Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Ethereum’s network activity has reached record levels in early 2026. On-chain data reported by market commentators shows the 7-day moving average of active Ethereum wallet addresses climbed above 811,500, its highest level in history. Daily transactions also surged to new highs, topping roughly 2.2 million per day versus a prior peak of about 1.89 million. Despite rising usage, average on-chain fees remain very low — swaps ~$0.04, NFT sales ~$0.06, borrowing ~$0.03, bridging ~$0.01 — supporting increased throughput and user activity. Analysts cited by the report (including Joseph Young and On-Chain Foundation researcher Leon Waidmann) attribute the gains to renewed user adoption, protocol upgrades improving scalability (notably the Fusaka upgrade), and growing real-world usage even while ETH price momentum lags. Key stats: 7DMA active addresses >811,500; ~2.2M daily transactions; swap fee ~$0.04. For traders, the data signals strengthening network fundamentals — higher on-chain demand and liquidity — that may precede price moves if sustained.

Polygon Labs said it will acquire crypto on‑ramp provider Coinme and payments platform Sequence for about $250 million as part of a strategy to expand stablecoin payments. The deal consolidates Polygon’s push into fiat-to-crypto rails and merchant-facing payment tools: Coinme offers cash and retail on‑ramps and a licensed U.S. crypto kiosk network, while Sequence provides developer tooling and payments infrastructure for stablecoin transactions. Polygon plans to integrate both businesses into its ecosystem to accelerate merchant adoption of USD-backed stablecoins and to build regulated, compliant rails for fiat-stablecoin flows. The transaction aims to bolster Polygon’s payments stack, grow volumes on Polygon’s chains, and increase on‑chain stablecoin circulation. Executives noted regulatory compliance and partnerships with banks and payment processors will be central to deployments. The combined acquisition signals broader industry momentum toward stablecoin-based payments and infrastructure consolidation, positioning Polygon to compete with incumbent payments firms and other crypto-native payment builders.

Bitcoin (BTC) rallied to around $92,500 after U.S. consumer prices rose 0.3% in December, a hotter-than-expected monthly print that reinforced ongoing inflation concerns. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase suggests persistent inflationary pressure, which can influence Federal Reserve policy expectations and investor allocation to inflation hedges like Bitcoin. BTC’s move accompanied heightened trading volumes and risk-on flows into crypto markets as traders priced in a slower pace of rate cuts. Market participants noted that stronger CPI readings historically correlate with short-term upward momentum in Bitcoin as investors seek assets perceived to protect against inflation. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, U.S. CPI, inflation. Secondary keywords: consumer prices, Federal Reserve, rate cuts, crypto market, trading volumes. The main keyword "Bitcoin" appears multiple times to improve search visibility. Short sentences and clear stats highlight the core market drivers for traders: the 0.3% December CPI print, BTC reaching ~$92.5k, and implications for Fed expectations and crypto flows.

Kazakhstan’s financial authorities have blocked access to more than 1,100 unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange platforms over the past year as part of a broader enforcement drive. The measures, which include freezing funds and shutting illegal OTC desks, aim to curb money laundering and protect consumers while steering trading toward licensed exchanges inside the Astana financial centre. Officials frame the push as part of plans to build a regulated regional digital-asset hub and explore a national crypto reserve. Details on the specific platforms affected and the precise enforcement timeline were not disclosed. The move reflects a global trend of tighter oversight intended to channel activity into compliant venues and reduce risks associated with unregulated trading.

Salad.com, a global GPU cloud platform, has partnered with Golem Network to test whether decentralized web3 compute can support Salad’s existing GPU cloud workloads. The engineering trial will use Golem’s permissionless execution layer to mirror and map a portion of Salad’s commercial activity across its product range (GPU rendering, AI inference, in-silico simulations). The test will evaluate Golem’s decentralized marketplace, execution and settlement infrastructure as potential replacements for Salad’s current centralized payment processors, billing and reward systems. Salad and Golem aim to measure cost, transparency and operational efficiency gains from integrating DePIN/web3 compute into a traditionally web2 stack, and to assess interoperability for future resource-sharing across siloed networks. The trial is positioned as a functional validation of whether decentralized compute can reliably handle real-world enterprise workload profiles.

The NYC token, launched using former New York City mayor Eric Adams’ name, collapsed within hours amid allegations of insider selling and liquidity manipulation. On-chain trackers (BubbleMaps, Lookonchain, Rune Crypto) flagged one deployer-linked wallet (9Ty4M) for creating a one-sided liquidity pool, removing roughly $2.5M in USDC near the price peak, later adding ~$1.5M and extracting ~ $1M — with total liquidity pulled later reported above $3.4M. Market cap surged to nearly $600M at peak before dropping below $100M after the liquidity moves. Ownership concentration was extreme: one wallet held ~70% of supply and the top 10 wallets controlled ~99%, enabling insiders to dictate price. Multiple imitation NYC tokens also appeared, fragmenting liquidity and confusing traders. Reported losses included a single trader losing $473,500 in under 20 minutes. Investigators stressed there was no official government backing or public funds involved. The incident has renewed concerns about politically themed tokens, market manipulation, and trader vulnerability during rapid launches. Keywords: NYC token, rug pull, liquidity pull, token launch, token concentration, on-chain analysis.

Pi Network developments: The Pi News X account launched a mascot-naming contest offering a 10,000 PI (~$2,000) prize pool to the community; popular suggestions include “Pika,” CatPi and Archie. Pi News is an unofficial but prominent community account. Separately, the official Pi Network team released a developer library bundling the Pi SDK and backend APIs to let Pioneers add Pi payments in under ten minutes (frontend: JavaScript/React; backend: Next.js, Ruby on Rails). The Core Team also published a 2025 recap highlighting progress and reiterated the long‑awaited mainnet and token launch planned for February. Market data: PI trades around $0.20 (≈2.5% weekly decline) and is about 93% below its $3 all-time high from last year. On-chain flows show >1.6 million PI moved from exchanges to self-custody in the past 24 hours, which can reduce immediate selling pressure. Key takeaways for traders: community engagement initiatives (naming contest) raise short-term attention but are not fundamental; the SDK release and mainnet/token launch are material product milestones that could affect adoption and liquidity; recent large withdrawals from exchanges may signal reduced sell-side supply and support a short-term rebound, though the token remains deeply down from ATH and carries significant risk.

BitDegree has launched a new Mission, “Effortless Business Payments With Ogvio,” on its play-to-earn platform to showcase Ogvio’s business payment features. Participants who complete the Mission before February 13, 2026, must connect their BitDegree account to an Ogvio account to be eligible. A 100 USDC prize pool will be distributed via a Lucky Draw to 10 winners (10 USDC each). Completing all Mission rounds also awards up to 2,000 Bits, which can be redeemed for a share of the larger BitDegree x Ogvio Airdrop (a $12,000 prize pool). Users can earn more Bits by finishing other Missions, referring friends, and completing bonus tasks. The Mission highlights Ogvio’s abilities to pay suppliers and freelancers, receive payments, and customize business accounts. This campaign continues BitDegree’s recent series of money-transfer-themed missions, previously including India and Turkey-focused tasks.

Franklin Templeton has amended two Western Asset institutional money market funds (MMFs) to serve as regulated reserves and on‑chain cash for US stablecoin infrastructure without launching new crypto‑native funds. The Western Asset Institutional Treasury Obligations Fund (LUIXX) was adjusted to be compatible with GENIUS Act reserve requirements, positioning it as SEC‑registered, government‑only collateral for payment stablecoins and bank‑style issuers. The Western Asset Institutional Treasury Reserves Fund (DIGXX) added a blockchain‑enabled “Digital Institutional” share class to enable 24/7 on‑chain collateral and cash management for tokenization platforms, custodians and broker‑dealers while retaining its 2a‑7 MMF status. Roger Bayston, head of digital assets at Franklin Templeton, said the firm expects stablecoin reserves to be managed in both tokenized and traditional forms and plans to offer access through multiple trusted partners rather than tying to a single tokenization platform. The move mirrors broader asset manager activity: BlackRock and others have modified or created Treasury MMFs aimed at stablecoin reserve roles following evolving US regulation. Primary keywords: stablecoin reserves, money market funds, tokenization, GENIUS Act. Secondary/semantic keywords: SEC‑registered MMF, on‑chain collateral, tokenized cash, institutional treasury. Relevance for traders: signals growing institutional infrastructure for regulated tokenized dollars, potential for increased stablecoin trust and liquidity in institutional channels, and a continued converge of traditional asset managers into crypto rails.

Ingenico has partnered with WalletConnect Pay to enable native stablecoin payments at point-of-sale terminals without relying on Visa/Mastercard rails. The integration lets customers pay in USDC, EURC and USDT directly from WalletConnect-compatible mobile wallets (eg. MetaMask, Trust Wallet). Transactions are initiated at Ingenico terminals and settled through WalletConnect Pay’s infrastructure; merchants can choose to receive funds in stablecoins or convert to fiat. Ingenico says its 40 million terminals across 120 countries can support the feature with no hardware upgrades required, though rollout depends on merchants and payment providers enabling the option. WalletConnect Pay will support Ethereum mainnet, Base, Arbitrum and Polygon at launch, with Optimism and Solana planned; WalletConnect’s CEO highlighted lower fees and faster settlement versus card rails. The move aims to position stablecoins as an alternative settlement rail for retail payments, addressing refunds via merchant dashboards and targeting reduced cross-border costs. Industry figures see stablecoin payments as a growing trend for 2026.

This unified analysis assesses Dogecoin (DOGE) price prospects for 2026–2030 by combining technical indicators, on-chain metrics, fundamentals and institutional views. Key takeaways: DOGE historically follows broader crypto cycles, rallying in bull markets and correcting in bears. Analysts outline multi-scenario targets for 2026 — conservative $0.15–$0.25, moderate $0.30–$0.45 and bullish $0.50–$0.70 — with later-year ranges rising modestly (2027–2030 projections extend toward $0.85–$1.25 in optimistic cases). Drivers cited include merchant adoption (examples referenced such as Tesla and AMC integrations), network/development updates from the Dogecoin Foundation focused on security and scalability, celebrity/social-media influence, and macro risk-on conditions. Reaching $1 by 2030 would require roughly a 10x move versus today and a market cap near $140–150 billion at current supply; Monte Carlo models in the later report estimate a ~22–35% probability under present assumptions. On-chain signals show stable active addresses and mixed NVT readings — steady usage but limited technical evolution compared with smart-contract platforms. Institutional research is split: some analysts model gains to $0.60–$0.65 in favorable scenarios; others see resistance near $0.35–$0.45 based on utility and adoption limits. Major risks are intense competition from newer chains and meme tokens, persistent inflationary supply (~5 billion DOGE/year), regulatory uncertainty, and potential loss of cultural relevance. Trading guidance: treat DOGE as high-volatility, use strict risk management (position sizing, DCA, stop-losses), monitor adoption metrics, network upgrade progress, macro sentiment (risk-on/Bitcoin cycles) and regulatory developments. Primary SEO keywords: Dogecoin price prediction, DOGE price, reach $1, Dogecoin 2030. Secondary keywords included naturally: meme coin volatility, merchant adoption, on-chain metrics, Monte Carlo probability.

A draft of the U.S. Clarity Act contains a clause that would exempt any crypto asset from being classified as a security under the Securities Act of 1933 if it is the principal asset of a U.S.-listed exchange-traded product (ETF) on Jan. 1, 2026. XRP qualifies under this provision, potentially ending its central legal vulnerability against the SEC after years of litigation and delistings. The clause would place XRP alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum as non-securities and could also clear tokens such as SOL, LTC, HBAR, LINK and DOGE if they serve as principal ETF assets by the cutoff date. XRP ETFs are already attracting capital: as of Jan. 12, four U.S.-listed products recorded net inflows of $1.23 billion, with assets approaching $1.5 billion and XRP trading above $2. The draft’s language, if enacted, would have legal consequences beyond Ripple’s suit—nullifying the SEC’s unregistered-security argument for any fund or exchange using affected tokens and likely shaping institutional product launches, listings and regulatory risk assessments.

Chainlink (LINK) could reach $100 by 2030 if adoption and technical milestones align. Both articles highlight Chainlink’s core proposition as the leading decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts to real‑world data and secures value across blockchains. Key drivers cited include: increased smart‑contract and enterprise adoption (Google Cloud, Oracle, Accenture, ANZ, DTCC, SWIFT links), Cross‑Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) for cross‑chain messaging, expanded Chainlink Functions for off‑chain computation, and staking upgrades (staking v0.2 and Chainlink 2.0 features) that can reduce circulating supply and improve node economics. Metrics to watch: total value secured (TVS), number of active integrations and data feeds (1,000+ feeds and providers reported), staking participation, CCIP progress, and enterprise partnerships. Historical context: LINK rose from a 2017 ICO price of $0.11 to an ATH of $52.88 in May 2021, fell to around $5.50 in 2022, and current analyst scenarios for 2026 range from conservative ($25–$35) to optimistic ($70–$85); $100 implies ~10x from mid‑2020s levels and a market cap >$50bn. Risks remain: regulatory uncertainty, competition from other oracle projects (Band Protocol, API3, Tellor), macroeconomic headwinds, execution risk for upgrades, and potential security incidents. For traders: this news is a conditional bullish signal for LINK’s medium‑ to long‑term outlook. Monitor fundamental adoption indicators (TVS, integrations, staking metrics, CCIP milestones and enterprise deals) and roadmap execution; avoid treating $100 as a forecast without observing these on‑chain and off‑chain adoption signals.

Eleven major central banks and senior officials from the Bank for International Settlements issued a joint statement expressing full solidarity with US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell and underscoring the importance of central bank independence. The public backing follows a US criminal probe into Powell related to a $2.5 billion Fed headquarters renovation and rising political pressure from the Trump administration, which has suggested potential replacements who favor rate cuts. Signatories included ECB President Christine Lagarde, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, and central bank leaders from Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, South Korea and Brazil. Crypto-market commentators said the dispute could increase short-term volatility: weakening confidence in dollar policy may push flows toward safe havens such as Bitcoin and gold, while political shocks can trigger sell-offs and risk-off moves during US trading hours. Market participants noted a softer dollar and rising gold/silver; some analysts expect that eventual rate cuts could boost liquidity and support crypto prices longer term. Key implications for traders: monitor FX and gold moves, expect higher intraday volatility around US sessions, and watch rate-policy political developments for directional signals to risk assets including BTC.

U.S. CPI data matched expectations (CPI 2.7% y/y; Core CPI 2.6% y/y; monthly CPI 0.3%), confirming mild but persistent inflation above the 2% target. Employment improvement seen in recent reports has reduced the case for further Fed rate cuts after the three cuts in late 2025. Separately, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he faced political pressure from then‑President Trump to enact faster rate cuts and alleged threats; the DOJ is investigating renovation cost inflation at the Fed. JPMorgan warned that loss of Fed independence risks steeper yield curves and weaker economic dynamism. Markets reacted modestly: Bitcoin rose about $300 after the CPI release. The article highlights the interplay of macroeconomic data, political pressure on the Fed, and potential implications for rates and market direction — factors traders should monitor for short‑term crypto volatility and interest‑rate‑sensitive positioning.

Dogecoin (DOGE) saw a dramatic +654% futures flow imbalance within a five-minute window, indicating a sudden surge of leveraged activity—likely speculative long positions—rather than passive retail buying. The move coincides with DOGE attempting a recovery after weeks of decline and losing the 50 EMA, with price stabilising above short-term moving averages and RSI rising from oversold levels. Spot flows remain mixed and subdued; without confirming spot demand, a futures-led rally could quickly fade if momentum stalls or leveraged longs are liquidated. Key technical hurdle: regaining and holding above the 50 EMA to validate a larger recovery. Traders should note elevated volatility and sharp pullback risk despite renewed interest; the event is consistent with early-stage local-bottom dynamics but does not guarantee a full trend reversal.

VanEck analysts say Bitcoin’s historical four‑year cycle — the repeatable pattern tied to Bitcoin halvings and multi‑year bull runs — appears to have broken. The firm points to changing institutional behaviour and altered capital flows as primary reasons: diversified crypto products, growing spot BTC ETF interest, and macroeconomic shifts are reducing the tight linkage between halvings and price rallies. VanEck highlights that while retail-driven halving narratives previously concentrated buying pressure around specific periods, today’s market features more continuous accumulation from institutions and ETF inflows, weakening the cadence of the old cycle. The note warns traders to expect less predictable, more range‑bound behavior around halving dates and recommends focusing on liquidity, ETF flows, and on‑chain metrics rather than relying on calendar‑based strategies. Key takeaways for traders: monitor spot ETF subscriptions and redemptions, watch institutional product flows, track on‑chain accumulation metrics, and adjust risk management as cycles become less reliable drivers of outsized returns.

Solana (SOL) attracted renewed institutional interest as spot ETF inflows totaled $10.67M, part of a selective rotation of capital across crypto ETFs (Bitcoin ~$117M, Ethereum ~$5.04M, XRP ~$15.04M). SOL traded higher — roughly $141–$142 in the latest update — with daily volume rising above $6.6B and market cap above $80B. Technicals show a bullish bias if SOL holds and closes above key levels: a sustained close above $144.63 would open a path toward a $159.10 breakout target, while intraday triggers around $141.3–$144.6 are being watched by traders for confirmation. Conversely, daily bearish divergence raises the risk of a corrective pullback toward sub-$130 if momentum fails; defending $138 is key to neutralize that risk. Earlier reporting noted smaller ETF inflows (~$2.93M) and highlighted $118 as a critical weekly support, with resistance between $129–$140 and short-term trigger levels near $126–$132 — details that remain relevant for traders managing layered risk. Key takeaways for traders: monitor ongoing ETF flow trends for signs of continued selective risk-on, watch closes above $141.3 and $144.63 for upside confirmation, manage stops around $138 (near-term) and the longer-term weekly support levels (notably $118), and expect short-term price moves to be driven by liquidity sweeps and resistance clusters between $129 and $150.

Ozak AI presale has accelerated through successive phases, now reporting roughly 1.08 billion tokens sold at $0.014 and more than $5.61 million raised. The project markets an on-chain AI infrastructure — including Prediction Agents, Ozak Stream Network (OSN) for real-time data streams, Ozak Data Vaults, EigenLayer AVS integration and Arbitrum Orbit compatibility — and cites partnerships or mentions with Echobit, AlxBlocks, SINT, HIVE, Intel, Weblume and Pyth Network. Organizers and press highlight strong presale momentum and growing social engagement as evidence of market interest amid broader crypto volatility. Promoters project a $1 listing target (implying ~71× from the current presale price), with alternative analyst scenarios ranging from $0.50 (35×) to $1–$3 in early discovery and $5–$10+ in later 2026–2027 AI cycle projections. The reporting is a paid press release and carries a disclaimer that it is not investment advice. For traders: the key drivers to watch are listing venue and timing, liquidity and lock-up details, on-chain utility adoption, partnership confirmations, and social sentiment — any major exchange listing or confirmed integrations could trigger short-term FOMO and price spikes, while weak liquidity or unmet roadmap milestones would increase downside risk.

Remittix, a payments-focused crypto token, has moved from promise toward execution with a confirmed crypto-to-fiat PayFi platform launch scheduled for February 9, 2026. The project reports a live mobile wallet on the Apple App Store (Google Play support expected), CertiK security verification, more than 701 million tokens sold and roughly $28.8 million raised, with a current presale entry price of $0.123. Remittix also says it supports direct crypto-to-fiat settlement in multiple jurisdictions and has secured listings on several centralized exchanges. Earlier coverage contrasted Remittix with legacy payment tokens such as XRP and with smart-contract platforms like Cardano (ADA). XRP has recently shown consolidation and a liquidity-driven liquidation event that removed both longs and shorts, leaving near-term direction uncertain despite ETF-driven institutional interest. Traders are watching Remittix because its token is tied to a direct fiat payout use case — moving beyond speculative narratives to demonstrable product, compliance readiness and a clear launch timeline. The reporting notes this is a paid press release and not investment advice.

CME Group’s FedWatch tool shows markets priced a 95.0% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its January meeting and a 5.0% chance of a 25 basis-point cut. Compared with an earlier snapshot (81.7% stay / 18.3% cut), the later data indicates markets moved toward expecting no action in January. By March, market-implied odds shifted to 24.3% for a cumulative 25-bp cut, 1.1% for a cumulative 50-bp cut, and 74.6% that rates will remain unchanged through March. These probabilities were reported before the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) release. Traders use FedWatch probabilities to price interest-rate expectations into bond yields, the dollar and risk assets — including cryptocurrencies — so the reduced odds of near-term cuts generally support higher yields and a firmer dollar, which can pressure crypto risk appetite in the short term. This market-implied outlook is informational and not investment advice.

US December unadjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.7% year-over-year, matching expectations and November’s reading. The unadjusted core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 2.6% YoY—slightly below the 2.7% forecast and unchanged from the prior month. The release confirms headline inflation steady at 2.7% and core inflation holding at 2.6%, providing further data points for policymakers and markets monitoring inflation trends.

BNB (Binance Coin) maintained prices above $900 following a modest intraday gain but failed to break a nearby key resistance level. The token showed support near $900, with attempts to push higher rejected around the resistance zone, leaving momentum limited. Traders observed low-to-moderate volume accompanying the move, suggesting constrained conviction behind the rally. Short-term technicals point to consolidation above $900 while immediate upside is capped unless buyers drive volume and break the resistance. Market participants should watch volume, the resistance level, and broader crypto market cues for signals of a sustained breakout or renewed downside.

Crypto.com has listed Brevis (BREV) on its Exchange, added BREV perpetual futures, integrated Lynq for trading data/liquidity services, and enabled isolated margin trading for the token. The updates expand tradable instruments for BREV — spot, isolated margin, and perpetuals — and may improve liquidity and execution for traders using Crypto.com’s platform. Integration with Lynq suggests access to additional pricing feeds and order routing, which can tighten spreads and reduce slippage. The changes are primarily technical and product-focused, with no tokenomics alterations or corporate leadership changes reported. Traders should note launch times, margin requirements, leverage limits, and funding rates for the new BREV perpetuals before taking positions. Primary keywords: Crypto.com, Brevis, BREV, perpetuals, isolated margin. Secondary/semantic keywords: Lynq integration, liquidity, margin trading, funding rate, launch announcement.

Former New York City mayor Eric Adams promoted a Solana-based memecoin rebranded as NYC Token. The token launched with a rapid price spike and then plunged roughly 70–80% shortly after trading began. Multiple independent on-chain analytics providers (Lookonchain, Bubblemaps, Rune/other trackers) flagged unusually large USDC liquidity movements around the peak. Reported amounts removed from the liquidity pool vary by tracker (roughly $2.4M–$3.4M), with portions later returned; exact figures and wallet attributions differ across sources. The NYC Token team said partners “rebalanced” liquidity, added funds back and used a TWAP mechanism to stabilise prices, but this statement does not settle who controlled the movements. A widely shared trader loss report (approx. $473.5K) is difficult to fully verify but is plausible given thin pools and extreme slippage during the crash. Key takeaways for traders: memecoin launches on Solana carry high liquidity and execution risk — always verify if liquidity is locked, check LP concentration and deployer wallet links, confirm the token contract on a block explorer (e.g., Solscan), and cross-check pool flows on DEXScreener, Bubblemaps and Lookonchain before trading. This episode highlights heightened sensitivity to liquidity management on Solana DEXs and the elevated rug-pull risk for newly launched meme tokens.

ZKsync published a 2026 roadmap shifting from experimentation to production-ready zero-knowledge infrastructure aimed at banks, enterprises and regulated finance. Matter Labs CEO Alex Gluchowski framed ZK tech as foundational for regulated systems after 2025 deliveries that included Atlas, Prividium and Airbender. The roadmap centers on privacy (Prividium as a default private execution environment) and deterministic control — features such as performance isolation, deterministic access rules and containment of operational errors to meet institutional requirements for confidentiality, auditing and compliance. ZKsync plans to evolve its ZK Stack from isolated chains into an orchestrated system with native cross-chain connectivity across ZK chains and Ethereum, reducing dependence on external bridges. Institutional partnerships begun in 2025 are moving toward production, with the company targeting deployments that could serve millions of users. Primary keywords: ZKsync, privacy, institutional adoption, zero-knowledge. Secondary/semantic keywords: Prividium, Atlas, Airbender, ZK Stack, cross-chain connectivity, regulated finance.

Ukraine has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket after classifying the decentralized prediction market as unlicensed gambling under Resolution No. 695 (10 Dec 2025). Regulators cited legal and reputational risks, especially markets tied to Russia’s invasion. The decision adds polymarket.com to Ukraine’s public registry of blocked resources and follows an earlier PlayCity finding; ISPs must restrict access, carry out inspections and report compliance, with legal penalties for noncompliance. Polymarket, founded in 2020 and built on Polygon using USDC for settlements, is valued at about $8 billion and reportedly had over $100 million in Ukraine-related betting volume by end-2025. The move is part of broader global scrutiny of crypto prediction markets — similar actions have been taken or proposed in Romania, France, Belgium, Thailand and parts of the US — and follows tightening rules around political/event contracts and insider-trading concerns. Ukrainian users will need licensed alternatives or may attempt circumvention via VPNs. For traders: expect increased regulatory risk pricing for prediction-market platforms and tokens tied to their infrastructure, potential user migration to licensed competitors, and possible short-term volume disruption on platforms serving Ukrainian users.

XRP (XRP) is trading around $2.06 after a 1% 24-hour gain and stands up 11.5% year-to-date. The token has maintained price above the $2.0 psychological support amid a broader crypto market recovery. Technicals on the 4-hour chart are still biased bearish — MACD in negative territory and RSI at 43 — leaving sellers in control short term. Key support levels to watch are $2.00, $1.92 and $1.81; $2.2 is the immediate resistance, with a daily close above it likely to open a move toward the $2.5 psychological region (and potentially $3.0) if bullish catalysts arrive. Fundamental drivers cited include rising institutional interest in spot XRP ETFs and the possibility of the U.S. Senate passing the Market Structure Bill; either could underpin a medium-to-long-term rally. Conversely, fading retail or institutional demand would pressure prices and could trigger retests of lower supports. Traders should monitor confirmation signals (daily candle close above $2.2, MACD cross, RSI >50) before positioning for a break toward $2.5; failure to hold $2.0 raises risk of deeper pullbacks to $1.92–$1.81.

21Shares has listed BOLD, a physically backed Bitcoin–gold exchange-traded product (ETP), on the London Stock Exchange following the FCA’s October 2025 easing of rules for Bitcoin ETPs. BOLD combines physical Bitcoin and gold and uses a monthly, 360‑day inverse‑volatility (risk‑weighted) rebalancing that trims the stronger asset and boosts the weaker to target equal risk exposure rather than a 50/50 capital split. The ETP was first launched in Switzerland in April 2022 and is already listed in Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and Stockholm. Custody is held with institutional providers: gold with JPMorgan; Bitcoin with Anchorage Digital Bank and Copper Technologies. BOLD trades intraday and carries a 0.65% total expense ratio. 21Shares says the strategy has historically delivered excess returns versus static allocations (roughly 5–7% annualized advantage claimed) — the BOLD Index has returned strongly since 2017 and the product returned 122.5% in GBP from April 2022 through end‑2025 (including fees), versus 111.3% for Bitcoin and 113.0% for gold over the same period. The London listing broadens regulated access for institutional and professional investors seeking combined exposure to crypto and gold. The move comes amid wider flows in digital-asset products (recent weekly outflows of about $454m) and changing macro expectations around Fed rate cuts, which may affect near‑term demand for crypto ETPs.