China's digital yuan accounts for approximately 95% of settlement volume on the platform, which includes central banks from elsewhere in Asia.
"The White House has been super constructive here," said CEO Brian Armstrong.
Over the week, Ethereum struggled to sustain any significant move to the upside. Although the second-largest cryptocurrency reclaimed the $3,300 price level, it could not break above $3,400 to continue its path towards higher price levels. As it stands, it appears that the Ether token is taking on a short-term bearish structure. However, an on-chain evaluation has recently been put out, which suggests that market participants might be gearing up for a significant move in the near-term. Related Reading: The Ethereum MACD Crossover That Could Lead To A Massive Bull Wave Ethereum Futures Activity Reaches Monthly High Following Market Inactivity In a recent QuickTake post on the CryptoQuant platform, analytics group Arab Chain reveals that there has recently been a spike in futures trading activity on the Binance derivatives market. This revelation is based on the Binance: ETH Futures Daily Volume metric, which monitors the total value of Ethereum futures contracts being traded on Binance each day, hence reflecting market activity, trader participation, and potential leverage exposure. The latest reading of the metric has highlighted a major shift, with trading volume climbing as high as $21.7 billion. According to Arab Chain, this reading marks the highest level since mid-December, reflecting that strong momentum has returned to the futures market. Notably, the spike in futures trading volume was preceded by a period of relative decline in the second half of December. This event coincides with a period of price stability, alongside a tapering risk appetite among traders. Interestingly, institutional investors also contributed prevalent aversion to risk. Arab Chain explains that the decline is a typical sign that market participants want to “wait and see,” instead of speculatively opening large positions. However, the present scenario — where futures volume surged — paints an opposing story. As the futures trading volume reflects levels above its mid-December high, it becomes apparent that interest among Ethereum traders is being rekindled. This is because increasing futures volume “is typically associated with higher leverage usage, hedging activity, and speculative positioning” — a line up which indicates that the market is preparing for significant movement. The reason for this spike could also be attributed to traders who are reacting to key technical levels or shifting expectations around near-term price action of a potential trend reversal. In the grand scheme, however, the Ethereum price reacts to this activity, depending on the alignment of spot demand with derivatives activity. Till such a definite sign comes up, the market stands at a point of uncertainty. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Will Still Rally Above $99,000 Despite Bearish Sentiment, Here’s Why ETH Price Overview As of this writing, Ethereum stands at a price of $3,292, reflecting no real growth since the past day. Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview
The company began accepting Bitcoin as a method of payment in May 2025, following hundreds of store closures between 2018 and 2025.
Corporate credit quality is deteriorating beneath a surface that looks deceptively calm. JPMorgan tallied roughly $55 billion in US corporate bonds that slid from investment-grade to junk status in 2025, the so-called “fallen angels.” At the same time, only $10 billion returned to investment-grade status as “rising stars.” Another $63 billion of investment-grade debt now […]
The post Bitcoin’s next major move hinges on a $63 billion “fallen angel” signal that most investors are completely ignoring appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Ark's data shows bitcoin has weak price correlations with stocks, bonds, and gold, making it potentially attractive for risk-adjusted portfolio management.
Bitcoin remains anchored above key support as weekend trading unfolds, keeping $98,200 and $107,500 in focus. Market participants are watching closely to see if the uptrend can continue or if the weekend liquidity will trigger a test of lower levels. The next few sessions could define BTC’s short-term trajectory. Key Support Holds: $94,630 Remains Crucial According to a recent post by Kamile Uray, Bitcoin is still holding strong above the $89,326 support level, and as long as it remains above this zone, the possibility for the uptrend to continue remains intact. This level continues to act as a critical foundation for bulls, keeping the market structure aligned with potential further gains. Related Reading: Bitcoin Flashes Near-Identical Fractal Before The 2021 Bull Run Started If BTC manages to break through the $98,200 resistance, the next key target at $107,500 comes into focus. At this level, a decisive move will determine whether the current uptrend is complete or push Bitcoin even higher. A daily close above $107,500 would mark the first higher high on the daily chart relative to the last downward wave, signaling a potential continuation of the bullish trend. However, if BTC is rejected at resistance and falls back below $89,326, the downtrend could resume. Should a reversal form within the $83,822–$82,477 support zone, Bitcoin may attempt another upward push, giving bulls a chance to regain control. If BTC closes below $82,477, further downside is expected, potentially testing the $74,496–$71,237 region. This zone has historically served as a strong support area, and any confirmed reversal from here could set the stage for another bullish leg. Bitcoin Weekend Liquidity Ahead: Expect Range-Bound Action Crypto expert Lennaert Snyder outlined that Bitcoin is holding the key $94,630 support level, which also serves as the crucial H4 level to hold. On Friday, BTC retraced and briefly swept this low before stabilizing, reinforcing the importance of this zone for short-term market structure. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Compresses Below $94K, But Possible Repeat Of 2025 Breakout Looms As we enter the weekend liquidity, Bitcoin is likely to trade within a defined range until Sunday evening or Monday. For bullish traders, the plan is to hold the low and watch for a market structure break above $95,820. Once this occurs, long positions could target the $97,960 monthly high. In anticipation of continued upside, only part of the position may be closed at the monthly high, letting 30%-40% run to capture further gains if momentum persists. However, if BTC loses the $94,630 support on the H4 and falls back into the previous range, a continuation toward lower lows becomes more likely. In that scenario, short positions would be considered after confirmation on a retest, giving traders a structured approach to managing risk and potential downside. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Ahead of Consensus Hong Kong, Auros’ Jason Atkins says market depth, not hype, will determine crypto’s next phase.
The bill is still a "priority," White House Crypto Council Director Patrick Witt said, but interagency legalities remain a challenge.
AVAX, the native token of the Avalanche protocol, is ready for a potential price breakout following another week of significant mixed price action. In line with the widespread crypto market uplift, the altcoin had initially surged as high as $14.85 before retracing below the $13.50 price. According to analyst Ali Martinez, AVAX now lies at another critical price juncture, with the next price move likely to determine its short-term trend. Related Reading: SUI Reclaims Smart Money Zone, While Weekly Structure Signals Big Move Ahead Here’s Why AVAX Must Clear $14.83 Resistance In an X post on January 16, Martinez shares an insightful analysis of the AVAX 12-hour trading chart, identifying a key price zone and an important chart formation. According to the presented technical review, AVAX’s recent rejection around $14.85 can be attributed to heavy resistance in this region. Most notably, the altcoin has struggled to break past this $14.83 price barrier thrice in the last month, indicating a significant willingness among investors to sell when the price approaches this zone. This could be driven by a general view of such a price point as a good profit-taking zone or expectation of a price decline based on historical data. It’s worth noting that Martinez’s analysis also shows that AVAX price movement has formed an inverse head and shoulders pattern, thereby favoring an imminent upside breakout. For context, the inverse H&S formation is a bullish pattern that signals a potential trend reversal. As seen above, it consists of three troughs: the left shoulder, where price declines, then rebounds; the head, a deeper decline to around $11.26 followed by a recovery, and the right shoulder, a higher low ($13.75) that fails to reach the depth of the head. All rebound highs are connected by a resistance line ($14.83) known as the neckline. And a bullish breakout indicates strengthening buying pressure. Therefore, Martinez explains that AVAX must push past this barrier in a decisive manner to trigger a bullish breakout towards $17.59 as an initial price target. With sustained buying pressure, the analyst predicts a further rise to $18.41, representing a potential 35% gain on present market prices. Related Reading: XRP Breakout Possible Before The Weekend, Expert Says AVAX Market Overview At the time of writing, AVAX trades at. $13.61 reflecting minor losses 1.19% and 1.34%in the past one and seven days, respectively. Meanwhile, the monthly chart reports a market gain of 14.67%, indicating the market could indeed be experiencing a trend reversal following the net negative Q4 2025 performance. Featured image from Firi, chart from Tradingview
Users are actively trading in hopes of qualifying for future perks, with the platform hinting at an airdrop in 2026 and receiving a multi-8-figure investment from YZi Labs.
The tariffs could strain US-European relations, potentially impacting global trade dynamics and geopolitical alliances significantly.
The post Trump announces 10% tariff on Denmark and key European allies over Greenland dispute appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Two senators have introduced a short bill with an unusually big ambition: to stop US law from treating people who write and publish blockchain software as if they were running a shadow payments company. The proposal, titled the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act of 2026, aims to clarify that “non-controlling” developers and infrastructure providers (i.e., those […]
The post Why writing open-source code is suddenly an existential risk, and the five-page bill designed to fix it appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Economists and technologists say AI hype obscures displacement, infrastructure costs, and uneven gains.
After stablecoins proved product-market fit, crypto founders and executives say 2026 is when banks and asset managers will push tokenized assets into mainstream markets.
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 $95,660 on major exchanges. That level shapes how recent buyers are viewed. Gains make the strategy look smart. Losses make it look unattractive. Timing and cash needs often decide the outcome. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The year 2025 has recently closed, and the XRP price prediction January 2026 is already in focus, as this blue-chip asset has become fundamentally very strong with time. As a result, it’s drawing immense attention, and its on-chain data points clearly reflect that, even hinting at a structural change beneath muted price action. While XRP …
The global financial landscape of 2026 witnesses a fascinating divergence between traditional commodities and digital assets. While Silver remains a reliable store of value, its growth curve is challenged by a new breed of cryptocurrency. Patos Meme Coin ($PATOS) has emerged as a focal point for investors seeking significant wealth generation. While Silver provides an …
The company says that accepting bitcoin payments has led to a "self-reinforcing cycle" where crypto revenue helps fund upgrades and improvements.
Steak 'n Shake's Bitcoin strategy may inspire other businesses to integrate cryptocurrency, potentially reshaping payment systems globally.
The post Steak ‘n Shake adds $10 million in Bitcoin to its strategic reserve appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The price of Bitcoin began the new week on an exciting move to the upside. The premier cryptocurrency recorded a price ascent of about 9%, reaching a high of over $97,000 and falling just short of its past six-figure valuation. Interestingly, a recent on-chain revelation shows that an underlying change was simultaneously taking place as the price of Bitcoin soared on the charts. Are The BTC Bulls Back In Control? In a January 16 post on social media platform X, crypto analyst Darkfost revealed a notable shift in the on-chain power dynamics, saying that the bulls are seemingly back in control. The relevant indicator here is the BTC Net Taker Volume, which tracks which of the buyers or sellers is more aggressive in the market. The metric does so by measuring the net difference between buy and sell market orders executed on derivatives exchanges. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breaks Free From The Current Range — $107,000 Now The Level To Watch Before this recent shift, the net taker volume had fallen into deep negative territory, reaching a bottom of about –$489 million. Due to the lack of demand in the market over that period, the price of BTC continued to fall as selling pressure grew. However, this market scenario has shifted, as of Friday, January 16th. The Bitcoin Net Taker Volume now records a positive reading, with more than $39 million in buy-side volume from the futures market. This means BTC traders are becoming increasingly interested in opening long positions — and aggressively at that. Historically, an increasing buying interest among participants of the futures market typically signals rising bullish sentiment. In turn, upward price pressure increases through leverage, leading to amplified short-term price moves if sustained. Bitcoin Market Outlook Darkfost further explained that, although there are signs that Bitcoin ETF inflows might be picking up slightly, it remains that spot buying is yet to gain enough strength to sponsor a decisive bullish move. As a result, all eyes fall on derivatives activity, as it currently serves as support for the Bitcoin price. Ultimately, the present scenario is best interpreted as the end of bearish pressure, rather than a blatant structure shift. However, in the event that net taker volume continues to grow positively, the narrative could shift from dwindling bearish pressure to mounting bullish momentum. Till then, market participants are advised to deal cautiously until it is confirmed that the derivatives-sponsored momentum is sustainable for the flagship cryptocurrency’s growth. As of press time, the price of Bitcoin stands at about $95,357, with insignificant movement over the past day. Related Reading: Bitcoin Rally Accompanied By ‘Very Bullish’ Whale-Retail Behavior, Santiment Says Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin’s first difficulty adjustment of 2026 was anything but dramatic. The network nudged the dial down to about 146.4 trillion, a pretty small retreat after the late-2025 grind higher. But small isn't the same as meaningless in mining, a business where margins are measured in fractions of a fraction and the main input (electricity) can […]
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The crypto market structure bill isn't dead, but it took a blow.
The Ethereum price prediction January 2026 is gaining traction as ETH extends an upward trend that began in late November 2025. By mid-January, Ethereum retested its 200-day EMA while ETF inflows, improving on-chain metrics, and shifting market psychology strongly pointing toward strengthening momentum that might result in a rally soon. Ethereum Price Prediction January 2026: …
Axie Infinity (AXS) price is back in motion, and it’s doing what GameFi tokens usually do when sentiment flips: move fast and pull attention with it. After months of relative quiet, AXS has surged back above the $2 zone, posting a sharp multi-day rebound that has outpaced many larger coins on a percentage basis. The …
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
XRP has become the default trading chip of South Korea, bypassing Bitcoin and Ethereum to dominate the country’s high-velocity retail market. While institutional capital worldwide typically gravitates toward Bitcoin as a store of value, South Korean trading patterns tell a different story. Data from the country's largest exchanges reveals that when the market heats up, […]
The post XRP volume is exploding in Korea because it exploits a specific gap in the country’s spot-only exchange laws appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Crypto markets are starting 2026 with a risk-on tone, and the NFT segment is showing early signs of life after a long cooldown. As liquidity returns to higher-beta narratives, metaverse and gaming tokens are beginning to move again. The Sandbox (SAND) price is one of the clearest examples, posting a sharp short-term rally alongside a …
Bitcoin entered a decisive breakout phase, targeting $107,000 as long-term holder selling fades and BTC continues to leave exchanges, tightening supply.
Crypto scams hit an all-time high in 2025, with AI-driven schemes causing massive losses, Chainalysis reports. Illicit addresses received over $14B, likely crossing $17B as more wallets are tracked. Impersonation scams surged 1,400% YoY, while AI-linked groups made 4.5× more money with 9× the daily transactions. Industrialized “Lighthouse” scam kits generated $1.5M over 3 years. …