Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways Inogen launched FDA-cleared Aurora CPAP masks for OSA treatment in the U.S. market.Inogen designed the Aurora line to fit diverse facial structures and support consistent CPAP therapy use.INGN aims to grow its home respiratory portfolio and enter sleep therapy using existing distribution channels. Inogen, Inc. (INGN - Free Report) has launched Aurora CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) masks for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in the United States yesterday. The FDA 510(k)-cleared mask is a new product within the company’s expanding portfolio.

Per INGN, the Aurora Mask portfolio — which includes the F1 Full Face, N1 Nasal Cushion and P1 Nasal Pillows — has been specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of most patients using CPAP devices. Aurora Masks provide options for different facial structures and therapy needs, promoting patient-focused care and encouraging consistent use in sleep and respiratory therapy.

The latest offering is expected to significantly boost Inogen’s respiratory care portfolio and strengthen its foothold in the OSA space.

Trend in INGN Stock Following the NewsFollowing the announcement, shares of the company gained nearly 7.8% till yesterday’s close.

Historically, the company has gained a top-line boost from its various product innovations and launches. We expect market sentiment for the stock to remain positive around this announcement, too.

Inogen currently has a market capitalization of $198.7 million. It has a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 0.6 compared with the industry’s 3.9. In the last reported quarter, INGN delivered an earnings surprise of 9.1%.

Significance of Inogen’s Latest OfferingPer Inogen, Aurora Masks are expected to establish the company’s presence in the growing sleep-therapy market and expand its addressable market opportunity. The company intends to leverage its existing distribution channels and partnerships to bring Aurora CPAP masks to customers and strengthen relationships with providers.

Management believes that the launch of Aurora CPAP masks is a pivotal step for Inogen toward expanding into a broad home care respiratory solutions company and its entry into the sleep apnea market.

Industry Prospects in Favor of INGNPer a report by Grand View Research, the global sleep apnea devices market was estimated at $4.5 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $6.9 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.2%. Factors like technological advancements and the growing elderly population's vulnerability to sleep apnea are likely to drive the market.

Given the market potential, the latest launch is expected to provide a significant boost to Inogen’s business.

Inogen’s Notable LaunchesIn November 2025, Inogen announced third-quarter 2025 results, wherein it confirmed that it initiated a limited market release of the Simeox airway clearance device in the United States.

In June, Inogen announced the launch of Voxi 5, a new stationary oxygen concentrator designed to enhance access to high-quality oxygen therapy for long-term care patients in the United States.

INGN’s Share Price PerformanceShares of the company have lost 24.6% in the past year against the industry’s 4.4% rise and the S&P 500’s gain of 19.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Inogen’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, INGN carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX - Free Report) , Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH - Free Report) and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX - Free Report) .

Boston Scientific, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, has an estimated long-term growth rate of 16.4%. BSX’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.4%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Boston Scientific’s shares have gained 2.8% against the industry’s 3.2% decline in the past year.

Cardinal Health, carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 at present, has an estimated long-term growth rate of 13.9%. CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.4%.

Cardinal Health has rallied 69.1% compared with the industry’s 11.1% growth in the past year.

IDEXX, carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 at present, has an estimated long-term growth rate of 13%. IDXX’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.1%.

IDEXX’s shares have gained 65.3% compared with the industry’s 4.4% growth in the past year.

U.S. spot XRP ETFs just recorded their first net outflow after 36 straight inflow days, raising questions over whether the record streak is pausing or ending.

Summary

U.S. spot XRP ETFs saw their first net outflow on Jan. 7 after a 36‑day inflow streak, according to SoSoValue data.​ The single‑day outflow is small versus cumulative inflows near record highs and may reflect profit‑taking or short‑term position rebalancing.​ Analysts say multiple outflow days could flag fading institutional demand, while a quick return to inflows would frame Jan. 7 as a brief consolidation blip U.S. spot exchange-traded funds tracking XRP cryptocurrency recorded their first net outflow on Jan. 7, ending a 36-day streak of continuous inflows, according to data from SoSoValue.

XRP breaks inflow streak The five XRP (XRP) ETFs experienced net redemptions on Jan. 7, marking a reversal from the previous trading sessions. On Jan. 6, the funds recorded net inflows, while Jan. 5 saw larger inflows, according to the data.

Total net inflows across the ETF complex remain near recent highs despite the single-day outflow, sitting only modestly below the peak reached earlier in the week, the data showed.

The Jan. 7 outflow represented the largest single-day reversal in the recent period, though it remained small relative to cumulative capital inflows since the ETFs began trading, according to SoSoValue.

Market analysts have noted that extended inflow streaks in ETF products often experience brief consolidation phases as traders adjust positions or realize profits. Whether the outflow represents a temporary pause or the beginning of sustained redemptions remains unclear.

The ETFs maintain a net-positive position on a cumulative basis. Continued outflows across multiple trading sessions could indicate reduced institutional demand, while a resumption of inflows would suggest the Jan. 7 data represents a brief interruption in the accumulation pattern, according to market observers.

SHIB price has declined by 3.96% over the last 24 hours. SHIB tokens burned fell by 12.73% in 24 hours. Shiba Inu tokens are estimated to surge between 15.52% and 14.27% in the next 3 months. SHIB price has declined significantly over the last 24 hours. A movement on the chart happened after Shiba Inu reportedly burned fewer tokens during the same timeline and over the last 7 days. Nevertheless, SHIB is expected to reverse the pattern in the next 3 months with an estimated surge of over 14%.

Fall in SHIB Price SHIB price has fallen by 3.96% over the last 24 hours, taking it to $0.000008672 at the time of writing this article. Even the 24-hour trading volume has dipped by 36.58% to approximately $132.39 million. Shiba Inu, with this, has now noted a 1-day red trade with a variable plunge.

This comes hours after it was reported that Shiba Inu has broken higher from weekly support. SHIB reportedly bounced from $0.0000068 with a 32% jump at that moment. The low margin was noted on December 31, 2025; however, the rebound since then has set up the foundation for a bull run in the future.

Fewer SHIB Tokens Burned It was last reported that only 1,319,354 tokens were burnt in 24 hours, down by 12.73%. SHIB, in the last 7 days, has seen a reduction of 34,819,938, down by 82.12%. The total supply now stands at 589.5 trillion, with the market cap of over $5.11 billion when this piece is being drafted.

A reduction in the burn rate could be a reflection of the fact that Shiba Inu dropped a zero after 56 days. This took the trading value to $0.00001 after there was a buying pressure which pushed its price above the 100-day EMA. SHIB price eventually reversed the movement on the chart to add the zero back to its value.

SHIB in Early 2026 The token is now anticipated to surge between 15.52% and 14.27% in the next 3 months. This translates to $0.000009978 and $0.000009870, respectively. Both values are applicable for a time window of 1 month and 3 months, applicable in the same order. Volatility around the token is high at 8.39% with overall bearish sentiments evident from the FGI rating of 28 points.

The short-term SHIB price prediction is bullish. Chances are, it could culminate into long-term optimism by sustaining the current scenario. Needless to say, tariff threats could add more dynamism and volatility to the global crypto market.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

Fireblocks Buys TRES for $130M to Build a Full-Stack Crypto Compliance Platform

Curious by nature, Ankur's core topic is Web3, but he's a versatile writer who can cover many more subjects. If you catch up with him in his free time, you'll find discussions often center around different movies and TV series. He's an easy person to talk to—you can literally chat with him about anything.

Aptos (APT) was also an underperformer, down 5% from Wednesday.

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.

Recent conversations across the digital asset ecosystem — involving public-company executives, crypto infrastructure builders, professional investors, and regulators — point to a notably pragmatic shift. The focus is moving away from short-term price movements and toward how digital assets are beginning to reshape corporate finance. What became clear is that corporate treasuries are approaching an inflection point.

Summary

Corporate treasuries are shifting from speculation to integration: Bitcoin is moving from a passive holding to a governed, yield-bearing, auditable treasury instrument aligned with public-market controls. “Digital Asset Treasury” is emerging as a discipline: productive BTC plus tokenized RWAs (treasuries, money markets, credit) let firms manage liquidity, duration, and risk on programmable rails. The real inflection is RWA tokenization: it turns balance sheets into dynamic, software-defined systems — making capital more efficient, transparent, and continuously deployable. The question is no longer whether Bitcoin (BTC) belongs on a corporate balance sheet. Attention is shifting toward how Bitcoin, and digital assets more broadly, can be integrated into treasury frameworks in ways that align with public-market governance, liquidity management, and risk discipline. From the perspective of listed companies, this evolution is less about taking on new risk and more about adapting treasury strategy to a financial system that is becoming increasingly digital and programmable.

Bitcoin is not the issue; the framework is For many years, companies approached Bitcoin conservatively, either holding it passively as a long-term store of value or choosing not to engage at all. Given the early limitations around custody, regulation, and governance, that caution was understandable.

Public-company treasuries today face structural pressures. Traditional short-duration instruments struggle to deliver real returns, while excess liquidity is increasingly questioned by investors. At the same time, boards and audit committees continue to demand strict controls around volatility, counterparty exposure, and transparency.

Bitcoin adoption among listed companies was slowed not by lack of interest, but by the absence of institutional-grade infrastructure capable of meeting these requirements. That constraint is now easing.

Why static Bitcoin holdings are no longer the end state From a public markets perspective, buy-and-hold Bitcoin was always an interim step, not a destination. Static holdings introduce balance-sheet volatility without improving liquidity management or capital efficiency. What has changed is the emergence of fully collateralised, yield-generating Bitcoin structures designed specifically for institutional use. These allow companies to maintain verifiable one-to-one exposure to Bitcoin while earning short-duration yield within clearly defined risk parameters.

Crucially, these structures emphasise segregated custody, non-rehypothecated collateral, real-time proof-of-reserves, and on-chain auditability. They are built to integrate into existing treasury governance frameworks rather than sit outside them. This evolution allows Bitcoin to move from being treated as speculative inventory to being evaluated as a functional treasury asset.

Public companies require institutional-grade design Listed entities operate under a different standard, and rightly so. Daily visibility, continuous auditability, and clear segregation of assets are non-negotiable. Treasury instruments must fit within established policies, accounting treatment, and internal controls.

The encouraging development is that digital-asset infrastructure is increasingly being built to meet these standards. Productive Bitcoin instruments now provide the transparency auditors expect, the custody standards compliance teams require, and the governance clarity boards demand. As a result, Bitcoin can be assessed alongside other short-duration instruments rather than treated as an exception. This alignment is what enables broader adoption within public-company treasuries.

From Bitcoin holdings to digital asset treasury This shift marks the emergence of digital asset treasury as a formal discipline. The relevant question for boards and treasury teams is no longer whether to hold Bitcoin, but how Bitcoin fits into liquidity tiers, duration buckets, and overall capital strategy. When exposure is treated as part of liquidity management rather than as a standalone position, Bitcoin becomes more governable and more useful.

But the evolution does not stop with Bitcoin.

RWA tokenization: The next inflection point While Bitcoin is often the entry point, weal-world asset tokenization is where corporate treasury transformation accelerates. RWA tokenisation is reaching an inflection point. Tokenised money-market funds, short-duration government securities, credit portfolios, trade-finance assets, and carbon credits are increasingly being issued in compliant, institutionally governed formats. These instruments map directly onto how corporate treasuries already manage liquidity, duration, and risk.

For treasury teams, this is significant. RWA tokenisation extends digital asset strategy beyond a single asset class and introduces a programmable layer to familiar instruments. Cash equivalents become tokenised. Short-term yield products move on-chain. Collateral settles faster. Reporting becomes more transparent.

From a public markets perspective, tokenized RWAs allow treasuries to operate with greater precision. Liquidity can be segmented more effectively. Yield can be earned without sacrificing access to capital. Audit and disclosure processes benefit from real-time, on-chain visibility. Bitcoin and tokenised RWAs are complementary.

Bitcoin provides deep liquidity and global interoperability. Tokenised RWAs provide yield stability, duration management, and alignment with existing treasury mandates. Together, they form a more complete digital asset treasury architecture.

What this signals for the listed companies For public companies, this shift is structural rather than tactical. Treasuries that remain static will face growing pressure as capital markets increasingly reward efficiency, transparency, and disciplined capital utilisation. Companies that integrate productive Bitcoin instruments and progressively incorporate tokenised RWAs into their treasury frameworks will gain advantages in liquidity management, capital efficiency, and investor confidence.

This is not about replacing traditional treasury tools. It is about extending them into a programmable financial environment where capital can be mobilised more efficiently and governed more transparently. Treasury operations are becoming more software-defined. Balance sheets are becoming more dynamic. Capital is becoming modular.

A disciplined path forward The path forward for public-company treasuries is now clearer. The focus should be on fully collateralised structures with verified backing and institutional custody. Bitcoin exposure should be embedded within existing treasury policies rather than treated as an isolated experiment. Accounting and disclosure considerations should be addressed early with auditors.  Counterparties should meet the same governance standards expected of any institutional treasury provider.

As tokenised RWAs mature, treasury teams can expand their digital toolkit incrementally, without compromising risk discipline or governance. Approached this way, digital assets become a source of capital efficiency rather than a governance concern.

Beyond Bitcoin, toward a tokenized treasury future Bitcoin’s evolution within corporate treasuries is important, but it is only the beginning. The broader transformation will be driven by RWA tokenisation and the rise of programmable balance sheets. As regulated tokenised products expand and infrastructure continues to mature, corporate treasury will shift from periodic optimisation to continuous, system-driven capital allocation. Liquidity, yield, collateral, and reporting will increasingly operate on-chain, across asset classes and jurisdictions.

Digital asset treasury is no longer just about holding digital assets. It is about redefining how corporate capital is structured, mobilized, and governed in a global financial system. This is the inflection point. Companies that recognise it early and build treasury strategies that combine productive Bitcoin with tokenised real-world assets — will be better positioned as this shift becomes standard practice across public markets. The future of corporate treasury will be broader, more digital, and more programmable.

And RWA tokenization is what will take it there.

Patrick Ngan is the Chief Investment Officer at Zeta Network Group (Nasdaq: ZNB), where he oversees the company’s global investment and institutional digital-asset treasury strategy. A seasoned executive with over two decades of experience, his career spans investment banking at firms like UBS and ABN AMRO, as well as pioneering roles in fintech and blockchain. He is a Co-Founder and Chairman of Nova Vision Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: NOVVU) and was previously the CEO and Co-Founder of Alchemy Pay (ACH), a leading cryptocurrency payment platform. Based in Singapore and Hong Kong, Patrick is a recognised thought leader in strategic capital allocation for blockchain infrastructure, crypto-fiat interoperability, and institutional digital asset management. An accomplished endurance athlete, he is one of the few individuals in the world to have completed a marathon on all seven continents and the North Pole.

Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) crashed 16% to $394 after the entire Electric Coin Company development team resigned on Wednesday.

What Happened Between ECC And BootstrapCEO Josh Swihart announced the mass resignation on X, stating the team was constructively discharged after Bootstrap changed employment terms in ways that prevented them from performing their duties effectively.

Swihart named four Bootstrap board members—Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai—as being misaligned with Zcash’s mission. 

The team is forming a new company to continue development work on privacy-focused payments.

Bootstrap countered that the dispute centers on legal compliance, not mission alignment. 

The nonprofit board said it was reviewing investment proposals involving Zashi, Zcash’s wallet project, but determined the deal structures could violate nonprofit law and expose the organization to donor lawsuits or regulatory scrutiny.

The conflicting statements suggest the core disagreement is over whether outside investment can be structured in a way that complies with Bootstrap’s 501(c)(3) status while advancing development. 

That structural tension just cost Zcash its entire development team.

Leadership Instability Compounds Development RiskThe resignations follow a pattern of senior departures. Founder Zooko Wilcox stepped down as CEO in December 2023 after eight years. 

Peter Van Valkenburgh left the Zcash Foundation board in January 2025. Swihart himself only took the CEO role 13 months ago.

ECC announced a major reorganization on December 1 to consolidate engineering teams and align development more closely with the Zashi wallet.

That reorganization lasted five weeks before the entire team quit.

The immediate development risk is real. 

While Swihart stated the Zcash protocol itself is unaffected, the project now has no in-house development team and an active governance dispute with its nonprofit overseer.

ZEC Price Erases Entire Rally In Five Days

Price Prediction for ZEC By TradingView

ZEC collapsed 16% in a catastrophic session that shattered the symmetrical triangle pattern that had contained price for two months.

After peaking at $548 on Jan. 3—representing a 30% rally from the December low—ZEC gave back the entire gain in just five days, breaking decisively below the triangle’s lower boundary and the critical 0.236 Fibonacci support at $406.56.

ZEC crashed through multiple support levels: the 20 EMA at $474, 50 EMA at $451, and is now testing the 100 EMA at $388.89. 

The Supertrend flipped bearish to $548.02, now acting as formidable overhead resistance.

The triangle breakdown typically projects a measured move equal to the pattern’s height, which could target $350-$360 or lower.

Upside targets: Must reclaim $406 (0.236 Fib) to stabilize. Beyond that, $451 (50 EMA), then $474 (0.382 Fib) and $522 (0.5 Fib). Clearing $548 would negate breakdown.

Downside risks: Support at $388 (100 EMA), then $350. Breaking $302 (November base) opens catastrophic decline toward $250-$280.

Image: Shutterstock

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TL;DR

Vitalik Buterin argued that Ethereum’s base layer should operate like BitTorrent: a decentralized foundation that preserves its structure while scaling globally. According to Vitalik, Ethereum’s base layer must remain open and accessible to individuals, companies, and public institutions, without intermediaries and without reliance on commercial products. Linux’s segmentation model can be compared to Ethereum’s: a stable and conservative core at the base layer, while everything else adapts without altering the fundamentals. Vitalik Buterin presented a long-term vision for Ethereum built around two specific references: BitTorrent and Linux. He shared his views on X, focusing on the role of the base layer as public, open, and accessible infrastructure. He also addressed global adoption and institutional use.

Buterin cited BitTorrent as an example of a decentralized network that preserved its original structure and continues to operate at large scale. He noted that the protocol retains its peer-to-peer design and serves millions of users worldwide. He also pointed out that companies and public institutions use BitTorrent to distribute large files. He stated that Ethereum’s goal is to replicate that approach applied to consensus and verification, not to data exchange.

According to Buterin, this model requires Ethereum’s base layer to remain stable, open, and directly accessible. The network must allow individuals, companies, and public institutions to interact without centralized intermediaries, even as on-chain activity continues to grow. The focus must stay on the base layer, not on commercial products or derivative solutions.

Parallels Between Ethereum and Linux The second axis focused on Linux. Buterin described the operating system as an open foundation that supports a significant portion of global digital infrastructure. He recalled that Linux is used by companies and governments across servers, critical systems, and embedded devices. He also highlighted the coexistence of multiple distributions, ranging from general-purpose versions to technical and minimalist variants, all built on the same core.

This structure can be applied to Ethereum through a clear separation of functions. The base layer preserves conservative and stable rules. Upper layers, such as wallets, rollups, and applications, can adapt to different operational, regulatory, or user experience requirements without modifying the core protocol.

Buterin: Ethereum Should Not Depend on a Company or Centralized Provider Buterin defined Ethereum as a foundational layer for finance, digital identity, governance, and social tools. In his view, full access to the network should not depend on any single company or specific provider. In corporate environments, he described “trustless” systems as suitable mechanisms to limit counterparty risk and operational fragility.

This approach spans everything from the development of scaling solutions through rollups to improvements in data availability. Even so, he emphasized that base layer decentralization must continue to be treated as a fixed technical criterion

Thu, 8/01/2026 - 14:29

Shiba Inu (SHIB) just dropped hard enough to liquidate $400,000 in longs, yet short positions printed a flat $0. What does it mean for the price of the meme coin?

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Ethereum's most popular meme coin, Shiba Inu (SHIB), just had a trading anomaly as, across a full hour of downside, not a single short position was liquidated. While the price dropped to around $0.00000855, the one-hour liquidation data showed that long traders lost $3,950, but short traders did not lose a penny, according to CoinGlass.

That trend carried through the rest of the session for the meme cryptocurrency. On the last day, SHIB long positions lost $408,210 in liquidations, while shorts only took $23,990 in hits. The 12-hour window was even more one-sided, with long-side liquidations at $218,940 and just $7,380 cleared from shorts.

Source: CoinGlassThe chart action supports this as the price of the Shiba Inu coin has been marking lower highs since topping near $0.00000925, with a slow drift lower and no signs of a proper squeeze. 

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Even small rebounds didnl not create the kind of upward pressure that usually puts short positions under stress.

Why did this happen to Shiba Inu (SHIB)?The lack of short-side liquidations probably points to two effects that overlap: either the short interest was small enough to avoid big losses, or SHIB's downward moves were too orderly to force any major short exits. Another possibility is that short sellers got in late, after the drop was already happening.

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Either way, the imbalance speaks volumes. Liquidation data usually shows volatility symmetry, especially on tokens like SHIB that are mostly made up of retail investors. This time, the chart moved, long traders got hit and shorts stayed untouched. 

That does not last forever — but for now, it is only one side feeling the risk.

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The Bitcoin ATMs are trending at the moment, following a government action in Missouri. This involves an investigation into companies allegedly operating scams using these crypto kiosks, defrauding customers in the process. 

Missouri AG Launches Investigation Into Companies Using Bitcoin ATMs In a press release, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office had launched a statewide investigation into companies that were operating Bitcoin ATMs. She stated that this investigation was due to national concerns of deceptive fee structures and bad actors using them to defraud customers. 

The AG Hanaway said they had received reports of “devastating” new scams involving Bitcoin ATMs that prey on Missourians. She further remarked that her office is investigating these allegations regarding hidden fees and deceptive charges on these machines and will hold bad actors accountable. 

The AG gave a hint into how these scam Bitcoin ATM operators work, noting that the scammers might call claiming that one is in legal trouble and must pay using the crypto ATMs immediately or face charges. Hanaway urged those who have been victims of this fraud to reach out to her office. 

As part of the action against these bad actors, the Attorney General’s office has already issued five Civil Investigation Demands (CIDs) to Bitcoin ATM companies across Missouri. These crypto kiosk companies are said to be engaging in practices that may be in violation of the state’s consumer protection laws. The CIDs also require these companies to disclose anti-fraud policies and procedures. 

Companies Currently Under Investigation The Missouri AG office listed GPD Holdings, Rockitcoin, Bitcoin Depot, Athena Bitcoin, and Byte Federal as Bitcoin ATM companies currently under investigation. These businesses are said to each own and operate numerous crypto kiosks located across Missouri. These kiosks typically allow customers to transact in crypto, such as BTC, rather than U.S. dollars. 

The AG’s office noted that these transactions are nonrefundable and difficult to trace, making them the preferred method for scammers to prey on vulnerable Missourians. Interestingly, BTC Depot, one of the companies under investigation, recently reached a settlement in Maine over crypto ATM scams. According to an ABC News report, the crypto kiosk vendor agreed to pay $1.9 million to the state as part of a settlement to compensate victims of fraud. 

The rise of Bitcoin ATM scams has led states such as Arizona to enact new laws to crack down on them. The state had reported that residents lost about $177 million to schemes tied to crypto ATMs. The FBI has also warned about the scam, revealing that Americans lost over $330 million to these crypto ATM scams last year. This represents a significant increase from the $250 million in losses recorded in 2024.

BTC trading at $90,625 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

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Bootstrap, the nonprofit that supports the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash, said a recent governance dispute that led to the departure of key board members stemmed from the legal limits nonprofits face when seeking outside investment.

The comments follow the decision by the Electric Coin Company, the main development team behind Zcash (ZEC), to separate from Bootstrap and form a new company. ECC cited concerns over what it described as “malicious governance actions,” Cointelegraph reported Thursday.

In its official response, Bootstrap said the board members engaged in discussions regarding “external investment and alternative structures to privatize” Zashi, the self-custodial crypto wallet built for private Zcash transactions.

The board discussed “external investment and alternative structures to privatize Zashi, while working with legal counsel to ensure any path forward would comply with U.S. nonprofit law, remain consistent with the long-term mission of Zcash, and not jeopardize the broader Zcash community,” according to an announcement shared by board member Zaki Manian on Thursday.

Zashi was developed by ECC and launched on mobile platforms in early 2024. Its source code is publicly available, reflecting Zcash’s open-source model, under which no single entity owns or controls the protocol.

Bootstrap board members’ statement. Source: Weareallzashi.orgBootstrap said the core disagreement stems from its fiduciary and legal obligations as a nonprofit organization registered under section 501(c)(3) of the US tax code.

The proposed deal could bring “new vulnerabilities for politically-motivated attacks on Zcash,” including a potential lawsuit from donors leading to unwinding the transactions, meaning that Zashi would be “transferred back to ECC,” the statement says.

Bootstrap added that these factors “jeopardize the entire Zcash ecosystem” and such transactions must be done “carefully” to ensure these assets will “serve the public good,” and not be “captured for private benefit.”

Zcash’s code is also public and open-source, and no single company or entity owns the protocol.

For-profits can attract “large amount” of external capital for Zcash, says BootstrapWhile emphasizing that the dispute was not about Zcash’s mission, Bootstrap acknowledged that operating under a nonprofit structure can limit access to capital.

The board members further added that access to external investment could bring more funds into the Zcash ecosystem:

“There is nothing wrong with for-profits, and such a project done well can be an excellent way to bring a large amount of outside capital into making Zcash and privacy great and user-friendly.”Cointelegraph reached out to ECC and Bootstrap for more details regarding the external investment and internal split but had not received a response by publication.

ZEC/USD, 1-week chart. Source: Nansen.aiThe ZEC token fell by around 16% over the past 24 hours, to trade above $406 at the time of writing, according to crypto intelligence platform Nansen.

At the same time, large holders increased their exposure, with so-called whales buying nearly $914,000 worth of ZEC during the period, while newly created wallets accumulated about $1.74 million.

Magazine: 2026 is the year of pragmatic privacy in crypto — Canton, Zcash and more

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Solana’s stablecoin market capitalization has surged to an all-time high of $15 billion, up from approximately $7 billion in 2024, as memecoin trading activity makes a comeback across the blockchain.

The network issued nearly $10 billion in stablecoins over the past year alone, representing a 200% year-to-date increase that underscores accelerating capital inflows, with over $900 million in new stablecoins minted in the last 24 hours, according to Token Terminal data.

Circle’s USDC dominates the Solana stablecoin market, with an over 65% market share of $9.2 billion, followed by Tether’s USDT at $2.19 billion, PayPal USD at $952 million, Global Dollar at $888 million, and World Liberty Financial’s USD1, affiliated with President Trump, at $151.8 million.

The explosive growth comes as the broader Solana ecosystem regains momentum, with its market capitalization expanding 14.1% week-over-week to $ 75 billion, erasing a month of previous declines.

Solana Memecoin Revival Drives Trading SurgeThe memecoin sector has roared back to life across Solana with remarkable intensity, propelling tokens to explosive double-digit gains that have reinvigorated trader interest and transaction volumes.

Bonk led the charge with a stunning 50% surge over seven days, while PENGU climbed more than 40% and popular assets like FARTCOIN, Dogwifhat, and Brett each pumped over 30% during the same period.

Source: CoinMarketCapThe memecoin launchpad Pump.Fun’s native token jumped 42.2%, reinforcing the sector’s recovery momentum and signaling renewed confidence in speculative trading.

The entire memecoin market now commands a $44 billion valuation, climbing 3.64% in 2026 with trading volume surging by over 20% as retail and institutional participants return to high-velocity trading.

The rally has been accompanied by strengthening on-chain fundamentals on Solana that demonstrate organic network growth.

Solana’s TVL jumped 12.5%, daily transactions rising 17.3%, and DEX trading volume climbing 13.1% week-over-week according to DeFiLlama metrics.

Source: DefilLamaRevenue Generation Reaches New HeightsAccording to recent research from the Solana Foundation, applications built on Solana generated $2.39 billion in revenue in 2025, a 46% year-over-year increase and a new all-time high.

Seven applications successfully crossed the $100 million revenue threshold, led by Pump. Fun, Axiom Exchange, Meteora, Raydium, Jupiter, Photon, and BullX represent increasing monetization.

Beyond the top-tier performers, the long tail of smaller Solana applications collectively generated more than $500 million in revenue, demonstrating that success extends far beyond a handful of breakout projects.

Network revenue climbed to $1.4 billion, representing a forty-eight-fold increase over two years. The chain processed 33 billion non-vote transactions during the year and maintained an average of over 1,050 non-vote transactions per second.

Solana has cemented its position as the most popular blockchain for on-chain traders and recently overtook BNB Chain to become the second-most popular Layer 1 network for stablecoin transfers.

The network’s volume of tokenized equity products has reached $874.19 million, making it the largest network in this emerging category, ahead of both Ethereum and BNB Chain by market capitalization.

Western Union also recently announced plans to launch a dollar-backed stablecoin on Solana, opening a transformative new channel for its global customers to move money with significantly lower fees and faster settlement times.

The company, which built the first transcontinental telegraph line in 1861, is recasting its historic network for a digital era where transactions clear in seconds and operate around the clock.

Western Union’s US Dollar Payment Token will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank and is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026.

Just days ago, Morgan Stanley filed with the SEC to launch a Solana-linked ETF alongside a Bitcoin product, marking a watershed moment for institutional recognition.

Meanwhile, Solana-based decentralized exchange Jupiter introduced JupUSD, a reserve-backed USD stablecoin designed for deep integration across its product suite, further expanding the ecosystem’s financial infrastructure.

TL;DR

Electric Coin Company’s full Zcash development team exited after a governance split with Bootstrap, citing misalignment and constructive discharge conditions. Josh Swihart said board changes altered employment terms; the team will form a new company to keep building “unstoppable private money,” while the protocol stays open-source and unaffected. Zooko Wilcox defended Bootstrap; ZEC fell to about $443.38, down 10.3%, as supporters see renewal and critics fear fragmentation. Zcash’s long-time development shop, Electric Coin Company, is preparing to launch a new company after a sudden split tied to governance disputes with Bootstrap, the nonprofit created to support Zcash. Public statements say the entire Electric Coin Company team departed its prior arrangement, not as a gradual transition but as a break in alignment that leadership said made continued work impossible. For a project built around “private money,” the rupture spotlights tension between mission teams and governance boards. Even so, stakeholders stress the protocol itself remains operational and open-source, separating organizational drama from network continuity.

https://twitter.com/jswihart/status/2008987228429799621

Governance Dispute Drives Exit, While Protocol Continues The dispute centers on Bootstrap, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to govern Electric Coin Company. CEO Josh Swihart said a majority of Bootstrap board members had moved into clear misalignment with Zcash’s mission, naming Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai as central figures in that majority. Swihart said the board imposed changes that altered the team’s employment terms, undermining the ability to work effectively and with integrity. He framed the team’s departure as constructive discharge. In that lens, working conditions changed so materially that resignation became inevitable, shifting the story from code disagreements to governance power dynamics.

Swihart also acknowledged confusion over roles and titles, noting that public listings showing him as executive director of Bootstrap were outdated. Despite the separation, he emphasized the departing team is not abandoning the vision and plans to found a new company to keep building “unstoppable private money.” That language reprises Zcash’s long-standing focus on privacy, censorship resistance, and user sovereignty. Meanwhile, multiple figures stressed the protocol is unaffected: Zcash’s codebase is open-source, and no single company owns or controls the network. In practical terms, the network’s permissionless design buffers users from organizational churn, even as development stewardship reshuffles.

Zcash founder and former Electric Coin Company CEO Zooko Wilcox defended the Bootstrap board and said Zcash remains permissionless, secure, and safe to use, underscoring that leadership perspectives diverge sharply on what happened and why. Markets reacted to uncertainty: ZEC traded around $443.38, down 10.3% in a day, giving back most of December’s gains. Supporters of the departing team argued separation from hostile governance could strengthen mission-driven development, while critics warned about fragmentation and lost continuity. Ultimately, hybrid governance structures are being stress-tested in public, exposing the fragility of nonprofits, companies, and open-source communities trying to share authority.

Shiba Inu burn rate plummets 82% weekly as SHIB price drops. Whale activity ranks last among meme coins while PEPE and FLOKI surge 620% and 950%.

Newton Gitonga1 min read

8 January 2026, 02:53 PM

The Shiba Inu token faces mounting pressure as key metrics signal weakening momentum. Recent data from Shibburn reveals sharp declines in burn rates across multiple timeframes. The meme coin has also fallen behind competitors in whale transaction activity.

Burn Metrics Show Steep DeclineThe SHIB burn rate dropped 12.73% over the past 24 hours. During this period, 1,319,354 tokens were sent to unspendable wallets. The weekly figures paint a more concerning picture.

Over seven days, the burn rate collapsed by 82.12%. The Shiba Inu community managed to burn 34,819,938 tokens during this timeframe. These numbers represent a significant slowdown compared to previous periods.

As 2026 began, the total burned supply reached 410,754,186,675,427 SHIB. The remaining circulating supply stands at 585,389,093,769,117 tokens. 

The price currently sits at $0.00000854 following a 3.56% decline over the last 24 hours.

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

Whale Activity Falls Behind CompetitorsOn-chain analytics firm Santiment released data showing SHIB's underwhelming performance among major meme coins. The analysis focused on large whale transactions exceeding $100,000 in value over a seven-day period.

SHIB ranked tenth with only 111% growth in whale transfers. This marks the lowest performance among prominent meme cryptocurrencies. FLOKI on Ethereum claimed the top position with 950% growth in large transactions.

PEPE secured second place with a 620% increase. FLOKI on the BNB chain followed in third with 550% growth. The gap between SHIB and leading meme coins continues to widen.

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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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Latest Shiba Inu News Today (SHIB)

U.S. spot XRP ETFs posted their first net outflows of $40.8 million on January 7.   XRP price declined over 6% amid reduced trading volume and increased long liquidations. U.S.-listed spot XRP exchange-traded funds have seen their first day of outflows on January 7th,  since their launch in November 2025, showing a strong institutional investors shift after consistent inflows, even in times of the major cryptos, including BTC and ETH ETFs, post outflows. 

According to SoSoValue data, on Wednesday, the U.S. spot XRP Exchange fund saw around $40.8 million flows in negative, after a multi-week period of inflows without any interruption. 

Among the multiple XRP exchange-traded funds, 21Shares(TOXR) has posted $47.25 million outflows, while others saw small inflows. Where Bitwise (XRP) saw $2.44 million inflows, Canary(XRPC) saw  $2.32 million inflows, Grayscale(GXRP) recorded $1.69 million inflows, but there was no net movement seen in the Franklin (XRPZ) ETF.

 As of Tuesday, the cumulative total net inflow was around $1.25 billion; for the first time, it went down and stands at $1.20 billion, as the last XRP ETF activity suggests a more cautious stance among institutional investors. 

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Posted Outflows Except Solana  After the beginning days of 2026, major crypto exchange-traded funds sentiment itself took a turn, where Bitcoin ETFs saw around $486.08 million outflows yesterday, and Ethereum ETFs saw $98.45 million outflows, while Dogecoin ETFs and Chainlink ETFs had no movement. 

Meanwhile, Solana ETFs posted positive flows of  $1.97 million, where it continues its streak since its launch in late October 2025 without any outflows. 

Multiple Factors Impact XRP Market Sentiment This first-ever XRP ETF outflow occurred after the WisdomTree withdrawal of XRP ETF filing with the U.S. SEC on January 6th, due to the excessive altcoin ETF competition. 

With that, XRP price is also trading down, which is more than 6% down today and trading at $2.09 at the time of writing. The 24-hour trading volume has declined more than 29%, reaching $4.28 billion. Also, according to Coinglass data, in the last 24 hours, XRP saw $22.53 million in total liquidations, most of which came from long positions totalling $21.75 million. With that, broadly, XRP market movements indicate a pause in momentum rather than a definitive trend reversal.

Highlighted Crypto News Today: 

Fintech Giants Ramp Up Crypto Bets Heading Into 2026

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Bitget has registered over $2 billion in trading volume per day on its TradFi platform. This is proof of the high level of demand for gold trading and increased diversification among crypto traders.

Why Crypto Traders Are Shifting to Gold  The milestone is happening three days after the public launch of the Bitget TradFi platform. It was launched on January 5, 2025. The rise in activity shows that there has been an early adoption of conventional market products by crypto-native users.

The press release stated that Gold was the most actively traded asset in the platform in terms of volume. This highlighted its significance as a hedge of choice during market uncertainty.

Equity indices and forex pairs were also of great interest to traders, with U.S. equity indices, silver and euro-dollar trading pairs being the most popular.

Increased number of crypto users are moving away from digital assets to manage short-term risk. According to market analysts, the recent happenings have become a cause for traders to utilize defensive positioning strategy. Flows into gold and silver increased as traders reacted to macro uncertainty.

What Is Stabilizing Crypto Market Flows? In addition, decrease in oil prices have eased the pressures of inflation in the near term. Still, markets continue to factor in possible supply risks and tighter situations. On-chain indicators continue to support broader volatility. Hence, supply of assets on crypto exchanges continue to drop.

However, stablecoin liquidity continue to rise, as they help smoothen trading activities. This change represents a wider pattern in which Bitcoin and gold top safe-haven demand during peaks of volatility cycles.

ETF flows have become stable and the fears of broad market capitulation have been minimized. The Bitget TradFi platform was created to enable event-driven trading across all markets worldwide. Hence, a user can engage in traditional investments but never have to exit a crypto interface.

In brief The CEO of the Electric Coin Company said his entire team was “constructively discharged” following a disagreement with its non-profit board members. The board said in a statement it was due to potential issues surrounding plans to privatise Zashi, a Zcash-centric mobile wallet. It said the plans could allow donors to sue and “jeopardize the entire Zcash ecosystem.” The price of Zcash has plunged by double digits after the entire team of the Electric Coin Company—which created and contributed to the popular privacy coin—left the company.

Zcash is down 18.2% in the past 24 hours to $397.27, according to CoinGecko data. It’s also down 24% over the past 7 days. Zcash had a very strong year price-wise, rising over 670% amid more mainstream interest in privacy coins.

In a tweet, Josh Swihart, former CEO of the Electric Coin Company, said his entire team was “constructively discharged” following a disagreement with the majority of Bootstrap’s board members, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support Zcash.

Over the past few weeks, it's become clear that the majority of Bootstrap board members (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support Zcash by governing the Electric Coin Company), specifically Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai (ZCAM), have moved into…

— Josh Swihart 🛡 (@jswihart) January 7, 2026

He said that specifically, Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai had “moved into clear misalignment with the mission of Zcash.” Swihart said he and the team would be founding a new company with the same mission of “building unstoppable private money.”

The former CEO didn’t give any details about the project—such as what it is called, when it will roll out, or whether a new token might emerge.

In U.S. employment law, “constructive discharge” is when a worker’s resignation can be classified as not voluntary, because the employer has created a “hostile or intolerable work environment” or has used “forms of pressure or coercion” to force the employee to leave.

Swihart assured users that the Zcash protocol itself “is unaffected” by the team’s departure. He added: “This decision is simply about protecting our team’s work from malicious governance actions that have made it impossible to honor ECC’s original mission.”

Founding member and former CEO of ECC, Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn, weighed in on the situation. In a tweet, he assured traders that users can “safely continue to use Zcash.” He added that the board members highlighted by Swihart’s post were, in his personal experience, all “people of exceptionally high integrity.”

1. The Zcash network is open source, permissionless, secure, and private, and nothing that happens in this conflict can change that. You can safely continue to use Zcash. 👍 ⤵️

— zooko🛡🦓🦓🦓 ⓩ (@zooko) January 7, 2026

Launched in 2016, Zcash is designed to encrypt data to hide transaction details such as the sender, recipient, and amount. Using a cryptographic technique called zero-knowledge proofs, it aims to provide superior privacy compared to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Zcash does not own or control the Zcash blockchain itself. Its governance is decentralized, and all upgrades require community approval.

Decrypt has contacted the Electric Coin Company for additional comment.

The board weighs inThe members of Bootstrap clarified the background of the situation in an official statement.

The board claimed that in recent weeks it had “engaged in discussions regarding external investment and alternative structures to privatize Zashi, while working with legal counsel to ensure any path forward would comply with US nonprofit law, remain consistent with the long-term mission of Zcash, and not jeopardize the broader Zcash community.”

Zashi is a crypto wallet, often used to transfer Zcash, developed by the ECC.

The board said that while “there is nothing wrong with for-profits,” such transactions “must be done carefully, with safeguards to ensure that assets meant to serve the public interest—including contributions from donors who trusted that mission—continue to advance it, rather than being captured for private benefit.”

Bootstrap said that the proposed deal “introduces new vulnerabilities for politically motivated attacks on Zcash, which could allow donors to sue and “jeopardize the entire Zcash ecosystem.”

“A restructuring done in a way that invites scrutiny, even if well-intentioned, would damage that credibility and set back the cause of privacy and financial freedom.”

The statement cited ChatGPT firm OpenAI’s transition into a for-profit company, which has attracted lawsuits from founding member and early investor Elon Musk.

The future outlookOn prediction market Myriad, owned by Decrypt's parent company Dastan, users place a 51% chance on Zcash's next move taking it to $250 rather than $550.

Rajiv Sawhney, head of international portfolio management at Wave Digital Assets, told Decrypt he believes that Zcash will continue to be viable as an investment, as its “tech and brand still matter” and there is “a persistent user demand for privacy.”

However, he questioned whether Zcash can convert that into “sustained development and distribution under the current regulatory and market constraints.”

“If the split clarifies execution and funding, it can actually be net-positive—though it creates near-term uncertainty,” Sawhney said.

He added that markets will continue to consider a “policy risk discount” when it comes to privacy coins, with potential regulation and legal risks impacting prices, listings, and institutional investment.

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

Thu, 8/01/2026 - 13:02

Vitalik Buterin just revealed Ethereum's real design model, and it is not crypto-native but based on Linux and BitTorrent, and the reasoning behind it rewrites what ETH is actually for.

Cover image via U.Today Ethereum is not just another blockchain, and Vitalik Buterin wants to make sure people understand that. In a recent post, the Ethereum cofounder used two metaphors that really cut through all the crypto jargon: Ethereum is similar to BitTorrent, and Ethereum is like Linux.

From his point of view, that is not just a random analogy but a blueprint for how things are set up for Ethereum right now.

BitTorrent did not need central servers to spread data all over the world, says Vitalik. It scaled peer-to-peer without permission, without control and without compromise. 

HOT Stories

That is how Ethereum sets consensus as it moves value, not files. And like BitTorrent, it does not need an intermediary. Even governments still use BitTorrent to send huge data packages — it works, scales, but no one owns it.

Ethereum and Linux But the real foundation of the metaphor is Linux. It is open-source, it is unforkable in spirit and it is a must-have for modern infrastructure. Most of the world's banks, cloud providers and even smartphones run on some version of Linux. It is not just because it is easy to use, but because it is strong, flexible and reliable. 

Ethereum's layer 1, as Buterin says, needs to do the same — not just for DeFi nerds, but for anyone who wants autonomy, identity, coordination and governance without handing control to a third party.

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Businesses might not use the term "trustlessness," but they will definitely talk about "risk minimization." That is why Ethereum's architecture is starting to appeal to both cypherpunks and corporations.

So, Vitalik's message is basically that Ethereum is not all about the crypto hype. This is turning into infrastructure. It is just like Linux and BitTorrent — the things that quietly run everything.

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William Blair Fintech Equity Analyst Andrew Jeffery thinks now is the time to buy Bitcoin.

In a CNBC interview, Jeffery said the recent crypto weakness is temporary and backed Circle and Coinbase as his top picks. He believes Bitcoin will eventually challenge gold’s market cap, which is currently 15 times larger.

Bitcoin has pulled back alongside broader markets, but Jeffery is not concerned. He called Bitcoin an “immature asset” with a market cap of just $1.9 trillion.

One issue he flagged: supply concentration. About one-third of all Bitcoin sits in roughly 2 million wallets. And the newest buyers, retail investors using ETFs, tend to sell first when prices drop.

“The most recent buyers, namely retail in ETFs, are probably the weakest hands,” Jeffery said. “Downdrafts sort of become self-fulfilling.”

Can Bitcoin Really Rival Gold?Jeffery thinks so. He argues Bitcoin has clear advantages over gold: lower costs to hold, a capped supply, and easier movement across borders.

Gold sits at a market cap roughly 15 times higher than Bitcoin. Jeffery sees that gap narrowing over time.

“I see Bitcoin over time being a true store of value and supplanting gold in a lot of respects,” he said.

He also reminded viewers that Bitcoin has been the best-performing asset in the world over the past decade.

Why He’s Betting on Circle and CoinbaseJeffery made one thing clear: Bitcoin is not a payment tool. That role belongs to stablecoins.

“I think that’s where stablecoins come in, and USDC is the play,” he said. “That’s why we’re so bullish on Circle.”

Circle issues USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market cap. With stablecoin adoption rising and Coinbase sitting at the center of U.S. crypto infrastructure, Jeffery sees both names as strong bets for the year ahead.

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U.S. spot XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) ETFs reported their first net outflows on Wednesday, ending a 36-day streak as $40.8 million exited, led by $47.25 million leaving the 21Shares XRP ETF (CBOE: TOXR).

First Red Day Since November LaunchThe outflows mark a notable shift after XRP ETFs accumulated $1.25 billion in total net inflows since the Canary XRP ETF (NASDAQ:XRPC) launched on Nov. 13, 2025.

The $40.8 million outflow represents approximately 3% of cumulative inflows since launch.

21Shares’ TOXR saw $47.25 million move out, while funds from Canary, Bitwise, and Grayscale saw comparatively small net inflows of around $2 million each, partially offsetting the exodus.

Rachael Lucas, BTC Markets Crypto Analyst, said the outflows appear to be profit-taking after XRP rallied to $2.40 from $1.80 in a week, combined with a broader market pullback.

Lucas noted that on-chain indicators, including historically low exchange reserves and elevated transaction volumes, continue to signal underlying strength. If inflows resume, XRP could retest the $3 level.

Bitcoin And Ethereum ETFs Also BleedAlongside XRP ETFs, spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) funds saw sizable net outflows Wednesday. 

Bitcoin ETFs reported a total net outflow of $486 million, where Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (CBOE: FBTC) lost $247.6 million and BlackRock’s IBIT (NASDAQ:IBIT) saw $130 million leave the fund.

Ethereum ETFs saw a combined net outflow of $98.5 million on Wednesday, led by $52 million exiting Grayscale’s ETHE. 

This marks the first net outflow day for ETH ETFs in 2026 after seeing $457 million in inflows in the first three trading days of the year.

Lucas said the outflows reflect typical post-rally rebalancing and leverage unwinds following Bitcoin’s surge to $94,000.

Min Jung, Research Associate at Presto Research, said crypto has been weaker relative to other asset classes, with investors feeling more comfortable taking positions in stocks than in crypto. 

XRP Technical Breakdown Confirms Failed Rally

Price Prediction for XRP By TradingView

XRP is down over 3% on the day, erasing the previous week’s gains and breaking below critical support at the 20 EMA of $2.03. 

After rallying 22% from the December low of $1.77 to $2.16 by Jan. 5, XRP gave back those gains in just three sessions.

The breakdown below the 20 EMA marks the first failure to hold this level since the December recovery began. 

This failed breakout attempt at $2.45-$2.50 triggered aggressive selling, with price now sandwiched between the 20 EMA at $2.03 and 50 EMA support at $2.07. 

The Supertrend flipped to bearish at $1.96, sitting just below current price as the next major support.

XRP dropped 15% from the Jan. 5 high in just two days, negating much of the December recovery effort. 

Upside targets: Must reclaim $2.07 (50 EMA) to stabilize. Beyond that, $2.16 previous resistance, then $2.22 (100 EMA). Clearing $2.34 (200 EMA) would restore bullish structure.

Downside risks: Support at $2.02 (20 EMA), then $1.96 (Supertrend). Breaking $1.95 targets $1.77 December low with potential extension to $1.60.

Image: Shutterstock

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TL;DR

BNB Smart Chain targets Fermi hard fork on January 14 to cut block time and boost throughput, after Op BNB’s Fourier on January 7. Fermi targets 0.45 second blocks and propagation limits; nodes must upgrade to 1.6.4 and later 1.6.5 for new parameters. BNB Chain logged $21M monthly app revenues and up to 40% traffic, yet BNB fell below $900 to $884.39 with $820M open interest, $840 downside, $960 overhead. BNB Smart Chain is lining up its next protocol change with the Fermi hard fork scheduled for January 14, an upgrade aimed at cutting block time and lifting transaction throughput. It follows the Fourier hard fork on Op BNB Chain that went live January 7, signaling the Binance decentralized ecosystem is prioritizing speed in early 2026. Developers frame this as an output upgrade, not a cosmetic tweak. Still, infrastructure ambition is colliding with market volatility, with BNB dropping below $900 amid a broader downturn and long liquidations even as builders prepare for a faster chain.

Fermi Hard Fork: Faster Blocks, Higher Load, and Market Crosscurrents Fermi’s headline change is speed. The hard fork is expected to accelerate BNB Smart Chain to 0.45 second blocks, building on earlier Pascal and Maxwell upgrades and pushing closer to the limits of block propagation. The objective is predictable uptime under heavier load as throughput rises. Nodes are expected to run near the edge of propagation while staying reliable for users and apps smoothly. Node operators will need to upgrade to version 1.6.4 and later 1.6.5 to run the new parameters. In short, the protocol is being tuned for higher transaction density without sacrificing stability.

That push is backed by application economics. While Solana has taken the lead in popularity, BNB Chain remains a trading staple and is described as fourth in app revenues behind Solana, TRON, and Ethereum. It generated $21M in revenues over the past month, ahead of Base, with Opinion, GMGN perpetual futures DEX, and PancakeSwap cited as the biggest fee generators. BNB Chain also retains relatively low transaction fees across the ecosystem still. Meanwhile, the Binance on-chain ecosystem carries up to 40% of overall traffic in early 2026, so usage pressure is driving the upgrade cadence.

Op BNB Chain’s Fourier hard fork offers a preview of what faster blocks require operationally. The change, tied to PR #305, reduced block time from 500 to 250 milliseconds and required nodes to upgrade to propagate the new cadence. Op BNB is positioned as a key Layer 2 scaling route. Yet the token market stayed defensive: BNB traded at $884.39, down 3.5%, and open interest fell to $820M. Recent action liquidated longs, with risk toward $840. Short liquidity is building up to $960, so price discovery is now sharing the stage with engineering delivery near-term.

Florida lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would allow the state to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve, narrowing earlier efforts to a framework that would effectively limit holdings to Bitcoin.

According to Florida’s legislative records, Senate Bill (SB) 1038, sponsored by Republican Senator Joe Gruters, was filed on Dec. 30 and was referred to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government on Wednesday, where it must clear hearings and votes before advancing to the Senate floor. 

The bill would establish a Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve, managed by the state’s chief financial officer (CFO), which would allow the office to purchase, hold, manage and liquidate cryptocurrency under a standard similar to those governing public trust assets. 

While the legislation does not explicitly cite Bitcoin (BTC), it restricts eligible purchases to crypto that maintained an average market cap of at least $500 billion in the last two years, a threshold that only Bitcoin meets. 

US State Reserve Race chart. Source: Bitcoin LawsA Senate-led attempt after broader efforts stalledThe new Senate proposal follows and significantly diverges from Florida’s earlier attempts to authorize state-level crypto investments. 

On Oct. 17, 2025, Republican Party Representative Webster Barnaby filed House Bill (HB) 183, which sought to allow the state and certain public entities to invest up to 10% of their funds in a broad range of digital assets, including Bitcoin, crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs), crypto securities, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other blockchain-based products. 

HB 183 was a revised version of HB 487, which was withdrawn in June after failing to advance out of a House operations subcommittee. While Barnaby’s revised proposal added stricter custody, documentation and fiduciary standards, the broad asset scope and potential exposure of pension and trust funds faced pushback from lawmakers. 

SB 1038 removes pension and retirement funds entirely and places oversight directly under the CFO through a standalone reserve structure. 

Its market-cap eligibility rule mirrors approaches adopted in states like New Hampshire and Texas, both of which enacted more narrowly defined Bitcoin reserve frameworks in 2025. 

What’s next in the legislative process?SB 1038 is contingent on companion legislation establishing the necessary trust-fund mechanics for the reserve. This means it cannot take effect unless related bills are also enacted during the same legislative session.

A House companion measure, HB 1039, was also filed, signaling coordinated Senate and House backing. 

If the legislation advances, the CFO would be mandated to submit reports to legislative leaders starting in December 2026, detailing the reserve’s holdings, value and management actions. 

Whether the proposal advances will depend on whether lawmakers view the narrower, Bitcoin-focused structure as sufficiently distinct from earlier efforts that failed to gain traction.

Magazine: Big questions: Would Bitcoin survive a 10-year power outage?

In brief Bitcoin's drop below $90,000 has wiped out $478 million in leveraged positions, with longs contributing over 90% to the total liquidations. Major altcoins like Dogecoin, Bonk, Pepe, and ZCash, which posted double-digit gains in the first week, have followed top crypto’s lead and tanked. Analysts attribute the decline to fading early-year momentum, a risk-off macro mood ahead of U.S. jobs data, and short-term headwinds from Bitcoin ETF outflows. The new year enthusiasm has all but vanished as Bitcoin continued its sustained downtrend, undoing most of the year-to-date gains noted in the first week.

Bitcoin is down 2.4% over 24 hours, and is trading at $89,881, according to CoinGecko data. The total crypto market capitalization, which hit $3.305 trillion yesterday, is down 2.6%.

As a result of the top crypto’s downward move, total liquidations over the past 24 hours have exceeded $477 million, according to CoinGlass data. Bulls who rode the optimism, expecting the momentum to continue, are now paying the price, as longs account for over 90% of total liquidations.

Ethereum and XRP are down 3.9% and 7.6%, respectively, while meme coins like Pepe and Bonk, which nearly doubled in the first week of 2026, are now down 6.6% and 8%.

“Bitcoin’s move below $90,000 reflects fading momentum from the early-year boost,” Illia Otychenko, Lead Analyst at CEX.IO, told Decrypt. “Fresh allocations at the start of 2026 and supportive geopolitical headlines helped initially, but they were not strong enough to sustain a rally.”

Other analysts point to a confluence of headwinds.

“Despite a strong start to 2026 and positive structural developments... Bitcoin has struggled to sustain a move above the $90,000 level—and there are several drivers behind this price movement,” Wenny Cai, COO at SynFutures, told Decrypt.

She cited broader risk-off sentiment across global markets, where investors are awaiting key macro data like U.S. jobs reports, which have kept risk appetite muted. “This risk-off behavior has been reflected in Bitcoin’s trading ranges near the low-$90Ks and occasional dips below $90K,” Cai said.

As a result, the investor sentiment remains relatively low. Users on prediction market Myriad, owned by Decrypt's parent company Dastan, reflected this behavior, assigning only a 24.5% chance that Bitcoin hits a new all-time high before July.

Otychenko added that the recent pullback was reinforced by renewed spot exchange-traded fund outflows, highlighting the U.S. Bitcoin ETFs’ $243 million outflow.

Cai concurred, noting that while a long-term positive, “ETF flows—while a structural positive—have recently acted as a headwind in the short term,” reducing immediate buying pressure.

“Crypto market liquidity remains thin, resulting in choppy price action,” according to Otychenko, who believes that the outlook could improve with Bitcoin bouncing following the U.S. jobs data tomorrow.

Cai highlighted the same liquidity issue, noting conditions are “thinner than that in prior bull phases,” which can exaggerate downside moves even when fundamental demand is intact.

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Thu, 8/01/2026 - 13:23

$17 for XRP is not a dream anymore as the same golden cross vs. Bitcoin that triggered an 875% surge in 2017 just reappeared and the setup looks almost identical right now.

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XRP just triggered a golden cross on the monthly chart by TradingView against the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), for the first time since early 2017, with its 23-month simple moving average crossing above the 50-month line after nearly six years of compression and underperformance. 

The last time this exact signal appeared, which was over eight years ago, XRP rallied from 0.0000179 BTC to 0.0001740 BTC in less than 120 days, surging nearly 9x higher and even overtaking Ethereum.

XRP/BTC by TradingViewThis new golden cross comes off a great base as XRP/BTC has held key support between 0.00001798 and 0.00001843 against Bitcoin for over four months. It printed a bullish engulfing candle in December and opened January with a 9.7% breakout above both long-term moving averages. 

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Unlike the failed upside wicks of 2021, this setup is forming below resistance, with trend lines curling upward and a textbook compression breakout forming inside a long-term range.

XRP to $17 among targetsTechnically, there is open air up to 0.00003 per BTC for XRP, and then to 0.00006 BTC level, both of which are major resistance levels from the 2019-2021 cycle.

If the price regains these zones and repeats even a fraction of the 2017 path, the 875% upside scenario will be more than just nostalgia. It would become a measurable risk-on trade, which Bitcoin pairs have not offered in years.

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A return to the 2017 XRP/BTC peak of 0.0001740, paired with a Bitcoin price ranging from $86,000 to $100,000, would put the price of XRP in dollar terms between $14.96 and $17.40. Reclaiming the 0.00006 zone would put XRP in the $5.16-$6.00 range, which is nearly triple its current level of $2.07.

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WalletConnect will launch “Pay” in 2026, extending its connectivity network into retail, e-commerce, and financial services without replacing its core product. The network processed more than $400 trillion in volume in 2025, posted 119% year-over-year growth, and connects over 700 wallets with 55.5 million active users. Pay will enable crypto payments at points of sale and online platforms, offer multi-chain support, and allow the use of stablecoins such as USDC and USDT. WalletConnect announced that it will expand into the payments segment in 2026. The initiative will extend its connectivity infrastructure into retail commerce, e-commerce, and financial services, without replacing its main product. The company confirmed that the new payments layer will be built on top of its existing network.

Throughout 2025, WalletConnect processed more than $400 trillion in volume and recorded 119% year-over-year growth. The network connects over 700 wallets and reaches 55.5 million active users. That base is critical in defining the initial scope of the payments product and its integration with merchants and financial platforms.

WalletConnect Seeks to Capitalize on Its Broad User Base WalletConnect Pay is designed for payment solution providers, point-of-sale systems, and online platforms. The product will allow merchants to accept crypto payments at e-commerce checkouts, through cards, and across fintech applications. Banks and financial institutions will be able to connect to the same rails to offer digital asset payments within their systems.

The company cited industry data showing that annual stablecoin transaction volume already exceeds that of Visa and Mastercard combined. Flows have reached several trillion dollars per year. Despite that scale, the use of stablecoins for everyday purchases remains relatively limited, particularly for consumer goods and physical retail.

WalletConnect’s operating model is based on partnerships with existing payment processors and infrastructure providers. The company confirmed it will not compete directly with traditional firms. Merchants will be able to accept payments from any supported wallet or blockchain without dealing with the technical complexity of each network.

Partnerships, Assets, and Long-Term Goals The infrastructure supports hundreds of blockchains and multiple assets. WalletConnect Pay will enable payments using stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, PYUSD, and DAI. It will also process transactions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, as well as networks like Polygon and Sui. The system abstracts routing and settlement behind a unified payment experience.

WalletConnect has signed agreements with platforms such as Stripe and Coinbase Commerce. Its network integrates compliance providers and fiat-to-crypto on-ramps including SumSub and MoonPay. Previously, the company worked with dtcpay in Singapore to offer crypto payments at points of sale across the Asia-Pacific region.

The objective is to convert existing on-chain volume into payments that can be used by merchants. Adoption will depend on merchant integration, regulatory flexibility, and the technical execution of the product

Partially on the back of positive developments for Ripple Labs, XRP has enjoyed a temporary 30% rally – followed by a partial correction that saw it decline 7.48% in the last 24 hours – at the very beginning of 2026, prompting Finbold to consult ChatGPT about where the token’s price might stand on January 31.

XRP YTD price chart. Source: Finbold Spot XRP ETFs also recorded their first daily net outflow of $40.8 million on January 7, ending a 55-day streak of uninterrupted inflows since their November 13, 2025, launch, arguably triggering the latest downturn and presenting an opportune moment for a ChatGPT prediction.

The advanced artificial intelligence (AI) of the large language model (LLM) was quick to note the recent cryptocurrency market volatility, but also several key bullish drivers.

ChatGPT sets XRP price target for the end of January The AI opted for a somewhat conservative prediction for January 31, 2026, as it identified $2.15 as the most plausible target – slightly above the press time levels of $2.08, but also below the recent highs.

ChatGPT forecasts XRP price target for January 31. Source: Finbold & ChatGPT According to ChatGPT, such a level fits best into a model that assumes no major shocks and is in line with what the LLM described as XRP’s tendency to ‘grind rather than explode.’

Elsewhere, the AI was also consulted on a more long-term price prediction for the year. Within the whole-year time frame, ChatGPT proved somewhat more positive, as it estimated the token will more than double to approximately $5.

ChatGPT forecasts XRP price target for 2026. Source: Finbold & ChatGPT In a nutshell, the model explained that the prediction is largely based on the recent positivity in the cryptocurrency market, as well as on the positive developments pertaining to XRP itself, explicitly describing the price target as ‘not a moonshot, not conservative — a credible bull-cycle outcome.’

Why XRP might break out in January While ChatGPT is estimating the cryptocurrency market will remain relatively calm for the foreseeable future, XRP itself received bullish news recently, and the entire digital assets sector could soon face a significant catalyst.

On the one hand, Ripple president Monica Long confirmed on January 6 that the company is not preparing an initial public offering (IPO) as it feels it has sufficient institutional backing to remain private and focus on further developing its business.

On the other hand, the entire cryptocurrency market could soon benefit from significantly greater regulatory clarity as the U.S. Congress is scheduled to hold a hearing on a sweeping framework for digital assets within the country.

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