Market Signal Briefing

Blockchain infrastructure company Bakkt (NYSE: BKKT) has agreed to acquire stablecoin infrastructure provider Distributed Technologies Research Ltd., according to an announcement on Monday.

Bakkt said it plans to issue over 9 million Class A common shares to DTR shareholders to acquire the firm.

"The Company believes this equity consideration appropriately reflects the strategic value of DTR’s technology and assets, which are expected to accelerate Bakkt’s time-to-market for stablecoin settlement, reduce third-party dependency, and support future revenue generation across payments and banking use cases," the firm noted. 

BKKT shares closed the day up 18% at $19.21, according to Google Finance.

Notably, Akshay Naheta is both the founder of Distributed Technologies Research and the sole CEO of Bakkt.

In March 2025, Bakkt announced Naheta’s appointment as co-CEO alongside Andy Main, who has since stepped down, as part of a strategic partnership with DTR to integrate stablecoin payments with Bakkt's crypto trading platform.

"This transaction represents the culmination of a single, cohesive strategy," Naheta said in a statement. "Bringing DTR fully into Bakkt completes the transformation of the company into a unified global financial infrastructure platform, combining Bakkt’s market presence and regulatory framework with DTR’s technology."

Board approval The final number of shares issued "may change prior to the closing of the transaction," Bakkt said Monday, noting that an independent special board committee consisting of board members Colleen Brown and Mike Alfred approved the transaction.

NYSE parent Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., which owns approximately 31% of Bakkt’s Class A shares, has also agreed to vote for the acquisition.

"DTR stood out not only for its technology, but for how closely it aligns with the future of digital payments and banking," Alfred said. "Our integration work over recent months validated that strategic fit. The acquisition will allow Bakkt to consolidate a critical piece of its stablecoin settlement infrastructure and prepares the company to launch its neobanking strategy with multiple distribution partners in the coming months."

Bakkt has been undergoing a strategic pivot in recent months to refocus as a “B2B2C” turnkey operator for traditional institutions looking to get into crypto. The firm sold its loyalty rewards business last year and began acquiring money transmitter licenses to facilitate crypto trading, transfers, and settlement in all 50 U.S. states. It has also launched a bitcoin treasury, financed through a public offering, and hired crypto vet Mike Alfred to its board.

Launched in 2018 with support from NYSE operator ICE, Bakkt initially focused on launching an institutional-grade trading platform for daily physically-settled Bitcoin futures.

Additionally, Bakkt announced plans to update its corporate name to "Bakkt, Inc." effective Jan. 22.

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 is entering a high-stakes week, and $XRP is caught right in the crossfire. As of Monday, January 12, 2026, the Ripple token has slipped approximately 1%, trading near the $2.07 mark. While the broader market, including $BTC and $ETH, remains relatively flat, XRP is reacting sharply to a cocktail of political drama and looming legislative shifts in Washington.

XRP Price Analysis: Testing the Downtrend ResistanceLooking at the current XRP/USD daily chart, we can see a significant technical battleground. After the massive rally seen earlier in the year, XRP has been consolidating within a large descending wedge.

XRP/USD 1D - TradingView

Resistance Breakout: The price is currently hugging a long-term yellow descending trendline. A clean daily close above $2.15 would signal a bullish breakout, potentially targeting the $2.40 and $2.80 levels.Support Zones: On the downside, there is a strong horizontal support zone (highlighted in yellow) between $1.80 and $1.90. If macro pressure intensifies, this is the "must-hold" area for bulls.Stochastic RSI: The momentum indicator shows a crossover in neutral territory, suggesting that the next move will likely be dictated by the fundamental news cycle rather than pure technical exhaustion.Regulatory Storm: The Digital Asset Market Clarity ActThe primary driver for the current volatility isn't just "crypto news" but high-level political maneuvering. On January 15, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee is set to debate H.R. 3633, also known as the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025.

This bill is a massive deal for Ripple. It aims to define the jurisdictional boundaries between regulators, potentially ending the years of "regulation by enforcement" that has plagued the industry. For traders using a top-tier crypto exchange, the outcome of this session could determine whether institutional liquidity floods back into XRP or remains on the sidelines.

The Powell Probe and the U.S. DollarAdding to the "risk-off" sentiment is a bizarre turn of events at the Federal Reserve. Reports that the Justice Department might probe Fed Chair Jerome Powell over recent Congressional testimony have sent the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) down 0.4%.

While a weaker dollar is usually a tailwind for crypto, the sheer uncertainty of a Fed leadership crisis is rattling markets ahead of tomorrow’s inflation report. When the "plumbing" of the financial system is under threat, even fundamentally strong assets like XRP tend to see temporary outflows as traders retreat to cash.

Ripple's Global Wins vs. Local WoesIt isn't all gloom for Ripple. Just last week, the company’s U.K. unit secured fresh approvals from the FCA, reinforcing its status as a regulated global payments powerhouse. However, until the U.S. clarifies its stance on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, XRP will likely continue to trade as a "pure risk gauge."

Credit rating company Fitch Ratings has flagged a high degree of risk associated with Bitcoin-backed securities, a warning that could complicate the expansion of crypto-linked credit products among institutional investors.

In a Monday assessment, Fitch said Bitcoin-backed securities, financial instruments typically structured by pooling Bitcoin (BTC) or Bitcoin-linked assets and issuing debt against that collateral, carry “heightened risks” that “are consistent with speculative-grade credit profiles.”

The agency said such characteristics could place the products in speculative-grade territory, a designation associated with weaker credit quality and a higher likelihood of losses.

As one of the three major US credit rating companies, Fitch’s evaluations play an influential role in how banks, asset managers and other institutions assess emerging financial instruments, particularly those tied to volatile asset classes.

Fitch pointed to the “inherent” price volatility of Bitcoin as well as counterparty risks embedded in these structures.

The agency also referenced the wave of crypto lender failures during the 2022–2023 downturn, likely a reference to BlockFi and Celsius, as cautionary examples of how quickly collateral-backed models can unravel during periods of market stress.

Source: DustyBC Crypto“Bitcoin’s price volatility is a main risk consideration,” Fitch said, warning that breaches of coverage levels could rapidly erode collateral value and crystallize losses. 

Coverage levels refer to the ratio of Bitcoin collateral to the amount of debt issued against it. Sharp price declines can cause that ratio to fall below required thresholds, triggering margin calls and forced liquidations.

The latest assessment follows an earlier warning from Fitch last month, when the agency cautioned US banks about elevated risks tied to significant digital asset exposure. At the time, Fitch cited potential reputational, liquidity and compliance risks for banks that are actively engaged in crypto-related activities.

Bitcoin’s growing role in corporate credit, and where Fitch draws the lineBitcoin has increasingly become central to the credit profiles of public companies with large digital asset holdings, particularly those issuing convertible notes or secured debt.

A prominent example is Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, which has amassed nearly 688,000 Bitcoin.

The company has financed this strategy through repeated capital raises, including convertible notes, secured debt and equity issuances, to expand its Bitcoin exposure. As a result, Strategy’s balance sheet and credit profile are now correlated with movements in Bitcoin’s market price.

Fitch’s warning, however, appears to focus more narrowly on credit and securitized instruments where repayment is directly dependent on the value of underlying collateral. The assessment does not reference spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which are structured as equity-like investment vehicles rather than credit products.

In fact, Fitch noted that ETF adoption could contribute to “a more diverse holder base,” a development that may “potentially dampen” Bitcoin’s price volatility during periods of market stress.

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

The CEO of Helius Labs, Mert Mumtaz, whose company provides infrastructure and tooling for Solana developers, stated in a post on X that Solana’s program model is fundamentally safer for AI development than the interface model used by Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-based blockchains.

He also predicted the emergence of several billion-dollar startups on Solana this year.

Mumtaz comments come as the intersection of AI and blockchain development gains momentum, with the global AI market projected to exceed $4.8 trillion by 2033 and blockchain expected to command a respectable share in that market.

As for Mumtaz’s argument, it all goes back to Solana’s architectural approach to smart contracts. Unlike EVM networks, where developers must deploy new contracts for most applications, Solana developers can simply reuse existing infrastructure for core functions such as token creation, swapping, and transfers.

“You can integrate existing pipelines, swaps, token hooks within basically a few prompts,” Mumtaz wrote, adding that this eliminates the need for repeated security audits and enables much faster development cycles.

What is the distinction between Solana and Ethereum? The technical distinction lies in how the two systems handle code and data. Solana separates data and code, storing all program data in separate accounts.

This allows single programs to operate through various accounts without requiring additional deployments.

EVM smart contracts, on the other hand, combine code and state in single units, and this requires new contract deployments for different applications.

Mumtaz also highlighted how AI is narrowing what has historically been a major barrier to Solana development.

He wrote, “even if you needed to write a contract, a huge thing holding back Solana was how difficult it is to write contract code since Solidity is much easier to grok than nuances of Rust on Solana since the latter is a much lower level of abstraction,” adding that the said gap has now been reduced.

Solana’s developer growth The comments come at a time when Solana’s developer ecosystem is experiencing considerable growth. As of November 2025, the blockchain boasted over 17,700 developers.  The platform became the number one blockchain for new developers in 2024, with over 3,200 monthly active developers in 2025. Builder interest in Solana has increased by 78% over the past two years, according to data from venture capital firm a16z’s State of Crypto 2025 report.

AI can integrate with smart contracts for automated decision-making, making contracts dynamic and responsive to changing circumstances.

Is Mumtaz correct about Solana being more suitable for AI? Not everyone agrees with Mumtaz’s assessment. Supporters of Cardano responded to his post, with one stating, “A blockchain that was built on foundations of peer-reviewed research, formal proofs, substantially lower hardware requirements, and runs on Haskell would be orders of magnitude better for AI.”

However, there was considerable rebuttal from supporters of the Ethereum ecosystem, with William Mougayar, the author of The Business Blockchain, who calls himself an Ethereum Maxirealist, disagreeing with each point Mumtaz made. First, he stated that “AI advantages are NOT chain-specific.”

He also wrote, “AI favors mature tooling, standardized primitives, security testing, and composability. These are areas where Ethereum is strongest. Faster code generation does not equal faster safe deployment.”

Mouyagar also countered Mumtaz’s claim where he said that “you do not need to write a new contract for most things and especially not core functions like creating/swapping/moving tokens,” stating, “This is equally true on Ethereum in practice. Most applications integrate existing DEXs, vaults, lending markets, or AA modules without writing new primitives. Ethereum’s “money lego” architecture is the canonical example of reusable, audited composition.”

If Solana’s model does prove more amenable to AI-assisted development, it could influence where developers choose to build and where venture capital flows.

Mumtaz’s prediction of several nine- to ten-digit startups emerging on Solana remains to be seen, but there will be observers monitoring the development.

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Dogecoin has changed back to its technical structure as the price action digests the recent price rally. After the initial volatility seen earlier in the month, price action has begun to stabilize, and recent technical analyses are evaluating what the larger trend is revealing.

Based on that context, a higher-timeframe technical analysis shared on X by Javon Marks has outlined a scenario that frames the current price action as part of a wider bullish continuation built on repeating historical patterns on Dogecoin’s long-term chart.

Higher Lows Shaping The Trend Technical analysis of Dogecoin’s 6-day candlestick timeframe chart shows an interesting formation taking place in its price action since 2024, and this goes back to how it traded much earlier cycles stretching as far back as 2016. 

The main idea behind this long-term technical analysis is Dogecoin’s ability to maintain a sequence of higher lows throughout different market cycles. The 6-day candlestick chart by the analyst shows that each major pullback in the Dogecoin price over the years has found support along a rising trend line, which has allowed the price to consolidate and reset without breaking the broader structure. 

The present setup reflects that same behavior, with recent pullbacks holding above ascending support. Dogecoin’s recent price action is holding above $0.13, and this can be considered a higher low compared to the lows in 2024 and 2025. As long as this pattern of higher lows is intact, then the macro trend can be viewed as supportive of higher prices over time.

Source: X Projecting A 369% Push Back To The All-Time High The technical analysis on the chart also shows how earlier periods of consolidations and higher lows eventually resolved into powerful upward moves. Playouts of the previous rallies broke above their previous all-time highs and then created a new all-time high. The first case was a break above the 2014 high of $0.00232 in 2017 to finally end at a new high of $0.01877. This high was then broken again in 2021 to finally reach a new peak, which serves as the current reference level for current price action.

In this case, the reference level is Dogecoin’s all-time high around $0.73905. Based on current price levels, a rally of roughly 369% would be enough to carry Dogecoin back to that zone. 

Interestingly, the analysis goes a step further to predict a move past the current all-time high with a move of at least 4.5X from the current price level. Dogecoin’s current price level is trading at $0.14 at the time of writing, and this would put it trading at a price target of at least $0.8 when the move finally plays out. 

DOGE pushes lower with decline | Source: DOGEUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

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

World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture linked to the Trump family, has launched World Liberty Markets, its first decentralized finance application focused on onchain lending and borrowing with the USD1 stablecoin as the primary asset. Following the announcement, Dolomite’s DOLO token surged 57%, while WLFI gained about 4.8% in the hours after the release.

Context: World Liberty Markets runs on Dolomite infrastructure and allows users to supply and borrow digital assets, positioning USD1 at the center of the protocol. Accepted collateral includes ETH, cbBTC, USDC, USDT, and the WLFI governance token. The launch marks the project’s first formal DeFi product, after $590 million raised in last year’s WLFI token sale, placing it among the ten largest token sales on record.

Lending markets remain thin shortly after going live. Early data shows USD1 borrowing rates near 0.83%, while lending yields sit around 0.08%. Such figures reflect early-stage conditions and are expected to adjust as liquidity and user activity increase.

The rollout comes at a pivotal moment for USD1, whose circulating supply has surpassed $3.4 billion, according to market data. Company statements frame the launch as a step toward embedding the stablecoin in active onchain finance rather than limiting its role to payments or trading pairs.

World Liberty Financial indicated that World Liberty Markets represents the first release in a broader 18-month product roadmap, aimed at expanding practical use cases for USD1 within DeFi. Market participants will monitor adoption metrics and token performance as the platform matures.

Source: World Liberty Financial press release and market data

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News are based on verified public and official sources. This content does not constitute financial advice or an investment recommendation. Readers should verify details through official project channels before making any related decisions.

TL;DR (70 words total)

ETH has chopped between $2,600 and $3,350 for two months and now trades near $3,140, with $3,350 the decision level. Support sits just above $2,630, while the daily 200 EMA near $3,340 and 200 MA around $3,630 cap upside until reclaimed. Open interest: 5.07 million; spot 40% below $4,950; $3,150 to $3,250 and $3,000 to $3,050 clusters. Ethereum has spent roughly two months chopping sideways, boxed between about $2,600 and $3,350, and it is now currently hovering near $3,140 after a 1% daily gain and a slight weekly decline. The market is treating $3,350 as the line that decides whether this range becomes a launchpad or a ceiling. With support just above $2,630, desks are waiting for a decisive break to clarify direction. Even the moving averages reinforce the stalemate: the daily 200 EMA is near $3,340 and the daily 200 MA is around $3,630.

$ETH open interest is now back above October 10th crash level.

Meanwhile, prices are still down almost 40%.

No matter what happens, people never learn in crypto. pic.twitter.com/PfC6PVOPrD

— K A Y (@kay_drake_) January 12, 2026

Breakout zone in focus Range trading has dominated since late 2025, and analyst Daan Crypto Trades captured the mood by saying he is still patiently waiting for either boundary to be broken. Until ETH can close above the daily 200 EMA near $3,340 and the daily 200 MA around $3,630, the broader trend stays uncertain. Repeated attempts to rally have faded under resistance near $3,350, while buyers have defended the lower band just above $2,630 across spot venues. That pattern keeps positioning tactical: risk is managed to levels, not stories, because confirmation has not arrived.

So far, $ETH is holding nicely above a crucial resistance zone.

That means that the likelihood towards new monthly highs has significantly increased.

Great stuff. pic.twitter.com/KnIPCNadVu

— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) January 11, 2026

Michaël van de Poppe offered a view, arguing ETH is holding above a resistance zone that could now act as support, and he said the likelihood of new monthly highs has “significantly increased.” This is a decision zone where structure matters more than headlines, because the next move can be forced by liquidity. ETH is following an upward trendline from its December lows, and the next upside zone sits close to $3,800. Ted highlighted large short liquidations from $3,150 to $3,250 and a liquidity cluster around $3,000 to $3,050.

Futures are active: ETH open interest has recovered from the October crash to 5.07 million contracts, matching the peak before the drop even as spot sits almost 40% below its prior high near $4,950 for now. Rising open interest with flat price signals heavier positioning and increases downside risk if support fails. Van de Poppe noted ETH has outperformed BTC since April 2025, calling it “an Ethereum market” similar to 2019. With ETH holding above $3,000 in a Wyckoff structure, a break above $4,000 could open $5,000 to $7,000.

Bitcoin is holding around $91,000 as markets kick off the week with muted price action and broadly neutral sentiment.

CryptocurrencyTickerPriceBitcoin(CRYPTO: BTCEthereum(CRYPTO: ETHSolana(CRYPTO: SOLXRP(CRYPTO: XRPDogecoin(CRYPTO: DOGEShiba Inu(CRYPTO: SHIB5)$91,570.92)$3,104.15)$141.21)$2.06)$0.1380)$0.08478Notable Statistics:

Coinglass data shows 105,562 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $283.05 million.        SoSoValue data shows net outflows of $250 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Friday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net outflows of $93.8 million. In the past 24 hours, top gainers include Story, Monero and MYX Finance. Notable Developments:

How Ethereum, Solana Could Benefit From The CLARITY Act Don’t Expect Any Big Pumps For Bitcoin Just Yet, Bitfinex Warns BitMine Adds 24,266 ETH As BMNR Surges 4%, But Thursday Vote Could Kill The Rally Coinbase Pushes For Crypto Market-Structure Bill, But The Window Is Closing Fast Strategy Buys 13,627 BTC For $1.25 Billion But MSTR Teeters Around $150 Support Trump’s Crypto Czar Should Resign If Crypto Bill Doesn’t Pass In Q1, Says Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson Crypto Billionaire Michael Saylor Names Nvidia, Bitcoin Among ‘Best Performing Assets’ Of The Decade: Here’s How They’ve Performed Trader Notes: Trader KillaXBT explained that Bitcoin's recent upside is largely technical in nature.

Shorts that entered aggressively during the recent dip are now being forced to cover as price stabilizes and grinds higher, creating a squeeze. According to the trader, the move is being driven more by short covering than by fresh spot demand.

Crypto Tony said Bitcoin is approaching a key area of interest.

A wick toward $92,300 could present an attractive short setup, while the unfilled downside gap below remains a major magnet that may need to be cleared before any sustainable upside continuation can develop.

Daan Crypto Trades highlighted the textbook weekend price behaviour, noting that Bitcoin closed the CME futures session on Friday and reopened on Monday at nearly the same level.

No new CME gap was formed, and there are currently no significant nearby gaps acting as directional drivers.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

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

Over the past month, analysts have increasingly positioned Bitcoin in an ongoing bear market. However, five key data points show the market is going through a mid-cycle reset after the sharp rally to record highs in late 2025.

TLDR: Table of Contents

TLDR:Exchange Balances Drop Sharply Amid Persistent OutflowsTop Wallets Consolidate Control Over Available SupplyTechnical Signals Suggest Potential Reversal Pattern Exchange reserves plummeted from 370.3T to 290.3T SHIB tokens, removing significant sell-side liquidity. Fresh wallets withdrew 82T SHIB from centralized exchanges over 60 days, mainly from Coinbase at $0.0000085. Top 100 wallets increased holdings by 15.11% to control 57% of total supply, showing concentration growth. Whale accumulation surged 428% while smart money wallets expanded 68.27%, signaling institutional interest. Shiba Inu is experiencing a significant supply shift as large holders remove tokens from centralized exchanges. 

Recent data shows 80 trillion SHIB exited exchanges since December 5, reducing available trading liquidity. 

This withdrawal pattern suggests major accumulation by sophisticated investors at current price levels.

Exchange Balances Drop Sharply Amid Persistent Outflows The memecoin’s exchange reserves have declined substantially over recent weeks. Total SHIB held on centralized platforms fell from 370.3 trillion to 290.3 trillion tokens. This represents a notable contraction in sell-side pressure across major trading venues.

TKResearch Trading reported that fresh wallets withdrew approximately 82 trillion SHIB from exchanges over the past 60 days. 

Coinbase accounted for a large portion of these transfers. The accumulation occurred primarily around the $0.0000085 price point, indicating strategic positioning by new market participants.

🚨Big Players Control Supply: $SHIB Exchange Liquidity Nearly Locked

📊 $SHIB Supply Breakdown
🔸Circulating Supply: 589.24T $SHIB (Coinmarketcap)
🔸Supply on Exchange: 290.4T $SHIB
⇒ Net Circulating Supply (excluding exchanges): 289T SHIB

Discover more below 👇 pic.twitter.com/kTtAnDjOmI

— TKResearch Trading (@TKR_Trading) January 12, 2026

Of the 589.24 trillion SHIB in circulation, only 290.4 trillion tokens remain on exchanges. Less than half of the total supply is now readily accessible for trading. This distribution change marks a shift in how SHIB tokens are held across the market.

Top Wallets Consolidate Control Over Available Supply Large holders have steadily increased their share of the total token supply. The top 100 wallets now control 57% of all SHIB, amounting to roughly 831.8 trillion tokens. This concentration has grown 15.11% over the past six months.

Smart money wallets expanded their holdings by 68.27% during the same period, reaching 10.01 billion SHIB. 

Whale accumulation surged even more dramatically, increasing 428% to 1.3 billion tokens. These metrics point to growing interest from experienced market participants.

Exchange-held SHIB dropped 23.91% over the last 180 days, reinforcing the withdrawal trend. 

Meanwhile, balances linked to public figures decreased 4.88% to approximately 399.92 billion tokens. The shift away from exchange custody continues across multiple holder categories.

Technical Signals Suggest Potential Reversal Pattern CryptoPulse highlighted emerging technical indicators on weekly charts. SHIB is trading within a falling wedge pattern accompanied by declining volume. 

The MACD indicator shows bullish divergence while RSI displays a golden cross formation.

$SHIB – Bullish 🐶📈

On the weekly TF, $SHIB shows a reversal signal: moving inside a falling wedge with low volume, MACD bullish divergence, and a golden cross on RSI.
Price could push up to resistance at $0.00001042. If it breaks out, $SHIB may start a new bullish trend 🚀 pic.twitter.com/000iwtpuon

— CryptoPulse (@CryptoPulse_CRU) January 12, 2026

These technical developments align with the supply dynamics observed on-chain. Price could test resistance at $0.00001042 if current patterns continue. A breakout above this level might signal the start of a new upward trend.

SHIB currently trades at $0.000008480 as of writing, reflecting a 0.65% decline over 24 hours. The token has dropped 10.62% across the past seven days. 

However, reduced exchange liquidity could amplify price movements in either direction as supply becomes more constrained.

ETH’s recent rally was driven by spot demand and a healthy use of futures market leverage, potentially setting Ether up for a follow-up move to $4,000.

Ether’s (ETH) futures and spot markets are sending mixed signals as futures positioning builds, but the altcoin’s price fails to make new highs. Data suggested that ETH traders are adding to their exposure even as spot buying underpins the recovery.

Key takeaways:

Ether’s estimated leverage ratio fell from an all-time high of 0.79 on Jan. 2 to 0.67 by Jan. 11, despite rising open interest.

Aggregate spot CVD increased with the rally, indicating spot-led demand with a bullish positioning bias.

Ether open interest rebounds, but the price lagsAggregated open interest (OI) for Ether futures has returned to levels seen before its 38% drawdown in Q4 2025, while ETH still trades roughly 27% below its October 10, 2025, opening price. This divergence suggests traders are rebuilding exposure.

Ether open interest and price. Source: XSupporting this view, Ether’s estimated leverage ratio peaked at 0.79 on Jan. 2 before falling to 0.67 by Jan. 11. While OI continues to rise, the decline in leverage pointed to healthier positioning and a lower risk of cascading liquidations.

Meanwhile, the latest rally has been driven by rising spot cumulative volume delta (CVD), rather than the futures CVD. This indicates net market buying in the spot market, which is typically associated with more durable price moves. The long/short accounts ratio holding near 2.66 reflects a bullish skew, without signs of traders aggressively jumping into the market.

ETH price, spot CVD, futures CVD, and long/short ratio. Source: CoinalyzeETH Staking flows, and macro signals add tailwindsOnchain data shows growing long-term conviction. Lookonchain reported that BitMine staked 110,000 ETH worth $340 million on Jan. 12, bringing its three-week total to roughly $3.7 billion. At a 2.8% yield, this could generate nearly $95 million in ETH annually for the company. 

From a market structure point of view, Max, CEO of BecauseBitcoin, noted that the Russell 2000 has historically led ETH into price discovery. With the index hitting a new all-time high at 2,664, conditions may favor expansion for ETH in the coming weeks.

Russell 2000 and ETH historical price comparison. Source: Max/XEchoing that view, crypto investor Jelle said Ether turning a major weekly resistance into support “feels pretty big,” adding that a strong higher low after last year’s crash leaves $4,000 as the key hurdle. Above it, ETH “could finally have its moment,” noted the investor. 

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.

HodlX Guest Post  Submit Your Post   Market data shows that only 0.79% of Bitcoin’s total supply is currently locked in DeFi. The rest sits comfortably in centralized custody – with exchanges, ETFs, corporate treasuries or nation-states.

Given that BTC is the world’s largest crypto asset, that’s an astonishingly small number to talk about.

Bitcoin remains the face of crypto, yet it’s still treated mostly as ‘digital gold’ – something that people prefer holding rather than using.

It’s not a question whether Bitcoin can go on-chain – it can. The more pressing matter is why it hasn’t.

Despite years of ongoing innovation in DeFi, the development of wrapped tokens and layer-two scaling, BTC liquidity continues to live on CEXs (centralized exchanges).

Why is that the case? The reason is surprisingly simple – DeFi still hasn’t learned to replace market makers.

Why Bitcoin liquidity remains stuck on CEXs

CEXs run on deep order books, maintained by professional market-making firms that adjust bids and asks in milliseconds.

This setup creates smooth price discovery and minimal slippage – a core requirement for institutions and high-volume traders. As a result, that’s where most of the liquidity lives.

DeFi, on the other hand, relies on AMM (automated market makers) and liquidity pools.

These models made Ethereum’s DeFi revolution possible, but they don’t yet rival the efficiency or responsiveness of human – and algorithmic – market makers.

Traders have learned to view CEX liquidity as strategic while DEX liquidity is still viewed with caution.

Market makers don’t move their operations on-chain – because from their point of view, it doesn’t make economic sense – at least not yet.

On CEXs, they have familiar infrastructure, high throughput and the ability to manage risk across multiple trading pairs.

On-chain, they’d have to deal with gas fees and exposure to impermanent loss – which some, though, learned to hedge. Not a desirable position.

So, while DeFi has mastered programmability, it still hasn’t solved for liquidity behavior.

Without a way to automate what market makers do – pricing, rebalancing and absorbing volatility – Bitcoin liquidity will remain centralized.

It’s not about smart contracts

For years, DeFi’s biggest selling point was its trustless execution – smart contracts replacing intermediaries in the spirit of true decentralization.

But the problem Bitcoin faces when it comes to its placement in the DeFi ecosystem is not about trust – it’s the very market structure.

Smart contracts can already wrap BTC into ERC-20 tokens like WBTC or tBTC, making it tradable on Ethereum and other networks.

We’ve seen in practice that this setup works and has already enabled billions in liquidity. According to DeFiLlama, WBTC holds roughly $14 billion in TVL (total value locked).

For now, the wrapped BTC model remains the main bridge between Bitcoin and DeFi.

Such tokens have proven functional and safe enough for most users, and they’ve enabled the early wave of BTCFi growth, where Bitcoin serves as the core asset for trading and yield generation.

Earlier this year, analysts predicted that by 2030 about $47 billion worth of Bitcoin could be active in DeFi (decentralized finance). That’s no small amount of progress – but it could be better still.

The thing is that wrapping and liquidity management are two different problems.

Bitcoin holders – who are typically conservative investors – have little appetite for complex DeFi tools that they don’t understand nor have the inclination to dig into and figure out.

They are less experimental and more focused on security and stability. BTCFi needs to learn how to appeal to those values in order to move forward.

Put simply, until DeFi offers a seamless, straightforward experience, BTC liquidity will stay where it feels safest – with CEXs and custodians.

The success of Bitcoin ETFs proves this point – as of October 2025, this asset type held around seven percent of total BTC market cap, reaching $170 billion in value.

This is clear proof that institutional investors didn’t need decentralized tools to join the market.

What they needed was efficiency, predictability and the level of compliance they are used to from their TradFi (traditional finance) experiences.

DeFi still struggles to offer those at scale.

How can that change

So what is the DeFi sector to do if it wishes to address all of the above?

The answer is this – to compete with CEXs in the truest sense, DeFi must learn to do what market makers do on the centralized side of things – only automatically.

That means solving passive liquidity provision. Right now, most AMMs distribute liquidity evenly across all prices or rely on concentrated strategies that still require human oversight.

Next-generation AMMs would need to dynamically rebalance liquidity in real time, reacting to volatility just like a human expert – but without human involvement. That’s the tricky part.

If that becomes possible, liquidity migration will follow naturally.

Institutions would no longer depend on CEXs to manage trading volume, and retail users could provide liquidity passively, earning yields on their BTC without the need for complex management.

That’s the future DeFi should be building toward.

Decentralized liquidity will rewrite Bitcoin’s market dynamics

If DeFi manages to crack the market-making problem, Bitcoin’s liquidity migration is going to reshape the crypto economy in a big way.

Price discovery would become more decentralized, volatility would smooth out and Bitcoin holders could finally earn passive yields – turning BTC into an active, productive asset.

At the same time, secondary markets would expand around it, creating a new layer of financial products (like yield trading and lending) built directly on the basis of Bitcoin liquidity.

Most importantly, liquidity itself would become democratized – no more dependence on exchanges or sudden liquidity withdrawals by centralized market makers that can cause crashes.

If we can crack the problem of passive liquidity provision, its migration to DeFi would make Bitcoin markets significantly more anti-fragile.

And prices – less vulnerable to abrupt liquidity fluctuations.

But we still have some ways to go before that can happen. The technology is catching up, but the mindset shift isn’t there yet.

When does DeFi learn to automate liquidity the way CEXs coordinate it? That’s when Bitcoin will finally flourish on-chain with deeper and more resilient markets.

Michael Egorov is the founder of leading DeFi exchange Curve Finance and the Bitcoin-focused liquidity protocol Yield Basis. He is a notable figure in the DeFi space, having launched the first DeFi exchange with a focus on stablecoins. A physicist, entrepreneur and crypto maximalist, Michael stood at the origins of DeFi creation.

 

Chainlink (LINK) price has signaled a midterm bullish outlook in 2026. The mid-cap altcoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $9.4 billion, has been forming a potential reversal pattern in the past two months.

Chainlink Price Eyes Market ReversalIn the weekly timeframe, LINK price has been retesting a crucial logarithmic support level that was established in the last two years. After experiencing heightened selling pressure during the second half of 2025, the LINK price has been forming a potential reversal pattern in the past few weeks.

Source: TradingView

Notably, the weekly MACD indicator shows a slowing selling pressure, as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers in oversold levels.

Main Reason To Bet on Bullish Outlook for LINK in 2026Technical tailwindsFrom a technical analysis standpoint, LINK price in the daily timeframe has signaled a market reversal. The altcoin has already formed a potential double bottom after a breakout from its falling logarithmic trend.

Source: X

Rising Institutional Demand The midterm outlook for LINK remains bullish backed by the rising demand from institutional investors. As Coinpedia previously reported, Bitwise Investment is seeking to launch its spot LINK ETF in the United States possibly in the coming weeks.

The Bitwise Chainlink ETF (CLNK) will offer institutional investors a regulated channel to invest in LINK. 

Network growth via Regulated meansThe Chainlink network has grown to an important factor in the mainstream adoption of decentralized financial (DeFi) and Real-World Assets (RWA) tokenization. Already, top Wall Street firms – led by Swift, BNY Mellon, ANZ Bank, Citi, and BNP Paribas – have adopted Chainlink products such as the crypto price oracles, automated compliance engines, and proof of reserves. 

As such, the demand for LINK is well-positioned to grow exponentially in 2026, thus bolstering the midterm bullish outlook.

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Technical analysis of Dogecoin’s price action on the daily candlestick timeframe chart shows that the meme coin has spent the past several months grinding lower inside a clearly defined descending channel. However, technical analysis proposes that the structure may be nearing its end. 

A daily chart shared on X by crypto analyst Jonathan Carter points to a setup that shows Dogecoin is about to break out of the descending channel. Although the meme coin has yet to confirm a full breakout, the chart now shows multiple conditions aligning that traders are closely watching.

Descending Channel Nearing Its Breaking Point Dogecoin has spent an extended period moving within a declining structure that has repeatedly limited upside attempts since September 2025. This prolonged compression has kept price action controlled and largely predictable, but it has also stored directional pressure beneath the surface. Each attempt to move higher was previously rejected at the upper boundary, keeping the price compressed into a descending channel.

That structure, however, now appears to be weakening. According to technical analysis from Jonathan Carter, that pressure is now beginning to tilt upward, with recent trading behavior showing less follow-through from sellers than in recent weeks.

Source: Chart from Jonathan Carter on X Recent candles show Dogecoin pushing higher from the lower boundary of the channel and pressing toward its upper trendline. Although it was rejected at the upper boundary early January, it hasn’t veered far away from the top of the channel. This is important because descending channels often act as continuation patterns only until buying pressure overwhelms sellers at resistance.

50-Day Moving Average And The Path Back To $0.30 One of the more notable details on the chart is Dogecoin’s interaction with the 50-day moving average. After spending weeks trading below this level, price has now reclaimed it and is attempting to hold above it. 

Holding above the 50-day average strengthens the case that the current move is not just another short-lived bounce. As long as the Dogecoin price continues to hold above this moving average, then the bullish outlook is valid.

If Dogecoin manages to break cleanly above the channel resistance, the analysis outlines a sequence of upside levels that could come into play quickly. Initial follow-through would place the price back into the mid-$0.15 range, followed by a push toward the high-$0.18s and the $0.20 region, areas that previously acted as congestion zones. 

After that, the chart points to $0.24 as the next target and then finally $0.28 to $0.30 as the last recovery target zone before any rejection comes into the picture.

These are short- to mid-term price targets, not long-term projections. These targets are very feasible and can even be reached within the next few weeks if a bullish wave of sentiment were to sweep across the entire crypto market. 

DOGE trading at $0.13 on the 1D chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

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Scott Matherson is a leading crypto writer at Bitcoinist, who possesses a sharp analytical mind and a deep understanding of the digital currency landscape. Scott has earned a reputation for delivering thought-provoking and well-researched articles that resonate with both newcomers and seasoned crypto enthusiasts. Outside of his writing, Scott is passionate about promoting crypto literacy and often works to educate the public on the potential of blockchain.

In brief World Liberty Financial launched a new lending platform called World Liberty Markets. Users can earn yield on supplied assets, or borrow against their portfolios in stablecoins, ETH, or cbBTC. The platform has garnered around $20 million in assets since launch. Decentralized finance company World Liberty Financial—which is backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and his sons—launched a new lending and borrowing platform called World Liberty Markets, the firm announced on Monday. 

The platform is powered by multi-chain DEX protocol, Dolomite, and allows users to earn yield by lending assets or borrowing against their portfolio of assets—including World Liberty’s native token (WLFI), its dollar-backed stablecoin USD1, and USDC, USDT, Ethereum (ETH), and Coinbase’s Wrapped Bitcoin asset (cbBTC). 

“WLFI Markets is built to support the future of tokenized finance by providing access to third party and WLFI-branded real-world asset products, supporting new tokenized assets as they launch, and creating deeper and wider access to USD1 across all WLFI applications,” the firm posted on X. “It’s designed to provide future access to WLFI’s broader RWA roadmap.”

Since its launch early Monday, the platform has generated around $20 million in supplied assets, led by its USD1 stablecoin, which offers a 27% incentive rate as well as USD1 rewards points for those supplying at least $1,000. 

"A year ago, we set out to build a stablecoin that could compete with the biggest names in crypto, and USD1 has exceeded every expectation," said World Liberty Financial co-founder and COO Zak Folkman in a statement. 

"Now we’re giving USD1 users access to even more ways to put their stablecoins to work,” he continued. “World Liberty Markets is a major step forward, and it's just the first of many products we're planning to roll out over the next 18 months.”

2/ USD1 now has a home inside WLFI Markets. Alongside WLFI, ETH, cbBTC, USDC, and USDT, users can supply assets to earn or unlock borrowing through Dolomite. Markets are built to help your USD1 stay productive across the entire WLFI ecosystem.

— WLFI (@worldlibertyfi) January 12, 2026

The platform exists as a web app at present time, but is expected to connect to the WLFI mobile app in the future. Additional asset support and incentive structures will be dictated by the platform’s users and WLFI token holders via decentralized governance votes.

World Liberty Financial launched its USD1 stablecoin across multiple blockchains in March last year. Since that time, it’s grown into the seventh-largest stablecoin with a circulating supply of more than $3.4 billion, according to data from DeFiLlama. 

The platform launched its native governance token, WLFI, in September. The token is up around 1.2% in the last 24 hours, recently changing hands just under $0.17. It is up 18% in the last two weeks, but still remains 49% off its all-time high mark of $0.33. 

The company, which has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and other critics thanks to its connections to the Trump family, boasts President Donald J. Trump as its “Co-Founder Emeritus.” The Trump family reduced its stake in the firm last June, but the president and his sons Eric, Don Jr., and Barron are still prominently featured on the company’s team page. 

Last week, World Liberty Financial applied for a national bank charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, joining crypto and stablecoin firms like Circle and Ripple who applied last year and were approved in December. 

A representative for World Liberty Financial did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

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Bitcoin (BTC) onchain data shows BTC whales are active as the price attempts to extend its breakout from the $90,000 level.

Key takeaways

Bitcoin whale spending surged to $286 million, the largest spike since early November.

Momentum indicators are bullish, but volatility is likely this week. 

Data from Capriole Investments indicated that OG Whale spent value, i.e., Bitcoin moved after remaining dormant for more than seven years, jumped to roughly $286 million on Jan. 10. This marked the strongest resurgence in old-coin activity since November 3, 2025, when the metric spiked near $570 million and coincided with BTC’s market correction. 

BTC OG Whale Spent Value. Source: Capriole InvestmentsWhile such movements often raise fears of distribution, the OG whale activity reflects strategic profit-taking rather than panic selling. 

Despite this, onchain data suggested Bitcoin remained in a better position to absorb this supply. According to Glassnode, long-term holder distribution has decelerated sharply with net outflows rolling over from previously extreme levels, signaling that much of the overhead supply from older coins may already be worked through.

A recent report from Cointelegraph also highlighted multiple signals pointing to a slowdown in long-term selling pressure, which could lead to price expansion. Likewise, accumulator addresses, wallets that consistently buy without distributing, have continued to add BTC in 2026, amassing nearly 136,000 BTC in just 11 days this month.

Bitcoin accumulator addresses demand. Source: CryptoQuantBullish signals flash for BTC, but volatility remains in playFrom a technical standpoint, Bitcoin’s momentum structure continues to improve. BTC’s 5-day MACD has flipped bullish, a setup last seen near the 2022 bear market bottom. Previously, this signal preceded a rally of more than 430%, noted by crypto commentator Myles G.

BTC’s 5-day MACD bullish reversal analysis. Source: X/Myles GHowever, traders cautioned that near-term pullbacks remain part of Bitcoin’s price action. BTC trader Killa noted that for seven consecutive months, BTC has averaged a 5% dip below the 14th weekly open candle, a pattern that could briefly drag price toward the $86,000 to $87,000 zone.

Meanwhile, crypto analyst OSHO highlighted improving order book dynamics. Aggregated liquidity data shows buyers gaining the upper hand, with bid-side liquidity outweighing asks across spot and futures markets. Liquidity is also clustering between $89,200 and $89,700, setting a critical pivot after the New York session.

Bitcoin liquidity levels. Source: XIf demand holds, Bitcoin’s ability to absorb OG whale supply could still fuel a push toward the $100,000 psychological level. That move may first require a liquidity sweep below $89,000, with price acceptance in the $89,000 to $87,000 range acting as the key signal.

Bitcoin four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA strong rebound from that zone would indicate passive bids have been filled, opening the door to a $100,000 test as early as next week. Failure to do so increases the risk of a deeper pullback toward $86,000, with external liquidity near $84,000 as the longer-term target.

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.

TL;DR

The XRP Ledger is drawing attention as a potential foundation for tokenized gold, driven by interest from analysts and developers focused on real-world assets. Its fast settlement and low transaction costs position it as a practical network for asset-backed tokens linked to physical metals. Tokenized gold on XRPL could connect traditional safe-haven assets with blockchain finance, giving investors digital access to gold with improved liquidity, transparency, and efficiency.
The XRP Ledger is increasingly discussed as a candidate network for hosting tokenized gold, reflecting a wider shift toward bringing real-world assets onto public blockchains. As investors search for digital instruments tied to tangible value, established networks with proven uptime are gaining relevance. In that landscape, the XRP Ledger benefits from more than a decade of continuous operation and a design optimized for payments and asset transfers.

Why The XRP Ledger Supports Tokenized Gold Commentary from on-chain researchers and developers has fueled interest around tokenized gold on the XRP Ledger. Coin Bureau has identified precious metals as a natural extension of asset tokenization, especially on networks capable of handling high transaction volumes with predictable costs. XRPL settles transactions in seconds and charges minimal fees, features that matter for frequent trading and institutional participation.

Developers such as Phil Kwok from EasyA have stated that tokenized gold is approaching the XRPL ecosystem. Network validators have reinforced this view, highlighting that the ledger’s consensus mechanism and transparent transaction history can support asset-backed instruments that rely on trust and verifiability. For issuers, the XRP Ledger offers a balance between decentralization and operational stability that newer platforms often lack.

Tokenized gold typically represents ownership of a defined quantity of physical metal stored by a regulated custodian. When issued on a blockchain, these tokens allow near-instant transfers and fractional ownership, contrasting with the slower settlement cycles common in traditional commodity markets.

Tokenized Gold And Real World Asset Expansion The focus on tokenized gold fits within a broader expansion of real-world asset issuance on-chain. Industry data showed that tokenized assets exceeded $8 billion in value during 2024, with commodities emerging as a growing segment. Gold and silver hold a unique position due to their long-standing role as stores of value, making them suitable for digital formats aimed at risk-conscious investors.

The XRP Ledger’s established ecosystem strengthens its appeal. It already integrates with numerous wallets, exchanges, and payment services, reducing onboarding friction for new asset classes. Ripple’s ongoing discussions with AWS around cloud infrastructure and AI tooling also point to continued investment in scalability and operational resilience.

For institutions, tokenized gold on XRPL may provide a way to access blockchain-based settlement while maintaining exposure to a familiar asset. This structure can offer diversification benefits without relying solely on volatile crypto prices.

The Dogecoin price is currently up by approximately 17% since the December 31 low and the rebound is starting to look less like a dead-cat bounce and more like a regime change, according to crypto analyst Cantonese Cat, who points to a clear shift in how DOGE is trading inside its Bollinger Bands on the daily chart.

The setup matters now because price has moved from months of lower-band pressure into the upper half of the range, often the earliest tell that trend behavior is rotating.

Cantonese Cat’s latest daily view (Binance) frames the move through Bollinger Band positioning rather than pattern-chasing. As the analyst put it: “DOGE daily shows a clear trend change that is easy to see when you see how it was riding on the lower half of the Bollinger band for months but now has a clear change in character.”

Dogecoin daily chart | Source: X @cantonmeow That “character” is visible in the band mechanics. DOGE closed around $0.1405 on the print shown, now trading above the 20-day basis line near $0.1348 after spending much of the prior stretch leaning into the lower half of the envelope. The upper band is near $0.1564 and the lower band near $0.1132.

In the analyst’s framing, the basis line becomes the near-term “line in the sand” for whether this is a genuine trend flip or simply a volatility expansion that fades. Holding above it keeps price in the upper half of the bands, where trends typically behave differently than they do during lower-band rides.

Weekly And Monthly Chart Support The Thesis Zooming out, Cantonese Cat’s weekly chart (Dec. 20) casts the broader structure as an Elliott-style sequence: a completed Wave 1 advance followed by a Wave 2 correction. The analyst wrote: “We’ve already had a 13 month bear market for DOGE, with my working hypothesis of this being likely a wave 2 correction prior to wave 3 explosion. The entire reason why this may play out is that it doesn’t feel likely right now, and you want me to stop posting.”

The levels on the chart are explicit. DOGE is sitting between the 0.382 retracement near $0.1177 and the 0.5 level near $0.1542, with higher retracement markers at roughly $0.2021 (0.618), $0.2477 (0.707), $0.2968 (0.786), and $0.3732 (0.886).

Dogecoin weekly chart | Source: X @cantonmeow Above that, the 1.0 level is labeled near $0.4844, with extensions reaching approximately $0.9029 (1.272), $1.2497 (1.414), $1.9934 (1.618), $4.7793 (2.0), and $8.9077 (2.272), the latter aligning with the analyst’s repeatedly cited “$9 region” target for this cycle.

On Jan. 9, Cantonese Cat paired DOGE’s monthly chart with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), arguing a recurring bull-phase rhythm: “DOGE has always been about 2-4 months behind IWM during the bull phase.”
The comparison highlights prior instances where IWM’s breakout behavior preceded DOGE’s major upside phases, implying DOGE’s current improvement could be read as a delayed echo if the template holds.

Dogecoin monthly chart vs Russell 2000 | Source: X @cantonmeow Overall, the near-term question is whether DOGE can keep closing above the daily Bollinger basis (~$0.1348) and avoid slipping back into the lower-half posture that defined the prior months. On the upside, a break above the upper band region (~$0.1564) and the 0.5 Fib ($0.1542) is crucial for further upside.

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.13674.

DOGE must break the 200-week EMA, 1-week chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

World Liberty Financial (CRYPTO: WLFI), backed by President Donald Trump’s family, launched World Liberty Markets, a DeFi lending platform for its USD1 stablecoin worth $3.4 billion, even as critics point to conflicts of interest tied to Trump’s $800 million crypto income in 2025.

USD1 Stablecoin Now Available For Lending And BorrowingWorld Liberty Markets allows users to lend and borrow digital assets using USD1 alongside collateral including Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), USDC, USDT, tokenized Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), and the WLFI governance token. The platform is powered by Dolomite protocol.

Users can currently borrow USD1 by paying roughly 0.83% interest or lend it out to earn 0.08%, though these rates will likely shift as more money flows into the platform.

USD1 has grown to $3.4 billion in circulation since its March 2025 debut, making it one of the largest dollar-backed stablecoins behind only major players like Tether, Circle (NYSE:CRCL), and PayPal’s (NASDAQ:PYPL) PYUSD.

The rollout aligns with a broader recovery in crypto credit markets. 

A November report from Galaxy Digital found active DeFi loans climbed to nearly $41 billion by the end of Q3 2025, pushing total crypto lending to a new all-time high of roughly $74 billion.

Trump Family Earned $800M From Crypto Ventures In 2025World Liberty lists Trump and his sons as co-founders, creating a situation where a sitting president profits from a crypto business he’s publicly associated with.

A Reuters investigation from October found the Trump family earned hundreds of millions from World Liberty Financial and related token sales in the first half of 2025. 

Roughly $463 million came from WLFI token sales alone, with total crypto income exceeding $800 million across Trump-linked ventures.

That income eclipses what Trump makes from his traditional businesses like golf courses and real estate licensing deals. 

The president also earned tens of millions from WLFI sales in 2024 before taking office.

World Liberty argues Trump doesn’t run day-to-day operations—those fall to crypto executives like co-founder Zach Folkman. 

But critics say the distinction doesn’t matter when the president’s name is on the project and he’s making hundreds of millions from it.

Platform Launch Coincides With Bank Charter ApplicationWorld Liberty applied for a national bank charter just last week, seeking permission to issue and custody USD1 internally without relying on third parties. 

If approved, the move would put USD1 under federal banking supervision.

The application came to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency—a regulatory body that reports to the Treasury Department, which reports to the president. Critics see this as another layer of potential conflict.

Folkman said the lending platform will eventually accept more types of collateral, possibly including tokenized Trump Organization real estate. 

Moreover, the company plans to roll out a mobile app and debit card for USD1 later this year.

What's Next for WLFI Token

WLFI has recovered 86% from October’s $0.09 low after crashing 82% from September’s $0.28 peak. 

Upside Targets: $0.18791 (SAR) is immediate resistance. Breaking that opens $0.20 psychological level, then $0.22-$0.24 range. Clearing $0.25 targets the $0.28 former high.

Downside Risks: $0.15681 (middle BB) is first support. Loss of $0.14 risks retest of $0.12892 (lower BB). Breaking $0.12 threatens the entire recovery.

Image: Shutterstock

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Is DOGE heading for a drop to a two-year low?

While the biggest meme coin by market capitalization saw a substantial uptick at the start of 2026, it has been on an evident decline over the past few days.

Some analysts think the downtrend might intensify, envisioning a potential 50% crash.

A Further Plunge? On January 6, DOGE climbed to a local top above $0.15, but since then, the bears have regained control, and it is currently worth around $0.13 (per CoinGecko’s data).

The renowned analyst Ali Martinez paid special attention to the meme coin’s price performance and assumed that if the selling continues, it might find support at $0.06 (a 53% collapse from the ongoing levels). It is worth noting that a drop of that magnitude would mark the asset’s lowest level since November 2023.

The lack of serious interest in the spot DOGE ETF is also bad news for the bulls. Grayscale launched the first such product in the USA late last year, while Bitwise followed suit shortly after.

According to data from SoSoValue, these investment vehicles have attracted less than $7 million in cumulative net inflows to date. The figure is quite disappointing and suggests that big players such as pension funds, hedge funds, and asset managers remain reluctant to hop on the bandwagon.

For comparison, the spot XRP ETFs (which also debuted towards the end of 2025) have generated a cumulative net inflow of over $1.22 billion.

You may also like: Whales Can’t Get Enough of Meme Coins as FLOKI Explodes 950% DOGE, SHIB, PEPE Explode: Is Meme Coin Frenzy Back in Full Force? Crypto Trading Activity Hits Yearly Lows as Holiday Lull Freezes Markets The Bullish Scenario Contrary to Martinez’s pessimistic assumption, multiple other market observers believe DOGE’s price is on the verge of a major resurgence. X user CryptoPulse outlined three key factors, including strong breakout volume, the formation of an RSI golden cross, and MACD in a bullish zone, to predict that the meme coin might soar to $0.20-$0.21 in the short term.

Bitcoinsensus was even more optimistic. They argued that DOGE’s bull cycle is about to repeat, envisioning a 900% pump to as high as $1.80.

Meanwhile, whales have been on a buying spree lately, which is definitely interpreted as a positive element. X user CEO revealed that large investors have accumulated almost 140 million DOGE (nearly $20 million) in the span of just 12 hours.

Continuous efforts in the field reduce the asset’s circulating supply and could influence a price uptick (should demand remain the same or increase). Additionally, the whales’ actions might attract smaller players, who can distribute fresh capital into the ecosystem.

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Bitcoin surged past $92,000 at the start of the week after the DOJ subpoenaed the Federal Reserve, sparking global market volatility and a flight to safe-haven assets like gold, which hit a record $4,600.

PEPE shows signs of a bullish recovery as momentum improves, with $0.00000900 emerging as the next key resistance level.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

12 January 2026, 07:42 PM

PEPE price exhibits a volatile intraday movement, initially dropping toward the $0.000007 region before staging a sharp rebound that briefly pushed the price close to $0.0000060, signaling short-term speculative buying. 

PEPE is currently trading at around $0.00000579, suggesting a 3.02% decline in the last 24 hours. PEPE appears range-bound with mild bearish pressure, suggesting consolidation unless buyers reclaim the $0.0000060 zone decisively.

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

PEPE Targets $0.00000900 as Next Key Resistance in Emerging UptrendAccording to analyst PEPE Whale, PEPE appears to be transitioning out of a prolonged downtrend and preparing for its next leg higher after forming a rounded base near the $0.0000050–$0.0000060 region. Price has reclaimed short-term structure and is pushing into a recovery zone, suggesting improving momentum as buyers step in following months of sustained selling pressure.

Source: X

The next major hurdle lies around $0.000009, which stands out as a critical resistance level where prior breakdowns and supply are concentrated. A clean break and hold above this zone could confirm trend continuation and open the door for an expansion toward higher resistance near the mid-range of the structure. However, rejection at $0.000009 would likely lead to short-term consolidation as the market absorbs remaining sell-side pressure.

PEPE Shows a Bullish Recovery with Improving IndicatorsOn the 1-day timeframe, PEPE is showing signs of a short-term bullish recovery after a prolonged period of consolidation and lower lows. The price recently pushed higher with a strong impulsive move, followed by a mild pullback, suggesting that buyers are still in control while the market digests recent gains. The overall structure suggests a developing uptrend as long as PEPE holds above its recent higher low zone.

PEPE 1-day price chart, Source: TradingView

Looking at the indicators, the MACD has turned positive, with the MACD line above the signal line, indicating that bullish momentum is still present, despite some slowing. The RSI is hovering in the mid-to-upper range near 60, showing healthy strength without being overbought, which supports the idea of continuation rather than exhaustion. 

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

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PEPE

In brief Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum should be able to keep operating even if its core developers step back. He argues the protocol should adopt full quantum-resistant cryptography rather than delaying for efficiency gains. The comments come as crypto developers reassess long-term security amid advances in quantum computing. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is pushing the network to adopt cryptography that can withstand future quantum computing attacks now—before they're a problem. The prominent Ethereum figurehead warned that waiting until the threat is real could turn blockchain security into a race it cannot afford to lose.

To prepare for the day a practical quantum computer comes online, in a post published Sunday on X, Buterin argued that Ethereum’s base layer must pass what he called the “walkaway test”—the idea that the network’s value should not depend on ongoing protocol upgrades or stewardship.

“Ethereum the blockchain must have the traits that we strive for in Ethereum's applications,” Buterin wrote. “Hence, Ethereum itself must pass the walkaway test.”

Even if development slows or stops, he said, Ethereum should remain stable, secure, and trustworthy for decades to come.

A central part of his argument is the looming threat posed by quantum computing. Buterin said Ethereum should not hold off on adopting cryptography that can withstand future quantum computers, even if current machines are not yet capable of breaking blockchain security.

“We should resist the trap of saying, ‘Let’s delay quantum resistance until the last possible moment in the name of eking out more efficiencies for a while longer,’” Buterin said. He added that individual users have the right to delay making changes in preparation for a quantum threat, but protocols do not.

“Being able to say 'Ethereum's protocol, as it stands today, is cryptographically safe for a hundred years' is something we should strive to get to as soon as possible, and insist on as a point of pride,” he said.

The post follows earlier comments from Buterin about the potential impact of quantum computing on blockchain security, but places greater focus on the risks of waiting. Buterin’s view on the quantum risk has changed over the years since 2019, when he downplayed Google’s quantum advancements. He now argues that systems like Ethereum cannot afford to treat quantum resistance as a last-minute upgrade once the technology becomes a reality.

Blockchains face particular exposure because networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum rely on elliptic-curve cryptography. While secure against today’s computers, it could be broken by sufficiently powerful quantum machines using Shor’s algorithm to extract private keys from public ones.

While researchers say today’s quantum machines remain too small and unstable to threaten real-world blockchains, progress in hardware, error correction, and system stability has refocused discussions around future timelines.

Despite Buterin’s call for action, others warn that enacting changes too quickly could have unintended consequences.

“Post-quantum crypto, oftentimes it’s about 10 times slower, 10 times larger proof sizes, and 10 times more inefficient,” Cardano founder and Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson told Decrypt in a recent interview. “So if you adopt it, what you’re basically doing is taking the throughput of your blockchain and reducing it by cutting off a zero.”

Beyond the walkaway test, Buterin outlined technical priorities he said Ethereum must address to remain viable over the long term—including an architecture capable of scaling to thousands of transactions per second through mechanisms such as zero-knowledge EVM validation and data availability sampling, with future growth handled largely through parameter changes.

He also pointed to the need for a durable state design, a general-purpose account model that moves beyond “enshrined [Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm] signatures,” a gas schedule hardened against denial-of-service attacks, proof-of-stake economics that can remain decentralized into the future, and block-building mechanisms designed to resist centralization and remain censorship-resistant.

Buterin said the goal is to complete this work over the next several years, arguing future innovations should largely occur through client optimization and limited parameter changes rather than repeated upgrades.

“Every year, we should tick off at least one of these boxes, and ideally multiple,” he wrote. “Do the right thing once, based on knowledge of what is truly the right thing (and not compromise halfway fixes), and maximize Ethereum's technological and social robustness for the long term.”

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TL;DR

Powell faces a criminal investigation by the Justice Department. The conflict with Trump centers on Fed interest rate policy. Bipartisan Senate opposition may stall the next Fed Chair confirmation. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed he faces a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Powell issued a statement on Sunday night responding to the accusations. Authorities accuse him of misleading Congress about renovation work at the central bank’s headquarters in Washington. The renovation project includes asbestos removal.

This event places Powell in direct conflict with President Donald Trump. Both men had an unusual on-camera confrontation last summer. Powell labeled the Trump administration’s actions as “unprecedented” in his new statement. Powell argued the investigation has a political objective. The Fed Chairman stated the threat of criminal charges arises from setting interest rates based on technical assessments rather than the president’s preferences.

“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”

Trump repeatedly criticized the Fed’s caution in reducing the cost of borrowing. The former president regularly refers to Powell by the nickname “Too Late Jerome Powell.” Powell’s term concludes in the coming months. It is highly likely Trump will nominate a successor aligned with his economic policy preferences. This potential change carries broad ramifications for financial markets.

“Powell had no choice but to call out the president. This was a full frontal assault on Fed independence…. I have no idea how the markets will react, but we have entered a very dangerous period where it seems nothing is off-limits.”

Central Bank Independence Becomes the Battleground Trump denied any involvement in the legal action against Powell. However, politicians from both parties expressed alarm. A key member of the Senate Banking Committee, Thom Tillis, stated the White House is attempting to undermine the Fed’s independence. Tillis promised to oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed, including the next Chair, until this legal matter resolves.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a vocal critic of the crypto industry, joined the condemnation. Warren claimed Trump is attempting a “corrupt takeover of our central bank.” The senator argued Trump abuses the law to make the Fed serve his interests and those of his friends. Warren urged the Senate not to move forward with “ANY Trump Fed nominee.”

The independence of a central bank is a fundamental principle. Without it, politicians can pressure for unsustainably low interest rates. Such policies often aggravate inflation later and lead to greater economic instability.

Historical examples from countries with central banks lacking independence, like Venezuela or Turkey, show episodes of hyperinflation. Some analysts, however, note the Federal Reserve also makes mistakes and lacks direct democratic legitimacy.

This weekend’s events could affect Bitcoin The world’s largest cryptocurrency sometimes performs better in low interest rate environments, which favor riskier assets. The expectation of a Trump-loyal successor, like Kevin Hassett, had increased the odds of aggressive rate cuts in the second half of 2025. Now, the investigation against Powell could complicate or delay any Senate confirmation process, adding a layer of prolonged political uncertainty.

“The market has seen this before and doesn’t like it. It’s not about Powell at this point, it’s about the independence of the Fed. So when news like this hits, the knee jerk reaction is to sell off.”

Markets already showed volatility. Futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq indexes fell before Monday’s opening. The dollar weakened and gold reached a record price. Market strategists like Jay Woods of Freedom Capital Markets indicated the initial sell-off reflects concern over Fed independence, more than Powell personally.

XRP price remained cautiously above the key support at $2, but could be at risk of a big drop after forming a dragonfly doji candlestick pattern on the weekly chart. 

Summary

XRP price has formed the highly bearish dragonfly doji candlestick pattern on the weekly chart. The coin will react to key macro events like the US Consumer Price Index data. The US Senate will also have a markup of the CLARITY Act. The Ripple (XRP) token was trading at $2.0840, down by roughly 43% from its all-time high. This decline has coincided with the broader sell-off in the cryptocurrency industry. 

The decline could occur as market participants monitor broader macroeconomic events this week. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the December Consumer Price Index data on Tuesday.

Data compiled by TradingEconomics shows that the headline CPI remained at 2.6% in December, while the core CPI retreated from 2.7% to 2.6%.

Still, there are signs that inflation will continue to decline, as crude oil and mortgage rates have fallen in the past few months. A higher-than-expected inflation report will be bearish for XRP and other cryptocurrencies.

Meanwhile, the XRP price will react to the upcoming markup of the CLARITY Act later this week. This bill seeks to simplify cryptocurrency regulation by separating the roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

Another notable catalyst for XRP and other cryptocurrencies will be the upcoming earnings season, which begins on Tuesday. Some of the top companies that will publish their numbers are Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JPMorgan, and BlackRock. Strong earnings may boost the stock market, which may translate to more gains in the crypto industry.

XRP price technical analysis  XRP price chart | Source: crypto.news The weekly timeframe chart indicates that the XRP price has formed a highly bearish chart pattern known as a dragonfly doji. This candle is characterized by a long upper shadow and a small body. It often leads to more downside over time.

Ripple token also formed a double-top pattern at $3.3962 and a neckline at $1.6200, its lowest level in April last year. It has also dropped below the 50-week and 100-week Weighted Moving Averages.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the stock token drops to the next key support level at $1.6200. A drop below that level will indicate further downside, potentially to $1.50.