ARK Invest’s new roadmap puts a big number on the table, and it’s hard to ignore. Reports say Cathie Wood’s firm’s “Big Ideas 2026” research paints a scenario where the total value of crypto climbs to about $28 trillion by 2030. Related Reading: Trove’s New Token Craters 95%, Sparking Investor Revolt Big Ideas Point To A Shift According to ARK and its public writeups, that $28 trillion is not blind optimism. The firm breaks the future into three main drivers: Bitcoin, decentralized finance, and tokenized real-world assets. Reports note Bitcoin could make up roughly 70% of that total, which would mean about $16 trillion in Bitcoin market cap by 2030. DeFi And Tokenized Assets Take The Stage DeFi platforms and smart-contract networks are expected to grow a lot. ARK’s scenario puts smart money and on-chain services as a major contributor to market value in the run up to 2030. The firm also projects tokenized real-world assets — things like tokenized bonds, property shares, and other financial products moved onto ledgers — to climb into the trillions, with some reports pointing toward around $11 trillion for tokenization. How Bitcoin Fits Into The Picture Given the share ARK assigns to Bitcoin, the math pushes toward very large per-coin prices if that scenario plays out. Reports say ARK’s base case uses a little over 20 million Bitcoins in supply by 2030 and implies a per-coin price that could sit near the high hundreds of thousands — commonly quoted numbers range up to about $950,000 to $1,000,000 in that framework. Fast Growth Assumptions To reach $28 trillion, the forecast depends on very steep growth each year. ARK points to an implied compound annual growth rate near 61% from present levels to 2030. That is aggressive. It would mean rapid gains across many segments of the crypto market, not just a single rally. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Sharp Reversal Leaves Over $800 Million Liquidated In 1 Day Reports and industry analysts warn that the path to that future has a long list of hurdles. Regulation must become clearer in many places. Institutional rails and custody tools need to expand and prove reliable. Market sentiment has to stay positive long enough for major capital flows to arrive. Any of these things going wrong would change the numbers quickly. ARK’s “Big Ideas 2026” details a robust vision of a $28 trillion ecosystem driven by Bitcoin, DeFi, and tokenization. Although it holds a rather ambitious 61% growth trajectory riddled with numerous regulatory and market obstacles, the vision reinforces the faith of ARK Invest in the transformation of the digital asset space from being a speculative domain to the nucleus of the global finance system. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitwise’s take on the final months of 2025 reads like a careful, hopeful note rather than a loud market call. Momentum on the chains rose even as prices stalled, and that gap is exactly what has traders talking. Some think it marks a bottom. Others say it’s too soon to be sure. Related Reading: Trove’s New Token Craters 95%, Sparking Investor Revolt Crypto: On-Chain Activity Surges According to Bitwise, Ethereum activity and layer-two transactions climbed to new highs, and decentralized trading grew markedly. Stablecoin supplies also swelled, with the total market cap passing the $300 billion mark in Q4. Reports note that decentralized exchange volumes at times matched or exceeded those of major centralized venues. These are hard numbers. They are signs that real use and liquidity are expanding under the surface. The latest Bitwise Crypto Market Review just dropped—and it’s the most important one we’ve ever published. Why? Because it shows a tension in crypto markets that has historically signaled a bear-market bottom (see Q1 2023). Receipts: During Q4 2025… – ETH’s price fell 29% …… — Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) January 21, 2026 Why Prices Have Lagged Bitwise’s chief investment officer, Matt Hougan, compared this setup to early 2023 when prices trailed rising fundamentals before a significant rebound took hold over the following two years. The comparison makes sense on paper. Price can be stubborn. Market psychology often lags behind on-chain realities, and traders sometimes wait for a clearer macro story before committing capital. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee offers a counterpoint, saying the year could be bumpy until late, with tariffs and political tensions weighing on risk appetite. That view keeps many investors cautious. Crypto, Stablecoins And DeFi At The Center According to market data, flows into stablecoins accelerated, and fund inflows to crypto firms outpaced several other sectors in the stock market. DeFi use was no longer a niche metric; it was central to the Q4 narrative. “That’s the type of divergence you get at the bottom of bear markets, when sentiment is down but fundamentals are up,” Hougan said. Some infrastructure firms reported rising revenues. At the same time, trading volumes remained muted compared with the peaks seen earlier, which helps explain the mismatch between on-chain strength and sideways price action. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Sharp Reversal Leaves Over $800 Million Liquidated In 1 Day Why This Might Matter For 2026 Bitwise highlighted 10 broad indicators it sees as health signs for the market, ranging from transaction counts to custody and fee trends. Progress on regulatory clarity was also flagged. Reports say the Clarity Act could change how stablecoins are treated in the US, and a new US Federal Reserve chair could shift policy in ways that matter for risk assets. Bitwise sees Q4 as a quiet period where things were improving behind the scenes, even if prices didn’t show it. The firm says this kind of gap between price and activity has happened before big rebounds. It doesn’t mean a rally will happen right away, but the market could be setting itself up for a stronger year ahead. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is struggling to build momentum around the $90,000 level, yet at least one headline-grabbing buyer appears to be leaning in the opposite direction. Adam Back, the CEO of Blockstream, said on X (formerly Twitter) that a “Bitfinex whale” is purchasing roughly 450 Bitcoin per day at current price levels, a pace that would translate […]
The post How one Bitcoin whale is absorbing the world’s entire daily mining supply as Bitcoin price faces $90,000 friction appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Despite a mixed performance in the early weeks of 2026, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse remains optimistic about the future of crypto markets, predicting new record highs for digital assets this year. Ripple CEO Optimistic About Long-Term XRP Potential Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Garlinghouse noted that recent regulatory developments, including the landmark GENIUS Act, have “unlocked a lot of activity” in the sector. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bear Market Depths: A Closer Look At How Low BTC Could Go When asked about crypto performance during an interview with CNBC, Garlinghouse confidently stated, “I’m very bullish, and yes, I’ll go on record as saying, I think we’ll see an all-time high.” He emphasized that major financial institutions are increasingly showing interest in cryptocurrencies, labeling this shift as a “massive sea change.” However, he believes that this development is not fully reflected in current market prices. Despite his optimistic outlook, XRP, Ripple’s associated cryptocurrency, was trading at $1.88 and had experienced a notable 13% decline over the past week. The current market performance has led analysts to speculate about the possibility of a new bear market on the horizon. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in the long-term potential of the XRP ecosystem, stating, “We are a very vested party in what goes on in the XRP ecosystem. In another five or 10 years, you’re going to see continued, very positive momentum.” Garlinghouse Confident CLARITY Act Will Pass Garlinghouse also anticipated that 2026 would see significant use cases for digital assets, mentioning that cryptocurrency exchange Binance is likely to re-enter the US market. He asserted that the GENIUS Act would facilitate the growth of stablecoins, potentially making operations like payroll more efficient. He believes cryptocurrencies are well-positioned for growth over the next decade. Regarding the crypto market structure bill, or the CLARITY Act, a vital framework for regulating crypto, Garlinghouse voiced confidence that it will eventually succeed. “It’ll get done. We are as close as we have ever been,” he said. However, the proposed market structure bill has encountered significant challenges, particularly after key provisions came under scrutiny. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support for the bill just 24 hours before an anticipated markup scheduled for January 15, leading to a postponement of the process. Related Reading: Where Does Hyperliquid (HYPE) Stand Now? A Deep Dive Into Key Metrics Post-2025 Garlinghouse was taken aback by Armstrong’s strong opposition to the CLARITY Act, noting that “the rest of the industry, including exchanges that compete with Coinbase, were still supporting it.” The executive claimed that he still remains hopeful that industry leaders can navigate the current legislative impasse. “If we want the industry to continue to grow, we need things like the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act,” he affirmed. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
While sovereign debt dominates tokenization today, Ark expects bank deposits and global public equities to move a greater share.
On Wednesday, Pantera Capital, one of the largest venture capital firms in the crypto industry, released its latest blockchain letter. In this edition, the firm reflects on the challenges faced in 2025 while projecting optimism for the remaining months of 2026. Pantera Capital Identifies Growth Catalysts Pantera begins by acknowledging that last year was not fundamentally driven when it came to returns within the crypto markets. It cites macroeconomic factors, market positioning, and structural influences as the main drivers that shaped performance, particularly for assets beyond Bitcoin (BTC). Related Reading: Where Does Hyperliquid (HYPE) Stand Now? A Deep Dive Into Key Metrics Post-2025 The firm highlights several positive developments, including the passage of the GENIUS Act and the rise of digital asset treasuries (DATs). These factors contributed to a more stabilized market sentiment, especially with the onset of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. However, the firm also describes a challenging fourth quarter in 2025, where a significant selloff on October 10 led to the largest liquidation cascade in crypto history. Despite this and many other setbacks during last year’s performance, Pantera expresses optimism about the future, identifying several catalysts poised to drive growth in the coming months. First and foremost, institutional adoption of blockchain technology continues to expand. Many enterprises are now integrating blockchain into their core offerings, with examples like Robinhood’s tokenized equities and JPMorgan’s initiatives. Moreover, the firm distinguished that there has been a notable drop in barriers to entry for major financial players into the crypto market, including sovereign reserves and large asset management firms. Crypto Sectors Set To Rise In 2026 Pantera Capital also explored specific sector predictions for 2026. They anticipate that Real-World Assets (RWAs) will take off. They expect that treasuries and private credit could double, with tokenized stocks and equities experiencing rapid growth as well. The firm further forecasts that prediction markets will attract acquisition interest as they consolidate around institutional infrastructure. The demand for sports-focused platforms is also expected to grow, expanding their presence in the market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bear Market Depths: A Closer Look At How Low BTC Could Go In terms of banking innovation, ten major banks are reportedly exploring the issuance of a consortium stablecoin pegged to G7 currencies, which could provide a compliant and risk-managed way for people and institutions to utilize digital currencies. The macro perspective remains positive as well, with a significant percentage of Bitcoin now held by public companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and nations, indicating a shift towards compliance and institutional investment in the crypto market. Finally, Pantera asserts that 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the digital asset space. Following a significant uptick in 2025, expectations for further growth in crypto-friendly listings are high, as companies look to tokenize assets and expand their portfolios. Featured image from DALL-E, char from TradingView.com
Ark Invest says the crypto market could reach about $28 trillion by 2030, driven by wider adoption of public blockchains and digital assets.
Bitcoin tumbled sharply this week and erased the gains it had made in 2026. Reports from CoinGlass show that over the past 24 hours, 167,513 traders were forced out of their positions, with total liquidations reaching $857 million, with most of those losses coming from long bets. The price slid below the key $88,000 area on major exchanges as traders were forced out of leveraged positions. Related Reading: Bitcoin Senses Risk As Trump Balks At Europe With Major Tariffs Liquidations And Quick Drop According to CoinGlass and market trackers, the liquidations were concentrated in long positions, which amplified the fall and made the move faster than a simple sell-off would have been. Crypto market value fell by hundreds of millions over the same short span. Markets Turned Risk-Averse As Tariff Threats Spread Reports note that renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump toward some European countries set off a fresh “Sell America” trade, which pushed investors away from US assets and toward safer bets. Stocks fell and the dollar weakened. At the same time, traders were watching big moves in Japan’s bond market, where yields jumped sharply, increasing pressure on global liquidity. Those bond moves are important because they can force carry trades to unwind, pulling money out of risk assets — including crypto. A Tug Between Liquidity And Safe Havens The sell-off did not happen for only one reason. Reports point to a mix of political shocks, bond-market stress, and a wave of forced liquidations as the main drivers. As cash flowed into safe havens, gold surged to fresh highs while crypto lost ground. Many investors treated Bitcoin like a risky asset in this episode, selling it to cover losses or margin calls elsewhere. Different trackers gave slightly different figures on total market losses and exact liquidations over 24 and 48 hours. That is normal when markets move fast and data is pulled from different exchanges and windows. Still, the broad picture was clear: a fast, leveraged unwind sent prices lower and erased the year’s gains for Bitcoin. Related Reading: Trove’s New Token Craters 95%, Sparking Investor Revolt Markets Will Watch Liquidity And Diplomacy Looking ahead, investors will likely watch three things closely: moves in global bond markets, any escalation or de-escalation around the tariff threats tied to Greenland, and whether forced selling slows. If liquidity conditions calm, risk assets can recover more easily. If they keep tightening, the pressure on crypto and stocks could persist. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Trove Markets’ new token collapsed almost immediately after trading began, wiping out the vast majority of early gains and leaving many backers angry and confused. The drop was brutal. Traders who bought early watched their holdings shrink by about 95% in a matter of hours. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Fired Up As Saylor Teases ‘Bigger Orange’ After Huge Buy Token Price Plunges After Launch Initial prices implied a market value near $20 million. Based on reports, the token fell to roughly $0.0008 per unit, trimming the market cap to below $1–2 million. Some wallets unloaded huge chunks of coins right after the token generation event. That selling pressure coincided with a flood of posts on social platforms calling the launch a rug pull. Trove Had Raised Millions Before The Fall According to reports, the project raised roughly $11.5 million in its public sale. The Trove team announced it would keep about $9.4 million to fund further work and pay for a switch of blockchains. Refunds totaling about $2.44 million were returned to some investors, and another $100,000 was earmarked for additional reimbursements. The numbers left many buyers feeling shortchanged and asking why a large share of the money stayed with the team. Team Keeps Majority Of Funds On-chain analysts and tracing tools flagged unusual transfers tied to a handful of new accounts. Reports note that a meaningful slice of the token supply moved into one cluster of wallets, and some transfers were routed through services like ChangeHero. That activity raised questions about whether all token allocations were handled openly. Legal calls and demands for public audits followed soon after. Investors reacted quickly. Some demanded full refunds. Others threatened legal steps. Community moderators and influencers amplified complaints and demanded clear timelines for fixes. We’re pivoting Trove to Solana. After recent sentiment around Trove, the liquidity partner that had been supporting our Hyperliquid path chose to unwind their 500k $HYPE position. That was their decision and we fully respect it. This changes our constraints: we’re no longer… — unwise (@unwisecap) January 18, 2026 Trove posted updates, saying a partner had pulled out and that the pivot to Solana was necessary to keep the project alive. The team promised to continue building and to be more open about their choices, while pledging to deliver a working platform that might justify holding the funds. https://t.co/sc8b59sjYE — TROVE (@TroveMarkets) January 19, 2026 Related Reading: Bitcoin Senses Risk As Trump Balks At Europe With Major Tariffs Trust Hinges On Delivery And Transparency What happens next will matter more than the words now being exchanged. If the team can show tangible progress on the exchange and create real trading depth, some anger may fade. If not, the episode could be used as a warning: token sales that change terms late in the process can trigger swift market punishment and reputational damage. Regulatory scrutiny could also increase if large sums are held after a collapse like this. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
After a tumultuous conclusion to 2025, characterized by heightened volatility and the impactful October 10 crypto crash, Hyperliquid (HYPE), one of the market’s largest decentralized exchanges (DEXs), faced significant challenges as it entered 2026. With less than two weeks remaining in January, market research firm GLC released an interesting report assessing Hyperliquid’s current standing and evaluating its recovery metrics. Post-October 10 Downturn The report highlights that Hyperliquid’s trading volume and open interest suffered a considerable decline following the liquidation event on October 10, marking the onset of a downtrend for the platform. Since that date, trading volume has decreased by 44.3%, dropping from $10.17 billion to $5.66 billion. Open interest has also experienced a decline of 35.7%, falling from $14.75 billion to $9.48 billion. However, there are signs of recovery. Notably, since December 1, 2025, trading volume on the platform has seen a slight decrease of 3.2%, while open interest has surged by 45.6%. Related Reading: Is A New XRP Price Record Imminent? Analyst Forecast Colossal Short Squeeze Ahead Year-to-date metrics reveal a more optimistic picture: trading volume has increased by 59.2%, rising from $3.56 billion to $5.66 billion, and open interest has grown by 24.7%, going from $7.60 billion to $9.48 billion. While open interest has started to recover since the October event, trading volume has not rebounded at the same rate. This disparity has caused the volume-to-open interest (OI) ratio to decline from 0.90 on December 1 to 0.60 as of mid-January, likely due to decreased market volatility, which has dampened trading activity. Despite these challenges, there is a positive trend indicating that traders are beginning to open larger positions on Hyperliquid, and the recovery in volume on a year-to-date basis is promising. The report suggests that open interest is a more reliable indicator of trader confidence and long-term positioning, while trading volume tends to be influenced by broader market conditions. Although current metrics remain below pre-October 10 levels, the trend indicates that recovery is underway. Will 2026 Mark A Surprising Resurgence For Hyperliquid? The recent volume and open interest data are said to be bullish, with the 7-day average volume increasing by over 130% year-to-date, primarily driven by one active deployer, XYZ, which accounts for roughly 80% of that volume. The 7-day average open interest has also risen by more than 60%. Moreover, Hyperliquid is regaining market share from centralized exchanges (CEXs) as seen in the chart below, with its open interest currently representing about 14.6% of Binance’s, gaining momentum against platforms like Bybit and OKX. Related Reading: Ethereum Poised For $4,000 Breakout? Expert Pinpoints On-Chain Triggers For Potential Rally Another key factor that could further contribute to the platform’s recovery this year is the rollout of portfolio margin. Currently live on testnet, this feature will enable traders to borrow and lend against their collateral, unlocking numerous new use cases. Historical evidence from other exchanges, such as Bybit, suggests that introducing portfolio margin can be a significant growth catalyst, potentially translating to a substantial increase in trading volume for Hyperliquid. Overall, core metrics are gradually improving, and several catalysts lie ahead, such as the growing adoption of equity perpetuals and the introduction of portfolio margin. GLC’s report asserts: …If improving market conditions are combined with the catalysts outlined above, and potentially another S3 season bringing in new traders, Hyperliquid will surprise the market once again. At the time of writing, the platform’s HYPE token is trading at around $21.84. This represents a significant 9% retracement within the last 24 hours alone, placing the altcoin 63% below its all-time high of $59.30. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
On Tuesday, Bitcoin (BTC) dipped below the significant $90,000 mark once again, raising concerns about the possibility of entering a new bear market and casting doubt on the cryptocurrency’s prospects. Market analyst Raun Neuner published a new analysis of the situation in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Is $37,000 On The Horizon? Neuner highlighted that while stocks are performing robustly and commodities are experiencing what he calls a “supercycle,” the crypto market still struggles to gain traction. This situation raises the critical question: What is the worst-case scenario for Bitcoin? Related Reading: Ethereum Poised For $4,000 Breakout? Expert Pinpoints On-Chain Triggers For Potential Rally Historically, Bitcoin’s bull markets tend to peak approximately 532 days after each Halving event. Applying this pattern to the current cycle suggests that Bitcoin could have reached its peak around early October, where it briefly touched $125,000. Historical trends show that following these peaks, Bitcoin typically endures a substantial decline of 70 to 80%. If this framework holds for the current cycle, Neuner estimates a potential downturn to around $37,000 in the event of a full bear market. Zooming out to consider broader traditional market dynamics provides further context. After a year marked by strong performances in both stocks and commodities, market corrections are to be expected. During risk-off periods in equity markets, Bitcoin has historically amplified these downward moves, contributing to building pressure toward the lower end of the spectrum. The analyst indicates that a key reference point for Bitcoin might be around the $57,000 mark, where the 200-week moving average (MA) resides. Critical Bitcoin Support Levels To Watch The immediate factors contributing to Bitcoin’s recent drop below the $90,000 threshold are linked to heightened volatility in global bond and equity markets, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. Walter Bloomberg, an expert in market analysis, pointed out that the new downtrend has been spurred by various macroeconomic factors, including renewed threats from President Trump regarding tariffs on Greenland and Japan’s fiscal strategies that have added to market instability. Related Reading: Is A New XRP Price Record Imminent? Analyst Forecast Colossal Short Squeeze Ahead Consequently, investors have turned to safe-haven assets like gold, which recently reached a record price exceeding $4,700. In response, Bloomberg warns that macro risks may be underappreciated. Demand for downside protection in Bitcoin’s options market is also rising, indicating that investors are aware of the potential for further declines. The next significant levels for the Bitcoin price in the near term, according to Bloomberg, lie between $84,000 and $85,000, which are expected to act as support for BTC. If the cryptocurrency fails to hold these levels, fears of a deep bear market may become more pronounced. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
XRP’s next big rise could come with hardly any warning, traders and analysts warn. Markets are quiet now. That quiet has happened before, and it has sometimes been followed by sharp moves that catch most people off guard. Related Reading: Bitcoin Senses Risk As Trump Balks At Europe With Major Tariffs History Of Sudden Moves According to several community analysts, XRP has a pattern of long quiet periods followed by fast spikes. It rarely creeps steadily upward for weeks before a charge. Instead, price often treads water, people lose faith, and then momentum arrives quickly. That behavior has left many short-term traders on the sidelines when runs happen. A move looks obvious only after it is already well under way. Legal Overhang Gone Reports say the SEC lawsuit changed XRP’s timing for years. While other tokens took part in big market swings, XRP traded under heavy regulatory pressure. That pressure is now removed. The major $XRP breakout will come when many least expect it. Its always a “catch-off-guard” move.. but we’re prepared. — ???????? ChartNerd ???? (@ChartNerdTA) January 17, 2026 The market has since been allowed to price XRP without that cloud. In late 2024, a notable rally began after US President Donald Trump’s win and the exit of SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Momentum pushed XRP from roughly $0.50 to above $3 in a matter of weeks. But the gains were followed by a long reset. Exposure Beats Perfect Timing According to a number of commentators, being already invested matters more than hitting the exact bottom. When the price starts to climb fast, buyers who jump in late often pay too much and panic-sell when the heat fades. Early holders tend to capture most of the upside. Reports note this has repeated across multiple cycles. Emotion drives late entry; calm positioning often wins. At the time of writing, XRP was trading near $1.93, down about 4% on the day and roughly 55% below its recent high. Many who bought above $3 over the past year have cut losses or reduced positions, which has left sentiment thin. Related Reading: Bitcoin Shows Signs Of Internal Strength As Analysts Turn More Optimistic On Quick Inflows & Short-Term Squeeze Liquidity in key ranges is lighter than traders might assume. Volume patterns and derivatives flows will matter if price begins to move again. An array of factors could start the run — quick inflows, a shift in macro appetite, or a big buyer showing up. On-chain signs, exchange flows, and futures positioning would give clearer clues, but those signals can flip fast. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The Such app aims to expand Dogecoin’s utility across payments and commerce by combining a self-custodial Dogecoin wallet with built-in merchant tools.
The token may be launched on Crypto.com’s Cronos blockchain, with the exchange providing custodial services for the distribution.
Bitcoin has shown early signs of calm, but the mood is fragile. Prices pulled back from a weekend peak and trading has been choppy as investors weigh fresh tariff headlines and slowing growth in parts of Asia. Related Reading: Bitcoin Senses Risk As Trump Balks At Europe With Major Tariffs Spot Market Signals Ease According to Glassnode, spot trading volume has picked up modestly while the net buy–sell imbalance moved above its usual upper band. That shift points to less sell-side pressure, even if demand is still patchy. Reports note that markets are slowly rebuilding after late-2025 profit-taking, with long-term holders less willing to sell every rally. The result is a market that is consolidating rather than breaking down. Derivatives Stress And A Sharp Retest Over the weekend Bitcoin slid by 3.2% from its high, prompting a retest of the $92,000 level that surprised some bulls. That move wiped out about $215 million in leveraged futures longs, a large hit that raised alarms about deeper losses. Source: Glassnode At the same time, weak activity in derivatives markets has flagged a cooling of speculative appetite, which makes it harder for Bitcoin to act as a reliable hedge right now. Nasdaq futures fell after US President Donald Trump announced new tariff proposals aimed at several European countries, and such macro shocks often push traders out of riskier holds. Liquidity Patterns Echo Past Cycles Analysts at Swissblock pointed to a fall in network growth and liquidity that looks similar to conditions seen in 2022. Back then, low liquidity and a pause in growth led to a long consolidation, only for both indicators to surge later and fuel a big price run. Based on reports, the current setup could be the prelude to a similar rebuild if network activity recovers and buy-side momentum strengthens. Network growth has hit lows not seen since 2022, while liquidity continues to drain. Back in 2022, similar network levels triggered a $BTC consolidation phase as network growth began to recover, even while liquidity remained weak and bottoming out. History shows that the… pic.twitter.com/24sC3aoyAD — Swissblock (@swissblock__) January 19, 2026 Institutional Flows And Hedge Narratives Analysts said that ETF flows show institutions buying on pullbacks and that long-term holders are not rushing to sell. Gold has climbed past $4,650, and that safe-haven move, together with softer growth data in China, is nudging some investors to treat Bitcoin as a portfolio hedge rather than a quick trade. A Cautious Outlook Overall, signs point to a slow rebuild rather than a fresh breakout. Buy-side dynamics have improved, but they are not yet strong or broad enough to call a new uptrend. Volatility remains a feature, and geopolitical or policy shocks could push price swings wider. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Fired Up As Saylor Teases ‘Bigger Orange’ After Huge Buy For the time being, the market is steadying while staying watchful — more recovery in liquidity and clearer institutional conviction would be needed to turn this consolidation into a lasting advance. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
According to market reports, US President Donald Trump announced a punitive tariff plan aimed at several European allies. The move sent a clear warning to traders and policy makers alike. Stocks and crypto fell as investors shifted to assets they see as safer. Gold climbed, and some currencies strengthened as a reaction to the risk. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Fired Up As Saylor Teases ‘Bigger Orange’ After Huge Buy Markets Feel The Shift Trading floors showed quick reactions. Bitcoin slipped by about 3% and traded in the low-$90,000 range for a time, while equity futures weakened. Safe havens were bought up. Precious metals recorded gains. Based on reports from market outlets, liquidations hit crypto platforms hard, with roughly $750 million to $875 million of leveraged long positions closed out in the first wave of selling. That added extra downward pressure on prices and raised volatility for hours after the announcement. Tariff Timetable And Targets Trump said an extra 10% tariff would start on February 1st, 2026 for goods from eight countries that opposed his Greenland stance, with the level set to rise to 25% by June if talks do not move forward. The affected nations include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the UK. Governments in Europe reacted with firm language and warned of counters. Officials in Brussels hinted at possible measures that could hurt US exporters if tensions deepen. Trade policy is now back in the spotlight and crossing multiple political lines. We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us. If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia. https://t.co/z0r0IUlD6I — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 17, 2026 How This Played Out In Crypto Crypto traders saw the headlines and reacted quickly. Positions that had been built with margin were trimmed or forced closed. Some funds favored reducing exposure to volatile tokens, while others bought the dip on the theory that shocks like this are temporary. Over short stretches, Bitcoin behaved more like a risk asset, moving with stocks rather than acting as an independent store of value. Over longer stretches, some analysts argue that policy shocks which raise inflationary expectations could boost demand for scarce assets, though that view depends on many economic moves that may follow. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? What Traders Are Doing Reports say market makers tightened spreads and liquidity pools thinned during the worst of the volatility. Large orders were matched more slowly and price swings widened. Some institutional desks paused trading for a few moments to reassess risk models, while retail traders watched charts and reacted to alerts. A few hedge desks took the chance to rebalance toward commodity exposure. Others focused on scenario planning, mapping out how retaliatory tariffs or sanctions might affect specific sectors. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The crypto market faced a sharp selloff overnight as renewed trade conflict fears between the United States and the European Union shook global risk sentiment. Bitcoin and major altcoins reversed recent gains, with traders reacting to fresh tariff headlines and the possibility of escalating economic retaliation on both sides of the Atlantic. While crypto is often viewed as a separate market, this move once again showed how quickly digital assets can behave like high-beta risk trades when macro uncertainty spikes. Related Reading: Monero Triggers Retail Alert That Preceded ZEC And DASH Drops As Privacy Coin Hype Returns According to analyst Darkfost, the liquidation impact was immediate and aggressive. More than $800 million worth of leveraged positions were wiped out in a matter of hours, including roughly $768 million in long liquidations. The scale of long closures suggests that traders were positioned for continuation to the upside, but were caught offside as prices rolled over sharply. What stood out most was where the damage occurred. Darkfost noted that Hyperliquid recorded the largest share of forced liquidations, with $241 million, while Bybit followed closely with $220 million. The wave of liquidations appears partly tied to the announcement of new tariffs targeting Europe, which triggered an equally fast response from EU policymakers, reigniting the broader “trade war” narrative across markets. CME Opens the Door to Fresh Volatility Darkfost warns that the timing of this selloff matters as much as the liquidation size. As soon as CME trading opened, Bitcoin saw a sharp downside move, suggesting that institutional flows and macro-linked positioning played a direct role in the shakeout. In past risk-off episodes, the CME open has often acted like a volatility trigger, especially when markets are already fragile, and leverage is elevated across major exchanges. This is why the next few hours are critical. The same type of move could easily repeat at the opening of the US markets, where liquidity conditions and headline sensitivity tend to amplify reactions. If sellers press again, the market could see another cascade of forced closures, particularly in high-beta altcoins that remain vulnerable after the overnight wipeout. Related Reading: XRP Whale Inflows To Binance Hit Their Lowest Level Since 2021: Accumulation Behavior? The message is straightforward: stay cautious and avoid overexposure to leverage while the macro backdrop remains unstable. Liquidations can create sharp bounces, but they can also reset momentum quickly if fear spreads across risk assets. Darkfost adds that attention should remain on incoming political updates. The market is now trading the narrative, not just the chart. Further statements could arrive at any moment, and as history has shown, Trump often delivers market-moving headlines right in the middle of the weekend. Bitcoin Holds Fragile Rebound As Crypto Tests Macro Nerves Bitcoin is trading near $93,100 after a sharp rejection from the $96,000–$97,000 supply zone. The chart shows BTC still struggling below key moving averages, with momentum capped by the declining blue trendline overhead. This reinforces the idea that the latest upside attempt was more of a rebound than a clean trend reversal. Structurally, price is forming higher lows after the violent breakdown from the $110,000 area. However, the rebound remains vulnerable as long as BTC stays trapped beneath resistance and fails to reclaim the mid-$90,000s with conviction. The recent candles also highlight hesitation, with wicks suggesting aggressive selling into strength. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bull Score Hits Level Seen Only 7 Times In 6 Years – A Rare Historical Signal The red long-term moving average is rising near the low-$90,000s, acting as a potential dynamic support zone. If Bitcoin holds above that level, it keeps the recovery structure intact and prevents a deeper reset toward prior liquidity pockets. This matters for the broader crypto market. When BTC remains range-bound under resistance, altcoins usually struggle to sustain rallies and become more sensitive to liquidation-driven volatility. Risk appetite can return quickly, but it requires Bitcoin to break above resistance and hold. Until then, crypto remains in a fragile stabilization phase, not a confirmed bullish continuation. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Reports say global exchange-traded products tied to crypto pulled in about $2.2 billion in net inflows during the latest week, a jump that marked the strongest weekly move since October last year. Bitcoin-focused funds took the lion’s share, while Ether and a handful of altcoin products also saw fresh money enter. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? Rising Appetite For Bitcoin And Ether According to CoinShares, Bitcoin-led products accounted for most of the inflows, while Ether-linked ETPs grabbed a meaningful slice of new capital as well. Many investors treated these products as an easier way to get exposure to crypto without owning coins directly. The pattern points to growing comfort among big traders and funds with exchange-traded wrappers. Some Flows Came As Prices Moved The uptick in cash into ETPs coincided with a fresh push higher in prices for core tokens. Traders who had been on the sidelines made buys after recent rallies, and funds that track these assets reported higher trading volumes. That increase in trade activity helped push the headline inflow number into view. A few market watchers said the move looked like accumulation by longer-term holders, while others warned that part of the money could be short-term positioning around events and news. Ease Of Access Draws Institutional Money For many institutions, these products are more familiar than direct custody of crypto. Brokers and wealth managers can put them on client platforms with the same tools they use for stocks and bonds. Some banks and advisers have started to offer these ETPs as part of broader portfolios, which has helped open a new tap of capital. That said, differences in rules across countries still shape where the biggest flows land. Where The Money Went And What It Means Bitcoin ETPs were the main beneficiaries, taking most of the $2.2 billion. Ether funds also saw healthy inflows, and a small number of altcoin products attracted fresh cash. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Fired Up As Saylor Teases ‘Bigger Orange’ After Huge Buy The data shows demand is not limited to a single corner of crypto anymore. Instead, investors are spreading bets across the biggest names while a few niche tokens get tested. This could mean more stable demand for core products, even when smaller tokens wobble. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin and the altcoins have plummeted during the past day, leading to the liquidation of a large amount of crypto longs in derivatives markets. Crypto Sector Has Seen A Notable Amount Of Liquidations In The Last Day According to data from CoinGlass, the past day’s volatility in the crypto market has been accompanied by a swath of liquidations. The “liquidation” of a contract occurs when it accumulates losses of a certain degree and is forcibly shut down by the exchange. In the digital asset sector, volatility tends to be high, so a large number of liquidations take place on a regular basis. The last 24 hours involved one such volatile event, as the table below depicts. Related Reading: Bitcoin Short-Term Holders Take Profits: 41,800 BTC Sent To Exchanges In total, the crypto market has faced $874 million in liquidations within this window. Out of these, long contracts have made up for an overwhelming share: $788 million. The reason for liquidations being this lopsided naturally lies in the price action that has developed over the last day. Bitcoin saw a sudden drop from $95,500 to a low of $93,000, while Ethereum went from $3,350 to $3,200. In percentage terms, these drops aren’t too big, but the rapid nature of them is what triggered the liquidations. The source of the crash could lie in revitalized US-EU tariff tensions. As reported by Reuters, President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend to implement tariffs on eight European nations. Starting February 1st, goods from Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland will face an additional 10% import tariff. If the US isn’t allowed to acquire the Danish territory of Greenland, these tariffs will go up to 25% on June 1st. 2025 already saw several events where tariff-related uncertainty affected the crypto market, so it’s not surprising to see that the latest news has also been accompanied by volatility. As is usually the case, the latest market volatility has led to Bitcoin-related contracts occupying a disproportionate share of liquidations. As is visible in the above heatmap, Bitcoin has seen liquidations of around $233 million in the past day. Ethereum, the next-ranked coin in this category, has witnessed $156 million in contracts being involved. Related Reading: XRP In A ‘Super Cycle’? SuperTrend Suggests Another Story From the altcoins, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin have ranked the highest with $61 million, $41 million, and $35 million in liquidations, respectively. SOL being ahead of XRP despite being smaller in market cap may be because of its 6% plunge being larger than the latter’s 4% drop. Bitcoin Price Bitcoin has seen a slight rebound from its low as the cryptocurrency’s price is now back at $93,100. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
A significant short squeeze may be on the horizon for XRP investors, potentially serving as the main catalyst for a rally that could push prices beyond the all-time high of $3.90. Market analyst Bird made these predictions in a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting key observations from his analysis. Key Liquidity Zones For XRP Bird shared a chart that illustrates where leveraged positions—both long and short—are concentrated in the market. He explained that the colored bands on the chart indicate levels of liquidity, where the potential for forced buying or selling could occur due to stop-loss orders and liquidations. Related Reading: Why The Dogecoin Price Could Outperform Bitcoin Again The analysis of the altcoin’s daily chart heatmap categorizes liquidity into two distinct zones: red, signifying deep liquidity, and lighter colors indicating less liquidity. From his observations, Bird noted that price movements away from low liquidity areas tend to occur rapidly. He explained this process: when prices approach zones with significant stop-loss clusters, they often trigger large sell-offs, wiping out long positions. Price Targets $4.20 Following these movements, the price typically rotates back toward shorts, leading to additional liquidation events. Bird pointed out that on Sunday, a number of long XRP positions were liquidated. Related Reading: 4 In 5 Hacked Crypto Projects Don’t Bounce Back, Expert Says Now, he sees a dense liquidity pocket forming around the $4.20 mark, primarily from short XRP positions. This situation incentivizes market makers to drive prices toward this liquidity to close out those trades, rather than moving away from it. As a result, Bird expressed confidence that the current XRP price rally is far from over. He believes that a new all-time high is imminent, as the potential for a substantial short squeeze looms. At the time of writing, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency on the market was trading at $2, having briefly dropped to $1.84 earlier on Monday. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The initiative aims to pilot stablecoin payments across government agencies, expand USDC adoption among local businesses, and more.
A worrying pattern has formed in the crypto sector. Reports say that about four in five projects hit by major hacks do not fully recover. Money is lost, yes. But the deeper damage is often to trust — and that can be fatal. Related Reading: Saylor Defends Bitcoin Treasury Firms Amid Rising Criticism Trust Erodes Fast When a breach is found, users pull funds quickly. Partners step back. Liquidity dries up. Industry experts, including Immunefi CEO Mitchell Amador, warn that slow or unclear responses can push entire communities away. Some projects try to fix code quietly. That can fail. Silence is sometimes treated as hiding. Panic spreads. Confidence drops. “Nearly 80% of projects that suffer a hack never fully recover,” Amador pointed out. The primary reason, he said, is not the initial loss of funds, but the “breakdown of operations and trust during the response.” How Teams Respond Can Decide Fate Reports note that incident plans are rare and that the absence of a clear playbook hurts more than the bug itself. A quick, honest update can calm people. A slow, confused reaction makes things worse. In many cases, even after the technical flaw is fixed, the project stays damaged because users left and did not return. Some teams are rebuilt under new names. Others never regain attention. The human side of recovery matters a lot. Amador said many protocols freeze once an exploit comes to light. According to him, teams often underestimate how exposed they are and lack the operational readiness needed to handle a serious security breach. Security Problems Are Changing The attacks are not all the same. Smart contract bugs remain a big cause. But now simple human errors, like leaked keys or social tricks, are also common. Reports say that losses in recent years have grown into the billions, with one figure around $3.4 billion lost in a single year. That number shows the scale of the risk. Community Reaction Shapes Outcomes A project can be technically repaired. But the people who used it may have moved on. Communities are fragile. Some founders try to refund users or set up funds to cover losses. That can help. Other teams decide to close down the service and focus on other work. The decision is sometimes made for them when liquidity vanishes and partners cut ties. Recovery is often not just a technical task; it is a rebuild of trust and reputation. Data from Chainalysis shows the $1.4 billion Bybit hack accounted for almost half of crypto losses in 2025. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? Huge Damage Crypto hacks jumped sharply in 2025 as attackers hit both large platforms and private wallets. Based on reports, total losses reached $3.4 billion, the biggest annual figure since 2022. Just three breaches were responsible for nearly 70% of that damage by early December, with the $1.4 billion Bybit exploit standing out as the largest. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Michael Saylor’s hint about a “Bigger Orange” has sent fresh energy through parts of the Bitcoin market. It came after Strategy executed a very large buy, and traders took the message as a sign there may be more accumulation ahead. Short bursts of buying have a way of changing tone on trading floors. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? Saylor Signals New Buying Spree According to reports, Strategy purchased more than $1.25 billion in Bitcoin in its latest move, adding thousands of coins to its holdings. That stack has pushed the company closer to a massive total that some sources put near 700,000 BTC. Markets reacted quickly. Prices nudged higher in the hours after the news, and shares of Strategy were treated by some investors as a way to get extra Bitcoin exposure. Traders Pounced And Charts Reacted Momentum traders were the first to lean in. They saw the buy as proof that a major corporate buyer still sees value in stacking coins during dips. Options desks showed increased call buying, and volume spiked on spot desks in New York and Asia. Sentiment grew more positive, but caution remained. Big buys can lift short-term prices, yet they don’t always start long, steady rallies. ₿igger Orange. pic.twitter.com/HI47hMCnui — Michael Saylor (@saylor) January 18, 2026 Market Reaction And Investor Moves Retail and institutional players both turned their attention to liquidity. Reports note that when one large buyer moves, other firms often reassess their risk and allocation plans. Hedge funds checked their models. Family offices ran fresh numbers. For some investors, the appeal is simple: owning a scarce asset that an influential buyer keeps adding to can feel reassuring. Corporate Treasuries And Public Perception Corporate cash strategies have been in the spotlight since Strategy first started buying coins. CEOs and boards watch those moves closely, and investors watch boards. For a public company to keep buying, confidence has to be high enough to risk press questions and regulatory attention. That choice is being watched by analysts who say such buys shape public debate about Bitcoin’s role as part of a company’s balance sheet. What Analysts Are Watching Analysts are tracking three things: how many coins are being taken off exchanges, whether accumulation is steady or one-off, and how the market digests more large purchases. On-chain trackers showed notable withdrawals after the reported purchase, which can tighten available supply. Some onlookers cautioned that short-term price jumps can be reversed if selling follows or if macro news turns sour. Related Reading: More XRP Than Cash? “You’re A Genius”, Analyst Says A Cautious Ending Note Based on market chatter, the “Bigger Orange” tease is more than a bit of bravado — it is treated as a strategic signal by many market players. Still, outcomes are far from certain. Buying by a major corporate holder can shift sentiment and squeeze short positions, but markets are shaped by many forces at once. For now, traders, investors, and watchers will keep an eye on any follow-up moves and how price and liquidity respond in the next sessions. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
A sharp comment from a well-known XRP Ledger developer has sparked fresh debate around savings, inflation, and what smart money looks like today. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? Bird, the developer behind the XRPL-based meme coin DROP, drew attention after saying that anyone holding more value in XRP than in their bank account is a “genius.” The word choice was bold, and it quickly spread across social media, pulling in both supporters and critics. Genius Or Gamble In An Inflation Era According to Bird, the label has less to do with bragging rights and more to do with awareness. He argues that many people trust banks by default, assuming savings accounts protect their future. The problem, he says, is math. Savings rates around 4–6% often fail to keep pace with rising prices. Groceries, rent, transport, and healthcare keep climbing. Over time, money sitting still can quietly lose strength. In that light, Bird frames holding XRP as a sign of foresight rather than recklessness. If you have more money in $XRP than in your bank account, you’re a genius. — Bird (@Bird_XRPL) January 11, 2026 Risk Still Has A Price XRP prices can swing hard in short periods, something banks are built to avoid. A savings account may feel boring, but it offers stability and fast access when bills arrive or emergencies hit. That difference matters. Long-term holders respond that XRP was never meant to act like a checking account. It is treated as an asset tied to future payment rails and global transfers, not day-to-day spending money. The “genius” remark, they say, speaks to time horizon, not short-term comfort. Utility Gains After Years Of Pressure XRP spent years weighed down by legal uncertainty while its network continued to expand behind the scenes. With parts of that pressure easing, attention has shifted back to usage. Cross-border payments remain a core focus. Stablecoin activity, including RLUSD, has increased. Tokenization of real-world assets is also being explored on the XRP Ledger. Supporters believe this growing use gives XRP value beyond price charts. “ What’s the right amount of $XRP to hold? “ The truth is… it’s completely subjective. We all live in different countries, have different costs, jobs, savings, families, goals. Some people chase money, some chase freedom. Some need security for health, travel, retirement,… https://t.co/A5g5Oa4f7c — Bird (@Bird_XRPL) January 10, 2026 How Much Is Enough Depends On You Bird has also raised a question that keeps coming up online: what amount of XRP is “right.” Reports note he often mentions 10,000 XRP as a rough reference, not a target. His thinking is simple. If XRP ever trades in double digits, that holding turns into a six-figure sum in US dollars. For some people, that could mean freedom. For others, it might only ease pressure. Living costs, family size, health needs, and location all shape what “enough” really means. Related Reading: Saylor Defends Bitcoin Treasury Firms Amid Rising Criticism Calling someone a genius makes for catchy headlines, but real life sits in the middle. Keeping some money in banks helps cover daily needs. Holding assets like XRP is a bet on future systems and long-term growth. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
Ethereum is showing signs of strength on two critical fronts at the same time. On-chain activity has climbed to record levels, reflecting heavier real usage across the network, while long-term technical structure is leaning towards upside continuation. Together, these signals suggest that Ethereum’s current phase may be more than just sideways movement, as underlying data points to sustained demand and constructive price behavior. Related Reading: Saylor Defends Bitcoin Treasury Firms Amid Rising Criticism Ethereum Daily Transactions Reach New High Ethereum’s price action is turning bullish with a steady increase in recent days. Notably, on-chain data shows that this increase is on top of steady on-chain activity in recent days. Data from Ethereum’s on-chain activity shows that daily transactions recently climbed to approximately 2.8 million, setting a new all-time high for the network. Interestingly, this figure stands out not just as a record, but because it is roughly 64% higher than the daily transaction levels observed during the peak of the 2021 bull market. The chart data from Sentora illustrates a progression showing Ethereum’s transaction count rising steadily over the years and spiking up in early 2026. Comparing the transaction activity to 2021 adds more context considering the intense amount of activity that the Ethereum network was witnessing at the time. Back then, Ethereum was at the center of an altcoin season and NFT boom, all of which contributed to a spike in transaction activity and a push to new price highs. The fact that Ethereum is now processing significantly more transactions per day compared to 2021 shows that its network usage has grown above speculative behavior. The steady climb in transaction activity shows the sheer amount of usage across decentralized finance and stablecoin settlement, among many others. Ethereum Daily Transactions Chart. Source: @SentoraHQ On X Ethereum Reaccumulation Within A Macro Uptrend Technical analysis of Ethereum’s market capitalization on the three-week candlestick timeframe shows the cryptocurrency is still trading in a zone of stability. Particularly, technical analysis done by crypto analyst Egrag Crypto suggests that Ethereum is in reaccumulation within a macro uptrend. A look at the 3-week timeframe shows that ETH’s market cap is holding above the 21 EMA, respecting the rising macro trendline, printing higher highs & higher lows, and compressing under historical resistance. That is constructive behavior, not weakness. History shows that periods where Ethereum’s market cap held above the 21 EMA on this timeframe have led to expansion phases, whereas sustained moves below it have marked bear market conditions. Related Reading: What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs? At present, the structure indicates the EMA support is being defended. From a probabilistic standpoint, the current setup leans toward continuation rather than breakdown. A move through the overhead resistance band would likely confirm an expansion phase and allow Ethereum to go on a 70% to 75% bullish continuation. Market Cap ETH. Source: @egragcrypto On X On the other hand, a bearish outcome will become possible if the price action loses the 21 EMA on the three-week chart. This could validate a deeper 25% to 30% correction toward the lower trendline, but this scenario carries a lower probability. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Fresh money poured back into US spot Bitcoin ETFs this week, giving the market a clear jolt after a quiet month. The inflows totaled about $1.42 billion, the biggest weekly pickup since early October. That rush pushed prices higher for a time and pulled a lot of attention back to these regulated funds. Related Reading: Saylor Defends Bitcoin Treasury Firms Amid Rising Criticism Institutional Demand Comes Back Reports say big, familiar investors are rejoining these funds. Managers with large pools of capital are using ETFs to get Bitcoin exposure in a way that fits standard rules and reporting. Some of the buying came through a tight set of funds that have wide reach with big clients. The move is being read as a return of steady, long-term money rather than quick speculative bets. Reports from the Bitcoin macro newsletter Ecoinometrics note that recent jumps in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows usually lead to brief price gains, which often disappear when the inflows ease. Based on data from SoSoValue, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw their biggest inflows midweek, with Wednesday bringing in more than $840 million in a single day and Tuesday following with roughly $754 million. Bitcoin doesn’t need a few good days. It needs a few good weeks. We’ve seen this pattern repeatedly: a short burst of ETF inflows, a quick price bounce, and then momentum fades. That tells us demand still exists, but it’s not persistent enough to change the trend. The chart… pic.twitter.com/6mkv7ye9fW — ecoinometrics (@ecoinometrics) January 16, 2026 BlackRock’s IBIT Tops Flows BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust drew the largest share of the gains. On several days it led all spot ETF flows, with one report showing IBIT accounted for roughly $1.03 billion of the weekly total. A single day during the run saw IBIT pull in amounts measured in the hundreds of millions, underlining how dominant the fund has become in the US market. When big, regulated vehicles buy a lot of Bitcoin, the effect is not just on paper. These ETFs must either create new shares by buying coins or choose to source supply elsewhere. That process removes coins from the pool available to regular traders. At the same time, some data show that large holders eased off selling in recent days, which tightened the coins ready to trade even more. The mix of fresh demand and less selling can lift price quickly. Short Gains, Or The Start Of Something Longer? Some market watchers point out that a single week of big inflows is only part of the picture. Patterns matter. If monthly flows stay strong, then the story is clearer. If the money fades, prices can fall back just as fast. Still, the sudden inflow shows that at least a group of big investors prefers regulated ETF exposure right now. That matters for how traditional funds think about Bitcoin in balanced portfolios. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels As Buterin Urges Builders To Deliver Real Apps Bitcon Price Action Bitcoin has been hovering around $95,000 this week, moving up and down slightly as buyers and sellers test the market. Reports say the price steadied after a small bounce from recent lows. Some updates show Bitcoin briefly rising above $96,800, shaking out short-term traders. Analysts note the swings reflect mixed sentiment, with the market unsure of the next clear direction. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
Strategy chairman Michael Saylor pushed back on critics who say companies that hold Bitcoin are reckless. He told a podcast that buying Bitcoin should be seen as a choice about where to put cash, not as a moral failing. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels As Buterin Urges Builders To Deliver Real Apps He said firms face few good options for idle money, and that Bitcoin is one of those options for companies that can stand big price swings. Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Choice Based on reports tracking public disclosures, publicly listed firms hold about 1.1 million BTC in total. That amount equals roughly 5.5% of the 19.97 million coins now in circulation. Strategy is the biggest public holder, with 687,410 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries data. Those numbers help explain why markets and regulators pay attention when companies buy large amounts. Saylor framed the issue as a simple accounting decision. He compared holding Bitcoin to other moves a firm might make with extra cash. Treasuries pay very little. Stock buybacks can fail if a company is losing money. He used a clear example: a company losing $10 million per year could still come out ahead if its Bitcoin position gained $30 million over the same time. That point is meant to show why some executives see Bitcoin as a way to improve net results. Risk Vs. Reward On Balance Sheets The argument has limits. Bitcoin can drop fast. A firm with heavy debt or thin margins may be forced to sell at the worst time. Not every company has the same ability to wait for a recovery. Strategy’s big size and long view make it hard to compare with smaller firms that don’t have the same runway or the same investor base. Investors and analysts see two sides. Some view large Bitcoin bets as proof of conviction. Others see concentration risk that adds volatility to corporate returns. That scrutiny grows as more firms add coins to their books. When holdings reach the hundreds of thousands, it is no longer a niche choice; it becomes part of how markets judge a firm’s financial picture. Related Reading: Ethereum On Fire: User Growth Sparks Massive Activity Spike Price Context Matters Bitcoin was trading around $95,250 at the time of writing, with an intraday range from about $94,320 to $95,660 on major exchanges. That level shapes how recent buyers are viewed. Gains make the strategy look smart. Losses make it look unattractive. Timing and cash needs often decide the outcome. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
US Senate debate over a bill called the Clarity Act has reignited discussion about XRP and other crypto products, and how they might be treated under US rules. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels As Buterin Urges Builders To Deliver Real Apps Reports have disclosed that the bill could give clearer status to tokens that back US-listed ETFs, moving them closer to commodity-style treatment. XRP spot ETFs have also drawn large capital, with inflows reaching about $1.37 billion since their November 2025 launch — a figure that underlines why lawmakers and market watchers are paying attention. How It Works Creation and redemption in ETFs can happen “in kind,” which means the fund can accept the actual asset instead of cash. That mechanism is real, but it does not let ordinary buyers load tokens directly into a fund. Authorized participants — big broker-dealers and market makers — are the ones that hand tokens to ETFs and receive shares back. Everyday investors buy or sell ETF shares on exchanges. That gap is central to the debate about whether an ETF could ever function like a bank. The XRP ETF’s are also In-Kind Funds, so you can deposit XRP directly into the fund in exchange for the exact value in shares. Most in general will choose this option post law. There are many advantages to this, you will be able to use the ETF like a “bank”. https://t.co/2G49kxUpGc pic.twitter.com/4fyeOkEYTC — Chad Steingraber (@ChadSteingraber) January 13, 2026 What Community Voices Are Saying According to posts from XRP community figures, some see a future where ETFs act like a regulated parking spot for token holders. Chad Steingraber has been vocal about in-kind mechanics, arguing that investors could swap XRP for matching ETF shares and treat the funds as a safer place to hold value until they need to move tokens again. Those comments have helped popularize the idea that ETFs could be used in a bank-like way. What Taxes Might Look Like Reports and investor guides show that ETF structure matters for taxes. ETFs often use in-kind creation and redemption to avoid routine capital gains distributions at the fund level, which helps make ETFs tax-efficient in many cases. But tax consequences for token holders depend on how transactions are carried out and on the product’s legal structure. Under current US rules, transfers that change the form of an asset can create taxable events for the person handing over the asset, and fund-level distributions can still produce tax bills for investors. Related Reading: Ethereum On Fire: User Growth Sparks Massive Activity Spike According to Chad Steingraber, the in-kind structure gives XRP holders a regulated place to park their tokens when they want safety and oversight. Investors, Steingraber believes, may favor ETFs once the Clarity Act clarifies rules. The appeal is not the technical steps but the confidence of holding XRP in a regulated, organized product. For him, ETFs offer a safer way to manage tokens while still keeping access to them when needed. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
For a market that usually moves in one direction, some voices are starting to say this time might look a little different. Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg said XRP could move on a different path from Bitcoin this year, pointing to enterprise use cases as a key reason. Related Reading: Futures Frenzy Pushed Crypto Exchange Volume To Nearly $80 Trillion In 2025 He made the remarks during a podcast with host Paul Barron, and outlined a cautious view of Bitcoin while singling out protocols tied to real-world tokenization. According to McClurg, the shift in focus toward practical applications may help a small set of tokens behave differently than the wider market. XRP And Hedera Seen As Practical Picks McClurg named the XRP Ledger and Hedera as examples of networks that could benefit from enterprise adoption and tokenization efforts. He argued that platforms with clear utility — like payment rails, tokenized assets, or stablecoin infrastructure — have a better chance of holding value when speculative momentum fades. Reports have disclosed that he does not expect these assets to race higher; instead, modest gains are the likeliest outcome, with growth described as low double-digit rather than explosive. Bitcoin Faces Additional Downside McClurg turned more negative on Bitcoin. He said he believes Bitcoin peaked on October 6, 2025, at $126,200. Since that date Bitcoin has slipped roughly 35% to about $95,800. He warned that prices could fall another 20–30% over the next six to nine months, which would place BTC roughly between $65,000 and $77,000 before the end of the cycle. Based on his view, a new all-time high is not expected in 2026 and the market may be entering a deeper correction. Markets Could Still Move Together Critics point out that altcoins often suffer greater losses when the market experiences a downturn, and history supports that caution. Liquidity tends to dry up during big Bitcoin sell-offs, and even assets with real use cases can be pushed lower in a broad risk-off episode. In layman’s phrasing, XRP might fall less than Bitcoin and therefore look stronger in comparison, but outright independence from Bitcoin is rare and usually temporary. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels As Buterin Urges Builders To Deliver Real Apps Relative Outperformance The More Likely Outcome According to McClurg’s perspective, what is most realistic is relative outperformance rather than complete separation. That means XRP and similar tokens could remain flat or show modest positive returns while Bitcoin weakens. Such a pattern would still be notable for holders and for enterprises planning tokenization projects, but it falls short of a dramatic price surge. Featured image from Bitpanda Blog, chart from TradingView
Recent reports indicate that XRP has reached an almost six-month high in daily transactions, marking a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency as it exhibits increasing adoption across both payment systems and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. For January 2026 alone, the XRP Ledger recorded 1.45 million daily transactions, following a steady upward trend in network usage that began in late 2025, coinciding with the introduction of new payment corridors through Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity platform and the integration of stablecoins such as RLUSD. Gaps Between XRP Demand And Price Market expert Sam Daodu highlighted in a recent report for 24/7 Wall St. that historical trends suggest that gaps between rising demand and stagnant prices often precede sharp rallies. With exchange reserves at eight-year lows and increasing institutional inflows seen with XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the current situation indicates that the altcoin may be quietly gearing up for its next breakout. Related Reading: XRP Will Skyrocket Beyond $18: Analyst Suggests 800% Growth Potential In 2026 Despite a slight rebound to $2.42 on January 6, which represented a nearly two-month high for the token, its price has since retraced to approximately $2.048 at the time of writing. This decline occurred despite the transaction surge, suggesting that XRP has yet to capitalize on its increased usage. Daodu noted that the discrepancy between XRP’s price and its on-chain activity isn’t unusual. He asserts that such gaps between usage and price have often been precursors to significant price movements, while also pointing out several factors contributing to the current delay in price reaction. Market-wide consolidation is one of the key reasons, as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) traded sideways in early 2026, dampening momentum for altcoins like XRP. In addition, profit-taking pressure has emerged following XRP’s July 2025 rally up to $3.65. Many short-term holders have cashed out, creating strong resistance levels in the $2.20 to $2.50 range. Until new catalysts arise, Daodu claims XRP may remain confined to this range without breaking out. Is A Major Price Breakout Ahead? Looking forward, Daodu posits that XRP has a historical tendency to lag behind its on-chain progress before initiating explosive price moves. In both 2017 and 2020, spikes in transaction volume and wallet activity preceded significant rallies for the token’s price by several weeks. Related Reading: Bitcoin And Crypto ETFs Set To Attract $130 Billion-Plus Inflows This Year, JPMorgan Predicts For instance, in the third quarter of 2020, XRP’s daily transactions grew by over 40% in just two months, while the price remained flat at around $0.25, only to surge to over $0.70 within weeks in November. A similar scenario unfolded in late 2017, where heightened usage metrics preceded a jump in XRP’s price from $0.30 to $3.30 by early January 2018. This suggests that the current surge in on-chain transactions could be a leading indicator of a delayed price breakout for XRP. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com