Market Signal Briefing

Less than a year after re-entering the U.S. market, Nexo has added an F1 deal to its sponsorship pipeline.

The Audi Revolut F1 Team announced Friday a multi-year partnership with the crypto lender, marking the auto company's inaugural official digital asset partner as it enters Formula 1 racing this year.

"Nexo was built for a demanding reality: instant, self-directed, and always on. Partnering with Audi Revolut F1 Team at the start of their new era is a statement about how we see the future," Nexo co-founder Antoni Trenchev said in a release. "As the team’s official digital asset partner, we will bring meaningful utility and premium experiences to a global audience, grounded in the same discipline and precision that defines success in motor sports."

Throughout the four-year partnership, Nexo will "activate globally through premium experiences and digital-first engagement," the release said. These opportunities include exclusive access, co-created content and education, and next-generation immersive brand experiences.

"The partnership reflects a shared ambition to scale with discipline and innovation, and to create tangible value — from exclusive experiences to new ways of engaging our global fanbase and Nexo's clients," said Stefano Battiston, chief commercial officer of Audi Revolut F1 Team.

Nexo currently has sponsorship deals with professional tennis tournaments, the Australian Open, and the Dallas Open.

Nexo exited the U.S. in 2022 as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Nexo of failing to register the offer and sale of its Earn product to retail clients. The company was welcomed back to the U.S. last April at a private event that included comments from Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son.

"I think crypto is the future of finance," Trump Jr said at the time. "We see the opportunity for the financial sector and want to ensure we bring that back to the U.S."

Crypto.com has been a longtime partner with Formula One racing, and last year, Coinbase became the official sponsor of Aston Martin's F1 racing team. The F1 team Sauber inked a two-year deal with crypto casino Stake in 2024.

NEXO, the native token of the Nexo platform, traded up 2.7% over the past 24 hours according to The Block's price data. The token has a market cap just shy of $1 billion.

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.

The cryptocurrency market saw a pullback today, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Cardano all under pressure. Over the past 24 hours, the market dipped by 1.72%, despite holding a 3.14% gain over the week. The sentiment of investors declined following recent surges in prices, and profit-taking, regulatory delays, and heavy liquidations contributed significantly to the decline.

Reasons Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Cardano Are Struggling Ethereum led liquidations, recording $61.6 million in total, with $40.4 million coming from long positions. Following recent profits, traders started to lock in profits, leading to a price drop in major tokens. Dogecoin and Cardano dropped by 4% and 3%, respectively.

Liquidations amounted to 53.64 million in Bitcoin, mostly through long orders. This liquidation of leveraged positions enhanced selling, which enhanced the downward trend across the market.

Bitcoin and other digital tokens have declined due to a delay of an important crypto market structure bill by a committee in the U.S. Senate. The regulatory uncertainty was further extended by the delay, which made traders cut down their exposure.

The market mood returned to a neutral level, as it was in the Crypto Fear & Greed Index. Traders were wary, and they pulled back when wider markets were giving mixed signals.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Face Pressure as Market Trends Turn Bearish At the time of writing, the BTC price traded at $94,773 with a 2% decrease over the past 24-hours.

Bitcoin price has recently tested the $95,000 resistance zone, but the outlook remains uncertain. 

If Bitcoin manages to break through this level, the price could rally toward the $96,000 zone. Should the bullish momentum persist, a move toward $100,000 as per the full Bitcoin forecast report. 

Nonetheless, in case bearishness persists, there could be a correction of Bitcoin into the $90,000 correction range.

Source: Tradingview Likewise, Ethereum has also failed to continue its bullish trend, declining by 1.59% to $3 276. The resistance was encountered at the price of $3,400, which created a bearish divergence, and the price has since reversed.

Ethereum had briefly gone above $3,400, but has since withdrawn due to market weakness. In case of a further continuation of the bearish direction, Ethereum price may fall even lower to the level of the $3,100 range. Nevertheless, with the bulls back in charge, there is a chance that Ethereum may start recovering to $3,400.

Dogecoin and Cardano in a Critical Spot as Bearish Pressure Mounts Dogecoin has also seen a 4% decline over the last 24 hours, trading at $0.1362. This pullback follows a week of strong bullish performance. Dogecoin price is now standing at a crossroad where the selling pressure is mounting towards the $0.15 level.

Any break above $0.14 would initiate a move to $0.15, and on breaking $0.1620, would be able to hit the $0.16 zone. Nevertheless, further decline to less than $0.140 might drag Dogecoin to the $0.135 support level.

The price of Cardano decreased by 3.78% within the last 24 hours, and currently its price is $0.3830. Despite a previous rise in the week, Cardano is currently dropping.

To experience a potential bullish recovery, ADA would have to break above the resistance level of $0.40, and high volume would be required. In case of success, it may aim at the $0.44 level, yet unless there is any substantial uptrend, Cardano might still be in trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The market is experiencing a pullback due to profit-taking, liquidations, and regulatory delays. These factors have caused a weakening in investor sentiment.

Profit-taking, a significant number of liquidations, and a delay in a key U.S. Senate crypto bill caused selling pressure, leading to declines in both Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.

Happy Friday! Crypto's next phase may be defined less by hype and more by plumbing, with macro forces and institutional flows reshaping how bitcoin trades in 2026, according to Kraken Global Economist Thomas Perfumo.

In today's newsletter, Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood removes a 10% bitcoin allocation from his model portfolio over quantum risks, Google Play is set to ban overseas crypto exchanges from its South Korea store, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon says the firm is actively exploring tokenization and prediction markets, and more.

Meanwhile, X users celebrate a crackdown on the "plague" of AI-led reply spam as InfoFi platforms seek alternatives.

P.S. Don't forget to check out The Funding, a biweekly rundown of crypto VC trends. It's a great read — and just like The Daily, it's free to subscribe!

Jefferies strategist drops 10% bitcoin allocation over quantum computing fears Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at investment bank Jefferies, removed bitcoin entirely from his "GREED & fear" model portfolio, reallocating the full 10% position into physical gold and gold-mining equities.

Wood said rising concerns around quantum computing pose an existential risk to bitcoin's long-term store-of-value thesis, even if near-term price impact appears limited. He cited a 2025 Chaincode Labs study estimating that 20% to 50% of circulating bitcoin could be vulnerable to quantum-enabled key extraction. The shift marks a reversal for one of bitcoin's earlier institutional advocates, who originally added the asset as a digital alternative to gold during the pandemic-era stimulus cycle once mature custody infrastructure was in place. Industry attention to quantum risk has intensified following recent advances in quantum computing, alongside warnings from experts about potential exposure tied to reused addresses. Governments and crypto projects are already adjusting, with El Salvador restructuring its bitcoin holdings and new startups raising capital aiming to harden networks against future quantum threats. Google Play to ban overseas crypto exchanges from South Korea store Google Play Store is set to block unregistered overseas crypto exchanges and wallets in South Korea starting Jan. 28, requiring all platforms to register as VASPs with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit.

The move effectively removes global exchanges like Binance, Bybit, and OKX from Android app downloads and updates, while favoring 27 locally registered platforms, including Upbit and Bithumb. Overseas exchanges face steep barriers to compliance, as Korea's registration process requires local security and AML certifications that are widely viewed as impractical for foreign firms. According to local media reports, while users can still access global exchanges via web browsers, regulators risk pushing retail traders toward VPNs and APK downloads, increasing security risks in one of the world's most active crypto markets. Goldman Sachs CEO says firm is actively exploring tokenization and prediction markets Goldman Sachs is actively evaluating where tokenization, stablecoins, and prediction markets could enhance its existing businesses, according to CEO David Solomon.

During Thursday's earnings call, Solomon said regulatory clarity, particularly around U.S. market structure legislation, remains central to how the bank is approaching such innovations. His comments come as Goldman and other major banks previously disclosed that they are jointly exploring a bank-backed digital money initiative tied to regulated stablecoin-like structures. On prediction markets, Solomon said he recently met with two large platforms and spent several hours learning about their operations. He added that Goldman has specific teams studying the sector, particularly products regulated by the CFTC, which he said resemble derivatives-style contract activity. Iran's crypto ecosystem nears $8B as bitcoin withdrawals surge during protests: Chainalysis Iran's crypto ecosystem grew to $7.8 billion in 2025, with onchain activity closely tracking domestic unrest and geopolitical flashpoints, according to Chainalysis.

Wallets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accounted for roughly half of all value received by Iranian crypto addresses in the fourth quarter, underscoring the group's expanding financial footprint, the blockchain forensics firm said. Chainalysis observed sharp spikes in activity around conflict and cyber incidents, highlighting crypto's dual use as both a civilian financial lifeline and a funding rail for sanctioned actors. During recent mass protests, bitcoin withdrawals from Iranian exchanges to personal wallets surged, behavior the firm said may reflect a flight to safety amid political and economic instability. House Democrats press SEC over pausing Justin Sun case, citing 'pay-to-play' concerns Three House Democrats accused the SEC of retreating from crypto enforcement, asking Chair Paul Atkins to explain why high-profile cases, including one involving Tron founder Justin Sun, have been paused or dismissed.

In a letter to Atkins, lawmakers said the pullback has coincided with a surge in crypto political spending, arguing the timing creates the appearance of a "pay-to-play" dynamic that undermines investor protection. The letter zeroed in on the prolonged pause of the Sun case, citing his large investments in Trump-linked crypto ventures and raising concerns about preferential treatment and national security risks. A spokesperson for Sun rejected the allegations as factually incorrect and politically motivated, said the SEC matter remains pending, and emphasized Sun's cooperation with regulators and his role in initiatives like the T3 Financial Crime Unit to combat blockchain abuse. Looking ahead to next week UK CPI inflation and U.S. mortgage data are out on Wednesday. U.S. jobless claims, PCE, and GDP figures are scheduled for Thursday. World Economic Forum annual meetings begin on Monday. ZKsync, deBridge, ApeCoin, Melania Meme, Official Trump, LayerZero, Kaito, and Wormhole are among the crypto projects set for token unlocks. Web3 Hub Davos 2026 kicks off in Switzerland. The Nashville Energy & Mining Summit 2026 also gets underway. Never miss a beat with The Block's daily digest of the most influential events happening across the digital asset ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This article was produced with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and reviewed and edited by our editorial team.

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.

Monero's native token, XMR, hit an all-time high earlier this week, at one point rallying nearly 80% to $797.73 from a recent weekly low around $450, according to The Block's data.

Onchain sleuth ZachXBT now ascribes this price action, at least a portion of it, to a recent series of swaps following a multi-million crypto theft.

"On January 10, 2026 at around 11 pm UTC a victim lost $282M+ worth of LTC & BTC due to a hardware wallet social engineering scam," ZachXBT, who last year became a Paradigm advisor, wrote on Friday. "The attacker began converting the stolen LTC & BTC to Monero via multiple instant exchanges causing the XMR price to sharply increase."

While details of the theft are still largely unknown, ZachXBT pointed to several suspected wallets associated with the alleged robbery.

One wallet (0b4fc3e) appears to be a consolidation address for about $43.7 million worth of bitcoin. This address received the majority of its funds through about 10 high-value transactions totaling between 39–47 BTC, and smaller transfers. Those funds were ultimately sent to an address beginning c3b4ccc, after an intermediate stop at bc1qlux. There’s no clear onchain evidence that these particular funds have been swapped to Monero, a popular privacy chain.

Another suspected address (bc1qpsmh) received over 1108 BTC, worth about $105 million, which was then split three times in two 35 BTC sends and 928 BTC send. The three recipient addresses have continued to break down the funds, further complicating the web of transactions. An additional 2.05 million LTC also appear to have been moved following a similar modus operandi.

None of the flagged addresses have been publicly labeled on common explorers, and it is possible these are just simple wallet-to-wallet transfers for common address rotation. The Block has reached out to ZachXBT for additional information.

ZachXBT notes that the stolen assets were also sent to Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin via Thorchain. The suspected transfer largely happened in the days after the alleged theft, coinciding with Monero's all-time high on Jan. 14.

Privacy in the spotlight Monero has been gaining alongside other leading blockchain privacy projects, like Zcash, beginning late last year. Many major industry participants, from the nonprofit Ethereum Foundation to the largest asset manager BlackRock, have noted that privacy ought to be an embedded, core property of blockchains.

Although some regions, including Dubai, have recently moved to limit privacy coins, there are a host of projects pushing forward the idea of "pragmatic privacy" that offers a balance between user autonomy and regulatory needs.

XMR is currently trading at $647, down about 9.7% on the day, making it the worst-performing asset within the top 50 coins by market cap on a day where bitcoin is largely flat, according to The Block's price page.

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.

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped into its deepest undervaluation against gold (XAU) on Friday, reviving expectations of a potential capital rotation away from the precious metal and back into cryptocurrency markets in 2026.

Key takeaways:

Bitcoin is at a record undervaluation versus gold, a level historically linked to major BTC bottoms.

Past gold-led cycles favor a bullish outlook for BTC price in 2026.

Bitcoin will “massively outperform gold” in 2026The undervalued reading came from the BTC–XAU ratio’s Z-score, a metric that measures how far the current ratio deviates from its long-term average.

BTC/XAU Z-score and its standard deviation bands. Source: JV_IndicatorsA reading below −2 indicated that Bitcoin was trading more than two standard deviations below its historical norm compared to gold, which is extremely rare. In this case, BTC entered the model’s lowest band for the first time on record.

Historically, moves in the BTC/XAU ratio toward the −2 standard deviation zone preceded extended periods of Bitcoin outperforming gold, as shown in the Power-Law bands graph below.

BTC/XAU weekly chart. Source: JV_Indicators“Everything points to Bitcoin massively outperforming Gold over the coming months,” said Julius, the analyst who conceptualized the BTC/Gold Power-Law bands and the Z-score oscillator

What does gold’s record rally mean for BTC price?In the past, the Z-score’s dips toward the −2 standard deviation zone marked major Bitcoin bottoms.

For instance, a BTC/XAU undervaluation signal in November 2022 preceded a roughly 150% BTC price rally over the following year.

BTC/USD weekly chart. Source: TradingViewSimilarly, Bitcoin rose by over 1,170% a year after the signal’s appearance in March 2020.

The Z-score correctly called Bitcoin’s macro tops, as well, according to Julius.

“At the end of 2017, Bitcoin was extremely overbought, while Gold was oversold,” he wrote in a X post on Jan. 3, adding:

“Shortly after, Bitcoin entered a bear market, and Gold began a multi-year rally toward new ATHs.”In addition, historical data suggests that Bitcoin’s strongest price expansions tend to follow gold bull markets.

Source: XBTC began its parabolic phases only after gold had already moved decisively above its long-term trend. In previous cycles, this lag ranged from roughly two months to over a year, after which BTC delivered its largest percentage gains.

Bitcoin’s discount versus gold, therefore, suggested a bullish price outlook for BTC in 2026, provided the historical pattern holds.

Multiple analysts projected BTC would reach $200,000–$300,000 by the year’s end.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

What's behind the latest lay-off spree?

Polygon Labs has carried out another round of layoffs. The company has reportedly cut around 30% of its workforce as it restructures and pivots toward stablecoin-based payments, according to multiple posts and disclosures from affected employees on the social media platform X.

While Polygon Labs has not publicly disclosed the exact number of roles eliminated, its CEO, Marc Boiron, later confirmed the workforce reduction in a public statement.

Brutal 30% Cuts The latest job cuts appear to be part of an organizational reset as Polygon moves away from a primarily infrastructure-focused strategy toward building what it describes as a payments-first blockchain platform.

Back in 2024, Polygon reduced its headcount by 19%, after eliminating almost 60 roles in what it described at the time as an effort to form a more “efficient surgical team.” It had also granted remaining employees a minimum 15% salary increase. A year earlier, in 2023, the company behind the Layer 2 network cut approximately 20% of its workforce, which impacted around 100 positions.

The latest restructuring comes days after Polygon Labs agreed to acquire US-based crypto payments firm Coinme and wallet infrastructure provider Sequence in deals worth more than $250 million combined to offer regulated stablecoin payments in the US. Those acquisitions provide Polygon with access to Coinme’s network of US money-transmitter licenses, fiat on- and off-ramps, and Sequence’s embedded wallet technology and cross-chain payment tools used by banks, fintech companies, and enterprises.

Layoffs Are Structural, Not Performance-Related In an X post announcing the changes, Boiron said the company has spent the past few months “sharpening” its focus around a single mission – moving all money on-chain. He stated that as Coinme and Sequence are integrated into a combined organization, Polygon decided to consolidate overlapping roles. Boiron added that while overall headcount is expected to remain roughly similar after the restructuring, the composition of the workforce will change to support its payments strategy.

The exec also added that the layoffs were about structure and not related to performance.

You may also like: Polygon Rolls Out Madhugiri Hardfork With 33% More Capacity Mastercard Partners With Polygon, Mercuryo to Simplify Self-Custody Transfers Calastone Taps Polygon to Launch Tokenized Fund Share Classes Tags:

Polygon (POL) has seen a challenging start to the year as security concerns and workforce reductions weigh on market sentiment.

Over the past 24 hours, Polygon price fell 5.6%, underperforming the broader crypto market, which saw a decline of just 1.52%.

Despite a strong 30-day gain of 31.31%, this pullback reflects growing short-term pressures on the blockchain network.

Security concerns and ecosystem risks Copy link to section

Polygon’s ecosystem recently faced scrutiny after a ransomware group, DeadLock, misused public Polygon smart contracts to host proxy server addresses.

Security researchers confirmed that the attack did not exploit Polygon’s code, but it highlighted potential misuse risks in public blockchain networks.

The incident has amplified investor caution, as the immutability of blockchain can inadvertently support illicit activity.

This development also raises the possibility of heightened regulatory attention, which could influence Polygon price dynamics in the short term.

Layoffs at Polygon Labs Copy link to section

Adding to the bearish sentiment, Polygon Labs recently cut roughly 30% of its workforce, or between 90 and 120 roles.

These layoffs followed an aggressive $250 million acquisition spree, including the integration of Coinme, a US-regulated fiat-to-crypto payments platform, and Sequence, a cross-chain wallet and payment infrastructure.

Polygon CEO Marc Boiron described the restructuring as part of a broader “payments-first” strategy, focusing on stablecoin payments and on-chain money movement.

However, the workforce reduction signals operational strain and raises questions about the company’s ability to execute its strategic initiatives efficiently.

Market reaction was immediate, with Polygon (POL) price falling to around $0.149 and approaching critical support near $0.140.

Technical resistance and market momentum Copy link to section

Polygon price recently failed to breach the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.165.

This rejection came after a strong monthly rally, which drove the Relative Strength Index (RSI) down from overbought levels to 55.

Volume also declined by roughly 34.7% compared to the previous day, indicating that traders are taking profits near resistance.

The combination of technical resistance, security concerns, and internal restructuring has created a convergence of bearish factors for Polygon.

Polygon (POL) price forecast Copy link to section

Overall, Polygon (POL) faces a delicate balance between long-term strategic growth and short-term market pressures.

Traders should monitor the integration of Coinme and Sequence, alongside developments from Polygon Labs, which will be essential for assessing future Polygon (POL) price movements.

On the charts traders should closely watch $0.140 as the key short-term support level for the Polygon price.

If this level holds, the network’s robust activity, with 178 million monthly transactions, could help stabilise the price.

On the upside, breaking through $0.165 could reignite bullish momentum, but failure to overcome this resistance may lead to further consolidation or declines.

Jessie A Ellis Jan 16, 2026 18:14

Stellar (XLM) Community Fund v7.0 introduces AI-powered prescreening, verified referral incentives, and faster funding tracks for Web3 developers on the network.

The Stellar (XLM) Development Foundation has unveiled SCF 7.0, a significant restructuring of its community grant program that introduces AI-powered application screening and a financial incentive system for referrers who surface quality builder teams.

The revamped Stellar Community Fund replaces the previous open-application model with a tiered submission process. Builders can now signal interest at any time through the community fund portal, with eligible projects entering open Build Award rounds. The changes aim to cut time-to-decision while filtering out low-quality submissions that previously clogged the review pipeline.

Referral System Creates New Incentive LayerThe most notable addition is a verified referral pathway. Trusted ecosystem participants—including SCF alumni, ambassadors, accelerator programs, and official partners—can now vouch for incoming teams. Referred projects receive stronger trust signals in the review process and faster evaluation timelines.

Referrers aren't doing this out of goodwill alone. The new system ties financial incentives to the success of teams they bring in, creating skin-in-the-game dynamics that should theoretically improve referral quality. Projects arriving without referrals aren't shut out—they proceed through AI-based prescreening that filters obvious mismatches before human reviewers get involved.

Timing Aligns With Stellar's 2026 PushThe grant program overhaul lands as Stellar executes on an ambitious 2026 roadmap. Protocol 24, slated for this year, will introduce zero-knowledge proofs enabling private transfers on the network. Soroban smart contract upgrades targeting cross-chain liquidity are also in development.

CME Group announced January 15 that it will launch Stellar futures on February 9, potentially bringing institutional trading volume to XLM. The token currently trades at $0.2253 with a $7.3 billion market cap, down 2.81% over the past 24 hours.

The network has been building its real-world asset credentials through partnerships with Visa, PayPal, and the United Nations Development Programme announced last September. More developers building on Stellar infrastructure could accelerate these institutional relationships.

What This Means for BuildersFor developers considering Stellar, the pathway is now clearer but more structured. Finding a referrer from the existing ecosystem becomes a meaningful advantage—not a requirement, but a fast-track option. The AI prescreening should reduce wait times for everyone, though its effectiveness at surfacing genuinely promising projects versus those that simply write better applications remains to be seen.

Applications proceed to either panel review or community vote depending on the funding track selected. The Foundation hasn't disclosed total funding allocation for SCF 7.0 rounds, though previous cycles have distributed millions in grants across dozens of projects since the program launched.

Image source: Shutterstock

stellar xlm grants web3 development scf

Momentum across crypto ETFs remained intact as investors kept allocating capital despite mixed fund-level flows. While bitcoin inflows slowed compared to earlier in the week, ether ETFs took center stage, reinforcing confidence in broader digital asset exposure. Bitcoin, Ether ETFs Stay Green as Broad Inflows Continue Bitcoin ETFs recorded a $100.

TL;DR

Ethereum Inflows: Spot Ethereum ETFs brought in $164 million on Jan. 15, driven mainly by BlackRock’s $149 million addition and supported by $15 million from Grayscale, while most other issuers saw flat activity. XRP Fund Activity: XRP ETFs added $17.06 million, lifting cumulative inflows to $1.27 billion and total net assets to about $1.51 billion, with trading volume near $22 million and varied issuer participation. Market Divergence: XRP ETF prices fell 3% to 4% despite inflows, showing continued investor allocation even as broader market pressure pushed products lower.
Spot XRP and Ethereum ETFs attracted fresh capital on Jan. 15 despite broad market weakness, signaling that investors continued allocating to both assets even as prices fell. Ethereum products led with about $164 million in net inflows, while XRP funds added $17.06 million, highlighting selective but persistent demand across major issuers.

Strong Ethereum Inflows Concentrated in Major Issuers Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded about $164 million in net inflows, one of the strongest single-day totals this month. BlackRock’s ETHA dominated activity with roughly $149 million added, while Grayscale’s ETH product contributed about $15 million. Most other Ethereum ETFs reported flat flows, underscoring that inflows remained concentrated rather than broad-based. The session followed several volatile days earlier in the month, when Ethereum ETFs swung between sharp inflows and outflows. Even with that turbulence, cumulative net inflows have climbed to nearly $12.9 billion, reflecting sustained institutional interest since launch.

Volatility Fails to Slow Broader Ethereum ETF Momentum The uneven pattern of flows throughout January has not derailed overall demand for Ethereum ETFs. Recent inflows arrived without widespread participation from smaller issuers, suggesting that investors favored select products rather than engaging in a market-wide surge. The data indicate that institutional positioning remains steady, with larger issuers continuing to attract the bulk of new capital. This selective behavior highlights a preference for established fund providers during periods of market uncertainty.

XRP ETFs Add $17M as Assets and Participation Vary U.S. spot XRP ETFs recorded $17.06 million in net inflows on Jan. 15, lifting cumulative net inflows to about $1.27 billion. Total net assets across XRP funds reached roughly $1.51 billion, representing about 1.21% of XRP’s market capitalization. Trading activity remained moderate, with total value traded near $22 million. Issuer participation varied: Bitwise led with $7.16 million, Grayscale’s GXRP added $7.20 million, Franklin Templeton contributed $3.36 million, Canary posted a $659,000 outflow, and 21Shares reported no change.

XRP Prices Decline Despite Steady Allocations Despite positive flows, XRP ETF prices declined alongside the broader market, with daily drops between 3% and 4%. Assets under management held steady, indicating continued allocation even as short-term pressure weighed on prices. The divergence between inflows and price action suggests that investors maintained conviction in XRP exposure despite the session’s declines.

XRP’s price is on track to drop for two consecutive weeks, as it pared back gains made earlier this year.

Summary

XRP price has formed a large double-top pattern on the weekly timeframe chart. It has formed a dragonfly doji candle on the weekly timeframe chart. XRP inflows and futures open interest have pulled back recently. Ripple (XRP) token was trading at $2.05, down by ~15% from its highest point this year, and technical analysis points to more downside in the near term.

The decline happened as market participants continued to react to the happenings in Washington, where the Senate Banking Committee withdrew the Market Structure Bill after objections by Coinbase, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States.

Ripple Labs has expressed support for the bill, with Brad Garlinghouse, the Chief Executive Officer, saying that having a bill was better than having none. He believes that the bill has more good things for the crypto industry.

XRP dropped as the momentum in the exchange-traded fund market waned. Data compiled by SoSoValue shows that spot XRP ETFs have had $107 million inflow this month, lower than December’s $500 million and November’s $666 million. 

Another sign that demand is falling, with the futures open interest being in a downward trend since January 6. It has moved from a high of $4.5 billion to $3.9 billion today.

XRP price analysis points to a bearish breakout Ripple price chart | Source: crypto.news  The weekly chart shows that XRP has slumped from a record high of $3.6550 in July to the current $2.05. A closer look shows that it has formed a few bearish patterns. It formed a dragonfly doji candlestick pattern last week.

This pattern consists of a tiny body and a long upper shadow and is a common bearish reversal sign. It has also formed a double-top pattern at $3.4045 and a neckline at $1.6140, its lowest swing in April this year.

The token has moved below the 50-week and 100-week Exponential Moving Averages, a sign that bears are in control. It has also moved below the Supertrend indicator.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the token retreats further in the coming weeks. If this happens, the initial target to watch will be the December low of $1.7712. A drop below that price will point to more downside to the neckline at $1.6140, which is about 22% below the current level.

Bitcoin price lost a key support level after a failed breakout attempt past $97,000.

Risk sentiment faded as key legislation stalled in the US and short-term traders started booking profits.

Total crypto market cap slipped below the $3.3 trillion mark for the second time this month, having dropped over 2%.

The crypto fear and greed index dropped 4 points in the past 24 hours to enter the lower bounds of neutral territory at 50.

Altcoins, likewise, followed Bitcoin’s lead, with most retracing gains that had built up earlier in the week.

A few outliers managed to post modest profits, but broader sentiment remained cautious.

Why is Bitcoin price down today? Copy link to section

After failing to break past the two-month high near $97,000, Bitcoin slipped back below the $95,000 support zone as sentiment weakened around stalled regulatory progress in the United States. 

Attention turned to the Market Structure Bill, widely referred to as the CLARITY Act, after its expected Senate markup was delayed following Coinbase’s decision to withdraw support.

The setback quickly fed into market pricing. Prediction odds for the bill passing this year fell from 63% to 49%, adding another layer of uncertainty for investors who had been positioning for clearer regulatory direction. 

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the bill risked undermining the tokenisation sector, interfering with stablecoin reward structures, encroaching on user privacy within DeFi, and weakening the CFTC’s role as a regulator. 

At the same time, profit-taking accelerated after Bitcoin’s strong run earlier in the week. 

Several of the day’s weakest performers were among the top gainers just days ago, pointing to short-term traders locking in returns rather than fresh selling driven by new bearish catalysts.

From a technical perspective, momentum cooled as Bitcoin once again failed to sustain upside traction toward the $100,000 level. 

Further, losing the $95,000 area later in the day shifted short-term bias lower and reduced trader confidence, particularly among leveraged participants who had positioned for continuation higher.

Meanwhile, over the past 24 hours, total crypto liquidations climbed to $256.79 million, with long positions accounting for roughly $203.75 million of that total.

Bitcoin 24-hour liquidation. Source: Coinglass. Bitcoin alone made up about $75.88 million in liquidations, showing how heavily long exposure was concentrated near recent highs.

The bulk of forced exits occurred as prices slipped through key intraday levels, amplifying downside moves as stops were triggered.

Will Bitcoin price go up? Copy link to section

Analysts broadly view the pullback as a corrective phase rather than a trend reversal.

Bitcoin’s move to a two-month high earlier this week left the market extended in the short term. 

While on-chain data continues to show accumulation by larger holders, smaller retail participants appear to be taking profits, contributing to short-term softness as the market waits for a clearer macro or regulatory catalyst.

For now, Bitcoin bulls need to defend the $95,000 psychological area, which is acting as a pivotal pivot point for short term price action.

If the asset fails to reclaim this level quickly, the focus shifts toward deeper liquidity pools.

Market analysts are keeping a close watch on the $91,000 to $92,000 range, which served as a reliable base during the early January climbs. 

A break below that could open the door for a “liquidity hunt” toward the $88,000 zone, where institutional buyers have historically stepped in to absorb selling pressure.

The immediate trajectory depends largely on whether the market can digest the recent legislative friction. 

While the delay of the CLARITY Act created a temporary vacuum of confidence, the underlying demand remains strong. 

This is evident across Spot ETF inflows, which have shown resilience even during this pullback, attracting over $1.7 billion in the past few days alone. 

This means that bigger players are treating these dips as accumulation opportunities rather than a reason to exit.

To regain a truly bullish posture, Bitcoin needs to clear the $98,000 resistance. This level represents the average entry price for many short-term holders. 

Reclaiming it would turn those underwater positions back into profit, reducing the urge to sell on every bounce.

Until then, investors should expect a period of range-bound trading between $90,000 and $96,000 as the market awaits fresh macro data.

Bitcoin upside remains in play Copy link to section

Some analysts, however, are completely downplaying the downside risks

On X, the pseudonymous market analyst CryptoBoss characterised the current dip as a textbook retest of a key support area.

$BTC retesting support and then UP

Fellow market watcher Crypto-ROD, also presented a similar idea to their more than 58,000 followers on X.

$BTC Hear me out Just a bullish retest here and we send everything hard ☕️

Well-followed trader Ash Crypto also presented a bullish take by highlighting a compelling historical fractal. 

In a recent analysis, the analyst drew direct parallels between the current market structure and the early stages of the 2019 bull run.

His analysis pointed out that both cycles followed a “worst Q4” performance, leading to a capitulation event where the price dipped below the lower weekly Bollinger Band. 

Historically, this technical signal marks an extreme oversold condition and a local bottom, which has consistently been followed by a strong recovery in January.

Based on this Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2019 fractal, Ash Crypto suggests that the recent pullback is simply a consolidation phase within a much larger uptrend, while sharing the below chart.

BTC/USD 1-Day price chart. Source: Ash Crypto on X.“It seems like Bitcoin is going much higher from here, the analyst noted.

At the time of publication, the Bitcoin price was hovering just below $95,000, down a little over 1.5% on the day.

Altcoin gainers for the day Copy link to section

The market cap of all altcoins combined dropped by 1.1% over the past 24 hours to $1.21 trillion at the time of writing. 

Ethereum (ETH) dropped nearly 2% over the day and settled at $3,260, while other large-cap cryptocurrencies such as XRP (XRP), Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA) posted losses between 1-4%.

The bearish sentiment extended to the majority of the top 100 cryptocurrencies, with some of the top laggards being Polygon (POL), Ethena (ENA), and Aptos (APT).

A resurgence in the privacy coin narrative provided a strong tailwind for the day’s few winners, as investors sought refuge in anonymity-focused assets amid the regulatory friction in Washington.

Dash led the pack as the only token to secure double-digit gains, surging 12.6%. 

This move was ignited by the broader rotation into privacy-centric cryptocurrencies and further amplified by a massive spike in futures open interest, signalling aggressive demand from derivatives traders.

Decred followed a similar path, closing the day with a 6.7% gain. While it benefited significantly from the renewed interest in the privacy sector, the rally was bolstered by internal governance wins. 

The community’s overwhelming approval of a proposal to cap treasury spending provided a secondary boost, as investors cheered the move toward stricter fiscal discipline.

For Chiliz (CHZ), its 7% rise came shortly after the project’s CEO teased a major upcoming announcement and the rollout of a comprehensive SportFi strategy specifically timed to capitalise on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Source: CoinMarketCap

ETH/USD Daily Chart (Binance) – Source: TradingView

The latter has acted as a strong area of support on three occasions at least, confirming its technical relevance for market participants.

Now, the price action is touching a structural level at $3,300 that ETH needs to clear to fully reverse its downtrend.

If we get a strong rejection off this mark, that could endanger the latest rally and favor either a bearish Ethereum price prediction or the continuation of the consolidation pattern that has formed lately.

That said, positive momentum has been steadily rising in the past couple of months, even though the price has not stepped out of consolidation yet.

This could be considered an early buy signal as it shows that momentum is building up ahead of this touch of a key resistance.

Bears Seem to Be Winning This Hand as $3,280 Support Falters In contrast to the bearish scenario outlined previously, if we get a bullish breakout above $3,300, that could set off a short squeeze that brings us quite fast to $4,000 at least in the near term.

Ethereum activity is heating up amid a surge in new wallets transacting on the network for the first time. With ETH trading around $3,300, is this the start of a recovery in adoption or just a temporary blip?

Litecoin trades at $72.81 as of writing, posting a 2.58% daily decline and extending weekly and monthly losses. Market data places LTC down 9.64% over the past 7 days and 7.4% over the last 30 days. While major cryptos show relative stability, Litecoin continues to lag. 

Traders now focus on whether the asset can defend its current level or faces deeper downside. This price zone matters. Why? Because recent market behavior converges around it.

Whale Activity Raises New QuestionsOn-chain data from Santiment highlights a notable spike in Litecoin whale activity. The Age Consumed index shows transactions above $100,000 rising to a five-week high of 503 on January 14. This increase aligned closely with Litecoin’s drop toward the $75 region. Large transfers often signal either accumulation or distribution. In this case, the direction remains unclear.

Source: Satiment/TradingView

Historical patterns offer context. Similar spikes in December 2025 coincided with local price tops. That history now adds psychological pressure, especially for retail participants monitoring whale behavior. Market observers track whether this activity reflects long-term positioning or short-term selling. The answer may shape Litecoin’s next move.

ETF Flows Signal Institutional ApathyInstitutional interest in Litecoin continues to show limited momentum. The Canary Capital Litecoin ETF recorded negative inflows for five consecutive sessions. In contrast, Solana-linked ETFs as of January 16th has attracted over $8 million, while XRP ETFs saw over $17 million in inflows over the same period. This divergence highlights how capital currently favors other large-cap digital assets.

Performance metrics reinforce that trend. Litecoin’s 60-day return stands near negative 25%, which discourages large allocators from rotating funds into the asset. Without sustained ETF demand, Litecoin lacks a key support pillar that has benefited peers. That absence leaves price action more sensitive to spot market flows.

Technical Structure Sits on a Knife’s EdgeChart signals underline the importance of current levels. On the weekly timeframe, Litecoin trades within a clear bear flag pattern. This structure often precedes continuation moves when price breaks support. Right now, price action hugs the key support of that formation. 

Traders watch the weekly close closely. A hold could invite a relief rally. A breakdown could accelerate losses.

Source: Trading View via CMC

Immediate support rests near $72.76. A sustained move below that level may expose the $66 to $68 zone. In a more extreme scenario, analysts monitor the $50 region as a long-term downside reference. 

On the upside, a recovery above $78.75, which aligns with the 50% Fibonacci retracement, may indicate renewed accumulation. Can Litecoin reclaim that level soon? The market will decide.

Medium-Term Outlook Hinges on Key LevelsTechnical projections outline a defined path. A firm push through the $77 to $80 resistance range could open room toward $87 to $95 over the medium term. These levels align with prior congestion zones and historical reactions. However, price must first stabilize.

Forecast models from CoinCodex add perspective. Their latest projection suggests Litecoin could rise 34.7% toward $97.27 by April 2026, despite current bearish sentiment indicators. 

The Fear and Greed Index reads neutral at 49, while recent volatility remains contained compared with prior cycles. Litecoin recorded 14 green days out of the last 30, reflecting mixed momentum.

As Litecoin tests a critical support zone, traders continue to watch on-chain metrics, ETF flows, and broader market dominance trends. Each factor now feeds into a narrow decision window. Will support hold, or does the chart demand another chapter lower? The coming sessions may offer clarity.

Key points:

Bitcoin is attempting to find support near the $94,500 level, signaling a positive sentiment.

Buyers will have to defend the support levels in select major altcoins; else the recovery could fizzle out.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) shallow pullback is attempting to find support near the $94,500 level, indicating a lack of aggressive selling by the bulls. A positive sign is that BTC’s rally above $97,500 was supported by solid buying by institutional investors since Monday. According to Farside Investors data, spot BTC exchange-traded funds recorded $1.81 billion in net inflows this week. 

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes said in a post on Wednesday that BTC will get its groove back in 2026 as dollar liquidity will expand in 2026. Hayes added that as dollar liquidity rises rapidly, “BTC will follow.”

Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingViewWhile the near-term signals point to a possible rally above the psychological level of $100,000, traders need to be watchful. Daan Crypto Trades said in a post on X that BTC needs to hold the $94,000 region as a break below it “would not make for a pretty look.”

Could BTC and the major altcoins resume their relief rally? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price predictionBTC pierced the $96,846 resistance on Wednesday, but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels. The price slipped back below the breakout level on Thursday.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA minor positive in favor of the bulls is that they have not given up much ground. If the price turns up from the current level and breaks above $97,925, it signals the resumption of the up move. The BTC/USDT pair could rally to $107,500, with a minor stop at $100,000.

This positive view will be invalidated in the near term if the Bitcoin price turns down and breaks below the 20-day exponential moving average ($92,083). The pair may then drop to the 50-day simple moving average ($90,127).

Ether price predictionEther (ETH) bulls are attempting to hold the price above the resistance line, but the bears continue to exert pressure.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe moving averages are the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. If the price rebounds off the moving averages, the bulls will attempt to drive the ETH/USDT pair to $3,659 and subsequently to $4,000.

Alternatively, a close below the moving averages suggests that the break above the triangle may have been a bull trap. The Ether price could then plunge to the support line. Buyers will attempt to defend the support line as a break below it tilts the advantage in favor of the bears. The pair may then collapse to $2,623.

XRP price predictionXRP (XRP) turned up from the moving averages on Tuesday, but the bounce fizzled on Wednesday, indicating selling on every minor rally.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe bears will attempt to pull the XRP price below the 50-day SMA ($2.01). If they succeed, it suggests that the XRP/USDT pair could remain inside the descending channel pattern for a while longer.

The bulls will have to kick the price above the downtrend line to signal a potential short-term trend change. The pair may then climb to $2.70. On the downside, a close below the support line could sink the pair toward the Oct. 10 low of $1.25.

BNB price predictionBNB (BNB) is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears at the breakout level of $928.

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe upsloping 20-day EMA ($903) and the RSI above the 61 level indicate that the bulls have the upper hand. If the BNB price turns up from $928, it suggests that buyers have flipped the level into support. That enhances the prospects of a rally toward the pattern target of $1,066.

On the contrary, if the price tumbles below the moving averages, it signals that the breakout above the $928 level may have been a bull trap. The BNB/USDT pair may then descend to the uptrend line.

Solana price predictionSolana (SOL) turned down from the $147 level on Thursday, but a positive sign is that the bulls have not ceded much ground to the bears. 

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe upsloping 20-day EMA ($137) and the RSI in the positive territory suggest that buyers are in control. That increases the likelihood of a break above the $147 resistance. The SOL/USDT pair could then surge toward $172.

Sellers will have to pull the price below the 50-day SMA ($132) to weaken the bullish momentum. The Solana price could then remain inside the $117 to $147 range for a few more days.

Dogecoin price predictionDogecoin’s (DOGE) bounce off the moving averages on Tuesday could not reach the overhead resistance at $0.16, signaling a lack of demand at higher levels.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe flattening moving averages and the RSI near the midpoint suggest the DOGE/USDT pair may form a range in the near term. If the Dogecoin price skids below the moving averages, the pair could tumble to $0.13 and then to $0.12. 

Buyers will have to shove the price above the $0.16 level to seize control. If they do that, the pair could rally to $0.20. Such a move indicates that the market has rejected the breakdown below $0.13.

Cardano price predictionCardano (ADA) returned from the downtrend line on Wednesday, indicating that the bears are active at higher levels.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThere is minor support at $0.38, but if the level cracks, the ADA/USDT pair could slide toward $0.33. Buyers are expected to vigorously defend the $0.33 level as a break below it could sink the pair to the Oct. 10 low of $0.27.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the downtrend line. The Cardano price could then surge to the breakdown level of $0.50, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.

Monero price predictionMonero (XMR) skyrocketed to $800 on Wednesday, but the long wick on the candlestick shows selling at higher levels.

XMR/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe pullback is expected to find support at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of $653 and below that at the 50% retracement level of $608. If the price rebounds off the support, the bulls will again strive to propel the XMR/USDT pair above $800. If they can pull it off, the Monero price could resume its uptrend toward $1,000.

On the contrary, a break and close below the $608 level suggests the bulls are losing their grip. The pair may then slump to the 20-day EMA ($543).

Bitcoin Cash price predictionBitcoin Cash (BCH) attempted a rally above the $631 resistance on Thursday, but the bears successfully defended the level.

BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day EMA ($613) has started to turn down, and the RSI is in the negative territory, indicating a slight edge to the sellers. If the price sustains below the 50-day SMA ($591), the BCH/USDT pair could slump to $563 and then to $518.

Buyers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to defend the 50-day SMA and swiftly thrust the Bitcoin Cash price above the $631 level. If they manage to do that, the pair could surge to $720.

Chainlink price predictionChainlink (LINK) remains stuck inside the $11.61 to $14.98 range, indicating buying near the support and selling close to the resistance.

LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe moving averages are the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. If the price rebounds off the moving averages, the bulls will make another attempt to drive the LINK/USDT pair above the $14.98 resistance. If they succeed, the Chainlink price could surge toward $17.66.

Instead, if the price skids below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may extend its stay inside the range for some more time.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Cardano (ADA) trades near $0.4 as analysts track a potential correction wave and bullish cup-and-handle pattern targeting $0.52.

Cardano (ADA) is trading near $0.39 after slipping by just over 3% in the last 24 hours. The price has moved within a narrow range this week, gaining less than 1%.

Meanwhile, the token remains the 12th largest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of over $14.4 billion and a circulating supply of 37 billion ADA. While sentiment remains mixed, recent chart patterns are drawing attention.

Analyst Sees Possible Correction Ahead Chart analysis from Man of Bitcoin suggests ADA may still be in a corrective phase. According to the wave count shared, the first one has completed, and the current move could be part of a larger wave (2) correction. The asset is hovering below the $0.438 level, which the analyst marks as key.

“As long as the price stays below $0.438, my preference is a larger ABC correction in wave-(2),” the analyst wrote.

If that view holds, the next leg could send the price lower, possibly into the $0.379 to $0.345 zone. These areas may offer support, but any drop below them would weaken the short-term structure.

On the weekly chart, ADA continues to trade within a symmetrical triangle. The lower support trendline around $0.39 has been tested multiple times but has not broken. The upper trendline remains untouched, keeping the structure tight and undecided.

Cardano (ADA) Price Chart 1.16. Source: TradingView The price is still below key moving averages. This keeps the broader trend cautious. The MACD also shows weak momentum, with the signal line staying above the MACD line and red histogram bars continuing. For now, sellers remain active, but pressure has not accelerated.

Bullish Pattern Forms Under Resistance At the same time, a cup-and-handle pattern is forming on lower timeframes, according to analyst Ali Martinez. This pattern is considered bullish if confirmed. The neckline sits around $0.423. If the price breaks above this level, the next target could reach $0.517. The handle portion is forming between $0.387 and $0.404.

You may also like: Crypto Trading Activity Hits Yearly Lows as Holiday Lull Freezes Markets Bitcoin (BTC) Stops at $90K After the FOMC Meeting, Cardano (ADA) Plunges by 10%: Market Watch Whales Are Leaning Into Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA): Retail Is Lagging Behind Cardano $ADA could be forming a cup-and-handle.

A break above $0.423 could open the door to $0.517. pic.twitter.com/A0YldAVGzE

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) January 15, 2026

Interestingly, this structure and its similarity to historical setups led to rallies in other markets. The pattern remains valid as long as the price holds above the handle range.

Despite the recent dip, on-chain data points to reduced sell pressure, as previously reported. Exchange flows show more ADA moving off platforms, typically a sign of investor confidence. CoinMarketCap data places ADA among the most positively rated coins by community sentiment.

Meanwhile, CME Group is preparing to list ADA futures, with trading expected to begin on February 9, pending approval. This places Cardano alongside other major altcoins already available in US derivatives markets.

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Wedbush's Scott Devitt has a neutral rating on Uber Technologies (UBER) and an underperform on Lyft Inc. (LYFT). The reason?

Novo Nordisk A/S’ (NYSE:NVO) stock is trading higher on Friday as the Wegovy (semaglutide) pill hit 3,071 U.S. prescriptions in the first four days after its launch, Reuters noted, citing IQVIA data.

Performance DataWegovy pill showed an average weight loss of about 17% (16.6%) when used along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, and if all patients stayed on treatment, compared to about 3% (2.7%) for placebo.

The weight loss pill was approved in December 2025.

The market ‍is closely watching early sales for signs of strength or weakness.

United Kingdom’s ApprovalAlso on Friday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved a maximum dose of up to 7.2mg per week of Wegovy (semaglutide).

In November 2025, Novo Nordisk submitted its supplemental marketing application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a higher dose of semaglutide injection 7.2 mg for chronic weight management.

Under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) expedited program, review is expected within 1–2 months following the FDA’s acceptance of the filing.

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion for a higher dose of Wegovy (semaglutide 7.2 mg).

In the EU, Novo Nordisk expects a regulatory decision in the first quarter of 2026.

The MHRA said the weight loss drug is administered as 3 injections of 2.4 mg for weight management in adult patients with obesity only, in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30kg/m² or higher.  

The approval does not apply to overweight patients with a BMI of less than 30kg/m² using Wegovy for weight management or to patients using Wegovy to lower their risk of serious heart problems.  

When a patient with obesity first starts using Wegovy, the starting dose is 0.25mg per week. A prescribing healthcare professional will then instruct a patient to gradually increase their dose every 4 weeks until they reach the dose of 2.4 mg per week. 

If needed, a dose increase to 7.2 mg per week (3 injections of 2.4 mg) can be made after a minimum of 4 weeks on 2.4 mg. The maximum dose is 7.2 mg per week.

For the Wegovy 7.2 mg weight management dose, patients will need to inject three doses of 2.4 mg, one after the other on the same day. 

The injections can be given in the same body area but should be at least 5cm apart. Patients must change the needle between each dose and may need to use multiple pens.  

Each pen contains four 2.4 mg doses. Patients should not discard the pen until their fourth dose has been taken. Partially used pens should be stored in the fridge with the needle removed. 

Patients should make sure they have a sufficient supply of pens to complete their dose before they start injecting. Once all four 2.4mg doses have been used, patients should dispose of the pen safely, as instructed by their prescriber.  

In November 2025, Novo Nordisk shared data from the STEP UP phase 3b trial of a 7.2 mg dose of semaglutide compared to the 2.4 mg dose and a placebo for weight management in adults with obesity.

It showed that Wegovy helps obese people lose an average of 21% of their body weight.

NVO Price Action: Novo Nordisk shares were up 7.20% at $61.23 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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AVGO rides AI-fueled revenue growth and big-name partnerships, but premium valuation and margin concerns cloud the upside.

Amicus stock soars 135.8% in six months as demand for marketed products grows. The company is set to be acquired by BioMarin for $4.8 billion.

Key Takeaways Raymond James agreed to buy Clark Capital, a Philadelphia-based asset manager with more than $46B in assets.Clark Capital will operate as a standalone boutique within Raymond James Investment Management.RJF expects the deal to strengthen its multi-boutique platform and expand advisor-focused solutions. Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF - Free Report) has agreed to acquire Clark Capital Management Group, a Philadelphia-based asset management company with more than $46 billion in discretionary assets under management and non-discretionary assets. The deal is anticipated to be closed by the third quarter of 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Since its foundation in 1986, Clark Capital has established a powerful brand and provides wealth-oriented investment solutions. The company focuses on multi-asset-class strategies, proprietary model portfolios, and 40-Act mutual funds that are primarily distributed through financial advisors and targeted at high-net-worth clients.

Per the agreement, Clark Capital will retain its brand name and continue as a separate boutique investment manager in Raymond James Investment Management, an asset management unit of RJF and a global multi-boutique platform. Clark Capital will also retain its leadership team, investment facilities and service model. Following the deal, Clark Capital will be able to expand its product and service innovation, and advisor support and enhance the client experience by using the scale, resources and distribution capabilities of Raymond James Investment Management.

Raymond James CEO Paul Shoukry said, “This new partnership with Clark Capital will bring together two culturally aligned organizations committed to delivering exceptional service and partnership to financial advisors, and will further position Raymond James Investment Management as a leading player in key advisor-focused channels, including independent firms and turnkey asset management platform segments.”

How Will this Deal Support RJF’s Long-Term Strategy?The Clark Capital acquisition is a strategic move for Raymond James to expand its asset management footprint and broaden its investment solutions portfolio for financial advisors and their clients. The deal is in sync with the company’s long-term strategy of becoming a leading global asset management firm. It will support the growth of its advisor-focused services.

Over the years, RJF has significantly expanded its operations through several acquisitions. In October 2025, it announced the acquisition of a majority interest in GreensLedge Holdings, a boutique investment bank recognized for its expertise in structured credit and securitization. In fiscal 2024, the company announced its foray into the lucrative private credit business through a partnership with Eldridge Industries.

In fiscal 2023, Raymond James acquired Canada-based Solus Trust Company Limited. In fiscal 2022, it acquired SumRidge Partners, TriState Capital Holdings and the U.K.-based Charles Stanley Group PLC, while in fiscal 2021, it acquired Cebile Capital and a boutique investment bank, Financo. These deals, along with several past ones, have positioned the company well for future growth.

RJF’s Price Performance & Zacks RankOver the past three months, RJF's shares have rallied 6.2% compared with 9.5% growth of the industry.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

At present, RJF carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Similar Steps Taken by Other Finance FirmsOn Jan. 13, U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BTIG, LLC for $1 billion. This stock and cash transaction will likely be closed in the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

BTIG provides investment banking, institutional sales and trading, research, and prime brokerage services. Since 2014, USB has had BTIG as the equity capital markets referral partner. The two firms further started a referral program in 2023.

Last week, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC - Free Report) completed the acquisition of FirstBank Holding Company, including its banking subsidiary, FirstBank, after securing all required regulatory approvals. The acquisition significantly strengthens PNC’s presence in Colorado and Arizona, two of the fastest-growing banking markets in the United States.

With the transaction legally closed, PNC Financial will begin the integration of FirstBank into its national operating platform. Customer account conversion is expected to take place in the summer of 2026. Until the conversion is completed, FirstBank clients will continue to access services through existing branches, digital platforms and relationship teams, ensuring operational continuity during the transition period.

Transaction in Own Shares   

16 January, 2026

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Shell plc (the ‘Company’) announces that on 16 January, 2026 it purchased the following number of Shares for cancellation.

Aggregated information on Shares purchased according to trading venue:

Date of purchaseNumber of Shares purchasedHighest price paidLowest price paid Volume weighted average price paid per shareVenueCurrency16/01/2026655,05727.760027.200027.5782LSEGBP16/01/2026----Chi-X (CXE)
GBP16/01/2026----BATS (BXE)
GBP16/01/2026523,69832.090031.470031.8917XAMSEUR16/01/2026----CBOE DXEEUR16/01/2026----TQEXEUR These share purchases form part of the on- and off-market limbs of the Company's existing share buy-back programme previously announced on 30 October 2025.

In respect of this programme, Merrill Lynch International will make trading decisions in relation to the securities independently of the Company for a period from 30 October 2025 up to and including 30 January 2026.

The on-market limb will be effected within certain pre-set parameters and in accordance with the Company’s general authority to repurchase shares on-market. The off-market limb will be effected in accordance with the Company’s general authority to repurchase shares off-market pursuant to the off-market buyback contract approved by its shareholders and the pre-set parameters set out therein. The programme will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 9 of the UK Listing Rules and Article 5 of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU dealing with buy-back programmes (“EU MAR”) and EU MAR as “onshored” into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced by the Financial Services Act, 2021 and relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time (“UK MAR”) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (the “EU MAR Delegated Regulation”) and the EU MAR Delegated Regulation as “onshored” into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced by the Financial Services Act, 2021 and relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time.

In accordance with EU MAR and UK MAR, a breakdown of the individual trades made by Merrill Lynch International on behalf of the Company as a part of the buy-back programme is detailed below.

Enquiries

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2026.01.16 Shell RNS (with fills)

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Key Takeaways JBHT posted Q4 EPS of $1.90, beating estimates and rising 24.2% year over year despite a revenue decline.JBHT's operating income climbed 19% on cost cuts, productivity gains, and lower personnel-related expenses.JBHT saw mixed segment results, with Truckload growth offset by weakness in Intermodal & Final Mile Services. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.90 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81 and improved 24.2% year over year.

Total operating revenues of $3.09 billion lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.12 billion and were down 1.6% year over year. JBHT’s fourth-quarter revenue performance was hurt by a 2% and 4% decline in revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue in Intermodal (JBI) and Truckload (JBT), respectively, a 1% decrease in average trucks in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), and a 7% and 2% decline in load volume in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) and JBI, respectively. The decline in revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, was partially offset by a 15% increase in volume in JBT, a 1% increase in productivity, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, in DCS, and an increase in revenue per load in ICS. Total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, decreased 2% year over year.

Operating income for the reported quarter increased 19% year over year to $246.5 million. The uptick was owing to the execution of JBHT’s initiatives to structurally reduce expenses, improve productivity across the organization and lower personnel-related expenses.

JBHT’s Segmental HighlightsIntermodal division generated quarterly revenues of $1.55 billion, down 3% year over year, reflecting the 2% decrease in load volume and a 1% decrease in revenue per load, resulting from changes in the mix of freight, customer rates and fuel surcharge revenue. Revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, decreased 2% year over year. Our estimate is pegged at $1.56 billion.

Intermodal volume fell 2% year over year. Transcontinental network loads fell 6%, while eastern network loads increased 5% year over year.

Segmental operating income grew 16% year over year, owing to improved network balance, efficiency improvements in the drayage network and continued execution on the initiative to lower cost to serve.

Dedicated Contract Services segment revenues of $843 million grew 1% year over year, owing to a 1% improvement in productivity (revenue per truck per week) partially offset by a 1% decline in average trucks. The company reported actuals stands below our estimate of $848.2 million.

Segmental operating income increased 9% year over year, owing to higher revenue combined with lower insurance claims expense, continued execution on the initiative to lower cost to serve and the maturing of new business onboarded over the trailing 12 months. These items were partially offset by increased equipment-related expenses.

Integrated Capacity Solutions’ revenues decreased 1% year over year to $305 million. Segment volume fell 7% year over year. Revenue per load grew 6% year over year, owing to increases in both contractual and transactional rates as well as changes in customer mix. Our estimate is pegged at $300.9 million.

Operating loss in the fourth quarter fell to $3.3 million from $21.8 million in the year-ago reported quarter. Operating results improved from the prior-year quarter owing to lower personnel-related expenses, lower equipment and facility rental expense and lower bad debt expense. These items were partially offset by higher third-party purchased transportation expenses in the reported quarter.

Truckload revenues grew 10% year over year to $200 million. Excluding fuel surcharge, revenues increased 10% year over year, owing to a 15% increase in load volume, partially offset by a 4% decline in gross revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue. Our estimate is pegged at $175.7 million.

At the fourth-quarter end, total tractors were 2,003 compared with 1,919 a year ago. Trailers in the segment were 12,658 compared with the year-ago quarter’s figure of 12,895.

Segmental operating income decreased 2% year over year, owing to higher third-party purchased transportation costs as the truckload market tightened throughout the fourth quarter.

Final Mile Services revenues fell 10% year over year to $206 million, due to general softness in demand across many of the end markets served and a change in mix between JBHT’s asset-based and asset-lite businesses within FMS. Our estimate is pegged at $208.5 million.

Operating income fell 43% year over year owing to a decline in segment revenue and higher insurance claims expense. These were partially offset by lower personnel-related costs, lower equipment and facility rental expenses and progress on initiatives to lower cost to serve.

Liquidity & Buyback Details of JBHTJ.B. Hunt exited the fourth quarter of 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $17.28 million compared with $52.3 million at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt was $766.93 million compared with $902.2 million at the prior-quarter end.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, JBHT purchased almost 843,000 shares for $140 million. As of Dec. 31, 2025, JBHT had almost $968 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

Currently, JBHT carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Q4 Performance of Other Transportation CompanyDelta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings (excluding 31 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.55 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53. Earnings decreased 16.22% on a year-over-year basis due to high labor costs.

Revenues in the December-end quarter were $16 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.63 billion and increasing 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Adjusted operating revenues (excluding third-party refinery sales) increased 1.2% year over year to $14.6 billion. Revenue growth was impacted by about 2 points due to the government shutdown, mainly in the domestic segment, consistent with the company's disclosure last month.

Upcoming Earnings Release of Another Transportation CompanyUnited Airlines (UAL - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 20, after market close. United Airlines has an Earnings ESP of -3.56% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 earnings has declined 7.6% over the past 60 days to $3.05 per share. The consensus mark indicates a decline of 6.4% from the fourth-quarter 2024 actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $15.44 billion, indicating a 5.04% increase from the fourth-quarter 2024 actuals. 

UAL has an encouraging earnings surprise history, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters. The average beat is 8.8%.