Crypto prices steadied as traders looked past short-term volatility with positioning shifting to the Fed, megacap earnings and a weakening dollar.
All eyes are on the U.S. Federal Reserve today as it prepares to announce its latest interest rate decision. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will release its policy update at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by a press conference from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at 2:30 p.m. ET. Markets widely expect the Fed …
China’s exports remain resilient under U.S. tariffs as the yuan stays tightly managed, sending ripples all the way to the crypto market.
Chainalysis says the on-chain money laundering ecosystem processed $82 billion in funds in 2025, with Chinese-language networks now dominating.
Crypto analyst Matt Hughes is arguing the global liquidity cycle is stretching well beyond its usual rhythm and that the extension is precisely why staying structurally bearish on crypto has been so punishing since 2020. Hughes, who posts as “The Great Mattsby,” said Monday that the cycle is “now ~6 years strong post-2020 with no clear peak in sight as of early 2026,” framing the move as something closer to a super-cycle than a standard 4–6 year expansion. What This Means For The Crypto Market Hughes’ core claim is that the traditional mechanism that ends liquidity cycles, central banks tightening into contraction, is being blunted by a mix of debt math, fragmented global money creation, and a capital-intensive investment boom that keeps pulling liquidity back into risk assets rather than allowing it to drain out. “The current global liquidity cycle is on track to become the longest ever, smashing past the typical 4–6 year patterns we’ve seen historically. Here’s why it’s stretching into a true super-cycle (now ~6 years strong post-2020 with no clear peak in sight as of early 2026):” Hughes wrote, before laying out the macro pillars of the thesis. First, Hughes points to the scale of leverage in the system as a constraint on normalization. “Global debt/GDP >350% creates a refinancing nightmare,” he wrote, arguing that each policy response has to be larger to prevent defaults and that aggressive tightening risks cascading sovereign and emerging-market stress. In that framework, policy makers are boxed into “perpetual support mode,” which delays the kind of contraction that would normally mark the end of a liquidity upswing. Related Reading: US Government Bitcoin, Crypto Theft Allegation Emerges Involving CEO’s Son Second, Hughes argues the cycle can run longer because global liquidity is no longer dominated by a single central bank. “The old dollar-only world is fragmenting,” he wrote, describing a “bifurcation of the global monetary system” in which liquidity creation outside the US can offset periods when the Federal Reserve is tighter. In his telling, a multipolar setup — spanning “BRICS nations,” China as a major credit creator, and alternative stores of value including “yuan, gold, crypto” — makes the overall system more resilient than past cycles that were more synchronized. Third, Hughes links the endurance of the cycle to an unusually large wave of capital demand. He calls AI, renewables, data centers, chip fabs, and blockchain “capital hogs,” arguing that the scale of funding required “demand & absorb endless liquidity.” He also ties that directly to market behavior, writing that risk assets like “IWM small-caps, ARKK innovation, BTC” pushing toward or near all-time highs is consistent with a cycle that is “closer to start than end.” Related Reading: Bitwise Says Crypto Has Likely Bottomed, Echoing Q1 2023 Setup Finally, Hughes emphasizes a policy bias toward preventing downturns. He described central banks as “hyper-proactive,” citing tools like forward guidance and yield curve control alongside tighter fiscal-monetary coordination. He also argued geopolitical priorities: reshoring, infrastructure, and the energy transition reinforce a stimulus-leaning posture, while traditional recession signals have been less reliable, pointing to a record-long 10y/3m inversion “without collapse.” Not everyone in the thread accepted the implication that the liquidity impulse remains cleanly supportive. A user posting as zam flagged a near-term risk: “My concern here is that Michael Howell says that liquidity momentum is slowing down considerably and that the liquidity is peaking very soon for this cycle. Any thoughts on that?” Hughes’ reply was succinct: “It can rotate into other assets as long as the economy is strong.” For crypto markets, the exchange captures the key tension: whether the cycle’s length is the dominant story, or whether a decelerating liquidity impulse changes the playbook via rotation rather than outright collapse. Hughes’ framing leaves the timing open-ended, asking followers whether the crypto peak arrives “at the end of 2026 or even longer,” while implicitly suggesting bears may need a clearer, system-wide rollover in liquidity, not just slower momentum, before the macro backdrop decisively turns. At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.95 trillion. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
South Dakota has joined the growing list of U.S. states exploring Bitcoin as part of public finance. A new bill introduced in the state legislature by Republican lawmaker Logan Manhart could allow a 10% of government-managed funds to be invested in Bitcoin. Once the House committee approves it, the bill goes to the full South …
Traders are watching $0.122 as support and $0.1243–$0.1255 as the levels DOGE needs to reclaim.
BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes says the yen is weakening while Japanese government bond yields are rising, which could lead to Japanese investors selling US Treasuries.
The latest proposal closely mirrors House Bill 1202, which was introduced during the 2025 legislative session.
Coinbase’s musical ad depicting a run-down UK, which was already blacklisted from TV, has reportedly seen a wider ban by the country’s ad watchdog for being “irresponsible.”
Traders are watching $1.88 as support and $1.94–$2.00 as the levels XRP needs to clear to break consolidation.
Experts say the metals expansion builds infrastructure, not a near-term volatility hedge, as Coinbase stock falls 46% from its peak.
USDC leads the decline in the market cap of top stablecoins, posing risk to crypto market valuations.
Solana started a recovery wave above the $125 zone. SOL price is now consolidating and faces hurdles near the $128 zone. SOL price started a decent recovery wave above $122 and $125 against the US Dollar. The price is now trading above $125 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $124 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could continue to move up if it clears $128 and $130. Solana Price Faces Resistance Solana price remained stable and started a decent recovery wave from $118, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. SOL was able to climb above the $122 level. There was a move above the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $132 swing high to the $117 low. Besides, there was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $124 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair. The bulls even pushed the price above $125. However, the bears remained active near $128. Solana is now trading above $125 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $128 level, and the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $132 swing high to the $117 low. The next major resistance is near the $130 level. The main resistance could be $135. A successful close above the $135 resistance zone could set the pace for another steady increase. The next key resistance is $142. Any more gains might send the price toward the $145 level. Another Decline In SOL? If SOL fails to rise above the $128 resistance, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $124.50 zone. The first major support is near the $122 level. A break below the $122 level might send the price toward the $117 support zone. If there is a close below the $117 support, the price could decline toward the $105 zone in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for SOL/USD is losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for SOL/USD is above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $125 and $122. Major Resistance Levels – $128 and $130.
Reports note that Bitcoin holders realized large losses as prices slid, and the headline number is hard to ignore. According to on-chain tracker CryptoQuant, about $4.5 billion in net losses was recorded on January 23. Related Reading: Bitcoin Influencers Get Spotlight In X’s New ‘Starterpacks’ That number reflects moved coins sold at prices lower than when they were bought. It is a big transfer of paper pain into real losses. Realized Losses Spike While the dollar figure grabs attention, the meaning is what matters. Many who bought late in the run higher are choosing to sell rather than hold through more decline. That behavior shows frustration. Reports say the Net Realized Profit and Loss metric tallies this by comparing sell prices to purchase prices, and a negative reading this large signals a wave of capitulation. Some larger, long-term holders have been quieter. Their activity appears muted while smaller and mid-term participants make the day-to-day moves. According to analyst posts on CryptoQuant, this mix — quiet big holders and active smaller sellers — is common during corrective stretches. It does not automatically mean the market is broken; it means sentiment has shifted toward caution. $4.5 Billion in Realized Loss on Bitcoin “Highest amount of realized losses in three years. The last time this occurred in Bitcoin, the price was trading at $28,000 after a brief correction period that lasted about a year.” – By @gaah_im pic.twitter.com/OJ7bbL3RSC — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) January 26, 2026 Bitcoin Price Action Midway through the week, Bitcoin traded around the mid-$80,000s, well below the $90,000 mark that some investors had eyed as a key level. Market chatter shows traders watching macro cues like the US Federal Reserve and inflation data for guidance. Volatility has not disappeared; it has simply become more tied to broader economic signals than to isolated crypto headlines. Whale addresses appeared to step in at times, helping to hold local price floors. But many traders remain cautious. Reports note that geopolitical headlines can cause quick swings, yet the current movement looks more like slow digestion of profit and repositioning than explosive panic selling. Activity on spot exchanges and ETF flows has been variable, reflecting the mixed mood across the market. Related Reading: XRP Showing Strength, Analyst Points To $4 Potential Capitulation Has Come Before Similar loss spikes were seen in March 2023, when realized losses reached close to $6 billion, and in November 2022, when losses hit roughly $4.3 billion. These events were followed by consolidation and then eventual recovery. Based on reports from analytics firms and market observers, spikes in realized losses can mark the late stages of selling pressure, after which the market sometimes finds a base. Featured image from Pexel, chart from TradingView
Coinbase has been working with Solflare, R2, and Flipcash to bring custom stablecoins to market, with the latest testing focused on Flipcash’s USDF.
The filing comes after regulators closed their probe into Uniswap Labs, shifting attention from enforcement toward questions over liquidity.
Bitmine's increased ETH staking solidifies its influence in the crypto market, potentially impacting Ethereum's network dynamics and staking yields.
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XRP price failed to surpass $2.00 and started another decline. The price is now correcting gains and might struggle to stay above $1.860. XRP price started a downside correction and tested the $1.90 zone. The price is now trading near $1.890 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a declining channel or a possible bullish flag pattern forming with support at $1.860 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears $1.950. XRP Price Struggles Below $2.00 XRP price failed to clear $2.00 and started a downside correction, underperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price dipped below the $1.920 and $1.90 levels to enter a negative zone. The price even dipped below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.810 swing low to the $1.945 high. The bulls are now active near $1.880. There is also a declining channel or a possible bullish flag pattern forming with support at $1.860 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price is now trading near $1.890 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.920 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.950 level, above which the price could rise and test $2.00. A clear move above the $2.00 resistance might send the price toward the $2.050 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.120 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.150. Another Decline? If XRP fails to clear the $1.950 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.880 level. The next major support is near the $1.860 level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.810 swing low to the $1.945 high. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.860 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.8320. The next major support sits near the $1.80 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.7650. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $1.880 and $1.860. Major Resistance Levels – $1.950 and $2.00.
Intel's potential partnerships with NVIDIA and Apple could enhance US chip manufacturing, reduce reliance on TSMC, and align with "Made in America" goals.
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XRP is trading below the $2.00 mark as the market drifts into a phase defined by apathy and uncertainty, with participation thinning and conviction on both sides fading. After a powerful rally earlier in the cycle, price action has cooled significantly, and recent attempts to regain momentum have failed to attract sustained follow-through. The current environment reflects a market that is no longer driven by aggressive speculation but instead is weighed down by caution and a lack of clear directional catalysts. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breaks Below $87K As Political Risk Spikes – Liquidations Reveal The Real Driver Top analyst Darkfost explains that the shift began in the derivatives market. After XRP open interest on Binance surged to a new all-time high of $1.76 billion on July 17, positioning became increasingly crowded. As price stalled and volatility picked up, that leverage started to unwind. The result was a sharp contraction in open interest, which unfolded alongside a major price correction. XRP fell from $3.55 to $1.83, a drawdown of nearly 50%, highlighting how tightly price and leverage were linked during the distribution phase. Declining moving averages compress the price, signaling persistent downside pressure and weak momentum. Most recently, Binance XRP open interest dropped below $500 million, a level that has persisted since the exceptional liquidation event on October 10. This sustained compression signals a market that has largely flushed excess leverage, but has yet to see renewed speculative interest—leaving XRP stuck below $2 and searching for a new equilibrium. Deleveraging Resets Market Structure After Liquidity Flush Overall, XRP open interest has fallen by nearly 60%, signaling a significant destruction of liquidity in the derivatives market, particularly following the October 10 (10/10) liquidation event. This contraction reflects a broad unwinding of leveraged positions rather than a sudden collapse in spot demand. As positions were forced out or closed voluntarily, the derivatives layer thinned substantially, leaving the market far less crowded than during the mid-2025 peak. It is also important to recognize the mechanical effect of price on open interest. As XRP’s price dropped, the notional value of outstanding futures contracts fell alongside it, naturally amplifying the contraction in OI. In other words, part of the drop reflects lower prices reducing leverage in dollar terms, not just traders exiting positions. Still, the scale of the decline points to a genuine reset in speculative activity. Stepping back, these deleveraging phases play a critical role in restoring healthier market conditions. They flush out excess leverage, reduce forced-selling risk, and shift control away from overextended short-term traders. Historically, such phases become visible when XRP open interest on Binance falls below its semi-annual average, as is the case now. Past cycles show that once leverage is rebuilt gradually—and participation returns without excessive crowding—price action often stabilizes first and recovers later. While this does not guarantee an immediate rally, the current cleanup phase reduces downside fragility and lays the groundwork for a more sustainable move if demand re-emerges. Related Reading: US Institutions Step Back From Ethereum: Coinbase Premium Flashes Caution XRP Price Action Details XRP is trading just below the $2.00 psychological level, hovering around $1.89. This is a zone that has repeatedly acted as short-term support over recent months. Declining moving averages compress the price, signaling persistent downside pressure and weak momentum. The 50-period moving average (blue) continues to slope downward and now acts as dynamic resistance near the $2.30–$2.40 region. Above it, the 100-period moving average (green) reinforces this resistance cluster, confirming that medium-term trend control remains with sellers. More importantly, XRP is now leaning on the 200-period moving average (red), which has flattened and is acting as a critical structural support around the $1.85–$1.90 range. Historically, sustained trading near the 200 MA often marks transition zones between continuation and broader trend failure. A clean break below this level would expose risk toward prior demand zones near $1.60–$1.70. Related Reading: Bitcoin Stuck In Bear Mode For 83 Days: Trend Pulse Confirms Structural Weakness Volume remains muted, suggesting market apathy rather than panic selling. This aligns with the broader derivatives deleveraging we’ve already observed, suggesting that the market has largely flushed out speculative pressure. For any meaningful recovery, XRP must reclaim the 50 MA and hold above $2.00. Until then, price action points to consolidation under resistance. The direction hinges on whether long-term support continues to hold or finally gives way. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Silver prices have been on the rise and hit a new all-time high of just over $117 on Tuesday, though some analysts warn this could be a price top is coming soon for the precious metal.
Tether owns around 140 tons of gold, worth around $23 billion, stored in a nuclear bunker in Switzerland, according to Bloomberg.
ERC-8004, which a lead developer has tipped will be deployed to mainnet this week, enables AI agents to discover and trust each other across platforms without centralized gatekeepers.
Ethereum price started a recovery wave from the $2,800 zone. ETH is now trading near $3,000 and might aim for more gains if it clears $3,050. Ethereum managed to stay above $2,850 and started a recovery wave. The price is trading above $2,950 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,970 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it stays above the $2,880 zone. Ethereum Price Starts Recovery Ethereum price managed to remain stable above $2,850 and started a recovery wave, like Bitcoin. ETH price was able to clear the $2,900 and $2,920 resistance levels. The price cleared the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward wave from the $3,065 swing high to the $2,784 swing low. The price even surpassed the $3,000 level. A high was formed at $3,030 and the price is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent upward move from the $2,784 swing low to the $3,030 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,980 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. Besides, there is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,970 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. If the bulls remain in action above $2,970, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $3,030 level. The first key resistance is near the $3,050 level. The next major resistance is near the $3,065 level. A clear move above the $3,065 resistance might send the price toward the $3,120 resistance. An upside break above the $3,120 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,180 resistance zone or even $3,200 in the near term. Another Rejection In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,050 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,970 level. The first major support sits near the $2,950 zone. A clear move below the $2,950 support might push the price toward the $2,880 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,825 region. The main support could be $2,780. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,950 Major Resistance Level – $3,050
The restaurant chain said that its adoption of Bitcoin is one of the main reasons that it is “trouncing” its fast-food competitors.
Adoption has been strongest in the hospitality, travel, digital goods, and gaming industries. Millennials and Gen Zs are proving to be the most crypto-savvy shoppers.
Data shows social media interest has shifted away from Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency sector recently as interest in Gold and Silver has spiked. Crypto Social Volume Has Cooled Recently In a new post on X, analytics firm Santiment has talked about how the Social Volume has compared between the cryptocurrency market, Gold, and Silver recently. Related Reading: Stablecoin Market Cap Drops By $7 Billion—What It Means For Bitcoin The “Social Volume” is an indicator that tells us about the amount of discussion that a given term or topic is receiving on the major social media platforms. It does so by counting up the total number of posts/messages/threads on the platforms that contain unique mentions of the term. Retail traders outweigh all other types of investors in population, so social media discourse tends to be a reflection of their behavior. As such, a spike in Social Volume for a particular market signals retail interest in the space. Historically, crypto traders have shifted their attention between various sections like memecoins, AI, blue chips, etc. based on where hype is the greatest. The pattern has changed recently, however, as Santiment has explained, “now, retail is proving to be open to jumping sectors entirely, with social data showing how gold, silver, and even equities are getting more and more interest based on wherever the latest pumps appear.” Below is the chart for the Social Volume shared by the analytics firm that shows this trend in action. As displayed in the graph, social media users have seen their attention shift multiple times across January. In the first week, the Social Volume was muted for all markets, corresponding to a post-holidays lull. During the second week, Gold witnessed its Social Volume shoot high as its price reached new all-time highs. Bitcoin rose alongside this surge, but crypto Social Volume still didn’t budge much. In the third week, however, social media interest in digital assets saw a return as Bitcoin and other tokens retraced. This activity likely corresponded to traders trying to speculate about the bottom. Now, in the final week of January, Silver has taken the lead in social media talk, with Gold right behind it and interest in crypto at a low. The shift in retail attention has come as Silver has set new records. “Remember that when crypto retail begins FOMO’ing in, that’s generally where tops appear,” noted Santiment. This pattern was witnessed during Silver’s latest run to a new all-time high above $117, which was followed by a drop to $103 within hours as retail hype spiked on social media. Related Reading: XRP, Ethereum Now ‘Undervalued’ On MVRV, Says Santiment With the crypto Social Volume still sitting at relatively low levels, it would appear that the small traders currently don’t feel strongly about Bitcoin and company. Bitcoin Price Bitcoin has seen a bearish second half of January as its price has retraced back to $88,000. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway announced on Saturday that it was shutting down, and has now been followed by Rodeo, which only launched on iOS last March.
SoftBank's increased investment in OpenAI could accelerate AI advancements, influencing global tech dynamics and competitive landscapes.
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