Market Signal Briefing

Interactive Brokers, a large, global electronic brokerage firm widely cited for its strong drive to become the number one stablecoin trading firm, integrated a new 24/7 trading feature into its system, enabling users to expand their stablecoin holdings in their accounts whenever they need.

This announcement was made public on Thursday, January 15. At this time, the brokerage firm noted some advantages of using stablecoins in trading, asserting that stablecoins are a swift, affordable, and globally available option compared to other methods, such as wire transfers, which are perceived as regular funding methods. 

To further elaborate on its unique features, Interactive Brokers noted that stablecoins can extend trading hours, unlike traditional wire transfers.

Interactive Brokers embraces a major move aimed at increasing USDC adoption globally  Following these assertions from the company, Milan Galik, CEO of Interactive Brokers, argued that, “Using stablecoin funding gives international investors the speed and flexibility they need in today’s markets. Clients can move funds and start trading within minutes while lowering transaction costs.”

Immediately after his remarks, sources close to the matter, who wished to remain anonymous due to the confidential nature of the situation, clarified that Zerohash, a B2B crypto infrastructure provider, is the primary factor behind this incorporation’s success. Before initiating this upgrade, Interactive Brokers encouraged its retail investors in December to deposit several USDC in their individual brokerage accounts.

Notably, for the stablecoin to be effectively included in the client’s brokerage account, users were advised to transfer the cryptocurrency from their personal crypto wallets to a Zerohash wallet on a major network such as Ethereum, Solana, or Base that has current backing, thereby positioning this wallet as the most secure. Upon receipt of USDC, the digital asset is automatically converted to US dollars and added to the brokerage account.

Considering the increased adoption of stablecoins worldwide and their reshaping of global finance, Edward Woodford, the Founder and CEO of Zerohash, mentioned that the crypto infrastructure platform will charge a conversion fee as low as 0.30% per deposit, bringing the minimum charge to $1.

Apart from this fee, reports highlighted that users will also be required to pay the usual blockchain transaction charges. At this moment, sources highlighted that Mastercard proposed purchasing Zerohash for up to $2 billion. Acquisition talks proceeded; however, the current status of this discussion remains unclear.

Interactive Brokers positions itself as a leader in the crypto industry  Interactive Brokers’ move to integrate 24/7 trading with USDC stablecoin funding comes as the firm seeks to launch more trading alternatives linked to stablecoins, potentially as early as next week. These options include RLUSD, a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Ripple, and  PYUSD, a stablecoin from PayPal, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar.

Following this funding, reports from reliable sources indicated that the brokerage company publicly announced its intention to introduce its own stablecoin last year.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, is widely known for its low fees in the crypto industry.

It began operations in late 2021, offering crypto trading and custody services for four major assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. This operation took place in partnership with Paxos, a regulated blockchain infrastructure company. 

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In a statement on X, a crypto expert declared unwavering confidence that XRP will join the ranks of the world’s 10 largest assets by market capitalization within the next two years. Bird’s bold comment comes during a notable change in asset rankings, where silver recently overtook Nvidia in market cap. 

At the time of writing, XRP’s market cap is around $127 billion, a fraction of the threshold needed to break into the top 10, where it needs to reach at least $2 trillion in market cap.

Analyst Says XRP Can Join The World’s Top 10 Assets The prediction was shared by crypto analyst Bird, who stated that he is 100% confident that XRP will appear on the leaderboard of the top 10 global assets by market capitalization within the next 24 months. This comment was made in response to when silver, with a current market cap of $5.036 trillion, overtook NVIDIA, which has a current market cap of $4.458 trillion, as the second largest asset behind Bitcoin.

This statement of XRP becoming a top 10 asset by market cap comes with an ultra-bullish expectation where XRP provides more value than most top global assets and companies.

At the time of writing, XRP’s market capitalization is around $127 billion, which places it well outside the top 100 global assets by market cap. In fact, only Bitcoin and Ethereum currently occupy spots inside the top 100, with Bitcoin ranking eighth globally at around $1.929 trillion and Ethereum at rank 35 with a market cap of $402.09 billion. 

Source: Chart from CompaniesMarketCap What Would It Take For XRP to Reach Top-Ten Status? The tenth-largest asset on the list of top assets is Broadcom, which currently has a market cap of approximately $1.611 trillion. In order for XRP to realistically become one of the world’s ten most valuable assets by market cap, the cryptocurrency would need to see extraordinary growth in price, which would not be possible without a corresponding growth in utility. 

XRP’s current valuation is around $2.10 per token, and its market cap falls far short of the $1.7 trillion that it needs to overtake Broadcom. Based on the current circulating supply of XRP, achieving a market cap of $1.7 trillion would require the cryptocurrency to trade at a price around $28 per XRP. This translates to an increase of about 1,220% from the current price level.

Interestingly, many bullish XRP enthusiasts and analysts put XRP trading at this price target one day, but these predictions are based on adoption in cross-border transfers and strong demand in both retail and institutional markets for XRP. However, whether XRP can realistically reach the $28 mark within the next two years is still an open question.

XRP trading at $2.11 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

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Bitcoin has pushed above the $97,000 level, extending a recovery that has brought short-term relief to a market weighed down by weeks of uncertainty. While the move has reignited optimism among some investors, a large share of analysts remains cautious, arguing that the rally could still be a counter-trend bounce within a broader bearish setup for 2026.

Price strength alone, however, does not fully explain the current move. According to a CryptoQuant analyst, Bitcoin has shown notable resilience after decisively breaking the $94,200 resistance zone and accelerating toward the $97,500 area, with on-chain data offering important context behind the advance.

One of the key indicators supporting this move is Value Days Destroyed (VDD), a metric that sheds light on long-term holder behavior. VDD measures how long coins remained inactive before being spent, weighted by transaction size. In simple terms, it helps distinguish whether price movements are driven by experienced holders distributing old coins or by newer coins changing hands.

As of January 2026, VDD is hovering around 0.53, a historically low reading. This implies that the coins currently moving on the network are relatively young, while older holdings remain largely dormant. Such behavior suggests that long-term holders are not rushing to sell into strength, lending structural support to the recent breakout—even as the broader market debates whether this surge marks renewed strength or merely a temporary reprieve.

Long-Term Holders Reinforce Bitcoin’s Breakout Quality The report by Carmelo Alemán, Verified On-Chain Analyst at CryptoQuant, highlights an important dynamic behind Bitcoin’s recent move above key resistance levels. Despite the sharp price appreciation, long-term holders remain largely inactive. In practical terms, this means that investors who have held Bitcoin through multiple cycles are not using the current strength as an opportunity to exit positions. Their restraint significantly improves the quality of the rally.

Bitcoin Value Days Destroyed | Source: CryptoQuant Historically, this behavior has mattered. When Bitcoin advances while Value Days Destroyed (VDD) stays low, it signals that older coins are not entering circulation. Demand is being met primarily by younger supply, allowing price to rise without triggering structural selling pressure from the most experienced market participants. These phases have often aligned with healthier expansion periods rather than short-lived speculative spikes.

The current breakout fits that historical pattern. Bitcoin’s move through resistance has not been accompanied by a surge in long-dormant coins being spent. Instead, long-term capital appears comfortable holding through higher prices, suggesting confidence in the broader market structure rather than urgency to lock in gains.

This supportive backdrop remains conditional. As long as VDD stays suppressed, the rally retains a strong foundation. However, a sustained increase in the indicator would change the narrative, signaling that long-term holders are beginning to distribute and potentially marking a shift toward heavier selling pressure.

Bitcoin price is trying to stabilize after a sharp rebound from the December lows, with the chart showing BTC reclaiming the $96,000–$97,000 zone. This level coincides with a confluence of technical factors, making it a critical area for short-term direction. The recent recovery followed a strong sell-off from the November highs. Where the price broke below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages and briefly capitulated toward the low $80,000s.

BTC testing key Moving Average | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView From a structure perspective, BTC is now printing higher lows on the daily timeframe, signaling a potential short-term trend reversal. Price has also reclaimed the 50-day moving average, which often acts as dynamic resistance during downtrends. Holding above this level would be constructive, as it suggests buyers are regaining control after weeks of distribution and volatility.

However, overhead resistance remains significant. The 100-day and 200-day moving averages, currently clustered between $100,000 and $108,000, represent a heavy supply zone where previous breakdowns occurred. A failure to push higher could lead to renewed consolidation or a pullback toward the $92,000–$94,000 support range.

Volume has increased during the rebound, showing genuine participation rather than a low-liquidity bounce. Still, the broader trend remains unclear. For bullish momentum, Bitcoin needs acceptance above $97,000 and a clear attempt toward the $100,000 psychological level. Otherwise, the move risks being a technical rebound within a larger corrective phase.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto-related regulatory developments on Capitol Hill overshadowed XRP-spot ETF inflows and Ripple’s latest moves on Main Street.

Despite the delay in legislation, the short-term outlook remains cautiously bullish and constructive for the medium-term.

Below, I will explore the key drivers behind recent price trends, the medium-term (4-8 weeks) outlook, and the key technical levels traders should watch.

US Senate Delays Market Structure Bill The US Senate Banking Committee cancelled the scheduled Market Structure Bill markup vote, potentially delaying much-needed crypto legislation until the summer.

Chairman of the Banking Committee and Senator Tim Scott made the announcement, stating:

“I’ve spoken with leaders across the crypto industry, the financial sector, and my Democratic and Republican colleagues, and everyone remains at the table working in good faith. As we take a brief pause before moving to a markup, this market structure bill reflects months of serious bipartisan negotiations and real input from innovators, investors, and law enforcement. The goal is to deliver clear rules of the road that protect consumers, strengthen our national security, and ensure the future of finance is built in the United States.”

XRPUSD – Weekly Chart – 160126 – Market Structure Bill Price Action While this week’s developments weighed on XRP, a positive takeaway was the swift action of US lawmakers in response to Coinbase’s criticisms and support withdrawal.

Senator Bill Hagerty expressed his confidence in reaching the finish line, stating:

“I am confident we will get to a consensus product in short order.”

Despite the latest regulatory setbacks, the short-term outlook remains cautiously bullish and positive for the medium term. US XRP-spot ETF market inflows and increased real-world utility tilt the supply-demand balance in XRP’s favor.

ETF Flows and Fundamental Support The US XRP-spot ETF market has reported total net inflows of $1.27 billion since launching in November. By contrast, the US SOL-spot ETF market has seen $864.77 million in net inflows since launching in October. Meanwhile, the US BTC-spot ETF market has had $1.26 billion in net outflows since the US XRP-spot ETF market launched.

Strong US XRP-spot ETF inflows underpin investor optimism over crypto legislation and increased utility, key to the bullish medium-term price outlook.

XRP Price Targets The ongoing progress of the Market Structure Bill, robust demand for XRP-spot ETF, and increased XRP utility reinforce the cautiously positive short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook, with a $2.5 price target.

Furthermore, hopes that the Senate will eventually pass crypto-friendly legislation reinforced the bullish longer-term price targets:

Medium-term (4-8 weeks): $3.0. Longer-term (8-12 weeks): $3.66. Key Risks to the Bullish Outlook Several events could unravel the positive outlook. These include:

The Bank of Japan declares a hawkish neutral interest rate (potentially 1.5%-2.5%), signaling multiple rate hikes. A higher neutral rate could trigger a yen carry trade unwind, which would impact the short-term outlook. US economic data and the Fed are dampening bets on an H1 2026 rate cut. US lawmakers roadblock the Market Structure Bill, further delaying crypto legislation. XRP-spot ETFs report outflows. These factors would likely weigh on sentiment, sending XRP below $2, which would indicate a bearish trend reversal.

Technical Analysis: Levels to Watch XRP fell 2.77% on Thursday, January 15, following the previous day’s 1.23% loss, closing at $2.0784. The token came under heavier selling pressure than the broader crypto market cap, which dropped 1.46%.

Despite the pullback, XRP continued trading above its 50-day EMA, while the token remained below the 200-day EMA. The EMAs indicated a bullish near-term but a bearish longer-term bias. However, the bullish fundamentals remain dominant.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $2.0, $1.75, and then $1.50. 50-day EMA support: $2.0777. 200-day EMA resistance: $2.3243. Resistance levels: $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66. Viewing the daily chart, a break above $2.2 would open the door to testing the 200-day EMA. A sustained move through the 200-EMA would indicate a bullish trend reversal, bringing the $2.5 resistance level into play.

Importantly, a breakout above the EMAs would reaffirm the bullish medium-term outlook and the longer-term (8-12 weeks) $3.66 price target.

USDT0, the unified liquidity network for Tether’s stablecoin USDT, has announced surpassing $63 billion in total value transacted over its first year of operation, recording $431 million in bridge volume in the latest 24 hours. Launched in January 2025, USDT0 has rapidly scaled, integrating 18 blockchain ecosystems. Co-Founder Lorenzo R. credits the milestone to collaboration within these ecosystems, enhancing stablecoin liquidity movement.

Key achievements include over 487,000 transactions across chains like Ethereum, Polygon, and Optimism. Tether CEO Paolo Ardiono highlights USDT0’s role in reducing friction and unifying liquidity, supporting USDT as a settlement layer across diverse networks. The platform’s advancements include its Legacy Mesh, enabling direct connections with native USDT deployments.

LayerZero’s Arjun Arora points out USDT0’s leverage, allowing decentralized finance (DeFi) systems to manage liquidity across chains. Beyond US dollars, USDT0 has expanded to include assets like tokenized gold (XAUT0) and offshore yuan (CNHT0), according to Conflux CEO Fan Long.

Looking ahead, USDT0 plans to consolidate and deepen its ecosystem engagements, aiming to grow supply and enhance throughput while integrating select new ecosystems. Plasma’s CEO Paul Faecks notes USDT0’s impact on liquidity for Aave markets, while Polygon’s Aishwary Gupta reports the transition to Polygon-native USDT0 has increased transaction activity.

These achievements position USDT0 as a key infrastructure component for cross-chain liquidity, promising further integration in a programmable stablecoin economy. The future involves ongoing consolidation and selective expansion to support a growing range of ecosystems.

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Mechanics

ETFs are investment funds that trade on stock exchanges, holding assets like stocks, commodities, or bonds. The term ‘spot’ refers to the current market price of the asset the ETF aims to track. Issuers file for ETFs to offer investors exposure to these assets without direct ownership. Approval involves regulatory reviews focusing on market stability and investor protection.

Regulatory Focus on Crypto Products

Regulators prioritize custody, market integrity, and investor protection when overseeing crypto products. They require robust surveillance-sharing agreements to prevent market manipulation and demand transparency in operations. Disclosure requirements ensure investors are informed about potential risks.

Institutional Interest in Crypto

Large banks and asset managers explore crypto products due to client demand, potential fee revenue, and alternative investment opportunities. Cryptocurrency provides new access routes for diversified portfolios, appealing to a growing base of institutional clients.

Bitcoin and Solana Context

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market value, is widely recognized as a digital store of value and payment system. Solana is known for its smart-contract capabilities, supporting decentralized applications and emphasizing speed and low costs.

Product and Market Risks

Stablecoins and other crypto products face risks like price volatility, liquidity challenges, and regulatory uncertainty. Operational risks include potential system failures, while tracking errors can affect returns. Fees vary, impacting investor costs.

Competitive Landscape

The crypto industry sees multiple issuers filing similar products, leading to competition. Timelines for product development and approval are often uncertain, with frequent amendments expected. Stakeholders watch for regulatory reviews and market reception.

Next Steps for USDT0

As USDT0 enters its second year, stakeholders anticipate continued development and integration. The focus will be on consolidating existing partnerships and expanding into new ecosystems. Market participants await further announcements on network enhancements and new asset integrations.

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Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above $96,000. BTC is correcting some gains and might decline to $94,000 before a fresh increase.

Bitcoin started a decent increase above $95,000 and $96,000. The price is trading above $95,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a declining channel or a possible bullish flag forming with resistance at $96,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might continue to move up if it stays above the $95,000 zone. Bitcoin Price Dips and Corrects Some Gains Bitcoin price managed to stay above the $93,500 support and started a fresh increase. BTC was able to settle above $95,000 and $95,500.

The bulls were able to push the price above $96,000. Finally, the price spiked above $97,500. A high was formed at $97,898, and the price is now correcting some gains. There was a move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $89,995 swing low to the $97,898 high.

Bitcoin is now trading above $95,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $95,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $96,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $96,200 level. There is also a declining channel or a possible bullish flag forming with resistance at $96,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com The next resistance could be $97,000. A close above the $97,000 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $97,800 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $98,800 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $99,200 and $100,000.

Downside Continuation In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $96,200 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $95,000 level. The first major support is near the $94,000 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $89,995 swing low to the $97,898 high.

The next support is now near the $93,000 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $91,850 support in the near term. The main support sits at $91,500, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $95,000, followed by $94,000.

Major Resistance Levels – $96,200 and $97,000.

Economist Peter Schiff said in an interview aired Thursday that he’d prefer a gold-backed cryptocurrency over Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) during a crisis like the one in Iran.

Schiff Choses Gold AgainAppearing on the Randi Hipper show, Schiff said that if he were to transact anonymously through an app in Iran, given the currency crisis and internet ban, he would choose tokenized gold over Bitcoin.

“I’d rather have a cryptocurrency backed up by real money,” Schiff stated, adding that Bitcoin is backed by nothing.

According to the Bitcoin critic, the best option in Iran would be to use a stablecoin. “There are plenty of those that you could get into. And in fact, the best stable coin, believe, would be a tokenized gold,” he said.

Inflation Crisis Fueling Bitcoin’s Rise In Iran?The Iranian Rial has become nearly worthless against the dollar, pushing people toward cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, as a hedge.

While internet shutdowns expose a vulnerability, there have been claims that Iranians are using Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app developed by Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc., and its clones, to send BTC via Bluetooth.

The Real ‘Digital Gold’It’s worth highlighting that Bitcoin failed to live up to its oft-repeated "digital gold" reputation in 2025, while precious metals-backed cryptocurrencies proved far more reliable.

Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT) and PAX Gold (CRYPTO: PAXG) are both up over 70% over the past year, while the apex cryptocurrency is down 4%.

Asset1-Year Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 9:45 a.m. ET)Bitcoin -4.17%$95,430.78Tether Gold
               +71.66%$4,591PAX Gold               +70.96%$4,608.10
Photo: Shutterstock/GraphixTreasure
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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A recently-discovered ransomware dubbed “DeadLock” is stealthily exploiting Polygon smart contracts to rotate and distribute proxy addresses, say researchers at cybersecurity firm Group-IB.

The company reported on Thursday that the DeadLock ransomware, first discovered in July, has seen “low exposure” as it isn’t tied to any known data leak site or affiliate programs and has a “limited number of reported victims.”

However, Group-IB warned that even though the ransomware is “low profile,” it uses “innovative methods” that could be dangerous to organizations that don’t take the malware seriously, “especially since the abuse of this specific blockchain for malicious purposes has not been widely reported.”

DeadLock leverages Polygon smart contracts to store and rotate proxy server addresses used to communicate with victims. Code embedded in the ransomware interacts with a specific smart contract address and uses a function to dynamically update command-and-control infrastructure.

Once victims have been infected with the malware and encryption has occurred, DeadLock threatens them with a ransom note and the selling of stolen data if their demands are not met.

Infinite variants of the technique can be appliedBy storing proxy addresses on-chain, Group-IB said DeadLock creates infrastructure that is extremely difficult to disrupt, as there is no central server to take down, and blockchain data persists indefinitely across distributed nodes worldwide.

“This exploit of smart contracts to deliver proxy addresses is an interesting method where attackers can literally apply infinite variants of this technique; imagination is the limit,” it added.

HTML file with an embedded Session private messenger to contact the threat actor. Source: Group-IBNorth Korean threat actors found “EtherHiding” Weaponizing smart contracts for malware dissemination is not new, with Group-IB noting a tactic called “EtherHiding” that Google reported in October. 

A North Korean threat actor dubbed “UNC5342” used this technique, “which consists of leveraging transactions on public blockchains to store and retrieve malicious payloads,” it said. 

EtherHiding involves embedding malicious code, often in the form of JavaScript payloads, within a smart contract on a public blockchain, explained Google at the time. 

“This approach essentially turns the blockchain into a decentralized and highly resilient command-and-control (C2) server.”Magazine: Trump rules out SBF pardon, Bitcoin in ‘boring sideways’: Hodler’s Digest

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Ethereum price started a major increase above the $3,350 resistance. ETH is now consolidating gains and holding the key support at $3,280.

Ethereum started a downside correction after a major rally to $3,400. The price is trading above $3,280 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $3,280 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it stays above the $3,280 zone. Ethereum Price Hits Support Ethereum price remained stable above $3,300 and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH price rallied above the $3,320 and $3,350 resistance levels.

A high was formed at $3,402, and the price recently started a downside correction. There was a move below $3,320. The price dipped below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $3,060 swing low to the $3,402 high.

Ethereum price is now trading above $3,280 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $3,280 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.

Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com If the bulls can protect more losses below $3,280, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $3,320 level. The first key resistance is near the $3,350 level. The next major resistance is near the $3,385 level. A clear move above the $3,385 resistance might send the price toward the $3,450 resistance. An upside break above the $3,450 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,500 resistance zone or even $3,550 in the near term.

Downside Break In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,320 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,280 level and the trend line. The first major support sits near the $3,260 zone and the 100 hourly SMA.

A clear move below the $3,260 support might push the price toward the $3,220 support and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $3,060 swing low to the $3,402 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,150 region.

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 below the 50 zone.

Major Support Level – $3,280

Major Resistance Level – $3,385

Senators are vowing to go forward on a major crypto bill that would give the industry the rule of the road after a planned committee vote was derailed at the 11th hour.

But the biggest sticking points have been issues for months as Democrats, Republican, the crypto industry and banks have tried to find common ground.

The likelihood that the latest version of the bill, which was released late Monday, would be able to get the approval of the Banking Committee was already tenuous when Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that Coinbase would not be able to support the bill, listing several concerns including a reduced role for the CFTC and limits on the ability for crypto to offer consumers rewards in the bill..

"It was the 1,000th cut in a death by 1000 cuts," Sen. Cynthia Lummis told CNBC of Armstrong's tweet.

A few hours after Armstrong publicly opposed the bill, Banking Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., formally called off the hearing, postponing it to a yet-to-be-announced date.

Armstrong told CNBC that after a new version of the bill was dropped late Monday night, he was surprised by some of the provisions in it. By the time Coinbase's team identified key areas of concern, it was too late for any changes to be made in a markup.

"We've got a chance to do a new draft and hopefully get back into a markup in a few weeks," Armstrong said.

Lummis, said it could take until February or March to re-hold the vote.

"I feel like I got run over by a Mack truck," said Lummis, one of the biggest crypto proponents on Capitol Hill who has worked on similar legislation for years.

"But we'll get back at it after this break and find some ways to fix the bill."

One of the biggest debates around the bill deals with the rewards that companies can offer stablecoin holders. Under the stablecoin law, crypto exchanges cannot offer customers interest on stablecoin – however they can offer rewards that act like interest.

Banks have said the language could lead to hundreds of billions being moved from deposits to stablecoin – one Fed report suggests there could be a credit squeeze of hundreds of billion to as much as $1.2 trillion if stablecoin can offer interest.

Armstrong said he would like to speak with bank CEOs directly on this, but argued that the bill needed to treat both industries equally.

"Crypto companies should be allowed to compete and offer loans just like banks," he said.

Banks are also preparing to fight for more favorable language. More than 3,000 banks signed a petition lead by the American Bankers Association warning that allowing crypto to offer interest-like rewards "will siphon trillions from local lending, leaving less money available for car loans, agricultural loans, mortgages, and small business borrowing that drive local economies."

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., said she's spoken with representatives from the banking and crypto industries, and she thinks if there is more time to negotiate, an agreement can be reached soon.

"Everyone agrees that there has to be a compromise somewhere in there, and making sure that we are allowing the innovation to grow," she said.

Caleigh Keating contributed to this article.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (“EverGen” or “the Company”) (TSXV: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF), is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced $13.0 million asset-level debt facility with Farm Credit Canada (“FCC”) through its wholly owned subsidiary Fraser Valley Biogas Ltd. (“FVB”), the repayment of the majority of the Company's corporate debt facility, and the closing of the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private p.

In Brief

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4:49 PM PST · January 15, 2026

Image Credits:Drew Angerer/Bloomberg / Getty Images Newsrooms have been experimenting with AI for several years now but, for the most part, those efforts have been just that: experiments. A relatively unknown startup, Symbolic.ai, wants to change that, and it just signed a major deal with News Corp, the media conglomerate owned by Rupert Murdoch.

News Corp, the major assets of which include MarketWatch, the New York Post, and the WSJ, is set to begin using Symbolic’s AI platform with its financial news hub Dow Jones Newswires.

Symbolic.ai, which was founded by former eBay CEO Devin Wenig and Ars Technica co-founder Jon Stokes, says its AI platform can “assist in the production of quality journalism and content” and that its tool has even led to “productivity gains of as much as 90% for complex research tasks.” The platform is designed to make editorial workflows more efficient, providing improvements in areas like newsletter creation, audio transcription, fact-checking, “headline optimization,” SEO advice, and others.

In general, News Corp has shown a willingness to integrate AI into its media operations. In 2024, the company signed a multi-year partnership with OpenAI, wherein it would license its material to the AI company. Last November, the media conglomerate signaled that it was considering branching out, and licensing its material to other AI companies.

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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robbins LLP informs investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) common stock between April 1, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapies for neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.

Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. (VTGN) Misled Investors Regarding the Viability of its Trial Study of Fasedienol

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The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. (VTGN) Misled Investors Regarding the Viability of its Trial Study of Fasedienol

According to the complaint, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while at the same time, disseminating false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning its Phase 3 PALISADE-3 trial study of fasedienol. This caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Vistagen’s common stock at artificially inflated prices.

Plaintiff alleges that on December 17, 2025, Vistagen issued a press release announcing that the PALISADE-3 Phase 3 study of intranasal fasedienol for the acute treatment of social anxiety disorder did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement on the primary endpoint of change on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). In pertinent part, defendants announced the trial did not achieve its primary endpoint and there was no treatment difference between fasedienol and placebo for the secondary endpoints. On this news, the price of Vistagen’s common stock declined dramatically from a closing market of $4.36 per share on December 16, 2025 to $0.86 per share on December 17, 2025, a decline of more than 80%.

What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. Stockholders who wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the class should contact Robbins LLP. The lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002.

To be notified if a class action against Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2026) - Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. (TSXV: DWS) ("Diamond Estates" or "the Company") announced that it has issued deferred share units ("DSUs") to its directors as of today. Pursuant to the Company's deferred share unit plan, an aggregate of 187,501 DSUs at a deemed price per DSU of $0.17 have been issued by the Company to non-executive directors, with the exception of Vince Timpano and Guy Blanchette (who have renounced their compensation as nominees of Lassonde Industries Inc.), in settlement of $31,875.00 of deferred directors' compensation. The DSUs are to be settled in common shares of the Company when the director retires from all positions with the Company.

About Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc.

Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. is a producer of high-quality wines and ciders as well as a sales agent for over 120 beverage alcohol brands across Canada. The Company operates four production facilities, three in Ontario and one in British Columbia, that produce predominantly VQA wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees, Creekside, D'Ont Poke the Bear, EastDell, Lakeview Cellars, Mindful, Shiny Apple Cider, Fresh Wines, Red Tractor, Seasons, Serenity and Backyard Vineyards.

Through its commercial division, Trajectory Beverage Partners, the Company serves as the sales agent for a wide range of leading international beverage brands.

Wine Portfolio:

Trajectory represents renowned wine brands, including Fat Bastard and Gabriel Meffre from France; Kaiken from Argentina; Kings of Prohibition from Australia; Yealands, Kono, Tohu, and Joiy Sparkling Wine from New Zealand; Talamonti and Cielo from Italy; Porta 6, Julia Florista, Boas Quintas, Catedral, and Cabeca de Toiro from Portugal; as well as C.K Mondavi & Family, Charles Krug, Line 39, Harken, FitVine, and Rabble from California. Trajectory also represents a broad portfolio of wines sold exclusively to restaurants, bars and private consumers.

Spirits Portfolio:

The Company also represents distinguished spirit brands such as Cofradia Tequila and Hussong's Tequila from Mexico; Islay Mist and Waterproof blended Scotch whiskies from Scotland; Glen Breton Canadian whiskies from Nova Scotia; Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur and Broker's Gin from the UK; Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream, 360 Vodka, and Holladay Bourbon from the USA; Giffard Liqueurs from France; and Becherovka from the Czech Republic.

Beer, Cider, and RTD Portfolio:

In the beer, cider, and ready-to-drink (RTD) categories, Trajectory represents Darling Mimosas from Ontario; Rodenbach beer from Belgium; La Trappe beer from the Netherlands; and Warsteiner beer from Germany.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280602

Source: Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.

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Oil futures edged higher in early Asian trade on a likely technical recovery after WTI and Brent crude oil futures settled sharply lower on Thursday.

Both of these businesses are finding tremendous success in different corners of the financial services industry.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI 0.90%) is a digital banking leader that's quickly growing in the financial services industry. And investors are taking notice. The share price has soared 416% in the past three years (as of Jan. 12).

Upstart (UPST +3.14%) is another innovative enterprise, leveraging its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt the way that borrowers access credit. Its shares have been extremely volatile. And today they trade 88% below their peak.

Between these two businesses, which one is the better fintech stock to buy now?

Image source: Getty Images.

SoFi has evolved into a very profitable banking player Growth has never been an issue for SoFi. Its adjusted net revenue between Q3 2022 and Q3 2025 (ended Sept. 30) was up a remarkable 126%. Customer additions have been through the roof as well. This is a clear indication of SoFi's success in the competitive banking industry. While financial services products are typically commoditized offerings, SoFi is winning thanks to its exceptional user experience.

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Top-line gains have translated to profit growth. After reporting adjusted net income of $227 million in 2024, the leadership team expects that figure to total $455 million in 2025. This is a massive improvement from the money-losing days; SoFi posted an adjusted net loss of $54 million in 2023. Operating a digital-only business model lends itself to scalability, which is what SoFi is showing right before our eyes.

The innovation pipeline also remains robust, positioning this company as a forward-thinking enterprise that is always figuring out new ways to serve its customers. SoFi recently partnered with Lightspark to enable cheap and fast cross-border transfers that leverage the Bitcoin Lightning network. And it introduced cryptocurrency trading on its platform as well. These could prove to be winning product launches for SoFi's affluent and younger target audience.

Upstart was ahead of the curve with its AI lending model Upstart was working on machine learning and AI capabilities before they were cool buzzwords in the corporate world. For over a decade, the business has developed its in-house AI lending model, which looks at thousands of unique variables about borrowers to better gauge their ability to repay a loan. This is a more thorough system than the traditional FICO Score that only considers five factors. Upstart shows that its model can approve more borrowers and keep default rates in check, which is a winning combination for its more than 100 lending partners.

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The company has returned to growth, with transaction volume and revenue rising 128% and 71%, respectively, in Q3 2025. Personal loans have long been the key product for Upstart. However, auto loan originations and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) surged 357% and 324%, respectively, year over year in the third quarter. The theoretical addressable market opportunity is sizable, given how much lending activity occurs in the U.S. each year.

Upstart is still in the early innings of its lifecycle, so profitability hasn't been a priority. But it's making progress here. Executives expect GAAP net income of $50 million for the full year of 2025. This would be a marked improvement from the $129 million net loss in 2024.

Risk tolerance will determine the ultimate decision The sell-side analyst community believes that Upstart is a more promising stock pick. The consensus one-year price target implies 24% upside. That's much higher than the 2% upside implied from SoFi's price target. Investors can take these with a grain of salt or view them as a key decision-making factor.

Upstart is surprisingly cheaper at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 20.5. But I believe it presents a riskier opportunity. The company hasn't proven that it can register consistent revenue and profit growth over an entire economic cycle. There is heightened uncertainty.

In my view, SoFi is the best investment opportunity, despite what analyst price targets reveal. Its valuation is more expensive, with the stock trading at a forward (P/E) ratio of 46.1. But its profits are soaring. And there's a much clearer path to ongoing success.

, /PRNewswire/ - Mayfair Gold Corp. ("Mayfair", "Mayfair Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV: MFG) (OTCQX: MFGCF) is pleased to announce that it has filed a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the Fenn-Gib Gold Project located in the Timmins Gold District in Northeastern Ontario. The report is titled "Fenn-Gib Project: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Pre-Feasibility Study" A copy of the technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

This technical report was prepared by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC.

Semi-Retirement of VP Technical Services

As of January 14, 2026, Richard Klue having successfully contributed to the preparation and completion of the Fenn-Gib Pre-Feasibility Study he has decided to move toward semi-retirement and, rather than continuing in traditional full-time role, plans to remain active by assisting Mayfair Gold Corp. on an hourly basis, while also exploring non-executive board opportunities and other turnaround projects. Mayfair would like to thank Richard for his contributions and leadership in advancing the Fenn-Gib project to this stage as he moves into much deserved semi-retirement.

About Mayfair Gold

Mayfair Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing the 100% controlled Fenn-Gib gold project in the Timmins region of Northern Ontario. The Fenn-Gib gold deposit is Mayfair's flagship asset and currently hosts an updated NI 43-101 open pit constrained mineral resource estimate with an effective date of September 3, 2024 with a total Indicated Resource of 181.3M tonnes containing 4.3M ounces at a grade of 0.74 g/t Au and an Inferred Resource of 8.92M tonnes containing 0.14M ounces at a grade of 0.49 g/t Au at a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off grade. 

Cautionary Notes to U.S. Investors Concerning Resource Estimates

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to domestic United States issuers. Accordingly, the information concerning the Company's mineral properties contained in this news release is not comparable to the disclosure of United States issuers subject to the SEC's mining disclosure requirements, and the Company's disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had the Company prepared the information under the standards applicable to United States issuers.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information which reflects management's expectations regarding the Company's growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the design, development and execution of the Project, the PFS demonstrating the strong economics and free cash flow potential associated with developing the Project as a targeted, high-grade operation that can be advanced through the Ontario permitting process, the belief that the permitting process can be advanced quickly, positioning the Project for timely development within the current gold cycle, the Project having exceptional value potential, with strong free cash flow and robust economics that further enhance its attractiveness to investors, finalizing engineering and design work, advancing environmental approvals in preparation for a construction decision within the Company's target goal of two to three years, advancing permitting activities, detailed engineering and stakeholder engagement with the goal of starting construction in 2028 with initial production in 2030, and all economics set out in the PFS.

Forward-looking information is based on various reasonable assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management; the assumed long-term price of gold; that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; and that the political environment where the Company operates will continue to support the development and operation of mining projects. Should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, or one or more of the risks and uncertainties described below materialize, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to foreign currency fluctuations; risks inherent in mining including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, ground control problems and flooding; delays or the inability to obtain necessary governmental permits or financing; risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; the potential for and effects of labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labor; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; actual ore mined varying from estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution and metallurgical and other characteristics; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, gold price fluctuations; uncertain political and economic environments; and changes in laws or policies.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review the forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information reflect management's beliefs, opinions and projections as of the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE Mayfair Gold Corp.

, /PRNewswire/ -- AIxCrypto Inc. (NASDAQ: AIXC) ("AIxC"), a pioneer in Embodied AI (EAI) infrastructure, today announced that its flagship platform, AIxC Hub has surpassed 500,000 registered wallets and 200,000 daily active participants (DAU) within seven days of its launch.

High-Frequency Engagement & Behavioral Intelligence

The platform has processed millions of directional predictions on the Company's proprietary C10 Index. Beyond simple engagement, AIxC Hub serves as a massive behavioral data engine, capturing real-time human decision-making patterns to train the Company's Embodied AI models.

Zero-Capital Arena: A zero capital participation model that removes financial barriers, allowing for authentic analytical instincts

C10 Index Forecasting: Users perform high-frequency predictions on top digital assets, updated every 10 seconds

Merit-Based Recognition: A unified Points system rewards accuracy and community participation, creating a highly engaging skill-building environment

"Reaching 500,000 accounts in a week validates our strategy of using zero-capital environments to collect high-quality behavioral intelligence," said Jerry Wang, Co-CEO of AIxC. "These datasets are the foundational inputs our EAI systems need to optimize decision-making in real-world asset (RWA) contexts."

Global Community Network & Data Integrity

AIxC has built a robust global user network through multi-channel outreach. The Company maintains approximately 42,000 followers across social media platforms (AIxC Twitter 23,000 + Foundation Twitter 19,000), with core communities concentrated in Discord (27,000 members) and Telegram (17,000 members), totaling approximately 44,500 community members. This multi-tiered community architecture provides a solid foundation for the platform's rapid growth.

To ensure the integrity of this training data, AIxC utilizes advanced AI-driven quality assurance to filter automated bot activity, ensuring the dataset reflects genuine human cognition. With users distributed across multiple countries and regions, the platform is building a globally diverse behavioral library essential for training adaptable AI systems.

Deep Community Engagement Initiatives

The Company will host its first Twitter Space next week, themed "Futurist Dialogue: Where Are the Opportunities for Ordinary People in the AI Era?" The event will feature industry guests discussing the convergence of AI and Crypto, alongside the launch of the Company's first community AMA to address questions about the product roadmap.

Concurrently, the platform will launch an interactive AI Agent that uses gamified dialogue to help users understand their decision-making styles. After users provide basic information such as birth details and professional background, the AI generates personalized behavioral analysis.

To explore AIxC Hub, visit:
https://hub.aixcrypto.ai

To explore AIxC S1 Arena gameplay and season rules, visit:
https://aixc.gitbook.io/aixc-hub-docs-en/

About AIxCrypto:

AIxCrypto is a U.S.-Nasdaq listed company dedicated to building a world-leading ecosystem that integrates AI and blockchain while bridging Web2 and Web3. Its core products include the BesTrade DeAI Agent and the AIxC ecosystem products.  

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements", including statements regarding AIxCrypto Holdings, Inc. ("AIxCrypto") within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All of the statements in this press release, including financial projections, whether written or oral, that refer to expected or anticipated future actions and results of AIxCrypto are forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current projections and expectations about future events as of the date of this presentation. AIxCrypto cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements and financial projections will prove to be correct.

The information provided in this press release does not identify or include any risk or exposures of AIxCrypto that would materially and adversely affect the performance or risk of the company. By their nature, forward-looking statements and financial projections involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking information will not occur, which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and financial projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: business, economic and capital market conditions; the heavily regulated industry in which AIxCrypto carries on business; current or future laws or regulations and new interpretations of existing laws or regulations; the inherent volatility and regulatory uncertainty associated with cryptocurrency investments; legal and regulatory requirements; market conditions and the demand and pricing for our products; the availability of reaching an agreement for the purchase of FFAI common shares; our relationships with our customers and business partners; our ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet our customers' needs; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in our industry; failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; systems, networks, telecommunications or service disruptions or failures or cyber-attack; ability to obtain additional financing on reasonable terms or at all; litigation costs and outcomes; our ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; and our ability to manage our growth. Readers are cautioned that this list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

All information contained in this press release is provided as of the date of the press release issuance and is subject to change without notice. Neither AIxCrypto, nor any other person undertakes any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements and financial projections set out herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. This is presented as a source of information and not an investment recommendation. This press release does not take into account nor does it provide any tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the specific investment objectives or financial situation of any person. AIxCrypto reserves the right to amend or replace the information contained herein, in part or entirely, at any time, and undertakes no obligation to provide the recipient with access to the amended information or to notify the recipient thereof.

Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there is no guarantee that the plans, intentions, or expectations they are based on will be realized. While management believes these statements are reasonable at the time of preparation, actual results may differ materially. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations as of the date of this presentation and are subject to change without notice. The Company is not obligated to update or revise these statements, unless required by law.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will," indicating possible future actions, events, or outcomes. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from what is expected.

Actual results may differ materially due to factors such as the ability to secure financing, complete transactions, meet exchange requirements, consumer demand, competition, and unexpected costs. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may prove incorrect, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update them except as required by law. Given the uncertainties involved, readers should not place undue reliance on these statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this news release, except as required by law. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  

SOURCE AIxCrypto Inc.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rubicon Organics Inc. (TSXV: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) (“Rubicon Organics”, “Rubicon” or the “Company”), is Canada’s leading premium licensed producer focused on cultivating and selling organic certified, premium and super-premium cannabis products, announces that it has granted 1,002,773 restricted share units (“RSUs”) and 1,002,773 performance share units (“PSUs”).

RSU Grant

The Company has awarded a total of 1,002,773 RSUs under its Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to selected executives and employees. The RSUs will vest over a period ranging from one to three years from the grant date. Upon vesting, each RSU grants the holder the right to receive one common share of the Company, or, at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, may be settled in cash.

PSU Grant

The Company has granted a total of 1,002,773 PSUs under its Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to certain executives and employees. These PSUs will vest after three years, contingent on the achievement of specific performance targets. If the performance conditions are met, each vested PSU entitles the holder to receive one common share of the Company, or, at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, may be settled in cash.

ABOUT RUBICON ORGANICS INC.

Rubicon Organics is the Canadian leader in certified organic and premium cannabis. With a vertically integrated model and strong national distribution, the company is scaling a house of trusted, high-performing brands including Simply Bare™ Organics, 1964 Supply Co.™, Wildflower™, and Homestead Cannabis Supply™.

The Company’s production base is anchored by its Pacifica facility (Delta, BC) and is now complemented by the acquisition and licensing of its Cascadia facility (Hope, BC), which will expand production capacity by over 40% and support future growth in both domestic and export markets. With proprietary genetics, award-winning products, and certifications enabling international distribution, Rubicon is positioned at the forefront of the premium cannabis segment.

As the Canadian market continues to rationalize and global demand for high-quality cannabis increases, Rubicon Organics’ disciplined execution, brand equity, and consumer loyalty set it apart. The Company’s focus on premium quality, innovation, and operational execution has driven consistent revenue growth and positive Adjusted EBITDA.

Rubicon Organics represents a rare combination of category leadership, operational strength, and long-term growth potential.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Margaret Brodie
CEO
Phone: +1 (437) 929-1964
Email: [email protected]

The TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s future business strategy, objectives, growth plans, operational performance, production capacity, market expansion, and the vesting conditions, timing, and settlement of the RSUs and PSUs granted by the Company. Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in regulatory requirements, operational risks, market demand, competition, and other risk factors set forth in the Company’s public filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information.

All forward-looking information in this press release is made as of the date hereof and is based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of management as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The U.S. is securing about 30% higher prices for Venezuelan crude, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday, as the country has started selling oil from the Latin American nation after capturing its former President Nicolas Maduro.

Washington has completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil valued at about $500 million, according to a U.S. Department of Energy spokesperson, with more expected in the coming days and weeks.

"We're getting about a 30% higher realized price when we sell the same barrel of oil than they sold the same barrel of oil three weeks ago," Wright said at a U.S. Energy Association event, without specifying prices.

U.S. special forces captured Maduro earlier this month during an operation that Washington said was aimed at restoring political stability.

President Donald Trump said last week that Venezuela would hand over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil currently under U.S. sanctions, which would be sold at prevailing market prices. In a social media post, he noted that the proceeds would be controlled by him to ensure the funds benefit both Venezuela and the U.S.

That would just be the first tranche of oil, as the Department of Energy has said the oil sales from Venezuela will continue "indefinitely."

Venezuela holds the world's largest proven crude reserves at about 303 billion barrels, but years of underinvestment have left its oil industry in severe decline, with output now around 800,000 barrels per day from a peak of 3.5 million bpd in the 1990s.

Trump also announced last Friday that oil companies would invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, adding that the U.S. would provide security to ensure investors earn strong returns.

He met oil industry leaders from Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero and Maratho at the White House to discuss investments in Venezuela. Exxon CEO Darren Woods told Trump that the Venezuelan market is "uninvestable" in its current state.

Venezuela seized Exxon's and Conoco's assets in 2007, and Caracas owes the companies billions of dollars in outstanding claims from arbitration cases.

The developments come as global oil markets face a supply overhang that has weighed on prices in the past year.

Brent futures inched 0.14% higher to $63.85 a barrel as of 8:33 p.m. ET, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.2% to $59.31. This follows a sharp fall on Thursday as traders appear to brush off tensions between U.S. and Iran.

"Venezuela's oil problem is not technical, and it is not commercial, it's fundamentally human and political," said Baron Lamarre, former head of trading at Petronas and co-founder of Index.

"Until investors have confidence in long-term political continuity, capital will remain cautious, incremental, and conditional," he said.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Donald Trump Trump

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Simon Chandler

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Simon Chandler is a Brighton-based writer and journalist with over ten years of experience writing about crypto, technology, politics and culture. He has written for Cryptonews.com since late 2017,...

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Last updated: 

3 minutes ago

The Trump Coin price has declined by 2.5% in the past 24 hours, slipping to $5.51 as the crypto market as a whole rises by 1.5%.

Despite today’s loss, TRUMP is now up by 3% in a week and by 16% in the last 14 days, although it is still down by 92% since reaching an all-time high of $73 in January 2025.

And its moves today come as we approach an unlock of 50 million TRUMP on January 18, accounting for 11.95% of the meme coin’s current circulating supply.

But while this could result in short-term losses, its association with a sitting President who isn’t averse to self-promotion means that the Trump Coin price prediction still remains very positive over the medium-term.

Trump Coin Price Prediction: Token Unlock Set for Jan 18 – What Happens When 50M TRUMP Floods the Market?At a nominal value of $274 million, 50 million TRUMP will become available for transfer (and sale) on Sunday, with this amount going to its “creators” and to the Trump-associated CIC Digital.

Source: TokemomistThe Trump family isn’t averse to selling TRUMP tokens, with data suggesting that it has made around $1.2 billion via crypto as of October of last year.

As such, this incoming stash of coins could find its way to the market fairly quickly, exerting some downward pressure on on the Trump Coin price.

If we look at its chart today, we see that it remains in a strong position as far as its indicators go.

Its relative strength index (yellow) remains above 50, having bouncing from just under 30 at the end of December.

Source: TradingViewSimilarly, TRUMP’s MACD (orange, blue) has only just turned positive, after several months of being in a heavily oversold position.

The coin is therefore very close to breaking out, with its descending pennant also suggesting that a big move could be imminent.

While the upcoming unlock may indicate that we could see a short-term dip, it’s arguable that TRUMP is moving into an increasingly strong fundamental position.

That’s because the Trump family’s crypto empire continues to expand, with an affiliate of World Liberty Financial signing a deal this week with Pakistan to trial stablecoin-based cross-border payments.

So while the Trump Coin price has declined substantially since launch, the Trump empire’s heavy involvement in the industry could give it the underpinning to send it rallying once again.

It could reach $10 in the next few weeks, before topping $20 by Q2.

SUBBD Lets Anyone Earn Money From AI CharactersFor any trader who might remain uncertain about TRUMP, there are alternative altcoins to consider for investment and diversification, including several promising presale tokens.

One of these is SUBBD ($SUBBD), an Ethereum-based utility token that opened its sale a couple of months ago.

It has so far raised in excess of $1.4 million, while it’s already begin to build a sizeable online community, with over 38,000 followers on X.

These are hugely encouraging figures, and they suggest that SUBBD could do very well once it goes live in the next few weeks.

What’s interesting about the project is that it’s launching an adult content creation platform, one which will harness AI and crypto to provide numerous advantages for creators.

Not only will its crypto element make payouts transparency and instant, but it will offer AI tools that will help users with the production of content.

From generating ideas and posts to even generating AI agents and videos, SUBBD’s tools can take care of pretty much everything a user may want to do with the platform.

This could give it a real competitive edge over incumbent platforms, which helps to explain why it’s already doing so well.

Investors can join its sale by visiting its official website and connecting a compatible wallet, such as Best Wallet.

SUBBD is currently available at $0.05745, although this will rise again tomorrow.

Visit the Official SUBBD Website Here

TLDR:

Whale activity has consistently outperformed retail activity since late 2024. Large holder transaction volume has hit its highest point in the last five weeks. Rising open interest in derivatives suggests traders are increasing their exposure to the asset. So far, 2026 has not been profitable for Litecoin investors; however, technical indicators suggest profound shifts are underway. Data from Coinglass reveals that the “Whale vs. Retail Delta” metric remains in the green, evidencing dominant control by large-scale capital.

This landscape displays the first Litecoin recovery signs, grounded in a silent accumulation phase while the price moves sideways below critical levels. 

Since late 2024, there has been a clear divergence between the lack of interest from small investors and the confidence whales have shown in the network. Platforms like Santiment report that institutional transactions reached five-week highs, reinforcing the thesis of a trend reversal.

Although the asset is trading 46% below its 2025 peak, these recovery signs indicate that the current support level is being defended with high volume by “strong hands.”

Derivatives Markets and Institutional Liquidity Impact Unusual activity in the derivatives market completes the scenario, with open interest rebounding in recent days. While high leverage carries liquidation risks, it is also a precursor to Litecoin’s recovery signs by attracting new liquidity.

This capital inflow suggests that both institutional investors and professional traders are positioning themselves for a potential breakout of the multi-year price range.

In summary, the path toward sustained appreciation does not seem simple or free of volatility due to residual selling pressure from last year. However, the combination of on-chain metrics and renewed momentum in secondary markets strengthens these recovery signs for the asset.

TL;DR

Cake Wallet added full Zcash support on January 15. The integration sets shielded addresses as the default for privacy. The update aims to provide top-tier privacy for the Zcash community. The multi-chain wallet Cake Wallet added full support for Zcash on January 15. The integration includes shielded addresses by default and a rotation system for transparent addresses. Furthermore, the wallet enables cross-chain swaps through the NEAR Intents protocol.

Cake Wallet originally launched in January 2018 as the first open-source wallet for Monero on iOS. Its founder, Vikrant Sharma, created it with the goal of making financial privacy and self-custody accessible to everyone. Over the years, the wallet expanded its support to other assets, including Bitcoin with silent payments and Litecoin with MWEB.

1/ ✨ Zcash has officially joined the Cake family. 🍰

Here’s what’s new 👇
🛡️ Zcash support — autoshielding, rotating t-addresses, background sync, passphrase wallets, and more
🔄 NEAR Intents DEX — swap cross-chain privately, cheaply, quickly

Let’s take a closer look 🧵 pic.twitter.com/eTsA79rnEb

— Cake Wallet (@cakewallet) January 15, 2026

Features Designed for User Privacy The Zcash integration sets shielded addresses as the default configuration. This type of address hides the amount and addresses involved in a transaction on the blockchain. Users can opt to use transparent addresses if they prefer.

For those cases, the wallet implemented a transparent address rotation function. The system generates a new transparent Zcash address each time a user requests one. This mechanism strengthens privacy even when using the less private address type.

Other functions include background blockchain synchronization and passphrase wallets. The first improves the user experience and the second adds an additional security layer. In-app swaps are powered by the NEAR Intents framework, which leverages cross-chain infrastructure.

Seth for Privacy, Vice President of Cake Wallet, commented on the launch. He noted that Zcash transactions “can be private and straightforward” if done correctly. He explained that Monero remains the center of their operation, but they recognize a different community around Zcash.

He added that many Zcash users do not wish to use Monero for various reasons. As part of their commitment to individual freedom, the team identified a gap in offering the best possible privacy for those users. The goal is for them to have top-tier privacy and easily move funds to other cryptocurrencies.

According to CoinMarketCap data, ZEC trades around $418 and ranks 17th by market capitalization. Monero (XMR) trades near $716, with a 50% rise in the past week, placing it 11th. The Cake Wallet update is now available for mobile and desktop users.