The DOJ said Helix processed at least 354,468 bitcoin between 2014 and 2017, worth about $300 million at the time.
The Optimism blockchain will begin to sell half of its Superchain revenue to buy back its own token starting next month, with the tokens held for future ecosystem use.
El Salvador's strategic asset diversification amid global economic uncertainty may influence other nations to reassess their reserve strategies.
The post El Salvador stockpiles gold, Bitcoin amid market jitters appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Ethereum price started a major decline after it failed to clear $3,050. ETH is down 10% and is now struggling to stay above the $2,700 support. Ethereum failed to stay above $2,880 and started a fresh decline. The price is trading below $2,800 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a steep bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,820 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it stays above the $2,700 zone. Ethereum Price Dips 10% Ethereum price failed to remain stable above $2,880 and started a major decline, like Bitcoin. ETH price traded below $2,820 to enter a bearish zone. The bears even pushed the price below $2,750. A low was formed at $2,680 and the price is now showing bearish signs below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,040 swing high to the $2,680 low. There is also a steep bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,820 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. Ethereum price is now trading below $2,800 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If the bulls remain in action above $2,700, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,765 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,820 level and the trend line. The next major resistance is near the $2,860 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,040 swing high to the $2,680 low. A clear move above the $2,860 resistance might send the price toward the $2,900 resistance. An upside break above the $2,900 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,000 resistance zone or even $3,050 in the near term. More Losses In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,820 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,700 level. The first major support sits near the $2,680 zone. A clear move below the $2,680 support might push the price toward the $2,620 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,550 region. The main support could be $2,500. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,700 Major Resistance Level – $2,820
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju revived the “Bitcoin equals energy” thesis on Wednesday, arguing that proof-of-work is becoming the settlement layer for an AI-driven economy where power, not narratives, is the binding constraint. In a post on X, Ju framed Bitcoin as a digital instrument that can price energy with precision in a way commodities can’t. “Energy is money. Bitcoin precisely measures the value of energy,” Ju wrote. “Gold also embeds energy, but it cannot be measured accurately because it is not digital. Bitcoin is the money of an AI-accelerated energy economy.” The Link Between AI, Energy And Bitcoin Ju’s comments were posted alongside a long-form X post by Hashed CEO Simon Kim titled Monetizing Energy: Redefining Bitcoin’s Role in the AI Era, which argues that the old “energy waste” critique is being overtaken by an AI data center buildout that is rewriting the value of mining infrastructure. Kim’s core claim is that the debate has shifted from morality to grid economics and industrial pragmatism. “The oldest criticism of Bitcoin has always been about energy,” he wrote. “Claims that it ‘wastes electricity,’ ‘destroys the environment,’ and ‘competes with data centers for power’ have been repeated for over a decade, solidifying into conventional wisdom. But in 2026, this debate no longer resides in the realm of moral condemnation.” The thread points to capital flows as a tell. Kim highlighted Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala’s $437 million allocation to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF in Q4 2024, followed by a partnership with Oman’s sovereign wealth fund to back Crusoe Energy and launch the Middle East’s first flare-gas mining operation. In October 2025, Mubadala co-led Crusoe’s Series E with a $1.375 billion check, pushing the company’s valuation above $10 billion—at which point Crusoe said it would divest its Bitcoin mining division and focus fully on AI infrastructure. Related Reading: Bitcoin Death Cross That Last Preceded A 66% Drop Is Back Kim’s thesis is that miners have already done the hard, unglamorous work AI now needs: securing power, mastering high-density thermal management, and building operational muscle around flexible load. He also leaned on an Elon Musk quote from a November 2025 podcast: “Energy is the true currency. This is why I say Bitcoin is based on energy. You can’t just pass a law and suddenly have a lot of energy.” A recurring theme in Kim’s post is that electricity’s constraints (locality, immediacy, and transmission losses) make flexibility economically valuable. He cited early examples like Sichuan hydropower curtailment exceeding 20 billion kWh by 2020, and argued that miners became a buyer of last resort for energy that couldn’t be stored or sold. Globally, he claimed curtailed renewable energy exceeds 200TWh annually, representing more than $20 billion in economic losses, positioning Bitcoin mining as an instant monetization path for surplus generation. In Texas, Kim pointed to ERCOT’s classification of mining as a controllable load resource, citing Riot Blockchain cutting power usage by 98–99% during the 2022 winter storm and receiving $31.7 million in power credits during an August 2023 heatwave, more than it would have earned mining that month. The framing is less “miners versus data centers” and more “premium uptime workloads versus interruptible demand that stabilizes the grid.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Won’t Break Out Until The Fed Steps Into Yen/JGB Chaos: Arthur Hayes Kim also argued the environmental critique is changing on the margin as the industry’s energy mix shifts. He claimed more than half of mining now comes from sustainable sources, exceeding 52%, while coal dependence fell from 36% to under 9%. On methane, he described flare-gas mining as an emissions arbitrage: methane has “80 times” the greenhouse effect of CO2, flaring combusts 93% with 7% escaping, while using gas for mining combusts over 99%, cutting CO2-equivalent emissions by over 60% versus flaring. The forward implication of Ju’s framing is that if AI accelerates the premium on reliable power and buildout speed, Bitcoin’s value proposition may increasingly be argued in the language of energy markets: measuring, monetizing, and transporting scarcity. Kim’s closing challenge was explicit: shift the question from consumption totals to system outcomes, suggesting the next phase of the debate will center on where miners sit in the stack of AI-era infrastructure, not whether they exist: “AI operates where continuous uptime is essential; Bitcoin operates where flexibility has value. Governments can print money, but they cannot print energy. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work is the mechanism that brings this physical reality into the digital economy. It’s a technology that takes energy from one place and transports it anywhere.” At press time, Bitcoin traded at $86,779. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Bybit‘s market share climbed in 2025, even after it was hacked for $1.5 billion, while trading volumes on the top 10 exchanges rose by 7.6% on average last year.
Amazon’s talks could make it one of OpenAI’s biggest backers as the AI company continues to forge ahead with plans for an IPO this year.
Messari reports that institutions put millions of dollars into Avalanche last year, but it didn’t help its token, which fell by nearly 60% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Bitcoin price started a major decline below $86,500. BTC is down nearly 10% and might soon test the $80,000 support zone. Bitcoin failed to remain above $86,500 and started another decline. The price is trading above $85,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $83,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might dip further if it trades below the $81,000 and $80,000 levels. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price failed to continue higher above the $88,000 zone. BTC started a major decline below the $87,200 and $86,500 levels. The bears were able to push the price below $85,000. It spared major bearish moves, pushing the price below $82,000. A low was formed at $81,000 and the price is still signaling more downsides. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $83,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. Bitcoin is now trading below $83,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $80,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $82,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $83,200 level or the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $90,438 swing high to the $81,000 low. A close above the $83,200 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $85,000 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $85,700 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $90,438 swing high to the $81,000 low. The next barrier for the bulls could be $87,000 and $87,500. More Losses In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $83,200 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $81,000 level. The first major support is near the $80,500 level. The next support is now near the $80,000 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $77,000 support in the near term. The main support sits at $75,000, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $81,000, followed by $80,000. Major Resistance Levels – $82,000 and $83,200.
The world's largest cryptocurrency has shed nearly $10,000 over the past 24 hours, now threatening to take out its recent November low just under $81,000.
The mixer processed hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin that prosecutors say were tied to illicit activity on the dark web.
Washington is trying again to clear a path for federal crypto rules. Talks that had stalled are being pulled back into the open as lawmakers and industry players head to a White House meeting. The plan, based on reports, brings bank executives and crypto company leaders to the same table with officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump. Related Reading: Gold, Silver Steal The Spotlight As Crypto Hype Fades On Social Media: Santiment White House Steps In Reports say the meeting is scheduled on Monday, and is meant to smooth over clashes that have held up a draft known as the CLARITY Act. About 10 bank and crypto leaders are expected to attend. Conversations have been quiet for weeks, but bringing them into a formal room raises the chance of a fresh compromise. What happens there may not be made public right away, and details could still change. Banks Have Real Concerns Lenders want limits written into law to stop certain token features from acting like bank deposits. They argue that reward-style payments on stablecoins could siphon money from traditional accounts. That worry has pushed them to demand clear language that keeps customer deposits in the conventional system. Strong guardrails are being sought so balance sheets and consumer protections do not get muddled. Crypto Firms Push Back Crypto companies say those same rules would clip useful features and slow innovation. They point out that users expect to earn yields in some crypto services and that strict limits would change how people use digital assets. Several firms stepped away from the current bill draft after saying it would harm parts of the market. That pullback helped stall the process and forced negotiators to rethink priorities. Markets Signal Mixed Views Bitcoin has reacted to the back-and-forth. Prices moved up on some headlines and fell on others. Traders are watching for clear rules; many feel long-term clarity would help markets. Short-term moves, though, have been choppy as investors digest each new report. The mood is cautious, and that caution has been visible in trading volumes and in how quickly prices bounce. Political Timing Matters The Senate calendar is tight. Lawmakers who support the bill want something to show before deadlines and committee work closes. That pressure could spur faster drafting if both sides give some ground. But politics will shape what language survives. Some aides say compromise is still possible, while others expect more delay. Related Reading: Record Pain: Bitcoin Investors Suffer $4.5B Loss, Most In 3 Years A Narrow Window For Action If those at the meeting signal flexibility, a revised draft could go back to committee in the weeks ahead. If no common ground appears, the CLARITY effort may be parked again. Either outcome will leave the industry watching how regulators handle stablecoins, custody, and who has oversight between agencies. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Solana is rapidly positioning itself as a core hub for tokenized finance following WisdomTree’s deployment of fund infrastructure on the blockchain. The move reflects growing confidence among traditional asset managers in SOL’s ability to support large-scale, regulated financial products with the speed and cost efficiency required by modern capital markets. How Traditional Asset Managers Expand On-Chain Operations WisdomTree’s deployment of $159 billion in fund infrastructure on Solana marks a turning point for how regulated money moves. A research and news site, Genfinity, revealed on X that regulated money market funds are now settling natively on SOL, which means institutional cash flow assets no longer require traditional banking rails. One of the clearest signals is the Government money market digital fund, which already holds around $730 million in on-chain assets. Direct minting eliminates synthetic exposure with real Treasury-backed settlement. This allows retail investors to access institutional-grade financial products with blockchain speed and low costs. The multi-chain deployment is proof that financial institutions prioritize performance over narrative. Currently, SOL is processing the same regulated funds that previously required correspondent banks and a 3-day settlement. The gap between on-chain infrastructure and traditional finance products has just collapsed. An industry-leading commentary on the global capital markets, The Kobeissi Letter, reported that Coinbase has announced it is integrating with Jupiter Exchange directly into its on-chain trading stack. With this move, millions of Solana-based tokens can now be traded on Coinbase for the first time, all through Jupiter on-chain liquidity. Instead of relying on the slow manual process of listing assets on a centralized order book, Coinbase is currently using on-chain infrastructure to provide instant access to Solana-native markets. Under the new integration, users can deploy existing Coinbase balances and payment methods to trade tokens from a self-custodial wallet. “Even the centralized exchanges are moving on-chain,” The Kobeissi Letter noted. Why Liquidity Grabs Often Precede Reversals According to Larskooistra, the local context on Solana is fairly conducive to building a structure. The Price has already completed a Model 2 accumulation schematic, and grabbed all buy-side liquidity while taking the range high and broke market structure back to bearish, creating a supply in the process. Related Reading: Solana Structure Suggests One Final Test Before Bulls Can Step In From a higher-timeframe perspective, this gives a bearish context on BTC whenever accumulation models complete themselves and break the market structure, and then turn back to bearish afterwards, which shows a full reversal towards the lows. Larskooistra expects the equal lows acting as the next liquidity target to be taken out, and is looking for distribution schematics on the current move up. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
Bulls kept a collapse from happening this week when Bitcoin found buying interest above the mid-$80,000s. Prices bounced off a key range, and that breathing room has traders watching the market’s plumbing — not just the headline price. Reports note that the path to a lasting recovery is likely to go through improved liquidity, with market watchers pointing to on-chain measures as the real signal to watch. Related Reading: Record Pain: Bitcoin Investors Suffer $4.5B Loss, Most In 3 Years At Center Stage: Market Structure And Liquidity Glassnode and other analysts have flagged a tight snapshot of supply stress: roughly 22% of circulating Bitcoin is sitting below its purchase price, which raises the chance that outsized selling could kick in if support fails. That’s a nontrivial share of coins that could change hands under pressure. Any meaningful transition back toward a strong market rally should be reflected in liquidity-sensitive indicators such as the Realized Profit/Loss Ratio (90D-SMA). A sustained rise above ~5 has historically signalled a renewal of liquidity inflows into the market.… https://t.co/ct0FhOLFXh pic.twitter.com/JqbfdlRk2b — glassnode (@glassnode) January 28, 2026 The specific metric now being watched is the realized profit/loss ratio on a 90-day basis. Historical episodes of steady recoveries have tended to line up with this ratio moving above about 5, which many analysts treat as a sign that real money is rotating back into the market. A repeat of that pattern would make rallies more durable; until then, rallies look vulnerable to being trimmed. According to a post shared on X, Glassnode said focus has moved toward liquidity after Bitcoin managed to defend the $80,700 to $83,400 support zone. Reports note that any move toward a lasting rally would need to show up in liquidity-based signals, with close attention on the 90-day moving average of the realized profit and loss ratio. Bitcoin Price Action And Geopolitics Midweek trading left Bitcoin in a cautious band near the high-$80,000s. Geopolitical headlines have been shaking risk appetite, nudging some traders into safer assets and prompting short bursts of volatility. That has kept follow-through buying muted even when prices test higher levels, and it helps explain why some short-term bets are focused on a squeeze toward the low-$90,000s before profit-taking reappears. Flows Into Exchanges Still Low Exchange inflows, a rough barometer of selling pressure, remain subdued. Data shared by market trackers shows monthly BTC inflows to Binance at levels far below the long-term average — only a fraction of what was typical in past years — suggesting many holders are choosing to keep coins off exchanges rather than move them for sale. That reduces immediate downside risk, but it does not prove that buyers will step in en masse. Related Reading: Gold, Silver Steal The Spotlight As Crypto Hype Fades On Social Media: Santiment Futures And The Risk Of A Liquidity Grab Futures markets and options positioning hint at a possible short-term liquidity grab near the low-$90,000s, where stops and leverage cluster and can be pulled into a quick move. Such moves are often violent and brief. They can create the impression of a breakout, only for spot markets to settle back once the extra liquidity is consumed. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin margin longs at Bitfinex exchange reached a two-year high prior to stocks and crypto selling off sharply. Should traders expect a rally or the correction to continue?
The United States federal government is on track for another shutdown by the end of Friday. The Congressional Democrats have been pushing for changes to ICE policies, thus standing in the way of President Donald Trump. On Thursday, the Senate blocked the House-approved 6-bill spending package with a vote of 45–55. This is after the …
The bitcoin-friendly nation's central bank now holds over $360 million of the yellow metal, while the government, led by President Nayib Bukele, has bitcoin holdings worth $635 million.
Circle’s rising correlation with ether and DeFi exposure drives the re-rating, despite valuation and competition concerns.
Jaime Rogozinski litigated the trademark to the Supreme Court—and lost.
Thursday's decline showed that, despite hopes for being a macro hedge, bitcoin continues to trade like the riskiest of risk assets when markets turn lower.
Google has integrated Gemini 3 into Chrome with agentic capabilities, joining OpenAI and Anthropic in the race to automate web browsing.
The product offers exchange-traded exposure to JitoSOL with staking rewards embedded, as liquid staking ETFs remain under review in the United States.
The Dogecoin price is facing renewed pressure as market watchers warn the meme coin may not be out of the woods yet. A crypto analyst warns that unless Dogecoin meets certain key conditions, its ongoing weakness could trigger another price crash, further extending its bearish trend. Dogecoin Price Could Extend Downtrend Like many meme coins, Dogecoin is experiencing a major downturn after failing to break key resistance levels. This continuous rejection has kept selling pressure intact and prevented the DOGE price from building sustained upward momentum. As a result, Dogecoin’s bearish structure, which has been in place for months, shows few signs of relief. Bulls are also facing major roadblocks, leaving Dogecoin vulnerable to further declines so long as it trades below key levels. Related Reading: What’s Going On With The US Dollar And How Does It Affect Bitcoin, Ethereum Prices? According to crypto market expert KrissPax, Dogecoin remains weak and could extend its already intense downtrend if its price fails to recover. He explained that without a solid bullish catalyst to drive the price upward, the meme coin could experience another price crash. KrissPax presented a TradingView chart showing just how far he believes Dogecoin could decline if it fails to recapture market interest and demand. Firstly, the chart highlights a higher-timeframe descending channel pattern that began after the broader market flash crash on October 10, 2025. At the time, Dogecoin recorded one of its largest single-day price crashes, falling from above $0.26 to below $0.10 before quickly recovering. Following that steep decline, Dogecoin price remained stuck in the descending channel, with its overall structure reflecting a bearish trend. Typically, a descending channel pattern favors more downside pressure unless a decisive breakout occurs. So far, Dogecoin has made a few recovery attempts; however, its price has failed to sustain any bullish rally. Recent price action, as shown in the chart, also indicates consolidation near the lower to middle part of the channel, with a gradual base forming around $0.12-$0.14. For now, a clear break below the lower trendline of the channel would confirm the continuation of Dogecoin’s prolonged downtrend. On the flip side, a breakout above the upper trendline of the descending channel with volume confirmation could invalidate DOGE’s bearish structure and signal a potential trend change. Related Reading: Analyst Says Chainlink Price Could Crash 50% If This Level Fails Update On Dogecoin’s Current Price Action According to CoinMarketCap data at the time of writing, Dogecoin remains in negative territory, recording a price correction of more than 3% over the past 24 hours. Data indicates that the meme coin’s daily, weekly, and monthly price performances are in a pronounced slump. If this trend persists, Dogecoin could close January in the red, extending the downtrend that marked the end of 2025. Beyond weak price action, Dogecoin’s total market capitalization has also declined by more than 3%. Daily trading volume remains subdued, down over 2.5%, further highlighting waning investor confidence and reduced interest in the meme coin. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
Atkins had previously said the exemptions, which could target tokenized securities, DeFi, and other crypto sectors, would be out in January.
The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture has narrowly passed its portion of the Clarity Act. After a similar bill from the Senate Banking Committee was delayed earlier this month, this different version will be discussed on the floor of the house. Moreover, the Senate will seek to harmonize its bill with the one passed …
Bitcoin traders are treating fund flows like macro bets, and one Fed data change is the hidden risk Key takeaways Bitcoin’s institutional demand can be monitored in issuer AUM snapshots such as BlackRock’s IBIT, which listed net assets of $69,427,196,929 as of Jan. 28, 2026 on its product pages. Weekly crypto fund flows have begun to […]
The post Improve your Bitcoin investment strategy using these 7 critical demand drivers appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Bit Digital entered the bitcoin mining business in 2020 and was an early diversifier into the HPC/AI sector.
A potential listing would further legitimize digital asset custody as core market infrastructure rather than a niche service following BitGo's public launch.
Bitcoin (BTC) continued to slide on Thursday, extending the downward trend seen throughout the week and briefly falling below the closely watched $85,000 level, despite progress on long-awaited US crypto legislation failing to lift market sentiment. Crypto Prices Fall Despite Regulatory Progress The decline came on the same day the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its portion of the proposed crypto market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act. While the committee’s action was widely viewed as a positive development for the digital asset industry, it did little to support prices in the short term. Related Reading: White House To Host Crypto And Banking Leaders In Push To Break Regulatory Deadlock Instead of triggering a rally, the news coincided with a sharp market sell‑off. Bitcoin dropped by roughly $2,700 in a short period, setting off a wave of liquidations that erased an estimated $356 million in long positions. Data from Coinglass further shows that total liquidations across the crypto market reached about $803 million over the past 24 hours, including roughly $693 million in long liquidations and $109 million in short liquidations. Bitcoin Hovers Near Breakdown Levels As earlier reported by Bitcoinist, the CLARITY Act cleared an important procedural hurdle earlier on Thursday when the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its section of the bill during a scheduled markup. The legislation aims to establish a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States. With the Agriculture Committee’s approval secured, lawmakers must merge the provisions that expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) role with parallel sections overseen by the Senate Banking Committee, which address the Securities and Exchange Commission’s jurisdiction. At the same time, legislators will need to determine whether bipartisan backing can still be achieved for a measure that could significantly reshape crypto regulation in the US. Related Reading: Bitcoin Supply In Loss Begins To Rise, Raising Early Bear Market Concerns From a technical perspective, market analyst Rekt Capital said that in the near term, Bitcoin needs to prevent the former range low around $86,000 from turning into resistance on lower time frames. He added that a weekly close above that level would be necessary to avoid a deeper breakdown. According to his analysis, a decisive break below the roughly $86,000 area could open the door to another test of the macro triangle bottom near $82,500. A further drop below that level, he cautioned, would signal an acceleration of bearish momentum. As of now, the market’s leading cryptocurrency has only briefly recovered to $85,135. However, it is still far from reaching the critical level outlined by the analyst. Therefore, Friday’s price action will be crucial in determining Bitcoin’s next move. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The raise underscores venture investors’ selective return to infrastructure-heavy crypto bets as DePIN struggles to move beyond early token launches.