Market Signal Briefing

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A new all-time high is within reach for XRP in 2026.

At a bargain price of just $2, XRP (XRP 0.13%) continues to tantalize crypto investors with the prospect of stratospheric upside potential. Unfortunately, in more than a decade, XRP has never traded higher than a price of $3.84.

But 2026 is the year XRP finally breaks out. I'm predicting that XRP will hit a price of $4 this year, and here's why.

Consensus estimates for XRP in 2026 In 2026, crypto traders and analysts have dramatically scaled down their future price targets for XRP. One year ago, it was common to find price targets north of $10 for XRP, including a $12.50 price target from Standard Chartered. But this year, the consensus price target for XRP, according to CoinCodex, is a rather pedestrian $2.20.

Today's Change

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-0.13

%) $

-0.00

Current Price

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2.06

Yep, that's right. Most analysts are expecting XRP to trade sideways for much of the year. Or, if XRP does go on a stratospheric rally sometime during the year, then it will likely fall back to earth after just a few months. That's what happened in 2025, when XRP soared to a multiyear high of $3.65 in July, only to fall back to the $2 mark by year end.

What will it take for XRP to break out? Most likely, it will take a major paradigm shift for XRP to double in value this year. The launch of new spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in November was impressive, but they are unlikely to catapult XRP past the $4 mark.

Image source: Getty Images.

For a major paradigm shift to happen, there needs to be rapid adoption of the XRP blockchain ledger within the financial services world. In other words, XRP needs to become more than just a niche payment technology: It needs to become a key cornerstone for the way large financial institutions move money around the world.

Currently, XRP is primarily used as a bridge currency for making cross-border payments. But plans are afoot to expand the number of use cases for the XRP token. In 2025, Ripple (the company behind the XRP token) spent nearly $2.5 billion on blockchain-related acquisitions, with the goal of rapidly expanding potential uses for XRP beyond just cross-border payments.

If those plans work out, then the price of XRP could rally significantly. Rapid institutional adoption throughout the year would boost the overall investment thesis for XRP. Instead of being viewed as merely a speculative altcoin with an uncertain future, XRP would be viewed as a high-upside fintech play with a clear path to a higher valuation. If I'm right, that might be enough to send XRP to a new all-time high north of $4.

The week of January 11-17, 2026, recorded $513.4 million in crypto funding across 15 projects, with Alpaca and LMAX Group both securing $150 million each.

Summary

Crypto funding reached $513.4M last week, with Alpaca and LMAX raising $150M each. Infrastructure, exchanges, and payments dominated deals across 15 funded projects. Project Eleven, ICEx, and VelaFi highlighted continued investor interest in core crypto rails. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of this week’s crypto funding activity as per Cryptofundraising data.

Alpaca Raised $150 million in a Series D round Fully diluted valuation of $1.15 billion Backed by DRIVE, Haun Ventures, and Opera Alpaca is an API platform that offers trading for stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies The project has raised $288.8 million so far We are grateful to announce that Alpaca has raised a $150M Series D led by @DriveCapital, valuing us at $1.15B! 🙏

This funding will be used to continue supporting our partners by strengthening Alpaca’s global investment infrastructure, expanding and enhancing our existing… https://t.co/Sta0BYJHNb

— Alpaca (@AlpacaHQ) January 14, 2026 LMAX Group LMAX Group Secured $150 million in an unknown round Investment was backed by Ripple ICEx Raised $70 million in an unknown round ICEx is an Indonesia-based crypto exchange Upexi Upexi gathered $36 million in an unknown round Backed by HiveMind Upexi has raised $136 million so far Project Eleven Raised $20 million in a Series A round Fully diluted valuation of $120 million Investors include Castle Island Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Lattice Project Eleven is a Bitcoin infrastructure and security platform Project Eleven Raises $20M to Prepare
Digital Asset Infrastructure for the Quantum Era
Project Eleven, the leader in post-quantum security and migration for digital assets, today announced a $20 million Series A funding round led by Castle Island Ventures with participation from… pic.twitter.com/SEcXvC3whg

— Project Eleven (@qdayclock) January 14, 2026 VelaFi Secured $20 million in a Series B round Categories include Finance/Banking, Infrastructure, Payment, and Stablecoin Backed by XVC, Ikkuyo, and Annox Gained +2 new investors Stablecoin payment infrastructure Projects under $15 million funding Konnex, $15 million in a strategic round XMAQUINA, $10 million in an unknown round Veera, $10 million in a seed round TBook, $10 million in an unknown round Noise, $7.10 million in a seed round Meld, $7 million in an unknown round Neuramint, $5 million in a seed round TROVE, $2.50 million in a public sale Saturn Labs (USDsat), $800,000 in an angel round

Pi Network has formally set foot in the EU. According to reports, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has registered the Pi Network white paper under entry number 549, filed by PiBit Ltd.

ESMA is a government agency that keeps an eye on the EU’s financial markets and investment products. By registering the Pi Network white paper, ESMA has given Pi Coin a legal node.

However, for Pi Network to achieve full MiCA authorization, it is dependent on whether Pi Network can meet the full scope of EU regulations. The results of rigorous audits, legal assessments, and approvals from relevant authorities will determine it.

ESMA props up Pi Network for partnerships in the EU and EEA The registration doesn’t mean that Pi Network is officially a crypto asset right away, but it does mean that it is a legal company that follows EU rules. The asset has to go through other steps, including meeting EU standards on anti-money laundering, data protection, and financial reporting.

The recognition comes at a time when authorities are paying more attention to how tokens are issued, how investors are protected, and how open the market is. Germany’s BaFin stopped Ethena Labs from issuing the sUSDe coin in the EU last year because of problems with the rules. The EU has also started to give licenses to crypto and stablecoin issuers that follow MiCA rules.

Other organizations that have taken root have failed to comply. As reported by Cryptopolitan, a French regulator revealed that 30% of crypto companies operating in France without a MiCA license are unresponsive.

There’s no communication on ​whether they intend to get the licence required under new EU ‌ rules or will cease operating by July. 40% are not ​seeking the license, with only 30% applying for a license

Pi points bearish as trading volume plummets 33%  Pi Coin price continues to stagnate, even as the broader crypto market shows signs of recovery this January. The Pi Network price has been stagnating at or close to the $0.20 level for several weeks and is unable to go beyond key resistance levels. 

Pi Coin currently trades over 90% below its all-time price. Bearish trends dominate the chart, and the momentum seems to be weak. It has been trading at approximately 7 million coins daily, which is a small number for a network of this scale. 

Generally, bullish movement is supported by an increase in volume. Its trading volume is down 33% in the last 24 hours.

On a daily basis, approximately $1 million worth of PI enters circulation through mainnet migrations and token unlocks. To date, PI has been locked at more than 4.83 billion, and it is slowly migrating and is influencing the short-term price momentum. Meanwhile, the price of Pi is in a tight range of consolidation.

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A massive crypto theft has occurred, resulting in the loss of $282 million in both Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin (BTC). The theft was carried out via a hardware-wallet social engineering scam. Lookonchain reported the scam in a post on X.

Monero price spikes after stolen BTC and LTC swapsAccording to Lookonchain, after the stealing took place, the attacker converted the Bitcoin and Litecoin into Monero (XMR). Notably, Monero is a privacy-focused coin that is much harder to trace compared to other crypto assets.

Given the attacker’s large swap of the BTC and LTC to Monero, this triggered a massive spike in the price of XMR. It caused Monero to jump from a low of $612.02 to a daily peak of $717.69 after the attack. However, as of this writing, Monero is changing hands at $623.05, which represents an 11.41% decline in the last 24 hours.

The trading volume has also fallen by 29.99% to $255.75 million. This crash came as massive fear of suspected cashing out filtered into the Monero community. There were fears that the attacker would also dump Monero for other assets. The development created panic and sell pressure in the ecosystem, hence the 11.41% decline in price.

Meanwhile, the attacker also used THORChain to swap assets cross-chain. The attacker took advantage of the decentralized cross-chain protocol that allows swaps between blockchains without using a centralized exchange.

The hacker’s use of THORChain also emphasizes how DEX can be used to rapidly move stolen funds within the crypto ecosystem. It also shows the challenges associated with tracking and recovering stolen crypto assets when they are moved using privacy coins.

The attacker might be a skilled crypto thief who is experienced in laundering assets and redistributing funds within the ecosystem.

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Monero's growing appeal and market performanceMeanwhile, given the privacy appeal of Monero, the coin was able to break into the top 15 assets in the crypto space. Monero currently occupies the 12th position in ranking with a market capitalization of $11.54 billion.

The appeal and its market performance probably influenced legendary crypto trader Peter Brandt to make the purchase of Monero. As U.Today reported, Brandt revealed that he made enormous profit trading Monero.

Despite the growing use of privacy coins like Monero, Zcash and Dash in crypto scams, proponents still believe they are the future of the Web3 ecosystem.

Journalist

Posted: January 17, 2026

Uniswap [UNI] faced a tough time on the price charts over the past three weeks. Many altcoins followed Bitcoin [BTC] higher in the first week of January, making strong gains. Some tokens continued to show strength.

UNI was the opposite. It showed bullish impetus a month ago, as the ‘UNIfication’ proposal crept closer to being passed. The vote concluded on the 25th of December and was passed with far more votes than the quorum required, highlighting its popularity.

The 100 million UNI burn, Uniswap Labs turning off frontend fees, and fee switches flipped on supported protocols were not enough to drive a rally. This relative weakness against Bitcoin and the wider market was concerning for bulls.

Analyzing the Uniswap on-chain and price action clues In a post on X, crypto data intelligence platform Santiment pointed out that the top 100 largest wallets were accumulating. In the past 8 weeks, these wallets have added 12.41 million UNI tokens.

Their accumulation trends tie in well with the token’s price action, the post read. Going by past trends, the increased accumulation from the top wallets recently was awaiting a bullish reaction.

Will Uniswap prices rally from here? The 180-day mean coin age plunged rapidly in the past three weeks. The dormant circulation metric also saw a large spike on the 26th of December. This signaled numerous previously idle tokens moving.

The mean coin age has not begun to trend higher, showing network-wide accumulation trends were lacking in the past two weeks. The 180-day MVRV ratio was still deeply negative, but it was the shorter-term MVRV that signaled a profit-taking threat.

Recently, the metric briefly moved into positive territory to show that short-term holders were at a profit. The demand was weak after the ‘UNIfication’ news, which saw prices slump below $6 once again, reflecting a lack of market conviction.

Source: UNI/USDT on TradingView

The price trend on the 1-day timeframe was firmly bearish. The failure to follow through after the breakout past $6 in December, combined with the A/D indicator, reflected sporadic buying pressure.

UNI was below its 20 and 50 DMAs. A drop below $4.73 would reinforce the bearish bias. Investors looking to buy UNI based on the top 100 wallets can use this level as their invalidation.

The more cautious investors can wait for the token to show strength before looking to buy it.

Final Thoughts Santiment data showed that the top 100 wallets were accumulating UNI, a pattern that generally sees prices rally. As things stand, this reaction hasn’t begun yet. On-chain metrics showed that short-term holders were happy to exit the market after a brief rally.

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

Crypto markets are starting 2026 with a risk-on tone, and the NFT segment is showing early signs of life after a long cooldown. As liquidity returns to higher-beta narratives, metaverse and gaming tokens are beginning to move again. The Sandbox (SAND) price is one of the clearest examples, posting a sharp short-term rally alongside a noticeable jump in trading activity. With other NFT-linked names also attempting to stabilize, the focus now shifts to whether this is the start of a broader NFT recovery or just a short-lived bounce.

How High Can SAND Price Go This Month?After a continued descending trend, the Sandbox price has rebounded from the lows. The momentum has flipped in favour of the bulls, while the volume has surged over 400% to reach over $167 million since the early trading hours. As a result, the SAND price soars by over 15.5% to rise above $0.14. Now that the price has initiated a rebound, the rally has yet to validate the start of the recovery phase. A continued rise of over 50% may turn the rally in favour of the bulls, but the question arises whether the momentum may prevail until the SAND price reaches $0.2?

As seen in the above chart, the SAND price has broken out from a rising parallel channel, validating the start of a bullish trend. On the other hand, the DMI flips bullish, which suggests the trend control has flipped from the sellers to buyers, marking the early phase of an uptrend. With the volume rise not seen in the past few months, the price is believed to remain elevated and reach $0.15 in a short while. However, to reach $0.2, the price is expected to rise above an important resistance between $0.184 and $0.189. 

Top NFT Tokens to Watch in 2026NFT tokens are trying to recover as markets lean risk-on again. The strongest candidates are projects tied to gaming, metaverse utility, and NFT infrastructure, where user activity can translate into fees and demand. Here are a few names that could stay on traders’ radars in 2026 if the sector momentum builds.

Axie Infinity (AXS)—Web3 gaming: AXS powers the Axie ecosystem, one of the most established blockchain gaming brands. It tends to benefit when traders rotate back into play-to-earn and gaming-led NFT narratives.Chiliz (CHZ)—Fan tokens: CHZ is the key token behind sports fan tokens, linking crypto demand to real-world teams and events. It often heats up when retail interest returns to “utility + culture” crypto themes.Decentraland (MANA)—Metaverse land: MANA is tied to Decentraland’s virtual world economy, where users buy land and digital assets. It usually moves when the metaverse narrative resurfaces and speculative risk appetite increases.Immutable (IMX)—NFT scaling: IMX focuses on scaling NFTs and gaming with faster, cheaper transactions, making it a strong “infrastructure” bet in the NFT space. It can outperform when markets favor builders and ecosystems over pure hype.ApeCoin (APE)—NFT ecosystem: APE is closely linked with the Bored Ape ecosystem and broader NFT culture, making it a high-beta sentiment token. It often reacts quickly when NFT hype cycles return but can fade just as fast if momentum cools.Can We Expect a Strong NFT Rally in 2026?A strong NFT rally in 2026 is possible—but it likely won’t be “everything pumps” like prior cycles. The healthier path is selective leadership: tokens with real ecosystems (gaming, metaverse usage, and infrastructure) outperforming pure hype plays. The Sandbox (SAND) price’s successful retest is a constructive start, but the sector needs consistent volume and sustained user interest to turn this into a lasting trend rather than a quick rebound.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

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Story HighlightsThe live price of the ENS crypto is  $ 10.38171324.Price predictions for 2026 range from $60.00 to $100.00.Long term outlook suggests gradual growth potential to approach $300 by 2030.Ethereum Name Service (ENS) witnessed a prolonged corrective phase throughout 2025, as persistent selling pressure kept the token locked in a descending price structure. After repeated failures to sustain upside momentum, ENS gradually slipped below key support levels and eventually stabilized near the $10 mark.

Meanwhile, ENS continued to maintain its relevance within the Ethereum ecosystem, supported by consistent domain usage and governance participation. Unlike speculative tokens driven purely by short-term narratives, ENS retained utility demand even as price corrected sharply.

As the year progressed, the absence of aggressive sell-offs near lower levels suggested growing accumulation. With ENS now trading close to long-term support after an extended downtrend, market participants are closely watching whether improving sentiment and sustained protocol usage can trigger a trend reversal.

Understanding ENS’s price behaviour during 2025 provides important context for evaluating its recovery potential and price trajectory in 2026 and beyond.

CryptocurrencyEthereum Name ServiceTokenENSPrice$10.3817 1.59% Market Cap$ 396,528,843.4324h Volume$ 24,047,182.9202Circulating Supply38,194,933.1889Total Supply100,000,000.00All-Time High$ 85.6875 on 11 November 2021All-Time Low$ 6.6952 on 19 October 2023Ethereum Name Service Price Performance in 2025ENS experienced a challenging year in 2025, with price action remaining under sustained bearish pressure for much of the period. Early recovery attempts failed to gain traction, and repeated rejections near higher levels reinforced a pattern of lower highs. As selling pressure persisted, ENS gradually slipped below multiple support zones, accelerating its descent toward the $10 region.

Despite the extended decline, the latter half of 2025 showed signs of stabilization. The price volatility narrowed, and downside momentum weakened as ENS began forming a base near long-term support zone of $8-$9. 

Importantly, this consolidation occurred without aggressive volume spikes, suggesting that the move was driven more by seller exhaustion than panic selling.

By the end of the year, ENS had transitioned from a trending downtrend into sideways price action. This shift marked a potential inflection point, where the market moved from distribution toward accumulation, setting the stage for a potential recovery in 2026.

ENS Price Prediction January 2026January 2026 is expected to play a critical role in defining ENS’s near-term trend. The token emerging from the extended consolidation phase often experiences increased volatility at the start of a new year as market participation returns.

If ENS maintains support above the $10-$12 zone, buyers may attempt to push price toward the $14-$16 resistance range. A sustained move above this level would indicate improving sentiment and could signal the beginning of a broader recovery phase.

On the downside, failure to hold current support may result in continued range-bound movement rather than a sharp breakdown. As long as selling pressure remains muted, such price action would likely reflect consolidation rather than a renewed bearish move.

Ethereum Name Service Price Prediction 2026The broader outlook for ENS in 2026 depends largely on whether the token can convert its base formation into sustained upward momentum. Entering the year, ENS no longer appears to be in an aggressive distribution phase, but confirmation of a trend reversal will require higher highs formation and stronger volume participation.

In a favorable market environment, renewed interest in Ethereum-based infrastructure and Web3 identity solutions could fuel ENS price recovery. A decisive breakout above the $18-$20 resistance would signal a shift in market structure, potentially allowing ENS to extend gains toward the $30-$60 zone followed by $80-$100 over the year. 

However, if market conditions remain mixed, ENS may continue trading within a broad consolidation range. In this scenario, ENS price could oscillate between current support of $8 level and resistance level of $12, delaying meaningful upside until stronger catalysts emerge.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)ENS Price Prediction 202630.0060.00100.00ENS Price Prediction 2026 – 2030YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($Potential High ($)202630.0060.00100.00202740.0080.00150.00202870.00130.00200.002029140.00200.00250.002030180.00250.00300.00ENS Price Forecast 2026The ENS price range in 2026 is expected to be between $30.00 and $100.00.

ENS Price Prediction 2027Ethereum Name Service (ENS) price range can be between $40.00 to $150.00 during the year 2027. 

ENS Prediction 2028In 2028, Ethereum Name Service is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $10.00, an average price of $70.00, and a high price of $200.00.

ENS Price Prediction 2029Thereafter, the ENS price for the year 2029 could range between $140.00  and $250.00.

ENS Price Prediction 2030Finally, in 2030, the price of ENS is predicted to maintain a steady and positive. It may trade between $180.00 and $300.00.

ENS Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050Based on the historic market sentiments and trend analysis of the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, here are the possible ENS price targets for the longer time frames.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)2031250.00320.00400.002032300.00400.00580.002033400.00520.00650.002040600.00700.00800.0020501000.001400.001800.00ENS Price Prediction: Market Analysis?Year202620272030Changelly$25.00$50.00$70.00DigitalCoinPrice$30.00$60.00$80.00WalletInvestor$20.00$50.00$70.00CoinPedia’s ENS Price PredictionCoinpedia’s price outlook for ENS in 2026 depends largely on whether the token can convert its base formation into sustained upward momentum. Entering the year, if market conditions remain bullish, ENS may showcase bullish moves and may oscillate above $20-$30 within the first half of the year. Later, ENS token may pick up more heat and extend the rally toward $50-$70.

CoinPedia expects that ENS Price to reach $100.00 by the year-end. 

On the downside, if ENS price sees a downtrend in the upcoming months, which may collapse the coin’s price to $30.00.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)202630.0060.00100.00Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQsWhat is the ENS price prediction for 2026?

ENS is projected to trade between $60 and $100 in 2026 if market sentiment improves and adoption of Web3 identity solutions grows.

What Is Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Price Prediction 2030?

By 2030, ENS could trade between $180 and $300 if Web3 adoption expands and ENS remains a core identity layer on Ethereum.

What is the ENS price prediction for 2040?

Long-term estimates suggest ENS may reach $600 to $800 by 2040, supported by sustained blockchain usage and decentralized identity growth.

Does ENS have a future?

Yes, ENS has a future due to its real-world utility, strong Ethereum integration, and growing demand for decentralized naming solutions.

Is ENS a good long-term investment?

ENS shows long-term potential due to real utility, governance use, and Ethereum integration, but price depends on market conditions and adoption.

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Bitcoin price is maintaining its stability at major technical levels as BTC price continues to trade close to $95,500 after a managed retracement. The market action shows consolidation over momentum exhaustion, and price support is reclaimed form, not reversed to previous levels. 

This stability now coincides with policy clarity after a Trump official confirmed a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a top U.S. priority. As the liquidation risk is declining, the interest moves to the interaction between this policy background and the current Bitcoin price formations.

Policy Clarity Reshapes Bitcoin Supply Dynamics A Trump administration official has confirmed that establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve ranks as a top priority for the United States. This assertion makes intent clear at the policy level, indicating that Bitcoin is now a part of the long-term strategic planning and not a by-product of enforcement and seizure of assets.

This endorsement specifically targets the way the U.S. can treat Bitcoin already in the possession of the government. The history of Bitcoin being captured made its way into markets either via auctions or direct sales, typically at weak periods. The occurrences also brought unpredictable supply, and this distorted market behavior as well as strained the Bitcoin price on corrective phases.

With reserving framework first in mind, U.S. authorities make a statement of retention instead of liquidation. This change lowers expectations of a sell pressure being driven by the government and eliminates a common policy-driven overhang. Consequently, the current trend of Bitcoin price represents organic market positioning rather than periodical provision of supply due to the implementation of an outcome.

BTC price formation is more structurally clear in this environment. Pullbacks now check actual demand as opposed to reactionary selling created by policy unpredictability. This background enhances technical relevance. The pricing effects are more reliant on liquidity behavior, positioning and structure as opposed to external supply shocks.

Liquidity and Structure Through the Analyst’s Lens According to crypto analyst, Lennart Snyder, market behavior is now dependent on price structure in Bitcoin rather than the growth of momentum. BTC price continues to hold the ~$94,630 level, which Snyder identifies as a critical H4 structural base and the low that must remain intact to preserve bullish conditions.

Price recently cleared this mark, took in sell-side liquidity and cleared it back again, which establishes acceptance over and not rejection. This tendency is usually a precursor of the range compression as the participation becomes thin more so towards the weekend. With the decrease of liquidity, the price of Bitcoin frequently swings rather than moves impulsively.

The expert expects the  price to range between $94,630 and $95,820 during this period. A sustained reclaim of $95,820 would mark a market structure break, opening continuation toward the $97,960 monthly high. Partial profit-taking in this scenario aligns with trend development, not exhaustion.

However, if Bitcoin price loses $94,630 on the H4 timeframe and re-enters the prior range, structure flips bearish quickly.  Short positioning, after confirmation on a re-test follows structural logic and not sentiment-based reactions.

BTC/USDT 4H Chart (Source: X) BTC Price Structure Builds a Conditional Breakout Bitcoin price remains above the $95,000 mark following a breakout beyond a multi-week consolidation zone.  The breakout breakout came after fulfillment of an Adam and Eve pattern which was created after a long-term downtrend that started in October last year. At press time, the market value of Bitcoin sits around $95,500.

BTC price initially stabilized near $84,000 before attempting a rebound. Price has however been rejected on two occasions at the $94,000 zone. The level acted as a key resistance during. The subsequent break above $94,000 validated expansion and became a new structural support.

After the breakout, Bitcoin price pulled back from $97,880 and retraced toward the $94,000–$95,000 region. This zone now acts as the upper boundary of the former range. Notably, Bitcoin price holding above this level preserves bullish structure rather than signaling distribution.

The parabolic SAR is trending below price at the level of around 92,550, which supports the trend continuation. The MACD is above its signal line with growing green histograms, supporting a bullish momentum. These indicators affirm price behavior as opposed to directing it. If $94,000 holds, BTC price remains positioned for a 13% rebound toward $106,578, strengthening the long-term BTC price forecast. 

BTC/USD Daily Chart (Source: TradingView) Conclusion Bitcoin is currently trading in a structurally productive setting and not speculative. The BTC price is above critical support as the policy clarity eliminates the liquidation risk of the wider context. This combination is conducive to continuation provided that the level of $94,000 is not broken. 

A prolonged defense of this zone favors higher-range expansion, whereas disintegration restores structure decisively bearish. The prevailing trend is conditional bullish, based on structure, liquidity behavior, and validated policy direction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve refers to a government-held allocation of Bitcoin intended for long-term retention rather than liquidation, similar to how strategic reserves function for commodities or foreign currencies.

U.S. policy determines whether seized Bitcoin enters the market through sales or remains off-market. Retention reduces unpredictable supply shocks that previously affected market stability.

This confirmation does not introduce new regulations. Instead, it clarifies how existing government-held Bitcoin may be treated within broader strategic and fiscal planning frameworks.

XRP Open Interest Statistics show rising derivatives activity across most contract types. Total open interest stands at $1.4 billion, up 11.99% over the past 24 hours, according to the data from Coinalyze.

Perpetual contracts account for the majority, with $1.4 billion in open interest (12.% increase in 24 hours).

In contrast, futures open interest remains relatively small at $2.2 million, down 0.19%, indicating that the recent growth is primarily driven by perpetual markets rather than dated futures.

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This indicates increased market activity. Open interest refers to the amount of unsettled positions on the derivatives market, which might suggest participation in the markets.

Basically, it measures the amount of money invested in derivatives at any one time. When traders enter futures or options contracts, open interest rises, and vice versa.

XRP price predictionXRP, now ranked fifth by market capitalization, is trading at $2.06. Despite a modest price pullback, its market cap has edged up to $125.41 billion. Trading volume fell 19.55% to $2.04 billion, pointing to softer market participation.

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Price action has been volatile over the past week, with XRP peaking at $2.18 on Wednesday before finding support on Friday.

Source: CoinMarketCapOn a broader picture, the 23-day simple moving average crossed above the 50-day, forming a golden cross for the first time since late 2025. This signal often suggests a potential bullish trend shift. This setup follows XRP’s earlier spike to $2.40 and comes as short- and mid-term trend lines turn higher, increasing the likelihood of further upside.

Meanwhile, XRP ETFs have gained momentum, with data from SosoValue showing the strongest weekly inflows of the year so far. In the latest session alone, XRP ETFs attracted $17.06 million, lifting cumulative net inflows to $1.27 billion.

Journalist

Posted: January 17, 2026

Since successfully holding the $0.11 support level, DoubleZero [2Z]o has traded within an ascending channel.

After closing at higher highs for consecutive days, DoubleZero finally broke out and climbed to a monthly high of $0.14 before a mild pullback. 

At press time, 2Z traded at $0.137, up 10.9% on the daily charts. Over the same period, its market cap rose 10.9% to $486 million and reclaimed a spot in the top 100 crypto rankings.

But why is DoubleZero waking up?

Grayscale adds DoubleZero to its 2026 watchlist After it hovered around $0.11 for nearly a week, DoubleZero got a massive boost from Grayscale three days ago. 

Grayscale revealed the latest update to its Asset Under Consideration for the first quarter of 2026. The list included a diverse range of altcoins positioned to shape the firm’s future offering and market direction. 

Source: Grayscale

With its latest update, the firm expanded the “Utilities and Services” category by adding DoubleZero. By including 2Z, Grayscale signaled its focus on the growing influence of DePIN and tokenization in the market.

After the listing, market players took notice, and investors across the market were incentivized to take positions. 

Derivatives strengthen the upside momentum After 2Z signaled a price recovery, investors rushed into the futures and chased the market, further strengthening upside momentum. 

According to CoinGlass, Derivatives Volume rose to $46 million and then fell back to $44 million, while Open Interest (OI) rose 13.4% to $17.48 million, as of writing. 

Source: CoinGlass

Usually, when OI and volume rise in tandem, it suggests increased participation and higher capital inflows. 

In fact, over the past three days, over $19 million has flowed into the futures market. On the 17th of January, DoubleZero saw $9.31 million in Futures Inflows compared to $8.86 million in Outflows. 

Source: CoinGlass

Meanwhile, the altcoin’s Long Short Ratio remained above 1 at around 1.14, suggesting that capital mostly flowed into long positions. Thus, most market participants are bullish and aggressively bet on price appreciation.

Can 2Z momentum hold? DoubleZero broke out, as investors piled into the asset, following the altcoin’s recent listing on Grayscale’s 2026 watchlist.

As a result, the altcoin’s upside momentum strengthened. The Directional Movement Index (DMI) climbed to 47, while its ADX fell to 16, at press time.

Source: TradingView

Often, when this indicator rises to such levels, it suggests strong upside strength backed by significant demand. Such market behavior tends to support the continuation of the upside.

However, the price uptick created a perfect opportunity for profit takers. As a result, holders who had been underwater rushed into the market, increasing spending significantly.

Source: CoinGlass

In fact, over $7.65 million flowed into exchanges over the past three days, while Outflows held around $7.27 million. As a result, Netflow has remained positive over this period, reflecting sustained profit taking.

In fact, rising exchange inflows threaten the upside, and continued selling could push DoubleZero back to $0.12.

On the other hand, upside momentum remains strong. If recent demand persists, DoubleZero could climb to $0.15. This bullish scenario holds only if 2Z stays above its Parabolic SAR support at $0.11.

Final Thoughts DoubleZero surged 10.9% to a monthly high of $0.14, then retraced to $0.137 at press time.  Grayscale added DoubleZero to its Q1 2026 watchlist, amid the growing DePIN sector. 

Weekend liquidity is usually thinner, and that’s exactly why BTC, ETH, and SOL are worth watching right now. When the market has fewer orders on the books, even modest buying or selling can move the price faster than expected. This weekend, two signals line up in a way traders can’t ignore: a large tracked account is leaning long on the majors, and derivative positioning is rising across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Together, these point to a market that is turning more “risk-on”,  but also one that can snap hard if the crowd gets it wrong.

Why BTC, ETH, and SOL are the weekend watchlistBitcoin, Ethereum and Solana have the deepest liquidity; they attract the most capital, and they tend to set the tone for the rest of the market. When BTC, ETH, and SOL get active at the same time, altcoins usually follow the direction rather than lead it. So even if you trade other names, the cleanest read often starts here.

Signal 1: Big positioning is leaning longThe data from Lookonchain shows a large account running a 100% long bias, with the biggest exposure in ETH, followed by BTC, then SOL. You don’t need to make it a “whale worship” story. Treat it as one thing: someone with size is comfortable holding long risk into the weekend.

That does not guarantee a pump. Large accounts can hedge elsewhere, scale in slowly, or exit fast. But it does tell you the current mood among bigger players isn’t defensive. They are not building a short book here. They are positioned for upside, or at least for prices to hold up.

Signal 2: Open interest is rising—leverage is coming backThe Santiment data is the bigger story for a weekend move. Santiment data shows open interest rising across the trio—roughly BTC: $36.5B, ETH: $17.2B, SOL: $3.7B. Rising open interest means more futures positions are being opened. In simple terms, more leverage is entering the market.

That can be bullish because leverage adds fuel. If spot demand shows up and price starts moving up, rising open interest can accelerate the trend. But leverage is a double-edged sword. If the price dips while open interest is still elevated, the market becomes vulnerable to liquidations. That’s when small drops turn into sharp wicks and fast flushes.

What to Expect This Weekend?BTC, ETH, and SOL are the top tokens to watch this weekend because the market is sending a clear message: risk appetite is improving, and traders are adding leverage. The long positioning from a large account adds confidence to the bullish bias, but the rising open interest is the real catalyst—it can amplify gains, or it can punish crowded trades fast. If price stays stable while leverage builds, the path of least resistance remains up. If price weakens with open interest still elevated, expect sharper swings and potential shakeouts before the next direction is clear.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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

The need for XRP Ledger (XRPL) to consider an automatic inheritance mechanism has again been reemphasized. A member of the community on X with the user name Leonidas noted that having this mechanism in place will prevent XRP from being permanently lost due to death or inactivity.

XRPL dead man's switch proposal to prevent loss of XRPLeonidas shed light on an earlier proposed XRP Ledger "dead man’s switch" amendment. He stated that the amendment is to guarantee an automatic transfer of assets to pre-set beneficiaries after an account has been inactive for a specified period of time.

This idea was originally suggested by XRPL contributor Kris Dangerfield in November 2024. Just like Leonidas, Dangerfield believes the dead man's switch will enhance user safety and adoption. After his suggestion, progress on implementation stalled until September 2025.

Currently, given the security associated with self-custody wallets, if someone loses their private keys or dies without sharing their details, the asset becomes permanently inaccessible. Hence, Leonidas believes activating the XRPL dead man’s switch could prevent associated loss of assets.

XRPL "dead man's switch" ☠️

⚠️One of the biggest concerns around crypto and self custody is the chance of losing your keys or failing to transfer ownership to an heir, in case of death.

There have been many examples of holders losing millions of tokens, including $XRP, due to…

— Leonidas (@LeoHadjiloizou) January 17, 2026 Notably, millions of dollars’ worth of crypto assets, including XRP, have already been lost due to the death of the holder or loss of the private key. However, if a "dead man's switch" is added to XRP Ledger, it will serve as a fail-safe mechanism.

The idea is that if the original account shows no activity for a predefined period, the system would automatically transfer the XRP to the beneficiary’s account. This will prevent the loss of XRP upon the death of the original holder.

Leonidas believes that the implementation of a dead man's switch could reduce the fear of losing funds forever. The feature will also make self-custody more attractive and increase long-term confidence in holding XRP outside exchanges.

XRPL utility push gains momentum You Might Also Like

In another development, a top Ripple developer Panos Mekras has advocated for a shift in speculative trading of XRP. Mekras charged the community to build network utility and make XRP Ledger a leading chain.

He opines that this will make for mass adoption and prevent XRPL from fading into irrelevance. Mekras insists that real usage and network activity will strengthen XRPL and stop it from underperforming relative to other blockchains.

Meanwhile, the COO of XRPL Labs and Xaman Wallet, Robert Kiuru, has said the next frontier of the XRP Ledger ecosystem will be batch transactions. According to Kiuru, to make XRPL more sustainable, there is a need to build and operate proper businesses on the ledger.

XRP is once again in focus as multiple market analysts turn increasingly optimistic about its price outlook, with some predicting that the token could reach $20 during the current market cycle.

After months of sideways movement, the Community believes XRP is building the foundation for a major rally. While short-term volatility remains possible, most experts agree that XRP’s long-term trend is still positive and that the current phase looks similar to past periods that came before strong price surges.

Analysts Predict Double-Digit XRP Prices This CycleTop XRP analysts believe the token is entering the final stage of its market cycle, which has historically produced the strongest price gains.

Market analyst EGRAG Crypto stated that XRP’s chart is “screaming $20,” pointing to repeated price behavior seen in previous cycles. He explained that XRP has completed several growth phases and is now in a temporary cooling period before the next major upward move begins.

Another analyst, Leb Crypto, highlighted XRP’s long-term base formation, saying the token is setting up for a major swing higher with targets at $7 and $19.50. He believes XRP has spent years building strength and that such long consolidation phases usually lead to powerful breakouts.

Charter, a technical analyst, compared XRP’s current structure to its 2017 bull run. He noted that XRP previously surged, paused for several months, and then delivered a second, much larger rally. According to him, XRP is now in a similar pause phase, which could be followed by a strong price expansion.

Why Analysts Believe a Major XRP Rally Is ComingXRP is following a familiar historical pattern. In previous cycles, XRP moved slowly at first, then rallied, paused again, and finally exploded higher when the broader altcoin market took off.

The altcoin already completed its first major breakout in late 2024. Since then, it has been moving in a tight range, which they view as a healthy reset rather than weakness.

Key price levels also support this view. Holding above the $2 area is a sign of strength. A break above the previous high near $3.65 could open the door for a much larger move.

However, on the bearish end,  XRP Price could briefly dip toward $1.65 if the wider market weakens. Such a drop would not damage the overall bullish structure and could act as a final shakeout before a rally.

On-Chain Data Shows Whales Quietly Accumulating XRPBlockchain data adds weight to the bullish case. According to data from CryptoQuant, large investors continue to buy XRP in both spot and futures markets. These “whales” are increasing their holdings while prices remain calm.

Historically, this type of accumulation has appeared before major price rallies, as large investors tend to position early before public interest returns.

Analysts say this behavior suggests that smart money views current XRP prices as attractive, expecting higher levels in the months ahead.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

PI seems stuck. What can get it out of its winter hibernation?

The cryptocurrency markets experienced a wild start to the new year, with BTC surging by almost ten grand to a two-month peak of $98,000 before it was stopped. Many altcoins posted even more impressive gains mid-week but have failed to double down.

Pi Network’s native token, though, cannot say the same. It has been stuck in consolidation for several weeks, without any clear indication whether it will be able to break out of the $0.20 and $0.22 range. As such, we decided to ask ChatGPT what is needed for PI to finally move out of this rather dull trading zone.

What’s Holding You Down, PI? The Core Team behind the controversial project already released its first major update for the year, which promises to slash the needed time for PI payment integrations under ten minutes. However, it failed to impact the underlying asset.

ChatGPT believes there’s reason to this (lack of) madness. First, it said supply overhang is crushing the momentum. Unlike most other liquid altcoins, PI is dealing with heavy unlock pressure. As more tokens become transferable, any upside attempt quickly runs into selling from early participants who had waited a long time for their assets.

Data from PiScanUnlock shows that over 4.5 million tokens on average will be freed in the next 30 days, which is expected to intensify the immediate selling pressure.

ChatGPT also said there are no external capital inflows. Most altcoin rallies have been fueled by new capital rotating out of BTC, but PI remains largely isolated. Lastly, the AI noted that the ecosystem growth hasn’t translated to price gains.

So, What Do You Need, PI? The AI solution believes PI will “require one or more major catalysts, not just routine updates” to break out of the $0.20-$0.22 range. It listed a clear, unavoidable use case that creates real demand, such as at least one of the following:

You may also like: Bitcoin (BTC) Plunges Before the FOMC Meeting, Pi Network (PI) Soars by 15%: Market Watch Large-scale merchant adoption using PI as payment A widely used PI-native application that requires the token to function Network mechanics that reduce circulating supply (burns, locks, staking) Second, ChatGPT outlined liquidity expansion beyond the Core Community. This doesn’t necessarily mean a listing from a big exchange, such as Binance or Coinbase, but it requires capital from outside the PI ecosystem.

Lastly, the AI solution said PI needs a supply narrative shift as markets respond to strong changes in such dynamics. If the Core Team introduces slower unlock schedules, long-term lock incentives, or deflationary mechanics, then even modest demand can suddenly have a much larger price impact.

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When an asset jumps in just a few days, it's all too common for people to assume that they're simply too late to get any more upside. Worse, some investors treat an asset's price flying as a trigger to buy more than what's advisable. That reflex is especially dangerous in crypto, where prices frequently get quite far ahead of reality, only to trip over it and leave buyers with brutal losses.

On that note, the privacy coin Monero (XMR 11.57%) just delivered exactly that temptation on a silver platter, with a steep multi-day run. Monero's price rose by a shocking 19% on Jan. 12, and then jump again on Jan. 13, making for a 44% gain in just five days. (To be sure, the crypto surrendered some of those gains in the following days.) In the past, many commentators, including yours truly, have argued that it's a better idea to avoid this coin than to buy it. Is that still a smart move, or has something fundamentally changed about this asset that makes it a buy despite its soaring price?

Image source: Getty Images.

There's still no fix to this coin's most pressing problem So, what's making Monero's price go wild?

If you're looking for a major protocol upgrade, news of a major exchange relisting, or a sudden favorable change in the way regulators have tended to treat the coin and other privacy-focused crypto assets, you won't find it. There's not any obvious catalyst for the coin's rise, though there is a lot of chatter about privacy coins and privacy tech on social media, which, to be clear, does not count as a catalyst either. And thanks to the coin's privacy features, it's difficult to conclusively identify who is buying it, so there isn't necessarily a satisfying answer forthcoming.

Looking at its investment thesis, there also isn't any new wrinkle to justify its valuation rising higher. Monero's privacy-by-default design enables private transactions for everyone right out of the box, which is all well and good, but it's also the source of the asset's investability problem.

As long as financial regulators around the world view privacy tech as a threat to their ability to conduct oversight, this asset is going to be confined to the edges of the crypto-financial system, with exchanges consistently pressured to avoid listing it.

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The price climbing by a lot doesn't change that dynamic.

Privacy is still treated as a hazard It's easy to assume that the regulators who are skeptical today will eventually become more comfortable with privacy coins.

But financial regulation is not built around normal human needs like privacy, and you probably shouldn't hold your breath in hopes of that changing. Those regulations are built around promoting enforceability of laws by mandating anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) rules, not to mention other requirements about traceability and the ability to conduct forensic investigations of capital flows when something goes wrong.

The Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), a critical global crypto-financial center, just provided a timely example of this posture as it relates to Monero specifically. Newly imposed rules in early January prohibit privacy coins for a wide range of purposes, though the regulations stop well short of an all-out ban on holding them. This isn't the only regulator with concerns by any means, but it's a fresh reminder that assets like Monero simply aren't fully legal in many important jurisdictions.

And that inevitably feeds directly into access. Even if you like Monero, you need a plan for getting your capital into the coin, and then how to take it out later, ideally after a gain. The major crypto exchange Kraken, for example, delisted Monero in 2024 for its clients in parts of Europe as a result of regulatory changes, which limits access for many mainstream investors and inflicted a headache on holders who purchased it before the delisting.

Could the situation improve? Sure; one bullish scenario would involve the implementation of more favorable rules that let crypto exchanges list privacy-preserving assets. A second scenario is if there's continued migration of purchasing activity to exchanges based in jurisdictions without any regulations prohibiting privacy coins. But neither of those scenarios make Monero an easy holding to feel good about buying right now.

So is Monero still something to avoid? For most long-term investors, yes, as it's simply not wise to invest in an asset that's in the process of being restricted in important places. Let the excitement pass, don't fall victim to crypto FOMO (fear of missing out), and keep your capital in assets you can easily access.

The time to buy and hold Monero for the long term may yet come, but for those who don't already own the coin, it probably isn't right now.

The privacy coin sector is witnessing a massive resurgence, and Dash (DASH) is leading the charge. Since the start of 2026, the asset has outperformed major players like $Bitcoin and $Ethereum, posting gains of over 90% in less than three weeks.

What is Dash? The "Digital Cash" ProtocolDash was launched to solve the scalability and privacy issues of earlier blockchains. It uses a unique Masternode system that allows for features like InstantSend (settling transactions in seconds) and PrivateSend. For investors tracking the latest crypto news, Dash is currently the hottest "legacy" project being rediscovered.

Why is DASH Surging in 2026?The 90% rally is driven by three core pillars:

Mass Adoption via Alchemy Pay: A major partnership in early 2026 allowed DASH to be used at millions of merchants worldwide, significantly increasing its "Real World Utility."Privacy Rotation: As regulators tighten rules on centralized exchanges, users are moving toward decentralized payment options.Short Squeeze: Heavy shorting at the $50 level led to a massive liquidation event once DASH broke resistance, catapulting the price toward the $100 mark.Dash Coin Chart Analysis & Future PredictionThe chart below shows a definitive breakout from a multi-year accumulation zone.

DASH/USD 4H - TradingView

Support: The previous resistance at $65 has now turned into a solid floor.Resistance: The next major hurdle is the psychological $120 level.2026 Target: If the current momentum holds, our Dash price prediction suggests a move toward $215 by mid-year.For those trading this volatility, it is essential to use the best crypto exchanges to ensure liquidity and low fees during high-traffic periods.

Weekend trading can flip fast, especially when momentum starts building, and liquidity is thinner than usual. Quant (QNT) price is stepping into that spotlight after a strong push higher, drawing fresh attention from traders looking for the next large-cap move. The key question now is whether this rally has enough strength to extend, or if it’s just a quick burst that fades once early buyers take profits.

With QNT approaching a psychologically important zone, the weekend setup comes down to one thing: can bulls keep pressure on and turn this move into a sustained run toward $100?

The current price action of Quant appears to be a mix of momentum buying and liquidity rotation into large-cap altcoins. As the Bitcoin price is consolidating after a significant upswing, the liquidity tends to shift to other altcoins, and Quant appears to have benefited. Here’s what is pushing the QNT price higher today.

Breakout-driven buying: Once QNT cleared nearby resistance, it likely triggered fresh entries from short-term traders and bots. That kind of move often snowballs quickly.Short covering: If traders were betting against QNT or hedging, a sharp push up forces them to close positions, adding extra fuel.Weekend positioning: Many traders place “weekend bets” on majors and strong mid/large caps because thinner liquidity can amplify moves.Narrative rotation: Quant tends to catch attention when markets lean into infrastructure/interoperability themes, even if there’s no single headline catalyst.What’s Next for the Quant Price?The Quant price has been maintaining a strong uptrend since the start of the year. With consecutive higher highs and lows, the bulls have gained significant dominance. The price has just risen over the 50-day MA, while a confirmation above this range could trigger a breakout above the ascending trend line. 

On the other hand, the supertrend has just flipped bullish, which is a potential trend reversal signal, indicating the start of a fresh upswing. On the other hand, the momentum indicators like RSI and MACD have also turned bullish. They have displayed a drop in the selling pressure as the buying momentum builds up. Although the bears are trying to keep the price restricted, the upcoming breakout may help the QNT price break above the crucial resistance close to $90. 

Can the Quant (QNT) Price Reach $100 This Weekend?The bullish momentum has just flipped and is believed to mount in the coming days. However, a bullish close above $85 to $88 could validate the reversal, attracting fresh liquidity onto the platform. With over a 200% rise in the 24-hour volume, the momentum is expected to persist for somemore time. In such a case, the Quant (QNT) price may achieve the threshold at $100. 

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

DOJ confirmed the U.S. has not sold the forfeited 57.55 BTC and will hold it in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The statement reassures markets and signals continued government Bitcoin accumulation, not liquidation. The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that about 57.55 BTC, worth around $5.47 million, which was seized by the U.S. government from the founders of the Samourai wallet, has not been sold. 

On-Chain Movements Spark Debate Over U.S. Policy on Holding Seized Bitcoin The Samourai Wallet co-founders, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, ran a cryptocurrency mixing service for illicit activities, and prosecutors said the service processed $200 million in illicit transactions. They pleaded guilty and agreed to give their 57.5 Bitcoin, which was worth around $5.47 million.

The confusion rises among the people because some reports said that Bitcoin had been moved on the chain and might have been sold. Some even suggested that this move has contradicted the whitehouse policy of holding the seized bitcoin. This creates massive pressure on the United States Marshal Service (USMS), which manages all the seized assets. 

The U.S. Marshals Service has denied the allegation of selling Bitcoin. They say no liquidation occurs, and it is not easy to sell the seized crypto, as it has multiple levels of approvals. Only assets that meet strict criteria under Executive Order 14233 can be sold. 

On Jan 16, the White House digital assets advisory team shared a direct DOJ confirmation that Bitcoin has not been liquidated and it will instead be kept on the U.S. government’s balance sheet, which means it is being held as part of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserves. 

This removes the fear that the government will dump Bitcoin in the market, and it shows the U.S. government is seeing Bitcoin as a valuable asset, and it also makes the Bitcoin price stable in the long run.  

Highlighted Crypto News:

‌Anchorage Digital Eyes $400M Raise as IPO Plans Take Shape

Bitcoin price is showing signs of strength this week as it holds key support levels, signaling potential upside for the coming days. Here’s a breakdown of the current market situation and what traders might expect.

Currently, the Bitcoin price is holding above the crucial $94,630 support zone. This area has been tested recently, and buyers have stepped in to keep the price stable. If this support continues to hold, the market could see a new upward run toward $100,000 in the coming week.

#Bitcoin looks really good for upside.

It's currently holding above a crucial resistance zone for support, which means that we're finding buyers here.

If this continues to hold, I would assume that we're seeing a new run in the coming week towards $100K.

Expecting a very… pic.twitter.com/zoYXcgzCDE

— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) January 17, 2026 Weekend Bitcoin Price Action and LiquidityAs we approach the weekend, the Bitcoin price is likely to move sideways, ranging between the key support and resistance levels. Traders often see this as a period of consolidation, where the market gathers momentum for the next major move.

For long positions, a break above $95,820 could trigger a push toward the monthly high of $97,960, with the potential for further gains if momentum continues. Conversely, a break below the current support could lead to a sharper drop.

Stablecoin Flows Indicate Market StrengthThe stablecoin market is nearing its all-time high, showing increased liquidity. More funds entering the market often lead to higher demand for Bitcoin, as investors look for opportunities in digital assets. The current trend of fund inflows aligns with Bitcoin’s price movement, hinting at the start of a potential new uptrend.

Institutional Interest Supports UpsideIndividual investors appear cautious, with low funding rates and mixed market sentiment. Meanwhile, institutions are gradually returning, adding Bitcoin to spot ETFs and company balance sheets. This renewed interest could accelerate Bitcoin’s climb toward $100,000 in the near future.

Bitcoin Price Forecast For The Coming WeekAccording to the analyst, Bitcoin is also holding above $89,326, and as long as it stays above this level, the uptrend remains possible. The next significant resistance to watch is around $98,200, which, if breached, could open the path to $107,500.

At $107,500, a key decision point will occur: either the uptrend continues, or Bitcoin could face a rejection and fall back toward support zones around $83,822–$82,477. A break below $82,477 could see Bitcoin testing strong support levels in the $74,496–$71,237 area.

Bullish Bias, But Watch Key LevelsSupport: $94,630 (short-term), $89,326 (longer-term)Resistance: $95,820, $97,960, $98,200, $107,500Upside Potential: $100,000 and beyond if momentum holdsDownside Risk: Daily close below $93,347 or $82,477Overall, Bitcoin is positioned for a potential bullish continuation, but traders should watch key support and resistance levels closely. Weekend movements may remain range-bound, but a breakout early next week could set the stage for higher prices.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Peloton Interactive (PTON 5.52%) provides a valuable case study of the wild distortions the COVID-19 pandemic caused in the business world. With people spending more time at home, this company benefited from the perfect tailwind to boost sales of its at-home fitness equipment. As the economy normalized, though, Peloton struggled to navigate a new reality.

The market has lost confidence. The consumer discretionary stock trades an alarming 96% below its peak (as of Jan. 12). Is Peloton a high-risk turnaround or long-term fitness opportunity?

Image source: Peloton.

Cost cuts can only get you so far Peloton deserves credit for getting its finances in order. It started with Barry McCarthy, who was the CEO from 2022 to 2024. The current CEO, Peter Stern, has continued the right-sizing focus.

During the last two fiscal quarters (Q4 2025 and Q1 2026), Peloton reported positive GAAP net income. This was pleasant news for longtime followers of the company. That's because Peloton has a history of registering sizable net losses.

Peloton posted a negative gross margin on the sale of its hardware products in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023. This part of the business has returned to gross profitability. And it helps that 72% of revenue now comes from high-margin subscriptions.

Operational efficiencies have been driven by workforce reductions, shrinking the physical retail footprint, and cutting product development outlays. But these cost reductions, aimed at achieving $100 million in savings this fiscal year, can only go so far. Eventually, Peloton needs to get back to growth.

This is where it struggles mightily. Connected-fitness subscribers totaled 2.7 million as of Sept. 30, down 6% year over year. And analysts project revenue to decline 0.5% between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026.

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Fitness is a risky business The stock is certainly cheap, as shares trade at a price-to-sales ratio of 1.1 that's near historically low levels. Some market participants might view Peloton as a long-term opportunity in the fitness industry.

I take a different view. Peloton is a high-risk turnaround story. While the stock could provide short bursts of positive gains, it's not a smart long-term opportunity. That's the right perspective to have until subscriber gains resume, if they ever do.

Fitness is a difficult market to find lasting success in. Companies are banking on people to stick to their workout plans. But these consumers always seem to be drawn to the shiny new thing. And in Peloton's case, it faces immense competition with its subscription apps, as there are unlimited free workout videos and content online. The target market for households that want to spend four-figure sums on exercise equipment is also limited.

Investors are better off avoiding this stock.

Oil traders Vitol and Trafigura and Greek tanker owners are diving back into the country after Nicolás Maduro's ouster.

Looking for hot plays in the crypto market? It's probably best to avoid these two tokens.

The overall cryptocurrency market has been on an impressive winning streak over the last five years, with leading tokens Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP posting winning streaks that made fortunes for patient investors. While valuations for cryptocurrencies have continued to see high levels of volatility, it's generally been a winning move to take a buy-and-hold approach to established tokens.

Even though some tokens have managed to serve up incredible gains, the broader crypto market is still filled with risk -- and investors have to be careful about what tokens they back. With that in mind, read on for a look at two tokens that could crash the value of a $100,000 investment.

Image source: Getty Images.

Shiba Inu Shiba Inu (SHIB +0.58%) launched in August 2020 and quickly became one of the hottest meme coins on the market. Despite huge volatility, investors who bought the token near its launch and maintained their holdings wound up seeing incredible returns.

On the other hand, Shiba Inu has gradually been losing share in the crypto market over the last few years. The token is down roughly 90% from the valuation peak it reached in 2021.

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While the Shiba Inu project has rolled out burning mechanisms that reduce the total outstanding coin supply, an almost vanishingly small portion of the outstanding supply has been taken out of the market. The project's layer-2 network has spurred little in the way of bullish momentum for the cryptocurrency, and it also doesn't seem to have much for add-on developer projects built around the token.

Shiba Inu's metaverse project also appears to be pretty much a complete flop at this point. After numerous delays, SHIB: The Metaverse had an early access launch late in 2024 -- but it never progressed to an active virtual world and sported pitifully low levels of engagement. Interest in the overall metaverse trend has waned considerably, and SHIB: The Metaverse can now probably be safely written off as another dud among attempts to create a more active ecosystem surrounding the Shiba Inu coin.

As of this writing, Shiba Inu still has a market capitalization of roughly $5 billion and ranks as the 24th-largest cryptocurrency by valuation. Shiba Inu is a meme coin that is seemingly losing relevance, and the lack of other fundamental catalysts likely to propel its valuation higher over the long term makes it an unadvisable bet for 2026.

Bitcoin Cash Bitcoin Cash (BCH 0.93%) got its start by forking off the Bitcoin blockchain and started trading as its own cryptocurrency in August 2017. Bitcoin Cash can offer lower transaction fees and payment processing times compared to Bitcoin, and some investors have been piling into the token in hopes that it will continue to gain market share.

Over the last year, the price of Bitcoin has actually fallen 6%. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Cash is up approximately 44%. With a market cap of approximately $12.7 billion, Bitcoin Cash ranks as the 11th-largest cryptocurrency by valuation -- and some investors are betting that ramping adoption will help the token continue to climb the ranks.

On the other hand, investors should view Bitcoin Cash's adoption trends and fundamentals in context before betting big on the cryptocurrency. While Bitcoin Cash has gained ground over the last year, its market capitalization still comes in at just a small fraction of Bitcoin's $1.8 trillion market cap. When looking at the difference in scale, Bitcoin Cash really hasn't gained meaningful ground against Bitcoin over the last year.

Institutional adoption for Bitcoin Cash remains relatively low, and long-term staying power could prove much weaker than the market-leading cryptocurrency it was forked from. While Bitcoin Cash may offer some benefits in terms of transaction fees and payment speeds, Bitcoin's bullish momentum has hinged more around its potential as a speculative asset than its status as a widely adopted means of payment. As a payments mechanism, there really isn't much that sets Bitcoin Cash apart from a large number of other coins on the market.

With that in mind, there's a risk that Bitcoin Cash will wind up trading like a meme coin over the long term. The cryptocurrency could potentially see some valuation gains in conjunction with trends shaping the broader market, but investors could lose big betting on its long-term staying power.

Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LSE:RBW, OTC:RBWRF, FRA:RR1) this week highlighted strong progress on its flagship project as it advances toward a final investment decision, following the successful commissioning of a continuous pilot plant.

Chief executive George Bennett said, in a Proactive interview, that the pilot plant marked a key milestone, allowing the company to confirm final design parameters for the leach circuit after more than a year of optimisation work. He explained that the pilot results will feed directly into the definitive feasibility study, which is scheduled for completion later this year.

Here, we take a closer look at what was discussed.

Proactive: You’ve certainly hit 2026 with the ground running, switching on the pilot plant. In practical terms, what does this mean for the project?

George Bennett: Happy New Year to you, Stephen, and to all investors watching. Rainbow continues to move forward.

Running the continuous pilot confirms the design parameters of the leach circuit we’ve optimised over the past 12 to 18 months.

This provides design input for the final DFS due later this year and produces material to confirm the solvent extraction process, which was a major de-risking step announced late last year.

Proactive: What’s the single most important change investors should understand from this latest pilot work?

George Bennett: We focused on optimising the front-end leach circuit, where about 85% of capex sits. We reduced leach stages from three to two, cut leach time from 32 hours to eight hours, halved the number of belt filters and reduced power requirements.

These changes lead to major capex savings and keep overall capital in line with what we published in December 2024.

Proactive: Why is turning a waste product into rare earths such a big deal?

George Bennett: Traditional projects involve mining, crushing, milling and cracking concentrate. Rainbow starts with chemically cracked gypsum waste, meaning no mining costs and around 60% of the flow sheet is already complete at zero cost, which drives very low capital intensity and operating costs.

Proactive: What key steps should investors watch ahead of a final investment decision?

George Bennett: Pricing has improved due to export bans and strong demand. Investors will see financing announcements, DFS completion and further updates on the Brazil project as we move toward FID in the last quarter of 2026, construction in 2027 and production in 2028.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of DeFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: DEFT) between May 12, 2025 and November 14, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 30, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased DeFi Technologies securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the DeFi Technologies class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48771 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 30, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) DeFi Technologies was facing delays in executing its DeFi arbitrage strategy, which at all relevant times was a key revenue driver for DeFi Technologies; (2) DeFi Technologies had understated the extent of competition it faced from other digital asset treasury ("DAT") companies and the extent to which that competition would negatively impact its ability to execute its DeFi arbitrage strategy; (3) as a result of the foregoing issues, DeFi Technologies was unlikely to meet its previously issued revenue guidance for the fiscal year 2025; (4) accordingly, defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of the negative impact that the foregoing issues were having on DeFi Technologies' business and financial results; and (5) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the DeFi Technologies class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48771 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280622

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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