Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

President Trump’s first year back in the White House has been marked by rapid expansion of executive powers and a series of high-profile, confrontational actions that are reshaping global risk dynamics. Policies highlighted include aggressive federal immigration raids, a military operation to seize Venezuela’s Maduro, threats to bomb Iran, renewed talk of buying Greenland, and trade measures including tariffs. Trump signaled he is guided chiefly by personal judgment rather than institutional checks, saying his only restraint on foreign strikes is his own moral standard. The administration has cut federal civil service roles, reduced foreign aid, enacted sweeping tariff and tax policies, pursued prosecutions of political opponents, and moved decision-making from Congress to the White House via executive orders and emergency declarations. Polling shows 41% approval and 58% disapproval (Reuters/Ipsos), underscoring political polarization: strong core support but broader public unease, particularly on inflation and cost-of-living concerns. Analysts warn these unilateral moves increase geopolitical uncertainty and could undermine rule of law and institutional checks. For crypto traders, risks to monitor include heightened geopolitical volatility, potential sanctions and trade countermeasures, shifts in U.S. regulatory posture toward digital assets, and market sensitivity to Fed-related political pressure. Short-term implications: spikes in risk-off flows, safe-haven bids (e.g., USD, gold, BTC), and greater intraday volatility. Long-term implications: persistent geopolitical risk premia could sustain higher crypto market correlation with macro risk indicators and influence regulatory trajectories affecting institutional participation.

On-chain data shows a sharp increase in Ethereum activity after the December 2024 Pectra upgrade: daily transactions approached 2.9 million and 2.7 million new addresses were created in a recent week. Security firms attribute a significant portion of the surge to address poisoning campaigns—social-engineering attacks where attackers create deceptively similar vanity addresses and send tiny transactions so victims later copy the malicious address. Pectra cut average gas fees by ~60% (from ~45 Gwei to ~17 Gwei), reducing per-transaction costs from roughly $15–$25 to $5–$9 and lowering the economic barrier for large-scale poisoning operations. Analysts note distinguishing patterns: minimal-value transfers, sequentially generated addresses with shared prefixes/suffixes, batch sends during low-fee windows, and no complex contract interactions. Estimates suggest coordinated campaigns that once cost $2.5M could now run under $900k, and researchers propose these attacks may account for roughly 15–25% of the recent transaction spike. Impacted parties include individual users, DeFi participants, NFT collectors, exchanges and wallets. Recommended mitigations: full address verification, address books/whitelists, interface warnings, transaction monitoring, and stronger inter-provider coordination. The development highlights how protocol upgrades that lower fees can unintentionally enable large-scale social-engineering exploits, raising security risks for on-chain transfers.

Citigroup’s Head of Markets in Japan, Akira Hoshino, warned that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) may lift interest rates by 300 basis points this year — potentially three 25bp hikes (April, July, and before year-end) — if the yen remains weak. Hoshino flagged the yen’s decline (recently around ¥158–¥159.45) as driven by negative real interest rates and rising inflation pressure, which has pushed BOJ officials to re-evaluate exchange-rate effects on prices. Market pricing shows high odds of further hikes, including a ~90% chance of a December increase based on swap markets. Hoshino expects the USD/JPY range to be 150–165 and says higher domestic yields above inflation could trigger repatriation of foreign investments into Japanese fixed income — a dynamic that would benefit Citigroup’s traders and sales teams. He also plans closer collaboration with investment banking to capture deal-making and financing flows in Japan as yields and rates evolve. Key implications: potential BoJ tightening in response to yen weakness, stronger demand for JPY assets if yields rise, and increased trading flows around FX and Japanese fixed income.

Bitcoin perpetual futures on the three largest derivatives exchanges have shifted toward a modest short bias. Aggregate 24-hour data (as of 15 March 2025) shows roughly 48–49% longs versus 51–52% shorts across Binance, OKX and Bybit, producing a net short edge of around 1.7–3.2 percentage points depending on the sample. Exchange breakdowns: Binance ~47.8–49.3% long, OKX ~48.4–49.4% long, Bybit ~46.1–49.6% long. Funding rates remain broadly neutral and open interest is stable, indicating measured hedging or cautious bearish sentiment rather than panic selling. Analysts attribute cross-exchange differences to fee and leverage structures and user mix; the rise in short exposure increases short-squeeze potential if a bullish catalyst appears. For traders: expect range-bound price action with elevated short-term volatility risk, monitor funding rates, open interest, spot flows and exchange-specific liquidation levels, and use conservative leverage and tight risk controls. Key SEO keywords: BTC perpetual futures, long/short ratio, funding rates, open interest, short squeeze.

Options market implied probabilities indicate Bitcoin (BTC) has roughly a 30% chance of falling below $80,000 by late June. The estimate comes from analysis of BTC options flows and open interest, which traders use to infer market sentiment and potential price ranges. Current implied volatility and put-call skew suggest elevated demand for downside protection, pushing traders to buy puts that price in a material downside scenario. While the headline probability signals meaningful risk in the near term, it is not a forecast — options-implied probabilities reflect traded hedges and market positioning rather than guaranteed outcomes. For traders, the key takeaways are: monitor options open interest and put-call ratios for shifts in sentiment; watch spot liquidity and derivative funding rates that can amplify moves; consider protective strategies (puts, collars) if exposed; and be aware that macro events or large liquidations could quickly change the implied probability. Short-term volatility is likely to increase as markets digest positioning; longer-term direction remains driven by fundamentals and macro catalysts.

Celestia (TIA) dropped about 13–15% in 24 hours, underperforming the broader market and extending weekly losses to roughly 9%. Price broke key technical levels — a daily close below the 50% Fibonacci at $0.527 and the 30-day SMA (~$0.518) — confirming trend continuation to the downside. Volume surged (reported ~70–136M, a 100–132% rise versus prior), indicating distribution as short-interest and momentum shorts increased while short-term traders trimmed exposure. Momentum indicators show weakening but not capitulation (RSI near 41; hourly MACD bearish but losing intensity). On-chain metrics are mixed: active addresses remain weak and BTC dominance has risen, pressuring altcoin flows; tokenomics have improved since 2023 with inflation easing (~8% → ~2.5%) and major unlocks largely passed, but staking rewards (8–10% APY) still dilute supply when demand is soft. Heatmap liquidity clusters sit above price (roughly $0.63–$0.70), creating potential targets for a short squeeze or relief bounce but also possible sell pressure if those are resting sell orders. Immediate downside targets are $0.473 and $0.45 if $0.56–$0.505 support zone fails; bulls need a daily reclaim above $0.527 (or $0.505 first) to set up a mean reversion toward $0.60. Trading guidance: favor reactive, liquidity-driven setups, manage risk around $0.56 support and monitor volume, on-chain activity and the $0.63–$0.70 liquidity band for confirmation before taking directional positions.

The Hong Kong Securities & Futures Professionals Association (HKSFPA) has formally asked regulators to soften parts of Hong Kong’s implementation of the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and related Common Reporting Standard (CRS) amendments ahead of the 2028 start of cross-border data exchange. While supporting CARF’s tax-transparency goals, HKSFPA warned the current draft would impose heavy operational, compliance-cost and legal-liability burdens on local Reporting Crypto-Asset Service Providers (RCASPs). Key requests include: a simplified “lite” registration or annual nil-return for RCASPs with no reportable data; caps or clearer limits on per-account penalties for technical or administrative mistakes; removal of indefinite personal liability for former directors of dissolved firms and instead allowing designated licensed third parties to hold post‑dissolution records; and stronger privacy protections for user data. The submission also notes Hong Kong’s broader push to boost its crypto hub credentials (stablecoin licensing under the Stablecoins Ordinance, proposals to allow insurance capital into crypto). For traders, this is primarily a regulatory compliance story: potential easing of rules would lower operating costs and legal risk for Hong Kong exchanges and service providers, which could influence institutional participation and liquidity over time, but it does not directly change token fundamentals or protocols.

A Bitcoin wallet inactive since early 2013 moved its entire balance — 909.38 BTC (about $84.6–$85M) — in a single on‑chain transaction detected by Arkham Intelligence. The coins were accumulated between late 2012 and April 2013 when BTC traded between roughly $13 and $250. The sender (1A2hq…pZGZm) transferred all funds to one receiving address (bc1qk…sxaeh). The transfer did not route to known exchanges and the owner remains unidentified. The move occurred amid broader market volatility tied to US/EU trade tensions while BTC traded near $92,531. Earlier reports noted similar reactivations of decade‑old wallets during major price moves; such events can reflect long‑term holders realising gains, estate recoveries, or internal wallet reorganisations. No direct evidence the coins will be sold on exchanges has emerged, but the reappearance of early supply can affect liquidity and price expectations, prompting short‑term trader attention and potential volatility. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin, dormant wallet, on‑chain transfer, whale movement, market liquidity.

Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu says wealthy crypto collectors who buy NFTs to hold — not flip — are sustaining the NFT market. Speaking at the CfC St. Moritz conference, Siu compared digital art collectors to traditional art collectors and noted that although monthly NFT sales have fallen from about $1 billion at the 2021/22 peak to roughly $300 million, five years ago the market was effectively zero. Siu revealed his personal NFT portfolio is down about 80% but reiterated his long-term holding approach. He argued 2025 showed crypto momentum was driven more by expectations than fundamentals and predicted the next crypto phase will focus on infrastructure rather than personalities. Siu also linked the late cancellation of NFT Paris to changing French regulatory sentiment and security concerns, citing scrutiny of projects like Sorare and recent kidnapping threats that deter attendance. Organizers of NFT Paris and RWA Paris cited the prolonged crypto downturn as a primary reason for cancellation and promised ticket refunds. Recent 24-hour on-chain NFT metrics noted a 27% rise in sales volume to $8.5 million and increases in buyers, sellers and transactions. Key themes: NFT market contraction, wealthy long-term collectors as demand anchors, regulatory and security headwinds in Europe, and evolving crypto fundamentals toward infrastructure.

Pendle has launched sPENDLE, a liquid staking token designed to replace the legacy vePENDLE governance reward model. sPENDLE maintains governance utility while introducing liquidity and composability: after a 14-day cooldown following a lock, holders can withdraw at any time and use sPENDLE across lending, DEXs and restaking strategies. The change addresses vePENDLE’s long lock-induced illiquidity and aims to improve capital efficiency and user flexibility. sPENDLE supports integrations with external DeFi protocols, enabling holders to earn governance rewards while deploying their staked position as collateral or into yield strategies. Pendle will provide a migration path for existing vePENDLE holders. Market metrics to watch include percentage of PENDLE supply staked into sPENDLE, sPENDLE usage in external DeFi (lending, pools, restaking), and changes in TVL. For traders, key takeaways are potential upward pressure on PENDLE demand if composability increases utility and TVL, short-term volatility around the migration announcement and liquidity shifts, and longer-term effects tied to adoption and on-chain usage.

A researcher has linked a recent surge in Ethereum network activity to address-poisoning attacks that generate large volumes of low-value transactions. The attacks involve creating many small, dust-like transfers or contract interactions that flood the mempool and inflate on-chain activity metrics. Researchers warn this behavior distorts network usage signals and can mislead users and analytics platforms about genuine demand for ETH and Ethereum-based services. No single exploit of core protocol security was reported; rather, the problem stems from malicious or opportunistic actors exploiting address reuse and cheap transactions to create noise. Analysts say such activity can increase gas fee volatility and temporarily strain infrastructure like block explorers and analytics services. The researcher recommends improved detection, labeling of suspicious transaction patterns by analytics providers, and potentially rate-limiting or economic disincentives for mass low-value transactions to protect signal quality. For traders, the key takeaways are: monitor on-chain metrics carefully (watch for spikes driven by transaction counts rather than value), expect short-term noise in activity indicators and fee volatility, and rely on aggregated value and active addresses metrics rather than raw transaction volume when assessing network demand.

Crypto analyst Time Traveler (@Traveler2236) posted an extremely bullish XRP forecast, saying an initial move to $15 could trigger FOMO-driven inflows that propel the token toward $100 and beyond. He contrasts this view with more conservative $5–$10 targets, arguing those are only the start once momentum builds. Time Traveler urges long-term holding, warning early sellers who take profits around $15 may miss substantially larger gains. The piece stresses market psychology—FOMO and late entrants—will amplify moves, and timing and patience are key. Disclaimer notes the content is opinion and not financial advice.

Cardano co‑founder Charles Hoskinson publicly condemned Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse for supporting the CLARITY Act, arguing the draft law advantages incumbent finance, expands SEC authority, and undermines blockchain decentralization. The CLARITY Act (House-passed July 2025) aims to clarify SEC vs. CFTC jurisdiction by classifying digital assets by function and setting rules for stablecoins, DeFi and market intermediaries. Proponents say it stops regulation-by-enforcement and strengthens AML and consumer protections. Critics — including Hoskinson, Coinbase and some state regulators — contend Senate revisions broaden SEC powers, risk exposing DeFi transaction data to Bank Secrecy Act obligations, impose AML burdens on decentralized protocols, create vague definitions that increase developer liability, and favor banks in stablecoin markets. Garlinghouse and Ripple defend support as pragmatic engagement after XRP litigation. The Senate delayed markup on January 14, 2026 amid backlash; the Agriculture Committee plans review on January 27. Outcomes range from rapid reconciliation to prolonged deadlock; potential consequences include enforcement-driven regulation, interstate fragmentation, and loss of international competitiveness. For traders, the debate raises regulatory uncertainty for tokens tied to DeFi, stablecoins and projects that depend on clear securities/commodity classification — increasing short-term volatility and raising medium-term legal and operational risk for affected tokens.

AVAX (Avalanche) has seen a surge in on-chain activity, reaching a record ~1.7 million Daily Active Addresses driven by DeFi, tokenization and real-world asset (RWA) activity. Institutional filings and allocations are cited as supporting demand. CryptoQuant data show strong taker-buy dominance and aggressive whale accumulation around the $11–$12 area, which kept price above the $12 support level. On the daily chart AVAX formed an ascending triangle; breaking the $15.36 resistance could open a move toward near-term targets at $18.52 and $24.18. Technical indicators (RSI, MACD) warn of caution and a breakdown below $11 could target $8.60. Traders should monitor key levels: support near $12 (critical), immediate resistance $15.36, major resistance $18.52, and downside risk to $8.60 if $11 fails. Keywords: AVAX, Avalanche, Daily Active Addresses, taker buy, whales, support and resistance.

Blockspace Media has acquired Bitcoin Layers, an on-chain Bitcoin data and analytics provider, to accelerate development of institutional-grade Bitcoin data products. The deal will combine Blockspace’s media and research capabilities with Bitcoin Layers’ on-chain metrics, tooling and visualisations to deliver market feeds, on-chain analytics, developer APIs and deeper coverage of Ordinals and Layer‑2/Layer‑3 activity on Bitcoin. No financial terms or workforce changes were disclosed; the Bitcoin Layers maintainer will stay on to support integration. Short-term effects should include faster delivery of analytics features and richer on-chain insights for traders. Long-term aims are broader product distribution, stronger institutional adoption and potential integration with trading workflows. Keywords: Bitcoin data, on-chain analytics, Ordinals, institutional products, market feeds.

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is consolidating five prior proposals into a single stablecoin bill via its Digital Asset Task Force led by lawmaker Lee Jeong-moon. The draft, aimed for committee discussion next month, focuses on: defining qualified stablecoin issuers, setting reserve and audit requirements, imposing limits on major shareholder stakes in exchanges, and technical rules for interoperability and cross-border usage. The move builds on the Virtual Asset User Protection Act and responds to past market incidents and global frameworks such as the EU’s MiCA. Expected outcomes include clearer compliance paths for banks and fintechs, stronger consumer protections, and potential shifts in exchange market structure. The legislation’s design—balancing innovation with risk mitigation—could attract institutional participation but may disrupt concentrated exchange ownership. Key keywords: stablecoin regulation, issuer qualifications, exchange ownership limits, reserve requirements, South Korea.

CryptoQuant data show institutional custody wallets holding 100–1,000 BTC (including spot ETF custody) added roughly 577,000 BTC over the past 12 months—about $53 billion at current prices—signalling sustained institutional demand for Bitcoin. CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju notes this cohort grew ~33% over 24 months, coinciding with the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which CryptoQuant also includes in institutional tallies. Glassnode reports digital asset treasuries (DATs), led by MicroStrategy, acquired roughly 260,000 BTC since July (≈$24 billion), bringing collective DAT holdings to over 1.1 million BTC. U.S. spot ETFs have seen aggregate inflows (~$1.2B YTD), making ETFs a major channel for institutional exposure. Despite these flows, retail indicators cooled: the Fear & Greed Index fell to 32/100 (“fear”) after a brief move into “greed,” and Bitcoin pulled back from near $97,000 to below $92,000 amid U.S.–Europe trade tensions. For traders: monitor custody wallet flows, spot ETF inflows, and DAT concentration metrics. Sustained institutional accumulation reduces circulating supply and is medium-to-long-term bullish for BTC, but concentrated DAT buying and macro or regulatory shocks can increase short-term volatility. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, institutional demand, spot Bitcoin ETF, crypto custody flows.

A Bitcoin wallet active since the Satoshi era emptied its holdings on Jan 20, 2026, transferring 909.38 BTC (about $84.6 million) to a new address, according to Arkham Intelligence. On-chain data show the coins were accumulated between Dec 2012 and Apr 2013 when BTC traded roughly $13–$250; initial cost estimated around $220,000. The move follows a trend of long-dormant ’Satoshi-era’ wallets reawakening during recent BTC rallies, which market participants interpret as early holders taking profits. The transfer occurred amid heightened geopolitical and market sensitivity — a trade dispute between the US and EU led to tariffs and brief market volatility that pushed BTC down from above $95,000. Past precedent includes a July 2025 sale where a major whale sold over 80,000 BTC via Galaxy Digital, realizing roughly $9 billion. The article frames the 13-year whale’s action as potential profit-taking or a risk-hedging response to turbulence; it notes this is market information only and not investment advice.

NYSE, via parent Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), unveiled plans to build a blockchain-based trading venue that would enable 24/7 trading of U.S. equities and ETFs by issuing tokenized shares and using dollar-pegged stablecoins for funding and tokenized deposits. The platform would combine the NYSE’s Pillar matching engine with blockchain post-trade systems, support multi-chain settlement and custody, and allow instant, dollar-sized settlements. Tokenized shares are intended to be natively issued digital assets that remain fungible with traditional securities while preserving shareholder rights (dividends, governance). ICE is working with major financial institutions including BNY Mellon and Citigroup to enable tokenized deposits and allow clearing members to manage margin and move funds outside traditional banking hours. The initiative is positioned as part of ICE’s broader digital strategy to ready clearing and settlement infrastructure for continuous trading and tokenized collateral. The proposal is subject to SEC and regulatory approval and will face scrutiny on legal, custody, and market-structure questions. If approved, the move could materially change institutional access to tokenized equities, improve settlement efficiency and liquidity, and reshape how trading and post-trade processes operate — a structural shift comparable to prior transitions such as floor-to-electronic trading.

Two 2026 crypto presales — Remittix and Digitap ($TAP) — compete to bridge crypto and traditional banking. Remittix is a payments-first PayFi protocol focused on low-cost, fast cross-border remittances via a multi-chain settlement system that converts crypto to local fiat. Its model is transactional, exposing it to intense fee‑compression competition and limited user retention. Digitap offers an omni-banking platform (live on iOS/Android) that combines self-custody wallets, fiat access, and Visa/Mastercard spending at merchant POS. Digitap’s $TAP token uses a revenue-driven buyback-and-burn tied to card usage, swaps, and transaction fees, aligning token value with platform activity. The article argues Digitap’s daily-use banking model and live product give it lower execution risk and stronger network effects than Remittix’s specialized remittance solution, making Digitap the more attractive presale investment. Key SEO keywords: crypto presale, remittances, omni-banking, $TAP, tokenomics, Visa Mastercard integration.

US 10‑year Treasury yield climbed to 4.267% on January 20, marking its highest level since early September 2023, according to Tradeweb data. The report is presented as market information and not investment advice. No further macro details, drivers, or commentary were provided in the source.

PancakeSwap’s community voted unanimously to lower CAKE’s maximum supply cap from 450 million to 400 million via a Snapshot vote that recorded about 1.66 million votes in favor. The change follows the Tokenomics 3.0 update (April 2025), which retired veCAKE and cut daily emissions from ~40,000 CAKE to ~22,250 CAKE. CAKE was already net deflationary in 2025: total supply fell from ~380M to ~350M and circulating supply stood near ~347–350M at publication. The new 400M cap removes 50M CAKE from potential future issuance and does not affect current circulating supply; it reduces long-term dilution risk and clarifies supply expectations. PancakeSwap expects token burns under the revised framework to be funded from multiple revenue streams (estimated contributions include 15–23% of spot trading fees, 20% of perpetual trading profits and 20% of IFO fees). The protocol holds roughly 3.5M CAKE in an Ecosystem Growth Fund. Operational highlights from 2025 cited alongside the vote include multi-chain expansion (ten chains including Solana and Monad), new products (PancakeSwap Infinity, CAKE.PAD), >$2.36 trillion processed volume in 2025, a 629% increase in trading volume year-on-year, ~37.8% DEX market share and ~35.37M unique traders. CAKE was trading near $2.00 at publication (roughly +2% over 7 days, +4.75% over 30 days). For traders, the cap reduction lowers future inflation risk and strengthens long-term tokenomics, but immediate price reaction is likely limited absent broader market catalysts.

On 10 January, an attacker used a social-engineering impersonation (posing as “Trezor Value Wallet” support) to obtain a victim’s seed phrase and drain more than $282 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) from a single hardware wallet. Blockchain investigators including ZachXBT and PeckShield tracked the theft and subsequent laundering in real time. The attacker routed roughly $71 million (≈928.7 BTC) through THORChain to swap BTC across chains without KYC, then moved funds onto Ethereum (ETH). On Ethereum, about 1,468.66 ETH (~$4.9M) was sent through Tornado Cash to obscure provenance; sizable amounts were also converted into privacy coin Monero (XMR), briefly supporting its price. The incident highlights that device security can be defeated by human-targeted scams and that cross-chain, non-KYC liquidity protocols and mixers enable rapid large-scale laundering. The theft occurred amid broader market volatility (Bitcoin and Litecoin down that day), and follows wider enforcement actions—such as Europol’s recent takedown of a €700M fraud network—underscoring heightened regulatory and law-enforcement focus on crypto money laundering.

WSPN (Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network) has formed a strategic partnership with licensed payment infrastructure provider HIFI to offer institutional clients seamless on‑ and off‑ramps between stablecoins and fiat for cross‑border settlements. The integration connects WSPN’s stablecoin rails (including WUSD, a 1:1 USD‑backed token) with HIFI’s regulated payment network, allowing institutions to convert fiat to stablecoins, transfer value instantly across borders via blockchain, and then convert back to local fiat through HIFI. The move targets inefficiencies in traditional cross‑border banking — long settlement times (3–7 days), high fees (3–7%), and opaque routing — by providing faster, lower‑cost, compliant liquidity management. WSPN CEO Raymond Yuan emphasized that licensed partners are essential for institutional adoption and regulatory certainty. The partnership is positioned to support institutional treasury operations, programmable payments, and wider stablecoin use cases while preserving compliance and transparency.

XRP’s price outlook is showing consolidation and mixed signals as the token drifts after a brief dip below $2.10. The article argues that Ripple’s future gains depend largely on renewed institutional adoption and greater regulatory clarity. Meanwhile, a new PayFi contender, Remittix (RTX), is presented as a delivery-focused alternative: it has raised about $28.8 million in early funding, launched a wallet on the Apple App Store (Google Play pending), completed a CertiK audit, secured listings on BitMart and LBank, and scheduled a full crypto-to-fiat PayFi platform rollout on February 9, 2026. Analysts cited in the piece call Remittix “XRP 2.0” because of its product-first approach, verifiable security, and clear roadmap — factors that may attract capital away from legacy tokens reliant on institutional narratives and ETF inflows. Traders are advised to weigh execution and on-chain/product milestones alongside traditional indicators when assessing XRP vs. emerging PayFi projects.

Zhimin Qian (aka Yadi Zhang, “Goddess of Wealth”) was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in the UK for running a large Ponzi-style crypto fraud through China-based Lantian Gerui (Blue Sky) between 2014–2017. Prosecutors say the scheme promised returns up to 300% and defrauded more than 128,000 investors, many elderly. Chinese authorities opened inquiries in 2017; Qian fled to the UK on a false passport. In April 2024 UK police arrested her after tracing transactions from a long-dormant Bitcoin wallet. Searches of her properties uncovered encrypted devices containing approximately 61,000 BTC — the largest crypto seizure in UK history — valued at roughly $6.6–7.2 billion at sentencing. An accomplice, Seng Hok Ling, received 4 years 9 months for assisting transfers; other associates previously jailed. UK and Chinese authorities are coordinating civil and criminal recovery efforts to identify eligible victims and return assets under proceeds-of-crime procedures. For traders: the seizure removed a very large dormant BTC holding from potential illicit circulation and highlights improved cross-border crypto forensics and asset recovery, but the court-ordered recovery and potential victim claims may lead to future custodial sales or legal freezes that could create episodic supply pressure on BTC markets.

WHITEWHALE, a Solana-based memecoin, crashed about 45% within minutes on January 19–20, 2026, dropping from a reported $200 million market capitalization to roughly $20 million. The sudden single red candle occurred in under ten minutes and triggered widespread panic selling. Blockchain analysts observed large token transfers and changes to liquidity pools around the time of the drop — patterns commonly associated with a rug pull. No official statement or communication has been issued by the project team since the collapse. On-chain data highlighted that early investor Remus bought 1.5% of the supply in December 2025 for $370; his position later peaked near $1.2 million. Arkham data show Remus sold about $220,000 worth of tokens before the crash and still holds close to $1 million in WHITEWHALE (now worth far less). Trading volume fell sharply after the crash as many traders exited positions. The event has renewed concerns over liquidity risks and rug pulls in memecoins and other low-liquidity tokens. Primary keywords: WHITEWHALE, memecoin crash, rug pull, Solana. Secondary keywords: market cap collapse, liquidity exit, on-chain analysis. Relevance for traders: high short-term risk for similar low-liquidity tokens; watch on-chain liquidity movements, wallet transfers, and developer communication to anticipate exits.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an affiliate of World Liberty Financial to “explore innovation in digital finance,” with a particular focus on using U.S. dollar‑pegged stablecoins for cross‑border payments. The MOU was signed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and World Liberty Financial CEO Zachary Witkoff, and the ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) said the agreement signals growing global interest and will involve collaboration with the central bank to integrate a regulated stablecoin into Pakistan’s digital payments infrastructure. Pakistan set up PVARA in May and the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) in 2025 to boost digital asset adoption; Chainalysis ranks Pakistan third globally for crypto adoption. The country aims to promote tokenization and blockchain solutions at scale, inviting global VASPs to apply for licensing. The MOU could deepen ties between Pakistan’s fast‑growing digital asset market and U.S. projects linked to the incoming Trump administration era.

Cryptocurrency exchange Gate announced a systematic upgrade to its Gate Live App focused on user experience and the platform’s content ecosystem. The update introduces a new UI design language that simplifies information presentation and navigation, reduces page layers and jumps, and prioritizes active live streams and discussions. The app now uses infinite scroll to list ongoing livestreams and reorganizes preview modules so core content stays in prime browsing positions. Gate says the change intends to lower browsing barriers, strengthen content exposure and viewing immersion, and evolve the live module from a single function into an entry point connecting users, content and the trading ecosystem. The release emphasizes product-led investment in content and UX; no trading features, token listings, or specific metrics were announced.