Market Signal Briefing

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

Nathaniel Chastain, a former product manager at OpenSea, will not face a retrial after federal prosecutors chose to drop their re-review of his insider trading case.

Reports say the US Attorney’s Office reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Chastain that will lead to dismissal of the charges once the agreement runs its course.

What Prosecutors Decided Prosecutors told a Manhattan federal court they would not retry Chastain following an appeals court ruling that tossed his earlier conviction.

Under the deferred prosecution deal, the government will dismiss the case about a month after notifying the court, and Chastain has agreed to forfeit roughly 15.98 ETH tied to the trades. He has already served three months in prison from his original sentence.

Nathaniel Chastain, former product manager at OpenSea, arrives at federal court in New York, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg How The Appeals Court Changed The Case According to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the jury in the first trial had been given the wrong instructions about what the wire fraud law covers.

The judges said confidential information only counts as property under the statute when it has commercial value to the employer, and jurors might otherwise convict someone for behavior that is unethical but not criminal. That legal point is at the heart of the reversal.

Reports note that prosecutors had called the matter the first-ever insider trading case tied to NFTs. Now, lower courts and enforcement teams will have to think carefully before using traditional fraud laws to police activity in NFT markets.

The ruling highlights a gap between old statutes and new kinds of online goods, which may push lawmakers to give clearer rules for how to treat confidential business signals related to crypto platforms.

BTCUSD currently trading at $88,903. Chart: TradingView OpenSea: The Case’s Earlier Chapters Chastain was first charged in mid-2022 after prosecutors said he bought certain NFTs before they were featured on OpenSea’s homepage, then sold them after prices rose.

He was convicted at trial in 2023 of wire fraud and money laundering and received a sentence that included three months behind bars. The US Attorney’s Office originally described the scheme as a novel use of insider knowledge in digital markets.

With the deferred prosecution agreement in place for OpenSea, prosecutors can close this chapter without a new trial.

Chastain’s forfeiture of crypto assets and his already served time mean the government has secured some remedy, while the appellate decision leaves open big questions about when private business information can be treated as property for federal fraud charges.

Legal teams, judges, and regulators are likely to keep a close eye on how similar cases are handled in the future.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter! For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

Christian, a journalist and editor with leadership roles in Philippine and Canadian media, is fueled by his love for writing and cryptocurrency. Off-screen, he's a cook and cinephile who's constantly intrigued by the size of the universe.

Grayscale Investments has taken another step in expanding crypto investment products by filing to launch a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) tied to BNB, the native token of the BNB Chain. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) submitted on Friday, the proposed product is called the Grayscale BNB Trust and would trade under the ticker symbol “GBNB.”

The filing was made through a Form S-1 registration statement, which represents the first formal step toward bringing a spot BNB ETF to the U.S. market. If approved, the fund would allow investors to gain exposure to BNB’s price movements without needing to directly purchase or custody the token. However, the ETF cannot proceed unless Nasdaq, the intended listing exchange, submits a corresponding Form 19b-4 and the SEC grants final approval, a process that has proven challenging for crypto-linked ETFs beyond bitcoin and ether.

BNB, formerly known as Binance Coin, plays a central role in the Binance ecosystem. It powers the BNB Chain, a blockchain network designed to support decentralized applications, smart contracts, and digital assets. BNB holders also receive trading fee discounts on Binance and can use the token for payments, including travel bookings and everyday purchases through the Binance Card. These use cases have helped keep BNB among the most widely used crypto assets globally.

Grayscale’s move follows a similar attempt by VanEck, which filed for a BNB ETF earlier this year. That proposal remains under review, and VanEck later amended its application to remove staking features, despite offering staking in its Solana ETF. Grayscale has also excluded staking from its BNB ETF proposal, reflecting continued regulatory uncertainty around staking services in the United States.

While European investors already have access to BNB exposure through products like 21Shares’ BNB ETP, no BNB ETF currently trades in the U.S. The filing adds to a growing wave of crypto ETF applications from Grayscale, which has recently pursued single-asset ETFs linked to tokens such as NEAR, signaling sustained institutional interest in expanding regulated crypto investment options.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

While bitcoin has been stuck pacing between $87,600 and $91,100 over the past few days, a sizable cluster of long-silent wallets dating back to the 2016–2017 vintage suddenly stirred, shifting 498 BTC valued at $44.6 million.

A banking application tied to World Liberty Financial Inc., a cryptocurrency firm partially owned by U.S. President Donald Trump, will continue through the standard regulatory process, according to the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The decision comes after U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren urged regulators to apply heightened scrutiny due to what she described as a significant conflict of interest involving the president and his family.

Jonathan Gould, the Comptroller of the Currency, formally rejected Warren’s request, stating that the OCC is legally obligated to review bank charter applications in a timely, neutral manner. In a letter sent to the Massachusetts senator, Gould emphasized that Congress has directed the agency to process applications without political interference. He added that the OCC intends to keep charter reviews “apolitical and nonpartisan,” focusing solely on whether applicants meet regulatory standards and compliance expectations.

World Liberty Financial is seeking approval for a trust bank charter, a route increasingly pursued by crypto firms aiming to operate within the traditional financial system. The application has drawn attention because of President Trump’s partial ownership stake in the company, raising questions about regulatory independence and ethics. Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, has been vocal in her criticism, arguing that federal agencies overseen by the Trump administration should not regulate a company linked to the president without additional safeguards.

In a statement responding to Gould’s decision, Warren said the OCC’s review process lacks credibility as long as Trump and his family retain financial ties to World Liberty Financial. She warned that such conflicts undermine public trust and insisted that any future crypto market structure legislation must include strict guardrails to prevent corruption.

Gould, who previously worked as an executive at blockchain firm Bitfury, has publicly defended crypto companies’ efforts to obtain trust charters, despite pushback from traditional banking institutions. His stance reflects a broader regulatory debate over how digital asset firms should be integrated into the U.S. banking system.

As scrutiny of crypto regulation, political influence, and banking oversight intensifies, the World Liberty Financial application is likely to remain a focal point in the ongoing clash between lawmakers and financial regulators over transparency, ethics, and the future of crypto banking in the United States.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

The XRP price may be preparing for a long-overdue recovery, as a crypto analyst has just highlighted a critical area that could flip the cryptocurrency’s downward momentum into a bullish one. According to the market expert, XRP must reclaim the Ichimoku Base before it can resume its upside to new levels. 

XRP Price Recovery To Resume Above Ichimoku Base Market analyst Xaif Crypto took to X this Thursday to deliver a fresh weekly update on XRP as the cryptocurrency enters a pivotal technical area after months of downside pressure. The accompanying chart shows price retreating from a prior peak in late 2024 and sliding back into a clearly marked demand zone in the blue box. 

According to the analyst, the recent retreat follows a clear downtrend, with lower highs pushing price back toward a previous consolidation zone. This blue-box area represents the main battleground, as prior trading activity built a base that could act as support if XRP revisits that level. 

So far, XRP appears to be stabilizing within this demand zone. Candles on the chart show hesitation and reduced selling pressure. The chart also draws attention to an Ichimoku structure, with XRP attempting to reclaim its Ichimoku Base. According to Xaif Crypto, this base will determine XRP’s next big move.

Source: Chart from Xaif Crypto on X The analyst has suggested that reclaiming this level could signal a potential shift in market sentiment. He disclosed that a strong close above it could favor upside continuation, weakening the ongoing downtrend and giving buyers more room to target upper resistance levels. Conversely, Xaif Crypto predicts that a break below the Ichimoku Base would likely lead to a deeper correction for XRP, as support would be lost and selling could accelerate. 

For now, XRP sits at a make-or-break level that could decide whether it recovers from its current slump. Xaif Crypto’s chart has outlined potential targets if the cryptocurrency manages to reclaim and hold above the Ichimoku Base. Currently hovering around $1.95, XRP faces potential bullish targets at $2.09, $2.20, $2.31, and $2.45. The analyst has also highlighted that traders and investors should closely watch the weekly close for confirmation of a sustained recovery.  

Analyst Says XRP Is Planning A Major Reversal Despite dropping below $2 earlier this week, analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s price outlook. According to market expert Crypto GVR, XRP could be attempting a major price reversal from the $1-$1.5 range. Based on his chart analysis, the analyst predicts that XRP could decline first from its current price around $1.95 to roughly $1.13 before rebounding sharply to new highs.

He has set a bullish target at $3.25. marking the next upside for XRP. If XRP were to crash to $1.13 and then surge to $3.25, this would represent a staggering 187% increase in value. 

XRP trading at $1.91 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Silver surged to a historic all-time high of $101 in January 2026, marking one of the strongest commodity rallies in decades and outperforming gold and most global assets. This breakout has been building for months and accelerated sharply as macroeconomic uncertainty intensified. While Bitcoin has not mirrored silver’s explosive move yet, the divergence offers important clues about where crypto markets could be heading next.

Silver’s rally is rooted in fundamentals rather than pure speculation. Global investors have shifted decisively into defensive positioning amid escalating geopolitical tensions, renewed trade disputes, and mounting concerns over US fiscal sustainability. In risk-off environments, capital traditionally seeks safety in hard assets, and silver has emerged as a prime beneficiary of this flight to stability.

Falling real interest rate expectations have further fueled silver’s momentum. Markets are increasingly pricing in multiple Federal Reserve rate cuts later in 2026, pushing real yields lower and weakening the US dollar. Since silver does not generate yield, lower real rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding it, while a softer dollar boosts international demand.

Structural supply constraints have amplified the rally. The silver market has been in a persistent supply deficit for years, largely because most silver is produced as a by-product of other mining operations. With limited supply flexibility and recent US designation of silver as a critical mineral prompting strategic stockpiling, rising demand has translated quickly into higher prices. Adding to this dynamic is silver’s growing industrial importance in solar energy, electric vehicles, power grids, data centers, and advanced electronics, making it both a safe haven and a strategic commodity.

Bitcoin’s relative underperformance is historically consistent. During periods of acute uncertainty, investors typically prioritize traditional safe havens before turning to alternative monetary hedges. Bitcoin often lags gold and silver, consolidating while markets remain in a fear-driven, risk-off phase. In past cycles, Bitcoin has tended to rally later, once concerns shift from immediate risk to currency debasement and liquidity expansion.

Silver’s all-time high may not signal an immediate Bitcoin breakout, but it could be laying the groundwork. Sustained metal strength has often preceded major Bitcoin rallies by weeks or months. If actual rate cuts materialize, the US dollar continues to weaken, or fiscal stress intensifies, Bitcoin could transition from a risk asset narrative to a monetary hedge, potentially setting the stage for its next significant move.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

TLDR

The SPACE token begins trading on BitMart on January 23 at 13:00 UTC with an initial circulating supply of 10.25%. The distribution plan includes an airdrop of 11% of the total supply, divided into two strategic seasons for users. Spacecoin aims to democratize decentralized satellite internet with low-cost rates in underserved regions. This Friday, the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) ecosystem celebrates a major achievement. The highly anticipated SPACE token airdrop debuts on BitMart, allowing investors to access Spacecoin’s native asset following the opening of deposits and the official start of trading scheduled for 13:00 UTC.

#BitMart announces the primary listing of Spacecoin ($SPACE) @spacecoin 🔥

Spacecoin is building the first decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) for space telecommunications. By decoupling hardware ownership from network operation, we are creating a free-market… pic.twitter.com/pRZRkiMb4S

— BitMart (@BitMartExchange) January 23, 2026 This Token Generation Event (TGE) puts 2.15 billion units into circulation, representing 10.25% of a total fixed supply of 21 billion. To ensure healthy liquidity, the project is coordinating exchange support and partial unlocks intended for early network participants.

Regarding the rewards structure, the team has allocated 11% of the total supply to users. Season 1 distributes 1.05 billion tokens to early “Spacecoin Cadets” and Creditcoin holders, with an initial 25% unlock and the remainder distributed over the next three months.

Global Expansion and Spacecoin Ecosystem Utility Beyond financial speculation, the project positions itself as a low-cost satellite internet network. Spacecoin plans to offer connectivity in countries such as Nigeria, Indonesia, and Kenya, with prices ranging between $1 and $2 per month, utilizing its own satellites already in operation.

The token’s utility is vital, as it will be used for satellite node rewards, VPN services, and ecosystem grants. Furthermore, the recent partnership with the WLFI protocol, backed by the Trump family, will integrate the USD1 stablecoin to facilitate payments within the future network.

In summary, for the remainder of 2026, the roadmap includes the launch of staking features and new agreements with governments and telecommunications companies. These strategic moves seek to consolidate Spacecoin’s presence as the SPACE token airdrop debuts on BitMart, marking the first step toward mass adoption.

Grayscale has filed paperwork to add another crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) to its lineup — this time tracking crypto exchange Binance’s blockchain. Grayscale’s filing, which also leaves out staking rewards, marks the second attempt to bring a BNB ETF to the US market.

Grayscale Files For BNB ETF Grayscale has asked US regulators for permission to list an exchange-traded fund (ETF) holding BNB.

The asset manager submitted an S-1 document with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday for a BNB ETF, becoming the second prospective issuer to file for such a fund in the U.S following a similar bid from VanEck in May 2025. 

BNB is the native token for the BNB Chain, launched in 2017 by crypto giant Binance. It’s currently the fourth-biggest crypto by market cap at around $122.7 billion, according to CoinGecko data. Investors use BNB to pay transaction fees on the BNB Smart Chain, participate in on-chain governance, and receive trading fee discounts on Binance, among other use cases.

If approved, the Grayscale BNB ETF would be listed on the Nasdaq exchange and would trade under the ticker symbol GBNB. GBNB aims to give investors regulated exposure to BNB without needing them to custody the token themselves.

Advertisement  

According to the regulatory filing, Bank of New York Mellon would serve as the transfer agent, and Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC, would serve as the custodian.

Grayscale’s application follows VanEck’s proposal to launch its own BNB ETF, which is still awaiting the SEC’s sign-off. Notably, VanEck quietly scraped staking plans for its BNB product, despite offering staking in its recently launched Solana (SOL) ETF. Grayscale’s proposal also excludes staking, a move that may reflect ongoing regulatory risks around the activity in the United States.

Notably, the Friday filing underscores Grayscale’s broader strategy to expand its roster of crypto investment vehicles following the approval and successful launches of spot Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP ETFs in the US amid a more lenient U.S. regulatory environment for digital assets under the President Trump administration.

contributor

Posted: January 24, 2026

Arbitrum [ARB], an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, dropped over 15% in a week, at press time. Despite persistent volatility, native bridge volume surged, signaling significant capital inflows.

However, ARB fell below key support levels, leaving investors uncertain about a potential rebound or further downside.

$17M native bridge inflows signal… On the 23rd of January, ARB saw $17 million flow into its native bridge, with institutional players positioning for a potential recovery. 

Source: X

The 14.66% daily surge in bridge volume underscored rising investor interest. However, despite this increase, the token slipped below its multi‑month support range from November 2025 and has struggled to reclaim that level.

Source: TradingView

At press time, the MACD indicator showed weakness, pointing to further downside risk if ARB couldn’t recover. While the RSI indicated oversold conditions, often a sign of potential rebound, the market’s direction remained uncertain.

Could this sharp drop signal a bottom, or is more downside ahead?

Whale orders clustered around $0.17 CryptoQuant’s data revealed that whale orders had clustered around the $0.17 dip, indicating that large investors were positioning at these lower levels, likely anticipating a potential reversal.

Whale activity often precedes price shifts, but it was still uncertain whether retail investors would follow suit.

Source: CryptoQuant

Did whale positioning signal a reversal, or was the downtrend set to continue?

Reversal setup or continuation of the downtrend? With whale activity and strong inflows, $ARB appeared to be setting up for a reversal.

However, broader market sentiment remained a risk, and reclaiming support levels would be crucial for any upward momentum. Without this, further consolidation or deeper declines were possible.

Was Arbitrum setting up for positive repricing, or was the downtrend destined to continue?

Final Thoughts: ARB dropped 15% and broke below its multi-month support range, but whale activity and bridge inflows suggested a potential reversal. Watching whether the breakdown was a fakeout was crucial to avoid catching a falling knife.

TLDR: Bitcoin’s current $89,900 price sits 26% below calculated fair value of $121,600 per mathematical models. Mean-reversion analysis shows 133-day half-life pattern where markets close 50% of gap exponentially. Fair value rises daily independent of price action, creating compounding acceleration during recovery phases. Historical data indicates major pricing deviations typically resolve within seven to eleven month periods. Bitcoin trades at approximately $89,320 as of writing, creating a significant gap against its calculated fair value of $121,600. Market analyst David highlights this $31,700 differential stems from mathematical factors rather than market fundamentals. 

The deviation follows a predictable pattern based on historical data spanning 14 years. Price recovery operates through exponential decay rather than linear progression.

Power-Law Trajectory Reveals Growing Price Tension Bitcoin operates as a growing network following a power-law trajectory, not random price movements. This mathematical framework establishes fair value at $121,600 while actual trading sits 26% below that benchmark. 

David points out in his analysis that “the market isn’t broken. It’s mispriced by ~$31,700 per coin. The error is mathematical, not emotional.”

Fair value increases daily regardless of price action. Flat prices don’t signal stagnation but rather accumulating tension between actual and theoretical values. 

According to the analyst, “flat price does not mean no progress. It means tension is building.” The current position places buyers at $0.74 per dollar of fair value.

How the $31,000 Bitcoin Mispricing Closes
The 133-Day Half-Life Rule

Bitcoin is ~$89,900. 643 days post-halving.

In prior cycles, this was the fireworks phase. Now it’s quiet. The narrative says the cycle broke.

That conclusion is wrong. The market isn’t broken.
It’s mispriced… pic.twitter.com/ZZhMihwioS

— David 🇺🇸 (@david_eng_mba) January 23, 2026

The 643-day post-halving period typically marks heightened volatility in previous cycles. Current quiet conditions contrast sharply with historical patterns. 

This divergence fuels narratives claiming structural breaks in Bitcoin’s cyclical behavior. Mathematical analysis suggests otherwise.

Price compression continues building while fair value advances independently. The resulting spring-like tension compounds over time. 

David explains that “silence does not mean nothing is happening” as observable stagnation masks underlying mathematical forces preparing for correction.

Mean Reversion Process Shows 133-Day Half-Life Pattern Historical deviations from Bitcoin’s power-law trend demonstrate consistent decay patterns. Analysis using Ornstein-Uhlenbeck mean-reversion modeling reveals a 133-day half-life for closing gaps. 

The analyst notes “every ~133 days, the market closes ~50% of the remaining gap to trend. Not linearly. Exponentially.”

The first half-life period reduces the $31,700 gap to approximately $15,800. Meanwhile, fair value grows to $135,000 during this timeframe. 

Implied pricing reaches $119,200, delivering 32% appreciation while maintaining undervaluation. Recovery follows exponential curves rather than straight-line paths.

Second half-life calculations at 266 days show remaining gaps shrinking to $7,900. Fair value projections reach $148,000 at this juncture. 

Price estimates climb to $140,100 as trend momentum dominates declining deviation. Acceleration increases despite narrowing gaps.

Third half-life projections at 399 days reduce mispricing to approximately $4,000. Fair value extends to $162,000 under these conditions. 

Implied prices approach $158,000 as mathematical errors effectively disappear. Pure trend drift becomes the primary driver beyond this point.

Historical data confirms major pricing errors typically resolve within seven to eleven months. The mathematical framework operates independently of short-term volatility. 

David summarizes that “Bitcoin is unpredictable in the short term because variance overwhelms drift” while systematic forces prevail across extended timeframes.

TLDR Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2064, allowing state employees to receive salaries in bitcoin. The bill permits vendors contracting with the state to choose bitcoin payments on a per-transaction basis. Private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma can negotiate payments in bitcoin under the proposed legislation. The bill exempts bitcoin-native businesses from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements. The Oklahoma State Treasurer will select a provider for processing bitcoin payments by January 1, 2027. Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced a bill allowing state employees, vendors, private businesses, and residents to negotiate payments in bitcoin. Senate Bill 2064, introduced by Senator Dusty Deevers, establishes a legal framework for using bitcoin as a medium of exchange. The bill clarifies that it does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on states coining money, positioning bitcoin as a financial instrument.

Oklahoma State Employees Can Choose Bitcoin for Salary Payments Senate Bill 2064 allows Oklahoma state employees to receive their wages in Bitcoin. Employees can choose to receive compensation in bitcoin based on its market value at the beginning of the pay period or at the time of payment. This payment option would be available on a per-pay period basis, allowing employees to adjust their preferences.

Employees can also choose to receive their salary in U.S. dollars or a combination of both. Payments will be deposited either into a self-hosted wallet or a third-party custodial account designated by the employee. This flexibility allows employees to make decisions based on their preferences and the fluctuating market value of Bitcoin.

Under the proposed legislation, vendors contracting with Oklahoma can choose to receive payments in bitcoin on a per-transaction basis. The value of these payments will be determined by bitcoin’s market price at the time of the transaction, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. This provision provides flexibility for businesses working with the state.

The bill also reduces regulatory barriers for bitcoin-native businesses. Firms that deal exclusively with digital assets and do not exchange them for U.S. dollars would be exempt from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements. This aims to encourage the growth of businesses working with digital assets while reducing regulatory burdens.

Private Businesses and Residents in Oklahoma Can Negotiate Payments in Bitcoin Beyond state payroll and procurement, Senate Bill 2064 allows private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma to negotiate payments in bitcoin. This legislation aims to integrate bitcoin into Oklahoma’s broader economy, allowing businesses to engage in transactions using the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin would serve as a voluntary medium of exchange for private parties in the state.

The bill’s provisions seek to reduce the friction for Bitcoin-based businesses. It allows for easier transactions and fosters an environment where businesses and individuals can choose to use Bitcoin without excessive regulation. The move reflects growing interest in cryptocurrency as an alternative payment method.

If enacted, the legislation will take effect on November 1, 2026. The Oklahoma State Treasurer will be tasked with selecting a provider to process bitcoin payments for state employees and vendors by January 1, 2027.

China’s DeepSeek AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Cardano and Solana By the End of 2026 Cardano Solana XRP

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Tim Hakki

Web 3 Journalist

Tim Hakki

Part of the Team Since

Feb 2024

About Author

A journalist and copywriter with a decade's experience across music, video games, finance and tech.

Has Also Written

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Last updated: 

14 minutes ago

China’s ChatGPT-grade LLM, DeepSeek AI, has released striking price forecasts for XRP, Cardano, and Solana as the crypto market looks ahead to 2026.

According to the model, a prolonged bull market, backed by clearer, more supportive regulation in the United States, could propel top altcoins to new all-time highs in the next phase of the cycle.

Here’s DeepSeek AI’s projected outlook for three of the most closely watched cryptocurrencies over the coming year.

XRP ($XRP): DeepSeek AI Projects XRP at $10 by 2027Ripple’s XRP ($XRP) entered 2026 with solid momentum, gaining 19% in the first week of the year. From its current price of $1.89, DeepSeek AI believes a fully developed bull market could lift XRP to $10 by the end of 2026, implying upside of roughly 430%, or more than 5x returns.

Source: DeepSeekXRP ranked among the strongest-performing large-cap cryptocurrencies last year. In July, it posted its first fresh all-time high (ATH) in seven years, climbing to $3.65 after Ripple secured a pivotal legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

That ruling significantly reduced regulatory uncertainty surrounding XRP and helped calm concerns that the SEC might intensify enforcement actions across the broader altcoin market. Sentiment was further boosted by the return of pro-crypto Donald Trump to the White House, injecting renewed optimism into the sector.

Technically, XRP’s Relative Strength Index is sitting near 43. Since early January, price action has been shaping a partial bullish flag formation. If that pattern completes amid favorable macro conditions and regulatory clarity, it could light a fuse that would easily send XRP to DeepSeek AI’s upper $10 projection.

Strengthening the bullish narrative, newly approved spot XRP ETFs in the U.S. are beginning to draw capital from traditional finance, echoing the sustained institutional inflows seen following the launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

Cardano (ADA): DeepSeek AI Sees ADA Surging 3,200%Cardano ($ADA) is one of the most academically rigorous blockchain projects in crypto. Founded by Ethereum co-creator Charles Hoskinson, the platform emphasizes peer-reviewed research, robust security, scalability, and long-term viability.

Source: DeepSeekWith a market capitalization above $13.3 billion and more than $164 million in TVL across its ecosystem, Cardano remains a notable competitor to Ethereum. Consistent developer engagement and a steadily expanding decentralized application ecosystem continue to support its long-term adoption outlook.

DeepSeek AI forecasts that ADA could climb to $12 by early 2026. From its current level near $0.36, that move would represent gains of approximately 3,233%, decisively quadrupling its previous ATH of $3.09 set during the 2021 bull market.

That said, ADA is currently trading at its lowest price since October 2024. If macroeconomic conditions worsen and the crypto sector lacks positive catalysts, additional downside may occur over the year.

However, such a scenario appears less likely, as digital asset regulation remains a priority topic for U.S. lawmakers.

Solana (SOL): DeepSeek AI Targets $600 for SOLSolana ($SOL) continues to rank among the fastest-growing smart contract platforms in the crypto industry. The network supports roughly $8.2 billion in total value locked and carries a market capitalization exceeding $72.5 billion, alongside rapidly rising developer and user activity.

Source: DeepSeekInterest in SOL has accelerated following the rollout of Solana-focused ETFs from asset managers including Bitwise and Grayscale.

After a sharp correction late in 2025, SOL has been consolidating within a key support zone and is currently trading near $128. A sustained breakout may depend on Bitcoin reclaiming the $100,000 level, a milestone many analysts expect sooner rather than later.

In DeepSeek AI’s most bullish scenario, Solana could surge to $600 by 2027. That would translate to roughly 369% upside from current levels and double SOL’s previous ATH of $293, recorded last January.

Growing institutional adoption also reinforces Solana’s long-term prospects. Increasing use of the network for real-world asset tokenization by firms such as Franklin Templeton and BlackRock highlights Solana’s expanding role within traditional finance.

Maxi Doge (MAXI): A Meme Coin Built for Extreme Price SwingsBeyond DeepSeek AI’s forecasts, the crypto presale market continues to attract traders searching for the next breakout.

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) has quickly become one of January’s most talked-about meme coin presales, raising more than $4.5 million ahead of its anticipated exchange listings.

The project delivers an exaggerated, gym-bro parody of Dogecoin. Bold, unapologetic, and deliberately degenerate, Maxi Doge fully embraces the raw meme energy that originally drove meme coins into the mainstream.

After years of Dogecoin’s dominance, Maxi Doge is cultivating its own Maxi Doge Army, united by meme culture, high-risk trading strategies, and a shared appetite for extreme volatility.

MAXI is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network, giving it a lower environmental footprint than Dogecoin’s proof-of-work design.

Presale buyers can stake their tokens for yields of up to 69% APY, although returns decline as more users enter the pool. MAXI is currently selling for $0.0002795 in the latest presale round, with automatic price increases scheduled at each new funding stage. Interested investors can purchase using MetaMask or Best Wallet.

Say goodbye to Dogecoin. Maxi Doge is the new dog in town!

Stay updated through Maxi Doge’s official X and Telegram pages.

Visit the Official Website Here

XRP hits 'Extreme Fear' as price slides below $2.00The retail cohort is entering a state of full-scale capitulation on XRP.

Market sentiment. Social sentiment around XRP has flipped to “Extreme Fear” following a sharp 19% correction from its Jan. 5 year-to-date high.According to the latest social sentiment data, XRP has fallen into "Extreme Fear" territory. This comes after a disappointing 19% correction from its year-to-date highs on January 5. The drop has soured the mood among small retail traders. They went from euphoria to pessimism within less than three weeks. 

Since peaking near $2.40 in the first week of January, XRP has bled value. The popular altcoin recently plunged back under the psychological $2.00 mark.

HOT Stories

Contrarian signal. If this pattern repeats, the current fear-heavy environment could mark a local bottom.However, seasoned market watchers note that such extreme negative sentiment often acts as a counter-indicator. Historically, when the "crowd" consensus leans heavily bearish, prices have a tendency to move in the opposite direction. Late shorts end up being squeezed. 

If history repeats, the current wave of pessimism could mark a local bottom, setting the stage for XRP to challenge resistance levels once the fear subsides.

SHIB volume collapses, signaling market apathy Shiba Inu volumes at yearly lows following an abrupt end of accumulation that was present recently.

Volume down. Shiba Inu trading volume has dropped to its lowest level of 2026, marking the weakest participation seen on the chart this year.The price is not enough to conceal the issue Shiba Inu is facing. More information about the current condition of the asset can be found in the fact that trading volume has fallen to its lowest point in 2026 than any candle on the chart.

By SHIB's standards, activity is essentially nonexistent, indicating a blatant lack of conviction on the part of both buyers and sellers. Instead of trading, at the moment, SHIB is drifting. 

No accumulation. This behavior is typically associated with an asset losing attention, not one preparing for a decisive breakout.Reactions to market movements are muted, price fluctuations are small and volatility is decreasing. 

Rather than when an asset is getting ready for an aggressive breakout, this type of behavior typically manifests when it loses focus. SHIB continued to maintain at least moderate participation — even during prior pullbacks. 

The volume has nearly vanished this time. Context is important, but low volume is not always bullish or bearish. In the case of SHIB, volume did not compress during accumulation at a distinct bottom or following a robust rally.

Dogecoin eyes Bollinger Band breakout as volume and momentum improveDOGE is still trading below a crucial support, but there are indications of a potential 30% breakout.

30% volatility. Dogecoin is trading between its lower Bollinger Band at $0.1226 and upper band at $0.1554, implying a volatility range of roughly 30%.Dogecoin’s lower Bollinger Bands show the meme coin’s price at $0.1226, while the upper bands sit at $0.1554. If market forces align and ecosystem bulls support the meme coin, a rally is possible. Notably, the difference between the lower and upper Bollinger Bands is approximately 30%. 

Thus, if DOGE breaks by at least this percentage, the asset could climb over $0.16. Within the last 24 hours, Dogecoin has climbed from a low of $0.1207 to $0.1285. This suggests that the meme coin is in a bullish mode and could continue on this momentum. 

The trading volume has also soared by 5.39% to $1.38 billion as investors rekindle interest in the meme coin amid a market rebound. The crypto market is posting a notable recovery and has climbed by 1.79% in the last 24 hours.

Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, questioned whether Bitcoin’s rally toward $95,000 is a genuine recovery or a “countertrend trap.” The executive warned that the asset’s momentum curve is an extreme outlier, suggesting that a Bitcoin rebalancing risk is necessary before establishing a definitive floor. While gold hits new highs as a haven against global monetary expansion, the pioneer crypto shows signs of institutional exhaustion.

Gold has continued to perform extremely well amid this evolving global world order. It also has beenkeeping up with the ever-expanding global money supply, which now sits at $116.5 trillion and growing at an 11.4% annual rate.

And Bitcoin? It’s hard to know whether the… pic.twitter.com/oniXJPpvDk

— Jurrien Timmer (@TimmerFidelity) January 23, 2026 The current context is marked by a global money supply of $116.5 trillion, a landscape where gold has successfully fulfilled its protective role. In contrast, Timmer points out that interest in Bitcoin futures has dropped substantially and inflows into ETFs have cooled. This divergence reinforces the thesis that the recent price velocity was unusual, demanding an adjustment in investor portfolios to balance risk against traditional assets.

Traders will be watching whether Bitcoin manages to maintain support at $95,000 or if a deeper correction toward lower levels is confirmed. The next step is to monitor system liquidity and whether institutional capital continues to rotate into gold. The financial community remains attentive to these indicators to determine if the crypto market has truly moved past its corrective phase or if the positioning adjustment is only just beginning.

Source:https://x.com/TimmerFidelity/status/2014775144879948018

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News is prepared from official and public sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to provide rapid reporting on relevant facts within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations. We recommend always verifying the official channels of each project before making related decisions.

TLDR Bitcoin ETFs experienced four consecutive days of outflows, with $32.11 million withdrawn on January 22. Despite the short-term outflows, Bitcoin ETFs have accumulated $56.60 billion in net inflows, showing strong long-term investor interest. BlackRock’s IBIT fund led the withdrawals with a $22.35 million net outflow, followed by Fidelity at $9.76 million. Despite the negative price movements, Bitcoin ETFs saw a daily trading volume of $3.30 billion on January 22. Grayscale, Bitwise, and Ark & 21Shares Bitcoin ETFs showed flat capital flows, indicating a more selective outflow trend. The U.S. Bitcoin ETF ecosystem has faced continued pressure, with Bitcoin ETFs experiencing a fourth straight day of net outflows. Despite this short-term downturn, the cumulative net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs remain strong, indicating that investor interest in the sector is far from dissipating. This market trend signals growing caution amid a broader market slowdown.

Bitcoin ETFs Experience Four Consecutive Days of Outflows The Bitcoin ETF market has seen persistent outflows over the past four days, with January 22 marking another day of losses. According to data from SosoValue, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a daily outflow of $32.11 million during their last trading session. The ongoing withdrawals have contributed to a bearish short-term trend in the market.

These outflows are a reflection of the broader slowdown in the cryptocurrency market, as investor sentiment appears to weaken. Despite this, Bitcoin ETFs still manage to hold substantial net inflows, suggesting that the market’s current weakness might be temporary. As a result, long-term interest in Bitcoin ETFs remains intact, despite recent struggles.

Despite the steady outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, the total net inflows remain strong at $56.60 billion. This figure suggests that the recent downturn may have been driven by temporary market conditions rather than a loss of long-term investor confidence. On January 22, for example, Bitcoin ETFs experienced a drop in value, but the total trading volume for the day still reached $3.30 billion.

The consistent participation of investors in Bitcoin ETFs highlights the sector’s resilience, even amid cautious market sentiments. Although Bitcoin has faced some negative price movements, investor activity remains active, with substantial capital still in play. This shows that Bitcoin ETFs continue to be an attractive investment for many, despite short-term market fluctuations.

BlackRock and Fidelity Lead the Way in Outflows BlackRock’s IBIT fund led the way in the outflows on January 22, recording a $22.35 million net outflow. Fidelity also faced significant withdrawals, with $9.76 million exiting its fund on the same day. Despite these outflows, other Bitcoin ETFs, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and Ark & 21Shares, experienced no significant changes in their capital flows.

These withdrawals from BlackRock and Fidelity contributed to the broader trend of outflows in the Bitcoin ETF market. However, other Bitcoin ETF products held steady, indicating that the market may be seeing selective withdrawals rather than a widespread exit from Bitcoin-focused investments.

TL;DR

Ripple renewed its institutional custody partnership with Garanti BBVA Kripto in Turkey. The partnership uses Ripple Custody to secure XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum for clients. Turkey’s high crypto adoption makes it a key market for regulated services. Ripple reinforces its footprint in Turkey after renewing a custody partnership with Garanti BBVA Kripto, the digital asset unit of Garanti BBVA. The updated agreement keeps Ripple’s institutional custody infrastructure at the center of asset protection for XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, serving both retail and institutional clients. Turkey ranks among the most active crypto markets worldwide, and regulated platforms continue to attract strong demand across the country.

Garanti BBVA Kripto now supports millions of users who rely on compliant access to digital assets. The renewal confirms continuity rather than experimentation. Ripple supplies custody tools designed for scale, while the bank maintains direct control over client relationships and regulatory obligations. The arrangement reflects a shared priority around security, operational clarity, and institutional readiness.

At the technical level, the partnership relies on Ripple Custody, deployed alongside IBM-backed infrastructure. The setup combines advanced encryption, Hardware Security Modules, and a governance model that removes single points of failure. Garanti BBVA Kripto delivers bank-grade asset protection while preserving flexibility for transfers and settlement, a requirement that grows more relevant as larger players enter crypto markets.

Turkey stands out as a key market for regulated crypto services Turkey presents a unique backdrop for digital asset adoption. Persistent inflation, currency pressure, and a large base of tech-savvy users drive steady interest in crypto products. Banks increasingly look for regulated infrastructure rather than informal platforms.

The renewed agreement also strengthens XRP’s role as an institutionally supported asset in emerging markets. Banks across similar regions search for compliant tools that integrate with existing operations. Ripple’s presence inside Garanti BBVA Kripto places its technology within a regulated banking environment, reinforcing credibility among institutional participants.

The deal fits into Ripple’s broader effort to operate as a global provider of custody and banking infrastructure during 2026. Ripple has already deployed comparable custody frameworks with BBVA entities in Spain and Switzerland. Such alignment across the banking group creates operational consistency and simplifies internal processes for cross-border services.

On January 21, 2026, Ripple announced a separate alliance with DXC Technology, integrating Ripple Custody with the Hogan core banking platform. The integration reduces technical friction for large banks that want digital asset support without rebuilding internal systems. Together, partnerships of this type show Ripple acting as an infrastructure supplier rather than a retail-facing brand.

Garanti BBVA Kripto continues to widen asset coverage as client demand grows. Since launching a crypto pilot during 2023, the platform has added USDC, AVAX, and SOL alongside core assets such as XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. The broader selection reflects measured expansion within a regulated framework.

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

The XRP Ledger has moved one step closer to a major structural upgrade after validators voted in favor of Permissioned Domains. The amendment has now entered its two-week activation window, which is the standard process on the network before new features go live.  The change may sound technical on the surface, but it carries implications for how XRP-based infrastructure could be used by institutions operating under regulatory frameworks.

Validators Vote Yes On Permissioned Domains According to commentary shared on X by Vincent Van Code, the amendment introducing Permissioned Domains has received enough validator support to pass. Vincent Van Code is a widely followed software engineer in the community. Amendments on the XRP ledger require sustained validator consensus before activation, meaning this approval reflects alignment across a large portion of the network’s validator set. 

Particularly, amendments on the XRP Ledger require over 80% consensus from trusted validators to hold for two consecutive weeks before activating. This process ensures network-wide agreement, preventing forced changes by any single entity. If support drops below the 80% threshold, the amendment is temporarily rejected, and the two-week period restarts.

As it stands, the consensus on permissioned domains is at 85.29%, and the expected time of approval is on February 4, 2026. Once the two-week waiting period concludes, the permissioned domains feature will become active at the protocol level. 

This means developers and institutions will no longer be building applications through off-chain workarounds or private chains. Developers will now be able to start building applications that rely on controlled access rules directly on the public XRP ledger.

How Permissioned Domains Change What Can Be Built On XRPL According to the XRP Ledger website, permissioned domains are controlled environments within the broader ecosystem of the XRP Ledger blockchain. Anyone can define a permissioned domain in the ledger. That person becomes the owner of that domain and can update its settings or delete it. 

Permissioned Domains introduce a way to create gated environments on the XRP Ledger, where participation is limited to accounts holding specific verifiable credentials. Instead of every address being treated equally by default, certain activities can now be restricted to verified participants only, without altering the open nature of the base ledger. According to Vincent Van Code, this unlocks institutional use cases by restricting access to accounts with specific verifiable credentials. 

This capability opens the door to permissioned decentralized exchanges where regulated trading of tokenized securities, stablecoins, real-world assets, and even FX instruments can occur among compliant counterparties. The same framework also supports controlled lending protocols, restricted liquidity pools, and treasury operations that only approved entities can access.

The vote on permissioned domains plays into a growing trend of institutional entry into the XRP Ledger. While talking at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, Ripple’s CEO discussed increasing integration of the XRP Ledger technology with global financial infrastructure, including stronger engagement with banking partners and tokenization efforts. 

Bears push down on price | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter! For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I'm Sandra White, a writer at Bitcoinist, and I provide the latest updates on the world of cryptocurrencies. I believe crypto a gateway to a new order and I have made it my life's mission to help educate as much people as possible. When I'm not at work, I love listening to music, learning new things, and dream of traveling around the world.

TL;DR

Ethereum’s price fell 12% this week, but network activity hit record highs after an upgrade. Institutional firm Bitmine Immersion continues to accumulate ETH, signaling long-term confidence. Analysts point to improved network fundamentals and supportive macro factors for a positive outlook. Ethereum (ETH) has faced downward pressure over the past week, trading near $2,912 in U.S. morning hours on Friday and marking a 12% drop week-over-week. Year-to-date, the cryptocurrency is down 1.7%, reflecting the broader market’s retracement from early 2026 highs. Despite the short-term pullback, analysts highlight factors supporting continued interest and potential gains.

Geoff Kendrick of Standard Chartered pointed to the surge in Ethereum on-chain transactions, which have reached record highs following the December Fusaka upgrade. The update eased capacity limitations that had constrained network activity, allowing more transactions and interaction from developers and users alike. Unlike previous upgrades, the Fusaka enhancement has produced measurable improvements in daily activity, suggesting that network fundamentals are strengthening.

Kendrick also highlighted Bitmine Immersion’s ongoing ETH purchases Led by Tom Lee, the firm remains committed to expanding its holdings, signaling confidence in Ethereum’s medium- and long-term prospects. Lee outlined plans for further acquisitions at Bitmine Immersion’s recent annual meeting, reinforcing the narrative of sustained institutional demand.

Macro developments add to the bullish outlook. The resolution of tariff-related uncertainties in Greenland, the rebound of the Japanese bond market after midweek volatility, and rising expectations that Rick Rieder of BlackRock could become the next Federal Reserve chair all support risk assets. According to Kendrick, a Rieder-led Fed would pursue policies that maintain higher economic activity, which could indirectly benefit cryptocurrencies and other risk-sensitive markets.

Weekend positioning may offer favorable risk/reward Given network growth and institutional commitment, Kendrick suggested that holding ETH and Bitmine Immersion shares into the weekend presents a favorable risk/reward scenario. He emphasized that the combination of robust on-chain activity and consistent buying pressure differentiates the current market environment from past volatile episodes.

Despite recent price declines, Ethereum’s underlying network demonstrates strong user engagement. Transaction counts reaching all-time highs indicate that demand for the blockchain’s services is increasing even as market sentiment softens. Combined with continued institutional accumulation, this creates a foundation for potential price stabilization and renewed upward momentum.

TLDR:

The BTC/Gold ratio fell to 18.5 ounces per unit, its lowest level since November 2023. Gold reached highs near $4,888, while Bitcoin struggles to maintain the $90,000 mark. Statistical models categorize this deviation as an extremely rare event in market history. The financial market is witnessing an uncommon statistical phenomenon. At the close of the week, the Bitcoin-to-Gold ratio hit historical levels of divergence, positioning itself at 18.5 ounces of gold per BTC—the lowest figure recorded in years.

Checking in on Bitcoin's power law in GOLD 💰🪙
– – –
This is seriously a historic 'Black Swan' for the BTC/Gold ratio.

Whether we are experiencing a precious metal bubble, soon to pop, or a true transition of the monetary order (a la Ray Dalio), next moves imply huge BTC gains.… pic.twitter.com/vFTJ9OkWmk

— Sminston With 👁 (@sminston_with) January 22, 2026 The recent gold rally is undoubtedly responsible for the drop in the value relationship, as the precious metal touched levels near $4,888 per ounce. On the other hand, the pioneer cryptocurrency showed weakness while attempting to consolidate above $90,000, putting downward pressure on the indicator.

Industry analysts using “Power Law” models point out that this reading is considered an outlier. In fact, data suggests that Bitcoin is trading well below its historical 1% range against gold, a condition only seen during periods of high financial stress.

Capital Rotation and Contrary Signals in the Market Experts such as André Dragosch from Bitwise interpret this situation as a contrarian signal. For the analyst, the fact that the Bitcoin-to-Gold ratio hit historical levels of discount suggests that Bitcoin is undervalued compared to the traditional safe-haven asset.

This gap responds to structural changes in the international monetary system, where gold has captured capital ahead of time. However, financial history shows that investment flows typically rotate from gold toward risk assets like Bitcoin once the metal reaches exhaustion levels.

In summary, although gold maintains its dominance due to macroeconomic uncertainty, the current technical structure could signal the end of the downtrend for the ratio. Investors are closely monitoring whether this statistical anomaly will precede a new bullish cycle for the cryptocurrency against the physical asset.

The OCC says the trust-bank application tied to President Donald Trump-connected World Liberty Financial will move ahead without the senator's requested pause.

bull run Price Prediction SHIB

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Harvey Hunter

Content Writer

Harvey Hunter

Part of the Team Since

Apr 2024

About Author

Harvey Hunter is a Content Writer at Cryptonews.com. With a background in Computer Science, IT, and Mathematics, he seamlessly transitioned from tech geek to crypto journalist.

Has Also Written

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Last updated: 

11 minutes ago

A Shiba Inu core team member thinks the current market cycle looks unfinished, with exhaustion yet to rule out the most bullish phase for Shiba Inu price predictions.

Speaking on X, SHIB team member Lucie suggested that inactivity across meme coins reflects “time stretched, not potential removed,” as overall market structure remains muted.

I’m talking about this because SHIB reflects the broader market reality.

When expansion does not show up, it usually means the cycle is not finished. It means time stretched, not potential removed.

For our community, this is about positioning, not emotion. Staying aligned,…

— 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄 (@LucieSHIB) January 22, 2026 This cycle has yet to see the euphoria and broad participation that typically mark market tops. Instead, Bitcoin has held dominance while risk appetite has remained selective and cautious.

Social sentiment reads much the same. Commentary from key opinion leaders has been feeding market confidence, with a focus on fundamentals over speculation.

Something Lucie identified as a tell-tale sign that the full extent of the bullish moment has yet to be realised.

Lucie ultimately echoed ex-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao in saying, “A super cycle is close, but I could be wrong too.”

Shiba Inu Price Prediction: What a Supercycle Could Look Like For SHIBThe volatility seen over the past year has compressed into a falling wedge that now nears its apex.

And now, the latest bounce from the demand zone that has marked cycle bottoms since SHIB launched at $0.0000068 suggests a potential final bottom before breakout.

Price action over the past two months reinforces that view, carving out a bullish head-and-shoulders structure that signals a structural pivot.

Momentum indicators support the shift. The RSI has reaffirmed its uptrend, printing another higher low after dipping below the 50 neutral line.

The MACD also hints at a trend change, flattening below the signal line at levels that have previously marked the end of consolidation phases.

If the right shoulder fully develops, breakout pressure shifts toward the wedge’s key threshold at the psychological $0.00001 level.

This level must prove as support before the full 320% breakout move to $0.000033. In a full-blown altcoin season, the setup could credibly extend 490% toward all-time highs around $0.000042.

Maxi Doge: SHIB Might Not Be THE Supercycle PlayWhile tried and tested Doge tokens are the easy bet, when capital rotates back into meme coins, momentum almost always circles back to one high-beta Doge token.

While tried and tested Doge tokens are the easy bet, when capital rotates back into meme coins, momentum rarely spreads evenly. It almost always concentrates around one high-beta Doge token.

The pattern is hard to ignore. Dogecoin sparked the trend, Shiba Inu carried it in 2021, followed by Floki, Bonk, Dogwifhat, and Neiro. Every bull cycle eventually crowns a new Doge-inspired frontrunner.

This time around, Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is tapping into those early Dogecoin community vibes, built around sharing early alpha, trading ideas, and competitive engagement.

Participation is at its core. Weekly Maxi Ripped and Maxi Pump competitions reward top performers with leaderboard recognition, incentives, and bragging rights.

Momentum is already showing in the numbers. The $MAXI presale has raised nearly $4.5 million, while early backers are earning up to 69% APY through staking rewards.

For those who missed the Doge wave before, Maxi Doge could be the next chance to catch a meme coin before it enters the mainstream.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

The market capitalization of tokenized gold has surpassed $4 billion as spot gold reached a new all-time high near $5,000 per ounce this week, reflecting rising demand for onchain commodities amid global market uncertainty. Tether Gold (XAUT) leads the sector with approximately $2.5 billion in assets, followed closely by Paxos Gold (PAXG) at around $1.99 billion.

Trading activity has accelerated alongside price gains, with PAXG recording roughly $533 million in 24-hour volume and XAUT about $266 million. Data from RWA.xyz shows the broader tokenized commodities market near $4.88 billion, up more than 22% over the past month, while XAUT and PAXG together account for roughly 86% of total market share. The growth underscores increasing interest from both crypto-native and traditional investors seeking blockchain-based exposure to real-world assets.

Source: RWA.xyz, Bloomberg

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News is prepared using official and publicly available sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to provide rapid updates on relevant developments within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

This information does not constitute financial advice or an investment recommendation. We recommend always verifying official project channels before making related decisions.

Oklahoma lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would allow state employees, vendors, private businesses, and residents to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin.

Senate Bill 2064, introduced by Senator Dusty Deevers during the 2026 legislative session, establishes a legal framework for the use of bitcoin as a medium of exchange and compensation without designating it as legal tender.

The bill explicitly states that it does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on states coining money or declaring legal tender other than gold and silver, instead recognizing bitcoin as a financial instrument operating within existing legal frameworks.

If enacted, the bill would permit Oklahoma state employees to elect to receive salaries or wages in bitcoin, either based on the asset’s market value at the start of a pay period or at the time of payment. 

Employees would be allowed to revise their payment preference at the beginning of each pay period and could choose to receive compensation in bitcoin, U.S. dollars, or a combination of both. 

Payments would be deposited either into a self-hosted wallet controlled by the employee or into a third-party custodial account designated by the employee.

The legislation would also allow vendors contracting with the state to opt into receiving payment in bitcoin on a per-transaction basis. The bitcoin value of those payments would be determined by the market price at the time of the transaction unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Beyond state payroll and procurement, the bill broadly authorizes private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma to negotiate and receive payments in bitcoin, reinforcing its use as a voluntary medium of exchange across the state economy.

SB 2064 includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory friction for bitcoin-native businesses. Firms that deal exclusively in digital assets and do not exchange them for U.S. dollars would be exempt from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements, according to legislation text. 

The bill directs the Oklahoma State Treasurer to issue a request for proposals for a digital asset firm to process bitcoin payments for state employees and vendors.

In selecting a provider, the Treasurer must consider factors including fees, transaction speed, cybersecurity practices, custody options, and any relevant state licenses. The Treasurer would be required to finalize a contract with a provider by January 1, 2027, and is authorized to promulgate rules to implement the program.

Back in January 2025, Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers introduced a similar initiative called the Bitcoin Freedom Act (SB 325). It was a bill designed to let employees, vendors, and businesses voluntarily receive and make payments in Bitcoin while creating a legal framework for its use in the state’s economy.

Oklahoma’s bitcoin adoption echoes other U.S. states This move follows other states like New Hampshire and Texas in exploring ways to integrate Bitcoin into public finance. 

New Hampshire passed the nation’s first Strategic Bitcoin Reserve law, allowing the state to hold up to 5% of its funds in high-market-cap digital assets and even approve a bitcoin-backed municipal bond.

Texas, meanwhile, has paired legislation with action, creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and making the first U.S. state Bitcoin ETF purchase of around $5 million, framing it as both a hedge against economic volatility and a step toward modernizing state finances. 

If passed, SB 2064 would take effect on November 1, 2026, positioning Oklahoma among a small but growing number of U.S. states exploring direct integration of bitcoin into government payment systems.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission would also be required to issue guidance on the tax treatment of digital assets received as payment by January 1, 2027, addressing an area that has often created uncertainty for employees and employers alike.

Micah Zimmerman

Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.

Ethereum developers are confronting the possibility of reducing the scope of the blockchain’s next major Glamsterdam upgrade to meet a mid-year deadline, according to Christine D. Kim, founder of Protocol Watch.

In a newsletter published on Friday, January 23, 2026, on X and Substack, Kim stated that developers had come to a hard realization during this week’s All Core Developer Consensus (ACDC) call that some of the feature set planned for the Glamsterdam upgrade may be incompatible with shipping by mid-2026. 

The situation is reminiscent of challenges that plagued the previous Pectra upgrade.

“Some of my readers who have followed my newsletters from Pectra upgrade days may be groaning inwardly and thinking, ‘Not again!’” Kim wrote in her post.

Glamsterdam is Ethereum’s first major test of the new twice-yearly upgrade cadence the foundation introduced in 2025.

Glamsterdam is meant to come after Ethereum successfully implements its Fusaka upgrade and was intended to deliver critical improvements to the network’s fairness and processing capabilities.

What could happen if Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade misses its deadline? EIP 7732, known as enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS) Devnet-0, may see its scope reduced or removed from Glamsterdam if the deadline is missed.

This feature is highly anticipated because it aims to reduce manipulation and centralization risks in Ethereum’s maximum extractable value economy.

Developers agreed during the ACDC call to target interoperable implementations by the end of February, but highlighted that it may not happen within the set deadline.

The second major component, EIP-7928 for block-level access lists (BALs), would enable parallel processing capabilities to improve network throughput. 

However, implementation work has been hampered by technical challenges across consensus layer client teams.

Ethereum Foundation protocol prototyping team lead Toni Wahrstatter reported that an engine API change was impacting consensus layer (CL) client implementations for EIP 7928.

According to Kim, no team has yet achieved a fully working implementation of partial cell proofs, a networking change required to support further blob capacity increases.

More complications came from stress testing conducted by the Ethereum Foundation’s EthPandaOps team in December. 

Enrico del Fante, a developer at Consensys working on the Teku client, reported issues that it discovered in the Teku client during the stress test. However, he reportedly stated that his team is still working on mitigating the known issues.

Del Fante requested that the EthPandaOps team pause on further mainnet stress testing while they develop mitigations, and noted that the problems have slowed their work on Glamsterdam.

February deadline looms Developers have not yet officially acknowledged a mismatch between Glamsterdam’s scope and timeline. 

Kim noted that the developers recognized there may be an issue and agreed to address it by the end of February.

While the Nimbus and Lodestar teams have completed this preliminary work, other client teams are still updating their systems, according to developer Etan Kissling of Nimbus.

The delay in Glamsterdam may also affect the Hegota upgrade, which is supposed to come after the successful implementation of Glamsterdam.

Alex Stokes, co-lead of the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol Coordination team, has encouraged proposal authors to present their ideas at upcoming ACDCs.

Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.

Ethereum remains in a corrective, range-bound environment after failing to sustain the early-month advance above the mid-$3,000s. The price action is oscillating between a higher-timeframe demand cluster in the $2,700 region and a broad supply band closer to $3,500, while the main moving averages continue to cap the upside.

This structure keeps directional conviction limited and increases the importance of reaction at the nearby support zones during the current pullback.

Ethereum Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily chart, ETH has been rejected once again from the confluence of the $3,500 resistance block and the declining 100-day moving average, with the 200-day still positioned higher around $3,800 and turning sideways. The sell-off back below the 100-day moving average confirms that the primary trend remains corrective rather than impulsively bullish, and the focus shifts to the green $2,700 demand region as the next critical area.

A sustained hold above that zone would prevent a bearish continuation and keep open the possibility of another attempt toward the $3,500 mark. Meanwhile, a daily close below the $2,700 zone would indicate a deeper mean-reversion phase toward the lower support band near $2,200.

ETH/USDT 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart shows a clear breakdown from the rising channel that carried the price from approximately $2,800 to the recent peak near $3,400. After losing the channel’s lower boundary and the local support around $3,000–$3,100, ETH is now trading in a clear downtrend characterized by lower highs and lower lows, with momentum gauges such as the RSI recovering only modestly from oversold territory.

The immediate tactical pivot sits around the former breakdown zone at $3,000–$3,100. Recovery and consolidation back above this area would suggest a failed breakdown and open a path back toward the $3,400, while continued rejection there would keep pressure on support levels closer to $2,900 and then the higher-timeframe demand at $2,600-$2,700.

Sentiment Analysis The Coinbase Premium Index for Ethereum has shifted decisively negative over recent weeks, with persistent red readings indicating that spot prices on Coinbase trade at a discount compared to Binance. This configuration signals relatively weaker buy-side interest from U.S. and institutional-leaning participants and often aligns with phases of distribution or cautious positioning in that cohort.

At the same time, historically extended negative premiums can coincide with exhaustion of local selling pressure as weaker hands capitulate to more aggressive offshore demand, setting the stage for a later recovery once macro liquidity or narrative drivers improve. For the moment, however, the sustained discount reinforces the view that the current downswing is driven not only by technical rejection at resistance but also by a conservative bias among U.S. spot flows.

Tags: