Market Signal Briefing

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While Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock has started 2026 on a bearish note, some Wall Street analysts remain bullish on the equity over the next 12 months.

As of press time, AAPL was trading at $259, up 0.13% in the last session. Year-to-date, the stock is down more than 4%, while over the past 12 months it has gained nearly 10%.

AAPL one-year stock price chart. Source: Finbold Notably, Apple delivered a strong 2025, posting record revenue driven by robust iPhone demand and continued growth in Services, which generated $109.2 billion in sales. Its market capitalization surpassed $4 trillion, making it only the second company, after Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), to reach the milestone.

The technology giant is also undergoing notable leadership changes. In this line, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams has retired, while head of government affairs Lisa Jackson and General Counsel Kate Adams are set to step down in late January and late 2026, respectively. 

AI chief John Giannandrea is retiring, with oversight of Apple’s artificial intelligence efforts shifting to Amar Subramanya. Design vice president Alan Dye has also departed to lead a new design studio at Meta’s Reality Labs.

Wall Street Apple stock prediction  On the stock outlook, analysts remain cautiously optimistic. Specifically, based on 32 ratings tracked by TipRanks, Apple holds a ‘Moderate Buy’ consensus. Nineteen analysts rate the stock a buy, 11 recommend holding, and two suggest selling. The average 12-month price target is $299.49, implying upside of about 15% from current levels. Targets range from a high of $350 to a low of $230.

AAPL 12-month stock price chart. Source: TipRanks Evercore ISI reiterated its ‘Outperform’ rating on January 6, raising its price target to $330 from $325, citing stronger-than-expected iPhone demand and limited near-term memory cost pressure. The firm lifted its December-quarter forecasts to $140.5 billion in revenue and $2.71 in earnings per share, driven by strong demand in North America, China, and India and a favorable mix toward higher-end iPhone models. While noting softer demand in Europe and potential margin pressure later in the year, Evercore said Apple remains well-positioned in the near term.

BofA Securities reaffirmed its ‘Buy rating and $325 price target, pointing to steady App Store performance, strong capital returns, and long-term potential from edge AI. The firm noted App Store revenue rose 6.8% year over year to $8.6 billion, with improving monetization offsetting slower growth, particularly in China.

Finally, Raymond James resumed coverage on January 2 with a ‘Hold’ rating and no price target, citing valuation concerns despite solid demand tied to the iPhone 17 refresh cycle. The firm said much of the upside is already reflected in the stock and flagged risks related to component pricing, tariffs, and supply chain concentration, while acknowledging Apple’s strong fundamentals and large installed base.

Featured image via Shutterstock

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

The cryptocurrency industry suffered broad losses last year, but a recovery might be in the cards during 2026.

Cryptocurrencies had a tough year in 2025, with most popular coins and tokens suffering losses. Not even the industry leaders like Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH 0.13%) were spared, ending the year down 5% and 11%, respectively.

But 2026 is here, and Wall Street analyst Tom Lee recently came out with a set of very bullish forecasts. He thinks Ether, which is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, could soar to $9,000 per coin early in the year, implying a potential upside of 177% from where it's trading as I write this.

Lee founded Fundstrat Global Advisors, but he's also the chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR 3.90%), which owns approximately $13.4 billion worth of Ethereum, so he certainly has some skin in the game. How realistic is his latest forecast?

Image source: Getty Images.

What is Ethereum? Ethereum is a platform where people develop decentralized software applications, which are increasingly popular in industries like gaming and financial services. These apps are governed by smart contracts, which are pieces of computer code that live on the Ethereum blockchain. They typically can't be changed, so no person or company can manipulate the app's core set of rules, ensuring it stays decentralized.

The Ethereum network itself is also completely decentralized. Instead of using one large data center, it's hosted on thousands of nodes (computers) all over the world that store an updated copy of its blockchain. Therefore, the network won't be compromised even if some nodes go down, and that's how Ethereum has boasted 100% uptime over the last decade.

Ether is like the fuel that makes the Ethereum network function. Every time a person activates a smart contract by using an app, or even transfers a crypto token built on Ethereum, they incur a fee that is payable in Ether. Therefore, the larger the network grows, the more demand there is for Ether, and the more valuable the coin becomes (in theory).

Thousands of decentralized apps have been built on Ethereum so far. Uniswap, for instance, is a popular exchange where people can trade their cryptocurrencies for other cryptocurrencies. Pricing and execution is handled entirely by smart contracts with no intermediaries, creating a lightning-fast and cost-effective experience. Users don't even need to create an account, because they can connect their crypto wallets directly to Uniswap and immediately start transacting.

How realistic is Lee's target? Tom Lee thinks decentralized apps will take over the financial industry, and as the largest platform of its kind, he's betting Ethereum will lead the transition. The world's largest asset manager, BlackRock, is already exploring plans to tokenize some of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by moving them onto the blockchain, where they can trade more efficiently compared to using traditional stock exchanges.

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That is just one example suggesting Lee could eventually be right. But the growing adoption of stablecoins -- many of which are built on Ethereum -- is another sign. These cryptocurrencies are designed to maintain a stable value (hence their name), and they can be sent anywhere in the world practically instantly. Therefore, they are far more efficient than traditional payment rails that often take several days to move money across borders.

According to Cathie Wood's Ark Investment Management, over $15 trillion in payment volume was processed using stablecoins in 2024, which was more volume than both Visa and Mastercard processed.

But could all of this send Ether soaring by 177% to $9,000 per coin in the early stages of 2026? I'm not so sure. Ether climbed to a record price of $4,946 per coin in 2025, which was a win for investors, but it was the first new high in four years. Plus, the coin has already lost 32% of its peak value, so I'm not sure if it can muster enough momentum to almost triple in value in the next few months like Lee predicts.

With that said, $9,000 per coin would give Ether a market capitalization of around $1.08 trillion, so it would still be much smaller than Bitcoin, which has a market cap of $1.85 trillion. Therefore, I wouldn't rule out Lee's target, especially if the decentralized revolution continues to gather momentum, but I would certainly be cautious about the timing. Plus, it's important to remember Lee chairs the BitMine Immersion Technologies company, which owns 4.1 million Ether coins, so he has a vested interest in putting forward highly bullish targets.

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

Polygon (POL) price has staged a strong rally this week, gaining over 30% amid broader market consolidation. 

Bitcoin price hovered firm above $90,000, and Ethereum at above $3,000. Other crypto market coins have experienced minimal momentum. This prolonged purchase behaviour occurred in Polygon as traders responded to new updates within the Polygon ecosystem.

Why Is Polygon (POL) Price Surging Today? The surge follows the launch of Polygon’s new payments infrastructure initiative, the “Open Money Stack.” This vertically integrated model, in turn, facilitates the stablecoin transactions across blockchains and the need to fuel real-life payment adoption.

According to Polygon Labs, the initiative included applications, financial services, payments, and blockchain rails.

Network fundamentals also increased investor confidence. On January 5, the network burnt the largest amount of tokens in the history of its PoS, more than 3 million POL.

🚨 WHY POLYGON HAS OUTPERFORMED RECENTLY$POL has seen strong price performance over the past week & is currently up almost 40%, driven by fundamentals rather than speculation.

What’s happening behind the scenes:
• Polygon ranked #1 by network revenue over the last 7 days
•… pic.twitter.com/UQkhebWAiJ

— Wise Advice (@wiseadvicesumit) January 9, 2026

On-chain activity was also increasing, with Polygon leading in terms of network revenue in the last week. These signs demonstrate that utility increase is the cause of the new price runup and not a temporary craze.

Polygon Hits Record 2025 Activity as Transactions Top 1.4 Billion Polygon’s fundamentals strengthened in 2025 as on-chain activity hit new highs. The overall transactions are above 1.4 billion, which occurred last year. That is the greatest number of the network in a single year

This influx of use indicates the changing position of Polygon in the crypto area. Previously seen as the home of NFT and DeFi projects, it now is marketing itself as an infrastructure layer in a high-throughput global payment.

Source: Dune, X The sustained increase in the number of transactions supports the increasing relevance of the network in the real-life use, particularly with the spread of stablecoins.

The Open Money Stack has been released at a time when Polygon is trying to establish itself as a reliable destination when it comes to institutional payments. This re-emphasis on utility may generate long-term value, in spite of the fact that POL is almost 88% lower than its all-time maximum.

Will POL Price Rally To $0.20 Soon? The latest POL price surged to $0.1726, experiencing a significant increase over the past 24 hours. 

The action is in line with a continuity trend because the buyers continued gaining momentum after their successful breakout of the important $0.14 area.

The price of polygons has surged out of a parallel rising channel, which is positive with regard to accelerating upside momentum. 

The resistance of the price was broken sharply, which placed POL above the $0.16 level, indicating the constant pressure of demand.

The indicator of MACD is still in a robust bullish position, where the MACD line is far above the signal line.

Meanwhile, the 4-hour chart is at RSI 79, which indicates overbought.

A retest success would affirm the bullish climb as the future Polygon outlook is still bright. And if the next step would be to the higher levels of $0.18 and $0.20.

Source: POL/USD 4-hour chart: Tradingview Failure to hold $0.16 could delay the move, but wouldn’t invalidate the overall structure unless the Polygon price drops back below $0.14.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) POL is rallying due to a breakout above the $0.14 resistance, supported by high volume and strong bullish momentum indicators.

A clean break above $0.20 could trigger further bullish momentum, with $0.22 being the next major price target.

TLDR: ONDO lags market rotation despite improved liquidity conditions and declining Bitcoin dominance over past 17 days Token lacks activated fee switches and governance mechanisms preventing direct value capture from growing tokenization activity Infrastructure exists between crypto speculation and equity valuation lacking traditional pricing frameworks of either asset class Analyst predicts violent repricing event when settlement flows activate similar to historical ETH and SOL infrastructure shifts ONDO token presents an unusual market position that defies typical crypto asset behavior, according to crypto analyst Sarosh. 

The token demonstrates strong institutional adoption and real-world utility through expanding tokenization services, yet price action remains subdued compared to peers. 

This disconnect stems from unclear value capture mechanisms rather than fundamental weakness, creating what observers call the “Ondo Paradox.”

Liquidity Rotation Bypasses Infrastructure-Focused Assets Market conditions currently favor ONDO’s growth trajectory. Federal Reserve and Treasury liquidity measures have expanded while Bitcoin dominance entered a downtrend approximately 17 days ago. 

Mid-cap cryptocurrencies gained momentum during recent rotation phases, suggesting improved risk appetite across markets. However, ONDO lags behind comparable assets like SUI in volume and price appreciation.

The disconnect exists because current liquidity flows target high-velocity assets with thin float structures and momentum-driven narratives. ONDO operates differently, functioning as duration-based infrastructure rather than speculative trading vehicle. 

Sarosh noted on X that “liquidity doesn’t avoid it; it waits for the structure to allow that liquidity to stay rather than churn.” The token’s design prevents participation in rapid rotational trading patterns dominating current market conditions.

The Ondo Paradox$ONDO sits in a strange place in this cycle — and that’s exactly why so many people are hate it because they haven't a clue. Retail has left the building so to speak. Even whales have no clue what's coming. Google what I wrote to you. Please do it. You will not…

— Sarosh (@SaroshQ2022) January 9, 2026

Traditional equity markets demonstrate different dynamics that highlight ONDO’s unique position. Stocks benefit from established valuation frameworks, analyst coverage, index inclusion, and passive investment flows. 

These mature pricing systems force capital allocation decisions within defined parameters. ONDO lacks equivalent infrastructure despite genuine institutional partnerships and expanding blockchain integration.

Value Capture Mechanisms Remain Inactive ONDO’s underlying business shows substantial progress across multiple metrics. Tokenized asset volumes continue growing while institutional partnerships expand. 

Major multi-trillion dollar banking institutions participate in the ecosystem, building infrastructure that Sarosh describes as “rails where trains will run and they will pay Ondo fees to run on those tracks.” Market share within the tokenization sector remains dominant.

The token itself has not activated critical revenue mechanisms that would trigger market repricing. No fee switch directs protocol earnings to token holders. 

Governance systems remain unlaunched. Settlement volumes do not flow through the token as required settlement surface. Without these activated features, price discovery becomes discretionary rather than urgent for market participants.

This structural gap explains why ONDO behaves differently than typical crypto assets or equities. The token proves “too real to trade like a meme, too early to price like a business,” according to Sarosh’s analysis. 

Institutions utilize Ondo’s infrastructure and partner within the ecosystem but lack incentives to express conviction through token ownership. The asset exists in transitional space between speculative crypto trading and mature business valuation.

Sarosh predicts violent repricing when governance launches, fees route clearly to token holders, and settlement flows activate. 

He compared the pattern to ETH and SOL, suggesting infrastructure assets move decisively when structure, incentives, and liquidity converge rather than grinding gradually higher.

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Crypto pundit X Finance Bull has explained what Ripple’s FCA approval means for XRP and cross-border payments in the U.K. This comes as the altcoin continues to gain adoption through Ripple’s efforts, with XRP notably at the centre of the crypto firm’s cross-border payment services.

XRP To Gain Greater Adoption Through Ripple’s FCA Approval In an X post, X Finance Bull stated that U.K. institutions are now cleared to send cross-border payments using XRP and the XRP Ledger. He noted that this is now possible as Ripple has secured FCA approval to scale its payment platform in the U.K. In line with this, the pundit declared that adoption is accelerating and urged the XRP army to stay on alert, as they are still early. 

Meanwhile, X Finance Bull also admitted that the company’s regulatory headway in the U.K. makes partnerships easier. That way, the crypto firm can easily partner with institutions to advance XRP’s adoption and the use of its stablecoin, RLUSD, in cross-border transactions.  

In its press release, Ripple announced that it had secured approval of its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and Cryptoasset Registration from the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The firm further noted that these permissions will allow it to expand its licensed payments platform, thereby enabling U.K. institutions to send cross-border payments using XRP and other digital assets. 

The payment firm also highlighted its ties to XRP in the release, noting that it contributes to and builds its products on the XRP Ledger, which uses XRP as its native token for fast, low-cost settlement of value across borders. It is worth noting that this development comes amid other bullish developments for XRP, including Ripple-backed Evernorth’s strategic collaboration with Doppler to explore ways to deploy XRP at scale. 

XRP Remains The Heartbeat Of Ripple’s Vision In an X post, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse assured that XRP has been and will continue to be the heartbeat of Ripple’s vision to enable the Internet of Value. This came as he highlighted the firm’s success last year, including two major acquisitions, Ripple Prime and GTreasury, which he noted greatly accelerated and expanded their ability to deliver on this vision.  

Garlinghouse further remarked that they are poised to make 2026 even more consequential with the most comprehensive licensing portfolio, having added the U.K.’s EMI license. He noted that building and using crypto infrastructure, updating their global financing plumbing, and rethinking legacy systems don’t happen overnight. As such, they plan to continue taking the long view of what crypto-based assets such as XRP and RLUSD can do rather than chasing cycles and hype.

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.09, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

XRP trading at $2.10 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

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Bitcoin maintained its position above $90,000 shortly after a U.S. jobs report was released. The report indicated that the U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate dropping to 4.4%. This data is significant for market observers who closely watch the interplay between economic indicators and digital asset prices.

The report’s figures may imply a strengthening economy, potentially impacting monetary policy decisions. Such measures can, in turn, influence investor behavior towards assets like Bitcoin, commonly considered a hedge against inflation or currency devaluation.

Cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, have gained attention from institutional investors seeking diversification or alternative asset classes. Bitcoin, as the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, often reacts to broader economic signals, reflecting its growing integration into global financial systems.

The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, can be sensitive to macroeconomic indicators. Jobs data, interest rate expectations, and inflation figures are some of the variables that investors monitor, as they can drive price fluctuations. Bitcoin’s behavior in response to these elements highlights its evolving role in the financial landscape.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to Bitcoin are a point of interest for many financial institutions. ETFs are investment funds traded on stock exchanges, holding assets like stocks, commodities, or bonds. A ‘spot’ ETF would hold the actual commodity, in this case, Bitcoin, rather than futures contracts. Filing for such products can involve a rigorous approval process by regulators, focusing on investor protection and market stability.

Regulators generally emphasize surveillance measures and comprehensive disclosures to ensure market integrity and protect investors. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been cautious in approving cryptocurrency-based ETFs, reflecting concerns over potential market manipulation and custody issues.

Bitcoin’s value proposition as a decentralized digital currency has made it attractive to a range of investors. However, it comes with risks, including price volatility, regulatory scrutiny, and security concerns. The cryptocurrency market’s rapid pace and frequent price swings add to the complexity of investing in these assets.

Asset managers and banks are exploring crypto products due to increasing client demand and the potential for new revenue streams. Offering access to cryptocurrencies can appeal to clients looking for novel investment avenues or hedging strategies.

As various issuers file for Bitcoin ETFs, the competitive environment becomes more dynamic. Approval timelines can be unpredictable, and product amendments are common, requiring issuers to adapt swiftly to regulatory feedback. Stakeholders closely watch for developments in these filings, which could influence market sentiment.

The next steps involve regulatory reviews, potential amendments to filings, and requests for public comment. Market participants await decisions on approvals or denials, which could have a significant impact on the future of cryptocurrency investments.

Institutional interest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continues to grow, reflecting the broader acceptance of digital assets. With evolving regulatory landscapes and market dynamics, the interplay between traditional financial systems and cryptocurrencies remains a focal point for investors and regulators alike.

Bitcoin’s steady price above $90,000 following the jobs report underscores its resilience amid fluctuating economic conditions. Market participants will continue to monitor how economic data and regulatory developments influence the cryptocurrency’s trajectory.

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The Senate Agriculture Committee markup is a crucial step toward a Senate floor vote on the Market Structure Bill. Lawmakers need to merge the cleared text from the US Senate Banking Committee and the US Senate Agriculture Committee markups to set up a Senate floor vote.

If passed, the Market Structure Bill would then return to the House for final passage, and eventually to President Trump for signing.

XRP Exposed to Crypto Legislative Developments Despite Court Rulings Notably, XRP remains highly sensitive to crypto-related legislation despite court rulings in the SEC vs. Ripple case classifying the token as a non-security.

For context, in July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that programmatic sales of XRP did not satisfy the third prong of the Howey Test.

The SEC appealed against the ruling in early January 2025 but withdrew its appeal after SEC Chair Gary Gensler departed the agency. The US Court of Appeals approved the SEC and Ripple’s appeal withdrawals in August 2025, cementing Judge Torres’ ruling and setting the stage for a US XRP-spot ETF market.

Price action underscored XRP’s sensitivity to regulatory developments. XRP rallied 14.69% on July 17 in reaction to the US House of Representatives passing the Market Structure Bill to the Senate. In contrast, Bitcoin (BTC) gained 0.39%.

Additionally, XRP surged 33% to an eight-week high of $2.4151 on the Senate Banking Committee announcing the January 15 markup on December 31. Crucially, the announcement snapped a four-week losing streak, setting up a bullish structure. Over the same period, BTC advanced by a more modest 8%.

Developments over the weekend will be key to XRP’s cautiously bullish near-term outlook. Delays to the Senate Agriculture Committee markup may push back the timeline for a Senate floor vote to Q2 2026, potentially slowing institutional demand.

XRPUSD – Weekly Chart – 100126 – Market Structure Bill Sensitivity US XRP-Spot ETF Market Steadies after Outflow Blip While crypto-related legislative headlines weighed on market sentiment, the US XRP-spot ETF market saw a pickup in demand after January 7’s first day of net outflows.

XRP-spot ETF issuers reported net inflows of $8.72 million and $4.93 million on January 8 and January 9, respectively, extending the weekly inflow streak to nine consecutive weeks.

Despite the improved demand for XRP-spot ETFs, the 21Shares XRP ETF (TOXR) remained a drag on the broader market, with net outflows of $7.77 million since launch. TOXR’s flow trends underpinned the importance of first-to-market advantage. The Canary XRP ETF (XRPC), the first pure US XRP-spot ETF, has seen total net inflows of $393.66 million since launch, leading Bitwise, Grayscale, and Franklin Templeton’s spot ETFs.

21Shares XRP ETF’s outflows may draw the attention of other ETF issuers, potentially delaying new XRP-spot ETF filings. This week, WisdomTree withdrew its S-1 form for an XRP-spot ETF, while Morgan Stanley filed S-1s for a BTC-spot and SOL-spot ETF, dubbed the XRP snub.

Despite recent spot ETF-related developments, strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs supports a cautiously bullish short-term and bullish medium-term price outlook for XRP.

The US XRP-spot ETF market has seen total net inflows of $1.22 billion since launching on November 14. However, the US SOL-spot ETF market has reported net inflows of $816.92 million despite launching in October. By contrast, the US BTC-spot ETF market has had net outflows of $2.69 billion since XRPC launched on November 14.

The XRP-spot ETF market divergence has fueled speculation about decoupling from Bitcoin and the broader market.

XRP Bullish Outlook Firmly Intact Resilient demand for XRP-spot ETFs and the ongoing progress of the Market Structure Bill affirm the cautiously bullish short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook, with a $2.5 price target.

Meanwhile, increased real-world utility, expectations of Fed rate cuts, and optimism over the Senate eventually passing the Market Structure Bill reinforce the positive longer-term price targets:

Medium-term (4-8 weeks): $3.0. Longer-term (8-12 weeks): $3.66. Key Risks Challenge Bullish Outlook Several events could derail the positive outlook. These include:

The Bank of Japan announces a hawkish neutral interest rate (1.5%-2.5%), signaling multiple rate hikes. A higher neutral rate would likely trigger a yen carry trade unwind, unraveling the short-term outlook. US economic indicators and the Fed are dampening bets on a March rate cut. Market Structure Bill faces partisan opposition. XRP-spot ETFs report outflows. These events would likely fuel a sell-off, sending XRP below $2, which would signal a bearish trend reversal.

Technical Picture: Caution Near Key Moving Averages XRP fell 1.37% on January 9, following the previous day’s 2.01% loss, closing at $2.0926. The token came under heavier selling pressure than the broader crypto market cap, which declined 0.49%.

Four consecutive daily losses left XRP trading below the 200-day EMA, while holding above the 50-day EMA. While the EMAs suggest a bullish near-term but bearish longer-term bias, the fundamentals remain bullish and dominate.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $2.0, $1.75, and then $1.50. 50-day EMA support: $2.0723. 200-day EMA resistance: $2.3384. Resistance levels: $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66. Viewing the daily chart, a breakout above $2.2 would pave the way toward the 200-day EMA. A sustained move through the 200-day EMA would signal a bullish trend reversal. The bullish trend reversal opens the door to retesting the $2.5 resistance level.

Crucially, a sustained move through the 200-day EMA would reaffirm the bullish medium-term outlook and the longer-term (8-12 weeks) $3.66 price target.

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

A Bitcoin treasury management company, K Wave Media, is now facing scrutiny by regulators following a drop in its share value below its listing requirement. The company is now at risk of being delisted on Nasdaq.

Bitcoin Treasury K Wave Media Faces Nasdaq Removal In their press release, the company revealed that it had been issued a formal notice by Nasdaq because it failed to meet the minimum bid price requirement.

According to the notice, the company’s shares have been trading below the required $1 for the period of late November 2025 and into January 2026. This led to a review under Nasdaq listing rules. The grace period of 180 days has however been given to this firm to regain compliance.

Within this window of time, the problem can be solved by the Bitcoin treasury company. This is provided their stock closes at or above $1 for at least ten consecutive trading days. In this process, if the condition was met, Nasdaq would send a confirmation in writing.

Importantly, this notice will not automatically result in delisting. K Wave Media will remain publicly traded with the current ticker symbol until the company comes into compliance.

If the company fails to satisfy the requirement within the initial period, it could be granted an additional 180-day period to comply. This is so long as the other requirements of the capital market are met.

The possible delisting comes months after the Bitcoin treasury firm has already disclosed its strategy. Back in July, K Wave Media announced that the company was able to secure up to $1 billion in funds, which was primarily used to purchase Bitcoin. The fund was in the form of a $500 million convertible note agreement from the Anson Funds.

In this plan, the company committed to allocating at least 80% of the net proceeds for the purchase of Bitcoin.

The ‘Metaplanet of Korea’ Label Starts to Lose Its Shine K Wave Media had also made an announcement about aiming to be the “Metaplanet of Korea,” a Japanese firm. Its shares had quickly increased in value when the firm decided to adopt a treasury strategy.

Metaplanet has been doing great when it comes to stock returns, focusing on accumulation as a strategy.

Recently, the stock of this Bitcoin Treasury has surged due to shareholder resolutions in the initiative of raising funds and increasing holdings. This is apart from plans to get to 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026.

Very recently, the company performed a large acquisition that unveiled a portfolio above 35,000 BTC.

TLDR: Hyperliquid controls one-third of trading flow through builder codes but faces zero-fee competition Traditional builder economics force integrators to charge 4bps when protocols mandate 3bps baseline fees Paradex and Lighter launch revenue-sharing models allowing builders to bypass mandatory fee structures Polymarket assigns 28% probability to Hyperliquid losing OI leadership position during 2026 calendar year  Hyperliquid currently maintains the highest open interest among perpetual decentralized exchanges, yet mounting competitive pressures suggest this position may face challenges. 

A Polymarket prediction market currently prices the probability of Hyperliquid losing its OI leadership at 28 percent. 

The platform generates superior revenues and total value locked compared to competitors. However, emerging distribution strategies from rival protocols could reshape the competitive landscape throughout 2026.

Builder Code Economics Threaten Market Share Hyperliquid derives approximately one-third of its trading flow from third-party builders utilizing builder codes. These partnerships connect the protocol with external wallets and trading interfaces. 

The current builder code structure imposes mandatory baseline fees that create friction for external integrators.

Will Hyperliquid's OI Get Flipped in 2026?

There is a @Polymarket for this question currently sitting at a 28% chance of happening.

To many, this probably seems high given Hyperliquid is the undisputed king of perps and perp farms are running wild.

Their revenues are the… pic.twitter.com/McOkdqv2YV

— flip (@trevor_flipper) January 9, 2026

Protocols typically enforce minimum fee requirements that constrain builder flexibility. When Hyperliquid mandates three basis points but a builder prefers charging users one basis point, the total cost reaches four basis points. 

This arrangement limits competitive pricing strategies and discourages experimentation with fee structures.

Competing platforms now offer zero-fee builder codes paired with revenue sharing models. Paradex and Lighter have launched these alternative arrangements. 

This approach allows builders to capture flow without passing mandatory fees to end users. The economic incentives could redirect significant volumes away from Hyperliquid’s current distribution channels.

Airdrop Farming Dynamics Reshape Market Structure Perpetual DEX airdrop farming has emerged as a significant force affecting market dynamics. Hyperliquid’s dominance across volume, TVL, and open interest metrics has declined from previous peaks. The protocol maintains strong volume-to-OI ratios despite these shifts.

Infrastructure commoditization continues across the perpetual exchange sector. As technical capabilities converge among platforms, distribution networks become increasingly important. 

Protocols offering superior economics to builders gain advantages in securing prominent placement within wallets and aggregators.

Platforms such as Aster and Variational continue development efforts targeting market share gains. These competitors actively incentivize open interest accumulation through various mechanisms. 

Data limitations prevent precise measurement of how builder code traffic translates into sustained OI contributions. Nevertheless, traders maintaining positions across multiple platforms likely contribute to aggregate open interest figures.

The 28 percent probability assigned by prediction markets reflects meaningful uncertainty about 2026 outcomes. While Hyperliquid maintains current leadership across key metrics, structural changes in builder economics present tangible risks. 

Token holders with substantial HYPE exposure might consider the prediction market as a hedging mechanism. The competitive environment will likely intensify as zero-fee builder programs scale and newer protocols mature their offerings.

Risk aversion drives consolidation in the competitive US digital asset ETF landscape amid limited new developments. Key Takeaways WisdomTree has decided to end its bid to launch an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the US. The application withdrawal was made through a request filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). WisdomTree submitted a filing to the SEC this week seeking to withdraw its application to launch the WisdomTree XRP Fund, an exchange-traded fund tied to the fourth-largest digital asset.

The New York-based asset manager entered the US XRP ETF race in late 2024. Ahead of its SEC filing, the firm had already launched WisdomTree Physical XRP (XRPW) in Europe, where the product now trades on major venues including Deutsche Börse Xetra, the Swiss Exchange, and Euronext.

WisdomTree’s decision to halt its XRP ETF push follows a similar move by CoinShares, Europe’s largest digital asset investment firm, which filed to withdraw several US ETF proposals, including products tied to XRP, Solana, and Litecoin.

The decision comes as competition in the XRP ETF market, while limited in number, has already consolidated around early movers.

Since their debuts, US-listed XRP ETFs have drawn $1.2 billion in inflows and now hold nearly $1.5 billion in net assets, per SoSoValue. Canary Capital currently leads the group, with Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and Grayscale not far behind.

XRP ETFs have continued to record steady inflows, but on a far smaller scale than Bitcoin, which remains the most liquid and institutionally demanded digital asset.

At the same time, subdued risk appetite has offered little support for the expansion of digital asset ETF products. This may prompt some sponsors to double down on established offerings rather than pursue incremental launches.

Despite challenging market conditions and soft investor demand, some big players appear willing to move ahead with crypto ETF plans. Morgan Stanley, which manages roughly $1.8 trillion in assets, recently filed with the SEC to launch ETFs linked to Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana.

Disclaimer

Sat, 10/01/2026 - 6:27

XRP might dip 10% as daily pressure builds, but it is still holding strong above the monthly Bollinger midband at $1.89, pointing to the ongoing bull trend, for now, at least.

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.

XRP might be heading for a 10% dip, but this is not the kind of price drop that will put an end to a bull run. Instead, it looks like a technical flush that resets risk before another leg higher — at least according to the monthly Bollinger Band structure by TradingView.

After closing last week above $2.09, XRP is still floating just north of its 20-month moving average, which is $1.89. That is the midband that has been doing all the heavy lifting since the November breakout. 

XRP/USD by TradingViewThe coin remains elevated above its November open and remains within a volatility corridor that historically separates continuation patterns from exhaustion tops. To sum it up, there has been no collapse yet, just pressure.

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Upside down XRPIt is a whole different story when you look at the daily charts. After a bump up to $2.35 per XRP at the start of January, the price has been on a five-day losing streak, falling below the short-term average.

The current daily Bollinger Band setup shows $1.98 as the next natural bounce line, while the lower band stretches down to $1.66 — where forced liquidation would speed up if there is no support in the middle.

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Hourly indicators have already flipped neutral, volume flow is slowing down and funding on perpetual swaps has started to turn mixed — all signaling that a pause is underway for XRP.

But the monthly posture is still important. A controlled drop into the $1.90s keeps the big picture bullish, puts the XRP price above the trend mean and gives bulls a solid reload zone — even if the next few candles come in red.

The worst thing that could happen here is not a collapse. It is failing to expect one.

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7h35 ▪ 5 min read ▪ by Mikaia A.

Summarize this article with:

The Venezuela-Maduro episode certainly gave a boost to bitcoin, attracting the attention of the crypto community. Yet, this awakening was not enough to push BTC toward new sustainable highs. It remains stuck in an uncertain price zone, as if an invisible veil prevents the bulls from taking control. While a geopolitical wind blows over traditional markets, one question persists: what really holds back the queen of cryptos and prevents it from soaring? The answer lies largely in the mix of trader caution and institutional uncertainties.

In brief Bitcoin remains immobile, trapped in a neutral zone between $88,000 and $92,000. Crypto traders are cautious, waiting for a clear price breakout. The US Supreme Court becomes a key catalyst for future volatility. Neutral zone and hesitation: when Bitcoin goes in circles The Bitcoin price clings around $90,000, showing no clear direction in an environment where traders remain passive. This behavior reflects a collective expectation of external catalysts rather than internal technical signals. In the crypto landscape, it looks like a scene where everyone waits for someone to make the first move.

On X, @DaanCryptoTrades summarized this situation frankly:

BTC remains in range, as has been the case for about two months. I have absolutely no interest in trying to trade the next 5% move on it. 

This tweet highlights a lack of active engagement in the market, which is rare for an asset as important as BTC. Support and resistance levels around $88,000 and $92,000 act as strong psychological barriers. The crypto-sphere watches but does not engage massively. Even if some players hope for a bullish breakout, lack of conviction results in a prolonged sideways movement.

This scenario highlights a reality: sometimes, in a crypto market, the absence of clear information is better than a false signal. And as long as Bitcoin does not release a major catalyst, this technical stalemate is likely to persist.

The US Supreme Court: the verdict that could change everything At the heart of this hesitation, a judicial drama is unfolding. The United States Supreme Court could soon issue a decisive verdict on the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. This topic, which seems far from the concerns of the crypto-sphere, is about to become a global volatility catalyst.

According to data shared on the social network X by The Kobeissi Letter, the likelihood that these tariffs will be judged illegal is about 74%, according to prediction markets like Polymarket. Meanwhile, @CoinBureau highlighted that this verdict could reshape trade policy and cause waves in global markets, including crypto.

When a legal decision from one country affects a global asset like bitcoin this way, it shows how connected cryptos are to traditional economic dynamics. Investors await this verdict as a strong signal likely to provide clear macroeconomic guidance.

Meanwhile, volatility contracts. Buy and sell orders neutralize each other, and bitcoin finds itself trapped in a range with no dominant direction. Until the Supreme Court speaks, the crypto-sphere will remain in this state of psychological suspension, looking for answers in exogenous movements rather than intrinsic technical signals.

Bitcoin, hostage to politics: when macro dictates crypto Behind its rebellious asset appearance, bitcoin remains trapped in a very earthly setting: US politics. Every statistic, every Fed statement, acts on it like a gust of wind on a flickering flame. The Trump tariff case is the perfect example: a judicial decision in Washington can be enough to shake the crypto planet.

Recent US figures offer no bullish drive. In December, the country created 50,000 jobs, far from the 66,000 expected. Unemployment fell back to 4.4%, while the Fed suspends rate cuts. As The Kobeissi Letter writes: “The Fed is preparing to suspend interest rate cuts”.

Result: flows to risky assets contract, depriving BTC of fresh air.

Key indicators to know now BTC price around $90,465, highlighting fragile stability; Range zone between $88,000 and $92,000 as a key barrier; Imminent US Supreme Court decision as an external catalyst; Relative decline in institutional capital flows, slowing bullish momentum; Rotation towards traditional assets observed among some investors Bitcoin remains stuck because capital flows toward the asset are drying up, reducing investor appetite even when geopolitical events create noise. This liquidity shortage slows bullish momentum and keeps BTC in a lateral consolidation phase, waiting for stronger catalysts or a clearer return of confidence.

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La révolution blockchain et crypto est en marche ! Et le jour où les impacts se feront ressentir sur l’économie la plus vulnérable de ce Monde, contre toute espérance, je dirai que j’y étais pour quelque chose

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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.

According to CryptoSlam data, NFT sales volume has plunged by 27.65% to $62.58 million, down from last week’s $88.29 million.

Summary

NFT volume fell nearly 28% as buyer and seller counts dropped more than 75% week over week. Ethereum held top chain spot while Bitcoin NFT sales crashed over 65% in the past week. CryptoPunks led collections even as overall NFT activity hit multi-week lows. Market participation has crashed, with NFT buyers plummeting by 82.75% to 60,985 and sellers collapsing by 77.69% to 56,228. NFT transactions fell by 23.64% to 690,550.

This bearish performance is happening as Bitcoin (BTC) price has held steady at the $90,000 level following last week’s recovery.

Ethereum (ETH) has lost the $3,100 level, dropping back below this key threshold. The global crypto market cap now stands at $3.09 trillion, up marginally from last week’s $3.08 trillion.

CryptoPunks claims top spot as Bitcoin BRC-20 fades CryptoPunks on Ethereum has surged to first place with $3.59 million in sales, up 33.58% from last week’s $2.69 million. The collection processed 31 transactions with 21 buyers and 17 sellers.

YES BOND on BNB held second position at $2.75 million, posting minimal growth at 1.34% from last week’s $2.72 million. The collection recorded 2,277 transactions with 1,836 buyers and just 1 seller.

Panini America on the Panini blockchain exploded to third with $2.51 million, surging 176.41%. The collection saw 19,194 transactions with 934 buyers and 1,765 sellers.

Source: Top collections by NFT Sales Volume (CryptoSlam) Pudgy Penguins dropped to fourth at $2.15 million, down 8.80% from last week’s $2.39 million. The Ethereum collection had 134 transactions with 74 buyers and 81 sellers.

TokenVestingPlans on Ethereum secured fifth place with $1.81 million, posting a 3,779.55% surge. The collection processed 44 transactions with just 1 buyer and 14 sellers.

Guild of Guardians Heroes on Immutable-Zk secured sixth position with $1.77 million, down 22.72% from last week. The collection recorded 1,279 transactions.

Ethereum maintains lead as Bitcoin collapses Ethereum held first position with $26.76 million in sales, essentially flat with a 0.10% decline from last week’s $27.57 million.

The network recorded $3.97 million in wash trading, bringing its total to $30.73 million. Buyers collapsed by 86.03% to 3,338.

Bitcoin tumbled to second place with $10.43 million, crashing 65.16% from last week’s $29.95 million. The blockchain recorded $97,394 in wash trading, with buyers plummeting 86.01% to 1,713.

BNB Chain (BNB) held third position at $7.00 million, essentially flat with a 0.62% decline from last week. The blockchain had $8,217 in wash trading, with buyers collapsing 94.36% to 2,820.

Source: Blockchains by NFT Sales Volume (CryptoSlam) Immutable (IMX) secured fourth at $3.91 million, up 18.29% from last week’s $3.26 million. Buyers dropped 85.68% to 886.

Solana (SOL) climbed to fifth with $3.73 million, surging 37.01% from last week’s $2.89 million. The blockchain recorded $379,310 in wash trading, with buyers falling 86.81% to 5,098.

Panini placed sixth with $2.51 million, exploding 173.06%. The blockchain had 934 buyers, up just 2.08%.

Base landed in seventh at $2.09 million, down 23.14% from last week’s $3.11 million. The blockchain recorded $4.83 million in wash trading, with buyers dropping 58.33% to 36,212.

Bitcoin BRC-20 NFT leads despite collection decline A $X@AI BRC-20 NFT topped individual sales at $1.37 million (15.0069 BTC), sold six days ago, down from last week’s record-breaking $17.13 million sale.

CryptoPunks #7892 placed second at $529,592.56 (169 ETH), sold six days ago.

Bored Ape Yacht Club #3112 secured third at $214,970.88 (69 ETH), sold a day ago.

Two CryptoPunks completed the top five:

CryptoPunks #1831 sold for $185,473.78 (60 ETH) a day ago CryptoPunks #8691 sold for $138,524.39 (45 ETH) nine hours ago

Ripple Secures FCA Approval, Unlocking XRP-Powered Cross-Border Payments for UK InstitutionsRipple has reached a major regulatory milestone in the United Kingdom, securing approval for both an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and Cryptoasset Registration from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 

Well, this dual authorization marks a significant step forward for Ripple’s expansion strategy and positions the UK as a key hub for regulated, blockchain-powered payments.

With these permissions in place, Ripple can officially scale Ripple Payments in the UK, enabling financial institutions to send cross-border payments using digital assets, including XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL). For UK-based banks, payment providers, and fintech firms, this clears a long-standing regulatory barrier and opens the door to faster, more cost-efficient international transactions.

Ripple President Monica Long hailed the approval as a milestone beyond efficiency, saying,

“Extending Ripple’s licensing portfolio and payments solution is about more than just efficiency; it is about unlocking trillions in dormant capital and realising a world where value moves instantaneously. We are thrilled to see the UK embracing the compliant infrastructure necessary to make this vision a reality.”

At the heart of Ripple’s payments infrastructure is the XRP Ledger, a public blockchain purpose-built for global payments. Using XRP as its native digital asset, XRPL enables near-instant, low-cost cross-border settlement. 

Unlike traditional correspondent banking, often slow, opaque, and expensive, XRPL moves value globally in seconds with full transparency and minimal fees.

Notably, Ripple Payments builds on this technology with a fully licensed, end-to-end cross-border payments platform. Instead of forcing institutions to manage wallets, liquidity, or blockchain integrations, Ripple abstracts the complexity. 

The platform orchestrates funds flow, connects customers to a global payout network, and delivers fast, reliable settlement, allowing institutions to scale international payments seamlessly.

This model dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for institutions launching digital payment services. By eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure and in-house blockchain expertise, Ripple enables businesses to focus on customer experience, scalability, and growth, while staying fully compliant with regulatory requirements.

The FCA approval also underscores increasing regulatory clarity for digital assets in the UK. By granting both EMI and cryptoasset permissions, the FCA signals strong confidence in Ripple’s compliance framework, risk management, and operational maturity. This milestone significantly enhances Ripple’s credibility with institutional clients that have historically approached crypto with caution.

Therefore, this milestone underscores Ripple’s core mission: modernising global payments with compliant, enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure. 

With FCA approval secured, Ripple is now well positioned to scale XRP-powered payments across the UK, delivering faster settlement, lower costs, and greater efficiency in cross-border finance at institutional scale.

ConclusionRipple’s FCA approval is a watershed moment for both the company and the UK’s digital payments ecosystem. By achieving regulated status as an EMI and a registered cryptoasset provider, Ripple effectively connects traditional finance with blockchain, giving UK institutions a trusted, compliant route to adopt XRP-powered cross-border payments. 

Notably, the approval reinforces confidence in Ripple’s compliance-first strategy while underscoring the UK’s growing openness to regulated digital assets. As Ripple scales its licensed payments platform, it sets a clear benchmark for how blockchain can deliver faster, lower-cost, and more transparent cross-border payments, helping redefine the future of global finance.

Investment management firm VanEck has released an optimistic forecast for Bitcoin, suggesting that its price may reach approximately $53 million per coin by 2050. This projection, published on January 9, is among the most bullish estimates for the cryptocurrency’s future value. VanEck’s prediction is significant as it raises questions about the long-term potential and viability of Bitcoin as an asset class, impacting investors and the broader financial markets.

VanEck, known for its range of ETF offerings and investment strategies, has been active in exploring cryptocurrency products. The firm’s prediction is based on several factors, including Bitcoin’s limited supply and the growing institutional interest in digital assets. According to VanEck, the scarcity of Bitcoin due to its fixed supply of 21 million coins could drive its price upward as demand increases over time.

The forecast by VanEck aligns with a broader trend of institutional interest in cryptocurrencies. Over recent years, many large asset managers and financial institutions have entered the crypto market, seeking to offer clients exposure to digital currencies through various investment products. This trend is driven by the increasing integration of cryptocurrencies into the global financial system and the search for diversification in investment portfolios.

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market value, has experienced significant price volatility since its inception. Its value has fluctuated widely, reflecting both the high-risk nature of the asset and its potential for substantial returns. Despite these fluctuations, Bitcoin has gained recognition as a viable investment, with some viewing it as “digital gold” due to its perceived store of value characteristics.

The regulatory environment remains a critical factor influencing the growth and adoption of cryptocurrencies. Regulatory bodies around the world, including those in the United States, focus on issues such as market integrity, investor protection, and surveillance-sharing agreements. These regulations impact the development and approval of new crypto-related financial products, including Bitcoin ETFs.

The mechanics of ETFs, or Exchange-Traded Funds, play a significant role in the cryptocurrency market. ETFs offer investors a way to gain exposure to the underlying assets without directly owning them. A “spot” Bitcoin ETF would involve holding actual Bitcoins, as opposed to derivatives, providing a direct link to the cryptocurrency’s market performance. Issuers file for ETF approvals to provide investors with more accessible and regulated options to invest in digital assets.

While some market participants are optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term prospects, others highlight potential risks. Factors such as market volatility, liquidity conditions, operational challenges, and regulatory uncertainties pose challenges to Bitcoin’s growth trajectory. Additionally, products like ETFs must address concerns regarding tracking error and fees, which can affect investor returns.

The competitive landscape for cryptocurrency products is evolving rapidly. Multiple issuers often file for similar products, and the approval process can be lengthy and complex. Amendments and revisions are common as issuers respond to regulatory feedback and market conditions.

Looking ahead, the next steps in the regulatory and market environment will be closely monitored by stakeholders. Review periods, potential amendments, and requests for public comment are part of the approval process for new financial products. Investors and market participants will watch for developments that could influence the adoption and value of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

VanEck’s prediction of a $53 million Bitcoin price by 2050 adds a new perspective to the ongoing debate about the future of digital currencies. As the market continues to evolve, the interplay between technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and investor interest will shape the trajectory of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

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TLDR: Strategy’s 673,783 BTC position covers annual $823M dividend needs across multiple severe price scenarios. USD Reserve provides 2.7 years of operational runway before any bitcoin sales become necessary for dividends. STRC issuance at par creates a self-funding model, retaining only 11% of proceeds for dividend pre-funding. At $25M daily STRC sales, Strategy generates $5.56B annually for Bitcoin acquisition after dividend coverage.  Strategy’s bitcoin holdings and financial structure continue to withstand scrutiny as analysts examine the company’s capacity to maintain operations during severe market downturns. 

Recent calculations reveal the firm holds 673,783 BTC as of January 4, 2026, providing a substantial cushion against dividend obligations. 

The analysis suggests Strategy’s position remains secure even under extreme price scenarios, challenging concerns about sustainability.

Bitcoin Reserve Provides Multi-Year Coverage Strategy faces an annual cash requirement of approximately $823 million for dividend payments. Market observers have calculated the bitcoin sales needed at various price points to meet these obligations. 

At $90,000 per bitcoin, the company would need to sell roughly 9,100 BTC annually. A 50% decline to $45,000 would require approximately 18,300 BTC per year.

Even catastrophic scenarios appear manageable given the treasury size. An 80% drop to $18,000 would necessitate selling around 45,700 BTC yearly. 

🚨STRATEGY IS STRUCTURALLY UNASSAILABLE🚨

Calling Strategy's balance sheet a FORTRESS would be an UNDERSTATEMENT.

Dividends are a NON-ISSUE.

If BTC were the only backstop (it’s not – see USD Reserve), the annual cash requirement is $823M. At various BTC prices, the implied BTC… pic.twitter.com/gFm9wfQQhi

— Adam Livingston (@AdamBLiv) January 9, 2026

A 90% decline to $9,000 would require approximately 91,400 BTC annually. These figures represent single-digit percentages of total holdings in most cases.

The company maintains additional liquidity through its USD reserve. This buffer provides approximately 2.7 years of operational runway before bitcoin sales become necessary. Multiple adverse conditions would need to align simultaneously for dividend impairment to occur.

STRC Issuance Creates Self-Funding Mechanism Strategy’s preferred stock offering operates on a mathematically sustainable model when trading near par value. 

Each $1 billion of STRC notional generates an annual dividend obligation of roughly $110 million at the 11% rate. Monthly payments amount to approximately $9.17 million per billion dollars issued.

The company retains only 11% of proceeds in its USD Reserve to pre-fund twelve months of dividends. At $25 million daily issuance, Strategy could raise $6.25 billion annually across 250 trading days. The dividend obligation on this new capital totals $687.5 million per year.

After setting aside dividend coverage, approximately $5.56 billion remains available for bitcoin purchases and working capital. 

The ATM program explicitly permits using net proceeds for general corporate purposes and bitcoin acquisition. Proceeds can also fund dividends on other preferred stock series, functioning as a system-level liquidity tool.

The variable dividend structure on STRC supports price stability near par value. Market demand at this level determines capacity rather than payment ability. 

This design addresses previous concerns about dividend sustainability during volatile market conditions.

Ripple has secured fresh approvals from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), allowing the company to operate a fully regulated digital-asset payment system in the UK. The approval enables Ripple to manage both crypto and fiat payment flows under a compliant framework, placing its infrastructure inside one of the world’s most closely regulated financial markets.

The approval didn’t trigger a XRP price surge, but it gives Ripple a stronger role in bank payments and opens up more real-world uses for XRP.

UK FCA Approval Strengthens Ripple’s Regulated Crypto Payment FrameworkRipple’s FCA approval goes beyond basic registration. It gives the company the legal authority to run a regulated cross-border payment stack that supports digital assets alongside traditional currencies.

According to Ripple’s own disclosures, UK-based financial institutions can now send international payments “using digital assets” through Ripple’s licensed platform. Since Ripple’s payment infrastructure is built on the XRP Ledger, this creates a clear path for XRP to be used as a settlement asset within compliant payment flows, rather than remaining limited to exchange trading.

Legal analyst John E. Deaton noted that even long-time critics of Ripple have to acknowledge its durability. Despite years of regulatory pressure in the United States, Ripple continued expanding globally and now holds licenses across major financial jurisdictions, alongside an estimated valuation of roughly $40 billion.

Why Regulated Financial Institutions Care More Than Retail TradersBanks and payment providers don’t operate on speculation. Their focus is on regulatory clarity, risk controls, and operational reliability. Until now, one of the main barriers to XRP adoption has been the lack of regulated banking rails that institutions could confidently use.

With its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license and crypto registration in the UK, Ripple can now manage the regulated fiat side of cross-border payments itself. This removes a key friction point. Once funds enter Ripple’s licensed system, institutions don’t need to interact directly with blockchain infrastructure.

XRP Settlement Role Expands Inside Institutional Cross-Border PaymentsMost banks prefer to work through trusted intermediaries rather than engage directly with blockchains. In the UK, Ripple Payments now fills that intermediary role.

Within its regulated framework, Ripple can choose the most efficient settlement method for each payment corridor. In some cases, this may involve fiat rails or stablecoins. In corridors where speed, liquidity, and cost efficiency matter, XRP becomes a practical bridge asset for settlement.

The FCA license also gives Ripple more control over the end-to-end payment process, reducing reliance on third-party providers and simplifying compliance for institutional clients.

Institutional Adoption Takes Time, Explaining XRP’s Muted Market ReactionThe UK FCA approval was never intended to create an immediate surge in XRP price or trading activity. Real demand develops only when institutions adopt the system, payment corridors go live, and settlement volumes increase.

On-chain data reflects this pattern. Analyst Ali Martinez observed that large XRP transactions briefly rose to 433 on January 6 before dropping sharply to 33, indicating that short-term activity faded quickly.

The FCA license is about long-term infrastructure and institutional adoption, not short-term speculation. XRP demand grows through real payment settlement needs, not headlines, and that process unfolds gradually.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQsWhat does Ripple’s FCA approval mean for the UK?

It allows Ripple to run a fully regulated crypto and fiat payment system in the UK, enabling banks to use digital assets within a compliant framework.

How does the FCA license affect XRP’s real-world use?

The approval lets XRP be used as a settlement asset in regulated cross-border payments, moving it beyond trading into institutional payment flows.

Can UK banks use Ripple without touching blockchain technology?

Yes. Ripple manages the regulated infrastructure, so banks can send payments without directly handling blockchain or crypto wallets.

Why is Ripple’s FCA approval important for institutional adoption?

Banks prioritize regulation and risk control. FCA approval removes compliance barriers, making Ripple’s payment network easier to adopt at scale.

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Pi Network has launched yet another upgrade aimed at increasing the speed of the payment process. This would lead to settlements being conducted in under 10 minutes. This is the latest move by the team to improve the utility of the Pi coin.

Pi Network Increases Practical Applications of Pi Coin In a.blog post, the development team announced the launch of a new developer library to simplify payment integration. As the team claims, developers can now integrate payments in less than ten minutes using Pi. This is a procedure which used to involve more setup time.

The new library also packages together the Pi software development kit and the back-end application programming interfaces into one offer. This will be more convenient for the developers, giving them the opportunity to work on more front-end aspects.

Payment services are a crucial part of a functioning app, and its simplicity at this level is one of the main aims of the Pi network with their own Pi coin.

“As 2026 begins, Pi Network encourages developers to continue building apps and utilities for users across the Pi ecosystem and beyond. Payments are a core dependency for real-world applications with real utility using Pi,” the team shared.

It means that the updated library supports a lot of popular development frameworks; hence, its adoption will be easier for both new and established projects.

The rollout comes shortly after Pi temporarily disabled wallet payment request functionality following a scam. According to reports, the attackers used social engineering to utilize public blockchain data to target wallets holding large balances and siphoned millions of tokens. That temporary freeze was a protective measure that allowed the team to address vulnerabilities.

However, the payment system upgrade is also the result of improvements initiated among developers. In October, the Pi Network brought improvements to its App Studio, enabling developers to design applications more effectively.

Market Metrics Lag Behind Development Progress Despite technological advancement, market performance has not yet aligned with recent upgrades. At present, Pi coin is being traded at approximately $0.21, with a considerable drop in trade activity.

Source: TradingView; Pi Coin Daily Price Data from CoinGecko indicates that volume per week has dropped to below $100 million. This is lower than levels of above $10 billion recorded during peak periods last year.

Liquidity has also made the market prone to pricing volatility. The level of liquidity means that even a small transaction would influence the pricing. This is one of the issues faced by the project due to the mismatch between the development level of the ecosystem and the market.

This is despite the fact that the company has recently been registered under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime of the European Union. Its registration is the starting point of the process of recognition in the European markets.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2026) - Oroco Resource Corp. (TSXV: OCO) (OTCQB: ORRCF) (the "Company" or "Oroco") announces that, in connection with its previously announced "bought deal" public offering, it has filed a prospectus supplement dated January 9, 2026 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated April 23, 2025 (the "Base Shelf" and together with the Prospectus Supplement, the "Prospectus"), to qualify the distribution of 52,631,600 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of C$0.38 per Unit (the "Offering"), for approximate gross proceeds of C$20.0 million.

Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.53 for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering.

The Offering is being conducted through a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. (collectively, the "Underwriters"). The Company has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 7,894,740 Units on the same terms and exercisable at any time up to 30 days following the closing of the Offering, the particulars of which are further described in the Prospectus Supplement.

Closing of the Offering is expected on or about January 14, 2026, and is subject to regulatory approval, including that of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Access to the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf and any amendment is provided in Canada in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a shelf prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment to such documents. The Prospectus is accessible on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. An electronic or paper copy of the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf and any amendment may be obtained, without charge, from Canaccord Genuity Corp. by email at [email protected] by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable. The Prospectus contains important detailed information about the Company and the Offering. Prospective investors should read the Prospectus and the other documents the Company has filed on SEDAR+ before making an investment decision.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT OROCO

The Company holds a net 87.0% interest in those central concessions that comprise 1,173 hectares "the Core Concessions" of The Santo Tomas Project, located in northwestern Mexico. The Company also holds an 80% interest in an additional 7,861 hectares of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the Core Concessions (for a total Project area of 9,034 hectares, or 22,324 acres). Following an assessment of one of the non-Core Concession, the Company filed an application to reduce the area of that concession, with the result that the additional concessions will total 4,948.24 hectares, for a total Project area of 6,121.11 hectares or 15,124.47 acres). The Project is situated within the Santo Tomas District, which extends up to the Jinchuan Group's Bahuerachi Project, approximately 14 km to the northeast. The Project hosts significant copper porphyry mineralization initially defined by prior exploration spanning the period from 1968 to 1994. During that time, the Project area was tested by over 100 diamond and reverse circulation drill holes, totaling approximately 30,000 meters. Commencing in 2021, Oroco conducted a drill program (Phase 1) at Santo Tomas, with a resulting total of 48,481 meters drilled in 76 diamond drill holes.

The drilling and subsequent resource estimates and engineering studies led to a revised MRE and an updated PEA being published and filed in August of 2024, which studies are available at the Company's website www.orocoresourcecorp.com and by reviewing the Company profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Santo Tomas Project is located within 170 km of the Pacific deep-water port at Topolobampo and is serviced via highway and proximal rail (and parallel corridors of trunk grid power lines and natural gas) through the city of Los Mochis to the northern city of Choix. The property is reached, in part, by a 32 km access road originally built to service Goldcorp's El Sauzal Mine in Chihuahua State.

Additional information about Oroco can be found on its website and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to future events or achievements of the Company, the Offering, and the anticipated timing of closing of the Offering, are forward-looking statements. There is no assurance that the proceeds of the Offering will be expended as contemplated, or that the Offering will close on the contemplated timeline or at all. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these matters. Oroco does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279990

Source: Oroco Resource Corp.

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Trading activity on the Tradeweb European ETF marketplace amounted to EUR 60.3 billion in December. European equities remained the most actively traded ETF asset class in December, comprising 66% of the overall platform flow. Total consolidated U.S. ETF notional value traded in December reached USD 73.8 billion.

The AI sector is set for some changes in 2026.

We're only about a week into 2026, and AI stocks are back on the move. Fueled by bullish comments by Nvidia (NVDA 0.05%) CEO Jensen Huang at the CES Conference, investors see more gains in store for the high-tech sector.

According the The Motley Fool's 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report, investors continue to be bullish on AI stocks in the new year. Nine out of 10 AI investors plan to maintain or increase their AI stock holdings this year, and younger investors have the most confidence in AI stocks.

Building on that research, I'm also bullish on AI stocks this year, and I think there are two key narratives to pay attention to this year. Keep reading to see my predictions for the AI sector in 2026.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. The bifurcation between AI infrastructure and semiconductors will continue Concerns about an AI bubble have been recurring for investors as AI stocks move higher, but the AI sector isn't a monolith. There are several categories of companies that are using AI in different ways.

One of those, and arguably the riskiest, is the AI infrastructure sector, made up of companies deriving most of their value from building out AI data centers. The most prominent of these are the neocloud stocks like CoreWeave and Nebius, and legacy tech stocks like Oracle have also planted their flag in the infrastructure camp.

Those stocks have all pulled back significantly from previous highs, indicating that any bubble in those stocks have already been significantly deflated.

The infrastructure sector is higher risk than semiconductors because these companies have to spend billions building out data centers before they can monetize them. CoreWeave and Nebius are losing a lot of money, and Oracle is now free-cash-flow negative after accelerating its infrastructure buildout to meet demand.

Those companies, not semiconductors, also absorb the risk of depreciation in the GPUs they're buying, and the business model, this early in the AI boom, still seems unclear.

By contrast, semiconductor stocks have virtually none of those risks right now. Demand for AI chips is well-established and is outstripping supply, and the chip stocks have the upper hand over the data centers due to the depreciation factor, which favors semiconductors. A rapid depreciation cycle due to upgrades mean data centers will have to refresh their GPU inventory faster, leading to more sales for chipmakers.

This relationship will become clearer in 2026, favoring chip stocks over infrastructure stocks.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. Software stocks will start to emerge as AI winners Thus far, the winners in AI have largely been chipmakers, as well as infrastructure stocks, until the recent pullback.

However, building out all this infrastructure only makes sense if it's going to be used to run software and the massive spend on hardware is a good indicator that even more money will be spent in AI-related software in the long run.

Palantir has been the most obvious AI software winner so far, seeing revenue growth and operating margin improve in nearly every quarter since 2023, thanks to the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP).

OpenAI and Anthropic, the two leading privately held AI model companies, which provide the brains behind AI software, are generating real revenue now. OpenAI said it would top a run rate of more than $20 billion by the end of the year, and Anthropic gave $9 billion as its run rate target, nearly tripling from the year before.

Many of OpenAI's top customers are software companies, including Shopify, Salesforce, and Datadog, and while the cloud software industry looks poised to capitalize on AI, I think there are smaller, overlooked software stocks that have the best chance of surprising in 2026.

These are stocks like Appian (APPN 2.51%), which specializes in workflow automation and is seeing strong traction for its AI platform; Amplitude (AMPL 2.11%), a digital product analytics company that's introduced a wide range of AI agents, and Figma (FIG +0.16%), the user-experience software company that was punished by Wall Street after it said profits would narrow as it invests in new AI products.

For the AI boom to continue, the software industry needs to find success with AI, and those three stocks have a lot of upside potential if they can make that work.

As we move deeper into 2026, look for chip stocks to widen their lead over AI infrastructure stocks to widen and for software stocks to emerge as AI winners.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 9, 2026 / Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SKUR)(FRA:GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted cybersecurity and privacy communications platform, is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to CA$1,500,000 (US$1,050,000) (the "Private Placement") through the issuance of up to 30,000,000 units (each a "Unit"). Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") priced at CA$0.05 per share, and one full share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Full Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a Common share at a price of CA$0.10 per share for a period of 48 months from the closing date (the "Warrant Term").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for sales, business development and general working purposes.

Shares issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a four-month hold period according to applicable securities laws of Canada.

Finders' fees may be payable on the private placement, subject to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.com

For more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.
Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers and secure communication tools. Sekur sells its products through its own website, https:/ /www.sekur.com, approved distributors and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur serves consumers and businesses worldwide.

Follow Sekur on X @sekurprivate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sekurprivatedata-ltd

CONTACT
Alain Ghiai,
President and Chief Executive Officer
SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.
Email: [email protected]
www.sekurprivatedata.com
Tel: +1.305.347.5114

Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019, filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd.