US custody of Maduro reignites speculation over Venezuelas alleged crypto reserves, an estimated $60B in off-the-books BTC.
The post US custody of Maduro reignites speculation over Venezuela’s $60B in hidden Bitcoin reserves appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The Gemini Trust Company and parent company of Crypto.com sent millions of dollars to the Trump-supporting PAC in September and October.
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
Ethereum is at a pivotal crossroads after a sharp move into the $3,160 resistance zone. A clean breakout could unlock higher upside targets, while failure at this level may trigger a near-term pullback as the market searches for stronger support before its next decisive move. A Push Straight Into The $3,160 Resistance Zone Lennaert Snyder noted in a recent update that Ethereum has pushed directly into a key resistance zone around $3,160. Similar to Bitcoin, ETH saw a typical Sunday pump that carried the price straight into overhead resistance, placing the market at a key decision point. Related Reading: Ethereum Enters Overbought Levels With Weekend Pump, Why A Crash Could Be Coming With Ethereum now trading around the $3,160 level, Snyder explained that a confirmed 4-hour reclaim of the level could open the door for continuation longs. In that scenario, upside targets come in near $3,250, with $3,390 acting as the final objective. However, Snyder also cautioned that Monday sessions often fade or fully retrace Sunday-driven moves. A clear break in market structure could therefore validate short setups early in the week. If such a pullback unfolds, price may revisit lower levels in search of a higher low, potentially setting the stage for a more sustainable, smart-money-driven rally. On the downside, Snyder highlighted that a resistance-turned-support flip near $3,050 could provide an attractive entry, while a deeper sweep toward the $2,880 weak lows may also offer opportunities if demand steps in. Ethereum Holds A Broader Structural Support On The Weekly Chart According to More Crypto Online, Ethereum is still hovering near a broader structural support zone on the weekly chart. This area continues to provide a foundation where an upside reaction remains possible, even though such a move does not need to unfold immediately. The analyst noted that price could still carve out one additional low early next year before the market reveals a clearer move. Related Reading: Ethereum ETFs Record Over $600M In Outflows — Warning Signal For Traders? The major resistance zone overhead remains the most important reference point in the current structure. How Ethereum behaves as it approaches this region will be decisive in determining which of the larger market scenarios ultimately takes control. For now, both primary scenarios remain technically valid, and the weekly chart has not yet delivered confirmation of the market committing to a single path, keeping the broader outlook balanced and unresolved. This uncertainty reinforces the need for patience as the structure continues to develop. What will eventually shift probabilities is price action around these key zones. While the chart is not providing clear answers at the moment, it is clearly defining market conditions. These conditions are expected to help reveal Ethereum’s preferred direction in early 2026. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin price has rebounded over 7% since the calendar flipped for 2026 last week. The flagship coin has since retested a crucial liquidity level around $94k on Monday, January, 2025. Why Is Bitcoin Up Today? Capitulation of retailers amid renewed whales demand According to onchain data analysis from Santiment, Bitcoin whales, with a balance of …
In an era where computational power is becoming the new petroleum, there emerges an infrastructure capable of making it universally accessible. DGrid represents the inaugural genuinely decentralized AI ecosystem that merges transparency, community ownership, and equitable value distribution. The Current AI Landscape: Critical Challenges The Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by artificial intelligence, confronts fundamental obstacles. Contemporary AI services are characterized by elevated costs, opaque operations, and concentrated control within the hands of a few technology titans. Corporations like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have constructed closed ecosystems where: Users pay undefined prices for services whose algorithms remain concealed User data fuels model training without meaningful profit participation Platforms can arbitrarily restrict, censor, or terminate services Web3 promised a different approach—decentralization, user autonomy, and collective value creation. However, in the artificial intelligence domain, this sector still depends on centralized APIs that undermine its foundational principles. This reality is now transforming. DGrid: A New Paradigm in AI Infrastructure DGrid represents a fundamental reconstruction of AI infrastructure through a decentralized, modular, and completely verifiable network for AI inference. The project’s vision is to transform intelligent computation within the Web3 ecosystem so it becomes minimally trust-dependent, permissionless, and community-driven. If OpenRouter demonstrated the power of aggregating and routing between AI models, and 1inch showed how optimal path discovery can unlock efficiency in DeFi, then DGrid represents the fusion of both concepts—extended into an autonomous, cryptographically native framework. DGrid = Web3’s OpenRouter + AI inference’s 1inch + autonomous AI DAO structure Fundamental Distinctions from OpenRouter: Web3-Native vs. Web2 Optimization While OpenRouter represents significant progress in AI model aggregation, it remains a Web2 SaaS platform with inherent limitations of centralized systems. DGrid does not aspire to become another OpenRouter—the goal is to transcend the entire model aggregation paradigm through authentic Web3 principles. The distinction is not incremental—it is structural: Economic Architecture: Instead of centralized trust and platform-controlled incentives, DGrid employs a token-based economy and DAO governance. This architecture directly resolves two critical problems: incentive misalignment and trust overhead. All participants—from compute providers to developers—are economically aligned and transparently rewarded, without dependence on a single coordinating authority. Performance Capabilities: DGrid is engineered to be fully competitive with centralized aggregators, with a particular advantage in routing and serving niche and emerging models, where decentralized supply can outperform centralized provisioning. DGrid is not adding another layer to the existing stack—it multiplies its capabilities through cryptographic economic coordination and verifiable infrastructure. Technological Foundation: The “Trustless Inference” Revolution DGrid’s confidence rests upon robust academic research and technological breakthroughs. The theoretical framework is derived from advanced scientific work (Ref: https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.16317), developed by a team of PhDs and co-founders—experts in cryptography and AI system architecture. The DGrid architecture resolves the most formidable challenge in decentralized artificial intelligence: How to guarantee the quality of AI results in an environment of untrusted nodes? 1. Proof of Quality (PoQ): Making Inference Auditable In a centralized world, users must blindly trust the results returned by OpenAI. In a decentralized network, nodes might return inferior results to reduce costs or even act maliciously. DGrid introduces the innovative “Proof of Quality” mechanism—a challenge system combining cryptographic verification with game theory. Specialized “Verification Nodes” randomly audit and revalidate inference tasks. If a node’s output fails verification, its staked $DGAI tokens are slashed. This ensures every AI transaction is transparent, traceable, auditable, and fair. This marks the “trustless” milestone for the AI industry. 2. Modular and Elastic Architecture Decentralized Inference Network: No single point of failure and no centralized control. A globally distributed node network collectively maintains system robustness. AI RPC Interface: For dApp developers, DGrid integration is as straightforward as connecting to a standard blockchain RPC. A unified gateway enables seamless access to all global LLMs and AI models. Node Incentive Economy: Anyone can operate a node, provide computational resources, and earn rewards. This transcends a technical network—it is a computational economy. 3. DGrid’s Operational Process Developers submit requests through the standard AI RPC interface (e.g., “Execute this prompt using Llama 3”). The DGrid network routes the task to the optimal inference node based on staking and performance metrics. The node executes computation, while the Blockchain layer manages verification (PoQ), settlement, and reward distribution. Users receive transparent, verified AI results at substantially lower costs. Backed by Leading Capital and Ecosystem Partners DGrid has secured robust backing from premier crypto venture capital firms, including Waterdrip Capital, IOTEX, Paramita, Abraca Research, CatherVC, 4EVER Research, and Zenith Capital. DGrid is more than a protocol—it is rapidly evolving into a comprehensive ecosystem: Global Computing Network: Connecting decentralized AI nodes distributed worldwide. Extensive Integration: Early integration with leading DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi, and AI Agent protocols to inject “intelligent power” into Web3 applications. Strategic Alliances: Established partnerships with Web3 infrastructure giants and top-tier model providers. Economic Model: DGrid Premium NFT and Token Economics While DGrid’s technical vision is impressive, its economic model and user rights are equally fascinating. Recognizing that community is the heart of Web3, DGrid has designed a value-return system centered around the DGrid Premium Membership NFT. Benefit I: Lifetime “All-in-One” AI Membership Owning a DGrid Premium NFT enables direct access to premium features of all top-tier models on the DGrid.AI platform, covering virtually every major AI product globally. Instead of individual subscriptions to OpenAI (ChatGPT Plus), Google Gemini 3 Pro, or Anthropic Claude Pro, DGrid aggregates these elite models into a single membership at a significant discount: $1,580 USD for the first year, with renewals at only $200 USD annually thereafter. For intensive AI users, developers, and teams, this represents enormous cost savings and an efficiency leap—the keys to the entire AI arsenal. Benefit II: Ownership Rights – 50% of Total $DGAI Supply This is the most aggressive aspect of DGrid’s economic model. Half of the total supply of the platform token, $DGAI, will be distributed exclusively to DGrid Premium NFT holders. This NFT represents “equity” in the future value of the entire DGrid ecosystem. As inference volume grows and more AI Agents operate on the network, the value-capture potential of $DGAI becomes exponential. These tokens are not merely an airdrop; they serve as permanent credentials for early builders and core supporters of the DGrid network. Join the Computational Paradigm Shift Web2 AI giants are attempting to establish a new digital hegemony. They own the data, they control the compute, and they dictate the rules. DGrid is not just a project—it is a movement for AI equality. Our commitment is to dismantle monopolies, making AI inference a decentralized, accessible, and verifiable public utility—like electricity. With an architecture superior to OpenRouter, a vision comparable to 1inch, solid academic backing, and a determination to return 50% of value to the community, DGrid is redefining the industry. The metric of the AI era is no longer whose model has more parameters, but whether computational power truly belongs to the people. Sales for the DGrid Premium NFT commenced on January 1, 2026. This is more than a purchase—it is a choice to stand with the future and master the wealth of decentralized computation. Official website: https://dgrid.ai X/Twitter: https://x.com/dgrid_ai Technical documentation: https://docs.dgrid.ai White paper: https://static.dgrid.ai/dgrid_litepaper.pdf
It started, like these Polymarket “insider trading” stories usually do, with a screenshot and a smell test. A brand-new Polymarket account rolled in, threw roughly $30,000 at a long-shot outcome tied to Venezuela’s leadership, and walked away with about $400,000 in profit. U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and moved him into U.S. custody ahead of […]
The post Another shady Polymarket account turned $30k into $400k moments before the US captured Maduro appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Jupiter launches JupUSD, a reserve-backed stablecoin pegged to the dollar and integrated across its lending, trading, and broader ecosystem.
The post Jupiter launches JupUSD stablecoin backed by BlackRock’s BUIDL and USDC reserves appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
With the start of 2026, the crypto markets have turned largely bullish. Memecoins, specifically, have seen significant rises, while the Shiba Inu price broke out after a prolonged period of consolidation. Shiba Inu is trading higher over the past 24 hours, rebounding from recent lows as on-chain data and price structure align. While SHIB has …
Goldman analysts see Coinbase’s growing mix of non-trading revenue as a partial buffer against crypto market swings.
JupUSD is an Ethena whitelabel stablecoin backed primarily by BlackRock's tokenized USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund.
Rep. Ritchie Torres is moving to set firm limits on how elected officials — and others — engage with prediction markets.
Bitcoin broke $94K after $420M in liquidations and geopolitical tension sparked a sharp rally across major crypto tokens.
The post Bitcoin hits $94K after $420M in liquidations and geopolitical risk bid appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum (ETH), has reiterated the importance of individual sovereignty. The popular web3 developer argued that the Ethereum network was not created to make finance efficient or apps convenient but instead to set people free. Buterin Urges Ethereum Developers to Build Trustless Products In a bid to lead the Ethereum ecosystem …
After years of underperformance and prolonged consolidation, the XRP price enters 2026 at a critical turning point. Yet as 2026 approaches, something has quietly changed. Price is compressing at a level where XRP has historically either stalled or exploded. Besides, Ripple is also strengthening its core with institutions becoming optimistic about the future of the …
XRP's rise highlights shifting investor focus towards select high-performing tokens, potentially reshaping market dynamics and investment strategies.
The post XRP crosses $2.2 after surging 18% over the past week appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Bitcoin and several major altcoins have continued their march higher, indicating improving investor sentiment and sustained demand from the bulls.
A crypto analyst who previously predicted that the XRP price could rise toward $16 has now updated his outlook to a higher target. According to the revised projection, XRP is preparing to rally above $18, a level that would represent a staggering 369% surge from its current all-time high of about $3.84 Updated XRP Price Forecast Eyes Breakout Above $16 Crypto market analyst ChartNerd has updated his XRP price outlook from a previous analysis, reinforcing his bullish stance while outlining two potential market scenarios. He described the structure in his chart analysis as a Staircase to Valhalla, implying that XRP could move through distinct phases toward a higher valuation above $18, rather than experiencing a single explosive surge. Related Reading: Pi Cycle Top Put XRP Price At $300, But Is This Feasible? In his post on X, the expert stated that XRP is reacting positively from a key Vertical Accumulation Support zone that has acted as a defense barrier for roughly 13 months around $1.99. He emphasized that this area successfully held price and is now serving as the base layer for a potential continuation higher. According to the analyst’s chart, Scenario 1, which shows XRP already moving above the Vertical Accumulation Support area, remains the more bullish outcome and currently has the advantage. However, he cautions that confirmation will only come if XRP can break above the Vertical Accumulation Resistance zone between $3.1 and $3.7. If this happens, a stronger price rally can be validated. Notably, ChartNerd outlines a final “Markup” phase with a bullish target of $18-$22 for XRP. This projection reflects a steep expansion zone shown on the chart following a successful breakout from the Vertical Accumulation Resistance and a subsequent consolidation period. ChartNerd also outlines a second scenario, which presents a more bearish path for XRP. In this case, the cryptocurrency could dip below $1.5 from its current price above $2 before attempting to approach the vertical accumulation resistance again. In the near term, he agreed that XRP is currently at support and suggested that a break above $2.20 could open the door to further upside. Analyst Says 2026 Will Be A Landmark Year For XRP In a recent post, ChartNerd shared a chart highlighting a historical structure that closely mirrors XRP’s price behavior in 2016. During that period, XRP was quietly building momentum that eventually fueled its bullish surge in January 2018. Related Reading: XRP Price Mirrors 2017 Sideways Accumulation Trend – Here’s What Happened Last Time ChartNerd has suggested that if history repeats itself, 2026 could become a landmark year for XRP, potentially setting new records and marking a major milestone for the cryptocurrency. The analyst described the 2026 pattern as an uncannily similar formation, featuring the same Double Top formation and wick drop seen in the 2016 structure. Additionally, both timelines experienced a Stochastic Relative Strength Index (SRSI) reset, reinforcing the expert’s thesis that XRP could replicate its 2016 bullish trend in 2026. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
American Bitcoin now holds 5,427 BTC after adding 329 coins, surpassing KindlyMD and Semler as Bitcoin trades above $93K.
The post American Bitcoin boosts holdings with 329 Bitcoin purchase appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The VC mogul has previously said crypto apps must hide blockchain complexity or risk missing mass-market adoption.
The cash distribution stems from staking rewards earned after the fund enabled Ethereum staking in October.
Ledger's e-commerce partner Global-e was hit with a data breach, but crypto wallets and customer assets remain safe, the company said.
Crypto.com's conditional approval in the Cayman Islands could enhance regulatory credibility and expand its influence in the global crypto market.
The post Crypto.com granted conditional approval to operate as a VASP in the Cayman Islands appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The storage token outperformed the broader crypto market during a volatile session.
The Fundstrat co-founder and Bitmine chair said bitcoin has yet to peak in January and reiterated his belief that ether is ‘dramatically’ undervalued.
Wu Blockchain reported the policy change listing Real-World Asset tokenization alongside stablecoins, ”air coins,” and crypto mining as illegal activities in China.
When Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appears in a federal courtroom in New York to face narco-terrorism charges, the world will see a geopolitical spectacle. However, for cryptocurrency investors, the proceedings carry a hidden financial stake that could reshape the global Bitcoin market for years to come. Data from Bitcoin Treasuries credit the Venezuelan government with […]
The post Venezuela’s secret $60 billion Bitcoin empire from illicit gold and USDT swap rumors ignite after US “intervention” appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Polymarket will offer a new suite of housing-related prediction markets via an integration with onchain real estate platform Parcl.
The acquisition adds staking as a new business line under a newly launched infrastructure solutions division at The Tie.
Tesla shares have doubled since Tim Walz mocked the stocks decline, as the Minnesota governor ends his reelection bid in 2026.
The post Tesla stock up 100% since Walz criticism, as he exits 2026 governor race appeared first on Crypto Briefing.