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The global head of equity strategy at Jefferies has removed Bitcoin from his model portfolio, citing the potential threat of quantum computing as his reasoning.

Why Market Strategist Cut 10% BTC Exposure Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, has dropped a 10% allocation to Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, from his model portfolio. In his latest “Greed & Fear” newsletter release, the market strategist highlighted the rise of quantum computing as the reason behind this move.

Wood highlighted his fears that the advances in quantum computing could threaten Bitcoin’s place and reputation as a dependable store of value, especially in the long term. As the expert said in his newsletter, the market is currently riddled with the fear that quantum computing could be just a few years away.

This growing concern borders on quantum computers being hypothesized to have the capacity to breach the Bitcoin network’s cryptographic technology. It is believed that these computers can enable attackers to reverse-engineer private keys from public ones, thereby tampering with the integrity of blockchain transactions.

Wood, who was an early institutional supporter of BTC, initially added the premier cryptocurrency to his model portfolio in December 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2021, the Jefferies global head of equity strategy expanded this Bitcoin allocation to 10%.

However, the market expert appears to now be viewing the flagship cryptocurrency with a little bit of skepticism, as he believes that the Quantum threat is potentially existential, undermining its status as a store of value and “digital alternative to gold.” Hence, Wood refocused his model portfolio on older assets, splitting the 10% BTC allocation equally between physical gold and gold mining stocks.

While there is no clear timeline for when quantum computers will reach the market, Wood is not the only one who has recently expressed concerns about the Quantum threat. In the past week, Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards has also discussed how Bitcoin has decoupled from global liquidity due to the quantum threat.

Edwards wrote on X:

The timeframe to a non-zero probability of a quantum machine breaking Bitcoin’s cryptography is now less than the estimated time it will take to upgrade Bitcoin. Money is repositioning to account for this risk accordingly.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $95,370, reflecting a 0.3% dip in the past 24 hours.

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

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Opeyemi Sule is a passionate crypto enthusiast, a proficient content writer, and a journalist at Bitcoinist. Opeyemi creates unique pieces unraveling the complexities of blockchain technology and sharing insights on the latest trends in the world of cryptocurrencies. Opeyemi enjoys reading poetry, chatting about politics, and listening to music, in addition to his strong interest in cryptocurrency.

Popular fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake added $10 million worth of bitcoin to its corporate treasury, deepening its commitment to bitcoin eight months after rolling out BTC payments across all U.S. locations.

The company said on social media that the move follows a “self-reinforcing cycle” driven by bitcoin adoption, where customers paying in BTC help generate incremental revenue that is then recycled into business improvements. 

According to Steak ’n Shake, all bitcoin-denominated revenue flows directly into what it calls its strategic bitcoin reserve, which is used to fund restaurant upgrades, ingredient improvements, and remodeling initiatives—without raising menu prices.

“Eight months ago today, Steak ’n Shake launched its burger-to-bitcoin transformation when we started accepting bitcoin payments,” the company wrote on social media. “Our same-store sales have risen dramatically ever since.”

Steak ’n Shake began accepting bitcoin payments in May 2025 using the Lightning Network, positioning the rollout as a way to cut card processing fees while attracting a younger, crypto-native customer base. The strategy is working.

Same-store sales rose more than 10% in the second quarter of 2025, according to the company.

Chief Operating Officer Dan Edwards previously said Steak ’n Shake saves roughly 50% in processing fees when customers choose to pay with bitcoin rather than traditional card networks.

NEW: Fast food giant Steak 'n Shake announces it acquired $10 million #Bitcoin for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve 🚀

"All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve." 👏 pic.twitter.com/tRlYaOzbtQ

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 17, 2026 Bitcoin is driving revenue for Steak ’n Shake The chain has leaned into its bitcoin branding over the past year, introducing a Bitcoin-themed burger in October and pledging to donate a small portion of revenue from its “Bitcoin Meal” to support open-source Bitcoin development.

The recent $10 million purchase—roughly 105 BTC at current prices—marks Steak ’n Shake’s most direct treasury allocation to bitcoin to date. 

While the position is modest compared with major corporate holders such as Strategy, which holds more than 687,000 BTC worth over $65 billion, it underscores a broader trend of corporate bitcoin accumulation.

According to data from Bitcointreasuries, total bitcoin held in treasuries—including public companies, private firms, governments, and exchange-traded funds—has now surpassed 4 million BTC.

Last fall, the company ran a poll on X over the weekend asking its 468,800 followers whether it should expand its crypto options to include Ethereum.

Nearly 49,000 votes were cast, with 53% in favor.

However, just four hours later, the company suspended the poll, declaring its allegiance to Bitcoiners. “Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken,” Steak ‘n Shake posted.

Micah Zimmerman

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

American Burger Chain Makes $10 Million Bitcoin PurchaseSteak ’n Shake has invested $10 million in Bitcoin as part of a strategy that converts daily restaurant cash flow into a corporate BTC treasury.The 90-year-old American restaurant chain credits its Bitcoin-first approach with double-digit same-store sales growth it recorded last year.As a result, the firm's management has doubled down on a Bitcoin-only stance, positioning the brand as a rare outlier in the fast-food industry.Steak ‘n Shake has purchased $10 million in Bitcoin, marking a significant escalation in its strategy to transform fast-food revenues into a corporate cryptocurrency treasury.

The acquisition marks the latest phase of the 90-year-old chain’s “Bitcoin-to-Burger” initiative, a financial pivot that converts operational cash flow directly into digital assets.

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Steak ‘n Shake Claims Bitcoin Strategy Drove ‘Best in Industry’ Growth in 2025The program, launched in May 2025, integrates digital asset accumulation into the company’s daily operations.

By accepting Bitcoin payments and marketing directly to the crypto demographic, the chain aims to modernize its capital structure.

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

All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Today we increased our Bitcoin…

— Steak 'n Shake (@SteaknShake) January 17, 2026 The firm’s management describes the model as a “self-sustaining system.” In this framework, improved food quality drives higher revenue, which is then channeled into the corporate Bitcoin reserve.

According to internal data, the strategy has yielded tangible results. Last year, the company reported a double-digit increase in same-store sales, driven by its BTC adoption, which allowed it to significantly outperform the industry.

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“In 2025, Steak n Shake achieved double-digit same-store sales growth — the best in the industry! Becoming a Bitcoin company gave our business a major boost, allowing us to further improve our food quality,” it stated.

Crucially, the chain is positioning itself as a “Bitcoin-only” entity.

Despite a recent corporate poll in which 53% of respondents favored adding Ethereum (ETH) as a payment option, leadership explicitly rejected the proposal.

This decision reinforces a maximalist philosophy intended to secure loyalty from a specific, ideologically driven segment of the market.

Moreover, the BTC integration extends beyond the balance sheet to the workforce.

Last October, Steak ‘n Shake updated its payroll infrastructure to allow its 10,000 employees to receive a percentage of their wages in Bitcoin. The move signals the firm’s view of the asset as a viable store of value comparable to fiat currency.

Founded in 1934, Steak ‘n Shake operates hundreds of locations across the United States and internationally.

Its latest move cements its status as an outlier in the traditional dining sector, attempting to modernize a legacy brand by pegging its long-term financial health to the performance of the world’s largest cryptocurrency

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Bitcoin literacy and community growth are accelerating in West Virginia, and it’s starting to reshape how communities across the state engage with digital finance. What was once viewed as a niche interest among tech enthusiasts is now gaining traction across broader segments of the state’s population. As residents become more curious about digital assets, conversations are shifting from speculation to understanding how BTC works and what it could mean for personal and regional economic resilience.

Bitcoin As A Tool For Regional Economic Growth West Virginia has been making headlines in the Bitcoin space recently, particularly with fresh legislative moves as of January 2026. MartyParty revealed on X that the biggest current development is Senator Bill 143 (SB143), which was introduced this week by State Senator Chris Rose.

This is officially titled the Inflation Protection Act of 2026, which would allow the state’s Board of Treasury Investment to allocate up to 10% of public funds into precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. The bill requires any qualifying digital asset to have maintained an average market capitalization of at least $750 billion over the prior year, which qualifies only BTC. In addition, the bill also allows for regulated stablecoins, but only the US federal or state regulators can approve the assets.

Source: Senator Bill 143 from MartyParty on X However, the bill frames this as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation, and empowering the state treasurer to invest in BTC without directly naming it in most of the statute. Although the purpose section explicitly mentions empowering investment in gold, silver, and BTC. These assets would need to be made through qualified custodians, ETFs, or other secure frameworks.

What Pension Funds And Endowments Think About Bitcoin The Bitcoin price prediction by funds indicates a bullish outlook for 2026. CryptoRank.io has mentioned that the institutional analysts are pricing in a bullish scenario for BTC in 2026. The average target across the forecasts shown is around $150,000 per BTC, implying roughly 75% upside from current levels.

At the same time, longer-term valuation models assume a more gradual growth path. Popular asset manager VanEck predicts BTC could reach approximately $2.9 million by 2050, which equates to around 15% annualized growth broadly in line with the BTC historical long-term performance as a macro asset.

In contrast to institutional forecasts, prediction markets maintain a more conservative outlook. On Polymarket, the pricing base-case range between $110,000 to $130,000. This consensus could shift toward the institutional targets if spot ETF inflows remain strong and if the US regulatory uncertainty continues to decline, including initiatives such as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.

BTC trading at $95,118 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

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Godspower Owie is my name, and I work for the news platforms NewsBTC and Bitcoinist. I sometimes like to think of myself as an explorer since I enjoy exploring new places, learning new things, especially valuable ones, and meeting new people who have an impact on my life, no matter how small. I value my family, friends, career, and time. Really, those are most likely the most significant aspects of every person's existence. Not illusions, but dreams are what I pursue.

Over the week, Ethereum struggled to sustain any significant move to the upside. Although the second-largest cryptocurrency reclaimed the $3,300 price level, it could not break above $3,400 to continue its path towards higher price levels. As it stands, it appears that the Ether token is taking on a short-term bearish structure. However, an on-chain evaluation has recently been put out, which suggests that market participants might be gearing up for a significant move in the near-term.

Ethereum Futures Activity Reaches Monthly High Following Market Inactivity In a recent QuickTake post on the CryptoQuant platform, analytics group Arab Chain reveals that there has recently been a spike in futures trading activity on the Binance derivatives market. This revelation is based on the Binance: ETH Futures Daily Volume metric, which monitors the total value of Ethereum futures contracts being traded on Binance each day, hence reflecting market activity, trader participation, and potential leverage exposure.

The latest reading of the metric has highlighted a major shift, with trading volume climbing as high as $21.7 billion. According to Arab Chain, this reading marks the highest level since mid-December, reflecting that strong momentum has returned to the futures market.

Source: CryptoQuant Notably, the spike in futures trading volume was preceded by a period of relative decline in the second half of December. This event coincides with a period of price stability, alongside a tapering risk appetite among traders. Interestingly, institutional investors also contributed prevalent aversion to risk.  Arab Chain explains that the decline is a typical sign that market participants want to “wait and see,” instead of speculatively opening large positions.

However, the present scenario — where futures volume surged — paints an opposing story. As the futures trading volume reflects levels above its mid-December high, it becomes apparent that interest among Ethereum traders is being rekindled. This is because increasing futures volume “is typically associated with higher leverage usage, hedging activity, and speculative positioning” — a line up which indicates that the market is preparing for significant movement.

The reason for this spike could also be attributed to traders who are reacting to key technical levels or shifting expectations around near-term price action of a potential trend reversal. In the grand scheme, however, the Ethereum price reacts to this activity, depending on the alignment of spot demand with derivatives activity. Till such a definite sign comes up, the market stands at a point of uncertainty.

ETH Price Overview As of this writing, Ethereum stands at a price of $3,292, reflecting no real growth since the past day.

ETH trading at $3,293 on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview

Bitcoin remains anchored above key support as weekend trading unfolds, keeping $98,200 and $107,500 in focus. Market participants are watching closely to see if the uptrend can continue or if the weekend liquidity will trigger a test of lower levels. The next few sessions could define BTC’s short-term trajectory.

Key Support Holds: $94,630 Remains Crucial According to a recent post by Kamile Uray, Bitcoin is still holding strong above the $89,326 support level, and as long as it remains above this zone, the possibility for the uptrend to continue remains intact. This level continues to act as a critical foundation for bulls, keeping the market structure aligned with potential further gains.

If BTC manages to break through the $98,200 resistance, the next key target at $107,500 comes into focus. At this level, a decisive move will determine whether the current uptrend is complete or push Bitcoin even higher. A daily close above $107,500 would mark the first higher high on the daily chart relative to the last downward wave, signaling a potential continuation of the bullish trend.

BTC’s price is demonstrating a bullish structure | Source: Chart from Kamile Uray on X However, if BTC is rejected at resistance and falls back below $89,326, the downtrend could resume. Should a reversal form within the $83,822–$82,477 support zone, Bitcoin may attempt another upward push, giving bulls a chance to regain control. 

If BTC closes below $82,477, further downside is expected, potentially testing the $74,496–$71,237 region. This zone has historically served as a strong support area, and any confirmed reversal from here could set the stage for another bullish leg.

Bitcoin Weekend Liquidity Ahead: Expect Range-Bound Action Crypto expert Lennaert Snyder outlined that Bitcoin is holding the key $94,630 support level, which also serves as the crucial H4 level to hold. On Friday, BTC retraced and briefly swept this low before stabilizing, reinforcing the importance of this zone for short-term market structure.

As we enter the weekend liquidity, Bitcoin is likely to trade within a defined range until Sunday evening or Monday. For bullish traders, the plan is to hold the low and watch for a market structure break above $95,820. Once this occurs, long positions could target the $97,960 monthly high.

In anticipation of continued upside, only part of the position may be closed at the monthly high, letting 30%-40% run to capture further gains if momentum persists. However, if BTC loses the $94,630 support on the H4 and falls back into the previous range, a continuation toward lower lows becomes more likely. In that scenario, short positions would be considered after confirmation on a retest, giving traders a structured approach to managing risk and potential downside.

BTC trading at $95,299 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

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Cardano is seeing an increase in volumes in the derivatives market, with the market now watching for what comes next for ADA's price.

According to CoinGlass data, Cardano has increased 10,654.62% in futures volume on the Bitmex exchange, reaching $40.04 million.

This suggests increased activity in the derivatives market, given that Bitmex is a major crypto derivatives exchange. This coincides with Cardano approaching a key milestone in the derivative markets.

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This week, the world's leading derivatives marketplace CME Group revealed plans to include Cardano futures in its lineup come Feb. 9, pending regulatory review.

Market participants will have the choice to trade both micro-sized and larger-sized contracts. In the case of Cardano, it will include ADA futures (100,000 ADA) and Micro ADA futures (10,000 ADA).

Cardano joins CME Group's cryptocurrency product suite, which includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana futures and options on futures.

Hidden price signal?The surge in futures volume remains significant as leverage resets and capital rotates selectively across the market, benefiting crypto assets with clear institutional flow signals.

Cardano's open interest has slightly rebounded following a drop in the past day, up 0.12% in the last 24 hours to $792.57 million.

Following two days of drop since Jan. 14, Cardano rebounded from a low of $0.379 on Friday, sustaining gains in the early Saturday session. At the time of writing, ADA was up 1.00% in the last 24 hours to $0.395 and up 1.16% weekly.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the $0.4378 high. Cardano's price may then eye $0.50, where bears are expected to pose a strong defense.

On the other hand, if ADA's price drops further, there is minor support at $0.38, but if the level falters, Cardano may slide toward $0.33. Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $0.33 level, as a break below it may take Cardano's price to the Oct. 10 low of $0.27.

Corporate credit quality is deteriorating beneath a surface that looks deceptively calm. JPMorgan tallied roughly $55 billion in US corporate bonds that slid from investment-grade to junk status in 2025, the so-called “fallen angels.”

At the same time, only $10 billion returned to investment-grade status as “rising stars.” Another $63 billion of investment-grade debt now sits near the edge of junk, up from about $37 billion at the end of 2024.

Yet, spreads remain remarkably tight: as of Jan. 15, FRED data shows investment-grade option-adjusted spreads at 0.76%, BBB spreads at 0.97%, and high-yield spreads at 2.71%.

Those are levels that suggest investors are not yet treating this as a credit event, even as the pipeline of potential downgrades swells.

This disconnect of deterioration under the hood and complacency on the surface creates exactly the kind of backdrop where Bitcoin can become a convex macro trade. Modest spread widening typically acts as a headwind for risk assets, including Bitcoin.

However, if credit stress accelerates enough to pull forward Federal Reserve rate cuts or liquidity backstops, the same dynamic that hammers Bitcoin initially can flip into the monetary regime where it historically catches a bid.

Corporate bond downgrades surged to $55 billion in 2025 from $4 billion in 2024, while upgrades plunged from $22 billion to $10 billion.Credit stress as a two-stage mechanismBitcoin's relationship with corporate credit is state-dependent.

Academic research published in Wiley in August 2025 finds a negative relationship between cryptocurrency returns and credit spreads, with the linkage becoming significantly more pronounced in stressier market states.

That structure explains why Bitcoin often sells off when spreads widen, then rallies if the widening becomes severe enough to shift the policy outlook. The first phase tightens financial conditions and reduces risk appetite.

The second phase increases the probability of easier monetary policy, lower real yields, and a weaker dollar. These are variables that Bitcoin cares about more than crypto-specific news.

Bitcoin is highly sensitive to monetary liquidity narratives, not just narratives internal to the crypto market. That sensitivity is why the “fallen angel” pipeline matters.

When corporate bonds lose investment-grade status, they trigger forced selling by regulated or mandate-constrained holders, such as insurers, investment-grade-only funds, and index trackers. Additionally, dealers demand wider spreads to warehouse the risk.

European Central Bank financial stability work notes that fallen angels can hurt both prices and issuance conditions for the affected firms, which can spill into equities and volatility.

Bitcoin typically feels that spillover through the same channels that pressure high-beta equities: tighter conditions, reduced leverage, and risk-off positioning.

But the mechanism has a second act. If credit deterioration becomes macro-relevant, with spreads gap wider fast enough to threaten corporate refinancing or trigger broader financial stress, the Fed's toolkit includes precedent for intervention.

On Mar. 23, 2020, the Fed established the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility and the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility to support corporate bond markets.

Bank for International Settlements research on the SMCCF finds that the announcements significantly lowered credit spreads, largely by compressing credit risk premiums.

For Bitcoin, backstops and balance-sheet-style actions represent the kind of liquidity regime change that crypto traders tend to front-run, often before traditional assets fully reprice the policy shift.

The non-credit asset angleCredit deterioration is a reminder that corporate claims carry default risk, maturity walls, and downgrade cascades. Bitcoin has none of those features. It has no issuer cash flow, no credit rating, and no refinancing calendar.

In a world where investors are de-risking credit exposure, especially when yields fall and the dollar weakens, Bitcoin can benefit at the margin as a non-credit alternative.

This is not a “safe haven” argument. Bitcoin's volatility profile makes that framing misleading. It is a rotation argument: when credit becomes the problem, assets without credit risk can attract flows even if they carry other risks.

Bitcoin-dollar correlations are time-varying and episodic, which means the “weaker dollar equals bullish Bitcoin” channel is not automatic.

However, in a scenario where credit stress drives both lower US yields and a policy pivot, the dollar can weaken alongside falling real rates, and that combination is historically the most supportive macro mix for Bitcoin.

When complacency breaksCurrent conditions sit in an unusual zone. Investment-grade spreads at 0.76% and high-yield spreads at 2.71% are compressed by historical standards, yet the downgrade pipeline is the largest since 2020.

That creates three plausible paths, each with different implications for Bitcoin.

In the “slow bleed” scenario, spreads drift wider but do not gap. High-yield spreads might rise 50 to 100 basis points, BBB spreads might widen 20 to 40 basis points, and financial conditions tighten incrementally.

The Fed stays cautious, and Bitcoin behaves like a risk asset, struggling as liquidity conditions tighten without any offsetting policy shift. This is the most common outcome when credit deteriorates gradually, and it is usually bearish or neutral for Bitcoin.

In the “credit wobble” scenario, spreads reprice to levels that change the policy conversation without triggering a full crisis.

Reuters reported that high-yield spreads hit roughly 401 basis points and investment-grade spreads reached about 106 basis points during the April 2025 stress episode. Those levels are not crisis territory, but they are enough to make the Fed reconsider its path.

If Treasuries rally on risk-off flows while the market pulls forward rate cuts, Bitcoin can pivot from risk-off to liquidity-on faster than equities. This is the “convex” scenario: Bitcoin dumps initially, then rallies ahead of the policy shift.

In the “credit shock” scenario, spreads gap to crisis levels, forced selling accelerates, and the Fed deploys balance-sheet tools or other liquidity backstops.

Bitcoin experiences extreme volatility in both directions: a selloff across the market, then a sharp rally as liquidity expectations shift.

The 2020 template is the clearest example. Bitcoin fell from roughly $10,000 to $4,000 in mid-March, then climbed above $60,000 within a year as the Fed's response flooded the system with liquidity.

The bullish argument for Bitcoin in credit stress is not that Bitcoin is immune to the initial shock, but that it can benefit disproportionately from the policy response.

RegimeCredit move (your ranges)What happens in creditPolicy signal to watchBitcoin pattern (Phase 1 → Phase 2)Slow bleedHY +50–100 bps; BBB +20–40 bpsIncremental tightening; refinancing anxiety rises slowlyNo clear pivot; financial conditions grind tighterRisk-off drag → little/no “liquidity flip”Credit wobbleReprice toward “policy-relevant” levels (e.g., HY ~401 bps; IG ~106 bps episode)Conditions tighten fast enough to change the Fed conversationCuts pulled forward; real yields start fallingDrop with risk → rebounds earlier than equities on pivot pricingCredit shockGap wider to crisis-like levelsForced selling, liquidity stress, market dysfunction riskFacilities/backstops; balance-sheet-type actionsSharp selloff → violent rally as liquidity regime turnsWhat to watchThe dashboard for tracking whether credit stress flips from headwind to tailwind is straightforward. High-yield and BBB spreads are the first line: if BBB widens disproportionately, the fallen-angel pipeline is getting priced.

CDX IG and CDX HY indices provide a cleaner read on market sentiment. US Treasury real yields and the dollar together form the critical cross-check: rising real yields and a rising dollar are the most toxic mix for Bitcoin, while falling real yields signal the potential policy flip.

Liquidity plumbing, such as any signs of Fed facilities, balance-sheet expansion, or repo operations, matters because stablecoins and on-chain crypto liquidity react to monetary shocks.

The credit market is showing both strength and warning lights. January opened with heavy investment-grade issuance and still-low risk premiums, suggesting investors are not yet treating this as a 2020-style event.

But the $63 billion near-junk pipeline is a loaded gun.

If spreads stay contained, Bitcoin's credit-stress narrative stays hypothetical. If the spreads gap, the sequencing matters: tighten the shock first, ease expectations later.

Bitcoin's bullish case in a credit deterioration scenario is not that it avoids the first phase, but that it can capitalize on the second phase faster than assets still tied to corporate cash flows and credit ratings.

Mentioned in this article

After a steady stretch of flexing above the 1,000 exahash per second (EH/s) — a clean 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s) — line, Bitcoin's network hashpower has dipped back under the 1 ZH/s bar and is now clocking in at 988 EH/s.

Solana ($SOL) remains one of the most talked-about "Ethereum killers" in the blockchain space. With its lightning-fast transaction speeds and growing ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps), many investors are wondering: What happens if I invest $1,000 in Solana today?

As of January 17, 2026, the Solana price is hovering around $144.08. Let's break down the technicals and the fundamental outlook for the next five years.

Solana Chart Analysis: Current Market StructureLooking at the 4-hour chart provided, Solana is currently trading in a consolidated range between $122 and $160. After a period of volatility in late 2025, the price has found solid support around the $120.00 green zone.

SOL/USD 4H - TradingView

Resistance: The immediate hurdle is at $144.04 (yellow line), followed by a major psychological barrier at $160.00.Support: Strong buyers are stepping in at the $122.67 level.Stochastic RSI: The indicator shows a value of 74.05, suggesting that while momentum is bullish, we are approaching "overbought" territory in the short term.If Solana breaks above the $160 resistance, the path toward the previous highs near $175 becomes clear. For a long-term investor, this consolidation phase often represents an accumulation zone before the next macro leg up.

The $1,000 Scenario: Where Could You Be in 2031?If you put $1,000 into SOL today at a price of approximately $144, you would own roughly 6.94 SOL. To understand the potential return, we have to look at the historical growth of the network and adoption metrics reported by major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs or Bloomberg.

YearPotential SOL PriceEstimated Value of $1,000 Investment2026 (Now)$144$1,0002027$280$1,9432028$450$3,1232029$620$4,3022030$850$5,8992031$1,100$7,634Note: These are projections based on market cycles and increased institutional adoption. Crypto news and market volatility can significantly alter these outcomes.

Why Solana Could Reach New HeightsThe bull case for Solana over the next five years rests on three main pillars:

Institutional Adoption: More ETFs and institutional products are integrating SOL, similar to the trajectory seen with Bitcoin.Scalability Dominance: As Web3 games and high-frequency trading platforms move on-chain, Solana's sub-second finality becomes its biggest competitive advantage.The Firedancer Upgrade: This independent validator client is expected to push Solana's throughput even higher, potentially reaching 1 million transactions per second.Solana Risks to ConsiderNo investment is without risk. If you are planning a 5-year hold, ensure you are using secure hardware wallets to protect your assets. Network outages, which plagued Solana in its early years, remain a point of concern for some skeptics. Additionally, regulatory shifts in the US and EU could impact the entire exchange comparison landscape.

Final ThoughtsA $1,000 investment in Solana today is a bet on the future of high-performance blockchain. While the path won't be a straight line, the technical floor at $120 provides a clear risk-management level for new entrants. By 2031, if Solana captures even a fraction of the market share currently held by traditional finance, a four-figure SOL price is well within the realm of possibility.

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XRP has just achieved a major milestone, officially surpassing Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Dogecoin (DOGE) in terms of trading volume. According to a new report, the altcoin has become the most traded asset in all of South Korea, highlighting strong adoption, demand, and liquidity. This latest development underscores the token’s growing dominance in one of the world’s most active crypto markets, even as broader conditions remain volatile. 

XRP Outpaces Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Dogecoin As Most Traded Asset XRP has posted a notable win in one of the world’s most active crypto markets. New data from Upbit, one of South Korea’s largest crypto exchanges, shows the asset outpacing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin in trading volume throughout 2025. Market analyst XFinanceBull highlighted this new achievement in a recent X post after reviewing Upbit’s trading data for 2025. 

According to the analyst, the altcoin was confirmed as the most traded digital asset on Upbit. The ranking was based on volume, liquidity, and actual usage rather than price movement. XRP trading pairs consistently led the platform, with the XRP/KRW pair taking the number one position for most of the year. Bitcoin followed in second place, Ethereum ranked third, USDT came fourth, and Dogecoin placed fifth by trading volume. 

Notably, the figures were officially verified by Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, on January 2, 2026. On a year-over-year basis, Upbit processes more than $1 trillion in trading volume and accounts for more than 70% of South Korea’s total crypto market. This positions Upbit as the country’s largest crypto exchange and makes it a reliable indicator of usage trends and real retail and institutional demand. 

XFinanceBull emphasized that South Korea tends to trade assets with clear real-world use cases and strong liquidity. Because of this, steady trading volume indicates a cryptocurrency is actively being used in the market, not just driven by short-term speculation. The analyst added that XRP’s continued use creates a pull effect, drawing in more capital as liquidity improves. 

In established markets like South Korea, assets that perform well are more likely to attract consistent, long-term participation, which can positively impact prices. Following the recent development, XFinanceBull reinforced his bullish stance on the altcoin and stated he plans to accumulate even more of the cryptocurrency.  

Upbit’s Report On XRP’s Performance Upbit’s 2025 data shows that the altcoin consistently accounted for between 15% and 22% of the exchange’s daily trading activity, across a total annual trading volume of $1 trillion. As mentioned before, XRP/KRW was ranked the top trading pair for that year. Its daily volume peaked at $1.22 billion in July 2025, demonstrating sustained retail-driven liquidity and stable support. 

In terms of liquidity, XRP outperformed BTC and ETH multiple times. By year-end, Korean exchanges had accumulated around 570 million XRP, reinforcing the token’s role as a primary transactional and economic asset in the country. User data also shows Upbit serves about 13.26 million users, almost one in four people in South Korea. The largest age group is users in their 30s, making up approximately 28.7% of the exchange.

XRP trading at $2.05 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

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XRP and Ethereum prices continue to show resilience as the crypto market regains momentum. XRP traded slightly above $2.70, recording a modest 2% gain within the past 24 hours. Ethereum hovered near the $3,300 mark, maintaining its steady growth. 

The market had a 1% increase in total capitalization, which drove the total capitalization to about 3.24 trillion. Bitcoin also shot up, currently hovering above $95,000. Other top altcoins such as Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA) have gained. 

This is a recovery because the White House is thinking of withdrawing the much controversial Clarity Act bill.

White House Threatens to Withdraw Crypto Bill Support as Coinbase Pulls Backing The White House has threatened to withdraw its sponsorship of the CLARITY Act, which is a major bill to regulate the crypto markets. 

This is against the background of tension with key players in the industry, particularly Coinbase. The crypto exchange has actually pulled out its political backing, claiming that it does not agree with the way the bill is being formulated.

This sudden action has damaged the relationship between the crypto industry and the government. Journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that the withdrawal of the support of Coinbase may put the bill at a standstill.

This dispute as it continues to happen, leaves it ambiguous about the future crypto policies. The investors are keenly following the events and are gambling on the reaction of assets such as XRP and ETH to the growing confrontation between the regulators and the sector.

Ethereum Price Holds Near $3,300 as Market Eyes Breakout Above $3,400 Ethereum price hovered near the $3,300 level on Saturday, slightly below the weekly high of $3,370. 

The Ethereum has recorded approximately 7% growth over the last week, with a very positive momentum, even though the rest of the crypto market is performing slowly.

This has been the price action following the successful rollout of the Fusaka network upgrade that has served to sustain network strength. 

Nevertheless, ETH has been predominantly in consolidation in the previous sessions. A good close at the end of the day over $3,400, can lead to a rally to the range of $3,800-$4,000. 

$ETH is still hovering around the $3,300 level.

A daily close above the $3,400 level will push Ethereum towards the $3,800-$4,000 zone.

If ETH breaks below the $3,200 level, a retest of $3,000 zone could happen before reversal. pic.twitter.com/0brz9SfYV6

— Ted (@TedPillows) January 17, 2026

On the negative side, Ethereum will hit the support zone of $3,000 once more before trying to recover, in case it goes lower than $3,200.

XRP Price Maintains Uptrend as Spot ETFs Record $1.11M Inflow XRP price is trading near $2.07, showing steady momentum as it maintains a short-term uptrend. This trend has capped the recovery on the downside in the last week.

The token is clinging just above the very important support of $2.07 that is crucial in maintaining confidence in the market.

The XRP has gained a rather small 1% in the last 24 hours. January 16, also marked net inflows in spot XRP ETFs of 1.11 million, indicating the increasing investor interest. In case of increased bullish action, it is possible that the XRP will go up to the $3 mark shortly.

🚨BREAKING: 🇺🇸 $XRP spot ETFs recorded a net inflow of $1.11M on January 16. pic.twitter.com/cvWp6628ac

— DustyBC Crypto (@TheDustyBC) January 17, 2026

Nevertheless, in case bears reclaim their authority, it could drag the token to approximately $2, and thus the support level of $2.04 will be more relevant.

To sum up, XRP and Ethereum are very resilient despite the regulatory tensions. Inflows into ETFs and network improvements are indications of increased investor confidence. 

The breakout is still possible when the bullish trends prevail; however, the important support levels should be observed to prevent short-term bearish reversals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The overall crypto market is recovering, supported by ETF inflows, network upgrades, and investor confidence despite regulatory uncertainty.

The Clarity Act is a proposed U.S. regulation bill aiming to provide clearer rules for cryptocurrencies. Its outcome could shape future crypto legislation.

Shiba Inu price rises 3.71% to $0.00000853 as futures outflows hit $10.5M in 24 hours. Analysts watch key support at $0.0000081 amid death cross formation and mixed technical signals.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

17 January 2026, 05:36 PM

Shiba Inu futures contracts experienced significant capital withdrawal over the past day. Data from CoinGlass reveals that 1.24 trillion SHIB tokens, valued at $10.50 million, exited futures positions during this period. This outflow exceeded the $8.8 million in inflows, creating a net negative flow of $1.7 million.

The withdrawal pattern suggests traders are pulling back from leveraged positions in the meme cryptocurrency. Such movements typically indicate reduced confidence in short-term price action or profit-taking after recent volatility. 

Price Action Shows Recovery AttemptSHIB's price climbed 3.71% in the past 24 hours, reaching $0.00000853 at press time. This represents a rebound from Friday's low of $0.00000815, which marked the bottom of a two-day decline. Trading volume increased by 4.39% to $94.53 million, suggesting sustained market interest despite the futures outflows.

The token faces immediate resistance at $0.00001017. A breakthrough at this level could push prices toward the 50-day moving average at $0.00001084. Technical analysts point to $0.000015 as a potential long-term target if bullish momentum builds. However, recent technical indicators present a mixed picture for traders.

Technical Signals Flash Warning SignsA death cross formation appeared on the hourly chart as the 50-hour moving average crossed below the 20-hour moving average. This marks another such occurrence in 2026 and generally signals short-term bearish pressure. The pattern often precedes price consolidation or further declines.

Support levels require close monitoring in the coming sessions. The daily 50-period moving average at $0.0000081 serves as crucial support. Maintaining prices above this threshold remains essential for preserving upward momentum. A failure to hold could send SHIB toward the next support zone at $0.00000732.

The Relative Strength Index and other momentum indicators point toward potential range-bound trading. Neither buyers nor sellers have established clear dominance. This equilibrium could persist until a significant catalyst emerges to shift market sentiment.

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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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Audi Revolut F1 partners with Nexo in four-year digital assets deal. Supports Audi’s F1 entrance with Nexo offering immersive experiences. Aims to enhance global engagement with innovative digital strategies. Audi Revolut F1 Team has forged a four-year partnership with Nexo, a leading crypto platform, aiming to revolutionize digital asset involvement in Formula 1 racing..

This alliance signifies a pivotal integration of digital assets in motorsports, reflecting innovative engagement strategies without immediate market shifts or specific cryptocurrency impacts.

Audi-Nexo Partnership Sets $11 Billion Digital Asset Trend “As we prepare to enter Formula 1, we are highly selective about the partners we bring on this journey. We are proud to welcome Nexo as our official digital asset partner at a moment of strong growth for both organisations. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to scale with discipline and innovation, and to create tangible value — from exclusive experiences to new ways of engaging our global fanbase and Nexo’s clients.” — Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer, Audi Revolut F1 Team Formula 1 and Crypto: A New Horizon in 2026 Audi’s foray into digital assets marks a new chapter in its storied history, coinciding with its debut in F1, a domain synonymous with technological advancement. Did you know? Audi’s partnership with Nexo aligns with Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, which emphasize sustainable practices by mandating 50% electrification and the use of sustainable fuels, underscoring the industry’s evolving priorities.

Financial analysts speculate that collaborations like this might signal an impending increase in cryptocurrency involvement in motorsports. While no explicit financial figures have been disclosed, the partnership indicates the growing intersection between digital finance and traditional industries. As F1 adapts to modern technological trends, strategic collaborations could pave the way for broader institutional acceptance of digital assets.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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AVAX, the native token of the Avalanche protocol, is ready for a potential price breakout following another week of significant mixed price action. In line with the widespread crypto market uplift, the altcoin had initially surged as high as $14.85 before retracing below the $13.50 price. According to analyst Ali Martinez, AVAX now lies at another critical price juncture, with the next price move likely to determine its short-term trend.

Here’s Why AVAX Must Clear $14.83 Resistance  In an X post on January 16, Martinez shares an insightful analysis of the AVAX 12-hour trading chart, identifying a key price zone and an important chart formation. According to the presented technical review, AVAX’s recent rejection around $14.85 can be attributed to heavy resistance in this region. Most notably, the altcoin has struggled to break past this $14.83 price barrier thrice in the last month, indicating a significant willingness among investors to sell when the price approaches this zone.  This could be driven by a general view of such a price point as a good profit-taking zone or expectation of a price decline based on historical data.

Source: @alicharts on X It’s worth noting that Martinez’s analysis also shows that AVAX price movement has formed an inverse head and shoulders pattern, thereby favoring an imminent upside breakout. For context, the inverse H&S formation is a bullish pattern that signals a potential trend reversal. As seen above, it consists of three troughs: the left shoulder, where price declines, then rebounds; the head, a deeper decline to around $11.26 followed by a recovery, and the right shoulder, a higher low ($13.75) that fails to reach the depth of the head.

All rebound highs are connected by a resistance line ($14.83) known as the neckline. And a bullish breakout indicates strengthening buying pressure. Therefore, Martinez explains that AVAX must push past this barrier in a decisive manner to trigger a bullish breakout towards $17.59 as an initial price target. With sustained buying pressure, the analyst predicts a further rise to $18.41, representing a potential 35% gain on present market prices.

AVAX Market Overview At the time of writing, AVAX trades at. $13.61 reflecting minor losses 1.19% and 1.34%in the past one and seven days, respectively. Meanwhile, the monthly chart reports a market gain of 14.67%, indicating the market could indeed be experiencing a trend reversal following the net negative Q4 2025 performance.

AVAX trading at $13.60 on the daily chart | Source: AVAXUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Featured image from Firi, chart from Tradingview

The crypto ETF landscape is undergoing yet another shift. Defiance ETFs, a Miami-based investment firm, announced on Thursday that it is shutting down its Ethereum ETF. 

The firm plans to liquidate the ETF on January 30, 2026, giving investors time to decide on their next moves.

The U.S. SEC approved spot Ethereum ETFs in May 2024, with trading beginning in July, and since then, it has attracted big players in the financial markets from BlackRock to Grayscale. 

Since then, Ethereum’s ETFs have pulled in between $12.5 to $14 billion, bringing total assets under management to over $20 billion. 

Tidal Financial Group and Defiance pull ETFs  Defiance ETFs launched the Ethereum ETFs in September 2025, and after just four months of trading, pulled it off the market. The ETF is known as Defiance Leveraged Long + Income Ethereum ETF (ETHI), and is currently trading at $6.95. It was aimed at delivering between 150%-200% of the daily performance of other Ethereum-based products.

On January 16, Defiance ETFs and Tidal Financial Group announced their decision to pull eight ETFs, including the Ethereum ETF from the market. The board of trustees said this is part of Defiance ETFs’ effort to review its lineup of product offerings and give investors a more focused suite of investments.

The delisted funds will be traded up until January 26, 2026, after which they will accept no more orders. Investors will continue to hold their shares until January 30, 2026, when the funds will be automatically liquidated and redeemed for cash at the net asset value (NAV) on the day of liquidation.

Competition is stiff in crowded ETF market Defiance emphasized that its decision to cut Ethereum ETFs is to provide its investors with more tailored investment opportunities. 

Institutional demand for crypto ETFs has been on the rise and hit record levels in 2025. Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw a combined $50 billion in inflows with about $170 billion in total assets under management. 

Defiance’s closure potentially highlights an increase in competition within the U.S. crypto ETF market. For smaller ETF providers, gaining traction in this environment has become increasingly difficult. 

According to reports, the ETF experienced about $6.4 million in inflows, but long-term returns of -66%. ETFs require scale to remain viable, with ongoing costs tied to compliance, fund administration, custody, marketing, and distribution. 

When assets under management fail to reach sustainable levels, maintaining a product becomes economically unfeasible, regardless of broader market demand.

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Iconic American burger chain Steak ‘n Shake has added $10 million worth of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) to its balance sheet. This comes after the company started accepting Bitcoin payments in 2025.

Steak ‘n Shake’s Bitcoin Treasury made a significant acquisition of the cryptocurrency. The company announced the purchase via X on Saturday, highlighting a boost in sales since it began accepting Bitcoin.

“Eight months ago today, Steak n Shake launched its burger-to-Bitcoin transformation when we started accepting bitcoin payments. Our same-store sales have risen dramatically ever since. All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Today we increased our Bitcoin exposure by $10,000,000 in notional value,” the company wrote in the post. Steak ‘n Shake began accepting Bitcoin payments globally in May 2025 through the Lightning Network, a move endorsed by Block co-founder, Jack Dorsey. The company reported a nearly 50% savings in transaction fees within two weeks, compared to credit card processing.

By October 31, 2025, Steak ‘n Shake became the first major U.S. restaurant chain to establish a dedicated Bitcoin reserve, attributing a 15% increase in same-store sales to its crypto-friendly customers.

The chain has hundreds of stores across the U.S., France, Italy, Portugal, and Monaco.

Steak ‘n Shake’s move to add Bitcoin to its balance sheet underscores the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among businesses.

The company’s decision to accept Bitcoin payments and its subsequent investment in the cryptocurrency highlights the potential benefits for businesses, including lower transaction fees and increased sales.

The launch of a Bitcoin rewards program further demonstrates the company’s commitment to embracing digital currencies and providing additional value to its customers.

As the first major U.S. restaurant chain to establish a dedicated Bitcoin reserve, Steak ‘n Shake is setting a precedent that could potentially influence other businesses to follow suit.

Image: Shutterstock/Deutschlandreform

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The bill is still a "priority," White House Crypto Council Director Patrick Witt said, but interagency legalities remain a challenge.

Progress is being made toward establishing a Bitcoin (BTC) strategic reserve in the United States, but “obscure” legal provisions are holding up the process, according to Patrick Witt, the director of the White House Crypto Council. 

Several government agencies are discussing the legalities and regulatory issues of establishing a Bitcoin strategic reserve, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Witt told the Crypto in America podcast. He said:

“It seems straightforward, but then you get into some obscure legal provisions, and why this agency can't do it, but actually, this other agency could. We're continuing to push on that. It is certainly still on the priority list right now.”US President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a “Digital Asset Stockpile” that included altcoins and other types of cryptocurrencies in March 2025.

Trump signs the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile order. Source: Margo MartinEstablishing a nation-state Bitcoin reserve would be a landmark moment for the world’s first digital currency. However, some in the Bitcoin community have been critical of the executive order, criticizing the Trump administration for underdelivering on its promises.

The Bitcoin community feels short-changed by the strategic reserve announcementTrump’s executive order stipulated that the US government would not sell any of its Bitcoin holdings and only add to the strategic reserve through BTC seized in asset forfeiture cases.

The executive order does not allow the government to acquire more Bitcoin or digital assets on the open market, which drew criticism from the Bitcoin community.

The US government’s total crypto holdings, including BTC, shown in dollar terms. Source: Arkham Intelligence“The belief that the federal government will one day build a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve requires a complete detachment from reality,” Bitcoin maximalist Justin Bechler said. 

“There is no movement toward a Bitcoin reserve. There is no intention to acquire a fixed-supply asset in good faith. There are only empty speeches, vague references and opportunistic pandering from Washington politicians,” he added.

Source: Michael BentleyIn July 2025, the Trump administration released a long-awaited report on digital asset policy that did not include additional details on a strategic BTC reserve, which drew further backlash from the Bitcoin community.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed in August 2025 that the government could acquire BTC through budget-neutral strategies, which do not add to the annual budget deficit. 

The announcement renewed hopes that the US government could start buying BTC on the open market through converting portions of other reserve assets to BTC or revaluing its previous metals holdings and using those gains to acquire more Bitcoin. 

Magazine: US risks being ‘front run’ on Bitcoin reserve by other nations: Samson Mow

Cointelegraph 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

Litecoin [LTC] has stabilized after crowd-driven fear pushed sentiment sharply negative, yet price rebounded over 6% from the demand support zone.

Retail commentary remains pessimistic across social channels. However, price behavior has diverged sharply from that narrative. 

Sellers attempted multiple breakdowns but failed to force continuation. Instead, buyers absorbed pressure near support. That reaction matters. When fear peaks while price stabilizes, market balance often shifts quietly. 

Moreover, recent daily candles show weaker downside follow-through. Volatility has compressed rather than expanded. That change signals exhaustion, not aggression. 

Meanwhile, traders continue anchoring expectations to last week’s decline. Price has refused to validate that fear. As a result, LTC has entered a stabilization phase driven by positioning rather than sentiment. 

Litecoin price structure signals… Litecoin continues to defend the $72–$75 demand zone, with price hovering near $74.56, reinforcing buyer commitment at this long-standing support.

The market has now printed two comparable swing lows near $74, forming a developing double-bottom structure. 

Sellers have repeatedly failed to extend losses. Meanwhile, RSI holds near 40.38, signaling fading bearish momentum without oversold conditions.

During the second test of demand, momentum refused to weaken further. This behavior reflects reduced selling urgency. 

Additionally, the price has already reacted toward $84.77, the first major overhead resistance. 

A sustained recovery above this level would structurally open the path toward the $100 level, which stands as the next major psychological and technical barrier highlighted on the chart. Until then, structure reflects balance rather than trend expansion.

Source: TradingView

Litecoin OI expands with price stability At press time, Open Interest (OI) has risen 3.39% to $664.76 million while Litecoin continues consolidating near support, signaling fresh positioning rather than forced short covering. Short-covering rallies usually show declining OI.

Here, participation has expanded alongside stabilization. Therefore, traders are entering positions deliberately. Moreover, price has avoided sharp spikes during the OI increase. That behavior supports controlled engagement. 

However, rising OI alone does not confirm direction. It simply confirms participation. 

This data suggests traders are positioning ahead of a potential resolution rather than reacting to liquidation pressure. Additionally, OI growth has aligned with tighter price ranges, not volatility expansion.

Long bias dominates despite uneven price action Long/short account data shows aggressive long positioning, even as Litecoin trades unevenly near support.

More than 90% of accounts remain positioned long, as of writing, reflecting strong directional conviction. However, conviction alone does not guarantee upside. 

Crowded positioning increases sensitivity to volatility. Moreover, price has not invalidated downside risk. Therefore, this long-heavy setup carries dual implications. Traders expect stabilization to resolve higher. 

At the same time, downside moves could trigger sharp reactions. Importantly, price has not punished longs yet. That restraint suggests sellers lack momentum. 

Still, an elevated long bias requires caution. Markets often test consensus positioning. Consequently, Litecoin’s next move likely delivers expansion rather than continued compression.

Funding stays positive but controlled Funding Rates remain slightly positive, with the OI-Weighted Funding Rate holding near +0.0043% as of writing.

Positive funding shows traders are willing to pay for long exposure. However, rates have remained moderate. They have not surged toward overheated levels. 

Excessive funding typically precedes sharp long squeezes. Here, leverage participation looks measured. 

Moreover, funding has stayed positive while price consolidates near demand. That combination signals patience rather than euphoria. Meanwhile, funding has failed to flip deeply negative during recent dips. 

Therefore, bearish conviction has weakened. Still, funding alone cannot drive price. It only reflects positioning pressure. 

To sum up, Litecoin remains in a stabilization phase shaped by fading fear, steady participation, and compressed structure. While sentiment stays negative, price continues to defend key support. 

Therefore, the market now waits for confirmation rather than reacting emotionally, with the $100 level standing as the next major structural test if recovery gains traction.

Final Thoughts Market behavior suggests stabilization, but confirmation depends on strength above key resistance. Positioning favors upside resolution, though crowded bias keeps volatility risk elevated.

20h05 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

Bitcoin is regaining the interest of institutional markets. This week, U.S. spot ETFs attracted $1.8 billion in inflows, a record peak since October 2025. Such a spectacular resurgence occurs in an uncertain macroeconomic environment, rekindling hopes of a new bull cycle. However, does this surge reflect a fundamental trend or just a technical rebound? As the $100,000 threshold fuels speculation, the market remains suspended on the consistency of these new funds.

In brief U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.8 billion in net inflows in one week, an unprecedented level since October 2025. This capital surge occurs as BTC tests the $98,000 resistance, reigniting speculation of a potential rally to $100,000. Despite this rebound, total ETF assets remain 24 % below their 2025 peak, reflecting only a partial and fragile recovery. Analysts, such as those from Ecoinometrics, urge caution: positive flows over a few days are insufficient to trigger a lasting trend. A massive influx of capital, but recovery still fragile U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded this week $1.8 billion in net inflows, a record since last October.

This renewed interest occurs as the BTC price tested the $98,000 resistance. Such a surge in flows “marks the strongest weekly inflow since the first week of October 2025”, confirming a return of institutional appetite for bitcoin exposure products.

Despite this rebound in inflows, total ETF assets remain down 24 % from their peak in Q4 2025, dropping from $164.5 billion to $125 billion. This contrast highlights that while interest is reviving, it still does not compensate for outflows observed in previous months.

In other words, these numbers need to be interpreted with caution. The analysis letter Ecoinometrics emphasizes : “bitcoin does not need just a few good days, it needs several good weeks“. In other words, isolated spikes of flows have often been followed by rapid exhaustion.

Here are the key points to remember :

Weekly inflows are high but currently insufficient to restart a sustained bullish trend ; The analysis of cumulative flows remains negative, despite some recent positive spikes ; ETF AUM remain nearly a quarter below their historical peak, proof that current movements do not yet offset past outflows ; The technical threshold of $98,000 has not been crossed, suggesting continuing investor caution despite buy signals. A structurally stronger demand than supply Beneath the volatility of weekly flows, deeper forces are at work. Since the launch of spot ETFs in January 2024, funds have acquired approximately 710,777 BTC, while the network produced only 363,047 over the same period, according to Bitwise data.

This supply-demand imbalance is central. It means that even without speculative rally, the institutional demand exercised via ETFs already absorbs almost twice the new bitcoin supply. This phenomenon, according to Bitwise, has contributed to the 94% price increase of the crypto since the launch of ETFs.

In the medium term, this imbalance could intensify. Bitwise anticipates that ETFs will purchase more than 100% of new bitcoin production over this year, a forecast linked to the rise of institutional players, such as asset managers, listed companies, or even some sovereign wealth funds.

This dynamic fits into a long-term trend. Bitcoin ETFs have already attracted $36.2 billion in net flows in 2024, reaching $125 billion in assets under management at a faster pace than observed during the rise of SPDR Gold Shares, the gold-backed ETF.

Bitcoin soars to $97,000, driven by an unprecedented resurgence of institutional interest. However, behind this surge, the question remains: are we witnessing a durable turning point or just a temporary exuberance? The coming weeks will reveal if flows to ETFs can transform the current momentum into a true bullish trend.

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Luc Jose A.

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

DISCLAIMER

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

The company stands to benefit from the multidecade buildout of nuclear infrastructure.

Energy demand is expected to surge in the coming years, driven by artificial intelligence data centers and the electrification and expansion of our manufacturing sectors.

Under President Donald Trump, along with Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright, the U.S. is taking steps to make nuclear energy a national priority. The administration has set a target to expand nuclear capacity from 100 GW to 400 GW by 2050. The DOE recently announced a massive $2.7 billion investment to rebuild the domestic uranium enrichment industry.

The nuclear revival marks a notable shift in tone from the previous decade, when nuclear power fell out of favor following the Fukushima meltdown. Many view nuclear power as a crucial source to meet growing energy demands while reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of cleaner-burning fuels.

This presents an exceptional opportunity for Cameco (CCJ +3.19%), a uranium-mining leader actively engaged across the nuclear sector. Here's why it could be a smart investment today.

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Cameco is a major supplier of uranium Cameco is a dominant force in the nuclear industry and the second-largest uranium producer, behind only Kazatomprom in uranium-rich Kazakhstan. Based in Canada, Cameco is a key provider to Western markets seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian and Kazakh uranium, and it is well positioned as utilities prioritize geopolitical stability over low-cost imports.

The company has investments in some of the world's largest, high-grade uranium mines, including McArthur River and Cigar Lake, located in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. Additionally, it includes Key Lake Mill, the largest uranium mill that processed high-grade ore from the McArthur River mine. Finally, it holds a 40% stake in joint venture Inkai, a low-cost, in-situ recovery operation in Kazakhstan.

Cameco primarily sells uranium under long-term contracts to ensure earnings stability, using a mix of base-escalated prices and market-related mechanisms with floors and ceilings to capture upside when uranium prices rise. To ensure delivery, the company occasionally purchases uranium on the spot market or from its joint venture partner.

Cameco's stake in Westinghouse gives it massive upside potential Cameco has commitments to deliver an average of about 28 million pounds per year from 2025 through 2029. It is also expected to benefit from rising uranium prices in the coming years, as roughly 60% to 70% of its contracts are market-linked to the spot uranium price.

While rising uranium prices would bode well for Cameco, the company has another important growth driver that offers upside beyond spot uranium prices in the nuclear power buildout. That's because it owns a 49% stake in Westinghouse (Brookfield Renewable Partners owns the remainder), giving it exposure across the nuclear value chain.

Image source: Getty Images.

Westinghouse is a leader in nuclear technology, providing design and engineering services for approximately half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Its AP1000 is a Generation III+ reactor, the only Gen III+ reactor to use fully passive safety systems (relying on gravity and natural circulation rather than active pumps), and has received U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) certification.

In addition, the AP1000 operates on standard Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU), and the infrastructure for LEU already exists in the U.S. and among its allies. This contrasts with High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), the fuel for next-generation reactors, which is currently primarily available from Russia. By focusing on the AP1000, the U.S. can scale up nuclear power immediately without waiting a decade to build a domestic HALEU enrichment industry.

In October, Cameco, Brookfield, and Westinghouse entered into an $80 billion agreement with the U.S. government to address the rapidly growing energy demand and accelerate the nuclear buildout. As part of this deal, the parties aim to construct at least eight new reactors, including Westinghouse's large-scale AP1000 and its small modular reactor (SMR), the AP300.

As part of this agreement, the U.S. government has a profit-sharing mechanism. Once active, the U.S. government is entitled to 20% of all cash distributions by Westinghouse that exceed a cumulative total of $17.5 billion.

A top uranium stock with long-term upside Cameco stock trades at a high forward price-to-earnings ratio of 72.4 times its projected 2026 earnings, a steep valuation that may make investors hesitant to invest. However, the company has significant upside from here, with analysts projecting earnings-per-share growth of 48% this year and another 33% in 2027.

As the world's second-largest producer and the largest in the Western world, and with its significant stake in Westinghouse, Cameco is in a prime position for the nuclear renaissance. If you're bullish on the long-term future of nuclear energy and its buildout, Cameco is one of the top stocks you can buy today to capitalize on that growth.

There are a handful of stocks that are still cheaper than the broader market and experiencing strong growth.

Finding bargains when the stock market is near an all-time high isn't as easy as when the market is at its lows. But there are still plenty of stocks that I would consider bargain buys with strong upside. I think a bull run could occur any day for these three stocks, making them great ones to buy now.

The three that I have on my watch list are Meta Platforms (META 0.04%), Adobe (ADBE 2.57%), and The Trade Desk (TTD 2.07%). Each is in bargain territory and can be bought with confidence.

Image source: Getty Images.

Meta Platforms Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, changed its name a few years ago to signal to investors that it was focusing on the metaverse, although that business never developed as it had hoped. All the while, its social media business was still going strong and paying for its huge metaverse investments.

That draws parallels with what Meta is doing with artificial intelligence (AI) right now. Management is using nearly all of its cash flow to fund data centers so it can continue to train and improve its AI models. But unlike the metaverse disappointment, investors are already starting to see some payoffs, with Meta reporting more time spent on the platform by users and increased ad conversions due to some generative AI technology powering the ads.

Wall Street seems to be focused only on how much management is spending on AI, which may be a valid concern. However, thanks to the pessimism, the stock is now valued at a fairly cheap forward-earnings price tag, although it may not be as cheap as the others on this list.

META PE Ratio (Forward), data by YCharts; PE = price to earnings.

At 21 times forward earnings, it's far cheaper than most of its big tech peers that trade for around 30 times forward earnings -- essentially a 30% discount. Furthermore, the S&P 500 trades for 22.4 times forward earnings, so it's cheaper than the broader market as well. This makes Meta an intriguing stock to buy on the dip, because it could offer monster returns if it reaches a valuation similar to its peers.

Adobe Everyone is assuming that Adobe's business model is going to be replaced by generative AI. Image generation is improving, and some models generate images indistinguishable from real ones. The thought is that this could put many graphics designers out of business and harm the revenue stream of the Adobe software that they use.

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296.27

However, this thesis hasn't panned out. Adobe has openly embraced generative AI tools and has integrated them into its products to bolster designers' capabilities. And its revenue growth hasn't faltered from the low double-digit range since the AI race kicked off in 2023.

ADBE Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth), data by YCharts; YoY = year over year.

The market hasn't even considered what happens if Adobe is fine, and its stock has sold off to a dirt-cheap valuation as a result. Adobe is a true bargain right now. And if it can continue posting double-digit revenue growth, it's primed for a bull run.

ADBE PE Ratio (Forward), data by YCharts.

The Trade Desk Lastly, The Trade Desk was among the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 during 2025. However, I think it has what it takes to bounce back during 2026.

The Trade Desk operates a buy-side ad platform, which helps businesses and services that want to advertise find the most opportune place on the internet. Its revenue growth has slowed from previous levels, but it still had a strong 18% gain during the third quarter.

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35.48

Yet the stock trades at less than 18 times earnings -- far cheaper than the S&P 500. If The Trade Desk can deliver high double-digit growth throughout 2026 at a cheaper premium to the market, I think it could easily outperform most stocks and go on a bull run.

Keithen Drury has positions in Adobe, Meta Platforms, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Adobe, Meta Platforms, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

With a market cap of $4.5 trillion, Nvidia (NVDA 0.29%) is the largest company in the world. And it got to this point by offering excellent products that outperformed the competition in every vertical it entered, from video game graphics to cryptocurrency mining to generative artificial intelligence (AI).

But while AI has been Nvidia's latest big market, investors shouldn't expect that gravy train to last forever, as it faces increasing competition in the market for cutting-edge computing hardware. Over the next 10 years, Nvidia's future could depend on how well it capitalizes on the next potential technology megatrends when the current boom fades.

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Generative AI is still booming Generative AI has totally transformed Nvidia's business, and it continues to drive its growth. In the third quarter, its revenue jumped 62% year over year to $57 billion, largely due to strength in the company's data center segment, where it sells its most advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) systems for running and training AI models alongside data processing units and various types of networking hardware. The good news for investors is that the near-term outlook remains bright as clients continue to scramble for these products.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect major AI and cloud computing companies to spend more than $500 billion on data center hardware in 2026 alone. And Nvidia is positioned to capture a large portion of this spending because it has created an economic moat based not only on the power of its chips but also its associated programming interface, CUDA, which allows developers to get the most out of their Nvidia hardware.

The future might be more challenging Nvidia's data center segment represented around 90% of the company's third-quarter revenue, which is an alarming lack of diversification. It's generally not a good idea for a company to put all its eggs in one basket, because that leaves it with little cushion against issues that might arise with that core business. To be fair, there are absolutely no signs that Nvidia's data center business is under threat in the near term. But over the next 10 years, that could easily change.

For starters, Nvidia's clients represent some of the most sophisticated tech companies on the planet. Behemoths like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft won't sit idly by while Nvidia sells them pricey GPUs at gross margins of over 70%. These companies have plenty of incentives to develop chips to replace Nvidia's wares in their own operations, and also to attempt to compete with it in the chip market.

Image source: Getty Images.

The CUDA platform does give Nvidia a moat in some respects, as so much foundational AI code was written on CUDA, and CUDA code only runs on Nvidia chips. 

But Nvidia has no true competitive advantage in chip production. It's a fabless semiconductor company, and most of its hardware is made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Nothing stops its largest customers from designing custom chips of their own (perhaps in conjunction with Broadcom) and contracting with a foundry like TSMC to manufacture them. This strategy is picking up steam. In June, ChatGPT creator OpenAI turned to Alphabet's TPU chips to power some of its data centers. ChatGPT rival Anthropic uses a mix of hardware provided by Nvidia, Google, Amazon, and other providers.

How does Nvidia win over the next 10 years? Nvidia's long-term success may depend on its ability to pivot to new technologies if the generative AI boom runs out of steam or if the AI accelerator market becomes more competitive. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of just 24, Nvidia stock is cheaper than the Nasdaq-100's average of 26. That relative discount seems to reflect the market's concern about its overreliance on the AI data center business.

Nvidia might have to make some changes to regain a premium valuation and reignite its rally. It is too early to know what comes next, but self-driving cars, robotics, and quantum computing could become make-or-break opportunities for the chipmaker over the next decade. Investors may want to wait for more information before opening a new position in Nvidia.

Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Goldman Sachs Group, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Blue Owl To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Blue Owl between February 6, 2025 and November 16, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

, /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl" or the "Company") (NYSE: OWL) and reminds investors of the February 2, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

James (Josh) Wilson, Faruqi & Faruqi Senior Partner (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP) Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that Blue Owl was experiencing a meaningful pressure on its asset base from BDC redemptions; (2) that, as a result, the Company was facing undisclosed liquidity issues; (3) that, as a result, the Company would be likely to limit or halt redemptions of certain BDCs; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On November 16, 2025, the Financial Times published an article describing how "Blue Owl has blocked redemptions in one of its earliest private credit funds as it merges with a larger vehicle overseen by the asset manager in a deal that could leave investors with large losses."

According to the report, Blue Owl Capital Corporation II investors are restricted from pulling money from the fund until a recently announced merger with Blue Owl Capital Corporation closes in early 2026.

The article further explains how, once the merger occurs, investors in Blue Owl Capital Corporation II will permanently lose the ability to redeem cash at the fund's Net Asset Value (NAV). Instead, investors will trade their shares in for the publicly traded Blue Owl Capital Corporation shares, which are currently trading approximately 20% under the fund's NAV.

On this news, Blue Owl's stock price fell $0.85, or 5.8%, to close at $13.77 per share on November 17, 2025, thereby injuring investors.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. 

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Blue Owl's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Blue Owl Capital class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/OWL or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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Fee structure, asset scale, and risk profiles set these two precious metals ETFs apart for investors weighing silver versus platinum.

The Abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR 2.78%) charges less and manages more assets, while the Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT 4.30%) has seen smaller drawdowns over the past five years.

Both SIVR and PPLT are physically backed precious metals funds offered by Aberdeen Investments, designed to give investors simple exposure to silver or platinum. This comparison highlights differences in cost, risk, liquidity, and returns for those weighing silver versus platinum in their portfolios.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricSIVRPPLTIssuerAberdeen InvestmentsAberdeen InvestmentsExpense ratio0.30%0.60%1-yr return (as of 2026-01-09)162.9%135.6%Beta1.440.89AUM$5.43 billion$2.86 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

SIVR is more affordable with an expense ratio of 0.30%, compared to PPLT’s 0.60%. That cost difference could appeal to long-term investors looking to minimize fees, especially given SIVR’s higher assets under management.

NYSEMKT: SIVRAbrdn Silver ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF

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Performance & risk comparisonMetricSIVRPPLTMax drawdown (5 y)-38.61%-35.73%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$3,149$2,133What's insidePPLT is a single-asset ETF backed by physical platinum, aiming to provide investors with cost-effective access to platinum price movements while minimizing credit risk. The fund has no reported sector breakdown or notable top holdings, as it holds only platinum bullion, and has been in operation for 16 years. PPLT does not report any unique structural quirks or tracking index.

SIVR, similarly, tracks the price of physical silver and does not report sector exposure or individual holdings, functioning as a straightforward play on silver prices. Both funds are designed for investors who want direct commodity exposure without the complexity of storing and insuring the metals themselves.

NYSEMKT: PPLTAbrdn Platinum ETF Trust - Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF

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-9.40

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209.27

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

What this means for investorsSIVR and PPLT track the spot prices of physical silver and platinum, respectively, by holding metal bars in secure vaults. Over the past year, both ETFs crushed the S&P 500's roughly 20% gain, but silver's return significantly outpaced platinum's surge. Silver benefits from dual demand as both an investment asset and a critical industrial metal used heavily in solar panels and electronics. Platinum, one of earth's rarest metals, saw its rally driven by supply constraints and automotive demand, among other factors.

PPLT charges a 0.60% expense ratio, double SIVR's 0.30% fee, reflecting platinum's higher storage and handling costs due to its extreme rarity. Neither fund pays dividends since they hold physical metal in secure vaults rather than generating income. Both funds are substantially smaller than their gold counterparts, with SIVR holding roughly $5.4 billion in assets compared to PPLT's $2.8 billion.

Precious metals ETFs make sense if you're looking to diversify beyond stocks and bonds or hedge against inflation and currency concerns, though you should be prepared for significant volatility. If you want exposure to the precious metal with the broadest industrial applications and more established market liquidity, silver's manufacturing demand and renewable energy tailwinds make SIVR an accessible choice. But if you're betting on supply scarcity and automotive demand continuing to support prices for one of the planet's rarest elements, platinum's structural deficits and smaller market make PPLT a compelling if more volatile option.

GlossaryETF: Exchange-traded fund that trades on stock exchanges like a stock and holds underlying assets.
Expense ratio: Annual fund fee, expressed as a percentage of assets, covering management and operating costs.
Assets under management (AUM): Total market value of all assets a fund or manager oversees.
Physically backed fund: An ETF that holds the actual commodity, like bullion, rather than using derivatives or futures contracts.
Drawdown: The percentage decline from an investment’s peak value to its subsequent lowest point over a period.
Max drawdown: The largest observed peak-to-trough decline in an investment’s value during a specified time frame.
Beta: A measure of an investment’s volatility compared with a benchmark index, often the S&P 500.
Total return: Overall investment return including price changes plus any income, assuming all payouts are reinvested.
Liquidity: How quickly and easily an asset or fund can be bought or sold without significantly affecting its price.
Tracking index: A benchmark index a fund aims to replicate or follow in performance and composition.
Credit risk: The risk that a counterparty or issuer cannot meet its financial obligations to investors.
Commodity exposure: Investment exposure to raw materials like metals, energy, or agricultural products, usually through futures or physically backed funds.