Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Coinbase Institutional surveyed nearly 150 investors in December and found growing consensus on economic cycle maturity. Key findings: 26% of institutional investors and 21% of non-institutional (retail) investors consider the market to still be in a bear market—substantial increases from September’s 2% (institutions) and 7% (retail). The report highlights rising concern over whether the market is entering the final phase of price discovery before transitioning into a new accumulation phase. The data signals increased bearish sentiment among investors and suggests attention should be paid to signs of price-discovery exhaustion and subsequent accumulation opportunities. (Note: This content is informational and not investment advice.)

Ozak AI’s $OZ presale is gaining momentum, raising nearly $6 million at a current presale price of $0.014. The project markets an AI-driven crypto ecosystem combining on‑chain/off‑chain data aggregation, neural-network prediction agents, DePIN storage and cross‑chain capability. $OZ is positioned for staking, governance and on‑chain utility (prediction agents, private data vault access, performance rewards), not just speculation. Recent partnerships and integrations cited across the two updates include SINT, Hive Intel, Weblume, Pyth Network, Dex3, Phala Network and Openledger — providing one‑click AI tools, multi‑chain data feeds, developer integrations, oracle access, liquidity channels and secure compute/data infrastructure to improve model training and privacy. The later summary emphasizes rising presale demand, community growth and early integrations, with promotional estimates of a rapid post‑listing surge (20×–60×) if momentum continues. Security and audits are noted but details are limited. Both pieces are paid press releases and not investment advice. Traders should watch: final raised amount, tokenomics (allocation, vesting, unlock schedule), audit reports, exchange listing details and initial liquidity — factors that will determine short‑term listing volatility and longer‑term token utility.

Cyber Hornet has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to register the S&P Crypto 10 ETF (ticker: CTX), which would track the top 10 cryptocurrencies from the S&P Cryptocurrency Broad Digital Asset index. The proposed basket is Bitcoin-heavy: 69% BTC and 14% ETH, with remaining allocations to XRP (5%), BNB (4%), SOL (2%), TRX (1%), ADA (0.5%), BCH (0.4%), LINK (0.3%) and XLM (0.2%). Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted the filing and said the race for diversified spot crypto ETFs is intensifying. The filing underscores Bitcoin’s market dominance (roughly $1.5–1.8 trillion market cap and ~59% dominance in the article’s metrics) and reflects growing issuer interest in S&P-linked spot baskets. Market context: BlackRock’s IBIT leads spot BTC ETFs with roughly $69.8B in net assets; combined spot BTC ETFs hold ~1.5M BTC (~7% of supply). At publication BTC traded near $89,449 and ETH near $2,953. The CTX ETF aims to offer direct, regulated spot exposure across multiple tokens, spreading risk compared with single-asset spot ETFs.

Venture capitalist Tim Draper said he bought bitcoin when it traded at about $4 and has held through multiple market crashes, claiming he ignored short-term price signals. Draper reaffirmed his long-term bullish stance on bitcoin, describing buys at very low prices as a foundational part of his conviction. He discussed historic volatility but emphasized conviction-driven holding rather than active trading based on technical signals. The remarks highlight the mindset of early institutional and notable individual investors who tolerate severe drawdowns to retain outsized upside exposure. Key facts: Draper bought bitcoin around $4, maintained his position through market crashes, and prioritizes long-term holding over reacting to price signals. Implication for traders: the comments underscore durable long-term belief among prominent investors but do not constitute new market-moving information—useful context for sentiment rather than a trigger for immediate trading decisions.

The World Gold Council reports 95% of surveyed central banks expect to continue buying gold, signalling a durable shift in reserve strategy toward bullion. This development coincides with IMF data showing the US dollar’s share of global foreign-exchange reserves has fallen below 60%, a multi-decade low. Markets and policy commentators link rising central-bank gold purchases to concerns over sovereign credit risk in dollar assets and broader de-dollarization pressures. The trend—highlighted at recent global forums where central-bank demand, de-dollarization and Fed independence were discussed—implies structural reserve diversification that could reduce demand for dollar assets and raise long-term bullion demand. For crypto traders, growing central-bank appetite for non-sovereign, hard assets increases the narrative competition between gold and certain crypto assets (notably BTC as a digital store of value). Expect heightened volatility in precious metals and safe-haven markets, potential portfolio reallocations away from dollar-denominated assets, and renewed correlation analysis between gold and major crypto assets as traders reassess hedges against sovereign risk.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged regulators to suspend and prosecute banks, fintechs and microfinance institutions that facilitate crypto and investment scams. EFCC Director of Public Affairs Wilson Uwujaren said investigations uncovered more than ₦18.7 billion in investment fraud and ₦162 billion in cryptocurrency-related transactions that passed through a ‘‘new generation’’ bank without adequate due diligence. The agency alleged one customer maintained 960 accounts used for fraud and accused one new-generation bank, six fintechs and some microfinance banks of helping launder proceeds. EFCC detailed schemes including an airline-ticket discount fraud that victimised over 700 people (approx. ₦651 million loss) and a multi-company referral investment scam that scammed over 200,000 victims and took in more than ₦18 billion; three Nigerian accomplices have been arrested. The EFCC called on regulators to enforce KYC, CDD and STRs, suspend implicated institutions, and refer them for investigation and possible prosecution. Key points: EFCC name — Wilson Uwujaren; losses uncovered — ₦18.7 billion (investment scams) and ₦162 billion (crypto flows); implicated parties — one new-generation bank, six fintechs, several microfinance banks; notable schemes — airline discount scam (700+ victims, ₦651m) and multi-company referral scam (200,000+ victims, ₦18bn).

EGLD is trading near $5.94 on January 24, 2026, showing a short-term downtrend with low daily volatility and reduced liquidity (24h volume ≈ $6.08M). Key technicals: RSI ~44, price below EMA20 ($6.15), bearish Supertrend, pivot $5.98. Multi-timeframe analysis identifies nine critical support/resistance levels across daily, 3-day and weekly charts. Risk/reward is close to 1:1: bullish target $8.789 (~+48%) contingent on strong volume and BTC support; bearish target $3.113 (~-48%) if key supports fail. Immediate supports: $5.9017 and $5.39; resistances: $6.0218 and $6.5672. Recommended stop-loss strategies: structural SLs (e.g., below $5.9017 for short-term longs, below $5.39 for swings), ATR-based SL (~$0.45 or $5.49), and trailing stops on confirmed breakouts. Position-sizing guidance: risk 1–2% of account per trade, keep EGLD exposure ≤5–10% of portfolio, reduce leverage (max 1:5 advised if used). EGLD is highly correlated with BTC (≈0.85+); BTC weakness (below $88K) favors further EGLD downside toward $5.39, while BTC strength above ~$90K could propel EGLD above $6.50. Analysts recommend tight SLs, target risk/reward >1:2, and prioritise capital preservation over aggressive longs. This analysis is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.

A large Ethereum holder transferred 1,999 ETH (≈$5.92 million) to a centralized exchange, signaling potential selling activity. On-chain analyst ai_9684xtpa traced the wallet’s history: the whale purchased 6,411 ETH last year at an average cost of $3,873 per ETH, creating an unrealized loss of about $1.815 million if the deposited coins are sold at current prices. The address still holds 3,803 ETH (worth over $11 million), indicating a partial reposition rather than a full exit. Large exchange deposits often precede selling, using funds as collateral, or rebalance for other investments; they can increase short-term sell pressure and volatility. This event underscores risks for large-scale investors who bought at higher price levels and highlights the value of on-chain monitoring for traders tracking potential liquidity events and market sentiment.

Ozak AI, an AI-focused Web3 token, has advanced to Phase 7 of its presale, selling over 1.11 billion tokens at $0.014 and raising about $5.96 million to date. Earlier reporting tracked aggressive phase-to-phase gains from $0.001 (Phase 1) to $0.014 (Phase 7). Analysts compare Ozak AI’s momentum to early-stage AI and layer‑1 winners and outline a bullish case based on low pre-exchange pricing, strong presale demand with whale accumulation, and a tech stack targeting autonomous AI trading agents, predictive deep‑learning analytics, cross‑chain sentiment tracking, adaptable ML models, and developer dashboards. Strategic partnerships cited include SINT for automated on‑chain agent execution and Weblume for no‑code AI integration into dApps. Market commentators say a Tier‑1 exchange listing (speculated names: Binance, Coinbase, KuCoin) could trigger rapid price discovery; theoretical post‑listing scenarios at the current $0.014 entry price include 100× ($1.40), 300× ($4.20) and 800× ($11.20). Earlier coverage emphasized very large percentage gains to a $1 listing from initial presale phases. Both articles note this is a paid press release and not investment advice. Key SEO keywords: Ozak AI, presale, AI token, exchange listing, token growth, partnerships.

Robert Kiyosaki said he does not care about short-term price moves in Bitcoin, Ethereum, gold or silver and will continue buying those assets. Citing rising US national debt and declining dollar purchasing power, Kiyosaki argued macroeconomic risks outweigh near-term price volatility and criticized the competence of US policymakers. He reiterated plans to buy BTC and ETH funded by cash-flow businesses after recently selling a $2M bitcoin holding to purchase two surgery centers and a billboard business. Kiyosaki highlighted silver as his preferred asset, calling it “superior” in the Technology Age and forecasting a realistic target of $200/oz in 2026; silver recently rallied past $100/oz. Key takeaways for traders: Kiyosaki’s stance is long-term and macro-driven, emphasizing accumulation over timing; his views may influence retail sentiment but are opinion-based and unlikely to directly move liquid markets dominated by institutional flows.

The Russell 2000 completed a Cup & Handle breakout on Jan 23, 2026, clearing a key $2,461 neckline — a small-cap risk-on signal often correlated with altcoin strength. The Total Crypto Market Cap (Total 2) formed an ascending triangle with support near $1.2T and a potential breakout target around $1.7T. ETH/BTC showed signs of breaking a long-term downtrend that began in 2018; a confirmed breakout could imply a ~45.95% upside in ETH/BTC and ignite broader altcoin momentum. Privacy coins (XMR, ZEC, DASH) were noted as outperforming peers, suggesting renewed interest in non-BTC assets. Analysts flag that the Russell 2000 breakout must hold above the neckline to sustain bullish expectations; a failure to hold would weaken the altcoin thesis. Market catalysts mentioned include possible Fed easing and rising institutional interest in Ethereum. Primary keywords: altcoin rally, Russell 2000 breakout, ETH/BTC breakout, total crypto market cap. Secondary/semantic keywords included for SEO: ascending triangle, market cap, small-cap rally, privacy coins, risk-on. Traders should watch: Russell 2000 neckline level (~$2,461), Total 2 support (~$1.2T) and target (~$1.7T), ETH/BTC downtrend resistance — confirmation or rejection will drive short-term positioning and risk appetite.

Analyst XRP Captain projects XRP could hit $9.60 if it matched Ethereum’s current market capitalization, representing roughly a 4.9x gain from present levels. As of the report, XRP’s market cap is around $119 billion, about 0.20x of Ethereum’s $583 billion market cap. The analyst cites long-term holders (since 2017), Ripple’s expanding global partnerships, regulatory progress, and growing adoption for cross-border payments as supporting factors. XRP has consolidated for roughly 13 months, which the article frames as a potential basis for a decisive upward move. The piece notes that reaching Ethereum’s market cap would make XRP the second-largest cryptocurrency and stresses this is a hypothetical scenario rather than financial advice.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has consistently outperformed Dogecoin (DOGE) in February since 2021. CryptoRank and CoinMarketCap data show average February returns of +9.26% for SHIB versus -2.33% for DOGE — a gap of roughly 397%. Notable instances: February 2024 saw SHIB rise ~41.3% while DOGE fell ~39%; February 2022 SHIB gained 20.3% as DOGE dropped 6.05%; February 2023 also favored SHIB while DOGE declined. The recent launch of the 21Shares Dogecoin ETF (TDOG) and growing institutional products (Grayscale trusts, leveraged DOGE ETFs) are cited as key drivers of this divergence. These institutional vehicles tie DOGE more closely to regulated markets and Nasdaq flows, reducing its standalone volatility and speculative upside. SHIB remains largely unregulated and higher-beta, attracting retail traders and seasonal liquidity rotation into meme tokens (e.g., PEPE, FLOKI). Analysts note a recurring February fractal that could give SHIB an extra 15–20% upside if historical patterns repeat. Trading takeaway: DOGE may offer ETF-backed stability and lower short-term upside, while SHIB presents higher volatility and potential for outsized gains in February — suitable for speculative longs with strict risk management. Disclaimer: not investment advice.

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest filed an S-1 with the U.S. SEC for the ARK CoinDesk 20 (CD20) Crypto ETF, listing XRP as one of the fund’s largest holdings. The filing (Jan 23, 2026) shows XRP assigned a 19.88% weighting in the CD20 index, behind Bitcoin (32.4%) and Ethereum (20.69%). The ETF is expected to list on NYSE Arca, with CSC Delaware Trust as trustee and ARK as sponsor. Estimated launch capital is approximately $437,000 and the seed value is $100. Other indexed tokens include SOL, ADA, BCH, LINK, XLM, LTC, and AVAX with smaller allocations. XRP’s near-20% allocation reinforces its presence across U.S.-listed products: it already appears in several basket ETFs (Bitwise 10, Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5, Hashdex NCIQ) and five spot XRP ETFs from issuers including Grayscale, Franklin, Bitwise, Canary, and 21Shares. Since Canary’s November launch, these spot products drew $1.23 billion in net inflows, lifting XRP-related AUM to about $1.36 billion. Implication for traders: the ARK filing signals rising institutional acceptance and could improve XRP liquidity and demand if the ETF is approved, potentially supporting price strength in both short and longer horizons. This content is informational and not financial advice.

Web3 security firm CertiK has signalled interest in pursuing an initial public offering as part of a broader global expansion and product upgrade plan. CEO Ronghui Gu told Acumen Media at the 2026 Davos forum that an IPO is being actively prepared though no formal timeline has been set. CertiK provides smart-contract audits and blockchain risk monitoring used across DeFi, gaming and infrastructure, and is positioning itself as a leading publicly traded Web3 security infrastructure company. The firm is scaling international operations, hiring talent, and integrating artificial intelligence into its in-house Spoq security engine to speed audits and improve vulnerability detection. Management says additional investment and strategic partnerships are needed before listing. The disclosure comes amid renewed institutional interest in crypto IPOs — examples cited include Circle, Ledger, BitGo and other blockchain firms — which has lifted appetite for regulated crypto infrastructure plays. CertiK’s path to public markets is complicated by past controversies, including its involvement in a Kraken-related vulnerability that led to a $3 million loss and audits tied to a stablecoin with governance questions. Traders should note that a successful CertiK IPO could validate Web3 security as a standalone infrastructure sector, but investor confidence will likely depend on demonstrable improvements in transparency, governance and audit reliability.

Circle’s USDC supply fell by roughly $1.4 billion over the seven days ending Jan. 21 after the issuer minted about 480 million USDC and redeemed about 620 million USDC, leaving circulating supply near 74.4 billion USDC. On-chain reserves backing USDC are reported at about $74.5 billion, allocated across short-term U.S. Treasury repos (~$47.8B), Treasury bills and securities maturing within three months (~$16.0B), deposits at systemically important banks (~$9.9B), and other bank deposits (~$0.8B). Compared with an earlier seven-day report to Jan. 8 — which showed slightly larger net outflows (~$300 million) and similar reserve composition — the latest data indicates continued short-term fluctuation in stablecoin supply driven by redemptions exceeding issuances. This is presented as market information, not investment advice.

A trader (wallet 7fFCzx) bought 15.94 million PENGUIN tokens two days ago for $54,000. The position is now worth about $793,000, producing an unrealized profit of approximately $739,000 on that trade. Despite this gain, the trader remains net down roughly $598,000 across their entire portfolio. The wallet has traded over 1,000 different tokens with an overall win rate of just 14.55%. Source: Lookonchain. Note: This report provides market information and is not investment advice.

Bitcoin faces elevated downside risk as four major technical indicators remain firmly bearish, according to recent market analysis. The indicators cited include a bearish moving average alignment, negative momentum readings, weakening on-chain demand metrics, and elevated exchange flows suggesting selling pressure. Together these signals point to limited upside and greater potential for further declines unless price reclaims key resistance levels. Traders are advised to watch critical support zones, manage leverage, and monitor volume and exchange flow changes for signs of capitulation or renewed buying. Short-term market stability appears fragile while longer-term outlook depends on whether macro factors and on-chain accumulation resume. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, bearish indicators, exchange flows, moving averages. Secondary keywords: on-chain demand, momentum, support levels, trading risk management.

World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin has reached roughly $4.5 billion in market cap, overtaking PayPal’s PYUSD at about $3.76 billion, the company’s backers say. Eric Trump announced the milestone on X, attributing USD1’s rapid growth to strategic exchange partnerships (notably Binance), high-yield exchange “booster” savings programs, and a focus on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization — commodities such as oil, gas and timber are being tokenized using USD1. USD1 previously facilitated a $2 billion MGX investment into Binance. WLFI launched less than a year ago and has also introduced a WLFI governance token (market cap reported at $4.7 billion) and a Bitcoin mining arm, American Bitcoin, which disclosed a treasury of over 5,000 BTC. WLFI applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter on January 8, 2026; OCC approval would allow federal oversight to issue and custody USD1. Upcoming WLFI events include a World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, 2026, with high-profile speakers expected. The article notes that the GENIUS Act (signed July 2025) prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying interest directly, making exchange “earn” programs a primary yield route. Traders should note market-cap shifts, liquidity inflows tied to exchange incentives, regulatory developments around a potential WLFI bank charter, and increased RWA activity as the main drivers that could affect USD1, PYUSD and related token liquidity.

Bitcoin perpetual futures across major venues show an almost even long/short split, signaling market neutrality and reduced immediate squeeze risk. A 24‑hour snapshot (ending 21 March 2025) reports an aggregate position near 50/50 — about 49.7%–50.3% depending on the dataset — with exchange reads ranging from about 48.7%–50.4% long. Differences between earlier and later snapshots reflect open interest weighting across exchanges rather than a material shift in trader sentiment. Analysts note that readings below roughly 55% on either side imply no clear overcrowding; funding rates, open interest and liquidation heatmaps should be used alongside the long/short ratio to detect emerging directional pressure. For traders, the key takeaways are: derivatives positioning is neutral, leverage‑driven volatility risk is currently lower, and price direction will likely be set by external catalysts (macro data, regulatory announcements, spot‑ETF flows and large on‑chain movements). Monitor shifts in the long/short ratio, funding rates and open interest to identify growing directional conviction or potential squeeze setups.

Pi Network’s Core Team released two developer-focused updates: a new developer library enabling PI payment integration in under ten minutes, and a no-code PI payment integration inside Pi App Studio (currently limited to Test-Pi). The team also launched a creator event granting 1,000 qualified participants 5 PI credits for in-platform use, and added a “2025 Review” mining-summary button in the Pi mobile app. Despite these product improvements, the PI token fell below its recent $0.20–$0.22 range to roughly $0.18 after an earlier double-digit drop tied to worsening geopolitical tension and broad crypto weakness; PI is about 1% down on the day and roughly 11% lower on the week. Analysts have urged the team to make strategic changes to boost token performance. Key keywords: Pi Network, PI token, PI payments, Pi App Studio, Test-Pi, price decline, crypto market.

Analyst X Finance Bull says XRP may be poised to outperform gold after seven years of underperformance. The GOLD/XRP chart reportedly shows a full market cycle — distribution, capitulation, accumulation — and now hints at early expansion. XRP open interest has recently risen above its 30-day average, suggesting renewed trader engagement. The analyst argues capital rotation from traditional stores of value (gold) into utility-driven crypto assets like XRP, which supports cross‑border payments and liquidity solutions, could drive a dramatic revaluation. X Finance Bull forecasts a potential 10x rally for XRP before mainstream recognition but warns many investors may remain skeptical until momentum is established. The note emphasizes positioning ahead of rotation flows and frames XRP’s recovery as part of a broader shift from static stores of value to liquid, utility-based digital assets. No new on‑chain metrics, institutional buys, or regulatory developments were cited in the report.

The Ethereum Foundation has made post‑quantum (PQ) security a strategic priority, creating a dedicated Post‑Quantum team led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger. The initiative includes biweekly developer sessions (hosted by researcher Antonio Sanso), weekly interoperability calls, and multi‑client PQ consensus testnets that are already live. The Foundation committed $2 million in targeted prizes — a $1 million Poseidon Prize to harden the Poseidon zk‑SNARK‑friendly hash and a $1 million Proximity Prize to advance broader post‑quantum cryptography research. Planned activities include a dedicated PQ event in October, a PQ day in March ahead of EthCC, and enterprise educational materials. Workstreams focus on protocol‑level cryptographic tools, account abstraction pathways, signature aggregation via leanVM (a minimalist zkVM), and developer tooling for gradual, multi‑year transitions. The move responds to the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat: recorded transactions that could be decrypted by future quantum computers. While experts say quantum‑capable machines that break current crypto remain years or decades away, the Foundation aims to start transitions early to protect cryptographic primitives on Ethereum. For traders, this is a structural, long‑term security initiative rather than an immediate protocol change. Expect potential future wallet and infrastructure software updates as PQ standards are adopted; the announcement signals stronger institutional and developer confidence in Ethereum’s long‑term resilience but is unlikely to trigger near‑term price moves.

Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie highlighted two developments traders should watch for Ripple and XRP: the Clarity Act and a potential Ripple banking license. Gilbertie said the Clarity Act could accelerate TradFi-to-DeFi integration by providing regulatory clarity for digital assets and DeFi platforms, which would directly benefit XRP. The bill faces industry pushback — notably Coinbase withdrew support and figures like Charles Hoskinson criticized Ripple’s CEO for backing it. Separately, Gilbertie stressed that a granted banking license would materially strengthen Ripple’s capital position; with its existing XRP holdings, Ripple could rank among the better-capitalized banks, improving liquidity management and market influence. Conditional approval for a license has been reported, and analysts expect XRP’s capitalization and utility to increase if both regulatory clarity and institutional integration occur. Traders should note that these developments could shift XRP from a speculative token toward a functional liquidity and cross-border settlement asset, with potential price and market-cap implications.

AI chatbots weighed in on how a hypothetical US annexation of Greenland would affect Bitcoin (BTC). ChatGPT warned of an immediate 10–25% BTC drop after the announcement, with a possible rebound later; in an escalatory scenario involving conflict with NATO, it projected a 40–50% plunge. Grok (X) suggested the US would likely abandon annexation plans but conceded BTC could fall up to 30% in the following weeks if it occurred. Google’s Gemini predicted a 30% tumble followed by a potential major rally. Perplexity was the outlier, saying market threats are priced in and BTC volatility would be limited, allowing a quick rebound. Analysts cited risks including heightened geopolitical panic, potential stock-market contagion, and monetary policy responses (e.g., increased money printing) that could either depress risk assets or, conversely, boost demand for Bitcoin as a stateless hedge. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, Greenland annexation, geopolitical risk; secondary keywords: market volatility, AI predictions, crypto traders.

Dom Kwok, cofounder of Web3 education app EasyA and an XRPL contributor, posted a viral prediction saying XRP should reach $1,000 by 2030. Kwok’s post — framed as a meme — drew widespread attention across the XRP community and thousands of reposts. Supporters point to institutional interest, XRPL development, token burns, cross-border payment adoption and de-dollarization as potential drivers. Critics highlight unrealistic market-cap math (a $1,000 XRP implies a >$100 trillion market cap, roughly five times global GDP), lingering legal and centralization concerns stemming from Ripple’s regulatory history, and XRP’s prolonged underperformance since 2018. EasyA, which has XRPL grants and more than one million developers on its platform, lends weight to Kwok’s public stance, though the prediction is speculative. For traders, the announcement functions more as social-market noise that could amplify short-term volatility in XRP liquidity and sentiment rather than alter underlying fundamentals. Key names and items: Dom Kwok, EasyA, XRPL, XRP, $1,000 price target, 2030 timeframe, $100+ trillion implied market cap, token burns, institutional adoption, Ripple/SEC regulatory baggage.

Crypto startups raised more than $1 billion in early 2025 despite market volatility and political headlines. Data from DeFiLlama shows 14 startups raised $362 million in the third week of January, pushing the year-to-date total past $1 billion. While overall funding is down more than 50% versus the same period in 2024, investors are increasingly selective, favoring infrastructure and regulated products over speculative consumer apps. Major deals include BitGo’s $213 million IPO-sized raise for custody services and Superstate’s $83 million Series B led by Bain Capital Crypto for tokenized U.S. Treasury-based funds. Analysts say the trend reflects a pivot toward institutional custody, security, RegTech and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization — sectors viewed as critical to bridging TradFi liquidity with blockchain rails. For traders, this signals continued institutional interest in crypto’s foundational layers, even as macro headwinds and political noise pressure short-term sentiment.

Tokenized real-world assets (RWA) on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) have surpassed $1.0 billion for the first time, rising from $885 million at the start of 2026 to $1.001 billion. Data from RWA.xyz shows XRPL added about $115 million year-to-date, with Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD responsible for roughly $104 million (≈90%) of that gain. RLUSD’s market cap on XRPL now stands at $338 million, representing 33.7% of the ledger’s total RWA value and about 85% of stablecoin value on the network. Distributed assets account for $600.4 million (60%) — including $150.2 million in U.S. Treasury debt, $395 million in stablecoins, and $55.2 million in private equity — while represented assets total $401.4 million (40%), led by private credit ($283.8 million) and commodities ($110.7 million). A year ago the XRPL hosted only ~$45 million in tokenized RWA, marking nearly a billion-dollar increase in 12 months. The milestone underscores rapid XRPL adoption in RWA tokenization and highlights RLUSD’s central role in the network’s recent growth. This is informational and not financial advice.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes warns that Federal Reserve action to support the yen via dollar-yen operations would act like hidden money printing and be strongly bullish for Bitcoin (BTC). Hayes points traders to the Fed’s weekly H.4.1 report — specifically the “Foreign currency denominated assets” (Foreign Currency Assets) line — which recently stood at $19.264 billion (up $62 million WoW, $1.67 billion YoY). He says a sharp rise in that line would indicate the Fed is supplying dollars through swap lines or purchases, expanding bank reserves and global liquidity without an explicit QE announcement. That liquidity expansion typically benefits risk assets such as BTC. Hayes also warns of a short-term counterforce: official yen-strengthening intervention could squeeze yen-funded carry trades, triggering deleveraging that may briefly depress equities and crypto. He cites current market context — Bitcoin trading near $89k–$90k and gold’s recent move — and advises traders to monitor H.4.1 releases and dollar/yen intervention signals to spot liquidity-driven BTC move opportunities. This commentary is market analysis and not financial advice.