Spot silver surged about $3 intraday to $119.78 per ounce, a gain of roughly 2.57%, moving close to the $120/oz level. The move was reported by PANews citing Jin10; no specific catalysts, institutions or policy changes were named in the report. The article is presented as market information only and does not constitute investment advice. Key facts: current price $119.78/oz, intraday rise ~$3, intraday change +2.57%. Traders should note rising silver prices may reflect shifts in precious-metals demand, risk sentiment, or dollar/interest-rate dynamics—factors often relevant to commodity and crypto correlation plays.
Santiment data shows exchange ETH balances fell from a July 2025 peak of 12.31M ETH to about 8.15M ETH as staking demand rose and market volatility cooled. Total staked ETH now exceeds 36M (roughly 29% of supply). About 3.6M ETH are queued to enter staking with an estimated wait near 63 days, while only ~44,448 ETH await exit with a short wait time. Large stakers continue adding positions: Bitmine has staked roughly 2.5M ETH (about 61% of its holdings), and on-chain alerts flagged ~26,000 ETH withdrawn from Binance potentially for staking or accumulation. ETH spot volume recently softened to roughly $23.5B. For traders: shrinking exchange supply and a growing staking queue remove liquid ETH from spot markets, reducing immediate sell pressure and increasing the potential for amplified price moves if demand re-emerges. Monitor exchange balances, staking queue length, large-staker flows, and trading volume for signals of directional risk. This report is for market information only and not investment advice.
Coinbase has rolled out regulated prediction markets to users in all 50 U.S. states via Coinbase Financial Markets, in partnership with Kalshi. Appearing as a “Predict” tab in the Coinbase app, the feature lets users trade binary yes/no contracts on sports, politics, economics, culture, crypto and tech events using USD or USDC held in their Coinbase accounts. Contracts pay $1 if the event occurs and $0 if not; prices reflect market-implied probabilities and update in real time. Minimum trades start at $1 and markets operate nearly 24/7. Coinbase Financial Markets is registered as a futures commission merchant and is a National Futures Association member, while Kalshi supplies initial contracts and liquidity with plans to add more providers over time. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said prediction markets efficiently aggregate information when real money is at stake. The rollout follows earlier limited launches and broader growth in regulated event-market platforms (notably Kalshi and Polymarket). Coinbase will measure success by trading volume, user adoption and demand for more event categories. For traders: the integration extends Coinbase’s product suite beyond spot and crypto derivatives, keeps USD/USDC flows inside Coinbase, and introduces a new venue for event-driven speculation and hedging with low minimums and regulated oversight.
FTT price predictions for 2026–2030 center on recovery prospects following the November 2022 collapse of the FTX exchange. The token fell from highs above $60 to fractions of a dollar; ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, regulatory investigations and loss of original exchange utility continue to drive volatility. Analysts present tiered scenarios: conservative, moderate and optimistic forecasts ranging from roughly $0.50–$7 (conservative) to $4–$35 (optimistic) by 2026–2030, contingent on bankruptcy resolution, exchange relisting, new utility development, regulatory clarity and tokenomics changes (burns, staking, redistribution). Key short-term drivers include court rulings, creditor outcomes and relisting decisions; long-term recovery depends on rebuilding utility (governance, DeFi integration, staking), supply adjustments and sustained community trust. Major risks: unfavorable legal outcomes, regulatory restrictions, failure to redevelop utility, persistent negative sentiment and broader crypto market downturns. Recovery timelines are expected to be multi-year and high-risk; traders should treat FTT as a speculative asset requiring careful risk management and due diligence.
Blockchain analytics (reported via Nansen and Cointelegraph) show a 11.55% month-on-month increase in XRP holdings by ‘smart money’ wallets — addresses attributed to experienced investors, institutions or funds. This accumulation occurs despite XRP’s roughly 4% year-to-date price decline and subdued retail sentiment. On-chain signals also indicate declining exchange reserves and stable network activity, suggesting reduced sell pressure and steady user adoption. Analysts link smart money interest to improving regulatory clarity around Ripple’s SEC proceedings, expansion of Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) use cases, and broader institutional adoption for payments and settlement. While past cycles show large-scale accumulation can precede rallies, analysts warn this is not a guarantee; alternative explanations (wallet restructuring or custody flows) exist. For traders, the key takeaways are: a measurable whale accumulation (11.55%), falling exchange supply that can tighten liquidity, and a divergence between short-term price weakness and long-term investor conviction. Monitor continued smart money flows, exchange reserve trends and regulatory news to assess whether this accumulation translates into a sustained price move.
NVIDIA, Microsoft and Amazon are reportedly negotiating a joint equity investment of up to $60 billion in OpenAI, which would support a broader capital raise that could reach $100 billion. NVIDIA may lead the round with as much as $30 billion, Microsoft could contribute under $10 billion, and Amazon may commit more than $10 billion (some reports suggest it could exceed $20 billion). The talks follow prior deals tying NVIDIA and OpenAI to large-scale GPU-powered data-centre deployments and come as OpenAI — led by Sam Altman and Greg Brockman — pursues aggressive infrastructure spending (reported in the trillions across chips, data centres and talent) while remaining unprofitable. Strategic motives include securing sustained GPU demand for NVIDIA, reinforcing Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise AI distribution, and giving Amazon potential preferential access for AWS and Bedrock. The funding would accelerate R&D, model scaling and global expansion, and could intensify competition with Google and Anthropic. Market reaction has lifted chip and cloud stocks. For crypto traders: the OpenAI investment story increases demand visibility for AI infrastructure (NVIDIA GPUs, cloud services) and may indirectly drive risk-on flows into tech and infrastructure tokens; it also raises relevance for on-chain projects tied to compute, tokenized infrastructure, and tokenized AI services. Primary keywords: OpenAI investment, NVIDIA investment, Microsoft OpenAI, Amazon OpenAI. Secondary/semantic keywords: AI funding round, data-centre capacity, GPUs, Vera Rubin, AGI, AI infrastructure.
A crypto commentator warned that XRP could rally strongly if the U.S. Senate approves the CLARITY Act, a crypto market-structure bill scheduled for a delayed vote on January 29, 2026. The CLARITY Act would assign token oversight between the SEC and CFTC, classifying security-like tokens under the SEC and commodities — including XRP — under the CFTC. The bill also sets rules for stablecoins, reserves, DeFi protocols and reporting requirements, aiming to reduce regulatory uncertainty. XRP is highlighted as well positioned to benefit due to existing adoption and compliance readiness. Coinbase has withdrawn support for the bill citing unacceptable provisions, while Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has voiced support. Traders are watching the vote closely for potential price action in XRP; content includes a standard disclaimer that it is not financial advice.
Bullish
XRPCLARITY ActRegulationCFTC vs SECOn‑chain adoption
Bitcoin perpetual futures across the largest venues by open interest — Binance, OKX and Bybit — show an almost perfect long/short balance, indicating limited directional conviction among leveraged traders. A 24‑hour snapshot reports aggregate positions near 50/50 (approximately 49.8%–50.2% long vs short), with exchange-level splits roughly: Binance ~50.0% long / 50.0% short, OKX ~49.6% long / 50.4% short (slightly bearish), and Bybit ~50.1% long / 49.9% short (slightly bullish). Funding rates are near neutral, open interest is stable, liquidation clusters are symmetrically distributed, and trading volumes show no extreme spikes. Analysts interpret the tight spread as market consolidation and trader indecision rather than an imminent squeeze; balanced derivatives positioning reduces immediate forced liquidation risk but makes the market more sensitive to catalysts. With no extreme skew, future directional moves are likelier to be driven by spot flows and macro or regulatory catalysts — including news around the upcoming Bitcoin halving, institutional flows, or broader market volatility. Traders are advised to monitor the BTC perpetual futures long/short ratio alongside funding rates, open interest changes, liquidation levels and key technical support/resistance when sizing leveraged positions and watching for breakout cues.
Startale Group has secured $13 million in funding from Sony to deepen its collaboration on the Soneium Web3 ecosystem. The strategic investment will support joint development of blockchain-based services, including NFT, gaming and digital content initiatives tied to Soneium. Startale — a company focused on Web3 infrastructure and consumer experiences — will use the funds to accelerate product development, platform integration and market expansion. The deal strengthens Sony’s exposure to blockchain and digital entertainment through a targeted partnership rather than a broad equity acquisition. Key takeaways for traders: Sony’s $13M commitment signals continued institutional interest in Web3 and NFTs, potentially boosting sentiment for related tokens and project partnerships; but the funding is corporate and partnership-focused, so immediate on-chain liquidity effects may be muted. Monitor announcements from Startale and Soneium about product launches, token mechanics, NFT drops, or marketplace integrations, any of which could produce short-term price moves in relevant tokens.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev says the GameStop short-squeeze exposed limits in traditional brokerage systems and accelerated industry interest in tokenization of securities. Tenev argues tokenization — representing equities on blockchains — can deliver near‑real‑time settlement, reduce operational and counterparty risk, ease large cash-deposit requirements during volatile events, and lower the chance of forced trading halts like those seen in 2021. He noted U.S. settlement windows can vary (T+1, extend around weekends) and that firms previously had to raise emergency capital to meet margin calls during surges. Tenev highlighted that exchanges, including the NYSE, are piloting tokenized stock platforms and expects U.S. adoption to grow as regulatory clarity improves (citing SEC experiments and proposed legislation). For crypto traders, tokenization could boost liquidity and transparency for tokenized securities, alter custody and settlement flows, and reduce systemic settlement risks — but timing and practical impact depend on regulatory frameworks, pilot results and infrastructure rollout. Primary keyword: tokenization. Secondary keywords: Robinhood, GameStop, settlement, tokenized securities, regulation.
Strive Inc. completed an upsized, oversubscribed Series A perpetual preferred offering (1,320,000 shares at $90) that raised $225 million (demand ~ $600M). Proceeds and an equity-for-debt exchange were used to retire about $110 million of legacy Semler Scientific liabilities — including converting roughly $90 million of Semler convertible notes into ~930,000 SATA preferred shares — and to fully repay a $20 million Coinbase credit facility. Strive bought 333.9 BTC at an average price near $89,851, bringing its unencumbered treasury to 13,131.82 BTC (as of Jan 28, 2026), making it a top-10 public corporate Bitcoin holder. Management said the moves shift the company toward a preferred-equity capital structure, reduce leverage, and produce a 37% amplification ratio (98% attributable to SATA) with a reported quarter-to-date Bitcoin yield of ~21%. Remaining Semler liabilities of about $10 million are expected to be retired by April 2026. For traders: the transaction signals corporate demand for BTC, removes encumbrances on Strive’s treasury (reducing sell-side risk), and modestly tightens available supply via a 334 BTC purchase funded through equity rather than additional debt. Short-term price impact is likely limited but supportive; monitor future corporate accumulation and any secondary market selling of preferred shares or converted equity.
Worldcoin’s native token WLD surged up to ~27% after a Forbes report said OpenAI’s Sam Altman is evaluating biometric identity options to fight AI-driven bot armies, citing possible use of Apple Face ID or World Network’s iris-scanning device, Orb. World Network — co-founded by Altman — issues World ID, a privacy-focused digital identity tied to iris scans and backed by prior token sales that raised roughly $135 million from investors including a16z and Bain Capital Crypto. Forbes did not confirm an official partnership; the story is based on insiders and remains unverified. The report coincided with broader market news but primarily drove a short-term speculative rally in WLD, which outperformed many larger tokens on the move. Traders should note regulatory scrutiny and privacy concerns have followed Worldcoin in several jurisdictions despite claims of millions of verified users. Because the price reaction is news-driven and founded on partnership rumors rather than confirmed integration, expect elevated volatility and a risk of short-lived gains. Relevant keywords: Worldcoin, WLD, OpenAI, Orb, World ID, biometric ID, crypto regulation.
Worldcoin (WLD) rallied after media reports — led by Forbes — that OpenAI is exploring a prototype "humans-only" social app that would use biometric proofs (iris or facial scans) to block bot-created accounts. The news sparked a surge in WLD spot and derivatives activity: intraday WLD highs near $0.64, 24h spot volume jumping roughly 700–1,090% to ~$646–$749M across reports, futures volume rising substantially (up to ~855%) and open interest increasing ~76%, indicating fresh long positioning rather than pure short-covering. Market attention is amplified by Sam Altman’s co-founder link to Worldcoin, though no formal partnership has been confirmed. Technically, WLD still sits in a broader downtrend; key resistance lies at $0.62–$0.65 with support near $0.52 and $0.50 — a decisive daily close above $0.63–$0.65 on sustained volume would be needed to flip the medium-term bias. Regulatory and privacy risks remain prominent: Worldcoin’s iris-scanning "Orb" and past regulatory scrutiny (notable concerns in Kenya and the UK) raise questions about consent, biometric data handling and potential adoption limits. Traders should watch volume and open interest for confirmation of positioning, monitor announcements from OpenAI/Worldcoin for partnership clarity, and price action around the $0.50–$0.65 band for short- to medium-term setups.
South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb announced it will list the SENT and ELSA tokens on its KRW (Korean won) trading market. The listing expands fiat (KRW) access to these tokens for Korean traders, potentially increasing liquidity and on‑ramp flows. No trading pairs, listing dates, or deposit/withdrawal windows were specified in the brief announcement. The notice emphasized the information is for market purposes and not investment advice. Traders should watch for subsequent Bithumb updates that will provide trading pair details, listing schedule, and any deposit requirements.
The Central Bank of the UAE has approved Universal Digital to issue USDU, a US dollar–backed stablecoin, under its Payments Token Services Regulations. USDU is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar with reserves held in safeguarded onshore accounts at UAE banks including First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mashreq (and earlier reports named Emirates NBD/Mbank as custodians). Universal Digital is regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and will issue and manage the token. Aquanow has been named global distribution partner to provide institutional access to USDU in jurisdictions where permitted. This marks the first time a USD stablecoin operates within the UAE central bank’s payments regulatory framework, giving regulated onshore fiat-backed stablecoin infrastructure and clearer institutional pathways for dollar-denominated digital cash. For traders: expect improved institutional onramps and potentially tighter spreads/greater liquidity for USD-denominated stablecoin flows in the region; monitor distribution timelines, custody confirmations, and jurisdictional limits which will determine how quickly USDU can be adopted outside the UAE.
US authorities, including the US Marshals Service, are investigating an alleged theft of up to $90 million in cryptocurrency linked to the son of a contractor that provides services to the Department of Justice and Defense. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT posted on X that an individual known as “John ‘Lick’ Daghita” was seen controlling wallets tied to more than $90 million in suspected illicit funds, with investigators tracing over $40 million to government seizure addresses and some assets linked to funds from the Bitfinex hack. The matter surfaced after a Telegram dispute during which a young hacker shared wallet screens. Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, confirmed he was looking into the claims. The probe raises concerns about custody and security of government-controlled wallets and appears amid heightened political activity around crypto — notably large PAC donations from Ripple, a16z and Coinbase to crypto-focused PAC Fairshake and ongoing Senate discussions on crypto market-structure legislation. Key takeaways for traders: potential short-term volatility if more seized funds move, reputational and regulatory pressure could accelerate stricter custody standards and legislation, and linked high-profile hacks (e.g., Bitfinex) may revive scrutiny on exchange and seizure-wallet security.
Binance Alpha announced on 29 January 2026 that 12 tokens will be removed from its recommendation list at 14:00 (UTC+8) following a recent review. Tokens scheduled for removal are: WIZARD, SHOGGOTH, G, FWOG, UFD, BRIC, UPTOP, PORT3, XNAP, MORE, BOMB and BOOST. The update is a platform curation action and does not constitute investment advice. Traders using Binance Alpha should note potential liquidity and price impacts for these tokens around the removal time and adjust positions or monitoring accordingly. Primary keyword: Binance Alpha; secondary keywords: token delisting, token removal, liquidity impact.
Standard Chartered warned rapid stablecoin adoption could trigger a systemic bank-run, estimating up to $500 billion of bank deposits at risk if growth continues unchecked. Analysts at the bank argue that widespread use of stablecoins as a payment and liquidity tool may prompt large-scale withdrawals from traditional banks, accelerating deposit substitution. The report highlights risks tied to stablecoin issuer concentration, regulatory gaps, and the potential for sudden runs during market stress. Standard Chartered calls for clearer regulation, stronger issuer safeguards, and better bank-stablecoin interoperability controls to reduce contagion risk. The analysis names no single crypto project but frames the issue as a sector-wide vulnerability that could affect banking liquidity, payments, and short-term funding markets.
Coinbase has integrated Jupiter’s on‑chain routing and execution stack so users can trade Solana‑native tokens inside the Coinbase interface using existing balances and payment methods. Jupiter will aggregate liquidity across Solana DEXs, optimize routing and settle trades on‑chain while Coinbase supplies custody, distribution, fiat on/off‑ramps and UX. Jupiter’s Ultra aggregator reportedly handles roughly $50B in monthly Solana spot flow and generates about $4M monthly; Coinbase’s average monthly spot volume is ~$80–100B. The integration removes lengthy centralized listing lead times by enabling immediate market access where DEX liquidity exists, potentially expanding tradable token coverage and fee opportunities for both firms. Coinbase completed several M&A deals in 2025 (reports cite a $2.9B Deribit buy among six acquisitions), underscoring broader exchange consolidation. Risks for traders include exposure to illiquid or malicious Solana tokens; verification, liquidity checks and trade‑sizing controls are necessary. Keywords: Coinbase, Jupiter, Solana, on‑chain trading, DEX liquidity, token access.
Strive Asset Management announced it has retired 92% of debt assumed in an earlier acquisition and used proceeds from a preferred stock offering to purchase 334 Bitcoin (BTC). The firm completed a preferred stock raise to bolster its balance sheet, reduce leverage and expand its crypto holdings. Key actions: retiring the majority of acquired debt, completing a capital raise via preferred shares, and acquiring 334 BTC. The move signals a shift toward balance-sheet strengthening while increasing exposure to Bitcoin. Primary keywords: Strive Asset Management, Bitcoin purchase, debt retirement, preferred stock offering, capital raise.
Gold’s spot price broke above $5,500/oz, triggering a one-day market-cap gain of roughly $1.65 trillion and lifting estimated gold market capitalization to about $15.2 trillion. The rally—seen across major financial centres—was driven by rising geopolitical risk, surprise inflation data, weakening confidence in some sovereign bond markets, and heavy institutional buying (likely including central banks and sovereign wealth funds). Technical price action (break of the $5,500 level) and algorithmic stop/limit orders amplified the move. Silver also recorded strong gains, while mining equities and gold ETFs saw bullish inflows. The spike put renewed pressure on currencies of gold‑importing nations and prompted portfolio reallocation toward hard assets. For crypto markets, the event underscores how much capital traditional safe-haven assets can mobilise and highlights Bitcoin’s relative inability so far to absorb similar-sized flows—partly due to shallower liquidity and recent crypto volatility following a mid‑October crash. Institutional surveys still show supportive sentiment toward BTC as undervalued at higher price brackets, suggesting continued long-term conviction even as short-term capital rotates into precious metals. Traders should watch whether gold holds support around ~$5,300, monitor flows into mining ETFs, and expect elevated volatility in crypto as capital reallocates; deeper institutional adoption and liquidity would be needed for Bitcoin (BTC) to compete for these safe‑haven inflows.
The Federal Reserve paused its easing cycle at the first 2026 FOMC meeting, keeping the federal funds rate at 3.50–3.75%. Two officials dissented, preferring another 25bp cut, underlining policy division. Market focus quickly shifted from timing of cuts to the next Fed chair: Polymarket odds favor Rick Rieder (~34%), Kevin Warsh (~28%) and Christopher Waller (~20%), and chair choice is seen as a key determinant of future rate paths. Gold surged, breaking $5,500/oz and rising over $500 in four trading days (~10% weekly gain) as investors sought safe havens amid macro uncertainty. Equities, the US dollar and Treasuries traded with limited movement. Crypto reacted muted: Bitcoin hovered around $89k (small intraday swings), Ethereum near $3,000, and major altcoins stayed rangebound as traders entered a “waiting mode.” On-chain data (CryptoQuant) shows Bitcoin’s 365-day supply-in-loss rising, indicating losses spreading beyond short-term holders — a structural risk signal but not clear capitulation. Institutions disagree on cut timing (some penciling June/September, others later or none). For traders: expect heightened gold volatility, limited directional conviction in risk assets, and that BTC’s near-term direction will hinge on macro liquidity, Fed leadership clarity, and on-chain flow indicators. Primary keywords: Federal Reserve, gold surge, Bitcoin, interest rate pause. Secondary keywords: Fed chair odds, safe-haven flows, crypto on-chain risk, supply-in-loss, macro uncertainty.
Neutral
Federal Reservegold rallyBitcoinFed chair oddson-chain risk
Santiment reports a gradual rise in XRP wallets holding more than 1 million tokens since Jan. 1, with 42 such wallets returning after a Q4 decline of 784 wallets. The platform calls the trend an "encouraging sign" for XRP’s long-term outlook. At publication XRP traded around $1.87 (1 million XRP ≈ $1.87M). Nansen data also shows an 11.55% increase in XRP accumulation by "smart money" over the past 30 days. Market views are mixed: some traders expect a breakout past a selling wall toward ~$2.30 if buying pressure continues, while analysts warn upside may rely on narrative and regulatory developments (notably U.S. CLARITY Act voting). Broader market context is cautious — the Crypto Fear & Greed Index reads 26 (Fear) and CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index favors Bitcoin (Bitcoin score 31/100). Key implications for traders: rising large-holder accumulation and smart-money inflows can signal potential upside, but overall risk remains elevated due to weak market sentiment and regulatory uncertainty.
The Bank of Canada has outlined a detailed regulatory approach for stablecoins aimed at strengthening safety while preserving innovation. Regulators will continue to classify stablecoins as crypto assets rather than legal tender, but issuers would face new requirements under a proposed Stablecoin Act expected during 2026. Key measures include holding high-quality liquid reserves matching circulating tokens, clear and fast redemption rights, regular reserve disclosures and audits, issuer registration, and stronger governance and reporting. The framework targets consumer protection after past failures (e.g., TerraUSD) and temporary depegs by other stablecoins. Implications for traders and platforms: exchanges must tighten onboarding, verify issuer disclosures, and improve risk communication and labeling; CAD-backed stablecoins may gain traction as an alternative to USD-pegged tokens. Canada’s approach sits between the EU’s MiCA framework and ongoing U.S. debates — pragmatic, risk-focused, and innovation-friendly. Short rollout timelines are expected in 2026, giving firms time to adapt but likely raising compliance costs for smaller issuers.
Neutral
stablecoin regulationBank of Canadareserve requirementsstablecoin redemptionCAD stablecoin
Australia’s financial regulator has fined the operator of the Qoin cryptocurrency wallet A$20 million (about US$14 million) for providing digital-asset services without the required licence. The action targets unlicensed custody and exchange-like activity carried out via the Qoin wallet, which the regulator determined met the definition of a digital currency service under Australian law. The penalty underscores increased enforcement on crypto firms operating without registration and follows broader regulatory scrutiny in Australia aimed at consumer protection and anti-money laundering compliance. Key takeaways for traders: unlicensed service crackdowns can reduce liquidity on affected venues, prompt forced migrations of user funds, and increase short-term market volatility; they also signal regulators’ willingness to impose substantial fines, which may raise compliance costs across the industry. Primary keywords: Qoin, unlicensed crypto, Australia fine, crypto regulation. Secondary/semantic keywords: wallet operator, custody services, AML, consumer protection, market liquidity.
Bybit has become the leading centralized exchange for Tether Gold (XAUT) spot trading, capturing roughly 15.75% (~16%) of centralized XAUT volume per CoinGecko data. The surge in activity coincides with XAUT reaching new all-time highs near $5,500, tracking spot gold’s breakout above $5,000 amid macroeconomic uncertainty, inflation risks, geopolitical tensions, and central bank gold purchases. Bybit says its deep liquidity and 24/7 trading make it a primary venue for price discovery and access to tokenized gold, with trading active across weekends and outside traditional commodity hours. The exchange offers spot and margin trading (up to 10x), derivatives (up to 50x), multi-chain XAUT deposits (Solana, Ethereum, Mantle, Monad, TON), and automated strategies like DCA and Grid Bot. Bybit frames XAUT and other tokenized real-world assets as tools for traders to hedge volatility and gain macro exposure within crypto markets. Key figures quoted include Han Tan (Bybit Learn Chief Market Analyst) and Emily Bao (Head of Spot at Bybit).
The crypto market extended a broad correction on Jan. 29, 2026, with major tokens and sectors showing widespread weakness. Bitcoin slipped below $89,000 (down ~0.8%) and Ethereum fell under $3,000 (down ~0.6%). Sector gains earlier in AI, real-world assets (RWA) and centralized finance (CeFi) faded, leaving Layer 1, Layer 2, DeFi, PayFi and memecoins under pressure. Notable individual token moves included gains in Worldcoin, Kite and Jito, but these did not offset the market-wide selling. Key regulatory and institutional developments: the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission clarified that tokenized securities are subject to existing federal securities laws and must meet the same registration, disclosure and compliance obligations as traditional securities. Coinbase Markets added Infinex (INX) to its asset listing roadmap, contingent on market-making and technical readiness. Sony Innovation Fund led a $13M Series A tranche into Startale Group, co-developer of the Soneium Ethereum layer-2, bringing Startale’s disclosed funding to $20M. For traders: expect heightened sensitivity to regulatory news (tokenization guidance) and selective volatility around tokens tied to the mentioned projects (INX, WLD, KITE, JTO). Market breadth is negative, so short-term risk is elevated — traders should manage leverage, watch liquidity on major exchanges, and monitor responses to SEC guidance which could reclassify or constrain tokenized instruments.
WTI and Brent crude have surged about 12% in January, lifting WTI to roughly $64.30 and Brent to $68.22 — the highest levels since September. The rally is driven by geopolitical tensions (U.S.–Iran rhetoric and related threats) and a 2.3 million-barrel drawdown in U.S. inventories reported by the EIA. Higher oil feeds into CPI via fuel and transport costs, prompting second‑round effects on wages and core prices. That inflationary pressure reduces the likelihood of rapid Fed rate cuts; the Fed recently held its policy rate at 4.5–4.75% and signalled no rush to ease. For crypto traders, higher oil-driven inflation presents a near-term headwind for Bitcoin (BTC). BTC bulls had been positioned for gains if rate cuts arrived soon — Bitcoin fell from a peak above $126,000 in October to under $90,000 amid competing asset rallies (gold, silver) and now rising oil. Key takeaways for traders: monitor oil prices and EIA inventory data, watch Fed communications for shifts in rate-cut timing, and expect heightened correlation between macro inflation surprises and Bitcoin price action. Primary keywords: oil rally, inflation, Bitcoin, Fed rate cuts; secondary keywords: WTI, Brent, EIA inventories, geopolitical risk.
This combined analysis examines whether Avalanche (AVAX) can reach $100 between 2026 and 2030 by integrating technical, adoption and market forecasts from both reports. Main drivers: Avalanche’s Snow consensus and customizable subnet architecture support fast finality, enterprise use-cases and developer growth; ongoing subnet adoption, Avalanche Warp Messaging (interoperability), rising active addresses, and DeFi TVL expansion could materially boost demand for AVAX. Price scenarios for 2026 cluster into conservative $35–55, moderate $55–80 and optimistic $75–95 ranges depending on models (moving averages, network-value metrics, adoption curves). Longer-term projections (2028–2030) show a conservative path toward ~$80–90 and an upside case above $100 if enterprise/institutional adoption accelerates, network upgrades succeed, tokenized real-world assets scale, and regulatory clarity improves. Key risks: regulatory crackdowns, stronger layer‑1 competition (Ethereum, Solana, Cardano), macroeconomic headwinds, and security incidents. Trader guidance: monitor on-chain metrics (active addresses, transaction volume, TVL, network revenue, developer commits), subnet adoption and upgrade roadmaps, institutional flows, and regulatory developments. Short-term price action will remain sensitive to macro liquidity and broader crypto cycles; reaching $100 by 2030 requires sustained adoption, market-cap expansion and limited competitive displacement. This summary is informational and not trading advice.