Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Privacy coins regroup as traders take profits after rapid rallies earlier in January. Zcash (ZEC) led declines, dropping nearly 9% in one session after breaching key technical supports including $421.90 and the 20-day EMA (~$488.60). A developing bear-flag pattern puts a potential target zone near $275–$300 if $390 support fails; ZEC’s short-term RSI (7) sits around 42.8, offering no oversold relief. Monero (XMR) eased about 2% following an all-time high of $797.54 on Jan 14 — a 65% monthly gain — as momentum traders locked in profits. XMR’s RSI-7 hit ~80 before the pullback; immediate resistance is near the 23.6% Fibonacci level at $706.57, with a deeper 38.2% retracement at $649.44. The sector’s thinner liquidity and wider ranges help amplify moves: crowded positioning from fast appreciation turned small technical triggers into broader selling. Traders should watch multi-week supports and Fibonacci levels for stabilization before re-entering. Market commentary notes PR firms like Outset PR are using data-driven timing to shape narratives during volatile stretches, but this is peripheral to trade decisions. Key trading takeaways: monitor ZEC support at $390 and lower Fibonacci zones, watch XMR’s hold above $700 for near-term risk control, and expect heightened volatility given low liquidity in privacy tokens.

Stablecoins, especially USDT, are widely used for liquidity and preserving value. By 2026, flexible crypto savings accounts — products that offer daily interest, instant access and transparent yields — have become the preferred option for traders and holders who want passive income without lock-ups or complex DeFi strategies. Flexible accounts credit interest daily, provide 24/7 liquidity, low minimum deposits, and straightforward APYs that compound more predictably than many alternatives. The article highlights Clapp Finance as an example: a VASP-registered EU provider offering a clear 5.2% APY on stablecoins and EUR, daily payouts, SEPA Instant fiat on-ramps, low entry thresholds (from 10 EUR/USDT/USDC), and institutional custody via Fireblocks. It contrasts flexible savings with other methods (CEX earn programs, DeFi lending, liquidity pools, structured products), noting relative risks such as exchange solvency, smart-contract and impermanent-loss exposure, and strategy/counterparty risk. Key due-diligence points for traders include custody model, regulatory status, sustainability of yields, withdrawal speed/costs, and transparency of yield generation. Overall, flexible savings are positioned as a low-complexity yield tool for traders seeking predictable, liquid returns on USDT.

Former President Donald Trump announced plans to file a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase within weeks, alleging the bank improperly cut off his banking services after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot — a practice he calls “debanking.” Trump said the alleged action forced him to move large sums of money on short notice and framed the decision as politically motivated. JPMorgan denies closing accounts for political or religious reasons and said account actions are guided by compliance and legal standards. Trump also denied reports that he offered CEO Jamie Dimon the Federal Reserve chair position; Dimon has said he is not interested. Legal experts say the dispute could highlight tensions between public officials and private financial firms over political influence and institutional independence. The case could draw regulatory scrutiny and political attention, adding to Trump’s broader legal and political battles.

This guide reviews leading crypto sportsbooks for betting on Valorant and StarCraft 2, comparing custody models, supported tokens, live markets and suitability for fast in-play wagering. Primary platforms examined are Dexsport (non-custodial, on-chain transparency, BTC/USDT/ETH/BNB/TRX support, fast deposits/withdrawals, live cash-out), Cloudbet (established custodial Bitcoin sportsbook since 2013, deep liquidity, BTC/USDT and 30+ coins, high limits, occasional KYC) and Thunderpick (esports-first, crypto deposits only, strong Valorant focus, regular promotions). The article highlights why crypto is advantageous for esports betting — faster settlements, borderless access, greater privacy and better live betting — and compares BTC (volatility, preferred by long-term holders) versus USDT (stable bankroll management). For traders, the piece notes Valorant offers high liquidity and many live markets (match/map winner, totals, handicaps, live rounds), while StarCraft 2 is niche with lower liquidity but value for informed bettors. Key SEO keywords: crypto esports betting, BTC betting, USDT betting, Valorant betting, StarCraft 2 betting. Consider platform choice based on custody preference, KYC tolerance, settlement speed and live market quality.

China’s leadership and regulators are stepping in to stop aggressive price wars among major tech groups that have been using heavy subsidies and discounts to gain market share. Xi Jinping has signalled concern about firms “tearing each other apart” with continual price cuts amid a prolonged period of falling prices. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has ramped up enforcement after a slower period since the 2021 tech crackdown. SAMR recently investigated Meituan and Alibaba’s delivery units and has now opened an official probe into travel-booking giant Ctrip (Trip.com). Regulators characterize the behavior as “involution” — unsustainable discounting and supplier pressure — seen across sectors from food delivery to EVs and solar. Trip.com’s parent fell over 20% in the past week after the announcement; the company says it will cooperate and operations continue as normal. The food-delivery price war, involving Meituan, Alibaba, JD.com and PDD, led to widespread subsidies, squeezed restaurants, and prompted regulator meetings last July. SAMR has been summoning executives, inspecting offices (reports of a confrontation at PDD’s Shanghai office surfaced), and may pursue tougher measures if firms don’t curb discounting. Regulators are cautious about heavy fines because these platforms employ millions and support many small businesses amid a weak job market. The renewed enforcement focus increases regulatory risk for Chinese tech equities and related market participants.

A Satoshi-era Bitcoin wallet tagged “5K BTC OG” has resumed activity after 12 years and begun structured sell-offs. Originally funded with 5,000 BTC in 2012 (~$1.66M then), the wallet has sold 2,500 BTC since December 4, 2024, across multiple transfers to Binance, realising roughly $265 million at an average exit price near $106,164. Most recently the whale moved another 500 BTC (~$47.8M) to Binance. The holder still retains 2,500 BTC (approx. $237.5M at current prices). The disposals appear deliberate — transactions of 250–500 BTC each, spread over months — likely to blend into exchange liquidity and reduce slippage. Traders should note that a potential sale of the remaining 2,500 BTC could exert notable downward pressure on BTC near the $100,000 resistance zone. Key facts: wallet origin (2012), total original balance (5,000 BTC), sold to date (2,500 BTC), proceeds (~$265M), latest transfer (500 BTC), remaining balance (2,500 BTC, ~$237.5M), average exit price (~$106k).

Crypto sportsbooks are increasingly preferred for cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL) betting due to faster deposits, cross-border access, and robust live-betting capabilities. The article reviews what cricket bettors should look for—deep pre-match and live markets, cash-out options, strong platform performance during peak hours, and support for major cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, ETH, BNB, TRON). It highlights four platforms: Dexsport (crypto-native, non-custodial, on-chain transparency, no mandatory KYC, extensive IPL markets), Voltage Bet (traditional sportsbook with crypto support; may require ID for withdrawals), XBet (high-volume live event coverage, advanced interface for experienced users), and Vave (mobile-friendly live betting with crypto; KYC at higher limits). The piece argues crypto sportsbooks suit IPL’s high-frequency, in-play market structure by enabling fast bet placement and reliable withdrawals, and names Dexsport as the standout for speed, transparency and flexibility during live matches. Primary keywords: crypto sportsbook, IPL betting, crypto cricket betting. Secondary/semantic keywords: live betting, Bitcoin, USDT, non-custodial, cash out.

Internet Computer (ICP) pulled back about 3% after a rapid 30% rally over the past week that pushed the token to a 39% monthly gain. The rally was driven primarily by DFINITY’s “Mission 70” whitepaper — a proposal to cut ICP token inflation by 70% by end-2026 — which spurred bullish tokenomics expectations and drew momentum traders. Price met resistance near the $4.80 Fibonacci swing high, where selling intensified as short-term participants booked profits and market liquidity softened. Technical indicators (elevated RSI, thinning liquidity) point to a routine corrective phase rather than a collapse of fundamentals; the core catalyst (inflation reduction proposal) remains intact. Traders should expect near-term volatility as the market digests the rapid ascent; key trade considerations include watching support on dips, monitoring volume/RSI for exhaustion or renewed buying, and tracking any DFINITY updates on token issuance timing.

Steak ’N Shake has allocated about $10 million of Bitcoin (~105 BTC) to a newly created Strategic Bitcoin Reserve after eight months of accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. Management says all customer BTC receipts are routed into the reserve; some BTC may be retained as a corporate asset while proceeds are earmarked to fund store upgrades and ingredient improvements without raising menu prices. The company reports low-to-mid double-digit same-store sales growth (cited around 15% month-over-month in Q4) since adopting Bitcoin payments, and says using Lightning has reduced payment processing fees by roughly 50% versus card payments. Leadership frames the initiative as an operational integration—customers who pay with Bitcoin effectively contribute to the company’s treasury—rather than a speculative treasury-management play. Although $10 million is small compared with the largest corporate crypto treasuries, the move by a legacy US fast-food brand underscores growing retail adoption of Bitcoin and continued corporate accumulation. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin, Lightning Network, corporate treasury, same-store sales, payment processing fees.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned that continual additions to the protocol, preserved by backward compatibility, are causing complexity and "bloat" that harm trustlessness, rebuildability and self‑sovereignty. In a post on X he argued that excessive code, multiple advanced cryptographic primitives and ad hoc rules make the protocol hard to inspect, maintain or reimplement if teams disappear. Buterin proposed introducing an explicit "simplification" or "garbage collection" function in Ethereum’s development process to remove rarely used features, reduce total lines of code, limit reliance on complex cryptography and add clearer invariants. He cited the PoW→PoS transition and recent gas cost reforms as past examples of effective cleanup and suggested demoting seldom‑used core features into smart contracts. The proposal contrasts with Solana CEO Anatoly Yakovenko’s view that blockchains must keep iterating continuously to remain relevant. For traders, the news signals possible future protocol-level cleanups that could affect client software, node operators and long-term network resilience. Primary keywords: Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, protocol bloat, garbage collection. Secondary/semantic keywords: backward compatibility, simplification, PoS, gas cost reform, client maintenance.

Cryptopolitan compares Cardano (ADA) — trading around $0.40 with a ~$14.5B market cap — to early-stage Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new Ethereum-based lending protocol currently in presale at $0.04. ADA faces resistance near $0.50–$0.60 and needs large liquidity to move materially; analysts see a modest bullish target of $0.65 in 2026. Mutuum Finance plans a V1 lending protocol (testnet imminent), interest-bearing mtTokens, and Halborn security review plus a 90/100 CertiK TokenScan rating and a $50,000 bug bounty. MUTM has raised ~$19.8M, distributed 45.5% of its 4B supply in presale, with >18,800 holders and ongoing Phase 7 sales. Proponents argue MUTM offers higher asymmetric upside: if the protocol gains usage, a move from $0.04 to $0.40 would represent a 10x gain versus ADA’s projected 1.5x. The article is a press release; readers are advised to perform due diligence before investing.

A LatAm-focused report highlights two developments with potential market implications. First, Venezuelan actors and oil-sector links have been connected to "Gasolina," the fuel-related company cited in legal filings around former U.S. President Donald Trump — raising regulatory and geopolitical scrutiny that could affect crypto flows tied to sanctioned networks. Second, Brazil’s finance ministry and tax authorities are debating how to tax stablecoins and crypto transactions. Proposed approaches include treating certain stablecoin operations as foreign currency flows or applying capital gains rules; tax clarity remains unresolved, and lobby groups and exchanges are engaged in consultations. The piece notes broader regional themes: regulatory uncertainty, potential compliance costs for exchanges, and cross-border payment use cases for stablecoins in Latin America. For traders, the immediate takeaways are heightened compliance risk for firms operating in or routing funds through Venezuela-linked entities, and the possibility of increased transaction costs or reporting requirements in Brazil if stricter tax rules are adopted. Monitor legal developments around the "Gasolina" case, official guidance from Brazil’s tax authorities, and any exchange responses or delistings. Primary keywords: Venezuela, Brazil, stablecoin tax, regulatory uncertainty. Secondary keywords: sanctions, compliance, cross-border payments.

Ethereum (ETH) shows renewed upside momentum as network usage and smart contract activity remain elevated. ETH is trading in a $3,013–$3,263 range and has gained over 11% this month. Nearest resistance sits at $3,408; a successful break could target a secondary resistance near $3,657, implying an 11–13% upside from the current range. The 10-day moving average just above $3,300 supports short-term bullish momentum despite a prior six-month pullback. High on-chain transaction and deployment activity suggest continued demand and utility, which may underpin steady price appreciation, though short-term volatility remains possible. This update is informational and not investment advice.

Institutions remain active in Real-World Asset (RWA) tokens as several mid-cap altcoins show technical setups that traders may watch for near-term moves. Key coins covered: ONDO (Ondo), ALGO (Algorand), AVAX (Avalanche) and XLM (Stellar). ONDO trades around $0.37–$0.45, down ~9% month-to-month and ~63% over six months; breaking $0.50 resistance could target $0.58 (≈29% upside from current range top). ALGO sits near $0.13–$0.14 with immediate resistance at $0.15 and second resistance at $0.17; a push past $0.17 implies roughly 30% upside. AVAX is drifting $13.18–$14.50, eyeing $15.31 resistance and a possible $16.63 target if momentum returns (20%+ upside from current low). XLM ranges $0.21–$0.25, holding near 10-day MA and support at $0.20; upside resistances at $0.27–$0.30. Technical signals noted: low RSI on ONDO (suggesting oversold), modest month gains for ALGO and AVAX, subdued MACD and balanced RSI for XLM. Takeaway for traders: institutional activity provides a constructive backdrop, but all four tokens face significant medium-term drawdowns (30–63% over six months) and require confirmed breaks above short-term resistances and moving averages before committing to long positions. Risk management (position sizing, stops) is advised given volatility and mixed momentum indicators. This summary includes primary keywords: RWA tokens, ONDO, ALGO, AVAX, XLM, institutional activity.

Blockchain security firm PeckShield says crypto losses reached $4.04 billion in 2025, a 34% increase from 2024. Losses split into $2.67 billion from hacks (up 24%) and $1.37 billion from scams (up ~64%). Attackers shifted toward centralized exchanges and large organizations, which accounted for roughly 75% of stolen funds (versus 46% in 2024). February’s Bybit hot‑wallet breach — the largest single hack on record (~$1.4–1.51B) and linked by U.S. authorities to North Korean actor Lazarus — drove a monthly peak. Other major exploits included Cetus (~$223M) and Balancer (~$128M); major attacks continued into 2026 (Truebit ~$26.5M). Tracked laundering rose to ~$1.49B (up 15%), while recovered or frozen funds fell to ~$334.9M from $488.5M in 2024, as attackers used bridges, mixers and cross‑chain routes to move funds quickly. Chainalysis and PeckShield data indicate North Korea–linked actors were responsible for roughly $2.02B of thefts in 2025. BNB Chain had the most incidents by count, while Ethereum accounted for the largest dollar losses. Key takeaways for traders: increased counterparty and custody risk at centralized venues, larger per‑incident losses, faster laundering and lower recovery rates, and elevated potential for volatility around compromised exchanges and top-cap assets. Primary keywords: crypto hacks, crypto scams, centralized exchanges. Secondary/semantic keywords: social engineering, hot‑wallet breach, asset recovery, laundering, Lazarus Group.

Anthropic, an AI startup, is pursuing a new funding round to raise $25 billion or more at a proposed $350 billion valuation. Sequoia Capital is expected to take part in the financing. Microsoft and NVIDIA have already committed up to $15 billion combined to Anthropic. The move would further concentrate large-scale capital behind leading AI developers and could support Anthropic’s product development, cloud compute capacity, and model scaling. For traders, the round underscores continued heavy institutional interest in advanced AI firms and highlights potential funding-driven impacts on sector equities, cloud providers, and AI-related tokens.

El Salvador has moved to widen ‘Bitcoin zones’ — designated areas where Bitcoin is accepted and where businesses can opt for tax incentives — as the government continues to push crypto adoption. The expansion aims to increase merchant acceptance and tourism tied to Bitcoin-friendly services and venues. Separately, prediction market platform Polymarket listed a controversial market on whether Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro would be removed from office; the listing attracted heavy attention and trading activity, sparking debate about market ethics and regulatory scrutiny. The Polymarket market’s volumes and settlement conditions prompted speculation about potential price signals for Venezuelan political risk and demonstrated how prediction markets can intersect with geopolitical events. Key themes: policy-driven crypto adoption in LATAM (El Salvador), increased merchant and tourism focus, and the use of prediction markets (Polymarket) to trade political outcomes, raising ethical and regulatory questions. Primary keywords: El Salvador Bitcoin, Bitcoin zones, Polymarket, prediction market, Maduro. Secondary keywords: crypto adoption, merchant acceptance, regulatory scrutiny, political risk trading.

South Korea will hold direct talks with the United States to try to exempt major memory-chip exporters Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix from President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on certain advanced AI chips. Seoul’s presidential office and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stressed that the first phase of the tariff proclamation targets high-end AI processors (such as Nvidia’s H200 and AMD’s MI325X) and does not currently include memory chips, so the immediate impact on Samsung and SK Hynix is expected to be limited. However, officials warned the tariff scope could expand quickly in later phases, and a prior joint fact sheet between South Korea and the U.S. — promising no worse treatment than other chipmaking countries — is now under pressure. The White House says the tariffs are narrow and exempt imports for U.S. data centers, public sector, consumer electronics and certain startups; but U.S. Commerce Secretary warned firms that do not invest in U.S. fabs could face tariffs up to 100%. The tariffs follow a nine-month Section 232 probe of advanced semiconductors and related equipment. South Korea intends to press for favorable terms to protect its chip industry and work with local companies to mitigate risks.

Bitcoin has traded sideways around $95,000 over the weekend after a mid-week rally that pushed it to roughly $98,000. Despite heightened geopolitical tensions and new US–EU tariff headlines, BTC remains stable with a market cap near $1.9 trillion and dominance at 57.3%. Among large-cap altcoins, TRX, HYPE and XLM posted short-term gains (TRX ≈ +3% to $0.32), while Monero (XMR) plunged about 10% intraday and remains volatile after a recent peak. Over the weekly timeframe, ETH is up ~7% above $3,300; ICP is the top weekly gainer (+25%) and POL the largest weekly loser (-18%). Total crypto market capitalization holds above $3.3 trillion. Key trading implications: BTC’s resilience amid macro and political shocks suggests continued investor confidence and potential range-bound trading around $90–98K; notable outperformance from ICP and ETH may attract short-term altcoin rotations, while XMR’s sharp reversal signals elevated risk for privacy coins.

ALT5 Sigma Corporation has informed Nasdaq that it has cured its delinquent periodic filing status and now complies with Nasdaq’s listing rules for periodic financial reports. The Nasdaq had notified the company in November for late filing of required financial reports. ALT5 Sigma’s announcement removes the company from delinquent status, though no financial details or reasons for the prior delay were disclosed. The company statement was reported via BusinessWire. This development addresses regulatory compliance risk that had potential implications for the company’s listing status and investor confidence.

Cardano whale wallets accumulated more than 200 million ADA during a recent market dip, according to on-chain analytics cited by Ali Charts. The purchases—reported between roughly 100 million and 310 million ADA in the past three weeks—were concentrated in wallets holding between 1 million and 100 million ADA, with some larger holders (100M–1B ADA) also increasing positions. Analysts interpret this accumulation as a sign of growing on-chain confidence and potential institutional interest. Whales commonly transfer purchased ADA to personal wallets to stake, which reduces circulating supply and can increase scarcity-driven upward pressure. Technical and on-chain indicators show divergence consistent with prior accumulation-led recoveries; key resistance is noted in the $0.50–$0.60 range. At the time of reporting, ADA traded near $0.39. Traders are watching for confirmation via sustained volume increases and resistance breaks, while acknowledging macro factors that could still influence price action.

China exported 6,745 tonnes of rare‑earth products in December, down from 6,958 tonnes in November, according to customs data. The decline follows Beijing’s new export controls aimed at materials with possible military applications—measures that appear to target Japan after recent diplomatic tensions. The December tally is concentrated in rare‑earth magnets, a category central to past trade disputes. China’s Ministry of Commerce signalled tighter licensing and possible additional restrictions on shipments to Japan. In response, the U.S. hosted G7 finance ministers and representatives from Australia, India, South Korea and the EU in Washington to discuss reducing global dependence on Chinese rare earths. Participants, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, explored measures including price floors and support for alternative mining and processing projects. Officials described the effort as urgent. China previously said in October that export restrictions would apply globally. Analysts note the licensing regime is being used to slow or block exports to advanced‑tech and defence sectors in Japan, Europe and the U.S. The Global Times dismissed Western attempts to outcompete China in rare‑earth supply, while other countries accelerate investments in new supply chains to avoid single‑source dependence.

Crypto’s promise of decentralization is weakening at the interoperability layer, where value movement between chains is increasingly mediated by a small set of centralized intermediaries. Michael Steuer, CTO of Casper Network, argues that user-experience choices and the industry’s reliance on cross-chain bridges, messaging and verification systems have concentrated control with providers like Chainlink, LayerZero and Axelar. Bridges require users to manage network choices, wallets and fees, exposing assets to permanent loss and security breaches; bridges have been targeted in large hacks and are also used for money laundering. Messaging/verification layers, while not custodial, gatekeep which cross-chain messages are recognized, creating chokepoints outside underlying networks’ control. This fragmentation forces users to commit to specific chains, reinforcing tribalism (e.g., Bitcoin maximalists, XRP army) and incentivizing protocols to protect ecosystems rather than reduce friction. The result: decentralization remains at protocol level but coordination, usability and access concentrate with centralized infrastructure, limiting mass adoption and exposing markets to systemic risks tied to a few interoperability providers.

Vanguard disclosed a $505 million purchase of MicroStrategy (MSTR) shares, pushing its total estimated exposure to MicroStrategy-linked bitcoin exposure to about $3.2 billion across funds. The buy follows MicroStrategy’s expansion of its treasury to 687,410 BTC and a painful Q4 2025 that left the company with a $17.4 billion unrealized BTC loss. Vanguard—once an outspoken opponent of Bitcoin—has softened after leadership change (Salim Ramji as CEO) and began allowing customers to trade third-party spot BTC and ETH ETFs. The move was facilitated by MSCI’s decision not to exclude Digital Asset Treasury Companies from benchmarks, preventing forced selling by index trackers. MicroStrategy stock has begun recovering from a six-month decline; insider board member Carl Rickertsen also bought 5,000 shares, signaling insider confidence. For traders, the key takeaways are increased passive institutional flows into MSTR (a backdoor for bitcoin exposure), continued volatility in MSTR and BTC (BTC trading near $95,000 at time of report), and a regulatory/indexing environment that now tacitly legitimizes the bitcoin treasury strategy.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) said it will pursue an open, interoperable tokenisation ecosystem for institutional securities rather than building closed “walled gardens.” DTCC’s digital-assets leadership stressed collaboration with market participants, custodians and existing infrastructure to enable tokenised securities, reduce fragmentation and preserve liquidity. The firm is prioritising standards, security, resilience and customer-led pilots over immediate product rollouts — including pilots with permissioned chains (eg, Canton Network) and planned support for AppChain/Ethereum-compatible environments. DTCC also responded to industry questions on token representation and custody by saying customers can choose compliant blockchains. Separately, the U.S. SEC approved DTCC’s expansion of its FICC Agent Clearing Service to include an ACS Triparty Service using BNY Mellon’s global collateral infrastructure, enabling triparty repo transactions for clearing. For crypto traders, the moves signal gradual institutional plumbing upgrades and a preference for interoperable token rails that could, over time, increase on-chain liquidity for tokenised fixed-income and securities products; no immediate retail-facing products or releases were announced.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs drew $1.42 billion in net inflows over the past week — the largest weekly total in three months — reversing prior outflows and signaling renewed institutional demand. Cumulative U.S. spot BTC ETF investments remain substantial after earlier reported inflow rounds, and ETF trading volumes spiked, supporting liquidity. Macro tailwinds (markets pricing a high probability of a Fed rate cut and a softer dollar) and structural upgrades (broader institutional access and higher options limits for major ETFs) bolstered demand. On-chain and technical indicators reinforce a constructive outlook: the Pi Cycle Top Indicator shows divergence consistent with non-overheated conditions often seen in early-to-mid bull phases, large holders (whales) increased accumulation, and BTC is holding near $95k with resistance at the 200-day EMA (~$95,986) and a breakout threshold near $98k–$100k. Analysts say sustained weekly ETF inflows above ~$100M combined with continued whale accumulation and favorable macro conditions could push BTC toward $100k–$110k. Conversely, renewed ETF outflows or a shift in sentiment could see BTC drop below the $95k support toward roughly $93.5k. For traders: monitor weekly ETF flows, whale wallet accumulation, the 200-day EMA, and macro cues (Fed pricing and USD strength) to gauge momentum and risk; a confirmed daily/weekly breakout above $92k–$98k would be bullish, while failing key supports may open short-term downside.

Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick projects XRP could reach $12.50 by 2028, arguing that growing regulatory clarity and the launch of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will unlock significant institutional demand. Kendrick forecasts as many as six XRP ETF products and $4–$8 billion in inflows within the first year, which he says could materially reprice XRP from its then-current level (~$2.06). The thesis rests on XRP’s real-world payments utility — speed, low fees and scalability — positioning it as a bridge asset for cross-border settlements and tokenized financial flows. Kendrick also suggests XRP might challenge Ethereum’s market cap in the 2026 bull cycle if ETF-driven institutional capital favors XRP as an infrastructure and ETF proxy. The report frames the $12.50 target as a structural outcome of widened capital access, easing regulatory headwinds, and increasing mainstream adoption rather than pure speculation.

Michael Saylor, executive chair of Bitcoin Treasury company Strategy, announced on X that the firm added a new “BTC Rating” metric to its website. Strategy’s bitcoin product strategy lead, Chaitanya Jain, explained the formula: (Bitcoin reserves − debt − preferred stock + USD reserves) / market capitalization. The metric measures net bitcoin reserves relative to the company’s market value, offering a concise gauge of how much of Strategy’s market cap is backed by net BTC holdings. The update is presented as market information and not investment advice.

Samsung Electronics plans to pay record performance bonuses after a surge in profits driven by AI-related demand for memory chips. Device Solutions (DS), Samsung’s semiconductor division, will award eligible staff up to 47% of annual base salary under its Overachieved Performance Incentive (OPI) program this month — near the internal 50% cap. Samsung’s mobile MX division will receive the full 50% OPI, while consumer electronics and networks divisions face much lower rates (around 12% based on 2025 performance). The payouts follow a preliminary Q4 operating profit of 20 trillion won (~$13.6bn), with the DS division contributing an estimated 16–17 trillion won thanks to higher prices for advanced and general-purpose memory and strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM). SK hynix also announced a new profit-sharing plan: it will allocate 10% of operating profits to bonuses after scrapping its prior cap, with an average projected payout above 140 million won per employee. SK hynix will pay 80% up front and defer 20% over two years, and it will reintroduce an Employee Share Participation Program that lets staff take half their bonus in shares plus a 15% cash premium for one-year holds. Since 2024, both Samsung and SK hynix have shifted capacity toward HBM, tightening supply for general-purpose DRAM like DDR5 and lifting prices. For traders: large payouts signal stronger corporate earnings in leading chipmakers, sustained demand for AI-related memory, and continued margin expansion in the memory sector — factors that can support stock and semiconductor-sector crypto-related tokens tied to AI infrastructure or GPU demand.