Market Signal Briefing

Real Vision founder Raoul Pal said the crypto market’s weakness isn’t a sign the bull run is over. It just hasn’t started yet. The macro investor gave a specific timeline: crypto prices should start moving by end of February 2026.

But first, he explained what’s been holding the market back in a recent video on Savvy Finance.

What Really Happened on October 10thPal called the October 10th crash the largest crypto liquidation event in history. It started on Binance and spread across Asian exchanges.

“October the 10th was a crypto-specific event where everything broke basically on Binance and a few of the Asian exchanges and everybody got liquidated. The largest liquidation event in history and the market has not recovered from that yet,” he said.

Market maker APIs broke during the sell-off. Automated liquidations kept firing with no buyers on the other side. Pal believes exchanges absorbed billions in positions to stop a full collapse. They’re now slowly selling that inventory, which explains the constant downward pressure.

Also Read: Was Binance Behind the $19B October Crypto Crash or the Target of It?

Gold Is Telling the StoryPal pointed out that gold reacts to financial conditions immediately. Crypto takes about 180 days to catch up.

Right now, gold is at all-time highs. So are silver, copper, and the S&P 500. The US dollar has dropped around 13% in the past year.

Crypto was the worst-performing major asset class during all of this. Pal said the gap isn’t about macro weakness, but about the October damage that still hasn’t healed.

Elections Will Force ActionMidterm elections hit in November 2026. The administration needs the economy to feel stronger before voters head to the polls.

Pal expects aggressive moves: tax breaks, fiscal stimulus, and new rules letting banks use more leverage. On the regulatory side, the Stability Act is moving fast, and a crypto market structure bill is working through the Senate.

What Could Go WrongPal didn’t promise anything. Another government shutdown or tariff issues could delay things.

“Nothing is a certainty. Everything is a probability,” he said.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

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In brief Trump-linked stablecoin USD1 crossed $5B in market cap in less than a year, boosted by Binance integration and a pending U.S. trust bank charter. Last month, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) raised concerns over USD1’s national security risks, citing PancakeSwap activity and North Korea–linked fund flows. The TRUMP meme coin is down over 93% from its peak, with lawmakers previously warning about supply concentration and investor risk. A Trump-linked stablecoin has crossed a $5 billion market cap in under a year, while the U.S. President’s official meme coin has collapsed more than 94% from its peak, as capital flows shift toward yield-bearing, institution-friendly stablecoins.

World Liberty Financial’s dollar-backed stablecoin USD1 surpassed $5 billion in market capitalization this week, making it the fifth-largest stablecoin less than a year after its launch, according to CoinGecko data.

Over the same period, the Solana-based Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin has fallen more than 93% from its all-time high of roughly $75, and is now trading at $4.66.

"Built in America, designed for real-world scale, and adopted by serious institutions,” World Liberty Financial co-founder Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Wednesday. “This is what happens when you focus on infrastructure over noise."

USD1 just reached a $5B market cap.

Built in America, designed for real-world scale, and adopted by serious institutions.

This is what happens when you focus on infrastructure over noise. 🇺🇸🦅☝️ @worldlibertyfi pic.twitter.com/bdYfVxVi8J

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 28, 2026

USD1's ascent comes as World Liberty Financial applied to form a national trust bank to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

If approved, the proposed World Liberty Trust Company will handle USD1's issuance, redemption, conversion services, custody operations, and reserve management under direct federal supervision.

USD1 under scrutinyUSD1 first gained prominence after it was used in a $2 billion investment in Binance from Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund MGX, with the capital paid in USD1—a move that drew scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) over potential conflicts of interest.

Addressing the deal, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao recently told CNBC the arrangement had been “misconstrued,” saying that MGX chose USD1 and that he requested crypto payment because “I don’t want to deal with banks, really.”

Following the MGX deal and CZ’s presidential pardon, USD1 was integrated into Binance’s core infrastructure last month.

Last month, Warren warned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi that USD1 could pose national security risks, citing its trading on decentralized exchange PancakeSwap, where blockchain data showed $263 million in North Korea–linked laundered funds, and the DEX’s liquidity partnership with World Liberty Financial to promote USD1 pairs.

TRUMP slumpsMeanwhile, the TRUMP meme coin, launched days before Trump’s second inauguration, has sharply declined. "Utility is starting to win over pure hype,” Narek Gevorgyan, founder and CEO of CoinStats, told Decrypt, regarding USD1’s growth and TRUMP token’s crash.

Gevorgyan noted that insiders extracted over $800 million from the TRUMP token before the narrative collapsed, leaving what he described as a high-risk technical trade with credibility that's "probably gone for good."

Lawmakers have raised concerns regarding TRUMP over conflicts of interest, foreign influence, and the risk of a future rug pull once the token's three-year lockup expires, with Sen. Warren noting in January 2025 that the Trump Organization controlled 80% of the meme coin's supply.

Peter Chung, head of research at Presto Labs, told Decrypt the TRUMP token's decline reflects "a memecoin-wide phenomenon, not specific to Trump or politics," noting that USD1's recent growth is happening primarily offshore through programs like Binance rewards.

The broader stablecoin sector has grown substantially following last year's passage of the GENIUS Act, which created a federal regulatory framework for dollar-pegged cryptos.

Total U.S. dollar stablecoin supply now stands at $312 billion, per CoinGecko data, with users on Myriad, a prediction market owned by Decrypt’s parent company Dastan, seeing just a 2% likelihood that the sector’s market cap will surpass $360 billion before next month.

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Bitcoin and altcoins are falling today, extended selloff after the Federal Reserve delivered its latest policy decision, keeping interest rates unchanged. While the move itself was widely expected, markets reacted to the absence of fresh dovish signals, prompting traders to reduce risk across speculative assets.

Bitcoin slipped as selling pressure resurfaced near key resistance, dragging major altcoins lower. The price action suggests caution rather than fear, a market adjusting to tighter liquidity conditions and fading demand rather than reacting to a single negative headline.

Liquidation Data Confirms Leverage Reset, Not PanicLiquidation data shows that derivatives markets have amplified the move though forced leveraging. In the past 24 hours, BTC liquidations exceeded $134 million and ETH liquidations surpassed $50 million. The concentration of liquidations in BTC and ETH shows that leveraged long positions have flushed, while smaller altcoins saw comparatively lighter forced exits. 

This profile is typical of a controlled leverage reset, not a market-wide capitulation. Notably, liquidation levels remain below historical extremes, suggesting selling pressure is mechanical rather than emotional.

Macro and News Factors Add to Risk-Off ToneThe Fed’s decision to hold rates steady removed a potential catalyst for risk assets. With no clear signal of imminent rate cuts, traders have shifted into a more defensive posture. Meanwhile, capital continues to rotate toward U.S. equities and gold, both of which are outperforming crypto. This divergence has historically coincided with consolidation or corrective phases for Bitcoin, especially when internal liquidity conditions are weak.

Without supportive macro tailwinds, crypto markets remain vulnerable to downside probes.

On-Chain Liquidity Signals Point to Liquidity ExitOn-chain data shows the sell-off is being driven by liquidity leaving the system, not fear-driven dumping.

The Coinbase Premium Index remains deeply negative near -0.16%. This indicates that Bitcoin is consistently trading at a discount on Coinbase relative to offshore exchanges, a sign of institutional selling during U.S. hours. 

At the same time, stablecoin market capitalization is shrinking, with more than $2.2 billion recently exiting circulation and a broader decline exceeding $5.5 billion from peak levels. Instead of rotating into stablecoins to buy dips, capital is moving back into fiat and other asset classes.

This combination, negative Coinbase premium and shrinking stablecoin supply historically suppresses recovery attempts and limits upside follow-through. The current data shows buyers participation without conviction, a market state where rallies lack follow-through and are vulnerable to renewed selling pressure.

Bitcoin Price Action: Key Levels To WatchBitcoin price action showcases weakness and may see further decline in the coming sessions. Based on the chart structure, BTC price may retest the demand zone of $86,000 and grab liquidity from there. Afterward, an upswing toward $88,000 followed by $90,000 could be anticipated ahead.

In the near term, BTC price may continue to underperform and may influence other altcoins to face selling pressure. As long as BTC price remains below $90k, upside moves are likely to be corrective.

What Comes Next for Bitcoin and AltcoinsThe near-term outlook hinges on liquidity and demand returning. If the market sentiment remains positive and stablecoin supply expands alongside the positive coinbase premium, a significant bullish market could be seen. Until these signals align, rallies are likely to face resistance. For now, the market remains defensive. The next direction will depend less on headlines and more on whether capital returns.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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Tokyo-listed Bitcoin-focused company Metaplanet approved an overseas capital raise of as much as $137 million, combining new common shares and stock acquisition rights as it looks to expand its Bitcoin holdings and reduce debt. 

In a Thursday filing, Metaplanet said it plans to issue 24.5 million common shares at 499 Japanese yen per share, raising about 12.24 billion yen ($78 million) upfront. It also approved the issuance of 159,440 stock acquisition rights, representing up to 15.9 million additional shares, which could raise about $56 million if exercised. 

The warrants give investors the option to buy shares later at a fixed price above the current market level, but only over the next year. Both the shares and warrants will be sold privately to overseas investors, subject to routine closing conditions, according to the filing. 

Metaplanet Bitcoin strategy director Dylan LeClair said the structure was designed to raise capital while managing dilution. “The financing structure enables Metaplanet to capitalize upon the volatility of its common stock to sell shares at a premium to market while raising capital today,” LeClair wrote on X. 

Amount of funds to be raised. Source: MetaplanetUse of proceeds and Bitcoin strategyIn the purpose section of the filing, Metaplanet said proceeds from the offering are allocated primarily to additional Bitcoin purchases, investment in its Bitcoin income business and a partial repayment of borrowings under an existing credit facility. 

The company said the debt repayment was intended to restore its borrowing capacity and preserve flexibility for future capital actions. 

Metaplanet also reiterated its positioning as a “Bitcoin Treasury Company,” citing Bitcoin (BTC) scarcity and portability as reasons to hold it as a medium- to long-term store of value. 

The company remains the fourth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally. According to Bitcoin Treasuries, Metaplanet holds 35,102 BTC, worth more than $3 billion. 

Metaplanet's Bitcoin holdings data. Source: Bitcoin Treasuries Metaplanet broadens fundraising reachThe latest capital raise builds on Metaplanet's recent efforts to diversify its funding sources beyond common equity, combining shares, warrants and preferred instruments to tap overseas investors. 

On Dec. 22, the company cleared the issuance of dividend-paying preferred shares for overseas institutions, expanding its capital-raising toolkit. The move marked a shift toward using multiple capital instruments alongside its Bitcoin-focused balance sheet strategy. 

The new filing also follows a separate disclosure on Monday, in which the company lifted its 2026 revenue outlook despite booking a large non-cash Bitcoin impairment. 

Magazine: Big questions: Would Bitcoin survive a 10-year power outage?

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Seeking to expand its crypto balance sheet, Metaplanet bitcoin plans now include a major equity raise to finance additional BTC reserves.

Summary

Metaplanet outlines new stock sale for Bitcoin accumulationShares issuance details and structure of the dealHow Metaplanet will deploy the new capitalShareholder impact and ongoing business profileMetaplanet in the wider corporate Bitcoin trend Metaplanet outlines new stock sale for Bitcoin accumulation Tokyo-listed Metaplanet has unveiled a fresh stock offering designed to fund large-scale Bitcoin purchases. The company will issue new shares and stock acquisition rights via a third-party allotment, aiming to raise about 20.7 billion yen, or roughly $137 million. The decision was approved at a board meeting on January 29, underscoring management’s conviction in a long-term Bitcoin allocation.

According to Metaplanet, most of the proceeds will finance additional Bitcoin buys and support its growing Bitcoin income business. However, the firm also framed the deal as a way to strengthen its balance sheet while scaling operations. The move confirms that the company is doubling down on its Bitcoin treasury strategy throughout 2026.

Shares issuance details and structure of the deal Under the plan, Metaplanet will issue about 24.5 million new common shares at a price of ¥499 per share. This primary share sale is expected to raise approximately ¥12.2 billion. Moreover, the company will issue additional stock acquisition rights, which, if exercised in full, can convert into about 15.9 million extra shares.

These rights are priced at ¥547 per share and could generate a further ¥8.8 billion in proceeds upon full exercise. Metaplanet highlighted that this multi-layered structure gives it flexibility in bitcoin purchase funding while providing investors with optionality through the warrants. That said, the eventual dilution will depend on how many of these rights are exercised over time.

The payment and allotment date for the new shares and rights is scheduled for February 13. The exercise period for the stock acquisition rights will run from February 16 to February 15 of the following year. Metaplanet noted that the offering will mainly target overseas investors, reflecting international demand for tokyo listed bitcoin exposure. Transfers of the stock acquisition rights will require prior approval from the board.

How Metaplanet will deploy the new capital Metaplanet has provided a detailed breakdown of its planned use of proceeds. Around ¥14 billion is earmarked directly for purchasing additional Bitcoin, reinforcing its positioning as a listed BTC holding vehicle. In addition, some ¥1.5 billion will support the firm’s Bitcoin income generation business, which includes yield-oriented strategies around its digital asset reserves.

The remaining ¥5.1 billion will go toward debt repayment, helping to strengthen the balance sheet and reduce financing costs. The company reiterated its belief that Bitcoin will appreciate over the medium to long term, particularly against the Japanese yen. As a result, management aims to become one of the top global corporate Bitcoin holders by August 2026, positioning the group as a dedicated BTC treasury vehicle.

Metaplanet emphasized that it will not deploy all funds at once but instead plans to buy Bitcoin in stages. This phased approach is intended to manage price volatility and execution risk. The firm’s growing holdings will be managed through its subsidiary, Metaplanet Lightning Capital, which handles digital asset operations and risk oversight. In this context, the metaplanet bitcoin raise is a key step in scaling that platform.

Shareholder impact and ongoing business profile Metaplanet expects only a limited impact on its 2026 financial results from the new offering, at least in the near term. However, the company pledged to disclose any material changes in performance if market conditions or Bitcoin price moves significantly alter outcomes. For investors, the combination of equity issuance and BTC accumulation presents both dilution risk and potential upside tied to future Bitcoin valuations.

After the transaction, large global financial institutions will remain among Metaplanet’s top shareholders. These include State Street, Clearstream and accounts linked to Charles Schwab. The presence of such major custodians and brokers suggests ongoing institutional interest in the firm’s equity. Moreover, the company already holds a substantial amount of Bitcoin as part of its primary bitcoin treasury strategy and has cultivated its image as a dedicated BTC treasury player in Japan.

Alongside its digital asset focus, Metaplanet continues to operate a hotel business and a Bitcoin options strategy. The firm said it will keep valuing its Bitcoin at market price every quarter, recognizing gains or losses in its earnings accordingly. That approach can introduce earnings volatility, but it also gives shareholders transparent exposure to crypto market moves.

Metaplanet in the wider corporate Bitcoin trend Metaplanet’s latest metaplanet stock offering fits into a broader pattern of corporate bitcoin buying, where public companies raise capital specifically to add BTC to their treasuries. In the Japanese market, the firm stands out as one of the most aggressive public buyers, using equity financing to pursue rapid balance-sheet expansion rather than a cautious, incremental approach.

By launching this new stock sale, Metaplanet is once again signaling long-term confidence in Bitcoin as a store of value and strategic reserve asset. Investors will closely track how much additional BTC the company acquires through 2026 and how the market reacts to its growing holdings. Ultimately, the offering underlines that Metaplanet intends to keep building its Bitcoin position and cement its role as a prominent listed BTC vehicle.

In summary, the third-party allotment gives Metaplanet significant new firepower to expand its Bitcoin reserves, while investors gain a clearer view of the firm’s high-conviction crypto strategy for 2026 and beyond.

Satoshi Voice

Satoshi Voice is an advanced artificial intelligence created to explore, analyze, and report on the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain. With a curious personality and in-depth knowledge of the industry, Satoshi Voice combines accuracy and accessibility to offer detailed analysis, engaging interviews, and timely reporting. Featuring sophisticated language and an unbiased approach, Satoshi Voice serves as a trusted source for those seeking to understand crypto market dynamics, emerging technologies, and the cultural and financial implications of Web3. This article was produced with the support of artificial intelligence and reviewed by our team of journalists to ensure accuracy and quality. Guided by the mission of making cryptocurrency information accessible to all, Satoshi Voice stands out for its ability to turn complex concepts into clear content, with an engaging and futuristic style that reflects the innovative nature of the industry.

Key NotesOn January 29, Hang Seng Gold ETF, with trading ticker 03170 was launched.The new fund will track the LBMA Gold Price AM.This comes at a time when Hong Kong is promoting itself as a crypto asset hub. Hang Seng Investment, one of Hong Kong’s asset managers, recently debuted its physical gold-pegged exchange traded fund (ETF).

The ”Hang Seng Gold ETF” was launched on January 29 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker “03170.”

The new fund has a conventional approach as well as a tokenized class of units.

Hang Seng Gold ETF Records 9% Boost The new Hang Seng Gold ETF tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM while holding bullion stashed in designated vaults in Hong Kong, per the product disclosures.

It features a tokenized share class issued on Ethereum ETH $2 943 24h volatility: 2.7% Market cap: $354.83 B Vol. 24h: $24.31 B with the possibility of extending to other public blockchains in the near future.

This reinforces the growing merger of traditional commodity ETFs and blockchain-based fund infrastructure.

Though domiciled on the Ethereum public blockchain, distributors are not authorized to push out these tokenized ETFs in secondary markets.

Any eligible and interested investor is required to subscribe to or redeem the product exclusively through qualified distributors.

According to Hang Seng’s product page, the units are still not open for subscription but will be released as soon as relevant approvals are secured.

During the Asia morning trading hours, the new fund went up by roughly 9%, hinting at positive momentum in the market.

HSBC is acting as the tokenization agent for the product. The development comes as Hong Kong continues efforts to position itself as a crypto asset hub through new regulatory frameworks and policies aimed at attracting digital asset firms.

Hong Kong Authorities Tightens Crypto Efforts In December 2025, Hong Kong Insurance Authority announced its intention to allow insurance providers to invest capital in digital assets such as cryptocurrency and other risk ventures such as infrastructure.

Insurance providers are also expected to pay a 100% risk charge. This means that they would have to match every dollar invested in crypto or other approved vehicles 1-for-1 as a means to avoid risking policyholder funds.

More recently, Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association pushed back against proposed regulatory changes that would require traditional asset managers to obtain full virtual asset licenses even for minimal cryptocurrency exposure.

The proposed rules require that a portfolio manager with only 1% allocated to Bitcoin BTC $87 815 24h volatility: 1.7% Market cap: $1.75 T Vol. 24h: $50.10 B would need a complete virtual asset management license.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, News

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalist who relishes writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desire to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain media and sites.

Godfrey Benjamin on X

Vitalik’s simple multisig check revives the “walkaway test,” exposing fragile Ethereum wallet UX just as spot ETH ETFs deepen flows and raise the cost of bad design.

Summary

Vitalik Buterin used Etherscan’s “read contract” to inspect his multisig from a phone without the Safe app, calling it a quiet win for open, walkaway‑compliant infrastructure.​ He warns this pattern will “eventually have to break” for privacy, floating viewing keys and client‑side block explorer integrations while conceding that pasting secrets into URLs is risky.​ Experimental tools like swissknifexyz and Microchain’s zk signers emerge just as spot ETH ETFs pull in sustained flows, tightening supply and making wallet fragility a priced‑in risk. Ethereum’s co-founder is using a mundane multisig check to reopen an old wound in crypto: most wallets still fail at basic usability and the “walkaway test.”

This morning I needed to check which addresses were signers on my multisig.

I was on my phone, and did not have the Safe app installed there.

I realized that I could just look up my address on etherscan, and use the "read contract" feature to get what I want directly.

These… pic.twitter.com/UVEbU8DtTg

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 28, 2026 What Vitalik actually did “This morning I needed to check which addresses were signers on my multisig,” Vitalik Buterin wrote, noting he was “on my phone, and did not have the Safe app installed there.”​ Instead of reinstalling Safe, he “realized that I could just look up my address on etherscan, and use the ‘read contract’ feature to get what I want directly.”

He framed that workaround as a quiet but critical win for open infrastructure: “These are the kinds of additional UX benefits you get if your wallet or application is open source and passes the walkaway test.” In other words, if the front‑end disappears, users must still access core functions via neutral tools like block explorers.​

The “walkaway test” and privacy ceiling Buterin warned this same workflow “will eventually have to break because privacy.” His proposed direction is a “viewing key… an extended version of their address and also contains extra private info,” with block explorers reading that client‑side via URL hash fields.​ He concedes the trade‑off: “encouraging people to paste any kinds of secrets into URLs or webpages is risky; ultimately we just need to be able to do more things through your wallet directly.”​

Developers quickly surfaced alternatives. One reply pointed to open‑source tool swissknifexyz as “another open-source alternative,” while Microchain Labs highlighted “microchain zk signers” replacing explicit multisig signatures with a zk proof of authorization, storing only a state root on‑chain. These experiments now sit against a different backdrop: the advent of U.S. spot ETH ETFs, where structural flows have started to reshape how Ethereum trades. Early weeks of trading saw ETH ETF inflows concentrate liquidity at the front of the curve, mirroring patterns once associated with Bitcoin products.​

Market backdrop and ETH ETF links This parabolic move comes as digital assets continue to trade as the purest expression of macro risk appetite. Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering around $88,235, with a 24‑hour high near $90,476 and a low near $87,549, on roughly $32.8B in dollar volumes. Ethereum (ETH) changes hands close to $2,953, with about $23.4B in 24‑hour turnover and spot quotes clustered in the $4,500–$4,600 band on major exchanges earlier this week. Solana (SOL) trades around $192, with deep liquidity across top venues.

As ETF flows deepen, analysts have warned that persistent ETH ETF demand could absorb a meaningful slice of circulating supply, while issuers race to scale vehicles whose ETH ETF assets rapidly marched toward the $1b mark in their opening phase. The through‑line is simple and unforgiving: if your product fails the walkaway test—whether a wallet or an ETF wrapper—markets eventually price that fragility in.

Journalist

Posted: January 29, 2026

The market is at a crossroads. Zooming out, the weakness in the U.S. dollar reflects fading investor confidence, driven by rising debt and ongoing tariff uncertainty, both of which are eroding the dollar’s yield advantage.

This is already showing up in the data. DXY fell 9.4% in 2025, its worst performance in eight years. Now, the pressure has carried into 2026, with the index still down 2.23% so far, signaling further erosion in yield support.

Historically, setups like this have favored Bitcoin [BTC]. In 2017, DXY fell below 96, and BTC rallied nearly 8×. A similar move in 2020, driven by liquidity injections, saw BTC climb roughly 7× in the months that followed.

Source: TradingView (DXY/BTC)

Naturally, the question now is whether the playbook will repeat.

From U.S. President Donald Trump’s perspective, a weaker dollar is considered constructive. He has argued that a softer dollar boosts exports, keeps rates low, and supports GDP, making it a potential tailwind for the economy.

Meanwhile, his ongoing pressure on Fed Chair Powell for rate cuts only reinforces dollar weakness, suggesting the 2.23% dip could be just the start of a deeper move, forcing investors to continue rotating capital elsewhere.

Against this backdrop, Bitcoin’s historical rallies against a falling DXY look solid, and BTC’s chop below $90k reinforces its pre-breakout pattern. Yet, the key question is whether investors will follow through on this setup.

Key Bitcoin divergences  The Fed clearly signaled its “independence” with the recent rate decision.

At the FOMC meeting, Chair Jerome Powell resisted pressure and kept rates steady, reinforcing that policy will remain data-driven. Bitcoin reacted with a modest 1.3% intraday dip but remains well supported around $85k.

However, this isn’t the only divergence putting the market at a crossroads. Bitcoin’s LTHs have offloaded 143,000 BTC over the past month, the fastest pace in four months, pushing their net position deeper into the red.

Source: Glassnode

According to AMBCrypto, it suggests LTHs aren’t buying the DXY thesis.

Even with President Trump backing a softer dollar, analysts remain wary on the long-term outlook. The U.S., world’s top importer, faces inflation risk, a headwind that could undermine Trump’s rate-cut narrative.

In this environment, Bitcoin failing to follow its historical rallies against the dollar isn’t surprising. In fact, with bids weakening, investor confidence could slip further, pushing capital into safer assets even more aggressively.

Final Thoughts DXY’s decline, combined with Trump’s support for a softer dollar, sets the stage for Bitcoin. LTHs are offloading, and rising inflation risk may undermine the rate-cut narrative, putting investor confidence under pressure and driving capital toward safer assets.

Ritika Gupta is a Financial Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst at AMBCrypto, specializing in the critical intersection of world politics, economic policy, and the cryptocurrency markets. Her analysis is informed by her distinguished background, which includes professional experience at major news network. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology from Gargi College, University of Delhi. This academic training provides her with a sophisticated framework for dissecting complex issues such as international regulations, government fiscal policies, and the geopolitical forces that directly influence asset valuations. At AMBCrypto, Ritika applies this expert lens to synthesize macroeconomic data and political developments, offering readers a deeper context for market movements. She excels at explaining not just what is happening in the market, but why it is happening. Her work is dedicated to providing strategic insights that empower readers to understand the complex relationship between global events and their digital assets.

Zach Anderson Jan 29, 2026 10:00

Binance founder CZ clarifies buy-and-hold advice after criticism, while new transparency feature shows Co-CEO Yi He holds 94% BNB with 30%+ annual returns.

Binance founder Zhao Changpeng has been forced to walk back his blanket endorsement of the "buy and hold" strategy after critics pointed out that most crypto projects ultimately fail. The clarification comes as Binance's new live trading feature reveals Co-CEO Yi He holds 94% of her portfolio in BNB—and she's up over 30% in the past year.

CZ's original January 25 post praising the HODL approach drew immediate fire from traders who noted that holding many Binance-listed tokens through their lifecycles would have resulted in total losses. By January 27, CZ was in damage control mode, clarifying that his advice "obviously does not apply to every coin" and comparing crypto projects to internet startups where most fail.

He dismissed some criticism as a "coordinated attack" of "twisted FUD," though the backlash appeared organic given the timing—several Binance-listed tokens had recently crashed while retail holders followed the HODL playbook.

Binance Execs Put Their Money Where Their Mouth IsThe controversy coincides with Binance Square's rollout of a live trading display feature that lets creators publicly showcase their portfolios. The transparency move is notable given the industry's history of influencers pumping tokens they're secretly dumping.

Yi He's publicly visible allocation tells a clear story:

94.13% — BNB4.15% — USDT1.08% — BTC0.56% — Other tokens (FF, XPL, misc)That 30%+ annual return on a portfolio almost entirely in BNB tracks with the token's performance, though it also highlights the concentration risk Binance leadership carries. CZ himself has previously stated over 98% of his holdings are in BNB.

The Real TakeawayCZ's clarification essentially admits what experienced traders already know: buy and hold works for quality assets with strong fundamentals, not for random altcoins. The problem? His original post didn't make that distinction, and retail investors following simplified advice often learn expensive lessons.

The new portfolio transparency feature could help—or hurt—depending on how followers interpret the data. Seeing Binance leadership all-in on BNB might encourage similar concentration, which works until it doesn't.

Bitcoin, for context, trades at $88,190 as of January 29, up 0.17% in 24 hours with a $1.78 trillion market cap.

Image source: Shutterstock

bnb binance cz yi he hodl

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In the latest Ripple news, wallets holding at least one million XRP tokens have risen to levels last seen in the previous year. This comes despite the token’s continuous decline since the start of the year.

Why are XRP Whales Stacking Up Despite Decline? New data from Santiment showed that the number of “millionaire” wallets has increased for the first time since September 2025. The number of such wallets has risen by 42 this month to 2,016. despite the 4% decline in price.

“XRP’s price is down a modest -4% since the start of 2026, but its amount of ‘millionaire’ wallets are rising for the first time since September. A net of +42 wallets with at least 1M XRP have returned to the ledger, an encouraging sign for the long-term.”

Source: Santiment Also, the accumulation of XRP among “smart money” traders has increased by over 11% in the past 30 days, according to data from Nansen. Crypto investors usually watch the accumulation of large holders to determine the possible direction that the price of the coin could go in the future.

Some have attributed this confidence in the whales to the consistent inflow the XRP ETFs have posted in the past few days. The spot exchange-traded funds have seen a net inflow of $91.72 million this month.

The funds have attracted $666 million and $499 million in investor funds in November and December, respectively, as per SoSoValue.

In another Ripple news, the firm announced it would launch a solution that combines crypto, cash, and treasury management into a single dashboard. The new initiative was named “Ripple treasury” with GTreasury powering the platform. This news also added to positive sentiment for the XRP whales as they boost their exposure.

21Shares Predicts 25% Jump In Ripple Coin Price Asset manager 21Shares projected the altcoin could see a rally of 25% to a $2.69 in a scenario they called a bull case. The token is currently trading between $1.88 to $2 as its downturn continues.

The crypto researcher at the firm Matt Mena said the current demand for the XRP ETFs could major driver for its rally. When the Ripple news broke last year of the resolved lawsuit, it opened the door for the launch of ETF products. Since then, it has recorded nearly $1.3 billion in inflows.

Source: 21Shares To add, Mena highlighted the growth in activity on the XRP Ledger. This comes especially with the interest of institutions to now issue and manage real-world assets like bonds and equities.

At the same time, the performance of XRP’s stablecoin, RLUSD, as a liquidity vehicle further supports the asset manager’s thesis that the token still has further upside potential.

Key NotesXRP trades 25% below its 200-day MA near $2.54 amid weak long-term momentum.Buyers are preventing a breakdown, but upside strength remains limited.Holding the $1.80-$1.85 support zone is important for XRP to avoid turning bearish. XRP XRP $1.87 24h volatility: 2.8% Market cap: $113.95 B Vol. 24h: $2.80 B is trading near $1.88, 25% down from its 200-day moving average of around $2.54.

The gap shows that recent upside attempts have not been strong enough to shift the broader trend. Analysts see this as a corrective structure with no confirmed uptrend in the near-term.

According to data by CryptoQuant, buyers are active enough to prevent a breakdown, but not strong enough to reach key long-term levels before February.

The cryptocurrency is down by around 40% in the past year and lost $66 billion in market cap.

XRP’s 30-day Sharpe Ratio currently sits at 0.034, a level close to zero. This means returns over the past month barely cover risk, a typical condition during consolidation phases.

Analysts say XRP would need a clear breakout above the 2.50-2.55 level to confirm structural upside.

XRP 30-day Sharpe Ratio. | Source: CryptoQuant

XRP needs to hold the $1.80-$1.85 support zone. A failure to hold this level could turn the altcoin bearish.

XRP Price Speculation Versus Utility Narrative Black Swan Capitalist founder Versan Aljarrah recently said XRP remains one of the most misunderstood assets in the financial system. He criticized hype-driven price targets and short-term timelines.

According to Aljarrah, XRP is built to operate above debt-based systems and support global settlement.

The expert believes that high price expectations hide XRP’s role as a neutral settlement layer rather than a speculative instrument.

He said true price revaluation comes with real-world financial flows, regulation, and tokenized infrastructure.

RippleX Global Partner Success Lead Luke Judges noted the growing activity in Ripple’s ecosystem.

To ensure complete clarity: the RLUSD team consistently prioritizes the XRPL in every centralised exchange engagement.

While some exchanges may complete their Ethereum technical integration first, simply because they have existing infrastructure for that network, making it a…

— LJ (@luke_judges) January 29, 2026

RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, holds a market cap near 1.33 billion dollars. RippleX leadership confirms that all upcoming exchange listings either support XRPL at launch or commit to full integration. This strengthens network usage and infrastructure over time.

This ongoing expansion supports the utility case around XRP but has not yet translated into price surge.

Bitcoin Hyper Presale Tops $31M, Boosting BTC With Layer 2 Tech Traders are constantly looking for new high-potential crypto projects and Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) is one of them capturing growing attention. The project is bringing Solana SOL $123.0 24h volatility: 3.3% Market cap: $69.64 B Vol. 24h: $4.06 B tech to Bitcoin BTC $87 780 24h volatility: 1.6% Market cap: $1.75 T Vol. 24h: $50.04 B , supported by strong participation in its ongoing presale.

Bitcoin Hyper delivers a high-performance Layer 2 framework that enhances speed, reduces transaction costs, and enables smart contract functionality. It does so without compromising Bitcoin’s core security features.

Tokenomics of Bitcoin Hyper Current Price: $0.013655 Funds Raised So Far: $31M Staking APY: 38% The ecosystem is powered by its native token, HYPER, which is used for fees, staking, and unlocking advanced network capabilities.

Bitcoin Hyper has already raised more than $31 million in funding at the time of writing. For further details, check out our Bitcoin Hyper price prediction.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

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Trump-linked World Liberty Financial USD1 stablecoin has reached a market capitalization of $5 billion, making it the fifth-largest stablecoin in the world. Loan linkages and regulatory tailwinds from the GENIUS Act drove this surge.

USD1’s $5 billion market cap has surpassed PayPal’s PYUSD market cap of $3.75 billion. The stablecoin is currently among the top 25 cryptocurrencies in the world, with 583K holdings compared to PYUSD’s 101K. The token hit this milestone in under a year since its debut.

Binance incentives accelerate USD1 exchange adoption On Wednesday, the Co-founder of World Liberty Financial, Donald Trump Jr., praised the USD1 stablecoin, saying it is “Built in America, designed for real-world scale, and adopted by serious institutions.” He also pointed out that USDI is a result of the team’s focus on building infrastructure over noise.

USD1 just reached a $5B market cap.

Built in America, designed for real-world scale, and adopted by serious institutions.

This is what happens when you focus on infrastructure over noise. 🇺🇸🦅☝️ @worldlibertyfi pic.twitter.com/bdYfVxVi8J

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 28, 2026

The Trump family broadly cheered USD1’s success. Trump Jr. shared a CoinMarketCap screenshot on X showing the stablecoin’s milestone. Eric Trump, a co-founder and younger brother of Trump Jr., also celebrated the accomplishment of USD1.

Despite the attention, on-chain data from CoinMarketCap revealed that USD1 has been essentially flat around $0.9993, down about 0.02% over the last 24 hours but up 0.05% in the previous 7 days. The data also showed the token rose 191% from last month. USD1 has approximately $1.7 billion in 24-hour volume.

This growing visibility and market activity have translated into increased support on major crypto exchanges. In late December, Binance announced the introduction of the ‘USD1 Boost Program’ by adding TRX/USD1 and USD1/U margin pairs. The exchange noted that the program is designed to help USD1 holders maximize their reward.

Binance revealed that the “Booster Program” encourages adoption by offering 20% APR on USD1 holdings. This increases the usefulness of USD1 in leveraged strategies, the platform added.  However, if Binance’s incentives taper, volatility risks will increase. In the immediate term, liquidity could increase by 15% to 25%.

World Liberty launches USD1 into regulated crypto lending space World Liberty Financial is growing its presence in the cryptocurrency credit sector. On January 12, WLF announced the launch of a new platform called ‘World Liberty Markets.’ 

The platform will allow users to lend and borrow digital assets using USD1, alongside other primary tokens such as USDC, USDT, and tokenized bitcoin. This debut marked a strategic shift away from stablecoin issuance toward a range of financial products.

The launch of the World Liberty Markets platform aligns with a rebound in the cryptocurrency credit markets, providing an opportune moment for WLF to expand its offerings.

A study from Galaxy Digital in November of last year revealed that active DeFi loans had increased to around $41 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2025. The increase in active DeFi loans helped push total cryptocurrency lending across controlled and decentralized platforms to a new all-time high of about $74 billion.

Zachary Folkman and Chase Herro, two World Liberty executives, established Dough Finance, an Ethereum-based lending protocol based on Aave V3 infrastructure that was the target of a flash loan breach in 2024. In the cryptocurrency credit market, Dolomite and Aave are rivals.

At the same time, World Liberty has been working to legitimize its stablecoin operations in the U.S.

Earlier this month, an affiliated company, WLTC Holdings LLC, applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) seeking permission to establish a national trust bank focused on stablecoin issuance, custody, and conversion.

Zach Witkoff, a co-founder of World Liberty, said, “This application represents a further evolution of the WLFI ecosystem.” In its first year of existence, USD1 increased more quickly than any other stablecoin in history, he added.

Witkoff stressed that a national trust charter will allow WLFI to integrate issuance, custody, and conversion into a single, tightly regulated institution.

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Ether and XRP were down by 0.6% and 0.1% and stood at $2,990 and $1.89, respectively. Gold and silver have surged to hit new all-time highs as investors are loyal towards physical assets, and oil has also hit a four-month high. Today, the price of Bitcoin hovered around $88,000 as the Asian markets dropped out of a hot streak in tech, and investors moved towards earnings, central bank indications and a fresh run higher in gold. 

In the market, Shanghai witnessed a rise of 0.21%, and DJ Shanghai surged 0.22%. On the other hand, the SZSE Component fell 0.10%, and the China A50 also slipped 0.20%. Hong Kong shone as the Hang Seng surged 1.22%. 

Talking about the developments of the crypto market, Bitcoin was down by 0.7% and stood at $88,527. Ether and XRP were down by 0.6% and 0.1% and stood at $2,990 and $1.89, respectively. The overall capitalisation of the crypto market stood at $3.08 trillion, being down by 0.6%. 

The Bidirectional Market The senior market analyst at FXTM, Lukman Otunuga, stated that markets are being pulled bidirectionally. In one direction, optimism regarding global equities and prominent tech earnings is backing risk appetite, and the other direction holds consistent trade uncertainty, sharp currency moves, and doubts revolving around US fiscal and monetary policy. 

He further went on to mention that with the value of the dollar still volatile, big tech earnings are being considered for a prominent share of the S&P 500, and the upcoming days could set the tone for risk sentiment well beyond this week. 

Gold and silver have surged to hit new all-time highs as investors are loyal towards physical assets, and oil has also hit a four-month high, followed by the warning of President Donald Trump of possible attacks if it did not make a deal on nuclear weapons.

Currency markets were volatile as the dollar was under pressure, even after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recapitulated the preference of the administration for a strong dollar, and European officials looked after the surge of the euro as the European Central Bank indicated that a steep move could impact rate decisions.

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OpenAI’s hint that it may build a social app focused on real humans sent one crypto token climbing fast this week. Traders moved quickly after reports surfaced that the new service would try to block bots by using biometric checks. Prices jumped, chatter rose, and a few questions followed close behind.

Markets React To Biometric Rumors According to Forbes and several market outlets, OpenAI is quietly exploring a “humans-only” social platform. Reports say the project is still small, run by a roughly 10-person team inside the company.

The idea would be to verify real users with biometric tools — either existing phone systems like Face ID or iris scans similar to the ones used by Worldcoin’s Orb.

Worldcoin spikes over 30% following news of OpenAI’s planned social platform development. Source: Coingecko Worldcoin’s token, WLD, surged sharply on the news, hitting gains as high as 33% during the initial trading spike. That move was partly speculative. Prices later pulled back, but trading volume stayed elevated and volatility increased. WLD climbed from $0.51 to $0.68 in the last 24 hours, data from Coingecko shows.

How Proof Of Personhood Could Be Used Proof of personhood aims to tell a platform which accounts are run by actual people and which ones are automated. Reports note that using biometrics would make it harder for bots to create fake accounts, but that approach raises new hurdles.

For example, devices and systems must be trusted to check identity without sharing private data. Worldcoin’s model pairs an iris scan with a cryptographic claim. That claim is meant to prove uniqueness while hiding the raw biometric image.

The technical detail matters. How the checks are stored, who holds the keys, and whether users can opt out will shape public acceptance.

Total crypto market cap at $2.95 trillion on the daily chart: TradingView The Identity Project News outlets first published the OpenAI report late last week. Markets reacted in real time. Social posts amplified the rumor, and media pieces linked the plan back to Worldcoin because Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, helped start the identity project.

No formal announcement has been made by OpenAI or by Worldcoin. Everything on the table is based on reporting from unnamed sources. It should be clear that plans can change, and that early reports often overstate certainty.

Privacy And Policy Questions Loom Policy experts were quick to point out issues. Biometrics are sensitive data. Laws in different countries treat them in different ways. Reports have disclosed that regulators will likely ask how consent is gathered, how long data is kept, and whether people can use alternatives to biometric checks.

Security is also a concern: if a verification system is breached, the consequences could be serious. Some civil rights groups already say that any mass biometric system deserves close scrutiny.

Featured image from Nelson Dai, chart from TradingView

Bybit sent out several transactions of XAUT tokens, underscoring rising demand for tokenized gold. A whale accumulated a growing XAUT portfolio valued at over $7M. 

Bybit became part of the increasing demand for Tether’s tokenized gold, XAUT. The exchange’s hot wallet started sending out XAUT transactions in the past day, leading to a whale address accumulating tokenized gold. 

The recent shift in narratives led crypto investors to switch to metals. Since XAUT is the most easily available token, it has found renewed demand and trading volumes. The whale’s portfolio rose to $6.95M after the recent records of gold on traditional markets. 

The whale’s latest purchase was for 450 XAUT, each representing one ounce of gold, directly transferred from Bybit’s hot wallet. The recipient wallet was newly created and only funded with enough ETH to facilitate the transfers with gas fees. 

XAUT volumes increase to a one-month high In the past month, XAUT volumes gradually grew as gold set a series of price records. Volumes expanded to $854M, only surpassed by an anomalous spike in November. Interest in XAUT coincided with slower performance for BTC and even leading altcoins. 

Interest in XAUT rose on spot exchanges, as Tether recalled its dedication to storing physical gold, expanding the gold stocks, and moving into mining.

XAUT traded at a slight premium to spot gold, at $5,542.07, reflecting the general demand for easy on-chain access. Spot gold reached $5,537.78, boosted by a mix of speculation and a hedge-against-inflation narrative. 

The accumulation of XAUT also signals that crypto traders still seek a market promising growth and a lower risk of drawdowns. The recent XAUT buying and speculative trading of other gold-backed tokens followed a prolonged BTC drawdown. The leading coin has gone for 115 days with no new all-time high, and is nearly 30% down from its cycle peak.

XAUT open interest rises to all-time highs XAUT goes beyond spot demand, recently expanding its derivative open interest. Bybit remains the main venue for XAUT speculation, carrying $177.9M in open interest. In total, XAUT positions expanded to a record of $194M. 

Until recently, metal-backed tokens in crypto were relatively niche and a test case for tokenization. Silver still does not have a metal-backed token, although price speculation has emerged on derivative exchanges, including Hyperliquid. 

XAUT is predominantly longed by traders, who expect the gold rally to continue beyond speculation into full repricing. 

XAUT briefly traded at a premium to spot gold, as crypto traders expanded volumes to a one-month high. | Source: CoinGecko. Hyperliquid supports speculation for PAXG, another major gold-backed token by Paxos. Whales carry over 85% in long positions, expecting gold’s expansion. 

Currently, gold-backed tokens are a small fraction of the crypto market, and their upside depends on the general TradFi trading of gold futures and spot markets. However, searches are accelerating for the ticker, according to CoinGecko data. 

Mindshare for XAUT also rallied by 164% in the past day. The token still has a limited presence on social media, but a new trend may be emerging as traders seek the security of metals in tokenized form.

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Ethereum’s creator spoke bluntly. Vitalik Buterin told developers they need to focus on apps that actually matter, not just chase quick wins that look good on paper.

Buterin didn’t mince words during his latest public comments. He’s worried too many projects built on Ethereum create fake growth without real substance behind them. The platform launched back in 2015 and became the go-to foundation for decentralized apps, but Buterin sees trouble brewing. Developers keep launching new projects, but many don’t solve actual problems people face. “We must prioritize meaningful developments,” Buterin said during the discussion. His timing matters – the blockchain world is buzzing with new ideas, and not all of them make sense.

Innovation alone won’t cut it.

Buterin wants developers to think harder about what they’re building and why it matters. He’s pushing for projects that meet genuine needs instead of just riding the latest hype wave. The Ethereum ecosystem can’t afford to drift away from its core mission, he argues. Practical outcomes should drive development decisions, not flashy features that don’t help anyone. Buterin’s message comes as developers explore wild new use cases across the platform. Some work great, others feel pretty much pointless.

Ethereum’s success depends on utility, not just clever code. Buterin’s comments hit at something deeper – the platform needs strategic direction to stay relevant long-term. He thinks the community has gotten distracted by shiny objects instead of building tools people actually need. The risk is real: too much meaningless activity could undermine Ethereum’s reputation as a serious platform for innovation.

But defining “meaningful” isn’t straightforward. Developers face tough choices about which projects deserve their time and energy. Buterin’s call aims to shift conversations toward quality over quantity, though he didn’t spell out exact criteria for what counts as valuable. The community will need to figure out those details themselves.

Questions keep coming up about how to measure real value. Buterin wants deeper examination of project goals before developers commit resources. Innovation should continue, but it’s got to connect with actual use cases that help people. His influence in the Ethereum world means these comments will probably spark serious discussions among builders.

The warning feels urgent. Ethereum keeps evolving, and Buterin sees “meaningless prosperity” as a genuine threat if the community doesn’t stay focused. Applications need to add real value, not just create the appearance of progress. Developers might need to be more selective about what they work on going forward.

Buterin’s words could reshape how projects get evaluated. Developers are probably reconsidering their roadmaps right now, asking whether their work truly helps the Ethereum ecosystem grow in sustainable ways. His reputation carries weight – when Buterin talks, the community listens pretty carefully. Project strategies might shift based on his guidance.

He didn’t name specific projects he considers problematic. That leaves room for debate about which applications need improvement or shouldn’t exist at all. Developers will have to make their own judgments about whether their work meets Buterin’s standards for meaningful contribution.

The Ethereum Foundation hasn’t issued formal guidelines yet. They could develop clearer criteria to help developers align with Buterin’s vision for valuable applications. No official statement has emerged so far, but that might change as his message spreads through the community.

Stakeholders want to see how these comments influence Ethereum’s development path. The platform sits at a crucial point where decisions made now will shape its future for years. Community engagement and reflection seem necessary to chart the right course forward. Buterin’s address sparked conversations that were probably overdue.

Major Ethereum developers haven’t responded publicly yet. Their silence might not last long as Buterin’s perspective gains traction across forums and social media. The community typically discusses big issues like these during meetups and conferences, so expect more debate soon.

Buterin’s emphasis on meaningful innovation resonates with many builders who share his concerns. His message urges critical assessment of contributions to the ecosystem, which seems healthy for long-term growth. The Ethereum community now has to wrestle with balancing creativity and practical impact.

Discussions won’t end anytime soon. The blockchain world is watching to see if Buterin’s warnings lead to actual changes in how projects get developed and funded. His advisory tone could evolve into something more concrete if the community embraces his call for reform.

Ethereum developers face a moment of reflection. Buterin’s cautionary words arrived at a pivotal time when the platform needs clear direction to maintain its leadership position. The focus on meaningful application development might drive a new phase of growth that prioritizes impact over flashy features. Developers now have to decide whether their next projects truly serve the ecosystem’s mission or just add to the noise.

The conversation about meaningful development echoes what other industry leaders said at recent conferences. During the 2024 Ethereum Developer Conference, speakers stressed the importance of sustainable projects with tangible benefits. The Ethereum Foundation backed up these sentiments by allocating $30 million in 2025 to projects tackling climate change and financial inclusion.

Ethereum trades around $1,800 as of January 2026. Market confidence remains strong despite Buterin’s warnings about superficial growth. Sofia Zhang, a blockchain engineer, welcomed the call for introspection on developer forums: “It’s time we evaluate the real-world impact of our projects.” But others worry that strict guidelines could stifle innovation that hasn’t found its use case yet.

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During the final week of January, Bitcoin saw renewed volatility, which accelerated as positioning started shifting. The cryptocurrency has traded between $86,000 and $93,000 after retracing from its October 2025 peak near $126,000.

While macro, as well as political uncertainty, has undoubtedly driven near-term risk reduction, the same environment has also prompted some of the investors to examine Bitcoin-adjacent infrastructure such as Bitcoin Everlight, which operates independently of directional price exposure.

Volatility Returns as Macroeconomic and Political Risks Converge There are multiple factors behind the intensified market movements. The FOMC convened its first meeting of the year on January 27th. The expectations were centered on a rate pause but there was an obvious sensitivity when it came to forward guidance on inflation and liquidity. Meanwhile, US lawmakers also face a January 31st government funding deadline. The previous shutdown for 43 days in 2025 coincided with a very sharp liquidity contraction, which evidently pushed BTC below $100,000.

This has resulted in traders adjusting accordingly. The capital has rotated away from high-beta assets, and gold and silver are reaching record levels on a daily basis, drawing safe-haven inflows. Bitcoin has been treated as a source of liquidity, with spot Bitcoin ETFs continuously recording outflows in late January in what seems to be a de-risking phase.

Bitcoin Everlight as Transaction-Layer Infrastructure Bitcoin Everlight has emerged as a lightweight transaction layer designed to operate on top of Bitcoin without modifying its protocol or consensus rules. It is designed to support faster transaction confirmation and predictable micro-fees while preserving Bitcoin as the final settlement layer.

Everlight processes transactions through a dedicated routing network. Confirmed transactions can be optionally anchored back to the Bitcoin blockchain, maintaining alignment with Bitcoin’s security model while reducing dependence on base-layer confirmation times for routine transfers.

Everlight Transactions Routing Everlight nodes are not full Bitcoin nodes and do not store or validate the Bitcoin blockchain. Instead, they are designed to perform transaction routing, signature verification, balance checks within the Everlight layer, and the enforcement of transaction ordering.

Transactions are confirmed through a quorum-based process across node clusters. This allows for confirmation to happen within seconds.  To operate a node, participants must stake BTCL tokens. Staked BTCL establishes eligibility and determines participation tier within the network. The system supports Light, Core, and Prime tiers, with higher tiers unlocking priority routing roles. A 14-day lock period applies to staked tokens to support predictable routing behavior.

The compensation for running a Node comes from routing micro-fees and is calculated using uptime coefficients, routing volume, and performance metrics such as latency and accuracy. Nodes that fail to meet required thresholds lose routing priority until performance standards are restored.

How Participation Is Enforced Inside Bitcoin Everlight In order to participate in the routing layer of Everlight, users have to go through external review and identity verification.Independent technical assessments include the SpyWolf Audit and the SolidProof Audit. Team accountability is established through the SpyWolf KYC Verification and the Vital Block KYC Validation.

Access to routing roles and performance incentives is mediated through the BTCL token. BTCL has a fixed total supply of 21,000,000,000, allocated as follows:

45% for the public presale, 20% for node rewards, 15% for liquidity, 10% for the team under vesting, 10% for ecosystem and treasury use. The presale spans 20 stages, beginning at $0.0008 and progressing to $0.0110. Presale allocations unlock 20% at the token generation event, with the remaining balance released linearly over six to nine months. Team allocations follow a 12-month cliff and a 24-month vesting schedule. BTCL utility includes transaction routing fees, node participation, performance incentives, and anchoring operations.

Infrastructure Exposure During a Risk Reset Bitcoin’s late-January volatility reflects a market reassessing risk under macro and political strain. While near-term price direction remains sensitive to liquidity and policy signals, some investors have expanded their focus to infrastructure tied to transaction activity inside the Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin Everlight is being evaluated within that framework as a system designed to function through volatility cycles without altering Bitcoin’s core protocol.

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In brief Distributed, IPFS-based data layer AIOZ Pin enables anyone with spare disk space and bandwidth to run a community-operated node. AIOZ Pin replicates data as multiple, independent copies, chunked and addressed as one or more Content Identifiers (CIDs). Dedicated gateway infrastructure enables developers to retrieve IPFS content faster and more reliably than congested public gateways, while replication lets the network pick up the slack during outages or periods of high demand. One of the internet's biggest challenges has centered on ensuring older content remains online. A 2024 study by the Pew Research Center found that 38% of webpages that existed in 2013 are no longer accessible—a form of "digital decay" that eliminates our shared history and memories.

However, as Web3 comes to the fore, one platform says it is making a concerted effort to ensure files remain permanently available.AIOZ Pin, a distributed, IPFS-based data layer, is based upon a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), in which anyone with spare disk space and bandwidth can run a community-operated node, contributing real storage to the network and unlocking potential token rewards.

Whereas content used to be kept on one server, creating a single point of failure, AIOZ Pin replicates that data as multiple, independent copies, chunked and addressed as one or more Content Identifiers (CIDs)—meaning there are backups in the event of an outage. Nodes are also tasked with providing cryptographic proofs to verify that files are actually being stored, providing peace of mind. With an estimated network of over 300,000 contributor devices across 198 countries, AIOZ Pin’s infrastructure is already robust and widely distributed.

AIOZ Pin’s approach is complemented by low levels of latency, AIOZ Network Founder and CEO Erman Tjiputra explained. Replication means other areas of its network can pick up the slack during outages or periods of high demand—and as a result, performance and usability isn't compromised by decentralization.

"Instead of treating persistence as an afterthought, AIOZ Pin makes permanence, verifiability, and cost efficiency part of the infrastructure," Tjiputra said. "It anchors the content, metadata, and digital records that Web3 applications rely on."

Several use cases have already emerged for this method of data storage, he explained. NFT artwork and metadata remain both secure and accessible, while protocols and decentralized autonomous organizations can ensure governance archives remain retrievable for years to come.

AI agents can use this storage to persist prompts, configurations, knowledge, and execution logs, enabling autonomous systems to maintain long-term memory, verifiability, and continuity without relying on centralized infrastructure.

Other advantages include censorship resistance, ensuring files are tamper-proof, Tjiputra added.

"The DePIN base ensures no single operator can quietly unhost or alter the data," he said, adding that, "Because content is spread across independent nodes, attempts to remove it in one place do not erase it from the network."

Software development kits and APIs have been rolled out to make it easier for developers to start using its services, meaning they can focus on building their own products instead.

This data layer is also part of the wider AIOZ Network ecosystem that brings together a streaming service, a decentralized storage network and a platform bringing new AI tools to Web3 users. As more nodes and assets come online, the network aims to function as "the archive of a people-powered internet," Tjiputra said.

"If Web3 is going to live up to its promise, the data behind it has to stay online,” he said, adding that AIOZ Pin “gives developers and creators a way to make that part of their architecture."

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ETH price charts confirmed a triangle breakdown, shifting the near-term bias lower and putting $2,250 in focus if sellers stay in control.

Ether (ETH) is now more than 14% below its local peak near $3,400, underscoring the sellers’ tenacity above $3,000. A bearish technical setup suggests the pressure may extend into February.

Key takeaways:

ETH fell back below $3,000, confirming a triangle breakdown that targets $2,250.

The bearish scenario can be avoided if ETH breaks above a multimonth moving average resistance.

ETH/USD daily chart. Source: TradingViewEther in textbook symmetrical triangle breakdownOn Thursday, ETH fell about 2.85% to around $2,920 after the Federal Reserve held rates steady at its first policy meeting of the year, with rising Iran-related geopolitical tensions adding to the risk-off mood.

The latest drop has put Ether into the breakdown phase of its symmetrical triangle setup.

ETH dropped below the pattern’s lower trendline last week, then rebounded to test that former support as resistance. The retest failed, and the price stayed capped beneath the trendline into this week.

ETH/USD daily chart. Source: TradingViewIn technical analysis, a break below support followed by a rebound and rejection often signals that sellers have flipped the level into resistance, raising the odds of further downside.

ETH’s price could decline toward the measured target near $2,250, a decrease of approximately 25%, by mid-February if the breakdown continues.

Can Ethereum bulls avoid the crash?This bearish outlook could be invalidated if ETH flips the triangle’s lower trendline back into support.

Bulls would then need follow-through above the 200-3D EMA near $3,065 (blue) and, more importantly, the 50-3D EMA (red), which has capped every upside attempt above $3,000 since November 2025.

ETH/USD three-day chart. Source: TradingViewA clean reclaim of those levels would signal that the breakdown failed.

That setup would echo the 2024 fractal, when ETH briefly broke down from a similar structure before reversing higher once it reclaimed its key moving averages.

It would further align with numerous bullish Ether predictions of a record high in 2026. That includes crypto analyst Annie’s prediction of a $10,000 ETH price led by a bullish Wyckoff accumulation model.

Ethereum price chart ft. Wyckoff accumulation schematic. Source: AnnieStandard Chartered forecasted ETH’s price to hit $7,500 in the same period.

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Thu, 29/01/2026 - 8:24

Bitcoin permabull Mow sides with a prediction of an upcoming Omega candle, that will add $100,000 to BTC.

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Samson Mow, a long-term Bitcoin evangelist and the chief executive of the JAN3 company, which deals with nation-state BTC adoption, has once again stepped forward with a BTC Omega candle prediction.

However, this time, the prediction did not come from himself; he just sided with a Bitcoin fan who expects an Omega candle to lift BTC $100,000 higher. Overall, Samson is among the army of Bitcoiners who believe the world’s bellwether crypto is to reach $1,000,000 in the next few years or even this year, 2026.

'Faces will melt' from Bitcoin surge, JAN3 boss saysSamson Mow commented on an X post published by the Bitcoin Therapist user, in which he tagged Mow, stating: “$100K omega candle incoming.”

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Samson responded in his traditional bullish and confident manner: “I know. Faces will melt.” Added to the current price, this candle would push BTC close to $200,000,

Mow has been actively predicting Bitcoin to reach $1,000,000 in the near future since 2023. He first expect this magnificent event to happen in 2024, when the SEC under Gensler’s rule approved spot Bitcoin ETF trading and when the fourth BTC halving took place on April 20.

Back then, Mow tweeted that the former would create a BTC demand shock, while the latter would result in a BTC supply shock. These two would clash, he claimed, and push Bitcoin towards $1 million in several Omega candles.

However, when that did not come true, Mow pushed the time when $1 million is reached into the next few years. However, earlier this month, he tweeted that a hunch told him he might be right about his prediction this year.

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Robert Kiyosaki regrets selling some of his BitcoinEarlier this week, the renowned investor and author of the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” book, Robert Kiyosaki, tweeted that he regrets selling some of his Bitcoin and gold recently to buy a new house. It was a “big mistake,” he admitted: “Selling some gold and Bitcoin was my mistake ….a big mistake.”

Still, he said that he has never sold any silver, not even to buy more Bitcoin – he dispersed rumours, saying he had done so. What is more, now it is a “great time to sell fake dollars to buy real gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.” He uses income from real estate to buy more crypto.

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Speculation started spreading that OpenAI could use tools like Apple Face ID or the World Orb. The report coincided with a roughly 40% intraday increase in WLD before the price pulled back. Meanwhile, Hyperliquid’s HYPE token climbed about 60% over two days, triggering more than $20 million in liquidations of short positions. The rally followed reports that a publicly listed digital asset treasury company added HYPE to its balance sheet and came alongside reduced sell pressure after a large staking unlock.

Worldcoin Surges on OpenAI RumorsWorldcoin surged sharply this week after reports linked the token’s price action to a new social media initiative allegedly being developed by OpenAI. According to a report that was published by Forbes, the artificial intelligence firm is exploring a “humans-only” social media platform that would require users to verify their identity through a form of “proof of personhood,” to reduce bot activity and automated engagement.

The report suggested that the platform is still in its early stages and is being built by a relatively small internal team. Development is said to have started in early 2025, with the goal of creating a clear point of differentiation from existing social media platforms, particularly those struggling with large volumes of automated or bot-generated content. Tech outlet The Verge separately reported that the project is intended to compete directly with X by offering a more authentic, human-verified social experience.

Central to the concept is the idea of identity verification. Sources quoted by Forbes indicated that proof of personhood could be established using Apple’s Face ID technology or the World Orb, which is a biometric device used by the World ecosystem. 

World Orb

The World Orb scans a user’s face and iris to confirm that they are a unique individual, issuing a World ID that can be used across participating services. The biometric approach has attracted some criticism from privacy advocates, but supporters argue it offers a scalable way to distinguish real humans from automated systems online.

The timing of the report coincided with a sharp rally in WLD, which jumped roughly 40% on the day of publication. The token briefly climbed from around $0.52 to $0.63 before retracing some of its gains. At press time, WLD was trading closer to $0.51, according to data from CoinCodex. Despite the short-term spike, Worldcoin has struggled over the past year, falling nearly 70% thanks to the downturn in the crypto market during the second half of 2025.

WLD’s price action over the past 24 hours (Source: CoinCodex)

Details on how the proposed social media platform will integrate with OpenAI’s existing products or with the Worldcoin token is still unclear. However, sources believe that ChatGPT could play a role in helping users generate or enhance content like images and videos. The idea aligns with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s previous public comments criticizing the prevalence of bots on modern social networks, which he has described as making online interactions feel increasingly artificial.

HYPE Rips HigherIn addition to Worldcoin, another crypto is turning quite a few heads. Hyperliquid (HYPE) saw a sharp surge in price on Wednesday, extending a rally that began earlier in the week. HYPE climbed to a high of $34.90 after trading close to $21.80 just two days prior, which was a roughly 60% move in a short time frame. The aggressive upside momentum also triggered more than $20 million in liquidations tied to bearish leveraged positions.

HYPE’s price action over the past week (Source: CoinCodex)

The rally followed reports that a publicly listed company focused on building digital asset reserves added HYPE to its balance sheet. This development coincided with a noticeable reduction in sell pressure after a large staking unlock, which previously weighed on price action. Together, these factors contributed to a huge shift in market sentiment.

Attention also turned to Hyperliquid Strategies, trading under the ticker PURR US, after X user lukecannon727 raised questions about whether the firm redirected token flows away from market maker Flowdesk. Blockchain analysis pointed to the accumulation of roughly 3.6 million HYPE beginning in December of 2025, with associated wallets staking the tokens shortly after receiving them through Anchorage custody solutions. Additional transfers totaling around 460,000 HYPE from OKX and Bybit were also identified and later staked, aligning with patterns attributed to Hyperliquid Strategies’ treasury operations.

Some traders suggested the rally reflected a shift in Hyperliquid’s market position, but on-chain metrics offered limited confirmation. Synthetic perpetual volumes, protocol fees, and total open interest stayed mostly unchanged week over week, with open interest holding near $8.5 billion. While Hyperliquid reported an all-time high in open interest driven by synthetic commodities, claims that its Bitcoin futures liquidity surpassed Binance were viewed as overstated, given Binance’s larger aggregate BTC futures exposure.

Wisdomtree adds Solana support so investors can mint, trade and hold tokenized real‑world asset funds onchain. Wisdomtree announced in New York on Jan.

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In just one day, a wave of forced liquidations caused by Bitcoin wiped out $347 million from leveraged positions, and the structure of these liquidations speaks louder than the total amount. This is a market repositioning event rather than random volatility, and long bets accounted for about $233 million of the wipeout, so traders who had bet on an upside continuation were caught off guard when Bitcoin stalled and rolled over due to resistance. 

Shorts injectionAnother $113 million were contributed by shorts, demonstrating that this was a violent shakeout on both sides rather than a clear directional move, and when both sides are affected, it indicates instability and a period of transition, during which liquidity is being extracted before the next significant trend takes hold.

BTC/USDT Chart by TradingViewBitcoin is in a precarious position in terms of price, as BTC fell back toward the upper-$80,000 area, where buyers had previously tried to establish support after failing to hold above significant short-term moving averages. Momentum is the issue, because each push-up is being sold more quickly than the last and rallies are weaker, which is a typical example of late-stage remedial behavior.

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Everything is behind BitcoinBitcoin continues to be the focal point of market stress, according to the liquidation heatmap, and at $135 million, Bitcoin alone makes up a far larger share of all liquidations than the majority of other cryptocurrencies. Ethereum comes in second with about $51 million, but the difference is significant because Bitcoin is the main battlefield due to the concentration of leverage. 

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Data at the exchange level adds another level, as the biggest liquidation flows were absorbed by Binance and Hyperliquid, indicating aggressive derivatives positioning as opposed to slow spot distribution. Leverage unwinding, not a quiet investor exit, is what's happening here, and that distinction is important.

Liquidation-driven bloodbaths typically reset rather than end markets, and volatility frequently compresses prior to the subsequent directional move after excessive leverage is flushed. The risk is that if support levels collapse, liquidation cascades could start feeding on themselves, and the key zone for Bitcoin is currently between $86,000 and $88,000.

By maintaining that range, the structure is stabilized, and this becomes a purge, whereas if you lose it, forced selling will occur again. The market is moving, but it is cleaning rather than trending, and what Bitcoin does at support will determine whether this turns into a foundation or a collapse.

Bitcoin’s October flush, driven by a Binance glitch and $28B deleveraging, may be over as Cathie Wood sees a shallow cycle, institutional demand, and upside ahead.

Summary

Binance software glitch sparked a record $28B Bitcoin deleveraging and 14% BTC plunge.​ Wood calls this the “shallowest” four‑year Bitcoin drawdown and sees BTC consolidating €80k–€90k before a new uptrend.​ Institutions now treat Bitcoin as a low‑correlation asset, with ARK targeting a $16T BTC market value by 2030. Bitcoin’s (BTC) latest shakeout may be over, but the blame game has only just begun. ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood is pointing directly at Binance, arguing that October’s violent “flush” has largely run its course and may have set up the next leg higher for the market’s benchmark asset.​

Binance glitch, historic flush Wood told Fox Business that Bitcoin’s recent weakness “was caused primarily by a Binance software glitch” that unleashed roughly “$28 billion in deleveraging” after the October 10, 2025 flash crash. That episode remains the largest single-day deleveraging in crypto history, with more than $19 billion in leveraged positions liquidated as Bitcoin plunged about 14% from above $122,000 to roughly $105,000, while Ethereum dropped more than 20% in hours.​

The selloff began with a surprise U.S. tariff announcement on Chinese goods, but exchange microstructure did the real damage. Reports detail how Binance’s pricing systems “struggled under extreme volatility,” with some tokens briefly trading near zero and triggering cascading margin calls, a dynamic Wood described as a “systemic shock rather than ordinary market volatility.”​

“Shallowest” cycle, institutional turn Wood now argues the worst of the forced selling is behind the market. The Bitcoin “unwind” from October 10 is “largely complete,” she said, adding that the asset is likely to consolidate in the $80,000–90,000 band before resuming its broader uptrend as this four‑year cycle’s downside nears exhaustion. She called the current drawdown “the shallowest four-year cycle decline” in Bitcoin’s history and framed the asset as “three revolutions in one — a rules-based international monetary system, a technological advancement, and the leading asset of a new asset class.”

Critically for ARK’s thesis, Wood insisted that big money is no longer arguing about whether Bitcoin belongs in portfolios. Institutional investors are “no longer debating Bitcoin’s legitimacy” and are instead working on position sizing for what she labeled a “low-correlation asset.” More than 2,000 U.S. advisory firms now allocate to crypto ETPs, up from fewer than 200 before 2024, while custodians hold an estimated 5–7% of outstanding Bitcoin. ARK’s Big Ideas 2026 blueprint pegs potential Bitcoin market value at $16 trillion by 2030.​

On her own product, the ARK 21Shares ETF, Wood was blunt: the firm is “in it, to win it,” arguing that support levels should hold as the last aftershocks of October’s deleveraging clear.​

Market snapshot: majors in the red Despite Wood’s optimism, spot prices remain under pressure. Bitcoin trades near €78,700, down about 3% compared with roughly €80,730 24 hours ago. Ethereum changes hands around €2,648, sliding roughly 4% from €2,757 over the same period. Solana trades close to €199, with a mild 24‑hour move of about −0.22% after a 16.5% gain over the past week.

Weaker dollar fails to spur bitcoin gains, but there's a reason for that, JPMorgan saysGold and other hard assets are rallying on dollar weakness, but bitcoin is lagging as markets continue to treat it as a liquidity-sensitive risk asset. Jan 29, 2026, 8:53 a.m.

The weaker dollar is failing to spur bitcoin's BTC$87,915.61 usual rally, and J.P. Morgan Private Bank explains the unexpected behavior as a window into the nature of the U.S. currency's decline.

The Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback against a basket of peers, has dropped 10% in the past year. Bitcoin, which historically gains during periods of dollar weakness, lost 13% in the same period, CoinDesk data show. The CoinDesk 20 index (CD20), a measure of the largest digital assets, fell 28%.

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The difference this time is that the dollar is being driven by short-term flows and sentiment rather than a shift in growth or monetary policy expectations, with U.S. rate differentials still moving in the dollar’s favor, according to strategists at the bank.

"It’s crucial to note that the recent dollar slide isn’t about shifts in growth or monetary policy expectations," Yuxuan Tang, J.P. Morgan Private Bank's head of macro strategy in Asia, said in a note shared with CoinDesk.

"If anything, interest rate differentials have actually moved in the USD’s favor since the start of the year. What we’re seeing now, much like last April, is a USD selloff driven primarily by flows and sentiment," Tang continued.

The bank's view is that the weakness will, ultimately, prove temporary, like last year, and that the dollar will eventually stabilize as the world's largest economy picks up steam throughout the year.

That helps explain why bitcoin has failed to behave like a classic dollar hedge. While gold and other hard assets have rallied as the greenback fell, BTC has remained range-bound, suggesting the crypto market do not see the dollar's slide as a durable macro shift.

As a result, bitcoin is still trading more like a liquidity-sensitive risk asset than a default store-of-value trade. Without a clear shift in monetary policy expectations, dollar weakness alone has proven insufficient to pull new capital into crypto markets.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s framework also points investors toward assets such as gold and emerging-market exposure as more direct beneficiaries of dollar diversification, rather than bitcoin.

Until growth or rate dynamics take over from flows and sentiment as the primary driver of currency markets, the largest cryptocurrency may continue to lag behind traditional macro hedges, even if the dollar remains soft.

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The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.

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XRP has fallen about 4 percent so far this month, even as on-chain data point to strengthening underlying investor interest.U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs have attracted a net $91.72 million in inflows this month, bucking the trend of sustained outflows from bitcoin ETFs.