Market Signal Briefing

Explore how key differences in size, holdings, and volatility set these two Fidelity bond ETFs apart for income-focused investors.

Fidelity Investment Grade Bond ETF (FIGB 0.30%) and Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND 0.22%) both target core bond exposure, but FBND stands out with its massive assets under management (AUM), broader portfolio, higher yield, and lower volatility.

Both FIGB and FBND are fixed-income funds from Fidelity, designed for investors seeking stable income and diversification away from equities. This comparison highlights the key differences in size, yield, diversification, and risk between these two bond ETFs to help investors identify which may better fit their needs.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricFIGBFBNDIssuerFidelityFidelityExpense ratio0.36%0.36%1-yr return (as of 2026-01-09)3.8%3.8%Dividend yield4.1%4.7%Beta1.020.97AUM$327.1 million$23.4 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

Both funds charge the same annual expense, but FBND stands out with a higher yield and much larger assets under management, making it more affordable for investors seeking a higher payout and greater liquidity.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricFIGBFBNDMax drawdown (4 y)(16.18%)(15.48%)What's insideFBND holds an expansive portfolio of 2,742 bonds, with a sector allocation tilted toward energy (95%) and utilities (5%). Its top holdings include Bank Of America 3.419%/var 12/20/28, JPMorgan Chase 4.452%/var 12/05/29, and Goldman Sachs 3.691/var 6/05/28, each representing less than 1% of assets. With over 11 years of history, FBND may appeal to those seeking broad diversification and a higher yield from a well-established fund.

In contrast, FIGB focuses on investment-grade bonds, with all assets classified as cash and others, and a much more concentrated portfolio of 180 holdings. Its largest positions are Goldman Sachs 3.8% 03/15/30, JPMorgan Chase 4.493%/var 3/24/31, and Morgan Stanley 4.431/var 1/23/30, each just over 1.5%. Both funds avoid leverage, currency hedges, or other structural quirks.

FBND holds an expansive portfolio of 2,742 bonds, with a sector allocation tilted toward energy (95%) and utilities (5%). Its top holdings include Bank of America 3.419%/var 12/20/28

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

What this means for investorsWhile Fidelity is the issuer behind both the Fidelity Investment Grade Bond ETF (FIGB) and the Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND), there are some noteworthy differences between the two.

FIGB emphasizes high-quality bonds, providing investors with stability and safety. However, its much tighter focus contributes to smaller assets under management compared to FBND, and its lower dividend yield means less money in your wallet in exchange for the higher quality, which also provides lower credit risk.

FBND sports a number of strengths. Its substantially larger assets under management translate into the ETF offering greater liquidity compared to FIGB. Its higher dividend yield is also a plus, especially considering both ETFs have the same expense ratio. In addition, FBND delivers broader diversification given its large bond portfolio.

For investors who want stability and high-quality bonds, FIGB is the better choice. Those investors who want broader market exposure and diversification, and a higher dividend yield in exchange for higher risk should consider FBND.

GlossaryETF: Exchange-traded fund that holds a basket of assets and trades like a stock.
Fixed income: Investments, like bonds, that pay regular interest and return principal at maturity.
Core bond exposure: Broad bond holdings intended to be a portfolio’s main, diversified fixed‑income component.
Investment-grade bonds: Bonds rated relatively safe, with lower risk of default and typically lower yields.
Dividend yield: Annual cash distributions from a fund divided by its current market price.
Expense ratio: Annual fund operating costs expressed as a percentage of average assets.
Assets under management (AUM): Total market value of all assets managed by a fund.
Beta: Measure of how much a fund’s price moves relative to the overall stock market.
Max drawdown: Largest peak‑to‑trough decline in value over a specific period.
Portfolio diversification: Spreading investments across many securities to reduce the impact of any single holding.
Leverage (in funds): Using borrowed money or derivatives to increase a fund’s exposure beyond its net assets.
Currency hedge: Strategy used by funds to reduce the impact of foreign exchange rate movements on returns.

Wall Street is underestimating the growth potential of Nvidia's Rubin architecture.

In 2024, Nvidia (NVDA 0.29%) and Amazon (AMZN +0.40%) were added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Intel and Walgreens Boots Alliance.

In December 2024, I predicted that Nvidia would be a better Dow stock to buy than Amazon because of its reasonable valuation and superior business model. The recommendation was intended for long-term investors, not those seeking to make a quick profit on a one-year time horizon.

Still, the call has been right so far, with Nvidia gaining 38.9% in 2025 compared to just 5.2% for Amazon. In fact, Amazon was the worst "Magnificent Seven" stock in 2025 -- underperforming Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla.

Even after Nvidia's big 2025 gain, it remains a better buy than Amazon. Here's why.

Image source: Getty Images.

Amazon's success is largely tied to AWS In its most recent quarter, Amazon achieved an operating margin of just 4.1% on its non-Amazon Web Services (AWS) business, which encompasses its online and physical stores, advertising, subscription services, third-party commissions, fulfillment, and shipping fees, and its miscellaneous "other" category. AWS is so profitable that it made up 60% of Amazon's operating income for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2025, even though it's less than a fifth of total Amazon sales.

With 35.6% operating margins for the nine months ended Sept. 30, AWS is a high-powered cash cow and the crown jewel in Amazon's crown. But AWS growth has slowed in recent years as it faces mounting competition from Microsoft, Alphabet's Google Cloud, and Oracle.

Rubin could open the door to new revenue streams for Nvidia While AWS helps fuel Amazon's broader business, Nvidia is more of a pure-play artificial intelligence (AI) company. Its data center sales now make up around 90% of total revenue. And the other 10% of the business is also high margin, with end markets like gaming, professional visualization, automation, and robotics.

Nvidia's presentation at CES earlier this month showcased its new Rubin architecture, which consists of six different chips designed for the next stage of AI advancement -- agentic AI, robotics, and autonomous driving. Nvidia is releasing Rubin ahead of schedule, with deployments to hyperscalers -- including AWS -- on track for the second half of 2026.

Despite its size, the law of large numbers hasn't caught up to Nvidia. It continues to grow earnings at a breakneck pace and defends its high margins thanks to its innovation. Rubin goes beyond the graphics processing unit (GPU) with networking, interconnections, and central processing units (CPUs) for rack-scale readiness. With Nvidia playing a bigger role in AI data centers, there's every reason to believe the stock can keep roaring higher.

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Nvidia is a better value for long-term investors Nvidia's high margins and break-even growth rate justify a higher valuation than Amazon. Amazon has become more affordable because its earnings grew faster than its stock price last year. Amazon is cheaper than Nvidia, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 30.1 compared to 39 for Nvidia.

Data by YCharts.

However, I'd still take Nvidia over Amazon because of its growth potential. If Nvidia's data center business does eventually cool off, it could easily more than offset a potential slowdown with new opportunities in other facets of its business. At the same time, Amazon depends heavily on AWS, and there's only so much room for margin expansion in its e-commerce business.

Add it all up, and Nvidia is still the better buy for 2026 -- although Amazon is a better value than it used to be and could be worth a closer look too.

Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia and Oracle and has the following options: short March 2026 $240 calls on Oracle. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Intel, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advantage Energy stands to benefit from La Niña-driven cold weather. AAVVF remains heavily exposed to natural gas. Rising natural gas demand may improve returns on new wells.

AppLovin Corporation stock has been hit recently, despite its robust fundamentals, driven by its scalable ad tech platform and expanding data moat into new verticals. APP's push into e-commerce is structurally altering mobile advertising, promising lucrative eCPM expansion beyond its core gaming vertical. The company's highly profitable business model and credible path to $10B revenue by FY2027 support continued upward momentum.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of O either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Beyond Saving, Philip Mause, and Hidden Opportunities, all are supporting contributors for High Dividend Opportunities. Any recommendation posted in this article is not indefinite. We closely monitor all of our positions. We issue Buy and Sell alerts on our recommendations, which are exclusive to our members.

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14h40 ▪ 5 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

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Announced as a historic breakthrough, the strategic Bitcoin reserve desired by the United States remains at a standstill today. Nearly a year after the decree signed by Donald Trump in March 2025, no BTC acquisition has been made. Legal blockages and persistent administrative confusion are the causes. Officially a priority, the project is stalling, giving way to growing criticism from the crypto community, disappointed by the lack of concrete actions and the absence of a clear government strategy.

In brief The creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the United States was announced by presidential decree in March 2025. This project aimed to hold BTC seized by the state, without the possibility of purchase on the open market. A year later, no Bitcoin acquisition has been made due to complex legal blockages. Administrative ambiguity persists between agencies like the DOJ and the Office of Legal Counsel, delaying any concrete implementation. Between presidential decree and administrative realities, a stalled project The idea of a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the United States officially took shape in March 2025, when the Trump administration promulgated an executive order establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” and a “Digital Asset Stockpile” also including certain altcoins.

Through this decree, the White House intended to preserve and potentially strengthen the country’s crypto holdings, but with a major constraint: the prohibition of buying Bitcoin on the open market.

Only BTC seized in the context of judicial procedures could feed this reserve. One year later, Patrick Witt, director of the White House Crypto Council, admits that the implementation is slowed down by legal complexities: “it seems simple, but then you hit obscure legal provisions, and why one agency cannot do it, but another could,” he explained during the Crypto in America podcast.

He indicates that several government entities, notably the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), are still examining the legal implications of the scheme.

In this context, no clear framework has yet been defined to move the project forward. Confusion reigns regarding the responsibilities of each agency and the concrete methods of fund management. Here are the main obstacles identified to date :

No federal agency officially designated to manage the reserve or its expansion conditions ; Legal blockages between departments, notably on the legality of long-term crypto holdings by the state ; Inability to buy BTC on markets, which strongly limits the strategic scope of the scheme ; Absence of concrete measures in the crypto report published in July 2025, despite the expectations of the crypto community. Despite these limits, Patrick Witt asserts that the project “remains on the priority list“. However, for now, it resembles more a political intention not translated into reality. The presidential ambitions displayed in 2025 struggle to withstand the regulatory heaviness of the federal system.

The political disconnect and disillusionment in the Bitcoin community In the face of this administrative paralysis, part of the Bitcoin community is becoming increasingly critical of the Trump administration.

Bitcoin maximalist Justin Bechler didn’t mince words : “believing that the federal government will one day build a strategic Bitcoin reserve requires a total disconnect from reality“, he declared, denouncing “empty talks, vague references, and Washington political opportunism“.

In fact, no Bitcoin acquisition has been made since the signing of the decree. And the absence of a concrete plan, combined with unclear communication, fuels growing mistrust toward the authorities’ real intentions.

In August 2025, a brief surge of hope emerged. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed that the government explore budget-neutral Bitcoin acquisition strategies. These solutions would consist, for example, of converting part of other reserve assets or revaluing precious metal holdings to finance BTC purchases without increasing the deficit.

However, no concrete measures followed this announcement. In a context where some countries are considering or already initiating sovereign crypto reserves, this inertia could prove costly for the United States strategically.

The fate of the American strategic reserve remains uncertain, caught between political will and administrative inertia. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin price continues to reflect tensions between hoped-for institutional adoption and regulatory realities. If Washington doesn’t decide, the initiative could bog down, risking to discredit a strong signal sent to the markets.

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Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Bitcoin is approaching an important price area, where the next move could set the tone for the coming days. The market has been moving higher, but signs show this advance may be part of a temporary correction rather than a fresh breakout.

From macro tailwinds to trillion-dollar rails, the 50T Funds founder sees real-world adoption reshaping the crypto landscape.

Journalist

Posted: January 18, 2026

XRP continued to defend the psychological and technical $2 demand zone.

In a recent report, AMBCrypto noted that Ripple partnered with LMAX to integrate its stablecoin, RLUSD. Moves and partnerships like these help boost adoption, part ofa long-term strategy.

This might not reflect immediately in price action or market sentiment. Another report highlighted the inverse head and shoulders pattern XRP was making on the 1-day timeframe, which could lead to a bullish breakout for the token prices.

Ripple [XRP] witnessed steady outflows from exchanges, a sign of accumulation. The high Long/Short Ratio was a warning to the bulls of potential short-term volatility to force out the overcrowded long side.

Inflows from whales were low, which showed that smart money was not offloading XRP. This was an indication of conviction from whales.

Signs that XRP could be forming a local price bottom In a CryptoQuant Insights post, analyst PelinayPA observed that when Funding Rates turn positive and spike higher, the price tends to see a consolidation and brief pullbacks. This is a result of the cost of maintaining long positions, which is funding, and the possibility of a long squeeze that it entails.

As of press time, the opposite of that was going on while prices remain above the $2 demand zone. These conditions tend to mark local price bottoms.

The lack of excessive market enthusiasm meant any price dips were likely to be shallow. A switch to positive Funding Rates in the coming days could come alongside a bullish XRP price move.

Another user, TopNotchYJ, pointed out that the spot CVD was taker buy dominant.

This indicated aggressive buying pressure in the 90-day Spot CVD metric. The Spot Average Order Size witnessed big whale orders in recent weeks, as well.

The Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap highlighted the importance of the $1.96-$2.0 area as support. These areas had a high concentration of supply at cost basis. A price drop below $1.96 could trigger deeper bearish sentiment.

On the other hand, the $2.15 area was another zone for bulls to watch out for as a potential resistance. Within the past week, XRP bulls faced rejection at this area.

Final Thoughts The funding rates and buyer-dominated spot CVD metrics indicated a higher likelihood of an upward price move for XRP. The CBD heatmap showed where the key local support and resistance zones were.

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories. His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity. Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution. As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

Bitcoin demand conditions have shown improvement recently; however, they are still weak despite bitcoin’s latest rally.

Over the past week, bitcoin (BTC) has rebounded, with the price approaching certain crucial thresholds. Despite this rally in the asset’s value, analysts at the crypto research firm CryptoQuant believe the market, led by BTC, has not escaped the bears’ claws.

In a weekly report from CryptoQuant, market experts noted that BTC demand conditions have improved recently. However, they are still weak and have not changed significantly. This substantiates the claim that the market is still in a bearish phase despite bitcoin’s latest rally.

Bitcoin Sees Bear Market Rally Since November 21, 2025, BTC has risen by approximately 20% to its current levels. The rally follows a 19% decline that confirmed the start of a bear market as BTC fell below its 365-day moving average (MA). The surge brought the leading cryptocurrency near its 365-day MA, currently sitting at $101,000.

Historically, the 365-day MA has acted as a regime boundary with previous bear cycles showing repeated rejections near that level before renewed downward movement. BTC recorded a similar pattern in the 2022 bear cycle, and this time is no different.

The rally in bitcoin’s price comes amid slightly improved but weak demand conditions. In fact, spot demand is still contracting. U.S. spot indicators, such as the Coinbase Price Premium and spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), briefly turned positive. The Coinbase premium briefly increased from deep negative territory for the second time since mid-December 2025.

Bitcoin Demand Remains Weak On the ETF front, there is still no extraordinary activity. These products merely stopped net selling during the rally, after offloading as much as 54,000 BTC over a 30-day period in November 2025. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have not indicated a strong return of U.S. demand or shown sustained accumulation.

Furthermore, apparent demand metrics reveal that Bitcoin spot demand has contracted by 67,000 BTC over the last 30 days and has been in negative territory since November 28, 2025. Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have purchased only 3,800 BTC so far this year, compared to 3,600 at the same time last year – levels below thresholds associated with bull-market recoveries.

You may also like: EU Calls Emergency Meeting, Democrats Move to Block Trump’s Tariffs, But BTC Stays Calm How US Investors Could Spark Bitcoin’s Deep Correction or Surge First Time in 3 Months: Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Signals Greed Meanwhile, analysts say BTC may face increased selling pressure in the coming weeks, as exchange flows have begun to rise after the recent rally. Bitcoin transfers to exchanges have spiked to a seven-day average of 39,000 BTC. Increased flows into exchanges are historically associated with escalating selling activity, so there may be more trouble for BTC ahead.

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It was a strange week in crypto. XRP supply just got thinner, with U.S. spot ETFs locking up 1.20% of the token’s total market cap — $1.52 billion that is now off the open market and in cold compliance storage.

But over in the meme coin land, the SHIB burn rate hit a wall, collapsing 86.14% in 24 hours and throwing cold water on the deflation hype. And then there is Justin Sun, who casually announced he would pay $30 million for an hour-long conversation with Elon Musk.

TL;DRXRP ETF holdings now at $1.52 billion, equal to 1.20% of the total market cap.SHIB burn rate nosedives 86.14% in 24 hours, dropping to just 749,000 SHIB burned.Justin Sun says he would pay $30 million to talk to Elon Musk for 60 minutes.XRP sees $1.52 billion supply cut, but price reaction is weirdU.S. XRP ETFs have now bought $1.52 billion worth of XRP, according to SoSoValue, locking up 1.20% of the entire market cap — but the token's price has not moved at all. It is a classic mismatch: supply is drying up, but prices are stuck.

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This week, inflows added up to just $56.83 million, which is a far cry from December's numbers. Back then, single-week flows regularly crossed $200 million. The big question is whether this is just a temporary slowdown or if it is more of a long-term trend.

But the price is still not cooperating. XRP is stuck near $2.05, brushing up against short-term resistance at $2.10, and looking lost under its 200-day moving average at $2.32. Even with supply cuts from the ETFs, there has been no breakout. Nothing too aggressive there. It is just a range-bound chop.

Source: SoSoValueThat is where things get a bit awkward. It could be a delayed bullish setup — ETF accumulation leading a larger move — or it could be a failed bullish catalyst, with not enough retail follow-through to matter.

If XRP cannot break through $2.32 soon, it might fall into its own liquidity trap: fewer tokens available, but fewer buyers showing up. If the impact of an ETF is not priced in real time, market participants are likely to look elsewhere.

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Shiba Inu (SHIB) suffers brutal 86.14% metric collapseIn the last 24 hours, SHIB's burn rate dropped by 86.14%, falling to a laughable 749,126 tokens burned, as per Shibburn portal. That is not a typo. It is one of the weakest daily burns in months. For a project that has burned through over 410 trillion tokens in total, a drop like this is unacceptable.

The whole thing is made worse by the fact that the Shiba Inu coin had just printed a golden cross between its 23-day and 50-day MAs, which led to speculation that the price might chase the 200-day average at $0.0000096.

But with daily burns hitting rock bottom and on-chain volume stalling, things are not looking promising.

SHIB/USD by TradingViewThe price is stuck at 0.$00000841, holding onto the trendline support that was made after Christmas. If it breaks $0.000008, the structure caves and the golden cross gets invalidated before it ever mattered.

To put it simply, SHIB needed deflation to show that it was gaining steam. Instead, it gave holders silence — and that silence is where the market's pullback usually starts.

TRON founder Justin Sun open to paying Elon Musk $30 millionSometimes, the biggest quote of the day is not about the price chart, but what hides in the reply section.

When prompted by the viral question — “$30M or 24 hours with Elon Musk?” — TRON founder Justin Sun replied without hesitation.

It is not clear if he was joking, pitching a future collaboration, or both.

But Sun has a history of big-spend PR moves, from paying $4.5M for a later canceled lunch with Warren Buffett to inserting himself into every ecosystem from Poloniex to Huobi to TUSD and buying a banana with duct tape for over $6 million. The last one by the way was offered to be sent to space aboard Musk's SpaceX rocket. But that is another story.

What makes this one different is the specificity of the number. It is not the dollar amount — Sun has dropped bigger bags for dumber stunts — but the specificity: sixty minutes for $30 million. It is a valuation of access, not influence. And it is not a meme if you can wire the funds.

In a post-Twitter, X-powered world, where clout markets bleed into token charts, it does not take much for a throwaway comment to trigger reflexive speculation. TRON-Tesla stablecoin? TRX tipping integration on X?

None of that exists yet. But Sun's quote does now — and knowing how quickly crypto can spin narratives into capital, that might be all he needs.

Crypto market outlookAccording to CryptoQuant's price decomposition, Sunday and Saturday are still the days with the least movement across all days of the week. It is really on weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Thursdays, that things start to get really volatile.

XRP: $1.52B ETF absorption is dead weight on the supply side — if flows accelerate, the price will not stay flat for long. A break above $2.32 opens up a $2.5-$2.7 repricing window fast.Shiba Inu (SHIB): golden cross now risks invalidation without a burn rate rebound. Without it, the meme coin narrative stalls and the price likely revisits the $0.00000800 coil zone.Bitcoin (BTC): faces a triple ceiling near $100,000 — technical, structural, psychological. If Tuesday ETF flows miss expectations, weekend calm could flip into rejection. The next move sets the tone for Q1. You Might Also Like

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Bitcoin prices continue to consolidate within the $95,000 zone following the pullback in the latter part of the past week. The premier cryptocurrency is experiencing a bullish January performance marked by a net gain of 11.42% since the new year commenced. However, the effects of the extended price correction from Q4 2025 linger. Using recent on-chain data, a market analyst with the username MorenoDV_ has identified certain holder cohorts who are still experiencing extreme psychological stress that could impact future price trajectory.

Bitcoin Market Risk Redistribution Ongoing – Here’s Why In a QuickTake post on January 17, MorenoDV_ postulates that the Bitcoin bull cycle remains on despite the negative events of Q4 2025. Notably, the crypto market leader experienced a heavy 33% price correction after hitting its current all-time high ($126,198) in early October.

Although Bitcoin has recorded some modest price recovery in the past month, significant expectations of a bear market remain, driven by a diminished market demand and failure to reclaim key technical levels such as the 365-day MA. Using the data from the Realized Price by UTXO Age Bands, MorenoDV explains that the Bitcoin market is actively redistributing risk. This positive development counters the bearish narrative of a market cycle ending.

Source: CryptoQuant With the present spot price around $95,583, the CryptoQuant metric shows that psychological stress is unevenly distributed among Bitcoin holders. Notably, short-term holders, i.e., 1w-1m and 1m-3m cohorts, have realized prices, i.e., $89,255 and $93,504, respectively, below the spot price. This data suggests that these classes of investors are in profit and are experiencing low market pressure, which helps keep fear at bay.

However, mid-term holders of 3m-6m and long-term holders of 6m-12m have realized prices of $114,808, and $100,748 both of which are significantly above the present spot price. However,  both holder cohorts have chosen to bear the discomfort by absorbing losses rather than initiating an aggressive redistribution. 

Therefore, as the spot price rises towards the realized price levels of these stressed cohorts, losses are expected to significantly reduce, eventually easing these pressures on these classes of holders and balancing the market risk. This market development only occurs if the 3m-6m and 6m-12m continue to interpret the present market drawdown as a mere cyclical discomfort rather than a change in market structure. Therefore, there is a need for a sustained bullish narrative and constructive price behavior to keep these investors from seeking a market exit.

Bitcoin Price Overview At press time, Bitcoin trades at $95,265, reflecting a modest 5.3% gain in the last week. 

BTC trading at $95,121 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pexels, chart from Tradingview

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Semilore Faleti works as a crypto-journalist at Bitconist, providing the latest updates on blockchain developments, crypto regulations, and the DeFi ecosystem. He is a strong crypto enthusiast passionate about covering the growing footprint of blockchain technology in the financial world.

Sun, 18/01/2026 - 11:34

Hedge fund manager Michael Burry, best known for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis, has publicly endorsed a charitable use case for Bitcoin.

Cover image via U.Today Hedge fund manager Michael Burry, who rose to worldwide fame by correctly predicting the 2008 global financial crisis, has publicly praised a charitable use case for Bitcoin.

On social media, Burry, who posts under the handle Cassandra Unchained, endorsed cryptic donations to Little Wishes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to granting wishes for chronically and critically ill hospitalized children. 

“Bitcoin for Little Wishes is a good use of $BTC,” Burry said in an X post. 

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Little Wishes, which was founded in 2003, has a long track record of granting over 36,000 wishes across 46 hospitals in the United States.

The organization facilitates both immediate and ongoing wishes that include small personal items to experiences that bring comfort and joy to children facing serious medical challenges. 

The nonprofit confirmed that supporters could contribute Bitcoin directly through a dedicated platform on Every.org in response to questions about cryptocurrency donations. 

Burry's views on BitcoinBitcoin is often criticized for its volatility and use in speculative investment, but this shows that the cryptocurrency is also used for philanthropy. Accepting Bitcoin can open up new donor demographics, including younger or tech-savvy contributors who might prefer using digital currency over traditional payment methods.

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Burry, who rose to prominence after predicting the subprime mortgage crisis, is known as a longtime critic of the leading cryptocurrency. Most recently, in a December 2025 podcast with author Michael Lewis, Burry offered some of his bluntest public comments on Bitcoin.

He opined that Bitcoin going to $100,000 was "the most ridiculous thing." adding that it is "not worth anything." 

The “Big Short” hero even invoked the infamous 17th‑century Dutch tulip bubble. 

Earlier, he warned that leverage was the main problem with crypto. 

However, the post shows that he might be warming up to the leading cryptocurrency based on his recent social media post. 

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XRP will double in value this year to hit a price of $4.

Up 13% to start off 2026, XRP (XRP 0.48%) is once again starting to look like the type of high-upside cryptocurrency that investors can trust.

In fact, I'm making one big prediction for XRP in 2026: The world's fourth-largest cryptocurrency is going to set a new all-time high and end the year trading above the $4 mark.

Can XRP really double in value? A price of $4 might not sound like a particularly bold prediction, until you consider the fact that XRP currently trades for a price of just $2. Moreover, XRP has continually over-promised and under-delivered for more than a decade. Since it began trading on exchanges in 2013, XRP has never once traded higher than a price of $3.84, and that was in January 2018.

Image source: Getty Images.

Understandably, consensus sentiment on XRP is not very high right now. According to data from CoinCodex, the average price prediction for XRP in 2026 is just $2.20. That price target essentially assumes that XRP will end the year up 10%. That's OK, but certainly not worth the risk and volatility of investing in the cryptocurrency asset class.

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Admittedly, XRP did make a run at the $4 price level last year. But after hitting a multi-year high of $3.65 in July, XRP promptly gave back all of its gains. It ended the year under the $2 mark, which is why sentiment is so low right now. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

What do online prediction markets think? If you buy into the numbers coming out of online prediction markets, XRP has a negligible chance of hitting the $4 mark this year. On the Kalshi prediction platform, for example, traders give XRP just a 2% chance of smashing through the $4 mark by the end of 2026.

The outlook was entirely different last year, however. When XRP was cruising to its multi-year high of $3.65 in July, traders gave XRP an 86% chance of hitting the $4 mark. Quite frankly, at the time, XRP looked like a slam-dunk investment opportunity.

That's perhaps the biggest lesson here: in the crypto market, sentiment can turn on a dime, and that's especially the case with XRP. Throughout its history, it has often traded like a meme coin, dependent on hype, buzz, and speculation to send it soaring higher. When the hype and buzz wear off, XRP typically gives back all its gains.

So, if you're thinking about investing in XRP, keep your expectations in check. Yes, it has the potential to double in value and hit the $4 price level in 2026. But it also has the potential to do what it always does: Tease investors with the prospect of huge, outsized gains, only to give them all back later.

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Steak ’n Shake has moved $10 million of Bitcoin onto its corporate balance sheet, a fresh step in the fast-food chain’s crypto push. According to reports, the purchase equals about 105 BTC at current prices, and the company says all customer Bitcoin receipts feed into a so-called Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Tied To Sales Based on reports, Steak ’n Shake calls its new approach a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and says it links reserve growth directly to rising same-store sales.

The company has framed the move as part of daily operations rather than a standalone financial bet. Customers who pay with Bitcoin are effectively contributing to the reserve, the chain said. This is a different route from companies that raise capital or borrow specifically to buy crypto.

Eight months ago today, Steak n Shake launched its burger-to-Bitcoin transformation when we started accepting bitcoin payments. Our same-store sales have risen dramatically ever since.

All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Today we increased our Bitcoin…

— Steak ‘n Shake (@SteaknShake) January 17, 2026

Payments On The Lightning Network Steak ’n Shake started accepting Bitcoin at US locations in mid-May 2025, using the Lightning Network to handle payments, according to earlier coverage.

The company reports payment processing fees have fallen by roughly 50% compared with traditional card payments, and sales have risen since the rollout.

Reports note same-store sales gains in the low-to-mid double digits — figures such as 15% have been cited by several outlets.

BTCUSD now trading at $95,211. Chart: TradingView The $10 million allocation follows eight months of active Bitcoin payments at the tills. Management says the reserve will fund store upgrades and ingredient improvements without raising menu prices.

The firm also ran a branded promotion last year that linked small Bitcoin rewards to specific menu purchases, part of its wider effort to make crypto part of the customer experience.

Image: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg How The Company Plans To Use Funds Reports indicate Steak ’n Shake wants the reserve to be a steady, internally funded asset rather than a speculative holding driven by market timing.

Some of the Bitcoin will support operational improvements, while other parts may be kept as a corporate asset. That mix could change if management alters its view of how Bitcoin fits with broader company goals.

Industry watchers point out that $10 million is modest against the biggest corporate crypto treasuries, but it is one of the more public moves by a legacy consumer brand.

The trend of businesses accepting Bitcoin and then holding some of it has drawn attention because it ties everyday commerce to cryptocurrency accumulation.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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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.

Metaplanet’s CEO recently shared his views on corporate adoption of Bitcoin, highlighting a distinction between companies that invest in Bitcoin and those that choose not to. This discussion occurred on January 17, 2026, amidst ongoing debates about the role of cryptocurrencies in corporate strategies.

The CEO indicated that many companies remain hesitant to embrace Bitcoin due to its volatility and regulatory uncertainties. He remarked that while some firms have integrated Bitcoin into their financial strategies, the majority are still cautious. This perspective is significant as it sheds light on the broader sentiment within the business community regarding digital currencies.

Bitcoin’s fluctuating value is a primary concern for companies considering it as a reserve asset. The CEO pointed out that while potential profits from Bitcoin investments can be substantial, the financial risks are equally high. This risk factor is especially pertinent for publicly traded companies, where financial stability is a critical concern for shareholders.

Regulatory issues also play a critical role in corporate decision-making related to Bitcoin. The evolving nature of cryptocurrency regulations across different jurisdictions adds a layer of complexity for businesses. The CEO noted that the lack of clear and consistent regulations can deter companies from engaging with Bitcoin.

Despite these challenges, a number of high-profile companies have made headlines for their adoption of Bitcoin. Firms like Tesla and MicroStrategy have publicly announced their Bitcoin holdings, which has sparked discussions about whether more companies will follow suit. These decisions are often attributed to visionary leadership and a willingness to innovate within the digital economy.

Conversely, some companies opt for a wait-and-see approach, monitoring the market and regulatory landscape before making any commitments. The CEO emphasized that this cautious stance is not necessarily a lack of interest but rather a strategic decision to mitigate potential risks.

The CEO’s comments come as Bitcoin continues to experience significant price movements. In recent months, Bitcoin’s value has seen both substantial gains and sharp declines, underscoring the volatility that concerns corporate leaders. This volatility can impact balance sheets and, consequently, the financial health of companies.

Institutional investors have shown increasing interest in Bitcoin, which has prompted discussions about its legitimacy as an asset class. However, the CEO suggested that widespread corporate adoption will require a more stable regulatory environment and reduced volatility.

Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge against inflation is another factor that companies consider. In times of economic uncertainty, some firms are exploring Bitcoin as a potential safeguard against currency devaluation. The CEO acknowledged this potential but reiterated that the risks involved make it a challenging choice for many companies.

The CEO’s insights reflect broader trends in the financial industry, where digital currencies are gaining attention but have yet to achieve widespread acceptance. The conversation about corporate Bitcoin adoption is part of a larger dialogue about the future of finance and the integration of new technologies.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, companies will need to weigh the risks and benefits of integrating Bitcoin into their strategies. The CEO concluded that while Bitcoin offers intriguing possibilities, the decision to adopt it should be based on careful analysis and consideration of each company’s unique circumstances.

The future of Bitcoin in corporate settings remains uncertain, with ongoing developments in technology and regulation likely to influence its trajectory. For now, the debate continues, with companies carefully considering their positions in the ever-changing digital landscape.

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By mid-January, open interest in Bitcoin options rose to about $74.1 billion, edging past Bitcoin futures open interest of roughly $65.22 billion.

Open interest is the stock of outstanding contracts that have not been closed or expired, so it measures position inventory, not trading activity. So, when options inventory exceeds futures, it often shows a market that's leaning less on raw directional leverage and more on structured exposure: hedges, yield overlays, and volatility positioning.

Futures remain the simplest way to take leveraged exposure to Bitcoin’s direction. However, options let traders and institutions shape risk with much more precision through payoff profiles that can cap losses, make money on the upside, or target specific volatility outcomes.

That distinction is important because options positions often stay on the books longer than futures positions, and that persistence can influence how volatility behaves around key strikes, expiries, and liquidity windows. Options surpassing futures is a major milestone for the market with clear implications for how Bitcoin trades day to day.

Why options open interest can stay higher than futuresFutures are built for direct exposure and fast repositioning. Traders post margin, buy or sell a contract tied to Bitcoin, and then manage funding rates, basis shifts, and liquidation risk that grows with leverage.

Futures positions can scale quickly, but they're also highly sensitive to carrying costs. When funding turns punitive or a basis trade stops paying, positions come off. During broader leverage resets, futures open interest falls quickly as fast traders rush to reduce risk and slow ones get forced out.

Options tend to behave differently because they are often used as longer-lived structures rather than just pure leverage. Calls and puts translate a view into a defined payoff profile, while spreads, collars, and covered calls turn spot exposure into a managed risk position.

That creates inventory that can persist across weeks or months because it's frequently tied to a hedge, a systematic yield program, or a volatility strategy that rolls on a schedule. When positions are held to a stated expiry, open interest becomes sticky by design.

The calendar shows this clearly. Checkonchain’s data shows a sharp step-down in options open interest around late December, followed by a rebuild through early January, which fits the pattern of a major expiry passing and the market re-establishing risk for the next cycle.

Graph showing Bitcoin options open interest from Oct. 18, 2025, to Jan. 16, 2026 (Source: Checkonchain)Futures open interest over the same stretch looks steadier and more incremental, reflecting a market where positions are adjusted continuously, rather than being cleared mechanically by expiration. That difference explains why options can overtake futures even when the price is choppy, and conviction looks mixed.

Graph showing Bitcoin futures open interest from Oct. 18, 2025, to Jan. 16, 2026 (Source: Checkonchain)As options open interest grows, the market-making layer becomes even more important. Dealers who intermediate options flow often hedge their exposure using spot and futures, and that hedging can affect price behavior near large strikes and into expiry windows.

In heavily positioned markets, hedging can either dampen moves or accelerate them, depending on how exposures are distributed across strikes and maturities.

So, high options open interest doubles as a map of where hedging intensity may rise, especially when liquidity thins or the market gravitates toward crowded levels.

The split market: crypto-native options and listed ETF options like IBITBitcoin options are no longer one unified ecosystem with a single participant base. Checkonchain’s exchange-by-exchange options data shows the familiar crypto venues alongside a growing segment tied to listed ETF options, including IBIT.

That segmentation should be much more important than it currently is because it changes the rhythm of trading, the mechanics of risk management, and the dominant strategies driving demand.

Crypto-native options venues operate in a continuous market that trades through weekends, using crypto collateral and serving proprietary trading firms, crypto funds, and sophisticated retail. Listed ETF options trade on US market hours and run through a clearing and settlement framework that's familiar to equity options traders.

The result is a split where a larger share of volatility risk can be expressed inside regulated, onshore plumbing, even as global Bitcoin trading remains 24/7.

Market hours alone have the potential to reshape and even dictate behavior. When a meaningful share of options flow is concentrated into US hours, hedging activity can become more synchronized during those windows, while offshore venues often lead price discovery during off-hours and weekends.

Over time, that can make the market feel more like equities during the US hours and more like crypto outside them, even when the underlying asset is the same. Traders managing risk across multiple venues bridge that gap with hedges and arbitrage, and futures are often the instrument that carries that bridge.

Clearing and margin discipline also shape participation. Listed options sit inside standardized margining and centralized clearing structures that many institutions are set up to use, which broadens access for firms that cannot hold risk on offshore exchanges.

Those participants bring established playbooks, including covered call programs, collar overlays, and volatility targeting approaches that already exist in equity portfolios. When those strategies enter Bitcoin through ETF options, they can create recurring demand for specific tenors and strikes and keep options inventory elevated because the program repeats on schedule.

None of this reduces the role of crypto-native venues, which still dominate in continuous trading and in specialized volatility and basis strategies.

What changes is the mix of who is holding options risk and why, with a growing share reflecting portfolio overlays and structured flows rather than purely speculative positioning. That helps explain why options open interest can remain high even in periods when futures are more sensitive to funding, basis compression, and risk-off deleveraging.

What the crossover means for volatility, liquidity, and how traders read the marketWhen options open interest rises above futures, short-term market behavior tends to be more influenced by positioning geometry and hedging flows. Futures-heavy regimes often express stress through funding feedback loops, basis dislocations, and liquidation cascades that can compress open interest quickly.

Options-heavy regimes often express stress through expiry cycles, strike concentration, and dealer hedging that can either dampen or amplify spot moves depending on how exposures are distributed.

Macro news and spot still matter, but the path the market takes can depend on where options risk sits and how dealers hedge it. Into large expiries, clustered strikes can matter alongside headlines, and after expiry the market often goes through a rebuilding phase as traders re-establish exposure and roll structures forward.

The drop in late December and then the rebuild in January fit that pattern and provide a clean timeline of how inventory moved through the turn of the year.

The practical takeaway is that derivatives positioning has become a stronger driver for short-term price behavior. Watching options open interest by venue can help distinguish between offshore volatility positioning and onshore ETF-linked overlays, while futures open interest remains a key gauge of leverage and basis appetite.

The same aggregate totals can therefore imply very different risk conditions depending on whether positioning is concentrated in listed ETF options programs, crypto-native volatility structures, or futures carry trades that can unwind quickly.

The headline numbers carry a clear message about Bitcoin's new market structure. Options open interest around $74.1 billion versus futures around $65.22 billion suggests more BTC risk is being warehoused in instruments with defined payoff profiles and repeatable overlay strategies, while futures remain the main rail for directional leverage and for hedging options exposure through delta.

As ETF options liquidity grows and crypto-native venues continue to dominate continuous trading, Bitcoin’s volatility may increasingly reflect the interaction between US market-hour liquidity and 24/7 crypto liquidity.

The crossover is a snapshot of that hybridization, and it points toward a market where positioning, expiry, and hedging mechanics play a larger role in how price moves.

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This week in LATAM crypto, three stories are taking the spotlight: El Salvador is expanding its Bitcoin Zones to spur innovation and economic growth.

On the other hand, MEXC claims record expansion and community participation across Latin America, and a high-profile Polymarket bet on Nicolás Maduro’s departure raises concerns about insider information.

These developments highlight the region’s dynamic cryptocurrency scene, which includes legislative trials, exchange growth, and high-stakes prediction markets.

Expanding Bitcoin zones strengthen El Salvador’s digital strategy Copy link to section

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Zones have regained international interest following the formal announcement of two new developments that will complement the country’s existing programs.

This step supports El Salvador’s aim of integrating Bitcoin into the economy through technological innovation, capital attractiveness, and territorial development.

Despite persistent external concern, the government remains steadfast in its pro-Bitcoin attitude, framing these additional zones as an extension of the crypto model beyond the well-known programs.

Bitcoin Zones are special economic zones that combine Bitcoin and digital technology into business, tourist, and finance operations.

Current references such as Bitcoin Beach, Bitcoin City, and the Bitcoin Zone at the National Library all serve different purposes, ranging from ordinary BTC payments to geothermal-powered smart city construction.

According to The Bitcoin Office, the newly announced zones will take a similar strategy, potentially using strategic resources while incorporating mining, data centres, and tourism, establishing Bitcoin as an active driver of economic growth rather than just a store of wealth.

Polymarket bet on Maduro sparks speculation Copy link to section

In early January, the crypto community was alerted to an odd wager on the Polymarket platform.

An unnamed trader wagered $32,000 that Nicolás Maduro would depart Venezuela’s presidency by January 31, 2026, and gained nearly $400,000.

The wager was placed just hours before circumstances occurred that rendered the market outcome nearly certain.

On-chain analysis soon stoked conjecture about an insider tip, and the story took a turn when Donald Trump stated that the putative informant had been apprehended and was in custody.

Suspicions were founded not just on profit, but also on the structure of fund movements.

The study revealed that cash came from two seemingly disposable wallets with no other activity, funded solely through Coinbase, and moved nearly instantly to the prediction market.

A thorough investigation showed a series of nearly similar transactions at short intervals employing wallets related to the domains StCharles, StevenCharles, and STVLU, which had previously processed millions through Coinbase.

While the wallets’ ownership was not confirmed, the pattern appeared too consistent to be coincidental.

Following this, Trump publicly declared that the leak had been detected, coinciding with an FBI investigation into Aurelio Pérez-Lugones, a Department of Defence contractor accused of illegally holding secret information about Venezuela.

MEXC accelerates growth and user engagement in LATAM Copy link to section

MEXC, the world’s fastest-growing digital asset exchange and the pioneer of commission-free trading, plans to expand significantly throughout Latin America by 2025.

The company prioritized localizing its products, improving customer service, and expanding community engagement.

Key activities included integrating PIX deposits and withdrawals in Brazil, improving fiat payment channels in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, and extending peer-to-peer services in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia.

MEXC has launched the Visa MEXC x Ether.fi card, which allows users to spend cryptocurrency globally via Apple Pay or Google Pay and earn up to 4% cashback, bridging the gap between digital assets and ordinary payments.

The company also prioritised improving the customer experience in Latin America by increasing support in Spanish and Portuguese, localising educational content, and synchronising service hours with regional time zones.

Customer satisfaction (CSAT) climbed from 92.48% to 96.25%, while problem resolution rates increased from 90.51% to 93.10%.

MEXC increased its physical and cultural presence by attending key blockchain events and community meetups in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.

MEXC cemented Latin America as one of its fastest-growing markets, setting the scene for future progress in 2026, after being named the “Best Exchange in Latin America” at the BeInCrypto 100 Awards and praised for its strong regional growth.

The SUI price struggled to replicate its early-year momentum over the past week despite the general market seeing renewed optimism. The altcoin’s price mostly moved sideways, oscillating between the $1.70 – $1.90 levels. According to a popular analyst on the social media platform X, this slight inactivity might be a bullish signal of what is to come over the next few weeks.

Is SUI On The Verge Of A 30% Surge? In a January 18 post on the X platform, crypto analyst Ali Martinez shared an interesting chart setup for the SUI price. According to the market pundit, a break out of the current chart setup could see the altcoin reach the $2.29 level over the coming weeks.

The rationale behind this positive prediction is the formation of a bull flag pattern on the 4-hour timeframe of the Bitcoin price chart. The bull flag is a technical analysis pattern characterized by a period of steep upward movement (the flagpole) typically followed by sideways or slightly downward price action.

Typically, the bull flag functions as a prevailing continuation pattern for an existing upward trend, suggesting a potential move to a higher price point. While this chart is often a bullish signal, it is crucial to wait for a successful breach of the upper boundary of the consolidation range; this increases the odds that the price will continue in its upward trajectory.

Source: @ali_charts on X As shown in the chart above, the price level that needs to be broken to confirm the uptrend continuation lies around the $1.84 mark. Meanwhile, the target for this chart pattern is usually calculated by adding the vertical height of the flagpole to the potential breakout point from the flag.

According to Martinez, a sustained break above this level could see the SUI price run up to as $2.29, representing an almost 30% surge from the current price point.

SUI Price Overview As of this writing, the price of SUI stands at around $1.78, reflecting a mere 0.9% dip in the past 24 hours. This tame daily action highlights the indecisiveness currently affecting this altcoin market, as the SUI bulls and bears battled for dominance over the past week. According to CoinGecko data, the altcoin’s value is down by 1.7% in the last seven days.

However, this past week’s struggles have not been enough to wipe out SUI’s recent success, especially on broader timeframes. For instance, the altcoin’s value has increased by more than 28% on the monthly timeframe. With this positive performance, the token has maintained a position within the top 30 largest cryptocurrencies by market cap.

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

TLDR: Complex protocols fail trustlessness by requiring specialized experts to verify properties. Backwards compatibility pressures cause protocol bloat as additions outpace feature removals. Buterin proposes garbage collection to minimize code and reduce cryptographic dependencies. Rosetta-style compatibility demotes legacy features to smart contracts outside core protocol. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has raised concerns about protocol complexity threatening the network’s core principles of trustlessness and self-sovereignty. 

In a detailed post, Buterin warned that excessive feature additions could undermine Ethereum’s long-term viability as a decentralized system. 

The developer emphasized that protocol simplicity remains crucial for maintaining true decentralization, regardless of node count or security measures. 

Buterin’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between innovation demands and preserving fundamental blockchain properties.

Protocol Complexity Threatens Core Blockchain Principles Buterin argued that decentralization extends beyond node distribution and fault tolerance mechanisms. A protocol requiring hundreds of thousands of code lines and advanced cryptography fails fundamental tests. 

Users must trust specialized experts to understand protocol properties rather than verifying independently. This dependency contradicts the trustless nature that blockchain technology promises to deliver.

The Ethereum developer pointed out that complex protocols struggle with the “walkaway test” standard. New development teams face significant barriers when replacing existing client teams. 

The technical knowledge required to maintain complicated systems creates institutional dependencies. These dependencies weaken the network’s resilience against single points of failure.

Buterin also addressed self-sovereignty concerns related to protocol complexity. When technical experts cannot fully inspect and understand system mechanics, true ownership becomes impossible. 

The situation mirrors traditional systems where users rely on intermediaries for critical operations. Security risks multiply as protocol components interact in unpredictable ways across different layers.

The developer expressed specific fears about Ethereum’s development trajectory toward unnecessary feature bloat. Meeting narrow use cases through specialized additions creates long-term maintenance burdens. 

Vitalik Buterin noted in his post that backwards compatibility pressures favor additions over removals. This pattern inevitably leads to protocols growing unwieldy and difficult to manage effectively.

An important, and perenially underrated, aspect of "trustlessness", "passing the walkaway test" and "self-sovereignty" is protocol simplicity.

Even if a protocol is super decentralized with hundreds of thousands of nodes, and it has 49% byzantine fault tolerance, and nodes fully… pic.twitter.com/kvzkg11M3c

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 18, 2026

Implementing Garbage Collection and Simplification Strategies Buterin proposed explicit simplification mechanisms to counteract protocol bloat over time. The approach includes minimizing total code lines to achieve compact, readable specifications.

Reducing dependencies on complex cryptographic components strengthens overall system comprehensibility. Adding invariants provides reliable properties that simplify client development and improve predictability.

The developer cited recent examples of successful garbage collection efforts within Ethereum. Gas cost reforms in Glamsterdam replaced arbitrary values with clear resource consumption parameters. 

The transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake represented large-scale protocol streamlining. Upcoming Lean consensus changes may enable fixing multiple legacy issues simultaneously.

Buterin introduced the concept of “Rosetta-style backwards compatibility” for handling legacy features. Little-used complex functions would remain available but move outside mandatory protocol requirements. 

New client developers could skip implementing these demoted features entirely. Examples include retiring old transaction types after native account abstraction deployment.

The long-term vision involves slowing Ethereum’s rate of protocol changes substantially. Buterin characterized the initial fifteen years as an experimental adolescence phase. 

The network explored various ideas to determine practical utility and effective implementations. Moving forward, avoiding permanent protocol drag from unsuccessful experiments becomes essential for sustainability.

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Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP price movements show potential for fresh highs if the long-awaited Clarity Act passes this year.

The crypto market has gained a bullish trend over the past week despite slight consolidation over the past 24-hours. Bitcoin remains above $95,000, Ether holds above $3,300, and XRP trades past $2.05. As the optimism on regulatory clarity increases, investor sentiment is accumulating in these major cryptocurrencies.

When Will the Clarity Act Be Approved? Delay Sparks Uncertainty The Clarity Act, originally scheduled for a January 15 vote, now faces an indefinite delay. The U.S. Senate Banking Committee postponed reviewing the crypto market structure bill after Coinbase withdrew its support. 

This has been a sharp twist in the timeline and future of the bill. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong denied the allegations that it was due to political pressure. Critics, however, in the industry believe that the conventional players in the financial market may be influencing the legislators.

The Act was aimed at providing regulatory certainty regarding digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. Its endorsement would create robust surges in large cryptocurrencies. As the market demand increases, there is a lot of hope that the bill will see the light of day this year.

Stress is still very high, and policymakers rethink their stands. The future of the Clarity Act approval is still unknown as long as consensus does not come back, and crypto investors and industry leaders are left in suspense.

Bitcoin Price Holds Strong $95,000 Amid Surging Institutional Inflows Bitcoin price traded at $95,021 following a modest surge this past week, signaling renewed bullish momentum in the market. Strong technical indicators and institutional inflows are the factors that are pointed out by the analysts. 

Notably, January 12-16 saw a huge inflow of 1.42 billion and 1.035 billion in U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, respectively, with BlackRock IBIT at the top.

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.42 billion in net inflows during the trading week of Jan 12–16 (ET). BlackRock’s IBIT led inflows with $1.035 billion. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw $479 million in net inflows over the same period, with BlackRock’s ETHA ranking first at $219 million.… pic.twitter.com/Vr9BXiFEm4

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 18, 2026

On-chain metrics also favor a potential breakout, where Bitcoin has repeatedly tried resistance at around $95,000. When the BTC price trades above the $95K-$96K price range with volume, it will probably approach $100,000. However, a drop below $94,500 could challenge this outlook, highlighting potential short-term downside risk for investors.

Can Ethereum Price Surge Past $3,500 This Week? Ethereum price continued its upward momentum, climbing to $3,306 after a strong week, gaining over 7% in value. In the past 24 hours, ETH increased by 0.59% to continue its seven-day gain. 

There is still a strong interest on the part of the institution since the accumulation of whales is rising, which is an indication of greater confidence in the future of Ethereum. Recently, BitMine purchased 20 000 ETH worth more than 65 million, as an indication of aggressive purchasing activity.

BREAKING: BitMine just bought another 20,000 $ETH worth over $65 million! pic.twitter.com/ngwm2Lvgzf

— Coinvo (@Coinvo) January 17, 2026

Meanwhile, Ethereum ETF spot funds experienced net inflows of $479 million; its leader, BlackRock, ETHA, was of 219 million. If bullish momentum holds, the long-term Ethereum forecast could potentially surge past $3,500 in the near term.

XRP Price  Prediction: Key Levels To Watch As of the reporting, the XRP price traded at $2.05 over the past 24-hours. XRP price action remained range-bound after failing to sustain momentum above the $2.10 zone.

The Relative Strength Index was close to 43, which is weak momentum and neutral market conditions. The MACD lines were below the signal line, indicating the continued bearishness in the short-term.

Histogram bars were flat, which confirmed that there was no strong signal of the continuity of the trend. On the negative side, the short-term support is close to $2.00, and it has been tested several times recently.

Source: XRP/USDT 4-hour chart: Tradingview A decline below 2.00 will expose XRP to the second mark at $$1.80. On the positive side, recovery efforts could be resisted at around $2.10 at first. A long-term breakout of over $2.20 would reopen the targets of $2.35 and $2.40.

What Lies Ahead for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP Prices? The prospective passage of the Clarity Act remains a significant impetus to the optimistic mood in the cryptocurrency market. Although its delay has left the market with a sense of uncertainty, investors are hopeful that the bill may be eventually passed and it will bring much-needed regulatory sanity to the digital asset space. This transparency may be central in the process of making crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP legitimate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The U.S. Senate Banking Committee postponed it after Coinbase withdrew support, causing uncertainty.

Its approval could boost prices by increasing investor confidence and legal clarity.

Bitcoin ETFs Note $1.4 Billion Inflows This Week As Indicator Flashes Buy SignalBitcoin ETFs attracted $1.42 billion inflows, highest weekly total in three months.Pi Cycle Top Indicator divergence signals market is not overheated.Bitcoin holds $95,000 support with upside toward $98,000 and $100,000.Bitcoin price has shown mild bearish pressure in recent sessions as global markets remain uncertain and traders adopt a cautious stance. BTC has struggled to build strong upside momentum, yet downside remains contained. 

Notably, strong demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs suggests investor positioning may be shifting toward a more constructive outlook.

Bitcoin Notes A Buy SignalSpot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows of $1.42 billion over the past week, marking the highest weekly total in three months. This surge reflects renewed institutional interest during a period of muted price action. The last comparable inflow spike occurred in October 2025, when ETFs attracted $2.71 billion.

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Such inflows often signal growing investor confidence. Capital entering ETFs typically reflects longer-term positioning rather than short-term speculation. The current trend suggests market participants expect Bitcoin price appreciation, reinforcing bullish sentiment despite near-term volatility and mixed macroeconomic signals.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Bitcoin Spot ETFs. Source: SoSoValueMacro indicators also support a constructive outlook. The Pi Cycle Top Indicator, a historical measure of overheated Bitcoin markets, is currently diverging. This tool compares the 111-day simple moving average with the 2×365-day moving average to identify cycle peaks.

At present, these averages are moving farther apart rather than converging. This separation indicates the market is not overheated. Historically, such conditions align with low-risk or early-to-mid bull market phases. The signal contrasts sharply with typical sell conditions, reinforcing the presence of an active buy signal.

Bitcoin Pi Cycle Top Indicator. Source: GlassnodeBTC Price May Not Face CorrectionBitcoin price trades near $95,173 at the time of writing, maintaining support above the critical $95,000 level. This zone has held firm despite repeated tests, suggesting buyers remain active. Sustained ETF inflows could provide the demand needed to lift the price from this consolidation range.

If bullish conviction persists, BTC could rebound toward $98,000. Such a move would also allow Bitcoin to reclaim the 200-day exponential moving average near $95,986. Clearing that level would restore bullish momentum and strengthen the case for a push toward the $100,000 psychological threshold.

Bitcoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewHowever, risks remain. If investor sentiment shifts or spot ETFs begin recording outflows, the bullish setup would weaken. Under that scenario, Bitcoin could lose $95,000 support. A breakdown would expose BTC to a decline toward $93,471, signaling renewed downside pressure.

Disclaimer

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Cryptocurrency Solana

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Arslan Butt

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Arslan Butt

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Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis...

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16 minutes ago

Solana is trading at $142.51 with daily volume topping $2.25 billion, holding firm above the critical $140 support zone. The token slipped 1.24% in 24 hours, but confidence is building as Coinbase and STSS launch a validator on the Solana network, strengthening decentralization and signaling growing institutional support.

With technicals showing an ascending trendline and resistance near $145.47, traders are watching closely for a breakout toward $151.73.

Coinbase and STSS Launch ValidatorIn a major step for blockchain infrastructure, STSS and Coinbase have launched a validator on the Solana network. This collaboration strengthens decentralization, enhances reliability, and provides validator rewards. For STSS holders, the move adds direct utility, aligning the token with real blockchain operations rather than passive holding.

Major move for Sharps Technology (STSS)!💥

The NASDAQ-listed firm is moving beyond just holding SOL to actively securing the network.

They announced the launch of the STSS Validator, operated by Coinbase Institutional, marking a transition from treasury participant to network… pic.twitter.com/5zSYptEUpd

— Conor Kenny (@conorfkenny) January 17, 2026 Validators confirm transactions and secure the network, making them essential to Solana’s integrity. Coinbase’s deeper involvement highlights how centralized platforms can play constructive roles in decentralized ecosystems.

Key benefits include:

Increased network security and decentralization Active staking opportunities for STSS holders A clear step toward mainstream adoption of Solana projects Institutional Confidence BuildsWith Coinbase and STSS backing this initiative, Solana gains credibility among institutional players. The validator launch reflects growing confidence in Solana’s scalability and low‑cost, high‑speed blockchain environment. For investors and developers, it’s another sign that Solana is attracting serious long‑term support.

Solana Price Prediction: Ascending Trendline Holds $140 Support, Eyes $151 BreakoutOn the charts, Solana price prediction seems bullish as SOL is consolidating near $142.47, with support at $140.17 and resistance at $145.47. The ascending trendline shows higher lows, while candlestick formations remain neutral. The RSI at 51.53 signals balanced momentum, and moving averages are flattening, hinting at a potential breakout

A move above $145.47 could trigger a rally toward $148.82 and $151.73, while a breakdown below $140.17 risks declines toward $136.31 and $132.53. Trade setup: long above $145.47, targeting $148.82 and $151.73, with stops below $140.17.

Solana Price Chart – Source: TradingviewAs Solana continues to attract developer interest and institutional backing, this technical structure offers a compelling entry point. With presale opportunities heating up, positioning early could unlock upside as momentum builds.

Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana?Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bringing a new phase to the Bitcoin ecosystem. While BTC remains the gold standard for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin.

Audited by Consult, the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $30.7 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013585 before the next increase.

As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

This privacy coin has a few significant things going for it that Bitcoin doesn't.

What if someone made Bitcoin (BTC 0.11%), but with some privacy features? In a nutshell, that's what Zcash (ZEC 1.72%) is supposed to be, and so it's only natural for investors to wonder if it might be the next Bitcoin, or potentially even supplant the original cryptocurrency.

Today, Zcash has a $6.8 billion market cap, which means that if it does become the next Bitcoin someday, those who invest significantly in it now will likely see incredible wealth. Given the stakes, it's worth taking a look at whether this narrative can actually play out, so let's dive in and investigate.

Image source: Getty Images.

The similarities are significant, and the differences are beneficial Exactly as with Bitcoin, Zcash is a proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrency with a maximum supply of 21 million ZEC coins that can ever exist, and it experiences a halving about every four years. So right off the bat, investors should take careful note that the supply dynamics that have made Bitcoin such a great long-term investment -- it's up about 160% during the past five years alone, and vastly more than that over the past 10 years -- apply to Zcash, too. And, importantly, there's a big tweak to Zcash that Bitcoin doesn't have, which changes its demand dynamics to be even more appealing to purchase and hold than Bitcoin is.

By design, Bitcoin is a public blockchain in which every transaction is broadcast and verifiable by anyone with an internet connection. For the purpose of this conversation, it's helpful to explicitly think of such public blockchains as open databases to which anyone can write new data for a fee, and which anyone can read for free. But, neither erasing nor modifying existing data are permitted, so anything committed to the public blockchain will live there for eternity, barring extremely rare and exceptional circumstances.

Today's Change

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-0.11

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-108.87

Current Price

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95082.00

And in a sense, that's the impetus behind Zcash and everything else in the privacy coin category.

Consider for a moment that one might dislike the idea that every single one of their financial transactions on a blockchain will be visible and knowable to everyone else forever. Hence Zcash's primary difference from Bitcoin, which is the capability for its transactions to be protected from prying eyes so that nobody except for the transactors can tell who sent money to whom, as well as other metadata. To accomplish that, it uses a relatively new type of cryptographic proofs called zk-SNARKs, which weren't yet invented back when Bitcoin was launched.

Zcash also diverges from Bitcoin in how its mining rewards get distributed, including funding structures intended to support ongoing development. About 20% of each mined block of Zcash is distributed to a pair of funds, both of which are dedicated to developing the chain and encouraging community-led initiatives. This makes mining Zcash tokens somewhat less lucrative for miners than mining Bitcoins, but it also helps to ensure that the chain will continue to get upgrades and have a vibrant ecosystem of useful software, like crypto wallets capable of holding Zcash and making transactions without compromising its privacy features.

Today's Change

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Still, it's worth mentioning that Bitcoin has all of the engaged developers it could ever need without the same feature, so while Zcash's self-funding ecosystem mechanism is certainly a big plus, it isn't necessarily a must-have.

But can it really ever beat Bitcoin? If Zcash were to merely match Bitcoin's current market cap, its price would need to rise by a colossal amount, as its cap is $6.8 billion, whereas Bitcoin's is $1.9 trillion. In other words, it would need to become one of the most valuable assets in the world, and Bitcoin would need to mostly stand still (or decline) while it happened. To say that it would take at least a handful of years is an understatement, and it definitely isn't something you should bet the farm on.

On the other hand, Bitcoin's stunning rise from a financial novelty to a major asset is something that few were able to predict in advance. At least so far, Zcash's development process has tended to emphasize fixing, correcting, or avoiding the technical and governance problems that Bitcoin has or had in the past -- which, to be clear, did not stop Bitcoin from becoming what it is today, even if those issues slowed its ascent a bit.

I don't know with certainty whether Zcash is going to actually become the next Bitcoin, but I'm confident that it can and will become much larger during the coming years. I'm also confident that Zcash becoming the next Bitcoin is indeed a real possibility, and that's why I own it.

Sun, 18/01/2026 - 10:02

XRP's institutional flows hint at a major repricing ahead, with 803.78 million XRP now locked across various ETFs.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

According to new on-chain data, 803.78 million XRP is now locked in XRP ETFs. Arthur, an XRP community member and on-chain analyst, highlighted this fact in a recent tweet.

According to data from XRP Insights, 803.78 million XRP is now locked inside ETFs, which include those from issuers such as Canary, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, 21Shares, REX-Osprey and the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund.

While XRP is seeing increasing institutional flows, this is yet to reflect in its market price, which has stalled slightly above $2 in recent days.

HOT Stories

📈 XRP ETFs don’t lie, smart money is positioning.

While retail hesitates, institutional flows tell a completely different story.
This week alone: +22.63M XRP net inflow

Every major issuer adding positions, 803.78M XRP now locked inside ETFs

When ETFs consistently absorb… pic.twitter.com/OccyYDahTD

— Arthur (@XrpArthur) January 18, 2026 Arthur noted that while retail traders hesitate, institutional flows tell a completely different story, with XRP attracting net inflows in the week.

Every major issuer added positions, with total holdings across ETFs now reaching 803.78 million XRP.

This trend signals one thing: when ETFs consistently absorb millions of tokens per day, a major repricing might be only a matter of time.

XRP price actionXRP fell to a low of $2.03 on Jan. 12 in a seven-day drop from a high of $2.41 reached Jan. 6.

The price attempted a recovery with a sharp rebound to a high of $2.183 on Jan. 13, however, this could not last as XRP started declining upon reaching a high of $2.19 on Jan. 14.

XRP is entering its fifth day of drop since this date and trades down 0.19% in the last 24 hours to $2.05 and down 1.74% weekly.

The drop has produced a death cross on the hourly chart as the one-hour MA 50 fell beneath the MA 200.

XRP is confronted with a major test as it seeks to confirm support around the $2 level. This outcome will be watched closely in the coming sessions. The next major resistance target is at $2.56, which coincides with the daily MA 200.

Ripple has received preliminary authorization for an e-money license in Luxembourg, which will allow it to expand regulated digital-asset payment services across the European Union. Ripple is also pursuing a CASP license under the EU’s MiCA framework.

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