information rather than investment advice and did not disclose additional operational details, reward sources, or changes to strategy. SharpLink said the vault continues to grow via weekly compounding. Key figures: 465 ETH (weekly reward) and 12,079 ETH (total since vault launch). Primary keywords: Ethereum staking, staking rewards, SharpLink, ETH vault. Secondary/semantic keywords: staking yield, vault performance, on-chain staking, validator rewards.

Lookonchain reported that three investor wallets collectively sold 36,360,000 1INCH tokens, converting roughly $5.04 million into fiat/crypto, which triggered a 16.7% drop in the 1INCH token price. The on-chain sell-off represents a concentrated liquidation from major holders and coincided with immediate downward pressure on market price and likely increased short-term selling sentiment. The report did not name the wallets or state whether sales were coordinated or due to portfolio rebalancing. Traders should note the scale of the dump (36.36M 1INCH) and proceeds (~$5.04M) as indicators of supply shock; watch for elevated volatility, larger sell walls in order books, and potential short-term liquidation cascades. Key SEO keywords: 1INCH sell-off, 1INCH token price, crypto wallet liquidation.

Richtech Robotics is partnering with Microsoft through the Microsoft AI Co‑Innovation Labs to integrate agentic AI into its ADAM humanoid service robot. ADAM, which already uses NVIDIA AI and computer vision, serves as a bartender, barista and boba‑tea maker in hospitality, retail and venue environments. The integration will leverage Azure cloud AI models to add contextual, conversational and operational awareness — enabling ADAM to respond to customer preferences, monitor operational conditions and maintain service quality without new hardware. Richtech says the collaboration aims to boost reliability, customer interactions and scalable automation across commercial and industrial settings. CEO Wayne Huang highlighted the project as a practical application of advanced AI to improve performance and operational efficiency.

Tether has launched USAT (USA₮), a federally regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin issued onshore under the GENIUS Act framework to serve U.S. institutions and retail users. Announced January 27, 2026, USAT will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank and managed by Tether’s new U.S. arm led by CEO Bo Hines. Cantor Fitzgerald is named reserve custodian and preferred primary dealer; reserves will be held in high-quality liquid assets (mainly U.S. Treasuries) and intended to back USAT 1:1. USAT is designed to meet federal regulatory expectations and provide real-time transparency and regular third-party audits. Tether plans to mint USAT via its Hadron tokenization platform and to deploy the token on major blockchains (initially as an ERC-20 on Ethereum with further launches on chains such as Solana expected). The launch positions Tether to compete directly with Circle’s USDC in the regulated onshore stablecoin market and could shift institutional and onshore demand toward a federally compliant Tether product. For traders: expect increased onshore stablecoin liquidity, potential market share pressure on USDC, and attention to listings and reserve audit details as short-term catalysts.

Coinbase has added Tria (TRIA) and Zama (ZAMA) to its official listing roadmap, initiating formal technical and compliance reviews but not guaranteeing a live listing. Tria is a layer‑1 privacy-focused blockchain using zero-knowledge proofs and secure multi-party computation to enable confidential transactions, private DeFi pools and shielded NFTs; TRIA serves for fees and governance. Zama is an interoperability protocol providing decentralized bridges and cross-chain messaging; ZAMA is used for validator staking and cross-chain fees. Inclusion on Coinbase’s roadmap raises visibility and can precede increased liquidity and price volatility for both tokens, though timelines from roadmap inclusion to actual listing can span weeks or months and some projects are never listed. Traders should monitor official Coinbase announcements, security/audit reports (especially for bridge safety), and regulatory developments — privacy chains often face heightened regulatory scrutiny while cross-chain projects attract close inspection of bridge security. Key SEO keywords: Coinbase listing roadmap, TRIA, ZAMA, privacy token, interoperability, cross-chain bridge.

US markets opened with a pronounced divergence: the Nasdaq Composite jumped about 0.8% at the bell while the S&P 500 rose roughly 0.37% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.82%. Higher-than-average early trading volume (≈15% above 30-day average) pointed to active institutional participation. Tech gains—led by semiconductors and software—were driven by AI efficiency improvements and strong data-center demand. Defensive sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples supported the S&P 500. The Dow’s weakness reflected declines in industrials and financials amid weaker durable goods orders, supply-chain recalibration concerns, and narrowing bank net interest margins. Volatility in the 10-year Treasury yield and the Fed’s “patient” stance on rates added to sector-specific moves. Analysts described the action as sector rotation rather than a broad sell-off; technicals show Nasdaq near resistance while the Dow tests support from late 2024. Options and the VIX point to cautious hedging despite tech strength. Algorithmic trading and opening auction imbalances amplified the early divergence. For traders: expect heightened intraday sector rotation risk, watch rate-sensitive financials and industrials for follow-through, monitor long-duration tech valuations relative to bond yields, and consider diversification or hedges (options, dollar-cost averaging) to manage uneven index performance.

BitMine Immersion has moved more than half of its Ethereum treasury into staking, locking 2,218,771 ETH (≈$6.52B) and adding 209,504 ETH in a single day, according to Arkham Intelligence. The firm now holds 4,243,338 ETH total, with a staked share above 52%. BitMine uses an institutional solo-staking model via its MAVAN (Made in America Validator Network) infrastructure, activating one validator per 32 ETH and operating roughly 70,000 validators. Management projects the current stake will produce approximately $190–200 million in annual staking revenue; earlier reporting estimated ~$164M–$374M ranges based on different staking-rate assumptions. The company also reported substantial liquid assets (cash and BTC) in prior disclosures. This move follows a broader industry trend of large crypto treasuries increasing ETH staking to generate steady on-chain income while retaining price exposure. Key trading takeaways: staked ETH 2,218,771 (daily inflow 209,504); total ETH holdings 4,243,338; staked ratio >52%; validator count ~70,000; estimated annual staking yield ~$190–200M. Primary keywords: BitMine, Ethereum staking, ETH, MAVAN, validator. Secondary keywords: institutional staking, treasury management, staking revenue.

Risotto, a San Francisco AI startup, closed a $10 million seed round led by Bonfire Ventures with participation from 645 Ventures, Y Combinator, Ritual Capital and Surgepoint Capital. The company’s platform uses foundation models plus proprietary infrastructure—prompt libraries, evaluation suites and thousands of training examples—to autonomously resolve help-desk tickets by integrating with systems like Jira and internal tools. Risotto reports real-world results, including automating 60% of support tickets for payroll provider Gusto, and says its focus is the integration layer that adds reliable orchestration to existing platforms rather than replacing them. The funding will expand product development and integrations with enterprise AI ecosystems (e.g., ChatGPT for Enterprise, Gemini) via protocols such as MCP. Analysts note Risotto’s emphasis on reliability, governance and middleware addresses key enterprise adoption barriers (security, audit trails, validation). Risks for customers include data privacy, legacy-integration complexity and change management; recommended rollouts are phased with human oversight. The round signals investor confidence in AI-driven help-desk automation and positions Risotto to compete with incumbents (Zendesk, ServiceNow, Freshworks) by offering an orchestration layer that reduces support costs and administrative overhead.

Bybit, Mantle and Byreal launched the Mantle Super Portal, a cross‑chain infrastructure that enables direct bridging of $MNT between Ethereum (Mantle L2) and Solana. The integration makes $MNT interoperable across Layer‑2 and Solana ecosystems, allowing users to bridge tokens, provide liquidity into Solana‑native DeFi on Byreal, and access trading and incentive programs on Bybit Alpha with full Solana deposit and withdrawal support. Byreal will host an MNT–USDC pool and run a 96,000 $MNT incentive program distributed over three months to liquidity providers. Bybit Alpha supports spot and Alpha trading for Solana‑deposited MNT and will include MNT in exchange‑driven reward campaigns and competitions. Mantle positions the Super Portal as part of a multichain distribution strategy to link on‑chain liquidity, centralized exchange venues and real‑world asset workflows, aiming to improve capital efficiency and deepen $MNT liquidity across Ethereum, Solana and CeFi. The release cites Mantle’s community assets metric (~$4B) and includes partner commentary. This is a sponsored press release and not financial advice.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could be only one to two years away, urging cautious preparation across industry and regulators. The comments highlight accelerating AI capabilities and renewed scrutiny of safety, governance and data consent. The report also emphasizes consent and privacy details related to AI product deployment—how companies collect, share and use user data, and the transparency of consent mechanisms. For crypto traders, the key takeaways are: (1) increased investor and regulatory attention on AI projects may accelerate capital flows into AI-linked tokens and infrastructure; (2) heightened regulatory scrutiny around data and consent could create compliance costs and influence projects that combine AI with blockchain-based identity, data marketplaces or oracle services; (3) volatility may rise in related sectors as markets price in faster AI progress and potential rule changes. Monitor tokens tied to AI compute, data marketplaces, identity protocols and oracles, and track regulatory developments and corporate disclosures on consent and data use.

Regulators at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have continued an aggressive enforcement posture toward crypto over the first 12 months of President Trump’s latest term. The agency pursued multiple civil cases and settlements targeting token issuers, crypto platforms, and alleged unregistered securities offerings. Key themes: SEC emphasis on whether tokens qualify as securities, focus on platforms offering trading or staking services, and negotiations that produced settlements without admissions of wrongdoing. Notable outcomes included enforcement actions that led to fines, disgorgements, and operational changes at defendants; some cases remain active and could set precedent on token classification and platform responsibilities. For traders, that means heightened regulatory risk—particularly for tokens tied to centralized platforms, staking products, or projects with strong ties to U.S. markets. Primary keywords: SEC, crypto regulation, token classification. Secondary/semantic keywords: enforcement actions, securities law, settlements, trading platforms, staking. The SEC’s approach suggests continued legal scrutiny that may limit listings, drive delistings, or pressure platforms to change product offerings. Expect increased volatility around enforcement announcements and legal milestones as courts rule on whether specific tokens are securities.

Bitcoin price faces heightened volatility this week, with a Wyckoff-based forecast calling for a ‘spring’ that could push BTC/USDT below $80,000 before February. On Tuesday BTC traded near $88,315 before retracing; short-term indicators showed mixed signals. Material Indicators flagged a Trend Precognition buy signal suggesting a low revisit was unlikely during the US session, while CryptoQuant noted moderate positive daily momentum on Binance but described the market as in a “period of anticipation” rather than a clear breakout. Market attention centers on this week’s US Federal Reserve decision and Chair Jerome Powell’s guidance — events expected to drive volatility and influence rate-cut expectations. Trader-focused takeaway: anticipate short-term downside risk around the Wyckoff spring scenario and prepare for elevated intraday swings tied to macro updates and order-book dynamics.

American Bitcoin (ABTC), a Nasdaq‑listed Bitcoin treasury and mining company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has increased its bitcoin reserve to about 5,843 BTC after adding 416 BTC (including 329 BTC in early January). The firm reported a 116% BTC yield from its Nasdaq debut on Sept. 3, 2025 through Jan. 25, 2026. ABTC combines direct market purchases with North American mining operations — including a data centre in Vega, Texas — and emphasises domestic mining and energy use to support US industrial Bitcoin production. With reserves valued at more than $500 million, ABTC now ranks among the top 20 public corporate Bitcoin holders, surpassing firms such as Nakamoto Inc. and GameStop. ABTC shares ticked up in premarket trading on the announcement, though the stock is down year‑to‑date amid broader macro and geopolitical uncertainty. The company’s accumulation strategy and reported strong yield underscore ongoing institutional demand for Bitcoin as a treasury asset and may influence investor sentiment and institutional accumulation trends.

Elliptic expects sanctions enforcement on cryptoassets to intensify in 2026, with regulators (OFAC, OFSI, European Commission) increasing blacklisting and scrutiny of exchanges and financial institutions. Persistent geopolitical risks — including Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela — plus narcotics-related crypto use and record crypto thefts linked to North Korea, are driving urgency. Elliptic highlights stablecoins (notably USDT) and cross‑chain services as preferred tools for sanctions evasion: wallets tied to Iran held over $500m in USDT, and a Russian ruble‑backed stablecoin (A7A5) has processed more than $100bn in transactions. Authorities have had some successes (e.g., takedown of sanctioned exchange Garantex and Tether freezing ~$27m USDT) but sanctioned actors adapt quickly. For 2026 Elliptic predicts more specific crypto sanctions guidance, stricter expectations for blockchain screening (including indirect exposure detection several hops away and cross‑chain tracing), and increased enforcement actions against firms that fail to meet standards. Recommendations for compliance teams: test and tune blockchain analytics for data quality, configure screening to capture indirect and stablecoin risks, ensure multi‑asset and cross‑chain coverage, and proactively prepare for heightened regulator scrutiny. Primary keywords: sanctions enforcement, stablecoins, cross‑chain, blockchain analytics, compliance.

USAt is a US-regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin created by Tether and issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., the first federally chartered crypto bank. Reserves are custodised and managed by Cantor Fitzgerald and USAt maintains a 1:1 peg to the US dollar backed by high-quality liquid assets with monthly public reserve disclosures. Built on Tether’s Hadron real‑world asset tokenisation platform, USAt supports issuance, redemption and on‑chain transfers across multiple blockchains. Launched for the American market, USAt is structured as a private digital asset (not legal tender) and operates under direct federal oversight by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), subject to bank capital, reserve, AML and KYC rules. USAt complements Tether’s global USDt stablecoin: USDt remains the widely used global product, while USAt is purpose-built for US institutions, businesses, creators and consumers. Distribution plans include institutional partnerships and consumer channels such as Rumble, where Tether has invested $775 million to reach US users via wallets and creator payments. Bitfinex provides on‑exchange crypto and fiat routes to buy USAt. Important caveats: USAt is not FDIC/SIPC insured and is not US government money.

Spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have crossed $2 billion in cumulative trading volume, signaling a pronounced increase in institutional and steady retail demand. Since October, trading in spot XRP ETFs has shown consistent activity indicative of institutional inflows rather than short-term retail-driven volatility. Spot ETFs provide direct XRP exposure with lower counterparty risk, transparency and regulatory clarity—attributes attracting professional investors seeking crypto allocation within traditional portfolios. Analysts say the $2 billion milestone reflects improving liquidity, greater market utility for XRP and rising institutional trust. Continued ETF adoption and clearer regulation are expected to accelerate inflows, supporting price stability and encouraging development of additional crypto products. Primary keyword: XRP ETF; secondary keywords: spot XRP ETF, institutional demand, crypto ETFs.

Standard Chartered’s digital-assets team warns that rising stablecoin adoption could shift roughly $500 billion of developed-market bank deposits to blockchain-based stablecoins by 2028, posing acute risk to US regional banks. The bank projects a $2 trillion global stablecoin market by 2028 and estimates one-third of that market (≈$500B) will come from developed-market deposits. Regional banks are most exposed because they rely heavily on retail deposit-funded net interest margin (NIM), which stablecoins can erode as issuers offer crypto-native deposit alternatives. Major issuers such as Tether and Circle hold only limited bank reserves (reported ~0.02% for Tether, ~14.5% for Circle), reducing the chance that issuer-held bank deposits could offset outflows. The regulatory backdrop in Washington—especially debate over market-structure rules and draft limits on issuer interest payments—remains unresolved but could crystallize policy and accelerate adoption once clarified; Standard Chartered expects relevant legislation possibly by late Q1 2026. The report highlights examples of growing U.S. on‑ramp competition (e.g., Tether’s USAT via Anchorage Digital Bank). For traders, implications include downside pressure on regional bank equities and bond spreads, a structural threat to bank NIM and fee income, continued bullishness for stablecoin and tokenization infrastructure themes, and increased regulatory event risk. Actionable points: monitor regional bank deposit trends and NIM reports, watch regulatory milestones in the U.S., track on‑chain stablecoin flows and market-share shifts (USDT/USDC), and reassess portfolio exposure to regional bank credit and financial-sector stocks.

White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt told CoinDesk that the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026 signalled a shift toward global normalization of digital assets. Witt — Executive Director of the President’s Council for Advisors on Digital Assets — said stablecoins act as a “gateway drug” for traditional finance and that the administration seeks a symbiosis between incumbent financial firms and crypto entrants. He emphasised the administration’s aim to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world" and highlighted accelerating regulatory work in Washington: the Senate Agriculture Committee was set to mark up its portion of a market-structure bill (Jan. 29) while the Banking Committee postponed its markup for further mediation on issues such as stablecoin rewards and ethics. Witt expressed confidence legislation will be reconciled and reach the Senate floor, after which focus would shift to a crypto tax package. He noted concerns from some Senate Republicans about stablecoins prompting deposit flight from community banks but argued for a "smooth glide path" to adoption and said U.S. regulators want to lead global rulemaking even if domestic laws are only “directionally accurate.” Witt also referenced national-security attention on seized digital assets overseas (e.g., Venezuela) without giving specifics. Keywords: Davos 2026, stablecoins, market structure legislation, regulation, crypto normalization.

Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer for global fixed income and multi-asset, has emerged as a leading contender to be President Trump’s pick for Federal Reserve chair as Jerome Powell’s term ends in May. Prediction markets (Polymarket, Kalshi) have recently pushed Rieder’s odds to the front of the field, reflecting rising market attention. Rieder has publicly endorsed Bitcoin — calling it a potential store-of-value alongside gold and recommending it in diversified portfolios — and has argued for faster, more aggressive rate cuts than the current Fed stance. Traders should note that a Fed chair with dovish preferences typically supports risk assets, which can be positive for crypto price action via improved market sentiment. However, detailed regulatory policy on stablecoins and digital-asset supervision is usually driven by other Fed officials and agencies (SEC, CFTC), so Rieder’s influence may be more rhetorical and sentiment-driven than a direct path to quicker regulatory liberalization. Additional context: Bitcoin was cited trading materially below recent highs in the reporting (around $88,000 versus prior highs near $112,000), and uncertainty remains over whether Powell will remain on the Fed board after his chair term — a factor that affects how many new Fed seats the president can fill. For traders, the key takeaways are: (1) a Rieder appointment is likely to be read as dovish and supportive of risk assets, potentially bullish for BTC in the near-to-medium term; (2) regulatory changes affecting crypto are unlikely to shift immediately as a result of the chair pick alone; and (3) market pricing (futures, options) and volatility should be monitored around nomination and confirmation events for trade opportunities and risk management.

Polymarket has signed a multi‑year exclusive partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Leagues Cup to become the leagues’ sole prediction‑market partner. The agreement covers flagship events including the MLS All‑Star Game and MLS Cup and focuses on second‑screen fan engagement by embedding real‑time prediction markets, live probabilities and crowd sentiment into MLS apps and websites. Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan cited rising North American soccer interest and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup as drivers for timing. The deal includes integrity safeguards: independent monitoring of trading activity and joint MLS‑Polymarket decisions on which markets are offered (for example, excluding markets tied to specific player penalties). The partnership follows rapid growth in prediction‑market usage and volumes and comes amid broader crypto-market turbulence and regulatory scrutiny in the US. Polymarket says it will comply with applicable rules to avoid conflicts with sports‑betting regulation. For crypto traders, the key implications are greater mainstream exposure for prediction‑market products, likely increases in user liquidity and volume around MLS events, and continued regulatory risk that could affect market availability or design.

South Korea’s central bank signalled a limited opening for retail investment in virtual assets while cautioning that stablecoins pose risks to capital controls and financial stability. Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-young said market pressure prompted authorities to permit domestic investment and that a new registration system is planned to let institutions use virtual assets under tighter oversight. Lee distinguished tokenized deposits for domestic payments from won-denominated stablecoins intended for international use, stressing concerns about cross-border flows. He warned won-pegged stablecoins could weaken capital flow controls and that dollar stablecoins — which reduce transaction costs and facilitate quick transfers — could trigger large capital movements during exchange-rate swings, complicating oversight because many issuers are non-bank firms. The governor also downplayed the need for a retail CBDC given South Korea’s advanced payment rails, favouring tokenized deposits and wholesale CBDC pilots. Separately, the Financial Services Commission’s draft Digital Asset Basic Act includes a no-fault liability clause for operators, tougher disclosure requirements and consumer protections, but negotiations have stalled over reserve control, enforcement powers and governance. Key points: market pressure opened retail crypto access; planned institutional registration system; stablecoins risk capital flight and regulatory strain; retail CBDC seen as low priority; Digital Asset Basic Act seeks stricter operator liability and disclosures.