Market Signal Briefing

Lower fees, broader sector coverage, and higher yield set these two international ETFs apart for investors weighing global exposure.

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM +0.63%) stands out for its recent outperformance and emerging-markets focus, but the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA +0.56%) offers lower costs, a higher yield, and broader developed-market diversification.

Both EEM and IEFA are large, liquid exchange-traded funds tracking international stocks, but they target distinct regions: EEM focuses on emerging markets, while IEFA covers developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada. This comparison looks at the cost, performance, risk, and portfolio differences to help investors decide which ETF may better fit their goals.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricIEFAEEMIssuerISharesISharesExpense ratio0.07%0.72%1-yr return (as of 2026-01-22)31.8%33.3%Dividend yield3.5%2.1%Beta0.730.74AUM$170.4 billion$25.1 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

IEFA is more affordable with a 0.07% expense ratio compared to EEM's 0.72%, and it also offers a higher dividend yield at 3.5% versus EEM's 2.1%—a meaningful difference for income-focused investors.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricIEFAEEMMax drawdown (5 y)-30.41%-39.82%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$1,307$1,044What's insideEEM holds 1,214 stocks, with a portfolio tilted toward Technology (30%), Financial Services (21%), and Consumer Discretionary (12%). Its top holdings are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing(TSM +2.21%) at 12.6%, Tencent Holdings(TCEHY +0.54%) at 4.5%, and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) at 4.5%, signaling a heavy concentration in Asia's largest tech and internet companies.

In contrast, IEFA spans 2,591 developed-market stocks, with its largest sector weightings in Financial Services (23%), Industrials (20%), and Healthcare (11%). Its leading positions — ASML Holding (ASML 0.44%) at 2.1%, Roche Holding (RHHBY +0.80%) at 1.3%, and HSBC (HSBC +0.23%) at 1.2% — highlight a broader mix of European blue chips and global brands. IEFA takes a more diversified approach and does not have significant single-stock or sector concentration.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investorsETFs make it easy to build a more diversified portfolio. IEFA and EEM enable you to passively add some exposure to international stocks. However, these funds take quite different approaches.

IEFA is like a low-cost index fund for global stock market exposure. It holds over 2,500 stocks from nearly every developed country except the U.S. and Canada. It charges a minimal fee and has a very low concentration, as its 10 largest holdings account for only about 11% of assets. These features make it an ideal core holding for diversified international exposure.

EEA, on the other hand, focuses on emerging markets. These countries have higher risk profiles, but more growth potential. This fund also charges a much higher fee to gain access to these markets. Additionally, it has much greater portfolio concentration risk, given that its top holding accounts for over 12.5% of its net assets.

Given these differences, investors need to weigh the risks and rewards when deciding which of these two international ETFs to add to their portfolios.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matt DiLallo has positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool recommends HSBC Holdings and Roche Holding AG. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Fidelity is heavily invested in the bond market, having some of the top bond ETFs. But how will one of its best funds compare against a bond ETF with tax benefits?

This comparison looks at two core bond ETFs on the market: the Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND +0.11%), and the iShares National Muni Bond ETF (MUB +0.11%). Both may appeal to income-seeking investors, but each has different risks and tax profiles. MUB is a long-established municipal bond fund, while FBND is a diversified taxable bond ETF with a tilt toward energy and corporate issuers. Here is a side-by-side breakdown of these funds.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricMUBFBNDIssuerISharesFidelityExpense ratio0.05%0.36%1-yr return (as of Jan. 25, 2026)1.22%2.6%Dividend yield3.13%4.7%Beta0.240.29AUM$41.85 billion$23.91 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

FBND has a notably higher expense ratio, but it also offers a higher dividend yield and 1-year return. However, even though FBND has a higher dividend yield, MUB currently pays more in dividends because its share price is twice that of FBND.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricMUBFBNDMax drawdown (5 y)-11.88%-17.23%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$922$862What's insideLaunched in 2014, FBND casts a wide net of bond holdings with 4459 assets, and 67% of its bond holdings are rated AAA, the highest rating for a bond, indicating a very low risk of default from the issuer. However, the ETF also invests up to 20% of its assets in lower-quality debt securities, such as BBB-rated debt, which are riskier but can offer a higher yield.

By contrast, MUB tracks a broad mix of investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds, spreading across 6,163 holdings. It holds zero U.S. government-issued bonds, but about 61% of its holdings are AA-rated bonds, the second-highest rating, with the rest of the fund’s weight almost evenly split between AAA and A-rated bonds.

What this means for investorsBond ETFs can move differently from typical stock ETFs, as the bond market is recovering from the 2022 crash, and the recovery has been very slow and gradual. Don’t expect quick gains unless an unforeseeable event occurs, such as a dramatic drop in federal interest rates, which would likely cause prices to rise inversely as bonds with higher rates are already locked in at their current rates.

When it comes to FBND and MUB, FBND may offer a higher yield over time because it holds bonds within the B rating bracket, which are riskier but often yield higher payouts by the time they mature.

Because municipal bonds often have lower interest rates than U.S. government bonds, MUB is more likely to have lower yields. However, the main benefit of MUB is its exemption from federal income taxes and state income taxes, depending on the state. So, for a higher-risk/higher-reward option, FBND is ideal, while MUB is the go-to option for more tax benefits.

GlossaryETF: Exchange-traded fund that trades on an exchange and holds a basket of underlying securities.
Expense ratio: Annual fund operating costs expressed as a percentage of the fund’s average assets.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a fund divided by its current share price, expressed as a percentage.
1-yr return: Total return a fund generated over the past 12 months, including price change and income.
Max drawdown: The largest peak-to-trough decline in a fund’s value over a specified period.
Growth of $1,000: Illustration showing what a $1,000 investment would be worth after a given time period.
Beta: Measure of a fund’s volatility relative to a benchmark, often the S&P 500 index.
AUM (Assets under management): Total market value of all assets managed by a fund.
Municipal bond: Bond issued by state or local governments, often providing tax-exempt interest income.
Investment-grade: Bonds rated relatively high quality, indicating lower default risk compared with high-yield bonds.
Corporate credit risk: Risk that a corporate bond issuer cannot meet interest or principal payments.
Tax-exempt income: Interest or dividends that are not subject to federal income tax, and sometimes state or local taxes.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

The drugmaker had recently been in discussions to acquire RevMed in a deal that could have valued the cancer-drug biotech at around $30 billion.

XRP drops 4% as traders watch whether $1.88 support holdsPrice stabilizes near recent lows after a volatile pullback from above $2. Jan 25, 2026, 6:03 p.m.

XRP sank nearly 4% as bitcoin dropped under the $88,000 mark on Sunday, ahead of a busy week with the Federal Reserve's two-day FOMC meeting starting on Wednesday and major technology players announcing earnings.

News backgroundThe consolidation came as spot XRP ETFs recorded their first meaningful weekly outflows since launch, totaling roughly $40.6 million, signaling near-term institutional profit-taking rather than fresh risk-on positioning.There were no negative developments around Ripple or the XRP Ledger during the period. Ripple’s regulatory standing and payments use case remain intact, leaving price action driven primarily by market structure, positioning, and reduced participation rather than fundamentals.Price action summaryXRP edged lower from about $1.92 to $1.90 over the 24-hour period ending Jan. 25, trading within a tight 1.8% range. Price repeatedly tested support near $1.88–$1.89, a level that has now held multiple times since XRP slipped back below $2.00 earlier in the week.The session’s most notable move occurred around 09:00 UTC, when volume briefly surged to 34.5 million tokens as XRP dipped toward $1.89 before bouncing back above $1.90. That move marked a failed breakdown attempt rather than the start of a trend. After the bounce, trading activity faded sharply, with volume collapsing into the close — a sign that both buyers and sellers stepped back.On an intraday basis, XRP attempted a modest rebound toward $1.92 but was rejected quickly, sending price back toward $1.90. The inability to reclaim higher levels reinforced the broader sideways structure.Technical analysisFrom a technical standpoint, XRP remains stuck in consolidation rather than trending. The market has carved out a clear base near $1.88, forming what technicians would describe as a triple-bottom support zone. Each test has attracted buyers, but rebounds have been shallow.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Resistance remains layered above price. Near-term selling pressure sits around $1.93–$1.95, while a more significant descending trendline comes in closer to $2.10. As long as XRP stays below these levels, upside attempts are likely to be faded.

Volume behavior supports the consolidation view. Participation spikes have coincided with reversals rather than breakouts, and the sharp drop-off in volume into the close suggests indecision, not aggressive accumulation or distribution.

What traders should knowThe key takeaway is that XRP is compressing, not breaking down.

Support near $1.88 is holding, indicating sellers are losing momentum rather than accelerating.Volume is drying up, which often precedes a larger move once direction is resolved.ETF outflows reflect rotation and profit-taking, not a loss of confidence in the asset.For now:

A move above $1.95 would signal the start of structural repair toward $2.03–$2.06.A break below $1.85 would invalidate the base and reopen downside risk.Until then, XRP is likely to remain range-bound, frustrating trend traders but favoring short-term, mean-reversion setups.In simple terms: XRP isn’t weak enough to break, but not strong enough to run — yet.

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

Dec 22, 2025

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.More For You

Bitcoin slips below $88,000 amid government shutdown risk and ahead of Fed's first rate decision of the year

1 hour ago

Bitcoin and major tokens weakened Sunday as markets positioned ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision and a heavy slate of Magnificent Seven earnings.

What to know:

Bitcoin fell below $88,000 in thin weekend trading, extending a weeklong pullback that has left most major cryptocurrencies sharply lower, amid macro and geopolitical tension.Market sentiment remains fragile after more than $1 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated amid recent volatility in currencies and bond markets.Traders are watching potential Japanese yen intervention, U.S. political brinkmanship over a spending bill and a heavy tech-earnings calendar, as the Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged.

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The Federal Reserve meets in Washington on January 28, with markets pricing a near-certain pause. Fed Rate Cut expectations dipped as investors reassessed inflation, jobs and political pressure arround Chair Jerome Powell. The meeting involves Powell and the FOMC, as policymakers weigh prior cuts, independence concerns and market stability.

Fed Rate Cut Expectations in January Drops According to Polymarket data, traders see almost no chance of a January move. The no change odds are at 99.3%, 25 bps decrease under 1%, 50+ bps decrease under 1% and at 25+ bps increase also under 1%.

Source: Polymarket, Fed Rate Cut January Odds

The Federal Reserve cut rates at the last three meetings, lowering the target range to 3.5%–3.75%. However, inflation and labor conditions changed little since December. Several officials also described policy as near neutral, limiting expectations for further easing. As a result, most officials show limited appetite for another reduction this month.

Additionally, policymakers plan to hold rates steady for several months. They want to assess how prior cuts affect inflation and employment. The Fed continues pursuing its congressional mandate of 2% inflation and maximum employment. 

Political Pressure and Leadership Questions on Fed Fed independence is in question as political scrutiny intensifies. Powell’s chair term ends in May, though he may remain a governor until early 2028. President Donald Trump will announce a nomination soon as per Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 

Among the top candidates include BlackRock’s Rick Rieder, Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller and Kevin Hassett. Trump has publicly urged sharp rate cuts. The administration also initiated legal actions involving Powell and Governor Lisa Cook. 

While the White House denies political motives, Powell described the actions as intimidation. The Justice Department has also launched a criminal probe into Powell, creating more uncertainty around leadership stability.

Among the FOMC’s twelve members, only Governor Stephen Miran backed aggressive cuts aligned with presidential demands. Therefore, Powell faces pointed questions about resisting pressure while guiding policy continuity.

Fed Dollar-Yen Intervention Pulls Bitcoin Into Focus Beyond rates, reports indicate the Fed may prepare coordinated dollar-yen intervention. The New York Fed reportedly conducted rate checks, a step used before intervention. Such action would involve selling dollars and buying yen, a rare move not seen this century.

Bitcoin enters this discussion due to its historical currency sensitivity. Bitcoin shows a strong inverse relationship with the U.S. dollar and a positive correlation with the yen. However, yen strength also has risk. A small Bank of Japan hike in August 2024 strengthened the yen, leading to forced unwinds of yen-funded positions. Bitcoin dropped fast during that period.

Japan faces yen weakness, high bond yields and a hawkish Bank of Japan. Solo interventions failed in 2022 and 2024. Previously coordinated U.S. and Japan actions proved more effective.

Meanwhile, rate certainty, political pressure, currency intervention signals, and Bitcoin’s exposure frame the January meeting. The Fed enters the meeting with markets expecting stability, leadership questions unresolved and global currency pressures firmly in view.

TLDR: Table of Contents

TLDR:MicroStrategy’s Growing Bitcoin PositionInstitutional Demand for Bitcoin Custody MicroStrategy now owns over 700,000 BTC, equaling more than 3% of total supply. Average cost basis of $71,000 per BTC, current value shows $13B unrealized gain. US custody wallets added 577,000 BTC in the past year, worth $53B. Corporate and institutional accumulation intensifies competition for available Bitcoin supply. Bitcoin corporate accumulation continues to reshape the market as major companies secure significant positions. MicroStrategy (MSTR) has emerged as a leading corporate holder, now owning over 3% of the total Bitcoin supply.

Since late 2020, MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor has executed 95 separate purchases, bringing the company’s holdings to 709,715 BTC.

With an average cost basis around $71,000 per coin, the current market price of $89,000 reflects a $13 billion unrealized gain.

MicroStrategy’s Growing Bitcoin Position MicroStrategy’s persistent accumulation strategy demonstrates the challenge for new corporate entrants seeking meaningful Bitcoin exposure.

In January alone, the company added 22,305 BTC, though there have been no confirmed purchases since January 20.

Observers note Saylor’s recent chart postings may signal renewed activity, following a consistent historical pattern.

Corporate adoption of Bitcoin is no longer in its early stages, as one company now holds a substantial portion of the fixed supply.

Everyone thinks corporate $BTC adoption is "just getting started."

One company already owns 3% of all Bitcoin that will ever exist.

That's not early adoption. That's market dominance.$MSTR now holds 709,715 Bitcoin.

Worth roughly $63B at current prices.

Let that sit &… pic.twitter.com/vmic2lxcvl

— Milk Road (@MilkRoad) January 25, 2026

The scale of MicroStrategy’s holdings emphasizes the competitive environment for other companies considering a Bitcoin treasury.

Every major organization now evaluating Bitcoin must contend with the market presence of an entity that has been actively purchasing for four years.

The concentration of Bitcoin in corporate balance sheets has altered market dynamics, making accumulation increasingly difficult for latecomers.

Such accumulation also highlights the effects of fixed supply on market access. With 21 million total Bitcoins, controlling more than 700,000 represents a significant share that could influence liquidity and market behavior.

This situation draws attention to the strategic planning required for companies entering Bitcoin, especially given high volatility and demand.

MicroStrategy’s position also illustrates the long-term commitment some corporations are making toward digital assets. Holding a substantial portion without selling reflects a strategy focused on preservation and gradual exposure to market trends. This approach has set a benchmark for other institutional actors in the crypto space.

Institutional Demand for Bitcoin Custody Institutional demand for Bitcoin continues beyond corporate purchases. According to CryptoQuant CEO, U.S. custody wallets added 577,000 BTC over the past year, valued at roughly $53 billion. This reflects a growing interest from financial institutions seeking secure storage solutions and direct market exposure.

The increase in custody wallet holdings signals a broader acceptance of Bitcoin as an asset class. Institutions are now engaging with digital assets at scales previously reserved for major corporations. Custody solutions provide transparency and regulatory compliance, fostering confidence in large-scale holdings.

Market observers note that institutional accumulation often coincides with corporate strategies, as firms manage treasury allocations alongside investment funds.

The synergy between custody wallets and corporate portfolios suggests a maturing ecosystem, where significant Bitcoin reserves are held responsibly.

Demand from both corporations and institutions is reshaping Bitcoin market dynamics. As more entities secure positions, competition for available supply intensifies, influencing pricing and trading patterns.

The trend demonstrates the increasing integration of Bitcoin into traditional financial structures.

The price of bitcoin slid on Sunday, dipping below the $88,000 range and tagging a low of $87,471 per unit. Around noon (EST), the top crypto settled into a clean intraday slide, defined by a tidy staircase of lower highs and lower lows.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and investment guru, is not bothered by the price volatility of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH). He maintains his stance of purchasing both cryptocurrencies irrespective of their price movements.

Kiyosaki recently displayed interest in Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency. He holds the conviction that Bitcoin is set to reach a valuation of $1 million within the next few years or decade.

In a post on X, Kiyosaki revealed that he does not fret over the price trends of Bitcoin or Ethereum. He clarified that his investment strategy is influenced by the escalating national debt of the US and the diminishing purchasing power of the US dollar.

Kiyosaki also voiced his distrust in major financial institutions like the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury. He argued that these institutions are run by individuals who lack profound knowledge of the economy and money management.

Despite the instability of cryptocurrency prices, Kiyosaki persists in investing in physical gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. He often underscores the historical significance of gold and silver as a medium of exchange and views Bitcoin as “digital gold”.

Why It Matters: Kiyosaki’s indifference to the price volatility of Bitcoin and Ethereum underscores his belief in the long-term value of these cryptocurrencies.

His investment strategy, driven by concerns over the US national debt and the declining purchasing power of the dollar, reflects a broader trend among investors who are turning to cryptocurrencies as a hedge against inflation and economic instability.

His lack of faith in key financial institutions, coupled with his continued investment in cryptocurrencies, gold, and silver, suggests a shift in investment strategies towards assets that are not tied to traditional financial systems. This could potentially influence other investors to diversify their portfolios in a similar manner.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Iran’s central bank has quietly built a large position in the US dollar stablecoin USDT, according to new findings from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Elliptic says it identified a network of crypto wallets linked to the Central Bank of Iran. These wallets were used to acquire at least $507 million worth of USDT. The purchases took place mainly in April and May 2025 and were paid for using Emirati dirhams.

Researchers believe the true total could be higher. The estimate only includes wallets that Elliptic could link to the central bank with high confidence.

🚨 New Elliptic research: We have identified wallets used by Iran’s Central Bank to acquire at least $507 million worth of cryptoassets.

The findings suggest that the Iranian regime used these cryptoassets to evade sanctions and support the plummeting value of Iran’s currency,… pic.twitter.com/I7NHGO0wtP

— Elliptic (@elliptic) January 21, 2026

How the USDT Was Moved

At first, most of the USDT was sent to Nobitex, Iran’s largest crypto exchange. Nobitex allows users to hold USDT, trade it for other crypto assets, or convert it into Iranian rials.

This flow changed in mid 2025. After June, users sent large amounts of USDT through a cross-chain bridge. The funds moved from the Tron blockchain to Ethereum, then into other assets using decentralized exchanges. From there, the assets spread across several blockchains and centralized exchanges.

Elliptic says this shift happened around the same time Nobitex suffered a major hack. In June 2025, attackers stole about $90 million from the exchange and later destroyed the funds. After that event, the central bank appears to have changed how it handled its crypto holdings.

#CertiKInsight 🚨

Thus far in 2025, on-chain incidents have led to ~$2.1B in losses.

The majority of losses have come from wallet compromises and phishing, with an increase in data leaks its important to remain vigilant. pic.twitter.com/Cjm6QFHWqX

— CertiK Alert (@CertiKAlert) May 23, 2025

Why Iran Is Using Stablecoins?  Elliptic believes the central bank turned to USDT to manage two major problems. The first was a sharp fall in the value of the rial. The second was Iran’s limited access to global banking systems.

During the period of USDT accumulation, the rial lost about half its value in less than a year. Sending USDT to local exchanges may have helped inject dollar liquidity into the market and slow the decline.

Beyond domestic support, Elliptic suggests Iran is building a financial system that works outside traditional banks. By holding USDT, the central bank can store and move dollar value without relying on SWIFT or correspondent banks.

Blockchain Leaves a Trail Despite efforts to avoid sanctions, Elliptic notes that stablecoin activity is not hidden. Public blockchains make transactions visible and traceable.

Tether has already frozen some wallets linked to the network. In June 2025, the system blacklisted about $37 million in USDT tied to these wallets.

Why This Matters The findings show how governments under pressure are turning to stablecoins. At the same time, they highlight a key tension in crypto. Blockchains offer new tools, but they also leave permanent records.

Disclaimer The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted risk tolerance levels of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments, so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

XRP sank to session lows as intensifying macro uncertainty and rising trade tensions crushed risk appetite, driving a decisive breakdown from consolidation and reinforcing a bearish trend across crypto markets. XRP Slides to Session Lows as Macro Uncertainty Crushes Risk Appetite At 1:21 p.m., XRP is trading at $1.

TLDR: Ethereum enables art that exists fully on the blockchain, requiring network participation to function. CryptoPunks and Autoglyphs showcase protocol-first design, making the network itself the medium. Ownership and value are determined by consensus, not museums or centralized institutions. The ∞ETH NODE sculpture visualizes Ethereum’s real-time activity as both art and data experience. Ethereum is reshaping the way digital art is created and preserved by using the network itself as the medium. Unlike traditional digital art, networked art requires the blockchain for its function, storage, and execution. 

As Natalie Stone, Executive Producer & Arts Strategist, explains, “What does it mean to make art with a network? Not on it. Not about it. With it.” 

Projects like CryptoPunks and Autoglyphs show that Ethereum allows art to persist indefinitely, maintained by global participation rather than institutional control.

Networked Art as a Living System Networked art differs from art about or hosted on a network. Stone notes, “Art about a network is thematic; art on a network is hosted; art with a network cannot function without it.” 

While net.art of the 1990s relied on centralized servers, Ethereum allows works to exist fully within a decentralized ecosystem. 

JODI’s browser-based art depended on manual archiving, whereas Ethereum-based projects embed the art in smart contracts, creating permanence and interactivity.

Artists like Matt Hall and John Watkinson of Larva Labs illustrate this through Autoglyphs, where the algorithm “ran inside the transaction itself, performance happening on Ethereum, not a server.” 

Each piece becomes a self-contained execution on the blockchain, consuming network resources while remaining immutable. 

Their 2025 project Quine further explores onchain replication, producing works where the computation itself is the artistic output. 

The Ethereum network transforms each transaction into part of the artwork, reinforcing a collective experience.

CryptoPunks exemplify networked art as both technical and social protocols. As Stone writes, “Every bid, offer, sale is executed and reaffirmed on the smart contract within the Ethereum blockchain, validating ownership and signifying status.” 

The project’s smart contract enforces scarcity and transfer automatically, creating a decentralized marketplace. 

Value is determined by thousands of participants worldwide, not by the artists or institutions, illustrating the network’s power in defining cultural significance.

Participation drives the art’s meaning and value. Without collectors and active transactions, the artwork cannot exist. Larva Labs ensured that control over pricing and ownership rests with the network, reinforcing Stone’s observation: 

“If participation is the medium, decentralization is not just an ideology; it is a material constraint.” This approach allows Ethereum-based projects to maintain authenticity and function independent of central authority.

Ethereum as Medium and Marketplace Ethereum enables artworks inseparable from the network itself, integrating technology and cultural expression. 

The ∞ETH NODE sculpture demonstrates this by visualizing every block, transaction, and heartbeat in real time. 

Stone remarks, “The world’s computer, presented unapologetically, as the art itself.” Larva Labs’ installation converts the network’s invisible processes into light and audio, showing Ethereum’s properties as material that artists must shape.

Ownership and value are confirmed by network consensus rather than museums or curators. Stone observes that institutional acquisitions, including MoMA’s purchase of CryptoPunks, “acknowledge cultural significance but do not control the artwork.” 

Smart contracts preserve creation, transfer, and ownership on Ethereum, ensuring longevity. Larva Labs’ methodology emphasizes “logic before image, system before object, protocol first,” storing image data and hashes directly onchain.

Ethereum’s network consensus determines value and meaning. Transactions, interactions, and replication collectively reinforce the artwork, confirming Stone’s point: 

“Without participants – there is no consensus, there is no art.” Ethereum transforms cultural production into a decentralized system, where global participation sustains art’s existence and guarantees permanence.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

“Bitcoin is the digital gold” is one of the most popular narratives in the cryptocurrency industry, reiterating BTC’s growing status as a formidable store of value. However, while the premier cryptocurrency has floundered over the past months, gold and the metals market have largely witnessed explosive growth.

These contrasting performances have led to conversations about capital rotation between Bitcoin and gold, as the crowd expects one to always outperform the other at any given time. Recent data, however, suggests that the relationship between the BTC and gold price action is overrated.

Capital Flow Link Between BTC And Gold Overestimated  In a January 24 post on the X platform, on-chain analyst with the pseudonym Darkfost weighed in on the discourse surrounding capital rotation between gold and Bitcoin. According to the market pundit, the idea that investor funds flow from gold to Bitcoin is somewhat overblown.

To highlight this overestimation, Darkfost shared a chart showing periods where BTC outperforms or underperforms depending on gold’s trend. This chart typically provides two signals: positive (BTC above the 180-day moving average [MA] and gold below the 180-day MA) and negative (BTC below the 180-day moving average and gold below the 180-day MA).

Source: @Darkfost_Coc on X As observed in the chart above and stated by Darkfost, the relationship between Bitcoin and gold does not appear to be fully substantiated. The on-chain analyst revealed that there have been as many positive periods as the negative ones, suggesting that the flagship cryptocurrency moves independently of gold.

Darkfost wrote:

This suggests that BTC continues to evolve independently, without clear evidence of a sustained capital rotation from gold.

Furthermore, Darkfost noted that a positive signal does not necessarily mean that capital is flowing out of gold into Bitcoin. According to the on-chain analyst, it is simply not possible to determine whether there is a capital flow relationship between the world’s largest cryptocurrency and gold.

Bitcoin & Gold Price Overview While Bitcoin started the new year on a pretty strong note, the bullish momentum has pretty much waned over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the gold price has continued to flourish this year, recently reaching a new all-time high above $4,900 per ounce.

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $89,230, reflecting no significant movement in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the flagship cryptocurrency is nearly 30% adrift its all-time high above the $126,000 level.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSD chart on TradingView Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView

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Opeyemi Sule is a passionate crypto enthusiast, a proficient content writer, and a journalist at Bitcoinist. Opeyemi creates unique pieces unraveling the complexities of blockchain technology and sharing insights on the latest trends in the world of cryptocurrencies. Opeyemi enjoys reading poetry, chatting about politics, and listening to music, in addition to his strong interest in cryptocurrency.

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Key Points:

ARK Invest files for ETFs linked to CoinDesk 20, including and excluding Bitcoin.Bitcoin leads with a 32.4% allocation in the inclusive ETF.SEC review ongoing; potential market shifts are anticipated. Ark Invest, led by CEO Cathie Wood, filed two cryptocurrency ETF applications with the U.S. SEC on January 23, 2026, for tracking the CoinDesk 20 Index.

The ETFs, pending SEC approval, could enhance institutional access to major cryptocurrencies, potentially impacting their market performance and future investment opportunities.

Proposed ARK ETFs: Bitcoin Allocation at 32.4% ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has proposed two new ETFs focusing on the CoinDesk 20 Index. One ETF includes Bitcoin, while the other excludes Bitcoin. These funds are intended to track the index’s assets through futures contracts listed on NYSE Arca.

The proposed ETFs could affect key cryptocurrencies, reflecting approximately 32.4% in Bitcoin, and significant portions in Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Litecoin. These filings highlight potential institutional interest, which may invite greater market liquidity and support for these assets.

So far, no major statements have come from key industry figures regarding these filings. Cathie Wood, CEO and Founder of ARK Invest, no statements available: SEC filings dated January 23, 2026, regarding ETF filings.

The SEC’s review process remains a focus area, awaiting their assessment that may influence regulatory perceptions and market movements.

Bitcoin Price Hits $87,956 Amid ETF Speculations Did you know? The inclusion of Bitcoin in ETFs aligns with ARK’s previous efforts to institutionalize cryptocurrency assets via financial products, aiming to increase mainstream acceptance and investment.

As of January 25, 2026, Bitcoin (BTC) holds a price of $87,956.42 with a market cap of $1.76 trillion. The dominant cryptocurrency’s market influence is 59.07%, according to CoinMarketCap. Despite a current small downtrend of -1.32% over 24 hours, Bitcoin’s 30-day price shows a modest gain of 1.01%.

Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 16:08 UTC on January 25, 2026. Source: CoinMarketCap The experts from Coincu note that the introduction of new ETFs could potentially open markets to a wider range of investors, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Washington is ‘more likely’ to favor a diversified “basket” of digital assets than a Bitcoin‑only reserve.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: January 25, 2026 │ 4:20 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

An outspoken crypto analyst has doubled down on a provocative claim: Ripple is allegedly spending “millions of dollars” to influence the composition of a potential U.S. strategic crypto reserve so that XRP sits alongside — not behind — Bitcoin (BTC).

Ripple Bull Winkle, the host of the popular YouTube show, built his latest video around resurfaced comments from Strike CEO Jack Mallers, Brad Garlinghouse’s long‑term crypto outlook.

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Then, he reviews the freshest Ripple partnerships, arguing that XRP is positioned to become part of a diversified, state‑level digital asset basket.

Bitcoin Maxi Alarm: “Ripple is Spending Big”The centerpiece of the video is an older clip of Jack Mallers, who says he can “confirm that Ripple is spending millions of dollars to undermine a strategic Bitcoin reserve in America.”

In the footage, Mallers criticizes Ripple as “a for‑profit company” that “prints its own token in XRP” and is “asking the U.S. government to support its monopolies,” calling the push “corporate lobbying disguised as innovation.”

The analyst frames Mallers’ frustration as fear that the U.S. will not adopt a Bitcoin‑only reserve strategy, but instead opt for a basket of assets.

He speculates that any such basket would likely include Bitcoin and XRP, and possibly other majors such as Chainlink, Ondo, Ethereum, Solana and even Cardano, on the logic that “the U.S. isn’t going to be putting all of their eggs in one basket.”

Ripple’s Partnerships Plumbing Over PriceBuilding his thesis, the host highlights comments from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, who recently said he is “very bullish on crypto in 2026” and speaks in 5–10 year horizons. The analyst interprets this as a quiet acknowledgement that the vast majority of current tokens will disappear, with a small group of regulated, institutionally aligned projects surviving.

Institutional $XRP adoption in Turkey is growing!

Ripple & Garanti BBVA Kripto have extended their partnership. Turkey’s large and loyal XRP investor base is celebrating this major milestone. 💎 Regional growth is accelerating! pic.twitter.com/Qi47qu5G4J

— Kripto Messi (@Kriptomessi) January 23, 2026 He then points to Ripple’s renewed custody partnership with BBVA in Turkey, citing statements from Ripple’s director for the Middle East and Africa as evidence of growing regional confidence. The focus, he stresses, is on “plumbing” — the underlying payment and custody infrastructure — not short‑term XRP price spikes.

XRP’s Trillion‑Dollar Bid & The Long HODLOn the numbers, the analyst says that during recording XRP was trading around $1.90 and outlines a technical roadmap: potential pullbacks toward $0.65–$0.30, a key “top hurdle” near $3.40, then price discovery targeting roughly $6.50 as an initial area of interest.

Mr. Bull Winkle argues that narrative catalysts — such as a hypothetical BlackRock or Fidelity XRP ETF announcement, followed by live ETF trading and explicit government or banking usage of XRP — would be needed to push the asset into “double‑digit territory.”

Ripple Bull Winkle repeatedly asserts that XRP will eventually reach a $1 trillion market cap, citing internal calculations that this would correspond to roughly $16.47 per token. A recent article on his site places that milestone in a broad 2027–2036 window.

Framed as an 800% upside from current levels over up to a decade, Ripple Bull Winkle contrasts this with slower stock market returns and urges viewers to decide whether they are willing to hold through another cycle.

The final message is blunt: in his view, institutional plumbing is being laid now, governments are quietly choosing their digital settlement rails, and retail investors risk being shaken out before the structural shifts in liquidity — if they materialize — show up in XRP’s price.

Discover DailyCoin’s hottest crypto news:
Pi Coin Slips Back Near October Lows Upon Supply Flood
HBAR Tests $0.10 Floor As ETFs Hit Two-Month Record

People Also Ask:Is it confirmed that the U.S. is building a “Bitcoin strategic reserve” that includes XRP?

No. The video references Jack Mallers’ claim and the analyst’s speculation about a diversified basket, but there is no official U.S. policy confirming such a reserve or its asset mix.

Did Ripple executives publicly state they want XRP in a U.S. strategic reserve?

The video does not cite any direct public statement from Ripple making that request; the claim comes from Mallers’ remarks and the analyst’s interpretation.

What price targets does the analyst mention for XRP?

He discusses potential retracements toward $0.65–$0.30, resistance around $3.40, a move to about $6.50 in price discovery, and a longer‑term scenario where XRP reaches roughly $16–$20 at a $1 trillion market cap.

Over what time-frame does he see XRP reaching a $1 trillion market cap?

He cites a 2027–2036 window as a working timeline, acknowledging it is a wide range and dependent on adoption, regulation, and broader crypto market growth.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

100% Bullish

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Tezos, a layer-1 proof-of-stake blockchain network, implemented its latest protocol upgrade, Tallinn, on Saturday, which reduced block times on the base layer to 6 seconds.

The latest upgrade is the 20th update to the protocol, which reduces block times, slashes storage costs and reduces latency, resulting in faster network finality times, according to an announcement from Tezos.

Tallinn also allows all network validators, known as “bakers”, to attest to every single block, rather than a subset of validators attesting to blocks, which is how validators verified blocks in previous versions of the protocol, Spokespeople for Tezos explained:

“This is achieved through the use of BLS cryptographic signatures, which aggregate hundreds of signatures into just one per block. By lightening the load on nodes, it also opens the door to further block time reductions.”The upgrade also introduced an address indexing mechanism that removes “redundant” address data, reducing storage needs for applications running on Tezos.

Spokespeople for Tezos said the address indexing mechanism improves storage efficiency by a factor of 100.

Tezos’ latest upgrade showcases the push for faster and higher-throughput blockchain networks that can handle more transactions per second and reduced settlement times to accommodate a growing number of use cases. 

Block times have come a long way since the first generation of blockchainsThe first generation of blockchain networks, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, had speeds of about seven transactions per second (TPS) and 15-30 TPS, respectively.

The Bitcoin protocol produces blocks about every 10 minutes, which presents a challenge for everyday payments and commercial transactions on the base layer.

The Bitcoin protocol produces blocks about every 10 minutes, on average. Source: MempoolThese slow network speeds have prompted both protocols to scale through layer-2 (L2) networks, which handle transaction execution. 

In the case of Bitcoin, this is done through the Lightning Network, payment channels opened between two or more parties that handle a series of transactions off-chain, posting only the net balance to the base layer once the payment channel is closed.

The Ethereum network relies on an ecosystem of layer-2 networks to scale, and takes a modular approach, separating the execution, consensus and data availability layers.

Monolithic blockchain networks, like Solana, combine all these functions into a single layer, instead of scaling through L2’s.

Magazine: Ethereum’s Fusaka fork explained for dummies: What the hell is PeerDAS?

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

Journalist

Posted: January 25, 2026

Chainlink [LINK] traded near a key support zone as derivatives data showed a heavy long bias among Binance traders.

On the 25th of January, CoinGlass showed that the Binance LINK/USDT Long/Short Ratio was at 2.06, favoring bullish positioning. Long accounts made up 67.34%, while short accounts stood at 32.66%.

That imbalance suggested traders were positioning for a rebound despite broader market weakness.

However, leverage concentrations hinted at near-term volatility. The LINK Exchange Liquidation Map showed overleveraged clusters around $11.85 and $12.45, marking short-term risk zones.

Source: CoinGlass

Price stalls at key demand zone As of press time, Chainlink [LINK] hovered at $12.06, down 1% over the past 24 hours. However, the broader market remains hesitant to participate in the token, as reflected in trading volume, which has fallen 35% to $181.35 million.

This decline in 24-hour trading volume indicated that traders and investors were not interested in the altcoin or its current price trend.

Chainlink (LINK) price action hints at a potential reversal On the daily chart, LINK retested the $11.90 region, a level that previously acted as a demand zone.

Price moved sideways around that area for several sessions, signaling consolidation rather than aggressive selling pressure.

Source: TradingView

If LINK held above $11.90, the historical structure suggested a potential rebound toward the $14.15 resistance zone. That move would imply a roughly 16% upside from current levels.

By contrast, a sustained break below $11.90 could invalidate the reversal setup and expose deeper downside levels.

In addition to price action, the Average Directional Index (ADX) stood at 25.42, above the key threshold of 25, indicating a strong directional trend.

Adding to the bullish narrative, crypto analyst Marzell described Chainlink as an “institutional sleeping giant” in a recent X post.

The analyst highlighted $16.13, $20.09, and $24.52 as key resistance levels if momentum returned.

That view aligned with a higher-timeframe structure, where LINK previously rebounded sharply after defending similar base ranges.

Source: X/MarzellCrypto

Final Thoughts LINK’s Long/Short Ratio hit 2.06, with 67.34% of accounts positioned long. Holding $11.90 supports a move toward $14.15, while $11.85–$12.45 remains a liquidation risk zone.

Vivaan Acharya is a Crypto-Economist and Journalist at AMBCrypto who brings a rare depth of financial and economic expertise to the world of digital assets. He holds a Master’s in Economics from the prestigious University of Delhi and has over five years of experience analyzing technology and financial markets. His foray into the blockchain space began in 2018, marked by his prescient Master's thesis, "Payments and Stablecoin Integration in Banking," which showcased his early understanding of crypto's potential to disrupt traditional finance. Before specializing in crypto, Vivaan honed his skills in rigorous data and technical chart analysis at a major national financial daily, where he covered corporate earnings and market trends. At AMBCrypto, Vivaan applies this powerful blend of classical economic training and seasoned financial journalism to his work. He is an expert in: 1. Bitcoin and Altcoin Market Analysis 2. Stablecoin Ecosystem Development, and 3 Emerging Crypto Regulations. Known for his clear, no-nonsense approach, Vivaan translates robust research into straightforward, actionable insights. He is dedicated to demystifying the complexities of blockchain finance, empowering readers to confidently navigate the rapidly evolving digital economy.

As institutional demand for Bitcoin continues to soar, so should its price.

Right now, Bitcoin (BTC 1.71%) is going nowhere fast. It currently trades for just $90,000 and is sitting nearly 30% below its all-time high of $126,000 from October.

But all of that could change quickly. According to Cardano (ADA 4.50%) founder Charles Hoskinson, Bitcoin is on a rocket ship to $250,000 this year. At today's prices, that implies a stunning gain of 177% in a span of just 11 months. So is he right?

One big reason to be bullish on Bitcoin in 2026 From Hoskinson's perspective, it all comes down to the Law of Supply and Demand.

Right now, demand for Bitcoin is off the charts. Institutional investors are upping their allocation to Bitcoin as a stand-alone asset class. Newfangled Bitcoin treasury companies such as Michael Saylor's Strategy (MSTR +1.32%) are hoovering up Bitcoin at a prodigious clip. Even the U.S. government is getting into the act, with tentative plans to buy new Bitcoin for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Image source: Getty Images.

At the same time, the lifetime supply of Bitcoin is fixed at 21 million coins, and 19.97 million of those coins are already in circulation. This creates enormous scarcity. There's just not enough Bitcoin to go around for everyone.

So, basic economic theory says that if the demand for an asset takes off, while the supply stays relatively unchanged, then the price should shoot up. Viewed from this perspective, Bitcoin at a current price of $90,000 is a coiled spring, just waiting to explode in value.

But is a price of $250,000 really within reach? That said, this is the same argument people have been making about Bitcoin for years now, just with a higher price target. Greater institutional adoption -- from Wall Street, big institutional investors, corporations, and governments -- should always lead to a higher price.

Today's Change

(

-1.71

%) $

-1526.33

Current Price

$

87688.00

So what's different this time around? One factor is the increasing array of financial products that give exposure to Bitcoin. This goes well beyond just the new spot Bitcoin ETFs that launched in early 2024. It also includes new Bitcoin financial derivatives, as well as new Bitcoin-linked credit products.

As these new financial products go mainstream, they should reduce some of the risk and volatility of investing in Bitcoin. In the process, they should open up this cryptocurrency to a broader array of risk-averse investors.

And it's not like Bitcoin is any stranger to monster years of outperformance. In 2013, Bitcoin skyrocketed by 5,428%. In 2017, Bitcoin exploded by 1,375%. In 2020, Bitcoin increased by 305%. Even as recently as 2023, Bitcoin soared by 157%. So is an annual return of 177% really so outlandish?

For the sake of Bitcoin investors everywhere, let's hope the answer to that question is "no." If history is any guide, Bitcoin has at least an outside shot of hitting a price of $250,000 this year.

Here's what Fed's highly anticipated rate decision this week means for bitcoin and the dollarPowell could signal a "dovish pause," but his comments on other issues may temper the bullish reaction in BTC and other risk assets. Jan 25, 2026, 5:23 p.m.

The Federal Reserve is set to announce its rate decision, and almost no one expects it to cut rates.

However, traders will be paying very close attention to Chairman Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference, which could hold the real intrigue.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

His take on what to expect in the coming months and on recent hot topics, including President Donald Trump's affordability policy push and threats to the Fed's independence, could move both traditional and crypto markets.

Let's dig into what is priced in and how Powell's comments could move markets.

Status quo on ratesAfter delivering three back-to-back quarter-point cuts, the central bank is expected to stand pat on Wednesday. As of Friday, CME's FedWatch futures priced in a 96% chance of the Fed holding steady at 3.5%-3.75%.

This is consistent with the message Powell delivered in December, saying the bank's voting committee will hold off on additional cuts into 2026. Further, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, who has a vote on the Federal Open Market Committee this year, recently told The New York Times that he believes it is "way too soon" to cut rates again.

So, unless the Fed springs an unexpected rate cut, which could tank the dollar while boosting bitcoin and stocks, the decision itself is shaping up to be a non-event.

Hawkish or dovish pause?However, the primary question for traders will be whether the impending pause in rate cuts signals a hawkish or dovish stance.

A hawkish pause scenario involves Powell flagging lingering inflation risks, denting rate-cut bets and pressuring risk assets lower. A dovish scenario would mean Wednesday's pause is temporary and rate cuts would resume in the coming months, potentially lifting bitcoin.

Morgan Stanley expects the Fed to send a dovish signal by retaining the policy statement wording "considering the range and timing for further adjustments to the target range," signaling that easing remains on the table. The statement is expected to acknowledge the economy's robustness while preserving options for future rate cuts.

Watch for dissenters to the Fed's rate pause, as they could amplify a dovish tilt. Trump's appointee, Stephen Miran, is expected to dissent in favour of a bold 50-basis-point cut. If the number of dissenters grows, it would bolster the case for future easing, lifting stocks and bitcoin.

As of now, most observers, except JPMorgan, are expecting the Fed to cut rates once or twice over the rest of the year. JPMorgan sees no rate move this year, followed by a hike next year.

Status quo and affordability measuresPowell will likely face questions about the rationale for holding rates steady, as well as the potential impact of Trump's affordability measures and related issues on key macroeconomic variables.

According to ING, Powell's explanation of the status quo rate decision may lift the U.S. dollar, potentially weakening greenback-dominated assets like bitcoin.

"Given the recent performance of both U.S. asset markets and activity, he will struggle to argue that financial conditions are restrictive and need to be loosened. This could pour cold water on the notion of a second Fed rate cut and this would lift the dollar against the low yielders like the yen and the euro," ING analysts said.

"Instead, the next macro leg lower in the dollar will likely have to emerge from poor data rather than Fed-speak," they added.

Powell's potential nod to Trump's housing affordability efforts as being inherently inflationary in the near term might amplify market volatility.

Trump recently said he has instructed his representatives to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, claiming it will drive down rates and monthly payments. He also issued an executive order requiring large institutional investors to refrain from buying single-family homes that families could otherwise purchase.

Observers say these measures could front-load demand, boosting housing inflation.

"The purchase [of] USD200bn of mortgage-backed-securities risk pulling forward demand, inflating prices and skewing benefits toward incumbents. On the other hand, the impact of banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes is likely to be limited, given small institutional ownership relative to the overall stock," Allianz Investment Management said in a note.

Note that Trump's tariffs are already baked in with a delayed inflationary impact expected this year, as higher import costs filter through to the final consumer.

Lastly, Powell might face questions about the DOJ investigation targeting him personally, which he calls political vengeance for not slashing rates fast enough to suit Trump, and about recent bond market volatility stemming from Japan's fiscal issues. He might dodge the probe while downplaying bond market fears.

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

Dec 22, 2025

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.More For You

Why 98% of gold investors don't actually own a gold bar—and why that’s a problem

30 minutes ago

Aurelion has shifted to Tether Gold (XAUT), a blockchain-based token backed by physical gold, to address potential market vulnerabilities in the "paper gold" market.

What to know:

Björn Schmidtke, CEO of Aurelion, warned of risks in "paper gold," with 98% of gold exposure being essentially IOUs rather than physical assets.Aurelion has shifted to Tether Gold (XAUT), a blockchain-based token backed by physical gold, to address potential market vulnerabilities.The company sees gold and bitcoin as complementary assets, focusing on long-term value through digital gold tokens.

2 mins mins

Key Points:

Main event involves Oklahoma’s new bill for state-level Bitcoin payments.Bill allows Bitcoin payments by state employees and businesses.State Treasurer to contract Bitcoin processor by 2027. Oklahoma State Representative Dusty Deevers introduced Senate Bill 2064, allowing Bitcoin payments for state employees and businesses, reinforcing the state’s stance on cryptocurrency, in January 2026.

This legislative move reflects growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in financial systems, influencing potential Bitcoin adoption and affecting local economic transactions.

Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 2064: A Push for Bitcoin Payments Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 2064 was introduced by State Representative Dusty Deevers, aiming to allow state employees, businesses, and residents to accept Bitcoin payments. Previously, a similar bill, SB 325, did not progress beyond committee discussions.

The introduction of SB 2064 may pave the way for broader adoption of Bitcoin in Oklahoma, although Bitcoin is not being designated as legal tender. The absence of funding underscores a cautious approach by the state’s legislative body.

Senator Dusty Deevers, Oklahoma State Senator, said, “SB 2064 authorizes state employees and residents to receive payments in Bitcoin voluntarily, reflecting the state’s growing interest in cryptocurrency.”Market reactions have been limited, with no prominent figures publicly endorsing or criticizing the bill. Community reactions remain subdued, perhaps awaiting further developments regarding the bill’s progress through the legislative process.

Bitcoin’s Market Impact and Regulatory Implications Did you know? Oklahoma’s legislative efforts mirror those of New Hampshire and Texas, which have explored Bitcoin reserves and state-level cryptocurrency investments.

As of January 25, 2026, Bitcoin’s market cap was $1.753 trillion, with a current price at $87,782.24, reflecting a 24-hour change of -1.60%. The circulating supply stands at 19,980,462 BTC, according to CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 17:38 UTC on January 25, 2026. Source: CoinMarketCap Analysis from the Coincu research team suggests potential regulatory adjustments may follow if the bill becomes law. This could encourage other states to consider similar frameworks, impacting the broader adoption landscape. Historical trends indicate cautious optimism among market participants regarding state-level cryptocurrency integration. An interesting perspective on potential regulatory shifts can be found in federal reserve balance sheet adjustments.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Sun, 25/01/2026 - 17:47

Shiba Inu's exchange flow has finally turned bullish again after multiple days of signaling rising selling pressure amid the broad crypto market downturn.

Cover image via U.Today Leading meme asset Shiba Inu appears to be attempting a price breakout amid the prolonged volatility as exchange flows begin to signal rising demand.

After multiple days of staying positive, the Shiba Inu exchange flow metric has turned red over the last day, showing a slight decline of about 1% over the last day.

With this decline in the metric, it appears that the amount of tokens sent to exchanges for selling purposes over the last day is lesser than the amounts of Shiba Inu tokens purchased from exchanges by a substantial amount.

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According to data from crypto analytics platform CryptoQuant, Shiba Inu’s netflow across all supported cryptocurrency exchanges is sitting at -31,737,600,000 as of Jan. 25.

Shiba Inu headed for recovery?The bullish exchange flow has come at a time when the market is seeing a persisting bloodbath, and crypto assets, including meme tokens like SHIB, have continued to plummet.

Although Shiba Inu is still trading in the deep red territory, plunging by 1.45% over the last day, the decline in the exchange net flow suggests a rise in demand, and the price correction might be nearing its end.

While the SHIB netflow represents the difference between the Shiba Inu exchange inflows and outflows, it means that the amount of SHIB tokens scooped out of exchanges in major buying activities is greater than tokens returned to the exchanges for selling purposes by over 30 billion tokens.

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As such, it appears that momentum might be returning to the Shiba Inu ecosystem, and the Shiba Inu price may be headed for recovery in the near term.

With this metric, it appears that many small and large SHIB holders are beginning to show little to no interest in selling off their holdings amid growing demand in the asset.

Instead of the prolonged panic selling trend triggered by weakened investors sentiment, holders are now moving their tokens into self-custody wallets to hold for longer periods.

Notably, the metric has stirred hopes that the asset may be preparing for a bigger rally as selling pressure continues to subside amid growing appetite for the leading meme asset.

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Entropy, a decentralized custody startup that raised $25 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz in 2022, is shutting down and returning capital to investors, founder and CEO Tux Pacific announced on X.

Pacific said the decision came after four years of building, "several pivots, and two rounds of layoffs." The company was most recently developing a crypto automations platform, described as similar to n8n or Zapier but designed for crypto, featuring automated signing using threshold cryptography, secure computation via trusted execution environments (TEEs), and AI integrations.

"After an initial feedback request revealed that the business model wasn't venture scale, I was left with the choice to find a creative way forward or pivot once more," Pacific wrote. "After four hard years working in crypto, I decided that the best I could do has already been done: it was time to close up shop."

Entropy raised its $25 million seed round in June 2022, with participation from Dragonfly Capital, Ethereal Ventures, Variant, Coinbase Ventures, Robot Ventures, Inflection, and the Komerabi Fund. The company had also raised a $1.95 million pre-seed round earlier that year in January, bringing total funding to approximately $27 million.

Pacific, a self-taught cryptographer who previously worked at NuCypher, founded Entropy in 2021. The founder's unconventional background drew attention when Entropy first raised: Pacific is a college dropout, a transgender advocate, and a self-described "anti-capitalist anarchist" who nonetheless believes in free-market principles rooted in Bitcoin's early days.

The startup was originally positioned as a decentralized alternative to centralized crypto custodians like Fireblocks and Coinbase. Entropy leveraged cryptographic techniques based on multiparty computation to allow users to deposit and manage cryptocurrencies across blockchains while implementing their own rules for interacting with funds, such as time-gated constraints.

Despite their anti-capitalist politics, Pacific found a home in crypto. "I've never felt I've been in a space where it's been more acceptable for people to be so different," Pacific told TechCrunch in 2022. "If you go to a [crypto] conference, it's just filled with weird, weird people."

Pacific thanked a16z crypto and Guy Wuollet for their guidance throughout the wind-down process.

"I've never once given up in my career. The only thing I've ever quit was college, so this makes the second thing," Pacific wrote. "It's challenging, but I find peace in the fact that a career is a practice: the goal is not the destination, but the journey of innovation."

Entropy's closure adds to a broader trend of crypto startup shutdowns in 2025. Crypto venture deal count fell roughly 60% year over year in 2025, dropping to about 1,200 transactions from more than 2,900 in 2024, according to The Block Pro data.

Looking ahead, Pacific said they plan to take a break before potentially pivoting away from crypto entirely. "My time in crypto might be coming to an end, as I feel myself drawn specifically into pharmaceuticals: I want to innovate on hormone delivery, specifically for women who experience menopause and trans women for HRT," Pacific wrote, adding they will be spending time validating research on new estradiol drug formulations.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

TLDR: Table of Contents

TLDR:P2P Trading Faces Regulatory and Operational LimitsLicensing Delays and Strategic Platform Adjustments Quidax ends P2P trading, citing user preferences and regulatory caution within sandbox. SEC flags opaque P2P flows, off-platform settlements, and foreign platform dominance. Licensing delays and higher capital requirements raise compliance challenges for exchanges. Quidax delists 35 tokens to align platform with Nigerian regulatory expectations. Nigeria crypto sandbox has faced its first notable challenge as Quidax, a provisionally licensed digital asset exchange, announced the closure of its peer-to-peer (P2P) trading platform.

The shutdown comes just five months after the feature launched under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP).

Quidax will continue instant swaps and order-book trading, but the P2P exit illustrates limits in the sandbox’s ability to oversee informal trading activity.

P2P Trading Faces Regulatory and Operational Limits Quidax stated in an email to users, “We are retiring our P2P marketplace to focus on services that provide a more secure and efficient trading experience.”

The platform added that ads, merchant chats, and escrow services will be disabled, while other trading products will continue.

The P2P feature was initially designed to provide a controlled environment for users to trade directly. Merchants required full registration, Level-3 know-your-customer verification, two-factor authentication, and a minimum participation history. Approved traders were issued badges signaling verification and trust.

Despite these safeguards, the SEC has expressed long-standing concerns over P2P markets. In 2024, the regulator noted that “opaque transaction flows, off-platform settlements, and foreign dominance make supervision challenging and increase risk for investors.”

Quidax’s attempt to internalize trades within its platform responded to these issues, but operational limits have now become apparent.

The P2P exit marks the first visible boundary of the sandbox, showing that activities not closely aligned with traditional capital-market structures, such as order-book trading or custodial swaps, remain easier to supervise. Quidax’s decision highlights the balance between innovation and regulatory visibility.

Licensing Delays and Strategic Platform Adjustments Quidax’s timing coincides with delays in ARIP licensing. Startups, including Quidax and Busha, were expected to transition to full licenses by August 2025.

A SEC spokesperson said, “We are reassessing supervisory readiness to ensure platforms meet capital-market standards before granting full licensure.”

New rules under the Investment and Securities Act (2025) classify digital assets as securities, bringing exchanges firmly under capital-market regulation.

Digital Asset Intermediaries (DAIs) and Digital Asset Platform Operators (DAPOs) now require a minimum capital of N500 million ($352,000). Combined services, including P2P trading, custody, or escrow, further increase regulatory obligations.

Quidax has also announced plans to delist 35 tokens, including meme coins, gaming assets, and tokens such as Worldcoin and World Liberty Financial. The company stated, “This adjustment aligns our platform with regulatory expectations and ensures safer trading for all users.”

The P2P shutdown represents the first clear wall for Nigeria’s crypto sandbox. Exchanges are now focusing on products that regulators can effectively monitor while maintaining liquidity and active trading for users in Nigeria’s developing crypto ecosystem.

Journalist

Posted: January 25, 2026

Bitcoin’s on-chain data highlighted a sharp behavioral split. As volatility rose, retail panic selling accelerated amid deeper drawdown fears.

Consequently, short-term holders sold below cost, locking in losses and reflecting bearish sentiment. During this phase, Short-Term Holder (STH) supply in loss expanded, confirming capitulation.

By contrast, whales accumulated steadily for several weeks. Wallets holding at least 1,000 BTC increased collective holdings by 104,340 BTC, a 1.5% rise.

That pushed total whale-held supply to 7.17 million BTC, marking a four-month high.

Source: X

Meanwhile, over $1 million in daily transfers hit a two-month high, signaling active accumulation. This dynamic implies smart-money absorption as retail exits exhaust.

STHs capitulate as realized losses remain elevated Bitcoin’s [BTC] Net Realized Profit and Loss analysis showed that the $4.5 billion realized loss did not occur in a single print but accumulated through repeated downside spikes.

This indicated prolonged stress rather than a single capitulation event.

As BTC price stalled near highs, distribution intensified. Consequently, losses expanded as short-term holders sold into drawdowns, driven by macro uncertainty, ETF outflows, and fading momentum.

Source: CryptoQuant

Historically, similar NRPL flushes appeared in 2018, 2020, and late 2022. Notably, the last comparable event saw Bitcoin near $28,000, followed by a long basing phase.

These losses correlate with capitulation. Recovery typically emerges once selling exhausts and accumulation absorbs supply.

Building on the spike in dollar-denominated NRPL, the 30-day realized net profit/loss in BTC terms adds clarity to who is selling and how.

The analysis showed the metric slipping below zero near late 2025, marking the first sustained negative print since September 2023.

Importantly, this selling is gradual, not abrupt, indicating pressure rather than panic.

Source: X

These losses largely come from short-term holders, as recent buyers sell below cost after failed breakouts above $90,000.

Macro uncertainty, ETF flow volatility, and leverage unwinds reinforce this behavior. As a result, supply caps upside and stalls price.

From a positioning perspective, bulls will have to monitor signs of loss and exhaustion, while bears remain focused on the persistence of distribution.

Range holds as losses shape structure Short-term holder loss realization continued to shape Bitcoin’s structure, keeping the price confined within a wide consolidation range.

Selling below cost added supply during rebounds, which limits breakouts above the $95,000-$100,000 resistance zone.

Source: TradingView

At the same time, selling pressure has eased near $85,000–88,000, where buyers have shown willingness to absorb supply.

This balance favored sideways price action rather than a sustained trend. A breakout would likely require realized losses to decline alongside stronger Spot demand.

On the downside, renewed increases in loss realization could weaken support and trigger another retest of lower levels.

Final Thoughts Bitcoin’s drawdown reflected short-term holder capitulation, with realized losses transferring supply toward whales that continued accumulating despite price stagnation. Persistent selling kept Bitcoin range-bound between $85,000–$88,000 support and $95,000–$100,000 resistance, leaving direction dependent on loss exhaustion and renewed Spot demand.

Dogecoin drops 11.8% to $0.1207 as macro uncertainty weighs on crypto markets. Technical indicators point to $0.116 support.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

25 January 2026, 06:01 PM

Dogecoin has extended its losing streak in the cryptocurrency market, dropping 11.8% over the past week to trade at $0.1207 on Sunday. The meme coin's decline reflects broader weakness across digital assets as investors pull back from risk amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding upcoming Federal Reserve policy decisions.

The token fell 2.41% in the past 24 hours, with trading volume plummeting 44% to $426 million. Market analysts point to deteriorating sentiment across altcoins as institutional and retail traders alike rotate capital away from speculative assets.

Macro Headwinds Trigger Risk-Off SentimentThe cryptocurrency sector faced renewed selling pressure over the weekend as traditional markets grappled with escalating trade tensions. Bitcoin declined to $88,700 while Ethereum dropped to $2,930, dragging smaller-cap digital assets lower.

President Donald Trump's threat to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods has intensified concerns about global trade stability. The announcement sent shockwaves through financial markets, prompting investors to reduce exposure to volatile assets.

Traders are now focused on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision scheduled for January 28. Expectations of hawkish commentary from central bank officials have dampened enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies and other growth-oriented investments.

The combination of trade war fears and monetary policy uncertainty has created an unfavorable environment for digital assets. Dogecoin, known for its high volatility and speculative nature, has been particularly vulnerable to the shift in market dynamics.

Cryptocurrency strategists note that macroeconomic instability typically reduces appetite for high-beta assets. Safe-haven instruments have attracted significant inflows as investors seek to preserve capital during periods of heightened uncertainty.

Technical Indicators Point to Further WeaknessDogecoin currently trades below its 30-day average price of $0.134, signaling sustained bearish momentum. The Relative Strength Index sits at 38.61, indicating downward pressure without reaching oversold territory.

The MACD histogram remains negative at -0.0018943, confirming the continuation of the downtrend. Price action has formed a pattern of lower highs and lower lows, suggesting additional downside risk in the near term.

Technical analysts identify $0.116 as the next potential support level based on recent swing lows. The absence of significant buying interest at current prices indicates limited conviction among market participants.

Chart patterns show no clear reversal signals, leaving bears in control of short-term price direction. Volume analysis reveals thinning liquidity, which could amplify price movements in either direction.

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Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

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The business of this online bank continues to thrive.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI 0.88%) has been a standout stock to own, up more than 355% over the past three years. Like most stocks, there's generally short-term movement that comes along the heels of its earnings reports, and that movement could go either way.

SoFi reports 2025 fourth-quarter and full-year results on Jan. 30. Should you buy the stock beforehand?

Image source: SoFi.

SoFi wants to be the one-stop shop for financial management SoFi was one of the earlier digital banks, and it has evolved from a student loan company into a complete financial management app. This strategy, which hinges on cross-selling new products to customers as their needs change, is leading to higher engagement and sales, and it implies a long growth runway.

Not only is the company growing, but it's accelerating as it scales. It onboarded record new customers for the past three quarters, breaking the previous record each time, and adjusted net revenue increased 38% year over year in the 2025 third quarter. All of its segments, which include lending, financial services, and the business-to-business tech platform, are growing by double digits. It's certainly benefiting from lower interest rates in the lending business, but the financial services segment, which is the non-lending business, is flying, with sales up 76% year over year in the quarter. All of this growth is leading to high profitability through scale, and with no physical storefronts that require costly real estate, it's managing costs efficiently.

Today's Change

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25.86

Everyone is banking online It's hard to believe SoFi won't report strong earnings on Jan. 30, but the market can be brutal depending on its expectations. Wall Street is expecting $0.11 in fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) and $0.36 for the full year. If it reports growth but doesn't meet expectations, the stock could drop.

There could be other reasons it drops, too, including management's guidance or other actions the market might not like, such as an acquisition or a divestiture.

SoFi has beaten EPS expectations for the past four quarters, and the market has reacted positively to its recent updates about product innovation. So the odds are in the stock's favor.

However, short-term movements shouldn't be all that important. More important are the long-term prospects. So if you buy today and the stock ends up going down, don't fret; the likelihood is that SoFi stock gains again in 2026, and it could be an excellent stock to own for the long term.