Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Solana has pushed an urgent v3.0.14 validator update for Mainnet-Beta nodes (staked, unstaked and test) to address critical stability issues as on-chain activity and new token launches rise. The patch continues Solana’s fast cadence of client maintenance following recent structural upgrades — notably Alpenglow (Votor and Rotor), and the introduction of alternative clients Firedancer and Agave — aimed at improving finality, parallel execution and throughput. Firedancer is reported to be progressing through testing and nearing full release, which could reduce reliance on a single validator client and strengthen institutional resilience. Market context: SOL trades in the mid-$130s (circa $135–136) with a market cap around $76–77 billion and is showing weekly gains while consolidating inside a symmetrical triangle. Technicals indicate reclamation of the $135–$138 demand zone and higher lows; key near-term resistance sits around $145 (with $187 noted as a larger February-area resistance), while strong support is near $132–136. Indicators such as a neutral RSI and narrowing EMAs suggest an imminent sharper move; a decisive break above resistance would confirm bullish continuation, while a break below trendline risks deeper pullbacks. For traders: monitor validator upgrade adoption rates, Firedancer testing milestones, and price action within the $135–$145 band for short-term signals. This report is informational and not investment advice.

Retail crypto sentiment improved at the start of 2026 as prices rebounded from late-2025 corrections, driven by short-term news catalysts. Social and sentiment data from Santiment show a more optimistic tone across X, Reddit and Telegram, though sentiment remains fragile and reactive. Bitcoin’s moves were influenced by macro events and notable ETF flows — a one-day net outflow from US spot Bitcoin ETFs (led by major issuers) coincided with traders de-risking ahead of US economic data. Ethereum (ETH) saw mixed sentiment; discussions focused on staking and regulated-product staking rewards rather than clear price catalysts. Ripple (XRP) gained nearly 14% weekly amid attention on a January escrow unlock that released 1 billion tokens with a large portion reportedly re-locked, spurring retail participation and volatility. Solana (SOL) rallied following institutional ETF filing reports. Meme coins, led by Dogecoin (DOGE), posted double-digit gains; the 21Shares 2x Long Dogecoin ETF jumped ~38% early in 2026, drawing renewed meme‑coin interest and coordinated whale buying. Overall, the market rebound is broad but sentiment is uneven, short-term news-driven, and sensitive to macro and ETF-related flows — factors traders should monitor for volatility and trade timing.

Islamic Coin (ISLAM) jumped about 470% within 24 hours following its launch on Ethiq, a decentralized exchange focused on Shariah-compliant crypto trading. Trading volume and social interest spiked as the token became available on the new venue, driving rapid price discovery. The article notes the surge was concentrated shortly after listing, with heightened volatility and increased liquidity on Ethiq. No major fundamental partnerships or protocol updates were cited beyond the exchange listing. The move attracted speculative traders and arbitrageurs, and market commentators warned of potential pullbacks after such abrupt gains. Key facts: ~470% price increase in 24 hours, listing on Ethiq as the catalyst, sharply higher volume and volatility, primarily trading-driven rally rather than new product or partnership announcements.

A softer-than-expected U.S. jobs report on January 9 prompted a rally across risk assets: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose sharply while gold also gained. Traders interpreted weaker payrolls as reducing inflationary pressure and increasing the probability of Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. Tech stocks in the Nasdaq particularly benefited from expectations of lower borrowing costs. Gold rallied as a hedge against volatility and a weakening dollar. For crypto traders, a more dovish Fed outlook typically supports risk assets such as Bitcoin and altcoins, so the same catalyst that lifted equities and gold could boost crypto prices if rate-cut expectations persist. Key points: weaker jobs report → lower inflation expectations → higher chance of Fed easing → equity and commodity gains; tech-led Nasdaq rebound; gold acting as safe haven. Primary keywords: US jobs report, S&P 500, Nasdaq, gold, Fed rate cuts, crypto. Secondary/semantic keywords: inflation pressure, dovish Fed, risk assets, tech sector, dollar weakness.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) saw a sharp spike in token burn activity on January 10, 2026, when on-chain tracker Shibburn recorded roughly 7.2 million SHIB removed from circulation within 24 hours — a 38,043% increase versus the prior day. The burn raised attention because it breaks a recent streak of minimal or negative burn days and reduced the circulating supply to about 589,245,806,058,242 SHIB. On the same day SHIB’s price ticked higher (roughly +0.8%), moving from red into slight green territory around $0.0000087. Traders should note the unusually large daily burn and the percentage spike as potential supply-side catalysts; historically, elevated burns have sometimes coincided with price rallies, though past performance is not predictive. Key on-chain metrics to monitor include ongoing burn volumes, net token flows, transaction activity, and broader market conditions — these will determine whether the burn-driven momentum persists and supports a larger breakout or remains a short-lived sentiment move.

BlockDAG’s final presale phase is closing ahead of a January 26 deadline with only 3.4 billion coins remaining. The project has raised over $442 million, claims more than 312,000 participants, 3.4 million active users on its X1 app, and over 21,000 mining units distributed. Current presale pricing is $0.003 (Batch 34); analysts model a potential public trading open between $0.38 and $0.43, while the official launch price is listed at $0.05. Meanwhile, established assets are moving: ZCash (ZEC) recorded a near-24% weekly gain and is pushing toward a historical resistance near $616 with rising volume; XRP is holding above $2, with the percentage of holders in profit at a 13-month low, implying reduced near-term selling pressure. Traders face a choice between following legacy coins retesting prior highs (ZEC, XRP) or speculating on BlockDAG’s limited-time presale window. Disclaimer: the article is a press release-style piece and not investment advice.

Pump.fun, a memecoin launch platform, announced it will restructure creator fees in 2026 to prioritize traders over token deployers. Founder Alon said the previous Dynamic Fees V1 model briefly drove high creator activity and bonding-curve volume in 2025 but proved unsustainable. The platform found creator fees best serve high-quality projects and prominent founders, while many memecoin deployers and traders received weak incentives. Pump.fun plans a market-driven approach where traders influence which projects earn creator payments and how fees are allocated. The founder signalled further platform updates and product improvements for $PUMP in 2026 aimed at boosting trading activity, liquidity and long-term token success. Key takeaways for traders: creator fees will be reduced or more selectively applied, trader-driven fee allocation may increase on-chain trading incentives, and forthcoming UX and platform changes could affect memecoin launch dynamics and volume.

OpenAI, working with training-data firm Handshake AI, reportedly asked third‑party contractors to upload authentic past and current work samples (documents, presentations, spreadsheets, images, repository files) to help train domain‑specific models. Contractors are directed to remove proprietary or personally identifiable information and to use a ChatGPT “Superstar Scrubbing” tool provided by the company. Legal experts warn the approach risks intellectual‑property breaches and NDA violations because it relies heavily on contractors to judge confidentiality. The move marks a shift from public web scraping and licensed datasets toward higher‑quality, professional training material that could accelerate white‑collar automation. Industry implications include ethical questions about consent, compensation, dataset representativeness and regulatory scrutiny over data provenance. The initiative faces practical hurdles — sanitisation effectiveness, contract reviews, scalability and potential regulatory action in jurisdictions tightening AI data rules. For traders, the story signals heightened regulatory and reputational risk for major AI firms, potential legal costs, and broader market attention on companies linking AI advances to labour displacement and data governance.

Bitcoin remains aligned with its long-term uptrend despite short-term cooling momentum and recent price chop. On-chain and market-structure signals point to tightening liquidity—highlighted by a declining TOTAL/BTC—while BTC holds key structural levels. Analysts note that this setup reduces panic risk and will likely resolve through gradual market rotations rather than abrupt moves. Technical improvement includes a reclaim and hold of the 4‑hour 200‑SMA for BTC, the first since October, which improves the odds of continuing upward momentum toward resistance near $94,500 if the moving average trends upward. Meanwhile, meme coins have formed tight corrective structures, showing resilience to BTC dips and acting as the market’s leading edge; some analysts predict these tokens may express substantial upside in 2026. Overall, the piece suggests a cautiously constructive outlook: trend intact for BTC, liquidity conditions central to timing, and sector rotations—especially into meme coins—could drive the next phase of market gains.

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty fell in the first difficulty adjustment of 2026 to 146.4 trillion, retreating from 2025 highs (peak 155.9T). Average block times are slightly under the 10-minute target at about 9.88 minutes. CoinWarz projects the next adjustment (estimated Jan 22, 2026) will raise difficulty to roughly 148.2T. In 2025 difficulty increases tightened competition and squeezed miner margins amid macro pressure, regulatory actions and a market downturn. Miner hash price — revenue per unit of hashpower — fell below typical breakeven levels in November 2025 (under ~$35/PH/s/day, vs. many miners’ ~ $40/PH/s/day break-even). Additional headwinds included U.S. tariffs that hit supply chains and a sharp October flash crash that pushed BTC briefly below ~$80,000. Key implications for traders: monitor Bitcoin network metrics (difficulty, hash rate, block times) and miner profitability (hash price) for signals of miner selling pressure. A falling or stabilising difficulty can lower short-term selling risk; conversely, sustained high difficulty while hash price remains below breakeven increases pressure on miner finances and can be a bearish factor for BTC price. Watch on-chain selling, difficulty adjustments and block time trends as near-term indicators of mining economics and market direction.

Nasdaq and CME Group launched the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index, which includes Bitcoin, Ethereum and Chainlink (LINK). The announcement arrives as LINK retraced into a key market imbalance zone around $13 — historically a launchpad for rallies. Technical indicators (Stochastic RSI near oversold) and rising on-chain circulating turnover (+~5% over 24h) suggest selling pressure may be exhausting and traders are repositioning rather than panic-selling. Liquidity heatmaps show a notable cluster worth roughly $1.32 million near $15, which could act as a magnet if momentum resumes from the $13 zone. The institutional endorsement from Nasdaq and CME reframes LINK as infrastructure-grade within regulated finance, potentially increasing demand. However, the bullish case depends on LINK holding above the daily imbalance zone to confirm reversal momentum. Primary keywords: Chainlink, LINK price, Nasdaq CME Crypto Index, liquidity cluster, technical indicators. Secondary/semantic keywords included: on-chain turnover, Stochastic RSI, imbalance zone, regulated finance, BTC, ETH.

Malaysian police in Hilir Perak carried out three coordinated raids in Teluk Intan on Jan. 9–10 and confiscated 41 cryptocurrency mining machines (24 in the first raid, 17 in two follow-ups). No arrests were reported; investigations are ongoing to identify operators or syndicates. Authorities allege the rigs were connected to illegal electricity supplies — a common tactic for unauthorized mining that bypasses meters or taps power lines. Police are probing evidence of power theft and property damage, both criminal offenses under Malaysian law, and noting safety risks such as fire hazards, structural damage and overloaded transformers from improvised cooling and power setups. Officials emphasized that cryptocurrency mining is legal in Malaysia when conducted lawfully, but illegal farms that steal electricity will be prosecuted; past enforcement included destruction of seized equipment. For traders: these raids target local illicit mining operations rather than exchanges or major protocols, so immediate market impact is likely limited. However, sustained enforcement could alter local hash-rate distribution, affect miner economics, and signal tougher regulatory scrutiny — factors that may influence miner-related tokens and regional sentiment. Primary keywords: crypto mining, power theft, illegal mining, Malaysia, Teluk Intan.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has resumed and sustained a bullish structure, trading above its upward-sloping 21-day and 50-day moving averages after breaking the $600 level on January 3. Price reached intraday highs near $650–$668 before pulling back and re-establishing support around $600–$620. Short-term 4-hour action shows range-bound trading with long upper wicks, indicating selling pressure at higher levels. Key resistance to watch is $660; a decisive break above this level, confirmed by rising volume, could open a potential target near $720. Immediate support zones are $500, $450 and $400. Technical indicators remain cautiously bullish (21-day SMA above 50-day SMA and upward-sloping moving averages on shorter timeframes), but extended wicks and signs of short-term overbought conditions suggest a pullback is possible if buyers fail to clear $660. Traders should monitor price action around $660 and volume for confirmation before committing to breakout trades. This is a technical-readout and not investment advice.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis is pushing the Responsible Financial Innovation Act (RFIA) as Senate committees schedule markups in mid-January to clarify U.S. digital-asset rules. The RFIA and the related Digital Asset Market Clarity Act aim to draw a clearer line between securities and commodities, establish a unified regulatory framework, and add consumer protections. Key provisions would permit U.S. banks to custody crypto, offer institutional-grade settlement, and stake assets to earn yield — measures intended to keep more crypto capital onshore and expand bank-led services. The Senate Banking Committee plans manager’s amendment consideration and member amendment deadlines in early January, while the Agriculture Committee advances related language on CFTC authority over crypto commodities. Republican leaders are fast-tracking the timetable, but Democratic support is uncertain; negotiators including Senators Cory Booker and Ruben Gallego have raised concerns, and at least seven Democratic votes may be needed for final passage. Lawmakers remain in closed-door talks to resolve issues such as DeFi safeguards and limits on official profits. For traders: passage could materially increase institutional custody demand, onshore staking flows, and regulatory clarity — factors that may support higher institutional adoption and liquidity; however, timing, contested provisions, and possible changes in draft language mean outcomes remain uncertain.

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin warned against “corposlop” — polished corporate products that prioritise profit over users and erode digital sovereignty. Responding to a thread about the internet splitting into an “open web” and a “sovereign web,” Buterin defined corposlop as the mix of corporate optimisation, slick branding and behaviour that extracts attention and value from users. He said digital sovereignty now means not only resisting government control but also protecting digital privacy, mental autonomy and resistance to attention‑extraction business models. Noting that Bitcoin maximalists have unintentionally preserved aspects of sovereignty by rejecting many tokenised apps, Buterin urged builders to prioritise privacy‑first and local‑first apps, user‑controlled social feeds, conservative financial tools that avoid high‑leverage gambling, open and privacy‑aware AI, and opinionated companies and DAOs with clear missions. For traders, the message signals continued cultural and product differentiation within crypto: projects emphasising privacy, decentralisation and user sovereignty may gain developer and community support, while polished, corporate‑led consumer apps that compromise on privacy or promote high‑leverage financial products could face reputational risk. Keywords: corposlop, digital sovereignty, privacy, Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, DAOs, privacy‑preserving apps.

This week’s corporate deal highlights include Merck (MRK) reportedly in talks to acquire Revolution Medicines (RVMD) for about $30 billion. Other notable moves across sectors: Glencore saw strong share gains after news-driven activity; cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike (CRWD) and chipmaker Marvell Technology (MRVL) featured in M&A and strategic deal reports; Steel Dynamics (STLD) and several smaller biopharma and mining firms were also mentioned in sector deal roundups. The story focuses on large-cap strategic acquisitions and market reactions, with the Merck–Revolution Medicines potential deal standing out for its size and sector impact. Primary keywords: Merck acquisition, Revolution Medicines, M&A, Glencore, CrowdStrike, Marvell, Steel Dynamics. Secondary/semantic keywords: biotech takeover, pharma M&A, mining activity, cybersecurity deal, semiconductor consolidation, market reaction, share movement.

The article outlines three major trends shaping crypto payments that investors should monitor: broader merchant adoption driven by improved payment rails and regulatory clarity; growth in stablecoin use for remittances and commerce due to price stability and lower fees; and the rise of crypto-native card and wallet integrations enabling seamless fiat-to-crypto spending. Key drivers include partnerships between payment processors and crypto firms, increased support from major card networks, and regulatory developments that reduce compliance friction. Investors should watch metrics such as merchant onboarding rates, stablecoin transaction volumes, payment card issuance figures, and on-chain settlement activity. These indicators signal real-world utility and could influence token demand for payment-focused projects. Primary keywords: crypto payments, stablecoins, merchant adoption. Secondary keywords: payment rails, remittances, crypto cards, wallet integrations.

XYZVerse is preparing a Token Generation Event (TGE) and public listing for $XYZ at the end of January 2026 after an aggressive presale that raised more than $15 million. The presale price rose from $0.0001 to $0.00715 (≈7,000% gain). The team cites an expected opening listing price of $0.10. XYZVerse touts live product integration: a crypto-powered Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) league with a 500,000 USDT + 5,000,000 $XYZ prize pool, 10 teams, fan-driven on-chain mechanics (map voting, predictions, digital collectibles) and 100 USDT Access Passes. The platform embeds $XYZ into gameplay for entry fees, rewards, cosmetics and fan interactions. Revenue flows through a “Revenue Router” designed to allocate fees to buybacks, burns and prize pools; a post-listing Sustainability Initiative pledges 10% of partner net profits to public on-chain buybacks. The roadmap lists Revenue Router dashboards and marketplace v1 (Q4 2025–Q1 2026), prediction/fantasy pools and forging/crafting (Q4 2025–Q1 2026 to Q1–Q2 2026), staking and mobile app (Q1–Q2 2026), and cross-chain/creator features later in 2026. For traders, key takeaways are: large presale size and extreme presale gains, stated $0.10 listing target, live esports utility that could drive demand, and explicit on-chain buyback/burn mechanics intended to support tokenomics. Monitor liquidity at listing, exchange pairings, actual on-chain revenue and buyback transparency, community engagement from esports audiences, and whether real product activity sustains demand beyond initial presale-driven volatility.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics ordered an immediate temporary block of xAI’s Grok chatbot after investigators documented thousands of AI‑generated sexualized deepfakes of real people — including public figures and minors — produced from simple text prompts on X. Minister Meutya Hafid framed the action as a human‑rights response to non‑consensual sexual imagery. The ministry also summoned X officials for urgent talks while technical reviews cited failures in Grok’s filtering: poor identification of requests targeting real individuals, weak age‑verification, delayed takedowns, and low user accountability. The blockade prompted near‑simultaneous regulatory moves: India issued a compliance directive to xAI; the EU ordered preservation of Grok development and moderation records (potentially under the Digital Services Act/AI Act); the UK’s Ofcom opened an assessment under the Online Safety Act; and US lawmakers pressed app‑store removals. xAI restricted image generation to paying Premium users on some interfaces and issued an apology, but experts say the mitigation may not cover the standalone Grok app and that prompt engineering still circumvents safeguards. Analysts warn the incident sets legal precedents by framing non‑consensual AI sexual content as a human‑rights violation, likely accelerating international rules for generative AI: standardized reporting, stronger platform liability, cross‑border enforcement, and transparency requirements. Short‑term fixes suggested include improved real‑time filtering, human review for sensitive prompts, clearer AI content policies, and transparency audits. The episode underscores tensions between rapid AI deployment and content safety and signals heightened regulatory scrutiny for all generative‑AI platforms.

XRP shows signs of re-accumulation, supported by ETF inflows and whale activity, holding above key support (anchor noted near $2.20) with upside targets highlighted toward ~$3.20. Technicals indicate stabilization around channel support and a descending-triangle structure that could allow a short-term rebound if buying pressure continues. Complementing XRP, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is an emerging DeFi lending protocol in an advanced presale stage, having raised roughly $19.7 million from over 18,700 participants. Presale phases are pricing MUTM between $0.035–$0.045 (later phases at $0.04–$0.045) with a projected public listing price of $0.06. Some analyst projections cited in coverage suggest near-term upside to $0.40 (approximately 6–10x from current presale levels), while promoters have presented longer, highly speculative targets much higher than listing price. Mutuum combines Peer-to-Contract (P2C) pools that mint 1:1 mtTokens to capture dynamic APYs (pool returns ~10% APY quoted) with Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending for higher-yield, riskier loans (potentially up to ~20%). Platform mechanics include staking rewards, fee-based buybacks of MUTM, and on-chain components (mtTokens, debt tokens, automated liquidator). Mutuum reports a Halborn security review and plans a V1 launch on Sepolia testnet. Coverage is promotional in tone and includes standard due-diligence disclaimers. For traders: XRP’s ETF- and whale-driven flows and clear support levels make it a tradable asset with defined risk points; MUTM is an early-stage presale token with high speculative upside but elevated execution and market risks — appropriate only for risk-tolerant traders and position sizing should reflect low liquidity and lock-up/presale mechanics.

Bullrunners and on-chain analysts say XRP’s recent strength signals the start of a larger rally, driven by regulatory clarity, rising institutional inflows, and improving market structure. XRP surged ~25% in early January 2026, briefly touching $2.40 before retracing to about $2.12; it has outperformed BTC and ETH on a relative basis. Key bullish factors highlighted include the removal of major legal uncertainty for XRP, more than $1 billion cumulative inflows into XRP-related exchange-traded products, steady activity on the XRP Ledger, and reports of possible enterprise interest (unconfirmed) such as ties with Amazon Web Services for XRPL analytics. Broader market conditions—constructive total market cap (~$3.11T), neutral sentiment, and moderating macro inflation data—also support risk-on positioning. Some analysts quoted by Bullrunners project long-term targets above $30, though these remain speculative. Traders should note heightened volatility: recent liquidation events pushed a pullback, but technical support held. The article frames the outlook as bullish but advises measured expectations and due diligence; it is not financial advice.

Selective buying has returned to the crypto market, lifting several notable coins outside the top 10. Key movers highlighted: INJ (Injective) — trading in the mid-$4–$5 range, up ~8% week-to-week; breaking the near-$6 resistance could target above $7 (≈27% from recent highs). IMX (Immutable) — around $0.27 with RSI near 63; a break above $0.33 could open a run to $0.40 (~33% upside). SEI (Sei) — trading $0.10–$0.13, needs a break above $0.13 to target ~$0.15 (~15% upside). TIA (Celestia) — sitting $0.48–$0.63, up ~6% weekly; $0.68 is key resistance, with $0.83 as next target. STX (Stacks) — strong weekly performance (~40%); trading $0.27–$0.40, approaching $0.45 resistance and a possible move to $0.59. Technical indicators cited include rising RSI and Stochastic values for several tokens, short-term moving averages, and recent volatility from six‑month drawdowns. The article flags these assets as potential short-term trade opportunities for traders seeking diversification beyond top-10 tokens, while noting prior six-month declines and the need for clear resistance breaks. This is informational and not investment advice.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX’s request to deploy 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing SpaceX’s total authorized constellation to 15,000 units. The FCC cleared upgraded satellites that support direct-to-cell connectivity, operation across five frequency bands, and speeds up to 1 Gbps. Conditions: SpaceX must have 50% of the newly authorized Gen2 satellites launched, placed in assigned orbits, and operational by December 1, 2028, with full deployment due by December 2031. The FCC declined half of SpaceX’s wider request to authorize nearly 30,000 additional satellites, citing that the Gen2 design remains untested in orbit and concerns about space safety and market concentration. The agency has set earlier deadlines for SpaceX to finish first-generation deployments (by November 2027) and noted a recent Starlink anomaly that produced debris as part of its safety rationale. Context: Amazon’s Project Kuiper (Amazon Leo) has authorization for 3,236 satellites with its own staged launch deadlines, and competition and space-safety considerations remain central to regulator decisions. Key facts: 7,500 new Gen2 satellites approved; total authorized = 15,000; 50% operational by Dec 1, 2028; full deployment by Dec 2031; FCC withheld approval for the remaining ~15,000 requested satellites due to unproven design and safety/market-concentration concerns.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is showing early signs of recovery after a recent pullback. Trading between $0.0000074 and $0.0000100, SHIB rose about 7% over the past week but remains below the key resistance at $0.000011. A successful break above $0.000011 could open a move toward approximately $0.0000136 — roughly a 30–35% upside target from current levels. The token has suffered an extended decline of nearly 35% earlier, but technical indicators show limited strength: RSI near 53 and a high stochastic reading suggest there may be room to climb if market conditions cooperate. The article stresses renewed investor interest and momentum but urges caution and close monitoring, as broader market response will determine whether anticipation converts into sustained price gains. (Main keyword: Shiba Inu; secondary keywords: SHIB price, resistance, RSI, stochastic, crypto traders.)

Top Chinese AI researchers and executives said China can close the technological gap with the United States through greater risk-taking, fresh ideas and algorithm-hardware co-design, but a shortage of advanced chipmaking equipment—especially lithography machines—remains the main obstacle. Tencent’s chief AI scientist Yao Shunyu (formerly of OpenAI) said a Chinese firm could lead global AI within three to five years but cited production capacity and software ecosystem limits. China produced a prototype extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine last month, yet insiders expect usable chips from such domestic tools only by around 2030. Alibaba’s Qwen lead Lin Junyang noted U.S. compute infrastructure is likely one to two orders of magnitude larger, and China’s tighter budgets push teams to optimize models to run on smaller, cheaper hardware. Zhipu AI founder Tang Jie highlighted a growing willingness among younger entrepreneurs to pursue high-risk projects. Recent strong Hong Kong IPOs for MiniMax and Zhipu AI signal investor confidence as Beijing accelerates AI and chip listings to build domestic alternatives to advanced U.S. technology. Key keywords: China AI, chipmaking, lithography, EUV, compute infrastructure, algorithm-hardware co-design, AI IPOs.

Tim Beiko, a prominent Ethereum Foundation contributor, is stepping back from day‑to‑day Layer‑1 protocol coordination to take an advisory role and focus on exploring “frontier use cases” that can uniquely leverage Ethereum. He will remain at the Foundation and transition away from coordinating the All Core Developers Execution (ACDE) calls. Ansgar Dietrichs will continue as interim ACDE chair while a stable long‑term configuration for the calls is established. Beiko framed the move as timely: Ethereum is approaching a protocol “endgame” while preparing two major 2026 upgrades — “Glamsterdam” (early 2026) for gas optimizations and enshrined proposer‑builder separation, and “Hegota” (late 2026) to tackle state bloat and storage inefficiencies. Beiko said his new mandate is to identify applications that can only exist on Ethereum and to showcase the network’s differentiated value. He expressed confidence in current governance and contributors and signalled continued involvement despite stepping back from day‑to‑day coordination.

Ethereum derivatives markets are showing growing signs of elevated leverage and concentrated risk. Data indicates increasing long and short positions in ETH futures and perpetual swaps, rising open interest, and clustered exposure among large traders and derivatives desks. These dynamics heighten the potential for volatile price moves and forced liquidations if ETH’s price swings sharply. Traders are advised to monitor key metrics — funding rates, open interest, concentrated wallet positions, and exchange margin levels — as early indicators of stress. The piece highlights that while derivatives enable efficient hedging and liquidity, unchecked leverage has historically amplified drawdowns during sharp market moves. Short-term implications include higher intraday volatility and a greater likelihood of cascade liquidations around major price levels. Longer-term, persistent high leverage could reduce market stability and deter risk-averse participants, compressing liquidity during stress periods.

XRP is consolidating after a market rally, with bulls defending a key support at $2.06 on the 15‑minute and 1‑hour charts. Intraday action shows tight range trading around $2.09 and repeated retests of $2.06 met by heavy buying, suggesting accumulation by large holders. The 1‑hour Stochastic RSI has dipped into oversold levels — a classic reset that can precede rapid upward moves if support holds. Immediate resistance sits at $2.12, followed by a major pivot near $2.20; flipping $2.20 to support could trigger retail FOMO. A sustained breakout and continued liquidity inflows could put XRP on track to retest the $2.40–$2.50 zone. Traders should watch the $2.06 support, the 1‑hour Stochastic RSI recovery, and breaks of $2.12 and $2.20 for entry/exit signals. Risk management and using high‑liquidity exchanges and secure custody are recommended.

Analyst STEPH IS CRYPTO argues XRP remains in a healthy uptrend and could reach $5 if current structure holds. The article highlights a modest short-term pullback from about $2.12 to $2.09 but notes price is still trading above higher-timeframe supports and prior consolidation zones that flipped to support. The analyst emphasizes market structure (higher lows and defended support) over short-term noise, framing the retracement as a reset that allows stronger hands to accumulate. The $5 level is described as a psychological target that requires confirmation through price action and volume expansion; the projected move would likely include volatility and consolidation en route. Traders are reminded this is opinion, not financial advice, and should conduct their own research.